In this multimedia project by UA School of Journalism students R.J. Young, Raymond Slusarczyk and Nicole O'Shea, La Placita Village, located in Downtown Tucson, takes center stage as a place of vibrant colors in the Old Pueblo.

A new favorite haunt of mine is Sky Bar at 536 N. Fourth Avenue. They have Happy Hour from 5:30 to 8:30 every day, except Sunday, when it's Happy Hour all day! Two-dollar wells sounds damn good this time of year. Even better, Friday nights offer a free fire twirling show from local performance troupe, Elemental Artistry. Be there around 7-ish to grab a beer/latte/screwdriver and a good seat from which to watch the dazzling action.

The talented members of Elemental Artistry also offer classes, and furthermore they'll be hosting a big Summer Solstice event at Sky Bar on Monday, June 21. Here's more info on fire dance classes and the Solstice spectacular. For further info, call (520) 661-2787.

Poi Class, Sunday mornings 11:45-12:45pm at the Francisco Elias Esquier Park, 1331 N 14th Ave
This multi-level poi class taught by World Champion twirler Michelle Baas is perfect for students of all ages and backgrounds. In each class technique and tricks are taught with a strong focus

The latest estimates show that the BP spill could have been as much as 25,000 to 30,000 barrels a day.

• Rodney Glassman

Dougherty laid down a challenge to three debates—one in Tucson, one in Phoenix and one in Flagstaff—to the other Democrats in the race for the Senate seat now held by Republican John McCain. He gave them a deadline of noon on Tuesday, June 8, to respond.

The other two Democrats in the race—former state lawmaker Cathy Eden and labor organizer Randy Parraz—said they were in.

But Glassman didn’t reply—which led to a story in yesterday’s Arizona Daily Star that made it look like Glassman was ducking the chance to debate his fellow Democrats.

Glassman campaign spokesman Blake Morlock says his candidate will get around to debating the other Democrats, eventually.

“We’re going to be looking for more legitimate forums and we’re going to be looking for opportunities,” says Blake Morlock, spokesman for the Glassman campaign. “This idea that we will have no debates is just made up

Jason's Deli is reopening its recently closed store at 4545 N. Oracle Road and will be giving away 1,000 free sandwiches on Monday.

Another location at 5420 E. Broadway Blvd., which also closed unexpectedly on Sunday, May 30, is expected to open in late 2010.

From the full press release:

In a surprising turn of events, Jason’s Deli will re-open on June 14th at the previous location on Oracle Road. Another location, on Broadway, is expected to open late in 2010. The previous franchisee closed on May 30 primarily due to insurmountable debt owed to numerous creditors.

“We are elated and hopeful that we can hire back the former employees,” stated Blake Parker, a regional director for the Jason’s Deli parent company. “In this day and age, you don’t expect to resolve landlord, electric, and City issues quickly, but that’s exactly what occurred. Honestly, my hat is off to the City of Tucson.”

Before re-opening the deli, Jason’s is attempting to contact and interview as many of the previous 85 employees as possible. “Clearly we want to give these folks the first shot, yet some may have already received job offers,” stated Mr. Parker.

In celebration of the opening, the first 1,000 people who go to the Jason’s Deli Oracle Road location on June 14th have the option to select one of the following sandwiches for free (a ham Po’Boy, a California Club or a quarter ham muffaletta). This offer is limited to one sandwich per person, only available for dine in orders, and only on the opening day.

Sami Hamed has a favorite icebreaker when he's talking about his campaign for the Arizona House of Representatives: He may be blind, but he's got more vision that the current Arizona Legislature.

Hamed has not let being legally blind—he can't drive but he can read his BlackBerry—stop him from becoming a player in local politics. He works as an aide to Congressman Raúl Grijalva and can be frequently found on the campaign trail of Democrats such as City Council members Karin Uhlich and Richard Fimbres.

Hamed says assisting constituents for Congressman Grijalva helped him learn the issues and know what people in the district want.

“Even though I won’t get to do much constituent work as a legislator—I’ll get to do very little of it—I think it’s best prepared me to hear the problems and the views of the people, and if elected I’ll carry that with me up to the state House,” he says.

Hamed is making his first run for public office in a crowded field, but he's got the endorsement of Grijalva, which he hopes will help him stand out. He's also got the blessing of the district’s retiring Representative Phil Lopes.

• NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

A new batch of HiRISE images has been posted by the UA Lunar and Planetary Lab. See ’em here.

HiRISE team member Patrick Russell tells us about the above photo:

This observation shows the intersection of several geologic features at the edge of the huge Valles Marineris system of canyons on Mars.

The circular feature is an impact crater, roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) across. To the south, terrain slopes downward over 4000 meters (13000 feet). Thinking of the crater like a huge drill hole and the canyon wall like a towering road-cut, both features provide a glimpse into the subsurface of the surrounding terrain.

In the curved north wall of the impact crater, and in the East-West trending, upper walls of the canyon (center of the scene), individual layers of rock can be traced