Tucson Weekly 11.17.22

ADMINISTRATION

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EDITORIAL

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Hope Peters, Staff Reporter, hpeter@timespublications.com

Katya Mendoza, Staff Reporter, kmendoza@timespublications.com

Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter, kschaffner@timespublications.com

Contributors: David Abbott, Brian Box Brown, Rob Brezsny, Max Cannon, Rand Carlson, Clay Jones, Laura Latzko, Xavier Otero, Dan Perkins, Linda Ray, Margaret Regan, Brian Smith, Will Shortz, Jen Sorensen, Aidan Wohl

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Cover image of Harry Connick, Jr. | Photo by Georgia Connick.

CITY OF TUCSON UNVEILS THE ‘SUNSHINE MILE’

By Katya Mendoza Tucson Local Media Staff

HAIRMOSA SALON OWNER

Christine Abeyta is excited about the completion of the Broadway Improve ment Project. Her small business, which opened amid the pandemic, received support from the city of Tucson to stay afloat during the road expansion.

“We actually saw a lot of people from the neighborhood take advantage of our new business which was nice and I think it was convenient for them to support us in their own backyard,” Abeyta said.

The 2-mile improvement project that extends from Country Club Road to Eu clid Avenue features six new travel lanes, landscaped medians, 6-foot-wide bike lanes, sidewalks, bus pullouts and a new underground storm drain system. On Thursday, Oct. 27, the city of Tucson un veiled the new “Sunshine Mile.”

“It helps traffic flow, people get anx ious when driving in unfamiliar places or when you add construction,” Abeyta said.

“I think we’re home free.”

“With COVID-19 kicking in during the same time this project (was) being done, it really took some dedication and grit for those companies to hang on,” said Gen. Ted Maxwell, Arizona Department of Transportation’s Regional Transporta tion Authority (RTA) representative.

“There are going be a lot of other busi nesses that are going to look to relocate to this area and make it a thriving eco nomic corridor.”

Dubbed a “multimodal boulevard” by Mayor Regina Romero, the improvement project was years in the making, includ ing collaborative efforts between the city and Rio Nuevo to preserve seven historic bungalows.

“All seven of those bungalows will be converted to food, beverage cafes and retail, including a culinary institute and visiting kitchen,” said Fletcher McCusk er, chairman of the Rio Nuevo Board of

Directors.

In 2006, voters approved an eightlane, 150-foot-wide transit corridor that would have eliminated about 150 historic buildings on the north side of the roadway.

“In 2014, the Tucson mayor and council voted to cap this project at six lanes,” Romero said. “We also incor porated feedback from the commu nity and that for me as a mayor and at that time as a council member was very important.”

Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik added, “In partnership with the county and the RTA, we were able to preserve about 130 of the businesses, small businesses, historic businesses and mid-century modern structures that are going to really frame the character of the Sunshine Mile going forward.”

The mayor touted the responsible use of public resources, looking forward to the next two decades of regional trans portation planning.

Last year, the mayor and city council adopted the Sunshine Mile Overlay Dis trict, the next phase of investment that will provide more opportunities for fu ture development, historic preservation

and further opportunities for creating an “activated space for the community,” ac cording to Rio Nuevo.

“The kinds of uses that are appropriate for being immediately adjacent to resi dential neighborhoods, because this is a roadway and people are living behind it,” Kozachik said.

“I have always said one of the most im portant investments governments can make is in public infrastructure, because public infrastructure leverages private investment and (the) Sunshine Mile has

SORENSEN

Christine Abeyta, owner of Hairmosa Salon is excited for the completion of the Broadway Improvement Project, the Sunshine Mile. (PHOTO BY NOELLE HARO-GOMEZ)

all of the right pieces to be a corridor that demonstrates what we can do along many of our major corridors in the city of Tucson,” Romero said.

“I hope that the experiences we’ve had in this project serve as a template for how we move other transit corridors,” Kozachik said.

Maxwell said “economic investment is sometimes a bad word,” but he added he thinks it’s time to acknowledge that it is valuable to the community.

“New roadways, new corridors, when they’re built attract investment,” Maxwell said.

Tucson’s first Ethiopian restaurant Zemam’s, which opened in 1993 in a small house on Broadway, is also preparing to expand its footprint in the Sunshine Mile Overlay district, by creating an international ethnic and cultural center in the Bungalow Block.

“Working with the city and the RTA, Rio Nuevo has acquired the three properties west of (Zemam’s) and we’re going to help them convert that into an African bazaar, Ethiopian coffee shop, interna-

tional bar and parking lot,” McCusker said.

“(Our) parents opened (Zemam’s) on a credit card with nothing else,” said Lucas Gebremariam, manager of Zemam’s.

“We want this to be a destination for Tucson but we also want it to be an opportunity for local people in Tucson, who

want to start a business but don’t have the capital to come and share their food, culture and tradition,” said Favin Gebremariam with Zemam’s.

“We want to be a place that’s inclusive and driven by community,” Lucas Gebremariam said.

The expansion, Z Street, will be an in-

ternationally themed space with a niche sports lounge, food vendor stalls and a communal kitchen.

“The goal when you come in is to be transported to a different place that’s not like anywhere else in town,” Lucas Gebremariam said.

Rio Nuevo also awarded two 16 property blocks to local companies, the Solot Plaza to the Larsen Baker commercial real estate company between Tucson Boulevard and Treat Avenue, and the Friedman Block between Tucson Boulevard and Plumer Avenue, to the Grant Krueger Team.

“In the next two years, you’ll see something in the neighborhood of 50 different stores, restaurants, cafes, shopping opportunities along the Sunshine Mile,” McCusker said. “The artery to the heart of Tucson Downtown.”

“We are grateful for every choice that led to the preservation and redemption of historic and significant spaces,” said Andy Littleton, president of the Sunshine Mile Business Association. “For every choice that moved this area to be more artful, accessible and keeping with its history than it could have been.”

Representatives from the City of Tucson, Rio Nuevo, Regional Transportation Authority and the Sunshine Mile Business Association cut ribbon at the “Sunshine Mile” celebration event on Thursday, Oct. 27, in Tucson, Ariz.

(PHOTO BY NOELLE HARO-GOMEZ)

CURRENTS

MERCADO FLEA BOASTS CREATIVE WARES EACH

MONTH

By Hope Peters Tucson Local Media Staff

Mercado Flea Market is open the second Sunday of each month through May. Held on the sidewalks and parking lots on Avenida del Convento in the Mercado District, the market features 46 local vendors selling antique, vintage and preowned goods and collectibles. The next one is 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 11, and it continues Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 12, April 9 and May 14.

This is the fifth year for the market, according to manager Carl Hanni.

“The crowds were definitely down during the pandemic, but they have totally come back,” Hanni said.

“They are bigger than ever before. We didn’t cancel one of the years or anything, the worst of it (COVID-19) was happening during the summer months and we were not there (in the summer).

“We certainly have several hundred, if not thousands of people come through on any given flea market. The encouraging thing is that they keep getting bigger. That’s what you want.”

Hanni said the number of vendors is fixed, as it didn’t have room to expand, even though the interest was there.

“We probably have more vendors who want spaces than we have spaces for,” Hanni said.

The shape of the flea market has changed over the years, due to construc-

tion in and around the Mercado District, he said. However, he’s pleased with this season’s format.

“We have had to adapt to the construction, so the flea market now looks differently than it did two or three years ago,” Hanni added.

“We have the best setup design we have ever had. We opened up a whole new area last year, 2021-2022, across from the annex. We expanded out to a lot over there and that allowed us to add eight more vendors. So that was the big change.”

There is on-site parking, and the streetcar has two stops along the flea market. Several local restaurants and retailers, two coffeeshops, Westbound Bar and La Estrella Bakery in the Mercado San Agustin and MSA Annex are all open during the market.

Mercado Flea MarketMercado District

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Sunday of each month through May

WHERE: Avenida del Convento, between Congress and Cushing streets

INFO: 520-461-1107, mercadodistrict.com, flea@mercadodistrict.com

Rugs, quilts and throws/covers for sale during the 2021-2022 Mercado Flea Market. (CARL HANNI/COURTESY)

The holidays can be a hectic time. It’s easy to put your needs on the back burner while you’re thinking about everyone else. We just wanted you to know that our patients’ health and wellbeing is our top concern this holiday season — and all year round.

Dr. Marin | Dr. Talalaev | Rebekah Lewis, FNP-C

OF MCKALE

By Aidan Wohl Tucson Local Media Staff

THE MOST ENDEARING PLAYS

are only as profound as the stage they are set on. This case can be illustrated not only for theatrics, but for collegiate ath letics.

The UA’s McKale Center is notorious for its rich 49-year history of transcen dence and merit. However, none of this would be made possible without the foundation for which each fan-favorite contest is prepared and produced: event management.

This behind-the-scenes team holds a mission of ensuring the safety and satis faction of every guest in the 14,644-capac ity arena. Though being behind the cur tain, their work does not go unnoticed.

It’s hard to absorb the extensive sig nificance of the historic McKale Center unless one has been there to see the pro gression through the years. Matt Brown — a 21-year event operation staffer and current assistant director of athletics for event operations — grew up in Tucson and attended UA. In 2001, he was hired, checking the box for a dream job.

“It means so much more to me, just be ing a native of Tucson and growing up around athletics as a young kid,” Brown said.

“Now finding myself behind the scenes at these various venues that helped me as a sports fan, I just have to pinch myself every once in a while. Although I’m work

ing in some capacity, I have the best seat in the house at the same time. So, it’s re ally something for me. I hope I can share with my kids later.”

Suzy Mason — the senior associate di rector of athletics for event management and facilities — has been inside the McK ale Center for multiple decades.

Mason was hired to the event manage ment staff the year Lute Olson’s men’s basketball team won the national cham pionship in 1997. She mentioned what the aura has been like of being inside McK ale throughout her tenure.

“It’s obviously one of the venues. If you put up a top five basketball game in the country, you’re going to want to play at McKale,” Mason said. “It’s got one of those storied histories. A lot of incredible games are played here. Our attendance is unmatched in the west and our rivals are some of the best in the country.”

Mason has watched the arena evolve since she arrived.

“Anything we do with audio video sound (now) was not a thing in 1997,” she said.

“Having the cool entertainment-level amenities that help support our gameday environment really make it a fun festive atmosphere.

“For our fans, it’s interactive with our (Zona) Zoo and really making sure that it’s a highlight for people when they get ready for their week to end on Thursday or Saturday for a game at McKale. So, I think what you have to do is manage through what is an older building from

1972 with modern-day amenities, which is a challenge. … But it’s certainly fun to do and it’s been a privilege to work in a venue like this that has its own kind of life and vibe to it.”

The event management staff must be quick-minded and very attentive to detail as there are a lot of moving parts within the perimeter of the arena before, during or after an event.

“You never know what’s going to hap pen at an event, especially a sporting event,” Brown said. “Obviously the game is going on, but how are you going to re act when there’s a dilemma that we need to address? In many cases, the health and welfare of our fans and student athletes become an issue.

“What happens if, something as sim ple, as the lights going out? How are you going to react? So, we’re looking for people who can think on their feet, make good decisions and get that message out as quickly as possible. At the time, you need to work quickly with all of your resources, security, custodial police, you name it, and you just have to be timely with all that.”

Although its job is to manage athletics, the event management staff has played hero in a nonbasketball setting as well.

“Probably one of the more memorable moments (at McKale), actually has noth ing to do with athletics,” Brown said.

“We had an unfortunate event when former Congresswoman Gabby Gif

Matt Brown

Suzy Mason

fords was shot here in Tucson. President (Barack) Obama came to Tucson to address this community. In a period of 72 hours, my staff and I were able to work with any number of law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service to help clear the building and make sure that we had a safe environment. We held a rally for the president of the United States. It didn’t feel like work, but was it ever a lot of work crammed into those three days. To meet the expectation of the U.S. Secret Service and the government of the United States, it was pretty remarkable. And I’ve never been more proud of our staff for being able to pull that off.”

Staff members have their own responsibilities, but the chemistry between them has been noted.

“It takes everybody’s best effort,” Brown said.

“We’re only as good as our weakest link in many regards. So, we’ve got a really good synergy, especially for a lot of us who have been on staff for a while. The new people who are coming in want to

learn like, ‘Hey, how can I do this better?

How can I do that better?’ But at the same time, these younger kids who are coming into the department, they’re sharing some of their ideas from where they came and almost in a way teaching us.”

Mason noted that the best part of her job is when the team wins, as it trickles down to fans and the staff.

“That’s important because then everybody’s happier,” she said.

“If we win, the complaints from my email or the phone the next day are limited. If we lose, then everything goes wrong, and people will question everything. I think part of it is being able to see some great games here because of the competition. ... And if we do our preparation correctly, it can be fun.

“It’s awesome to be able to work with our teams, too. At the end of the day, we’re here to service our student athletes and our coaches and support them. It’s great to get their feedback. We’re in a special place. We don’t just work with one sport. We don’t just work with one venue. ...Our staff gets to work with almost everybody else and all of their staff to pull off a very solid event.”

SHEMEKIA COPELAND AND SUGARAY RAYFORD

A Washington Post reviewer called her the greatest blues singer of her generation. Copeland’s emotional range and nuanced delivery freshen the blues repertoire and reveal its many layers. Her passions scream and whimper, her joy explodes. To paraphrase Mavis Staples, she sings with her heart and soul. Grammy nominee and B.B. King Entertainer Award winner Sugaray Rayford opens.

7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, foxtucson.com, tickets start at $38.50

FORT LOWELL FINE ART AND JEWELRY SHOW AND SALE

Quilting, wood art, pottery, glass art, hand-crafted jewelry, photography and paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media are featured in this event at historic San Pedro Chapel. All are by local artists, several of whom live in the Fort Lowell Neighborhood. San Pedro Chapel was reconstructed in 1932 at what had been the center of social life in El Fuerte, the neighborhood that grew around historic Fort Lowell after it was decommissioned.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, San Pedro Chapel, 5230 E. Fort Lowell Road, oldfortlowellneighborhood.com, free

BRINCOS DIERAS AT THE RIALTO THEATRE

Roberto Carlos came a long way out of poverty to become Latin America’s favorite clown. He said (translated from the Spanish), “The key is that I was going to have fun anywhere.” With no training, he dressed himself up, painted his face and started showing up to parties and weddings uninvited. If you are fluent in Spanish, but on the fence about going, visit some of his many YouTube clips to discover Brincos Dieras’ appeal and the sense of community in the audience.

6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, rialtotheatre. com, tickets start at $87

DOWNTOWN SHABBAT

Congregation Beit Simcha invites the community to join Rabbi Sam Cohon and the Beit Simcha Musicians in a celebration of the Sabbath at the Jewish History Museum. Oneg Shabbat follows. The museum occupies the site of the first syna-

by Linda Ray

EL TOUR DE TUCSON

Hosted by Banner University Medical Center, El Tour rules the roads on Saturday, Nov. 19. Now in its 39th year, it attracts more than 7,000 cyclists from all over the world. It’s also helped charities raise more than $100 million since 1983. The tour is best known for its challenging, 102-mile route. Its 10-miler is the most popular, though, and there’s even a 1-mile event for kids, families and newbies. Register to ride or volunteer at eltourdetucson.org. You’ll also find route maps there. Drivers take note.

Various activities, times, locations, maps and fees, Saturday, Nov. 19, eltourdetucson.org

GABRIEL EVAN NEW YORK CALYPSO ORCHESTRA

New York City saxophonist Gabriel Evan recreates the early days of calypso, gypsy jazz and hot jazz in four shows this weekend with Tucson’s Arthur Vint on drums. Evan’s musicianship is inspired by a long-ago era before every genre had its own channel. From the press he’s earned to date, we’re trying to imagine Django Reinhart and Charlie Parker channeling a Lecuana/Tchaikovsky jam. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 ,and Saturday, Nov. 19, The Century Room, 311 E. Congress Street, dice.fm, tickets start at $20.

vajo, Zuni and Santo Domingo jewelry. Each item is shown in three-dimensional, rotating images on the sale site. Native Seeds/SEARCH is a nonprofit seed conservation organization that promotes sustainable faming and food security. Through Nov. 21, online only, nativeseeds.org

‘PINOCCHIO’

The timeless Italian children’s story, about a kind old toy maker and his puppet that came to life, has charmed children all over the world in every artistic medium. Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro has reimagined it as a musical but in a darker setting — Mussolini’s Italy. The ambiance amps up the stakes for the tale’s ageless messages of love and wisdom. There is rustic beauty in Mark Gustafson’s painstaking stop-motion wizardry, and memorable poignancy in the film’s music and songs. Various times Friday, Nov. 18, to Thursday, Nov. 24, The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard, loftcinema.org, $6 to $10, passes not accepted.

‘MUSIC, SHE WROTE’

The Tucson Masterworks Chorale, Southern Arizona’s oldest chorale organization, presents a celebration of women composers, including “Mass in D” by Ethel Smyth and works by Clara Schumann, Fanny Hensel and more. The Chorale is directed by Luke Diamond and accompanied by organist Mariana Mevans Vidal. 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams Street, tucsonmasterworkschorale.org, $20, $10 students

gogue in Arizona Territory. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, Jewish History Museum, 564 S. Stone Avenue, beitsimchatucson.org, jewishhistorymuseum.org,

FAMILY FESTIVAL IN THE PARK

If games, prizes, crafts, inflatables, food vendors, class demonstrations and entertainment throughout the day aren’t enough to keep your family busy, you can visit the Reid Park Zoo for $1 and swim an inflatable obstacle course at the Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center. Take some time to check out the Reid Park Reimagined Master Plan. Staff will answer your questions and get your thoughts on

priorities for the next planning phase. The Community Food Bank will benefit from a collection of nonperishable food items.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, tucsonaz.gov/parks/ GeneCReidPark, free

VIRTUAL SHOW AND SALE OF NATIVE ARTS

A benefit for Native Seeds/SEARCH offers opportunities to buy original works by indigenous artists including Navajo weavings, Mata Ortiz pottery and Hopi carvings, as well as Tohono O’odham, Rarámuri and Hopi basketry, and Na-

RHYTHM & ROOTS: KEVIN PAKULIS

Thank goodness for Kevin Pakulis, holding down the fort at Borderlands Brewery every Sunday, giving all the best musicians in town something to do to stay out of trouble. It’s been almost 20 years that he’s been among the best guitar pickers in town. But he’s also a masterful writer, and singer, of songs best described as “desert soul.” Sunday, he’ll perform his first two records in their entirety. Had they come out on vinyl, we would have worn through them by now.

7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, Hotel Congress Plaza, 311 E. Congress Street, rhythmandroots.org, $10 to $15.

LAUGHING STOCK

BRIAN REGAN: IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

By Linda Ray

THE “ELECTRICAL

CONNECTION

of comedy” has kept Brian Regan passionate about his career for 40 years.

“I love that feeling of saying something that you thought of in your brain and creating a picture in an audience member’s brain. And if you connect, you get a laugh. It’s a powerful experience,” he said.

The power of that connection has made him one of the most inspiring comedians working today. Tucsonans under his spell have nearly sold out his set at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 20.

Regan has been good for a laugh at least since college when he first took a stab at standup. His football coach urged him to think about a career in comedy if his major in accounting didn’t work out. From there, as Regan was quick to point out, it was a long road to his 1991 debut on ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” Life as a professional comedian is athletic in its own way.

He noted that over many years he averaged 100 live shows. Between gigs were repeated rounds of late-night talk shows, including a record-breaking 28 appearances on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” In 2015, Comedy Central tapped him for their first ever live comedy special. He’s gone on to create seven more comedy specials for streaming. He’s also made movies and three seasons of an Amazon Prime series, “Loudermilk” in which he played, lovably, against type.

In his Wikipedia entry, the credits run to two pages.

In 40 years, he’s seen a lot of changes, too. He pointed out, for example, that comedy is no longer a business, but an industry. Things have changed even more in comedy’s cultural environment, too. Decades of common joke premises are now taboo, while many topics that were once taboo are now commonplace.

“Comedy does change, just like music and movies change,” Regan said. “It seems like more people are looking for

deeper topics within the comedy world. Years ago, people would avoid that like crazy. I believe in freedom of speech. As long as people are sharing what’s important to them through the prism of comedy, I usually think it’s beautiful.” The exception, he said, is anything mean-spirited or hurtful.

Regan is never mean-spirited or hurtful, or crass, or even coarse, let alone vulgar.

“I tend to like to do clean comedy,” he said. “I enjoy trying to see how much mileage I can get without hitting certain words or certain topics. My audience, because they’re coming to see me, they have an idea of what to expect.” But that’s not to say they will always see the same show. Regan said he changes up some of his material in almost every appearance, creating, expanding on and honing new ideas.

What’s made Regan’s comedy so popular is its nearly universal relatability. His encounters and reactions are slices of almost every American life, his sets are a vacation from everything that separates us. The genius in his observations,

his 40 years as a comedy athlete, and his demeanor as the neighbor we all wish we had are all wrapped up in a gift of something like grace.

As we open the paper and pull out the tissue we find our common humanity, and we laugh at it together.

The magic in that common ground is wonderfully expressed in the opening of Regan’s latest Netflix special, “Brian Regan: On the Rocks.” Upbeat music soars with us as we fly through a sunny day over the majestic red rocks surrounding the Red Rocks Amphitheater.

Regan bounds onto the stage, immediately addressing the elephant the room: his gray hair. From there his affect cycles through cheery, wry, bewildered, goofy and sarcastic as he holds forth about nonsense in hilarious detail. All the while he is moving and mugging with a physicality too rare among standup comedians.

He speculates on the ludicrousness of inventing marching bands. He derides an assertion that bees are smarter than humans because they can give directions with their tails. He gamely illustrates what that might look like. He relates the comic consequences of his OCD when

confronted with a quiz to diagnose it.

As he goes on like that for an hour, he makes the 8,500-seat Red Rocks amphitheater feel like a neighborhood barbeque where everybody gets the jokes. He’s the everyman, and everybody’s comedian.

7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, foxtucson.com, tickets stat at $40

SEATTLE’S DEREK SHEEN HEADLINES ‘COMEDY IN CATALINA’

Having opened for the likes of Patton Oswalt and Janeane Garofalo, Derek Sheen is the biggest catch yet for Kenny Shade’s “Comedy in Catalina.” Sheen’s storytelling plumbs the depths of the human condition to shed light on the laughs buried there.

But having Mishka Shubaly feature on the same bill puts this show in the big leagues for a Tucson-area pizza parlor. Shubaly has toured with Doug Stanhope and was the musical director for Stanhope’s movie, “The Unbookables.”

9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, Catalina

Brian Regan is a comedian for our times. (SUBMITTED)

By Xavier Otero Tucson Local Media

MARK YOUR CALENDARS…

THURSDAY, NOV. 17

While attending the University of Colorado in 1987, Todd Mohr, Brian Nevin and Rob Squires dropped out of college and began touring as Big Head Todd and the Monsters in a mustard yellow 1977 Dodge van christened “The Colonel.” Traveling throughout the Rocky Mountain region and American West they put 400,000 miles on the old Dodge before their breakthrough 1993 album changed the game. Upon its release “Sister Sweetly,” the bands third studio album, soared to No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseeker list and remained on the charts for over a year. A short time later “The Colonel” retired. Mohr hit an impasse when their record label wanted to make a video for hit single “Bittersweet,” to air on MTV. At the time MTV was a star maker. Videos that went into heavy rotation often served as a launching pad to stratospheric stardom. Bullheadedly, Mohr declined. “Most of the groups that were making it didn’t really have a lot of substance, I felt our band had more to offer,” Mohr reflected. “That (decision) probably cost us a lot in terms of celebritydom. But, in the end, it probably prolonged our career.” The band never reached such rarefied heights again. Still roaming through the countryside, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, this time with a newer van, make a stop at the Rialto Theatre. Engagers in suspicious activities, Tucson’s The Jons open the show… Guided by the spirit of David Bowie, slasher flicks and Dionysus — the ancient Greek god of wine, ecstasy and wild frenzy — Los Angeles snuff metal/gothic electo-poppers Patriarchy explore the dark side: Sex, power, subversion, and death. Frontperson/filmmaker Actually Huizenga — grand-daughter of physicist John R. Huizenga, a key figure in the Manhattan Project that produced the first atomic bomb — states, “Patriarchy” is a word I would like to destroy, yet make my own. We live in a patriarchy. So why not grab it by the balls and fuck it? So that’s what I’m doing. Even if it disrespects and discriminates against me.” Huizenga concludes, “It is all a matter of how you choose to look at these things.” Patriarchy cast aside the principles of the status quo at Club Congress. Electronic provocateurs Glacier.Wav and Street Fever lend support… Like a “Diamond in the Rough,” folk singer-songwriter Stephanie Farney —

finding inspiration in artists such as Hozier, Ben Howard and Shakey Graves — retells stories old and new at Tap & Bottle Downtown…

FRIDAY, NOV. 18

Recognized as one of the finest folklórico programs in the nation — under the artistic direction of José Luis Baca — Ballet Folklorico Tapatío presents ¡Puro Tapatío! A gala celebration commemorating the troupe’s 25th Anniversary. With special guests Mariachi Pueblo Viejo at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall… Accompanied by trombonist Max Goldschmid, pianist Jonathan Eldridge, bassist Colin McIlrath, and trapsman Arthur Vint, New York City saxophonist Gabriel Evans presents his whimsical take on early calypso, hot jazz, and mid-century exotica. In the first of two nights, the Gabriel Evans New York Calypso Orchestra perform at The Century Room… Igor Yuzov grew up in Russia when xenophobia spurred the Kremlin to ban rock music in 1985. But the intoxicating lure of forbidden fruit was just too great. In 1995, Yuzov claims that the spirit of Elvis Presley came to him in a dream, directing him to start a rock ‘n’ roll band, thus sealing his fate. As soon as it became possible, Yuzov left Russia for the California shore. Arguably, “Better Than Sex,” the Siberian surfrock of the Red Elvises will have you “Grooving to the Moscow Beat.” Followed by Tucson’s longest enduring Latinx dance party sin fronteras, El Tambó. DJ Humblelianess leads the Sonido Tambó crew. It all takes place on the Hotel Congress plaza… “Take a chance on me.” Playboy Manbaby’s Robbie Pfe er lords over his ABBA Dance Party at Club Congress… Music and art collide together when The Freezing Hands and The Websites provide the soundtrack to the Chris Mitchell art unveiling at Habitation Realty…

SATURDAY, NOV. 19

After finishing high school Lainey Wilson left her small farming community in the rearview mirror, driving off to “Redneck Hollywood” in pursuit of her dreams. For a time, she lived in a camper trailer outside of a recording studio in Nashville. To help her make ends meet, the owner of the studio paid Wilson’s water and electricity bills. “(That experience) taught me that this thing was not going to be easy. It taught me perseverance,” Wilson reflected. Ten years later — blending traditional country with a modern take on a retro flare

— Wilson has won over legions of fans with “Bell Bottom Country,” her second studio release. One of the brightest rising stars in country music, Lainey Wilson — with support from Mamma Coal — is at the Rialto Theatre… Conjuring an ancient sonic vibration, over the span of 30 years R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton and Will Clipman have documented their sweeping, improvisational new age sound on five studio recordings. The trio’s oeuvre includes two Grammy nominated albums: “In a Distant Place”

with Tibetan flutist Nawang Khechog and “Dancing into Silence.” Nakai, Eaton and Clipman present Spiral Rendezvous, their 2022 release, at The Sea of Glass Center for the Arts… Born out of a mutual love of traditional folk music and shanties, The Longest Johns are a Bristol, England, a cappella folk quartet. Since their formation in 2012, they have gone from singing sea shanties — a work song once commonly sung to accompany rhythmical labor aboard merchant sailing vessels — in a kitchen to touring the world. Jonathan Darley attributes the

rise in popularity of sea shanties, in part, to the pandemic. “These feelings of lockdown, stuck in a situation that you don’t want to be in. That’s led to this moment where, suddenly, everyone’s like, ‘I understand this now.’” With their third studio album, “Made of Ale Sessions,” The Longest Johns hoist a pint to the working class at 191 Toole. Tucson’s eclectic folk duo RISO opens the show… With a taproot anchored deep in the arid soil of Tucson, The Black Supersuckers, as they were originally named, came into existence when a group of punk rock loving

high school friends — Edward Daly aka Eddie Spaghetti, Dan Bolton, Ron Heathman, Dan Siegal, and the late Eric Martin — banded together in late 1988. Frustrated with the limitations of the local scene, they moved to Seattle in 1989. There they truncated their name and started to gig, perfecting a hard rocking, cow punk sound that soon drew the attention of Sub Pop Records. Now, with over three decades spent promulgating “The Evil Powers of Rock ‘N’ Roll,” the Super-

suckers continue to pledge allegiance to “sex, weed, and Satan with a wink and a nudge” at House of Bards… As we move closer to the winter solstice — when the inescapable low-watt drone of swamp coolers begins to wane throughout the trailer park, ice cold cans of cheap beer being the only constant in an unmerciful desert wasteland — acclaimed Americana singer-storyteller Kevin Pakulis and his Band — keyboardist Duncan Stitt, bassist Karl Ho mann and drummer Gary Mackender — perform Pakulis’ first two solo albums “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” and “Mockingbird Radio” in their entirety — on the Hotel Congress plaza… Sunny and the Whiskey Machine dispense a mixture of bluegrass, country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll into a concoction they call “SoulGrass” in the beer garden at MotoSonora Brewing Company… In the mood to dance? Resident DJ Posi plays the latest club bangers indoors at Club Congress while DJs Bex & Halsero detonate sonic bombs, keeping the dance floor radiating heat outdoors on the Hotel Congress plaza… With a portion of the proceeds donated to feed Tucson homeless during the holiday season, Danksgiving features performances by ZeeCeeKeely, Flowmads, Black Salt Tone, Cash Lansky, Freddie Jay, Funky Bonz, Los Streetlight Curb Players, Jahlos and The Rebels, Baja Caravan, plus a

turkey dinner plate, at the Chicago Bar…

SUNDAY, NOV. 20

From Worcester, England, Dave Mason rose to fame with the English rock band Traffic. Over the course of an illustrious career, in addition to enjoying success as a solo artist, Mason recorded with legends on several classic albums: The Rolling Stones’ “Beggars Banquet,” George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass,” Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Venus and Mars,” Jimi Hendrix’s ground shifting “Electric Ladyland,” and that is just the short list. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Dave Mason — with special guests Al Stewart and Tom Rush — take to the stage at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall… Over the course of a storied career, AmoChip Dabney has worked with the legendary Sun Ra and his Omniverse Arkestra, Zydeco’s Queen Ida, Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers Band, and many others. Currently performing with his own band, The Amosphere stoke the coals during the next installment of the Congress Cookout on the Hotel Congress plaza… Equally adept at performing on both woodwind and brass instruments, musical wunderkind Max Goldschmid hosts a Sunday night jazz jam session at The Century Room…

MONDAY, NOV. 21

Over the course of a “Decade of Con-

CLAYTOONZ By Clay Jones

tempt” this Denver trio’s unrelenting sonic assault — blunging together cheerless layers of blackened doom, sludge, death and black metal — has evolved into what has been described as “a crushing, cataclysmic monstrosity embroiled in dissonance and feedback,” forever etching their name in the annals of the metal underground. “Lamenting A Dead World,” ORYX — with special guests Demon Grass, Thra, and Pale Hearse — run riot at Club Congress…

TUESDAY, NOV. 22

During the early ’80s guitarist Jeb Lipson — along with vocalist/bassist Jacob “Jack” Martinez and drummer Johnny Ray — formed The Onlys, here in the Old Pueblo. They made the rounds at the local watering holes of the day — places like Nino’s Steakhouse, Jack’s Pub and Club Europa — that took a chance booking bands that were pushing something new. Laying claim to a ferocious post-punk sound The Onlys attempted to capture lightning in a bottle. “We had gone as far as we could go in a small market like Tucson,” Lipson recalled. In 1985, The Onlys moved west where they crashed on Howe Gelb’s floor in West Hollywood until they found an apartment. Since those heady days, in addition to starting a family, Lipson has established himself as a sought-after LA sideman, a studio producer/engineer, a songwriter — penning songs with Solomon Burke Jr. and others — and a solo artist. His latest album “Reclamation” incorporates a lifetime of diverse influences into a mellow Americana reminiscent of early folk-rock artists of the 1970s. Lipson is thrilled to bring his music home. The enterprising brain trust at Hotel Congress presents Song-

writer Saloon: A monthly round-robin singer-songwriter showcase. The inaugural event features performances by romantic folk stylist Julio Lopez, singer-songwriter Roux originally from the Louisiana bayou, St. Louis folk artist Tim Leavy, and LA singer-songwriter Jeb Lipson at The Century Room… From the outset this Los Angeles duo — guitarist Randy Randall and drummer/vocalist Dean Allen Spunt — attempted to update the spirit of early punk and hardcore by enveloping their songs in washes of gritty ambient texture — think My Bloody Valentine remixing early Hüsker Dü — to arrive at their experimental noise-laden rock sound. No Age is at Club Congress. No Stones and Class kick things off…

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23

As addictive as brain teasers and video games, replete with unexpected surprises and challenges, the Annual Critter Round-Up finds Golden Boots, Shooda Shook It and Kulululu shelter farm animals from predators, metaphorically, of course, on the plaza at Hotel Congress… Following in the tradition of Louis Armstrong, Sydney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton and other early jazz innovators that came out of New Orleans and Chicago in the early 20th century, the Mysterious Babies perform at The Century Room…

Until next week, XOXO…

MUSIC SHEMEKIA COPELAND STILL BELIEVES

By Xavier Omar Otero Tucson Weekly Contributing Writer

CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE great blues voices of our time, in 2011, at the Chicago Blues Festival, Shemekia Co peland was crowned “Queen of the Blues,” a distinction held by the late blues great Koko Taylor.

Copeland came of age in Harlem, New York. The music that pulsed all around her grew to be the lifeblood that courses through her veins.

“It’s easy to connect to it when your mom’s from Carolina and your daddy’s from Texas,” Copeland reflected.

The daughter of Texas blues guitarist/ singer Johnny Copeland, she made her first public appearance at the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem before she turned

10 years old.

Through the eyes of a child, Copeland was unaware of the fabled history — where iconic black artists like Bil lie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith had once graced the stage — or signifi cance of a club that helped to define the emergence of Afri can American culture during the late 1920s and ’30s.

“We lived right down the street. It was just another place my dad took me to filled with a bunch of old people,” Cope land said, innocently. “Later in life it really hit me that this place was special.”

Despite her father’s influence and mother’s passion for music, Copeland “Married to the Blues” came from another source.

“It was a calling,” she stated, without hesitation.

But a traditional marriage, it hasn’t al ways been.

Over the course of 11 albums, Copeland has expanded the definition.

“We’ve got banjos and fiddles,” she said, with a laugh. “It’s instrumentation that is not normally used in blues music.”

“Call me old fashioned, but I want to go back to the days where you’d go to a re cord store and nothing was separated by genre.”

On the title track of her latest album, “Done Come Too Far,” Copeland stares down America’s long history of racial in justice.

“It is just the truth,” she affirmed. “I’m talking about what’s happening in this country today.”

Engaging in social issues is nothing new for Copeland. “Done Come Too Far” is not a departure, but a continuation of her work.

On the title track — referencing the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — she sang, “Thought we were silenced at the Lorraine / But that voice didn’t die in vain / Its echo rings like no other / For every sister and broth er / Though many are gone / Their spirits still scream / You can kill a man but not

a dream.”

For Copeland the march for justice and equality contin ues.

“Absolutely,” she said, pen sively. “We are still fighting to be free.”

Copeland is talking to Tuc son Weekly on Election Day. Taken aback, Copeland saw incongruity everywhere.

Like on “Apple Pie and a .45.” — from her 2020 album “Uncivil War” — where she not only questioned Ameri ca’s love affair with guns, but a value sys tem gone awry.

“Things are really bad out there. I see so many things out on the road. Like signs that say, ‘I am Christian, and I voted,’” Co peland pondered. “I don’t even know what that means.

“Sometimes I get discouraged and an gry.”

Yet, despite everything — searching for a path toward détente in this “Uncivil War” — Copeland said she believes there is still good in the world. As exemplified in her song, “Ain’t Got Time for Hate.”

“We should all love one another.”

For Copeland it all comes down to the will of the people.

“There is so much divisiveness and hate in the background, ruining our lives. But one day when everybody gets together and says, as American people, that we are sick and tired of these politicians ruining our lives, we are all going to stick together and make the changes we want to make in our country,” Copeland concluded.

Possessing a voice that can at once scream out at injustice then function as a healing salve, on “Clotilda’s on Fire” — from 2020’s “Uncivil War” — Copeland acknowledges a chapter of American his tory often unsung, with weight and ten derness.

Shemekia Copeland brings her bluesy sound to the Fox Tucson Theatre on Friday, Nov. 18. In 2021, she was diagnosed with a rare type of kidney cancer. Shortly afterward, she contracted COVID-19. (SHEMEKIA COPELAND/SUBMITTED)

MUSIC

MUSIC IS A PRIORITY FOR COURTNEY MCKENNA

By Laura Latzko Tucson Weekly Contributing Writer

GROWING

UP IN TUCSON,

singer/songwriter Courtney McKenna loved music.

Now the artist is pursuing her dream in LA, living in Manhattan Beach.

McKenna will return to Tucson to perform as a duo with drummer Diego Rodriguez at Bacio Italiano on Wednesday, Nov. 23. They plan to perform covers and acoustic originals. Frequently, she joins the San Diego-based Sweet Myths.

“I think we inspire each other. They have their own solo project, but then we work really well together,” McKenna said.

McKenna was born in Orange County and raised in Tucson. She attended Catalina Foothills High School and the University of Arizona.

McKenna’s newest song “C.S.R. (Corporate Social Responsibility)” was released Nov. 9. The grunge-rock tune is about the protests over building the Dakota Access Pipeline and corporate greed in general.

“For me, I’ve worked in and out of corporate jobs as I’ve been pursing music,” McKenna said.

“It just feels like we have technology, so it shouldn’t be as much of a grind as we are forced into… Socially, we are going through a point of change on so many levels. The corporations really run this country and the globe. I just wanted to bring awareness to that.”

In September, McKenna released the single and corresponding video for “galaxies collide,” which was inspired by the film “Leaving Las Vegas.” She premiered the video at The Federal in North Hollywood during a Virgo Birthday Party, which she hosts each year. The song shares her experience with her father’s alcoholism.

She shot the video in Barstow, California, to capture desert scenes similar to Tucson. In it, McKenna dons boots she has had since she was 16.

“In high school, we used to wear them every Friday. It was a thing. My Tucson

roots came out in the wardrobe,” McKenna said.

Drone shots captured at Joshua Tree National Park also reminded her of Tucson.

“That’s one of my favorite parts about Tucson is the sunsets and the mountains. That to me was reminiscent of being home,” McKenna said.

The video has shots of McKenna and her band performing at the Jenny Rose Café, an iconic spot featured on Sheryl Crow’s debut album “Tuesday Night Music Club.”

This year, McKenna also released “Save Yourself” and the corresponding video. It was also inspired by her relationship with her father.

McKenna said writing personal songs are difficult and emotional, but cathartic.

“The songs definitely take on new meaning as I continue to play them,” she said.

“At first, it’s that initial release. And then I grow and heal from these things… I’m into personal development. I love journaling. I also work with different healers and therapists because I want to be my best for other people and show up in the world.”

She hopes her listeners connect with the songs.

“I don’t want to be just another pop writer,” McKenna said. “I want my music to actually challenge people but in a good way, just to help people think and let them know they aren’t alone. For me, that was the biggest part about living with my father, who was an alcoholic. I felt like I couldn’t talk with anyone else.”

McKenna is working on her first LP, which will feature her most recent singles. They carry the sounds of pop-rock, psychedelic, classic rock and country-blues-inspired sounds. The tunes will delve into different topics, including romantic relationships.

“It’s good to have the different emo-

Courtney McKenna

WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23

WHERE: Bacio Italiano, 943 E. University Boulevard, Tucson COST: Free admission INFO: courtneymckenna.rocks

tions. That’s the power of music. You can really go through everything…. I want people to feel refreshed, inspired and have a new perspective,” McKenna said.

Growing up, McKenna sang in a church and school choirs. She played the clarinet and soccer, too.

She tried to learn the guitar in middle school but struggled. McKenna didn’t get serious about it until after college.

“Anytime you are starting out on guitar, it’s hard. Your fingers need strength to get used to it,” McKenna said.

McKenna graduated from the UA, where she studied consumer science and retailing. She started out as a business major. Upon graduation, she moved to New York, where she lived for nine years. It was in New York that she started to find her voice and aesthetic as an artist.

“I really loved singing, and I never really knew any musicians who were on that path to make a career out of it,” McKenna said.

“When I got to New York, my first boyfriend out there was a musician. I started playing his guitar, and then I taught myself. I had always written songs, but it took years to really decide that this was something I could do. I met a lot of other artists that were doing it. I always say I got my rock ‘n’ roll education in New York.”

While in New York, she performed at venues like Rockwood Music Hall and

HARRIS/ CONTRIBUTOR)

Bowery Electric and took part in community events such as the Lower East Side Songwriting Contest and the “A Revolutionary Woman” podcast launch.

The artist went on her first tour and released a mixtape of original songs in 2017. The following year, she offered a three-track Christmas EP.

She moved to California in 2019. For a time, she split her time between California and New York as she was a tour manager for the Gary Douglas Band.

Singing backup for them allowed her to get road experience.

“I got to meet all of these amazing musicians who we were opening up for,” McKenna said.

In LA, McKenna tries to organize community events that bring together local musicians, including her series “We Are Everyday Sunshine.”

Getting her footing has taken some time because of COVID-19. During the height of the pandemic, she organized outdoor patio concerts at Goat Hill in Manhattan Beach and Hangar 24 in Irvine.

“It was mostly the neighbors coming out. We would invite other local artists. Sometimes, we would have bands from the Eastside, Santa Clarita or San Diego. I think that really helped me to get plugged in here because there was not that much going on,” McKenna said.

Right now, she is a part-time musician, working also in marketing.

“Music has always been a priority for me because it fuels me. It’s my therapy. It’s my love,” McKenna said.

Courtney McKenna returns home to Tucson to play Bacio Italiano. (GLENN

HoliDaze 2022

HOLIDAZE … ON THE STAGE AND WITH FAMILY

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Tucson Local Media Sta

TUCSON ARTS PATRONS CAN celebrate the holidays with traditional events like “The Nutcracker” or celebratory twists on traditional happenings. Want something low-key? Visit Oro Valley or Marana for their tree-lighting ceremonies.

CELEBRATE Centennial Hall

1020 E. University Boulevard

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, and

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23

A Magical Cirque Christmas Magical hostess Lucy Darling leads guests through dazzling performances and breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by holiday music. Get into the spirit with this family-friendly show.

7:30 P.M. TUESDAY, DEC. 6

Mannheim Steamroller

Mannheim Steamroller has become a holiday staple as the show is one of the top performances of the season. Enjoy Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in a multimedia setting.

8 P.M. FRIDAY, DEC. 9

Harry Connick Jr.

Harry Connick Jr. celebrates the holiday with his take on Christmas classics, as well as his originals and fan favorites like “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus” and “When My Heart Finds Christmas.”

4 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 10

TDA: Spirit of Christmas

Tucson Dance Academy’s “The Spirit of Christmas” embraces “New York City Broadway Holiday magic” (including Santa, Frosty, Rudolph and the Grinch) and the spiritual dimension behind Christmas.

The Century Room

311 E. Congress Street hotelcongress.com/family/ century-room

7 P.M. AND 9 P.M. FRIDAY, DEC. 23

“Nossa Bossa Nova: Jazz Christmas Italiano”

Celebrate the holiday season with Nossa Bossa Nova as it performs songs from its 2020 album, “Jazz Christmas Italiano.”

Featuring Brice Winston, Richard Katz and Alejandro Canelos with Theresa and Mike Levy, the evening will blend traditional holiday standards, sung in Italian with acoustic jazz quartet.

7 P.M. AND 9 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 24

Britney Chauntae: “A New Orleans Christmas”

New Orleans vocalist Britney Chauntae travels to Tucson celebrate Christmas with jazz music. In 2009, she competed, won, and toured with (BET) 106 & Park “Wild Out Wednesday Competition.” After that win, Chauntae wrote and performed music while living in California. She then signed on to write mu-

sic in Australia with the likes of world-renowned aboriginal actor David Gulpilil.

Chauntae first visited New Orleans in early 2012, when she volunteered with the Boys & Girls Club and also sung on Bourbon Street at night. She made it her permanent home in 2014 — the same year she auditioned for season 14 of “American Idol.” She made it to Hollywood Week.

Fox Tucson Theatre 17 W. Congress foxtucson.com

7 P.M. SUNDAY, NOV. 27 Jake Shimabukuro

Jolly ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro will celebrate the holidays with his “Christmas in Hawai’i” show.

7:30

P.M. THURSDAY, DEC. 1

A Carpenters Christmas featuring Lisa Rock

Singer/playwright Lisa Rock and her six-piece backing band are keeping the Carpenters’ holiday traditions alive with

their stage show.

Based on the music of the Carpenters’ two holiday albums and Christmas variety shows, “A Carpenters Christmas” features “Merry Christmas Darling” and the jazzy “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.”

7:30 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 3

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Holiday 2022

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy turns holiday songs into their own with jazzy versions of “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Winter Wonderland.”

Expect “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” with an Andrews Sisters-meets-theblues spin, and a take on Heat Miser’s song from the classic “A Year Without a Santa Claus.”

The band rips through Chuck Berry’s “Run, Run Rudolph” and Lou Rawls’ “Merry Christmas Baby” and slows things down for Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas.” There’s a New Orleans-flavored “Frosty the Snowman” and a calypso “A Party for Santa.”

Mariachi Sol De Mexico with Jose Hernandez’s Merry-Achi Christmas has become an annual tradition. (SUBMITTED)

2 P.M. AND 6 P.M. SUNDAY, DEC. 4

“Elf”

The heartwarming “Elf” makes its way to the Fox Tucson Theater.

For the few who have missed “Elf,” the 2003 film stars Will Ferrell as the title character — a human raised by Santa’s elves — who learns about his origins and heads to NYC to meet his biological father. The Fox’s Mighty Wurlitzer plays a medley of holiday tunes 30 minutes before the movie starts.

7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, DEC. 9

“In the Christmas Mood: A Holiday Music Spectacular”

Produced by Khris Dodge Entertainment, “In the Christmas Mood” showcases holiday tunes such as “Sleigh Ride,” “Happy Holidays,” “Jingle Bells” and “The Christmas Song.”

7:30 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 10

The Mavericks’ “Very Merry Christmas Tour” with special guest JD McPherson

Grammy winners the Mavericks will

play selections from their 2018 holiday album “Hey! Merry Christmas!” along with hits from their 30-year career. JD McPherson guests.

8 P.M. THURSDAY, DEC. 15

Doo Wop Project: “A Doo Wop Christmas”

Hear holiday hits with a doo-wop twist. The show features Christmas tracks as well as “doo-wopified” versions of hits by Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz, Maroon 5 and Sam Smith.

7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16

Merry-Achi Christmas

Mariachi Sol De Mexico with Jose Hernandez’s Merry-Achi Christmas has become an annual tradition.

While his family tree is rooted in five generations of Mariachi musicians who hail from La Sierra del Tigre region of Jalisco, Hernandez grew mariachi music in new lands, in new musical genres and in the hearts of new audiences.

2 P.M. AND 6 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 17

“The Polar Express”

The computer-animated 2004 film “The Polar Express” stars Tom Hanks, with Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett and Eddie Deezen.

The Fox’s Mighty Wurlitzer will play a medley of holiday tunes 30 minutes before the film begins.

7 P.M. SUNDAY, DEC. 18

“All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914”

A German soldier sings “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of

camaraderie, music and peace. A true story, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it.

2 P.M. AND 6 P.M. FRIDAY, DEC. 23

“It’s a Wonderful Life”

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra.

Based on the short story and booklet “The Greatest Gift,” “It’s a Wonderful

Reveille Men’s Chorus promotes acceptance of LGBTQI individuals through music. (SUBMITTED)

Life” stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams to help others in his community. His suicidal thoughts on Christmas Eve bring about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). The Fox’s Mighty Wurlitzer will play a medley of holiday tunes 30 minutes before the movie starts.

Leo Rich Theater

260 S. Church Avenue, Tucson leorichtheater.com

VARIOUS TIMES FRIDAY, DEC. 2, TO SUNDAY, DEC. 4

Reveille Men’s Chorus’ “The Gift”

With a mission of promoting acceptance of LGBTQI individuals through music, Reveille Men’s Chorus will present its 28th season holiday show.

FAMILY

Linda Ronstadt Music Hall 260 S. Church Avenue tucsonmusichall.org

2 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 10, AND SUNDAY, DEC. 11

Tucson Regional Ballet’s “A Southwest Nutcracker” tucsonregionalballet.org

Tucson Regional Ballet’s “A Southwest Nutcracker” transports Tchaikovsky’s traditional Nutcracker to 1880s Tucson, giving the characters and events a Sonoran Desert twist.

Since 2003, Tucson Regional Ballet has collaborated with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for live accompaniment.

VARIOUS TIMES SATURDAY, DEC. 17, AND SUNDAY, DEC. 18

Tucson Symphony Orchestra: “Happy Holidays ¡Feliz Navidad!”

Join Maestro José Luis Gomez, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Tucson Girls Chorus, the Tucson Boys Chorus and other special guest artists to celebrate the holidays with a multicultural Tucson flavor.

VARIOUS TIMES THURSDAY, DEC. 22, TO SATURDAY, DEC. 24

“The Nutcracker”

The Tucson Symphony Orchestra

teams with Ballet Tucson for “the Nutcracker.”

Tucson Convention Center 260 S. Church Avenue tucsonconventioncenter.com

VARIOUS TIMES SUNDAY, NOV. 20, TO SUNDAY, JAN. 8

Tucson Holiday Ice

The Tucson Holiday Ice Rink, hosted by the city of Tucson, will be located on Church Avenue, south of Broadway, in front of the Tucson Convention Center.

Skates begin at size 8 for children and run as large as size 15 for adult men. Socks are required, and gloves are highly recommended. Tickets are for 90-minute sessions; adults $20, $14 for children younger than 12. Skate assists are $5. Private use is $700 per 90-minute session during o hours.

Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

MARANA

11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Marana maranaaz.gov

3 TO 9 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 3

Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting

The Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting features artisan and

Harry Connick Jr. will celebrate the holidays with his takes on Christmas classics. (SUBMITTED)

GIFTS THAT ARE TRULY TUCSON

By Karen Scha ner Tucson Local Media Sta

YES, IT REALLY IS THAT TIME of year again, so get your list of who is going to get something and then look over our list of where to find it. Tucson has more than its fair share of oddball, interesting, fun or conventional outlets that sell both one-of-a-kind, original items and the stu that everyone — including givers — wants. Here’s our list of places where the owners know just what to stock.

Mildred and Dildred, 1725 N. Swan Road. Interesting games, picture and children’s books galore, alligator pendulum clocks, cute things from Japan and a smiling, plush bok choy: If you’re looking for some great toys, or great gear of a kid nature, check out this place. The sta will help you if you need it. There’s also free gift wrap if you like plain brown paper, and who doesn’t? Plenty of parking

in the back.

Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Avenue. Need a nap log? A notebook for the screenplay your crazy Uncle Roger is writing about his cats? How about rubber duck feet for your fingers or a fat-handle toothbrush? No? Well, then browse the books, lots and lots of books, including indie books, children’s fare, sticker books and coloring books. There’s a parking lot on the side and the bathroom is always clean. That’s always a plus.

The University of Arizona Bookstore, 1209 E. University Boulevard. Got a Wildcat on your list? The bookstore isn’t just for students. At this store, which is right on campus, find all the T-shirts, mugs, earrings, lanyards, hoodies, hats, socks, Wilbur the Wildcat calavera pil-

lows (who knew?) and blankets any Cat true believer could want. Our favorite? The Viva Los Gatos T-shirt. While there, get some ca einated energy with the mermaid, conveniently located right there in the bookstore. Parking for a price is steps away at the garage on Mountain Avenue and Second Street.

Everyone knows that if you want something really curious or perhaps even fascinating, you shop at a museum, and here in Tucson, we have a great selection. Here are our big three: Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Avenue; The Arizona State Museum, 1013 E. University Boulevard; Tucson Desert Art Museum, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road. Here are a few you might not have thought of:

• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road

• Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road

• The Mini-Time Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive

• Gadsden-Pacific Division Toy Train Museum, 3975 N. Miller Avenue

• Titan Missile Museum, 1580 W. Duval Mine Road, Green Valley

Generally speaking, you don’t have to pay to visit museums’ gift shops, but a visit to the museum is always a plus. You could even gift a membership. If you cannot find a museum that appeals to you on this short list, there are plenty more in Tucson. Google Tucson museums; you’ll find something you like.

Saguaro National Park, two locations: 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail and 2700 N. Kinney Road. Got a National Park lover on your list? Make them happy with a gift from the Western National Parks Association gift shop. We know you need some agave syrup or blue corn mu n mix. How about a keychain featuring our beloved saguaro? There are patches, T-shirts, hoodies, puzzles, trail guides, mugs, maps: all the stu that represents what we love about our very own national park. If you find you cannot get to either of these sites, there’s always the WNPA-The National Parks Store, 12880 N. Vistoso Village Drive, Oro Valley.

If you don’t find anything here, check out a few of the other shops in the plaza: Wild Bird Unlimited, Leaping Lizard Gallery/Gifts, Desert Mariposa, The Quilt Basket/Sewing Room (for a new or refurbed Bernina sewing machine) and Art Chris Bubany and Friends Gallery. You get the idea.

San Xavier del Bac Mission Gift Shop, 1950 W. San Xavier Road. Perhaps someone on your list — or yourself — is Roman Catholic and goes to Mass. This

small shop has your back. It carries religious medals, prayer cards, rosaries, candles, statues. There are touristy items, too. Sales benefit the mission church. While there, peek inside the church, founded by Fr. Eusebio Kino in 1692 and constructed in the late 18th century. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and they do ask you to wear a mask. The gift shop is around the back.

Tucson Harley-Davidson, 7355 N. I-10, E. Frontage Road. Feeling generous? New or used, you know these bikes by reputation. Even nonriders want one after a visit here. Treat yourself or someone you love with a touring or sport bike or a trike, which some of us feel better riding. Either way, the service and selection here is great, and if you have any questions, just ask the sta . They want to help you.

Golden Goose Thrift Shop, 15970 N. Oracle Road, Catalina. Want to know before you go? Just ask them: “One-ofa-kind and rare vintage, antique, and collectible pieces and collections. Fine gold and sterling jewelry, watches, sterling flatware and hollowware. A full range of European, Scandinavian, American, Native American, Western, African and Asian, from turn-of the century to mid-century modern, primitive, industrial, and arts and crafts. Rugs, clocks, cameras, clothing, ceramics, books, optics,

electronics, militaria, war relics, tools, ephemera, fine art, porcelain, fine china, crystal, art glass, statuary, dolls, toys, musical instruments…the list is endless!” they said on their website. Everything here is a bargain but there’s a sale on the bargains during the shop’s annual estate sale, from Tuesday, Nov. 15 through Saturday, Nov. 19.

Monsoon Chocolate, 234 E. 22nd Street. As for us, we will take chocolate any day, especially chocolate that’s locally made with a national reputation. We

love the blue corn atole white chocolate. It comes as ice cream, too. If you have someone on your list who eats vegan, there’s the coconut dark chocolate stracciatella ice cream. Those are great, but what we really want is a box of those colorful, delicious bon bons. Enough said.

Life Under the Oaks is bringing a bit of the Lavender Farm to the “Old Pueblo.”

season!

GIFTS FROM PAGE 6 SEE

GIFTS

of wine. Or spirits. Flying Leap to the rescue. At the tasting room, do what comes naturally at a tasting room and buy a flight of wine or distilled-in-Elgin whiskeys, bourbons, moonshine and single malts. Trained sommeliers and spirit guides will lead you through the array of libations. While you sip, look at the art. Spend a pleasant hour and walk away with a couple of bottles for yourself and those on your list.

Plaza Liquors and Fine Wines, 2642 N. Campbell Avenue. For the beer aficionado on your list, you will have a bit of a selection at Plaza Liquors. The shop is practically a Tucson institution, having been in business for more than 40 years, but here’s the real attraction: a selection of more than 500 di er-

ent beers. If that’s not enough, they have wine, spirits, vodkas, gins, and tequilas and mescals. If you can’t find just the right thing here, you’re too picky.

Green Things Nursery, 3384 E. River Road. Everyone has a gardener on their list. For that person head to Green Things, because there are acres of outdoor plants just waiting to be planted in someone’s yard. Do you like cacti? They have them. How about palm trees? Have those, too. Also, flowering bushes, Afghan pines, planters, pots and all the good advice you need.

Also on site are two other stores: Zocalo Village Casa & Jardin, which sells the classiest Mexican art and folk art even the pickiest collector would like, and Green Lady Hydroponics, for all your hydro needs.

Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, 1601 E. University Boulevard. When we were university students, we had a class in the planetarium at Flandrau. We’ve loved the night sky ever since. Better than that was the time spent before class browsing the gift shop,

where they sell astronaut ice cream. And other e uvia, like books and postcards and all the other fun ephemera a science nerd might need or want. While there, check out Flandrau’s programs; they are worth your time.

Desert Toyota of Tucson, 7150 E. 22nd Street, or any one of your favorite new car dealerships. The point is, once you have a great ride, you need great gear and dealerships have plenty of after-market accessories, like all weather floor liners, roof racks and leather steering wheel covers. We like the sparkly license plate frames. Just be aware: the shops in the dealerships tend to be tiny.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED

ON THE WAY TO THE

Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City.

craft vendors; more than 30 food trucks and vendors; free rides on the holiday train; free bouncy castles/inflatables experiences; a photo booth with Desert Photo Booth; holiday laser projections in Santa’s Courtyard/Christmas Tree Lighting (6 p.m.); free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus; letters to Santa station; community performances and a creation station with Lucky Cat Social Art.

ORO VALLEY

Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley orovalleymarketplace.com

VARIOUS TIMES SATURDAY, DEC. 3, AND SUNDAY, DEC. 4

photos with Santa and the Golder Ranch Fire Truck (3:30 to 5:30 p.m.). Arts Action Station will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 3 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4.

TUCSON

Children’s Museum Tucson 200 S. Sixth Avenue, Tucson childrensmuseumtucson.org

10:30 A.M. OR 1:30 P.M SATURDAY, DEC. 3, AND SUNDAY, DEC. 4

Gingerbread Workshop

For $50, up for four guests can design a preconstructed house with tons of icing and candy. Reservations required.

SOUTHERN ARIZONA

Oro

Valley

Festival

of

the Arts and Holiday Tree Lighting

Oro Valley Marketplace hosts the Oro Valley Festival of the Arts and Holiday Tree Lighting. Known as one of the largest fine art and craft festivals in the region, the event is programmed for all age groups.

Hosted by Mayor Joe Winfield and Santa, the Oro Valley Tree Lighting Celebration is 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, preceded by cookie decorating and free

Transportation Museum 414 N. Toole Avenue, Tucson tucsonhistoricdepot.com

10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 17

17th Annual Holiday Express

Features visits with Santa in front of “Oklahoma’s” Locomotive 1673, bilingual exhibits, a reading of “The Polar Express,” singing of holiday music, and an arts and crafts show.

By: Halley Feiffer

Directed by: Mark Klugheit

By Margaret Regan Tucson Weekly Contributing Writer

ALTAN, ONE OF IRELAND’S foremost traditional bands, is at long last here in the United States.

“We started on the East Coast and creeped our way across America to the West Coast,” says Máiréad Ni Mhaonaigh in her brogue. “Finally, we’re coming. It’s happening.”

Altan, four members strong, will perform Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

Back in March 2020, the band was ready to perform at the Fox near St. Patrick’s Day — until COVID-19 came raging in.

The concert was canceled, like most of the arts in Tucson and beyond. The musicians fled back to Ireland before lockdowns were imposed on both sides of the Atlantic.

Since then, Celtic fans in Tucson were told that the band was returning, but the pandemic spoiled plans time and again.

Thanks to promoter, Don Gest, their Tucson audience will see them on their first tour back in America. “We are delighted,” Ni Mhaonaigh said. “Don had great faith in us.”

Ni Mhaonaigh, a renowned fiddler and Gaelic singer, said Altan went to London last St. Patrick’s Day for a few shows.

“The band has not been performing until this tour started in mid-October,” she said. “This is our first time around since the pandemic started. Everybody’s been well, and we’ve seen old friends.”

Joining Ni Mhaonaigh on stage are Ciarán Curran on bouzouki, Daíthí Sproule on guitar, and Martin Tourish on accordion. Sproule and Tourish are singers, too. And Tourish also is a celebrated composer.

She’s really excited about “an amazing young musician,” their guest artist, Clare Friel, who accompanies the group as a fiddler and singer.

“She’s a family friend. I’ve known her

since she was a baby,” Ni Mhaonaigh said.

In 2018, Friel was named Young Artist of the Year by TG4, the Irish national public television station. She also plays in a trio with her sisters, part of a new generation of Irish traditional musicians.

Although the women grew up in Scotland, their parents were from County Donegal and Friel plays in that tradition.

Ni Mhaonaigh, born and bred in Donegal to a musical family, had Irish as her first language and learned her songs and tunes from family and neighbors.

In the show, “Donegal to Tucson,” “you will see traditional tunes as we are known for that. We have collected tunes from lots of the old fiddle players, and we also compose our own.”

Ni Mhaonaigh especially sings the praises of Tourish “as a great young composer. He will be singing some beautiful songs.” And Irish step dancers from Tucson’s Celtic Steps Irish Dance school will kick up their heels on jigs and reels.

Altan’s repertoire of songs celebrates the Irish language, Ni Mhaonaigh’s native tongue. (“Altan” is Irish for “stream.)

“I will sing lots of songs in Irish. I grew up with it, speaking with neighbors and even using it shopping for groceries. But you’ll not understand a word I say,” she said with a chuckle.

One happy consequence of the pandemic was that it gave Ni Mhaonaigh and her peripatetic bandmates time at their homes to work on new music and some solo projects. She, for example, recorded online lessons of some 32 tunes for aspiring fiddlers.

“When we settled into COVID, it was quite nice to be at home for that period of time.” She found peace amid the beautiful landscapes of Donegal, where she was born. And, she joked, “I got to know my daughter again.” Her daughter, Nia Byrne, is also a fiddler and singer. (She was with the band when they fled Tucson

Altan, one of Ireland’s foremost traditional bands, is back on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Fox Tucson Theatre. (SUBMITTED)

in 2020.)

Altan’s final show, right after Tucson, will be in Scottsdale. In her lilting Irish, she tells me “On the 22nd, we are going straight back to Ireland. It’s back to work to be honest, but it will be nice to be back home.”

Altan

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov.19

WHERE: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $27.50 INFO: foxtucson.com

In 1859, 50 years after the slave trade was banned, the last known U.S. slave ship, the Clotilda was burned and sunk by its captain to destroy the evidence. Over a decade and a half later its wreckage was discovered in the Alabama Delta, in 2019.

“When I learned of the history,” Copeland said, pensively. “I felt compelled to share it.”

On “Clotilda’s on Fire” — bringing peace to the specters of a multitude held underfoot — Copeland sang, “Her flame no longer lights up at night / Now dreams survive and hope burns bright / People still come from miles around / To praise the folks of Africatown / Who rose from the ashes of sad history / To stand unchained, proud and free.”

Unafraid to cast light on a subject that for many is a taboo best kept in the dark, “The Dolls Are Sleeping” — off of “Done Come Too Far” — acts as a sobering exposé about childhood sexual abuse.

“Something needed to be said,” Copeland said. “I’ve known too many victims of molestation.

“My albums reflect me. But I am not all serious.” As evidenced in “Fried Catfish and Bibles” and “Fell in Love with a Honky,” tracks from her new album.

Once her son was born Copeland became even more committed to making the world a better place.

“When he gets older, I want my little guy to be proud of me,” Copeland said. “To know that his mommy mattered and had the courage to speak out.”

An artist, ever evolving, the underlying thread that connects her recent work, her

trilogy, is unification.

“On ‘America’s Child,’ ‘Uncivil War,’ and now ‘Done Come Too Far,’ I have been trying to put the ‘united’ back into the United States,” Copeland stated. “Friends, family and home, these things we all value.”

In the summer of 2021, Copeland was planning her return to performing, as the world was reawakening post-lockdown. But her plans were promptly sidelined when she was diagnosed with a rare type of kidney cancer: Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Surgeons operated.

Shortly afterward, she contracted COVID-19 and temporarily lost her sense of smell, despite being vaccinated.

“I feel fine, so far. It’s not recurring,” Copeland said, optimistically. “So, I’m just going to hope and pray that that’s the case with me. I am just going to wait and see what the next months bring.”

Of indomitable spirit, Copeland — who lives near San Diego with her husband and young son — is pressing on with a series of North American tour dates that will take her into the New Year.

One of those stops is in Tucson.

“I will be performing songs from all of my albums.” Copeland enthused, “It is going to be a great time.”

Shemekia Copeland w/ Sugaray

Rayford

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 WHERE: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson COST: Tickets start at $35 INFO: 520-547-3040, foxtucson.com

LAUGHING STOCK FROM PAGE 11

Craft Pizza,15930 N. Oracle Road, Suite 178, 520-825-0140, $8 or free with a donation of food or clothing. Lineup includes Allana Erickson-Lopez, Kenny Shade, ME Rodgerson, and Valdez of 96.1 KLPX who hosts. Reservations are recommended.

COMEDY ELSEWHERE THIS WEEK

Arte Bella, 340 N. Fourth Avenue, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, $10, “Blazed and Amused” 420-friendly comedy showcase with music by Lew Lepley, featuring hosts Rebecca Tingley Fox and Paul Fox, and Drake Belt, Joel Martin, Eden Nault, Joey Gaynor, Kristine Levine. La ’s Comedy Ca e, 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard, laffstucson.com, $15, $20 preferred seating, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Fri-

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, Nov. 17, Standup Class Showcases; 8:30 p.m. Open Mic; 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, Improv Jam; 7:30 p.m., “The Soapbox” with Paul Dietzel; 9 p.m. Stand Up Showcase. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, “Set Unlisted;” 9 p.m. Dirty Tees and The Dating Scene. Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard. unscrewedtheatre.org, $8, live or remote, $5 kids. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, Family-Friendly Improv; 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, Unscrewed Family Hour with Comic Chaos; 7:30 p.m. Family-Friendly Improv, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, Improv Drop-ins, free.

Hippieman John Novosad brings the love to Laff’s. (SUBMITTED)

Tucson Showroom 2010 N. Forbes Blvd.

in

Derek Sheen headlines “Comedy in Catalina.” (SUBMITTED)

day, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19. Hippieman John Novosad, a 30-year veteran hippie.

the gift of broadway

GANJA GIFT GUIDE: SMOKY AND SWEET STOCKING STUFFERS

By Tucson Weekly Staff

THERE’S NO BETTER WAY TO let go of that holiday tension than with the gift of ganja. And with the relentless innovation in the cannabis industry, there is a cornucopia of options to choose from for everyone on your shopping list. Here are some of the finer products on Tucson’s dispensary shelves:

STORE 1

HEALTHFUL FLOWERS

5460 E. Speedway Boulevard

520-279-1819 healthfulflowers.com

CBD Delta 9 Mixed Gummies

Strain: WNC CBD 3:1

CBD: 75 mg CBD, 8 mg CBC THC: 25 mg Delta-9 THC, 18 mg Delta-8 THC

For a CBD edible, this gummy has unexpectedly strong results. The effect hits about 30 minutes after consumption, for a mildly euphoric, but noticeable high

without any fatigue.

Delta Extrax Gummies

Strain: Sour Peach Lights Out Gummies THC: 125 mg Blend of Delta 9 THC, THC-h, THC-jd, THC-p, Live Resin Delta-8 THC

These Lights Out Gummies contain newer THC cannabinoids (THC-h and THC-jd), and the effects are impressive. This edible is advertised as a sleep aid, so take it about an hour before bedtime. The effects take about 20 minutes to set in, which is quicker than most edibles.

Healthful Flowers CBD Flower

Strain: AC/DC-Flower-Hybrid CBD: 12.884% THC: Delta 9 THC, less than .3%

Uplifting and energetic, AC/DC has a fruit-forward, peppery quality. Combined with a citrus rind element, the result is in an excellent smokeable flower. The medium-high density buds emit a citrusy smoke and taste. For dosing, it’s recommended to roll about three mid-sized buds into a joint. It’s also good for use in a bong, pipe or joint.

Stardust CBG Hemp Flower

Strain: Stardust-Alternative strain CBG: 12.538% CBG

The 2020 Queen City Cannabis Cup Winner for best terpene bouquet and alternative strain, the Stardust CBG Hemp Flower contains 12% to 14% CBG and less than 0.1% THC. With frosty, milky trichomes covering the bright green hemp buds, these CBG-rich hemp buds have a citrusy and hoppy aroma. Great for joints, wraps, pipes and bongs.

STORE 2

HALO CANNABIS

7710 S. Wilmot Road 520-664-2251 thegreenhalo.com/menu

Healthful Flowers. (SUBMITTED)

Halo Infusion Live Resin Batter Bucket

Strain: Platinum Purple Candy-Hybrid THC: 80.64%; CBD: 0%

The Halo Infusion Live Resin Batter Bucket has an extremely smooth and pleasant taste when smoked. It’s mildly sweet with a nice mix of terpenes for a tasty dabbing experience. This is an 80% product, so dose sparingly. The effects are that of Indica-leaning hybrid, with immediate relaxation for a body-focused high.

Halo Infusion Live Resin Batter Bucket

Strain: Grape CakeHybrid THC: 77.31%;

The Halo Infusion Grape Cake-Hybrid is a smooth smoking experience from start to finish. The effects are immediate, with a heady start moving to an overall body high. With 77% THC, this resin is less potent than most on the market, giving it a clean, manageable high even with a greater dosage. Expect happy and somewhat sleepy effects.

STORE 3 DOWNTOWN DISPENSARY

221 E. Sixth Street, Suite 105 520-838-0492 thedowntown dispensary.com

Zenzona Vegan Pineberry 100 mg RSO Indica Strain: Wedding CakeIndica THC: 100 mg total

A full spectrum, Indica dominant RSO, the Zenzona Vegan Pineberry 100 mg RSO Indica Wedding Cake strain is known for its euphoric and calming effects, as well as therapeutic benefits for pain relief, insomnia or appetite loss. About 2.5 mg takes 20 to 30 minutes to set in. Consumers with a low-THC tolerance should sample wisely. This product is also vegan, made from pectin in Tucson.

Roaring ’20s Six-Pack Pre-Rolls 3 g - Zacks Cake

Strain: Zacks CakeHybrid THC: 20.60%, 0.5 mg per pre-roll

For the stoner on the go, this 50/50 hybrid is perfect to pass around at parties or other daytime

activities. The Roaring ’20s six-pack pre-rolls contain the strain Zacks Cake, which is known for its earthy, spicy taste.

iLAVA Lumen Budder 1g - MAC Stomper Strain: MAC Stomper - Indica Hybrid THC: 78.9%, 1 g THC, 0.34% CBD

iLAVA Lumen’s MAC Stomper Lumen Budder is for the connoisseur who prefers more translucent products. It offers a mellow lung reaction compared to live resin, carrying a citrusy hint throughout each hit. The extract offers a slow-creeping euphoria, starting from the chest up to the head. This is one of the first products in the country to combine topshelf raw materials with a sophisticated extraction process, and long solvent purge times, in a recyclable and biodegradable materials.

STORE 4 EARTH’S HEALING NORTH

78 W. River Road 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org

Earthgrow Pre-roll pack (7) 3.5 g Strain: Rainmaker - Sativa

THC: 21.2675%, 0.5 g per pre-roll

“Free your mind, one puff at a time,” with Earth’s Healing’s Earthgrow preroll pack. EH’s strain, Rainmaker, offers a burst of happy, creative energy. Floral on the nose, these pre-rolls are perfect for packing along on a hike or enjoying the outdoors. Activation time is roughly 5 minutes and can last up to a few hours.

Earth Extracts Live Resin Golden Strawberries Badder

Strain: Golden Strawberries - Hybrid THC: 77.2%, LHR 1 g

Earth Extract’s Live Resin Golden Strawberries Badder is a hybrid concentrate that is soft and buttery in texture with an earthy, wet wood aroma. This concentrate has a smooth-hitting, creamy, vanilla flavor that provokes a creative high.

Earth Extracts X - Pod Battery

Name of Product: Earth Extracts Live Resin X Pod Lemon Headz

Strain: Lemon Headz THC: 83.83%, CBD: 0.12%

For the stoner on the go, Earth Extracts X - Pod Battery cannabis vaporizer is a great way to consume discreetly. Requiring a vape cartridge, the concentrated cannabis oil is heated by the battery and vaporized for inhalation. This method is extremely potent. Try the staff’s choice, Lemon Headz, for a calming sensation. This hybrid is a cerebral, happy high, with a tangy citrus taste.

Downtown Dispensary. (SUBMITTED)

Earth’s Healing.

FORMY

STORE 5

NATURE MED

5390 W. Ina Road 520-620-9123 naturemedaz.com

IO Extracts Strawberry Shortcake

Distillate Syringe 1 g

Strain: Strawberry Shortcake - Indica

THC: 92.6%

Get medicated with IO Extracts’ Strawberry Shortcake Distillate. While concentrated cannabis products can come in a variety of consistencies, potencies and compositions, this euphoric Indica strain can relieve symptoms of insomnia, pain, stress or anxiety. A hearty, strawberry flavor, this concentrate is ideal for nighttime use as it can have a heavy head high.

IO Extracts: THC Diamonds

Strain: THCA THC: 87.7%

Made by live resin extractions, THC Diamonds are THCA crystals separated from terpenes that have grown into diamond-like structures. Resembling quartz crystals, IO Extracts’ THC Diamonds are odorless, with a strong diesel flavor, producing an uplifting, mood enhancing body high. For users with a dab rig or those who want to sprinkle a little something extra on their flower, this product is great for smoking first thing in the morning.

Kiva Confections Terra Espresso Bites: 100 mg Strain: Hybrid THC: 100 mg, 0.5 mg per bite

Kiva Confections Terra Espresso Bites are the perfect bitesized pick me up, with 0.5 mg of THC in each dark chocolate-covered espresso bean. This hybrid product is an excellent recommendation if you love coffee and are looking for an alert high. Nature Med also offers Kiva Milk

Chocolate Blueberry and Kiva Milk and Cookies Chocolate.

Stiizy: 2.5 g - Multipack pre-rollsBlue Burst Strain: Blue Burst - Hybrid THC: 41.66%, 0.26% CBD

If you’re looking for a pre-roll with higher potency, Nature Med’s Stiizy2.5 g - Multipack Pre-rolls - Blue Burst were made for you. Pre-rolled and ready to smoke, these joints have 0.5 g of theBlue Burst Hybrid, as well as an extra 40% THC. They are kief coated, terpene enhanced and infused with special live resin.

Golden Vape: 500 mg Vape - Jelly Belly Strain: Jelly Belly THC: 67.58% CBD 0.28%

Just in time for the holidays, Golden Vape’s 500 mg cartridge in the flavor Jelly Belly, available at Nature Med is fruity and juicy, tasting almost like a Lip Smackers watermelon lip balm. This strain is good for socializing, and staying upbeat and alert.

Sweet Dreams Vineyard: 100 mg to 187 ml Cannabernet

Strain: Hybrid Nano THC THC:100 mg

A nonalcoholic wine beverage infused

with THC, Sweet Dreams Vineyard’s Cannabernet is a great way to uplift your mood or chill out after a long day. A favorite by medicinal marijuana patients, Cannabernet brings about relaxation, and stress relief. Its unique flavor profile is a mix between pepper and vanilla, which is alsofound in a Cabernet Sauvignon. Cheers!

22Red: MAC Pre-Roll 1 g Strain: MAC - Hybrid THC: 27%

MAC, aka “Miracle Alien Cookies,” comes in a single, pocket-size pre-roll. A potent-smelling flower, this strain gives a smooth orange flavor with an earthy finish. After a couple of hits, you’ll feel uplifting and inspiring effects for an active night out.

22Red: G-Runtz Live Resin Sauce

Strain: G-Runtz - Indica Dominant Hybrid THC: 78.88%

G-Runtz is an Indica-dominant Hybrid that is perfect for recreational use, that is full of flavor. The strain is a mix between Falcon 9 and Runtz. This resin is recommended for night-time use and will have a drowsy effect.

Nature Med. (SUBMITTED)

22Red: Shred 22 - 3.5g

Strain: Sour Diesel - Sativa Dominant THC: 30.41%

Since the early 1990s, this popular Sa tiva has been called dreamy, cerebral and energizing. 22Red’s Shred 22 Sour Diesel flower gives off a pungent flavor that re ally does smell like diesel fuel with a hint of pine, or even “fresh cut grass.” It is also known for its medicinal properties that help relieve symptoms of pain, depres sion and stress.

22Red Papago Punch Indica Hybrid

Live Resin Badder: 1 g

Strain: Papago Punch - Indica Hybrid THC: 65.03%

With strong notes of “deep purp terps,” 22Red’s Papago Punch Live Resin Badder is a concentrate that consists of three ex otic purple strains. The Indica-dominant hybrid packs a punch of flavor thanks to Modified Grapes, Grape Milkshake and Purple Apricot. The concentrate resem bles a golden butter or a gooey caramel. You’ll smell hints of lemon or grapes as you consume for a relaxing high. Set yourself up for success with a movie on cue and prepare yourself for a “body blow of euphoria.” This concentrate can be heated up on a dab rig or live resin vaporizer.

22Red K9 - Hybrid Live Resin Sauce: 1 g

Strain: K9 (Valley Wowie) - Hybrid THC: 78.26%

The22Red K9 Live Resin Sauce will put some pep in your step with its juicy pine apple flavor. A unique twist on the classic Valley Wowie or Maui Wowee, it is a true 50/50 hybrid made up of Triangle Kush and Josh DOG. This live resin is also 100% derived from some of 22Red’s other flower strains and cryogenically frozen to preserve its terpene and cannabinoid content. This ideal to enjoy in nature with a balanced head high and lung re action. It is also known to have “plenty of bark” with an “aggressive bite.”

22Red La Crème: 3.5g

Strain: Ice Cream Cake - Indica Dominant THC: 23.87%

La Crème is the icing on the cake.

22Red’s Indica dominant strain, a mix of Wedding Cake and Gelato No. 33, has a vanilla-sweet flavor profile. Its calming effects are just as sweet and have been reported to help medical marijuana pa tients with anxiety, pain and sleep. La Crème is ideal for relaxing, watching TV, or any other mellow activity.

STORE 6 HALO INFUSION haloinfusions.com

Cannabliss Spicy Halo Infusion Gummies

Strain: Broad Spectrum/Hybrid THC: 100 mg

These gummies start out spicy and get down to a sour sweetness, like a gummy

worm candy. These are perfect for those who just want to chill and play video games, or watch a good comedy. You will be laid-back without any anxiety, loopy feeling, or extra energy, for a nice mellow high.

Aunt Ellie’s Gluten-Free Brownie Strain: Broad Spectrum/Hybrid THC: 100 mg - 10 servings, 10 mg each

These brownies are rich and luscious, dense and fudgey. After about half an hour you will feel a relaxed and very hap py high. Onset starts after about 20 min utes. For dosing, make sure to cut your brownies in 10 pieces for 10 mg each. Please keep out of reach of children. These are great for beginners who want that laid back high.

Cannabliss THC Gummies Strain: Indica Blend THC 100 mg, 1:0

These gummies don’t have a strong taste but do have a pleasant smell. The high for these edibles was mild, which is good for macrodosing. The high only

lasts 15 to 20 minutes, and gives you an active, clear mind. Each gummy comes in a convenient 10 mg THC star shape dose. The effects are not overly sleepy, even though it is an Indica blend. This would be good for an end of the day, re laxed feel that Indica blends often give.

Cannabliss 1:1 Gummies

Strain: Heavy CBD Blend

THC 100 mg, 1:1; 0.5mg THC, 0.5mg CBD per serving

These gummies are not very heavy flavor, with a light blueberry taste and pleasant smell. These take over an hour for the effects to be felt. This is a CBD blend, so the effects come on slowly. But is a very mild, mellow high. Really not much of a high, but definitely a sleep aid and did help with headaches.

Chronic Health Pain Relief

Strain: Broad Spectrum - Topical 3.5 g flower

THC: 1:1; THC 175.0 mg and CBD 175.0 mg

Award-winning 1:1 Chronic Health High CBD Ointment is infused with 350 mg of THC and 350 of CBD, plus other activated cannabinoids. This cream can help with arthritis, dry skin, eczema, rashes, insect bites and minor burns. It also relieves pain from muscle soreness, skin inflammation, psoriasis, bacterial infections or sunburns. Made from High CBD-expressing medical marijuana flower, the ointment has a light, oily feel, but blended well into the skin. Apply to the affected areas, such as the hands for arthritis for near immediate relief from pain. For larger areas, expect pain to be dulled, with greater effects with more applications.

STORE 7

HANA MEDS GREEN VALLEY

1732 W. Duval Commerce Point Place, Green Valley 520-289-8030 hanadispensaries.com

Dutchie Duos Two-Pack Pre-Rolls

Strain: Granddaddy Purple-Indica THC: 21.1%; 0.5 g each pre roll

This pre-roll is recommended for pain relief and night time use. It is quick to take away any aches or pain. Granddaddy Purple is a very popular Indica strain with a strong grape flavor that gives a heavy head and body high.

Dutchie Duos Two-Pack Pre-Rolls

Strain: OG Kush-Hybrid THC: 23.98%; 0.5 g each pre roll

This has a pleasant floral smell and taste with some pine and lemon taste.

This pre-roll brings on a nice high with an active feel, but without a heavy head feel. OG Kush will produce a happy, if not euphoric, feeling of well-being. A good choice for beginners starting their voyage into smoking.

Dutchie Duos Two-Pack Pre-Rolls Strain: Blue Dream-Sativa dominant Hybrid THC: 22.90%; 0.5 g each pre roll

Blue Dream gives a sudden, very strong high, but isn’t trippy. It carries an ashy taste on the finish, with no overpowering smell. Blue Dream is a Sativa-dominant hybrid marijuana strain made by crossing blueberry with Haze. This strain produces a balanced high, along with effects such as cerebral stimulation and full-body relaxation. It’s also great for fast pain relief. This potent strain is a fan favorite of both newbies and veteran smokers.

Duos Two-Pack

Pre-Rolls

Strain: Oracle-Hybrid 50/50 THC: 23.16%; 0.5 g each pre roll

Oracle is an extremely rare strain that often achieves very high THC levels. A premium phenotype of the rare Oracle strain will produce a strong, pungent taste and an extremely potent effect that can last up to three hours, sometimes longer. It has a heavy herbal smell and offers a very strong, trip high. Not for the timid or beginners wanting to just try a toke.

Dutchie Duos Two-Pack PreRolls Strain: Tangerine Kush-Hybrid THC: 26.80%; 0.5 g each pre roll

While the effects of this strain are short-lasting, Tangerine Kush is potent with a quick onset. Providing stoners with a happy, body-heavy sensation, this strain is great for those looking for a lazy day at the beach. It has a strong high, minus the anxiety. It smells like tangerines and has a light sweet citrus taste. This joint burns fast.

Dutchie Duos Two-Pack Pre-Rolls Strain: Holy Grail-Hybrid THC: 22.4%; 0.5 g each pre roll

Holy Grail OG (sometimes called Holy Grail Kush) is an extremely potent hybrid strain that many patients and recreational users enjoy for

its hard hitting, yet mellow effects. Holy Grail OG will be intense at first, then deliver a mellow sensation. It has a fragrant smell and light smoke taste. It hits with an uplifting, strong high and makes you feel goofy and giggly. A Holy Grail OG Dutchie is extremely potent and should be used very lightly by a beginner.

Dutchie Duos Two-Pack Pre-Rolls Strain: XXX OG-Indica THC: 22.65%; 0.5 g each pre roll

Described as so smooth at first and then quick high, but not jarring, this is a good choice for beginners. The pre-rolls have a slightly floral smell and taste and take a little while to reach full potency.

STORE 8

TUCSON SAINTS

112 S. Kolb Rd. 520-886-1003 medicalmarijuanaoftucson.com

Tucson Saints. (SUBMITTED)

Dutchie

Hana Meds Green Valley. (SUBMITTED)

SAINTS Cornerstone

Strain: Cornerstone Flower-Sativa THC: 25.2%; 1

This is a pure Sativa strain that smells like lemons and pine. The Cornerstone Flower is a consistent and reliable strain that hasn’t changed much over the years. However, while smoking, this flower had a dank, earthy smell. There is minimal taste and a lightness to the smoke. The flower burned well, but the strain is potent, so dose sparingly. Activation time is roughly about 5 minutes and can last up to a few hours. This strand is a nice high for energy, focus and creativity.

STORE 9

PURE EDIBLES

pureedibles.com/purchase/ All of the Pure Gummies come in Sativa and Indica.

PURE Gummies

Strain: Watermelon Gummies-Sativa THC: 100 mg

This gummy has a nice watermelon flavor, with a lighter sugar coating. The gummies are smooth in the mouth and easy to consume. This edible gives an uplifting and motivating high and is recommended for daytime use. For beginners, there is an indent indicating where to cut the gummy for a 5 mg dosage.

PURE Gummies

Strain: Fruit Punch Gummies-Indica THC: 100 mg

These gummies have a smooth mouth feel and a fresh fruit flavor. As with many Indica blends the high is mellow, mild, and comfortable. These edibles have a sleepy effect, so it’s recommended to take at bedtime or for a daytime nap.

PURE Chews

Strain: Chocolate Chews - Hybrid THC: 100 mg; 4 chews in each package. 1 chew (25 mg) has three servings of 8.3 mg each.

The bag contains four individual wrapped chews, but for dosing it is recommended to cut the chews in thirds.

Each chew has 25 mg of THC, and each third of the chew contains 8.3 mg. This chew will give you a relaxed and happy high. For experienced marijuana consumers, it is recommended eating the chew multiple times during the day. For the beginners, start with a third of the chew and go from there. These chews can also be used as a sleep aid and can be melted in hot chocolate or coffee for an adult drink.

PURE Chews

Strain: Caramel Chews-Hybrid THC: 100 mg, 4 chews in each package. 1 chew (25 mg) has three servings of 8.3 mg each.

This gummy tasted just like a real caramel chew, masking the taste of cannabis completely.

Like PURE Chew’s the chocolate flavor chew, you can melt this in some coffee or hot chocolate for a comfortable day or night experience. The high is calming, relaxed, and balanced.

PURE Chews

Strain: Sour Blue Razz Chews-Hybrid THC: 100 mg, 4 chews in each package. 1 chew (25 mg) has three servings of 8.3 mg each.

Sour Blue Razz Chews-Hybrid gives an uplifting and cheery high. This is a fun edible with great flavor for any time of the day.

Pure Edibles. (SUBMITTED)

TUCSON AREA DISPENSARIES

Bloom Tucson

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

Open: Daily 9a.m. - 10p.m.

Botanica

6205 N. Travel Center Drive 395-0230; botanica.us Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily

Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center

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

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

Offering delivery

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

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

D2 Dispensary

7105 E. 22nd Street 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 253-7198 South: 2075 E. Benson Highway 373-5779 earthshealing.org

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

Green Med Wellness Center

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

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

The Green Halo 7710 S. Wilmot Road 664-2251; thegreenhalo.org

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

Hana Green Valley 1732 W. Duval Commerce Point Place 289-8030

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

Harvest of Tucson 2734 E. Grant Road 314-9420; askme@harvestinc.com; Harvestofaz.com

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

Nature Med 5390 W. Ina Road 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 44-PRIME; theprimeleaf.com

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

Tucson Saints 112 S. Kolb Road 886-1003; medicalmarijuanaoftucson.com

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

days, departs year-round

Oahu • Hawaii Island

Kauai

Enjoy a fully guided 4-island Hawaiian vacation with centrally located lodging in Waikiki on Oahu, and beachfront lodging on the “Big Island” of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui. Guided throughout by our friendly Tour Directors—your local experts. Includes 3 inter-island flights.

GRAND ALASKAN CRUISE & TOUR

Vancouver

Ketchikan

Juneau

Skagway

Glacier Bay

Anchorage

Denali

Anchorage

and more

Visit Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park on the same incredible trip! Cruise through the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage as you discover the best of the Frontier State by land and by sea.

CRIMSON CANYONS & MESAS NATIONAL PARKS TOUR

days, departs May - Sep 2023 10 days, departs Apr - Sep 2023

Grand Canyon • Bryce Canyon Zion

Capitol Reef

Arches & Canyonlands • and more

Experience the stunningly red rocks of these 6 iconic southwestern national parks. Travel through deserts, forests, mountains, and to the very edge of the Grand Canyon on this tour.

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.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19 Virginia Woolf wrote a passage that I suspect will apply to you in the coming weeks. She said, “There is no denying the wild horse in us. To gallop intemperately; fall on the sand tired out; to feel the earth spin; to have — positively — a rush of friendship for stones and grasses — there is no get ting over the fact that this desire seizes us.” Here’s my question for you, Aries: How will you harness your wild horse en ergy? I’m hoping that the self-possessed human in you will take command of the horse and direct it to serve you and yours with constructive actions. It’s fine to in dulge in some intemperate galloping, too. But I’ll be rooting for a lot of temper ate and disciplined galloping.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) “The failure of love might account for most of the suffering in the world,” writes poet Marie Howe. I agree with that statement. Many of us have had painful episodes revolving around people who no longer love us and people whose lack of love for us makes us feel hurt. That’s the bad news, Taurus. The good news is that you now have more power than usual to heal the failures of love you have endured in the past. You also have an expanded ca pacity to heal others who have suffered from the failures of love. I hope you will be generous in your ministrations!

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Many Geminis tell me they are often partly awake as they sleep. In their dreams, they might work overtime trying to solve wak ing-life problems. Or they may lie in bed in the dark contemplating intricate ideas that fascinate them, or perhaps ruminat ing on the plot developments unfolding in a book they’ve been reading or a TV show they’ve been bingeing. If you are prone to such behavior, I will ask you to minimize it for a while. In my view, you need to relax your mind extra deeply and allow it to play luxuriously with non-util itarian fantasies and dreams. You have a sacred duty to yourself to explore mys terious and stirring feelings that bypass rational thought. CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) Here are

my two key messages for you. 1. Remem ber where you hide important stuff. 2. Remember that you have indeed hidden some important stuff. Got that? Please note that I am not questioning your urge to lock away a secret or two. I am not crit icizing you for wanting to store a treas ure that you are not yet ready to use or reveal. It’s completely understandable if you want to keep a part of your inner world off-limits to certain people for the time being. But as you engage in any or all of these actions, make sure you don’t lose touch with your valuables. And don’t forget why you are stashing them.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) I know I don’t have to give you lessons in expressing your sensuality. Nor do you need prods and encouragement to do so. As a Leo, you most likely have abundant talent in the epicurean arts. But as you prepare to glide into the lush and lusty heart of the Sensuality Season, it can’t hurt to of fer you a pep talk from your fellow Leo bon vivant, James Baldwin. He said: “To be sensual is to respect and rejoice in the force of life, of life itself, and to be present in all that one does, from the effort of lov ing to the breaking of bread.”

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) Many Vir gos are on a lifelong quest to cultivate a knack described by Sigmund Freud: “In the small matters, trust the mind. In the large ones, the heart.” And I suspect you are now at a pivotal point in your ef forts to master that wisdom. Important decisions are looming in regards to both small and large matters. I believe you will do the right things as long as you em power your mind to do what it does best and your heart to do what it does best.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) Social me dia like Facebook and Twitter feed on our outrage. Their algorithms are designed to stir up our disgust and indignation. I confess that I get semi-caught in their trap. I am sometimes seduced by the temptation to feel lots of umbrage and wrath, even though those feelings com prise a small minority of my total emo tional range. As an antidote, I proactively seek experiences that rouse my wonder

and sublimity and holiness. In the next two weeks, Libra, I invite you to culti vate a focus like mine. It’s high time for a phase of minimal anger and loathing— and maximum reverence and awe.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) Scorpio author Sylvia Plath had a disturbing, mel odramatic relationship with romance. In one of her short stories, for example, she has a woman character say, “His love is the twenty-story leap, the rope at the throat, the knife at the heart.” I urge you to avoid contact with people who think and feel like that—as glamorous as they might seem. In my view, your romantic destiny in the coming months can and should be uplifting, exciting in healthy ways, and conducive to your well-being. There’s no need to link yourself with shadowy renegades when there will be plenty of radiant helpers available.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) I like Sagittarian healer and author Car oline Myss because she’s both spiritual and practical, compassionate and fierce. Here’s a passage from her work that I think will be helpful for you in the com ing weeks: “Get bored with your past. It’s over! Forgive yourself for what you think you did or didn’t do, and focus on what you will do, starting now.” To ensure you make the most of her counsel, I’ll add a further insight from author Augusten Burroughs: “You cannot be a prisoner of your past against your will—because you can only live in the past inside your mind.”

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) How would you respond if you learned that the $55 t-shirt you’re wearing was made by a Haitian kid who earned 10 cents for her work? Would you stop wearing the shirt? Donate it to a thrift store? Send money

to the United Nations agency UNICEF, which works to protect Haitian child laborers? I recommend the latter option. I also suggest you use this as a prompt to engage in leisurely meditations on what you might do to reduce the world’s suffering. It’s an excellent time to stretch your imagination to understand how your personal life is interwoven with the lives of countless others, many of whom you don’t even know. And I hope you will think about how to offer extra healings and blessings not just to your allies, but also to strangers. What’s in it for you? Would this bring any selfish benefits your way? You may be amazed at how it leads you to interesting connections that expand your world.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) Aquar ian philosopher Alfred North Whitehe ad wrote, “The silly question is the first intimation of some totally new develop ment.” He also said, “Every really new idea looks crazy at first.” With these thoughts in mind, Aquarius, I will tell you that you are now in the Season of the Sil ly Question. I invite you to enjoy dream ing up such queries. And as you indulge in that fertile pleasure, include another: Celebrate the Season of Crazy Ideas.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) We all love to follow stories: the stories we live, the stories that unfold for people we know, and the stories told in movies, TV shows, and books. A disproportionately high percentage of the entertainment in dustry’s stories are sad or tormented or horrendously painful. They influence us to think such stories are the norm. They tend to darken our view of life. While I would never try to coax you to avoid all those stories, Pisces, I will encourage you to question whether maybe it’s wise to limit how many you absorb. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to explore this possibility. Be willing to say, “These sad, tormented, painful stories are not ones I want to invite into my imagina tion.” Try this experiment: For the next three weeks, seek out mostly uplifting tales.

CROSS front of , say ts, for outdoor taken above eacekeeping 1949 in taurants who train a family solos fast sage, or TikTok (fastchain) “Precisely!”

Take advantage of

Quentin Tarantino’s “___ Fiction”

More ludicrous

Paintball filler

Prone to prying

Common miniature golf goal ... or a hint to what’s found in 17-, 39and 60-Across

Farfalle, fettuccine or fusilli

Transplant, as a flower

Boiling mad

Bog down

Dish with chicken, veal or eggplant, familiarly

Inadvertent error

What a protractor measures

Like onion or garlic skin

Letter after zeta

“___ the Explorer”

Combo offerings at nail salons

Cabernet or merlot sold in a box, say

Titles for knights

What goners have

Lead-in to “la-la”

Happen to

Bygone Russian ruler

Happy as ___

Dial a radio show, say

“Ish”

Brain tests, in brief

Health resorts

“So simple!”

Credential for a painter or sculptor

Stately shade tree

“___-doke!”

Tropical fruit with highly nutritious seeds

Things stuck on file folders 48 “To ___ it mildly ...”

Red flower of wartime remembrance

Actor Spiner of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”

Vice president who resigned in 1973

Having a throwback style

Tater

Channel showing game highlights

Hold firmly

Sicilian stratovolcano

“The Wire” character portrayed by Michael K. Williams

Couple of musicians