Thursday, January 31, 2019
Denver the giraffe is hitting a big milestone Friday, Feb. 1, and all of Tucson’s invited to her big party. Kicking off at 10 a.m, the zoo crew will welcome the public. The first 20 people in line at the event get to feed Denver a birthday biscuit.
The zoo keepers already celebrated the big day Thursday, Jan. 31 with browse laid out to read “30” and a giraffe biscuit cake holding 30 birthday carrot "candles."
Reid Park Zoo first met Denver back in 1990, when she first arrived just before her first birthday. Denver has since been a mom to four calves—two boys and two girls.
“Denver doesn’t know she’s a giraffe," said Reid Park Zoo Keeper Kelly. "Giraffes are skittish and very cautious by nature, but Denver will come right up to you. She’s very curious.”
According to the zoo, the median life expectancy of a female giraffe is 25. At 30, Denver is just a couple of months younger than the oldest giraffe in the nation. To keep Denver in her old age, her Keepers feed her high calorie food with lots of vitamins, and weigh her twice a week to make sure she's maintaining her weight. Denver's mother lived to be an estimated 32 years, so longevity seems to be a family trait.
In the giraffe habitat, guests can tell Denver apart from her companions because she is the smallest giraffe at the Zoo. Her spots are entirely filled in and she has a spot in the shape of an upside down heart on one of her shoulders.
The Reid Park Zoo is located at 3400 E. Zoo Court, and opens at 9 a.m.
Tags: zoo , giraffes , 30th birthday , celebration , Denver , birthday , animals , cute , Image
Just in time for the Gem and Mineral Show, the “Gems of Rock” are coming to Tucson. The lineup includes: headliner Peter Rivera, singer and drummer of the classic psychedelic rock/soul band Rare Earth, accompanied by Mr. Skynyrd, “Arizona's Premier Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute band” and award-winning Arizona folk singer Jeordie.
Rivera has multiple gold and platinum albums under his belt, including hit songs with Rare Earth like "Get Ready." The night also features a special performance by Arizona's own children's music program, The Schoolhouse of Rock and local Tucson R&B band Soul Essential. Festivities also include a raffle and a late night open jam from 1 to 2 a.m.
Gems of Rock supports the charities the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and Arizona's Children Association
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8. at El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St. General admission tickets are $45, VIP tickets, featuring a meet and greet with Peter Rivera are $75. For more information, visit keylife4ent.com/shop
Tags: music , gems of rock , live , concert , Image
Will Arizona be among the [un]lucky five states to be part of the new Koch Network education initiative? The states have yet to be named, but I suspect Arizona is on the radar, given the Koch Network and Governor Ducey's mutual admiration society. We know KN loves Ducey's vociferous support of vouchers, and Ducey loves KN's money in equal measure.
The Koch Network announced its decision to put money into education — until recently, it has deferred to other right wing, privatization/"education reform" groups — during its latest summit at Indian Wells, California (about 5 hours down the road from here), where all it takes to get in the door is a commitment to pledge at least $100,000 to the cause.
The announcement came a day after one of the Koch folks' rare kumbaya moments, a celebration of the bipartisan support for the First Step Act, signed into law by President Trump in December to reform the criminal justice system. Friend-of-Obama Van Jones was on board, and he praised the Koch Network's support of the legislation. So was First Son-in-law Jared Kushner (whose interest in the subject was probably spurred by his father's stay in prison [put there by Chris Christie, but that's a whole 'nuther story]).
Don't make the mistake of thinking this is a signal KN is planning to make nice with progressives in the future. Lower incarceration rates, along with fewer laws restricting drug use, have long been part of the libertarian platform. On a number of social issues, libertarians' "less regulation, more freedom" agenda coincides with the progressive viewpoint.
However, the Koch Network is trying to sell its new education initiative as another attempt to join hands with people on the other side of the aisle. Some of its spokespeople went out of their way to praise teachers, who they usually lump together with evil unions and failing schools. The elevator pitch for their new initiative sounds kinda not bad, until you get into the details.
Tags: Koch network. Education initiative. Arizona. Doug Ducey , Image
This week U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, along with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) introduced the Threat Assessment, Prevention, and Safety Act of 2019 (S. 265).
The bill intends to streamline law enforcement efforts on local, state and national levels to better prevent violent acts of mass casualties.
Through the implementation of a Joint Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Task Force (comprised of federal threat assessment experts, state and local law enforcement officials and mental health service professionals) a national strategy would be created to “prevent targeted violence through threat assessment and management, and evidence-based processes to identify individuals that exhibit patterns of dangerous behavior that may precede an act of targeted violence,” according to a press release.
Since perpetrators of these crimes can act anywhere at any time, the task force is supposed to help state and local law enforcement agencies access the same resources for combating these threats as the FBI and Secret Service.
The task force would be able to make recommendations on how to implement protocols for local law enforcement agencies to effectively preempt dangerous attacks. The bill requires these recommendations to reflect the different needs and resources of communities across the country, in order to prevent the enforcement of a national standard.
These recommendations would be funded through grants awarded by the Department of Homeland Security. Grant money would also be available to community stakeholders such as local governments, tribal organizations, educational institutions and nongovernmental organizations who create “community-based behavioral threat assessment and management units.”
The bill specifically requires recommendations for a Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management School Violence Prevention Program for educational institutions across the country.
A one-page briefing of the bill created by the office of Sen. Rubio states: “We have the expertise to combat the targeted violence plaguing our schools, places of worship, and public spaces, but we have yet to fully implement it to prevent attacks.”
“We must provide law enforcement with the tools they need to keep Arizona families safe and secure,” Sen. Sinema said in a press release. “I will work every day to protect Arizonans from senseless, tragic acts of violence.”
U.S. Representatives Brian Babin (R-Texas) and Val Demings (D-Florida) introduced a companion bill in the House.
Tags: Safety , Violence , Prevention , Threat , Sinema , Rubio , Tillis , Congress , House of Representatives , 116 , Bill , Legislation , Image
The unanimous vote allows local contractor Lloyd Construction to put in the new system, which will be installed during the summer of 2019, in time for the Tucson Roadrunners' season.
The improvements are a main component of the $50 million renovation of the complex, which was announced in November.
The renovations include a $7.6 million set of improvements to the actual convention center, its exhibit halls and ballrooms.
TCC’s music hall is set to receive another $7.6 million renovation of its own, which would include remodeling the hall’s lobby and restrooms, while renovating its green room, patio and dressing rooms.
The final task for the hall would be a complete replacement of the 47-year-old complex’s roof, which would be included in the price tag.
A center point of the TCC is the $11 million upgrade of the historic Garrett Eckbo-designed fountain and its surrounding garden outside the facility, which will be overseen by longtime Tucson architect Helen Erickson.
Board Chairman Fletcher McCusker is pleased with the ice-making system approval, saying it'll be a definite boost for one of the facility's main tenants.
“Roadrunner hockey has been incredibly successful and the Coyotes are committed for the long term,” said Board Chairman Fletcher McCusker in a statement. “The ice upgrades will be consistent with an NHL floor."
Tags: Rio Nuevo , Tucson Convention Center , Tucson , Tucson Roadrunners , Arizona , American Hockey League , Image
Tags: comics , politics , cartoons , Claytoons , weather , cold front , snow , global warming , climate change , snow , newspapers , cartoonist , Image
Brews & Books. Books have a way of making your heart and brain feel full, while beer has a way of making your stomach feel full. So if you’re looking to feel fulfilled every which way, a book club hosted by a brewery isn’t something you should miss out on. Head over to 1912 Brewing to discuss this month’s book, The Mermaid Chair, by Sue Monk Kidd, a story that involves an ailing mother, a trip to an island and a handsome monk—exactly the type of elements that made it a perfect fit to be adapted into a Lifetime movie. While you discuss the book, enjoy beer, mead, wine and whatever food you’d like to bring, because this is a potluck! 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31. 1912 Brewing Company, 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. Free. Details here.
Te Amo, Argentina. World-renowned cellist Antonio Lysy won a Grammy for his album Te Amo, Argentina, an homage to the sounds of the country, from the music of tango in Buenos Aires cafes to the Amerindian rhythms of the Andes Mountains. In this show, the album comes to life, featuring not only chamber works and cello solos by Lysy, but spoken word, film and tango dancing by Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo, tango choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance and gold medalists on NBC’s Superstars of Dance. Come hear the works of Ginastera, Piazzolla, Guastavino and more. By the time you walk out, you’ll be just as in love with Argentina as Lysy is. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31. Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Ave. $30. Details here.
J.I.D. Growing up whip smart and poor made J.I.D. creative and resourceful. To quick flow mix up. To mash together funk and soul with Bollywood flair. To pay little attention to rules and transcend limitations. The resulting hip hop is fresh and deconstructed and, um, dangerous. (Yes, we know, dangerous doesn’t exist anymore.) This Atlanta kid grew up on Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang, and J.I.D. too has a crew, Spillage Village (alongside 6LACK). Like Wu, his dystopic visions are darkly comic and fully realized. His high-pitched nasal flow enlists hyper-complex internal rhyme schemes and hypnotic repetition to assert and deconstruct at once, a cut and pasted ransom note atop warped sitars and descending piano scales. The effect is disorienting and utterly original. As J.I.D. guides us through his “get on my dick/cannabis spliff”-enhanced world, that old-fashioned “I feel cool as shit bumping this” vibe is attained. Hell yeah, hip hop doesn’t just survive, it thrives in J.I.D.’s jittery, capable hands. J.I.D., with Reason, Hardo, and Lou the Human on Thursday, Jan. 31. 191 Toole. Doors at 7 p.m. $20-$25. All ages. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , Tucson events , Thursday , Jan 31 , books , music , Argentina , shows , Image
Twenty-five years strong, swing revivalists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s latest, Louie Louie Louie, is a rousing celebration of music legends Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Louis Prima. At The Fox Theatre. Details here.
Part of the Tucson Desert Song Festival, Arizona Friends of Chamber Music presents Te Amo, Argentina. World-renowned cellist Antonio Lysy won a Grammy for his album Te Amo, Argentina, an homage to the sounds of the country, from the sounds of the tango in Buenos Aires cafes to the Amerindian rhythms of the Andes Mountains. In this show, the album comes to life, featuring not only chamber works and cello solos by Lysy, but spoken word, film and tango dancing by Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo, tango choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance and gold medalists on NBC’s Superstars of Dance. Come hear the works of Ginastera, Piazzolla, Guastavino and more. By the time you walk out, you’ll be just as in love with Argentina as Lysy is. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31. Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Ave. $30. Details here.
And, the electronic folk pop of Sharkk Heart, the strange beauty of Loki Moon and the improvisational spirit of Holly Pyle push the envelope at Sky Bar. Details here.
On the strength of his second studio album, DiCaprio 2, East Atlanta rapper J.I.D. rolls the Catch Me If You Can Tour into 191 Toole. Flanked by Reason, Hardo and Lou The Human. Details here.
Old school country twang? Lana Rebel rouses rabble at Tap + Bottle Downtown. Details here.
Swimming In Art premieres new works by artist/musicians Ryen Eggleston and Dimitri Manos. Golden Boots will perform. At TallBoys. Details here.
Tags: music , where to rock , live , concerts , shows , bands , Image , Video
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Award-winning and local author Alice Hatcher is here to help.
Pima County Public Library is continuing its Writer-In-Residence program, a favorite among the local community.
Hatcher's residency at the library starts in February and runs through April and she will be available to consult with writers of any age, experience or genre.
She will hold office hours at Himmel Park Library every Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m.
Call to guarantee a spot at 520 594 5305. Walk-ins will only be available if space allows.
Hatcher is also hosting three workshops that are free and open to the public:
- Finding Your Narrator in the Crowd - UA Festival of Books, 4 to 5 p.m. March 2
- Your Novel’s Opening Pages: Establishing Tension, the Story Question, and the Reader-Writer Contract - Dusenberry-River Library, 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 21
- The Basics of Writing Grant Proposals for Individual Creative and Research Projects - Joel D. Valdez Main Library in the Idea+Space, 10:30 a.m. to noon, April 13
Tags: writing , workshops , Alice Hatcher , Image
Unlike most musicals, the story of Hamilton is told almost exclusively in song. So when I first heard that History Has Its Eyes On You: A Hamilton Music Revue would be doing a concert featuring the music of Hamilton "but none of the songs with plot," I wasn't too sure what to expect.
It turns out, the Stateside Presents performance didn't have any trouble celebrating the music of Hamilton without veering into the story behind the music. They focused instead on songs (from the musical, the Mixtape and the Hamildrops) that people can resonate with today; songs about love, lust, parenthood and the endless and revolutionary impact of immigrants. The show isn't a performance of the musical, but a celebration of the timeless themes and transcendental music—and performed on a stunning level, of course.
Singer Alyssa Chiarello at one point delivered a note so impressive—so high, held for so long, so beautifully—that her castmates essentially stopped the show to congratulate her on it, and to have the audience do the same.
Alex Ncube and Eddie Maldonado's love for the music they were performing was palpable in the audience. Ncube dedicated a touching rendition of "Dear Theodosia" to her daughter and demonstrated special appreciation to the lyrics about inclusivity. Meanwhile, Maldonado delivered every single one of his lines with a brash smirk one would believe of Alexander Hamilton himself.
And while Maldonado did perform many of Hamilton's lyrics, the cast didn't stick to dedicated roles. Sean Mullaney, whose high-energy performance was definitely a crowd pleaser, represented Schuyler's baby sister "Peggy" in one song, and transitioned into George Washington's commanding role in the next. Matravius Avent mastered both the calm, measured tone of Aaron Burr's opening lines and the tremendous speed of Marquis de Lafayette's rap in "Guns and Ships."
The organizers of the show said from the beginning that they wanted the show (much like the original musical itself) to be a tribute to hip hop, and that was apparent in the room before the first note was sung. The performers ditched Hamilton's typical 1800s garb for leather and mesh. They substituted Hamilton's full orchestra for DJ Kim E. Fresh and a modern band. During "Cabinet Battle," the cast transitioned their rap battle into a dance off, which segued into a kind of break dance intermission. These steps took the much-loved music and transitioned it seamlessly into a show that stands apart from the original work it honors.
The show accomplished the goal it set out with: To celebrate the music of one of the most-loved modern musicals outside of the original (high-priced) theater setting. I sincerely hope this show returns to Tucson, because it is a hell of a good time.
Tags: music , review , Hamilton , live show , musical , Hamildrops , history , Stateside Presents , Image
