The Best Art We Saw in Downtown Phoenix on First Friday, August 7

Looming rainclouds did little to dampen enthusiasm for August’s First Friday, which was well-attended — especially along Roosevelt Street just east of Central Avenue, where there was plenty to see and talk about. The trio of shipping containers turned art galleries featured cool solo exhibitions curated by Nic Weisinger, and…

3 Artsy Things to Do This Week in Metro Phoenix

Emerging Arts Leaders Phoenix Happy Hour Cheers to Phoenix’s arts scene. No, literally. During Emerging Arts Leaders Phoenix’s fourth and final summer happy hour, local makers, shakers, and observers are invited to discuss what’s wrong and what’s right with the Valley’s arts community — and, perhaps more importantly, what’s next…

Kitten Retro Glamour Now Open in Old Town Scottsdale

Vintage boutique Kitten Retro Glamour celebrated its grand opening in downtown Scottsdale last Saturday, selling out of most styles almost immediately. The store, located at 7122 E. Fifth Avenue, is a one-stop shop for people who love brands like Sourpuss and Hell Bunny, but tend to rack up extensive returns when ordering online through Modcloth…

5 First Friday Art Shows to See in Phoenix on August 7

While some gallery owners head out of town this time of year, plenty are still here and ready to share the art love during August’s First Friday. We’ve found five shows featuring a fun assortment of artwork — including a couple that bring entertainment into the mix. Here are five must-see art shows…

5 Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Weekend

“Bummer Summer” There are countless movies, songs, and poems about the romanticism of summer — the warm sun, the peaceful beach, the budding romance. But, honestly, sometimes the summer can suck. Artist and graphic designer Lauren Bailey has put her minimalistic spin on this darker side of summer in “Bummer…

I’m a Millennial with No Online Dating Experience, AKA a Unicorn

My name is Josh, and I have a confession: I’ve never tried online dating. All right, that’s not entirely true. I’ve tried to set up an account before when a friend tells me about all the amazing people they’ve been meeting on Tinder/OkCupid/Farmers. (In truth, I don’t know anyone who…

Listen to Me Marlon Puts You One-on-One with the Wild One

Sometime in the 1980s, Marlon Brando had his face digitized, presumably as a way of leaving just a bit more of himself after his departure from this planet. As we see it in Stevan Riley’s documentary Listen to Me Marlon, that speaking, moving hologram looks like a cross between George…

Ricki Almost Rules, But When Did Demme Get Crotchety?

Jonathan Demme’s rock ‘n’ roll dramedy Ricki and the Flash exists in a wormhole where the last five decades of pop culture are a blur. There’s 66-year-old Meryl Streep, playing a broke singer who ditched her family to dominate the stage with the whiskey growl of Janis Joplin, the jangly…

In Praise of Jon Stewart, the Bro Who Evolved

The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal was a boon to comedy, but the comedians who feasted then look gouty today: A small group of white, male millionaires — one of whom would later confess to having   ultiple office affairs, perhaps to distract from sexual-harassment allegations — collectively decided to call Lewinsky, then a 22-year-old…

10 Essential Cycling Movies

The bicycle is one of the world’s great inventions: You can use it for transport, exercise, entertainment, and work. And thanks to the silver screen, the bicycle serves yet another purpose – as a character. Bicycles make frequent cameos in Hollywood pictures, saving the day, changing the hero’s life, or propelling…

AriZoni Theatre Awards: Here are the 2014-15 Nominees

It’s time for a curtain call, Phoenix. This week, nominees for the 2014-15 ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence were announced, recognizing troupes, actors, directors, writers, and costumers across the Valley. Each year the awards aim to recognize greatness in local theater performed by both adults and children, and nearly 100…

3 Free Things to Do This Week in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to do during those painful weekdays before your paycheck arrives? It can be hard to find affordable, air-conditioned events that are also interesting, but they do exist. And we’re here to help you find them. Though movies, dance performances, and large-scale sporting events don’t often come cheap,…

Does Roosevelt Row’s Facelift Fall Flat in Downtown Phoenix?

It’s been a year of big changes for Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix. Baron Properties tore down a pair of buildings at Roosevelt and Third streets to make way for residential units. Local First Arizona founder Kimber Lanning saved a house slated for demolition by having it moved to the vacant…

5 Movies to See in Metro Phoenix This August

August is an interesting month for the film industry. Most of the summer blockbusters have come and gone (although Fantastic Four is hoping to make some late noise on August 7), but it’s too early for studios to release anything they want remembered for awards season. It’s also a time…

Standard Wax Founder Samantha Thompson’s 5 Home Decor Essentials

Samantha Thompson’s home is full of recycling. We’re not talking about a compost pile or even separating the plastics from glass. We mean the repurposing, refurnishing, and reimagining kind of recycling.  This is the spirit that launched Standard Wax, the candle company she and co-owner Andrew King started several years…