Where has the summer gone? Before you know it HOCO Fest will be here and rocking and rolling in downtown Tucson for five days.

The Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 line up includes over fifty acts in an array of musical and entertainment styles.

Check out our facebook page for a chance to win a pair of free tickets!

Find the full lineup here, and check out our stories about the festival highlights, closing act Andrew W.K. and HOCO's New Vision. 

Friday, Aug. 24

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Maynards Market & Kitchen

Southern Italy Wine Dinner. So you might not be able to travel the Southern coast of Italy whenever you want, but with this event at Maynard's Market & Kitchen, you'll get to try the area's food and wine—and really, what else do you need? There are three courses that include smoked eggplant, bluebeard durum cavatelli, grilled apricot and plenty of wine. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. 400 N. Toole Ave. $78. Purchase tickets online. Details here.

Contentment: A Public Talk. If there's anyone who knows about peace of mind and contentment, it would probably be an internationally renowned Kadampa Buddhist Monk. And that's exactly who is leading this workshop. More specifically, it's Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab, in from Canada, where he's the spiritual director and resident teacher at the country's Kadampa Meditation Center. He'll talk about how all the difficulties we have in our relationship with others actually stem from ourselves: We don't know how to be content. And then he'll share some methods for finding your way to peace of mind that lasts. Sounds at least worth hearing, right? 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. Kadampa Meditation Center, 5326 E. Pima St. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Details here.

Bad Bunny. Thick-tongued Puerto Rican Spanish offers a Caribbean uplift to Bad Bunny's trad street trap. Benito Ocasio, aka Conejo Malo (Bad Bunny) opens his corazon and a floodgate of pining and regret pours fourth. This one's into fessin' not frontin', a lover not a fighter all the way down that well-straddled reggaeton-trap line. On "Estamos Bien," Conejo Malo rises to sing, not to sling and though he is vo-coded it's more reflective of a lovesick sweat than a coked-out bender. The romance language raices run deep and Bad Bunny takes full advantage of the sonic beauty of his native tongue. "Ya me cansé," he is already too tired of playing games. Every breath catch feels like Michael Jackson meets John Legend, as hypnotic string and piano strikes swaddle his voice with melody. He is turning ghastly trap on its head; this could be a love/sex/sweat/dance music for the ages. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. Tucson Convention Center, 260 South Church Ave. $39-$100. All ages. Details here.

Day Trip & Pawjama Party Orientation. If you really feel like you need a reason to head over to the Pima Animal Care Center on a Friday evening, other than to coo over all the cute pets, consider this free orientation that briefs participants on the shelter's programs that allow you to take a dog out for a day trip, or home for a sleepover. It's a great way to help the animal shelter when it gets full, and for you to get a feel for what sort of pet personality fits best with your lifestyle. What could be cuter than a pawjama party? 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N. Silverbell Road. Free. Details here.

Fourth Annual Women in Business Conference and Ball. Empowered women empower women! At this year's conference, the theme is "Collaboration, NOT Competition: The Future of Women in Business," and it focuses on providing tips and resources for collaboration using communication, trust and recognition of a common goal. More than 300 individuals, entrepreneurs, corporate executives and businesses from across the Tucson area and the whole United States will be there, and you should be too. Hear experts speak on how your competition can help you excel, how you can win business through collaboration, how to get organized and how to be a good leader. 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24 and 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. $25 to $197. Details here.

Saturday, Aug. 25

'90s Bar Crawl Tucson AZ. Well, the title pretty much says it all, doesn't it? Bleach your hair tips, throw on a bunch of denim, pluck most of your eyebrows away and prepare to get slimed, because tonight is all about one of history's finest decades. Maloney's, the Funky Monk, Playground, Series 19, The Warehouse and more TBA will be participating. Your ticket includes exclusive '90s-themed drink specials, a photobooth at registration and a '90s-themed after party at The Warehouse. The first 25 people in line get limited swag. You'd better start practicing the Macarena. 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Maloney's Tucson, 213 N. Fourth Ave. $15 to $69. Details here.

I jump at opportunities to say I discovered Martin Short, at least in my office. On Johnny Carson, he was the funniest person ever, so the next day I asked the break room comedy fans, “Have you ever seen Martin Short?” It turned out to be a mic drop moment.

Short appears with Steve Martin at the Tucson Convention Center Arena on Sunday, August 26, in “An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your LIfe.” One hopes that’s a joke given the ticket prices: $55 to $175 via tucsonarena.com.

Short is a smart and physical comic, generating laughs with the merest gesture of any visible body part. A veteran of Second City and SCTV, he is the person Robin Williams first reminded me of, and, to me, he is the star of The Three Amigos.

You know that 1986 movie was made at Old Tucson, right? Steve Martin co-wrote it with Lorne Michaels. Martin, Short and Chevy Chase starred. You should own it.

Titan-of-comedy Martin has been brilliantly picking banjo since he started in show business. He has said he started telling jokes in his juggling and banjo act. Comedy’s won him two Grammys, but songwriting and banjo have won him three, including a Best Country Instrumental.

The show represents a throwback to an era of duo comedy that virtually ended with the Smothers Brothers (Google Laugh In, kids.) and the gamut of TV variety shows once hosted by popular comedians. It includes, in addition to amusing back and forth banter, side-splitting bits from Short’s one-man show, a ventriloquist segment featuring Short as the dummy, a slide show of baby pictures, Martin’s playing solo and with The Steep Canyon Rangers, and a story swap of encounters with Elvis and Frank Sinatra, complete with imitations.

There will be no politics, though. Short told the Los Angeles Times, “We're not social satirists. We're more clowns.”

For the budget conscious, Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget is available on Netflix. It’s been nominated for four Grammy awards, but obviously won’t include inevitably entertaining live adlibs.

Note: The Hope After Dope show scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 25 at House of Neighborly Services is being rescheduled. We'll have updates as they are available.

 

Gary Steigerwald and Diana Muller Piano. The fall arts season is upon us! Which means it’s time to drop your jaw to the floor while you watch a pair of hands fly across a piano keyboard. Or, alternatively, you could watch TWO pairs of hands (married hands, no less!) fly across the keyboard in this Arizona Friends of Chamber Music show, where a husband-and-wife team will be playing Schubert, Mendelssohn, Daniel Asia and Ravel. Put on your fancy pants and prepare to be blown away. Wine and hors d’oeuvres (included with ticket) begin at 7 p.m. and the one-hour concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22. Holsclaw Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. $30. Details here.

The Alarm was to Wales what U2 is to Ireland—playing off the epic rock band bit, embedded with and reflective of the cultural signifiers of its homeland. Try hard and you can’t fault the earnestness of The Serious Young Men. Quick backstory: founded four decades ago as punk band The Toilets, The Alarm quickly wove lotsa Clash into their songwriting, the Mick Jones-y guitars, the Joe Strummer sloganeering, the anthemic boot-stomp hooks and fist-jack vocal melodies. So they weren’t the first to pen the singsong punk-inspired anthem, still, they were really good at it. Founding frontman Mike Peters has lived his adult life on the road, and the resulting rambles, built upon a workingman’s love and losses—always with a singsong anthem in his big old ear—as varied and well-worn as The Boss. Now, Peters is re-imagining The Alarm’s early work, updating the 1984’s mighty song-driven Declaration for tenderer ears. (We can’t forget their Brit chart-topper, “Sixty-Eight Guns,” and the fantastic “Marching On,” two songs The Clash absolutely wished they wrote. And here’s hoping they whip out the later, and unironically brilliant, “Rain in the Summertime”). Recent live shows prove that post-cancer, Peter’s voice stays strong, filled of youthful passion. And the tour contains unsung guitar hero James Stevenson (Chelsea, Gen X, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Cult). We ain’t ageists around here and The Alarm remains a band worthy of (re)discovery. In fact, the heavy new album Equals is highly recommended too; it’s absolutely ageless. With The Rifle on Wednesday, August, 22. 191 Toole, Doors at 7 p.m. $24. 21+. Details here.

The Cat Video Fest–Summer Spectacular! “Cats do not abide by the laws of nature”—Charlie Kelly. This is an encore presentation of the Cat Video Fest that screened at The Loft Cinema in December. And it’s so much fun, they can’t even contain the encore to one day! Turns out, people really like cats. Gather around to see some of the best cat videos from around the internet, and raise money for local shelters at the same time. Hosted by Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter & Sanctuary and The Loft Cinema. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22 & 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. $8. Details here.

Cardio Party-O! Dance Workout. Dance your way over to Fourth Avenue to shimmy your troubles—and your calories—away. Hosted every Wednesday at Floor Polish by Marina, this class combines everything from old school hip hop to cumbia and from disco to Bollywood. All of the moves are unique but relatively easy to follow, so it’s perfect for people without dance backgrounds, or just for people who hate the gym. It’s less of a “gym rat” atmosphere and more of a “house party” vibe, which we didn’t realize until this very moment is exactly what we’re looking for in a workout. 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Every Wednesday. Floor Polish Dance Studio, 408 N. Fourth Ave. $6 drop-in, or pick up a five-class pass for $25. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

The Smokescreens are cursed with seeing through life’s bullshit (which, really, is the true definition of cool.) Whether envying happy-go-lucky fools who “never ever feel blue” or kicking  around with “nothing to do,” they don’t allow themselves wishes because those “never come true.” Ah, but their cynicism is lushly enveloped in fuzzy layers of ear-bending descending guitar. Lest the listener gets too passive and comfy, a driving backbeat kicks in, forever opening eyes to the flawed, decaying world. Like the Velvet’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror,” but without sexual placation, Chris Rosi’s slightly flat vocals still manage to help stave off lonely blues. The Smokescreens’ blend of obscure kiwi pop and New York art rock offers an impassioned appeal to realists—the world might suck but we’ve all got to live here anyway. The LA-based New Zealand-born quartet wisely swerves from clever-clever land into a realm of jaded acceptance—these are the letdown musings of a bunch of romantics. With the Molochs on Tuesday, August 21. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. 8 p.m. Free. 21+. Details here.

Shaft (1971). “You see, this cat Shaft is a bad mother– Shut your mouth!” I mean, how do you not enjoy a movie with a theme song as good as that? All it’s missing is a badass New York detective beating up every bad guy in sight. Oh, this movie has that, too? Well then I guess we’re good to go. When you mix a leather jacket and funk, you get Shaft. 7:30 to 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. Free admission. Details here.


Tuesday Bluesday at CeeDee's. Do you love blues music but have never figured out how to effectively dance to it? Well head over to CeeDee's Jamaican Kitchen Tuesday night for a half hour lesson and then open dancing for the rest of the night. Learn what you're doing and then dance the night away, no partner needed. People of all ages and dance abilities are welcome. Work up a sweat dancing and then grab some great Jamaican food to fill up afterwards. The dance lesson starts at 7 p.m. and then open dancing will be from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. CeeDee Jamaican Kitchen
5305 E Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

Dear Reader,

We, here at the Tucson Weekly, receive lots of mail every day and so in efforts of paying it forward, here is a letter to you about a book that landed in our mail box.

Every now and again some kind publisher sends us a book with the hopes and dreams that we will write a wonderful review therefore skyrocketing their book sales. We get many books and are not able to read and review every single one, but sometimes one catches our eye.

Well, today that book was "The Best Damn Answers to Life's Hardest Questions" by Tess Koman.

The little pink, brown and gold book is inviting with its sparkly cartoon taco, sunglasses and bra on the cover, and that is where you get sucked in.

First you start reading thinking you are too cool for group think. That there is no such thing as universal relatablility. And then you follow through the flow charts and realize that everything describes your life. Perfectly.

Now, I don't know if this is a good thing or a bit sad of a thing, but it is certainly the truth.

This book asks the real questions in life, such as is a bra really necessary? Should I buy a plant? Should I text *that person*? And perhaps, most pointedly, am I too old for this shit?

Cute and colorful flowcharts illustrated by the talented Katie Vernon help millennials, and maybe even everyone really, navigate through some of life's smallest yet most important decisions.

And after reading through Koman's advice, my advice for her? Go open that bagel shop! You clearly want to!

EXTRA: A little interesting note about the author is that she is the features editor at delish.com and the former web editor at cosmopolitan.com. Web editors often are pretty cool people.

- Tirion Morris, Web Editor

Tucson’s 243rd Birthday Party and Happy Hour. Some people’s drinking slows down as they get older, but Tucson’s nearing a quarter of a millennium, and it’s still all about that happy hour, which its residents certainly appreciate. The Tucson Presidio and the Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission are presenting this birthday bash at La Cocina Restaurant, where there will be live performances by Los Canguitos Feos and Gertie and the T.O. Boyz, VIP guests including the mayor, free birthday cake made by La Cocina’s pastry chef and a special unveiling of the new Presidio Museum sign (that’s at 4:15 p.m.). You can also take a free one-hour tour of the Presidio District with historian Ken Scoville at 7:30 p.m. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20. La Cocina Restaurant, 201 N. Court Ave. Free entry. Details here.

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Tucson Village Farm

Volunteer Mondays. Have you ever driven down Campbell and passed by the cute patch of green growing by the river and wondered what is that magical oasis? It's the Tucson Village Farm! Every Monday from 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. volunteers can learn the secrets of gardening in the desert and help the farm at the same time. Tucson Village Farm is a program of the University of Arizona and helps local youth learn about healthy eating, responsible farming practices, urban farming and more. Volunteer and check it out. 4210 N Campbell Ave. Details here.

Welcome to Spring Break AKA Nightmare Beach. Today is actually the first day of school for our local Wildcats and you can celebrate the bright start of a new semester with this creepy campus film. As part of The Loft's College Cut-Ups month, movie-goers can get in the school spirit of dreaming of spring break in Florida. But wait, there's a crazed killer on the loose! Join Skip and Ronnie as they figure out the mystery of Diablo, the motorcycle-riding bikini-obsessed murderer ruining spring break in Miami. General admission $3, only $2 for Loft members. Show starts at 8 p.m. The Loft Cinema. Details here. 

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

Nandi is another year older, and the Reid Park Zoo is throwing her a party! The elephant is turning four years old and her favorite activity is rolling in the mud so what better way to celebrate than with a Muddy birthday bash.

The event will be held Saturday, August 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will include a line up of activities such as singing happy birthday, elephant ear crafts, mud pit fun and mud paintings.

And how can you celebrate a birthday without cake? There will be free birthday cupcakes for the first 100 people in Expedition Tanzania.

There will also be a Nandi Special salad for sale featuring her two favorite fruits, melon and oranges!

Head over to the Reid Park Zoo to join in on the birthday bash fun.

Friday, Aug 17

TGIF ’90s Spectacular. For every Friday in August, Casa Video is allowing you to relive the ’90s! Go back to a wonderful decade where we didn’t have any of the strife we have today; no unnecessary wars and no corrupt politicians. It was just technicolor tracksuits and Tamagotchis, all day every day. For this week’s party, they’re screening episodes of Family Matters, Boy Meets World, Step by Step and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, August 17. 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Stand Up 101 Class Showcase + Carnival Diet. Students over at Tucson Improv Movement just spent six weeks honing their comedy chops, and they’re ready to show off their stuff. You’re not going to want to miss this opportunity to see what just a month and a half of classes can do to a person’s sense of comedic timing and ability to go with the flow. In addition, Carnival Diet, one of Tucson Improv Movement’s house teams, will take a suggestion and weave you a world that’s as weird and wonderful as a carnival—vomit-inducing rides, fantastical performances, fried miscellany and all. 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17. Tucson Improv Movement, 414 E. Ninth St. $5. Details here.

WomanKraft Rummage Sale. You were probably looking for the perfect way to support the mission of validating and empowering women artists and other underrepresented groups this weekend, so we are pleased to tell you that there’s a perfect event for that—one where you can walk away having gained more than just a good feeling. This rummage sale has toys, decorations, art books, novels, household items, tools, records, furniture, a huge variety of art supplies… and the list goes on. Pick up the piece you’ve been looking for to complete your wardrobe, or to tie together the décor of your living room. Bring a friend! Come more than once! Just don’t miss out! 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 17 and 18. No early birds, please! 388 S. Stone Ave. Details here.

Saturday, Aug 18

The Gaslight Music Hall Car Show. It’s that time of month again! This family-friendly event is the perfect opportunity to unwind in the midst of all this back-to-school stress. Listen to some old school tunes, check out some beautiful cars and talk to people who love cars as much as you do—or, if you’re not super, super into cars, talk to people who can teach you all sorts of cool things about cars. Of course, don’t miss the delicious, classic diner food being served up at the Gaslight Music Hall, because most experiences are made better with French fries. 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. The Gaslight Music Hall in Oro Valley, 13005 N. Oracle Road. Free. Details here.

College and Career Day at the Library. The period after graduating from high school can be pretty confusing. How do you make a resume? What do you put on a resume anyway? What the hell are you supposed to major in? How does financial aid work? Don’t worry, though: You’re not alone. The Joel D. Valdez Main Library is putting on this event full of college-and career-related workshops led by the Library’s Idea+Space staff, Pima Community College and Earn to Learn. Reps from ASU, NAU, UA,, Prescott College and the Metropolitan Education Commission will also be on hand to answer questions. The event is open to the public, so you don’t need to be a recent high school graduate to swing by and pick up some knowledge! 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave. Free. Details here.

Flashlight Night at the International Wildlife Museum. Scientists have puzzled over the issue for decades, because there’s really no rhyme or reason to it, but most everyone agrees than any game becomes more fun when you’re playing it in the dark with flashlights. And kudos to the International Wildlife Museum for recognizing this with this night where you can hang out with reptiles and insects, take safari selfies, watch movies and participate in a spotlight scavenger hunt. Archery is available for ages 9 and up as well. Lights go out at 6 p.m., but feel free to come earlier if you want to see the museum with the lights on. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. International Wildlife Museum, 4800 W. Gates Pass Road. $10 adult, $7 senior/military, $5 kids 4 to 12 and free for kids 3 and under. Archery is two bucks per person. Details here.

Yoga for Stronger, Healthier Bones. Yoga is supposed to make you feel stronger and more capable, but if you’re dealing with bone troubles like osteoporosis or osteopenia, then the varied weight distribution that comes with it might not sound too fun. But at this class, you’ll learn 12 poses to help enhance bone strength, and also exactly which poses to consider avoiding if you’re dealing with weakened ones. There will also be discussion about the benefits of yoga for bone density, balance, strength, range of motion, coordination, anxiety and fall prevention. Whether you’re brand new to yoga, or a yoga teacher looking for ways to better serve your students, you bone’t want to miss it. 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. The Yoga Connection, 3929 E. Pima St. $35. Details here.

Women & Money Masterclass. As a print publication, we’ve had our fair share of moments where we realized we had more month than money. And really, who couldn’t benefit from a YWCA-hosted class on how to create a realistic financial plan, to work with the money you have and to master the art of negotiating? This weekend is part two of this master class, and it’s called “Let’s Get Real About Money.” 9 a.m. to noon. Saturday, Aug. 18. Frances McClelland Community Center, 525 N. Bonita Ave. $60. Details here.

Sizzling Summer Nights. The last iteration of this beat-the-heat event at the Jane Hamilton Fine Art Gallery is upon us! Their philosophy at the gallery is simple: Yes, it’s absurdly, unreasonably hot, but, hey, at least the town has slowed down for the summer and the restaurants are less crowded. It’s the perfect time to take a deep breath and relax, then to head over to the gallery for some more relaxing, but with wine, music and food. Ahhhh, summer. 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. Jane Hamilton Fine Art Gallery, 2890 E. Skyline Drive, suite 180. Free. Details here.

Cool Summer Nights at the Desert Museum. It’s time someone said it: Sometimes not even the nights are that cool during the Tucson summer. But you know what? Heading out to the Desert Museum is still worth it. This week at their “Creatures of the Night” event: live presentations from the Herpetology Department featuring venomous reptiles, two “glow & flow” yoga sessions offered by Tiffany Georgia from Tucson Yoga Studio (glow sticks will be provided!) and a photography workshop by Jay Pierstorff all about using flash correctly. Plus all the usual fun in the form of fine art exhibits, the stingray touch exhibit, docent presentations and the Packrat Playhouse. 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. $22 GA, $20 seniors 65 and up, $9 kids 2 to 12, $18 military, $17 Arizona/Sonora residents. Details here.

Sorrytown. Reverbed-out guitars eviscerate silence. “Go away,” a dude urges, but the song drones on, jagged and un-attenuated, a relentless aural disaster. Sorrytown lifts the corners of the polite straight world and reveals the skittering, frenetic bugs underneath. “Everyone you know is somewhere you could never go,” Simeon Beardsley exhales, like Built to Spill sans tidy deductions. Heavy drums and bass push tunes forward, headlong into uncertainty, demanding to “know.” Then the answer comes—sonic booms and cathartic bass waves. There is no inner narrator, only a vast noisy void. “We have no reason to speak.” Heavy primal fucking and alienation ensue. If Reznor routinely dips a toe in this black pool, Sorrytown is a headfirst dive into the abyss. This is bleak and mighty and could only hail from the forsaken Las Cruces desert. With The Big Bad, Medvedi and Her Mana on Saturday, August 18. Cans Deli, 340 N. Fourth Ave. 8 p.m. $5. 21+. Details here.

Native Son. Ahead of the release of the remake, The Tucson Black Film Club is screening the original film adaptation Richard Wright’s classic novel. It tells the story of an impoverished black man taking the job of a chauffeur for a rich white family, where unforeseen complications arise. The screening will be held at the Dunbar African American Culture Center. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. 325 W. Second St. Details here.

The Greatest Showman Sing-Along. Yeah, who cares if the movie glossed over a lot of exploitation, the songs are a great time! Join The Loft and Loft Jr. for a special version of the musical with on-screen lyrics to the hit songs like “This is Me,” “Rewrite the Stars” and “The Other Side.” 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. $12. Details here.

Sunday Aug 19

5 Points Farmers Market. You can never have too many farmers markets! Especially farmers markets like Grassroots, which charges nothing for their farmers to sell goods. Head over to 5 Points for a heaping helping of food that’s local and sustainable. Try the organic produce! The antibiotic- and hormone-free meats! Even some baked goods and hot coffee from 5 Points to munch on while you shop! You’ll walk away feeling good—not only because you got up before noon on a Sunday, and not only because you’re going to fill up on foods that are good and good for you, but because you’re supporting local farmers. And that’s pretty dang cool. 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 19 (and every Sunday through Dec. 2). 5 Points Market & Restaurant, 756 S. Stone Ave. Free. Details here.

Valley of the Moon Historic Tours. If you don’t know much about how the Valley of the Moon got started, for now we’ll just tell you that it involved a Spiritualist preacher, a little girl sick with tuberculosis and about 800 sacks of cement. But we don’t want to spoil the story. Head over there this Sunday (or any third Sunday, really) to take a tour and go behind the scenes to learn about some of the history and stories behind this magical little corner of the world. 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19. Valley of the Moon Tucson, 2544 E. Allen Road. $5 adults, free for kids 12 and under with adult, members and teachers. Details here.

Oro Valley’s Got Talent Finale. This is it! After months of preliminary auditions and two rounds of semi-finals, the moment we’ve all been waiting for is upon us! The finals and awards for Oro Valley’s talent competition. Who will it be? Kelly Clarkson? Clay Aiken? That little girl with the yellow pants and the ukulele? Unless any of those people live in Oro Valley, then probably not. This is about homegrown talent, baby. And this is a really neat chance to step back and realize just how many of your neighbors are full of secret, impressive skills. First-place winner gets $1,000, and second place gets $500! 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19. The Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road. $15. Details here.

Interfate. Phoenix is a hard, hot and shitty place to live and the boys of Interfate are nothing if not a product of their environment. The word “alone” is often purged from within, reinforced by the crash of a five-cymbal kit, pinned down by chest-crushing bass lines and shot through with whiplash guitars. “Our fates are intertwined.” The trio rails against confinement of the impoverished living under wide open skies, the loneliness of a burned lover forced to mill amidst millions of strangers, only wanting The One. More emo than angry, vocalist J-Money manages to find nuance in his belted outcries for help, and though there’s no new musical ground here, the band is dynamic enough to avoid whiffs of suburban generic. This is windows-down, sun-blazing, Red Bull-fueled gestalt that those turned off by plastic consumptive tripe will feel—head back, mouth open, fists pumping. Sunday, August 19 at House of Bards, 4915 E. Speedway Blvd. 7:30 p.m. 21+. Details here.

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Bar Cinema at Sky Bar

Bar Cinema: Anime Arcadia. Sky Bar is throwing it back and keeping it wack with Anime Arcadia: a showing of the biggest and baddest animated robots battling it out. First, two episodes of the ’80s mecha series Armored Trooper Votoms. Then, the main feature Patlabor: The Movie. More ’80s Japanese robots blowing stuff up. What’s not to enjoy? Hosted by Batwings Photography. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19. 536 N. Fourth Ave. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

Natural Grocers 63rd Anniversary. Who said grocery stores can’t have birthday parties? Natural Grocers is celebrating its 63rd anniversary with savings, snacks and more. Select items will ring in at 33 to 60 percent off, and carry your items off in a reusable bag, free with purchase. Enter to win prizes ranging from gift cards to a grand prize trip to Thailand. And what’s a birthday party without food? Catch a recipe demo and samples of Chocolate Powerhouse pudding from noon to 2 p.m., and stick around for a free ice cream social with sundaes and root beer floats from 4 to 6 p.m. Free event is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16. 3016 E. Broadway Blvd. Details here.

Is This Thing On? Emo Night Tucson. Tucson is still reeling from the closing of the Flycatcher, but in the wake of the storm, one of the bar’s moodiest events will live on. Emo Nights, which are known for being all vinyl, all emo, all the time, have moved rig ht on over to Cobra Arcade. This Thursday is the very first night that the event will take place at its new home. So bring your quarters, bring your American Football song requests, bring your denim jacket and bring your broodiness, because #emonighttucson is still in business! 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16. Cobra Arcade Tucson, 63 E. Congress. Free. Details here.

Field Studies Class: Rain Garden Care. You fill your garden with plants that don’t need too much water because we’re in the middle of the desert. And then monsoon season comes and threatens the whole empire you’ve built. What do you do? You go to this seminar by the Watershed Management Group, where they’re going over proper care for different plant types, how to identify and solve potential rain garden issues, watering schedules, seasonal plant needs like trimming and weeding, and more. There’s an indoor classroom session as well as some hands-on outdoor work, so come prepared—and dressed—for both. The class is designed for new gardeners or new-to-the-Sonoran-Desert-gardening-environment gardeners, but all are welcome. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16. Watershed Management Group, 1137 N. Dodge Blvd. $15. Details here.

Planets on Parade. You wanna see some planets? You wanna see some planets that are practically putting on a little show for us Earthlings? Mars and Earth came the closest to one another since 2003 at the end of July, Jupiter and Saturn are prominent right now, and Venus is starting the show at sunset. The night includes a light supper, a sunset viewing and a chance to look through the Kitt Peak Visitor’s Center 20-inch telescope while you learn about the history of planetary exploration. The final portion of the night includes telescope observations of the planets and other celestial spectacles. Bring layers, as it tends to be 10 to 20 degrees cooler up there (thank God). Make reservations in advance, and keep your cell phone handy, because they’ll make calls at 2 p.m. on the day of the event to let you know if it’s still on or if it’s cancelled (hard to see the stars when it’s cloudy, you know). Thursdays through Mondays through Aug. 31. Kitt Peak Visitor’s Center doesn’t have an address, but its coordinates are Lat.: 31.96, Long.: -111.598. $75 if reservations made online, $80 if by phone. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.