Cover Story
Project White House 2012: The Candidates
If there’s one thing that we’ve concluded from watching the Republican presidential contests play out in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, it’s this: Republicans aren’t very happy with their options this year. They certainly should love Mitt Romney. He’s done all he can to pander to their every desire, eagerly abandoning any position he…
Writer’s Block: John Clausen
Local author and freelance writer John Clausen debuts his first novel, a witty mystery called Big Hungry. Released last fall, the book is published by Hukilau. (139 pages, $2.99 e-book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble). Book summary from the author: “A dead body…Gunshots…A bewildered ghost mentored by a cowboy angel… Big Hungry is the…
Who’s Your Farmer?
This weekend, enjoy a photography and video showcase created by the Youth Farm Project. The event will be a fun mix of art, food and “youth power.” The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s Youth Farm Project said in a press release: The Youth Farm Project works to engage youth in the food they eat…
Steve Leal: ‘Tucson Deserves a National Search for PCC Chancellor’
Former Tucson City Councilman Steve Leal takes a different look at what is currently happening at Pima Community College and the agenda being presented to the governing board at tonight’s meeting to place Suzanne Miles in that position: Very good story in the morning daily regarding the sweetheart deal that Pima Community College Chancellor Roy…
Republican Martha McSally Set To Join CD8 Race Tomorrow
We mentioned last week that former Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot Martha McSally was considering jumping into the April 17 GOP primary for the special election to complete the term of Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned from Congress on Jan. 25. McSally is preparing to announce her entrance into the Congressional District 8 race tomorrow…
Gift of Gab Coming to Congress
One of my favorite rappers ever, Gift of Gab, probably most famous for his time in Blackalicious, is coming to Club Congress on March 4th. He has a new solo album, The Next Logical Progression, coming out on March 27th, so I imagine he’ll performing some of that material as a preview, but whatever this…
Critter of the Week [Cat Edition]: Gage
Gage – #713252 — 8 Years Old — Domestic Long Hair — Male “Is that a tuna sandwich in your hand? May I please have a bite?” Gage loves food… a little too much, actually. This hefty, handsome lap cat will need a diet and some tough love when it comes to declining his convincing…
Old Footage of Disneyland Is My New Happy Place
I’m not exactly sure what’s so fascinating about this found footage of Disneyland from 1957, especially since I generally don’t find myself nostalgic for time periods that I wasn’t alive for, but the next time I’m having a rough day, I might just watch these baby boomers ride the Astro-Jets.
Presidential Candidate Sarah Gonzales: Occupying, Hashtagging
Sarah Gonzales, your only female option on the Arizona Presidential Preference Primary Republican ballot, has an ad online for her candidacy, and she smartly incorporates buzzy elements people might care about, including the word “occupy”, a hashtag reference, immigration, and a beer.
AIDS Ribbon Tucson Needs Your Help at Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
AIDS Ribbon Tucson could use your help tonight. About 15 volunteers are needed to help carry the large beauty during a procession at an event sponsored by the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) and the UofA Black Alumni Club to mark National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, tonight, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the UA…
UA Has New President (Probably)
According to a UA press release, the nation-wide search for a new president is over. The Arizona Board of Regents named Ann Weaver Hart president and her formal introduction to the UA campus is Monday, Feb. 13. Hart is the current president of Temple University, and has had past posts as president of the University…
RIP, Nello Ferrara
Nello Ferrara, who died at the age of 93 near Chicago on Friday, wasn’t just the man behind Lemonheads and Atomic Fireballs, but also just seemed incredibly cool, based on his obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times: In his free time, Mr. Ferrara enjoyed playing cards and golfing at Ridgemoor Country Club. But his lifelong passion…
Prop 8: ‘The Constitution Does Not Allow Laws of This Sort’
Forget about coffee this morning, the great news about the federal appeals court decision today that struck down California’s Prop 8 could be enough to make you think sanity has entered the picture again. OK, I just remembered we live in Arizona. Go get that coffee, but smile while you sip. For right now, let’s…
New: Brewd
The new café Brewd is open at 39 N. Sixth Ave, right across from the Ronstadt Transit Center. The coffee served there is roasted by Tucson’s own Adventure Coffee Roasters and we hear the scones aren’t bad, either. If you like live jazz, they’ve got that as well. More on that over here.
RE:GENERATION Makes Old Music New Again
It’s not uncommon today to hear songs on the radio that seem to have taken a song that was popular in years passed and remixed it into something new. The film RE:GENERATION documents five popular DJs — DJ Premier, Mark Ronson, Skrillex, Pretty Lights, and The Crystal Method — as they target beloved music genres…
So, Madonna’s Coming to Phoenix
While the idea of buying tickets in February for a show in October is a little strange to me, I guess Madonna has been savvy in limiting how often she tours in order to make her shows events, so her show on October 16th in Phoenix at the US Airways Center seems significant somehow. However,…
The New Sir Veza’s Taco Garage Is Open
The culinary world snickered when Ray Flores said he was opening a garage-themed taco shop at exactly the same moment the recession had the entire country collectively soiling its economic trousers. Sir Veza’s Taco Garage ended up being a hit though, enabling Flores to open another Tucson location and a super-high-profile spot at Phoenix Sky…
Fred Eaglesmith at Plaza Palomino
Fred Eaglesmith performed, as part of the Rhythm and Roots concert series founded and promoted by the late Jonathan Holden, at Plaza Palomino, Saturday, February 6.
Baldenegro: Demand a Public Apology from Michael Hicks
Salomón Baldenegro Sr. recently shared his perspective on an interview Tucson Unified School District board member Michael Hicks did on the Garrett Lewis A.M. show on KNSR 97.1 in which Hicks lied about where he was during the school board meeting on April 26, 2011. This is the school board meeting in which the student…
PCC’s Chancellor Search: ‘Miles Qualified, But National Search Needed’
This morning at 10 a.m., Pima Community College faculty received an e-mail from the PCC Education Association’s Scott Collins regarding the selection of the college’s next chancellor in reaction to PCC Chancellor Roy Flores’ recent announcement he’s stepping down the end of the year and a recent story in the morning daily about Provost Suzanne…
Ron Barber Expected To Enter the Race To Finish Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ Term
Jim Nintzel Ron Barber touring the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona with Gabrielle Giffords during her final day as a congresswoman in Congressional District 8. It appears increasingly likely that Ron Barber, who has served as the district director for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords since her election in 2006, will enter the race to finish…
Ready to Fight Jan Walker and ALEC for Arizona?
If there’s anything lucky about Jan Brewer’s plan to dismantle unions in Arizona is that she and her friends are including fire and police (public safety unions) — and perhaps that’s what it is going to take to fight this latest attack on labor and get other Arizonans to pay attention. Her proposed “reforms” would…
MMJ, Meet Your New Nemesis – Amanda Reeve
Medical marijuana has a lot of enemies in Arizona — the close vote on the law’s passage in 2010 and the ensuing legal battles are evidence enough of that — but a legislator from a suburban legislative district north of Phoenix might be emerging as a particularly wrongheaded foe. State Rep. Amanda Reeve, who serves…
Bon Iver Coming to Tucson
Fresh off his spat with the people behind the Grammys and a performance on Saturday Night Live this weekend (above), Justin Vernon will bring his group Bon Iver back to Tucson on April 23rd at AVA. Ticket information is still to come. Sort of a weird place for an indie act of his sort, but…
Wes Anderson’s Perspective
I was recently reminded about how excited I am for the release of Wes Anderson’s new film, Moonrise Kingdom, when I came across this neat little video compiling all of the ‘above’ shots in Anderson’s films. Watch the Moonrise Kingdom trailer below the cut.
Like Fresh Veggies? Consider U-Pick Tuesdays
Of all the things going on in this city, one of my favorites is the Tucson Village Farm. Lots of places talk about trying to help our kids eat healthier, but the unbelievably dedicated people behind the outfit are actually doing it, and with very good results. A good chance to check out what the…
City Council Steve Kozachik To AZ Sen. Al Melvin: “Evidently, the Heavy Winter Rains Have Been Good for the Poppy Crop Up in SaddleBrooke”
Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik has a new target: state Sen. Al Melvin, who has sponsored Senate Concurrent Memorial 1005, calling for the city of Tucson to “refrain from negative rhetoric” about the Rio Nuevo Board and asking “the Arizona Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation [to] continue their investigation and review of…
Going After Grijalva: Raul Faces Primary Challenge
David Crowe Robles, a local defense contractor, is announcing plans this week to take on Congressman Raul Grijalva in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary. Crowe Robles, who had been toying with a run for U.S. Senate in the Democratic ticket before Richard Carmona got into the race, isn’t the only Democrat who wants a piece…
Watch the Super Bowl Ads Again, Just for Fun
Now that the Super Bowl is over, we can focus on our real national pastime: discussing the ads. Thankfully, Buzzfeed has collected all the commercials in one place, from the E*Trade baby ad that won’t go away to the Sketchers ad above, which while filmed at Tucson Greyhound Park manages to not look like Tucson…
Even the Heart-Shaped Box is Made Out of Chocolate
Love is one of the finest things on earth, and you can buy it with chocolate this time of year. Now, the quality of the love you receive post-Valentine’s Day is not directly proportional to the quality of chocolate you bring to the bartering table, but there is a correlation. With this in mind I…
Idiot Boksen – One For the Ladies
Every time I’m about to start a promising new dramatic series, the following cycle begins anew: 1. I ponder whether or not my wife will enjoy the show. With a show like Walking Dead, there’s no question she will want nothing to do with it. Something like Boardwalk Empire or Game of Thrones, however, is…
Political Roundtable: The Race for Gabby’s Seat, Union Busting & Special Guest Margaret Kenski
Tonight’s Arizona Illustrated Political Roundtable: Lots of talk about the Antenori-Kelly-Sitton match-up on the GOP side in the CD8 special election, plus the latest on whether Gabrielle Giffords’ district director, Ron Barber, will get into the special election to fill her seat. Plus, guests Jeff Rogers and Sam Stone talk about what’s up with Carmona,…
CD8 Special Election: Who’s Martha McSally and Why Are People Saying She Might Run for Congress?
After a week that saw the expected entries of Republicans Frank Antenori, Dave Sitton and Jesse Kelly into the CD8 special election to fill Gabrielle Giffords’ empty seat, there’s buzz that a fourth Republican might get into the April 17 GOP primary: Martha McSally. The name didn’t ring a bell for us, but she’s got…
We Have a Pinterest Board Now
Who knows what we’ll actually do with Pinterest, other than share some photos from our website and maybe some that didn’t make the paper, but we’re on there and we’ll be adding stuff as we get around to it. So, if you want to follow us, we’d be happy to follow you and we’ll let…
Fred Eaglesmith to Play Plaza Palomino
Deep vocals, fast guitar strumming and a top hat describe Fred Eaglesmith, the singer/songwriter who publishes his own albums. He makes his way to Tucson on Saturday with the Fabulous Ginn Sisters for a show at Plaza Palomino. Though Eaglesmith’s music is often classified as alternative country, his songs also seem to have a mix…
Super PAC: “A Frothy Mix of Lube and Campaign Funding That Is Sometimes the Byproduct of Politics”
The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick thinks Stephen Colbert has done an admirable job of focusing attention on the spending machines known as Super PACS: When President Obama criticized Citizens United two years ago in his State of the Union address, at least three…
“Madama Butterfly” Flutters Into Town This Weekend
Arizona Opera Flower Duet The opera comes to Tucson this weekend. Arizona Opera describes in a press release: Arizona Opera’s production of “Madama Butterfly” features sopranos Shu-Ying Li and Jill Gardner sharing the title role of the trusting geisha abandoned by her American naval officer husband. One of the most challenging parts in the opera…
Political Roundtable: The CD8 Special Election, More From the AZ Legislature & AZ Presidential Primary Predictions
Tonight on Arizona Illustrated’s Political Roundtable: Jeff Rogers, chairman of the Pima County Democratic Party, and Sam Stone, the former spokesman for the Pima County Republican Party, discuss the special election to fill the seat recently vacated by Gabrielle Giffords, as well the union-busting bills at the Arizona Legislature and the Arizona presidential primary. Plus,…
Andrew Collberg Release Party at Borderlands Tonight
Andrew Collberg has lived in Sweden, New Zealand and Arizona, so it’s safe to say his music has been influenced by different cultures and musical styles. With a blend of acoustic guitar, raw vocals and slower tempos, Collberg offers songs and performances that create a “feel-good” effect on his listeners. The release of his 7-inch…
Finally, Michael McDonald Sings the “Saved by the Bell” Theme
I had no idea that they did these 30 Rock animated webisodes, but anytime you can get Donald Glover, Ryan Adams and Michael McDonald together, I’m in.
Goodbye Bob FM, Hello i97.5
While I’m sure their 56 Facebook friends will be devastated, 97.5 “Bob FM” will be no more in a few minutes, as Cumulus Media flips the station to “i97.5”, which I guess is supposed to make you think of iPhones or something. Cumulus has other stations with the “lower case letter I” theme, including Indianapolis’…
Jesse Kelly Launches Congressional Campaign To Fill Giffords’ Empty Seat
Zachary Vito Republican Jesse Kelly has jumped into the CD8 special election to fill the open seat left by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ resignation. “We need lower taxes, a strong economy and more jobs,” Kelly said in a meeting with reporters this morning. Kelly, who narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010, had been planning to announce…
Now Serving Lunch: Something Sweet Dessert Lounge
This has been going on for a while now, but it’s still worth noting: Something Sweet Dessert Lounge at 5319 E. Speedway Blvd. now serves lunch, and there’s even deviled eggs! Long a desserts-only destination, Something Sweet spread its wings with offerings other than desserts after it’s near-death experience last year and has been trucking…
This Week in Tucson Bicycling
The city installed a “Crossbike” which is a new type of street crossing for bikes and pedestrians. It was met with mixed reviews. Check out what it looks like, how it works and what people are saying about it. The small things can make a big difference in bike commuting. Check out one of the…
Komen Reverses Planned Parenthood Decision
While the Southern Arizona chapter is somewhat unaffected (since they haven’t made grants to Planned Parenthood), the national board of directors for Komen Race for the Cure has apologized for its costly PR move earlier this week and will continue to fund grants made to Planned Parenthood: We want to apologize to the American public…
We Can’t Imagine John McCain Is TiVoing This
Game Change: Ed Harris appears to be a good McCain and Julianne Moore looks truly great as Sarah, at least in the trailer. Who’s turning in?
Social Distortion at the Rialto, Last Night
Mike Ness and company returned to Tucson to perform their mix of punk, rockabilly and blues at the Rialto Theatre.
Cecil Ash Is Not Alone
I promise that I didn’t create this Tumblr collecting “not racist, just asking” references on Twitter to White History Month, but I appreciate that it exists. I might just set up a Twitter feed that auto-responds to all these clowns that there isn’t a White History Month because in most American schools, every month is…
Opening Soon: Trainwreck Saloon
I humbly submit the following description from the Facebook page of the new bar Trainwreck Saloon, which opens Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 213 N. Fourth Ave., the north end of the Maloney’s building: [Editor’s note: They can’t seem to decide on whether “Train Wreck” is one word or two, although since there’s already a small…
Rasmussen: Romney Is Crushing Newt in AZ GOP Primary
Bad news for Project White House candidates: A new Rasmussen poll shows Mitt Romney is running away with the GOP primary here: Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has a big lead over his rivals in the first Rasmussen Reports survey of the Republican primary race in Arizona. The state’s Republicans vote on February 28. A…
TPM: Brewer Spending PAC Funds on Her Own Book
Nick R. Martin at Talking Points Memo finds out how Gov. Jan Brewer is spending her Jan PAC money—and it doesn’t seem to be dedicated to sealing the border: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) launched a special fundraising political action committee in October, pledging to use the money to fight illegal immigration and take on…
Try Some of Agustin’s Cocktails Starting Today
The new restaurant Agustin Brasserie at Mercado San Agustin doesn’t open until mid-February, but cocktails will be available in the market’s courtyard starting today! Hooray! From the press release: The Agustin team also includes some of Tucson’s restaurant superstars; like Pete Hoge, award-winning bartender/mixologist who ruled the bar at Kingfisher Bar and Grill for over…
Project White House Beer Summit: A Great Convocation of AZ Presidential Candidates
Zachary Vito The Project White House Candidates (left to right): Charles Skelley, Pete “Simon” Bollander, Donald Benjamin, Michael Oatman, Al Perry, Kip Dean and Sarah Gonzales We’d like to give a big thanks to the presidential candidates who came by our first Project White House Beer Summit yesterday, including Republicans Sarah Gonzales, Charles Skelley, Peter…
The Only Groundhog Day GIF You Need
A hat tip to Tumblr user “Luciwithani” for this particularly timely animated GIF (but aren’t they all?). If you’d like, you can watch the Bill Murray classic on YouTube today for free.
Local Komen Office: Never Funded PPAZ But We Like Each Other
Although calls to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Southern Arizona affiliate office were not returned, yesterday the group put up a notice on its Facebook page to explain its relationship with Planned Parenthood Southern Arizona and where funds go locally that are raised in Tucson: Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Southern Arizona…
Immigration Film Series Kicks Off Tonight
Borderlands Community Film Series, sponsored by the University of Arizona’s Center for Latin American Studies, kicks off tonight with a film called Mi Vida Dentro (My Life Inside). The film follows an undocumented immigrant’s trial after she’s accused of the death of a child in her care. The series comes from an organization called Indocumentales.…
Coming Soon: Cinco de Mayo Mexican Restaurant and Seafood
The only thing we’ve been able to find out about this new restaurant Cinco de Mayo at 3535 E. Fort Lowell Road is that it will serve seafood and Mexican food, and that a liquor license is currently pending. The sign says it will open very soon but it was too dark when we stopped…
Emails and B.S.
Nearly six months after filing a public-records request for emails to and from Tucson Unified School Board president Mark Stegeman, the Tucson Weekly has received only a fraction of what was requested. On Aug. 10, 2011, the Weekly sent a records request to the University of Arizona asking for TUSD-related emails sent to and from…
Noshing Around
Sushi!; Frozen yogurt!; The art of cocktails; and more!
Editor’s Note
The decision by the Arizona Democratic Party to skip the Arizona presidential primary this year—while understandable and quite fiscally responsible—sure isn’t helping the party’s registration numbers. Earlier this week, I, Jimmy Boegle, became a registered Republican, so I can vote in the presidential primary later this month. The same goes for most of the rest…
Pools vs. Pachyderms
Afternoon breezes whip trash across an empty parking lot and into the Quincie Douglas Pool’s firmly locked gates. Completed in 2006 at a cost topping $3 million, the 11,000-square-foot pool at 36th Street and Kino Parkway now sits idle nearly half the year. Even when Quincie is open from April through November, the calendar is…
Genre Benders
Forget about the album. For the Electric Blankets, the single is the thing. The local foursome hop from one influence to the next, chasing infectious melodies and mashing together different elements of the bands they love, all in search of one great pop song. “We don’t really have a concept of our band as a…
Danehy
I’ve been asked a lot of dumb questions over the years, and that’s fine, because I’ve asked my share, and they serve to balance out the universe. One of the dumbest came when, as a high school kid, I walked into the gym at Granada Hills (Calif.) High School along with my basketball teammates, who…
Media Watch
Lee bankruptcy approved; KJLL becomes KWFM; and more!
Soundbites
Music for gem shopping; Shows at Borderlands; It’s a shame about Evan; and more!
Downing
Q: Why do so many of us who live in Southern Arizona ignore local news? A: Because it’s so infuriating. Whether it’s a state legislator proposing SaddleBrooke as the perfect spot for a national nuclear waste dump, or state schools superintendent John Huppenthal banning books, or Humberto Lopez asking us to pay to fix up…
Police Dispatch
Disturbing the chihuahuas; Kicked out of your own house
Nine Questions
Eb Eberlein (named Mark when he was born) grew up in upstate New York and moved to Tucson in 1985. He’s done stints as a U.S. Forest Service firefighter and a Grand Canyon guide. These days, he teaches science at Safford K-8 Magnet School and regularly performs original folk music. Eberlein is also the host…
Mailbag
Serraglio should tone down the rhetoric; Curse you, ultra-rich Democrat elites!
Weekly Wide Web
I spent last weekend in San Francisco at the Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s Web Conference, and over the three days of seminars, panels, etc., there was a lot of discussion about how best to interact on the Web with readers, both old and new. When altweeklies like ours jumped on the Web (and we were…
Top Ten in Music
1. Bryan Dean Trio Sobriety Checkpoint (self-released) 2. Ron Pandy Truth and Other Lies (self-released) 3. Kevin Pakulis Band Mockingbird Radio (San Jacinto) 4. Stefan George and Tom Walbank My Old Friend the Blues (self-released) 5. The Carnivaleros Happy Homestead (RootaVega) 6. Kitchen on Fire Here We Are (self-released) 7. Rainer The Westwood Sessions (OW…
Guest Commentary
Steven Haas might be on to something. After the Catalina State Park manager announced in late December that people could honor their loved ones by paying $350 or so to plant a tree, some 20 people called to lay their money down. As he mentioned during a phone call, the enthusiastic response is almost more…
Branding Matters
Among the many priceless things about the classic Eddie Murphy film Coming to America is its unintended lesson on the ins and outs of U.S. trademark law. You remember: Murphy, as Prince Akeem, gets a job as a lowly worker at McDowell’s, a fast-food restaurant that is eerily similar to McDonald’s, all the way down…
Live
Thirty years into an alternative-rock career that has blazed a trail for humorous, offbeat and nerdy bands, They Might Be Giants is hardly stuck playing warmed-over hits. Last year’s Join Us is every bit as strong as 1990’s Flood; that becomes clear when you hear the new “When Will You Die” a few songs after…
Invaders vs. Neighbors
Prudencia Martin Gomez, 18, died in the desert. “By the time they found her body … it had already been ravaged by scavengers and the elements.” In A Common Humanity: Ritual, Religion, and Immigrant Advocacy in Tucson, Arizona, Lane Van Ham opens with an account of Gomez’s memorial ceremony at the site of her death.…
Fantastic Flame
The Sonoran Glass Art Academy is heating up for its 10th annual Flame Off!, on Friday, Feb. 3, at the Rialto Theatre. The fiery event features local music, food and drink, dancers and two glass-making competitions featuring 24 artists. “We time this every year with the Gem Show, because a lot of people are coming…
Chuck Prophet: Temple Beautiful (Yep Roc)
Chuck Prophet loves San Francisco. It’s the sort of love that knows every crack in the sidewalk, that celebrates the glory days of shuttered clubs, that never ceases to treasure the weird and the mundane alike. There’s more than a twinge of nostalgia in the title song “Temple Beautiful,” an ode to the old Geary…
Top Ten in Books
1. The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins, Scholastic ($8.99) 2. Death Comes to Pemberley P.D. James, Knopf ($25.95) 3. One for the Money Janet Evanovich, St. Martin’s ($8.99) 4. Catching Fire Suzanne Collins, Scholastic ($17.99) 5. Smokin’ Seventeen Janet Evanovich, Bantam ($8.99) 6. A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1 George…
City Week
Noam Chomsky visits Tucson; The importance of Arizona history; Cats playing instruments!; Booze & science
Lana Del Rey: Born to Die (Interscope)
Pop has always worshipped at the altar of female masochism, especially among our current crop of sexy “tough girls.” Gaga prostrates herself like a cybernetic rag doll in the “Paparazzi” video; Rihanna flirts openly with her own tabloid infamy in “S&M.” So as a document of objectification and the enjoyment of pain, Lana Del Rey’s…
TQ&A
Arlan Colton is Pima County’s planning director and a founding board member of Imagine Greater Tucson, a nonprofit that is developing a vision plan for the metro Tucson area. Colton says he got involved in Imagine Greater Tucson because he believed that “unless we took things under our wing, we were going to continue to…
Hank Topless: It’s So December (Self-released)
Trading in wry wordplay and hard-won wisdom, singer-songwriter Hank Topless uses his warm baritone voice to weave lovely songs of nostalgia, darkness and occasional joy. The nine classic honky-tonk tracks on this new album explore a combination of humor and emotional tumult. These tunes could survive in a solo-acoustic format, and live performances are a…
Laughably Long
The mustachioed man sitting next to me on opening night of Beowulf Alley’s production of Dario Fo’s We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! was dressed in short overalls and enormous glasses. He carried a bag of groceries, from which stuck out a baguette. Then the show began, and this man leapt to his feet, waving…
Welcome Receptions
Fritz Dreisbach is an elder statesman of the American glass-art movement—if you can call a guy who regularly manipulates hot glass in a fiery furnace a statesman. Dreisbach comes to town this Saturday, Feb. 4, as part of the Art Safari gallery openings. He’ll kick off an exhibition at the Philabaum Glass Studio and Gallery,…
Random Shots
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Overlooked Gem
Let’s talk about Olivia Colman. She’s a British actress who made her mark across the pond in sitcoms, primarily. But when she did not receive a BAFTA nomination for her performance in the decidedly serious Tyrannosaur, Colman became a trending topic worldwide on Twitter. The reason? This is one of the best, most gut-wrenching portrayals…
Top Ten in Movies
1. Contagion Warner Bros. 2. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark Sony 3. The Guard Sony 4. Dolphin Tale Warner Bros. 5. I Don’t Know How She Does It Anchor Bay 6. Puncture Millennium 7. Shark Night 20th Century Fox 8. Rapt Lorber 9. The Last Lions National Geographic 10. Assassination Games Sony
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: My cousin put a picture on Facebook that said, “I will not be forced to learn a foreign language to accommodate illegals in my country.” He’s Mexican American. Our family is from La Luz, Zacatecas, and its surrounding villages. His dad (my uncle) was born here in El Paso, Texas. His mom jumped…
Bounty Blahs
I hate Katherine Heigl a lot less than most critics do. In fact, I don’t hate her at all; I kind of like her. I enjoyed her stupid baby movie (Life as We Know It) a little bit, and I loved her in Knocked Up. Granted, all of her other starring vehicles blew ass, but…
J.M. on J.M.
A few months ago, I devoted this space to some of the positive feedback I have gotten since Mr. Smith was born back in September. It was kind of my you-like-me-you-really-like-me moment, if you will. It was pretty one-sided, all about the love. Now that a few more months have passed, and I am getting…
Now Showing at Home
The Double (Blu-ray); Annie Hall (Blu-ray); Justified: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray); 50/50 (Blu-ray)
The Skinny
Candidates rush into the void created by Gabby’s resignation … Will Ron Barber run for the CD 8 seat? … Democrats start lining up for statehouse races … and more!
Madly Magnificent
It’s a Saturday afternoon around lunchtime, and Mad Mario is holding court. Garrett and I are sitting at one of eight tables at his university-area restaurant and deli, enjoying our chicken Parmigiana ($10.95), lasagna with meatballs ($9.45) and various deli salads. Mario hands sandwiches packaged to-go to a group of four college dudes—he knows the…
Bill Murray, Winning at Life
Backstage at the David Letterman show last night, Bill Murray met up with Korean pop group Girls Generation.
2012 World Series of Poker Schedule Revealed; All Is Right With The World
I was having a pretty crappy week until late Tuesday afternoon when, during a routine view of my Twitter feed, I got a bit of news that I’ve been anxiously awaiting for months: the unveiling of the 2012 World Series of Poker schedule. This day is like Christmas, Easter, Arbor Day and March Madness all…
Perfect Weather for a Trip to the Desert Museum
The weather these past couple of weeks in Tucson has been sunny and around 75 degrees almost everyday. I often find myself in a frantic panic when I realize that in a couple of months, the weather will return to the mid-90-degree dry-heat that I’ve grown about as accustomed to as any Tucson native can.…
