Cover Story
Your Local 2014 Gift Guide
Sure, it might be easier to order all your holiday gifts from a massive online retailer who shall remain nameless and just sit back until the postman arrives, but where’s the fun in that? Here at the Weekly, we believe in supporting our local merchants. It’s not just good for the local businessman—it’s good for…
Banned Book Club Begins This January at Bookmans
Whether your literary tastes skew more toward the risqué or you’re a staunch First Amendment supporter, Bookmans on Ina Road has a club for you. The store’s Banned Book Club will bring people together to read and discuss books that were banned in the past for one reason or another. The first six months of…
Prom Body Lists Their 4 Favorite Albums of 2014 for VICE
VICE’s Noisey music section asked a handful of musicians, including The Killers’ Ronnie Vannucci and Interpol’s Daniel Kessler, to share some year-end highlights. Included in the round-up was Tucson’s own Prom Body. According to the article, Prom Body listed the following as their picks for the top albums of 2014: 1. FF – Lord 2. Lenguas…
A Post In Which I Say Something Good About Diane Douglas
Here’s a quote by Ed Supe-elect Diane Douglas from a media release: “The courts have ruled that Arizona schools were deprived of increases guaranteed to them by a vote of the people.” What does she mean exactly? I haven’t seen the whole media release (Gotta get on that email list!), and from the reporting I’ve…
Giffords and Kelly: Congrats McSally, Now Get Working on Gun/Stalker Legislation
A press release today from former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and retired veteran and astronaut Captain Mark Kelly: Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and retired combat veteran and NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, the Co-Founders of Americans for Responsible Solutions, issued the following statement on the election of Colonel Martha McSally to represent Arizona’s 2nd District…
Kade Mislinski Takes Over Saguaro Corners with Promises of a Donut Program
If the words “donut program” don’t get you excited on first mention, let me explain. Kade Mislinski, formerly of Playground, is planning a Willy Wonka-like world of glazes, fillings, shapes, and more when he takes over the historic Saguaro Corners restaurant. Most importantly, he says his crème brulée donut, which will be filled with vanilla…
Update: McSally Wins Recount, Barber gives statement
Tucson, AZ – Today, following this morning’s ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper on the final result of the election in Arizona’s Second Congressional District, Congressman Ron Barber made the following statement: “Today I congratulated Martha McSally on her victory, and wished her well in serving Southern Arizonans. This result is not…
Just Announced: Surfer Blood to Play The Flycatcher on Feb. 19
I’ll admit that I was pretty excited to see Sub-Pop/Burger Records artist King Tuff booked to play The Flycatcher on Thursday, Jan. 8, especially since the artist’s recently released record Black Moon Spell has been making its way on to best album of the year lists. Well, yesterday Rialto Theatre announced another big reason to…
Pima College will likely be taken off probation
Pima Community College got word today that it will most likely have its probation lifted, based on a report by the Higher Learning Commission. The report, which was put together based on a visit to Pima in September, will be one of the main pieces of evidence the commission takes into consideration when deciding the…
Gov-Elect Doug Ducey’s “No District Personnel Allowed” Education Transition Team
Ann-Eve Pedersen and I take a look at the three people who are advising Gov-elect Doug Ducey on education: Lisa Graham Keegan, Matthew Ladner and Erik Twist. All three have strong ties to the conservative education privatization movement. Not a school district employee or advocate among them. Seeing as how Ducey’s knowledge of education is…
Get to the Great Cover Up This Weekend
One of Tucson’s best charity events rocks the stages of Club Congress and the Rialto Theatre this weekend. The Great Cover-Up features local bands taking on the identity of other bands for quick sets. The show always offers great performances and wonderful surprises—seeing Sergio Mendoza and friends knocking it out of the park with an…
Shop Local with Over 50 Vendors at Mercado San Agustin’s Holiday Bazaar
For the seventh year in a row, Mercado San Agustin is giving Tucson the opportunity to shop one-of-a-kind and handmade wares from local vendors, rather than buying generic mall junk. With over 50 vendors slotted to sell scarves, jewelry, art, and other tchotchkes on Friday, Dec. 19 through Sunday, Dec 21, the Mercado’s Nicky Freegard…
Who Just Said “The Market Mechanism Just Doesn’t Work” In Education?
If I wrote, “The market mechanism just doesn’t work in education,” I’d expect two responses. Some people would nod their heads in agreement, and others would say, “Typical garbage from that America-hating socialist who doesn’t think our children should be able to escape our failing public schools.” But what if the person who said that…
Watch a Time Lapse Video of Joe Pagac Painting a Mural at Rialto Theatre
If you’ve ever wondered just how Joe Pagac paints those murals outside of Rialto Theatre, wonder no longer. The muralist just posted his most recent wall transformation in a time lapse video on YouTube. Be warned, though— once you start watching, you may not be able to stop. The mural itself is promoting Chicha Dust’s…
Grijalva: Protect Undocumented LGBT Minors in U.S. Custody
Congressman Raul Grijalva is sounding the alarm on the dangers facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths who are in U.S. custody after being apprehended when they entered the country without documentation. Here’s the press release from Grijalva’s office: Today, Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) led 59 House Democrats in sending a letter to Health and…
The Best Bar in Tucson, According to Bartenders, Is…
Last night Tucson’s chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild awarded bars and bartenders based on an industry vote. Categories like best dive bartender, best volume bartender, and best rookie bartender recognized those behind the stick for their specialties. The big awards—best bar and best bartender—actually went to the same establishment this year. Hotel Congress…
U.S. Supreme Court Blocks AZ Abortion Law
The Arizona Legislature’s efforts to make it harder for women to use medication to terminate their pregnancies hit another roadblock today as the U.S. Supreme Court kept the law on hold pending trial.The 2012 law created new regulations that required doctors who prescribed the abortion-inducing drug Mifeprex to use protocols that were laid out when…
Isabella’s Ice Cream Opens Its First Location at Rincon Market
The funny thing about Tucson is it’s never not ice cream weather. That’s good news for Dominic and Kristel Johnson who just opened their first stationary Isabella’s ice cream shop in Rincon Market. Their large converted Model T “T-iosk,” as they’ve named it, sits inside the market. Previously, the couple ran a small fleet of…
NMWG Lupus Foundation Auction Ends Today, Midnight
Jimi Giannatti An online auction to benefit the Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona in memory of Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl, Derrick and Amy Ross, ends tonight at midnight. The auction and a two-venue evening of NMWG music last weekend was organized by friends of the late musicians to honor the one-year anniversary of…
Sneak Peek: “Zona Politics” Talks with Mayor Rothschild About Bus Fares, Future of Broadway & More
Zona Politics Eps.9 from Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel on Vimeo. A sneak peek of this week’s Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel: Mayor Jonathan Rothschild talks about bus fares, the future of Broadway Boulevard, what he’s learned over his first term atop the 10th floor of City Hall and more. Then the Zona Politics roundtable…
That $4.4 Million TUSD Raise . . . What Does That Amount To Per Tucson Adult?
So, the TUSD board voted for a total of $4.4 million in raises for district employees. That’s a serious chunk of change, but it wouldn’t be quite as serious if our schools weren’t starved for funds. Every spending decision is going to be about robbing Peter to pay Paul — putting off spending for one…
Reforma Cocina y Cantina Brings Upscale Central Mexican Fare and 229 Agave Spirits to St. Philip’s Plaza
Listen up, Foothills folks—there’s a new dining option for you. The team behind Union Public House is opening a Mexican joint near their other restaurant on Sunday, Dec. 14 Located at 4340 N. Campbell Avenue at St. Philip’s Plaza, the restaurant will try to bring the cosmopolitan vibe of Mexico City and Guadalajara to Tucson,…
A Breakdown And Explanation Of The TUSD Pay Raises
Since the TUSD board passed a $4.4 million package of pay raises Tuesday, I’ve been bothered by the way the money was divided among TUSD staff, because teachers got a significantly lower percentage raise than administrators and classified staff (classified staff are, basically, everyone who’s not a teacher or an administrator). Teachers got a $500…
PDQ Records is Open Again Under Original Ownership
Take a very deep breath and try to remain calm, vinyl aficionados. It’s been four years since you’ve been inside PDQ Records off of Grant Road and Dodge Boulevard and it’s been nearly ten years since you’ve been in PDQ a la original owner Jack Grossi. Well, PDQ is back under Grossi’s care and that…
Charter School Funding, District School Funding
In the latest episode of our cable access show, Education: The Rest of the Story, Ann-Eve Pedersen discusses the court decision against charter schools’ suit to increase funding for charter schools and why charter supporters are incorrect when they say they receive less funding than district schools.
Of Course Alt-J is Amazing Live, But I Still Don’t Forgive Them for “Left Hand Free”
Alt-J fans likely fall into two camps: there are the ones that nearly destroyed their vocal cords when the band started playing “Breezeblocks” and there are the ones that jumped on the Alt-J train after “Left Hand Free” was released as a single. There’s no reason to disparage the latter group and it has nothing…
Luminaria Night at the Presidio
Presidio San Agustin: Luminaria Night is Saturday, Dec. 13, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the historic Presidio, 196 N. Court Ave,one block north of the old domed court house. The evening is a beautiful setting to visit Tucson’s historic fort, listen to some music and top it all off with some hot chocolate and…
It’s About Respect
More than 100 people showed up at a forum organized by Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik and the UA to address community concerns about perceived growing issues with problematic student behaviors in off-campus neighborhoods. Of course, what brought these issues forward had nothing to do with what neighbors shared in areas like Jefferson Park, Feldman’s…
Recycled Landscapes by David kish
Every week Tucson Weekly readers are entertained by Tucson artist David Kish’s whimsical and satirical comic Hoopleville, and through Jan. 15, you can see that side of the artist and more through his cardboard sculpture. His show, “Recycled Landscapes: Cardboard Sculpture,” at UA Downtown, 44 N. Stone Ave. UAD houses extensions of the College of…
Police dispatch
A Stranger in a Strange Trailer Park San Xavier Beat Oct. 26, 10: 48 a.m. An oddly ornamented woman tried to steal some lawn ornaments and other random stuff from another woman’s (oddly cluttered) yard, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report. With sheriff’s deputies on scene, the victim said she’d arrived home from…
Desperately Seeking Soups on Fourth Avenue
If you’re looking to save a buck (and who isn’t), opting for a light lunch or dinner with soup as the main course is the way to go. Instead of busting out those cups of noodles, you can shell out a couple more dollars and still get to eat out with all your friends without…
Editor’s Note
There’s a saying that I’m often reminded of when we face challenges or when we find ourselves in the midst of celebration—”Standing on the shoulders of those who came before us.” In difficult times, I often remind myself of the people who’ve come before me—I guess for lack of a better word, my ancestors. My…
More than Dildos
It’s not as if Tucson has a lack of sex toy shops or that there aren’t millions of online options to shop for things like dildos, vibrators, cock rings and the like, but Ally Booker kept hearing from friends that if there was a woman and queer friendly sex toy store in town, they’d be…
The Skinny
Cold Shoulder Republican voters turn against a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants The Skinny noted last week that President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration had helped his approval rating among Latino voters. But a new survey shows that Obama’s move—using prosecutorial discretion to defer deportation of up to 4 million undocumented immigrants now…
’Tis the Season
This weekend, Tucson Regional Ballet’s dancers will prance to Tchaikovsky’s beloved “Nutcracker,” played live by Tucson Symphony Orchestra. And the modern dancers of Artifact Dance Project will do jazzy moves to the live fusion music of local band Reverie. In the pure music category, the TSO musicians and chorus will perform portions of Bach’s “Christmas…
Media Watch
Herreras named new Tucson Weekly editor After seven years with the Tucson Weekly, Mari Herreras has been promoted to editor. “To me it’s more than just being an editor of an alternative newsweekly,” said Herreras via email. “Alt runs in my blood, but so does Tucson caliche. This is my hometown and I returned more…
Whodunit?
The professional group has plugged a very funny show into its season, and although it’s not homemade, it is the kick-off of the national tour of “Murder for Two,” by Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair. It’s a crazy quilt of vaudeville/farce/murder mystery-a-la-Agatha Christie, which delivers plenty of opportunities for the audience to get both mental…
Danehy
•Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik: Have you ever actually been unavailable for comment? •Kim Kardashian: Do you have any talent at all? And no, that thing you can do doesn’t qualify as a talent. At best, it’s a skill. •Linda Ronstadt: Why didn’t you stay and fight for your beloved Tucson instead of moving elsewhere…
Unabashedly Sentimental
This is the season when sentiment is a thing to be celebrated. When a musical melody can be a thread stitched directly into the heart, and we allow that thread to be tugged again and again. It’s the season when, in spite of all the flutter and flash of tinsel, we remember quite nakedly the…
Ask the Mexican
Dear Mexican: I’m a third-year university student, a liberal studies and Spanish major. My family, extended and immediate, always like the chisme. During a family carne asada, we were all talking when one of my tías asked me what I was doing with my life—she and the rest of my aunts seemed like they genuinely…
Not Yet Heston
It’s unclear where director Ridley Scott is going with “Exodus: Gods and Kings.” Under circumstances not involving David Lynch, a lack of clarity is usually a bad thing for filmmakers, and in this instance, it’s made worse by the fact that the source material is so well-known and carries with it certain expectations. Taking the…
A Slice of Arizona
Pizzeria Bianco might seem overblown with accolades flowing in nationally for the Phoenix-based pizza place. For a town that has its own burgeoning craft pizza scene, especially with Reilly nearby, it might seem like the Valley is invading the Old Pueblo. However, there’s no denying that aspects of the 20-year-old pizza empire founded by Chef…
Cinema Showdown
IT’S BEGINNING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE HOLIDAYS Don your most hideous holiday apparel and prepare those pipes for The Loft’s Sing- A-Long Spectacular, Thursday, Dec. 11. With subtitled music videos from all your real and fictional festive favorites, you can raise your voice and be merry right along with Mariah Carey, Pee Wee Herman,…
Noshing Around
BRUTTO MAGLIONE (UGLY SWEATER) Michelangelo Ristorante Italiano, 420 W. Magee Road, is hosting their first annual ugly sweater party on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m. Ugliest sweater of the bunch wins a prize. In addition to Mikey’s great food and cocktails, there will be live music and a toy drive (bring in a toy, get…
Screaming Away
A mother and son have just about the worst time imaginable in the horror movie “The Babadook,” easily the scariest film to come out in 2014. Amelia (Essie Davis) lost her husband in a car crash while driving to the hospital to deliver her son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman). A former writer, she now works at…
Love is the Only Truth
It’s been an extraordinary year for Ezra Letra. When I met the rapper/photographer/author/poet at Cafe Passe last week for an interview, it was hardly surprising that he was memorizing lines for his first acting role in the play “Octagon,” which opens Friday, Dec.13 in The Temple Lounge at the Arizona Theatre Company. In the past…
This Week in Craft Beer
I’ve long felt that there is a beer suited to virtually any occasion, and the holidays are by no means an exception. Parties, family dinners, get-togethers with old friends and cozy nights by the fire are in abundance during these cheerful times, and with gift-giving a hallmark of the season, there is no better time…
Soundbites
HOW THE GRASS GREW Golden Boots shows have been few and far between for far too long now; the upside of that is when the quintet do get together for a sporadic date, it’s always a major event for us here in Tucson. Much has been written about band members Dimitri Manos and Nathan Sabatino’s…
Meet Heather
Is it presumptuous to just tell the world right now that Tucson Weekly is going to declare its newest staff writer, Heather Hoch, our cocktail queen? No. In fact, we’re hoping this Phoenix transplant, who came to us from the Phoenix New Times, falls completely in love with our city and its food and drink…
Rhythm & Views
As 2014 comes to a close, Tucson, along with much of the U.S. rock ‘n’ roll underground, has been besieged, or, to spin it in a more positive way, blessed with the imaginations of more psychedelic revivalist bands than ever since the style began cropping up in indie rock circles several years ago. One suspects…
‘Bus Stop Dreams’ book launch at Borderlands
The launch celebration of local photographer, social worker and well-loved Tucson do-gooder Kathleen Dreier’s first photography book, “Bus Stop Dreams,” is Thursday, Dec. 11, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Borderland Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave. Dreier will be signing hard and soft cover versions of her book, a photography project she started last…
Educated Choices
The cannabis movement is subject to a lot of stigma in the world today and one of the biggest hurdles we have to overcome to gain acceptance is the idea that medical marijuana must be smoked to be effective. This is simply untrue. While smoking cannabis is useful for reasons we will explain later, there…
Pequeños! at Raices Taller
Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery and Workshop’s small works show opens Friday, Dec. 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the 218 E. 6th St. gallery. The idea behind “Pequeños!” is beautiful small works from our loved local artists, priced affordably for the holidays. There’s also a potluck opening night, and music by Jonathan W.…
Loving Words with Casa Libre’s Trickhouse Live
The Trickhouse Live at Casa Libre on Friday, Dec. 12 features Tom Cho, Samuel Ace and Stephanie Brunson from 7 to 9 p.m. Suggested $5 donation. This integrative arts series bring together folks working in words, images, sound, video and performance. For more on Trickhouse, visit Trickhouse.org. This week’s artists: Cho has more than 70…
