On Sunday, October 21 at 3 p.m., the UA Alumni association has partnered with UA Campus Recreation, Faculty Fellows, Housing & Residential Life and Campus Health for the Lighting of “A” Mountain 5K Fun Run event.

Formally known as Wildcats to the Rescue, this event supports a local cause as all participants are invited to donate non-perishable food items or a monetary donation to help students on campus.

All the proceeds will go to the UA Campus Pantry which works to reduce food shortage and insecurity in the Wildcat community. The theme for the event is Bear Down! Go Cats!

This event includes a Kitty Run (a Kid’s Run) and the first 300 participants get a T-shirt. There will be raffle prizes and awards for the best costume pair, best stroller and best overall costume for both kids and adults. And of course, access to the Lighting of “A” Mountain.

At 3 p.m. there will be registration at Old Main followed by the Kitty Run at 3:30 p.m., the 5K Fun Run at 4 p.m. and the Celebration at the Lighting of “A” Mountain at 5 p.m.

This event is free with parking at Main Gate Garage and will serve as the official kickoff to Homecoming! The run will take place at Old Main and will loop six times near Old Main to Cherry Ave and conclude with free pizza at the celebration on Main Gate Garage to watch the Lighting of “A” Mountain.

The Hello Kitty Food Truck (yes, there is such a thing!) will be stopping in Tucson for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 20. There will be exclusive goodies including giant Hello Kitty Chef Cookies, a lunchbox with confetti popcorn, and Hello Kitty plush toys.

Other best-selling items include thermal bottles, keychains, a 5 piece macaroon box set, headbands and t-shirts. 

Since 2014, the Hello Kitty Food Truck has catered to thousands of visitors across the U.S and has visited 60 cities, including major cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Chicago and New York.

In 2018, the food truck expanded its traveling destinations and will now visit Boise, Idaho and Omaha, Nebraska as well as our hometown of Tucson.

Find the Hello Kitty Food Truck at La Encantada, 2905 E. Skyline Dr., on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more updates on Hello Kitty Cafe Truck’s upcoming appearances and whereabouts, visit their Facebook Page.

Native Seeds SEARCH Annual Fall Veggie Plant Sale. Fall is here, and so are all the deliciously squash-y, sweet potato-y, cinnamon-y flavors that come with it. Check out the red acre cabbage, Brussels sprouts, rainbow chard and snowball cauliflower at this sale, as well as a ton of other veggies. Not to mention spices like calypso cilantro, Greek oregano and thyme. Once you have enough to fill your fridge and pantry, fill the rest of your house with the plants they’ll have on sale, like season-appropriate wildflowers, established Chiltepin plants and seed-grown ocotillo. Should you go? Your answer should be an autumn-atic yes. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 21. Also open at 9 a.m. on Friday for members only. New and renewing members get a one-time 15 percent off their entire purchase. Native Seeds SEARCH, 3061 N. Campbell Ave. Details Here.

Tucson Roadrunners vs. Rockford IceHogs. This Illinois team is coming down to the Old Pueblo to play two games against our home team, who, in terms of which species are more comfortable in the desert, definitely has the home team advantage. On Friday, Oct. 19, Proforma is sponsoring a magnetic schedule giveaway, for the organized or wannabe organized among us. It’s also College Night, so you can get one ticket, two drinks and a hat for just $25. And Saturday is all-you-can-eat night, for those among us who are hungry, or who like a challenge. The package includes popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, water and soda. (See the website for more info on both specials.) 7:05 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, Oct. 20. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $10 to $61+. Details Here.

Sax Great Terry Hanck. Bless the Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation for managing to bring some of the best blues artist around down to the Old Pueblo. For Terry Hanck, who spent 15 years with the Elvin Bishop Band and another 15-plus making music on his own, it actually won’t be his first time in Tucson. The Florida-based musician says he writes the kinds of songs you think you’ve heard for years, and, if you’ve ever sat down with the music by the likes of Fats Domino, B.B. King or Ray Charles, you’ll know exactly what Hanck is talking about once you hear him play. He’ll be accompanied by Mike Blommer on guitar, Steve Grams on bass and Glenn Velardi on drums—all members of the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19. House of Bards, 4915 E. Speedway. $12 in advance or $5 at the door, with discounts for SABHF and KXCI members. Details Here.

Suspiria. This is a Cinderella story of a cheesy exploitation film that got a little too artsy and  wound up being a revered horror classic. Suspiria tells the tale of a new girl at a mysterious (and possibly dangerous) dance school. It has enough deaths and suspense to please any horror fans and enough interesting camera work to please any film snob. Plus, the iconic prog-rock soundtrack elevates it into the realm of ethereal. The Loft Cinema invites you into the bloodbath! Catch it ahead of the upcoming remake. 10 to 11:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 20. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $6. Details Here.

Arts in the Plaza Fine Art Festival. If you’re looking for a way to feel fancy, heading to St. Philip’s Plaza is always a good idea. But even more so this weekend, because they’re hosting this limited-capacity, juried art festival with metalwork, jewelry, ceramics, photography, acrylic, mixed media, sculpture and even more media. Designed to highlight the talent of local fine artisans in the region, it doubles as an opportunity to fill your house up with gorgeous art that will have your friends saying, “Where did you get that?!” 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, and Sunday, Oct. 21. St. Philip’s Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave. Details Here.

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck. The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, launched at Hello Kitty Con 2014 as a way to offer “super-cute treats” to fans in the Southern California area, is coming to Tucson. Currently, there are two active Hello Kitty Cafe Trucks and one of them will be sitting at the La Encantada shopping mall for the majority of this upcoming Saturday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. 2905 E. Skyline Drive. Details Here.

32nd Annual Great Tucson Beer Fest. With an array of craft beer options from microbreweries and brewpubs, this is a night that should be fun for beer lovers of every kind. The festival will also have music entertainment and plenty of food options available from food trucks. This also serves as a fundraiser for the Tucson Sun Sounds of Arizona, a radio reading service originally founded with the vision of giving visually-impaired people access to print media. 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. 2500 E. Ajo Way. For the “Designated Driver,” general admission is $15. For drinkers, general admission is $40. 21+. No pets. Details Here.

Woods Memorial Library 50th Anniversary Celebration. Hooray! One of our beloved local libraries is celebrating a huge milestone. Fifty years worth of reading material and community events certainly calls for a party, and they’re doing it right with a ’60s car show, a memory tree, hula hoop lesson, a bubble zone and plenty of crafts. A DJ will be spinning music straight from the ’60s, and there will be book giveaways throughout the evening. And you can share your own memories of the library in a memory gathering workshop hosted by Marge Pellegrino. Happy Reading! 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Woods Memorial Library, 3455 N. First Ave. Free. Details Here.

Love and Other Stunts. Dive into the fascinating life of Gary Kent, a Tucson resident, B-movie star and stuntman during the 60's. Kent was a stuntman for Jack Nicholson and has worked on more than 100 movies. This new film shows all aspects of his life from career to relationships and everything in between. Watch this 2018 documentary 7 p.m. Friday at The Screening Room as part of Tucson Terror Fest. 20. 127 E. Congress St. Details here. 

Wild Kingdom GLOW! Everyone knows that In ’n’ Out French fries are better animal style. But have you ever tried the Triangle L Ranch’s annual GLOW! event animal style? Now’s your chance! Put on your glowing-est outfit, and throw some animal elements into it if you like. Dress up as your inner animal! Dress up as an animal you thought up with your own imagination! Go for a more abstract animal look and just sort of “let your wild side out.” And, of course, enjoy Music on the Paths by hypnopad and Nancy McCallion from 7 to 9 p.m., main stage music from 9 to 11 p.m. by Al Foul and tarot card readings by Felicitas and Chad. 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Triangle L Ranch, 2805 N. Triangle L Ranch Road, Oracle. $21.44 adults 13 and up, $12.86 kids 4 to 12 and free for kids 3 and under. Details Here.

Anza Days at Historic Canoa Ranch. Happy 50th anniversary to the National Trails System, and happy grand opening and dedication to Canoa Lake! This calls for a party. So saunter on over to the Historic Hacienda de la Canoa Ranch for a day full of food, vendors, music and dance performances, presentations, and 4H exhibitors. And don’t miss the horseback rides! There’s nothing like spending a day outside (especially now that it’s cooling down) and enjoying a good, old-fashioned festival. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Historic Hacienda De La Canoa Ranch, Historic Hacienda de la Canoa, 5375 I-19 Frontage Road, Green Valley. Details Here.

Boo Bash at Lincoln Park. Every night in October is the perfect night to throw a Boo Bash, but on this night, Tucson Parks and Rec and the PCC East Campus are teaming up to throw a Boo Bash for you so you don’t have to do it yourself! Stock up on Halloween candy to give out to trick or treaters at the trunk-or-treat, play some carnival games and be a part of the costume parade, which starts at 6 p.m. It’s the perfect way to give your costume a test drive if you’re still sorting out some of the finer details. There’s plenty of food available for purchase too, to keep your tummy from grumbling more loudly than a wailing ghost. 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Lincoln Park soccer fields, 4325 S. Pantano Road. Free. Details Here.

2018 Tucson Classics Car Show. The Rotary Club’s classic car show is back for its 12th iteration, and they’re going big to celebrate, with more than 400 cars to ogle and drool over. There’s also plenty of food and a beer garden, so there’s nothing to stop you from staying at the show all day long. Plus, activities for the kids will keep the little ones busy, and a huge array of vendors will keep you busy if you need a sensory break from the overwhelming beauty of all the vehicles. Buckle up and enjoy the ride! 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The Gregory School, 3231 N. Craycroft Road. Details Here.

Tucson Zombie Mud Run. Looking for a last minute opportunity to get really muddy, sweaty and spooky this weekend? Look no further than this undead romp through Buckelew Farms. This 5K will take you over walls, across monkey bars, through pipes and down slides as you try to escape from the zombies who have infiltrated the farm with all of your limbs (you’ll have two flags attached to you to represent your limbs) attached. Try the competitive team run at 3 p.m. if you’re competition-oriented, or consider the more laid back versions of the same race at 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. Or, if you’re 12 and under, try the Little Monster Mile. Prizes will be given for top finishers, best costume, most original costume, scariest costume and top survivors. Saturday, Oct. 20. Buckelew Farms, 17000 W. Ajo Hwy. $45, or $200 for a five-person team. Details Here.

Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End. If you were reading newspapers between 1965 and 1996, you probably read one of the 4,000+ columns Erma Bombeck penned about life as a Midwestern suburban housewife. She was also a longtime Arizonan, having moved to Phoenix in the ’70s. The Arizona Theatre Company is telling the story of how this journalist championed women’s rights and women’s lives with her delightfully witty, wonderfully truthful writing. Who says you can’t be a mom, a working woman and an artist all at once? Preview shows at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, and Tuesday, Oct. 23, through Thursday, Oct. 25, as well as at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21. Regular shows at either 2 or 7:30 p.m. from Friday, Oct. 26, through Saturday, Nov. 10. Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Regular tickets $41 to $76, preview shows $25 to $50. Details Here.

Critters. Return of the Jedi, Gremlins and Critters—for some reason, Hollywood got really into fuzzy little creatures in the ’80s. This is by-and-far the wackiest of the three. A series of monstrous martians run amok in the American farmland, devouring everyone they can. Fun! Part of the Screening Room’s Tucson Terrorfest. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. 127 E. Congress St. Free. Details Here. 

Nevada Smith’s Saves the Day! The Wild Hearts Rescue Ranch has organized an afternoon of “dinner, music, fellowship and fun in the name of healing horses.” With Nevada Smith’s Saloon offering their services and a plate only costing $7, this is a cheap way to have your stomachs filled with good food while learning about the horses and how to support their healing. 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. 1175 W. Miracle Mile. $7 Details Here. Details Here.

Menudo y Mimosas. A Sunday brunch that includes menudo and bottomless mimosas should not be something to ignore. “This will be the perfect opportunity to unwind, hang out with friends, mingle and make new homegirls, collaborate and leave feeling inspired and empowered,” for all Reinas. This social gathering and networking event is run by the Mi Reina Mobile Boutique and will have a braid bar, a selfie station, cake pops, music, a salsa station, cotton candy, art and fall fashion and accessories. Each attendee will receive a “swag bag” and will be entered to receive raffle prizes. 9 a.m. to noon. Sunday, Oct. 21. 1439 S. Fourth Ave. $36 Details Here.

Sixth Annual Membrillo Fest. Maybe you want to try something a little different. This festival is all about quince, including the venerable quince also known as a “membrillo.” Learn how to make tradition Sonoran meals with the “Madrina del Jardín,” Josefina Lizárraga. The director of the Kino Heritage Fruit Tree Program, Jesus Garcia, will then talk about the history of the quince and its importance to the traditional gastronomy for Southern Arizona and the Sonoran region. The festival, hosted in the Mission garden, will include food, refreshments and live music. 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. 946 W. Mission Lane. Details Here.

Diana Madaras’ Adventures of the Heart. Local artist Diana Madaras is debuting three new series of paintings at her annual show. “Adventures of the Heart: Spirit Animals” tells the story of Madaras’ deep connection to animals, which started as a child when she lived in an apartment attached to her dad’s veterinary hospital. “California Coastline” was inspired by a trip to Bodega Bay in Northern California, where she painted on misty mornings, working with completely different light sources than she does in Tucson. “Back to Greece” was inspired by her recent trip to the country—a 15th anniversary celebration of when she went to a painting workshop in Greece in 1993 and decided to become a professional artist in the first place. All three series have her dynamic use of color and display her ability to maintain a signature style as she evolves as an artist. Reception 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan Road. RSVP at 623-4000 or [email protected]. Details Here. 

Arizona Insect Festival. Let’s get buggy! The UA Department of Entomology is hosting this totally free community event to give the community some hands-on experience in STEM, and to get some very literal hands-on experience with Hercules beetles, ocotillo caterpillars, giant whip scorpions and more. There will also be more than 20 booths with UA researchers presenting their research and community representatives like the Southeast Butterfly Association and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Check out bugs under microscopes! Look at bugs on display! Maybe even eat some bugs! 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. ENR2 Building, 1064 E. Lowell St. Free. Details Here.


Lighting of A Mountain. Happy Homecoming, Tucson! Maybe it would be more correct to say, “Happy Homecoming, UA!” But how separate are our city and our university, really? In celebration of this classic event, and of the cooler weather, the UA Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Ambassadors are making A statement. Making an A statement. A Mountain, always a beacon, will be even more like a lighthouse after the letter is all lit up. Enjoy free food and refreshments, hang out with Wilbur and Wilma and sing “Bear Down” with the alumni pep band and UA cheerleaders. It’s going to be lit. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. Top floor of Main Gate parking garage, 815 E. Second St. Free. Details Here.

Tucson VHS Bazaar. Xpanded Universe and The Screening Room are getting together to celebrate “dead media.” What does this mean? They’re screening their favorite horror, sci-fi, fantasy and cult movies, all on VHS format, of course. Part of the Tucson Terror Festival. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St. Free. Details Here.

Back to the Future. The Cactus Drive-in Theatre is back, with a screening of one of our nation’s true all-time favorites. This screening goes towards raising money to afford land, a full-sized screen and other equipment related to purchasing a permanent drive-in movie theater. Vendors for food, drinks and snacks will be on site. 6:10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. Tanque Verde Swap Meet, 4100 S. Palo Verde Road. $15. Details Here.

Black Snake Killaz. This documentary is a “No DAPL” story, chronicling the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The movie will be preceded by the short film Akicita: The Battle Of Standing Rock. Hosted by Alliance For Global Justice and Pan Left Productions. 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. 225 E. 26th St., Suite 1. Free but donations accepted. Details Here.


Send Us Your Photos:
If you go to any of the events listed above, snap a quick pic and message it to us for a chance to be featured on our social media sites! Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @tucsonweekly.

Events compiled by Brianna Lewis, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

It's been a rough slog of-late for the Arizona Wildcats, who were beaten in Salt Lake City last Friday, 42-10.

The Wildcats find themselves at 3-4 for the year, with a 2-2 conference record, heading into a crucial road battle with UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night.

The Bruins (1-5, 1-2) struggled for most of the season, before crushing the Cal Golden Bears in Berkeley, 37-7, on Saturday night.

The two squads will square off in Pasadena at 7:30 p.m. local time, with the team's postseason fate resting on the result.

A quintet of Wildcats broke down the team's season and their matchup with the Bruins on Tuesday afternoon, covering a wide variety of topics.

Redshirt junior defensive lineman PJ Johnson didn't mince words when discussing the Wildcats' odds against Chip Kelly's Bruins squad this weekend.

"You don't want to underestimate anybody. It'll make you go into the game with the wrong mindset of we just attack this game like we attack every other game," Johnson said. "They're probably like real cocky right now. They destroyed Cal, we barely beat Cal. So, they probably think they got their stuff together and we suck right now so we got to come in and hit 'em in their mouth."

Kathy Hoffman and Frank Riggs are putting up a spirited fight to become our next Superintendent of Public Instruction. Their campaign websites are filled with educational plans and proposals, too many to list or discuss without getting so deep in the weeds, I'd never find my way out. The short version is, I like Hoffman's ideas far better than Riggs', but that doesn't tell you much.

So let's take another tack. Let's talk about hammers and nails.

No doubt you've heard the saying, "When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail." Even if the hammer you're holding isn't the best, or the only tool for the job in front of you, you're going to try and find a way to use it. You know that hammer. You like that hammer. It's the first tool that comes to mind when you have a situation you have to deal with before you consider other options.

It's the same with the ideas you tend to favor. They are going to be readily at hand when you're looking for solutions to problems you have to deal with. You'll call on them before you consider alternatives. Likewise with your personal and professional experience. You're going to lean on what you know to guide you.

So let's look at the hammer —actually the hammers — Hoffman and Riggs have in their tool belts which they would tend to favor if they became our next education superintendent.

Kathy Hoffman knows public schools. She knows early childhood education. She works with students with disabilities. She speaks fluent Spanish and Japanese. She understands the value of being bilingual and the importance of bilingual education.

If Hoffman becomes superintendent, her first instinct will be to seek out public school solutions to problems or opportunities she faces. She's going to think about Spanish (and other language) speakers as well as English speakers. She's going to consider students who have to overcome problems to reach educational success. She'll consider whether early childhood education should be a part of the solution.

The song and video were recorded live at Frank Bair's studio in the old Comic Con building in downtown Tucson. Audio by Frank Bair, video by Theo Panousopoulos, James Grip, and Jedidiah Baker.

Head over to CANS Deli tonight to celebrate the release of Sharkk Heartt's first single, "Maybe We Are Infinite." 

Electronic producer, singer, songwriter and pianist Lara Ruggles is the one-woman show behind Sharkk Heartt. She's revamping her sound since moving back to Tucson in 2016.

Ruggles toured under her own name and released a full-length album with her band in Colorado, but she's switching gears from writing folky love songs to songs that tackle feminism, equality and activism.

The new single is a love song, with a portion of record sales from the CANS Deli show going to Planned Parenthood.

Sharkk Heartt will be joined at CANS by Phoenix electro-pop duo MRCH and Tucson indie-soul artist Jillian Bessett. The show, presented by Wooden Tooth Records, is 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18. $5 advance or $8 at the door. Find tickets here.

The NBA's G-League announced on Thursday it will allow elite high school players to bypass the current 'one-and-done' rule of playing NCAA basketball for a year to be NBA Draft eligible, starting in the summer of 2019, according to ESPN.

The article cites League President Malcolm Turner, who expressed interest in extending what he called 'select contracts,' worth $125,000 per year to those elite players.

The players would be able to circumvent the college scene, while also having full rights to hire agents, profit off their likeness and sign endorsement deals—all of which are currently not allowed under NCAA rules.

Turner also told ESPN that the league will offer a range of off-court development programs for those that qualify, which, as Turner says, are, "geared toward facilitating and accelerating their transition to the pro game."

The special contracts will be extended to high school graduates 18 and older that haven't committed to play college basketball, according to the article, with Turner saying that they will not poach anyone with existing commitments to schools.

The proposed changes would likely not go into place until the 2022 draft, according to the article, with the move coming as a possible answer to the league's inability to lower the current age limits in place.

"The broader basketball community has called for the NBA to enhance our G-League offerings," Turner told ESPN. "We believe this is an answer to that call. We believe this is a thoughtful and responsive answer."

Another national forecaster has delivering good news for Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick and bad news for Lea Marquez Peterson in Southern Arizona's Congressional District 2.

Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball is moving the race from the "Leans Democrat" column to the "Likely Democratic" column:

Democrats appear well on their way to putting away at least three of these four seats. We are upgrading the Democrats’ chances in the open AZ-2, moving it from Leans Democratic to Likely Democratic, after the National Republican Congressional Committee stopped spending there. NJ-2 is one of the safest Democratic pickups in the country, and CA-49, the seat from which Rep. Darrel Issa is retiring after a very close call in 2016, has long been the Democrats’ best bet in California.

In this week's Skinny, I run down many of the challenges facing Marquez Peterson.

The Tucson Woman's Club will feature a sale of crafted miniatures from across the country including exhibits of miniatures, silent auctions, raffles and project workshops for children.

The showcase is sponsored by The Mini Time Machine League, a committee of the Mini Time Machine, Inc. and the Southern Arizona Miniature Enthusiasts social club. All the proceeds from the show will go towards The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures.   

Find more Claytoonz here.