Tucson Weekly: Events (December 28

SPECIAL EVENTS
Events This Week
ART WALK. The ArtWalk is a free, guided tour that explores downtown galleries and studios and includes talks by artists and small, private receptions. Parking is free, but reservations are recommended. Meet at El Centro Cultural, 40 W. Broadway Blvd., between 5 and 5:30 p.m. January 4 for tours of El Centro Cultural, Etherton Gallery, Access Tucson Gallery, Kathryn Wilde Studio, Light Ray Studios, Salon Q, Studio 113 and Susan K. Johnson-Hannon. Call 624-9977 for information and reservations.
CASINO OF THE SUN BASH. 7406 S. Camino de Oeste. Ring in the New Year with a bevy of Latin entertainers December 31 from 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Performers include La Nueva Onda, Sangre Caliente, Shelly Lares and Peter Astudillo. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at window 4 at the casino cashier cage or by calling 879-5442.
CRAFT MARKET AND POW-WOW. Rillito Raceway Park. River Road and First Avenue. Dancers from more than 50 tribes compete in the Indian America Pow Wow and Craft Market from 4 to 10 p.m. December 29, noon to 10 p.m. December 30 and noon to 6 p.m. December 31. There is also traditional Indian food, a birds of prey exhibit and a drum contest. Admission is $7 daily.
HOLIDAY BREAK FOR PRE-TEENS. Randolph Center. 200 S. Alvernon Way. A two-week holiday break for kids ages 11-12 includes sports, games, arts and crafts, excursions and guest speakers. Participants need to bring a sack lunch and snacks. Call 791-4560 for information and cost of the January 2-5 program.
HOME AND GARDEN SHOW. Tucson Convention Center. 260 S. Church Ave. Create the home of your dreams with a little help from a variety of vendors at the Arizona State Home Show January 5-7 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday). Pick the brains of landscapers and homebuilders, and taste the cuisine of some of Tucson's best chefs. Win a dream kitchen, take home free trees or walk away with a cash prize. Tickets are $6 (plus TCC user fee). Visit www.americanshowsinc.com for discount coupons. Children 16 and under are admitted free.
NEW YEAR'S DANCE. Tucson Convention Center. 260 S. Church Ave. A New Year's Eve dance party for teens features music, refreshments, fun activities and prizes. Admission is $5 for the December 30, 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. party. Call 791-4873 ext. 127 for more information.
THEATER OF THE STARS. Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium. UA campus, University Boulevard east of Cherry Avenue. 621-STAR. There are several new shows at the center, including Holiday Skies: A Christmas Story, which explores the origin of many holiday traditions; Clouds of Fire: The Origin of Stars, explaining the nature of the sun and other stars; and Our Place in Space (for children grades K-3), which follows the adventures of a group of animals as they investigate the cause of day and night, the importance of the sun, the constellations and more. All shows continue through January 7. Call for daily show times.
WORLD PEACE AND HEALING MEDITATION. Science of Mind Center. 4500 E. Speedway Blvd., Suite 15, in Midway Business Park. A World Peace and Healing Meditation begins December 30 at 5 p.m. The vigil continues through the night with music, chanting, drumming and sacred dance, which leads up to a global meditation at 5 a.m. on December 31. Riki Newell performs a special concert December 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person to be used to further the work of world peace. Call 319-1042 for more information.
Out of Town
AN ARIZONA CHRISTMAS. The Arizona Folklore Preserve. 44 Ramsey Canyon Road, Hereford. (520) 378-6165. Dolan Ellis, Arizona's official state balladeer, presents An Arizona Christmas December 28 and 30 at 2 p.m. Enjoy Ellis' ballads and photography as he performs traditional and original songs about Arizona Christmases past and present. An $8 suggested donation is requested at the door. Reservations only.
WINTER NATURE TOURS. Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. Birds of prey and sandhill cranes are the stars of the winter nature tours hosted by the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. Half-day tours, which depart from Bisbee's historic district at 9 a.m. and return by 12:30 p.m., continue through February 25. The $30-per-person tours include transportation in a 15-passenger bus. Hawk Stalk tours depart at 8 a.m. and return by 4 p.m. The fee is $55 per person and includes transportation and lunch at a local restaurant. Call (520) 432-1388 for reservations and more information.
Upcoming
AEROS: THE ROMANIAN GYMNASTICS TEAM. Centennial Hall. University of Arizona. 621-3341. Sponsored by UApresents. February 2, 8 p.m.
V-DAY. Various locations downtown. This multicultural, multi-media event, including films, music, speeches and a live performance of The Vagina Monologues, aims to increase awareness of and raise funds to fight violence against women and children. Admission for the February 10 event costs $18 at the door, $15 in advance, $12 for students and military.
HALAU HULA KA NO'EAU. Centennial Hall. University of Arizona. 621-3341. Sponsored by UApresents. February 13, 7:30 p.m.
SPALDING GRAY. Centennial Hall. University of Arizona. 621-3341. Sponsored by UApresents. February 16, 8 p.m.