Author Archive: Jon D Auria

Remembering Together

November 4, 2015 | Jon D Auria

The 2015 All Souls Procession Weekend

With thousands of more participants, a finale performance of grand proportions and epic new art and music installments, the All Souls Procession of 2015 is bigger and more impactful than ever before.

What began in 1990 as a small gathering to celebrate the memories of deceased loved ones through performance art has now grown into the biggest celebration of its kind in the US, as the 26th annual All Souls Procession prepares to host over 150,000 participants to the storied festival. The highly edifying and cathartic event, organized by local non-profit organization Many Mouths One Stomach, will be taking place this year on Sunday, November 8th in Downtown Tucson.

The All Souls Procession is a celebration of death and life that coincides with Mexico’s Dia De Los Muertos in honoring and remembering loved ones who have passed on. Masses of Tucsonans and people from all over the world will gather to march in the streets with painted faces, masks and festive garb to honor the lost souls by bearing blown up photographs, posters and letters commemorating them. The finale that will be taking place next door to Mercado San Agustin, where live music, fire dancers, and performance artists will entertain the crowd before the urn that is filled with letters and messages to deceased loved ones will be raised and ignited high above the crowd in a moment of exulting release.

“The one thing I see lacking in our society is how we honor our dead, at least in Western civilization. Most people don’t take the time or put the intention forth into slowing down and honoring our lost loved ones and celebrating their lives,” says event organizer and Director of Flam Chen Paul Weir. “The goal is that this experience is authentic and real and taken seriously. We want people to let go and feel supported and connected. Everyone is a participant in this. Everyone is invited into the streets to be a part of this and to feel part of something much bigger as a collective. Especially in today’s society, this is a very visceral and authentic experience and there’s a lot of value on each and every person involved.”

This year procession route is the same as last year’s event, as it starts downtown on 6th Ave and 6th street near the underpass. There will be a DJ playing there and sending out dedications and the Hungry Ghosts busking crew will be roaming around to collect donations. People will start culminating at 4:00pm and then procession will begin around 6:30pm. The march is a two-mile route from the underpass to Alameda to Congress Street and then underneath I-10 to the finale location at San Agustin.

This year’s event carries a specific theme to honor those who are “unmournable” due to unfortunate circumstances before they passed. “The theme this year that we’re working with is UnMournable Bodies, which includes everyone from criminals to drug addicts to people who were enemies of the state and people who are caught in the crossfire of war. A lot of people die nameless when families get decimated. A lot of people are forgotten because of one or two poor choices or actions they made while living. So our finale ceremony this year pays homage to those people,” says Weir.

As the event continues to grow to mass proportions, it increasingly gains attention from such outlets as The New York Times, Huffington Post, CNN and many other news organizations. Because of this, the number of people who travel from all over the world to be a part of it has also steadily been increasing, which is great for the event itself, and for the city of Tucson as a whole. Those attending the event for the first time will undoubtedly be in awe, but it’s important to remember the sole purpose at the heart of the festival.

“People coming for the first time should definitely put something in the urn for someone they’re trying to remember to really make that walk and experience meaningful to them,” says Weir. “It is beautiful and it is a spectacle, but everyone walking in that parade is walking for somebody. Hold that in your heart and understand that it’s a public ritual and you’re here to participate in it. It’s really that memory and that intention that is the most valuable part of the experience. The show at the finale is beautiful and we really try to push ourselves in creating something from an authentic place of expression. But in the end, it’s about the urn burning and the flames consuming those memories and sending them out to the universe.”

To prepare for an event of this magnitude, MMOS has to fundraise and plan ahead accordingly to accommodate for the annual growth. The board has already started planning for 2016 and 2017’s events in order to stay within their tight budget. While the city recently gave them a grant for $10,000 a year, the event typically costs more than $150,000 to put on, so donations and support is greatly appreciated and essential for the livelihood of future year’s processions.

“Donations are so meaningful to us because it’s a free event to attend and you can come participate at the deepest of levels for absolutely nothing. We don’t pollute the space with advertising or endorsers at all, because we take it very seriously that this is to honor our loved ones, so we turn down that kind of thing. We’re a non-profit and mostly artists created every year. Our board and staff are primarily volunteers and the directors of the parade that do the long, hard work get paid just a few cents per hour. So when you see the Hungry Ghosts busking crew out during the event, please remember that even a dollar or two per person goes an extremely long way for us.”

For those who are unable to make it to the event this year, or if you don’t like big crowds, fear not, because the final ceremony will be live streaming at www.VisitTucson.org. Check the website up to 48-hours before the event to find the link, which will include video, audio and a commentator from 6:30pm to 9:30pm on November 8th. And if you do make it to the procession, make sure to get there early, bring the whole family, and get ready for one of the greatest experiences of your lives, and all in celebrating and honoring the spirits of the dead.

Complete details on the 2015 All Souls Procession can be found at allsoulsprocession.org

Vintage Finds at Nuevo Bazaar

February 3, 2015 | Jon D Auria

With all of the big developments to downtown that have brought a slew of shiny new restaurants, bars, stores and attractions, it’s nice to experience something with local charm and a bohemian feel that epitomizes the true essence of Tucson. That was the exact impetus that drove Tim Hagyard to create the Nuevo Bazaar Downtown Flea Market back in 2010. With a strong desire to create a shabby-sheik market with a wide variety of items, Hagyard set out to bring the Indian marketplace aesthetic to life right here in our own backyard.

“In 2010 I started this out of feeling the need that Tucson needed a bazaar in the downtown area,” says Hagyard. “At that time, downtown was not what it is like today with the streetcar and all of the shops and restaurants. Rio Nuevo was still in the planning stages, and the area needed more events to bring people to it. So I thought that it would be great to have a flea market somewhat modeled after those in India that you can find in Brooklyn or San Francisco. It creates a little event of its own, even if it just pops up on a little street corner.”

Now in its 4th year, Nuevo Bazaar is back and bigger then ever. With a prime location at 126 E 7th Street, Hagyard is bringing together over 20 vendors who will be selling a mix of everything from clothing, antiques, collectibles, art and accessories that range from vintage to mid-century to modern. The event is taking place on Saturday February 7th from 9:00am-5:00pm and welcomes families and eager shoppers to peruse the booths to see what gems they can find from the assorted group of sellers.

“People can expect an eclectic grouping of things. Some people have vintage stuff, some have modern and some specialize in collectibles. Some are professional dealers, and some are just collectors who want a vehicle to sell their extra things through. There are arts and crafts and clothes and all sorts of things. This is a great time of year to have an outdoor event like this where families can come out and browse and enjoy the day buying some great things. Everyone likes hunting for items and doing some shopping.”

With a great location for foot traffic and bike commuters thanks to the two-way street improvements of 6th avenue, the bazaar will have more space this year than ever before. Situated next to Tap and Bottle and the row of 6th avenue art galleries, Hagyard’s goal of preserving the mellow, organic feel of the flea market has remained perfectly intact.

“My favorite part is to have created an event that people come out and enjoy and to help out the downtown scene with another local event. It’s not a big sponsored event; it’s a small little element that adds to the rich flavor of downtown. Not everything has to be a big, giant event. This is very organic. It is commercial in nature, but it is not “Budweiser Presents: The Bazaar.” It was created with a modest, casual feel and I think that it has kept that.”

Nuevo Bazaar takes places Saturday, February 7th, 9am-5pm at 126 E. 7th St. Learn by following the event on Facebook.

Diving Into History: The Buffet Bar Turns 80

November 1, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Buffet Bar & Crockpot

The repeal of the prohibition act in 1934 ushered in a new era for America. As the sale and consumption of alcohol once again became legal, people all over the US rejoiced with emphatic cheers while more than a few pints clanked together in celebration. It was at this time that a small Tucson bar opened its doors at 538 East 9th Street, and would become a favorite among college students of the University of Arizona and lovers of spirits and good company alike.

80 years later, after sixteen changes of ownership, numerous economic ups and downs and seeing Tucson grow from a tiny western town to a thriving city, The Buffet Bar & Crock Pot is still standing in its original location and is still serving cold libations to its beloved regulars. Known now on a national level as a must-visit dive bar, even Esquire Magazine named the Tucson watering hole as one of its Top 12 Dive Bars to Visit in America. With an increasingly popular status among natives and newcomers to the Old Pueblo, The Buffet has become a right of passage for college students, who eagerly fill its seats and take full advantage of their 6:00am opening time.

“It’s a very nice neighborhood bar, more so probably in its first 34-years,” laughs co-owner Marilyn Smith. ”We’ve been opening our doors at 6:00am for many years and I think that’s part of our popularity. We offer good service, cold beer, hot dogs and nothing fancy. We like to keep it simple and make the patrons the focus of our little beer bar. A lot of people come in and tell us their grandparents used to drink here, and that makes us really happy.”

To celebrate their monumental milestone, The Buffet is throwing its 80th Anniversary Party on Saturday, November 1st from 1:00pm-5:00pm. The party will take place in the parking lot of The Buffet, where live music, comedy, food and drinks will be served. Mayor Rothschild will be in attendance to deliver and read an official proclamation from the City of Tucson’s Office of the Mayor that commemorates the 80th anniversary. In a fitting choice of words, one line of the proclamation reads, “The Buffet Bar draws a clientele that ranges from college students to punk rockers and old timers,” which appropriately encapsulates the landmark bar.

“The anniversary party will be a gathering of old and new regulars of the bar and many friends that we’ve made over the years. We’re hoping to see a lot of people we haven’t in a while and also hopefully some new people will come join us,” says Smith. “We’re doing it as a fundraiser for two of our neighbors right next to us in Fluxx Studios and Positively Beautiful, which are two wonderful non-profit organizations run by people who used to work for us. So we’re tying it in as a benefit for them as well.”

Chacos Barrachos, D-Wall, Jillian Bouchet, Tom Walbank and the Tucson Drum Core will provide music for the event and two Buffet regulars “Aaron and Bobby” will deliver a comedy set for the crowd. The Buffet will be open, of course, at its regular time of 6:00am, so attendees are encouraged to come by at any point before for a drink prior to the start of the celebration. The party continue inside The Buffet after the event, where patrons can play pool and shuffle board while reminiscing about the many fabled stories of the joint that have occurred over the years.

“I love the history of this place. We are a part of the Iron Horse Neighborhood Association, of which I am now the vice president,” Smith says. “It’s a unique little neighborhood with a very close community. There are always so many great things going on down here in this area and it has such a communal feel to it. All of us try to support each other and our businesses as much a we can.”

Marilyn, along with her daughter Lisha Smith-Davidson and her son-in-law William Davidson, bought The Buffet from its previous owner in the beginning of 2008. And while the initial years of owning the bar proved to be challenging with growing pains and major inconveniences, the trio’s passion for the preservation of the popular dive bar are a large reason why it continues to grow in popularity.

“Lisha and I are both accountants and she was Ted Bear’s (the previous owner) accountant over the years and his wife died tragically in 2007 and it destroyed him, so he gave Lisha the first rights of refusal, so we ended up buying the place,” explains Smith. “It seemed like a good thing and then economy went down the hill the next year and then they blocked off our roads down here because of the streetcar, so its been a rough seven years. But we’ve made it through and are still here.”

If any local establishment knows anything about perseverance, it’s undoubtedly The Buffet. After eight decades of service, the doors are still promptly open early in the morning, the seats of the regulars are left undisturbed, the hot dogs are kept cycling in the crock pot and their antique sign remains stoically lit above the street. Longevity for businesses is hard to come by nowadays, but it appears Smith and those before her have found the right formula, as she smiles and casually explains, “we’re just a little dive bar that keeps on going.”

The Buffet is located at 538 East 9th Street and can be reached at 520-623-6811 and viewed online at www.thebuffetbar.com

Celebrating Two Decades of Funk

October 2, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Funky Bonz
photo courtesy of Brent Kort

While it may seem like being a musician in a band is a glorious, instantly rewarding, fool-proof way to shine in the spotlight and soak up all of the success that comes with performing on stage and recording albums, the sad truth is that most musical outfits are short lived and only have the lifespan of around two years (if you’re lucky). But despite those dismal odds, some bands are able to rise above the usual cases of inner-band drama, creative differences and musical ennui that typically capsize most groups.

One stunning example lies in Tucson’s very own Funky Bonz, which has been cranking out albums and electrifying live audiences for over 21 years. If that doesn’t impress you, then perhaps taking a listen to the band’s groove-filled, genre-hopping funk will.

Founded in 1991 by singer Brent Kort (who has remained as the only constant member), the group found its niche in the flourishing Tucson music scene as it quickly gained popularity for impressive musicianship and upbeat songwriting.

“Some of our songs have lasted for over 20 years, but our songwriting skills have definitely evolved and I rely a lot on my band members’ talent as well,” reflects Kort. “I love all of my original members, but when I started replacing members when they were leaving, I always gained some extra elements added into the music. At one point we added horns and have been a horn-driven funk band. We’ve seen a lot of different versions of this band, and I am very excited about the current line up we have.”

Merging funk, blues, reggae, rock, jam and dance music into its own personal style, Funky Bonz has made a big name for itself in the Southwest. The band has received six TAMMIES (Tucson Area Music Awards) and have shared the stage with acts such as Bootsy Collins, AWOLNATION, Fishbone, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Weapon of Choice, Leftover Salmon, Ozomatli, The Slackers and many other heavy hitters. But even with the success that Kort and Funky Bonz have experienced, the members never let it get to their heads and they remain fixed on why they first began playing music – writing danceable, upbeat songs just for the funk of it.

“I’ve never had any delusions of grandeur with this, and we’ve been through so many stages with this band and endured it all. For a while we were weekend warriors who were always touring the Southwest, though now we’re mainly homebodies, but we do still play out of town every once in a while,” says Kort. “It’s fun to collaborate with other musicians and we’ve never taken ourselves too seriously. We just like to play in front of a crowd and have a good time. I love writing music and I couldn’t ask for better people to share these visions in my head with and perform them out live for people.”

To celebrate its twenty plus years as a band, Funky Bonz released a retrospective album that encompasses the music created by the ensemble over the past two decades titled Buried Bonz: A Recorded History, Volume 1. This pseudo-greatest hits album offers a selection of the best songs from previous records, unreleased material, covers and even new tracks that the band recently recorded in Wavelab Studios. The album is currently available on iTunes.

“We went into Wavelab Studios and we recorded a few new songs for it, so there will be brand new stuff with our new members. I always love going into the studio and I wish I could spend more time in it, but time is money. I love Wavelab and I’ve always loved working in there,” says Kort. “I’ve had great experiences in the studio and this time we brought in guests to play with us on some songs. We were on a short-lived label called ExPat Records, so we made an EP for them that was only released through their distribution, but those songs will be on this. It’ll be a little old, a little new and all funk.”

Funky Bonz will also be celebrating by performing Downtown on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. as part of 2nd Saturdays on the Scott Avenue stage. With a stellar new horn section and a talented line up supporting him, Kort feels that his current lineup is one of his best ever. And if previous concerts serve as any indication, then Funky Bonz’s October 2nd Saturdays performance is one not to be missed.

“We’re going to play a lot of the songs off of our new album starting with our new stuff. We’re really looking forward to it because (2nd Saturdays) is one of the best stages to play at in town and it is really one of the best events in town. There’s always a great crowd that really seem to enjoy live music. Tucson is a great place for music because there are plenty of bars that give bands the opportunity to play for people and there are plenty of bands that come through town to play here. We have a very versatile scene here in Tucson.”

Visit Facebook.com/FunkyBonz for updates on shows and new albums. To purchase the music of Funky Bonz, visit iTunes. See 2ndSaturdays.com for more information on the Oct. 11 event.

Funky Bonz
photo courtesy Brent Kort

Suds for Sun Sounds

September 11, 2014 | Jon D Auria

When the temperatures are hot during the summer – and into the fall – months in the desert, few things beat enjoying the taste of a delicious beer on a warm day.

Well, that is unless you’re enjoying sampling a number of different beers in the company of thousands of friends and people from your community and all in the name of a worthy cause. In this instance, the cause is Sun Sounds of Arizona and the event is the Great Tucson Beer Festival.

Colorful characters populate the annual Great Tucson Beer Festival.
Photo: ©2011 Rachel Seelen/Urban Abstrakt Photography/courtesy Sun Sounds

In its 28th year, Sun Sound’s Great Tucson Beer Festival is again taking place at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2500 E Ajo Way, on Saturday, Sept. 27 with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. for early bird entry and 6 p.m. for general admission. Offering attendees a selection of over 150 beers on tap to sample, plus a diverse, mouth-watering array of food from local restaurants and a number of fun activities and live music, Sun Sounds is expecting their biggest and best festival to date.

“This is something that we look forward to hosting every year, as it brings so many people from our community together to support a cause that we’re very passionate about,” says Sun Sounds Tucson Station Manager Mitzi Tharin. “We’re lucky to have so many people return to the event each year, but already this year 51% of the people who have bought tickets so far are brand new, which is exciting for us. We want everyone to enjoy themselves and have a fun time and hopefully it raises awareness for the service that we offer.”

Founded in Phoenix in 1979 by Dr. Frank Kells, Sun Sounds created a Tucson branch in 1985 where they provide spoken versions of written text that covers everything from newspapers, magazines, books and all forms of media to those who cannot read print due to visual disabilities. By providing over 2,000 radios to visually impaired Tucson residents and allowing them to stream the content over the internet, Sun Sounds has helped over 15,000 Tucsonans stay up on the news and their favorite books while truly enhancing their quality of living.

“The service that we provide is so important because when someone is unable to read on their own, it can really devastate people. So to bring them spoken versions of printed words really changes their lives and makes them feel like they’re no longer disadvantaged in that aspect,” says Tharin. “We read a wide spectrum of programs that can be chosen on our guide to satisfy everyone. We offer fiction, non-fiction, news, magazines, westerns, dramas, comedies and pretty much anything someone would want to hear. And they get a human voice, not a synthesized voice, which makes a big difference.”

The annual beer festival helps the organization tremendously, as they generate over two thirds of their yearly budget by putting on this event. In a truly win-win situation, the attendees are treated to a night full of fun, excitement and dancing, as the band Eighties and Gentlemen will be performing music from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. The audience can also partake in a variety of games including horseshoes, static steer roping, beep ball and many others. And it all will take place in the beautiful setting of Kino Sports Complex.

“This is the second year that the Sun Sounds organization will host its annual beer festival at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium and we couldn’t be happier to have them and to be a part of their fundraising event,” says Kino Sports Complex Marketing Manager Sallyann Wassmuth. “They put in so much work and planning to make it fun and entertaining for everyone and there is a real social element to the event all centered on the beer and food sampling from local breweries and restaurants.

“And most importantly, Sun Sounds puts a tremendous effort into promoting a safe, responsible event. They offer designated driver tickets and partner with the Holiday Inn just around the corner where the hotel provides shuttle service to and from the event. Cab Service is also available. They are really conscientious about providing responsible options to everyone,” Wassmuth adds.

For designated drivers, there will be plenty of free parking in the accompanying lots as well as non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy. And while this is a mellow evening of fun, this event is entirely tailored for adults and no one under 21-years-old will be granted entry. General admission tickets are available online or through Plaza Liquors, Thunder Canyon Brewery and Sun Sounds for $45 and VIP tickets are also available for $85 which gives you early entry to the event as well as access to VIP benefits.

“It’s a win for everybody because attendees have such a blast and it helps to sustain what we do for the entire year. It’s so important to us to keep the momentum going with this event,” says Tharin. “The entertainment will be really good and that’s always a favorite of the crowd. You’ll get to sample a lot of food and try different beers that are unique and seasonal and all while being around a lot of really great people.”

The event is Saturday, Sept. 27, with doors at 6 p.m. Kino Sports complex is located at 2500 Ajo Way. For more information visit AZBeer.com or call (520) 296-2400.

Food complements the bevy of beer offerings at the Great Tucson Beer Festival.
photo: ©2013 Rachel Seelen/Urban Abstrakt Photography/courtesy Sun Sounds

Combating Violence with Laughter

September 5, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Physical abuse is a serious issue that plagues our society every day with astounding numbers of cases of violence – primarily against women – that hurt our family structures and those we love in debilitating ways. Every year over 4 million physical assaults occur on women dealt by their partners; women under 24-years-old are at the greatest risk of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault.

Suzie Sexton: Tucsonan, comedienne, attorney, an activist against violence and organizer of the Stand Up To Stop Violence annual fundraisers.
Photo: Allan Sturm Photography

Clearly this issue is no laughing matter. But as the old adage states, laughter is the best medicine for most things, and thanks to Tucsonan Suzie Sexton and her organization Comedy for Charity, she’s doing her part to help put an end to abuse.

On Sunday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., Suzie is presenting the 4th Annual Stand Up To Stop Violence variety show at the Fox Theatre in Downtown Tucson. The highly anticipated event will be emceed by David Fitzsimmons and features comedy performances by Bill Dawes, Jill Bryan (sister to Jimmy Kimmel), Elliot Glicksman and Suzie Sexton herself. Janee Starr, Hope Sullivan and LeeAnne Savage will provide music and a dance number will be performed by Dancing In The Streets AZ. There will be raffle prices, drinks and a red carpet with reporters and camera crews from Tucson Lifestyle Live. Proceeds will go to Dancing In The Streets AZ and Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse.

Senseless violence is something that has affected Sexton immensely in her own life, the impetus behind holding these fundraising events.

“Unfortunately, I was terribly affected when my sister was murdered in a mugging in Chicago in 1980. A lot more people are impacted by violence than anyone typically imagines. So I became an activist so that I can do all that I could to prevent this kind of violence from happening,” says Sexton. “I wanted to do something positive, so I’m using this gala to raise awareness and money to prevent violence and also to entertain people with a great show. There’s always the comedy-tragedy juxtaposition and I like to use the phrase that when there’s laughter there’s hope.”

After growing up in Illinois, Sexton went on to become an attorney in Tucson where she takes on cases against violence and physical abuse, but she decided that there was still more that she could do, so she minted her own organization and paired up with other great institutions that share her passion. One such institution is this year’s co-beneficiary Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse, which provides a 24/7 crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing programs, safety planning assistance, case management, legal assistance, individual and group support, and much more to victims of violence.

“Our mission is to provide the opportunity to create, sustain and celebrate a life free from abuse. We are focused on the individual needs of each of our participants and offer a wide range of services to assist them in their journey,” says Emerge’s VP of Philanthropy Kimberly Thompson. “Our goal is to educate people about the tremendous amount of abuse and violence in our community and the need for all of us to get involved. Suzie has seen how violence can damage lives and wanted to do something meaningful and we all benefit for it. It’s wonderful thing, hearing a roomful of Tucsonans laughing and enjoying themselves and at the same time contributing to the safety of our community.”

Bill Dawes headlines the 4th Annual Stand Up To Stop Violence variety show.
Photo: Maria Tornberg

As the event has evolved over the years, so has the caliber of its gala, as this year’s headliner, Bill Dawes, comes from New York City where he is currently working on a new Broadway play while also performing stand up across the country. Dawes has already had an impressive career where he has starred in the hit Broadway play Bronx Bombers as Mickey Mantle, has had roles on Sex in The City, Law & Order and Criminal Minds on top of touring the world for his successful comedy act.

“Comedy at its purest form should always be for charity. The idea that there are people that you can make laugh and help raise money towards a cause just makes sense. If I could do that for every show, I’d do it,” says Dawes. “As a comic you can spend a lot of your life navel gazing and you feel like everything you’re doing is for your tortured inner-child, so when there’s something validating and uplifting that isn’t just for yourself and can be used to help people, it’s a great thing. I’m truly honored to perform at this year’s gala and to support such a meaningful cause that affects all of us.”

“We’ve really pulled out all of the stops for this year’s show and we’re so excited about it. I love bringing live comedy to Tucson because it’s way different than watching comedians on TV, and this event gives you a lot of bang for your buck. It’s not just comedy; it’s a whole variety show,” says Sexton. “I get an emotional high from raising money for this cause and I love making people laugh, so those two things combined are a big win-win.”

Tickets for the Sunday, Sept. 21 event are available at the Fox Theatre box office, 17 W. Congress St., and online at FoxTucsonTheatre.com for $19, $29 or $49 for VIP. Student tickets with ID are $10. For more information visit ComedyForCharity.org.

Dog Days of Summer

July 7, 2014 | Jon D Auria

HSSAZ Dog Days of Summer fundraiser is July 25. Photo: Les Manser

Tucson is known for its many distinguishing qualities including breathtaking summer sunsets, its surplus of renowned local artists and its citizens’ fondness for canine companions. So it’s only fitting to celebrate the summer in the Old Pueblo by bringing together the ample art and dog communities to enjoy a beautiful evening for the third annual Dog Days of Summer Event. Taking place at the stunning Plaza Colonial, the festivities will commence on Friday, July 25 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. All of the proceeds from the $5 tickets will go toward supporting the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSAZ) and its programs.

Guests are encouraged to bring their dogs and families for an evening that will feature a special art show at the Jane Hamilton Gallery highlighting wonderful dog-themed paintings by Louis Mason, live music and entertainment, food, drinks and gelato provided by the local restaurants, open tours of all of the Plaza stores, $5 caricature drawings of dogs done by students of the Art Institute of Tucson who have also designed the clothing for the most popular event of the evening, The Doggy Fashion Show. The theme of this year’s canine fashion is denim jackets that will be made available for purchase after they come off the runway.

“My favorite part of the event is watching people ‘ooh and ahh’ at how adorable the dogs are when they’re walking in the fashion show. And just seeing the students feel so proud of their work makes it special as well,” says HSSAZ Public Relations Lead Samantha Esquivel. “It’s a great collaboration between all of the stores in the Plaza, The Art Institute of Tucson and the Humane Society, and what better cause is there to bring the community together to have a great time. It’s been a big success for us in its previous runs and it’s only gaining more attention as the years go on.”

Upon purchase of entry, each guest will be given a “Plaza Passport” that will receive a punch in each of the local stores that fill Plaza Colonial (with an option to buy 5 passports for $20). Once the passports are completed, they will then be entered into a raffle for prizes from each merchant valued at $200. The participating merchants include Elements Home Décor & Gifts, George’s Men’s Clothing, J Bridal, Jane Hamilton Fine Art, Mills Touche, Mingle Salon & Spa, Romano Real Estate, Rug Resource, Shlomo & Vito’s New York Delicatessen & Pizza Kitchen, Sunset Interiors and Tavolino Ristorante Italiano.

“A lot of people in Tucson have the impression that everybody leaves in the summer, and granted a lot of people do, but a lot of people stay and this event is something fun for people to do in July. It draws people out and reminds them that all of these stores are open throughout the summer,” says Plaza Colonial Spokesperson and merchant Ivan Escobell. “We have an amazing courtyard that is one of the best in Tucson and it creates a beautiful setting and atmosphere for this event. We all love it here in the plaza because we are all huge dog lovers ourselves and the Humane Society is very close to our hearts.”

With all of the proceeds from the sales of the passport tickets, caricatures, doggy clothing, food and drink going to the Humane Society, this event is not only fun for the whole family, but beneficial to the dogs of Tucson who rely on the non-profit to give them a second chance at life.

“The Humane Society cares so much about our animals and we want to aid and service them the best we can. And we are an organization that not only serves pets, but the people who love them as well,” says Esquivel. “This event is so special because you see so many dogs and owners mingling with each other in a social setting. It’s just so much fun and the weather is great and the people are great. Everyone has a blast and it’s a wonderful way for people in this community to meet each other.”

Plaza Colonial is located on the southwest corner of Skyline Drive and Campbell Avenue at 2850 E. Skyline Dr. For more information about the Friday, July 25 event and HSSAZ, visit HSSAZ.org or call (520) 327-6088.

Cruise Tucson’s Art Scene

June 1, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Summer Art Cruise 2011
photo: Peter L. Kresan

Tucson is widely known for having one of the most diverse and impressive communities of artists in the country and to celebrate the local scene and kick off the summer season, Saturday, June 7 marks the return of the Summer Art Cruise. Hosted by the Central Tucson Gallery Association, now on its 14th year, the event will take place Downtown at participating galleries and will display hundreds of beautiful pieces by Tucson’s talented artists.

“This is a celebration of the diverse culture of Tucson through its contemporary arts,” says Mike Dominguez, co-owner of Davis Dominguez Gallery. “Every type of medium will be represented through the galleries. The traditional mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, watercolors and studio arts with material of fiber, glass, wood and clay will be in abundance and there are always very unique and diverse expressions. This draws a lot of Tucson artists to the Downtown area and the whole art community always makes a strong showing.”

The galleries will be open all day for the free event, but the receptions will kick off at 6 p.m. where attendees can interact with the participating artists and gallery owners. 6th Avenue studios include The Drawing Studio and Philabaum Glass Gallery, while 6th Street features Raices Taller Gallery, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Baker + Hesseldenz Fine Art and Contreras Gallery. Within a short drive is the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery at Pima Community College West Campus.

“Once the reception begins it will start getting dark and the work will be lit at it’s very best. Art never looks better than in a gallery with light concentrated on it,” says Dominguez. “There will be artists mingling with art collectors mingling with the general public, which makes this event unique. It’s great to have the community be able to interact with all of these artists in one place. We expect to have a lot of families coming and it’s a great way for young people to get exposure to great art. We’ve had some really huge events in the past when the crowd spills into the streets as everyone walks between studios.”

Both admission and parking is free and attendees are encouraged to walk or ride their bikes between the galleries to experience each of the vastly different spaces. Many of the participating studios will feature live music, entertainment and refreshments as well as a unique look behind the scenes of Tucson’s art studios during this family-friendly event. For those who wish to beat the crowds and take advantage of a sunny stroll, the galleries will be open during the day for guests to preview the displays. And as always, diversity will be the main theme of this year’s showings, as Tucson boasts a spectacular range of themes in art that celebrate the wonderful community that embodies this town.

“We’re showing off the cultural assets that we have here in Tucson. For a town this size, we have a very significant art scene and we are especially strong in contemporary art. We have a core of cooperative and closely-knit artists in town. Tucson has an established identity and we’re not trying to be anything that we’re not,” says Dominguez. “It’s different from a bigger city such as Phoenix because the groups there run in almost the clique-based social systems. Here in Tucson I’ve found that the gallery owners know each other and help each other out and have lasting friendships. There’s a real sense of community here that translates to the art. And it’s all possible because we get great support from the community.”

Summer Art Cruise is on Saturday, June 7. For more details, and information on the locations, visit CTGATucson.org. Other queries can be answered by calling 629-9759.

How Sweet It Is

May 4, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Mel Rivers, formally of The Drifters, performs at 2nd Saturdays May 10.
photo courtesy The Picture People

Before the days of hip-hop, dubstep, disco, punk rock, metal, electro-pop, alternative and all modern genres, there was a simpler kind of music where the voice was the main focus and the soul was emoted through passionate, honest lyrics that spoke of love, life and struggle. Duos, trios and quartets would line street corners, subway stations and any acoustically welcoming space they could find to belt their voices without the assistance of auto-tune or the audio enhancing devices of today. It was all about melody, harmony, rhythm and soul. This is the era that singer Mel Rivers belongs to and those were his cherished days that live on through his deep vocals that he still belts today.

“The songs back then were all about love–all kinds of love. It was about the love that made you feel good, the kind of love that made you want to hold each other and even the sad ones made you glad that you had love. The lyrics were close and personal. Even the fast stuff like the jitterbug made you put your hands on somebody,” says Rivers. “There was a lot of slow stuff too, so you got a chance to whisper in her ear and hold her tight. The music nowadays doesn’t have that feel or that message. The spirit of it seems gone from today’s music.”

Rivers grew up in Brooklyn, New York in the 1950s when the decade of ’40s doo-wop was still the dominant music of the time. Rivers sang all throughout his childhood and in his teen years he developed a voice that was rich and low in timbre, which made him perfect for the foundational role of bass singer in a capella groups. He quickly found that music was a good way to stay out of trouble from the local gangs that surrounded his neighborhood blocks, so he dedicated most of his time to harnessing his craft and learning a catalogue of tunes that he would perform any chance he could.

“I got into music when I was around 13 years old. It was during the explosion of music coming over from the ’40s into the ’50s period. People were singing in hallways, in subways, anywhere they could get a good sound really,” says Rivers. “That was a period where there were a lot of gangs in the streets of New York and in the area I was living in, music was salvation for a lot of gang members. I found a home in music and I felt comfortable there. No matter what I did and how far away from music I went, it always came back to me. It always felt like it was what I was supposed to be doing.”

After performing on local street corners for some time, Rivers went on to join a group called Seville that quickly gained the praise of becoming the second coming of The Temptations. After spending two years holed up in small studio apartment while rehearsing and preparing, Seville went on to record tracks for some of the biggest record labels at the time including RCA and Millennium among others. But as Rivers began to be introduced to the glitz and glamour of the business, the long hours, tireless work and obstacles of the industry began to wear on him. And just when Rivers gave up on his dream, opportunity knocked unexpectedly.

“I got a little frustrated and I decided I couldn’t keep going through that stuff any longer so I started on as a law enforcement officer in New York and I worked my way up to sergeant. I was still singing at the time through a few outlets and I would set up local shows here and there. So one night I was setting up for a show in an auditorium and I had a disc of original stuff that I had worked on and I started playing the music and singing. Two people came up to me when I stopped and they told me that one was the lead singer of The Drifters and the other was their manager and they were looking for a voice like mine. They said they wanted to audition me and I thought they were playing a joke. So I went and auditioned and 90 seconds later they told me that I was in the band.”

Rivers went on to perform with the legendary act The Drifters, starting in 1990, for seven years; he toured all over with the band and shared concert bills with big names including the likes of Tina Turner. In 1997, Rivers got the news that his mother and brother were both battling cancer, so he moved to Tucson to be with them. Rivers has resided here ever since and still performs at Grace Temple Church, at local venues and even on the road with The Drifters on occasion. Rivers will be performing Downtown for the 4^th anniversary of 2nd Saturdays on May 10, starting at 8 p.m.

“I’ll be performing material from The Drifters and some old classic tunes. Hopefully it’ll bring up some warm memories for some folks. And for the younger people, they’ll see how music used to be when it told a story from beginning to the end and was full of heart and soul.”

For more information on the show visit 2ndSaturdays.com.

Who Is Linda Chorney?

May 1, 2014 | Jon D Auria

Linda Chorney with Mariachi Sol Azteca
photo: Scott Fadynich

Singer-songwriter Linda Chorney’s tale is one of unbending perseverance and extreme dedication to her dream, as her music career has endured ups and downs that would break most people in her position along the way. After releasing six albums on her own during her 34-year career and embarking on endless stretches of touring, it appeared that the Massachusetts native’s passion had finally paid off when it was announced in 2012 that she was nominated for the Best Americana Album for the 54th Grammy Awards.

If getting recognized by the highest honor in music for her album Emotional Jukebox wasn’t monumental enough, it was made even more historic by the fact that she was the first entirely independent artist to receive a Grammy nomination. Chorney was on top of the world in the weeks leading up to the event, until she was exposed to the hurtful politics of an industry that shuns those it can’t profit from.

“Honestly the Grammy nomination was in some ways a curse. The politics behind the industry slandered me and almost blacklisted me. The industry doesn’t like to lose control and because nobody profited off of my nomination, they saw me as a threat,” explains Chorney. “Record labels thought that it was my fault that their artists weren’t nominated. When people’s money and power is threatened, they go to great lengths to discredit whoever are in their way, so they buried me. But they didn’t know who they were dealing with because I had come too far to be buried.”

In the months after the Grammy Awards, Chorney went through an emotional roller coaster due to the backlash of the incident. Where one moment she thought she had reached the pinnacle of her career, the next she felt like an outcast. But if there’s one thing the 54-year-old knows, it’s how to move forward. So she decided to take a stand and chronicle her alleged scandal and expose the truth by writing her first book, Who The F$%# Is Linda Chorney. The often humorous and uniquely insightful book outlines Linda’s life in music and all of her ups and downs leading up to her Grammy nomination and all of the turbulence she experienced in the aftermath of that process.

“It was something I just had to do. The industry gatekeepers were very upset that somebody else got in and snuck past them. As a result they made up stories and tried to accuse me of cheating and so they lobbied the Grammy organization to change the rules so that an indie couldn’t get in again,” says Chorney. “This was explained to me from the inside from people who were happy to secretly fill me in on the corruption of the organization. It was so fascinating, so I had to expose it by writing a book about it all. It was hard putting it all down on paper because I had to relive memories from that time period. But like everything, I got through it all with humor.”

Linda’s Grammy recognition is far from the only impressive achievement of her long career in music. In 1991, she was invited to join Paul Simon and Jackson Browne to play in front of the late, great Nelson Mandela and a crowd of 250,000 people in Boston. And in what she claims to be her greatest achievement, Chorney was invited to Boston’s famous Fenway Park to sing the National Anthem for the 100-year anniversary of the baseball stadium during a Red Sox game in April 2012. When Chorney started playing piano at the age of four and guitar at the age of ten, she couldn’t possibly have dreamed that she would achieve the things that she has now.

“Music is my greatest passion. If I couldn’t express myself through my music and my art and my writing I would go nuts. I don’t really have a choice in that. My career started when I was 20 and I’ve made a living the whole time since I began and I haven’t been starving,” says Chorney. “I write lyrics that people can relate to. Mainly things people think but don’t have the courage to say and I put it to music to give it another dimension. People enjoy knowing they’re not alone in their thoughts and perspective.”

After living all over the East Coast and being on the road most of her life performing on all seven continents, Chorney recently moved to Tucson to be closer to her parents and to enjoy the sunny weather of the west.

This month marks her first two official concerts as a Tucsonan on Saturday, May 3 at La Cocina, 201 N. Court Ave., from 5-5:30 p.m. (during Tucson Folk Festival) and on Saturday, May 10 at Hacienda Del Sol, 5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol, from 7-10 p.m. Chorney will be premiering her new song “The Cantina” at these shows, which pairs her with local mariachi group Mariachi Sol Azteca. A music video for her new Tucson-inspired single will be completed this summer.

For more information about Linda Chorney, her upcoming shows and to purchase her albums and book, visit LindaChorney.com.