A few things I saw this week that were great was Ben Bedell’s “Time Recycled” clocks made of computers, Michelle Geiss’s “Unique Recycled Sculptures” made from old car parts, and of course, the Cucumber Kamikazes at Fate. All these things are worth trying.
I know I must have said this several times before, but you should all check out First Fridays in downtown Phoenix. Every time I go they get bigger and more impressive. I could never cover all of what a First Friday is, but here are my three favorite things from this month.
Michelle Giess is excellent with a blow torch, and I sincerely regret my part-time employment status, because I wanted to buy everything she had.
Flowers
There is a wide variety of artists on a First Friday, but this was by far the most unique. You can see from the pictures that it’s some original stuff, but my favorite didn’t come out. It was a three-panel screen-style set of Chinese bamboo, and it was amazing.
Spider
Cucumber Kamikazes
I know I have said you should all eat at Fate, because it’s great food. But now that Johnny has expanded his place to include a large bar, I have to mention that too. The cucumber kamikaze is a brilliant invention that should be celebrated far and wide.
Yum
Fate is at 4th Street and Garfeild, and it’s been one of my favorite places for a long time, but it seems to get cooler every time I go. (Although it really was cold and windy this month.)
The strangest thing I saw was the recycled time. Perfect for any geek, these clocks are made from old computers. I wondered what my machine was good for once it got so outdated I couldn’t open the files people sent me anymore, and now I know. Ben Bendell makes these creative clocks, and they are definitely worth checking out.
The Mustache Massacre at Chaser’s was fun. Here’s a little about it and who was there. And then here are some other great things to do in the area this time of year.
Well I did make it to the Mustache Massacre, and it was great. The show was held at Chaser’s Music Venueat Hayden and Roosevelt, and Chaser’s has always been one of my favorite places to see a show. It’s something about the checkerboard ceiling and the shape of the place… not to mention Shaun, who is the best bar tender ever.
Hardwire is still such a great show. They had a hard time doing all their favorite things, since the ceiling is so low.Ikonoklast was also good, but their hearts weren’t in it and I don’t blame them. Keegan, who I have blogged about as being an amazing artists, died last week. He was a friend of the band and many of the fans (and me!), so there were subdued moments in the crowd whenever it came up in conversation. Well, it was a good time even with the clouds hanging over us. And speaking of us, here we are:
Hanging out at the show
Now, on to other things:
I have a few things on my to-do list. I hope to make it to the last weekend of The Renaissance Festival. I haven’t been able to entice my old friends from the faire to come out for any shows, so I’ll have to go see them the last weekend in March.
I still want to go to the Ostrich Ranch between here and Tucson. I used to live by an ostrich farm and I have always got a kick out of them. When I was a kid I wanted one to use for transportation. They can run really last and they can hold an adult human on their back. It was only later I found out they aren’t really bright and training one would take more patience than I had. But I still want to see the Ostrich Farm.
I’m also still trying to get out to Kartchner Caverns. It’s hard because you have to have a reservation, and I have a tough time committing to being somewhere far away on a day that’s a month away. I’ll get there eventually.
Another great destination is Rocky Point, Mexico. Some of you made have heard that Mexicans don’t want us in their country since we’ve been “fighting a war on immigration” and we’ve “tried to restrict trade.” Some of you made have even heard that drug cartels are kidnapping people. I want to dispel all these rumors in the case of Rocky Point.
You see, the road there has recently been re-paved. It’s smooth and beautiful from the moment you cross into Mexico all the way to the beach. This cost the government a huge amount of money, and it was done to encourage more tourists to come to the beach. Hotels have been built, and condos. Many people have invested their entire lives works and savings into Rocky Point. And then the rest of Mexico got a little offended and people stopped coming out of fear. When I went recently, every single person I saw was bending over backwards to help me. They are always polite people, but lately they are thrilled to see tourists and desperate for you to tell your friends.
The violence throughout Mexico is not something you see on the drive from the boarder to Rocky Point. There are not drug cartels, and there is only a police station because they were told tourists would feel more comfortable if they could “call the cops” when they felt cheated. The cops do not other tourists; they are only there to help. They aren’t the Federalis with their huge guns either, these are Rocky Point cops with tasers.
So if you’ve been missing the beach, don’t forget that there is a beach only a few hours drive from Phoenix. And if you go, get tacos at the giant sombrero because they’re the bomb.
I’ve been away from my blog due to an illness, but I’m back now and I promise to to try write often!
I’ve been sick. Not your average, run-of-the-mill sick, but getting radiation treatment sick. It wasn’t easy, but I made it through finals and graduated while being sick and even had one of my finals (in my magazine writing class) turn into my teacher asking me to write a first-person account of the whole thing. It’s not much of a story, but it got published.
My hormone levels are still not balanced after having my thyroid gland killed and getting on a synthetic, but I am getting closer to feeling normal again. And at least I graduated, (Magna Cum Laude even.)
Graduation day
With that said, I haven’t been able to get out much, and when I have it has been into nature (which is healing to the soul) instead of the party scene in Phoenix. I’d suggest things, but unfortunately even the places I’ve been getting out aren’t places I can suggest to you, as they are mostly no longer available due to the state’s budget shortfall.
Me and my freind
Also, I did make it to the Alwun House art show on Valintine’s day, and it was great!
Fire dancers from Plaza de Anaya in Tempe are one of the many great things you can see at The Firehouse Gallery in downtown Phoenix.
The Firehouse Wall
The Firehouse Gallery is located on First Street, just north of Roosevelt Road. Managed by Michael Hudson, it is a mellow artist’s collective with an art space in front and a stage in back. Currently, The Firehouse Gallery is sticking to only doing events on Fridays. In the future, they hope to have the gallery open several days a week.
First Friday at The Firehouse are exciting because the fire dancers from Plaza de Anaya in Tempe perform on First Fridays at The Firehouse Gallery. These girls are good; it makes you want to sign up for lessons yourself. And, it’s memorizing to watch people dance with fire.
I highly recommend checking out The Firehouse, which is a great example of the sorts of cute little places that make downtown Phoenix unique and special.
This Halloween, don’t settle for the party at your freind’s house with dry ice in bowls. Check out the fun at The Alwun House Costume Ball.
Mardi Gras Mask
Today is the day! If you haven’t found anything to do tonight yet, my last minute suggestion would be a costume ball at The Alwun House. This is the sort of event where you can just pop over to Mardi Gras Costume Shopin Scottsdale, and grad a mask on a stick. You know; the ones that you hold up in front of your face, like in an old movie? It’s classy, and you don’t have to get an entire costume. Then head to The Alwun House for a night of burlesque dancers, art, and costumes.
It’s a sinfully good time. Everyone in attendance must be at least 21 years old, because there is a bar on the premises. If you’re a bit older than 21- don’t worry! This venue brings out ghouls of all ages. You’ll find a spot somewhere in one of the lovely courtyards where you can fit right in. Just because you didn’t make plans yet, doesn’t mean you have to stay home and hand out candy. Grab a mask and head to The Alwun House tonight!
Be warned: Some of the art is edgy, so be prepared. Not for the faint of heart.
Get ready for Halloween fun at the (Sic)monic show in Tempe this Friday.
(Sic)monic
Halloween is coming, and there are lots of great things to do! One of the fun things going on Halloween day is a (Sic)monic concert at The Setsin Tempe.(Sic)monic is a local hard rock band, with a following of creepy kids who will be dressing up and getting down this Halloween. The show starts late, so you’ll have plenty of time to hand out candy or take the kids trick-or-treating beforehand. Come check these guys out with other local favorites and support your local music scene.
There will also be a costume contest, so don’t forget to dress up!
Haunted Houses are one of the best parts of October. The most popular (or at least the most advertised) is Arizona Scream Parkat 8823 E. McDowell Road in Scottsdale. As far as haunted houses go, it’s pretty great. The actors are well-paid and genuinely trying to scare you. However, the price is outrageous. Plan to spend $5 to park, then between $16 and $75 on tickets, depending on how much fun you want to have. The VIP ticket includes a monster escort.
Being scared is okay in a movie, but it’s really a lot more fun when something is coming at you and you can run away. That’s exciting! So check out a Haunted House this year and remember how much fun it is to get your blood pumping.
One of the best parts about Halloween is the pumpkins. Even if you don’t like Pumpkin Pie or Pumpkin Seeds, everyone loves carving jack-o-lanterns. You can get a pumpkin anywhere, of course. They sell them in stores and at roadside stands like the one pictured above in Higley, Arizona.
But for the best Pumpkin Patch you will ever see, you have to go to Ray Schnepf’s Farm.
Schnepf Farm
24810 Rittenhouse Road
Queen Creek
(480) 987-3333
Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday they are open for anyone to come and explore the Pumpkin Patch. In addition, they have a celebrity corn maze (last year it was supposed to be of Steve Nash). The place is spooky at night too, so check it out on Halloween for the hay ride out to the “haunted” corn maze.
Schnepf Farms is near and dear to most Native Arizonians, who were taken as kids to select the Very Best Pumpkin. It’s still the best Pumpkin Patch in the valley, so if you like carving jack-o-lanterns, you have to make your stop there for the Best Pumpkin Ever.
Oh, and this year’s maze was announced today. Read about it and see a sky-high view in the Arizona Republic Article today in the Valley and State Section. You will have to get a copy of the paper though, as they failed to put it on their Web site. It’s of Muhamad Ali.
If you’re ready for Halloween and all the creepy stuff Arizona has to offer, you have to check out the Arizona Fetish Prom at The Venue of Scottsdale on October 11th. What is a fetish prom? Well, for starters, it’s retailers of things you’ll have a hard time finding anywhere else. Sure, you could try to buy a corset online, but then how would you try it on? The Fetish Prom is the answer. Often, there are people selling jewelry all decked out with spiders and snakes, corsets and velvet capes, as well as swords, and whips and chains.
Everyone is friendly, and no one pressures you. If you’re just there shopping for a corset and you don’t want to get near the bondage gear, that’s okay. But then again, if you’ve ever been curious, it can’t hurt to look.
I went to the last prom because Horns and Halos, who put the proms on, brought a band I love called VNV Nation. I have always wanted to see them, but they never play Phoenix. This trip to the United States they did play Phoenix, but only at the prom. So, I went to the prom and had a great time. The local band that opened, called Hardwire, was great.
Every prom has different entertainment. This event features a local band called Mankind is Obsolete, among other attraction such as the shopping.
I was reminded the other day of an artist I used to know named Lisa Albringer, and I thought I would share.
Lisa is now teaching beginning oil painting in Portland. Once, she lived in downtown Phoenix and did a portrait of me (which you can see below and which is titled “JD”). While it is named after me, I don’t know how much it actually resembles me. But it’s lovely anyhow.
Lisa tours the country doing art shows when she isn’t teaching. I highly recommend picking up a piece by Lisa. She is already doing very well, but I expect her to be quite famous some day. While her paintings are priced in the hundreds now, I have no doubt they will appreciate in value over time.
Besides the investment aspect, a painting by Lisa realty brightens up a room. I have one in the corner with my houseplants, and it really goes well there.
JD's Blog 