"But Wait, There's More," by Rand Carlson, whose tin work will be on display at the Temple Gallery at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave., through Jan. 18. Carlson will be on hand for an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 on Friday, Dec. 3.

"Casino Diva," by Judy O'Toole-Freel, is on display in her one-person exhibit continuing through Dec. 18 at the Oro Valley Council Chambers, 11000 N. La Canada Drive.

Produced by Joey Silvestri

Tommy Noble and Ian Fitzpatrick discuss downhill skateboarding in the Tucson area, touching upon the precautions taken by skaters and the way they view their role in the community.

Joey Silvestri is a professional downhill skateboarder who races internationally.

If you read the press material or listen to the people in charge of "Alegria", which will be at the TCC Arena through Sunday the 28th, the show is about the conflict between generations or something like that. Why there has to be a plot at all is a little mystifying to me, since it was nearly impossible to follow a storyline running through the various vignettes, but Cirque du Soleil have a bunch of productions running around the world and the TCC was three-quarters full the night before Thanksgiving, so I guess they know better than I do.

While for my cynical, dark heart, the magic and whimsy of the Cirque du Soleil experience with clowns roaming the audience pre-show and a ringmaster of sorts wandering around yelling "Alegria!" are a little lost, if someone described the show as a collection of amazing acrobats and such from around the world, I'd probably be in.

When you get past the interstitial music (great if you wish Enya was a little edgier and French sometimes) and sort of humorous parts, the skill that goes into this show is impossible to not be impressed by. There's a guy from Hawaii who spins fire sticks around, gymnasts running on runways made of trampolines and flying all over the place, ridiculously flexible contortionists balancing in improbable ways, and an amazing high bar/trapeze finale. While there were moments that reminded me of the rhythmic gymnastics portions of the Olympics I rush to the remote to avoid, in person (and the way the arena is set up, it seems like all the seats offer a good view of the stage) the action is transfixing.

I don't know if I'm sold enough to pay over a hundred dollars to see a Cirque show in Vegas, but when the production is half the price, right down the street and featuring the same sort of absurdly talented cast, I'd consider putting up with the constructed childlike joy for the amazing acrobatic feats.

We went backstage and watched rehearsals for "Alegria", the Cirque du Soleil production at the TCC Arena starting tonight and running through Sunday the 28th.

Produced by Joshua Morgan

Rollerblading is oftentimes stigmatized in the action sports community, and because of its lack of media exposure, the general public doesn't understand what it is to the extent of what they know skateboarding, bmx, and other action sports to be. In this video produced by UA journalism student Joshua Morgan, four local rollerbladers attempt to illustrate what aggressive rollerblading is; a sport, an avenue of self-expression, and a lifestyle.

Produced by Diana Sokolova

Erin Wilson is a young artist and photographer here in Tucson, Ariz. Wilson talks about how art influences her life in this audio slideshow.

Travel writer Frances Figart came to Tucson to the All Souls Procession, and wrote an impressive piece about the experience.

Border issues notwithstanding, one of the most compelling aspects of Tucson, known to locals as the Old Pueblo, is that, unlike so many homogenized geographical regions in the Unites States, it retains a palpable and dynamic culture, an authentic sense of place! This is brought out in traditions like the Day of the Dead, where Mexicans and Americans come together for a communal celebration of both life and death. And it is also reflected in the Latino influenced musical traditions that have naturally emerged in border regions such as this one. Calexico — whose concerts now traditionally close out the annual Day of the Dead festivities — represents that blend of cultures and musical genres perhaps better than any other border band in the southwest. The concert they gave as the finale to the All Souls Procession at the historic Rialto Theatre, the locus of Tucson cultural history since 1920, benefited the non-profit organization Many Mouths One Stomach, a Tucson-based collective of artists, teachers and community activists who support “festal culture,” the fulfillment of human needs through public celebration, ceremony and ritual. The performance not only fused many world genres, especially those that inspire the southwest, but also brought together in celebration many cultures in one uplifted community spirit.

"Unframe Me (Regena)," by Emily Feingold, will be on display at Cafe Passe, 415 N. Fourth Ave., until the end of November.

Arizona Theatre Company is bringing the Second City traveling troupe to Arizona again for a show called Sex and the Second City: Version 2.0, which is in itself not a bad thing. I heard decent things about their previous show, and while this show has a troublesome title, it could be funny, right?

You wouldn't get that idea from the press release, however. ATC's artistic director does a great job of bringing quality productions to town, but he probably should leave the humor to the experts.

"The other day, I opened a door at the theatre and I swear I could still hear the last vestiges of laughter echoing around from The Second City show at ATC last spring," said Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein. "You would think that after we provided them with a comedy bonanza last time they visited, The Second City folks would leave Arizona alone. But, apparently they feel that they struck comedy gold here in the Grand Canyon State and this time they are aiming straight for our private parts in a very public forum. New York may have 'The Rent Is Too Damn High Party,' but it looks like Arizona has started 'This Place Is Too Damn Funny Party.' And the party gets underway next March."

Sigh.

You can mark your calendar to see Sex and the Second City: Version 2.0 at the Temple of Music and Art on March 23-27, 2011.