• Jim Nintzel

The Tucson Padres wrap up the current homestand tonight against the Reno Aces tonight. First pitch is 7:05 at Kino Stadium, but if you want to get there early for Thirsty Thursday's cheap beer and soft drinks, the gates open at 6 p.m. Details on the ballgame here.

• Jim Nintzel

The Tucson Padres are back in town for an eight-game home stand beginning tonight. And, since it's Thirsty Thursday, you can get beers and soft drinks for just $1.50. First pitch against the Fresno Grizzlies is 7:05 p.m. at Kino Stadium, 2500 E. Ajo Way.

There are more promotions on tap over the next week. The Kino Krawl, with all kinds of drink specials, is Friday, July 13; on Saturday night, it's Christmas in July, with Santa and his elves visiting the ballpark and plenty of gifts for the first 2,500 fans through the gates; Sunday night is bark in the park, so bring your dog to the ball game (and it's military appreciation night, with discounts for soldiers and their families); they're giving away posters on Monday night; you can get free tickets to the game on Tuesday night at eegee's outlets; Wednesday game features one-dollar hot dogs and other specials you can discover on the Padres' Facebook page; and the homestand wraps up with another Thirsty Thursday next week.

For details on the promotions and whatever else you need to know, just follow the link.

Thank you, Loft Cinema. Thank you so much. Tickets and passes go on sale tomorrow.

MUPPETS™, MUSIC & MAGIC: JIM HENSON'S LEGACY / A Month-Long Celebration!
Jim Henson and the Muppets!

All through the month of August!
Starts Thursday, August 2nd
Individual screening admission: $8.00 general; $6.00 Loft members & Children 12 and under.
Series pass: $40.00 general; $35.00 Loft members & Children 12 and under (series pass DOES NOT INCLUDE admission to the three feature films: The Muppet Movie, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth - separate admission is required).

It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to meet the Muppets ... because August is Muppets Month here at The Loft Cinema! We’ve partnered with The Jim Henson Legacy and Brooklyn Academy of Music to present a very special series celebrating the best of Jim Henson and the Muppets! All throughout the month of August, you’ll see some of the greatest, most hilarious moments from the 50+ year history of The Muppets, rarely seen gems from the Sesame Street vaults, and even a collection of Henson’s experimental short films. We’ve also included the classic Henson feature films The Muppet Movie, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth in the mix!

The series begins with the MUPPET HISTORY 101 program, presented live by our very special guest, Jim Henson Company puppeteer DAVE GOELZ, creator of Beauregard the Janitor, Zoot (the saxophonist of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem) and the one-and-only Gonzo the Great!

This series is produced by The Jim Henson Legacy and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Tour Executive Producer Irena Kovarova. Please visit: www.JimHensonLegacy.org / www.BAM.org

The (amazing) schedule is below the cut.

The actual Seal will likely give a far more professional performance of his hit "Kiss From a Rose" than the cast of Community did this season, so that's something to look forward to when the singer comes to AVA on August 3rd.

On a somewhat different note, Joe Cocker and Huey Lewis and the News will perform as part of a somewhat unexpected pairing on July 15th, also at AVA.

You can win a pair of general admission tickets to either show at our contest page (feel free to enter both drawings, but we're not going to let the same person win twice, for what we hope are obvious reasons) right now. The drawing for the Cocker/Lewis tickets will be held on July 11th, Seal on July 27th and winners will be notified via email.

Good luck!

Somehow, Kitty Katt McKinley has managed to make the backroom of Auld Dubliner in Main Gate Square seem like the Black Lodge from Twin Peaks but with shuffleboard. I don't understand it, but I suspect anyone who goes might be changed forever. Consider yourself warned.

[Yes, I'm aware we've posted a lot of Kitty Katt-related stuff lately. The guy's on a roll. What are we supposed to do?]

While I don't ever actually go, unless my son is going to a birthday party or fundraiser, I still consider myself a fan of Skate County. I spent a ridiculous amount of time there in the mid-80's, I've gone to the effort of getting prices to rent the place out for a surreal adult birthday party, and I occasionally dream of a second chance at roller rink DJing.

Anyhow, when I saw the above Facebook update, I had to wonder if I was missing out on something by having absolutely no idea who Ryan Butler is or what Vanilla Skate Company happens to be. A quick trip to YouTube to investigate TOTALLY BLEW MY MIND. Warning: if you click play on the video below, you will get sucked into a seemingly inescapable world of freestyle skate dancing, which is apparently a thing people do:

Aside of weirdness: I did a Google search to see if I was the first person to dub Ryan Butler "the Justin Bieber of competitive rollerskating" only to find that the Bieb's best friend is a different guy named Ryan Butler. I'll be hiding under my desk if you need me, because clearly the world is collapsing upon itself.

It's one thing to get something for free because of what you're wearing — I still fondly recall the time that my I Love Hot Moms shirt got me free double meat in my Subway cold cut combo footlong because the sandwich artist told me that 'us moms appreciate that' — but I think I might draw the line at dressing up a certain way solely to get grub at no charge.

For those who disagree, I give you Carl's Jr.

The fast food franchise is giving away a free Amazing Grilled Cheese Burger on July 4 to anyone who is willing to dress up as Spider-Man.

They've even gone so far as to employ Spider-Man creator (and compulsive super hero movie cameo appearance maker) Stan Lee to provide some dos and don'ts regarding one's attire. For instance: no masks, unless you're also planning to rob the place after you get your free burger, and expect to pay if you come as anyone other than Spidey. I wonder if that applies to Venom.

If you found yourself captivated by the University of Arizona baseball team's run to the NCAA championship over the last month, extend your enjoyment of their winning season tonight at the Padres game, sponsored in part by the Tucson Weekly. Not only will you be able to get your picture taken with the championship trophy and see Arizona Athletic Director Greg Byrne, Head Baseball Coach Andy Lopez, and members of the baseball team participate in the first pitch, it's also Thirsty Thursday, so 16 oz. Budweiser and Coke products will be just $1.50 starting at 6 pm.

If you wear Wildcat apparel, you'll be able save some money as well, getting a general admission ticket for $4. See you at the ballpark.

Finding a new book to read after The Hunger Games and Fifty Shades of Grey? It might be time to go back to the basics. The Huffington Post posted a list of books compiled from the Library of Congress. It as explicitly stated that these books may not be the best reads ever, but what sets them apart is they follow the theme as being the 88 “books that shaped America.”

After perusing the list, presented in helpful chronological order, I found myself recognizing several of the titles and pinpointed things I thought I had forgotten from high school history and English classes. There is a variety of books ranging from the articles of influential minority authors and feminists to classic novels like Catch-22 and The Great Gatsby.

This is definitely a list to take a look at if you’re look for something to read. It’s not always about the next best movie adaptation or what’s hot in new book releases. Sometimes it’s about what’s been done and has passed the test of time.

Note from Dan Gibson: Mary Yohem is a student at Catalina Foothills High School and the daughter of Roger Yohem from our sister publication, Inside Tucson Business. She asked for an opportunity to plug a youth theater production she's involved in, so here you go.

One of the “biggest” theatre productions of the summer is “Big,” being staged by the Catalina Foothills Community Schools Summer Theatre program. It is the Broadway musical version of the popular 1988 movie starring Tom Hanks.

Directed by Terry Erbe, the high school’s theatre teacher, the play is about 12-year-old Josh Baskin who wishes he were "BIG" and wakes up the next morning as a 30-year-old man. He discovers there's much more to being an adult then he wished for.

Starring in the lead role is Drake Sherman, a Foothills high school junior, as adult Josh. Young Josh is played by Justyn Zeider, an eighth grader at Esperero Canyon Middle School, and James Cockrell, a Foothills high school freshman. Josh’s best friend Billy is played by Vaughn Sherman, a Foothills freshman.

Sharing the spotlight as Susan Lawrence, the female lead, are Sara Fallahi, a Foothills senior, and Savannah Runge, a Foothills freshman. The technical directors are Norm Testa and Clint Bryson. Musical accompaniment is by Khris Dodge.

The shows, held at Catalina Foothills High School Little Theatre, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive, open Thursday June 28 at 1 p.m. at a discounted rate of $5. All shows after that are $10, starting with a 7 p.m. performance that night. Friday and Saturday show times are 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

To order tickets, go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/255754