Jacki Orr’s Teabag Jacket and Grandma Fashion

Jacki Orr loves her grandmother. More specifically, the comedienne and artist particularly loves the hand-me-down clothing that her 80-something grandma gives her on a regular basis. Orr says she enjoys wearing pantsuits, cuddly knit sweaters, and other garish garments favored by the Sun City set because the clothing is comfortable. “I like a…

Adult Swim Pool Party: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

So one thing is definitely good: Adult Swim is back, er, was back. The hippest of weekly hipster pool parties from the past few summers returned for a one-day bash at the Millennium Resort on Sunday. Promoters Jared Alan and Jen Deveroux chose Scottsdale instead of the downtown Phoenix pools of…

Darling Jen: Arcadia’s Chic New Boutique

Consignment/resale boutique Darling Jen opened three weeks ago, and the stylish new store in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood has already become a local hotspot for classy fashion and unique collectibles, with excellent cause. It’s clear that owner Jennifer Hernandez, who operated a jewelry business with her husband for 8 years, knows…

Alejandra Vidal’s Feminine Edge

Alejandra Vidal of Imaginale Design is a big believer in making style mistakes. “Give yourself permission to make them,” the chic, bubbly writer behind the blog Imaginale says, “because they help you get closer to defining your own personal style.” Vidal calls her style “feminine and accessible,” and she has…

Real Witches and Wizards Speak Out on the End of Harry Potter

Literary geeks and fantasy fans across the nation are lining up to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which opens in theaters at midnight tonight. Anyone who’s read J.K. Rowling’s book series already knows how the final battle pans out, but there are some locals who might…

Melt With You: Butter vs. Margarine on a Jesus Plate

Equipped with a tripod, Flip camera, and several gallons of water, we teamed up with New Times photographer Jamie Peachey to document exactly how long it takes some common household objects take to dissolve when exposed to blazing solar rays. Butter is no match for either a hot skillet or…

Making Platinum Prints with Claire Warden

“Sauna printing” is how Claire Warden jokingly describes her process of platinum print making.Warden says the process is easier to do in her own own makeshift darkroom than having to sneak into one around town — and definitely cheaper than building a professional-grade one from scratch. The space in her Phoenix home isn’t particularly dark. An…

Cattoo Design: When Cat People Get Inked

Kate Benjamin is the proud owner of a new (and another) cattoo, er, tattoo inspired by her favorite animal — the cat. Benjamin’s a huge local supporter of the fur balls — she owns Moderncat Studio in Phoenix and collaborated with local creative Heidi Abrahamson on cat hair jewelry in May. This summer, she’s…

Sahar Mitchell’s Eclectic Risqué Classiness

When Sahar Mitchell steps on stage to perform as one-half of local daredevil sideshow act The Strange Family Circus, audience members probably aren’t focusing on her ensemble. That’s only because their attention is probably focused on the string of razor blades being pulled out of her mouth or the straightjacket she’s…

Seven Summer Art Classes in Phoenix

Creating art with fellow Phoenicians under the beauty of an air conditioning system is a summer day activity we’ll fully support.We’ve scoured local museums and studios to bring you a variety of sessions to either brush up before the school year kicks in, stay creative inside until it starts to…

Giant Diamondback Welcomes MLB All-Star Fans to Downtown Phoenix

Downtown Phoenix is rattling with excitement; Major League Baseball’s biggest names are in town for the 2011 All-Star game, and there’s a giant rattle snake chasing folks ’round the city.Don’t freak out, it’s not the venomous kind responsible for more deaths each year in the United States and Mexico than…

Melt With You: Tea Light Candles

Equipped with a tripod, Flip camera, and several gallons of water, we teamed up with New Times photographer Jamie Peachey to document exactly how long it takes some common household objects take to liquify when exposed to blazing solar rays. The result: A summertime series called Melt With You. Cue…

Taz Loomans’ Three Palms in Central Phoenix

Taz Loomans is an architect and a woman who practices what she preaches — a community-oriented, sustainable lifestyle. Before you roll your eyes at the buzz words, consider Taz’s home (called Three Palms) and compare it to the mission statement of her business, Blooming Rock Development. Taz and her husband…

Downtown’s First Friday (July 1)

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 dish out some…

The Rise Project Pop-Up Shop/Gallery Opens Tonight in Downtown Phoenix

The folks behind Perihelion Arts gallery in downtown Phoenix are on summer vacation, but their doors will open tonight for a pop-up art exhibition featuring the latest work from The Rise Project, a Downtown community arts and music youth program.Joseph “Sentrock” Perez curated the Project’s first art show last month as part…

Matilda’s Closet: The Westside’s Hub for Vintage

Matilda’s Closet in Glendale is not for the faint-hearted shopper. It would take months and a football team of vintage experts to sift through the entire collection of owners Rose and Sandy Prescott — it’s a museum of vintage clothing, accessories, and housewares. The self-professed “vintage clothing junkies” began hunting…

Melt With You: Popsicles

Summer is here and the scorching Phoenix sun is melting everything from Hanna Montana chocolate coins to ruby red lipstick. Equipped with a tripod, Flip camera, and several gallons of water, we set up temporary residence in New Times photographer Jamie Peachey’s backyard, and watched stuff melt. The result, a…

Blowing Glass with Circle 6 Studio’s John Longo and Juston Daniels

In an environment where glory holes, fire torches, and 2,000-degree furnaces are part of a day’s work, Circle 6 Studios owner John Longo and glass blower Juston Daniels endure the (indoor) heat in pursuit of perfecting their artwork. Their studio’s at the end of a dirt driveway behind a modest-looking home…