Thursday, February 8, 2018
UA Presents: Straight Outta Philly. Phildanco, the dance group founded by Joan Myers Brown in 1970, is bringing its innovative, traditional African American dance-influenced, barrier-breaking performance to Tucson. Rennie Harris Pure Movement, founded by Harris himself and expanding the boundaries of hip hop, will take the stage as well. Both dance institutions will fuse hip-hop and ballet for a show that will have you bopping and reflecting in equal parts. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb 8. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. 8. $20 to $55+.
Drunk Drag Queen Storytellers. Sometimes you just need a night at the diner with some friends. Sometimes you just need to hear some stories from drunk people. Sometimes you just gotta hang out with your fave local drag queens. But did you know you could get all of these pleasures in one place? Head over to Welcome Diner to enjoy all of the above, plus $1 PBRs, $4 well drinks, half-off bottles of wine, and-of course-food to fuel you through the night. 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. Welcome Diner Tucson, 902 E. Broadway Blvd.
Complied by Emily Dieckman and Jeff Gardner
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Gelato Festival Tucson 2017. Get ready for a lot o’ gelato, and a lot o’ authentic Italian artisanal gelato to boot. Gelato’s a huge deal over in Italy, but is starting to gain popularity in the U.S., and the benevolent Gelato Festival America is taking on the noble mission of raising awareness of the neat, sweet treat from across the pond. Try flavors from some of the world’s best gelato artisans, and learn how to make you own as well. To quote Gwen Stefani: Go Gelato! G-E-L-A-T-O Fest! 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 and noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 and Sunday, Nov. 5. La Encantada, 2905 E. Skyline Drive. $13.50-$40.
Murder Mystery Dinner. Let the games begin, and let the Game of Thrones begin first and foremost. Damascus Road Tucson presents this event, billed as a coronation for Queen Cersei, and everyone from Lord Marana to Lady South Tucson is invited. (Everyone is invited). Rincon Market will cater a formal dinner, so that guests will be plenty fueled up for part two of the evening: solving a mysterious murder (cue spooky music). Dress formally, but also dress ready to solve some crimes. 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. University of Arizona, Institute of the Environment, ENR2 Building, 1064 E. Lowell St. $20.
Tags: Gelato festival , gelato , Italian , PINK YOUR DRINK Cocktail Competition , pink , breast cancer , Save The Ta-Tas , Martin Drug Co. Murdery Mystery Dinner , Game of Thrones , Crooked Tooth , brewery , birthday , brewthday , Maize to Menus: 4 , 000 Years of Harvesting the Desert , Hamilton Distillers , Noche de las Calaveras at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum , sugar skulls , Day of the Dead , Meatball Monday , meatballs , Spaghetti Western Steakhouse
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Tags: quick bites , yum japanese gardens tea ceremony , matcha , tea , grapes and goodies , chief joshua vineyards , trick or treat , trick and treat , trick , treat , old tom gin , three wells distilling company , Halloweekend , Halloween
Feast with the Dearly Departed. Take this opportunity to honor your loved ones without the solemnity. Celebrate life, appreciate the preciousness of the people you love and dance the night away to Tucson High School’s Mariachi Rayos del Sol. For the sixth iteration of this annual event, Tucson Botanical Gardens is bringing in face painters, pan de muerto, sugar skulls and a Dancing Skeleton exhibit—which will feature papier mâché skellies made by local artists, community groups, and even you, if you want to submit one (call 520-326-9686 ext. *10 for more info on that). Feast on the food available throughout the gardens, including tacos, tamales, pallets, refreshes and limeade. The community-made Ofrenda lies at the center of the event, and all guests are welcome to bring notes and mementos to place at the ofrenda. 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. $13 GA, $7.50 children, $10 member adults, $4 member children.
Tags: Devil’s Night Dinner at Hotel Congress , Halloweekend , culinary , culin-scary , feast with the dearly departed , Casino del Sol Offal Beer Dinner , wake up the dead , 13th annual argentina heart and soul , chimichurri , wine tasting , spooky , Halloween
Thursday, October 5, 2017
World Margarita Championship. Life is less hard when you have a marg, and furthermore… TEQUILA! Tucson Original Restaurants and the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance are teaming up to make your life a little less hard and a lot more spirited with this opportunity to sample local cocktails and cuisine. A panel of judges (including the Weekly’s own Chow writer, Mark Whitaker) will deliver their verdict on the best of the Southwest, and attendees can vote for the People’s Choice Award for best signature margarita. Proceeds from admission and raffle ticket sales go to SAACA to support local arts education, art therapy programs and Tucson Originals restaurants. 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Road. $55 in advance, $70 day of event.
Desert Foods Fiesta. Give a man a prickly pear, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man how to safely harvest prickly pear fruits and make jellies and syrups out of the juice, and he’ll eat for a lifetime. At this festival, enjoy learning about prickly pear delicacies, solar cooking with the Solar Guild of Tucson, viewing the sun through telescopes, and milling your mesquite pods into flour. David Yetman of “In the Americas with David Yetman” and “The Desert Speaks” will also give a special presentation. Vendors ranging from El Saguaro Restaurant to Prest Coffee to Native Seed/SEARCH will be present to prepare and sell foods. The whole shebang is hosted by the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning, or Camp Cooper, which teaches kids (and adults!) all about the Sonoran Desert and the environment. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Cooper Center for Environmental Learning. 5403 W. Trails End Road. Free.
Tags: margaritas , pancakes , prickly pear , desert foods , sonoran snacks , pita jungle , kingfisher , fired pie , sour beer , sour candy , sour grapes , 1912 , chili cook-off , david yetman
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Flavor by Loews Hotels. Loews Ventana Canyon Resort is now participating in the hotel’s initiative to offer guests lovable local flavors by partnering with the companies behind some of Tucson’s tastiest treats. The hotel will be offering tamales from the Tucson Tamale Company (called “the best tamales in the USA” by Alton Brown of The Food Network), French toast made with bread from Barrio Bread and beer on tap from Dragoon Brewing Company throughout the resort. It’s the perfect place for visiting friends and relatives to stay to get a taste of the city, and many Tusconans will probably now be tempted to stay at the resort themselves. Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive.
Tags: Mr. Bing’s The Supper Club Experience , Hacienda del Sol , Loews Hotels , Tucson Tamale Company , Barrio Bread , Dragoon , Zinburgre , Butterfinger Shakes , Lock in Hope , PY Steakhouse , Casino del Sol , Dinner with Chefs , Ramiro Scavo , Red’s Smokehouse + Tap Room , chili , Southwest chili cook , dinner detective murder mystery show , born and brewed , hotel congress , beer , Beer , BEER , Jim Click , Arizona Wine Dinner , Maynards , Fourth Fridays , Tucson Botanical Gardens , Greek Fest , Farmer’s Market , what do you mean he DON’T EAT NO MEAT? , That’s okay , I make lamb , greek , Greek fest , My Big Fat Greek Festival
Thursday, September 14, 2017
16th Annual Roasted Chile Festival. The Rincon Institute hosts this chile and spice and everything nice event at the Rincon Valley Farmers and Artisans Market. Aside from fresh roasted chilies, locally grown produce and a beer garden, there will also be artisans and crafters, activities for kids and live music by John Grant & The Guilty Bystanders and Johnny Bencomo. Come get your metaphorical fill of local culture and your literal fill of hatch and poblano chilies. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Rincon Valley Farmers & Artisans Market 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail. Free entry.
Born & Brewed Beer Battle at Hotel Congress. Which brewery produces the best pint in town and deserves the coveted 2017 Beer Cup? Help decide by casting your vote at Hotel Congress’s sixth annual event. It’s more local than ever this year, with beers strictly from Tucson breweries, who will compete in three categories: best flagship beer, best specialty beer and people’s choice. There will be panelists from Dragoon Brewing Co, Tucson Foodie, Tucson News Now and USBG Tucson. Beats, brews and eats abound with the tastings, food pairings and live music. 6 p.m. Saturday Sept. 23. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.. $15 designated driver, $30 general admission, $50 VIP.
Tags: Primavera Cooks , Kingfisher , Roasted Chile Festival , John Grant & The Guilty Bystanders , Johnny Bencomo , chiles , Born & Brewed Beer Battle , Born & Brewed , born and brewed , Hotel Congress , hoco , Dragoon , Tucson Foodie , Tucson News Now , USBG Tucson , beer
Angry Crab opening. Phoenix favorite Angry Crab Shack & BBQ is open in Tucson! After a grand opening on Sept. 1, this seafood spot continues to serve up all of your favorite crab, clams and shellfish right here in the desert. Seafood is prepared just the way you like it at the Angry Crab, as every menu item is specialized to your taste. First, pick your fish or shellfish, then pick a sauce and finally decide how spicy you want it for the perfect mouthwatering meal. Burgers and brisket are also available for a menu that is sure to please the whole family. Open Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 1365 West Grant Road.
Spaghetti Western Steakhouse Opening. Get ready for some steak and spaghetti, in both Western and noodle forms. They’ll be coming your way this week at the grand opening of Classic Spaghetti Western Steakhouse on Stone Avenue. The new restaurant will join Brother John’s BBQ, which opened in 2015, to add to the growing Bronx Park Neighborhood food scene. Decorated with murals from local artist Danny Martin, the restaurant will channel the spaghetti western fan in all of us while serving up a juicy mix of steakhouse favorites and classic Italian fare. Grand opening event at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14.
Culinary Dropout Opening. Another distinctive and delectable restaurant is being added to the Tucson food scene. With four locations in the Phoenix area, Culinary Dropout is bringing its classic dishes and self-proclaimed “inked up” and “mohawk rocking” staff down to Tucson. Along with food, beer and cocktails, the space at the former Grant Road Lumber will have games and live music from local up-and-coming artists for patrons to enjoy. Opens Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Regular hours: Monday through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 2543 East Grant Road.
Tags: Kief-Joshua Vineyards grand opening , Angry Crab openingg , Spaghetti Western Steakhouse opening , Culinary Dropout opening , mohawks , cocktails , spaghetti , westerns , spaghetti westerns , Danny Martin , seafood , shellfish , burgers , brisket , wine
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Pantcake Breakfast. What would you do for a pancake breakfast? Empty out your savings account? Fast for three days? Kill a man? All Summit Hut is asking you to do is show up. This pancake breakfast is complete with coffee, juice, and a raffle ticket for some KÜHL gear. If you try on a pair of KÜHL pants, you’ll receive a free gift as well, while supplies last. Put on breakfast gear and get ready for your jacks to get flapped and your cakes to get pantsed. 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Summit Hut 5251 E. Speedway. Free.
Primavera Cooks! These gourmet fundraising dinners have been going on throughout the summer to fundraise for the Primavera Foundation, which helps people find pathways out of poverty. This week, Chef Tim Moore of Pastiche teams up with apprentice chef Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall. Five courses, complete with wine pairings, will be served at the Tucson staple along the Campbell Avenue corridor. Wednesday, Sept. 13. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Pastiche Modern Eatery, 3025 N. Campbell Ave. $125. Call 308-3104 for reservations.
The Garden Kitchen Grand Reopening. The Garden Kitchen, Fourth Avenue’s cutest culinary school and seed-to-table gardening center, is reopening after summer construction. In celebration, they’ll be holding cooking demos with yummy and healthy recipes to demonstrate the new and improved hands-on classroom. Tour the garden, enjoy a plant-a-seed activity, and pay tribute to plants, because plants are friends AND food. Saturday, Sept. 10. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Garden Kitchen, 2205 S. Fourth Ave. Free.
bRUNch Run with Southern Arizona Roadrunners and Whole Foods. If you’re a runner who’s anything like Matthew Inman, the man behind the popular webcomic series The Oatmeal, then you’ve deeply internalized the idea that the more you run, the more you can eat. Do just that with the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, who are hosting this free social run on a Saturday morning. Sign a quick waver, run either three or six miles down the Rillito River Path, and then head over to Whole Foods for coffee, smoothies and the most important meal of the day. 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. Whole Foods Market 5555 E. River Road. The run is free, but bring a form of payment for your discounted breakfast.
Pizza Patrón Grand Opening Event. We're hesitant to put the word out about this one, because we want to be in the first 20 people in line. Those who are (and who make a minimum $5 purchase) get FREE PIZZA FOR A WHOLE YEAR. This is not a drill. How much pizza can a human being eat in a year? Scientists have never dared to investigate, but it will be up to these 20 lucky pioneers to find out. There’s also free custom T-shirts from CREAM Design and Print available, and pizza is 50 percent off for the duration of the event. Pizza-n Earth. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Pizza Patrón 1785 W. Valencia Road, Suite 143. Free.
Tags: primavera cooks , southern arizona road runners , maynards kitchen , garden kitchen pancakes , pantcakes , pizza patron , whole foods , summit hut
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Villa Peru. In early August, a new restaurant came on the scene, serving up authentic Peruvian cuisine. Try the anticuchos skewers or the lomo saltado, inside a wonton skin and topped with avocado. The Salazar family owns and runs the operation, and this Tucson restaurant is their second location. The first was in Tempe, where they did quite well, named best Latin American Restaurant in 2012. Originally, the family hails from Peru, so you know it’s authentic (and so yummy too!) Did we mention that they’ve got a full-service bar, with a Pisco Sour cocktail? Bless the Salazars. 1745 E. River Road #165.
Mama’s Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue Expansion. With two new locations at Tucson Premium Outlets and over at The Hub, Mama’s Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue is expanding your options for grub. No longer must you brave the roads and play a somber ballad while you drive all the way to the eastside to get a beef teriyaki salad. We only wish that this change could have happened soona’, but now’s a perfect time to dig into a Big Kahuna. 6401 W. Marana Center Blvd. and 1011 N. Tyndall Ave.
Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge. Living here in Tucson, it would be more or less obscene to say you don’t enjoy the trifecta of classic Southwest cuisine. Put salsa on your tacos! Try the Salsa Borracha with tequila! Try the habanero cotton candy or the mini chilaquiles! Though this poem opened with describing a trifecta, it has even more offerings than you may have expected. Bundt cakes, churro tots, Tikki Masala and beer. What more reason could you need to make sure your schedule’s clear? 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. La Encantada Shopping Center, 2905 E Skyline Drive. $55 in advance or $65 day of.
“Fighting Fire With Food: An Expert’s Inside Look at Nutrition and Inflammation… What Does the Science Say?” Arthritis and clogged arteries, and damaged tissues too. Do these symptoms of inflammations sound familiar to you? You may not feel this information relates to your palate’s predilections, but guess what! What you eat may have the power to alleviate your afflictions. Dr. Donato Romagnolo and Dr. Ann Skulas-Ray will separate fact from myth about nutritional science today. What is a Mediterranean diet? Is fish oil really so great? The answers to all of these questions and more (well, probably) relate. 6 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6. Banner University Medical Center Tucson, DuVal Auditorium, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Free.
Tags: Heritage foods festival , Hacienda Del Sol , Villa Peru , Chef Yim , Mama’s Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue , Salsa , Tequila & Taco Challenge , salsa , tequila , tacos , Inflammation , healthy diet , Dr. Donato Romagnolo , Dr. Ann Skulas-RAy
