Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Celebrate 4th of July, Old West Style. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 250 years since our Founding Fathers looked Great Britain in the eye and said, “They’re ain’t enough room in this continent for the two of us.” And so it is in their honor that you might consider spending your holiday in the wild, wild West. Kids 11 and under get into Old Tucson for free from July 4 through 8, and there will also be a pie-eating contest, a special Independence Day show in the Grand Palace and an all-American menu that includes smoked turkey legs and lots of other barbecue selections. Oh, and don’t forget about the daily patriotic flag ceremony, to help your holiday live on into the weekend. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 4 through Sunday, July 8. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. Adult tickets are $19.95, with discounts for seniors, military and Pima County residents available. Details here.
Tags: 4th of July , Independence Day , fireworks , baseball , events , Wednesday , holiday , Image
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Red, White and Brews at the Maverick. Start your Fourth of July celebrations a day early at the Maverick. Get your groove on with dance lessons from 6 to 7 p.m. for $5 each, and then the Jack Bishop Band will take over at 7 p.m. for live music. Sip on domestic beers, house wines and well drinks for $1 off. If that’s not enough of a draw, there will be giveaways, too. But come early: there will be a $5 cover charge after 8 p.m. 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday, July 3. 6622 E. Tanque Verde Road. Details here.
Red, White & Brew. Same name, different event. Hacienda del Sol is celebrating the Fourth of July with a good ol’ fashioned barbeque picnic, complete with live music. Sip on American wines and local brews and sample barbeque staples like pigs in the blanket, potato salad and corn on the cob. The event upgrades barbeque classics with fancier fare like spiced rubbed lemon chicken and watermelon beet salad. $65 per person or $45 without alcoholic beverages. 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 3. 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. For tickets call (520) 529-3500. Details here.
FC Tucson vs. Albuquerque Sol FC. Root, root, root for the home team as they face off against their fellow minor league soccer players from Albuquerque. After all, what’s a more American way to spend the Fourth of July week than calling “futbol” soccer? While you’re at it, how about you measure things using the Imperial system, just to show some extra patriotism? When the match is over, stick around for a spectacular fireworks show! 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3. Kino North Stadium, 2500 E. Ajoy Way. $3 to $13+. Details here.
Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: Tuesday , events , things to do , today , Tucson , football , soccer , Independence Day , fireworks , beer , Image
Monday, July 2, 2018
Here are five tips each with five tricks to make sure you have a fun, safe and legal Independence Day:
1. Make sure your fireworks are legal: Aerial fireworks such as sky rockets, roman candles and firecrackers are all illegal in Arizona outside of professional shows. But don't fear, according to Tucson Fire Department, you can still set off smaller fireworks from June 24 through July 6. Be careful with all firework use as if damage occurs to someone else's property, the firework launcher is responsible.
Legal fireworks include:
1. Sparklers, including Morning Glory and sparkler trees
2. Smoke Balls, Smoke Cones, Smoke Candles
3. Ground-based sparklers, including ball and disk, and cylindrical sparklers
4. Sparkling wheels
5. Ground Sparklers (up to 500g) including cylindrical, square, cone and California Rocket fountains.
2. Leave it to the pro's: There are many professional shows happening locally where you can sit back, relax and let someone else do the work:
1. "A" Mountain Fireworks - Downtown 9 p.m.
2. Star Spangled Spectacular - Marana 5 to 9 p.m.
3. Diamonds in the Sky Celebration - Kino Sports Complex 5 to 9:30 p.m.
4. Oro Valley July 4 Celebration - Naranja Park 5 to 9:30 p.m.
5. Red, White and Boom - Sahuarita Lake Park 6 to 10 p.m.
Check out our event calendar for a full list of local shows.
3. Stay safe while handling fireworks: Safety must be a priority when using fireworks as they can be a danger to yourself, others and the environment. Tucson Fire Department recommends you always use fireworks in a clear area away from your house or any plants. Fireworks are only allowed on private property, never in the street or on any city property. Be careful of all plants and dry brush as Smokey the bear says only you can prevent wildfires.
1. Know your fireworks: always read all of the packaging instructions
2. Never give fireworks to children
3. Alcohol and fireworks is not a good combo, don't drink and firework.
4. Never carry fireworks in your pocket (ouch!)
5. Wet finished fireworks before throwing away
Tags: Safety , fireworks , Independence Day , 4th of July , events , Tucson , Image
Pitbull:
If you think the Sonoran Desert is scorching, how about a night of heat all the way from Miami? Pitbull, the one and only Mr. 305, Mr. Worldwide will grace the AVA Amphitheater stage at the Casino del Sol on Sunday, July 8."Feel the Moment" with the number one Latin pop singer for a Fireball-filled night of fun. Pitbull will set the house on fire with “International Love” for an upbeat show sure to keep you on your feet.
International star, musician, rapper and fashionisto Armando Christian Perez, also known as Pitbull, has soared to the top of the Latin Pop music scene since his first album M.I.A.M.I. released in 2004. Pitbull now has over ten albums and has recorded songs with stars including Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Ke$ha to name a few.
Tags: Pitbull , concert , music , Latin pop , fireball , Ava Amphitheater , Casino del Sol , dance the night away , Image
Mondo Monday: So it's Monday and you are wishing it was Friday? So you wish you were from the future? So you need to see Yor, The Hunter from the Future at The Loft Monday, July 2 at 8p.m. Watch Yor, a powerful warrior from the future, battle for the survival of his people in a prehistoric land on the big screen. This is one you sure don't want to miss as it is also the kick off to The Loft's Trashy Time Travel month of July! 3233 E Speedway Blvd, $3 tickets, $2 members. Details here.
Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: events , today , things to do , shows , movies , July 2 , Tucson , Image
Friday, June 29, 2018
You can catch an Arizona-filmed post-apocalyptic flick at downtown's Screening Room this Saturday, June 30.
Wastelander follows Rhyous, an ex-soldier who wanders the desert searching for his lost home and family.
The movie’s writer and director, Angelo Lopes, was living in Hawaii when he started working on the script, but he moved to Arizona in early 2012 to start filming. He came with some filmmaking experience and a career as a cameraman on local TV news.
Much of Wastelander was filmed at a one-acre property northwest of Phoenix, which the owners made available to Lopes’ team when they took an interest in the movie.
“We built a lot of our sets there,” he said. “They also had a barn, and we used the barn for a lot of the interiors.”
Because of the limited space for shooting interior scenes, filming took a long time. “We’d build a set. We’d shoot everything there. We’d tear down the set. We’d build another set,” Lopes said.
Outdoor scenes were filmed at various desert locations throughout Arizona, but Lopes made an effort to avoid showing saguaro cactus and other artifacts that might identify the post-apocalyptic set as the pre-apocalyptic Sonoran Desert.
While Wastelander certainly evokes Mad Max with its wasteland treks and bands of mercenaries, it was more directly inspired by the video game series “Castlevania.” Lopes was playing “Castlevania: Lords of Shadows” on his XBox when inspiration struck.
“This is about one guy that has got a mission, and he’s going from Point A to Point B, and it’s just what happens along the way,” he said. “I was like, ‘I need to make a movie like this.’”
If the nation's current events are weighing heavy on your mind, consider attending the YWCA's new exhibition opening tonight. Titled "How We See The World," the show focuses on local artists who created visuals in response to today's most important problems and social justice movements.
It's easy to become cynical, despondent or just straight up baffled by the 24-hour news cycle filled with crisis after crisis, but turning inwards to one's own community for answers about this big scary world is a good place to start.
According to their Facebook event, this free exhibit "explores current ideas, issues and movements happening now, such as gun violence, LGBTQ rights, Black Lives Matter, Me Too, Women’s rights, The Resistance and Immigrant rights." The goal is to get people talking about these big ideas and what we can do to create change right here, right now.
If you've got nothing to do this evening, stop by the France McClelland Community Center at 525 N. Bonita Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m. and see whose artwork speaks to you. If you can't make it tonight, the exhibit will be on display until Monday, Sept. 10. The YWCA is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tags: YWCA , art , exhibit , social justice , how we see the world , Image
Joe Rogan: Strange Times 2018 Tour. You may know him as an MMA guy, you may know him as the guy from Fear Factor, you may know him as the host of your favorite podcast or you may know him as the host of a podcast you’ve listened to a couple times when there are guests you’re interested in. But chances are, you probably know about Joe Rogan. It turns out, Joe Rogan knows about Tucson, too! He’s swinging by on his Strange Times comedy tour, because he’s also been a standup comic for more than two decades. 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 29. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. $43 to $63. Details here.
Clueless. Ah, the wondrous high school comedies of days gone by. What’s better than the nostalgic feelings? The throwback soundtracks, especially when it’s full of grunge and golden-age hip hop. It’s kind of the Mean Girls of the ’90s, and what’s not to like about that? Head on over to The Fox Theatre and get your prep on. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30. 17 W. Congress St. $7. Details here.
Tags: Weekend , events , things to do , movies , yoga , beer , summer , fun , family , friends , Tucson , Image
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Tucson Bicycle Service. There are places where you buy a bicycle. There are places where you get your bicycle fixed. And then there’s Tucson Bicycle Shop, which does both! After 18 years of experience as a Shimano certified bicycle mechanic, Mario Lizarazu is bringing a service-focused shop down to Fourth Avenue. They offer everything from one-time tune ups to basic and pro-level annual plans, which include tune ups, free bike checks and discounts on parts and labor. If you’re a bike lover, it’s a place with perusing. And if you’re a bike lover in need of some maintenance, it’s doubly worth checking out. To celebrate its recent opening, the shop is offering 10 percent off tune ups and service plans through the end of 2018. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Tucson Bicycle Service, 234 E. 22nd St. Service prices vary.
2001: A Space Odyssey. You know what’s a great movie? This one. You should see it. Today is your last chance! (For this particular screening at The Loft) The movie will be shown at The Loft for their new 70mm screening. 12:30 p.m./4 p.m./ 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 28. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $10. Details here.
Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: Movies , bikes , things to do , today , Thursday , Tucson events , Image , Video
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Lunch Specials for a Good Cause. Get your pizza fix and help out the community all in one meal. For the duration of June, (and it's almost July, can you believe it?!) Barro’s Pizza and Pepsi are teaming up to raise funds for the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children with a daily lunch special. Specials include a slice of pizza and small drink for $2.75 or two slices and a drink for $4.25. Barro’s will donate all proceeds from the lunch special (up to $20,000) to the nonprofit. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1-30. 5884 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive. Details here.
Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: Wednesday , events , things to do , movie , bikes , pizza , Image
