Posted By Hope Miller on Thu, Jul 12, 2012 at 4:00 PM

It's been a six year process, but the auto-themed restaurant, Hotrods Old Vail, is open at last.

After being at Hotrods Old Vail for five minutes, I understand why so many people are here. This restaurant is heaven for car enthusiasts, but could easily be a good time for anyone who has the slightest bit of a lead foot. I'm no automobile aficionado and I was pretty entranced by the checkered floors, the sleek garage that's connected to the restaurant, the dozens of framed car pictures along the walls, and of course, the real custom cars neatly lining the building.

This place is unique in that "it's a destination concept," said general manager Matt Hallinan at the opening event. You can eat and then immediately leave, but hanging around a while is what this place was designed for.

Yes, there is food. And a bar...but you don't get to watch custom cars come alive when you dine at McDonald's. While munching away on a burger at this restaurant, a glass wall can be all that separates you from restless hot rods and muscle cars.

Photos from the grand opening, below the cut:

Tags: Hotrods Old Vail grand opening , restaurant , garage , bar , tucson restaurants , vail restaurants , Hotrods Old Vail

Posted By Serena Valdez on Wed, Jul 11, 2012 at 4:00 PM

On a holiday road trip to California, I took some snapshots of some of the gas stations along the way to see the differences in gas from here in Tucson, which was $3.28 at the Shell gas station on Valencia Road and 12th Avenue, to Whittier.

And here is a trip to Southern California in gas prices:

In Picacho Peak, on Picacho Peak Road, this Shell gas station is $3.59 per gallon, however the Shell gas station across the street offered a different price.

Tags: gas , prices , gas prices , road trip , Shell , Mobile , California , Arizona , Picacho Peak , Whittier , Buckeye , Casa Grande , Eloy , Petro , Love's , Pima County , Maricopa County , Quartzite , Gila Bend , Buckeye , Chevron , Banning

Posted By Hope Miller on Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 11:00 AM

My friends and I were feeling stir-crazy last week and decided to escape to Bisbee for the weekend. While I was expecting it to be the quaint, mining town that it is (in some ways), I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of urban art I encountered there.

Tags: Bisbee , art , graffiti , urban art , bisbee art

Posted By Hope Miller on Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 4:20 PM

If you weren't at Sky Bar on Wednesday for the summer solstice party, you missed out on a good time. There was a comedic juggling act, daring acrobatic routines, hula-hooping like you've never seen before and fire dancing. The Bennu, a local jazz-funk band, and other musicians also celebrated the longest day of the year by rocking out at the astronomy-themed bar on Fourth Avenue.

More photos from the event, below the cut.

Tags: Sky Bar , summer solstice , music , fire dancing , acrobatics , juggling , hula-hooping , local bands , Fourth Avenue

Posted By John de Dios on Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 11:05 AM

• Photograph by Keith Perfetti

Photographs by Keith Perfetti

Tucson came out in skivvies, celebrating the summer almost in the full monty. Thank goodness it wasn't raining.

• Keith Perfetti

Tags: Underwear , Congress , Underwear Party , Keith Perfetti

Posted By John de Dios on Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 10:49 AM

Photos by Keith Perfetti

Tags: Ron Barber , Gabby Giffords , Mark Kelly , Congressional District 8 , Arizona Elections

Posted By C. Elliott on Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Slideshow

Ron Barber Get Out the Vote Concert, Rialto Theatre, June 9

Click to View 10 slides

Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta headlined a Get Out the Vote concert supporting Ron Barber at the Rialto Theatre on June 9th, 2012.

Tags: ron barber , gabrielle giffords , rialto theatre , tucson concerts , cd 8 special election , sergio mendoza y la orkesta , calexico , Slideshow

Posted By C. Elliott on Thu, May 24, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Slideshow

Morrissey, TCC Music Hall, May 23, 2012

Click to View 10 slides

In case you missed it last night (or didn't bring your binoculars to the cheap seats), here are some photos of everyone's favorite miserable modern rock star.

Tags: morrissey , morrissey photos , morrissey tucson , Slideshow

Posted By Hope Miller on Wed, May 23, 2012 at 1:00 PM

While Tucson has a bit of a graffiti problem in general, there are some using the University of Arizona as a canvas in more aesthetically pleasing ways, usually using stencils and a single color of spray paint.

• underpass near Greek Row

• staircase of the Music Building

Tags: tagging , campus , art , graffiti , university of arizona graffiti , tucson graffiti

Posted By C. Elliott on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 1:00 PM

Slideshow

Bon Iver, TCC Arena, April 23rd, 2012

Click to View 10 slides

Grammy winner, Kanye West pal and subject of Twitter confusion, Bon Iver, performed at the TCC Arena last night as part of Tucson's annual overflow of Coachella acts.

Tags: bon iver , tucson concerts , tcc arena , bon iver tucson , Slideshow