The Stunted

The Hunted pits Tommy Lee Jones versus Benicio Del Toro in a battle of hand-to-hand, wit-to-wit fighting skills. Frankly, my money would be on Tommy Lee any old day: He may be old, but he’s a tough geezer who looks like he could mop the floor with Benicio. (Also, frankly:…

Spring Fever Pitch

Considering how the Valley was blessed with a mild winter balmy days and even a hot streak back in January we sure can’t complain about cabin fever. But nevertheless, we’ve been struck with an inexplicable urge to get out and catch some rays before they turn brutal in a couple…

This Week’s Day-by-Day Picks

Thursday, 13If you’re the type who has to pounce on every runway event in the Valley, then you’ll be thrilled to hear that Barcelona in Scottsdale is planning three nights of high-style soirees. On Thursday, March 13, catch a preview of the fashion show planned for Friday, March 14. A…

vine of the Times

As break-dancing worms its way back onto the pop cultural landscape, the ASU theater department is getting into the groove. The Valley’s most dynamic young performers slam-poets, actors, poppers and lockers are joining forces in the vine, debuting at ASU’s Lyceum Theatre on Friday, March 14. ASU playwriting grad student…

Shamrock This Town

3/15Each year on March 17, businesses across Ireland except for pubs and restaurants, of course shut their doors in observation of St. Patrick’s Day, the anniversary of the death of Ireland’s patron saint and national apostle. On this side of the pond, it’s a springtime holiday largely celebrated, like Fat…

Ladies’ Tee Time

Given the ongoing, highly publicized battle to keep women off the membership scrolls at Augusta National Golf Club, how ironic is it that, as we speak, the sport’s hottest name isn’t Tiger, Phil or any other male of the species? It’s Annika as in Sorenstam, as in perhaps the greatest…

Hello Mali

It is a small world, after all. So small, in fact, that the Tempe Historical Museum has packed the magic and mystery of Tempe’s seven sister cities into a single showcase. In conjunction with the museum’s “Bridging the Globe” exhibition, a Spring Break Workshop on Saturday, March 15, focuses on…

For Love and Money

Art’s capacity to heal gets a boost on Thursday, March 13, when downtown Scottsdale’s weekly ArtWalk takes a charitable twist. Twenty-some businesses and galleries along Marshall Way will participate in “Art for Life” by donating 10 percent of the evening’s sales to Phoenix Body Positive, an HIV/AIDS research and resource…

All the Rite Moves

The rituals of spring abound this time of year. In keeping with that tradition, Center Dance Ensemble and its founder, Frances Smith Cohen, bring us The Rite of Spring. The ballet, featuring Smith Cohen’s choreography set to Igor Stravinsky’s score, takes the stage March 13 through 16 at the Herberger…

SEAL Appeal

John Shaft went to Africa, so why shouldn’t Die Hard’s John McClane? In the new action romp Tears of the Sun, Bruce Willis undertakes a jungle rescue operation on the Dark Continent, and for his part it’s a McClane adventure in camouflage, minus all the sass and most of the…

Phat Chance

You know Internet dating’s become totally mainstream when Disney cranks out a bland comedy featuring a randomly selected pair of mismatched stars to take on the subject. Bearing the unwieldy and meaningless title Bringing Down the House, said comedy is predicated on the biggest pitfall of cyber-flirting, the idea that…

Puppet Masters

To assume that puppetry is only for children underestimates the art form. Not only does puppetry hold a sock’s best chance for a career in entertainment outside of a decidedly unglamorous gig with the Red Hot Chili Peppers it’s gaining recognition as a theatrical form enjoyed by adults. In fact,…

This Week’s Day-By-Day Picks

Thursday, March 6One of the highlights of this week’s Scottsdale ArtWalk will be the opening of two new exhibitions at Lisa Sette Gallery, 4142 North Marshall Way in Scottsdale. Local artist Mayme Kratz, known for suspending insects and other found natural objects in cast resin, presents “If Only By Trace,”…

Vintage Style

3/7-3/8 For all of you connoisseurs of box wine (you know who you are), here’s your opportunity to get some schoolin’. The 8th Annual Vin Arte Tasting and Wine Sale kicks off Vin Arte, Wine Masterpieces, a two-day celebration of wine sponsored by the museum’s volunteer-run Men’s Arts Council.The Friday…

Run of a Bitch

3/9 Seems a 26-mile race before sunrise isn’t torture enough. The Valley of the Sun Marathon, set for Sunday, March 9, also features a half-marathon, 5K run, walks, kids’ K and four-person relay. Starting at 4 a.m., participants will be bused from Red Mountain High School, 7301 East Brown in…

Wee Oui

3/8 For many American children, France means two things: fries and toast. This Saturday, curious kids ages 7 to 12 can expand their horizons by taking a four-hour field trip not across the Atlantic, but to Tempe’s Hackett House. Here, the Tempe Sister City Organization presents the latest installment of…

Party Arty

3-7-3/9 Art Detour, Phoenix’s annual arts celebration organized by the nonprofit Artlink, is getting so big that pretty soon it won’t be much of a detour at all it’ll be a main thoroughfare. In case you’ve been blatantly ignoring how much the local art scene is delivering culture to downtown…

Cho Down

3/7 When asked what the audience can expect from her new show, Revolution, Margaret Cho replies, “What, you want me to tell you the jokes?” Cho, the world’s most famous Asian-American, sexually diverse comedian who swears like a Russian sailor in a drag bar and (thankfully) isn’t a size 0,…

Mother of All Shows

Edward Dominguez’s studio door was wide open. He was waiting for Chinese food, and had only just begun to survey his previous night’s work, large oil paints of his visions of Phoenix’s fifth tallest building, the Viad Tower. I called the former architect turned painter from the curb in front…

The Love Mug

You don’t know this, but it’s your eyebrows that are holding you back. Probably the size of your nose is keeping you from getting that promotion you’re after. If you haven’t gotten laid in a while, it might be because your mouth is too small. Just ask Boyé Lafayette De…