Cover Story
Return of the Messenger
This one has all the ingredients of a dreamed-up Hollywood blockbuster: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist uncovers a big story involving drugs, the CIA and a guerrilla army. Despite threats and intimidation, he writes an explosive exposé and catches national attention. But the fates shift. Our reporter’s story is torn apart by the country’s leading media; he…
Tonight: Luis Alberto Urrea and The Documented Border Exhibit
Tucson favorite, author and champion Luis Alberto Urrea will deliver the keynote talk at the opening event of “The Documented Border” tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at UA Library’s Special Collections. A book signing follows his talk. On the exhibit and digital archive: “The Documented Border” exhibit and a digital archive…
Gabby Giffords: Ron Barber “Is Arizona Through and Through”
One day after criticizing an NRCC ad for co-opting her name and image (and just as early voting is set to begin), Gabby Giffords stars in a new ad from Americans for Responsible Solutions that backs Congressman Ron Barber in his race against Republican challenger Martha McSally. Leaving aside the political message, it’s amazing and…
Let’s Listen to a Song by Dimitri From Golden Boots
Back in 2013, when Eric Swedlund wrote about a Golden Boots show on the Congress patio, he said that Golden Boots “have been a bit of mystery the last couple years, sharing co-frontman Dimitri Manos with the heavy-touring Dr. Dog” and that hasn’t seemingly changed recently, although they did play a show at Congress in…
Maldita Vecindad Postpones Rialto Show
Unfortunate news for fans of Mexican rock, but Thursday’s Maldita Vecindad at the Rialto has been postponed until December (with a specific date to be announced next week). Hang on to your tickets until more info is available.
British Cell Phone Company Offers a Glimpse Into Your Old Person Future
I’m not entirely sure why you would want this, but the British telecom company Orange (why can’t our cell phone companies have more pleasant names? I like orange the color, I like oranges the fruit. AT&T are all fine as letters, I guess, but together they don’t do much for me) has built a seemingly…
Here’s a Clip of Skrillex Paying Tribute to the Lion King Last Night
Despite DJ Mustard not making it to the show, people seemed to have a good time at the Skrillex concert at AVA last night: @Skrillex you blew my mother fudginnnnn mind you did Tucson like no ones seen — julia henning (@Jhenn9) October 8, 2014 But, hey, who wouldn’t enjoy a show with that includes…
Life Sucks Wednesday: A Bill Murray Kind of Day
Life sucks. Seriously, let’s be honest for a moment. It sucks. Fetal position after coffee sounds really good right now. Just some time to think about how our jobs as humans is to look for gems out there that somehow make everything meaningful and make us want to not always be in fetal positions after…
Ethan Orr Doesn’t Want To Talk About His Support For Vouchers (Or Anything Else That Makes Him Look Like A Conservative Republican)
Monday night, the Weekly hosted a debate, moderated by Jim Nintzel, for Legislative District 9 House candidates: Democrats Randy Friese and Victoria Steele; and Republican Ethan Orr. It was a revealing, informative session. While Steele and Friese mostly said what they meant clearly and plainly, Orr did his best to obscure his stands on issues…
Tucson Mountains Trail Hound: Robles Pass Trail System
Welcome, fellow hikers and desert lovers, to the first edition of Tucson Mountains Trail Hound, a new endeavor dedicated to detailing some of the lesser known trails in the Tucson Mountains, west of the city. Cooler weather should soon (hopefully!) be here, which for many of us means: it’s hiking season. The abundant late summer…
Gabby Giffords Tells NRCC: Don’t “Pretend To Speak For Me”
After the National Republican Congressional Committee aired an attack ad against Congressman Ron Barber that featured Gabby Giffords, Gabby herself released a statement condemning the tactic. “No organization or person—no matter which party they say they represent—should think they can come to Southern Arizona and pretend to speak for me,” Giffords said. “I work hard…
Here’s a Video of Two Kangaroos Fighting in an Australian Neighborhood
I don’t understand what’s happening, but as wild animals intruding into suburban neighborhoods go, these angry kangaroos are more far interesting than the javelinas that walk down my street sometimes. [HT: reddit]
Welcome Back, Tiger: Tom Ziegler Returns to the Tap Room This Saturday, Oct. 11
Hotel Congress Cancel your weekend plans, Tucson: Tiger’s back. Hotel Congress’s longtime bartender, Headline News aficionado and sweater enthusiast Tom “Tiger” Ziegler is returning to his post at his Tap Room after what’s been far, far too long. You may remember this post from June, where we reported that injuries sustained in a car accident…
Barber vs. McSally: Here Comes The First Televised Debate!
While the debate about debates could continue, we’ve finally reached the first of two scheduled showdowns between Democratic Congressman Ron Barber and his Republican opponent, Martha McSally. The two candidates will face each other live on TV tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. on PBS 6. If you can’t tune in, you’ll be able to…
Alfonso Ribeiro Brought Back the Carlton Dance on Dancing With The Stars, and the World is Good Again
Uproxx, via ABC If you’re anything like me (or “Weekly” Chowhound C.J. Hamm) you’ve got a fondness in your heart for the classic ’90s sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Will Smith’s catapult to greatness (and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s occasional catapult to the ground). But for Smith’s co-star Alfonso Ribeiro, his time on the Fresh…
You Were Wondering Who Same Sex Marriage Hurts? This Woman, That’s Who
Image courtesy of Shutterstock Monday’s choice by the Supreme Court’s to decline to hear several cases regarding same-sex marriage didn’t mean same-sex couples now have a constitutional right to marry, but it did mean that in 30 states, same-sex couples can marry, either by the state’s decision or through this Supreme Court non-ruling. So, of…
Do You Have Photos From the Red Room? Asking for a Friend
Aleksa Brown DISCOS live at the Red Room I applaud restaurants and bars “dressing up” for Halloween – in fact, I campaigned for local places to do so back in 2010 – and the delightful Saffords of Tap & Bottle made me very happy last year when they turned their craft beer and wine joint…
The Heist Pizza Parlour Has Closed
Heist Pizza Parlour, the Aaron May artisan pizza joint which was located in the former Grandy’s/Rockin’ Baja Lobster/Big Fat Greek building at 7131 E Broadway Blvd, has closed after a little over than a year of service. They apparently served their last pies on Sunday and now the phone is disconnected and their Facebook page…
An Interview With Ana Chavarin
A few days ago, I wrote about an Education Accountability Session sponsored by the Pima County Interfaith Council and others. Though a number of candidates were given a chance to speak — briefly — the highlight of the event was listening to seven young and not-so-young adults talk about their personal educational journeys. These are…
Skrillex’s Remixed Life
Image from the Skrillex Facebook fan page. Way back in 2002, the Artist Then Known as P. Diddy released the ridiculously titled We Invented the Remix. Even when taking into account the Bad Boy Records mogul’s reputation for unbelievable claims, this one was outrageous and absurd. Diddy, nor anyone he likely ever met, did not…
The Buffet Received the Best Mayoral Proclamation Ever
The Buffet is celebrating its 80th (!!!) anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. (mark your calendars!), but the festivities have already kicked off as Mayor Rothschild has signed on to what appears to be the greatest proclamation ever to be issued from his desk. You can read the whole thing above,…
The Twin Peaks Sequel Is Actually a Thing
Last week, I wrote about the teases of new Twin Peaks material on Twitter, but today there’s a payoff as Showtime has announced that the cult favorite is returning to television for nine episodes set in the present day. The bad news: the episodes won’t air until 2016. I need to pace my freaking out…
Our Interview With Bill Maher
I talked to Bill Maher about Islam, the possibility of a Republican majority in Congress and what makes stand-up still interesting for him. On a similar note, he got into a heated argument with Ben Affleck about Islam on last night’s Real Time. He’s scheduled to perform Sunday, Oct. 5 at the TCC Music Hall.…
Get Registered To Vote!
If you’re not registered to vote by midnight on Monday, Oct. 6, you’re not gonna be able to cast a ballot in this year’s election. It’s easy as can be online—as long as the state knows you’re a citizen—by following this link. Otherwise, you can find a list of Pima County locations to fill out…
Wait, Is Twin Peaks Coming Back?
The obsessive folks at the Welcome to Twin Peaks fansite noticed something on Twitter today: both of the creators of cult-favorite TV show Twin Peaks posted the same tweet, seemingly hinting at a rebirth for the show: Dear Twitter Friends: That gum you like is going to come back in style! #damngoodcoffee— David Lynch (@DAVID_LYNCH)…
It’s Political Season At TUSD. Caveat Emptor.
Is there anyone foolish enough to watch an ad from McSally supporters attacking Barber, or from Barber supporters attacking McSally, and think it’s the absolute, unvarnished truth? Is there anyone who thinks when a 1975 DUI against a House candidate in, say, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, shows up a month before the election, the timing is a…
Roadhouse Cinemas Is Having a Soft Opening This Weekend
Once it was announced that Roadhouse Cinemas, a dine-in/drink-in movie theater experience, was taking over the former Crossroads space, Tucson reacted with a great deal of enthusiasm, including adding over 12,000 likes to their Facebook page. This weekend, as long as you give the owners and managers the benefit of the doubt, you can finally…
Ducey’s Secret Speech at Koch Getaway
There have been a lot of people charging that Arizona gubernatorial nominee Doug Ducey is a tool of the Koch brothers, but it turns out that no one has made the case better than Ducey himself. Ducey, the former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery who won the Arizona Treasurer post four years ago, didn’t make…
Arizona Opera Stages Mariachi Opera Featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán
Look Tucson, we haven’t had this talk. It’s been on my mind lately, but with this month’s staging of what is sure to be an amazing performance of a mariachi opera from the Arizona Opera company, it’s time to stage an intervention. Do not wait, like you usually do to buy tickets. That rude behavior…
We Need Some New Words, So It’s Neologism Time
Image courtesy of Shutterstock You know how, as you get older, more and more often the wrong word pops up while you’re speaking, and you accidentally say silly things like “Hold on, I have to charge up my refrigerator” or “Honey, is there any OJ in the laptop?” (For you college young-uns out there, just…
Brewer Cuts The Legs Out From Under The “No More Money For Schools” Crowd
If there was ever any question whether Doug Ducey will be a more conservative governor than our conservative Governor Brewer if he’s elected, those questions have once again been put to rest. Brewer made it clear she thinks the state should pay the schools the $317 million they’re owed. Ducey has said over and over…
And Republicans Read the Tucson Weekly, Right Rat T?
Not sure if I like the comment on the video’s YouTube page more than the political writers taking the “Be Nice to Republicans” campaign to task. You have to like the description from Republicans Are People Too: It seems like it’s okay to say mean things about someone just because they’re Republican. That isn’t right.…
Speakers Give Candidates An Earful At PCIC Education Accountability Session
I went to the Education Accountability Session sponsored by the Pima County Interfaith Council last Sunday expecting to hear candidates talk about education. I was ready for yet another hour or two of the same old stuff. I’d force myself to pay careful attention, hoping at least one candidate for state legislature or the PCC…
Arizona Republic Endorses McSally
Mariana Dale In a reminder that the Arizona Republic often leans further to the right than most people remember, their editorial board has endorsed Martha McSally, mostly because they feel she would bring more leadership to the fight for the A-10 and for her “genuinely solid grasp of foreign policy and national security”: These are…
Pima County Seed Library Featured in PBS’s Food Forward
A profile on Pima County Public Library’s Seed Library—a beloved program operated by seed librarian Justine Hernandez—on the PBS show Food Forward—is already online, but will be airing on PBS’s ReadyTV channel (KUAT 6-3, Comcast 201 and Cox 82) on Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m., Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. and Nov. 30 at 2…
Police Dispatch
ASLEEP AND EXPOSED—BUT NOT INDECENTLY SO FOOTHILLS AREA AUGUST 27, 10:15 A.M. A man escaped an indecent-exposure charge after publicly sleepwalking naked, because even in sleep—though he had shed his clothes—he’d judiciously covered both his penis and his testicles, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report. A woman at his apartment complex told sheriff’s…
Oro Valley Values
It looks just like a doctor’s office, and for those seeking medical marijuana as an alternative healing method, it might as well be. Located at 12152 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Catalina Hills Care (CHC) opened on July 25, 2013 to an Oro Valley community that had mixed feelings about a dispensary in town limits. But,…
Personal History
It’s been nine years since Tucson-born Dan Guerrero staged his one-man show, “¡Gaytino!,” in Tucson and in that time his hometown’s Chicano community has gone through another round of taking up the good fight, between the state’s SB 1070 and anti-Mexican-American studies law. The early history of that ever-evolving good fight and the racism that…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: Why don’t Mexicans get green cards and come into the United States legally? After talking to people who have, the process is not hard and only takes a maximum of three years to do. By coming in illegally, they are taking the jobs from legal Mexican citizens and taking advantage of the U.S.…
The Skinny
The Great Debate Debate Team McSally neglects to commit to TV debate, demands more debates A debate over debates has broken out in the race between Democratic Congressman Ron Barber and his Republican challenger, Martha McSally. On Sept. 4, Team Barber challenged McSally to two debates. Later that day, Team McSally responded with a demand…
Soundbites
MIDDLE MAN Although it’s theoretically for students, I’m not sure anyone’s going to try to stop you if your college days are behind you from seeing Aloe Blacc at a free “Welcome Back!” show on the UA Mall this Friday, Oct. 3. Aloe’s still riding high off the success of “The Man,” a song you’ve…
Danehy
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. [Then the Lord got all butt-hurt about the Tower they were building in Babel and said], “Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there all over the earth ……
Soundbites
MIDDLE MAN Although it’s theoretically for students, I’m not sure anyone’s going to try to stop you if your college days are behind you from seeing Aloe Blacc at a free “Welcome Back!” show on the UA Mall this Friday, Oct. 3. Aloe’s still riding high off the success of “The Man,” a song you’ve…
Media Watch
WEEKLY REPRESENTED WELL IN ARIZONA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION HONORS The Arizona Newspaper Association named Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Weekly Arizona Journalist of the Year during its annual awards ceremony in mid-September. Rob O’Dell of the Arizona Republic received the organization’s other Journalist of the Year accolade. Meanwhile, Mike Christy of the Arizona Daily Star was…
Live
Head Over Heart has deliberately positioned itself as musical and cultural outsiders in Tucson’s downtown music community, which values authenticity, or at least the appearance of it. But the embodiment of authenticity is a loose premise at best—it has far more to do with a polite sense of passive aggressive underachievement, rather than anything musical.…
White Hinterland, “Baby” (Dead Oceans)
Casey Dienel, the mind behind White Hinderland, announces her intentions on “Baby,” her third album under that name, right off the bat, with a few seconds of her fascinating voice unaccompanied and upfront on the first song, “Wait Until Dark,” followed by a piano solo of sorts. If you’re going to enjoy her music, it’s…
Celebrating Swaim
In 1972, architect Bob Swaim designed a townhouse development in an old pecan orchard on East Glenn Street near the Rillito River. It would have been cheap, easy and perfectly legal for Swaim to fell the trees on the land. But he didn’t. Instead, he saved as many as possible and incorporated them into his…
Young Folks’ Farce
If I were given a choice between watching a hideously self-important rendition of Sam Beckett’s “Krapp’s Last Tape” and a farce like “Lend Me a Tenor,” I would probably choose the farce. But I would be tempted to take the Krapp. But that’s just me. You shouldn’t be tempted to miss the frantic, festive, and…
Clues and Chaos
Back from running some errands, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) notices his wife is not in the house. More disturbingly, a glass table has been shattered and there are a few traces of blood. We believe immediately that she has either been killed or kidnapped, because those possibilities are where the clues lead. Emphatic clues, as…
German Gross-Out
So, how does one review a movie like “Wetlands” without being totally disgusting? The answer is that you really can’t. This is one of the grossest movies I have ever seen. If bodily functions, fluids, odors and generally stank and sticky things coming out of all orifices make you queasy, don’t see the movie and…
Cinema Showdown
While clearly the top choice this week at the Loft would be “Wetlands,” the film about anal fixations and love reviewed elsewhere in this issue, there are other movies running on their three screens this week. It’s Monty Python month in October, with the Loft showing a film by the British comedy troupe every Wednesday…
Kung Fu Noodle’s Not a Knock Out
With a silly name like Kung Fu Noodle, you would expect some ass-kicking Asian food. This is not the case with the little Chinese noodle house tucked away in the corner of a strip mall on Campbell just south of Fort Lowell. Where their namesake, the noodle, is done very well, they have a lot…
Noshing Around
THE (NOT-SO) SECRET INGREDIENT? PUMPKIN Two former Tucson Iron Chef winners are throwin’ down against each other in The Great Pumpkin Challenge at the Williams Sonoma Store in La Encantada on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. Chef Albert Hall from Acacia Real Food & Cocktails is pitted against Chef Ryan Clark from…
Nine on the Line
Gary Hickey, born and bred Tucsonan (although well traveled), is currently the General Manager and Executive Chef at McMahons Prime Steakhouse. He has been working in professional kitchens since 1992, where he started as a prep cook at one of Tucson’s most memorable Northwest restaurants, Keaton’s in the Foothills. He then went on to work…
Hard Lessons
“In other parts of my life,” says Billy Sedlmayr, “I couldn’t have done any of this. It takes too much discipline.” On a late afternoon in the barely waning summer, Sedlmayr talks about the long road making his solo album “Charmed Life,” 12 songs (stories, really) written from the other side of his greatest struggles,…
Editor’s Note
In a turn of events I could not have possibly predicted, every Sunday morning, I’m finding myself reading something on Buzzfeed. No, not the list of “21 Mouthwatering Ways To Up Your Chicken Tender And Fry Game” (WHICH IS ACTUALLY A THING ON THEIR SITE RIGHT NOW), but the content on the site’s Buzzreads page. Generally,…
Nine Questions
Ernesto Portillo, Jr.’s love for music started at home and began with a love for radio. The Arizona Daily Star columnist and editor of its bilingual edition, La Estrella de Tucson, started working in radio at Cholla High School while his father, a Spanish-language radio pioneer, was general manager of Radio Fiesta, KXEW-AM, must-listen radio…
Architecture Week 2014
As part of Architecture Week 2014, the American Institute of Architects’ Southern Arizona Chapter and Living Streets Alliance have a weekend of neighborhood and structure-loving events for Tucson. On Saturday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. is a home tour of the Mercado District development next to the Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida Del Convento, in…
Tales From the Trash
It’s a thrift store art exhibit from Lysergic Sounds Distributors and Velvet Glass at Maker House, 283 N. Stone Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m. “Tales From The Trash Vol. 2,” will showcase found amateur art from thrift stores, swap meets, yard sales, flea markets and dumpsters. LSD and Velvet Glass of Tucson will…
“It Takes a Lot to Be Yourself”
Titus Castanza’s artwork is taking over the Wee Gallery, 439 N. 6th Ave., opening reception Saturday, Oct. 4 from 6 to 11 p.m. and continuing through Oct. 26. Describing the work in the show, Castanza wrote that his approach to his work is more about his attitude from day to day and less about caring…
Are You Mod?
It’s Tucson Modernism Week, and in celebration of all things modern, there’s a bevy of activity from Friday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 22 with programs, film, lectures and other events that highlight Tucson’s Mid-century Modern design and architecture. There’s the popular vintage trailer show on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5, from 10…
Are You Mod?
It’s Tucson Modernism Week, and in celebration of all things modern, there’s a bevy of activity from Friday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 22 with programs, film, lectures and other events that highlight Tucson’s Mid-century Modern design and architecture. There’s the popular vintage trailer show on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5, from 10…
Pima Council on Aging Art Auction
Conceived entirely by the Pima Council on Aging’s employees in appreciation for the positive impact the organization has on the lives of older adults in Pima County, the art auction is Saturday, Oct. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Artifact Dance Project, 17 E. Toole Ave. There will be food and beverages at…
