Zocalo Magazine - June 2012

Page 1

Zócalo Tucson’s Urban Scene Magazine / JUNE 2012 / TheZMag.com



zó•ca•lo Mexican Spanish. 1. a public square or plaza, esp. in the center of a city. 2. a gathering place or the center of activity in a community. Zócalo Tucson Magazine is an independently published community magazine, showcasing Tucson’s urban arts and culture. EDITOR Jamie Manser PRODUCTION ARTISTS Troy Martin, David Olsen CONTRIBUTORS Marisa Bernal, Jon D’Auria, Emily Gindlesparger, Jess Holzworth, KXCI, Kelly Lewis, Jim Lipson, Jamie Manser, Troy Martin, David Olsen, Randy Peterson, Dolly Spalding, Monica Surfaro Spigelman, Herb Stratford, Katelyn Swanson, Valerie Vineyard, Johanna Willett PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Olsen

CONTACT US: frontdesk@zocalotucson.com P.O. Box 1171 Tucson, AZ 85702-1171 520.955.ZMAG (9624)

June 2012

05 EVENTS 06 FILM 12 ARTS 15 COMMUNITY 28 ENROUTE 33 FOOD&DRINK 36 HISTORY 40 ESCAPE 42 LIFEINTUCSON 43 TUNES 44 TIDBITS

ON THE COVER: The Night Blooming Cereus, or Peniocereus greggi, the aptly nick-named “Queen of the Night.” More information on page 5. Photo by Darlene Buhrow 2010, courtesy of Tohono Chul Park.

Zócalo Tucson Magazine is a proud member of All content copyright © 2009-2012 by Media Zócalo, LLC. Reproduction of any material in this or any other issue is prohibited without written permission from the publisher and author. No person may, without prior written permission of the publisher, take more than one copy of each issue.

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 3


Z from the editor

4 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

There’s something gorgeous about rusting classic cars in front of slumping mobile homes, with unruly vegetation taking over both, along state highways. I’m not sure if it is the silent story of small town Americana, the bygone dreams and struggles of previous generations or perhaps the ephemeral nature of humanity’s efforts. Perhaps it is representative of the futile labors of modernity, looking to build cheaply and “efficiently,” and how quickly nature overtakes slipshod construction in just a few decades. What some ancient civilizations had over modernity is tenacity for both survival and stable structures. Most are familiar with the quintessential example of the Egyptian pyramids; but native cultures of the New World had a solid on lasting architecture. In May, a visit to New Mexico’s Bandelier National Monument illustrated both the Ancestral Pueblo People’s proclivity for enduring construction (over 800 years old), along with nature’s voracious appetite. The remnant dwellings of these people, along with their rock art, stand stoic and strong above the now trickling Frijoles Creek. Along the floor of the Frijoles Canyon below, the pile up of tree branches and other detritus between the ponderosa pines whisper about the roaring flash floods that occurred after last June’s Las Conchas Fire – the state’s largest fire to date which burned 150,000 acres. Upon our return to Tucson in late May, we walked the canine along the paths of Feliz Paseos Park and enjoyed seeing the elderly saguaros, easily over 100 years old - based on their arms and height, forming fruit from their flowers. We thought about the staying power of these iconic Sonoran Desert cacti, and couldn’t imagine that the stick and stucco designs of some nearby houses would last nearly as long. Taking in the time scales of the saguaro and the buildings of the Ancestral Pueblo People was a fantastic reminder that the human temporal scale is short, nature’s long. Seeing the destruction of the flash floods after the Las Conchas Fire said to me: Take nothing for granted. Enjoy what we have in our town, while we have it, because there are no guarantees. - Jamie Manser


Tidbits by Zócalo

Celebrate Independents by Emily Gindlesparger This Independence Day, Deanna Chevas of Local First Arizona has an idea of how to celebrate. “What I try to share a much as I can is that it’s our economy and we have the ability to fix it,” she begins. “I want people to get excited about that. It’s not just ‘yay we’re independent from Britain for the last 200 years.’ You can declare independence by saying ‘I’m going to vote with my dollar.’” From July 1 to July 7, Chevas hopes Tucsonans will do just that, shopping and dining at as many local businesses as possible during Independents Week. Celebrating its 10th year, National Independents Week is a time for consumers to try something new in their local community and celebrate the diversity and positive impact that local business has on local economies. Local First Arizona joined the local advocate scene in 2003, “by a businesswoman (Kimber Lanning) in Phoenix who basically felt that the local business owners needed to band together to kind of slow the tide of corporate takeover,” Chevas says. Organically the organization grew, sprouting a Tucson chapter about three years ago. Now LFA connects local businesses through membership and mixers, and promotes consumer traffic through products like the Small Wonders maps, coming soon for Tucson, that list member businesses and where to find them. For Independents Week, Local First Arizona is organizing with LFA member businesses to offer 20% off an item or service with a Golden Coupon, printed in community newsletters and magazines and available online. This year the Mayor and City Council will be shopping with the Golden Coupon in their ward: “They’re going to help us highlight Independents Week and what it means to support local business,” Chevas explains. Supporting local business has a ripple effect, and the goal of Chevas’ work in LFA is to make waves. “If everyone in Tucson shifted 10% of their current spending from national chains to a local business, we would create 1,600 new jobs in Tucson in one year,” she cites, drawing calculations from a Civic Economics report done in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shifts can happen when an individual chooses local venues for their personal spending, or when companies shift their suppliers to local sources. Chevas illustrates businesses buying their office supplies from a national chain with 60% part time employees with no benefits. “What does that do to our community versus if that bid goes to Wist,” an independent Arizona office supply company that employs full-time workers with full benefits. “Those people can own homes.” Money spent locally cycles through our community and makes our micro economy stronger by generating more second-tier jobs and tax revenue for community use. “My goal is to get new people to know about Local First,” Chevas finishes, “to know that the impact that one person can have is bigger than a lot of people realize.” And it’s as simple as putting your dollar toward independence. n To get a copy of the Golden Coupon and find other events and promotions during Independents Week, visit LocalFirstAZ.com and click on “Buy Local.” Interested in becoming a member? Contact Tucson Membership Coordinator Deanna Chevas at 333-2073 or deanna@localfirstaz.com.

The Queen of the Night

The desert’s mysterious and hallowed Night Blooming Cereus, Peniocereus greggi - a beautiful and delicate cactus flower whose largest private collection resides at Tohono Chul Park, is getting ready to bloom. No one knows when it will happen; its trigger is an enigma. The park celebrates the mass blooming with its annual, and this year the 10th, Bloom Night. Interested in seeing this stunning plant when its petals open? Sign up at BloomWatch2012.org.

Massaging Downtown

ASIS Massage Education, Northern Arizona’s oldest and most comprehensive massage school, expanded to Tucson last month. The school’s founders are originally from Tucson and are situated in Downtown’s Warehouse Art’s district at 639 N. 6th Ave. The program has been graduating massage therapists for 17 years throughout northern Arizona. What’s the fabulous benefit of having this school Downtown? Affordable massages available from the students! Details at ASISMassage.com or tucson@asismassage.com.

A Global Fête

Tucson’s 4th annual World Refugee Fest, a 12-hour celebration of Tucson’s international cultures and soccer tournaments, will all be under one air-conditioned roof this month. Taking place in Armory Park’s Maracana Indoor Sports Arena at 555 E. 18th St., the event is from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 23. It features children’s activities, a global food and beverage village, musical performances and much more. Megan Fabry, the festival’s co-chair said “The Tucson World RefugeeFEST is all about connection – between the community, the refugees, and the diverse set of cultures we have here in Tucson. Since soccer is a language we all speak, why not play? Since food, music & dance is something we all love, why not eat, play & move? Being able to find our common ground together, and celebrate it is what Refugee Fest is all about.” Complete information on activities and the soccer teams competing are at TucsonRefugeeFest.com.

Summer in the City

Speaking of events, Downtown is going to be activated all summer long, with the Downtown Tucson Partnership planning some roof raising fun set to drive traffic to the area’s merchants. Staff was mum on the details at press time, but hints will start dropping from their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Portal through DowntownTucson.org to access their social media. One event they were happy to discuss is the Downtown Bike-In Movie Night on June 16. The free, high fashion bike ride meets at UA Flagpole at 6:30pm; the screening of “Bill Cunningham: New York” begins at 7:30pm. See the events calendar at DowntownTucson.org for more information.

Diggin’ It Downtown

The Downtown Merchants Association isn’t resting on its laurels during the “big dig.” Over the summer, close to 20 downtown businesses are participating in a treasure hunt where members of the public are given maps and hints on Facebook and Twitter to potentially win fantastic prizes. Hunts begin on the first of the month, JuneAugust, and end on the last days of each of those months. Details at: Facebook.com/DigginItDowntown.

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 5


events

Images courtesy of Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Z

Cooling Down in the Desert by Johanna Willett

The arrival of summer temperatures does not have to mean that Tucsonans retreat into airconditioned solitude until fall rolls around. Instead, every third Thursday in June, July and August, the Tucson Botanical Gardens is calling all sun shy hermits to chill out in the twilight hours. Twilight Third Thursdays not only opens the gardens to the public after the day’s harsh heat has faded, but the evenings also combine the natural imagery of the gardens with the visual and musical talent of Tucson artists. Beginning on June 21, the three evenings will give adults a relaxing opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors without sweltering and provide kids some birds-andbutterflies themed crafts. “This is a great opportunity for people to get out when the sun goes down and enjoy a cool cocktail and some hot music,” said Darlene Buhrow, the director of marketing and communications for the Tucson Botanical Gardens. “We’re hoping to get anyone from two to 102 out here enjoying the space.” With a cash bar and food, Twilight Third Thursdays are meant to be a summer retreat. Susannah Castro, an artist whose paintings and photographs of the Sonoran Desert will be featured in June, be-

6 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

lieves all of the different elements will create an ideal evening. “All of us who live in the desert know that the evenings are the best time to be outside,” Castro said. “It’s a really neat sensory experience and is a good way to get people in the mood to experience pretty things and think in a positive way. All of my work is very positive and spiritual, and it’s about this feeling of the desert.” Complementing Castro’s visual art on June 21 are tunes by R&P Music Factory, comprised of guitarist Ryan Green and keyboardist Paul Jenkins, filling the air with a diverse mix of cover songs and originals. On July 19, the event features artist Valerie Galloway with music by Tesoro; August 16 pairs the work of Patricia Katchur with the rockabilly sounds of The El Camino Royales. n Cool down at Twilight Third Thursdays through August at 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Admission is $9 for adults and $4 for children four to 12. The evening runs from 5 to 8 p.m. The gardens are also hosting “Hot Fridays” on fourth Fridays, June-August. For more information, visit TucsonBotanical.org or call 326-9686.

Above: Susannah Castro’s “Mustang Mountains at Sunset” is on exhibit during the gardens’ Twilight Third Thursdays. Middle: R&P Music Factory performs at the gardens’ June 21 Twilight Third Thursdays. Bottom: Susannah Castro’s photography and art work is exhibited during the gardens’ June Twilight Third Thursdays.


Join Local First Arizona in celebrating our local independent businesses. Take the pledge to shop local for one whole week, July 1 - 7. Try someplace new, explore what Tucson and Arizona independent businesses have to offer. Keep your money where your home is and support these and many more local businesses of all types listed in the Local First Arizona directory at LocalFirstAZ.com

arts & Entertainment The Loft Cinema 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. 520-795-0844 LoftCinema.com Skirt Full of Fire Belly Dance 520-247-4276 SkirtfullOfFire.com CoyoteMoon Films 3661 N. Campbell, Ste 222 CoyoteMoonFilms.com

Destinations / districts

Health & Wellness Lotus Massage & Wellness Center 520-326-7700 2850 E. Grant Rd. LotusTucson.com

Home improvement Benjamin Plumbing Supply 440 N. 7th Ave. 520-777-7000 BenjaminSupply.com

Restaurants, Bars & Cafes

Pets Cortaro Farms Pet Hospital 3550 W. Cortaro Farms 520-744-2050 CortaroFarmsPetHospital.com

Services Casa de Jacobus, rental CasaDeJacobus.com Copper Canyon Tax and Financial Services 5431 N Oracle, Ste 191 520-344-4149 CopperCanyonTax.com

Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St. 520-622-8848 HotelCongress.com

brewd coffee lounge 520-623-2336 39 N. 6th Avenue Brewd.us

Hi-Tech Computers 520-918-8911 404 N. Fourth Ave. Hi-Tech-Computers.com

Main Gate Square MainGateSquare.com

Buffet Bar & Crockpot 538 E 9th St. 520-623-6811 TheBuffetBar.com

Remax/Trends Trendsre.com

Mercado San Agustin 100 S. Avenida Del Convento 520-461-1107 MercadoSanAgustin.com The Bisbee Enclave 520-249-8475 BisbeeEnclave.com

education & Instruction Drum & Drummer School of Percussion TheDrumAndDrummer.com Develup Coaching & Training 401-207-4480 Develup.biz

food Local Food Concepts LocalFoodConcepts.com Walking J Farm WalkingJFarm.com

Shopping & Retail

Cafe 54 54 E. Pennington St. 520-622-1907 Cafe54.org

Betty Blue’s Junk Shop 262 S. Plumer Ave. 520-624-7147 BettyBluesJunkShop.com

Delectables Restaurant & Catering 533 N. 4th Ave 520-884-9289 Delectables.com

Deco: Art for Living 2612 E. Broadway Blvd. 520-319-0888 DecoArtTucson.com

Maynards Market + Kitchen 400 N. Toole Ave. 520-545-0577 MaynardsMarket.com

Perri Jewelers 13 N. Stone Ave. 520-624-4311 PerriJewelers.com Yikes Toys & Gift-O-rama 2930 E. Broadway Blvd 520-320-5669, YikesToys.com


8 THEZMAG.com | June 2012


Z

events

Let the Rains Come by Johanna Willett

Believe it or not, the monsoon season officially begins on June 24, thanks to a prayer to St. John the Baptist said by Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez Coronado in 1540. While it may not always rain cats and dogs on this mid-summer day in modern Tucson, legend says that a downpour answered Coronado’s desperate prayer, leading him to mark the day as the official beginning of the summer rainy season. Also commemorated as the feast day for John the Baptist, history and tradition shroud June 24, and El Día de San Juan Fiesta makes this a public celebration. For the fifteenth year, collaborations between Tucson neighborhoods, city government, and local corporations will enable a festival that beseeches St. John the Baptist for rain, just as Coronado did so many centuries ago. The festival begins with a procession that carries a statue of St. John the Baptist to the altar near the banks of the Santa Cruz River. Charros and escaramuzas, or men and women on horseback, escort the parade and the music of mariachis adds sonic flavor. Then, the priest gives a blessing, and the festivities begin, complete with vendors and food. “We have a lot of fun doing this,” said Lillian LopezGrant, one of the event’s lead organizers. “Some years

it lasts until midnight. People return every year, and every year we expect it to rain. Eventually it will.” When the neighborhoods of the west side brought back the fiesta in 1998, they sparked a celebration that would blend cultural elements of historic Tucson with the ever-present need for water. The festival centers around Coronado’s prayer amidst drought and death, but the festival reaches out to people from all walks of life, religious or not. “Like just about everything that’s historical in the Southwest, this festival revolves around religion,” Lopez-Grant said. “We prefer to call it a historic and cultural event so that everyone feels comfortable. A couple of years ago, though, it did rain. Even the nonbelievers believed that year.” n Celebrate El Día de San Juan on June 24 at West Congress Street on the south side and west bank of the Santa Cruz River. The festival lasts from 5 to 10 p.m., and the event is free. For more information, check out the Facebook page for the El Día de San Juan Fiesta Committee.

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 9


Z

Events Photos courtesy of Children’s Museum Tucson.

Interactive exhibits at the museum’s “Investigation Station.”

A Summer Experiment by Johanna Willett

When the final bell releases kids into the glory of summer vacation, many will rush out of school with the intention of switching off their brains for the next few months. Science Sundays at the Children’s Museum Tucson means to counteract this summer slump by offering kids hands-on, educational activities disguised as fun. “Kids learn, develop, and grow by doing,” said Michael Luria, the executive director of the museum. “They need the opportunity to do things themselves, and that’s what makes it fun. When you’re doing fun and exciting things, kids usually don’t realize they’re learning.” Science Sundays, which began on May 20 and runs through September 2, brings thirdparty organizations like the Reid Park Zoo and UA Optics onto the campus for several hours of stimulating, educational interaction. Each Sunday, admission is only $2. On May 20, Science Sundays kicked off with a look at the sun, as the Planetary Science Institute prepared children and their parents for that evening’s solar eclipse. The event provided information about sun safety and gave kids an opportunity to make sun related arts and crafts.

10 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

“We’re always looking for different ways to understand the world around us,” said Sanlyn Buxner, an education specialist for the Planetary Science Institute. “The sun is a big part of our world, especially in Arizona. It is one of the most important things for life on earth.” Other Sundays will also seek to scientifically engage children in the world around them. Science Sundays corresponds with the opening of the museum’s newest exhibit last month, Investigation Station. Luria says this latest exhibit is the museum’s most ambitious, with its variety of activities all focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning. “STEM learning is the hot new thing in education,” said Brooke Sanders-Silverman, the museum’s director of education. “We want to keep up to date with anything that is happening in the educational realm, and this is really being emphasized right now.” The exhibit itself involves kids in everything from gears to colors to airflow, consistently nudging kids toward using the elements of STEM learning. “STEM learning is so critically important,” Luria said. “It’s the topic that comes up when

we talk about kids in our communities falling behind kids in other countries. The jobs in our workforce for tomorrow will focus around this. We, as a children’s museum, need to play a role in implementing those skills in our community.” In the last calendar year, the Children’s Museum served 127,000 visitors, according to Luria. This major push in the past few years to spruce up the museum should prove fruitful over the summer, as the museum attracts children with its new programs and exhibits. “There is sometimes this stigma with being a scientist, but we want to expose kids at an early age and get them excited about the many different facets of science,” Sanders-Silverman said. “They’re going to be out of school, so we want to keep their brains stimulated.” n Get in touch with your mad scientist at the Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 S. 6th Ave. Each Sunday, from 10:30 am to 4 pm, admission is $2. For more information, visit ChildrensMuseumTucson.org.


June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 11


FILM

Photo courtesy of RivieraTheatre.com

Z

“Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview” screens at The Loft Cinema on June 28.

film listings

“The Beasts of the Southern Wild”

Cinema La Placita La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave. $3 suggested donation. CinemaLaPlacita.com Thursdays, 7:30pm. See the website for info.

“The Queen of Versailles”

“The Sound of My Voice” opens locally this month.

“The Intouchables”

Summer Blockbuster Blues Cured by Herb Stratford In an effort to thwart the evil studios that flood our multiplexes with explosions, slim plots and computer effects every summer, here’s a look at a few smaller, plot-driven and relatively explosionfree films that really can be worth your hard earned dollar this hot summer. Many of these films had their debut at festivals like Sundance, Cannes or Toronto in the early months of 2012, and are just now finding their way to Tucson. Local release dates are listed as they have been tentatively scheduled, but things do tend to shift, so be sure to check local theatre listings. With a June 1 opening, the brilliant indie flick “The Sound of My Voice” is the first must-see to come out. Starring Brit Marling, who dazzled in “Another Earth,” this film debuted in 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival. It is a tale of a documentary filmmaker attempting to infiltrate and document an odd cult, fronted by Marling’s character who may or may not be a con artist. Engaging, edgy and full of unexpected twists, this one keeps you guessing till the last frame. On June 8, “The Intouchables” arrives. This new French film is about a quadriplegic who hires an unlikely caretaker from the projects to help him adjust to his new life. The movie has been a huge hit in France, and is a touching story of an unlikely friendship. Also in June: “The Beasts of the Southern Wild” which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this year, a new documentary from Morgan Spurlock (“Super Size Me”) entitled “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope,” about the world of comic conventions, “Your Sister’s Sister” and “Safety Not Guaranteed” which won fans at film festivals for their quirky stories and stellar casts. In July the riveting documentary “The Queen of Versailles” follows one of the country’s wealthiest families as they attempt to build the largest single-family residence in the country, only to see their world collapse along with the rest of the economy. Also of note is “Ruby Sparks,” from the directors of “Little Miss Sunshine,” which follows a struggling writer whose character becomes flesh and blood, and the odd romance that follows. August is still a bit blurry in regards to film release dates, but stay tuned as there are lots of quality artists bringing compelling stories to the screen. n

12 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

The Loft Cinema 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. 795-7777 (show times recording), 322-LOFT, LoftCinema.com. Times and admissions vary. Dates indicate first date of movie run. Fri 1: Sound of My Voice, Surviving Progress, First Friday Shorts, Tremors Sun 3: The Color Wheel Mon 4: Barbarian Queen Wed 6: Indie Game: The Movie Fri 8: First Position, Comic-Con Episode IV; A Fan’s Hope, Fight Club Sun 10: Keyhole, Last Year at Marienbad Wed 13: Chely Wright: Wish Me Away Fri 15: Delicacy Sun 17: Dr. No (50th Anniversary) Tue 19: Reveal The Path Fri 15: Last Days Here, The Raid: Redemption, Delicacy Fri 22: Where Do We Go Now?, God Bless America, Road House Sun 24: Frankenstein (National Theatre Live) Thu 28: Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview Fri 29: Peace, Love and Misunderstanding Fox Theatre 17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org Sun 10: Escuela de Vagabundos (2pm) Sat 23: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (7:30pm) Sun 24: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (2pm) Pima County Public Libraries 594-5500, Library.Pima.Gov Fri 8: Friday Film, 9:30am (Salazar-Ajo) Mon 11: Better This World, 6pm-8pm (Himmel Park) Fri 15: Friday Film, 9:30am (Salazar-Ajo) The Screening Room 127 E. Congress St. 882-0204, Call for information


Events

Z

June Sat 2

Central Tucson Gallery Association’s self-guided tours and receptions at galleries in and around downtown. See the website for venues and exhibits. Free. 6pm. CTGATucson.org

Schwinn-riding cultural anthropologist, has been obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high society charity soirées for the New York Times style section in his columns “On the Street” and “Evening Hours.” The free, high fashion bike ride meets at UA Flagpole at 6:30pm; movie screening begins at 7:30pm at Providence Corporation’s Jackson Street parking lot, one block south of Broadway Boulevard and in-between Scott and Stone Avenues. Hosted by Living Streets Alliance, Downtown Tucson Partnership with support from Ordinary Bike Shop and Pima County Clean Air Program. kwalzak@gmail.com, 891-9094, DowntownTucson.org

SPLASH! SUMMER CHARITY BENEFIT

Thu 21

MEET ME DOWNTOWN 5K NIGHT RUN/WALK Featuring honored guest Amby Burfoot, children’s activities, movies, post-race celebrations, music by LeeAnne Savage, more. Registration fees vary. 7pm. Downtown. 991-0733, AZRoadRunners.org

SUMMER ART CRUISE

A fundraiser for The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance. 6pm-10pm. La Encantada, Skyline & Campbell. SAACA.org

Tue 5 TWILIGHT WALKING TOUR

Learn about the mansions on Main Avenue in El Presidio neighborhood. Meet at NW corner of Main and Alameda. 6pm. $15. 625-8365, KruseArizona.com

Sat 9 2ND

SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN The monthly downtown street festival features Crosscut Saw, This Group of People, Reno del Mar, Tucson Circus Arts on the Scott stage, Atom Heart Mother at the Fox, Southwest Soul Circuit at La Placita Village, FC Soccer at 5th Ave & Congress St., food vendors, more. Free. 4pm-10:30pm. Downtown, 2ndSaturdays.com

Fri 15 2012 LUMIES

Tucson Pima Arts & Business Awards - an evening of celebration featuring live music, dancing, an appetizer buffet, more. $35/advance, $45/door. 6pm. El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St. 624-0595, TucsonPimaArtsCouncil.org

Sat 16 FEATSAZ TAKING IT HIGHER CONFERENCE A networking and educational event full of valuable information that can be applied to new events or iconic festivals, exploring topics from sponsorship to risk management and everything in between. A Caribbean Pool Party kicks-off the conference Friday, June 15, 7pm poolside with the joyful vibe of Trinidadian recording artist Richard Noel. Cost TBD. 9am-3pm. Hotel Tucson City Center InnSuites, 475 N. Granada Ave. 370-0588, FEATSAZ.com

DOWNTOWN BIKE-IN MOVIE NIGHT A free screening of the documentary “Bill Cunningham: New York.” For decades, Bill Cunningham, the

TWILIGHT THIRD THURSDAYS

Guitarist Ryan Green and keyboardist Paul Jenkins perform; on exhibit: paintings and photographs by Susannah Castro. $9/adult, $4/kids. 5pm-8pm. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686, TucsonBotanical.org

TWILIGHT WALKING TOUR Learn about the history of Barrio Viejo neighborhood. Call for location meeting point. 6pm. $15. 625-8365, KruseArizona. com

Fri 22 HOT FRIDAYS Bring a picnic basket full of your favorite goodies and pick a shady garden spot to enjoy the setting sun and the emergence of the moon along with all your favorite nighttime flora and fauna. 5pm8pm. $8. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686, TucsonBotanical.org

Sat 23 REFUGEEFEST & SOCCER TOURNAMENT A free all-day family event in celebration of World Refugee Day with kids activities, food, cultural displays, more! 9am-9pm. Maracana Indoor Sports Center, 555 E. 18th St. TucsonRefugeeFest.com

Sun 24 15TH ANNUAL EL DIA DE SAN JUAN FIESTA Celebrate the local monsoon season with a traditional procession and blessing, cowboys and trick horseback riders, food, games and music. Free. 6pm-10pm. Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. See story, page 9.

ONGOING TUCSON PADRES BASEBALL

The minor league team’s home games take place at 7:05pm on June 1, 7-10, 19-22, 27-30. Prices vary. See website for details. Kino Veteran’s Stadium, 2500 E. Ajo Way, TucsonPadres.com

SKYNIGHTS Nightly tours of the universe as part of the stargazing program. 5pm nightly, lasting approximately four-five hours. $60/adult includes a light dinner. Mount Lemmon Sky Center, see website for directions. 626-8122, Skycenter.arizona.edu

Mondays MEET ME AT MAYNARDS (@Hotel Congress) Southern Arizona Roadrunners’ Monday evening, noncompetitive, social 3-mile run/walk, that begins and ends downtown at Hotel Congress, rain/shine/holidays included! 311 E. Congress St. 991-0733, MeetMeAtMaynards.com

Tuesdays DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Every Tuesday, June-August, allows your canine companions to play at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. $3/dog, regular admission for humans. 8:30am-4:30pm. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686, TucsonBotanical.org

Thursdays SANTA CRUZ RIVER FARMERS’ MARKET Locally grown fruits and vegetables, plants, flowers, canned goods, honey, baked goods, eggs, gourds, herbal remedies, more. 4pm-7pm. Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. CommunityFoodBank.com

Saturdays DOWNTOWN RETAIL WALKING TOURS Join Ken Scoville for a fun and informative walking tour of retail past, present and future in Downtown Tucson. Free. Morning & evening tours available. Email caitlin@downtowntucson.org to RSVP or call 837-6516. DowntownTucson.org

MAYNARDS’ FARMERS’ MARKET Fresh, local products from 20+ local and regional vendors. 8am-noon. Maynards’ patio, 400 N. Toole Ave. MaynardsMarket.com

Sat 23-Sun 24 ORO VALLEY INDOOR SUMMER ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL A two-day festival of artistic demonstrations. 10am-5pm. Hilton El Conquistador, 10000 N. Oracle Rd. 797-3959, SAACA.org

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 13


14 THEZMAG.com | June 2012


arts

Z

Wallace Berman “Untitled (Shuffle),” 1969 Verifax & acrylic 13 × 14 inches Collection of Timothea Stewart, Topanga, CA Joan Murray “Robert Heinecken in California,” 1972 Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona Tucson, AZ

Unknown photographer “Wallace Berman at Larkspur,” 1958 Courtesy Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery

Viewer Discretion Advised by Jess Holzworth The Center for Creative Photography (CCP) has been showcasing a radical exhibition for the last few months. The edgy show, aptly titled “Speaking in Tongues: Wallace Berman and Robert Heinecken, 1961– 1976,” originated at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, CA. Its curators are Claudia Bohn-Spector and Sam Mellon whom, after researching the Heinecken archives at the CCP, conceptualized the exhibition. It merges the artwork of two influential avant-garde American artists, Wallace Berman and Robert Heinecken, artists who shared a close creative friendship that thrived on pranks and unconventional thought. The exhibit emphasizes the impact of visual language and the symbolic meaning behind it. Berman and Heinecken both employed wit in their work to raise deeper intellectual questions. Through their use of manipulating found images of political and sexual content, they addressed the hypocrisy in American mass media. Wallace Berman was a multi-media artist who emerged from the beatnik/hippy counterculture of West Coast California. Berman resided in Topanga Canyon until his untimely death when a drunk driver killed him instantly on his 50th birthday, February 18, 1976. Although he was not as well known as other California artists such as Ed Ruscha, he was held in high regard and inspired the likes of Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell. Hopper was a collector of Berman’s work and gave him a small role in the 1969 cult film classic “Easy Rider.” Berman was rumored to have a “spiritual” quality and he is eternally mysterious till this day, a bohemian mystic of sorts. Berman is mostly known for his Verifax collages, which consist of photocopies from a Kodak copy machine of that name. Berman copied images from magazines and newspapers, often juxtaposing them in a grid formation. These images consist of rabbit foot charms, athletes, snakes, crosses, female body parts and Hebrew lettering. His collages are mounted on flat surfaces, occasionally mixed with acrylic paint. Berman was an avid photographer and made one silent film, “Aleph,” using an 8mm and 16mm camera, released in 1966. From 1955 to 1964, Berman created, published and distributed a hand-printed art and poetry journal Semina. The journal’s limited editions were solely sent or given to Berman’s select friends. Contributors for Semina included the likes of Charles Bukowski, William Burroughs, Allen

Ginsberg, Jean Cocteau, Berman himself, plus many other interesting artists from that time. Wallace Berman was an alchemist of visual imagery who cast a spell upon popular culture awakening us to our innate human condition. Regardless of the fact that Berman had contact with every “hipster” of original thinking, there was still a secretive quality to him - as well as with Heinecken. Robert Heinecken was the son of a Lutheran minister and grew up in Riverside, CA. He served as a Marine fighter pilot from 1953 to 1957. Heinecken received his BA (1959) and MFA (1960) from the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1960, he was hired by his alma mater and taught in the art department for the next 31 years. He founded the graduate department for photography at UCLA in 1963; at the time UCLA was one of the few places to study photography as an art. In the 1960s, Heinecken was creating original styles of photography that were unique to the medium. He went beyond conventional ideas being executed by other photographers and was an innovator of post-modern photography. Heincken recontextualized already existing photographic images using photographic emulsions on canvas, offset lithographs, and photolithographs. Heineken’s piece “Cream Six” could be described as a psychedelic sexual dream. Artistic pioneers Berman and Heinecken manipulated mass media images from American culture to create timeless visual poetry. Their work is deep, sensual, and provocative. After viewing this exhibition, one can appreciate the creative eye of both these formative artists whose work continues to inspire. n The free exhibit continues through June 17 at the Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N. Olive Rd. Hours are Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; SatSun, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Details at CreativePhotography.org and 621-7968. The upcoming exhibit at CCP, “Made in Arizona: Photographs from the Collection,” opens August 18. The exhibition celebrates the Arizona Centennial with a selection of photographs created in the state during the 20th century.

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 15


Z

Arts

Dennis Ziemienski’s “Tucson Diver” is part of the Spirit of the West exhibit.

Bill Schenck’s “Wyoming #44” is part of the Spirit of the West exhibit.

Scott Baxter’s “Jim O’Haco of the O’Haco Cattle Company, Coconino County, Est. 1910,” shows at Tucson Museum of Art.

Tucson Museum of Art Celebrates the West by Herb Stratford Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate what a unique place we live in until we take a few steps back for perspective. This month the Tucson Museum of Art turns its artistic spotlight on the unique attributes of the American West with a photographic examination of ranching and a show that explores how the western United States has been perceived by the public. Christine Brindza, the museum’s curator for the upcoming exhibits, sees the shows as “stand alone” bodies of work that also “inform and relate to each other in regards to defining the West.” Up first is an exhibit of photographs by Scott T. Baxter entitled “100 Years, 100 Ranchers” that presents photographs of men and women who have worked on Arizona ranches for the last century. Timed to coincide with the state centennial celebrations, this exhibit opens on June 16 and will run until September 23. The large format black and white images in this exhibit are a revelation in their depth of detail and rich black and white contrast. Highlighting the spider-work of creases in one man’s hands as he grips a rope lasso, or as another subject stands framed in a doorway holding a saddle, one is stricken by how little ranching in

16 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

the West has changed over the last 100 years. While dude ranches are all but a memory due to shifting vacation habits of the middle class, working ranches still exist and the men and women who run them are a unique and majestic breed. Brindza sees the photographs as depicting the “real side” of ranching with personal perspective rather than general characterization often utilized to depict this profession. The spirit of the romance of the West is alive and well in the sister exhibit, “Tucson Collects: Spirit of the West,” also on display June 16 through September 23. This show examines how the stories of the American West were communicated via painting, sculpture, photography and other items. Culled from both public and private collections, this exhibit helps to define the way our region has been burned into popular perception over decades of creations by legions of artists. The impact of an idolized western experience has helped frame not only our national identity, but also that of our individual personas. This show represents the “grander package of the West” and demonstrates many artists’ interpretations to “define the West” which seems to be constantly romanticized using historical

imagery. Clearly the Western United States is just as modern as the East coast, but the perception of the romance of the frontier remains through its grand landscapes and abundant, open nature. These exhibits “play together well,” according to Brindza, in looking at things from the large picture - as well as the small and remind us of the awe others feel about the place we live in. On another note entirely, the museum will also play host to the “Arizona Doodle 4 Google” finalists in the museum lobby from June 1 through August 31. The competition invited people to create their own Google doodle about where they would travel in time if they could. Celebrity judges for the national competition include Katy Perry and the creator of Phineas and Ferb. The Tucson Museum of Art is the only museum in the state to participate in this exhibit, which reminds us that many great artists’ began their masterpieces with doodles, such as Picasso, Cezanne and Keith Haring. n The Tucson Museum of Art is located at 140 N. Main Ave., at 624-2333 and online at TucsonMuseumOfArt.org.


June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 17


18 THEZMAG.com | June 2012


arts

Above and Below The Art of Josh Keyes

Z

Josh Keyes, Stampede, 60”x120”, acrylic on canvas 2011

by Dolly Spalding The Joseph Gross Gallery is tucked into the area dedicated to the arts on the U of A campus (south of Speedway Boulevard, and east of Park Avenue, across from the UA Art Museum, near the Center for Creative Photography). Its stated mission is to “involve the University of Arizona, Tucson and southern Arizona communities in the continuing dialogue posed by contemporary artists through the School of Art’s Visiting Artist, Scholar and Exhibition program.” Brooke Grucella, the Curator for the School of Art, emphasizes that “we want to create a niche for the Joseph Gross Gallery that showcases artwork you won’t see anywhere in Tucson.” Another goal is to “select artists who work with concepts that run analogous to the theme presented by the Visiting Artists and Scholar (VASE) series.” In this case, it’s “Present as Future: Science, Technology and the Visual Arts.” An example of an unknown-to-Tucson artist is Portland, Oregon painter Josh Keyes. His show “Above and Below” opened May 21. The work is “a syncopated and practiced arrangement of uncommon encounters; Keyes’ creatures embody global political and social upheaval while poised to face the colossal summit of civil decay,” as aptly described by the press release. Grucella welcomes the opportunity for “students within the university to interact directly with the artist.” And Josh Keyes says, “I am excited to meet the art students and discuss anything and everything, from technique to studio practice, to gaining exposure for their artwork, and talk about life after school.” Born in Tacoma, WA in 1969, Keyes graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1992 and also has an MFA from Yale. He discovered the NYC Museum of Natural History as a child, which fueled a life-long fascination with dioramas, scientific diagrams and charts. Later, modernist hard edge painting and minimalism plus 18th and 19th century Neo Classicism and Romanticism caught his interest. He says, “My aim is to harness and explore both contemporary environmental issues in addi-

tion to my personal mythology and experience.” He grew up in a family of artists; his mother a painter, and his father a ceramicist and sculptor. He was encouraged from an early age to create. At the Art Institute, Keyes studied human and animal anatomy, and his paintings are part science textbook, part theater, part animal art, part something like two-dimensional sculpture, and the scenes seem about to leap off the canvas and into reality. And that would be hyper reality combined with surrealism, where the formal arrangements combine with a level of anarchy, creating an almost unbearable tension; however, the elements of manic storytelling mitigate what otherwise might be overly disturbing. A painstaking attention to detail has Josh sometimes wielding a one- or two-hair brush. “I try not to overdo it on the coffee when I have to paint a field of grass or bear fur,” he jokes. The scenes he has concocted combine nightmare and humor, profound political and ecological statements, and a quirky version of the urban/wildlife/human interface — on an epic scale that defies easy categorization. Among the outsized allegories: a rhinoceros collecting road signs on its horn; elk horns sprouting tree branches; deer antlers aflame and setting the forest ablaze; a bear perching atop a wrecked, tagged car; fire hydrants and phone booths coexisting with a snarling tiger and a bison; a majestic statue, half underwater, attended by manatees and monarch butterflies. The menagerie is rendered with exquisite precision and heartbreaking expressiveness. In development for more than ten years (and still evolving), Keyes’ work offers a passionate exposition of general concern and profound philosophy. n Joseph Gross Gallery is located at 1031 N. Olive Rd., Room 108, online at web.cfa.arizona.edu/galleries and 626-4215. The exhibit opened May 21 and runs through August 30. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to the public.

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 19


Arts

George Hanson, Music Director and Conductor of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, is a nominee in the Artist Lifetime Achievement category.

Honoring Local Luminaries by Zócalo staff To love Tucson is to love its robust arts and music scene, and annually the community nominates the exemplary creatives and organizations that give this town its groovy vibe. On June 15, the Tucson Pima Art Council’s annual Lumies Arts and Business Awards ceremony names the winners chosen by a committee. The process, described by TPAC board member and UA Poetry Center’s Executive Director Gail Browne, happens thusly: “TPAC makes a public call for nominees in the various arts and business categories. The Lumies committee reviews the nominations and selects a reviewing committee to determine winners in each category.” Considering the strength of local talent, it can’t be an easy job but all the nominees can definitely feel good about being respected and recognized by their fellow Tucsonans. More than just an awards ceremony, the event is a party with cocktails for sale, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and dancing to the Mambo rock of Sergio Mendozo y la Orkesta. Starting at 6 p.m., the fête happens at El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St. Advance tickets are $35, and $45 at the door. Complete details are at TucsonPimaArtsCouncil.org or by calling 624-0595. The 2012 nominees include the following on the right. >

Photo courtesy TPAC/Tucson Symphony Orchestra

Z

Established Arts Organization 91.3 KXCI Community Radio Chidren’s Museum Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson New ARTiculations Dance Theater Rhythm and Roots The University of Arizona Press UApresents

Large Business Partner Buffalo Exchange General Growth Properties - Tucson Mall & Park Place Tucson Airport Authority/Tucson International Airport

Arts Patron Jean-Paul Bierny Al & Marilyn Cook Fletcher McCusker Julie Sasse

Small Business Partner Bentley’s House of Coffee and Tea Cemrock Feast Mesch, Clark & Rothschild, P.C. Tucson Botanical Gardens

Artist Lifetime Achievement George Hanson To-Ree-Nee Wolf McArdle Gail Marcus Orlen Manabu Saito Marvin Shaver

Arts Education Program Odaiko Sonora Pan Left Productions The University of Arizona Poetry Center Tucson Arts Brigade Tucson Jazz Institute Visiting Artists, Scholars & Exhibitions program (VASE) - University of Arizona College of Fine Arts School of Art

Arts Educator David Andres Mariana Carreras Stevie Mack Photo courtesy TPAC/Tucson Jazz Institute

Public Art Partner Beyond Bread Northwest Medical Center - Oro Valley Hospital Tucson Medical Center

Emerging Arts Organization Fluxx Studio & Gallery Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding Stories that Soar! VelociPrints Members of the Tucson Jazz Institute’s award-winning Ellington Band; the band is a nominee in the Arts Education Program category.

20 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

Emerging Artist Amy Briseño Mel “Melo” Dominguez Sergio Mendoza Joe Pagac


June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 21


Z

Arts

Paintings and photographs by George Strasburger and Alfonso Elia are featured in the “New Works” exhibit at George Strasburger Gallery and Studio.

art Galleries/exhibits ARTSEYE GALLERY

4th Annual Curious Camera Event continues through July 31. Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm; Sat, 10am-5pm. 3550 E. Grant Rd. 327-7291, ArtsEye. com

BLUE RAVEN GALLERY Express Yourself...Anything Goes! opens with a reception on Sat, June 16, 6pm-8:30pm. Thu, noon-4pm; Fri, noon-5pm; Sat, 11am5pm. 3042 N. 1st Ave. 623-1003, BlueRavenGalleryandGifts.com

CENTER FOR CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY Speaking in Tongues: Wallace Berman and Robert Heinecken continues through June 17. Permanent Collection Exhibition, curated by Ansel Adams Intern River Bullock, continues through June 17. Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sun, noon-5pm. 1030 N. Olive Rd. 621-7968, CreativePhotography.org

CONTRERAS GALLERY Radiance by Carmen R. Sonnes shows June 2-June, 30. Reception Sat, June 2, 6pm. Tues-Fri, 11am-5pm; Sat 11am-4pm. 110 E. 6th St. 398-6557, ContrerasHouseFineArt.com

DAVIS DOMINGUEZ GALLERY

Small Things Considered: 20th Small Works Invitational, continues through June 30. Thu-Fri, 11am-5pm; Sat, 11am-4pm. 154 E. 6th St. 629-9759, DavisDominguez.com

DECO Art for the Garden continues through August 31. Tue-Wed, Sat, 11am-4pm; Thu-Fri, 11am-5pm. 2612 E. Broadway Blvd. 319-0888, DecoArtTucson.com

THE DRAWING STUDIO Fundamental Skills opens Sat, June 2. Art of Summer, a camp for youth and teen (ages 9-18) runs through June and July. Tue-Sat, noon-4pm. 33 S. 6th Ave. 620-0947, TheDrawingStudio.org

FLORENCE QUATER GALLERY SUVA Summer Teen Camp (ages 12-17) takes place June 24-June 30. Fees and tuition vary. The Art Center Design College, 2525 N. Country Club Rd. 325-0123, SUVA.edu

FLUXX STUDIO AND GALLERY

Masquerade Prom, a prom for LGBTQ individuals ages 13-23, is June 1, 7pm-11pm. Free. The Human Project: 10 Years opens Sat, June 2. $10. Fluxx Studio & Gallery, 414 E. 9th St. FluxxProductions. com

GEORGE STRASBURGER STUDIO AND GALLERY New Works by George Strasburger and photographer Alfonso Elia opens June 1. Thu-Sat, 11am4pm and by appointment. 172 E. Toole Ave. 882-2160, GeorgeStrasburger.com

JOSEPH GROSS GALLERY Above and Below by artist Josh Keyes continues through Aug 22. Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-4pm. 1031 N. Olive Rd. 626-4215, CFA.arizona.edu/galleries

22 THEZMAG.com | June 2012


“Margarita Sunset” by Diana Madaras shows at Madaras Gallery through June.

MADARAS GALLERY Margarita Sunsets opens June 1. Photographer Daniel Plumer has an landscape photography exhibit in June. Reception June 7, 5pm7pm. Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun, 11am-5pm. 3001 E. Skyline Dr, #101. 623-4000, Madaras.com.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Artists in Residence: Hunter Jonakin and Jordan Vinyard show Sat, June 9-Sun, June 24. Renne Angle: The New Dream Anatomy on Fri, June 1 at 7pm. Wed-Sun, noon-5pm.$8, adults; free, children under 12, members, military; free to all second Wednesday of the month. 265 S. Church Ave. 624-5019, MOCA-Tucson.org

OBSIDIAN GALLERY Summer Solos: Don West, Gary Swimmer, George Penaloza, Judith Hoyt, Gerald Justin Ferrari, Michael Cajero, through September 1, 410 N. Toole Ave. #120. 577-3598, Obsidian-Gallery.com

PHILABAUM GLASS GALLERY & STUDIO Call for information. TueSat, 10am-5pm. 711 S. 6th Ave. 884-7404, PhilabaumGlass.com

PORTER HALL GALLERY Art & photography by Susanna Castro continues through June 28. $8, adults; $4, children 4-12; Free, children 3 and younger. 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686, TucsonBotanical.org

RAICES TALLER 222 ART GALLERY Call for information. 218 E. 6th St. 881-5335, RaicesTaller222.webs.com

SACRED MACHINE Beyond The Sacred Arts Festival continues through July 31. Wed-Fri, 1pm-4pm; Sat, 4pm-9pm; Sun, 3pm-6pm. 245 E. Congress St. 7777403, SacredMachine.com

TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART

Tucson Collects: Spirit of the West & 100 Years, 100 Ranchers: Photographs by Scott T. Baxter opens Sat, June 16; plus ongoing exhibits. Tue-Wed, Fri-Sat, 10am-6pm; Thu, 10am-8pm; Sun, noon-6pm. $8, adults; $6, seniors; $3, students 13+; free, children under 12. Free to all the first Sunday of the month. 140 N. Main Ave. 624-2333, TucsonMuseumofArt.org

UA ART MUSEUM Joshua Olivera “Palimpsest: An Image of What Once Was” continues through Sept 2. Continuing through Oct 28 is David Headley & Sol LeWitt Days. Tue-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun, noon-4pm. $5 adults; children/students/faculty, free. 1031 N. Olive Rd. ArtMuseum.arizona.edu

UA POETRY CENTER

Artistexts, curated by Johanna Drucker, continues through June 29. Mon/Thurs, 9am-8pm; Tues/Wed, 9am-6pm; Fri, 9am-5pm. 1508 E. Helen St. 626-3765, Poetry.Arizona.Edu

WILDE MEYER GALLERY Something about the Southwest & Interiors, Objects and Little Worlds show through June 6. Light and Dark & Fire and Heat open June 7. Mon-Fri, 10am-5:30pm. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 3001 E. Skyline Dr. WildeMeyer.com

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 23


n e e B r e v e N It’s O G o t r e i s a E ! N W O T N W O D

DowntownTucson.org


Urban chic. Hip and artsy. Down-to-earth and family-friendly. Downtown Tucson is the place to be! More than 40 signature restaurants. Dozens of unique local retailers with fun stuff that can’t be found anywhere else in town. 15,000 parking spaces. Great nightlife every night. See what’s happening at DowntownTucson.org.

JUNE EVENTS

Every Saturday, join Ken Scoville for Downtown Retail Walking Tours, a fun and informative walking tour of retail past, present and future in Downtown Tucson. Free. Morning & evening tours available. Email caitlin@downtowntucson.org to RSVP or call 837-6516. Friday, June 1 sees folk/country songstress Gillian Theater, 8 p.m.

Welch at the Fox

On Saturday, June 2 is the Summer Art Cruise, a self-guided gallery tour presented by the Central Tucson Gallery Association that includes over 10 galleries hosting receptions in and around Downtown, starting at 6 p.m. The 6th annual Meet Me Downtown 5k Night Run and Walk takes place on the night of Saturday, June 2nd with a new staging location of Sixth Avenue, at the Children’s Museum. Free snacks from Sunflower Market, Food Truck Round-Up on hand, and a special performance from Tucson rock & roll icon LeeAnn Savage and a performance from Elemental Artistry.

Tucson World Refugee Fest takes place in the air-conditioned comfort of Armory Park’s Maracana Indoor Sports Arena, with soccer matches, food & drink, kids’ activities & more on Saturday, June 23, 9am-9pm. Sunday, June 24 is El Dia de San Juan Fiesta - a celebration of the summer rains bringing back to life the desert and is the only event that celebrates with the ‘Charreada’ (Mexican Rodeo), happening on the west side at Mercado San Agustin. Get up-to-date information on these and other great Downtown events anytime at

DowntownTucson.org

Among the big name bands at the Rialto Theatre will be Los Lobos, a band that has consistently evolved artistically while never losing sight of their humble roots, on June 14 at 7 p.m. The 2012 Lumies Awards is at El Casino Ballroom on June 15 at 7 p.m. The annual celebration includes a casual reception, dinner, awards ceremony, and post-event dancing. This year’s musical performance will be Emerging Artist nominee Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta, who will infuse his unique brand of “classic big band Latin indie mambo” music for the delight of guests, nominees, and winners.

2nd Saturdays summer edition happens again on June 9 with Reno del Mar, This Group of People, Crosscut Saw on Scott stage & Atom Heart Mother (Pink Floyd tribute band) at the Fox. On Saturday, June 16, legendary

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds fame is at the Fox Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Dress up to join the Downtown Bike-In Movie Night on June 16. The free, high fashion bike ride meets at UA Flagpole at 6:30pm; movie screening begins at 7:30pm at Providence Corporation’s Jackson Street parking lot, one block south of Broadway Boulevard and in-between Scott and Stone Avenues.

Downtow n’s Great Summer Happenin gs!


26 THEZMAG.com | June 2012


Performances BLACK CHERRY BURLESQUE Tantalizing burlesque performance on Fri, June 1 at 8pm and 10pm. Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. 4th Ave. 882-0009, TucsonBurlesque.com

CREATIVE DANCE ARTS & AZ DANCE THEATRE

23rd Annual Summer Concert is Sat, June 9 and Sun, June 10. 12pm-4pm. $12. Proscenium Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Rd. 206-6986.

arts

Z

by Herb Stratford

Diane Van Deurzen & Lisa Otey perform at Main Gate Square for “Friday Night Live” on June 15.

Jazz at Main Gate Square

THE GASLIGHT THEATRE Back to the Past, a theatrical spoof on Back to

A new free concert series is taking place this summer at Main Gate Square, on University Boulevard between Park and Euclid. Entitled “Friday Night Live,” this series presents great live jazz starting at 7 p.m. With an abundance of restaurants and shops in the immediate area, and validated parking, this is a “can’t miss” evening under the stars this summer. On June 1, Sylvan Street performs, and on June 15 local favorites Diane Van Deurzen & Lisa Otey are scheduled. For a full list of the summer’s performers, go to MainGateSquare.com.

the Future, begins Thu, June 7. A concert by John Shryock & Mari Lynn is Mon, June 11 at 7pm. Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 886-9428, TheGaslightTheatre.com

Art at the Park

FOX THEATRE Riders in the Sky perform Fri, June 15 at 8pm. Roger McGuinn graces the stage Sat, June 16 at 7:30pm. Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. 6241515, FoxTheatre.org

INVISIBLE THEATRE

Sizzling Summer Sounds, four weeks of a musical cabaret series at the Arizona Inn, all at 8pm, begins with Crazy...About Patsy Cline on Wed, June 13 and Thu, June 14. From Ragtime to Romance, featuring Richard Glazer, takes place Fri, June 15 and Sat, June 16. My Romance, featuring Rob Boone and Christine Vivona, takes place Wed, June 20. Triple Threat, featuring Katherine Byrnes, Julie Anne Boos and Crystal Stark, shows Thu, June 21 and Fri, June 22. Boys Night Out-A Rat Pack Tribute, featuring Walter Belcher, Jack Neubeck and Mike Padilla on Wed, June 27 and Thu, June 28. Sharon McNight sings Soup To Nutsi on Fri, June 29 and Sat, June 30. $35/per person per show. Arizona Inn, 200 E. Elm St. 882-9721, InvisibleTheatre.com

LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP

All Together Theatre presents Thumbelina through Sun, June 10. Psycho Beach Party runs Fri-Sat, June 14-30. Harvey, a story about an invisible friend, begins Thu, June 17. How I Learned to Drive begins Fri, June 18. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland opens Sun, June 24. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-4242, LiveTheatreWorkshop.org

NOT BURNT OUT JUST UNSCREWED

The improv comedy troupe performs Fri, June 1, 7:30 pm at Revolutionary Grounds Coffee House, 606 N. 4th Ave., for audiences of all ages. Another performance is Fri, Jun 15, 7pm at Rock N Java Café, 7555 W. Twin Peaks Rd. Free. 861-2986, UnscrewedComedy.com

RHYTHM & ROOTS The Fremonts - featuring Mighty Joe Milsap and special guest Bob Corritore is on Fri, June 15, 8pm; $18 advance, $20 door. Sheraton Tucson Hotel, 5151 E. Grant Rd. 319-9966, RhythmandRoots.org

TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey present Dragons from Thu, June 21-Sun, June 24. Tickets vary. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. TucsonConventionCenter.org

TUCSON POPS CONCERT IN THE PARK Music Under the Stars is in Reid Park on Sunday evenings at 7pm. Sun, June 3: Maestro’s Favorites. Sun, June 10: Orchestral Highlights. Sun, June 17: Clark Evans & 1812 Overture. Reid Park’s DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, 1030 S. Randolph Way. 881-4753, TucsonPops.org

Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, is hosting a new summer show entitled “Pollinators: The Art of Interdependence.” The exhibit uses artworks to celebrate the birds, bats and bees that work in concert to make our hardy but beautiful landscape of the desert what it is. On display through August 19 in the park’s entry gallery, this exhibit is a great way to start a visit to one of Tucson’s true treasures, the urban oasis just off Ina and Oracle Roads. Visit TohonoChulPark.org for more information on this exhibit and the park in general.

Art on Campus Two new, exciting conceptual art exhibits are on display at the University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA) this summer. The first show, “Sol LeWitt Days” will see local artist teams re-creating iconic works by the conceptual artist who believed the concept of his art was more important than the hand that was executing it. LeWitt is considered the founder of both minimal art as well as conceptual art, and he often engaged students and other artists to participate this way. The show runs through October 21 at the museum, 1031 N. Olive Rd. The second show of the summer is by New York abstract artist David Headley who has created four new triptychs that are 36 feet wide, and explore combinations of color, form and gesture. His show is also on display through October 21. Visit ArtMuseum.Arizona.org for more information on these shows and museum hours.

MOCA Tucson’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is busy this month with artists’ talks, installations and lectures scheduled to take place at the museum, 265 S. Church Ave. On June 9, a collaborative art studio/workshop by artists Hunter Jonakin and Jordan Vinyard – “Subcontracted Installation” – will be installed and allow visitors to witness and participate in the artist’s creative practice. On June 16, a lecture in the ArtNow! series examines the history of performance art, and on June 20 an artist talk by Jonakin and Vinyard is scheduled for 5:30pm. The opening celebration for “Subcontracted Installation” is June 30. Details at MOCA-Tucson.org. n

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 27

photo: Garvin Larson

Photo: Heinz Kluetmeier/© 2009 Feld Entertainment

Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey present “Dragons” at the Tucson Convention Center in June.


Z

Community

Youth can learn beginning bead making at the Sonoran Glass Art Academy.

Photo courtesy Tucson Circus Arts

Photo courtesy Sonoran Glass Art Academy.

Photo by Amanda Shauger

KXCI offers DJ Training Programs for children.

Tucson Circus Arts’ campers jump from globe to globe at the 2010 walking globe recital.

Sizzling Summer Camps by Jamie Manser & Katelyn Swanson

A plethora of fun awaits the youngsters this summer with these fantastic organizations set to host a wide range of activities – from art, science and history to nature, sporting and theatrical programs. The power of community and peer involvement is vital to broadening the horizons of our youth, and Tucson is a literal hot bed for nurturing that growth. Kick your kids off the couch, take away the video games and get them out there! They will thank you for it down the road, we promise.

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum hosts the Museum Explorers Camp, which offers hands-on, minds-on activities centered on the Sonoran Desert’s wonders with campers observing live animals, conducting experiments, hiking, creating art, exploring desert habitats and more! The two, four-day sessions are from July 23-26 and July 30-August 2, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., for kids entering grades 1-6. Cost for members is $175/session, $200/session for non-members. Aftercare is being offered this year, each day from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Registration is open until camps are full. DesertMuseum.org/ kids/camp_page.php, 883-1380.

BICAS, El Group Youth Cycling & Pima County DOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Tucson’s only Youth Summer Bike Camp provides campers ages 8-13 an opportunity to build confidence, knowledge and skills in a safe, fun environment. Kids are taught riding skills, mechanical knowledge and bike handling, as well as health and wellness, environmental stewardship, air quality issues and recycled art through a series of handson experiences. Each week-long session (June 11-15 and July 23-27, from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) costs $150/child; scholarships available. For registration details, contact BICAS at 628-7950 or BICAS.org/camps.

Company’s

Children’s Museum Tucson offers ten, week-long themed Kinder Camps this summer, with the majority geared towards tots ages 4 to 6. The weekday programs, which start on June 4 and run to August 3, are from 9 a.m. to noon with topics that include: Edible Science, Out Of This World, Digging Dinosaurs, Creepy Crawly Creatures, Ocean Adventures and more! Weekly fees are $95 for members, $125 for nonmembers. Registration information at 792-9985 x114 and ChildrensMuseumTucson.org.

Summer on Stage is a 5-week theatre training and performance program offered to high-school students who work with theatre professionals to develop theatrical skills. The young thespians perform “Legally Blonde” and “Machinal” at the end of the sessions at 7 p.m., July 25-28. The weekday classes are at U of A and the Temple of Music and Art from June 25-July 27; 8:30am4:30pm. Late registration deadline is June 15 at $900/performer. Participation is limited and determined through registration materials. Contact April Jackson, Associate Education Manager, 884-8210 x8506 or ArizonaTheatre.org.

The Drawing Studio hosts the Art of Summer, featuring art programs for ages 9-18 that develop perceptual and physical skills in the visual arts. Sessions start at the beginning of June and run through mid-July, and include a variety of art forms taught in both immersion and blitz classes. Tuition ranges from $95 to $490 per person depending on the course and age group. The “Art of Summer” exhibition, July 28 to August 25, showcases the artwork created by attendees. Details on specific camp dates, prices and to register: TheDrawingStudio.org or 620-0947.

Arizona

Theatre

28 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

Eller College of Management presents DigiDudes and TechDivas – camps that teach students to use technology to create presentations, videos, advertisements, budgets, websites and blogs. It also informs children about social media, their online presence, cyber-bullying and citing sources. The June 4-8 and June 18-22 sessions are for grades 6-8, the June 11-15 camp is for grades 3-5. Days run from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 pm. The fee is $250/ session. Information at UGrad.eller.arizona.edu/ camps.

Ironwood Tree Experience, a program of Prescott College Tucson Center, hosts two eco programs this summer. The Get Outside! course helps youth, ages 12-14, develop outdoor skills as they explore creeks, canyons and mountains in the Sonoran Desert. One session runs on alternate days from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., June 16-July 8 (register by June 11); it also includes a weekend overnight camp. Fee is $100. The Get Experience! program is geared to ages 13-16 and teaches teens to expand their outdoor skills and interests via hiking, rock climbing, camping, backpacking and contributing to a community action project. Register by July 9 for the 10-day session from July 14Aug 4; 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Fee is $250. Need-based scholarships and payment plans are available for both programs. Details at IronwoodTreeExperience.org or contact Rachel at 319-9868, rachel@ironwoodtreeexperience.org. KXCI Community Radio, 91.3FM is geared up for their annual DJ Training Programs, which provide budding music aficionados an introductory knowledge of broadcast equipment and rules, music appreciation and selection, creating music sets and public speaking. For ages 13-16, classes run from 9 a.m.noon, June 4-7. On Friday, June 8, 1 p.m.-6


Community

p.m., each DJ trainee will have an opportunity to share their skills on KXCI in a 25-30 minute live broadcast. For ages 9-12, training is July 1619, from 9 a.m.-noon and their live broadcasts are on Sunday, July 22 from noon-5 p.m. Costs run $100-$150. Information is at KXCI.org or contact Amanda at 623-1000 x17 or Amanda@ kxci.org.

The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is set to take children on exploratory adventures with seven weekly sessions between June 4 and July 27. The Magical Mini Adventure Camp will jet kids to the future, take them into the jungle, bring them under the big top, or put them in the spotlight of a music concert. Games, special guests and making miniature works of art are just some of the activities being offered. Full day sessions for ages 8-12 are June 4-8, June 18-22 and July 1620; fees are $175 for non-members, $155 for members. Half day camps for ages 5-7 run June 11-15, July 9-13, July 23-27; costs $90, $80 for members. Teen camp for ages 13-17 is June 25-29; $135, $120 for members. Registration is limited, details at TheMiniTimeMachine.org/summercamp, 881-0606 x105.

O2 Modern Fitness is hosting TriCamp for Kids which keeps kids active through swimming, running and biking. The camp is for ages 10 to 13 and runs for two 1-week sessions: one starts June 18 and the other July 16. Price is $150/camper. O2 also offers several classes as part of their Summer Fit Club for Kids for ages 9-14. Information on classes and registration at O2ModernFitness.com/events1.html, 6232245. Rocks and Ropes is offering four, 1-week summer camps based on age. Kids will have the opportunity to learn how to tie knots, climb safety and even have a go of it at the facilities and, for selected camps, on Mount Lemmon. Prices range from $150 to $500 per session. Details at RocksandRopes.com, 882-5924.

Tucson Botanical Gardens offers campers nature-based activities.

Sonoran Glass Art Academy hosts two summer camps that run for two days a week. Fusing & Flaming Fun teaches kids basic fusing techniques through hands projects and also how to make simple glass beads. Mosaic Masterpiece allows kids to make a mirror or stepping stone to take home with them. Both camps run several times June through August and costs between $300 to $335 per camper. Registration deadline is one to two weeks before each session with exceptions if space permits. The academy will also offer several classes throughout the summer. Information on specific classes and times at 884-7814, SonoranGlass.org.

Tucson Botanical Gardens offers four camps based on grade level. Each camp lasts five days and allows kids to discover and learn about the plants around them through games and activities. Price is $225 non-members/$200 members. Call 326-9686 or register online at TucsonBotanical.org/Education/Summer-Camps-At-The-Gardens. Tucson Circus Arts is holding their annual summer camp for kids ages 7 and up and includes: stilt walking, juggling, taiko drumming and more. The camp runs June 18-June 28 for $200, plus a $25 stilt rental fee. Registration information at TucsonCircusArts.com/ Classes/Summer-Camp-2010. Registration is accepted until classes fill. Tucson Museum of Art allows children ages 5-13 a chance to explore culture and art from around the world with its Summer Arts Program, June 4–August 10. Experiences will inspire kids to create original works of art (drawing, painting, sculptures, collage, print) in a variety of gallery and studio activities. Classes are broken into three age groups: 5-7, 8-10, and 11-13. Hours are 8:30am to 12:30pm. Costs: $100/student for members, $155/student for non-members. Registration is required three days prior to each session. Contact Morgan Wells at 624-2333 x121 for details or TucsonMuseumOfArt.org/education/summerarts-program.php.

Photo by Eric Dhruv

Photo courtesy Tucson Botanical Gardens

Photo courtesy UA Campus Recreation

Counselors and campers keeping cool at the UA Campus Recreation pool.

Z

Teens backpacking Aravaipa Canyon with the Ironwood Tree Experience.

University of Arizona’s Campus Recreation is hosting their “A” camp for kids ages 5-12. The camp offers swimming, court sports, and newly added features like gardening club and creative movement. The camps run from May 29-August 10 for $200/ week. They also offer a number of fusion camps based on different themes from June 4-July 27 for grades 1-5. Price is $225/week. For details: Campusrec.arizona.edu/program_areas/youth_ family/camps/camp_list.php for “A” camp and UAFusion.arizona.edu for fusion camp information. Registration is open until the Friday before each week.

UA Poetry Center is holding two 1-week summer camps for kids interested in writing. Their Creative Writing Camp runs from June 11-15 for kids ages 9-11. Price is $310. Creating Worlds through Writing Camp allows kids to draw inspiration from two popular books to create their own cabinet of wonders; this camp runs from June 4-8 for ages 12-14. Price is $385. Details at Poetry.Arizona.edu or by calling UA Outreach College at 621-7724. Zuzi Dance Company offers two summer camps for kids between 7 and 15. Their High Flyin’ Arts Camp features a number of classes including costume making, aerial dancing and visual arts. The camp runs for 2 weeks and is offered May 29-June 8, June 18-June 29, and July 9-20 for $400 a person. Dance it! Move it! Make it! is a 1-week intensive dance camp covering several dance movements. It runs from July 23-July 27 at $200 a camper. Registration takes place through the second day of the first week of camp. Information at 629-0237 and ZuziMoveIt.org/school/summercamps.html. n

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 29


Community

Photo by Jesse Montanez.

Z

Ballet Folklorico La Paloma: the colorful dresses in the middle represent Jalisco, Mexico; Veracruz on the sides. The typical known dances that most people see performed with Mariachi bands are from Jalisco.

Cultural Ambassadors to the 2012 Olympics Ballet Folklorico La Paloma Represents Arizona in England by Valerie Vinyard It’s a photography studio by day; a dance studio by night. Behind the doors of Unique Photography in midtown Tucson, the dancers with Ballet Folklorico La Paloma have been diligently practicing for a world renowned gig. Their destination: the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. A dozen dancers, six men and six women, will entertain spectators over two days around London and the Olympic Village. “We’ve been dancing all year,” said Bettina Montañez, one of Ballet Folklorico La Paloma’s founders who also will be dancing in London. “We just need to polish it up.” Fundraising has included a bevy of performances and manning food booths during festivals to raise the $60,000 needed for the weeklong trip. Before the group leaves on July 25 for London, a Father’s Day benefit takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. June 17 at El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St. The $10 fee includes a performance by Ballet Folklorico La Paloma and food. The group, which regularly performs around the region, has experienced an event like this before. The Olympics first came calling in 2000, and members of Ballet Folklorico La Paloma jumped at the chance to dance in Sydney, Australia. The opportunity arose through the group’s membership with Asociación Nacional de Gru-

30 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

pos Folklóricos. “It’s an honor to be asked to perform again,” said Montañez, who has asked Viva Arizona, a Tucson hip-hop group, to tag along to London and perform in between Ballet Folklorico’s performances. About a dozen members are doing their own fundraising to also make the trip. Montañez started the nonprofit dance troupe with Manuel Contreras 30 years ago after graduating from Tucson High Magnet School. Many of its current members attended Tucson High and range in age from 18 to 52. She and her 25-year-old son, Angel Montañez, have choreographed the dances for this event. The group has been working on the dances, which span five regions of Mexico, for about 18 months. The group will perform to recorded live music that includes instruments such as the harp, guitar, violin and accordion. In addition to perfecting the movements, it’s important to get the costumes just right. “We have designated costume designers that do research on the history of each state of Mexico,” said Angel Montañez, noting there will be five costume changes during the performances. “We look forward to getting more experience,” he said. “It will be one that will not be forgotten.” Angel, who has been dancing for 22 of his

25 years, described folklorico dancing as a culmination of dances from Scotland, Germany and Spain. He’s looking forward to showcasing the culture and history of their style of dancing to the masses, noting that folklorico has been around Mexico for two centuries. So is Lori Aldecoa, a 35-year-old member of the troupe. She’s been dancing for 30 years and a member of the group for about 15. She accompanied the group to Sydney. “I’m looking forward to meeting new people (in London),” she said. “In Sydney, we met people from all over the world. We would like to represent Arizona and show the world there is a lot of art and culture in our state.” To become involved in Ballet Folklorico La Paloma, participants must be in high school or older and have at least two years of experience. Dues cost $25 a month, and the group normally meets two evenings a week for two hours. In preparation for the Olympics, however, the group is meeting up to four times a week. “It is an once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Montañez said. n For more information on Ballet Folklorico La Paloma, and to donate to their Olympic trip, go to PalomaDancers.com or call Bettina Montañez at 256-4041.


June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 31


32 THEZMAG.com | June 2012


EnRoute

Z Photo by Justine Hernandez

Photo by Kylie Walzak

Photo by Justine Hernandez

Modern Streetcar Project Management team at Sky Bar.

Construction Cash Mobs

Finding ways to support businesses along the streetcar route by Emily Gindlesparger cycle Belles, BICAS and Living Streets Alliance. In the midst of all that, this summer they’re committing to one event a week at a business with a fence in front of it, and the Mind Our Own Businesses Facebook page has become a rallying point for others to follow suit. “It’s turning into a place where people can dump ideas,” Walzak noted, welcoming input on the site from community members. The social media network also made it possible to connect to similar pages like Support Downtown Tucson and resources like a downtown construction parking map put together by Buffalo Exchange, and for shops and restaurants in need to get in touch with a wider audience. “At first we went to businesses; we contacted Chocolate Iguana (for a Sweet Tooth cash mob), Hydra and Perfect Pantry (for a Mother’s Day shopping spree); but now they’re contacting us,” Walzak said. She also described how, at the time of this writing, the group was thinking of putting together a St. Patrick’s Day in May at Flanagan’s Celtic Corner. “Right now our focus is on businesses that have chain link up in front of them. There’s a perceived chaos, and our goal is to make sure that people behind those fences are getting traffic.” “It seems to be resonating with people,” Walzak explained. “We don’t have to roll over and be victims while the construction is going on; we can do something.” It’s time for Tucson folks to follow their example and put their money where their iPhones are. n Photo by Justine Hernandez Photo by Justine Hernandez

Maybe it’s no surprise that construction for the Modern Streetcar Project, coinciding with naturally sluggish summer revenues, has slowed business on 4th Avenue and Congress Street where the fences are up. It is unfortunate that taking an extra five minutes to walk around the fences or figure out where to park could wither our local economy in some of these hubs—especially when the point of this summer’s work is to sew some of the city’s cultural hot spots together. Hoping to help fill in the revenue gaps caused by the construction is Mind Our Own Businesses. An interview with the organization is not a typical one: Kylie Walzak, an administrator in the group, gamely answered questions as her high school students filed in for one of the last tests of the semester. “All of us ride our bikes a lot, and all of us appreciate downtown a lot,” Walzak began on the genesis of Mind Our Own Businesses, a Facebook page and a collection of six women who banded together as construction began on the Modern Streetcar Project downtown and on 4th Avenue. It was Karen Greene’s idea to start the Facebook page to promote traffic, Walzak said. “It became really difficult to access businesses, and Karen knew that if those of us who visit downtown every day were having a hard time, then certainly others were too. We thought we could organize cash mobs, to get as many people together in one place at one time to show our support.” These six women—Walzak, Greene, Janet Miller, Justine Hernandez, Lisa Waite Bunker, and Mead Mier—are incredibly busy: they are our librarians, our teachers, our artists, our watershed planners. In their spare time they coordinate the Book Bike, Tucson Bi-

“Like” Mind Our Own Businesses at Facebook.com/ MindOurOwnBusinesses and check the site every week for fun reasons to go to 4th Avenue and Downtown, and Main Gate Square.

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 33


Z

Community

Conversations with a Yogi How Darren Rhodes transcended adversity and edified his love of by Jon D’Auria, photos by Michael Longstaff yoga

Above, Darren Rhodes; Right, Rhodes in practice at Yoga Oasis

34 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

It has been a monumental year in the life of 41-year-old master yogi and Tucson’s Yoga Oasis owner Darren Rhodes. To say that the recent months have brought forth change, triumph and tragedy to his being is as much of an understatement as saying that the pose Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana is simply an easy bend. For those not privy to Sanskrit or yoga terminology, just consider that in the past year Rhodes has had to walk away from the Anusara Yoga organization which gave him widespread notoriety, due to a scandal with Anusara founder John Friend involving harsh accusations against Friend of the ethical and financial sort. Add to that Rhodes welcoming his first born son to the world, the unveiling of his new method, The Shravana School of Yoga in February and teaching hundreds of classes in person and online, and then you can begin to understand the weight that the local yogi has been so limberly carrying. But like his practice, Rhodes views the perils of life as a constant evolution that requires balance, lightness and an unbending core. Humble and laconic by nature, Rhodes would be the last person to tell you about his thousands of followers who use his teachings, his famed posture poster, iPhone app and weekly online and in-person classes as an outlet for life. For Rhodes, his yoga practice began in the womb; literally, as his mother practiced daily yoga while carrying him, which might explain how he makes the seemingly impossible look so natural. “My mom would teach yoga in our living room when I was growing up and she’d have me demonstrate poses because I had a very bendy back,” says Rhodes. “Once in a while I’d be with friends and we’d walk through, and they’d be doing what I considered at the time to be strange breathing techniques, and I would be highly embarrassed. That was my earliest experience with yoga. Then when I was in high school she would teach it in our school and I would take her classes. From high school on I never stopped practicing on my own.” Rhodes decided to move to Tucson early in his life where he went on to take over Yoga Oasis, which now boasts three beautiful studios located central, downtown and on the east side. It was in 2000 that he began to almost exclusively study Anusara yoga, which was being championed by an eager yogi named John Friend. Rhodes studied with Friend for eleven years, and Rhodes began to become a growing icon in the yoga world for his accelerated teachings that encouraged yogis to greatly excel in their practice, a mentality that wouldn’t last long for Rhodes. “I had a very dramatic shift a couple of years ago in my practice,” says Rhodes. “I was always about pushing the limits and being able to do all of the poses as perfectly as I could and teaching classes that pushed people to their edge physically, emotionally and mentally. And then there was a certain moment when I realized that that was over for me. I realized that a lot of times the people who wanted to take that class of mine were going to be in trouble physically. They had it down mentally and were used to pushing their bodies as much as they wanted, but that leads to strain. I realized that wasn’t it for me anymore. ” Rhodes was at a turning point in his teaching when he took a trip to Santa Barbara in 2004 to unwind and meditate in a Ramakrishna temple to seek clarity. It was there that he came up with the concept of Yoga Hour, which is a 60-minute practice that anybody can do that combines all of the best challenges and rewards of a typical Anusara class with a welcoming sensibility to it. Rhodes went on to create a popular iPhone app for the hour, as well as an accompanying book and an audio recording called Yoga Hour 2, all of which have become wildly successful. “I realized that all of my years of doing hours on end of insane yoga practices weren’t fulfilling me in the way that doing 55-minutes of concise practice was,” says Rhodes. “It’s the difference between doing a hike and doing an intense 5-11 climb on a mountain. There is a certain rare focus and exhilaration that comes with that climb, but there are much fewer


Community people who can do it and there’s much more risk involved. On a hike, anybody and everybody can enjoy it. And that’s what interested me in yoga was the hikes. I knew that if I put all my efforts into offering yoga that could meet the needs of most anyone who walked through my door that I’d be offering the world a much greater service.” The introduction of Yoga Hour marked the beginning of the end for Rhodes’ relationship with Anasara, which immediately created a difficult decision for him that pitted doing what was right versus doing what was profitable. “I really had to choose between my dharma and my business,” says Rhodes. “It made better business sense at the time to stay with Anusara, and I kept with it because I thought that Anusara was bigger than John Friend, but then it became clear that he didn’t want it to be. When I discovered that, I left. What a lot of people didn’t know was that I was going to get kicked out because I refused to turn everything I did into Anusara. But I was okay with it, although it would’ve looked bad for me if I were removed in an ugly fashion.” Unbeknownst to anyone at the time, Rhodes’ decision to step away from Anusara yoga foreshadowed a deeper and darker fate for John Friend and the organization. Rhodes walked away earlier this year from the Anusara organization that he helped spread and create, quietly leaving, much to the dismay and confusion of his students and fellow teachers. But on February 3, 2012 the story broke that Friend had been involved for years in various sex scandals with teachers, students and married women in the organization. It was also revealed that Friend had purportedly taken part in questionable financial dealings and even alleged drug use at the time. “Truth be told, leaving Anusara was among the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my life. No one knew what everyone knows now and I was one of the few who did,” says Rhodes. “When I left, I left without any context. I just left. I didn’t write a public statement. The first 25-30 teachers who left came out and said why, but I chose not to, because for me to do so would’ve been to lie. I wasn’t about to say that everything is dandy and I’m so grateful to John for all of this and I’m leaving for personal reasons. If I had told the truth of why I was leaving, it wouldn’t have worked because I did discover the things that are now revealed. I knew enough to know that there were problems, but you can’t bring that stuff to light without creating a big, ugly mess, and I didn’t necessarily have a way to directly prove all of this stuff. The people who ended up revealing it, however, did prove it and then all Hatha hell broke loose.” Rhodes was soon faced with a reality that his departure from Anasara could lead to the closing of his studios due to the loss of income from withdrawing from training programs and workshops that had kept him afloat for years. But Rhodes knew that by doing the right thing and keeping his course, nothing would stifle his manifestations. “My aim was that if I was going to leave, I was going to make my leaving a leaping and therefore have a growing and evolving choice in my life. It’s strange to say it too, but it was a very spiritual experience. It transformed me like nothing else has because I had to make choices that would affect a whole lot of people and I had to do the right thing. It was a lot of weight to carry, but I just hoped that my actions would speak louder than words, and then those words came anyways. There was a lot at stake financially because I knew it was very possible that Yoga Oasis could be shut down because the trainings were so key in keeping us stable. I knew that it could be the end, but I couldn’t continue to align with that system and genuinely feel like I was living my path.” Rhodes is moving ahead with former Anasara teachers Christina Sell and Noah Maze, who have formed The Shravana School of Yoga, which is using the Yoga Hour and other teachings to accrue yogis who wish to expand and continue their practice. Rhodes is happy to have the drama behind him so that he can focus on his one dharma in life, yoga.

Z

“A great teaching in yoga is that a skilled practitioner can learn to turn anything to their advantage,” says Rhodes. “Even my relationship with John–the good, the bad and the ugly–all benefitted me and all of the challenges bettered me. I’m excited to move forward with Christina and Noah and to focus solely on the yoga. For me, it’s always just been about the yoga.” n Visit YogaOasis.com for locations and class schedules or call 322-6142. Also visit Kickstarter.com to support Darren’s new “Yoga Resource eBook.”

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 35


Z

food&drink

Think you know your beer? Dragoon Brewing “The support we’ve received so far has been Co., a craft brewery that opened just last month unbelievable,” White said. “It’s been crazy, peoat 1859 W. Grant Rd. #111, is testing the talents ple have bought our beer without even trying of your taste buds. it.” Having just celebrated their May 18 grand White, who met the Greenes through the opening, Dragoon Brewing Co. began with two Tucson Homebrew Club, said the team is hopbrews, Dragoon IPA and Stronghold Session ing to brew beer with a Southwestern kick in the Ale, which were created, in part, to near future. toy with our perception of beers, “We will have two year-round beers and said Eric Greene, head of brewseasonal rotations,” White said. “For our ing. upcoming brews, we want to try “We wanted to play with peothings like blue corn with agaples’ idea of what a light beer is ve and mesquite-smoked and what a dark beer is,” Greene Porter.” said. “IPA is a strong beer but The brewery now it’s pale in color and it’s aphas a taproom open to proached more easily, whereas the public late afterSession is an easy drinking noons from Thursday beer that’s darker, but it’s to Saturday. Though not going to flatten you.” the hours aren’t finalDragoon Brewing ized, Dragoon BrewCompany is someing Co., hopes to have thing of a family their taproom open affair—brewing for tasting from 4-8 beer has been p.m. on Thursday, a shared hobby 3-8 p.m. on Friday between comand 2-8 p.m. on pany founder Saturday—check Bruce Greene their website for and son Eric more details. Greene for “We’re intenyears. tionally taking “My dad has things slow bebeen brewing cause we want beer since way to make sure we back when and it know what our was always around beer is,” Greene when I was growsaid. “But, it’s ing up,” Greene been really awesaid. “When I was some the way by Kelly Lewis 22, I started really things have getting into it. We gone and it’s respent a couple of ally cool to have years putting up someone excited roots, and little by about what we’re little this came todoing. There’s a gether.” lot of Tucson, and Though they’ve everyone needs a only been in business bit of good beer.” n a short time, Dragoon Brewing Company is already To find out more about Dragoon selling beer by the keg to local bars and busiBrewing Co., visit DragoonBrewing.com or call nesses like Noble Hops, 1702, Wilko, The B329-3606. For information on the Tucson Line and Time Market, said Tristan White, direcHomebrew Club, check out TucsonHomebrewtor of sales and marketing. Club.com.

Dragoon Brewery’s crafty suds

Photos top to bottom: Eric Greene, Head of Brewing & Operations; Dragoon’s tasting room taps; the brewhouse; and growlers to go.

36 THEZMAG.com | June 2012


June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 37


Z

food&drink

Solar Cooking by Jamie Manser

Part 1: The Construction Project In the spring of 2009, Scott Kerr and I were hanging out at Himmel Park during Solar Rock. The musician/jack-of-all-trades said he wanted to construct a solar cooker out of a suitcase. This intrigued me. The idea of not using the kitchen’s gas range during the summertime is definitely an attractive one. Why heat up the house when the swamp coolers are already struggling to cool it down? In the spirit of mathematical and culinary experimental fun, I asked Mr. Kerr last month if he would be interested in helping me build a solar cooker from “scratch.” He graciously concurred, and even had his buddy Alyssa Baz – who has years of solar cooking experience and an architecture degree – advise us on purchasing the necessary materials during a Home Depot trek. I was stoked; I had no idea where to begin. The basic gist is to build a box, with a top hinged to one of the sides. The top is where the reflective material is attached to focus the sunlight into the oven. The top also has, affixed to each side at its top, holepunched flat metal strips so the angle can be adjusted. We went with plywood for the box, buying three pieces measuring two feet by two feet and about a ½-inch thick. One was for the bottom and the other two were cut in one-foot halves to make the cooker’s four sides. For the top section, we chose a plywood piece that was two feet by two feet and about a ¼-inch thick. We also bought some cull lumber, basically “junked” wood strips, just in case. It came in handy later when we realized we needed another piece of wood for attaching the hole-punched metal strips. The ¼-inch thickness wasn’t going to suffice. (see photo, left) Corner braces are needed to attach the side and bottom sections to each other, so we purchased two packages of four, two-inch braces. The sides were attached to the bottom with the braces oriented vertically; the sides were attached to each other with the braces oriented horizontally. The first hitch in our giddy-up came when the cordless drill battery died as the braces were being attached. Luckily my friend Jeff Sterns was happy to lend us his drill. In order to conserve heat in the oven space, insulation is necessary. We used ½-inch thick “R-Matte Plus,” which is – according to their website – “rigid foam plastic thermal insulation board composed of envi-

38 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

ronmentally sound, closed cell, polyisocyanurate foam.” Having construction-minded forethought, Mr. Kerr brought his measuring tape along and had the Home Depot folks cut the four feet by eight feet insulation panel into the five pieces needed for this project; four for the oven’s sides and one for the bottom. To further capture the sun’s rays, the insulation needs to be painted black. The best bet is black barbeque spray paint. We simply clipped the sections up on the clothes line and sprayed away. With the sides and bottom attached, we realized we were lacking in other materials. A jaunt to Ace Hardware on 9th Street ensued. There we bought one-inch hinges to attach the reflective top to the box, four one-inch braces to attach the hole-punched flat metal strips on each side of the top section and also for attaching to the two sides of the box that align with the top. Bolts and wing nuts were also in order, along with a piece of glass to put over the oven, and reflective material for the hinged top. The hole-punched metal strips allow for adjusting the angle of the top, by moving the metal strips and affixing the bolts and wing nuts accordingly. (See photo, right) After the weekend project was completed, Scott asked how much the materials ended up costing. The tally, with taxes, was $114.42. There are solar cooker models that are less expensive to construct, like building a cone shaped one out of cardboard and aluminum foil, but I wanted one with some staying power. There are durable solar ovens on the market that range anywhere from $34 for kids to upwards of $500. Scott remarked, “I guess it would have been easier and less time consuming to buy one online.” I replied, “Yeah, but what’s a better memory – buying one online or remembering the weekend we spent together building this thing, with a little help from our friends?” This article is clearly not a comprehensive guide to building a solar oven; for complete plans on a variety of styles, check out SolarCooking. org/plans. Links to local resources are at CitizensForSolar.org. Cooking experiments to follow in Zócalo’s next issue!


food&drink

Jasmine Pierce loves the Jameson.

Z Photo by Jamie Manser

Photo by Kelly Lewis

Rockin’ The Bar at Surly Wench Pub by Kelly Lewis Jasmine Pierce, a lead bartender at Surly Wench Pub, is one lucky lady. “I live kind of a charmed life,” Pierce said. “I’ve designed my life so that I’m able to do what I want, when I want, and I love it.” When she’s not working the bar at Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. 4th Ave., Pierce is a local landlord, a dog owner, a sister to five and a friend to many. Originally from Tucson, Pierce, 32, started bartending at 19 after a move to New York City. When the weather got to be too cold, she came back to Tucson and sauntered into the Surly Wench Pub. “I said, ‘Hi, I’m Jasmine. I see you’ve named a bar after me, so I guess you should probably hire me,’ and that was it,” Pierce said. “We’re a tight knit crew here. I love coming to work because it’s not even like coming to work; I get to hang out with my family that I work with and regulars who are friends. I just kind of feel blessed with everything in my life.” From punk rock nights to Black Cherry Burlesque shows, there’s something happening at Surly Wench Pub almost every night of the week, which Pierce says helps to keep things interesting. The crowd is diverse but fun, and their late night cash-only kitchen serves classic bar food—burgers, nachos and wings—until the wee hours. The food is good, Pierce said, so good that you can find her at Surly Wench Pub even when she’s not working, eating and joking with whoever is behind the bar. But the best part about working at Surly Wench Pub, Pierce says, is that her customers are very respectful…for the most part. “Walking in here is like walking into our living room,” Pierce said. “We want you to have a good time, but we also want everyone else to have a good time, so if you come in here with your douchebaggery and a bad attitude, it’s not going to fly. Be respectful of us, and this place and you will love this bar.” On Trends in Mixology: “The trends are always kind of the same. I think there are a lot more orders for classic cocktails now. It has gone back to speakeasy style, but I feel like it’s always been there. I love, love, love making classic cocktails: Old Fashioneds, Martinis, Manhattans… I can make the sh*t out of some classic cocktails.” Favorite Ingredients: “Jameson, Jameson and Jameson. It has the most amazing flavor and it’s just kind of perfect all of the time. I am loyal to my whiskey. If I’m out drinking, it’s Jameson or nothing—I’ll switch to vodka.” Jameson Kamikaze 1 ½ oz. Jameson ¾ oz. Triple Sec Splash of Sweet and Sour 1 lemon, freshly squeezed Shake, strain and serve. Party in your mouth!

n

For more information, visit SurlyWenchPub.com or call 882-0009.

Mesquite French Toast

A local twist on a breakfast classic by Jamie Manser My husband Dan and I are having a foodie exploratory blast as we continue to evolve our culinary experiments and experiences with a focus on plant-based ingredients. Since we have embraced the importance of breakfast, we’ve incorporated nutrient-rich mesquite flour into some of our favorite weekend morning meals. In the summertime, the proud mesquites produce pods ripe for picking – approximately – from late June through September. Of course, the trees decide when it is right for them, and we are lucky enough to be able to harvest their nutritional bounty for inclusion in several recipes. We were turned onto harvesting our yard’s velvet mesquites a couple of years ago via Desert Harvesters. Last fall, our pods were processed at their annual mesquite milling fiesta, and we’ve made the mesquite flour last since November. Information on harvesting the delicious, sweet pods (of course, the taste is species dependent - velvet mesquites are considered one of the best) is available at DesertHarvesters.org and we also recommend their publication: “Eat Mesquite: A Cookbook.” If you already have mesquite flour, try this solely plant-based recipe. If you are interested in becoming a mesquite harvester, which is super easy, definitely check out DesertHarvesters.org. Mesquite French Toast 1 fairly ripe banana, mashed ½ cup soy or almond milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon mesquite flour 4-6 slices whole wheat bread Combine the ingredients in a wide, shallow dish. A pie pan works great! Coat each side of the bread slices in the mixture and cook in a nonstick skillet on medium heat for a couple of minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Top with seasonal fruit and/or drizzle a bit of maple or agave syrup for added flavors, but know that the banana, cinnamon, mesquite combo can be sweet enough on its own! Adjust for your tastes. n

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 39


Z

History The sidewalks fry, the dust devils spiral, the snow birds flee north. Summer is here. You may be boiling, but relief is usually an air conditioner away. Yet, if there was a power outage and no escape from the meltdown, yikes! It’s enough to make you wilt. And so we ponder: How did desert rats handle the Old Pueblo’s inferno in the days before refrigeration? Ah, yes - there was ice.

Ice Man Rising

Tucson

Iced A Cool Yesteryear Tale by Monica Surfaro Spigelman

Towards the close of the 19th century Tucson was coming of age, balancing disaster and prosperity, full of a colorful population eager to beat the desert heat. Our gritty streets were bustling with street vendors who set up noisy bazaars, beer halls and amusement complexes that catered to tastes of various neighborhoods. New methods of merchandising were contrived on the principle of quick sale and profit. One of the great merchandising landmarks back then focused on a mechanical wonder recently introduced to Tucson by a lawyer named Paul Moroney, who also happened to own the Cosmopolitan Hotel downtown at the corner of Pennington Street and Main Avenue. Moroney brought the ice business to Tucson after moving his family here sometime after 1875. The January 29, 1880 Arizona Weekly Star reported on Moroney constructing the first ice machine in Tucson. This fact was confirmed in the June 24, 1944 Arizona Daily Star, when then 75-year-old native Tucsonan Harry Drachman reported, “In 1875-76 a man named Paul Moroney built the first ice plant in Tucson in Levine’s Park with machinery brought from the west coast. The plant equipment was shipped to Colton California by train and from there to Tucson by freight wagon, drawn by 16 mules.” At first Moroney had the concession from the Southern Pacific (now Union) Railroad Company to sell ice to the public. But he also sold to barkeeps and proprietors like Alex Boss Levin, who ran Levin’s Park, the theater and refreshment complex built in a cottonwood grove off of West Pennington Street. The beer hall, stage show and ice cream vendors offered a cool retreat for summer evenings. Moroney’s success brought competitors and soon ice was made in ice houses that dotted downtown. These houses had inner and outer ice rooms, insulated with hay ceilings which secured the ice against desert temps. In the houses, water was steampumped from wells and it took 48 hours of whirring mechanics and lathes to produce 3,500 pounds of ice. Business boomed. As ice became a necessary part of Tucson refreshment, nearly every family, street grocer and beer hall had an ice-


History

Z

box. An 1880 advertisement listed the price of ice (20 pounds and under) as 5 cents per pound, including delivery around town. There’s no doubt that Moroney and his early form of refrigeration gave rise to our city, making our dusty desert valley a more hospitable place.

for the industry and ultimately caused its demise. First came the issue of finding good water sources for pure ice, as all the industry teeming along the arroyo brought pollution. Then, with refrigeration inventions going mass market, there was little need for the cumbersome ice plants. By the 1920s, most households had refrigerators Arroyo Chico and after World War II fresh harvested The ice houses seemed to congregate ice was replaced with machine-made. Air nearby the rich resources of the Arroyo conditioning for the masses was not far Chico – our city’s 10 mile watercourse behind. Without public dependence on that still snakes, in dry and wet states, fresh ice, the icemen lost their routes and from around what is now Alvernon and their wagons. Ice house businesses left Reid Park to the Santa Cruz River and the arroyo. 1-10. The houses churned out 300-pound The warehouse neighborhoods with blocks of tasty, old fashioned ice from frothe ice houses started a downward slide, zen, treated filtered water. Built along this and it took decades for arts and historic critical Arroyo Chico watershed downtown preservation to hint at reviving them. were companies like Moroney’s and the There have been some bright spots in Arctic Ice Company. The Arizona Weekly the cloudy, local ice house history. Mark Star reported in 1886 a near crisis, when Berman and his family’s Benjamin Supply the Arctic Ice Company’s machinery was plumbing business, downtown more than stuck back east on a freight train, after half a century, bought the Home Ice and All photos: Promotional images taken prior to being shipped there for repairs. Company Coal building (which had been swallowed the construction of the Ice House Lofts (2004). officials calmed a frantic public by anup by Arizona Ice and then Tucson WarePhotos by Liam Frederick, courtesy of Deep Freeze nouncing in the newspaper there was at house & Transfer Company). Development, LLC. least several weeks’ ice stored, enough Berman, a Tucson preservation advoto hold Tucson until the machinery was cate with training in architecture, has rereturned. tained the architectural integrity of the JoAs consumption of ice rose steadily, sias Joesler designed warehouse and its so did new inventions like soda fountain tall tower, incorporating the original strucshops. It’s reported that the ice cream tural and architectural components into “Sunday” was created in the 1890s with his showroom and warehouse complex. the name eventually changed to “sundae” The old well fed by the Arroyo Chico is to disconnect from ties to the Sabbath. there, although capped, and the massive Advertisements promoted raw ice “incomice chute is still visible in the Benjamin parably the best for cooling drinks” and Supply’s main showroom area. urged families “not to risk baby’s health Another ice relic, the downtown Arizoby skimping on ice.” na Ice and Cold Storage facility, closed in To meet demand, other ice houses 2002, but it rose repurposed as Ice House as well as dry cleaners set up nearby the Lofts, preserving the authentic industrial Arroyo Chico and the railroad track line. character of the building. Adaptive reuse Arizona Ice and Cold Storage Company, has turned machinery into loft construcfounded 1923, was probably Tucson’s tion and sculptural entryway markers for biggest and most influential. Bonnie Henresidential complex. ry’s July 26, 1992 Arizona Daily Star colToday, if you see the once-mighty Tucumn reported on the ice companies that son ice industry, it’s now mostly in the form came to town, noting that in its prime, of ice cooler kiosks sitting alongside gas Arizona Ice and Cold Storage had 32 destations or abutting convenience stores. livery routes and other outlets like vending The kiosks are mostly managed locally machines, cold storage facilities and the but owned by larger national conglomerbusiness of icing rail cars. ates that sell pre-packaged stuff. Another of the popular companies of Still, looking at the historic tower the 1930s and 1940s was Home Ice and saved by Benjamin Supply or walking by Coal Company, known for its yellow trucks the machinery-turned sculpture in the Ice which lined up along the 7th Avenue block Loft residences, we can dream about the near the railroad tracks. good old days. So, next time you slurp that snow cone with its shaved ice, taste some Progress Trumps the Wagon artisan ice cream, or click the ice cubes As industrialization and household refrigeration appliances took hold, inside your margarita, remember to be grateful for a bygone industry, things started to change for the ice industry. Ironically, what originally crewhich considered pure water its gold. n ated all the demand and dependence on cool comforts created problems

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 41


Z

Escape Photos by Emily Gindlesparger

Summer Oases by Emily Gindlesparger

The Tucson sky in June is oppressively cloudless. After a long enough stretch of blue skies and drying sun, all anyone can think about is water. While most folks head up to more temperate elevations for summer relief, locals willing to stay and brave the heat can find solace in cool perennial pools scattered across the Santa Catalina Mountains along Tucson’s northern perimeter. The most classic oasis near Tucson is Romero Pools, and for good reason: the stunning hike leads to a cluster of pools deep enough to swim in, with large rock slabs to warm up on after a dip. From the Catalina State Park trailhead, the 2.2 miles to the pools doesn’t sound like much, but compounded by heat it’s an exposed trek, and the trail is best tackled in the early morning before the heat cranks up. After spurring off from the wide access path, the Romero Canyon trail wends along a ridge, offering glimpses into the northwest canyons of the Catalinas, an unconventional angle on Finger Rock and a sweeping view down to Table Mountain and into the red-tiled roofs of Oro Valley. The trail then climbs up a saddle and begins to drop down into Romero Canyon, a stunning wide in-cut

42 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

carved by hairpin turns in the creek far below. One such hairpin, visible from here, houses a set of hidden pools accessible by a long scramble from the saddle, but the main event is further upstream. The trail gently descends the side of the canyon, eventually sidling up to the creek. A scramble downstream from here reveals deep pools beneath, a welcome sight after the hot, shade-less hike. With the first plunge in the icy water, all is forgiven. Hidden in plain sight, the lowest pool of Seven Cataracts is a relatively short jaunt off Catalina Highway. Park at the Seven Cataracts Vista at milepost 9.1, jump the guardrail and pick up a thin trail that heads sharply downhill and roughly 1 mile across the steep mountainside to the pool, tucked in a large rocky notch. Ringed by a rock shelf, the pool is deep and drops off quickly on all sides; a fantastic place for swimming but not wading. It’s a good afternoon spot to wait for the canyon to cool off a bit for the steep and punishing hike out. Sabino Canyon harbors several accessible water spots. Pools line the road: take the tram to stop 8, or an easy walk or run 2.9 miles to the last restroom facilities along the road. Down the

west embankment a short path leads down to the creek and wading pools; further upstream are deeper swimming holes. Leave the crowds by going to the end of the road at 3.7 miles and picking up the Sabino Creek Trail that drops into the creek. Then, rock hop upstream for a half mile to Jammed Log Pool, which forms a cascading water park when the flow is good. The steep canyon walls in Sabino keep the road cool and shady for a good morning hike. Popular for their relatively short approaches, these classics often see visitors on the weekends. For more hidden gems, check out “Day Trips With a Splash: Southwestern Swimming Holes” by Pancho Doll, available locally at Summit Hut.

Making Your Escape Access Romero Canyon Trail from Catalina State Park, on 11570 N. Oracle Rd., just past Oro Valley. Signs will point you to the trailhead, and a day use pass is $7. For Seven Cataracts, take Catalina Highway up to milepost 9.1 and park at the Seven Cataracts Vista. Sabino Canyon pools can be accessed from Sabino Canyon Road. Parking at the recreation area is $5 a day. n


lifeinTucson by Andrew Brown

Z

Left to right, top to bottom: Tucson Taco Festival; Bingo Bingo at Auld Dubliner; Agave Fest at Hotel Congress; Bingo Bingo at Auld Dubliner; Nina Ducket and Dio de la Vina at Contreras Gallery Opening; Agave Fest at Hotel Congress.

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 43


tunes

Photo by John Chiasson

Z

Roger McGuinn

KXCI’s 5

Tucson’s community radio station, at 91.3FM and KXCI.org, spins tracks from the following new albums this month.

Regina Spektor “What We Saw From The Cheap Seats” (Sire)

Bringing the past into the present

Our favorite goofy RussianAmerican’s sixth album promises more of her unique ivory-tickling

by Jim Lipson

tunes.

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros “Here” (Community) Summertime always has that one song that everyone knows and sings along to, and it’s a safe bet Summer 2012’s song will come from this album. It would be easy to label Roger McGuinn, cofounder of The Byrds, as a nostalgia act; something you might see on a PBS special during a membership drive. But the truth is, McGuinn, an icon to be sure, still has it - as a guitar player, singer, interpreter of folk songs beyond even his generation, and storyteller. It’s the stories, in fact, that provide some of the richest moments in his traveling one man show adding context and color to songs both he and audiences never seem to tire of. On stage when talking about his earliest days in The Byrds, he appears to relish the opportunity to talk about how drummer Michael Clarke was hired because “he kind of looked the part of a drummer” and how indignant David Crosby was when Columbia Records decided “Mr. Tamborine Man” would be recorded by veteran studio players instead of the group, with McGuinn being the only Byrd allowed to play on the session. In an interview for KXCI, recorded in July 2011, McGuinn and his wife Camilla - who also serves as his road manager and touring partner - spoke of how they put each show together. “In the afternoon after lunch, Camilla pulls out her little blue notebook which has lists of all the sets we’ve done. We pull from that and then there’s a story that goes along with it, so it’s not just songs but a cohesive story that goes along with the whole thing.” As a team, McGuinn referred to himself and his wife as “a little mom and pop organization.” Camilla added, “He does

44 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

everything on stage and I do all the rest!” Anyone looking for Byrds’ classics will not be disappointed as McGuinn understands the timeless appeal of these tunes as well as the expectations of the fan base. At the same time, with many solo albums to excavate, there is a substantial cache of material to choose from to fill out the set list. Sometimes Camilla may even suggest a tune that has not been performed in some time, sending her husband to the nearest computer so he can find a version of himself on You Tube. In addition to The Byrds and his solo work, McGuinn will almost certainly work in tunes from two areas he has long had a passion for; traditional folk tunes that pre-date the 1960s folk revival and sea chanteys. As he said last summer, “I was listening to a Smithsonian Folkways album in 1995, and I started worrying what’s going to happen when the old guard, like Odetta and Pete Seeger fade away?” It wasn’t long before McGuinn began documenting many of these tunes via his Folk Den Project, where he has recorded many traditional folk songs while providing lyrics, chords and personal notes about the songs, and all for free download. McGuinn’s penchant for sea chanteys has also been documented in his most recent release, “CCD (23 songs of the Sea).” n Roger McGuinn performs at the Fox Theatre on Saturday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. Details and ticket information at FoxTucsonTheatre.org. Visit his website at www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/mcguinn.

Brandi Carlile “Bear Creek” (Columbia) Brandi’s vocals soar over an earthy take on music for her fourth album, largely informed by her music travels over recent years.

Jerry Douglas “Traveler” (eOne) The world famous dobro player puts together an all star team (Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Alison Krauss and more) for this new collection. He even takes the mic on lead vocals for the first time ever!

Patti Smith “Banga” (Columbia) Punk rock’s poet laureate is back with her first album of new material since 2004. n


June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 45


tunes

Brian Lopez performs at Plush on Fri, June 29.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Congress.

Photo by Chris Hinkle/courtesy Funzalo Records

Z

JP Harris and the Tough Choices at Club Congress on Fri, June 15.

LIVE MUSIC 2ND SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN Congress Street, 2ndSaturdaysDowntown.com Sat 9: Crosscut Saw, This Group of People, Reno del Mar, Tucson Circus Arts on Scott Stage, Atom Heart Mother (Pink Floyd Tribute) at the Fox.

AVA AMPHITHEATER at Casino Del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd. CasinoDelSol.com Sat 16: Father’s Day Tejano All Star concert with Jay Perez, Fito Olivares, Gary Hobbs Sun 17: Scorpions, Tesla Sat 30: WFF MMA

BOONDOCKS LOUNGE 3306 N. 1st Ave. 690-0991, BoondocksLounge.com Mondays: The Bryan Dean Trio Fridays: Neon Prophet Sat 2: The Mike Eldred Trio, Tony & The Torpedoes Sun 3: Heather Hardy and the Lil Mama Band Sun 17: Last Call Girls Fri 29: Anna Warr & Giant Blue

CLUB CONGRESS 311 E. Congress St. 622-8848, HotelCongress.com/club Fri 1: Silverbell, Greyhound Soul, Ferrodyne Sat 2: Signals CD Release Show, Adam & Aaron, The Gallery Tue 5: Maps & Atlases, The Big

46 THEZMAG.com | June 2012

Sleep and Sister Crayon Tue 12: River City Extension, The Drowning Men Thu 14: Aeroplane Fri 15: JP Harris and the Tough Choice, The Honkytonk Underground Sat 16: GLDNGHST, PC Party and Big Meridox Sat 23: Blind Divine

FOX TUCSON THEATRE 17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org Fri 1: Gillian Welch Fri 15: Riders in the Sky Sat 16: Roger McGuinn

Fridays: Greg Morton Saturdays: Dance! Dance! with DJ Herm Fri 1: Rubylyth, Bradford Sat 2: St. Maybe Sat 9: Clan McCallion Sat 16: Determined Luddites Wed 20: The Family Stoned Wed 27: Jonathan Richman with Tommy Larkins Fri 29: Coming Out: A Queer Dance Party

MAIN GATE SQUARE Geronimo Plaza Courtyard Fri 1: Sylvan Street Fri 15: Lisa Otey

THE HUT

PLUSH

305 N. 4th Ave. 623-3200, HutTucson.com Fri 1: CMG & The Night, Brandon Jim Band Sun 3: New Liberty Tue 5: Bumpin’ Uglies, Grilled Lincolns Fri 8: The Tryst, Greyhound Soul Sat 9: Cosmic Slop Fri 15: The Winter Sounds Sat 16: Two Lane Blacktop & Friends Sat 23: Sweet Nasty, The Black Moods Sat 30: Pete Fine’s “Beyond Words”

340 E. 6th St. 798-1298, PlushTucson.com Fri 1: Beyond Words, Kristen Chandler Sat 2: The Jons, The Vexmen, The Swerves Sun 3: Michael Gonzales Mon 4: Stefan George Tue 5: Hospitality, Leopold & His Fiction, Dream Sick Wed 6: Dave Alvin and The Guilty Ones, Al Perry Thu 7: The Dusty Buskers Fri 8: North, Godhunter, Stareater, Shrimp Chaperone Sat 9: Roll Acosta, This GOP, Cadillac Mountain Sun 10: Tommy Tucker Tue 12: Nowhere Man & Whiskey Girl Wed 13: Naim Amor Fri 15: The Cave Singers, Dry

LA COCINA @ OLD TOWN ARTISANS 201 N. Court Ave. 623-6024, LaCocinaTucson.com Wednesdays: Elephant Head Thursdays: Stefan George

River Yacht Club Sat 16: Collin Shook Trio, The Tryst, Jazz Telephone Mon 18: Billy Sedlmayr & Van Christian Tue 19: Bradford Trojan Wed 20: Serene Dominic Thu 21: The Modeens, Modrag, Dutch Holly Sat 23: Bob Log III, Wussy Mon 25: Mason Reed Tue 26: Michael P. Fri 29: Brian Lopez

RHYTHM & ROOTS Plaza Palamino, 2970 N. Swan Rd. 319-9966, RhythmandRoots. org Fri 15: The Fremonts featuring Mighty Joe Milsap, Bob Corritore

RIALTO THEATRE 318 E. Congress St. 740-1000, RialtoTheatre.com Tue 5: Geoff Tate of Queensryche Tue 12: Indigo Girls, The Shadowboxers Thu 14: Los Lobos

SKY BAR 536 N. 4th Ave. 622-4300, SkyBarTucson.com Wednesdays: Open Mic Sat 2: Boreas Sat 9: Tesla Coil show

SOLAR CULTURE 31 E. Toole Ave. 884-0874, SolarCulture.org Fri 1: Thunderbeat & The Sexy Skulls Wed 20: Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Dent May


Photo: PAXTON (Patrick Salisbury)/Acony Records

Tunes

Z

Gillian Welch performs at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Fri, June 1.

SURLY WENCH PUB

CHE’S LOUNGE

424 N. 4th Ave., 882-0009, SurlyWenchPub.com Mondays: Black Mondays with Matt McCoy & guest Thursdays: Jump-Jive Thursday with DJ Ribz Fri 1: Black Cherry Burlesque Sat 2: Strikers, Bricktop, Besmirchers, Stitch Hopeless & The Sealegs Wed 6: Pretty Things Peepshow Sat 9: Fineline Revisited Tue 12: Koffin Kats Sat 16: Sun City Skins, Industry, Drizzle Fri 22: The Furys Sat 23: Fineline Revisited Sat 30: Mission Creeps, Scorpion vs Spider, Brainspoon

350 N. 4th Ave. 623-2088, ChesLounge.com

VAUDEVILLE Call for info. 110 E. Congress St. 622-3535, MySpace.com/ vaudevilledowntowntucson

Other live music venues include: BLUEFIN 7053 N. Oracle Rd. 531-8500, BluefinTucson.com Sundays: George Howard Duo

CASA VICENTE

CUSHING STREET BAR & RESTAURANT 198 W. Cushing St. 622-7984, CushingStreet.com

DELECTABLES RESTAURANT & CATERING 533 N. 4th Ave. 884-9289, Delectables.com

KINGFISHER 2564 E. Grant Rd. 323-7739, KingFisherTucson.com

LUNA BELLA 2970 N. Swan Rd. LunaBellaRestaurant.com

MONTEREY COURT 505 W. Miracle Mile, MontereyCourtAZ.com

NIMBUS BREWERY 3850 E. 44th St. 745-9175 & 6464 E. Tanque Verde Rd. 7331111, NimbusBeer.com

Richard Noel

Taking It Higher (self-released) Richard Noel’s second release, which follows last fall’s “Joy of the Caribbean,” focuses on high-energy dance music. If you consider that the speed of the Earth’s rotation is about 1,000 miles per hour at the equator, you’ll have a clue on the tempo of the disk. He aptly says, “It’s a cardiovascular album, one to dance to!” For visuals, think Disneyland’s Space Mountain roller coaster ride – some of the tracks should probably be incorporated into Space Mountain’s nighttime soundtrack. Noel is originally from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and locally known as the force behind Sticks and Fingers, a percussion ensemble that plays around town regularly. While he still features percussion on this album, it is definitely heavy on club dance tunes. The album is available on for download from CD Baby, iTunes and Spotify; the easiest way to portal to the songs is via RdNoel.com. Noel’s tunes from both albums have garnered international sales through digital downloads, which is certainly impressive and indicative of his global appeal. n The CD release/pool party happens on Friday, June 15 at Hotel Tucson City Center InnSuites Resort, 475 N. Granada Ave. starting at 7 p.m. and in conjunction with the FEATS AZ “Taking It Higher” Conference that weekend. Details at RdNoel.com and Featsaz.com.

375 S. Stone Ave. 884-5253, CasaVicente.com Tuesdays: Live Classical Guitar Wednesdays: Live Guitar Thursdays: Classical Guitar Friday and Saturdays: Flamenco Guitar and Performances

June 2012 | THEZMAG.com 47



Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.