The weather is heating up and we can't think of a better way to cool down than with unlimited ice cream! It's time for a brain freeze!

This weekend, May 4 and 5, Rillito Park will be transformed into an ice cream lover's paradise, and pretty much every kid's dream world. Unlimited ice cream, face painting, obstacle courses, bouncy houses, foam parties, food trucks and brain freezes for everyone.

The Brain Freeze Ice Cream Festival will highlight 21 different flavors of Blue Bell Premium Ice Cream as well as tastings from The Screamery, root beer floats from BJ's Brewhouse and vegan options from Cashew Cow.

The festival is a fundraiser for the Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome, SANDS. Brain Freeze festivals work to raise money for local Down Syndrome networks and to raise awareness of organizations who provide jobs, health, financial and educational services to those with mental, physical and emotional disabilities. Read more about their commitment to Down Syndrome awareness and fundraising efforts here.

The event runs Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Ticket pricing is $12 for adults 13 and over, kids four through 12 are $10, and three and under are free. Find more information about the festival on their website and facebook page.

Bacanora: Spirit of the Sonoran Desert. Exo Bar is hosting back-to-back events for the Agave Heritage Festival. At these intimate evenings, you can learn about the sustainability and future of agave while sampling Bacanora and other mezcals along with traditional accompaniments. This celebration of Sonoran mezcals includes presentations by mezcal makers and discussions about sustainable farming. 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 29, and Tuesday, April 30. 403 N. Sixth Ave. $25. Details here.

Robert Mac at Laffs. They call him “someone who has shared the stage with Robin Williams and Patton Oswalt.” They call him “occasionally silly.” And they call him a “Tucson semi-native.” For one night only, the man they also call Robert Mac (because that’s his name) is returning to Laffs with some of the stuff that made him one of Dry Bar’s most popular acts. Entertainment Business ranked Mac in the top 100 standup comedians in the U.S., and his comedy is always clean, too! 7 p.m. Monday, April 29. Laffs Comedy Caffé, 2900 E. Broadway Blvd. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Details here.
Bicycle at Bianchi's. Saddle on up and trade your spokes for brushes as you paint! Join Creative Juice Art Bar at Bianchi's Italian Restaurant to get your art on. Arrive early for happy hour specials at the restaurant from 3 - 6 p.m. Painting starts right at 6:30 p.m. 3620 W. Tangerine Road. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

El Tambó Fest. A night-long party of cumbia bands and DJs from across the borderlands region. 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, April 26. Hotel Congress. 311 E. Congress St. $12 in advance, $15 day of. Details here.

Ignite Agave. As part of the Agave Heritage Festival, the Fox Theatre is hosting a “presentation” about food, agriculture, beverages and culture. But this is far more than a presentation, the evening features live music, celebrity chefs, botanists, and business owners all discussing and showing the importance of agave on our region. Don’t just learn the botany, taste it as well. VIP ticket holders enjoy exclusive early entrance, access to balcony seating, specialty cocktails, and light bites crafted with local heritage ingredients. 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 26. 17 W. Congress St. $5 or $45 for VIP. Details here.

Psychout! At The Rock. Into psychedelic bands like Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd and Iron Butterfly? This event is a celebration of all things trippy and neo-psychedelic, now at a bigger venue than ever. Sugar Candy Mountain is headlining, and other bands include the Psychedelephants, Tropical Beach, Silver Cloud Express and The Desert Beats. Local artist Ilsa Kanto even created imagery just for this event that will project onto a screen behind the bands while they play. 99.1 FM Downtown Radio (KTDT) hosts! Doors at 6:30, show at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26. The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, and will be available at Zia Records, 3370 E. Speedway Blvd. 21+. Details here.

The Wartburg Choir and Helios Ensemble. The internationally acclaimed Wartburg Choir, hailing from exotic Iowa, is touring through Tucson, and will be performing this show with the local Helios Ensemble, a 50-person community vocal performance group that has become Southern Arizona’s most advanced community chorus since it started in 2014. Come listen to these two groups do what they’re best at: making beautiful music. All you have to do is kick back and do one of the things you’re probably best at: listening to beautiful music. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26. Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway Blvd. $15, or $5 for students. Details here.


Spring Enchanted Evenings. If you’re a Tucson transplant, Yume Japanese Gardens might be one of those places that you’ve been meaning to check out but just haven’t gotten to yet. Well, this weekend is your perfect chance! Check it out on a warm spring evening, when the paths will be lit by glowing lanterns and recorded Japanese folk melodies on the koto, shamisen and shakuhachi will make your heart and head feel light. Traditional Japanese foods, like octopus dumplings and curry plates, will be for sale at Takoyaki Balls food truck. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, through Sunday, April 28. Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way. $15 adults, $5 for kids 3 to 15. Details here.

Eight 10s in Tucson. There’s something uniquely satisfying about being able to take in an entire piece of art in just 10 minutes. It’s one of the great things about poetry and pop music. Usually, it’s not something you can say about plays. But at the Winding Road Theater Ensemble’s inaugural production of this festival, you can see eight different 10-minute plays, selected from more than 300 admissions all over the country. (Intermission is by Joe Bardin from Scottsdale—AZ represent!) More than two dozen local actors will be showing off their chops, with the help, of course, of a team of designers and technical staff. Friday, April 26, through Sunday, May 5. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The Temple of Music and Art’s Cabaret Theatre, 330 S. Scott Ave. $28, with discounts for seniors, students, active military and first responders. Details here.

Dance Fusion. Pima Community College’s annual dance performance features student choreography in everything from hip hop to modern to jazz. And this is the first time since Nolan Kubota has been running the program that the show has had a theme: vintage carnival! They’re bringing in sideshow acts like glass-walking, bottle dancing, strongmen and mermaids to lend to the atmosphere, and students had a chance to exercise their creativity under constraint. Kubota predicts that this show will be one of their best yet! 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. PCC Center for the Arts, West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road. $10. Details here.

Ferngully. For their kids movie and craft night, Bookmans’ midtown location is screening this 1992 animated musical fantasy. Right alongside The Lorax and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, this is the film most likely to turn you or your kids into a darn environmentalist. In it, a logger stumbles into a jungle inhabited by magic fairies. Together they have to protect their fragile homeland from the evil personification of pollution, voiced by none other than Tim “oh my god my love for him knows no bounds” Curry. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26. 3330 East Speedway Boulevard. Details here.

Wild Reeds. Uplifting as the morning sun, the music of The Wild Reeds fuses three-part harmonies, folk melodies and just a bit of that country twang. The female vocals jump from delicate to explosively passionate in just a few bars, while the accompanying band lays a rustic stage. The Wild Reeds landed onto Tiny Desk Concert in 2015, and have been bringing their poignant poetry to audiences ever since. Catch The Wild Reeds w/ Valley Queen at 191 Toole. 8 p.m. Friday, April 26. 191 E. Toole Ave. $10-$12. 16+. Details here.

The Art & Sciences of Agave. A three-hour class hosted by the University of Arizona about the landscape of the Sonoran Desert through the eyes of the “Agave-Human symbiosis.” 9 a.m. to noon. Saturday, April 27. Tumamoc Hill $80. Details here.

Centurions Party. Local nonprofit The Centurions are celebrating a Woodstock-themed party to support multiple local charities. The evening includes “groovy grub” alongside a “bell bottom bar” and specialty drinks. Here’s your chance to do some good, get some food, and get groovy all at the same time. Supported charities are TMC for Children, San Miguel High School, Youth on their Own and Boys to Men Mentoring. 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday, April 27. Kino Sports Complex 2500 East Ajo Way. $95. Details here.

Crooked Yoga. Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. is giving you a deal worth getting zen about: a yoga class plus a pint of beer that is only $5. What better way to start the weekend than with craft beer and positive thoughts? Please bring your own mat. All levels and ages welcome. Any person under 21 must be accompanied by a guardian. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27. 228 E. Sixth Street. $5. Details here.
Agave Fiesta. This signature showcase features all things agave, and yes, that means over 30 agave spirits. If you want to experience all the goods produced or inspired by the agave plant, the Hotel Congress plaza is the place to be. Beyond the live music, agave art and local food pairings, there will also be an agave cocktail showdown. Hosted by Hotel Congress and Agave Heritage Festival. 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 27. 311 E. Congress St. $40 or $75 for VIP. Details here.

Little Women, the Broadway Musical. You’re probably familiar with the story of the lovable foursome of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March, growing up in Civil War America. In the musical, the sisters’ desires come to life in the form of songs and dance that will warm your heart (and your vocal chords, as you sing along) even more than the original story. Jason Howland, who wrote the music for the show, won a Grammy for his work producing the cast recording of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Don’t miss out on the magic! 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, and Saturday, May 4, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, and Sunday, May 5. Arizona Rose Theatre, 4500 N. Oracle Road (in the Tucson Mall). Advance: $17 GA, $15 senior/military, $10 children. At the door: $19 GA, $17 senior/military, $12 children. Details here.

Mark Preston & Michelle Murlin. Mark Preston has performed shows all over the world, and spent 11 years with the world-famous recording group The Lettermen. He sprinkles everything he sings, from pop to showtunes to country, with a healthy dose of humor. Michelle Murlin, who has performed in several Broadway shows and does some killer impersonations of Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe, is a triple-threat singer, dancer and actor. If you don’t think these two are going to put on a spectacular night of song, dance and comedy, what are you thinking? Doors at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Monsoon Nightclub at Desert Diamond, 7350 S Nogales Hwy. $15. Details here.
A Patterned Language. The Etherton Gallery’s latest exhibit features work by artists from here in Arizona as well as from the Keram River of Papua New Guinea. All of it uses visual languages to explore the reality of today’s world, some by exploring the ways which machines and technology shape everything from how we make purchases to how we make friends. Matt Magee’s art uses stylized dots and dashes to visualize the code that runs the world. Albert Chamillard’s crosshatching work evokes early cuneiform drawings. And work by the Artists of the Keram River depicts the daily lives of the people of Papua New Guinea. On display through June 15. Opening reception and book signing 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Etherton Gallery, 135 S. Sixth Ave. Free. Details here.

MOCA Spring Exhibition Opening Reception. Happy springtime! Our local museum of contemporary art is featuring several selections from the UA School of Art, as well as two other exhibits. New Histories is a statewide juried youth art competition that features paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages and animations by K-12 youth. Groping in the Dark is an exhibition exploring the way humans use land, investigating elements like agricultural engineering, relationships between species and the expansion and collapse of human constructions. It’s curated by artist, writer and curator Alex Young. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 27 (members’ preview starts at 7, and open to the public starting at 8). Tucson MOCA, 265 S. Church Ave. $5 GA; $3 students & senior; free for members, youth under 17, veterans, active military and public safety officers. Details here.

May Day 2019 at the Museum of Miniatures. May Day is a celebration of workers, but we’re betting it evokes the same images of Maypoles and happy little children for you as it does for us. This makes the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures the perfect place to celebrate it! Kids can create a tiny basket of flowers and play with a dress-up cart and dollhouses. Then, Fairy Caitlin & Friends from More to the Story Entertainment will read the group the story of Dragons Love Tacos 2, which we are assuming will resolve the cliffhanger ending of the original Dragons Love Tacos. Fairy, goblin and elf attire is encouraged! 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27. Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive. Included with museum admission: $10.50 GA, $8.50 senior/military, $7 students/youth ages 4 to 17, free for members and kids 3 and under. Details here.
Solar Potluck and Exhibition. If you’re going to live in Arizona, you’re going to be surrounded by potential solar power. So you might as well use it as an excuse to have a potluck. Citizens for Solar is presenting their 37th annual iteration of this event, with displays of electric vehicles, a raffle for a solar oven and other solar products, and speakers and musicians on a stage powered by solar energy. There will also be solar cooked food all day long! Starting at 5 p.m., bring a dish, drink or some ice to the potluck to share—just bring your own plate and utensils. 10 a.m. to sunset (not much point trying to do solar-powered business after the sun sets). Saturday, April 27. Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Road. $7 per car to get into the park, but the potluck is free. Details here.

I Dream In Widescreen. The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television is presenting their 2019 thesis films! Check out these locally made movies from up-and-coming director hopefuls. With a wide range of topics and film types, you never know what you’ll see at this Fox Theatre event. 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 27. 17 W. Congress St. $5. Details here.
No Small Matter. On Saturday, April 27, cities across Arizona will screen this documentary, and Tucson is joining in! The Screening Room is hosting a showing of a documentary which takes a look at early childhood education across the United States, showing the importance of those first five years. This film combines personal stories, statistics and history to show the power early education has on American families. A community discussion follows the screening. Hosted by Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children and Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27. 127 East Congress Street. Free. Details here.

Ancient Agave Garden Tour. This field trip shows how “the desert landscape can be harnessed to create abundance.” 9 a.m. to noon. Sunday, April 28. Tumamoc Hill $30. Details here.

Pop-Up Syrian Souq & Bazaar. Syrian Sweets Tucson and the Sema Foundation are organizing a little taste of Damascus right here in Arizona. This pop-up includes sweets, savories, coffee and crafts made by the local Syrian community. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28. 2843 N. Alvernon Way. Details here.
Psalms of David and Solomon. At this Arizona Repertory Singers event, several forms of art come together. There are psalms, there is music and there is e.e. cummings poetry. In light of the recent Event Horizon photo, a line from the cummings piece set to music by UA composer Daniel Asia, feels particularly poignant: “with luminous the shadow of love himself: / who’s we – nor can you do or i / and every world, / before silence begins a star. / Amen.” This afternoons also features “Make peace,” a brand new work by David Lang. 3 p.m. Sunday, April 28. Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club. $18. Details here.

Sundays in the Garden at Tohono Chul. Did you know if you look up the word “relaxing” in the dictionary, you’ll see, right next to the definition, a photo of yourself with a prickly pear lemonade in hand, listening to the soothing sounds of Bryan Hayslett on the cello in the gardens of Tohono Chul? It’s true! Hayslett is a Ph.D. candidate in music performance at NYU Steinhardt, where he also teaches as adjunct artist faculty. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2009 when he was the first prize winner of the Alexander & Buono International String Competition. He’s no joke! But you’ll be a joke if you miss this performance! 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 28. Tohono Chul Performance Garden, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. $13 adults, $10 military/student/senior, $3 kids 5 to 12, free for members and kids under 5. Details here.
36th Annual Tucson Poetry Festival. There’s something about Tucson that makes you want to write poetry about it. Maybe the city attracts poets, or maybe it creates them. It’s probably a little bit of both. Here’s a line from Ofelia Zepada’s “Proclamation”: “Citizens gravitate to Sabino Canyon. / The humming, buzzing, clicking of water life, / the miracle of desert streams / on smooth boulders. / Rocks, sediment older than life itself / serve as reminders.” There’s so many beautiful poets to celebrate at this year’s event, with the theme “Poetry as Gesture” and with national guests like Angel Dominguez and Michael Klein and local poets like Kristen Nelson and Aura Valdes. Thursday, April 25, through Sunday, April 28, at various times and locations. Details here.

Alive Inside. This community rental of the Loft Cinema explores music’s ability to empower and combat memory loss. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett traveled around the country to capture music’s impact on those suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Hosted by Harmony Hospice and the 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. 3 p.m. Sunday, April 28. 3233 East Speedway Boulevard. Free. Details here. Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Tucson is a magical town. You might even say it’s a magic kingdom, if it wouldn’t get you sued. And the Weekly is once again gonna celebrate Tucson’s most magical museums, restaurants, brewpubs, dive bars, coffee houses, annual spectacles, playgrounds and all the rest in this year’s Best of Tucson.

But to take this magic carpet ride, we need your help to decide the best. You can nominate anyone in any category through midnight, June 9. We’ll then tally those primary results to get the top five nominees in each category. Those top finalists will compete for your votes through midnight, Aug. 4. And on Oct. 24, we’ll announce the winners in our special Best of Tucson collector’s edition!

VOTE NOW!

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If you've ever voted for something on our website before — perhaps a previous year's Best of Tucson? — you have to type your name the exact same way you did the first time, or the system will not let you in to vote. Maybe last year you didn't capitalize your first name? Or perhaps you left off your last name? If you can't figure out what is going wrong, please email our Web Editor Tirion Morris ([email protected]) and she'll set you straight.

36th Annual Tucson Poetry Festival. There’s something about Tucson that makes you want to write poetry about it. Maybe the city attracts poets, or maybe it creates them. It’s probably a little bit of both. Here’s a line from Ofelia Zepada’s “Proclamation”: “Citizens gravitate to Sabino Canyon. / The humming, buzzing, clicking of water life, / the miracle of desert streams / on smooth boulders. / Rocks, sediment older than life itself / serve as reminders.” There’s so many beautiful poets to celebrate at this year’s event, with the theme “Poetry as Gesture” and with national guests like Angel Dominguez and Michael Klein and local poets like Kristen Nelson and Aura Valdes. Thursday, April 25, through Sunday, April 28, at various times and locations. See tucsonpoetryfestival.org for more info. Details here.

UA Wind Symphony & Symphonic Band. Add a little music to your week and listen to the soothing sounds of the UA Wind Symphony & Symphonic Band as they perform on Thursday night. Admission is $5. Fred Fox School of Music, Crowder Hall, 1017 N Olive Rd. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Details here.

Pima County Fair. From carnival games to a beer fest to an exhibit on the pharaohs of Egypt, you’ll find there’s something for everyone at the fair—there always is. Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, April 28. Gates open at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The carnival starts at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. 11300 S. Houghton Road. $9 GA, $5 youth 6 to 10, free for kids 5 and under with the purchase of a GA ticket. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

A Couple of Smarties

“Clean or dirty?” The challenge itself was a joke. Gary “Hoodie” Hood, a cult leader of sorts for Laffs open mic-ers, used it often. He gave the impression he could do an hour of either.

Now it’s a common topic throughout the comedy industry. Fans follow both ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ comedy, according to their own standards, and commonly laugh at things that belie their inconsistency.

Clean comedy is having a moment, though. Locally, Clean Comedy Tucson offers monthly shows in Marana and Vail. Nationally the internet has brought us the family-friendly comedy channel Dry Bar.

Tucson-raised comedy success story Robert Mac has the scoop. “This group needed content for their cable network, so they decided to record a bunch of clean comedians at a place where they don’t serve alcohol. (Literally, Dry Bar) They have sort of cracked the code. They say a 100 million people in the US watch only clean comedy…. They have created this website and they put my clips on there, and my clips have 10 million views. So people have contacted me and asked me to work at their comedy clubs.”

It’s worth noting that Dry Bar just popped the cork on this project in January 2017. It now has four clubs in Utah, a YouTube channel and an iTunes app offering more than 100, hour-long comedy specials, for free, with nary an F-bomb.

Clean comedy is the hardest, and from the time he first stepped up to Laff’s open mic, Mac was universally understood to be a smart comic. He graduated cum laude from the UA’s nationally recognized creative writing program. Paired with his prodigious work ethic, his intellect and energy have delivered the dream. He lives by, for and about comedy.

To support his standup habit while living in San Francisco, Mac created a popular game-show-style tour of the city’s most historically notorious places. Now living in Washington, D.C., he hires out as a host for a Wedding Game Show of his own creation. He’s also surrounded there by opportunities to host, emcee and speak at corporate and government meetings and other functions.

“Standup is a tough gig because you’re constantly unemployed,” Mac says. “So you have to have a side hustle and another side hustle and another side hustle. I have to do these things in order to keep moving.”

With Dry Bar, though, Mac says, standup is becoming more remunerative for him. “This Dry Bar thing is very interesting, because they don’t sell drinks. So what they do is raise the ticket price (to $25 or $30). People drive for hours to come see a show so they’re paying attention. They’re financially and physically invested in the show, and it’s changed the whole (business) model of how comedy works, at least in the clean world.”

Hosted by Tucson Comedy, Mac performs his unique brand of smart, clean and often silly comedy at 7 p.m., Monday, April 29, at Laff’s Comedy Café. Reservations are $12 via eventbrite.

Aspiring comedians, promoters and venue owners also can attend his three-hour workshop, The Art, Business, and Craft of Stand-Up Comedy, from 3 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 30, also at Laffs. Registration is $50 via paypal.me/chadlehrman/50.

Now where did I stash that farthingale?

Shakespeare’s birthday is April 24! For the fifth year, the Tucson Fringe Festival hosts Beer with the Bard Pub Crawl in his honor. You can wear the outfits, overact the lines and relive the parts. Or you can just watch the fun and drink whatever you like. Details are at tucsonfringe.org. Tickets are $10 and $25 via shop.tucsonfringe.org. 

Agave Heritage Festival. Back again, this festival is taking over downtown Tucson and exploring the “cultural, commercial, and culinary significance of the agave across borders.” There are plenty food and drink oriented events based around this spiny plant, such as Mezcal Crawl, the Marana Agave Farm Tour, the Agave Heritage Dinner, live demonstrations of agave roasting and much more. The Agave Heritage Festival runs from Wednesday, April 24, to Sunday, May 5. Details here.


Horizons–Student Spotlight. The UA has a nationally reputed dance program that teaches its students ballet, modern and jazz in equal amounts. As dancers prepare to graduate and take the stage at professional venues all over the world, the School of Dance presents this concert as a culmination of all of their work here in Tucson. The student choreography and diverse perspectives will have the whole audience looking forward to what lies on the horizon for the dancers. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, and Wednesday, April 24. 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 and April 27. 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1737 E. University Blvd. $25 GA, $23 senior/military/UA employees, $12 students. Details here.


Tucson International Mariachi Conference. Face it: You’d be a lot cooler if you knew more about mariachi music and Baile Folklorico. Especially if you knew how to perform either. This festival, which started in 1982 is your chance! Check out a mariachi or dancing workshop, or, if watching is more your style, you can attend the El Mariachi Canta Vocal Competition on Wednesday, April 24, the Showcase Concert on Thursday, April 25 or Festival Garibaldi on Saturday, April 27. At the Espectacular Concert on Friday, April 26, watch some of the best performers in the country showcasing the culture, music and dance of mariachi. The festival runs from Wednesday, April 24 through Saturday, April 27. Casino Del Sol Resort, AVA Amphitheatre, 5655 W. Valencia Road. Event times and ticket prices vary. Details here.

History of Pharmacy Museum tour. Did you know the UA has a History of Pharmacy Museum? And seriously, what’s more interesting than learning about all of the ways people used to treat diseases that seem so outlandish to us now? The museum has thousands of artifacts, from old drug containers and bottles to photos to chewing gum that belonged to John Dillinger himself. There’s even a full-scale replica of an old fashioned drug store. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 24. Skaggs Pharmaceutical Sciences Center & Drachman Hall, 1295 N. Martin Ave. Free, but reservations required! Details here.

Art Opening: Gina Beca. The Agave Heritage Festival is going on this week, and there are all sorts of exciting events going on. A chance to see Gina Beca’s depictions of the female form and desert landscapes on display at Hotel Congress is just one of them. Her warm, pale pieces depict beauty, resilience and whimsy in equal parts. Come on down to one of the coziest hotels around for the opening reception of Beca’s work. 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Free. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

From Pima County Public Library: Come talk to us! We're listening!

Whether you currently use the Library or not, we hope you’ll join us at two facilitated community meetings to discuss how the Library can better serve you in the future. These meetings are free and open to the public.

Register online here

Friday, April 26, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Flowing Wells Library at 1730 W. Wetmore Road

Saturday, April 27, 10 to 11 a.m.
Valencia Library at 202 W. Valencia Road
Spanish interpretation will be provided at this session.

There are no right or wrong answers, however we do ask that you respect others' opinions, speak clearly and share your viewpoints one at a time to allow everyone a chance to participate.

A variety of topics will be covered:

• What you do at the library, including physical or digital usage
• Which locations you frequent
• How you think library spaces should change in the future
• How you anticipate your community changing and how it will impact library use
• What is the most important role of the library in the future

Feedback will be collected verbally and on paper. Surveys will be offered in both English and Spanish.

20th Century Blues. Four women like to stay in touch by meeting for a photo shoot once a year, so they can document the ways the change and age over a lifetime of falling in and out of love, falling into and out of careers, having children and watching major world events happen. But when their private photos have the potential to go public as part of a retrospective for an art museum, 40 years of friendship is tested, and the women must look at who they were, who they are and who they want to become. Two-time Obie Award-winner Susan Miller is the playwright! Tuesday, April 23, through Sunday, May 5. Shows are at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. $35, or $20 for the preview on Tuesday, April 23. Details here.

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Courtesy Photo

Pima County Fair. From carnival games to a beer fest to an exhibit on the pharaohs of Egypt, you’ll find there’s something for everyone at the fair—there always is. Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, April 28. Gates open at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The carnival starts at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. 11300 S. Houghton Road. $9 GA, $5 youth 6 to 10, free for kids 5 and under with the purchase of a GA ticket. Admit discount day is Monday, April 22, with $2 tickets for all ages! Details here. 

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Christopher Boan

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Arizona Baseball. Get some fresh air and cheer on the home team at the same time! Fill your evening with baseball and join the University of Arizona Wildcats as they take on another Arizona team, the Grand Canyon University Antelopes at home. Tickets range from $5-$8. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Pima County Fair. From carnival games to a beer fest to an exhibit on the pharaohs of Egypt, you’ll find there’s something for everyone at the fair—there always is. Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, April 28. Gates open at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The carnival starts at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. 11300 S. Houghton Road. $9 GA, $5 youth 6 to 10, free for kids 5 and under with the purchase of a GA ticket. Admit discount day is Monday, April 22, with $2 tickets for all ages! Details here.

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium. After celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, the Flandrau Science Center wants to take you beyond our planet. Their other-worldly show Life Beyond Earth: The Search for Undiscovered Worlds runs at 4 p.m. on Monday. Buckle in and learn where the lines between science fiction blur into science fact. See what the scientists are finding out in the great unknown. Tickets are available at the door or can be reserved in advance by calling 520 621 4516. Details here. Witchery. Head on over to Loft Cinema this Monday night to watch a cheesy horror flick. What a great way to keep the weekend fun going! Starring David Hasselhoff and Linda Blair, this movie is sure to make you squirm. General admission $4.The Loft Cinema, 3233 East Speedway Boulevard. 8 p.m. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.