56 MEGALOPOLITAN LIFE tori and ramen waft through the air while the distortion-filled fuzz of J-rock bands buzzes in the background. It’s like a weekend-long vacation to Japan, minus the jet lag. i i i BEST COSPLAYER JOE RAMIREZ (A.K.A. BEYONDER JOE) INSTAGRAM.COM/BEYONDERJOE Joe Ramirez just had the best summer vaca- tion ever. Like many Valley geeks who make the trek to San Diego Comic-Con every July, the 55-year-old Queen Creek cosplayer came back loaded up with swag. His haul was extra heavy this year, thanks to the four gold medals he won for his cosplay. Ramirez took home the Judges’ Choice award at SDCC’s costume masquerade after conquering the competition with a quartet of hulking armors inspired by the popular tabletop war game “Warhammer 40,000.” Two were some of his largest and most ambitious builds ever: a 7-foot-tall Saturnine Termi- nator and an 8-foot-tall Horus Lupercal. Each was crafted from EVA foam and boasted the impressive artistry and imposing scale he’s become known for in the cosplay world. The medals, two of which he gave to his sons, are the latest big awards Ramirez has collected over the past three years for his “Warhammer” armors at SDCC and other conventions. (He’s also earned Best in Show honors at Phoenix Fan Fusion in 2023 and Tucson Comic-Con in 2024.) They’ll also be his last. Ramirez decided earlier this year to retire from cosplay competition, with no regrets. “What a way to go out,” he says. i i i BEST COSTUMER SIRDRESSMAKER INSTAGRAM.COM/SIRDRESSMAKER The next time you’re at the Rosson House, you may see a striking silhouette in evening attire gliding across the grounds, carrying a matching parasol, pausing to offer a gloved hand for the greeting. You’re not having a ghostly encounter — you’ve just met SirDressmaker. Actor, musical theater artist and educator Trevon Powell is a multi- hyphenate who rocks a hand-sewn Victo- rian-era corset. When he’s not on stage as a full-time actor, SirDressmaker crafts 19th- and 20th-century silhouettes and teaches the masses about the intersections of fashion and history in Phoenix. The self-described “costumer of color” has been crafting full Victorian bustle dresses and Edwardian evening gowns for more than 15 years. No detail goes unattended. Powell dedicates hundreds of hours to stitch, tassel and trim each piece to exacting historical replication. He’s also the founder of the Phoenix Histor- ical Costuming Society, which holds year- round lecture events at The Square and the Tempe History Museum. Whether on the runway or behind the lectern, Powell is a true original, cut from his own cloth. i i i BEST POETRY SHOW GHOST POETRY SHOW GHOSTPOETRYSHOW.COM Twice a month at the Rebel Lounge, fans of poetry and cheap drinks line up early for the Valley’s favorite poetry show. Ghost Poetry Show filled a literary niche after poetry readings at The Lost Leaf were no more, and so was born a new competitive tradition. During the shows, a dozen poets duke it out slam-style across three rounds of original works. Judges are chosen at random, as is done in traditional poetry slams, so come prepared to get involved, even if you’re not versed in the practice. The chaos makes for a rowdy, three-hour event where guests snap, hiss and cheer their way into swaying the judges. And where better to wade through poetic symbolism and big feelings than Bill- board’s pick for the nation’s best small music venue? Bartenders and security at the Rebel Lounge keep the event running smoothly as the tipsy, vocal crowd enjoys drinks to match the metaphors: mixed. i i i BEST PUPPET THEATER GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER 302 W. LATHAM ST. 606-262-2050 AZPUPPETS.ORG Look, we understand some folks might have a slight aversion to puppets. Those of us who saw “Poltergeist” at an early age, for instance, might keep a safe distance from marionette display cases. But that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying one of the sharpest puppetry performances in the West. The Great Arizona Puppet Theater is part show, part puppet museum and an all-around great time, strings attached. Bring the kiddos and catch a classic fairy tale such as