Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Hailing from the Lower 9th Ward—that still bears the indelible cicatrices of Katrina's fury—this trumpeter/vocalist and his ace band are the definition of New Orleans. Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs are ready to "Sleep All Day, Party All Night" at 191 Toole. Tucson's debonaire Street Blues Family will get the festivities underway.
From Grenoble, France, electronic duo Lovataraxx bring their intoxicating darkwave/coldwave minimalist sound to Blacklidge Community Collective. Locals Lav Andula, Glacier.WAV and Sally Roundhouse add warm and light. Details here.
From Grenoble, France, electronic duo Lovataraxx bring their intoxicating darkwave/coldwave minimalist sound to Blacklidge Community Collective. Locals Lav Andula, Glacier.WAV and Sally Roundhouse add warm and light. Details here.
Tags: Xoxo , music , concerts , musicians , shows , fun , electronic , trumpet , Image
Monday, July 29, 2019
Wizards, muggles and fantastic beasts, rejoice! Harry and the Potters are returning to the Library for their 2019 Summer Tour!
Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 5 to 6 p.m.
Flowing Wells Library, 1730 W. Wetmore Rd.
This event is free, but space is limited to the first 200 people who arrive.
What would happen if Harry Potter quit the quidditch team, stole a time turner and started a punk rock band with himself from an earlier point in the time-space continuum? The answer is Harry and the Potters!
Costumes are encouraged.
Tags: Library , Harry Potter , music , activities , free events , muggles , punk rock , books , Image
Last month on June 15 was the 49th Annual Tucson Juneteenth Festival. Juneteenth is the celebration of the abolishment of slavery on June 19, 1865. Moving from the Dunbar Center to the Tucson Convention Center, the festival was a day filled with food, music, vendors and more. Check out some of the highlights here!
Tags: celebrations , galleries , Tucson Convention Center , Juneteenth , abolition , Slideshow , Image
Looking for a new friend with stylish clothes you can wear as well? Girlfriend's Closet is the new best friend you need. Located on the East Side, Girlfriend's Closet is a consignment shop that caters to those sizes 0 through 3x. The shop is owned by Ivonne Haskins.
Deeming itself "the chic resale boutique", the shop gives customers a collection of designer items as well. You can find an assortment of clothing, bags, shoes and accessories. A $5 sales rack is also accessible daily. Girlfriend's Closet is a veteran-owned boutique that gives other veterans a 10% off discount. You can find Girlfriend's Closet at 60 N. Harrison Rd. and you can learn more about it at www.girlfriendscloset.shop.
Deeming itself "the chic resale boutique", the shop gives customers a collection of designer items as well. You can find an assortment of clothing, bags, shoes and accessories. A $5 sales rack is also accessible daily. Girlfriend's Closet is a veteran-owned boutique that gives other veterans a 10% off discount. You can find Girlfriend's Closet at 60 N. Harrison Rd. and you can learn more about it at www.girlfriendscloset.shop.
Tags: Girlfriend's Closet , clothes , boutique , resale , shopping , shoes , veterans , business , Slideshow , Image
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
From the outset, they set their sails for deeper seas, not knowing exactly where they would land. On Hail Mary (Geronimo West, 2019) producer Mark Neeham (The Killers, Imagine Dragons) sought to capture these Austinites’ high-energy, folksy, roots rockin’ country live act—with outstanding four-part harmonies—unadulterated in the studio.
“If I’m going to be singing something every night,” said Shane Smith, the band’s main songwriter, “I like to sing with an honest conviction.”
Shane Smith & The Saints are at The Rock tonight at 7 p.m. Drew Cooper offers up a cure for “Hangovers and Heartaches” during the opening slot.More details here.
In a rare pairing, Arizona Friends of Chamber Music presents, Bin Hu on acoustic Spanish guitar and guzhengist Jing Xia performing a diverse program where East meets West. It features compositions by Enrique Granados, Isaac Albéniz, Chenyu Huang and Wang Zhou at Holsclaw Hall at 7 p.m. Details here.
Their resumes are off-the-charts: Carmine Appice’s includes work with Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Ozborne and others. Vinny Appice pounded pagan skins for Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio, Rick Derringer and John Lennon to name a few. Two of the world’s most iconic drummers, The Appice Brothers battle to the finish at Encore tonight at 7 p.m. Details here.
Tags: XOXO , music , concerts , shows , Shane Smith , Arizona Friends of Chamber Music , Bin Hu , The Appice Brothers , Image
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Courtesy photo
Bellows
It's an all-ages event sure to surfeit the senses. Striving to provide safe community shows, Tucson Pyrate Punx presents Potbelly, Bleach Party USA, Sucker for the Sour and Whiskey Drunk at the Spark Project Collective.
“When you don’t pick up the phone I make up what you said.”
Bellows is the imaginative bedroom recording project of NYC songwriter/producer Oliver Kalb at Club Congress. He plays with ambient experimentalist Gabrielle Smith aka Gabby’s World and Friend PR.
Outer Spaces is the indie rock project of Baltimore songwriter Cara Beth Satalino. Their latest, Gazing Globe, was written during a tumultuous period where Satalino grappled with anxiety and self-doubt. Like a gazing globe—for centuries believed to ward off evil and bring good luck—it may never provide a clear mirror image. If you gaze into its murky reflection long enough you might glimpse at your true self. They play with Radiator Hospital, Jess Matsen and Rough Draft at Wooden Tooth Records.
Tags: Xoxo , music , concerts , Bellows , outer spaces , Club Congress , Wooden Tooth , Spark project collective , Image
Friday, June 28, 2019
Pride Night and Queer Bazaar at Tucson Hop Shop. Although the words are synonymous, there's a big difference between a bizarre bazaar and a queer bazaar. Tucson Hop Shop is hosting the latter to benefit Reveille Men's Chorus and THEM Youth Ensemble. The prideful night includes $1 off your first beer and food by Molecular Munchies and Black Market BBQ. There will be live music, face painting, and more than likely a couple of rainbow flags. 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29. 3230 N. Dodge Blvd.
All Set In The West Beer Release. It seems to be the week of awesome pairings, and they keep coming with this collaboration between 1912 Brewing Co. and Samuel Adams. In September 2018 at the Great American Beer Festival, Sam Adams announced 1912 Brewing as the winners of Brewing The American Dream program. As part of that victory, 1912 brewed with Sam Adams' head brewers and came up with the "All Set In The West" Kettle Sour, featuring ingredients like agave nectar, cranberries and tamarind. Now's your chance to try it out! Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd.
El Tour De Kino. Part of the Gastronomic Union of Tucson's summer series, this meal event allows you to learn about and try the foods Father Eusebio Kino introduced to Pimería Alta and Tucson. This five-course meal includes everything from "orchard fruits to staple grains" to legumes and vegetables and more. The evening also includes a welcome cocktail, hors d'œuvre and wine. 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 30. At the Carriage House. 125 S. Arizona Avenue. $75.
Tombstone Throwdown at Craft. It's a beautiful combination of Tucson and Tombstone! Craft, A Modern Drinkery will host Tombstone Brewing Company. The tap list is: an imperial coffee stout, the "All The People Will be Checked" DIPA, the Oak Fermented Blackcurrant Brett Saison and the Citra Single Hop IPA. In addition, Burgerrito food truck will join in on the fun. From the town too tough to die, comes the beer too good to miss. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 28. 4603 E. Speedway Blvd.
Pizza Luna x Cartel: Pizza & Wine Dinner. Pizza Luna is heading over to Cartel Coffee Lab for their first-ever collaboration dinner. The evening includes summer-inspired courses, such as the bianca pizza with aged prosciutto, asparagus, parmesan and arugula paired with Cartel's Dos Cabezas red blend. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28. 210 East Broadway Boulevard. $55.
Tap & Bottle Downtown: Six Years on 6th. Tap & Bottle is hosting a party all day long at their downtown location to celebrate six years on Sixth Avenue. This includes an all-day beer garden and live music, plus appearances by local food vendors like You Sly Dog and Los Locos Tacos. T&B will also host a collaborative beer release with Tombstone Brewing Company. Noon to midnight, Saturday, June 29. 403 N. Sixth Ave. #135.
Three Sisters Culinary Series. What are the three sisters? Corn, beans and squash, of course. The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance and Native Seeds are pairing up for a series of meals to celebrate these three ingredients. This event includes live entertainment, paired libations, educational touch points, and food to remember. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa. 245 E. Ina Road. $65. 21+
Summers of Fire: Author Talk with Linda Strader. Back in the '70s, Linda Strader was one of the first women to work on a fire crew for the U.S. Forest Service in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. She later went on to write Summers of Fire: A Memoir of Adventure, Love and Courage, all about her experiences trying to advance in a career where women weren't always considered worthy. At this talk, Strader (who is also a landscape architect, watercolor artist and certified arborist!) will talk about her book and some of the challenges women on fire crews face even today. 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29. Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Dr. Free.
In From the Heat. Yes, the heat of summer is upon us, but you know what that means: The summer portion of the Catalina Organ Festival is upon us as well! This year, we've got Maxine Thévenot and Edmund Connolly in from Albuquerque, New Mexico, an organist duo also known as Air & Hammers. Connolly is also an opera singer who's performed as a baritone soloist all over the world, while Thévenot's playing has been described as a "masterful manipulation of the instrument's myriad tonal colors." They'll be playing work by Josef Rheinberger, Clara Schumann, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck and more. Noon. Saturday, June 29. Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway Blvd. $10.
June Bachata Social ft. DJ FnF. Bachata originated in the Dominican Republic to go along with the rhythmic, often sexy Bachata music. This one-hour class will have sections for both beginners and intermediate-level dancers, and will be followed by a social with more dancing and fun. Mohankumar Ns leads the beginner class and Bachadicto Fnf leads the intermediate class. You'll hear the best of Salsa, Bachata, Timba, Kizomba and more. Classes are from 8:50 to 10 p.m. and social is from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, June 28. Tucson Creative Dance Center, 3131 N. Cherry Ave. $10 for class and social, $7 for social only. Bring dance shoes if possible, for the wooden floor!
Rhymes and Poetry (RAP). Tucson-based hip hop record label UG Desert Artists was started in 2018 by Benny Loc and Phase Cre8tions to build a community through art and event hosting. Here's one such event, serving up spoken word poetry and conscious hip hop to take your Saturday night to the next level. Performers include Benny Loc, Ill V, trahma, Nathan Villins, Solo and Sid LC. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, June 29. The Elder Hookah Lounge, 2900 E. Broadway Blvd., Ste. 118. $5 at the door.
Bach Without Borders. You've heard of Bach, one of the most famous composers ever, right? But have you heard his music played without borders? At this show, husband and wife duo Bin Hu and Jing Xia will be performing their interpretations of Bach's music, with Bin on classical guitar and Jing on the Guzheng, a Chinese stringed instrument. And they're not just performing Bach – Isaac Albeniz, Stephen Goss, and Chenyu Hunag and Wang Zhou are also on the program. Treat yourself to a night that will be equal parts relaxing and awe-inspiring. 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30. Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church. $15 GA, $10 student.
Comedians Who Aren't Boys. Not only are women, nonbinary people and other non-men funny, but they're funny at TWO separate events this week in Tucson alone. Imagine that! Head on over to Hotel McCoy (you should head over to check it out anyway!) to see Autumn Horvat, Mo Urban, Chinna Garza, Rebecca Tingley, Priscilla Fernandez, Nicole Riesgo and Cierra Renee Amanda take the stage and make you laugh. Enjoy the local beer and wine, plus eats from the Mexican food truck Pinches. All ages, but recommended for 18+. 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28. Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road. Free.
Cool Summer Nights: Creatures of the Night. During summer, many of the college students that take to the streets of Tucson so often at night head home, away from the UA campus. But there are still lots of creatures roaming around at night in the desert, like bats, owls and kangaroo rats. Learn more about them in two presentations at the Desert Museum at this Saturday evening event. The night also features Native American-inspired flute music, the feather carving art of Chris Maynard, specialty cocktails, stingray touching and the chance to climb around the Packrat Playhouse. 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. $21.95 GA, $19.95 seniors 65+, $8.95 for kids 3 to 12, free for kids under 3, $17.95 for active or retired military, $16.95 for Arizona/Sonora residents.
Flashback Friday Nights at Old Tucson. You're not going to get the kids to bed at a reasonable hour during the summer anyway, so you might as well take 'em somewhere fun and free. Every Friday night through August, Old Tucson will be open from 4 to 9 p.m., free for kids 11 and under. Enjoy their signature entertainment, plus food and drinks specials that they're whipping up just for this sunset time. Just think of how fondly you and your kid will look back on summer evenings spent wandering around the Wild West. 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. Adult admission is $19.95.
Summer Safari Saturday Nights. You know when you've had a long, stressful week, and you treat yourself to something relaxing, like a bath, a pedicure or a massage? Sometimes the animals at the zoo deserve to be pampered, too. And pampered they are! From rhinos and elephants to tortoises, vultures and anteaters, the animals featured on this night at the zoo enjoy rituals like pedicures, manicures and mud baths. Learn all about it this evening! Michael P. and the Gullywashers provide the live music, and there will be plenty of games, activities, and food and drink specials. 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Ct. $10.50 adults, $8.50 seniors, $6.50 kids ages 2 to 14 and free for zoo members.
Western Month at the Madaras Gallery. As the gallery continues its celebration of 20 years, they're featuring a different theme every month. For July, it's all about that western vibe. From cowboys to cowboy hats, from horses to saddles, walking through this exhibit will have you singing "Happy Trails To You." Get your butt over to the gallery to see some buttes. Why would you want to miss out on an air-conditioned gallery full of art? July 1-31. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 am. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan Road. Free entry.
Summer Night Market 2019. There's nothing like shopping at an open-air market in Tucson, especially if you can time it so that you're not going to an open-air market in the midday or early morning heat. So head on over to the MSA Annex to pick up something nice for yourself, like a piece of amazing, homemade jewelry, an antique, or a truly artisan outfit. Plus, food trucks, art installations, drinks aplenty and live music by DJ Herm. 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28. MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento. Free.
Summer in the Philabaum Gallery. Tom Philabaum and his wife have operated this glass art gallery in a former Tastee Freez building since 1985, and man are we lucky to have such a cool space in Tucson. From jewelry to vases to cups to insanely intricate decorative pieces, the gallery is home to works by dozens of artists for you to admire and even buy, if you're interested. The studio will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 28. They've got more glass than ever, and they're adding new stuff to the website all the time, so you can check it out before you go if you want. Philabaum Glass Gallery & Studio, 711 S. Sixth Ave.
Vail's Colossal Fourth at the Farmers Market. This Fourth of July, the Vail Preservation Society has decided to blow right past going big, in favor of growing colossal. The Heirloom Farmers Market is getting in on the fun a little early, with this day full of live bluegrass music by Cadillac Mountain, pony rides, a petting zoo and homemade crafts. At Taste of the Market, get an education experience that includes a taste test of some of the freshest organic foods around. More than 50 food and artisan vendors means there's something to eat, and something to appreciate, for everyone. 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday, June 29. Rincon Valley Farmers and Artisans Market, 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail.
Car Show at Tucson Asphalt. You already know and love the Original El Taco, known for their Green & Red Chili, and for their signature mix of both flavors. But now, El Taco is mixing things up even more by hosting a car show! They'll have drag cars, juniors dragsters, racing go karts, 10 ¼ midgets, street cars, circle track cars and motorcycles. And, of course, they'll have food. Looking at cool stuff and eating cool stuff at the same time: Isn't that what life is all about? 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 30. Tucson Asphalt Contractors, Inc., 2425 W. Curtis Road. Free.
Asteroid Day at Flandrau. Asteroid Day is celebrated all over the world to highlight the science and exploration of asteroids, those little rocky guys orbiting the sun with us. You might have heard of a little asteroid called Bennu, which a team of scientists—led by the UA's own Dante Lauretta—have sent a spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx out to go explore. OSIRIS-REx team member Dolores Hill will do a presentation at Flandrau all about the spacecraft's mission to bring a sample back to Earth. The planetarium will also feature hands-on activities and a special screening of the fulldome planetarium show ASTEROID: MISSION EXTREME. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30. Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, 1601 E. University Blvd. $5 for exhibits, $5 for planetarium shows and free for Hill's presentation, but reserve your tickets online.
Star Wars: The Original Trilogy. The Fox Theatre, in partnership with Film Fest Tucson, is screening all three original Star Wars films this weekend. It's A New Hope on Friday, The Empire Strikes Back on Saturday and Return of the Jedi on Sunday. Here's your chance to see every film of the original trilogy on the big screen, the way it was meant to be experienced. The ferns of Endor never looked so good! A New Hope: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28. The Empire Strikes Back: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Return of the Jedi: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30. 17 W. Congress Street. $10 each or $25 for all three.
Before Stonewall. The Screening Room and Tucson Pride are teaming up to show a new restoration of this documentary that details the history of the queer community before the Stonewall Riots began the major gay rights movement. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, they will also host a social hour and mini resource fair. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28. 127 E. Congress Street.
Woodstock: The Director's Cut. This documentary covers the most iconic music festival of them all from both the stage and the audience. Released a year after Woodstock, it won the Oscar for best documentary, and this director's cut gives you even more of the hippie goodness. This screening is also part of the Loft's fundraiser to restore and expand their marquee. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. $80.
Wall-E (Free, Bike-In Movie). The Living Streets Alliance is hosting a free screening of Pixar's best movie. (Yeah, I said it.) The public is invited to Mitchell Park for a "completely off-grid" outdoor movie experience. And what better setting to enjoy a lovable children's movie about the horrors of pollution and social stagnation? 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 28. 1100 E. Mitchell Street. Free.
Do The Right Thing. The Loft Cinema is screening Spike Lee's examination of Brooklyn life on the same day it was released to theaters in 1989. The film takes a look at race and prejudice in modern America, showing how a riot can erupt out of a series of small misunderstandings. The screening is of a 4K digital restoration. 2 p.m. Sunday, June 30. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. Regular admission prices.
Asteroid Day. UA's Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium is hosting a day of special presentations and screenings all about space rocks. The public is invited to learn about discoveries from the OSIRIS-REx mission, asteroids, and how we ourselves are made of stars. 12:30 p.m: We Are Stars. 1 p.m. Asteroid: Mission Extreme. 2 p.m: Special Presentation: OSIRIS-REx Discoveries. 3 p.m: Great White Shark. 4 p.m: Special Presentation: Fire In the Sky. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30. 1601 E. University Blvd. $5 exhibits, $5 shows.
Mandy. This 2018 cult-classic-from-on-release features Nicholas Cage as a lumberjack fighting cultists and supernatural entities. What more could you want? Well, how about the fact it's also a combination of multiple '80s film tropes: oversaturated colors, vigilantism, slasher and more. Throw some LSD into the mix and you have a recipe for fun. 10 p.m. Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29. $8. The Loft Cinema. 3233 East Speedway Boulevard.
Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
All Set In The West Beer Release. It seems to be the week of awesome pairings, and they keep coming with this collaboration between 1912 Brewing Co. and Samuel Adams. In September 2018 at the Great American Beer Festival, Sam Adams announced 1912 Brewing as the winners of Brewing The American Dream program. As part of that victory, 1912 brewed with Sam Adams' head brewers and came up with the "All Set In The West" Kettle Sour, featuring ingredients like agave nectar, cranberries and tamarind. Now's your chance to try it out! Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd.
El Tour De Kino. Part of the Gastronomic Union of Tucson's summer series, this meal event allows you to learn about and try the foods Father Eusebio Kino introduced to Pimería Alta and Tucson. This five-course meal includes everything from "orchard fruits to staple grains" to legumes and vegetables and more. The evening also includes a welcome cocktail, hors d'œuvre and wine. 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 30. At the Carriage House. 125 S. Arizona Avenue. $75.
Tombstone Throwdown at Craft. It's a beautiful combination of Tucson and Tombstone! Craft, A Modern Drinkery will host Tombstone Brewing Company. The tap list is: an imperial coffee stout, the "All The People Will be Checked" DIPA, the Oak Fermented Blackcurrant Brett Saison and the Citra Single Hop IPA. In addition, Burgerrito food truck will join in on the fun. From the town too tough to die, comes the beer too good to miss. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 28. 4603 E. Speedway Blvd.
Pizza Luna x Cartel: Pizza & Wine Dinner. Pizza Luna is heading over to Cartel Coffee Lab for their first-ever collaboration dinner. The evening includes summer-inspired courses, such as the bianca pizza with aged prosciutto, asparagus, parmesan and arugula paired with Cartel's Dos Cabezas red blend. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28. 210 East Broadway Boulevard. $55.
Three Sisters Culinary Series. What are the three sisters? Corn, beans and squash, of course. The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance and Native Seeds are pairing up for a series of meals to celebrate these three ingredients. This event includes live entertainment, paired libations, educational touch points, and food to remember. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa. 245 E. Ina Road. $65. 21+
Summers of Fire: Author Talk with Linda Strader. Back in the '70s, Linda Strader was one of the first women to work on a fire crew for the U.S. Forest Service in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. She later went on to write Summers of Fire: A Memoir of Adventure, Love and Courage, all about her experiences trying to advance in a career where women weren't always considered worthy. At this talk, Strader (who is also a landscape architect, watercolor artist and certified arborist!) will talk about her book and some of the challenges women on fire crews face even today. 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29. Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Dr. Free.
In From the Heat. Yes, the heat of summer is upon us, but you know what that means: The summer portion of the Catalina Organ Festival is upon us as well! This year, we've got Maxine Thévenot and Edmund Connolly in from Albuquerque, New Mexico, an organist duo also known as Air & Hammers. Connolly is also an opera singer who's performed as a baritone soloist all over the world, while Thévenot's playing has been described as a "masterful manipulation of the instrument's myriad tonal colors." They'll be playing work by Josef Rheinberger, Clara Schumann, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck and more. Noon. Saturday, June 29. Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway Blvd. $10.
June Bachata Social ft. DJ FnF. Bachata originated in the Dominican Republic to go along with the rhythmic, often sexy Bachata music. This one-hour class will have sections for both beginners and intermediate-level dancers, and will be followed by a social with more dancing and fun. Mohankumar Ns leads the beginner class and Bachadicto Fnf leads the intermediate class. You'll hear the best of Salsa, Bachata, Timba, Kizomba and more. Classes are from 8:50 to 10 p.m. and social is from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, June 28. Tucson Creative Dance Center, 3131 N. Cherry Ave. $10 for class and social, $7 for social only. Bring dance shoes if possible, for the wooden floor!
Rhymes and Poetry (RAP). Tucson-based hip hop record label UG Desert Artists was started in 2018 by Benny Loc and Phase Cre8tions to build a community through art and event hosting. Here's one such event, serving up spoken word poetry and conscious hip hop to take your Saturday night to the next level. Performers include Benny Loc, Ill V, trahma, Nathan Villins, Solo and Sid LC. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, June 29. The Elder Hookah Lounge, 2900 E. Broadway Blvd., Ste. 118. $5 at the door.
Bach Without Borders. You've heard of Bach, one of the most famous composers ever, right? But have you heard his music played without borders? At this show, husband and wife duo Bin Hu and Jing Xia will be performing their interpretations of Bach's music, with Bin on classical guitar and Jing on the Guzheng, a Chinese stringed instrument. And they're not just performing Bach – Isaac Albeniz, Stephen Goss, and Chenyu Hunag and Wang Zhou are also on the program. Treat yourself to a night that will be equal parts relaxing and awe-inspiring. 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30. Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church. $15 GA, $10 student.
Comedians Who Aren't Boys. Not only are women, nonbinary people and other non-men funny, but they're funny at TWO separate events this week in Tucson alone. Imagine that! Head on over to Hotel McCoy (you should head over to check it out anyway!) to see Autumn Horvat, Mo Urban, Chinna Garza, Rebecca Tingley, Priscilla Fernandez, Nicole Riesgo and Cierra Renee Amanda take the stage and make you laugh. Enjoy the local beer and wine, plus eats from the Mexican food truck Pinches. All ages, but recommended for 18+. 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 28. Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road. Free.
Cool Summer Nights: Creatures of the Night. During summer, many of the college students that take to the streets of Tucson so often at night head home, away from the UA campus. But there are still lots of creatures roaming around at night in the desert, like bats, owls and kangaroo rats. Learn more about them in two presentations at the Desert Museum at this Saturday evening event. The night also features Native American-inspired flute music, the feather carving art of Chris Maynard, specialty cocktails, stingray touching and the chance to climb around the Packrat Playhouse. 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. $21.95 GA, $19.95 seniors 65+, $8.95 for kids 3 to 12, free for kids under 3, $17.95 for active or retired military, $16.95 for Arizona/Sonora residents.
Flashback Friday Nights at Old Tucson. You're not going to get the kids to bed at a reasonable hour during the summer anyway, so you might as well take 'em somewhere fun and free. Every Friday night through August, Old Tucson will be open from 4 to 9 p.m., free for kids 11 and under. Enjoy their signature entertainment, plus food and drinks specials that they're whipping up just for this sunset time. Just think of how fondly you and your kid will look back on summer evenings spent wandering around the Wild West. 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. Adult admission is $19.95.
Summer Safari Saturday Nights. You know when you've had a long, stressful week, and you treat yourself to something relaxing, like a bath, a pedicure or a massage? Sometimes the animals at the zoo deserve to be pampered, too. And pampered they are! From rhinos and elephants to tortoises, vultures and anteaters, the animals featured on this night at the zoo enjoy rituals like pedicures, manicures and mud baths. Learn all about it this evening! Michael P. and the Gullywashers provide the live music, and there will be plenty of games, activities, and food and drink specials. 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Ct. $10.50 adults, $8.50 seniors, $6.50 kids ages 2 to 14 and free for zoo members.
Western Month at the Madaras Gallery. As the gallery continues its celebration of 20 years, they're featuring a different theme every month. For July, it's all about that western vibe. From cowboys to cowboy hats, from horses to saddles, walking through this exhibit will have you singing "Happy Trails To You." Get your butt over to the gallery to see some buttes. Why would you want to miss out on an air-conditioned gallery full of art? July 1-31. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 am. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan Road. Free entry.
Summer in the Philabaum Gallery. Tom Philabaum and his wife have operated this glass art gallery in a former Tastee Freez building since 1985, and man are we lucky to have such a cool space in Tucson. From jewelry to vases to cups to insanely intricate decorative pieces, the gallery is home to works by dozens of artists for you to admire and even buy, if you're interested. The studio will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 28. They've got more glass than ever, and they're adding new stuff to the website all the time, so you can check it out before you go if you want. Philabaum Glass Gallery & Studio, 711 S. Sixth Ave.
Vail's Colossal Fourth at the Farmers Market. This Fourth of July, the Vail Preservation Society has decided to blow right past going big, in favor of growing colossal. The Heirloom Farmers Market is getting in on the fun a little early, with this day full of live bluegrass music by Cadillac Mountain, pony rides, a petting zoo and homemade crafts. At Taste of the Market, get an education experience that includes a taste test of some of the freshest organic foods around. More than 50 food and artisan vendors means there's something to eat, and something to appreciate, for everyone. 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday, June 29. Rincon Valley Farmers and Artisans Market, 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail.
Car Show at Tucson Asphalt. You already know and love the Original El Taco, known for their Green & Red Chili, and for their signature mix of both flavors. But now, El Taco is mixing things up even more by hosting a car show! They'll have drag cars, juniors dragsters, racing go karts, 10 ¼ midgets, street cars, circle track cars and motorcycles. And, of course, they'll have food. Looking at cool stuff and eating cool stuff at the same time: Isn't that what life is all about? 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 30. Tucson Asphalt Contractors, Inc., 2425 W. Curtis Road. Free.
Asteroid Day at Flandrau. Asteroid Day is celebrated all over the world to highlight the science and exploration of asteroids, those little rocky guys orbiting the sun with us. You might have heard of a little asteroid called Bennu, which a team of scientists—led by the UA's own Dante Lauretta—have sent a spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx out to go explore. OSIRIS-REx team member Dolores Hill will do a presentation at Flandrau all about the spacecraft's mission to bring a sample back to Earth. The planetarium will also feature hands-on activities and a special screening of the fulldome planetarium show ASTEROID: MISSION EXTREME. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30. Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, 1601 E. University Blvd. $5 for exhibits, $5 for planetarium shows and free for Hill's presentation, but reserve your tickets online.
Star Wars: The Original Trilogy. The Fox Theatre, in partnership with Film Fest Tucson, is screening all three original Star Wars films this weekend. It's A New Hope on Friday, The Empire Strikes Back on Saturday and Return of the Jedi on Sunday. Here's your chance to see every film of the original trilogy on the big screen, the way it was meant to be experienced. The ferns of Endor never looked so good! A New Hope: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28. The Empire Strikes Back: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Return of the Jedi: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30. 17 W. Congress Street. $10 each or $25 for all three.
Before Stonewall. The Screening Room and Tucson Pride are teaming up to show a new restoration of this documentary that details the history of the queer community before the Stonewall Riots began the major gay rights movement. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, they will also host a social hour and mini resource fair. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28. 127 E. Congress Street.
Woodstock: The Director's Cut. This documentary covers the most iconic music festival of them all from both the stage and the audience. Released a year after Woodstock, it won the Oscar for best documentary, and this director's cut gives you even more of the hippie goodness. This screening is also part of the Loft's fundraiser to restore and expand their marquee. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. $80.
Wall-E (Free, Bike-In Movie). The Living Streets Alliance is hosting a free screening of Pixar's best movie. (Yeah, I said it.) The public is invited to Mitchell Park for a "completely off-grid" outdoor movie experience. And what better setting to enjoy a lovable children's movie about the horrors of pollution and social stagnation? 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 28. 1100 E. Mitchell Street. Free.
Do The Right Thing. The Loft Cinema is screening Spike Lee's examination of Brooklyn life on the same day it was released to theaters in 1989. The film takes a look at race and prejudice in modern America, showing how a riot can erupt out of a series of small misunderstandings. The screening is of a 4K digital restoration. 2 p.m. Sunday, June 30. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. Regular admission prices.
Asteroid Day. UA's Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium is hosting a day of special presentations and screenings all about space rocks. The public is invited to learn about discoveries from the OSIRIS-REx mission, asteroids, and how we ourselves are made of stars. 12:30 p.m: We Are Stars. 1 p.m. Asteroid: Mission Extreme. 2 p.m: Special Presentation: OSIRIS-REx Discoveries. 3 p.m: Great White Shark. 4 p.m: Special Presentation: Fire In the Sky. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30. 1601 E. University Blvd. $5 exhibits, $5 shows.
Mandy. This 2018 cult-classic-from-on-release features Nicholas Cage as a lumberjack fighting cultists and supernatural entities. What more could you want? Well, how about the fact it's also a combination of multiple '80s film tropes: oversaturated colors, vigilantism, slasher and more. Throw some LSD into the mix and you have a recipe for fun. 10 p.m. Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29. $8. The Loft Cinema. 3233 East Speedway Boulevard.
Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , happenings , weekend events , Tucson , Image
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Our annual competition seeking to find the best of the best in the Old Pueblo is at it again. The first round of voting closed last week, a huge thank you to the almost 3,000 people who voted, and the finalist round is live now.
So, if you voted in the first round, check in to see if your favorites made the finalist cut and if you haven't voted yet this year, this is your chance!
Tucson is a magical town but we need your help celebrate those that make it that way. Vote now for your favorite restaurants, singers, places to take the kids, spots to stay, museums to visit, comedians to laugh along with and more in Best of Tucson 2019.
Voting for this second round is online until midnight August 5, so make sure to get your votes in now!
Cast your votes now at tucsonweekly.com/BOT
Tags: Best of Tucson , awards , voting , votes , BOT , magic town , Image
Monsoon Gardening Workshop. Did you know some gardeners call monsoon season "second spring" because it's a traditional time to plant many veggies in the desert? Well, now you do! If you're a newbie desert gardener, or if you're a well-versed green thumb who would just like a refresher course on the perils, pitfalls and possibilities of monsoon planting, this workshop is for you. What veggies and herbs can you plant? How can you maximize rainwater? How can you protect your garden from the heat and wind? Register today—you get a variety of monsoon-ready seeds to take home and plant if you attend! 9 to 11 .m. Thursday, June 27. Native Seeds Search Conservation Center, 3584 E. River Road. $20 Native Seeds members, $25 nonmembers. Details here.
Be the Rising Tide: Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. Is this the way you would have spent a Thursday night when you were in college and your drink of choice was a straight shot of Fireball? No. But, if you have a little bit more responsibility (and a little bit more susceptibility to hangovers) now, this event sponsored by Local First Arizona and Conscious Capitalism might just be super useful. It's geared toward businesses and organizations interested in profit sharing and employee ownership, or who are contemplating succession planning. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27. Goodmans Furniture, 3925 N. Business Center Dr. $10 for Local First Arizona and Friends of Conscious Capitalism member, $15 for nonmembers. Details here.
F*ST! Presents: It's a Tucson Thing. You know 'em, you love 'em. Female Storytellers is a league of women, femmes and trans folks who make their voices heard—and make their audiences laugh—by sharing their stories. The group will be sharing stories all about what makes our city what it is? Saguaros? Potholes? Eegees? Mattress firms? The feeling you get looking up at the clouds in the evening after a day of work with the evening stretched out before you? Hear it firsthand. 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 27. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. $8. Details here. Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Be the Rising Tide: Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. Is this the way you would have spent a Thursday night when you were in college and your drink of choice was a straight shot of Fireball? No. But, if you have a little bit more responsibility (and a little bit more susceptibility to hangovers) now, this event sponsored by Local First Arizona and Conscious Capitalism might just be super useful. It's geared toward businesses and organizations interested in profit sharing and employee ownership, or who are contemplating succession planning. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27. Goodmans Furniture, 3925 N. Business Center Dr. $10 for Local First Arizona and Friends of Conscious Capitalism member, $15 for nonmembers. Details here.
F*ST! Presents: It's a Tucson Thing. You know 'em, you love 'em. Female Storytellers is a league of women, femmes and trans folks who make their voices heard—and make their audiences laugh—by sharing their stories. The group will be sharing stories all about what makes our city what it is? Saguaros? Potholes? Eegees? Mattress firms? The feeling you get looking up at the clouds in the evening after a day of work with the evening stretched out before you? Hear it firsthand. 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 27. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. $8. Details here. Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: fun in general , do this , happenings , Tucson , events , things to do , Image
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Lawrence of Arabia in 70mm. Few films truly earn the description "epic," but this nearly-four-hour adventure and war extravaganza featuring Peter O'Toole earns it more than nearly any other. The Loft Cinema is screening this classic of classics in 70mm, with a greater aspect ratio and higher resolution than 35mm, so you can see every detail caught from the far-off Arabian vistas. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 23, & 7 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, June 26. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $12. Details here.
On the Brink, Unconstellating: Messages from Tucson Poets. Head on over to Tucson's Museum of Contemporary Art for a night of poetry and pondering. Described by event organizers as a reading with local writers "sustaining an address to the specters of collapse present in the ecologies we inhabit in the Southwest, animated by hauntologies of precarity and pastoral grievances against the indigenous, the farmer, the waterways, the bees and their foremothers." Woah, if the poetry is half as beautiful as that intro, then we are in for a great night. Readings by Raquel Gutiérrez, Brandon Shimoda, Claire Meuschke and Miranda Trimmier will take place from 6 to 8p.m. 265 S. Church Ave. Details here.
Girls' Night Out. Sometimes scheduling time in our lives to spend time with friends is difficult, and scheduling time for yourself can be even harder. This event provides the perfect combination of both! Fuchsia Spa at La Encantada is hosting a Girls' Night Out. Event attendees can choose between an express facial, an express massage or a polish change. Complimentary makeovers and custom color matches are also in the plans for the evening. Light appetizers and beverages will be provided, all for $20. Limited number of reservations left. Call to reserve. 2905 E. Skyline Drive. Details here.
On the Brink, Unconstellating: Messages from Tucson Poets. Head on over to Tucson's Museum of Contemporary Art for a night of poetry and pondering. Described by event organizers as a reading with local writers "sustaining an address to the specters of collapse present in the ecologies we inhabit in the Southwest, animated by hauntologies of precarity and pastoral grievances against the indigenous, the farmer, the waterways, the bees and their foremothers." Woah, if the poetry is half as beautiful as that intro, then we are in for a great night. Readings by Raquel Gutiérrez, Brandon Shimoda, Claire Meuschke and Miranda Trimmier will take place from 6 to 8p.m. 265 S. Church Ave. Details here.
Girls' Night Out. Sometimes scheduling time in our lives to spend time with friends is difficult, and scheduling time for yourself can be even harder. This event provides the perfect combination of both! Fuchsia Spa at La Encantada is hosting a Girls' Night Out. Event attendees can choose between an express facial, an express massage or a polish change. Complimentary makeovers and custom color matches are also in the plans for the evening. Light appetizers and beverages will be provided, all for $20. Limited number of reservations left. Call to reserve. 2905 E. Skyline Drive. Details here.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , happenings , Tucson , events , Wednesday , June 26 , Image , Video
