Cover Story
Third in Line: Benny Benack III continues his family’s tradition
Emmy-nominated trumpet player, singer and bandleader Benny Benack III grew up around music. His grandfather was also a trumpet player, best known for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1960 theme song “Beat ‘Em Bucs” and appearances on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Benack’s father was a saxophone player and clarinetist. New York-based Benack will return to Tucson for the…
Laughing Stock: Comedy this week: Too much of a good thing?
The year 2024 is just showing off Tucson’s comedy scene this week. There is something for everyone, across a range of tastes and span of geography. We bet you can’t see it all. Bert Kreischer bares all Bert Kreischer is a gleeful avatar of the shirtless — the grandpop in earbuds mowing the grass with…
Marc Cohn embracing a return to the stage
If one word could be used to describe Marc Cohn’s career, it would be measured. His last album of original material was 2007’s “Join the Parade” (2010’s “Listening Booth: 1970” was an all-covers affair of songs from that particular year). And while the past decade has found him getting tapped by longtime friend/mentor John Leventhal…
Cannabis Legends: Fan favorite strains of 2023
Another year has come and gone, blunts have been rolled and bowls have been packed. At mercy to the ebb and flow of consumers’ smoking habits, popular cannabis strains are subject to constant evolution. The ’90s popularized cannabis legends like Sour Diesel, OG Kush and White Widow, while strains like Girl Scout Cookies and Chemdawg…
Old World Traditions: Zoppé Family Circus rolls into town
For Giovanni Zoppé and his family, circus performance is about connecting with the audience. He and his fellow performers try to engage with the audience, from the time they enter to when they leave the tent. The Zoppé Family Circus will return to Tucson to the Mercado District from Friday, Jan. 5, to Sunday, Jan.…
Levity Wellness: Girl Scouts support animals
Levity Wellness Center and Girl Scout Troop 312 have come together to lend a helping hand to the Pima Animal Control Center. They are collecting essential items like pet food, blankets, towels, toys, leashes and harnesses through Wednesday, Jan. 31. Levity Wellness Center has set up a drop-off point at its facility, 2272 E. Speedway…
All That Jazz: Festival fetes decade with myriad events
For the last 10 years, the Tucson Jazz Festival has featured and promoted the importance of live jazz music. From Friday, Jan. 12, to Saturday, Jan. 20, the “Join the Party”-themed festival will celebrate its anniversary with jam sessions, a fiesta and performances. Festival executive director Khris Dodge said the festival is meant for people…
Borderlands: Old stories told in a new, augmented way
Here in the Old Pueblo, the UA and Arizona State Museum are putting a new spin on telling Tucson’s stories. Guests can point their smartphones at the QR code in front of the Arizona State Museum and embark on a dynamic visual journey to learn about the Tohono O’odham peoples. Unfamiliar with their culture? Don’t…
Finding that resolve among the masses
With all the hubbub and stuff to do during the holidays, it’s entirely possible that you forgot to make your New Year’s resolution. I never do it for a couple of reasons. One is that I find the date to be completely arbitrary, not unlike the made-up date that (we) Christians assign to the birth…
City Week: Week of Jan. 11, 2024
The Rogue Theatre: “Under Milkwood” JAN. 11 TO JAN. 28 Based on a radio broadcast by Dylan Thomas, this stage play uses the device of a narrator revealing the characters’ internal lives as they evolve toward understanding how they affect each other. Thomas originated the script in 1934 at age 17. Later he’s said to…
