Cover Stories
Laugh-O-Rama
Justin Lukasewicz, founder of the Tucson Comedy Arts Festival, doesn’t have a favorite joke. “I’m not good at telling jokes,” he says with a smile. But the idea of making Tucsonans laugh consumes almost half of Lukasewicz’s waking hours.
Best of Tucson® 2016
Dear Tucson: I love you.
The Weekly List: 28 Things To Do In The Next 10 Days
Your Weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo. Pick of the Week: All Souls Procession All Souls Procession: Come together and celebrate the dearly departed at one of Tucson’s most well loved traditions: The All Souls Procession. This two-mile walk gathers on Sixth Ave. and Seventh St. at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6,…
Celebrate Life and Death This Weekend at the All Souls Procession
Take a look around the city and you’re sure to find that Tucson is an immense melting pot that highlights cultures from all over the world. Whether you find that in food, religion or cultural events there’s one day of the year that displays the colorful palette of Tucson’s residents right in the heart of…
The Smearing of Mark Stegeman, TUSD Board Candidate
The Quest for Power Eight years ago, Mark Stegeman was elected to the Tucson Unified School District board. Before he had any experience there, he was tagged with the “power hungry” label. That was supposed to be his motivation. This go-round, he is again labeled as power hungry, a thoroughly groundless accusation. Interestingly, any critical…
Equality Arizona Celebrates 25 Years
Formerly known as the Arizona Human Rights Fund, Equality Arizona has helped our state become a better place by making it more welcoming for everyone, but especially our LGBT community. Help celebrate the organization’s work and it’s 25-year anniversary at the Arizona Inn on Friday, Nov. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $45/65 (purchased…
Who’s Afraid of the TUSD School Closure Issue?
Mark Stegeman doesn’t want school closures to be an election issue. “Nothing to see here, folks, move along,” he wrote Tuesday as part of a Q&A to the people on his email list. Well, that’s not exactly what he wrote. Here’s the passage in the email. Are school closures on anyone’s agenda? No one was even…
James McMurtry Returns to Tucson with Complicated Game
Austin’s James McMurtry writes songs with the richness of novels, his characters struggling through life’s trials in vignettes sculpted as vivid as the world in front of your eyes. Touring in support of Complicated Game, his ninth studio album and his first in six years, McMurtry will perform at Club Congress on Thursday, Nov. 3.…
Cinema Clips: Ouija: Origin of Evil
How bad was 2014’s Ouija? It was so piss poor and forgettable that I had to actually look into my archives for a review to confirm I had actually seen the damn thing. I wasn’t sure. In short, Ouija was a deplorable shitshow. Ouija: Origin of Evil is a bona fide movie miracle in many…
Quick Bites: STEM Your Excitement
Are you an adult who supports youth education (specifically, helping young people get more careers in the STEM fields)? Yet for whom that certainly doesn’t mean you prefer your fundraisers to be lacking in the adult-beverage department? This Saturday’s inaugural YESNET Block Party has you covered. This event is organized to raise money for the…
Celebrate Day of the Dead at the UA
The UA’s Mexican-American Studies students will be hosting this year’s Day of the Dead altar set up and showing on Wednesday, Nov. 2. The date Nov. 2 is traditionally recognized to give tribute and honor the lives of the deceased. In Mexican Indigenous tradition, death is seen as natural part of life and not something…
In The Flesh: The Dracula Kite-Songs of The Cure at the Surly Wench
“When we first talked about doing this it was like five years ago. You can see that we’re moving pretty fast,” says Mike Sydloski, frontman for The Dracula Kite: Songs of The Cure, early in the set. Replete with black eyeliner, de rigeur for a band paying homage to goth popsters The Cure, The Dracula…
Quick Bites: Pizza, Not Politics
Need a little voting practice just before Election Day? It can’t hurt, right? Well, in our opinion it can’t… as long as the practice activity is fun, meaning having nothing to do with the actual election—no politics allowed. If you agree, and if you happen to be a fan of pizza—like, um, probably most people?—we…
UNESCO Talks Sustainability at the UA
In a weekend filled with sustainability initiatives, UNESCO will hold a conference in the UA North Ballroom (1303 E. University Blvd.) to address water scarcity and management as well as desert food systems on Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5 until 5 p.m. Sustainability scholars from Oman, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Mexico will meet with UA…
Cinema Clips: Chicken People
This is a charming documentary about people who raise chickens for competition, and the people in this movie take their craft seriously. There’s the mom who got over a drinking problem by focusing on her chickens, resulting in a sense of career purpose and a few awards. There’s the singer with a gig in Branson,…
Song of the Day: ‘Hologram’ by Burning Palms
Few Tucson bands in recent years have been as polarizing as Burning Palms. Regarded and derided equally as soulful psych-rockers and charlatans, accomplished, economical players and untrained musicians who can barely hold together a primitive racket, visionaries and overly reliant on image—Burning Palms are actually all of these things. The group, under the tutelage of…
An Analysis of the Advantages of Full Day Kindergarten
Funding full day kindergarten across the state is back in the news. This being Arizona, the discussion is a mix of the reasonable, the semi-reasonable, the semi-ridiculous and the totally ridiculous. Whether anything will come of it, whether the legislature is willing to commit about $200 million of new money to the enterprise—money that isn’t…
Win Tickets to Ballet Tucson’s Opening Night Gala or Fall Concert
Local ballet fans have a lot to look forward to this year, with Ballet Tucson already promoting upcoming performances of the Nutcracker, Perseus and Andromeda and La Bayadere. Interested in scoring tickets to these performances? Watch this spot: We’ll be doing giveaways all season long. This year our readers voted Ballet Tucson the best local dance…
Ivan Needs a Home
Hi again, remember me? I’m Ivan! I have officially lived at HSSA for over two months and I can’t wait to find my forever home! I’m a handsome, 4-year-old boy and I need a new home! I was found as a stray so HSSA doesn’t know a lot about my history, but what they do…
Cinema Clips: Certain Women
I’m starting to develop a big time like for director Kelly Reichardt. Wendy and Lucy, Meek’s Cutoff, Night Moves and now this, a well-crafted movie based on short stories by Maile Meloy. Three stories featuring Laura Dern, Kristin Stewart and Michelle Williams intertwine in less-than-obvious ways, with stellar performances from all. Dern plays a lawyer…
Mark Stegeman: For or Against Closing Schools? Or Both? It’s Hard to Tell
Tim Steller has a worthwhile column for anyone who wants to learn more about the twists and turns of what he calls this “mean and ugly” TUSD board race. There’s lots worth discussing in the column, but I want to focus on a short quote from Mark Stegeman where he kind-of denies wanting to close more…
We Made One-Fifth of a Lotería Deck For You
Today’s the day! The results are in for Best of Tucson. You can read up on the winners here, but you should pick up a physical copy and keep it in your glove compartment for the next time you find yourself in need of a veterinarian, comic book or a really good veggie burger. The…
Best Public Garden
Called the “best secret garden” by Reader’s Digest, the Tucson Botanical Gardens is hidden away in a lush slice of land near Grant and Alvernon. But you don’t even hear the cars when you stroll through TBG’s tranquil acres. It’s a place apart, with 16 separate themed gardens—from the Cactus and Succulent to the Barrio…
Best Radio Station for Music
With staple shows like Your Morning Brew, The Home Stretch, Locals Only, Blues Review and Kidd Squid’s Mystery Jukebox, eclectic musical excellence has been the hallmark of KXCI for more than 30 years. While playlists at commercial stations are only growing more dull and limited, KXCI remains as free as ever. And with plans moving…
Best Charity Event
Hands down the largest (and quite possibly one of Tucson’s most diverse) charity events, the primary objective of El Tour de Tucson is to create and institute a fundraising program that allows nonprofit organizations to use El Tour de Tucson events to raise money for their mission, cause and/or objectives. It has something to offer…
Staff Pick: Best Display of Dramatic Literature
This was not just a cool thing. It was a monumental thing that the Folger Shakespeare Library chose Tucson to host a stop in its nationwide tour of Shakespeare’s First Folio. Just one city in each state, and Tucson was anointed (not that other place) as the host city in Arizona. A folio is simply…
Best Veterinarian
Pets are first priority for this local veterinarian clinic, and they are proving that one-day at a time. This 24-hour emergency pet hospital offers a full-service clinic that has provided quality routine and emergency veterinary care for over 50 years. Their team of 10 experienced vets and three interns makes them the largest emergency hospital…
Best Handyman
Whether it’s a “honey-do” list, or a “one day I’ll get to these” list, Jack Of All Trades is a local handyman company ready to let you sit back and relax while they handle the tough stuff. They provide electrical troubleshooting, pressure washing, countertop repair, and custom gazebo construction, among countless other things. They can…
Best Downtown Restaurant
Nestled in the heart of downtown Tucson, Café Poca Cosa offers a much needed retreat from the doldrums of office life. A fitting name for a tiny building surrounded by Tucson’s towers, Café Poca Cosa is a tribute to the little things in life that bring something different to the daily monotony. With its urban…
Best Panaderia
Located in the beautiful Mercado just west of downtown, La Estrella Bakery offers some of the tastiest and most authentic Mexican pastries around. We’d recommend the empanadas, but you can’t go wrong with the cakey, thick donuts or the powdery cookies. Grab a cup of Joe at Stella with your Estrella sweet for the perfect…
Best Tamales
Sometimes we don’t look kindly on institutions that try to re-invent something sacred to us. Tucson Tamale is not one of those. They insist on perfect, healthy ingredients and then give their imaginations the green light. That has resulted in over 25 varieties, like yellow curry with organic vegetables and a Thanksgiving tamale with turkey…
Staff Pick: Best Gift Shop For Your Littlest Smarty Pants
Mildred & Dildred is a toy store, sure, but learning can be fun—especially if you have the right tools. Skip the video games on your kid’s next birthday and opt instead to expand their horizons through puzzles, science kits, plus books and toys designed with our Southwest home in mind.
Best Smoothies/Juice Bar
We’ve all been there after going just a hair too hard on a Saturday night. Sunday morning rolls around and the hangover is so real. Lucky for us, Xoom Juice has everything we need to supplement the nutrients lost from the night before. Xoom offers a myriad of smoothie selections ranging from extra protein to…
Best Breakfast
The all-day breakfasts at Blue Willow are nothing short of sumptuous. Coming with a heaping helping of sides—potatoes or beans, toast or tortilla—the egg dishes range from Mexican-style breakfast burritos stuffed with scrambled eggs, potatoes cheese and beans to all-American classics. Try two eggs any style with bacon or sausage and all the trimmings. We…
Staff Pick: Best Crappy Burrito
It’s late, you’ve had a bit to drink and now you’re hungry. If the spoiled cold cuts are less than desirable for a late night snack, fear not because Los Betos has got your back. The rice, bean and cheese burrito, it is a saviour for all those longing for midnight eats. No, it’s not…
Best Comedy Night
Comedy clubs offer a fun night out for any comedian junky, and Laffs Comedy Caffe is a must-see for anyone. Offering a wide variety of shows, this comedy club attracts some of the best comedians from around the country every Friday and Saturday night, and offers live performances and open mic nights. They are the…
Staff Pick: Unique Comedy Show Format
Of Tucson’s two dozen comedy shows every month, The Switch regularly smashes expectations. That’s because the audience includes the whole Twitter-verse, a realm thick with muck and random madness. For a comedian, every Switch outing is a walk off the plank. They get their own short sets, but also take their chances in loopy debates…
Noise Annoys
Social upheavals in recent years have shone a light shown on, amongst other societal ills, the continued conservative white-boy dominance over too many people’s lives. Combined with 20-year nostalgia cycles in music, a revival of Riot Grrrl makes sense on paper.
Best Bike Riding
Our 12-mile long Rillito River Bike Path, which runs east and west from Interstate 10, all the way to North Craycroft Road is Tucson’s best place for bike riding. Cyclists can expect a well-kept trail, and beauty when heading west at sunset. The trail runs along the northern and southern edges of the Rillito. Under…
Best Local Weatherperson
“Erin said it would!” The words that ring throughout KGUN9 News commercials, and are sprinkled (in hashtag form) on Erin’s Twitter page (and also as her handle!): in reference, of course, to the fact that the weather we’re now experiencing was just what Erin predicted—she’s that good. Well, almost. C’mon, Erin’s a meteorologist, not a…
Best Farmers’ Market
foodinroot.com/farmersmarkets/ stphilipsplaza Whether you’re looking for the perfect combination of veggies for your next Italian dinner night or a quaint homemade craft for your best friend’s birthday, the St. Phillip’s Plaza Artisan and Classic Farmers’ Market is the place to be Saturday and Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. There’s always a huge variety of vendors to…
Staff Pick: Best New Symphony Orchestra
Staff Pick Best new symphony orchestra Tucson Repertory Orchestra tucsonrepertoryorchestra.org Without real estate, contracts, a huge payroll, or a few hundred donors and season ticket holders with great expectations, TRO is in a position to take risks, and wouldn’t have it any other way. Musicians from other Tucson orchestras find a creative outlet in the…
Best Day Spa
Desk job doing a job on your lower back? Tucson has many spas to help you relax those stressed-out muscles, but Canyon Ranch has marked itself a favorite with its Watsu water massage. Located in a mostly residential area of northeastern Tucson, Canyon Ranch offers a quiet getaway from those everyday stresses with a wide…
Staff Pick: Best Local Chick to Buy Jewelry From If You also Might Need Some Hand-Crafted Lip Balm and/or Cool Stained-Glass Art
“PLART = PLANTS + ART: the simple formula behind the business name of local jewelry designer (and artist and plant enthusiast) Alexandra Berger—a name that really does combine Berger’s love of art (she makes jewelry, glass beads, plates, candle holders and more) and her love of plants. She uses herbs grown in her very own…
Best Northwest Restaurant
Wildflower, a north side favorite, was the first venture of the company that brought us Blanco Tacos + Tequila and Zinburger. Nonetheless, Wildflower’s funky patterned dining room has continued to bring its European and Asian inspired American cuisine to Tucson. Next time you’re on the north side of town, stop by to try their irresistible…
Best Toy Store
Yikes has been around since we were young enough to not get many of its gags. (“Daddy, why are they selling a Jesus fly swatter?”) This store is truly for all ages. Need a gift for your kid’s friend’s birthday party? Head here and get a stuffed dinosaur or chambered nautilus 3-D puzzle… awesome and…
Best Menudo
Best Menudo Mi Nidito 1813 S. Fourth Ave. minidito.net If you’re in the know about menudo, you know where to get the best. Now before you get all “ew-it’s-so-yucky,” we would ask, have you ever tried it? If no, those who know, know that you know nothing. Or something like that. Hangover cure? Maybe. But…
Best Place to Get a Slice
You know you’re in luck when the pickup window at Brooklyn is open late on Saturday night. What better find is there than to stumble upon a piping hot piece of pepperoni pizza during your drunken stumblings up and down Fourth Avenue? And if your night is still rollin’, they’re more than happy to find…
Best Food Truck
Due to its great food and unique menu it’s no wonder Serial Grillers would be voted the best food truck in Tucson. The strange practice—which gives them their name—is that all of their menu items are cleverly named after real serial killers, and fictional killers from horror films. Serial Grillers began as a food truck,…
Best Brunch
Prep and Pastry prides itself in two things: boozy brunches and locally sourced ingredients. This makes for one delicious combo. The food comes out looking just as good as it tastes and dishes are often the products of some cool innovation. Now there are two locations to better serve all of Tucson’s brunch crowd, as…
Best Musical Act
Having gone to the Edge of the Sun in 2015, Calexico spent most of 2016 abroad—with shows and festival performances in Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand. Musical ambassadors of Tucson, Calexico carry the spirit of the desert in their sound, with eight ambitious studio records recorded in the band’s 20 years. The question…
Best Bar Menu
You have a lot of choices for downtown bar fare, and Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails is one where you just can’t go wrong. The fish tacos are juicy and fresh, the calamari comes out crispy and that J Dawg still provides some great taste and great memories of the JBar. Paired with any one of…
Staff Pick: Best Brewery To Listen To the Train Horns
Borderlands Brewing Company 119 E. Toole Ave. Downtown’s Borderland Brewery, located inside an old brick warehouse along railroad tracks, offers a place to relax, listen to live music and drink freshly brewed beers. Borderlands serves up nine drafts along with two recently added wines. Don’t miss the Crouching Thaiger, a beer flavored with herbs and spices such as lemongrass…
Know Your Product
This hick-punk Texas reprobate grooves like an old Jerry Reed side, flexes like early X, and spins literate yarns full of busted-luck everydayisms that’d inspire ghosts of old Townes Van Zandt and lowlife novelist Harry Crews to lift countless toasts.
Best Hike
A gem of the Coronado National Forest, Sabino Canyon offers hikers great trails and beautiful desert foliage. A tram service takes visitors to the trailheads and gives tours. Whether you’re an experienced hiker, or an inexperienced hiker, Sabino Canyon is a great place to take in the wonders of nature. With monsoon season ending soon,…
Best Radio Host
The best way to get started in the morning is by listening to The Morning Mix on KMXZ-FM from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. with Bobby Rich, Mrs. Grant and Greg Curtis. But the one who steals the show is Rich, who is a legend in the radio industry and has spent over years of…
Best Place to Donate Your Time and/or Money
Through no fault of their own, unidentifiable pets cry themselves to sleep night after night, their spare, crowded cells filled with others’ frantic barking. Hopelessness shadows their sad eyes; their hearts are broken. Volunteers can cheer them up and make them feel loved. They also do the important work of keeping pets socialized so they’ll…
Best Bowling Alley
Whether you’re looking to show your bowling proficiency in a league, or just looking for a night out with friends, Lucky Strike Bowl is Tucson’s premiere bowling alley. Primetime bowling prices (6 to 9 p.m.) are $3.99 a game per person. Shoe rentals are $3. Sunday through Thursday, after 9 p.m., there is a $7…
Best Hotel
Tucsonans and visitors alike still enjoy the elegant, yet uncommonly gracious hospitality of Isabella Greenway, the Inn’s founder and one of Arizona’s first members of Congress. Three generations later, the Pink Lady of Elm Street thrives in the hands of her descendants, who today invest the same care in every detail of the rooms, the…
Staff Pick: Best Costume Shop (Or Place To Take A First Date)
Whether you’re looking for your costume for the next Centurions party, or costuming is just your jam, Tucson Thrift is the place to shop. Feeling a little Ron Burgundy? They have a wig for that. Want to brush up on your Michael Jackson impersonation? They have a zipper jacket for that. Need to fulfill the…
Best Central Restaurant
Yes, it serves excellent seafood, but it entices with so much more. Excellent, attentive service. Great cocktails. A low-key, but uptown feeling. But since it’s not located uptown, or downtown, for that matter, it’s claimed the spot of the best eatery in the middle of town. One of its best features is that it serves…
Best Carniceria
It is never a bad time to have a pachanga in Tucson and the one thing that cannot be missing in one is the carne asada. If only there was a place to get carne and everything else you needed to throw a kick ass pachanga. There is! El Herradero Supermarket has everything you will…
Best Public Pool/Splashpad
Open April 20-Oct 31 of each year, Brandi Fenton Memorial Park Splash Pad has spray arches, water geysers, swinging water buckets and sunflower showers. Designed for children 12 and under, it is the perfect escape from the Tucson heat if you don’t have a pool ten steps from your back door. There is also a…
Best Casual Dining
A familiar face in Tucson Weekly’s Best of Tucson, Beyond Bread—locally owned and operated since 1998—offers a variety of hand-crafted breads, delicious sandwiches, house-made soups, fresh salads, and decadent pastries all in a comfortable and friendly environment. Beyond Bread has become widely recognized and praised for making everything from scratch with the finest ingredients. Beyond…
Best Coffee
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Raging Sage clinches the coffee category once again. Not only do they offer a succulent selection of espresso and sweets, their staff are pretty sweet as well. There’s no doubt that their scone pairings make the Raging Sage coffee experience just that much better, but with their consistent…
Best Chinese
The Golden Dragon Chinese restaurant has been serving Tucson its amazing crab puffs, delicious sizzling rice and famous crispy duck since 1990 with award winning results. There is no doubt that Weekly readers love the excellent Chinese fare because the Golden Dragon is the Best of Tucson winner for the third year in a row.…
Best Neighborhood Bar
Since Tap and Bottle arrived on the scene in 2013, its popularity has not gone unnoticed, and it deserves every bit. No matter what you’re looking for, T&B offers a vast variety of selections from pilsners, hefeweizens and kolsch to stouts, porters, and not just single, but double and triple IPAs. With a food cart…
Best Strip Club
Six years in a row Curves Cabaret has been voted Best in Tucson, and it’s no surprise. “Tucson’s #1 Gentlemen’s Club” features numerous stages, Champagne Rooms and Party Booths, as well as daily specials. Go on Tuesdays and you get three dances for the price of two! Saturday is no cover for couples! They also…
Editor’s Note
Do we fail or pass on Election Day?
Fact Checks!
We’re two weeks out from the Nov. 8 election and the Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy have been kicking their “No on 205” campaign into high gear with a slew of ads filled with misleading information and flat out lies to dissuade voters from passing a law that would be part of any real responsible…
Best Backpacking
For your next backpacking trip head up to Mount Lemmon, it’s Tucson’s favorite place for backpacking. The beautiful rock formations and pine tree vistas will help you forget about the dry dusty desert below. Being just northeast of Tucson, there’s no excuse not to throw on your pack and sleep under the stars. Backpacking Mount…
Best Bookstore
Will wandering the stacks of Bookmans ever get old? Not with the staff behind the trade counters constantly plucking more great books to shelve at Bookmans’ three Tucson stores. Discoveries are always there waiting, to please all ages, all tastes, all types of readers. And it’s easy to take a chance on some low-cost book…
Best Movie Theater
Wanna see that new Hollywood rom-com with KStew and Brad Pitt? (JK—we made that idea up; she’s waaay too young for him.) How about the latest iteration of The Blair Witch Project, or whatever Disney title is coming out these days? Well, then don’t go to The Loft. Do go there if you wanna see…
Best Sex Toy Shop
With something called the “Satisfyer Pro 2,” we think it’s safe to say that Fascinations earned this win. The buzz around town (no pun intended) is that Fascinations offers a little something for everyone—from the couple looking to introduce a little kink into their boudoir, to those ready to dump catechism and go as a…
Best Florist
Inglis Florist is a Tucson institution. Some folks just require a florist the way they require, say, a good dentist. Their floral fantasies are fulfilled at Inglis. (There should be no need for pulling teeth, however.) The family owners of Inglis have been in bloom since 1910, featuring flowers and plants that hit the right…
Best Smoke Shop
Moon’s presence in Tucson is a boon to those insidious inhalers of all sorts. Whether your choice of vice be old-fashioned tobacco, those new-fangled vapes or of the slightly less legal variety, Moon has what you need. If their discounts alone aren’t enough, locations often employ a cast of characters that certainly don’t help in…
Best Eastside Restaurant
For the last 17 years Poco N’ Moms has been serving up the delicious flavors of green and red hatch chilies. With everything being made fresh to order, you’ll be hard pressed to find something on their menu that won’t make you want to lick your plate. Also – THE SAUCES. Known for their green,…
Best Way to Entertain Kids During the Summer
Who knew learning was this fun! The Children’s Museum in downtown Tucson is a perfect place for kids to run around, burn some energy and also learn in the process. From exhibits that teach kids about public safety to the Bodyology exhibit were you can explore in the world of health and wellness with a…
Best Torta
Vietnam has the Bánh mì. France the Croque-monsieur. But México, and Tucson for that matter, has the torta: toasted bun, mayo, avocado, lettuce, tomato and your choice of protein and nowhere else is there a finer example of this beloved sandwich than at El Güero Canelo. They offer a carne asada torta, chicken torta, ham…
Best Caterer
A wildly popular counter-serve and catering barbecue spot, BrushFire BBQ Co. has become known as Tucson’s premiere barbecue joint, serving fresh, high-quality, tender-smoked brisket, pork, poultry, fries, fresh bread, and barbecue sauces. With meats smoked daily, BrushFire has become known as a “habit forming.” The secret to success? Slow-cooking the best cuts of meat in…
Best Donuts
A Le Cave’s donut could shoot somebody and still get elected best donut. Failed a Pima County inspection? What else is new? PETA names it the sixth best vegan donut? Vegan, shmegan. It’s a vegetable donut, idiots. No website? Fuck that! Tucsonans know it like a body part. The office wants a dozen, plain glazed, now…
Best Greek
Is there anything more exciting and mouth-wateringly delicious than a block of fresh feta cheese, red peppers and tomatoes being lit on fire right in front of you? Decide for yourself at Opa! Every meal begins with complementary hummus and tzatziki sauce to tide you over until your generously portioned meal arrives. Its crowd-pleasing meals…
Best Beer Selection
“Rare is a bar more sincere in its love of beer,” says Draft Magazine in naming Tap & Bottle one of the 100 best beer bars in America. That love comes across in everything Tap & Bottle does, in the well-curated and constantly rotating taps, in the marvelously well-stocked coolers at the back of the…
Best Jukebox
It’s impossible to have a bad time at Danny’s: There’s pool, air hockey, shuffleboard and foosball—all with a great soundtrack! Danny’s jukebox has a mix, so you’ll be satisfied whether you’re looking for classic rock, Tu Pac or something a little more current. Finalists: 2. Che’s Lounge 3. Club Congress
Dust Devil
The strong, wise woman in white faced the weak, blustering orange man.
Best Campground
Escape the dreadful Tucson heat by heading up to Mount Lemmon, and setting up camp. Mount Lemmon has been voted Tucson’s favorite place to camp. Whether you want some relaxation away from the city, or you’re looking for a good hike, Mount Lemmon has it. So head up and breathe in some fresh air while…
Best Video Store
WTF—does anyone srsly rent video tapes these days? Is this category even fur realz?!?!?! OMG, yes!—thanks to Casa Video, the one place here proving that people still like the old-fashioned tradition of driving to a video store, roaming the shelves (many, many shelves in this case) while munching on free popcorn, and actually picking out…
Best Gym
With more than 2,000 families and 5,000 members, the Tucson Jewish Community Center located in the beautiful Foothills is undoubtedly one of the most popular recreation centers in Tucson. The 110,000-squre-foot facility now offers a brand new renovated fitness facility; a diverse amount of fitness classes included in each membership, a preschool and most importantly…
Best Auto Repair
It’s easy to walk into BRAKEmax for an oil change and leave only paying for an oil change—that’s not easy to say about most mechanics. This well-loved local chain is AAA approved, has locations all over town and keeps its website full to the brim with coupons. Finalists: 2. Buck’s Automotive 3. Dan’s Toy Shop
Best Place to Buy a Car
Whether you’ve bought a car in Tucson or not, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the Jim Click name. It’s the name you hear every time you buckle your seatbelt and see every time you drive past almost any car dealership in Tucson. Whether you agree with his politics or not, there’s no denying his influence in…
Staff Pick: Best Place For Mom & Dad Date Night
Babysitters are expensive. Date night shouldn’t be. At D & D Pinball, it isn’t. Relive the glory days of the ’70s, ’80s, and even early ’90s with classic pinball games like Evil Knievel, and Star Wars. Pinball not your thing? That’s cool. Slide on over to PacMan, Ms. PacMan, Galaga and Golden Tee. Also, TOURNAMENTS.…
Best Southside Restaurant
The line and wait time you’re sure to run into at Mi Nidito is a testament to its popularity. Well, that and I guess it’s kinda exciting eating at the one place in Tucson that Bill Clinton was in 1999. One thing is for sure, the guy knows how to put together a pretty tasty…
Best Salsa
Guadalajara is an Old Pueblo favorite for a few reasons—their live mariachi music, vibrant decorations and house-made tortillas. But, mostly, we love their tableside salsa service. Seriously—when a server pushes a cart bearing salsa-makings and a giant clay bowl toward your table, you know it’s about to get real. Fresh, perfectly spiced and seasoned salsa…
Best Mariachi Band
Our first thought when we saw this winner? Wow. A high-school band named the best mariachi band in Tucson, a city chock-full of top-notch mariachi bands? How’s that for impressive? Mariachi Rayos Del Sol de Tucson High—an ensemble of the band’s “top kids,” according to Tucson High’s website—was “awesome” when it played at the 2014…
Best Diner
A classic diner featuring old-school American fare in a retro eating space, Little Anthony’s Diner has become a Tucson trademark, serving not only delicious food to those eating in, but working to serve Gaslight Theatre guests as well. Known for mouth-watering burgers and shakes, guests rave about the quality of food and customer service offered…
Best Café Hangout
Scrumptious desserts, sandwiches and salads. Soothing tea, electrifying espresso. Well-made cocktails, tasty craft beer, fine wine. Live, local music; poetry readings; cool visual art. A pretty patio. Hip patrons. Awesome hours. What might one possibly add to such a list to improve a café hangout? Sorry, we won’t actually take any of your suggestions regarding…
Best French
Perhaps best known for their Eggs Provençal, Ghini’s is a great spot if you’re looking for some new, adventurous brunch ideas (and still want some affordable mimosas). Ghini’s offers breakfast and lunch as well as weekend dinners and happy hour and a gluten free menu. Ghini’s also holds the title of first official pet-friendly patio,…
Best Brewery
We’ve got a lot of breweries popping up around these parts, but let’s not forget our favorites who’ve been serving up our brewed goodness for a while. Barrio Brewing’s huge space and great beer continues to bring in guests looking for a quick beer and a bite and also offers event space for larger parties.…
Best Place to Sing Karaoke
Don’t miss your chance to let out your inner superstar and join Shooter’s Steakhouse & Saloon for the best karaoke in town. Need a night full of laughs, great food, and some of your favorite hits? Shooter’s Steakhouse & Saloon is the place for you! With multiple karaoke nights a week and great deals on…
Police Dispatch
When a convenience-store clerk caught a woman trying to steal two cartons of cigarettes, she told him that a man outside had threatened to murder her if she didn’t get them—so the clerk let her go, and she was never apprehended.
Best Park
Parking means so much more than trying to find a place to leave your car. Parking, if you are talking about Reid Park, means a golf course, an outdoor performance venue, rose gardens, picnic tables and grills (that you can reserve), playgrounds for the kids, a baseball stadium, a pool, gyms, tennis courts, buildings that…
Best Comic Store
Comic book fans all over Tucson have voted Heroes and Villains their favorite place to pick up stories about their favorite cape-wearing crusaders. Whether you want your favorite hero’s latest adventure, or an issue from years ago, Heroes and Villains probably has what you’re looking for. Heroes and Villains gets new comic books in stock…
Best Yoga Studio
Beautiful studios. Well-loved instructors. Yoga Oasis is the tried and true yoga option for the Tucson community. Any one of Yoga Oasis’ convenient locations takes drop-in students and offers a variety of instruction from introductory classes to more advanced practices. You can even catch yoga on the roof at Playground as well as prenatal and…
Best Car Wash
The image of arms wrapping your precious ride and baptizing it into top-shelf cleanliness is just too much to resist. And drivers submitting their cars to the Octopus Temple of Clean are always rewarded. With a clean car, deliverance is complete. Born again. Until, of course, your dirty ways drive you back into those soapy…
Best Eyeglass/ Optical Retailer
We love Alvernon Optical! It takes a little longer to get your glasses there than it does at assembly-line mall shops, but the tradeoff is old-fashioned service. And once you buy, Alvernon is your friend for life. If a lens falls out three years later, an optician will cheerfully pop it right back in. If…
Staff Pick: Person You Most Wish Could Dress You So You Don’t Look Like A 2nd Grader
Her blog name says it all—Golden Girl Of The West. If you didn’t know any better you’d think she was a distant relative of King Midas himself. Everything Sydney Ms. Ballesteros turns to gold. Love that spread in your latest issue of Zocalo? Odds are she styled it. With a keen eye for balance, and…
Best Foothills Restaurant
The miraculous slice of Italian dining called Vivace has been on just about every “Best of” list since the world began. So it’s hardly surprising that it tops the list again—this time as our foothills’ best. Chef Daniel Scordato opened Vivace in Tucson’s lowly valley in the Crossroads strip mall at Swan and Grant, moved…
Best Restaurant with a Kids’ Menu
Little Anthony’s Diner has great “kid friendly” eats under a section called “The Little Be-Bopper.” You’ll find corn dogs, “pasgetti & meatballs,” and for the picky eater, PB&J. After dinner, choose from desserts that will make any kid pass out from excitement—five types of shakes and sundaes, banana splits, mud pie, ice cream cones and…
Best Margarita
This is one of the many treats this restaurant is famous for, so it’s no wonder why this won the best margarita. With eight types of original margaritas to choose from and three margatinis to try, it’s pretty hard to go wrong in your alcoholic adventures at Guadalajara Grill. Finalists: 2. El Charro Café 3.…
Best Specialty Food Store
What better place to buy the finest specialty foods in town than the fanciest grocery store in town, in the fanciest “mall” in town? There is none! AJ’s may be a bit pricier than, say, Albertson’s—but could you, in good conscience, bring any dish to any decent dinner party that costs less than $[we can’t…
Best Tea
There is nothing better to sooth your throat and your mind during a dry Tucson winter than a nice, hot cup of tea. Seven Cups Tea House can offer you just that, and much more. It is a traditional Chinese tea house where you can try over 80 authentic loose-leaf Chinese teas, as well as…
Best Indian
There are very few things in this world that are better than a hot serving of vindaloo and a mango lassi at the end of a hard day. Luckily, Tucson has a surprising amount of Indian food options. However, for six years straight, Weekly readers have agreed that Saffron blows away the competition. Stop by…
Best Pool Hall
There’s not many places where you can shoot pool with a cigarette hanging from your lips, but Red Garter’s tables provide that luxury. With an ample draft selection on tap, table-side service to bring you your favorite bar fare and house cues that seem immune to almost certain abuse, Red Garter offers a paradoxically luxurious…
Best DJ
Tucson DJs have become extremely popular recently because of the uptick in electronic music around the country. DJ Herm in particular has made a huge impression on the community with his unique transitions and mixing style that will leave anyone glued to the dance floor all night long. He puts on shows all around Tucson…
Police Dispatch
A 37-year-old man living in his mom’s trailer threw a criminally disturbing tantrum when he couldn’t use his PlayStation because a neighbor had been stealing his family’s wifi to watch porn, forcing his mother to disconnect their Internet.
Best Outdoor Recreation/Sporting Goods Store
Tucson has so much opportunity to get out and get going when it comes to active outdoor activities, and local sporting goods superstar Summit Hut provides just about everything needed to take advantage of the natural Tucson culture. From climbing to hiking to travel, Summit Hut has got you covered and their helpful staff can…
Best Video Game Store
With a huge selection of classic and the latest video games, it’s no wonder Tucson voted Bookmans Entertainment Exchange the best videogame store in Tucson. They’ve got controllers, memory cards, and games for almost every video game console imaginable. Open every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bookmans’ videogame section is mostly oriented towards…
Best Art Classes
Founded with the radical idea that all students, including poor ones, deserve an education, Pima has always offered superb art classes taught by working artists. The renowned painter Jim Waid taught there early on. Today’s profs include Ann Simmons-Myers, who heads the excellent photography program at Pima West, and abstract painter Mike Stack, lead art…
Best Clothing
Wow. Best clothing … period? We mean, yeah, Best of Tucson has seen Buffalo Exchange win “Best Vintage” and “Best Resale,” etc., like, year after year—but this is a new high— the year in which one of Tucson’s proudest commercial successes has received perhaps the highest BOT clothing-category honor. And no wonder—from its modest beginnings…
Best Tattoo Parlor
Sacred Art Tattooers surpassed Black Rose Tattooers as the best place in town to get inked, this year. This isn’t a surprise—Sacred Art, which opened on Fourth Ave. back in 1997, boasts a team of award-winning (according to their Facebook page), friendly artists who know what they’re doing. They also offer two-for-one body piercing deals…
Staff Pick: Best Place for Mom’s Night Out Because KIDS (and secretly, DAD)
Best Western, (affectionately referred to as “B dub” by the regulars) has moms covered. Remember being a single lady? So does Beyonce. Sing about it here. Done. Need to get out a little bit (or alotta bit) of “I’m not your personal maid” angst? Sing your lungs out to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” There…
Best Westside Restaurant
The word that comes to mind upon dining at the Agustin Kitchen is detail. The modestly decorated dining room is comfortable and encourages friendly conversations. In every meal, you get a little extra flavor or bonus. For example, sandwiches come with garlic frites and most dinner entrees come with a specially paired salad. Additionally, the…
Best Tortillas
For over 30 years, Alejandro’s Tortilla Factory has been providing freshly made tortilla to Tucson. The factory, that is also a market, carniceria and bakery, produces both flour and corn tortillas ranging in various sizes and options on what and how much of an ingredient is used in your batch of tortilla. Tradition and quality,…
Best Elote
There are two types of elote in this world. Cafe Poca Cosa elote, and the rest of them. If you’re ready to have your tastebuds lose what sense they have left, head downtown to Cafe Poca Cosa and try the Pastel de Elote con Chilatole. A recent visitor referred to this dish as “the best…
Best Delicatessen
Dickman’s Meat and Deli, a family owned meat market and deli, has been serving all types of meat, poultry and fish to Tucsonans for over 28 years. Customers have raved about the quality and affordability of the meats, with the highlight being the “ugly steak.” The “ugly steak” may not be the most attractive, hence the…
Best Drive Thru
eegee’s isn’t the only locally owned fast-food joint with a drive-thru, so why did it win the title of “best” this year? Its sandwiches and fries are pretty darn good; its prices are great; it’s got lots of locations (26, at our last count!). And the fast, polite service … Then there’s the pride we…
Best Italian
Caruso’s holds the esteem of being the oldest restaurant on Fourth Avenue. Since the early 1930s, Caruso’s has flourished under four generations of family ownership and remains true to its original mission: to provide damn good Italian food. Priding itself on its homemade pasta and sauce from the cleverly named “big copper pot,” you’re sure…
Best Cocktail Menu
Nestled in a quiet corner of downtown attached to 47 Scott, Scott and Co. is the perfect spot for some great ambiance and even better drinks. This hole-in-the-wall, which is anything but, has some of the tastiest and most complex drinks in the area that promise a one-of-a-kind experience with every sip. Finalists: 2. Sidecar…
Best Drag Queen
She’s a lean, mean, drag queen machine. Towering at a tantalizing 6 feet, 6 inches, Tempest is hard to miss and even harderto take your eyes off of. In her elaborate and sexy ensembles, you’ll catch Tempest at many of Tucson’s events supporting the LGBT community and speaking up for equality for all. We don’t…
Endorsements, Part 2
Grab your ballot and let’s get going.
Best Bike Shop
BICAS isn’t just a bike shop; it’s an acronym! That is, it’s a bike shop, plus what BICAS stands for (literally and figuratively): “Bicycle Inter-Community Art & Salvage.” That means that, besides selling bikes (usually used and/or salvaged, but always great rides), they offer classes (how to fix a flat, basic bike maintenance, even how…
Best Games Store
Planeswalkers, and dungeon masters all over Tucson have voted Heroes and Villains to be their favorite game store. Whether your interests are in board games, card games, or role playing games, Heroes and Villains has what you need to further your adventure. Local game stores are more than just a place to pick up dice…
Best Musical Instrument Store
With two convenient locations, now organized so a customer can shop like a normal person, the Chicago Music Store of the new millennium abides in the shadow of their legendary ancestor. Musicians reveled in the old store’s inscrutable maze of aisles, and delighted to hear themselves on its exotic and rare instruments. Rainer Ptacek was…
Best Plant Nursery
Your green thumb is sure to start growing like Pinocchio’s nose if you rely on Mesquite Valley Growers. The huge nursery offers just about every kind of flora imaginable: flowering annuals and perennials, herbs, veggies, shrubs, shade and fruit trees, cacti, succulents, tropical plants and bonsai. Don’t worry. A green thumb will not make you…
Best Farmers’ Market Vendor
Locals know Barrio Bread by endearing owner/baker Don Guerra, who bakes select artisan breads loved by many Tucsonans who believe in Guerra’s delicious bread and business model. Barrio, which opened in 2009, is a Community Supported Bakery, or CSB. This means Guerra’s bread-baking endeavors are small and contained. Finalists: 2. Sleeping Frog Farms 3. Adventure…
Staff Pick: Best Place To Pretend You’re Still In High School
Back in high school, Skate Country was the place to see and be seen. Ladies sprayed on the Aqua Net, fellas popped their collars, and everyone made googly eyes—either at their date, or someone they wished was their date. Well, if you want to relive those nights, Thursdays from 8 to 10 p.m. is Adult…
Best Place to Eat Gluten Free
At many restaurants in Tucson, one can find two or three gluten free options. That is not the case at Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro where every recipe is chosen specifically for the gluten-free customer. Beyond that, the Gourmet Girls create delicious breads, breakfasts, desserts and even pizzas that will please everyone, regardless of their…
Best Fun for the Whole Family
We live in one of the most special ecosystems in the world—the only Sonoran desert in the country. Yet for most of us, it’s rare to see the cool native animals and plants we live amongst, at least on the regular and/or up close. Enter our beloved Desert Museum, a living natural-history museum with all…
Best Empanadas
The empanada, Latin America’s jelly doughnut. Sounds good doesn’t it. Where can you get one in town you ask? Well at La Estrella Bakery of course! They have these fried delights filled with apple, pineapple, pumpkin, cherry and mango jelly! But you better get down to this bakery quick because they are first come first…
Best Desserts
With the finest ingredients and equipment imported straight from Italy, Frost Gelato has earned a reputation as a hot spot to cool down in Tucson with a delicious gelato or sorbet. Aesthetically pleasing and mouthwatering good, Frost makes its treats fresh every day. Along with its tasty gelato and sorbet at its multiple locations in…
Best Sandwich (The Actual Sandwich)
Oddly enough Tucson’s favorite sandwich is actually a Philly favorite. The cheesesteaks at Frankie’s are truly works of art. Whether you want a classic cheesesteak with cheese wiz, or one with provolone, Frankie’s is the best. Frankie’s was once featured on Food Network for having the longest cheesesteak. Frankie’s has truly brought some South Philly…
Best Japanese
With a new location right across the street, Yoshimatsu is still serving up authentic Japanese cuisine along Campbell Avenue. Along with the front dining room, there is also a sushi joint which serves fresh nigari and rolls daily. The “YoshiMart” also sells some charming Japanese bric-a-brac and food goods for your perusing pleasure before or…
Best Happy Hour
Meet me at Maynards! No, seriously, because that happy hour is bomb. The food specials you can catch include burgers, poutine, steak tartare, pizzas and more, including specials on beer, wine, and some cocktails. Once you’re done imbibing on the cheap, you’re just a stone’s throw away from some serious dancing at Club Congress. The…
Best Shot
Skeptics will point out that there’s nothing actually magic afoot as the Dub’s bartenders prepare the pub’s signature shot. But “muggle” would be the better word for those who can’t enjoy the spectacle of a drink presentation that involves sparks climbing to the ceiling. So whether it’s your 21st, or you’ve returned from summer break,…
The Skinny
Secretive big-buck supporters are pushing candidates who want to Trumpify Pima County
Best Day Trip
Nothing beats the sheer pleasure of feeling the temperature drop, degree by degree, as you drive or bike (God help you) out of Tucson’s summer furnace and up into Mount Lemmon’s cool pines. On your way up Catalina Highway to the summit, at 9,157 wonderful feet, you go past Molino Basin, where during the monsoons…
Best Blog
We live in a tasty place, and somebody’s gotta tell us where to focus all that culinary attention sometimes. Tucson Foodie gives the dish on information and reviews pertaining to the many tastes of our baja town with entries ranging from recipe posts to sustainability and the local food movement. If you’re looking for Foodie…
Best Theater Company
Local theater companies struggle constantly to attract much-deserved audiences and funding for important plays. Even the venerable Arizona Theatre Company stumbled in 2016, and appears to be dangling at a precipice. Meanwhile, Gaslight Theatre hums along in the entertainment business. The company is a feature of the theater and restaurant that hosts it. With five…
Best Resale Clothing
Generations of Tucsonans have turned to Buffalo for every one of their wearable needs from costume galas to dinner parties. Buffalo Exchange, now exclusively located on Speedway near the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, specializes in the best of resale clothing, buying back the latest trends for men and women. So whether you’re looking…
Best Local Clothing Designer
Elizabeth Denneau, owner, artist and designer of CandyStrike, is a native Tucsonan who livens up the town with her original vintage-inspired styles. Many of her edgy fashions are designed for plus size women in defiance of body shaming, Denneau told Downtown Tucson.org. She describes her garments as “Handmade clothes for unapologetic misfits in sizes small-4XL,”…
Best Dog Park
Specifically known as Miko’s Corner Dog Park, Reid Park’s dual dog heaven can be found on the east side of South Country Club, near 22nd Street. It has two enclosed areas—one for big dogs and one for small—to minimize fighting and maximize fun. Note: You don’t have to have (a) dog(s) to come here. In…
Best Korean
It’s got all-you-can-eat sushi. Oh wait, and a lunch buffet … and Korean BBQ. Need the Weekly say more? Takamatsu is praised restaurant for their traditional Korean food. Not to mention that the place has happy hour every day and even a reverse happy for a few hours before closing, it no surprise you guys…
Best Burrito
It may seem surprising that a chain restaurant would take offer the best burrito in Tucson, but let it be a testament to consistency when Nico’s beats out the local competition this close to the border. We’ll be honest, you can’t go wrong with a burrito in Tucson given its role as the primary staple…
Best Story Time
Bring your kids to the best Story time in Tucson at Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. More than just a story, Bookmans also offers kids songs, snacks, and crafts related to the story that’s being read that day. Parents can shop around for their own books free of kids, while their children are immersed in stories and…
Best Ice Cream
Are you a Birthday Cake person? Mission Fig? Bourbon Almond Brittle? HUB Ice Cream is constantly rotating the classics and new flavors for a well-rounded and always delicious, ice-creamy experience. With two locations on Congress to grab a cup, HUB offers something for everyone and excels in flavor experimentation and quality. Finalists: 2. The Screamery…
Best Place to Get a Salad
Locally owned healthy restaurant Choice Greens offers Tucsonans just that: choices! The brightly decorated restaurant has been providing design-your-own salads since 2005 along with sandwiches, mac and cheese, pizza and classic salads. The restaurant boasts fresh ingredients and large portion sizes assembled in front of the customer’s eyes and served on cheery colored plates. Whether…
Best Middle Eastern
With over 100 dish options from Greek to Jordanian, Shish Kebab House is the place to go for variety in Middle Eastern cuisine. The lamb shawarma comes highly recommended and the staff is friendly and attentive. The restaurant also brings in belly dancers entertain customers as they eat. So next time you’re looking for a…
Best Country Western Bar
Two step. Boot Scootin’ Boogie. The Watermelon Crawl. Regardless of which you fancy, line dance or country’s tame tango—the two step, The Maverick is the place to see and be seen if you’re a country kid at heart. With dance lessons almost every night of the week, and happy hour, Tuesday-Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m.…
Best Burlesque
The burlesque scene in Tucson is hot—really hot—and there’s none hotter than the Black Cherry Burlesque. Founded by the owners of the Surly Wench, it’s little mystery that the sultry babes of Black Cherry put on an arousing performance. Lacy lingerie, bodies canvassed in tattoos and palpable attitude are the details that really drive home…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Gabacho: Bruh, the Reconquista ain’t that advanced—yet
Best Golf Course
Tucson is home to some of the most beautiful golf courses in southern Arizona, but in this case, Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club is tops in the Sonoran Desert. Located in the background of the golf course is an exquisite view of the Santa Catalina Mountains that often features wildlife for its members to…
Best Local TV News Anchor
This dedicated local news anchor is celebrating 30 years with Tucson at KGUN9 On Your Side. He has received more than twenty awards for his experience in reporting, and continues to “wow” the community with his broadcasting skills, hard work and unique reporting. He has won the Arizona AP award three times in the categories…
Best Actor
A mere 10 years ago Lucille Petty felt out of place everywhere. Then she found Live Theatre Workshop’s education program, and she started to make sense of herself and where she belonged. Now, at age 23, she has already made what will be a lasting imprint on Tucson’s theater scene, largely because she brings a…
Best Animal Supply Store
As kids, whenever we passed this store, we daydreamed of stealing the life-size horse statue off its roof and keeping it in our backyard as a secret pretend equine friend. Ahem, sorry. Guess we just needed to get that embarrassing reminiscence off our chest. Anyway, about the actual store: It’s got almost all your needs…
Best Alternative Health Center
Is your old life getting you down? Maybe that’s because of your “old” body. It needs some revitalization, man. You can get help for physical revitalization (and spiritual, too, man) in all different forms at New Life. Non-gluten grains galore. Essential oils aplenty. Açaí anything. They have almost any kind of wholesome, organic health supplement…
Staff Pick: Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners
Frank’s is a trip by itself: American breakfasts and home-style Mexican food that’s good, fast and cheap. And it feels like a ’50s movie-set truck stop in, say, Buckeye. Habitués include the neighborhood working class, plus artists and writers priced out of the barrios. It’s exactly what big spending guests from northwest Tucson resorts want…
Best New Restaurant
Brother John’s Beer, Bourbon & BBQ took over the enormous space that used to house the famous Wildcat House last May. In the months leading up to its opening in December 2015, Brother John’s owner was hard at work renovating the space into what it is now. What it is now is a truly fun…
Best Kids’ Clothing Store
As the world makes an attempt to become more eco friendly, clothing store, Twice as Nice is proving that you are never to young to make an impact. As a clothing swap for families, Twice as Nice is providing a “green” way to shop for people of all ages. With a friendly staff and a…
Best Tacos
Everyday should be Taco Tuesday when you’ve got a little shop like BOCA around. Check out the bright red lips towering over Speedway in front of campus for little tacos with a whole lot of taste and character. With every order, you’ll also get a sampler of salsas that stretch the limits of flavor with…
Best Fresh-Baked Bread
Beyond Bread Multiple locations Like Lucy’s experiment in bread-making with Ethel, this phenomenon could not be contained. From a modest enterprise on Campbell Avenue, there have risen two more locations where badass bread now bakes in the desert. There is such a dizzying array of loaves, we swoon. The BB folks say the secret’s in…
Best French Fries
eegee’s divine fries are like no other. They’re cut nice and fat, with a heavenly inner core of real potato, perfectly cooked. On the outside they’re crispy and salty and just a tad greasy. They’re so great we have to limit our intake, not easy to do, when the hometown company has restaurants in every…
Best Contemporary Restaurant
With its prime location in the heart of downtown and its penchant for fun culinary innovations, Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails remains a standard favorite for locals and visitors alike. Downtown Kitchen also regularly offers rotating themed menus that give diners constant options and new flavors. And now, check out the Carriage House next door for…
Best Nightclub
Although there’s a new kid on the block, Congress has still held on to its title as Tucson’s best nightclub. By necessity, Congress has some of the fastest bartenders to make up for some of the longest lines in Tucson. With bands local and from around the world taking the indoor stage and DJs playing…
Best Venue for Live Music
In just the month of September, the People’s Theatre hosted the noise-metal Swans, Tucson’s celebrated Black Cherry Burlesque, Latin/country/rock heroes The Mavericks, singer-songwriters Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin, psychobilly stalwarts Tiger Army, rising country star Jon Pardi, legendary British invaders The Zombies, rising Kiwi indie-pop group The Naked and Famous, the progressive emo of Coheed…
Danehy
Untold hundreds of millions of people from Baby Boomers on down owe an appreciative nod to Phil Chess for the part that he and his brother Leonard played in laying the groundwork for what would become the soundtrack of their lives.
Staff Pick: Best Place to Work Your Abs in Grass
You’re on a run in the middle of Sam Hughes and come across a wide patch of grass with palm trees and a convenient bars for pull ups and dips. It’s the perfect outdoor spot to lie down, relax and start doing some abs. There are always people walking their dogs to watch as you…
Best Local Sportscaster
Before his stint with the network, Cicala was a sports anchor in El Paso where he was nominated for multiple Emmy awards for his sports and news coverage. Now the sports director at KVOA, Cicala brings immense enthusiasm to his job everyday due to his passion for sports and his Southern Arizona roots. Cicala is…
Best Author
That Ofelia Zepeda is recognized by popular vote, even in an alternative local newspaper, is a spectacular testament to her accomplishments. Zepeda’s career as a linguist, scholar, intellectual, academic leader and, especially, poet, has been built entirely on sharing her intimate understanding of her Tohono O’odham culture. She has singularly made us aware of that…
Best Home Furnishings
Modern décor, affordable furniture, and great quality … this furniture store has got it all. Sam Levitz offers everything from basic home accessories to bedroom and living room furniture that suits any style. They provide awesome customer service and are passionate about helping customers find exactly what they need for the best price around. Be…
Best Photographer
Local photographer superstar and activist Jade Beall continues to make headlines all over the place. With her stunning portraits and messages of love and acceptance, it’s no wonder her work continues to inspire and comfort audiences from the Old Pueblo and beyond. Beall’s photography spans across themes of motherhood, self-love, family, loss, recovery and the…
Staff Pick: Most Universal Community Activity
At any hour of the day, Tumamoc Hill is crawling with Tucsonans of all sizes, ages, shapes, ethnicities and walks of life sharing one big workout. Lately, the Hill’s population has surged with families and other newcomers playing Pokémon Go. Whether by algorithm or genius, Pokémon Go provides almost every player on the hill with…
Staff Pick: Best Place to Make Your Mouth Water
It’s a place with phenomenal rice and bread to die for; everything there will make your mouth water. Chef Alisah’s is a wonderland of delicious and delectable Bosnian food. This little-known restaurant on the northside makes beef that simply melts in your mouth and sauteed mushrooms that make your tastebuds dance. By the end of…
Best Children’s Entertainer
It’s never too early to start working on the little ones’ sense of rhythm! Mr. Nature helps your kiddo develop the foundations of social interaction and motor skills through song, dance, storytelling and art. You run a solid chance of running into Mr. Nature during trips to Bookmans (any of the Tucson locations) and Mildred…
Best Raspados
Even though summer has wound down, it is never a bad time to have a cold and refreshing raspado! A combination of shaved and crushed ice topped with your choice of freshly diced fruit in juice—Oasis has options for you. Pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, tamarind, coconut, plum and more! So don’t be afraid to go try…
Best Barbecue
Brushfire BBQ Co. offers patrons top notch slow cooked barbeque at reasonable prices. With six original barbeque sauce, homemade ice cream, and catering, it’s no wonder that Brushfire was voted Tucson’s best barbeque. Brushfire’s ribs are slow smoked with mesquite and pecan wood for hours, with the sauce of your choice grilled on upon ordering.…
Best Hot Dog
There really are delicious dogs to be had outside of Fourth Avenue. El Güero Canelo has been serving up some of Tucson’s best Sonoran style dogs since 1993 when Daniel Contreras first opened his little hot dog stand. If you’re not into Sonoran dogs (but really, who isn’t?) you can also check out a variety…
Best Seafood
Go fish? Go Kingfisher, of course. We’re talking about real seafood, not the local sand trout. There’s the fresh oyster bar featuring those treasures from the Gulf of Mexico, oysters Rockefeller, lobster roll, macadamia nut crusted Hawaiian fish, steamed mussels, bouillabaisse and baby back ribs—wait, is that right? Yes. Yes it is. And they’re darn…
Best Place to Get a Glass of Wine
“Love, laugh, lounge.” This is the mantra that The Living Room people try to live by as they approach their first anniversary in Tucson. And it’s working. The relaxed yet classy restaurant offers a large variety of wines and sangrias by the glass and dishes meant to be shared. The most interesting thing on The…
Best Dive Bar
There’s a special place in every inebriation enthusiast’s heart for a good old-fashioned dive bar and Buffet can definitely scratch that itch. If you’re a fan of billiards, the single table offers a “king of the hill” style competition to show off as long as you can. With an unapologetic tap selection that’s not for…
Staff Pick: Best Spot on a Scenic Bike Trail to Get a Flat On the Santa Cruz Path
Ah, the joy of getting a flat bicycle tire in the middle of your long weekend trail ride, or on your bike commute to work—especially if you forgot your spare tube, your CO2 cartridges or your pump—especially if time is an issue! Not. That is, this situation is obviously the opposite of a joy ……
Staff Pick: Most Idiosyncratic Local Podcast
Brigitte Thum is a force of natural charm. She darts like colorful dragonfly through Tucson’s media garden, a fluttering, bright distraction worth watching for. Recently she’s held down a DJ slot at KXCI. A few years ago, the Lonely Hearts Club lived briefly as a monthly comedy fling, matching love letters to YouTube videos at…
Best Art Museum
With two locations for optimal dance opportunity on the north and city center sides of town, BreakOut Studios is the perfect stop for movers and shakers of all types to enjoy a wide variety of dance and fitness options from DJ dance cardio to hip hop in heels to basic technique classes. Their drop-in program…
Best Vintage Shopping
Tucson is nothing if not a stylish, earth-conscious town. If you are looking for a guilt-free way to update your wardrobe with something timeless, Buffalo Exchange has got your back. Every item bought at a second-hand store like Buffalo reduces the environmental impact of new clothing production, which generally involves lots of unpleasant byproducts. Buffalo…
Best Tattoo Artist
Born and raised in Arizona, tattoo artist Anthony Michaels has helped put Tucson on the ink map by winning this year’s season of Ink Master on Spike TV. Michaels won out against 15 of the most talented tattoo artists in the country to win a cash prize and a spread of his art in Inked…
Staff Pick: Coolest Festival
In January next year, downtown will once again turn into a mellow concert venue for all things jazz thanks to the Tucson Jazz Festival and the powers that be who took an idea and created the ultimate in a cool local festival. Besides downtown, other concert venues host jazz performers from across the country and…
Staff Pick: Best Tiramisu
Everyone knows of the posh-Italian restaurant in La Encantada shopping center, it’s delicious. But, if you haven’t tried their tiramisu, then you’re missing out. It’s, by far, the best tiramisu in town. The texture? Just right, with the perfect amount of fluff. The presentation? Just imagine a cute little pot of dessert, it’s perfect. The…
Best Place To Get A Piñata
Odds are if you’re having a party, you’re having a piñata, and if you’re having a piñata, odds are you got it at Food City. Pick from Dora the Explorer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, happy faces, unicorns—every type of piñata you can dream up, you can find there. And of course you have to fill…
Staff Pick: Best Refried Beans
This suitably tasty side dish is widespread here, but when talking refried beans, St. Mary’s is the pinnacle of goodness. The are smoky and creamy, and if you need to consume them in a manner other than by the spoonful, they glide across St. Mary’s outstanding tortillas with ease. Their heavenly taste and texture are…
Best Burger
For the hollow-legged and daring, the OMFG burger is the centerpiece of Lindy’s menu. For the culinarily adventurous, the rotating burgers of the month (like September’s provolone, prosciutto and pepperoni augmented “Robzilla”) offer some compelling and unusual flavor combinations. For the OGs, the Lindy’s original is where it’s at. Regardless, this Fourth Ave. mainstay (and…
Staff Pick: Best Campus Coffee House
A favorite for students and faculty, Caffe Luce offers some of the best alternative specialty drinks to the usual caffeinated fare. The patio usually contains shaded seating and a variety of conversations on which to eavesdrop. Luce roasts its coffee in-house and offers a decent selection of tasty baked goods as well. As far as…
Best Steakhouse
Pinnacle Peak is located in a miniature Wild West town full of gunfight shows and local shops that transports you back to the days of cowboys and cowgirls on the tough frontier. But at Pinnacle Peak, we trade in the everyday monotony for a family-friendly romp into the past with kitschy decorations, excellent steakhouse food,…
Best Sports Bar
Trident Grill is a sports bar that serves seafood, salads, sandwiches, burgers and beer on tap. They offer happy hour every day of the week, from 3 to 7 p.m., when pints of beer and well drinks are both $3.50 and wine is $5 a glass. The bar’s atmosphere is ideal for watching sports with…
Best Locally Brewered Beer (the specific beer)
Barrio Blonde is the OG Tucson beer. Found just about everywhere from tailgates to taps, Barrio Blonde is blonde ale that’s light, crisp and easy to drink. A little malty, a little sweet, this beer is good for beginners and seasoned pros alike. Finalists: 2. Dragoon IPA (Dragoon Brewing Company) 3. Barrio Rojo (Barrio Brewing…
Bosnian Delights
Tucked away on the north side of town lies a hidden gem filled with the wonders of tantalizing tastes and Ahmet Alisah—often with a cigarette between his lips and hot cappuccino just an arm’s length away. His gruff Bosnian accent echos off the walls of the plaza as he speaks with a friend in his…
Staff Pick: Best Place To Make Out Like A Teenager Out Past Curfew
With views of the entire city, it’s easy to see why there are always cars parked at the top of Campbell once the sun goes down and the moon comes up. You can see clear to A Mountain, and on clear nights, every star in the sky. It is also an amazing place to watch…
Staff Pick: Best New Radio Station
Look out Tucson, there’s a new waveband on the air and it’s everything you haven’t heard before. Arriving on the scene in September 2015, Downtown Radio has offered a little bit of something for everyone that’s a little bit different. Several members of Tucson’s music scene have hopped on board as DJs to circulate curations…
Best Dance Studio
With two locations for optimal dance opportunity on the north and city center sides of town, BreakOut Studios is the perfect stop for movers and shakers of all types to enjoy a wide variety of dance and fitness options from DJ dance cardio to hip hop in heels to basic technique classes. Their drop-in program…
Best Computer Repair
In a city with few options for technological know-how, SWS is an oasis in an otherwise overheated environment. SWS is locally owned and operated, offering an independent alternative to corporate money monsters like Best Buy. Forget that over-priced pre-built you found on Amazon and let the guys at SWS craft the perfect PC for all…
Best Thrift Store
We’re so glad this store got picked as the best this year, not only because it’s a great store—large, well organized, with a huge selection, friendly staff and great prices—but even better, it’s a nonprofit, with proceeds donated to its namesake organization, a locally well-known group that’s been promoting awareness for any and all types…
Best Upscale Restaurant
At Café Poca Cosa, local celebrity chef and owner Suzana Davila serves Mexican dishes in the most unique, modern and scrumptious ways. It is no wonder that Café Poca Cosa has become one of Tucson’s favorite Mexican restaurants. Every meal is packed with regional flavor and arranged in an artful display that will almost make…
Staff Pick: Best Place To Have Your First Kiss
High mountain ledge, tall waterfall, small lagoon, a million stars in the sky … can you see it? This, dear reader, is the waterfall tucked away behind Ventana Canyon Resort. Complete with rock walls and ledges to rest on, this is easily one of the most romantic locations in the Old Pueblo, and naturally a…
Best Place for a Children’s Party
Allow your children’s imagination to take flight at this local favorite. Get Air is a trampoline park that has no shortage of action and adventure. With a ninja course, dodge ball arena, foam pit and slam ball court, this bouncy paradise would fulfill any child’s dreams. Get Air is the perfect place for children of…
Staff Pick: Best Enchiladas
La Indita is an adorable little Mexican restaurant on Fourth Avenue right next to IBTs. While they have an abundance of Mexican dishes that easily make the mouth water, the enchiladas are masterpieces of gooey cheese and sauce bursting with flavor. Even though enchiladas are a relatively simple dish, the sauce can be tricky to…
Best Veggie Burger
We wouldn’t have quite as much praise for this place if we knew it only by its corny name. Luckily, we’ve dined here and, like all you readers who’ve voted its veggie burger the best for several years in a row, the restaurant’s name has become simply a synonym for awesome (vegan) organic eats. Ah,…
Staff Pick: Best Place to Get a Giant Piece of Sushi
We already know that this Japanese restaurant is one of the best in town, but did you know that this is also the place to get a humongous piece of sushi? Sushi is not typically a food that you take a bite out of, it’s more of a fit-the-whole-thing-in-you-mouth kind of food. But, at Samurai,…
Best Sushi
When you’re in the mood for sushi, take a seat at Sushi Garden’s bar to watch your flavor-packed rolls fashioned before your eyes. The sushi chefs work with fresh ingredients to create classic sushi favorites as well as more daring creations. Feeling adventurous? Try the Arizona Roll. Finalists: 2. Ra Sushi 3. Sushi on Oracle
Best Liquor Store
When Plaza opened in 1978, home brewing was still illegal and the Napa Valley had just started to establish its reputation for quality wines. Trends have come and gone since, and in this craft-everything era, nobody in town has a selection as impressive as the unassuming little shop on Campbell. The staff expertise and customer…
Staff Pick: Best New Bar
The first new bar to open in South Tucson in years, the Saint Charles Tavern is low-key, slightly bohemian, comfortable and friendly, with a killer beer selection and increasingly frequent live bands. Off the beaten path, for now but not for long, Saint Charles is the perfect spot for those displaced by the big development…
The Dark Side
The autumn sun may still be till casting Tucson in a golden light, but the shadows are lengthening and the days are darkening earlier.
Best TV Newscast
It doesn’t matter if you’re making plans and you need to know the weather (hint: it’s hot), or you’re catching the highlights of your alma mater’s football game, KVOA evening news keeps you in the know. Paul Cicala (Best Local SportsCaster) seems like THE guy you want to sit next to at any sporting event…
Staff Pick: Best Feminist Literary Sanctuary
Did you know that Tucson is home to the oldest feminist bookstore in the country? Antigone is completely solar powered, hosts a monthly feminist book club, prides itself on selling inclusive books for people of all ages and getting important books into reader’s hands. They’re like literary superheros. Besides, it’s always great to ask for…
Best Dance Company
The only professional ballet troupe in town (yes, they pay their dancers!), Ballet Tucson pivots between classics like The Nutcracker and the new and daring. The 30th anniversary season last year opened with an adventurous Steampunk Jekyll and Hyde and this year begins Nov. 18 with a new Day of the Dead ballet set to…
Best Jewelry
If there is one thing to say about this winner, it is that they have most definitely stood the test of time. Since its opening in 1947, McGuire’s has continued to provide quality product and service to every generation. With great benefits like free cleaning and inspection, as well as military and senior discounts, McGuire’s…
Best Place to Get Pierced
Straight to the Point makes getting pierced a lovely—dare we say relaxing?!—experience. The staff is so friendly (and safety conscious); the interior has an almost meditative atmosphere, decorated with stunning handmade jewelry (which is also for sale); and everything is as spic and span as any infection-phobic piercee could hope for. Want privacy while you’re…
Best African
Zemam’s has been gracing Tucson with homey Ethiopian recipes for almost 20 years. Therefore, it is justified that the Tucson favorite, now with its expansion, Zemam’s Too!, has won Best of Tucson for the third year in a row. The restaurants operate out of converted houses and offer large communal meals that make every visit…
Staff Pick Best Place to Hike In Your Wheelchair
The main road, one of two routes on which Sabino Canyon Tours operates its Sabino Canyon tram route, is mostly flat and paved. It can be easily navigated by visitors of all ages. The main road ascends from 2,800 to 3,300 feet and crosses Sabino Creek over nine stone bridges. It is a favorite route…
Best Birria
We’re going to make a bold statement here: Everything at Mi Nidito is delicious. The harshest criticism we have for Mi Nidito? Tucson loves it a little too much. It’s okay though, the food is worth the wait. Today, we’re here to celebrate Mi Nidito’s beef birria. Get it in a burro or a chimichanga…
Staff Pick: Best Playground For Kids Of ALL Abilities
While most playgrounds in the Old Pueblo have their equipment firmly planted in sand or wood chips, Milagro playground gets it right. The equipment is on a rubberized platform, making it easier for kids who utilize wheelchairs or walkers to navigate. Kids with disabilities get to just be a kid when they visit Milagro Playground…
Best Place to Get a Sandwich
Bread is the foundation of good sandwiches, so if it’s a sandwich you crave, you might as well get it where bakes the best bread in Tucson. Whether it’s Maddy’s Madness, Charly’s Pesto or Annie’s Addiction—or any from the catalog of both hot and cold varieties—you’re sure to find the perfect meal. They even let…
Staff Pick: Best Restaurant To Eat Your Weight In Pastries
Maple Bacon Dossant. Strawberry Cayenne Dossant. Earl Grey Blueberry Scone. Berries & Cream Danish. Monkey Bread. Churro Dossant. Nutella Churro Dossant. Latte Churro Dossant. Chocolate Churro Dossant. That is just a sample of the rotating pastry shelf of sin you will find at any one of the two prep and pastry locations in town. They…
Best Thai
Casual, fast and delicious, Bangkok Cafe on Speedway offers a veritable wealth of Thai dishes sure to make even the most discerning of Pad Thai consumers happy. The portions are hefty and the scents are always enticing. Bangkok Cafe is a great option if you’re on the hunt for really authentic cuisine. Finalists: 2. Chari’s…
Best Gay Bar
You know you’ve always been a little curious and that’s okay because IBT’s is as awesome as everyone says it is. With karaoke and 3-for-1 wells on Monday night, drag shows on Wednesday night and go-go boys on Friday night, what’s not to love? Any night of the week is a party night at IBT’s.…
Staff Pick: Best Place to Eat at the Bar
Not only does Elliot’s offer a pretty great drink selection—their collection of house infused vodkas is quite unlike anything else you’ll find in town and lends itself to a fairly explicit creative license—but their food selection is hard to pass up. Happy hour finger foods feature honey-drizzled, cream cheese jalapeno boats and chocolate covered bacon…
Hail, Distaff!
Confession: Whenever Sherilyn hears of a radically reinterpreted take on one of Shakespeare’s plays, she squints her eyes and wrinkles her nose in skepticism.
Best Gallery
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is the ultimate southwest gallery. Originally designed by Ted DeGrazia to display his artwork, the gallery now features six permanent collections of his artwork, a panel of rotating pieces and a “Little Gallery” that gives lesser-known artists an opportunity to display their work. DeGrazia Gallery is a diamond in the…
Best Radio Station for News
As we write this, it happens to be time for KUAZ’s seasonal telethon. And our television happens to not be working. So we’ve been listening to KUAZ for hours, fundraising breaks and all—and you know what? We still love it, just like all you Tucsonans do. In fact, this telethon is helping us write this…
Best Marijuana Dispensary
Downtown Dispensary gets medical marijuana and helps to make sure you only get the best medical marijuana. With a diligent cultivation of products including high-tech quality assurance with the use of gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry, their strains are sure to be exactly what you’re looking for. Downtown Dispensary’s board also looks out for customers by donating profits…
Staff Pick: Best Art Exhibitions
Etherton Gallery, celebrating its 35th year, has the most provocative, professional—and coolest—exhibitions in Tucson. Specializing in photography, Etherton exhibits media of all kinds, from international and local artists alike. Last year the gallery offered up Danny Lyon’s wrenching Texas prison photos, and this season opened with a jolt with two photographic eminences, Roger Ballen of…
Best Place to Get Your Pet Groomed
Washing dogs at home can be a hard and messy process. Dirty Dawgs was created to solve that issue by allowing pet owners to come in and self-wash their pets right at the shop. The owners of Dirty Dawgs aim to provide a clean, safe and fun environment for pets and pet people to bond…
Best Place to Get a Massage
It’s important to take care of your mind, body and spirit on a daily basis, and Rubs Massage does just that. This unique spa is dedicated to serving their customers by providing a refreshing and nourishing experience that is affordable for everyone through relaxation, pain relief and stress treatments, depending on the customers’ liking. With…
Best Chef
Janos has been rolling out some great stuff lately, which as any local knows is hardly out of his norm. Between a thriving Downtown Kitchen and a brand new Carriage House, Tucson’s cup overfloweth with new menus, cooking classes, and events. Until October 3rd, you can check out Wilder’s pop-up dinner and cooking class themed…
Best Dulceria
Le Cave’s Bakery has seen many Tucson generations fly by past the windows of its big, green building. To the unsuspecting, its drawn blinds give the impression of permanent closure. All one has to do is step out of the car onto the curb to smell the amazing wafts of baking goodness coming from fresh…
Best Michilada
Move over bloody mary—michiladas are the tomato-based beverage of choice in the Old Pueblo. The basic make up for a michilada is beer, clam juice, tomato juice and spices. There’s really no such thing as a bad michilada, but BK has figured out the magic combo to have us ordering glass after glass. Finalists: 2.…
Staff Pick: Best Place to Play with Butterflies
Let’s start by saying this place is not just for the kids, adults can have a grand old time frolicking with butterflies at the Tucson Botanical Garden any day of the week. Inside a small glass enclosure, a misty jungle surrounds you and numerous species of butterflies fly around aimlessly. The delicate little insects flutter…
Best Pizzeria
There are few greater revelations amongst UA students than when they turn 21 and find out Brooklyn will bring you pizza at Sky Bar next door. I agree, it’s a relationship that seems almost too good to be true. Beer and pizza is one of the culinary world’s best pairings, especially when your pizza is…
Staff Pick: Best Place to Eat Outside
Tucson’s “Turquoise Trail” history takes you to Old Town Artisans. The square block—now home to connected adobe rooms full of gifts, art and other regional treasures—once held stables within Tucson’s Presidio, built in 1776. Today, the patio, dense with olive trees and native plants, speaks more of Tucson’s regional charm and storied gastronomy than its…
Best Vietnamese
The Pho-nomenon is alive and real in the Old Pueblo and Miss Saigon is here to deliver us all the soupy goodness our Sriracha-laden hearts could desire. With two locations on Campbell and the newly-renovated Sixth Street location, Miss Saigon now has a full bar and a late menu on Fridays and Saturdays. Trendy and…
Best Comedian
Where else but Tucson can a local kid grow up and start up his own late-night talk show? Now in its third year, Romo Tonight Live takes place on the last Sunday of each month at The Flycatcher, with a host whose DIY take on the classic format is refreshing and fearless. Clever and creative,…
Staff Pick: Beer that says TUCSON
Humans all over the world have brewed beer with whatever was handy practically since they discovered fire. And long before Europeans brought a hardy wheat to grow here, prickly pear pads and fruit were a staple in Tucson-area households. So who’s to say Borderlands’ is the first Prickly Pear Wheat beer in town? Gastronomic history…
Sequel Redemption
This is so much better than the first movie.
Best Visual Artist
Diana Madaras paints in various styles, ranging from abstract, personified Saguaro cacti to realistic, detailed portraits of cheetahs. The artist aims to help animals and humans with the money earned from both her artistic endeavors and non-profit, the Art for Animals Foundation. Madaras has two galleries in town—one near downtown, and one up north. Both…
Best Local Twitter
Everybody loves a good comeback story, and this year @whatsuptucson is coming back from 3rd place to take the number 1 spot for best local twitter feed. This account is essential for any Tucson resident to stay in the loop. With everything from hourly updates on crime and traffic, to even lost pet reports there…
Best Annual Festival
Nothing quite exemplifies Fourth Avenue as a hub of Tucson culture quick like the semiannual street fair. For three days, artists, musicians, craftspeople, performers and culinary enthusiasts take over the ave. in a raucous display of Tucson’s independent cultural talent. Whether you’re looking for a gift, wardrobe addenda or just something that shouts “Tucson.” it’s…
Staff Pick: Best Theater Production
Arizona Theatre Company outdid themselves last year with Pulitzer Prize-winning August Wilson’s Fences. It’s an uncommonly good play by a writer who was determined to distill the African-American experience in the 20th century, represented by a play for each decade. When it’s entrusted to good hands, the story goes straight to the heart. Every aspect…
Best Hair Salon
Coming in on top for the fifth year in a row is the crown jewel of Tucson hair care, Gadabout. Trends in hairstyles and hair products may change from year to year, but one thing that seems to remain the same is Tucson’s love for Gadabout. Consistently, Gadabout has proven that a local salon can…
Best Barber Shop
If you are looking to get a quick fade, caesar, taper, flattop or maybe you would like to get your favorite sports team logo cut into your head, Headliners is the place to go. Located around town this barber shop has the feel and the camaraderie between the customer and barber that any brick and…
Best Place to Eat Lunch Downtown
HUB is downtown Tucson’s jack of all trades. Whether you’re looking for a place to grab a classy meal, knock back a couple of drinks or grab ice cream with the kids, HUB offers it all at all hours of the day and night. Their menu offers a variety of fares, even including the rare…
Best Playground
Located in the middle of Tucson, Reid Park and its playground have everything a kid would ever want in playground. Swings, slides, monkey bars, forts with canopies, grassy areas, the list goes on and the fun will too! It is also conveniently located at a walking distance to the Reid Park Zoo and Hi Corbett…
Best Guacamole
Guadalajara is known for making fresh salsa right next to your table, yeah, but the restaurant also dishes out the best guacamole in town, according to T-Locs. It’s creamy, pleasantly tart and just the right amount of spicy. It is also covered in cotija cheese (bonus). What more could you want from a solid guac?…
Staff Pick: Best Place to Catch’em All
So, you’ve taken your kid all around the city to catch all of the Pokemon and they are starting to get antsy to get some new species. Well, fear not, the Tohono Chul Park is the perfect place to take your little one for an educational excursion and find all kinds of desert Pokemon lurking…
Best Wings
A locally owned Tucson tradition, Wings Over Broadway has been in the Tucson community for almost two decades. Known best for its hot wings and cold beer, the eatery has won numerous awards for Best Wings in Tucson over the past years. But even beyond wings, Wings Over Broadway offers a full menu that includes…
Staff Pick: Best Late Night Eats
This tidy, semi-organic punk spot, the only downtown place that’s open 24 hours and doesn’t serve booze, is always surprisingly quiet. It attracts people who either keep to themselves with their electronics, or just want to have a real conversation. Coffee’s always fresh as is the food, nearly all made-to-order. The portion sizes are especially…
Best Vegetarian/Vegan
Lovin’ Spoonfuls is celebrating 10 years of serving delightful vegetarian and vegan options to Tucson’s cruelty conscious residents. Owner Peggy Raisglid wholeheartedly believes in veganism as a lifestyle and her work at the restaurant proves it. They serve everything from a traditional breakfast burrito to a southwest themed burger, all without any meat. They even…
Best Bartender
It’s a Best of Tucson three-peat for Barb, who’s held down the bar in both the Club and the Taproom for far longer than that. Personable and friendly, she has regulars piled on top of regulars, and she doesn’t seem to forget a face. Plenty of bartenders come and go each year, though a few…
Staff Pick: Most Chicago-like Piano Bar
A full house, lively conversations and outbursts of laughter light up this corner of Barrio Presidio, otherwise darkened for the weekend. Everyone’s drinking fine whiskey, or planning a drink with knowledgeable bartenders. Whiskey is serious business, here. The piano-bar ambience, held down by a Rosano brother, Howe Gelb or another secret piano master, may not…
Waking the Dead
“Most bands’ lives are less than a year. If you make it one year, that’s a big deal, and we made it to 30,” says Timothy Gassen of Marshmallow Overcoat, one of the longest running garage bands in rock ‘n’ roll history.
