Cover Story
Rebalancing Nature
The helicopter lands easily on the concrete slab. Quickly, the team onboard carries the desert bighorn sheep to a stretcher. Blindfolded and entangled in a capture net, the sheep is moved to a nearby staging area. Many hands restrain the animal as the twisted net is removed. The ram struggles, and then relents as he…
Send Yourself Into Space
Here’s the closest you’re likely to come to leaving the planet: The big brains behind the UA’s OSIRIS-REx mission are gathering names for a list that will accompany the plucky robot lab on its trip out to Asteroid Bennu and back. (More on the way-cool space mission here.) All you need do is fill out…
Eric Esquivel on Nerdist’s The Mutant Season Podcast
We last saw Eric M. Esquivel talking about how gods suck compared to what humans are capable of at Long Beach Comic-Con. He’s been all over the place since he up and left Tucson. Esquivel was a guest on Gil Dominguez-Letelier’s Nerdist podcast show: The Mutant Season. The 11-year-old podcaster and Esquivel discussed his latest…
Flake and McCain Oppose Extension of Unemployment Benefits
Talking Points Memo untangles the mess unfolding in the U.S. Senate over the expansion of unemployment benefits: The push to revive jobless benefits for some 1.4 million long-term unemployed Americans is — still — going nowhere fast in the Senate, bogged down by a series of excruciating procedural hurdles and disputes. The latest: Republicans filibustered…
A 12 Year Old Shouldn’t Have Access to a Shotgun
The latest shooting: Two children, an 11 and a 13 year old, were shot by a 12 year old with a sawed-off shotgun in a New Mexico middle school yesterday. Both of the injured children are alive — no recent reports on their conditions. A teacher talked down the shooter, so he wasn’t hurt. In…
Devil Baby on the Loose!
A work of animatronic genius.
Umi Star Has Closed
Joie Horwitz Enjoy the spicy lobster roll while you can. Umi Star has closed their Campbell location, effective immediately, a few months after their October re-opening. From the press release, a quote from owner Jason Anderson: “It’s unfortunate that Umi won’t stay in that location, but I’m confident that a different spot with more space…
Quote of the Day from the AZ Legislature
3TV political editor Dennis Welch gets a money quote from state Sen. Don Shooter (R-Yuma): Four years after the Fiesta Bowl scandal left a black mark on the state legislature, Sen. Don Shooter says freebies like football tickets help supplement his pay. “$24,000 a year,” Shooter said referring to his legislative salary, “Give us a…
Down in Jerseyland
Jimmy Fallon and Bruce Springsteen send up Chris Christie’s Bridgeghazi scandal in hilarious fashion.
There’s a Super Dramatic Video of the New Sun Devil Stadium (If That’s Your Thing)
I’m not super-invested in the whole Arizona vs. Arizona State (aka Girls Gone Wild University and Casino) thing — after all I graduated from Oregon State, one of the top two universities in the state of Oregon — and of course, anything created to hype a giant fundraising project is going to indulge in a…
Photos of AFI at Rialto Theatre
Here are some photos of the goth-punk band AFI when they performed at the Rialto Theatre last Friday. You can catch AFI at Coachella or click through this photo collection at a fraction of the cost. All the stellar pictures were taken by C. Elliott.
Jim Nintzel Guest Bartending For Charity
Image courtesy of Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance. You should ask Jim Nintzel to mix you a “Kitty Pryde.” You might know Jim “The Fastball Special” Nintzel from his expert journalism skills here at the Weekly and weekly AZ Public Media news show. Nintzel is going to join some local personalities to bartend from 4…
The Star’s Open Publisher Position Is Posted on Craigslist
It’s still a little rough out there in the job market (thanks, Obama!), but as a public service to the un- and underemployed, the Weekly is happy to point out notable online job listings when we stumble upon them. Today, it’s the President and Publisher gig at the Arizona Daily Star, conveniently posted on Craigslist…
Are You Arizona’s Funniest Comedian?
Image courtesy of Brad Ostrow. Arizona is home to some of the funniest people in comedy. Successful acts like Pablo Francisco, Craig Gass, Robert Schimmel, Gary Shandling and David Spade all that got their start in Tucson or somewhere in the Phoenix area. The bookers at The Stand Up Live are holding a statewide contest…
Neutral Milk Hotel Is Coming to Tucson
Thanks Coachella for giving recently reunited indie-folk-pop weirdos Neutral Milk Hotel an excuse to come to Tucson. Sure, we had frontman Jeff Mangum here in April last year, but this time, we get the entire group on April 18 at the Rialto. Tickets, which will certainly sell out so don’t complain that no one told…
Insurance Signups Surge in AZ Marketplace
The Obama administration’s Heath and Human Services Department has revealed that the number of Arizonans who have signed up to purchase health insurance through the online marketplace surged last month, from 3,601 on Dec. 11 to 27,943 as of Dec. 28. The big jump wasn’t limited to Arizona. Around the country, nearly 1.8 million signed…
4th Avenue Deli Unveils Streetcar Shirt and Customer of the Year
Courtesy of 4th Avenue Deli. Limited edition 4th Avenue Deli t-shirts. December Chow feature 4th Avenue Delicatessen decided to reward its customers to celebrate a year of serving hot dogs and sandwiches on Fourth Ave. You can get your own “I survived the streetcar” T-shirt for $15 or $18 in XXL. The shirts will be…
Out with “Performance Funding.” In with “Student Success Funding.”
From the people who brought you “Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards” to replace “Common Core,” comes “Student Success Funding” to take the place of “Performance Funding.” The more the names change, the more the programs stay the same. Gov. Jan Brewer and Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal got all kinds of flak from…
Brewer’s CPS Surprise
Gov. Jan Brewer hit the usual notes in her final State of the State address yesterday: The federal government is bad, Arizona is on the rebound, the state of the state is strong, yadda, yadda, yadda. She also made a pitch to get tough on human trafficking, provide more subsidies for the tech biz, help…
Mitt Romney Does It Up ‘Gangnam Style’
2012 Republican presidential Mitt Romney showed he was pretty fly for a 66-year-old white guy when he attempted to dance alongside Mormon musician Alex Boye while the band covered Psy’s “Gangnam Style” at the Arizona All LDS Young Single Adults Conference this past weekend.
John Legend Is Headlining This Year’s Slow Jams Show
October cover subject R Dub has put together a yearly celebration of baby making music for 14 years celebrating his Slow Jams Live radio show (heard here on Hot 98.3), generally featuring a mix of modern R&B acts and 90’s nostalgic performers, and honestly, last year’s edition (starring Miguel, Ginuwine, Bell Biv Devoe and others)…
Planned Parenthood CEO: Supreme Court Decision To Block AZ Abortion Law a “Significant Victory for Arizona Women”
SCOTUSblog analyzes the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to let stand a lower court ruling blocking an Arizona law that would have banned nearly all abortions after 20 weeks: The Court’s reaction to the new Arizona abortion case had been eagerly awaited, for two reasons: it was a test of whether the Court would relax its…
Win Tickets to See Parmalee at the Rialto
You might have caught Parmalee’s performance during yesterday’s 49ers and Carolina Panthers half time show. The North Carolina country band will be in town on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street. We are giving away 3 pairs of tickets from now until until Jan. 22. Email us your full name…
Tropical Gardens in your Tucson Desert Home
The Potted Desert A Display Rack for Tropical Plants Living in the desert, we are able to stretch our plant choices a further than other areas of Arizona, as long as we can provide most of the plants with heavily filtered sun or afternoon shade. The south side of my home is shaded by my…
Martin Out of CD2 Congressional Race
Republican Martha McSally, who hopes to unseat Congressman Ron Barber, caught a break when fellow Republican Ed Martin dropped out of the race. “As a result of unforeseen personal family challenges that have required and will continue to require my undivided attention, I find it necessary to withdraw from the Republican primary for Congress in…
Doug Stanhope Talks Immigration During Plush Set
Doug Stanhope was in Tucson late November filming his stand-up comedy segments for the BBC’s satire television show, Weekly Wipe with Charlie Brooker. Stanhope chose Plush—of all the venues in the world—to perform his material about the similarities between the U.K.’s immigration situation and what he sees going on along the border near Bisbee. “You’re…
Supreme Court Shoots Down AZ Appeal on Abortion Law
The U.S. Supreme Court will not be hearing an appeal that would revive an anti-abortion law that was struck down by the federal courts. The New York Times reports: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from Arizona officials seeking to revive a state law that barred most abortions after 20 weeks…
Welcome to The Range, David Safier
This is my first post on The Range after writing for six years over at Blog for Arizona. Dan Gibson asked me to make the move — next door, you could say, since both blogs are Tucson based — and I said, “Yes.” So, an introduction. I taught high school — English, photography, yearbook advisor…
Watch The ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 4 Trailer
Image courtesy of the Game of Thrones Facebook page. The latest Game of Thrones season four trailer was posted online sometime during last night’s stellar Wildcat basketball game and the hilarious Golden Globe Awards. Unfortunately, the fantasy drama television HBO series doesn’t premiere until Sunday, April 6, at 9 p.m. You still have time to…
Cinema Showdown: “Anybody Want a Peanut?” Edition
There’s no shortage of special film events and reparatory screenings this week, and there’s a little something for everybody. For instance, if theatrical intrigue is your thing, look no further than the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway. Rear Window, the classic 1954 whodunit starring Jimmy Stewart as a down-on-his-luck photographer who takes to risqué voyeurism,…
AZ Illustrated Politics: Gov Race, State of the State Speech, Gabby’s Skydiving & More
Joining me on last night’s AZ Illustrated Politics: Arizona Republican National Committeeman Bruce Ash, Pima County Democratic Party Chairman Don Jorgensen and Arizona Daily Star columnist Sarah Garrecht Gassen. We talked about this year’s races for governor and secretary of state; the upcoming legislative session; and the third anniversary of the Jan. 8 mass shootings…
Triangle T Guest Ranch Featured on ‘Hotel Impossible Undercover’
Photo courtesy of the Travel Channel. Sometimes it seems like reality television is trying to do some good while absorbing all of your time and money. Anthony Melchiorri, host of The Travel Channel’s Hotel Impossible Undercover, went to the oldest guest ranch in Dragoon, Ariz., The Triangle T Guest Ranch. The episode aired two years…
Jonny Lang’s Grown Into His Talent
C. Elliott Johnny Lang at the Rialto Theater, Jan. 8, 2014 At age 13, blues prodigy Jonny Lang had a voice like a swampy blues cat. Fans wondered just whose soul this North Dakota tunesmith had inherited; his guitar solos were burning as much as his vocals were Smokin’, the title of his 1995 debut…
Alpine Resort Party at Hotel Congress Next Saturday
Photo courtesy of the Facebook event page. The rest of the world is experiencing some of the coldest temperatures of the century, so Tucson has felt a little left out. Joe Pagac and Andy DePew have decided to throw a winter cabin costume party next Saturday, Jan. 18, at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street.…
KXCI Says No Festival En El Barrio This Year
Logo courtesy of KXCI KXCI Tucson community radio station has decided to cancel Festival En El Barrio this year. KXCI and the Rialto Theatre started this elaborate annual music festival in the historic downtown art district four years ago. Calexico’s Joey Burns notified the station that the band wouldn’t be able to headline this year’s…
Memorial for Dino Raspanti
Courtesy of the Raspanti family. Dean “Dino” Raspanti played for Three Left For Dead, Thunderosa, Worm, and Brother Creep. Stephen Seigel, Weekly music editor, closed this week’s Soundbites with some unfortunate news regarding the death of local musician Dean “Dino” Raspanti. Raspanti 41, suffered a fatal heart attack on Tuesday, Jan 1. The Chicago native…
Gabby’s Skydive
Gabby Giffords marked the third anniversary of being shot through the head by leaping out of plane and publishing an op-ed in the New York Times on the ongoing efforts of the group she founded last year, Americans for Responsible Solutions: But I continue to be inspired by my fellow Americans. By any measure, they’re…
YWCA Cafe Now Open (There’s Wifi)
I live in Menlo Park west of I-10, so I was really happy to hear that the YWCA opened a cafe in the lobby of its building at 525 N. Bonita Ave. I can always use a spot to work from that has coffee and nosh, but I need wifi and the YWCA delivers. The…
Beer Pong League Starts in February
Photo courtesy of shutterstock.com Best Damn Beer Pong Period is organizing a beer pong league, and they are looking for the best beer pong players in Tucson. DeMarco, podcaster and beer pong organizer, has been hosting beer pong tournaments for over four years. The 31 year-old professional beer pong enthusiast is looking for four teams…
Reggae Returns to Hut on Friday
I forgot how much I love reggae. I know it’s ridiculous to admit, but I didn’t realize it until this past New Year’s Eve party at the big tiki head on Fourth Avenue. If you feel like you need a reminder, reggae returns from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. this Friday, Jan. 10, at the…
Prep & Pastry Now Open
As previously reported in Noshing Around, Prep & Pastry is officially open as of yesterday. The restaurant, at 3073 N. Campbell Ave., was formerly known as Amelia Grey’s Café. Good news for you high-falutin’ fancy-britches out there: They are still offering their Amelia’s Afternoon Tea. Prep & Pastry is open from 7 a.m. to 4…
Word Odyssey: Thank Goddess It’s Friggdaeg!
Image courtesy of Shutterstock She doesn’t care where the word came from; she’s ready for Friday Why are there seven days in a week? And those names like Tuesday and Wednesday, with their funny spellings: where did they come from and what in the world do they mean? Your inner nerd wants to know. Last…
Scott Smith Jumps Into the Gubernatorial Pool
This year’s race for governor got a little more interesting this morning, when Mesa Mayor Scott Smith filed his paperwork for an exploratory campaign. Smith, who has to go the exploratory route until he decides he wants to resign the mayor’s seat, is generally seen as a moderate Republican, which sets him apart from the…
La Fashionista Showcases Local Artist on Second Saturday
Photo courtesy of La Fashionista! Facebook page. Local fashion designer and business owner Eleanor Leon is showcasing local artist and designers this Second Saturday at 6 p.m. at La Fashionista, 45 S. Sixth Ave. The event will be catered by Whole Foods. Leon invited over 26 artists, photographers, models and musicians that are proudly representing…
Now Showing at Home
Army of the Damned Followed by reality-TV cameras, a police chief (Sully Erma—yes, the singer of Godsmack) and his men battle a small-town zombie outbreak. Also starring rassler Tommy Dreamer, porn star Jasmin St. Claire and … Joey Fatone?! (Screen Media) Carrie An outcast high-schooler (Chloë Grace Moretz) with telekinetic powers gets revenge-y at her…
Killer Pizza
I love that Tucson’s food truck scene has become so robust in the last few years—now you can find everything from organic burgers to pizza to poutine to Indian fusion. Serial Grillers has been a food truck serving burgers, cheesesteaks and other sandwiches since fall 2012. And now the two brothers behind the operation, Travis…
Noshing Around
Rincon Market Update The Rincon Market is set to reopen Thursday, Feb. 13, following a fire last July that closed the popular midtown grocery and dining spot. Extensive smoke damage forced the owners to essentially gut the building and rebuild from the inside out. Owner Ron Abbott asks that Rincon’s patrons be patient during the…
The Science Behind the Grapes
If making wine is a science, then Southern Arizona is a superior laboratory. But ditch the lab coats and goggles because the most important components for growing grapes are elevation, climate and soil. Arizona has more than 80 licensed and bonded wineries, according to the Arizona Wine Growers Association. In Southern Arizona the vineyards are…
Soundbites
SECOND SATURDAYS, SKRAPPY’S, AND TOXIC RANCH RECORDS ARE DEAD! LONG LIVE SECOND SATURDAYS, 191 TOOLE, AND TOXIC RANCH RECORDS! In the recent discussions over whether we should strive to Keep Tucson Shitty, part of the argument from those who fall squarely on the yea side lamented the fact that so many of their beloved Tucson…
Live
Spiders Can Fly, Armitage Wine Lounge and Cafe, Sunday, Jan. 5 So, yeah, I tripped and fell getting off an escalator while looking for Armitage. It was a little embarrassing, but when I got up and brushed myself off, the only laughter I heard was from a chance encounter with my friend/eight-time TAMMIE winner Wes…
Editor’s Note
• It just worked out this way, but this is more or less a science themed issue, as we have three excellent stories that emerged from the UA Journalism School: Cathy Rosenberg’s cover story on bighorn sheep, Ann Posegate’s profile of theologian/astronomer Christopher Corbally and Sydnie Lemieux on the science behind Arizona wine. Thanks to…
Danehy
It is my duty to inform The Haters out there that this column deals, at least in part, with females who play basketball. I thought I’d warn them in case reading about that subject matter would cause a sudden spike in their blood pressure. So, you guys, don’t read it and I’ll just assume that…
Media Watch
EDIBLE BAJA ARIZONA GAINS TRACTION Nearly nine months ago, Doug Biggers, co-founder of the Tucson Weekly, embarked on something rather crazy. He launched a print magazine in the digital age. And then something really crazy happened. As the fourth issue hits the streets this week, interest in Edible Baja Arizona has exploded. The page count…
Rest in Plaid
A joyous welcome of the new year is still going strong downtown at the tiny Cabaret Theatre, and the celebration includes fireworks provided by Forever Plaid, the good-natured, enthusiastic and vocally demanding musical presented by Arizona Onstage Productions. The show is such an upbeat, feel-good experience that you can’t help but smile and savor the…
The Skinny
LET THE GAMES BEGIN! After Gov. Jan Brewer delivers her final State of the State address Monday, Jan. 13, the 51st Arizona Legislature will swing into gear for its second regular session. While lawmakers will offer up plenty of surprises in the months to come, here are a few things to look forward to: •…
On the Horns of a Dilemma
The killing of three recently released desert bighorn sheep by mountain lions in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area near Tucson focused attention on predation as a threat to re-establishing a viable herd in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Reintroducing bighorn sheep raises other concerns as well, including the impact of disease. Between predation and disease, a…
Ask A Mexican!
Dear Mexican: How do we humanize the illegals in this country? My reasons for asking this question are many, but mainly a very personal one. I’ve been in this country illegally for 16 years, y ya chole no? For 16 years I lived my life like anyone else: going to school and working. Eventually I…
Delaying Tactic
U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, a Democrat representing Arizona’s Congressional District 2, sat down with editors and reporters from the Tucson Weekly, Inside Tucson Business and the Green Valley News in late December to discuss issues affecting Southern Arizona. Here is an edited and condensed portion of the interview, in which Barber discusses his recent votes…
Political and the Personal
In 1959, at the age of 23, Charles Harbutt was summoned to Cuba to document the revolution. He was a photographer and writer at the Catholic magazine Jubilee, and supporters of Fidel Castro had been impressed by his series on Puerto Rican migrant workers in the U.S. When a member of Castro’s circle called to…
Man of Science, Man of Faith
To Christopher Corbally, science and religion do not conflict. Period. He holds degrees in physics and astronomy. He has studied the structure of galaxies, classified stars, worked as a vice director at a famous observatory and been an active member of international astronomy associations. And he is a Roman Catholic priest. “If through scientific method…
Now on Shelves
Standing on Common Ground: The Making of a Sunbelt Borderland By Geraldo L. Cadava Harvard University Press $39.95; 320 pages; non-fiction Tucson native Geraldo L. Cadava opens this exploration of the Arizona-Sonora cultural, social, geographic, political and economic region with the story of the 1940 making of the Columbia Pictures film Arizona. For authenticity, the…
Dour Hours
When Corey Knox decided to go back to graduate school, she quit her job as a research assistant to focus on her studies. However, she knew that plan would work only if she was able to get additional hours as a graduate assistant in her College of Education program. But just before Thanksgiving, Knox and…
Dreams of Legalization
I don’t know if you heard about it or not, but there’s a state near here where any adult can now buy weed legally. Colorado. The shops are open and the shoppers are shopping and the money is rolling into store and state coffers—more than $1 million in sales the first day alone, and there…
Pedersen on Sports
This space has been used at least a few times in the past to pooh- pooh this town’s infatuation with UA sports, especially when it’s at the expense of other sporting options—yes, they do exist here—that end up getting ignored. But even I have to admit, it’s a pretty good time to be a Wildcat…
Alone, Together
There has always been a tinge of sadness in the films of Spike Jonze, along with a wide-eyed, childlike wonder about the world around his characters. Her, the first film written solely by the director, is Jonze’s most complete work as well as his most measured and emotional. The setup is so simple, it’s a…
Police Dispatch
WHO POOPED IN THE TRAILER PARK? WEST WETMORE ROAD DEC.12, 12:02 P.M. Someone stole numerous electric meters from a trailer park, and the park’s manager believes the thief also left something behind—a plastic bag filled with feces—according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report. The manager told a deputy that eight to 10 electric meters…
Faith and Family
Michael Gungor’s music evolution has been one of surprising twists and turns. Raised the son of a pastor in Wisconsin, he originally engaged in a musical ministry. He formed the Michael Gungor Band as part of his church in Grand Rapids, Mich., more than a decade ago. That group has since transformed itself into the…
Devotion to Duty
Lone Survivor, an explosive passion project from writer-director Peter Berg, takes an unrelentingly gruesome look at Operation Red Wings, the failed 2005 mission in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of 19 American soldiers. As autopsies and firsthand witness accounts have revealed, three of the dead were Navy SEALs killed in an ambush. The other 16…
Fresh Meat
Everyone likes to have a way to blow off steam. And depending on your interests (as well as how healthy your respect is for the law), there are plenty of ways to do so. But punching a heavy bag or taking spinning classes isn’t for everyone. Sometimes, you need something a little more … interactive…
True TV
Banshee Friday, Jan. 10 (Cinemax) Season Premiere: If you haven’t yet seen the first season of Banshee, do so—it’s a 10-episode rush of gonzo-pulp mayhem that defies reason, and yet somehow still works, like a visceral mash-up of Justified, Twin Peaks, Fight Club and some sexy number you’d see much later in the night on…
City Week
Fancy Footwork Southern Arizona Clogging Festival 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11; 9 to 11 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 12 Old Pueblo Dance Center 613 E. Delano St. 290-2368;sardasa.com Clogs are more than just a fashion accessory. They’re also a musical instrument of sorts. Though not…
Nine Questions
Miguel Carter is best known as the charismatic and confrontational frontman of Helldriver and Great American Tragedy, and is currently putting together a revue-style soul band. Though mostly inactive in recent years, Great American Tragedy will be performing alongside Vanish Twin, Giant Destroyer, and Anakim at Speaking in Volume, a benefit for the legal fund…
Hip Don’t Dance: Zoetrope Woe
“Air Conditioning” opens Zoetrope Woe with startling effectiveness. In its extreme brevity and dynamic shifts, it’s the sound of sticking a knife in an electrical socket, pausing momentarily to pull it out, and then doing it again. Hip Don’t Dance own their golden-age indie rock influences (Pavement, Sebadoh) throughout the record. Being that the band…
1702 Named One of America’s Top 100 Best Beer Bars
Image courtesy of 1702 website. 1702, local pizzeria and craft beer bar, was named one of Draft Magazine’s top 100 bars in America. The home of 46 imported beers and domestic micro-brews was the only Arizona bar mentioned in the laundry list of pubs that specializes in tradition, hospitality, and beer selection. This is the…
U.S. Rep. Ron Barber: “The Most Fitting Memorial Would Be To Take Action To Prevent Another Such Tragedy”
Congressman Ron Barber took to the floor of Congress on the anniversary of the Jan. 8, 2011, shooting rampage. The press release from Barber’s office: U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, who was wounded three years ago today in the shooting in Tucson, led a moment of silence on the floor of the House after speaking about…
