Cover Stories
On the Edge of Deportation
An excerpt from The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez
Bordering on Brutality: The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez
Aaron Bobrow-Strain’s new book about the border, The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez, combines the life story of a young undocumented woman, told in extraordinary detail, with a history of the U.S. border enforcement regime.
Laughing Stock: Still More Comedy at The O, Fitzsimmons Spotlights Local Laughs
Andy Andrist redux, Bruce Jingles, Amy Miller, Caitlin Weierhauser at the O Bruce Jingles brings his smart observations, eloquent storytelling and pitch-perfect comedic timing to The O on June 1. He’s the second half of a weekend double-header doubling down on The O’s commitment to creating an uptown jazz and comedy club. The Unbookables’s Andy Andrist…
Tucson Village Farm’s U-Pick Tuesdays Switch to Summer Hours
An oasis in our busy city, Tucson Village Farm (TVF), “built by and for the youth of our community,” offers U-Pick every Tuesday afternoon and is now on summer hours from 5 to 7 p.m. The farm is open and welcomes the community to the garden east of Campbell Avenue to pick their own produce, support…
A Night of Vibes at Illegal Pete’s
On Tuesday, May 22, a handful of local Tucson artists shook up the upper deck stage of Illegal Pete’s. This eclectic group of young talent came together for a night entitled ALL VIBEZ, a music show that invited the community to come and “vibe with us”. The performance list consisted of neo-soul singer Stevie Rose,…
The Loft Screening AZ Cult Classic ‘Billy Jack’
Part Western, part martial arts, part experimental hippie freak-out film, The Loft Cinema is screening the 1971 cult classic Billy Jack. Its titular character is Navajo, Green Beret and Hapkido master all at the same time – fun for everyone! This event is a rental of The Loft by The Prime Leaf, and benefits In…
Soulful Sounds at Sky Bar
Looking for a night of soul music? This upcoming Saturday, May 25, check out “Saturday Night Soul” at Sky Bar Tucson. Starting at 9 p.m., enjoy the rhythmic sounds of local Tucson artists such as rapper Chakara Blu, and singers Shekinah and Just Najima. The show is 21 and up unless accompanied by a guardian…
Laughing Stock: “O” what a smorgasbord!
Andy Andrist: Not So Unbookable Keep an eye out for any rickety vans stalled along State Route 80 to Bisbee. It could be some Unbookables comedians en route to a gig. Help them out and they might share their weed or coke or whatever. Andy Andrist is the latest of that notorious klatch of ne’er…
Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Thursday, May 23
FST! Presents: Borders & Boundaries. Have you ever made it out to see a Female Storytellers show here in the Old Pueblo? This group of hilarious, insightful women come together to make you laugh and raise money for local charities. ASL interpreters are provided. This week is sure to be a good show, because we…
XOXO: Where to Rock Thursday, May 23
A technicolor musical experience awaits when Silver Cloud Express, United Snakes and Hey Bucko take to the stage at Sky Bar. Details here. The Blues Review features Tom Walbank, Austin Counts and Christopher T. Stevens. At Tap + Bottle Downtown. Details here. Guided by unseen voices, they are able to leap across the stage in…
City High Student Raises $1,600 for Local Charity
For her 16th birthday, Tucson City High School student Isabella Parisi did not ask for presents. Instead, she said any money that would be spent on her should instead be given to children in need. Parisi and her family worked with Pay It Forward Tucson, a local nonprofit, to host an event to benefit children…
Cox Announces Free Movies in Reid Park
Reid Park will host a series of free outdoor movie showings this summer. These family-friendly events start May 31 with the showing of The Incredibles 2 from 7:45 to 9 p.m. Bring a blanket to sit on and some popcorn, or enjoy snacks from the food trucks stationed at the park. There will be live…
Adoptable Pet: Phoebe Needs A Home
“Hi there! I’m Phoebe and I’m a 3-year-old girl who is still searching for my perfect family after finding myself back at HSSA for the 3rd time. I would prefer to have you all to myself, and cannot live in a home with cats, but if you have other dogs, please bring them by to…
Claytoon of the Day: Paging Doctor Double Stuf
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Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Wednesday, May 22
Dirty Details. You know Jake “The Snake” Roberts, the professional wresting icon and WWE Hall of Famer that says stuff like, “When I step into the ring and I look at that man across the ring from me, I say ‘well, that’s my dinner.’” Now, Jake is on tour with his comedy storytelling show, sharing…
XOXO: Where to Rock Wednesday, May 22
[THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELED! REFUNDS AVAILABLE FROM POINT OF PURCHASE] After two decades in the band, Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden looks back: “When we first started there was this unconscious feeling. It’s like we were running our own race. I think we’ve been trying to find the doorway back for a long time.” Generation…
Pima Animal Care Center Needs Foster Parents
The Pima Animal Care Center finds itself in a hairy situation as summer approaches in Tucson this year. The center is in need of foster parents who can take in some of the shelter’s dogs and cats, so they can clear out kennels in the facility, according to PACC Communications Specialist Nikki Reck. For more…
Ducey Does a Budget Deal With Republican Legislators – Do They Have the Votes To Pass It?
Once again, Governor Ducey refuses to talk with Democratic legislators about the budget. In Monday’s Republicans-only budget compromise, Ducey gave up more of his priorities than might have been necessary if he were willing to create a bipartisan deal where he could pull together enough votes from both sides to get a budget to his…
Board of Supes Officially Decide to Push Back Bike Ranch Decision
Members of the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to table a proposal to vote on the proposed Bike Ranch resort. The Weekly previously wrote about the proposed property, which is the brainchild of local developers, Kelley Matthews and Peter Lasher. Tuesday’s 4-1 vote in favor of tabling a vote on the property…
Tucson McDonald’s Employees Join International Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
This morning The New York Times published a story detailing new developments in a growing trend of sexual harassment and sexual assault complaints filed by employees against the McDonald’s corporation. The complaints (which are being compiled into a lawsuit facilitated by The Fight for $15 and a Union and the American Civil Liberties Union) come…
Afternoon Cartoon: Grumpy Cat
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Pima County Pools Open on Saturday, May 25
It’s hot as hell in Southern Arizona, with temperatures inching closer and closer to that mystical 100-degree mark. Luckily, the Pima County Natural Parks & Recreation Department plans on offering sweet relief, in the form of opening the County’s nine public swimming pools on Saturday, May 25. Four pools, in Wade McLean, Northwest YMCA, Manzanita…
Claytoon of the Day: Endangered Species
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Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Tuesday, May 21
Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Responsible for more one-liners, puns and visual gags than possibly any other film in history, this can simply be described as absurd in every sense. For their Tuesday Night Classics series, Harkins Theaters is screening the craziest telling of King Arthur and his knights’ quest for the Holy Grail…
XOXO: Where to Rock Tuesday, May 21
On “Heartbreak” Hunter Hayes went through a break-up and now he wants to talk about it. “If you’ve gone through all the storms and the sky finally clears, what are you gonna do? Sit down and go, ‘Wow, I don’t want to do that again?’” Hayes adds, “No. You made it through, so celebrate!” At…
Pima County Dems Hosting Green New Deal Panel They Think Is Important for Some Reason
The Pima County Democratic Party and the Real Progressives are hosting a forum on the Green New Deal titled “How Are You Going To Pay for That?” We received a press release regarding the forum, which will feature Fadhel Kaboub, a Denison University associate professor of economics and president of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity…
Decision on Bike Ranch Might Be Decided Tomorrow But Probably Not
The Weekly may have jumped the gun with last week’s report that the Board of Supervisors will delay a planned vote the fate of a permit for a proposed Bike Ranch next door to Saguaro National Park-East. Developer Kelley Matthews, who designed the bike-centered property with her husband, Peter Lasher, said on Friday that the Board…
The Story In Pictures | L7
In 1988, with the release of their self-titled debut, L7, these metal-edged punk badasses helped usher in the era of grunge. With a new album in tow, Scatter the Rats (Blackheart Records), 20 years in the making, L7 brought their “Proto Prototype” sludge to the Rialto Theatre on Mother’s Day, May 12. “We’ve been doing…
An Odyssey of Homers: Jessie Harper Helps Lead Arizona Softball to Super Regional Round
The Arizona Wildcats sent a sellout crowd of 2,705 softball fans home happy Sunday after dispatching Auburn University with ease. The Wildcats (45-12) advanced to next weekend’s NCAA Softball Tournament Super Regional, after beating Harvard (5-1) and Auburn twice, by scores of 2-1 and 12-3. Sunday’s matinee provided the final hurdle for Mike Candrea’s team,…
Claytoon of the Day: No Wiggle Room For Women
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Three Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Monday, May 20
Haiku Hike. Tucson celebrated its first annual Old Pueblo Poems literary competition this year, with 20 winning haiku posted on signage along Congress and Stone in downtown Tucson. They were selected from 977 entries, mostly from Tucson, but more than 100 hailing from across 12 different states. And May is your last chance to head…
XOXO: Where to Rock Monday, May 20
Depicting aspects of his childhood, while rebuking Trump Administration policies, the title track, “This Land,” takes a hard look at racism in America. Drawing inspiration from Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land, ” this Austinite comments, “It’s like the ‘Pledge of Allegiance.’ When you’re kids, everybody’s together. You don’t see differences until you get…
Local Rapper and Singer Release Catchy Collab
Tucson artists Zco and Jesus Valenzuela join forces on “Ayy, Let’s Be Alone Together.” The song is a vibey fusion of rap and pop in which the rapper and singer admit to wanting more in life and wanting to spend it with a special someone. Zco proudly reps Tucson (“I’m that Jew with the flow.…
Afternoon Cartoon: Alabama Law
Find more Heller Cartoons here.
All Bets Are On: On Arizona Softball, the NBA Draft Lottery and the Preakness Stakes
All Bets Are On is back with an action-packed podcast that covers the gamut of local sports information. Co-hosts Christopher Boan and Tyler Vondrak tackle Arizona softball’s NCAA Tournament regional at Hillenbrand Stadium this weekend and whether Mike Candrea’s squad can return to the Women’s College World Series. The duo then tackle this week’s NBA…
Steve Farley Advocates For Turning Schools Into Community Schools
When the New York Times carried a story about the progress students have been making in the “I Promise School” started by LeBron James in Cleveland, I put the article in my “Post about it when you have a chance” pile. Two weeks later, before I wrote about it myself, mayoral candidate Steve Farley used…
[Update]: Decision on The Bike Ranch May Be Tabled to Tuesday, July 2
A decision by the Pima County Board of Supervisors on whether to move forward with a Mixed-Used Permit for The Bike Ranch may be continued until early July. Kelley Matthews, who designed the bike-centered property with her husband, Peter Lasher, said on Friday that the Board will convene on the permit on Tuesday, July 2.…
Claytoon of the Day: Jared Does Immigration
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24 Great Things to Do in Tucson This Weekend: May 17 to 19
Friday: Rosé All Day. Maynards Market & Kitchen is hosting an event for all of you who aren’t sure if you like white or red wine more. This event features tastings of multiple different wines, as well as some insider information about making rosé wines. Ah rosé, the neutral wine. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday,…
XOXO: Where to Rock This Weekend, May 17 to 19
Friday, May 17 Often twinning, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig present themselves aesthetically as mirror images but it is the uncanny pairing of their dazzling voices where the true symbiosis refracts. Their latest, Nudes (Mom + Pop Records), an acoustic compilation, presents reworked songs from their back catalog and new material along with folk standard…
Dick Tomey Memorial Service Scheduled for May 31
The memorial service for longtime Arizona football coach Dick Tomey will be held at McKale Center on Friday, May 31. The service, which is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. local time, will honor the winningest coach in Wildcats history. Tomey, who passed away last Friday, May 10 from lung cancer, coached in Tucson from…
Quick Bites
Where to eat this week around Tucson
City Week
There’s fun to be had around town this week, check it out!
Editor’s Note
We’re excited this week to bring you an excerpt from The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: A Border Story, by Aaron Bobrow-Strain.
At a Loss: Rabbit Hole
Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire is a wonderfully scripted story that explores five individuals processing the loss of a child.
Unsolved Mystery: Detective Pikachu
This is a movie that says, “if you don’t know anything about Pokémon, none of this is going to make a lick of sense.”
Back in Gear: The Bike Ranch
The Pima County board of Supervisors will decide next week whether to greenlight a proposed bicycling resort across from Saguaro National Park-East.
Police Dispatch
A man stopped for (very) erratic driving actually fell asleep while trying interact with the cop who’d pulled him over.
Reel Indie
Movies to see in Tucson’s indie theaters this week.
The Tucson Trilogy
Lando Chill’s latest album looks out to a bigger world as he moves on to LA
Police Dispatch
Two former housemates’ conflict over tidiness was followed by a custody battle over a vacuum cleaner…
XOXO
Where to rock in Tucson this week
Danehy
First things first, I sincerely hope that Thomas Torres is allowed to graduate from Desert View High School next week. I hope everything else works out for him, too, but doggone it, he’s got to do his part.
MMJ: Good Tidings
‘Tis the season for legislation, and, as one might expect, that means more good news for the proliferation of cannabis.
Tucson Salvage
An electrifying metalworker, or the thoughtful Buddha of Borneo
Danehy: Goodbye Dick Tomey
Tom says goodbye to the finest football coach the Arizona Wildcats ever had.
Wheat Child o’ Mine: Chef Abel’s Tortillas
Abel Ramos has been making some of the best tortillas in the highly competitive Southern Arizona market since he turned 6.
