Author Archive: Jade Nunes

BYOB Painting Classes

May 8, 2014 | Jade Nunes

Participants paint “Red Wine” at a recent Brush & Bottle class.
photo: Jade Nunes

Staring at a blank canvas can be intimidating to the inexperienced artist. Heck, it can be intimidating to a seasoned artist too. But with the help of instructors and assistants at Brush and Bottle, and maybe even a little liquid encouragement from a favorite wine, beautiful artwork can be achieved by anyone.

“I think that it’s not as scary that it seems. After the first ten minutes, after they’ve had some wine, they realize that, ‘Hey, I can do this’,” said owner and native Tucsonan Olivia Ramirez. “I’ve had costumers come back and say, ‘When I took my painting home, my husband thought that I went out and bought it.”

The bring-your-own-bottle painting class concept is almost everywhere now, according to Ramirez who has a background in engineering, not art. After moving to Texas where she was introduced to painting by a friend, she fell in love. Upon her return to Tucson, she decided to bring painting with her; and Brush and Bottle was born eight months ago.

“People buy art. They might go to galleries or fairs to buy it. The idea that they can do it themselves is so different,” she said. “I think that art opens your mind, I really do. It broadens your mind. You get to unlock this creative part of you. That’s what art brings us.”

Located at 1785 E. Prince Rd., the art studio is conveniently situated next to a handful of restaurants and a grocery store where participants can stock up on their favorite wines, goodies and appetizers; they’ll even chill wines for their costumers.

“We allow our customers to bring in wine, beer and appetizers—anything and everything besides hard liquor,” Ramirez said.

However, the classes aren’t just 21 and over. People of all ages are welcomed to attend and bring their favorite snack and drinks as well. Brush and Bottle definitely reserves the right to ID participants who are consuming alcoholic beverages.

“The drink added a nice social element to the class also allowing you to relax and be more creative,” said a customer, Samantha Gephart. “I would definitely recommend it whether for a fun and different date night, or getting together with a friend or group.”

Four artists teach at Brush and Bottle. The classes are scheduled by painting and can be found on the BrushAndBottle.com calendar. Essentially, participants are essentially replicating a local artist’s original work, a work commissioned specifically for the classes. Step by step instructions allow participants to learn how to mix paint colors, create different kinds of brush strokes and create a one of a kind artwork.

Participants paint “Red Wine” at a recent Brush & Bottle class, with instruction by “JJ” (Jennifer Johnson).
photo: Jade Nunes

“I felt that the class was easy for someone like me who doesn’t paint or have fine artistic ability,” joked Gephart. “I think one of my favorite parts was seeing everyone’s work at the end. Although we all painted the same thing, everyone used different colors, size strokes and shapes to make them look unique and beautiful.”

Customers are provided a 16″x20″ canvas, paint, brushes, an apron and guided instructions to create their own masterpiece. Two-hour classes are $35, and three-hour classes are $40, with discounts available for private parties. The studio also provides hairdryers to ensure that customers can leave with their artwork without fear of ruining the upholstery of their vehicle with wet paint.

“The directions were simple to follow and went at a pace that everyone could keep up,” Gephart said.

Children’s paintings are available as well. Though kids are welcomed to try to recreate the adult painting taught in the class, there are some simpler designs that they can recreate if desired.

“If a family brings in a little one, we’ll actually pre-sketch it out on canvas for them,” Ramirez said. “They can paint something that they like, like animals, and can still have a fun evening with mom while mom paints the adult painting.”

And speaking of moms, Brush and Bottle will be offering a Mother’s Day special where customers who sign themselves up to paint can bring their mom to paint for free. Other examples events that are offered include non-alcoholic Family Day events, customer appreciations, birthday parties and even off-site events, or they’ll even come to you.

Brush and Bottle is located at 1785 E. Prince Rd. For more information or to schedule group events or private parties, call (520) 881-0655. To access the calendar of classes visit BrushAndBottle.com or visit their Facebook page.

Maynards’ Food-Forward Remodel

December 14, 2013 | Jade Nunes

Say goodbye to the aisles and shelves, Maynards Market & Kitchen has taken on a whole new look and taste.

What once was a hub for specialty goods and products – wines, jams, food – is still a hub for specialty goods and products, just revamped with some added flare.

“We’ve moved away from the retail business of the market. We’ve focused more on food-forward, chef-assembled and prepared food in the market,” said Frank Kose, Maynards Market & Kitchen general manager. “It’s a true market-deli for everyone.”

Following the remodel of Marynards, the kitchen stopped serving lunch early last month. But don’t fret. Stop by the market and you can still grab fresh, quality delicatessen morsels to satisfy any craving.

“The concept now is people can do the best of both worlds – they can still come in and get their beer and wine, they can sit at the bar and have a quick beer, and order sandwiches and stuff too,” said Addam Buzzalini, Maynards’ executive chef. “It’s kind of what the market was – just deluxe.”

Wide-open and bright, the new Maynards has a new feel and a new draw – fresh foods, bar and community area and still retains the appeal of a unique dining, “market” experience.

“The build-out is gorgeous. It’s a great use of the space. It opened up the market. It’s made the market feel larger. It’s more food-focused. That’s what Maynards is known for – the great food,” Kose said. “We’ve gotten a lot of ‘ooos’ and ‘ahhs’.”

Maynards opened in 2008 and originally offered their kitchen as a lunch and dinner restaurant and their market as a place for people to buy quality goods from the shelves. Now, the market and kitchen offer two distinctly different experiences.

“The kitchen is identified as French-inspired American food. And the market is fast casual-prepared foods to-go,” Kose said. “It’s really defined the identities and the visions for each separate business under the same roof.”

During the renovation, Maynards closed for only about eight weeks, according to Buzzalini. In the interim, a pop-up market served regular guests, the wine shop remained open and the kitchen served lunch and dinner.

“It’s kind of cool. It’s fresh. It’s definitely different for downtown. We’re already seeing a really pretty massive difference from what it used to be like,” he said. “I’m just happy to see people coming and smiling and grabbing a quick beer and eating off butcher paper.”

Some of the tasty finds that have made a home at Maynards include Isabella’s Ice cream, Caffe Luce, Lusby’s Honey, and Margie’s Jams. Kose said that the vision for all of the foods at Maynards is “local and organic when we can and responsible when we can’t.”

“It’s giving people options – different choices of what they can do,” Buzzalini said. “You might come in for a salad, you might come in for a bite of ice cream, for a beer, and you might decide to stay for a sandwich or take a chicken home.”

With the classic, big city feel of some of America’s famous markets – New York, Los Angeles, Nappa – Maynards Market & Kitchen has brought downtown a unique place to dine, wine and socialize.

“You never know who you might be sitting next to at the bar or community table. It kind of creates a really hip environment I guess,” Buzzalini said. “It’s definitely different than the restaurant.”

Maynards Market & Kitchen is located at 400 N. Toole Ave. For more information and to see the full menu, visit MaynardsTucson.com or call (520) 545-0577.

Help Kickstart the Jambulance

December 3, 2013 | Jade Nunes

The Emergency Circus hopes to embark on a healing circus tour across North America.
photo courtesy Emergency Circus

The Emergency Circus needs your help to make their efforts, antics and laughter touch more people across the country who may need something to brighten their spirits.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Emergency Circus’ Kickstarter campaign to raise money for their future tour, will end. And that means that the race is on to meet their monetary goal, or their dreams of spreading laughter to hospitals and nursing homes may remain just that – a dream.

“It’s an all or nothing campaign funded by people who believe in the project,” said Clay “Mazing” Letson of Emergency Circus.” As of Tuesday, Dec. 3, they were still over $3,000 away from their goal of $11,111.

The funds collected from the Crowd Funding Campaign will allow the Emergency Circus to make their Jambulance – an ambulance acquired and retrofitted into a circus tour vehicle – run on vegetable oil and solar panels.

“We want to be as environmentally and economically stable as we can be,” he said. “That’s why we need this money so that we can do this as best we can and as fast as we can.”

The Emergency Circus is Tucson based non-profit and an affiliate of the Gesundheit! Institute that was founded by the real-life Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams.

“Our first show was in Tucson, and many of our performers are Tucsonans,” Clay explained. “It’s a very Tucson-y project, for sure.”

Clay “Mazing” and his friends decided that they wanted to take the spirit of laughter and fun to uplift the hurt and the healing more often and on a smaller scale. And the Emergency Circus was born. They’ve traveled to hospitals, prisons, nursing homes and “other places where happiness, health and human connection struggle.”

“Anyone can spread joy, that’s easy,” Clay said. “The best way to get happiness is to give happiness.”

If the Emergency Circus is successful in raising enough funds to make enhancements to their Jambulance, they’ll begin touring the United States and even into Canada starting in April, visiting hospitals and nursing home, prisons and homeless shelters. But if they miss their monetary goal – even by a dollar – they won’t receive anything. That’s the “all or nothing” campaign they’ve embarked on.

“If we don’t make the goal, we can’t do anything,” Clay said. “You can donate as much or as little as you want and based on how much you give, there are incentives.”

Contributors to the Crowd Funding Campaign are offered prizes for their donations – personalized “super-hero theme song,” handmade juggling balls and even a chance to run away with the circus and perform with the Emergency Circus.

“We’ll sing about how amazing and how generous you are. Each song will be personalized,” he added.

The goal of the Emergency Circus is to “gather people in a room or go room to room to liven up spirits and destroy some boredom,” Clay said.

To donate to their cause, visit KickStarter.com. And for more information about Emergency Circus, visit EmergencyCircus.com. The Crowd Funding Campaign ends Dec. 7.

Bike Parts & Art

November 29, 2013 | Jade Nunes

A collage of past BICAS art auction items.
photos: Patrick Cobb

There are innumerous mediums of art – paint, clay, photos, metal, paper – the list goes on and on. Annually, bicycle parts collide with these various elements in a spectacular display of talent and skill at BICAS’ annual art auction.

For nearly 25 years, BICAS – Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage – has provided Tucsonans with a place to recycle, learn about, and build bicycles. Their efforts in and around the community help people find affordable transportation and stay healthy. And they don’t throw away anything.

“BICAS exists to show people what they are capable of, empowering people to try to new skills,” said Kylie Walzak, BICAS’ administrative coordinator. “Learning to reuse things that could be considered trash and giving those items a second life.”

This year marks the organization’s eighteenth annual auction and is its largest fundraiser. According to Walzak, last year’s auction brought in a record breaking $21,000. A large portion of the artwork up for auction has been crafted out of used bike parts. Artists use the bike parts as a medium for sculptures and even jewelry crafting.

“I’m always amazed at what people come up with and the things that people can make out of bike parts,” said Troy Neiman, shop coordinator and artist. “The art work is great because it is so unique.”

Neiman added that BICAS recycles and uses as much material as they can, whether it be in the form of refurbishing older bikes or creating amazing bike art.

“We keep tons of stuff from going into the landfills every year,” he said.

But it’s not just recycled bike parts that have made their way into the auction. There will be prints, paintings and even fiber works such as a blanket that was specially made for the event.

“It’s bicycle themed artwork and art made from bicycles,” said Tanya Rich, BICAS art coordinator. “This year, we’re pulling out all the stops.”

The art auction helps BICAS continue their mission to “promote education, art and a healthy environment while providing service and opportunity for those in need.” The event will also have music, activities, food and libations. All proceeds from the art auction will benefit BICAS’ continuous community-centered efforts.

“It is not just about artists,” Kylie Walzak said about the auction. “It’s about standing up to the BICAS mission.”

This year’s art auction will also serve as the kickoff to BICAS’ twenty-fifth anniversary, which will be a year of fun events celebrating BICAS’ community involvement. The auction also serves as a way to raise funds for BICAS to find a new home in the future.

“We want to make it another 25 years,” said Tanya Rich. “The space we’re in is fantastic. I think we want to be in a place we can grow into. We would like to solidify our place in the community by becoming building owners.”

If you can’t make it to the art auction, BICAS has art on display and for sale in their gallery, or “bike-tique” as it has more appropriately been dubbed. Small bicycle jewelry pieces are sold alongside t-shirts and other artworks. Early submissions for the upcoming art auction are also on display.

“It’s really cute and beautiful and we have some great stuff for sale,” Rich said.

In addition to the auction, this upcoming February will see BICAS hosting the fifth-annual Tucson Sculpture Festival.

“It kind of aligns with our twenty-fifth anniversary,” Rich said. “It won’t be limited to just bicycle inspired artwork.”

BICAS welcomes people from all walks of life to their art auction, events and classes. They continue to work on projects with a variety of organizations such as the Pima County Library, schools and local neighborhoods. Some of their public work can be seen around town such as the bike racks along the Fourth Avenue entertainment district.

Classes offered at BICAS include, but are not limited to, bike rebuilding, riding and maintenance. They also offer shop time exclusively for women and transgender identified persons. Art classes are also offered along with the opportunity for people to use the art area of BICAS during open shop hours.

The BICAS Art Auction is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Whistle Stop Depot, 127 W. 5^th St. and is free to the public. Early bidding takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the silent auction will follow from 6 to 9 p.m. A preview party is on Friday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. All proceeds benefit BICAS. For more information, call (520) 628-7950 or visit Bicas.org. BICAS is located at 44 W. Sixth St.

On Tap: Arizona Beer & Art

November 29, 2013 | Jade Nunes

YuYu Shiratori’s leather clutch, hand crafted in a “self-made sweatshop,”
will be featured at Art on Tap.

Craft beers are works of art.

Brewers are artists in their own right as they experiment with different ingredients and techniques to produce a unique taste. And just as with any art form, sometimes the most interesting and fascinating works of art – or beer in this case – are created by local hands.

Art on Tap, a unique art and beer showcase, is a marriage of local art and Arizonan craft beers. Happening at the Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) on Dec. 7, this beer festival features brews from Arizona – and Arizona alone. But it’s not just a chance for beer enthusiasts to sip on some ales, lagers or stouts. The event also brings in local artists who’ve submitted their work for display during this special night.

“You’re going to go to a beer festival. You’re going to see nearly 20 local breweries. You’re going to be able to enjoy all of those things they slaved over and created. And hopefully you’ll have something else to appreciate rather then twiddle your thumbs and wait in the next line,” said Shanna Rosing, member of Craft Tucson. “Local art was the answer. We’ve gotten a lot of great feedback and lot of great submissions.”

Craft Tucson, the in-town organization dedicated to helping businesses through the art of craft beers, is the host of the event.

“It’s a group set to promote local businesses through craft beer, only Arizona beers. That was our goal – to make sure that when you go out, and somebody’s going to sell you a $15 grass-fed hamburger, they’re not selling you a $15 grass-fed hamburger next to a Budweiser,” said Austin Santos, orchestrator of Art on Tap and owner of 1702 Pizza & Beer. “Cause it’s counterproductive to say that, ‘We took the effort to find really expensive beef, but we went to Budweiser to get your beer.’

“The event manifested itself from there being a lack of doing beer festivals that actually showcased Arizona beers of the Arizona breweries,” Santos said. “And to do these festivals as not a way to just walk around and get intoxicated, but to give them something to do. Tucson’s got a very affluent art community.”

Volunteers and museum employees have been helping Craft Tucson contact artists, musicians and breweries to make the event a night to remember.

“There are going to be a lot of different facets from all over. It’s kind of a beautiful thing,” said Graham Thompson, a volunteer and employee of 1702 who is helping to curate the show. “It’s great to have the experience and I’m kind of honored to be doing something like this. This is a big grassroots effort.”

Art on Tap marks Craft Tucson’s first attempt at an art-themed beer festival in Tucson. The proceeds from the event will help benefit the Tucson Museum of Art to keep its arts education present and available to Tucson citizens. The event follows Craft Tucson’s Brew at the Zoo event, which took place this past July and helped raise funds for Reid Park Zoo’s new brown bear exhibit.

“I’d love to see it become something that becomes annual,” Santos said. “I’m really looking forward to it grow in any way that it can. Definitely super curious to see who comes out for it.”

The event also features: live music by Carlos Arzate and the Kind Souls, Saint Maybe; demonstrations by Joe Moore, Sonoran Glass Academy, Marianna Pegno, and The Drawing Studio; selections from the UA exhibit Art of Planetary Science; painting with Ben’s Bells; food trucks and vendors alongside the beer and art.

“These days, beer is becoming, very, you know, at the same level as wine. I think that we really want to get a new audience. We want to reach more of Tucson,” said Morgan Wells, curator of education at TMA. “We’re wanting to be more accessible to the artists and the public. They’ve (the artists) been really excited for this opportunity to display their art.”

The event takes place on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 6 to 10 p.m. There will also be an early access segment of the evening from 5 to 6 p.m. And don’t worry, you designated drivers don’t have to pay full price, just $20, and will still have the opportunity to enjoy local art.

“I think that Tucson’s definitely been waiting for a beer festival that has this kind of draw and extra added to it,” Rosing said. “For me, beer and art can’t be separated.”

Art on Tap is Saturday, Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. For more information and ticket prices, which range from $20-$65, visit TucsonMuseumofArt.org or call (520) 624-2333.

Gearing up for El Tour

November 23, 2013 | Jade Nunes

Photo: El Grupo crosses the finish line at the 2011 El Tour de Tucson.

The whirring of bike gears and the clicking of toe clips is a staple sound on the streets of Tucson, one of the nation’s most bike-friendly communities. We all know it – morning drives to work where you could easily spot dozens of cyclists enjoying the clear, desert air. But the true testament to Tucson’s cyclist appeal reveals itself every November when thousands of cyclists convene for El Tour de Tucson.

The unique biking event is celebrating its thirty-first year in Tucson and invites cyclists to ride the perimeter of Tucson – tough thoroughfares, serpentine streets and broad byways – and even through water crossings, where participants must pick up their bike, yes pick it up, and walk it through dry washes.

But the event represents much more than a grueling competition for the cyclists. El Tour draws more than $18 million in economic impact and 42 charitable agencies benefit from the event.

“One of the most important things about El Tour is that it is a fundraising event,” said Richard DeBernardis, founder of El Tour de Tucson and president of Perimeter Bicycling Association of America (PBAA). “For some it’s a race. Some of us think it’s a ride, and for most of us, we want to raise money for something worthwhile.”

It is this idea – giving back and benefiting the community – that lent itself to become the inspiration for this year’s theme of the Tour: Better Together Through Cycling.

“Pretty much through cycling, we’ve connected volunteers to charitable agencies, charitable agencies to fundraising, businesses to economic impact,” DeBernardis explained. “They’re all working together and what they’re doing is making it better for the community and it’s all related around a cycling event, so it really is better together through cycling! I’ve always felt that you could probably solve all of the world’s problems through cycling.”

One of the largest beneficiaries of El Tour is the nonprofit TuNidito which works with Tucson families whose lives have been impacted by a serious medical condition or death.

“We’re better through cycling because we’ve been able to grow our services,” said Liz McCuster, director of TuNidito Children and Family Services at an El Tour press conference last month. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without all of you at PBAA (Perimeter Bicycling Association of America).”

Perimeter Bicycling of America, Inc. is the nonprofit organization responsible for the El Tour de Tucson and several other major cycling events in Arizona. According to PerimeterBicycling.com, the organization has been a model for bicycling events in Japan, which are also aimed at concept of cycling in the pursuit of wellness.

Another integral aspect of the ride are the volunteers. Ironically, or more perfectly, the day of El Tour, Nov. 23, also marks National Family Volunteer day. Two dedicated El Tour volunteers have been helping the event for about 28 years.

“The staff down at El Tour is just so wonderful and so friendly. It’s enjoyable work,” said Leila Warfield. Warfield and her husband, Totten, will be celebrating their sixty-sixth wedding anniversary, and will be at the finish line checking in participants on the day of the event.

It all sounds great, but the event struggled to find a title sponsor earlier this year, which almost left it short of hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding. The Tour needs about $650,000 in corporate funding to help pay the $1.8 million price tag, Richard DeBernardis said last month at the El Tour press conference. The University of Arizona Medical Center sponsored the event for the past six years, but their contract with the event expired. UMC continues to support the El Tour and is sponsoring the Tour’s “Fun Ride” this year. But it wasn’t long before Casino Del Sol took up the mantel as title sponsor.

“We’re honored to be the presenting sponsor of the El Tour de Tucson in 2013,” Jim Burns, CEO of Casino Del Sol Resort said at the October El Tour press conference. “Our involvement with the race goes beyond the sponsorship. Our tribal members, our team members, and our families will be participating and we are proud to support them in their journey.”

Burns reiterated the importance of El Tour for the local economies, but also added that the event’s health benefits are massive as it inspires people to be active. He shared that the event itself is an opportunity to bring together people from all different walks of life from around the Tucson area and beyond.

“We’re happy to be partners in this Tucson tradition,” Raymond Buelna, Pasqua Yaqui tribe council member said at last month’s press conference. “I’d like to wish everyone well in their training and on that day, be safe out there on the roads.”

Another event much like El Tour de Tucson was devastated earlier this year when two bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, killing three people. To show continued support and remembrance for those lives lost and affected by the Boston bombings, Diamond Ventures will set up memorial signs along the Tour race course – 26.2 miles from the staring line, and 26.2 miles to the finish line.

“When we heard the theme, ‘Better Together Through Cycling’ we all agreed that no better theme could have been chosen,” Nathan Levy from Diamond Ventures said at the El Tour press conference. “We’re touched by the El Tour’s desire to honor those killed and injured in the Boston Marathon bombings.”

The event in of itself is a spectacle, but there is nothing quite like seeing the moving, contorting form of the peloton – hundreds of individual cyclists moving as one massive body.

“There’s nothing more exciting for me than riding my bike with a group of other fast cyclists,” said avid cyclist John Carruth. “To me the El Tour is just one of those iconic Tucson events. It helps define who we are as a community.”

Carruth is riding in support of the Greater Vail Community Services. His hope is to raise $1,000 to $1,500 in pledges for the charity while he rides the 85-mile race. Carruth, who competed in his first El Tour in 1988, also aims to finish in the top 20 riders.

“It’s a real tangible example of what cycling can do for our community both from the charitable side, and an economic side,” said Carruth about El Tour. “And I get to ride my bike! I love it.”

El Tour is expected to draw 8,000 to 9,000 national participants in its 111, 85, 60 and 42-mile races. It also has three shorter routes in their “Fun Ride” – 10, 5 and quarter-mile courses for mountain bikes, tandems, wheelchairs and children. There’s also the indoor El Tour in which participants can ride their own stationary bikes for minutes rather than miles, from anywhere in the world starting a week prior to the El Tour.

The day of El Tour offers activities for non-riders too. The El Tour Downtown Fiesta at Amory Park, 221 S. Sixth Ave., will allow cyclists and spectators alike to enjoy a day of outdoor music, food and family fun while being able to watch riders cross the finish line.

The El Tour de Tucson is Nov. 23. For more information about El Tour routes, start times and registration, visit PerimeterBicycling.com.

The Playhouse Lights the Lights

November 3, 2013 | Jade Nunes

Matt Cotten of Puppets Amongus
photo by Jade Beall

“There’s something about puppetry that is universally fascinating,” said Matt Cotten, the man behind the magic of Puppets Amongus. “It’s sort of a strange novelty.”

Cotten, a puppeteer with 18 years of experience is the sole proprietor and Artistic Director of Puppets Amongus. Puppets Amongus was established three years ago and now has a home, The Playhouse, which opened last year.

The Playhouse offers people a chance to see Cotten’s puppets in the act. And this fall, there’s a lot to look forward to.

Cotten is the voice, the artist and the writer for all of the shows featured at The Playhouse, 657 W. St. Mary’s Rd. He uses shadow puppets, glove puppets and even giant parade style puppets to bring stories to life for a wide variety of audiences.

“To be able to project a character onto this object and bring it to life and sort of have it carry out improvisation or narrative is tremendously interesting on so many levels,” he said.

Cotten explained that is was when he was studying painting as a graduate student at the University of Arizona in 1995 when he grew interested in exploring the world of puppetry.

“I wanted a direct interaction with my audience, instead of seeing my work hanging in a gallery,” he said. “The audience was very, very responsive to puppetry in a way that you don’t really witness in a gallery as a painter.”

There are many levels of creativity needed to piece together a puppet show – script, set, character, music – all of which lend themselves to add to the novelty and authenticity of a puppet show.

“That all sounds kind of crazy, but there are so many psychological layers to the practice of puppetry,” Cotten explained.

Cotten said he has around 100 glove puppets and close to 250 shadow puppets.

He even has larger-than-life Beatles puppets and John Lennon, as fate would have it, is about to get a makeover to become Harry Potter. Think about it, John Lennon with a scar on his forehead and his trademark glasses could totally pull off the Harry Potter look.

He says the only form of puppetry he doesn’t utilize are marionettes. “Strings drive me nuts,” he said.

“Some puppets I’ve had for more than 10 years so it may sound odd, but they have their own core personality, which is kind of an extension of me. But they will play different roles in different ways,” Cotten said. “I think of my puppets as actors who are refining their craft. They will often play various roles in different productions.”

Some of the puppets Cotten works with include Shoe the old Chinese man, Barley the boy, and Thomas from Newcastle, England. Thomas plays a variety of characters – from a simple, oafish woodsman to a French chef.

“My favorite part about acting, well, I like the creative process. That’s my favorite thing,” explained Thomas. “Sometimes my director doesn’t know which direction to go and I say, ‘Cast me for that part! I’ll do a wonderful job!’ I am just a puppet after all.” And if anyone has authentic Jamaican allspice, Thomas, in his role of French Chef, Pompidou, would greatly appreciate it.

Barley shared that he’s played everything from a baby or a seven-year-old boy, to an Irishman in the St. Paddy’s day show. He also said that his favorite audience to perform for is children.

“I like kids, kids like me,” Barley said bashfully. “I look kind of funny I guess. I’ve got this weird expression on my face that exudes happiness and joy, and excitement at the prospect of a very exciting adventure ahead of me.”

But puppet shows aren’t just for the kids. Cotten also offers a puppet cabaret – fun, provocative, humorous – for the adults.

“The puppet cabaret has just been a format for people to experiment and not worrying about having to censor themselves at all,” Cotten said. “That was risqué and that was a lot of fun. The response was wonderful.”

He invites other puppeteers to join him in creating the cabaret in a variety show that features short acts of shadow and traditional forms of puppeteering. “So it’s a format that is intended to activate a community, to sort of kick start an interest in puppeteering,” he added.

Heimlich, the puppet from Deutschland, hosts the cabarets. “I like to make dirty jokes” said Heimlich in his thick German accent. “They don’t let me out for the children’s shows, no.”

The Playhouse also shows short films of some of the best puppetry in the world, as compiled by Heather Henson – the famous Jim Henson’s youngest daughter. Cotten is showing seven volumes of the films.

“You wouldn’t be able to see these any other way,” Cotten said.

The Playhouse is located at 657 W. St. Mary’s Rd. November family performances include “Crumpled” on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9, 10, 16, 17 at 4 p.m. For the full, fall schedule of shows and ticket prices, visit PuppetsAmongus.com.

Puppets Amongus’ Hatter’s Hollow
photo by Jade Beall

Nov. 1 Looks To Be a Little “Chili”

October 28, 2013 | Jade Nunes

Music, food & fun rocks the Tucson Fire Fighters chili cook-off each fall.
photo by Bert Thomas

The forecast for Nov. 1 is HOT. And it isn’t about the weather – we’re talking chili, and lots of it.

For the past 18 years, various stations from Tucson Fire Department and other surrounding departments have convened at El Presidio Park, 160 W. Alameda St., for the annual Tucson Fire Fighters Association’s chili cook-off to benefit the Tucson Firefighter’s Adopt-A-Family program. Last year’s event brought in more than $62,000 to aid hundreds of Southern Arizonan families who were in need of holiday gifts, food and clothing.

“As firefighters, our job is to serve the citizens of the city, and this does not end when we are off duty,” wrote Captain Sloan Tamietti, Tucson Fire, in a letter to the cook-off’s sponsors and potential donors. “This event helps us maintain the ability to continue doing just that, but we cannot do it alone.”

According to the Tucson Fire Fighter’s Association website, last year’s cook-off attracted more than 10,000 visitors and served over 750 gallons of chili.

“It’s open to anybody and we just have it set up as a food festival,” Tamietti said in an interview. “We want to show our way of giving back to the community.”

The cook-off is free to attend. To buy chili, visitors will purchase tickets to exchange for chili samples. If you’re not a fan of the spicy stuff, don’t worry! There’s mild, bean-less, meatless and green varieties of chili stewing in the pots. And if you don’t like chili at all, a variety of other food is there to savor as well – quesadillas, Eegees, frozen yogurt – and all of the proceeds still go to the Adopt-A-Family program.

“When we first started doing the Adopt-A-Family programs, we started to exhaust materials,” said Anthony Gonzalez, TFD Captain at station 20. “We decided to come up with an event that would generate interest in the fire departments and bring families together for a good cause.”

Gonzalez and his comrades came up with the idea of the cook-off eighteen years ago.

“I remember going to my fire chief, and my fire chief told me, ‘Great idea, Tony, but it’s not likely to get enough support.’ I said, ‘Alright, we’ll see.’”

On Dec. 7 that same year, the first firefighter chili cook-off was born, and, as fate would have it, so was Gonzalez’s son. Gonzalez went on to organize the first 10 cook offs.

“We put 100 percent back into the community,” Gonzalez said. “And people look forward to this event all year long.”

Local fire stations compete for best chili & best booth.
photo by Bert Thomas

But it’s not just charity. It’s also a friendly competition between the departments and individual stations. The prize? Bragging rights for the team that cooked the best chili and for the team with the best dressed volunteers and best decorated booth.

“The firefighters really put their all into their creative booths and costumes. It’s always fun and exciting to see what they’ve come up with,” said Cassie Curran who has been to the cook-off the past four years. “The chili cook-off is an event I look forward to every year! And it goes without saying that the chili is delicious. It really kicks off the holiday season activities in Tucson for me.”

There will also be live music at the event, played by musicians who are volunteering their time as well.

“It’s for the community and we want to let them know that we try real hard to do our best for the community,” said Roger Soriano, TFD Captain who has participated in every one since the event’s inception. “We love doing it. We are a community, we enjoy it and we are who we are.”

Soriano’s booth will be giving our quesadillas along with other tasty treats.

“It’s a lot of fun, and a lot of work,” Soriano said. “Our particular group has young and old, and we drink beer, and we’re there and we have fun and we raise money.”

Soriano said that he believes the cook-offs are getting so big, that they will eventually have to find a new home.

“We’ve outgrown downtown, we’re going to have to move it,” he said. “I think that we can get a bigger, better crowd. The more we raise, the more we can give back.”

The money raised for the Adopt-A-Family program helps families during Thanksgiving and Christmas, and even helps provide a fun surprise to kids at the Diamond Children’s Cancer Center at the University of Arizona Medical Center.

“We have one of our ladder trucks go down to the cancer center for the kids and Santa Claus comes through the window to give out gifts,” Tamietti said.

The cook off is on Friday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m.–10 p.m. at El Presidio Park, 160 W. Alameda St. It is free to attend. For more information, visit the cook off’s website or Facebook page.

The Cat’s Meow

October 21, 2013 | Jade Nunes

The Cat’s Meow is Hermitage Cat Shelter’s annual fundraiser, but this year, the Cat’s Meow Goes international!

But wait, isn’t the shelter in Tucson? And the event typically held in Tucson? Yes! That’s right! You don’t have to travel far to enjoy some international tasty treats, cool cocktails and help fund-raise for some friendly felines.

“It’s out biggest event of the year,” said Lee Bucyk, executive assistant as Hermitage Cat Shelter.

The Hermitage Cat Shelter cares for more than 200 cats. They recently rescued about a dozen cats from the Pima Animal Care Center, which had reached capacity in their cat kennels are were forced to consider euthanizing older or sicker cats.

“We are a no kill shelter,” Bucyk said. “Even when we’re near capacity, we have foster families who will take cats until we have a spot for them.”

Bucyk is a cat lover herself, with five of her own at home.

“It’s amazing working here,” she said. “I just reached a point in my life where I wanted to do something with more meaning to it.”

The Cat’s Meow Goes International offers the same opportunity to the community – a chance for an enjoyable evening with an awesome reward.

The evening runs from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Scottish Rite Temple, 160 S. Scott Ave., and hosts silent and live auctions, entertainment and, of course, food. The dinner buffet will include everything from gazpacho, ceviche, quinoa, chicken mole and delectable deserts.

It is dinner and a show with local talent group, Cirque Roots performing as well. The circus-inspired dance troupe specializes in hoop-dancing, acrobatics, fire dancing, juggling and stilt walking.

The Hermitage Cat Shelter is a non-profit organization and runs entirely from donations. According to Bucyk, adoption rates have been going up during the past six months. This month, they’ve been running a “name you own price” adoption special.

“We screen our adoptions really well,” Bucyk said. “We do a really good job with our adoption areas.”

She explained that the shelter helps to match cat ages and personalities with the person or family who will be taking a cat home. Bucyk says that the shelter is expecting 150 to 200 guests at the Cat’s Meow Goes International event.

Ongoing events to help provide for the Hermitage Cat Shelter include Movies with the Cats. The shelter invites guests to enjoy movies, popcorn, soda and cats for a good cause.

Tickets for the Cat’s Meow Goes International are $45 for individuals, $85 for couples. Students and military personnel get in for $40. Tables for eight people can be purchased for $345. Tickets are available at the shelter, 5278 E. 21st St., by phone, (520) 571-7839, or online. For more information about upcoming events, The Cat’s Meow Goes International or the shelter, visit HermitageCatShelter.org.

Glow-ga!

October 8, 2013 | Jade Nunes

Breathe. Stretch. Breath. Relax. Breath. Glow… Glow!

Neon paints, black lights and yoga will meet for a night of visual art and music this Saturday evening, October 12, at Tucson Yoga on South 4^th Avenue. The studio will be providing participants with body paints and glow stick bracelets and necklaces and will engage in a not-so-standard yoga class followed by a a music infested night of dancing.

“The glow paint on the outside with celebrate the inner light inside all of us,” yoga instructor Alyssa Kratz said.

And even though it may seem that neon colors may not make for an environment conducive to meditation and peace, Kratz says the class will still be spiritually based.

But why neon paints and black lights? Because the vibrant night doesn’t stop after the glowing yoga (glowga!) class. Anyone in the community are welcomed to join the already colorful participants from the yoga class in a night of color and music. Let the dancing commence!

The night of neon was the brainchild of Kratz who is soon embarking on a new journey of her own when she moves to Hawaii this November.

“I’m sad to leave my Tucson yoga family and my Tucson family,” Kratz said. “But excited for my new journey.”

Kratz explained that the night of yoga and dancing manifested itself as a great way to celebrate together as a community but to also say farewell, as the night is also her going away party.

“We wish her the best in her new experiences,” said Ian Williams who will be DJing the event with Just Add Music (J.A.M.) Events. “We’re sending her off in style.”

Williams explained that he has taken Alyssa’s yoga class and that she approached him with the idea to have this fun community event.

“We love having opportunities to play music for people who are receptive,” Williams said. “It’s going to be upbeat and very danceable music.”

Williams said that he and his counterparts will be experimenting with fun mixing and Nu Disco and House music. And since it’s a night of celebration and farewell, J.A.M.’s involvement and contribution is free of charge.

The collaboration of yoga, music and color is exciting for Tucson Yoga who offers fun variations and many different forms of yoga.

“I think for me, a big draw is that they have so many options of yoga classes,” said University of Arizona student and yoga enthusiast Allison Field. “Going to a place with such a variety is great. Very original.”

Field added that yoga is a great social and community thing.

“It’s great for my body and mind and a great way to make friends.” Field said. “It’s definitely a community here.”

Tucson Yoga suggests that participants arrive at 6 p.m. to get decked out in neon colors. The yoga class will begin promptly at 7 p.m. and is $6. The dance party will follow beginning at 8:30 p.m. and is free for anyone. Tucson Yoga is located at 150 S. 4th Ave. For more information visit TucsonYoga.com and check out the Facebook event here.