It’s no secret that opening a conversation with someone of the opposite sex is half of the battle, particularly when it comes to a bar or club scene. While there are plenty of lines and actions that can definitely make someone not want to talk to you, finding the right…
It’s easy to nerd out with model and blogger Shenal Hooks. The south Phoenix native has an eye for style and a sewing machine to boot. With it, she creates a mix of boldly patterned pieces for everyday wear and cosplay outfits inspired by her favorite characters. When she’s not…
There are few things in the realm of love and courtship that are scarier than a blind date. No matter how much thought friends put into finding the right girl/guy for us, there’s a reason — in fact, lots of reasons — why most people are resistant to going to…
For the last few weeks or so, Phoenix Comicon fans have probably been wondering if any other big-name special guests were going to be announced for this year’s event, especially since its organizers tend to do that sort of thing right around now. Like, for instance, the big guest they…
Good jeans? They’re on the way. Purveyor of tomboyish wearables and choice denim Madewell is coming to Kierland Commons outdoor shopping center in Scottsdale. It will be the J. Crew subsidiary’s second location in Arizona. The first is located inside Scottsdale Fashion Square…
Looks like every night is now ladies night, thanks to a new dating app by London-based entrepreneur Robyn Exton. Formerly known as Dattch (a slightly clever but not so catchy blend of the words “date” and catch”), Her is a dating platform designed specifically for lesbians and bisexual women. Although…
A photo posted by Aylen A (@aylen25) on Mar 13, 2015 at 8:05pm PDT In the days before our lives became dominated by texting and social media, ambiguously sexual messages had to be sent out one at a time. But these days, men and women are only a click away…
Out with the old and in with the new, they say. This spring, we’re going to go ahead and assume this is talking about hobbies and skills too. While we’re not exactly sure it’s possible to get rid of old talents, we are sure that’s there’s always room for improvement,…
It’s time for some well-deserved applause, Phoenix. Today we’re announcing the 2015 Big Brain Award finalists. Each spring, these awards put the spotlight on emerging creatives and give them cash to keep up the good work. After sifting through a long list of Big Brain nominees, we’ve narrowed the field…
Nikki Wrangler has a lot going for her: a beautiful home in Scottsdale, a baby on the way, and on a more superficial level, some seriously great skin. While her enviable complexion could be credited in part to her maternal glow, we know the real source stems from something else…
We don’t want to hear anyone say that Phoenix doesn’t have any culture ever again, and we’ve got a list of 23 festivals to prove it. This spring will be anything but uncultured in the metro Phoenix area. Phoenix has everything from a modern dance festival and celebrations of Spanish,…
Hey, nerds need love, too. Just because you’re a Trekkie or can name every township in Middle Earth doesn’t mean you don’t need a little something to make that hot muggle across the bar (or at the next booth over at Comicon) laugh. Here are 10 pick-up lines that’ll give…
While there are an estimated 2.2 million weddings held every year in the U.S., we’re pretty sure that few of these joyous affairs get as wild and weird as the Brides of March. After all, when the last wedding you attended that included a high-heel race, veils adorned with condoms,…
Some days, it’s fine to feel content with merely a modest amount of neurons firing. Whether great ideas burst forth depends on whether the requisite amount of espresso or Diet Coke is consumed. But ASU’s Center for Science and Imagination figures we’re all capable of far more, even challenging us…
We dig you, Phoenix. That’s why every spring we hunt for emerging creatives doing exceptional things in metro Phoenix and award the best and brightest with Big Brain Awards and cash prizes. They’re gems, these up-and-coming sculptors, dancers, musicians, and chefs. It’s what makes them Big Brains. For the 2015…
At 5 years old, David Zyla told his mother, who was getting dressed for a night out with his father, to wear a different necklace than the one she had on. He then told his dad to switch ties. “You can mix patterns?” his dad asked. “Of course,” Zyla said…
It doesn’t matter if you’re headed for a weekend road trip an hour away or backpacking through Europe for a month, going on a vacation can be an awesome time. Sometimes, if you play your cards right, that vacation can be made even better by finding romance while you’re away…
Goodbye, Melrose Curve. Hello, Roosevelt Arts District. After five years, one of Seventh Avenue’s sweetest vintage shops, Antique Sugar, is packing up its bags and setting up shop in downtown Phoenix. The retro retailer will be relocating to a newly renovated 1950s office building that it’s set to share with…
With Valentine’s Day in the rearview mirror and springtime right around the corner, there’s a certain scent in the air. It’s the smell of open bars, overpriced catering, decaying flowers, and the salty tears of lifelong bridesmaids. That’s right. It’s the start of the Valley’s early wedding season. Since we…
If there’s one thing that’s become abundantly clear to us while covering geek culture in the Valley, it’s that everyone nerds out for something, no matter who they are. That’s especially true with members of the cosplay crowd, who put their particular passion on display for the world to see…
Call us crazy, but we’re starting to suspect that organizers of Phoenix Comicon might be fans of the Whedonverse. Okay, it’s not that big of a stretch, considering that they’re die-hard geeks and all, but if you look at some of the bigger guests they’ve lined up for the event…
When it all boils down to it, comic book conventions are ultimately about just that: comic books. While it seems like most ‘cons both locally and nationally include every possible aspect of geekdom imaginable — ranging from science fiction and fantasy to video games, costuming, fan fiction, RPGs, and animation…
