Cover Story
From Ordinary to Transcendent
Artists show works of beauty and struggle in TMA’s excellent Arizona Biennial 2018
The Loft Kids Fest Is Almost Here!
Over the next week-and-a-half, The Loft Cinema is freeing you of your parental obligations (if only for an hour or two). What’s better than watching some of the best children’s movies on the big screen? The fact that they’re all free! The Loft Kids Fest kicks off on Friday, July 20, with a Himmel Park party…
My Pick For Governor: David Garcia
Note: This is my own personal pick, not an endorsement from the Tucson Weekly. A month ago, my position on the gubernatorial campaign boiled down to a simple slogan: “Democrat For Governor.” Whichever Democrat could beat Ducey, that’s who I wanted to run in the general. The differences between the three candidates, Steve Farley, Kelly Fryer…
Fourth Avenue’s Ordinary Bike Shop Is Closing Down
Another Fourth Avenue bummer: Ordinary Bike Shop, a regular contender in Best of Tucson™, is shuttering its doors. From the bike store’s Facebook page: I want to thank the Tucson community for the opportunity to serve your bicycle needs over the past 24 years. I am beyond grateful to personally have served the downtown/4th Ave…
The Lineup: What’s Happening in Tucson This Week!
In this week’s episode of The Lineup: KFMA’s Boy Wonder and Tucson Weekly executive editor Jim Nintzel talk about ways to have fun in Tucson this week. Tune in and make your plans accordingly!
Rialto Theatre’s JD Souther Show Postponed Until August
You know that JD Souther show we’ve been mentioning in print and online? Tomorrow night’s performance has been postponed “due to illness and inability to travel,” per Team Rialto. It’s rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18.
Know Your Product – Mourn
Much like their native Catalonia, indie rock band Mourn are anxious to break free. Whether it’s from the binds of record deals, societal constraints or typical song structures, with their newest album, Sorpresa Familia, Mourn breaks free and revels in the noisy catharsis. Difficulties with their previous label and youthful woes synthesize into some wonderfully…
GOP Holds Vote to Support ICE in Wake of Calls to Abolish the Immigration Enforcement Agency
House GOP leaders are voting today on a resolution to support Immigration Customs Enforcement. This comes after 28-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary in New York’s 14 congressional district, defeating the long-time incumbent. During her campaign, Ocasio-Cortez called for the abolishment of ICE, which was formed in 2002, following 9/11. The GOP first toyed with holding…
It Takes a Billion To Raise a Charter School Movement
A story on the front page of the Star. AP Exclusive: Billionaires fuel US charter schools movement Be still my heart! Last week I wrote a post about the amount of money the Walton Family Foundation — the Walmart fortune — has poured into charter schools, with a promise of a billion dollars total between…
Claytoon of the Day: Sticky Fingers
Find more Claytoonz here.
Detention Tension: Lawmakers Tour Local Facility Holding Unaccompanied Minors and Immigrant Children Separated from their Families
Sixteen state lawmakers toured the Tucson center holding immigrant children, Southwest Key, on July 13—three days after the federal government’s deadline to reconnect children under 5 years of age with their parents. The facility currently holds 294 children, between the ages of 5 and 17, of which 73 were separated from their families at the…
Hold on to Your Diapers, Babies! Rugrats Return
Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures announced on Monday that Rugrats will soon return to both the big and small screen. The adored animated characters will make their comeback with 26 new episodes of Rugrats and a live-action film that will feature CGI versions of the classic characters such as Chuckie Finster, Tommy and Angelica Pickles, and Lillian DeVille.…
Joe Arpaio Very Uncomfortable With Golden Showers
Former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio, who incidentally is running for U.S. Senate, got punked by actor Sasha Baron Cohen, who convinced him to do a fake interview last week by promising him a large audiance. Arpaio later told Breitbart News that although the interview made him uncomfortable, he’s no quitter. It was when the…
Politico: Democrats Once Again Think They Can Win Statewide in Arizona
Politico looks at how Democrats once again hope that they will win some statewide races in Arizona: A new POLITICO/AARP poll shows Democrats ahead by 7 points in generic ballots in both the governor’s and Senate races. But to actually win statewide elections in this highly ethnically polarized state, Democrats will need to juice turnout…
Build-A-Bear Breakdown
Last week, Build-A-Bear Workshop’s pay-your-age event, which promised to sell bears for the same cost of children’s ages, sent kids home bear-handed as the event garnered more customers than the company could handle. Local authorities were called to some of the store’s locations as the crowds became unruly in response to the excessive wait times.…
What Day are we Celebrating Today? Check Your Emojis!
Today is World Emoji Day, and while that is fun and interesting, the real fun is in the reason why. Right now, go into your emoji keyboard, scroll through to the calendar emojis and voila! They show July 17. Here at the Tucson Weekly we celebrated by finding everyone in the office with different types…
Go See J.D. Souther on Thursday Night
JD Souther could be the most famous A-list ’70s dude you don’t know. Yes, he co-penned glacial radio hits for The Eagles (“Heartache Tonight,” “New Kid in Town,” natch), The Seeg, Linda Ronstadt (dated and was a producer for her, too) and Bonnie Raitt, and there was his starring cameo in country-rock stoner supergroup Souther,…
Claytoon of the Day: London Calling
Find more Claytoonz here.
Cuddly and Fuzzy or Slinky and Slithery… or Corn Fritter-y?
While it is unclear who certifies the dates of these fun national holidays, we bring to you today a fascinating mix of things to celebrate: Today, July 16 is: -World Snake Day -Guinea Pig Appreciation Day -National Corn Fritter Day So, the question is, would the snake eat the guinea pig? And who would be…
The Tip-In: Pac-12 Releases Men’s Basketball Pairings, Dusan Ristic signs with Red Star Belgrade, Kadeem Allen Cut by Boston Celtics
We’re midway through the doldrums of summer in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, which means that college basketball is four months away. The Pac-12 Conference released its yearly breakdown of home and away games between conference foes, starting the week of January 2 and ending the week of March 6. The University of Arizona’s…
We Got Another Letter to the Editor in the Mail!
We don’t get many old-school letters to the editor these days, but God bless reader Michael Cajero for continuing to send us his thoughts, whether he likes what we’re doing or he doesn’t. Here’s his latest.
Gracie Needs a Home
“Would you give me head and chin scratches?” – Gracie Meet Gracie at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. You can also give an adoptions counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173.
McCain: Trump’s Press Conference with Putin “One of the Most Disgraceful Performances by an American President in Memory”
Sen. John McCain, who is still battling brain cancer at his home in Arizona, blasted President Donald Trump’s press conference with Vladimir Putin. McCain’s full statement: Today’s press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and…
Goodbye, Flycatcher
Until it closed last night, The Flycatcher has been running fervently with the baton Plush handed off in the summer of 2014. This beloved music venue, watering hole and figurative safehouse has been host to everything from raw hip-hop to heretical Scandinavian black metal. No musical genre was ever off limits. Supporting both sweaty-palmed local…
Watch XIXA’s New Video to get Ready for the Show Friday
Does the video to “Tombstone Rashomon,” XIXA’s latest single, draw any philosophical parallels to Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 Japanese allegorical period piece, Rashōmon? Or to director Alex Cox’s take on the historic Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone-Rashomon (2017)? It’s a thorny matter. The whistled melody line in the song, however, does nod towards Ennio…
Mental Health Workshop for Tucson’s Artists and Creatives
Tucson is brimming with artistic talent, but resources to help support that talent are not as abundant. The LifeBlood Workshop was formed by a group of artists and experts to help facilitate discussions around mental health in the creative field. This evening from 6 to 8 p.m. the LifeBlood Workshop will be in Tucson to…
1960’s Film: “The Time Travelers” at The Loft Cinema
If you enjoy cheesy, low-tech sci-fi movies, and have $3 to spare, you should make your way over to The Loft Cinema this evening for a special screening of “The Time Travelers.” This 1964 release is the second installment of July’s Mondo Movie Mondays series, with a common theme the staff have affectionately dubbed “Trashy…
American Indian Movement Leader to Speak in Tucson
It’s been half a century since Clyde Bellecourt founded the American Indian Movement, which has worked to protect the rights of Native Americans across the country and make sure the United States fulfills its treaties with Native American nations. Now, Bellecourt is coming to Tucson to celebrate this milestone with a talk and book signing.…
Claytoon of the Day: Stinky Little Friend
Find more Claytoonz here.
Broadway Actress Puts on Concert to Promote Sister-in-law’s Political Campaign
Broadway star Alice Ripley will perform stage hits and other famous songs like John Lennon’s “Imagine” at The Tucson Jewish Community Center tomorrow night, Saturday July 14 at 7:30p.m. The concert supports Alice’s sister-in-law Catherine Ripley’s campaign for Arizona House of Representatives. Alice is a Tony award-winning actress who has been in the musical biz…
Right-Wing Money Is Greasing the Anti-Teachers Union Skids
Teachers, here’s a pop quiz. How will you receive information trying to convince you to drop ties with the teachers union? (a) Email. (b) Snail mail. (c) Phone call. (d) Knock on your door. The correct answer is (e) Any or all of the above. The Public School Wrecking Crew scored a huge win when the…
It’s National French Fry Day!
Old-school low-budget horror movies often had special effects that looked like people bled ketchup, but today there is no better pairing. It is both Friday the 13th and National French Fry Day! Here in Tucson we are lucky to have some truly delicious options when it comes to fried potatoes, from traditional fries and ketchup,…
Claytoon of the Day: Trump Spelunking
Find more Claytoonz here.
Three Million Dollars to Raise the Youth Vote in Arizona
With an initial $3 million investment, the State of Arizona joins the NextGen initiative this year to foster the youth vote and give voice to marginalized identities in progressive movements. “NextGen is one of the largest movements in history targeting youth voters from 18-35,” said Regional Organizer Richard Gallon. NextGen is part of the youth…
Upcoming Public Hearing Seeks to Address Arizona’s Water Supply
Monsoon season is rolling in and giving the Tucson desert a much needed dose of rainwater. However, it’s important to remember that with each passing year, Southern Arizona is becoming drier and hotter. Without being engaged in the decisions that define our region’s water supply, who knows where we might be a few years down…
Claytoon of the Day: Ice Ice Baby
Find more Claytoonz here.
Tiny Triumph
Ant-Man and the Wasp is a fun continuation of what returning director Peyton Reed started with Ant-Man three years ago.
Appalling Appellate
An Arizona Court of Appeals ruling rattled the medical marijuana industry late June, leaving patients and dispensaries alike in confusion over the legality of concentrates in Arizona.
Know Your Product
Eric Schaffer and The Other Troublemakers top 5 favorites
XOXO
Live music to dance to this week in Tucson
Quick Bites
Good places to get some grub in Tucson this week
Love Their Way
Back in the late 1970s and early ’80s, there were few bands in Britain with a more overt “cool” factor that the Psychedelic Furs.
Tucson Salvage
Noreen Olsen looks young to have had a 28-year-old son. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” she says.
Police Dispatch
Following an unpleasant run-in with someone passionately objecting to her shopping-cart neglect, an Oro Valley woman at a WalMart told law enforcement she was being stalked.
The Skinny
Can initiative efforts survive the new rules created by the Arizona Legislature to hamstring ballot props? And ADI honcho Lori Hunnicutt joins staff of Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller
Cabaret of Sunshine
The best sizzling sounds are the music and voices—and laughter and applause—brought to us by the Invisible Theatre
Tribal Politics
When President Trump was elected almost two years ago, a wave of uncertainty overcame the Tohono O’odham Nation.
City Week
Fun happenings around Tucson this week
Under Threat
The country’s polarization of conservatives and liberals is never forgotten in the small town of Arivaca.
Reel Indie
Movies to catch in indie cinemas around Tucson
Chow: Finding the Sweet Spot
The Chocolate Iguana settles into its new home
Editor’s Note
This week’s note from our editor
