Tucson arts and culture / ZOCALOMAGAZINE.COM / MARCH 2014 / no. 50
index March 2014 06. Events 16. Arts 23. Business 26. Community 43. Urban Living 56. Fashion 59. Food & Drink 61. Garden 62. Tunes 66. Life in Tucson
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On the cover:
Rillito Park horse races continue through March. More info on page 29.
Zócalo Magazine is locally owned, produced, and printed in Tucson.
PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Olsen EDITOR Jamie Manser CONTRIBUTORS Lee Allen, Craig Baker, Sydney Ballesteros, Marisa Bernal, Andrew Brown, Jon D’Auria, McKinzie Frisbie, Emily Gindlesparger, Jamie Manser, Brandon Merchant, Steve Renzi, Herb Stratford, Monica Surfaro Spigelman, Eric Swedlund, Kyle Wasson. LISTINGS Marisa Bernal, listings@zocalotucson.com PRODUCTION ARTISTS Troy Martin, David Olsen
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from the editor For the longtime Downtown denizens who have witnessed a tremendous evolution of space, the pace of and the businesses within the city’s center is wildly different than it was five, ten, 15, 30 years ago. Tucson has always been behind the national curve with its Downtown revitalization (for numerous economic and place-based reasons), but has consistently maintained a thriving music, arts and cultural scene. It’s cool to see local alternative media like KXCI 91.3FM and the Tucson Weekly celebrating 30 years of covering the Old Pueblo’s music, arts, culture and politics. Both Publisher David Olsen and I have a lot of credit to give the Tucson Weekly; that’s where he and I were co-workers and met in 1998 and subsequently learned some of our chops. Olsen went on to start the Downtown Tucsonan in 2002 after he moved on from the Weekly and became director of marketing for the Tucson Downtown Alliance (which evolved into the Downtown Tucson Partnership), an organization where he and I both worked for many years to help support Downtown’s growth via the Downtown Tucsonan and other efforts. By 2009, it was time to move on again and take the crazy leap into self-publishing in the middle of the national Great Recession. The first issue of Zócalo Magazine came out in May 2009. This month we celebrate 50 issues. The years are a blur; time flies when there are so many great people, places, organizations and events to cover. The goal, when we started Zócalo, was to be a hyper-local community magazine that encourages readers to participate with and in Tucson’s offerings—be it art galleries, family events, performances, rock shows, nonprofits or local businesses. Zócalo could not exist without its readership, writers, advertisers and the greater populace that works so hard every month to make Tucson a better place to live, work and play. We humbly thank you and say, Namaste Tucson! — Jamie Manser
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Literary Giants Festival of Books
by Craig Baker
photo by James S. Wood/www.jswoodphoto.com
Award-winning author Luis Alberto Urrea describes his move to Tucson in the summer of 1995 as “a gesture of faith…like stepping off a cliff.” On advice garnered from famed southwest writer Charles Bowden over a beer at a bar somewhere on Speedway Boulevard, Urrea packed his life in Boulder, Colo. into his jeep and hit the pavement, heading south. When he got to Arizona, Urrea was already a decade into his research on a distant relative of his named Teresita. An Indian medicine woman from pre-revolutionary Mexico, she came to be known as the Saint of Cabora, though she was never officially canonized. And although his goals here in town were purely academic, Urrea himself was surprised by where he ended up along his journey to bring Teresita’s story to life. “When I moved to Tucson, that started an avalanche,” says Urrea. “I thought I was going to spend all my time at the Historical Society in the archives, and I spent my time wandering around the desert talking to cactus with shaman.” He laughs. Through a fortuitous twist of fate, Urrea connected with another distant relative while he was here—a woman named Esperanza who herself was the granddaughter of a Mayo medicine woman. The culmination of Urrea’s research ultimately became the best-selling novel, The Hummingbird’s Daughter, and Urrea’s story, like Teresita’s before him, was indelibly tied to Southern Arizona. Though he has since moved on from our sleepy town at the foot of a black mountain (presently, he teaches creative writing at the University of Illinois-Chicago), Urrea says that he makes it a point to return every spring for the Tucson Festival of Books, now in its sixth year. Even when other Latin writers were boycotting the Copper State for that egregious civil rights travesty known as SB 1070, Urrea remained loyal to his one-time hometown. “I invested lots of blood, sweat, and tears there,” he explains, “and Tucson has always been super good to me.” This time, his primary role at the festival is as emcee for the Author’s Table Banquet the night before things gear up on the UA campus, though Urrea says he will be making other festival appearances as well.
Thousands of people attended the Tucson Festival of Books in 2013, held at the University of Arizona.
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photo by James S. Wood/www.jswoodphoto.com
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossane talk to a packed house at UA's Grand Ballroom(Student Union) during the Tucson Festival of Books 2013 held at the University of Arizona, Saturday March 9, 2013 in Tucson, AZ.
Flock to Tucson The Tucson Festival of Books—billed as “the fourth largest event of its kind”—hosts more than 450 writers, illustrators, entertainers, and educators as well as some 120,000-plus visitors each year through the support of roughly 2000 volunteers and one part-time employee (Executive Director Marcy Euler), according to Festival Marketing Committee Co-Chair Tamara McKinney. McKinney is also Program Director for the youth-focused literacy program Reading Seed. She says planning for the annual Festival is a year-round job. “Really,” says McKinney, “we’ve already started planning for the 2015 Festival…dates are confirmed and we have feelers out already (for talent).” Featured presenters this year include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo (who will be honored with the Founders Award at the opening-night banquet), mystery master Scott Turow, and a return visit by last year’s Founders Award Recipient, R.L. Stein. “If you’re a book lover,” says McKinney, “there’s no reason for you not to go.” She points out that a number of hands-on activities and demonstrations will be hosted in Science City and the Children’s Area, as well as live cooking presentations, and even a performance by a small traveling circus, ensuring that the festival has literally something for everyone. And the impact of the festival doesn’t stop with the two-day event: the budget surplus each year is divvied out to local literacy organizations like Reading Seed. This year, the total amount of money brought in by the Festival of Books for local charities over the course of its six-year existence is likely to top $1 million. What’s a better word than incredible? Extraordinary? Remarkable? Stupendous? Look it up in a thesaurus and pick your favorite—the Tucson Festival of Books is that. n The Tucson Festival of Books takes over the mall of the University of Arizona Campus March 15-16 from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free, but space for some events may be limited. Get more information on the Festival of Books, including a featured author list and event schedule, online at TucsonFestivalOfBooks.org. Be on the lookout for the ten-year-anniversary release of Luis Alberto Urrea’s non-fiction classic, "Devil’s Highway" out soon from Little, Brown. Author Luis Alberto Urrea is the emcee for the Author’s Table Banquet during the Tucson Festival of Books 2014.
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"Speak Easy" features Claire Hancock, Ashley Bowman, Jilian Wereb, Shelly Steigerwald, Ben Nisbet, Chris Black and Naïm Amor.
ARTIFACT Dance's Deco Dream by Herb Stratford
If you observe the Old Pueblo's unique architecture, you can find elements from many different eras—Victorian to Art Deco to Modernism. But how often do those eras come to life in the arts locally? Sure, we can revel in the excitement of John Dillinger’s 1934 capture with Hotel Congress’ annual “Dillinger Days” festivities, but other events tied to a specific era are seemingly few and far between. This month, Tucson's ARTIFACT Dance Project changes that with its world premiere performance of Speak Easy. Speak Easy is set during the Prohibition era (1920-1933), and is a fulllength concert that looks inside the speakeasy culture via New York City’s underground liquor and entertainment nightclubs. The era’s clubs gave birth to fashion, dance and music trends like no other, and films like "The Cotton Club," "The Great Gatsby" and others have demonstrated the depth and breadth of its influence on popular culture ever since. The Speak Easy experience in the performance is witnessed through the eyes of American journalist Lois Lang, and showcases her encounters with agents, bootleggers and flappers who break the rules to the beat of Jazz classics, and dance the night away while hiding from the law. The Speak Easy story is really the “story of a culture” as opposed to one person’s story and showcases a fascinating time in America’s history, according to ARTIFACT's Co-Artistic Director Ashley Bowman. The combination of art, culture, music and dance of the era is a rich vein to mine, and Speak Easy presents these elements in a way new to Tucson audiences. Part of ARTIFACT’s mission is to always collaborate with guest artists on these ambitious projects. For this production, guest composers/musicians Chris Black and Naim Amor have joined forces with ARTIFACT music 8 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
director Ben Nesbit to create the score for the show. It will be performed by a live seven-piece band during the performance on stage. This, along with a dance troupe of 11, promises to make for a memorable evening in the intimacy of the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, which holds just 300 people. The “thrill of live humanity and art forms combining” is one of the draws to this event, says Bowman, who is most proud of the company’s ongoing collaborative artistic performances, which are unique and the troupe's trademark of sorts. Bowman says she can’t imagine not performing with live music or without collaborating in some form with other artists for its productions. This performance may follow in the footsteps of other ARTIFACT pieces by touring here in the United States or internationally. A few years ago, an ARTIFACT show toured China, and the piece has been designed to be staged again if there is support to do so. The elaborate sets, costumes, original music and dance works created for Speak Easy deserve more than the three scheduled performances on tap. One can hope that this slice of historic, artistic heaven can continue to enchant audiences while telling the tale of an important genesis in American artistic expression. n ARTIFACT Dance Project’s "Speak Easy" takes place at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1713 E. University Blvd., on the campus of the University of Arizona. Performances are Friday and Saturday, March 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 general admission and $18 for students of all ages. Tickets are available at ARTIFACTDanceProject.com.
photo: Shelly Flores
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march SUN 2
– ˘ MÖDA PROVoCATE uR Fashion and dinner fundraising event for Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. 628-7223, SAAFModa.org
FORDS ON FOURTH AVENUE Southern Arizona Mustang Club shows classic cars down fourth avenue, between University Blvd. and 7th Street on 4th Avenue. 9am-3pm. 624-5004, FourthAvenue.org
ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR Local artists and craftspeople show and sell jewelry, woodwork, candles, folk art, wrought iron, and more. 9am-2pm. Free. Cat Mountain Station, 2740 S. Kinney Rd. 578-4272, CatMountainStation.com
TUE 4 MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER Annual Shrove Tuesday Fundraiser in conjunction with Kiwanis featuring a Cajun mean, mask decoration and live music. $12.50 in advance, $15 at door. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 545 S. 5th Ave. 622-8318, saintandrewstucson@gmail.com
THU 6 HISTORIC MANSION TOUR Hear stories of the movers and shakers of early Tucson including Sam Hughes, Albert Steinfeld, Hiram Stevens, and Frank Hereford. 10am–noon. $15. NW corner of Main Avenue and Alameda Street. 625-8365, KruseArizona.com
SAT 8 2ND SATURDAYS
A monthly downtown festival featuring vendors, food, live music and more. Performances include: Reno Del Mar, Bold As Love, and The Modeens. 4pm-8pm Free. Congress Street, 2ndSaturdays.com
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SAT 8 OLD PUEBLO GRAND PRIX Arizona’s premier bike race in downtown Tucson. Free to watch; registration fees for participants. 10:30am7pm. See website for more details. OldPuebloGrandPrix.com
BRAZILIAN CARNAVAL A Brazilian festival including a costume contest, dancing and live music by Sol Axé and Sambalaço. $10-$12. 9pm-2am. Club XS, 5851 E. Speedway. 247-3588, ClubXSTucson.com
SAT 8-SUN 9 ORO VALLEY FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Features up to 150 artists and exhibitors, music, family activities and more. Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, 11am-4pm. Free. Oro Valley Marketplace, Southwest corner of Oracle and Tangerine. Saaca.org/FestivaloftheArts
SUN 9 DUETS AND DINNER GALA Featuring live music of the Tucson Girls Chorus, dinner, raffle, silent auction, and more. 5pm-8:30pm. $100. DoubleTree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way. 577-6064, TucsonGirlsChorus.org
WISHES WITH WINGS
Live butterfly release and crafts with Integrative Touch for Kids. 2pm-4pm. La Encantada, in front of Mildred and Dildred, 2905 E. Skyline. 303-4992, IntegrativeTouch.org
WED 12-MON 17 TUCSON TANGO FESTIVAL Featuring live Tango dances, teacher training, lectures, and more. Prices vary. Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 4550 S. Palo Verde Rd. 468-5536, TucsonTangoFestival.com
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Habitate for Humanity CHAIR-ITY auction, Fri, March 21, featuring “Early Spring” by Barbara Rogers and other works by Tucson artists. Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, Sun, March 16 through Sun, March 23
SAT 15
FRI 21
ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL Featuring
COPENHAGEN CHAIR-ITY PROJECT RECEPTION & AUCTION A select number of par-
live Irish music, dancers, entertainment, children’s activities and more. Festival begins at 10am; parade begins at 11am. Free. Armory Park, 221 S. Sixth Ave. TucsonStPatricksDay.com
SAT 15-SUN 16 TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS Hundreds of national and internationally renowned authors, and exhibitors; lectures, interviews, book signings, workshops, poetry readings, writing contests, panel discussions, kids events, more. 10am-5pm. Free. University of Arizona campus. TucsonFestivalofBooks.org
STAMP AND SCRAP FEST Art rubber stamp and scrapbook show from vendors all over the U.S. Tuscon Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. 208-939-6152, StampandScrapFest.com
SUN 16-SUN 23 TUCSON WINTER CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL A week-long series of concerts and other events. Prices vary. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. 577-3769, ArizonaChamberMusic.org
MON 17 NATIVE SEEDS/SEARCH SALON “Looking Back Through Time: Plant Remains and Pre-Hispanic Farmers” with Karen Adams. NS/S Conservation Center, 3584 E. River Road. 6pm-8pm. Free.
ticipating local artists have created a one-of-a-kind artwork using a chair reminiscent of iconic Danish designer Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 chair designed in 1955. 100% of the proceeds raised from the art project will benefit Habitat for Humanity Tucson. 6pm. Call to RSVP. Copenhagen, 3660 E. Fort Lowell Rd.795-0316.
PIONEER WOMEN OF TUCSON WALKING TOUR Focus on the pioneer women who contributed so much to Tucson’s history including Sara Sorin, Gladys Franklin, Edith Kitt, Bettina Steinfeld, Atanacia Hughes, Laura Pennington. 10am-12pm. $15. Corner of Main Avenue and Franklin Street. 625-8365, KruseArizona.com
COOKIES AND COCKTAILS GOURMET GALA Glitz, glamour and Girl Scout cookies come together for the third annual gala featuring a wheel raffle, live entertainment by the George Howard Band, dinner and more. $100. 6pm-9pm. Whistle Stop Depot, 127 W. 5th St. GirlScoutsSoAz.org
FRI 21-SUN 23 4th AVENUE STREET FAIR Over 400 arts and crafts booths, 35 food vendors, performance stages, street musicians, food, jugglers, kids entertainment, face painting, balloons, more. 10am-6pm. Free. 624-5004, FourthAvenue.org
SAT 22
CEMETERY TOUR
Visit grave sites of Tucson pioneers sponsored by the Arizona Historical Society. 9:30am11:30am. $15. Evergreen Cemetery, 3015 N. Oracle Rd. ArizonaHistoricalSociety.org
LIFE IS RICH WITH LAUGHTER Fundraiser for charities benefiting women and girls. Live & silent auctions, raffle, food, live entertainment. Presented by Soroptimist International of Desert Tucson. $65. 5pm. Tucson University Marriott Park Hotel, 880 W. 2nd St. 529-8920, SidesertTucson.org
SUN 23 BOOTS AND BALLET
A Ballet Tucson fundraiser including roping demonstrations, silent auction, line-dancing, and music. $50; Noon3:30pm. Adults. $25; Children 12 and under. Stardance Event Center, 8110 N. Scenic Dr. 903-1445, BalletTucson.org
MON 24 CHAMBER MUSIC AND SPOKEN WORD III Live music and spoken word. 7pm. $8-$10. Maker House, 283 N. Stone Ave. 369-3179, ChurchOfBeethoven-Tucson.org
TUE 25 STREETCAR CELEBRATION: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN Celebrating businesses near the 6th Avenue/Congress Street and 6th Avenue/Broadway stops. See the “Made in America” streetcars, enjoy music/ entertainment, merchant specials/discounts. 5pm-8pm. Free. 271-2992, 940-0803. StreetcarFriends.org
FRI 28-SUN 30 SPRING ARTISANS MARKET Artists offer unique creations in jewelry, ceramics, watercolors, & metal work. Kids area, live music, more. 10am-5pm. Free. Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. 624-2333, TucsonMuseumOfArt.org
Sat 29 MOCKTOBER FEST
Spring-time carnival and benefit for the All Souls Procession. Flam Chen performances, music and food. $5. 12pm-2am. Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. Moctoberfest.com
SUN 30 SONORAN EBRATION
SPRING
CEL-
Spring in the Sonoran Desert blossoms into a festival of wildflowers, friends, and family with music, tastings and art. $100-$125. 4pm-7pm. Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, 742-6455, TohonoChulPark.org
BLENMAN-ELM HOME TOUR Tour features seven historic homes. $10 ticket price includes a $1 donation to EMERGE! 12:30pm-5pm. $10. Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. 314-550-9606.
Ongoing Mondays MEET ME AT MAYNARDS (at 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
glitter ball
Dress up dance party. Live music by The Hustler and The Warm Jets, and vinyl DJ rock ‘n roll from the 70s and 80s. 9pm. $5. Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. RialtoTheatre.com
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photo courtesy Tucson Botanical Gardens
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Gardeners Square off at Growdown by Craig Baker An outdoor space created at Growdown 2013.
On your mark. Get set. Grow! It’s time for the Tucson Botanical Garden’s (TBG) second annual Growdown!, and this year’s gardening gurus are leaving nothing to chance. Three local landscape design firms will put their trowels to the test between March 18 and 22 in a battle to create the best small garden space in Tucson. Each of the three finalists—chosen by a committee from a pool of about ten design proposals—will be given $1500 in “seed money” and a fifteen-by-twenty-foot plot of dirt on which to craft a backyard sanctuary fit for desert royalty. The winner will be announced on Saturday, March 22 at a ceremony and reception following a day of demonstrations by the competing designers. Judges will score the displays based on five criteria: aesthetic appeal, connection to Tucson, appeal to multiple senses, the use of space and practicality. The winner gets a handsome trophy as well as priority attention in the June issue of Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden Magazine. Last year’s cover article meant some well-earned attention for Growdown! 2013 champions Phil and Janis Van Wyck of Van Wyck Projects. Phil Van Wyck says that the cover story led directly to a handful of projects for the company, as well as countless complimentary phone calls from the community at large. But, Van Wyck says, the pride they felt in their work was the biggest payoff. “We used every square inch of that space,” said Van Wyck, adding that, even though they prefabricated as much of their garden as possible before the three-day installation period began, putting it all together literally came down to the final two minutes of the competition. Their winning design included custom tile art by local artist Nick Tranmer, a water feature, as well as a raised, covered platform built along a soil cement wall—a technique the Van Wyck’s demonstrated at TBG last year. Plans for the 2014 installations (billed as “Small Gardens, Big Ideas”) appear even more ambitious than the year before: Allen Denomy and Micaela Machado of Solana Outdoor Living partnered up to create a design which features a green-roofed chicken coop; Iylea Olson of LJ Design & 12 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
Consulting envisions a garden full of local edibles with a water feature that uses harvested rainwater; Petrichor Design + Build’s Maria Voris aims to erect a modern suspended swing as her small garden’s centerpiece. Like the Van Wycks last spring, this year’s green-thumb gladiators can expect a few sleepless nights in the mad dash to install everything from gravel to gazebos from scratch, including every plant, rafter, fountain, and artistic accent in each of their pre-planned plots. And, though the time table leaves very little room for construction errors, TBG’s Marketing Director Melissa D’Auria assures us that these local agriculturalists are up to the challenge. D’Auria says that since Growdown! lets designers work without adhering to a client’s specifications, the annual competition at TBG is one of “the best opportunities for them to be creative in their profession.” And the small spaces that spring up as a result of that freedom are “really elaborate,” says D’Auria, incorporating fire elements, cisterns, and just about everything else you could reasonably think to put in your backyard. The designers will all be on hand to answer your questions on the Saturday that follows installation, making it a spectacular opportunity to pick the brains of a few extremely talented professionals for design insight. For anyone looking to spruce up their own outdoor living areas, Growdown! 2014 is the perfect excuse to swing by TBG; you can learn a new trickor-two from the demos, get some inspiration on how to give your small garden a big impact by checking out the finished gardens, and take an extra minute to stroll through the butterfly aviary before the exhibit flutters away again next month. So, put on your best pruning gloves and some sunscreen and we’ll meet you in the garden. n It all grows, er, goes down March 18-22 with the final results presentation and contestant demonstrations taking place on Saturday, March 22. Growdown! exhibition is free with paid admission (adults, $13; student/ military, $12; children 4-12, $7.50). More information available at TucsonBotanical.org or by calling (520) 326-9686.
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Tucson's History Resurrected by Herb Stratford
Jennie Migel-Drachman, wife of Sam Drachman, is a pioneer being featured at the cemetery tour.
photo courtesy of American Antique Mall/photo taken by Henry Buehman
The annual Spring Meet Tucson’s Pioneers cemetery walk takes place Saturday, March 22 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, 3015 N. Oracle Rd. Tickets are $15 and include light refreshments post tour. RSVP by March 17 to Betty Cook at (520) 886-3363 or via email at cbetty@cox.net. Also find more information at ArizonaHistoricalSociety.org.
photo courtesy Gloria Rosenfeld, her granddaughter.
Tucson has the distinction of being one of the longest continually inhabited locations in North America. While that history stretches back some 12,000 years, much of the early history of Tucson is lost to time. However, we are fortunate to have much of our recent history still with us both from an architectural perspective, as well as in the archives of the Arizona Historical Society. One way to experience local history is set to take place on March 22, when the Arizona Historical Society presents their “Meet Tucson’s Pioneers” event at Evergreen Cemetery from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The event is a guided walking tour of the graves of significant Tucson pioneers coupled with living history interpreters who bring the stories of the deceased to life in period costume. Each of the eight performers has eight minutes to tell the story of their subject; following the tour, participants can speak with the re-enactors in more detail. Most have developed their own costume and story, and have been participating for years in the program. The event brings life to notable Tucson forefathers such as Epes Randolph, George Roskruge, Sam Hughes, Jenny Drachman and Ed Litt, who many may only know due to local street or building names. Led by Betty Cook, an Arizona Historical Society docent, the tour also relies on a core group of people whose period dress presentations at the gravesides give a flavor unlike any other tour. This is the 11th year of the tour, an annual event that presents different Tucson forefathers each time. Most of the highlighted individuals come from the 1850s to 1900 when our city was booming for the first time. Evergreen Cemetery, 3015 N. Oracle Rd., contains the most significant of Tucson’s prominent burials. While our city’s original cemeteries were closer to downtown, Evergreen and Holy Hope Cemetery were established when the city boundaries began pushing north and west in 1907, and remains perhaps the most significant walk through history that one can experience in a single location. But it’s not just the names on the graves that are fascinating, it’s also the evolution and style of the memorials that are of note. Obviously the religion of the deceased, financial resources and other elements were of importance at the time of death, but it’s fascinating to see the variety and style of different markers over the years. From elaborate Victorian to simple headstones, the tour is a great excuse to get out of the car and see Tucson history up close. The event draws between 150-200 guests and Evergreen Cemetery is a great supporter of the annual event, even providing the tent and chairs for guests to use before and after the tour. With a cost of just $15 per person, this excursion into history is affordable for most, and an additional add-on after the tour that visits graves of the “Army of The Republic” for just $5 is also well worth the time and additional hour, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., on March 22. Notable figures from the additional tours include George Hand, whose diary of life in Tucson is a cult favorite, and Sidney R. DeLong, Tucson’ first Mayor in 1871 and 1872 who was also a leader of the 1871 Camp Grant Massacre. n
George Roskruge, pioneer Arizona surveyor and prominent Tucsonan. March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 15
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Tiny Buildings, Enormous Impact Dirk Arnold’s Endangered Architecture by Craig Baker When local artist Dirk Arnold went to architecture school in the mid1980s, he says it was because he wanted to build models. “But it turns out building models was the thing you did at the last minute in a panic in architecture school,” he says, and so he put models aside after graduation for a career in graphic design. When he picked them back up decades later, the soft-spoken Arnold quickly became one of Tucson’s strongest voices for historical preservation. He arrived in the Sonoran Desert in 1996 by way of Ann Arbor, Mich., though given Arnold’s dedication to (and obvious love for) Tucson’s community treasures, you’d think he’d been here all his life. Like many local transplants it was the climate that ultimately roped him in, but his love for the mid-century modern buildings here had a hand in his decision to relocate to this pueblo in particular, he says. When he was laid off from his job with a local software company in 2002, Arnold decided it was time to completely reevaluate his day-to-day, and so once again, he started building. Arnold built his first piece in the Endangered Architecture (EA) series in 2003: a miniature of the Tucson Warehouse and Transfer Building on Sixth Street east of Stone Avenue. He took a series of photographs of the building, stitched them together on Photoshop, and set to work recreating 16 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
the building’s façade piece-by-piece out of matte board, balsa wood, and glue. “The truck on the (Tucson Warehouse and Transfer) sign blew off during that process,” explains Arnold, “and that got me thinking about all of the endangered signs around town.” From there came the idea to recreate Tucson’s classic neon signs as refrigerator magnets and EA was officially in business. Arnold says each shadowbox model in the EA series can take anywhere between a few weeks and several months to complete by hand and it’s easy to see why; his recreation of the Berkshire Shopping Complex alone measures roughly seven feet in length. He calls them “elevation views popped out into three dimensions,” harking his finished products back to artistic presentation posters of old that were “meticulously rendered and painted” by the architects themselves before the industry transitioned to digital. Arnold’s minimalist approach to his miniatures is attributable to his personal sense of architectural puritanism: “No cars, no people, no plants,” he says with a distinct air of humility, “I left all of that off.” Demion Clinco, Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation president,
arts Z met Arnold in 2008 at the First Annual Miracle Mile Open House and Tour. Clinco and Arnold later served together on the committee responsible for amending Tucson’s sign code to incentivize the preservation of signs like those depicted on Arnold’s magnets. The interest in local neon created by the project, says Arnold, led to his first major public art installation—the towering “Gateway Saguaro” which illuminates the intersection of Oracle Road and Drachman Street. Clinco, recently appointed to the state House to fill the seat vacated by Andrea Dalessandro, says that Arnold’s approach to local preservation was more artistic than policy-driven; a welcome and important angle with respect to the efforts of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation. “Using his remarkable artistic aesthetic and sensibility, (Arnold) is able to shine a light on our city’s historic resources in a way that no one else does,” says Clinco. And you thought we were just talking about magnets and miniatures. Though Arnold insists that his art is “not overtly political,” it is hard to deny the preservationist undertone of a moniker like “Endangered Architecture.” Still, the threats to Arnold’s beloved mid-century modern structures are real. In fact, two of the buildings represented in his current show
at the Tucson International Airport Gallery—namely, the 1968 Levy’s Department Store at El Con Mall and the Berkshire Village Shopping Center formerly at Broadway Boulevard and Camino Seco—“have been demolished for Walmarts just in the last couple of years,” Arnold says. The push to widen Broadway Boulevard, he says, could bring down many more. Ultimately, through his own contribution toward preserving our local architectural heritage, Dirk Arnold is providing our community with a number of classics all his own. And though it is perhaps an understatement, most Tucsonans would probably agree with Representative Clinco when he says of Tucson’s Master of Miniature, “We’re really lucky to have him.” Lucky we are, indeed. n Dirk Arnold’s Endangered Architecture miniatures are on display in the Tucson International Airport Gallery (on the east end of the baggage claim area) through the end of March. A reception for the exhibit is Saturday, March 22, from 4pm-7pm. Arnold’s magnets can be purchased on his Etsy store, or at EndangeredArchitecture.com.
photo by David Olsen
Left: Dirk’s miniature of Jerry’s Lee Ho Market in Barrio Viejo. Bottom: model artist Dirk Arnold, exhibiting at the Tucson International Airport Gallery.
“Dancing Into The Sunset” by Jeff Furst displays at Art House Centro as part of the exhibit “Sunrise/ Sunset: An Exploration of Color” through Fri, March 7.
art Galleries/exhibits ART HOUSE CENTRO Paintings by Jeff Ferst, Sunrise/ Sunset: An Exploration of Color continues through Fri, Mar 7. Under the Mezcal Moon, featuring paintings by Sam Esmoer, opens with a reception on Sat, Mar 15; 7pm-9pm. Mon-Sat, 10am-5:30pm; Sun, 11am-5pm. Old Town Artisans Complex, 201 N. Court Ave. 620-1725, OldTownArtisans.com
CONTRERAS GALLERY Blended Borders by Diane Aldrich Kleiss displays Sat, Mar 1-Sat, Mar 29 with a reception opening night; 6pm-9pm. Tues-Fri, 11am5pm; Sat, 11am-4pm. 110 E. 6th St. 398-6557, ContrerasHouseFineArt.com
DAVIS DOMINGUEZ GALLERY
Paintings by Joanne Kerrihard and glass sculpture by Katja Fritsche continues through Sat, Mar 22. Paintings by Duncan Martin, watercolors by the late Bruce McGrew and sculpture by Joy Fox open Thu, Mar 27. Tue-Fri, 11am-5pm; Sat, 11am-4pm. 154 E. 6th St. 629-9759, DavisDominguez.com
DEGRAZIA GALLERY IN THE SUN Celebrate the publication of the first comprehensive biography of Ted Degrazia on Sat, Mar 1; 5:30-7:30. Free. Little Gallery: Color pencil by Geri Niedermiller continues through Fri, Mar 7. Art by Wanda Rickman shows Sun, Mar 9-Fri, Mar 21. Daily, 10am-4pm. 6300 N. Swan Rd. 2999191, DeGrazia.org
DESERT ARTISANS GALLERY
Desert Spring featuring artists David Brown, Wanita Christensen, Paddie Flaherty, Darlene LeClair, Susan Libby and Margaret Shirer, continues through May. Acrylic demo with Susan Libby Thu, Mar 20Sat, Mar 22, 11pm-2pm; Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. Sun; 10am-1:30pm. 6536 E. Tanque Verde Rd. 722-4412, DesertArtisansGallery.com
DIGITAL DOWNTOWN DARKROOM The Happening, a body painting art show, featuring photography, video and sculpted car hoods, opens Fri, Mar 14 with a reception from 6pm-10pm. 735 N. Alder. DigitalDowntownDarkroom.com
THE DRAWING STUDIO Journey Through Color and Form by Shirley Wagner and Carol Ann Miraben shows Sat, Mar 1-Sat, Mar 29 with a reception opening night, 6pm-8pm; Mon-Thu, 10am-4pm; Sat, 1pm-4pm. 33 S. 6th Ave. 620-0947, TheDrawingStudio.org
ETHERTON GALLERY
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Danny Lyon: Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement continues through Sat, Mar 15. An exhibit with work by Bill Lesch, Gail Marcus-Orlen, and Lynn Taber opens Tue, Mar 18 with a reception Sat, Mar 22; 7pm-10pm. Tue-Sat, 11am-5pm. 135 S. 6th Ave. 624-7370, EthertonGallery.com
“Neoscape 23” by Carol Ann Miraben shows at The Drawing Studio in March as part of the exhibit “Journey Through Color and Form.”
“Tucson Architecture Drawing” by Danny Martin shows as part of his exhibit at You and Your Big Ideas Gallery in March.
FOUR CORNERS GALLERY Dark Skies: Desert Cosmos continues through
“City Dust” by Rudy Flores shows as part of the exhibit: “This Heart Has Left Its Hive” at the Wee Gallery in March.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA WATERCOLOR GUILD
Wed, April 30. Desertscapes: Narrative Landscapes continues through Wed, April 30. Primeria Alta: The Spanish Connection continues through Wed, April 30. Tucson Desert Art Museum, 7000 E. Tanque Verde. 202-3888, TucsonDart.com
46th Annual Show Lightness and Shadow continues through Sun, Mar 9. All Member Show opens Tue, Mar 11. Tue-Sun, 11am-4pm. Free. SAWG Gallery, 5605 E. River Rd. 299-7294, SouthernAzWatercolorGuild.com
JOSEPH GROSS GALLERY School of Art Visiting Professors, Adjunct and
TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART Miradas: Ancient Roots in Modern and Con-
Staff Exhibition continues through April. Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm. 1031 N. Olive Rd. 6264215, CFA.arizona.edu/galleries
temporary Mexican Art Works from the Bank of America Collection opens Sat, Mar 1. Tue,Wed, Fri, Sat; 10am-5pm; Thu: 10am-8pm; Sun, 12pm-5pm. $10, adults; $8, seniors; $5, students 13+; free, children under 12. Free to all the first Sunday of the month. 140 N. Main Ave. 624-2333, TucsonMuseumofArt.org
LOUIS CARLOS BERNAL GALLERY
Magical Realism, featuring artwork by Gail Marcus-Orlen, Robert Cocke, Penny McElroy and Janet Prip continues through Fri, Mar 14; Mon-Thu, 10am-5pm; Fri, 10am-3pm. 2202 W. Anklam Rd. 206-6942, Pima.Edu/cfa
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Alois Kronschlaeger: Untitled (Basin and Range) continues through Sun, Mar 16. Janaina Tschäpe Floating Worlds continues through April. Censorship in Focus: Entarte Kunst/Degenerate Art shows Thu, Mar 6. What Makes an Icon an Icon takes place Thu, Mar 27. Artist talk by Carlos Bunga on Thu, Mar 13; 6pm. Wed-Sun, noon-5pm. $8, adults; free, children under 12, members, military; free to all last Sunday of the month. 265 S. Church Ave. 624-5019, MOCA-Tucson.org
OBSIDIAN
GALLERY Natural Influences continues through Sun, Mar 2; Wed-Sat, 11am-6pm. Obsidian Gallery, 410 N. Toole Ave. 577-3598, Obsidian-Gallery.com PHILABAUM GLASS GALLERY & STUDIO
Earth, Wind, & Fire continues through April. Tue-Sat,10am-5pm. 711 S. 6th Ave. 884-7404, PhilabaumGlass.com
PORTER HALL GALLERY Paintings by Beata Wehr continues through Tue,
UA ART MUSEUM American Visions: Selections from the C. Leonard Pfeiffer Collection continues through Mon, Mar 24. The Modern Spirit: Selection from the Edward J. Gallagher III Memorial Collection continues through Mon, Mar 24. Modern Master Prints: Selections from the Dr. and Mrs. Stanley Glickman Gift continues through Mon, Mar 10. Tue-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun, 12pm-4pm. $5 adults; children/ students/faculty, free. 1031 N. Olive Rd. ArtMuseum.arizona.edu
WEE GALLERY
This Heart Has Left Its Hive by Rudy Flores takes place Sat, Mar 1-Sat, Mar 29. Thu-Sat, 11am-6pm. 439 N. 6th Ave Suite #171. 360-6024, GalleryWee.com
WILDE MEYER GALLERY Native Spirits North and South continues through Sat, Mar 15. Lo Mejor de Wilde Meyer shows Thu, Mar 6-Sat, Mar 29. Season of the Region opens Thu, Mar 20. Mon-Fri, 10am-5:30pm. Wilde Meyer Gallery, 3001 E. Skyline Dr. WildeMeyer.com
WOMANKRAFT ART GALLERY
Fiber, Paper, Metal, Glass continues through Sat, Mar 29. Wed-Sat, 1pm-5pm. 388 S. Stone Ave. 629-9976, WomanKraft.org
Mar 25. Daily, 8:30am-4:30pm. $13, adults; $12, student/senior/military; $7.50, children 4-12; free, children 3 and younger. 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 326-9686, TucsonBotanical.org
YIKES TOYS AND GIFT-O-RAMA Light Hearted Valentine Show by Sha-
RAICES TALLER 222 ART GALLERY AND WORKSHOP Carnaval
YOU AND YOUR BIG IDEAS GALLERY
continues through Sat, Mar 15. Fri-Sat, 1pm-5pm & by appointment. 218 E. 6th St. 881-5335, RaicesTaller222.webs.com
ron Holnback continues through Sat, Mar 22. Mon-Sat, 10am-5:30pm. Yikes Toys and Gift O-Rama, 2930 E. Broadway Blvd. 320-5669, YikesToys.com Tucson Architecture Drawing by Danny Martin runs Sat, Mar 8-Sat, Mar 29. 6pm-9pm. 174 E. Toole Ave. 6299230, Facebook.com/YouAndYourBigIdeas
SACRED MACHINE
See website for information. Wed-Fri, 5pm-8pm; Sat, 4pm-9pm. 245 E. Congress St. 777-7403, SacredMachine.com
March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 19
Z arts photo: Darin Wallentine
Christian Youth Theater presents “Shrek The Musical,” March 6-9.
Performances ARTIFACT DANCE PROJECT
Speak Easy takes place Fri, Mar 21-Sun, Mar 23. $18-$25. Stevie Eller Dance Theater, 1713 E. University Blvd. 780-6879, ArtIfActDanceProject.com
ARIZONA FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival takes place Sun, Mar 16-Sun, Mar 23. TCC’s Leo Rich Theatre, 260 S. Church Ave. 577-3769, ArizonaChamberMusic.org
ARIZONA OPERA La Traviata shows Sat, Mar 8-Sun, Mar 9. TCC’s Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. 293-4336, AZOpera.com
ARIZONA ROSE THEATRE COMPANY Tombstone: The Musical shows Fri, Mar 21-Sun, Mar 23. Fri & Sat, 7pm; Sun, 2pm. $8-$17. Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. 888-0509, ArizonaRose.cc
ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY
Around the World In 80 Days shows Sat, Mar 1-Sat, Mar 22. Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. 622-2823, ArizonaTheatre.org
BORDERLANDS THEATER
Burning Patience opens Thu, Mar 27 and runs through April 13. Zuzi’s Dance Theater, 738 N. 5th Ave. 882-7406, BorderlandsTheater.org
BROADWAY IN TUCSON
I Love Lucy: Live on Stage shows Tue, Mar 25Sun, Mar 30. Tickets vary. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. 903-2929, BroadwayInTucson.com
CARNIVAL OF ILLUSION Performance takes place Fri, Mar 7 & Sat, Mar 8. See website for times. Tucson Double Tree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way. 615-5299, CarnivalOfIllusion.com
CHAMBER MUSIC PLUS
The Trials of Dimitri Shostakovich takes place Sun, Mar 30 at 3pm. Berger Performing Arts, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. 400-5439, ChamberMusicPlus.org
22 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
Photo courtesy Arizona Friends of Chamber Music.
Courtesy of WindingRoadTheater.org
arts Z
Pepe Romero performs at the Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival.
Winding Road Theater’s "Burn This" has performances Thu, Mar 13-Sun, Mar 30 at The Temple of Music and Art. Photo features Emilee Foster and Christopher Johnson.
CHRISTIAN YOUTH THEATRE Shrek: The Musical takes place Thu, Mar
PCC THEATRE ARTS
6-Sun, Mar 9. Pima Community College Center for the Arts Proscenium Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Rd. CYTTucson.org.
Chorale and College Singers perform Tue, Mar 11. Wind Ensemble performs Thu, Mar 13. 2202 W. Anklam Rd. 206-6670, Pima.edu/cfa
FOX THEATRE Ozomatli performs Fri, Mar 14. The Straits: A Dire Straight Leg-
THE ROGUE THEATRE Betrayal continues through Sun, Mar 16. 738 N. 5th
acy takes place Sun, Mar 16. Ronnie Milsap performs Mon, Mar 17. Hot Club of San Francisco performs Sat, Mar 22. Lilly Tomlin performs Sun, Mar 23. Prices Vary. 17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org
Ave. 551-2053, TheRogueTheatre.org
THE GASLIGHT THEATRE
The Belle Tombstone continues through Sun, Mar 3. 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 886-9428, TheGaslightTheatre.com
INVISIBLE THEATRE My Buddy shows Sat, Mar 8-Sun, Mar 9. 1400 N. 1st Ave. 882-9721, InvisibleTheatre.com
LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP
Photograph 51 continues through Sat, Mar 22. All Together Theatre: Peter and The Wolf continues through Sun, Mar 16. The Adventures of Rose Red (Snow White’s Less Famous Sister) opens Sun, Mar 30. See website for prices and times. 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-4242, LiveTheatreWorkshop.org
TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Enchanted Kingdom shows Sat, Mar 1. Beethoven’s Fourth takes place Sat, Mar 8-Sun, Mar 9. Saint- Saëns Cello Concerto takes place Fri, Mar 14 & Sun, Mar 16. Cherish The Ladies takes place Sat, Mar 22-Sun, Mar 23. The Amazing ‘80s shows Fri, Mar 28. Tubac Golf Resort & Spa- Moveable Music Feast is Sun, Mar 30. See website for times, prices, and locations. 882-8585, TucsonSymphony.org
UA PRESENTS
Michael Feinstein performs Sun, Mar 9. The Joffrey Ballet takes place Sun, Mar 23. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. 621-3341, UAPresents.org
UA’S ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE
Oklahoma! opens Sun, Mar 9. 1025 N. Olive Rd. 621-1162, web.cfa.arizona.edu/theatre
NOT BURNT OUT JUST UNSCREWED
Shows every Friday and Saturday throughout March. Unscrewed Theater, 3244 E. Speedway Blvd. 861-2986, UnscrewedComedy.com
WINDING ROAD THEATRE ENSEMBLE
ODYSSEY STORYTELLING SERIES Ten-Year Anniversary Show & Cel-
ZUZI! DANCE COMPANY No Frills Dance Happenin’ takes place Fri, Mar 7.
ebration is Thu, Mar 6, 7:30pm. Free. Fluxx Studios and Gallery, 416 E. 9th St. 7304112, OdysseyStoryTelling.com
$10. Zuzi’s Little Theater, 738 N. 5th Ave. 629-0237, ZUZIMoveIt.org
Burn This shows Thu, Mar 13-Sun, Mar 30. Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. 749-3800, WindingRoadTheater.org
March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 23
Z business
Gary Dillahunty and Jane Decker - co-owners of D & D Pinball. Both have day jobs at Raytheon; Gary as a printed circuit board designer and Jane as a reliability engineer.
Steel Balls and Flippers by Steven Renzi
There’s a new old game in town; in fact, there are 30 of them. Sorry, Mr. and Ms. Pac-Man, you’re not invited; in this house of pinball, the steel ball rules. And rolls; down chutes, up ramps, bashing against electronic bumpers, through secret lairs and around and around pop-up squirrels. Located on the northwest corner of Fourth Avenue and Seventh Street, D & D Pinball is co-owned by husband and wife, Gary Dillahunty and Jane Decker. Like most married couples with 30 working pinball machines in their home, they had a problem. Sure, they enjoyed watching friends come over and play, but they wanted something more. How could they share their passion as pinball enthusiasts with the rest of the Tucson community? “We found the perfect location and last Labor Day weekend we opened with no advertising and no announcements. Somehow, the word got out. We expected a soft opening, but we were immediately jammed, strictly through word of mouth. We had cars driving by and people yelling out of 24 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
their windows, ‘Is this the pinball place?’” said Dillahunty. “We keep it simple,” said Decker. “Pinball only, no food and drinks. We have one soda machine and pinball, that’s it.” On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the massive metal front door at D & D Pinball rolls open, Godzilla awakens and roars; The Creature of the Black Lagoon rises up from the murky depths and Captain Fantastic climbs onstage. The noise level rises as customers begin to play the machines–bells ring, bumpers bump and flippers flip. Lights blink on and illuminate the colorful graphic art on each game’s playfield and back glass. A 6-year-old plays next to a 93-year-old; a tattoo artist plays next to a businessman. People talk and laugh. Inside, you’re not only walking into an establishment, you’re entering an era. An era of nostalgia and fun, when a quarter could actually buy something! An era when we had to leave the house to entertain ourselves; a time
when kids and adults could have fun together. “A lot of kids have never seen a pinball machine in their entire lives. When they start playing, they are mesmerized by the noises and the silver ball. I think they like it because it’s something physical; you can bump, you can shove, you can push; it’s nothing but physics–velocity of the ball, gravity,” said Dillahunty. Eric Lyons, a computational biologist at the U of A, who also helps to maintain and repair the machines, agrees: “While playing pinball, your entire world reduces down to the two buttons which control the flippers. It’s such a simple and elegant interface between human and machine,” said Lyons. His favorite game? “Theater of Magic,” replied Lyons. “It’s based on a magic show, has great graphics, multi-levels, and uses magnets, sometimes suspending the steel ball in mid-air. It also has an incredible collection of callouts, which are what the machine says to you while you’re playing. Callouts like: The basement is full of wonders and the rope is breaking.” Pinball games were invented in the early 1930s. Called pin games, they were nothing more than wooden boards with metal pins driven into them. The object of the game was to drop a metal ball through the metal pins; no controls, no nothing. Sounds like fun, right? Wrong… no wonder our parents were always so grouchy. But, things improved. The games grew legs, the playfield was enclosed in glass and electronics were added, along with great graphics. And then in 1947, the world changed. No, I’m not talking about the Soviets going nuclear; it’s the year the pinball game Humpty Dumpty was created. Humpty Dumpty was the first pinball game to have flippers. Now a player could control the ball. Sure gravity sucks, but in the hands of a pinball maestro with awesome flipper control, gravity’s got to wait in line just like everybody else. Pinball became a game of skill. Monthly on a Thursday, a local tournament, open to everyone, is held at D & D Pinball. If interested, consult the website at DandDPinball.com for dates and times. Last month, a state championship tournament, invitation only, was held, sponsored by the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA). “This is the best place in Arizona to play pinball publicly,” said Mark Pearson, president of the Arizona Pinball Players League. That day, another president talked about pinball. He was David Galligan, president of the Triple T Truckstop for nearly 40 years. He was with Carolyn Kemmeries, both are in their late-70s. “I remember in the late 40s, early 50s, walking along the beach in Rhode Island, collecting bottles, cashing them in to play pinball,” said Galligan. “Some people may remember, my parents owned a restaurant called the Blue Grill in the 1950s, here on 4th Avenue. Next door was a pinball machine that I always used to play,” said Kemmeries. Another day, Debra Wendt from Douglas brought her 8-year-old grandson Luke Robert, up from Sierra Vista to play pinball. “I like watching the balls. This is real, it’s not just a TV screen,” said Luke. “For workers along 4th Ave., we’ve become the new happy hour,” said Decker. “Without the alcohol,” adds Dillahunty. “That’s why kids are so comfortable here. We’re not doing this to make money. In fact, every month we adopt a local non-profit and donate back to the community. We want to help create a community that can come down here to do things outside of work together.” n D & D Pinball is located at 331 E. Seventh St., online at DandDPinball. com, and by phone at (520) 777-4969. Hours are Friday, 3 p.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday, noon–9 p.m.; Sunday, noon–5 p.m. Pinball games cost 25 to 75 cents. March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 25
Z community
Arizona’s First Wild Animal Hospital Already serving as one of the few wild animal hospitals in the country, Tucson Wildlife Center is expanding with a cutting edge new hospital. by Jon D Auria
26 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
garage for the ambulances to pull into so the heavier animals brought in can be transported directly inside without excessive moving. “We’ll also be adding on veterinarian and intern quarters and we’ll be one of the country’s first education facilities on large mammals and raptors. That means that doctors and veterinarians can come from different countries and different places in the U.S. who want to learn how to care for wild animals because there aren’t many places in the world that offer that,” says Kidd. “And the diversity of the Sonoran wildlife is almost more than anywhere in the world. A lot of people show a lot of interest in coming here to learn. We have veterinarians who donate their time, human orthopedic surgeons who donate their time and vets who do internal surgeries. It’s a huge community effort and everything about the center was created to support our community.” Of the thousand animals TWC treats a year, 90 percent of them are injured or harmed by human related incidents. With many animals getting hit by vehicles or getting run out of their habitats by increased construction, TWC is their only hope for survival once they’re inflicted with life threatening injuries. The hospital takes in over 300 birds and raptors a year and hundreds of javelinas, coyotes, bobcats, ringtails, badgers, bears and even many animals foreign to our habitat such as migrating pelicans and abandoned alligators. “We’re dedicated to the rescue, emergency medical care and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife while promoting habitat coexistence and protection through education. Basically we are a first responder, a hospital, an animal geriatric care facility, and information hub to the public. We welcome calls from the public to answer any questions about animals,” says Kidd. “Our mission goes beyond just bringing them in and giving them aid, we always try to complete the circle by making sure they are placed back out where they belong. Our new hospital edition is truly going to revolutionize how we operate and the will greatly widen the scope of the type of care we can give these animals.” n photo courtesy Tucson Wildlife Center.
Since it’s opening in 1998, Tucson Wildlife Center has thrived as a regional care center where people can bring in sick, injured or abandoned wild animals from the desert so they can receive care and be rehabilitated and released back to their natural habitats. It has also served as a world hub for education, as the cutting edge methods of surgery and treatment used at TWC brings in veterinarians and surgeons from all reaches of the globe. Comprised of five staff workers and over 75 constant volunteers, Tucson Wildlife Center offers care to our animal neighbors unlike any care they could receive elsewhere. But the ultimate goal of the original founder/owners Lisa Bates and Peter Lininger was to eventually expand their rehabilitation sanctuary to include a hospital on site that would allow them to administer emergency surgeries to give a second chance to the 1,000+ wounded animals they take in per year. Unfortunately, their 501 (c)(3) nonprofit budget wouldn’t allow for that in their budget. That was until they received special visitors who carried with them the vision of a deceased man’s final wish. “Back in 2007 a couple came up from Florence who were executors to the estate of a man named Sam Goldman who had recently passed away. He told them when he died he wanted his money to go to a wildlife rehabilitation facility that cared for the desert animals he loved so much,” says Executive Director Dee Kidd. “So his executors went around to four different wildlife rescues in the country and they ended up in Tucson and called us for a tour. They never said a word about why they were there, but Lisa could tell they were very impressed. At the end they asked her what her ultimate goal was and she told them it was to build the first wild animal hospital in Arizona. And right there on the spot they told her that they were going to build it for her.” Seven years later, the shared vision of Bates, Lininger and the late Sam Goldman is coming to fruition, as the Tucson Wildlife Center is preparing to cut the ribbon on April 4 for their brand new, state of the art Sam Goldman Wildlife Hospital. The new construction will add to the center's 14-acre site: four animal ICU units, indoor and outdoor pens for the animals, a large avian enclosure for birds, an educational room, a large triage room, a surgery room and a radiology and x-ray room. There will also be a big
To book a tour or to donate to the Tucson Wildlife Center, visit TucsonWildlife.com. Questions can be answered 24/7 at (520) 290-9453.
March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 27
photo by David Olsen
community Z
Riding High Glimpse a vanishing corner of the true west, where old-timers and an old tradition still want to play. by Monica Surfaro Spigelman
These days, there’s nothing like a weekend horse race to set off some foot-traffic fireworks on the Rillito. By high noon you see them coming: families with strollers, high-heeled fashionistas, grizzlies in “Don’t Mess With Cowboys” T-shirts, hombres sauntering in big hats, and just plain folk. Perhaps no province of Tucson has seen more changing, rearranging and reinvention than Rillito Park Race Track (4502 N. First Ave.). When its stables reawakened last month for an eight-weekend racing season that ends March 30, an interesting part of Tucson history returned to the front burner of this lovely park, known now for its soccer fields.
Lest animal rights advocates wonder why Zócalo is even paying attention, consider for a moment what is under the cobwebs of this gritty place. While calls for education, legislation and PETA-backed campaigns focus on real issues of doping and care of race horses in retirement, this Zócalo story looks at the race horse’s place in Tucson’s history (and a link for thoroughbred aftercare is included at the end of this story). So, meander down to that landmark grandstand, read the signpost describing an historic chute and once-thriving track in the shadows of the Catalinas–and you too will be curious about these real-deal reminders of a Tucson glory day.
story continues on next page
March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 29
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continued from previous page
photo: Andrew Brown
Historic Homework
Photographer Andrew Brown captured this fashionable spectator on a recent Sunday afternoon. See more of Andrew’s photos from his day at the races on page 66.
In the 1930s, Tucson ranchers gathered to show off and race their fearless cow ponies on a dirt track set up on the far east side, near lush Sabino Canyon. The gatherings were organized by four wealthy ranchers (who were known as the 4 Horsemen), and these informal weekend events quickly became a popular and serious sport. The no-regulation, roughand-tumble track they used was named Hacienda Moltacqua (from the Italian phrase, molta acqua, meaning “lots of water”). Over the next decade, Moltacqua gained national horse racing prominence, standardized its racing, and attracted thousands on Sundays to sit on wooden benches and watch the unique, short-distance cow pony racing format that was being perfected in Tucson. In 1943, when Multacqua’s owner decided to leave town, one of the 4 Horseman, J. Rulkin Jelks, offered his ranching property along the Rillito to continue the popular racing. Jelks and another Horseman, Mel Haskel, had studied Animal Husbandry at the new University of Arizona together, and the two also bred cow ponies up on the ridge of Jelks’ Rillito property (the horses seemed to thrive on the native grasses found along the river banks). Also know as Quarter Horses, these uniquely American cow ponies became a registered breed thanks to Haskel and Jelks’ Stud Farm. Quarter Horses are still the world’s fastest horses for short distance running. Jelks’ property along the river was a popular cow and horse-lover's hangout. From the hacienda and stud farm on a rise above the track, Jelks and friends could watch as the Rillito Race Track and stables were carved out of desert land. After World War II, a grandstand and clubhouse were added. Eventually, the crowds came and a colorful horse culture grew–with groomsmen brushing horses, families picnicking under the cottonwoods, mares grazing in the pasture, and cowboys mixing with socialites as they placed bets at the straightaway and oval-enhanced track that ran wood wagon races as well as champion horses. So it was in this heyday of U.S. horse racing that Rillito Downs–the nation’s first regulated Quarter Horse racing facility–started piling up prominent stats: the technical innovation of the timer device used for the “photo finish” was perfected here; the chute system, upon which modern Quarter Horse racing is based, was devised here (and the historic chute still stands); the American Quarter Horse Racing Association was founded here. These aspects solidified the Rillito Race Track as the documented birthplace of worldwide, organized Quarter Horse racing. Even the University of Arizona got involved, forming the world’s only science baccalaureate degree centered on the racing industry. Times changed. The Jelks family moved, selling the hacienda to a horse breeder whose wife was a champion horse jumper. When the last of that family died in 2007, the county acquired the hacienda, along with Jelks’ memorabilia left in the home and stables (the stables still contain racehorse artist Tex Wheeler murals). Racing continued at the track, but the grandstands and Jelks’ facilities were allowed to deteriorate. Today, although Tucson still has a core crowd of horse junkies, other sports of a different landscape, like soccer, have been allowed to gnaw big chunks from the backside of the old pastime.
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Biz Bonus Recently, the track has become as much a strategic business development tool as it has a nostalgic sport. Those currently running the racing concession wonder if racing will return to Tucson after the 2014 season, as soccer fields and other projects demand the land. However, the Rillito Park Foundation has been formed, and is poised to breathe life into a savvy model that blends the soccer interests with western traditions as well as other incentives. This foundation has ushered in a sense of optimism for Rillito Downs and aspects of western history. Foundation plans call for an approach that embraces both soccer and horse racing as park assets, with improvements funded by the development rather than taxpayers. With the City and County’s approval, the foundation already has launched a project to manage and restore the gardens and historic J. Rukin Jelks Stud Farm (the hacienda and stables at 1090 E. River Rd. were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012). Ultimately, the plan calls for a new Museum of the Western Horse and Rider to be created at the site and open to the public. The foundation currently is improving the facilities and parking, and is terracing the gardens to allow the historic hacienda to be used for catered events. The Rillito Park Foundation also would like to manage the race track and overall park grounds, encouraging a balanced use for a multitude of interests. This includes expanded soccer fields, renovations to the track, "The Loop" enhancements for bicyclists and walkers adjacent to the park, as well as a scheduled events including concerts and farmers’ markets.
They’re Off At least for this month, the Rillito Park Race Track still is attracting weekend race track fans for several hours of non-stop skill and cowboy culture. Before post time (races start at 1 p.m.), horses and trainers parade up and down the track and the stables, with onlookers able to lean over the rails to get eyeball to eyeball with champion horses and snazzy jockeys. Snack concessions sizzle, trinkets are sold, cowboy hats shade snoozers on lawn chairs set out along the track. The Club House hums, and, for many, there’s a stop at the betting windows to pick winners. During this season’s first racing weekend, a contagious enthusiasm stirred, as the track’s veteran trumpeter, decked in ceremonial red top34 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
Jockey Don French, coming down the stretch at Rillito Downs.
coat, faced the Sunday crowds, bellowing the opening. A team of Budweiser Clydesdales stomped hooves in approval, and an announcer kept the crowd’s excitement building.
And Then… The historic chute released six horses for the first race. Bobbing and weaving, each horse looked for its opening before tucking hard into the straightaway. The pack pounded ahead. It only took seconds for things to get frenetic and reach critical mass. Someone had to break through…and it was Jess a Lilbit Shady, on the inside, shooting ahead over the finish line, winning it. Race over, Lilbit and jockey trotted to the winner’s box to be admired by the crowd. After a few minutes of praise, Lilbit went back to the stables and the crowds bustled anew, studying the program, enjoying the next race’s eye candy of new horses and jockeys, grabbing a beer, collecting a winning bet, or just enjoying the Catalina views. Amid the hubbub of horse déjà-vu, it dawns on an onlooker that there’s trail-blazing here. With emotions about racing in general notwithstanding, Rillito is a reminder of how deep the roots of this authentic western sports concoction really are in this city. It was a reminder of how deep the roots of this authentic western sports concoction really are in our city. n Racing at Rillito Park Race Track (4502 N. First Ave., near the intersection of River Road and First Avenue) runs Saturdays and Sundays until March 30. Usually six races per day, possibly 10 horses per race. Clubhouse admission is $8, with covered Grandstand admission, $5. Children under 12, free. Free or VIP parking. Betting and drinking, 21 and over. If you’ve never betted and want to try a couple of dollars, there are friendly clerks to explain the rules. A program ($3) also clarifies betting, racing terminology and the scoreboard. For information, call (520) 293-5011 or go online: Pimacountyattractions.com/Attractions/Rillito.html For additional information: Tucson-based Equine Encore Foundation (EquineEncoreFoundation.org) is a facility accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (ThoroughbredAfterCare.org)
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photo courtesy Girl Scouts of the USA
community Z A daughter and mother, participants of the Girls Scouts' Beyond Bars Program, embrace during a visit.
Beyond Bars Breaking Barriers between Daughters with Incarcerated Mothers. by Mckinzie Frisbie Kadence* peered around the corner of the doorway, her eyes carefully following the movements of her grandmother, Trixie, across the room. She is here to attend her monthly Girl Scouts' Beyond Bars meeting that begins in twenty minutes, and appears to be wondering where her grandmother is going so close to starting time. Kadence does not know that Trixie and I will be discussing the impact that the Beyond Bars Program has had on her 11-year-old life. Trixie sits down across from me, her tattooed hands delicately fold on the table as she looks up with blue eyes and begins to tell her story. “I got Kadence when she was six—four and a half years ago—and it was very rough,” Trixie said. “Not because we didn’t love her, it was just rough because you don’t have a little one running around and boom, you have that responsibility.” Trixie’s daughter, Sarah*, was sentenced in 2009 to four and a half years in prison for fraud, theft and forgery. Six months had passed when Trixie received a letter in the mail from the Girl Scouts’ Beyond Bars Program. The program, which was piloted in Pima County in 2011, takes the Beyond Bars troop to visit their mothers once a month at Perryville State Prison in Goodyear, Arizona. Monthly meetings are also held for the girls at the Girl Scouts center. With tears in her eyes, Trixie explains how the program for young girls has allowed Kadence to blossom. She is now an enthusiastic reader, a survival camp participant and a peer mediator on her school’s playground. “She was a little flower and she opened up. She is so completely different,” Trixie said. “She is so outgoing now, when before she would cry every night. It’s just different now; she’s not like that anymore. She looks at me and my husband as ‘Mom and Dad.’” Trixie says she is proud of the progress that she and Kadence have
made with the program, overcoming circumstances that were not as positive as they are today. Kadence initially went through a hard time in school because she was unsure how to communicate with her peers about where her mother was, Trixie said. “It was hard because kids would always say, ‘Your mom is here. But she would say, ‘It’s my grandma!’ And then they would ask, ‘Well, why is your grandma picking you up?’” Although Trixie acknowledges she was never a fervent Girl Scouts fan in the past, she says the program has been a haven for girls like Kadence. The support system opens up discussion between girls who can relate to realities of what it is like to have a mother in prison, Trixie said. The Beyond Bars Program was awarded $15,000 by the Wings Like Eagles Foundation in December 2013. The funds cover the cost of transportation, snacks, books and uniforms for families that may not be able to afford registration fees, said Lesley Rich, social justice manager of the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona. “We want to have strong women in our community,” Rich said. “So where do we start with that? We start with the girls.” During the two-hour monthly Beyond Bars troop meeting at the Girl Scouts center, the girls work on cookie sales and traditional Girl Scouts activities in an atmosphere that gives the girls a place to be themselves, Rich said. “I think being a part of a troop where all the girls are in similar situations just lifts such an immense weight off their shoulders, because for one time they don’t have to pretend," Rich said. "So many times, girls want to pretend that their life is perfect. We want girls to be empowered to be themselves, to be confident in whatever is going on and to learn how to share those feelings.” Twenty-one girls have participated in the program since its beginning
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photo courtesy Girl Scouts of the USA
Z community community
Mothers and daughters, participants of the Girls Scouts’ Beyond Bars Program, share and listen to stories during a prison visit.
continued from previous page in 2011, Rich explained, and the program helps create a smoother family transition as the mothers come home after long periods of time in prison. After the women are released, their daughters almost always leave the care of relatives and are placed back into the mother’s custody, Rich said. This often is a matter of years spent apart growing and changing, and building trust during their incarceration helps prevent mothers from becoming strangers to their daughters, Rich said. The Girl Scouts contract parenting coaches that work with incarcerated mothers to learn behavioral management skills, understanding the developmental stages of their daughters’ brains, and how to help set life goals, Rich said. The moms who have been released from Perryville State Prison and attend the monthly Beyond Bars Troop meetings mentor each other and support the girls, and Rich says that she has witnessed how the program has changed mothers’ lives by sparking a new appreciation for their daughters. “We’ve seen that the moms and the daughters really get to know each other,” Rich said. “One of the moms said to me, ‘I didn’t know my daughter as well as I know her now.' Coming out of it, they have this whole new relationship that they never would have had.” Rich and other Girl Scouts leaders pick up five to 10 girls on the way to the prison. They range in school age from kindergarten to eighth grade. The troop meets up with girls from Arizona Cactus Pines, the Beyond Bars Program of northern Arizona, at the state prison. The anticipation of having to pass through heavy security can be daunting for younger girls. However, the girls who have been to Perryville before give words of encouragement to what lies ahead, Rich said. “As you may imagine, walking into a prison can be scary. There is barbed wire, there [are] metal detectors,” Rich said. “If you explain that it is going to be a little bit scary, and there are going to be police officers all over the place, but once you pass that second door, your mom is going to be there, that hope and excitement gets them through the rest.” Once inside, Rich says the girls excitedly reunite with their mothers and share what has happened in their lives over the past month. Contrary to standard visitation procedure, the spacious meeting room reserved for the Beyond Bars troop has no restrictions on touching, and Rich says that the girls quickly end up on their mothers’ laps in a sentimental reunion. Limited supplies are allowed into the prison, but Rich says that the girls 38 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
are able to bring glue and magazines for hands-on crafts, and singing is a common pastime. The girls and moms work on Girl Scout badges together, and Rich says that the Simple Snack badge is one of the girls’ favorites. The activity involves a set time to construct a healthy meal plan from coupons. The game strengthens decision-making and communication processes while teaching nutrition and budgeting, although Rich says the choices they make are often silly. “We ask them at the end, ‘Do you want to eat that?’" Rich said, "and they’re like, ‘No,’ because they have broccoli, and salad, and Brussels sprouts and orange juice. That’s always a good one. And again, it’s that strong skill. When the moms get out, they’re going to need to know how to budget.” Another cherished activity is creating a ‘vision board,’ which allows the girls to share their dreams with their mothers, Rich said. The girls craft together inspiring words and pictures from magazines while writing letters of encouragement to one another. Working together, the mothers and daughters plan how to pursue goals in life. Science, technology, engineering and math games are played in an atmosphere where it is okay to be imperfect, Rich said. The games allow for close interaction that strengthens the bond between mother and daughter, Rich said, which can turn into a bittersweet moment when the time is up. “It’s always hard leaving, because the girls are so sad,” Rich said. “Especially the younger ones who might not quite understand still what’s going on as much as an older girl. So sometimes there are tears, but we always say, ‘It’s not a goodbye, it's just a see you later, we’ll be back next month.’ That’s the important thing about our program. We go consistently, so the girls and the moms can count on that.” n For further information about the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program, please visit GirlScouts.org and search for "Girl Scouts Beyond Bars." In other Girl Scout news, the Whistle Stop Depot is holding a special Girl Scouts "Cookies & Cocktails" event on Friday, March 21 from 6-9 p.m. at 127 W. Fifth St. The night will consist of live music entertainment, fine wine and desserts inspired by Girl Scout Cookies. More information about the event, including ticket pricing and purchase, can be found at GetInvolved.GirlScoutsSOAZ.org/cocktails. *Asterisked names were changed to protect the privacy of the individuals.
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urbanliving Z
MLK Apartments in the foreground, and The Junction at Iron Horse under construction in the background.
Where to Live? The 20 best urban-style flats near the Sun Link streetcar line. Chatting over herbal tea and a latte at Cartel Coffee last month, Ann Vargas and I reviewed the evolution of Downtown’s housing market and the new apartment complexes–and those adaptively re-purposed– that have sprung up over the last couple of years. For the City’s Downtown redevelopment plans, infill to increase residential options was always important to achieving the critical mass imperative to supporting and sustaining Downtown businesses, and for attracting new businesses. Bringing a University of Arizona student resident base was also a goal. As the City’s Project Supervisor of Housing and Community Development, Vargas has witnessed projects start and then stall when the real estate market crashed in 2008. While that event was an international, national and local economic disaster, Tucson was able to uniquely take advantage of the downturn as it had publicly funded projects to focus on, such as the Fourth Avenue underpass construction, the $63 million Transportation and Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the Federal Transit Administration for the modern streetcar, along with the $9.825 million HOPE VI Revitalization grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HOPE VI enabled the City to create the new Martin Luther King (MLK) Apartments at Toole Avenue and Fifth Street to house the tenants that were previously living in the building that became One North Fifth. “The affordable housing we took out of service [for market rate housing] was always going to be replaced,” Vargas explains. “The old buildings weren’t adequate for the contemporary ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. The goal was to create community within these buildings; the purpose was not to displace the residents.” While initially there was some grousing about moving the elderly to different residences, in the end, it created a win-win. Old, yet solid structures like One North Fifth and The Herbert were revamped to create market-rate housing, which should increase the tax base, hopefully allowing for more funds to help the low-income residents who need such support. Plus, people with special needs can be appropriately accommodated in the new structures (MLK Apartments and Sentinel Plaza Apartments) that meet current ADA standards. The modern streetcar will allow residents, students and area workers to easily migrate between school, home, work and play. Hopefully what the streetcar will also bring to a Western town addicted to the car is an opportunity to expand and morph transportation consciousness and habits, reduce oil dependency and thereby have cleaner air. In no particular order, check out these 20 urban living pads. —Jamie Manser
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urbanliving Z The Herbert Residential 202 E. 12th St. (520) 777-5771, HerbertLiving.com Two blocks south of Congress Street, this eightstory Brutalist Industrial design building constructed in 1974 has overhead apartment views of Downtown living through floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the rooms with natural light. Along with high angle perspectives of Armory Park and historical architecture, leasing manager Jenn Francis says that “A” Mountain can be seen from apartments that face east. The apartments’ unfurnished living spaces have a simple, clean feeling to them with polished concrete floors that add a soft touch to the natural light coming in. The kitchen and bathroom appliances have been upgraded, providing the space with a relaxed, modern feel. The building is within tripping distance to World of Beer, Hotel Congress and the Rialto Theatre and offers close access to a cornucopia of Downtown venues. The streetcar line is one block from the building, and parking spaces at the Herbert Residential are leased to residents for $35-$75 depending on lot location, Francis says. The Herbert Residential offers 450 square foot studios and 600 square foot one bedroom units. The leases range from one to 12 months and the building is currently at one-third capacity, Francis shares. Francis says the one bedroom units are currently available on only the first floor, but studios are available on every floor. Price ranges depending on the length of the lease and floor level. The price of rent is higher for shorter leasing periods like one to three months, and rise with the floor level. Depending on floor levels for 12-month leases, studios range from $625 to $810 per month, and one bedrooms apartments with a 12-month lease range in price from $795 to $1,010. The Herbert Residential offers specials on studios, Francis says. The lobby has wi-fi, a community Keurig© coffee maker, a business center with a free printing station, and a fitness center with weights and cardio machines. The Herbert Residential is currently planning a fitness group that will meet nearby at Maynard’s, Francis adds. The building also hosts holiday and special parties for residents. —Mckinzie Frisbie
MLK Apartments 55 N. Fifth Ave. (520) 791-4742 This new, four year old, city-owned apartment building accommodates elderly and disabled residents within its six-story, 68 unit non-smoking complex. Located right smack in the middle of Downtown, it is close to transportation, restaurants, parks and entertainment venues. The application process starts at the City’s Housing Management Office, reachable at 791-4742. Information on how the application process works is available at TucsonAZ.gov/hcd/housing-management. There is currently a waiting list to reside here.
View from The Herbert Residential
University Lofts 819 N. First Ave. (520) 906-7215, UofAApartments.com A mere one block from campus at First Avenue and University Boulevard, these rentals can’t be beat for UA students, or anyone interested in this stellar locale. University Lofts feature one and two bedrooms in a gated and secure locale with ample exterior lighting, beautiful landscaping, a pool, gym, and onsite parking. The utilities covered include internet, water, gas and trash. Open floor plans host wood and tile floors with modern appliances. Super closed to pretty much everything-music, art, dining, drinking, relaxing-the walk-ability and biking scale is off the charts. Not to mention the streetcar can easily move you to where you need to go in Tucson’s entertainment core. Find photos on the website and call for information on availability.
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Z urbanliving
One East 1 E. Broadway Blvd. (520) 792-4000, OneEastTucson.com ‘Big city’ living made its way to Downtown Tucson on Jan. 2 and residents of One East Broadway can confirm. The newly built industrial complex–just steps from a streetcar stop–is home to two floors (24 units) of luxury apartments filled with a slew of upgrades and modern aesthetics. “Living at One East has been awesome. The building is beautiful and being in the heart of today’s Downtown Tucson definitely has a more metropolitan feel,” says resident Alvaro DeAsis. “It’s a great time to be part of the revitalization of Tucson’s booming Downtown scene,” DeAsis adds. And a booming scene it is. One East Broadway sits on the corner of Broadway Boulevard and Stone Avenue and assumes the fourth and fifth floors. Whether on the street amongst the various award-winning restaurants, coffee shops, and venues, or perched out on your balcony enjoying a warm Tucson evening, One East revolves around accessibility and comfort without shorting on amenities. It boasts roving 24-hour security and gated access, with custom artwork and illuminated doorway aesthetics lining the halls, inches of poured concrete in replace of shared walls, and even a Nest climate control system; plus, the online property management platform is comprehensive and user-friendly. Have a maintenance issue at 3 a.m.? An online work order board is managed 24 hours a day and allows workers to communicate with residents on the status of jobs and order details. Forget to send your rent? Forget money orders and inconvenient rent payments, One East offers an online pay method that also keeps track of all payment receipts. Oh, yeah, the apartments are pretty nice too. Two, one bedroom models, a 718 square foot ‘Court’ model from $1184-$1214, and the 815 square foot ‘Rialto’ model starting at $1293, each have new washer and dryers, kitchens with stainless steel appliances, slate cabinets and kitchen island, and double-paned, ceiling-high windows. The balconies are uniquely sunk behind two pillars that allow for maximum privacy while not taking from the views of nearby “A” Mountain and surrounding mountains to the west; a prime spot for sunset enthusiasts. While it’s assuring to know that your property will be secure among a welcoming community at One East, the costs of living parallel the luxury features each unit provides. The proximity to various Downtown happenings, and modern upgrades throughout, justifiably support the rent. If an upgrade in living is what you’re searching for, hurry and schedule an appointment since only three of the original 24 units remain. —Kyle Wasson
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One East Broadway
University Place Apartments 726 E. Ninth St. (520) 798-3453, UPApts.com In a comfortable courtyard setting, University Place apartments rest on the bustling southwest corner of Euclid Avenue and Ninth Street. Residents are close enough to the streetcar and life on Fourth Avenue, and three blocks from the UA campus, yet enjoy an affordable apartment community that prides itself on the diversity of its occupants. Current residents range from undergraduate to graduate and young professional, and amenities reflect that of a student community. Management says the complex has a large international student community and welcomes such. Rather than fancily upgraded features and the latest appliances, residents of University Place Apartments enjoy great rental rates on one bedroom apartments starting in the mid $500s. There is a max occupancy of two per unit, however, many come furnished if needed. Furnishings include a sofa chair, coffee table, end table and lamp, bed, study desk and lamp, and dining room tables with two chairs. The building and its units, as vintage and outdated as they seem on the exterior, offer a warm and inviting space for potential occupants; the bright spot is the pool setting in the heart of the complex. Grounds are consistently maintained and management is available seven days a week through the on-site property manager. A major bonus to University Place is the inclusion of high speed internet, and all utilities in the monthly rent. If you are a non-smoking student or young professional without pets, these apartments are reasonably lessexpensive than nearby alternatives. For a student who can sacrifice the views and upscale amenities, University Place is a place worth looking into . —Kyle Wasson
Don Martin Apartments 605 E. Ninth St. (520) 906-7215, UofAApartments.com Modern elegance is beautifully and smartly fitted into a historic building; this is adaptive re-use at its finest. The Don Martin Apartments house studio, one and two bedroom units, in a, as the website states: “Awardwinning Historic Rehabilitation designed by famous Tucson architect, Josiah Joesler. “Hardwood floors, nine-foot ceilings, central air conditioning, parking and secure entry! Like a beautiful pre-war New York condo… in 2014 condition.” The space has a great vibe and is close to everything, on foot, bike or via the modern streetcar. Hardwood and tile floors are the norm, along with modern appliances and airy, bright rooms that are so very Tucson chic. Some units have private outdoor areas, and there is also a quaint community courtyard.
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urbanliving Z
One North Fifth
The Academy Lofts 420 S. Sixth Ave. (520) 797-6700 x3, AcademyLofts.com What was once a catholic school for girls has been transformed into some of Downtown’s most eclectic and stylish living accommodations. Just blocks from the streetcar and a stone’s throw from museums, art galleries, restaurants and the convention center, the Academy Lofts is situated among South Sixth Avenue’s beautifully unique homes. Historically speaking, the Armory Park neighborhood has been called home by the diverse artistic community that occupies it. The lofts angelically flaunt the beauty of Downtown and the unique craftsmanship of the building’s past through preserving every window accent and each block. There are 36 lofts between the two, three-story buildings, with square footage varying from 650 to 1700. Historic architecture meets professionally designed interior spaces that include brilliantly high ceilings, walk-in closets, a range of modern amenities in the kitchens and bathrooms, not to mention elegant window-display and flawless hardwood floors. The covered parking, and compound as a whole, is pre-wired and gated, while off street parking is commonly available, several residents confirm. The Academy Lofts offer an exercise room, however, it likely won’t accommodate the fitness guru searching for the latest equipment and a large space to workout. Current residents enjoy the quaintness of the property, with its various gardens, and sitting areas including an observation deck perfect for soaking in the Arizona sunsets. Management confirms the lofts are not a place for the average student. The majority of residents are business and young professionals looking for open concept living while appreciating the timelessness of the building’s architecture. Due to the unique and inspiring living, all units are occupied through May 1. “I’ve lived here for nearly two years, and although originally hesitant about moving Downtown, it’s been just far enough to enjoy peace and quiet while still being walking distance to everything city life has to offer,” shares Zach Fenton, resident and co-owner of Fenton Investment Co., the site’s management firm. —Kyle Wasson
One North Fifth 1 N. Fifth Ave. (520) 791-2008, OneNorthFifth.com Located just across the street from Hotel Congress, the private balconies in each of One North Fifth’s apartments provide prime views of Downtown scenery. Previously the Martin Luther King Jr. building, this historical structure underwent a $6 million renovation four years ago, says property and customer service manager Allen Cholas. One North Fifth has street level access to retail centers and is within walking distance to Downtown venues like the Tucson Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, yoga studios, Armory Park and numerous coffee shops, bars, night clubs and restaurants. Entering the urban-style lobby, sleek couches are complimented with modern colors on the walls. Anywhere from six- to 12-month leases are available for studios, which start at $625 per month, and one bedroom apartments start at $750 on each of the six floors. Leases will start opening up in April and May, Cholas shares. Coming in from the front door, the approximately 425 square foot studio layout has a full bathroom to the right. The kitchen on the left comes with a stove top oven, refrigerator and dishwasher. A dish stand and sleek shelving along the walls provide a modern substitute for cabinetry. The bedroom area at the back of the studio layout is nestled next to a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that meet the 8 foot 10 inch ceiling to provide natural light and an open feel to the modernized space. The approximately 625 square foot one bedroom layout has a kitchen on the right and a walk-in storage closet to the left. The living room at the back right opens up onto a larger balcony than the studio layout, which can be accessed through the bedroom at the back left of the apartment. Apartments are unfurnished, have stainless steel light fixtures and are soundproof. The monthly $75-$100 utility fee includes electric, internet and cable, Cholas explains, and pets are welcome with a $100 refundable deposit. A fitness room with a television is located on the first floor, and buildings are secured with electric access to the lobby and security cameras. —Mckinzie Frisbie
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Z urbanliving San Carlos Apartments 71 E. 13th St. (520) 622-7131, Ashton-Goodman.com/#!san-carlos Situated between Armory Park and the Temple of Music and Art is Tucson’s “oldest building that is an apartment complex,” according to onsite manager Travis Hopkinson. The complex also includes a couple of duplexes, 69 and 63 E. 13th St., that were built in the 1880s while 71 E. 13th St. was built in 1910. The complex boasts historic features such as hardwood floors and high ceilings, coin operated laundry along with a barbeque area, picnic tables and fantastic location that is walkable to everything great that Downtown has to offer. Studios run $450-$500, one bedrooms are $600 and the price of rent includes water and trash. The 36-unit building is pet-free, except for service animals, and apartments are currently available. Current residents span the demographic gamut. “We have everybody, we like everybody, we have a few retirees, 40 something professionals, undergrad and graduate students,” Hopkinson says. Renovations are ongoing, and they have a new roof made of sheet rock, “the old one was plaster and lathe,” he explains, which suffered water damage late 2012. Hopkinson happily reports that the roof is now solid. Interesting fact: 94-year-old owner Jack Goodman, who came to Tucson at age 14 in 1934, inherited the building in 1946 and checks in on the property daily.
La Entrada Apartments 255 N. Granada Ave. (520) 884-8284, LaEntradaTucson.com Tucked away in the shadows of Downtown, just east of I-10 and blocks from the modern streetcar, La Entrada (which translates to “the entrance”) welcomes Tucsonans and visitors to a variety of living situations and amenities. Their two separate phases (Phase I built in 1985, and Phase II in 2005) offer anything from basic one and two bedrooms to larger loftcentric three bedrooms on invitingly well-landscaped grounds. The complex rests off Granada Avenue in the historic El Presidio Neighborhood and provides a heated pool, a Jacuzzi, tennis courts and walking paths within an often patrolled, gated community. As mentioned previously, there are two phases of the complex; although the second is significantly newer, each guarantees free basic extended cable and appliances, including a washer and dryer. Wood-burning fireplaces can be found in select units as well. Currently, many of the units are occupied and only one and two bedroom accommodations are offered in Phase I, while select three bedrooms apartments in Phase II are available for move-in. Units range from the low $800s to $1,200+ at contracts of six to 14 months, but attract students, young professionals, and older demographics alike. One of the most appealing aspects of La Entrada is their dedication to customer service, which shows through their interactive and user-friendly website. LaEntrada.com provides current and prospective residents’ video tours of each unit, 24-hour maintenance service, online rent pay, and an apartment vacancy board updated weekly, among other features. Overall, La Entrada is a good deal once considering the upgrade of cable services, appliances throughout, and dependable management team at your beck and call. The only drawbacks include the traditional close-proximity and common-wall sharing of apartments, which could be potentially bothersome if neighbors have a loud dog. Pet lovers are advised of the carpet in each unit and the additional pet fee due at signing. In any fashion, La Entrada would be a choice welcome-home for any potential resident preferring accessibility to Downtown while escaping the buzz of it all. —Kyle Wasson 48 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
Sentinel Plaza Apartments 125 S. Linda Ave. (520) 884-7184 PreservationManagement.com/rental/property/sentinel-plaza-apartments The west side’s newest apartment building opened in the fall of 2012 and is exclusively for people over 62-years-old and disabled residents. It holds 143 one-bedroom units that are 675 square feet. The open layouts are individually climate-controlled, and all units (except the first floor) have balconies with views of Downtown, “A” Mountain (aka Sentinel Pack) and Tumamoc Hill. The property is pretty much right on top of the streetcar line, and is steps away from the Mercado at Menlo Park. Other amenities include: dishwashers, all new energy efficient appliances, on-site laundry and parking, a resident services coordinator and 24-hour emergency maintenance. It was built to accommodate the residents that were moved out of the Armory Park Apartments, which morphed into The Herbert. photo: Jamie Manser
Musician/singer/songwriter Connie Brannock’s Redondo Towers’ studio “sky shack” on the seventh floor.
Redondo Towers 425 W. Paseo Redondo (520) 622-7723 According to apartment manager Vernie Aikins, this nine-story structure was built in 1962. “Its really nothing to behold from the outside, it’s once you are inside and see the space and views that it really shines. Most just say it looks like an old Howard Johnson Hotel” from the outside. The long halls are definitely hotel-like with low ceilings, but when you walk into an apartment, the space is gorgeously illuminated with natural light from the sliding glass doors that open to spacious balconies. Aikins explains that there are three floor plans: “Studios are 600 square feet with an additional 150 square feet balcony range from $600-690. One bedrooms are 900 square feet with an additional 200 square feet balcony, they are $775-$850. Two bedrooms are 1200 square feet with an additional 300 square feet balcony. All those prices are based on a 12 month lease, with is what most people sign here. We also offer six, nine, and month to month leases.” Something Redondo Towers really has going for it are the views, which Aikins describes as “pretty spectacular. Since we are on the far west end of Downtown, the north views are completely open towards Mt. Lemmon. The south views have great shots of “A” Mountain and beautiful night views of Downtown.” Amenities include: a heated saltwater pool, free gated parking, laundry facilities on site and large gas stoves. The complex pays for gas, water and trash. The 96-unit apartment building mainly attracts young working professionals and retired people which normally keeps it at capacity, but, “right now is kind of the slow part of the season so we have a few available apartments,” says Aikins. Aikins shares some interesting tidbits: Mo and Ella Udall lived there in the 1970s, and it is the tallest residential rental building in Downtown.
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urbanliving Z The Cadence Student Housing
The Cadence Student Housing 350 E. Congress St. (520) 882-0777, TheCadenceTucson.com Located on the corner of Congress Street and Toole Avenue, one of the two buildings of The Cadence sits on top of World of Beer and is right next to the Rialto Theatre; the other is atop Centro Parking Garage. The bottom floor amenities of the six-story Building 1 include: an indoor/outdoor fitness center, tanning beds, a 24-hour sauna, gaming and movie center, golf simulator, study rooms and a business center. An urbanstyle common area opens up onto the outside grilling station, lounge area, heated pool, Jacuzzi, fire pits and movie screen projector. Building 2, which is three stories and sits on top of Centro Garage and a retail section of Congress Street, has outdoor study areas, grilling station, and fire pits. Residents have access to all amenities, regardless of which building they live in, explains marketing agent Wendy Huynh. The next leasing period begins Aug. 21, 2014 and ends Aug. 4, 2015, and each room in the apartments are individually leased for 12-months. Huynh says that The Cadence offers roommate match-up services, and the building is currently at around 30 percent capacity. Fourteen fully-furnished layouts are available that range in size from 435 to 472 square foot studios to 2,162 square foot five bedroom, five bath apartments. Depending on the number of rooms and size of the unit, prices range from $690 to $1,080 per person. Only University of Arizona students may lease with The Cadence, Huynh shares. The units each have wood flooring, modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a refrigerator with an ice maker and spacious counter tops. A washer and dryer unit is in each apartment, which comes modernly furnished with a living room sofa, TV stand, table and chair. Each bedroom
has a dresser, a full-size bed, and a study desk. Huynh says that cable and internet are included in the price of rent. The Cadence often holds events for residents to enjoy, says Huynh, such as weekend pool parties, barbecues, “Wings Wednesdays” and holiday celebrations with free sweets. —Mckinzie Frisbie
The Junction at Iron Horse 504 E. Ninth St. (520) 623-2560, TheJunctionAtIronHorse.com In February, The Junction was still building its UA student housing complex, offering hard hat tours and move-in specials for students to reside here in the next school year. Billing itself as “outside the box boutique student housing,” its list of apartment and community amenities seems nearly endless. Apartments, which range from one to four bedrooms, feature: washer and dryer, dishwasher, nine-foot ceilings, microwaves, individually keyed bedroom doors, as well as wi-fi, cable, water, trash and recycling, and are fully furnished. Community amenities include: a pool and hot tub, a 24-hour gym, tanning beds, a pool table and shuffle board, arcade lounge, covered parking, grilling areas, secured bicycle storage, access to a community garden, 24-hour maintenance, a 24-hour computer lab and conference area, and on-site management. The location can’t be beat, as it is in the heart of the Fourth Avenue entertainment district, right around the corner from Downtown and UA, plus moving into a newly constructed building certainly has its advantages! Photos and more information is available on the website.
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Z urbanliving
Three stories of apartments encase the pool and courtyard of Julian Drew Block. The vintage, desert apartment scene has been revamped while retaining its rustic appeal.
The Flats at Julian Drew Block 128 S. 5th Ave. (520) 882-6480, TheRentalFlats.com At the eastern edge of Downtown, in an area that’s seen the most recent sprouting of delicious eateries and a variety of new shops, comes the re-birth of a once-dilapidated, three story apartment complex. Today, it has evolved into a rustic, yet modern re-creation of flat-style living in the heart of the Old Pueblo. Although the courtyard setting of Julian Drew Block doesn’t provide the best views, the complex itself omits a tranquil vibe that parallels life inside each unit. Accommodations include studio, one, and two bedroom apartments with newer appliances and hardwood floors in select units. Central heating and air conditioning, and vertical blinds deliver residents a climate-controlled paradise to retreat from the warm Arizona days. A comfortable and secure environment is what residents of Julian Drew Block appreciate most. There are placards strategically hung at entries across the complex designating the city-secure neighborhood movement the Flats have embraced. Additionally, there’s a leasing office on the premises with regular office hours. The most impressive aspect of Julian Drew Block is the website for current and potential residents. Although many are indifferent toward a web-savvy apartment complex, you can’t help but appreciate the 24 hour maintenance board, a PayPal method for paying rent, and even a blog describing life at the Flats. Plus, there’s a pool! However, pet owners be advised: although the community allows companion creatures, there are breed restrictions and a 35 pound weight limit, as well as a $150 refundable pet deposit, $150 pet fee, and $15 monthly pet rent. –Kyle Wasson
Coronado Hotel Apartments 402 E. Ninth St. (520) 623-2080 This Section 8 housing complex was built in 1928 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tucked between the railroad tracks at the Fourth Avenue underpass, the residents are close to the best of what Fourth Avenue and Downtown have to offer. This 42-unit building is utilized as low-income housing for elderly residents and is owned by Coronado Apartments LLC. Call for information on availability and amenities. 52 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
District on 5th 550 N. Fifth Ave. (520) 918-6466, DistrictOn5th.com Built in 2012, The District on 5th is one block away from the University of Arizona and within walking distance to streetcar lines and Downtown businesses. Although The District caters to student living, community assistant Aubrey Haggarton says that non-students may also rent the apartments. First floor amenities include a tanning booth, 24-hour clubhouse, a computer lab with four PCs and two Macs, a free printing center, a 24-hour study room, and a shuffleboard and pool table in a spacious game room. Haggarton, who is also a resident, says that the 24-hour full fitness center is never overcrowded, even during the busiest hours at the Campus Recreation center. The District often holds special events for residents like pool table competitions, Halloween Parties and Taco Tuesdays, Haggarton adds. Outside, palm trees, cabanas, water fountains and sleek planters surround the Jacuzzi and unheated pool. The outside area has three grills, a lounge area, fire pits and three televisions that give a resort-like feel to the area. All units include a washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, dark wood cabinetry and granite counter tops with bar stools in the kitchen. Apartments are modernly furnished, come with a 42 inch flat screen television, and select units include private balconies or patios. All utilities, including extended basic cable, are included in rent except for electric. However, Haggarton says that the energy friendly building keeps electric bills low. Available units range from a two bedroom, two bathroom place at $729 per room to a four bedroom, four bath at $627 per room. Certain views and locations of select units cost more: it is $15 extra per month to be located by the pool, $10-$30 per month for fifth floor locations and $5-$15 per month for “Premium View” apartments. Leasing periods are 12 months, and a few six-month leases are available. The upcoming leasing period begins Aug. 22, 2014, and Haggarton shares that roommate match-up services are available to pair residents with similar lifestyles. –Mckinzie Frisbie
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urbanliving Z Lofts on Sixth
Hub at Tucson
Lofts on Sixth 835 N. 6th Ave. (520) 906-7215, UofAApartments.com Modern amenities and a historic vibe define this locale. Featuring gorgeous floor plans for the studio to three bedrooms apartments, along with a sparkling pool, onsite parking, excellent layouts and a location that can’t be beat. Get more information on this “mid-century modern, from the era of Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.,” and view photos on the website. Call for details on rates and availability.
House Mother Apartments 503 E. University Blvd. (520) 906-7215, UofAApartments.com Formerly a fraternity house, Mother House Apartments is a four unit condominium-quality building located diagonally across from the Time Market at the corner of Third Avenue and University Boulevard. This beautiful brick property, renovated in 2003 on par with Federal Historic Preservation Standards, houses two, three bedroom, two bath apartments upstairs that are approximately 1300 square feet each. The two downstairs units are about the same size, with one being a two bedroom, two bath place and the other is a three bedroom, two bath apartment. In addition to the super fine location, amenities include: big windows, bedroom suites, designer bathrooms, spacious kitchens, maple floors, all new electrical, heating, A/C, roof, internet, porches, native landscaping, parking on-site, and in the mix of everything! Visit the website for photos and call for information on availability.
1011 N. Tyndall Ave. (520) 881-1818 (Leasing office: 1217 E. Speedway Blvd.) HubAtTucson.com This modern mansion style high rise, located near the corner of Speedway Boulevard and Park Avenue, will be finished with construction by the end of the summer. The building will be secured with electronic key access to all entrances, elevators, apartments, and amenities on the third floor and rooftop, Hub marketing specialist Alex Flood shares. On the rooftop, there will be a wading pool and large pool, a hot tub that fits 20 people, a sand volleyball court and a pool table in the outside gaming area. The building will also have a level with an outside leisure area next to a 22-foot Jumbotron television. Amenities include a tanning bed, sauna and steam room located near a yoga studio and full workout fitness center. A business center with PCs, Macs and printers will be next to two private study rooms. Bedrooms are individually leased and include a private bathroom with a shower bench. The differing models come with either a full spa shower system or a Bluetooth headset mounted onto the showerhead, Flood says. Apartment layouts range from one to five beds and baths, and in size from 494 to 1,920 square feet. Flood says that the variety of layouts will make each apartment feel customized. The cost of rent depends on number of rooms and the size of the unit, and prices can be found on the website. Standard floor plans come in four specialized versions: the Mansion, Spa, VIP, Spa Mansion and VIP Mansion. The Mansion units include a private hot tub, private terrace, an HDTV and built-in sound systems in the living room. Each apartment kitchen has upgraded appliances, quartz counter top, a Keurig© coffee machine and a modern chandelier. The apartments will have concrete ceilings and come with customized furniture that compliments the “mansion feel” of the building, says Flood. Flood adds that the first 200 renters who sign for an upcoming lease, that begins Aug. 20, will have the option to move in early on Aug. 4 for a prorated cost of $30 per day. —Mckinzie Frisbie n
Hub at Tucson
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Z fashion
Love
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+ Hustle
by Sydney Ballesteros
Creative Director + Style Editor: Sydney Ballesteros Photographer: Puspa Lohmeyer. Photo Assistant: Leonie Breither Producer + Casting: Michelle Hotchkiss/Atomic Tucson Models: Isaiah Toothtaker + Caroline Jackson Makeup: Tangie Duffey Hair: Raul Mendoza Wardrobe: Black Cat Vintage, How Sweet it Was Vintage, Razzle Dazzle Vintage, Desert Vintage, OZMA Atelier, Buffalo Exchange, Sydney Ballesteros Props: Carchedi Estate Sales, Boxhill Design, Hot Cool Vintage, Sydney Ballesteros, Michelle Hotchkiss Location: The Levitz House listed by Michelle Hotchkiss of RE/MAX Catalina Foothills. Special thank you to Arizona Picture Cars for providing the 1970 Buick Electra, and to Lynn Litton and Louie the Pomeranian.
Left page top: Gold dress + YSL rope neck tie: Black Cat Vintage. Jewelry on Caroline: Razzle Dazzle Vintage. Fur Coat and all gold jewelry on Isaiah Toothtaker belong to him. Left page middle left: Blue leather pants: OZMA Atelier. Mesh snake belt: How Sweet it Was Vintage. Sunburst Scarf: Black Cat Vintage. Paisley Top: Sydney Ballesteros. Left page middle right: Blue turtleneck dress: Black Cat Vintage. White fringe jacket: Razzle Dazzle Vintage. Shoes: Buffalo Exchange. Left page bottom: Black suit and rhinestone earrings on Caroline: How Sweet it Was. White suit jacket on Isaiah: Razzle Dazzle Vintage. Rhinestone necktie: Razzle Dazzle Vintage. Top Left: Orange halter dress + Canary yellow sport suit: How Sweet it Was Vintage. Turquoise shoes: OZMA Atelier. Lucite Jewelry: Razzle Dazzle Vintage. Top right. Metallic gown: How Sweet it Was Vintage Right middle: Green crochet knit pantsuit: Razzle Dazzle Vintage. Brown lucite belt: Desert Vintage. Bottom Left: Cheetah jumpsuit: Black Cat Vintage. Jewelry: Buffalo Exchange. Bottom right: Floral dress: How Sweet it Was. Shoes: Buffalo Exchange.
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food&drink Z
The Cartel Coffee Experience by Eric Swedlund
Tucson’s second Cartel Coffee Lab location straddles the line between being a neighborhood joint and part of a booming Downtown. Open, airy and bright, the newly opened Cartel at 210 E. Broadway Ave. serves coffee, beer and a limited but soon-to-expand menu of food cooked on the custom built wood-fired oven. “I’ve always loved downtown. We’ve been thinking about doing something downtown for a couple years, since we finished building out the space on Campbell,” says owner Jason Silberschlag. “Being part of that urban environment is great, but part of the reason we fell in love with the space is it’s attached to a huge neighborhood and we see ourselves as part of Armory Park as much as we see ourselves as part of Downtown. “A big part for us was tying all of that together, the urban environment with that community, neighborhood vibe as well,” says Silberschlag, a Tucson native and University of Arizona graduate. Cartel started in 2007 in Tempe and has expanded to Scottsdale, Phoenix and Tucson’s first location, 2516 N. Campbell Road. On Broadway and Herbert Avenue, next to Thunder Canyon Brewery, Silberschlag took what Cartel had learned in other locations to design a space that appeals to customers aesthetically. “People think we’re a coffee company, but we’re really an experience company. We’re not a restaurant where you’re in and out again in 45 minutes to an hour. Our business model is built on people spending twice that amount of time here, so that environment has to be something people get excited about,” he says. “I love concrete, I love brick, I love steel and I love wood and our goal was to create a space that people liked and enjoyed and want to come back to.” The central feature in the new location is the wood-fired oven, which Silberschlag designed and built in the center of the room, to draw customers’ attention right when they entered. “The minute they walk in the door, they’re seeing the oven and the fire and what that represents from a food perspective,” he says. “The catchphrase we’re trying to use is wood-fired cuisine. The pizza and the sand-
wiches are a big part of that, but there are a lot of things you can do with a wood-fired oven, roasting meat, roasting vegetables. “I love the simplicity of it and how easy it is to create something that looks amazing, that tastes amazing, that doesn’t have a lot of ingredients or a lot of steps to prepare. We’ve been focused on getting the pizza and the sandwiches right, but the next phase is to start perfecting some of those other recipes.” On the caffeine side of things, Cartel serves coffee the company roasts in Tempe and has installed a Mod Bar espresso machine, one of only six machines in the country. The bulk of the machine resides under the counter, opening the counter-top space. “Our goal was to remove the barrier of this big hunk of metal between the barista and the customer as they enjoy this coffee experience, to improve the interaction of the barista and the customer by bringing them actually together a bit more,” Silberschlag says. The Broadway location is Cartel’s first foray into Downtown, but won’t be the company’s last. With more business in Tucson, Silberschlag plans to begin roasting coffee locally as well, with his sight set on a coffee cart and roastery next to Borderlands Brewery on East Toole Avenue. “I think it’s important for people to know where their products come from and our roaster in Tempe has been able to make that connection. Part of that customer experience almost requires that,” he says. “In any city we sell our coffee, we want to have a roaster so people can have that tangible experience with the coffee.” n Currently, the Cartel Coffee Lab on Broadway is open Sunday to Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but expanded hours are planned. Inquiries can be answered by calling (480) 432-8237. Photo - a few of the Cartel staff; Eric Martin, Teddy Blues, Cassy Howell, and Cameron Q. Louie. March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 59
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photo: Jamie Manser
garden Z
Smaller tomatoes do very well in Tucson.
It's Tomato Time Tucson! by Brandon Merchant
March brings with it warmer weather and a new planting season in the Old Pueblo. Some of our fellow gardeners have taken advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures in February to get a head start on their spring crops. Others, like myself, all too weary of a late spring frost have resisted this temptation. Regardless of your risk tolerance, late February through March is the prime time to plant tomatoes. Tomatoes are the bane of desert gardeners everywhere because all to often plants end up looking green and lush with little to no fruit to make the investment worth it. In my conversations with gardeners, I've learned that the majority of the time this outcome could have been avoided had a few initial steps been taken. By following these simple guidelines, your likelihood of producing a bumper crop in 2014 will be greater than ever. Success with tomatoes all starts at the nursery or with the seed selection. Forget the monster Mortgage Lifter that may have won you the blue ribbon at the county fair back home. Large beefsteak type tomatoes do not grow well in our climate and will most likely split before they reach their full size. Conversely, smaller tomatoes do very well. Local seed source Native Seeds/SEARCH has many great heirloom varieties of cherry type and small tomatoes, including Flamenco, Punta Banda and Texas Wild Cherry. There are some other important factors that you should consider when selecting tomatoes varieties to plant in the low desert. Tomato cultivars with shorter days to maturity or those have been bred for heat tolerance are also known to do well in our climate. Some good examples you're likely to find include Yellow Pear, Cherokee Purple, Stupice and Pearson Improved. After you have chosen a suitable variety of the low desert, the next step is make sure you get your tomatoes planted at the right time. The most common mistake Tucson gardeners make is waiting too long to plant their tomatoes in the ground. As a result, they get poor yields. Tomato seeds should be started indoors or in the green house starting in December and transplants should be planted outdoors starting in mid- to late-February and continuing through mid-March. If you wait much longer
than this to get your tomatoes in the ground, your yield is likely to drop as hot temperatures set in—decreasing fruit production. Unlike most garden transplants, tomatoes are planted in a trench rather than a hole. Trim your new tomato starts leaving only the top two sets of leaves. Dig a small trench one inch deep and the length of a stem with a hole on one side just large enough to accommodate the root ball of the transplant. Gently lay your new seedling in the trench and cover the entire stem leaving only the top two leaves exposed. Your plant will grow slowly over the next few weeks, but by planting this way a strong root system will develop rewarding you will better drought tolerance and more fruit production in the spring. Because tomatoes are tropical plants that prefer warm temperatures planting them in the ground late in the winter can present some challenges. You must be prepared to care for your tender young seedlings if nightly temps drop to freezing levels. Small plants can be covered at night using a cloche made from home made materials such as an old milk jug or a 3 liter soda bottle. You can read more about how to protect your garden from frosty weather in the November issue of Zócalo Magazine. As the season progresses and your plants continue to grow, you'll want to care for them by applying organic fertilizers on a regular basis throughout the season. My favorite is Tank's Green Stuff compost. Mix in generous helpings of compost to the soil at the beginning of the season before planting, and apply a two inch layer of compost mulch as the weather warms in April. Nutrients will be slowly released into the soil each time you water and the mulch will help to reduce watering needs during the summer. Tank's compost, as well as tomato seedlings of some of the varieties discussed above can be purchased at Ecogro or Green Things Nursery. n Brandon Merchant is the proprietor of Southwest Victory Gardens. Visit his website at SouthwestVictoryGardens.com. March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 61
Z tunes photo: Jeff Smith
GHS in 1996
Greyhound Soul’s 20 Years of Rock & Roll by Jamie Manser Two hours really isn’t enough time to comb through a band’s two decade span. But we’re trying. My back porch has become a portal to the past, with front man Joe Peña and bassist Duane Hollis regaling a couple of their long-term fans with Greyhound Soul stories. Disclosure/backdrop: Peña and Hollis are at the Manslander abode; Dan Rylander and I met and became friends at Greyhound Soul shows in 2000. We are now married, and the band played at our reception. Dan was an unofficial roadie for years; my photos are on two of their albums. There’s a comfortable camaraderie between the four of us. We’re relaxing in the cool desert evening, and the trip down memory lane starts in Elgin, Texas, 26 miles north and east of Austin. Peña takes us back to his grandparents’ restaurant and bar, where his dad and his dad’s musician buddies would jam all night long. It’s the late 70s, “I was like 10-11-12-13-14-years-old,” Joe says. While the kid is waiting to go home, he’s hearing the music. Some nights it was Norteño, other nights it was the blues, because “on one side of the street were all the Mexican bars and on the other side of the street were all the black bars. So at the end of the night, where do they all go? To grandpa’s bar, you know, Chicano Mexicans with their music and their accordions showing up and then the blues guys showing up from the other side of the street, they just played at Charlie Brown’s Kung Fu Inn–that was pretty much a staple in our town. Some of the best people, blues guys from back in the day–I can’t remember–but just, everyone played there, everyone was a musician. “So a lot of people would be down there, they’d also come from Austin. They would party all night long, party like we do now. Did. Used to. We don’t party any more. Right, Duane?” Peña chuckles, Hollis nods with a sly smile, jokingly points to the Stella Artois in his hand and riffs: “I’m going for it, right now!” The conversation meanders from Joe talking about being a break dancer when he first moved to Tucson in 1983, surprising Duane—“Really, 62 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | March 2014
you were a break dancer?”—to figuring out how and when the guys initially met. Joe thinks it was ’85, Duane tells him it was ’94 and everyone laughs. “I don’t really remember how it happened,” Joe leans back and looks at Duane. “I remember the band was together making the record (Freaks) and things started kind of falling apart and the drummer and the bass player had left and I saw this band,” motions to Duane, “at that place where they sell pottery now, it’s on the corner of Miracle Mile and Oracle. And you guys were playing there and we played that same night. It was a weird thing, but I was blown away. They were in a metal band (Shok Hilary) and Alan had double bass drums. And we were making the record and losing the drummer, and my buddy said, ‘I know a drummer,’ and it turned out to be Alan from Shok Hilary, and I’m like, ‘Wow, OK, let’s try it out.’ And Alan showed up and we went through some tunes with the old bassist, and then we lost him, and then it was like, ‘Hey Al, what’s going on with your band Shok Hilary?’ “All of a sudden, we found ourselves together.” Joe asks Duane, “How did that happen?” “You called me,” Hollis deadpans. Peña laughs and says, “So, yeah, I guess I called Duane and said,” Joe feigns a sheepish little boy voice, “‘Duane, will you play with us?’” On another day via a Facebook chat, drummer Alan Anderson and I talk about his recollections of joining Greyhound. “It was dark out when we first met. Our practice room was converted from an old garage behind a house in Sam Hughes neighborhood. I remember getting out of my truck with my stick bag in hand when I heard someone say, ‘Alan, is that you?’ I responded, ‘Yes.’ The next words that came out of the dark were, ‘What’s up Chief!’ It was Joe. That was the beginning of a 20 year friendship. During the first practice I realized I was in the making of something special. I was hooked from the first practice and wanted to be a part of it. I thought it would be a way of stepping away from speed metal as it was on its way out.
tunes Z
Joe Peña and Jason DeCorse in 2006 on the Rock the Seas cruise.
photo: Jamie Manser
photo: Jamie Manser
Bobby Hepworth at City Limits in 2003.
I wanted to be a multifaceted drummer. I was not going to be pigeonholed into one style.” There’s an emotional rawness and an intense talent for song craft—not to mention that whiskey-husky, heart wrenching blues voice—that pulls musicians and fans into Peña’s rock and roll orbit. Guitarist Jason DeCorse was drawn in as a 22-year-old in 1995 when he saw Greyhound at The Rock, saying via phone from San Diego that, “When I saw them playing, I knew he had something I didn’t have, and I was like, ‘He’s got something I can really learn from,’ and I think he felt the same way about me and he guided me into playing and communicating with him more, in his style.” DeCorse picked up axe duty after original guitarist Larry Vance quit the band. There’s a deep bond between the four, who can play together without set lists or a predetermination about how the songs will start or where the songs will progress and end up. Each show is unique; tempos change, chord progressions shift, even the lyrics might morph. Underneath is an unspoken, visceral communication between the band mates, through the notes, body language, a knowing grin or nod. About live shows, DeCorse says, “It’s all like, just on the whim, you just gotta make sure you are ready for it. But that’s what’s so crazy; everything is so steeped in our heads. I don’t even have to review the songs, it’s just the way that it is, it is in your blood after awhile; you can’t forget it. That’s what I really like the most, it shows the maturity and the camaraderie, a true movement with the band, I think that’s the best thing when you don’t plan it out and you do it and you deliver. Nothing’s planned, and it happens.” Back on the porch with Peña and Hollis, the two run through a collection of memorable shows—playing between turtle races in California, touring Europe six times and rocking Bonn’s Rockpalast, a German music television show. “That might have been the coolest thing we did,” Hollis says. “And they hand pick people to do that thing. So many bands have played that—Led Zeppelin, The Who, Rolling Stones. We also played a festival in Hanover with Motörhead and Rose Tattoo and Steppenwolf and Steppenwolf made us get off the stage early because they wanted to get up and play,” he shrugs. “We also played the Orange Blossom Festival in Germany, it was
this three day festival–Glitterhouse Records puts on–it’s like a hip to be there gig and that was a really great show.” Great shows aside, Joe says the best times were the times spent with each other, between gigs. “We would get done with it and we’d end up with ourselves. And, the fun that we had, and us really being mad at each other or whatever, just the dynamic of being four guys that have no choice but to be together, dealing with each other’s thing. That was beauty. I remember those moments more than playing gigs. I don’t remember the gigs at all,” he says laughing. Through the years, the Tucson line-up would expand, contract, shift. Other players have included keyboardists Glen Corey and Bobby Hepworth, drummers Bruce Halper, Tommy Larkins and Winston Watson and guitarists Robin Johnson and Oliver Ray. Through it all, the core of the band has been Hollis and Peña. When asked about their recent, brief hiatus, Joe pauses for a moment, gathers his thoughts and says, “Uh, you know what? It’s like 20 years, and there’s going to be some things that happen, but always, I gotta say Duane, in the back of my mind, I just always knew and always felt like it was always just a break, it was never ever really done, like done-done. And I don’t think it’ll ever really be done-done until like one of us dies. Quite honestly, I think that, you know, we’re close in a way that, it’s, we’re brotherly or something. I don’t know what it is man.” Duane agrees, “It’s kind of a brotherly thing, for sure. When you put some much time into it, it becomes a part of your…” Joe exhales, and completes the sentence succinctly, “Your life.” Greyhound Soul’s first gig was on March 11, 1994 and it celebrates the 20th Anniversary with a show at Che’s Lounge, 350 N. Fourth Ave., on March 8 with DeCorse coming in from San Diego. The music starts at 9 p.m. with St. Maybe opening. Greyhound Soul also performs on Saturday, March 22 at Sky Bar, 536 N. 4th Ave. In other band news, there are plans to record a new album. Previous releases include “Freaks” (1996), “Alma de Galgo” (2001), “Down” (2002) and “Tonight and Every Night” (2007). Find more information on Greyhound’s Facebook.com page; search YouTube.com for live shows and videos. March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 63
Photo courtesy of RhythmAndRoots.org
Photo courtesy of HotelCongress.com
Z tunes
Raw Geronimo performs at Club Congress on Sun, March 9. Terri Hendrix performs at Boondocks Lounge on Sat, Mar 22 as part of the Rhythm and Roots Concert Series.
LIVE MUSIC 2ND SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN Congress Street, 2ndSaturdaysDowntown.com Sat 8: Reno Del Mar, Bold As Love, The Modeens
ARMITAGE WINE LOUNGE 2905 E. Skyline Dr #168. 6829740, ArmitageWine.com Sun 2: Tommy Tucker Tue 4: R & P Music Factory Sun 9: Cameron Hood and Carlie Alderink Tue 11: Naim Amor Sun 16: LeeAnne Savage Tue 18: Paul Cataldo Sun 23: Spiders Can Fly Tue 25: Matt Mitchell and the Hot Club of Tucson Sun 30: Steff Koeppen and the Articles
BOONDOCKS LOUNGE 3306 N. 1st Ave. 690-0991, BoondocksLounge.com Sundays/ Tuesdays: Lonny’s Lucky Poker Mondays: The Bryan Dean Trio Wednesdays: Titan Valley Warheads Thursdays: Ed Delucia Trio Sat 1: Equinox Sun 2: Heather Hardy & Lil’ Mama Band Fri 7: Live Music with Neon
Prophet Sat 8: Whole Lotta Zep! Fri 14: Jacques Taylor & The Real Deal Sat 15: The Coolers with Joe Scibilia Sun 16: Last Call Girls Fri 21: Live Music with Neon Prophet Sat 22: Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines Sun 30: Ned Sutton & Last Dance Mon 31: Mitzi & The Valiants
CLUB CONGRESS 311 E. Congress St. 622-8848, HotelCongress.com/club Mondays: Nineties House Party Tuesdays: Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz Thursdays: Opti Club Saturdays: Saturdaze Dance Party Sat 1: Leslie And The Lys Tue 4: Wawawa 3 Year Anniversary with Helicopter Showdown Wed 5: Curtiss King Thu 6: Holychild Fri 7: The Wild Feathers Sat 8: Sir Mix Alot, Pinback, Yacht, Murs, Iamsu, The Sonoran Dogs Sun 9: Raw Geronimo Tue 11: Ty Seagall Wed 12: North & Womb Tomb Thu 13: Springbreakers Tue 18: INVSN Fri 21: Tesoro CD Release with
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Foxtail Brigade Sat 22: Metalachi Wed 26: Pompeya Fri 28: The Slackers
Sat 22: Hot Club of San Francisco Sun 23: Lily Tomlin Fri 28: TSO Rocks the Fox
LA COCINA
HACIENDA DEL SOL
201 N. Court Ave. 622-0351, LaCocinaTucson.com Wednesdays: Miss Lana Rebel and Kevin Michael Mayfield Thursdays: Stefan George (6:30pm), 5,6,7 WAX Night (10pm) Fridays: Greg Morton Band Saturdays: DJ Herm Sundays: Harpist
CUSHING STREET BAR & RESTAURANT 198 W. Cushing St. 622-7984, CushingStreet.com Saturdays: Jazz
DELECTABLES RESTAURANT & CATERING 533 N. 4th Ave. 884-9289, Delectables.com Fridays and Saturdays: Live music
FOX TUCSON THEATRE 17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org Sat 1: A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald Tue 4: Danú: Traditional Music and Song from Ireland Thu 6: Diamond Rio Fri 14: Ozomatli Sun 16: The Straits: A Dire Straight Legacy Mon 17: Ronnie Milsap
5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol. 2991501, HaciendaDelSol.com Sun 2: Zo & The Soul Breakers Sun 9: Grams & Krieger Sun 16: Angel Diamon & The Blues Disciples Sun 23: Heather “Lil Mama” Hardy & Michael P. Sun 30: Black Skillet Revue
MONTEREY COURT 505 W. Miracle Mile, MontereyCourtAZ.com Sat 1: ROH Sun 2: Ry Bradley Band Thu 6: Peter McLaughling & Alvin Blaine Sat 8: Rod Annon & The Late Show Sat 15: TKMA presents Oldies show and fundraiser Fri 21: Black Skillet Revue Sun 23: Native American Flute with Mark Holland Fri 28: Flight 407
PLUSH 340 E. 6th St. 798-1298, PlushTucson.com Sat 1: Blackstone Rngrs with Secret Meetings Thu 6: Mia Dyson, The Cordials, Jillian Bassett
photo: Serena Rose/Fotonic Photography
Photo courtesy of FoxTucsonTheatre.org
tunes Z
Ozomatli is at the Fox Theatre on Fri, Mar 14.
Tesoro celebrates a CD release party at Club Congress on Fri., March 21. Visit ZocaloMagazine.com for the CD review.
Fri 7: Dom Kennedy Get Home Safely Tour w/ Skeme Sat 8: Sir Mix-A-Lot, Pinback, Yacht, Murs, Iamsu! Sun 9: Gary Numan Tue 11: Ty Seagall , Papadosio Fri 14: Take Action Tour: The Devil Wears Prada, Ozomatli at Fox Sat 15: Sepparella Sun 16: Cultura Profetica Wed 19: Hopsin’s Knock Madness Tour Thu 20: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings Thu 27: Spafford @ Plush, Rebelution Sun 30: The Outlaws Mon 31: Oxymoron World TourSchoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad & Vince Staples
PLAYGROUND TUCSON
SEA OF GLASS CENTER
278 E. Congress. 396-3691, PlaygroundTucson.com See website for details
330 E. 7th St. 398-2542, TheSeaofGlass.org Thu 13:The Appleseed Collective
RHYTHM & ROOTS
SOLAR CULTURE
Plaza Palamino, 2970 N. Swan Rd. 319-9966, RhythmandRoots.org Sat 22: Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines
31 E. Toole Ave. 884-0874, SolarCulture.org Tue 4: Free Salamander Exhibit
RIALTO THEATRE
424 N. 4th Ave., 882-0009, SurlyWenchPub.com Sat 1: Swinging Jamboree/ Rattle Rockin’ Boys Tue 4: Artphag Fri 7: Black Cherry Burlesque
318 E. Congress St. 740-1000, RialtoTheatre.com Sat 1: Black Cherry Cordial Wed 5: Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Sat 8: Fineline Revisited Sat 15: Fineline Revisited Sat 22: Spasm! Fri 28: CandyStrike Fashion Show Sat 29: Fineline Revisited
TOPAZ TUNDRA 657 W. St. Mary’s Rd. TempleOfCairo.com/Topaz/ Sun 9: The Audacity, Lenguas Largas, Meat Market, Jay Arner, AZ77, Teen Chat, JRM Mon 10: New Bums, Midday Veil, Night Collectors, Cobra Family Picnic, Ryan Chavira Mon 17: Julie Byrne, Liila, Labs, Babat Duag, Jess Matsen Tue 18: FF, Twin Peaks, Prom Body, Man Bites Dog, Womb Tomb
SURLY WENCH PUB
Mia Dyson performs at Plush on Thu, Mar 6. March 2014 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 65
Photo courtesy of PlushTucson.com
Fri 7: Horse Black with Polyan & The Johnson Sisters Sat 8: The Rising Sun, Mad Alchemy, Powered Wig Machine, The Myrrors Mon 10: The Parson Red Heads, Andrew Collberg, Mimicking Birds Tue 11: Mujeres, Dead Ghosts, Hermanitos, Katterwaul Thu 13: Hello Dollface, Leila Lopez, Copper & Congress Fri 14: Oddkinn, Ocean Void, Spider Cider Sat 15: Jivin’ Scientists Mon 17: Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel, Pizza Time, Love Cop, Tom Heavy & The Party Makers, The Electric Blankets Fri 21: Love Me Nots, The Burning of Rome, Fairy Bones Thu 27: Spafford, The Bennu
Z lifeintucson
by Andrew Brown / @aemerybrown
Rillito Downs
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