Cover Stories
Interviewing a Tire
On one assignment Chuck Bowden and I were doing a story out in the Cabeza Prieta wildlife refuge, and we ran across an old wreck of a car, probably abandoned by a smuggler. Chuck hunched down, almost on his stomach, doing an interview with a tire, carefully writing down “Lifesaver Radial” and its size. I…
If Memory Serves
On a bend, I will see it, a piece of ground off to the side. I will know the feel of this place: the leaves stir slowly on the trees, dry air smells like dust, birds dart and the trails are made by beasts living free. The stars do not complain. They live, explode, die…
Things to Do on Thanksgiving in Tucson
Brains & Brews. I don’t know about you, but my brain always feels a lot more creative after a couple of beers. Will that translate to me being better at answering science trivia? Only one way to find out. This series at Sky Bar features different scientist guest speakers every week, followed by some trivia.…
Things to Do, Tuesday, Nov. 26
Catharsis: Rachel Ivanyi & Joanna Taylor. Joanna Taylor is an award-winning folk artist known for her textiles and paintings. Her daughter, Rachel Ivanyi, is an award-winning illustrator and educator. They teamed up for this exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Gardens about the healing powers of the natural world. Working together on this project, and drawing…
Things to Do This Weekend in Tucson
Friday, Nov. 22 Pachamanca Festival. Villa Peru Restaurant is hosting a feast straight from the Andes Mountains, and everyone’s invited. This weekend, they’re showing off the great meats to be found from Peru alongside some hearty veggies. This specialty menu includes chicken, pork and lamb, plus corn, potatoes and tamales, all marinated with Peruvian spices.…
Laughing Stock: O what fun!
Comedy magic for grownups Forget Houdini. Magic doesn’t have to be about dark and dangerous arts. As Rod Housley tells it, all magic is about fooling people. He believes that fooling people should be fun to watch, and even more fun to be fooled. Housley has entertained thousands at conventions and special events over the…
Things to Do, Thursday, Nov. 21
Thanksgiving Tamales. To embrace the Thanksgiving season, Tucson Tamale Company is putting turkey and cranberries in the tamales! While their legendary “Thanksgiving Tamales” don’t have every holiday staple in them, the turkey and cranberry sauce fuse together, and the masa tastes like cornbread. They’re perfect pockets to wow the family. The tamales are available at…
XOXO: Where to Rock, Wednesday, Nov. 21
This installment of Resonance Monthly features a beaming incandescent light in the dark side of dance music. Underground soundsmith Madeaux slams his forward-leaning bass house at Gentle Ben’s. Watch him “Burn.” Local beatmakers Alex Anders, Jamaste, Xochique B2B ZSM and Housekneckt represent… Fusing elements of guitar-driven folk-rock, Native American flute and troubadour balladry with propulsive…
Claytoon of the Day: Hater Chicken Concedes
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XOXO: Where to Rock, Wednesday, Nov. 20
Imagine “Sweet Child O’ Mine” mariachi style? If heavy metal had a pleasurably sordid affair with mariachi music lots of tequila would surely be involved. It’s conceivable that this band of Los Angeles dissenters rose from unconsecrated graves. Like Barrio Viejo’s own El Tiradito, where legend holds that Juan Oliveras, a young sheepherder, rests not-so-peacefully…
Claytoon of the Day: Zelensky Loves It
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Man Sentenced for 2016 Death of Ann Day
More than three years ago, former state senator and Pima County supervisor Ann Day was killed in a head-on collision caused by an erratic driver. Yesterday, that driver, 27-year-old Jarrad Barnes, was sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison. In 2018, a jury found Barnes guilty of negligent homicide (a lesser charge than manslaughter), criminal…
XOXO: Where to Rock, Tuesday Nov. 19
Soul/blues/gospel/Latin. Roots Rising showcases up-and-coming talent: Matt Andersen, Gaby Moreno and Liz Vice performing both stripped down individual sets and a collaborative finale. At Club Congress…
Claytoon of the Day: A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
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Dusk Music Fest 2019 Redux
The intergalactic mashup of arts, gastronomy and cutting edge music that could only have been paired together in a galaxy far away as rogue stars collide, returned to downtown Tucson on Nov. 9-10 at Armory Park. Here are some highlights.
Claytoon of the Day: Trump’s Gobbler
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Zeke Nnaji’s Double-Double Helps Arizona Rout San Jose State, 87-39
The Arizona Wildcats achieved their largest margin of victory in two years on Thursday night, shellacking an overmatched San Jose State team, 87-39 in Tucson. The Wildcats (3-0), never trailed in Thursday’s victory, with freshman forward Zeke Nnaji leading the charge offensively, scoring 26 points on 8-of-8 shooting, with 11 rebounds in the win. Eleventh-year…
XOXO: Where to Rock This Weekend, Nov. 15 – 17
Friday, Nov. 15 The son of Nigerian immigrants. The title of this Texas rapper’s major label debut, Brandon Banks (RCA, 2019), is his father’s alias—the name listed in a federal case that led to his incarceration. Turning a troubled past around—his teenage years without a father and days running with the Crips—this MC’s stark storytelling…
All Bets Are On, Volume 39: Nico Mannion and Arizona Host San Jose State/New Mexico State, Pac-12 Superlatives and Picks of the Dragon
All Bets Are On is back, with an action-packed episode breaking down the latest in Pac-12 college basketball and football. The dynamic duo of Christopher Boan and Tyler Vondrak break down Arizona’s 6 p.m. tipoff against San Jose State on Thursday, before previewing Sunday’s home clash with New Mexico State. They then analyze the early…
Claytoon of the Day: Poo-Flinging Republicans
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Danehy
Transgender people deserve every protection under the law in the workplace, in housing, in education, in marriage, and in life. They deserve our respect, our patience and our understanding. But, in my opinion (formed by decades in believing in the fairness of sport), they do not automatically deserve to compete against ciswomen. They just don’t.
Introducing El Crisol
During his countless trips Oaxaca, Mexico, Exo Roast and Exo Bar founder Doug Smith realized the variety of mezcal—and therefore what there is to learn about mezcal—is almost limitless. This depth is the reason behind two new changes at Exo Bar: a name change to El Crisol and a new series of private mezcal tastings.
Quick Bites
The best in culinary experiences this week.
City Week
Events to fill out your week.
Refugees by Land and Sea
“No Place,” a largescale oil painting by Paula Crawford, is a highlight of Take Nothing for Granted, a large group show at Pima College’s Bernal Gallery that also features pieces by Kate Breakey, Danny Lyon, Jenny Day, Ernesto Esquiver, Ellen McMahon and others.
A haunting comedy
The Rogue Theatre’s production of Blithe Spirit is, in the words of the play itself, “a jolly time with Elvira.” Noël Coward’s play, directed here by Joseph McGrath, is at turns cheeky and biting, even occasionally caustic, but always a great deal of fun.
Heavy Psi
Alas, Mike Flanagan, the man behind the excellent and creepy The Haunting of Hill House, makes the decision to incorporate Kubrick’s film into his own adaptation of Doctor Sleep. The results are a mixed bag of genuinely scary moments and passages that make the film too dependent on the glory of Kubrick.
Memory Lane
It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since reporter and author Charles Bowden died at age 69. But even though Chuck—famous for his investigations into the drug trade along the border as well as his environmental writing—is no longer with us, his words are.
Reel Indie
Movies in your local indie theaters.
Police Dispatch
A good-natured guy who seemed high on uppers was busted for carrying a downer-filled syringe, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report.
Musical Feast
If you aren’t yet aware of the Tucson Musicians Museum, it may be time to get acquainted with a local institution that, since 2007, has been celebrating Tucson’s rich musical landscape.
XOXO
Music to fill your week!
Cats on the Court
If you’ve attended an Arizona Wildcats basketball game over the past two decades, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve met Robert Wagner.
Know Your Product
See Black Belt Eagle Scout w/ Hikes at Club Congress. 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. 311 E. Congress St. $12.
The Skinny
Romero wins mayor’s office, voters reject sanctuary prop, no pay raise for all-Democratic City Council.
