I was wearing a jacket when I stepped out of Tucson International Airport into the 95-degree May air. I’d thrown it on just hours before as I left Ohio for the summer to visit family and intern at Tucson Local Media. But one step out of the airport and I realized, “The rumors are true. It’s really hot here.” That jacket is currently sitting somewhere in the back of a closet, untouched since May.

Despite the unrelenting heat, however, the three months I’ve spent in Arizona have been productive, eventful, and most importantly, fun. Here I’ve compiled a list of 5 things that stood out as cool, so if you’re also new in town (UA freshman, perhaps???), maybe you can get something from it:

1. Sonoran hot dogs. During my first week here, my aunt asked if I had heard of Sonoran hot dogs. I hadn’t. As she explained the contents of this local delicacy, I wasn’t impressed. How can those ingredients go together? Bacon-wrapped hot dog? With mayonnaise and jalapeño? Sounds wrong. But one trip to El Güero Canelo made me a believer, and I’ve been back at least four times since. You have something special here; don’t take it for granted.

2. Javelina. They’re not pigs, I know, but the concept of nocturnal pigs that roam the streets eating trash is a funny idea for someone who hasn’t spent much time in the Southwest. The main reason I went to the Desert Museum was to finally catch a glimpse of these creatures, and they did not disappoint.

3. Mount Lemmon. Driving up the road to Mount Lemmon feels like traveling through a series of several biomes in an hour, although the lower temperatures at the top alone are enough to make the trip worth it. That’s not to discount the other perks of the mountain, such as citywide views, camping, trees and the resilient little community of Summerhaven.

4. Monsoons. Water is beautiful, and you guys don’t have enough of it down here. So when the monsoons finally hit, I found my running shoes and went for a nice jog in the rain. Now I can tell my friends back in Ohio that I ran in a monsoon, and they’ll think I’m talking about a hurricane or something. It’s also interesting to note that the “smell of rain” is distinctly different here than it is back east. Scents are difficult to describe in words, but the Arizona “smell of rain” is much stronger and more earthy (creosote bush, I am told).

5. Biosphere 2. As a research facility designed to imitate Earth itself, Biosphere 2 is, of course, breathtaking (it even has its own “lungs”). The science and engineering that went into this facility is mind-boggling, and its isolation on the opposite side of the Santa Catalina Mountains adds to its striking nature. If you haven’t been on a tour yet, I highly recommend it.

Extra: Frying an egg on the sidewalk. Just kidding. I tried and nothing happened.

$25 Beer Flight and Food Pairing. Who needs dinner and a show when you can grab a flight with some bites? This Friday, head over to Catalina Brewing Company, where you can sample five different beers and chow down on small plates prepared by personal chef service Chef Chic for $25. 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. 6918 N. Camino Martin, #120. Details here.

Summer Safari Nights at Reid Park Zoo. Holy moly! This is the last Summer Safari Night of the year! How did we get here? While it’s hard to believe it’s already been three months’ worth of learning, live music and lemurs, the zoo is closing out the season with a great program about the care and training of their animals. What’s it like to work at a zoo? Which animals are the neediest, and what sorts of needs do they have? Now’s your chance to learn, with a night starring elephants, tigers, goats, tamanduas, owls and baby alligators. Michael P. & the Gully Washers are bringing the live music, and—as always—enjoy food and drink specials, animal biofacts and wildlife activities. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court. $10.50 adults, $8.50 seniors, $6.50 children ages 2 to 14. Half off for zoo members. Details here.

Dragoon Monsooner Party at T&B North. It’s monsoon season, and though the rainstorms can be intense, during this event, you may find yourself hoping to see some dark clouds on the horizon. Tap and Bottle is hosting a Dragoon Monsooner Party, featuring Monsooner Dormunder Lager, Ohhaygrrl Gose, Barrel Aged Biere del Bac and more on tap. The kicker: If it monsoons during the party, all Monsooner will be $1 off. Bring your umbrella and cross your fingers! 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. 7254 N. Oracle Road. Free entrance. Details here.

First Fridays at the Arizona History Museum. Looking for something to do near campus while you wait for First Fridays at The Loft to start? Why not learn about some of Arizona’s fascinating history? Admission to the Arizona History Museum is two for one from 4 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, which gives you a perfect chance to check out their History Lab exhibit, which includes steampunk-themed, community member-curated exhibits about subjects like Tucson’s early brewers, Tucson’s black history and the mine workers of Bisbee. You can even create your own exhibit in History Lab’s DIY activity! 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. Arizona History Museum, 949 E. Second St. Regular prices are $10 adults, $8 seniors 65+, $5 adult students, $4 7 to 17-year-olds and free for kids 6 and under, AHS members, veterans and military. This event is two for one! Details here.

First Friday Shorts. It's the most wonderful time of the month! Come out and see the wonderful short films made by and in your very own city. Whether they're documentaries, animations, dramas, horrors or who-knows-what, First Friday Shorts is the cutting edge of the Tucson film scene. And if a short is great or terrible, you can let the director know! 9 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. $6. Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

End of Summer! Family Funday at the Farmers Market. Summer might not be quite over yet, but Family Fundays are almost over, so you might as well enjoy the celebration at Trail Dust Town. This week, enjoy tunes by Mr. Nature’s Music Garden at 10 a.m., the ever-popular ‘Spin the Wheel’ game and a hula hoop area for kids provided by Cirque Roots. AND there will be face painting. Sure, it’s still hot out. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time! 8 a.m. to noon, Friday, Aug 3. Trail Dust Town, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road. Free entry. Wristbands with unlimited Ferris wheel, carousel and train access are $6. Details here.

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 first showing, they’re screening episodes of Full House, Dinosaurs, Family Matters and Perfect Strangers. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. 2905 E Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Eastern Europe Wine Tasting. Ever been to Croatia, Austria or Slovenia? If you haven’t, Maynards Market and Kitchen is giving you a chance to check visiting them (or at least trying their wine) off your bucket list. At the restaurant’s monthly wine tasting, sample the region’s offerings of Zinfandel, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Grigio and more. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. 400 N. Toole Ave. $12 general admission, free entry for Wine Club members. Details here.

Akira. Despite the fact that it’s sort of just a series of explosions, Akira remains one of the most influential and powerful anime films ever made. Picture this: A futuristic Japan where gangs of street youths battle it out on high-tech motorcycles. Add in a bit of telekinesis, hallucination and noir, and you’ve got the recipe for a winner. Plus in the film, the 2020 Olympics take place in Tokyo, which is actually coming true. So maybe this will turn out to be a more accurate vision of the future than previously thought. 10 p.m. Friday, Aug.3, and Saturday, Aug. 4. Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Blvd. $6. Details here.

Clyde Bellecourt Speaks on American Indian Movement: Past, Present and Future. Clyde Bellecourt, also known by his Native American name, Nee Gon Nway Wee Dung, or “Thunder Before the Storm,” is the founder and national director of the American Indian Movement, or AIM, and has been called the most significant living American Indian in the United States. The Ojibwe tribe member has been an advocate for international social justice and equality since he was born in 1936. At this talk, he’ll speak about the past, present and future of the Native American people and challenge cultural stereotypes about them. He’ll also speak about some of the subjects he mentions in his 2016 autobiography, "Thunder Before The Storm: his childhood, his time in the prison system and the war he’s waged against entrenched racism." Bellecourt will be doing a signing of his book after the talk. Content of the talk is appropriate for ages 14 and up. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. Sea of Glass Center for the Arts, 330 E. Seventh St. $25 advance, $35 day of show. Details here.

Salsa Fiesta at Apple Annie’s Orchard. Spice up your weekend and try free samples of Apple Annie’s Orchard’s salsas at the produce farm location. If you can take the heat, bring home any of the salsas for 20 percent off. Want to create your own salsa? Take home free salsa recipes, and stock up on salsa supplies like chili peppers, tomatoes and jalapenos for 20 percent off when you buy five pounds or more. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 4-5 and Aug. 11 and 12. 6405 W. Williams Road. Free entry. Details here.

Fitness and Beer—Burn off a Brew. The next time you head to Borderlands Brewing Company, bring your sneakers. The brewery is joining the ranks of other bars that offer a fitness-and-drinks combo event. Its inaugural Fitness and Beer event kicks off with a class coached by Courtney Nielsen, open to all levels of fitness. Finish it up with a hard-earned brew. 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. 119 E. Toole Ave. $10 for the class and pint, or $5 for the class only. Details here.

Mead and Bacon Pairing. Celebrate National Mead Day with—what else?—mead, but here comes the unexpected part: It will be paired with bacon. The brewers at 1912 Brewing Co. are offering up a flight of three Superstition Meads with three different types of bacon. If you, like me, didn’t know there were even three different types of bacon, this might be a chance to expand your palate while ringing in this quasi-holiday. 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd., suite 105. Details here.

Rye’ld Up Beer Release. Cue the nostalgia: vintage arcade game Frogger is back in a tournament led by Harbottle Brewing Company. Do your best to cross to the other side of the road in this single-elimination, bracket-style tournament, and you might just walk away with the $50 gift card and trophy grand prize—or at least a $6 gift card if you win your bracket after the first round. Fuel up in between rounds with the brewing company’s latest release, “Rye’ld Up” Rye IPA. There will also be discounts on draft beer throughout the event. 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. 3820 S. Palo Verde, suite 102. Must buy one beer to enter competition and use discounts. Email [email protected] or go to brewery to secure a spot. Details here.

Downtown Desert Deals. The next time you’re trying to pick a restaurant, head downtown. From now until Aug. 11, many restaurants are offering a host of deals to try out. We’re talking happy hour deals at Maynards, HighWire Lounge, HUB Restaurant, Batch Café and Bar, and Playground Bar and Lounge; $10 summer grilled margaritas at Charro Steak; a summer dinner deal for two at 47 Scott; and half off bottles of wine 4 to 10 p.m. Sundays at Cup Café. Can’t decide where to go? Taste of Tucson’s Historic Downtown and Downtown/4th Ave tours are discounted $5 per person when you use code TOTDSUM on their website. For details on each deal and hours/addresses, visit each restaurant’s individual website. Details here.

The Doctor From India. This documentary follows the life and travels of Dr. Vasant Lad, an Indian healer and founder of the (possibly wonderful, possibly pseudoscientific) Ayurvedic Institute. Join the Loft Cinema for an examination of the growing spread of Ayurveda, a form of herbal and metallic medicine with roots in ancient India. Members of the Ayurveda Professional Association of Arizona will be present for a short Q&A on the ancient science of Ayurveda after the film. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. 3233 E Speedway Blvd. $10. Details here.

Dom Dolla is a massive EDM producer (and artist) back in Melbourne, Australia. With his throwback soft R&B vocals (replete with tape-echo vocals, ’70s-era Johnnie Taylor), the big update is a hollow mid-to-low range synth and heavily emphasized calypso/world beat pulse. Whether programming tracks himself, like the popular “You” or collaborating as a producer, such as with Go Freek for Australia’s chart-topper “Define,” Dolla is picking up where Seal left off 20-plus years ago, adding up-to-the-moment electronic touches to radio-friendly love-pop nostalgia (see ’70s Johnnie Taylor). As with many international sensations, there’s the chance to see possible greatness in an intimate Tuc-town venue, one is used to closing EDC-level events in his native land. This is soft-groove sex-sway, melodic and comforting. A re-embrace of the sensual versus the current head-crank grind, and its popularity perhaps explains there’s a heartbreak beat in all of us, still. Saturday, Aug. 4. Gentle Ben’s, 865 E. University Blvd. 7 P.M. $10-$18. —B.S. Eliot Details here.

JourneyDance First Saturdays. It’s too hot to work out outside, so you might as well try out a new type of exercise. Why not JourneyDance? This dance form, which combines freestyle and structured movement to help you get of your mind and into your body, is being taught in Tucson by Joanna Carichner, a certified JourneyDance facilitator. All bodies are welcome! Seriously. You don’t have to have any dance experience. AND, to make this event even more low pressure, there will be no mirrors in the classroom, so you really don’t have to worry about what you look like. Just focus on feeling good. 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. Tucson Yoga Studio, 150 S. Fourth Ave. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Details here.

Living Lab and Learning Center Tour. Nothing gets you thinking about starting a water harvesting system like monsoon season. And the Watershed Management Group is here to help. With rainwater on tap and almost 100 percent of their water needs met with rainwater, greywater and stormwater, the group’s living lab is an excellent demonstration site of sustainable living. The tour is outside, so be prepared for the heat, and bring the kids—they can hang out in the Raindrop Retreat, a children’s playhouse with a rain tank, a play kitchen with greywater and a sandbox. 8 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. Watershed Management Group, 1137 N. Dodge Blvd. Free, registration required. Details here.

Connecting Plants & People. Head on over to Tohono Chul for this first Saturday event, where you’ll learn all about the edible and useful plants of the Sonoran Desert. For example, a saguaro can be used as a weapon if you hit someone with it. And if you dip a prickly pear cactus into your tequila, it automatically becomes a margarita. OK, but seriously, there’s all sorts of useful stuff out there, like chia sage, agave and cholla buds, which are all edible. But hey, we just lost credibility on this subject when we told you to whack someone with cactus, so don’t take our word for it. Go on this free tour and learn more! 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. Tohono Chul, 7366 Paseo del Norte. Tour is free, admission to the gardens is $13 adults, $10 senior/military/student, $3 for kids 5 to 12 and free for members and kids under 5. Details here.

The Last Five Years. Roadrunner Theatre Company presents this Jason Robert Brown musical that almost got Jason Robert Brown sued, because it’s all about the disintegrating relationship between him and his ex-wife. It’s a beautiful, hilarious relatable musical though, about two characters—Jamie and Cathy—falling in and out of love. Jamie tells the story chronologically, so his story arc goes from blissful to resigned, and Cathy tells the story in reverse chronological order, so while her first song is about dealing with a divorce, her last is about the excitement of a new relationship. The two characters only interact onstage in the very middle, when they meet for a duet about their wedding. Go see Chach Snook and Jodi Darling star in this production directed by Mark Klugheit. Friday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 26. 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Roadrunner Theatre Company, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. $25 GA, $22 seniors and students, $18 military and starving actors. Details here.

Cool Summer Nights at the Desert Museum. Over in the jungle (the mighty jungle), the lion is sleeping tonight. But here in the desert (the Sonoran Desert), bats, owls and kangaroo rats are just a few of the animals that are out and about after dark. This week’s “Creatures of the Night” theme features two 45-minute “Live and (sort of) on the Loose” presentations by staff members from the herpetology department all about the Sonoran Desert Region’s venomous reptiles. Jay Pierstorff will also lead a class about what to look for if you’re thinking about buying a mirrorless camera. As usual, the Packrat Playhouse, the Stingray Touch Exhibit, family art activities, the art exhibit “Becoming Animal” and plenty of docent stations will be on hand as well. 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. 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 resident. Details here.

Film Production with Avai d'Amico. Well, of course you want to make a movie, who doesn’t? But when you take into account camera operation, lighting, sets, actors, budget and paparazzi, things can get a little more complex than you once imagined. But have no fear, because the Tucson Film Actor Workshops is here to help you out. You get firsthand experience, and even better, the first class is free for everyone interested! 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5. 1111 N. Main Ave. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

Samuel J. Comroe’s performance at Houston Baptist University ended abruptly when, in a post-show Q & A, one student asked the one question, face it, on everyone’s mind, “What’s sex like for people with Tourette’s Syndrome?”

He may answer that for you when he appears at Laff’s Comedy Caffe on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3 and 4, or we may never know. The person in charge of the University’s entertainment program stopped the show and cleared the room before Comroe could respond.

Comroe addresses his Tourettes and related visual tics in his routine, no doubt to put the audience at ease, but he points out that the issue with Houston Baptist is really free speech. Good point.

So what happens when the reins are off? Like everyone else, Comroe jokes about sex, family and life in general. But not everyone is funny enough to make his debut on Conan.

Comroe’s also appeared on BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood, won both Ricky Gervais’ and the San Francisco comedy competitions and has over 20,000 fans subscribed to his YouTube channel. You may also have seen him in Season 13 of America’s Got Talent.

See him at Laff’s at 8 and 10:30 p.m.,Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3 and 4. Reservations and more information are at laffstucson.com

However you spell it, burlesque history is no grind

The Surly Wench, a long-time supporter of Tucson comedy, may also be our town’s longest-running burlesque venue. On Friday, August 3, the club’s First Friday Burlesque series presents What’s Burlesque?, a performance inspired by the legends of burlesque in the art form’s ‘40s though ‘60s heyday. The Ribald Stephka Von Snatch hosts Tucson favorites including Bunny Boom Boom, Stormy Leigh, Natasha Noir, Lela Rose, Kitten Minx LaFemme, Nikki Riot and Scarlotta Sparkle, all dancing to popular music of the era.

Doors are at 9 p.m. Reservations are via Brown Paper Tickets. Guests should dress to impress and bring tipping money for the dancers. VIP seats, $20, are closest to the stage and sell out early. General admission, $10, does not include seating.

Pining for Comedy in Sierra Vista?

SV Best Open Mic moves its regular Saturday show to 7:30 p.m. at The Horned Toad, 526 W. Fry Blvd. Cover is $5 to see comedy, performance art, poetry, dance, improv, storytelling and music. Search for SV Best Open Mic on Facebook for signup details. Performance time is ten minutes, and a full sound system is provided to run all instruments.

Beach House pen cool, dreamsicle pop for summer. For whatever season, listeners are transported to beach land, Cali or Brooklyn, sand in hair, waves breaking offshore with every repetitive melodic synth line. For 14 years, Beach House have been materializing the ethereal into those rolling sonic waves of instant nostalgia, sped up and slowed down in the way that memory alters time. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally spin music that floats, drifts or dreams its way into listener psyche—and makes them feel like it’s been there all along. Fans of Tame Impala and Yo La Tengo will appreciate the dynamic dude-chick interplay of chi and the soft, gentle builds that mimic euphoria while interjecting a subtle longing—if only moments like this could last. With Ed Schrader’s Music Beat Thursday, Aug. 2, Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. Doors at 7 p.m. $30-$45. —B.S. Eliot. Details here.

The Western Attraction. The Wilde Meyer Gallery is hosting a monthlong group show featuring artwork that’s all about the West and why we love it. From contemporary cowboy and Native American interpretations to western landscapes to some of the area’s most iconic features, you’ll walk through the gallery and be reminded of why we love where we live, even in the heat of summer. With artists like Karen Bezuidenhout, Judy Choate, Ka Fisher and Jim Nelson, there will also be plenty of variety.  Through the month of August. Gallery summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, but open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays, when there is a weekly art walk from 5 to 7 p.m., and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 2890 E. Skyline Drive, Suite 170. Details here.

Southwest Wings Summer 2018. Did you know that the Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival is the oldest birding festival in Arizona? Pop over to Sierra Vista to check out free programs, wildlife exhibits, vendors and a keynote buffet. There are about 200 species per festival, on average, and you can see them on guided field trips through areas like Carr Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Cave Creek and all over the Huachuca Mountains. Rick Taylor, founder and director of Borderland Tours, is the keynote (which is only $35, and includes dinner). 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 4. Cochise College, 901 Colombo Ave. Sierra Vista. Prices vary widely. Some events are free, while an overnight field trip is $250 (including transportation and meals). Details here.

Tucson Museum of Art. TMA is the place to be this Thursday with three events happening throughout the day. First, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. there will be Storytime in the Creative Space with a craft activity afterwards. Next, starting at 5 p.m. it is Free First Thursday in the galleries and kids can make pipe cleaner crafts and see mingle with Arizona Biennial artists. Lastly, to round out the evening, it is a Cinema La Placita night in the Plaza of the Pioneers at 7:30 p.m. Entrance is $3 and includes popcorn. So, head over to the Tucson Museum of Art for not one, not two but three great events! Details here.

Odyssey Storytelling Presents: Red Flags. That guy you were dating who said he still lived with his parents because “it’s complicated.” That job you had in college where your boss told you he’d “pay you when he could.” The 2016 presidential campaign season. At this event, seven local storytellers will tell true tales about times in their own lives that they’ve ignored red flags—or even failed to notice them. After all, hindsight is 20/20. It’ll be a fun way to support local artists, and to remind yourself that you’re not the only one who’s made this mistake. 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2. The Sea of Glass Center for the Arts, 330 E. Seventh St. $10 GA, $7 student with ID. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

Sahuarita’s PAC Dance Team is moving on to the live rounds of America’s Got Talent after progressing to the third round with an Alice in Wonderland-themed performance. The routine received positive remarks from multiple judges, despite the fact judge Howie Mandel gave their performance an X.  

In a series of Facebook posts, the dance team expressed their eagerness and anxieties about being on the show, ultimately culminating in celebration: 

“We are flipping out over here... Our #JudgeCut round for #AGT starts in JUST A FEW HOURS!! Too excited!!”

….

“It’s almost time!!!”

….

“Waiting to hear our fate but we feel blessed either way!!”

….

“We can’t believe we are going to be on the LIVE SHOWS! We feel so lucky to continue to share our story and passion on the biggest stage in America!! How did this happen?! Thank you AGT for making this small high school dance teams dreams come true!”

The Sahuarita dance team made it to the second round of auditions for America’s Got Talent after performing a hip-hop dance version of the Wizard Of Oz for the first round. The dance routine first gained attention last October when a video of the performance at a homecoming assembly was posted to YouTube and received nearly 3 million views.

Liquid Sky. Invisible aliens in a flying saucer come to Earth looking for heroin. That’s just the set-up for the zany ’80s cult hit. With neon-lights, crazy costumes and an event crazier plot, this forgotten gem is just as much a feast for the mind as it is for the eyes. The Loft Cinema recently got their hands on a better-than-ever digital restoration, and you are invited to the freakshow. 7:30 to 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, August 1. 3233 E Speedway Blvd. Regular admission prices. Details here.

Southwest Wings Summer 2018. Did you know that the Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival is the oldest birding festival in Arizona? Pop over to Sierra Vista to check out free programs, wildlife exhibits, vendors and a keynote buffet. There are about 200 species per festival, on average, and you can see them on guided field trips through areas like Carr Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Cave Creek and all over the Huachuca Mountains. Rick Taylor, founder and director of Borderland Tours, is the keynote (which is only $35, and includes dinner). 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 4. Cochise College, 901 Colombo Ave. Sierra Vista. Prices vary widely. Some events are free, while an overnight field trip is $250 (including transportation and meals). Details here.

Watermelon Wednesdays. It is you last chance. You do not want to miss this. There will be animals. There will be watermelon. Reid Park Zoo's Watermelon Wednesdays sadly comes to a close this week so make sure you head over to the zoo to enjoy watching the animals chow down on their summer favorite fruit. Watermelon slices and Eegee's will also be for sale for humans to eat. Reid Park Zoo, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

Maybe you've already heard, but it bears repeating...

Pima County Public Library now offers access to Qello Concerts. "What's that?" you ask. It's a never-ending concert ticket!

Qello Concerts =

• The only place to watch more than 1,500 full-length concerts and music documentaries
  
• Features performances of iconic and new artists
  
• Streaming on-demand to your device
  
• Unlimited access so you can binge-watch just like Netflix
  
• Available for FREE with your Pima County Public Library card

Here are some we'll be watching soon... what will you rock out to?

• Carlos Santana
  
• Bruce Springsteen
  
• Billy Joel
  
• Etta James
  
• Blondie
  
• Charles Mingus
  
• The B52s

Wes Anderson Trivia and Costume Party. Dear reader, please disregard the following palaver and rigmarole if you are not of the cultivated mold. Casa Video humbly petitions your appearance for a most festive gala lauding the preeminent auteur of our time, one Wes Anderson. The trivia comprises factoids from Anderson’s first eight films (Bottle Rocket to Grand Budapest), and you are of course obliged to adorn yourself with any befitting cravat, periwig, or tunic. Properly ornamented personages receive a dollar off their aperitifs. And they’ll also be celebrating the release of Isle of Dogs on DVD/Blu-Ray. 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 31. 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Rivers and Tides. The critically-acclaimed documentary is a vision of the natural world molded by currents, driftwood, ice and mud, all modified with human hands. Andy Goldsworthy’s art forms sculptures from the natural world and inherently degrade and return to the soil. Hosted by the Loft Cinema, in partnership with Sky Island Alliance and UA Water Resources Research Center. Also featuring a panel discussion from the aforementioned groups. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 31. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Regular admission prices. Details here.

Mars Magnified. Tuesday, July 31 is a special day, and not just because it’s Harry Potter’s birthday. Cosmically speaking, Mars is going to be closer to Earth on this day than it has been in many years, and Flandrau and the Steward Observatory are celebrating by pointing their telescopes up to the Red Planet and opening up to the public. Planetary scientist Steve Kortenkamp will start off the night with a “Mars Madness” presentation, explaining why Mars is so close right now, and what other planets you can look out for in the night sky. After his talk, there will be planetarium shows every hour. There will also be telescopes pointed up at the other planets, so you can get a planet fix even if Mars doesn’t do it for you. Fair warning, the telescope viewing is weather permitting, because there’s hardly a point in staring up at the clouds through a telescope. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday, July 31. Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, Steward Observatory, UA Mall. Telescope viewing is free, and the “Mars Madness” presentation, planetarium shows and laser music shows are $5. Details here.

The Western Attraction. The Wilde Meyer Gallery is hosting a month-long group show featuring artwork that’s all about the West and why we love it. From contemporary cowboy and Native American interpretations to western landscapes to some of the area’s most iconic features, you’ll walk through the gallery and be reminded of why we love where we live, even in the heat of summer. With artists like Karen Bezuidenhout, Judy Choate, Ka Fisher and Jim Nelson, there will also be plenty of variety. Through the month of August. Gallery summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, but open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays, when there is a weekly art walk from 5 to 7 p.m., and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 2890 E. Skyline Drive, Suite 170. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

Make it Mondays! Another Monday, another visit to the Tucson Children’s Museum, where this week’s theme is “Schoolhouse of Rock–We’ve Got the Beat!” We’re assuming there’s going to be some Schoolhouse Rock involved, so kids can learn all about how a bill becomes a law (or at least how it’s supposed to work). But hey, based on the title, maybe the Go-Go’s are going to get involved too. Regardless, you’ve gotta love the extended hours and reduced admission prices! 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, July 30. Tucson Children’s Museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave. $3. Details here.

Mondo Mondays. It is your last chance to get in on the Trashy Time Travel month of Mondo Mondays at the loft. This week's cinematic spectacular will be "Warlock: Satan Also Has One Son" featuring Julian Sands and Lori Singer. Watch as the murderous warlock escapes and magically enters the future 300 years ahead. Monday, July 30 8p.m. General admission $3, Loft members $2. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Blvd.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.

This summer Tucson Local Media has been lucky to have seven amazing interns. This is the most we have at at one time and we couldn't be more grateful for the energy and hard work they have brought us over the last ten weeks.

The interns have been doing everything around the office and out in the community from writing, reporting, proofreading, helping around the office and hopefully learning along the way. From everyone here at Tucson Local Media, thank you, interns, for all of the amazing work you have done this summer and good luck in your future endeavors!