Cover Stories
A Voice in the Wilderness
Photographer Jack Dykinga studies a massive saguaro boasting downward circling arms, mentally envisioning the image he might capture. He ignores a cat’s claw thorn puncture that produces trickling blood on his leg.
Review Re-ignites Battle Over Federal Land Use
The road to Ironwood Forest National Monument from Interstate 10 at Red Rock exit winds first through a subdivision, then past a cattle feedlot and fallow cotton fields edged by rough-hewn wooden posts strung with barbed wire.
Beat the Heat With These Great Summertime Flicks
As we find ourselves amid monsoon season, treat yourself to a summertime blockbuster to beat the midafternoon, pre-monsoon heat. The Loft Cult Classic Series (every Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m.): On Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, The Loft will show neo-noir thriller Lost Highway. This film is a classically David Lynch flick, rich…
T.H.R.E.A.T. Watch: The Frog Pot Heats Up
It’s been awhile since my last T.H.R.E.A.T. (Trump Human Rights Erosion And Termination) Watch post. That’s because things haven’t deteriorated as rapidly as I feared in the areas that worry me most: the suppression of free speech, including suppression of the press, and the targeting of minority groups and immigrants. All kinds of other things have gone…
In The Flesh: Coffee Jitters at A Cartel Open Mic
Silence filled the room as Angie Barkley sung and played her ukulele. Nina Mary performed three original poems—And Mary is a regular so the crowd was respectful and quieted down to listen to her newest pieces. A band performed three light-hearted love songs followed by poetry from Kiana Hamilton. And each had a generous eight minutes…
In The Flesh: Black Marble, Body of Light, and Draa at Club Congress
First, Tempe’s Draa silenced the room. The poppy openers didn’t put people to sleep, instead put them into a dream. People closed eyes and swayed, only slipping back into reality between songs to applaud. The next two acts were minimal two-piece synth outifits. Sun City, Arizona’s Body of Light was up next, and the center of the…
Check Out All These Sweet Summertime Cinema Series!
This week, the Tucson film community delivers a little somethin’ somethin’ for everyone—whether you’re feeling goofy or heartfelt, we’ve got just the moviegoing experience for you! The Loft Cult Classic Series (every Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m.): On Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8, The Loft will show Idiocracy, a science fiction comedy…
‘A’ Mountain, a Fire
The Fourth of July is synonymous with watermelon, barbeque and fireworks. Here in Tucson, it’s all those things and more, with “more” being the annual grass-fire on Sentinel Peak, aka “A” Mountain. This years’ torching was more extensive than past years, with the entire south-face of the peak erupting in flames for well over three…
Chicken Flies, Comes Back Down
The world witnessed a chicken reach unprecedented heights, only to return to Earth early due to a technical malfunction. World View Enterprises launched a Kentucky Fried Chicken Zinger sandwich in near-space on June 29 near Page, Arizona. The launch was delayed a week due to weather concerns and carried out in Page instead of the…
More On the Free College Tuition Front: The Pay It Forward Plan
Calls for free or nearly free college tuition are gaining momentum. That’s not surprising given the increasing cost of college and the skyrocketing level of student loan debt. In 2009, Americans owed $150 billion in student loans. In 2017, it’s up to $1.3 trillion. And that number will keep climbing as interest rates go up.…
Namibia Needs a Home
Hi, I’m Namibia. I am a 6-year-old pastel girl looking for the purr-fect home. When people walk by my kennel I make a unique chipping noise to let them know to come see me. I am shy until I get to know you so I will need time to adjust to my new home. I…
Huppenthal, History and Ethnic Studies
The Mexican American Studies trial is a trip down memory lane for me, especially with former Education Superintendent John Huppenthal on the stand. Back when he was using his two aliases, Thucydides and Falcon 9, to comment on blogs across the state, my posts were on the receiving end of much of his anonymous wit,…
Artist Richard Zelens Stages Open Studio and Sale at His Home This Weekend
Expressionist painter Richard Zelens has been showing his colorful works in many galleries of late. He had a lovely sky-and-mountain piece in the Day for Night show up at Tohono Chul this past winter and he’s turned into a regular at Raices Taller and Contreras. In fact, right now he’s working on several small pieces…
Home at Last
On Flag Day, city officials cut the ribbon on a new housing development for chronically homeless veterans, which includes supportive services to help veterans lead healthy and independent lives.
Police Dispatch
The bicycle thief
Know Your Product
Shoegaze, avant-garde alternative, indie rock, garage-something—all somewhat lazy descriptives that have been aimed at Pennsylvania rockers The Districts.
The Skinny
The abhorrent Republican health care plan, plus firefighter Gary Watson’s campaign lives to see another day.
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Gabacho: You heard about how Donald Trump wants to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and equip it with solar panels? Your idea is stupider.
School’s Out!
Live Theatre Workshop’s full-length show, based on Charles M. Schultz’s long-running, classic comic strip, “Peanuts,” features a bunch of kids dealing with kids’ problems, like school, siblings, and friends with all their differing, and often difficult, personalities.
Vintage Vinyl
KTKT’ DJ Frank Casanova was a local icon in the late ’60s, hosting his regular slot as well as his late night “Threshold” show, also on KTKT, which featured the heavier “underground/acid rock” sounds of the day.
Wretched Robots
Bob Grimm on why the final Transformers movie is really awful.
Police Dispatch
Envelope of cash looking for its rightful owner
C’mon C’mon!
A Q&A with Hank Topless and Al Perry
Rattus Norvegicus
“Conceived on tour, on the road to Berlin. Eagle spirit adorned in Lake Tahoe during our wedding ceremony,” says papa Howe Gelb of daughter Patsy, songwriting frontwoman of glammy power-poppers Patsy’s Rats.
MOCA Metamorphosis
Ginger Porcella, her husband, artist Don Porcella, and her two disconsolate pups departed balmy San Diego for Tucson in April, when she began her new job as executive director and curator at MOCA-Tucson.
Tucson Salvage
You get that Golden’s tired of operating a thrift/antiques store. He’s tired of folks, and would rather be a survivalist on 10,000 acres, away from the numbers, that place where no one expects anything.
Campus Criminals
In case you missed it, possessing marijuana on college campuses has been legal for almost two months for medical cardholders. But that may soon change…
Editor’s Note
In this episode of the Tucson Weekly, a great profile of award-winning photographer Jack Dykinga.
Critical Care
An excerpt from Jim Nintzel’s recent Q&A with Rep. Tom O’Halleran
Meaty Matters
Ben Forbes is not a native to Tucson—in fact it took him a while to get here—but you’ve seen his work and you know him from the flavor, and texture, of that perfectly cooked steak you had the other night.
Cinema Clips: The Bad Batch
Writer-director Ana Lily Amirpour follows up her notable feature debut, the authentic vampire story A Girl Walks Home at Night, with another horror story. This time out, it’s cannibals. Suki Waterhouse plays Arlen, newly exiled to a desert landscape where she is quickly captured by cannibals and watches as her arm and leg are cut…
