The Scoop

Tucson Summer Nights

June 1, 2015 |
photo © David Olsen

photo © David Olsen

When the temperature rises to the point that the plastic cups in your car begin melting into their cup holders, some Sonoran Desert dwellers experience a buildup of unfathomable rage. If you’ve lived here long enough, you may have been there yourself—at that point where you feel like you could lift and toss a small car, or at least a motorcycle, just to snag the only shady spot in the parking lot. We get it.

But there are a few other ways that we as Tucsonans can choose to deal with these feelings which fall comfortably short of literal or metaphorical combustion: 1) we can complain about it, making the lives of everyone else around us just a little more miserable; 2) we can lock ourselves indoors in the protection of those ever-sacred climate modification devices that keeps us from losing all motivation to live; or 3) we can find a way to shift our schedules ever-so-slightly so as to enjoy more of the cooler, more palatable moonlit hours of the day. Here are a few ideas for those of you who are looking to go nocturnal this summer…

Cinema La PlacitaCatch an outdoor flick

When: Every Thursday evening at 7:30pm through the end of August at La Placita, or 5:30 pm at Reid Park June 5 and 19, as well as alternating Fridays through August 14.

Where: La Placita Village downtown, 110 S. Church Ave; Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way.

What: The outdoor family-friendly film series, Cinema La Placita, has been running every summer since May 2000. Bring the kids, your (good) dogs, and $3 for admission, but popcorn is included for free! Check the Cinema La Placita Website for upcoming titles or to make movie suggestions at CinemaLaPlacita.com. Reid Park also runs a similar series for free every second Friday with a number of vendors and entertainers on site starting at 5:30, and shows starting at dusk. More info at SAACA.org/Cox_Movies_in_the_Park.html.

Wander the Desert Loop Trail

When: Every Saturday night from June 6-Sept 5 from 5pm-10pm.

Where: Arizona Sonora Desert Museum; 2021 N. Kinney Rd.

What: Each uniquely themed Saturday evening in the 14th Annual “Cool Summer Nights” series at ASDM will feature three live music venues (including one specifically for children), live animal demonstrations, activity stations run by the museum’s Junior Docents, and educational and entertaining programming related to each theme. Covering everything from the oceans, to astronomy, to comedy, ASDM promises something for everyone this summer, and at no additional charge on top of regular admission. ASDM’s Director of Marketing, Rosemary Prawdzik, says that the kids are especially fond of “Insect Insanity!” (July 18) and can even buy black lights at the gift shop to help in the hunt for scorpions.  “Coming to the Desert Museum at night is a very different experience than during the day time,” says Prawdzik, pointing out that the low lighting on the grounds allows for easy stargazing, and that the animals on site tend to be more active after the sun goes down. No wonder this annual event has become a tradition for many local families. Watch in coming months for “Full Moon Festivals” which will shine a spotlight on the arts.

Celebrate the Solstice

When: Saturday, June 20 from 7pm-1am.

Where: Sky Bar; 536 N. 4th Ave.

What: What’s better than, pizza, beer, and fire spinning—at a safe distance, of course. Drop by Sky Bar to celebrate the summer solstice—the longest day of the year—with live music and an always-thrilling performance by the Cirque Roots crew.

23rd Annual Summer Art Cruise, image: Naoto Hattori, Recollection 029, 3.8 x 5.8, acrylic on board, 2015, at Baker + Hesseldenz Fine Art, June 6.

23rd Annual Summer Art Cruise, image: Naoto Hattori, Recollection 029, 3.8 x 5.8, acrylic on board, 2015, at Baker + Hesseldenz Fine Art, June 6.

Gallery hop

When: Saturday, June 6 from 6pm-9pm.

Where: Central Tucson Gallery Association (CTGA) Galleries downtown and on University Blvd.

What: What: The 23rd Annual Summer Art Cruise is the biggest night of the year for the seven member galleries (Baker+Hesseldenz, Conrad Wilde, Contreras, Davis Dominguez, Moen Mason, Philabaum, and Raices Taller 222) that extend their hours for this single evening of connecting art fans, collectors, and artists—and the best part is, it’s free to you. Each gallery curates its own events (of course) and co-owner of Davis Dominguez Gallery, Mike Dominguez, says that many offer hors d’oeuvres and live music. Dominguez says that, for their part, the Davis Dominguez Gallery will be holding a reception for the 80+ artists featured in the Small Works show that will close the following week. “There will be plenty of people out,” says Dominguez, “and a lot of the artists will come together to fill the streets here.” The question is will you be there with them?

Take a flashlight hike

When: Saturday, June 6 from 6:30pm-9:30pm.

Where: Catalina State Park; 11570 N. Oracle Rd.

What: Take a moonlit hike in Catalina State Park with the Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Department to celebrate National Trails Day. Snacks will be provided and an expert guide will be on hand, but be sure and bring plenty of water and your own flashlight. More info available at OroValleyAZ.gov.

Hotel Congress Underwear PartyTake your clothes off

When: Night of Saturday, June 13 until 2am.

Where: Club Congress; 311 E. Congress St.

What: The annual Underwear Party at Club Congress has been known to draw more than 1200 nearly-naked alcohol-consuming individuals of both sexes for an evening of good-natured debauchery unlike any other. Any questions? If so, check out HotelCongress.com… I wash my hands of this one.

Check out Second Saturdays

When: Saturday, June 13 from 6:30pm-10pm .

Where: Congress St., Downtown Tucson.

What: If you haven’t been to a Second Saturdays Downtown event yet, take advantage of the quiet, cool summer evenings to do so this month. As always, there promises to be plenty of entertainment, music, street performances, vendors, and all of that fair food nobody can seem to get enough of. Grab a bite to eat and a drink or just make a free night of it by catching a live show or two—you’ve got nothing to lose with this regular crowd-pleaser.

Have a “Brew at the Zoo”

When: “Brew at the Zoo” is on Saturday, June 20 from 6pm-9:30pm; Summer Safari Nights run every Friday through July 10 from 6pm-8pm.

Where: Reid Park Zoo; 3400 Zoo Court.

What: The third annual iteration of this highly-anticipated event combines two of everyone’s favorite things—alcohol and animals. Craft Tucson provides plenty of sudsy drink for the event, the admission cost of which covers the beer. Tucsonans come out in droves, so make sure to get your tickets in advance. This year’s Brew event, themed “Healthy and Hoppy”, will help support the construction of a new medical facility on the zoo’s grounds, so drinking to excess here is actually for a good cause. You’ll have to leave the little ones at home for this night of frivolity, though, as it is strictly 21+. For a more family friendly atmosphere, check out the zoo’s Summer Safari Nights program, in which the zoo reopens between 6pm and 8pm every Friday for a cooler trip down the Tanzania Trail. Tickets to the Brew event are $40 general admission, $35 for zoo members, and $20 for designated drivers if purchased in advance. Admission to Summer Safari Nights is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for kids ages 2-14—zoo members get $2 off. More info available at ReidParkZoo.org.

Catch a soccer game at Kino Sports Complex

When: Every weekend in June (various dates).

Where: Kino North Stadium; 3400 S. Country Club Rd.

What: With the addition of a women’s team to the FC Tucson family, there will be a lot more competitive soccer in Tucson this summer, and you can bet the Cactus Pricks are ready for the action. For a full schedule for both the men’s and women’s teams, tickets, or more information, visit FCTucson.com. Also, check out the article on FC Tucson in this issue.

 

Learn some history and celebrate freedom

When: Saturday, June 20 from 10am-9pm

Where: The Donna Liggins Center/Mansfield Park; 2160 N. 6th Ave.

What: Did you know that it took a full two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation for all of the slaves in the United States to finally obtain their freedom? June 19th—or Juneteenth—of this year marks 150 years since the last slaves were set free in Galveston, Texas. It also marks the 45th anniversary of Tucson’s own annual Juneteenth Festival. Indoor educational activities end at three and give way to the evening celebration, which will feature guest speakers, free hotdogs for the kids at 5:30pm, historical exhibits, as well as live entertainment. More info available on the “Tucson Juneteenth Celebration” Facebook page.

Do some stargazing

When: Every night through July 14.

Where: Kitt Peak National Observatory.

What: This stargazing program is so popular in the winter months that Visitor Center Manager Bill Buckingham says that Kitt Peak has to turn away more than 1000 people each day during high season. And it’s easy to see why the nightly observation program is such a hot ticket (wrong phrasing?)—Kitt Peak can be a full 25 degrees cooler than Tucson in the evenings. Reservations are $49 per person, but there’s actually a good chance of landing one during the slower summers. Also, be on the lookout for the Kitt Peak-sponsored binocular stargazing program to return to Saguaro National Park West for an out-of-this-world experience that’s a little bit closer to home.

Artists in Their Natural Habitat

April 18, 2015 |

Tucson Artists Open StudiosManaging an art studio tour is a lot of work. There’s a lot of paperwork. There are phone calls—endless phone calls—and accounts to manage. There are ads to write, design, and place, and listings upon listings to build, check, correct, and recheck. And then there’s the press to deal with. Ugh. Endangered Architecture’s Dirk Arnold is a local artist, and he handles most of the logistical stuff for the Tucson Artists’ Open Studio Tour singlehandedly every spring. Add to that a recent bout of the flu, and it’s little wonder why he forgot—or else simply failed to notice—that 2015 marks his tenth consecutive year as the primary champion and coordinator for the much-anticipated annual community arts event.

The studio tour tradition actually goes back almost three decades. Years ago, both the spring and fall tours were managed by the now-defunct Tucson Arts District Partnership, says Arnold. The Tucson Pima Arts Council (TPAC) took over when that group went belly-up, but in 2006 TPAC’s plan was apparently to drop the spring tour all together for funding reasons. That’s where Arnold stepped in, effectively saving the spring tour from dissolution, and he’s been doing it ever since.

This years’ Artists’ Open Studio Tour features more than 120 individual artists in more than 80 locations all across metro-Tucson, and even a few places—such as Craig Schumacher’s Wave Lab Studios and the so-called Process Museum at Kolb and I-10—that you might not expect to see on a conventional art studio program. “I always think that the Studio Tour is all about seeing the creative process at work,” says Arnold, “seeing artists in their natural habitat,” then he laughs slightly. And he says that many more would no doubt miss that opportunity were it limited to a single weekend each year.

Local visual artist Donovan White and leatherworker Anthony Kincheloe are currently in the process of refurbishing a new showroom in the Firestone Building on the southwest corner of 6th St. and 6th Ave. Both artists have proven successful at local art fairs and vendor events, but they look forward to the opportunity to be included in this year’s studio tour together as 6n6 Gallery. “Tucson is a great place to be an artist,” says White, due in part to the efforts of community-minded organizers like Arnold.

It is that foundational arts community that has enabled these two old school skateboarders-turned-fathers and professional artists to make a living—at least in part—doing what they love. “If you work hard and keep doing art it’s pretty easy to get exposure here,” says Kincheloe of living and working as an artist in Tucson.

It’s easy to make a day or even an entire weekend out of exploring the many studios like 6n6 that are centered in the downtown area—indeed, Arnold points out that there are no fewer than eleven studios on or near the Cyclovia route, alone—but you’re not going to see everything on the Tour if you limit yourself to downtown. In fact, one local art enthusiast likes to take the opposite approach.

“I purposefully don’t (screen the artists) ahead of time,” says art-lover Jerry Peek. “I just take myself to an area of town…way the heck out there, and I go to every single artist studio that’s open and just see what I find.” Peek says that he is always pleasantly surprised by what he discovers. “There’s some wonderful art to be found if you pick a part of town away from the middle of things,” he says, “it’s a little more scattered, but you really find some special stuff, and it’s not really as crowded as downtown.”

Where the TPAC tour last fall took him to the northeast side of town, this April, in the spirit of Bike Fest, Peek plans to lead a guided bicycle tour of several studios in mid-town; an area he describes as loosely bound between Swan and Country Club on the west and east ends, and Ft. Lowell and Speedway on the north and south. As of the publication of this article, he was still looking for a partner to help wrangle stragglers and keep general order during the ride—interested parties are encouraged to email Jerry Peek directly at info@tucsonart.info.

Whatever your pleasure—uptown, downtown, gallery, or studio—we know you’re going to be out and about all weekend already. Why not dive in and soak up a little culture while you’re at it?

The Tucson Artists’ Open Studio Tour runs the weekend of April 18 & 19 from 11am-5pm on both days. More information can be found in the following pages of this magazine or online at TucsonOpenStudios.com.

 

The Downtown Clifton

March 4, 2015 |
The Downtown Clifton

The Downtown Clifton

Clif Taylor is Tucson through-and-through. For starters, he was born and raised here, and one of his first concerts was actually an Elvis show at the TCC. Thanks to an interest he shared with his father growing up, he’s on a first-name basis with some of Mexico’s most famous bullfighters and, whether you know it or not, Taylor has put his own personal touch all over downtown Tucson as a designer for businesses like Hotel Congress and Maynard’s Market. Since he’s essentially been brought up 100 percent Sonoran, his style absolute reeks of that dusty, funky, kind-of-run-down-but-loved-to-death feel that typifies this city, especially in the way it seems to impress those visiting from out of town.

Perfect, then, that Taylor’s most recent project caters directly to that clientele—a type that Taylor himself identifies as “the adventurous traveler”. The Downtown Clifton at 16th St. and Stone Ave.—set to hold a public soft-opening event on the evening of March 28th—is a single-story ten-room motel that is tucked unassumingly onto a less-than-half-an-acre lot on the eastern edge of the Barrio Viejo neighborhood. Owners Phil Lipman and Moniqua Lane purchased the property from a private owner for $550k in October of 2013 and, for several months, they weren’t quite sure what to do with it.

Lipman says that, since there is a major housing shortage in downtown and South Tucson, his initial idea was to demolish the current building—a rather plain brick structure which had a former life as assisted housing—and install a much denser three-to-four story apartment complex on the site. But when the neighborhood reacted negatively late last year to a proposal to demolish the Downtown Motor Lodge with intentions of building something similar in scale to what Lipman and Lane had planned just two blocks north of the Clifton, the business partners had a change of heart. “We decided it would probably be better, rather than knock it down, to instead do something cool with the original building,” says Lipman. And, with an eye on the apparent interests of the other residents of Barrio Viejo, Tucson’s newest retro-chic motel was born.

Lane says that when she and Lipman first purchased the property, both of them wanted to stay clear of the hotel business. But after deciding to keep the original structure intact —and it was apparently in alarmingly good shape—the idea of getting into hospitality in downtown Tucson simply started to grow on them. When Taylor expressed an interest in taking charge of the project’s over all aesthetic, the two co-owners quickly gave him carte blanche to make the property into a vision all his own. The result, says Lane, “captures that real dusty-dirty feel” of the city without sacrificing on comfort.

Mural by Danny Martin

Mural by Danny Martin

Each room of the “twisted mid-century bunkhouse” is specially curated with “a million little weird details,” according to Taylor, including a great deal of art from his personal collection, swag lamps, custom-made platform beds, and even a mini-fridge, AC split, and flat screen TV for that all-essential touch of today required by the average modern tourist. The original colored concrete floors of the building were exposed in each room, the bathroom tiles and rafter ceilings preserved, and a number of brick planters, a fresh coat of paint inside-and-out, and a large full-color mural by local artist Danny Martin were added to give the property a certain border-town charm. Rooms at the Clifton will start at around $100 per night, though since there are only ten, chances are good that the place will fill up fairly quickly, especially during the busy season.

One more touch that promises to give the Downtown Clifton a slight advantage over would-be competitors in the area is the presence of a live-in manager and concierge in Liz Fogel. Fogel is also a Tucson native, though she spent a short spell in Austin, and the fact that she will be on the hotel grounds and in downtown in general full-time means guests can make use of her knowledge of the area and enjoy a completely customized downtown experience which caters to their specific tastes. “It’s like the tour of downtown Tucson that you would give your family if you were able to get off work,” says Lane. No doubt many locals will appreciate that sentiment—after all, that’s one less thing to worry about when the in-laws come to town.

The Downtown Clifton is located at 485 S. Stone Ave. More info on the hotel, booking rooms, and upcoming events can be found at TheDowntownClifton.com

 

 

It’s Time for the Old Pueblo to Refresh its Constitution

November 20, 2014 |
City of Tucson. Photo by David Olsen

City of Tucson. Photo by David Olsen

In 1929, when Tucson’s voter-approved City Charter came into effect, there were approximately 30,000 people living here. The Fox Theatre opened that year and the Valley National Bank Building – Tucson’s first skyscraper – had just been built for the staggering cost of $1 million. We had the first library in the state, the first University, and UA football fans had already been whitewashing the “A” on Sentinel Peak for nearly 15 years. We were the first City in Arizona to become “chartered” – which built upon the initiative, referendum and recall powers of our state constitution. The people of the Old Pueblo stepped up to help craft a government by and for the people –with unique Tucson characteristics. Even then, we did not want to be managed by the Arizona State Legislature.

Fast forward to 2014 – we have a City of 525,000 in a metropolitan area of 1 million, and for the most part, nothing has changed in our government structure. We still have six council members and a weak mayor structure. Our elected officials still only receive $24,000 a year – not a livable wage. New high-rises now cost $200 million. Can you imagine our nation’s constitution without any amendments?

Earlier this year, Tucson’s Mayor and Council recognized the opportunity to revitalize our aging form of government, and created a 15 member charter review commission. It’s made up of two appointees from each of the six wards, two from the Mayor and one from the City Manager. Our task? To study our past in anticipation of the future. Do “we the people” have the tools necessary to realize our potential and position our community for a prosperous future?

What does a prosperous future look like? Does it make sense to have a council-manager form of government, or should it be strong mayor and council? Why do we have six different permutations on how to hire and fire Department directors? Why does the City Manager get fired on average every 2.5 years, but other Mayor and Council appointments stay for decades? Does it still make sense to have limited bonding authority at a time when our infrastructure needs fixing? Should we strengthen the role of the arts? Require multi-modal transportation systems?

Tucson’s Mayor and Council have defended our “local” constitution through the courts many times. The Legislature has tried to intervene in voters’ wishes as enumerated in the Charter, but voters’ wishes from the early 1900s have prevailed. Tucson is the only City to have partisan elections, and the only to have ward-only elections in the Primary and citywide in the General Election. We recently fought off a state requirement to hold our elections at the same time as the State.

Voters have approved charter changes. One of the most popular and successful charter amendments is our Clean Elections System, placed on the ballot by Mayor Tom Volgy and passed by voters in 1986.  It is no easy task to amend. An effort in 2011 to increase Council salaries, increase powers of the mayor and limit civil service for department directors did not pass, even though portions of the amendment were widely accepted.  All changes approved by the charter review commission must be placed on the ballot by Mayor and Council, or through a citizen’s initiative, and all must be approved by voters. Our challenge as civic leaders and Tucsonans is to find common ground to move forward.

Dr. Raphael J. Sonenshein, a consultant with expertise in reviewing and amending local government constitutions, has been hired to assist Tucson’s efforts. Features of good Charters include a balance of power, accountability, transparency and celebrating our unique characteristics. No two cities are alike.

Public comments are encouraged at all meetings of the Charter Review Committee – meeting twice monthly now through April. Written comments can be emailed to the City Clerk’s Office – cityclerk@tucsonaz.gov. All meetings are held in the 1st Floor Conference Room at City Hall, 255 W. Alameda.  Visit www.Tucsonaz.gov/

Upcoming Public Meetings (City Hall, 255 W. Alameda, 1st floor):

Thursday Nov. 20, 2014, 4 p.m.

Monday Dec. 15, 2014, 4 p.m.

Thursday Jan 8., 2015, 4 p.m.

Tuesday Jan. 20, 2015, 4 p.m.

Monday Feb. 9, 2015, 4 p.m.

Thursday Feb. 19, 2015, 4 p.m.

Diving Into History: The Buffet Bar Turns 80

November 1, 2014 |

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

 

 

 

 

The Loft celebrates the cinematic legacy of Robin Williams

August 19, 2014 |

Robin_WilliamsThe Loft Cinema is celebrating the cinematic legacy of the late, great actor/comedian/Oscar-winner Robin Williams with special Labor Day holiday weekend screenings of three of his most beloved films, all showcasing his range, versatility and one-of-a-kind talent.

Net proceeds from all three screenings will benefit the local organization, COPE Community Services, Inc., providing best practice-based, integrated physical and mental healthcare to improve the health and well-being of each person and community served.

A Tribute to Robin Williams
Saturday, August 30 – Monday, September 1
11:00am each day
Admission to each film: $3 general; $2 Loft members
The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.
795-0844 / http://www.loftcinema.org

Saturday, August 23 at 11:00am / JUMANJI

Robin Williams stars alongside a young Kirsten Dunst in this thrill-a-minute adaptation of the award-winning children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. When young Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game, he doesn’t realize its unimaginable powers, until he is magically transported before the startled eyes of his friend, Sarah, into the untamed jungles of Jumanji! There he remains for 26 years until he is freed from the game’s spell by two unsuspecting children who have discovered the magical game. Now a grown man, Alan (Williams) is forced to play the game again, only this time, the game sets the rampaging creatures of the jungle loose on the city. Alan reunites with the now-adult Sarah (Bonnie Hunt), and together with the youngsters Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce), he must try to outwit the game’s powerful forces and get the animals back in the box before they cause untold mayhem! An imaginative adventure that combines breathtaking special effects with thrills, chills and Robin Williams’ patented brand of comedic antics, Jumaji is a treat for kids of all ages! (Dir. by Joe Johnston, 1995, USA, 104 mins., Rated PG) Digital

Sunday, August 31 at 11:00 am / GOOD WILL HUNTING

Robin Williams garnered an Academy Award for his role as a kindhearted therapist in this moving and inspirational tale of a young man striving to reach his potential in the face of overwhelming odds. In Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon plays Will Hunting, a headstrong, working-class genius who’s failing the lessons of life. When an MIT mathematician (Stellan Starsgard) posts a difficult problem, janitor Will solves it before the professor’s students. Will is comfortable mopping floors, hanging out and getting into trouble with his working class friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck), but the professor sees wasted potential and points the troubled young man in the direction of therapist Sean McGuire (Williams) – who is carrying his own emotional baggage, but who may be able to offer Will his last chance at making something of himself. A critical and commercial smash, as well as a Hollywood breakthrough for director Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting was nominated for nine Academy Awards and launched the careers of then-newcomers Damon and Affleck, who jointly won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The film also brought Robin Williams the only Oscar of his career, for Best Supporting Actor, proving his range as a performer extended far beyond the wild-and-crazy comedies for which he was so well known. (Dir. by Gus Van Sant, 1997, USA, 126 mins., Rated R) Digital

Monday, September 1 at 11:00 am / HOOK

Robin Williams stars as a grown-up Peter Pan in Steven Spielberg’s high-flying tale of magic, adventure and derring-do, a cinematic “sequel of sorts” to J.M. Barrie’s 1911 novel Peter and Wendy. In Hook, the sprightly hero who refused to grow up is now a harried, middle-aged lawyer with a wife and two children, not to mention a cellphone permanently glued to his ear. Peter Banning (Williams), as he’s now known, is also woefully lacking a sense of magic or imagination, and he has mysteriously forgotten his childhood in which he took to the skies as Peter Pan. But Peter is forced to face his Neverland past when his children are abducted by the nefarious Captain Hook (an extravagantly evil Dustin Hoffman), and it’s up to Granny Wendy Darling (Maggie Smith) to convince the disbelieving lawyer that he was indeed once the legendary Peter Pan. And so the adventure begins anew, as Peter rediscovers his inner Pan, and once again enters the fairy tale world of Neverland to save his children, with a little help from his old pal Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts). Spielberg’s popcorn continuation of the Peter Pan tale is a rip-roaring good time, updated for modern-day children of all ages and heightened by immersive set design and a colorful cast of supporting players, which also includes Gwyenth Paltrow as the young Wendy Darling and Bob Hoskins as Hook’s henchman Smee. (Dir. by Steven Spielberg, 1991, USA, 144 mins., Rated PG) Digital

Sidecar Serves Mindful Mixed Drinks

July 26, 2014 |

sidecar_1Lead barkeep Luke Anable has thought carefully about everything on the menu at Sidecar, the newest 900 square-foot concept bar by Tucson restaurateur Ari Shapiro. Working with fellow Wilko mixologist, Starr Herr-Cardillo, Anable custom-crafted each house recipe and hand-selected every bottle on display behind the bar in the newly renovated space in the Broadway Village shopping complex. As a result, he can tell you the life story of each product from soil to shelf.

“All the language is there to meaningfully talk about any product the way people talk about wine,” says Anable of his spirit-selection process. He believes the dialogue that has developed amongst wine connoisseurs—like conversations about where and how something was made—should be employed when talking about beer and liquor as well. “When you add the history layer on top of the cocktails and the culinary layer of mixing flavors, I think that’s a really rich and powerful way to think about what we’re doing here.”

Shapiro, who is consistent with Sidecar in his efforts to “bring Tucson artisan concepts that have an emphasis on craft and health,” worked with partners Page Repp and Rick McClain of design firm Repp + McClain to fully remodel the corner space in what has been called one of Arizona’s oldest shopping complexes. The red brick has been whitewashed, giving the inside of the 1939 Josias Joesler building the smell of fresh paint. The concrete floors are newly stained; deep-buttoned, lime-green banquette benches line the walls underneath the large, south-facing windows; a large 3-D piece by artist Nick Georgiou decorates the space between the windows. The tables feature polished wood surfaces. Natural brown leather accents and warm pendulum lights give the otherwise-industrial space all of the charm of a cozy after-work escape.

Shapiro lives nearby and commutes to Sidecar by way of a fixed-gear bicycle. According to Shapiro, all of his restaurants—which include popular smoothie stop Xoom Juice, Downtown coffee hub Sparkroot, and the wood-fired pizza joint, Falora (just two doors down from the new bar)—have been built on concepts that addressed the owner’s personal culinary cravings. Sidecar is Shapiro’s neighborhood bar, and it’s a place that he hopes mid-town Tucsonans will also “be able to call their own.”

Though it has all of the makings of a hip Downtown club, Sidecar’s intimate environment can only accommodate about 70 people at maximum capacity, including the tiny outdoor patio—an effect, Shapiro points out, that makes an afternoon at the bar feel “like you could be in your living room.”

Sidecar maintains a staff of only four to five, both in the lounge and behind the bar, lending a much tighter-knit vibe between the employees and their patrons, versus the high-octane pace of Downtown on a Friday night. Anable says he “appreciate(s) being able to take a little more time and be a little more patient” with each drink he mixes at Sidecar. The easier pace also means more opportunity to chat with his customers and provide them with a little bit of cocktail education during their experience, he says.

The opening week of operation brought with it a steady flow of customers; a promising start to the business’ first summer—a season which, due to the loss of about 50,000 UA students to their various hometowns, can make-or-break a new Tucson restaurant. But Shapiro’s goals for the space stretch far into the future, which is why he went for a “timeless” appeal when contemplating Sidecar’s aesthetic.

As for getting the word out, the presence of both Sidecar and Falora in a complex of shops that have traditionally been retail-only has meant plenty of media attention for the new watering hole. Other than that, Shapiro plans to keep his advertising efforts to a minimum, hoping that word-of-mouth alone will allow future patrons to “discover” the space for themselves. Those that wander in even by accident will surely not be disappointed.

In sentiments no doubt shared by his employer, Anable says of his position as (perhaps) Tucson’s most mindful cocktail master, “Knowing that everything you push across the bar has a reason for being there—that’s meaningful.” If social drinking can have a greater meaning than an hour-or-so of revelry, this is where you’ll find it.

Sidecar is located at 139 S. Eastbourne Ave. (off of Broadway Boulevard, just west of Country Club Road), and is open from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 4 p.m.-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Call 795-1819 for more information.

First Ride on the Tucson Modern Streetcar

July 23, 2014 |

First ride on the Tucson Modern Streetcar (Sun Link) on Monday, July 21, 2014. A segmented time-lapse showing portions of the route through downtown Tucson, 4th Avenue, Main Gate Square, and the University of Arizona.

Call for Poetry Submissions

July 2, 2014 |

call_for_submissionsZócalo Magazine invites poets with Tucson connections to submit up to three original, previously unpublished (including online) poems, any style, 40 line limit per poem.  Our only criterion is excellence. No online submissions. Multiple submissions OK if you notify us ASAP of acceptance elsewhere. Please include the following contact information on your manuscript: mailing address, phone number and email address. All manuscripts must be typed and accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE). Unless a SASE is enclosed, you won’t hear from us unless we are interested in publishing your poem.  Mss. won’t be returned. Payment in contributor’s copies. Zócalo acquires first North American rights on publication; author may re-publish with acknowledgment to Zócalo. The poetry co-editors are Jefferson Carter and Michael Gessner. Address submissions to Zócalo, c/o DJR PC, 2701 E. Speedway Blvd. #203, Tucson, 85716.

“A” Mountain Fireworks

June 30, 2014 |
4th_of_JulyAnnouncement from the City of Tucson….

“With special thanks to Desert Diamond Casino and Entertainment for its generous donation, the fireworks celebration from “A” Mountain will start at approximately 9:15 p.m., Friday, July 4.

“On behalf of the people of Tucson, I want to thank the folks at Desert Diamond for sponsoring this year’s 4th of July celebration,” said Mayor Jonathan Rothschild. “It’s great for the community when business interests step up and help out. I also want to thank the Tohono O’odham Nation for their generous support over the years and their commitment to Tucson and Southern Arizona.”

Residents may enjoy the “A” Mountain fireworks show from the Tucson Convention Center’s Parking Lot B (off Cushing Street between Granada and Church Avenue) or Parking Lot C (off Granada between Broadway Boulevard and Cushing Street). There will be food vendors (burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, refreshments and a beer garden) available between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Residents may also view the “A” Mountain fireworks show from the lot at 22nd Street and the Interstate 10 frontage road.

In order to accommodate the fireworks display, Sentinel Peak Road will be closed at noon on Thursday, July 3, and will reopen to all traffic on Saturday, July 5, at noon.Beginning at 5 p.m. on July 4, Mission Road will be closed from Starr Pass Boulevard to Congress Street and will reopen approximately one hour following”

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