Thursday, February 15, 2018

The Weekly List: 25 Things To Do In Tucson This Week

Posted By and on Thu, Feb 15, 2018 at 9:25 AM

Your Weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo.

Panels

When Immigration Hits a Wall: Life in the Borderlands Location. In case the issue of immigration ever feels like it’s getting too abstract for you, hear from three locals about what the changing landscape of immigration policy means for them. Mo Goldman, a Tucson immigration attorney, will talk about what’s changed and what to expect going forward on the legal side of things. Loreno Verdugo, a community health adviser and coordinator for El Rio Health Center and coordinator of Ventanilla de Salud in the Mexican Consulate, will share stories about immigrants she’s seen make their way to Tucson. Alejandro Ursua, a UA grad and DACA recipient who now works for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, will share his own story of how the uncertain future affects his family. Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson. 9:30 a.m. to noon. Saturday, Feb. 17. Joel D. Valdez Library, 101 N. Stone, Lower Level 1 Meeting Room. Free.

TEDxUofA: Uncharted. The first annual TEDxUofA conference is here! You’ll hear from geologist, educator and writer Jess Kapp in her talk “Say Yes,” about taking risks for the sake of self discovery. Shepard Robbins will talk about the dark side of comics in his talk “Under the Page.” Biosystems engineering professor Joel Cuello talk about using amplified intelligence to achieve more sustainable methods of food development in “AI Does Food.” Marketing assistant professor Caleb Warren will talk about why we love the products we do in “What Makes Things Cool.” Jonathan Bean will talk about the shifting nature of markets in “Demand Less.” Hester Oberman, Ph.D, will talk about religion and philosophy in “Belief Out of the Closet.” And Nolan Cabrera, a scholar of race and racism, will talk about the pitfalls of privilege in “White Immunity.” 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. $20 GA, $20 VIP, $10 student, $15 student VIP.


No One Told Me This Sh*t Was Going to be Hard! Well ain’t that the truth about just about everything in life. In this case, though, it’s about the ups and downs, failures and successes, trials and tribulations of being an entrepreneur and starting your own company. Hear from a panel of experts at this interactive event, including representatives from InHouse, the real estate software company. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. Connect Coworking–Downtown Tucson Office Space, 33 South Fifth Ave. $5.

Art and Music

Sonoran Seasons. This is easier to remember at this time of year, when we’re not all making frantic dashes from our air-conditioned houses to our air-conditioned cars, and burning out hands on our steering wheels, but Tucson actually has more than one season. In fact, it has five: winter, spring, fore-summer, summer monsoon and fall. Tohono Chul Park’s new gallery exhibit celebrates Tucson’s array of seasons, and of biological specimens. Featured artist Janet Windsor uses graphic design and stitching skills to create fiber artwork of desert seasons. Exhibit runs through Wednesday, April 18. Artist’s reception: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. Curator’s Talk: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 and Thursday, Feb. 22. Tohono Chul Park, 7366 Paseo del Norte. $13 adults, $10 students, seniors over 62 and military. $3 kids 5 to 12 and free for kids under 5.

Ansel Adams Public Celebration. On some level, aren’t we all, always, celebrating the work of Ansel Adams? Here’s a chance for us to do it all together, in the same place and at the same time. The Center for Creative Photography’s new exhibit, Ansel Adams: Performing the Print, will open, and there will also be archival object tours (self guided—the best kind), vintage camera display and a presentation from Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and pal of Ansel Adams, David Hume Kennerly. Plus, cake! Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N. Olive Road. Free.

Rachmaninoff Rhapsody. Vadym Kholodenko, a Ukrainian pianist who won the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, is making his TSO debut with Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. TSO Music Director José Luis Gomez commissioned a piece by former Young Composers Project student Anthony Constantino, and the piece, Luminosity’s Witness, will make its world premiere at TSO. Also on the docket: Selections from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Ginastera’s Dances from Estancia ballet. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18.

Tucson Take Back the Night. Singer songwriter Charlie King is playing at this event to raise funds for Take Back The Night, which will in turn raise awareness of sexual violence and provide support to survivors. You’ll enjoy a free concert with Charlie, performances by musical guests including the Tucson Women’s Chorus and a FREE mean Mexican meal catered by Maria Garcia of La Indita Restaurant. A raffle gives you the chance to donate to a good cause, and possibly take home some good stuff, like TBTN T-shirts, some local art, free tickets to shows or gift certificates to area businesses. 6 p.m. meal, 7 p.m. concert. Saturday, Feb. 17. Unitarian Universalist Church, 4831 E 22nd St. Free. Call Ted at 623-1688 or email its@theriver.com for more info.

Local Artisans

The Weekly List: 25 Things To Do In Tucson This Week (8)
Star Light, Star Bright, the award-winning 2018 raffle quilt for the 2018 Quilt Fiesta, made in honor of the 40th anniversary of the fiesta.
Quilt Fiesta! Are you ready for the most wholesome festival this world has ever seen? Well, you’d better get ready. With vendors, quilt appraisals, a vintage quilt turning and a special kids section, it’s a show with something for everyone. (Even if you’re not INTO quilts, you’re into being warm, right? And seeing people love what they do?) Plus, there’s demonstrations on the modern quilt movement and crafting the perfect border. Guest speaker Dixie McBride will be giving two talks: “Garage Sale Heirlooms” and “Quilt Judges and Jurors: Who Are They?” Admission comes with a raffle ticket to win the award-winning quilt Star Light, Star Bright. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $10 for one day, $20 for all three days (only available on Friday). Free for kids 14 and under.

TMA Annual Spring Artisans Market. More than 100 juried artists are coming together so that you can buy tons of beautiful things in one place. Pottery! Glass! Jewelry! Textiles! Fine art! You name it! This is also your last opportunity to see the museum’s feature exhibition, Dress Matters: Clothing as Metaphor. Live performances by Andy Hersey and Shelly Hawkins Dance on Friday, Solidarity Sympa and Lisa O’Neill Saturday and Jazz Pyramid Scheme, ft. tidypaws, Dimitri Manos and Thøger Lund on Sunday. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave. Free. The museum is free and open to the public during all three days of the market as well.

Let’s Get Sweaty!

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. This team relay and solo rider mountain bike event is one of the largest 24-hour events in the world. Yes, it literally lasts from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday. While these maniacs are riding their bikes for longer than most of us have ever done anything continuously, we mere mortals can enjoy fun stuff too, like a Four Peaks Brewing beer garden, hot cocoa in the In-N-Out Burger Exchange Tent and a Maxis Tire Toss. 24 Hour Town is a tiny utopia that gets erected for the weekend (utopias can’t last forever, you know) and that’s where it’s all going down. Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. Starts at noon on Friday, 6 a.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. on Sunday. Camping sites vary in cost, but most include a requirement that you bring some canned goods for a food drive.

TMC Sunrise at Old Tucson Trail Run. If you have to run on the dusty trails of Tucson, you might as well go big with it, and run a race that goes through Old Tucson Studios, a slice of the Old West. There’s a men’s 4-mile, a women’s 4-mile and a family 1-mile, and everyone who registers gets a fee cowboy breakfast, and admission to Old Tucson for the day! (Your guests get special discounted pricing as well). And everyone registered gets free admission to the International Wildlife Museum for the day too. So honestly, you could just run a mile and wind up with a free breakfast and a free day at some of the coolest places in Tucson, which almost sounds too good to be true. Registration begins at 7 a.m. in the Old Tucson Parking lot on Sunday, Feb. 18. Women’s start at 8 a.m. and men and family runs start at 9 a.m. Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road. $40 4-mile trail run and $25 1-mile run.

Arizona Pride

Happy Birthday, Arizona! The ol’ girl is 106, but we all know she doesn’t look a day over 25. To celebrate our sweet state, Old Tucson is offering buy one, get one free admission, living history presentations, and some classic Old West entertainment to remind you that 106 is actually pretty old. A special flag ceremony at noon both Saturday and Sunday will be held to make sure Arizona’s feeling extra loved. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road.

Vigilante Days in Tombstone. Okay, yeah, this is a skip, hop and a jump outside of Tucson, but it’ll be cool. There’ll be tons of historical reenactments, the famous “Hanging Tree,” a Geo Coin for geocaching and a chili cook. You can visit the Courthouse Museum, tour the Goodenough mine and ride a stagecoach around town. Plus, a fashion show by the Tucson Vigilettes, and the chance to enter a raffle to win a ROSSI Model 92, .45 caliber long colt lever action rifle and handmade case (just don’t shoot your eye out). 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18. Allen Street in Tombstone, Arizona. Free entry.

Tucson Roadrunners. Our beloved hockey team has two home games this week against the Bakersfield Condors. Though both teams are avian, the roadrunners have the advantage of being more accustomed to doing battle on the ground, rather than in flight. At 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, you’ll like $1 food night and the youth jersey giveaway, and at 4:05 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, you won’t want to miss the fidget spinner giveaway. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $10 to $56+.

All Sorts of Animals

The Best Brothers. Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor brings us this tale of calamity, competitive siblings and canines. When a woman named Bunny Best loses her life at a Gay Pride Parade, her two sons are saddled with writing obituaries, giving eulogies and caring for their mother’s Italian greyhound, Enzo. In the midst of it all, their sibling rivalry comes to a head. It’s witty and lighthearted, and there’s a dog. What more could you ask for? Thursday, Feb. 15 to Saturday, March 24. 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $15 Thursday nights and $18 to $20 Friday through Sunday.

2018 Winter Meet at Rillito Park Racetrack. Everyone’s favorite historic racetrack just started its Winter Meet last weekend, and there’s five more weekends to go, including 12 live race days! This week on the docket, we have Military and First Responder Day on Saturday, Feb. 17 and Arizona VIP Day (government and civic leaders appreciation) on Sunday, Feb. 18. (Call them at 745-5486 to learn more about reserved seating). May the best horse and jockey win! The gates open at 10 a.m. on race days, with a post time of 1 p.m. 4502 N. First Ave. $5 GA, $10 Clubhouse admission.

Craft Day at the Petting Zoo. As if petting zoos aren’t already fun enough, Funny Foot Farm is hosting a craft day. In between petting and feeding the standard petting zoo fare, like goats and chickens, and the not-so-standard, like capybaras, tortoises and porcupines, kids can make something they’ll want to take home with them. It’s only 8 bucks to enter the zoo, including a full tour and food for all the animals, and craft day doesn’t cost anything extra. Bring the kids, or go by yourself, because who wants to miss a chance to pet a capybara? 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. Funny Foot Farms, 2405 W. Wetmore Road.

Fun in General

click to enlarge The Weekly List: 25 Things To Do In Tucson This Week (11)
Courtesy of Yume Japanese Gardens
Ikebana Spring Floral Festival. There should be a word for when you’re jealous of how grounded and centered someone is… zen-vy, maybe. Get ready to feel zen-vious, or maybe just zen yourself, by seeing 50 different Ikebana compositions (Japanese flower arrangements), stemming from five different schools of the practice. The grounds, museum and gallery of Yume Japanese Gardens will be rife with harmony, and we’re all in for a stunning treat. Tuesday, Feb. 20 to Wednesday, Feb. 28. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday. Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way. $15 adults, $15 kids under 15, free for members.

Minimalist Wardrobe Workshop. Feeling like your closet is a little cluttered? (If you answer no, maybe you need to check your closet again.) Finding Freedom Tucson is hosting this opportunity to talk about how minimizing your wardrobe can actually simplify and enrich your life, plus lead to a more sustainable lifestyle. Get an outline of the process of minimizing your closet, plus a take-home workbook that holds all the stuff you might forget about the workshop. There’s also snacks, and, for one lucky participant, a $20 gift certificate to Buffalo Exchange. Minimize me, baby. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20. Exo Coffee, 403 N. Sixth Ave. $20.

Cruise, BBQ & Blues Festival and Car Show. If you’re not into cars, this is a great chance to finally understand what all the hype is about. Over at SAACA, they’re firm believers that automobiles are art—blending mechanics, design and science to produce beautiful, functional machines that have, in many ways, made the world feel like a smaller place. The event also features live blues music, barbecue and 20 different awards given in categories including Best Interior, Best Engine and People’s Choice. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road. $5. $1 discount for military and veterans, free for kids 10 and under. Tickets available at the door.

Rob Schneider & David Spade. Joe Dirt and The Hot Chick are coming together for an absolutely unparalleled night of comedy. There’s no telling what these guys are gonna say, but just think about Schneider’s roles in Grown Ups, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan and The Animal, and Spade’s work in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Tommy Boy and Benchwarmers (Schneider was in that one too), and you’ll get the idea. Buh-Bye. 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) Thursday, Feb. 15. Casino Del Sol Event Center, 45655 W. Valencia Road. Tickets start at $45. 21+.

Nightcrawler

Dirty Audio. It’s obvious 22-year-old Dirty Audio lost his innocence to jungle/drum ’n’ bass. His dance music features static-drenched vocals accentuating polyrhythms of ever-increasing, irrepressible beats. In other words, it’s damn near impossible to hear a Dirty Audio ditty without at least moving some body part. See, this L.A.-based producer can spin fizzy bangers from bland radio pop, replete with harsh industrial clank and sweetly surging hooks. Tracks like “Gorilla Glue” are groove-playful, working a bombastic energy that’ll appeal to Bass Nectar heads and those partial to balls-out hedonism. What “Alien Cookies” misses in dynamic range (it’s on 10 to the end), it makes up in texture. Distort-o vocals, downy synths and a relentless beat squeal and scratch with the dirtiest of them all. With Logan Bohbot on Thursday, Feb. 22. Gentle Ben’s, 865 East University Blvd. Doors at 8 p.m. $10, 18+.

Cornelio Vega y Su Dinastia ain’t your papa’s norteña. His colorful accordion and mariachi-inspired guitar show he’s a genre scholar, but his lyrics offer modern twists. In “El Problema,” Vega’s cooing the blues of a Sonoran kid with a hankering for guns and fast cars and not his family in el norte. The usual romantic viewpoint is love trumps all but Vega sings, “Se que nada es para siempre” (I know that nothing is forever). This kid-jaded take on traditional values, while paying tribute to the genre’s roots, is subtly revolutionary. Vega made a name for himself on YouTube, where he’s earned more than 58 million hits. And it’s no wonder; he offers relatable, well-executed Mexican music, from the perspective of a boy who grew up witnessing heartaches and limitations of older, honest workingmen’s lives lived along the problematic frontera. With Adriel Favela, Omar Ruiz, Jonatan Sanchez and Helen Ochoa. Saturday, Feb. 17. Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington Road. Doors at 9 p.m. $50. General admission. All ages.

Kimya Dawson. Since Kimya Dawson left Moldy Peaches and blew up with “Loose Lips” (from the Juno soundtrack), she has quietly toured and recorded her quirksome folk-pop (and even made a smart, lovely album for toddlers). Gentle, basic guitars accompany her dense, multi-syllabic words, which are as earnestly unadonrned as they are funny and melancholy (“If you want to kill yourself/Remember that I love you/Call me up before you’re dead/We’ll make up some plans instead”). Her forlorn nursery rhymes are mostly open-hearted, and brave ones at that. When she veers whimsical (“I like my new bunny suit/It makes me feel cute”), it’s the unwavering vocal sincerity that keeps her music from faltering. One gets the feeling that Dawson’s best friends are still all imaginary and that a blanket tent in her bedroom (with a portable record player inside) is the only place she feels at home. With AJJ and Cesar Ruiz on Sunday, Feb. 18. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress. 7 p.m. $8-$10. All ages.

Dent May. Mayer Hawthorne most recently proved how smooth saxes, disco beats and pitch-corrected blue-eyed soul can make for intricately arranged sugar-pop. Dent May fell in line. But just as you’re swept up by May’s well-crafted, lounge-y creepers, the lyrics bum out: “Caviar days, plastic surgery nights/90210 with you by my side.” Originally from Mississippi, Dent May mecca’d to L.A., where his gifted melodic sensibility (Silverlake’s love affair with Brian Wilson, natch) got packaged in hipster cat T’s and Spencer’s hippie bling. Too bad ’cause songs like “Best Friend” and “Meet Me in the Garden” are gorgeous, yet ultimately insincere. It’s music for folks too embarrassed to let themselves feel. Unlike, say, Frank Zappa, May doesn’t lift a corner on his schtick to let listeners in on the joke. His cynicism feels unearned, the irony too poker-faced. Yes, Congress will be packed. With Moon King and Liquid Summer on Saturday, Feb. 17. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress. 7 p.m. $10. 16+.


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