Around 8 p.m., a party bus with a large Jack Daniels logo pulled up to the home.

Using nothing more than the soot from a wood burning stove mixed with his own saliva, deaf artist James Castle used this homemade ink to communicate with the world.

From “Snow White and the Huntsmen,” to “Mirror Mirror,” to “Hansel and Gretle: Witch Hunters,” to “Red Riding Hood,” the film industry has really been banking on adult-oriented fairytales as of late. Television has additionally gotten in on this fairytale fad with ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” NBC’s “Grimm,” and, to a lesser extent, the CW’s “Beauty and Beast.” So what’s been causing this recent outbreak of fairytale reinterpretations aimed at grown-up audiences? Perhaps it can be attributed to the concept of nostalgia. Since fairytales are typically the first stories ever introduced to us, everybody identifies with them. By giving these timeless tales a PG-13 spin, they can appeal to our inner child while also satisfying our desire for something more mature. “Jack the Giant Slayer” comes close to working as a fun fantasy adventure for childish adults and sophisticated kids. If only the familiar story had more of a twist to it.

It’s ba-aaack: The Arizona Renaissance Festival opens this weekend in Gold Canyon, and it’s celebrating 25 years of transporting modern Valley dwellers to a 16th-century English village.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Beth Lawrence has performed and written music around the world, including on Broadway, and has 12 award-winning CDs to her credit, but she said her real claim to fame is making a difference in people’s lives through music.

Now that the holidays are over, many families are starting to dream about their 2013 travel escapes. To spur some vacation ideas, I decided to consult with our trusted travel experts to get a peek at what’s expected to be hot spots for 2013. Since AAA is the largest travel agency in North America, our travel counselors weren’t short on destination ideas that will match a variety of interests and budgets.

I am so tempted to write the words “I told you so” over and over again up to the 500-word limit allowed for a commentary in this newspaper. It would be so easy to gloat about how liberals won and conservatives lost. It would make me giddy to point out how Arizona is so out-of-touch with the rest of the Left Coast.

Through Dec. 24

Ahwatukee Foothills couple Michael and Jenifer Corey don’t mess around when it comes to their annual haunted house.

In her 50’s and after years of raising her family, Cyndi Newburn wasn’t sure what going back to work meant for her.

Are kids drawn to dirt? Are boys drawn to jumping in mud puddles? Do kids love to walk and play in the sand? The answer is an absolute YES. Some kids LOVE it more than others and they don’t mind getting dirty.

Eric McCormack likes the duality of the character he plays in his latest series, “Perception” (10 p.m. EDT Monday, TNT).

Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.

Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Disneyland is not just for sugar-soaked kids. Consider, all you grown-up women out there, going for a gals’ day out.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Disneyland is not just for sugar-soaked kids. Consider, all you grown-up women out there, going for a gals’ day out.

Coronado, Calif. • Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.

Coronado, Calif. • Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.

After an appearance on local television to promote their spring workshops, seven princesses from Ahwatukee Children’s Theatre (ACT) were invited to make a guest appearance at this year’s Phoenix Comicon, May 24-27 at the Phoenix Convention Center downtown.