Mount Lemmon SkyCenter “Summer SkyNights”
With temperatures in three digits, we hardly need an excuse to go to Mount Lemmon. Hike on great trails, have all the fudg and view the valley from the ski lift. Now, with more options for overnight stays, there’s more reason to visit the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. The tour includes an astronomy lecture, sunset and guided navigation of the night sky through two of the largest telescopes in the southwest. You’ll see neighboring planets, distant galaxies and nebulae, star clusters and more. Reservations are required.
Mount Lemmon Sky Center, 9800 Ski Run Road, $30, two for $50, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays July 14 and July 21, and Saturdays July 15 and July 22,
skycenter.arizona.edu
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum: “Ecotone Art”
Where ecosystems converge and evolve into each other, an ecotone is created. The overlapping of environments creates tension between species as they compete for resources. For some, the ecotone also offers new opportunities. Because density and diversity of species is heightened in “ecotonal systems,” new life forms can evolve. This new exhibit of works, made in a range and combinations of media, explores current ecotonal dynamics in contemporary human culture.
Ironwood Gallery, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, $29.95, less for children under 12, rentals available for strollers, wheelchairs and scooters, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Wednesday, Aug. 13 desertmuseumarts.com/ecotone-2023Drive and North Campbell Avenue, foothillsartdistrict.com, free
The Outlaw Mariachi
Had Sid Vicious grown up Mexican, he might have fit right in with these caliphs of punk mariachi, but he’d have had to have a cooler sense of humor. The Outlaws’ charro outfits are a hodgepodge of thrift store tributes to the more commonly unifying conformity of mariachi bands. Respect for their forbears runs through their sense of humor and punk posturing, though, and their music is brilliantly played. These ersatz cowboys, and their sound, could only have arisen from a mash up of charro and cholo culture.
Club Congress, 311 E. Congress Street, Tucson, $23.18, 8 p.m. Friday, July 14, dice.fm
Los Tucanes de Tijuana with Ramon Ayala
There won’t be much sitting as fans dance in the aisles through this night of norteño music, played and sung by the sinaloense masters of the genre. Narcorridos have been their trademark, but their sound has also evolved over 60-plus albums and 75 singles. As their sales have passed the 15 million mark, they’ve covered their walls with multiplatinum records. Ramón Ayala is more than the cherry on top here. He pioneered the accordion sound that all but defines norteño music.
AVA Amphitheater, Casino del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road, tickets start at $40, 8 p.m. Friday, July 14, etix.com
Movies on the Lawn
Pack up some kids, a blanket and a bundle of good snacks for an evening of fun, fresh air and a movie. “The Bad Guys” is this Saturday’s feature in Oro Valley’s summer long outdoor series, featuring films made from popular children’s books. “The Bad Guys,” the movie, features scary cartoon creatures doing good deeds. The last two films of the summer will be “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” on Aug. 19 and “The Little Rascals” on Sept. 16.
Oro Valley Community and Recreation Center, 10555 N. La Cañada Drive, Oro Valley, free, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15, orovalleyaz.gov
STEAM Camp: “Dinosaur & Unicorn Madness”
The STEAM in STEAM camp stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. This n’ That Creative Studio is offering a week-by-week STEAM Camp series they call “Summer Shenanigans.” It’s designed to let kids explore art and science materials in ways they could never access (and you might never clean up) at home. Next week’s art play is devoted to fantastical creatures, real and imagined.
This n’ That Creative Studio, 1066 S. Pantano Road, Tucson, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, July 17, to Thursday, July 20, $260,
thisnthatcreativestudio.com/events
These Poems Aren’t Going to Read Themselves!
Poetry in the Park encourages Tucsonans to get outside and let their poetry out, too. Almost all writing is a solitary enterprise, but poetry can be even more so, often probing our deeply personal thoughts and experiences. These events encourage fellowship, but attendees also discuss writing styles and ways to get “unstuck” when you need to. Bring a folding chair or blanket. Water and light snacks are provided.
Madera Park, 2700 E. La Madera Drive, Tucson, free, 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 15, and every other Saturday; Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8201 E. Stella Road, free, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, and every other Wednesday,
changex.org/us/poetryinthepark/tucson-az-usa
Tucson Kitchen Musicians Song Circle Social
The folks who bring us the sprawling, spectacular annual Tucson Folk Festival stay in tune year ‘round with semi-monthly, social song circles. All skill levels are welcome. Bring your instrument, your voice or just your goodwill and enjoy the sounds of music, tall tales, fellowship and a hearty “Hello Stranger,” Carter Family style. Kevin Pakulis and his large folk-rock band preside.
Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Avenue, Tucson, free, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 16, the first and third Thursday every month,
borderlandsbrewing.com
Family Saturday at Night/Noche de Sábado Familiar
Bring a flashlight for this family fun night of monsoon-inspired activities. You and yours will learn about the nocturnal animals of the Sonoran Desert, and beavers in the Santa Cruz River. Song and story time will be in Spanish and English, and here’s a must for modern kiddos: There will be code writing training using Scratch with CoderDojo.
Watershed Management Group, 1137 N. Dodge Boulevard, free, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15, watershedmg.org
Community Clothing Swap
Spark Project Collective is coordinating a next-level conservation event, a clothing swap. This writer has dressed in thrift since the ’80s, and much as we like supporting thrift businesses, in person and online, we love the idea of exchanging fresh stuff with real people. It’s a “drop ‘n shop” affair, clean and tidy only, and everything that remains at the end will be donated. The project is part of Spark Project Collective’s ongoing support for Tucson’s homeless community..
Four of Wands, 4349 E. Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, free admission, 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 15, fourofwandstucson.com
This article appears in Jul 13-19, 2023.