Best Of Tucson 09/27/2012 by Tucson Weekly

Are You Ready for What the Future Shall Bring? Last year, Christian radio magnate Harold Camping predicted that the apocalypse would begin with Christ’s return on May 21, 2011. Didn’t happen. He then clarified that the rapture would actually begin in earnest on Oct. 21, 2011. Didn’t happen. This year, the Mayan calendar (aka the Mesoamerican long-count calendar) and its alleged prediction/inference/whatever that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012, is all the rage. Won’t happen. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun with all of these predictions of the end of days. In fact, I think there’s a lesson to be learned here. One oft-asked question—a question which makes up the basis of our 10 “End-of-Days Exit Interviews” scattered throughout this Best of Tucson®, in fact—is something to the effect of: If you knew this were your last day on Earth, what would you do? The lesson: Well, why don’t we live our lives—within reason, of course—with that question in the back of our minds all the time? As for the “within reason” part, it’s foolish to, say, buy a $2,000 bottle of wine if we can’t afford it, or blow off our work commitments, or do other things that would harm us in the long-term. After all, this is probably not your last day on Earth. But within reason … why don’t we all do more every day to, well, live life? I know a lot of people—including myself—who get stuck in the ruts of work and chores and etc., and often forget to live life. Well, screw that. Let’s start living life. In that spirit, those of us at Weekly World Central offer you this issue. We’ve been hard at work on it since March, and we’re happy with how it turned out. We hope you’ll use this issue as an aid to help you savor and revel in all that Southern Arizona has to offer. You know, to live life. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue—from artist Jeff Drew, who turned in some fun and hilarious (and, frankly, weird, in a good way) illustrations, to photographer Joie Horwitz (who almost had too much fun taking pictures, as you’ll see), to the 31 different writers who penned blurbs, to the ad-sales folks and distribution drivers and ad designers and so on. But most of all, thanks to you, the Tucson Weekly reader, who took the time to vote, and perhaps to suggest categories or staff picks. Thanks in advance for checking out the various places, organizations and so on spotlighted here. Read. Enjoy. Take notes, if you’d like. And then get out and live life. Welcome to Best of Tucson® 26: Tucson Apocalypse. —Jimmy Boegle jboegle@tucsonweekly.com

Editor of the End of Days Jimmy Boegle Art of the Apocalypse Andrew Arthur Proofing for the Rapture Irene Messina Writers for World War III Mari Herreras, Jim Nintzel, Linda Ray Illustrator of the End Times Jeff Drew

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Online Guys, Not That It Matters, Because There’s No More Electricity Dan Gibson, David Mendez Photojournalist Documenting the End Joie Horwitz Zombie Designers Kristen Beumeler, Kyle Bogan, Jodi Ceason, Shari Chase, Chris De La Fuente, Duane Hollis, Anne Koglin, Adam Kurtz, Matthew Langenheim, Daniel Singleton, Brian Smith, Denise Utter, Greg Willhite, Yaron Yarden

Tucson Apocalypse Contributors Gene Armstrong, Adam Borowitz, Rachel Cabakoff, Rita Connelly, Casey Dewey, Jeff Drew, Sherilyn Forrester, Ryn Gargulinski, A. Greene, Annie Holub, David Irwin, Jacqueline Kuder, Jim Lipson, Hope Miller, Anna Mirocha, Laura C.J. Owen, Brian J. Pedersen, Julie Reed, James Reel, Margaret Regan, John Schuster, Hank Stephenson, Michael Sterner, Brooke Leigh Taffet, Bridgitte Thum, Serena Valdez

best of tucson速 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

Best of Tuc son® 26: T ucson Apo calypse Ta ble of Conte nts

Arts & Culture Best Fine Art Gallery 7 Best Art Museum 7 Best Mural 7 THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: JOE PAGAC 8 Best Local Performing Artist 8 Best Movie Theater 8 Best Art Classes 10 Best Indoor Venue 10 Best Outdoor Venue 10 Best Musical Instrument Store 11

STAFF PICKS

Best Family-Based Art and Music Collective 11 Best Alternative Packaging for a Compact Disc 11 Best Consequence of a Cell Phone Ringing 11 Best Intellectually Colorful Play 11 Best Photographer 12 Best Sublime Ballet Moment 12 Best Inventive Modern Dance 12 Best Place to Have Your Literary, Educational and Cultural IQ Raised by Osmosis 12 Entertaained by Real-Life Best Way to be Entertained Offf-Broadway Setting 14 Adventuress in an Off-Broadway

Fashion & Style Best Clothing Fashions (Locally Owned) 25 Best Resale/Vintage Clothing 25 Best Home Furnishings 25 Best Antiques/Kitsch/Collectables 25 Best Jewelry 25 Best Goth/Leather Shop 26 Best Hair Salon 26 Best Day Spa 26 Best Tattoo Parlor 26 Best Florist 27 Best Eyeglass/Optical Retailer 27

STAFF PICKS THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: ERIN BRADLEY 28 Best Still-Cheap Thrift Store With Stylish Options 28 Best Place to Get Stylish Vintage Digs That’s Not on Fourth 28 Best Revitalization Effort on Miracle Mile 28 Best Place to Find Used Furniture 28 Best Place to Afford Your Rock ’n’ Roll Lifestyle 28 Best Go-Wild Bargain Shopping 28 Best Time of Year to Thrift Shop 28 Best Guilt-Free Shopping for Animal-Lovers 29 Best Place to Find Things You Didn’t Know You Needed 29

Outdoors THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: NELDA RUIZ 39 Best Urban Landscaping 39 9 Best Public Garden 39 Best Bike-Riding 39 outhern Arizona 39 Best Recreation Area in Southern Best Hike 39 Best Backpacking Trail 40 Best Campground 40 Best Park 40 Best Outdoor Recreation Store 40 Best Bike Shop 41 Best Sporting Goods 41

STAFF PICKS Best Close-by Sonoran Hiking Spot 42 Best Desert Road Segment to Feel Terror and Joy Simultaneously 42 Best Easy Desert Hike That Didn’t Get Eaten Away by Developers 42 Best Place to Watch Fireworks 42 Best Place to Hide Easter Eggs 43 Best Place to Enjoy a Last Supper Outdoors 43 Best Use of Previously Unused Outdoor Space 43

City Life e Best Alternativee Health Cen Center nter 17 stival 17 Best Annual Festival 7 Best Spectacle for Charity 1 17 Best Farmers’ Market 17 st/Advocacy Group 17 Best Local Activist/Advocacy Best Gym 18 ant 18 Best Public Servant Best Yoga Studio 18 Best Bowling Alleyy 18 p 19 Best Sex-Toy Shop Best Auto Repair 19 Best Car Wash 19 Best Plant Nurseryy 19 Best Pet Supplies Store 20

STAFF PICKS Best Hotel Pool to Crash 20 Best Concert Promoters 20 Best Romantic Theater Seats 20 Best Shopping for Your Yard 20 Best Unofficial City Holiday 20 IE EW: THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: DAVID SLUTES 22 Best Urban Escape 22 ettween Best Place to Bet on Dog-Racing in Between Frames 22 oraarily Best Bathrooms That Make You Temporarily Forget the Impending Repair Bill 22 Best New Stage Show 23 Best Reason to Still Believe in City Government ernm ment 23

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Kids’ Stuff Media Mix THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: AMANDA SHAUGER 31 Best Local TV Newscast 31 Best Radio Station for News 31 Best Country Music Station 31 Best Pop Music Station 31 Best Rock Music Station 31 Best Radio Personality 32 Best Radio Talk Show (Host) 32 Best Bookstore for New Books 34 Best Bookstore for Used Books 34 Best Independent Bookstore 34 Best Video Store 34 Best Retail Music Store 34 Best Comics/Games Shop 34 Best Video Games Store 34

STAFF PICKS Best News Anchor Who Was Shipped Off to Buffalo 35 Best 2 1/2 Hours on KXCI FM 91.3 35 Best (?) Radio Station Most Likely to Be Something Else When You Wake Up the Next Morning 36 Best TV Station to Watch If You Don’t Want to Be Ripped Off by Cable or Satellite 36 Best Radio Station to Crank Up and Pretend Your Car Has Hydraulics 36 Best News Show With Important Local News 37 Best Place to Keep Nosy People From Knowing the Movie You’re Renting 37 Best Way of Disguising World Domination in the Form of Friendly Technology 37

Best Playground 45 Best Toy Store 45 Best Clothing Store 45 Best Birthday Party Place 45 Best Catered-to-Kids Restaurant 45 Best Fun for the Whole Family 45

STAFF PICKS Best Kids’ Concert You Probably Missed 46 Best Kids’ Store We Should Appreciate a Bit More 46 THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: MATT COTTEN 47 Best Place to Relive Your Youth for an Hour 47 Best Place to Teach Your Kids the Art of Doing Nothing 47 Best Place to Take Your Kid and Their BFF to Make Art 47 Best Space to Reconnect With Your er a Milkshake 47 Kid and Listen Over

¡Comida! Best Mexican 49 Best Mexican Fast-Food/Drive-Thru 49 Best Salsa 49 Best Tortillas 49 THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: DIANA TERAN 50 Best Burrito 50 Best Sonoran Hot Dogs 50

Best Fish Tacos 51 Best Huevos Rancheros 51 Best Empanadas 52 Best Guacamole 52 Best Tamales 52 Best Menudo 52

STAFF PICKS Best Tortas 53 Best Pan Dulce 53 Best Vegetarian Taco 53 -Mexican Restaurant 53 Best Mexican Food at a Non-Mexican Best Shrimp Cocktail 53 Best Grocery Store Surprise 53

Restaurants THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: ADDAM BUZZALINI 55 Best Breakfast 55 Best Brunch 55 Best Chinese 55 Best Greek 55 Best French 56 Best Indian 56 Best Italian 56 Best Japanese 56 an 56 Best Middle Eastern/African Best Modern Cuisine 57 Best Seafood 58 Best Steakhouse 58 Best Sushi 58 Best Thai 59 Best Vietnamese 59 Best Vegetarian/Vegan 59 Best Upscale Cuisine 59 Best Outdoor Seating 60 Best Late-Night Eats 60

Best Ice Cream 66 Best Fresh-Bak Fresh-Baked Bread 67 Best Barbecue 67 Best Burger 67 Bu r 67 Best Veggie Burger Best Sandwich 67 Best Pizza 67 Best Wings 68 Best Bagels 68 Best Smoothie Smoothies 68 Best Buffet 68 Best Food Tru Truckk 68 Best Local Cof ee Roaster 69 Coffee Best House B end 69 Blend Best Café Ha gout 69 Hangout Best Tea Serv ce 69 Service Best Bulk Tea Selection 70

STAFF PIC PICKS KS Best Place to Eat Pizza With Barflies 70 Best Afforda Affordable Dinner Spot for People-Watching 70 Best Local E Eating Challenge 70 Best Solar-P Solar-Powered Treats 70 Best Papana Papanacha 70 Best Chicke Chicken Parmesan Sandwich 70 Best Waitres Waitress 71 Best Appeti Appetizer 71 Best Boba 71 Best Breakf Breakfast Burrito 71 Best Bike-P Bike-Powered Food Operation 71

Spirits & Nightlife Spirit STAFF PICKS Best Thin-Crust Pie in Midtown 60 Best Playful Menu 60 Best Smorgasbord 60 0 Best Use of Truly Local Ingredientss 60 0 Best Use of Brown Paper Bags 60 Best Food to Fill Up on Before Emptying Your Pockets 62 Best Vichyssoise 62 Best Use of Foie Gras 62 Best Raspados Spot 62 Spooon 62 Best Total Revamping of a Greasy Spoon

THE END END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: GORANOWSKI 73 KARL GO Best Beer Selection on Tap 73 Best-Tasti Local Brew 73 Best Best-Tasting Bes st Billia Best Billiards 73 Bes st Cock Best Cocktail Menu 73 Bes st Gay/ Best Gay/Lesbian Bar 75 Be est Hap Best Happy Hour 75 Be est Mar Best Margarita 76 Be est Mar Best Martini 76 Best Nig B Nightclub 76 Best Plac B Place to Dance 76 Best Spo B Sports Bar 76 Best Win B Wine Bar 76 Best Win Wine/Liquor Store 76 Best Low Lowbrow Bar Ambiance 77 Best Up Upscale Bar Ambiance 78

STAFF PICKS

Casual Dining ng THE END-OF-DAYS EXIT INTERVIEW: MICHAEL LURIA 65 Best Casual Dining 65 Best Caterer 65 Best Diner 65 Best Organic Food Store 65 Best Specialty Foods 66 Best Delicatessen 66 Best Custom Cakes 66 Best Desserts 66

Best Pl Place for Drinking, Live Music and Glass Art 78 Best UA-Area UA Bar and Restaurant Wher Where the Kids Are OK 78 Best D Drink Special to Help One Deal With Downtown Construction 78 Best Place P to Hear Death Grips and Van Halen Back to Back 79 Best Place P to Drink on Your 21st Birthday 79 Best Reason R to Go Out on a Monday Night 79 Best Place P to Flash Your Well-Worn Hippie Card 79 Best N New Cocktail Bar 79

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Thomas P. Lee Publisher EDITORIAL Jimmy Boegle Editor Jim Nintzel Senior Writer Irene Messina Assistant Editor Mari Herreras Staff Writer Linda Ray City Week Listings Margaret Regan Arts Editor David Mendez Web Producer Stephen Seigel Music Editor Bill Clemens Copy Editor Tom Danehy, Renée Downing, Ryn Gargulinski, Randy Serraglio, J.M. Smith Columnists Colin Boyd, Bob Grimm Cinema Writers Adam Borowitz, Rita Connelly, Jacqueline Kuder Chow Writers Sherilyn Forrester, Laura C.J. Owen Theater Writers Mariana Dale, Eliza Liu, Inés Taracena Editorial Interns Noelle Haro-Gomez, Brooke Leigh Taffet Photography Interns Contributors Gene Armstrong, Adam Borowitz, Rachel Cabakoff, Rita Connelly, Casey Dewey, Jeff Drew, Sherilyn Forrester, Ryn Gargulinski, Dan Gibson, A. Greene, Annie Holub, Joie Horwitz, David Irwin, Jacqueline Kuder, Jim Lipson, Hope Miller, Anna Mirocha, Laura C.J. Owen, Brian J. Pedersen, Julie Reed, James Reel, John Schuster, Hank Stephenson, Michael Sterner, Bridgitte Thum, Serena Valdez SALES AND BUSINESS Jill A’Hearn Advertising Director Monica Akyol Inside Sales Manager Laura Bohling, Michele LeCoumpte, Alan Schultz, David White Account Executives Jim Keyes Digital Sales Manager Beth Brouillette Business Manager Robin Taheri Business Office Natasha Marble, Stephen Myers Inside Sales Representatives NATIONAL ADVERTISING: The Ruxton Group (888)-2Ruxton New York (212) 477-8781, Chicago (312) 828-0564, Phoenix (602) 238-4800, San Francisco, (415) 659-5545 PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION Andrew Arthur Art Director Laura Horvath Circulation Manager Duane Hollis Editorial Layout Kristen Beumeler, Kyle Bogan, Jodi Ceason, Shari Chase, Chris De La Fuente, Anne Koglin, Adam Kurtz, Matthew Langenheim, Daniel Singleton, Brian Smith, Denise Utter, Greg Willhite, Yaron Yarden Production Staff Tucson Weekly® (ISSN 0742-0692) is published every Thursday by Wick Communications at 3280 E. Hemisphere Loop,Tucson, Arizona. Address all editorial, business and production correspondence to: Tucson Weekly, P.O. Box 27087,Tucson, Arizona 85726. Phone: (520) 294-1200, FAX (520) 792-2096. 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 Wick Communications. Back issues of the Tucson Weekly are available for $1 each plus postage for the current year. Back issues from any previous year are $3 plus postage. Back issues of the Best of Tucson® are $5. Distribution: 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. Outside Pima County, the single-copy cost of Tucson Weekly is $1. Tucson Weekly may be distributed only by the Tucson Weekly’s authorized independent contractors or Tucson Weekly’s authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of the Tucson Weekly, take more than one copy of each week’s Tucson Weekly issue. Copyright: The entire contents of Tucson Weekly are Copyright © 2012 by Wick Communications. No portion may be reproduced in whole or part by any means without the express written permission of the Publisher, Tucson Weekly, P.O. Box 27087, Tucson, AZ 85726.

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Best Fine Art Gallery ETHERTON GALLERY 135 S. Sixth Ave. 624-7370; www.ethertongallery.com

Perennial winner Etherton puts together such excellent, elegantly curated shows that it just may nab the Best Fine Art Gallery award until the end of time. This past season, Rockin’ the Desert was a star-studded extravaganza of early rock ’n’ roll classics by photogs Baron Wolman and Lynn Goldsmith. Kate Breakey’s Slow Light photos captured light in the landscape. Around St. Patrick’s Day, Joe Forkan unveiled luscious plein-air paintings of Ireland; Nancy Tokar Miller showed swift and sure abstractions of Hawaii; and Lisa M. Robinson’s black-and-white photos celebrated the Atlantic tides. Add in the Don’t Look Now show of work by Chris Rush, Craig Cully and Jim Reed, and the sumptuous summer show, A Classic Collection: Photographs From the Estate of Julian T. Baker Jr. (19392011), and you’ve got a season for the ages. Runners up:

2. MADARAS GALLERY 1535 E. Broadway Blvd. 623-4000 3001 E. Skyline Drive, No. 101 615-3001; www.madaras.com

3. OBSIDIAN GALLERY 410 N. Toole Ave., No. 130 577-3598; www.obsidian-gallery.com

Best Art Museum TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART 1040 N. Main Ave. 624-2333; tucsonmuseumofart.org

TMA was the instigator for the rock ’n’ roll art shows all around town last fall; the museum’s own entry, Who Shot Rock and Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present, was a rollicking collection of baby boomer treasures, from Keef beaming over his infant daughter, to a baby-faced Boss on the verge of superstardom. The museum has done much in recent

years to engage the community, while also stressing its commitment to three art genres: contemporary, Latin folk and Western. In the winter, color photos of the ever-popular Frida Kahlo were accompanied by the museum’s rich holdings in Latin American folk. The summer feted cowboy and Indian art, as well as Arizona’s ranchers, captured in black ’n’ white in the photog show 100 Years 100 Ranchers: Photographs by Scott T. Baxter. Runners up:

2. MOCA 260 S. Church Ave. 624-5019; www.moca-tucson.org

3. UA MUSEUM OF ART 1031 N. Olive Road 621-7567; artmuseum.arizona.edu

Best Mural JOE PAGAC’S RIALTO THEATRE MURALS 318 E. Congress St. www.joepagac.com

If you need someone to paint a mural of the upcoming apocalypse, Joe Pagac is your man— as comic John Hodgman discovered during an appearance at the Rialto Theatre earlier this year. Hodgman, impressed by Pagac’s rotating murals on the side of the Rialto, invited the painter onstage to do a massive interpretation of Hodgman’s predicted apocalypse. Pagac nailed it, from the claws of Cthulhu to the monstrous dog-storm. Not only that; he had the entire thing finished before Hodgman concluded the show—and Pagac even had time to help Hodgman read a few lines. When he’s not performing onstage, Pagac paints everything from downtown murals to fine art, with a few of his pieces recently on display in the Hotel Congress lobby. Keep up the good work, Joe. Runners up:

2. “WINDOWS TO THE PAST, GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE” (BY STEVE FARLEY) 3. FOURTH AVENUE UNDERPASS CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

JOIE HORWITZ

tucson museum of art

best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

The End-of-Days nd of Days Exit Interv Interview

JOE PAGAC

A meteor is going to hit the planet tomorrow. Where in Tucson would you go for your final meal? Saffron Indian Bistro. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been known to finish off a large helping of their chicken tikka masala and slump back in my chair, rubbing my stomach and contently moaning that I could die happy at that moment. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink? Downtown Kitchen has an amazing cocktail with passion-fruit juice and habaĂąeroinfused vodka that burns so good. If Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going down swinging, I want to do it with a sweet taste on my lips and fire in my belly. Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? Breakers Water Park. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even imagine how bad my feet would burn while running back up to the top of the water slides if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that hot out, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the rollercoaster of life, man.

Best Local Performing Artist

LOFT CINEMA

CALEXICO

3233 E. Speedway Blvd. 795-7777; www.loftcinema.com

our space brethren than by ttricking ricking them them into buying a condom and then then sounding soun nding an alarm? The mole people are inva ading thee invading surface world through a tunnel th hat that opens in your backyard.. What loca al local business would you tur rn to for hel lp? turn help? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a retro-style Ace H ardware wi it ithin it Hardware within running distance of my house. house. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d bet a nickel they sell some pre etty large mall et lets le pretty mallets there.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the thing: Calexico is the Best Local Performing Artist, because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re actually a lot of artists. A live Calexico show is a group effort, easily a dozen strong, sometimes more. At ea one show, we counted 17 people onstage, with on everyone in synch, creating music infused with ev flavors local and beyond. Joey Burns and John fla Convertino have this amazing ability to find Co musicians who can all work together across the mu stage, musically communicating through song sta after song. A live Calexico show is a model for aft how lots of things should work: harmony across ho borders, with many people working together to bo create something unique. cre Runners up: Run

2. TTIE NAMOLI BRENNET NA www.namolibrennet.com ww

LISA LIS SSA OTEY www.owlsnestmusic.com/lisaotey ww ww.owlsnestmusic.com/lisaotey w

The reason the Loft keeps winning this award is that everyone in town has a reason to vote for it. Cult monster epics? Got â&#x20AC;&#x2122;em. Obscure foreign-language dramas? Check. Year-round camp favorites? That, too. Sundance/Cannes/ Telluride/SXSW winners? Count on it. Continuing education in essential classics, for free? What a public service! Shorts competitions, a kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; film festival, an overnight screamathon, monthly screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (still!), HDTV screenings of world-class opera and theater performancesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; only at the Loft. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d own this â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bestâ&#x20AC;? even if they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t given us an entire month of Muppets. Runners up:

2. CENTURY EL CON 20 3601 E. Broadway Blvd. (800) 326-3264, ext. 903

3. CENTURY PARK PLACE 20 5870 E. Broadway Blvd. (800) 326-3264, ext. 902

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If a zombie apocalyps se were to apocalypse happen in Tucson, wh hat shopping what center would you lik ke to hole up in n? like in? Can I hole up in the Chicago Chicago Music Store? Sto ore? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the least-practical p lace, but the pos splace, possibility for creativity w ould make it tota ally would totally worth the complete la ack of critical sup-lack plies. Imagine one off your friends shredshred dding on the guitar w hile you thump outt a while bass beat on the tim mpani using a zombiee timpani as a drumstick, or jjabbing abbing (a zombie) repeatedly in the belly beell lly with ith a trombone ttrombone b slide during an allegro alleegro rendition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bab by â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baby Elephant Walk.â&#x20AC;? What Tucson ba and or musician would band you like to have w rite i th he sou ndtrack d write the soundtrack to the end of the world as we know it? Sergio Mendoza y la Orkestra. I love to dance to it, so I assume I would also love to die to it. If you had only one sunset left in Tucson, from where would you watch it? My favorite place to watch the sunset has always been from the little peaks around Gates Pass. I often drive up there around sunset with good friends, talk life and pass a bottle of wine around the circle as the sky gets all prism-y. Although, if the world were ending, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d probably drink a whole bottle by myselfâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;because no hangover tomorrow, buddy.

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â&#x20AC;&#x201D;By Jim Nintzel

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Aliens have landed in your backyard and say: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take us to your leader.â&#x20AC;? Where in Tucson would you send them? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d take them to the Meet Rack. If there is anyone who can simultaneously play the role of diplomat and entertainer to an alien race, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s God. His back-room tour will give us precious time to plan a counterattack if things go sour, and if things go well, the burgers there are the best bar food in town. What better way to welcome

Best Movie Theater

www.casadecalexico.com

JIM NINTZEL

Painter Joe Pagac may be best known for his murals highlighting the bands playing at the Rialto Theatre, but his work has been popping up all over downtown walls these days. Pagac also does commercial work and fine artâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you might have seen his work on display in the lobby of Hotel Congressâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and earlier this year, he joined comedian John Hodgman onstage at the Rialto, and created a massive mural of the apocalypse while Hodgman shared his vision of the end of the world.

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2012-13 SEASON

On Sale Now!

†

SEPTEMBER

Bonnie Raitt – Call for best available seats!

OCTOBER

The Daily Show Live: “Indecision Tour 2012” – Going fast! Shaolin Warriors Lang Lang

NOVEMBER

Aszure Barton & Artists Mummenschanz David Sedaris Sybarite5 * – Less than 60 seats remain!

LANG LANG

Day

Date

Time

Wed.

09/26/12

7:30pm

Fri. Sun. Sun.

10/19/12 10/21/12 10/28/12

8pm 3pm 7pm

Sat. Sat. Tues. Thurs.

11/03/12 11/17/12 11/27/12 11/29/12

8pm 8pm 7:30pm 7:30pm

Sun.

12/16/12

7pm

Fri. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sat. Sat. Sun.

01/11/13 01/12/13 01/12/13 01/12/13 01/13/13 01/13/13 01/13/13 01/19/13 01/26/13 01/27/13

7pm 1pm 4pm 7pm 1pm 4pm 7pm 8pm 8pm 4pm

FELA!

DECEMBER

Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration – The Symphony Tour – Going fast!

JANUARY

Zoppé Family Circus **** Zoppé Family Circus **** Zoppé Family Circus **** Zoppé Family Circus **** Zoppé Family Circus **** Zoppé Family Circus **** Soledad Barrio's Noche Flamenca Chick Corea and Gary Burton *** Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett Harold and the Purple Crayon

MOMIX: “BOTANICA”

FEBRUARY

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Alonzo King LINES Ballet Nathan Gunn * UA Dance: "Premium Blend" ** John Pizzarelli Quartet *** From the Top Live with Christopher O'Riley Barbara Cook *** MOMIX: "Botanica" Bridget Kibbey “Music Box” *

Fri. 02/01/13 8pm Sun. 02/10/13 7pm Thurs. 02/14/13 7:30pm 4 performances 02/14 – 02/17/13 Sat. 02/16/13 8pm Sun. 02/17/13 4pm Fri. 02/22/13 8pm Sun. 02/24/13 7pm Thurs. 02/28/13 7:30pm

CHRIS BOTTI

MARCH

UA Dance: "Premium Blend" ** 4 performances 02/28 – 03/3/13 Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Tues. 03/05/13 7:30pm Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Sat. 03/09/13 8pm The Underground Railroad, An Evening with Kathleen Battle Fri. 03/22/13 8pm Come to the Cabaret! ** Sat. 03/23/13 6:30pm Limón Dance Company Sun. 03/24/13 7pm

APRIL

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO

Chris Botti FELA! FELA! FELA! Lila Downs *** Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Sun. Fri. Sat. Sat. Sun. Sat.

04/07/13 04/12/13 04/13/13 04/13/13 04/14/13 04/20/13

7pm 8pm 2pm 8pm 7pm 8pm

LILA DOWNS

†

Restrictions apply. Savings in sections “B,” “C,” “D” and “E” only. *Crowder Hall **Eller Dance Theatre ***Fox Theatre ****Reid Park

Most performances at UA Centennial Hall

UApresents.org

(520) 621-3341 best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

JOIE HORWITZ

loft cinema

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Best Art Classes THE DRAWING STUDIO 33 S. Sixth Ave. 620-0947; www.thedrawingstudio.org

How can we place any value judgment on something so subjective? What is art? You might just as well ask … what isn’t art? Everything is art, and nothing is art—and the good folks at the Drawing Studio are there to help you explore the everything and nothing of your own infinite possibilities. The people there can help you with everything from medium to technique, but it’s mostly about digging around and casting forth your own inner muse. If you need that spark of inspiration, what better place than the post-apocalyptic-looking heart of downtown to set your dreams aflame? So grab a fire extinguisher and a brush, and hop on a bus, destination unknown. Runners up:

2. PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Various locations www.pima.edu

3. ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM 2021 N. Kinney Road 883-2702; www.desertmuseum.org

Best Indoor Venue RIALTO THEATRE 318 E. Congress St. 740-1000; www.rialtotheatre.com

There’s a scene in the 1981 post-apocalyptic film Escape From New York where the hero, Snake Plissken, enters a bombed-out theater, pausing slightly to watch a surreal performance troupe entertaining the disheveled audience. If he were to walk into the Rialto Theatre, he’d most likely forget about his mission and rock out a bit. Joe Pagac’s eye-popping outdoor murals have been spicing up the downtown scenery for a few years now, and acts from Tyga to Spiritualized, Los Lobos to the Insane Clown Posse, have performed there in the past year. The new-and-improved patio space with 10 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

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an outdoor bar has been more than a welcome addition as well. Keep on rockin’ in the free world, Rialto. Runners up:

2. FOX TUCSON THEATRE 17 W. Congress St. 547-3040; foxtucsontheatre.org

3. CLUB CONGRESS 311 E. Congress St. 622-8848; hotelcongress.com/club

Best Outdoor Venue ANSELMO VALENCIA TORI AMPHITHEATER Casino del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Road (800) 344-9435; www.casinodelsol.com/ava-amphitheater

Let’s face it: Tucson doesn’t get a lot of the biggest, best entertainment acts out there. But when they do, and the performers want something bigger than (Rialto) and better than (Tucson Convention Center) downtown’s offerings, many end up at this classic open-air concert spot. With about 1,800 seats under cover from the occasional elements, and room for another 2,700 or so on a grassy berm, AVA is just the right size for many traveling acts. Take this past summer, when performers included Seal, Pitbull, Duran Duran, Def Leppard, comedian Gabriel Iglesias and a tour of washedup ’80s New Wave bands. It also hosted the start of the Beach Boys’ latest reunion tour. All the TCC gave us was Bon Iver and maybe something on ice. Runners up:

2. LA COCINA 201 N. Court Ave. 622-0351; lacocinatucson.com

3. DEMEESTER OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE CENTER Reid Park 22nd Street and Country Club Road www.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec

Best Musical Instrument Store CHICAGO MUSIC STORE 130 E. Congress St. 622-3341 5646 E. Speedway Blvd. 886-1516; www.chicagomusicstore.com

Browsing inside the downtown Chicago Music Store can sometimes feel like a rousing game of hide-and-seek, even if you’re not quite sure what it is you’re looking for. Throughout the 90-plus years that the store’s been open, plenty of people have been united with their beloved instruments here. Though stepping inside sometimes feels like walking around in a large, treasure-filled attic (and doesn’t that sound pretty neat?), the Chicago Store has more than just old musical instruments. A lot of what the store carries is brand-new. The Chicago Store is one of the things that makes Tucson, well, Tucson. Runners up:

2. RAINBOW GUITARS 2550 N. Campbell Ave. 325-3376; www.rainbowguitars.com

3. THE FOLK SHOP 2525 N. Campbell Ave. 881-7147; www.thefolkshop.com

STAFF PICKS Best Family-Based Art and Music Collective SACRED MACHINE MUSEUM AND CURIOSITY SHOP 245 E. Congress St., No. 123 977-7012; www.sacredmachine.com

Crazy talent runs in this clan. The husbandand-wife team of Daniel Martin Diaz and Paula Catherine Valencia (both Tucson natives) runs Sacred Machine Gallery and Curiosity Shop, located in the heart of downtown. Among the assortment of international visual artists shown there is Diaz, whose work adorns everything from parking garages to album covers. The couple also lead the rock band Blind Divine, for which Daniel plays guitar and keyboards, while Paula sings and writes lyrics. Their mostrecent release is a five-CD box set, titled The One Hundred for the number of songs it contains. The band also features their son, Damian Demetrius Diaz, a promising recording artist in his own right.

one of the album’s tracks) and a hand-bound 52-page booklet of sheet music. The album is also available in digital format, or as a CD in a cardboard sleeve with one of the prints, all of the prints or the sheet music.

Best Consequence of a Cell Phone Ringing DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE www.sacredchickenproductions.com

Cell phones can be helpful, and they can be annoying—but did you know they can be the inspiration for great theater? That was proven indisputably in September 2011, when Chicken Lipps Productions and Studio Connections gave us Sarah Ruhl’s incisive and hilarious tale Dead Man’s Cell Phone, about what happens when a young woman answers the incessantly ringing cell phone of a man propped up in a coffee shop. Ruhl, arguably the best young playwright in the United States, uses language simultaneously surreal and credible to show us how we connect—or don’t—in this age of digital agility. Actress Carrie Hill was an utter delight; director Laura Lippman captured the sensibility of the script; and the ensemble created one of the best productions of the season.

Best Intellectually Colorful Play RED www.aztheatreco.org

A lot of us love to talk about art. Arizona Theatre Company gave us exactly what we crave with the stellar production of John Logan’s Red. Featuring terrific performances by Denis Arndt as famed artist Mark Rothko, and Connor Toms as his student assistant, it is a quiet play with loud ideas: art’s often curious place in culture; both its seriousness and its sometimes inflated importance; the tentative, if not downright hostile, reception it often receives by the public; the passion of the artist, and his commitment to creation even in the presence of self-doubt, often disguised by an inflated ego. And, finally: What constitutes art? Both intellectually stimulating and at times heart-wrenching, ATC had us seeing “red”—and in just the right shades. We’re still talking. CONTINUED ON NNEXT PAGE

Best Alternative Packaging for a Compact Disc CHRIS BLACK, DRUNK AT THE FUNERAL www.chrisblackmusic.com

Multi-instrumentalist Black—a player and composer of great note and the chargé d’affaires for the acclaimed ChamberLab project—has wearied of releasing CDs in tacky, easily broken jewel cases. For his recent collection of original compositions for voice, piano and percussion, Black worked with Spork Press to craft a beautiful, handmade wooden box with a cloth spine and silk-screened cover art. Contained inside are the disc, letter-press liner notes, a packet of his 15 charcoal illustrations (each inspired by

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Best Inventive Modern Dance

Best Photographer

FLOW BY NEW ARTICULATIONS DANCE COMPANY

TIE

www.newarticulations.org

LISA M. ROBINSON AND KATE BREAKEY

Whoever imagined dancers taking the part of waves of water flowing down a river? NEW ART, that’s who. On Earth Day, April 22, a blazing Sunday, the troupe’s performers danced down the dry riverbed of the once-flowing Santa Cruz. Shod in sneakers, the dancers moved along the baked and cracked earth, re-enacting the time not so long ago when the Santa Cruz was a living river, and its water flowed—and not just during monsoon season. A recorded oral history interview with Menlo Park community leader Lillian Lopez-Grant, who played along the river as a child, provided the soundtrack for a piece about the glory of the life Tucsonans once lived along a flowing stream.

www.lisamrobinson.com www.katebreakey.com

These two superb photographers each tried something new and wonderful in their exhibitions at Etherton Gallery this season. Breakey is best known for her brightly painted photos of dead birds and lizards, magnified to monumental size. This time, in Slow Light, she exhibited small, quiet black-and-white landscapes, each pierced by shafts of light, with sun filtering down through trees or gleaming in the sky. Robinson last dazzled with her color photos of snowbound landscapes, where all sound seemed to be muffled by the blanket of white. In This Land, This Sea, Robinson also switched to black and white, and went from tranquil to tumultuous. She turned her lens on the raging North Atlantic, recording the mesmerizing crash and fall of the waves in never-ending repetition.

Best Place to have Your Literary, Educational and Cultural IQ Raised by Osmosis TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

Best Sublime Ballet Moment

tucsonfestivalofbooks.com

STUART LAUER AND ELISE VITSO IN BALLET TUCSON’S DANCE AND DESSERT

When local business titans Bill Viner and Bruce Beach first proposed this idea—an author-driven event modeled after the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books—not even they, in their wildest dreams, could have imagined how successful this event would be. Featuring hundreds of authors, the festival offers scores of workshops, panel discussions, readings and lectures with a heavy emphasis on Q&A. There are also entertainment tents, expansive interactive science and children’s areas, and hundreds of vendors, all spread out over the University of Arizona Campus in mid-March during spring break (in an exquisite irony that is probably lost on most). Although just being there is an experience, participating as one of TFB’s hundreds of volunteers is also a great way to get cultured-up.

ballettucson.org

Where the Bartenders are Friendly

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

The company’s new leading man, Stuart Lauer, plucked from the ranks after years of steadily improving his dancing, partnered his real-life wife, Elise Vitso, in a re-staging of a pas de deux from the Antony Tudor masterpiece “Leaves Are Fading,” in March 2012. The gorgeous work, danced by the local pro company for the first time, tells the universal story of true love. The love-struck newlyweds—she tall and lithe, he muscular and limber—were perfectly cast. No acting was required. As they moved through the Tudor steps, gazing into each other’s eyes, they danced their own love story for all the world to see.

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rialto theatre CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Best Way to be Entertained by Real-Life Adventures in an Off-Broadway Setting ODYSSEY STORYTELLING odysseystorytelling.com

In the late 1960s, you couldn’t get more hip in New York than being “off Broadway.” When that became too blasé, “off-off ” allowed even the funkiest of dives to become cool. On the first Thursday of each month (except October), the Fluxx Studio and Gallery provides that kind of setting for this series of monologues that allows regular folks to willingly expose their emotions and real-life tales on a stage in front of family, friends and complete strangers. Often funny and always poignant, each show offers a different theme that explores a unique take on the human condition. Upcoming shows include November’s Religion: God, Allah, Yahweh, No Way, and in December, The End of the World as We Know It. In the event of the actual apocalypse, advance tickets for this show will not be refunded.

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Best Alternative Health Center

erous gobs of fur (and maybe some other, um, “knickknacks”). So when the Humane Society of Southern Arizona holds a fundraiser called Puttin’ on the Dog, why wouldn’t hundreds gather to celebrate the creatures who sniff out bombs (and some cancers), lower our blood pressure, assist in tasks for those unable to do many jobs for themselves, and even help stop an autistic child’s meltdown? With silent and live auctions, food from the Tucson Originals restaurant gang, and fashion shows featuring done-up doggies struttin’ their stuff, Puttin’ on the Dog raises thousands of dollars to support the HSSA and their impressive programs for animals in need.

TUCSON COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE 2900 E. Broadway Blvd., No. 170 881-1887; www.tucsoncommunityacupuncture.org

In ancient times in China, acupuncturists trained with a human form made of bronze that was filled with water and coated in wax. If they inserted needles in just the right place, they would puncture tiny wax-covered holes, and droplets of water would appear, confirming the practitioner’s precision. The acupuncturists at TCA may have trained a little differently, but their goal is the same: to regulate the body’s chi, the source of balance and wholeness. After a friendly interview to assess your needs, your treatment takes place in a large room in a restful group setting, just as is still practiced in the East. And it’s affordable: Payment is based on a sliding scale. Those who cringe at the thought of needles: Put aside your fears. This is a painless and relaxing way to improved health.

Runners up:

2. THE CENTURIONS’ ANNUAL EVENT www.thecenturions.com

3. TIE THE ANGEL CHARITY FOR CHILDREN’S ANGEL BALL www.angelcharity.org

Runners up:

EL TOUR DE TUCSON

2. NEW LIFE HEALTH CENTERS

www1.perimeterbicycling.com/el-tour-de-tucson

Various locations www.newlifehealth.com

3. TIE EL RIO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

Best Local Activist/ Advocacy Group

Best Farmers’ Market ST. PHILIP’S PLAZA FARMERS’ MARKET(S)

WINGSPAN

Southeast corner of Campbell Avenue and River Road www.stphilipsplaza.com

The vendors at St. Philip’s Plaza’s two farmers’ markets continue to bring us great local produce each weekend, saving us the trip to the actual farm. You can fill up your shopping bag with delicious veggies, fruit, honey, eggs, meat and more, all while supporting local businesses. Besides edibles, there are soaps, lotions, oils and moisturizers made from natural products. If you get hungry while shopping, there are plenty of prepared foods to sample. On a recent visit, we had a crepe from the Planet of the Crepes food truck, a prickly pear juice pop, and somemango infused lemonade. You wouldn’t be able to find that combination on a restaurant menu, and that makes the shopping experience all the more special. Runners up:

2. SANTA CRUZ RIVER/MISSION SAN AGUSTÍN FARMERS’ MARKET communityfoodbank.com

430 E. Seventh St. 624-1779; wingspan.org

Issues of violence and bullying against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth have recently come to public attention, but Wingspan has been offering resources for this community since the 1970s, becoming an official “resource center” in the 1980s. The mission is to “promote the freedom, equality, safety and well-being of LGBT people,” and the people at Wingspan fulfill this mission in a variety of ways. The community center itself is open during the week and offers a free library of resources and a computer center. Wingspan also offers a 24-hour bilingual crisis line for victims of violence. Programs that Wingspan coordinates serve a wide swath of the LGBT community, including programs for seniors (Senior Pride), youth (Eon Youth), the Latino community (Puertas Abiertas), transgendered individuals (Southern Arizona Gender Alliance) and families (Rainbow Families).

3. MAYNARDS MARKET AND KITCHEN FARMERS’ MARKET

Runners up:

communityfoodbank.com

816 E. University Blvd. 628-2829; www.bensbells.org

2. BEN’S BELLS PROJECT

Various locations 792-9890; www.elrio.org

3. SOUTHERN ARIZONA AIDS FOUNDATION

SWAN CLINIC OF NATURAL HEALING

375 S. Euclid Ave. 628-7223; www.saaf.org

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1001 N. Swan Road 323-7133; www.swanclinicaz.com

Best Annual Festival TUCSON MEET YOURSELF www.tucsonmeetyourself.org

st. philip’s plaza farmers’ market(s)

There is no better place to dive into the cultural wealth this city has to offer than the annual Tucson Meet Yourself Folklife Festival. Founded in 1974, the event beckons thousands downtown with music, dance and other performances that showcase the customs of the numerous cultures that make up our ethnic landscape. Then there’s the food court, a massive smorgasbord of homemade ethnic grub so abundant and mouth-watering that for years, people have quipped that the event should really be called Tucson Eat Yourself. Whether you go for folklorico dancing or for a plate of pad Thai, you’ll leave with a better understanding of the people who populate this diverse desert city. Runners up:

2. FOURTH AVENUE STREET FAIR www.fourthavenue.org

3. ALL SOULS PROCESSION

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HUMANE SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA’S PUTTIN’ ON THE DOG

4360 N. 1st Ave. JOIE HORWITZ

www.hssaz.org/site/PageServer?pagename=events_POD

Dogs are downright miraculous, especially in the realm of accessorizing our homes with gen-

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER

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Best Public Servant

Best Yoga Studio

Best Bowling Alley

Best Gym

GABRIELLE GIFFORDS

YOGA OASIS

LUCKY STRIKE BOWL

LA FITNESS

www.gabriellegiffords.com

Various locations www.lafitness.com

4015 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-4926; www.vantagebowlingcenters.com/lucky-strike-bowl

With the end of civilization at hand, you’re going to want your body in peak form, either to ensure that you’ll be making it out of the Thunderdome (formerly known as the Tucson Convention Center), or to attract the right mate to help repopulate the Old Pueblo. In any case, LA Fitness is a great place to begin your body’s transformation, no matter your current physical state. Most of the area’s six locations are open late on most nights. That gives you plenty of time to take in kickboxing, Zumba or other classes, with plenty of opportunities to take advantage of free weights, personal training and cardio equipment, all so you can become the ruler of Bartertown (formerly known as South Tucson).

Life as a public servant is not an easy path, yet taking that path can make a difference in so many lives. Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona 8th Congressional District representative, did her job with grace, style and tireless dedication. She navigated a diverse district by listening to all of her constituents, acknowledging complexity, finding common-sense solutions and making tough choices. Too often in today’s America, success is defined by wealth or celebrity. Much more profound is the contribution of our true public servants, those who work in government as a means of helping others. Before the tragic shooting on Jan. 8, 2011, Rep. Giffords earned our highest admiration as a public servant who improved the lives of so many people in Southern Arizona. Through her recovery, she continues to inspire us all.

2631 N. Campbell Ave. 245 E. Congress St., No. 101 7858 E. Wrightstown Road, No. 116 322-6142; www.yogaoasis.com

Runners up:

2. PLATINUM FITNESS (FORMERLY GOLD’S GYM) Various locations platinumfitnessaz.com

Three locations are only the beginning of what makes Yoga Oasis so convenient and so beloved by Tucson yogis. The studio’s signature class is “Yoga Hour”—at $4, far cheaper than the average yoga offering. You get what the name implies—an intensive hour of yoga, one that gets the heart rate going, but is guided by experienced teachers who pay attention to how the students get into and out of the postures. And if you don’t feel like leaving the house? You can buy the Yoga Hour routine, as demonstrated by longtime teacher Darren Rhodes, in a CD or iPhone/iPad app, from Yoga Oasis’ website. This commitment to accessible, affordable yoga has cemented Yoga Oasis’ place as a local favorite.

Lucky Strike is the kind of bowling alley that the The Big Lebowski crew would spend their time at, and that’s exactly why it is Tucson’s best bowling alley. It has the colorful carpet, the pool tables, the classic (and possibly smelly) shoes, the hodgepodge of people—all the things you want when you grab your friends and say, “F*** it, let’s go bowling,” as the Dude would. On Mondays through Thursdays from 9 p.m. to close, a mere $6 will get you unlimited bowling and shoe rental. If you’re an early riser, on Fridays at 9 a.m., you can bowl while feasting on bacon, eggs, toast and a cup of Joe. And let’s not forget Cyber Bowling on Friday and Saturday evenings, where you and Tucson’s teens can enjoy a light show and watch music videos while bowling.

Runners up:

2. REP. RAÚL GRIJALVA

2. FOURTH AVENUE YOGA

2. BEDROXX BOWLING

grijalva.house.gov

413 E. Fifth St. www.4thavenueyoga.com

4385 W. Ina Road 744-7655; bedroxx.com

3. TUCSON YOGA

3. GOLDEN PIN LANES

150 S. Fourth Ave. 988-1832; tucsonyoga.com

1010 W. Miracle Mile Road 888-4272; www.goldenpinbowl.com

3. TUCSON CITY COUNCILMAN STEVE KOZACHIK cms3.tucsonaz.gov/wardsix

3. YMCA Various rious locations ww.ymca.net www.ymca.net

Exclusive Offer For Tucson Weekly Readers! Present this ad and receive 3 months of any membership for the price of 2….With no initiation fee….Members will also enjoy FREE unlimited Zumba and other exercise classes!

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Looking for a great place to have a party or dine out? Look at the Tucson Raquet Club. Great prices, great food, great fun. Plan your next birthday party, school or business picnic or reunion at the Club! Non-members welcome.

Best Sex-Toy Shop

SOOTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AUTO SERVICE

FASCINATIONS

429 E. Sixth St. 623-1002; www.sootersauto.com

3658 E. Speedway Blvd. 322-0757; www.funlove.com

In recent years, there has been a profusion, dare we say an explosion, in sex-toy technology and ergonomic design. Fascinations has an entire room devoted to an eye-opening variety of adult toys in every shape and size imaginable, plus some that, frankly, stretch the imagination. There are wands, rabbits, butterflies, dolphins, pseudo-orifices and bullets, as well as traditional dongs, dildos and vibes. There are also lots of lubes and other accoutrements, such as lingerie, clothing, candles, videos, books and bachelor/ bachelorette party supplies. If you plan to face the end with a big O and a smile, check out Fascinations. Maybe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make the earth move â&#x20AC;Ś and perhaps that will knock the planet out of the path of destruction, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll all be saved! Runners up:

metro car wash

Once upon a time, there was a 1987 Honda Accord. It was a good car, but it was old. It had the typical problems old cars have, as well as the typical auto-mechanic responses. Long story short: The old car started costing a LOT of money. Then a wise man whispered, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take it to Sooterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Randy Sooter is honest.â&#x20AC;? The mechanics, many of whom have been working at the shop for decades, tell it like it isâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and then they fix it. Behold, the old car was brought back to life, running beautifully until, sadly, it was totaled in a freak accident. Had that not happened, it would still be running today, thanks to the folks at Sooterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, a true family auto shop. Runner up:

3. BRAKEMAX Various locations brakemax.com

2. ADULT EXPECTATIONS

3. CONTINENTAL ADULT SHOP 2655 N. Campbell Ave. 327-8402; www.continentaladult.com

Votes of note: Jon Justice, two votes

Best Auto Repair TIE BUCKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AUTOMOTIVE 4360 N. First Ave. 292-0904; www.bucksautomotive.com

When your car breaks down, it can feel like the end of the world. But take it down to Buckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Automotive, and you can rest assured that the work will be done right the first time, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be back on the road in no time. The shop has been around since 1978, and this is the third time Tucsonans have chosen Buckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as having the Best Auto Repair in Tucson. Unlike some unscrupulous mechanics, Buckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has an eightpoint code of ethics on their website (also in Spanish) that includes gems like their promise â&#x20AC;&#x153;to perform high quality repair service at a fair and just price.â&#x20AC;?

Best Car Wash METRO CAR WASH 3050 N. Oracle Road 5150 E. Speedway Blvd. (800) 844-0130; metrocarwash.com

Tucson has some pretty unpredictable weather, but that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop you from taking your dustmobile to Metro. The place has a 48-hour re-wash guarantee, and is open seven days a week. Protect your dashboard from the ultra violence of the ultraviolet with Monkey Snot. Services range from $3.99 to $35. Got something funking up your car? Ask for Febreze. Use the free self-service vacuums, or sit back and enjoy the complimentary Wi-Fi while they do all the dirty work. What can you give the person who seems to have everything? Unlimited car washes for one year. Keep the car clean, and it will shine until the end of the world. Runners up:

2. OCTOPUS CAR WASH Various locations octopuscarwashaz.com

3. SIMONIZ CAR WASH Various locations www.cleancarfeeling.com

JOIE HORWITZ

2505 N. Stone Ave. 623-8095; adultexpectation.net

Best Plant Nursery MESQUITE VALLEY GROWERS 8005 E. Speedway Blvd. 721-8600

Junkies come in all varieties, and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a plant junkie, your dealer likely is Mesquite Valley Growers. Stretching before you on acres and acres are annuals and perennials, cacti and succulents, native and desert-adapted landscape plants, shade and fruit trees, herbs and veggies, and even exotic tropical plants and artistically crafted bonsai. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know your way around this plethora of plant life, there is a knowledgeable staff to be your guide to establishing your own field of dreams (or hal-

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2. HARLOW GARDENS 5620 E. Pima St. 298-3303; www.harlowgardens.com

3. DESERT SURVIVORS 1020 W. Starr Pass Blvd. 884-8806; www.desertsurvivors.org

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best of tucsonÂŽ 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

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Best Romantic Theater Seats

Best Pet Supplies Store

TUCSON FOX THEATRE’S BALCONY LOVESEATS

PETSMART Various locations www.petsmart.com

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a slobbery pooch or a prim-and-proper pussy cat: PetSmart has what it takes to keep it all groomed, fed and outfitted in the latest fashions. Need a tiny bomber jacket for that Chihuahua? No problem. How about a rhinestone-encrusted leash and matching collar? PetSmart has you covered. It’s not just for the four-legged crowd, either: Birds, fish and other creatures are available alongside all the supplies required to make them feel right at home. PetSmart now carries former Poison front man and reality television star Bret Michaels’ signature brand of pet accessories. So if Rover’s a rocker, there’s that. Runners up:

2. PETCO Various locations www.petco.com

3. OK FEED AND SUPPLY 3701 E. Fort Lowell Road 325-0122; www.besttucsonpetstore.com

STAFF PICKS

17 W. Congress St. 547-3040; foxtucsontheatre.org

There’s no doubt the most-romantic seats in town happen to be in the balcony at the Tucson Fox Theatre. Sometimes a show demands that the damn armrest be ripped out from between you and your date. When Gillian Welch and David Rawlings get to singing, it’s arms you want, and someone to lean into. There’s also something special about an old theater that has loveseats that’s not about romance itself, but about sharing the experience—for example, during a screening of Rear Window with Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart, to the music you love.

Best Shopping for Your Yard ARIZONA FEEDS COUNTRY STORE 2701 S. Sixth Ave. 622-2321 4743 N. Highway Drive 887-2202; afcountrystore.com

Billed as “your outstanding country experience for animals large and small,” Arizona Feeds is just plain fun, even if you’re only windowshopping. In addition to bales of hay and Western wear, you can get dog food, a neon Carhartt T-shirt, a dozen baby chicks, or a stock tank that is the perfect size for a backyard pool. If you’re at all curious about starting a backyard coop or adopting a horse, wander around Arizona Feeds for inspiration.

Best Hotel Pool to Crash

The first step in reaching your goals is reaching the person who can help you achieve them. As an Ameriprise Platinum Financial Services advisor I believe in putting the needs of clients first and foremost. I’ll work with you to find the solutions you need to manage your growing financial complexity. Together, we’ll track your progress over time, adjusting your plan along the way to help you build and protect your assets. Put your dreams more within reach.

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Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients. Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. © 2012 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

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of tucson® 2012

Best Unofficial City Holiday

3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd. 792-3500; www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com

THE FIRST MONSOON RAIN

When the summer sun starts to feel apocalyptic, and global warming threatens to end us all, it’s time to crash a pool—preferably one with a great view and a nearby bar. That’s where JW Marriott Starr Pass comes in. Located just west of downtown Tucson, the fancy hotel boasts a double-decker mirage pool overlooking the Sonoran Desert, two hot tubs, a lazy river and a margarita that’s never far away. It’s your perfect chance to escape the blazing heat and mingle with some beautiful, rich out-of-towners. Or other locals without pools. Just don’t tell the Marriott we sent you; give them the old “I left my key in the room.”

Best Concert Promoters STATESIDE PRESENTS statesidepresents.com

Call me today at (520) 514.1027 Philip Pappas II, Ph.D., CFP®, CRPC® Financial Advisor An Ameriprise Platinum Financial Services® practice

JW MARRIOTT STARR PASS

If you’ve been to a concert in Tucson in the past few years, there’s a good chance it was a Stateside Presents show. Since 1995, the folks at Stateside have brought hundreds of national acts to Tucson and continue to put on several concerts per week at some of Tucson’s best venues. Charlie Levy runs this vital part of Arizona’s music scene, with Dan Hernandez of Optimist Club fame heading up the Tucson operation. They have helped put on such quintessential Tucson events as Festival en el Barrio Viejo and have held fundraisers for U.S. Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Ron Barber, as well as get-out-the-vote concerts, volunteer fairs and varied other great events.

www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon.php

In late May, we’re enjoying the heat. The town’s quiet; the warm, still nights are lovely. Our swamp coolers kick much ass. A few weeks later, we might get cranky if we don’t have air conditioning. The bugs thunk against the windows, and one day, we decide that the cooler must be broken. Climbing the ladder armed with a screwdriver, we notice a strip of silver in the southeast—clouds building over Mexico. We descend the ladder, knowing that it’s The Season, and accept 87 degrees inside as the new normal. Soon, we become impatient and look longingly to the south, and then we check the forecast. When the radio’s interrupted with an emergency broadcast, we hope against hope that it’s a storm warning, deflating when we hear that “this is only a test.” But one day, it happens—clouds build and build, and there is RAIN, loud hard and cool, and we run onto our porches, or into the streets. We call friends and post on Facebook and cheer a collective RAIN! The RAIN is here!!! PAGE 22 CONTINUED ON PAG

Discover the â&#x20AC;&#x153;four sides of funâ&#x20AC;? at Main Gate Square!

iscover flavor, style and attitude when you visit Main Gate Square, a pedestrian-friendly dining and shopping destination featuring over 20 retailers and 30 restaurants near the UofA. Taste international flavors, scrumptious desserts, and freshly roasted coffee

ave h e W the APPAREL & ACCESSORIES Aâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Store American Apparel Benâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bells Open Studio Bonita Cute Campus Athletic Collette Cry Baby Couture Finally Made Grand Central Clothing Landmark Clothing & Shoes Ooo! Outside of Ordinary Pitaya Swindlers Urban Outfitters

BOOKS & OFFICE SUPPLIES Aâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Store Posnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Store

GIFTS & SPECIALTIES

Benâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bells Open Studio Bonita Cute Campus Candy Collette Cry Baby Couture Main Gate Collaborative Art Studio Ooo! Outside of Ordinary Posnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Store Sanctity Tattoo The Scented Leaf Tea House & Lounge Urban Outfitters W.H. Smith Gifts (Marriott)

HOTEL

Marriott Hotel

SPECIALTY FOOD, WINE & BEER SHOP Campus Candy The Scented Leaf Tea House & Lounge Wilko

HOME FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES Collette Ooo! Outside of Ordinary Urban Outfitters

CAFĂ&#x2030;S, DESSERTS & COFFEE

CaffĂŠ LucĂŠ Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins Espresso Art Jamba Juice

before or after the theater or during daytrips to the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many attractions and museums. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion you want, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find the right style for you or the perfect gift for someone else. Or relax at one of Main Gateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seven salons and spas.

Wine, beer & whiskey tastings, live music, art walks, Benâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Project, public art, and special events enhance Main Gate Squareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban neighborhood experience. Spend the day. Enjoy the night.

SHOPPING RELAXATION RESTAURANTS ATTRACTIONS Starbucks Coffee The Fix The Scented Leaf Tea House & Lounge Wilko

FINANCIAL

Arizona State Credit Union Wells Fargo ATM

RESTAURANTS

Auld Dubliner Irish Pub Chipotle Mexican Grill Eatâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Aâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Pita Fat Greek Frog & Firkin Fuku Sushi Gentle Benâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brewing Co. Jimmy Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Joelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bistro Johnny Rockets Kababeque Indian Grill No Anchovies Oriental Express Paradise Bakery Pasco Kitchen & Lounge Pei Wei Asian Diner Saguaro Grill Saigon Pho Silver Mine Subs Sinbadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mediterranean The Fix Which Wich Wilko

SALON SERVICES

Aveda Institute of Arizona Beach Bunnie Tanning Blades Hair Design Boss Shears Cost Cutters Spring Nail Salon Style America

SERVICES

Level Leasing Office Main Gate Square Marine Officer Selection Office Marshall Foundation Sanctity Tattoo Student Apartments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Reserve & NorthPointe The Joint US Post Office

TUTORING/TEST PREP Princeton Review Wildcat Academics

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from a half-dozen antiquated TVs, mounted high on the walls, is drowned out by the clattering of pins from the bowling centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 48 lanes.

Best Urban Escape TREEHOUSE THAI MASSAGE SPA 148 S. Fourth Ave. 622-8895; arizonamassageworkshops.com

A traditional Thai massage starts with a fragrant sauna, and then you lie fully clothed on a mat while a practitioner (most likely named Jason) stretches and bends and folds and unfolds you for an hour or two, or even longer. A warm ginger beverage concludes the treatment, after which you stumble out onto Fourth Avenueâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;where a glimpse of the plasma-donation facility reorients you to your surroundings. No matter: Bendy and relaxed and redolent with incense, you can face anything.

Best Place to Bet on DogRacing in Between Frames GOLDEN PIN LANES 1010 W. Miracle Mile 888-4272; www.goldenpinbowl.com

Studies have shown that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just enough time between turns in bowling to bet on, and watch, an entire greyhound race. There are seven places in the Tucson area where off-track betting is offered, but only one includes the opportunity to roll a few games while waiting for post time. Golden Pinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bar area doubles as a haven of hope for wager prosperity, not to mention a gathering place for people who like to throw crumpled pieces of paper on the ground after that darn mutt sputtered down the stretch. The ambience is enhanced by the fact the audio

Best Bathrooms That Make You Temporarily Forget the Impending Repair Bill Various locations www.mpgautomotiveservices.com

Anyone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had to make a pit stop while waiting for the Jiffy Lube guys to do their thing knows that auto-repair places donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend much effort on making their restrooms look great. Usually. But the potties at this locally based outfit sport a bevy of things never before seen in buildings that are better known for greasy rags or guys named Buddy: There are plants on top of the toilets. The mirrors are not only unscratched; they have beveled edges. The sink? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of those fancy bowl-looking dealies, complete with a spout for a faucet and a matching stainless-steel soap dispenser. One trip in there helps briefly take oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind off the real reason for being there. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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David Slutes serves as the entertainment director for Hotel Congress, which means he has the heavy responsibility of bringing the fun at the centerpiece of downtown cool by booking bands and DJs in the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club Congress, and on the outdoor patio at events like Labor Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HoCo Fest. Slutes catapulted to rock â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll fame as the lead singer in the Sand Rubies in the early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s, and still finds himself onstage from time to time, primarily in the guise of his alter ego, Milos Sucrose, of the Eastern European cover band the Zsa-Zsas.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

A meteor is going to hit the planet tomorrow. Where in Tucson would you go for your final meal? My first thought is CafĂŠ Poca Cosa, but for my last meal, I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d return to my childhood roots and go to Casa Molina and order a cheese crisp and bean chimichanga, enchilada-style, with sour cream and guacamoleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;of course, all smothered in that insanely hot salsa they put on the tables there. It still may be my favorite meal ever, and frankly, the apocalypse might come as some relief afterward. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink? With Tiger in the Tap Room at Hotel Congress. I think heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been there since the last time alcohol was banned, so it seems fitting to end there. Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? Like everyone else, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d head up to Mount Lemmon, but that seems like a trap. No doubt weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be ravaged by forest fires up there. There is no place to run! I have no clue where to cool off. Aliens have landed in your backyard and say: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take us to your leader.â&#x20AC;? Where in Tucson would you send them? I would have gone with Bishop Chicago, the downtown guy who wore armor made out of aluminum cans, because he used to

direct traffic and had an authoritative autho oritative air air about him. But heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left town, so I guess guesss Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d go with Fletcher McCusker, b ecause th he he because the downtown world seems to revolve reevolve around arou und him these days. Frankly, that tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; been a go tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ood thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good thing. Every time somethingg happens around here, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s either putting puttti ting money into it, or talking about it, or or putting his iss mind to it. The mole people are inv vading the invading surface world through a tunnel that opens in your backyard d. What local backyard. business would you tur rn to for help?? turn Millerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Surplus. I want those th hose rugged individualists over theree to help me fightt off the mole people. The eyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the right htt Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve attitude. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessar rily cotton to the necessarily survivalist mentality, but bu ut if mole people are zipping out of a hole, holle, e I tthi hink nk Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll IIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;lll find find d think some sympathetic minds min nds there. If a zombie apocaly ypse were to apocalypse happen in Tucson, w hat shopping what center would you li ike to hole up in? like The original one, Broadway Bro oadway Village. Not only is it a nice Joesl ler design, but they Joesler also have sushi there therre no now w, aand nd d tth he zombiess now, the might not recognizee it as a traditional â&#x20AC;&#x153;shopping mallâ&#x20AC;? to invade. What Tucson ban nd or musician would band you want to writ te the soundtrack to write the end of the w orld as we know it? world Young Hunter. They Th hey do a heavy proggy thing that is really ly ggre reat at, an and d pe rfectl f tly suit-great, perfectly able for an apocalyptic soundtrack. I think they even have a video out now that is all about a monstrous haboob consuming Phoenix. If you had only one sunset left in Tucson, from where would you watch it? From my second-story balcony in my new barrio home. It has a wonderful vantage of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;? mountain, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be damned if Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to enjoy my new home before itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wiped off the face of the Earth. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;By Jim Nintzel

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JOIE HORWITZ

DRIVE CLEAN!

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 CONT

Best New Stage Show Bes MUSICAL MAYHEM MUSIC

Best Reason to Still Believe in City Government

Warm feelings for the LGBT community and Warmer in Broadway-musical styleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; its alliesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;wrapped all may be the enduring legacy of the love-it-orhate-it television experiment Glee. Without hateMayhemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hilarious, raunched-up it, Musical Mu semi-improv parodies of hit show tunes might semilacking a substantial audience. Changing cast be lac members and venues, typical of new-company mem growing pains, have taken their toll, but the grow director of Musical Mayhem is driven by past direc success, and the repertory cast members are succe astonishingly talentedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;much more than they aston need to be. Look for them to secure a solid slot among Tucsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertainment fixtures by the amon of their maiden year. Hurry so you can say end o you ssaw them back when.

The apocalypse should satisfy those calling for the destruction of government, but even their hardened hearts might warm a bit to this model of world harmony. In a handful of acres covered with native plants and mesquite trees of all ages, desert wildlife abide alongside equestrian trails, bike trails and hiking trails, all within view of a grassy play area with state-of-the-art playground equipment, picnic sites and a pocket amphitheater. One imagines lectures there about the Rillito River and the entire Southern face of the Santa Catalina mountains, as can be seen there. For compulsive readers, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great signage. Did you know that Mount Lemmon was named for botanist and early explorer Sara Lemmon? Leashed dogs are welcome.

3800 N. Tucson Blvd. 791-4873; cms3.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec

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Best Clothing Fashions (Locally Owned)

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BUFFALO EXCHANGE 250 E. Congress St. 882-2939 2001 E. Speedway Blvd. 795-0508 6212 E. Speedway Blvd. 885-8392; www.buffaloexchange.com

A sure sign of the apocalypse: Nobody’s bothering to buy new clothes. Tucson’s most-stylin’ street wear looks just like the outfits that employees assemble from gently used apparel and spread throughout the walls and windows of Buffalo Exchange. The good news? We’re all going to depart this life in custom ensembles! It’s not like anything you buy at Buffalo Exchange is available in every size and color. No, just about every piece is a unique cast-off from someone else’s high-maintenance wardrobe. Thank goodness for picky buyers! Runners up:

2. RAZORZ EDGE 427 N. Fourth Ave. 792-3343; www.razorzedge.com

3. ZOË BOUTIQUE 735 N. Fourth Ave. 740-1201; www.zoestyle.com

BUFFALO EXCHANGE 250 E. Congress St. 882-2939 2001 E. Speedway Blvd. 795-0508 6212 E. Speedway Blvd. 885-8392; www.buffaloexchange.com

You can pretty much find anything at Buffalo Exchange, from hats, shoes, scarves, pants and jackets, to unique items like those high-top purple combat boots you’ve been seeking. Buffalo’s buyers can be nitpicky when you are trying to get rid of clothes for some extra cash, but there is a reason for that: They carry a variety of current trendy items for men and women that have great quality and will last you a long time. Their clothes are reasonably priced, and you can always get some close-to-one-of-a-kind stuff. Runners up:

2. HOW SWEET IT WAS 419 N. Fourth Ave. 623-9854; www.howsweetitwas.com

3. SAVERS 5845 E. Broadway Blvd. 571-2001 290 W. Fort Lowell Road 292-6330; www.savers.com

JOIE HORWITZ

Best Resale/Vintage Clothing

Best Home Furnishings COPENHAGEN 3660 E. Fort Lowell Road 795-0316; www.copenhagenliving.com

If the world is ending, you’ll want to go out in style—surrounded by timeless elegance and good taste. The home and office furnishings at Copenhagen are all about character and functionality. From the sleek low lines of the leather couches to the sturdy and distinctive bed frames, from the gracious traditional and contemporary dining sets to the aesthetic home-entertainment wall systems, your friends and guests will be impressed. Copenhagen also sells cool lighting, lamps and accessories. Yes, the store has great office desks and high-tech chairs—but why would you be at the office at the end of the world? Runners up:

2. SAM LEVITZ FURNITURE 3750 W. Orange Grove Road 531-9905 3430 E. 36th St. 624-7443 100 N. Pantano Road 917-2410; www.samlevitz.com

Best Antiques/Kitsch/ Collectables

Best Jewelry

COPPER COUNTRY ANTIQUES

1821 E. Prince Road 325-2150; www.rainbowjewelersinc.com

RAINBOW JEWELERS

5055 E. Speedway Blvd. 326-0167; www.coppercountryantiques.com

One could spend days at Copper Country Antiques—and you’d still feel like you hadn’t looked at everything of interest. With 32,000 square feet packed full of knickknacks, jewelry, books, clothing, artwork and everything in between, there’s a lot to explore. The mall feels like a very relaxed museum, where you can touch and browse instead of simply gaze. Even if you feel like you’re not the type to go antiquehunting, give Copper Country a shot. The store is totally accessible to people who don’t know much about antiquing. And who knows—as the apocalypse approaches, maybe you’ll be able to make some deals; that gas mask wasn’t worth anything before, but now that it’s almost the end of the world, you might have yourself a very valuable commodity. Runners up:

While it may be a treat to see a rainbow in the sky, it’s a given that you will find beauty and color at Rainbow Jewelers. In business since 1986, Michael and Joanne Rainbow strive to run their business with “referrals, trust and integrity.” Their hard work has paid off, with Google reviewers rating the jeweler in the “extraordinary to perfection” scoring range. Michael and Joanne work directly with customers to create a relaxed and intimate shopping experience. They offer exquisite designs from John Bagley, Gelin Abaci and others; they can also help you custom-design your own jewelry and diamond rings. Why not face the Tucson apocalypse with a little sparkle on your finger? Runners up:

2. TIFFANY AND CO. 2905 E. Skyline Drive 577-7772; www.tiffany.com

2. ANNABELL’S ATTIC 6178 E. Speedway Blvd. 571-8400; annabells-attic.com

3. TIE MARSHALL’S JEWELERS

3. TRES AMIGOS

3. POP-CYCLE

4755 E. Grant Road 325-9955; www.marshalls-jewelers.com

5975 E. Broadway Blvd. 751-9776 6431 N. Thornydale Road 531-0090 4443 E. Speedway Blvd. 547-3247; www.tresamigosworldimports.com

422 N. Fourth Ave. 622-3297; www.popcycleshop.com

S. SILVERBERG AND SONS 5420 E. Broadway Blvd., No. 202 750-1250; silverbergandsons.com

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best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

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Best Day Spa

Best Goth/Leather Shop

GADABOUT SALONSPAS

HYDRA LEATHER AND MORE

Various locations www.gadabout.com

145 E. Congress St. 791-3711

Little-known fact: Leather protects against green radioactive gamma rays from Mars! Hoof it downtown to Hydra, and get in the spirit of urban renewal. Stock up on body jewelry, fancy panties and bad-ass accoutrements that will showcase your sensational sensibilities. If you are lucky enough to capture an alien sex slave, you can dress him/her/it up in cute outfits. Admire the street-savvy selection of boots, shoes and stockings. Lots of options make it easy to select the right kind of tight. Browse menswear and lots of zombie-friendly T-shirts—so that when the creeper sees you, he might let you keep your stuff. Let’s just hope he’s not a biter.

The headlines these days are gloomy, and worrying can lead to wrinkles; stress can lead to distress. Well, Gadabout’s many spa treatments will help you remember that you really are as beautiful as you feel. Take time out from the wear and tear of the day to day. Nothing boosts your self-esteem like an ultrasound refinishing facial. Schedule a massage; there are eight different choices, like the 120-minute spa massage, where someone will scrub, wrap and then rub your entire body, soul included. If you’re in a hurry, Gadabout offers express massage and waxing services. Your worries and secret hairs will be whisked away. Runners up:

2. ELIZABETH ARDEN RED ROOR SPA Westin La Paloma Resort 3666 E. Sunrise Drive 742-7866; www.reddoorspas.com

Runners up:

2. DARK STAR LEATHER 2940 N. Swan Road, No. 129 881-4700; www.darkstarleather.com

3. ROBERT MARKLEY SALON SPA 5350 E. Broadway Blvd., No. 160 747-1388; www.robertmarkley.com

3. RAZORZ EDGE 427 N. Fourth Ave. 792-3343; www.razorzedge.com

Best Tattoo Parlor Best Hair Salon

BLACK ROSE TATTOOERS

GADABOUT SALONSPAS

47 S. Sixth Ave. 388-9091 421 N. Fourth Ave. 629-1999; www.blackrosetattooers.com

Various locations www.gadabout.com

Anyone with a speck of dignity wants to look his or her best for the end of time. Maybe you’ll decide on a new hairstyle or new color—puce, anyone?—or perhaps you want that one last mani/pedi. In any case, Gadabout is the place to go. Of course, if the Mayans are wrong, that doesn’t mean you should ignore grooming. There’s a reason Gadabout keeps winning this category year after year: The stylists at this long-standing local institution are sincere, friendly and trained in all the latest trends. When you walk out of any of the Gadabout locations, you look good and feel good—so much so that you might not even care if it really is the end of days.

Some may say that individuals with multiple tattoos and piercings—not to mention those indulging in the recent trends of branding, scarification and body implants—are ready and waiting for The Bomb. Need some fresh ink and a septum piercing to live out your Mad Max fantasies? Look no further than downtown’s Black Rose Tattooers. Servicing Tucson’s bodyink aficionados for more than 15 years, Black Rose Tattooers’ artists are the cream of the crop, the masters of their craft. Whether you want a full back piece or just a bumblebee on your ankle, they’ll take the time to do it both beautifully and correctly. Runners up:

Runners up:

2. TATTOO ARTISTRY

2. ROBERT MARKLEY SALON SPA 5350 E. Broadway Blvd., No. 160 747-1388; www.robertmarkley.com

1680 N. Country Club Road 792-1322; edslocumtattooartistry.tumblr.com

3. THE COYOTE WORE SIDEBURNS

3. ENCHANTED DRAGON TATTOOING Various locations www.enchanteddragontattoos.com

630 N. Fourth Ave. 623-7341; thecoyoteworesideburns.com

Mayfield Florist Reaction Guaranteed!

Thank you Tucson! www.mayfieldflorist.com

7181 E. Tanque Verde Rd

1610 N. Tucson Blvd.

520.760.1111 26 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

of tucson® 2012

INGLIS FLORISTS 2362 E. Broadway Blvd. 622-4641 6468 N. Oracle Road 297-1158 3840 W. Ina Road 744-0200; www.inglisflorists.com

Even though the Tucson apocalypse won’t make the list of typical flower-buying occasions like a birthday or an anniversary, we’re pretty sure Inglis Florists would come up with just the right floral arrangement for the end of times. After all, they have helped Tucsonans “say it with flowers” for more than 70 years. The business was founded in 1940 by Tom Inglis, and later purchased by Don and Rita Butterbrodt. Sons Paul and Michael now continue the tradition of selling beautiful fresh flowers, plants and custom designs. There are also silk flowers, candles, jewelry, baskets and stuffed animals. Inglis Florists will create a beautiful and expressive arrangement—no matter the number of days left on the calendar.

Runners up:

2. MAYFIELD FLORIST 7181 E. Tanque Verde Road 885-6987 1610 N. Tucson Blvd. 327-3987; www.mayfieldflorist.com

3. SAVON FLOWERS 2902 E. Speedway Blvd. 323-7323 1665 E. 18th St., No. 111 903-2252; www.savonflowers.com

Best Eyeglass/ Optical Retailer LESCO OPTICAL Various locations lescooptique.com

Jeepers creepers! Why is it so expensive to get glasses for those peepers? News flash: It doesn’t have to cost you valuable limbs to correct that wacky vision of yours. (We’re referring to your eyes’ vision, not the metaphysical sort.) Lesco

Optical offers the greatest deals in Tucson. A progressive (no lines), UV-treated, tri-focal pair in stylish and sturdy frames can cost less than $200! And we’re not talking aviator-style frames left over from the ’70s and ’80s; this is the real deal. Friendly opticians will help set you up with just the right pair, and in a couple of days, the world will be transformed when you take a gander through your new peeper bling.

razzle dazzle

Runners up:

2. ALVERNON OPTICAL Various locations www.alvernonoptical.com

3. COSTCO 1650 E. Tucson Marketplace 791-7340 6255 E. Grant Road 886-6377 3901 W. Costco Drive 797-1980; www.costco.com

See that? You probably know it as a victory burnout. What you don’t know is who will have the honors at PIR’s Victory Lane. Maybe it’ll be Junior. Maybe Smoke. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll be this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion. It’s the last race before the Chase finale. Secure your seats. Some burnouts can’t be missed.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

JOIE HORWITZ

Best Florist

Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Tickets start at $25, visit phoenixraceway.com or call 866-408-RACE.

best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

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The e End End-of-Days of Days Exit Interview

ERIN BRADLEY

STAFF PICKS Best Still-Cheap Thrift Store With Stylish Options DESERET INDUSTRIES

JANELLE GLEESON

605 E. Grant Road 90 903-1036; deseretindustries.lds.org

Old is the new new. With everyone turning “green,” and the economy requiring that we all, well, economize, our fashion aesthetic has gone retro-combo-chic. How else to explain why the highly astute, trend-conscious readers the of Tucson Weekly voted a secondhand clothing store, Buffalo Exchange, as their choice for Best Clothing Fashions? Perhaps new, trendy clothing is just too risky (or one-percenty?) for these times. Should you be lucky enough to sell your own boring (to you) old things at Buffalo Exchange, you might score something wonderful with your store credit. But have you considered recycling your former favorites into something new and fabulous? Erin Bradley of Preen has been re-imagining castaways since before that came into fashion. She now has a full schedule of regular clients seeking her sewing innovations and discreet alterations that can keep a wardrobe alive through thick and thin. However, Bradley is not looking forward to the end of the world. After several dreamy weeks on a cross-country trip, she is back in town and falling in love with Tucson all over again.

A meteor is going to hit the planet tomorrow. Where in Tucson would you go for your final meal? I would have Sandra at Little Poca Cosa fix me whatever she wanted to. I love that atmosphere; I love Sandra; and I love anything she puts in front of me. I love it all, even down to the juices. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink? Maria Rogers at Che’s Lounge would make me a dirty martini. Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? I would sneak into the pool at the Arizona Inn.

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Aliens have landed in yourr backyard and say: “Take u uss to your leader.” Where in Tucson would you send tthem? hem? My first thought was San X avier Xavier Mission. (This is followed b ent byy a mome moment of reflection.) The mole people are in nva vadi ding invading the surface world thro ough a through tunnel that opens in yyour our backyard. What local b usiness business would you turn to forr help? I would probably call Tana Ta Kelch Ta (owner of the former aarts rts and gifts emporium Bohemia) for fo any kind of business needs. I trustt her opinion overr anybody else’s opinion n. opinion. If a zombie apocaly ypse were to apocalypse happen in Tucson, w hat shopping what center would you llike ike to hole up in? I never leave downto to own, but I would downtown, probably go up to L Laa Encantada and hang out at AJ’s, looking loo oking at fabulous food. I might startt eating the truffles. What Tucson ba and or musician band would you wantt to write the soundtrack to tthe he end of the world as we know it? Probably Howe G elb. I feel like he’s Gelb. already touched d that before. He’s at home with chaos. chao os. If you had only one sunset left in Tucson, from where would you watch it? I would enjoy it in the backyard of my home in Barrio Viejo with my chickens. —By Linda Ray

It used to be that “thrift store” meant thrift. As in: You don’t gotta spend much. Today, it’s A hard to find a used store where you spend ha much less than you would at the damn mall. m But there are still a few actual thrift stores in Bu this town—Deseret Industries being one of th them. You’ll gape at its abundance of $1 (qualth ity) shirts, $4 to $6 (quality) pants, 50-cent belts ity … we could go on. The store is run completely by Mormons—but who cares? (Not that we have a problem with Mormons!) Anyway, the ha employees don’t give a crap what religion you em follow, if any—and the store puts profits toward fo good causes. go

B Best Place to Get Stylish Vintage Digs S That’s Not on Fourth T RAZZLE DAZZLE RA 34 E. Grant Road 3402 32 323-4544; razzledazzletucson.com

Fo Fourth Avenue is famous for its fashionable vintage-clothing stores. Similarly, parts of vi Grant Road are renowned for stores selling G vintage merchandise—that is, they sell antiques. vi Razzle Dazzle is on Grant, not Fourth—but R most of its vintage wares are wearable, from its m “Godfather” men’s hat (best worn cocked) to its “G first-date-pink sleeveless retro party dress (not fir quite like the one in Pretty in Pink—but dare we qu say cuter?). Perhaps Razzle Dazzle started out as sa a new-clothes store and absorbed the antiquemall atmosphere of its surroundings, evolving m into a vintage store. More likely, it’s purposefulin ly there for folks not as close to the city center who deserve a vintage-clothing-store option. w

Best Place to Find Used Furniture HOMESTYLE GALLERIES 1010 S. Wilmot Road 546-4310 2950 W. Ina Road, No. 150 327-5900; www.homestylegalleries.com

Looking for a bookcase for your copies of the Mayan calendar and the Book of Revelation? Need a new kitchen table to plot your escape path should zombies show up? Do you only have a few spare dollars tucked away? You want to head to one of HomeStyle Galleries’ two locations. They do consignment, see, and have all kinds of new and new-ish nice furniture— like pieces that were in model homes, or items that are too new for an antique store, but too nice for the Salvation Army. You can find your stylish new look without having to sacrifice your firstborn.

Best Place to Afford Your Rock ’n’ Roll Lifestyle DRESS CODE 2636 E. Broadway Blvd. 325-0186; www.tucsondresscode.com

Music nerds know: The best kind of a T-shirt is a band T-shirt, preferably one purchased at a show. But no one can see every band he/she loves, especially in Tucson, and sometimes, let’s face it: The concert T-shirts are ugly. Or $40. Seriously!? For a T-shirt? What’s a music fan to do? Tucson’s Dress Code has a solution to this conundrum: It’s a whole store full of affordable music-related merchandise. They’ve got T-shirts, of course, from AC/DC to Zebrahead, as well as shoes, jewelry, wallets, backpacks, hats and stickers. Now there’s no excuse for any Tucsonan not to display their love for the Goo Goo Dolls across their chest. On second thought, the Beastie Boys may be a better choice.

Best Go-Wild Bargain Shopping ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

B Best Revitalization Effort on Miracle Mile E MONTEREY COURT M 50 W. Miracle Mile 505 20 207-2429; www.montereycourtaz.com

A Miracle Mile. Once the scenic entrance Ah, into Tucson, it’s been known for the past few in decades as the seedy underbelly of Tucson. So de when we started hearing about this hip new w shopping district that featured local artisans sh and a café, we thought, well, it’s finally hapan pened: Fat ladies are flying; pigs are singing; pe and now someone wants us to willingly go to an Miracle Mile to eat and buy jewelry. But the M road to hell doesn’t actually seem quite so hellro ish now that Monterey Court is there. They’ve is painted the old motel a revitalizing blue, and pa converted all the rooms into cute shops where co you can buy everything from homemade dog yo biscuits (Blue Dog Confectionary and Gallery) bi to recycled art (AZaquaculture and Diabolis Designs). They have live music every Friday D and Saturday evenings, and we hear the sangria an at the café is amazing.

829 S. Sixth Ave. 628-7837; svdptucson.org

The first and third Saturdays of every month, St. Vincent’s offers all clothing for $1. Of course, “red tag” items are excluded, and it’s likely that half of what you desire will have a red tag. (Even still, a red-tagged suede jacket for $5? Let’s not complain, shall we?) Some of us buy things even though they aren’t our style, or won’t fit us: We shop with friends in mind. It’s super-fun to load up your arms with a pile of clothing knowing that no matter how high your stack, you’ll get out for less than $20. And then you can visit loved ones or near-strangers like a magic fairy and bestow gifts. Saintly!

Best Time of Year to Thrift Shop May and June

Every May, a local charity—often the aforementioned St. Vincent de Paul, but it varies—puts bins in the UA dorms and Greek houses. By the final days of the semester, students who can’t fit everything into their suitcases or cars are more than happy to deposit their less-favored cloth-

Best Place to Find Things You Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Know You Needed

ing into the boxes. A week or so later, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a surge of nice clothing and shoes at a local thrift store or two. Yes, this means that sometimes, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find 30 pairs of size-7 platform flipflopsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but you also can get fabulous designer dresses worn once, or never.

CASA DE LOS NIĂ&#x2018;OS THRIFT SHOP 1302 E. Prince Road 325-2573; www.casadelosninos.org/thrift-store

You never quite know what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find at Casa de los NiĂąos Thrift Shop. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good place to go with an open mind; you could find anything from a new Oriental rug to a bag full of

Best Guilt-Free Shopping for Animal-Lovers HUMANE SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA THRIFT STORE

different-shaped animal cookie-cutters. This well-organized thrift store seems to go through merchandise fairly quickly, which makes it a great place to visit frequently. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great place for staple purchases, too, with silverware and dishes, kitchen towels and plenty of furniture. Everything is reasonably priced, and all of the profits go toward helping kids over at Casa de los NiĂąos.

dress code

5311 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-0010; www.hssaz.org/ site/PageServer?pagename=thrift_store

Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love helping out homeless puppies and kitties? All proceeds from the Humane Society of Southern Arizona Thrift Store go directly toward helping homeless animals in Tucson. As if thrift-shopping wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already a good thing, at the HSSA Thrift Store, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a double-whammy: Prices are reasonable, and you can find everything from clothing and shoes to childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books to muffin tins to cutesy mugs. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is run solely on grants and donations from the community, so even if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to donate moneyy straight g to the Humane Society, y, shopp ping at the store is a great option.

Thank you loyal customers for Voting us

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30 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

of tucson速 2012

KVOA CHANNEL 4 www.kvoa.com

They’re not “on your side” or “late-breaking”; they’re just the best of the best. Tucson’s NBC affiliate outpaces the rest of the local TV-news field in the eyes of our readers, who put KVOA back up on top after giving the throne to another station the past two years. Though just as gimmicky—SKYNET is watching you!—as any other channel in terms of trying to find ways to cover Tucson, KVOA spends far less time and energy over-covering the weather, which by itself might be a reason to put it No. 1. The network got some international street cred this summer when former reporter Savannah Guthrie got the cushy job of sitting next to Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today. Runners up:

2. KOLD CHANNEL 13 www.tucsonnewsnow.com

3. KGUN CHANNEL 9 www.kgun9.com

your pickup truck out of town on the evacuation routes. Runner up:

2. KXCI FM 91.3

Best Pop Music Station KRQQ FM 93.7 krq.com

Wouldn’t you love to hear a Justin Bieber tune as the world is exploding? If you raised your hand for “yes,” then you probably already tune in to KRQQ FM 93.7. This Clear Channel property nabbed Best Pop Music Station honors, and its pulsating, often-peppy tunes aren’t the only things listeners dig. Morning DJs Johnjay and Rich kick off the weekday with their bantering. Other DJ talent on the list includes Ryan Seacrest, Boy Toy Jesse and Sisanie. While there’s no guarantee you’ll hear Bieber bleating from the speakers at the exact moment when the world ends, you can always be assured you’ll get the most-popular pop for a befitting adieu. Runners up:

2. KXCI FM 91.3

KUAZ FM 89.1/AM 1550

www.kxci.org

Given how broadcast journalism has gone the way of James L. Brooks’ brilliant movie Broadcast News, there’s no good reason to think any reporting of substance could be found on the radio. However, KUAZ (aka Arizona Public Media) delivers not only as a National Public Radio affiliate, but as a local outlet as well. Although NPR occasionally gets demeaned as a part of the “mainstream media,” it’s a quality brand that consistently delivers on many fronts. It’s on the local side, however, where talented and hardworking reporters like Andrea Kelly, Fernanda Echavarri and Mark McLemore have been doing stellar work on stories involving the border, Pima Community College and local educators. Runners up:

2. KQTH FM 104.1, AKA “THE TRUTH” www.1041thetruth.com

3. KXCI FM 91.3 www.kxci.org

3. KMIY FM 92.9, AKA “MY 92.9” www.my929.com

Best Rock Music Station KFMA FM 92.1/101.3 www.kfma.com

Time was, the only station on which to really hear rock music in Tucson was KLPX. Then came KFMA in the mid ’90s, and ever since, the stations have been trading the Best Rock Music Station designation back and forth (except for in 2002, when, for some reason, KXCI won). Here’s why KFMA rocks this year: They’ve got a kickass new morning-show DJ, Fook. Incubus headlined the 2012 KFMA Day. And right now, as this is being written, they’re playing Pearl Jam. Right now, while you’re reading this, they’re probably playing something that rocks just as hard, if not harder. Runners up:

2. KLPX FM 96.1

3. KXCI FM 91.3

KIIM FM 99.5

www.kxci.org

Country music has gone from genre to lifestyle, e, with its own clothing, vehicles, beliefs and demographics. KIIM remains Tucson’s favorite country station—not that it has had much commpetition in decades. The station plays the best new country and mixes in a well-researched collection of classic songs about hurting, healing, cheating and loving, as well as freedom, both personal and political. The morning show w with Max, Shannon and Porkchop is one of thee most popular and enduring lineups in Tucson radio. The station works hard to keep listeners actively engaged with special events, concerts, contests and call-ins. Count on KIIM also for up-to-the-minute traffic reports as you drive

Every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, Amanda Shauger is on the air at KXCI FM 91.3. She’s the host of The Music Mix, an eclectic blend of tunes—new, old, local and world. She is also the community engagement director at the station. Shauger says her job is a mixture of duties—sort of like her show, which features a mixture of music genres. She helps local groups get their messages on the air, and works with station volunteers. Shauger got her start in radio as a KXCI volunteer, back in the summer of 1998. How did she make the jump from volunteer to employee? “They couldn’t get rid of me,” Shauger says.

A meteor is going to hit the planet tomorrow. Where in Tucson would you go for your final meal? I would say Agustín Brasserie. I just tried it for the first time. I really enjoyed the meal that I had there, and the service. I had this amazing trout, an amazing margarita, delicious mousse, a great cup of coffee, and an amazing frisée salad. It was really delicious. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink? 47 Scott. (I’d have) whatever their special is. I would trust them and enjoy (it).

www.klpx.com

Best Country Music Station www.kiimfm.com

AMANDA SHAUGER

www.kxci.org

Best Radio Station for News radio.azpm.org

The hee End End-of-Days of Days Exit Interview

BROOKE LEIGH TAFFET

Best Local TV Newscast

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? To cool off when it’s that hot, (I would be) in the bathtub or under the swamp cooler, rea reading. Aliens hav have landed in your backyard and say: “Take us to your le leader.” Where in Tucson w would you send them? Al Perry, because b he is sometimes considered the mayor of Tucson. If he wasn’t avai available, then Fletcher McCusker,

the head of the Providence Service Servvice Corporation. He’s the new chairman chaiirman of the Rio Nuevo board. He’s real lly passion nreally passionate about Second Saturdays an nd investingg and downtown. The mole people are invad ding the invading surface world through a tu unn nnel el ttha hatt tunnel that opens in your backyard. W hat local What business would you turn tto o for help? The purple people—they ar re security are people for downtown Tucson. Tucso on. They are not police, but they help hellp out when there is a situation. They aare re part of the Downtown Tucson Partnership, Partneership, kind of a first line of defense down ntown. downtown. If a zombie apocalypsee were to happen in Tucson, what whaat shopping sh hopping center would you likee to hole up in? The Food Conspiracy Co-op. Co-op. For a shopping center, (it wou uld be) Monterey would Village Shopping Center Centeer (at Speedway Boulevard and Wilmot ott Road). I would go into Bookmans. … The kids’ section has a nice comfortable lee play area ((laughs), laug ughs hs), ), and maybe the foreig gn-language section foreign-language (would help) so I cou uld communicate could with the zombie overlords. overrlords. What Tucson band d or musician would you want to writee the soundtrack to the end of the wo orld as we know it? world Howe Gelb. Hasn’tt he already done it? … Certainly Tucson has has so many great bands and soundtrack artists. I think Howe Gelb has always been a keen observer of the human condition. … He would have a lot of fun with it. It would be both poignant and potentially danceable. If you had only one sunset left in Tucson, from where would you watch it? The classic: Gates Pass. I would like to watch it surrounded with loved ones. —By Irene Messina

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Best Radio Talk Show (Host)

Best Radio Personality

JON JUSTICE, KQTH FM 104.1, AKA “THE TRUTH”

www.1041thetruth.com/blogs/justiceblog

Let’s get this out of the way: Until he leaves town, Jon Justice will probably be the Best of Tucson® Best Radio Talk Show (Host). Someone else might find a way to win this poll (we doubt it), but Justice is the best at what he does. A few shows might have better guests or more ostensibly intelligent discussions, but day after day, Justice puts on a better “talk show” than anyone else in town. While his program is an echo chamber of conservative opinion where dissenting ideas go to die, he engenders a fan base stronger than any other host in town, and has managed to make one of his frequent guests, Katie Pavlich, famous in Fox News circles. When Justice moves on, this town’s radio dial will be slightly duller each morning.

A highlight from the comment section from last year’s Best of Tucson® win for Jon Justice in this category: “How it must chap your collective liberal asses that he wins again.” Not really, “Eric,” because we’ll always have one glorious episode of Jon’s show, on June 13, when Justice had to spend hours wrestling with the fact that his pal, Jesse Kelly, lost to Ron Barber. Justice is very good at what he does, yet he still can’t swing an election his way. A large segment of Tucsonans like to tune in to hear people complain about anything left of the far right, but (at least until November) our “collective liberal asses” get to know that his influence only goes so far. Runners up:

2. JOHNJAY AND RICH, KRQQ FM 93.7

Runners up:

johnjayandrich.krq.com/pages/main

2. FRANK, KLPX FM 96.1 www.klpx.com/page.php?page_id=17

3. FRANK, KLPX FM 96.1 www.klpx.com/page.php?page_id=17

3. JOHNJAY AND RICH, KRQQ FM 93.7 johnjayandrich.krq.com/pages/main

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MOLINA’S N

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Adopt through a rescue organization or visit Pima Animal Care Center at 4000 N Silverbell Rd.

32 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

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PimaAnimalCare.org tucsoncoldwetnoses.com

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Make tails wag!

JOIE HORWITZ

Come volunteer and walk dogs Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings!

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17 W. Congress best of tucsonÂŽ 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

Best Independent Bookstore

heroes and villains

ANTIGONE BOOKS 411 N. Fourth Ave. 792-3715; www.antigonebooks.com

A cross between an institution and a dinosaur— it’s one of the very few independent bookstores to have survived in Tucson—Antigone has a unique identity and devoted patrons. Anchoring a block on Fourth Avenue—where else?—it is also a fabulously forward-thinking dinosaur: It’s now a 100 percent solar-powered establishment. And Antigone still offers what has made it last for 40-ish years: books (and if they don’t have the one you want, they will order it); a unique selection of cards and gifts; book groups; readings; and the best staff, always there to direct, to recommend, to refer and to make shopping fun—even for those who hate to shop. And they now offer e-books! Antigone’s survival proves there are still some awesome dinosaurs among us. Runners up:

2. BOOKMANS ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE 1930 E. Grant Road 325-5767 3733 W. Ina Road 579-0303 6230 E. Speedway Blvd. 748-9555; www.bookmans.com

JOIE HORWITZ

3. THE BOOK STOP

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

Best Bookstore for New Books BARNES AND NOBLE 5130 E. Broadway Blvd. 512-1166 7325 N. La Cholla Blvd., No. 100 742-6402; barnesandnoble.com

If the smell of brand-new books makes your toes curl in ecstasy, then Barnes and Noble is your store. The chain has two Tucson locations, both of which offer the hottest sellers, free Wi-Fi and even a cup of joe if you’re into Starbucks. In addition to being crammed with the latest books to hit the shelves, Barnes and Noble is also crammed with events for you and your family. OK, maybe not crammed with events, but the northwest-side store regularly features children’s story time, and the eastside has group gatherings. An upcoming Sci-Fi/ Fantasy Book Group meeting may be a good one to hit, just to see whether the apocalypse is living up to some of the theories surrounding it.

Best Bookstore for Used Books BOOKMANS ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE 1930 E. Grant Road 325-5767 3733 W. Ina Road 579-0303 6230 E. Speedway Blvd. 748-9555; www.bookmans.com

If there were one place where book-lovers in Tucson would want to be if they survived the apocalypse, it would be Bookmans. The thought of looking for other survivors would easily disappear among the sea of paperbacks lining the walls, and the other books filling the shelves throughout the store. Bookmans is a safe haven for readers of any genre, from the classics to science fiction to old Westerns. You’ll also find yourself amongst an array of CDs, board games, video games and movies. If the helpful and welcoming staff did not survive, you’re still in luck; there are maps to help you navigate your way through the store.

214 N. Fourth Ave. 326-6661; www.bookstoptucson.com

Best Video Store CASA VIDEO 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. 326-6314; casavideo.com

What better way to spend the end times than in this depository of life’s stories? Casa Video has been earning its reputation, one hard-tofind film at a time. Maybe you prefer to order films online. Well, mister, you can do that at the Casa website, either for in-store pickup, or to be mailed right to you. They’ve got all your zombie faves from Dawn to Shaun to Juan of the Dead. They have more than 20 films with the word “apocalypse” in the title. Or you can brave the elements by grabbing a shotgun and coming down to the store to pick up an actual copy of Apocalypse Now to watch at home with the sofa pushed up against the door.

2. BLOCKBUSTER Various locations www.blockbuster.com

3. REDBOX Runners up:

2. ANTIGONE BOOKS

2. THE BOOK STOP

Various locations www.redbox.com

411 N. Fourth Ave. 792-3715; www.antigonebooks.com

214 N. Fourth Ave. 326-6661; www.bookstoptucson.com

Best Retail Music Store

3. BOOKMANS ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE

3. MOSTLY BOOKS

1930 E. Grant Road 325-5767 3733 W. Ina Road 579-0303 6230 E. Speedway Blvd. 748-9555; www.bookmans.com

6208 E. Speedway Blvd. 571-0110; www.mostlybooksaz.com

of tucson® 2012

Runners up:

2. METRO GNOME MUSIC 4044 E. Speedway Blvd. 320-3780; www.metrognomemusic.com

3. TOXIC RANCH RECORDS 424 E. Sixth St. 623-2008; www.toxicranchrecords.com

Best Comics/Games Shop HEROES AND VILLAINS 4533 E. Broadway Blvd. 321-4376; www.heroesandvillainsonline.com

Heroes and Villains, nestled in a Broadway Boulevard strip mall, is a clean, accessible and easy-to-peruse store. Comic-lovers will find themselves immersed in a world of Technicolor super-fights. Each shelf is labeled by genre, making it easy to find whatever you’re searching for. And even if you don’t know what you’re after, Heroes and Villains carries plenty of collected “essential” reading on all of the classics, like Batman and The X-Men. They also stock manga, science-fiction comics, horror graphic novels, clothing, games and action figures. So make your way down to Heroes and Villains; find a good post-apocalyptic graphic novel; and study up on what’s to come. Runners up:

2. FANTASY COMICS 2595 N. First Ave. 670-0100; www.fantasycomics2595.com

3. R-GALAXY 2420 N. Campbell Ave. 322-0422; r-galaxy.com

Best Video Games Store GAMESTOP

Runners up:

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records and CDs, as these formats increasingly give way to digitized files. However, Zia continues to feed the habits of those who prefer higher-quality audio and like to actually hold artifacts as they listen. (Zia also offers music downloads through the website.) If you’re looking for the latest rock, hip hop, Latino or metal releases, or jazz, classical, country and international CDs, or to exchange what you have for something new or used, Zia is the place to do it. There are also music and pop-culture gift items, and there’s a life-affirming selection of new and used DVDs.

ZIA RECORD EXCHANGE 3370 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-3340 3655 N. Oracle Road 887-6898; www.ziarecords.com

The world has already ended, sort of, for collectors of physical music media such as vinyl

Various locations www.gamestop.com

When wild dogs are roaming the Sonoran wasteland, you’ll be wishing that you had prepared yourself for the dangers looming before you. Since you still have time, you might as well train in video-game simulations such as the recent classic Fallout: New Vegas, or the justreleased Borderlands 2. GameStop stocks the best in both new and used games, while regularly offering bonuses to those willing to reserve new titles. Of course, those who miss out on the pre-order can always buy the content after the fact—a hit made easier while using cash earned from selling back unwanted games, consoles and accessories.

Best 2 1/2 Hours on KXCI FM 91.3

Runners up:

2. BOOKMANS ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE 1930 E. Grant Road 325-5767 3733 W. Ina Road 579-0303 6230 E. Speedway Blvd. 748-9555; www.bookmans.com

HEX ENDUCTION HOURS Wednesday at 2:30 a.m.

3. KATANA GAMES 5420 E. Broadway Blvd., No. 230 908-6648; www.katanagames.net

STAFF PICKS Best News Anchor Who Was Shipped Off to Buffalo LOU RAGUSE Yes, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a little biased, since Lou Raguse hosted the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spotlightâ&#x20AC;? segment featuring various members of our staff during his time at KMSB Channel 11, but we miss the tall, absurdly handsome news anchor who also happened to own a replica of the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. It probably worked out for the best for Raguse, post-KMSB layoff, since he now gets to work at the same station as his wife, Emily Guggenmos, at WIVB in Buffaloâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;she worked at KVOA Channel 4 hereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;so we suppose weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy for him and his new gig. TV news in Tucson did get slightly less attractive when he left, though.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a Tucsonan who actually enjoys listening to the radio, your favorite radio station is probably KXCIâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but even the most-devout music fan would find it challenging to like every show on 91.3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schedule. Maybe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really into Al Perryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clambake, or perhaps Search and Rescueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus on psychedelic jams from the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70s would be more to your liking. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly possible the 2 1/2 hours of punk and post-punk that Julio Pena spins starting at 2:30 a.m. (!) on Wednesday might not be your thing, but it should be. Pena is a great curator, and he spotlights music that really should be on the radio somewhere. Plus, any show named after a Fall album is worth checking out at least once. CONTINUED OON PAGE NEXT PAG

19th Annual

FALL FILM FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

ALL FESTIVAL PICKS

-1 OR 2-F E AR September 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; November 19

WORLD CLASS ART

Featuring Our Favorite Political Films

(Yes, we are playing politics at Casa Video)

326.6314 2905 E. Speedway Blvd.

RENT MOVIES ONLINE! www.casavideo.com

Come Celebrate our 24th Anniversary

The University of Arizona Museum of Art

Saturday October 6th 10:00am-3:00pm Book Signings by local mystery authors â&#x20AC;˘ 1:30-3:00

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Bring the kids on Halloween night for a costume contest!

Appo Ap poin po intm in tmen tm ents en ts A And nd S Spe peci pe cial ci al H Hou ours ou rs A Are re A Ava vail va ilab il able ab le Upo pon n Req eque uest ue st.. st 5420 E Broadway Blvd, Suite 230 Tucson, AZ 85711 At the Williams Center

UA Campus SE Corner of Park & Speedway 520-621-7567

520- 908 -6 6 4 8

Story time for the kids at 10:00 am and 11:00 am. PJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s encouraged! Buy 2 Dr. Suess books get 1 free.

www.katanagames.net

STORE HOURS:

.POEBZ 5IVSTEBZ B N Q N t 'SJEBZ 4BUVSEBZ B N Q N 4VOEBZ Q N Q N

NOW Open Tuesday - Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday & Sunday 12 - 4pm

An Independent Bookstore 6208 E Speedway

www.artmuseum.arizona.edu

571-0110 best of tucsonÂŽ 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

Best (?) Radio Station Most Likely to Be Something Else When You Wake Up the Next Morning

bookmans entertainment exchange

KWFM AM 1330 www.tucsonsjolt.com

WKRP in Cincinnati wishes it was 1330 AM. The combination liberal talk/brokered local programming AM with a struggling signal is an indication that sometimes “locally owned” doesn’t necessarily translate to “smoothly run.” Formerly KJLL, aka The Jolt, AM 1330 was never a well-oiled machine, but since the arrival of Dawn Avalon, it’s gone through an entire employee overhaul, has severed ties with numerous brokered shows, and changed its call letters, the last two of which are now “FM.” The station broadcasts lefty political talk for most of the day, but not too long ago, it resorted to live music while waiting on satellite repairs. So, who knows what the future will bring? Will 1330 change formats? Will 1330 change call letters? Will 1330 just uproot the antenna on prime land in the foothills? Stay tuned.

Best TV Station to Watch If You Don’t Want to Be Ripped Off By Cable or Satellite ME-TV JOIE HORWITZ

metvnetwork.com

As a statement against the absurdity of everexpanding television options, Bruce Springsteen penned a song in the early ’90s titled “57

Channels (and Nothin’ On).” By today’s standards, that number is lowball laughability. Today, if you feel like sidestepping the outrageous rates of cable and satellite providers, but don’t quite feel like opting for online streaming options, perhaps Me-TV is more your speed. Me-TV, located at Channel 13.2, piggybacks KOLD’s high-definition feed, but that’s where the technological advancement ends. It’s a lot like TV Land, but since you don’t have TV Land because you cut ties with cable, you still get to watch cool TV classics like I Love Lucy, M*A*S*H, Perry Mason, Hawaii Five-O, The Rockford Files and Cannon. Yes. Cannon, starring an actual fat man before fat became a nationwide epidemic. Now that’s ahead of the curve. Why watch anything else?

Best Radio Station to Crank Up and Pretend Your Car Has Hydraulics KOHT FM 98.3 hot983.com

Have you ever entered your car feeling psyched—even if you’re embarking on unpleasant errands or commuting to a crappy job? Congratulations. Turn on the tunes, and drive happy. But if—horror of horrors—you hit a traffic jam, say goodbye to your good mood. In fact, you just might wish for the end of the world—that is, unless you tune your radio to Hot 98.3 FM, which can help you through any car-conundrum death wish. Just increase the volume; turn your (imaginary?) baseball cap sideways; and embrace the lyrics of whatever

PRESENTS

26th Annual Sun Sounds

Great Tucson Beer Festival Saturday, October 6th s 6pm-10pm s Hi Corbett Field

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! $

10 discount for all active military

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Great Band this Year! Live Music All Night with 80’s and Gentlemen

tickets

Holiday Inn & Suites

Great room rate special for The Great Tucson Beer Festival at the Holiday Inn & Suites on Palo Verde. For $69 included is room, shuttle to & from the event, and complimentary breakfast. Call 746-1161 and mention the Great Tucson Beer Festival.

AZBeer.com or call 296-2400 All proceeds benefit Sun Sounds of Arizona

36 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

of tucson® 2012

gangsta track is probably playing. In your mind, you’re now a bad-ass mofo in a pimped-out Cadillac with hydraulics, launching it up and down with the music. All you need is an imagination and 98.3, homie.

Best News Show With Important Local News ARIZONA ILLUSTRATED KUAT Channel 6 at 6:30 p.m., weekdays originals.azpm.org/azill

Do you care about congressional elections, local endangered species, or the latest budget-slaughtered elementary schools—in other words, local issues that matter? Or would you rather hear about various arsons, burglaries and murders? If it’s the latter, watch the mainstream news. If it’s the former, watch Arizona Illustrated. This show not only covers important, mindengaging local subjects—with a broad view, and without spin; it also covers weird but educational and interesting stuff, like the real cause of the Civil War, the origins of flea markets, and much, much more. Explore.

Best Place to Keep Nosy People From Knowing the Movie You’re Renting REDBOX Various locations www.redbox.com

Captain America or New Year’s Eve? The Artist or Ishtar? Saw IV or Saw VI? These are tough decisions that face any red-blooded American

looking to rent a video for the evening. But should such a choice have to be made with others providing judgment from the periphery? If your answer is “Hell no!” then head to Redbox, a savior for movie renters who just want to get their schlock on, but don’t want to have to worry about getting dirty looks for taking too long to walk past the entrance to the adult section. With locations outside of seemingly every convenience store, drug store and grocery store in the Tucson area, and with the privacy provided by that nifty “sunscreen,” Redbox is the answer.

Best Way of Disguising World Domination in the Form of Friendly Technology SKYNET www.kvoa.com

Billed as cutting-edge technology meant to allow a local television station to better cover its market, KVOA Channel 4’s SKYNET camera system really is a sign of the apocalypse; anyone who’s seen the Terminator movies knows that. Just look at how the NBC affiliate describes its cadre of cameras set up around town as a “highdefinition local observation network” that can see what’s going on from “virtually any advantage point,” or how the cameras will serve as an extra eye in the sky for intrepid viewers wanting to know about that “hot spot” where a crime is (allegedly) occurring. So far, most of the footage shown on broadcasts pertains to weather, but it’s not long until the cameras become self-aware, and, well …

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UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA arboretum.arizona.edu

Enter campus from the northwest, near Park Avenue and Second Street, and you find yourself in an oasis—a palm-encircled pond hopping with slider turtles and fish, and watched over by the occasional heron. A few steps to the east, you’re in a grove of olive trees whose high branches are home to raptor nests. Cross the vast lawns in front of the Arizona State Museum, and view a peculiar crested Saguaro and examples of common desert foliage all around Old Main. There are also muskily fragrant flowering pears and carobs. Any campus ramble will reveal an embarrassment of botanical riches, many of which are labeled with their common and scientific names, but for a more-orderly viewing of campus landscaping, there is an interactive map on the UA Arboretum website.

close to a variety of areas with shops, restaurants and other businesses that offer just about anything a rider could need on a two-wheeled urban adventure.

2. MOUNT LEMMON www.fs.usda.gov/coronado

3. FANTASY ISLAND

Best Recreation Area in Southern Arizona SABINO CANYON www.fs.usda.gov/coronado; sabinocanyon.org

TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS 2150 N. Alvernon Way 326-9686; tucsonbotanical.org

Runners up:

2. TOHONO CHUL PARK 7366 N. Paseo del Norte 742-6455; www.tohonochulpark.org

3. SCOTT AVENUE

Best Public Garden

As global warming ushers in the end, the people at the Tucson Botanical Gardens are easing our decline with practical advice about pursuing our gardening pleasures while succumbing to the reality of drought. For taxonomy purposes, presumably, the entrance is through a landscape of useless, water-hogging traditions as oleanders, sour oranges and palms. But from there, the garden path leads through let’s-face-facts water-harvesting, attractive food plants and drought-resistant verdure. Frivolous, one-percenty tropical varieties are sequestered in a glass house. Bonus: Walk your dog there on Tuesdays, June through August, and they’ll give you a poop bag in the gift shop. Runners up:

2. TOHONO CHUL PARK 7366 N. Paseo del Norte 742-6455; www.tohonochulpark.org

3. REID PARK ROSE GARDEN Country Club Road, just north of 22nd Street 791-4873; cms3.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec/specialplaces.php

Best Bike-Riding RILLITO RIVER PARK TRAIL www.pima.gov/nrpr/parks/rillito_riverpark/index.htm

The Rillito River Trail is a safe and scenic way to zip through a sizable stretch of the city without confronting the traffic and exhaust common to urban bicycle-riding. The path is 12 miles of pothole-free biking enjoyment that winds through groves of mesquite trees and under overpasses—and thanks to Tucson’s dedicated cycling community, it’s now linked to a network of other trails that offer access to nearly any part of the city. The trail also veers

NELDA RUIZ

Runners up:

A perennial winner in this category, Sabino Canyon offers a taste of what our local ecosystem is all about. Tall trees, desert brush, a whole slew of birds, and varied animals can be found here. Palo verde trees, prickly pear, saguaros, cholla, hawks, road runners, spiders, snakes and maybe even a family of javelina can be seen. Hikers love Sabino, but the trolley remains a popular way to enjoy all of the beauty that the canyon has to offer. During certain months of the year, evening trolley rides are offered. If you’re lucky, there will be water in the canyon— a most-beautiful sight. Come to think of it, Sabino Canyon would be a great place to hang out during the apocalypse.

Runners up:

The End-of-Days nd of Days Exit Interview

2. MOUNT LEMMON www.fs.usda.gov/coronado

3. MADERA CANYON www.friendsofmaderacanyon.org

Best Hike SABINO CANYON (GENERAL) www.fs.usda.gov/coronado; sabinocanyon.org

Sabino Canyon is not only a favorite of longtime Tucson hikers; it’s a great “gateway drug” for those just discovering the addictively healthy pleasure of Tucson hiking. A visitors’ center provides some excellent resources to start with. There is an entrance fee, but there’s ample parking and restrooms available. Sabino Canyon can be hiked, biked or jogged—or even explored on a guided tram tour. The main road is paved, making the hike suitable for children and easy on bikes. There are also consistently impressive views of desert scenery and wildlife. Hey, if you get addicted to Tucson hiking, beyond the main road, many other trailheads start at Sabino, including one to Bear Canyon. Runners up:

2. SEVEN FALLS arizona.sierraclub.org/trail_guide/hike8.htm

3. FINGER ROCK arizona.sierraclub.org/trail_guide/hike26.htm

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

MARI HERRERAS

Best Urban Landscaping

Tierra y Libertad community organizer Nelda Ruiz said the organization was created to respond to “the attack on our community resulting in social injustice, oppression and poverty.” Creating sustainable communities is part of their solution, and their work outdoors in Barrio Chicano (Wakefield) happens to be a big part of that solution. The organization is using permaculture principles and teaching people how to grow their own food to address the lack of accessibility to healthy food in the southside communities. “Our collective efforts help build skills to create a network of community-based resources that support neighborhood transformation. Only the ’hood can save the ’hood,” she said. Sounds like the perfect group to have around during an apocalypse. For more information on Tierra y Libertad, visit them on Facebook, and check out the gardens they are developing at St. John’s Church at Ajo Way and 12th Avenue.

A meteor is going to hit the planet tomorrow. Where in Tucson would you go for your final meal? I’d go to Juice ’N Fruit (3502 S. Sixth Ave., No. 100). I’d be so fortunate. I’d get a double-whammy of indulgence by enjoying two things: a torta and a juice—a bomb torta on pan birote, just like my nana makes them, with a jalapeño on the side … and a very refreshing and natural juice, made right there on the spot. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink? I wouldn’t. I’d continue to grow maguey to make mezcal to create medicines. Death to the robots.

Aliens have landed in your to backyard and say: “Take us to Tucso on your leader.” Where in Tucson would you send them? eirs. I’d smirk and tell them to takee me to the theirs. invad ding the sursurrThe mole people are invading tunn nel that opens opeens face world through a tunnel lo ocal business bus b usin ines esss in your backyard. What local hellp? would you turn to for help? th he Day Labor he I would collaborate with the yterian Church h, Center at Southside Presby Presbyterian Church, tradees. so we can have an array off skills and trades. If a zombie apocalypse were to happen in Tucson, whatt shopping to hole up in? center would you like to nter (at 3300 S. Southgate Shopping Cen Center Sixth Ave.) for food at El El Super, and we weap ap-weapearby. You’ve got ons at the pawn shop ne nearby. oof; we’ve got our restaurants and a big ro roof; centro down the street,, and Wakefield likke ke the centro of our down the street. It’s like Tucson n. city—southside Tucson. or musician would What Tucson band or you want to write the the soundtra rack ck to to soundtrack rld as we know it? the end of the wor world Top Nax from SJEP (the Social Justice Education Project), with a little mix of Vox Urbana. one sunset If you had only one fro om where left in Tucson, from would you watch h it? eauty of Tonatiuh (the I’d go witness the b beauty Aztec god of sun) at San Xavier in the Tohono O’odham Nation. B Mari M i Herreras H —By

Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? Tierra y Libertad’s community garden at Casa San Juan, on 12th Avenue and Ajo Way. I’d post up right by the rain jars. Hopefully Tlaloc (the Aztec god of rain) continues to visit us.

best of tucson son® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 27 2012 TuCsON WEEKL WEEKLY

Best Backpacking Trail

around the park is popular (that is, when it’s less than triple-digits outside).

SABINO CANYON (GENERAL)

Runners up:

www.fs.usda.gov/coronado; sabinocanyon.org

2. ROY P. DRACHMAN AGUA CALIENTE REGIONAL PARK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

You may have seen it on the faces of your children, co-workers and clients. Perhaps you have seen it reflected in the rearview mirror of your car during rush hour: It’s zombie-face, and it’s highly contagious. The trancelike state is caused by technology overstimulation and fluorescent lights. There is only one cure … NATURE! A hearty trek up well-marked trails, with water and a backpack filled with provisions, is just what the doctor ordered. Reflect on your life, and think about the end of the world while practicing living off the grid for just a few hours. It’s great survival-training. So turn off the TV, and get to Sabino Canyon. Runners up:

2. MOUNT LEMMON (GENERAL) www.fs.usda.gov/coronado

3. ARIZONA TRAIL www.aztrail.org

Best Campground MOUNT LEMMON (GENERAL)

big 5 sporting goods

JOIE HORWITZ

www.fs.usda.gov/coronado

When the hustle and bustle of city life gets to be too much, Mount Lemmon offers an escape, year-round, that’s easily accessible. Mount Lemmon offers a dazzling desert landscape at the base of the mountain that transitions into green forest at the top. You can sleep under the stars comfortably at almost any time of the year. Campsites are maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and typically have picnic tables, a metal grill and space to pitch a tent and roast marshmallows by the fire. There are also various hiking trails, and you can visit the University of Arizona’s SkyCenter to get a close-up look at some astronomical wonders. Runners up:

2. CATALINA STATE PARK azstateparks.com/Parks/CATA/index.html

3. ROSE CANYON www.fs.usda.gov/coronado; www.azgfd.gov/h_f/waters_rose_canyon_lake.shtml

Best Park GENE C. REID PARK 22nd Street and Country Club Road cms3.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec

Little did Gene C. Reid know that one day, his name would be synonymous with jumping castles, dog parks and more than 100 different rose varieties. Reid Park is home to not only the Reid Park Zoo and the Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center; it boasts a magnificent outdoor stage, the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, which seats some 7,000 people if POTUS should happen to drop by for a visit. Then there’s Hi Corbett Field, formerly the home of Tuffy the Toro, everyone’s favorite horny mascot, and now the home of the national-champion UA Wildcats baseball team. The walking/biking/large-family-loitering trail 40 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

of tucson® 2012

www.pima.gov/nrpr/parks/agua_caliente/index.htm

3. HIMMEL PARK 1000 N. Tucson Blvd. cms3.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec

Best Outdoor Recreation Store SUMMIT HUT 605 E. Wetmore Road 888-1000 5045 E. Speedway Blvd. 325-1554; www.summithut.com

Whether you’re stocking your cache of freezedried foods, looking for a high-power sevenday LED flashlight, or searching for one last favorite bush hat, Summit Hut is your best apocalypse-prep bet. The stores stock everything you need to survive any trek in comfort: hardy hiking boots; topo maps; comfortable yet rugged men’s and women’s clothing; down sleeping bags; tents; kitchen gear; and more. This being the desert, there are lots of products focused on water, both carrying it and purifying it. There’s even super-lightweight luggage to maximize carrying capacity. When you’re scampering up a rock face 50 feet above the ground, you absolutely want the very best climbing equipment that you can find. You can find it all at Summit Hut. Runners up:

2. REI 160 W. Wetmore Road 887-1938; www.rei.com

3. SPORTSMAN’S WAREHOUSE 3945 W. Costco Drive 877-4500; www.sportsmanswarehouse.com

JOIE HORWITZ

garden of gethsemane

Best Bike Shop ORDINARY BIKE SHOP 311 E. Seventh St. 622-6488; www.ordinarybikeshop.com

When it comes to Tucson’s bicycling community, the apocalypse has already happened: With numerous potholes, seemingly endless construction and often-insufficient bike lanes, riding through Tucson often feels like riding through a battle zone. Thankfully, we have Ordinary Bike Shop, conveniently located just off of Fourth Avenue. If you take a tumble and bend your wheel while trying to maneuver around the streetcar tracks, brush yourself off, and wheel it right inside. The battle-scarred road warriors in the repair shop will have it fixed for you right

quick. If you want to accessorize your trusty two-wheeled steed for a game of bike polo, look no further than the front of the shop for all your needs. It’s best to get acquainted with a bike before peak oil hits, anyway. Runners up:

2. BICAS 44 W. Sixth St. 628-7950; bicas.org

3. FAIR WHEEL BIKES 1110 E. Sixth St. 623-3761; fairwheelbikes.com

Best Sporting Goods BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS

average store size of 11,000 square feet, Big 5 has something for any kind of sports enthusiast.

Various locations www.big5sportinggoods.com

Runners up:

If you want to be ready for the impending apocalypse, Big 5 Sporting Goods offers a lot of great survival gear: portable barbecues and stoves, air coolers, lanterns, flashlights, hydration packs and more. Even if the world doesn’t end, these goodies can all be used for a great camping trip. But let’s not forget all of the other sports gear that is well-represented at Big 5: Items for baseball, basketball and boating, all the way to tennis and volleyball. Apparel and footwear are sold along with equipment. At an

2. SUMMIT HUT 605 E. Wetmore Road 888-1000 5045 E. Speedway Blvd. 325-1554; www.summithut.com

3. REI 160 W. Wetmore Road 887-1938; www.rei.com

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

the cliffs. In any case, at Gates Pass, seeing “the other side of the mountain” is worth it.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

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Best Easy Desert Hike That Didn’t Get Eaten Away by Developers

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13880 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd. www.pima.gov/nrpr/parks/honeybee/index.htm

Are you the type of person who likes to put on running shorts and jog around your neighborhood? Or would you rather don hiking boots and a backpack, and trek up a mountain? Tumamoc Hill is a place for both types, offering Sonoran Desert surroundings and a paved road to run or walk along. When you get to the top, well, we hope you brought your camera. You can see almost the whole city. It’s (almost) smack in the middle of Tucson, “attached” to the back of A Mountain, so you probably won’t have to drive far, wherever you live. Note: The path is off-limits between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays—because Tumamoc Hill is a research laboratory for UA environmental scientists and home to some of the oldest preHohokam sites in the state. But during other times of day, the saguaros and desert critters in an urban setting make it the perfect place to get in touch with nature and yourself. Who needs a therapist? Hire Tumamoc. It’s free.

Oh, Oro Valley, land of the suburban strip mall and luxury developments—thank goodness you can’t blade it all away, because then we wouldn’t have Honey Bee Canyon and the beautiful ancient petroglyphs that still stand along the Honey Bee Wash. You can see the petroglyphs and enjoy this easy desert hike despite the occasional housing-development views. It’s about a one-mile hike that takes you into a wash. Expect lots of sand, but the experience is a bit otherworldly and perfect for the kids. (You can also bring your dogs.) The petroglyph that stands out most is of an owl. It’s beautiful. There are also ruins from an old ranch dam, some carvings that you need to search for, and lots of desert wildlife. Bring water, and say a little prayer of thanks that the powers-that-be allowed for open space and not another Walgreens.

Best Desert Road Segment to Feel Terror and Joy Simultaneously

SANTA CRUZ BIKE PATH www.pima.gov/theloop

GATES PASS www.pima.gov/nrpr/parks/tmp/index.htm

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Have you ever felt absolute fear for your life and total exhilaration at the same time? Maybe you have. But if you haven’t done it at the top of a pass between two enormous mountains, you’d better get to Gates Pass. When you go, don’t be the driver, so you can concentrate on the beautiful view as you reach the pass: a vast valley bordered by towering mountains, jutting cliffs and saguaro forests. While you’re looking, you’ll likely also be visualizing careening over

Why not spend Independence Day celebrating your independence from the oil-company stranglehold by riding your bike to the “A” Mountain fireworks? You can pass under Interstate 10 on 18th Street, and get up close and personal to the ooohs and aaahs while avoiding the fossil-burning gridlock. Ride right down to the bike path on the east side of the river, where the rockets’ red glare is almost straight above you in a neck-cricking patriotic display of America’s finest Chinese fireworks. Then enjoy the silence afterward, interrupted only by burbling of the Santa Cruz and the love songs of toads.

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Best Place to Hide Easter Eggs

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COMMUNITY GARDENS OF TUCSON

www.aztrail.org/passages/pass_08.html

Various locations 795-8823; www.communitygardensoftucson.org

My beloved children, I have left these directions so that you might survive: Fill the bed of the truck with backpacks and water, and head out on Old Spanish Trail seven miles until you turn left onto the washboarded X-9 Ranch Road. Go two miles until you spot the Arizona Trail crossing. The hike is another two miles, mostly level, with no shade to speak of until you reach the mesquite bosque just before the creek. That is where you will find the survival cacheâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;each in the ovoid form of a multi-hued bird offering. They contain a protein nutrient that should provide you with enough energy to continue into the mountains.

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What does it take to make desert soil spring forth with flowers and food? To get started, it takes plenty of compost and water, but then you need someone who knows how to make those plants flourish under the relentless rays of the Tucson sun. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where Community Gardens of Tucson comes in. The nonprofit group installs custom gardens in communities around the city and provides residents with tools, seeds and guidance from master gardeners. The group has redoubled its efforts in recent years, installing numerous gardens that quickly became places for growing food while sharing seeds, ideas and information about the community as a whole. Growing gardens while growing community: Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Community Gardens of Tucson is all about.

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The Garden of Gethsemane is home to the art of Felix Lucero, a soldier in World War I who was dying on the battlefield when he promised to spend his life creating religious sculptures if the Virgin Mary saved him. Lucero survived and ended up living in a shack under an underpass, where he started creating sculptures depicting the Crucifixion and the Last Supper from items he found in the Santa Cruz River. The sculptures have taken a beating, yet remain intact thanks to volunteers whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve fixed the damage from weather and vandalism over the years. The garden is usually locked up, but the gates sometimes swing open on weekends so passers-by can get a glimpse of this unique snippet of Tucsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artistic past.

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Best Playground BRANDI FENTON MEMORIAL PARK

kid’s center

3482 E. River Road www.pima.gov/nrpr/parks/brandi_fenton/index.htm

What good is a playground if it ain’t cool? A day spent at this park is like giving your child a chill pill. Six months of the year, there’s the Splash Pad, where your wee ones can run through various sprays and enjoy geysers of the desert’s rarest resource—water. There are tables under a nearby ramada where parents can sit and monitor their wee ones. Covered basketball courts and other play structures also have it made in the shade. Or you can spend some quiet time horse-whispering at the nearby equestrian area. All of this is absolutely bikeable via the Rillito River path, part of “The Loop” which means you CAN get there from your particular “here.” Runners up:

2. GENE C. REID PARK 22nd Street and Country Club Road cms3.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec

3. HIMMEL PARK 1000 N. Tucson Blvd. cms3.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec

Best Toy Store 2930 E. Broadway Blvd. 320-5669; yikestoys.com

Look around the room. Do you see anything amazing or hilarious? If not, then you are having a toy-store emergency, and Yikes is the cure. That’s right: Yikes is the place with the tiny plastic creatures sure to make anyone squeal with delight. You can buy beautiful books, wacky windup gadgets, puppets and extra-special wrapping paper for the coolest birthday present ever. The selection is vintage and modern, sci-fi and comedy, artsy and classy. Remember when you were a kid? No? Then walk, skip, bike, roller skate or hop into a clown car, and get to Yikes to turn that frown upside down. Runners up:

2. TOYS “R” US 5355 E. Broadway Blvd. 748-8697 4525 N. Oracle Road 293-8905 4500 N. Oracle Road 293-3254; toysrus.com

JOIE HORWITZ

YIKES TOYS

the store make for a less-stressful experience with your checking account. Also, Lil’ Traders makes the experience of trying to get trade for clothes less awkward and uncomfortable than it can be elsewhere, by offering fair prices for your goods—and still treating you like a human being when they reject something. Runners up:

2. GYMBOREE 4500 N. Oracle Road 293-2119 2905 E. Skyline Drive 615-1183 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd. 219-6063; www.gymboree.com

3. KOHL’S

2905 E. Skyline Drive, No. 186 615-6266; mildredanddildred.com

5850 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive 572-6890 7785 N. Oracle Road 297-7130 199 N. Pantano Road 886-0848; www.kohls.com

Best Clothing Store

Best Birthday Party Place

LIL’ TRADERS

PETER PIPER PIZZA

6216 E. Speedway Blvd. 881-8438; www.liltraders.com

Various locations www.peterpiperpizza.com

There are plenty of places to buy clothes for your kids, but Lil’ Traders is probably Tucson’s most-pleasant place to do so, partially because the choices available are high-quality and fashionable (as much as anyone can be concerned about a 3-year-old’s fashion sense), but also because the gently used options carried by

You really haven’t lived unless you have fond memories of either going to someone’s party, or having your own party at Peter Piper Pizza. With pizza and soda; a big cup full of tokens; fun games; and cool prizes, you have the recipe for an afternoon of entertainment for a band of 20 to 30 kids hopped up on sugar. At one Peter Piper location, there’s even a small rollercoaster.

3. MILDRED AND DILDRED

Talk about the best place ever to celebrate your birthday, right? At the end of the day, your kid will have happily won enough tickets to fill their pockets with prizes you could’ve bought for much less at the dollar store.

3. CHUCK E. CHEESE’S

Runners up:

REID PARK ZOO

2. PUMP IT UP

1100 S. Randolph Way 791-4022; www.tucsonzoo.org

3248 N. Freeway Industrial Loop, No. 108 888-9198; www.pumpitupparty.com

3. CHUCK E. CHEESE’S 6130 E. Speedway Blvd. 745-8800; www.chuckecheese.com

Best Catered-to-Kids Restaurant PETER PIPER PIZZA Various locations www.peterpiperpizza.com

If the end of the world were indeed on its way, one of the coolest places to experience it would be Peter Piper Pizza. The entertaining eatery keeps the toddlers, tots and even pre-teens and teens occupied with its colorful array of games, goodies, prizes, pizza and Wi-Fi. The kids will be having such a bounty of boisterous fun that they won’t have time to ask all those annoying questions that normally accompany an apocalypse. Parents will get a last-minute reprieve as well, as the Tucson-area locations serve alcohol. Beer and pizza for a last meal, anyone? Runners up:

2. CREATE CAFÉ

6130 E. Speedway Blvd. 745-8800; www.chuckecheese.com

Best Fun for the Whole Family

Fun fact: Giraffes are the tallest land animals thanks to those lengthy necks, yet they only have seven neck bones, just like us! They also have black tongues, a color which scientists believe prevents sunburn. You learn these sorts of things when you hang out at the Reid Park Zoo, although it’s usually so much fun that you don’t realize you’re getting smarter just being there. The recently added Expedition Tanzania added another seven acres to the zoo, making room for a herd of elephants that roam, trumpet and wallow in a mud pit made just for them. Animals from around the globe, educational activities, an interactive “wet-play” area and much more make this place a blast for the whole family. Runners up:

2. GOLF N STUFF 6503 E. Tanque Verde Road 296-2366; golfnstuff.com

3. ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM 2021 N. Kinney Road 883-2702; www.desertmuseum.org

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

4660 E. Camp Lowell Drive 298-3421; www.createcafe.com

best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

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STAFF PICKS Best Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Concert You Probably Missed SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO AT THE FOX TUCSON THEATRE secretagent23skidoo.com

The Arizona Centennial Celebration downtown was a strange weekend-long event, throwing a Ferris wheel in along with a panel discussion of civil rights in Arizona, food trucks and a lot of music. Also, one of the biggest stars in kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; music (yes, there are stars beyond The Wiggles; the genre has come a long way in recent years) somehow played a free show as part of the festivities at the Fox Tucson Theatre, to a two-thirds-empty house on Feb. 12. The North Carolina hip-hop artist brought his family along, with his wife singing hooks, and his daughter roller-skating around. When the audi-

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ence was invited to the stage for the last song, it became clear: It was a shame more parents didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear about this great show in advance.

Best kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; store We Should Appreciate a Bit More KIDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CENTER 1725 N. Swan Road 322-5437; www.e-kidscenter.com

Mention â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mrs. Tiggy Winklesâ&#x20AC;? to many parents around town, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hear a great deal of chagrin and sentimentality for the toy store which closed in June 2011. That chagrin and sentimentality is for good reason: Mrs. Tiggy Winkles had nearly everything you could possibly want, making it nearly impossible to take a kid into the store without leaving with something. Kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center, which has been located on Swan Road for seemingly ages, is somewhat less magical, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a great place to get something childCONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

The End-of-Days of Days Exit Interview

MATT COTTEN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 46 pleasing that’s slightly more educational than the stuff the big boxes offer. You probably have missed this storefront a few times while driving by, but great contents are inside.

Best Place to Relive Your Youth for an Hour SKATE COUNTRY

JADE BEALL

7980 E. 22nd St. 298-4409; skatecountry.com

Matt Cotten is the director of Puppets Amongus, a troupe that delivers both ancient fables and modern tales with a cosmopolitan flair by bringing unique hand-made characters to life. Their original tales can be as clever as Aesop’s; they’re also as meaningful for adults as for children. The troupe’s most-recent original work, El Sueño de Frida, explores the subconscious of Frida Kahlo. This month, the production was slated to be performed in Tucson’s sister city, Almaty, Kazakhstan, for an international puppetry festival. Back home, a new warehouse space near St. Mary’s Road and Interstate 10 is being outfitted as a venue for large-scale puppet-theater productions. “We have a full season of puppet-theater shows from November through May,” he says. Look for the complete schedule at puppetsamongus.com.

A meteor is going to hit the planet tomorrow. Where in Tucson would you go for your final meal? The Little Poca Cosa, because it’s the best food in the world, and I expect they’d have the music turned up all the way to drown out either the screaming or the silence. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink? I don’t normally drink, but I think if the overlords were telling us not to drink, I’d want to. I’d fight the angry mob down at The District Tavern and order a Guinness and a whiskey from my favorite bartender, Jess Daniels. Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? The produce section of the 17th Street Market. The coldest place in Tucson. They used to have hoodies you could wear.

Aliens have landed in your backyard and say: “Take us Tu ucson to your leader.” Where in Tucson would you send them? (Sc Schaper) c I would send them to Ned (Schaper) he aliens at the Mat Bevel Institute. If tthe con ncerned had long tentacles, I’d be concerned for their safety.

Perhaps it’s hard to believe, but there were once multiple roller-skating venues in Tucson: Rollers on Alvernon Way, a place on 22nd Street which currently houses a medical-supply company, and two Skate Country locations. The regrettable era of the rollerblade stole all the fun from skating, but somehow, the 22nd Street location of Skate County soldiers on, playing quite a bit of the same music you remember from the glory days. Birthday parties there run around $100 for 10 kids, but the highlight for adults is the opportunity to go a few laps for nostalgia’s sake. Ask the DJ nicely, and maybe he’ll even play “Meeting in the Ladies Room” for you.

apocalypsse were If a zombie apocalypse what shopping to happen in Tucson, what hole l up in? center would you likee to hole centerrs, because the I avoid shopping centers, invaded them all— zombies have already invaded except El Con. El Con n is full of ghosts, butt ot the undead. I’d they’re the reall dead, n not real ghosts. rather hang with the real wou uld d What Tucson band or musician would th soundtrack to you want to write the worrld as we know it? the end of the world liche Con Carne, James Jordan of Cal Caliche because he’s a fantastic fantaastic narrative songwriter. But I think it should be sung by Trio. Their sound is just the Silver Thread Trio. heavenly.

SONORAN GLASS SCHOOL 633 W. 18th St. 884-7814; www.sonoranglass.org

The Sonoran Glass School offers all sorts of glass-making classes for all ages, but if you have a budding Dale Chihuly on your hands with an equally precocious best friend, make an appointment to Blow Your Own. The kids are assisted with every step and have a few shapes from which to choose, like a chili pepper or an ornament. Prices range from $45 to $80, and you can pick up your piece a couple of days later. The assistants there work well with kids, and it’s fun to give the kiddos an experience that combines art and science. The guys working at the school seem well-versed on answering all questions that begin with why and what, without sighing or saying, “I don’t know.” It’s art, science and fun with the BFF.

Best Space to Reconnect With Your Kid and Listen Over a Milkshake OMAR’S HI-WAY CHEF RESTAURANT

Best Place to Teach Your Kids the Art of Doing Nothing CIENEGA CREEK NATURAL PRESERVE

invaading the The mole people are invading surface world through a tunnel that opens in your backyard.. What local n to for help? business would you turn Wig-O O-Rama. I thinkk I’ll have to go with Wig-O-Rama. d fantastic hair, if the mole people all had mpy. they wouldn’t be so grum grumpy.

Best Place to Take Your Kid and Their BFF to Make Art

www.pima.gov/nrpr/trails/davidson/index.htm

The best access to the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve is now called the Gabe Zimmerman Davidson Canyon Trailhead. It’s just off Marsh Station Road. (Take Interstate 10, Exit 281.) You’re going to need a permit, but they’re free. (Call 877-6158.) Seems like a lot of work to teach your kid the art of doing nothing—but just get in the car. The perennial creek lined with mature cottonwoods and willows attracts lots of desert wildlife. The rocks along the creek are excellent habitat for frogs and lizards. An afternoon along the creek just watching, talking and listening: It’s an art form we need to practice more often. You’ll argue that that’s not nothing, but compared to what we do at home, it’s nothing—and it’s amazing. A suggestion: If you bring the kids, put some little dollar-store fish nets and empty jars in the back for examining creek life.

Triple-T Truck Stop 5451 E. Benson Highway 574-0961; omarshiwaychef.com

We all have bad days, but for some kiddos, a bad day can seem like the end of the world, and that’s when it’s time to make them feel special while having that kid-parent discussion that you hope explains one truth—that life never stays the same. One of the best places to have that discussion is off Interstate 10 at the Triple-T Truck Stop. Omar’s Hi-Way Chef Restaurant is a decent truck-stop restaurant and a Tucson treasure that’s a fun pit stop anytime you want to fool yourself into feeling that road-trip spirit. Their milkshakes and other desserts are delish, offering perfect treats for the get-away from school troubles and down days. Think of them as a conversation facilitator between you and the person you love more than anyone else in the world.

one sunset sunsett If you had only one left in Tucson, from where would you watch it? My mom’s front porch on Copper Street. It’s kind of quiet there. —By Linda Ray

best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

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Best Mexican

Best Salsa

CAFÉ POCA COSA

GUADALAJARA GRILL

110 E. Pennington St. 622-6400; cafepocacosatucson.com

1220 E. Prince Road 323-1022 750 N. Kolb Road 296-1122; www.ggrill.com

Unique, artistic and bold, Café Poca Cosa has consistently caught the attention of local and visiting foodies, and has helped put Tucson on the map for Mexican food. A far cry from the bland Tex-Mex that can be found across the Southwest, the food at Café Poca Cosa is fine Mexican with a modern twist, served in vibrant digs located in the heart of downtown Tucson. With a constantly changing menu written on tableside chalkboards, diners never know exactly what they will get—other than fresh, tastebud-tingling dishes and excellent service. With the end times fast approaching, we can think of no finer last meal than a plato Poca Cosa, a sampler of three chef ’s-pick dishes.

A necessary staple of any Tucsonan’s Apocalypse Preparedness Pack, salsa is relatively simple to make—it’s basically tomatoes, peppers, onion and a bit of love. But no matter how much time you spend perfecting your recipe while hiding from roaming hordes of bandits, you’d be hard-pressed to match the magic of Guadalajara Grill, the now-perennial Best of Tucson® winner. Guadalajara’s salsa is made beside your table to your specifications. The ingredients are of your choosing, as is the preferred level of heat. Dear reader, the proof is in the pudding—or, in this case, the molcajete.

Runners up:

2. GUADALAJARA GRILL

2. ROSA’S MEXICAN FOOD

1220 E. Prince Road 323-1022 750 N. Kolb Road 296-1122; www.ggrill.com

1750 E. Fort Lowell Road 325-0362; rosasmexicanfoodaz.com

3. EL CHARRO CAFÉ Various locations www.elcharrocafe.com

4. MI NIDITO 1813 S. Fourth Ave. 622-5081; www.minidito.net

5. CASA MOLINA 6225 E. Speedway Blvd. 886-5468; casamolina.com 4240 E. Grant Road 829-9993; www.mycasamolina.net 3001 N. Campbell Ave. 762-7676; www.mycasamolina.net

Candidate for Moron of the Year: “There is no good Mexican in Tucson.”

Best Mexican FastFood/Drive-Thru NICO’S MEXICAN FOOD Various locations

The beauty of drive-thru Mexican food is that it’s supposed to be greasy, salty and just tasty enough to make it into your stomach without causing a ruckus. It’s supposed to be served in crazy-big portions at all hours of the day and night, and shoveled into your maw with a plastic fork or spoon. Nico’s knows all that, which is why it’s long been Tucson’s favorite place to fill up on burritos, tacos and other dishes designed for the diner on the go. Whether you need a breakfast burrito in the morning or some carne asada on the way home from a happy-hour-turned-allnighter, Nico’s will get you fed and on your way in no time—and it won’t cost you a fortune, either.

Unwrap Happiness

Voted Tucson’s Best Tamales by Tucson Weekly readers 2009, 2010 & 2011!

It’s Patio Weather! Come join us. Now Serving Beer and Wine

3. EL CHARRO CAFÉ Various locations www.elcharrocafe.com

Best Tortillas

2545 E. Broadway Blvd. Available at Fine Grocers in Tucson & Phoenix

ANITA STREET MARKET

Shipping & Catering Available www.tucsontamale.com

849 N. Anita Ave. 882-5280

Mayan legend has it that tortillas were invented by an ancient peasant to please his king. Like the Mayan calendar, the tortillas at Anita Street Market are time-sensitive; in fact, they are best eaten warm, right out of the bag. The simple recipe is clearly labeled, but the secret ingredient is love—warm, soft blankety love, with the strength to hold whatever you can pile into the tortillas. Beyond the tortillas, Anita Street offers breakfast and lunch (including the best chimichanga ever), and various pastries including empanadas in flavors like banana cream, mango, apricot and many others. Take something home, or sit outside on the patio. These flour tortillas, gorditas and corn tortillas are for real.

305-4760

Runners up:

2. ST. MARY’S MEXICAN FOOD 1030 W. St. Mary’s Road 884-1629

3. TERESA’S MOSAIC CAFÉ 2455 N. Silverbell Road 624-4512; www.mosaiccafes.com

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Runners up:

2. LOS BETOS MEXICAN FOOD Various locations

3. THE TACO SHOP CO. Various locations

More candidates for Moron of the Year: Taco Bell, 24 votes

best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

The End-of-Days nd of Days Exit Interview

DIANA TERAN

A meteor is going to hit the planet tomorrow. Where in Tucson would you go for your final meal? Sher-E-Punjab. It’s a mom-and-pop Indian restaurant. It feels so homey, and you can tell the food doesn’t come out of a can. Plus, you just walk in, and it transports you. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in Tucson. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink? I don’t drink alcohol, so I can’t think of an alcoholic drink. My final drink would probably be water. With the robots coming, I’d want to have a drink of water, at peace in my home. I know it’s boring. I used to drink caffeine, but gave it up. I’m just a water-drinking person.

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EL GUERO CANELO

Various locations

Living in a city so close to the Mexico border has its perks—including the endless availability of burritos. Among the varied Mexican-food jjoints around the city, Nico’s takes the cake, or, rather, the burrito, in serving deliciousness wrapped in a flour tortilla. Whether you’re into wr bean-and-cheese or something more a plain p adventurous, Nico’s offers something for everyadv one. Nico’s has various locations across town, on and most are open all night; most locations have a drive-thru. So take a trip to Nico’s to get hav your quick fix of scrumptious burritos. you Runners up: Run

2. CCHIPOTLE Var Various locations www www.chipotle.com

3. EEL GUERO CANELO

Aliens have landed in your backyard and say: “Take uss to your leader.” Where in T ucson Tucson would you send them? I would direct them to City H all and le et Hall let Mr. Rothschild deal with them. theem. He’s thee mayor; he’s got to take care of of us. It’s his hiis is job, right?

520 S. 12th Ave. 5201 295 295-9005 248 2480 N. Oracle Road 882 2-8977 882-8977 580 02 E. 22nd St. 5802 790 0-6000; elguerocanelo.com 790-6000;

The mole people are inv vadi ding the invading surface world through a tunnel thatt opens in your backyard d. What local backyard. business would you tur rn to for help? ? turn Casa Concrete, so they can caan pour concrete concrette over my entire yard. That Thaat way, (the molee people) have no access tto o my property. I would also redirect them m with a map to end up at City Hall, and d let Mr. Rothschi ild Rothschild deal with them.

5201 S. 12th Ave. 295-9005 2480 N. Oracle Road 882-8977 5802 E. 22nd St. 790-6000; elguerocanelo.com

Whoever came up with that “less is more” thing has obviously never had a Sonoran-style hot dog, particularly the bountiful beauties blessing our burg courtesy of El Guero Canelo. These dressed-up doggies include bacon, grilled onions, beans, mayo, mustard, tomatoes and jalepeño sauce resting in the softest, sweetest bun ever—and you won’t even be tempted to apply the “less is more” thesis here. You probably shouldn’t give yourself the opportunity to be tested thusly on a daily basis. However, we’ve heard that living in the heat-saturated valley of Tucson—something in the water, perhaps— actually helps counter the calories and cholesterol of these babies. (OK, just kidding.) Runners up:

2. BK CARNE ASADA AND HOT DOGS 2680 N. First Ave. 207-2245 5118 S. 12th Ave. 295-0105; www.bktacos.com

3. AQUI CON EL NENE Food truck at corner of Wetmore and Flowing Wells roads

R.I.P.: J Bar, nine votes

el guero canelo

If a zombie apocalyp pse were apocalypse to happen in Tucson n, what shopping Tucson, center would you lik ke to hole up in? like El Con Mall. It’s not very very crowded. First, I’d have the whole place pla laace to myself. I like itt there, and there’s food, foo od, so I’d be able to eat. eat att. What Tucson band do orr mu musi sician i would musician you want to writee the soundtrack to the end of the wo orld as we know it? world I would chose Loss Changuitos Feos (de Tucson). They aree a youth mariachi group.. I really like the ki ids and how they are kids working. There’s a lot of creativity and talent there. If you had only one sunset left in Tucson, from where would you watch it? From the roof of my house with my family. —By Mari Herreras

JOIE HORWITZ

Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? I would definitely take a short drive to Madera Canyon and enjoy the muchcooler weather. It’s so close, and not many people know about it. Also, the change in temperature is so amazing. I love to go up there when it starts to get hot.

Best Sonoran Hot Dogs

Best Burrito NICO’S MEXICAN FOOD

MARI HERRERAS

Diana Teran, co-owner of La Tauna Tortillas, said she and her husband, Francisco Moreno, work various hours in their home to make their vegan tortillas. They started selling them at the Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market, and now sell them at the Food Conspiracy Co-op and Sprouts. The La Tauna best-seller is the olive-oil tortilla, but the slightly spicy chiltepin version comes in a close second. In Tucson, the concept of vegan tortillas usually means no lard—and, therefore, no taste. “We started off wanting these to be healthy, but they had to taste good,” Teran said. For more on La Tauna, go tolataunatortillas.com.

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Best Fish Tacos RUBIO’S Various locations www.rubios.com

Rubio’s signature recipe of beer-battered Alaskan pollock, cabbage and sauce, all wrapped in a warm tortilla, comes out on top for the fourth year in a row. The recipe was crafted by Ralph Rubio, according to legend, after he sampled a fish taco in San Felipe, Mexico. He returned to San Diego to introduce his own version, and Rubio’s was born. Besides the original fish taco, Rubio’s offers the fish taco especial, a sesame-soy fish taco and an avocado-corn fish taco. All of them contain the delicious, flaky fish cooked to a delicious crisp. More good news: Rubio’s uses seafood that is certified sustainable or from responsibly managed fisheries. Runners up:

2. TAQUERIA PICO DE GALLO 2618 S. Sixth Ave. 623-8775

3. BLANCO TACOS + TEQUILA 2905 E. Skyline Drive, No. 246 232-1007; foxrc.com/restaurants/blanco-tacos-tequila

Best Huevos Rancheros TERESA’S MOSAIC CAFÉ 2455 N. Silverbell Road 624-4512; www.mosaiccafes.com

Topping the huevos rancheros category in a town this rich with Latino culture is no easy task. We submit that you could search the world from now until doomsday and not find any better huevos rancheros than Teresa’s deliciously simple dish. The assemblage of two eggs astride a fresh corn tortilla, with a dash of enchilada sauce and salsa, plus three kinds of grated cheeses, accompanied by a massive serving of beans, is magical. Best of all, they’re not just for breakfast—Teresa’s serves its huevos rancheros all day long, with your choice of incredibly fresh corn or flour tortillas. Runners up:

2. FRANK’S RESTAURANT 3843 E. Pima St. 881-2710; franksrestaurant.com

$2 OFF

3. CUP CAFÉ Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St. 798-1618; www.hotelcongress.com/cup

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ANY BURRO! R One coupon per order. Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 10/ /12.

best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

JOIE HORWITZ

maico

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Best Guacamole

Best Empanadas

GUADALAJARA GRILL

MAMMA LLAMA’S EMPANADAS

1220 E. Prince Road 323-1022 750 N. Kolb Road 296-1122; www.ggrill.com

2418 N. Craycroft Road 546-4994; www.mammallamas.com

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Take a quick glance at Mamma Llama’s owners Kris Masalsky and Vicki Sims, and you might think the fair-skinned blonde women would create pastries from a Nordic country. Not so. Instead, they make creative and delicious gourmet empanadas, a common meal in Latin American countries. Kris and Vicki use the finest meats—spicy beef, succulent pork or Caribbean chicken—and exotic spices, fruits, nuts and salsas. They then place the ingredients in light, flaky pastries. Vegetarians will love “Ecuador’s Delight” and “The Peruvian Twist,” each filled with veggies and cheeses. Satisfy your sweet tooth with delectable fillings like chocolate, peach and pumpkin. And if you are looking for party snacks other than the standard fare, Mamma Llama’s also caters.

2. LA ESTRELLA BAKERY 5266 S. 12th Ave. 741-0656 100 S. Avenida del Convento 344-8463

3. LE CAVE’S BAKERY 1219 S. Sixth Ave. 624-2561

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Runners up:

2. LERUA’S 2005 E. Broadway Blvd. 624-0322

3. EL CHARRO CAFÉ Various locations www.elcharrocafe.com

Runners up:

Best Menudo

2. BLANCO TACOS + TEQUILA

TERESA’S MOSAIC CAFÉ

2905 E. Skyline Drive, No. 246 232-1007; foxrc.com/restaurants/blanco-tacos-tequila

2455 N. Silverbell Road 624-4512; www.mosaiccafes.com

3. EL CHARRO CAFÉ Runners up:

PAGstorm.com

Guadalajara’s guacamole is a perfect appetizer. Heck, it could even be a perfect meal—it is that good. This simple guac has a great texture that can be addicting and hard to resist. It is the perfect thing on a hot Arizona day, especially when paired with crunchy chips and some spicy, tableside-prepared salsa. One reason why the guacamole here is the best? The folks at Guadalajara Grill make the stuff fresh twice a day!

with salsa, sour cream or whatever else you might like with them. At the Tucson Tamale Company, however, everything’s always fresh— and you might not need any condiment but hunger. This place’s tamales come in flavorful varieties, from familiar green chile and chicken to vegan varieties. Eat ’em while they’re hot.

Various locations www.elcharrocafe.com

Best Tamales TUCSON TAMALE COMPANY 2545 E. Broadway Blvd. 305-4760; tucsontamalecompany.com

When you buy homemade tamales from someone going door-to-door, or from a vendor outside of a supermarket, you know the goods are probably … well, good. But you can never be sure. Besides, those tamales don’t come

Some think menudo is just soup made from cow stomach and corn—but it can be so much more than that. Sometimes, cooks throw in tendon, feet and other cow parts, too. We get it if you’re not into the stuff—but those who are into menudo know that Teresa’s Mosaic Café has the best in town. The restaurant serves both red and white versions of the soup—which some say can magically remove a hangover in no time—and we have it on good authority that the recipe is heavy on the tripe and hominy, but completely free of other cow pieces. Every bowl comes with lime and cilantro, and a nice chunk of toasted bread for dipping.

JOIE HORWITZ

barrio brewing co.

Runners up:

2. TANIA’S 614 N. Grande Ave. 622-0685; tanias33.com

3. TIE MICHA’S RESTAURANT 2908 S. Fourth Ave. 623-5307; www.michascatering.com

RIGO’S RESTAURANT 2527 S. Fourth Ave. 882-9323; rigosrestaurant.com

STAFF PICKS Best Tortas TANIA’S FLOUR TORTILLAS 2856 W. Drexel Road 883-1595

This southwest-side hole-in-the-wall may seem like a long drive to many, but no matter where you’re coming from, it’s worth the trip for a Mexican sandwich on a bolillo/birote bun. It’s not on the regular menu, but it has been offered as a daily special; in any case, if you request it, they’ll happily make you one with carne asada, pollo, machaca, barbacoa or jamón, along with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese and a heap of guacamole. The whole thing is so generously portioned that you’ll need a fork to clean up all the fillings that fall out while you’re munching.

Best Pan Dulce LA ESTRELLA BAKERY 5266 S. 12th Ave. 741-0656 100 S. Avenida del Convento 344-8463

The tortillas, doughnuts and cakes are all delicious at this Tucson institution, but these traditional Latin American pastries—also known as “pan de huevo” to some old-school Tucsonans—collectively constitute a slice of heaven. Food historians trace the creation of this treat to the French occupation of Mexico; the dough is sometimes similar to brioche. Many varieties and flavors are available, but all are lightly sweet and sweetly light. There’s always time to grab some on the way to work for your colleagues, and this is the place. Also, La Estrella opened a satellite location about a year ago in downtown’s Mercado San Agustin. Nice!

Best Vegetarian Taco MAICO 835 E. 22nd St. 294-2836

Here’s a secret: Vegetarians aren’t always crazy about vegetables, and if we like Mexican food, after years or decades, we tire of bean burritos. Therefore, some vegetarians just give up on Mexican food (or vegetarianism, depending on one’s inclinations). But there’s a beautiful answer to the Mexican/vegetarian paradox: Maico’s tacos. Maico offers, as its specialty,

mashed-potato tacos (“tacos papas”), and, holy cow, they are delicious. They are deep-fried, crunchy, chewy and downright vegetarian—we think they’re actually vegan—but without all the boring green salad-y experience. When we order them with our vegetarian friends in mind, we always run out, because our carnivorous friends love them, too.

Best Mexican Food at a Non-Mexican Restaurant FISH TACOS AT BARRIO BREWING CO. 800 E. 16th St. 791-2739; www.barriobrewing.com

We love beer, and in general, we love beer snacks. But there comes a time when pretzels, nachos and other forms of bread and cheese take a toll on a person—especially when drinking beer. Which is, after all, sort of a bread. So we were pleasantly surprised when we took a risk and ordered the fish tacos at Barrio Brewing, fully expecting that they’d be the usual lackluster soggy ickiness. Instead, we were presented with a plate full of crisp, freshly batteredand-fried cod, in local tortillas, with lots of spice and cabbage and beans. It left us ready for another pint. Or two.

Best Shrimp Cocktail RESTAURANT SINALOA 1020 W. Prince Road 887-1161; www.sinaloarestaurant.com

and the living is easy (for us tourists, at least). If only you could re-create that vibe closer to home. Well, we’re here to tell you that a visit to Restaurant Sinaloa is the next-best thing. The shrimp tacos rock, but it’s the shrimp cocktail that will bring you back. This is not your usual shrimp cocktail, with six shrimp arranged artfully around a big glass. Instead, that big glass is filled with oodles of medium shrimp, all swimming in a slightly spicy and decidedly different salsa (with tomatoes, mild chiles, onions and cucumbers). The cocktail comes in three sizes, and you get so many limes for squeezing that you won’t believe it.

Best Grocery-Store Surprise FOOD CITY Various locations myfoodcity.com

Most grocery delis have the routine stuff: cold cuts, fried chicken, salads and so on. But for something really different, stop at your neighborhood Food City deli counter (presuming your neighborhood Food City has a deli counter) for some Mexican fare. While the offerings vary from day to day, there’s always the usual stuff (red chile, green chile, refried beans, chimis)—but order the chicken ranchero if it’s available. Flour or corn tortillas are warmed while you wait. Grab an orange Mexican soda, and you’re set. A family of four could easily dine well for less than $25.

If you’ve ever spent any time seaside in Mexico, you know that the food is fresh; the beer is cold;

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THE GOOD EGG Various locations www.thegoodeggaz.com

If breakfast is the most-important meal of the day, imagine how important it will be on the last day. There’s no reason to face armageddon on an empty tummy, so start the day at any of The Good Egg’s four Tucson locations. As the name implies, there are dozens of different ways to enjoy fresh egg breakfasts—omelets, scrambles, sandwiches, skillets, etc. You can add biscuits and gravy, corned-beef hash, crepes and more. There are also a variety of pancake options, French toast, healthy entrées and Southwestern specialty items. So before the end, start out the day right amid the cheery wait staff and cozy, bright environs of The Good Egg near you.

from Guilin. With an MSG-free menu long before it became fashionable, Guilin offers fabulous meals that can conceivably be followed by activities that do not require napping. Actually, with more than 130 entrees (seriously!), including dozens of sumptuous vegetarian and meatsubstitute options, you could probably distract the zombies long enough to disarm them by simply having them read the menu.

2. LOTUS GARDEN 5975 E. Speedway Blvd. 298-3351; www.lotusgarden.com

3. GOLDEN DRAGON CHINESE RESTAURANT Various locations goldendragontucson.com

Best Greek OPA!

2. BLUE WILLOW

2990 N. Campbell Ave., No. 130 327-2841

3. CUP CAFÉ Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St. 798-1618; www.hotelcongress.com/cup

Best Brunch THE GRILL AT HACIENDA DEL SOL 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road 529-3500; www.haciendadelsol.com

Some may balk at the price ($35) of this brunch, but when you consider that you get champagne and/or mimosas with your meal, that puts a whole new spin on things. Set in the lovely Grill, Hacienda del Sol’s brunch offers a carving station with prime rib, made-to-order waffles and omelets, and more. The salad station has fruit and green salads, but there’s also fresh sushi and sashimi. Using quality ingredients, the chef has a station where he offers his own inspirations that change on a whim. And the pastry station offers house-made pies, cookies and baked goods. Did we mention the champagne and mimosas? Reservations are recommended. The buffet starts at 9:30 a.m., with the last seating at 1:45 p.m. Runners up:

2. CUP CAFÉ Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St. 798-1618; www.hotelcongress.com/cup

3. BLUE WILLOW 2616 N. Campbell Ave. 327-7577; www.bluewillowtucson.com

Best Chinese GUILIN HEALTHY CHINESE RESTAURANT 3250 E. Speedway Blvd. 320-7768

It’s been suggested that when the zombie apocalypse comes, it could be slowed by a massive order of Chinese takeout: Given the over-thetop levels of MSG present at most Chinese restaurants, it’s conceivable we could put them all back to sleep. Don’t look for any help, however,

ADDAM BUZZALINI

Runners up:

Runners up: 2616 N. Campbell Ave. 327-7577; www.bluewillowtucson.com

The End-of-Days End of Days Exit Interview

BROOKE LEIGH TAFFET

Best Breakfast

Maybe the gods of ancient Greece can save us from the apocalypse predicted by the Mayans— but how do we get their attention? Let’s sacrifice a herd of sheep! No, too messy. The only other thing that comes to mind is to make Zeus, Hera and the rest of the gang an offering of their favorite food … you know, Greek food. For that, we’ll need a trip to Opa!, where the giant servings of Grecian goodness are truly fit for the gods. If we order the flaming saganaki—a plate of blazing feta—it’ll send a smoke signal straight from our table to Mount Olympus. If that doesn’t do the trick, we can just munch on the complimentary hummus while contemplating the coming ruination. Whatever works. Runners up:

2. ATHENS ON FOURTH AVENUE 500 N. Fourth Ave. 624-6886; www.athenson4th.com

3. TIE FRONIMO’S GREEK CAFÉ 3242 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-8321; www.fronimos.com

MY BIG FAT GREEK RESTAURANT 7131 E. Broadway Blvd. 722-6000 7265 N. La Cholla Blvd. 797-7444; www.mybigfatgreekrestaurant.com

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As a teenager washing dishes at a restaurant, Addam Buzzalini watched the chefs working and loved the lingo, action and excitement in the kitchen. Wanting to be a part of a cooking staff, Buzzalini enrolled in the culinary arts program at Grand Rapids (Michigan) Community College. After graduation, he worked in Grand Rapids and later moved to Seattle, where he lived and worked for seven years. He’s been a Tucsonan for almost five years and is currently the chef at Maynards Market and Kitchen. One of his favorite dishes to prepare there is poutine—French fries with local cheese curds, foie gras, duck confit, roasted duck gravy and cracklins.

A meteor is going to hit the planet tomorrow. Where in Tucson would you go for your final meal (besides Maynards)? I think I would go to the Cup Café for the “Braveheart” breakfast. It is toasted rye topped with house-smoked beef brisket, smothered in country gravy with gruyere cheese, spinach, tomatoes and a poached egg. If I was in Tucson, and a meteor was on its way, that would absolutely be my final thing to eat, without a doubt. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink (besides Maynards)? Scott and Co. (I would have) anything that Karen wants to pour for me. The drinks are spot on; they are unique. The care, craft and love that go into the drinks are second to none.

should probably talk to her. Sh he’s my She’s leader. (Laughs.) The mole people are invad ding the invading surface world through a tu unnel thatt tunnel opens in your backyard. W hat local What business would you turn tto o for help p? help? Truly Nolen? And that gun store on Gra ant Grant Road (Frontier Gun Shop).. I would bu uy buy guns and take (things) into o my own hands. han nds. If a zombie apocalypse were to hap-pen in Tucson, what sho opping centerr shopping would you like to hole up in? Chicago Music Store, downtown dow wntown on Congress Street. While I am waiting for the zombies, I’ll have plenty pleenty of guitars and an nd things to play around on n to keep me occuoccu upied in the meantime. What Tucson band o d orr musician would you want to write th he soundtrack to the the end of the world d as we know it? Chris Black, without a doubt. I firmly believe nobody could d write a soundtrack to the end of our lifee in this town better than Chris could. No o question. If you had only on ne sunset one left in Tucson, fro om where from would you watch h it? Gates Pass. I woul ld be watching the would sunset with my wife wiife and our three dogs, and nd probably drinking drin nking some really good ch hampagne. champagne. —By Irene Messina —

Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? I probably would be at the Crossroads (6 Grand Cinemas) theater or the Loft Cinema. Aliens have landed in your backyard and say: “Take us to your leader.” Where in Tucson would you send them? Probably to The Hive Hair Salon in Hotel Congress. My wife, Lindsey, owns it. They

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Best French GHINIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FRENCH CAFFĂ&#x2030; 1803 E. Prince Road 326-9095; www.ghiniscafe.com

If you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to jet off to Paris before the Tucson apocalypse, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry; just take a ride to Ghiniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and feast on a few French standbys: perhaps a cafĂŠ au lait and a croissant for breakfast, or salade niĂ§oise and chicken Cordon Bleu for lunch. You can also stop by on Friday at 3 p.m. for happy hour. Of course, there are American standbys such as cowboy chicken or Neptune (yellow-fin tuna) sandwiches. Ghiniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uses fresh, local ingredients and varies their specials depending on what is available at the market. Be sure to sit outside on the patio with your dog to get the full European effect.

this kind of freshness, flavor and balance. The food is cooked to perfection, given just enough time to make the flavors intense while still keep things intact. The cauliflower in the aloo matar gobi is tender, but crisp. The tomato sauce in the chicken tikka masala is bright and creamy without being heavy. The naan is toasty and soft. The tandoori chicken is fiery-red and inviting. If you still think Saffron is too far, consider this: India itself is even farther. So which will it be? Saffron in Oro Valley, or a flight to New Delhi? Runners up:

3844 E. Fort Lowell Road 323-7373; www.lerendez-vous.com

No longer in business

Best Indian SAFFRON INDIAN BISTRO 7607 N. Oracle Road, No. 101 742-9100; www.tucsonindianrestaurant.com

If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live on the northwest-side, then listen up: Saffron is worth the drive. Nowhere else in Tucson can you find Indian food with

3. MAMA LOUISAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

ZEMAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ETHIOPIAN CUISINE 2731 E. Broadway Blvd. 323-9928; www.zemams.com

2660 N. Campbell Ave. 320-1574; www.yoshimatsuaz.com

4310 N. Campbell Ave. 795-7221; vivacetucson.com

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re craving upscale dining in a quietly elegant setting, and if your yearnings include those magnificent blends of flavors from Italy, your GPS should direct you to Daniel Scordatoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vivace, in St. Philipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plaza. This destination will guarantee not only terrific flavors, but excellent service. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fine place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or, heck, just the sheer joy of being alive. In Lexiconica Tucsonicaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;if such a

6534 E. Tanque Verde Road 298-7777

Best Middle Eastern/African

2041 S. Craycroft Road 790-4702; mamalouisas.com

3. GANDHI CUISINE OF INDIA

VIVACE 3. LE DELICE BAKERY AND CAFĂ&#x2030;

434 N. Fourth Ave. 624-5765; www.carusositalian.com

Best Japanese

Best Italian

2. SAKURA

3048 E. Broadway Blvd. 326-4700 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd., No. 312 877-8744; www.sushigarden.com

2. CARUSOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

853 E. Grant Road 624-9393; sher-e-punjabtucson.com

2. LE RENDEZ-VOUS

Runners up:

3. SUSHI GARDEN Runners up:

2. SHER-E-PUNJAB

150 W. Fort Lowell Road 292-1738; gandhicuisineofindia.com

Runners up:

tome actually existed (and it should, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you think?)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scordatoâ&#x20AC;? means â&#x20AC;&#x153;family name linked to fine Italian dining for decades.â&#x20AC;? And the tradition continues. Have no doubts: Your meal will thrill.

YOSHIMATSU HEALTHY JAPANESE EATERY

The kitschy nature of Yoshimatsu can be a little off-putting at times in an am-I-laughing-withor-at-the-signs-featuring-choppy-English sort of way, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no denying that the Campbell Avenue mainstay is a fun, comfortable place to eat delicious food with the comfort of knowing that both Japanese-food aficionados and people unwilling to step outside of the realm of California rolls and chicken teriyaki will equally enjoy themselves. The last few years have seen a handful of really great Asian restaurants of other types pop up locally (and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thankful), but Yoshimatsu was one of the first places in town to celebrate the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cuisine authenticallyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lost a step.

The Ethiopian food at Zemamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comes served like paint on a palette, which is all part of the fun. Gomen alicha, spicy zigni and other traditional stews come served on one giant piece of spongy injera bread, which is used to scoop up a bite-sized portion without the need for a fork or a spoon. Once you really get into the swing of things, you can mix and match to create flavor hues all your own. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bringing a date, consider enjoying what Ethiopians call â&#x20AC;&#x153;gursha,â&#x20AC;? or feeding another person at the table as a sign of kindness and respect. Eating with your hands is a tradition at this cozy little restaurant, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much fun that you might wonder why youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been using utensils all these years. Runners up:

2. CAFĂ&#x2030; DESTA 758 S. Stone Ave. 370-7000; cafedesta.com

Lunch Specials $4.95* Wed

Chicken Taco Salad Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce & Garlic Bread Steak Burrito w/Rice, Beans & Salsa

Thurs

Chicken & Bean Burrito w/Rice, Beans & Salsa

Fri

Lasagna w/Garlic Bread

Breakfast Special

*M-F only, not valid on holidays

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3. ZAYNA MEDITERRANEAN 9105 E. Tanque Verde Road, No. 103 749-4465 4122 E. Speedway Blvd. 881-4348; www.zaynamediterranean.com

may’s counter chicken and waffles

Best Modern Cuisine FEAST 3719 E. Speedway Blvd. 326-9363; www.eatatfeast.com

If this category confuses you, dear reader, then get thee over to Feast for a clear demonstration of what “modern” food is all about. Chef Doug Levy prepares familiar dishes in unique and tasty ways, and he uses unusual ingredients. For example, in the Feast grilled cheese, the cheese—in this case, halloumi—is seared, and grilled veggies are added. His succotash substitutes soybeans for limas. The red-potato salad has Marcona almonds, black garlic, speck and arugula. Levy uses confit of rabbit in his “lazy lasagna.” He might roast the strawberries for dessert. The menu changes monthly (a very modern idea). Include one of the deepest wine lists in town, and it all adds up to modern cuisine. Runners up:

2. PASTICHE MODERN EATERY 3025 N. Campbell Ave. 325-3333; pasticheme.com

135 S. Sixth Ave. 623-7700; downtownkitchen.com

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

JOIE HORWITZ

3. DOWNTOWN KITCHEN + COCKTAILS

WHY YES, WE ARE GETTING FRESH WITH YOU. RA SUSHI’S FALL PAIRING. AVAILABLE OCT. 1–NOV. 30, 2012. Kiwi Scallops

Just about the most refreshing sashimi plate you’ll ever eat. Sliced, premium Hokkaido Scallops layered with freshly-sliced kiwi fruit, served with peppery arugula tossed in a citrus dressing with sautéed cashews, garnished with an orange tobiko vinaigrette. It’s a light dish that’s heavy on ﬂavor. Kiwi Kismet Freshly-muddled kiwi mixed with Kai Lemongrass Vodka, sweet sparkling sake, and fresh lime and pineapple juices. It’s crisp, refreshing and bursting with exotic ﬂavor.

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best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

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Best Steakhouse

Best Seafood

FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE AND WINE BAR 6360 N. Campbell Ave. 529-5017; www.flemingssteakhouse.com

KINGFISHER BAR AND GRILL 2564 E. Grant Road 323-7739; www.kingfishertucson.com

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Explore the World’s Freshest Flavors. Pair just the right Olive Oil with just the right Balsamic Vinegar. Taste first... Buy when the excitement becomes overwhelming.

Kingfisher has won the Best Seafood category for as long as we can remember, which should vouch for the restaurant’s quality and consistency. This local landmark offers full-bodied dinners with an outstanding oyster bar, and a lighter lunch menu. Regular items include clam chowder, grilled sea bass, ruby trout, Atlantic salmon, clams, mussels and more. For confirmed landlubbers, there are Caesar, spinach and other salads; baby-back pork ribs; and the Kingfisher burger. There are ever-changing seasonal specialties, so repeat visits will always offer something new. The wine list is extensive and well-thought out; it repeatedly receives Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. Don’t be surprised if we have to write about them again next year—assuming we’re all still around.

Runners up:

2. EL CORRAL 2201 E. River Road 299-6092; www.elcorraltucson.com

Runners up:

3. SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE

2. BLUEFIN SEAFOOD BISTRO

1785 E. River Road 299-4275; sullivanssteakhouse.com

7053 N. Oracle Road 531-8500; www.bluefintucson.com

3. RED LOBSTER

520.441.9081

So you think you can’t tell the difference between “choice” and “prime” steaks? Trust us: You can. Fleming’s serves only the prime stuff—and only the top 2 percent of the prime stuff available, at that. Hand-cut daily, Fleming’s prime rib, filet mignon and New York strip are the stars of succulence—but if you want to gild the lily, you can add sauces, like peppercorn, Madeira, béarnaise and chimichurri. Other delectables include fresh seafood and an array of “small plates,” in addition to appetizers. Complement your meal with your choice of 100 wines by the glass, or buy a bottle for the whole table. Oh yeah, it’s prime time, baby.

Various locations www.redlobster.com

4320 N. Campbell, Ste. 40 St. Philip’s Plaza | alfonsooliveoil.com

Best Sushi SUSHI GARDEN 3048 E. Broadway Blvd. 326-4700 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd., No. 312 877-8744; www.sushigarden.com

If the question is, “How will I spend my last few hours on this Earth?” one possible answer

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Runners up:

2. RA SUSHI 2905 E. Skyline Drive, No. 289 615-3970; www.rasushi.com

3. SUSHIMATSU 2660 N. Campbell Ave. 320-1574; www.yoshimatsuaz.com

Best Thai CHAR’S THAI 5039 E. Fifth St. 795-1715; www.charsthai.com

We’re certainly glad that Char’s Thai moved from its original Tempe digs down to the Old Pueblo in 1984. In fact, we are glad 10 times over: That’s the number of consecutive Best of Tucson® wins the restaurant has earned. The menu is huge—there are even 20 appetizers on the menu—and tastes run from hot, to medium to mild. Vegetarians get to make decisions here, with more than 20 veggie-based items from which to choose. Char’s takes pride in the “coconut flavor and spicy delicious taste” in their food, and it shows. Lunch specials are inexpensive and offer fried rice, fried wontons, an eggroll, soup and your main entrée. It sure beats a fast-food burger. Runners up:

2. BANGKOK CAFÉ 2511 E. Speedway Blvd. 323-6555; www.bangkokcafe.net

3. V FINE THAI 9 E. Congress St. 882-8143; www.tucsonthai.com

Best Vietnamese MISS SAIGON 1072 N. Campbell Ave. 320-9511; misssaigon-tucson.com

2. HA LONG BAY

feast

6304 E. Speedway Blvd. 571-1338; halongbaymenu.com

3. PHO 88 2744 N. Campbell Ave. 881-8883

Best Vegetarian/Vegan LOVIN’ SPOONFULS 2990 N. Campbell Ave., No. 120 325-7766; www.lovinspoonfuls.com

It seems as though Lovin’ Spoonfuls owner Peggy Raisglid has created some sort of beautiful oasis, where carnivores, omnivores and herbivores can gather in harmony over a plate of tofu and a vanilla-mint soy milkshake. With extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, Lovin’ Spoonfuls has some deliciously creative dishes. Something about the food there satisfies not only taste buds, but cravings that may lie deeper for a lot of vegetarians or vegans. Being offered a plate of delicious fried chicken— without the actual flesh and with a cruelty-free guarantee—might make some skeptical veggie-diners ask what the catch is. But with Lovin’ Spoonfuls, it’s not too good to be true. It’s really tasty. Runners up:

2. GOVINDA’S NATURAL FOODS BUFFET 711 E. Blacklidge Drive 792-0630; www.govindasoftucson.com

3. THE TASTEFUL KITCHEN 722 N. Stone Ave. 250-9600; www.thetastefulkitchen.com

Traditional & Specialty Pizzas Pasta - Salads Appetizers Beer & Wine

Best Upscale Cuisine THE GRILL AT HACIENDA DEL SOL 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road 529-3500; www.haciendadelsol.com

If the world is going to end, there’s no point in worrying about credit-card debt, and the most-delightful way to max out is on very fine dining experiences at The Grill at Hacienda del Sol. Tucked discreetly in an idyllic setting with expansive views of Tucson, The Grill specializes in exquisitely prepared meals with an emphasis on local meats and vegetables, enhanced by herbs from the kitchen’s own garden. For dinner, consider filet mignon, the rack of lamb, a veal loin, infused pappardelle or seasonal fish. A worthy, less-expensive option is to enjoy breakfast (try the Hacienda buffalo Benedict, with buffalo chorizo); after all, you are blessed with the same great views.

reneesorganicoven.com

886-0484 11am-9pm Every Day

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7065 E. Tanque Verde Road Dine-In / Pick-Up / Delivery

Runners up:

2. VIVACE 4310 N. Campbell Ave. 795-7221; vivacetucson.com

3. CAFÉ POCA COSA 110 E. Pennington St. 622-6400; cafepocacosatucson.com

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE XNLV48885

There Miss Saigon sits, all nonchalant, showing no external sign that the Vietnamese food served inside has swept the Best of Tucson® awards for many years running. What does it take to wow Tucson diners year after year? Delicious spring rolls with fresh vegetables peeking through their opaque wrappers. Big bowls of pho—noodle soup made with beef broth—served with a pile of tender basil, bean sprouts, lime and other fresh things. Vegetarian dishes, fried catfish, steak, chicken, curry, pork chops and Cornish game hen. Still got room? Wash it all down with a tapioca-pearl-filled boba tea or a rich Vietnamese coffee, and there you have what makes Miss Saigon Tucson’s favorite Vietnamese restaurant year after year.

Runners up:

JOIE HORWITZ

is Sushi Garden. Where else can you drink a “zombie” while eating raw flesh? The tempura rolls are so ethereal, they seem to evaporate from your plate. The bar is bustling with sleek television screens to watch the latest reports on the apocalypse. Happy hour is Sunday through Thursday, from 4 to 7 p.m., and after 10 p.m. every night of the week. Fortify yourself with $4 sake bombs to take your mind off the actual explosions you hear out in the streets. Order an extra California roll while you watch the real California fall into the ocean.

best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

mother hubbardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cafĂŠ

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59

Best Playful Menu

Best Outdoor Seating

JAX KITCHEN

LA COCINA

7286 N. Oracle Road 219-1235; www.jaxkitchen.com

201 N. Court Ave. 622-0351; lacocinatucson.com

What La Cocina has done with the Old Town Artisansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; courtyard is breathtaking. There are plants everywhere. The little pond is thriving, with cute little turtles peeking their heads out on occasion; birds sing in the trees. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stage, where a variety of local musicians can be found performing at all hours of the day. You breathe in, and you can feel the cleanness of the air and the refreshing aura of a true Tucson oasisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;while you eat your delicious South American breakfast and sip the addicting ginger lemon tea.

Comfort food is king when it comes to the latest food trends, and the best restaurants are taking it to a new level. Jax Kitchen playfully twists your favorite comfort-food classics into modern, classy versions, like the crab Louie devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d eggs, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;breakfast for lunch.â&#x20AC;? The crowning achievement just might be the classic Kobe burger with friesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;juicy beefy goodness topped with salty, savory bacon jam; robust whole-grain aioli; and tangy house-made pickles. The owners and chefs at Jax Kitchen really elevate classic American food with playful new versions of great standbys. Oh, and the mac â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cheese? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s killer.

Runners up:

2. OLD PUEBLO GRILLE 60 N. Alvernon Way 326-6000; www.metrorestaurants.com/restaurants/opg.asp

3. BLUE WILLOW 2616 N. Campbell Ave. 327-7577; www.bluewillowtucson.com

Best Late-Night Eats KINGFISHER BAR AND GRILL 2564 E. Grant Road 323-7739; www.kingfishertucson.com

Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the end of the day or the end of the world, we know where we want to have our final meal: in the bar at Kingfisher. For starters, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the late-night happy-hour deals on oysters, and those canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t-be-beat, grilled-and-chilled shrimp. There are some healthy options, too, like the grilled salmon or the great new fatoosh salad. But if the end has finally come, then to hell with the diet: Bring us that Kingfisher burger with the works and a side of fries. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going out with a full belly. Runners up:

2. HUB RESTAURANT AND ICE CREAMERY 266 E. Congress St. 207-8201; www.hubdowntown.com

JOIE HORWITZ

3. BROOKLYN PIZZA COMPANY

Guilin

Your Healthy Choice! Prepared With 90% Less Oil

Chinese Restaurant

Best Chinese â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;07, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;08, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;09, 2010 & 2011 Best Lunch Under $7

10% OFF for UofA & Pima Students/ Faculty and Military w/I.D. (dine in only) (dinner a la carte)

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CRAYCROFT

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GLENN

(limited area, $10.00 minimum.) Free Delivery for Lunch & Dinner

3250 E. Speedway (Across from the Loft Movie Cinema) â&#x2014;&#x2020; 320-7768 â&#x2014;&#x2020; www.guilintucson.net

Open Daily â&#x2014;&#x2020; Mon-Thurs 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;9pm â&#x2014;&#x2020; Friday 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;10pm â&#x2014;&#x2020; 4BU BNo QN t 4VO BNo9pm

60 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

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534 N. Fourth Ave. 622-6868; brooklynpizzacompany.com

STAFF PICKS Best Thin-Crust Pie in Midtown GRIMALDIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PIZZERIA 446 N. Campbell Ave., No. 100 882-6100; www.grimaldispizzeria.com

Ooey-gooey strings of fresh, hot mozzarella stretch from pie to plate when the pizza is from Grimaldiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizzeria. The ultra-thin, light, airy-crisp crustâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with a hint of char from the authentic coal-fired ovenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is the perfect accompaniment to the bold, saucy, cheesy toppings. Choose your saucing option (traditional red, white with garlic, or pesto), and then build your own with Ă la carte toppings. The ambiance is casual; the service is friendly; and the place has several delightfully cold brews on tap, too.

Best Smorgasbord THE ABBEY 6960 E. Sunrise Drive 299-3132; www.theabbeytucson.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lots of cool stuff â&#x20AC;? is all the menu description says about The Board. For $14, you get an adventure in the form of a wooden cutting board. On top of it could be any variety of cool thingsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a jar full of house-pickled vegetables. Varieties of cheeses. Flatbreads. Candied nuts. Slices of prosciutto. Fruit. Vortexes. Keys to mythical cities. The missing link. Parts of Amelia Earhartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plane. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know unless you order it. Order it.

Best Use of Truly Local Ingredients PASCO KITCHEN AND LOUNGE 820 E. University Blvd. 882-8013; pascokitchen.com

Sure, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool to use locally grown vegetables, but Pasco Kitchen and Lounge takes the concept of being a locavore to a whole new level. The chefs incorporate other local businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; foodstuffs into the menu, like tortilla chips from Anita Street Market, and bread from the Small Planet Bakery. And then they take it to a whole other level, by offering menu items inspired by the unique cultural crossroads that is Tucson, making for a delicious menu that is truly locally sourced.

Best Use of Brown Paper Bags MAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COUNTER CHICKEN AND WAFFLES 2945 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-2421; www.mayscounter.com

A long, hard day of work calls for a nice, tall, cold one. Heck, any day does. And what better way to enjoy it than ensconced within a brown paper bag folded over at the edges? Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Counter has capitalized on the hobo trend of hiding what you drink, albeit in a restaurant setting rather than on a train or in a park, by offering all of its nondraft beers in 16-ounce canned form, complete with (optional) bag. Choices include Pabst Blue Ribbon and Guinness, as well as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hair of the Dog,â&#x20AC;? which adds a side of bacon to that PBR. The bacon is bagless, however. CONTINUED ON PAGE 62

best of tucson速 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

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Best Food to Fill Up on Before Emptying Your Pockets AN DEL SOL Inside Casino del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Road 838-7177; www.casinodelsol.com/tucson-dining/an-del-sol

Casino del Sol’s dining options run the gamut from walk-up Mexican food to a stuff-yourselfbuffet to a high-end steakhouse. But few food items both soak up booze and satisfy the palate before a night of gambling like sushi, of which An del Sol has plenty of. Though both a Chinese and Japanese restaurant, An del Sol’s sushi is its signature offering. The wide variety of fish and fillings, as well as its sushi-bar or tableside presentation, is enhanced by the very likely chance that Mr. An will swing by your table and possibly pose for a picture. That souvenir guarantees you won’t leave the casino empty-handed.

Best Vichyssoise AUGUSTÍN BRASSERIE 100 S. Avenida del Convento, No. 150 398-5382; www.agustinbrasserie.com

The simplicity of this soup is what makes it so spectacular. Vichyssoise is one of those iconic French foods, so what better dish to have on the menu at this chic, Downtown brasserie? It’s snow-white and chilled and creamy and aromatic from the leeks (the ingredient that elevates this potato soup above all others). The crunch of golden shreds of chive adds a nice touch. With a hunk of the bread that accompanies all meals at

Augustín, this makes a fine starter or perhaps a light stand-alone lunch. Personally, I’d order two bowls; it’s that good.

street foods it sells is truly beyond compare. Sitt back with a giant cup of crushed ice and golden n mango chunks, and watch the kids play on the patio while couples giggle at each other over frosty bottles of Coca-Cola. Order a Tostito preparado—a bag of Tostitos filled with delicious ous additives—and wonder why you’ve been eatingg chips plain all this time. The laid-back atmosphere and massive selection of super-affordable le raspados and other treats make this place a truee Tucson treasure.

Best Use of Foie Gras MAYNARDS MARKET AND KITCHEN 400 N. Toole Ave. 545-0577; www.maynardsmarket.com

Say what you will about those wacky FrenchCanadians, but they sure know how to make their french fries stand out. Some call poutine the national dish of Canada, but we Americans should take note: Poutine puts American fries to shame. Usually, the fries are topped with beef or chicken gravy and cheese curds. Good enough, but Addam Buzzalini, the chef at this downtown fave, spins this dish to the max. He fries the potatoes in peanut oil. (Very French.) The curds are from a local dairy. The gravy is made from duck. He adds duck confit, duck cracklins and then—drum roll, please—bites of foie gras to the top of his sizzling-hot fries. All you need is an ice-cold Canadian beer or a crisp, dry white wine to accompany them. Nirvana!

Best Total Revamping of a Greasy Spoon MOTHER HUBBARD’S CAFÉ 14 W. Grant Road 623-7976; www.motherhubbardscafe.com

The new eye-popping paint job at Mother Hubbard’s Café has officially erased most signss that the restaurant spent decades as one of Tucson’s classic greasy spoons. But those freshlyy painted walls are only the most-recent upgradee that Kelzi Bartholomaei has made since she bought the eatery in 2010 and started writing a whole new chapter for the ages-old restaurant. Once known chiefly for the $1.99 breakfast special—which is still available early in the morning—these days, it’s all about homemade sausages, dishes loaded with Hatch chiles, and daily specials unlike anything Tucson has ever seen. Check out the chalkboard on the back wall all for a list of things made from scratch that day, and don’t forget to have a cup of the coffee thatt local micro-roastery Café Aqui custom-roasts for the place.

Best Raspados Spot SONORAN DELIGHTS 921 W. Congress St. 623-3020

There are many places to get raspados in this city, but Sonoran Delights stands apart. The little neighborhood restaurant is as much a gathering spot as it is a place to get something cold on a hot day, and the variety of classic Mexican

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If you are 18 years or older and have been prescribed tamoxifen, you may be eligible for participation.

Call Julie West for more information {520}

321-7748

best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

64 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

of tucson速 2012

Best Casual Dining HUB RESTAURANT AND ICE CREAMERY 266 E. Congress St. 207-8201; www.hubdowntown.com

Hub had a following before it even opened: Its very active Facebook presence led to great anticipation. And the restaurant, which bills itself as offering “lunch/dinner/ice cream,” does not disappoint: Whenever we visit, this joint is nearly packed. There are various reasons for that—attentive service, an utter lack of attitude, and limitless tastes of the house-made ice cream (with luscious flavors such as passion fruit/ white chocolate, and I-dare-you options like “Grandpa’s Breakfast”: bourbon and bacon). The guests are not, as one might expect from its location, downtown hipsters: Eastside families, foothills grandparents and every stripe of Tucsonan imaginable seem to find a way to Hub. Runners up:

2. THE B LINE 621 N. Fourth Ave. 882-7575; blinerestaurant.com

3. FEAST 3719 E. Speedway Blvd. 326-9363; www.eatatfeast.com

Best Caterer FEAST 3719 E. Speedway Blvd. 326-8383; www.eatatfeast.com

Fans of Feast revel in the fact that you can get all of those great restaurant goodies served up at your next bash. The same care and professionalism you’ll find at the restaurant is found in the catering service. The team will take care of you from the beginning until the last napkin drops. Fruit platters, grilled-veggie platters, cheese platters and panini platters will feed a crowd. Hot hors d’oeuvres are made in numerous ways using poultry, beef, pork, lamb, veggies and seafood. Entrée choices will knock you out. They can do a dinner for a few friends, or that big end-of-times bash you’re planning on throwing. Go Feast! Runners up:

2. BLUE HOUSE CATERING 7831 E. Wrightstown Road, No. 113 791-0835; www.bluehousecatering.com

3. LOTUS GARDEN 5975 E. Speedway Blvd. 298-3351; www.lotusgarden.com

Best Diner LITTLE ANTHONY’S DINER 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 296-0456; www.littleanthonysdiner.com

A menu is a restaurant’s manifesto, and nd Little Anthony’s Diner’s manifesto offers a bit of flair. The BLT is called a “Pig in a Garden;”” the club sandwich is known as the “Chubby Checker hecker Triple Decker;” and all of the healthy items are clustered under the hilarious heading “Things Elvis Wouldn’t Eat.” Burgers? Oh, they’ve y’ve got burgers, and they come served in a plastic astic basket lined in paper, just like a diner burger should. Our only caution at this wonderful derful little

throwback to the 1950s is to save room for dessert. No meal is complete without a “Hot Fudge Banana Extravaganza” or “Little Anthony’s Twinkie Delight,” so plan accordingly.

The End-of-Days nd of Days Exit Interview

MICHAEL LURIA

Runners up:

2. FRANK’S RESTAURANT 3843 E. Pima St. 881-2710; franksrestaurant.com

3. BOBO’S 2938 E. Grant Road 326-6163; www.bobostucson.com

R.I.P.: The Grill, 34 votes

Best Organic Food Store FOOD CONSPIRACY CO-OP 412 N. Fourth Ave. 624-4821; foodconspiracy.org

When the co-op was founded back in 1971, shopping there was akin to making a political statement. Now, after countless changes in management, the co-op has become a neighborhood institution, committed to providing the highest-quality food at the best prices. Granted, it’s often difficult to compete with the big-box natural-food stores, but how cool it is to not have to ask where the organic produce is, because it’s all organic! After three decades of debate over whether or not to move the store to a locale with higher visibility and better parking, the Co-op has finally re-committed to its Fourth Avenue roots with a deli expansion, a facelift and more organics. Having turned a profit in the last several years, it’s clear (thank goodness) the Co-op isn’t going anywhere. Runners up:

2. SPROUTS FARMERS MARKETS (FORMERLY SUNFLOWER) Various locations www.sprouts.com

3. TRADER JOE’S Various locations www.traderjoes.com

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Michael Luria is a name familiar to many Tucson foodies … and many Tucson parents. His family owned the late, lamented Terra Cotta, a spot that helped define “Southwestern cuisine” before closing in 2009. Today, Luria, 43, is the executive director of the Children’s Museum Tucson, a post he’s held for about four years. While the Children’s Museum is, of course, generally a venue reserved for kids and their families, on Friday, Nov. 2, the museum, at 200 S. Sixth Ave., will open its doors to adults for the annual “Evening of Play” fundraiser. Tickets are $125, and include great food, libations and music. For more information, visit www.eveningofplay.org, or call the museum at 792-9985, ext. 105.

A meteor is going to hit the Earth tomorrow. Where would you sit down in Tucson for your final meal? Somewhere with a view of the Catalinas; I’d rather look at a view of the Catalinas than the city. I’d do a picnic on the roof of a building in the foothills, with my favorite foods and an awesome bottle of wine. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. alcohol Where would you want to have your y final drink? At the bar at Fle Fleming’s, because the bartenders know m me by my name. It’s my Tucson Cheers. The bar staffers are consummate hospit hospitality professionals. They make an effort to t know your name and your favorite drink, dr and welcome you each and every time you return—not to mention they have an a awesome stock of wine in the cellar, if one o could get access to it for that final night. Global warmin warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? Scott and Co. They T have a cool vibe and fantastic libation libations. My current favorite is a gin drink, “Beez “ in the Trap” (with genmaicha tea-i tea-infused gin, overproof rum, honey, fre fresh grapefruit, lime and Angostura bitte bitters).

Aliens have landed in yourr us backyard and say: “Take us wo ould to your leader.” Where would you send them? ix. They’d b To the statehouse in Phoeni Phoenix. bee lost for decades up there. vadi ding ng tthe he The mole people are inv invading surface world through a tunnel thatt opens in your backyard d. What local backyard. rn to for help?? business would you tur turn n Appliance Chris Edwards at Tucson an ad for every-Company. Well, he’s got an an ad in which h thing; I am sure he has an hee plays an exterminator. apocalyp pse were to hapIf a zombie apocalypse pen in Tucson, what shopping shopping centerr ho ole up in? would you like to hole tertain yourself for Costco! You could ent entertain days. Big-screen TVs,, computers, adult beverages and food … what else would you need? d or musician would d What Tucson band you like to write the the soundtrack soundtraack to to the th he end of the world as we know it? I’ve got to go with Calexico. They’ve repan nd Southern Arizona resented Tucson and We might as well go out so well for years. We them. with a bang with them. If you had onlyy one sunset left in Tucson, from from where watcch it? it? would you watch Gates Pass. As a young adult, it’s one of the first places you go to hang out, although more to watch the sunrise than the sunset. It’s a very Tucson thing. g —Byy Jimmyy Boegle

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Best Custom Cakes

Best Specialty Foods

NADINE’S PASTRY SHOPPE 4553 E. Broadway Blvd. 326-0735; www.nadinesweddingcakes.blogspot.com

AJ’S FINE FOODS 2805 E. Skyline Drive 232-6340; www.ajsfinefoods.com

When you’re stocking up in preparation to hunker down—in style—AJ’s is the grocer of choice. AJ’s may not be the only place in Tucson where you can find fresh lotus root, or annatto seeds, or truffle mousse, or frozen pheasant, or an array of gourmet cheeses, or a $100 turducken … but it’s probably the only place in Tucson where you can get them all at once. A shopping list like that at AJ’s will probably take your entire paycheck at once, too—but in the face of the apocalypse, you don’t need money; you need quality supplies.

Obviously, any end-of-the-world party will require a very special cake. Whatever the occasion—wedding, birthday, anniversary, retirement, apocalypse—Nadine’s can create a scrumptious dessert to your exacting specifications. Looking for an Italian rum custard cake in the shape of a Rubik’s Cube? A cowboy hat shape in German chocolate? No problem. They can even do photo images in edible icing with a few days’ notice. They are also a kosher bakery! Nadine’s has been supplying Tucson with custom cakes for nearly 40 years, and we’re hoping, even praying, that they’ll be here another 40 years.

Runners up:

2. TRADER JOE’S

Runners up:

Various locations www.traderjoes.com

2. CAKE BOUTIQUE 5420 E. Broadway Blvd., No. 240 745-5277; www.cakeboutiquearizona.com

3. 17TH STREET MARKET 3. VILLAGE BAKEHOUSE

840 E. 17th St. 792-2588; www.seventeenthstreetmarket.com

Best Delicatessen SHLOMO AND VITO’S NEW YORK DELICATESSEN

THE B LINE

2870 E. Skyline Drive 529-3354; www.shlomoandvitos.com

The name alone reeks of New Yawk City, in all its ethnic splendor—and nothing says NYC like a good-old-fashioned deli, but Shlomo and Vito’s offers a cushy Tucson touch that includes flat-screen TVs and patio dining. The menu is stocked with deli staples like corned beef, pastrami and knockwurst, as well as tasty street-vendor tastes like a meat or potato knish, the kind you’d get from a cart in Central Park. About the only thing non-authentic about Shlomo and Vito’s is the service, which instead of being infused with East Coast gruffness comes with what Tucsonans have come to expect from eateries in the foothills. Runners up:

Best Desserts 621 N. Fourth Ave. 882-7575; blinerestaurant.com

The Food Network’s ultra-famous star Rachael Ray shoveled down a piece of the B Line’s berry pie when she stopped in Tucson. Atta girl. Endorsements of that caliber are nice, but anybody who’s eaten at the B Line can tell you the house-made sweets at the hip Fourth Avenue eatery are a force to be reckoned with. The homemade German chocolate cake will make your taste buds spin circles, but the cookies, pot de crème and ever-changing selection of fruit pies are also beyond crave-worthy. The selection is massive on any given day, and if you live downtown, they’ll deliver it right to your door via their bike-powered delivery service. How sweet is that?

2. FIFTH STREET DELI AND MARKET 5071 E. Fifth St. 325-3354; www.5thstreetdeli.com

Runners up:

2. SOMETHING SWEET DESSERT LOUNGE 5319 E. Speedway Blvd. 881-7735; somethingsweet-dl.com

3. ROMA IMPORTS 627 S. Vine Ave. 792-3173; www.romaimports.com

JOIE HORWITZ

7882 N. Oracle Road 531-0977; www.villagebakehouse.com

little anthony’s diner salted caramel, vanilla lavender and, on a recent visit, a brilliant concoction called caliche (rocky road with a spicy kick). It’s cold. It’s creamy. It’s magically fluffy. It feels like a silky cloud on your tongue. It’s actually ice cream.

3. BEYOND BREAD 3026 N. Campbell Ave. 322-9965 6260 E. Speedway Blvd. 747-7477 421 W. Ina Road 461-1111; www.beyondbread.com

Runners up:

2. FROST, A GELATO SHOPPE

Best Ice Cream HUB RESTAURANT AND ICE CREAMERY 266 E. Congress St. 207-8201; www.hubdowntown.com

Tucsonans, rejoice! It has been a few years since Austin’s died its dismal death, and in those years since, we’ve ventured down the gelato trails in search of quality locally made frozen desserts. While gelato is good—and there are some excellent gelato establishments here in town—it isn’t true ICE CREAM. But Hub has come to save the day! They make their own ice cream, and it’s true, premium, real, serious ice cream, in flavors like Mexican wedding cookie,

7131 N. Oracle Road, Suite 101 797-0188 7301 E. Tanque Verde Road 886-0354 2905 E. Skyline Drive, No. 286 299-0315; www.frostgelato.com

3. TIE ALLEGRO IL GELATO NATURALE 446 N. Campbell Ave., No. 120 207-1991; www.gelatoallegro.com

COLD STONE CREAMERY Various locations www.coldstonecreamery.com

Delizioza Abbondanza! Pizza, Pasta and Italian Dishes Enjoy authentic Italian food continuously served by four generations of the Zagona family.

Italian Restaurant Since 1939 • 434 4th Avenue • Tucson, AZ 85705 • (520) 624-5765 • carusositalian.com 66 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

of tucson® 2012

BEYOND BREAD 3026 N. Campbell Ave. 322-9965 6260 E. Speedway Blvd. 747-7477 421 W. Ina Road 461-1111; www.beyondbread.com

For those of us who are serious devotees of the baked loaf, something called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond Breadâ&#x20AC;? causes us to furrow our brows and purse our lips. There simply couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist anything beyond bread, the penultimate in taste and texture, which satisfies the hunger of so many senses. But behold, some knowing Tucson entrepreneurs created a bakery/restaurant called Beyond Bread, and, lo, it was goodâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;so good that there are now three locations of this Beyond Bread nirvana, offering a bounty of freshly baked dough in various styles and flavors, like feta, spinach and onion; brie, scallion and chive; marble rye; chocolate babka; and other varieties rotating daily. We believe! We believe! Runners up:

2. LA BAGUETTE BAKERY 1797 E. Prince Road 322-6297; ghiniscafe.com

3. BARRIO BREAD www.barriobread.com

Best Barbecue BRUSHFIRE BBQ CO. 2745 N. Campbell Ave. 624-3223 7080 E. 22nd St. 867-6050; brushfirebbq.com

The Lone Star State may be hundreds of miles away, but tasty barbecue can be found right here in Tucson. Painted flames on the walls are one of the first things youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice when you walk in to Brushfire BBQ, and you may feel a burn in your throat if you select one of the spicy signature sauces to coat your choice of beef, pork or chicken. However, there are sweet and mild sauce options as well, in case you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t handle the heat. Their ribs are finger-licking good, and even the baked beans are out of the ordinary. You can eat in, get your grub to go, or have your event catered by Brushfire BBQ.

plain and simple, or you like it with bacon and an egg on top, Zinburger will give you what you want. There are a mess of toppings to choose from, and if the beef isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at for you, you can go with a turkey burger, a veggie burger or a grilled chicken breast. Rotating specials ensure that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always find something new; there are fine, simple salads, and great sides as well, including sweet-potato fries. For dessert, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the shakes! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder this place is not only a hit here, but in Phoenix as well. Runners up:

2. LINDYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON FOURTH 431 N. Fourth Ave. 207-6970; www.lo4th.com

3. FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES Various locations www.fiveguys.com

Best Veggie Burger LOVINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; SPOONFULS 2990 N. Campbell Ave., No. 120 325-7766; www.lovinspoonfuls.com

At Lovinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Spoonfuls, the entire menu is 100 percent vegan. If you go for the veggie burger, you get to choose one of four different varieties. The adzuki burger is homemade and full of hearty, soy-free goodness (if you hold the mayo). The soy burger has three styles: the Route 66 bacon cheese, the Southwest, and the Spoonfuls classic. Accompanied with sides like carrot salad, potato salad or french fries, these burgers are carried to your table in paper-lined baskets. Beyond the burgers, Lovinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Spoonfuls offers entrĂŠes, sandwiches, soups and more. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; menu! Runners up:

2. ZINBURGER WINE AND BURGER BAR 1865 E. River Road 299-7799 6390 E. Grant Road 298-2020; www.foxrc.com/ restaurants/zinburger-wine-burger-bar

3. BENTLEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOUSE OF COFFEE AND TEA 1730 E. Speedway Blvd. 795-0338; www.bentleyscoffeehouse.com

Best Sandwich BEYOND BREAD

Runners up:

2. MR. Kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BARBEQUE 4911 N. Stone Ave. 408-7427; tucsonsbestbbq.com

3. FAMOUS DAVEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 4565 N. Oracle Road 888-1512; www.famousdaves.com/tucson

Best Burger ZINBURGER WINE AND BURGER BAR 1865 E. River Road 299-7799 6390 E. Grant Road 298-2020; www.foxrc.com/ restaurants/zinburger-wine-burger-bar

You have to hand it to Sam Fox: His Zinburger joints do burgers right. Whether you like it

beyond bread

3026 N. Campbell Ave. 322-9965 6260 E. Speedway Blvd. 747-7477 421 W. Ina Road 461-1111; www.beyondbread.com

For those of you who love a giant, delicious sandwich, Beyond Bread gets the job done. The fresh bread, delectable meats and cheeses, and unique sauces are hard to resist. Each sandwich has a distinctive title, like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Avoâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carmelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Caprese.â&#x20AC;? Beyond Bread also has soups, salad, macaroni, chips and carrots, not to mention breakfast items. What makes this place even better: the free wireless Internet and the relaxing atmosphere. In other words, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great place to unwind, or to just grab a quick meal on the go.

JOIE HORWITZ

Best Fresh-Baked Bread

Runners up: Various locations www.bagginsgourmet.com

fast or late at night). Brooklynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, having survived its time in the Fourth Avenue Forbidden Zone (see Escape From New York), continues to score off the charts in every one of these critical areas.

3. BISON WITCHES

Runners up:

326 N. Fourth Ave. 740-1541; www.bisonwitches.com

2. MAGPIES GOURMET PIZZA

2. BAGGINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GOURMET SANDWICHES

Various locations www.magpiespizza.com

Best Pizza 3. ROCCOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LITTLE CHICAGO

BROOKLYN PIZZA COMPANY

2707 E. Broadway Blvd. 321-1860; www.roccoslittlechicago.com

534 N. Fourth Ave. 622-6868; brooklynpizzacompany.com

(Warning: The following is an example of extreme East Coast bias.) Any New Yorker will tell you truly good pizza is all about the sauce and the crust. They will also tell you the best way to judge is not with a pie adulterated by any number of extras, but through the simple no-frills slice (cheese only), and that almost as important as how it tastes is how it folds, how it collaborates with a carbonated beverage, and how well it will hold up cold (ideally for break-

ovindaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s G Natural Foods

Conscious Vegetarian Dining Organic & Locally Grown Relax in the Gardens Sublime with Koi Pond, Waterfalls & Aviary

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

11th Annual

Feed The World Day Monday, October 1 4 to 8 pm

FREE FOOD & LIVE MUSIC Holistic & Healthy Booths

t -VODI 8FE UISV 4BU t %JOOFS 5VFT UISV 4BU QN o QN & #MBDLMJEHF %S t 520-792-0630 (East of 1st Ave, 2 blocks South of Ft Lowell)

www.govindasoftucson.com

best of tucsonÂŽ 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

BAKERY & CAFÉ

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1998

DELICIOUS FOOD MADE DAILY FROM THE FRESHEST INGREDIENTS, IN OUR OWN KITCHENS. For a Full Menu visit beyondbread.com

NORTHWEST 461-1111 • 421 W. Ina SE corner of Ina & Oracle

CENTRAL 322-9965 • 3026 N. Campbell between Glenn and Ft. Lowell

EAST 747-7477 • 6260 E. Speedway Monterey Village at Wilmot

Best Wings WINGSTOP

Tucson's Best Scratch Kitchen Cafe Check Us Out for Lunch • Soup, Salads & Sandwiches • Seasonal Entrees • House Made Sausages • Green & Red Chili Dishes • Locally-Sourced Coffees,Teas & Ingredients

Taste the Love

TUCSON BORN & BREAD

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Serving Tucson’s Most Unique Breakfasts and Brunches

14 W GRANT RD • 623-7976 IN THE GRANTSTONE PLAZA Mon-Sat 6am-2pm • Sunday 7am-2pm

Pizza and Beer.

Hell Yeah!

Various locations www.wingstop.com

Whether you’re eating solo, going on a date or ordering for a Super Bowl party, Wingstop is the best place to satiate any craving for wings. There are a variety of ways this wing refuge can cater to your dining needs. You can spice up your dish by exploring the numerous flavors, ranging from the original Buffalo wings to lemon pepper, garlic parmesan or hickorysmoked barbecue wings. There are three different but delicious dipping sauces. They even offer boneless wings and chicken gliders. To make the meal complete, order a side of their seasoned fries; they are to die for. Runners up:

2. ROCCO’S LITTLE CHICAGO 2707 E. Broadway Blvd. 321-1860; www.roccoslittlechicago.com

3. WINGS OVER BROADWAY 5004 E. Broadway Blvd. 323-8805; www.wobtucson.com

Best Bagels BRUEGGER’S BAGELS Various locations www.brueggers.com

If you’re looking for a great New York-style bagel in Tucson, Bruegger’s is the place to get it. Bruegger’s opened nearly 30 years ago, making fresh bagels daily in a stone-hearth oven; Bruegger’s has kept that delicious flavor going ever since. With more than 15 different types of cream cheese, you can’t go wrong. If you’re indecisive, make it a sandwich: Choose from a variety of meats, and pair it with a salad or soup. Bruegger’s comfortable and friendly service makes it a perfect place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or just a coffee break.

for the very real power of “The Hangover”— symptoms gone, lickety-split. There are no added sugars or fillers or anything peculiar, so you can plunk down your money knowing that you’re doing your body good. Runners up:

2. JAMBA JUICE Various locations www.jambajuice.com

3. FRESH 2404 E. River Road 505-4470

Best Buffet GOLDEN CORRAL 4380 E. 22nd St. 512-0088 6385 S. Midvale Park Road 806-0088 6865 N. Thornydale Road 544-0350; www.goldencorral.com

The key to a good buffet is variety. Anyone who sets out to enjoy one of these all-you-caneat grubfests is looking for as many choices as possible. And, preferably, those choices should fluctuate so that the regulars—you know who you are—can keep their taste buds on their figurative toes. At Golden Corral, the choices are seemingly endless, and at times, the new things that get thrown out there for anyone and everyone to grab seem almost unreal. For example: Some of the newest twists at this 40-year-old franchise include a “Tropical Island Grill,” fresh-spun cotton candy and even a self-service chocolate waterfall. If that doesn’t make you feel like you’ve stumbled upon Willy Wonka’s factory, what does? Runners up:

2. SWEET TOMATOES 6202 E. Broadway Blvd. 747-3864 4420 N. Stone Ave. 293-3343; www.sweettomatoes.com

Runners up:

2. EINSTEIN BROS. BAGELS

3. GOVINDA’S NATURAL FOODS BUFFET

Various locations www.einsteinbros.com

711 E. Blacklidge Drive 792-0630; www.govindasoftucson.com

3. ARIZONA BAGEL AND DELI 177 N. Church Ave. 623-3300; www.azbageldeli.com

Best Food Truck PLANET OF THE CREPES 271-6083; www.planetofthecrepes.com

Best Smoothies

Crack a cold one on the patio, savor some hot stix and hot wings. Feelin’ better already! 11:00 AM-10:00 PM Monday-Saturday 520-321-1860 2707 E. Broadway Blvd Roccoslittlechicago.com 68 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

of tucson® 2012

XOOM JUICE 245 E. Congress St. 903-2224 2739 E. Speedway Blvd. 321-9666 6222 E. Speedway Blvd. 790-9666; www.xoomjuice.com

Xoom Juice deserves every drop of this award. It’s one of the only places we know of where you can pay someone to make you a smoothie that’s better than you could make at home—with nothing weird in it, that’s completely healthy, and with an awesome variety of “xoomers,” or supplements. We know someone who made it through a queasy first trimester of pregnancy sustained by these smoothies, and others vouch

When the apocalypse finally weighs down on this world, let’s build a rocket and fly away to the Planet of the Crepes. There’s no trouble there, only homemade crepes and a nice woman named Jessica Kraus to serve them to us out of a cool little food trailer. We can let her do the cooking while we create a new crepebased society centered around delicacies filled with applewood-smoked duck breast, Nutella, French custard and other things, sweet and savory. If you’re gluten-free or vegan, you can come, too, but bring an extra couple of bucks: Kraus charges $2 more for those.

SHOGUN

Runners up:

2. ANIMAL FARM

brooklyn pizza company

Closing soon 282-0676; www.facebook.com/animalfarmtruck

JAPANESE RESTAURANT

& SUSHI BAR

3. FOODIE FLEET 329-3663 www.foodiefleet.com

Daily Specials ½ Price Sushi Rolls $ 5 Sake Bombs All Day

Best Local Coffee Roaster RAGING SAGE

N. Oracle Rd.

2458 N. Campbell Ave. 320-5203; www.ragingsage.com

There’s a reason why Raging Sage keeps coming back as Tucson’s Best Local Coffee Roaster: The folks there roast their beans four or five times a week, selling about 14 different varieties to many other coffeehouses in town, and shipping it all over the world. Even if you don’t take a bag of their coffee home, you can sit with other coffee-lovers out on their Campbell Avenue coffeehouse’s shady patio, or inside. If the smell of roasted beans isn’t enough for you, perhaps the amazing desserts in the dessert case will do the trick. Life is too short to give up coffee and sugar, and Raging Sage seems to understand that philosophy.

W. River Rd.

5036 N Oracle Rd

NE corner of Oracle & River

888-6646

Runners up: 943 E. University Blvd., No. 191 207-5504 4205 N. Campbell Ave., No. 125 395-0266; www.caffeluce.com

3. SAVAYA COFFEE MARKET 5350 E. Broadway Blvd., No. 174 747-3200; savayacoffee.com

Best House Blend CAFFE LUCE 943 E. University Blvd., No. 191 207-5504 4205 N. Campbell Ave., No. 125 395-0266; www.caffeluce.com

If post-apocalyptic films and novels have taught us anything, it’s this: When civilization goes, we’ll be missing small, morale-boosting things just as much (if not more) than our major necessities. With that in mind, you’d be wise to get yourself to one of Caffe Luce’s two locations, to taste some of Tucson’s finest locally roasted, locally blended java. Luce owner Michael Foster has been in the coffee business since the mid’90s in Seattle, in the heart of America’s artisan coffee movement. If your chief concern is price, Luce’s got you covered there, too, and takes pride in offering high-quality brews at a highly competitive cost. Luce’s beans are practically worth their weight in gold—something to keep in mind, should coffee become post-apocalyptic Tucson’s chief currency. Runners up:

2. RAGING SAGE 2458 N. Campbell Ave. com 320-5203; www.ragingsage.com

JOIE HORWITZ

2. CAFFE LUCE

shoguntucson.com Mon-Fri 11-2:30 & 5-11pm Sat & Sun Noon-10pm

Best Café Hangout

Best Tea Service

EPIC CAFÉ

SEVEN CUPS

745 N. Fourth Ave. 624-6844; www.epic-cafe.com

2516 E. Sixth St. 881-4072; www.sevencups.com

From its perfect corner perch, Epic looks down University Boulevard and Fourth Avenue. Here, you can sit back and play mute witness from the outdoor tables or through the giant glass windows as the moon turns blood-red, and the four horsemen take a tumble on the newly upgraded light rails. This is a place for free-thinkers, writers, artists and performers of all sorts to sit until that light bulb appears above their heads. Enjoy the free Wi-Fi and thought-provoking art on display to take your mind off all the proverbial dookey hitting the fan. The menu offers a nice variety of café fare and enough caffeinated brew-ha-ha to wake up the dead.

So far from home, missing their families and stuck with unfamiliar cuisine, alien invaders have a challenging life. Perhaps we can slow them down with a soothing brew in Seven Cups’ warm, calming, aromatic and delicate atmosphere. The charming service is expert. If asked, staff can knowledgeably discuss dozens of teas and their provenance. Aliens stuck with Tucson duty might be enchanted by tales of the exotic tea-growing provinces in China, and the story of each farm from which Seven Cups buys teas directly. Such is the power of tea at Seven Cups: It offers precious moments of peace in the midst of chaos.

Runners up:

2. TIE CAFÉ PASSE

2. CHANTILLY TEA ROOM AND GIFT BOUTIQUE

943 E. University Blvd., No. 191 207-5504 4205 N. Campbell Ave., No. 125 395-0266; www.caffeluce.com

SPARKROOT

5185 N. Genematas Drive 622-3303; www.chantillytearoom.com

3. TOHONO CHUL PARK 7366 NN. Paseo del Norte 742-6455; www.t www.tohonochulpark.org

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

245 E. Congress g St. 72-8949; sparkroot.com 272-8949;

3. STARBUCKS Various locations www.starbucks.com

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JOIE HORWITZ

union public house

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STAFF PICKS

Best Bulk Tea Selection SEVEN CUPS 2516 E. Sixth St. 881-4072; www.sevencups.com

In some ways, walking into Seven Cups is like walking into an apothecary, like the kind where you’d see witches and wizards shopping for potion ingredients. Really, though, it’s a tea shop that sells some of the finest Chinese teas available. The kind staff will be more than happy to teach you about each of the different kinds, and there’s certainly a lot to learn. Seven Cups offers multiple varieties of green tea, wulong tea, white tea, black tea, puer tea and yellow tea. You can smell any of the teas in the jars to get a good idea of what they’ll taste like, and you’ll leave better-informed—and with some delightful loose-leaf to enjoy at home. Runners up:

2. TEAVANA 2905 E. Skyline Drive 299-2137 5870 E. Broadway Blvd. 747-2686; www.teavana.com

3. FOOD CONSPIRACY CO-OP 412 N. Fourth Ave. 624-4821; foodconspiracy.org

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Best Place to Eat Pizza With Barflies

people, since Delectables is right in the middle of Fourth Avenue. Punk rockers, hipsters, dressed-up college babes—you name the type, and they’ll probably walk by. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a naked guy on a unicycle.

EMPIRE PIZZA AND PUB 137 E. Congress St. 882-7499; empirepizzapub.com

Beer and pizza—necessarily together—are a staple for some people. And there’s a reason for that: They’re good together. That’s why people go to Empire, which specializes in both. Empire has a good selection of beer on tap, plus some of the best New York–style pizza in town, which you can buy whole or by the slice. They also have chicken wings, subs, cheesecake, affordable liquor—and more. No, none of this is exactly good for you—not the alcohol, and certainly not the fatty food. But who cares? The world could end any minute. Might as well indulge now.

Best Affordable Dinner Spot for People-Watching DELECTABLES RESTAURANT AND CATERING 533 N. Fourth Ave. 884-9289; delectables.com

Got a blind date? A night out with a boring significant other? Dinner with relatives to whom you just can’t relate? Invite them to Delectables, and make sure you’re seated by the window. Here, the food is decent and reasonably priced; the atmosphere is relaxed; the drinks are good; and you can zone out on any conversation, entertaining yourself by watching the people go by through the glass—usually interesting

Best Local Eating Challenge

restored, solar-powered Ford Model T. If you’re looking to swiftly satisfy your sweet tooth when out and about at events, you’re practically guaranteed to find Isabella’s. The fleet has expanded to two emission-free electric cars, sided in wood from recycled basketball courts, and serving up flavors such as chocolate chip, solar strawberry and Caribbean coconut.

THE BOCA CHALLENGE 828 E. Speedway Blvd. 777-8134; www.bocatacos.com

Not to discount the well-earned fame Lindy’s on Fourth received thanks to its OMFG burger’s appearance on Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food, but access to Tucson’s Chowhound Mount Olympus should take a bit more than three pounds of beef. Enter the Boca Challenge. As of this writing, Boca’s taco platter has bested every challenger that’s stepped up to the plate, including Tucson’s nationally ranked competitive eater, Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco. In addition to immortality at Boca, those who are able to complete the challenge—which includes all of the menu’s tacos and a whole baked potato—are given their meal for free. Considering the cost of failure is more than $50, that pride should more than make up for any future gastronomic distresses you might encounter.

Best Papanacha AQUI CON EL NENE Wetmore and Flowing Wells roads; 312-1666

Carne asada? Yum. Bacon? Yum. Mushrooms? Yum. Baked potato? Yum. There isn’t a single thing not to like about papanachas—a steaming baked potato loaded with fresh, delicious, tasty ingredients. In fact, it might be the lunch to end all lunches—or at least an excellent choice for an end-of-the-world bite to eat. The folks at the Aqui Con el Nene food truck are currently the only ones we know of in Tucson dishing up this unique concoction, and it’s certainly not to be missed. Parked at the northwest corner of Wetmore and Flowing Wells roads Monday through Saturday, Aqui Con el Nene offers some of the best food-truck eats in town.

Best Solar-Powered Treats

Best Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

ISABELLA’S ICE CREAM

ROMA IMPORTS

440-2650; www.isabellasicecream.com

627 S. Vine Ave. 792-3173; www.romaimports.com

Solar is cool. Classic cars are cool. And ice cream—well, you get the idea. Isabella’s Ice Cream rolled onto the scene in 2010 in a

There’s something sinfully fabulous about a hot chicken parmesan sandwich—a moist chicken

Best Waitress BRITTANY YOUNG AT YAMATO JAPANESE RESTAURANT 857 E. Grant Road 624-3377

Waitress by day, dodge-ball player on the allwomen’s Ball Busters team by night, Brittany Young is the kind of waitress who could double as your best friend at the end of the world. If you haven’t even been into Yamato’s for months (and the food is so good, you should never wait that long), Brittany will greet you by name and say, “Do you want your regular today?” She never forgets. Cheerful, friendly and observant, she’ll notice if you haven’t eaten something on your plate, ask what’s wrong, and make sure it’s fixed for you the way you like it the next time you come in. Heck, the next time you turn up, you may find that she and the chef have changed the menu to accommodate your tastes.

Best Appetizer PRETZELS AT UNION PUBLIC HOUSE 4340 N. Campbell Ave., No. 103 329-8575; www.uniontucson.com

These pretzels are so amazing that you should definitely include them as part of your final meal before the apocalypse. They’re big, soft, fat and sprinkled with just the right amount of smoked sea salt. Because they come to the table hot out of the oven, the outside is still shiny and slightly crisp. The dipping sauces are the perfect complements. Fortunately, they’re available on both the lunch and dinner menus. Pick a beer from Union’s long list to round things out. Consider yourself warned: You get two pretzels, but you might want to get more than one order; they’re that good.

Best Boba FROZEN MOCHA BOBA AT ILUVPHO 2513 N. Campbell Ave. 795-3922

We considered this for a Best of Tucson® staff pick last year, but journalistic integrity found that not enough research had been done to declare this frosty drink a clear winner. This year, after many samplings, we can say with confidence that the mocha boba drink at this Campbell Avenue spot is indeed tops. There’s a perfect balance here—not too chocolaty, and not too much coffee. The bubbles are plentiful and beg to be popped; it is served cold enough to create an ice cream-headache rush. They have other flavors, of course, but day in and day out, the frozen mocha boba is the way to go.

Best Breakfast Burrito EL POTOSINO

isabella’s ice cream

1400 W. Prince Road 292-6969

A breakfast burrito is easy to screw up. Some places don’t scramble the eggs before pouring them on the grill, a fatal flaw that creates beads of yolk and white instead of supple scrambled nuggets. Other places don’t cook the potatoes all the way through, or, in more-tragic cases, they toss in chopped French fries as if any spud will do. A proper breakfast burrito, however, is a beautiful thing to behold, and El Potosino does it right. The tortilla is freckled with brown spots thanks to a light grilling, and it is stuffed to near-bursting with perfectly cooked eggs, potatoes and your choice of a breakfast meat. Add a drizzle of the smoky salsa that comes with each order, and you’ve got a morning meal to be reckoned with.

Best Bike-Powered Food Operation CYCLOPSICLE 551-0871; www.cyclopsicle.com

Tucson got way more delicious when Gus Coliadis strapped a cooler to an orange cargo bike and hit the streets as the mighty mobilefood operation Cyclopsicle. The frozen-treat stand has since become a favorite at events around town, wowing customers with unique flavors not found elsewhere. Crazy flavor combinations like smoked-tea peaches and cream; Turkish coffee with pistachios; and others hit the rotation on a steady basis, and Coliadis adds new flavors with every passing month. The chocolate-dipped varieties are especially decadent, especially the one with mango and hot chile. You can typically find the stand on the corner of Stone Avenue and Pennington Street, but watch for it at special events and in other spots around town, too.

JOIE HORWITZ

breast slathered in a beautiful San Marzano tomato marinara sauce, smothered in cheesy provolone and parmesan goodness, and served piping-hot on a nice Italian roll, maybe with a side salad or some lovely olives. Roma Imports is as Italian as it gets in Tucson, and they don’t muck up their tender, delicious chicken parmesan sandwich with any of that deep-fried, greasy nonsense, or try to mask the delicate flavors of the marinara sauce by smooshing it between two pieces of oily garlic bread. In the end, your taste buds will thank you, and your stomach will, too.

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Best Beer Selection on Tap

The he End End-of-Days of Days Exit Interview

BROOKE LEIGH TAFFET

KARL GORANOWSKI

1702 1702 E. Speedway Blvd. 325-1702; www.1702az.com

With more than 45 imported craft beers and domestic microbrews on draught, this popular UA-area joint is a haven for beer-drinkers. The list of brews changes weeklyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or daily, if a keg runs dryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and a recent week featured six selecru tions from Arizona breweries. On recent visits, the ti Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Little Helper (a Russian imperial stout; 10 Sa percent alcohol by volume) was especially delightp ful. A deliciously obscure hard cider is also usually fu featured, and tasters of all draughts are genially fe supplied. Pizza, massive salads, wings and ice su cream are also available, in case you need somecr thing else in your stomach. (If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wondering, th more than 50 bottled beers are offered, too.) m

A meteor is going to hit the Earth tomorrow. Where would you sit down in Tucson for your final meal (besides 47 Scott)? The Dish. I love the atmosphere, and being able to pick up any wine I want for the apocalypse would be great. I will gladly spend $2,000 on a bottle of wine if it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter. I am sure if the meteor hits, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll waive the corkage fee, too. Our new robot overlords want to ban alcohol. Where would you want to have your final drink (besides Scott and Co.)? I would want to have it at Wilko, and I would want Luke Anable to serve it to me. I really respect him as a bartender. And since it would be the end of our professions, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d want to get his perspective on what to do next. He really knows stirred cocktails and spirit-forward cocktails, and he probably has a better spirits knowledge than any other bartender in this city. Global warming has increased outside temps to 130 degrees in the summer. Where do you go to cool off? Bisbee, no question about that. I love saying at the Shady Dell. I love eating at the myriad restaurants. And St. Elmoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s! Aliens have landed in your backyard and say: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take us to your leader.â&#x20AC;? Where would you send them in Tucson? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d take them to City Hall, to talk to Mayor (Jonathan) Rothschild. I would like to think that the will of the people is reflected

in the mayor of a city, even though tho ough others oth hers may have more power. The mole people are invad ding the invading surface world through a tu unnel thatt tunnel opens in your backyard. W hat local What business would you turn tto o for help p? help? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a hands-on kind of guy, guyy, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d go to Millerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Surplus and see if th heyy have any ythey anything kicking around backk th that would b bee of useâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;maybe some camouflage camo ouflage netting, nettingg, so if they invade, they might migght not get into o my spirits stock. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d probably probaably also look for fo or some sort of entrenchment entrenchmen en nt tool, so maybe mayb be I could dig down and tak ke the fight back k take to them. If a zombie apocalyps se were apocalypse to happen in Tucson,, what shopping center would you likee to h hol olee up iin? n?? hole The corridor on Campbell Camp pbell Avenue north of Grant Road, where thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Umi Star, Cartel Coffee Lab, Pla aza Liquors and Plaza myriad other places. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also Lucky Wishbone, for when all the fresh food runs out. What Tucson band do orr mu musi sici cian would musician you like to write tthe he soundtrack to thee end of the world as we know it? Gabriel Sullivan. A fter knowing Gabe for After so long, I believe he he could bring a sense of perspective and d cynicism about what is happening, but do o so in a positive manner. If you had onlyy on onee su suns nset et sunset left in Tucson, from where would you watch it? Windy Point on Mount Lemmon. I love the view of the city; being on the mountain, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little bit cooler. I just love that spot. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;By Jimmy Boegle Boeegle

Runners up:

2. RED GARTER BAR AND GRILL 3143 E. Speedway Blvd. 325-0483

3. SKY BAR 536 N. Fourth Ave. 622-4300; www.skybartucson.com

Best Cocktail Menu SCOTT AND CO./47 SCOTT

Runners up: Ru

49 N. Scott Ave. 624-4747; www.47scott.com/scottco.html

2. NOBLE HOPS Karl Goranowski is a renowned bartender at Scott and Co. He helped open the barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adjoining restaurant, 47 Scott, and says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the last remaining original employee. A native of Columbia, Maryland, he came to Tucson to attend the UA; he graduated with a degree in history and political science. What would be his last drink before the end of the world? â&#x20AC;&#x153;A daiquiri with some really strong rum,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yeah, a 151 daiquiri.â&#x20AC;?

Want food? Clicks has popcorn, Sausage Deli sandwiches, Blackjack Pizza and more. Finally â&#x20AC;Ś we know you want boozeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and Clicks has a full bar with raved-about beer and cocktails, which you can sip while sitting on a smoking patio, watching other pool players do their thing. What more can we say? It all just clicks.

13 W. Lambert Lane 1335 79 797-4677; noblehopspub.com

33. OLD CHICAGO 29 N. Campbell Ave. 2960 32 327-6200; www.oldchicago.com/tucson

Best-Tasting Local Brew B NNIMBUS BREWING COMPANY 38 E. 44th St. 3850 74 745-9175 64 6464 E. Tanque Verde Road (bistro) 26 269-6309; www.nimbusbeer.com

N Nimbus Brewing Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monkey mascot is one busy simian. There he is, sitting crosslegged in deep alcohol-induced meditation on le the Oatmeal Stout label, and there he is again, th dressed like a hillbilly and strumming a banjo d on a bottle of the Old Monkeyshine. Hell, he o even plays the devil on the Red Ale bottle, ev where heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hefting a mug of brew while the w flames of hell lick at his little monkey heels. fl That monkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been at it for years, too, hanging T tough as Nimbus grew from a little outfit into to one of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top breweries. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one dedio cated little monkey youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re got there, Nimbus. ca Whatever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re paying him, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough. W

A couple of hours before Scott and Co.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 6 p.m. opening time, the bartenders arrive at work to do two things: Set up their cocktail mise en place â&#x20AC;Ś and tinker. They mix and combine ingredients, ices and techniquesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ever heard of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;pulledâ&#x20AC;? cocktail?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;to develop handcrafted drinks. And the results are amazing. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking national-attention-getting amazing. The only downside is that a patron may grow attached to a drink on one quarterly menu thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gone on the next. (The bartenders will try to satisfy, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always have the ingredients; you know, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just keep special ingredients like pomegranate molasses sitting around.) On the current menu, we love the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Female Trouble,â&#x20AC;? which combines Banks Five Island Rum, rye whiskey, Campari, ginger syrup, fresh lime, orange juice and a hint of maraschino. Wow. Runners up:

2. DOWNTOWN KITCHEN + COCKTAILS 135 S. Sixth Ave. 623-7700; downtownkitchen.com

3. HOTEL CONGRESS 311 E. Congress St. 622-8848; www.hotelcongress.com

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2 PINTS

Runners up: Ru

22. BARRIO BREWING CO. 80 E. 16th St. 800 79 791-2739; barriobrewing.com

33. THUNDER CANYON BREWERY 74 N. La Cholla Blvd. 7401 79 797-2652; www.thundercanyonbrewery.com

EVERY DAY ALL DAY

Best Billiards B CCLICKS BILLIARDS 33 N. First Ave. 3325 88 887-7312; clicks.com

C you ever get a pool table at your favorite Can barâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which has, like, maybe two? Probably not, b unless youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a billiards bully. Clicks has freakinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; u 220 pool tables, mostly your standard (but quality) 8-foot-long models, but there are also three ity famous 9-footersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and no warped cues. If you fa want entertainment variety, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;foosw ball, dartboards, TVs, Golden Tee LIVE (the golf b arcade-game, if you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know) and bowling. ar

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Best Happy Hour

Best Gay/Lesbian Bar

SKY BAR

IBT’S

536 N. Fourth Ave. 622-4300; www.skybartucson.com

616 N. Fourth Ave. 882-3053; www.ibtstucson.com

Leaving aside jokes about the comparative lack of Tucson competition in this category, IBT’s deserves recognition. The club offers dance music seven days a week, and the patio expands the bar’s dance space nicely. Drinks are cheap, particularly on “Cheap Ass Sundays,” when you can enjoy 2-for-1 beer and cocktails after 9 p.m.—which can help get your courage up for Sunday-night karaoke. But the cornerstone of IBT’s is the drag shows. Hostess-with-themostess Janee Starr is in charge of drag night Viva la Diva on Wednesdays, as well as Saturday Night Starlets, while China Collins hosts Absolutely Flawless on Fridays. If Magic Mike has gotten you in the mood for hot dudes, the drag queens are often assisted by shirtless waiters, and on Thursday and Friday nights, go-go boys shake it for your entertainment. Runners up:

At Sky Bar, they buck the normal concepts of space and time with the expansion of the happy hour to include the entire day on Sunday. Toss back plenty of drinks that are not only cheap, but generous. Meanwhile, alcohol-absorbing pizza and calzones are on the menu for your end-of-the-world ennui. Open and airy, with smoking allowed, the stargazers’ patio allows patrons to watch the skies and wonder how this all happened—specifically, how the universe began, now that we all know how it ends. Runners up:

623-7507 874 E UNIVERSITY BLVD

A Unique Dining Experienc e Check us out onlin

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FrogandFirkin.com

2. ZONA 78 78 W. River Road 888-7878 7301 E. Tanque Verde Road 296-7878; zona78.com

3. TIE APPLEBEE’S

No longer in business

Various locations www.applebees.com

3. WOODY’S

DOWNTOWN KITCHEN + COCKTAILS

3710 N. Oracle Road 292-3702; www.mywoodysaz.com R.I.P. Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness, 11 votes

135 S. Sixth Ave. 623-7700; downtownkitchen.com

2. COLORS FOOD AND SPIRITS

Hi-

Catch all your UofA Football and Basketball games in HI-DEF on 25 HUGE Flat Screen TVs!

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best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

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Best Martini

Best Margarita

TIE

GUADALAJARA GRILL

THE SHELTER

1220 E. Prince Road 323-1022 750 N. Kolb Road 296-1122; www.ggrill.com

4155 E. Grant Road 326-1345; thesheltercocktaillounge.com

These independently owned Mexican restaurants are famous for food (especially the tableside salsa), live music and—you guessed it—margaritas. They use an original recipe including limes, triple sec, sweet-and-sour and tequila. You can kick back and unwind with the classic house margarita (which is $3 during happy hour); be cool and sip on a “Diablo Azul”; spice up your life with the jalapeño margarita; or be classy and try a margatini. You can’t really go wrong when ordering a margarita at Guadalajara Grill. And with happy hours from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 p.m. to close on Friday and Saturday, you can have a fun-filled time without emptying your wallet. Runners up:

2. CAFÉ POCA COSA 110 E. Pennington St. 622-6400; cafepocacosatucson.com

3. BLANCO TACOS + TEQUILA 2905 E. Skyline Drive, No. 246 232-1007; foxrc.com/restaurants/blanco-tacos-tequila

Over Heels Martini”; or fearlessly go for broke with an orange-vodka cocktail called “The Knockout.” Thanks to the apocalypse, you won’t even wake up with a hangover! Runners up:

Where else would you really go to get a martini other than The Shelter? Nearly every bar can make one, sure, but the classic cocktail is certain to taste better in a bar where nearly everything recalls the 1960s, from the bar’s concrete-block faux-bomb-shelter construction to the predigital pinball machines. The Shelter offers a number of martini options, including drinks featuring pomegranate or chocolate flavors—but do everyone a favor, and keep it simple: always gin, the way God intended. We’re not sure how JFK, whose image is in nearly every sightline the bar offers, took his drink, but we’re certain pomegranate wasn’t involved.

3. TIE KINGFISHER BAR AND GRILL

SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE

It’s 11:45 p.m. The music at Club Congress is pulsing through you almost to the point of becoming a tangible object, able to be held in your palm. Instead, you’re holding a drink just purchased from one of the three well-stocked bars within yards of the dance floor. Soon, you’re in the middle of it—a DJ is standing at the gothic-inspired stage, just visible above the throng of attractive Tucsonans shaking, bouncing and gyrating. Off to the side, you notice members of a band who just ended their show across the street, checking out the scene. You smile to your friends, and reflect: You didn’t start the night here, and you may not end it here … but you’ll be back (barring the end of the world, of course), and soon—because your favorite drink is on special tomorrow night.

1785 E. River Road 299-4275; sullivanssteakhouse.com

With a martini glass in its logo, you can bet Sullivan’s Steakhouse merits Best Martini honors. Folks have toasted the classy chophouse for its fabulous food and drinks at various locations around the country—and just wait until you get a sip of these martinis. You can melt your end-of-the-world woes with the “Creamsicle Martini”; note your last business boast with the “CEO Martini”; have a wild finale with the “Red

2564 E. Grant Road 323-7739; www.kingfishertucson.com

SKY BAR 536 N. Fourth Ave. 622-4300; www.skybartucson.com

Best Nightclub CLUB CONGRESS Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St. 622-8848; www.hotelcongress.com/club

Best Sports Bar WORLD SPORTS GRILLE 2290 W. Ina Road 229-0011; www.worldsportsgrille.com

Sometimes, two-dozen televisions within eyeshot just isn’t enough. To tip the scales, a triple-digit-inch screen must exist, smack-dab in the middle of a complex with more than three-dozen beer choices in one direction, and a room full of unique video games in the other. Sometimes, the sports-bar experience cannot be complete without suddenly needing to challenge a buddy to a round (or seven) of Pop-a-Shot. Or air hockey. Or a quirky Japanese game that has no English subtitles, but is just so dang addictive. And sometimes, that first date arranged at a large, public gathering place needs to involve a chance for some one-on-one time, inside a wobbling, shuddering, jiggling rollercoaster simulator, to seal the deal. Runners up:

2. FAMOUS SAM’S Various locations

3. TIE BUFFALO WILD WINGS 4329 N. Oracle Road, No. 135 888-3184 1390 W. Irvington Road 799-9464 68 N. Harrison Road 296-8409; www.buffalowildwings.com

THE DEPOT 3501 E. Fort Lowell Road 795-8110

Runners up:

Best Wine Bar

2. PLAYGROUND

ARMITAGE WINE LOUNGE AND CAFÉ

278 E. Congress St. 396-3691; playgroundtucson.com

3. SKY BAR 536 N. Fourth Ave. 622-4300; www.skybartucson.com

Best Place to Dance CLUB CONGRESS Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St. 622-8848; www.hotelcongress.com/club

If your plan is to make like Britney Spears and dance until the world ends, Club Congress would be the place to abandon your inhibitions and bust a move. What with admission being so close to free, and drinks being almost as inexpensive, there’s no question why people go there. Most importantly, every night of the week offers a different musical experience and gives patrons a chance to dance through the decades with moves from the humpty-hump to the wobble. Club Congress gives downtown a great name.

2905 E. Skyline Drive, No. 168 682-9740; www.armitagewine.com

There’s always something happening for wine-lovers at this La Encantada wine bar. On Mondays, everything on the menu is half-off. On Tuesdays, you can find wine-tastings. On Wednesdays, all bottles of wine are half-price. Need we say more? The wine list offers a great mix of whites, reds and bubbles. Armitage is one of the few places in town with house-built flights: seven red, seven white (one of which is a bubbly). The food is pretty damn good, too, especially the weekend brunch, which features some of the best eggs Benedict around. Runners up:

2. CATAVINOS 3063 N. Alvernon Way 323-3063; www.catavinoswines.com

3. WILKO 943 E. University Blvd. 792-6684; www.wilkotucson.com

Best Wine/Liquor Store Runners up:

2. CACTUS MOON No longer in business

3. IBT’S 616 N. Fourth Ave. 882-3053; www.ibtstucson.com 76 WWW.TuCsON WEEKLY.COM | best

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PLAZA LIQUORS AND FINE WINES 2642 N. Campbell Avenue 327-0452

Have you seen the television show Doomsday Preppers? Families across the country are hoarding goods and preparing for the Big One. They

have boxes of canned food, water bottles, vitamins and toilet paper neatly organized in family bomb shelters. But where’s the booze? Don’t be like that, Tucson. Go directly to Plaza Liquors, and stock up on a wide variety of the finest beer, wine and hard liquor you can grab. It’s even affordable! If you need help, the friendly and über-knowledgeable staff can point you in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to mix and match single beers, too. That’s right: Customize your own six-packs! Plaza Liquors will ensure that you go out with a bang, not a whimper.

YOUR GAME

IS ON!

Celebrating

Hi-Def TVs, 2 Large HD Projectors

Runners up:

2. TOTAL WINE AND MORE 4370 N. Oracle Road 887-0174 5870 E. Broadway Blvd., No. 448 745-0540; www.totalwine.com

3. CATAVINOS 3063 N. Alvernon Way 323-3063; www.catavinoswines.com

FRIDAY FISH FRY ALL YOU CAN EAT ALL DAY Restrictions Apply

Best Lowbrow Bar Ambiance THE BUFFET BAR AND CROCK POT 538 E. Ninth St. 623-6811; www.thebuffetbar.com

In times of great peril, we all need company. Friends, relatives, loved ones—or just the comfort of strangers will do. That’s why there’s no place better to wait for the bombs to drop than that constant standby in the Iron Horse neighborhood, The Buffet. They have enough tanks of Coors and jumbo hot dogs simmering in a crock pot to ward off any ills from the last days. As long as there are games of pool and shuffleboard, everything’s going to be OK. Here are a few quarters; put some Bruce on the jukebox. The eclectic mix of professional boozers, downtown hipsters and college kids will entertain and comfort you from dusk ’til dawn. Runners up:

2. THE SHELTER 4155 E. Grant Road 326-1345; thesheltercocktaillounge.com

Vince Moreno IN CONCERT

TRY A DIABLO BURGER!

FREE EVENT

Mark Wills IN CONCERT

HAPPY HOUR M-F 2-7PM $2.50 DOMESTIC BOTTLES. NOW SERVING WEEKEND BREAKFAST!!

3. CHE’S LOUNGE 350 N. Fourth Ave. 623-2088; www.cheslounge.com

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

$3.50 JUMBO CUERVO MARGARITAS AND $2.25 CORONAS ALL DAY – EVERY DAY

www.tucsonmaverick.com

ALL SPORTS, ALL THE TIME!

WWW.DIABLOSSPORTSBAR.COM NEW HOURS!! 10AM - 2AM DAILY 2545 S CRAYCROFT RD • 514-9202 Become a fan of Diablos Sportsbar & Grill

6622 E. Tanque Verde ∙ (520) 298-0430 best of tucson® 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 77

Best Upscale Bar Ambiance PLAYGROUND 278 E. Congress St. 396-3691; playgroundtucson.com

Many Congress Street businesses have suffered this year, and are struggling to draw Tucsonans as the modern streetcar marches toward completion. Yet Playground has repelled a downtown apocalypse in its first year by making itself Tucson’s play place for adults. What separates Playground from the rest isn’t just its sharp, modern interior; it isn’t the DJs who blend classic tunes seamlessly with today’s hits; it isn’t even the rooftop deck that gives spectacular views of Congress Street. No, Playground’s strength is the whimsy that ties it all together: the composition-book-styled menus, the drinks made with Pop Rocks, and the campy movies projected on the outdoor screen. These all make Playground a disarmingly fun place to wait out the Mayan calendar’s end.

“Detective Gomez”

STEVEN MICHAEL QUEZADA Friday & Saturday, Oct. 19 & 20 8 & 10:30 pm Showtimes

Runners up:

2. SCOTT AND CO./47 SCOTT 49 N. Scott Ave. 624-4747; www.47scott.com/scottco.html

3. TIE FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE AND WINE BAR

Comedy Caffe

www.LaffsTucson.com or Call 32-FUNNY 2900 E. Broadway

6360 N. Campbell Ave. 529-5017; www.flemingssteakhouse.com

UNION PUBLIC HOUSE

TPYWLXYGWSR GSQ

4340 N. Campbell Ave., No. 103 329-8575; www.uniontucson.com

340 e6th/plushtucson.com

STAFF PICKS Best Place for Drinking, Live Music and Glass Art MR. HEAD’S 513 N. Fourth Ave. 792-2710

It can be boring ordering drinks over a wooden bar at a place swarming with ordinary people—

but at Mr. Head’s, the bar is glass, showcasing beautiful, swirly colored art for admiring while you order your drink. There are also plenty of extraordinary Fourth Avenue folks to stare at and chat with, and—on the weekends, at least— there is a wide variety of live music, from soul to rap to punk … and there’s no cover. We’re not sure why Mr. Head’s is named that—maybe it has something to do with its psychedelic glassware?—but the title works, and so does the venue.

Best UA-Area Bar and Restaurant Where the Kids Are OK FROG AND FIRKIN 874 E. University Blvd. 623-7507; frogandfirkin.com

Some people who don’t go to the UA might be disinclined to hang at Frog and Firkin because of the … well … you know … college students. But some students are worth hanging with, as you’ll see if you come here. This place not only has fabulous food, from many varieties of fries (like fries topped with pizza sauce) to creative hamburgers (like the “Firkin Super Smothered Burger,” covered with red-wine-sautéed mushrooms and onions, then topped with cheese); it also has an enormous selection of beer on tap.

Best Drink Special to Help One Deal With Downtown Construction THE DISTRICT TAVERN 260 E. Congress St. 791-0082

The Police once sang, “When the world is running down, you make the best of what’s still around.” Thankfully, beyond the dust and haze of downtown’s streetcar-track construction, The District Tavern and its “$3 Special” is still around. The $3 Special consists of a single stinging shot of Old Crow whiskey, and a cold bottle of Miller High Life. When you knock back a few of these babies, you’ll forget about the parking woes, the labyrinth-like walk to

JOIE HORWITZ

nimbus american bistro and brewery

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your next destination, and the endless jackhammering outside. So, order a few of these without worrying about putting a dent in your pocket; soak up the atmosphere; enjoy some bands; and try not to rush the chain-link fence.

Best Place to Flash Your Well-Worn Hippie Card

Best New Cocktail Bar

ECSTATIC DANCE TUCSON AT THE RHYTHM INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE FACTORY

943 E. University Blvd. 792-6684; www.wilkotucson.com

1013 S. Tyndall Ave. planetcoexist.com/EcstaticDance

Best Place to Hear Death Grips and Van Halen Back to Back

One needs to go no further than the utopian mission statement to understand that the ideals that fueled the Woodstock Nation are alive and well. Aside from that, most hippie types (as the movie Woodstock showed us) do love to dance, and the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory provides an ideal environment for one to become completely zombified and immersed in the rhythmss of pre-recorded mix tapes blaring everything from m techno to soul to R&B to old-time hippie-rock. Every third Saturday features a guest DJ who also so â&#x20AC;&#x153;facilitatesâ&#x20AC;? the first 30 minutes. The expansive wooden dance floorâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which demands a barefoot ot approachâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;completes the scene. For those given n to flashbacks, the only thing missing is the mud. d.

Ask any truly fine bartender around town which Tucson bars are making the top drinks these days, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hear a variety of responses. Some will say the sister properties of Hotel Congress and Maynards Market and Kitchen. Others will point southwest toward Casino del Sol. Of course, many will cite our Best Cocktail Menu champ, Scott and Co. Finally, a fair number will mention a cocktail bar barely a year oldâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the one at Wilko. Check out a recent Wilko cocktail of the week, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Cosmic Boxerâ&#x20AC;?: It is a mix of aged Old Tom gin, vermouth di Torino, kummel, eucalyptus honey and lemon oil. Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delicious creativity.

NU NU FRIDAYS AT LA COCINA 201 N. Court Ave. 622-0351; lacocinatucson.com

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a riot going on down at La Cocina one Friday per month. Nu Nu Fridays, a music night started up by DJs Ernesto â&#x20AC;&#x153;E_Ruptâ&#x20AC;? Vega and Erin Wilbur (who sadly recently left us for Milwaukee), is the place to be to hear the new sounds of today. E_Rupt and rotating specialguest DJs play tracks from artists as disparate as Grimes, oOoOO, The Coathangers, Blondes, Van Halen, John Maus, Dr. John, Rye Rye, and The Drumsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the catch being that no tracks from before 2010 are allowed. You can dance, or you can fold your arms across your chest and ponder life; either way, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to hear amazing new music.

WILKO

.0/ t 'PPUCBMM ,BSBPLF 56&4 t ,BSBPLF $PVOUSZ BOE 8IJTLFZ 8FEOFTEBZT 5)634 t 1POH ,BSBPLF '3* t T .PSF 4"5 t T .PSF 46/ t /'- 4VOEBZ 5JDLFU

22nd & Kolb Easy to find, Hard to leave!

747-1421

MON - SAT 11AM - 2AM SUN 10AM - 10PM

FREE WI-FI

Best Place to Drink on Your 21st Birthday

SOLAR POWERED CAFE BY DAY

THE AULD DUBLINER 800 E. University Blvd., No. 104 206-0323; www.aulddublinertucson.com

Your 21st birthdayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the moment youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been waiting for. The Auld Dubliner, conveniently located near campus, can make all your wildest 21st-birthday dreams come true. If your special day happens to fall on a Monday, you have the lucky opportunity to belt â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Stop Believingâ&#x20AC;? on karaoke night. But be sure to work your way up to the famous Harry Potter shot, a magical alcoholic concoction that the bartender sets on fire and sprinkles with cinnamon to make the flames dance. Even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been out of college for a decade or two, the Auld Dubliner can still prove to be a good time and make you nostalgic for the days when you pulled all-nighters writing papers and did a keg stand at that one party.

ONLY AT BRODIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

ASTRONAMY BAR BY NIGHT

THURSDAY

Underwear Night ĎľWD Íł >K^ Î¨Ď tÄ&#x17E;ĹŻĹŻĆ?Í&#x2022; Î¨Ď Ĺ˝ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć?Ć&#x; Ä? Ĺ˝ĆŠ ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ć? ÍžÇ Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ĺ?Ĺś ĆľĹśÄ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152; Ä&#x201A;ĆŤ Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Íż

536 N 4TH AVE (Next to Brooklyn Pizza Co) {520} 622.4300 WWW.SKYBARTUCSON.COM

Saturday September 29 @ Sky Bar Purchase @ www.skybartucson.com All ages

Best Reason to Go Out on a Monday Night BRYAN DEAN TRIO AT THE BOONDOCKS LOUNGE 3306 N. First Ave. 690-0991; www.boondockslounge.com; bryandeantrio.com

Clocking in at a mere two hours (from 6 to 8 p.m.), itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not much of a date night, but then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not really that kind of scene. Whether there are 23 people or four times that many, enthusiastic patrons understand: This is about the music. The atmosphere is more about playing than performing, which is a refreshing change of pace. As a blues guitarist, Dean is not only a master of his craft; he plays in a way thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s redefining how we can interpret the blues. Backed by Koko Matsumoto on bass, and Ralph Gilmore on drums, the trio is often joined by special guests, for a gig that can also resonate as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most Fun to be Had on a School Night.â&#x20AC;?

4TH AVENUE NOW OPEN TO CARS BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND 6TH! MON:

TEAM TRIVIA @ 7pm: Compete for Gift Cards to Brooklyn Pizza Co! Game Night, Free Pool Open - Close Happy Hour TUES: Family evening w/$9.99 Cheese Pizzas Free pool from 8pm - Close Live Jazz, Drink Specials! WED: Open Mic 6pm - Close. THURS: $2 Full Sail Drafts. $3 Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey Live Music - No Cover! FRI: Fire Dancers 7:30pm & 8:30pm. O/W/L/S presents HOT ERA. DANCE. DRINK. FUN. $2 Well Vodka from 11pm-1am SAT: LIVE MUSIC - No Cover! SUN: HAPPY HOUR from Open to Close!

COME WATCH THE U OF A GAMES HERE! WE ARE SHOWING ALL TELEVISED U OF A GAMES

2ND CLASS FREE FOR ALL NEW STUDENTS

Karaoke ĎľWD Íľ >K^ SATURDAY

Latino Night ĎľWD Íľ >K^ SUNDAY

FREE WIFI

BEAUTIFUL PATIO OUTDOOR POOL TABLES BEST INTERNET JUKEBOX IN TOWN!

Burger Sundays on the Patio ĎŻ Íľ ĎłWD Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ĹśĹŹ ^Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ?

MONDAY

$1 Wells Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; $1 Domestic Bottles

ALL CLASSES $ 00

4 PIZZA + YOGA

TAKE 10 CLASSES & RECEIVE A FREE CHEESE PIZZA

FROM BROOKLYN PIZZA COMPANY VIEW OUR CLASS SCHEDULE ONLINE

413 East 5th St Âˇ WWW.4THAVENUEYOGA.COM

AN ADVERTISING ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES ON 4TH AVENUE.

FRIDAY

TUESDAY

Dart Tournament ĎłWD Íł ^, WZ/ 2449 N. Stone Ave. t 622-0447

Open 10am-2am Daily

www.brodiestavern.com Become our FAN and FOLLOW us!

best of tucsonÂŽ 2012 | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 TuCsONWEEKLY

YEAR OF THE NFL FAN HERE’S TO ALL YOU NFL FANS. FOR WATCHING EVERY GAME IN YOUR LUCKY SEATS. FOR NEVER WASHING YOUR LUCKY JERSEYS, AND FOR PUTTING UP WITH THE SMELL OF THOSE JERSEYS. HERE’S TO ALL THE FANS AND ALL THEY DO.

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