Author Archive: Phoenix Michael

Brats on Wheels

August 31, 2014 | Phoenix Michael

Madeline Bootyfly, Death Proof, Jamburger, Massie Kur during a Tucson Derby Brats bout. Photo: David T. Anderson/courtesy Tucson Derby Brats

Madeline Bootyfly, Death Proof, Jamburger, Massie Kur.
Photo: David T. Anderson/courtesy Tucson Derby Brats

Skates. Pads. Helmet. Friends. What more could a 15-year-old feminist need? For Ayanna “Ayannic Storm” Ravia of the Tucson Derby Brats, the answer is not much. With practice three days a week during the school year, and having ruled out other sports (“I did soccer and softball, but I quit them,”) she’s found her calling in youth roller derby. “It just stuck,” Ravia says. “It’s really good to blow off steam at the end of the day.”

On a flat outdoor multipurpose court at Catalina High School, 3645 E. Pima St., that’s just what’s happening as Ravia and five other girls on wheels practice team formations after warming up by running the nearby bleachers. Coach Pauline McKindley is as committed to the sport as her players are; she rolls with the best herself as “Midnight Crasher” in the adult Tucson Roller Derby league. “There isn’t a whole lot of spare time,” McKindley grins in between blasts on her whistle while leading drills.

She doesn’t go easy on her junior counterparts. They can take it. Their track size is equivalent, and bout rules of engagement are nearly identical to standard TRD play. A pack of ‘blockers’ accelerates ahead in a group, while individual ‘jammers’ follow behind and then attempt to score points by lapping members of the opposing team. In matches requiring considerable athletic skill and grit, the Tucson Derby Brats have clashed with and held their own against teams from Phoenix, the San Fernando Valley and Las Cruces.

TDB Board President and parent Michele Ream sits trackside as her daughter “Madeline Bootyfly,” 12, glides past – powered by the ease and grace of experience. She was quick to join in 2008 two years after this, the first youth roller derby league in the world, was founded (2006) and is now its longest-playing member. Ream speaks appreciatively of the fierce bond the girls share. “They always talk about how close they are,” she says. “The jammers are joking with each other, hugging each other and then take off and…!” As Hallye “Haldoll” Becker, 17, puts it, “Everyone has their share of injuries. The travel team involves more hitting.”

Despite Becker’s bravado and the glee with which she speaks of bruises and other harm (“neck sprain, knee sprain, two minor concussions”) the skaters of the “totally parent-run” Tucson Derby Brats’ two teams, Tenacious Teens and Vile Juveniles, stay safe and focus on fun. The girls pay dues and fund raise through bake sales, just like players of other sports do. The track they currently use is shared with a soccer organization. Ream’s latest goal for the group is to secure a dedicated space. Donations toward that purpose are tax-deductible through the national Junior Roller Derby Association; see JuniorRollerDerby.org.

“We consider ourselves sisters and wives,” insists two-season co-captain Ayannic Storm before high-fiving her comrade Haldoll as practice wraps up. Young women are encouraged to try out; no skating skills required. The Tucson Derby Brats are always looking for dedicated skaters aged 8-17. Fees are $75 per season including uniform jersey.

For more information, registration forms, and September bout dates visit TucsonDerbyBrats.com.

Jamburger, Ayannic Storm, Death Proof, Madeline Bootyfly during a Tucson Derby Brats bout.
Photo: David T. Anderson/Courtesy Tucson Derby Brats

Summer “Sunsations”

July 1, 2014 | Phoenix Michael

Colossal Cave Mountain Park incorporates more than just a cave, including trail rides and much more.
Photo courtesy Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Summer is a state of mind. Tucsonans’ reactions to the annual temperature spike vary widely, from predictable “Ugh! My air conditioning bill!” complaints and the planning of road trips to a staycationer’s “Yes! No students or snowbirds!” exultation. Seeking ways to chill out this season other than burning rubber towards San Diego? Look no further. Cool off (without taking off) by studying this townie’s guide to day tripping.

When the tiny shallow backyard kiddie pool just isn’t cutting it anymore, a journey to Breakers Water Park at 8555 W. Tangerine Rd. in Marana is in order. No “no splashing” admonishments will be heard here. Between the 52-foot high Riptide and Bonzai Pipeline slides plus Splash Canyon, the Wave Pool and Captain Kidd’s Surfari, a thorough soaking is virtually guaranteed. Breakers Water Park is open to the public Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Purchase a one-day or season pass online at BreakersWaterPark.com or call (520) 682-2530. Bring sunscreen!

In fact, why not pack the tent? Bucolic Catalina State Park, only fourteen miles away at 11570 N. Oracle Rd., offers overnight camping in 120 sites with picnic tables and BBQ grills. Friends of Catalina State Park invites all to a First Saturdays Concert Series presenting 60s folk band Fried Squirrel on Saturday, July 5 at 6:30 p.m. and Western vocalist Carol Markstrom on Saturday, August 2 at 7 p.m. See FriendsCSP.org to learn more and AZStateParks.com to reserve campsites 24/7 online.

But wait! First things first. Before roughing it, a bit of indulgence is in order. Celebratory scoops from Allegro Gelato, 446 N. Campbell Ave., are as important to the hyperlocal camping trip as are the flashlights and sleeping bags. Say farewell to civilization by filling up on this delicacy, made using authentic Italian recipes and natural ingredients, while you still can. Flavors such as custard, hazelnut, pistachio and fruit sorbets are dished out Sunday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. GelatoAllegro.com and (520) 207-1991 have the mouthwatering details needed to plan ahead.

Not a happy camper?
For those who prefer sleeping inside in comfort, Triangle L Ranch Bed & Breakfast at 2805 Triangle L Ranch Rd. in Oracle welcomes wanderers of the West to enjoy nature without going au natural. Longtime ranch hand/owner Sharon Holnback gushes over the “great, great stars,” which twinkle over the property’s sculpture path at night and touts Triangle L as “a good place to relax and recharge.”

Triangle L Ranch Bed & Breakfast is a close-by respite from Tucson's summer. photo: A.T. Willett/courtesy Triangle L Ranch

Triangle L Ranch Bed & Breakfast is a close-by respite from Tucson’s summer heat.
photo: A.T. Willett/courtesy Triangle L Ranch

After you unwind in the Guest House with its sleeping porch and claw-foot tub, the three-bedroom Hill House, or the romantic Trowbridge Suite, you can also explore; Holnback has made art-related activities part of ranch culture. The historic adobe barn is an exhibition space for photographs and paintings. Metalworkers and musicians mingle freely, allowing ideas to incubate on the courtyard. What a getaway! For more information or reservations, visit TriangleLRanch.com or call (520) 623-6732.

Trail loops and wildlife encounters abound at Oracle State Park, just a quick jaunt up the road at 3820 Wildlife Dr. in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains. Guided hikes of the Windmill and Cherry Valley Wash Loops, available with advance reservation by calling Gaston Meloche directly at (520) 638-5404, are scheduled for 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 5 and Saturday, July 19. A morning walk with the Tucson Audubon Society at 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, August 10 promises sightings of Ash-Throated Flycatcher and Lucy’s Warbler, among others; online registration at TucsonAudubon.org is required. Support efforts to grant Oracle State Park “international dark sky park” protected status by visiting DarkSky.org. Astronomers and stargazers thank you!

Karchner Caverns State Park, 2980 Arizona 90 in Benson, also offers educational and fun diversions including Discovery Center geology exhibits and even paleontology displays. Picnic areas, hiking trails and wildlife viewing are available for RV and tent campers. Summer gate hours are 7 a.m.-10 p.m., park hours 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and discovery center hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (520) 586-2283 for information on a moonlight hike at Karchner Caverns on Saturday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m. Visit Friends of Karchner Caverns State Park at ExploreTheCaverns.com and make campsite reservations at AZStateParks.com.

Formations inside Colossal Cave, where the temperature is always a cool 70°F. Photo: Rick Machle/MTCVB, courtesy Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Options for exploring Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail in Vail, are plentiful and splendiferous. Something for everyone? With birding, trail rides out of La Posta Quemada Ranch, an analemmatic sundial, a pair of desert tortoises, a butterfly garden and yes, camping, it may just be true. Enjoy Yaqui Deer Dancers, flintknapping and more at this year’s Ha:San Bak Saguaro Harvest Festival from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 5; learn about “Jaguars of the Borderlands” at Sunday in The Park with Sky Island Alliance’s Sergio Avila on Sunday, August 3 from 2-4 p.m.

For more information call (520) 647-7121. Exceptionally spry adventurers may choose to book Colossal Cave’s ladder tour, available after park hours on Saturday evenings, which takes visitors scampering along cave side routes for ninety minutes (hard hats and lights provided) before a buffet dinner and bonfire on the ramada. Purchase tickets online at ColossalCave.com or call (800) 979-3370.

Keep your travel dollars in state this summer! The California freeways won’t mind less traffic.

‘Tis The Season

November 29, 2013 | Phoenix Michael

Zoo Light Penguins at Reid Park Zoophoto courtesy Reid Park Zoo

Zoo Lights’ Penguins at Reid Park Zoo
photo courtesy Reid Park Zoo

Are your halls decked? Jolly or not, the holly days are indeed upon us. This final month of the calendar year can feel surreal in sunny Southern Arizona where “winter has no snow,” as Tucson’s unofficial mayor Al Perry warbled on the anthemic “We Got Cactus.” Coldness isn’t a mandatory Christmas or Kwanzaa requirement, though! Although the white stuff may be in short supply, opportunities for revelry are abundant. Gay apparel = donned.

Zoo Lights at Reid Park Zoo returns to put you in the spirit from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. nightly Dec. 6-23. On those dates the zoo’s pathways will transform into a wonderland of flickering bulbs, jingling bells, animal-shaped light sculptures and noshing of free cookies. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children; zoo members pay half price. The zoo can be found at 3400 Zoo Court in the physical realm and at ReidParkZoo.org online. Call (520) 791-4022 for more information.

Dec. 6-8 from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. each evening, the Tucson Botanical Gardens welcomes all to its 27th annual Luminaria Nights featuring live music, food trucks and a ho-ho-hoing Santa at the garden grounds, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Performances over the course of the weekend include appearances by the Tucson Women’s Chorus, Maguire Academy of Irish Dance and the Tucson Flute Club, among others; for a full entertainment schedule, visit TucsonBotanical.org. Hermanos Hot Dogs and Planet of the Crepes are among the many food vendors scheduled to be on hand. Admission is $11 for adults and $5 for children; members pay $9 and $3 respectively. What’s a luminaria, you say? It’s a small twinkling paper lantern; expect to see hundreds lining the garden’s walkways. Any other questions? Call (520) 326-9686.

Luminaria Nights at Tucson Botanical Gardens 2012. photo: Tim Fuller

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan Rd., hosts its yearly La Fiesta de Guadalupe on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free to all, this event honors the “Queen of Mexico” with stylish yet sacred dance, music and song. Yaqui Deer Dancers, mariachi bands and folklorico dancers will all pay tribute to Our Lady. The Gallery itself is the ideal location for such a celebration. Having originally been built in the 1950s by Arizona artist Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia, as Tucson grew and developed around it this 10-acre slice of heavenly desert retained its authentic Old Pueblo properties. Learn more at DeGrazia.org or by calling (520) 299-9191.

Tohono Chul Park presents its popular Holiday Nights program Dec. 6-7 and 13-14 from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. The idea here is to stroll the park grounds with beverage in hand, making vegetative discoveries and canoodling under the Sonoran sky. Musical and dance performances are of course included as well. The first weekend of the month spotlights Yaqui guitarist Gabriel Ayala and bluegrass outfit The Sonoran Dogs; musical cowboy storytelling act Way Out West and magical mentalists/madmen The Brothers Macabre perform the second. Tohono Chul’s Garden Bistro will be open during Holiday Nights; call (520) 742-6455 x501 for reservations. Tickets are $15 for general public, $10 for members and $2 for children under 13 years of age. Visit TohonoChulPark.org for more details.

Still missing that snow? Check out La Encantada Shopping Center’s Enchanted Snowfall on Friday and Saturday nights at 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. through Dec. 21. Taking place in the Tucson Lifestyle Courtyard at 2905 E. Skyline Dr., the event does indeed include a white substance falling from the sky as well as live music and hot chocolate sampling from Blanco Taco + Tequila. You won’t need chains on the tires, although you’ll want to bring your wallet to cross names off your gift-giving list. Visit LaEncantadaShoppingCenter.com for directions and a store directory.

The grandfather of all Tucson holiday celebrations, the Winterhaven Festival of Lights, is now in its 63rd year of good cheer and going strong. From Dec. 14-28 (drive-through nights are the 17, 27 and 28), this neighborhood puts on its best face and invites the public to bask in the glow. You may even want to wear your sunglasses at night. See WinterhavenFestival.org to plan a hayride, find out how it all started and offer support for this longstanding nonprofit, community-funded event. Also bring non-perishable food items for the Community Food Bank. Last year, the event raised $20,753 and 33,905 pounds of food were donated – you can help increase these numbers!

Also awesome:

Jenna Johnson as Sugar Plum Fairy and Stuart Lauer as Cavalier in “The Nutcracker,” with performances Sat, Dec 14-Sun, Dec 15.
Photo: Ed Flores

Dec. 13-21: Zuzi! Dance Company’s “The Poetry of Water” 16th Annual Solstice Celebration at The Historic Y, 738 N. 5th Ave. Visit ZuziMoveIt.org.

Dec. 13-15: Waypoint Theatre Company’s “The Gift of the Magi” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Scottish Rite Cathedral’s Campbell Hall, 160 S. Scott Ave. See Waypoint-Theatre.org.

Dec. 14-15: Ballet Tucson’s “The Nutcracker” at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. Visit BalletTucson.org.

Dec. 19-22: Borderlands Theater’s “A Tucson Pastorela” at the Tucson Convention Center’s Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Ave. See BorderlandsTheater.org.

Dec. 21: Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker” at the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. Visit FoxTucsonTheatre.org.

Dec. 21-22: Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s “The Magic of Christmas” at TCC’s Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Visit TucsonSymphony.org.

Happy safe and fun holly-daze from all of us at Zócalo Magazine!

Holiday Help

November 26, 2013 | Phoenix Michael

Hold on tight. They’re coming. The sales, the lines, the commercials. Under modern capitalism Thanksgiving and Christmas, once sacred days to slow down and spend quality time with family and friends, have instead become over-the-top occasions for families to speed up the spending.

If one looks beyond the mall Santas and PlayStation®4 advertisements, however, it’s still possible to find the original purpose of the season. Sharing. Caring. Giving. Living, not apart, but together. Our society is made up of many contributors, all dependent on others. We should strive to give back just a little bit more than we take out. Ready to chip in? Read on.

Casa de los Niños, for example, could use you. As one of the first crisis nurseries in the United States, for 40 years they have tirelessly worked towards a world where children are safe from abuse and neglect; they don’t intend to stop any time soon! Casa de los Niños’ donation needs include: new or gently used children’s clothing and shoes, new toys, new books, diapers, formula, volunteers, and more. Financial philanthropy is also appreciated. To donate by phone, call (520) 624-5600. Visit CasaDeLosNinos.org to learn more about their prevention, intervention and treatment services, along with more donation items they would graciously accept.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can make a difference; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s motto is “give a hand up, not a handout.” They don’t just build homes, they build hope. You can get involved by volunteering at construction sites, neighborhood improvement projects, or taking a shift at the HabiStore, 935 W. Grant Rd., pricing merchandise and assisting customers (it’s like a community-focused Home Depot). A one-hour volunteer orientation at Habitat For Humanity Tucson’s 3501 N. Mountain Ave. office is required; sign up online at HabitatTucson.org.

“Service to a just cause rewards the worker with more real happiness and satisfaction than any other venture in life.”
– Carrie Chapman Catt

The Salvation Army Tucson operates a 91-bed Hospitality House Shelter downtown with laundry, dining, referral and activity services and showers for those in need. There are many ways to give: monetarily, by volunteering, donating goods and/or shopping in Salvation Army thrift stores. Non-perishable food items are accepted at 1021 N. 11th Ave. Eighty cents of each dollar spent by the Salvation Army goes directly towards services for needy recipients. SalvationArmyTucson.org has details about their Tucson Christmas Assistance Programs, including an Adopt-A-Family application form.

“The highest of distinctions is service to others.” – King George IV

UA student Caitlin Sanford, 20, passes out soup from South Tucson’s Casa Maria in 2010.
Photo: Jamie Manser

Casa Maria is a Catholic worker community in Tucson, practicing acts of kindness and works of mercy in the name of liberty, social justice and peace. Casa Maria’s soup kitchen at 352 E. 25th St. serves meals daily, and can always use people from 8:30-11:30 a.m. to chop vegetables, prepare sandwiches and bag lunches. If you’ve got a busy schedule and are short on time (who isn’t these days?) you might consider donating clothing, food or hygiene items. Blankets, sleeping bags, toothpaste and towels are just a few of the supplies needed. You can also make a donation via PayPal at CasaMariaTucson.org.

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)

Tucson Homicide Survivors, Inc. is a nonprofit assistance program for the families of homicide victims, committed to guaranteeing that “no one has to endure the murder of a loved one alone.” They provide free of charge a survivor support crisis line, home visits, grief counseling, and legal advocacy among other services. HSI can use your help with office work, staffing tables at events and other activities. Volunteer opportunity forms are online at AZHomicideSurvivors.org.

Of course, there are a myriad of other local non-profits that are in need of volunteering help, fiscal and other donations – such as the Community Food Bank, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson, Primavera Foundation, Tu Nidito Children & Family Services, and countless more. Visit the Volunteer Center at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona’s website at VolunteerSOAZ.org for a comprehensive list.

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”- Mahatma Gandhi

Veloci Rapture

November 3, 2013 | Phoenix Michael

Bicycles. Art. Two great tastes that taste great together, as the Reese’s commercials used to say. With its mostly-flat streets and sunny blue skies for fans of the former, combined with the open minds and low rents favored among practitioners of the latter, Tucson has long been home to aficionados of both.

It should come as no surprise to us desert rats, then, that a studio workspace for bicycle-loving egalitarian artists has in recent years sprouted and flourished in the Old Pueblo. In a landscape dotted with Sonoran flora and bounded by national parks, inspiration is literally everywhere and two-wheeled creative types tend to gravitate towards one another.

VelociPrints, headquartered at 310 S. Meyer Ave., is a hub of sorts for these freewheeling folks. There is absolutely no admission cost to their upcoming annual show featuring all-print, limited edition two-dimensional bike-inspired art, and every single one of the works displayed, and sold for only $40 each, at Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave.!

A percentage of all sales will go to Tu Nidito Children and Family Services, the only organization in Southern Arizona offering comprehensive grief support for young people suffering the loss of a loved one, and a complete set of prints will be donated to this year’s Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage (BICAS) Annual Art Auction – which takes place this December.

VelociPrints founder and director Nathan Saxton is only too happy to sing the praises of his collective’s many talented members. Among VelociPrints’ fifteen participating artists is Matt McCoy, a graphic designer for beloved film/art house The Loft Cinema and a local disc jockey as well. Printmaker Luis Valdez, according to Saxton, “has got a really good sense for the feel of Tucson.” Mural painter Ruben Urrea Moreno creates art about bikes and also builds bikes that are art pieces, and is known for his make-art-every-single-day tagline, “To paint – you must paint.”

Bicycles. Art. What’s missing?

Beer!

Is there any better place for the VelociPrints gang to show their stuff than Borderlands Brewery Company, one of the latest and greatest watering holes downtown?

“This will be our third year at Borderlands,” says Saxton, describing the combination of bicycle-inspired artwork and locally-produced suds as a “natural match.” The whole idea of the “community-centric” VelociPrint Show is “to get a ton of people in the building. Everybody contributes a little and everybody gains a little. Bicycling is an activity that people of all ages and economic levels can enjoy,” Saxton says.

“We’ve designed this event in that spirit, and our goal is that everyone who attends is inspired to jump on a bike the next day.” Or even later that same evening, one presumes.

VelociPrint Show 2013 debuts at Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave., on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 4-9 p.m. and runs through Nov. 30. The savvy cyclist might want to pedal over from the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association (GABA) bicycle swap meet taking place nearby at 5th Avenue and 7th Street earlier that opening day on Saturday, Nov. 16. Just look both ways and be careful crossing those modern streetcar tracks that were recently laid down!

Bicycles. Art. Beer. Community. For more information, visit BorderlandsBrewing.com, BikeGABA.org and VelociPrints.com.

Zombies, Zebras and Zoot Suits, Oh My!

September 30, 2013 | Phoenix Michael

Halloween horrors happen at The Slaughter House in October.
photo courtesy: SlaughterHouseTucson.com

Do you remember when Halloween was a holiday for children? Boy, are you old! Adults usurped Oct. 31 from the young and commandeered their party ages ago. This speaks to the unsatisfying nature of being a grownup in modern society, where living one’s wildest dreams takes a backseat to getting a steady job. Once a year though, we can at least pretend to be that swashbuckling pirate or awesome astronaut. Here’s the lowdown on Old Pueblo spooktacular happenings.

As the undisputed granddaddy of haunted houses in Southern Arizona, Nightfall at Old Tucson always lives up to its reputation. It is, after all, an entire terrifying town with multiple attractions available for those who dare enter. Top-notch live shows are their specialty, with this year being no exception. Expect the 2013 headlining performance “Kindred of the Dust” to deliver the death-defying stunts, eye-popping pyrotechnics and unsettling imagery that has made Nightfall popular for so long. Old favorites like the Iron Door Mine and the wisecracking gargoyles in Terror Square will of course return. Nightfall is open Thursdays and Sundays 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 6 p.m.-midnight through Halloween night within the Old West movie studio/theme park at 201 S. Kinney Rd. Admission is $25 for ages 12 and up, $20 for ages 4-11. Call Old Tucson Studios at (520) 883-0100 or visit NightfallAZ.com for all the gory details.

In recent times however, The Slaughter House has challenged Nightfall’s reign as the most frightening spot in town. Located inside the walls of the creepy former Farmer John’s meatpacking plant at 1102 W. Grant Rd., the four haunts here – the Twisted Tree Mortuary, the 3D nightmare CarnEvil, The Boiler Room and City Meats – are almost guaranteed to make you scream. There’s even an interactive shooting gallery-type experience called Apocalypse. It’s all for a good cause, as well: the 501c(3) Tucson Screamers who operate The Slaughter House have given upwards of $80,000 to local charities over the years. Classic rock band Zebra performs a family day at The Slaughter House on Sunday, Oct. 13; purchase tickets at FlavorUs.com. Hours and admission prices are at SlaughterHouseTucson.com or call (520) 784-2501.

The shuffling dead of Tucson Zombie Walk are restructuring their event in response to new city ordinances; planner Patrick Reed promises location, date and time details will be announced when available. In the meantime, Reed and TucsonZombies.com are sponsoring the third annual Tucson Terrorfest horror film festival Thursday-Saturday Oct. 17-19 at The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St., featuring “Dead Meat Walking: A Zombie Walk Documentary.” The movie includes insights from actor Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”) and makeup artist/director Tom Savini (“Django”). See TucsonTerrorFest.com for a full schedule of films; with Reed claiming he is “fairly certain that zombies are among us” but is “not authorized to disclose official evidence at this time,” it’s best to be prepared.

Howl-O-Ween! at Reid Park Zoo
photo courtesy ReidParkZoo.org

Too scary? Those with young children in tow will appreciate Reid Park Zoo’s Howl-O-Ween! event running Friday-Sunday, Oct. 25-27 from 6-8pm nightly. It’s more fun than frightening, and definitely a delight to see the zoo transformed into a spooky playground. Parents can relax while their little ones trick-or-treat in a safe environment, and the kids will love wandering the zoo’s winding paths finding surprises around every corner. Admission is $5 for zoo members and $7 for the general public, with gates opening early at 5:30 p.m. for members. Reid Park Zoo is located at 3400 Zoo Court in the middle of (you guessed it) Reid Park. Call (520) 791-4022 for more information or directions, and to watch the elephant cam visit ReidParkZoo.org.

For celebrants wishing to stand out from the crowd, the closest Spirit Halloween Superstore isn’t going to cut it. Finding an outfit unlike anybody else’s requires creativity. It doesn’t require driving all over town, however. Tucson Thrift Shop, 319 N. 4th Ave., is your one-stop costume shop with feather boas, wigs, jewelry, vintage footwear and hats of every style imaginable. With myriad duds from funky to fancy, this is a great place to piece together the period look of a 1920s flapper or 1943 zoot suit rioter. Tucson Thrift Shop is open seven days a week; stop by Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Visit TucsonThriftShop.com or call (520) 623-8736. Still can’t locate what you need? You are a discerning customer, indeed. Try locally-owned Creative Costumes and Formal Wear at 4220 E. Speedway Blvd. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They can be reached at (520) 882-8822 and CreativeCostumesTucson.com.

The Tucson area has more Halloween-themed events to attend than a century’s worth of candy corn-caused cavities:

Located only thirty minutes away from downtown at 17000 W. Ajo Way, Buckelew Farms’ “Terror in the Corn” runs every Friday and Saturday evening in October, in addition to College Night Out on Thursday, Oct. 24 and Halloween Night on Thursday, Oct. 31. Visit BuckelewFarm.com for details. Valley of the Moon presents “Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Ruins” at their enchanted 2544 E. Allen Rd. location Oct. 11-13, 18-20 and 25-30. See TucsonValleyOfTheMoon.com for showtimes and admission prices. Colossal Cave Mountain Park is offering candlelight ghost tours and haunted hayrides Oct. 18-19 and 25-27 at their 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail headquarters out in Vail. Learn more at ColossalCave.com. And Bookmans Entertainment Exchange graciously hosts a Zombie Fair with free makeup and special effects on Saturday, Oct. 26 from noon-3 p.m. at their 6230 E. Speedway Blvd. location. Plan your visit at Bookmans.com.

Boo!

A Townie’s Guide to Summer in Tucson

July 3, 2013 | Phoenix Michael

Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl

The dog days of summer in sweltering Southern Arizona separate the meek from the mighty like no other natural phenomena. Many quickly depart for cooler climes. The rest of us adopt adaptive techniques like nocturnal workouts and midday siestas. For those who stick around through triple-digit temps, the dramatic population reduction is a boon. No lines to get in anywhere on Fourth Avenue. Quiet neighborhoods with apartments on hold until fall.

Let the snowbirds and students flee to San Diego. Get going? In this town when the going gets tough, the tough stay put. Since we can stand the heat, we don’t have to get out of the kitchen. Here’s what’s cooking in Tucson this season.

At the Tucson Botanical Gardens, summer means the return of their Twilight Third Thursdays series showcasing visual art alongside complimentary live musical performance. On July 18 from 5-8 pm the work of Tucson artists David Kish and Holly Swangtu will be displayed, with the tunes provided by Bisbee indie folk duo Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl. August 15 sees local rockers The Cordials and painter/printmaker C.J. Shane featured in the idyllic outdoor oasis at 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children; food, face painting, Isabella’s Ice Cream and a cash bar will all be available. See membership discounts and details at TucsonBotanical.org.

For the younger set, summer brings free entertainment in the form of Loft Kids Fest (the event formerly known as the Tucson International Children’s Film Festival). Kickoff festivities at Trail Dust Town on Friday, July 19 at 5:30 pm include trick roping by lariat artist Loop Rawlins, followed by a screening of his short The Adventures of Loop & Rhett. Trail Dust Town’s homage to the Old West can be found at 6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd.

Then each day at 10 am from July 20 to 28, family favorites such as Matilda and Shrek will grace nonprofit The Loft Cinema’s big screen at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Arrive early for groovy giveaways, super surprises and pre-show hijinks hosted by Mildred & Dildred Toy Store! LoftCinema.com has the full Loft Kids Fest film schedule. Crave more air-conditioned independent arthouse goodness? Catch the award-winning Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home for free at The Loft on Tuesday, July 23 at 7 pm.

For over a decade we heard the calls for revitalization and watched as downtown struggled to get started. Fast forward to today, and Congress Street is humming with activity any night of the week. At the Historic Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., check out New Jersey third wave ska band Streetlight Manifesto on July 3, finely-aged punkers Rancid on July 23 or LA indie rock outfit Cold War Kids on August 18. Club Congress across the street welcomes 1980s alternative rock icons Camper Van Beethoven on July 23. Eateries such as Hub Restaurant and Ice Creamery, 266 E. Congress St., and Empire Pizza & Pub at 137 E. Congress St. have rightfully become popular enough that reservations may be advisable even during the slow summer months. Both of these establishments’ excellent reputations are well-earned.

From August 14 to 18, the Tucson Audubon Society invites any and all birders to investigate our sky islands and riparian zones for ornithological rarities. The third annual Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival is an opportunity for nature lovers nationwide to participate in workshops, programs and field trips all celebrating the Sonoran Desert region’s astonishing biodiversity. Festival headquarters will be at the Arizona Riverpark Inn, 350 S. Freeway. Register online at TucsonAudubon.org.

Indulging oneself for a good cause is always a win-win; thus the 2013 Salsa & Tequila Challenge. A $40/person ticket price benefits the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance as well as the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. The question is, are you up for it? There’ll be as many as fifty tequila-based mixed drink and menu pairings presented by area chefs with bragging rights at stake, plus creative salsa concoctions galore, so you may want to begin training. The competition takes place at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr., on Saturday, August 24 at 5:30 pm with winning tequilas and salsa announced the same evening. Purchase tickets online at SAACA.org or by telephone at (520) 797-3959 ext. 1.

At Main Gate Square near the University of Arizona, the annual summer exodus leaves behind only the most determinedly heat-resistant portion of the student body. This sturdiest of breeds knows that Irish pub and restaurant The Auld Dubliner, 800 E. University Blvd., continues their happy hour drink specials even during the hottest months. Entertainment at Geronimo Plaza next door comes courtesy of the Friday Night Live! concert series, which on July 5 features the jazzy Butch Diggs & Friends and on July 19 cabaret crooner Heather O’Day. MainGateSquare.com lists current merchant specials.

Longtime residents are familiar with Mt. Lemmon’s charms; day trips to the Catalinas have cooled many a hyperthermic Tucsonan over years past. During recent summers a pleasant scene emerged, with smiling and dancing folk flocking to a big white tent each weekend to simultaneously appreciate local bands and the Coronado National Forest. Music on the Mountain, as it was called, brought thousands of visitors following 2003’s destructive Aspen Fire. Following a year off, the tradition now continues with Top Dead Center on July 27 and Stefan George on August 17 among others. Bring a chair and enjoy the fresh air free of charge! Find the fun each Saturday afternoon from 12:30-4:30 pm at 12901 N. Sabino Canyon Parkway up in Summerhaven (so named for good reason).

De Anza Drive-In may be history, but Tucson’s love affair with watching movies outdoors continues. Cinema La Placita’s longest-running classic-movies-under-the-stars series screens an older Hollywood gem for $3 admission each Thursday evening at 7:30 pm through August. That price includes popcorn, and the courtyard setting at 110 S. Church Ave. is ideal for canoodling. Cinema La Placita will also show a film at 7:30 pm on Saturday, July 13 as part of the month’s Second Saturdays Downtown celebration. Visit CinemaLaPlacita.com for more information.

That’s not all that’s afoot in Tucson this summer. Science Sundays at the Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 S. 6th Ave., are a chance for the little ones to explore hands-on educational exhibits at a discount. Admission is only $2 every Sunday through August; plan your visit at ChildrensMuseumTucson.org. For a flashback, try Flandrau Planetarium’s “Dark Side of the Moon” laser light show on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm. The on-campus facility at 1601 E. University Blvd. also offers educational programs like “Exploring Saturn’s Mysteries” and “Tucson Sky Tonight.” Flandrau.org has details.

Above ground kiddie pool: $11.99. Ten-pound bag of ice: $1.79. Summer in Tucson: priceless.

Legendary Sausage Deli Expands Its Operation

May 1, 2013 | Phoenix Michael

Sometimes one drives past, or otherwise passes by, a certain place so many times without stopping that it becomes nearly unnoticeable, simply a part of the background scenery. Such had become the case in my relationship with Sausage Deli at the intersection of Grant Road and 1st Avenue, which always seemed to beckon but never managed to draw me in. I heard good things, but hadn’t tasted for myself. It was easy to overlook.

Until, that is, lo and behold; Sausage Deli outgrew the humble quarters it’d been housed in since 1978. Not straying far from its roots, in February Sausage Deli reopened right around the corner from its original location in an enlarged setting with more easily accessible parking and additional floor space. Having outlasted Greasy Tony’s, Grill and Zachary’s Pizza, earning it the title of last Can’t Buy Me Love-era local eatery still standing (said 1980s made-in-Tucson film was largely shot at Tucson High Magnet School), Sausage Deli was clearly here to stay.

As so many local businesses along the modern streetcar line have done, owner/operator Chris Fanelli made sure his “new” restaurant was indeed “improved.” Extra TVs and draft beer were part of the plan. “The new space offers a fresh look,” Fanelli said at the time, with “more space for seating and a larger patio without moving too far away.” Do be prepared for a brief wait since, as at every legendary establishment which enjoys positive word of mouth, the lines can be long at Sausage Deli. This place has a rabid following among Wildcats and worker bees alike. Longtime fans have even gone so far as to purchase salvaged bricks from the now-demolished old deli building, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. That’s true customer loyalty!

Reviewers on Yelp.com consistently mention the Omar (salami, turkey and Swiss on an onion roll with bell pepper, onion, chopped pepperoncini peppers, mustard and Italian dressing) when singing Sausage Deli’s praises using adjectives such as “fantastic” and “amazing.” Looking to eat light? Try the Susie Sorority which features turkey, havarti, lettuce, tomato and sprouts on whole wheat with mayo.

A jukebox and booth seating encourage one to linger rather than grab it to go; people-watching at Sausage Deli is a pastime unto itself. And sandwich trays, party platters and box lunches are but some of the options available should you choose to have Sausage Deli cater your event. When it comes down to it, do you want the members of your planning committee to simply eat a meal or for them to experience a Tucson institution? He who provides Sausage Deli for lunch is the king of the office.

Remember, friends don’t let friends eat at Subway. Here’s hoping Fanelli and company continue to crank out grinders and hoagies for another 35 years to come. Visit the Sausage Deli Monday-Saturday 10 am-7 pm at 754 E. Grant Rd. In a hurry? Call your order in at (520) 623-8182. An expansive menu is available at SausageDeli.com.

Danny Martin Sticks Around

April 10, 2013 | Phoenix Michael

photo by Andrew Brown

This issue’s cover comes to us from an artist whose projects have appeared ubiquitous around the Old Pueblo as of late. One could even say 33-year-old Alabama native Danny Martin is taking the Tucson art scene by storm, seeing as his whimsical work is about to surface at unpredictable venues totaling no less than three exhibits in only sixty days.

Immediately following his mixed media Western art show having just spent the month of March lining the walls of the Hotel Congress lobby, Martin is already preparing for an April 13 opening at downtown’s BLX Skate Shop. The collection to run at BLX until mid-May, a sticker portrait show exclusively featuring pop culture 1980s film icons, betrays Martin’s early childhood obsessions with the artists Raymond Pettibon and Pushead. And later this month during the weekend of April 27-28, more of Martin’s neo-High Noon imagery will be included in the Cowboy Music Festival & Western Art Show at Old Tucson Studios out past Gates Pass.

On top of all of this, Martin was recently set up at the Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair selling shirts, prints and buttons and pressing the flesh alongside established local artist Donovan White and others. Questioned about his busy schedule, he shrugged it off good-naturedly. “I am out doing stuff in Tucson,” Martin admits. “Everybody draws as a kid. But a lot of people never really make the shift from child art to adult art.”

A statement on his DannyMartinArt.com website speaks to memories of doodles past. “All my stuff I would draw in notebooks was from skateboard decks and flyers or film,” Martin explains, combined with “a little bit of self-awareness.” Does he still have his five hundred practice drawings of Jim Phillips’ screaming hand logo? “I’m a real pack rat,” Martin confesses when asked whether he’s managed to hang onto the sketches he remembers so fondly from his youth. “But I unfortunately don’t have any of that stuff. The house I grew up in burned down.”

Martin’s artistic sensibility extends beyond any aspirations he may have for commercial success, with his Southern background jibing nicely with the Sonoran Desert surroundings he chose when he relocated here eight years ago for grad school. The result is a prolific outpouring of art with a sense of place and community, in Martin’s own words, “even outside of selling stuff.” By honoring his muse before money, Martin joins the ranks of the many local creatives producing art for reasons other than narrow financial considerations. He, and they, add to the tapestry of Tucson through their efforts which make this town a colorful slice of paradise we all love.

Danny Martin’s 1980s movie portrait stickers go on view at BLX Skate Shop, 35 E. Toole Ave., beginning the evening of Saturday, April 13 in conjunction with 2nd Saturdays Downtown. Find details at BLXSk8.com and 2ndSaturdaysDowntown.com. Old Tucson Studios and the Arizona chapter of the Western Music Association present the third annual Cowboy Music Festival & Western Art Show from 10 am-6 pm on Saturday-Sunday, April 27-28, at 201 S. Kinney Rd. Visit TucsonCowboyFestival.org and OldTucson.com for more information.

Let the Games Begin

March 22, 2013 | Phoenix Michael

Video games have grown up considerably since the heady days of dark, cramped arcades. Back then, colorful cabinets tempted one’s quarters by offering quick rounds of “Space Invaders” and “Donkey Kong”. Electronic entertainment is these days far more epic. With the advent of home consoles came new tech, and video games adjusted accordingly. Today’s “Mass Effect 3” is a far cry indeed from “Pong”.

Yet what of the social nature of the arcade? Although many modern games do feature online multiplayer capabilities, competing against others over the Internet is still essentially a solitary experience. Each player alone, holed up in his or her respective den clutching a controller and sending a carefully-crafted avatar into combat, hardly approximates the pleasantly unpredictable togetherness that gamers used to enjoy by gathering in their full geeky glory.

Enter Clinton Lee, 24, who along with business partners Bryant Nieuwenhuis and Clayton Abernathy is melding today’s over-the-top plethora of gaming options with the open-door arcade sensibility of yore. Their three-month-old venture at 1927 E. Grant Rd. is already becoming a hub for gamers hungry to interact in person as well as within the digital realms.

Skinny Fingers Gaming Center opened on New Years Eve with a free event, says Lee. “We had a little party,” featuring a costume contest, prizes and gratis gaming on the PS3s, Xbox 360s and Wiis which fill the approximately 3000 square feet of space (formerly occupied by Starr Skates) across the street from Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. No less than thirty computers are also available here in this gaming mecca, and Lee enthusiastically shows off the labyrinthian 2000 feet of cable feeding into SFGC’s server. With “the highest-quality Internet possible” running through their own network, one can be confident any gaming session here will be uninterrupted by technical hiccups. Parents shall be pleased to know that Skinny Fingers also boasts “security features” which control access to M-rated games. These quality assurance aspects have helped Skinny Fingers attract gamers from e-clubs at Catalina High School, the University of Arizona and elsewhere.

Become a member for $25/month at SFGC, and enjoy affordable prices for 1-hour, 3-hour and all day passes. An intriguing concept of “competitive play” even exists among members, by which the leaders in a points bracket ranking system earn discounts on their gaming time. SFGC members also get one free day of game play a month, and half off all tournament entry fees. Skinny Fingers’ library of games includes older favorites and the latest releases. Game on!

Skinny Fingers hosts a 5v5 League of Legends tournament on Friday, April 5; throw your hat into the ring for $15/pre-registration or $20/door. As “the world’s most played video game,” this popular MMO (massively multiplayer online) battle arena currently boasts 12 million players globally each day, so competition may be fierce. If Lee and company are able to organize twenty teams, the top prize will exceed $700. The real winners, of course, will be the players who Lee refers to as family. “Making friends,” he says, is the real goal. Along those lines SFGC supports the anti-bullying efforts of Rize Up Gaming, a nonprofit working to dissuade hatred, discrimination and prejudice among the gaming community.

Skinny Fingers Gaming Center is open Mon.-Thurs. 11am-midnight, Fri.-Sat. 12pm-2am and Sun. 12pm-10pm. Wednesday is “Ladies Night,” so girls play free. While in the neighborhood, try Upper Crust Pizza or Karuna’s Thai Plate next door! Need more information? Find it online at SkinnyFingers.com and RizeUpGaming.com.