Cover Story
Calexico
It’s Friday, the 13th of March, and Joey Burns has suggested we meet at the Lucky Strike Bowl. (Get it?) He watches for me from the lane he’s reserved, his red leather-ish bowling bag propped next to him. If Stereogum can interview John Darnielle of Mountain Goats at a wrestling match, why not? I’m wondering…
Tucson Youth Poetry Slam Preps for Its Championship Saturday: 5 Years of Empowering Youth
Three years ago, Eva Sierra didn’t know what a poetry slam looked or sounded like. During a school field trip to Tucson, the Douglas teen got to check out a gathering by the Tucson Youth Poetry Slam. She was hooked. The spoken word and all therapeutic emotions that derive from having a room full of…
Fight for $15 Protest: Is It Really That Painful to Give Workers a Livable Wage?
Workers from Tucson and around the country joined voices today to demand for dignified and livable wages. More specifically: for every state to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour, because it is impossible to stay afloat with some of the salaries we gotta deal with. The Fight for $15 protest in the Old Pueblo…
Fifth Exhibit in Mayor’s Gallery Showcases Native and Mexican American Art
A new exhibit is set to show at the Mayor’s Gallery on Thursday, April 16. The show, which is the fifth in the gallery’s existence, will feature pieces from eight different Native American and Mexican American artists. Tucson Pima Arts Council and Mayor Jonathan Rothschild have joined forces on the exhibit, which explores different media…
Four Courses, Four Mezcals and the Art of Spirit Pairing at Pasco Kitchen Last Night
Mezcal lovers crowded Pasco Kitchen & Lounge’s dining room and patio last night for a special four-course dinner. Each dish in the prix-fixe meal was paired with a different Del Maguey mezcal, showcasing its region of origin and displaying the range of flavors in the agave distillate. Starting off, Phoenix-area bartender Jason Asher served up…
Where’s the Best Ice Cream in Tucson?
We’re less than a week into Best of Tucson® balloting and there are already a few categories that seem pretty much decided. However, some sections are still very much up for debate. For example, Tucson’s best ice cream. You guys just cannot seem to agree. So far, 52 of you have voted in that particular…
Vote for Santa Pachita Today and Tomorrow to Win National Independent Music Contest
Tucson’s Santa Pachita is looking for fans to send in votes in a national contest that melds independent artists with mobile technology. April 15 and April 16 are the final days to submit votes to the Música Unsigned contest, so you better get on it now. Sponsored by Verizon Wireless, the contest gives participants a…
A Novelist is Suing Joss Whedon for ‘The Cabin in the Woods’
From Entertainment Weekly: Peter Gallagher has filed suit against Joss Whedon and Lionsgate, claiming the Avengers: Age of Ultron writer took the idea for 2012’s The Cabin in the Woods from his novel. Gallagher (not the Peter Gallagher who played Seth Cohen’s dad on The O.C.) filed suit in California federal court Monday, saying he…
Free Nicoll: Bond Fundraiser Begins for Transgender Woman in All-Male Immigration Detention Center
A fundraiser for Nicoll Hernández-Polanco—a Guatemalan transgender woman who’s been in an all-male immigration detention center in Florence for about six months—kick started earlier this month to have some cash handy in case a judge sets a price to Nicoll’s freedom in upcoming days. Nicoll’s bond hearing is now scheduled for April 22, according to Mariposas…
Diane Douglas is Establishing a Committee to Review & Kill Unnecessary Regulations in Arizona’s Education Code
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas doesn’t like that the state’s education code, known as A.R.S. Title 15, is 1,000-plus pages long. She’s announced that she’ll establish an annual committee to review the code’s regulations and get rid of everything that is outdated, unnecessary or “detrimental to the work of school district and charter schools.”…
Excessive Force or a Necessary Move? Marana Officer Hits Armed Suspect With Patrol Car
Editor’s note: Viewer discretion advised. If you don’t want to see a guy pointing a gun at himself and being hit by a car, don’t watch this video. Marana Police Department made national news yesterday when they released dash cam footage from a February incident in which an officer rammed an armed suspect with his patrol car.…
Kozachik Says He’s Not Running for Congress
In the wake of Ron Barber’s announcement that he would not be seeking another run for Congress in Southern Arizona’s CD2, Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik has announced that he will not be challenging Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally next year: Steve Kozachik: “Now is not the time to step away from the good work that’s…
A Reminder of Hillary Clinton’s Stance on Central American Unaccompanied Minors; An Annoying But Unsurprising Response
Apparently, I am in a Hillary Clinton kind of mood today. But it’s not all good. After it was made official that Clinton is running for president, someone on Facebook reminded me of the insensitive comments she made last year on unaccompanied minors from Central America. I just have a general issue with the one-dimensional…
Rothschild Launches Reelection Campaign
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild: “Move Tucson forward!” Mayor Jonathan Rothschild formally announced his plans to run for reelection last week. Rothschild, who is finishing up his first four-year term, told Democrats and others gathered on the patio at downtown’s Connect co-working space that he was focused on “moving Tucson forward”—a slogan he tried to get the…
Howe Gelb to Perform, Release Albums at Zia Records on Record Store Day
If you’re a giant Giant Sand fan, you’ll want to head to Zia Records at 3370 E. Speedway Blvd. for a live performance from the iconic Tucson band’s frontman Howe Gelb. In celebration of two Giant Sand releases coming out on Record Store Day, Gelb will be performing solo at Zia starting at 4 p.m.…
Tucson Bike Share Program Getting Closer to Launching
The City of Tucson announced this week that the preliminary phases of implementing a bike share program in town are under way. Although the above picture is actually an artist’s depiction of what it would look like to get bike share bikes at major transit hubs such as the Mercado San Agustin Sun Link stop,…
Audible is Offering Books at Half Price
Audiobooks, man. I couldn’t get through long drives or slow days at work without them. I’m an Audible lady. For those unfamiliar with the service: Every month, in exchange for $15, I get a credit for one book of any price and I can purchase audiobooks to stream. It’s not like Netflix—you do have to…
Republicans Freaked Out About Hillary Clinton Running for President & The Daily Show Thinks It’s Hilarious
Hillary Clinton announced over the weekend that she is running for the presidency. She’s the first Democrat in the race, and The New York Times said she’ll likely be the 2016 Democratic candidate. It was amusing to see GOP figures like candidates Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, flip out…
UA Adjunct Join $15 Minimum Wage Fight; Rally Happening Wednesday
University of Arizona adjunct and non-tenure faculty will be part of the Fight for $15 rally happening Wednesday. The international movement demands that the country’s minimum wage be raised to $15 an hour. The movement started out with fast-food workers asking for better pay, but this year, childcare workers and adjunct professors are among the…
Yarnell Hill Fire: A New Twist
Reporter John Dougherty of InvestigativeMedia.com brings readers the latest twist in aftermath of 2013’s deadly Yarnell Hill fire: John Dougherty Wildland Division Chief Darrell Willis, center, answers media questions at the deployment site where the Granite Mountain Hotshots died. Brendan McDonough will testify if legally required about radio conversations between Granite Mountain Hotshots’ senior leaders…
A Guide to Each Song on Calexico’s Edge of the Sun
Excited about the new Calexico album due out tomorrow? Joey Burns compiled a track by track discussion, detailing how each song came together: 01. Falling From The Sky – (with Ben Bridwell from Band of Horses) Joey: written when landing in NewZealand as a side note as well as having read the children’s book “The House…
City Council Elections: The GOP Slate Emerges
It appears that we now have at least three Republican candidates for this year’s City Council election. The three GOP hopefuls filed on Friday, April 10. Bill Hunt, a pilot who takes trips with the Tucson chapter of the Flying Samaritans, wants to challenge Democrat Regina Romero, who is seeking a third term in westside…
Pueblo Vida’s Tuesday Infusion Releases to Include Hibiscus and More This Month
Every Tuesday, Pueblo Vida Brewing Co. downtown releases a new beer infused with inventive ingredients to enhance the flavor of the original brew. This month has some great infusions to be released still and all you have to do is head over to the brewery, located at 115 E. Broadway Blvd., to test out the…
UA Proposes Tuition Hikes for Some Students; Make Sure to Share Your Thoughts on the Increases
The University of Arizona has released its plans to increase tuition for most students to balance the budget after severe funding cuts from the state. Next Monday, the Arizona Board of Regents will host a series of public comment events at the universities, but you can also send the regents an email at tuition@azregents.edu; a letter…
Chico and Trixi and Need a Home
Chico—5-years-old-Terrier Mix—M—#799903 Trixi—6-years-old-Shepherd Mix—F—#638759 This bonded pair is petite and precious! Chico and Trixi love each other dearly, but they would like to add a family to their mix! These adorable pups are shy and well mannered, Trixi is eager to please when a treat is on the line, whereas Chico is all about exploring…
Want to go see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the Rialto?
Of course you do. The show is at the Rialto Theatre on Friday, April 17. Doors open at 7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m. A little but about the band, courtesy of the Rialto: 2014 marks the 21st Anniversary of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s remarkable arrival onto the music scene. In it’s first…
Ron Barber: “We Won’t Launch Another Campaign in 2016”
Democrat Ron Barber, who lost his last congressional race to Republican Martha McSally in November 2014 by just 167 votes, said he would not seek another rematch with McSally in 2016 during an appearance this morning on Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel.”It’s been a hard decision,” Barber said. “For the last three-and-a-half months, we’ve been…
It’s Best of Tucson Time
Did our picks for Tucson’s 100 Essential Dishes make you mad? Did you just discover Tucson’s best thrift store? Do you want to make sure your Vet gets the recognition he or she deserves? Well, it’s time. Best of Tucson time. We have (finally!) released the ballot for this year’s Best of Tucson. We’re running…
Yet Another Rematch? Ron Barber Will Announce His 2016 Plans on Zona Politics on Sunday Morning
Democrat Ron Barber, who lost the closest congressional race in the country last year by 167 votes to freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, will announce whether he’s in for a rematch on Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel, airing this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on KGUN-9. Barber was first elected to Congress in June 2012…
The Smoothie Factory Is Open Now Right by UA Campus
Listen up, juicers and healthy eaters. Dallas-based Smoothie Factory is serving up a variety of, you guessed it, smoothies for folks who like to drink their meals now near the UA campus. In addition to the Smoothie Factory location at 4246 N. 1st St., local franchise owner John Wilfert added a second smoothie spot to his repertoire…
Raúl Héctor Castro Died Today at 98
Raúl Héctor Castro died in his sleep today at the age of 98. Castro served as the state’s governor from January 6, 1975 – October 20, 1977. He is the only Latino to date to hold the position Gov. Doug Ducey issued this statement when announcing the news: Arizonans will never forget Governor Castro. He…
Samantha Bee Tells Arizona to Get its Shit Together When it Comes to Rapists and Custody
The Daily ShowGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook,Daily Show Video Archive Okay, well, not just Arizona. But we are behind Florida (FLORIDA) on this one. Turns out, in some states (including ours) women who have a child as the result of rape have a rough time winning full custody of their children.…
Mark Your Calendars: Orange is the New Black is Coming Back in June
I’m not sure how I made it until 9 p.m. yesterday without knowing the new Orange is the New Black trailer was out. But, a day late, here it is! Season 3 will be released on Netflix on June 12, so just go ahead and cancel any plans you had for for the rest of that…
Wooden Tooth Records to Open in the Backroom of Cafe Passe
Jake Sullivan and Kellen Fortier have been loyal employees at Fourth Avenue’s Cafe Passe for over three years each. On New Year’s Eve, the two decided (possibly under the influence) to open a record store and now their idea is coming to fruition. On Saturday, April 18 at 10 a.m., Wooden Tooth Records will open…
Doug Ducey to Board of Regents: Cut Administrative Expenses to Keep Universities Affordable
Gov. Doug Ducey wants the Arizona Board of Regents to cut administrative expenses to help keep tuition affordable. Presidents of the UA, ASU and NAU are releasing their tuition and fees proposals for the 2015-2016 school year tomorrow, and a final decision from ABOR is expected by May 4. The regents have, already, been reviewing all…
Your Passwords Make Edward Snowden Sad
If you haven’t gotten yourself access to HBO yet, it’s officially time. John Oliver time, that is. In this week’s Last Week Tonight, Oliver makes Edward Snowden very sad by making him face the reality that the average American just isn’t sure who he is or what he did*. Oliver showed clips of “man on…
Get a Beer and Your Dog Washed for Charity at Barrio Brewing
Look, I know it was just Arizona Gives Day, but let’s all give a little bit more on Sunday, April 12. Barrio Brewing is hosting the Tails and Ales fundraiser that day and everyone loves animals, right? Right. The brew-centric fundraiser works in two ways. First, you can bring in your pooch and get it…
UA President to Release Tuition & Fees Recommendation Tomorrow
Presidents of the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University are releasing their tuition and fee recommendations tomorrow. Gov. Doug Ducey took a big, fat bite of about $99 million from their funding (while giving corporations more tax breaks and private prisons more money), so increases are inevitable. The UA has to…
Evicted
A few gray and purple blankets are patched onto Estevan Park’s back wired-fence. The homeless campers living on a small piece of land on the other side put them there for privacy. The small corridor of dirt, bushes and trees is awkwardly positioned between the park and another fence separating it from the railroad tracks.…
In Flight
When Robert Battle took over the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in 2011, he promised that he’d keep the company contemporary while continuing to honor its late, great founder. The program for this Sunday’s concert at Tucson’s Centennial proves he’s doing exactly that. Yes, Ailey’s signature piece, the brilliant “Revelations” from 1960 closes the concert. But…
Breaking Borders
The Tucson Poetry Festival has gone through many changes in its 32 years, and with a new executive director—the position’s first African-American woman— Tére Fowler Chapman says she wants to continue to shake up the status quo. The festival event spans three days, Thursday April 16 to Saturday April 18, and brings in poets from…
Life is Scary Fun
What a drag it is getting old. Josh (Ben Stiller) and Cornelia (Naomi Watts) have been married for ages, and stopped trying to have children years ago—too many doctor-prescribed injections, too much heartbreak. When their best friends bring home their own bundle of joy, though, the questions start all over again and so do the…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: I’m a 23-year-old Latina attending a Texas university. I’m taking a class that is centered around Latino culture and history. I’m a first generation Tex-Mex kid, and lately all of the documentaries and other course work have been making me “feel some type of way” angry/sad/and overall confused, for lack of better phrasing. I…
B-Sides
DANCE YRSELF CLEAN Alright everyone, it just might be time to stop calling the venue on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street Plush now. Change can be scary, but The Flycatcher is celebrating its first birthday on Saturday, April 11 and it’s going to be a prime opportunity to really embrace what the…
Letters to the Editor
Regarding James Jordan’s brilliantly written “Let’s take back Earth Day in Tucson”(April 2): Years ago, Earth Day was created by tree huggers to study environmental degradation and to improve the earth. Industrialists, instantly seeing what that could lead to, begin “sponsoring” Earth Day events. Under “sponsorship,” Earth Day became much slicker and professionally organized, and…
The Punch Brothers
Finding themselves feeling a bit of the “Phosphorescent Blues,” The Punch Brothers set out to record an album centered on human connections, shared moments and visceral experience. The eclectic, virtuosic band—mandolinist and lead singer Chris Thile, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjo player Noam Pikelny and fiddler Gabe Witcher—found inspiration in the “power and…
Media Watch
Rivers flows smoothly into KXCI GM position For community radio station KXCI FM 91.3, comfort has not exactly been the norm, but that and stability is exactly what Cathy Rivers inherits as she takes the reins. “We are very solid financially,” says Rivers, who last month was unanimously approved by the KXCI Board of Directors…
Swans
Michael Gira cuts an imposing figure. Most often photographed with a wide brimmed cowboy hat shadowing his piercing eyes, his stoic persona morphs on stage with Swans, the experimental rock band he’s led since 1982. Hunched over an electric semi-hollow body guitar, Gira rages and bellows, summoning up exalted, terrible noise, as his band swirls…
Vendor Village
For 25 years, Donald Acers has been hauling bric-a-brac to the same cozy booth at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet. There’s treasure after find in his shop, which he stocks from foreclosure auctions: Mexican pottery and screwdrivers and socket wrenches, blenders and teacups, tennis rackets and agate slices. A rack of cassette tapes offers James…
Two’s a Crowd
A group made up of medical marijuana dispensary stakeholders surprised the Marijuana Policy Project when they came out of the closet with a different ballot measure proposal to legalize recreational pot next year. Up until about two weeks ago, the official plan A was an initiative by the Washington-based group that’s been in the works…
The Skinny
Th-th-that’s All, Folks! The Legislative looney-toon show wraps up for the year The Arizona Legislature finally came to an end last week after the Senate got tired of waiting for House lawmakers to get their act together and adjourned unilaterally in the wee hours of Friday, April 3. Unable to push legislation back to the…
The Pleasure Activist
We return to The Pleasure Activist’s Nine Questions: The Sexuality Edition! This week, I got a chance to interview writer, certified sexologist, and Tucson resident Kati Standefer! As a sexologist, Standefer has provided sexuality education to more than 7,600 people in schools, conferences, and halfway houses. She is also a widely published author, and her…
Danehy
There are times when I feel I will be emotionally overwhelmed by the pettiness, hypocrisy, and duplicitousness of people in power and those who want to be in power. One day it’s some crackpot woman in the Arizona legislature who wants to make church attendance mandatory and the next day it’s the Presidential candidate who…
Cali Grill: Subtle or Sapless
Some Vietnamese spots around town can be a little intimidating—especially if you’re looking to introduce a friend to the cuisine for the first time. Menus in Vietnamese and modest, yet admittedly divey digs might scare some diners away. Well, for the more timid diners looking to try something new, Cali Grill, located on Fort Lowell…
Film Festival Kickoff
The Arizona International Film Festival will start off with a local filmmaker’s documentary this year. On Thursday, April 9, from 6 to 10 p.m. The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., will debut “Many Bones, One Heart,” by Tucsonan Leslie Epperson. The documentary traces the history of the All Souls Procession, from its small inception…
Sex Writing
This writing workshop is aimed at helping people “pen the nasty,” which inextricably includes “the tender, the sweet.” Beginning Monday, April 13, from 6 to 8:15 p.m. at Casa Libre, 228 N. Fourth Ave. #2, the class will help people dig past any awkwardness and get those intimate thoughts down on the page. Teacher Kati…
Maker House Sendoff
Time to bid farewell to Maker House, which evolved into a quirky sort of community haven for adults. In true style, Maker House is hosting a party in their own honor to celebrate the people who helped make them, them. The bash will take place on Saturday, April 11, from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.…
Editor’s Note
Hopefully you had a chance to read the New York Times’ piece on California’s water crisis. Perhaps, like me and many of my friends and family, you recognize that this water crisis doesn’t just belong to California—it’s Arizona’s water crisis too. The first paragraph particularly struck a chord for me, on how the great Golden…
Animal Adoption
Ever thought of adopting a pet from a local shelter, but were intimidated by the process? Adopt Local, Adopt Love’s mega-adoption event will create a family-friendly environment for would-be adopters to connect with local shelters and rescues. On Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington…
Dust Devil
I walked toward movement in the darkness. The gate opened. Luis and his son rode in. The crowd made a semi-circle. Horses danced to music, prancing sideways and backward in intricate steps, dark legs swirling in the dust. “How do they do that?” I asked Josefina. Her face lit up. “The riders use their hands…
Pie Party
Just what it sounds like—a celebration in honor of pie. On Sunday, April 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. at YWCA Tucson, 525 N. Bonita Ave., the community will come together to fundraise and enjoy themselves in the name of pie. For its 12th year, the party is bringing back the pie contest. Hopefuls can…
Police Dispatch
Foothills Beat March 7, 2:40 p.m. A meth-addled woman—convinced that strangers at Walgreens were trailing her—basically called deputies on herself and forced them to jail her, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report. The woman called dispatch from the store, saying she believed her life was in danger because “people were keeping her from going…
Sunshine and Wisteria
“April is the cruelest month . . .” In soggy ol’ England, at least, according to the gracious gaggle of women onstage now at Live Theatre Workshop. As would be January, February, March, etc. These gals would most definitely take Mr. Eliot’s opening dictum in “The Wasteland” as unhappily applicable to them and their damp,…
