Cover Story
Family Portraits
It wasn’t an easy decision to leave Tucson. After all, Laura Briggs loves this desert, as well as the family and community she grew to love during more than 16 years of teaching at the University of Arizona. However, the Legislature’s actions—especially a recent law giving married couples (aka straight couples) preference when placing children…
Coming Soon: Copyright Criminals
The Salazar-Ajo Library will be screening the 2010 documentary Copyright Criminals, looking at music sampling and the conflict between commercial and creative interests.The free showing is Friday, July 1, at 1:30 p.m. For more information visit the film’s website.
Artistic Range: James Cook at Davis Dominguez Gallery
“Harbor Study #2,” by James Cook, is on display in Small Things Considered: 19th Small Works Invitational, continuing through July 2, at David Dominguez Gallery, 154 E. 6th St.
Local Horse Program Helping Others
After feeling the glare of national and international media for tragedy and controversy, it’s nice to have Tucson linked to something positive in an article about the Origins Society and Global College picked up by MSNBC. Ali Altmer gives the thumbs-up to onlookers after finally getting on a horse on her fifth attempt. Mounting a…
Beer Can Robot Exists to Frighten Drunk People
This seems like the set up for a great prank – a transforming beer can that shuffles across the table – but I think if you bought this robot, you should be prepared for one of your intoxicated friends to try to smash it due to their alcohol impaired inability to accurately assess fear. [Laughing…
Live From Mars!
We wish we could blast off and visit Mars right now, but we’ll have to settle for a glimpse of the Red Planet, courtesy of the UA Lunar and Planetary Lab’s HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Here’s a shot of light-toned dunes on the Meridiani Planum: Located in a small unnamed crater just…
On an Intern’s Wages: Torta Thursday at Molcas
Every Thursday all summer, my friends and I meet up at Molcas Mexican Grill for half-priced tortas. The meat-filled sandwiches are hardly expensive to begin with: My favorite, the carne asada, is just $5 on most days. What’s more, one serving is usually enough for two people, cutting my gang’s Thursday lunch expenses to just…
Padres Offer Fun Baseball and One-Dollar Hot Dogs Tonight
Samantha Sais The Tucson Padres suffered a tough loss in the bottom of the 10th last night, but they’re back on the field to redeem themselves at 7 p.m. tonight. It’s also Wiener Wednesday, which means you can get a hot dog for just one dollar. And don’t forget: Tomorrow is Thirsty Thursday, sponsored by…
One Night Only: A Look Into Harper Lee’s Life at The Loft
Tonight, the Loft takes a look at the life of Harper Lee with Hey, Boo, a documentary about the reclusive author of To Kill a Mockingbird. One night only, 7:30 p.m. showtime.T More from the Loft: Filmmaker Mary McDonagh Murphy’s illuminating new documentary HEY, BOO explores Lee’s life and unravels some of the mysteries surrounding…
A Reminder: Hide Your Information on Facebook
Maybe you’re not the sort that posts your drunken escapades or other wildly embarrassing moments online, but it might be worth taking a look at your Facebook privacy settings, especially since an employment screening company will be archiving all Facebook information left public for their use: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has given the thumbs…
Palin Buscapade Comes To a Sudden End
Hank Stephenson Does this mean we won’t be seeing Sarah Palin in Scottsdale anytime soon? Real Clear Politics reports that the Palin clan is taking another vacation from their summer vacation and retreating to their Alaskan home: Though Palin and her staff never announced a timeline for the remaining legs of her trip, aides had…
This Young Actress Wants You to See Her Show
The cast sings “Heartbreak Hotel.” Young reader Mary Yohem asked us to post this. So we’re following her directions: Be-Bop has come to town!!By Mary Yohem, special to the Tucson Weekly Elvis is making a comeback performance in Tucson! Well, not the real Elvis or some lame impersonator, but his legendary music, for sure! Catalina…
Derrick Williams Talks Yoga, Thanks Arizona Fans Profusely
ESPN’s SportsNation hosted a live chat with Derrick Williams yesterday. The former U of A basketball star discussed his pre-NBA draft workout, his hopes to win Rookie of the Year and his gratitude for all the Arizona fans, which is so strong that he thanks us three times in a row. (You’re welcome!) Some highlights:…
Amazing New Camera Far Too Smart For Me Coming Soon
Click on the above photo somewhere. Watch as the focus changes. The forthcoming Lytro camera allows the user to shoot digital photos and then play around with the focal point of the image using computer software later. Worried that you’re missing the point with what you’re photographing? Just shoot stuff and work out the details…
(Summertime) News You Can Use: Pool Urination Editon
Science fiction blog io9 is tackling the tough issues of our day, literally researching two websites to find out whether you can urinate in a pool without consequence: Most of us have heard, at some point during our childhood, that before we go in the pool there was something we should know. Everyone knew that…
Sure, Tom Hanks, Spanish Language Weatherman. Why Not?
So this happened yesterday. Hanks seems to be understanding what the anchors are saying, even if he’s not replying in Spanish, which probably means he had an earpiece or something, otherwise, this would almost be exactly like a reoccurring nightmare I’ve had.
Saggy-Butt Pants Get Man Arrested, Sheep Hired to Mow School Lawn, and More: Rynski Radio at Party934
Update with playlist and download at bottom of post Photo Ryn Gargulinski Got grass? While saggy pants and exposed underwear or a butt crack have been the rage across the nation, they are decidedly unpopular at San Francisco International Airport. In fact, wearing saggy pants led to the arrest of a University of New Mexico…
Tucson Losing in Magazine Contest to Inferior Tennessee Town
While I’m thrilled that Tucson is crushing Portland, Oregon in the largely meaningless poll conducted by Outside Magazine, for some reason our fair city is trailing Chattanooga, Tennessee with a few days left to go. Possibly you didn’t know that you can vote every day? That you can win a trip to one of the…
Gannett to Lay Off 700 Employees
Gannett Blog published a corporate memo sent to more than 20,000 Gannett employees today to announce the newspaper company plans to layoff 700 workers this year: While we have sought many ways to reduce costs, I regret to tell you that we will not be able to avoid layoffs. Accordingly, approximately 700 employees within USCP,…
Faith Leaders: ‘Ethnic Studies Program is a Valuable Educational Program’
On Thursday, June 16, a group of Tucson clergy issued a letter in support of ethnic studies: June 16, 2011 Dear Board Members, As faith leaders within the Tucson community we join the growing chorus of voices in defense of Ethnic Studies. The recent release of the audit has only affirmed what we have long…
John C. Scott Enters an Area Which We Call the Twilight Zone
I’ve been up in Seattle for a few days, so I’ve missed some recent court action. I’m a little sad that I didn’t get to see Marshall Home declare that Jonathan Rothschild was an agent of the Queen of England, but judging from what Gibson reported, the whole thing went on a little too long,…
RIP, Onion Sportsdome
Onion SportsDome It seems that fewer than a million people watched each episode of the Onion Sportsdome, so I blame you, fellow Americans for not providing the show with the support it needed. Now Comedy Central has canceled the show (along with the Norm McDonald sports-themed ripoff of The Daily Show, which I have no…
Pima County GOP Now Seeks Write-In Candidate for Mayor
Attorney Bill Risner is doing his best this afternoon to put a stake in Republican Shaun McClusky’s mayoral campaign to prevent any chance of McClusky running as a write-in candidate. That would leave Republicans with no candidate for mayor—and that, in turn, would hurt the electoral chances of the GOP City Council candidates Tyler Vogt…
Padres Back in Tucson Tonight
Samantha Sais The T-Pads, who have already hit the halfway mark in the season, return to Tucson tonight to start a eight-game homestand that will include all sorts of great promotions, including Wiener Wednesday and fireworks on Saturday. And if you haven’t made it to Thirsty Thursday yet, you’d better go this week. It’s the…
The New Caffe Luce Location Is Open
University-area folks have had it good with café and microroastery Caffe Luce keeping them caffeinated for the past four years. Now those a bit farther north can get some of that good stuff, too, with the new location of Caffe Luce open for business at 4205 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 125. Owner Michael Foster said…
Phoenix to Host Greatest Concert in Bearded Hipster History
I’m generally not inclined to announce concerts in Phoenix, mostly because I hate the idea that our evil cousin to the north might have the opportunity to enjoy something we don’t in Tucson, but a bill featuring Pitchfork-endorsed Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes (who sold out their show here in May), and the Walkmen is a…
Bristol Palin: No Fan of Sen. John McCain’s Family
ABC News reports that part-time Maricopa resident Bristol Palin was no fan of Meghan McCain, the daughter of Sen. John McCain, or of the senator’s wife: Palin writes that the first time she met the 26-year-old daughter of Sen. John McCain, she “ignored us during the entire visit.” This was just before Senator McCain introduced…
Risner on McClusky’s Withdrawal From Mayor’s Race: “There Ain’t No Taking Back.”
As The Range noted last night, Republican mayoral candidate Shaun McClusky has announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy before a court hearing today to knock him off the ballot. But attorney Bill Risner, who filed the lawsuit to disqualify McClusky, has filed a motion saying that it’s too late to keep McClusky from being…
Giffords and Kelly to Write Memoir
The New York Times arts blog reports that Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly are planning to write a memoir together. The book will be an account of their courtship, Ms. Giffords’s political career and the attack in Tucson in January that left Ms. Giffords gravely wounded with a gunshot wound to the head, according to…
Get Ready for Christian T-Shirt Wednesdays
Recently in the comment section, someone remarked that a post I put up was “Christian bashing,” because I made a joke at the expense of some dumb aspect of evangelical culture—in that case, a terrible Christian pop singer with a flair for terrible metaphors. The strange thing about that comment is that I would still…
Things I Didn’t Expect to See: Weird Al and the Roots
Thankfully, Weird Al Yankovic’s first album in five years, Alpocalypse, has provided an opportunity for America’s premier comedy song stylist to surge back into the spotlight where he belonged the whole time. Also, it makes for magical musical moments like the Roots backing Weird Al on “Beer Barrel Polka” on Jimmy Fallon.
Captain Mark Kelly Announces His Retirement
From Captain Mark Kelly’s Facebook page: Today, I am humbled to announce that after 25 years of service to our country, I am retiring from the United States Navy and leaving NASA, effective Oct. 1. Words cannot convey my deep gratitude for the opportunities I have been given to serve our great nation. From the…
Coming Soon: U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt
Another week, another frozen-yogurt shop. This time, the name of the joint is U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt, which is expected to open soon at 3587 E. Broadway Blvd. As the name implies, it will be a self-serve, by-the-ounce shop where you do the swirling. The company website says stores typically serve 18 flavors at a time,…
PCC Women Students Honored
Going back to school after a lengthy hiatus is an admirable feat. Four local women have been recognized for just that by the Casas Adobes Tucson branch of the American Association of University Women. Read more below: The Casas Adobes Tucson Branch of The American Association of University Women’s Joyce Strothmann Scholarship Fund awarded four…
Shaun McClusky Beats Court Challenge to the Punch and Withdraws
Shaun McClusky saw the handwriting on the wall and quit the mayoral race today, ahead of his court date tomorrow. Still, in his press release, he manages to blame Jeff Rogers for a paragraph before acknowledging that the real issue was his ability to get enough qualified signatures from actual Tucson voters: Based on information…
Writer’s Block: Shelley Rosenberg
Accessing Intuition by Sonoita author Shelley Rosenberg has been published. The book outlines “strategies for learning to access and understand our inner voice.” In Accessing Your Intuition, author and equine instructor Shelley R. Rosenberg candidly reveals personal instances in which she gradually began listening to and acting on her intuition. Serving as a progressive guide…
Baldenegro Sr.: ‘A Lie will Endure Only Until the Truth Arrives’
Salomón Baldenegro Sr. offers The Range his own perspective on John Huppenthal’s recent declaration that Tucson Unified School District’s ethnic studies classes violate state law: Estimadas/os: John Huppenthal, Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction, looked right in the cameras on Wednesday, June 15, and lied when he declared that the findings of the $110,000, 120-page…
Tonight at the Hut: A Band With a Curse?
The Von Ehrics take the stage at 9 p.m., tonight, at The Hut, 305 N. Fourth Ave. Their shows are only to be experienced by the “fearless and curious.” Read more about their alleged curse below. Jason Janik The Von Erichs Veteran cow punks the Von Ehrics, named after the infamous family of wrestling brothers,…
Literature With Edge at Casa Libre
It’s that time of the month again, and I’ve got the aches. The poetry aches, that is. Phew! Thank goodness Casa Libre en La Solana is hosting their Edge Reading Series tonight. Jesús Ángel García & Taylor Johnson Monday, June 20, 20117:30 p.m.Suggested Donation: $5 Come to Edge: A Reading Series of Emerging and Younger…
Down Goes Darcy
Another mayoral candidate bites the dust as Pat Darcy’s bid for the office as an independent ended for 2011 today in court. Darcy, like Republicans Shaun McClusky (whose court date is tomorrow) and Ron Asta (who lost his challenge on Friday), didn’t have enough of a margin to survive a signature challenge. More on the…
Really, Facebook? That’s How Little You Think of Me?
In a recent Facebook development that no one likely cared about or asked for, Facebook added a strange voting feature on their sidebar in which you can rank things, if you’ve run out of interesting things to do with your time and energy. I’m a big fan of the game “Would You Rather”, so I’m…
Finally, a 90 Minute Documentary About Easy Listening
Sadly, it took the BBC (and not one of our lazy American media outlets) to have the wisdom to fully investigate the rise and success of the easy listening movement, but now that their ninety minute documentary is on YouTube (in six parts, unfortunately), you can watch and listen as Richard Carpenter discusses the genius…
Fake News Site Asks for Real Pulitzer
I can’t lie, I’m a little jealous that a line of famous and/or influential people are lining up to support The Onion and their seemingly expensive campaign to win a Pulitzer Prize. Sure, we’d love a Pulitzer here at the Weekly, but we’re not likely to get Tom Hanks to record a YouTube video on…
Attack of the Monster Vegetables
Slate.com has an awesome slide show up of giant vegetables in honor of Eat Your Vegetables Day tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but I wanna get lost in that giant cabbage overhead.
Important Website Informs Us That the New Bon Iver Album Is Amazing
It’s been three years since Justin Vernon’s music project under the name Bon Iver released the album For Emma, Forever Ago, but since then, it’s been a pretty wild ride for Vernon, recording tracks with Kanye West and performing with the soft-rock supergroup Gayngs. According to indie tastemaker Pitchfork, Bon Iver’s new self-titled album is…
The Big Man’s Dead
Clarence Clemons, Springsteen’s Soulful Sideman, Dies at 69 From the beginnings of the E Street Band in 1972, Mr. Clemons played a central part in Mr. Springsteen’s music, complementing the group’s electric guitar and driving rhythms in songs like “Born to Run” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” with muscular, melodic saxophone hooks that echoed doo-wop, soul…
Arizona Fires Continue to Burn Through the National Media
While the smoke and fire continue to engulf Arizona homes, the national media is continuing to follow the fires closely. High winds on Sunday posed a tough challenge to firefighters battling wildfires in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, where powerful gusts helped the blazes spread quickly. The Monument fire just south of the city of…
Papers, Please: ACLU Asks Huppenthal for Documentation
In response to Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal’s determination that the Tucson Unified School District is out of compliance regarding the anti-ethnic studies law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona issued a press release on Thursday, June 16, saying that it wants all Department of Education records relating to Huppenthal’s investigation for an…
McClusky: Come to Court and Send Money
With Ron Asta off the ballot, Shaun McClusky sent this letter out to supporters asking for a little help from his friends: Letter To All Of My Supporters It’s down to this. Today a judge removed Ron Asta from the ballot due to insufficient signatures. On Tuesday, I go before the same judge to fight…
Ethnic Studies: Huppenthal and the Art of Arizona Politics
When it comes to the ongoing ethnic studies story in Arizona, it’s difficult to figure out where to start first. Last week, the Tucson Weekly ran a story on Tucson Police Department Chief Roberto Villaseñor responding to criticism of the police presence at the May 3 TUSD governing board meeting. It wasn’t until an active…
Eugene G. Sander: Interim UA President
The University of Arizona announced today that the Arizona Board of Regents appointed Eugene G. Sander as UA’s interim president: Sander will serve on an interim basis until a permanent replacement for Robert N. Shelton is named. He will transition into the role immediately in coordination with Shelton, who begins his new job as head…
Another Zinburger Location
Montana Avenue at 6390 E. Grant Road is closing, and another Zinburger will be opening there. This is all expected to happen in mid-August, when Montana Avenue closes for a week while workers do the old swaparoo. Tucson is fast becoming one burger-laden city. Recent years have brought two Monkey Burger spots, the gigantic Lindy’s…
Idiot Boksen – South Park v. Family Guy (The Self-Referential Round)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54613395@N00/ In May 2010, Fox aired the 150th episode of Family Guy. Entitled “Brian & Stewie”, the one-hour special episode took place entirely inside a bank vault and exclusively featured the two titular characters. At least I think it featured them exclusively. The episode was unlike any Family Guy episode I’d ever seen. It was…
Ron Asta Off the Ballot; Mayoral Race Down to Five
In a development that at least means far fewer “steak in the pants” jokes, Ron Asta was removed from contention in the mayoral race this afternoon at the Pima County Courthouse. I’m not entirely sure what we’re going to do with RonAsta.com now, but this leaves Jonathan Rothschild unopposed in the Democratic primary, Shaun McClusky…
Just a Bear Taking a Bath
It’s Friday and this bear knows what’s up: get into a large tub of water and relax for a bit. [The Awl]
Gabrielle Giffords Coming Back to Tucson This Weekend
Another great milestone: Gabrielle Giffords is coming home to visit with her family for Father’s Day. From her office’s press release: TUCSON — U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will return to her hometown of Tucson this weekend for a brief private visit with her family. Giffords will make no public appearances and will grant no interviews…
New Season of “Dexter” Still About Him Killing People, It Seems
I’m not quite sure I get the appeal of Showtime’s Dexter. I watched the first five episodes or so, and I couldn’t really get my head around why I wanted to watch a show about a serial killer (even if he was ostensibly a “good” one) and some of the acting seemed so wooden that…
Berky’s Bar Will Soon Be a Sports Bar
Berky’s Bar at 5769 E. Speedway Blvd. will reopen next month as an upscale sports bar. Richard McClelland, who bought the place after it closed abruptly a couple years back, says he’s completely renovated the interior and added 30 big-screen televisions, more than half of which are 3-D. He says patrons will be able to…
This Week in Tucson Bicycling
Michael McKisson/TucsonVelo.com Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords poses with her bike after a ride in October 2010. Great news from the Gabrielle Giffords camp. In addition to going home from the hospital, she also got back on a bicycle. Read more about the bike rehab and her love of cycling. A music video director accidentally captures a…
Ron Asta’s Mayoral Eligibility Hearing Is Today
Ron Asta gets his day in court today as he faces an eligibility challenge to his mayoral candidacy from Nicolle Callahan. Early word is that not enough of Asta’s signatures held up to scrutiny, so he might be off the ballot rather quickly. The challenges to the candidacies of Shaun McClusky and Pat Darcy don’t…
Finalists Announced for This Year’s Iron Chef Competition
The results are in, and Ryan Clark of the restaurant at Lodge on the Desert will compete against Steven Schultz of Red Sky inside Luna Bella at this year’s Iron Chef Tucson competition. Chef Schultz has cooked his way around the world — Paris, Switzerland and Australia — and he’s held positions locally at the…
The Jolt Is Off the Air
As of this morning, troubled radio station KJLL stopped broadcasting on its frequency, AM 1330. As detailed in Media Watch in this week’s issue of the Tucson Weekly, the station recently underwent a major management change. Dawn Avalon took over as vice president, and in short order three long-time employees concluded their associations with the…
College Students Find Debt “Empowering”
The New York Times money blog reported yesterday that college students today view student loans and credit card debt as “a positive signal about their potential future earnings” rather than as a burden. As a college sophomore, I don’t see why this is a bad thing — I might be living in a cardboard box…
Marshall Home, Give Me Back My Life
After the morning session of the Marshall Home Litigation Experience today, I actually felt sort of bad for the guy. Despite the frequently nonsensical nature of his arguments, I sort of wanted him to find a way to stay on the ballot. Any goodwill I might have had towards the guy wore off somewhere in…
Want to Read the Ethnic Studies Audit?
Read it for yourself. Maybe you’ll agree with John Huppenthal. Anything is possible. AZ_MASD_Audit_Final_1_.pdf
Artistic Range: Jan Olsson at Davis Dominguez
“Two Models” by Jan Olsson is on display in Small Things Considered-19th Small Works Invitational, continuing through July 2, at Davis Dominguez Gallery http://www.davisdominguez.com/, 145 E. 6th Street.
Canuck Fans Gone Wild
I was bummed that the Vancouver Canucks lost the Stanley Cup last night to the Boston Bruins 4-0, but these folks were downright PISSED! Word to the wise: despite the generally agreeable nature of most Canadians, don’t mess with Canuck fans.
A View From Mars
Thanks to the UofA’s HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) we get an awesome glimpse into life on Mars every week! Below is a picture of active sand dunes in the Nili Patera region: The resolution and ability of the HiRISE camera to take multiple images of the same target has allowed scientists to monitor…
Bicyclist Sticks It To The Man
In case you haven’t contributed to the 3.3 million views this video racked up in the week since it was posted, allow me to introduce you to the brazen slapstick irreverence that is “Bike Lanes.” Tucson cyclists have horror stories about sharing the streets with aggressive motorists, but evidently, our obstacles pale in comparison to…
The First Half of Marshall Home’s Day in Court
At this point, we have to know that any event with Marshall Home is going to be a strange occasion, full of odd accusations and statements. It took fifteen minutes for Home to show up for the court proceeding (although he was apologetic for the delay), but he didn’t really disappoint, launching into an opening…
“That’s Gabby, She’s Back”
The Poynter Institute interviewed P.K. Weis about getting the chance to take the first published photos of Gabrielle Giffords since the Jan. 8 shooting. Weis, who has known Giffords for more than a decade, said in a phone interview that he didn’t know what to expect when he arrived at the hospital. “There were a…
Frank Antenori Wants Your Help to Make Important Decisions
Connected to Mari’s post on Frank Antenori’s aspirations to run for Congress, our lovable state Senator has a poll on his Facebook page allowing you, the citizen, to express your opinion. At first, the only options were “Yes, we need you in Congress”, “Yes, run and I will help you”, and “No, stay in the…
From Frank: ‘Should I Run for Congress?’
From Frank “I’m not from Tucson Hippyville” Antenori, posted on his Facebook page today: Should I run for Congress?by Frank Antenori on Wednesday, 15 June 2011 at 22:30 Over the past few weeks many have emailed me or asked me in person if I would run for Congress. The answer is Yes, I am now…
You Should Go See Mexicans With Guns
Club Congress’ Thursday night dance party, Optimist Club, has always been a big deal, but the lineup of acts they’re bringing to Tucson this summer is outstanding, from now until late August when Big Freedia returns to make the Old Pueblo bounce. Tonight’s headliner is San Antonio’s Mexicans With Guns, whose new album Ceremony reflects…
Possibly Everything You Need to Know About Michelle Bachmann
Photo by Gage Skidmore, Flickr To her credit, Michelle Bachmann seems to really believe what she has to say. However, what she has to say might be rooted in another era no one should want to go back to. In the statehouse, Bachmann made opposition to gay marriage her signature issue. Both she and her…
Flavor Wanted
A menu is like a promise. Diners make choices based on what they read, trusting that what is described will show up on their plates. Unfortunately, at the Tucson Pita Jungle location, the menu far too often says one thing—and the food says another. Let’s start with some starters. The spelling and punctuation here are…
Celebrating Tucson’s Refugees
Each year, about 800 refugees who have been persecuted due to their race, nationality and/or political opinions flee their homeland and find sanctuary here in Tucson, according to the International Rescue Committee of Tucson. Currently, the Old Pueblo is home to some 11,000 refugees from more than 55 nations. For some, moving to Tucson includes…
Happiness Ahead
Dan Savage wished he could have helped Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old Indiana boy who killed himself in September 2010 after going through brutal anti-gay bullying. Savage, who is gay, said he would have given Lucas a simple message: “Things do get better after high school.” The “Savage Love” columnist then realized it wasn’t too late…
Noshing Around
Sushi Garden moves to Broadway Village; Zayna Mediterranean opens on Speedway; Craft beer tastings at Maynard’s; and more!
City Week
Earth Walk 2011; Celebrating James Joyce; The Three Bad Wolves; Orchids galore!
TQ&A
The gender-bending drag-king ensemble Boys R Us and its production arm, Fluxx Productions, have had a permanent home since March, in a former art studio at 414 E. Ninth St. Executive director Dante Celeiro says the Fluxx Studio and Gallery space will help the group expand into more projects that explore gender. At that space,…
True Entertainers
Life in the Black Lips is life without brakes. Through six records of relentless garage-punk and a dozen years of performances soaked with infamous debauchery (and plenty of bodily fluids), the band hasn’t slowed a step. The Black Lips’ mission statement is honest, blunt and borne of a brutal commitment to never stop playing their…
Pure Entertainment
Everybody knows that Tucson summers sizzle. So why fight it? Seize the sizzle! The Invisible Theatre has done just that over the last 20 years, channeling that heat to create some really cool concerts. Back in 1990, Susan Claassen, of the Invisible Theatre, joined with actor/singer Jack Neubeck, pianist and arranger Jeffrey Haskell and singer…
Gargulinski
Goats, rats, gerbils, cats, dogs and a skink that seems to hate me have all been my pets at one time or another, but I’ve never had a pig. I may have dated a few, but I’ve never had one as a pet. Actually, using the term “pig” as a putdown is quite rude—to the…
Getting Over the Pain
The Esperanza Dance Project concert this Saturday night will open with a dance that radiates joy. “Sisters of Grace,” which debuted at the O-T-O anniversary show last June, celebrates the connection between women. Choreographed by Esperanza artistic director Beth Braun, the seven-minute work is “classical modern dance about a sense of sisterhood,” Braun says. Danced…
Mailbag
Get rid of golf for other sports; Corrections
Little Masterpieces
Arizona is burning. North, south and east, flames are leaping through forests and deserts, engulfing trees and incinerating cacti. Thousands of acres are scorched, and the skies are stained with smoke. In this year of Armageddon, it’s only natural that the art of disaster captures our attention. The 19th annual small-works invitational at Davis Dominguez,…
Soundbites
Acorn Bcorn’s unique setup; A party for Ricky Dean; and much more!
Perplexing Prosecution
Everyone who has ever watched a Western knows all about trading posts—or thinks they do. Reality is far more interesting than any Hollywood hokum, as we learn in The Case of the Indian Trader. The Navajo were crushed by U.S. government forces led by Kit Carson in 1864. The tattered remnants of the tribe were…
Commentary
I can credit my dad—Lloyd C. Nintzel—for inspiring me to write for a newspaper. My parents split up when I was pretty young; I must have been 6 or 7 years old. I was the youngest of seven kids, and my folks had been married for more than two decades when they realized it wasn’t…
Nine Questions
One of the founders of Bloat Records, Serge has had a hand in many of that label’s projects as a band member (Bebe and Serge, Sonic Titan) and a producer (Bob Log III, Winelord, Monster Pussy). He’s also been an announcer for Tucson Roller Derby for eight years. His current band, The Pork Torta, will…
Top Ten in Music
1. Rainer with Joey Burns and John Convertino Roll Back the Years (Rainer Music Archive) 2. Greg Morton When Pigs Fly (self-released) 3. Kevin Pakulis Band Mockingbird Radio (San Jacinto) 4. Loren Dircks Killing the Magic (Oranguitwang) 5. Ronnie Penque Band Only Road Home (Bayland) 6. Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl Nowhere Man and…
Live
Sure, The Mission Creeps tend toward the dark side. The Tucson-based band describes its fusion of goth, surf, garage, rockabilly and punk as “noir horror rock,” and they even requested that most of the stage lights be turned out when they played at Plush on Saturday. But more than ever, these Creeps proved to be…
Courtroom of the Absurd
The mayoral campaign trail is taking a detour through the courtroom. Superior Court judges will hear arguments on Thursday, June 16, in separate lawsuits that seek to knock Democrats Jonathan Rothschild and Marshall Home off the Aug. 30 primary ballot. Luke Knipe, an activist with the Pima County Democratic Party, filed a lawsuit on Friday,…
Man Man: Life Fantastic (ANTI-)
For a band that essentially occupies a niche—the Beefheart, Zappa, Waits niche—Philadelphia’s Man Man circumvents the easy dip into parody or novelty by making memorable, swaggering music that is somehow simultaneously indebted and unique. On its sturdy fourth full-length, Man Man are more confident and refined, thanks in no small part to the tight production…
Top Ten in Books
1. Drowning Tucson Aaron Michael Morales, Coffee House ($15.95) 2. Sarah/Sara Jacob Paul, Ig ($15.95) 3. Last Dog on the Hill: The Extraordinary Life of Lou Steve Duno, St. Martin’s ($24.99) 4. Twentynine Palms: A True Story of Murder, Marines, and the Mojave Deanne Stillman, Angel City ($19.95) 5. Mustang: The Saga of the Wild…
The Skinny
More legal trouble for Tucson’s mayoral candidates … Ward 1 Councilwoman Regina Romero raises big bucks for her re-election bid … Republican state lawmakers screw the jobless … and so much more!
Dawes: Nothing Is Wrong (ATO/RED)
Thanks to acts such as The John Henrys and Truth and Salvage Co., reviving the 1970s-era Americana rock of The Band has almost become its own subgenre. Los Angeles-based Dawes adds a little Laurel Canyon vibe, evoking the spirits of Jackson Browne and Neil Young. Since it’d be tough to draw from better sources, no…
Getting Existential
Terrence Malick’s beautiful but perplexing The Tree of Life deserves attention, if not because it’s great, then certainly because it’s unique. Malick was poised to become one of America’s landmark directors of the last half of the 20th century. His first film, Badlands, was released in 1973, as contemporaries like Coppola, Scorsese, Spielberg and Lucas…
Priming the Pump
Despite a growing list of private-sector success stories downtown, many central-city supporters don’t want publicly financed incentives reduced. Instead, they believe now is the time to expand them. “It’s the government’s responsibility to develop a successful downtown,” says Michael Keith, CEO of the Downtown Tucson Partnership, which provides maintenance and other services to the area.…
Graham Reynolds and the Golden Arm Trio: Duke! Three Portraits of Ellington (Innova)
A composer for movies and theater, the Austin-based Graham Reynolds also leads the Golden Arm Trio, combining jazz, avant-garde, chamber music and electronica. Reynolds’ latest album, as you can tell from its title, is a tribute to Duke Ellington. Reynolds and company take three different approaches—and each is fascinating. The first third of the CD…
Top Ten in Movies
1. True Grit Paramount 2. Just Go With It Columbia 3. Biutiful Roadside 4. The Company Men Weinstein/Anchor Bay 5. Sanctum Rogue 6. Another Year Sony Pictures Classics 7. Drive Angry Summit 8. I Am Number Four Touchstone/DreamWorks 9. Gnomeo and Juliet Disney 10. Rubber Magnolia
Media Watch
Major personnel and management changes at The Jolt
¡Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: I’m a white girl dating a Mexican from Jalisco who works for my dad. There lies the problem: Dad dislikes him and totally opposes me dating Ignacio and has been almost rude to him, which I don’t like. Some details now: I often visit Dad at his office, and during one of those…
Sad Impersonation
I am all about ’70s Spielberg films. Jaws remains my favorite movie of all time, and will probably hold that title until I’m on my deathbed. Close Encounters is right up there with the best of science-fiction films. As for writer-director J.J. Abrams, I’m a big fan. Lost was an incredible TV show that actually…
Suds Coming
Perhaps Tucsonans should start preparing for the inevitable pretzel shortage. A microbrewery is opening soon downtown; another on the westside should be operational by year’s end; and a popular university-area brewpub will eventually offer its homemade beer alongside the hundreds that it already serves. In downtown Tucson, the owners of Borderlands Brewing Company stand in…
Now Showing at Home
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (Season Cinco); Hall Pass (Blu-ray); True Grit (Blu-ray)
Police Dispatch
King of spades; From meth to weeds
Editor’s Note
This week, we’re running one of the strangest corrections that I have ever seen. You can find it here. Here’s what happened: We received a tip that the local Veterans Affairs folks had brought in Disney to do some sort of employee training. I asked Tim Vanderpool to look into it. Tim asked the local…
Weekly Wide Web
The internet is full of liars; The week on The Range; Comment of the week; and more!
Danehy
Imagine that you’re engaged in an educational enterprise, and it is your responsibility to see to it that the young people who are involved have as equal of an opportunity as possible to participate and succeed. Heading in, you realize that there are two distinct groups of young people, so you want to keep an…
Conflagration Consequences
Rather than charred, tumbling timbers, Dana Davis’ backdrop is an alluring assemblage of daypacks, hiking boots and camp stoves. But this summer’s conflagrations are hitting home nonetheless, as she warily monitors daily sales at her two Summit Hut stores in Tucson. The huge fires—one southeast of Tucson, another in eastern Arizona in the White Mountains—and…
