The Tucson Police Department's photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Wednesday, Sept. 26:

• 7 to 9 a.m.: Robison Elementary on Tucson Boulevard near 18th Street
• 9:30 to 1:30 a.m.: On 22nd Street near Craycroft Road
• 2 to 4 p.m.: Whitmore Elementary, 5300 Block E. Glenn Street
• 4:30 to 8 p.m.: On Craycroft Road near Grant Road

The Tucson Police Department's photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Tuesday, Sept. 25:

• 7 to 9 a.m.: Amphi Middle School on Fort Lowell Road near Fontana Avenue
• 9:30 to 1:30 p.m.: On Fort Lowell Road near First Avenue
• 2 to 4 p.m.: Near Davis Bilingual Elementary School on Sixth Street between Euclid Avenue and Main Avenue
• 4:30 to 8 p.m.: TPD lists "300 blk south," which didn't make much sense to us. We called to see if we could learn more, but the officer who answered the phone told us their computers were down, and no further information was available. Beware whenever you're in the 300 Block South!

The Tucson Police Department's photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Monday, Sept. 24:

• 7 to 9 a.m.: At Vail Middle School on Craycroft Road near 16th Street
• 9:30 to 1:30 p.m.: On Kolb Road near Speedway Boulevard
• 2 to 4 p.m.: At Hudlow Elementary on Kolb Road near Kingston Drive
• 4:30 to 8 p.m.: On Golf Links Road near Kolb Road

My apologies, Kynn ... but yes, Glassman was indeed brave and came forward with his candidate: John Edwards. Evidently, Rodney got the chance to get to know him after driving him around for a day ...

The Tucson Police Department's photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Saturday, Sept. 22:

• 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: On Speedway Boulevard near Wilmot Road
• 2 to 4 p.m.: On Grant Road near Tanque Verde Road

Republican Ward 2 City Council candiate Lori Oien missed a fine time at the Equality Arizona candidate's forum last night. According to organizers, Oien recinded the invite a week ago.

Too bad for us. We'll probably never know how she feels about LGBT issues, or if she has a gay friend.

The forum's sponsor, Equality Arizona, helped defeat Proposition 107 in 2006, which would have banned gay marriage and domestic-partnership benefits.

Candidates were asked about LBGT issues, like how they feel about a federal amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and woman, and even whether or not they know anyone, you know, gay. If scared of a mostly LBGT audience, Oien didn't need to be: Two other Republican cadidates joined the table: Mayor Bob Walkup and estate planner Daniel Spahr. Walkup faces Green Party candiate Dave Croteau, and Spahr is up against city council incumbent Shirley Scott in Ward 4.

Walkup and Spahr had a chance to show that they aren't your typical Republican candidates, with Spahr going so far as to read a statement of apology for nasty anti-gay comments those other Republicans seem to make from time to time, especially during those election seasons.

While last night could have separated the good and the bad, it actually gave a glimpse of the cluelessness of some candidates regarding LBGT issues--despite the fact that everyone had loads to say about diversity and equality. Some candidates didn't really answer the questions and found those written statements on diversity super handy.

Green Party write-in candidate Beryl Baker, running against Democrat Regina Romero in Ward 1, particularly relied on her notes. Baker seemed stumped on LBGT-related questions, and when asked if she had been involved in defeating 107 and if she knew anyone LBGT, Baker said she wasn't aware of 107. She said she was focused on local issues and her neighborhood (I guess from a Green Party perspective, Prop. 107 wasn't a local issue), but yes, she has a few gay aquaintences.

The only candidates to give their two-cents on what presidential candidates they supported were Walkup and Spahr: Sen. John McCain and Mitt Romney, respectively.

"I think we should really give a close look at Romney," Spahr told the crowd. (Now I know what car Spahr drives--the one with the Romney 2008 bumbersticker that forced a double-take on the walk into the El Pueblo Community Center.)

Although Rodney Glassman, Oien's Democrat opponent, started his opening statements with a nicey, nicey moment--giving a balloon boquet to Romero and getting the audience to sing Happy Birthday (awww)--he faced audience wrath as he defended his seat on the local Boy Scouts of America board. The Eagle Scout was told he should resign from the scouts. He responded he felt he could change the system from inside.

I guess that no matter how many times you bring out your liberal credentials--like working for Raul Grijalva-- things like the Boy Scouts can still rub people the wrong way. The Boy Scouts national office doesn't allow openly gay scouts or leaders to participate. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the organization's policy when a gay Eagle Scout took the group to task for revoking his adult membership.

Oien, where were you? You missed a nice time to let us know how you feel about diversity, Prop. 107 and even issues like water and development. Thanks to Equality Arizona for the candidate show. Even if it wasn't about who is good and who is bad, at times it sure was fun to see who is full of cuacha.

So, Animal Collective at the Rialto last night: Wow. That was some sonic stew that was washing across the audience. Those guys were like Howe Gelb 4.0 with a heavy-duty helping of emo splashed with tribal beats and a computer-generated cacophony. The whole thing put me in trance, maybe because of the hypnotic pillars of light flashing so many pretty colors on the back of the stage. Tasty!

This weekend promises a lot more fun. The LOLcats at the Rialto are bringing in the New Pornographers tonight and the Arctic Monkeys on Saturday.

Meanwhile, over at the Loft Cinema, you've got filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman coming to town to talk about his new film, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, a low-budget schlockfest that reveals what happens when you build a fried-chicken fast-food outfit on top of a haunted Indian burial ground. Sounds like fun to us! if you can't make it to tonight's screening, which starts at 9 p.m., Poultrygeist is playing all week at the Loft, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Before all that starts, get on down to Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave., to see our favorite local author, Stacey Richter (Twin Study, My Date With Satan). Stacey is reading alongside Lydia Millet (author of George Bush, Dark Prince of Love and My Happy Life) and Aurelie Sheehan (author of History Lesson for Girls). The gals begin entertaining at 7 p.m.

While you're in the neighborhood, pop into the Book Stop's new haunts at 214 N. Fourth Ave. And as long as you're down there, have a pint at the Shanty!

This announcement was too late for Noshing Around.

El Charro Café, the oldest, continuously family-owned and operated Mexican restaurant in the United States proudly celebrates their 85th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 22.

In celebration of 85 years in Tucson, El Charro Café is throwing a birthday bash with festive food, drink and dessert specials, including traditional live entertainment in all restaurants. Enjoy 85 cents El Charro beef tacos, 85 cents Sonoran hot dogs and 85 cents anniversary margaritas.

El Charro Café will donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to the El Rio Foundation and The Boys and Girls Club of Tucson.

You’re invited to all four Tucson Locations: Downtown - 311 N. Court Avenue, 622-1922;  Eastside - 6310 E. Broadway Blvd., 745-1922; North - 100 W. Orange Grove, 615-1922;  Speedway - 4699 E. Speedway, 325-1922.

The Tucson Police Department's photo-radar van will be in the following areas on Friday, Sept. 21:

• 7 to 9 a.m.: At Henry Oyama Elementary on La Cholla Boulevard near Starr Pass Boulevard
• 9:30 to 1:30 p.m.: On Starr Pass Boulevard near La Cholla Boulevard
• 2 to 4 p.m.: Los Amigos Elementary, 2200 Block East Drexel Road
• 4:30 to 8 p.m.: On Broadway Boulevard near Highland Avenue

We're going out tonight to see Animal Collective at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. The cool cats at the Rialto, who know a lot more about music than we ever will, tell us the music explores "the fringes and intersecting boundaries of folk, noise rock, ambient drone, twisted psychedelia, and, ultimately, pure melody." All we know is: Somebody gave us some of their stuff last year on a mix, and we liked it, so we're checking out their act. Opening at 8 p.m. is Wizard Prison.