252 NIGHTLIFE rotating cast of local queens, Flamboyance! fuses drag camp with eggs Benedict, cinnamon French toast, Aperol spritzes and loaded bloody marys. Costumes! Quips! At some point the room will erupt in a sing- along. At several points it will erupt in a snow- globe of dollar bills. Performers work every corner of the space, so don’t be surprised if the queens make your table part of the act. Just try not to laugh-snort your mimosa out your nose and onto your breakfast tacos. What a drag that would be. i i i BEST KARAOKE THE GRAPEVINE RESTAURANT & KARAOKE BAR 4013 N. BROWN AVE., SCOTTSDALE 480-994-1792 GRAPEVINEAZ.COM Every night at Grapevine is happy in its own way. Some Saturdays, singers who survive on their looks alone form lines out the door. Other nights, bachelorettes and business- dudes seem to coast on pure whiskey-sour enthusiasm. For the most promising soci- ology — and to hear regulars who can actu- ally belt out Bonnie Tyler or light up The Darkness — drop by on a weeknight. Grab a seat, have a bite (the food’s actually quite good) and get to know your neighbors with that age-old question: “Have you put a song in?” The KJs here operate in different ways; some are more tip-oriented than others. Ladies, if you can’t wait to be called up to sing “Before He Cheats,” a $10 bill might move you up the queue. Same for you guys jonesing to do “Rebel Yell.” Make a friend, pick a duet and rock out on a badass sound system that gets you feeling like you’re on “The Voice,” waiting for those chairs to spin around. Old Town doesn’t get more diverse or more interactive than here on a hot night with a warm mic and a cold drink. Anyway, here’s “Wonderwall.” i i i BEST LARGE CONCERT VENUE TALKING STICK RESORT AMPHITHEATRE 2121 N. 83RD AVE. 602-254-7200 TALKINGSTICKRESORTAMPHITHEATRE.COM It’s inevitable. If you’re a regular concertgoer, a trek to Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre is in your future. Shows at the 20,000-person venue are a quintessentially Phoenix experi- ence that can’t be replicated at other local venues, large or small: lounging on the lawn as music washes through the desert air and stargazing as you and 19,999 others sing along with the high-profile hitmaker on stage. TSRA is best enjoyed in the fall or late spring, though summer shows are plenty survivable, particularly if you can land a seat under the canopy. Looking for an excuse to go? The amphitheatre’s remaining 2026 calendar is flat-out stacked with country superstar Thomas Rhett, Japanese metal act BABYMETAL, punk rappers $uicideboy$ and Wu-Tang Clan’s (alleged) farewell tour. i i i BEST MIDSIZE CONCERT VENUE ARIZONA FINANCIAL THEATRE 400 W. WASHINGTON ST. 602-379-2800 ARIZONAFINANCIALTHEATRE.COM This downtown Phoenix concert venue isn’t what you’d call flashy. It features a moder- ately sized pit and an easygoing vibe. It’s clean, easy to navigate and just a few blocks from a Valley Metro Rail stop. If you prefer shows where you actually get to sit, the slope of the seating allows for great sightlines and an overall comfortable evening. But what really makes the venue pop is the freakin’ lineups: up-and-coming artists, killer come- dians and heavy hitters from music and poli- tics. Over the past year, the stage has hosted the likes of DJO, Doechii, Chance the Rapper, a live taping of public radio’s “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”, Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Jane Pauley, Tori Amos, Death Cab for Cutie, Bob Dylan and Primus. i i i BEST SMALL MUSIC VENUE THE REBEL LOUNGE 2303 E. INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD 602-296-7013 THEREBELLOUNGE.COM Since opening in 2015, the Rebel Lounge, “Psyko Steve” Chilton’s first foray into music venues, has hosted some of the coolest names in music (including Jimmy Eat World, Japanese Breakfast, Chicano Batman and Mitski, to name a few). Low- slung, flat-floored and dark-walled, this central Phoenix music venue took over what used to be the Mason Jar and has carried on the indie cred that its prede- cessor earned over decades. Fancy, it ain’t. The vibes run less ballroom, more emptied- out garage. But you will get top-notch