Ten cool things to do in Tucson this weekend (August 10-August 13)
- Updated
- Updated
Pizza and ribs are shacking up with each other at this new east-side venture. Here are the details from reporter Cathalena E. Burch:
Who would have thought that pizza and barbecue under one roof was a good idea?
Jay Healy, owner of the east side cowboy bar Cow Pony, that’s who.
Healy last week opened Fire N’ Smoke in a 2,300-square-foot space at 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road next to the bar. There’s an imported wood-burning brick pizza oven in the front of the restaurant, a giant smoker in the back.
It makes sense if you look at the Tucson restaurant market. So far this year, we’ve welcomed several pizzerias, including Barro’s Pizza in Marana that is set to open in mid-August; and we’ve embraced a couple of barbecue-centered food trucks and restaurants, including two with “Ken” in the name — Ken’s BBQ, 1830 S. Park Ave.; and Ken’s Hardwood Barbecue at 5250 E. 22nd St. — that opened within weeks of each other in the spring.
Healy went to New York City and learned how to make New York-style pizza fast-baked in a flaming wood-fired oven. And he spent time in Kansas City and Texas, learning the tasty nuances of smoking ribs, chicken and pork until the sweet aroma perfumes the neighborhood. Then he put them on one menu, with some salads, pastas and sandwiches, and has sat back for the past week watching diners scratch their heads in happy amusement.
In the first four days after opening late last week, Healy said business has been pretty equally split between the pizza and barbecue.
“It’s kind of crazy. Even at the same table we’re seeing 50-50,” he said.
Pizzas run about $16 for a large build-your-own; specialty pies can run as high as $23.49 Barbecue plates (chicken, pork and tri-tip) run $11.99 to $13.99, ribs are $14.99 a half slab, $23.99 for a full slab.
Fire N’ Smoke is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Details:
- Updated
Thursday marks three years since Pionic Pizza set up shop on in the old Sparkle Cleaners location on North Campbell Avenue, and to celebrate the occasion, they're offering a BOGO deal.
From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Pionic, located at 2643 N. Campbell Ave., will be offering buy-one-get-one-free on all pizzas.
As if free pizza isn't enough of a way to celebrate, every customer will get a free gift at the register and the shop will also be serving up free, homemade ice cream at 12:45 and 6:45 p.m.
Pionic was one of the first fast-casual pizza restaurants to open in Tucson, although several more have followed in its wake.
- Cathalena E. Burch
- Updated
Crooked Tooth Brewing Company, 228 E. Sixth St., will offer beer, trivia and the chance to get on television this Thursday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The brewery is playing host to We are Generation Cool trivia night, a pop culture trivia game co-hosted by Slobby Robby, owner of Generation Cool on North Fourth Avenue, a shop that celebrated the fashion, toys and culture of the 1980s and '90s.
Rumor has it Slobby Robby is the subject of a reality series being film by ,which would explain why crews were following him around the Tanque Verde swap meet over the weekend.
The said filming will indeed be taking place at Crooked Tooth. Go and be famous!
- Updated
This weekend'sSoutheast Arizona Birding Festival should be a hoot. Here are the details:
Hummingbirds are hypnotic.
Their iridescent colors, their fast-beating (80 beats per second) wings, the long beaks that slurp food that is up to three times their weight.
It’s no wonder they are being celebrated — 2017 is the Tucson Audubon Society’s Year of the Hummingbird.
They, as well as many other species of our flying friends, will be the focus of the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, Aug. 10-13.
The festival will feature field trips, workshops, and talks.
“We have people (come) from all over,” Luke Stafford, volunteer coordinator for the festival, says. “Tucson has so much to offer besides birds — nature, the great food. I like talking to people about how great Tucson is.”
Field trips — among the more popular events — are planned for such spots as Catalina State Park and the Huachuca Mountains. There are workshops on photography, and talks on owls, wolves and jaguars. There are close to 60 events spread over the four-day festival.
So it’ll be hard to choose. But Safford, who says the annual fest draws participants from Tucson and around the country, has a suggestion:
About 250 people are registered so far, but Safford says they expect upwards of 500 to attend.
A sampling of what’s in store:
Catalina State Park with Kathe Anderson and Tom Dunkerton. 6-10 a.m. Aug. 11, $45 per person. A variety of birds are in the park; be prepared for a mildly difficult hike.
Youth Birder Outing at Sweetwater Wetlands. 7-9 a.m. Aug. 12. Free. This event is perfect for young birders ages 6-17. This is an easy walk through the wetlands and binoculars are included.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with Cynthia Pruett. 7-11 a.m. Aug. 13. $45 per person. A stroll through the museum grounds with an expert.
Photography Classroom Workshop with Paul Bannick, 10 a.m.-noon, Aug. 13, $20. Bannick is a master bird photographer.
- Lauren Whetzel
If You Go
What: The Southeast Arizona Birding Festival.
When: Aug. 10-13
Where: Arizona Riverpark Inn, 777 W. Cushing St.
Information/reservations: 209-1802 or ; deadline for registration is Aug. 6.
- Updated
We might be far from the beach, but we aren't far from the mermaids. Come Saturday, Aug. 12, Fourth Avenue will be flooded with mermaids and sea creatures for the 4th annual Return of the Mermaids. The daylong festival includes shows, games, a costume contest, pageant and parade.
'When we think of ourselves as mermaids, it has more to do with a wild spirit,' Lizzie Mead, the event's co-organizer, says. 'Forme and many others, mermaids represent freedom.'
Mead, who also owns Silver Sea Jewelry, says the idea is to celebrate mermaids and Tucson's monsoon season.
'The event is rain or shine,' she says. 'If it rains, you're a mermaid - you just get wet.'
Although you don't have to dress up, it is encouraged.
'It's more fun if you're dressed up, even if you're not a kid,' Mead says. 'Just cut back and embrace the strangeness of it.'
Tucson's mermaid event is inspired by the Coney Island Mermaid Parade in New York, which has been around for 35 years.
The event is jam-packed with festivities.
The day begins at noon with a mermaid art show at Pop Cycle, followed by a 1 p.m. show at Tucson Improv Movement. Tickets for the improv show are available online.
At 4 p.m., Tucson Thrift Shop will house Mermaid M ichelina. From 5 to 8 p.m., folks will have the chance to meet Mermaid Odette at Haggerty Plaza. Twelveyear- old Mermaid Kailee will also be present.
The Surf Broads, an all-female band, will take the stage at 5:30 p.m., and a costume contest will begin at 6:30 p.m. When 7 p.m. hits, Lykiska Dance will begin their performance, followed by Flam Chen and the Tucson Circus Arts at 7:45 p.m.
The parade will start at 8 p.m. in Haggerty Plaza. Everyone in the parade should be costumed or holding the hand of a child who is costumed.
The event will also have activities at the 'Beach' in downtown Tucson, near Hotel Congress. From 3 to 10 p.m., the Beach will showcase 25 art vendors, and there will be music, food trucks, and even more shows, such as fire-spinning and a body-positive mermaid pageant at 9 p.m.
From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., after the kids go to sleep, Surly Wench Pub is throwing a 21+ mermaid dance party.
- Gloria Knott
- Updated
If you prefer your sea-loving activities above the waterline, head down to Bisbee for the Seventh annual Pirates of the High Desert event, happening at restaurants and bars all over the historic mining town.
Pirate activities will be in abundance. There will be a pirate ball at St Elmo on Friday, a fashion show at Old Bisbee Brewery and a pub crawl on Saturday.
Adult fun at its finest.
Visit the for more information.
And while you are down there, check out the grand opening of The Loovre, , located in the bathroom at POCO, 15 Main Street.
- Updated
Both venues, easily within walking distance with one another, celebrate milestones this weekend.
Public Brewhouse will mark two years under its belt. R Bar is celebrating three.
R Bar, the Rialto's go-to venue, will have live screen printing going on and music from the Street Blues Family. The from 8 p.m. to midnight, according to the .
Public Brewhouse will have Little House of Funk performing from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Cadillac Mountain from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. AND cupcakes infused with beer. WITH BEER!
- Updated
After a brief summer hiatus, the Friends of the Pima Public Library returns this weekend with its first public book sale after the break.
Thousands of titles of all genres will be available for purchase, most between $1 and $5.
The prices make it hard to pass up.
The sale runs 8 a.m.-noon Saturday and Sunday at the Friends' shop, 2230 N. Country Club Road.
- Updated
The good folks at AZ Hops & Vines in Sonoita have added another element to its Bad Decisions bacon, chocolate and booze campout: A meteor shower.
The winery will be observing the Perseids meteor shower scheduled for this weekend. Other than that, there will be the usual offerings from Hops & Vines: Wines (duh), craft beer, distilled spirits, food trucks, live music, camping and, of course, s'mores.
More information can be found on the
- Updated
Wynonna, the platinum-selling, chart-topping country singer who has long and often been called the “female Elvis,” brings her newest project The Big Noise to the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., Sunday for a 7 p.m. show.
Wynonna & The Big Noise dub the tour “Roots & Revival” and according to early reads, the concert surveys Wynonna’s 33-year career — her solo hits and the songs made famous by her mother-daughter act The Judds — where she’s at now with the band and its new album “Ain’t No Thing!” and where she’s going.
That’s a tall order and knowing Wynonna it will be delivered with plenty of humor and genuine warmth. Tickets are $27 to $89 at
- Cathalena E. Burch
- Updated
Play like a pirate or even a mermaid, just not at the same time or place.
Pizza and ribs are shacking up with each other at this new east-side venture. Here are the details from reporter Cathalena E. Burch:
Who would have thought that pizza and barbecue under one roof was a good idea?
Jay Healy, owner of the east side cowboy bar Cow Pony, that’s who.
Healy last week opened Fire N’ Smoke in a 2,300-square-foot space at 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road next to the bar. There’s an imported wood-burning brick pizza oven in the front of the restaurant, a giant smoker in the back.
It makes sense if you look at the Tucson restaurant market. So far this year, we’ve welcomed several pizzerias, including Barro’s Pizza in Marana that is set to open in mid-August; and we’ve embraced a couple of barbecue-centered food trucks and restaurants, including two with “Ken” in the name — Ken’s BBQ, 1830 S. Park Ave.; and Ken’s Hardwood Barbecue at 5250 E. 22nd St. — that opened within weeks of each other in the spring.
Healy went to New York City and learned how to make New York-style pizza fast-baked in a flaming wood-fired oven. And he spent time in Kansas City and Texas, learning the tasty nuances of smoking ribs, chicken and pork until the sweet aroma perfumes the neighborhood. Then he put them on one menu, with some salads, pastas and sandwiches, and has sat back for the past week watching diners scratch their heads in happy amusement.
In the first four days after opening late last week, Healy said business has been pretty equally split between the pizza and barbecue.
“It’s kind of crazy. Even at the same table we’re seeing 50-50,” he said.
Pizzas run about $16 for a large build-your-own; specialty pies can run as high as $23.49 Barbecue plates (chicken, pork and tri-tip) run $11.99 to $13.99, ribs are $14.99 a half slab, $23.99 for a full slab.
Fire N’ Smoke is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Details:
Thursday marks three years since Pionic Pizza set up shop on in the old Sparkle Cleaners location on North Campbell Avenue, and to celebrate the occasion, they're offering a BOGO deal.
From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Pionic, located at 2643 N. Campbell Ave., will be offering buy-one-get-one-free on all pizzas.
As if free pizza isn't enough of a way to celebrate, every customer will get a free gift at the register and the shop will also be serving up free, homemade ice cream at 12:45 and 6:45 p.m.
Pionic was one of the first fast-casual pizza restaurants to open in Tucson, although several more have followed in its wake.
- Cathalena E. Burch
Crooked Tooth Brewing Company, 228 E. Sixth St., will offer beer, trivia and the chance to get on television this Thursday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The brewery is playing host to We are Generation Cool trivia night, a pop culture trivia game co-hosted by Slobby Robby, owner of Generation Cool on North Fourth Avenue, a shop that celebrated the fashion, toys and culture of the 1980s and '90s.
Rumor has it Slobby Robby is the subject of a reality series being film by ,which would explain why crews were following him around the Tanque Verde swap meet over the weekend.
The said filming will indeed be taking place at Crooked Tooth. Go and be famous!
This weekend'sSoutheast Arizona Birding Festival should be a hoot. Here are the details:
Hummingbirds are hypnotic.
Their iridescent colors, their fast-beating (80 beats per second) wings, the long beaks that slurp food that is up to three times their weight.
It’s no wonder they are being celebrated — 2017 is the Tucson Audubon Society’s Year of the Hummingbird.
They, as well as many other species of our flying friends, will be the focus of the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, Aug. 10-13.
The festival will feature field trips, workshops, and talks.
“We have people (come) from all over,” Luke Stafford, volunteer coordinator for the festival, says. “Tucson has so much to offer besides birds — nature, the great food. I like talking to people about how great Tucson is.”
Field trips — among the more popular events — are planned for such spots as Catalina State Park and the Huachuca Mountains. There are workshops on photography, and talks on owls, wolves and jaguars. There are close to 60 events spread over the four-day festival.
So it’ll be hard to choose. But Safford, who says the annual fest draws participants from Tucson and around the country, has a suggestion:
About 250 people are registered so far, but Safford says they expect upwards of 500 to attend.
A sampling of what’s in store:
Catalina State Park with Kathe Anderson and Tom Dunkerton. 6-10 a.m. Aug. 11, $45 per person. A variety of birds are in the park; be prepared for a mildly difficult hike.
Youth Birder Outing at Sweetwater Wetlands. 7-9 a.m. Aug. 12. Free. This event is perfect for young birders ages 6-17. This is an easy walk through the wetlands and binoculars are included.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with Cynthia Pruett. 7-11 a.m. Aug. 13. $45 per person. A stroll through the museum grounds with an expert.
Photography Classroom Workshop with Paul Bannick, 10 a.m.-noon, Aug. 13, $20. Bannick is a master bird photographer.
- Lauren Whetzel
If You Go
What: The Southeast Arizona Birding Festival.
When: Aug. 10-13
Where: Arizona Riverpark Inn, 777 W. Cushing St.
Information/reservations: 209-1802 or ; deadline for registration is Aug. 6.
We might be far from the beach, but we aren't far from the mermaids. Come Saturday, Aug. 12, Fourth Avenue will be flooded with mermaids and sea creatures for the 4th annual Return of the Mermaids. The daylong festival includes shows, games, a costume contest, pageant and parade.
'When we think of ourselves as mermaids, it has more to do with a wild spirit,' Lizzie Mead, the event's co-organizer, says. 'Forme and many others, mermaids represent freedom.'
Mead, who also owns Silver Sea Jewelry, says the idea is to celebrate mermaids and Tucson's monsoon season.
'The event is rain or shine,' she says. 'If it rains, you're a mermaid - you just get wet.'
Although you don't have to dress up, it is encouraged.
'It's more fun if you're dressed up, even if you're not a kid,' Mead says. 'Just cut back and embrace the strangeness of it.'
Tucson's mermaid event is inspired by the Coney Island Mermaid Parade in New York, which has been around for 35 years.
The event is jam-packed with festivities.
The day begins at noon with a mermaid art show at Pop Cycle, followed by a 1 p.m. show at Tucson Improv Movement. Tickets for the improv show are available online.
At 4 p.m., Tucson Thrift Shop will house Mermaid M ichelina. From 5 to 8 p.m., folks will have the chance to meet Mermaid Odette at Haggerty Plaza. Twelveyear- old Mermaid Kailee will also be present.
The Surf Broads, an all-female band, will take the stage at 5:30 p.m., and a costume contest will begin at 6:30 p.m. When 7 p.m. hits, Lykiska Dance will begin their performance, followed by Flam Chen and the Tucson Circus Arts at 7:45 p.m.
The parade will start at 8 p.m. in Haggerty Plaza. Everyone in the parade should be costumed or holding the hand of a child who is costumed.
The event will also have activities at the 'Beach' in downtown Tucson, near Hotel Congress. From 3 to 10 p.m., the Beach will showcase 25 art vendors, and there will be music, food trucks, and even more shows, such as fire-spinning and a body-positive mermaid pageant at 9 p.m.
From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., after the kids go to sleep, Surly Wench Pub is throwing a 21+ mermaid dance party.
- Gloria Knott
If you prefer your sea-loving activities above the waterline, head down to Bisbee for the Seventh annual Pirates of the High Desert event, happening at restaurants and bars all over the historic mining town.
Pirate activities will be in abundance. There will be a pirate ball at St Elmo on Friday, a fashion show at Old Bisbee Brewery and a pub crawl on Saturday.
Adult fun at its finest.
Visit the for more information.
And while you are down there, check out the grand opening of The Loovre, , located in the bathroom at POCO, 15 Main Street.
Both venues, easily within walking distance with one another, celebrate milestones this weekend.
Public Brewhouse will mark two years under its belt. R Bar is celebrating three.
R Bar, the Rialto's go-to venue, will have live screen printing going on and music from the Street Blues Family. The from 8 p.m. to midnight, according to the .
Public Brewhouse will have Little House of Funk performing from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Cadillac Mountain from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. AND cupcakes infused with beer. WITH BEER!
After a brief summer hiatus, the Friends of the Pima Public Library returns this weekend with its first public book sale after the break.
Thousands of titles of all genres will be available for purchase, most between $1 and $5.
The prices make it hard to pass up.
The sale runs 8 a.m.-noon Saturday and Sunday at the Friends' shop, 2230 N. Country Club Road.
The good folks at AZ Hops & Vines in Sonoita have added another element to its Bad Decisions bacon, chocolate and booze campout: A meteor shower.
The winery will be observing the Perseids meteor shower scheduled for this weekend. Other than that, there will be the usual offerings from Hops & Vines: Wines (duh), craft beer, distilled spirits, food trucks, live music, camping and, of course, s'mores.
More information can be found on the
Wynonna, the platinum-selling, chart-topping country singer who has long and often been called the “female Elvis,” brings her newest project The Big Noise to the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., Sunday for a 7 p.m. show.
Wynonna & The Big Noise dub the tour “Roots & Revival” and according to early reads, the concert surveys Wynonna’s 33-year career — her solo hits and the songs made famous by her mother-daughter act The Judds — where she’s at now with the band and its new album “Ain’t No Thing!” and where she’s going.
That’s a tall order and knowing Wynonna it will be delivered with plenty of humor and genuine warmth. Tickets are $27 to $89 at
- Cathalena E. Burch
Play like a pirate or even a mermaid, just not at the same time or place.
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Arizona adds another defensive lineman to its 2018 recruiting class.
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