St. Baldrick's Foundation, the largest private pediatric cancer research funder, is hosting a family-fun head-shaving event this Friday, March 8, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Mountain View High School.

Head-shaving events have been one of the many ways the foundation raises funds and awareness for childhood cancer treatment since 1999.

Recent data tells us that, on average, a child is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes — yet pediatric cancer research remains largely underfunded. While it's true that more adults are diagnosed with cancer than children, it's children that lose an average of 56 years more of their lives than adults, considering 6-years-old is the average age of diagnosis.

Even children who are treated successfully run the risk of suffering side effects later in life. According to the foundation's website, 95% of survivors will suffer from chronic health issues due to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy administered at the same time their young brains and bodies were developing throughout treatment.
Why shave your head? Chris Dow, the regional event director for this year's Rock the Bald, says that it raises awareness and offers solidarity.

"People will ask you, 'Hey, why are you bald?' and it provides a conversation starter for those who might not know about pediatric cancer," he said. "It also shows the kids who are going through chemo that they have friends and family on their side."


In addition to head shaving, participants can donate ponytails 8 inches or longer. This year's event will also feature food trucks, raffles, face painting, chair massages and eegees to provide fun and fundraising opportunities all ages will enjoy.

Mountain View High School is located at 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85742. The event runs from 5-9 p.m. Contact Chris Dow at [email protected] or call 520-256-9595 for more information.

Infusion Release at 1912 Brewing. Infusions are back, baby. 1912 Brewing Co. is designating every Wednesday as their special infusion day. You get to try yourself a sweet, sour or hoppy infusion. 1912 says they love doing new, wacky infusions, so you really never know what you’re going to get, but it’ll be delicious local beer. 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 6. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. Details here.

Things To Do at the U Tour. If you’ve read the whole Tucson Weekly and still haven’t found any arts, events or attractions in this town that interest you, maybe this tour hosted by the UA Visitor Center will give you the deeper knowledge you need. Check out some of the living laboratories, world-class fine art institutions and other hidden treasures campus has to offer in this tour that’s ideal for non-student visitors. (Maybe you have family coming to town that just missed the gem show? Or an old scientist pal who loves seeing other labs?) 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 6. UA Visitor Center, 811 N. Euclid Ave. Free, but reservations required. Details here.

Arizona Friends of Chamber Music Festival. With five days’ worth of music, this festival will have something for all instrumental music lovers. Day one features, just for example, both Philip Glass and Shostakovich. Day two’s got Beethoven and Mozart. Day three features Bacewicz and Arensky. Day four has Kevin Puts and Taneyev. And day five will be serving up Brahms and Mendelssohn. And that’s just some of the music you’ll hear! There’s so much more to enjoy at this festival, so attend one day, some of the days or all five to soak up some songs. 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, Wednesday, March 6, and Friday, March 8. 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. Leo Rich Theatre, 260 S. Church Ave. $30 adults, $10 students. Details here.

The Cat Video Fest 2019. Whereas the dog thinks, “These humans feed and house me, they must be god,” the cat thinks, “These humans feed and house me, I must be god.” For those who don’t mind the haughtiness, the Loft Cinema is screening “a fun, frisky and furry celebration of online cat videos.” Perfect for cat fanatics or those hoping to become one. A portion of ticket sales from these screenings will benefit the Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter and the HOPE Animal Shelter. 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 6. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $10. Details here.

The Bellrays. The punk and soul in the Bellrays’ music work like a chemical reaction: two independent and proficient pieces on their own which explode on contact, creating something wholly different, powerful and volatile. Their instrumentals feature the wailing guitars and driving drums found in a garage rock band, but frontwoman Lisa Kekaula’s dark, soulful vocals color the band into a breed all its own. A look at Kekaula’s favorite albums tells The Bellrays’ story: classic rock acts with even more classic blues influence. Catch The Bellrays at 191 Toole with The Atom Age. 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 6. $12-$15. 191 E. Toole Ave. 21+. Details here. Details here.

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

This is your chance to see and dance with some of the classiest male entertainers from Las Vegas, New York, Miami, Tampa, Orlando and more!

These chiseled, hard-bodied entertainers have been seen in movies, on VH1, E-Entertainment, MTV, Muscle & Fitness Magazine, Abercrombie & Fitch Ads, Reality TV Shows and HBO, and they are coming to The Oracle!

Enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the ultimate girls' night out!


This event is for women only. Ticket winners must be 21 years old. 

The United States officially incarcerates more people than any other nation on earth.

Incarceration cost U.S. taxpayers more than $80 billion in 2016. Some states such as New York and Washington spend between $50,000 and $60,000 a year for each prisoner.

What does that cost buy?
What purposes does imprisonment serve?
What purpose should it serve?
Who should be imprisoned? For what? Why?
Who should operate prisons in the United States–government or for-profit corporations?

Pima County Public Library is inviting the community to explore these questions and share ideas at an upcoming FRANK Talk facilitated by Dr. T.J. Davis, Arizona Sate University, School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.

The event will take place Saturday, March 9 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library. The event is free to attend and open to all. No advance registration required. 

For dog-lovers, dog-likers and all things dog-related, the first annual Woofstock dog festival and "adopt-a-thon" takes place at the Reid Park Bandshell amphitheater this Sunday, March 10.

The event features low-cost vaccinations and microchipping, adoptions, food trucks, costume contests (both for dogs and humans) and a whole lineup of doggy demonstrations and performances throughout the day.

Hosted by the Tucson Dog Magazine, Woofstock is also gathering pet supplies for Cody's Friends animal charity, so feel free to bring dog or cat food, toys, leashes, beds, bowls or anything else you might think pets could use.

Come out for a day of peace, love and adoptions.

Woofstock takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10. At The Bandshell at Reid Park. Free entry.

For more information, visit thetucsondog.com/woofstocktucson

How to Grow a Healthy Vegetable Garden. Yes, going out to eat is always a good time. But so is growing your own food right out of the ground! Vegetable growing in Tucson can be different (and difficult), but Southwest Victory Gardens at the Flowing Wells Library is here to help you out. This class teaches the basics of choosing and selecting seeds and seedlings, the unique seasons of the Sonoran Desert, and how to plant a garden for maximum production. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5. 1730 W. Wetmore Road. Details here.

Taco Techno Tuesday. Batch Cafe & Bar is combining everyone’s favorites: delicious tacos by Ruben Soto and tasty beats by DJ Hart & friends. You get to fill your mouth and ears at the same time! The only issue is figuring out how to eat a taco while raving. 7 p.m. to midnight. Tuesday, March 5. 118 E. Congress St. Details here.

Mardi Gras Roundup. Fat Tuesday is coming! And plenty of local restaurants and breweries are seizing the day (or the whole week) to get in on the action. Here’s a list of some of the happenings: Dillinger Brewing Company is celebrating early with a release of their Hurricane Gose infusion and playing big band jazz. 5 p.m. Friday, March 1. 3895 N. Oracle Road. Kingfisher Grill is letting “The Good Times Roll” with live New Orleans music and festive dishes like gumbo, red beans and rice, and jambalaya. The Old Pueblo Jazz Band kicks off the celebration. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5. 2564 E. Grant Road. Brodie’s Tavern is celebrating for five days straight with their Mardi Gras Party. Yes, the masks and beads are to be expected, but they’ll also be serving up specialty drinks like daiquiris, bloody Marys and hurricanes. Noon to 2 a.m. Friday, March 1, to Tuesday, March 5. 2449 N. Stone Ave. Details here.

PCC Music Presents the Chorale & College Singers. Get ready to hear some beautiful music! Our local community college is putting on this concert full of classical and 20th-century repertoire, including Pie Jesu, from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, Mozart’s “Vesperae solennes de Confessore” and Susan LaBarr’s arrangement of “Hold Fast to Dreams.” The select mixed-voice a capella choir will be performing numbers by Samuel Barber, Francis Poulenc and Renaissance composer Michael East. Supporting local students who are making art and following their dreams? We can’t think of a better way to spend a Tuesday evening. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5. PCC Center for the Arts at West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road. $5 to $6. Details here. 

Arizona Friends of Chamber Music Festival. With five days’ worth of music, this festival will have something for all instrumental music lovers. Day one features, just for example, both Philip Glass and Shostakovich. Day two’s got Beethoven and Mozart. Day three features Bacewicz and Arensky. Day four has Kevin Puts and Taneyev. And day five will be serving up Brahms and Mendelssohn. And that’s just some of the music you’ll hear! 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, Wednesday, March 6, and Friday, March 8. 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. Leo Rich Theatre, 260 S. Church Ave. $30 adults, $10 students. Details here.

Mardi Gras at Hotel Congress. Ah yes, Mardi Gras. If you’re Catholic or like to use Lent as an opportunity to go without something or develop a good habit, then it’s your last night to engage in total debauchery. If you don’t do lent, then it’s still a great excuse to engage in total debauchery. Food and drink specials, capoeira dancers, tarot card readings and face paintings will abound. Try three different varieties of Abita beer, or order a Hurricane or Sazerac just like in NOLA. Plus, grab a slice of the largest King Cake in all of Arizona, then take a photo of yourself eating it in the photo booth. Starts at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Free before 6 p.m. and $3 after (Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m.) Details here.

Airplane. For their Tuesday Night Classics series, Harkins Theatres is showing the best damn airplane-based-screwball-comedy-featuring-Leslie-Nielsen movie of all time. So full of one-liners and memorable gags, it’d be impossible to fully describe the cultural impact this movie made. So let’s just say this: The first two days of the film’s box office gross covered its entire production budget. That’s a winning movie, right there. 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5. 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz. Details here.

Water Matters More: Water Issues in Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains. This local short film tells the story of the Sonoita Creek watershed and the damage a mining company might cause on the landscape and its nearby communities. This free screening at the Loft Cinema is hosted by Tucson Audubon Society and Patagonia Area Resource Alliance. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Free screening but RSVP required. Details here.


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

Tucson Cine Mexico, a partnership between the UA's Hanson Film/TV Institute and Cinema Tropical, has exhibited emerging and independent Mexican cinema to Tucsonans since 2004. Since forming, Tucson Cine Mexico has attracted more than 20,000 festival-goers and hosted more than 40 filmmakers. Its 16th anniversary lineup was just released.

The festival lasts from March 27 to 31 at the Tucson Museum of Art, UA Center For Creative Photography and Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18. 
OPENING NIGHT PARTY
In person: Producer Martha Sosa Elizondo

The 16th edition of Tucson Cine Mexico, the United States’ longest-running festival of Mexican film, kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Tucson Museum of Art with fiesta food and drinks. At 6:45 p.m. in the lobby area, Festival co-director Carlos Gutiérrez moderates “Nurturing New Film Talent,” a conversation with guest filmmaker Martha Sosa Elizondo. Martha, an Emmy-winning producer of such trailblazing films as Alejandro González Iñarritu’s Amores Perros and the multiple award- winning documentary Presumed Guilty, recently produced Plaza de la Soledad – screening for the first time in Arizona at Tucson Cine Mexico on March 28. After the Conversation, head to the patio for music by guest DJ Humblelianess and dance the night away. While there, attendees also have the option to view the cosmic works of contemporary Cuban artist Carlos Estévez, the Museum’s feature exhibition.

Wednesday, March 27, 6 to 9 p.m. Tucson Museum of Art.

MAMACITA
(Arizona Premiere)

Director José Pablo Estrada Torrescano unearths family secrets in his debut feature Mamacita. When the aspiring director went to study film abroad, his grandmother made him promise to return to Mexico one day to make a film about her life. Little did he know that his film would unearth secrets, lies and deceptions affecting five generations of a high society Mexican family. Mamacita, José Pablo’s grandmother, is an extravagant Mexican beauty queen living in her own kingdom with her loyal servants: gardener, chauffeur, chef, housekeeper and nurses. The 95-year-old lady has turned her house into a castle, hiding the open wounds of a prominent Mexican upper class family behind its stone walls. José Pablo conquers his granny’s empire like a Trojan horse, discovering the haunted spirits of his own past and the reason for the lack of love that his entire clan has suffered from for generations.

Thursday, March 28, 5:30p.m. at the Center for Creative Photography. Documentary. Mexico/Germany. 2018. 75 min.


PLAZA DE LA SOLEDAD
(Arizona Premiere)
In person: Producer Martha Sosa Elizondo

Internationally acclaimed photographer Maya Goded makes a promising film debut with Plaza de la Soledad, a moving continuation of her photography work in La Merced neighborhood in Mexico City, where prostitution has been present since the days of the Aztecs. “Beautiful, respectful, and celebratory” (Film Comment) and winner of the Cinema Tropical Award for Best Latin American Documentary, the film follows four strong women—middle-aged and older—who want to break a vicious circle that began with abuse and abandonment suffered from an early age. Carmen, Lety, Raquel and Esther aspire for a better life, and Goded’s poignant lens follows their quest to find true love, their capacity to transform themselves, and above all, their resilience and solidarity.

Thursday, March 28, 7:30p.m. at the Center for Creative Photography. Documentary. Mexico, 2016, 84 min.

XQUIPI’ GUIE’DANI / GUIE’DANI’S NAVEL
(Arizona Premiere)
In person: Director Xavi Sala

Directed by Catalan-born filmmaker Xavi Sala, this incisive portrait of racism and classism follows young Zapotec Guie’dani, who moves from her Oaxacan village to Mexico City when her mother takes a job as a live-in maid for a wealthy family. Defiant and morose, Guie’dani abhors their new roles in service. Everything changes when she meets Claudia, a rebellious girl with whom she becomes close friends. Newcomer Sótera Cruz brings razor-sharp intensity to her portrayal of a girl determined to fight for her dignity.

Friday, March 29, 6:00p.m. Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18. Drama. Mexico, 2018, 119 min.

LAS NIÑAS BIEN / THE GOOD GIRLS
(Arizona Premiere)

Based on Guadalupe Loaeza’s satiric and iconic 1985 bestseller of the same name, Alejandra Márquez Abella’s second film is a portrait of the always charming, perfect and spoiled Sofia, the queen bee of her group of friends, who faces the unimaginable - her social decay. It’s 1982 and a big economic crisis is hitting Mexico. Sofia will have to maintain appearances but her fall is not only inevitable, it will acknowledge what is lost when the money is gone. Starring an impressive ensemble cast including Ilse Salas (Güeros, Museo), Cassandra Ciangherotti (Time Share, Cantinflas), and Paulina Gaitán (Sin Nombre), The Good Girls is a poignant snapshot of the decadent Mexican bourgeoisie of the early eighties.

Friday, March 29, 9:15pm Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18. Drama. Mexico, 2018, 94 min.

LA CAMARISTA / THE CHAMBERMAID
(Arizona Premiere ahead of U.S. theatrical release)

A poignant and delicate class portrait, The Chambermaid follows Eve—played by the wonderful Gabriela Cartol (I Dream in Another Language)—a young chambermaid working in one of the most luxurious hotels in Mexico City, who confronts the monotony of long workdays with quiet examinations of forgotten belongings and budding friendships that nourish her newfound and determined dream for a better life. Inspired by the filmmaker's own theater play of the same name—in turn inspired by Sophie Calle’s 1980 artistic project “The Hotel,” in which the French artist worked as a chambermaid in a Venice hotel—The Chambermaid is a standout among a thriving new generation of Mexican and Latin American women filmmakers. With impeccable cinematography, a near-documentary eye, and a humanistic gaze, the film signals director Lila Avilés as a talent to watch.

Saturday, March 30, 6:00pm Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18. Mexico, 2018, 98 min.

CINDERELO
(U.S. Premiere)
In person: Director Beto Gomez

Beto Gómez’ humorous screwball comedy Cinderelo follows Marlon Flores (the wonderful Miguel Rodarte), a talented photographer with an amazing ability to highlight anyone's inner beauty, but not his own. His ugliness attracts the rejection and ridicule of all women, except his assistant Maria, who can see him for what he really is. Tired of constant contempt, he unexpectedly encounters his fairy godfather (Joaquín Cosío, Narcos: Mexico, Me gusta pero me asusta, The Thin Yellow Line), a mysterious man who casts a spell on him, transforming him into an irresistible hunk named Brando (played by popular actor William Levy). The catch? It’s only in effect at night. With the help of his best friend Felix, Marlon turns the handsome Brando into the most coveted man in the city. But can you find true love with a double identity?

Saturday, March 30, 9:00pm Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18. Romantic Comedy. Mexico/Dominican Republic, 2019, 91 min.

TESOROS / TREASURES
(Arizona Premiere)

Written and directed by veteran filmmaker María Novaro (Danzón, Leaving No Trace) and set in a palm-fringed fishing village on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, this tale follows young siblings Dylan and Andrea as they embark on a search for lost pirate treasure left centuries ago by Francis Drake. Guided by their own intelligence and curiosity, the children chart the limestone islands off the coast, and find something much more valuable than a treasure chest. A sweet and optimistic film from Mexico’s best-known female director.

Sunday, March 31, 2:00pm Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18. Family. Mexico, 2017, 95 min.

Mexican Cinema Under Neoliberalism: A Conversation with Filmmaker Carlos Rossini on the Intersection of Film and Politics in the 21st Century

Mexico is currently going through a profound political transformation. Last year's crushing electoral win of Andrés Manuel López Obrador as the new president of Mexico signaled the end of an era marked by neoliberalism policies that were implanted in Mexico since the eighties. Join us for a conversation with director-producer Carlos Rossini (The Chambermaid, The Mayor) on the intersection of Mexican cinema and politics in the new century, how neoliberalist policies shaped the narratives and modes of production south of the border, and what is currently at stake in Mexican cinema with the change in the federal government.

Sunday, March 31, 11:00 a.m. Tucson Museum of Art. 


All film descriptions courtesy of Tucson Cine Mexico.

For more information and tickets, visit tucsoncinemexico.org

Hell Night. Watch Linda Blair and her college pals spend the night in a haunted house finding themselves, losing sleep and their heads! Get spooked with this this classic Hollywood slash horror film. The Loft Cinema. 3233 E Speedway Blvd. 8 p.m. Admission is $4. Details here.
Mahjong Monday. Learn how to play a simplified version of traditional Hong Kong mahjong with the Himmel Park Library community. All skill levels are welcome so if you're a beginner or a mahjong mastermind, try your hand at this ancient game. First come, first serve seating with a limit of 24 people. Himmel Park Library. 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. 1035 N. Treat Ave.  Dollar Skate Night. There's something so wonderful about the retro feel of slipping on some rented skates and rolling around a rink, disco ball and neon lights in tow. Come show off your moves on the skating rink. $1 admission skate night is at Skate Country, 7980 E 22nd St. 6 to 8 p.m. $4 skate rentals. Details here.

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

Headlines of early wildflower blooms across Arizona inspired professional photographers and the average Tucsonan alike to head outside and enjoy nature's paint canvas. Parks Catalina and Picacho Peak showed off colors of violet and gold with swaths of poppies and lupines.
The equally magical Friday snow, however, caused the flowers to close their petals for a few days after a brief winter storm caused around half an inch of snow to fall around the University of Arizona campus and a whopping 38 inches on Mt. Lemmon, according to the National Weather Service.
Wildflowers like to hide when it gets chilly, but as temperatures have increased throughout the week reaching into the 70's, they're out again and blooming as bright as ever! This bloom marks the beginning of Southern Arizona's spring wildflower season. Need to know when and where you'll find these carpets of color? Reach out to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's "Wildflower Hotline" at 520-833-2702 ext. 7320 during business hours, or check online for additional resources.

Winemaker Dinner at Elvira’s. Tucson’s best “Tequila, Cocina & Vino” hub, Elvira’s is hosting the founding owner of Beaux Freres winery. At this four-course dinner, they will pair wine, dishes and insider information on owning and starting a winery. Have a chat with founder Michael Etzel and enjoy fancy drinks and food at the same time! 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 1. 256 E. Congress St. $80. Details here.

Mardi Gras Roundup. Fat Tuesday is coming! And plenty of local restaurants and breweries are seizing the day (or the whole week) to get in on the action. Here’s a list of some of the happenings: Dillinger Brewing Company is celebrating early with a release of their Hurricane Gose infusion and playing big band jazz. 5 p.m. Friday, March 1. 3895 N. Oracle Road. Kingfisher Grill is letting “The Good Times Roll” with live New Orleans music and festive dishes like gumbo, red beans and rice, and jambalaya. The Old Pueblo Jazz Band kicks off the celebration. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5. 2564 E. Grant Road. Brodie’s Tavern is celebrating for five days straight with their Mardi Gras Party. Yes, the masks and beads are to be expected, but they’ll also be serving up specialty drinks like daiquiris, bloody Marys and hurricanes. Noon to 2 a.m. Friday, March 1, to Tuesday, March 5. 2449 N. Stone Ave. Details here.

John Michael Talbot. Being known as Catholic music’s most popular artist comes with a lot of hard work. John Michael Talbot, who released his 55th album, The Inner Room, in 2016 and his 30th book, Lessons from a Troubadour, in 2018, has several active ministries. And he’s earned dozens of awards and nominations along the way. His “Lifetime of Music & Ministry” tour will feature music from across his four decades of recordings, presented more as a prayer experience, complete with stories and meditations, than a concert. The Tucson show in particular will be presented as preparation for the start of Lent. 7 p.m. Friday, March 1. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5150 N. Valley View Road. $25 GA and $50 VIP. Details here.

A Conversation With Edith Head. Hollywood’s most famous costume designer worked on more than 1,100 movies over the course of more than five decades, picking up 35 Academy Award nominations and eight Oscars along the way. This play is based on Edith Head’s Hollywood, a biography of the designer which was written with the help of more than 13 hours of recollections recorded by the legend herself, and chock-full of what she herself liked to call “Edithisms.” Susan Claassen is the show’s actor, director, producer and designer, and was there to help the book’s author sort through the hours’ worth of recordings and talk to people who knew Head best, like her sketch artist and her friends. 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28 and Friday, March 1. 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. $35, with discounts available for groups, seniors, active military and students. Details here.

Group Show at the Wilde Meyer Gallery. This month, the Wilde Meyer Gallery is dedicated to highlighting more than just one local artist. So come see art by the likes of Bill Colt, Jacqueline Rochester, Sushe Felix, Greg Dye and Barbara Duzan. From colorful landscapes to portraits of animals to scenes from everyday life, it’s a show where there’s something for everyone. Step right up and feast your eyes on some local art! Show is open throughout March, with gallery hours being 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Receptions are 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 1 and Friday, March 15. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 2890 E. Skyline Drive. Details here.

Monster Jam Arena Tour. Most people don’t realize how much they need monster truck events in their lives until they experience the high-octane thrill of a weekend jam-packed with monster trucks doing donuts, flying off jumps and performing other tricks, like a “stoppie,” where the back wheels come off the ground and, nose down, drivers “moonwalk” the truck in reverse. (Maybe you have to see it to get it). With trucks like “Bad News Travels Fast,” “Barbarian” and “Stinger Unleashed,” you know this event is going to be larger-than-life. Don’t miss your chance to watch your childhood Hot Wheel dreams come to life! 7 p.m. on Friday, March 1; 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2; and 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $20 to $48+. Details here.
Empty Bowls 2019. Interfaith Community Services and the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center are hosting a gathering of soups, breads and desserts offered by local restaurants. Aside from the great local food, there is also a sale on ceramic bowls, with all proceeds going to support the Interfaith Community Services Food Banks and services. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2. 1288 W. River Road. $25. Details here.

Crooked Yoga. Every Saturday, Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. teaches Tucsonans in the ways of grounding and in the ways of gulping. What better way to get zen than to enjoy some craft beers at the same time? Yoga plus a pint of beer is only $5. Bring your own mat. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2. 228 E. Sixth Street. $5. All ages. (Any person under 21 must be accompanied by a guardian.) Details here.
Rails in the Garden. Did you know that there’s a Tucson Garden Railway Society, dedicated to modeling large-scale railroads and educating the public about the wonders of modeling railroads? If you didn’t, then you probably don’t know that they have an annual self-guided, self-paced tours of some of the city’s neatest model train layouts created by their members. Taking in art and learning about railroad history is a great way to spend a weekend morning or afternoon no matter how old you are, so get your caboose out there. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3. See tucsongrs.org for route information. Free. Details here.

Art Party: Best Buds. This month, downtown clothing store How Sweet It Was is featuring the art of Tucson’s favorite freelance florist, Brittany Peña. You may have seen her bouquets around town, mixing and matching specimens, playing with space and exhibiting totally unique textures. What you almost definitely haven’t seen is these sculptural arrangements translated to an entire room. Come down to this show to be surrounded by glorious petals and ponder concepts like impermanence and the way art galleries, flowers and humans alike morph over time. (And enjoy some snacks and arrangements that are for sale.) 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 2. How Sweet It Was, 424 E. Sixth St. Details here.

Soundwalk with MOCA. You ever walk down the street and just listen? We mean, like, really listen. Listen more than you look. Listen to the sounds of people’s pant legs moving past each other as they walk, and to the sounds of car windows being rolled down in the distance, and to the sounds of birds moving around in the trees? Local field recordist David Dearmore does. At this event, he’ll lead us through downtown Tucson’s streets, washes, gardens and parks and teach us how to listen, and how to use listening as a way to understand what is being lost and replaced as Tucson becomes further gentrified. Stop at any time to focus on a sound, using either your ears or a set of microphones and recorders. (Some will be provided, but you’re encouraged to bring your own—a phone works just fine.) At the end, get a ’zine full of sound walking and field recording best practices compiled by Dearmore. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art, 265 S. Church Ave., is the starting point. $30, or $25 for MOCA members. Details here.
Tess Redmoon & Red Clay. When was the last time you heard a really solid flute performance? What about a performance by a flutist who can play jazz, classical, world music or original songs? Award-wining flutist, singer, songwriter and composer Tess Redmoon’s song “Borderlands” was a finalist in the ACLU songwriting competition to convey the struggles of immigrants crossing the United States’ southern border. Today, she and her group Red Clay will perform original music at the Tucson Desert Art Museum, out in the open where we can all get a breath of fresh air. 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Tucson Desert Art Museum, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road. $15 includes museum admission. Details here.

Grand Canyon State. It’s the 100th anniversary of the Grand Canyon being designated a national park, and if you’ve ever seen that beauty, you know that it’s something worth celebrating. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is on it! Watch film of the park, as well as a 1958 Walt Disney Short film about it, played to Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite, which premiered in Tucson. The suite might sound familiar because one of the movements was heavily featured in that most classic of movies: A Christmas Story. The Grand Canyon is our collective pride and joy, so why miss a chance to watch a symphony play in its honor? 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $15 to $86. Details here.
Zócalo Open House. If you like to keep up with local business or art news, you might know that Tucson shopping destination Zócalo was sold last year. You might not know that it was sold to the local garden Green Things, and that the previous proprietors have stayed on to help continue and expand their vision for the shops. What are we left with? A super cool home and garden center full of paintings, home décor and plants with a southwestern and Latin American flair. This is their grand opening event! Swing by for refreshments, snacks and a tour of the new digs. 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3. Zócalo, 3384 E. River Road. Free. Details here. 

BANFF Mountain Film Festival. Summit Hut and the Fox Theatre are coming together to screen three nights of films on “remote journeys, ground-breaking expeditions, and cutting-edge adventures told through the eyes of adventurers.” From snowy peaks to green forests, these films document the most exciting hikes and climbs around the world. Maybe you can’t scale the front face of Half Dome, but watching someone do it on the big screen is almost as good. Proceeds from the festival will support local outdoor-oriented non-profits. Doors open at 6 p.m., films start at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, to Saturday, March 2. $15 or $60 VIP. 17 W. Congress St. Details here.
Phoenix Scottish Games. So, yes. Technically this is not in Tucson. But it’s the 55th annual celebration of Scottish culture up in Phoenix, complete with dancing, live pipes & drums, and athletics. Try events like the caber toss, the sheaf toss, the hammer throw and “putting the stone,” or let wee ones try mini versions of the games. And check out the clothing, instruments, jewelry and culinary delights (Scotch whisky or haggis, anyone?) over in the Celtic Village. AND take a chance to learn about your heritage in the genealogy tent. What have you Scot to lose? 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road. $20 at the gate or $17 in advance, with a second day for just $10. Details here.

Hoge Day–Lithophilia. The word of the day, or maybe of the month, here in the Old Pueblo, is lithophilia, or the love of stones. The Triangle L. Ranch over in Oracle is celebrating the work of artist Hoge Day—in which the artist’s lithophilia is evident—in their Adobe Barn Gallery. His graphite and charcoal works, sometimes accented with acrylics and pastels, range in size from 40-inch x 32-inch to eight feet! Exhibit is on display throughout March, but a free opening reception is 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Triangle L Ranch Adobe Barn Gallery, 2805 N. Triangle L Ranch, Oracle. Details here.

Nurturing the Diverse Soul. There are practically countless options for what to explore at the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend, but here’s just one example of a panel worth checking out: The library’s Nuestras Raíces committee, which celebrates and honors the county’s Latinx and Spanish-speaking communities, is hosting this panel on how staying rooted in culture can hep women of color thrive and stay resilient in motherhood, self care and activism. Dominique Calza moderates this panel of local authors Naomi Ortiz and Michelle Tellez, and the rest of us get to sit back and soak up the wisdom. 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3. Tucson Festival of Books, Nuestras Raíces tent on the UA Mall. Details here.
Arizona Friends of Chamber Music Festival. With five days’ worth of music, this festival will have something for all instrumental music lovers. Day one features, just for example, both Philip Glass and Shostakovich. Day two’s got Beethoven and Mozart. Day three features Bacewicz and Arensky. Day four has Kevin Puts and Taneyev. And day five will be serving up Brahms and Mendelssohn. And that’s just some of the music you’ll hear! There’s so much more to enjoy at this festival, so attend one day, some of the days or all five to soak up some songs. 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, Wednesday, March 6, and Friday, March 8. 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. Leo Rich Theatre, 260 S. Church Ave. $30 adults, $10 students. Details here.

Raw. In honor of Women in Horror Month’s 10th anniversary, the Loft Cinema is screening Julia Ducornau’s debut film. The flick is part sister-bonding, part coming-of-age story, and of course, part gross-out horror. To add to the atmosphere, the Loft is also hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross. Get spooked and save a life! Blood drive is from 2 to 7 p.m., screening is 7:30 to 9:10 p.m. Sunday, March 3. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $8. Details here.


The Wild Bunch Panel Discussion. At the Tucson Festival of Books, film writers and historians Gregory McNamee, Thomas Sheridan and W. K. Stratton will host a panel about Stratton’s new book: The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah, a Revolution in Hollywood, and the Making of a Legendary Film. The epic Western was nominated for two Oscars, and revolutionized quick-cut editing in action sequences, as well as slow motion. 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 3. University of Arizona Mall. Details here.

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