Cover Story
Best of Tucson® 2010
Every time I watch a show like AMC’s Mad Men, I think: Why can’t I have a liquor cart in my office? Yes, yes, I understand all the reasons that booze in the office is a bad idea, ranging from a lack of productivity to driving under the influence. But sometimes, after an idiot calls…
Artistic Range: Arte De Los Muertos
“Ghost Ranch,” by Carolyn Anne Anderson, is on display in Arte De Los Muertos, beginning Oct. 15 and continuing through Nov. 17, at Borealis Arts, 6530 E. Tanque Verde Road, Suite 160.
Artistic Range: ‘4th Avenue in Focus’ at Cafe Passe
“Off 4th Avenue,” by Gary Tenen, is on display in 4th Avenue in Focus, opening Oct. 1 and continuing through Oct. 31, at Café Passe, 415 N. Fourth Ave.
Artistic Range: Alexander Arshansky at ART Gallery
“Nurse Jackie,” by Alexander Arshansky, is on display in Alexander Arshansky Is: An Extension of the Russian Avant Garde Movement, opening Oct. 1 and continuing through Oct. 31 at ART Gallery, 1122 N. Stone Ave.
Rattlesnake Tacos Tonight
Rattlesnake tacos anyone? Boca (828 E. Speedway Blvd.) will be serving them from 5 p.m. to close tonight for the first installment of Exotic Taco Wednesdays. Fried-oyster tacos will also be available. I like Boca. The last time I ate there the server brought six kinds of salsa to the table, and the tacos—especially the…
McClung Poll: Grijalva Ahead by Just 7 Points in CD7
Republican Ruth McClung released a poll today showing that she trails Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva by just 7 percentage points in Congressional District 7. Grijalva had the support of 42 percent of the voters in the poll, while McClung had the support of 35 percent. Another 23 percent were undecided. “We’re very excited about it,”…
Rotellini Launches a Tom Horne Website
Attorney General candidate Felecia Rotellini has a new website www.TomHorneLies.com, to get to the truth behind her rival candidate’s insistence that it’s really not that big of a deal he was banned for life by the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC); his criminal speeding charge; and how he forgot that he filed for bankruptcy. You…
Candidate Forum Tonight
Tonight’s candidate forum on education, sponsored by the Family Faculty Organization for the Catalina Foothills School District, starts at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the Catalina Foothills High School Auditorium, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. The following candidates are expected to be there: Superintendent of Public Schools candidates Penny Kotterman (D) and John Huppenthal (R);…
Writer’s Block: Stephen Campbell
Local author Stephen Campbell’s Stoned Messiah: The Revelation of Stephen has been published by Pennywyse Press ($10, 164 pages). Pennywyse Press is an imprint of Imago Press, a local publisher. Summary (from publisher): Spanning a 16-year period that begins in a drug-induced vacuum of nothingness and ends with the author floating in a pool of…
2010 “The Big Picture” Art Expo
On Saturday, Oct. 2 the 10th annual “The Big Picture” art expo will take place downtown. Celebrating the beginning of the 2010-2011 season, “The Big Picture” is a free, family-friendly event that many galleries will be taking part in. There will be a wide range of media, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, photography, glass art and…
Southern AZ Beagle Rescue Fundraising Raffle
The Southern Arizona Beagle Rescue is holding a raffle for NASCAR race tickets. The races will be held in Phoenix Nov. 12 through 14 at Phoenix International Raceway. The prize includes two pre-race pit passes (good for all three races), a parking pass for all three days, and two Budweiser Roll-Bar club passes for Sunday…
Writer’s Block: Pamela Keyes
Tucson author Pamela Keyes’ book The Jumbee has been published by Dial Books for Young Readers. (400 pages, $17.99) Summary (from press release): When Esti Legard starts theater school on Cariba, she’s determined to step out of the shadow of her late father, a famous actor. But on an island rife with superstition, Esti can’t…
Slaughterhouse Haunted House Slideshow
The Tucson Screamers’ annual haunted house will take place this year at 1102 W. Grant Rd. For more information, visit www.slaughterhousetucson.com. Proceeds benefit various local organizations.
Nogales Mayor Arrested
From the Nogales International: Nogales Mayor Octavio Garcia-Von Borstel was arrested Tuesday on charges of bribery, theft, fraud and money laundering. The mayor’s father, Octavio Suarez Garcia, 59, of Nogales, also arrested during the Tuesday morning operation that involved agents from the FBI, DEA and Arizona Department of Public Safety. He faces several charges that…
ET: No Nukes
While it doesn’t necessarily explain Tucson’s recent “visit,” it’s good to know that ET cares about us and is trying to send us a message. According to a UFO expert, the fact that more than 120 former military personnel have told him about UFOs visiting nuclear sites means aliens are trying to send us a…
Southwest and Water: ‘Day of Reckoning’
This came as no surprise to most of the people who live in reality in the Southwest, but perhaps it did to other people who read this New York Times article yesterday: A once-unthinkable day is looming on the Colorado River. For the first time, federal estimates issued in August indicate that Lake Mead, the…
Prison Proposals Canceled
A few weeks ago, I talked with the Arizona Department of Corrections public-information officer about the ADC request for proposals for private prisons to provide 5,000 beds in the state. The RFP was enough for private-prison industry leader Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) to begin working with local land owners and developers to submit a…
Colbert Vs. McCain
The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c <td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'The Word – Army of Mum www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election Fox News Colbert takes on McCain’s opposition to repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in The Word.
Tucson’s Everyday People: Desert Heat
Glass Illusions owners Pattie and Mark Johnson talk about sculpting glass and metal into petroglyphs, artistic engravings usually on rock. Photographed and Produced by Corinne O’Donoghue/JSAC Visual Task Force
Little Bunch of Madmen: Mort Rosenblum Comments on the State of Reporting
Charles Sennott, editor of Global Post; Gary Knight, founder of VII Photo Agency; and Jacqueline Sharkey, director of the UA School of Journalism, joined Mort Rosenblum, author of Little Bunch of Madmen: Elements of Global Reporting for a free-fire symposium refereed by Nancy Sharkey, a former editor with The New York Times, on Saturday, Sept.…
Enter to Win This Calexico-Autographed Guitar!
The folks over at Viva Arizona are raffling off a Fender Stratocaster signed by Calexico, along with an acoustic guitar autographed by Grammy-nominated DeVotchKa. The lucky winners, who will be selected at the Spoon show on Oct. 4, will also take home a CD and shirt from whichever band’s guitar they win. Click here to…
LD26: Melvin vs. Cage on AZ Illustrated
Bill Buckmaster moderates a debate between Republican state Sen. Al Melvin and his Democratic challenger, Cheryl Cage.
Those Damn Liberal Reporters
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, a Republican now running for attorney general, isn’t happy with an interview on Phoenix’s KPNX Channel 12, and is asking supporters to send comments to “outrageous liberal reporter” Brahm Resnik. This weekend on Channel 12’s ‘Sunday Square Off’ Tom Horne was interviewed by an obviously biased Brahm Resnik. Many…
Southwest Art Car Caravan and Film Tour
Harrod Blank will be touring the Southwest in his Camera Van—along with 10 to 20 other “art cars” and his new documentary Automorphosis. The film is a 77-minute tribute to art cars and the psychology behind what inspires creation. On Friday, Oct. 8, the tour reaches Tucson, and the film will be played at The…
CD8: Republican Jesse Kelly Calls For New National Sales Tax
Republican Jesse Kelly, who hopes to unseat Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in November, told the press for the first time last week that he supports a new national sales tax of 8.5 cents per dollar on goods and services. Throughout the primary, Kelly said the country should sharply lower taxes for its wealthiest residents by…
Tucson’s Everyday People: Native Desert-Dwelling Luthier
Photographed and Produced by Josh Morgan/JSAC Visual Task Force
Counter Club: Club Congress Celebrates Its Beginnings
The Little Dinks, who will perform at Counter Club On Friday, Oct. 1, Club Congress will celebrate its early days. Past and current generations of Arizona performance artists will take the stage to celebrate 25 years of art and expression at the club. Participants include Colleena Candelabra, Blind Lemon Pledge, the Little Dinks, Dennis Williams…
DeVotchKa Frontman: “I Want to Thank Jan Brewer…”
Aleksa Brown Nick Urata— lead singer of the gypsy rock band DeVotchKa, who headlined HoCo Fest Saturday night— gave a special shoutout to Gov. Brewer during the band’s encore. “I want to thank Jan Brewer for bringing out the goodness in all of us,” Urata told the crowd. “Fuck that bitch, right? Fuck that bitch.”
Never Too Early: Jonathan Rothschild Launches Web Site for Potential 2011 Mayoral Run
Attorney Jonathan Rothschild has launched a website for his possible 2011 bid for mayor of Tucson. Check it out here. He’s got a long list of supporters already.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Department Reopens Shooting Investigation
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is reopening an investigation into the shooting of Deputy Louie Puroll following last week’s Phoenix New Times story that examined whether Puroll’s version of events added up. The news release from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department: On April 30th, 2010 Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy Louie Puroll was involved in a…
Sue Krentz Seriously Injured
Out of Douglas comes more sad news for the Krentz family. Sue Krentz, widow of Rob Krentz, murdered by a suspected drug scout on his ranch on March 27, was struck by a car as she was leaving St. Luke’s Catholic Church on 15th Street in Douglas Saturday night. The incident occurred about 6 p.m.…
Artistic Range: Parks in Focus: Photographs
“Untitled,” by Luisa (age 12), is on display in Parks in Focus, continuing through Oct. 12 at Temple Gallery, 330 S. Scott Ave. All work in this exhibition was done by middle school students who participated in the Parks in Focus program, which takes students to national parks and helps them connect with the natural…
Picture This: The Road to Rhode Island (Not Really)
Joshua Morgan Highway 82 cuts through seemingly endless grassy hills near Sonoita, Ariz.
The Morning After: Hoco Fest Day Two
Denver’s Grammy-nominated DeVotchKa closed out HoCo Fest 2010 last night with a powerful, wine-fueled performance. Check out photos of DeVotchKa and Taraf De Tucson after the jump! DeVotchKa Taraf De Tucson
Park(ing) Day: The Video
Miss last weekend’s Park(ing) Day downtown? Tucson Weekly intern A. Greene shot and edited this video tour of the annual festival that invites people to transform a parking space into their own micro-park.
The Morning After: HoCo Fest Day One
Last night Mexican Institute of Sound rocked out at Hotel Congress as part of the first night of HoCo Fest. For tonight’s line up, click here. More photos of Mexican Institute of Sound, Mostly Bears and Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta after the jump! Mexican Institute of Sound Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta Mostly Bears
“Playing With Fire” an Exhibition of Flame-Worked Glass Art
“Chili Peppers,” by Kathleen Elliot, is in on display in Playing With Fire, opening today, Sept. 25, and continuing through Nov. 13 at Philabaum Glass Art, 711 S. Sixth Ave.
Get Thee to the Greek Festival!
This is what you might want to eat this weekend. Just thought you should know. There will also be demonstations on making ouzo cake, breads, lasagna … the list goes on. Dancing, drinking and merriment will abound. You can even pick up a Greek fisherman hat. Hey, hats are in these days! The Greek Festival…
Brewing Demonstration, Beer Tasting and Wine Mixer
A brewing expert from Brew Your Own Brew demonstrates how to make homemade beer from 4 to 6 p.m., tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 25, in the market at Maynards Market and Kitchen. The tasting following the demonstration will feature Lagunitas IPA, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Odell Brewing 90 Shilling. Admission is $10. Maynards also hosts…
Free Burritos and National Anthem Tryouts
Hey, Wildcats! The Chipotle at 905 E. University Blvd. is handing out free burritos, tacos, salads and bowls to anyone with a valid CatCard from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 24. We suggest showing up early to beat the lines. College kids are like piranhas when it comes to free food. Swarming may…
Sixth Annual Raw Spirit Festival
The sixth annual Raw Spirit Festival will take place today through Sunday (Sept. 24 through 26) will in Prescott. Raw Spirit, a nonprofit international community event, celebrates “vegan-eco-peace.” There will be food, music, poetry, health and environmental presentations; overall it’s just a place to meet and connect with other like-minded folks. You can enjoy acoustic…
Watch The Skies! UFOs Over Tucson
And now, just to add a little excitement to the Election Season: Strange lights in our sky! Where will Gabrielle Giffords and Jesse Kelly stand on welcoming The Visitors: Friends from another world or alien overlords that plan to turn us into dinner? And how does Obama’s birth certificate figure into it? KOLD has the…
20/20: Through the Eyes of Two Photography Dealer’s Visions
Lisa Sette and Terry Etherton, two internationally known photography dealers based here in Arizona, will be speaking for 20 minutes each on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the Phoenix Art Museum about their passion for photography, and how that led to the opening of their respective galleries. Their lecture will be followed with a discussion of,…
Tonight (Thursday, Sept. 23): Pre-Halloween Fashion Show at Club Congress
Tonight at Club Congress, as a part of the Optimist Club night, there will be a pre-Halloween fashion show. More than costumes from Creative Costumes will be modeled, along with hair and makeup from Images Hair Salon, and Buffalo Exchange showing formal wear. The whole event will begin at 9 p.m.
Candidate Forums Update
There’s a candidates forum tonight at the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind’s Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd., from 5:30-8 p.m. The forum is sponsored by the Arizona Center for Disability Law, and according to their office, all candidates on the ballot were invited to participate. Those expected to attend…
New Times: Pinal County Deputy’s Claim of Being Shot by Drug Smugglers “Doesn’t Add Up”
Paul Rubin of the Phoenix New Times digs into the case of Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy Louie Puroll, who said he came under fire from drug smugglers last April: The odds that Louie Puroll is telling the truth about what happened to him on April 30 are slim. “This is not a he-said, she-said case,”…
CD8: Jesse Kelly Says GOP’s Pledge to America Is “Outstanding.” Critics on Right and Left Say It’s Shallow and Fraudulent
Republican Jesse Kelly, who is seeking to unseat Democratic Congresswoman in Southern Arizona’s Congressional District 8, said this morning that he hadn’t had time to completely review the GOP’s new Pledge to America, but he liked what he had seen so far. “I’m a bit shocked by how outstanding it is,” Kelly says. Others are…
Eating Contest at Daggwood Cafe
Think you can set the land speed record for finishing one of Daggwood Cafe’s signature sandwiches? Your mission, should you choose to consume it, is thus: TRIPLE DECKER!!! PILED HIGH WITH HAM, ROAST BEEF, SMOKED TURKEY, SALAMI, PASTRAMI & PEPPERONI. LAYERED WITH CHEDDAR, HAVARTI, MUENSTER & PROVOLONE CHEESE. STUFFED WITH SPROUTS, LETTUCE, TOMATO & RED…
Picture This: Lighting Up Southern Arizona
JOSHUA MORGAN Commuters drive through monsoon thunderstorms as the sun sets at scenic Gates Pass.
Fan Mail
Got a special e-mail yesterday. Here it is, verbatim: A stupid brood mare you are and you like the rest of the damn wetbacks think it is okay. They are illegal aliens and the majority of them are little bastards like you, nothing less or more. It is a shame your parents were kicked out…
LD26: Arizona Illustrated Debate
Bill Buckmaster moderated a debate with Legislative District 26 House candidates Nancy Young Wright (D), Vic Williams (R) and Terry Proud (R).
A Western With a Hot Female Gunslinger—and a Bad-Ass Dwarf With the Soul of a Poet
The eight-day, third annual Arizona Underground Film Festival began last Saturday, but there’s still time to catch its much-anticipated Friday night (Sept 24.) headliner, The Last Rites of Ransom Pride. This stylized, darkly comedic shoot-’em-up bristles with reverential allusions to edgy Western greats Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah, and offers nods to Stephen King’s Dark…
Grill
The story goes… The story goes that the hobo ordered pancakes and tried to skip on the bill. The waitress told him to pay up; he pulled a knife, and the diner’s owner fired one shot into each of the hobo’s arms. There are a lot of stories about Grill, but the only ones that…
Best Yoga Studio
The Four Dollar Yoga Hour is a refreshing deal. Remember to focus on your breathing—and forget that it’s only a penny every nine seconds. The studio at Yoga Oasis on Campbell Avenue is aesthetically soothing and very clean, with a real harmonium for ohm accompaniment. There’s a large mirror wall that faces a northern window,…
Best Exurban Oasis
According to Webster’s Dictionary, an oasis is “a fertile or green area (as in a desert), or something that provides refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast.” And if that ain’t Agua Caliente Park, then we don’t know what is. This 101-acre park with a perennial warm spring is on the National Register of Historic Places. One…
Best Educational Shopping Experience
Want to play Name That Animal Part? Well, at Lee Lee, they’ve got them all—duck tongue, frog legs, pork snouts and chicken feet, in case you were thinking of sewing them together and reanimating your own Frankenstein pet. Lure your kids to the seafood counter, and marvel at aquatic wonders from the deep—squid, barracuda, octopus—wrapped…
Best Fashions (Locally Owned)
Just as this Best of Tucson® issue is blending a bit of the past with the present, Zoe Boutique blends old and new with elegance and flair. Vintage and modern mix well at this two-room shop on Fourth Avenue. You’ll find tops, shoes, purses, jeans, belts and even lingerie on the racks. Even with its…
Best Barbecue
If you enter a restaurant and find yourself surrounded by flames (painted on the walls) and framed photographs of brushfires, you’ve entered Ben and Jared’s homegrown barbecue restaurant. Here, you will find barbecued meats made savory with six original sauces. Beyond the meats, much attention is given to the flavorful side dishes—both the corn-on-the-cob and…
Best Public Garden
As the city expands outward, pushing the desert farther and farther away from us urban-dwellers, the Tucson Botanical Gardens becomes an increasingly desirable place to bond with nature. Not only do the Tucson Botanical Garden include more wildflowers, succulents, cacti and trees than you can shake a stick at; the good folks there offer ideas…
Best Takeout Option for Indecisive Couples
The Marketplace at Acacia at St. Philip’s has the ultimate solution for busy ad execs who just can’t decide what to eat for dinner: dinner to go for two. There’s only one option, which changes every day (see a weekly schedule on the restaurant’s website). On Mondays, it’s lasagna. On Tuesdays, chicken enchiladas. There’s no…
Best Bollywood Lunch
The moment you walk into this UA campus-area eatery, you know it’s not a cheap Indian- food knockoff joint. One entire interior wall is a mural celebrating the stars of Indian cinema, and the television blares the latest Indian music videos, featuring exotic and beautiful young dancers. It’s the spices that make this joint sing,…
Best French
French food doesn’t have to be snooty, and Ghini’s French Caffe proves that by serving up plenty of non-snooty but delicious breakfast, lunch and tapas, with “Frenchness guaranteed.” Ghini’s utilizes locally grown and fresh ingredients, including fresh-baked bread from the adjoining La Baguette Bakery. With lots of healthy options (and plenty of not-so-healthy but still…
Best Middle Eastern
Specializing in Persian/Lebanese fare, AliBaba has taken top honors in this category for three years in a row for several reasons: The food tastes great; the prices are reasonable; and the service is friendly. Vegetarians and omnivores will both be happy with the selections on the menu, which include kabobs, shawarma, gyros and falafel. The…
Best Vietnamese
Vegetarian dishes are in a crispy-fresh class by themselves at this paragon of great, cheap eats—but “fresh” applies to everything on the menu. Each dish comes with greens or lettuce or cilantro with a just-picked quality. The secret is simplicity: Every item on the menu is designed to move quickly at a reasonable price. There…
Best Guacamole
The guacamole at Guadalajara Grill is absolutely scrumptious; you’ll want to smother the homemade green mixture on every bit of food. Once you get your chips and salsa, you’ll most likely be adding guacamole to every bite. You want an appetizer—say, some delicious molletes con carne? Some guacamole on top would be truly beneficial. Even…
Nine Questions
Camilo Lara
Running Scared
As they speak to about 60 party loyalists and precinct committeemen at a Republican meeting in Green Valley, state Reps. David Gowan and Ted Vogt hand out campaign literature. One side has their names; the other side says, simply, “Vote for the good guys.” Gowan is a magazine distributor who was first elected to the…
Guest Commentary
When our 3-year-old granddaughter woke up from where she slept next to her father, the first thing she saw was Grandma screaming at daddy, pulling him by the arms from the couch, pounding on his chest and slapping his face. She calmly looked at me and said, “Daddy’s sick, Grandma, Daddy’s sick.” I looked her…
Best Dance Performance
This vibrant troupe is not from Tucson, but its April 16 stop here was the best dance locals saw all year. Aspen Santa Fe concentrates on guest choreographers who do contemporary and ballet, and that’s not an oxymoron. Run by two alumni of the Joffrey Ballet, this dual-city company specializes in European-inspired, cutting-edge work. Their…
Best Day Spa
Gadabout SalonSpas have once again won the vote of perfectly manicured Weekly readers. The day spa, which has numerous locations across Tucson, offers everything from Swedish-style massage to facials, from microdermabrasion to UV-free tanning. These locally owned salons also offer manicures and pedicures, and men can stay dapper with exclusive manscaping services. Gadabout even offers…
Best Bike Riding Without That Many Lizards
Every year since 2002, the Rillito River Park Trail has taken first place in Best Bike Riding—with good reason. Almost every year, one of our discerning writers raves about the trail’s plethora of lizards and other wildlife. However, it’s not always great to have lizards dashing across a bike path: While they’ll usually miraculously miss…
Best Family Puppet Performer
There are some bad puppet shows out there. Many puppeteers think their only audience is toddlers or nursing-home residents. But Puppet Muzik, a local puppet-performance group, makes it clear that puppets rock—literally. The show is a puppet cavalcade of music genres, focusing often on good-old soul. The puppets sing, but really it’s more than that:…
Best Resale/Vintage Clothing
It’s next to impossible to leave Buffalo Exchange without finding something like a killer pair of boots or a vintage dress that you didn’t know you needed, but now can’t live without … that’s just how good the selection is. The Speedway and Wilmot Road location boasts a wide selection of jeans, shirts, shoes and…
Best Farmers’ Market
St. Philip’s Plaza has the happy distinction of having not just one, but two fabulous farmers’ markets every weekend. On Saturday, the market features local vendors selling everything from coffee and tea to soap made from goat’s milk. On Sunday, the market spills out of the plaza, which teems with local vendors selling reasonably priced…
Best Bike Riding
If you find it hard to enjoy cycling with cars and trucks flying by—not to mention the abundant traffic-control signals—the Rillito River Park Trail is for you. Part of the Rillito River linear park, which includes both banks of the river, the bike path is a two-lane asphalt road that winds along the north bank…
Best Mac ‘n’ Cheese
This ain’t your mama’s mac ‘n’ cheese! This side dish comes to the table all hot and bubbly in a cleverly designed black cast-iron pan. Dig your fork into the golden treasure, and you’ll find pasta—shells, in this case—cooked to a perfect toothsome tenderness; oodles of sharp aged cheddar that pulls away in long, luscious…
Best Outdoor Seating
Old Pueblo Grille offers a lush courtyard, round tables with umbrellas, outdoor heaters, nice tile work, old adobe walls, fountains and lights in the plentiful trees. Relax as speakers pipe out soft music that won’t offend your grandma. During the day, one can watch the little birdies bathing in the fountains and enjoy the blooming…
Best Indian
Any restaurant where a large statue of the elephant-headed deity Ganesh welcomes guests must have something going for it. Saffron’s modern décor includes a full-service cocktail bar, and the menu’s offerings range from vegetables bahar served with basmati rice to tandoori items, including chicken, fish and lamb. The fish tikka masala is especially mouth-watering: Pacific…
Best Modern Cuisine
The word “pastiche” means a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. What better name could there be for this perennial winner? The folks here take old-time favorites and add a modern twist. The mushroom soup is rich, earthy and totally unlike that stuff from a can. The fried avocado is crunchy…
Best Mexican Fast Food/Drive-Thru
Open 24 hours, Nico’s is the place to be at 2 a.m. It’s famous among Tucson bar-goers (hipsters and frat boys alike) as the best post-drinking-binge burrito joint en la ciudad. Food is served amazingly fast and is inarguably delicious; the reliably enormous, carb-heavy dishes are just the things to soak up large amounts of…
Best Tamales
Quitting a job as an executive at a Fortune 500 company to make tamales might sound crazy, but for Todd Martin, the owner of Tucson Tamale Company, it has paid off. We’d be willing to bet that these aren’t your nana’s tamales—they’re better. After all, can she make a tamale that tastes like Thanksgiving dinner?…
Live
Southern Culture on the Skids
City Week
Panel discussion: “The Creative Process”; Sonic Orphans screening with live music; Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz; Robot 2010: A Dance Odyssey
Mailbag
Claim: Light Rail Could Destroy Fourth Avenue’s Ambiance; Access Tucson Equals Democracy; Chef: Calling Primo Tucson ‘Unsustainable’ Was Inaccurate, Unfair; A Pedestrian-Only Fourth Avenue Would Be Bad for Wheelchair Users
Most Heartwarming Art Story (Sort Of)
Days after this great little contemporary gallery won raves for its annual Encaustics Invitational (the Tucson Weekly praised its waxy works as “radiant” and “smooth” and “lush”), robbers hit. The thieves made off with 13 pieces, including “Sedimentary Series, Touch Sensitive,” a hypnotic pattern piece that artist Mari Marks made while her daughter was dying.…
Best Bowling Alley
A cutting-edge bowling alley that looks like Fred Flintstone built it … and it’s connected to a Hooters? It’s almost like someone built a bowling alley out of boy dreams from the golden age of cartoons or something. (There’s even a Hooters hotline, so you can order hot wings without changing out of your bowling…
Best Urban Hiking Experience
It’s hard to believe anyone with the Southern Arizona Roadrunners could have envisioned that a Monday evening walk/run/jog around downtown would be this successful. And who came up with that dorky name? Yet MMM is a certified hit, drawing hundreds (including kids and dogs) for a 2- or 4-mile walk or jog around downtown. The…
Best Yearbook Portraits
For the last few years, Tucson High art students have been making ceramic self-portraits. There is a gallery of them installed—in handmade ceramic frames—on the south wall of the campus. It’s a roll call of all the high school archetypes: The jocks are here, as is Miss Perfect; so are the heavy-metal boys and the…
Best Antiques/Kitsch/Collectables
Take a trip through time as you browse the items displayed by more than 100 diverse and dedicated dealers, collectors and refurbishers. There’s always a great vintage telephone selection, as well as several amazing pretend living rooms where you can satisfy that pesky urge to, say, lounge in an authentic Eames chair. The variety of…
Best Local Activist/Advocacy Group
Has the bigotry in Arizona got you down? Take heart in the fact that Tucson Weekly readers have named local nonprofit Wingspan as the best activist/advocacy group for seven years in a row—concrete proof that Tucson isn’t a narrow-minded, intolerant city (despite anti-gay-marriage laws and other things coming out of the state Legislature). In action…
Best Recreation Area in Southern Arizona
A good, stiff 1960s-style cocktail is often followed by a water chaser. The water is what goes down smoothly at Sabino Canyon. Find yourself in the soul-quenching abundance of it during the monsoon season. Enjoy the cool carving of Sabino’s stream, and the way it pools up generously behind a manmade dam, or flows beneath…
Best Alternative to French Fries
At Monkey Burger, the burgers are creative and delicious—but the fried pickles are the real treat. For $2.75, you get a whole can of ’em (yes, they serve their sides in big aluminum containers), and they’re everything Elvis would love: pickled, fried and crispy. Vinegar does some amazing things to vegetables, and when that amazing-ness…
Best-Tasting Local Brew
What do you get when you mix a Dirty Guera and a Red Ale? Well, a strawberry blonde, of course. Nimbus Brewing Company has been dishing out cold, delicious brews for more than a decade here in Southern Arizona. Their six standbys include Dirty Guera blonde ale, Pale Ale, Red Ale, Brown Ale, Old Monkey…
Best Italian
In the mood for osso buco? Artichoke-goat-cheese cannelloni? Tiramisu? These culinary temptations are just a few of the delicious offerings at Vivace, Tucson’s top-of-the-list Italian restaurant. Daniel Scordato—whose family name has meant quality dining in Tucson for several decades—opened his eatery in 1993 and moved it to its current location in St. Philip’s Plaza in…
Best Burger
The word “mouthwatering” fits at Zinburger, thanks to the wonderful selection of delicious burgers. Try the Kobe burger ($14), or perhaps go for the Samburger, with Thousand Island dressing, smoked bacon and American cheese ($10). For $1.25 per topping, you can beat the burger gods on the menu by designing your own burger. It’s not…
Best Salsa
In a town where you can barely swing a gato without spilling a great bowl of salsa, Guadalajara Grill rises above the rest through the magic of fresh preparation. It doesn’t get any fresher than having your waitress roll right up to your table with a cart of ingredients to mix right before your eyes.…
Best Menudo
You either love menudo, or you hate it. But to many lovers of the border’s wondrous cuisine, menudo has magical restorative powers. That rich, red (or white), pungent, aromatic soup—made from scrupulously trimmed and cleaned tripe, hominy and a cow’s hoof, plus add-ins like cilantro, green onion, crushed chile and lemon—can revive the soul. And…
Fish Karma: Halloween in America (Alternative Tentacles)
For a period in excess of one score and five years, Karma has commanded the fealty of listeners from Tucson, as well as those far afield, as a troubadour and gentleman. A songwriter, satirist and, ahem, singer of no small regard, Karma has become known to dozens for archly humorous and succinctly eloquent compositions such…
T Q&A
Adam Rex
Kill Zone
Folks were astonished last spring when Arizona’s hunting elite pushed for the power to stack the Arizona Game and Fish Commission with their hand-picked cronies. They succeeded: On April 7, Gov. Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1200, creating an “appointment recommendation board” heavy with trophy hunters, which in turn will handpick all potential commission nominees.…
Best Tributes to Legendary Tucson Artists
Harold Jones: A Fortunate Life ¡Viva David Tineo! A Retrospective of Tucson’s Muralist and Art Educator Harold Jones is a photographer, and David Tineo a painter—and both men have contributed mightily to Tucson. Jones, now 70, came to the Old Pueblo as the first director of the Center for Creative Photography in 1975, and stayed…
Best Sex Toy Shop
Running low on nipple-arousal gel? Fresh out of booty beads? Just broke your Glow-in-the-Dark Frisky Fingers Night Teaser? If you answered yes to any of these questions, don’t worry—Fascinations is here. Without making judgments on your potentially odd erotic needs, the helpful people who work at Fascinations will help you find the items to fulfill…
Best Non-hiking, Non-camping Reason to Head to Mount Lemmon
For decades, Mount Lemmon has primarily accommodated three species: hikers, campers and tourists. Now, thanks to Mesquite Homes and the Live Acoustic Venue Association (LAVA), music-lover can be added to the list. Set up under a huge tent where the Alpine Lodge used to stand, MOTM now has two seasons under its belt of producing…
Best Invitation to Create Street Art
The fountain at the southeast corner of the Fourth Avenue Underpass, designed by Kevin Osborn, is a steel grid with cool rippling water flowing over it, surrounded by landscape rock. Was it serendipity, or was it design genius that the rocks are the exact same size and dimension as the steel grid? Whatever it was,…
Best Jewelry
When it comes to jewelry, we’re told that every kiss begins with Kay—but true happiness lies in Tiffany and Co’s. blue boxes. Fine jewelry from Tiffany’s will make a woman smile—while breaking a man’s bank. Tiffany’s has long been one of the world’s leaders in selling marvelous pieces of jewelry, and although some of the…
Best Gym
LA Fitness has a catchy slogan that even Don Draper would envy: Keeping fit is not just a fad—it’s a way of life. While people exercised with the hula hoop and Jack LaLanne in the ’60s, we have a lot more options these days. There’s a multitude of exercise choices at LA Fitness to suit…
Best Hike
With hiking trails like the mountain-goat-steep paths of the Phone Line Trail and the StairMaster-esque climb up to Blackett’s Ridge, it’s no wonder Sabino Canyon has been voted Best Hike for more than 10 years. Paths to Mount Lemmon, Seven Falls and Cathedral Rock all see their start at the Visitors’ Center. Besides the tough…
Best Eggs Benedict
Weekend brunch is a sign of civilization, and eggs Benedict are a sign of civilization at its most civilized. But what do you call the ramped-up eggs Benedict at Armitage Wine Lounge and Café? The Armitage Benedict, of course—and this dish is something close to heaven. While the poached eggs are still there, this dish…
Best Beer Selection on Tap
Here are some numbers for you: 1702 has 52 types of beer on tap. 52! Spouts take up the whole back wall of the bar. Those are 52 craft brews, by the way, which means all you Miller and Budweiser fans had better find yourself another watering hole. 1702’s selection constantly rotates based on what’s…
Best Happy Hour
With $2 pints (and a fine selection of beers on tap) and $5 glasses of wine, Zona 78 offers a happy hour that is an amazing three hours long, Monday through Saturday, from 3 to 6 p.m. Does anyone really deserve that much happiness? After you have devoured some serious salad, pizza and other eats,…
Best Sandwich
Who doesn’t love the sandwiches at Beyond Bread? There is no other place in town where meat, vegetables and zesty spreads pressed between two pieces of bread taste so good. For more than a decade now, Tucson residents have been enjoying delicious sandwiches such as Pauly’s pesto: chicken, provolone, basil pesto, artichoke hearts, tomatoes and…
Best Vegetarian/Vegan
Lovin’ Spoonfuls owner Peggy Raisglid should be nominated for sainthood. Where profit is the only motivator for some business owners, she sets herself apart by bringing ethics to the forefront. The food she proudly serves is cruelty-free, meaning that no animal products are used. Despite what some might think, taste is in no way sacrificed.…
Best Place in Town to Channel Bob Marley
Going to CeeDee Jamaican Kitchen is like playing a game of Let’s Pretend. It goes like this: Let’s pretend you’re not in Tucson anymore; instead, you’re in a bigger city, where there are pockets of cool ethnic neighborhoods. Suddenly, you hear Bob Marley’s voice singing out about women and crying and all. You look over,…
Wavves: King of the Beach (Fat Possum)
In 2009, after releasing one of the most over-hyped albums in recent memory, Wavves mastermind Nathan Williams imploded onstage during the Primavera Sound Festival in Spain. The outburst was an obnoxious display, fueled by drugs and alcohol, and suggested an entitled media darling feeling the pressure. Inexplicably, Wavves did not dissolve. Instead, the group has…
Dark and Narrative
The dark work of one of America’s best writers runs all through Poe, this weekend’s Art.if.Act Dance Project concert. A trio of Edgar Allan Poe’s most horrifying tales—”The Oval Portrait,” “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Fall of the House of Usher”—inspired three contemporary dance works, all performed to live music. “We wanted to do something…
The Skinny
Is Congressman Raúl Grijalva in trouble in his race against Republican Ruth McClung? … The Rio Nuevo Board agrees to negotiate with the Rialto Theatre Foundation … Will Republican state Sen. Al Melvin and Democratic challenger Cheryl Cage ever debate? … and more!
Best Theatrical Gimmick
In today’s multimedia world, theater may seem low-tech and old fashioned—but unlike film and television, theater has been performed in high definition 3-D from day one. This year, Arizona Onstage Productions even moved live theater boldly into the fourth dimension! Through the magic of scratch-and-sniff technology, the company produced a musical that you can smell.…
Best Goth/Leather Shop
A stand-out downtown retail success story, Hydra Leather and More has been keeping Tucson dressed to thrill (and tease) for more than 15 years. Catering to men and women who prefer to think outside of the typical dreary fashion box, Hydra’s helpful employees spice up their customers’ wardrobes with a wide selection of club/dance wear,…
Best Easy Place to Camp
Sometimes you just want to get out of town and sleep on the ground. You don’t want to worry about packing every little thing you could possibly need to camp in the wilderness. You don’t want to drive and drive and drive to get to that elusive idyllic mountaintop where no lights can taint the…
Best Saturday Morning Diversion
The Southern Pacific Railroad Company is dictated to much of what happened in this town for 75 years after the train’s 1880 arrival. By the transformative 1960s, though, the importance of the railroad was declining. To illustrate Tucson’s railroad history, the small and informative Southern Arizona Transportation Museum offers visitors a trip through those times.…
Best Home Furnishings
Copenhagen opened its doors in Tucson in 1977—a year known for disco and platform shoes. While those fads have gone out of style, we’re happy to say that Copenhagen is still going strong—with a recent expansion into more markets. Walk into their 60,000-square-foot showroom—more like a gallery—and feast your eyes on beautiful, functional furniture that…
Best Musical Instrument Store
A treasure house, a pilgrimage center for visiting musicians, a cabinet of dusty curiosities, a three story labyrinth containing thousands of instruments … the downtown Chicago Music Store is an enchanted world all its own. It has a vast inventory, competitive prices and a friendly staff, but what makes it the Best of Tucson® is…
Best Backpacking Trail
Two unique books from the same author appeared in 1968. The Man Who Walked Through Time told the story of that author, Welshman Colin Fletcher, who backpacked the entire length of the Grand Canyon alone. The other, The Complete Walker, perhaps singlehandedly kicked off the modern backpacking industry. It became the outdoor set’s antidote to…
Best New Restaurant by an Old Favorite
Joe Scordato is in the kitchen again, and, boy, are we happy about that! From the savory stuffed mushrooms to the sweet dolce de Patricia, the food at Guiseppe’s is just plain wonderful! Thumbs-up to the braciole, that hearty rolled-beef dish served over linguini; and the eggplant parmesan deserves a Best of Tucson® pick of…
Best Late-Night Eats
It’s late at night, bordering on daybreak. You’ve caught a show, had a little to drink, and are wandering aimlessly downtown, not quite ready for the night to end. If hunger is part of this situation, chances are, you’ll end up at Grill. One of the few eateries open 24 hours, Grill offers a menu…
Best Place to Dance
How is it that a club located far from Tucson’s nightlife hub can see a line 100 strong—outside, on even the hottest Wednesday night? The answer: There really is no better place to dance than Cactus Moon. People from all walks of life are in attendance, drinking and dancing their heads off. Wednesday is the…
Best Seafood
So how does a restaurant in a desert town offer up superb seafood? We don’t know, but we are delighted that Kingfisher Bar and Grill does. The menu includes New England clam chowder, pan-seared shrimp cakes, steamed littleneck clams, steamed black mussels, fried squid and baked oysters Rockefeller—and those are just some of the appetizers!…
Best Veggie Burger
With Lovin’ Spoonfuls in the background, our speaker steps forward. He is tall, pleasant and wearing a white lab coat. “I’m a scientist; that’s why I’m wearing this white lab coat. I’m at Lovin’ Spoonfuls, home of Tucson’s Best Veggie Burger. Whether you’re health-conscious, adventurous or a little of both, this place is for you.…
Best Complimentary After-Dinner Drink
You’ve supped on some schnitzel. You’ve gobbled down the goulash. You’ve pigged out on a pierogi or two. It’s Saturday night at Amber Restaurant and Gallery. Now your server places a small glass of a ruby-red liquid in front of you. “But I didn’t order this,” you say. “It’s on the house,” she says with…
Kevin Pakulis Band: Shadesville (Self-Released)
“Harder Faster Louder” opens this collection of 10 somewhat rowdy, occasionally bluesy and almost always introspective rockers. It’s hard not to be struck by how much of a guitar album this is, with Pakulis providing any number of different textures, sounds and rhythmic interplays between the other players and the songs. On tunes like “Heartache”…
Fall Dance Card
The economic downturn is still hurting some of Tucson’s local troupes, but ZUZI! Dance Company will start a full schedule with a show next weekend. Enjoying the benefit of having its own theater, ZUZI! brings back its border work, Crossing Boundaries, at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2, at ZUZI’s Theater in…
Media Watch
The Mountain adds two out-of-town DJs to lineup; KOLD turns in strong summer news numbers
Best Art Museum
TMA has been serving up some rather familiar art, but it wins kudos for making that art fresh again. It’s not easy to say anything new about Ansel Adams, especially in this Ansel-maniac town. But the museum’s Ansel Adams: A Legacy was a triumph, a wonderful show that demonstrated just how much Adams tinkered with…
Most Incestuous Theater Ensemble
Theater is frequently a family affair in Tucson. After you attend a few shows around town, the cast members will start to look very familiar. But no one takes this concept quite as far as the daVinci Players. Serving as a transitional company—mixing trainees from Studio Connections’ acting classes with more seasoned performers—the daVinci Players…
Best Florist
For some, having a good florist is akin to having a good dentist: It’s that important. Since 1975, when it was founded by owner/operators Jim and Bridget Stith, Tucsonans have relied on SavOn to deliver exceptional artistry in flowers for occasions great and small. Flowers have their own language. They say, “I’m sorry.” “I love…
Best Way to ‘Dig’ Tucson
Professional archaeologist Allen Dart began the nonprofit Old Pueblo Archaeology Center back in 1993 to provide opportunities for the general public to participate in archaeological and historical research. No one has worked harder than Allen to share the fun, excitement, mystery and hard work of archaeology with both children and adults. Old Pueblo offers tours…
Best Secret Ongoing Community Art Project
“I got a tetanus,” reads a scrap of paper, signed and dated in a child-like scrawl. It’s easy to understand how this secret art treasure might be discovered by a child—and it’s easy to understand how the temptation to add to it would be irresistible. Other entries, even in their randomness, hint at a broader…
Best Plant Nursery
Many a gardener has found inspiration among the endless rows of plants at Mesquite Valley Growers. If they can grow big, beautiful plants along East Speedway Boulevard, then it’s possible to grow big, beautiful plants anywhere in Tucson, right? The answer is yes, but you need the proper supplies and a heap of gardening know-how.…
Best Pet Supplies Store
When did Martha Stewart become a pet empress? Martha Stewart-brand rope-bone toy? Really? At PetSmart, watch the dogs cavort and jockey for alpha in the soundproof Doggy Day Camp playroom. Talk to the helpful employees about their fine selection of fake squeaky meats. Board your pets at the PetsHotel, where they can get one-on-one training…
Best Campground
At 9,000 feet in elevation, Mount Lemmon offers a refuge from the desert replete with coniferous and deciduous trees, city views and wildlife. In one afternoon, you can take a hike to recharge your mental batteries—and be home in time for dinner. If that isn’t enough, you can stay a bit longer, and temporarily call…
Best Place to Get Your Saturday Mexican On
Maybe you had too much tequila the night before, or maybe you’re going to a weekend potluck and need something to impress your friends. Either way, don’t fear the typical weekend scene at La Estrella: a line of people holding pots or other large containers, waiting to get their share of the eatery’s delicious menudo.…
Best Upscale Bar Ambiance
As the sweet young thing opens the large glass door for you, you know immediately that NoRTH is different, offering subdued lighting, a cool color scheme, brick, wood and leather (OK, maybe leatherette). The black-clad servers are smiling and at the ready. The music is hip. The patio window is really part of the bar.…
Best Martini
Whether you prefer it shaken or stirred; gin or vodka; clean, dry or dirty; up or on the rocks, Sullivan’s Steakhouse has got your martini covered. Grab a high-top table or relax on the patio, and enjoy the executive-style ambiance (think lots of dark, rich wood) and live piano jazz while bartenders whip up expert…
Best Pizza
Brooklyn’s got it all going on—house-made Italian ice, solar power and the coolest Formica tables in town. Eco-friendly (and cute) Smart Cars provide free local delivery. But, of course, we’re celebrating the staple here: their pizza pie. The fresh, salty sauce and snappy mozzarella always hit the spot. Lively wall art entertains patrons waiting in…
Best Café Hangout
If you want a coffee shop with the same old décor and menu, by all means, visit one of those green-signed dispensaries on every other street corner. But if you want a coffeehouse experience that’s distinctly Tucson, you want Epic Café. Pies, pastries, sandwiches and any kind of joe or tea you could possibly want…
Best Post-Apocalyptic Rat Pack Hangout
Imagine the Cuban Missile Crisis had not been averted. This is where Frank, Sammy, Dean and the rest of the gang would have fled to escape mushroom clouds in favor of olives in martinis. It’s an honest-to-goodness fallout shelter: concrete, no windows, in the center of town. Stepping inside will take you back to another…
¡Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: What punishment could America give that would FINALLY make crossing America’s borders—repeatedly—unpalatable to Mexicans? Even Mexican natives admit that it is at least as harmful to Mexico as it is to America, and the “needless paperwork” in our immigration process is to TRY to filter out habitual criminals and recidivism, and to slant…
Servings of Nostalgia
Two generous helpings of nostalgia are currently being served up on Tucson’s stages—in both light and dark varieties. The Invisible Theatre is dishing up Moonlight and Magnolias as the first production of its 40th anniversary season, and the flavor is light, sweet and frothy, with a little bit of kick. The play is about three…
Best Mural
It used to be that the first thing you saw after emerging from the Broadway Boulevard underpass into downtown was the blank wall of the Rialto Theatre. Today, the murals of Joe Pagac (rhymes with magic) give you a sense of having arrived in an exciting place where art and music are alive. Joe’s huge…
Best Budget Stage Design
All you really need to create theater is an actor and an audience. The rest is just frosting … but who wants cake without frosting? Over the past year, Beowulf Alley Theatre Company has—without the big budget of a major regional theater—repeatedly served up productions with some of the most mouth-watering stage designs in town,…
Best Park
What better place is there for that clandestine midtown rendezvous with your fetching office co-worker? (Just hope you don’t run into anyone else from the agency doing the same.) You two can power walk the 3-mile path around the golf course while listening to Rosemary Clooney’s “Botch-A-Me,” then cool your jets at the tented Edith…
Best Playground
The best thing about the playgrounds at Reid Park is that they are just the tip of the iceberg. There are celebrations in the many rentable armadas; the manmade lake teems with ducks and geese; the dog park provides space for four-legged family members to let loose; and there are wide open spaces to enjoy.…
Most Affirming Mural
You might never see it if you don’t live in the neighborhood. Most attention goes to the barrio’s southern end, to the spectacular murals of Oury Park and this pocket community’s newest attraction, the Bicycle Church at Granada Avenue/Main Avenue and Davis Street. No, this tiny park seems anonymous, even neglected and weedy, tucked away…
Best Sporting Goods
We don’t know exactly what the “5” refers to in Big 5’s name, but it’s a damn certainty that this store is big. Everything sold there is designed to help get you active, inside or outdoors—from sports gear to exercise equipment to sporty clothing of all sorts to stuff you can use to go hunting,…
Best Video Games Store
All video-game enthusiasts know where to get their game on—but if you’re a gaming newbie, GameStop is the place to find the exact game that you are looking for. With wall-to-wall video games and knowledgeable employees, GameStop is a safe haven for all gamers. You can trade in the games you now find tiresome for…
Best Public Servant
Since the passage of SB 1070, the name “Raúl Grijalva” is almost always said in the same breath as the word “boycott.” And though he may have previously called for a boycott of our state, Weekly readers aren’t boycotting him. Maybe it’s because you know he’s willing to put his feelings out there. Maybe it’s…
Best Korean Food
The food at Seoul Kitchen is simple, straightforward and yummy. Any one of the soups can work as a meal. Noodle and rice plates are also available—but you don’t want to pass up the barbecue, the food that will make this little place famous. The combination of the chicken and flame-broiled beef rib (galbi) is…
Best Breakfast
The Good Egg now has nearly 20 bustling locations in Arizona. The country décor makes you feel like you are in Grandma’s kitchen. When you taste the food, you’ll feel like you have been transported back to the ’60s—when a delicious, homemade breakfast was the norm. Choose from a multitude of egg dishes, or try…
Best Margarita
We suppose it’s possible that any tequila-based concoction would taste super-sabrosa in an environment as gorgeous and lushly decorated as downtown’s beloved Café Poca Cosa. But whatever it is that makes Café Poca Cosa’s margaritas exquisitely delicious—we usually order them by the pitcher—discerning drinkers raise their salt-rimmed glasses in celebration of these margaritas above all…
Best Steakhouse
Unless you have a 1,600-degree broiler oven in your home kitchen, you can’t quite mimic the absolute perfection of the steaks at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. In classic steakhouse style, everything is served à la carte, so be prepared to leave very, very full (although your wallet won’t be so full). Everything about…
Best House Blend Coffee
Since 1998, Raging Sage has been brewing coffee at this quaint, family-owned location, offering Tucsonans a unique, balanced house blend that’s two parts dark roast and one part light roast. Try it on ice with a little sugar for a savory summer treat, or get it hot for a sleepy winter morning’s wake-up call. You…
Top Ten in Books
Antigone Books best-sellers for the week endingSept. 17, 2010
Missing Ginger
What a disappointment. Here we were, all gussied up and looking to be dazzled by Arizona Theatre Company’s season opener, Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical. A rousing tribute to Ginger Rogers is long overdue; Fred Astaire may have gotten most of the attention in those RKO pictures in the ’30s, but Rogers did…
Best Local Performing Artist
You’re alone at dusk, rolling down some desert road in your 1965 Chevy El Camino, when your tire bursts. You slow down and pull to the side of the road. Snakes rattle their tails. Jumping chollas prepare to pounce. The eye sockets of a sun-bleached cow skull watch as you examine the spare tire. Then,…
Best Final Curtain
In January, the Invisible Theatre coaxed Lynn Redgrave to Tucson for two performances at the Berger Performing Arts Center. In recent years, Redgrave had supplemented her impressive acting credits with writing for the stage, often focusing on her life as a member of one of theater’s most acclaimed families. It was widely known that Redgrave…
Best Auto Repair
(NOTE: Must be read out loud really fast while holding one’s breath.) Does your car have a dent, a dink, a smoosh, a smudge, a crease, a biff, a crack, or an owwie? Then bring it on down to Formula 1 Automotive Arts, and they’ll make it look like new. Heck, they’ll make it look…
Best Toy Store
Mrs. Tiggy Winkle philosophizes on her website: “We believe in keeping joy alive.” This little gem of a store is a joyous place. A stuffed zebra stands guard near the door; an inviting play-loft anchors the middle of the shop; and a magical fairy tree brightens the environs with its purple butterflies. A relaxing vibe…
Best Friend of Man’s Best Friend
The gang at Tucson Cold Wet Noses is the last resort for Pima County’s least-wanted dogs. When hounds find themselves on doggie death row at the Pima Animal Care Center because no one wants to adopt them, the members of the nonprofit organization take them into foster care and try to find new homes for…
Best Outdoor Recreation Store
Summit Hut was born way back in 1967, when two 15-year-old kids decided to go into business for themselves by ordering backpacking and mountaineering gear for folks in Tucson. They kept the inventory under their beds. It’s 43 years later, and the Summit Hut’s two stores and online business are still going strong. Sure, REI…
Best Place to Get Culturally Enriched While Shopping for Fish
This family-owned shopping bazaar would be dripping with mom-and-pom-ism were it not such a culturally diverse retail experience. Aside from all of the regular grocery stuff, 17th Street offers numerous items from throughout Asia, including kimonos and robes, glass bowls and sake sets. The adjacent music store offers additional opportunities to raise your cultural IQ…
Best Local TV Newscast
Due to recession-related cutbacks, some of us no longer have cable, and have to rely on broadcast stations alone for entertainment and news. Luckily for us, there’s KOLD Channel 13, with its pleasant but never-too-perky news anchors, who deliver the news and weather with knowledge and charisma. Who needs cable TV when you have people…
Best Cupcake Shop
Shops that specialize in cupcakes are popping up all over the place—but Red Velvet Cupcakery is hands-down the best cupcake shop in town. Here’s why: At $3 each, their cupcakes are considerably cheaper than those at other places. The ratio of cake to frosting is just right—at about 60/40—which means you can take a bite…
Best Gay/Lesbian Bar
What’s a good Screaming Orgasm or Buttery Nipple without a drag queen or a shirtless male dancer to watch? Yes, we’re mostly referring to alcoholic beverages here, but we wouldn’t be surprised if we heard an actual ear-splitting climax or saw a bona fide butter-covered teat somewhere in Tucson’s coolest and possibly wildest gay bar.…
Best Wine Bar
Since this little wine shop’s inception about three years ago, CataVinos has slowly but surely developed a legion of loyal fans. Thanks to amazing prices (“hundreds under $15,” to quote the website); an unfussy, laid-back vibe; and owner Yvonne Foucher’s passion for good wine, CataVinos is a great place to enjoy one’s self. Nightly tastings…
Best Tortillas
The whole range of tortillas is delicioso here, but the Anita Street gorditas are the best. They’re made with cottage cheese and are lightly salted, slightly chewy, tender and always warm—because they sell out before they have time to cool down. Most tortillas are an accompaniment to a meal, but these are perfectly satisfying on…
Best Local Coffee Roaster
What opens those bleary, bloodshot, martini hung-over eyes and makes everybody work at the top of their game? Only one thing, Mister Ad Man: It’s caffeine, America’s favorite drug. And at Raging Sage, caffeine-packed coffee beans are roasted right on the premises, after being imported from exotic locales around the world. Freshly brewed coffee is…
Beyond the Atrocities
Charles Bowden has long chronicled death and destruction along the borderlands, but the atrocities coming out of Ciudad Juárez are so horrifying, he says, that he has struggled to find the words to write about them. “I must find a new language, one that avoids empty words like justice and crime and punishment and problems…
Best Movie Theater
You’ll be hard-pressed to find another movie complex featuring couches in one of its theaters—let alone a theater complex serving beer and wine at the concession stand. A constant Best of Tucson® champion since 2003, the Loft features the indie, art and foreign flicks that most multiplexes won’t play. In other words, you won’t find…
Best Theater Production
Theater is truly the art of arts. Its practitioners meld many components of artistic expression—language, music, dance, a strong sense of the visual—into an entity which aims to be grander than the sum of its parts. Rarely does it happen that all of these components work together in just the right proportions. When they do,…
Best Hair Salon
Tired of hiding under that fedora? Bring those tired locks over to Gadabout SalonSpas to get the best hair treatments in town. They’ll whisk you away to soap, soften and snip your hair blues away. You don’t want to get caught out and about with your hair in those rollers, so leave it to the…
Best Clothing Store
The way kids are growing these days, there’s no reason to buy all of their clothes brand-new—especially considering the great selection and wonderful quality that can be found at Lil’ Traders. Not only are the prices right; you can barter by bringing in your own old kids’ threads to trade in. And in today’s low-budget…
Best Out-of-This-World Snapshots
For the last four years, the UA’s Lunar and Planetary Lab’s HiRISE camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been snapping photos from high above our neighboring planet. Nearly every week, a new batch of photos is released on the Web for public viewing—and they’re absolutely astonishing. From the edges of craters to dunes on…
Best Bike Shop
Ordinary Bike Shop doesn’t just serve the community; they are the community, the well-greased hub around which bike events spin freely. Their location just off Fourth Avenue puts them at the center of everything, between the UA and downtown, just east of BICAS and smack-dab in the middle of the annual Greater Arizona Bicycling Association…
Best Place From Which to Export the Desert
In a world of genetically modified everything, this internationally known organization has made it its mission to preserve and promote the use of seeds and crops native to the Southwest and the Sonoran Desert. At its relatively new storefront on Campbell Avenue, you’ll find a cornucopia of our desert’s raw materials—all appropriately modified for human…
Best Radio Station for News
Whether you’re looking for the latest national and international news, or just checking the increasingly irritating traffic situation on the way to the daily grind, the good folks over at Arizona Public Media are keeping you informed. From local Southern Arizona stories to national news from NPR, you can stay up-to-date on current events—and avoid…
Best Deep-Dish Pizza
You may know this restaurant for the snarky, ever-changing sign out front, but Rocco’s Little Chicago Pizzeria is serving up great deep-dish pizza, in true Chicago fashion—with the sauce on top—right here in Tucson. These deep-dish and stuffed pizzas measure several inches deep, so you may only need one slice to get your fill of…
Best Brunch
Brunch has evolved into a tradition, and if you want to experience the best Sunday brunch in Tucson, get yourself to the Grill at Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort—and prepare to be wowed. The location—in the foothills of the Santa Catalinas—alone is special. Take in the enormous array of food: tables and tables with…
Best Signature Cocktail
The drink is known as the Scorpion, and it has been keeping Kon Tiki customers happily inebriated for decades. Including various types of rum, gin, liqueurs and tropical-fruit juices, the Scorpion can be shared by a group in, well, a fishbowl, or it can be enjoyed by one fruity-drink-loving soul. If you believe your iron…
Best Burrito
The only thing better than a huge, delicious burrito is a huge, delicious burrito that can be acquired quickly. The burrito is clearly Nico’s specialty, with 22 varieties, ranging from the basic bean burrito to the glorious carne asada concoction (with plenty of seasoned meat, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro and more). Nine burritos are of…
Best Tea Service
Your worst day may be the best time to visit Seven Cups. Any time you stop by, a staff member will kindly escort you to the spot with the best chi in the room. That staffer will speak with otherworldly calm about the elegant journey of each tea from its origin in China in the…
Post-Apocalyptic Owls
Some books for young people, like Harry Potter, Captain Underpants and The Hunger Games, manage to come to the attention of the saggy-fleshed members of the public. This is because the books either have some literary merit, or are offensive in some way. But old folk have shown little interest in the Guardians of Ga’Hoole…
Best Art Classes
The Drawing Studio artist/teachers inspire Tucsonans of all ages and cultures to see the world more deeply, to be more attentive, and to let that attention come through them as art. Students can start with basic drawing/seeing, or try something different, like Japanese ink-painting, monoprinting or encaustic painting. Classes are offered in three spacious teaching…
Best Thing About Theater in Tucson
No, not all of the theater presented in Southern Arizona is good. Some of it is mediocre, and a wee bit is downright stinky-bad. Most theater groups are nonprofits with tiny budgets—but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a lack of unique identity or limited artistic vision. Thanks to numerous companies—from the venerable, dependable Invisible Theatre…
Best Tattoo Parlor
With tattoos accepted and fashionable in today’s society, the main concern for tattoo-lovers in Tucson is: What parlor does the best work? Located in the center of downtown Tucson, Black Rose is a spot where fine artistic tattooing is considered a beautiful art form. If you want lovely art imprinted on your body, make sure…
Best Birthday Party Place
When kids remember their birthday parties, they just remember the fun. They don’t remember how hard their parents worked to plan the party, or how long it took to clean up afterward. This place takes care of all of that: All you have to do is tell everyone to wear good socks. Party packages are…
Best Celebration of Our Departed Ancestors
Last year’s All Soul’s Procession through downtown was a spectacular parade of tens of thousands of Tucsonans celebrating the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, with representations of departed family members mixed with icons like the shuttered Tucson Citizen newspaper and Macho B, the last known jaguar in North America (who died after being captured).…
Best Caterer
Feast is one of Tucson’s most highly regarded restaurants, and the Feast catering team is more than happy to bring their talents and tasty food right to your front door. Perusing the catering menu may make you want to throw a party. Hell, the cold hors d’oeuvres alone—mini beef filet crostini; cheddar chive biscuits with…
Best Used/Vintage Purse Rack
Even on websites like eBay and Etsy, finding a used or vintage designer handbag that is reasonably priced and in good shape can be a challenge. Finding one in Tucson can be an even bigger challenge—that is, unless you walk into the purse heaven that is Persnickety’s New and Resale Emporium. Here, bunches of bags…
Best Country Music Station
Has there ever been a force more dominant in Tucson radio than this perennial winner? Country is a way of life in the Old Pueblo, and KIIM is the country king for many, many listeners. KIIM covers the gamut when it comes to mainstream country—from airplay stalwarts such as Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and Alan…
Best Use of Local Ingredients
The word “locavore” has officially been in the dictionary for a few years, and it’s no wonder that lots of restaurants are jumping on the local-production bandwagon. Harvest makes the best use of regional ingredients through “seasonally inspired cooking,” offering ingredients including local grass-fed beef, 50-mile Bibb lettuce, Arizona cucumbers, locally made tortillas and breads,…
Best Lowbrow Bar Ambiance
Remember when you were a kid, and your parents used to throw those parties where they served a buffet with disgusting food like casserole? Yeah, this isn’t that kind of buffet—even though it once was a buffet, and there are always hot dogs and polish sausages simmering in beer in the “formerly-almost-state-of-the-art” crock pot. “The…
Best Wine/Liquor Store
What lurks beyond the innocent façade at Plaza Liquors is a revelation: In terms of sheer volume and the wide-ranging variety, there is enough alcohol stored within these surprisingly spacious four walls to immobilize a small nation of junior ad execs. One staff person estimated that Plaza carries 600 different beers at any given time,…
Best Sushi
RA Sushi offers sushi prepared to each customer’s liking—but RA’s happy hour is where it’s at. From 3 to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, hungry patrons can get selected sushi rolls and appetizers at half price, along with numerous drink specials. ($2 sake!) And we need to mention RA’s fine ambiance, featuring an upbeat tempo…
Best Bulk Tea Selection
According to studies, tea may help prevent cancer, diabetes, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and even halitosis—plus a mile-long list of other ailments. Which means: You’d better start drinking more tea. But you don’t want to drink the same kind every day, and how good for your body is that crappy stuff from the…
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week ending Sept. 19, 2010
Best Indoor Venue
Operating since 1920, the Rialto Theatre is currently a nonprofit performance space that epitomizes the forward-thinking spirit of the downtown arts community. The Rialto draws diverse national and international acts—spanning every genre imaginable—such as the Avett Brothers, Grupo Fantasma, Sonic Youth, the Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars, Mastodon and Nas, just to name a few. The…
Best Alternative Health Center
Feeling a little needled? Acupuncture might be just what you need to get right with your chi—and our readers say there’s no better place to do it than Tucson Community Acupuncture, where you only pay what you can afford on a sliding scale that ranges from $15 to $35 per session. Whether you’re looking to…
Best Car Wash
You could stand out in the heat and wash your car yourself. Or you could trust it to those enthusiastic, fundraising sorority girls waving their signs on the corner. Or you can go to Capin. Wash services range from “silver” ($12.99)—which includes a full wash, tire shine and air freshener—up to “platinum” ($21.99), with sealer…
Best Catered-to-Kids Restaurant
We don’t imagine many grown-ups visit Chuck E. Cheese’s for the pizza, or the wings, the salad bar or the sandwiches. They visit so their kids can enjoy the banging, clanging, buzzing, ringing and dinging environment of games—shooting, flying, driving, Guitar Hero-ing, noisy games. And if you play enough of those games, you can redeem…
Best Used Books
Sometimes, it’s a pain in the ass to go to the library to check out books. Sure, it’s great to not have to actually pay any money, but call numbers and delving into shelves upon shelves can be a little overwhelming. That’s where Bookmans Entertainment Exchange comes in. Some of us like to have longer…
Best Organic Food Store
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the organic produce at Sunflower is that you can’t discern it from the regular veggies. It’s not discolored, misshapen or bug-eaten. On the other hand, neither has it been given a cadaverous wax job. Best of all, sometimes you can still detect the scent of the garden on the…
Best Place to Purchase Physical Well-Being
You can’t buy love or happiness. But you can invest some money in achieving a long, healthy life. In Tucson, the best place to do that is one of the convenient New Life locations, where everything you’ll find is good for your body in some way or other—from immune-system-boosting supplements to natural fat-burning aids to…
Best Pop Music Station
Those of you who’ve moved to our fair city within the last 15 years may not remember the days when the radio-station selections were few and far between. It used to be that if you wanted to hear pop music, KRQ was your only FM source. Then times changed; radio stations went digital; and now,…
Best Authentic Italian Pizza Joint
Bubbling house-made mozzarella and a crispy wood-fired crust are central to Vero Amore’s pizzas, and this small, classy pizza joint is making pizza night an upscale outing. Started in 2006 by two brothers, Vero Amore is one of only 250 restaurants in the world certified by the Verace Pizza Napoletana academy. With a sleek, modern…
Best Nightclub
Ah, Club Congress, land of fabulous drink specials, live music and packed dance floors, situated inside the historic Hotel Congress in the heart of downtown Tucson. It’s no wonder this place was voted Best Nightclub. For an ’80s dance party, head on down to Club Congress on Monday nights. (Bonus: $1 well-drink specials.) Or get…
Best Billiards
Click’s is a great place to hang out after work. Go in and grab a beer (drafts are only $3); set up at a table with your buddies; and try to determine which of you is the best, or least-bad, pool player. Some people might be turned off by the dive-bar nature, but those people…
Best Sonoran Hot Dogs
A dude named Aaron turned us on to Sonoran hot dogs years ago. Cheap beer, a beater Chevy Monte Carlo and midnight runs for the border may have been involved. Aaron is married, respectable and keeping kosher these days, but now we have El Guero Canelo; today, there’s no need to dodge the narcos in…
Best Upscale Cuisine
Let’s face it: Bad food, lousy service and poor value are becoming increasingly common these days. What a relief to know that there are still places where the diner comes first, where the food is of exquisite quality, and where the atmosphere radiates peace and tranquility—but isn’t stuffy. The Grill at Hacienda del Sol Guest…
Doctors Wanted
Even though Tucson is home to an estimated 2,800 physicians, parts of the community are significantly short of primary-care doctors. For decades, the national percentage of doctors that practice primary care—family or internal medicine, along with pediatrics—has been dropping. The American Medical Association (AMA) reports the figures went from 40 percent in 1970 to less…
Heist Classic
One of the best heist movies in years comes to us courtesy of the surprisingly adept directorial eyes of Ben Affleck. The man has now directed two good movies—and this time out, he even stars and co-writes. He’s becoming a one-man entertainment force to be reckoned with. Let the comparisons to Clint Eastwood begin. The…
Best Outdoor Venue
Although AVA offered fewer shows in a down economy over the past year, there remains no finer place to experience music under the stars—especially on a warm desert night—than this 5,000-“seat” amphitheater, which offers great sight lines and acoustics all around. For those not lucky enough to get seats up front, the lawn is the…
Best Annual Festival
Since 1970, the Fourth Avenue Street Fair has been luring much of the Old Pueblo to the heart of the West University Neighborhood. Every winter and spring, about 250,000 people wander the booths, looking for tchotchkes, eating snacks and just getting their groove on. Even jaded Tucsonans enjoy people-watching from café windows. This twice-a-year event…
Best Yard Full of Art
The 1960s and the dawning of the Age of Aquarius was a whimsical fantasy for many. That spirit lives on at the corner of Highland Avenue and Water Street in midtown’s Samos Neighborhood. While Tucson has many yards displaying attractive artwork, this one is especially memorable, due to its large collection of playful characters made…
Best Fun for the Whole Family
This place may be one of Tucson’s best-kept secrets when it comes to family fun. Sure, it’s not the San Diego Zoo, but there are enough animals, activities and special programs to keep families engaged for several visits throughout the year. With habitats to support hundreds of animals from Asia, Africa and South America, the…
Best New Bookstore
The whole military-industrial-complex thing has gotten weird. When you walk into Tucson’s Best New Bookstore while wearing your retro fedora, you’re greeted by a clerk selling some shiny gadget called a Noogie, or a Nookie, or some damn thing that looks like it’s right out of Lost in Space. Ironically, if the concept succeeds, there…
Best Specialty Foods
At AJ’s, you can get fresh sushi. You can buy outstanding floral arrangements and classy, exotic produce. The store offers a wonderful selection of great wines—and there’s always an expert present to ask about your selection. There’s a deli where you can spend your entire lunch hour just thinking about what to order. Save yourself…
Best Thrift Store With High Selection-to-Cost Ratio
OK, so Savers isn’t the cheapest thrift store in the city. It’s not locally owned. And shopping there definitely won’t get you any hipster points. But if you’re looking for a used household item or an article of clothing, and you’re looking to get it now—without a lot of digging through overflowing bins and pawing…
Best Rock Music Station
Just as KFMA’s playlist has undergone changes since its start in the early ’80s, music as a whole has undergone a few changes as well. Alternative, punk and grunge are some of the rock styles that emerged after the musical evolution of the ’60s, and Tucson’s home for the massive archive of these “new rock”…
Best Mobile Restaurant
You could drive past this little food truck a million times and not really notice it—but then you’d be missing out on some great food at amazing prices. Angela’s attracts a mixed crowd every day, because this humble spot just might have some of the best Mexican hot dogs (and carne asada and the adobado)…
Best Sports Bar
Go to the World Sports Grille during any major sporting event, and the place is likely to be packed. And with good reason: The place is massive and spacious, with high-definition televisions in clear view, no matter where you’re sitting. The clientele is varied; parents can bring their young kids, give them some quarters and…
Best Consistent Beer Selection
Regardless of what has been trendy, Zachary’s has always been a must-visit destination for beer fans. The UA-area pizza parlor’s taps feature a mix of British standards, such as Guinness, Bass and Newcastle; continental delights like Paulaner hefe-weizen and Pilsner Urquell; and impeccable American craft brews—think Dogfish Head and Anchor Steam. Bottoms up!
Best Thai
Char’s is not part of a restaurant row, nor is it in a trendy neighborhood; an element of the Char’s experience is the minor effort it takes to get to this small, unassuming strip-mall storefront. Tucson is hardly a Mecca for authentic Thai cuisine, but Char’s vast menu—laced with curries and coconut sauces galore—has been…
Best Casual Dining
There’s a lot of cross-pollination going on over at The B Line. The cool jazz on the speakers and the industrial details in the decor suggest New York sophistication; the panoramic desert railroad paintings and spicy menu are pure Southwest. The walk-up counter and extensive dessert selection—ranging from classic fruit pies to flourless chocolate pecan…
Courting Votes
Republican Patricia Noland has served as Pima County’s Clerk of the Superior Court for more than 11 years, and in every election since her first, she’s been able to count on one constant: the same challenger, Democrat Margaret DiFrank. “I call her the Joe Sweeney of the Clerk of the Court (race),” Noland says, referring…
Now Showing at Home
Frozen ANCHOR BAY MOVIE A- SPECIAL FEATURES B+ DVD GEEK FACTOR 7.5 (OUT OF 10) Director Adam Green, maker of the inconsistent but amusing Hatchet, has made his first great movie, a modern horror classic that managed to really freak me out—and I am not easily freaked. Three young adults (played by Emma Bell, Kevin…
Best Spectacle for Charity
This annual event, which was held on April 30 this year, offers dog-lovers a chance to dress up and deck out their pooches to celebrate everything canine—and raise money to help save the less fortunate critters at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Check out dapper doggie fashions, and let your four-legged friend(s) nosh on…
Best Custom Cakes
Creating a nicely designed cake takes talent—but what takes even more talent is creating a cake that looks glamorous and tastes great, too. At Cake Boutique, the cakes are whimsical, gorgeous and, of course, delicious. Cake designer and owner Mindy Illes makes everything from traditional stacked wedding cakes to, well, cakes in the shape of…
Best Way to Show Your Kids Where Eggs Come From
The Food Conspiracy Co-op’s Annual Chicken Coop Tour is the best local activity to show young ones where eggs come from, but beware: You may return home inspired to build your own coop, or may be forced into it by your wee ones, who will announce that chickens are the coolest animals on the planet.…
Best Independent Bookstore
Antigone’s website describes the place as “a zany bookstore with a feminist slant.” That said, this is simply a great neighborhood store, reflecting the values and inherent optimism of an informed and engaged community. In addition to focusing on local, Southwestern, environmental and socially conscious authors, Antigone is also user-friendly for kids with its elephant…
Best Delicatessen
In lower Manhattan, it’s Katz’s, but the best deli in Tucson is Shlomo and Vito’s. From the historic photos of New York City to the plate of crisp pickles served before each meal, it’s clear: This place is the real deal. Delicious food can be selected from a long case containing a wide variety of…
Best Local Corporate Conglomerate
Bohemia (with a great selection of work by local artists and craftspeople) and Cafe Passé (with wonderful food and a secret shaded back garden) got together with newcomers Wooden Tooth and Ventana Gallery, and it catalyzed … a little village, under one roof, greater than the sum of its parts. Wooden Tooth carries funky fashion…
Best Radio Personality
Jon Justice is one of the city’s most notorious and best-known radio personalities, and his show has the tagline, “The only radio show where you have a voice.” But after listening to him, it’s clear that only Tucsonans who veer far to the right have a voice on his show. One can’t deny that the…
Best After-Dark Views
You can’t beat the incomparable views at McClintock’s. It’s located on the 1,035-acre Saguaro Ranch development; there’s nothing quite like it in Southern Arizona. Time it just right, and you can enjoy your dinner while watching the sun set over the mountains to the west, as the full moon is rising over the peaks to…
Best Cocktail Menu
With poetic names like “ghost orchid” and “East India ice water,” the tasty-yet-lethal cocktails at Hotel Congress are to die for. You can even re-live those historic wild Arizona cowboy days by ordering a Dillinger sidecar (with Maker’s Mark, Cointreau and fresh lemon juice). With more than 20 signature and twisted-classic cocktails on the menu,…
Best Alternative to a Mojito
Not that there’s anything wrong with the mojito; the rum-and-mint cocktail is a warm-weather fave for good reason. But if you’re looking for something different, Sky Bar’s Mule is a fresh, gourmet take on the mid-20th-century’s Moscow Mule. This modern incarnation combines fresh muddled mint and basil, housemade ginger syrup, seltzer and vodka to refresh…
Best Japanese
Attention, foodies: natto! Natto is fermented soybeans, a traditional Japanese food rarely found on menus in the United States. To most Westerners, it’s sticky, stinky and downright weird, but natto’s inclusion on the menu is a sign that this is authentic Japanese food, with a rich range of flavors and textures that extends far beyond…
Best Smoothie
The folks at Xoom Juice ask, “Why mess with Mother Nature?” They forgo artificial flavors and high-fructose corn syrup and use only natural ingredients: fruit, 100 percent fruit juice, organic milk, soymilk and yogurt. You can add a special “xoomer” ingredient for a nutritional boost. We doubt you’d find ingredients such as agave nectar, guava…
Noshing Around
Mr. Head’s Art Gallery and Bar; Jasper Food and Mixology; Sparkroot; Wooters Joins the Abbey; Open: Tiki Tim’s Grill
Police Dispatch
A violent window; Minor melodrama
One-Man Show
Martin’s Comida Chingona is not a place for people who like fine dining. Nor is it a place for people who like matching furniture, non-disposable eating utensils and guacamole. However, it is a place for people who like lucha libre (Mexican wrestling), Catholic imagery and tasty, unpretentious Mexican food. Quirky, small and independent, the restaurant…
Fourth Avenue Street Fair
It’s only a fair when you’re here Suits, freaks and beatniks have had a home at the Fourth Avenue Street Fair for 41 years, bringing thousands of people together along the Avenue twice a year. John Sedwick, executive director of the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association, says this Tucson tradition started as a sidewalk-sale event for…
Best Event to Help Us Reclaim Our City’s Soul
One problem with all of the hullaballoo about the future of downtown Tucson—or what seems like the lack of a future to some—is that there are people still around who remember when downtown Tucson was all right. Of course, that was before the Internets, apps and social networking. This was a time when a flier…
Best Way to Satisfy Your Inner Geek
Maybe you were afraid to tell your kids about your inner geek—about how in junior high school, you played chess during lunch in the art room with that skinny kid named Roger (who had particularly nice hands and big brown eyes). One day, it all came back to you when you wandered into Bookmans, and…
Best Video Store
Here in Tucson, we say, “Mi casa es su casa,” as readers have for years overwhelmingly and consistently picked Casa over its dying corporate competitors. It can be a pleasure to browse through discerning-employee-chosen groupings and selections of obscure foreign films to pluck that rare title for your instant gratification. With the ignominious closure of…
Best Desserts
There truly is something sweet about this local dessert gold mine. Milkshakes, cheesecakes, brownies, pies and éclairs: You name it, and they serve it. As if we needed another reason to love Something Sweet, the restaurant also offers an extensive selection of teas, coffee, Italian sodas and cocoas—and they’re open late (until midnight Sunday through…
Best Selection of Secondhand Girly Stuff
Tucson has a lot of thrift stores that sell the standard jeans-and-tees uniform, but if you like to wear skirts and dresses, or if you need a last-minute metallic gold bra (you know who you are), or if you like pretty PJs, handbags without nylon web or Velcro, high heels, really high heels, fluffy ruffles,…
Best Buffet
“All-you-can-eat” buffets are one thing. But an “endless” buffet? That’s a whole different story. At Golden Corral, there are so many types of food to try, much of it comfort food you can never get enough of: meatloaf, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, apple pie, and so on; if someone’s grandma in a Midwestern suburb ever…
Best Chicharrones
The word “botana” has a double-meaning: It can either mean an appetizer or a joke. But La Botana isn’t joking with their delicious, inexpensive tacos and Southern Mexico style dishes. But there’s one thing that they do really, really well: chicharrones. This crispy fried pork rind is seasoned well and served with a salsa verde…
Best Chinese
Transplants from the coasts will tell you: The greatness of a Chinese restaurant can almost always be determined by the aromas wafting from the kitchen. On this count, Guilin does not disappoint. While Chinese food and healthy food have never been synonymous, Guilin makes the case that neither are they mutually exclusive. Although there are…
Best Fresh Wine List
More than 30 wines, nearly all available by the glass, await the curious vinophile at Wilko. Recent selections include a crisp and impeccable French sauvignon blanc, and a hearty, spicy California zinfandel, each for a reasonable $6 per glass. A thoughtfully curated menu—featuring artisanal cheeses and meats in tapas-size portions, in addition to heartier fare—can…
Best Bagels
Bruegger’s is the place to stop when you need to pick up something for that lame office buzzword-buzzkill meeting. These stores offer kettle-boiled bagels—just like bubby used to make—and Wi-Fi, so you can tweet about your newly discovered bagel hotspot. Bruegger’s opened in 1983, and claims to have started the retail-bagel concept, with assembly-line-style bagel…
Best Fish Tacos
Tuesday—after 2:30 p.m.—is the perfect time to get your fix of savory, mouth-watering fish tacos at Rubio’s, because that’s when they cost a mere $1.25 each. A mixture of beer-battered fish, salsa and fresh cabbage, all wrapped in a corn or flour tortilla, these fish tacos can be had for a price that makes the…
Open to Interpretation
The Scottish rock quartet We Were Promised Jetpacks sports perhaps one of the greatest band names ever. Although it is open to interpretation, the moniker seems to represent a complicated bit of social commentary, simultaneously implying a disgruntlement at being cheated by the potential of technology and the future, and hinting that some folks are…
Weekly Wide Web
Internet Search, Pre-Censored; The week on The Range; Comment of the week; Best of WWW; and more!
Help Wanted; Smarts Needed
Some information worth sharing: • Nick Smith, the web producer for this fine publication and sister-publication Inside Tucson Business, has announced plans to leave us in about a month. Therefore, we’re looking for a new web producer. Check out the ad here, and if you’ve got the appropriate skills and level of desire, please apply.…
Casa Video
Casa Video 50,000+ Video Rentals, DVDs, Audio Books and Video Games In this age of Netflix and Red Box, aren’t you glad that there’s still a place in Tucson where you can find a VHS copy of Revenge of the Nerds IV at 2 in the morning? With those corporate brick-and-mortar rental chains at every…
Best Fine Art Gallery
Smooth and sleek, perennial winner Etherton Gallery is like the perfect martini: Always elegant, but infinitely variable. The first show this past season, Art + Design, was a departure even for this innovative gallery; it paired paintings by Nancy Tokar Miller and Jim Waid, and fine-art glass by Tom Philabaum, with gorgeous handcrafted furniture by…
Best Month-Long Event
Tucson’s birthday is recognized by many as Aug. 20, but the city celebrates during the entire month of August. This year’s celebration honored the life of longtime business owner and Tucson icon Cele Peterson, who founded the Tucson birthday celebration. She passed away earlier this year. While there is literally something for everyone, traditions bring…
Best Incentive to Get Your Kids to Finish Their Homework
Tell them you will take them to Old Tucson, YAY! Then, as you walk down the dusty streets past dilapidated buildings, you can say, “How would you like to someday be a lung-impaired Iron Door Mine worker, or maybe a dance-hall floozy in the Grand Palace Saloon? Or fall off a roof in a sun-beaten…
Best Retail Music Store
CDs, records, DVDs … despite the growing popularity of digital formats, this retailer is busy buying and selling new and used music—and keeping the tradition of the complete, tangible music package alive. Zia Record Exchange is one of the last bastions of truly independent music sales in Tucson. Always aiming to please, the staff is…
Best Ice Cream
Gelato is not just ice cream with a pretentious, faux-European name. (That’s right: We’re calling you out, Häagen-Dazs.) Not only does gelato have less fat and sugar than ice cream; it has less air whipped into the mix, resulting in a velvety texture and intense flavor. Frost is the Willy Wonka of gelato shops: With…
Best Men’s Wardrobe Consultant
Derrick not only has one of the best fashion-sounding names; he has the chops to back it up. His old-school business fashion sense would have made him a perfect haberdasher for a ’60s ad man—yet his new-school sense of style means he’s always subtly pushing the boundaries. His approach is not conservative, but it’s not…
Best Mussels
Chef Martin Swindells and co. take fresh mussels, and add them to a buttery, addictive saffron broth that contains tomatoes, oregano and garlic. The result is one of the best bowls of seafood in this entire landlocked state. Be sure to ask for extra bread, because you’ll need it to sop up every last bit…
Best Bottomless Pasta
Can’t get enough of Sicilian musician Louis Prima? You will if you go after the record of eating 10 bowls of Oregano’s Bollo Pasta—with angel hair and spicy marinara—in one sitting. The sauce is quite good, and you can even add a huge meatball or Italian sausage—and still get out for less than $10. If…
Best Diner
Breakfast here is served until tomorrow. The tortellini? Freaking great. And the tater tots: grease-ilicious. Be warned, though: They “fucking hate” milkshakes (even though they’ll serve you one of the best in town). It’s Grill (no need for the “the”). Hipsters come for the attitude and stay for the vinyl booths with torn upholstery. It’s…
Best Vegetable Margarita
Sexual innuendos aside, the Horni Cucumber at Sir Veza’s is at once salty, spicy and delicately sweet. The tang of Sauza Hornitos tequila gently coats pieces of fresh cucumber; the dash of chile powder gives an extra pop to the salt rim; and it’s all lightly sweetened with agave nectar. Sure, you could try any…
Best Wine Deal After 8 p.m.
We’re not really sure we want to share this great deal—but because we love you, our readers, we will. Every Monday through Saturday after 8 p.m., every wine—bottle or glass—at Pizzeria Vivace is half-price. You read that right: half-price! And there are some damn good wines, too. The list is heavy on the Italian, but…
Best Huevos Rancheros
The huevos rancheros at Frank’s Restaurant aren’t fancy: A tostada is topped with refried beans, eggs, mild salsa, red sauce and a few shreds of cheese, and served with a side of potatoes. What makes the meal memorable isn’t on the plate; it’s the fact that Frank’s customers are called by first names, and regulars…
Soundbites
Two days, tons of music; On the bandwagon
Senate Showdown
Democrat Todd Camenisch complained last week that state Sen. Frank Antenori was avoiding debates with him after the League of Women Voters canceled a Sierra Vista event when the group didn’t hear back from the Republican lawmaker. “I’m quite surprised,” Camenisch says, “but I guess Frank realizes that a Marine can kick an Army guy’s…
Danehy
When the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 14-4 to approve the New START nuclear-arms-control treaty that was signed in April by the United States and Russia, it should have been a big story. Certainly, it was significant, because it shows that cooler heads continue to prevail in this most dangerous of all geopolitical arenas. But…
Beyond Bread Bakery/Cafe
Fresh is Always in Style at Beyond Bread Bakery/Cafe “The bread is so tasty, my kids think it’s homemade!” Back in 1960, you could buy a loaf of bread for 20 cents. Times have changed, but you can still find good, old-fashioned baked bread. Opened by Shelby and Randie Collier in February 1998, Beyond Bread…
Best Radio Talk Show (Host)
Tucson has reached the size where it now has its own version of just about everything—and that includes its own version of Glenn Beck. Don’t like aliens—brown or green? Jon Justice is your guy. Like deficits, but think taxes are for fools? Then Jon Justice is the man for you. Like Sheriff Joe, and love…
Best Mexican Radio Station
One of the Tucson Weekly’s contributors has just three buttons programmed on her crappy little truck radio: NPR (KUAZ FM 89.1/AM 1550), KXCI FM 91.3, and La Caliente. Ciento dos punto uno! La Caliente is the perfect antidote to both Jan Brewer and that poor sad-sack Amy Goodman. The station plays old-school norteña and corridos,…
Best Place to Not Sweat the Small Stuff
Founders Patricia and Walter Arnell have been collecting miniatures since the 1930s, and the love is not lost in this state-of-the-art museum. Begin your self-guided journey in the celestial echo chamber, which acts as a hub to the different worlds of enchantment. Your kids will love the scavenger hunt, as they lose track of time…
Best Comics/Games Shop
This is no comic-themed toy store that’s crammed with busty she-warrior maquettes and trading-card-game packs. Yes, you can find a few of those items here, but Heroes and Villains puts the comics in their rightful place of honor. The wide, well-lit aisles are laid out to give full exposure to every cover, allowing you to…
Best Fresh-Baked Bread
In this enlightened age of gluten-free this and wheat-free that, it’s grand to know there is a place where one can still indulge in the sumptuous delights of traditional fresh-baked breads. The problem with Beyond Bread is that with so many other distractions—sandwiches, desserts, etc.—it’s easy to forget that before you can go beyond bread,…
Best Urban Landscaping
That big, grassy expanse running down the center of the UA campus is great if you’re a dog fetching Frisbees; the rest of us can appreciate other elements of the university’s remarkably varied landscape. Start with the remnant of the Joseph Wood Krutch cactus garden, which used to stretch from the midpoint of the mall…
Best Jamaican Food Truck
We may be far from the island of Jamaica, but thanks to the recent influx of Jamaican restaurants, Tucsonans don’t have to want for jerk chicken. D&D’s, a food truck located in the parking lot on the northwest corner of Broadway Boulevard and Wilmot Road, serves up dirty rice, refreshing Jamaican fruit drinks and a…
Best Chile Verde
This green pork concoction is not the most appetizing-looking plate of food. In fact, it looks kind of disgusting. But, man, is it delicious. The combination of savory, spicy sauce and tender chunks of meat is fantastic. Get the chile verde in a burrito, or get it as part of a combination plate—just make sure…
Best Greek
Fourth Avenue offers numerous wonderful things to do: shop, drink, people-watch, shop some more, drink some more, and then best of all: EAT! Athens is a perfect spot to just that. Unlike many of the other places on the Avenue, Athens is a full-service restaurant with servers, a full bar and a little more of…
Best Green Martini
Wait, what? Avocado in a martini? With vanilla vodka and lime juice? So let’s get this straight: Smooth, creamy, luscious avocado is blended with the nectar otherwise known as vanilla vodka, and then hit with a splash of bright and tangy lime? Talk about seriously greening up the martini! And greening up restaurant food is…
Best Mexican
As a former model and designer, chef/owner Suzana Davila understands the fusion of fashion and food. She has created a trendy, low-key, upscale dining environment where you’ll feel as comfortable showing up in a ’60s-style business suit with a skinny tie—or perhaps an Audrey Hepburn-inspired dress—as you would wearing shorts and a polo shirt. All…
Best Empanadas
Perhaps you’re the type of person who eschews all frozen food. Well, you must not have had the pleasure of biting into one of Mamma Llama’s empanadas, which, yes, are bought frozen—but turn into magical pockets of buttery goodness after a mere 15 minutes in a conventional oven. These empanada flavors ain’t your traditional one-note…
Top Ten in Music
Toxic Ranch Records’ top sales for the week ending Sept. 17, 2010
‘Mean Girls’ Meets ‘Star Wars’
Shoe Horn, Cranberries CD, Neck Brace and Morse Code enter stage left. These vain, shallow, suspicious and oblivious robots are just some of the quirky, young and sexy characters you will meet in Robots vs. Fake Robots, a play presented by Etcetera, the late-night series at the Live Theatre Workshop. Now in its eighth season,…
Messina
I’m standing in front of a tall, shiny object that has a power all its own. Men are titillated by it; women are curious about it; just about everyone raises an eyebrow when its name is spoken. I’m standing in front of a stripper pole. The words alone may conjure up images of seedy nightclubs…
Picture This: The Sun Sets in Sonoita
JOSHUA MORGAN The sun sets behind grassy, rolling hills and purple mountains a few miles west of Sonoita, Ariz.
CD8: Kelly Hammers Giffords on Unemployment, Wall Street & Foreclosures
Republican Jesse Kelly has unveiled his first negative ad against Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. We can’t seem to find an embed code, but here’s a link if you want to see it.
Downing’s Impossible Dream
Read it here: Tedski mocks Senate candidate Ted Downing’s assertion that he’d be welcome to caucus to with Republicans if elected as an independent.
McCain vs. Napolitano on the Border
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com U.S. Sen. John McCain takes on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The Hill reports: McCain proposed bringing some of the local Arizonan sheriffs who patrol the state’s border with Mexico up to Washington D.C. to testify, saying that they would tell a different story. “Let’s get [Cochise County] Sheriff…
It’s Not the Policy, but…
Senator John McCain speaks to the infallible integrity of military policy.
When Words Matter Most
We’ve used the term “illegal immigrant” at Weekly World Central before, and some of those abusive cretins who take the time to comment have informed us that “immigrant” is a joke, and “alien” is best. This morning, a diversity blog from the Society of Professional Journalists brought it all home for me that the wrong…
