So Sudan, a new indie shop in the AZ Lost Boys Center in Phoenix, will host a grand opening this weekend. The center was established in 2003 to provide a safe and community-based space for war affected Sudanese refugees living in Phoenix. Store founders Amguma Deng, Nyakour Kagook, and Alal…
If you’re like us, you’ve got at least one geeky loved one who seems impossible to buy for. Maybe it’s your tech savvy mom, your nerdy BFF with the L33T-speak license plate or a boyfriend whose Halo 3 addiction has him peeing in soda cans to avoid bathroom breaks. When we checked…
TRON fiends and Daft Punk lovers collided (quite literally) on the Rips dance floor over the weekend when the bar held a TRON holiday party. We checked out the costumes, the lack of costumes, and the costume envy and took a few notes. The Good’s above, the Bad and the…
On a balmy Sunday afternoon, the Icehouse in Phoenix played host to Thread, a traveling, curated indie fashion show. The set up was cool, the DJ was pumping, the snacks were free flowing, the vendors were buzzing around each others’ tables — but where were all the people?…
So you didn’t attend early-December’s Crafeteria — the 5th-annual craft bazaar put on by Frances Vintage and a great spot to find unique, creative local gifts. You missed bustling crowds, St. Francis’ pumpkin soup, meeting some local artists, and picking up some really cool, creative and one-of-a-kind gifts. But don’t…
When smells of pumpkin, sweet orange, blueberry and butterscotch come out of Tracy Perkins’ kitchen, trust us, it’s nothing edible. Perkins started Strawberry Hedgehog, a vegan beauty product company, after years of searching for soaps and products she could use, guilt-free, without having to empty her wallet.It proved to be quite…
Too Much FurHey, it’s winter. A little bit of cozy fur is great for the inside of a coat collar or on the end of a scarf. But sporting He-Man boots with a full fur coat and hat will make you look like an ass. We live in lizard country,…
The Heard Museum is one of Phoenix’s largest (and oldest) art attractions because of its comprehensive collections, interesting exhibitions, and cultural festivals. In its more than 81 years in the Valley, the museum has expanded to include a North Scottsdale location, a café, a shop and bookstore, and the Berlin…
A year ago, local artists Monica Aissa Martinez, Carolyn Lavender, Mary Shindell, and Sue Chenoweth had seen each others’ work in galleries around town, but never imagined working together. On Saturday, the women met to discuss their upcoming collaborative project over tacos, burritos and a ton of salsa. The four…
Editor’s Note: Crafting is bigger than ever, it seems, and the bug has certainly hit Phoenix. And yet we’ve been to far too many craft fairs and other events that, well, sucked. Poor attendance, crappy crafts — we’ve stopped believing the hype. Which is why, frankly, we skipped this thing…
Thread, a one-day-only, indie-centric retail fashion show and sale, is posting up in Phoenix for the first time. Founded by London-born Lara Matthews in Los Angeles in 2003, Thread showcases wares by emerging DIYers from spots such as San Diego, Seattle, Miami, and the United Kingdom. The Phoenix show plans…
Yes, it’s that shopping-crazed time of year, and to be honest, we’re a little nuts about shopping, and especially writing about shopping. Our latest fix: Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts are hosting a two-day Holiday Jewelry Trunk Show on Friday and Saturday, with…
With the holiday season upon us, it’s time for giving and receiving gifts. Not all of us are made of money or crafting skills, but with a little of both, it’s possible to make gifts for everyone on your list. Take it from Colin Lecher, who has been taking a…
Ashley Nicole Grobmeier is a walking fashion tip; when she enters a room, it’s hard not to stop, stare and begin taking some serious mental notes. At 25, Ashley Nicole has made a name for herself around the valley as a hairstylist extraordinaire and fearless trendsetter. We assume Ashley’s impeccable…
It’s OK to admit — everyone loves a dose of flowchart every now and then … and today we’re starting a little variation of our own. We’ll start easy (come on, you should know what vajazzling is by now), but be prepared to find out where you really belong in…
Some people are crafty, some aren’t (i.e. me). It’s the way of the world. But taking a cue from Mantastic Crafter Patrick Murillo, I’m training in the art, and hoping to work my way up to something truly mantastic, all while trying to avoid what Murillo calls a “craftastrophe.” I…
Somewhere around twenty four hours after National Novel Writing Month officially ended for the year 2010, my writing partner sent me an instant message. It started with bad news. He’d been let go from his job. There was, he explained, a silver lining to his plight. He is listed as…
Art walks are more often about people watching and shenanigans and less about the actual art. We’re here to guide you through both. Presenting our very own Field Guide — an evolving guide to art walks around town. From time to time, we’ll introduce some of our favorite spots and…
Like we needed another reason to love SeeSaw Designs. The team’s 2011 Letterpress Calendar received Martha Stewart’s (double embossed, beautifully designed) stamp of approval in her 2010 Holiday Gift Guide. We learned how the three SeeSaw girls letterpress and how they find their vintage treasures … and now we know…
We’ve been geeking out about the Crafeteria for a few weeks — blame the 40-something vendors selling handmade goods, promises of Urban Cookies and Pumpkin Soup, or the simple excuse to hang out at Frances, Smeeks, Stinkweeds, Halo and Red Hot Robot all night.And then we saw a few previews…
If you’ve ever met Elisa O’Hagan, you’ll believe her to be an adorably innocent little thing. She loves animals, eats vegan, and is happily married to Mr. John O’Hagan, owner of Golden Rule Tattoo.But this gentle lamb also sports some pretty dang tough tattoos and has a hilarious blog where…
Traci Nelson co-owns Butter Toast, a vintage gem in downtown Phoenix. And when she’s not busy thrifting, crocheting and exploring old-timey yachts, she’s sharing her latest finds and photos on her blog, Toast. Her Butter Toast partner-in-crime Jasmine Jarrett also contributes; together, the two know a bit about what makes…
