Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Posted By on Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 1:00 PM

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During a trip downtown to Xoom Juice, I happened to find the fairly innocuous flier above, alongside numerous other cards and sheets advertising local businesses.

This one stands out though, as it appears to be the menu for Xoom Juice and Sparkroot owner Ari Shapiro's newest venture, Falora, an artisan pizza and espresso bar in Broadway Village at 3000 E. Broadway.

According to the smoothie-making gentleman working behind the counter during my visit, Falora is set to open up on March 1 — this Friday, which stands in line with Shapiro's comment that he likes to joke "that it's slated to open Feb. 29, 2013," from this Daily Star piece. (See update below.)

I didn't receive an answer after calling the number of the back of the information card, so we'll be dropping a line with Shapiro to get the final word. Keep your fingers crossed, Tucson.

Oh, and there's another shot of the menu, featuring the pizza selections that will be available, below the jump for those interested.

UPDATE: I recieved a call back from Shapiro this afternoon, who confirmed that the restaurant is to open on Sunday, March 3, rather than Friday. According to Shapiro, they "had a few delays," causing the restaurant's opening to be pushed back.

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Posted By on Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 12:00 PM

If you've not heard of the folks at Ten Fifty-Five Brewing, we suggest you start getting acquainted (start here and here), with one of Tucson's latest nanobrewing ventures.

We also suggest that you follow the good folks behind "Hopped Up," Spent Grains, who've gone to some of the best beer-centric joints in Tucson to figure out what makes the people who run them tick.

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Posted By on Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 10:09 AM

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  • Drew Gyorke

The student chapter of the National Press Photographers association took a working field trip to La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo. If you missed the show, you can catch the results here. Check out pictures of bucking broncs and cantankerous cattle after the jump.

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Posted By on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 3:30 PM

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  • Courtesy of Tumblr, dailydot

When it comes to Jennifer Lawrence’s night at the Oscars, this GIF pretty much covers it.

The Best Actress winner was the silver lining of last night’s Academy Awards: delivering plenty of GIF-worthy hijinks, flippant quotes and, of course, the wipeout seen ‘round the world, Lawrence provided much-needed charisma to a still better-than-average telecast.

The J-Law (jury’s still out on this moniker, but hey, it’s catchy) Oscar Comedy Tour began on the red carpet, where the actress lamented the sad lack of an all-you-can-eat buffet in the otherwise decked-out Dolby Theatre (“Is there food here?! Sorry, I’m so obsessed with food,” she exclaimed to Ryan Seacrest) and jokingly feigned ignorance at fashion reporters when they asked about the Dior Haute Couture “pieces” she was wearing (“What do you mean? This is the top...and this is the bottom”).

Once inside the theater, Lawrence settled down, got ready for her close-up and proceeded to nail one hilarious reaction shot after another, including the one above in response to MacFarlane’s groan-inducing “We Saw Your Boobs” song. The cheeky fist pump came in response to the line, “We haven’t seen Jennifer Lawrence’s boobs at all!” I foresee an uptick in straight male viewers next year, hoping for an updated version.

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Posted By on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia wants a rematch with Tucson City Councilwoman Karin Uhlich.

Buehler-Garcia, who lost to Uhlich in 2009 by less than 200 votes, filed as a candidate for the Ward 3 City Council seat on Friday, Feb. 22.

“I think the challenges facing our community are jobs and the economy,” Beuhler-Garcia said. “Crime is an issue.”

He cited Tucson’s recent ranking as the sixth-poorest major metropolitan area in the nation, as well as the lousy condition of Tucson’s streets.

He said it was unacceptable that “a full third of our children are living below the federal poverty level” and complained that an encounter with a pothole a few years ago “cost me $1,200 and two ruined rims and probably would have killed me if I’d been on a bicycle.”

Buehler-Garcia, who is first Republican to announce plans for a campaign this year, said he ran four years ago “because I am so passionate about this city’s potential and we’ve drifted so far from it. We’ve got a lot going for us.”

Uhlich told The Range she was “looking forward to what I’m sure will be a spirited and civil campaign.”

“I’m feeling good about the past four years and I’m looking forward to focusing on my record and the positive things done by this council,” Uhlich says.

Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik and Ward 5 Councilman Richard Fimbres are also up for reelection this year.

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Posted By on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 2:47 PM

A final desegregation plan for Tucson Unified School District was resubmitted to US District Court Judge David C. Bury last week reflecting Bury's Feb. 6 ruling. You can read the entire plan here: MENDOZA___F__2_19_13__Stip_of_the_Parties_re_the_Re-Filing_of_the_Unitary_Status_Plan-_final.pdf

The 88-page document was one of Bury's last orders to all parties involved in the desegregation case — representatives for Mendoza and Fisher, the lawsuit's plaintiffs; the US Department of Justice; and TUSD. The final plan was submitted by the parties after editing the plan with court-appointed deseg special master Willis Hawley to reflect Bury's rulings on the objections filed with the court by all the parties.

Outlined in the plan are various deadlines. One upcoming deadline is April 1, 2013 for hiring of directors and staffing required in the plan. By April 1, TUSD must "develop and implement a plan to recruit qualified African American and Latino candidates for open administrator and certificated staff positions. The plan shall be developed by the District recruiter with the input of a racially and ethnically diverse recruitment team comprised of school-level and district-level administrators, certificated staff and human resources personnel. The plan shall address any and all disparities identified in the Labor Market Analysis."

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Posted By on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 12:19 PM

Democrat Felecia Rotellini wants another shot at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Rotellini, who lost to current Attorney General Tom Horne by less than 4 percentage points in 2010, officially filed as a candidate this morning for a run for AG.

“I want to return the focus of the AG’s Office to prosecuting crime and criminals and protecting Arizonans,” Rotellini says. “The Attorney General’s Office should not be in the business of politics but in the business of protecting and serving.”

Rotellini, who has worked as a prosecutor in the AG’s Office under Republican Grant Woods and Democrats Janet Napolitano and Terry Goddard and as superintendent of the State Banking Department in the Napolitano administration, tells the Weekly she wanted to get an early start on the campaign.

“I want to build a campaign, gather the endorsements and raise the money I need to raise to get my message out,” Rotellini says.

She has tapped Richard Carmona, the former U.S. surgeon general and 2012 Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, as a campaign chair.

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Posted By on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 12:18 PM

University of Arizona basketball's current favorite son, Derrick Williams, is bringing his Minnesota Timberwolves teammates down to Tucson with him today to hang out (and sign autographs) at his new streetwear shop, VII Grand, 178 E. Broadway Blvd., prior to their game with the Phoenix Suns tomorrow night.


Head down there, check it out, and grab yourself a fancy-as-hell-looking snakeskin-and-leather strapback cap.

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Posted By on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 10:32 AM

YouTube user Etoilec1 recreated parts of the "Gangam Style" video in the form of a flip book! The lip movement and dancing is really accurate and impressive.

Whoever made this video must have a lot of patience and way too much time on their hands. I didn't even have the patience to count past the eighth book they used.

Etoilec1 usually uploads flibook versions of Dragon Ball Z episodes on his page. Which is cool—if you're into that kind of stuff I guess.

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Posted By on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 9:17 AM

A Welcoming Entry
  • A Welcoming Entry

Yes - we are tired of the cold in Tucson. And we are tired of our sad looking plants. However, I ask you to wait just a little longer before pruning them back. Historically our last freeze averages around March 15. We have some 36 degree temperatures forecasted for the week of February 25. Looking at March record lows, many were sub-28 degrees.

If you prune now, you tell your plants it is time to start growing. Then, if we are hit with an unseasonably low, that new growth will get it. This weakens the plant and puts it into jeopardy.

So choose wisely. If you are willing to take a risk with some plants, go ahead and prune. But if you can wait another two to three weeks, please do so and then watch the long range forecast before you commit your weekend to the job.

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