Peddling Pedals
Greater Arizona Bicycling Association Bike Swap Meet
8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 13
Fourth Avenue, between Sixth and Ninth streets
624-5004;
Bicycling Magazine recently put Tucson in its America’s Best Bike Cities Top 10, so this weekend’s Greater Arizona Bicycling Association should include lots of people stocking up on bike parts—or perhaps even shopping for a new bike.
Even if you factor out Tucson’s terrain and weather—which are so perfect for biking that Lance Armstrong’s cycling team frequents our city to train—the magazine also liked our city’s high amount of segregated bike lanes, municipal bike racks, savvy bike shops and support of a vibrant and diverse bike culture.
The Greater Arizona Bicycling Association, which will be running this weekend’s swap meet, has played a large part in furthering Tucson’s bicycle community, and boasts that this is the second-largest bike swap meet in North America. The meet will offer “hugely discounted” equipment, according to Kurt Tallis, the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association’s events and marketing director.
”You can buy nice bikes for $12. ... I bought a bike last year for $30 that must have been worth $300,” boasted Tallis. “We’ve placed (the swap meet) the week before El Tour (de Tucson) so people can stock up on parts.”
Even with many bicycle-oriented towns in neighboring California, only San Francisco managed to make it higher on Bicycling Magazine’s list this year. (Tucson came in at No. 9.) And who wants to bike over all of those Bay Area hills!? So head to the swap meet, and take advantage of the opportunity to use our city’s biking resources—especially if you can do it for $30 or less.
The event is free to the public, and will offer a wide range of bicycling equipment, including clothing, gear and parts. —E.A.
Where’d These Eats Come From?
”Taste Film, Talk Food”
2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14
The Screening Room
127 E. Congress St.
882-0204;
Ever wonder what kind of food we are putting into our bodies? And what is really sitting on your plate at your favorite restaurant?
”I think the amount of people here in town who care about where their food is coming from is growing every day,” said Coley Ward, of the Food Conspiracy Co-op.
Join others who are equally curious at The Screening Room to see the Tucson premieres of What’s Organic About Organic? a documentary film that delves into the debate that arises when a grassroots agricultural movement evolves into a booming international market; and Food Fight, which explores how American agricultural policy and food culture developed in the 20th century.
Each film is about an hour in length; in between will be a 15-minute intermission, when representatives of several groups will be available to answer questions.
”A coalition of like-minded organizations that care about these things will have a presence to talk about organic foods,” said Ward.
Additionally, food will be available for purchase from the Food Conspiracy Co-op’s Avenue Deli.
After the movies, event-goers are invited to drinks and appetizers at 47 Scott, where they can discuss the films—and maybe even still question what it is we put on our plates.
”This is $15 for two films, appetizers and a cocktail at a very popular new restaurant. That is a screaming deal,” said Ward.
The event is sponsored by 47 Scott, Slow Food Tucson, The Screening Room and Food Conspiracy Co-op. Tickets are $15 and include admission to documentaries, appetizers and a beverage at 47 Scott, and are available for purchase at the Food Conspiracy Co-op and The Screening Room. —K.M.
Dress Up for Environmentalism
”The Return of the Time Traveling Vaudevillians”
7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14
The Hut
305 N. Fourth Ave
623-3200
The detail in the painted skeletal faces of many participants in last weekend’s All Souls Procession proved something: Tucsonans love the opportunity to dress up—and “The Return of the Time Traveling Vaudevillians” provides yet another opportunity to do so.
The show, produced by Leah Rothschild and the Parasol Project, is an event slated to raise funds for the Earth First! Journal, as the environmental publication celebrates its 30th anniversary and gets set to relocate its nomadic headquarters from Tucson to Florida.
”Earth First! is an international movement of people. ... We take action when legislation is not budging,” explained Rothschild. “We try to protect areas that are pristine, where we don’t want a lot of industry and resource extraction. When the people want the legislation to protect areas, and it’s not happening because big business and big money (have) way more sway over what the people want happening in their backyard ... we’re a movement that slows the beast down by setting up a free state through land occupation, road blockades and large demonstrations to create public attention.”
Musical acts for the fundraiser include Will Elliott and The Heretics, the Awkward Moments and Anarchestra. There will also be an array of theatrical performances, such as cabaret and belly dancing. An outdoor “village” will include Tarot and astrology readers, a henna-tattoo artist, magicians and live art.
Patrons are encouraged to wear vaudeville, cabaret, circus and other “old world”-inspired attire. The event is 21 and up, and tickets will start at $5 (in vaudevillian garb) or $7 (normal garb) at the door, with a special anniversary package costing $20. —E.A.
1 + 1 = 1
”Fusion!”
7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 12
Fox Tucson Theatre
17 W. Congress St.
574-3040;
The University of Arizona College of Fine Arts is celebrating the merger of the School of Theatre Arts and the School of Media Arts.
”We thought we should celebrate to let people know of the changes, and we are very excited about the possibilities of this new school,” said Vicky Westover, director of the Hanson Film Institute, which is part of the merged school.
The gala event, “Fusion!,” will bring together works and performances by talented students and prominent alumni while celebrating the creation of the new School of Theatre, Film and Television.
Emmy Award-winning producer and writer Peter Murrieta will emcee the event. Performers and speakers include Broadway legend Ben Vereen, actor Greg Kinnear and Universal Studios producer Scott Stuber. Murrieta, Kinnear and Stuber are all alumni of the University of Arizona, while Vereen received an honorary doctorate.
”It is exciting to have a number of industry luminaries, some of whom are university alumni, come to Tucson to help us celebrate the merger of the School of Theatre with the School of Media Arts,” said Jory Hancock, dean of the College of Fine Arts, in a news release.
The event will last about two hours and will include remarks from UA President Robert Shelton, special guests, musical-theater performances and clips of films done by students.
”We thought it would be important to showcase the work of the students as well, so we integrated that into the show,” said Westover.
Tickets for “Fusion!” are $35 and are available for purchase through Dallas Thomas at the UA School of Theatre, Film and Television at 626-2671, or dallast@email.arizona.edu. Remaining tickets will be sold on the day of the event at the Fox box office. —K.M.
