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It’s a Wonderful Life is the best holiday movie, and lucky for us, it’s showing Tuesday (tomorrow) at the Fox Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

During this time of foreclosures, layoffs and uncertainty, seems we need George Bailey now more than ever. My favorite scene is when George and Mary sing “Buffalo Gals” and he offers her the moon, but the best monologue is when George lets Mr. Potter finally have it and regains his confidence, Frank Capra-style.

Just a minute—just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You’re right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I’ll never know. But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was – why, in the twenty-five years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn’t that right, Uncle Billy? He didn’t save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter, and what’s wrong with that? Why – here, you’re all businessmen here. Doesn’t it make them better citizens? Doesn’t it make them better customers? You – you said – what’d you say a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait? Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they’re so old and broken down that they… Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you’re talking about… they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn’t think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they’re cattle. Well, in my book he died a much richer man than you’ll ever be.

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Tuesday, Dec. 1 is the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day. There are several local events taking place to mark the day.

First off, tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 28), BOBFEST 2 takes place at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. This World AIDS Day warm-up is a benefit show for Positively Beautiful, a nonprofit which “exists to assist people living with HIV/AIDS regain their independence and reclaim their identities.”

The show starts at 7 p.m. and is free. Bands to perform: AIDS Free, Logan Greene and the Bricks, Boogie Nazis. According to a press release, the members of these bands are young, straight and loud. They play to raise money for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Next, on Monday, Nov. 30, a number of HIV-positive artists will show their recent works at Rocket Gallery, 270 E. Congress St. and in the Hotel Congress Lobby. Reception at 7:30 p.m.

Then, on the official World AIDS Day (Tuesday, Dec. 1), a free event at Club Congress begins at 4 p.m. Entertainment includes performers Parasol Project, Batucaxé, Namoli Brennet, Sebastian, MetalHead and others. Also on tap: speakers living with HIV/AIDS, hors d’oeuvres and info booths.

And if you are unsure of your HIV status (nearly 25 percent of those living with HIV don’t know that they are positive), free HIV testing will be offered in private rooms donated by Hotel Congress through COPE.

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Enchanted Earthworks—A Designer Jewelry and Art Gallery at 2980 N. Swan Road, No. 140, celebrates its 22nd anniversary and a new show on Friday, Nov. 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. Meet the artists, preview new works, nosh on refreshments and enjoy entertainment.

Here’s part of a press release with more details:

Over the years, Enchanted Earthworks Gallery has changed its look and merchandise mix to adapt to the changing market and economy. Artist/owners, Val and Gordon Mustain, started the store as a metaphysical gallery featuring their own unique jewelry designs along with a variety of art and natural stones. Today, the gallery features an impressive variety of art from regionally and nationally recognized artists, as well as the Mustain’s hand-crafted jewelry designs including Gordon’s signature wire-wrapping and Val’s designer gem-stone-beaded creations.

A new gallery opening show of artists takes place on Friday, Nov. 20 with an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Twenty artists will be present including featured artist, Keith McRoberts (14K & 18K designer gem rings); Margaret Shirer (fused dicroic glass), Nancy Dimock (encaustic wax painting), Ron Karluski (wood carving), Marianne Hopkins (Seed bead jewelry), Robin White (fiber artist), Sherri Henderson (Bronze equestrian sculpture), Betty Dougherty (dimensional acrylic painting) and other nationally known artists and jewelry designers. The featured opening for these artists will continue through Thursday, Dec. 24.

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The Yes Men Fix The World opens tonight at the Loft Cinema. You can read about these Merry Pranksters, who specialize in media and corporate hoaxes, right here.

One of the Yes Men, former Tucsonan Andy Bichlbaum, will be visiting the Loft to talk about his work at a special screening at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16.

Details on the Loft run here.

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Just in time for holiday shopping, the Society of Southwestern Authors will hold its fifth annual holiday book fair from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15, at Four Points Sheraton Conference Center, 1900 E. Speedway Blvd.

The event features 40 local authors. David Fitzsimmons, editorial cartoonist for the Arizona Daily Star, will do cariacatures and sign autographs beginning at 2 p.m.

There will be plenty of books to purchase, and authors will be available to chat with the public. Admission is free. For more information on the Society of Southwestern Authors, visit www.ssa-az.org.

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I guarantee that if you don’t get to the Valley of the Moon Halloween show, with or without a child by your side, you will wake up Sunday feeling like a soulless schlub … really, you will wake up feeling sad, and the sight of the soon=to-be-rotting pumpkin on your porch will only make you feel worse.

Why? Because this is the best Valley of the Moon Halloween show I have seen in three seasons. I don’t know if it’s the presence of the Lee Koplin statues from Magic Carpet that now share space with George Phar Legler’s 1920s fantasy land of sprites and gnomes, but it is Valley of the Moon at its best.

Volunteers have done a great job of cleaning up the grounds and making the Magic Carpet statues fit in with Legler’s space.

You have tonight and tomorrow. Don’t forget that magic stone the tour guide hands out at the beginning—you’re going to need it.

From Valley of the Moon:

“13 Nights of Halloween – Magic Carpet Chaos at The Haunted Ruins”
The Evil One has returned and his minions are trying to hijack the new Magic Carpet Land from the Genie. Return to the land of Fairy and embark on a mystical adventure armed with nothing more than your Magic Stone to help protect Valley of the Moon from the forces of evil. Support historic fantasyland Valley of the Moon at its annual Halloween fundraiser.

Come enjoy the debut of Tucson’s largest collection of preserved statues from the former Magic Carpet Golf.

* This year’s fundraiser will also have snacks available for purchase from Moondog’s hotdogs and Kettlecorn *

Shows are 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tours leave the gate every 30 minutes.

Adults: $7

Children 7-13: $5

Free admission for children under 7

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Artists and designer Rachelle Díaz and architect Bill Mackey talked up the Pop Up Spaces’ show “±92: Downtown Master Plans, 1932-2009,” on Arizona Illustrated last night. See interview after jump. If you haven’t had a chance to see the exhibit at the McLellen Building, 63 E. Congress St. (northwest corner of Scott Avenue and Congress Street), there’s a closing reception on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.

From Pop Up Spaces:

Local artists Bill Mackey, Julie Ray, Rachelle Díaz and Kimi Eisele will offer a “Closing Discussion and Executive Summary” about the exhibit, “±92: Downtown Master Plans, 1932-2009,” a compilation of over 100 Downtown Tucson master plans. Since opening on Oct. 3, the exhibit has drawn over 450 viewers to its storefront location on Congress Street.

On Oct. 24, 2009, artists will answer questions from the audience, discuss their intentions, and present results from public input surveys collected during the exhibit.

The exhibit showcases realized and unrealized plans authored from the early 20th century to 2009. An interactive timeline helps viewers track world events, economic and social trends, and Tucson’s history in relationship to the plans’ origins, realization, or death. The show presents a rare opportunity to see ALL of the planning for downtown Tucson in one space at one time.

Viewers are also asked to comment on existing downtown spaces through an interactive photography exhibit. Throughout the exhibit, a crew of official performing “apparatchiks” have diligently collected (and heavily processed) public input surveys for current and future planning efforts.

The discussion will last an hour. Cake will be served.

Cake? Anything to support Pop Up Spaces. Get down there folks.

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• The waterfalls at Govinda’s Natural Foods Buffet

Govinda’s Natural Foods Buffet (711 E. Blacklidge Drive) has been serving up excellent vegetarian and vegan food since 1992, and they hold quite a few free festivals and other events every year.

Speaking of free festivals … I somehow botched getting Govinda’s notice for their Diwali Festival of Lights and Indian New Year into our City Week listings this week. The event – which takes place from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 – features Indian dancing, music and fire spinners for the adults, and an activity area with face-painting, animal balloons and a jumping castle for the kids.

Best of all, there’ll be free food throughout the event, with a special vegetarian feast going down at 9 p.m. It’s all free, including the vegetarian feast.

Call 792-0630, e-mail sandaminidd@cs.com or visit Govinda’s Web site for more information.

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Gary Hood, the promoter at Laffs Comedy Cafe, knows how to get Weekly staffers to blog about his events. Just call them, grovel, tell them dozens of cut-rate jokes, harass them to no end, tell them some good jokes, call them back to harrass them again. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Eventually, the TW staffer will cave in out of self defense and blog about the damned event, which actually sounds pretty funny.

Apparently comedian Scott Kennedy is gay, but not that many people know it. He does this schtick where he wears a football jersey and acts all macho, only to come out at the end of the show. I hope I’m getting this right, because all I can remember right now is some joke Gary told me about having midgets blow smoke into his lungs, and it’s making it hard to concentrate.

Anyway, Kennedy is performing at Laffs Comedy Cafe at 8 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and midnight, Friday, Oct. 16; and 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and midnight, Saturday, Oct. 17. Gary says he’ll pass a hat to collect donations for Wingspan at both midnight shows.

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