Our editorial picks for local personalities and media consumables.
Most Influential Designer
Connie Jiang
If you had to name an architect whose influence touches nearly every surface of our city, it would likely be Frank Lloyd Wright. But Connie Jiang, R.A., is rising fast on the list. While at Shepley Bulfinch, she contributed to some of the most innovative additions to our skyline, including the new mixed-use tower, X Phoenix. Jiang now brings her talents for connecting people to places as studio director at Studio Ma.
4035 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, 602-251-3800, studioma.com
Best Substack
Arizona Agenda
Contrary to all those news reports you’ve read, journalism isn’t dead – it’s just assuming different forms. Instead of picking up the paper, open your inbox and see what’s on the Arizona Agenda. Run by veteran Valley journos Hank Stephenson (KJZZ) and Rachel Leingang (The Arizona Republic), AA keeps you up to date on all the news that’s fit to Substack. Find something else to line your birdcage.
arizonaagenda.substack.com
Best Substack by just One Guy
Robert Robb
For some truly smart takes on politics and public policy, subscribe to this one-man-band of a newsletter by former Arizona Republic columnist Robert Robb. Once considered one of the most over-the-top conservative voices in the state, he’s now a much-needed voice of reason from the right. Times, they have-a-changed.
robertrobb.substack.com
Best New Phoenix Transplant
Kevin Durant
Like anyone moving to the Valley for work, Kevin Durant wanted to impress his new employers. Despite a left ankle injury that took him out for several weeks, the skeletal swingman (pictured left) fueled a late-season charge and helped take the Suns to the NBA Western Conference semifinals before the team was stopped by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. One thing’s for sure: His presence will make them dangerous next season.
suns.com
Best Reason to Invest in Stamp Ink
Veto Queen Katie Hobbs
Who says we don’t need office supply stores anymore? Not Governor Hobbs’ staff. During her first 100 days in office, the Democrat broke the record for vetoes set by Janet Napolitano in 2005, racking up 63 as of April 18. Can you imagine all the Staples runs for new stamp pads? Like Nappy, Hobbs is governing with a Republican-ruled legislature, and deemed many bills “unnecessary.”
Best sports-crazy primate
Go The Gorilla
Anyone who’s seen a Suns home game knows the team’s acrobatic gorilla mascot on sight, filling timeouts with trampoline dunks and schmoozing with spectators to the delight of all. Does it make sense that a team called The Suns has a man in a monkey suit as its mascot? Not in the freaking slightest. But his fans clearly don’t care, turning out for 250-plus community appearances each year, including an annual VIP party where 150 youth and mascots from around the NBA and the Valley are invited to celebrate his birthday. He’s also been known to gift teachers tickets to Suns playoff games during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Best Would-be MLS team
Phoenix Rising FC
Major League Soccer (MLS) tapped San Diego for its 30th team in its most recent expansion sweepstakes, but the Valley’s professional soccer club of record soldiers on. MLS is believed to be eyeing 2028-2029 to possibly expand to 31 or 32 teams.
pxhrisingfc.com
Best music Podcast
The Musician’s Guide to Everything
For music geeks, this local podcast hosted by Jon Rauhouse (acclaimed multi-instrumentalist), Blaine Long (vocalist, The Voice) and Darren Baum (sound engineer, Sonic Piranha Studio) is manna. The guest list is star-studded (Neko Case, Jakob Dylan, and members of the Gin Blossoms and Calexico have all been on), and the range of conversation is enticingly broad, as they chat about everything from making music, to life on the road, to picking the perfect mic, to Billy Bob Thornton’s thoughts on the appendage he thinks resembles a clown’s nose.
instagram.com/mgepodcast
Most Asinine Political Stunt
Arizona GOP’s Attempts to Ban Drag
Is the Great Drag Panic of 2023 over? Probably not. It’s a phenomenon in red states, you see. And in this red-trending-purple state, Arizona Senate Republicans passed two laws targeting drag performers this year. (Both died in the House.) Someone should remind them that the great Rudy Giuliani – a political ally, after all – once performed in drag. Good for the goose, good for the gander, right?
Best Mayoral Power Move
Mayor Kate Gallego Packs the City Council
Phoenix’s laconic chief executive just made the next four years a lot easier for herself, securing a working majority of establishment Democrats on the City Council by backing two winning candidates. In District 8, Kesha Hodge Washington beat out progressive police critic Carlos Garcia, while Kevin Robinson replaced retiring conservative Sal DiCiccio in District 6. This gives Gallego a working majority and the freedom to pursue her own policy agenda without having to worry about serious opposition on the council. Higher office is in her crosshairs, no doubt.
Best Gift to the GOP
Kyrsten Sinema Becomes an Independent
Remember Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s Instagram pic of her sipping sangria and flashing a “f*ck off” ring? Now Sinema’s outdone that middle finger to progressives by leaving the Democratic Party and declaring herself an Independent in her 2024 reelection bid. If Republicans nominate a serious candidate – i.e., not Kari Lake – what reason will they have to split their tickets for an indie Kyrsten? This makes Sinema a spoiler, possibly throwing a Democratic Senate seat to the Republican, earning eternal infamy for herself with Democrats and the eternal gratitude of Republicans.
Best unwittingly Hilarious Political Tweet
Abe Hamadeh’s Tweeted-Then-Deleted Victory Claim
The day after Election Day, with the votes still being counted in a photo-finish of a race, Republican attorney general candidate Abe Hamadeh Tweeted his thanks to the people of Arizona “for entrusting me with this great responsibility,” adding, “I will NEVER forget who I’m fighting for.” It proved to be a lonely victory lap because an automatic recount later declared Democrat Kris Mayes the victor by a razor-thin 280 votes. Ever the Trump wannabe, Hamadeh hasn’t stopped whining since, crying foul and bringing legal challenges that have gone nowhere. It was true-to-form for the 30-something political neophyte, whose ill-advised social media postings include a youthful boast to have used his mom’s absentee ballot to vote for Barack Obama as well as some anti-Semitic posts as a teenager.
Best Drag Queen
Kim Etiquette
Not sure when to use that cocktail fork? Unsure how to approach a stranger in size 12 stilettos? No worries. Phoenix’s own Miss Manners has arrived – in style. Kim Etiquette has been popping up at events this year all over town. Think Emily Post in a mile-high blonde bouffant and a ’50s-housewife-at-happy-hour wardrobe. More, please!
@kim.etiquette
Best Indie Press
Shut Eye Press
It doesn’t get more indie than a press run by one person. Writer Angie Dell’s literary love extends to their print work, in which they make books for other writers and artists, art prints and “other literary objects,” like a solar pinhole viewer with a letterpress poem and finger traps. They also host First Friday open studio hours at Paper Jam + Print, so you can learn from the master.
shuteyepress.com
Best Micropoetry
Rinky Dink Press
Poets Rosemarie Dombrowski and Shawnte Orion think everyone would be better off with a little poetry in their lives. And they mean that literally. Since 2016, the two have been publishing single-author collections of poetry in 2.75-inch-by-4.25-inch format – “bigger than a credit card, but smaller than a postcard” – on eco-friendly paper made of sugarcane waste.
rinkydinkpress.com
Best Phoenix Musician no longer in Phoenix
Danielle Durack
One of our “Great 48” honorees from 2022, the singer-songwriter revealed to Phoenix New Times she’s heading to Nashville to pursue music full-time. At least we have a follow-up to 2021’s No Place, her raw recollection of a recent breakup, to look forward to in her absence.
danielledurack.com
Best expat Phoenix actress
Alexandra Shipp
You thought we were going to say “Emma Stone,” huh? Well, we do love her, but honestly we think it’s probably been 10 years since she last stepped foot in Phoenix. So, we’ll throw BOV love to a rising talent in Shipp, who has a role in Barbie this summer and earned raves for her performance in Space Oddity in 2022.
Best Social Justice Radio Show
Civic Cipher
The hosts of this nationally syndicated, locally produced iHeartRadio show and podcast, Ramses Ja and Q. Ward, made headlines when they revealed they filed a copyright for the controversial phrase “White Lives Matter,” effectively ending Kanye “Ye” West’s plans to use it for his fashion line.
civiccipher.com
Best Personal Injury Lawyer Commercials
Byron Browne, Browne Law Group
With his bald head, full beard, bulging biceps and neck covered in tattoos, Byron Browne looks as likely to give you a personal injury as to go to court for you over one. He calls himself “the anti-lawyer lawyer” and promises “No B.S.” And after watching him knock down the walls of his office in his commercials, we’d trust him to have our backs in a dark alley – or a courtroom – any day.
366 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert, 480-771-2442, antilawyer.com
Best Marketing Idea
Swift City
It was the marketing scheme heard – and copied – ’round the world. Or, at least, in several other cities visited by pop diva Taylor Swift on her current Eras tour. Swift launched the tour at State Farm Stadium, and the idea to “rename” Glendale “Swift City” was the brainchild of city communications director Sue Breding. Let’s hope she got a big bonus – or, at least, tickets to the show. And can we make the change permanent? So much sexier than “Glendale.”
Best Meteorologist
Krystle Henderson, 12 News
From little black dresses to bright red gowns, Krystle Henderson always looks ready to walk the red carpet at 5 a.m. Her delivery is witty and colorful (“Get ready for National Big Wind Day!”) and when she’s not telling us what time we should close our windows to shut out the heat, she’s entertaining us with segments in which she does stuff like zipline over the lawn at Cardinals Stadium, tube down the Salt River and go all-out fangirl on Kenny Loggins.
Best Local Band
The SunPunchers
Those who showed up early to the Andrew Bird/Iron and Wine show at The Van Buren last September were privileged to hear two new tracks by The SunPunchers. The desert folk group, highlighted by Betsy Ganz’s sultry vocals and Jon Rauhouse’s steel guitar, knows how to build a mood.
thesunpunchers.com
Best Gubernatorial Candidate
Aunt Maud
Some wiseacre printed up signs last fall demanding “Aunt Maud for Governor!” Anyone who grew up in Arizona was in on the joke. Created by local TV and radio legend Pat McMahon, the fictional dowager was a recurring character on kiddie fave The Wallace and Ladmo Show, where she scared children with her fractured fairy tales. What might Maud have done for the Grand Canyon State? We’ll never know.
Best Political Reporter
Dennis Welch, 3TV/CBS5
You can gauge a political reporter’s effectiveness by looking at the venal public servants and candidates who emotionally lash out at him. The former East Valley Tribune reporter does especially well in that regard, with election conspiracist Kari Lake and disgraced state rep David Cook renting Welch free headspace in 2022. The latter even accused him of being on drugs for asking about Cook’s extramarital affair. Effectiveness: proven.
azfamily.com
Best departed Local Music Legend
Paul Cardone
Dubbed the “Mayor of Tempe” by those who knew him (and he knew a lot of people), the legendary bass player lent his talents to everyone from Dry River Yacht Club to Gentlemen Afterdark to Sara Robinson Band, and even played with Gin Blossoms and Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers when they needed bass bravura.
Best Graphic Illustrator
Sage Aune
Aune aka Sagepizza’s signature style – whimsical, vibrant and effortlessly cool – graces floral phone cases at Urban Outfitters and colorful cutting boards at World Market, but her unequivocal love for local small businesses is apparent in the bold logos she created for First Place Coffee and Ziggy’s Pizza, and her hand-painted murals at La Purísima Bakery and MAA Midtown.
sageaune.com
