Valley poker players find cheap ways to win spot at high-stakes Vegas tourney Larry Chebowski would never think of surrendering $10,000 of his own hard-earned money to play in the World Series of Poker, but he'll be competing anyway, courtesy of Fort McDowell Casino, a charitable spirit and an ugly little 5-3 off-suit. The 65-year-old Mesa entertainer is one of untold multitudes who will make the 400-mile trek from the Valley of the Sun to Las Vegas this July to compete in professional poker's most illustrious and widely watched event. » READ MORE
Updated February 16, 2006
Star Jones Reynolds finds new outlets as AOL love coach and author
Don't ask Star Jones about gossip. And do not — repeat, do not — ask about her husband's sexuality.
Those are a couple of the warnings writers receive from Star Jones' publicist before getting on the phone with the co-host of ABC's popular show “The View,” who is promoting her new memoir, “Shine: A Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Journey to Finding Love,” Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Changing Hands Bookstore.
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Updated February 16, 2006
Finding these chic Valley bars is part of the fun
When it comes to night life, the East Valley has a few hidden treasures that most likely aren't on your clubbing radar. Bars such as The Door, Phase 54 and Manhattan's Martini Lounge & Sports Restaurant don't sit in the downtown Scottsdale club district or on Mill Avenue. They take a little work to find.
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Updated February 16, 2006
'Sex and the City' writer, author takes to success
Doors have been flying open for comedian, writer and Cosmopolitan magazine contributor Greg Behrendt since he wrote the best-selling “He's Just Not That Into You: The No Excuses Book to Understanding Guys” in 2004.
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Updated February 9, 2006
When it comes to guys who are all hat and no cattle, the Valley has its fair share of big-time phonies
The tall man with a goatee is still sporting shades, even though the sun set several hours ago. He's attired in a Von Dutch shirt and jeans, and he sips a red martini while eyeing the packed dance floor at Scottsdale dance club Myst.
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Updated February 2, 2006
Upscale hotel bars provide provide mature alternative to dance clubs
Paula Cryer fits in perfectly at the crowded J Bar, a trendy lounge in downtown Scottsdale's posh James Hotel. On this Friday night, the statuesque blonde is attired in a sequined black shrug, jeans and high heels. She sits on a sofa and chats with her friends.
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Updated January 19, 2006
Valley nightspots experiment with nights for 'music lovers' t's Saturday night at the Rogue, and the south Scottsdale dive bar is packed with trendy hipsters dancing to The Smiths, David Bowie and The Bravery. The clubgoers aren't here to see and be seen. They aren't here for the cheap Pabst Blue Ribbon.
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Updated January 5, 2006
Get Out's guide to ringing in the new year
While nearly every nightclub and bar in the East Valley is throwing some sort of New Year’s Eve bash, we’ve narrowed down our favorites, which include cover-free bashes, block parties and swanky celebrations.
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Updated December 29, 2005
Avoid the malls and hit the bars with our night-life survival guide
Visiting family, the battle for prime parking spots and long lines at the mall — it's enough to drive a person to drink. With that in mind, we've compiled a night-life survival guide to help you get through the holiday season. » READ MORE
Updated December 22, 2005
Acclaimed book-jacket designer and author brings substance to literary style
Chip Kidd has designed nearly 900 book jackets — including covers for illustrious authors such as Anne Rice, Michael Crichton and David Sedaris — but there's one writer he has yet to cross off his wish list. » READ MORE
Updated December 8, 2005
Cat Hulbert shares tips on how to beat the boys at poker
Don’t play poker after a breakup. Don’t play after you put your dog to sleep. And definitely don’t play after you just discovered your kid is smoking crystal meth.
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Updated November 24, 2005
Get Out's Guide to Gifting
With the Thanksgiving meal scarcely digested, it's officially time to turn our attention to the holiday shopping season. Rather than wait until the last minute, the Get Out gang hit the brick-and-mortar stores and online shops early to bring you our guide to gifting.
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Updated November 24, 2005
Discover Arizona's frontier mining past
Scattered throughout southern Arizona are the remains of dozens of small, outback and isolated frontier mining towns that flourished for a few years, and then blew away on the winds of time.
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Updated November 24, 2005
Poker expert Phil Gordon cashes in on Texas hold 'em craze
As co-host of Bravo’s widely popular “Celebrity Poker Showdown,” Phil Gordon knows you can’t escape the Texas hold ’em craze unless you live under a rock. » READ MORE
Updated November 17, 2005
Get Out goes ghetto-fab with our favorite Valley dives
Dive shouldn't be a dirty word.
At least not in today's corporatized culture, where the corner coffee shop is a Starbucks, kids meet at the Barnes & Noble instead of the library, and the neighborhood Italian restaurant is an Olive Garden. » READ MORE
Updated November 10, 2005
Fashionistas sense growing style potential in Valley There is a fashion industry that resides in the Valley, and it exists beyond Westcor's large malls and the short-lived trends that trickle down from Los Angeles, New York, and Paris.
And, according to industry organizations, the market in our metropolis has huge potential for fashion growth.
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Updated November 10, 2005
Haunted houses go bump (and cha-ching) in the night With Halloween around the corner, East Valley nightspots are pulling out all the stops — from oxygen bars to an ’80s metal cover band to countless costume contests — to show you a spooky good time.
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Updated October 27, 2005
Local troupes take a scary step into Halloween spirit From deep within the alien spaceship that crash-landed in a south Mesa dirt lot, a teenage girl’s piercing shriek escapes, perforating the cool night air. » READ MORE
Updated October 27, 2005
Get your Greek on at 45th cultural festival Where can you sip Greek wine, eat a spanakopita and watch Greek folk dancers perform? It's just a typical day at the Greater Phoenix Greek Festival, one of the Valley's longest-running cultural events. » READ MORE
Updated October 6, 2005
Guide catalogs local cultural, entertainment events Maybe you're a visitor to the East Valley, or maybe you have lived here all your life and are simply looking for something new and exciting to do in the area. » READ MORE
Updated October 6, 2005
Jim Gaffigan excels in "dumb" TV roles and bit parts on the big screen Jim Gaffigan often gets pegged as the dumb guy in Hollywood. Just look at his TV roles for proof. The dude who couldn’t get a clue on NBC’s now-defunct “Ed,” where he desperately pursued not-so-interested fellow teacher Carol. » READ MORE
Updated September 29, 2005
Carey's All-Star Improv troupe headed to Valley Anyone who's watched an episode of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and seen one of the performers make up elaborate scenes seemingly out of nowhere has probably had this reaction. » READ MORE
Updated September 22, 2005
Local improv stars reign in Valley Friday night isn't your only chance to see made-up-on-the-spot comedy in the Valley. Each week, local improv groups perform homegrown comedy that Jef Rawls, director and producer of The Jester'Z, claims to be “a better show.” » READ MORE
Updated September 22, 2005
Bumbling TV cop animates stand-up act In person, Carlos Alazraqui, who plays Deputy James Garcia on “Reno 911,” disappoints on one level: He doesn't have the facial hair that his character sports on-screen. » READ MORE
Updated September 22, 2005
Darrell Hammond plays the Tempe Improv this weekend Although Darrell Hammond had the summer off from NBC's “Saturday Night Live,” the comedian — best-known for his impressions of Bill Clinton, Sean Connery and Donald Trump — didn't stop working. » READ MORE
Updated September 15, 2005
Wiener dogs take to the track for fellow canines An unusual sport was inadvertently introduced in 1993 when Miller Lite beer released a commercial depicting ‘‘wiener dog drag racing.''
The comical beer campaign became reality: Wiener dog racing is popping up in cities across the country. » READ MORE
Updated September 1, 2005
Did you hear the one about how to be really, really funny? Want to hear a great joke? A priest and a rabbi walk into a bar . . .
Wait a second — I've screwed up.
I've already violated one of the fundamental rules of telling a joke, according to Scottsdale comedian Mark Cordes, a regular on the national comedy-club circuit:
Never tell an audience they're going to love a joke. » READ MORE
Updated August 25, 2005
Devil Picks Whether you’re a freshman who’s new to the Valley or a senior getting ready to graduate, there's always something new to discover in Sun Devil territory. From bars and clubs to bowling alleys and malls, here's your guide to finding the hottest places for cool college kids. » READ MORE
Updated August 18, 2005
Dueling piano bars When Kerry Phelps and John Young decided to buy the Coyote Grill in April, their goal was to create a bar and restaurant unlike any in the Scottsdale area.
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Updated August 11, 2005
