Tucson Weekly April 9, 2020 by Tucson Weekly

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APRIL 9 - APRIL 15, 2020 • TUCSONWEEKLY.COM • FREE

GIMME SHELTER ( IN PLACE )

WAYS TO STAY SANE

OUTDOORS DURING THE OUTBREAK

HOW TO HELP RESTAURANTS SURVIVE

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

APRIL 9, 2020

APRIL 9, 2020 | VOL. 35, NO. 15

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

The Tucson Weekly is available free of charge in Pima County, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies of the current issue of the Tucson Weekly may be purchased for $1, payable at the Tucson Weekly office in advance. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of the Tucson Weekly, please visit TucsonWeekly.com

STAFF ADMINISTRATION Jason Joseph, President/Publisher jjoseph@azlocalmedia.com

CONTENTS CURRENTS

Your Southern Arizona roundup of COVID-19 news

CHOW

Local restaurants call for public support

CITY WEEK

What to do while sheltering at home

CINEMA

At-home streaming options from The Loft, HBO and CBS All Access

MUSIC

Debut EP releases from two local bands

EDITOR’S NOTE

Gimme Shelter

IT TOOK LONGER THAN IT SHOULD have, but Gov. Doug Ducey finally narrowed his list of businesses that were allowed to remain open under his statewide stay-at-home order. That means you can’t get a haircut or a tattoo for a while, or at least not a professional one. (Go ahead and cut your own hair if you want, but avoid doing a homemade tattoo.) You can’t go swimming in a communal pool and you can’t take your kids to the playground. In short, there’s less and less to do outside your house, but given that we shouldn’t be out and about while we’re flattening the curve, that’s probably for the best. So how do you kill time during our days sheltering in place? In this week’s issue, we have some suggestions. Associate editor Jeff Gardner looks at what the Loft Cinema is bringing to your home this week and offers some other suggestions about streaming options. Jeff also tells you about recent EP releases from Miss Olivia & The Interlopers as well as The County Line if you want to sample some new tunes from local musicians. Staff writer Austin Counts fills you in on some great delivery and take-out options and tells you how some local businesses are shifting gears to help fight the outbreak. Production manager David Abbott lets you know what kind of choices you still have if you want to spend time in the great outdoors. Calendar editor Emily Dieckman turns City Week into a guide of how you can still experience some of Tucson’s wonderful galleries and perfor-

mances and provides some stress-releasing tips. And staff reporter Kathleen Kunz talks about the danger that those who experience domestic violence may be facing—and how they can still get help. This is a rough time for nearly everyone. Here at the Weekly, we are interested in hearing your stories of how you are getting by during the outbreak. If you’ve suffered through COVID-19, if you’ve lost your job and are struggling to get by, if your business is on the edge, if you’re struggling to teach your kid at home, if you’re working in healthcare or if you have other stories to tell, send them to jimn@tucsonlocalmedia.com. And if you value what we’re doing here at Tucson Weekly, we could sure use your help to keep our journalism alive through this outbreak. Many of our advertisers have been hammered in recent weeks and because our paper is free, we depend on them to keep the ink flowing. Please consider supporting our journalists by making a contribution to our efforts at TucsonWeekly.com, where you’ll find a daily feed breaking news. Be safe and be well.

— Jim Nintzel Executive Editor Hear Nintz talk about the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. during The Frank Show on KLPX, 96.1 FM.

Cover illustration by Ryan Dyson

Jaime Hood, General Manager, Ext. 12 jaime@tucsonlocalmedia.com Casey Anderson, Ad Director/ Associate Publisher, Ext. 22 casey@tucsonlocalmedia.com Sheryl Kocher, Receptionist, Ext. 10 sheryl@tucsonlocalmedia.com EDITORIAL Jim Nintzel, Executive Editor, Ext. 38 jimn@tucsonlocalmedia.com Logan Burtch-Buus, Managing Editor, Ext. 36 logan@tucsonlocalmedia.com Jeff Gardner, Associate Editor, Ext. 43 jeff@tucsonlocalmedia.com Tara Foulkrod, Web Editor, Ext. 35 tara@tucsonlocalmedia.com Austin Counts, Staff Reporter, Ext. 37 austin@tucsonlocalmedia.com Kathleen Kunz, Staff Reporter, Ext. 42 kathleen@tucsonlocalmedia.com Contributors: Lee Allen, Rob Brezsny, Max Cannon, Rand Carlson, Tom Danehy, Emily Dieckman, Bob Grimm, Andy Mosier, Xavier Omar Otero, Linda Ray, Margaret Regan, David Safier, Will Shortz, Jen Sorensen, Eric Swedlund, Mark Whittaker PRODUCTION David Abbott, Production Manager, Ext. 18 david@tucsonlocalmedia.com Louie Armendariz, Graphic Designer, Ext. 29 louie@tucsonlocalmedia.com Madison Wehr, Graphic Designer, Ext. 28 madison@tucsonlocalmedia.com Ryan Dyson, Graphic Designer, Ext. 26 ryand@tucsonlocalmedia.com CIRCULATION Alex Carrasco, Circulation, Ext. 17, alexc@tucsonlocalmedia.com ADVERTISING Kristin Chester, Account Executive, Ext. 25 kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com Candace Murray, Account Executive, Ext. 24 candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com Lisa Hopper, Account Executive Ext. 39 lisa@tucsonlocalmedia.com Brek Montoya, Account Executive, Ext. 20 brek@tucsonlocalmedia.com Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive, Ext. 27 tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com Liane White, Account Executive, Ext. 23, liane@tucsonlocalmedia.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING VMG Advertising, (888) 278-9866 or (212) 475-2529 Tucson Weekly® is published every Thursday by 13 Street Media at 7225 N. Mona Lisa Rd., Ste. 125, Tucson, Arizona. Address all editorial, business and production correspondence to: Tucson Weekly, 7225 N. Mona Lisa Rd., Ste. 125, Tucson, Arizona 85741. Phone: (520) 797-4384, FAX (520) 575-8891. First Class subscriptions, mailed in an envelope, cost $112 yearly/53 issues. Sorry, no refunds on subscriptions. Member of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia (AAN). The Tucson Weekly® and Best of Tucson® are registered trademarks of 10/13 Communications. Back issues of the Tucson Weekly are available for $1 each plus postage for the current year. Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement at his or her discretion.

Copyright: The entire contents of Tucson Weekly are Copyright © 2019 by Thirteenth Street Media. No portion may be reproduced in whole or part by any means without the express written permission of the Publisher, Tucson Weekly, 7225 N. Mona Lisa Rd., Ste. 125, Tucson, AZ 85741.

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APRIL 9, 2020

Southern Arizona

COVID-19 • Pima County had 415 of the state’s 2,456 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday, April 6, according to the morning report from the Arizona Department of Health Services. The novel coronavirus had killed 65 people statewide, including 12 in Pima County. In Maricopa County, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 1,433. • Arizona’s COVID-19 outbreak was declared a major disaster by President Donald Trump on Saturday, April 4. The formal declaration opens up new avenues of federal aid funding. One day earlier, Trump announced that people should wear masks in public to help reduce spread of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 304,000 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which has killed 7,616 people as of Sunday, April 5, according to preliminary statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because COVID-19 symptoms can take as long as two weeks to appear after exposure to the virus (and some people can remain entirely asymptomatic), health officials say community spread of the disease is far worse than the official numbers suggest. They have urged the public to avoid unnecessary trips and gatherings of more than 10 people. • Gov. Doug Ducey narrowed the list of “essential businesses” that are allowed to remain open under his stay-at-home order on Friday, April 3, saying that barbershops; cosmetology, hairstyling, nail salons, and aesthetic salons; tanning salons; tattoo parlors; spa, massage parlors, and swap meets all had to close by 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. Ducey also order closed basketball courts, splash pads, playgrounds, and public restrooms in public parks as well as communal pools at hotels, condominiums, apartment complexes and parks. The expanded list of shuttered businesses and amenities comes after Ducey faced criticism by Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and others that he had allowed too many businesses to remain open under a list of essential business and services. Under Ducey’s stay-at-home order, Arizonans are still able to shop for groceries, medical and household needs, and pet supplies. They can also go work, pick up

Round Up

a take-out meal from a restaurant, travel to take care of a family member, friend or pet, and can still go walking, hiking, biking and golfing, provided that they adhere to social distancing guidelines. Ducey also issued an executive order on Monday, April 6, halting evictions for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Ducey announced a halt on evictions for residential renters on March 24. The executive order encourages landlords to defer rent payments for small businesses facing economic hardship amid COVID-19 and suggests waiving all fees and interest from late payments. • Health care workers remain desperately short of personal protective gear across the state, but Gov. Ducey announced on Saturday, April 4, that Honeywell had agreed to produce more than 6 million N95 masks for the state in the next year. Honeywell had announced last week that it would producing the masks at its Phoenix manufacturing plant. Dr. Bob England, Pima County health director, asked retired or out of work nurses to return the field to help with shortages at local hospitals and clinics. “If you were one of those folks and you got furloughed and you have time on your hands, your community needs you now like never before,” England said. • Pima County sent home most of its workforce, although workers essential to day-to-day operations remain on the job. Those unable to telecommute are eligible for two weeks of county pandemic leave and two weeks of pay covered by the federal government under the recently passed COVID-19 relief package. • The Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association, the union for Arizona’s correctional officers, demanded that prison staff be outfitted with personal protection equipment such as masks and gloves after a memo from management discouraged workers from wearing PPE. A correctional officer told Tucson Weekly that once coronavirus arrives in Arizona prisons, it’s “gonna be hell.” • A group of Tucson chefs launched an advertising campaign to urge Tucsonans

The Arizona Inn in central Tucson has closed its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic. to order take-out once a week from local restaurants to boost their struggling industry. • Pima County closed most of its county-run shooting ranges—Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range, Southeast Archery Range, Southeast Clay Target Center, and Tucson Mountain Park Rifle and Pistol Range—because it could no longer provide qualified staffers to supervise the practive fields. The county has left open the Tucson Mountain Park Archery Range, along with the Virgil Ellis Rifle and Pistol Range in Ajo, because both are unstaffed. • Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus last week warned against people hosting house parties while the stay-at-home order is in effect, noting that house parties are not listed as an essential activity in Ducey’s order. Magnus said while police would typically give a warning to those who violate emergency orders, scofflaws could find themselves charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor.

LOGAN BURTCH-BUUS

COVID-19 symptoms typically occur two to 14 days after exposure, and include headache, fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. However, some cases of the virus are entirely asymptomatic. Practices to avoid infection include social distancing (of at least six feet), washing your hands, avoiding unnecessary trips and not touching your face. COVID-19 can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on stainless steel and plastic surfaces up to three days. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, speak with a healthcare provider for medical advice. According to the CDC, people who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Stay at home and avoid public transportation, but stay in touch with your doctor. If you do leave your home, wear a facemask and clean your hands often. If you develop more severe symptoms (persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, bluish lips) get medical attention immediately. Authorities will give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information. ■

APRIL 9, 2020

COURTESY GASLIGHT COSTUME SHOPPE

The Gaslight Costume Shoppe, under head designer Renee Cloutier, has switched gears to produce facemasks for the Tucson community.

SHIFTING GEARS Businesses adapt to produce needed supplies during pandemic By Austin Counts Austin@tucsonlocalmedia.com LOCAL BUSINESSES IN Southern Arizona are pitching in and switching production to help the healthcare industry as well as the public amid shortages of food, medical supplies and lodging during the coronavirus pandemic. The Gaslight Costume Shoppe’s head designer, Renee Cloutier has been busy making face masks for the community after asking her daughter, who is a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital, about how prepared the hospital was as the pandemic started to spread. “My daughter told me the hospital might be short on masks,” Cloutier said. “So I asked if it would help if I made some fabric (masks). She told me, “That would be great in case something happens.” So the seamstress got to work making masks for her daughter and several other family members who are also in the healthcare industry. Weeks since, demand for Cloutier’s masks have skyrocketed — she’s making hundreds a week. She said her masks help extend the life of the N-95 respirator masks that are in short supply at hospitals. “The kind (of masks) I’m making will fit over the N-95 masks,” Cloutier said.

“They’ll still fit a regular person but I figure some of the medical people may need to cover their N-95 masks if they were only given one.” The masks are 100 percent cotton and are free to the public. To find out more or to be put on Cloutier’s list for a mask, please contact Renee at the Gaslight Costume Shoppe at 520-686-1046. Thunder Canyon Brewstillery has teamed up with Elgin Distillery to convert their spirits into hand sanitizer for the local medical community at large. The federal government reached out to distillers for help after recently easing restrictions to produce hand sanitizer. They even gave distillers their FDA hand sanitizer recipe and guidelines on how to make it. “Basically, you can’t find hand sanitizer anymore. Even hospitals can’t find it,” said Steve Tracy, owner of Thunder Canyon Brewstillery. “So we’ve been turning our high-proof rum into hand sanitizer.” Thunder Canyon uses their 500 gallon fermentation tanks — typically used for beer production — to ferment sugar and yeast into wash alcohol to be distilled. They send the wash alcohol down to Elgin to be processed in their 500-gallon distillation still. Elgin Distillery can produce about 50 gallons of hand sanitizer from each 500-gallon run, according to Tracy. “We only have a 50 gallon still that will make about 5 gallons of hand sanitizer,” Tracy said. “To ramp up production we’re now sending our wash (alcohol) to Elgin where they’ll run it through their still and make about 50 gallons per run.” Alcohol needs to be 80 percent (160 proof) to be used as hand sanitizer, according to the World Health Organization. The alcohol they make comes off the still at 90 percent or 180 proof — far stronger than needed, according to Tracy. “The demand is so far in excess we’re cranking it out as fast as we can,” Tracy said. The Hotel McCoy is offering rate assistance grants for artists, hospitality and non-profit employees struggling with lodging during the pandemic. Grants are awarded in the amount of 10 to 40 percent off the already reduced monthly rate on a furnished room, all utilities, wi-fi, cable, and daily hot breakfast included, according to Nicole Dahl, general manager of Hotel McCoy. Monthly rent can range from $750 to $895 a month. Their grant program could reduce rent to as low as $450 per month. Dahl said she felt the need to offer help after having a conversation with a friend

who rents a room in someone’s home without a lease. Her friend’s roommate decided she no longer wanted to rent to Dahl’s friend since she was unable to quarantine due to work. “She said, “I’m just renting a room. I don’t have a lease or anything and now I have to be out by the 10th,” Dahl said. “I’m sure there’s plenty of people in Tucson who are in this situation and they can’t afford to put down a big deposit on a place and buy furniture.” To apply, please contact Nicole Dahl at Nicole@hotelmccoy.com. Grant applications can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to process, according to Dahl. Local restaurant produce distributor Pivot Produce lives up to its name by redesigning its business model to provide home produce delivery subscriptions to the public under the name Pivot Direct. Hotel Congress is retooling to help serve the community by offering grocery goods typically out of stock these days — eggs, bread, toilet paper, produce and many other essential items. Customers order from the hotel’s website, www. hotelcongress.com, and orders are fulfilled

JEN SORENSEN

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

twice a week - Orders made by 1 P.M. on Sundays and Wednesdays will be ready for pickup on Tuesday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. “We noticed there were many items in our inventory that we could make available to others for purchase,” said Hotel Congress Marketing Director Felicia Shepard. “We’re just trying to offer items that are difficult to find right now. Especially in the downtown area.” The Hotel Congress Market has teamed up with their food distributors Sysco Wholesale and Meritt Foods of Arizona to procure the essentials they sell. While Congress’ prices aren’t cheap they’re hoping to be able to make price adjustments due increased demand, which will increase their purchasing power. “We’ll be making some price adjustments here soon because the demand is growing which makes it possible for us to buy in larger quantities,” said Shepard. The hotel market is also planning on expanding its service by adding an extra fulfillment day as well as offering delivery within the downtown area, according to Shepard. ■

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

APRIL 9, 2020

JIM NINTZEL

Playgrounds are off-limits, though parks remain open.

OUTDOORS DURING THE OUTBREAK Facilities close, hikers inundate trails in the Tucson area By David Abbott david@tucsonlocalmedia.com TUCSONANS CAN’T GO TO A concert, a gym or a movie, but those who want to get out of the house while maintaining “social distancing” can still enjoy the myriad trails in the region. But don’t expect to hang out under a ramada or let the kids climb on a playground. With so few other options for getting out of the house, people have been flocking to the parks, which must remain open as an “essential service” under the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Doug Ducey last week. Jurisdictions have canceled any group activities or events and Pima County, the City of Tucson and the town of Oro Valley had already closed playgrounds even before Ducey ordered them shut down when he narrowed his statewide stay-at-home order. Federal open space such as Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon Recreation Area have closed restrooms, comfort stations and visitor centers, canceled all public programs and suspended fee collection for the foreseeable future. Group campsites in Coronado National Forest are closed, although trails and remote camping areas are still accessible. Officials advise park users to maintain at least six feet of distance from others and limit group sizes to fewer than 10 people. Sandy Bahr, director of Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, echoed the need to practice trail safety and avoid crowding, noting

more than 110 miles of multi-use trails with connections in Marana, Oro Valley and points south. Restrooms, playgrounds and ramadas are closed, however. Valerie Samoy, a special staff assistant for the county’s Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department, said county parks are seeing heavy use. If parks or trailheads are congested, users should “seriously consider going to another park or trail,” Samoy added. • The city of Tucson’s parks remain open but as in Pima County, playgrounds and ramadas are closed. • The National Park Service has kept open the trail systems at both the east and west branches of Saguaro National Park. Permits are available online for wilderness camping. Andy Fisher, public information officer for Saguaro National Park, said closing the parking lots helps limit the number of people visiting at any one time. “While we don’t have the ability to close the park, we can control the parking lots and we do have the ability to write parking tickets or tow illegally parked vehicles,” she said. • Sabino Canyon Recreation Area has also closed its lower parking lot indefinitely but the overflow parking lot remains available. The cost of parking is $8 and there is a fee tube available. (Exact change is required). The new Sabino Canyon Crawler tram service has been suspended. National Forest Service officials encourage users to help reduce human impact by

an increase in congestion at trailheads throughout central and southern Arizona. “When social distancing started, everyone wanted to go outdoors, but everyone is going to the same trails,” Bahr said. “My husband and I went to Picketpost Mountain [near Superior] and the trailhead was packed.” Bahr suggests staying close to home and walking in the neighborhood to help “flatten the curve,” but if hikers are compelled to hit the trails, they should consider less-trav- CLAYTOONZ By Clay Jones eled areas, avoid hiking alone and “practice good trail etiquette.” “There is no sense in taking unnecessary risks,” she said. “If people get in trouble out on the trails they’ll be pulling valuable resources from other places. … I know we don’t plan on anything bad happening when we hike, but there is always that possibility.” Bahr added that it is a particularly tough time for outdoor enthusiasts in Arizona, “since this is the time when we get outdoors before it gets too hot.” But she encouraged people to avoid outdoor activity. “To the degree we can over the next couple of weeks, we should stay at home,” she said. Here is where things stand as of Monday, April 6: • Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry has kept open the county’s 49 parks, 26 trailheads and hundreds of miles of trails throughout Pima County, including The Loop, a crown jewel that spans

staying on established trails, packing out garbage and avoiding high-risk activities as search-and-rescue efforts teams may be harder to call on during the COVID-19 outbreak. • Oro Valley has closed the town’s playgrounds, basketball courts, volleyball courts, fenced dog parks and ramadas until further notice, according to Town of Oro Valley Parks & Recreation Director Kristy Diaz-Trahan says parks and trails help people cope with the COVID-19 outbreak. “Our local parks, trails and open spaces serve as places where people can find peaceful and joyful moments,” she wrote in a recent email. “These spaces naturally lend themselves to social distancing and during this time of uncertainty, these places are needed more than ever.” • The Town of Marana’s parks remain open. Town staffers have seen small clusters of people utilizing parks, but there have been “no major issues,” according to Town spokesperson Vic Hathaway. Staff and the Marana Police Department will continue monitoring parks in order to reduce large crowds. “Our observation is that Marana citizens continue to enjoy the Marana parks and trail system in a safe, respectful, and courteous manner,” Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy said. “We are delighted to see our citizens getting outdoors to safely relax and exercise, and caution everyone to follow the guidelines for physical distancing to prevent possible spread of COVID-19.” ■

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

APRIL 9, 2020

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

In addition, if people are interested in supporting survivors, Menaker encourages them to share information about helplines Stay-at-Home order can put those facing domestic violence in danger, but there’s and programs through their own social media accounts, and donate to organizations support out there like Emerge!. in calls. By Kathleen B. Kunz Emerge! is currently asking the commu“Which is something we expected just in Kathleen@tucsonlocalmedia.com nity for in-kind donations of high demand light of social isolation, general stress sursupplies for their emergency shelter, such as rounding the coronavirus outbreak, financial THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY HAS toilet paper, disinfecting wipes and rubbing stress that people are experiencing, and then drastically changed society’s normal daily alcohol. routines as people stay home from work and limited access to basic needs,” Menaker said. They have employed additional cleaning “All of those things create more stress for school in an effort to curb the spread of the practices in their shelter and have estabpeople and that increases risk for violence in virus. lished as much social distancing as possible. But what if your home isn’t the safest place the home.” Mercurio-Sakwa said if someone is sick with for you? anything, they have the ability to house them Across Arizona, organizations that provide \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ separately from other residents so illnesses crucial services to survivors of domestic do not spread. violence are focused on helping them stay Supply donations are being accepted at safe during what is a very stressful time for Emerge’s administration office, located at everyone, but a potentially dangerous time 2545 E. Adams Street, on weekdays between for those facing abuse. 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Their website, emergecen— ED MERCURIO-SAKWA, CEO, EMERGE! “We can all imagine the idea that if the ter.org, has the most up-to-date list of items threat is outside of our doors, we often retreat in need. to our homes and we want to lock the door Mercurio-Sakwa and Menaker are hopeful connect from each other completely because The coalition, based in Phoenix, has in its that support system that person is relying and that’s the way we feel safe,” said Ed that the community will keep domesMercurio-Sakwa, the CEO of Emerge! Center membership sexual and domestic violence tic abuse survivors in mind during the on is proactively reaching out and staying programs across the state. Menaker said Against Domestic Abuse. “But when the connected,” Mercurio-Sakwa said. “So if and COVID-19 outbreak so that their issues and threat is inside the home, telling people ‘Do some of those groups have actually seen a needs don’t fall by the wayside. when they have a need, they still have that decrease in calls. not leave your home’ is a really scary idea.” “While all of us are rightfully worried relationship there to call upon.” “That’s concerning to us because that Emerge! operates an emergency shelter about this virus, there are people who have Similarly, Menaker encourages family may mean that survivors are less able to get members and friends to reach out if they be- even bigger concerns on their minds, and for survivors, a 24/7 bilingual crisis helpaccess to resources because they’re at home lieve someone that they care about is being line, prevention and intervention services, that includes when they’re being abused,” support groups and several education-based potentially with the person who’s harming harmed, because they might be able to make Mercurio-Sakwa said. “So we need to make them, or they may think that programs programs aimed at ending domestic abuse. sure that not only Emerge’s services contina phone call to a helpline and gather some They are the largest organization in Southern aren’t open right now,” she said. “So we’re ue to operate, but that we as a community do helpful resources to share with a survivor Arizona dedicated to helping domestic abuse working hard to get the word out that all the who is not able to do it themselves. not forget those folks.” ■ programs are currently open, including in survivors, and all of their services are still Tucson.” available during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a concern shared by Mercurio-Sakwa. Mercurio-Sakwa said Emerge! is experiencing an increase in the number of people He said the opportunity to make a call for help could be nonexistent if a survivor is reaching out for help. While there’s a wide isolating at home with their abuser. variety of reasons for that, he said social “They don’t have that moment where distancing is the exact thing that can be detrimental to someone who is dealing with they’ve gotten to go to work to have that free moment or that their partner has left for violence in their home. “Isolation is a really commonly used tactic work, leaving them that free moment,” he in abusive relationships,” he said. “It’s a way said. Menaker said the coalition is suggesting to keep people away from support systems folks remember that during a stay-at-home that might help them navigate that safety order they can still go to the grocery store, issue in their relationship. It’s a way to keep people away from somebody that might con- get their mail or take a walk around the block. She said they’re trying to support tradict what that abusive partner is saying. Someone who might say ‘That doesn’t sound survivors in finding new and different ways to find privacy and make those phone calls if right’ or ‘That doesn’t sound like a healthy needed. relationship’ or ‘That sounds really scary.’” But giving broad advice to people in this The trend is similar with the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, kind of situation is tricky, because what may work for one person might put another in which operates a helpline for survivors and more danger. community members to access resources. “You could say if you can’t make a phone Co-Chief Executive Officer Tasha Menaker said they’ve seen a 10 to 15 percent increase call, you can reach out to us through social media and we can connect that way, but the problem is for one person that might be a great solution but for somebody else, that’s the place where their partner might be checking,” Mercurio-Sakwa said. “So it’s really case by case.” However he does suggest that even though everyone is physically distancing from one another right now, we shouldn’t be eliminating the ability to communicate through telephone, video, text or whatever works best. If survivors are still in regular contact with friends and family, it means they will hopefully be able to reach out for help if necessary. “On the flip side, it helps that we don’t dis-

“ISOLATION IS A REALLY COMMONLY USED TACTIC IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS.”

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

APRIL 9, 2020

To ﬁnd out more about Sonoran Restaurant Week’s Tucson To-Go, check out sonoranrestaurantweek.com. If you’re a restaurant wanting to join, please contact Laura Reese at laura@storytellerPR.com.

CHOW COURTESY PHOTO

Chef Juan Almanza talks about supporting local restaurants in the video “A Message From Tucson Chefs”

MEAL TICKET

Help restaurants survive the pandemic by ordering takeout or delivery from a local restaurant once a week By Austin Counts Austin@tucsonlocalmedia.com

TUCSON’S FOOD AND BEVERAGE industry is sounding the clarion call through a YouTube video and a website asking for the public to support local restaurants by purchasing one carryout meal a week as Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-at-home order remains active through April 30. The call to action started after The Parish Chef and Co-Owner Travis Peters posted about his frustration with how local media outlets were handling their restaurant to-go lists on Facebook. Peters said he appreciated the local media’s response, but each restaurant list featured different eateries, causing numerous places to be excluded. “Every local media outlet was creating their own list and it seemed like if you didn’t get on their list, you were going to get missed,” Peters said. “I was like (the media) needs to do more.” Peters had the idea of creating a viral YouTube video letting the community know, “Hey, we’re still open,” he said. Peters had no idea of the response from the local community that would soon follow. “So I made the Facebook post out of frustration, hoping somebody would pick up on it,” Peters said. “Matt Russell came to the rescue and got the right people talking.” Matt Russell, president of Russell Communications, sent out an email to local food writers and media asking for help pulling together Peters’ video and message. Within hours of Russell’s email, videographer Scot Litteer and his crew at Litteer Films signed on to film and produce the video, which

was completed in four days. Litteer’s production company has worked with Tucson Electric Power, Visit Tucson and Sun Tran/ Sun Van. “It was the post heard around Tucson’s restaurant world. It was this one post from a chef that had a pretty clear request and it spoke to me,” Russell said. “To me, this wasn’t a choice about whether I should respond. I had a responsibility to act to support this community that I love.” By now, you’re probably one of the near 20,000 people who’ve seen the Litteer’s YouTube video titled “A Message From Tucson Chefs” featuring Peters, Senae Thai’s Dee Buizer, El Taco Rustico’s Juan Almanza and Tanque Verde Ranch’s Janet Balderas. The video’s message is clear—you can help keep your favorite restaurants open by ordering one takeout meal per week. “With everything that we’re going through right now, we need to make sure to support local and help out your family and our families survive and get through this together,” Balderas said in the video. “Our family wants to feed your family.” Peters said it is imperative for the public to order takeout when possible to help Tucson’s vibrant restaurant community survive this unprecedented time. The simple request would help keep the restaurant’s doors open and help keep employees from the unemployment line. “Ordering takeout is 100 percent imperative for all restaurants’ survival right now. It’s not about trying to make a profit. We’re all in the same boat,” Peters said. “If we can help these restaurants survive, then our employees continue to have a job and they

CHOW LISTINGS

Arizona Pizza Company (multiple locations): take out; azpbroadway.com Baggins Gourmet Sandwiches (multiple Find a list of restaurants that are offering takeout and delivery at TucsonWeekly.com. locations): Take out; GrubHub; bagginsgourmet.com Baja Cafe (Multiple locations): Take out; can put food on their tables. That’s really bajacafetucson.com what it’s all about.” Beyond Bread (multiple locations): Pick Visit Tucson and Storyteller Public up; order online at beyondbread.com; Relations and Events, the brains behind 10% off all orders with code BREAD and Sonoran Restaurant Week, are also helping artisan loaves available restaurants by revamping the event’s Bruegger Bagels (multiple locations): website, www.sonoranrestaurantweek.com, Take out; GrubHub as Sonoran Restaurant Week Presents: Casa Molina (Speedway, 520-886-5468; Tucson To-Go. The site features local resCampbell, 520-795-7593): Curbside pick taurants offering $30 meal deals for two. But up, catering; UberEats; casamolina.com the customer doesn’t have to order the $30 Chuy's Mesquite Broiler (Multiple locadeal, said Laura Reese of Storyteller Public Relations. The purpose is to direct traffic to tions): Take out; DoorDash; tucsonchuys.com local restaurant’s website, she said. “The $30 deal is just to give the site some Culinary Dropout (520-203-0934): 35% cohesiveness and we direct customers back off take out, curbside pickup with code FRC35; DoorDash; culinarydropout.com; to that restaurant’s website,” Reese said. 50% off package beer, wine. “If it opens up the door for people to order El Charro Cafe (multiple locations): more, that’s great. Most restaurants have Take out; Doordash, Seamless; their full menu available right now.” About 15 different local restaurants have sicharro.com joined—from Boca Tacos y Tequila to cajun Frost Gelato (multiple locations): Doorfood at Peters’ The Parish, and even breakDash; frostgelato.com fast at eastside mainstay Joe’s Pancake Lucky Wishbone (multiple locations): House. Take out; Door Dash; luckywishbone.com “It took our regulars and everyone in the Magpies Gourmet Pizza + Wings area a little bit of time to realize we’re still (multiple locations): Take out; DoorDash; open after they announced restaurants magpiespizza.com; conditional delivery were closed, but could still do takeout,” said Mama’s Hawaiian (Tanque Verde, 520Mary Brineley, general manager of Joe’s 770-7800; Roger Road 520-792-6290): Pancake House. “Business has been good Take out; DoorDash; enough to keep us afloat and I think the mamasbbqtucson.com (Tucson To-Go) site is helping.” Miss Saigon (Multiple locations): Take Brineley said she saw a post on the Sonoran Restaurant Week Instagram page out; PostMates, DoorDash; misssaigontucson.com asking restaurants to join their site. At this El Molinito (Multiple locations): Take point anything bringing in business is a out; el-molinito.com; regular menu and good thing, she said. bulk orders “We saw a post on their Instagram to Prep & Pastry (Grant: 520-838-0809; connect with them, so we did,” Brineley said. “It’s so great to see everyone out there Campbell, 520-326-7737): curbside pick up; GrubHub, UberEats; Fprepandpastry. helping restaurants and locals too.” com; also sells Exo Roast coffee beans. Becoming a part of the Tucson To-Go Seis Kitchen (River, 520-612-7630; Mersite is as simple as sending your contact information to Reese, she said. There is no cado, 520-622-2002): Take out; DoorDash; cost to join and Reese said the site will stay seiskitchen.com up as long as its needed. Sentinel Peak Brewing (Grant, 520-777“This is not an exclusive club. As soon 9456; Tanque Verde, 520-749-2299): Take as I get information from restaurants that out; sentinelpeakbrewing.com; bring or email me, I put it up on our website and buy growler push it on our social media,” Reese said. Serial Grillers (multiple locations): take “There’s no time cap on this. We’re doing it out; serialgrillersaz.com as long as it’s needed.” ■

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

APRIL 9, 2020

Sushi Garden (La Cholla: 520-877-8744; Broadway: 520-326-4700): take out; sushigarden.com; 10% off online orders with code MARIO Trident Grills & Pizza Pub (multiple locations): take out, curbside pick up; tridentgrill.com; mall locations are closed. Tucson Tamale Company (Tanque Verde: 520-298-8404; Oracle, 520-403-1488): DoorDash; tucsontamale.com; conditional free delivery; beer available Wings Over Broadway (Central, 520323-8805; East, 520-207-5883): Take out; DoorDash; wobtucson.com Zinburger (multiple locations): Take out, curbside pick up; DoorDash; zinburgeraz. com; order online and use code RX35 at checkout for 35% off pick up Fourth Avenue/University 4th Avenue Deli (520-624-3354): take out; UberEats; 4thavedeli.com Bentley’s House of Coffee and Tea (520795-0338): call to order; bentleyscoffeehouse.com Boca Tacos y Tequila (520-777-8134): take out or curbside pick up; bocatacos.

com; delivery is by ondaguey.com within five miles. Brooklyn Pizza (520-622-6868): Take out; DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats, Postmakes; brooklynpizzacompany.com Caruso’s Italian Restaurant (520-6245765): Curbside pick up, delivery; Carusositalian.com; 30% off package beer, wine, free desserts with four entrees, 20% off bulk sauces and bulk menu, 20% off “take and bake” Cheba Hut (520-495-4719): Take out; DoorDash; chebahut.com Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. (520-4445305): Take out; new menu posted on their facebook page while they build their websitefacebook.com The Dutch Eatery and Refuge (520-7926689): UberEats thedutchtucson.com; discount on package beer/wine; follow their Facebook page for frequent updates and amusing isolation survival tips. The Drunken Chicken (520-617-0000): Take out; thedrunkenchickenaz.com, order online ■

MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2020 • TUCSONWEEKLY.COM • FREE

SURVIVING THE OUTBREAK What To Do If You’re Sick Where To Feed Your Kids While School Is Out How To Find Emergency Childcare When To Shop If You’re a Senior Where To Find Food Assistance Where To Look for a Biz Loan How To Help Others in This Time of Need Where To Still See Art And More!

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Grappling with COVID-19 How are local restaurants surviving the shutdown? By Austin Counts Inside Tucson Business

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Rio Nuevo revises $72.5 million Bautista development deal Page 4

Nourishment in space, photographing electrons and more Page 8

Local Preparedness How does Tucson stack up against COVID-19?

EXPLORER The Voice of Marana, Oro Valley and Northwest Tucson

March 25, 2020

Keeping The Lights On

Volume 27 • Number 13

To our readers

irst and most important: I hope that you and your loved ones are safe during these difficult times. Please be sure to heed the advice of the health care experts and make sure to check in with family, friends and neighbors. At Tucson Local Media, we are committed to bringing you the news and information as quickly as we can during these unprecedented times Marana Unified School District for everyone in our communities. busdriver Alvin Ramsey hands out a ‘grab-and-go’ meal to The majority of our staff is curchildren at the Marana Cares rently working remotely. Our team Mobile traveling eatery. The of reporters and editors are on the remodeled school bus is phones continually throughout equipped to provide meals to the day with city and state officials, students, and will operate as school officials, community orgalong as schools are closed. For nizations, small and large businessmore information on Marana es and nonprofit organizations to Cares Mobile, and where to bring you the most current up to find it, visit maranausd.org/ date information. mcm. Small businesses in any commuLogan Burtch-Buus nity are the lifeblood of our everyday lives. Please continue supporting those businesses in any way you can. Please don't hesitate contacting they need it.” most notably the virus that causes us at 797-4384 or emailing us at tucWe spoke with local health ex- the common cold. So coronaviruses soneditor@tucsonlocalmedia.com perts to get to the bottom of some are not new, but this strain is new, with any tips or suggestions of things of the biggest questions related to and that’s why it’s so different than happening in your community. the ongoing pandemic: How does it what we’re used to,” said Aaron PaFrom all of us at Tucson Local differ from the flu? Can ibuprofen checo of the Pima County Health Media: Thank you for supporting us. worsen symptoms? How long does Department. the virus remain on surfaces? Is TucWhile often compared to the flu, —Jason Joseph, son particularly susceptible? COVID-19 differs in a few key ways. President/Publisher “The novel coronavirus strain is Perhaps most importantly: there is just that: a new strain of coronaviSee COVID-19, P6 rus. There are lots of coronaviruses,

Local utility companies suspend shutoffs during Coronavirus crisis | Page 10

MARANA CARES

INSIDE

Childcare Concerns

Keeping kids safe |Page 4

Restaurant Woes

Eateries limited to takeout and delivery |Page 8

How does Tucson stack up against COVID-19?

Live Streaming

WaveLab to host local musicians |Page 13

Jeff Gardner Tucson Local Media

ong before mass restaurant closures and event cancellations, the World Health Organization described an ongoing “infodemic” about COVID-19, citing a massive amount of both true and false information online that “makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when

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March 25, 2020

Keeping The Lights On

Volume 27 • Number 13

To our readers

irst and most important: I hope that you and your loved ones are safe during these difficult times. Please be sure to heed the advice of the health care experts and make sure to check in with family, friends and neighbors. At Tucson Local Media, we are committed to bringing you the news and information as quickly as we can during these unprecedented times for everyone in our communities. Marana Unified School District The majority of our staff is curbusdriver Alvin Ramsey hands out a ‘grab-and-go’ meal to rently working remotely. Our team children at the Marana Cares of reporters and editors are on the Mobile traveling eatery. The phones continually throughout remodeled school bus is the day with city and state officials, equipped to provide meals to school officials, community orgastudents, and will operate as nizations, small and large businesslong as schools are closed. For es and nonprofit organizations to more information on Marana bring you the most current up to Cares Mobile, and where to date information. find it, visit maranausd.org/ Small businesses in any commumcm. nity are the lifeblood of our everyday Logan Burtch-Buus lives. Please continue supporting those businesses in any way you can. Please don't hesitate contacting us at 797-4384 or emailing us at tucthey need it.” most notably the virus that causes soneditor@tucsonlocalmedia.com We spoke with local health ex- the common cold. So coronaviruses with any tips or suggestions of things perts to get to the bottom of some are not new, but this strain is new, happening in your community. of the biggest questions related to and that’s why it’s so different than From all of us at Tucson Local the ongoing pandemic: How does it what we’re used to,” said Aaron Pa- Media: Thank you for supporting us. differ from the flu? Can ibuprofen checo of the Pima County Health worsen symptoms? How long does Department. —Jason Joseph, the virus remain on surfaces? Is TucWhile often compared to the flu, President/Publisher son particularly susceptible? COVID-19 differs in a few key ways. “The novel coronavirus strain is Perhaps most importantly: there is just that: a new strain of coronaviSee COVID-19, P6 rus. There are lots of coronaviruses,

Local utility companies suspend shutoffs during Coronavirus crisis | Page 10

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Keeping kids safe |Page 4

For more listings, visit TucsonWeekly.com

Visit TucsonWeekly.com for the latest coronavirus news

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How does Tucson stack up against COVID-19?

Live Streaming

WaveLab to host local musicians |Page 13

Jeff Gardner Tucson Local Media

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9156 N Palm Brook Drive, Tucson, AZ 85743

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The Big Resource List | Page 2 • School’s Are Still Feeding Students | Page 4 • The Search For Child Care | Page 6

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COVID-19 Resource Guide How to keep your kids occupied, your pantries full and your rent paid through the pandemic

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INSIDE How to keep your kids busy, and your pantry full during shutdowns |Page 4

Drexel Heights

Water safety protects the whole family |Page 5

Childcare Woes

Watching out for the little ones |Page 6

Pima County extends business closures, restaurant restrictions through April 10

Empty Tables

How restaurants are weathering the storm |Page 10

Kathleen B. Kunz Tucson Local Media

Restaurants are still allowed to operate through take-out or drive-thru

service only. The closure was supposed to last s the number of COVID-19 cases in Pima County contin- until Tuesday, March 31, but the suues to rise each day, the Pima pervisors held an emergency meetCounty Board of Supervisors ing on March 26 to extend it to Frivoted 3-2 to extend their mandate day, April 10. Democratic Supervisors Richard on the closure of all movie theaters, gyms, restaurants, bars and other Elías, Sharon Bronson and Ramón places where people gather in un- Valadez voted in favor, while Reincorporated parts of the county. publican Supervisors Ally Miller and

To our readers

Interfaith Community Services Faith and Community Outreach Manager Lauryn Valladarez loads donated food and cleaning supplies into an ICS van parked at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. The nonprofit is hosting shortnotice food drives throughout the Greater Tucson Metro Area in order to keep its food bank full of supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resource Guide

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

APRIL 9, 2020

City Week: Shelter at Home

a great way to get outside into the sunshine and get moving.

If, though you never thought you’d say it, you’re not feeling up to another Netflix binge tonight, here are a couple of other, local suggestions to keep yourself entertained this week. Some also include opportunities to support local nonprofits and arts organizations, which is a worthwhile endeavor if you can afford it. If you can’t, many of these items are being offered for free or on a pay-what-you-can basis. Stay safe, stay in and stay sane, Tucson!

Fun in General

If you’ve ever visited the Butterfly Magic exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, you know how peaceful and pleasant it is. So the livestream the gardens has going, of the butterflies flitting around their tropical paradise, is food for the soul. Visit tucsonbotanical.org.

by Emily Dieckman

Zoo to You. We can’t physically visit the Reid Park Zoo right now, but every day at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., their blog and social media pages will have fun facts, photos and behind-the-scenes looks at the zoo. Maybe what you need right now is a deep dive into the history of Ronnie, the Trumpeter Hornbill. Maybe you want an activity page to do with your kids. Maybe you just need some comforting footage of a tortoise getting a shower. Visit reidparkzoo.org for all of it.

Theatre and Performances

Fridita y El Pincel Magico. Come watch a virtual show hosted by Live Theatre Workshop! They’ll be broadcasting a recording of a previously performed show about young Frida and her magic paintbrush, learning how to find a balance between exploring her imagination and living in the real world. Staff members will be online for a live chat and to answer questions throughout the evening. Gather your family and a dinner of your choice for a night in. 6 p.m. Saturday, April 11. Visit Live Theatre Workshop’s Facebook page to tune in. Free. Unscrewed Theater is doing weekly improv performances at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays. If you want to learn how to do it yourself, try out their drop-in improv class from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday nights. No experience necessary, and the class is pay-what-you-can. Plus, check out their YouTube channel for more funny content. Visit unscrewedtheater.org. In lieu of live performances, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra is featuring treats on their website, such as recordings of performances earlier in the season, lesson plans for kids and a YouTube playlist of pieces featured in next year’s classic series compiled by conductor José Luis Gomez. Keep up at their Facebook page or tucsonsymphony.org. Arizona Theatre Company is offering a stream to The Legend of Georgia McBride, the run of which was cut short by COVID-19 measures. Purchase a virtual ticket at arizonatheatre.org, and download and watch the stream by Wednesday, April 15 ($25 rental). They’ve also moved their learning and education initiatives online, with Zoom classes at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays. Email education@arizonatheatre.org to learn more about how to get involved. Friday Nights In. The Fox Tucson Theatre is offering streams of concerts by local artists at 7 p.m. on Fridays. Go grab some takeout and cozy up for an at-home concert. Get a name-yourprice virtual ticket at paypal.me/foxtucsontheatre. The Gaslight Theatre and Gaslight Music Hall are posting clips of old performances to their social media pages. Visit their Facebook pages to relive shows like their Viva Las Vegas Star-Studded Spectacular and performances by groups like the Manhattan Dolls.

Art

Tohono Chul has several exhibits available for

LOGAN BURTCH-BUUS

virtual viewing. “On The Desert: The Disovery and Invention of Color” is all about the beautiful rainbow woven throughout our desert. “Slices of Sonora” features cross sections of trees from the Sonoran Desert inlaid with materials like wool, velvet and beads. And featured artists Paul Anders-Stout and Nicholas Bernard have their colorful ceramic and glass forms on display. Check out the exhibits at tohonochul.org. Visit the Tucson Museum of Art’s Facebook page to see pieces from the galleries, plus information about the artists. The Etherton Gallery’s Saturday showcase presents casual video chats with Terry Etherton and some of their artists. They’ve also set up artnet and Artsy accounts with thousands of works from the gallery’s artists. Browse to your heart’s content! Visit their Facebook page to tune in and learn more.

flow class, tune in and pay what you can. Visit tucsonyoga.com for details. Yoga Oasis has a variety of classes available for rent, including a four-hour workshop called “From Tadasana to Savasana” and a series on backbends, if you’re looking for more specialized courses. Visit yogaoasis.com. Dance. Floor Polish has affordable, livestreamed classes on everything from burlesque to ballet to bellydance. Visit floorpolishdance.com for times and prices—a few of the classes are offered for free. BreakOut Studios has plenty of online courses on their YouTube page, from all-levels hip hop to guided meditation to lyrical, jazz and tap. Visit breakoutstudiostucson.com.

The Center for Creative Photography has several online collections, including many pieces by Ansel Adams. Take a virtual look, or download their new app, CCP Interactive, by visiting ccp. arizona.edu.

FitnessBlender. OK, this resource isn’t local, but I love to plug my favorite YouTube account where I can. Fitness Blender is run by a husband and wife team named Daniel and Kelly, or, as I like to call them every time I finish one of their workouts, “my best friends.” They have hundreds of free workouts available on YouTube, which you can search by length, type of work out or part of your body you want to focus on. Many also include low-impact modifications.

If you want to make your own art, there are a couple of great local places to turn. Visit Lucky Cat Social Art on Facebook for crafting tutorials with simple materials you probably have lying around the house. Get a jewelry-making kit shipped to you from BEAD Holiday, and watch some of their livestreams, also on Facebook. Or follow along with a Bob Ross-style livestream at Creative Juice.

If you promise to keep your distance from other people, you can take a hike at Saguaro National Park, though all restrooms, visitors centers and comfort stations are closed. They’ve also suspended fee collection operations. The parking lots can get crowded, especially between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., so consider going to a lesser-used area of the park. Visit nps.gov/sagu or their Facebook page for more info.

Staying Active

Yoga. Tucson Yoga is offering classes every day over Zoom—from gentle and restorative classes to mindfulness-focused classes to a 75-minute

The Loop. The Loop is still open for walking, running biking and whatever else keeps you active. Make sure to keep appropriate distance from others (getting up early helps), but this is

Let Don Guerra, a baker from Tucson who was named one of the top 10 bakers in the U.S. by Dessert Professional Magazine, teach you how to make artisan bread in your own home. Over the course of a few short videos, he’ll teach you how to bake whole grain sourdough bread ($30) or a Barrio Bread pizza crust (free!) Visit breadlessons.com.

A Soothing Space

Positive vibes aren’t enough to get us through this pandemic, but positive vibes are gonna help. Esther Sternberg, founding director of the UA Institute on Place, Wellbeing & Performance, recommended the following tips for keeping your space feeling good while you’re in it 24/7. • Try to connect with nature, somehow. Maybe that means working near a window, or setting a photo of nature as your screensaver, or sitting near a potted plant. Whatever you can do. It’s supposed to be calming. • Declutter. Not that I would know anything about this, but if you were to, say, have a pile of papers that’s been slowly creeping across your dining room table, leaving less and less room for you to eat dinner every night, that would be stressful, right? Clean things up a bit and, • Let some positive sound in. Set aside some time to make yourself a playlist full of songs that are fun, or soothing, or uplifting—whatever you feel like you need right now. • Touch something soft! Slip into a pair of fuzzy socks when it’s time for bed. Or, perhaps even better yet, foster an animal from a local shelter. • Surround yourself with smells that make you happy, whether that means busting out the essential oils, lighting a candle or throwing a batch of cookies in the oven. • Get some fresh air. Or at least some good ventilation. Open the windows, take periodic walks and try to get some sunshine. • Find a comfortable temperature and humidity—Sternberg’s research with the U.S. General Services Administration has found that 40 to 50 percent humidity is best for reducing stress, and that this range is also associated with lower viral infection risk. Consider purchasing a portable humidifier for the building where you work or sleep, if you don’t have a central one. ■

APRIL 9, 2020

loss of its matriarch, and shortly after, discover that their town has vanished from most maps while a UFO begins appearing in the skies. Bacurau won the Jury Prize at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. 131 minutes. $12 to stream. In Portuguese and English, with English subtitles. On Netflix

CINEMA LISABI FRIDELL/MUSIC BOX FILMS

Giorgi Tsereteli as David and Ana Makharadze as Sopo in And Then We Danced.

STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Since you’re stuck at home, here are some digital options from The Loft along with some free offers from HBO and CBS All Access By Jeff Gardner jeff@tucsonlocalmedia.com

AS WE’RE ALL TRAPPED INDOORS for the time being, here’s our chance to see some of those classic movies we’ve always been meaning to get to, as well as some new arthouse films courtesy of our local theater. We also have a roundup of what’s good and new on Netflix, and some free offerings from HBO. The Loft Cinema. While The Loft is closed as a physical theater, they’ve transformed their business as the place to go for streaming arthouse films. Loft fans can purchase an “e-ticket” for the films and are then sent a link to view the film. The Loft Cinema will be splitting the revenue with the film’s distributor 50/50. This money will go directly to their employees and essential operational costs while their theater is closed. To get a ticket or to find out the Loft team has up their sleeve, head over to loftcinema.org. New to The Loft this week: Extra Ordinary. This blend of supernatural horror and oddball comedy follows a half-hearted spiritual medium (Maeve Higgins) accustomed to seeing ghostly activity. But her attempts at living a semi-normal life are complicated when a past-his-prime rock star

(Will Forte) comes to town looking for a victim to renew his Satanic pact for a come-back album. This black comedy by newbie directors Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman was celebrated at multiple festivals for its wit and wackiness. 94 minutes. $12 to stream. And Then We Danced. In this SwedishGeorgian drama, a young dancer at the National Georgian Ensemble has his years of routine and practice turned upside down when a new dancer arrives, and turns out to be both a rival and a desire. And Then We Danced was the Swedish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2019 Academy Awards. This third film by Swedish director Levan Akin is a heartfelt examination of “cultural identity, sexuality and self-expression.” 113 minutes. $12 to stream. In Georgian with English subtitles. Bacurau. The term “acid Western” is interesting even if you don’t know what it means. But knowing that it’s an underground film style of psychedelic, counter-culture cowboy themes makes it all the better. From Brazilian directors Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho, Bacurau is a thrilling, violent and humorous take on the Western genre about a small village that mourns the

Lethal Weapon. Why watch just one cheesy ’80s cop movie, when you can watch four in a row? That’s right, all four classic Lethal Weapons just got added to Netflix. It’s time to binge more Gibson/Glover than you thought possible. The “Buddy Cop” film genre was really something perfected decades ago, so why look anywhere else for it? Recently, it was announced that Lethal Weapon 5 is in development, with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover confirmed to return, and Richard Donner returning to direct. You’re going to want to be all caught up on the series when you hit that LW5 midnight premiere. Taxi Driver. Since you can’t go anywhere, you might as well watch a film that reminds you that the streets beyond your door are gritty places you should just avoid in the first place. Taxi Driver is a slow-burning, nocturnal character examination, featuring an acting performance by Robert De Niro so great that you’ll forget he was in Meet The Fockers. Bernard Herrmann’s lonely, atmospheric soundtrack is perfect for this NYC noir, and Scorcese is at the top of his game. It’s Taxi Driver, for cryin’ out loud. If you haven’t seen it, now’s your chance. Plus, you get to live out all your vigilante dreams. The Social Network. Considering we’re all trapped inside on social media, you might as well enjoy the story of how that soul-sucking device came to be. For a dramatization on how Facebook was born, The Social Network is better than it has any right to be. This is thanks to so many of the film’s participants bringing their A-game: directing by David Fincher, a soundtrack by Trent Reznor, fantastic acting by Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, and a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. Along with three Oscars, it also has the privilege of being the first PG-13 movie containing two instances of the word “fuck.”

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM 11

The Matrix. Perhaps the best way of getting out of the house is by imagining there is no house. This month, Netlifx is getting the entire Matrix trilogy. And even if the later films are a bit off the deep end, the first Matrix stands as a triumph of Y2K-era computer graphics and cyberpunk atmosphere. It’s the film responsible for a seemingly endless amount of cultural references: red pill/ blue pill, bullet time and “wire fu”—that is, kung fu where the actors fight while zipping around on wires. And since The Matrix 4 is currently being developed, here’s your chance to see the whole series.

HBO. Considering how many people are trapped inside, HBO is opening up a wide amount of their library to be streamed for free on services like HBO Go and HBO Now. The catch: their entire library isn’t free, but a good amount of it still is, and only for the month of April. HBO shows being streamed for free include The Sopranos, Silicon Valley, Six Feet Under, True Blood, The Wire, Veep and more. We’re talking dozens of seasons, hundreds of episodes for free. They’re also opening up some of their original documentary series, such as The Case Against Adnan Syed, Jane Fonda in Five Acts, I Love You Now Die, Elvis Presley: The Searcher, True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality and We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest. Finally, HBO also has a selection of films available for viewing, like The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, The Bridges of Madison County, Empire of the Sun, Sucker Punch, Pokémon Detective Pikachu and Crazy, Stupid, Love. But our personal recommendation for free HBO streaming is McMillion$, a multipart documentary about the con man who rigged McDonalds’ 1990s Monopoly game, resulting in $24 million being stolen and a series of FBI agents trying to track the mystery mastermind down. CBS All Access. Defy the stay-at-home order by going where no man has gone before with the latest Star Trek series on CBS All Access. Right now, with the code GIFT, you get a full month of CBS All Access, including two seasons of Star Trek Discovery and the debut season of Picard, which just wrapped up a few weeks back. Plus, all the other CBS programming. Make it so! ■

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

APRIL 9, 2020

MUSIC

THE POWER OF THREE Miss Olivia & The Interlopers release debut EP By Jeff Gardner Jeff@tucsonlocalmedia.com

THOSE INVOLVED WITH TUCSON’S live music scene are sure to recognize the name Miss Olivia & The Interlopers, and if not the name, they’ll certainly recognize their energetic and melodic blend of rock and soul. While Tucson’s music doesn’t have much of a live scene these days, listeners can stay satiated with Miss Olivia & The Interlopers’ debut release, Tiny Tales. Over a brief yet layered three tracks, Miss Olivia & The Interlopers harness the energy of a live show while remaining tight as performers. Mike Sydloski’s bright guitar melodies and David Hostetler’s foundational bass lines are the perfect canvas for

Olivia Reardon’s multifaceted Miss Olivia & The vocal performances. Interlopers “It just felt like we had been sitting on these songs for a Tiny Tales EP while now, and it was just time Available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon to let them go out into the and more world,” Hostetler said. “We sat missoliviaandtheinterlopers.com on it for a long time because of all the changes that we’ve Recorded over had in the band and we weren’t sure at first the course of the if we were going to release it. With all of past year and a half, this happening, we felt like we had to keep the Tiny Tales EP ourselves moving forward.” features multiple ArKERRY WHELAN The first track “Royal Jelly”—a pounding izona musicians who Miss Olivia & The Interlopers performing at Club Congress declaration on self-determination—features don’t explicitly fall in massive, distorted guitar lines and some the ranks of the titular actually go out and see live music… Tucson of Reardon’s most energetic vocals. While interlopers: The tracks feature Vic Chan is an amazing place. We love it.” the bluesy rock banger is a good way to from punk band Sundressed, Mike Mihina In keeping with the local music scene, kick off the EP, the final track is a more from stoner rock band Big Mean and MorMiss Olivia & The Interlopers are also restrained R&B tune showcasing Reardon’s gan Schlaline from The (New) Monitors. set to appear as one of 15 local bands vocal range. “We take so much inspiration from the on the forthcoming Tucson Vibe Vol. 1 While each of the three tracks on the local scene,” Hostetler said. “Tucson has compilation. EP can be appreciated for their accessible such a vibrant music community. Not “We’re going to keep working and we grooves and melodies, they also each feaonly are there so many amazing bands, want to continue to bring good music. ture a deeper meaning to go along with the performers and songwriters—too many The plan is that this is just one chapter in instrumentals—hence the title Tiny Tales. to name—but they are really great people a larger collection of stories,” Hostetler According to the band, they wanted each and all really supportive of one other. As said. “We don’t want to slow down or stop. song to be its own story. local musicians we are fortunate to live in Musicians make music—that’s what we do… “Olivia is a great storyteller. Her lyrics, a city that supports local music. There are We needed to feel like we were moving subject matter and how she expresses them incredible venues to perform in, and people forward. Now we are.” ■ really engage the listener,” Hostetler said.

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APRIL 9, 2020

DRIVING GROOVES

The County Line Last Call EP Available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon and more thecountylineaz.com

The County Line release debut EP

six songs. We’ve got party songs, love songs, cheating songs and sad songs.” While many of the tracks on Last Call contain that classic country guitar twang, AS FAR AS COUNTRY MUSIC GOES, the addition of bluegrass fiddle and brighter it’s respectable when a band avoids the com- rock vocal melodies keep the songs from mon path of overly lonesome tunes—even sounding too familiar. But even if the tracks when their debut release is complicated by a do sound familiar, that shouldn’t deter the pandemic. For those trapped inside seekcountry music fan, as so much of Last Call is ing to hear an eclectic mix of pastoral and lively, engaging balladry. compelling country rock tracks, The County “Country music is all about great stories Line’s debut EP Last Call is a great reprieve. and great vocals. We hope we lived up to A labor of love discussing times both posi- that on this album,” Ewings said. “Realisticaltive and rough, Last Call is a six-song release ly, we hope that this EP says to the audience that shows Tucson locals blending energy that we are here. This is our start and we’re and acoustics. motivated to keep moving forward and keep “We had previously recorded one of the creating new music.” songs at a local studio but weren’t happy Despite jumping through various genres with how it came out,” said guitarist and and playing styles in the greater country singer Mark Ewings. “We ended up buying web, Last Call features a consistently vast the software, recording equipment and sound thanks to its wide cast of performdecided to produce, record and mix it all ers. Alongside Ewings are guitarists Nick ourselves. Having the time to go back and Lyman, Mike Miller and Dan Barry, as well re-record pieces until we were happy was as drummer Kyle Robinson and fiddle player invaluable. We also learned a whole new set Marisa Black. Every member of the band of skills in the process.” also takes turns singing, with Lyman leading. For The County Line, Last Call is a long The six performers in The County Line time coming; two of the tracks have been in have more in common than similar music the band’s rotation since 2018, and multiple tastes; four of them work together in local others were about “half done,” while others law enforcement and have been playing were written and finished just this year. In together since 2011. Lead singer Lyman, many ways, Last Call is a compilation of the who joined in 2016, is a military veteran and band’s progress from cover songs to original fiddle player Black, who joined in 2019, is material. part of a law enforcement family. “We’ve been playing mostly cover songs “We didn’t plan it out that way but it just in bars for a while. We’re big music fans worked out that everyone has ties to service and love playing other people’s songs but to our country and community. We all love the next logical step as musicians was to playing music,” Ewings said. “This band is create our own,” Ewings said. “Admittedly, a great way for all of us to escape our daily we took way too long to do it. We hope that jobs and have a creative outlet that can conpeople can relate to the emotions on these nect with other people.” ■

By Jeff Gardner jeff@tucsonlocalmedia.com

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APRIL 9, 2020

Medical Marijuana

CORONAVIRUS CONTRACTION

After initial shock, the cannabis industry could endure COVID-19 better than most By Nick Meyers tucsonweekly@tucsonlocalmedia.com AS ARIZONA OFFICIALLY GOES into lockdown, cannabis dispensaries continue to operate, having found a rhythm amidst the outbreak. Arizona Dispensaries Association Executive Director Sam Richard said the industry is “SNAFU,” for those familiar with the military acronym. However, the long-term outlook on the industry might not be so peachy according to BDS Analytics, a cannabis market analysis firm that has been hold-

ing weekly updates on the industry’s national projection. In Arizona, lockdown has revealed a rigorous supply chain backing the industry, as any dispensary closures seem to have been temporary due to an initial demand shock following news of the outbreak. Legal states saw increases in demand in early March: once following the declaration of the pandemic, and again following any statewide shelter-in-place orders. When available, delivery and pickup orders have become more common as

a result of both dispensary policy and consumer preference to ward off spread of the virus. Since then, dispensaries have had relatively fewer customers on average. While those customers are spending more per visit to the dispensary for now, changes in consumer behavior during the outbreak may have a lasting effect on the industry. Under the lockdown restrictions, the cannabis industry has experienced the same recoiling effect as other industries, similar to behavior during recessions. Cannabis as a product enjoys some benefits such as medical uses and indulgence, like alcohol—sales of which also increase during a recession. However, consumers tend to have fulltime jobs, make less than $60k per year and live in populated areas, which adds up to potentially less spending on cannabis overall. As people start to rein in spending, cannabis users may start buying cheaper products and limit their exploration of other products. Due to heavy social use, fewer people may become users as states remain in lockdown, slowing down growth of the industry as a whole. This intuitive concern, along with a gen-

eral retraction in the economy, is reflected in decreases to cannabis stock prices. Publicly traded dispensary brands like Harvest, Curaleaf and MedMen all saw decreases more than 45 percent, with Harvest taking the biggest hit at 71 percent over the first half of March. Public grow companies like Canopy Growth Corp., Aurora Industries and Tilray Inc. also saw decreases of more than a third. Most stocks have recovered at least some of that value, with MedMen and Canopy having fared the best. The long-term outlook appears to be a general slow down in the industry. Consumers will maintain access to their favorite products but might not have the spare cash to buy as much or as high-quality of products as they might otherwise. Dispensaries and cultivators, on the other hand, will likely weather the pandemic without too regressing too much even if they’ve experienced a setback in future plans. For now, Arizonans can be grateful that the fledging industry has developed to a point where shelves stay stocked amid global virus outbreaks and patients can rely on cannabis to help them through current challenges and those to come. ■

APRIL 9, 2020

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM 15

TUCSON AREA DISPENSARIES Botanica. 6205 N. Travel Center Drive. 3950230; botanica.us. Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center. 8060 E. 22nd St. 886-1760; dbloomtucson.com. Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily; delivery available. Downtown Dispensary. 221 E. Sixth St. 8380492; thedowntowndispensary.com. Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily D2 Dispensary. 7105 E 22nd St. 214-3232; d2dispensary.com. Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily Earth’s Healing North: 78 W. River Road. 3951432. earthshealing.org. Open: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Delivery available.

Green Med Wellness Center. 6464 E. Tanque Verde Road. 520-281-1587; facebook.com/GreenMedWellnessCenter. Open: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 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 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Harvest of Tucson. 2734 East Grant Road. 3149420; askme@harvestinc.com; Harvestofaz.com Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily Nature Med. 5390 W. Ina Road. 620-9123; naturemedinc.com. Open: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily

Earth’s Healing 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. Delivery available.

The Prime Leaf. 4220 E. Speedway Blvd. 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.

The Green Halo. 7710 S. Wilmot Road. 664-2251; thegreenhalo.org. Open: Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Purple Med Healing Center. 1010 S. Freeway, Ste. 130. 398-7338; facebook.com/PurpleMedHealingCenter. Open: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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APRIL 9, 2020

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

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): Moses did forty years’ worth of hard work in behalf of his people, delivering them out of slavery in Egypt. Yet God didn’t allow him to enter into the Promised Land. Why? At the end of his travails, he made a minor mistake that angered God beyond reason. Petty? Harsh? Very much so. I’m happy to say that your fate will be very different from Moses’. Some months from now, when your labors bring you to the brink of your own personal version of the Promised Land, not even a small error will prevent you from entering and enjoying it. And what you do in the coming weeks will help ensure that later success. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Built in the third century B.C., the Colossus of Rhodes was a monumental statue of the Greek sun god. It stood in the harbor of the island of Rhodes, and was called one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Alas: An earthquake struck the area 54 years after it was finished, knocking it over and smashing it into fragments. Three centuries later, many of the chunks still lay scattered around the harbor. I offer this as a teaching story, Taurus. If there are any old psychological ruins lying around in your psyche, I encourage you to conduct an imaginary ritual in which you visualize throwing those ruins into a big bonfire. Clear the slate for the new beginnings that will be available once the COVID-19 crisis has settled down. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Argue with anything else,” writes author Philip Pullman, “but don’t argue with your own nature.” Amen! That’s always good advice for you Geminis, and it will be especially crucial in the coming weeks. A certain amount of disputation and challenging dialogue with other people will be healthy for you, even an effective way to get clarity and advance your aims. (Don’t overdo it, of course.) But you must promise never to quarrel with or criticize your own nature. You should aim at

being a radiant bastion of inner harmony and a powerhouse of self-love. Do whatever’s necessary to coax all your different aspects to work together in sweet unity. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Like many Cancerians, painter Marc Chagall cultivated an intimate relationship with his dreams and fantasies. His fellow artist Pablo Picasso remarked, “When Chagall paints, you do not know if he is asleep or awake. Somewhere or other inside his head there must be an angel.” Being a Crab myself, I know how essential it is for us to be in close connection with reverie and the imagination. Every now and then, though, there come occasions when the demands of the material world need our extra, focused attention—when our dreamy tendencies need to be rigorously harnessed in behalf of pragmatism. Now is one of those times. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Is there an influence you’re ready to outgrow, Leo? Are there teachers who have given you all they have to offer, and now you need to go in search of new founts of inspiration and education? Have you squeezed all possible value out of certain bright ideas and clever theories that no longer serve you? Are you finished with old sources of excitement that have lost their excitement? These are the kinds of questions I encourage you to ask yourself in the coming weeks. It’ll be a favorable time to celebrate the joyful art of liberation—to graduate from what might have been true once upon a time, and prepare for the wide-open future after the COVID-19 crisis has mellowed. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your words of power in the coming days are simple: deep, low, down, below, dig, dive, and descend. I invite you to meditate on all the ways you can make them work for you as metaphors and use them to activate interesting, nourishing feelings. There’ll be very little worth exploring on the

SAVAGE LOVE THE NO-PANDEMIC By Dan Savage, mail@savagelove.net CHALLENGE Your last two columns and your last two podcasts were all about the pandemic. Everything everywhere is all about the pandemic right now. Can you give it a rest? For maybe a week? Could you answer some questions that aren’t about pandemic? Any fun kink questions come in this week? I could all use a break from the pandemic, Dan, and I’m not alone. —Columnist’s Oeuvre Vividly Instills Dread Some kink questions did come in this week, COVID, and I’m happy to answer

them. But the pandemic does come up in the second one, which you should feel free to skip. I have a kink/fetish that’s been giving me a lot of anxiety over the last few years. I inadvertently discovered that I’m turned on by big bellies, weight gain and stuffing. It’s actually been there since I was a little kid, though I didn’t understand it until now. If it’s relevant, I’m a female in my mid-20s, in a heterosexual monogamous relationship. My problem is that I have a lot of trouble getting off without

surface of life in the coming weeks, Virgo. All the hottest action and most valuable lessons will be blooming in the fertile darkness. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Before the COVID-19 crisis arrived, were you ensconced in roles that were good fits for your specific temperament and set of talents? Did you occupy niches that brought out the best in you and enabled you to offer your best gifts? Were there places that you experienced as power spots—where you felt at home in the world and at peace with your destiny? Once you’ve meditated on those questions for a while, Libra, I’ll ask you to shift gears: Meditate on how you’d like to answer similar questions about your life in the future. Once this crazy time has passed, what roles will be good fits for you? What niches will bring out the best in you? What will be your power spots? SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Fen” is a word that’s not used much these days. It means a marsh or a boggy lowland. Decades ago, Scorpio poet Marianne Moore used it in a short poem. She wrote, “If you will tell me why the fen appears impassable, I will tell you why I think that I can cross it if I try.” In my opinion, that’s an apt battle cry for you right now. You shouldn’t be upset if people tell you that certain things are impossible for you to do. You should be grateful! Their discouragement will rile up your deep intelligence and inspire you to figure out how you can indeed do those things. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Goodness alone is never enough,” wrote author Robert A. Heinlein. “A hard, cold wisdom is required for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.” I think that’s an interesting thought for you to consider during the coming weeks, Sagittarius. If you want your care and compassion to be effective, you’ll have to synergize them with tough intelligence. You may even need to be a bit ferocious as you strive to ensure that your worthy intentions succeed and the people you love get what they need. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Are there any

looking at pictures or at least thinking about my kink. I believe the common guidance is, “If it’s not hurting anyone, it’s fine.” But I feel super gross and ashamed. Neither my partner nor myself is large and we both value our health and fitness. I have absolutely no desire to participate in this activity with a real person. Every time I finish masturbating, I feel embarrassed and disgusted with myself. Some part of my brain obviously craves the kink, but the rest of my brain HATES it. I keep telling myself I will stop, but I have such a hard time getting off with other porn (or without porn) that I always return to it. I genuinely enjoy having vanilla sex with my partner. I feel turned on and I have fun. But I’m often

ways in which you have been wishy-washy in standing up for what you believe in? Have you shied away from declaring your true thoughts and feelings about important issues that affect you and the people you care about? Have you compromised your commitment to authenticity and integrity for the sake of your ambition or financial gain? In asking you these questions, I am not implying that the answers are yes. But if in fact you have engaged in even a small amount of any of those behaviors, now is an excellent time to make corrections. As much as possible, Capricorn, focus on being trustworthy and transparent. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Physicist Edward Teller believed there is no such thing as “exact science.” And in his view, that’s a good thing. “Science has always been full of mistakes,” he said. But he added that they’re mostly “good mistakes,” motivating scientists to push closer toward the truth. Each new mistake is a better mistake than the last, and explains the available evidence with more accuracy. I suspect that you’ve been going through a similar process in your personal life, Aquarius. And I predict that the good mistakes you’ve recently made will prove to be useful in the long run. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Few astrologers would say that you Pisceans are masters of the obvious or connoisseurs of simplicity. You’re not typically renowned for efficiency or celebrated for directness. Your strength is more likely to be rooted in your emotional riches, your ability to create and appreciate beauty, your power to generate big dreams, and your lyrical perspective on life. So my oracle for you this time may be a bit surprising. I predict that in the coming weeks, your classic attributes will be very useful when applied to well-grounded, down-to-earth activities. Your deep feelings and robust imagination can be indispensable assets in your hard work on the nuts and bolts. ■ Homework: Rilke said, “If the Angel comes, it will be because you have convinced her, not by tears, but by your humble resolve to always be a beginner.” Any comments? FreeWillAstrology. com.

not I able to come. It sometimes makes him think he isn’t doing a good job, when in reality he’s doing great and I’m just frustrated with my body. So I guess I’m wondering: Does continuing to watch belly porn reinforce the kink in my brain? Should I stop watching it and force myself to find other ways to come? Should I somehow find a way to embrace the kink instead? —Big Belly Woes Six years ago I roped Dr. Jesse Bering, author of Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us, into answering a question from a dad who was worried about his teenage son’s sexual interest in Pokémon. (Yes, Pokémon.) Dad wanted

APRIL 9, 2020

to know if there was anything could done about his son’s “pathetic” sexual obsession. Bering explained that his kid’s kinks—that everyone’s kinks—are hardwired. “Nobody knows why some people are more prone to developing unusual patterns of attraction than others,” Bering said. “But whether it’s a penchant for Pokémon, feet, underwear, or spiders, the best available evidence suggests that some people—mostly males— have a genetic predisposition for being ‘sexually imprinted’ during development.” And once our erotic imaginations have seized on something, once we’ve imprinted on Pokémon characters or big bellies or wrestling singlets, there’s not much we can do about it. Before we’re adults—before we hit puberty—our kinks, as Bering put it, are “pretty much fixed, like it or not.” For all we know the teenage boy with the Pokémon fetish was completely comfortable with his own niche sexual interests. The dad wrote in, after all, not the kid. (But if you’re a 23-year-old Pokémon fetishist and your dad routinely invaded your privacy when you were a teenager and heaped shame you about your kinks, please write in with an update!) But I have heard from people who, like you, weren’t comfortable with their own kinks, BBW, and desperately wanted to know what could be done. Most sex scientist and researchers agree with Bering: there’s really nothing you can do and masturbating to the porn that turns you on doesn’t “reinforce” your kinks. You can’t starve out your kinks by refusing to think (or wank) about them, BBW, and you can’t pray your kinks away any more than I could pray my gay away. Embracing your kinks and exploring them with other consenting adults—or if your kinks can’t be realized for ethical reasons, enjoy them through solo or partnered fantasy play only—is the only realistic option. That said, some doctors have prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), aka anti-depressants, to people who were uncomfortable with their kinks. Those drugs don’t selectively eradicate kinks, BBW, they crater a person’s libido. Taking SSRIs would mean sacrificing the vanilla sex you enjoy with your partner on the same altar with the kink that stress you out. I can’t imagine you want to go down either of this route, BBW, which brings us back to embracing your kink and coming clean with your partner. The risk you run telling a partner about your kink is no doubt the forefront of your mind, BBW, because the consequences could be immediate, i.e. he might dump you. But not telling your partner about your

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM 17

COVID-19 hasn’t been detected in vaginal fluids, VAG, so your pussy juice by itself doesn’t constitute a threat. But the virus, which is usually transmitted through the air (by people with the virus coughing, sneezing, or even exhaling), can survive for hours or days on different kinds of surfaces, including clothes. The virus can live for up to 24 hours on cardboard, VAG, which mean it’s the package, not the panties, that are potentially a danger here. If the last person who handled your care package—think the UPS guy who dropped it on his porch—had COVID-19, your boyfriend could wind up exposing himself by touching the box and then his face before washing his hands. But I think you should send him that package— but wear gloves while you pack it, don’t send it overnight (your scent will keep for a couple of days), and make sure your boyfriend immediately washes his hands after opening and discarding the package. ■ kink—and leaving him to wonder why you can’t get off with him but have no trouble getting off alone—isn’t risk free either. If he feels inadequate, if he feels like you’re hiding something from him, if he feels like he can’t satisfy you… he might dump you. So share your kink with your boyfriend, BBW, and kinks should always be presented as crazy and endearing—and potentially really fun—quirks, not as tragedies. You have a thing for big bellies, BBW, you don’t have leukemia. And you can explore your kinks without gaining weight or stuffing your partner until he does. A little big belly dirty talk could help you get off with your partner, BBW, and even the fittest person can push their tummy out and create the illusion of a rounded belly. Have fun! My boyfriend and I live in San Francisco where we’ve been sheltering in place. We are unfortunately unable to shelter together, which means that we cannot have physical contact, especially since he lives with a parent who’s at heightened risk. (It’s not an option for him to stay with me for the duration.) We’re as frustrated about having to abruptly end the physical aspect of our relationship as you might expect. We go for (distanced) walks during the week, we talk every day, and we jerk off in front of webcams together but that only goes so far. I was thinking about giving him some of my worn panties for him to do whatever he wants with. My question is this: If I were to wash my hands and be cautious while putting together a pervy care package, is there much of a risk of spreading the virus around by doing this?

I’m currently in good health but I know that people can be infected but asymptomatic and we’re being really careful to keep both of our households as safe as possible. Can the virus be spread via pussy juice? —Very Aromatic Gift

On the Lovecast, comedian Pete Dominick: www.savagelovecast.com mail@savagelove.net Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage www.savagelovecast.com

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APARTMENTS

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Apartments for Rent Throughout Tucson, Studios starting at $ 550 Some Near VA Hospital, Some Utilities included Unfurnished. Call (520) 861-2763.

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1st Time Special Body Rub Ajo and Kinney area. You all stop by and enjoy a stress free body rub by a man for a man. Private/Discreet. Call or text Oliver: 520-358-7310

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Employment HEALTHCARE Pharmacy Technician Training Programs From Ultimate Medical Academy Offer Quality Healthcare Education to Students 100% online.- Ultimate Medical Academy: 855-781-0908 (AzCAN) Flexible Healthcare Career Training. Medical Billing and Coding program. Call Now for Info: 866-4595480 (AzCAN)

Announcements ANNOUCEMENTS

Ts Ginger, Tucson’s Transgender Treasure is now accepting appointments for open minded Men, Women. (520) 369-8933

OXYGEN Anytime. Anywhere. No tanks to reﬁll. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: 866-397-4003 (AzCAN)

oooooooooo Handyman Service

Doors* Drywall* Painting Roof Repair/Coating* Hauling Coolers* Odd Repairs Minor Plumbing/Electrical* BBB Member. Visa & MasterCard accepted. Not a licensed Contractor.

Hydroponic Supply Store Expert advice. Industry’s best products. One-stop shop for all your hydroponic needs for maximum efﬁciency to set up your new garden or ﬁne tune your current system. Locally owned & operated. (520) 209-1881 Open Daily 3884 E. River Rd. at Green Things Home and Garden Center www.greenladyhydro.com

Healthcare PHYSICIANS

520-425-0845

Laurie Thomas MD No insurance accepted so we can spend more time with each patient. We take the time to listen. NOW OPEN SATURDAY MORNINGS Office hours Monday 10-6 Tuesday 7-3 Saturday 8-12 520-400-8223 Schedule online lauriethomasmd.com

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM 19

APRIL 9, 2020 1

49 “I agree with both of

ACROSS Mugged for the camera, maybe 8 Site administrator 15 Preceder of many N.H.L. games 16 “Oh, did you start already?” 17 0% 18 Some male escorts 19 Org. that sticks to its guns 20 List ender, maybe 22 Oscar-nominated actor Clive 23 Exceptional grade 26 Will matter 29 Time in court 31 One-up, say 35 Red choice 37 Gambler’s hangout, in brief 39 Noteworthy time period 40 Large guard dogs 41 Aches and pains 43 Jump shot’s path 44 Down in the dumps 46 ___ Meyer, principal role on “Veep” 47 Sign on a staff 1

you!” 51 2009 biopic starring Hilary Swank 53 Apply, as sunscreen 57 Grocery chain with more than 1,900 U.S. stores 59 Chicago airport code 61 That, in Tabasco 62 Like some reputations and kitchen towels 65 Sentence containing all 26 letters 68 Many a limo 69 Major retail outlets 70 Feigns sickness to avoid work 71 Much-traveled thoroughfares

DOWN Much-painted religious figure 2 Villainous conglomerate on “Mr. Robot” 3 Deadly 4 Santa ___ 5 Waiter in an airport queue 6 Actress Falco 1

Think outside the hospital…

$100 - $2000 DEPENDING ON THE CAR

SIGN-ON-BONUS Arizona Nurses and Mental Health Professionals! Centurion is now hiring RNs, LPNs and Psychology Associates for Arizona State Prison Complex in Tucson as well as the Pima County Jail. Join an established company that truly cares for its employees and earn up to $2,500 in sign-on bonuses for select positions.

TOP $$ FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS

Apply online at www.centurionjobs.com or contact Katie at 508-329-8370 or katie@teamcenturion.com for more info.

FREE PICK UP DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU HAVE

We look forward to working with you! EOE

CALL ME AT 520-274-5462

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Exam for the collegebound, redundantly 8 Jokester 9 Onetime London-based record label 10 Intolerant sort 11 Lost steam 12 Food cooked in a cornhusk 13 Preparatory school since 1440 14 Hi-___ monitor 21 CBS series with a “Cyber” spinoff 24 Bomber letters 25 Medieval laborers 27 Additionally 28 Dancer’s horn 30 Bagel choice 32 Stay behind 33 Surface figure 34 Used to be 35 PC combo key 36 Evil intent 7

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38 Hay-bundling machine 40 Small pouch 42 “Mon ___!” (French

exclamation)

45 Penn. neighbor 46 Dog with wrinkly skin 48 Like the sun at sunset 50 Uncle, in Oaxaca 52 Cut into small pieces 54 Catcher with a record

10 World Series rings Y FOR YO RC as U a player E N “Let me repeat A…” O 55

56 “Enough!,” in Mexico …

MONEY FOR YOUR CAR

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or a hint to 11 answers in this puzzle 57 Yours, to Yvette 58 Wyatt Earp, for one 60 “___ Yankees” 62 Cardinals, on scoreboards 63 Cob of corn 64 E.R. or O.R. figures 66 “Planet Money” network 67 Melted ice cream, e.g.

Disciples Of Christ

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 520-624-8695

740 E. Speedway (Corner of Euclid & Speedway)

www.firstchristianchurchtucson.org

e are an open and affirming Christian community, called to Seek God, Love like Jesus, and Serve the World.

Weekly Worship - Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School - all ages 9 a.m. Come worship with us! There is much we can do together.

TUCSONWEEKLY.COM

APRIL 9, 2020

MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATIONS Immune Booster Shots Available $30

EXCLUSIVE OFFER!

Thursdays and Fridays Only

2-YEAR CERTIFICATIONS

Now offering online telemedicine services! Go to DrReeferalz.com to learn more

$125

Valid on Friday 4/10/20 & Thursday 4/16/20 Only *Excludes state fees. **Must have current medical records.

Receive Vouchers When Certified

$110 Value WALK-INS WELCOME : WELCOME: OPEN MON-FRI UNTIL 6PM OPEN : OPEN SAT UNTIL 4PM | DRREEFERALZ.COM | DR PRESCRIBED AT ALL STORE SAT LOCATIONSUNTIL | DELIVERY NOW AVAILABLE WALK-INS MON-FRI UNTIL 6PM CBD : OPEN 4PM

520-623-0 420

4120 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85712