Tucson Weekly: Events (May 17

SPECIAL EVENTS

ALL-STAR BULL RIDING CHALLENGE. Tucson Rodeo Grounds. 4823 S. Sixth Ave. 741-2233. The All-Star Challenge: PBR Championship Bull Riding event takes place May 19 at 7:45 p.m. The one-day contest features 45 Professional Bull Riders Association contestants vying for an event purse of more than $19,000. Tickets range in price from $14 to $120. Parking is $4 per car.
AMERICA-ISRAEL FRIENDSHIP LEAGUE. Quincie Douglas Neighborhood Park. Kino Boulevard and 36th Street. A dedication celebration of a friendship grove and pathway at the Quincie Douglas Neighborhood Park takes place May 17 at 9 a.m. There is a tree-planting ceremony, the unveiling of an original bronze artwork by Tucson artist Mark Rossi, a presentation by the Jewish National Fund's Israel Emissary Michael Nitzani, Israeli music and dance performances and more. Admission is free.
ANTIQUE RUG & TEXTILE BAZAAR. Hacienda del Sol. 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. 575-0011. The bazaar, which features 25 dealers of antique oriental rugs and textiles from Europe and America, takes place May 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and May 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are museum quality weavings to be viewed, handled and purchased in a casual and relaxed setting. There is a $10 registration fee collected at the entrance. For more information visit www.finekilims.com or e-mail george@finekilims.com.
ART WALK. Tucson-Pima Arts Council. 240 N. Stone Ave. 624-9977. Meet at TPAC's offices between 5 and 5:30 p.m. May 17 for refreshments and artist talk. The walk includes visits to Hazmat Gallery, Solar Culture, Careras Art Studio, Zee's, Alamo Woodworkers, and Ouroboros Stone Art Gallery. Admission is free.
BAKE SALE. The Salvation Army. 101 N. Richey Blvd. 620-1076. A bake sale chock full of homemade pastries and other goodies takes place May 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Proceeds from the sale benefit local youth programs.
BEER TASTING. Beverage House East. 8660 E. Broadway Blvd. 296-9933. Come try Snowman Ale, Banshee Gold, Chocolate Stout and Bombay Express among others from the HC Berger collection May 20. The tasting features beers that will intrigue even the most discriminating connoisseur. Call for information, cost and time of the event.
CLASSIC FILMS. La Placita Village. 110 S. Church St. 622-0077. Cinema La Placita screens classic films this May including Gaslight with Ingrid Bergman and Angela Lansbury May 17 and Manchurian Candidate starring Frank Sinatra and Janet Leigh May 24. All screenings are at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free although a $3 contribution toward the Fox Theatre Foundation is encouraged.
CRUISIN' AT THE JCC GALA FUNDRAISER. Jewish Community Center. 3800 E. River Road. 299-3000. Book passage now for "Cruisin' at the JCC," a gala fundraiser featuring fine food and elegant deserts by Hacienda Del Sol, Daniels, Stone Ashley, and other local restaurants. Passengers may enjoy a live auction of vacation packages from Bon Voyage Travel to exotic locales such as Hawaii and London. There is also a selection of duty free boutiques on board and other surprises. Call to donate goods for the silent auction and for reservation information.
ELEVEN ARCHES FUNDRAISER. Eleven Arches. 5201 N. Hacienda del Sol. 886-1934. Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Strug hosts a special fundraising event May 19 to benefit Armstrong Academy, her alma mater. The dinner and auction helps raise scholarship funds for the private school. Tickets are $35 each.
HERITAGE BUS TOUR. Arizona Historical Society. 949 E. Second St. 628-5775. The bus tour is an AHS docent narrated event that starts and ends at the Museum May 19 and June 2 from 9 a.m. to noon. The tour includes "A" Mountain, the Convento site, Downtown Tucson, Barrio Viejo, "Snob Hollow" the Presidio, Rio Nuevo and more. Cost of the tour is $20 for adults and $10 for children ten years old and younger. Call for reservations.
MINI-GOLF TOURNAMENT. Funtasticks Family Fun Park. 221 E. Wetmore Road. 321-3704. The Humane Society hosts a mini-golf tournament May 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. Festivities include golf-related contests such as the Palmer the Golf Club, Silver Spoon Golf Ball Race and the Not-a-Hole-One putting contest. Prizes are awarded. Registration is $7 and includes 18 holes of miniature golf, entry to all contests and a small soft drink. Registration forms are available at the Humane Society shelter at 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The event helps raise money for the Humane Society.
STAR PARTY. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. 2021 N. Kinney Road. 882-1950. The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum co-host a free star party May 19 from 7 to 11 p.m. Come view the night sky through telescopes supplied by TAAA in the Museum's main parking lot. Amateur astronomers answer questions about telescopes and the objects seen through them, which include constellations such as Gemini, Leo, Virgo and Scorpius and star clusters. The Museum is closed during the event.
WAILA FESTIVAL. UA Bear Down Field. Cherry Avenue and Fourth Street. 628-5774. Join your neighbors under the stars for a family evening of music, dance and traditional O'odham feast food May 19 from 5 to 11 p.m. The Waila Festival features waila--the social dance music of the Tohono O'odham of the Sonoran Desert--food and fun. Admission is free.