Archive for the ‘City Week/Pick of the Week’ Category
December 24th, 2009
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Author: by Erica Nannini
Afghan Star might be missing the snarky commentary of Simon Cowell, but this Pop Idol/American Idol spin-off has offered many people in Afghanistan their first hint of democracy—by allowing them to vote for their favorite singers. A British-produced film, also named Afghan Star, documents the struggle of four contestants to sing their way to fame, from the regional auditions all the way to the finals in Kabul. The film’s widespread acclaim is evidence that pop culture is slowly creeping back…
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by Anna Mirocha
Want to be at the center of it all this New Year’s Eve? Then head to the city center. That’s where you’ll find the town’s biggest New Year’s Eve party: First Night, a family-friendly, alcohol-free festival that will grace much of downtown with music, art, dance, comedy, magic and all kinds of other entertainment; there are more than 50 live acts performing. This be the second annual event, and it should be bigger and better than last year’s inaugural First…
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by Anna Mirocha
Before this continent was colonized by calendar-toting Europeans, the people here celebrated the new year in many different ways. Some tribes marked the new year at the vernal equinox in March; others did so in the fall. The Hopis celebrated a new-fire ceremony in November, while the Creek new year ceremony, known as the “busk,” took place in the summer. These days, of course, almost everyone around here celebrates the Gregorian new year—but you can still do so, Native American-style.…
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by Amanda Portillo
A little more than a year ago, the Beowulf Alley Theatre Company launched its Late Night Theatre series. “The program started because Beowulf is downtown, and there are a lot of people around from the Rialto or (Hotel) Congress,” says Michael Fenlason, director of Late Night Theatre. “It’s another fun thing to do down here at night.” When 3 a.m. debuted in fall 2008, Fenlason says, Tucsonan Brian Hanson caught the show and was inspired to write his own play…
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by Erica Nannini
Boyd Owen, a member of the Ten Tenors, uses one word to describe the brand of fun that the singing studs bring to the stage: “Australian.” “What do you expect? We come straight from the beach,” he says. “We like to mess around and have fun, and we bring that into our shows.” These Aussies in matching suits have gained international acclaim not only for their synchronized pipes, but for their ability to merge rock, pop, jazz and classical music,…
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Warren Miller’s Dynasty at the Loft
by Amanda Portillo
We’re in a dry, dusty desert. Sure, it gets sort of cold, and it might even snow a little, but it’s not like we’re bringing out parkas. There’s Mount Lemmon, but, really, Tucsonans don’t know cold (unless you’re a transplant, then maybe). It’s nice not to need to bundle up in December—and there’s none of that annoying snow-shoveling. However, a little seasonal escape can be fun—and a special film viewing will offer Tucsonans a taste of winter. Warren Miller’s Dynasty…
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by Erica Nannini
What came first: The vacuum cleaner, or the vibrator? Hint: The answer may surprise you. In fact, during the Victorian era, doctors used vibrators to assuage women exhibiting signs of “hysteria,” perhaps proving that there is no better cure for neurosis than an old-fashioned orgasm. The film Passion and Power: The Technology of Orgasm reveals this and other little-known truths about the history of vibrators and their impact on society. First off, Passion and Power is not a porno. Co-producer…
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by Amanda Portillo
There’s something about cranberry sauce—straight from the can—that makes a Thanksgiving dinner. It might be that slurping sound as the stuff slowly slides out of the can, or maybe it’s that squishy feel and the tart taste of the first bite. Whatever the reason, it’s good. While canned cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving dinner staple, let’s not forget that headliner—turkey!—and the rest of the fixings. Preparing a Thanksgiving feast is not an easy thing to do; those tasked with this…
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by Amanda Portillo
Sometimes you just get a hankering for good pancakes. You can head out to a 24-hour joint or a favorite breakfast place, or you can whip up your own using one of those shake-and-pour mixes from the grocery store. You can also harvest and mill your own ingredients to make wholesome and organic pancakes. It’s easier than it seems—really. Since 2003, Tucson-based Desert Harvesters has hosted the Mesquite Milling Fiesta and Mesquite Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser. It promotes the harvesting and…
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by Erica Nannini
What would the world be like without Quentin Tarantino? Movies today might be a lot less bloody, but it would be a pretty dull existence had Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs never blown us away with their gritty, low-budget appeal. Independent films are often revered, but they don’t enjoy lavish movie premieres and big Hollywood bucks. Yet they have to get started somewhere—and Tucson has the Screening Room, where independent filmmakers get a shot to show “extraordinary films not shown…
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