Cover Story
Listen Up!
Enrique García Naranjo sits at the edge of the table—with his Zia Records black T-shirt, voluminous dark black hair and all. After he fills in his peers on the outcome of this year’s Unity Festival at Tucson High, where he and other Tucson Youth Poetry Slam members slammed, he steps outside to chat. “With poetry,…
Tap & Bottle Welcomes Connor Mansager as First Bar Manager
On the precipice of Tap & Bottle’s two-year anniversary, Rebecca and Scott Safford have decided to make some changes. While the wife-and-husband duo has been running operations largely on their own at their beer and wine bar and bottle shop off of Sixth Avenue since it opened in June 2013, they have now decided to…
Let’s Watch the New Giant Sand Video
Here’s the crazy new video for “Transponder” from Giant Sand’s Heartbreak Pass, which dropped a few weeks ago. For more on Howe Gelb’s three decades with Giant Sand, check out Linda Ray’s terrific TW profile.
Meanwhile, in Other News . . .
Here are a few interesting stories from places other than Arizona. Minnesota Governor Pledges to Veto a $400 Million Increase in School Funds. The problem, according to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, is that a $400 million increase in school funding isn’t enough. He’s demanding that the Republicans add another $125 million to the total. Newark, NJ,…
Bisbee’s Beast Brewing Is Now Selling Bottled Beer
Good news, everyone! You don’t have to drive an hour and a half to get some Beast Brewing beer anymore. That’s because the brewery to the southwest of the Old Pueblo is now selling their first bottled brew. Starting Thursday, May 21, all of the Whole Foods Market locations in Arizona will be carrying 12-ounce…
Win Tickets to See Rebirth Brass Band at the Rialto on Thursday Night
Want to catch Rebirth Brass Band at the Rialto on Thursday night? Cool! We’ve got a pair of tickets to give away. Fill our the entry form to win tickets to the 8 p.m. show. We’ll draw winners at noon on Thursday (as in the day of the show). Good luck! Here’s how the Rialto describes…
Have You Seen Charles?
We know a ton dogs are lost every day but Courtney Robbins is pretty special. She’s out of town and her pup Charles ran off a few days ago. Have you seen him? From the Craigslist post about Charles: Charles/Charlie is a cream colored poodle terrier mix with shortish wavy/curly hair. He weighs between 20-25…
Preserving the San Rafael Valley
If one looks at a map of Arizona, one would see a big blob of National Forest which includes the Patagonia Mountains to the West, the Huachuca Mountains to the East, bordering on Mexico to the South, and extending North into the Canelo Hills almost to the town of Sonoita. It is usually colored green…
Learn about Edible Native Plants at Food Conspiracy Co-Op
Join the Sonoran Herbalist on Thursday, May 21 for an introductory lesson in the edible plants of our desert landscape. At Food Conspiracy Co-op, John Slattery—the Sonoran Herbalist—will be teaching Sonoran foraging, showing which plants in our surrounding area can be used in our kitchens. According to Sonoran Herbalist, there are nearly 400 different edible…
The Douglas-Ducey-Board Plot Thickens
Let me see if I have this straight. Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Diane Douglas, so feared by her fellow Republicans that many of them jumped ship and endorsed Democrat David Garcia, won the general election and almost immediately fired two State Board of Education staffers, claiming they were are too liberal. Ducey, who dips his…
Undocumented Parents Protest Block to Obama’s DAPA Program on Day They Were Supposed to Start Applying
Silvia Herrera hoped to submit her application for President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program this morning. It frustrates her that she has to remain in limbo because a federal judge decided in February to temporarily block the relief. On November 20, Herrera, her husband and their two children heard Obama had issued an…
McSally Supports Abortion Ban After 20 Weeks; Grijalva, Kirkpatrick Oppose Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives pushed through legislation creating new restrictions on abortion last week. The “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” sponsored by Arizona Congressman Trent Franks (R-CD8), passed 242-184 on a mostly party-line vote; four Democrats voted for the bill, while four Republicans voted against it. It would ban abortions after 20 weeks except…
Listen to Sergio Mendoza’s New Project Los Hijos De La Montaña
Somehow between touring internationally with Calexico in support of their new album and playing in and orchestrating his own band Orkesta Mendoza as well as the Mexrissey project (a live band reimagining of Morrisey’s music with Spanish lyrics and Latin flare) Sergio Mendoza found time to start an entirely new project and it’s no surprise…
Raúl Grijalva Wants to Update the Supplemental Security Income Program
Congressman Raúl Grijalva is on board to update the Supplemental Security Income program, which has not been dusted off since Nixon signed it into law back in 1972. SSI is supposed to aid vulnerable seniors and people with severe disabilities so that they don’t end up on the streets. The problem with it right now is…
Arizona Above National Average in People Without Stable Access to Food
A study recently published by Feeding America says that Arizona is above the national average in the percentage of people who don’t get enough to eat. The number for the state is 17.5 percent, or roughly 1 in 5 people, and nationwide it’s 15.8 percent. (Keep in mind, yesterday most of you probably heard that the…
Tyler Fenton of Reilly Craft Pizza Makes Cacio e Pepe for New Menu (VIDEO)
Reilly Craft Pizza’s chef and owner Tyler Fenton might be young, but he knows what he likes and he knows how to make it. At just 25 years old, he’s certainly been an impressive part of Tucson’s dining scene for the last nearly three years that Reilly has been open, showcasing young talent in his…
Odyssey Storytelling Needs Voices for June’s ‘Taboo’ Show
I did Odyssey Storytelling in April and, trust me, it is not as terrifying as it sounds. I mean, right before they call your name, your blood pressure might drop down, way down, but once you are on stage, it is dark enough to make you think you’re just chatting with your friends. It also…
Congratulations to City High’s Michael Fisher, Winner of the Congressional Art Competition
Congratulations to City High School freshman Michael Fisher, who was named the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for Southern Arizona’s Congressional District 2. His charcoal drawing “Raven” will hang in the U.S. Capitol for the next year and he’s invited to a reception in D.C. to celebrate the winners across the country. “I congratulate…
Some Charter Budgets Take an Unexpected (but Well-Deserved) Hit
This is a story about charter school funding that flew below my radar until now. The new state budget cut a money stream for some charters, saying it would be a $6.5 million cutback during the first year of the phase-in. Now the Department of Ed is saying it’ll be closer to $15 million, which will…
Speckelo Needs a Home
Speckelo—3-years-old —Labrador Retriever Mix—F—#803363 Speckelo is one beautiful pup! This sweet girl has been with Humane Society of Southern Arizona for two months and she is ready to find her forever home! Speckelo is shy, affectionate, high energy, and loves treats. This darling girl is looking for a family that can offer her plenty of…
Show Us Your Ink Stained Heart
As you should already know (because you should have already read the introduction and started your ballot—you only have until June 15 to participate in the first round!), this year’s Best of Tucson® theme is Our Ink Stained Heart. In case you missed it: Tucson leaves an impression. It doesn’t matter if you grew up…
Earl Sweatshirt Keeps Things Honest on Acclaimed New Album
Despite the accolades given to Earl Sweatshirt—from his Odd Future breakthrough to his chart-topping studio debut album “Doris”—the rapper says his new record is the first thing he can fully stand behind. Released in March, “I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside” is an introspective and often dark album, with Sweatshirt’s fluid lyrics centering…
Jackson Tavern Closes After a Five Month Run
Fans of Brian Metzger’s New England style eatery got some bad news on Saturday, May 16 when the restaurant announced its close via Facebook. The post from Jackson Tavern, which was located at 2900 N. Swan Road, said: To our valued guests: We are sad to report that effective immediately Jackson Tavern is closed. We…
Is It Curtains for Certain for Access Tucson?
For more than 30 years, Access Tucson has given Tucsonans the opportunity to learn how to work cameras, soundboards and editing equipment to create their own TV shows for broadcast on the local cable system. And until a few years ago, the nonprofit was among the best public-access facilities in the nation. But in the…
Zona Politics: Supervisor Ray Carroll & Councilwoman Karin Uhlich
Zona Politics Eps.30 from Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel on Vimeo. On this week’s Zona Politics with Jim Nintzel: Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll stops by to talk about the county budget, this year’s bond proposal, the latest on the Rosemont Mine, how state budget cuts are affecting Pima County and more. Then Tucson City…
Elvira’s from Tubac to Open in Old Saint House Location off Congress
It seems like ever since the Saint House shuttered its Cuban/Caribbean concept with an extensive rum bar in fall 2014, folks have been peeking in trying to figure out what the space would become. Well, you can wonder no longer because Ruben Monroy is bringing his popular upscale Mexican eatery Elvira’s to the space at 256…
The New Best High Schools List
We have a brand new 2015 “Best High Schools” List from U.S. News & World Report, not to be confused with the recent Washington Post “Most Challenging High Schools” list that came out a few weeks ago. Except that, in the words of an old Herman’s Hermits song, “Second verse list, same as the first.”…
The New York Times Editorial Board Demands an End to Immigration Detention
Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a new set of “reforms” to its detention facilities on Wednesday for families and children (the ones they created to “respond” to influx of unaccompanied minors and women from Central A merica) as they wait for their immigration hearings. In line with that, The New York Times’ Editorial Board published a…
FDA’s One-Year-No-Sex Blood Donation Proposal for Gay, Bisexual Men is Up for Public Comment
The Food and Drug Administration’s proposal to go from a lifetime blood donation ban for gay and bisexual men to a one-year (as long as you are abstinent) is up for public discussion for at least the next month. It sounds like good news, but the one-year-no-sex rule doesn’t make LGBT rights advocacy groups happy.…
One Month Warning: Fill Out Your Best of Tucson Ballot
That’s right: We’re closing the first round of Best of Tucson® balloting one month from today. Confused by what I mean by “first round of balloting?” You have one month to vote submit anything/one/place for any category. Whatever you want! Then, we’ll take the top 3 suggestions from each category and we’ll have a final…
Keeylocko to Host Third Music Festival—Bring a Tent
You don’t need to go too far outside of Tucson proper to get a festival experience this weekend because on Saturday, May 16 eight bands will be taking over Cowtown Keeylocko to play together for a special one-night event. Now in its third iteration and second year, Keeylocko aims to be “a celebration of the…
YWCA: Jeff Flake Should Get on Board with End Racial Profiling Act
The YWCA is asking U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake to join the fight against racial profiling. At their 98th anniversary breakfast—where the organization raised more than $44,000 ($14,000 more than their original goal)— CEO Kelly Fryer called Flake’s office and left a nice voice mail enticing him to co-sponsor the End Racial Profiling Act. In the…
Arizona Beer House to Bring Craft Beer to Tucson’s East Side
Eastside dwellers are about to get their very own craft beer and wine bar called Arizona Beer House. Ran by longtime friends Brian McBride and Alvin Kuenster, the bar and bottle shop seeks to breathe some new life in the area of Kolb Road and Broadway Boulevard. “With all of the attention on downtown right…
Bobo’s: Anatomy of a Tradition
It’s nice to find a place like Bobo’s Restaurant when you’re looking out at a sea of change—restaurants opening and closing and moving every day, but Bobo’s proves that some things stay the same. In a time where it’s tough for restaurants to make it past the year mark of opening, Bobo’s has weathered Tucson’s…
Postcard DIY
Postcards and other handwritten momentos have made a comeback, and it’s not hard to guess why. The personal quality that a postcard or letter oozes makes you seem cooler and classier than you were before. Plus, it feels good to remind loved ones that you’re thinking about them. On Sunday, May 17, from 8 to…
Dine for a Cause
Support a local eatery and a local cause. On Tuesday, May 19, from 6 to 9 p.m., La Cocina Restaurant and Cantina, 201 N. Court Ave., will donate a portion of their food and drink sales to PowerSource Tucson, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to “offer[ing] empowerment and enrichment experiences to women in the Tucson area…
Life Moves
BreakOut Studios will perform its end of the season showcase at the historic Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., on Sunday, May 17, at 6 p.m. The studio’s adult and youth companies will perform, as well as local guests. The adult company will showcase hip hop, femme, contemporary and lyrical styles, as will the…
Small Theaters, Big Efforts
Tucson is home to at least a couple of dozen theaters. At least. And that doesn’t include some of the amazingly sophisticated high school drama department productions. Sometimes it makes a theater writer’s head spin. We try our best to review the major theaters, but there are some smaller, more community theater-type groups that we…
Co-Op Sale
Everyone’s favorite conspiracy, the Food Co-Op, is hosting its first P7 Community Truckload Sale. On Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., there will be an outdoor sale event open to everyone at The Hoff Building, 425 E. Seventh St., located behind the Co-Op storefront. The sale will have…
Editor’s Note
I noticed a theme lately in my conversations about Tucson Weekly staff writers and freelancers. The sentence often repeated, “Sometimes people love them and sometimes people hate them.” Jim Nintzel falls proudly in that category, and after writing for the Tucson Weekly for more than 25 years, there’s good reason. His latest pursuits is basically…
El Tambó
El Tambó is back for a summer kickoff event at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. On Friday, May 15 at 8 p.m., the Plaza will turn into a tropical dance party. The musical entertainment will be two bands from California making their Tucson debut: YANGA and El-Haru Kuroi. Past players, DJ MUSA and host…
Dust Devil
Carla inched into the Cholla thicket, avoiding thorny Mesquite branches and needled Prickly Pear. Scolding Cactus Wrens revealed a nest overhead: continuation of life. That doctor had told her, without eye contact, she has Breast Cancer. Her husband asked for printed information. He snapped, “How much information do you need? Entire textbooks have been written about this!” Gazing at Tumamoc Hill, Carla called…
Big Ideas in Small Packages
The sweeping beauty of the Navajo Nation—the rock outcroppings, the sage-green brush, the pinkish-red earth—comes alive in a color photo by Claire Harlan. But Harlan also captures an asphalt road that scars this land, and billowing white smoke that pollutes its sky. In the distance, is the “Navajo Generating Station” that gives this photo of…
Police Dispatch
San Xavier Beat April 6, 5:55 p.m. A man became so angry at the thought of someone stealing a small amount of his tobacco that he caused a significant domestic disturbance, landing himself in a certain institution renowned for not allowing tobacco at all, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report stated. Sheriff’s deputies were called to…
Logan & Lucille: True Romance
Although he drank the stuff religiously for years, Logan W. Greene says he gave up sipping soda almost entirely, switching to water instead. It’s a little strange for a dude who calls his Tucson-based label Diet Pop Records, but Greene tells us there’s more to it than that. “[It’s] not a necessarily a reference to…
Police Dispatch
Tucson Mountain Beat April 6, 6:30 p.m. A man was jailed for violently taking his anger out on another man’s car (as well as some nearby signage), according to a PCSD report. A northwest-side resident told sheriff’s deputies that an apparently homeless man had come into his yard asking for a place to stay. The…
Two Gallants: Sound Check
Adam Stephens, guitarist and songwriter of Two Gallants, is going to miss The Grill. He remembers enjoying a band in the Red Room while he and the other Gallant, drummer Tyson Vogel, dined post-show with friendly Tucsonans. It’s a poignant memory that fits neatly, if a bit painfully, into themes from the duo’s latest release,…
Survey Says …
While he won big last November, Gov. Doug Ducey hasn’t exactly dazzled the voters of Arizona in his first few months in office, according to a new poll released earlier this week. The Public Policy Polling survey showed that only 27 percent of the 600 voters surveyed approved of the job that Ducey is doing,…
Scottsdale Company Capitalizes on Medical Marijuana Industry
SCOTTSDALE – Bud is a burgeoning business in Arizona. Revenue from medical marijuana in Arizona more than tripled year-over-year in 2014, leading to a variety of individuals trying to find a fortune among the green. The Marijuana Companies is just one of the businesses trying to capitalize on the growing industry. “At some point, marijuana…
The Skinny
Earth Movers Republicans flunk Sierra Club’s report card, want to grab federal land to cut down trees and mine hillsides The Grand Canyon chapter of the Sierra Club released its annual report card on the Arizona Legislature last week—and all but one of the GOP lawmakers flunked, meaning they voted the right way on two…
Dances with Paintings
Once upon a time the space occupied by Etherton Gallery was a ballroom. On Friday night, dancers will return to the space to dance with paintings. Two dancers and a musician with LA’s Sunland Dancers will perform against a backdrop of the luminous abstracted landscapes works of the late, great Nancy Tokar Miller. Musician/composer Tara…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: My most beloved niece married a boy of Mexican extraction. I am very fond of him, but he and his family kind of hold us all at arm’s length. It’s very difficult to get close and has made me back off. My niece has told me that his mother “doesn’t like white people.”…
Pleasure Activist
Why do so many people feel so threatened by masturbation? Just look at last week’s The Pleasure Activist article on some historical attitudes towards masturbation to see how this fear manifested during the Victorian era. Basically, masturbation was blamed for everything from blindness to poverty to even death. And while these days (in this part…
Media Watch
Ulmer takes over as KOLD GM When former GM Debbie Bush moved to the Midwest to accept a position with a television station in Cincinnati, KOLD TV nabbed a Midwesterner as her replacement. Nick Ulmer, fresh off a stint with WFIE TV in Evansville, Indiana, is running the show for the CBS affiliate in the…
B-Sides: JMSN
SOUL AT SOLAR Engineer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and music video director Christian Berishaj has attracted a lot of attention for his completely self-made music project called JMSN, which is pronounced like the Irish whiskey. I mention the whiskey because his penchant for making beats and classic R&B singing style is smooth and gets you in the…
War Time
In America, we think nothing of films depicting recent conflict. There was a TV movie about the standoff in Waco 34 days after it ended. In fact—as was the case with “United 93,” released four years after 9/11—some wonder if we wait long enough. In other countries, they don’t have the resources of a massive…
B-Sides: Quintron &Miss Pussycat
BAYOU BEATS Tucson doesn’t always get a taste of that sweet New Orleans funk, but on Tuesday, May 19, Quintron & Miss Pussycat will be hitting the town with just that. Their jams have been labeled “swampy” on more than one occasion and you can expect a very odd and entertaining electronic fusion show to…
Danehy
There’s a character on “The Big Bang Theory” named Zack. He’s a big, lovable, not-very-bright oaf whom Penny dated during one of the off-again periods of her on-again/off-again romance with main character (and mega-nerd) Leonard. One time, Leonard and his fellow scientists were up on the roof of their apartment building, attempting to bounce a…
B-Sides: Earl Sweatshirt
Rapper Earl Sweatshirt might only be 21, but he’s already a star for many hip hop aficionados. As a member of L.A.-based hip hop collective Odd Future, he was discovered by hipster rap favorite Tyler, The Creator in 2009 when Sweatshirt was just 15. Call him a prodigy but his ability to craft unique rhymes,…
