‘Arizonafication’ Is Arizona Exporting Extremism? [KTAR]

Centerpoint Sale Brings Hopes to Tempe’s Mill Ave [AZ Central]

The Black Swan Diet Will Not Make You Look Like Natalie Portman [Gawker]

Alright everybody. Let’s dim the lights in your office cubicle and maybe turn on some Marvin Gaye or Barry White music. In fact, we’re going to write this entire post in a deep baritone voice with a sultry backbeat. Ooooooh yeah, (budum, budum) it’s about to get sexy in here. Mmmmhmmm. But not just any kind of sexy (budum, budum). We’re talking artsy sexy. Librarian-with-a-sleeve-tattoo sexy. History-professor-with-a-Harley sexy. Oh yeah!

Yes, everybody’s fav intimacy shops, Fascinations is kicking off a year-long series of erotic (and free) art shows this Saturday, February 26 (from 7 -9 pm) at the Tempe location. Named “OVEREXPOSED: An Exhibition of Beauty”, this red-hot collection of erotic photography from local Arizona artists will rotate throughout the Valley’s nine Fascinations stores all year long.

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With AZ Beer Week in full swing, we feel it entirely necessary to give you something savory to go with that tall glass of brew. From delicious burgers to fancy foie gras, this week recap of the food blogosphere is finger-lickin’ good. Keep a napkin handy because …

Here’s a redux of this week’s happenings in our favorite food blogs. »READ MORE

Famed Valley Concert Promoter Goes Independent Again [AZ Central]

Mexico Army: US Agent’s Killing was Cartel Error [MSNBC]

How ‘OK’ Took Over the World [BBC]

Where did we come from? What are we doing here? These questions are mere childsplay compared to the most pressing question of all time. What font is your mustache?

See the full spectrum of face furniture after the jump.

[Buzz Feed]

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78 Celebrities You May Have Not Known Changed Their Names [Buzz Feed]

Mesa PD: DUI Suspect Had 7 Kids In Sports Car Including 3 in Trunk [CBS 5]

Gilbert Gym Hosts ‘Biggest Loser’ Casting Call [EV Trib]

Those list lovers at Forbes magazine just ranked the 25 Best Shopping Cities in America. Not surprisingly, Texas tops the list with Houston and Dallas taking the top two spots, respectively, and three other cities in the top 25. In fact, Texas is home to nearly one-quarter of the total retail space available at the nation’s top 525 major shopping centers.

That said, the real shocker is not that Phoenix finished in the top 10, but that NYC was ranked #22. How could that be? (Hint: having an s-ton of Walmart’s is somehow considered a postive?!)

Image via AlHikesAZ’s Flickr

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New in CenPho: The DawgFather Grill [Phx New Times]

‘South Park’ Duo Brings ‘Mormon’ to Broadway [USA Today]

Heroic Domino’s Employees Save Elderly Woman’s Life [Eater]

Hipster alert, Warby Parker has rolled out this old-school monocle eyepiece named the Colonel. (Rolled out, get it?) Naturally, you might be wondering when and where you would wear a such a thing? Well, aside from playing a super-villian in the next James Bond flick, we hear a monocle is absolutely de rigueur when joining Scrooge McDuck for a swim in his gold-coin pool.

[Warby Parker]

Recently, Scoop Factory went deep beneath the streets of Phoenix as it explored the Camelback Pedestrian Underpass, a surprisingly beautiful tunnel connecting Biltmore Fashion Park with the cluster of high-rise offices, condos and hotels just across this busy street. However, we’ve got the sad story behind this stunning civic space, as well as how history seems to be repeating itself as city officials argue over how to connect two popular shopping centers on opposite sides of the Phoenix/Scottsdale border.

Hopefully, this latest shopping center squabble won’t also end with poor pedestrians being squashed by SUVs.

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Libya’s Leader Paid $1M For Private Mariah Carey Concert WikiLeaks Reveals [NY Times]

Second Degree Murder Verdict for Valley Iraqi Who Ran Over Daughter for Dating [AZ Central]

Cellphone Radiation Definitely Does Stuff to Your Brain [Gawker]

‘Nuff said!

[Buzz Feed]

Margarita Day Specials at Valley Bars & Restaurants [AZ Central]

Five Places to Celebrate National Margarita Day [Phx New Times]

Woman Attacks Roommate Over Thin Mints [Gawker]

Never mind the recent cloudy weather. Here in the Valley of the Sun, the sizzling summer heat is always just around the corner. Which means it’s also the perfect time to start construction on that postcard-perfect pool you’ve been dreaming about for years.

But wait, aren’t pools pretty pricey? And it’s not as if DLT is just giving them away for free, right? Well, no. We are not giving them away for free. However, we’re happy to announce that California Pools, who despite the name has been building award-winning custom pools here in AZ for more than 20 years, is now offering a $15,000 rebate to qualified customers. Now that’s a splashing good deal.

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What is it with the (nearly) nude auditions today?

Decades after Playboy closed its Playboy Club in Downtown Phoenix, the magazine is back in town and looking for a few good naked women bunnies. According to AZ Central, the casting call is going on today up until 6 pm at an undisclosed location in Scottsdale.

“Ladies interested in trying out must be at least 18 … need to bring two valid forms of ID and show up in either lingerie or a swimsuit, and heels. Then they’ll do a sexy striptease, and undress down to their comfort level.”

Hmmm. Can’t imagine why they wouldn’t make that open to the public?

Wounded US Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, Tweeted out a B-Day message to her hubby yesterday. The message, which was typed out by a staffer, read, “Happy Birthday @ShuttleCDRKelly & @StationCDRKelly! Thanks for the cake @houstonhospital“ and included a pic of the cake at left.

Giffords husband, Mark Kelly is a NASA astronaut who recently left Giffords’ rehab center in Houston, with her blessing, to resume training for his upcoming flight piloting the Space Shuttle. As for the other Kelly mentioned in the Tweet, it’s Mark Kelly’s twin brother and fellow astronaut, Scott Kelly.

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Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame Nominees Announced [Phx New Times]

Police: Deadly PV Mall Crash Driver ‘Disturbed’? [AZ Central]

Ex-Aide’s Book Paints Harsh Portrait of Sarah Palin [Politico]

Do you feel uncomfortable in clothes? Do you feel the need to constantly walk around with your shirt off? Sounds like you’ll be right at home at the new Spanish Fly in Scottsdale. Described as a posh Mexican beach resort (without the resort, but including an expansive pool deck), starting tomorrow the soon-to-open Fly will be holding a “bathing suit optional” audition for bartenders, cocktail waitresses and, wait for it, lifeguards. Click here for all the information, but most important – show up between 11 am – 7 pm, & look hot. Yeah, that’s pretty much it. For inspiration, see the above photo or just watch a Girls Gone Wild vid. Also, our phone calls regarding Sheriff Joe’s pending audition have remained unreturned.

Have no fear, local moms and dads, AZ’s politicians are not about to let any Commie Food Nazi Pinkos take away your kids’ Happy Meal Toys. Yes, our local leaders have taken a break from racking up Super Extreme DUIs and ignoring questions about their criminal kids, to approve a bill ensuring that no one will restrict any toys or games offered with kids’ meals. Which no one is actually proposing. But still, chalk one up for the good guys?

That said, in light of the recent report that says AZ residents spend more on fatty fast food than all but three other states, they better not try try to mess with us adults. They can have my last In-N-Out animal-style fry when the emergency room doctors pry it out of my chubby, grease-stained hands.

Man Accused of Causing Fatal Wreck Already Facing Attempted Child Prostitution Charges [AZ Family]

Stop Everything, Justin Bieber Has Cut His Hair [Gawker]

Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Hits New Zealand [Fox News]

Regularly featured in magazines such as Vogue, Town&Country and Harper’s Bazaar, Ann Bonfoey Taylor was the It girl of the ski-chic generation. Even cooler, her amazing drool-worthy wardrobe filled with custom gowns and couture pieces from iconic designers like Givenchy, Charles James and Balenciaga has been donated to the Phoenix Art Museum, where it will go on display starting this Sunday, February 27. See a full gallery of Mrs. Taylor’s most alluring, fashion-forward pieces after the jump.

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University of Arizona Sets Up Civility Institute [NY Times]

iPad’s Price Is Untouchable [CNN]

Phoenix Knife House Goes on a Media Blitz [Phx New Times]

Remember all that crazy weather this weekend? (Specifically, the heavy rain and whipping wind gusts that were almost enough to keep us away from this Saturday’s Strong Beer Fest. Almost.) Well, be happy you weren’t attending this children’s birthday party outside of Tucson, where two young girls were carried away in an inflatable bounce house!

Scary stuff as two sisters aged nine and 11 were carried up to 100 feet when the bounce house ripped free from its moorings with them still trapped inside. Fortunately, they both survived with minor to serious injuries, including six stitches and a concussion for the nine-year-old, suffered when the runaway inflatable landed on a neighbor’s house and she tumbled some 13 feet to the ground. Click here to see an TV interview with the family.

Image via ABC 15

Normally, we’d be too embarrassed to admit that among many other magazine blogs on the internet, we also frequently stalk Teen Vogue. But there’s something whimsical, charming and downright adorable about this DIY bow-tie necklace they featured from designer Timo Weiland. For this reason, we are going to share with you the details on how to create your own and rock this nouveau-nerd style as soon as humanly possible. Get the step-by-step instructions from Teen Vogue‘s website after the jump.  »READ MORE

Do you know this man? If you have no idea, feel free to disregard this post. But if your answer was, “duh”, then we may have a great opportunity for you to channel that inexplicable love of the fashion industry while socializing with those who feel the exact. same. way.

The AZ chapter of Fashion Group International is hosting a membership drive this Thursday (6-8 pm) at the Local Talent boutique on Fifth Ave (Scottsdale, not Manhattan). RSVP for a night of wine, appetizers and your kind of people here and check out FGI’s website to get all of the details on this non profit organization. Karl not included.