Mother's Day Specials

The Carriage House. This Mother's Day brunch is buffet-style, including bottomless mimosas and bloody Marys. The Carriage House is dishing out everything they have, including chorizo chilaquiles, house-cured smoked salmon, pork loin, Tortilla Espanola with artichokes, lemon bundt cake and more. This also includes a carving station, salads and desserts. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12. 125 S. Arizona Avenue. $45 for adults, $25 for kids 7-13 and free for kids 6 and under. Bottomless drinks $14. Details here.

Tavolino Ristorante Italiano. If you prefer individual dishes to buffet-style, Tavolino has you covered. They're serving specialty dishes all day, such as minestrone soup with chicken, polenta filled with shredded short rib, homemade cannelloni filled with shrimp, ribeye steak with chimichurri and more. Sunday, May 12. $9-$35. 2890 E. Skyline Drive. Details here.

The Coronet. The Coronet is keeping it classy on Mother's Day with a collection of garden dishes, including a steelhead salad with walnut, spinach and vinaigrette; eggs and hominy polenta; rosemary ham with chive whipped potatoes; and arugula, shallot and brie galette. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12. 402 E Ninth St. Dishes range from $8 to $24. Details here.

Hacienda Del Sol. This ranch-style resort is covering nearly every type of meal for their Mother's Day feast. They're serving up breakfast fare with eggs benedict, omelets and a waffle bar; a ham and prime rib carving station; multiple salad types; a seafood station with salmon, shrimp, crab and ceviche; chicken, jambalaya, crab and mushroom entrees; and nine different desserts to top it all off. And for drinks, they have orange and prickly pear mimosas. 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12. 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. $75 per adult, $32 kids age 7-14. Free for kids 6 and under. Details here.
Mother's Day Wildflower Plant Sale. Ah, yes. Mothers' Day. The perfect day to treat your mother or mother-figure to some flowers. This year, why not bring her some living desert wildflowers so their beauty can live on for months, rather than a typical bouquet. Native Seeds/SEARCH is having a three-day plant sale to make it even easier for you to do! If you inherited your inability to keep plants alive from your mom, then you can still stop by the gift shop, and maybe pick up some jewelry, local honey or Native American art for Mom. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 10, through Sunday, May 12. Native Seeds/SEARCH, 3061 N. Campbell Ave. Details here.

Christ Church Mother's Day Concert. Did you not make it over to Amazon to buy your mom a Mother's Day gift in time? Maybe you did get her a gift, but just want to treat her to a little something extra special? The Christ Church Ringers, a five-octave English handbell ensemble, and Gabriel Ayala, a Grammy-winning guitarist, are putting on a concert over at Christ Church United Methodist. It will score you some major mom brownie points, and you'll get to see some incredible and unique music while those points are racking up. A win-win. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12. Christ Church United Methodist, 655 N. Craycroft Road. Free, but donations are appreciated. Details here.

Mothers' Day at Old Tucson. Happy Mothers' Day to ladies of all sorts! Old Tucson is letting women and girls of all ages in free for the weekend, and moms get a free carnation while supplies last. It's the least moms deserve for bringing order to the wild, wild west. They'll also be raffling off a package, offering wine tastings and fudge pairings for just 25 bucks on Sunday, and serving a special meal for the weekend. Three cheers for moms everywhere! 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. Free for women and girls, $19.95 for adults and $10.95 for kids ages 4 to 11. Details here.


Mother's Day Specials at The Loft Cinema. There are two polar-opposite screenings going on at the Loft Cinema for Mother's Day. First, a fun and raucous Mamma Mia sing-alongat 2 p.m. If you feel like combining your love of ABBA's music, Meryl Streep and public singing, this is the event for you (and your mamma). But if you're feeling like watching a much more dramatic film, the Loft is also screening Mommie Dearest at 7:30 p.m. Whether you feel like brushing up on your Hollywood drama, or you just have some repressed memories you have to dredge up with your mom, this screening is sure to be a little more tense, although less horrifying. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. $12. Details here.

Chiltepin Naughty Naranja Pre-Release. 1912 Brewing is hosting a pre-release party for their “Naughty Naranja” brew, made in collaboration with Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Using the museum’s locally-grown chiltepins, they made their Naughty Naranja extra spicy (and extra naughty). 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 9. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. 21+. Details here.

Hanson Producers Club Spring Salon. The University of Arizona’s Hanson Film Institute invites you to their “Spring Salon” event at Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, where they’ll be viewing excerpts of Almost an Island, made by local documentarian Jonathan VanBallenberghe. This documentary examines the lives of an Inupiaq family in Kotzebue, Alaska. VanBallenberghe will be live in person to present his work. Must be a member of the Hanson Producers Club to attend. These twice-yearly offer an opportunity to meet and mingle with southern Arizona residents involved in of the industry. 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 9. 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. Details here.

Sustainability Series: Energy Rebates 101. Of course it's great to make sustainable adjustments to your lifestyle just for the sake of being better for the environment. But, hey, it doesn't hurt that TEP offers lots of rebates to commercial building owners and business to reduce your energy bill at the same time. LED lightbulbs are a great, simple start, but there are lots of ways to be more energy and cost efficient. Come learn more about it all at Local First Arizona's and Tucson's 2030 District's first workshop in their new sustainability series. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 9. 1064 E. Lowell Road. Free. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

The Me Inside of Me. Every year, the Invisible Theatre’s Pastime Players, an award-winning arts education program for mentally and physically challenged students, put on an original musical based on a year’s worth of instruction in music, drama and dance. Some components are the same each year, but the flexible framework allows individuals to shine in their own way. This year’s production, for example, features Shakespeare, an original rap, something called “The Pizza Song,” and excerpts from Annie. Come support—and see in action—the idea that when people come together, they really can make a difference. 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. Doolen Middle School, 2400 N. Country Club Road. Free. Details here.

Mo Urban's Open Mic Comedy. Always wanted to try your hand at stand-up comedy? Well, it's time to get your jokes ready and head over to Cafe Passé. Mo Urban hosts the show every Wednesday night from 7 to 9 p.m. so if you don't quite work up the nerve this week, try again next! Cafe Passé, 415 N. Fourth Avenue. Details here.

Brokedown Palace plays Public Brewhouse. Have you managed to stumble upon Public Brewhouse in the alley behind Ermanos yet? Well, if not, it's worth finding. This hidden spot is a Fourth Avenue gem and as if good beer isn't enough, tonight they have live music as well! Brokedown Palace will be on hand with their unique blend of "Tucson-baked Americana Folk" and classic covers. No cover. 209 N Hoff Ave. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Wings for Women Tucson Charity Event. Arizona Beer House is hosting an event to benefit a local charity that helps homeless women. Drinks will be provided by Arizona Beer House, food will be provided by Johnny’s Philippine Grill. Plus, there will be raffle prizes available and Arizona Beer House will match tips. 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday May 7. 150 S. Kolb Road. Details here.

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. For their Tuesday Night Classics series, Harkins Theatres is screening the film that turned Mad Max into the post-apocalyptic throttle-and-thrust extravaganza it is today. Watch as Mel Gibson battles against hordes of raiders and their weaponized automobiles, on the big screen! 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7. 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz and 5755 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive. Details here.

Arizona Baseball vs. Arizona State. A tale as old as time, UA is playing ASU and the rivalry is on! Head on out to the ball game to show some support for the Wildcats baseball team. Fresh off a win against the University of Oregon, Arizona Baseball once again takes the home field for a chance to beat the Sun Devils. 6 to 9 p.m. Hi Corbett Field, 3400 E Camino Campestre. Tickets $5 to $8. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Diner Mondays at Tucson Hop Shop. A few months ago the Tucson Weekly wrote about the cutest little mobile diner around, Substance Coffee Co. With it's delicious fried mac 'n cheese and vegan milkshakes, it is worth hunting down this restaurant on wheels. Today, Tucson Hop Shop is making it easy for you! What could be better than craft brews and diner food? 6 to 9 p.m. 3230 N Dodge Blvd. Details here.

Free Community Yoga Flow Class. Always wanted to try yoga but not sure who to take classes from? Studio 520 Yoga is celebrating their newest teacher Ashlee McDougall. Check out her class and see if it's the one for you at this free Monday morning yoga class. Start the week of on the right foot, maybe even in tree pose! 10 to 11 a.m. 1240 N. Stone Ave. Details here.
Revenge of the Si(x)th. So maybe you were too busy to celebrate May the Fourth? Well, it's not too late to celebrate Revenge of the Si(x)th! 1912 Brewing Company invites you to join the Dark Side and enjoy a new Star Wars beer release. Dress up in your favorite t-shirt or full robes for a night of nerd-tastic fun. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Welcome to the Dark Side: Modern Times Edition. Celebrating their second annual Dark Side event, Arizona Beer House is inviting Modern Times Beer to the party. This party features 40 taps, with 40 Modern Times beers. Plus, brewery representatives will be in to talk shop and guide you through the many flavors of dark beer available on this spacey day. The event also features Food Groupie Cafe food truck and Sarge’s Cheesecakes. Noon to midnight, Saturday, May 4. 150 S. Kolb Road. Details here.

Mexi-Festi Beer Garden. In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Nuptials by Brenda and Americano Mexicano restaurant are hosting an event at Main Gate Square with beer, food, games and craft booths. VIP package includes a T-shirt, mug, koozie and special entry to bar area. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4. 800 E. University Blvd. $25. Ages 11 and under free. VIP $75. Details here.

Brain Freeze Ice-Cream Festival. Just in time for the days getting warmer, multiple local ice creamers are gathering for the Brain Freeze festival at Rillito Park. And tickets won’t just get you a lot of ice cream, they’ll get you unlimited ice cream at the event! Plus foam parties, face painting and music. This event is also a fundraiser for the Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome. Participating restaurants include Cashew Cow, The Screamery and Blue Bell Ice Cream. Noon to 5 p.m. May 4. Rillito Park. $12. $10 for ages 4 to 12. Details here.
Ina Road Reopening Celebration. Didn’t you hear? The construction on Ina Road is nearly finished, and the I-10 exit is now open! To celebrate the end of this headache, lots of local businesses are celebrating the return of their customers and convenience. The festivities are happening all weekend May 4 and May 5. Participating restaurants include Donut Wheel, Chickenuevo, Crema Coffee and more. May 4 and May 5. Ina Road. Details here.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Tohono Chul. Part of the Agave Heritage Festival, this free event at the northside’s favorite botanical gardens features plenty of Southwest traditions. There will be mariachi band performances, agave spirit tastings, food vendors, artist displays and a local produce farmers market. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5. 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte. Free. Details here.

Black Renaissance. Local musician seanloui put together this recurring event throughout the month of May to celebrate and shine a light on black creativity in Tucson! Many of us don’t realize the influence black artists have on mainstream culture, and this is an opportunity for all of us to explore, learn and appreciate. Each week is centered around a different artistic theme, and this week is hip hop! The night features artists Jaca Zulu, Cash Lansky, Chakara Blu and Kazier. The audience features you! 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road. Details here.

Gatos & Galleries. Wow, need we even say more about this event than that involves cats and art? The Wilde Meyer Gallery and Jane Hamilton Fine Art will be hosting an evening of art, raffles, refreshments and—best of all—adoptable kitties! Second best of all? A cat mask contest, which makes this one of the few places where you can wear a cat mask and not only be accepted, but win a prize! The event benefits the Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter, and it benefits you too, because you get to hang out with cats surrounded by works of art. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 2890 E. Skyline Drive. Details here.

Need2Nourish. Thinking about hunger in your local community is no fun. Sometimes it’s so not fun that it can leave you feeling paralyzed by the possibility of trying to do anything about it. This event to support the Community Food Bank is your solution. It’s an evening of interactive art, entertainment and food trucks coming together to foster an open dialogue about hunger in the community AND to support local artists. They created art with the theme “what is hunger” or “what is nourishment?” to get the conversation started. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Steinfeld Warehouse Community Arts Center, 101 W. Sixth St. Details here.

PCC Digital Arts Media Fusion. There’s a demand for creativity in every field, but in this community, there’s an especial demand for creative workers to work in the areas of game design, animation, film and web design. Our local community college is determined to train people in just these areas, and this is your chance to see how some of their efforts are going. A main show will feature highlights in game design, animation and film, and a 6 p.m. preshow event will get the audience involved in interactive gaming and give them the chance to see some work not in the main show. Four-piece folk-rock band Smallvox, featuring faculty member Greg Loumeau, will play onstage before and after the event. 6 p.m. preshow, 7 p.m. screening. Friday, May 3. PCC Center for the Arts, West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Free and open to the public. Details here.

Wake Up Your Weekend With Sunrise Pilates. Waking up early to do yoga is exactly the type of thing a lot of people like to think they will someday do, but don’t get around to actually doing. Why not make this Saturday the day you actually do it? In honor of World Pilates Day, Body Works Pilates is hosting a 7 a.m. Pilates class in the courtyard at St. Philip’s Plaza, followed by equipment demonstrations from 8 to 10 a.m. World Pilates Day is going to be your day! And then you’ll feel energized and ready to go full speed ahead on the weekend. 7 a.m. Saturday, May 4. St. Philip’s Plaza Courtyard, 1980 E. River Road. Details here.

Dr. Gann’s Diet of Hope Cinco de Mayo 10K, 5K & FitKidz Mile. If you’re going to do a 5K, you might as well do one that’s been going on annually for 39 years, and which winds its way through the gorgeous area around Starr Pass. AND you might as well do it on Cinco de Mayo, so that you can enjoy a performance by the Cholla High School mariachi band afterward. There will be a jumping castle, piñatas and a water-balloon toss, among other activities, for the kids. And there will be post-race eegees and breakfast burritos from El Saguarito Mexican Food! 6:30 a.m. Sunday, May 5. Cholla High School, 2001 W. Starr Pass Blvd. $40, or $35 for Southern Arizona Roadrunners members (unless registering at packet pickup or day-of—then it’s $40 for everyone). Details here.

A Sea Symphony. Do you ever think about how common it s for writers and other artists to compare the journey of life to a journey at sea? It’s a good metaphor: There are calm waters and stormy waters, and there’s so much that’s out of your control. But there is endless potential for adventure and beauty. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ work, using text from Walt Whitman, is yet another example of a piece of art designed to recreate both the turbulence and tranquility of an ocean voyage. And the Tucson Masterworks Chorale, now in its 70th season, is sure to perform it beautifully. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Details here.

Sounds of Spring. Have you heard of the Tucson Girls Chorus? Founded in 1985, the program works with girls in kindergarten through high school to make seriously beautiful music (go to their website, tucsongirlschorus.org to hear a sample of their advanced choir singing). The different levels will be performing as individual choirs and also as one big, soaring voice. Why miss a chance to hear some beautiful music and to support more than 200 young women and girls who represent our future? 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. $15 to $18. Details here.

Tucson Boys’ Chorus Pops Concert. ’Tis the season for the angelic voices of singing children, apparently! The Tucson Boys’ Chorus was started about 80 years ago, when tenor Eduardo Caso came to Arizona to recover from his tuberculosis, and established the nonprofit educational organization. So, to open the show, they’ll be singing the lively “80 Years of Song.” All eight groups within the chorus, made up of boys and men ages 6 to 21, will be performing. And, since it’s May 4, the Young Men’s Ensemble will do a John Williams medley, including the Star Wars theme. Closing out the night is chorus members and alumni singing, “Tucson–Arizona’s Favorite Child.” 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Catalina Foothills High School Auditorium. $15 to $20, or $8 for kids under 12. Details here.

Mariachi Women’s Festival. Hooray for strong and successful women! Especially those who have fought for more than a century to make their way in a male-dominated field. This could apply to all sorts of fields, but this week, it’s about women mariachi performers. Come see stunning talent like two-time Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Divas (in from LA), Mariachi Rubor (in from Phoenix) and Tucson’s very own Monica Trevino kick some ass and pluck some strings at this concert and celebration. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. $30 to $75. Details here.

Pops in the Park. This annual event by the Civic Orchestra of Tucson features both popular music and classical music under the stars at Reid Park. On the program this year are pieces from Pirates of the Caribbean and Fiddler on the Roof, as well as Eric Coates’ London Suite, Mikhail Glinka’s Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture and Johannes Hanssen’s Valdres March. Jacqueline Rodenbeck, winner of the junior strings division of the 2019 Young Artists’ Competition, is the featured soloist, playing the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5. DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, 1030 S. Randolph Way. Free. Details here.

Tucson Sugar Skulls vs. San Diego Strike Force. Tucson’s favorite indoor football league is continuing their season with a San Diego team that’s also relatively new. The Sugar Skulls had their first home game loss back in April, so you’d better believe they’re not going to want it to happen again. So head on down to the Tucson Arena to watch the team get their sugary heads in the game for a taste of sweet, sweet victory. 6 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $17 to $99. Details here.
May the Fourth Be With You. You know the twin suns on Luke Skywalker’s home planet Tatooine? And the frozen snowfields on Hoth where the Rebel Alliance built their secret base? These planets beyond our solar system were imagined in the Star Wars Universe, but years after the original films came out, astronomers discovered exoplanets—planets orbiting other stars beyond our solar system, with properties similar to Tatooine and Hoth. Learn all about them in this show at Flaundrau, “Life Beyond Earth: The Search for Undiscovered World.” Plus, check out special guided activities like building a glowstick light saber or a spaceship, and be sure to dress up as your favorite Star Wars character to be entered in a drawing for a family membership to Flandrau. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with special activities 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, 1601 E. University Blvd. $4 exhibit admission and $4 for planetarium shows. Details here.

Kentucky Derby Party at Rillito. Put on your biggest, fanciest hat and grab yourself a mint julep, because the Kentucky Derby is here! Can’t make it over to Kentucky? Rillito Race Track is bringing the festivities to you. They’ve got a southern style buffet, a hat contest (with categories for best western hat, best outrageous hat, best traditional hat and best kids hat) and a necktie contest (with categories for best Western/horse tie, best vintage/historic tie and best flamboyant tie. The post time for “Run for the Roses” is 3:40 p.m. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Rillito Park Race Track, 4502 N. First Ave. Free and open to the public, or $50 to reserve a table in advance. Details here.

Free Comic Book Day! Quick! Head over to Heroes and Villains Comic Book Store, because they’re literally giving away more than 10,000 free comics! 10,000! Superhero, manga, action, comedy, adventure, you name it. They’ll also have preview books for the summer’s blockbuster event books from Marvel and DC, costumed characters and special figures available only that day. AND if you take a photo of yourself waiting in line before they open and post it to their Facebook wall, you’ll be entered for a chance to win free comics for a YEAR. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Heroes and Villains Comic Book Store, 4533 E. Broadway Blvd. Details here.

Stepping Stone Paver Workshop. You ever just get the urge to make your garden more welcoming to any potential fairies that might be considering settling there? If you don’t, maybe you should! Green Things has got you covered with this workshop on how to make lovely, colorful stepping stone pavers that will add some oomph to your outside. The fee is $25 for one stepping stone or $40 for two, and includes all the materials you’ll need. Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Green Things, 3384 E. River Road. Details here.

First Friday Shorts Golden Gong Year-End Showdown. It’s the culmination of a year’s worth of local madness! The Loft Cinema’s First Friday Shorts series is hosting its year-end awards. That means they’re screening 12 short films, one winner from every month of the past year. And you get to decide which local filmmaker made the best of the best, and is deserving of the $1,000 grand prize, plus endless bragging rights. Get out there and see the best shorts Tucson has to offer. 9 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, May 3. 3233 E Speedway Blvd. $8. Details here.

Future of Film in Arizona: Young Filmmakers Event. Independent Film Arizona is hosting a gathering at the Fox Theatre to discuss the future of local film. This also includes a program of locally made short films. Hosted by Maria Powell and Tucson.org, featuring the film Zapata. Get out there and support local film! 6 p.m. Friday, May 3. 17 W. Congress St. Free. Details here.

Young Guns II. Continuing their Old Tucson film series, the Loft Cinema is screening Young Guns II, which (SURPRISE!) was filmed at Old Tucson studios. Besides recognizing some famous local buildings on-screen, you also get to see Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland shoot it out in this Oscar-nominated 1990 retelling of a plot to kill Billy the Kid. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4. 201 S. Kinney Road. $5. Please bring your own seating. Details here.

Astrofilm Extravaganza. Who doesn’t like it when science and art unite? This family-friendly event at the Loft Cinema features astronomy documentaries as well as live performances. It also features an introduction and Q&A with astrophysicist Stéphanie Juneau, filmmaker Bryan Nelson and circus director/performer Stephanie Cortes. This event is part of Science On Screen, an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Be entertained and educated at the same time! 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $8. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Rich Vos: King of Dragons

Google Rich Vos comedy and the results will weary your scrolling finger. “I’m better than Game of Thrones,” Vos told us in an interview last week. We wanted to describe his comedy to uninitiated Tucsonans. That should do it.

Thrones fans and the rest of us can see him live at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 at The O Food & Brew, 2000 N. Oracle Road. Tickets are $12 and $20 via Eventbrite; $15 and $25 at the door; no minimum.

The event is a unicorn; you’ll want to join in its inevitable contrail of conversations. This is Vos’s first Tucson visit. It kicks off a new comedy series at The O. The club is so committed they’ve taken out a wall. And if it’s not a first, it’s certainly rare to find 35-year comedy veteran Vos in such an intimate venue at such a low ticket price. Spiking the magic, Tucson favorite Kristine Levine of The Frank Show opens.

Vos leads a deep, wide and busy comedy life, breaking only for golf. He co-hosts a wildly popular podcast with his comedian wife Bonnie McFarlane and no guests. The pair have logged 350 episodes of My Wife Hates Me, which PASTE magazine named one of the best of 2017.

Chris Rock tapped him to help write two Academy Awards shows, and he writes regularly for Comedy Central Roasts. He has four albums on i-Tunes; four standup specials on Comedy Central; spots on Jimmy Kimmel, HBO, Showtime, Starz and Sirius XM. He’s also featured in the Netflix movie Women Aren’t Funny, which he co-produced with McFarlane. And he was the first Caucasian on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam.

In conversation, Vos is a font of swaggering wisdom about his craft. For example, asked whether he was always funny, he declines to answer. “It takes years,” he says. “You’ve got people who think if they get laughs for a comment, they’re a comic. People are out there blogging crap and it’s almost insulting to what (comics) do.

“It’s just my opinion, too. Relative to what you think is good, you know who’s gonna be good, or who’s been around forever, or who isn’t original. If you’ve never seen me, you’ll see a good job. I know what I’m doing. Good comedy evolves with the times.”

Vos thrives on the differences among audiences. “Every time you’re on stage, it’s a different connection.” He compares it to golf. “You never hit the same shot twice. I’ve been doing this so long, I work in the moment. I can change to another topic if I have to. All the club experience I have, I don’t faze easily.”

In sum, we will see a unicorn show, created just for us, in the moment, because, it’s taken years, but he’s got the chops.

Formerly Gus & Andy’s Steakhouse, The O has been mostly vacant the last eight years. Mike Pavon, co-owner of The O and nearby Curves Cabaret, says the owners plan to re-brand The O as a jazz and comedy club. Pavon recruited Vos himself on a recent trip to Vegas because he wanted to kick off the O’s comedy nights with a marquee comedian.

The notion of a jazz and comedy club came about with the success of jazz shows by The Kristin Korb Jazz Trio and the local Pete Swan Jazz Trio. Swan is helping book upcoming jazz shows. Tucsoncomedy.com’s Chad Lehrman, brother of Tucson Foodie Adam, will help book comedians.

Nate Bargatze has a good problem.

On the heels of his Netflix comedy special, A Good Problem to Have, Nate Bargatze brings it to the Diamond Center at Desert Diamond Casino at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 4. Tickets are $20 via startickets.com.

Bargatze promotes himself as a “clean comic,” frequently guesting with Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien, yet he toured arenas with Chris Rock in 2017. In 2011, he was featured in the Comedy Central Presents series. He’s been listed as a top comedian by Esquire and The Rolling Stone; he’s been in SXSW and Bonnaroo, and 20th Century Fox recently contracted him to a TV show.

Odyssey Storytelling Presents: Heroes and Villains. Everyone loves a good hero and villain story—especially when the identities of the two are so obvious, like in Moses and the Pharaoh, or with SpongeBob and Plankton. But in real life, things are a little fuzzier: Sometimes you’re the hero, but sometimes you’re the villain. And sometimes, you feel like siding with the villain. Hear local storytellers telling you their hero and villain tales at this event! 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 2. The Sea of Glass Center for the Arts, 330 E. Seventh St. $10 adults, $7 students. Details here.

Evolution of a Modelmaker: John A. Ackerman’s Fire Apparatus and Fire Stations. John A. Ackerman made his first miniature fire department using toy trucks and lead soldiers (which he painted to look like firefighters) when he was just a kid in the 1950s. Now, he’s a noted modelmaker of tiny fire trucks and stations produced carefully to scale, who has displayed his work in several private fire museums. The former volunteer firefighter is also retired from his publishing career over in Green Valley, but he’s still hard at work on his fun-sized firetrucks. Come see his work at the Mini Time Museum of Miniatures, on display through Aug. 18. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Mini Time Machine Museum, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive. $10.50 GA, $8.50 senior/military, $7 youth ages 4-17 and free for kids 3 and under. Details here. 

First Thursdays at Tucson Museum of Art. You never need an excuse to go to the Tucson Museum of Art and check out their rotating exhibits and beautiful artwork, but a free day is surely an incentive. Every first Thursday of the month, TMA holds an evening of events and is open and free for the public to attend. This month, celebrate the opening of their new exhibit, "Learning to See: Josef Albers, Selected Prints from the Formulation: Articulation Series" with free admission, live music, arts and crafts activities, silk-screening and more. 5 to 8 p.m. 140 North Main Avenue. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Expressive Figurative. The Wilde Meyer Gallery’s May exhibit is focused on the way artists share narratives by depicting humans and animals. Sometimes, it’s through a straightforward portrait. Other times, there are whole scenes surrounding the central figure that tell a story worth thousands upon thousands of words. From a blissful-looking steer to a vibrantly colorful Native American figure, this exhibit depicts an array of artist-created figures. Wednesday, May 1, through Friday, May 31. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 2890 E. Skyline Drive. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Free. Details here.



Free Solo. Winner of the Best Documentary Feature at the 2019 Oscars, this film is not for those with acrophobia. This free screening, presented outdoors on the UA Mall, follows rock climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the 3000-foot face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park—without a rope. It is harrowing and it is incredible. Come to the screening early to try out a climbing wall! 8 to 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. 1303 E. University Blvd. Free. Details here.

Broadway in Tucson: CATS. Ah, Cats. One of the most divisive musicals out there: You either love it or you hate it. You might not expect a musical about the internet’s favorite animal to garner anything other than praise, but some people just aren’t into it. But considering it’s won seven Tonys, has been translated into 15 languages and has set longevity records on both sides of the Atlantic (it ran for 21 years in London!), it’s the sort of thing that you really shouldn’t judge until you’ve seen it. Plus, most of the songs are straight up just T.S. Eliot poems. Worth checking out, no? Tuesday, April 30, through Sunday, May 5., with evening shows at either 6:30, 7:30 or 8 p.m., a Saturday 2 p.m. matinee, and a Sunday 1 p.m. matinee. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. $19 to $120+. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

National Bubble Tea Day at Enchanted Cafe. Boba, you know, those gooey orbs of mystery and magic floating around in fruity drinks. If you’ve never had boba, now’s your chance. Enchanted Cafe is offering 15 percent off all 20 types of their boba drinks. And if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can make up some of your own flavor combinations as you go. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. 1525 N. Wilmot Road. Details here.

Agave: Spirit Of A Nation
Part of the Agave Heritage Festival, this is a free screening of a documentary showing how one plant can affect the culture, art, cuisine and even worldview of nations. Yes, the agave plant is powerful, and that’s why many people are also trying to protect it. 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. Loft Cinema, 3233 East Speedway Blvd. Free. Details here.

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Courtesy of Broadway in Tucson

Broadway in Tucson: CATS. Ah, Cats. One of the most divisive musicals out there: You either love it or you hate it. You might not expect a musical about the internet’s favorite animal to garner anything other than praise, but some people just aren’t into it. But considering it’s won seven Tonys, has been translated into 15 languages and has set longevity records on both sides of the Atlantic (it ran for 21 years in London!), it’s the sort of thing that you really shouldn’t judge until you’ve seen it. Plus, most of the songs are straight up just T.S. Eliot poems. Worth checking out, no? Tuesday, April 30, through Sunday, May 5., with evening shows at either 6:30, 7:30 or 8 p.m., a Saturday 2 p.m. matinee, and a Sunday 1 p.m. matinee. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. $19 to $120+. Details here.

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