Cover Story
Spring Arts Preview 2015
Robert Barber normally has a thousand artworks crammed into his garage studio in Tucson. And no wonder. He’s 92 years old and has been making art almost every day for the last 75 years. Right now there’s a little more room in that cramped space. The work of the unknown Barber has been exhibited only…
Immigration, LGBT Rights Advocates Take the Streets of Phoenix to Demand Release of Transgender Asylum Seeker in Detention
About 30 immigration and LGBT activists and allies from Tucson, Phoenix and even Oakland gathered at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Phoenix this morning with megaphones and signs in English and Spanish that read, “Free Nicoll,” “Trans Lives Matter,” and other support messages for Nicoll Hernández-Polanco, a transgender woman from Guatemala, who has been…
KRS-One Visits Cholla High Magnet School
Yesterday, I said there was a rumor going around that rapper and activist KRS-One planned on visiting Cholla High Magnet School today, since he was in town for a concert last night at the Rialto Theatre. Well, that came true. KRS-One was at Cholla today and spoke at an assembly. Here’s what TUSD said about…
Test Your Problem Solving Skills While Trying Not to get (Fake) Murdered
I’m always hearing people say (well, I’m always hearing myself say) they work best under pressure. You know—if you start your taxes in January, your kitchen table is going to be covered in paperwork for two weeks, but if you start them April 10, you’re done in an afternoon? Well, now you’ve got the chance to…
What’s Adam Sandler Doing in Tucson?
Looks like Tucson got a visit from Adam Sandler last night. The Silver Saddle Steakhouse, a super delicious option for when you find yourself hungry on the Southside, posted the above picture to their Facebook wall last night. No word on whether Sandler is sticking around, or if he was eating off Benson Highway on…
Louis C.K. on HIgh Stakes Testing
OK, so Louis C.K. is a comedian, not an educator. But his mother was a math teacher (Fun facts: his parents met at Harvard. His mother has a background in software engineering, his father is an economist, and he grew up in Mexico City from age one to seven. His first language was Spanish). And…
Natural Grocers Offers a Free Educational Nutritional Series
Natural Grocers made its Tucson debut on Tuesday, Jan. 20, offering up fresh, healthy produce to the Old Pueblo. After last weekend’s block party and local food tasting fair, the new grocery store, located at 7220 East Broadway Boulevard, is offering up more events to teach you about eating right. Here’s what’s coming up at…
Get a Glimpse of the Rich Life at the Mini Time Machine Museum
There is, perhaps, nothing more adorable in this world than an entire museum of meticulously designed and arranged miniatures, and, of course, Tucson has that market totally covered. Obviously, I’m talking about the maddeningly cute Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. Well, the museum just premiered a brand new exhibit that features famous historical figures…
Pie Bird Serves Up Beautiful Pastries in the TransAmerica Building
You might have been peeking in the lower level of the TransAmerica Building, wondering what was in store for the small cafe space. Well, the wait is finally over because Pie Bird is soft opening today at 7 a.m. to serve up pastries and espresso drinks for those curious customers. Of course, that includes pies…
Acknowledging Student Poverty in Teacher Evaluation
No, it’s not the “soft bigotry of low expectations” to acknowledge that students’ socioeconomic status is a factor in their educational achievement. It’s a fact, and refusing to acknowledge it leads to labeling teachers and schools in low income areas “failures,” which in turn leads to a host of educational “solutions” that don’t acknowledge the actual…
KRS-One May Visit Cholla High Culturally Relevant English Class Tomorrow
Rapper and producer KRS-One is performing tonight at the Rialto Theatre (doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are between $18 and $20). If you haven’t heard his music (you should check it out), then you might remember him as one of the artists mentioned in the notice of noncompliance former superintendent of public instruction…
Political Theater: Actor/Director/Producer Wants To Run Against Tucson Mayor Rothschild
Chuck Williams wants to put Tucson first We mentioned a few weeks back that we were hoping that someone would step to challenge Mayor Jonathan Rothschild this year—and our casting call may have been answered. Chuck Williams has filed paperwork to run against Rothschild in August’s Democratic primary. Williams attended Rincon High School before reaching…
Merry Tuckmas to All: Dick Tuck Celebrates His 91st Birthday
Jim Nintzel Dick Tuck celebrates his 91st birthday A talented and remarkably good-looking crew turned up at The Shanty on Sunday, Jan. 25, to celebrate Tuckmas, aka the 91st birthday of Dick Tuck, the legendary political prankster who used to drive President Richard Nixon nuts. Among those in attendance: Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art Executive…
C-Rayz Walz’s New Video Features Fourth Avenue and More
Hip Hop legend C-Rayz Walz just released a new music video for his 2003 track “Dead Buffalos” and some familiar sights are prominently featured in the video. Filmed around Tucson, the video for the song off of Walz’s “Ravipops” album features local artist Rock Martinez’s murals and Zoe boutique on Fourth Avenue. Working as producer,…
Get Your Free Breakfast Pizza at Fired Pie on Jan. 28
Breakfast is great, pizza is great, and free is great. So Fired Pie thought to combine the three for a one-day-only, three-hour event. On Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m., you can get your free breakfast pizza. All you have to do is follow the fast casual pizza chain on Facebook, Twitter,…
Calexico’s Next Album Due Out April 14
Stop everything. Calexico just announced their next album, Edge of the Sun, is due out in just a few months. From their website: Today we are very excited to announce the details of our new record Edge of the Sun, which will be released on April 14. After writing in Mexico City, we returned to…
Meet Artist Cristina Cárdenas Tomorrow at YWCA Exhibit Opening Reception
The work of internationally and locally famous Mexican artist Cristina Cárdenas has been showcased at the YWCA’s Frances McClelland Community Center since the beginning of the month. If you haven’t checked it out already, plan to go tomorrow between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for the opening reception because Cárdenas will be there hanging out. There…
McCain Congratulates Clint Eastwood for Portrayal of Late Chris Kyle in “American Sniper”
Clint Eastwood’s latest creation, American Sniper, has gotten tons of attention. Critics and audiences either give it high praise or think it’s a lying piece of garbage that pisses on the definition of “hero.” Well, our very own U.S. Sen. John McCain is a fan of the Oscar-nominated flick and is defending it left and…
Agua Caliente Wants to See Your Art
Heads up, nature artists! Agua Caliente Park Ranch House Art Gallery is accepting applications for their four-week exhibition period in 2016. The pieces have to reflect nature, wildlife, landscapes, southwestern themes, or local cultures that fit thematically with the park setting. To apply, send your application in by March 14. Here’s what it needs to…
Moon Duo Show Switched to Flycatcher. Get Pumped.
Badass droney psych rock band Moon Duo was slotted to play Valley Bar in Phoenix on March 21, but then something amazing happened and the concert was moved to Tucson instead. You can (and most definitely should) get tickets to the show at Flycatcher via Ticketfly for the low, low price of $10. If you’re…
Good News if You Love Emma Watson and Other Wonderful Things
Emma Watson, the obvious star of the Harry Potter movie series, confirmed today that she will be playing Belle in the upcoming live action version of Beauty and the Beast. Says the Watson: I’m finally able to tell you… that I will be playing Belle in Disney’s new live-action Beauty and the Beast! It was such…
State Legislature, AZ School Districts Agree to Mediate Over Millions in Inflation Payments
The state Legislature and Arizona school districts will be in court-mediated talks soon over the hundreds of millions of dollars the state was ordered to give schools in back payments. The two “voluntarily agreed” to participate in the process, which will be mediated by a panel of three Arizona Court of Appeals judges, according to…
AZ in the Dumps When It Comes to Non-Discrimination Policies in the Workplace for LGBT People
Arizona is among a group of states the Human Rights Campaign is watching closely for not having statutes in place that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace and other places. The group put us in the “lowest performing category” in its newly-established state equality index released Friday. We are among…
Chiming in on the TUSD Internal Auditor Debate
I’ve stayed quiet on the question of whether TUSD should have an internal auditor. I’m an experienced educator and classroom teacher, not an administrator or budget analyst. I dive into administration-level questions when I feel I have to, like now, but I don’t do it with a great degree of confidence. Some board members and others…
Sneak Peek: “Zona Politics” Talks Civics Bill, State Budget, Downtown Homeless DreamPods
Zona Politics Eps.15 from Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel on Vimeo. On this week’s Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel: Attorney Jeff Rogers and Civics Education Initiative Executive Director Sam Stone talk about the new test requiring high-school students to pass a civics test to graduate from high-school; Gov. Doug Ducey’s proposed cuts to K-12 education,…
OSIRIS-REx Space Mission Gets a Super-Cool Mural
The UA Lunar and Planetary Lab yesterday unveiled a new mural on the side of the Michael J. Drake Building, where the work of developing the the OSIRIS-REx space probe is underway. The spacecraft is designed to spend more than a year orbiting an asteroid before getting close enough to grab a sample and shoot…
The UA Wants To Lay Some Science on You
One of my favorite spring traditions, the UA College of Science Lecture Series, gets launched again on Monday, Jan. 26, on campus at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. This year’s theme is life in the universe: For its 10th anniversary, the University of Arizona College of Science’s popular spring lecture series will present seven…
Watch Brian Lopez’s New “Static Noise” Video
Tucson’s Brian Lopez released a new video this month for the title track off of his 2014 release “Static Noise,” and, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a real thinker. In Tucson Weekly’s 2014 feature of Lopez, he said this of the song: “That song actually is about a man’s love for his broken television.” Lopez explained. “A…
Munchies Getting in the Way of Your New Year’s Resolution to Lose Weight? Munchies-Free Pot May Become a Reality
Former Real Housewives of New York cast member Bethenny Frankel (don’t lie to yourself. You know exactly who I’m talking about, because you, too, watch the Housewives and then feel like shit about it) wants to create munchies-free cannabis as part of her Skinnygirl brand. Her Skinnygirl cocktails, which include moscato wine, margaritas of various…
Go to La Cocina on Thursday Night and Get the Taco Special
Thursday night at La Cocina means Funporium will bring under-the-radar local acts to the stage for your listening pleasure. Last night’s show featured Otherly Love, who, despite not playing in a while, really killed it with a high-energy set, as well as az77 and RJM, featuring members of Prom Body. However, a great free show…
Tucson Unified Has to Re-Draft Its Desegregation Plans for Magnet Schools
A U.S. Federal District Court has rejected Tucson Unified School District’s Comprehensive Magnet Plan as approved by the TUSD board July 2014, saying the CMP isn’t a comprehensive enough plan as required by the Unitary Status Plan—which is part of the districts’s 30-plus-year-old desegregation efforts. That plan has been at the center of the legal…
You Have One Day to Watch Transparent for Free
Good news for everyone interested in the Amazon original series ‘Transparent,’ but not interested in shelling out $99 a year for Amazon Prime: The series will be free to view on Saturday—just Saturday. The first (and so far only) season of series consists of 10 half an hour episodes, so it’s more than possible to…
It’s Official: AZ Can’t Block DREAMers from Getting Driver’s Licenses
A federal judge told Arizona Thursday that it permanently cannot prohibit so-called DREAMers from getting driver’s licenses. U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell’s ruling made permanent a December preliminary injunction that allowed young immigrants under Obama’s DACA program—which in 2012 granted all of those brought to the country without documents as children and who have no…
Reading Diane Douglas’ “State of Education” Tea Leaves
The Range’s Maria Taracena has done a great job of summarizing the main points in Ed Supe Diane Douglas’ 2015 State of Education message. In this post, I want to ask, what does it all mean? Douglas was famously mum during the campaign season, so lots of what we’re hearing from her, we’re hearing for the first…
More Education Bills in the Lege
Let me add to my Tuesday list of education bills proposed in the legislature. No saying what fate the bills will have—whether they’ll be heard, and if so, whether they’ll make it to the governor’s desk, but here they are. Daily Physical Activity SB 1126. For years, Tucson’s own Steve Gall has been pushing to…
Make This Soft Pretzel Food Truck a Reality
Each year, when my last trip to Philadelphia was just a little too long ago, I start craving things from the city. Rita’s Water Ice, easy access to a good Italian hoagie and soft pretzels. Always soft pretzels. I can only image how much stronger that craving is for someone who is used to constant…
The High Chaparral Cast Is Reuniting at Casino del Sol
Beginning in 1961 and spanning a decade, “High Chaparral” was a fan favorite for Old West TV shows. Filmed at Old Tucson, the show is full of views of the Old Pueblo. Now, nearly 45 years since the show ended, the starts of “High Chaparral” will be returning to T-Town for a cast reunion. Thursday,…
S. Carey to Play a Tucson Living Room Next Month
Indie rock lovers have the unique opportunity to see one of the genre’s darlings in a very intimate setting next month. S. Carey, who is best known as the drummer and vocalist for Bon Iver, will be performing his solo work in a Tucson living room on Friday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. According to…
Diane Douglas: Arizona’s Poor Education Isn’t News To Me
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas says Arizona’s education is poor and that too many children are not receiving the education they deserve. Douglas gave her first speech to members of the state House Education Committee yesterday, following news that the recently released “Quality Counts” report—which rates all states on overall student achievement, students’ chances…
Local Market Pizza Happy Time
Maker’s Market is Saturday, Jan. 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Maker House, 283 N. Stone Ave. It is a local shopping market hosted by Maker House and Artfire with more than 30 local vendors selling art and other wares. There’s live music in the courtyard and, if you’ve been to Maker House,…
Nine Questions
Yamica Peterson If you haven’t seen and heard Yamica Peterson singing with the Amosphere and other local performers than you are missing out. This recent Tucson transplant from New Hampshire is the mother of five and has a business degree in accounting. She says she began her professional music career in 2005 and released her…
Downward Facing IPA
I don’t know who came up with the brilliant idea of mixing beer with yoga, but let’s just say they are most like benefiting from the karma they’ve created with Pints and Poses, a morning of beer and yoga at Pueblo Vida Brewing Company, 115 E. Broadway Blvd., Sunday, Jan/ 25, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.…
Sound Bites
“Steve Jobs, the man who invented the iPod and ignited the digital music revolution, never listened to MP3s.” Thus does Tom Barnes open a terrific article titled “Science Shows There’s Only One Real Way to Listen to Music,” posted last Nov. 13 to music.mic on mic.com. Read the whole thing for the physics, dynamics and…
The Mammoth Man
Al Foul love alert (apologies). Tucson’s rockabilly master is playing at Che’s Lounge, 350 N. 4th Ave., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 p.m. There’s no cover, but I’d recommend getting there earliest to claim a good seat. What can I say, the man has a piece of my heart. Perhaps it’s his brown shoes, his…
Morrissey Goes South
You might hear the words “cover band” and automatically lose a little interest. After all, rehashing classics often yields worse copies of your favorite songs. Make no mistake, though, Sergio Mendoza’s ambitious collaborative project called Mexrissey is a lot more than a direct replica of Smiths tunes like “How Soon Is Now?” or “Ask.” “A…
Struttin’ Fun
So you’ve been to the Gaslight Theatre a few times and you think you’ve seen it all. But, nay, I say. And that would be the kind of whinny-like “neigh-eh-eh-eh” you would hear from an excited horse. “The Ballad of Two-Gun McGraw” is the cowboy show struttin’ its stuff on their stage now. Oh, sure,…
Ed Note
Last week I introduced you to our new staff writer María Inés Taracena, and reminded you that we did a prior introduction to our food and music writer Heather Hoch. This week, we end our latest round of introductions (yes, that’s right, stay tuned), with our web editor Chelo Grubb. The Pima Community College graduate…
Black Sludge
Turns out, Chris Hemsworth isn’t all that interesting when you take away his hammer, strip off his cape and disguise that bitchin’ Australian accent. He’s actually quite the dullard. Or such would be the case with “Blackhat,” an atrocious cyberspace thriller from the normally reliable directorial hands of Michael Mann (“Heat,” “Public Enemies”). Hemsworth plays…
Police Dispatch
Who Let the Dogs Out? Foothills Area Dec. 29, 3:21 p.m. A drunk woman armed with a PVC pipe made quite a commotion after apparently letting loose one neighbor’s dogs and screaming that another neighbor wanted to bone her, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a foothills-area neighborhood…
Cinema Showdown
AIN’T NOTHING BUT A G THING If you’re looking to brush up on some John Dillinger history before Dillinger Days kicks off this weekend at Hotel Congress, head to Screening Room on Thursday, Jan. 22 for special screenings of “Public Enemies.” The 2009 film features Johnny Depp as the impossibly better looking version of the…
Priorities, Priorities
There have been plenty of hot takes over in days since Gov. Doug Ducey released his proposed budget on Friday, Jan. 16, but it’s safe to say that the winners in the new spending plan are private prisons and charter schools, while the losers are traditional public schools, universities, community colleges and programs designed to…
Boring Son
They have improved dramatically over the past decade or so, but there was a time when cop shows on TV just needed to have police officers and bad guys. Character development, be damned: People just wanted to watch crimes solved in an hour. You get the distinct impression that the makers of “Son of a…
Grass Attack
Carolyn Vemulapalli wants to wipe out buffelgrass. A few months back, she teamed up with a crew of volunteers to eradicate the invasive species in her Tucson Park West-1 neighborhood. Decked out in a lime-green safety vest and with a shovel in her gloved hands, she yanks the weed out of the Globe Berry Wash.…
The Pleasure Activist
I Am So Dry For You! According to Roy J. Levin (2005, “Wet and Dry Sex: The Impact of Cultural Influence in Modifying Vaginal Function”), there are many countries (namely in sub-Saharan Africa, but also a few in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America) where “dry” sex is the ideal that many women strive…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: I have a hard time believing that the immigrants we see at Home Depot are the best Mexico has to offer. Why can’t we entice more of the cream of the crop of Mexicans to come up north? (Mexico has the richest man in the world, so someone has to be doing something…
To Pot or Not
State Rep. Mark Cardenas, a second-term Democrat from the Phoenix area, introduced legislation to legalize recreational pot and another to decriminalize by reducing penalties for possession. The first, House Bill 2007, would green light the purchase, consumption and possession of pot to adults 21 and older. You’d also be able to grow up to five…
Media Watch
Over-the-air TV just got Gritty There’s been a bit of movement and some additions to Tucson’s over-the-air alternative television programming lineup. KOLD, which has had surprising success through MeTV, which broadcasts for antenna viewers on channel 13.2, has added GRIT TV to 13.3. GRIT is an action driven network that features its share of westerns,…
Skinny
Split Decision McSally votes for the DREAMers before she votes against them Speaker of the House John Boehner promised a showdown over President Barack Obama’s November executive action on immigration once a new Congress was sworn in. And last week, the showdown came exactly where it was expected: In a battle over funding the Department…
Danehy
Even with the economy doing better, it’s still important to look for value whenever possible. With concert tickets often starting at a hundred bucks a pop and movie tickets costing in the double digits, it’s hard finding good entertainment for a low cost. Well, I think I have just the thing along those lines. For…
Rustic, But Proper
It really doesn’t take much more than fresh, handmade pasta to convince me to stop into a restaurant, but there’s more to Proper than a great bowl of Cavatelli Bolognese. Flavorful sauces, handmade sausages, and expertly prepared cuts of meat make Proper’s offerings decadent, yet familiar and approachable. Headed by chef Kris Vrolijk, Proper’s menu…
Quick Bites
KIND BITES, GUEST DRINKS This week you can keep Tucson kind and have some great eats all at once when Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails joins forces with Ben’s Bells for a special happy hour event. On Thursday, Jan. 22 from 4 until 6 p.m. you can enjoy food and drink specials including $2.50 craft brews,…
New Year, New Words on the Avenue
Listen, Tucson—especially those folks who like to recognize local arts gems: Please put Teré Fowler-Chapman and Words on the Avenue on your list. Better yet, go to this week’s poetry venue and open mic—the first of the year—on Sunday, Jan. 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Cafe Passe, 415 N. 4th Ave. Fowler-Chapman, new executive…
Understanding Starts Somewhere
Can’t imagine a better time to sit down with each other and learn, so how about this, Perspectives on Islam and Christianity, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1300 N. Greesewood Road. Moderator Pat Manning joins the following panelists: Father Tom Tureman (on different forms of Christianity), Sister Eileen…
