Concluding the list of must-visit Tucson restaurants we Weekly resident foodies compiled at the request of a reader … here's Rita Connelly's two cents. My list can be found here; Renee Downing's list here; and Karyn Zoldan's list here.

• For a great prime rib or steak dinner: El Corral (on River Road). Quintessential Tucson.
• For Mexican: El Torero on 26th Street. 
• For great views: North, Anthony's or Westward Look (The Gold Room)—bring a extra money or just go up for a drink.
• Great mole: Either of the Poca Cosa's. Little Poca is only open for breakfast and lunch, and only takes cash.
• Great burgers: A double cheeseburger at Shari's on First Avenue.

Blog correspondent Garrett informs Weekly World Central that the Carl's Jr./Green Taco at Wilmot and Grant roads caught on fire and is a smoldering mess. As of 2 p.m. Sunday, fire crews are on the scene and using the fire hydrants in the adjacent Costco parking lot. He reports that the area is a "mess." We recommend waiting a day or two to make your Costco run.

UPDATE: Here's a pic from Garrett. Click on the pic for a larger image.

In this week's issue, Anna Mirocha wrote a City Week blurb on The Art of John Lennon, a traveling show coming to La Encantada this weekend.

Something we did not note in the blurb, unfortunately, is the fact that there are some questions about the art being displayed. Margaret Regan wrote about this on Jan. 11, 1996, the last time this exhibit came through town.

Here's an excerpt:

Part of the problem with this show, though, which an art critic feels duty-bound to point out, is that much of what's on display is essentially very expensive posters of Lennon's drawings, with added-on colors selected by his widow. ... Buyers should beware that [most] of the pictures, many of them whimsical, even charming, images of John with his wife and son, are reproductions, produced after his death in lithograph and serigraph (silkscreen) by hired artisans. They just don't count as his artwork.

Continuing with the list of must-visit Tucson restaurants we Weekly resident foodies compiled at the request of a reader ... here's Renee Downing's two cents. My list can be found here, with Karyn Zoldan's here; Rita Connelly's list will come later.

• Green corn tamales—I haven't had them for years, but the ones at Lerua's on Broadway used to be the best.
• Chile rellenos at Mi Nidito.
• Carne seca anything at El Charro (the original one downtown).
• Horchata (okay, it's a beverage) at Pico de Gallo.
• Margaritas at Mosaic Cafe.
• Lobster-corn whatchamacallits at Feast (whenever they're on the menu).
• Nabeyaki udon and curry rice at Sachiko (original Wilmot and Speedway location).
• Bruschetta and mozarella/tomato salad at Vivace.

This week's Skinny wondered if Ward 5 Councilman Steve Leal would take the risk of challenging Mayor Bob Walkup. We now have our answer: No.

Leal has sent out a letter saying that it's just too important that he remain on the council. Without him, who knows how adrift the city could go?

Here's Leal's letter:

For some time now individuals of all political persuasions and economic means and residents of every Ward have asked me to run for Mayor. However, it is my feeling is that our City needs to remain on a steady course through this period of transition, and that my role as the senior member of our City Council is critical now, more than ever. Therefore, I will not be a candidate for Mayor this election.

In the past two years, there have been two newly elected members to the City Council and this fall there will two more. Supporters tell me that if I did not have to resign my Council seat to run for Mayor, it would not be a problem. But I do. Having to resign from my Ward 5 seat would mean that when my replacement is selected, there would be five new Council members in a two-year period.

There are a number of significant issues facing the community that require stability and continuity to better protect our community’s future.

Many think that the campaign between myself and Mayor Walkup would be great horse race. It would. And many critical issues would be debated and discussed during such a campaign. But there is too much at stake, and I feel a personal sense of responsibility to ensure that we move forward together with greater coherence during this time.

I am grateful for the outpouring of support from all corners of the community, and I look forward to continuing to serve all of Tucson.

For us political junkies, this is bad, bad news. What are we going to do without a mayor's race this year? Is there any chance Jose Ibarra might jump in?

Actually, there is one other potential candidate: Daniel Patterson, a former staffer with the Center for Biological Diversity and a member of the City Planning Commission, is now weighing a run. 

Yesterday, I detailed my list of must-try Tucson restaurants, for the benefit of a reader. Here's Karyn Zoldan's list. Still to come: lists from Rita Connelly and Renee Downing.

• What about a Sonoran hot dog at El Guero Canelo? There's a location on South 12th Avenue and a newer location on Oracle Road near Grant Road. If you don't get there, J-Bar has a Sonoran hot dog on the menu all the time now.
• Then there are great fish tacos at Pico de Gallo/Taqueria South Sixth Avenue at 36th Street. Also try the pico de gallo, which is spears of fruits sprinkled with chili powder, and wash it all down with deliciously fresh and creamy horchata. Next door is a small ice cream joint that has some really original flavors of Mexican ice cream.
• Bobo's on Grant Road just west of Country Club Road has the best caramelized banana pancakes for breakfast.
• The Red Garter has a good cheeseburger, but you can probably find cheeseburgers anywhere. Sit on the patio, as the inside is too smoky. Bob Dobbs has good burgers, too.
• At Grill downtown, you can have tater tots.
• At Café Poca Cosa, I suggest ordering the house plate, as they will give you tastes of three different things.
• Rocco's Pizzeria on Broadway Boulevard rocks with pizzas and meatball sandwiches.

Here are a few events that were received too late to be included in our print issue.

• Saturday, March 17 from 1 to 5 p.m.

  Tamara Spiritual Center, 3002 E. Fort Lowell Road

  Holistic/Alternative Healing Seminar. View demonstrations of prayer healing, angelic healing, chakra balancing, aromatherapy, reiki, singing bowls and more. $10 per person. Call Rev. Karen Bock at 325-0513 for reservations.

• Saturday, March 17 at 2 p.m.

  Oro Valley Town Hall Council chambers, 11000 N. La Canada Drive

  Opera 101. Opera virutoso and lecturer Vivan Weede will bring the music of Gaetano Donizetti to life through a lecture and performance. Tickets are $5 in advance at www.govac.org or $10 at the door. Students younger than 18 accompanied by a paying adult are free. Call 531-9027 for info.

• Tuesday, March 20 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

  Abbie Loveland Tuller School, 5870 E. 14th St.

  Live, Learn and Grow Lecture Series. Nick Casarona from Bank of Tucson and Keith Cobb of Coldwell Banker will discuss "How Do I Buy a Home?" Free. Call 668-9444 or e-mail [email protected] for info.

• Wednesday, March 21 from 6 to 9 p.m.

  UA Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Room 5403

  Tucson Macintosh Users Meeting. The Tucson Macintosh Users Group will offer a variety of presentations: From 6 to 7 p.m. in room 5403: Dealing with your pictures. From 6 to 7 p.m. in room 2500F: Ask the experts. From 7 to 9 p.m. in room 5403: Windows on Macs. Free. Visit http://tmug.com/html/map.html for info.

A whole new issue of the Weekly is online, and starting to trickle out in print. (Can newspaper "trickle," though? Never mind.) Peruse at will!

Last week, a fellow by the name of Gabriel Matthew Schivone e-mailed me:

Enclosed is a breakthrough issue of a new literary and politic journal on the University of Arizona campus and the surrounding Tucson community.

As an unfortunate Catch-22, we are proudly the only alternative media on the University of Arizona. And, we are now seeking reviews for our April edition. Whether a one-word review, one-line or a-few-lines, it would help our efforts in getting off the ground, showing what the Weekly thinks of our work.

I sent him a note offering to post the whole issue of Days Beyond Recall on this very blog; he said that would be a swell idea. So here it is: March Final.pdf.

Contact info for Gabriel can be found inside. So Gabriel gets the credit: The Weekly has nothing to do with this. We're just posting as a service to y'all.

Late last week, I received this e-mail from a loyal reader:

... I am a 22 year old student at the U of A graduating in May. I have lived my whole life in Tucson and love this city for many things, the food and locally owned restaurants being at the top of the list. When I graduate in May I will be leaving this town for the first time in my life to live some place else. First I will be moving to Phoenix (or as I like to call it "Home of the Chain Restaurant") for a few months, and then I will be off to Japan for a year. With only a few months left before I leave I want to make sure I hit most of the good restaurants this town has to offer. This is where you come in. I love the Weekly and I love your weekly "Chow" feature. I wanted to know, in your opinion, what are the quintessential restaurants every Tucsonan needs to try before they leave?

I answered her (off the top of my head), along with some of our Chow writers. Here's my list; the other lists will appear on this very blog over the next couple of days.

• Janos or JBar, at the Westin La Paloma. To be honest, I prefer the more casual (and cheaper J Bar).

• Terra Cotta. Have the goat cheese shrimp (unless you're allergic).

• Cafe Poca Cosa. Be sure to make reservations.

• Have some Cap'n Crunch or something else at Grill. The service will suck, and the food's only OK, but it's Tucson.

• The Cup at Hotel Congress. As for a table in the lower area, where the newish penny floor is.

• Have a Barrio Tostada at the Barrio, downtown.

• Get the red velvet cake at Something Sweet on Speedway.

• Try Mama Louisa's on South Craycroft, south of 29th. I get the Joe's Special with meatballs.

• Even though it's new, Zivaz (on Broadway) has the best tortilla soup I've had in town (of places that are still open, that is).

• A sandwich at Bison Witches.

• A piece of pie at B-Line on Fourth. Sit in the window and people-watch.

• Eat outside on the patio at the Flying V at Loews Ventana Canyon. It's not about the food; it's the beautiful deck and view.

If you have any suggestions, the comments section is all yours. And be sure to check back for the lists of Karyn Zoldan, Rita Connelly and Renee Downing