A New Issue, Hold the Beans
So a PR person called me from New York City today to inform me of the fact that beans are a vegetable, and to offer me some recipes for bean dishes. Seriously. A PR person, hired by a bean company, was trying to get the Tucson Weekly to write a story about how awesome beans…
Early Odds
Congressional Quarterly has a round-up of early projections of congressional races in the Western United States. The gist: If the Republicans next year are going to engineer a major reversal of the 30-seat national loss they suffered in the 2006 House campaign—a setback that cost them control of the chamber—it does not look like they…
One-Stop Shopping for Your Favorite Presidential Candidate!
Oh, the confusion! What does each candidate stand for? Are they changing their minds? Why is it so annoying to search several different sites just to sum up the platforms of one candidate? Look no further, distressed folks. I stumbled across this magical Issue Coverage Tracker on Washingtonpost.com. It takes a candidate and their platforms, and immediately…
“Fowl” Doesn’t Even Begin to Cover It
So I finally made it over to the Loft to see Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead. It’s your typical all-hell-breaks-loose-when-a-fast-food-chicken-joint-is-built-on-a-haunted-Indian-graveyard kind of flick. It’s from the twisted freaks at Troma, so I expected the bad acting, the crude humor, the gross, gross, gross explosions of all manner of bodily fluids from every imaginable orifice.…
What We Do for Love …
This Friday, I’m being dragged to a show I wouldn’t normally go to: Dionne Warwick at Centennial Hall. My husband is the fan; he went so far last weekend as to play her greatest hits CD while we cleaned house as the wee one slept. By the time I see Warwick, what novelty I’ve built up…
Sinking Support
The Pima County Democratic Party is the latest bunch to come out against Prop 200, the Tucson Water Users’ Bill of Rights, which city voters will decide in November. The initiative, written by erstwhile state lawmaker John Kromko, would repeal the city’s $14-a-month trash fee; prevent Tucson Water from adding any new customers without voter…
Jarmusch Joy
I’m disappointed I didn’t get a chance to plug the recent viewing of the Jim Jarmusch classic Dead Man, starring Johnny Depp, at the Loft this weekend. While the title doesn’t make this clear, this is a movie that brought me great joy when I first saw it in 1995 … still does. To me,…
Tee Time at Koganei Country Club, Perhaps?
Hope you weren’t hoping to see Dan Quayle at the state GOP’s Trunk and Tusk fundraiser. The former VP, advertised as the headliner at the $500-a-plate reception and dinner, has canceled his appearance at the annual chicken and potatoe dinner, citing an unavoidable business conflict that’s taking him to Japan. The Arizona Republic’s Political Insider has…
A Dumpster Diving Freegan Soapbox
I opened a Newsweek magazine yesterday. Toward the end were two stories on Dumpster diving. I lived in Seattle for a while, where the art of Dumpster diving was perfected. I knew folks who took to those Dumpsters for still-fresh breads and veggies. Most of them were young people from middle- and upper -lass homes…
Your Photo Radar Update for Saturday, Sept. 29
The Tucson Police Department’s photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Saturday, Sept. 29: 2 to 4 p.m.: At Speedway Boulevard and Craycroft Road
Your Photo Radar Update for Friday, Sept. 28
The Tucson Police Department’s photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Friday, Sept. 28: 7 to 9 a.m.: Near Nosotros Academy, 700 Block N. Grande Avenue 9:30 to 1:30 p.m.: On Oracle Road near Grant Road 2 to 4 p.m.: Roskruge Middle School, 500 Block E. Sixth Street 4:30 to 8 p.m.: On…
Savage Love Oct. 4 Sneak Preview
So I just went and downloaded next week’s Savage Love column, and it came with this note: Also, if anyone is wondering: “Pushing the antelope” is a joke, not a typo. So … now you have something to look forward to!
Coming Back From the Dead?
I’ve been back in Tucson as an official resident since July 1. I’ve learned being native doesn’t mean desert heat and I are naturally simpatico. Before I turn this into a Fitzsimmons cartoon (not that there’s anything wrong with that), I want you to know the exact moment I embraced the heat and came home. One…
Best Mural
Once and future artist Farley now trades in the black arts of politics, having decamped to the state Legislature as rep for Tucson’s District 28. But Tucson still benefits from his 1999 mural homage to the city’s lost souls. Rendered in black-and-white tile, this beloved piece of public art reproduces historic photos of the citizens…
Best Sculptor
Brill routinely dazzles out-of-town audiences with his Amazonian figures in bronze; last fall, the new Gallery at 6th and 6th brought his unruly female nudes home. In the tiny space of the gallery, the big metal women–one at least 10 feet high–radiated a wonderfully earthy energy. They’re like impossibly supple modern dancers, exaggerated figures with…
Best Burrito
The best burrito can be found at any time of day, which is great for night owls who only rise from the grave when the sun goes down. Most Nico’s are always open, and some even have convenient drive-through service for the laziest of zombies. Nico’s burritos are packed with the goods–carne asada, breakfast, bean…
Best Spectacle for Charity
During a star-studded evening each year, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Puttin’ on the Dog event raises funds for the homeless animals in our community. Local celebrities model stylish fashions from local shops and party with their pets in tow. You’re bound to see some cute animal duds, or even a flashy red-feather boa…
Best Thai
Located in a modest storefront near Fifth Street and Rosemont Boulevard, Char’s has been serving Tucson’s citizenry with superb Thai cuisine for more than 20 years. The food is authentic, fresh and expertly prepared. The atmosphere is “come as you are.” Prices are very competitive, and Char’s has a lunch menu. If you are lucky,…
Best Tea Service
Seven Cups, a traditional Chinese teahouse right here in the Old Pueblo, exudes elegance and a kind of diffuse spiritualism. This unique place is one of the most relaxing, low-stress environments you’ll find. Beautiful wood tables, a friendly staff and dozens of exotic Chinese teas make Seven Cups the perfect place to wind down and…
Food to Die For
These eats may shorten your life a little–but they’re worth it
Best Cemetery
Chirping birds perched in palo verde trees and well-maintained desert grounds greet visitors to this foothills hideaway, which is the last resting place of hundreds of people. Established in 1899 by Mormon families who farmed along the nearby Rillito Creek, the peaceful location of this all-faiths cemetery provides an ideal setting for appropriate contemplation. Plus,…
Best Free Entertainment
You’re hot, broke and have an antsy 1-year-old. What to do? Head over to 17th Street for a field trip. First, take a tour of the positively chilly produce room. Once everyone’s cooled off, peruse the aisles of bright, exotic canned goods and drinks. A bottle of basil-seed juice makes a great little lava lamp,…
Best Place to Watch a Sunset With a Beer in Your Hand
In these days of TV, TiVo and total Internet access, it’s easy to forget that baseball is an outdoor event. But, believe it or not, some people still like to go to the park to watch it unfold with a beautiful Sonoran Desert backdrop. Tucson Electric Park offers great evening views as the merciless sun…
Best Independent Bookstore
Helpful staff who will place special orders and call you when your books arrive? Check. Free gift wrapping–and the paper is actually appealing? Check. Fantastic selection of kids’ books and toys, jewelry, journals and, of course, a formidable selection of fiction and nonfiction? Got it. Antigone Books is everything a bookstore should be. Be sure…
Best Pet Supplies Store
When it comes to shopping for your pet, PetSmart is the bomb. It is a one-stop shop that has it all, from the newest pet products to a knowledgeable, friendly staff available to answer all your pet care questions. And since PetSmart allows your pet to accompany you, the two (or more) of you can…
Best Place to Dance
Some people may attribute Club Congress’ continued reign to its chic ambience. Others may claim that the fierce animal magnetism of the too-cool-for-school hipster crowd is responsible. Whatever. We think it’s the $1 well drinks on the popular Monday and Thursday theme nights, and we’re seldom wrong. Think about it: People buy cheap drinks. Alcohol…
Tuttle
Don’t expect to find civility at the mall these days
Nipples and Ass-Kicking
Hot chicks and Sony products dominate the post-apocalyptic world in ‘Resident Evil: Extinction’
Natural Drama
Joshua Olivera uses farm materials to depict his Northern California agricultural-belt home
Best Public Art
With our city’s decided lack of trees and grass, urban beautification calls for creativity. And, really, what’s more creative than an enormous metal rattlesnake stretching above Broadway Boulevard for all those entering downtown to see? OK, we’ll admit it: This pedestrian bridge isn’t all that functional, unless your favorite walking destination is the Enterprise Rent-a-Car…
Ten to Scare You
Tucson “Scream Queen” and horror-flick aficionado Elske McCain is an expert on cinematic blood and gore. We asked this lover of all things scary for 10 of her favorite movies, and, in the process, learned that hacking and slashing can be oh-so-sexy. Fright Night (1985) “It’s the combination of the atmosphere and the music, and…
Best Smoothie
Even zombies need energy to rejuvenate themselves for their horrifying romps through graveyards. But if you’re among the living, you will especially appreciate the fresh ingredients you are slurping down when you gulp a Xoom Juice smoothie. Using 100 percent fruit juice and real fruit–nixing the ice cream and added sugar–Xoom creates delectable combinations, including…
Best Contemporary Architecture
All the brain-munching and the pulling off of other peoples’ extremities was really getting us down until we saw the Rattlesnake Bridge. This innovative architectural wonder conceived by local artist Simon Donovan looks so real that it’s like crawling down the belly of the beast itself! What a refreshing change. Donovan’s design combines the intrinsic…
Best Upscale Dining
The menu offers veal, duck, chicken, halibut, swordfish and butternut squash flan. Jazz plays softly. The décor is Spanish colonial. Muted voices laugh quietly. No screaming kids. No ringing cell phones. Everyone is polite. In the men’s room, an old photo shows a stunning panorama of the place years ago, all by itself in the…
Best Bulk Tea Selection
The beer renaissance has had its day in the United States. You’re drinking better coffee these days than you were a decade ago, but it’s costing you three or four times more than the old stuff did. What’s next? Tea. After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, so it’s about time…
Best Radio Talk Show (Host)
Amy Goodman gives hairy-legged, feminazi lesbitrons; outraged, cocaine-farming Venezuelans; and crusading, Prius-driving enviro-martyrs a chance to say their piece. Her humorless, comatose voice tells the news like no one else–with the extreme liberal bias Bill O’Reilly has come to love and respect. You could get your information about current events from blonde bimbos on CNN,…
Best Graveyard Encounter
On Evergreen’s numerous tombstones are inscribed dozens of Tucson’s most famous names. There are father and son retail giants Albert and Harold Steinfeld, along with pioneer suffragette and newspaperwoman Josephine Hughes. Sports fans will remember James “Pop” McKale, while railroad aficionados recall Col. Epes Randolph and political wonks honor Henry Jaastad. While occasional walking tours…
Best Place to Inspire Kids’ Creativity
For two years now, the Tucson Madonnari Chalk Festival has overtaken the sidewalks outside of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library one weekend in April with gorgeous scenes created by local artists. Something about watching the artists color with chalk on the ground seems to strike a chord with children in a way that regular-old…
Best Place to Get Struck by Lightning
This trail follows the spine of Oracle Ridge from the intersection of Oracle Control Road and the Catalina Highway near Summerhaven all the way to the town of Oracle, nestled against the northernmost spur of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It’s 12 miles of high-country hiking, sticking very close to the crest of the ridge the…
Best Video Store
Want to watch every single zombie movie known to man? Day of the Dead, 28 Days Later and Shaun of the Dead will probably be on your list, but if you need more, the bona fide movie-buff staff at Casa Video will help you find it. Beyond zombies, there’s almost an entire floor dedicated to…
Best General Purpose Gun Shop
No one wants to be caught empty-handed when hordes of the undead turn onto his street. So, if you have yet to do so, stop by Murphy’s and load up! Brian and his friendly, knowledgeable staff have been serving Tucson for 28 years. Expertise, good prices and nice products–from competition rifles to fowling pieces–combine to…
Best Beer Selection on Tap
Weekly voters have again declared this national chain restaurant their choice for quenching and quaffing. More than 30 beers await the thirsty on tap, with upwards of 80 choices in bottles. The chain’s 20-year-old World Beer Tour program allows you to electronically track your own history of tasting 110 different varieties of cerveza. Pizza, hot…
Guest Commentary
Pay attention to your neighborhood surroundings–but don’t homogenize
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books best-sellers for the week
Best Local Performing Artist
Lisa Otey’s upbeat jazz, blues and boogie-woogie music could turn a group of zombies back to the living. Instead of shuffling and moaning, they’d be bopping and grooving to her music. Otey has won numerous awards, including Composer of the Year, the Arizona Blues Showdown Championship and numerous TAMMIES. A member of the Arizona Blues…
Best Caterer
Here’s why Blue House truly is the best caterer in town: Their food is perfect, their presentation is impeccable, and their service is professional. Owner Ron Wassell has developed a menu that is unique, distinctive and always delicious–he can create morsels from the Southwest to the Far East and everything in between. We were at…
Best Fish Tacos
As of this date, there are almost as many Chuy’s Mesquite Broilers (nine, with more in the works) in Tucson as there are in the whole state of California (14), so it’s easy to see why readers might think Chuy’s is a local chain. It’s not, but because the fish tacos here are pretty good,…
Best Local Activist/Advocacy Group
Perhaps Arizona’s most LGBT-friendly city, Tucson wouldn’t be quite the same without Wingspan. In fact, Wingspan’s gargantuan wings have had a lot to do with countering the homophobia some assholes have attempted to inject into our great Southwestern community. From the plethora of services they offer the LGBT community to their active participation in attempting…
Best Casual Dining
While eating a fat breakfast burrito and e-mailing SOS messages to the world in hopes that someone would save us from the zombies, we realized that The B Line, with its tasteful décor, delicious food and free wireless Internet access, is the perfect place to lay low for a while and wait for the streets…
Best Artist-Created Lunch for Less Than $5
Café Jinx, a six-table bijou on Fourth Avenue, feels like a teeny tiny toy cabaret. It’s a low-tech, no-phone, one-woman operation, all bootstraps and shoestrings, where fresh food and wordplay and cabinets of curiosities get mixed up and spangled with light. The menu is a cast of characters and a program of songs to be…
Best Ice Cream Truck
Is it an art car or an ice cream truck? Yes! Artist Ruben Moreno came up with the perfect day job for himself when he bought an old ice cream truck and cherried it out with fresh paint, midcentury space-age cartoon graphics and red steel grillwork with popsicle silhouettes. Now Ruben prowls Tucson’s neighborhoods in…
Best Place to Learn About Arizona
Arizona has a fascinating history, especially if you’re into real-estate scams, political chicanery and the short-sighted exploitation of limited resources. But seriously, there is enough material to be mined from our young state’s history for every creative writing student at the UA to produce at least one historical romance. If you’d like to get to…
Best Indoor Zoo
OK, so Desert Pet Center is technically a pet store, but there are so many animals inside, it might as well be a zoo. Located conveniently down the street a couple of miles east of the actual zoo, Desert Pet Center allows you closer access to the animals they have for sale, without the blistering…
Best Places to Skinny Dip
Now, really, if we told you where our favorite private swimming hole is, it wouldn’t really be the best place to skinny dip anymore, would it? You and 1,200 intimate strangers would be crawling all over the place looking for a swim, a peek or both. (Such is the awesome influence of our Best of…
Best Men’s Fashions (locally owned)
Vampires luckily begin their undead existence in natty threads, all dressed up for their funerals. Zombies, on the other hand, tend to be a come-as-you-are bunch. They’d look a lot less like the living dead if they’d lurch over to Franklin’s and slip into some Zanella slacks and a Canelli jacket, or maybe take on…
Best Place to Shop for a Gift
If you can’t find a present here or next door at Picante’s sister store, then, yikes, you need to get new friends and relatives. From beautiful, reasonably priced jewelry to Guatemalan throw cushions to Huichol thread paintings to Tucson’s most complete selection of Day of the Dead skeleton figures, Picante has the stuff your nears…
Best Martini
In order to assure that our readers’ choices are valid ones, the Weekly staff needed to do some research on the martinis at Sullivan’s Steak House. First, we sipped the pineapple-infused Finlandia vodka number called The Knockout. Then it was on to the Lemon Drop, a sweet mixture of Belvedere citrus vodka, triple sec and…
Shameless Self-Promotion
‘Tucson Weekly’ takes home six first-place awards, 12 total honors in Arizona Newspapers Association contest
Yuckiest Film Ever
After getting off to an entertaining start, ‘Good Luck Chuck’ enters gross-out hell
Down the Colorado
Virginia McConnell Simmons doesn’t solve a mystery in ‘Drifting West,’ but she reconstructs a fascinating tale
Best Indoor Venue
The Rialto Theatre has been sweeping this category year after year–and for a good reason. Though it started as a film-screening haven in 1920, the rejuvenated yet vividly historical theater has been delivering memorable acts from the likes of Social Distortion, Andrew Bird and Tech N9ne–and that’s just within the last year. By staying true…
Best Organic Food Store
Whatever ingredient a recipe calls for, the Food Conspiracy Co-Op will likely have it in its unadulterated, pesticide-free and hormone-free natural state. What’s also lovely about the co-op is that much of its stock can be bought in bulk, such as huge assortments of teas, snacks, nuts and pastas. There are toothbrushes with natural, undyed,…
Best Sonoran Hot Dogs
Forget everything you ever thought you knew about hot dogs. To hell with Chicago, New York, baseball, all that. This is an experience like you’ve never had. These are hot dogs al estilo sonorense, Sonoran style–wrapped in bacon and covered with beans, tomatoes, onions, mustard and mayo on the best bun you’ve ever tasted. Overhead…
Best Public Servant
Raúl Grijalva is bent on drawing attention to the needs of the people in Congressional District 7. It’s been a long road since he started out on the Tucson Unified School District board in the 1970s; Grijalva worked as an assistant dean at the UA and spent years on the Pima County Board of Supervisors…
Best Outdoor Seating
Feel free to take in a deep sigh of placidity. You look to the walls and see lush, overgrown vines embracing the humble brick walls; tiny yellow lights twinkle beneath the leaves. Water trickles harmoniously from an aged yet aesthetically appealing stone fountain. A conglomeration of ferns, baby palms, aloe plants and flowers rooted in…
Best Soup
The high priests of Tucson’s Soup Cult whisper about Rocco’s inspired soups at their secret synod. A recent favorite was a pot of arugula potato soup. Even after we had dredged out all of the goodies, the remaining broth satisfied us with the earthiness of potatoes and the peppery garden bite of arugula. We were…
Best Day Spa
Flesh-eating bacteria getting you down? Moldy holes in your hide ruining your self-esteem? Well, not even Gadabout can do anything to help you. But with six locations citywide, they’ll pamper your hands, feet and fingernails; massage you up one side and down the other; spruce you up for your wedding; or pamper you so thoroughly…
Best Place to Smoke
While all of the nonsmokers have been rejoicing and breathing deeply inside bars and restaurants since May 1, the few remaining tried-and-true smokers have been forced to retreat. Or to fall back on old mainstays, like Safehouse. It says “Smokes” on the window for good reason. Since Safehouse sells cigarettes–lots and lots of cigarettes–they get…
Best Highchair
It’s an ideal place to take the littlest of babies–the ones who sleep through a loud New Year’s Eve party. The music blares from the speakers at Little Poca Cosa, which seems to soothe and enchant the wee ones. As the kids get older and are ready to eat chips and salsa with the grown-ups,…
Best Sign the Zombies Are in Charge
On the west end of town next to Sentinel Peak (“A” Mountain) is a big, flat-topped hill called Tumamoc, an O’odham word meaning “horned lizard.” The hill is one of the most important historic sites in the Tucson basin. Remains of Tucson’s earliest Native American communities are found on Tumamoc. In 1903, the Carnegie Desert…
Best Women’s Fashions (locally owned)
We have it on good authority that the real agenda of this otherwise unassumingly charming boutique can be gleaned from its original signage, which contained the letters “m,” “b,” and “i” between the “o” and the “e.” You see where we’re going with this? It may be hard to believe that the purveyors of contemporary…
Best Produce Selection
Forget the fancy cookies and crackers and the live lobsters: What makes AJ’s worth the trip up into the foothills is the luxurious, profligate exhaustiveness of its produce selection. Need chayote? A bird’s eye pepper? Celeriac? A pink lady apple? Six kinds of melon? They’ve got it. Of course it’s pricey–the fact that they can…
Best Margarita
We don’t care about your silly cosmopolitan, and you can keep your mojito. The greatest of all cocktails is the margarita–lime, triple sec and tequila rule. There are lots of great margaritas in this town, but there is no place where it’s more fun to down one than Toma! Cantina, the gorgeously colorful, cozy bar…
¡Ask a Mexican!
After the great migration of Jews to this nation, a question was posed: “How long does it take a Jew to go from being a street sweeper to becoming a corporate attorney?” The answer given was, “One generation.” Not so for Mexicans. Most Mexicans seem to recoil from education like the fictional Dracula recoils from…
Random Fun
Want to hear three Brazilian 20-somethings shouting in Portuguese? Meet Bonde do Rolè
Bounty o’ Baskets
Hey, northwest residents: Grumpy’s is a fantastic neighborhood restaurant
Best Outdoor Venue
Where else are the likes of Queensrÿche or Franki Valli and the Four Seasons going to play when they come to Tucson, the Rialto? Don’t be absurd. They’re too big to be contained by a roof. We can thank the proliferation of midsize outdoor venues like the 4,470-capacity Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheater for keeping undead…
Best Specialty Shop (TIE)
Step into AJ’s, and it’s like you are in several stores and restaurants rolled into one–each offering a wide range of food items and gourmet products. Your eyes will pop at the sight of delicious cakes and bread that rival those at any bakery. Walk a bit more, and you enter a wine cellar and…
Best Butchers
Make mine meat! If you’re accustomed to getting your meat from the supermarket, sealed on a pastel Styrofoam platter with a damp little diaper under it, the American Meat Co. will be a revelation. Real old-school butchers cutting real fresh meat! Fresh chickens on ice! Yummy weenies by the pound for single hot dog enthusiasts…
Best Local TV Newscast
Our readers think KVOA Channel 4 offers “Coverage You Can Count On,” edging out KGUN Channel 9 and KOLD Channel 13. Maybe they chose KVOA because it was the first broadcaster in our fair city to switch to high definition, giving lucky viewers crystal-clear visuals of every imperfection on the faces of public officials. Or…
Best Late-Night Eats
Grill benefits somewhat from being the only late-night eatery within walking distance of all the clubs and concerts that make you want some food. There’s also the possibility that any post-show musicians in the house might be inspired to give an impromptu performance on the piano in the Red Room. That space has a late-night…
Best Spanish Hideaway
Holy Toledo! (Spain, that is.) Tucsonans are fortunate to get a taste of Spain downtown. Although a sprawling space, Casa Vicente offers an air of intimacy from exposed brick walls, small tables and candlelight. Tapas never tasted as good. Try a few plates along with sangria, and everything will be right with the world. Entrées…
Best Local Web Site
It’s hard to know what most of you do late at night in the dark, when the undead are out and about doing undead stuff. But apparently, large numbers of you like to surf on over to our Web site. You love us, you really love us! For four years now, you, our loyal readers,…
Best Way to Learn the Ways of the Desert
Sure, we all know about harvesting grain, but rainwater? Should we irrigate a cactus? And what the heck does xeriscape mean, anyway? If these sound like questions you’ve asked, never fear: Our very own Tucson Water knows the importance of saving the precious resource they distribute, so in collaboration with the University of Arizona’s Pima…
Best Place for Kids to Get Their Ya-Yas Out While You Throw Back a Cold One
Every Sunday from 11 a.m. at Taco Bron’s Tanque Verde Road location is kid heaven–there’s a jumping castle, and they can eat for free. You can sit back and enjoy your tacos, nachos and Coronas while the kids bounce around to their heart’s content. We recommend having them eat all that free food after they’re…
Best Smoking Section
Since May 1 of this year, we nonsmokers have been breathing easy with the implementation of Proposition 201, which banned indoor smoking in most public places such as bars, restaurants, sports arenas and gyms, grocery stores and other food-service establishments and auditoriums, as well as in places of employment. It’s also a relief to leave…
Best Resale Clothing
If only you knew the person whose sweet kicks you’ve been slugging around in for the last two weeks–boy, do they ever mold to your feet in just the right places! Buffalo Exchange, noted for great prices and great finds for the fashionista within you, is a favorite stop to unload your not-so-fashionable pieces. There…
Best Mexican Music Store
Turns out that Herb Alpert (of Tijuana Brass and A&M Records fame) wasn’t actually Mexican at all–he was really a Russian Jew with a terrific idea who made a fortune creating a new and original musical genre with a faux-border theme that people fell for in droves. Like the Baja Marimba Band, the TJB did…
Best Wine Bar
There is finally a wine bar for wine snobs and wine snob wannabes alike. A relaxed atmosphere makes 58 Degrees a comfy place to sit and sip. The unassuming wait staff can easily steer a wine enthusiast or novice through their selection, which can be tried in half-glass sizes so that you can sa mple…
The New Writer
A note from the editor.
Now Showing at Home
“Saturday Night Live: The Best of ’06/’07,” “Death Proof: Extended and Unrated,” and “Alligator”
Noshing Around
New: Barrio Brewery This brewery is around the corner from 17th Street Market at 800 E. 16th St. You cannot miss this imposing 18,000-square-foot structure, made from mostly recycled materials both inside and out. Owner Dennis Arnold, who also owns Gentle Ben’s, has finally found an apt new home to brew more beer. Currently, there’s…
Best Movie Theater
The Loft just gets better and better. The nonprofit theater hosts the expected first-run, foreign, indie and art-house offerings, but you can also catch classic films, midnight movies, sold-out sing-alongs (Grease! Purple Rain!), film contests and premieres. Tucson’s local film community owes a debt of gratitude to the Loft for its relentless support of homegrown…
Best Delicatessen
We have a friend who was moving to the neighborhood of Feig’s some years ago. When a neighbor heard about her new address, he said wistfully, “Aw, you’ll be really close to the corned beef.” Yeah. And the pastrami and the giant, juicy, not-too-sour kosher dills and the delicious side salads, too. Not to mention…
Best Fishmongers
Take the kids and make an outing of it; this fish case has the biodiversity of a big-city aquarium. We especially love the delicate baby octopus, beautiful enough to be jewelry, and the Fisher-Price-colored blue and green parrot fish that remind us of happy times snorkeling in tropical seas. The fishmongers behind the counter know…
Best Radio Station for News
While you’re hunkered down fighting the zombified hordes, there’s no greater comfort than knowing that the rest of the world is falling apart, too. While a late afternoon spent listening to All Things Considered on Tucson’s venerable public radio station will certainly make your own problems seem a bit silly, the in-depth, intelligent reporting, commentary…
Best Buffet
Dieters, beware: You may be tempted to think that you’re just going to limit yourself to nibbling on some leafy lettuce while dining at Sweet Tomatoes. After all, miles and miles of salads greet customers mere nanoseconds after walking through the front door. But then Sweet Tomatoes knocks you upside the head with all its…
Best Fast Casual
Formerly Nothing but Noodles, the reincarnation to Ziggi’s was a wise business move, as the menu rocks with lots of choices. We have friends who eat lunch here Monday through Friday, and Ziggi’s offers daily specials like the chili mac and cheese for you homesick Midwesterners. Service is always fast, helpful and friendly–a combination not…
Best Gym
Exercising is an effective way to ward off the undead and prolong your own life–zombies don’t like sweat, and with good cardiovascular health, you can outrun even the fastest zombie. LA Fitness’ three Tucson locations (the First Avenue location just opened this year) will help you shape up with their playground of weight machines, free…
Biggest Dreamboat Newscaster
We love watching KVOA newscaster Josh Benson every half hour on weekday mornings, in between Today show segments in which viewers are told what to buy. The self-described “computer geek” who loves “working out, running and golfing” oozes sex–especially when he smiles. We’ve often caught ourselves imagining our first date while Benson reports on mundane…
Best Urban Landscaping
Have you ever really looked around at the plants and trees on the UA campus, especially those at the west end of campus? If not, you should, because it’s not just a university–it’s an arboretum. The vast, varied grounds of the UA contain both botanical oddities and moments of striking beauty. (Admittedly, you have to…
Best Rockin’ Art
Ancient indigenous rock carvings can be found all around Tucson. Among our favorite sites are the Coyote Mountain Petroglyphs hike, an easy 2 1/2-mile ramble out by Three Points west of Tucson (see www.localhikes.com for details); and the glyphs at the Redemptorist Renewal Center (aka Picture Rocks Retreat), 7101 E. Picture Rocks Road. Since the…
Best Antiques/Kitsch/Collectibles
It might not be the living dead, but a great piece of antique furniture can be living history in your home. Annabell’s Attic, which bills itself as the “home of quality furniture, antiques and collectibles,” features an ever-changing selection of spectacular pieces, from an Italian glass curio to a hand-painted Oriental Chippendale cabinet, a traditional…
Best Place to Buy Frozen Jellyfish, Duck Tongues, Chicken Feet and Frog Legs
A trip to this place will leave you speechless. You’ll find more variety on G&L’s shelves than in all of Tucson’s frumpy old grocery stores combined. If size matters, go to Wally-Mart or Albertsons. But for an eye-popping selection of exotic Oriental and other foods you won’t find anywhere else, G&L has the competition beat.…
Best Signature Cocktail
We don’t care who you think you are, but you’re not really a Tucsonan until you’ve puked your ever-loving guts out after drinking more than one Scorpion at Kon Tiki. They go down so smoothly–tasting of citrusy fruit punch, with a rum-flavored kick–that novice drinkers may be lulled into a false sense of security. One…
Mailbag
Howls of outrage and squeals of delight from our astonished fans.
City Week
Our top picks of what to do and where to do it for the week.
Indie Watch
What’s happening in the world of independent film in Tucson.
Best Sculpture Garden
1965 was a banner year for folk art in Tucson. That’s when Lee Kaplin built Magic Carpet Golf. Kaplin, a welder, revolutionized mini-golf in the postwar years, dolling up the dull putting game with whimsical reinforced concrete sculptures that were copied all over the country. Tucson was his final tour de force: the wicked wagging…
Best Desserts
The red velvet cake melts in your mouth, its rich, creamy frosting contrasting silkily with the ruby-hued fluff. Seasonal specialties include strawberry rhubarb pie in the summer and pumpkin pie in the fall. The menu features concoctions of all your favorite sweets–chocolate, caramel, fruit, creams, pastries–in inventive combinations, and the presentation is a treat for…
Best Reason Not to Widen Grant Road
The Grant Road widening project has been held at bay, for now, but for a time, it imperiled this gem of a breakfast joint–and it probably will again. Eat there soon, and often, while you still have a chance; it could cost you as little as $2.25 for two eggs and home fries. You’ll join…
Best Country Music Station
Although we’re located pretty far south on the map, we’re not exactly in the “South”–but we do know good country music when we hear it, and we hear a lot of it on KIIM. There’s a reason why KIIM–even though it’s the only country station in town–wins this category by a landslide every year: You…
Best Vietnamese
Miss Saigon offers lovely, light Asian food in a spot that’s close to the university, but not so close that you can’t find a parking space. Vietnamese food is easier on the stomach, less greasy and tastier than Chinese food; it’s not as protein-heavy as Japanese, and not as heavily spiced as Thai. Specialties include…
Best Urban Vibe
Until hell freezes over, or Rio Nuevo ever becomes a reality, it’s important to support downtown restaurants. While most of Tucson rolls up after 10 p.m., the Barrio bistro is just getting its buzz on. It’s open for lunch and dinner, with an innovative menu that pleases everyone. We love the Jamaican jerk shrimp with…
Best Bowling Alley
Let’s be honest, moms: How many hot summer days, teetering upon the edge of stark-raving madness, have you elected not to take your kids bowling, since it’s so damn smoky inside? Well, here’s a newsflash. Thanks to the statewide indoor smoking ban, bowling alleys don’t stink anymore! (OK, maybe the shoes.) Lucky Strike is our…
Best Name for a Trailer Park
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines noblesse oblige as “the obligation of honorable, generous and responsible behavior associated with high rank or birth.” Using a term linked to the Old World’s landed aristocracy was a stroke of genius for a trailer park on this side of the pond. It conjures images of lords and ladies holding court in…
Best Public Garden
If this midtown garden extraordinaire weren’t a perennial reader’s pick, it would certainly be this staff member’s pick for Best Public Garden. Tucson Botanical Gardens is a lovely little getaway, where visitors can take a class, have a nice little lunch, get all artsy-crafty, shop or just stroll among any or all of the 16…
For the Love of Zombies
Lock your doors, and stay away from the windows. They are coming! On Saturday, Oct. 13, our town will be visited by a tormented, bloody mob of beings. They will be groaning and grunting, in search of something to eat. What’s on the menu? Your flesh! Downtown and Fourth Avenue will be the scene of…
Best Art/Artisan Jewelry
Asked for an opinion about why Bohemia pockets this BOT category year after year, the store’s staff speculated that it may be due to the boutique’s “No Kokopelli Rule.” In fact, there’s no schlock of any kind in this unique outlet for Tucson’s underground artisans. It’s the perfect spot to gift hunt for the hipster…
Best Place to Find a Statue of Saint Death
And you thought the chupacabra was a badass. A bloodthirsty flying goatsucker is nothing compared to the latest folklore craze from south of the border–Santa Muerte, or Saint Death. This cult of death features a skeletal figure that looks an awful lot like the Grim Reaper, and no home altar is complete without your very…
Best Wine/Liquor Store
For decades, Campbell Avenue has provided Tucson with its best wine and liquor store. But a recent visit to Plaza Liquors was highlighted by the discovery of Lucifer included within the dozens of beer choices displayed in the cold case. Lucifer was an easy flowing, tasteful golden ale from Belgium that was a bit pricey,…
Revolting Development
New city regs trigger a $12 million claim–and a test of a property-rights law passed by voters last year
Labor of Love
Josh Rouse isn’t afraid to embrace the term ‘craftsman’
Best Dinner and a Show
Cinephile Erika O’Dowd hosts and curates this fabulous outdoor movie series with fun themes like “Filmed in Tucson” and “Audrey Hepburn Gets a Haircut and Everyone Suddenly Realizes She Is Pretty.” Pack a picnic dinner or pick up something homemade from one of the cafés at La Placita. Bring extra to share, because you’re bound…
Best Custom Cakes
Never mind the wedding, birthday, anniversary cakes and all the rest. The good stuff is on the “adult” portion of the cakery’s Web page. You just need to know the secret code words. Well, two, really: “bachelor” and “bachelorette.” There’s a store in another city that does exclusively erotic cakes, but it’s got nothing on…
Best Make-Believe Beach
The irony, of course, is that Chihuahua, Mexico, is no nearer to the ocean than Arizona. So let’s all just pretend, shall we? Mariscos makes it as easy as a Disney flick, surrounding you with floor-to ceiling murals bursting forth with foamy waves. If you’re really nearsighted, and you don’t sit by a window onto…
Best Greek
Enthusiastic, speedy service; a casual, comfortable atmosphere; and great food. What else could you want from a restaurant? Oh, right: reasonable pricing. Fronimo’s has got that, too, as well as the best gyro in town, meaning it is not slathered in so much tzatziki you can’t taste the meat. Other offerings include salads with just…
Best Pan Asian
Firecracker might be the only restaurant in Tucson with fire roaring out of its rooftop (intentionally). From the outside, the bright-red façade at Plaza Palomino slightly resembles a ride at Disneyland, but inside, palm-frond ceiling fans are an inviting touch, as is the open kitchen. Belly up to the crowded bar, where professionals of all…
Best Taqueria
Ah, the “Little Strawberry”! The food is so inexpensive and gosh-darn homey that you might think you’re back in 1968, the year Night of the Living Dead premiered. There are plenty of winners here: the carne asada taquitos, which are served with fresh-off-the-griddle homemade corn tortillas; the big, puffy chile relleno; or a Cubana torta,…
Best Hair Salon
Do the kids at the coffee shop ask if you’ve been getting enough sleep? Maybe it’s time for a new coif. Haul your haggard self down to Gadabout and get your hair done–it’s amazing what a chic cut and some highlights can do for that death-warmed-over look. Runners up: 2. The Coyote Wore Sideburns, 630…
Best Bike Riding
This 10-mile paved urban trail, popular to say the least, follows the almost-always-dry Rillito River across the north valley. It’s not difficult to figure out why Tucsonans love this trail. The beautiful desert setting near the city’s heart is convenient and user-friendly, with mile markers, drinking fountains and restrooms along the way. Its heavy use…
Best Breakfast
When the sun comes up, and the living dead have gone back in their holes, it’s time for breakfast. Actually, at Blue Willow, anytime is time for breakfast. It’s that good. One of our writers has been eating here for almost 30 years. A dozen kinds of omelets will keep you coming back for the…
Best Commercial Jewelry
While the undead aren’t known for their sense of style or fashion, those of us among the living know that Marshall’s is the place to go for the best fine jewelry and diamonds. As you enter the store, you are swept into a beautiful atmosphere with a friendly and knowledgeable sales staff to assist you.…
Discount Death
When I was in high school, I took a test to determine what I should be when I grew up, based on aptitude and interests. The results were: 1) brewmaster; 2) stand-up comedian; and 3) funeral director. I don’t brew, but I do enjoy a good beer. As I cannot abide the messier aspects of…
Best Michelada Cubana
There is nothing quite like a good Michelada Cubana to bring you out of the doldrums, though it can be hard to find a good one–a little Clamato or V8 poured into a glass of Dos Equis does not count! Michelada Cubanas can vary–and, of course, you can make them however the hell you want–but…
The Problem With Fissures
As Arizonans pump evermore water out of the ground, deadly cracks continue to develop
Soundbites
REMEMBERING SHORTY Last week in this space, we paid tribute to Chris “Shorty Stubbs” Jones, beloved local musician, Raytheon employee and host of KXCI’s Country Fringe program, who passed away at his home in Benson on Friday, Sept. 14. This week, more than a dozen local bands and performers–most of ’em residing on the country…
Best New Building
Besides the obvious beauty of the three-story glass wall that reflects the ever-changing sky, we love the giant dollhouse effect at night when the windows disappear and give us a cutaway view of architecture students working away inside. (It’s 2 a.m., you guys! Go home and get some sleep!) But the best part? This is…
Best Barbecue
There’s no faster way to start a fight than by bringing up the subject of “best barbecue.” People are deadly serious about this stuff, and if you’re a member of the cult, barbecue is a very touchy subject. The anonymity of the Best of TucsonTM polling process allows our staff to remain safely removed from…
Best Food Tour
To get a true up-close-and-personal look at the food that made South Tucson famous, call the folks at Gray Line Tours for their “Best of the Barrio” culinary tour. You’ll board an air-conditioned bus (or van) and head for South Tucson, while a friendly tour guide relates the history of the area, details about the…
Best Indian
Once upon a time, one of us had a girlfriend whose parents were from India. The boy was kind of a jerk; the girl wanted 13 kids; it all ended badly, the usual deal. It was like a horror movie. He can’t remember her name, but what he does remember is the food. Wow. Her…
Best Mexican
For Tucson foodies, there may be nothing more exciting than ordering the plato Poca Cosa. It’s a bit of a risk: Your entrée will consist of whatever three things Suzana Dávila and her crew decide to put on your plate–and you have no say in what those three things are. But, really, the risk is…
Best Newcomer to the North Side
Next year, this place just might win Best Chicken Wings (except that such a readers’ category does not yet exist). These tiny appetizers are pretty common around town, but the wings at this northwest-side bar and grill put all others to shame. They’re crispy, moist and big, and you get a baker’s dozen (that’s 13,…
Best Yoga Studio
You can’t put a price on one’s yoga practice. Or can you? It’s a classic conflict for yogis and yoginis. We love our practice but wince at the idea of paying an amount that’s twice our cell-phone bills for a spot on the floor at a studio. Sky-rocketing class prices have us hiding out in…
Best Clothing Store
Money magazine recently had a profile about a mother of four who got herself $50,000 in debt buying clothes for her 3-year-old daughter. She was diagnosed with a shopping addiction, and her family has since undergone a financial makeover of sorts. If only she lived near Little Traders! At this local kids’ clothing resale shop,…
Best Recreation Area in Southern Arizona
Located at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Sabino Canyon has two shuttle routes, 89 picnic tables and nature, hiking and equestrian trails. With a visitors’ center, dozens of conveniently located toilets, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, scorpions and ants, all for a low, low price of $5 (or $20 for a year-round pass), Sabino Canyon…
Best Brunch
Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort has long been one of Tucson’s best-kept secrets. With its historic setting, lovely ambience, sophisticated dining and wine programs and gracious hospitality, the place attracts guests from all over the world. We Tucsonans can experience all that charm at Hacienda del Sol’s amazing Sunday brunch. You’ll find all the…
Best Home Furnishings
Do not let the modest sign at the original store at Dodge Boulevard and Fort Lowell Road fool you–this place is huge. It is an easy, and delightful, place to get lost. The sales floor is subdued and relaxed. There is even a small waterfall. The staff is attentive, but will let you wander in…
Best-Tasting Local Brew
Feeling a bit devilish on our last trip to Nimbus–the local brewery with the monkey-head logo–we ordered red ale from among the seven delicious selections on tap. It was slightly bitter with an extremely smooth character and an intriguing amber tone. The drink perfectly fit the mood as the evening grew dark with monsoon clouds,…
Best Bar at Which to Plot a Caper
Plotting a caper in public probably isn’t the best idea. But if you were going to do that–you know, maybe finalizing the timing between the entry into a bank and a diversion–there are certain minimal requirements that an establishment should have. For example, it should be dark. You should also be able to speak without…
The Lean Years
Are hungry seniors falling through the cracks in Tucson?
Nine Questions
Dimitri Manos
Best Airport/Gallery
Let’s hear it for the changing displays of work by local artists that enliven the walls of TIA. And let’s hear it for TIA’s recent expansion, which made it bigger, fancier and marginally slicker, but still positively homey compared to most airports. To really appreciate TIA’s understated charms, make your last stop before home Sky…
Best Fresh-Baked Bread
Sick of plain old white or wheat? Beyond Bread offers more than 30 types of fresh artisan bread. On any given day, choose from baguette, ciabatta, cinnamon raisin, garlic Italian, multigrain, parisienne, rustic, rye, wheat or white–whew! And with each new day of the week, the list extends for the specials. Mmmm, nothing says Friday…
Best Place to Buy Fresh Shrimp
Let’s face it: Most of the raw shrimp we buy here in the desert is pretty ghoulish. Often, the shrimp are limp and soft–never a good thing. Supposedly, that comes from being frozen and then defrosted. The flavor of these crustaceans is nonexistent as well. But the folks at Rodriguez Seafood offer a whole other…
Best Italian
They say that you can keep a bird from getting away by sprinkling salt on its tail. Would salt work as well on zombies? The place to experiment would be Gavi, because one of the few complaints in recorded history about this local restaurant chain is that the food is kind of salty. Well, go…
Best Mexican Fast Food/Drive-Thru
There’s something about the witching hour that screams out, “Carne asada burrito!” Luckily, the Old Pueblo is stacked with late-night Mexican-food eateries, so you won’t have to listen to the screams for long. While people in other towns have to fulfill their quick cravings for beans, salsa, cheese, and tortillas by making a “run for…
Best Trattoria
Don’t let the white tablecloths and cool décor fool you; Tavolino is anything but a fancy restaurant. Like many tratorrias in Italy, this small dining venue is a comfortable, family-run dining spot. The food is prepared with a wise and loving hand. Pastas are freshly made, which results in tender lasagna, ravioli and tagliatelle, and…
Best Florist
If you neglect to leave flowers on the graves of the dead, expect them to haunt you in the afterlife. Luckily, you can avoid the night-of-the-living-pissed-off by purchasing an affordable yet lovely arrangement from Roses and More. We promise you won’t miss any of their three locations around town, because every Roses and More is…
Best Catered-to-Kids Restaurant
Is the food “as good as the fun”? They probably wouldn’t pass with the pizza nazis, but to our way of thinking, PPP’s pies are delicious, although that could be the result of a sense-memory from childhood. Very few of us of a certain age missed attending an adrenaline-and-soda-fueled bacchanalia at this temple of video…
Best Hike
Zombies usually don’t take hikes at places like Sabino Canyon. If they are willing to try something new, however–say, hiking during the day, for enjoyment, rather than hiking around in the middle of the night, trying to scare little kids–then Sabino Canyon it is! Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalinas, the canyon offers…
Best Chinese
Guilin’s unassuming Speedway Boulevard location hardly reveals the delights inside–fresh, delicious ingredients and friendly staff (it’s family-owned, and everyone helps out) combine to make this the most affordable, healthful and pleasant Chinese dining experience anywhere in town. On a recent trip during a busy weekday lunch rush, we tried the Hunan beef and sweet-and-sour chicken…
Best Plant Nursery
Spreading out along Speedway Boulevard for almost a city block, Mesquite Valley Growers offers an enormous variety of merchandise that sets it apart. Domino, the black-and-white cat with a temperamental personality, may greet you at the entrance, while inside you’ll find everything needed to meet your gardening needs. There is an immense assortment of hanging…
Best Sports Bar
What do you need in a sports bar? Big TVs and something on, obviously, are the basics. But then there must be pastrami. There must be fries. There must be cold beer and servers to bring it all quickly. Famous Sam’s has expanded from one dingy location to the edges of the known universe, because…
Best Shot
The name of this shot might just be cute enough to keep away the living dead. However, do not underestimate the punch the shot packs because of the squeaky image it portrays. The Rubber Ducky shot at Dirtbag’s is infamous and delicious, starting out sweet and then kicking you swiftly at the end. A combination…
Citizen Army
A donation to Madera Canyon illustrates an increase in public participation on public lands
Live
Arctic Monkeys, Voxtrot, Rialto Theatre, Saturday, Sept. 22
Best of Tucson™ 2007
About 11 months ago, Max Cannon—the man about town who is the mastermind behind “Red Meat”—came down to the Weekly’s fabulous southside digs to look over all of the Best of Tucson™ issues from the last 15 years or so (except for one that I was missing, for some reason). We were trying to determine…
Best Theatrical Production (TIE)
Has a better play with better actors ever been been performed in Tucson? We doubt it. Broadway in Tucson brought this staggeringly good, much-honored production to town in May for its last tour, ever (probably). Kathleen Turner and Bill Irwin blew the doors off the Tucson Music Hall and were visibly emotional during their bows…
Best Sandwich
We were feeling kind of plump, what with all those skinny zombies lurching about, so we decided to go off carbs. Then we strayed within a mile of Tucson original Beyond Bread–and all bets were off. The sandwiches are decadent and wholesome all at once, made with care and felicity by people who have dedicated…
Best Chicago Dog (or Best Place to Meet Chicagoans)
Tucson’s hot-dog selection goes way beyond just Sonoran-style. Every time we’re in Luke’s (usually the 4444 E. Grant Road location, 321-9236), it’s like we’re in Chicago–everyone’s talking about the Cubs in Midwestern accents. That is, when they’re not taking the biggest bites possible out of the best Chicago-style hot dogs you’re likely to find outside…
Best Middle Eastern
The gyros, the Middle-Eastern eatery’s equivalent of the Big Mac, cannot be resisted. A kebab is meat on a stick. How can you beat that? The chickpea has various uses, all of them delicious. The pita is a revelation in utility and scrumptiousness. Who knew that the best place locally to indulge in such fare…
Best Salsa
For the second year in a row, Guadalajara Grill has won the coveted Best Salsa category. This is no easy task, considering Tucson is a city full of good salsa. The thick, red house salsa, with just the right amount of heat and superb flavor, is stellar, but what really sets Guadalajara Grill a notch…
Best Vegetarian/Vegan
If you’re like most people, you probably have a list of things you want to do before you die (at the hands of the undead, perhaps). We here at the Weekly wish you luck with those. Concerning the list of things you should do, near the top is checking out Lovin’ Spoonfuls, the hottest veggie…
Best Sex Toy Shop
You want blow job vouchers, coochie cream, vibrators shaped like George Washington’s nose or a Bactrian camel? We’re not sure about the last two, but the others are practically guaranteed in stock at Fascinations. They’ve got more sexy undies than the pope’s had hot lunches, and more orifice-stuffers than you can shake a 15-inch double-pronged…
Best Toy Store
Who would’ve thought that in the era of video-game obsessions, Facebook, shopping mall meet-ups, iPods, cell phones and 100-channel television, kids and families could still find time for board games, and that the most popular would be a variation of tic-tac-toe? Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle’s is full of surprises like that, and always full of kids and…
Best Backpacking Trail
“Sabino” is Spanish for cypress, and there are some Arizona cypress growing high up in Sabino Canyon. Trouble is, it’s tough getting up there now to see them. Geology happens, and in Sabino Canyon, geology happened in a big way last year when massive fire- and storm-caused debris flows made direct access to the Sabino…
Best Diner
The simplicity of Grill keeps it a favorite diner among Tucson Weekly readers. Maybe it’s because Grill’s meals are made to be like Mom’s and are there for you zombies all night long. After the parties, the concerts, studying or just plain relaxing with friends, Grill is the spot to be. People-watch, and you will…
Best Outdoor Recreation Store
Afraid of the dark? Bears? Gastrointestinal bugs? Frostbite? Rain? Twisting an ankle? Poison ivy? Cold food? Going hungry? Getting lost? Sunburn? Boredom? Falling off a cliff? Zombies? The amazing Summit Hut has the solutions for these and many other common outdoor problems (except for maybe the zombies). Check out the seemingly endless selection of headlamps,…
Best Gay/Lesbian Bar
You can dance if you want. Or you can hang out at either of the bars at IBT’s and just chill, taking in the pleasant sights of abundant shirtless men milling about. But don’t misunderstand; it’s more than just a meat market. It’s a place that’s fun because of the options. The club is delightfully…
Best Dirty Martini
There’s nothing like a good dirty martini–not a saltwater martini, or a martini with 8,000 olives: just a nice, pretty, cloudy drink. It’s not asking too much, is it? No, at least not at The Shelter, where it is possible to get a decent dirty martini without tutoring the bartender. Every time. Some praise The…
The Skinny
CONGESTION CONJECTURE Every year, the Texas Transportation Institute rolls out a survey that reveals our wait in traffic is getting worse–and every year, we wonder if it’s such a big deal. The average Tucsonan wasted 42 hours stuck in traffic during rush hour in 2005, according to the road nerds’ calculations. That’s up from 39…
Rhythm & Views
Like Bloodshot Records labelmates the Waco Brothers, with whom they share guitar player/vocalist Dean Schlabowske and bass player Alan Doughty, Dollar Store come off as a hardscrabble, ornery lot who wear their blue collars with pride and more than a little defiance. Add generous amounts of booze and a healthy dose of 21st-century skepticism, and…
Best Program for Arts in the Schools
Some 37 Tucson Unified School District schools with a new, can-do attitude. 650 teachers getting some help teaching core curriculum. 17,000 students from diverse backgrounds with recorders and violins in their hands and test scores headed in the right direction. About 55 local artists getting paid, 32 weeks a year. That’s OMA, the homegrown arts…
Best Burger
The day that In-N-Out burger opened in Tucson, Californians and Phoenicians across town rejoiced. Others were understandably puzzled by the hours-long wait that the crazed fans of In-N-Out were willing to brave. Not everyone gets the whole In-N-Out phenomenon. But Donny in The Big Lebowski gets it, so it can’t be too hard to figure…
Best Lunch Special
Yum! Foodies in Tucson are elated by the opening of Vila Thai, at Main Gate Square near the University. The dishes are fresh, authentic and downright delicious. But it’s the lunch special that has people talking. For $8, you get a choice of main dish–the basil beef is sensational–plus rice (brown or white) and pad…
Best Nouvelle Cuisine
Pastiche is not only a chic place to nosh with great ambiance and a friendly wait staff; it is also a sure-fire way to bring your taste buds back from the dead. The internationally influenced American cuisine is classic, yet creative, and available in bistro portions which will relieve your wallet, yet still satisfy your…
Best Veggie Burger
Running from mindless zombies who want to eat your tasty flesh? Take refuge at Lovin’ Spoonfuls. The undead will shy away from the animal-free entrées here. But that doesn’t mean you have to. The vegetarian restaurant serves three delicious types of homemade veggie burgers: the adzuki burger–a patty of adzuki beans, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, corn,…
Best Place to Pretend You’re on the Big Island
We have a good friend who went to high school in Hawaii, and the only thing better than listening to her speak Pidgin is eating some delicious Hawaiian-style teriyaki chicken and fried rice while she speaks Pidgin. Lani’s Luau has all kinds of Hawaiian-only items, like Spam musubi (which is, apparently, Spam sushi–Hawaiians love their…
Best Goth/Leather Shop
Want a corset? A collar? Perhaps some stripper shoes? Whatever you need, and for whatever reason, the folks at Hydra will have it, and are more than happy to help you find it. Some mistake Hydra as a high-end Hot Topic for grown-ups. Not so. There’s a huge selection of lingerie, jewelry and costumes all…
Best Playground
Swings, slides, steps–oh my! Gene C. Reid Park is the Disneyland of playgrounds, according to our readers. And with swing sets and monkey bars aplenty, along with those totally cool interactive tic-tac-toe games, the kids will have a grand old time. The park is complete with a duck pond, the Reid Park Zoo, picnic areas…
Best Campground
Driving up Catalina Highway to the top of Mount Lemmon, you’ll pass through four completely different ecological strata–and you can camp in each one of them. For those who like it warm and dry, we suggest the Gordon Hirabayashi campground, where you can climb rocky embankments, walk through washes and curl up in your sleeping…
Best Sign Winter Has Arrived in Tucson
We think one of our writers is a zombie. He grumps around most of year, irritable, complaining, intolerable to be around. Then magically, every winter, something happens, and he turns into a completely different person. “It’s here,” he’ll croak, a gleam in his eye. Ramen has returned to Samurai, and we all breathe a sigh…
Best Bike Shop
Once again, Ordinary Bike Shop proves that it’s anything but. The folks at this perennial fave will help you choose a fine, fair-priced ride, repair your sturdy old friend or sell you sparkly handgrips and fancy streamers. Their wide selection of headlamps, lights and reflectors will keep you safe as you glide through the dark,…
Best Upscale Bar Ambiance
NoRTH is definitely a cool, chic spot for some mingling and munching. The bar, with its high ceilings, sexy lighting and mix of modern furniture, is an ideal place to start your evening. On balmy nights, the large window between the bar and the patio is opened, which only adds to hip vibe. And no…
Best Drink to Put You Under the Table
It’s been a rough week or day, and you are just lookin’ to get plastered. Hey, that’s OK! Trident has an alcoholic beverage that will do the trick without tasting like the inside of a rubbing alcohol bottle. The “Adios Motherfucker”–made with blue curacao, gin, vodka, tequila, triple sec, rum and sour mix–is surprisingly easy…
The Range
A recap of last week’s news
Rhythm & Views
Since coming onto the scene in the mid-’90s, Ben Harper has been a critics’ darling. Much of this is owed to the sincere acknowledgement of the folk-blues roots that forms the cornerstone of his sound. Of course, playing and kicking ass with the likes of the Dave Matthews Band will raise your credibility a notch,…
Best Script Doctoring
After 10 years of topical rhyming couplets by Max Branscomb, A Tucson Pastorela, the play localizing and updating the story of the birth of Jesus, was itself reborn last December. Borderlands Theater hired Toni Press-Coffman to revamp the script, which was starting to seem more and more like a Gaslight spoof. The result was less…
Best Pizza
Man, you people love your Magpies. The pizzeria has won top honors in this category so many times that when you walk into one of its six locations, you’re greeted by a wall of tearsheets from Weekly issues past reminding you of this fact. Hell, call to order for delivery, and you’ll hear something along…
Best Local Hangover Cure
Yes, we live in Tucson, but there is more than menudo to get you through the morning after. The beef-broth-based noodle soup at Pho Thu has revived legions with its miraculous healing powers. The windowless dining room is a plus when the day seems just a little too bright–you can take your sunglasses off, and…
Best Seafood
When it comes to shellfish, it’s all about trust. In Kitchen Confidential, his hilarious, hopped-up exposé of the underside of the restaurant business, chef Anthony Bourdain says that he will not order mussels in a place where he doesn’t know the chef and hasn’t seen how they store the shellfish; he explains this squeamishness with…
Best Baristas
Imagine obsessing over how many seconds an espresso shot can sit unaccompanied by syrup or milk before it “dies” and is no good. Or how about how many pumps of syrup go into a tall, grande or venti drink. Or whether or not milk can be poured into iced tea, because it can curdle in…
Best Serving Bowls
They’re round, and green and brown, with leaves for edges. They’re beautiful–earthy, yet functional, classy yet unconventional. Bai Thong’s pad thai is already delicious, but served in this bowl, it becomes an aesthetic experience as well. It’s like eating out of an actual lotus, or being served by fairies. It’s as if the vegetables grew…
Best Gentleman’s Club
The girls at Curves are pretty. We mean, really pretty. In addition to that, the staff is unbelievably professional; it’s disarming when you go into a strip club and the bouncer is, well, just a really nice guy. Going out for the night doesn’t mean having to go through airport-like security, either. A host helps…
Best Birthday Party Place
Boy, are birthdays a blast! But blow-up jumpy things in the back yard don’t come with pizza, tokens and arcade games! Thank goodness kids and parents can agree on one thing: Chuck E. Cheese’s, please–where a kid can be a kid! Kids are treated like gods and goddesses by a giant rat and friends. Whatever…
Best Place in Town to Spend the Day Outdoors
The Sabino Canyon of full-access tram rides and unchanging scenery was declared nearly dead last year after torrential rains enlisted the fury of hillside boulders to do mortal battle with the roads and cinderblock restrooms below. But from this death sentence, the beloved desert refuge has risen and–though changed and still dangerous as shown by…
Best Sushi Deal
Like sushi? Then grab a friend and head down Golf Links Road to Oishi Sushi and Teriyaki. In this little brick building, you can get all-you-can-eat sushi for two people for $30. That’s right: $15 a person! And bargain sushi, this ain’t: The fish is fresh, the rolls are innovative and tasty, and the presentation…
Best Sporting Goods
In the desert, survival is the only sport, and unless you’re Bear Grylls of TV’s Man Vs. Wild–who seems to enjoy drinking his own piss and eating spiders for breakfast–you’re going to need at least a water bottle and comfy socks before you head out to test your mettle in the blasted wastes. Luckily, you…
Best Lowbrow Bar Ambiance
Cheers, it most certainly ain’t. In fact, the place is kind of a skanky dump. But it’s our skanky dump, and by gawd, we’re proud of it. Don’t be comin’ in here if you’re some kind of yuppified scum–you won’t be welcome in that $100 Patagonia Hawaiian shirt. But if you’re a working man or…
Best Bloody Mary
It’s hard to find a good Bloody Mary. Damn hard. And a terrible Bloody Mary is an abomination: Too much or too little of any one of the half-dozen or so ingredients that go into the drink can muck it up. Nothing’s more heartbreaking than ordering one and being presented with a glass of salted…
Media Watch
‘Star’ Gears up for Cold
Rhythm & Views
Hard-bop heaven isn’t far away on this two-CD set, documenting a hitherto forgotten live performance referenced by the title. Besides the fact that virtually no one knew the tapes of this concert existed before Mingus’ widow found them, this release is remarkable for several reasons. First is the playful spirit with which leader and composer…
Best Musical
Of all the musicals presented in Tucson last season–Arizona Theatre Company alone mounted three by the time we lost count–the biggest potential downer turned out to be the most uplifting. Elegies is a William Finn cycle of songs that react to the loss of people (and dogs) dear to us. Each item is a tender…
Best Tortillas
Seeing how we Tucsonans love our Mexican food, there is perhaps no food as important to us as the tortilla. In fact, it is imperative–of the utmost importance–that tortillas are made right. After all, it is the foundation upon which most Mexican meals are built, and if you get that part right, anything is possible.…
Best Tourist Attraction
We were packing up our tents and camp stoves for a six-month expedition to the bush. Our mission: Get to know the flora and fauna of the great Sonoran Desert, deep down, at ground-level. But then a friend told us about the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and we realized paying $12 and taking a pleasant walk…
Best Steakhouse
Cowboys and cowgirls will never get the blues dining at El Corral, where the menu remains static. Nothing nouvelle exists here, and that’s just the way we like it. Rustic ambiance and eager-to-please service without a dollop of arrogance make us hanker to return for special occasions and everyday dining. Where else offers salads prepared…
Best House-Blend Coffee
Coffee lovers in Tucson keep coming back for more of the Raging Sage blend. Made to revivify the morning zombie in you, the two-part black, one-part light roast is the perfect mix of java. Blended and brewed exclusively at the Sage, this hot commodity is sure to be a-roastin’ when you zombie-walk straight toward that…
Best Pop Music Station
Ushering in a fifth consecutive year of pop-radio dominance with this win, KRQ continues to deliver new music to the Old Pueblo. Filtered through the fast-talking, joke-cracking on-air personalities of always-popular hosts Johnjay and Rich, Chris P., Seth O’Brien and the rest of the voices, the Top 40 songs of our day reach delighted Tucson…
Best Auto Repair (TIE)
It’s the prettiest, friendliest car-repair joint in Tucson, that’s for sure, and one of the oldest. Continuously owned by members of the McDowell and Shinkel families since 1956–first at the corner of Tucson Boulevard and East Sixth Street–Jimmy’s runs on an old-fashioned business ethic that’s kept customers coming back and the operation expanding for more…
Best Fun for the Whole Family
Sometimes when you live in a place for a long time, you begin to take things for granted. You start sleepwalking through life like a zombie. When, for example, was the last time you went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum? This combination zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum and outdoor classroom opened to the public…
Best Urban Exploration
Some 11 blocks of shaded wildness through the heart of the city, High School Wash tiptoes along the nature/culture edge. On a recent walk, we discovered an oriole’s nest and a bounty of native vegetation, and were serenaded by doves and cactus wrens. Kids’ secret play spaces, an occasional creekside bench and privately tended guerilla…
Best Potstickers
Many southside office workers know about this restaurant because of its cheap “luncheon express.” (People pick two or three items from the steam table to go along with fried rice or lo mein–you know the drill from some chain joints around town that offer the same thing.) But these workers and their fellow Tucsonans would…
Best Retail Music Store
Suppose you’ve just developed an affinity for G. Love and Special Sauce or Nudeswirl. Or maybe you are just dying to hear *NSYNC’s Home for Christmas smack in the middle of summer. With either scenario, you would be in luck and able to satisfy your strange cravings at Zia. Though they have a wide selection…
Best Nightclub
Club Congress is the hippest joint in town. That’s why it’s always winning this category. Really, the place has it all: You can pretend you’re Bukowski and guzzle a cheap brew in the Tap Room, or chill on one of the lounge’s fat couches and sip pretentious drinks with your legs crossed. The main club…
Most Comfortable Bathroom for an Upchuck
The problem with alcohol is that so often, we wish to completely indulge–and sometimes get to “that point.” Maybe you haven’t reached that point since college when you blacked out and woke up in the community bathroom, hugging the toilet. Maybe you reached it last weekend when Cousin Bobby was in town, when you realized…
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with Michal Tyra
Top Ten in Music
Zip’s Music and Video top sales for the week
Best Fine Art Gallery
Etherton’s electrifying show of lightning photography this summer was high-voltage enough to shock anyone into the land of the undead–and it sent its two daredevil shutterbugs, A.T. Willett and Jeff Smith, into the land of the real dead when they stepped too close to a lightning bolt in their quest for the perfect photo. But…
Best Solo Show
Forget the stereotypical annoying mime: the guy trapped in a box, the guy climbing the ladder, the guy you want to strangle. Wamer is part many things–part dancer, part actor, part comedian–but he’s never anything less than fully mesmerizing. With his new troupe, he has been changing the conversation about dance in Tucson. His innovative…
Best Ice Cream
If your taste buds feel dead and need a pick-me-up, shuffle your way to Cold Stone Creamery for a tasty treat. The good folks at Cold Stone allow you to design your creamy creation. First, choose your size–like it, love it or gotta have it; then the mix-ins–nuts, candy, fruit and more; and then a…
Best Annual Festival
Beginning some four decades ago with a handful of Fourth Avenue merchants setting up tables outside their front doors during the holiday-shopping season, the Fourth Avenue Street Fair has since exploded into one of the foremost street fairs in the country. With more than 400 arts and craft booths, food, drink and live music, the…
Best Japanese
It’s not every day you can walk into a former Coco’s and be instantly transported to Japan. Yoshimatsu gets everything right–from the zen-and-cartoon décor (plenty of bamboo and dolls in frames or hanging from the ceiling) to the incredible array of menu options. If it weren’t for the scenery outside, you’d swear you were somewhere…
Best Café Hangout
If you’re an artist, writer, philosopher, intellectual, activist, freak or wannabe, chances are your ideal afterworld probably looks something like Epic Café. With its colorful walls, cool art and eccentric crowd, Epic Café can be a divine experience for those looking for a little inspiration. It’s a great place to kick back, people-watch, eavesdrop or…
Best Rock Music Station
Some of us are old enough to remember a time before KFMA, when the Test Department was on KLPX, when the only way you could hear “alternative rock” was if you went out and bought the CDs. It’s to KFMA’s credit that they have maintained their status and are still playing the kind of music…
Best Builder
We believe strongly that before we build another inch into the desert, we should build infill projects in the city. Repp Design and Construction builds affordable custom houses with integrity. They won’t be the lowest bidder, because they’re honest and realistic, so there won’t be any surprise costs after you’ve signed. They’ll finish when they…
Best Saturday Morning Adventure for Kids
Has Saturday morning at your house become a nefarious cartoon land? Do the kids gaze zombie-like at the boob tube or squabble over the remote while they bury your sofa under donut crumbs and Gogurt wrappers? If this sounds all too familiar, check out Rocks and Ropes’ “Kids Climb.” On Saturdays from 9 to 11…
Best Lunatic Fringe Experience
Out in the desert west of Tucson, Richard and Monica Chapin, with the help of optical scientists and engineers, are building a Moonlight Collector, a parabolic screen of 84 mirrors that can be tightly focused to project concentrated moonbeams. Their Web site calls for research into the effects of concentrated moonlight on living systems. Is…
Best New Bookstore
We know, we know, chain stores, blah blah blah. But if the chain thing were a real issue, then you, dear readers, would not have chosen Barnes and Noble as Tucson’s Best New Bookstore. Again. So whether you’re looking for a great book about real zombies (The Serpent and the Rainbow by Wade Davis), the…
Best Musical Instrument Store
The Chicago Store should be a landmark tourist attraction, even for people who’ve never played a note. This warehouse-sized establishment is packed practically floor to ceiling with curiosities–musical instruments and accessories from around the world, ancient to modern–all in a jumble that only the staff can sort out. It’s a favorite stop for musicians passing…
Best Cocktail Menu
With a chocolate martini made of Absolut vodka, white crème de cacao and chocolate shavings, you won’t know whether you’re having an apéritif or dessert. After a couple of these babies, you won’t care. They’ve got Mexican, Belgian and German beer and a mint julep that would make Robert E. Lee soil his knickers. You…
Best Cheap Thrill
After a recent Weekly dive-bar investigation, we found that most bars have killer old-school video games and pinball machines. What a totally rad way to spend Saturday night! After testing games like the Lethal Weapon 3 pinball machine and every foosball table in town, we came to the conclusion that the best drunken video-game fix–a…
Police Dispatch
Handy and Randy North Avenida de Castilla, Aug. 27, 1:37 p.m. A handyman who was called to fix a water leak removed all of his clothes before doing the job, said a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report. According to the report, a woman house-sitting for a friend called a recommended repairman to fix a ceiling-damaging…
Love as Salvation
Jim Brochu and Steve Schalchlin share their hilarious and touching story at Invisible Theatre
Best Art Museum
The first Sunday of every month, admission to the museum is free. If you can find a kid to take along, you’ll enjoy a chance to indulge your own inner artist. “Picture This” is a monthly event for kids ages 6 through 12. A brief talk about a theme within the current exhibition or permanent…
Best Photographer
After years of absence from the local art scene, Murray burst out in her full glory this fall in a one-woman show at Etherton. Celebrating her 30 years in photography, the exhibition of stunning black and whites travels from her earliest works–the portraits she made of her young daughters in their West University back yard…
Best Bagels
Readers must like Bruegger’s because it’s the kind of place you can eat at every morning. We know, because we did it nearly every day for about six months. The cheery bagel babes greeted us as we walked through the front door, bed-headed and bleary-eyed. They never failed to remember the usual: a toasted everything…
Best Park
Reid Park has proven to be a year-round retreat for folks in Tucson jonesing for a nice walk in the park. There are ducks to feed in the pond. Hi Corbett Park is a refuge for baseball fans during spring training, and dog lovers can take solace in having a place to let their pooch…
Best Sushi
Two memories of Sushi-Ten visits stick out in the mind of a friend. One involves fishnet stockings and fake eyelashes. (We hang out with some strange people.) The other memory was of a meal he and his father had with a finicky, 300-pound, yacht-owning uncle from New York, who considers himself a sushi connoisseur. He…
Best Local Coffee Roaster
Who knew such a tiny little coffeehouse tucked away on Campbell Avenue could pack such a punch in the coffee it roasts? Even the living dead would enjoy a cup of Raging Sage’s perfectly blended java. If you’re adamant about fair trade beans, then look no further. This humble little coffee harbor also offers organic…
Best Radio Personality
The morning-radio talk shows are primarily a blur of DJs who focus on dirty jokes, jarring personal stories and weird contests. Jennie Grabel is quite the opposite–many of our readers’ morning commutes are filled with Grabel’s positive and uplifting vibes to begin the day. Grabel, along with colleague Blake Lewis, center their wake-up show on…
Best Opportunity for Visionary Capitalists
If you renovate it, they will come–we promise. Would someone with lots of cash please take on the beautifully decrepit Downtown Motor Lodge? We dream of seeing it restored to its original 1950s splendor, a landmark on par with the Hotel Congress and Marfa, Texas’ Thunderbird Motel–it could become a destination boutique motel in downtown…
Best Way to Make Your Kid the Coolest One in School
OK, so Fuzzy Balls Apparel is based in Phoenix, but the company’s kid-sized T-shirts are on sale at Bohemia (299 S. Park Ave., 882-0800), and they should be from Tucson, because they are just too awesome for Phoenix. Artist Roy Wasson Valle’s designs are based on his sculptures and prints, and they have a distinctly…
Best Supernatural Landmark
Forget that lame-ass rock that the Sabino Canyon tram drivers say looks like Snoopy on his doghouse. This is an authentic cameo appearance by Alfred Hitchcock himself. Best viewed from just north of downtown, look west to the Tucson mountains. Locate the high peak with the radio towers on top, then scan to the left,…
Best Used Books
We’ve been picking through gore, killing our flesh-eating former friends and jockeying for leadership positions within our small group of survivors. Such is life. Our plan is to make it to that Arizona institution, Bookmans. We figure there, we’ll find all we need to wait out the end and then begin to rebuild. Books, music,…
Best Retail Steel
If you want to build a decorative metal fence, or perhaps want to make some zombie-proof security doors for your humble abode, you’ll find the stock you need at Santa Rita Steel. Though inconveniently located (hey, it’s a materials yard), Santa Rita stocks mild steel in all its forms. It also supplies abrasives, fasteners, paints…
Best Happy Hour
Applebee’s has both the traditional after-work happy hour and the increasingly popular late-night happy hour. In any case, there are plenty of opportunities to get yourself all gleeful on discounted beer or (we know what you go to Applebee’s for!) those “specialty drinks.” You know, those not-quite-a-dessert, not-quite-a-cocktail masterpieces favored by beginning drinkers everywhere. Runners…
Danehy
Got any job openings for a film-industry insider?
Pick of the Week
Miss Mary’s Masterpieces
Back to the Bard
Michael Givens returns to the park-based community Shakespeare game
