Jeff Biggers is a lot of things. Author, journalist, and historian all apply — Northern Arizona Book Festival founder and playwright, too. One thing the man isn’t: a stranger to controversy. Splitting his time between Tucson and Illinois, the writer’s made a name for himself delving into gritty, surprising, and…
We’ve spent the last year in the laboratory putting Phoenix under the microscope to reveal hundreds of specimens of the best culture, outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and nightlife the city has to offer. And we’re finally ready to publish our results. Nerd alert! Now presenting Scientific Phoenix. Yeah, yeah, Steve…
J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults, The Casual Vacancy, arrived in bookstores last week. According to advance reports, the new book contains lots of sex (in the form of “a miraculously unguarded vagina” and a used condom that is “like the gossamer cocoon of some huge grub”), domestic abuse and…
We know, the beginning of the work week sucks. But if you take a quick look at the calendar, you’ll see we’re off to a pretty good week of art events, sports games, dance parties, and more. Here are our must-see events from now to the weekend… “Ballerina” @ Mesa…
If Bob Ross were alive today, he’d be painting happy little trees all over the place in ecstatic fervor for all the arts and culture happenings in Phoenix. To help you see the forest for the trees, here’s a recap of the top arts and culture stories of the week…
We’ve spent the last year in the laboratory putting Phoenix under the microscope to reveal hundreds of specimens of the best culture, outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and nightlife the city has to offer. And we’re finally ready to publish our results. Nerd alert! Now presenting Scientific Phoenix. Boy, you wish…
Looking for ways to fill up your weekend? Here are your five best bets for getting out and about in the Valley of the Sun. Season Opening Reception @ ASU Art Museum With a fresh, new season in the air comes fresh art. ASU Art Museum opens its doors for…
This week, NASA released the first “water-proof” shot from the Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in August. Curiosity sent the image of the ridge of the north wall of Gale Crater more than 352 million miles back to earth. See also: – NASA’s Curiosity Rover: Here’s the New Hi-Res…
The setup: Gregory S. Moss’ Punkplay takes us back to the spiky, neon-tinged ’80s to make some points about the cyclical nature of cultural rebellion and the timelessness of adolescent turmoil. It’s kind of a (mostly) non-musical Spring Awakening with what some of you might see as a happier ending…
When we last put the spotlight on 100 creative forces in Phoenix, it was no secret there were more than 100 individuals who were making waves in the local arts community. So as we count down to our annual Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome (back) to 100 Creatives. Robert Brandan…
When most people were 14 years old, they probably didn’t have the foggiest idea about which particular career path they’d eventually follow in life. Not so with Alex Lemoine, as the Valley teen believed he was destined to be a stand-up comedian. The 16-year-old junior at Skyline High School in…
When the grand-opening gala for the Irish Cultural Center’s new research library takes place on Saturday, one of the happiest persons in attendance is likely to be Norman McCleland, and not because the structure is adorned with his name. According to the 85-year-old, who serves as the CEO of Shamrock…
We’ve spent the last year in the laboratory putting Phoenix under the microscope to reveal hundreds of specimens of the best culture, outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and nightlife the city has to offer. And we’re finally ready to publish our results. Nerd alert! Now presenting Scientific Phoenix. When video-gaming goes…
Shortly after we resurfaced from last year’s underground edition of Best of Phoenix, we dove into the Valley’s research centers, laboratories, and archives to put our city under the microscope. This year’s Best of Phoenix tells stories of local inventions, strange theories, and scientific processes with photographs, videos, and illustrations…
When we last put the spotlight on 100 creative forces in Phoenix, it was no secret there were more than 100 individuals who were making waves in the local arts community. So as we count down to our annual Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome (back) to 100 Creatives. When Nina…
“We want to get it out to as many folks as we can before the elections take place,” says Bryan Vasquez of The Immigration Paradox, a new full-length documentary by Lourdes Lee Vasquez. Speaking of paradoxes, that explains why a film you’ve probably never heard of is having its world…
Comedians like to make fun of stuff. Sometimes they make fun of ideas that won’t offend anyone, and other times they’re not Jerry Seinfeld. The Evolution of Comedy Tour is not Jerry Seinfeld. Comedians Ian Harris, Jason Resler, and Maurice Northrup will make rationalist jokes at on Thursday September 27…
It’s difficult to choose this fall’s must-watch roster, since there’s so much happening — lots of it good, lots less so. In its dismal Friday night slot, the still-brilliant Fringe will embark on its final season, highly recommended for X-Files fans, JJ Abrams followers, and those wanting to gawk at…
For local creatives who specialize in found art, obtaining the raw materials for their unusual-looking sculptures or mixed media pieces can sometimes be a dirty chore involving diving into dumpsters or scouring alleyways. Jessica Jordan, owner of Wet Paint Art Supply in Tempe, wants to not only make the process…
Early on in Rian Johnson’s time-travel thriller Looper, Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) sits at a diner and chats with his self from 30 years in the future (Bruce Willis). When the younger Joe asks the older one about the specifics of temporal displacement, the latter dismisses the question, telling his interlocutor…
Casting a tapered, vase-slender silhouette and speaking in a Transylvanian accent with a touch of Borscht Belt, Hotel Transylvania’s de-fanged Count Dracula is introduced in an 1895-set prologue while serenading his infant daughter. No menacing carnivore, this Nosferatu has sworn off fatty human blood, is more scared of humans than…
17 Girls (17 Filles), set in the small, depressed, French seaside town of Lorient, makes a big deal about having been inspired by a true story that took place in the small, depressed, American seaside town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 2008: Eighteen high school girls all turned up pregnant at…
