The guys from FOUND magazine will make a stop at the Hotel Congress (311 E. Congress St.) at 8 p.m., Friday, June 26.

Haven't heard of FOUND? Well you may want to check it out at their Web site to make sure that love note you penned, delivered and never saw again hasn't become your first published work.

My personal favorite is the handwritten note posted on the FOUND Web site that goes something like this: "Mano, I fucking hate you ... you said you had to work then whys your car HERE at HER place?? You're a fucking LIAR. I hate you. I fucking hate you." It's signed by an apparently severely pissed off person named Amber who ended the note with: "P.S. Page me later."

Davy and Peter Rothbart - the magazine's creators - will be in Tucson to promote their new book Requiem for a Paper Bag, but the two will also share stories about the business of publishing a magazine about the things we leave behind.

The cover charge is $6. Call 622-8848 for more info.

Ward 2 City Councilman Rodney Glassman is gathering signatures to support naming a ballfield after the late Steve Emerine, a longtime journalist and political activist who died earlier this year at age 73 following complications from surgery.

Besides working as a reporter and editor at the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen, serving as county assessor, teaching journalism at the UA, running his own consulting business and penning a column for Inside Tucson Business, Emerine was also a little league coach who “insisted that every child play in every game and was known for his generosity and kindness to the kids on the teams he coached,” Glassman writes in his latest Ward 2 bulletin.

Stop by Glassman’s Ward 2 office, 7575 E. Speedway, to find petitions to name a baseball field at Jesse Owens Park after Emerine.

In other Emerine news: The University of Arizona School of Journalism has created a scholarship in Emerine’s name. The J School, with the help of former department head Don Carson and TEP spokeswoman Betsy Bolding, has already raised $4,800 for the Steve Emerine Scholarship, which is directed toward students who show an interest in covering government. Major contributors include the Norville Philanthropic Fund and Pima County Democratic Party.

The first recipient of the scholarship is former Tucson Weekly intern Megan Neighbor, who spent the spring semester interning at the Arizona Legislature. Megan will receive $500 to help in her fall studies, which will include the Reporting Public Affairs course I teach at the J School.

If you’d like to donate to the Steve Emerine Scholarship, send a check made out to UA Foundation/Journalism with Steve’s name in the memo line to: UA School of Journalism, PO Box 210158B, Tucson, AZ 85721-0158.

The Arizona Senate has passed an omnibus bill packed with all the abortion restrictions that social conservatives have been pushing for years. Howie has the details.

A snippet:

HB 2564 would require a woman to wait at least 24 hours between the time she first sees a doctor and the time she actually can get an abortion.

But that time is more than a cooling-off period. The legislation spells out what has to happen at that first meeting.

The doctor who will do that procedure must discuss the risks and alternatives to the procedure as well as the probable "anatomical and physiological characteristics of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed.''

And the law also would require that someone at the clinic — it would not have to be the doctor — tell the woman that medical assistance benefits may be available if she decides to keep the child, public and private agencies and services are available to assist during pregnancy and after childbirth, and that the father is liable for child support even if he agrees to pay for an abortion.

Given the degree to which the GOP majority is cutting back on social services, it really does seem as if they love kids right up until they're born.

The Onion reports that Barack Obama is planning to run for McCain's Senate seat. An excerpt:

PHOENIX—Saying that it is time for change to come to Arizona, President Barack Obama on Tuesday formally announced that he will run for Senate against John McCain in the 2010 election.

Obama asks Arizona voters to send another message to Washington and John McCain.

Addressing a capacity crowd of nearly 72,000 at University of Phoenix Stadium, Obama stood before a giant banner emblazoned with his new "President Obama for Senate" logo—a basic facsimile of his 2008 campaign emblem with a cactus inscribed in the center—and called on voters to "turn the page and write the next chapter in the great Arizona story."

"I am, and always have been, motivated by a single, powerful idea: that I might one day play a small part in building a better Arizona," Obama said. "So I ask you today to join me in this quest. Our children, and our children's children, deserve it. Together, we can meet the challenges we face. Together, we can send a message to Washington, and together, we can beat John McCain."

"Yes, we can in Arizona," Obama continued to overwhelming applause. "Yes, we can in Arizona. Yes, we can beat John McCain. Yes, we can in Arizona."

Train whistles used to conjure up thoughts of hobos, traffic delays and old Johnny Cash records, but that was before I discovered “rail pints” on a recent visit to Barrio Brewing Company (800 E. 16th St.).

You see, Barrio Brewing Company is housed in this super old and very cool warehouse building that happens to be a stone's throw from a set of railroad tracks and its associated crossing. And every so often, the train comes blaring through, shaking tables and deafening anyone sitting at the dozen or so patio tables.

But Barrio has turned what could be a nightmare for many businesses into a bright spot. If you’re at the brewery when the train comes crashing through, you get a pint of their very tasty beer for $3 for as long as the road blocks are down across the nearby tracks.

On my visit, the waitress came crashing through the brewery doors, exclaiming "Rail pints!" to all that would listen. It was festive and fun, and before I knew it, I was half way through another pint and the sound of the train seemed somehow less important.

Good job, Barrio. Waiting for a train to pass has never been so much fun.

As we reported in "Signature Problems" last week, the Pima County Democratic Party has challenged Dave Croteau's Green Party candidacy for the Tucson City Council, saying he didn't get enough signatures from Green Party members within Ward 6. Croteau told us today that he voluntarily withdrew, since he knew he wouldn't prevail in court.

But that doesn’t mean that Green Party is out of the race. Croteau tells us that his campaign manager, Dave Ewoldt, may be running as a write-in candidate. Ewoldt would have to get seven votes in the Sept. 1 primary to land a spot on the November ballot.

If he manages to do that, Democratic incumbent Nina Trasoff’s left flank will be exposed as she runs against Republican Steve Kozachik.

Croteau tells us that other Green write-ins may emerge in Ward 3, where Democratic incumbent Karin Uhlich is facing Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia, and in Ward 5, where Democrat Richard Fimbres is facing the winner of the GOP primary between Shaun McClusky and Judith Gomez.

Taxed by the high price of T-bones? Sick of the sickly pallor of industrial chicken? Bored with your usual kitchen routine? Looking for a way to make healthy, inexpensive, summer-friendly food? Want to get creative with your cuisine, and share your discoveries with salivating friends?

The answer to all these questions is sushi!

In my filing cabinet of graphic inspiration I've kept a sushi menu for several years. It offers an explosion of sushi treats photographed in all their glory—a graphic orgy of shapes and colors! Finally, a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to draw a sushi cartoon. Making the cartoon enticed me to experience sushi on a deeper level: to make it myself.

I watched the Iron Chef sushi battle on YouTube. Predictably, it was exciting. My first stop in the real world was 17th Street Market, where I was amiably led to the sushi section, across from the fish counter. In true Manga form, my rice bag sported a cartoon rice grain character with a drugged-out smile and a headband. He, she or it claimed to be "Using New Milling Technology." In fact, all the sushi products have great packaging. I dig how nori (seaweed) comes in sheets of various shapes and shades; it's like picking out fancy watercolor paper, though far less expensive!

I borrowed a sushi rolling mat for my first attempt, and my rice was a bit off, but I soon bought my own mat and perfected the rice by fine-tuning the timing of all the steps: rinsing, drying, boiling, simmering, sitting, fluffing and sitting again. Eventually, I could smile back with confidence at my Manga rice grain cartoon pal, knowing that I finally conquered him, her or it.

After my first timid carrot-avocado-cucumber-radish rolls, I branched out into eel, shrimp, omelets, raw tuna, daikon, mackerel, pineapple, mango, roasted sesame seeds and a paste I made out of egg yolks, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce and black pepper. I even boiled gourd shavings in soy sauce and water, watching them plump up into tapeworm-looking things.

I quickly became enamored with the whole concept of sushi. Beyond the visuals, it's one of those flexible cultural foods, like pizza or burritos. I mean, you can basically put anything on a pizza or in a burrito. They are formats that can be edited, amended and tweaked. Like all good art, sushi is variation on a theme.

I also loved the amount of time it takes to make sushi. It was meditative and calming. While doing the prep, I could pour a glass of wine and chill to some sweet tunes: Enigma, Red House Painters, The Dining Rooms ... even eating sushi—with chopsticks, of course—takes time. No wolfing down burgers here; rather, the act of selecting, admiring, dipping and eating one bite at a time. One regulates the wasabi, pickled ginger and sauce to her or his own taste buds, and is surprised and elated with each piece.

On Saturday, I had a sushi party. Starting at 6 a.m., I made about 200 pieces of sushi and had some neighbors and friends over. It was way better than a barbecue, and people were far less logy. Plus, the sushi itself makes a great conversation topic. A professional chef at the party stayed in the kitchen with me, looking over my shoulder and making me nervous at first. I politely mentioned the comforts of the living room and balcony, but he wouldn't leave the kitchen. Sushi relaxes people, though, and soon, I was teaching him my rolling technique, and he was teaching me the right way to hold a knife. I was slicing sashimi, and he was rolling futomaki, and all was right in the world.

Now, I'm doing a series of colored-pencil drawings of imaginary sushi which will no doubt provide me with weeks of further contemplation, peace and hopefully some money.

Is there anything sushi can't do?

According to a release from the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tucson is featured in two films opening this week. First up is Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which opens on Wednesday, June 24. The film shot in Tucson last Oct. 8 and 9 at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Boneyard and the Tucson International Airport.

On Friday, June 26, Away We Go opens. This film shot here last June 2-6 and features the JW Marriott Starr Pass and Tucson Mountain Park.

Obviously, the guys from Dinosaur Jr. have the concept down that BMX and skateboarders are fully capable of playing together in peace and harmony—so why can't they do the same thing in Tucson at the soon-to-open Albert Gallego Skate Park at Santa Rita Park? Last time we checked in with Mike Hines and his friend Chris Miracle, the two BMX enthusiasts were asking Tucson Parks and Recreation to consider allowing BMX.

Hines and Miracle have pointed out other skateboard parks that allow BMX at the same time, or during certain hours, such as in Mesa, where BMX and skateboard use occurs at the same time, or at Marana's skate park, with a day reserved just for BMX. The discussions with Parks and Rec went nowhere, except some advice that the BMXers begin their fundraising to build their own facility.

"No, they're not budging. They keep telling us to raise our own money and talk to our City Council members. I've talked to Steve Anderson, the ward supervisor of that district, and he doesn't see why we aren't allowed, but he hasn't done anything to help us, either. Peg Weber wants me to help plan something in the future, but we need a place right now. This whole thing is silly. Just let bikes in. Give it a trial period. If it doesn't work then they can at least say that. Oh well, hopefully we will make some noise," Hines wrote to the Weekly in a recent e-mail.

BMX riders of Tucson will get a chance to make that noise at a protest on Sunday, June 28.

According the schedule, protesters will meet at Brooklyn Pizza on Fourth Avenue from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. (or meet at the park at 22nd Street and South Third Avenue at 11 am.). The group from Brooklyn will leave the restuarant at 10:30 a.m. and ride as a group to protest at the park at 11 a.m.

Hines says everyone is invited even if they don't ride BMX. There will also be a product toss and raffle from sponsors, such as Ajo Bikes and Broadway Bicycles). Proceeds from the raffle will go to the Kory Laos Foundation. Laos was killed while riding his BMX near a busy street close to the UA on May 4, 2007—two days before his 15th birthday. Friends and family contend Laos would be alive today if there was a place for him to ride, such as the Albert Gallego Skate Park at Santa Rita Park.

What is great about Italian food—I mean really great Italian food—is its simplicity: A little tomato, a little olive oil, a little garlic, a little oregano, a little pasta and boom, you've got a fantastic meal.

What makes exceptional Italian food, though, is love.

If you've ever had the good fortune to be invited to dinner at the home of an Italian-American family, you know what I'm talking about. It's momma's-gonna'-pinch-your-cheek-and-tell-you, "Eat more - what, you don't like my food?" good.

When it comes to Italian restaurants, it's not that they have to make you believe you're part of the family. But I'll take a simple Italian place where they love their marinara so much that they simmer it for hours and feed the souls of their guests over an upscale place with fancy plate presentations any time.

Ascolese's Italian Restaurant, in the Samaniego House by the Tucson Convention Center, provided my girlfriend, her father and me that exceptional Italian experience for Father's Day last night.