Thursday, February 7, 2019
Free First Thursday at the Tucson Museum of Art. Another first Thursday of the month means another evening full of live music, art making and gallery conversations at this local art museum. This month, explore the intersection of art and the environment by checking out Patricia Carr Morgan’s exhibit, Blue Tears. Morgan, an Arizona photographer, traveled far from home to capture images of ice and glaciers up in Greenland, near the top of the earth, and way down at the bottom in Antarctica. Her work captures ice in its stunning beauty as well as its awe-inspiring power, for its ability to carve through mountains. Don’t miss her performance at 6 p.m. 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave. Free. Details here.
Every Brilliant Thing. When you’re six years old and your mother is clinically depressed, there’s not much you can do. The protagonist in this award-winning play (which is described by The Guardian as “one of the funniest plays you’ll see about depression”) decides to do what she can by creating a list of all of the most brilliant things in life, the sort of things that make life worth livings. Construction cranes, for example. Or laughing so hard you shoot milk out your nose. Claire Marie Mannle stars in a role rarely portrayed by a woman. Thursday, Feb. 7 through Sunday, Feb. 24. Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre at the Historic Y, 738 N. Fifth Ave. $15 to $28. Details here.
UA Men's Basketball vs. Washington. After that slow and steady Super Bowl, we bet you might be ready for a change of pace. Get ready for a faster pace game Thursday night and cheer on your Arizona Wildcats Men's Basketball as they take on Washington at McKale Center. Tickets range from $40-$150. 7 p.m. McKale Center. 1721 E. Enke Dr., Tucson, AZ 85721. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , events , happenings , art , sports , theater , Image
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Flying Leap Wine Tasting. Hotel McCoy is hosting Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery for a tasting and winemaking seminar. Here, you’ll get to taste the wine from a small farm, growing 18 different wine grape varietals just south of Tucson. 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6. 720 W. Silverlake Road. Details here.
Whiskey Wednesday. Reforma Modern Mexican and Union Public House are opening up their expansive whiskey collection, at a discounted price! They are offering Mexican food and half off all the whiskey in their collection. Rumor around town is it’s the largest whiskey collection in all of Tucson! 11 a.m. to closing on Wednesday, Feb. 6. 4340 N. Campbell Ave., suite 103. Details here.
60th Tubac Festival of the Arts. Holy moly! The longest-running outdoor art festival in Southern Arizona has been going for 60 years! They’re celebrating with more than 200 participating artists and more than 100 art galleries at this year’s event on the sweet streets of Tubac, the perfect setting to wander around in for hours to enjoy the unique merchants and to enjoy a beer or two at their signature beer garden and a snack from a local vendor. Entertainment includes Nashville singer-songwriter Cary Stone and Nashville transplant Tige Reeve performing a blend of classic country, rock and original material. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6 through Sunday, Feb. 10. Tubac, AZ. $8 fee per vehicle comes with a $5 gift certificate redeemable at more than 50 of Tubac’s permanent shops and galleries. Details here.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? I consider myself quite a wrathful person. One time I came home in a bad mood, ripped all of the spoons out of my kitchen drawer, and threw them back into that same kitchen drawer, clang after spoony clang, until my rage was abated. And this documentary on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood still managed to reduce me to a teary, blubbering fool multiple times in a single sitting. What more is there to say about Fred Rogers? It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6. The Loft Cinema. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Regular admission prices. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , Tucson events , wine , whiskey , tour , art , entertainment , Wednesday , Image , Video
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Something Rotten! “Welcome to the Renaissance!” says the minstrel at the beginning of this show, which takes place—you guessed it—during the Renaissance. Nick and Nigel Bottom are brothers running a largely unsuccessful theatre troupe, probably because they’re literally competing against Shakespeare. Desperate to make a splash, Nick goes to a see a fortune teller, who tells him that the next big thing in theater will be something called “A Musical,” in which “an actor is saying his lines, and out of nowhere he just starts singing.” Ridiculous, right? Watch Nick and Nigel set off to write the world’s very first musical, and laugh out loud the whole way through. Tuesday, Feb. 5 through Sunday, Feb. 10, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. UA Centennial Hall. Students get $10 off, and seniors and military get $5 off. $19 to $120+. Details here.
Ana Mendieta: Fuego De Tierra. The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block and Center for Creative Photography are screening this 1987 film, highlighting the life and work of Cuban-American artist Ana Mendieta. Working in the mediums of photography, video, sculpture and environmental art, known as “earth-body” art. A talk by members of the Tucson Museum of Art and Center for Creative Photography will be held prior to the screening. 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5. 140 N. Main Ave. Free. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , Tucson events , Tuesday , Feb. 5 , fun , events , fun in general , theater , dance , film , cinema , movies , Image
Monday, February 4, 2019
Top Girls. It’s the early 1980s, and Margaret Thatcher has just become the United Kingdom’s first woman prime minister. Caryl Churchill wrote this play about a time when glass ceilings were starting to crack. It explores the difference between individualistic American feminism and the more collectively-minded feminism of the UK, as well as the choices many women face between successful careers and rich family lives. The framework: A businesswoman named Marlene throws a dinner party to celebrate her promotion, and invites a series of famous women from throughout history: Pope Joan, explorer Isabella Bird, Dull Gret, lady Nijo and Patient Griselda. Wednesday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 24, with 7:30 p.m. evening shows and 1:30 p.m. matinees (plus preview shows at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3, and 7:45 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4). UA Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road. $28 adults, $26 senior/military, $15 students. Or $17 for the preview shows. Details here.
Yume Japanese Gardens Tea Ceremony. If you’ve ever had a cup of tea, you probably agree that there’s something ceremonious about it. Heating up the water, waiting for it to steep, the way your favorite mug feels in your hands. But this ceremony, following the etiquette that’s been followed in Japan for nearly 1,000 years, takes that ceremony to a whole new level of peaceful. Sip on a bowl of matcha and a nibble at a traditional Japanese sweet, while taking in the warmth and formality of a tradition that makes it all the more delicious. Note that non-resident parking is no longer permitted on East Hampton place, so park in the lot or on East Justin Lane, half a block South of Yume. 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, but make sure you RSVP by Monday, Feb. 4! Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way. $15. Details here.
Zombie Nightmare. In the true style of cheesy ’80s horror goodness, this movie stars a group of dumb teenagers, a baseball bat-wielding zombie, a voodoo priestess and plenty of bloody nonsense to keep your attention held and your brain rotting. For their Mondo Monday special, The Loft Cinema is screening this dud whose only redeeming quality is a soundtrack with Motorhead and Pantera. 8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4. The Loft Cinema. 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard. $4. Details here.
No Le Digas A Nadie/Don’t Tell Anyone. UA’s Women & Gender Resource Center is screening this film on sexual abuse among undocumented immigrants. The film follows one woman’s story from poverty in rural Colombia to the front page of The New York Times as she becomes “a beacon in a movement for national change.” The screening will be followed by a panel-lead discussion on sexual violence, immigration, feminism and how they all intersect. 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4. Student Union Memorial Center building. Details here.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , Monday , events , local , Tucson , Image , Video
Friday, February 1, 2019
3rd Annual Boots N Brews. Tanque Verde Ranch is collecting a bunch of local breweries for their annual craft beer and culinary weekend. Participating breweries include Barrio, 1912, Sentinel Peak, Uncle Bears, Copper Brothel, Dillinger and more. Beyond the drinks, the event includes buffet food and live music. 4:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, to Sunday, Feb. 3. 14301 E. Speedway Blvd. Make reservations at tvrfun.com or call (520) 296-6275. Details here.
Native American Crafts Sale. One of the many highlights of living in the Sonoran Desert is how much authentic Native American art, including both handcrafted contemporary and vintage jewelry, there is at your fingertips (and on your fingertips, if you’re a ring-wearer). Check out the Zuni, Navajo, Hopi and Santo Domingo artwork at Tohono Chul’s sale. In addition, Gerald Dawavendewa, a member of the Hopi tribe, will be at the show demonstrating Kachina carving. (Kachinas are traditional Hopi dolls that depict the spiritual beings central to Hopi religious life.) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1 through Sunday, Feb. 3. Tohono Chul Lomaki House, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. Tohono Chul admission is $13 adults, $10 seniors/military/students with ID, $3 for kids 5 to 12 and free for members and kids under 5. Details here.
Desert Blooms. Spring is coming! Some of Ted DeGrazia’s watercolors from the 1950s, of colorful cactus flowers, desert critters and other springtime specialties, will be on display all the way through September in honor of Tucson’s most bearable season. (Every season in Tucson is the most bearable season, besides summer.) Head over to the Gallery in the Sun anytime during their open hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily., and pay admission: $8 adults, $5 ages 12 to 18 and free for those 12 and under. Or attend the exhibit’s opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, which is free and open to the public. DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan Road. Details here.
Love and Light–A New Journey. The YWCA Gallery at the Francis McClelland Community Center will be featuring the work of Gavin Hugh Troy through April 1. A look at his work, which ranges in medium from acrylic to gesso to pencil on canvas or wood, might be just what you need if you’ve been down in the dumps lately: His scenes of boats, travelers and points of light are hopeful messages of peace and light for the future of our country, inspired by the our newly diverse and Democratic Congress. His work has long included an element of self-discovery—on the scale of countries as well as individuals. Gallery opening reception is 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. YWCA Southern Arizona, 525 N. Bonita Ave. Free. Details here.
81st Annual Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo & Fair. If you’re looking to get out of town this weekend, heading to Sells for this jam-packed weekend might be just what you need. The rodeo events include All-Indian junior and masters rodeo, O’odham Wapkial team roping, wild horse racing, a bull bash and women’s steer riding. And there’s tons of non-rodeo activities too, like a business expo, basketball tournaments, a carnival, a fun run, a pow wow, a battle of the bands and Toka tournaments, just for example. The theme of this year’s parade is “Celebrating the Resiliency of the O’odham Himdag through Beauty, Health and Wellness.” Friday, Feb. 1, through Sunday, Feb. 3. Eugene P. Tashquinth Sr. Livestock Complex in Sells, AZ along SR 86. $5 GA, $3 youth 6 to 17 and military, $1 seniors 55+, free for kids 5 and under. Details here.
Tucson Roadrunners vs. Colorado Eagles. The Eagles just made their first visit to Southern Arizona in December, as the 15th American Hockey League club to play a game here in the Roadrunners home facility. Come see these fast-moving teams face off at either one of this weekend’s home games. Friday night is social media night, and includes a hockey mask giveaway. Saturday is Phoenix Roadrunners Night, where the team will be wearing specialty Phoenix Roadrunners throwback jerseys, to be auctioned off after the show, and Sentinel Peak Brewing Company will sponsor first responders night. 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $10 to $61+. Details here.
Awake: The Life of Yogananda. His autobiography is known as “the book that changed the lives of millions.” Paramahansa Yogananda brought the teachings of yoga to the West in in the 1920s and ’30s. This documentary, screened by the Tucson Jewish Community Center, combines re-creations and real-life footage, featuring interviews from Ravi Shankar, George Harrison and more. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. 3800 E. River Road. $10. Details here.
Grivo. Austin’s Grivo don’t just create the old wall of sonic spray, but shape-shift musical matter, forming abstract MC Escher drawings in the minds of intent listeners. Continuing and expanding upon Terry Riley’s A Rainbow in Curved Air with a heavy injection of shoegaze melancholy, Grivo combines slow, melodic hooks with grinding doom-metal bass lines, which result in abstract forms that reflect technology-driven loneliness. Heavy but warm, their debut album Elude manages to evoke malaise without alienating the listener. Instead, we are drawn into the “Cave” with the players, deprived of all senses but their minor, downtempo dirges. Because the band’s core is two brothers raised on jazz guitar and drums, the five-minute-plus songs on Elude are shot through with a dynamic interplay between rhythm and melody, allowing for builds and dissolves often missing in this droning, expansive genre. This music for sad smart folk with not much lift, who long to close the gap between existential isolation and deep human connection. Grivo, with Mute Swans and Moontraxx, on Friday, Feb. 1. Club Congress, 311 East Congress St. 8 p.m. 21+. —BS Eliot. Details here.
SAVOR Southern Arizona Food & Wine Festival. We all know Tucson has an expansive, delicious and unique food history, but why just talk about it when you can taste it? The SAVOR Southern Arizona Food & Wine Festival at the Tucson Botanical Gardens combines everything you could hope for: heritage foods and ingredients, local wines, local craft beers, and samples from our city’s best restaurants. Come hungry, leave full (in every sense). 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2. 2150 N. Alvernon Way. $79. Details here.
Expecto Bar Crawl. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is coming to Tucson, so you know what that means: drink! This bar crawl includes drink specials during the crawl, no cover at participating locations, and the first 50 guests get a commemorative koozie. Participating locations include the Playground Bar & Lounge and more. Just one question: Is it considered appropriation if you didn’t actually read the books? 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2. 278 E. Congress St. $10 to $20. 21+. Details here.
Asian Lantern Festival. Tucson is about to get a whole lot brighter, thanks to the efforts of the Reid Park Zoo, the Confucius Institute at the UA, Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc. and the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center. Throughout the next two months, more than 40 customized, colorful lantern displays will be on display at the zoo, where you’ll also be able to enjoy Chinese name writing, calligraphy, painting, music, crafts and even carousel rides. This family-friendly event will tap into everyone’s sense of childlike wonder, and give you an opportunity to celebrate and learn more about Asian cultures. 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, through Saturday, March. 23. $18 adults, $16 kids 2 to 14 and free for kids 1 and younger. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court. Members get $2 off admission. Details here.
La Traviata. It’s got a love story, it’s got a bad case of tuberculosis and it’s got more than one delightfully dramatic lovers’ duet. La Traviata, one of the most frequently performed operas in the world, is coming to Tucson. It tells the story of Violetta, a wealthy courtesan who throws a party to celebrate the return of her health, being faced with a confession of undying love by Alfredo, a young provincial member of the bourgeois. Will she sacrifice her fabulous lifestyle and wealth for love? Will her decision work out in the end? This emotional and musical roller coaster will have you on the edge of your seat. 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $30 to $130. Details here.
Small Works Show. This month at the Wilde Meyer Gallery, they’re displaying work submitted by some of the gallery’s very best artists, whether these works are of landscapes, animals, people or even jewelry. What do they all have in common? They’re small! Works in this exhibit range from 5” by 5” to 14.5” by 11”. This is a perfect opportunity to take in some bite-size portions of lovely art, and you can do it all month if you want! The exhibit is up from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, and gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 2890 E. Skyline Drive, suite 170. Free. Details here.
Alejandro Gonzalez Photography Opening. Another month at Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. means another artist being featured on the downtown brewery’s walls. This month, enjoy the photography of Alejandro Gonzalez, a Nogales, Mexico, native who earned a BFA in fine arts and art education, as well as a masters in educational leadership at the UA. Gonzalez is in his ninth year of teaching photography at Tucson High School, and also works as a freelance photographer. Check out alexgfotos.com for a sneak peek at his lovely work. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2. Crooked Tooth Brewing Co., 228 E. Sixth St. Details here.
Viva Piazzolla! This year, Ballet Tucson’s winter concert is happening in collaboration with the Tucson Guitar Society and The Rogue Theatre as part of the Tucson Desert Song Festival. So you’re in for a night where the art is coming at you in all mediums from all angles. Chieko Imada and Mary Beth Cabana choreographed and conceptualized this piece, which portrays the life of legendary composer—and the father of nuevo tango—Astor Piazzolla, through dance. Just to name a few events in his life: He narrowly escaped death by plane crash when his father forbade him from going on a tour he desperately wanted to, he pioneered a method of playing the bandoneon standing up and he traveled all over the world. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3. PCC Center for the Arts, 2202 W. Anklam Road. $45, or $40 for seniors/students/military. Details here.
Miss Olivia & the Interlopers. Ain’t no doubt Miss Olivia Reardon’s got skills. Watch her waifish form sidle to the mic, hear dusty blue-eyed soul, belted yet nuanced, studied yet organic, and goddamn straight at the heart. After years of kicking around her native Ohio, then L. A., now Tucson, she has unearthed a band with enough chutzpah to both compliment and contest her dynamic range, and it’s more tremor than earthquake, also the precise sound of band and singer finding each other. The airy and boisterous guitars, bass, sax/keyboards and jazzy-cool drums (like Elvin Jones weaned on Questlove and hip hop. Seriously). Capable of tight, straight-ahead covers (Erykah Badu’s “Tyrone”) or psych jam-outs, a signature of the band’s live shows, Miss Olivia and the Interlopers wistfully channel both Dusty and Stevie, Bettye LaVette and old Allman Bros. How cosmic! (Voted runner up to Calexico as Tucson Weekly’s Best Band of 2018, this band is cutting their first record together right now.) With Miller’s Planet on Saturday, Feb. 2. 191 Toole. Doors at 7 p.m. Free. 21+. Details here.
Ten55 Tailgate. Tucson’s only brewery/sausage house is gearing up for a Super Bowl party, and you’re invited. The day features nacho fries, hot wings, craft beer, appetizer specials and more. You get to eat, you get to drink, you get to watch the game. It’s a brewery viewing party, why haven’t you been to one yet? 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3. 110 E. Congress Street. Details here.
Southern Arizona Transportation Museum Lecture Series. February is going to be a very educational month at the best train museum in town, with lectures every Sunday about different aspects or periods of railroad history. Andy Odell is kicking it off this week with a talk on the Prescott and Arizona Central Railway Co. and its accompanying railroad. Never heard of it? That’s because the line only lasted for a few years, and almost no evidence of its existence remains. It even has its very own page on a website called abandonedrails.com. Odell will bring you the saga! 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3. Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, 414 N. Toole Ave. Free. Details here.
Dykes and Young, Rogue Darlings, and Justin Nalley. Have you heard of the American Institute of Thoughts and Feelings? It’s very Tucson: an artist-run experimental space set on using research, inquiry and community engagement to reflect upon human sentiment. There’s a gallery space, a sculpture garden and an adjacent alleyway. It’s all located in someone’s house. Anyway, at this event, enjoy the music of Dykes and Young and Rogue Darlings, and works by poet and visual artist Justin Nalley. They’re committed to making literary events accessible for all. Sunday, Feb. 3. 3 to 5:30 p.m. 116 N. Santa Rita Ave. $5 to $15 suggested donation. Details here.
Tags: fun in general , do this , things to do , Tucson events , happenings , around town , Tucson , weekend , February , Friday , Saturday , Sunday , Image , Video
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Denver the giraffe is hitting a big milestone Friday, Feb. 1, and all of Tucson’s invited to her big party. Kicking off at 10 a.m, the zoo crew will welcome the public. The first 20 people in line at the event get to feed Denver a birthday biscuit.
The zoo keepers already celebrated the big day Thursday, Jan. 31 with browse laid out to read “30” and a giraffe biscuit cake holding 30 birthday carrot "candles."
Reid Park Zoo first met Denver back in 1990, when she first arrived just before her first birthday. Denver has since been a mom to four calves—two boys and two girls.
“Denver doesn’t know she’s a giraffe," said Reid Park Zoo Keeper Kelly. "Giraffes are skittish and very cautious by nature, but Denver will come right up to you. She’s very curious.”
According to the zoo, the median life expectancy of a female giraffe is 25. At 30, Denver is just a couple of months younger than the oldest giraffe in the nation. To keep Denver in her old age, her Keepers feed her high calorie food with lots of vitamins, and weigh her twice a week to make sure she's maintaining her weight. Denver's mother lived to be an estimated 32 years, so longevity seems to be a family trait.
In the giraffe habitat, guests can tell Denver apart from her companions because she is the smallest giraffe at the Zoo. Her spots are entirely filled in and she has a spot in the shape of an upside down heart on one of her shoulders.
The Reid Park Zoo is located at 3400 E. Zoo Court, and opens at 9 a.m.
Tags: zoo , giraffes , 30th birthday , celebration , Denver , birthday , animals , cute , Image
Brews & Books. Books have a way of making your heart and brain feel full, while beer has a way of making your stomach feel full. So if you’re looking to feel fulfilled every which way, a book club hosted by a brewery isn’t something you should miss out on. Head over to 1912 Brewing to discuss this month’s book, The Mermaid Chair, by Sue Monk Kidd, a story that involves an ailing mother, a trip to an island and a handsome monk—exactly the type of elements that made it a perfect fit to be adapted into a Lifetime movie. While you discuss the book, enjoy beer, mead, wine and whatever food you’d like to bring, because this is a potluck! 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31. 1912 Brewing Company, 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. Free. Details here.
Te Amo, Argentina. World-renowned cellist Antonio Lysy won a Grammy for his album Te Amo, Argentina, an homage to the sounds of the country, from the music of tango in Buenos Aires cafes to the Amerindian rhythms of the Andes Mountains. In this show, the album comes to life, featuring not only chamber works and cello solos by Lysy, but spoken word, film and tango dancing by Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo, tango choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance and gold medalists on NBC’s Superstars of Dance. Come hear the works of Ginastera, Piazzolla, Guastavino and more. By the time you walk out, you’ll be just as in love with Argentina as Lysy is. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31. Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Ave. $30. Details here.
J.I.D. Growing up whip smart and poor made J.I.D. creative and resourceful. To quick flow mix up. To mash together funk and soul with Bollywood flair. To pay little attention to rules and transcend limitations. The resulting hip hop is fresh and deconstructed and, um, dangerous. (Yes, we know, dangerous doesn’t exist anymore.) This Atlanta kid grew up on Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang, and J.I.D. too has a crew, Spillage Village (alongside 6LACK). Like Wu, his dystopic visions are darkly comic and fully realized. His high-pitched nasal flow enlists hyper-complex internal rhyme schemes and hypnotic repetition to assert and deconstruct at once, a cut and pasted ransom note atop warped sitars and descending piano scales. The effect is disorienting and utterly original. As J.I.D. guides us through his “get on my dick/cannabis spliff”-enhanced world, that old-fashioned “I feel cool as shit bumping this” vibe is attained. Hell yeah, hip hop doesn’t just survive, it thrives in J.I.D.’s jittery, capable hands. J.I.D., with Reason, Hardo, and Lou the Human on Thursday, Jan. 31. 191 Toole. Doors at 7 p.m. $20-$25. All ages. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , Tucson events , Thursday , Jan 31 , books , music , Argentina , shows , Image
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Cookies and Cocktails at the Playground Bar & Lounge. This annual event honors the “fierce, fearless girls and women leading Southern Arizona today,” but for those not in the know, it means there are Girl Scout cookies! The event features Girl Scout Cookie-inspired cocktails and craft beers, cookie-and-wine pairings, and desserts made by local restaurants, each starring a different cookie! 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30. 278 E. Congress Street. $55. 21+. Details here.
The Unruly Mystic: John Muir. Also known as “John of the Mountains” and “the Father of the National Parks,” John Muir was, well, a lot of things: a hiker, an environmentalist, an author and more. This movie explores Muir’s life and how he wound up being considered a “patron saint of environmental activism.” The screening is calling, and you must go. 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30. The Screening Room. 127 E. Congress St. $12. Details here.
Sue Betanzos - Reflections Of Nature on Display. January 12th-February 13th (Wednesdays-Sundays 10AM-3PM) Sue creates new glass paintings, acrylic paintings, and glass mosaic artworks inspired by the beautiful diverse Sonoran Desert. This sweet natural oasis is the perfect place to observe both nature and fine art. Agua Caliente Park Ranch House Gallery 12325 E. Roger Road. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , events , things to go to , art , film , food , Girl Scout Cookies , cookies and cocktails , fundraiser , Wednesday , Jan. 30 , Image
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
“Call Him Mac” Reception and Book Signing. You’ve probably heard of Ernest McFarland, the U.S. Senator, Senate Majority Leader, Arizona Governor, Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, founder of KTVK and father of the GI Bill. (Historian Marshall Trimble once suggested that if Arizona had a Mount Rushmore, it would be Carl Hayden, Ernest McFarland, Barry Goldwater and John McCain.) But you might not know much about his life as a husband, father and friend to people like FDR, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill. Call Him Mac: Ernest W. McFarland, The Arizona Years, a new book by law professor and historian Gary L. Stuart, published by the UA Press, delves into all of this. Meet the author, pick up a copy and get it signed at this event. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. Arizona Main Library special collections room, 1510 E. University Blvd. Free. Details here.
Taco Tuesday at 1912 Brewing Co. Alright, Tucson, time to embrace your local borderlands culture by drinking craft beer and eating Mexican food at the same time. 1912 Brewing is hosting a tasty Taco Tuesday, where they’re selling tacos for only $2 each. And if you aren’t sure which of their beers go best with the tacos, don’t be afraid to ask! 4:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. Details here.
Maria en Tierra de Nadie. The University of Arizona Latin American Studies Student Organization is screening a documentary film that follows a group of three Central American women who travel through Mexico to the United States border. The screening also features a panel discussion from the film’s director, a community organizer, and a professor from the Center for Latin American Studies. English-Spanish Interpretation will be available. 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. The Loft Cinema. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Free. Details here.
Turkuaz. These purveyors of “Powerfunk” behave more like a performance ensemble than a band, but don’t let that distract you from their music. The nine members of Turkuaz each sport their own color on stage, as well as their own instruments: bass, synthesizer, saxophone, drums, trumpet, guitar, and male and female vocals all mix together to make something relentlessly catchy, danceable and of course, funky. A typical Turkuaz song (if you could call their music typical) features jangly disco guitars, thumping bass, modern production and vocal hooks straight out of the golden age of funk. If vivid paint splatters had a sound, they would be the music of Turkuaz. Catch Turkuaz with Paris Monster at 191 Toole. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. 191 E. Toole Ave. $20. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , five fun events , music , education , tacos , food , fun , Tuesday , Jan. 29 , Image , Video
Monday, January 28, 2019
Tucson's only blacksmithing school is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 2, and the public is invited to see the sparks fly.
Desert Metal Craft, a new school started by three Tucsonans, is dedicated to "teaching the ancient art of blacksmithing together with the modern science behind the craft of metalworking." Classes range from absolute beginner to expert, and include blacksmithing, bladesmithing, art fabrication, and traditional Japanese steel-making or "tatara.”
“As far as we know, it’s the only blacksmithing school in all of the southwest,” said co-founder Pete Brown. “Some local blacksmiths do classes, but this is first to constitute a full, dedicated school.”
The other Desert Metal Craft founders are Liz Cameron, who teaches applied metallurgy at Pima Community College, and Rich Greenwood, who formerly competed on the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” blacksmithing series. The three met in blacksmithing classes at PCC.
“I just got talking with those two, and when I found out Rich wanted to start his own school, I called him up and said ‘count me in!’,” Brown said.
The three then rented a warehouse and filled it with equipment. For the all-day grand opening, they plan on blacksmithing demonstrations, music, fire dancers and more.
“The railroad runs right by, so we don’t have to worry about making too much noise,” Brown said. “Which we’re pretty excited about.”
Classes range from single-day lessons up to more in-depth eight week sessions.
“We’re not doing commissions, it’s very much an educational place,” Brown said. “We want it to be a kind of community school.”
While still in the school’s infancy, Desert Metal Craft’s founders are speaking with local schools to host community programs, such as summer classes for kids.
“It’s extremely rewarding,” Brown said. “You can take a piece of junk metal and forge it into whatever you want.”
The Desert Metal Craft Grand Opening Launch Party lasts from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at 544 E. 24th St. #3, Tucson, AZ 85713.
For more information, visit desertmetalcraft.org
Tags: Desert Metal Craft , metalwork , blacksmith , metal , craft , school , classes , education , PCC , celebration , grand opening , event , Image
