Tucson, AZ

The weather in Tucson during the winter months is so gorgeous that we usually try to spend as many days as possible outside. Growing up in Tucson I have spent quite a bit of time on 4th Avenue and in the University of Arizona area. This weekend, my husband and I took our two children down to 4th Avenue. We spent about 30 minutes in a few shops. My daughter’s favorite was Hippie Gypsy. We allowed her to pick out a shirt, which of course was tie-dyed. I looked through the incense and oils since patchouli is one of my favorite scents. We then wandered down a block or so to O’Malley’s for lunch. It was pretty empty and so our food was fast to arrive.

My friend Nikki is a devout fan of the 1993 Tim Burton film The Nightmare Before Christmas and even has a tatoos of the characters. So when she saw that the film would be screened at the historic Fox Tucson Theatre just before Christmas, she recruited me to attend the film with her. I had never seen a movie at the restored downtown venue, although I had been there for live theater, so I was excited to see what their big screen had to offer.

The movie screening was scheduled for 8:00 p.m., so we headed downtown to arrive around 7:30 p.m. to be sure to have enough time to find a parking spot near the theatre, located 17 W. Congress, just west of Stone Avenue. We fortunately found a spot in a small lot located just south of Congress off of Stone and since it was after normal business hours, their was no parking cost.

For the past month I’ve been working with a really great cast and some really great direction on a play called A Tucson Pastorela, put on by Borderlands Theater Group. I’m on makeup and wardrobe, which is really the easiest job, since another girl does the costumes, and some of the actors do their own makeup, yet all are all fun to work with. The Pastorela is the Christmas story (the birth of Jesus, remember?), but this play gives it an edge with comic devils trying to stop the shepherds and the two angels, Michael and Gabriel, from going to Bethlehem (or, in this case, the shepherds, Miguel, Gabriel, y Juan, a sort of time-traveling boy from the reservation, to get to Belen).

I went to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), near the Main Library, at 149 N. Stone, to see the lady from Project Runway who is originally from Tucson, Elisa Jimenez. It was $10 to get in and the last show was still up, so it was sort of like seeing two shows for the price of one…except that the last show was probably free. At least the wine was free…with donation.

A few nights ago, I went with my family to the ATC’s (Arizona Theater Company’s) preview of their production of Hair (“The American Tribal Love Rock Musical”) at the Temple of Music and Art, located at 330 S. Scott Avenue. Although no photos were allowed, I snuck a shot of the set before the performance started. The ATC is a lovely theater, with a too-small lobby and an ample courtyard. The house was decorated with painted cutouts of revolution-related objects—this part was not as hippy-centric as I’d imagined it would be. Radioactivity symbols, cartoon helicopters and the Declaration of Independence mingled with flower power peace propaganda. I was hopeful for an artistic, currently relevant rendition of the controversially classic musical, Hair.

A few nights ago, I went with my family to the ATC’s (Arizona Theater Company’s) preview of their production of Hair (“The American Tribal Love Rock Musical”) at the Temple of Music and Art, located at 330 S. Scott Avenue. Although no photos were allowed, I snuck a shot of the set before the performance started. The ATC is a lovely theater, with a too-small lobby and an ample courtyard. The house was decorated with painted cutouts of revolution-related objects—this part was not as hippy-centric as I’d imagined it would be. Radioactivity symbols, cartoon helicopters and the Declaration of Independence mingled with flower power peace propaganda. I was hopeful for an artistic, currently relevant rendition of the controversially classic musical, Hair.

In conjunction with the Denny’s Allnighter program, Taking Back Sunday will be hosting a FREE after party at Denny’s immediately following their show Sunday night at the Rialto Theatre!

Don’t have tickets to the show? That’s okay - everyone is welcome to hit up the after party! Just head to Denny’s where the band will be on hand to sign autographs, take photos and hang out while chowing down.

In conjunction with the Denny’s Allnighter program, Taking Back Sunday will be hosting a FREE after party at Denny’s immediately following their show Sunday night at the Rialto Theatre!

Don’t have tickets to the show? That’s okay - everyone is welcome to hit up the after party! Just head to Denny’s where the band will be on hand to sign autographs, take photos and hang out while chowing down.

Last night I guest-deejayed at the Red Room. That’s one side of Grill, the 24-hour diner and open-till-two bar at 100 E. Congress (here’s their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/redroomatthegrill). When you go to Grill, don’t bother reading the long description of how to act on the menu. Just know that you’ll probably wait while for your food; it’s not a drive through. And don’t order milkshakes unless you want to wait even longer.

The people who work at Bentley’s are the best, the food and coffee are really good, there’s free Wi-fi, it’s pretty close to campus, and there’s usually good artwork on the walls. Another big draw is the (usually free) shows. Every Friday is an Open Mic night, from 7:45-10:45 p.m. and a “free acoustic open jam afterwards.” Come early (as early as 7:00 p.m. and as late as 7:30 p.m.) if you want to sign up. Check the website to find out about the “mini-showcaser,” with a spot from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each week.