Why? Because this is the best Valley of the Moon Halloween show I have seen in three seasons. I don't know if it's the presence of the Lee Koplin statues from Magic Carpet that now share space with George Phar Legler's 1920s fantasy land of sprites and gnomes, but it is Valley of the Moon at its best.

Volunteers have done a great job of cleaning up the grounds and making the Magic Carpet statues fit in with Legler's space.

You have tonight and tomorrow. Don't forget that magic stone the tour guide hands out at the beginning—you're going to need it.

From Valley of the Moon:

"13 Nights of Halloween - Magic Carpet Chaos at The Haunted Ruins"
The Evil One has returned and his minions are trying to hijack the new Magic Carpet Land from the Genie. Return to the land of Fairy and embark on a mystical adventure armed with nothing more than your Magic Stone to help protect Valley of the Moon from the forces of evil. Support historic fantasyland Valley of the Moon at its annual Halloween fundraiser.

Come enjoy the debut of Tucson's largest collection of preserved statues from the former Magic Carpet Golf.

* This year's fundraiser will also have snacks available for purchase from Moondog's hotdogs and Kettlecorn *

Shows are 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tours leave the gate every 30 minutes.

Adults: $7

Children 7-13: $5

Free admission for children under 7

Artists and designer Rachelle Díaz and architect Bill Mackey talked up the Pop Up Spaces' show “±92: Downtown Master Plans, 1932-2009,” on Arizona Illustrated last night. See interview after jump. If you haven't had a chance to see the exhibit at the McLellen Building, 63 E. Congress St. (northwest corner of Scott Avenue and Congress Street), there's a closing reception on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.

From Pop Up Spaces:

Local artists Bill Mackey, Julie Ray, Rachelle Díaz and Kimi Eisele will offer a “Closing Discussion and Executive Summary” about the exhibit, “±92: Downtown Master Plans, 1932-2009,” a compilation of over 100 Downtown Tucson master plans. Since opening on Oct. 3, the exhibit has drawn over 450 viewers to its storefront location on Congress Street.

On Oct. 24, 2009, artists will answer questions from the audience, discuss their intentions, and present results from public input surveys collected during the exhibit.

The exhibit showcases realized and unrealized plans authored from the early 20th century to 2009. An interactive timeline helps viewers track world events, economic and social trends, and Tucson's history in relationship to the plans’ origins, realization, or death. The show presents a rare opportunity to see ALL of the planning for downtown Tucson in one space at one time.

Viewers are also asked to comment on existing downtown spaces through an interactive photography exhibit. Throughout the exhibit, a crew of official performing "apparatchiks" have diligently collected (and heavily processed) public input surveys for current and future planning efforts.

The discussion will last an hour. Cake will be served.

Cake? Anything to support Pop Up Spaces. Get down there folks.

• The waterfalls at Govinda's Natural Foods Buffet

Govinda’s Natural Foods Buffet (711 E. Blacklidge Drive) has been serving up excellent vegetarian and vegan food since 1992, and they hold quite a few free festivals and other events every year.

Speaking of free festivals … I somehow botched getting Govinda’s notice for their Diwali Festival of Lights and Indian New Year into our City Week listings this week. The event - which takes place from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 - features Indian dancing, music and fire spinners for the adults, and an activity area with face-painting, animal balloons and a jumping castle for the kids.

Best of all, there’ll be free food throughout the event, with a special vegetarian feast going down at 9 p.m. It’s all free, including the vegetarian feast.

Call 792-0630, e-mail sandaminidd@cs.com or visit Govinda's Web site for more information.

Eventually, the TW staffer will cave in out of self defense and blog about the damned event, which actually sounds pretty funny.

Apparently comedian Scott Kennedy is gay, but not that many people know it. He does this schtick where he wears a football jersey and acts all macho, only to come out at the end of the show. I hope I'm getting this right, because all I can remember right now is some joke Gary told me about having midgets blow smoke into his lungs, and it's making it hard to concentrate.

Anyway, Kennedy is performing at Laffs Comedy Cafe at 8 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and midnight, Friday, Oct. 16; and 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and midnight, Saturday, Oct. 17. Gary says he'll pass a hat to collect donations for Wingspan at both midnight shows.

WHAT: Star Party

WHEN: Tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1601 E. University Blvd., on UA campus

WHY: The White House is holding a star party astronomy event, and Flaundrau decided to throw a party in conjunction with the White House to support their message.

ACTIVITIES: Public viewing of Jupiter, the moon and celestial objects with Flandrau's 16-inch observatory telescope along with portable telescopes on the UA Mall

COST: Telescope viewing is free. Donations are encouraged for entry to the Mineral Museum to support astronomy education in the community.

INFO: 621-3646, www.uasciencecenter.org/astronomy

DETAILS from the press release:

Flandrau: The UA Science Center will host a star party on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the UA Mall to join the White House in an international celebration of World Space Week. The public is invited for a special free telescope viewing of Jupiter and various celestial objects from Flandrau’s 16-inch observatory telescope and portable telescopes on the UA Mall. Assisting Flandrau will be astronomers from the University of Arizona chapter of SEDS (Society for the Exploration & Development of Space) and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA). In addition, the Flandrau facility will be open to view its meteorite collections, as well as specimens in the UA Mineral Museum.

“We’re very excited that President Obama is demonstrating his support for science education, and astronomy in particular, by hosting the first ever star party at the White House,” said Alexis R. Faust, Executive Director for Flandrau: The UA Science Center. “Star parties are a unique way to connect the importance of space and planetary science research at the UA to families and children in our community.”

World Space Week began Sunday with celebrations in over 50 nations and an announcement that President Obama will host the first ever "Star Party" on the White House lawn this Wednesday evening. The White House event for middle-school students will include 20 telescopes and various hands-on activities that will "highlight the President's commitment to science, engineering and math education as the foundation of this nation's global technological and economic leadership," according to a White House statement. The UN-declared World Space Week, October 4-10, is the largest annual space event on Earth, according to the World Space Week Association.

Our friend and colleague Max Cannon's been doing some comic-book stuff, and he sent us this important alert:

RED MEAT's Max Cannon ( a.k.a. my inglorious self ) will be signing his questionable contribution to Marvel Comics' STRANGE TALES #2 this Wednesday, Oct. 7 (today) at Tucson's own beloved Fantasy Comics. Hoping you can be there to witness the travesty of Marvel's extreme lapse in judgment (by including me) for yourself.

Original artwork will be on display.

4 to 7 p.m.

Fantasy Comics
2595 N. First Ave.

We'll be officially unveiling the Best of Tucson(R) this evening at Laffs Comedy Caffe, 2990 E. Broadway Blvd., during our Best of Tucson(R) '80s Karaoke Night Party. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and we'll start handing out copies of the issue and announcing winners a bit after 8 p.m. Admission (21 and older, please) is free! Come and celebrate and sing!

The issues will start hitting the streets tomorrow (or very, very late tonight, in some cases), and the BOT stuff will hit the Internet around midnight, if all goes according to plan.

While idiots ignoring the effect fossil fuels have on our environment plunge their heads ever deeper into the sand, other groups, like the Alliance for Climate Protection, are fighting the good fight by encouraging a switch to cleaner energies, which means a cleaner planet, and fewer pissed off polar bears.

Repower Arizona, a project of the Alliance for Climate Protection, is just such an entity, and they’re holding a Clean Jobs, Bright Ideas Roundtable at noon, Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Ward 3 Council Office at 1510 E. Grant Road.

The focus of the event is to raise awareness of the benefits that would accompany switching to a clean-energy economy. Guest speakers include Greg McNamee, author of Careers in Renewable Energy, Kevin Koch of Technicians for Sustainability, and Scotty Johnson of Defenders of Wildlife. David Schaller from the Tucson office of Conservation and Sustainable Development will also speak.

Visit www.repoweramerica.org/us/tour for more information.

We were notified by the event organizer that the following meeting, appearing on page 26 in the Sept. 17 issue, will not take place.

Tucson Life Cache Potluck Meeting
Ward 6 City Council Office
3020 E. First St.
A group working to establish a local currency to create a sustainable local economy meets at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22. Free. Visit www.tucsonlocalcurrency.org for more information.

Here are a few events worthy of further mention:

Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.
The Little Chapel, University of Arizona (First and Highland)
Tom Miller, author of Trading With the Enemy: A Yankee Travels Through Castro's Cuba, will share his expertise and answer questions about travel to the island. $5, includes talk, Cuban food and music by Duo Libre.

Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Warren Ballpark, corner of Arizona Street and Ruppe Road, Bisbee
The Bisbee Blues Fest takes place, along with an antique car show and motorcycle show. Plenty of food, beer and wine. Performers include Tommy Castro, Grammy winner Pinetop Perkins and Bob Corritore. $21. Call (520) 732-5287 or visit www.bisbeebluesfest.com for more info.

Sunday, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road
A fundraiser featuring dog washing and walking, doggie massages, organic treat samples, dog adventures and more. By donation. Proceeds go to the breast cancer 3-day walk benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Call 299-4150 for info.

Thursday, Sept. 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
University of Arizona bookstore, 1209 E. University Blvd.
Dr. Richard Buyer discusses and signs copies of his book Why the JFK Assassination Still Matters: For My Daughter Kennedy and All Generations to Come. His daughter was born on the anniversary of JFK's death. Buyer wrote the book as a refresher course on this national tragedy.

Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m.
Laffs Comedy Caffe, 2900 E. Broadway Blvd.
Comic Vanessa Hollingshead performs as a fundraiser for Amity Circle Tree Ranch, a local rehab that allows parents to bring their children with them to treatment. Amity has plans to build a new facility called "The Firefly Village" for families. $25. Call 32-FUNNY for tickets.