Have you always known you're a witch or wizard at heart? Well, shed your muggle-ness for an evening of holiday celebration and magic at your local Barnes and Noble for the Harry Potter Magical Holiday Ball.

Barnes and Noble locations across the country will hold a Yule-ball inspired dance party at all stores in the U.S. on Friday, Dec. 9 from 7-9 p.m. Muggles of all ages are welcome to join in on the holiday fun. 

Whether you want to come in your best-dressed, as your favorite Potter character or in your Hogwarts uniform, there will be festive activities to celebrate all things Potter.

Because of the obvious popularity of this free event, Barnes and Noble said customers should call their local store ahead of time for capacity limits or special instructions.  

Theaters across the globe are teaming up in response to the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida on June 12. Now, actors and theater goers alike are paying respect to the victims, their families and all those affected that night through live acting.

This summer, a gunman shot and killed 49 club goers at the Pulse Nightclub—a venue known for its LGBTQ+ community. This attack is marked as the worst shooting in modern U.S. history. Authorities later found that the attacker had pledged allegiance to ISIS, a terrorist group based in Iraq and Syria, according to CNN.

After the shooting, playwrights from across the globe curated a collection of new plays in response to the shooting in conjunction with the Missing Bolts Productions and NoPassport Theatre Alliance & Press, according to Playbill.

Members of the Tucson community are invited to watch the UA graduate and undergraduate students in dramaturgy perform a free, staged reading of the 17 plays curated in the special collection. The reading will be held Monday, Dec. 5 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the Harold Dixon Directing Studio, UA Drama Building Room 116, 1025 N. Olive Road.

Playwrights include: E.M. Lewis, Jeff McMahon, Jordan Tannahil, Arturo Soria, Georgina Escobar and many others. Some of these plays involve adult content, profanity and scenes of violence.

It's a unique night of local music and it's something you've never heard before. The Flycatcher, a local bar and small-time music venue on Fourth Avenue, will host Tucson's fifth annual rock lottery to benefit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

The concept is simple: Gather 25 of Tucson's local musicians and fashion them into five musical groups, which are selected all by chance. Each group will be sent off to different practice locations across town and will have only 12 hours to create a band name, write four original songs, learn a song to cover and perform all five pieces to a Flycatcher audience.

All of the musicians chosen for this rock lottery comes from all walks of life and musical genres, according to The Flycatcher's official website. The hope is to highlight the unique musical styles within the Tucson community and bring together new genres while still maintaining the styles of each musician.

Where: The Flycatcher, 340 E. 6th St.
When: Dec. 10 at 9 p.m.
How to get in: Be at least 21; $5 admission at the door and/or bring two non-perishable food items to donate, all proceeds go to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

For more info click here.

Peter Yates returns to helm the next chapter in the Harry Potter universe, a prequel called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the title of a textbook Harry studied at Hogwarts.

The film takes place well before Harry’s time, as the world of wizardry comes to New York City in the 1920s. Unfortunately, Beasts struggles with some of the same problems the first, lackluster Harry Potter had. It’s a sometimes good-looking movie with a screenplay that never takes hold. It’s all over the place, with no real sense of purpose other than setting you up for future movies. It’s nothing but an overblown place-setter.

In place of Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry, we get Eddie Redmayne’s Newt, author of the infamous textbook and caretaker for a variety of “fantastic beasts.” The film opens with him coming to New York toting a suitcase with a variety of beasts bursting to get out. Some of them do, indeed, escape and wreak havoc. Most notably a little platypus-looking thing called Niffler.

There’s a fun moment when Newt opens his case, and drops into it like it contains a staircase. It reveals a vast home for the creatures inside, where he feeds them and plays. And that’s it, really.

The movie is a big setup for the occasional sequences involving Redmayne interacting with special effects. The creatures might look relatively cool, but none of them register as great characters that move the plot along. Dan Fogler is pretty good in a supporting role as somebody who befriends Newt, but that doesn’t keep this film from being a mediocre start to a new chapter in the Potter universe.

Welp, it’s happened: Your good ’ol safe, fun Quick Bites column—which you could always turn to for light news about new goodies on the menu at your fave café or the latest quirky downtown ice-cream shop opening—has turned political. (OK, we’ve always been a little political, considering we’re all about local, sustainable and healthy, right?)

But … just this week … don’t freak out … we want you to sign a petition. Next week, it’ll be back to your regularly scheduled local restaurant updates and fun-community-food-festivity news. But this week, we want you to be an online activist for the sake of our local food community.
Maybe you’re not surprised. If you’ve got an activist bone in your body (or even if you don’t), you’re probably seeing petitions popping up everywhere you look—your mailbox, your email inbox, social media, clipboard-wielding people on the street. Ever since the presidential election, there’s so much everyone wants you to do to help keep our country sane, and petitions have been shown to make an impact, even online ones.

On the food front, here in Tucson, Quick Bites wants you to help us protect local farming interests—which right now means doing all we can to keep out the infamous pesticide-peddling, GMO-happy mega-agribusiness Monsanto.

According to the Pima County Food Alliance—a network comprised of farmers, chefs, restaurants, schools, gardeners, health professionals, activists, consumers (and many more)—Monsanto is right now holding secret talks with Pima County about building a greenhouse just outside Tucson.
Says the Alliance’s petition, “Given Monsanto’s history of bullying small farmers, we believe this is a threat to our local food system and our recent designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.”
We hope you agree that a Monsanto greenhouse will increase corporate control of our local food system and endanger all the things we love about it. ■

Sign the petition online and learn more about the Pima County Food Alliance at pimafoodalliance.org.

"I'm here because this feels like a very dark time for me, and I don't know what else to do." Those are the words Robert Yerachmiel Snyderman, program specialist at the Tucson Jewish History Museum, used to begin his presentation at Wednesday night's We Stand Together event organized by YWCA Southern Arizona.

I don't know how many people nodded "Yes" to Snyderman's words. I certainly did. "Give this a shot," I thought as I drove to the event. "Maybe the organizers have some ideas about how to bring together a community of people who will stand as a unified force to combat hatred addressed at individuals, and, if Trump makes good on his promise to deport immigrants and register Muslims, stand up to him in any way we can."

I left feeling more hopeful than I have in the past few weeks. It was a well organized event, the first of many which are in the works, and the YWCA has the necessary organizational heft and the historical commitment to human rights—the phrase at the top of the YWCA's national and local websites is "eliminating racism, empowering women"—to create a kind of umbrella organization which can unite local individuals and groups for a common purpose.

Was this event a beginning which will lead to greater unity and further action in Pima County? I'm encouraged by what I saw and heard, but there are no guarantees. Kelly Fryer, CEO of YWCA Southern Arizona, warned that too often, efforts like this fall into "the cycle of action, reaction and despair." But that doesn't have to be the case. "We're here tonight," she told the 250 people in attendance. "It's an urgent moment, but we can't let this be just another moment, not in Tucson, not in Arizona, not in the U.S."

More on the event in a moment. First, if you want to keep current with what the group is doing and become involved in any way, go to the Join We Stand Together page and register.

Calling all barbers, stylists, and overall hair enthusiasts: It is that time again for the Annual Clipper Combat Barber Competition. The southwest region original was created by local barber Manny Vidal just three short years ago. But, since then the competition has grown to one of the largest barber competition in the southwest and it truly is a testament to the hard work put in by Vidal.

Vidal, who has been a barber in the Tucson community for 10 years, currently cuts at HiEndTight Barber Shop (2926 E. Broadway Blvd.) but every year he takes time out of his regular schedule to plan and host this competition.

Clipper Combat was created to to give both barbers and stylists a platform to showcase their talents and gain exposure to the greater public. They are also able to win awards and prizes based upon their efforts.

The competition is open to all ages and will take place at the Tucson Convention Center (3750 E. Irvington Road). The event runs from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will not only feature hair competitions, but also food and the opportunity to shop around at the different vendors that will be in attendance.

Don't miss out on one of the best barber competitions in the southwest! Click here to purchase tickets!

For a good part of its running time, director Chan-wook Park (Oldboy, Thirst) seems to have made a relatively tame movie by his standards with this latest offering.

A young woman (Tae-ri Kim) is recruited by a scam artist (Jung-woo Ha) for a robbery plot involving another young woman (Min-hee Kim) and her uncle (Jin-woong Jo). The movie happens in three parts, and it plays out like a simple mystery-thriller for some time. But, hey, this is Park we’re talking about, so there’s quite the likelihood you will see some severed penises and octopuses by film’s end.

Yes, this one goes delightfully off the rails and winds up being another gonzo great from one of cinema’s nuttiest directors. The movie goes from being a standard thriller to a darkly comic statement on sleazy men and their icky porno, or something like that. Park makes a damn good-looking movie (every shot in this film is a freaking masterpiece), and all of the participants, especially the two Kims, are excellent in their roles.

What’s so great about Park is that you never really know what you are going to get, and what you get is usually a fun/sick surprise. He will always be one of the more daring men to get behind a camera and call the shots.

After seeing this, you’ll want to avoid the basement at all costs in the near future. Don’t watch this with your mom, any kids, or any members of the clergy.

Jade Esteban and Jeff MacKinnon Double Up at Laff’s
Known as the Prada Enchilada, Jade Esteban Estrada brings Las Vegas style and Palm Springs sass to Laff’s this weekend as co-headliner with the hilariously opinionated and self-regarding Jeff MacKinnon.

Esteban’s delivery is endearingly folksy. It’s as if he’s metaphorically winking at an audience of friends as he deflates the stereotypes he invites with his flamboyant look, insider-Mexican bon mots and gay-culture references. NBC News dubbed Esteban “The Prince of Pride.”

If you are among the many fans of Epic Rap Battles of History, you may already be familiar with Jeff MacKinnon. He’s also been featured in Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch showcase, Sirius XM and an alphabet of other broadcast media outlets. His high-energy sets blend standup with improv, with haut sarcasm and wordplay as trademarks.

Laff’s is at 2900 E. Broadway Blvd. Shows are at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Friday; 7 and 9:30 p.m., Saturday. Admission is $10 to $15 with a two-item minimum. Make reservations at laffstucson.com. Artist information is at facebook.com/jadeestebanestrada, and jeffmackinnon.org.

What’s the words that can happen?
Like puns? A workshop hosted by Tucson Improv Movement on Saturday promises to build your skills in punning and other extemporaneous wordplay. TIM company member “Cat” Bartlett shares exercises and techniques improvisers use for comic word games from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3. Cat is a member of the The Riveters all-female improv team. To register for the $5 workshop, visit squareup.com/store/tucson-improv/ TIM is at 329 E. 7th St.

All about you?
Got a great joke? If it’s under 50 words, send it along. I’ll try to find room for it in a column sometime and pay you in street cred! And if I can use a good tip you send me about someone coming to town or releasing new product, a great new podcast you’ve discovered, or a new comedy venue and open mic, you might find your name in print.

Your Weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo.

Food & Booze

Pivot Produce Campaign Closing Party: Pivot Produce is on a mission to make local produce available in local restaurants. According to a fundraising campaign they're running right now, they've got that down: During their first two months in business they put $8K the pockets of local farmers and are currently working with 12 farms and 8 restaurants. Pivot is trying to raise $20,000 by Sunday to expand their operation, and they're throwing a party to mark the end of their campaign. Welcome Diner, 5 Points Market & Restaurant, Carriage House and Exo Roast Co.
will be providing hors d'oeuvres using Pivot-sourced regional, seasonal produce. Pueblo Vida Brewing Company will be serving an exclusive beet infused PV Pale Ale. Brittany Katter of Tucson's Katterwaul will be performing a solo set. There will be a donation center (and proceeds from the beer sales go to Pivot as well).  Or, of course, you could just show them some love online. Sunday, Dec. 4. 5-8 p.m.

Candy and Beer Pairing: Casa Film Bar has the perfect event for a the sweet tooth. If you're into alcohol and candy then you should probably check out this event meant to pick the perfect pairing between sweets and drinks. This event will also be wintered themed, so make sure to dress warm! 7 - 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. Casa Film Bar, 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Bring money for candy and drinks.

Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl: Celebrate the holidays with alcohol at this community bar crawl. Come dressed in the ugliest holiday sweater you can find to be entered into the night's ugly sweater contest. Registration includes a wristband that gets you drink specials at the participating bars and admission into the crawl's after party. You can register online, wristband pick up is at The Hut from 6 - 8 p.m. 6 - 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 The Hut, 305 N. Fourth Ave Early registration - $10; Reg. registration - $15.

UA Science Cafe at Boarderlands Brewery: This local brewery will host a lecture from Valerie Rountree, a Ph.D. candidate from the UA, who will share how staekholder participation in renewable energy shapes the policies the U.S. has involving the environment, sepcifically in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. This lecture is part of the brewery's UA Science Cafe series. 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 Boarderlands Brewery, 119 E. Toole Ave.

Festive Family Fun

Thanksgiving has passed, which means the holiday season is on full blast. Good luck braving the stores to get any shopping done. Instead, we recommend wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket, enjoying some lights and stuffing yourself with tamales.

Luminaria Nights: For the first two weekends of December, Luminaria Nights returns to Tucson Botanical Gardens (2150 N. Alvernon Way), on Friday, Dec. 4 continuing through Dec. 13. Bring your family and come enjoy the magic of the winter season. There is an exhibit Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life, which adds another level of beauty to explore. You can also take a walk down a path lit with traditional luminarias and delight in the trees and decorations lit with thousands of twinkling lights. Adults $18, Children (4-12) $9, members $5 and children $2.50.

Zoo Lights: Get into the holiday spirit at Zoo Lights at Reid Park Zoo (3400 E. Zoo Court) for almost the entire month of December, starting on Wednesday Dec. 7, the zoo will transform into a winter wonderland with jingle bells, twinkling lights, lighted animal sculptures, Santa visits and live entertainment. Cinnamon rolls, s’mores and hot cocoa will be available for purchase and most animals will be off exhibit for this event. “Encore” nights will be held Dec. 26, 27, 28, 29. Admission is $9.50 adults; $5.50 children (2-14); and children under 2 free; members $2 off.

Tucson Tamale & Heritage Festival: Celebrate the rich tastes, smells and variations of tamales from the Southwest & Mexico and discover the culinary tradition of making tamales for Christmas and enjoy a full day of live entertainment, art and culture hosted in cooperation with Food City.
Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol Resort (5655 W. Valencia Road).