How exactly Jon Rauhouse earned the nickname Mr. Orchid Fingers is unclear, but upon listening to one of Arizona’s most respected guitarists it’s safe to assume that his soulful and deliberate approach had something to do with it. The veteran journeyman is best known for his collaborative efforts with outstanding…
There’s something sweet, decadent, and juicy about the warmer seasons, and it’s not just because we can sport all our sweat-stained sundresses from last summer. Some tasty fruits are back in season, too. And while we like apricots, cherries, kiwis, strawberries, peaches are perhaps the most succulent of them all…
La Cage aux Folles, the drag-infused musical comedy about actual family values, leads a charmed life: The 1973 French play that became the 1978 French-Italian international hit film, and was reworked into Broadway’s Best Musical of 1983, took the Best Revival Tony in 2004 and again in 2010. Armed with…
They say all’s fair in the ultimately unglamorous realms of love and war. Love dulls and dissolves. War tallies death and injury. Neither proves easy. Actors Theatre explores the harsh realities of both in its production of Donald Magulies’ Tony-nominated Time Stands Still opens Friday, May 11. The war drama…
Yetis aren’t exactly common main characters in children’s literature — blame their bad rap on the many tales of their legendarily not-so-nice cousins, bigfoot and the abominable snowman. But with a few paintbrushes and a heartwarming storyline, local artist Jennifer Campbell and writer/filmmaker Troy Harris were determined to give the…
While it seems like a flighty daydream that Vincent Van Gogh ever rolled out a mat and tried yoga, we’d like to think that if he’d spent more time in downward dog then he might have been less of a downer. (Though the whole missing-ear thing probably would’ve made balance-focused…
Much of Tim Burton’s output over the past decade has been concerned with slipping the “Burton treatment” to susceptible texts: Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — and now, Dark Shadows. A supernaturally themed daily daytime soap, Dark Shadows…
Frank (Joel Murray) is an outcast. We first meet this divorced, 50-ish, glumly alcoholic white-collar worker — the protagonist of Bobcat Goldthwait’s God Bless America — on one of his sleepless nights, entertaining homicidal fantasies about the couple next door. “They’re incapable of comprehending that their actions affect other people,”…
International Museum Day is right around the corner and a handful of museums in Phoenix have big plans. But the designated day has less to do with parties and deals and more to do with awareness — there are dozens of museums in the metro Phoenix area that host artwork…
The City of Phoenix is bringing in a star-studded cast of local artists and art experts to Burton Barr this summer to discuss their work and the city’s public art collection of more than 1,000 artworks. The series of five presentations includes talks from photographer Mark Klett, poet Alberto Rios,…
Letting one’s freak flag fly is supported by the majority of society — in most respects. Silly hair is cool, low-riding pants are acceptable, and participation trophies are distributed with reckless abandon. LARP (live action roleplay), however, is met with slight hesitation. That’s why we have conventions. School is out, and…
With the recent rash of cyclists getting hit by local drivers, there’s an understandable level of increased concern about personal safety when hitting the streets. But who’da thought that a video camera could become one of the most valuable pieces of protection for exposed pedal pushers?That was exactly the case…
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. We’re talking painters, writers, sculptors, designers, architects…
Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: Pinned together with a sterling silver band are three turquoise discs that serve as the focal point of this ring from Tempe-based jewelry designer Ashley Weber’s Against the…
The owners of the Tempe Improv announced Tuesday that they’re packing their gags and closing the doors of the venerable Valley comedy club on June 1. And here’s the punchline: They’re alleging that comedy competitor Stand Up Live, which opened last summer at CityScape, had a part in the Improv’s…
As of last week, Arizona was one of eight states without a State Poet Laureate, a position established in states and countries around the world, in which a local established poet educates students and residents about poetry and literature. For the last 18 months, members of the Arizona Commission on…
Steven Wright likes to keep his comedy short but sweet. And plenty weird. Throughout his 30-year career In the early 1980s, the legendary comedian has condensed his quips into curt absurdist punchline, uttered in his trademark low-key and deadpan style, typically without setup or lengthy embellishment. (For example: “It’s a…
Because a few shots of tequila take at least 15 minutes and a power hour takes, well an hour, allow David Edwards, a French American scientist, to introduce his latest spray innovation — an alcoholic spray that’ll instantly make you drunk. Each dose of WA|HH Quantum Sensations comes with 0.075…
Babes in bikinis and bros in boardshorts were soaking up the sun next to the pool during Cinco de Mayo weekend at the newly opened El Santo Cantina. The North Scottsdale nightspot, which features a posh pool surrounded by cabanas and a babbling waterfall, was the site of plenty of…
Maurice Sendak was a giant in the children’s literature world whose titles include Seven Little Monsters, Fantasy Sketches, Outside Over There and Where the Wild Things Are. He said his love for books developed when he was young and had health complications that confined him to his bed. And for…
In a column posted Friday, Richard Nilsen announced that he is leaving his position at the Arizona Republic — a paper where he’s worked for more than 24 years. According to his colleague Kerry Lengel, Nilsen was one of 24 veteran reporters and editors who accepted early-retirement offers from Gannett corporate…
You know you live in a great state when the temperature hits 100, New Yorkers are making plans to move in, and every woman is potentially pregnant. According to the Women’s Health and Safety Act, signed in April by Governor Jan Brewer, gestational age is “calculated from the first day of…
