Blogs

By Jonathan McNamara

Not only will you be able to see cars crush each other like wheeled beer cans against so many foreheads at Hellzapoppin' Demolition Derby this weekend, you'll also bear witness to lawn mower races and tire pushes. If you're looking for a dose of manly excitement, you won't find anything any better than this!

It's hard to believe that automobile annihilation wouldn't appeal to everyone, but just in case you're looking for something a little less violent try Angela Johnson's Vaudeville Style Mystery Menagerie Fall 2008 Collection Fashion Show. It's going down at the shiny, new catwalk at the Clarendon Hotel.

By Jonathan McNamara

Let's cut to the chase here. There are a lot of great things going on this weekend, but none of them are as important as seeing Mini Kiss as written about in our Cinco De Mayo Guide.

I saw a video of this awesome foursome on Jimmy Kimmel Live and was transfixed. See them rock 'n' roll all night at Dos Gringos this Saturday.

Assuming you're still capable of functioning after Mini Kiss obliterates your visual and aural senses, you might also want to check out Free Comic Book Day. Several comic artists well be descending upon crowds of slack-jawed fan boys this Saturday.

If you can't make either of those events, don't worry. It's not as if the weekend has gone to pot...or has it. Find out for yourself at the Global Marijuana March. More than 220 cities around the world are participating in this march to legalize marijuana.

By Jonathan McNamara

There are a lot of interesting sports out there. In Japan, they ride trees down hillsides. In Canada, they hurl boulders across expanses of ice and use brooms to slow them down. There are no Japanese tree-riders in the Valley this weekend, but if you want to see some curling action, you'd best get down to the Desert Ice Bonspiel at the ALLTEL Ice Den. Take off.

Holy guacamole! They've got chips to spare at My Nana's Salsa Challenge this weekend. Remember that many tomatoes died to create tasty chip-coverings for you. Think of the tomatoes.

If you can awaken from a salsa coma on Sunday, I suggest you try to laugh some of those unnecessary calories off at Tempe Improv during The Comedy Draft. A dozen comedians of various skill levels and experience will take turns trying to make you chortle whilst downing gin and tonics. Tip your wait staff.

What did you miss? Let's roll the tape.

Friday kicked the weekend off with Theonix Arts Showcase vol. III at Hollywood Alley. With plenty of brew flowing and a fair, Friday-sized crowd getting in to the music, it was a great night out.

Phillip Huber offered fun with no strings attached (they were already too busy with the marionettes) at the Great Arizona Puppet on Saturday. The puppets used in his performance were inspired by various types of music with the exception of a contortionist inspired by Cirque Du Solei.

By Jonathan McNamara

Now we're talking. This weekend reads like a recipe for undiluted joy.

Like a hollywood franchise with no end in sight, Theonix Arts Showcase vol. III hits Hollywood Alley this Friday. Luckily for us, the tried and true formula of music, art and catering is a guaranteed hit every time. Too bad I can't say the same for Harrison Ford's latest project. That's right. I'm lookin' at you, Jones.

First up on the list we have An Evening with the Huber Marionettes. Phillip Huber, the man behind the puppet scenes in Being John Malkovich, will be pulling the strings at this Great Arizona Puppet Theater event aimed at adults. For more puppet action with the little ones in mind, check out some of the shows earlier on Saturday.

Have you been dreaming of watching boats built of inadequate materials floating perilously down Tempe Town Lake? Well, you got your wish. This weekend several teams will attempt to brave these scenic waters with boats made of cardboard in the Great Cardboard Boat Regatta

The Minibosses get down to 8-bit rockin' this weekend at Yucca Tap Room

By Jonathan McNamara

Looking for something racy to do this weekend? Check out the Phoenix International Raceway for all the high-speed action you can handle. Tonight is the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 and tomorrow is the Subway Fresh Fit 500. YEE-HAW!

Blasting back from the brief period in the '90s when dance music meant artists like Amber and Real McCoy but not boy bands, Crystal Waters is kicking off Phoenix Pride Weekend. This show is guaranteed to be 100% Pure fun.

What's better than playing video games? How about watching a Mini Bosses concert. Better than that: Watching a Mini Bosses concert in which the band members must drink a shot before each song. That's right, Mini Bosses, The Necronauts and Vinfiz (reunited for this show only) are hitting Yucca Tap Room for Shotfest 2.

By: Jonathan McNamara

With Tempe Music Festival on top of The Black Keys' performance at The Marquee, last weekend was full of musical mayhem. This weekend it's all about the art.

You won't get any candy out of these monsters, but don't worry, the Mutant Piñata Show is still pretty sweet.

The folks at Hoodride Bodega want to invite you to stick around at their latest artistic event kicking off tonight and running through April 30. Called "Sticker Phiends," the event features "adhesive art."

Redefining the idea that beauty is only skin deep, the Arizona Tattoo Expo hits Phoenix full force all weekend long. Get inked (or pierced) while mingling with needle nerds and watching suspension artists hang around.