Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising zac@timeslocalmedia.com
TUCSON GAY HAPPY HOUR TO THROW ANNIVERSARY PARTY
By Jack Miessner Tucson Weekly Staff
When a group of friends in Tucson’s gay community met up for a drink, selfies were sweeping the nation, and Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” was on every radio station.
“We decided to start a monthly happy hour, and the idea was, instead of going to the gay bars that existed in town, we’d go to a new place every month,” said Pete King, G3 founding member and event organizer.
“G3 was sort of born out of that desire to get out into the broader community, appeal to a wider audience and basically mainstream the gay community.”
Two and a half presidents later (pick one to halve), G3 has hosted more than 100 events at over 50 venues, and on Friday, June 16, the community will celebrate 10 years of monthly happy hours and gatherings. The event will take place at Playground Bar and Lounge, where G3 has recently made its permanent home.
The anniversary is special for King, who first found his sense of community in San Francisco in the early ’80s. For a recently out gay man living at “ground zero” of the AIDS epidemic, unity was more than a buzzword, and survival meant sticking together.
“Sometimes we would do two or three fundraisers a week at little gay bars in San Francisco, where we’d be auctioning off stuff and doing raffles, plus providing practical care to guys who were sick,” King said.
“We’d go over and wash their clothes and their dishes, or we’d walk their dog, whatever we could, because it was a full-on crisis.
“And during that time, I started to do more and more events. I started doing
walkathons and street fairs, and pride in Oakland.”
When King moved to Tucson in 2008 to care for his mother, he met the city’s distinctive mellow, live-and-letlive understanding of diversity.
“What I find in Tucson is that it’s a very relaxed acceptance,” he said. “It’s a tolerance that basically says, ‘I don’t care.’ People in Tucson don’t care where you went to school or what your family name is. It’s just a very
“There used to be about 12 gay bars back in the heyday,” King said. “When I moved here, there were about six. Now about three.
“What I worry about is that, with all the acceptance and integration that we are experiencing, queer culture is a little bit under threat because there’s a perception that we don’t need each other as much, that we don’t need safe spaces as much, and that gay people will just fit in everywhere.
“And it worries me that our unique sort of cultural heritage, with our music and our language and our togetherness and our sense of family, could become less and less economically viable, and it could be a real change.”
G3 strives to bring this back. To accomplish this, the event fosters an inclusive environment that appeals to the young and old.
“I think that what G3 has been able to accomplish, the niche that we’ve
ATTENDEES ENJOY LAST YEAR’S G3 ANNIVERSARY. THIS YEAR’S PARTY WILL BE AT PLAYGROUND ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16. (PETE KING/SUBMITTED)
laid back, tolerant, accepting place.
“And it’s different because it’s not a militant type of acceptance; it’s a very laissez-faire sort of acceptance, and I find that to be kind of refreshing.
“Having said that,” King hastened to add, “the cultural and social opportunities for the communities in Tucson could be much better.”
The organizer, who advocates for a tight-knit and active queer community, has seen the culture begin to dwindle in the last decade due to a perceived lack of need.
every month with various themes and events, whether it be a Cinco de Mayo happy hour or a holiday show.
The upcoming anniversary will be a Met Gala-themed “white party,” featuring DJs and other live performances. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in white.
“There’s a tradition in the gay community of ‘white parties,’” King said.
“We’re teaming up with some local designers and drag queens to do a riff of the Met Gala. So, we’re expecting some elaborate gowns and some very theatrical entrances by people at the party. But whether you’re in a tank top and tennis shorts or an elaborate getup, it’s really just meant to be fun.”
While the party will commemorate a decade of good times, King doesn’t linger on memory lane for too long. He makes sure to look down the other road, the one that points ahead.
“The thing that I worry about the most presently are the political threats that are being targeted toward gender-nonconforming people, whether they’re in drag or transgender or nonbinary, and I think that it needs to be taken very seriously,” he said.
“We’ve had a number of shootings at gay clubs, trans people are murdered and abused regularly in this country, and it seems to be a political ploy by the right to use us as some type of lightning rod, whether it’s banning books or banning drag queens. So I would say that we still have a long, long road ahead of us when it comes to acceptance and tolerance and justice and equality.”
built here, is that we provide a place once a month for people to gather and socialize in a way that’s not just a bar.
“We promote a very chatty, laidback kind of experience where you can just come and meet up with friends and meet new people, but you don’t have that sort of late-night pressure of going to a bar, per se.”
The happy hour community welcomes all, regardless of sexual preference, orientation or gender, and is always drawing new faces with its creative get togethers. G3 keeps it fresh
G3 Anniversary Party
WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 16
WHERE: Playground Bar and Lounge, 278 E Congress Street, Tucson
COST: $9 to get in, first drink is on them; 21 and older
INFO: tucsong3.com
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CURRENTS SONORAN INSTITUTE HOSTS SUMMER SOLSTICE PARTY
By Veronica Kuffel Tucson Weekly Staff
The Sonoran Institute will take a hipper approach to fundraising with its Summer Solstice Party on Wednesday, June 21.
“I didn’t want this to be a night of announcements and people making speeches and auctioning things off,” said Melissa Cordero, marketing manager.
“It’ll be a nice night where people come and relax and know they paid for something good.”
The nonprofit will host a night of food, drinks and entertainment at the Playground Bar & Lounge to celebrate the first official day of summer. The party will include a live DJ and a 50/50 raffle, where all donations will be split between a winner and the Sonoran Institute.
to a trash cleanup or private event. The new direction of the Institute is to make conservation efforts accessible to a wider audience.
“We were looking for new and creative ways to reach a different demographic of people than what we normally target,” Cordero noted. “We bring around like-minded people, people who care enough to come and their capacity to give might be a little different.”
This is partly why the Sonoran Institute has partnered with the Playground. The popular Downtown bar reopened last year, bringing a remodeled venue, a revised menu and a refreshed mission to the public.
Cordero also chose the bar for its new connection with Tucson’s LGBTQ+ Chamber. The bar wants to create an environment where everyone is welcome to “come play.” Cordero commented on their new priorities and how they align with the Summer Solstice Party.
“It’s an iconic place here in Tucson,” Cordero said. “The Playground has been here for a long time. It was special for us to have a club or bar like that to show genuine interest in becoming a safe space.”
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Around 8 p.m., the organization will also announce its new membership program, inviting participants to join its group of Sonoran Sustainers. The goal is to raise $6,500 in tickets and raffle contributions and welcome 20 new members to the Institute.
“It’s something that’s really going to help our organization and we’re using the summer party as the launch of it,” Cordero said. “Hopefully, during that party, we can get people to also become members the same day.”
The Sonoran Institute connects the public with the environment with a focus on western water systems. Headquartered in Tucson, one of the organization’s major projects is cleaning the Santa Cruz River and other waterways around the city.
According to Cordero, it was important to establish the Summer Solstice Party as a casual night out, as opposed
Along with the party and raffle, the Sonoran Institute will also launch its first membership program to the public. For a donation of $20, $40 or $60 a month, members, or Sonoran Sustainers, will help different Institute causes depending on their commitment.
Sonoran Sustainers at any level will gain first access to activities, programs and publications, as well as discounts on swag and ticketed events.
“Becoming a member of the Sonoran Institute is a great way to support conservation efforts in the Colorado River Community,” Cordero explained. “As a member, you will have the opportunity to be part of a community of people who are passionate about protecting the environment and preserving the unique beauty of this region.”
For a donation of $84 a month, or $1,000 a year, participants will be invited to the Hummingbird Circle, which includes quarterly private events with the Sonoran Institute’s team and board members, along with all other membership benefits.
Regardless of donation or commitment at the Summer Solstice Party, the money received will be unrestricted and directly benefit every Sonoran Institute program. This will allow the nonprofit to obtain more conservation equipment, market its services and put on more events and fundraisers.
Cordero invites anyone who appreciates the outdoors to come to this casual
party for like-minded camaraderie and a good cause.
“Even if you don’t know anything about conservation, come anyway,” Cordero said.
“Come and hang out with people who are restoring rivers, reconnecting them to the ocean and helping wildlife return. If you like being outdoors, this is somewhere you should be.”
Summer Solstice Party
WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 21
WHERE: Playground Bar & Lounge, 278 E. Congress Street, Tucson COST: $45 (entry, food, two drink tickets)
INFO: sonoraninstitute.org
COVER
20 CAN’T-MISS HAPPY HOURS AROUND TUCSON
By Tucson Weekly Sta
In an economy that can turn on a dime, everyone wants to drink on one, too. Tucson bars and breweries have a reputation for providing cool cocktails, craft brews and great atmosphere, but not everyone wants to break the bank for a good time.
Here are 20 bars, restaurants and breweries with happy hour specials you can’t miss.
BARRIO BREWING CO.
800 E. 16th Street
barriobrewing.com
No drink list would be complete without the first mash brewing company in Tucson and one of the firsts in the state. Barrio’s beers are available throughout Arizona, but special prices are available at the brewing location.
Barrio serves $1 off drafts from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. They recommend their famous Tucson Blonde Ale, Arizona’s oldest beer and a quintessential desert drink. Barrio also offers a variety of discounted meals and snacks that pair nicely with any home-brewed beer.
THE BUFFET
538 E. Ninth Street
buffetbartucson.com
Known as Tucson’s oldest bar, The Buffet is a staple in the city’s nightlife. It’s home to a diverse crowd that sticks around for the divey atmosphere, the shuffleboard and billiards tables and drinks like the rainbow shot. Rather than a whole hour, The Buffet observes two daily happy minutes. At 6 p.m., they offer two drinks for the price of one. At 11 p.m., they match patrons’ drinks for $1.
CHARRO STEAK & DEL REY
188 E. Broadway Boulevard charrosteak.com
Happy hour here is the complete package. From 3 to 6 p.m. daily, Charro offers $6 off Charro burgers, and $2
off house wines, wells, drafts and aperitivos. Don’t forget the half off oysters!
CHARROVIDA
7109 N. Oracle Road charrovida.com
It’s not just happy hour at CharroVida — it’s “happier hours” from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. Currently it’s featuring half off house margaritas and $2 off all shareables, cocktails, wine and draft beer.
CLUB CONGRESS & TAP ROOM
311 E. Congress Street hotelcongress.com
Club Congress is about more than music. Celebrate happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. daily in the club, or all night Sundays. The Tap room boasts happy hour pricing all night Mondays. On Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 p.m. to 1:45 a.m., $5 wells are offered.
CULINARY DROPOUT
2543 E. Grant Road
culinarydropout.com
Culinary Dropout prides itself on being an Arizona classic. Equipped with live music events, games and even Yoga in the Yard, the entertainment gets as good as the menu.
The Dropout serves its Afternoon Delights menu from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. They include original drinks, like their Summer Tan Sangria and a list of classic cocktails. The “It’s 3:45 Somewhere” section features beer-inspired cocktails for $8 each.
EL CHARRO CAFÉ
311 N. Court Avenue
7725 N. Oracle Road, Suite 101 6910 E. Sunrise Drive elcharrocafe.com
All El Charro Cafés have fiesta happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday,
BAWKER BAWKER CIDER HOUSE
400 N. Fourth Avenue bawkerbawker.com
Bawker Bawker is Tucson’s first and only cider house, offering over at least 10 sweet and savory ciders — naturally gluten free — on tap at a time. The staff locally ferments its cider with little to no residual sugar and includes a flavor range from prickly pear to tomato basil. They’ll celebrate the drop of the new Lion’s Mane tap on Friday, June 16. This cider house serves happy hour drinks from 4 to 6 p.m. daily, with $1 off on all drafts and flights. Bawker Bawker also provides an all-day happy hour for teachers every Friday. Don’t chicken out on this bar, as it also boasts fun and quirky community events.
FROG AND FIRKIN
874 E. University Boulevard frogandfirkin.com
Frog and Firkin is a festive British pub that hosts UA students and Tucson locals. The bar boasts the largest selection of craft brews on University, along with creative mixed drinks like the signature Fish Piss, a $9 mixture of blue Curaçao, grapefruit vodka and tropical Red Bull. From 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, customers enjoy $5 margaritas, $9 tall craft beers and $6.50 tall domestics, as well as $1 off craft pints and wells. On Thursdays starting at 8 p.m., the bar offers $3 Coors Banquets and wells and $6 mules.
FUKU SUSHI
940 E. University Boulevard fukusushico.com
Fuku is a modern sushi bar that promises top-quality fresh fish at a lower price than higher-end competitors. The bar is home to a lively nightlife scene, where patrons enjoy unique drinks like the famous Wildcat Fishbowl. The bar’s happy hour runs from 3 to 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. to close every day, and includes a variety of drinks ranging in price from $5 wells, hot sake and bottled beer to $12 fishbowls. They also sell a wide variety of sushi rolls for discounted prices.
MINT BAR
3540 E. Grant Road, Tucson
The Mint Bar describes itself as “the friendly neighborhood dive bar.” The pub boasts a local vibe and a sense of community, and offers ping pong, pool darts and weekly karaoke.
Happy hour is 10 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday. From Sunday to Tuesday, they host a late-night happy hour from midnight to 2 a.m. The bar offers 50 cents off draft pints, $1 off 32-ounce pitchers and $1 off wells.
SURLY WENCH
424 N. Fourth Avenue surlywenchpub.com
The Surly Wench is an eclectic, counterculture bar with a goth edge. The pub’s plethora of recurring events include weekly Black Hat Karaoke, a first Friday burlesque show and Fineline Revisited, a bimonthly new wave, goth and industrial dance party. From open until 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays, Surly Wench offers $3.50 Miller High Lifes and $4 wells. But outside of happy hour, patrons can always order the “double-fister” deal, which is a shot of house whiskey and a Pabst Blue Ribbon.
UNION PUBLIC HOUSE
4340 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 100
uniontucson.com
This American gastropub’s happy hour menu is vast. Every day, from 3 to 6 p.m., the bar offers $3 domestic drafts, $4 to $6 craft draft beers, $5 single-item wells, and $7 glasses of wine, in addition to a wide variety of discounted food options.
Union also discounts its signature Copper Cup cocktails to $6 during happy hour and all day on Thursdays. Happy hour deals are available everywhere, not just at the bar top.
featuring $2 off aperitivos and margaritas, draft beer, well and all glasses of wine.
EL CHINITO GORDO
2920 N. Oracle Road elchinitogordo.com
El Chinito Gordo lives and breathes authentic Mexican fare. The restaurant features long drink lists stacked with regional classics and fusion cocktails. From 3 to 6 p.m. daily, El Chinito Gordo offers a $2 discount on margaritas, and varied deals on local drafts. Try their seasonal Hard Jalapeño Lemonade before it’s gone, but if you miss it, there are plenty of other tasty options on rotation.
THE DELTA BAR & GRILL
135 S. Sixth Avenue thedeltatucson.com
The Delta’s food and drinks feature comforting tastes straight from the Bayou. Pair any of their sea or soul food with signature cocktails and a robust absinthe menu. Happy Hour at The Delta is 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, and
until 7 p.m. Friday. There’s a $3 discount on all draft beers, specialty cocktails and glasses of wine. Try their signature Delta Old Fashioned, a southern twist on an old classic, for $6.
ERMANOS
220 N. Fourth Avenue ermanosbrew.com
After 20 years of home brewing in Michigan, the Erman brothers moved down to Arizona to combine their quality food and drinks with a thoughtful environment. Mark and Rick opened Ermanos with a focus on comfort, prioritizing it not as a luxury but a necessity.
The bar runs its happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. daily, as well as 10 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. They serve half off bottles of wine, $7 well drinks and $1 off select draft beers. Enjoy one of their signature cocktails, like the Ermanos Sangria or The Monsoon for $10 each.
THE HOPPY VINE
12125 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley thehoppyvineov.com
The Hoppy Vine is a craft room and
bottle shop that specializes in craft beers, wine and wine-based cocktails. They offer happy hours from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, and all day on Sunday, when all wine and beers on tap are $1 off. Many of The Hoppy Vine’s events, like the weekly DJ trivia and musical bingo, start just after happy hour, so attendees can arrive early and get a head start.
THE MONICA
40 E. Congress Street themonicatucson.com
This robust happy hour is set for 2 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, with $2 off shareable appetizers, hour margaritas, wells, draft beers and wines by the glass. Head there and check out the board of wine for the half-price wine bottle. Among the shareables are panecito; Brussels and carne seca; chicken and artichoke skewers; mini chimis banderas; freebird chicken; cauliflower and corn nuts; and barrio chips and dips.
PLAYGROUND BAR AND LOUNGE
278 E. Congress Street playgroundtucson.com
Playground Bar and Lounge reopened late last year, two and a half years after shutting its doors. Through its new, innovative menu and electric atmosphere, Playground has reestablished itself as a one-of-a-kind bar. From 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, the prices are as exciting as the ambiance. The bar offers $2 off all beverages and $4 off the entire food menu. The Guavesito — mezcal, guava, grapefruit and lime — is a fan favorite.
PUEBLO VIDA BREWING CO.
115 E. Broadway Boulevard
pueblovidabrewing.com
A cyclist’s haven, Pueblo Vida provides top-notch service and taps from local desert dwellers. Along with its craft ales and beers, the brewery offers monthly biking events and workshops to the public. Every Monday, Pueblo Vida offers all-day, full pours for $5 each, which covers many of their draft selections, including their flagship Cereus IPA. They are also rolling out a summer club punch card, where after completing each task by Sept. 3, guests get a free T-shirt.
DINING MAYNARDS FRESHENS UP WITH NEW PERSONNEL, MENU ITEMS
By Veronica Kuffel Tucson Weekly Sta
After closing for two weeks for a refresh, Maynards has reopened with a new chef and new manager, ready to offer happy hours and Sunday brunch again, according to owner Richard Oseran.
Richard and his wife, Shana, are introducing other changes as well.
“In the restaurant, we used to have
mussels and frites, now we will still have frites and we will still have the steak and frites, but one of the things
that we did take off the menu was the hamburger,” Shana added.
A replacement menu item is com-
ing, but Shana is keeping that close to
New 3.2g Carbs 95 Cals H Crisp and refreshing
the vest.
The charcuterie board has had a facelift, too.
“You get to pick your own meats, your own savories, your own sweets, your own cheeses, your own pickled vegetables, and then you get the board put in front of you,” Shana said.
“The (diner) has more autonomy over what is on their charcuterie board. It’s very different and I think that people kind of like it.”
The refresh was a logical move for the Oserans, as they needed to take a hard look at what diners were able to pay.
To that end, new chef Nick Creamer has assembled a collective of talented culinary experts. Chef Wyatt Carrizosa works with the chemistry of food to bring out the best flavors, and chef Efrain Vasquez is passionate about creating in the kitchen. Pastries are made by pastry chef Emily Stengel.
“Now we have a bunch of unbelievably talented sous chefs, pastry chefs,” Shana said.
Expect to dine on upscale comfort food. For example, Forbes Meat Company ribeye steak with potatoes gratin and grilled green beans with chimichurri compound butter; or the mezcal, lime and chili marinated seabass with fingerling potatoes, sauteed garlic kale and a tepache glaze. Dessert might include a Thai tea strawberry shortcake.
Located in the 116-year-old Depot, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Maynards has been operated since 2008 by the Oserans.
They also own Hotel Congress, which is now under the direction of their daughter, Rebecca Hanley.
Maynards was named as an homage to Maynard Flood, a Southern Pacific Railroad engineer, and local artist Maynard Dixon, who painted four murals for the original Depot.
The market opened just before Maynards. Previously, diners were limited to cold sandwiches and paninis, Shana said. These days the offerings are a little more substantial.
The menu includes housemade pastries and coffee, along with a macchiato, a matcha or a cafe au lait, among other coffee-type drinks.
For something more filling, check out the vegan bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, or the avocado, bacon and cheese.
Lunch offerings include a roast beef or ham sandwich. If you eschew meat, there are a couple of choices, such as a vegan BLT or a beet sandwich. Soups and charcuterie boards are also available.
“I think people are going to enjoy the connection between the market and the restaurant,” Shana said. “You can get something there quick, fast, to go, or you can get something in the restaurant.”
Maynards Market & Kitchen
400 N. Toole Avenue, Tucson
520-545-0577
hotelcongress.com/family/maynards
Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. Market’s hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
FOX TUCSON THEATRE
The Place to Be • The Artists to See
Co-Founder of The Beach Boys Al Jardine & His Endless Summer Band
This Saturday, 6/17
Put on your flip-flops and treat your DAD to a fun, nostalgic night of LIVE music!
BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE START AT ONLY $35!
OR GRAB TICKETS TO ANOTHER OF THE 60+ SHOWS
NOW ON SALE:
Graham Nash 6/20
Keb’ Mo’ Band 9/12
The Man in Black 9/15
Kansas: Another Fork in the Road
50th Anniversary Tour 9/19
Daughtry: Bare Bones Tour 9/21
Get the Led Out 9/26
Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken 10/20
Pat Metheny Dream Box Tour 10/24 & Many More!
Soulful Blues. Wailin’ Strat. Ignite your soul.
Infectious energy. Captivating melodies. An unforgettable night of bluegrass, folk & Americana.
Old Crow
Medicine Show 7/19
The Robert Cray Band 7/25
Haunting Melodies. Mesmerizing lyrics. A distinct blend of alt country, folk & rock music.
Melodic reveries. Moody anthems. Timeless sound.
John Lodge of the Moody Blues 7/26
Check Out The $20 Fox Fan Seats!
Cowboy Junkies 7/27
Immersive Spectacle. Legendary Album. World-class musicians.
Australian Pink Floyd 8/23
Dark Side 50 Tour
By Linda Ray Tucson Weekly Columnist
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE! A SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWCASE
Tucson’s poets, storytellers, playwrights and comedians have long enjoyed opportunities to road test their work in friendly spaces where they can get welcome feedback. Virginia Cannon has created that space for Tucson’s musical artists with this monthly event — a round robin with six folks offering four songs each. You can say you heard them here first.
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15, and the third Thursday of every month, Monterey Court Café, 505 W. Miracle Mile, montereycourtaz.com, free
CEVICHE AND GAZPACHO SOUP
Cool soups are the best on hot days. A cooking class at Catalyst Collaborative Arts and Maker Space teaches how to make two summer favorites that beat the oven-hot temperatures outside. Vegan ceviche and cold gazpacho are tasty and healthy in ways that mean the most on a summer menu. You’ll use ingredients that are cool, nutritious and hydrating, and you’ll practice preparation techniques that will save your own energy all year ’round.
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Catalyst Arts & Maker Space, 4500 N. Oracle Road, Suite 110, eventbrite.com, $39.57
NAWBO “LADIES WHO LUNCH”
The term “ladies who lunch” usually translates to “ladies of leisure.” NAWBO couldn’t be more opposite. The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) was born of the women’s rights movement of the ’70s. Its founding president, Susan Hager, set its standard: “Get a seat at the table or build your own table, and make sure to include other women.” NAWBO offers Tucson women business owners support and a seat at their table. Next week, Dianne Kelley, CEO of The Sandbrook Group of benefits advisors, talks about how to protect a business’s legacy.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, June 19,
AL JARDINE AND HIS ENDLESS SUMMER BAND
This writer earned a second-degree sunburn lying on her stomach all day on a surfboard at San Onofre, failing utterly to catch a wave. “Surfer Girl” fail. But we loved some Beach Boys on the beach. Their songs are ageless, and although he is not, founding member Al Jardine miraculously brings them to life, striped shirt, neighbor-boy charm and all. Without any Wilsons, let alone Mike Love, is this just a cover band? Yes! And, no. Carl Wilson told interviewers that Jardine’s voice was the key to the Beach Boys’ distinctive sound, and even Brian Wilson agreed that the “Pet Sounds” aesthetic started with Jardine’s “Sloop John B.”
7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, foxtucson.com, tickets start at $20
MARGARITAS STAR IN A COMPETITION IN WHICH YOU ARE THE JUDGE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 17. (KATE MARQUEZ/SUBMITTED)
ORIGINAL BEACH BOY AL JARDINE BRINGS THE SOUNDS OF SUMMER TO THE FOX TUCSON THEATRE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 17. (JEFF MCEVOY/CONTRIBUTOR)
WORLD MARGARITA CHAMPIONSHIPS
World Class margaritas are the stars in this event hosted by Southern Arizona Tucson Originals Restaurants and Purveyors. But guests will also enjoy food samples, tequila tastings and the excitement of the competition as chefs vie for votes in the People’s Choice Awards. Enjoy live music and interactive arts as you munch and mingle, knowing your ticket price benefits SAACA Community Arts Outreach programs.
5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Kiva Ballroom, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive, saaca.thundertix.com/events, $75, over age 21 only
TUCSON PARKS AND RECREATION SUMMER ROAD RACES
Runners of all ages and skill levels can race against time, themselves and their neighbors at city parks through June and July. Events include a 1-mile predict (guess what your time will be), a 2K and a 5K. Ribbons go to the top three finishers in each road race. Find information about other summer track and field events at the same website. Tuesdays and Thursdays will see competition in long jump, high jump, turbo javelin, dashes and relay races. 5:30 p.m. registration, 6 p.m. races, various parks and days, tucsonaz.gov/parks/sports#softballinfo, for entry fees see website.
and the third Thursday of every month, Union Public House, 4340 N. Campbell Avenue, Suite 100, eventbrite.com, admission starts at $15 member, $30 guest
JUNETEENTH JAM
Blax Friday and Hotel Congress welcome music fans to celebrate freedom and community around the Juneteenth
“2023 TOXIC DETECTIVES SUMMER CAMP”
For the budding young scientist in your household, this is a chance to shine in the company of like minds. Kids from sixth through eighth grade follow clues through a bunch of science activities to find solutions to real-world problems in environmental health and toxicology. This program of the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center is helping prepare today’s kids for tomorrow’s problems, while also making friends and having fun.
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from Monday, June 20, to Thursday, June 24, Roy P. Drachman Hall, 1205 N. Martin Avenue, https://bit.ly/toxicdetectives, $225
SABINO SHUTTLE NIGHT TOURS
For decades, Tucsonans have made a ritual of hiking Sabino Canyon on Friday evening. Now, in the comfort of the Sabino Canyon Crawler shuttle, even the most sedentary of us can enjoy the views of moonlit pools in Sabino Creek and photogenic shadows cast on the canyon walls. Unlike most Friday hikers, the shuttle goes all the way to the top. It’s an hour-long, 7.4-mile round trip on the Crawler, emission-free, window free and equipped to accommodate mobility devices. Narration is in Spanish and English.
PARKS.(TUCSON CITY PARKS & RECREATION/SUBMITTED)
holiday. They’ll host a music jam for all ages, featuring DJ Impeccable and Natho Lotus with Phoenix band Prime Society headlining. After 10 p.m. DJ Fat Tony changes up the ambience, and only fans ages 21 and older are admitted.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street, hotelcongress.com, $11.33
8 p.m. every Saturday through October, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road, sabinocanyoncrawler.com, $15, $8 ages 3 through 12, free for kids under 3, advance purchase via the website recommended.
MONSOON CHOCOLATE FACTORY TOURS
Boutique chocolatier Monsoon Chocolates wants to introduce you to its unique techniques and blends. There will be tasting, but you’ll also learn about the farmers, their cultures and the role of chocolate in the global economy, including in reducing the cocaine trade. The beans in your Monsoon Chocolate come from South America, Madagascar, Tanzania and Uganda. Monsoon turns them into Sonoran Desert delights! Various times Thursday through Sunday through Friday, June 30, Monsoon Chocolate, 234 E. 22nd Street, eventbrite.com, $20.
ALL AGES CAN RACE FOR THE RIBBONS IN TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS IN TUCSON
LAUGHING STOCK
AUGGIE SMITH IS BACK AT LAFF’S
By Linda Ray Tucson Weekly Columnist
Auggie Smith, a perennially popular headliner at Laff’s Comedy Caffe returns there this weekend. He’s missed us, he said, but it’s not like he’s been idle. He’s been mastering Zoom.
“Boy, do I love Zoom comedy,” he said. “I got really, really good at it. I would set up in my backyard, so my background looked like I was a war correspondent. My neighbors would set off fireworks. I set up my tripod and stood screaming into my phone on a table.”
Like everyone else’s, Smith’s standup trade was broken in the pandemic, along with the whole economic model of live comedy. But unlike some other kinds of live artists, comedians could work solo out of their homes. Savvy producers and promoters all over the world generated loads of opportunities for them. The pay wasn’t comparable, but there were no travel expenses, and they could expand their audiences for future shows anywhere in the world.
From all this, Smith also scored a halfhour special on a legacy streaming comedy show, “Dry Bar Comedy.” Dry Bar was on the leading edge of what Smith sees
as a different understanding, lately, about what constitutes comedy. “The things that we can talk about have definitely changed,” he said, “but personally I think it’s gotten much better.
He noted, positively, that certain topics are now off limits. “The only thing that’s really left is stuff that’s truly personal to you, truly your life and your feelings, and your emotions and your vulnerabilities.”
Smith said that, in a way, he hopes streaming services “will be the future of comedy.”
“It worked out good for a lot of people,” he said, “because one of the reasons some people don’t go out is they just don’t want to go out. They don’t like putting on pants. They don’t like getting into traffic. They don’t like parking. So, if they can watch a live comedy show from their couch, why wouldn’t they?”
There is one, incontrovertible reason they might not, and that’s the fundamental human drive for community.
Smith put his finger on it. “I believe that standup comedy is the purest art form because it’s just a human being talking. It’s something that’s been going on for 100,000 years — people gathering around the fire and telling a tale of the day and entertaining people only with their words and their cadence and taking over a room only with the way you’re able to put together syllables in an interesting manner.
“I don’t think that’s ever going to get old to people. I truly believe that when people can no longer gather and watch their fellow humans talk, that is the end of polite society.”
GEORGE LOPEZ IS ‘ALLLRIIIIGHHTTT!’
Fans of George Lopez, who are legion, might have a better chance than usual to see him at AVA Amphitheater on June 17. He’s bringing an all-new show created since he toured in the wake of his 2022
Netflix special, “We’ll Do It for Half.”
Lopez has been leveraging humor around his native culture for cross-cultural laughs since Sandra Bullock plucked him from obscurity more than 20 years ago to make him the star of a TV series. Now his resume includes almost annual arena tours, including one that recently generated a scripted comedy series on BET.
Lopez has been featured in four HBO specials and has made comedy albums that generated multiple Grammy nominations. He’s also hosted a nightly talk show and has performed both dramatic and comic characters in movies. He’s voiced many popular animated films, too, including all three of the “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” movies.
In 2006, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was named in the Harris Poll as one of the Top Ten Favorite Television Personalities.
MUSIC SOUTHWEST PROVIDES FODDER FOR TINA & HER PONY SONGS
By Jack Miessner Tucson Weekly Staff
Indie folk artist Tina & Her Pony never had much interest in horses.
“Really it’s a play on the fact that they say that every little girl wants a pony when they’re younger,” said Tina Collins, the singer and multi-instrumentalist behind the project.
“And I never wanted that. All I wanted to do was sing and play music and travel, and now I get to do that. So, Tina and Her Pony is my vehicle to make my dream come true.”
Tina & Her Pony will perform Sunday, June 18, at Monterey Court. But the Asheville, North Carolina, musician is no foreigner to the Southwest.
Beginning in 2010, Collins spent four years in Taos, New Mexico. The serene, high desert landscape provided her with ample songwriting fuel, and to this day, the natural imagery of the Southwest still creeps into the sound, according to the singer.
“That was where Tina & Her Pony really got started in 2010, so it’s sort of a second hometown for me. There’s a lot of fans and friends and family there,” Collins said.
“Just living in such a beautiful place, every day I would just step out of my house in Taos, and it never got old. It was a really inspiring place to live, in the sense that it made me want to write a lot.”
Collins has released three albums under the name: an eponymous 2012 LP, 2017’s “Champion,” and most recently, 2023’s “Marigolds.” She first became hooked on bluegrass festivals while living in Tampa in her early 20s. The accessibility of the genre lured her in.
“I’ve found it to be so wide open as far
as anything can be a song. I listened to it, and I understood, because it’s so simple. So, for me that was kind of an ‘in’ to music. I was like, ‘OK, I play these three chords and riff on these themes of, like, trains and people named Caroline.’ The themes are so recycled that you can do your own version.”
That potential for artistic liberty piqued Collins’ interest. Intoxicated by bluegrass and Appalachian folk’s adaptability, her aim from the get-go was to innovate, to push forward from antiquity and transcend the limits of those traditional sounds.
“I love just blending it with other stuff. For instance, one of the most basic things about Tina & Her Pony is that it’s
that’s not a popular opinion, but I feel like the cello is so much softer on the ears.”
Collins’ knack for musical metamorphosis is ever-present in Tina & Her Pony’s 2023 album, “Marigolds.” The musician sat in the producer’s chair for the first time on this record, and while at first a bit intimidated, she quickly found her feet, and the process “turned out to just be really fun.”
According to Collins, her new role allowed her more freedom over the album’s sound. On the project, she experiments with deep, driving electric bass lines, spacey electric guitar licks and groovy, mellow drums (listen to “Swings,” “Pull You Close”).
“At first it really had more of a bluegrass influence, and that’s really changed over the years to be more like indie folk, like more of a smooth sound,” the musician said. “I don’t even know if it’s Appalachian anymore.
“I definitely was able to explore more pop and soul, and that was really fun for me.
“I co-produced it with one of my good friends Ryan Furstenberg, and he was also the tracking engineer for the album. I picked him specifically because he has more of a pop sensibility when it comes to production than I’ve typically gone for in the past, and I wanted to bring more of that in.”
really heavy sounding in the cello, and cello is not traditionally in bluegrass music. That’s a new thing that started in the early aughts.
“I’m not a huge fan of the fiddle. I know
Tina & Her Pony w/Sharkk Heartt and Stephy Leigh Griffin
WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday, June 18
WHERE: Monterey Court, 505 W. Miracle Mile, Tucson
COST: No cover
INFO: montereycourtaz.com
Collins’ sense of innovation is particularly clear on “Fly Around,” her version of the traditional bluegrass song “Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss.” The track plays with an in-the-pocket drum beat and a twangy electric guitar lead and preserves little from the original besides a plucked banjo riff which marches through the song’s 2-minute duration.
The artist includes these reimagined classics on her records to pay homage to her roots and her fondness for the old. Of course, no tune reaches the album untouched by a Tina twist.
“I just love traditional music. It has given me so much, so I just hope to give back to the canon of that genre,” Collins said.
“It’s really fun for me as a queer musician to write new lyrics for a traditional song because it changes the perspective when it’s being sung by a woman, like with the pronouns,”she continued. “How can we make traditional music more queer?”
TINA COLLINS BUILDS A NEW SOUND FROM THE FOUNDATIONS OF TRADITIONAL FOLK MUSIC. (LADY IN THE MIRROR PHOTOGRAPHY/SUBMITTED)
We are barely scratching the surface here, but impressive as all this is, any Lopez fan will tell you that you just have to see him perform. Through the magic of streaming services, you can do that without even putting on pants.
SHOWS THIS WEEK
AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 17, casinodelsol.com, tickets start at $30, George Lopez: “Alllriiiighhttt!”
Chuckleheads, 41 Brewery Avenue, Bisbee, 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, chuckleheadsaz.com, $15 advance, $20 at the door, “Jeff Stonic Presents the Bi-Agena,” celebrating Pride month.
Club Congress, Hotel Congress, “The Switch,” Club Congress, 311 E. Congress Street, 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 19, free, Jacob Breckenridge, Joe Tullar, Jesus Otamendi, Zo, Chris Quinn, Anthony Jenkins and more, Matt Ziemak and Autumn Horvat host. Drop your name in the bucket if you want to try the game.
Laff’s Comedy Caffe, 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 16, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, laffstucson.com, $15, $20 preferred seating, Auggie Smith
The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress Street, eventbrite.com, $15 to $40. 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, eventbrite.com, “Gateway Comedy Show.” Stand-up comedians tell their best jokes, then get as high as possible and tell them again. Billy Anderson hosts.
Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard, unscrewedtheatre.org, $8, live or remote, $5 kids. 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 16, Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed (NBOJU family-friendly Improv); 6 p.m. Saturday, June 17, Unscrewed Family Hour; 7:30 p.m. NBOJU; 9 p.m. The Backyard, uncensored variety comedy
Vail Theatre of the Arts, 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, vaillaughs.com, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 17, tickets start at $10, Ron Morey, Hollywood improviser and Las Vegas regular, known for anecdotes, characters, impressions and physicality.
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
By Connor Dziawura Tucson Local Media Staff
JUNE 15
Slothrust
191 Toole, 8 p.m., $20 sundiver ca Club Congress, 7 p.m., $15-$18
JUNE 16
Greg Morton and Jim Stanley LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free Insound
Club Congress, 8:30 p.m., $10-$12
Midnight The Rock, 7 p.m., $23
Orchadia
191 Toole, 8 p.m., $5
T3R Elemento
Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $39.50-$54.50
JUNE 17
Al Jardine
Fox Tucson Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $20-$47.50
Jameson Clay Koweek
LaCo Tucson, 10:30 a.m., free
The Rialto Showcase w/Saguaroville, Something Like Appropriate, Then When and Theocide
191 Toole, 8 p.m., $10
JUNE 18
Brain Tourniquet and Sex Prisoner Club Congress, 7 p.m., $12
Creeping Death
The Rock, 6 p.m., $20
Dennis Jones Band Hotel Congress Plaza, 6 p.m., $12-$15
Mik and the Funky Brunch
LaCo Tucson, 11 a.m., free
JUNE 20
Miss Lana Rebel and Kevin Michael
Mayfield
LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free
JUNE 21
Graham Nash
Fox Tucson Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $41-$101
Oscar Fuentes
LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free
JUNE 22
Hank Topless LaCo Tucson, 6 p.m., free
JUNE 23
decker.
Club Congress, 8:30 p.m., $12-$15
Greg Morton and Jim Stanley LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free
Hobo Johnson
191 Toole, 8 p.m., $25
One of These Nights (The Eagles tribute) Fox Tucson Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $20-$45
JUNE 24
Southern Culture on the Skids 191 Toole, 8 p.m., $20
JUNE 25
Mik and the Funky Brunch LaCo Tucson, 11 a.m., free
JUNE 27
Miss Lana Rebel and Kevin Michael Mayfield
LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free Venom Inc.
191 Toole, 8 p.m., $28
JUNE 28
Oscar Fuentes
LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free Protomartyr
191 Toole, 8 p.m., $18
JUNE 29
Alabama
Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater, 8 p.m., $44-$499.50
Greg Morton and Jim Stanley LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free
BIG PROBLEMS, LOCAL SOLUTIONS, DIVERSE BENEFITS
By Aari Ruben Tucson Weekly Columnist
The solutions to our most common human problems require individual responsibility and thinking locally. Our modern world is fast-paced and high-tech and has seen an age of vast globalization and the rise of technology.
This has come with no shortage of interesting and complex puzzles to solve. My late father called it the “perils of technology.” He even wrote a book by that title. I honestly never read it, but I may have to dig it out.
There’s homelessness, food insecurity,
cheap, plentiful fentanyl and who knows what else all over the place. These are issues far too prevalent in Tucson. We face shortages of vital, finite natural resources in the form of water. Energy costs are high. Those sources are unsustainable. Economic times are challenging for individuals and small businesses alike. We have all seen, first, the pandemic, and then inflation, alongside widening political and economic divides. All of this affects supply chains, drives up prices and further divides us from our fellows and sense of tribe. It gets a little overwhelm-
ing.
It’s apparent this trend can only be reversed by thinking locally and by acting with intention. Thus, keeping it local breaks big problems down into bite-size chunks, and the intention produces a tangible result, inspiring more widespread participation, a feeling of justice and a positive feedback loop that can swell and spread into meaningful social change.
When you clean up your street, it’s your street that’s clean and to your benefit — at least for a while.
Another important factor in affecting positive change is in our product-purchasing decisions and which types of businesses we choose to frequent. In days long gone by, almost all businesses were sole proprietorship and locally based. Often a transaction was conducted between a customer and a businessowner hand to hand. The personal nature of this transaction created a trust and bond symbiotic in nature, building the relationship benefits both sides.
It is not impossible to recreate this symbiotic relationship via remote transaction, or with a faceless Wall Street cor-
poration as the counterparty, but there is more to consider. Fiscally, if the transaction is local, with a small business, whose owner and staff live in the community, the taxes paid stay local and the money earned by the businesses owner and staff stay local and are spent yet again. Those people may pay property taxes. They may buy other goods and services. Our economy is circular. People tend to spend what they earn, somewhere. By keeping this circle of transactions close to home, we see more benefit to our community and our neighbors. A little bit of all of that comes back to us in many direct and indirect ways, like psycho-social benefits. As you dive into this way of making things better for yourself, the more effort you make to keep it local — or at least intentional — the more creative, interesting, talented people you will come across. They will likely know other people you might like to know who produce things you might like to have. The quality and diversity of unique goods is astounding. Seeing all this firsthand creates admiration for others’ talents, and inspires
a creative human desire to express our own talent. This spills over into a positive self-image and pride in ourselves and our comrades. This engaged awakened state has another category benefit, that of improved physical well-being. This helps our bodies heal and be resistant to illness. We haven’t even addressed our nutrition and applying a local, more intentional mindset to the fuel we put into our bodies. Imagine the fringe benefits of knowing the person actually produc-
ing the food you eat. In Tucson, that is as simple as going to one of many local farmers markets or specialty shops. Again, engage with these people; they will be receptive and glad you did. They will know other farmers and ranchers. The care people of this ilk put into their work creates quality that blows away the commercial.
Let’s all look at the synergies and hidden benefits of looking at local options and appreciate what that intent can really do for our community at large.
DEALER’S CHOICE
THIS WEEK'S INDICA: Northern Lights is known for its heavy body high. The high from Northern Lights will blanket you into a happy state of relaxation. Northern Lights can also help aid with appetite and insomnia and is a good choice for those looking to quiet down the brain.
THIS WEEK'S HYBRID: Fire OG, while technically an indica-leaning hybrid, delivers an apex of creative stimulation and dreamlike bliss. Thanks to Fire OG’s rich presence of myrcene, it is the perfect strain for uninterrupted relaxation, aches and pains.
THIS WEEK'S SATIVA: Sour Diesel is a cerebral classic, known for its euphoric effects. If you’re looking for a strain to keep you on your feet, Sour Diesel is the one; a great choice for a good ol’ wake and bake.
A STONER GIFT GUIDE FOR DADS ON FATHER’S DAY
By Tucson Weekly Sta
New CBD and cannabis products are always fun to try, but especially relaxing for dads spending stressful summer days at home with the kids. Here are a few cannabis-friendly products by Blazy Susan that families can buy dear old dad for Father’s Day.
BLAZY SUSAN
This forward-thinking and consumer-focused brand makes some of the best rolling accessories, as their fun and vibrant packaging is striking. Their customizable spinning rolling tray features an innovative design with small compartments for all types of smoking accessories and supplies including lighters, pre-rolls, bangers and cellphones.
BLAZY SUSAN SPINNING ROLLING TRAY
The Blazy Susan spinning rolling tray ($120) was built by smokers for smokers. The Blazy Susan is 15.5 inches in diameter and is constructed from high-qual-
SUSAN’S OWN’S FULL-SPECTRUM CBD MUSCLE BALM TREATS PROBLEM AREAS QUICKLY. RUB THE RETRACTABLE STICK ONTO THE SURFACE OF ANY MUSCLE, JOINT OR PAINFUL AREA AND THE 4,000 MG FULLSPECTRUM CBD WILL IMMEDIATELY GO TO WORK. (SUSAN’S OWN/SUBMITTED)
SUSAN’S OWN OFFERS A VARIETY OF CANNABIS AND CBD PRODUCTS. (SUSAN’S OWN/SUBMITTED)
ity birch. It is hand finished with a fine Italian varnish to ensure a sleek and smooth rolling experience.
THE HALF-MOON ROLLING TRAY
Available in cherry, birch or black, this new tray design has three areas to break down herb. Blazy Susan has invented a
SUSAN’S OWN’S FULL-SPECTRUM 1000 MG TINCTURES ARE MADE WITH AMERICANGROWN HEMP AND OFFER MAXIMUM RELIEF, FOCUS AND WELLNESS. THEY COME IN LEMONADE OR CREAMSICLE. (SUSAN’S OWN/SUBMITTED)
cone-filling area for anyone who prefers to fill over rolling.
It’s half the size of the spinning rolling tray, but there’s more than enough room for tools, papers and a cellphone/tablet to watch your favorite shows while you roll up. Add a silicone ash tray/debowler or dab station to get the most out of your rolling tray. ($64.99)
BLAZY SUSAN PINK ROLLING PAPERS
These pink rolling papers are vegan and non-GMO. They are made in France using premium materials that deliver a high-quality slow burn with no aftertaste. Blazy also makes pink pre-rolled cones, which are the perfect option for anyone looking for a convenient and easy way to smoke.
Blazy’s accessories have options for any smoker, from casual to connoisseur. Available now in purple, too.
PURPLE AND PINK HEMP PLASTIC ROLLING TRAYS
Purple and pink hemp plastic rolling trays are functional. Blazy Susan’s purple hemp plastic rolling tray comes
with a lifetime replacement warranty. It includes a 3-inch grinder cutout and a wide and open rolling area with an indented center portion to make rolling and stuffing cones easier. Includes Bic and Clipper lighter holes, various holes for rolled goodies and vape pens along with a 14 mm male slot, slots for 1 1/4 and king-size rolling papers and cellphone slot for vertical or horizontal viewing. ($29.99)
FOR CBD LOVERS
Susan’s Own’s full-spectrum CBD muscle balm treats problem areas quickly. Rub the retractable stick onto the surface of any muscle, joint or any painful area and the 4,000 mg full-spectrum CBD will immediately go to work, relieving and relaxing without leaving behind a greasy mess. The balm is designed to be stronger and penetrate deeper than other balms on the market. ($74)
FULL-SPECTRUM CBD TINCTURES FROM SUSAN’S OWN
These full-spectrum 1,000 mg tinctures are made with American-grown hemp and offer the maximum relief, focus and wellness.
Choose from original, with no added flavor; or two summery flavors, lemonade or creamsicle. ($49.99 for a 1-fluid ounce bottle.)
SUSAN’S OWN FULL-SPECTRUM CBD BATH BOMBS
These have lush floral scents to create an aromatherapy experience. They feature biodegradable glitter and rose and lavender flakes. They contain 100 mg of full-spectrum CBD to melt away the strain of the day. Choose lavender or rose. The bombs retail for $16.
TUCSON AREA DISPENSARIES
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
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
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
South: 2075 E. Benson Highway 520-373-5779
earthshealing.org
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
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: • 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; medicalmarijuanaoftucson.com
Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
COMICS
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)
Aries-born Vincent van Gogh’s painting “Potato Eaters” shows five people in a dark room barely illuminated by lamplight. Seated around a small table, they use their hands to eat food they have grown themselves. Vincent wanted to convey the idea that they “dug the earth with the very hands they put into their bowls.” I don’t expect you to do anything quite so spectacularly earthy in the coming weeks, Aries, but I would love to see you get very up close and personal with nature. I’d also love to see you learn more about where the fundamental things in your life originate. Bonus points if you seek adventures to bolster your foundations and commune with your roots.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20)
Renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera emerged from his mother’s womb in 1886. But some observers suggest that Rivera’s soul was born in 1920: a pivotal time when he found his true calling as an artist. During a visit to Italy, as he gazed at the murals of 15th-century mural painters, “he found the inspiration for a new and revolutionary public art capable of furthering the ideals of the ongoing revolution in his native land.” (In the words of art historian Linda Downs.) I will be extra dramatic and speculate you may have a comparable experience in the coming months, dear Taurus: a rebirth of your soul that awakens vigorous visions of what your future life can be.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20)
Among her many jobs, my triple Gemini friend Alicia has worked as a deep-sea rescue diver, an environmental activist, a singer in a band, a dog food taster, an art teacher for kids and a volunteer at a sleep lab researching the nature of dreams. Do I wonder if she would be wise to commit herself to one occupation? Not really. I respect her decision to honor her ever-shifting passions. But if there will ever come a time when she will experiment with a bit more stability and constancy, it may come during the next 11 months. You Geminis are scheduled to engage in deep ruminations about the undiscovered
potentials of regularity, perseverance and commitment.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22)
As religious sects go, the Shakers are the most benign. Since their origin in the 18th century, they have had as many women as men in leadership roles. They practice pacifism, disavow consumerism and don’t try to impose their principles on others. Their worship services feature dancing as well as singing. I’m not suggesting you become a Shaker, Cancerian, but I do hope that in the coming months, you will place a premium on associating with noble groups whose high ideals are closely aligned with your own. It’s time to build and nurture your best possible network.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG.
22)
For years, Mario A. Zacchini worked at a circus as a “human cannonball.” On thousands of occasions, he was shot out of a cannon at 90 miles per hour. “Flying isn’t the hard part,” he testified. “Landing in the net is.” His work might sound dangerous, but he lived to age 87. Let’s make Mario your role model for a while, Leo. I hope he will inspire you to be both adventurous and safe, daring but prudent. I trust you will seek exhilarating fun even as you insist on getting soft landings.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)
One of my favorite astrology teachers, Stephen Arroyo, notes, “Most people have a strong opinion about astrology, usually quite extreme, even though 95% have never studied it whatsoever.” Of course, astrology is not the only subject about which people spout superficial ideas based on scant research. Viral epidemiology is another example. Anyway, Virgo, I am asking you to work hard to avoid this behavior during the rest of 2023. Of all the zodiac signs, you have the greatest potential to express thoughtful ideas based on actual evidence. Be a role model for the rest of us! Show us what it means to have articulate, well-informed opinions.
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.
By Brian Box Brown
LIBRA
(SEPT. 23-OCT. 22)
Meditation teacher Cheri Huber wrote a book called “Be the Person You Want to Find.” This would be an excellent title for your life story during the next 10 months. I hope you will soon ruminate on how to carry out such a quest. Here are two suggestions. 1. Make a list of qualities you yearn to experience in an ally and brainstorm about how to cultivate those qualities in yourself. 2. Name three high-integrity people you admire. Meditate on how you could be more like them in ways that are aligned with your life goals.
SCORPIO
(OCT. 23-NOV. 21)
Now is a good time to take stock of how you have fared in the dating and mating games through the years. Why? Because you are entering a new chapter of your personal love story. The next two years will bring rich opportunities to outgrow stale relationship patterns and derive rich benefits from novel lessons in intimacy. An excellent way to prepare is to meditate on the history of your togetherness. P.S.: The term “fate bait” refers to an influence that draws you toward the next turning point of your necessary destiny. Be alert for fate bait.
SAGITTARIUS
(NOV. 22-DEC. 21)
Sagittarian actor Samuel Jackson loves the color purple. He insists on it being featured in his films, and he often wears purple outfits. In “Black Snake Moan,” he plays a purple Gibson guitar. In the animated movie, “Turbo,” he voices the role of a purple racing snail. In his “Star Wars” appearances, he wields a purple light saber. Now I am endorsing his obsession for your use. Why? First, it’s an excellent time to home in on exactly what you want and ask for exactly what you want. Second, now is a favorable phase to emphasize purple in your own adventures. Astrologers say purple is your ruling color. It stimulates your natural affinity for abundance, expansiveness and openness.
CAPRICORN
(DEC. 22-JAN. 19)
People who understand the creative pro-
cess say it’s often wise to stay mum about your in-progress work. You may diminish the potency of your projects if you blab about them while they’re still underway. I don’t think that’s true for all creative efforts. For example, if we collaborate with partners on an artistic project or business venture, we must communicate well with them. However, I do suspect the transformative efforts you are currently involved in will benefit from at least some secrecy for now. Cultivate the privacy necessary to usher your masterpiece to further ripeness.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB.
18)
Musician Frank Zappa (1940–1993) was a freaky rebel, iconoclastic weirdo and virtuoso experimenter. Everything normal and ordinary was boring to him. He aspired to transcend all categories. And yet he refrained from taking psychedelic drugs and urged his fans to do the same. He said, “We repudiate any substances, vehicles or procedures which might reduce the body, mind or spirit of an individual to a state of sub-awareness or insensitivity.” Zappa might have added that some substances temporarily have a pleasing effect but ultimately diminish the life force. In my estimation, Aquarius, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to re-evaluate your relationship with influences that weaken the vitality of your body, mind or spirit. It will also be a favorable period to seek new modes of lasting liberation.
PISCES
(FEB. 19-MARCH 20)
If you are at a festival or fair where you could win a lot of money by smashing watermelons with your head, I hope you won't do it. Same if you imagine you could impress a potential lover by eating 25 eggs in three minutes: Please don’t. Likewise, I beg you not to let yourself be manipulated or abused by anyone for any reason. These days, it's crucial not to believe you can succeed by doing things that would hurt or demean or diminish you. For the foreseeable future, you will be wise to show what you do best and express your highest values. That’s the most effective way to get what you want.
Req: Masters + 4 yrs exp (or Bach’s+6yrs). May telecommute 4 day/wk. Expected salary range for position based on primary location in AZ is $127,440.00 to $169,500/yr. Actual pay w/in range determined based on exp, qualifications, geographic location & other job-related factors permitted by law. Discretionary annual bonus may be avail based on individual & Co. performance. Position qualifies for benefits detailed at Benefits (https://roche.ehr.com/default.ashx?CLASSNAME=splash ) Apply:
DPR Tucson seeks a Project Mgr. for lg. scale commercial construction projects. BS Civ. Eng., Const. Mgmt., Constr. Eng., or rltd., + 5 yrs. exp. req'd. Resumes to careers@dpr.com or online at https://www.dpr.com. Must reference AZ19020.
by Will Shortz
ACROSS
1 Architect of the Museum of Islamic Art
4 Shirley Bassey and Angela Lansbury, for two
9 It can come up to your neck in the winter
14 When the moment is right
16 Modify
17 Shakes a leg
of “Hedda Gabler,” e.g.
18 Prefix with media
Dive boat feature
19 Kooky, as a scheme
20 James ___ Award (culinary honor)
21 Symbols of slipperiness
22 Bewildered
25 Actress Long
26 Parisian possessive
27 Bakery chain that began as the Saint Louis Bread Co.
29 When said three times, 2012 Taylor Swi song
30 Orbiter until 2001
31 Streamlined type of baleen whale
33 Jake’s love interest in “The Sun Also Rises”
35 Overcooks, and then some
36 Can opener?
39 Yahoo
40 Way to go
41 Pu ed-up
43 They get booted at the o ice
46 Personal pronoun in Prussia
47 Beatle who wrote and sang “Don’t Pass Me By”
48 Org. with the highest-circulating magazine in the U.S.
49 Travel across the pond, perhaps
51 “That just might work!”
54 End of “Hedda Gabler,” e.g.
55 Dive boat feature
56 Shiny material in some guitars
23 Sign of a hit
24 Bit of dangly jewelry
27 The Panthers of the A.C.C.
57 Takes steps to compete?
58 The ___ day 59 Result of a firing?
Supermarket lines, for shor t?
Sign of a hit
60 Language su ix
Bit of dangly jewelr y
Last sign 2 It may have one or two sides
28 Onetime N.B.A. star Me a Sandiford-___
29 Word with crowd or channel
30 “Breaking Bad” drug
32 Je y
33 Edgar Allan Poe story, with “The”
34 Fix, as the roof of a hut
37 Bio class subject
Things to live up to
The Panthers of the A.C.C.
38 They help you focus
Leonardo ___ (Fibonacci alias)
Crowning
Something to work on
Resident of ancient Crete
Pollution source, say
Onetime N.B.A. star Metta Sandiford-___
Harden
Carnival music
Word with crowd or channel
Violate, as etique e
Instruction to a kayaker
Spots for tadpoles
Like the population of Greenland
Divide
One may be le at the scene of a crime
“Breaking
Martin Luther King Jr., for one 12 What follows certain deadlocks 13 With this answer’s number, a hit horror movie franchise 15 Supermarket lines, for short?
