Tonight’s the night of the premier of Shannen Doherty on “Shannen Says” as we watch the tv bad girl prepare for her upcoming marriage to some dude who’s an awful actor and whom we feel kinda sorry for. We’re sure this third marriage for the 42-year old is sure to last after watching a few of clips of the happy couple.

Check out what Shannen says about babies to her husband-to-be:

See more of the awkward silences and forced comedic scenes here.

Apparently fashion month can’t all be about the hoopla of who’s wearing what, where and with whom – there are some serious scandals strutting off the catwalks too –or should we say, behind the catwalks. In an interesting, and rather unfashionable twist, the king of street-cool sportswear Alexander Wang is being struck with a $50 million labor lawsuit. According to the New York Post, Wang is being sued by around thirty of his workers who have been “forced to work 16 hours a day  or longer — without overtime — in a suffocating, windowless, 200-square-foot room” – a “Broadway sweatshop,” as it’s titled by the Daily News. Allegedly, one of his employees even claims he was hospitalized after fainting and told that he would be fired if he didn’t follow rules (fashionista.com). While the Wang empire is denying everything, we can’t help but shake our heads and admit that perhaps the dark side of the fashion industry is striking again.

Come together, Beckett’s Table lovers (meaning….every one of us!) Chef Justin Beckett has been nominated for “The People’s Best New Chef!” by FOOD & WINE Magazine, and it’s up to US to help this local chef win! It only takes a few seconds, so if you enjoy Beckett’s Table or just want to support a very talented Arizona chef, click here to vote for him. And hurry! You have seven days to vote, ending Sunday, March 11.

Not quite sure why you should vote for Beckett? Did you miss his TedX speech, “Come Together for a Change?” Ever had the chocolate-dipped housemade-marshmellow bacon s’mores? Or have you missed the pork osso buco confit served with spaetzle? You’ve got a few more days to see and taste for yourself.

Beckett’s Table | 3717 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ | 85018

Check the video of Beckett’s TedX speech “Come to Together for Change.”

Don’t spend your day attached to a computer screen surfing the web like you’re Kelly Slater? Well…..we do and all we can say is kowabunga. Get your fill of all the happenings in local media right here in your one stop shop for all things local and interesting. Bonus: no chocking down seaweed.

So word on the street is this fine state of ours is turning the big 100 on February 14th. This means there will be probably the equivalent amount of events and deals around town to celebrate such a milestone (like .20 off a large AJ’s ice tea. score). Jackalope Ranch has reported some of the art-related celebrations, but we were excited about the non-related event kicking off at SMoCA tomorrow. The spring will bring in lots of new things for Scottsdale’s Museum of Contemporary Art including interactive technology and the latest works of art from Kiki Smith and other exhibit openings. Hit up the party from 7-9 pm or be sure to saunter through sometime this spring to get your fill.

Valentine’s day is apparently big on floral arrangements and, at this point, we felt we had seen them all. Jaimee Rose proved us wrong by showing the Valentine’s Book for Lovers courtesy of Camelback Flowershop (pictured above). The shop created hollowed out books filled with succulents that you can purchase for $65 and they’ll bring it straight to your door or (OR) if you’re feeling creative, you can make your own. Nothing says “I love you” like a gift from the heart, right? Get the details from Jaimee’s blog here.

If there is anything we love more than alliteration it is this idea of a “pop-up park” we read about in Downtown Phoenix Journal. Every weekday from 11-1, CityScape and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership will host a “pop-up park” where patrons can enjoy free events, games and meet local worker bees in the mean time. That friendly game of lunchtime Jenga you have been jonesing for can now be a reality and we love it! Better still, DJ William Reed (hey! we know him!) and Sean Watson will spin tunes every Thursday and Friday and best yet, you can check out library books without actually going to the library. This could be the greatest idea ever.

images via Downtown Phoenix Journal and Jamiee Rose

We’ve recently added a few new apps and bookmarks to our Smartphones and browsers. Here’s a list of what’s caught our attention long enough to download and try after the jump. »READ MORE

We know you know that Facebook is getting ready to unveil arguably its biggest design change yet. Instead of panicking and irrationally hating the new layout like we have been, we asked Daniel Moran, Jr., director of social marketing and communications for Blufish Design Studio, to share the skinny on the impending changes and how to stalk like a pro on the new Facebook 8:

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerburg took the stage at the company’s fourth f8 conference and announced some major overhauls to the look and feel of Facebook. While users are threatening to gather their torches and pitchforks, I happen to have fallen in love with the new features— especially Timeline.

So here’s the skinny on recent changes…
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Somewhere over the rainbow lies a pot of gold filled with $3.8 million dollars. If you love shoes and the Wizard of Oz, with that kind of dough, you just may be able to purchase the original ruby red slippers Judy Garland wore in the classic 1939 film. While we thought these pivotal pieces of American pop culture history were all nestled in National Museum of American History , Born Rich is reporting that the ultra famous shoes will go on the block December 16th at Profiles in History’s three day “Icons of Hollywood” auction. Sure, there’s no place like home, but at the expected price, you could just buy several and call it a day. Oh the nerve.

According to Ryan Tate at Gawker the Feds may be looking to speak to the new Two and Half star for how he plugged his own companies in a recent Details Magazine article.   Ashton may not know better but the seniors at Conde Nast sure do.

“It’s certainly a possibility that a case like this could be investigated,” assistant Federal Trade Commission director Richard Cleland tells the Times of Kutcher’s Details special online issue, in which eight of 12 recommended products in one article were Kutcher investments. “If you’re out there promoting individual products that you have a specific investment in, it needs to be disclosed… If you have a significant economic investment that is not otherwise apparent, that may potentially affect the credibility of your endorsement, and I see that as a potential problem.” The FTC hasmade a priority out of online conflicts of interest.  [Gawker]

So what is happening over at Phoenix Magazine and Arizona Foothills Magazine these days when it come to social media, specifically Twitter, let’s take a look. Phoenix Magazine fans (7,500+) have enjoyed a few updates over the last month, including one Carefree Station offering a free dessert. We may have to just take a road trip. AZ Foothills Magazine has a food twitter (2,278), and they bring news of AZ’s 50 Top Restaurants, a valley steakhouse sweepstakes and some food festival updates. Cheers to that…Phx Mag is still kicking some butt with their 7500 or so followers that get their tweet fix.

FOLLOW:  Desert Living Today | Phoenix Magazine | Arizona Foothills Food

People, what is going on? We’ve just received word that another Valley publication has shut its doors effective June 1. A luxury lifestyle magazine, Haute Living is published in markets all over the world, including Moscow, and Dubai, but it seems they’ve recently ceased publication in Chicago, Boston, Dallas, San Diego, Philadelphia and Phoenix. While there was never actually a Phoenix print edition, just an online model (the ghost of which, is still in Google’s archive http://phoenix.hauteliving.com/) it certainly raises some questions. Why can’t publications survive in this market? As they say, bad things come in threes. First 944, now Haute Living; who is going under next? As it stands, their publisher Seth Semilof is a bit of a crazy pants. Anyone have more info? Let us know.

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

In the least shocking news story of the year, the hilariously-outrageous food blogger, Eric Eats Out, was tossed from the set of News Channel 12′s fancy new studio in Downtown Phoenix late last week. So what outrageous on-air f-bomb did he drop to get himself escorted off the property?

He joked that he was going to earn the station an FCC fine, in a Tweet, the day before his appearance, and added the hashtag #wardrobemalfunction. Which was enough, apparently, to draw the ire of the corporate suits up on the ninth floor, who sent a producer down to personally yank him out of the pre-show green room (pictured), and have security hustle him out of the building.

Way to not overreact, News Channel 12 producers. That’s the sort of forward thinking that led your parent company to mothball your longtime HQ, cram you into the bottom floor of the AZ Republic building, and try to spin it as ‘creating corporate synergy.’

But why would we try to tell this surreal tale, when we can just let Eric get on his soapbox? And be warned, we did not edit one filthy-funny word.

»READ MORE

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

Call it the house that classified ads (and Sheriff Joe bashing) built. Yes, sources tell us that the owner of this sleek-yet-woodsy abode featuring million dollar views of the Phoenix skyline is none other than Michael Lacey, the famously hard-nosed editor/co-owner of the Phoenix New Times.

Perched on a rocky rise straddling the Paradise Valley-Phoenix border, this custom manse appears to be at least a $1-2M project. Which, crazy as it sounds, is just a drop in the bucket compared to the approximately $22M in fines Lacey and his Village Voice Media just paid out following a bitter court battle with a rival paper in San Francisco, in what media pundits are calling the Last Great Newspaper War.

After the jump, take in a full slideshow of what 40 years of sticking it to the man will buy you. Plus, learn a little more about how Lacey, an ASU dropout and self-described ‘foul-mouthed son of a sailor,‘ transformed a single newspaper into the nation’s largest chain of ‘alt-weekly’ newspapers once valued at $400M. All while giving away his products away for free.

»READ MORE

To quote the famed thinker, Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, “Whoa!” Check out this amazing map of the world as defined by people’s Facebook connections. Created by an intern at Facebook, it’s intended to show: “how geography and political borders affected where people lived relative to their friends.” Which is truly amazing and awe-inspiring. I mean, our interns can’t even turn on the coffee machine. And don’t get us started on explaining what a fax is, never mind how it works.

See a large-scale image after the jump.

[Valleywag]
»READ MORE

Call it the house that classified ads (and Sheriff Joe bashing) built. Yes, sources tell us that the owner of this sleek-yet-woodsy abode featuring million dollar views of the Phoenix skyline is none other than Michael Lacey, the famously hard-nosed editor/co-owner of the Phoenix New Times.

Perched on a rocky rise straddling the Paradise Valley-Phoenix border, this custom manse appears to be at least a $1-2M project. Which, crazy as it sounds, is just a drop in the bucket compared to the approximately $22M in fines Lacey and his Village Voice Media just paid out following a bitter court battle with a rival paper in San Francisco, in what media pundits are calling the Last Great Newspaper War.

After the jump, take in a full slideshow of what 40 years of sticking it to the man will buy you. Plus, learn a little more about how Lacey, an ASU dropout and self-described ‘foul-mouthed son of a sailor,‘ transformed a single newspaper into the nation’s largest chain of ‘alt-weeklies’ once valued at $400M. All while giving away his products away for free.

»READ MORE

Our very own Meghan McCain sat down with crazy pseudo Presidential candidate for a rather long Q and A.   Click on through for the transcript.  (The Daily Beast)

One of these is not like the other. So here’s a snapshot of our Marketing Manager’s email inbox. See if you can spot the subject line that caught our eye. Hint, it’s not the one about Scoop Factory ads or the MercBar’s New Chef Menu.

Read the full “Vagina Tune Ups” pitch yourself after the jump. If you dare.

»READ MORE

Earlier this year, Phoenix’s 12 News began broadcasting live from its brand new home in the heart of Downtown. Even cooler, the station now features a ‘state of the art’ street-front studio, so you and your friends can embarrass yourselves appear on live TV, a la the Today Show‘s studio in Times Square. Personally, we can’t wait to watch the 24/7 excitement that is Downtown Phoenix, including the occasional businessperson hustling by, and maybe a lost tourist or a hungover ASU student. We kid, (we hope.)

But real story here is the TV station’s new location, wedged into the 10-story tower originally built as the HQ of the Arizona Republic newspaper. In other words, these former local media titans have shrunk so much that they both fit inside the same building.

But hey, it’s a party right? Click here to get details on today’s all-day street festival, culminating with a fireworks show and concert by the Valley’s-own Gin Blossoms. [Update: A scheduled appearance by the Today Show's Al Roker has been canceled, and the event will now double as a blood-drive/fundraiser in the wake of the terrible tragedy in Tucson.]

Meanwhile, to learn more about this corporate spin job, click read more.

Image via AZ Central

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So we put in a call to Arizona Foothills Magazine owner, Michael Dee, to respond to our Rumorist piece that they have ceased publishing and will move to an all-online format, but he’s not responded so far. However, we did see this Tweet from Mr. Dee, so we’re going to go out on a limb and say he strongly denies our speculation.

Even better, they’ve gone and posted a pic of the issue in question (hostage being held for ransom-style). So it looks like the rumors of AFM‘s print demise have been greatly exaggerated. Which, as fellow journalists, is great news. We don’t need any more unemployed media folks out there. We’re really not good at much beside writing/marketing/design (and eating free food at media events).

Got more info? We’d love to hear from you (and always protect our sources).

Well folks, it looks like another sad day for local journalists, as the word on the street is that Arizona Foothills Magazine‘s March issue was their last. In traditional glossy print format, that is.

Yes, sources have confirmed to us that AFM‘s printer is reportedly refusing to print any more issues until this Scottsdale-based publication settles up its outstanding debt. Meanwhile, we’ve also heard from multiple people that they never received their copy of the March “Best of” issue, including some who were actually featured in the issue.

This is a breaking news story, and we don’t proclaim to have all of the facts here. However, if it’s true it would be a yet another significant loss for the local publishing scene that’s been hammered by the one-two punch of the economic downturn and  the long-term flight of ad dollars from traditional print to online and social media marketing. (Click here to see our ongoing coverage of the death of traditional TV and print media)

We’re reaching out to the powers-that-be at AFM to confirm or deny. But one thing’s for sure, we look forward to reading clicking through the April issue!

Some of you may find this shocking, but there was a time when people looked to actual professional writers to figure out which new restaurants to try. We’re talking as far back as three or four years ago. And now that there’s officially one old-school food critic still standing in a town of 4.5 million people, we thought we’d dig up this Q&A with longtime local food critic, Nikki Buchanan.

Best known for her nearly two decades at Phoenix Magazine, Buchanan’s recent career is a perfect snapshot of the demise of this once prestigious profession. After dabbling in food blogging, and a brief stint at the AZ Republic, she jumped ship to co-found a PR/Marketing agency.

(Click here to learn why the Phoenix New Times‘ longtime critic just walked away. Hint: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.)

When we broke bread with Buchanan, she spoke candidly about her messy exit from Phoenix Magazine, which places in town she’d actually pay to eat at, and the drawbacks of eating out for a living. Hint: she calls her fridge (pictured) the International House of Leftovers.

»READ MORE

Consider this sign of the apocalypse #12,276. The uber-prestigious Library of Congress has acquired the entire Twitter archive. Yes, every bitchy thing you wrote about that Starbucks barista or your roommate’s lack of personal hygiene is now permanently stored alongside the Nation’s most important records and cultural touchstones.

No word on whether there will be a wing devoted to Charlie Sheen.

[USA Today]

Every once in a while, we like to put the spotlight on some fellow local writers and mom-and-pop publications. Whether it’s a super-snarky food blogger, a passionate preservationist, or just a well-crafted design journal, these people all add a little bit of fun to the Valley of the Sun. Now, we’ve discovered a new gem that offers a little taste of all of the above.

Meet Locallilly.com, a daily arts, food and lifestyle journal that’s utterly abloom with the best local businesses, culture and events around Arizona. »READ MORE

Calling all gossip girls and dirty laundry-loving dudes, it’s DLT’s column dedicated to the Valley’s juiciest rumors, spottings and innuendos. Check in regularly for the latest (unconfirmable), but too-good-to-not-be-true tidbits.

Hey hey, everybody. Long time no chat, but we’re back with a tasty scoop on the media shakeup du jour. In case you missed it, local foodies are still in shock over the sudden departure of one of the Valley’s two remaining full-time food critics. Yes, Michele Laudig, the Phoenix New Times‘ longtime Chow Bellista up and left the table on Tuesday, writing only that, “It’s been a blast, but I’ve decided to embrace the future – just wait until you see what I’ve got in the works.”

Well, we’ve also seen the future and think we have a pretty good handle on where Laudig is planting her flag fork next.

»READ MORE

Hello everybody, it’s your friendly neighborhood Qwest technician. We just wanted to let you know there’s nothing wrong at good ol’ DLT HQ. Those rumors you heard about some potential outage? Just rumors.

In the mean time, um … How bout that crazy local chef/newscaster/politician and that thing that they allegedly cooked/snorted/ran over? Nuts, huh!

Now please continue with your day.