Tuesday, June 13, 2017
So far as I know, Democrat David Garcia is the only gubernatorial candidate who has a plan to allow all Arizonans to attend state colleges tuition free, or the outline of a plan anyway. He wants to start by making community and tribal colleges tuition free, expand to top high school graduates attending Arizona universities and eventually include all in-state students. If other people running for state office have listed free college tuition as part of their platforms, I haven't seen it, but lots of candidates are springing up saying lots of things, and education promises to be a red-hot item this election season. We'll have to see where things go.
Details? Yes, details are important and Garcia promises to supply them in the next few months, but there's something more important. It's the basic question, "Should college be tuition free?" If the answer is yes, the next question is, how do we get there? It's within the realm of the possible if we think it's important enough, and we don't have to get all the way there right away. If we begin the journey toward free tuition, we'll keep moving closer to the goal.
The answer, by the way, is yes, making college tuition free is a good idea, a very good idea, especially when it comes to community college. Today, 14th grade is the new 12th grade. Looking backward, in the first half of the twentieth century, 12th grade was the new 6th grade. In the mid-nineteenth century, minimal literacy was replacing illiteracy as the new norm. Times change and educational needs to change with them. Post-high school education isn't a necessity, but it's a damn good thing to have, both for personal enrichment and increased economic prospects. It's not a luxury item which should be available only to those who can afford it. Community college should be free and readily available. High school students who have an interest in continuing their education, even if they're not sure what they want to do with it, should be encouraged to take the next step by knowing tuition won't be an issue. People who are years out of high school shouldn't have to check their bank accounts to see if they can afford college, or worry about saddling themselves with years of debt if they decide to go.
Details? Yes, details are important and Garcia promises to supply them in the next few months, but there's something more important. It's the basic question, "Should college be tuition free?" If the answer is yes, the next question is, how do we get there? It's within the realm of the possible if we think it's important enough, and we don't have to get all the way there right away. If we begin the journey toward free tuition, we'll keep moving closer to the goal.
The answer, by the way, is yes, making college tuition free is a good idea, a very good idea, especially when it comes to community college. Today, 14th grade is the new 12th grade. Looking backward, in the first half of the twentieth century, 12th grade was the new 6th grade. In the mid-nineteenth century, minimal literacy was replacing illiteracy as the new norm. Times change and educational needs to change with them. Post-high school education isn't a necessity, but it's a damn good thing to have, both for personal enrichment and increased economic prospects. It's not a luxury item which should be available only to those who can afford it. Community college should be free and readily available. High school students who have an interest in continuing their education, even if they're not sure what they want to do with it, should be encouraged to take the next step by knowing tuition won't be an issue. People who are years out of high school shouldn't have to check their bank accounts to see if they can afford college, or worry about saddling themselves with years of debt if they decide to go.
Tags: College tuition , Community colleges , David Garcia , Image
Monday, June 12, 2017
Janos Wilder is at it again. The James Beard Award-winner begins his annual “DOWNTOWNS Around the Globe” culinary tour with scheduled stops in four of Tucson’s international sister Cities of Gastronomy.
DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails, 135 S. Sixth Ave., is offering guests the choice of its summer menu, or a rotating international menu. Until July 17, the featured city will be Dénia, Spain. Other cities in the rotation include Florianópolis, Brazil; Shunde, China; and Zahlé, Lebanon.
Located along Spain’s Mediterranean coast, Dénia is known for its lavish religious festivals and increasingly for its emerging culinary scene. With a heavy emphasis on fish caught locally, Dénia is on the cutting edge of sustainable gourmet food.
In addition, The Carriage House, 125 S. Arizona Ave., will play host to a pop-up dinner and class focused on each sister city. On Friday, June 16 at 6 p.m., guests will be treated to a cooking demonstration and five-course meal encompassing the history and culinary point of view of Dénia.
Cost is $80 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made by calling 615-6100, or at carriagehousetucson.com
Nothing says "Tucson" to out-of-towners like a Sonoran hot dog. For ex-pat Tucsonans, nothing screams home like a pound of good chorizo.
These two staples of Southern Arizona cuisine will share center stage at Desert Diamond Casino in Sahuarita on June 24 from 2-5 p.m. for the Chorizo and Sonoran Hot Dog Challenge.
The event is put on by Arizona Lotus Corp., owner of a couple local radio stations including alt-rock staple KFMA and Spanish-language KCMT. Cindy Glysson, the marketing director for ALC, said she expects between 1.000-1,500 people to attend.
Since it is a "challenge," there will be a champion crowned in each category, along with a second and third place. Though the exact judging criteria is still being hashed out, Glysson said the winner will take home a $1,000 cash prize.
While specific vendors aren't set in stone, "right now we have 10 participants in each category, and we'd love to double that," Glysson said. Unlike similar events, Glysson said attendees' will not be limited to a set amount of samples.
Event attendees' will "be able to sample and judge every participant in each category," Glysson said. "We'll have a fan-favorite winner in both hot dogs and chorizo."
Along with the two main attractions, Glysson said there will "be live entertainment and a dance floor, as well as alcohol for purchase."
The event is free, but is ticketed. Tickets can be picked-up at participating Sprint locations (a list of locations can be found here) or at O'Reilly Chevrolet, 6160 E. Broadway Blvd.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Tommy Bolin was a blistering guitar player who had mastered everything from '70s boogie rock to jazz fusion with real grace. He was an up and comer with a reputation and a personality, and he looked like a rock 'n' roll star, a chick magnet with feathers in his hair. He was an easy fit for sessions or band scenarios.
(His ear-bending work on drummer Billy Cobham's '73 album Spectrum was appreciated by his peers and fans of fusion.)
Quick backstory: Bolin moved from Sioux City, Iowa to Boulder, Colo. in his teens. He pieced together a pretty spectacular bar band called Zephyr that signed to a major label and with him put out two albums, both collectable now. In a seemingly odd pairing, James Gang hired Bolin (post Joe Walsh) and he appeared on their last two albums, which are underrated and both worth seeking out. Bang came in '73, and featured FM staples "Must Be Love" and Bolin's "Alexis." Miami came the next year. Bolin's strong-yet-tasteful playing and songwriting boosted the band and those albums.
He soon quit the James Gang and signed a solo deal with Nemperor records. His debut, Teaser, showcased him as a guitar hero with soulful range and heady songwriting chops. With help from his muso pals David Sanborn and Jan Hammer, among others, the album captured a funky, edgy sound. It really found him rising above the fray of the typical guitarist-for-hire who couldn't write music that moved people. It showed Bolin to be much more than some youthful virtuoso who traded in notes and riffs instead ideas and soul.
A true Teaser diamond is its opener "People People," a reggae-tinged welcome to the listener. It's filled with musical intricacies and simple touching lyrics that are natural and rhythmic. A muscular saxophone wails inside the mix and drums and percussion clash about the chorus. Bolin croons and scats between the beat and his confidence is infectious. Teaser is Bolin's high-water mark, still sounds tough today.
He'd also join Deep Purple to fill Ritchie Blackmore's shoes—a feather in his cap he couldn't refuse because for whatever reason guitar slingers had to prove themselves a cut way above the rest.
He'd last one album with the Purple (the underwhelming Come Taste the Band). He regrouped to record his second and final album, Private Eyes, which featured the mighty "Poast Toastee" and other FM-radio staples. Sadly Tommy Bolin died in '76 of a drug overdose as he was fighting to hone his craft and stay alive.
Tommy Bolin remains a studied player not only because he was frighteningly good at a tender age, but also because he was a total original.
Tags: Tommy Bolin , Billy Sedlmayr , Deep Purple , Ritchie Blackmore , James Gang , Joe Walsh , Video
Discord slammed into melody, then rolled about on dusty floor, before forming a daisy chain of unity, as the gods of rock commanded it. Well, sorta. “Eight Bands, Three Venues, One Night” is how it was billed. This past Sunday, Che’s Lounge, Bar Passè and The Surly Wench graciously rolled out their freshly swept hospitality mats to welcome a handful of Arizona bands and travelers from Texas and as faraway as New Zealand for The 4th Avenue Pack Attack.
Taking care to maintain a delicate summertime balance between ... um ... Tucson Weekly was there, and, weirdly, sober. Here’s the gist:
Krab Legz
Kicking off the evening, this versatile trio, led by Dmitri Manos and Ben Schneider, played musical chairs. As members deftly switched between instruments─guitars, percussion, baritone sax─throughout their set. The Legz delivered their brand of quirky nautically themed rock ‘n’ roll on Che’s patio while those victimized by the day’s 103 degree swelter had little choice but to seek relief in a near endless flow of ice cold beer, the devil’s kindness.
The Freezing Hands
The Rickenbacker bass rumbled. Drum sticks twirled between fingers, crashed cymbals and skins. Electric piano filled melodic pockets. And guitar chords chimed with '70s power-pop grit (hey, Badfinger and The Raspberries!) in the hands of guitarist/songwriter Travis Spillers (formerly of Los Federales and The Knockout Pills) who sang plaintive melodies.
The Tunes? Well, with the infectious ditties like “Comeback Kid (Hits The Skids),” it’s small wonder Burger Records made haste, and delayed not to sign them to their label. The foursome─keyboardist Scott Landrum, bassist Mario Cordova, drummer Matt Rendon and Spillers─played on to twilight.
Tigers of the Sea
Then, the festivities moved over to the outdoor stage at Bar Passè where The Ventures-inspired guitar riffs and rapid-fire surf drumming filled the sultry night air. There these psychobilly/surf punks from Wellington, New Zealand thrashed about to songs off their first EP Cut and Run like “Four Fades” a hellride that clocks in at under two minutes in length. “This is our slow dance song…” Yeah, right.
When asked how a bunch of dudes from New Zealand ended up in Tucson? Frontman Tim Glasgow explained that it was a friendship with Portland surf punk rockers Guantanamo Baywatch and their tales of adventure that piqued his interest and prompted the lads to venture through the American Southwest. Next stop: Vegas, of course.
Dad Jokes
Taking care to maintain a delicate summertime balance between ... um ... Tucson Weekly was there, and, weirdly, sober. Here’s the gist:
Krab Legz
Kicking off the evening, this versatile trio, led by Dmitri Manos and Ben Schneider, played musical chairs. As members deftly switched between instruments─guitars, percussion, baritone sax─throughout their set. The Legz delivered their brand of quirky nautically themed rock ‘n’ roll on Che’s patio while those victimized by the day’s 103 degree swelter had little choice but to seek relief in a near endless flow of ice cold beer, the devil’s kindness.
The Freezing Hands
The Rickenbacker bass rumbled. Drum sticks twirled between fingers, crashed cymbals and skins. Electric piano filled melodic pockets. And guitar chords chimed with '70s power-pop grit (hey, Badfinger and The Raspberries!) in the hands of guitarist/songwriter Travis Spillers (formerly of Los Federales and The Knockout Pills) who sang plaintive melodies.
The Tunes? Well, with the infectious ditties like “Comeback Kid (Hits The Skids),” it’s small wonder Burger Records made haste, and delayed not to sign them to their label. The foursome─keyboardist Scott Landrum, bassist Mario Cordova, drummer Matt Rendon and Spillers─played on to twilight.
Tigers of the Sea
Then, the festivities moved over to the outdoor stage at Bar Passè where The Ventures-inspired guitar riffs and rapid-fire surf drumming filled the sultry night air. There these psychobilly/surf punks from Wellington, New Zealand thrashed about to songs off their first EP Cut and Run like “Four Fades” a hellride that clocks in at under two minutes in length. “This is our slow dance song…” Yeah, right.
When asked how a bunch of dudes from New Zealand ended up in Tucson? Frontman Tim Glasgow explained that it was a friendship with Portland surf punk rockers Guantanamo Baywatch and their tales of adventure that piqued his interest and prompted the lads to venture through the American Southwest. Next stop: Vegas, of course.
Dad Jokes
Tags: Lenguas Largas , Radioactivity , Petty Things , Krab Legz , Dad Jokes , Tigers of the Sea , The Freezing Hands
A restaurant closing during the summer isn’t usually news in Tucson. It’s almost to be expected. Like the monsoon, change sweeps in fast in an unforgiving industry with razor-thin margin for error.
Mom and pop diners and family-value concepts litter the wash of what-ifs when the heat gets intense and the sun stays around longer.
That’s why it’s so sad when a pillar of the community falls. Delectables on Fourth, 533 N. Fourth Ave., will be closing its doors after 44 years of operation. In an email to the Weekly, owner Donna DiFiore said she would continue the Delectables brand as a catering-only establishment.
"I will not miss a beat making your weddings, events, lunches and dinners special," she said.
Another restaurant is expected to fill the space, according to Fred Ronstadt, executive director of Fourth Avenue Merchants Association. No timeline has been set, but it will take quite a bit of time longer to accept the fact another establishment occupies the spot Delectables called its own.
“I have so little time left and my heart is already filled with missing my little oasis in the heart of Fourth Avenue,” DiFiore said. “My career has been filled to the brim 15,000 days of my life right here on Fourth Avenue.”
Thursday, June 8, 2017
So, there's this corporation with 60,000 employees who work in manufacturing plants scattered around Arizona. The plant workers are unhappy. Their pay is lousy, far lower than the national average for people doing similar work, their buildings are in disrepair and their tools and equipment are outdated. Meanwhile, the corporation complains the workers aren't producing a quality product and has begun outsourcing some of its work to other factories which claim they can turn out a better product for the same amount of money.
The corporation's CEO, Doug Ducey, recognizes he's got a problem on his hands. He knows that despite the outsourcing, 95 percent of the company's production still comes from the plants it owns. There's a growing sense among stockholders that the workers may be right to complain about their pay and working conditions. Ducey knows things could spin out of control if he doesn't look like he's doing something to fix the problem. Worst case scenario, if he isn't able to tamp down the discontent, the corporation could vote him out and put a new CEO in his place.
So Ducey tells the employees, "You're right, there's a problem, and we're going to address it. I'm on your side. Improving the lives of my workers is priority number one. So I've developed a plan. It won't take care of all your concerns right away, but it's a strong start. "
CEO Ducey makes a public display of working with the board to look for ways to invest in improving workers' incomes and working conditions. A few months later he declares, "I've succeeded. The board has decided to increase the amount we spend on employee-related issues by $163 million. It'll be used for raises, bonuses for our best employees and building improvements."
It all sounds good until you look at the details. Less than a quarter of the money, $34 million, will be spent on a one percent raise for everyone. But 15 percent of the employees, those who work in specialized plants producing the company's most valued items, will get bonuses amounting to 8 percent of their salaries on top of the one percent raise. They'll also get brand new, state-of-the-art computers along with other improvements to their work places. Their bonuses will turn into permanent raises, as will the money for workplace improvements, if their work stays at a high level. Total cost of the benefits to the fortunate 15 percent: $38 million.
The corporation's CEO, Doug Ducey, recognizes he's got a problem on his hands. He knows that despite the outsourcing, 95 percent of the company's production still comes from the plants it owns. There's a growing sense among stockholders that the workers may be right to complain about their pay and working conditions. Ducey knows things could spin out of control if he doesn't look like he's doing something to fix the problem. Worst case scenario, if he isn't able to tamp down the discontent, the corporation could vote him out and put a new CEO in his place.
So Ducey tells the employees, "You're right, there's a problem, and we're going to address it. I'm on your side. Improving the lives of my workers is priority number one. So I've developed a plan. It won't take care of all your concerns right away, but it's a strong start. "
CEO Ducey makes a public display of working with the board to look for ways to invest in improving workers' incomes and working conditions. A few months later he declares, "I've succeeded. The board has decided to increase the amount we spend on employee-related issues by $163 million. It'll be used for raises, bonuses for our best employees and building improvements."
It all sounds good until you look at the details. Less than a quarter of the money, $34 million, will be spent on a one percent raise for everyone. But 15 percent of the employees, those who work in specialized plants producing the company's most valued items, will get bonuses amounting to 8 percent of their salaries on top of the one percent raise. They'll also get brand new, state-of-the-art computers along with other improvements to their work places. Their bonuses will turn into permanent raises, as will the money for workplace improvements, if their work stays at a high level. Total cost of the benefits to the fortunate 15 percent: $38 million.
Tags: Doug Ducey , Salary raises , Capital funding , Results-based funding
Your Weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo.
Science & Nature
Spacefest. Southern Arizona was an early hotspot in the space race, so it's no surprise that it's also home to the annual Spacefest, which brings astronauts, space scientists, rocket ship engineers, astronomers, meteorite hunters, artists and other space cadets together for a great big confab about the final frontier. Get up close and personal with Apollo and Gemini astronauts such as Richard Gordon, Charlie Duke and Dave Scott, who was the first to drive the lunar rover. June 8-11. JW Marriott Starr Pass, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd. Prices vary.
Cory Trépanier’s Into the Arctic. As a member of both the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Explorer’s Club of Canada, Cory Trépanier probably doesn’t have a hard time following a nature trail. His traveling museum exhibition “Into the Arctic” is a testament to his many expeditions into Canada’s largely unexplored northern reaches. Featuring oil paintings of glacial formations and landscapes, and original videos documenting his travels, “Into the Arctic” offers a glimpse into one of our planet’s most beautiful and endangered habitats. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 10-Aug. 20. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Ironwood Gallery, 2021 N. Kinney Road. General admission is $20.50 for adults. With an Arizona drivers license, $15.50. Children age 3-12, $8. Children under 3 are free.
Living with Snakes. Ever think, “Man, the Sonoran Desert is beautiful, but how the heck am I supposed to cope with all these snakes?” Well, learn from the experts over at the Western National Parks Association. These “Living with Snakes” presentations will share recommendations for how to manage backyard snakes based on the latest research and observations of wild snake behavior. This information is critical for anyone that lives, works or plays in our desert. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10. Western National Parks Association, 12880 N. Vistoso Village Drive. Free.
Nature's Gym Pint Night with Merrell. Are you the outdoorsy type? Test your agility at Merrell’s Nature’s Gym Agility Course. Merrell is hosting a Pint Night at Summit Hut. Enjoy a pint and all of the proceeds will be donated to the Jackson Standefer Scholarship Memorial Fund. Demo the latest footwear while testing out the Nature’s Gym Agility Course. Participants are given a gift for effort and a raffle entry for a chance to win Nature’s Gym Merrell shoes. 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 9. Summit Hut, 5251 E. Speedway Blvd. $5 pints include two refills. Free admission.
Pima County Home and Garden Show. It may be hot, but that's no excuse to let your garden die. Get tips from pro green-thumbs and rub shoulders with fellow weekend-warriors at the Pima County Home and Garden Show. Now in its sixteenth year and held at Tucson Convention Center, the event will showcase speakers with expertise in both indoor and outdoor Do-It-Yourself improvements as well as vendors looking to fill your every domicile need. Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, June 11; 10 a.m. go 4 p.m. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. General Admission $8. Kids 16 and under Free. Senior can get two-for-one admission on Friday. Active military free.
Kids
Art After Dark. School’s out, but that doesn’t mean the kids should take a break from using their creativity and making beautiful things. Children’s Museum Tucson is hosting a workshop with the Sonoran Glass School to demonstrate how glass can be transformed into artwork. Kids will be able to make their own wearable pendant and help create a mural that will stand in the Museum’s courtyard. This event is for anyone with a child who is looking for the world of art and science to blend. 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 10. Children's Tucson Museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave. Free
Paint a Pot Workshop. Disconnect your child from their latest “screen time” obsession and remind them how cool gardening and painting can be. Bring your child to Greener Things for morning arts and crafts. The family-owned plant nursery is hosting a workshop for kids to paint terracotta pots. Maybe you’ll even pick out a plant on to show off in your new highly fashionable creation. 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 14. Green Things, 3384 E. River Road. Free.
FC Tucson Women's Soccer. It's a doubleheader weekend of matches for Tucson's Women's Professional Soccer League team. Come catch the action as the home team hosts two southern California powerhouses: the San Diego Sealions and the L.A. Galaxy. 7:30 p.m. each night. Friday, June 9, and Saturday June 10. Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way. Adults $8, Kids (5-12) $5.
Kehlani. Her three-dimensional ’tude and delivery could never have existed until now. Kehlani’s got Left Eye’s strength and Janet’s vulnerability at once. Much like B.I.G., Kehlani shines despite shitty production; grating Auto-Tune self-harmonies are every bit as distracting as Diddy’s dismal off-tempo hype. But she's got a post-gangster rap, internalized braggadocio that could only come from being raised on Jean Grey's fractured feminism and Lil Kim's warm, long pussy confidence. On “Too Much,” Kehlani drops a rap verse that is neither defensive nor angry, she's merely “too much of a woman, too much of a badass” to suffer a cheating fool. Twenty years after “bitches ain't shit but hos and tricks,” Kehlani has recaptured and reclaimed the self-assurance of old blues greats, while retaining Lady Rage's hard-fought personhood. As her album promises, she is in fact sweet, sexy and savage at once. Her lyrics will no doubt benefit from maturity, but this is an exciting and necessary new voice. Go see her work the room live. Monday, June 12, at the Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress. 8 p.m. $26-$39. All ages.
Siamese. Aimless guitars ascend and descend and shimmer like surface rings formed by skipping rocks across water. The minor-y downturns of female vocals haunt more like solo Nico than VU. This mixed-gender Dallas foursome creates a mood for the ages, more atmospheric than song-driven—like some time-warped ode to “Chelsea Girls” and aspiring, dimestore-draped junkies. So they’re sorta Dandy Warhols-y, replete with effects-soaked guitars and a dreampop feel. Though Siamese never allow themselves to be ironic, and their often droll delivery rescues them from pretentiousness. It leaves you feeling like you've heard them before—in some well-heeled Victorian parlor, not a new, fake speakeasy. And those brain cells you killed that night? That effort was not in vain. Wednesday, June 14, at The Flycatcher, 340 E. Sixth St. 21+. 8:30 p.m.
Black Medicine. A powerful female voice that’s part early Lucinda Williams, with a touch of Bonnie Raitt's spirit and phrasing, belts and waivers with control and precision. A guitar weaves around her melody sorta like old Duane Allman, with confidence and proficiency. Add git-fiddle on “Poison Potion” and suddenly the Mardi Gras spirit is everywhere. This is Black Medicine, straight outta the Old Pueblo. Their sound may be firmly rooted in Cajun and Southern rock, but it could only blossom in the Sonoran. Singer Erin Henderson sings the blues, facing down 30, both acceptant and reflective of living right here now with the "thorns and sand, spurs and sun." While not many songs are yet available to hear—this show launches Black Medicine's debut album, Monsoon Rain—those that are have a fully realized vision and hometown charm that's damn worthy. We’ve never seen them live but their videos are lovely. With Havarti Orchestra on Friday, June 9. The Flycatcher, 340 E. Sixth St. 21+. 8:30 p.m. Free.
Science & Nature
Spacefest. Southern Arizona was an early hotspot in the space race, so it's no surprise that it's also home to the annual Spacefest, which brings astronauts, space scientists, rocket ship engineers, astronomers, meteorite hunters, artists and other space cadets together for a great big confab about the final frontier. Get up close and personal with Apollo and Gemini astronauts such as Richard Gordon, Charlie Duke and Dave Scott, who was the first to drive the lunar rover. June 8-11. JW Marriott Starr Pass, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd. Prices vary.Cory Trépanier’s Into the Arctic. As a member of both the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Explorer’s Club of Canada, Cory Trépanier probably doesn’t have a hard time following a nature trail. His traveling museum exhibition “Into the Arctic” is a testament to his many expeditions into Canada’s largely unexplored northern reaches. Featuring oil paintings of glacial formations and landscapes, and original videos documenting his travels, “Into the Arctic” offers a glimpse into one of our planet’s most beautiful and endangered habitats. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 10-Aug. 20. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Ironwood Gallery, 2021 N. Kinney Road. General admission is $20.50 for adults. With an Arizona drivers license, $15.50. Children age 3-12, $8. Children under 3 are free.
Living with Snakes. Ever think, “Man, the Sonoran Desert is beautiful, but how the heck am I supposed to cope with all these snakes?” Well, learn from the experts over at the Western National Parks Association. These “Living with Snakes” presentations will share recommendations for how to manage backyard snakes based on the latest research and observations of wild snake behavior. This information is critical for anyone that lives, works or plays in our desert. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10. Western National Parks Association, 12880 N. Vistoso Village Drive. Free.
Nature's Gym Pint Night with Merrell. Are you the outdoorsy type? Test your agility at Merrell’s Nature’s Gym Agility Course. Merrell is hosting a Pint Night at Summit Hut. Enjoy a pint and all of the proceeds will be donated to the Jackson Standefer Scholarship Memorial Fund. Demo the latest footwear while testing out the Nature’s Gym Agility Course. Participants are given a gift for effort and a raffle entry for a chance to win Nature’s Gym Merrell shoes. 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 9. Summit Hut, 5251 E. Speedway Blvd. $5 pints include two refills. Free admission.
Pima County Home and Garden Show. It may be hot, but that's no excuse to let your garden die. Get tips from pro green-thumbs and rub shoulders with fellow weekend-warriors at the Pima County Home and Garden Show. Now in its sixteenth year and held at Tucson Convention Center, the event will showcase speakers with expertise in both indoor and outdoor Do-It-Yourself improvements as well as vendors looking to fill your every domicile need. Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, June 11; 10 a.m. go 4 p.m. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. General Admission $8. Kids 16 and under Free. Senior can get two-for-one admission on Friday. Active military free.
Poetry
Live Poetry Reading with Mayor Rothschild + Jefferson Carter. Besides fighting climate change, housing homeless veterans, planting trees and reading to kids, Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild is also a writer of poetry. His Honor will read some of his poems alongside fellow poet and man-about-town Jefferson Carter as part of a Creative Tucson production this Saturday, June 10. Arizona Daily Star cartoonist Dave Fitzsimmons will be moderating the event, so expect plenty of laughs, probably at the mayor’s expense. Be part of the studio audience or tune in on the Creative Tucson network, Cox Channel 20 or Comcast Channel 74. 7 p.m. at Brink Creative, 11. S. Sixth Ave. Free.Kids
Art After Dark. School’s out, but that doesn’t mean the kids should take a break from using their creativity and making beautiful things. Children’s Museum Tucson is hosting a workshop with the Sonoran Glass School to demonstrate how glass can be transformed into artwork. Kids will be able to make their own wearable pendant and help create a mural that will stand in the Museum’s courtyard. This event is for anyone with a child who is looking for the world of art and science to blend. 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 10. Children's Tucson Museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave. FreePaint a Pot Workshop. Disconnect your child from their latest “screen time” obsession and remind them how cool gardening and painting can be. Bring your child to Greener Things for morning arts and crafts. The family-owned plant nursery is hosting a workshop for kids to paint terracotta pots. Maybe you’ll even pick out a plant on to show off in your new highly fashionable creation. 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 14. Green Things, 3384 E. River Road. Free.
Sports
FC Tucson Women's Soccer. It's a doubleheader weekend of matches for Tucson's Women's Professional Soccer League team. Come catch the action as the home team hosts two southern California powerhouses: the San Diego Sealions and the L.A. Galaxy. 7:30 p.m. each night. Friday, June 9, and Saturday June 10. Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way. Adults $8, Kids (5-12) $5.
Music
Kehlani. Her three-dimensional ’tude and delivery could never have existed until now. Kehlani’s got Left Eye’s strength and Janet’s vulnerability at once. Much like B.I.G., Kehlani shines despite shitty production; grating Auto-Tune self-harmonies are every bit as distracting as Diddy’s dismal off-tempo hype. But she's got a post-gangster rap, internalized braggadocio that could only come from being raised on Jean Grey's fractured feminism and Lil Kim's warm, long pussy confidence. On “Too Much,” Kehlani drops a rap verse that is neither defensive nor angry, she's merely “too much of a woman, too much of a badass” to suffer a cheating fool. Twenty years after “bitches ain't shit but hos and tricks,” Kehlani has recaptured and reclaimed the self-assurance of old blues greats, while retaining Lady Rage's hard-fought personhood. As her album promises, she is in fact sweet, sexy and savage at once. Her lyrics will no doubt benefit from maturity, but this is an exciting and necessary new voice. Go see her work the room live. Monday, June 12, at the Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress. 8 p.m. $26-$39. All ages.
Siamese. Aimless guitars ascend and descend and shimmer like surface rings formed by skipping rocks across water. The minor-y downturns of female vocals haunt more like solo Nico than VU. This mixed-gender Dallas foursome creates a mood for the ages, more atmospheric than song-driven—like some time-warped ode to “Chelsea Girls” and aspiring, dimestore-draped junkies. So they’re sorta Dandy Warhols-y, replete with effects-soaked guitars and a dreampop feel. Though Siamese never allow themselves to be ironic, and their often droll delivery rescues them from pretentiousness. It leaves you feeling like you've heard them before—in some well-heeled Victorian parlor, not a new, fake speakeasy. And those brain cells you killed that night? That effort was not in vain. Wednesday, June 14, at The Flycatcher, 340 E. Sixth St. 21+. 8:30 p.m.
Black Medicine. A powerful female voice that’s part early Lucinda Williams, with a touch of Bonnie Raitt's spirit and phrasing, belts and waivers with control and precision. A guitar weaves around her melody sorta like old Duane Allman, with confidence and proficiency. Add git-fiddle on “Poison Potion” and suddenly the Mardi Gras spirit is everywhere. This is Black Medicine, straight outta the Old Pueblo. Their sound may be firmly rooted in Cajun and Southern rock, but it could only blossom in the Sonoran. Singer Erin Henderson sings the blues, facing down 30, both acceptant and reflective of living right here now with the "thorns and sand, spurs and sun." While not many songs are yet available to hear—this show launches Black Medicine's debut album, Monsoon Rain—those that are have a fully realized vision and hometown charm that's damn worthy. We’ve never seen them live but their videos are lovely. With Havarti Orchestra on Friday, June 9. The Flycatcher, 340 E. Sixth St. 21+. 8:30 p.m. Free.
It's Saturday night at Classic's Barber Shop down on Grant Road. It's dark on the outside, but cars fill its parking area. Inside, hip-hop slams your ears and the bass resonates down to your bones.
Reyes "Angel" Renkert has been hosting rap battles and shows in his Barber Shop for a year now, and with the help of hip-hop artist Tony "Nova" Olmos, he's been able to gather performers from all over the city to perform. It's part of the festering Tucson underground hip-hop scene that one has to go out and find. Tonight, artists offer up a variety of songs that hit on rap subgenres, from trap to classic hip-hop.
Tags: txm , the 9 boys , von , edge , roman rhymes , classic's barber , hip-hop , rap , live , Video
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Music junkies, this summer—as Tucson temperatures rise to rival those found in the Sixth Circle of Hell─legendary venue The Rock and Tucson Weekly call out vaingloriously, to the faithless and faithful alike, to announce the First Annual Local Showdown.
The Local Showdown is a summer-long showcase where local bands/musicians, from all genres—from highbrow to lowbrow, from bluegrass to rap—battle it out before a panel of music aficionados to decide a winner. All ages are welcome to bring it on. Whoever is best at what they do wins, and then there are runnerups.
At the end of the contest, after the bodies are carted off, to the victor belong the spoils. Prizes include: A feature article in Tucson Weekly, professional studio recording and music video shoot (for a single), sweet merch and marketing packages and a mini-tour (plus gas/food cards). Not to mention bragging rights.
The Showdown kicks off June 30 with subsequent rounds on July 8 & 22, Aug. 5 with semi-finals on Aug. 19. Finals will be held Sept. 9.
It’s simple to enter into the competition: submit a video or audio link (YouTube, SoundCloud, bandcamp, etc.) by
Pre-sale tickets are $6 (with a cut to the bands). $8 at the door. All events to be held at The Rock, 136 N. Park Avenue, (520) 629-9211. Shows start at 6 p.m.
Tags: The Local Showdown , The Rock
