I don't often write mash notes for local bands or musicians on the Range. My editor probably thinks that's a good thing. Anyway, the last time I professed my love for a band was Seashell Radio. Yeah, I still love them.

This time I'm professing love for the Shondies, a Brooklyn-based group that should just move here. What is our connection with that city, anyway? Seems like we have many Brooklyn transplants, and I know many Tucsonans in Brooklyn who miss us every winter and a good eggee's when spring arrives.

They play tonight at Plush with the Cordials and Amy Rude, 8 p.m., 340 E. 6th St.

The first time I saw them they happened to play with Seashell at Plush not long after our lovely Gov. Jan Brewer signed SB1070 into law. It didn't make any of our crap go away, but for one night they brought some good music to Tucson. And they keep coming back.

• Jim Nintzel

The Tucson Padres launched a new homestand a big 13-0 win over the Nashville Sounds last night.

The Padres are in town every night through next Thursday, May 23. Why not get out to a game this weekend? Cops and firefighters get in free tonight, the club is giving away camouflage T-shirts tomorrow night and you can bring your dog to the ballpark on Sunday. You'll find ticket info here and a full list of the promotions over the next week here.

Here's a breakdown of last night's game from the Padres' Tim Hagerty:

I have no idea what I would use scratch-off tickets for, but if I need to make a printed invitation for anything in the near future, you can be assured it will include this technique from the blog The Dainty Squid.

[Laughing Squid]

In 2010, I did an interview with former UA Professor Jarita Holbrook about her work in astronomy and anthropology, but specifically her documentary, Hubble's Diverse Universe, about nine African-American and Hispanic astrophysicists and their work. "The first 15 minutes ... you see a normal science show, but in different colors—all (the scientists are) Hispanic and African-Americans, male and female. The next section is on diversity and what it's like in their fields. Then they talk about mentoring and outreach, and emphasize the importance of mentoring in astronomy," Holbrook told us.

Holbrook is back to work on a new documentary with similar themes — Black Sun. Go to her Kickstarter campaign page for more information and to consider supporting her work.

About Black Sun

“Black Sun,” a feature-length documentary, chronicles two celestial events: the May 20, 2012 annular solar eclipse and the November 14, 2012 total solar eclipse. The movie follows two astrophysicists who study the solar atmosphere during eclipses:

Dr. Alphonse Sterling of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center stationed in Japan (a man who had early success in the US, but left his home country to further cultivate his wide-ranging interests).

Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi of the Physics & Space Sciences department at the Florida Institute of Technology (a scientist who beat all of the odds: poverty, homelessness, single-parent, poor early education, etc., to get to where he is today).

“Black Sun” explores how and why the two men became scientists, their opposing paths and personalities, their struggles as minorities in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field, and their noteworthy accomplishments today. We begin in Tokyo following Dr. Sterling as he observes the annular eclipse in preparation for when he travels to Cairns, Australia, to observe the total solar eclipse in November.

This Saturday, if you're thinking of adopting a dog and are willing to visit a car dealership, you can save a significant amount of money by visiting Chapman Volkwagen on 22nd Street for their Adoptable Pet Day. The Humane Society is bringing the pets needing a home, but Chapman will cover all adoption fees. More information can be found on the event's Facebook page or in the press release below the cut.

Ken Scoville and Tucson Weekly contributor Dave Devine give walking tours of the area covered by the disputed "Overlay Zone" just west of the UA campus, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Saturday, May 5; $25. Proceeds benefit the Overlay Referendum Legal Fund. Call 358-8500 for reservations or more information.

To read Dave Devine's guest commentary about the overlay zone, click here.

The Butterfly Magic exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Gardens is open through Monday, April 30. Don't miss the last chance to be enveloped in a greenhouse kept at tropical temperatures while vibrant butterflies fly around you. Check out the video above for a sneak peek of what you'll see.

For more information visit the Botanical Garden's website here.

In a strange collision of comedy and music, Gabriel Iglesias and Ozomatli will perform at Casino Del Sol's AVA Amphitheatre on May 12th. We're giving away a pair of lawn tickets to a lucky reader over at our Free Stuff page. The drawing will be held on May 4th at 5 pm. Good luck!

"Enter the heart of an American family living in the shadows of a state that has criminalized their existence. Walk in the shoes of a public official who has won enormous political gains by incarcerating “illegals” as he stares down criminal charges of his own."

If you missed seeing the documentary Two Americans by Dan De Vivo and Valeria Fernández, during the Arizona International Film Festival, you can see it tonight, 6 p.m. at the UA Integrated Learning Center Auditorium #140. If you need a better excuse to go, burritos will be served from 5:15 to 6 p.m.

Besides the documentary, the program includes a presentation from a student panel discussing their research on the attacks against the discipline of Mexican American Studies at the Tucson Unified School District and the UA. A new issue of the student-produced publication, El Coraje, by UA-MAS 350 students, is also part of the presentation, as well as a student panel on student research on immigration and the documentary.

For more information on Two Americans, go to www.twoamericans.com.

• Tucson's Run Boy Run

Tucson's Run Boy Run will make the trek up north to perform at the Sedona Bluegrass Festival, which takes place from Wednesday, May 30, through Sunday, June 3. Run Boy Run was a winner at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2011.

Here are some festival highlights:

Wednesday, May 30, at 7 p.m.: Burnett Family Bluegrass at Sedona Library. Admission is two cans of food to benefit the Sedona Community Food Bank.

Thursday, May 31, at 5 p.m.: Bluegrass BBQ Benefit featuring Burnett Family Bluegrass at Segner Ranch in Munds Canyon. $65. Reservations required.

Friday, June 1, at 5 p.m.: Burnett Family Bluegrass at First Friday Artwalk

Saturday, June 2, at 1 p.m.: A workshop and community jam with Run Boy Run at Sedona Charter School

Sunday, June 3, at noon: Sedona Bluegrass Festival concert with the Tim O'Brien and Bryan Sutton Duo, The Sleep Man Banjo Boys, Run Boy Run and Muskellunge Bluegrass. $35 adults, $20 students. Youth to age 12 are free with one paying adult.

For more information, visit here.