Pardon Our Interruption
If you blinked, you will have missed the brief downtime experienced in the last 30 minutes or so of the blog. Now that we’re back, we can point you in the direction of the new issue for this week.
The Slow Descent Into Insanity
It was yet another beautiful day in Southern China, as our group woke up to a sunny day in Hangzhou. We headed off on a boat cruise on West Lake, and then went into a tea-farming area that was beyond gorgeous. After lunch, we went to Lingyin Temple, which is 1,600 years old and one…
Tales of Worm Poop and Gucci Knockoffs
Greetings from Hangzhou, China, where our tour group is staying in a Howard Johnson hotel. I swear to God, it has to be the nicest HoJo in the world. It is 24 stories tall, with a bar at the top floor where you can look over the majestic beauty (and I mean that) of this…
Your Source for Celebrity Gossip
Check the April 5 Tucson Weekly for an interview with Tucson “Scream Queen” Elske McCain, who’ll be appearing Friday, April 13, at the Loft’s 12-hour Scream-O-Rama event. Here’s what McCain had to say about working with child star Dana Plato: “She was really sweet. Basically, it was when I was 17, and it was really…
A Comment on the Prevalence of Western Culture
OK, so Western culture has definitely infiltrated China. I have seen McDonald’s, Starbucks, Pizza Huts, and the ubiquitous Col. Sanders many, many times since landing in China several days ago. (I even saw a Ford on the road once!) But tonight, things went too far. We were at a restaurant eating dinner (on the menu:…
Live From Suzhou
Hey, kids. The blog is now in Southern China. We flew from Beijing to Shanghai this morning, before zipping on a bus to Suzhou. (Our tour guide explained that Suzhou is a small city, seeing as only 6 million people live here.) We then had a delightful lunch—well, all but two people in our group…
Blog From Beijing
Greetings, everyone, from beautiful Beijing! I have been here for two days and change now; tomorrow, my group is heading south, to Shanghai. It’s been a memorable two days. More details to come later, but here are some notes from the capital city of China: It’s apparently acceptable for men to pull over their cars…
Modest Proposal
State prisoners would be working in hotels, restaurants and construction sites under a proposal expected to be unveiled at the Legislature next week. House Bill 2997, sponsored by a number of conservative Republicans, would put prisoners to work to replace illegal immigrants in the hospitality, agriculture and construction industries, among others. “I’d rather have American…
OK in China
The Tucson Weekly Web site is not banned in China. At least that’s according to the Great FireWall of China, one of myriad tools that spring up all over the Web to do nifty things. The link that proposes to show what TW looks like on the Chinese Web does not, however, appear to be…
E-Candidate
Democrat Daniel Patterson, the enviro who is considering a run against Republican Mayor Bob Walkup this November, has put up a Web site for his proto-campaign. So far, it’s mostly links back to his blog. Patterson says he’ll make up his mind in the next few weeks. It’s also his 36th birthday. Many happy returns,…
In-n-Out Update
I drive by In-n-Out a lot on Broadway/El Con Mall and it looks finished. I just called corporate headquarters and she very hesitantly said that April 19 was going to be the opening date. I will check back as it gets closer.
Noshing Around
New: Crave Espresso Bar Crave recently opened at 4530 E. Broadway Blvd. Since it’s near my neighborhood, I peeked inside and delighted in the colorful urban/retro vibe. Crave also makes a small selection of desserts daily. The scones are fluffy, not hockey pucks; 325-3637. Passover Dining On Monday, April 2, and Tuesday, April 3, Elle…
City Week
Our top picks of what to do and where to do it for the week.
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Danehy
Meet the 137 readers who have WAY too much time on their hands
Performance Art on Drugs
The most psychedelic ’70s film returns to the big screen
Lose Yourself in the Music
Highlights, revelations and observations from SXSW 2008
Tuttle
Some modest proposals for beating the impending heat
Messy Message
An uneven script and two different Adam Sandlers doom ‘Reign Over Me’
Soundbites
A RE-ENERGIZED SUN VOLT When Belleville, Ill.’s Uncle Tupelo released their debut album, No Depression (Rockville), in 1990, few could have predicted that it would spawn its own genre. Never mind that country, punk and rock had been tossed together previously (anyone remember cowpunk?); from that moment on, No Depression, or alternately, alt-country or Americana,…
Guest Commentary
Hey, kids: Look at all the facts before considering enlistment
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with Karen Pomroy
Nine Questions
Matt Tuck
Some FAQs
A note from the editor.
Now Showing at Home
“Twin Peaks: The Second Season,” “Rocky Balboa,” and “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple”
Live
West by Southwest Tucson New Music Festival, Various Venues, March 13, 19 and 20
¡Ask a Mexican!
Why should Mexican nationals have more of a right to stay in this country than anyone else?
Pick of the Week
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Rhythm & Views
“Apocrypha” comes from the Greek for “hidden,” and usually refers to something inauthentic, with questionable origin. Its etymological cousin “apocalypse,” on the other hand, means to reveal, to uncover. Violinist and multi-instrumental magician Andrew Bird’s music has always balanced both apocrypha and apocalypse: On 2005’s The Mysterious Production of Eggs, “Tables and Chairs” told us…
Mailbag
Howls of outrage and squeals of delight from our astonished fans.
Indie Watch
What’s happening in the world of independent film in Tucson.
Rhythm & Views
Somehow, Modest Mouse transitioned from a hardscrabble, DIY trio into a refined and imposing six-piece monstrosity without losing their bizarre charm. After more than 10 years as a band and countless albums, EPs and excursions (personal and professional), Modest Mouse is–in spite of setbacks, changes of plans and an awkward shuffle into the limelight–undeniably impressive.…
Portraits in Biodiesel
Meet Tucsonans working with plants and oil from restaurants to end our dependence on fossil fuels
Rhythm & Views
Doesn’t Casually Smashed to Pieces sound like an album title that should have come out of the early ’90s? Fittingly, Causally Smashed to Pieces has this ’90s indie-rock air to it, sort of like what Superchunk would have sounded like had they been less angry, with a twinge more country and instrumental. Slide guitar hides…
Beating the Rap
A Border Patrol agent and whistleblower is acquitted of charges he claims were retaliation for speaking out
Top Ten in Music
Toxic Ranch Records top sales for the week
Home Sweet Home
As costs rise, nonprofits are scrambling to help Tucsonans buy houses
Premature Demises
These three decent–but flawed–plays center around women dealing with death
A New Direction
The search is on for someone to head Tucson’s growing LGBT community center
Bang on This!
Scrap Arts Music brings in the noise, brings in the ‘Phonk!’
Advice in Jeopardy
After losing city funding, Information and Referral Services may close up shop
Choreography Clinic
Ballet Tucson’s latest show aims to show viewers how dances are created
The Skinny
TOUCH AND GO Everybody keeps saying that Congress has until August to push through some sort of comprehensive immigration-reform package. If it takes any longer than that, lawmakers will be too caught up in the 2008 election cycle to get anything done. Well, it’s nice to know that they can at least work for eight…
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books top sales for the week ending March 23, 2007 On the Night You Were Born Nancy Tillman, Feiwel and Friends ($16.95) Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires Esther and Jerry Hicks, Hay House ($14.95) Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters Mark Dunn, Anchor ($12.95) The March: A Novel…
The Range
A recap of last week’s news
The Mother Mountains
Jeff Biggers’ loving tale of life in the Sierra Madre reminds readers of what’s really important
Media Watch
‘Citizen’ Publisher Says He Likes Paper’s Standing
Taste for a Price
Vila’s offers some of Tucson’s best Thai cuisine–but be ready to pay out the nose
Police Dispatch
Peer Pressure Vail, Feb. 26, 10:10 p.m. A witness said he saw a Jeep going down the road with a mailbox stuck to its undercarriage, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report said. The 22-year-old man said the Jeep passed by with the mailbox attached; eventually, the mailbox came free, he said, and the vehicle continued…
