As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

Another day, another amazing exhibit coming to the Phoenix Art Museum. This time, architecture and art buffs can join together in celebration of on one of the world’s most famous architects, Frank Lloyd Wright. The exhibition, entitled Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century, will open on December 18 in honor of the 75th Anniversary of Wright’s former residence and studio, Taliesin West and aims to offer “fresh perspective” on the celebrated architects seven-decade career. The exhibition will include never before seen drawings, scale models and photography in addition to videos of the man in action.

The look back on Wright’s expansive work will focus on his triumphs in the architecture world and will delve into the details of Living City. While the project never made it past the blueprint stage, fans of Wright will be able to see the beginning stages of a 1958 urban utopia which aimed to blend the natural environment with everyday life. Sounds like Wright was “going green” before anyone ever knew the meaning behind it. Mark your calendars for the release date, Wright’s Arizona legacy lives on.

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

Same favorite fast-food eatery, same delicious, gargantuan burritos. But their look is getting a makeover. Yes, the popular go-to Mexican grill is trading in their old restaurant design for a more refined modern look. We thought they were already modern but…whatever. The Chipotle redesign will be done by Architecture Outfit, who is taking on the challenge of making a big impact without having a multitude of different materials, colors, and furniture, while still creating a lively atmosphere.

The new spaces will contain what the firm describes as “monster-sized banquets, super graphics, living walls, a long thin kitchen, and 14′ ceiling fans.” The new redesigns will emphasize family seating spaces, along with on-the-go seating. You can also expect some scaled-up art work to accent the surrounding plywood walls. No cue as to when the Phoenix and surrounding area locations will be remodeled, although we’ve heard rumors that test-marketed brown rice is at select locations. So it looks like we won’t be waning our Chipotle addiction anytime soon. Darn.

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

The Queen is dead, but that doesn’t mean we can’t party. On September 2nd, Andy Rourke bassist of the legendary band The Smiths will be making a guest DJ appearance during Sticky Fingers at Bar Smith in Phoenix. For a $10 cover you can enjoy the sounds of The Smiths (among others) as played by a former member. Sticky Fingers founder William Reed says its the “next best thing” to seeing The Smiths live, because for those who still love and listen, we’ll never get an opportunity to see them live.

Andy will begin his set at midnight on Sept. 2nd and has no qualms about chatting with fans, signing records and taking photos. So bring your Smiths records and get ready to dance!

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

In an effort to “reach for the stars” of customer satisfaction, The Venue Scottsdale went ahead and made them visible. Okay, that was a bad joke, but this whole “retractable roof” upgrade they unveiled on July 15 sounds pretty sweet. Can’t decide between an indoor or outdoor venue? No problem, the roof can open in less than 30 seconds and you still have the comfort of walls and a relatively bug-free environment. A rare Arizona rain decides to dampen your big day? Well, shut that baby back up and you are good to go. Like the sunshine, but prefer air conditioning? Who has to choose!While all we can see are positives, The Venue Scottsdale is making even bigger strides to improve their, uh, venue by expanding their lounge to 8000 square feet. The new addition (V Squared) is set to open in early 2012 and will have all the benefits of said retractable roof.

With all the haboobs (insert inappropriate joke here) we’ve been experiencing lately, it seems only natural to drink in honor of our crazy weather. Cheers with the perfect cocktail; the ever classic dark n’ stormy. Prepared at one of the city’s finest lookout points, this recipe from J&G Steakhouse will be ready and waiting for you to whip up the next time a national news worthy haboob rolls through. Here’s hoping…

Ingredients:
2 oz. Goslings Black Seal Rum
1/2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
1/2 oz. John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum
Stewart’s Ginger Beer
Lime Wheel

Prep:
Prepare the drink like a Collins. In a Collins glass, add Velvet Falernum and lime juice. Add ice and lime wheel. Cover the glass with a small shaker and shake briefly. Top off with Ginger beer but leave an inch clear on top. Now carefully add the rum on top. Serve immediately.

August is almost here and a new month means it’s time to clear out the iPod to make room for new music. DJ William F-Ing Reed has some fabulous track suggestions for you.

Little Dragon – Nightlight
M83 – Midnight City
The Drums – Money
TheophilusLondon – Why Even Try (RAC Remix)
Flying Lotus – Mint Leaf Lullaby

We’ve got wood for these Canby Sunglasses by Shwood. Available in 3 different varieties to match any man’s likeness, Cherry (All American), East Indian Rosewood (tall, dark and mysterious) or Zebrawood (exotic), you can also purchase a Slider Hardcase in which to insert your newly acquired wood. Given that their slogan is “Shwood: Experimenting with Nature” all these sexual innuendos were just far too easy (ha!). Purchase here.

Remember Chris Curtiss? Of course you do, you’ve been missing him at your (weekly) Noca dinners. After his sudden departure from the Noca kitchen last month, we’ve heard he’ll be heading over to Fox Restaurant Concepts. No word on what he’ll be doing there or which kitchen he’ll be manning, but it’s very interesting considering AZ Central was reporting he’d be spending the next two years at Valley non-profit, One Step Beyond. Have info? Let us know.

Move over Sprinkles..there’s a new cupcakery in town. Opening in the Scottsdale Seville Center on August 15th, 21 Cakes, named after the glamourous art deco period and New York City’s 21 Club,  will offer 12 delectable cupcake flavors each day including the classic, Red Velvet. On top of the traditional flavors, you will find the Belgian cupcake– a Belgian waffle-like experience with fresh fruit compote served on top of a cupcake and a dollop of freshly-made whipped cream and the Breakfast Cupcake– a cinnamon sugar cupcake without frosting similar to coffee cake. Must we say more?

Owner and Pastry Chef Linda Schneider is taking her family heirloom recipes to a whole new level of freshness by using seasonal fruit straight from Napa and skipping the preservatives and artificial flavoring. 21 Cakes cupcakes are crafted using the finest ingredients including Madagascar Vanilla, Belgian chocolate, local farm-raised eggs and dairy products.

While spoiling your taste buds at 21 Cakes, relax in a contemporary chic atmosphere that feels like a Paris side street discovery – complete with white carrera marble countertops, dramatic lighting and antique cupcake muffin tins encased in plexiglass lining the walls. A large glass-enclosed Frosting Room and see-through kitchen will make your experience at 21 Cakes that much more memorable.

Cupcakes are $3.35 each or $37.00 per dozen. Holiday and seasonal specials will be available along with locally roasted coffee blends and cupcake gift packs.

No need to travel to the Big Apple for your favorite Broadways shows because local theatres are bringing the classics right here to the Valley. The 2011-12 season lineups have been released and it looks like another year of talent and entertainment ahead of us. Check out what shows are coming to the Valley after the jump. »READ MORE

Alright, so, technically this isn’t a “home project”, but we couldn’t resist sharing this recipe for an amazing homemade chocolate chip cookie skillet from Wit & Whistle. While you can’t hang it on your wall or use it more than once, you do have to do it yourself so we’re going to go ahead and count it. Get the recipe and method straight from the blog after the jump. The best part? You don’t have wait over an hour or eat to much “filler food” to get what you really came for. Oh yeah, we know that trick.  »READ MORE

Stay cool for the cure this Saturday with the ultimate water gun and balloon fight in Old Town benefiting Susan G. Komen. Hosted by American Junkie and Firehouse, participants will receive a complimentary shot with their $5 donation at the noon kickoff at Firehouse.

Everyone must show up in a white t-shirt because red and blue teams will be decided the day of the fight. Anywhere between American Junkie and Firehouse on Stetson Drive is fair game and Old Town has plenty of side streets, parking structures and alleyways for sneak attacks and ambushes.

Water refill stations will be set up by sponsors as well as golf carts for troop deployment and extraction. This is the real deal guys, so get out your Super Soakers and pretend you’re 8 years old again. All donations will go directly to Susan G. Komen. Participants must meet at Firehouse at 12pm on Saturday, July 30th. Fight begins at 1pm. For more details check out the Facebook page.

See that stage, it could be yours. Well not exactly that stage, and it wouldn’t exactly be all yours, but you could be on it. Thanks to the first ever Arizona Comedy Festival, you or a someone you know can put their comedic talent to use and enter for a chance to perform live at the festival in April of 2012. So why are we bringing you this event so gosh darn early? Well, this festival of laughs is opening up time slots to certain worthy comics who have yet to be discovered. As the festival is currently taking nationwide submissions, the event was created in hopes of bringing the comedy community together. In addition to that, a portion of the proceeds will benefit KidTix, providing opportunities to children to attend sporting events, concerts, festivals or any other event that they would normally never have the chance to attend.

So, if you think you got what it takes (as you endlessly practice your jokes in the mirror), go ahead and enter, we dare you. And why not as this could truly be your call to fame as the top 10 submissions will be invited to perform at the event. After those lucky 10 take the mic under the bright lights, three finalists will be chosen as the winner will take home $2,000 in cash and personal invites to open for major headliners across the nation. So, as you’re rehearsing your jokes in your head as you read this, picture this, celebrity judges, celebrity hosts, a special guest performer, and your jokes leaving the audience in stitches. Now, all we have to say, is good luck, we hope to see the next Dane Cook be from Arizona.

No dipping our chip in the hot salsa this week, we are dumping the whole bowl and taking a Guy-Fiere-sized bite. Here’s a Redux on this week’s happenings in our favorite food blogs:

Never ones to turn down dessert first, we thought we’d share what Michele Laudig was kind enough to dish out on Monday. Turns out our very own Sweet Republic was featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” recently. We heard the buzz awhile back, but the episode finally aired and yet another Valley fave has skyrocketed to Food Network fame. The Toffee Banofi Sundae was a favorite of Alton Brown and is now to be a favorite of the million bandwagon jumpers within a 30 mile radius. While we joke, we seriously don’t blame you. Check out the video spot on Laudig’s blog here. »READ MORE

Even though we just released our favorite fall nail polish trends last week, the nail polish world is ever-changing and we had to share this cool new gimmick with you. Crackle, tie-die…what’s next you ask? Magnetic. Yep, you heard right, a magnetic nail lacquer. A UK nail brand, Nails Inc. is releasing a polish called Magnetic Attraction which contains iron powder and comes with a magnet embedded in the cap. After applying a coat of the polish, all you have to do is hold the magnet over your nails to get the rippled effect. It’s available in October and hopefully by then Nails Inc. will have expanded into the US.  If you can’t wait until then, LCN has a professional line selling for $10 a pop not including the magnets which sell for about $20…which high-end Scottsdale salon will pick it up first?

A rosé by any other name would still taste as sweet, but would probably still get the same subpar treatment from wine connoisseurs. To that kind of snobbery, we stick our noses up. Yeah, so what? The wine is pink. Big deal. Just because a wine is delicious, refreshing and summery in its bouquet or whatever, does not mean it doesn’t deserve a little respect. Yes, rosés can be sweet, but they can also be dry, light or rich in flavor depending on what you’re in the mood for. Thanks to restaurants like Beckett’s Table, Petite Maison and Quiessence, rosé is finally getting some street cred.  »READ MORE

Design Within Reach in Scottsdale will be hosting a night surrounded by modernism, literally. Special guest, Annette Daniels from Maharam will be giving an interactive presentation about the design and history behind its textiles from designers such as Paul Smith, Ray Eames, Alexander Girard and Hella Jongerious.

Maharam is a fourth-generation family-run business that specializes in unique modern textile patterns. Known to have pioneered the world of commercial fabric designs, Maharam offers stunning patterns for anything from sofas, to curtains and wall coverings. Maharam does it all in true modern style. To get in on this night with modern Maharam, join DWR August 2, at 6 p.m., or show up at 5:30 and browse all the on-sale items marked 15% off until the end of August. Interested in attending the night of modern fun? RSVP here.

There is something about spending a summer evening watching a movie that just feels right. A trip to the theater is enough of an outing to qualify as “doing something”, but the effort involved still makes it relaxing and stress free. But what to do when the films out there seem like a big ‘ol déjà vu? Two friends agreeing to have sex without complications? Harry Potter defeating Lord Voldemort? Comic book heroes saving the world from supernatural forces? Pretty sure we’ve been there, positive they’ve overdone that.

Well, thanks to the Phoenix Art Museum and their “More Than a Movie” exhibition starting July 31 through September 21, you can officially get out of the big studio movie rut. The museum will be offering free screenings of thought-provoking art films as well as films relevant to the museums collections with an opportunity for discussion with filmmakers and special guest speakers after the flick is through. Films like the Academy Award Winning Pan’s Labryinth or the critically acclaimed Werner Herzog film, Grizzly Man, are among the 10 films playing during this event. Grab a group or fly solo, this experience is one to enrich your summer evening and bring something more to the table than a predictable ending and a Hollywood sculpted derrière.

With all the last minute fun summer to-do’s before the (school) work piles on, don’t forget to gear up with some trendy school and office supplies. Yes, you’re going to have to stock up on paper, pens, and notebooks, but who said everything you purchase for school has to be as boring as that monotone teacher you fall asleep to every lecture or reading your emails? Well good news, it doesn’t have to be that way. With these fun must-haves, school/work won’t be so bland and boring. Our picks after the jump.

»READ MORE

We love shopping at Whole Foods as much as the next guy but this here saga of the big company and the little fired up employee is just too good to resist. Give it a read here courtesy of Seth Abramovitch

After reviewing video submissions from colleges around the country explaining why Tosh.0 should invade their campuses, he chose a school that didn’t even submit a video–Arizona State University. Can’t say we’re surprised! The Tosh.0 College Campus Invasion will hit the desert sometime in September. Stay tuned for details.

We all have one. That one friend who is really, unbelievably awful at telling stories. Their tales are followed by awkward stares and half-hearted chuckles because really, they’re that terrible. The Arizona Storytellers Project will be nothing like that.

Tomorrow night at Beckett’s Table, members of our community including Robert Ortega, Philip Haldiman and Megan Finnerty will be baring their souls for five minutes for us to mercilessly mock. Just kidding!  These brave individuals will briefly be letting us into their lives by telling their extraordinary tales of love, loss and hilarity. The key thread? Everything happened in Arizona. The slogan for the event is “We Heart Arizona: Stories of the People, Places and Things We Love– That Have Broken Our Hearts,” so you know this is going to be good. Bring Kleenex.

Beginning at 7 p.m., suggested donations of $10 will benefit various charities in honor of AZ’s centennial celebration. Listen to their ‘Once Upon a Times,’ their ‘Happily Ever Afters,’ or maybe their ‘To Be Continueds.’ Whatever the story may be, this will be an amazing night filled with community laughter and love. And leave those awkward stares and half-hearted chuckles at home, they have no place here.

For more details on Arizona Storytellers Project call 602.444.8770 or click here.

From floppy hats, peasant blouses, flared jeans and platforms, the 70s have literally taken over the fashion world from head to toe. While mixing everything together would look like a Penny Lane overload, one or two items are essential for a summer wardrobe. This week, we’re looking at platform shoes in all their 4+ inch glory. The perfect update, or throwback, to any evening look or a way to kick a daytime outfit into high gear, check out our favorite new old (old new?) styles after the jump. Image via Sea of Shoes. »READ MORE

Same favorite fast-food eatery, same delicious, gargantuan burritos. But their look is getting a makeover.  Yes, the popular go-to Mexican grill is trading in their old restaurant design for a more refined modern look. We thought they were already modern but…whatever. The Chipotle redesign will be done by Architecture Outfit, who is taking on the challenge of making a big impact without having a multitude of different materials, colors, and furniture, while still creating a lively atmosphere.

The new spaces will contain what the firm describes as “monster-sized banquets, super graphics, living walls, a long thin kitchen, and 14′ ceiling fans.”  The new redesigns will emphasize family seating spaces, along with on-the-go seating.  You can also expect some scaled-up art work to accent the surrounding plywood walls. No cue as to when the Phoenix and surrounding area locations will be remodeled, although we’ve heard rumors that test-marketed brown rice is at select locations. So it looks like we won’t be waning our Chipotle addiction anytime soon. Darn.

It’s the country club of all dog parks. Club PAWS, opening August 6th is a membership-based dog park and competition venue that requires all dogs to pass a socialization test, be current on all vaccinations and be neutered and spayed. It is located at Villa La Paws, a dog daycare, boarding, grooming and dog training company in Phoenix and is described as a safe alternative to traditional competition practice venues and public dog parks. Club PAWS provides an outside shaded sand box, slides and climbing structures, as well as wi-fi, evaporative coolers, tables and umbrellas for the dog owners. For the dog owners with prior obstacle equipment experience (whatever that means) a climate-controlled competition pavilion with agility and trick props, tunnels, jumps and teeters can be reserved.

The grand opening of Club PAWS is August 6th & 7th from 7am-7pm and only pre-approved doggies and owners will be admitted. For more information call 1-888-855-7833 or visit www.VillaLaPaws.com.