Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2012

Jan 26 - Feb 1, 2012 / Vol. 28 / No. 49

Cover Story

Goodbye For Now

Loud cheers greeted a smiling Gabrielle Giffords as she arrived at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona on Monday, Jan. 23, to make her final public appearance as a representative of her Congressional District 8. With aides Ron Barber and Pia Carusone by her side, Giffords slowly walked across the warehouse floor and hugged…

Opti Club Presents Fabian Tomorrow Night

Hip-hop. Electro. Pop. Techno. Combine them together and you have Fabian, a DJ whose beats and remixes are enough to convince me to put my dancin’ shoes on. Enjoy a night of Fabian Thursday night at Club Congress. His beats without-a-doubt fall into today’s popular music style categories, but I do hear a hint of…

Sitton To Announce Congressional Campaign Plans Tomorrow

Republican Dave Sitton has announced that he’s holding a press conference tomorrow to let us know whether he’ll be getting into the Congressional District 8 race to finish out Gabrielle Giffords’ term and/or the race for the new Congressional District 2 later this year. Sitton, who is well known for marketing efforts around town (Golden…

Social Distortion Rocks the Rialto Tonight

Get ready to rock ‘n’ roll with frontman Mike Ness and Social Distortion. The four-piece southern Californian band makes its way to Tucson tonight as they tour in support of their latest album, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes. The band has been around since 1978—still touring and still impressing fans. Though they faced some ups…

Legislative Scramble: Potential Pols in Tucson’s Statehouse Districts

An update to an earlier look at how the 2012 legislative races are shaping up as we get new intel about some of our new Tucson-area districts: The new LD10, which includes much of central and eastern Tucson south of Speedway Boulevard, is a competitive district where Democrats hold a 3-percentage-point voter-registration advantage. Former state…

RIP, Don Cornelius

I can’t even say how sad I was today to hear that Don Cornelius died, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, in his Sherman Oaks home. As a kid growing up here in Tucson, the show was a glimpse in a world almost entirely foreign to me, giving me a new favorite song on a…

Arizona Needs Private Prison Prophylactic

One benefit for reporters who cover prisons is the fact that there are many areas to dig around that are part of the public record, but dear readers, that kind of transparency doesn’t exist where we need it most in Arizona — private prisons. In Arizona, we tend to bend over for the private prison…

Project White House Beer Summit Gets a Little More Awesome

Hopefully, you were already planning to attend the Project White House Beer Summit tomorrow night, but if not, we’re now able to sweeten the deal a bit. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet actual presidential candidates and drink delicious Tucson beer, but you can also get some food from two of Tucson’s…

It’s Time to Learn Parseltongue

I think we should be ok in Arizona for awhile, but I think as a country, it might be time to cut Florida loose, build a giant wall keeping the snakes in, and save the other 49 states while we still can: Burmese pythons are eating machines. An adult snake can grow to nearly 20…

They Might Be Giants at the Rialto Last Night

John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants are celebrating their thirtieth year as a band, touring again for adults, after a few stints performing music for children. Last night, they performed at the Rialto Theatre, where they played music from their most recent album Join Us, along with some of their classics.

Presidential Candidate Richard Grayson: “If I’m President Next Year and Gov. Brewer Wags Her Finger At Me, I’ll Freaking Bite It Off”

Green Party presidential candidate and Project White House contestant Richard Grayson vows that he will not put up with any finger-wagging from Gov. Jan Brewer: Reacting to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s finger-wagging at President Obama at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Pinal County Greens co-chair Richard Grayson, one of six candidates for the Green Party presidential nomination…

Rep. Cecil Ash Wants a Holiday for White People

Thanks to Hank Stephenson for witnessing this particular exchange on the Arizona House floor yesterday, as first, Rep. Richard Miranda stood up for some sort of state official holiday and committee celebrating Hispanic culture, and then Rep. Jack Harper says something sort of dumb about Cesar Chavez, then Rep. Ruben Gallego fires back, but then…

Rose Activity in Tucson This Month

Photo by Marylee Rose Standard in a Pot Early February is a good time to purchase and plant miniature roses. This gives them plenty of time to get established before the summer heat. Miniature roses need holes a minimum of 12 inches wide and deep. If you are planting them in pots, I prefer planting…

Good Things to Eat at Mercado San Agustin

If you’re heading to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show at any point, you might consider stopping at Mercado San Agustin for a bite or three. The market has MaFooCo, Animal Farm, Guero Loco’s Bubba-Que and Cyclopsicle and other food trucks down there on a roatating basis to serve the nearby gem-show crowd. In other…

Time Is Running Out to Register to Vote!

As I mentioned a few days ago, the deadline to register to vote in for the Arizona Presidential Preference Primary is tonight at midnight. If you want to vote on February 28th for one of the Project White House candidates, you’ll need to either be a Republican or Green by the end of the night.…

389 Miles Documentary Now on YouTube

The last time the Tucson Weekly interviewed LuisCarlos Davis in May 2009, his documentary 389 Miles: “Living the Border”, had just won the Golden Iguana audience award for best film at the Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival. Since then, Davis’ documentary that explores the complexities of life along the Mexico border starting from Douglas, Arizona…

Sen. Al Melvin Avoids 2012 Primary Battle

Arizona Sen. Steve Smith of the town of Maricopa announced today that he would seek a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives rather than take on Arizona Sen. Al Melvin of SaddleBrooke in the new Legislative District 11. Smith sent out a press release blaming the whole situation on the Independent Redistricting Commission, which…

Powhaus Gets Hacked

If you were planning on visiting local art/fun collective Powhaus’ website today, you will likely encounter the image above, which will likely be somewhat confusing to you, as they are not a anti-Israel organization. Turns out the group’s site was hacked over the weekend, and Powhaus’ spokesperson Kitty Katt McKinley assured me via Facebook that…

Steve Leal: How Will TUSD Finally Do What’s Right?

The Ninth District Court-appointed special master is in Tucson examining Tucson Unified School District and it’s failed desegregation plan. Former Tucson city councilman Steve Leal recently shared his perspective asking “How will TUSD be made to do now what they historically have shown that they do not care about and have refused to remedy?”: Things…

When Art Meets Aviation

Courtney L’Ecuyer Eric Firestone, a New York gallery owner and exhibit curator, was the mastermind behind The Boneyard Project. The former Tucson resident stands by a plane spray-painted by Retna, a popular LA graffiti artist. By Courtney L’Ecuyer Eric Firestone paced back and forth between each painted bird and inspected their position. He wore a…

Now Open: Jackson’s Gastropub and Grille

The new Jackson’s Gastropub and Grille at 8245 N. Silverbell Road has been hailed as one in a string of new gastropub concepts, but that seems somewhat inaccurate. Aspiring gastropub, perhaps, but certainly not of the caliber most think of when the term “gastropub” is employed. Not that it isn’t fine in its own right,…

Sean Getzwiller, Propping Up Tucson Poker Yet Again {UPDATED}

It’s been a pretty good eight months for Sean Getzwiller. The former Tucson-area resident, who learned to play poker at the local casinos (as well as the underground games) while also riding the wave of the region’s rising and falling real estate market, made his fourth deep run in a major tournament since June by…

A Lull at Club Congress Tonight

Some Love from A Lull on Vimeo. You’re in for double the fun at Club Congress’ show tonight at 6:30 p.m. A Lull bring their winter 2012 tour to Tucson along with the band, Deleted Scenes.. There’s something about A Lull that reminds me of Iron and Wine – and that’s a good thing. The…

PCC’s Flores’ Retirement Papers

According to an e-mail sent to all Pima Community College employees and faculty at 4:30 p.m. today, Chancellor Roy Flores announced his retirement at the end of the year. Last year certainly wasn’t the easiest for Flores, who faced strong criticism for ending PCC’s open-enrollment tradition. As a result, the college lost the opportunity in…

Let’s Watch a Short Film About Pork Products

Allan Benton lives in Tennessee and makes ham, bacon and other pork products that chefs in New York City go crazy for. University of Mississippi Media Documentary Projects made a film about the craftsman who became a star and it’s an interesting look into what can happen when someone dedicated their live to creating something…

Guest Opinion: Is Jeff Rogers Abusing His Office?

While the Pima County Democratic Party might not have a face, it certainly has a voice. I am writing of course of Jeff Rogers, the twice-elected Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party. The duties of Chair are as follows: The County Chair shall preside at all meetings; make appointments to committees; make temporary appointments…

Citizen Cope Plays the Rialto Saturday Night

The word “raw” doesn’t even begin to describe the musical style of Clarence Greenwood, aka Citizen Cope. Though he has been compared to artists like Neil Young and Van Morrison, Cope’s music has that “different” but brilliant style—the kind you don’t hear every day. And while his music is often classified as blues or soft…

The Next Food Truck Round-Up Is This Weekend

These Food Truck Round-Up events are growing at an exponential rate. The first one had like a half-dozen trucks and the one this Sunday, Jan. 29, has nearly 20. The organizers are also looking to hold more events near the University of Arizona, Marana and other locations, so be on the lookout for those in…

Thanks for Lighting My Wedding on Fire, Dr. Danger!

Untitled from Dr Danger Stunts on Vimeo. (My wife and I are the people in this video who are holding hands while on fire. Such activities come highly recommended.) I met Dr. Danger last Friday on the night of my wedding. I’d just picked up my old friend Terry Trash, the front man for local…

Antenori’s In

State Senator Frank Antenori launched his campaign for Congressional District 8 today in Green Valley, making him the first candidate to officially get into the special election to fill Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ vacant seat. Antenori gave the mandatory Obama-bashing, record-toting, base-riling campaign speech to a packed house of Green Valley Republicans, saying the election would…

Silverbell Album Release Party Tonight

Betsy Scarinzi, singer-songwriter of alt-country band Silverbell, brings together raw vocals, acoustic guitar and a group of talented musicians at Club Congress at 8 p.m. this Friday for free concert to celebrate the release of a new album, Whitewashed Heart. Gene Armstrong notes in this week’s TW: Singer-songwriter Betsy Scarinzi has the rare and preternatural…

Bob Westerman Considering AZ House of Reps Campaign In New LD11

Republican Bob Westerman, the former chairman of the Pima County Republican Party, is considering a run for the Arizona House of Representatives in the new Legislative District 11. LD11, which includes Oro Valley, SaddleBrooke, the town of Maricopa and part of Casa Grande, is safe GOP territory; the GOP holds an 11-point voter-registration advantage over…

This Week in Tucson Bicycling

Two bills benefiting cyclists are moving through the State Legislature. See what the bills would do and what challenges lay ahead. A national report released this week ranks Tucson in biking and walking. See how Tucson ranked in safety, biles lanes per square mile, overall rates and more. Check it out here. Check out the…

Make Sure You’re Registered for the Project White House Primary

A helpful reminder: if you want to vote in the Arizona Presidential Preference Election set to be held on February 28, you’ll need to be registered to vote aligned with either the Republican or Green parties by midnight on January 30. It’s wildly simple to change your party affliation (if that’s the sort of thing…

Cloud Nothings Have a Terrifying Video, Are Coming to Tucson

I spend far too much of my time listening to the music I loved in the mid-to-late nineties, seeing shows at the Downtown Performance Center, noisy, buzzy, stuff that had the snarl of punk, but different chords, released on labels like Matador. Since Cloud Nothings occupy a space that allows me to engage in that…

KGUN’s Erin Christiansen Off the Air With Valley Fever

KGUN is reporting that chief meteorologist Erin Christiansen has contracted Valley Fever. The ailment has sidelined her of late and KGUN management expects her to remain off television for at least another week. According to a statement, Christiansen is undergoing treatment and the prognosis is good. In the interim, Aaron Brackett has been filling in.…

Jesse Kelly! He’s Got a Poll!

Jesse Kelly is back, and he’s polling. The beaten Republican candidate who limped off to Texas after nearly toppling Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in 2010 released a poll today which showed him out front of the pack of probable Republican candidates for the special election to replace Giffords. According to the survey, Kelly has a combined…

47 Scott Starts Serving Brunch This Weekend

Downtown restaurant 47 Scott at 47 N. Scott Ave. starts serving brunch this Saturday. Owners Nicole Flowers and Travis Reese tell us that Ciaran Wiese from the adjacent cocktail bar Scott and Co. has even created a signature Bloody Mary for the event and that other libations from the bar’s amazing drink menu will be…

Shine On, Crazy Newt

Not only does Newt Gingrich want to build a permanent base on the moon by the end of his second term (wishful thinking, dude), he wants to set things up for it to become the 51st state: He added that he had once proposed legislation that would allow a moon colony of at least 13,000…

Mexican American Studies Legal Update Today 1330 AM

At the Saturday, Jan. 14 community forum, Tucson attorney Richard Martinez gave an update on the federal court proceedings in the lawsuit he filed against the state in 2010. Martinez first filed the lawsuit in 2010 with 11 Mexican American Studies teachers signed on as plaintiffs and eventually added two students to the lawsuit. Maritnez…

Project White House: The Beer Summit!

As we report in this week’s Skinny: We’re excited to announce that we are having the first Project White House Beer Summit from 4 to 6 p.m. next Wednesday, Feb. 1, at downtown’s newest brewery, Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave. Stop by to meet the candidates, and try some cold, freshly brewed craft…

Bitter Development

Not so long ago, the West University Neighborhood Association fought plans for a private high-rise dorm in its midst. The brawl was nasty and prolonged. And when the project finally collapsed, residents in West University sighed in weary relief, amid the swell of newfound neighborhood muscle. Some 20 years later, that strength is being tested,…

Spy Silliness

These guys don’t miss a trick. Arizona Theatre Company has launched a wild and crazy—and undeniably hilarious—production of Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, an adaptation by Patrick Barlow of Hitchcock’s 1935 film, which was based on John Buchan’s spy novel. Part parody, part farce, part circus and part puppet show, the production delivers nonstop, irresistible…

Silver Thread Trio: Trigger and Scythe (Prophette)

As a band clearly in love with music decades older than themselves, the Silver Thread Trio comfortably borrows and blends styles and themes that have forever driven the American folk-music tradition. Yet it’s the trio’s own songwriting and arrangements that are displayed on Trigger and Scythe. The album features 12 originals and just two traditional…

Down Memory Lane

When Kevin Johnson, artistic director of Arizona Onstage Productions, introduced The Marvelous Wonderettes on opening night, he noted that the musical is being performed by theater troupes all over the country, after a long run off-Broadway. He said The Marvelous Wonderettes has clearly “struck a chord” with audiences, who sometimes just want to hear the…

LeeAnne Savage: To the N9nes (Back It Up)

Longtime Tucson music fans may remember Savage for her funky-rock party band during the 1990s. But this new nine-song album shows off her country-pop songwriting chops. Produced by Savage, it was recorded in Nashville with a core band of veterans. Several tracks here sound as if they are primed to be snapped up by some…

Let Hemsky Run

Aside from his marriage and the news of the impending birth of his first child, most of James “Hemsky” Reese’s greatest thrills have involved high-fiving fellow University of Arizona ice-hockey fans while running up and down the stands at the Tucson Convention Center Arena. “It’s been a big chunk of my life,” Reese, 28, said…

Steamy Steps

The Russian dancer Anna Trebunskaya is best known for her turns on TV’s Dancing With the Stars, during which she tutored the likes of ex-boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and retired football player Kurt Warner in the art of popular dancing. Now she’s the latest dancer to tango to haunting Argentine rhythms in Forever Tango. Replacing…

Frank Turner: The Second Three Years (Xtra Mile/Epitaph)

British folk-punk singer Frank Turner is gunning for the mantle occupied by the late, revered Joe Strummer, and the restless elder statesman Billy Bragg. While his first four albums show a rapid ascendancy that suggests he could definitely get there, Turner’s prolific recording hits a number of other areas. With homage to Bob Dylan in…

Ask a Mexican!

Dear Mexican: It’s so sad to see your wimpy answers. Your replies scream self-hatred and self-shame for your raza. You’re pathetic! You have no plan or desire to fix Mexico’s problems. You’re a puto with no huevos. My DREAM Act would be that you Mexicans would stop groveling to gringos, and scream about fixing Mexico,…

Columbian Moves

Along the humid Caribbean coast of Colombia in South America, the story goes, a fish taught the people to dance. When fishermen caught the mapalé long ago, the fish wriggled so vigorously that its movements became the mapalé, a frenetic Colombian national dance. That dance gives its name to a concert at UA Centennial Hall…

Our Buddy Jan

Now she’s really gone and done it. By “she,” I mean Arizona’s fine and esteemed Gov. Jan Brewer, and by “it,” I mean launched the state toward full implementation of the voter-passed Medical Marijuana Act. Now that two judges—one federal, one Superior Court—have scolded Gov. Jan into doing what we told her to do more…

The First New American

She had many names: La Malinche, Malintzin, Malinalli and, in the end, Doña Marina. Some call her a whore and a traitor; others call her a proto-feminist and the mother of all Mexicans. Her history is complex, her legend more so. She remains one of the most fascinating and mysterious figures from the conquest of…

The Skinny

The Rosemont Mine runs into more trouble … Vic Williams is officially in the race for the Pima County Board of Supervisors … Can we deport the Tea Party to the 18th century? … and more!

Top Ten in Books

1. A Safeway in Arizona: What the Gabrielle Giffords Shooting Tells Us About the Grand Canyon State and Life in America Tom Zoellner, Viking ($26.95) 2. The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins, Scholastic (8.99) 3. Swamplandia! Karen Russell, Vintage ($14.95) 4. The Fault in Our Stars John Green, Dutton ($17.99) 5. Queen of America: A Novel…

Music Is Medicine

I am a rich man with little money. This is not the same as a poor man with abundant wealth. I can share riches better than gold, more sparkling than silver, and beyond property. We know that hearts on fire create a ring of love that brightens the world like the sun above. —Recently found…

Scary Wolves

Liam Neeson battles nature and puts up a damn good fight in director Joe Carnahan’s absorbing and devastating survival pic, The Grey. The film tells the scary and surprisingly emotional tale of Alaskan oil drillers who find themselves stranded in the middle of frozen tundra after their plane crashes. There’s scant chance of survival due…

Top Ten in Movies

1. Moneyball Sony 2. The Ides of March Sony 3. Contagion Warner Bros. 4. Killer Elite Universal 5. Abduction Lionsgate 6. What’s Your Number? 20th Century Fox 7. Apollo 18 Weinstein 8. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark Sony 9. I Am Gaiam 10. The Guard Sony

Out of the Fryer

The southside Tucson quick-food restaurant scene seemingly falls into two distinct categories: ever-changing quick-eat joints that pop up and then are gone as fast as they appeared, and long-standing joints that have occupied the same corner for a half-century or so. Ted and I got to try a little from each of those two categories…

Weekly Wide Web

In general, I support government organizations in their efforts to get online and provide information to the people they serve, but it would seem that some organizations probably get a little too excited about the possibilities of social media. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced last week that they would turn to the ever-popular Facebook…

Editor’s Note

I, like many Southern Arizonans, was left heartbroken after watching Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ resignation video on Sunday, Jan. 22. Many of us have been holding out hope that sooner rather than later, Gabby would return to work. She’d be back in Washington, D.C., doing what she’s always done—reaching across the aisle to get things accomplished.…

Danehy

Even at my advanced age (and weight), there are still several things I would like to try for the first time in my life. Despite an industrial-strength case of acrophobia and its trusty sidekick, vertigo, I would still like to try skydiving, although the physics involved in finding a parachute for me would be daunting.…

What’s Next?

After Gabrielle Giffords’ formal resignation, Gov. Jan Brewer will have three days to set the dates for special election in Congressional District 8. A partisan primary must be held within 80 to 90 days; a general election follows 50 to 60 days after that. That means CD 8 voters are looking at a primary election…

Stories Coming Out

Singer-songwriter Betsy Scarinzi has the rare and preternatural ability to use melody to wring poetry from common language and weighty emotions. This is well displayed in her Americana-tinged rock-band Silverbell, which have just released their debut album. Scarinzi says she does not have a secret formula for making up songs. “There’s no thought process or…

Gargulinski

A major perk of my pal’s new job is the location; she’s thrilled she can bike or even walk the three miles to work. She says the jaunt has done wonders for her mood—not to mention her thighs—and she’s ecstatic to leave her car back home. Too bad more Tucsonans don’t share her glee. A…

The Reaction

President Barack Obama Gabby Giffords embodies the very best of what public service should be. She’s universally admired for qualities that transcend party or ideology—a dedication to fairness, a willingness to listen to different ideas, and a tireless commitment to the work of perfecting our union. That’s why the people of Arizona chose Gabby—to speak…

On Tumamoc Hill

It’s 10 a.m. and sunny, with a touch of brisk morning air. After 30 minutes, I’ve hiked through a forest of saguaros, palo verde trees and shrubs, sharing it with Arizona wildlife. With the valley stretching around me, I have an exquisite view from Tumamoc Hill, aka “Tucson’s best-kept secret.” Tumamoc, which is home to…

Top Ten in Music

1. Adele 21 (XL) 2. Foster the People Torches (Columbia) 3. Drake Take Care (Cash Money) 4. Contagion (DVD) Warner Bros. 5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (DVD) 20th Century Fox 6. LMFAO Sorry for Party Rocking (Interscope) 7. Mastodon The Hunter (Reprise) 8. The Black Keys El Camino (Nonesuch) 9. Young Jeezy…

Guest Commentary

Several years ago, when I was interviewing local blues guitarist Mike “Johnny Guitar” Blommer for an article, he reminded me that we had a connection that extended back, many years earlier. Blommer said something like, “Remember when you used to teach me jujitsu?” He and I both owe much to the late Joseph Holck, who…

Nine Questions

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Ashley Thomas moved to Tucson four years ago. She was a baker at Grill until it closed, and now works for American Airlines, “gettin’ people in the sky like magic.” Thomas grew up playing the piano and singing in choirs until she was in her late teens, and was…

Love and War

It has been 20 years since the former Yugoslavia exploded into civil war, and it remains news even today: Serb military leader Ratko Mladic was finally arrested last summer—he’d been a fugitive for 15 years—and faces trial at The Hague this year for countless alleged war crimes. Civil wars are always tragic, and this one…

TQ&A

Poet Logan Phillips is one of five Arizona artists (three from Tucson) to receive a 2012 Artist Project Grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Phillips’ project is The Sonoran Strange, a multimedia theater work he will perform with his group Verbo•bala, which includes DJ Emmett White and video artists Moisés Regla and Adam…

Live

When Bonnie Vining sold her southeast-side coffeehouse to establish the Live Acoustic Venue Association and dive headlong into the concert business, the move was hailed by many as bold and exciting. When she proceeded to schedule a full slate of shows at an eastside church that no one had ever heard of, many were left…

Congressman Antenori?

The Range caught up with state Sen. Frank Antenori on the state Capitol lawn today, and although he hasn’t officially announced, it’s clear he’s running for Congressional District 8 in the special election to replace Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Antenori is supposed to make a big announcement in Green Valley this Friday — and we’re willing…


Recent

Gift this article