SPECIAL EVENTS Upcoming DESERT GALA. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum hosts its annual Desert Gala at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at the museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. The event features auctions, cocktails, presentation of the 1996 Luminaria Awards and an elegant dinner. Linda Ronstadt is the honorary Grand Chairman of the event. Tickets are $75 per person, $600 for a table of eight. Proceeds benefit the museum. Call 883-3018 for reservations and information. Events This Week HOME GARDEN TOUR. Tucson Botanical Gardens host the annual Home Garden Tour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 30, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 31, beginning at TBG, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Tour six of Tucson's most beautiful private gardens. Some gardens may not be handicap accessible. Cost is $10, $6 for TBG members. Call TBG at 326-9686 for tickets and information. EBONY FASHION FAIR. Check out the latest designer fashions from Europe and America at the 38th annual Ebony Fashion Fair at 8 p.m. Friday, March 29, at the TCC Grand Ballroom, 260 S. Church Ave. Proceeds benefit the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Scholarship Fund and Habitat for Humanity of Tucson. Reserved tickets are $25, $20 general admission. Tickets will be available at the door. Call 747-9558 for tickets and information. TEX-MEX JAM. Chicanos por la Causa host the ninth annual Viva Tucson! Tex-Mex Jam from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31, at Kennedy Park Fiesta Area, 3700 S. La Cholla at Ajo Way. This two-day event features a variety of ethnic foods, live entertainment, cultural events and a raffle. Nationally known Tex-Mex groups La Diferenzia and Fama perform. Admission is free. Proceeds benefit Chicanos por la Causa's Tucson social services, youth enhancement and economic development programs. NEW YORK, NEW YORK. The Jewish Community Center hosts New York, New York IV...and all that Jazz from 7:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday, March 30, at 3800 E. River Road. The evening includes food booths representing the many ethnic flavors of New York, the "Coney Island Casino," live and silent auctions and the "Bronx Zoo" filled with lovable animals from the Humane Society just waiting to be adopted. Proceeds benefit youth and senior programs at the JCC, the Community Food Bank and the Humane Society. Cost is $49.95 per person, $74.95 per person for the Patron donation. Call the JCC at 299-3000 for reservations and information. A TASTE OF MURDER. Tucson AIDS Project presents an evening of dinner theatre entitled A Taste of Murder. This comedic murder mystery written by Rich Amada begins with a no-host bar at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the Southwest Center for Music, 2175 N. Sixth Ave. Audience members buy clues to try to solve the case of a poisoned food critic (played by Citizen reviewer Kathleen Allen). Super sleuths have a chance to win a trip for two to a cooking school in New Orleans. Dinner is served at 7 p.m., followed by the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the ATC box office, 330 S. Scott Ave. Call 622-2823 for reservations and information. SUPPORT YOUR ZAPATISTAS. First Nations and Traditional O'odham in Mexico host Support Your Local Zapatistas!, the second annual fund raiser for the indigenous people of Chiapas, Mexico, at 6 p.m. Friday, March 29, at St. Philip's in the Hill's Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave. Event features entertainment, a Chiapas update and Pastors for Peace update. Dinner provided by La Indita Restaurant. Cost is $10. Call 647-7438 for reservations and information. WHITE ELEPHANT SALE. The Arizona Historical Society hosts the 15th annual Docent Council White Elephant Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 29, and Saturday, March 30, at 949 E. Second St. Items for sale range from jewelry to furniture. Donations are still being accepted. All contributions are tax deductible and pick-up is free. Proceeds benefit AHS educational programs. Call AHS at 628-5774 for pickup and information. CLASSIC CAR AUCTION. Suburban Motors, Inc., hosts the 11th annual Special Interest Classic Car Auction Friday, March 29, and Saturday, March 30, at Marketplace U.S.A., 3750 E. Irvington Road. Auction starts at 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. Call Suburban Motors at 790-2979 for information. AUTOGRAPH SHOW. A celebrity autograph, comic book and card show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 31, at Holiday Inn, 4550 S. Palo Verde Road. Admission is $3, children are free with an adult. SENIOR DAY. Senior Day offers a variety of services and information booths, including free osteoporosis screening and nutrition assessment, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at Meyers-Ganoung School Family Resource and Wellness Center, 5000 E. Andrew. Call 512-3406 for information. OPEN-AIR MARKET. Experience the charm of a European style open-air market from 2 p.m. to dusk Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, at Plaza Palomino at Swan and Fort Lowell roads. The gourmet food fair features fresh produce, herbs, coffee, arts and crafts, live music and more. Listen to the cool sounds of J.J. Jazz from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 23. Call 795-1177 for information.

		© 1995-97 Tucson Weekly . Info Booth