Grab a Golden Ticket to “Independents Week”

 Independence Day, but if you’re sharp, you’ll also be stocking up on local goods to get you through the fourth round of sparklers. In celebration of our independence, a bunch of our favorite Local First AZ independent stores and boutiques are having week-long deals. We’re talking  20 percent off at more than…

2011 Millennium Pool Party: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Millennium Pool Party Series continued on Saturday in North Scottsdale with plenty of bikini-clad and trunk-wearing locals ready to make a splash. We stopped by to take a few fashionable notes. The Good’s above, The Bad and The Ugly are after the jump and the whole summer slideshow is right…

Scottsdale Fashion Week Postponed until Spring 2012

Scottsdale Fashion Week told Jackalope Ranch this morning that the annual “ultimate fashion celebration” slated for fall has been moved to spring 2012 because of public confusion between SFW and Phoenix Fashion Week.”We’d like to re-vamp the entire event,” says Angela Johnson, Scottsdale Fashion Week board member and local designer. “And we need time to do that.”…

NES Controller Bra: Pinch A to Run

Not that we expect girls who play Nintendo games all day to care much about lift and support — or their “boyfriend” counterparts to know how to operate anything more complicated than the clap-off bra … But for the enjoyment of Nintendo fiends everywhere, an artist in Hickory, North Carolina…

Submit Your Creations for the Upcoming Maker Faire in Phoenix

Maker Faire isn’t making its Phoenix debut until October, but organizers are on the lookout for local submissions through July 11. The creatives behind the fair, which began in San Mateo, California in 2006, say they hope to bring together local creators of art, science, craft, and engineering backgrounds into…

Glendale’s Westgate City Center Faces Possible Foreclosure

Westgate City Center in Glendale may soon fall victim to a growing national recession and uncertain future of the Coyotes. A notice of trustee’s sale was filed by the Westgate ownership group against the two entities that own the center (Entertainment Center Development LLC and Coyote Center Development LLC), according to…

Green With Ivy: Eco-Conscious Chic in Scottsdale

Scottsdale boutique Green with Ivy knows a thing or two about eco-conscious living, but don’t worry, no one’s forcing you to buy recycled toilet paper. Located at the Borgata in Scottsdale, the store originally opened for parents who have kids with allergies — mainly selling chemical-free infant and children’s products…

Phoenix Fashion Week Introduces 10 Emerging Designers

A large group of local fashion fans and designers anxiously waited inside the Musical Instrument Museum lobby on Friday night for the announcement of  Phoenix Fashion Week’s 10 emerging designers of 2011.The designers have remained unnamed since they were chosen by Fashion Week coordinator weeks ago and will compete against each…

Round Three Pool Party: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Apache Station apartments geared up for its Round Three Pool Party on Saturday in Tempe. DJ Smooth and DJ2 Drop spun beats and more than a few students took full advantage of their new-found summer vacation. We stopped in for a few fashionable notes. The Good’s above, The Bad and The Ugly are…

Creepy Insect Art and a Contest for Your Biggest Pest

If you moved to Phoenix from a totally different climate, you’re bound to have a disturbing night out when you’re decked in high heels or a new pair of kicks, and a giant roach scurries across the sidewalk and onto — or at least, eerily close to — your foot…

Kira Brown’s Fashion Philosophy

Kira Brown believes that fashion has power — and she wants to convert you. “Be conscious about the vibe you’re putting out there,” says the brain behind local style blog Fashion Phoenix (where she saves the world as wardrobe consultant The Shoperone); “That’s the power of fashion and what it…

The Cottage Garden: Elegant Decor and Wearable Art in Downtown Glendale

From artistically rusty lamps to luxurious bags reworked from antique brocade, The Cottage Garden is a certain shopper’s paradise. The store has two locations in Glendale: the original Cottage Garden, which sells tastefully shabby, French-country- inspired home décor and lawn ornaments, and The Cottage Garden II, with vintage-type clothing, jewelry and…

The Rules and Myths of Fight Club Sadisco*

It’s almost guaranteed that bones will be broken and blood will be spilled at this weekend’s Fight Club Sadisco* at The Firehouse. Furious blows will be exchanged inside a makeshift cage at the annual underground event, which features both men and women facing off against each other in bare-knuckle donnybrooks,…

Meredith Publishing Shuts Down ReadyMade Magazine

Meredith Publishing Co. announced this morning that it is shutting down ReadyMade, the drool-worthy, bi-monthly design magazine once-dubbed the “Martha Stewart for 20-somethings.” ReadyMade, founded in 2001, was known for its witty content, genius design makeover suggestions, and ruthless dedication to everything DIY. No word on refunds for subscribers or…

Four Summertime Fixes for Bookworms in Phoenix

There’s nothing like a good book on the beach … or by the pool, on the couch, or in the break room. What just might top a book on the beach, however, is a table of bookworms, ready to dish on the latest read. In Phoenix, a few book clubs…

Necomimi: Brain-Controlled Cat Ears Have Arrived

In this week’s example of something that will only get you laid at a furry party, we bring you a wiggly cat ear headband that’s controlled by your emotions. We’ll admit it’s been quite the year for cats in pop culture — we’ve seen cat hair jewelry, cat tattoos, even…

Phoenix Fashion Week Announces Top 10 Emerging Designers at MIM

​Phoenix Fashion Week doesn’t come to the Valley until October, but coordinators of the weekend-long celebration of local and national designers are giving Phoenicians plenty of time to get brushed up on a few musts (and mustn’ts). The group will unveil its 10 emerging designers this Friday, June 17 from 7…