Cover Story
Roll ‘Em!
The Loft will be showing 40 films between Wednesday, Nov. 9, and Sunday, Nov. 13, when retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly will be on hand to close out the festival with the screening and discussion of The Martian.
Quick Bites: A Good Mourning for a Great Brunch
No, not “morning”—“mourning.” That’s right, it’s time to bid a respectful, proper goodbye to the “Dim Sum and Then Some Sunday Brunch” at Chef Janos Wilder’s Carriage House. Wilder’s wild success with this restaurant has driven him to make the difficult decision to end the brunch, which has admittedly been very popular since the Carriage…
The Weekly List: 26 Things To Do In Tucson In The Next 10 Days
Your Weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo. Pick of the Week: The Loft Film Fest The Loft Film Fest continues! Whether you’re in the mood for watching an anxious papa hire an “industrial-grade exorcist” or you’re fascinated the eventful and unorthodox life of Pablo Neruda, there’s something worth seeing at the Loft Cinema’s (3233 E.…
Republican Clodfelter Moves Ahead in Central Tucson House Race
Still plenty of ballots left to count, but The Range reported earlier today that Republican Todd Clodfelter was within striking distance of state Rep. Stefanie Mach. After more ballots were counted today, Clodfelter now leads Mach by 230 votes. More updates as we get ’em!
In the Flesh: Some Pre-Election Bliss (the Good Old Days) From Last Friday Night at the NOLF Fest, and Some Blues
The gentrified streets of downtown Tucson Friday night were packed. Music was everywhere. First, Tom Walbank, armed with a Danelectro electric guitar, a slide, a tiny Marshall amp and a harmonica, entertained an early evening crowd under a small tent in the Hotel Congress plaza. This Englishman (and Tucson resident) is a veritable blues encyclopedia,…
Laughing Stock: Post-Election Laffs, Comedy Fest, Storytelling
Post-Election Laffs “It keeps me out of therapy,” Auggie Smith says of his emotionally energetic performance style. “I spent the first 10 years of my career where they wouldn’t turn off the pool tables and nobody paid a cover. I learned I had to be really, really loud, then really soft for no reason. And…
Two Close Races Remain Undecided in Pima County
As usual, there are plenty of ballots left to count in Pima County (thanks to those irresponsible voters who dropped off early ballots at their polling places), so the election ain’t over yet. The unofficial word: There are 60,000 to 70,000 ballots left to sort through. There are two remarkably close races out there: •…
Matt Heinz: ‘This Has Been a Very Interesting Night’
Democrat Matt Heinz just told the remaining Democrats at the Marriott Election Night gathering that he called Congresswoman Martha McSally to concede the race. “This has been a very interesting night,” Heinz told the crowd. As of the most recent count, McSally was leading with 54 percent of the vote. Heinz said he hoped that…
Henderson ‘Did the Work’
Republican candidate for State Representative of District 9 Ana Henderson believes that her campaign got the job done. “I did the work.” said Henderson “People deserve respect and they deserve representation. That’s a two way conversation.” As of now, Henderson is trailing her opponents and Democrats Randall Friese and Pamela Hannley. Hannley is in the…
Women Do Support Trump
Adeir Figueiredo has been in the United Stated for a month, from Brazil. She jumps out of her seat and holds her Trump banner high every time Fox News announces another state win. She feels he is very sincere, she says in Portuguese. She believes in him. Her daughter Vania Smith backs him too. “It’s…
Congressional Races: O’Halleran Beating Babeu; McSally Beating Heinz
No big surprise in the Southern Arizona congressional races: Democrat Tom O’Halleran has a big lead over Republican Paul Babeu for the open seat in Congressional District 1, while Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally has a solid lead over Democrat Matt Heinz in Congressional District 2.
DeMarco’s Connections Across the Aisle
After addressing attendees at the Pima County Republican Election Party, Republican candidate for Supervisor of District 3 Kim DeMarco talked to the Weekly about her campaign efforts. “I feel really good and we did everything we could possibly do,” DeMarco said. “My district is heavily Democrat and Independent but I made a lot of great…
Another New Sheriff in Town: Arpaio Loses Maricopa County
Huge cheers at the Pima County Dems election night party with the news that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio—America’s Toughest Sheriff—has gone down in defeat tonight to Democrat Paul Penzone.
Mark Napier Strives to be Bipartisan
Mark Napier was delighted to get the Tucson Weekly endorsement, he said. Some of his friends may have rolled their eyes, but he was happy to know he’s reaching across party lines. He graduated from Boston University, which he notes is not exactly a conservative school. Napier sees importance in social justice and education. He…
There’s a New Sheriff in Town? Napier Up Over Nanos; Dems Winning Other Competitive Pima County Contests
Plenty of votes remain to be counted, but in the race for Pima County Sheriff, Republican Mark Napier looks is overcoming the Democratic voter registration advantage and will unseat Sheriff Chris Nanos, a Democrat who was appointed to the seat last year and who has had to contend with some scandals, including an FBI investigation…
The Arizona Up-To-Date Electoral Numbers
Republican Mark Napier is leading in the race for new Pima County Sheriff against incumbent Democrat Chris Nanos. Napier doesn’t think the position of sheriff should be partisan and believes in breaking through those barriers, he said, adding he’s running to be sheriff of all Pima County residents not just his party. Napier: 136229; Nanos:…
O’Rourke Trash Talks Bronson’s Neighborly Skills on Election Night
In the heat of an election unlike any other, Republican hopefuls and supporters gathered at the Sheraton Hotel. “Sharon Bronson lives on a nice, smooth, well-maintained street,” Christopher O’Rourke said. “My neighbor’s sister-in-law and brother-in-law live right across the street from her [Bronson] and they’ve had run-ins with her and her husband. Sharon Bronson is not a…
Bronson Out in Front in Pima County Board Race; Miller Leads Bickel
The incumbents on the Pima County Board of Supervisors are out in front in the first returns we’ve seen out of Pima County Elections Department. Democratic Supervisor Sharon Bronson leads challenger Kim DeMarco with about 54 percent of the vote in District 3, where Republicans hope to unseat the 20-year incumbent and take control of…
Markets Down as Trump Pulls Ahead
The New York Times is reporting that markets are falling in Asia as Trump is currently further ahead than expected. As of now, he has just been called to win Ohio, and is leading in Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, among others. “Stocks in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and other major markets were down by…
DeMarco Leads GOP Party in Prayer
The Pima County Republican Party at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites is bustling. The drink line is long and people are in high spirits. Opening the evening, Kim DeMarco, running for District 3 Pima County Supervisor, led the room in the Lord’s Prayer, asking everyone to hold hands. The room stayed standing for the…
The GOP’s Take on the Sheriff’s Race
The Sheriff’s Department is here at the Pima County Republican Party to show support for Mark Napier, candidate for Pima County Sheriff. Napier is running against the current sheriff, Chris Nanos. Napier has been endorsed by both the Pima County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Tucson Police Officers Association. According to Curt Greenman, a member…
It’s Happening: The First Reports for Local Races
Welcome to Election Night 2016, where the races are close and the stress is running high. 8:25 p.m. update, with 11.64 percent of precincts reporting: Martha McSally has the edge on challenger Matt Heinz, having pulled in 51.75 percent of reported votes in the congressional race Democratic Sen. Andrea Dalessandro is currently ahead of Republican…
The Wait: Checked in at the Republican Party Fiesta
It’s still too early for Pima County numbers to start rolling in, but here at the Sheraton Hotel on Grant Road, the Republican Party fiesta is underway. Pima County Republican Party Chair Bill Baird is presiding over the festivities and the room is starting to fill up and more expected as the evening moves along.…
Song of the (Election) Day: ‘Save the Country’ by Laura Nyro
We are going to break the rules here today. Why? ’Cause it is somewhere between or beneath the 2016 election (the Presidential one), the classy one, where all the dirty tricks are pulled out for our displeasure and this year it would seem the usual suspects are popping out of voting booths everywhere. The FBI…
16 Races To Watch Tonight
OK, the polls are still open until 7 p.m. and results won’t be released until sometime in the 8 o’clock hour, but we’re gonna go ahead and call a few races. On the Pima County Board of Supervisors, we’re declaring Democrat Ramon Valadez the winner in District 2; Republican Steve Christy the winner in District…
Cinema Clips: Inferno
This is easily the worst of the Robert Langdon series, a series that was already pretty terrible in that both The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons blew ass. Ron Howard once again directs Tom Hanks as Langdon, and this series needed to be put down after the first installment. When Langdon wakes up…
Celebrate the End of Campaign Season at an Election Night Party
Well, it’s almost over! Many ballots have already been cast, and soon, we’ll be free from heated radio and television campaign ads, the pollster calls and the serious influx of junk mail. So, what are you doing election night? You can stay home, prepare a big American feast (apple pie and chicken fried steak encouraged) and…
Devin Needs a Home
Hi, I’m Devin! I’m a fun, 9-month-old little boy and I need a new home! I love to play and was having so much fun during my photo shoot trying to get as close to the camera as possible. I love people and would enjoy a home where I can have a lot of space…
Telling Tucson A Good Story
It is 12:30 p.m. on a sweltering Saturday afternoon in Tucson, Arizona. The cobblestone paths in St. Phillips plaza are lined with decorated booths of artisans and exhibitors who have gathered to share their knowledge, message and mission with the Tucson community. The temperature outside has reached a peak 96 degrees, an unusual temperature for…
Cinema Clips: Doctor Strange
The latest Marvel movie is certainly one of the weirder ones, with Benedict Cumberbatch starring as the title character, a sorcerer who can cast spells and slip through passageways in time. It’s an origin story, showing how Strange loses his surgeon’s hands in an accident, travels to India, and learns about the mystical arts from…
Be a Voter. [Breathe, David, Breathe . . .] VOTE! [Calm down, David, It’ll Be Over Soon.]
There’s not a whole lot more to be said. The arguments have been argued. The allegations have been allegated (That should probably be “alleged,” but it turns out “allegate” is a real word, so I’m sticking with it). Now it’s time for people who haven’t voted to become voters, and VOTE! Want to cast your…
TUSD Candidates Clash Over Performance of Superintendent H.T. Sanchez
Seven candidates are vying for three seats in this year’s general election for the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board. The three incumbents—Kristel Foster, Cam Juarez and Mark Stegeman—are facing four challengers: Betts Putnam-Hidalgo, Lori Riegel, Brett Rustand and Rachael Sedgwick. One of the most controversial topics in the race is the leadership of TUSD…
Theater Review: Kenny Finkle’s Alive and Well Sets An Oil-And-Water Duo in a Civil War Re-Enactment
Invisible Theatre is continuing to try to woo us with romantic stories, and although their season’s first show didn’t inspire too much of the sweet stuff due to an inferior script, their second offering, Kenny Finkle’s Alive and Well, is a much better script with a couple of winning characters embodied by two very good…
Song of the Day: ‘Crash and Burn’ by Kenny Tudrick’s Bulldog (featuring Black Crowe Eddie Harsch, RIP)
I wrote about this band way back in 2004 (with photog Doug Coombe) and that’s when I first met its piano man Eddie Harsch. Before that I’d often see him down in Greektown, in downtown Detroit, scoring weed. Now the tall, lanky Harsch just looked so lived in; he moved with a stoner’s grace, like…
Don Jorgensen Withdraws His Endorsement of Mark Stegeman
Citing an endorsement statement on a Mark Stegeman campaign flier he calls “deplorable” and “dog-whistle racism,” Don Jorgensen, former chair of the Pima County Democratic Party, has withdrawn his endorsement from the TUSD board candidate. Jorgensen says he had endorsed Stegeman because he wants to see “greater transparency and accountability on the TUSD board.” Jorgensen also said he…
Top Out Downtown’s New Hotel With a Block Party
The AC Hotel in Tucson by Marriott is in its final stages and will host a “topping out” party to celebrate the placing of the final beam on the building. Everyone in the community is invited to come to this free event on Nov. 5 from 1-5 p.m. at the site, 151 E. Broadway Blvd.…
Super-Guy: Tucson Comic-Con’s Mike Olivares Fights For Truth, Justice and Old Pueblo Nerds
There has never been a better time to be into nerd culture. Superheroes dominate the movie theaters and TV lineups. Sci-fi novels are being mined for Netflix and Amazon streaming services. And Comic Cons are drawing huge crowds in cities around the world. Here in Tucson, Mike Olivares is prepping for the ninth annual Tucson…
Raising Hell
Earlier this year, Arizonans passed Proposition 123, which increased education funding and resolved a lawsuit against the state for shortchanging schools in recent years. Each district can allocate the money where officials conclude it’s needed.
When It’s Good To Be Bad
The film itself is easily the worst of the series, a series that was already pretty terrible.
Fest Freak!
The Night of the Living festival is a “celebration of the weird,” built around bands that either don’t play Tucson frequently, if at all, or those with roots here.
Noise Annoys
Tucson’s fourth annual Night of the Living Fest commences this weekend at 191 Toole.
Know Your Product
Fea tackles with thundering aplomb big open themes of race and gender in a way that’s so damn passionate that it actually inspires listener passion, if you can imagine that.
Oregon Congressman: Legalize It!
“It becomes a cycle, where unless we do something to break that cycle, these kids aren’t going to have the same opportunities as their white counterparts.”
Pleasure Activist
Tips for a happy, sexy holiday season.
Letter to the Editor
A reader writes in to say: I STRONGLY support the legalization of marijuana but I’m voting no on Prop 205
Letter to the Editor
Some thoughts on Pima’s governing board from a reader.
Editor’s Note
Mari says during Sunday’s latest Cyclovia route she felt buoyant and happy, but when she got to Alvernon Way riding toward the Tucson Botanical Gardens, in her mind she was queen of the open road ready to help her fellow bicyclists take over Tucson.
The Skinny
The balance of power in Pima County rests in the race between Democrat Sharon Bronson and Republican Kim DeMarco
Dust Devil
An election ‘like none other’/protracted and bitter
Ask a Mexican
Dear Mexican: Why is it that even though we Latinos have similar backgrounds (Indian-Spanish) across America, there is a lack of unity among us here in the USA?
C’mon, Trust Us
A recap of our last two rounds of endorsements, just in time for election day.
Tucson Salvage
He once watched a guy blow his face and the top of his head off with a large-caliber gun. The gory suicide isn’t necessarily what shocked him. It was how the guy survived for a short time afterwards mangled like that, necessary pieces of him gone forever. So tonight is nothing to Tucson cop David…
Police Dispatch
A man came home one night to find a strange, random female lying in his bed (apparently after helping herself to sweets from his pantry).
Police Dispatch
A professional personal-care assistant appeared as more of a “cash-taker” than a caretaker after she allegedly stole hundreds of dollars from right under the nose of the sick woman she was paid to help.
A True Tucson Original
Started back in 1946 by the Taft family, Club 21 was the only game in the area, or most of the town really, to serve up authentic Mexican food with a full bar and lounge in a city that housed maybe 50,000 residents.
A Terrible Beauty
Time was, the San Pedro River was an unmolested stream snaking its way from Sonora into Arizona.
God, Reinvented
If you like your theology served up with one-liners, perky energy (but in a good way) and a hefty dose of what many would consider blasphemy, Arizona Theatre Company has a treat for you.
