Note from Lulu's human:

Lulu is a Chinese crested and Japanese Chin mix.  She is the last of her clan. She is 15 years old and a lovely old girl.  When she gets excited she twirls around.  She lives on a goat farm in Arivaca but gets to come to Tucson every Tuesday and Friday with her owner. She comes in to visit her friends and play at the cat facility of Saving Animals from Euthanasia. She is also an ambassador for Southwest Hairless Rescue.

In our first annual Ugly Pets Contest, you have sent us dogs, cats and frogs (alongside a few missives informing us that we are cruel and heartless because all pets are beautiful in their own way).

After putting the editorial team to work judging the entrants, we have a winner alongside some of our finalists.

The winner, Lulu, gets a $25 gift certificate for a local pet shop. And her owner, Jacque Howell, also gets a $25 gift certificate, but for something a little more appealing to humans.

Thanks to everyone who entered. While your pets may be a little ugly on the outside, we know they have beautiful hearts on the inside.

2nd Place: Josie

Note from Josie:

My name is Josie. I am a Chinese Crested mix. I am about 7 years old. I have a very happy life in Tucson Arizona, where I am part of a pack of 7 other rescued dogs. I wasn't always so happy. For the first few years of my life I lived in a cage in a puppy mill having babies. I was rescued and came to live with my foster mom. She fell in love with me and adopted me and the rest is history. I am very good at helping other fosters that come into our home to adjust to their new life after rescue. I teach them to howl with the pack and to respect my sunning spot.

3rd Place: Roxi

Note from Roxi's dad:

This is Roxi, aka "The Bean". She is a 7 year old boxer mix, she was the runt of the litter, now she weighs in at about 75 pounds. She has a bit of an under bite, a slightly twisted jaw and a very long tongue. Some have said that she could win the ugly dog contest, but when I look at her all I see is absolute perfection!

Honorable Mention: Majesty

Note from Majesty: 

I'm Majesty, an ugly cat born on the island of Puerto Rico. Not so long ago, I would sweat profusely everyday while I watched the birds as a kitten from the comfort of my window. Now, I'm a solid man cat living in Tucson. My owners say that I'm an Exotic Shorthair (whatever that means). Anyways, I eat food 60 times a day, even dog food. I have a pretty basic schedule... I'm a simple man really. I sleep, wake up, sneeze in my owner's face, watch the birds, watch people, watch my dumb dog friends play; you name it! Of course, all of these daily activities are regularly interrupted for a nap. What is the meaning of life without naps? Some of my passions (besides looking funny) include snoring and staring off into the sunset.You know what else!? I've ridden on a plane a few times too, and I love it. 

Bonus submissions: Donny, Ms. TeeTee, Peanut and Rodente

Note from Donny's human:

This is my Plains Spadefoot Toad Donny. He honestly isn’t that ugly and shouldn’t be entered...but the problem is that he just can’t photograph well. Enclosed is a collage of the best pictures of him, which still aren’t great. He just doesn’t love the camera the way some frogs do.

Note from Ms. TeeTee:

I am a Crestie Mix from Tucson, Arizona. Due to some bad breeding I was just not cute enough to sell. Somehow I ended up in the streets. I was owned by a homeless man for a few years. He had several other dogs. We all got taken away from him and I ended up in a rescue and I got a great new home with my foster mom. I was up for adoption for months, but alas, no one wanted me. I guess I am just not cute enough. But my foster mom fell in love with my wonderful spirit, great sense of humor, and my cute little tongue.

Note from Peanut's human:

This is Peanut. We found her 10 years ago, curled up on our porch during a monsoon. She has hair like Brillo pad, nearly-impossible-to-cut nails, and had two rows of teeth! She can perform gymnastic feats to get food off the counter and will gladly act as " doggy dust buster" should you drop anything. She's covered in bumps and lumps, but we have a vet in the family that takes good care of her. We love Peanut, in all her wart covered glory!

Note from Rodente's human:

 I love my dog to pieces. But, she has been the subject of ridicule and so many "she's so ugly she's cute" Her name is Rodenté (french for rodent) I think she is so beautiful. She has saved my life so many many times.

5 Minute Film Fest. For their monthly Free Third Thursday event, the Museum of Contemporary Art is showing a series of local films that are, you guessed it, five minutes. The films range from documentary to experimental to animation. Including films from local artists: Jazzy Boho, Michael Fenlason, Eric Flores, Scott Graham Bell and many more. 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 21. 265 S Church Ave. Details here.

The UA Art Museum. The UA’s art museum has several exhibitions up right now, including one on the evolution of women printmakers, one filled with art created by local high schoolers, an exploration of light and photography by multidisciplinary artist Richard Slechta and The Altarpiece of Ciudad Rodrigo, one of the most important works to come out of 15th-century Spain. Check them all out, by do try to see the exhibit "X, Y, Z: Art in Three Dimensions" which features art that’s been formed, molded, carved, cast or otherwise arranged. As you take in the art, you can reflect on what it means to take up space, cast a shadow and have texture. "X, Y, Z" is on display through Sunday, June 24. Museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday. UA Museum of Art, 1031 N. Olive Road. $8 GA, $6.50 seniors and groups of 10 or more. Free for members, students with ID, faculty, staff, military personnel, AAM members, visitors with a SNAP card or tribal ID and children. Details here.

Meet the Artists: Miniatures by Members of SAME. If you’re ever feeling small, there may be no  better remedy than to head over to the Mini Time Museum of Miniatures to feel big for the day. If you check out the museum’s Community Corner, where work by members of the Southern Arizona Miniature Enthusiasts’ club is on display, you may end up feeling a little lousy and untalented, just knowing what sorts of incredible and tiny art your neighbors are capable of. Once a week, a SAME member is at the museum demonstrating their work and taking questions from the public. This week, it’s Tori West! 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 21. Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive. $9 GA, $8 military, $6 students and youth 4 to 17, free for kids 3 and under. Details here.

Red, White and Tuna. Live Theatre Workshop is presenting the third in a series of plays that take place in Tuna, the (fictional) “third-smallest” town in Texas. Hey, every town deserves to have some sort of claim to fame. Tuna’s just happens to be more of a claim to lame… Anyway, Keith Wick and Stephen Frankenfield play a cast of more than 20 wacky characters, both male and female, both young and old, Portlandia-style. In this chapter of Tuna’s tale, new town residents crash Tuna’s Fourth of July High School class reunion, and fireworks and funny stuff ensues. Thursday, June 14 to Saturday, July 21. Shows are usually at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $15 to $20. Details here.

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

Shakey Graves is the comfy soundtrack to a long, solitary road trip on two-lane highways through beat, half-boarded-up western towns. See, Graves’ songs are atmospheric and narrative at once. He pens and performs them like the one-man band he once was, with driving, straightforward rhythm—oh, the suitcase kick drum and rigged tambourine. The jangle guitar pairs with endless possibilities of passing scenery, and his voice, well-worn and multi-harmonic, is good as a worry stone in hand. The lyrics are understated and literary: “Well I’m tired of losing/I used to win every night of the week/Back when sex and amphetamine were the staples of our childhood physique.” Jesus. Hailing from Austin, there’s no trace of hipster cred to Mr. Graves, too much musical integrity. Comparable to Shovels & Rope in consistency and candor, Graves deals primarily with the existential versus romantic realm, somehow calling up nostalgia and unpretentious intellect at once. With Lauren Ruth Ward on Wednesday, June 20. Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. Doors at 7 p.m. $20-25, All ages. Details here.

The UA Art Museum. The UA’s art museum has several exhibitions up right now, including one on the evolution of women printmakers, one filled with art created by local high schoolers, an exploration of light and photography by multidisciplinary artist Richard Slechta and The Altarpiece of Ciudad Rodrigo, one of the most important works to come out of 15th-century Spain. Check them all out, by do try to see the exhibit "X, Y, Z: Art in Three Dimensions" which features art that’s been formed, molded, carved, cast or otherwise arranged. As you take in the art, you can reflect on what it means to take up space, cast a shadow and have texture. "X, Y, Z" is on display through Sunday, June 24. Museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday. UA Museum of Art, 1031 N. Olive Road. $8 GA, $6.50 seniors and groups of 10 or more. Free for members, students with ID, faculty, staff, military personnel, AAM members, visitors with a SNAP card or tribal ID and children. Details here.

Game Night at Casa Film Bar. Gather your family and friends for a little friendly competition (and drinks) at Casa Film Bar’s Game Night. There will be popcorn and soda, as well as a variety of local beer. The game lineup includes Jenga, Oregon Trail, Cards Against Humanity, chess, Uno and Star Trek Catan. 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 20. 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Treepeople. Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch has long been hailed one of indie greatest live guitar heroes—his ability to harness crowd energy and volley notes with every other onstage instrument makes for an ear-bending orchestra of noise, what some have called epic sonics. Treepeople is the band where Martsch cut his teeth. In the late ’80/early ’90s, Treepeople were the Pac Northwest’s hottest ticket. After losing Martsch to Built to Spill, the guitar-based Treepeople fizzled, but two and a half decades later, he put together this reunion tour and the response is unequivocal. Described as “organized chaos,” (much like the Velvets of yore by the Brits), the band play tracks off their first three albums alongside classic covers including The Smith’s and Dylan, each complete with raging, throat-choke guitar wallops, scratchy (pre-grunge) vocals and some sweet restrained, jangle. With Tucson’s mighty mighty Lenguas Largas, and Prism Bitch. Wednesday, June 20, 191 Toole. Doors at 7 p.m.  $20-25, 21+. Details here.

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

Comedians Willie Barcena and Gilbert Esquivel bring their combined 50 years’ experience in high-energy showmanship and irreverent comedy to the Fox stage at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 16. Tickets for the 18-and-over show are $22 to $47 via foxtucsontheatre.com.

Barcena, a 12-time guest on the "Tonight Show," is known to fans for appearances on several TV series, tour stops all over the world, and his own stand-up specials on Comedy Central, Showtime and Netflix. He also hosted Si TV’s "Latino Laugh Festival: The Show." Barcena’s live appearances are said to cover everything we wouldn’t talk about in polite company.

Esquivel was practically born a road warrior having grown up following the harvest seasons across the U.S. with his migrant-worker family. Now he tours comedy clubs, colleges, prisons and the Las Vegas strip, taking time out to reap TV credits and produce a commercially available DVD, "Thou Shalt Laugh."

Take the kids retro!

See "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 23, and "Clueless" at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 30 at Fox Tucson Theatre. Tickets are $7, $5 for students and free for Fox members and kids under 12. Did you know that the Fox was Tucson's first air-conditioned entertainment venue?

Unscrewed Theatre Lives: Neighborly and kid-friendly.

As its new space in Midway Business Park #39 (4500 E Speedway Blvd.) is being transformed, Unscrewed sustains its fans with free weekly comedy, hosted by two of its new neighbors. Four of the company’s house teams cycle through shows at 7 p.m. Fridays at Dedicated Gluten-Free Coffee Shop, #41, and 7 p.m. Saturdays at Mama’s Famous Pizza & Heros, #79. Visit the Unscrewed Theatre page on Facebook for updates on the new theater’s progress.

Unscrewed also offers summer camps for teens. Two, one-week sessions for ages 12 to 14 and 15 to 18 take place July 16 to 20, and 23 through 27. Kids can have fun building listening and communication skills, teamwork, character development and the selflessness of making their scene partner look good, all within the context of improv games that encourage noisy, active fun. Visit unscrewedtheater.org/teen-workshops/ for more information and to register.

Date Night!

With the fabulous Lola Torch as host, the Tucson Libertine League features a DJ throw down as the sound track for its burlesque show at 9 p.m., Saturday, June 16 191 E. Toole. Tickets are $12. DJ Herm and B-Rad provide the beats. Acorn B-Corn perform live music with dancers and Lela Rose is a special guest among the dozen dancers featured.

The UA Art Museum: The UA’s art museum has several exhibitions up right now, including one on the evolution of women printmakers, one filled with art created by local high schoolers, an exploration of light and photography by multidisciplinary artist Richard Slechta and The Altarpiece of Ciudad Rodrigo, one of the most important works to come out of 15th-century Spain. Check them all out, but do try to see the exhibit "X, Y, Z: Art in Three Dimensions" which features art that’s been formed, molded, carved, cast or otherwise arranged. As you take in the art, you can reflect on what it means to take up space, cast a shadow and have texture. "X, Y, Z" is on display through Sunday, June 24. Museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday. UA Museum of Art, 1031 N. Olive Road. $8 GA, $6.50 seniors and groups of 10 or more. Free for members, students with ID, faculty, staff, military personnel, AAM members, visitors with a SNAP card or tribal ID and children. Details here.

DeGrazia’s Birthday: As if there weren’t enough of a reason to visit the DeGrazia Gallery and stroll through the gorgeous grounds, they’re giving out free cake and ice cream in honor of Ted DeGrazia’s birthday. He would have been 109 this year, and the weather gods are celebrating his birthday by setting the temperature to just about the same number. Admission to the museum,
where you can check out DeGrazia’s art and architecture, is free as well. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 14. DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan. Free. Details here.

Meet the Artists: Miniatures by Members of SAME: If you’re ever feeling small, there may be no better remedy than to head over to the Mini Time Museum of Miniatures to feel giant for the day. If you check out the museum’s Community Corner, where work by members of the Southern Arizona Miniature Enthusiasts’ club is on display, you may end up feeling a little lousy and untalented, just knowing what sorts of incredible and tiny art your neighbors are capable of making. Once a week, a SAME member is at the museum demonstrating their work and taking questions from the public. This week, it’s Kathy Grissom! 10a.m. to 1p.m. Thursday, June 14. Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive. $9 GA, $8 military, $6 students and youth 4 to 17, free for kids 3 and under. Details here.

Red, White and Tuna: Live Theatre Workshop is presenting the third in a series of plays that take place in Tuna, the (fictional) “third-smallest” town in Texas. Hey, every town deserves to have some sort of claim to fame. Tuna’s just happens to be more of a claim to lame… Anyway, Keith Wick and Stephen Frankenfield play a cast of more than 20 wacky characters, both male and female, both young and old, Portlandia-style. In this chapter of Tuna’s tale, new town residents crash Tuna’s Fourth of July High School class reunion, and fireworks and funny stuff ensues. Thursday, June 14 to Saturday, July 21. Shows are usually at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $15 to $20. Details here.

As the deadline to vote is less than a week away, it's time to let us know who, what, and where you think is the Best of Tucson.

Our annual competition that determines the best yoga studios, dog parks, video game stores, donuts and drag queens is coming to a close on Sunday, June 17. So take a break from your Father's Day celebrations (also this Sunday, don't forget!) and let your voice be heard about your favorite things that make Tucson great.

There are two rounds of voting for Best of Tucson, the first of which is ending Sunday. This first round is your opportunity to nominate whoever and wherever you want for each category. After this round closes, we will determine the top five spots to be voted on again for the winner.

Before you get too excited about all these choices, there are a few rules to follow:

1. One ballot per person. We are checking IP addresses, so no trying to be sneaky!

2. Ballots must have your full name and email address or phone number. If they don't have this information, the ballots will be thrown out and your votes lost. The provided emails and phone numbers will be used ONLY for ballot-verificaiton purposes. Fake emails or phone numbers will result in thrown out ballots. Don't do it!

3. In order for your votes to count, you must vote in at least 30 categories. Don't have an opinion on 30 categories? Sounds like you need to get out and about in Tucson!

4. If you truly have no opinion in a category, please LEAVE IT BLANK.

5. Ballot-box stuffing is not aloud. You can do simple campaigning such as putting up a sign or linking our website to yours, but anything beyond that is forbidden and may result in disqualification. Any business or entry may be disqualified at the discretion of the editor. If you have questions or a tip about ballot-box stuffing, please email [email protected]. Thank you!

6. Please only vote for LOCAL institutions. Here at Tucson Local Media and the Tucson Weekly, we like to celebrate Tucson! Vote for your favorite mom 'n pop joints but not for any national chains. Votes for national chains will not be counted.

Having trouble logging in?

If you've ever voted for something on our website before, you have to type your name the exact same way you did the first time, or the system will not let you vote. Maybe last year you didn't capitalize your first name? Or perhaps you left off your last name? If you can't figure it out, please email our Web Editor Tirion Morris and she'll set you straight.

Happy voting!

 

Elections matter.

It’s a lesson we’ve all learned in recent times—and we know you can’t wait for the chance to let your voice be heard.

We’re speaking, of course, of Best of Tucson—our annual competition to determine Tucson’s best bands, museums, galleries, restaurants, brewpubs, dive bars, coffee houses, annual spectacles, playgrounds and all the rest.

You the reader can nominate anyone in any category through June 17. We’ll then tally those primary results to get the top five nominees in each category. Those top finalists will compete for your votes through the end of July. And on Oct. 25, we’ll announce the winners in our special Best of Tucson collector’s edition!

Vote now!

In partnership with our friends at KFMA, The Weekly has launched a new podcast to let you know where to have fun in this dusty burg—and man, is there a lot to do! (As you can see if you check out our City Week, Reel Indie, Quick Bites, Nightcrawler and XOXO columns.)

The Lineup feature Tucson Weekly Executive Editor Jim Nintzel and KFMA DJ Emil "Boy Wonder" Richardson. Give it a listen—and don't forget about KFMA Day on Saturday, April 14, at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Cactus Flower Comedy Festival of funny women kicks off at Tucson Improv Movement at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, with a set by FST (Female Storytellers), and runs through standup comedy, improvised sets and jams, bilingual improv, workshops, an all-gender jam, and more through Saturday, Feb. 24. The lineup includes teams from the UA, Unscrewed Theatre and Phoenix’s Torch Theatre as well as TIM.

Saturday at 9 p.m. “The Best Show, Period” benefits Project Period, the YWCA’s program to provide sanitary products to anyone in need. The program features The Riveters, TIM’s long-running, all-woman improv team; memoirist, poet and comedian Molly McCloy and Phoenix comedian Genevieve Rice, founder of the Bird City Comedy Festival.

Friday’s “Ladies Who Lead” improvises around stories told by Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kelly Fryer and others. Saturday’s 10:30 p.m. headlining set features L.A.’s punk Latina improv twins, Animal, and Portlandia alum Kristine Levine, the boundary-pushing Friday co-host of The Frank show on KLPX.

Details and reservations for all ten shows are at tucsonimprov.com .

Cactus Flower is the grand public debut of TIM’s new 414 E. 9th Street address, across from the Shanty and next to the Geronimo Hotel, in the same building as Revel Wine Bar. The move is a big step up for the theater, formerly located in a dilapidated garage next to D&D Pinball.

Improvements include air conditioning and heating, a space arrangement made to order, and next month. beer and alcohol service.

Says TIM executive producer Justin Lukasewicz, “The new theater has the vibe and amenities we need. The space feels really cool, and I think complements the high quality our shows. We should be able to serve liquor in time for our Improv Madness duo competition in March. That’s generally our most popular show every year. Two-person teams compete, and the audience votes for their favorites.”

Lukasewicz says the move also accommodates the growth of TIM comedy training programs. We launched our first Stand Up 101 this year. It sold out within two weeks, and the students loved it. We also have sketch, stand up, improv, and teen classes starting soon.

As for Cactus Flower, Lukaseswicz says, “We have a smart, talented group of females running the show on this. We've been thinking about what does year 5 or 10 of this festival look like, and how do we get there incrementally. I think that will make this fest a Tucson treasure for years to come.”

Marga!

“I grew up thinking I'm an artist because I didn't know any other way,” says actor, stand-up comedian and writer Marga Gomez. “My parents were both creative. All their friends were performing artists, so I was very comfortable in this world.”

Thus did Gomez become a Cuban Liza Minelli, only lesbian, del pueblo and a lot more savvy.

Her mid-century upbringing, although periodically rocky, surrounded Gomez with humor and filled her with drive. Her mother was a professional dancer; her father was a comedian and songwriter, and a producer of popular, Follies-scale variety shows for New York’s large community of Spanish-speaking immigrants. The hustle to stay on top of the entertainment business defined her family.

Between them, her parents have inspired half Gomez’ output of a dozen popular solo stage shows. The latest is Latin Standards, her tale of the father-daughter entertainer dynamic. Its title refers to the genre of her father’s music; “The comedy is a survival tool,” Gomez says. The New York Times named the show a Critic’s pick when it opened last year at The Public Theatre (Hamilton).

Borderlands Theatre presents Gomez performing Latin Standards February 14 through 18 at the Steinfeld Warehouse, 101 West 6th Street. The run opens with a Valentine’s day fiesta, including live music and food. Details and reservations are available at tinyurl.com/LatinStandards.
“I started writing solo shows because my parents were important but forgotten,” Gomez says. “I wanted the Latino community to know about these people and their times.

“At the end of the show, the great thing that people tell me is, even though I'm a Latina, I'm a lesbian, I'm from New York and I'm neurotic, people can totally relate to the father-daughter story, and they see their own father.”

Parts & Flowers

Mo Urban and Steena Salido bring their third C*nts Being C*nts Talking About C*nts Comedy Show to Flycatcher, free, at 9 p.m., Sunday, February 11 (after the Estrogen Hour benefit at Laff’s at 6). C*nts, etc., features seven comedians, including Genevieve Rice from Phoenix; poet Janet Spencer, and the all-woman rawk band, Sugar Stains. The event benefits the YWCA’s Project Period.

For Valentine’s Day, Hotel Congress presents Rebecca Tingley’s talk-show-format comedy show, Let’s Talk About Sex Baby, also featuring Randy Ford and Tammy King. Local comedians play truth or dare and answer audience questions.

Also on Valentine’s day, comedy siren Lisa Landry headlines a show at Laff’s where every woman will get a rose. Visit laffstucson.org for details.