A new oxygen bar and tea room called Breathe, Drink & Design has opened at 416 N. Seventh Ave. St., right down the street from Che's Lounge. The place serves tea and oxygen for two for $20, and the oxygen is apparently infused with various scents. Facebook tells us more:

Our O2, or in lay-man's terms, "Oxygen", is derived from a very special and rare part of our planet that we like to call "The Atmosphere." Using complicated machinery handed down to us from ancient, yet technologically-advanced race of Space-Mayans (basically Mayans that became astronauts and come back to Earth every so often. Ironically, they might be the origin for the Quetzalcoatl myth, but that's a story for another time...). So, anyway, they gave us this machinery that allows us to harness the atmosphere and draw in it's precious O2 and use it for evil, capitalistic reasons... I mean, pleasant, altruistic reasons. Yeah... that's it... they're buying it... move on... *AHEM* So, as I was saying, we infuse delicious and soothing scents into the O2. The infused O2 then travels into your nose-holes (technical term) and into your brain making you feel "all sorts of good." Do that for anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes and you are solid. Good to go.

A friend of mine started one of these places in Flagstaff like a decade ago, and although the business was short-lived he swore by the effects of the oxygen.

The popular electro house DJ, Benny Benassi is heading to the Tucson Arena Feb. 17 at 8 p.m.

Tickets for Benassi's concert went on sale on the University of Arizona mall yesterday, and if you're around those parts, someone will gladly take your money from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets are also available at www.BBTUCSON.com

Benassi's website says:

Hailing from Reggio Emilia, Italy, Benny Benassi rose to worldwide fame with the 2002 release of his enormous chart-topping hit single “Satisfaction.” It was with that tune that he initiated a new genre of music dubbed as Electro, which earned him the crown “Godfather of Electro.” The demand for Benassi as a DJ is incredible and he headlines major festivals and venues around the world, including performances at this year’s Coachella and Electric Daisy Carnival festivals and major North American clubs including Pacha in New York and Government in Toronto.

So Tucson...are you ready to get your techno on?

This weekend, enjoy a photography and video showcase created by the Youth Farm Project. The event will be a fun mix of art, food and "youth power."

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona's Youth Farm Project said in a press release:

The Youth Farm Project works to engage youth in the food they eat and to foster the consideration of how what they eat affects their health, community, and the planet. The Youth Farm Project works year round with youth from elementary age through high school to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity through hands on agriculture and farm work, nutrition education, and community involvement.

Event details:

Saturday, Feb. 11 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Dragonfly Gallery
146 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85701

For more information, visit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona website or call 520-622-0525

AIDS Ribbon Tucson could use your help tonight. About 15 volunteers are needed to help carry the large beauty during a procession at an event sponsored by the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) and the UofA Black Alumni Club to mark National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, tonight, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the UA Vine Annex, 1125 N.Vine Ave.

The event is the 12th year for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - a national HIV/AIDS testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeting African Americans. There will be HIV rapid testing that is free and confidential, guest speakers, a candlelight vigil and entertainment.

To volunteer to carry the ribbon, which we strongly encourage you to do, call 207-0902.

Deep vocals, fast guitar strumming and a top hat describe Fred Eaglesmith, the singer/songwriter who publishes his own albums. He makes his way to Tucson on Saturday with the Fabulous Ginn Sisters for a show at Plaza Palomino. Though Eaglesmith's music is often classified as alternative country, his songs also seem to have a mix of blues, rock, folk and salsa styles.

And he's not just a talented musician, he's also a painter!

Here's what Tucson Weekly's Stephen Seigel said about Eaglesmith in 2010:

In many ways, Fred Eaglesmith is like a Canadian James McMurtry: Eaglesmith writes story-songs focusing on the travails of the common man living in the heartland. His early work is, in fact, reminiscent of the Texas songwriter tradition from which McMurtry springs, even in its instrumentation. But somewhere along the way, Eaglesmith got a bit more sonically interesting than that.

For more information, visit the Rhythm and Roots website.

• Arizona Opera
• Flower Duet

The opera comes to Tucson this weekend. Arizona Opera describes in a press release:

Arizona Opera’s production of “Madama Butterfly” features sopranos Shu-Ying Li and Jill Gardner sharing the title role of the trusting geisha abandoned by her American naval officer husband. One of the most challenging parts in the opera repertoire, Butterfly or Cio-Cio San is on stage for nearly the entire opera’s duration and sings some of Puccini’s greatest and most emotive music, including the popular aria “Un bel dì.”

Matthew Erikson, the public relations manager with Arizona Opera, describes the storyline as follows:

The basic storyline is that ugly American military officer abandons trusting geisha. Even after a 3-year absence, Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San) faithfully awaits the return of her beloved Pinkerton, holding onto her dreams of passionate love and their child, whom she has named Sorrow. When at last he arrives, Butterfly discovers he has married someone else. Her heart shattered, she must find a way to soar above disgrace and restore her honor. With sets that evoke a Nagasaki village, the Arizona Opera production includes one of the most sought-after interpreters of “Madama Butterfly,” Chinese soprano Shu-Ying Li.

When:
February 4, 7:30 p.m. and
February 5, 2 p.m.
Where:
Tucson Music Hall

For tickets, call the Arizona Opera Box Office at 520-293-4336 or visit Ticketmaster.
For more information, visit the Arizona Opera website.

Below the cut, a video preview of the show from Arizona Opera:

Andrew Collberg has lived in Sweden, New Zealand and Arizona, so it's safe to say his music has been influenced by different cultures and musical styles. With a blend of acoustic guitar, raw vocals and slower tempos, Collberg offers songs and performances that create a "feel-good" effect on his listeners.

The release of his 7-inch record kicks off Friday with a show at Borderlands Brewing Co. with fellow Fort Lowell acts Tracy Shedd and Young Mother and an after party at Plush. For more event and album information, check out the Fort Lowell Records website.

Hip-hop. Electro. Pop. Techno. Combine them together and you have Fabian, a DJ whose beats and remixes are enough to convince me to put my dancin' shoes on.

Enjoy a night of Fabian Thursday night at Club Congress. His beats without-a-doubt fall into today's popular music style categories, but I do hear a hint of '70s disco in there - and a bit of Michael Jackson pop. His website provides a glimpse of his very interesting resume:

DJ Fabian has shared and played along many of today's chart topping artists and has personally worked and created ideas for entertainers from all over the spectrum. From Carrot Top, to Barry Manilow to recently designing the soundtrack to the “Official Michael Jackson European Tribute Tour” for Emmy winner, Travis Payne (This Is It, Dancing With The Stars) choreographer, artistic director for and friend of the late Michael Jackson.

Want more Fabian? Go to the Hotel Congress website for more information.

Hopefully, you were already planning to attend the Project White House Beer Summit tomorrow night, but if not, we're now able to sweeten the deal a bit. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet actual presidential candidates and drink delicious Tucson beer, but you can also get some food from two of Tucson's food trucks. MaFooCo will be there serving their blend of Korean and Mexican food and Animal Farm will serve their dishes focused on locally raised meat and produce. Food, beer and citizen democracy...what more could you ask for? See you at Borderlands from 4 to 6 tomorrow.