Must Do
July 2-September 10
PHOENIX magazine Summer Cocktail Camp
“Dear Mom and Dad, having a great time at camp. Send more vermouth!” Take a rotating tour of the Valley’s best bar programs with this Sunday-only special series. Mingle with mixology maestros at hot spots like Arboleda, The Womack and Barcoa Agaveria while sipping their best cocktails and learning how to make them. Some proceeds will be charitably donated in honor of Ty Largo, the late Phoenix PR dynamo who ran the series from 2014 to 2019. July 2-September 10, 1-3 p.m., $40 per class, multiple Valley locations, tickets.phoenixmag.com
“I found out on the plane [yesterday], flying here for this. You know, in this league, anything can happen, so you just figure out what’s next.”
—Former Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul, to Good Morning America host Michael Strahan, revealing how he learned of his June 18 trade to the Washington Wizards in exchange for All-Star guard Bradley Beal.
Copper State Barbie
Barbie’s visit to Arizona began the way many girls’ trips do: a direct message. “The Off Madison Ave. social team was thinking about ways to celebrate the centennial of Grand Canyon National Park, and one of our team members realized the timing aligned with Barbie’s 60th birthday,” says Sasha Howell, director of client strategy at the Tempe marketing and PR firm, which represents Visit Arizona. “So, we did what anyone does in social media – we sent a DM to @BarbieStyle and said, ‘We’re both about to ring in milestone birthdays. Want to celebrate together?’ And from that simple invitation grew this idea to send Barbie on a bucket-list trip to Arizona for her 60th.” And document it on the ’gram. The trip dovetailed with the resurgence of Barbie fever ahead of Greta Gerwig’s feature film centered on the icon, out July 21. And it was trailblazing: While other destinations have hosted Barbie for social-media campaigns in anticipation of the movie, her AZ voyage was her first tourism collaboration – “completely organic in nature and not sponsored,” Howell says. Off Madison Ave. worked with Mattel to find the most “Insta-worthy” spots, from Antelope Canyon to Mountain Shadows resort. “Barbie is timeless,” Howell says. “To have her here in Arizona, experiencing the places and spaces that make this destination so memorable, and then sharing those experiences with her many followers, was a dream come true.”
Sin City?
Prima facie, Phoenix doesn’t strike us as a particularly “wild” city. Lots of families. Lots of retirees. Everyone’s in bed by 10. But don’t tell that to sports wagering website Online Betting Guide, which placed Phoenix on its list of the Top 10 “wildest cities in the U.S.” based on a variety of data points. Notably, Phoenix placed second among all U.S. cities for percentage of adult residents who’ve taken cocaine (23.3 percent). Higher than Miami, even! According to this Venn, Mesa is pretty ill-behaved, too.
MISC.
The QAnon Shaman’s Second Act
Arizona resident Jacob Chansley – colloquially known as the QAnon Shaman – has reportedly been released from the Phoenix-area halfway house in which he’s been residing since March. Known for the avant-garde #ootd he donned during the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the 35-year-old alt-right activist is presumably pounding the pavement. We’ve come up with a few ideas for the fur-clad felon’s career pivot.
Kari Lake’s Press Secretary
Based on her recent antics – including the release of a country song she recorded with her band The Truth Bombers about the 2020 election – the former Arizona gubernatorial candidate could probably use a publicist.
Dutch Bros. Barista
Name a more captive audience for crackpot conspiracy theories than caffeine-craving motorists trapped in a crowded drive-thru?
Phoenix Suns Assistant Coach
It’s possible that the franchise’s recent changes of command, including new owner Mat Ishbia and head coach Frank Vogel, have opened up a few spots on the coaching staff. Hey, every bench needs a screamer.
