Tucson Weekly 03/30/2023

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Tyler Vondrak, Associate Publisher, tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Claudine Sowards, Accounting, claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Executive Editor, christina@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Veronica Kuffel, Staff Reporter, vkuffel@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter, kschaffner@tucsonlocalmedia.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Brian Box Brown, Rob Brezsny, Connor Dziawura, Clay Jones, Laura Latzko, Andy Mosier, Dan Perkins, Linda Ray, Will Shortz, Jen Sorensen

PRODUCTION

Courtney Oldham, Production/Design Supervisor, production@timeslocalmedia.com

Tonya Mildenberg, Graphic Designer, tmildenberg@timeslocalmedia.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@timeslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

TLMSales@TucsonLocalMedia.com

Kristin Chester, Account Executive, kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Candace Murray, Account Executive, candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Leah Pittman, Account Executive, lpittman@tucsonlocalmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising zac@timeslocalmedia.com

- Fernando

COVER SISTERS TRACE GRISLY MURDERS IN THE REGION

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tucson Weekly Executive Editor

True crime — and fictional crime for that matter — are addictive.

Sisters Margot Carmichael and Jenna Jarrold understand that. They’re hosting the podcast “Death X Southwest,” which explores grisly murders in the American Southwest.

The Tucsonans aim to bring attention to lesser-known cases and provide new perspective on crime in the Southwest.

“Our show delves deep into the stories of these murders and offers unique insights and perspectives that you won’t find anywhere else,” Carmichael said.

“We’ve had a lot of fun so far. It’s definitely been a learning experience and we’re really enjoying it. We’re fans of true crime, which was part of the inspiration and motivation to do this.”

Carmichael said the Chicago natives, who moved to Tucson as children, are fascinated by Tucson’s status as a bor-

der town.

“I’ve always been fascinated by border towns here in the Southwest,” Carmichael explained. “I did a lot of research and talking about starting this to see what areas in true crime podcasting might be underrepresented.

“We didn’t see a lot of Southwest-specific podcasts. There were a lot of Northwest Pacific true crime podcasts and a lot across the nation. But we found there was a hole in the industry that focuses on the southwest. We thought it would be interesting to explore it a little further. There are a lot of weird, interesting murders here in the Southwest.”

“Death X Southwest” is presented by Cavalry Audio, the podcast division of Cavalry Media, founded by Dana Brunetti and Keegan Rosenberger. Brunetti and Rosenberger’s projects include “House of Cards,” “The Social Network,”

“Captain Phillips,” “21” and the “Fifty

Shades of Grey” trilogy.

Other Cavalry Audio podcasts include “Daddy Issues” with Joe Buck & Oliver Hudson; “The Rosenberg Case” with Oscar Isaac; and “The Devil Within.” Cavalry Audio podcasts have collectively achieved over 22 million downloads annually with numerous podcasts topping the charts.

Carmichael has been podcasting

SISTERS MARGOT CARMICHAEL (LEFT) AND JENNA JARROLD ARE EXPLORING THE GRISLY MURDERS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST IN T HEIR NEW PODCAST, DEATH X SOUTHWEST. ([PHOTO BY NOELLE HARO-GOMEZ)

CURRENTS

CHEVY SHOWDOWN FEATURES CLASSIC GM CARS

By Karen Schaffner Tucson Local Media Staff

When Judy Pella cannot find her husband, Frank, she knows where to look.

Downstairs in the couple’s Oro Valley home is a rather large garage with three bays. One of them houses what is possibly the most notorious line of cars GM ever manufactured: a Corvair.

This model, a late-generation 1968 Monza, has a soft top, white leather interior and four on the floor. With a sky blue, smooth-as-silk paint job, the car is a beauty. It’s a good bet Judy will find Frank there.

“I nicknamed (the car) Chevy-Ann,” she said. “I said, ‘Are you cheating on me with Chevy-Ann?’”

Frank, however, has a reason to be spending time with his metal baby. He is readying it for this year’s classic car beauty pageant season, and as president of the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson, he better be ready.

What’s up next this year for the Pellas

and car is the 35th annual Chevy Showdown, planned for Saturday, April 1, at the Desert Diamond Casino in Sahuarita.

The show is no joke. Sponsored by the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson, the event will feature more than 75 classic GM cars that were manufactured no later than 1993. (They know the name, Chevy, is misleading, but the show is for any GM vehicle.)

That means that besides Frank’s Corvair and other Chevys, there could be restored and babied Cadillacs, Pontiacs and Buicks to moon over. There could even be a 1958 GMC Greyhound bus. The owner intends to make it into an RV, Frank said.

“This show, we don’t accept new cars,” Frank said. “We only accept 30 years out, so ’93 seems like a new car to us, and it’s not. It’s 30 years old.”

It’s $25 to enter a vehicle, which can be done the morning of the show. The public can view for free. The club also sponsors raffles with big-ticket items, such as televisions, lawn furniture and two Stoner car care kits.

HIRING NURSES

HIRING NURSES

Medicare rates us a Top Home Health Agency in Arizona

(ABOVE) FRANK AND JUDY PELLA ENJOY DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND TO CAR SHOWS IN THEIR RESTORED 1968 CORVAIR MONZA.

FRANK

FEATURED A REAR-MOUNTED, AIR-COOLED ENGINE. THE TRUNK SPACE IS UNDER THE HOOD. (KAREN SCHAFFNER/STAFF)

trashed,” Frank said. “Rust was everywhere. It was pretty bad, but I said, ‘Yeah, that’s what I want.’”

The Corvair came on a trailer, and when Frank got his first good look at the car, he got worried. He asked himself, “Did I just waste $3,300?”

“He brought it on his trailer, and it was up,” Frank said. “When I saw the rust by the rocker panels — the convertibles, they drain through the rocker panels — I thought, ‘Oh, no,’ but we brought it home, and there was oil all over the motor. Something was leaking.”

Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Southern Arizona, Aviva Children’s Services, Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center and Therapeutic Riding of Tucson.

Frank began the daunting task of fixing the car, getting it ready to use as a daily driver.

Unfortunately, the rust eventually took over, pieces of the body started falling off, and Frank knew it was time for restoration work.

The 35th Annual Chevy Showdown

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 1

Medicare rates us a Top Home Health Agency in Arizona

Our nurses are happy and valued by us and our patients. 1:1 RN/Patient ratio means no burn out. Make your own schedule.

520-546-4141 • pcatucson.com

Feel free to call or stop in.

Our nurses are happy and valued by us and our patients. A 1:1 pa-

Frank’s Corvair is unusual in that he did nearly all the work himself. Clearly, he likes being busy; his car is testament to that. It took him six years to restore.

“(The car) was sitting in (the seller’s) backyard for 13 years, so it was

“I was getting embarrassed to drive it,” he said.

He replaced all the rubber, the seat padding and the convertible top. The car has new wires, spark plugs and points, everything that makes a car run safely.

“Even including the motor (which he replaced) I have maybe $22,000 in it,” Frank said.

As anyone who has a classic car will tell you, that’s a reasonably priced car.

WHERE: The Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road, Sahuarita

COST: $25 to enter a car, free to visit the cars. Food will be available for purchase and there will be a shaded area to sit.

INFO: classicchevycluboftucson. shutterfly.com

(BELOW)

PELLA’S CHEVY CORVAIR

THREATS FORCE CANCELLATION OF DRAG STORY HOUR

By Veronica Kuffel Tucson Local Media Staff

Bookmans stands against censorship. President Sean Feeney said the company’s mission is to act as a public square, an inclusive space for everyone.

But when The Bridge Church in Marana and Tucson and extremist hate groups organized a threat campaign against Bookmans’ March 25 planned Drag Story Hour, Feeney said he felt a line was crossed.

“The line was to call to infiltrate the event ‘undercover’ in order to disrupt,” Feeney said. “That represents in my view a clear threat to the health and safety of everybody who’s at the event. To me, it’s unacceptable.”

The Bridge Church encouraged its congregation on its website and social media channels to contact Bookmans on Ina Road and tell the staff to cancel its event.

“As Christians, we need to stand against sin and this is a great chance for you to do so,” the post said on its website.

“We hope that you will join us in calling, every day all the numbers below. We are hoping that many churches will decide to get involved and help stand for our community, city and society. It is a time to stand for our children and their future. Stand for God and His truth. Our goal is to have this event canceled.”

The church staff refused to comment on the situation, saying, “We are going to not conduct any more interviews. We feel we have made our position against the sexualization of children clear.”

Feeney said Bookmans received unsigned information online that called for “undercover attendants,” particularly men posing as fathers and grandfa-

thers, to show up and occupy seats to block children and parents from attending. After coordinating with Marana PD, the company determined the pushback had become a safety threat.

“We knew these things were happening,” Feeney said. “We felt, perhaps naively, that in Tucson, this would not be an issue. There might be some people who don’t agree, but it would not be an issue from a safety or a security perspective.”

The campaign sparked protest and counterprotest on social media, and due to the Ina Road bookstore’s small size, Feeney and his staff could not ensure safety. Bookmans announced on March 20 that it would postpone the event until further notice.

Despite the national debate over Drag Story Hour, the company had not seen severe pushback in almost 10 years of hosting the event. Bookmans has partnered with Drag Story HourAZ since 2019, but its own events date further back. Feeney noted whenever there was dissent, no more than a dozen protesters would show up in front of their stores. In fact, community support would overwhelm the opposition.

“We have had very small protests at past Drag Story Hour events,” Feeney said. “When there is public pushback, the support completely overwhelms the detractors. We start receiving an outpouring of positive messages, and we usually see a huge uptick in attendance.”

In the past, pushback has created more interest in Drag Story Hour events, increasing the number of attendants. The Bookmans on Ina Road is its smallest store in Arizona, and Feeney

indicated another major reason for rescheduling was to find a larger venue for the growing interest.

Along with support from individuals, many organizations and community leaders, both faith-based and secular, have reached out to the company to assist in rescheduling. Feeney mentioned the Jewish Community Resource Council as one of the associations they’re working with for the new event.

“Our intention is to absolutely bring this event back to the Tucson metro area,” Feeney said. “Given what has happened in the past week, our objective is to make this more of a communitywide event, where Tucson can express holistically that this kind of hate and exclusion is not what we’re about.”

Bookmans will look for a new location in the Tucson metro area to support the increase in attendance. To organize the new event, Bookmans will also have to restructure its security plan, Feeney said.

He noted the company has hired security or off-duty police officers for minor crowd control in the past. But beyond minor safety efforts, Bookmans has never assessed a need for more complex security measures.

tucsonweekly.com

The upcoming event will be a community celebration with a larger and more robust Drag Story Hour. Feeney said he and his staff hope to bring the event back to its proper context, and he understands it will take a team of community members to do it with safety in mind.

“We’re a bookstore. We’re not a security company,” Feeney said. “We want to bring in people with expertise in this area to contribute to the conversation. One of the reasons we postponed was so they would have an opportunity to properly assess the security situation.”

In the face of organized dissent, Feeney and his staff were touched by the overwhelming support from the community. Feeney has lived in the city for more than 30 years, and although shocked by the threats, he addressed the encouragement as the Tucson he knew and loved.

“Bookmans, as part of our mission, has always first and foremost stood for inclusion,” Feeney said. “We feel it’s particularly important at this moment to be inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, to present it as a representation of our broader inclusiveness for the whole community.

CROWDS GATHER AT ONE OF BOOKMANS DRAG STORY HOURS. (VALERIE RICHARME/SUBMITTED)

CURRENTS

AUDUBON SOCIETY, BAWKER BAWKER TEAM FOR BINGO

By Veronica Kuffel Tucson Local Media Staff

The act of birdwatching, or “birding,” tends to be seen as a niche activity. Kirsten Howe, community engagement coordinator at the Audubon Society, is one of the many trying to change that narrative.

“When most think about birding or the people they associate with birding, the image is often of older folks, exclusively white or maybe more affluent,” Howe said. “At Tucson Audubon, we don’t believe that’s the future or even the present of birding.”

The Audubon Society partnered with Bawker Bawker Cider House for Birds n Bingo, a trivia-focused game night to test the knowledge of Tucson locals. On Thursday, March 30, participants can sip Bawker Bawker brews while playing bingo for Audubon-related prizes at the Cider House.

With each season, the chicken-inspired bar opens its doors for the Audubon Society to welcome birders of all levels and interests. Howe noted Audubon went through around 90 bird species in the area to create the game and its bingo cards.

“It’s kind of an unusual take on bingo,” Howe said. “All of the bingo squares are bird pictures, and then we call out the

names of birds. The idea is you have to match the name to the photos on your card.”

Participants will compete for Audubon prizes, like keychains, field guides and branded clothing. All prizes can be found at their nature shop The Birds n Bingo game was designed completely in-house, and the Audubon Society’s goal is to make the game an overall learning experience. According to Howe, participants will have access to guidebooks at every table. Audubon also has staff and volunteers who come around to help stumped players. They allow cellphones during the game to ensure everyone has a fair chance.

It’s all to make birding more accessible to the public. The Audubon Society partners with local businesses and organizations to extend knowledge about birds and the environment. Bawker Bawker Cider House is one of the many they work with, and together, they are birds of a feather.

“It’s important to collaborate with organizations that bring people outside and instill a sense of respect and wonder for nature,” Jaimie Perkunas said.

Owners of Bawker Bawker Cider House, Perkunas and her husband have a special connection with the nonprofit

that goes beyond business. The couple married on an Audubon property 11 years ago, and now welcome the seasonal partnership as a regular event.

Perkunas noted their love for the outdoors and giving back to the community, but aside from that and the couple’s history, it just made sense for the two companies to work together. It all circles back to Bawker Bawker’s inspiration: chickens.

“When people come in and they see what we’re doing and our name, it fits together very well,” Perkunas said. “It’s a great way to get new patrons and for people to find out about us.”

Birds n Bingo started last summer, and the upcoming event will be their third so far. There is a $10 suggested donation, which goes directly to the Audubon Society and helps with their environmental commitment.

Perkunas encourages participants to come before 6 p.m. to take advantage of Bawker Bawker’s happy hour before the bingo night. Birds n Bingo is a 21-and-older event. All their ciders are gluten-free and available for purchase throughout the night. The bar recently added warm snacks to their menu, including naked chicken skewers and gluten-free flatbread.

know every bird or know a ton about birds,” Howe said. “This lowers the barrier a bit, getting people familiar with birds and with Tucson Audubon. Bawker Bawker is an awesome partner. We love working with them and they love having us.”

Birds n Bingo

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30

WHERE: Bawker Bawker Cider House, 400 N. Fourth Avenue, Tucson

The birding community is small, but Howe believes events like Birds n Bingo open the public to the wonders of not only birds, but the natural environment.

“Often, there’s this idea you have to

COST: $10 suggested donation INFO: tucsonaudubon.org

(ABOVE) PLAYERS AT THE LAST BIRDS N BINGO TALK THROUGH THE FEATURED BIRDS ON BINGO CARDS. (BELOW) THE BINGO CARD FROM THE LAST BIRDS N BINGO NIGHT. (KIRSTEN HOWE/SUBMITTED)

The AZ TAX MAN says;

for five years and repeatedly bounced ideas off Jarrod, as they’re both creative-minded people. They listened to other true crime podcasts. The name, “Death X Southwest,” came first and the rest of it came naturally.

“We went to the bosses at Calvary, and they said to go for it,” said Carmichael, a UA alumnus. “It’s one of my favorite things about the company. They’re very open to letting us run with the ideas and seeing where they’ll go.”

Jarrold is a longtime podcast fan, too. A graduate of Sabino High School, Jarrold said coming together for “Death X Southwest” was an obvious move, as they “hang out all the time anyway.”

“We said, ‘Let’s add this to our hanging out,’” she added with a laugh.

“Death X Southwest” debuted Dec. 12, but they worked on it for three months prior. Originally, they wanted to script it.

“I would read this scripted story I had written and Jenna would pop in at planned moments,” Carmichael said. “It felt really unnatural. It took us a couple of practice tries before the balance came between conversation and narrative podcasts.”

Jarrold added, “It’s definitely a passion for us. It’s an opportunity to do something else. It’s a different creative outlet. It gives us more of a purpose for the time we spend together. I come in as not knowing anything about the specific murder. I got to learn not only about these awful things that have happened, but I can ask questions and learn about true crime and the southwest.”

Death X Southwest Apple Podcasts linktr.ee/deathxsouthwest

Your Trusted Source for Community News

To learn more, call us today and schedule your free, no-commitment demonstration!

Hear better and live better with Augmented Xperience (AX). Look for it in full range of Signia hearing aid styles, models and price points.

AZ technology delivers speech that sounds clearer and closer to you - speech as it was always meant to heard. It’s speech clarity your ears will notice, and it’s only available in Signia Hearing aids with AX technology.

SISTERS MARGOT CARMICHAEL (LEFT) AND JENNA JARROLD WITH A BIT OF THEIR RECORDING EQUIPMENT. THEIR PODCAST, DEATH X SOUTHWEST, DEBUTED LAST DECEMBER. (PHOTO BY NOELLE HARO-GOMEZ)

By Linda Ray Tucson Weekly Columnist

MONSTER JAM

Brace yourself for a hyperbole fest! The Monster Jam is the automotive equivalent of lucha libre wrestling. Krysten Anderson drives the legendary wrecking machine, “Grave Digger!” Elvis Lainex drives the famous “El Toro Loco!” Other star vehicles include “Monster Mutt Dalmatian,” “Jurassic Attack” and “Raminator!” We are promised heated rivalries among 12,000-pound machines doing back flips and more high-flying stunts. It sounds like Tucson Arena will be brimming with all the aggression it can hold. At least the afternoon shows will end early enough for the kids to calm down by bedtime.

Various times Friday, March 31, to Sunday, April 2, Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Street, tucsonarena.com, tickets start at $22

DIA DE LAS LUCHAS WITH SHRIMP CHAPERONE

For those unfamiliar, lucha libre is wrestling as a circus act. It’s just too big, spectacular and popular to be bogged down by the rest of a circus. A loud rock band is all that’s required to complement the soaring acrobatics, operatic howling and grunting and the almost hideously gorgeous costumes, glittering like the sweat of the featured wrestling artists. They’re all stars. If lucha were an Olympic event, no one would be watching the ordinary acrobats let alone the imagination-constrained wrestlers.

7 p.m. Saturday, April 1, Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, rialtotheatre. com, $15

“AFRO HEAT”

D’Lux lounge promises an international experience of AfroBeats, kompa, Amapiano, reggae, soca, Kizomba, Dancehall, hip hop, R&B and more. DJ Freshwaves and DJ Ambassador provide the tunes. D’Lux is also a full-service restaurant, bar and hookah lounge. Guests can reserve booths and bottle service

9 p.m. every Saturday, D’Lux Lounge, 1901 S. Fourth Avenue, eventbrite.com,

TUCSON FOLK FESTIVAL

If you love music, especially unplugged, you can’t go wrong just wandering among the folk festival’s six stages and 125 acts, stopping for a couple of songs when someone catches your ear. If you know who you want to see, invest some time on the website’s lists, maps and diagrams to map your schedule. Here are the bands we’re building our schedule around: Dry River Band, Gabrielle Pietrangelo, Greg Morton and Jim Stanley, the John Coinman Band, Mark Insley and the Broken Angels, The Determined Luddites and, especially, Ryanhood. Various times and stages from Friday, March 31, to Sunday, April 2, tucsonfolkfest.org, free

REID PARK ZOO “BIG, BIG BUGS”

Visiting the fabulous and exotic real-life creatures at the Reid Park Zoo can stir our imaginations in an up close and personal way. But what of the tiny everyday creatures that skitter away before we can get a closer look? The zoo’s “Big, Big Bugs” exhibit lets us get up close and personal with common insects. Anatomically correct, animatronic bugs reveal the marvels of balance, mobility and food consumption methods that sustain our tiny, everyday monsters. They also inspire us to wrap our imaginations around a world in which we might be less than half the size of a butterfly or a praying mantis, or several times the size of a giraffe. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Sunday, April 30, Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court, reidparkzoo.org, $10.50, $6.50 kids 2 to 14

“RHYTHM AND ROOTS” PRESENTS CHRIS PIERCE

Chris Pierce hit No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart with a song first heard on the top NBC prime time series, “This is Up.” His career trajectory has been nothing but up since. A frequent member of the Black Opry Revue, Pierce grew up singing in church but first earned national recognition touring with Seal. He’s since logged 10 albums, of which the latest, 2021’s “American Silence,” has won critical acclaim for its racial justice themes. NPR, Rolling Stone and No Depression all have noted the lifetime of emotion portrayed in its music. A hearing disability has compounded his struggle to be heard and understood, but he’s not afraid to make some listeners feel uncomfortable. His credits include a Super Bowl commercial with Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton and performances at Americana Fest and the Newport Folk Festival among others.

7 p.m. Friday, March 31, Plaza Stage, Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street, rhythmandroots.org, $12 advance, $16 door

tickets start at $10

FRAN LEBOWITZ

Peevish, particular and insightful to a fault, Fran Lebowitz slings piercingly articulate satire at the pretentious and the powerful. Her humor is as irresistible as it is acid. With equal disdain, she wither-

lished in nine languages.

8 p.m. Thursday, April 6, Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, rialtotheatre. com, tickets start at $42

LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP: “THE OTHER PLACE”

A successful scientist, Juliana grapples with messy and unpredictable reality when the drama of her divorce is compounded by her daughter’s eloping with an older man. Then her whole context seems to begin morphing into a reality that hadn’t occurred to her. She becomes obsessed with escaping to a cottage on Cape Cod where she only finds more twists and turns to the evolving mysteries converging around her. It’s a slow burn of a cliffhanger, with explicit language. Various dates and times from Thursday, March 30, to Saturday, May 6, Live Theatre Workshop, 3322 E. Fort Lowell Road, livetheatreworkshop.org, tickets start at $23

FIRST-AID/CPR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

It’s within almost anyone’s power to make a difference when someone isn’t able to breathe on their own. This training teaches the basics, beginning with the importance of first calling for help. Several related techniques are covered, and participants have a chance to get in the essential practice. Those who complete the course get a certificate for their efforts, as well as the confidence that they won’t ever need to be a bystander again. Pima Council on Aging, 8467 E. Broadway Boulevard, eventbrite.com, $75 reservations required

BROADWAY IN TUCSON: “MEAN GIRLS”

ingly drags hypocrisy, injustice and trivial annoyances like roller skating adults. She has said of herself, “Success didn’t spoil me. I’ve always been insufferable.”

We owe it to Andy Warhol that her inauspicious start, driving taxis and cleaning Venetian blinds, led to a literary life so exalted that her anthology has been pub-

Mean girls have always been with us, and “Mean Girls” has become so much a part of popular culture that we may have forgotten its source. Tina Fey wrote the original hit movie in 2004, then collaborated with Jeff Richmond and Neil Benjamin to make it a musical comedy for the stage. It garnered ten nominations for the 2018 Tony Awards, then COVID-19 cut short its run in March 2020. Plucky Cady Heron is back to finish what she started in this production straight from Broadway. Various dates and times, through Sunday, April 2, Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard, broadwayintucson.com, tickets start at $40

CHRIS PIERCE PLAYS “RHYTHM & ROOTS.” (CHRIS PIERCE/SUBMITTED)

LOOK FOR RYANHOOD AT THE FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL. (TAYLOR NOEL/CONTRIBUTOR)

FIND “BIG, BIG BUGS” AT REID PARK ZOO. (REID PARK ZOO/SUBMITTED)

MOCHRIE, MECCI MAKE HYPNOTIC COMEDY

By Linda Ray Tucson Weekly Columnist

Even the most skilled improvisers will tell you they do their best work when they get out of their own way.

When professional hypnotist Assad Mecci was taking courses at The Second City and noticed that instructors would often say, “Get out of your head.” At the same time, though, they were dispensing core rules of what improvisers call “the game of the scene” — the beats, the characters, the partner relationship, the don’ts. Add to that all the dimensions of an audience suggestion, and it’s quite a lot for a new improviser to get into their head about.

“(Improv) games are designed to focus somebody consciously on the game,” he said, “and then they want unconscious functioning!”

“So, I thought, ‘Is it possible to hypnotize somebody who doesn’t have improv experience and turn them into good improvisers?’ Well, bringing the world’s greatest improviser to improvise with them while under hypnosis would make for an incredible show!”

He thought immediately of Colin Mochrie, a 40-year veteran of the world’s best-known improv show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and reached out to him on his website.

LAUGHINGSTOC K

Mecci already had logged 40 shows on Broadway and performed his solo act with Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Mochrie’s agent responded and set up a meeting.

“He told me about this frankly insane combination of two skills,” Mochrie said, “and I was fascinated. I’ve been improvising for 40 years, so I’m always trying to find ways of doing it that still scare me. When I’m outside of my comfort zone, that’s when most of the magic happens. And I thought, ‘You really can’t get much farther than working with people who I’ve never met who are in hypnotic trance.’

“What he’s actually doing is taking the part away that’s stopping them from using this talent that they already have.”

Since Mochrie signed on for “Hyprov,” the duo has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in over 70 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

But how does Mecci know who’s hypnotized? “It’s very important for the audience to understand this,” he said. “We don’t use plants. We’ve never met any of the people before who come up on stage and volunteer. We invite 20 volunteers up to the stage. I hypnotize them, and then work it down to the best hypnotic subjects.”

He starts by guiding the group through scenarios, for instance, imagining that they’re on a beach in Hawaii. He says that as the candidates respond to his suggestions, he’s looking for a “tell.” “It’s kind of like what poker players look for when they’re trying to get a read,” he said.

“I’m looking for a physiological change (such as) breathing changes, skin color changes, skin tone changes, dilation in the eyes, the capillaries in the eyes become engorged, the eyes start to tear up. If I see it, I’ll keep that person on stage.” Ultimately, he narrows the field

to the most susceptible four or five volunteers.

“The fascinating part about really good hypnotic subjects is that the part of the brain that deals with self-reflection will become disconnected,” Mecci said. “They no longer reflect on their behavior. They just carry out my suggestions without hesitation and without question, which makes for a really good, seamless improv.

“For example, when I say to somebody, ‘You fall madly in love with Col-

CLAYTOONZ By Clay Jones

MUSIC

TUCSON FOLK FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS VARIOUS GENRES

By Laura Latzko Tucson Local Media Staff

The Tucson Folk Festival celebrates a variety of styles that have shaped Tucson’s music scene, including Americana, bluegrass, jazz, rock, blues, country, mariachi, Zydeco, Celtic and Latin genres.

This year, the event will run from Friday, March 31, to Sunday, April 2.

In its 38th year, the festival is organized by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association, in partnership with the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance.

On Saturday and Sunday, there will be more than 125 performances on six stages.

Board member and PR lead Jonathan Frahm said the festival tries to broaden listeners’ perception of folk music.

“A lot of people think back to singer-songwriters in a smoky room, Bob Dylan in the 1960s or string-band style music,” Frahm said.

“Our festival encompasses all matters of roots music…It’s one of my favorite parts of the folk festival. You don’t quite know what you’re walking into, but you know it’s going to be high quality and something that brings people together.”

Board president Matt Rolland said the festival started as a way to provide a space for acoustic musicians to showcase their craft but has really come to highlight what makes Tucson’s musical community unique.

“The Tucson Folk Festival really reflects the music and people of Tucson. That’s part of the reason that you see such a wide range of music included,” Rolland said.

Along with music, the festival will also have a community marketplace with vendors selling items such as visual and fabric art and jewelry, a beer garden and a musical instrument petting zoo.

Food vendors will offer festival fare, barbecue and vegetarian cuisine.

A raffle will have prizes such as musical instruments, tickets to local attractions and a handmade quilt.

The festival showcases a mix of local talent and national headliners.

There are also out-of-state performers, from places such as Nashville, Los Angeles and New York, who will perform in regular performance slots throughout the weekend.

The festival’s mainstage, also known as the Plaza Stage, will spotlight eight headliners, as well as the winner and runner-up from the songwriting competition.

Among this year’s national headliners are the Grammy-nominated Americana duo Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, the Fretless Canadian folk string quartet, roots/R&B/rock/folk artist Kyshona and country blues duo Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar.

Performances on the Plaza Stage will be broadcast online.

The Plaza Stage lineup will also feature Ramsey Roberson, a Phoenix-based duo made up of Robby Roberson and Eric Ramsey. Ramsey won the 2022 International Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category.

The outdoor North Church Stage will offer bands and dancing.

Frahm said this stage really caters to Tucson’s vibrant dance community.

The Presidio Museum Stage, located inside the courtyard of Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum, will serve a mix of bands, duos and trios.

The Court Stage will feature mostly duos and soloists, as well as a few trios.

Rolland said the festival is a great place to discover new artists and groups.

“There is so much good music to be seen,” Rolland said.

“My advice is to pick out a couple acts that you want to go and see and then just go to be surprised and find some new acts, some new favorites.”

CURLEY TAYLOR PERFORMS AT 2022 TUCSON FOLK FESTIVAL. (REX SCOFIELD/CONTRIBUTOR)

New this year is the indoor Roy Place Stage, located inside the Roy Place Building, which will offer more of a listening-room experience.

Frahm said this space was designed to highlight soloists and duos.

“We haven’t in the festival’s long history had an indoor listening-room style stage. It is about creating the right atmosphere to attentively listen to singer-songwriter sessions,” Frahm said.

This space will also have workshops, which are coming back to the festival after a pandemic-dictated hiatus. They will be offered from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

In the past, performers have led workshops on topics such as the history of the banjo and fingerpicking styles on the guitar.

“We are really excited to have those back and part of the festival because education is an aspect of the festival’s mission,” Rolland said.

On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, musicians can take part in a song circle inside the workshop space.

“It’s an impromptu, casual folk festival tradition where you bring your instrument. You bring your voice, and you share songs with a circle of folks that are there,” Frahm said.

The Wildflower Stage will be home to the Roger Mikulas Young Artist Showcase, which will feature up-and-coming youth performers.

As part of a Family Show at this stage, Hans Mayer will headline at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Ron Pandy, a musician who runs the Wildflower Stage and is on the TKMA board, has played at the festival every year since it started 38 years ago. During his first festival, he performed as a duo with his singing dog.

The festival will kick off with the Stefan George Memorial Songwriting Contest on Friday evening at the Plaza Stage. This contest will be broadcast online.

Following the songwriting contest, national headliner the Brother Brothers, a twin brother acoustic duo from Brooklyn, will perform. The competition will open with a performance by Chris Baron, the previous winner.

This year, 80 musicians competed for 10 spots in the finals. This included local and out-of-state artists.

A panel of judges, made up of Tucson songwriters, decides on the first, second and third-place finishers.

“The judges are going to be looking at factors such as originality, lyrical and musical content in the finalists’ songs as well as their stage presence, how they present themselves as an artist onstage during their set,” Frahm said.

RAVEIS KOLE

One of the new groups performing at this year’s folk festival, Raveis Kole, is an electric acoustic singer-songwriter duo from Bellingham, Washington, made up of wife and husband Laurie Raveis and Dennis Kole.

They will perform on the Court Stage

at Court Avenue and Washington Street at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 2.

They are also playing at Monterey Court on Thursday, March 30, at 5:40 during an acoustic showcase featuring other festival artists.

The duo was drawn to the Tucson Folk Festival because of its reputation.

“We were hoping to come and immerse ourselves. We are always on the lookout for communities within music. We feel like it’s going to be a great experience for us to share our music, meet other people like ourselves, and hopefully meet some new friends,” Raveis said.

They are planning to release their new full-length LP “In the Moment” Friday, April 28.

This album features songs that span different emotions and genres, including the more whimsical “Sticky and Sweet” and the comedic marriage duet, “Kismet.”

They have written a mixture of meditative, thought-provoking songs as well as more upbeat, uplifting songs.

“It’s been done with a lot of thought, intention and love. This is something that means something to us. We hope it will mean something to you,” Kole said.

When writing, the two were inspired by nature around them in Bellingham and surrounding areas. They live on a lake and are within a short drive of mountains, the ocean and volcanoes.

For their new album, Raveis and Kole play every instrument on the record, including the banjo, the ukulele, the lap steel and harp guitars, the cavaquinho, foot drums, the tambourine and shakers.

They wanted to create a stripped-down album where the acoustic instruments they play on the album can be performed live.

“If you listen to the album, and you come see us live, it’s almost the same thing. We really tried to keep it pure, where we didn’t add

MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

By Connor Dziawura Tucson Local Media Staff

APRIL 1

Bob Bauer

LaCo Tucson, 11 a.m., free

Eddie Roberts & Friends

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $18

Grocer, Desert Child, Reverse Realm and Kaity

Groundworks, 7 p.m., $10

Morani Sanders Birthday Celebration

The Century Room, 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., $10-$15

Nathaniel Burnside

LaCo Tucson, 6 p.m., free Onyx

The Rock, 6 p.m., $25-$150

Tucson Folk Festival

Downtown Tucson, noon, free Uptown!

DesertView Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.,

$30

APRIL 2

The Atmosphere

Hotel Congress Plaza, 5 p.m., $10

CDSM, Class Acts, Skin Theory and Spank

Groundworks, 7 p.m., $10

Holly Channell: A Tribute to Dorothy Fields

The Century Room, 4:30 p.m., $20-$25

Mik and the Funky Brunch

LaCo Tucson, 11 a.m., free

anything that we can’t do in a live show,” Raveis said.

They also mimicked horned instruments such as the trumpet and trombone with their voices, and Raveis whistled and did a word solo/rap on the album.

The couple met during a guitar workshop in Montana about a decade ago. Early on, they found they had a strong personal connection and musical chemistry.

“What was immediately apparent to me was Laurie had a really wonderful sense of humor and sense of playfulness, and it shows in her music. That was what was the instant attraction,” Kole said.

Mike

Club Congress, 7 p.m., $23.18

Tucson Folk Festival

Downtown Tucson, 11:30 a.m., free

APRIL 3

Built to Spill

191 Toole, 7:30 p.m., $29.50

Century Room Jazz Orchestra

The Century Room, 7 p.m., $10-$15 Foreigner

The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $146.50-$390

APRIL 4

Brainstory

Club Congress, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Christine Santelli / Heather Hardy Duo Hotel Congress Plaza, 7 p.m., $10-$12

Miss Lana Rebel and Kevin Michael Mayfield

LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free Xiu Xiu

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $16

APRIL 5

Gabe Lee and Charlie Stout

Club Congress, 8 p.m., $12-$15

Oscar Fuentes

LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free

Tucson Folk Festival

WHEN: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 31; noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1; 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2

WHERE: Jacome Plaza, 101 N. Stone Avenue, Tucson

COST: Free admission INFO: tucsonfolkfest.org.

Tucson Folk Festival

Acoustic Showcase

WHEN: 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 30

WHERE: Monterey Court, 505 W. Miracle Mile, Tucson

COST: Free admission INFO: tucsonfolkfest.org

LAMB BED BRINGS TWIN CONNECTION TO TUCSON

By Laura Latzko Tucson Local Media Staff

Twin brothers Kevin and Patrick Brown grew up learning instruments and playing together. They started Lamb Bed 20 years ago and are continuing to make music together, along with their drummer Dillon Defelice.

Lamb Bed will perform Saturday, April 1, during the “Jokes on You” April Fool’s Day show at House of Bards.

The lineup will also include Tucson heavy pop/punk group Hell Doubt, Sierra Vista alternative rockers Truth Untold, Tucson rockers Flying Half Full and Tucson punks Diversion Program, as well as comedians, neoclassical met-

al guitarist Bryon Mogul and acoustic performer Brandon Estrella.

Lamb Bed released their most recent single “The Rage” in October and its video in December. The song is about wanting to rebel and be free.

“We wrote that when we were 18/19 years old. It still holds up today, just that feeling of being young, wanting to be an adult and do what you want,” Kevin said.

The song also explores concerns about the current political and social structure.

“In these times, people are feeling that rage with the politics, what’s going on

with the world, what’s going on with the world right now, the way it’s always been but especially now. A lot of people feel that, especially with COVID, people losing businesses, jobs, people dying. That’s why to me it’s still relevant.”

The group plans to release a fulllength album soon. It is made up of newer and older songs from through-

out their time as a band.

Kevin said the album is eclectic in its sounds and subject matter.

“The whole album is inspired by our lives, from now to back when we were kids. We’re lucky to have that wide range of songs. We have no rules. We

First organized in 1948, the Arizona

Eli Blasko, We Choose the Moon (detail), 2020, office paper, .5 x 7 x 7 in.

LAMB BED 20, FEATURING TWIN BROTHERS KEVIN AND PATRICK BROWN ALONG WITH DRUMMER DILLON DEFELICE, WILL PERFORM APRIL 1 AT HOUSE OF BANDS. (SUBMITTED)

in. You’re going to propose to Colin,” there’s no hesitancy. They immediately jump into the scene and are fully committed.”

There’s no gaming the selection process, either. “People who are hypnotized play it straight. They don’t play to the audience. There’s an economy of movement. I don’t mind giving away this information because if somebody tries to replicate it, the audience start to pick up on it. ’This person is an anomaly. They’re not behaving like the others.”

“I’ve learned so much about hypnosis,” Mochrie said. “There are so many misconceptions out there. I think people have a hard time believing in the show because they think when Assad hypnotizes them, he’s adding a superpower to them.

“And what he’s actually doing is taking the part away that’s stopping them from using this talent that they already have.”

“Once Assad gets them in their state,” Mochrie said, “then we have formed an improv (ensemble). We have a list of improv games that we play. So we get suggestions from the audience.”

From there, it’s anything goes. They make make up songs based on audience suggestions. They create animals and life event scenarios. The highlight of the show is a radio play in which

You’re in an insane asylum right now!’

Mochrie admits he was taken a back, and it took him a minute to recover, but, he said, “There are curve balls like that all the time—truly moments where I just stare at them going, ‘I have no idea how I’m going to use this.’”

But he admits that’s the vulnerability he’s looking for. “You know, when I’m working with the ‘Whose Line’ (players), someone like Ryan (Stiles), who I’ve worked with for over 40 years, I can see where he is going to lead the scene. I have none of that with these people because they’re not thinking (how) we can work toward an ending.

“All they have is the present. They’re truly living in the moment. So that makes it exciting.”

“Hyprov: Improv Under Hypnosis,”

have slow stuff, heavy stuff, mellow stuff, fast stuff,” Kevin said.

The new album is personal, as it features verses from their mom, dad and niece. They also collaborated with a handful of other musical partners.

“To me, it will be a masterpiece because of all of the songs and all of the years of playing. It’s a real personal album, and I think a lot of people will get something from it. It will give them inspiration and strength,” Kevin said.

In their music, they chronicle their life experiences, both good and bad.

Although they talk about their faith in their music, they don’t consider themselves a Christian band. They also delve into darker topics such as growing up in a broken home, being in the daily grind and experiencing failed relationships and fake friendships.

“We’re not ashamed to mention the

the audience volunteer plays different characters, changing their physiology and their vocal qualities for each one.

Mochrie recalled one particularly memorable game of “Film Noir,” a murder mystery that typically concludes with Mochrie reciting the evidence leading to a confession on the part of the murderer, played by the audience volunteer.

“One night,” he recalled, “I said to this woman, ‘You’re the murderer!’ and she said, ‘What are you talking about? This isn’t real. You’re in a dream, Colin.

Lord, but we aren’t trying to ram it down people’s throats. We’re just trying to be good human beings but also tell real-life stories like Tupac,” Kevin said.

In 2010 in Grand Junction, Colorado, the band opened for W.A.S.P., a group the brothers have admired since they were kids. They have also shared bills with Hellyeah and Tantric.

The Colorado Springs-based Browns have stayed committed to their band. They both have worked jobs in various industries while pursuing their music. Kevin drives and picks up heavy equipment such as skid loaders and excavators.

The band has had different drummers and bass players over the years. Defelice, who is originally from San Diego, has been playing with them for about two and a half years.

Currently, Kevin is on guitar and vocals, and Patrick is on bass and vocals,

7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, foxtucson.com, tickets start at $49.50

OTHER SHOWS THIS WEEK

Laff’s Comedy Caffe, 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, and 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, laffstucson.com, $15, $20 preferred seating. Gabriel Rutledge, a comedy fest habitue, has appeared on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham” and more.

The Screening Room, 127 E. Con-

but in the past, they have both played guitar. For a time, they had a four-piece group, with other musicians playing bass and drums.

Lamb Bed has always been an eclectic metal band with a range of influences, including country, rap, punk rock, oldies and metal music.

“To me, a good song is a good song in every genre,” Kevin said.

The two brothers started teaching themselves to play the guitar, bass and drums at 13. Music helped them through tough times after their parents divorced.

“I think that’s why we were born as twins. When we were going city to city and school to school, just to be able to have someone that you know…He’s the only one who’s been through the same thing that I’ve been through. It’s what has kept us together. We’ve almost killed each other too, just being siblings.

gress Street, screeningroomdowntown. com, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Saturday, April 1, $12, “LadyBits,” 7 p.m. Holly Hilton, Allana Lopez, Amie Gabusi, Crickette Gill, headliner Saskia Bee, host Jen Blanco; 9 p.m. Lux ShRee, Sylvia Remington, Andrea Carmichael, Jen Blanco, headliner Phyllis Voren, host Allana Lopez The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress Street, cantevencomedy.com, 5 p.m. DJ, 6 p.m. show, Sunday, April 2, tickets start at $17.85, featuring Leroy, Caitlin Benson, Chris Quinn Tucson Improv Movement/TIM Comedy Theatre, 414 E. Ninth Street, tucsonimprov.com, $7 each show, $10 for both shows, same night, free jam and open mic. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30, “Harold Eta” and “Shatfan;” 8:30 p.m. Open Mic.; 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, Improv Jam; 7:30 p.m. “The Soapbox;” 9 p.m. Standup Showcase; Saturday, April 1, 11 a.m. “Pretendy Time” (bring the kids!), 7:30 p.m. “Carcajadas” (Spanish/ Spanglish); 9 p.m. “LOL and Order.” Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard, unscrewedtheatre.org, $8, live or remote, $5 kids. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, family-friendly improv with Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed (NBOJU); 1 p.m. Saturday, April 1, “Rabbit Hood” Easter fun for kids; 7:30 p.m., Family Friendly Improv, 9 pm. “The Backyard Improv Playground,” pay what you will.

We also had an older brother who was two years older than us. Luckily, we were born twins because we were able to gang up on him. If there would have been one of us, we would have been bullied by him growing up,” Kevin said. Often when they are onstage, they will banter back and forth with each other.

“I will screw up, and Pat will tell everyone to say, ‘Kevin sucks.’ Stuff like that,” Kevin said.

Jokes on You April Fools Show

WHEN: 4 p.m. to midnight. Saturday, April 1

WHERE: House of Bards, 4915 E. Speedway Boulevard, Tucson

COST: $10

INFO: houseofbards.com

JEN BLANCO HOSTS THE LADYBITS STANDUP SHOW. (JEN BLANCO/SUBMITTED)

LAMB BED FROM PAGE 14

STUDY ANALYZES TRAFFIC COLLISION INJURIES

By NORML Tucson Weekly Contributor

Drivers treated for traffic-related injuries are more likely to test positive for high levels of alcohol (BAC ≥ 0.08%) than they are likely to test positive for elevated levels of THC (THC in blood ≥ 5 ng/mL), according to data published in the journal Addiction.

Canadian investigators quantified and reviewed alcohol and THC concentrations in a cohort of nearly 7,000 in-

jured drivers.

They reported, “In this sample, there were over three times as many drivers with BAC ≥ 0.08% (12.6%) than with THC ≥ 5 ng/mL (3.5%), suggesting that alcohol remains a greater threat to road safety.”

Authors also acknowledged that drivers who tested positive for high levels of alcohol were more likely to be involved in single vehicle accidents as well as in motor vehicle accidents resulting in se-

rious injuries.

Because THC can remain present in blood for extended periods of time, the study’s authors emphasized that at least some subjects who tested positive for cannabis may not necessarily have had recent exposure to it. They further emphasized that subjects testing positive for the presence of THC at levels below 5 ng/ml are typically not under the influence and likely do not possess a significantly increased risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Driving simulator studies generally report that cannabis administration is associated with compensatory driving behavior, such as decreased mean speed and increased mean following distance, whereas alcohol administration is associated with more aggressive driving behavior. Nevertheless, cannabis exposure can influence certain psychomotor skills necessary for safe driving, such as reaction time and drivers’ ability to

maintain lane positioning.

A study conducted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that drivers who test positive for any amount of THC possess, on average, a far lower risk of being involved in a traffic collision than do drivers who test positive for alcohol at or near legal limits.

By contrast, drivers who test positive for the presence of both THC and alcohol in their system tend to possess significantly higher odds of being involved in a motor vehicle accident than do those who test positive for either substance alone.

Full text of the study, “A comparison of cannabis and alcohol use in drivers presenting to hospital after a vehicular collision,” appears in Addiction. Additional information on cannabis and driving performance is available from NORML’s Fact Sheet, “Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.”

EARTH'S HEALING PRESENTS

DOWNTOWN TUCSON, AZ

4•N

•11111mz.■ amor D■rom

L OCA L VENDORS, SAMPLING, PANELS & NETWORKING

EARTH'S HEALING • THE PRIME LEAF

GRO W ERS HOUSE • ATHENA NUTRIEN TS

HALO INFUSIONS • SEED WAFFLES

TUCSON HOUSE OF CANNABIS

SIMPLY PROFESSIONAL FORMULA

OLD PUEBLO HEMP CO • SCUBA STASH

AWARENESS RANCH • PUCKS

C-REX CANNABIS • SIMPLY SPROUT

BEST BUDS AZ • 1X1 EXOTICS & MAN Y MORE!

LIVE PERFORMANCES BY:

RXKNEPHEW DOUGIE POOLE TOP DEAD CEN TER

COMEDY BY PAULY CASILL AS GET A GRIP BASSI DE DJ POSI

CANNAFRIENDS -ARIZONA-

BLOOM TUCSON

4695 N. Oracle Road, Suite 117 520-293-3315; bloomdispensary.com

Open: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

BOTANICA

6205 N. Travel Center Drive 520-395-0230; botanica.us

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

DESERT BLOOM RE-LEAF CENTER

8060 E. 22nd Street, Suite 108 520-886-1760; dbloomtucson.com

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Offering delivery

DOWNTOWN DISPENSARY

221 E. Sixth Street, Suite 105 520-838-0492; thedowntowndispensary.com

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

D2 DISPENSARY

7139 E. 22nd Street 520-214-3232; d2dispensary.com

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

EARTH’S HEALING

Two locations:

North: 78 W. River Road 520-253-7198

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; Offering delivery

GREEN MED WELLNESS CENTER

6464 E. Tanque Verde Road 520-886-2484, greenmedwellness.com

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

HALO CANNABIS

7710 S. Wilmot Road

520-664-2251; thegreenhalo.org

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

HANA GREEN VALLEY

1732 W. Duval Commerce Point Place

520-289-8030

Open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

HARVEST OF TUCSON

2734 E. Grant Road

520-314-9420; askme@harvestinc.com; harvestofaz.com

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

NATURE MED

5390 W. Ina Road

520-620-9123; naturemedaz.com

Open: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

THE PRIME LEAF

Two locations:

South: 2075 E. Benson Highway 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org

• 4220 E. Speedway Boulevard

• 1525 N. Park Avenue

520-44-PRIME; theprimeleaf.com

Open: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays

TUCSON SAINTS

112 S. Kolb Road

520-886-1003; medicalmarijuana oftucson.com

Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

* RE-RUNNING HOROSCOPE FROM 3/23 ISSUE ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)

Sometimes, I give you suggestions that may, if you carry them out, jostle your routines and fluster your allies. But after trying out the new approaches for a short time, you may chicken out and revert to old habits. That’s understandable! It can be difficult to change your life. Here’s an example. What if I encourage you to cancel your appointments and wander out into the wilderness to discuss your dreams with the birds? And what if, during your adventure, you are flooded with exhilarating yearnings for freedom? And then you decide to divest yourself of desires that other people want you to have and instead revive and give boosts to desires that you want yourself to have? Will you actually follow through with brave practical actions that transform your relationship with your deepest longings?

TAURUS

(APRIL 20-MAY 20)

You have done all you can for now to resolve and expunge stale, messy karma—some of which was left over from the old days and old ways. There may come a time in the future when you will have more cleansing to do, but you have now earned the right to be as free from your past and as free from your conditioning as you have ever been. APRIL FOOL! I lied. In fact, you still need to spend a bit more time resolving and expunging stale, messy karma. But you’re almost done!

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20)

Businessman Robert Bigelow hopes to eventually begin renting luxurious rooms in space. For $1.7 million per night, travelers will enjoy accommodations he provides on his orbiting hotel, 200 miles above the Earth’s surface. Are you interested? I bet more Geminis will be signing up for this exotic trip than any other sign. You’re likely to be the journeyers most excited by the prospect of sailing along at 17,000 miles per hour and witnessing 16 sunsets and sunrises every 24 hours. APRIL FOOL! In fact, you Geminis are quite capable of getting the extreme variety you crave and need right

here on the planet’s surface. And during the coming weeks, you will be even more skilled than usual at doing just that.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22)

The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to become the overlord of your own fiefdom, or seize control of a new territory and declare yourself chieftain, or overthrow the local hierarchy and install yourself as the sovereign ruler of all you survey. APRIL FOOL! I was metaphorically exaggerating a bit—but just a bit. I do in fact believe now is an excellent phase to increase your clout, boost your influence, and express your leadership. Be as kind you can be, of course, but also be rousingly mighty and fervent.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)

In his poem “The Something,” Charles Simic writes, “Here come my night thoughts on crutches, returning from studying the heavens. What they thought about stayed the same. Stayed immense and incomprehensible.” According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you Leos will have much the same experience in the coming weeks. So there’s no use in even hoping or trying to expand your vision. APRIL FOOL! I lied. The truth is, you will not have Simic’s experience. Just the opposite. When your night thoughts return from studying the heavens, they will be full of exuberant, inspiring energy. (And what exactly are “night thoughts”? They are bright insights you discover in the darkness.)

VIRGO

(AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)

If there will ever come a time when you will find a gold bullion bar on the ground while strolling around town, it will be soon. Similarly, if you are destined to buy a winning $10 million lottery ticket or inherit a diamond mine in Botswana, that blessing will arrive soon. APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating a bit. The truth is, I suspect you are now extra likely to attract new resources and benefits, though not on the scale of gold bullion, lottery winnings, and diamond mines.

COMICS

LEGALIZATION NATION By Brian Box Brown

By Rob Brezsny. Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s EXPANDED WEEKLY HOROSCOPE 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700 $1.99 per minute. 18 and over. Touchtone phone required.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22)

Do you have a muse, Libra? In my opinion, all of us need and deserve at least one muse, even if we’re not creative artists. A muse can be a spirit or hero or ally who inspires us, no matter what work and play we do. A muse may call our attention to important truths we are ignoring or point us in the direction of exciting future possibilities. According to my astrological analysis, you are now due for a muse upgrade. If you don’t have one, get one—or even more. If you already have a relationship with a muse, ask more from it. Nurture it. Take it to the next level.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21)

Dear Valued Employee: Our records show you haven’t used any vacation time over the past 100 years. As you may know, workers get three weeks of paid leave per year or else receive pay in lieu of time off. One added week is granted for every five years of service. So please, sometime soon, either take 9,400 days off work or notify our office, and your

next paycheck will reflect payment of $8,277,432, including pay and interest for the past 1,200 months. APRIL FOOL! Everything I just said was an exaggeration. But there is a grain of truth in it. The coming weeks should bring you a nice surprise or two concerning your job.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

Sagittarian poet and artist William Blake (1757–1827) was a hard-working visionary prophet with an extravagant imagination. His contemporaries considered him a freaky eccentric, though today we regard him as a genius. I invite you to enjoy your own personal version of a Blake-like phase in the coming weeks. It’s a perfect time to dynamically explore your idiosyncratic inclinations and creative potentials. Be bold, even brazen, as you celebrate what makes you unique. BUT WAIT! Although everything I just said is true, I must add a caveat: You don’t necessarily need to be a freaky eccentric to honor your deepest, most authentic truths and longings.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)

Some of my friends disapprove of cosmetic surgery. I remind them that many cultures throughout history have engaged in body modification. In parts of Africa and Borneo, for example, people stretch their ears. Some Balinese people get their teeth filed. Women of the Indigenous Kyan people in Thailand elongate their necks using brass coils. Anyway, Capricorn, this is my way of letting you know that the coming weeks would be a favorable time to change your body. APRIL FOOL! It’s not my place to advise you about whether and how to reshape your body. Instead, my job is to encourage you to deepen and refine how your mind understands and treats your body. And now is an excellent time to do that.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)

I invite you to make a big change. I believe it’s crucial if you hope to place yourself in maximum alignment with current cosmic rhythms. Here’s my

idea: Start calling yourself by the name “Genius.” You could even use it instead of the first name you have used all these years. Tell everyone that from now on, they should address you as “Genius.” APRIL FOOL! I don’t really think you should make the switch to Genius. But I do believe you will be extra smart and ultra-wise in the coming weeks, so it wouldn’t be totally outrageous to refer to yourself as “Genius.”

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)

Your body comprises 30 trillion human cells and 39 trillion microbial cells, including the bacteria that live within you. And in my astrological estimation, those 69 trillion life forms are vibrating in sweet harmony with all the money in the world. Amazing! Because of this remarkable alignment, you now have the potential to get richer quicker. Good economic luck is swirling in your vicinity. Brilliant financial intuitions are likely to well up in you. The Money God is far more amenable than usual to your prayers. APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating a bit. But I do believe you now have extra ability to prime your cash flow.

My Storage at 5855 S Palo Verde, Tucson,AZ 85706 will be auctioning off Units 1497 and L231 Laura Rowell last known address 15598 W Ajo Wy Unit B, Tucson, AZ 85735. The Auction will be posted to StorageTreasures.com on March 24th where you can place your bids.

“Blade

Edited by Will Shortz

One who’s far from stone -faced

Beauty that’s only skin deep, for shor t?

___ Millions

“Nothing to repor t”

Absolute dump

Misnomer for the character Fritz in the original “Frankenstein” (1931)

Shagg y, horned beast

Word with twin or grin

“It’s all good” 4 Pandemic cause of 2009

clever!”

who’s far from stone-faced

5 Time in the dog days of summer

6 365 giorni

7 An extravagant one might have a swimming pool

8 “Uh, what was that?”

“Come on, move it!”

Toddler’s boo-boo

Blokes

9 Seafarers

22 It glows orangered when placed in an electric field

10 Film production company founded by Steven Spielberg

–

Beauty that’s only skin deep, for short?

___ Millions

5 Time in the dog days of summer 6 365 giorni

“Nothing to report”

Misnomer for the character Fritz in the original “Frankenstein” (1931)

7 An extravagant one might have a swimming pool 8 “Uh, what was that?”

1 Shaggy, horned beast

2 Word with twin or grin

3 “It’s all good”

4 Pandemic cause of 2009

Seafarers 10 Film production company founded by Steven Spielberg

11 Bail, so to speak

12 What an actor studies

13 Hägar the Horrible’s dog

21 Shaggy, horned beast

22 It glows orange-red when placed in an electric field

“___ Kett” (old comic strip that taught teens manners)

Sounds at a fireworks show

Expensive shipping option

It’s a trap!

It’s a trap!

Impedes

Bail, so to speak

Shagg y, horned

“Come on, move it!”

Blokes 38 John Deere logo animal 41 Hit CBS series that, despite its name, was filmed primarily in California

Grave letters

John Deere logo animal 41 Hit CBS series that, despite its name, was filmed primarily in California

Impedes

One getting “the talk,” say

45 Like Louis Armstrong’s singing 47 One with an “eye patch,” hook hand and peg leg, as represented in this puzzle’s grid

49 Grave letters

Modern payment method

Order to attack

One getting “the talk,” say

Hurdles for

Order to attack

Hurdles for aspiring D.A.s

PUZZLE BY GRANT THACKRAY