It's that time of the year again, when stage actors turn in their pistols for faux bloody limbs and broomsticks. When crowds of families, youngsters, and bored teenagers fill the darks streets of one of Tucson's largest Halloween oriented events, Old Tombstone Studio's "Nightfall."
Forget the haunted house concept, "Nightfall" is a full blown haunted town, with shows, rides, food and entertainment of all kinds. Starting the first week of October and running through the Halloween night, the event is open from six to ten weekdays and six to twelve weekends.
The premise for the event, according to the website, is that the town has been taken over by the evil creations of a mad scientist (the pitifully named Dr. Hyde). Yet what the event lacks in creative storyline, it makes up for in a creative and unique presentation.
From the skeleton mariachi who play atop of the hotel to the miniature "ghost train" that runs throughout the premise, the event manages to capture the excitement of live Tombstone shows, but with a decidedly macabre Halloween twist.
Granted the main downfall of the event has always been the rather tame nature of it's events compared to more intense (and bloody) haunted houses, but this is after all a family oriented event.
While some of the people I went with seemed rather unimpressed with the special effects... the same people screamed their guts out in the haunted house when brushed with spider webs. It's the simple stuff that gets you...
Each event, show, or ride is labeled with a rating of one to three skulls so parents can keep little ones out of the more intense areas. New shows this year include the "darkness rising stunt spectacular" and "gross anatomy"(comedy, stunt, and pyrotechnic shows) as well as as haunted houses like "cannibal house" and "caverns of despair." By far, highlight of the event was the trash talking "Transylvania Twins" show. Two gargoyles perched high above the audience, who fling insults at each other and the few unlucky spectators who happen to catch their attention.
The bottom line... don't go expecting death and mutilation on the scale of one of the "Saw" movies. Instead, keep and open mind and enjoy the fun, friendly atmosphere the event has to offer.
Admission prices for adults (ages 12 and over) is $21.95 and $18.95 for children.
When someone says "Mexican music," what kind of things pop into your mind? No doubt that for most people the image would look something like this. The conventional flamenco guitarist with their Guitarras and Guitarrons or maybe a mariachi band with violins, trumpets, and perhaps even an accordion, all underscored by a thumping baseline.
Familiar as these images are, many of the instruments used in modern Mexican music did not originate in Mexico but were transfered here from other cultures. Now, when it comes to pre-colonization, indigenous Indian instruments, most of us wouldn't know a Huehuetl (a drum made from a hollowed trunk) if it hit us in the face.
Accroding to Henrietta Yurcheno's Survival of Pre-Hispanic Music in New Mexico the indigenous music of the native peoples was outlawed during the Inquisition as a method of exterminating native ways of life. Thankfully, the knowledge of how to make and play these ancient instruments was preserved in secret and passed down from generation to generation, as a way to protect the musical heartbeat of the "true" indigenous culture.
Here's is a quick overview of some of the most popular indigenous Mexican instruments still in use today, as featured on the site yxayotl.com
For example, the Yaqui Indians adopted and modified a traditional Mayan instrument called the Bubaleks. These hollowed out gourds were played while floating in water to produce a eerily hollow, percussive sound. Another popular percussive instrument was the Ayotl, drums made from hollowed out turtle shells and played rhythmically with bone antlers.
The flute or "Tlapitzalli" in the native Nahuatl tongue, was incredible important to the native peoples and came in various shapes, sizes and materials. Some of the most impressive were the multi branched double or triple barrel flutes, an indigenous design that is still utilized in modern flute making today. Check out this video to see the modern day variation of the ancient instrument.
The only indigenous example of native stringed instruments are found outside Mexico, with the "Berimbao" of the Amazon region and the "Gualambao" of Paraguay. These instruments aside, string instrument were unknown to the indigenous populations until colonization.
Here is a video showcasing a variety of indigenous instruments, courtesy of Marco Antonio Sanchez.
Today, many of these instruments have found revived popularity, becoming symbols for the pro-indian, anti-colonization grassroots movements that have formed throughout Mexico in recent years.
There are many downsides to having your car break down. One, waiting under the hot sun for hours until a towntruck arrives. Two, the ridiculous fees that said tow truck will charge. In fact, just about the only upside to a breakdown is that it gives you a chance to explore surrounding areas that you never would have set foot in before.
I'd driven past Tuscon's Evergreen Cemetery many times in the past, but never went inside. No one I knew was buried there and graveyards tend to, in general, creep me out. If it weren't for my auto troubles and my subsequent free time, I may never have gotten the chance to explore what might be one of Tucson's most underrated historical sites.
Evergreen Cemetery was opened in 1906 as a general burial site outside of city limits. Many earlier burials from Ft. Lowell Cemetery and the surrounding areas were relocated here, explaining the existence of the many pre-1906 graves. The site has been owned by the Addison Family since 1960.
One of the first things that strikes you is the wide diversity of people buried there. Judging by the headstones, no one could say that the southwest isn't a true melting pot of culture. Immigrants from all nations and cultures seems to be well represented.
One of the most interesting aspects is the high number of graves identified only by Chinese lettering.
Most of these dates occur on either side of the 1882-1943 legislation called the "Chinese Exclusion Laws." This ban on Chinese immigrants, according to the PBS website substantially reduced the Asian populations in the west by nearly half. The evidence of the act's effect can be clearly seen in the dispersion of Chinese burials during that time period.
Other historical aspects of the site include the graves and rumored graves for many of old Tucson's movers and shakers,according to the site findagrave.com
Among those rumored to be buried at the site is the famous John Harris Behan. Behan was the Cochise county sheriff, an enemy of Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp, and a supporter of the cowboys during the famous shootout at the O.K. corral. Also buried there is Dan Gravey, Arizona Governor from 1948 to 1951, acclaimed Banjo player Eddie Peabody, and Morgan Earp's assassin Frank Stilwell.
The cemeteries military burial ground is also very impressive and moving, with rows and rows of white marble tombstones. There are fallen soldiers buried here from every major American battle, from the Spanish American wars all the way through to the ongoing Iraq conflict.
Even if you share my aversion for all things dead and creepy, the history of the site is alive and well and merits a little exploration. If your interested in learning about these historical figures and the many more buried at the site, a free centennial re-dedication ceremony with historic tours is set to take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7.
Every plant I've ever had has died. It's seems simple enough right? Water, soil, sunlight... it's not brainsurgery. Having burned through my second houseplant since the beginning of the semester, I was beginning to think horticulture was not in my future. I was in need of a change and a friend purposed the perfect solution... a cactus.
Granted, cactus are a familiar sight in the southwest but surprisingly few people have considered the possibility of growing cactus inside as an alternative to houseplants. For one, cacti are notoriously hardy, if it can survive a desert it can survive your living room.
Second, generations of selective cross-breeding with exotic specimens have yielded a incredible variety of small sized, unique looking cacti that are perfectly suited to growing inside.
But picking out a cactus involves much more than a midnight trip to the arboretum with a shovel and a wheelbarrow. You should note that while "stealing" cactus is obviously illegal, poaching cacti from the wild is just as bad, and most breeds are highly protected. According to the Fish and wildlife service, cactus poachers often face fines of thousands of dollars and even jail time.
With no options left but the legal ones, I decided to head for the garden section of my local Target. Generally it's important to buy your plants from nurseries to assure they are free of defects, plant killing parasites, and molds. However, an expertly raised plant will cost you expertly raised prices. After a few insulting conversations with nursery workers ("Thirty dollars for a Ariocarpus retusus... I can't even pronounce that, much less afford it!"), I decided to live dangerously and headed to Target. Luckily, the garden guy there was just as knowledgeable as anyone working in the nurseries.
First he informed me that, contrary to my initial beliefs, you can't just put a cactus in a pot of sand and expect it to grow. He recommended a specialized gravel potting soil that better simulates the cactus's native soil. He also recommended re- potting the plant right away which can help cut down on excess root growth and save you the trouble of trimming them down later.
Second, he reminded me that cactus do need to be watered occasionally. Outdoor cactus are generally hardy but because of the cooler conditions indoors, you have to be especially careful. The website cactusweb.us/ recommends an alternating cycle of dryer soil, followed by periods where the soil is kept saturated. This mimics the weather cycles of cooler climates and helps stimulate cacti growth. Now that I had the soil and a bit of knowledge all I needed was the plant.
According to CactiGuide.com there are more than a hundred different varieties of cacti and sub cacti called "succulents", each small enough to fit in a plant pot... and talk about weird looking! It's easy to get lost among the different varieties, from wicked looking Austrocactus with it's sickle shaped hooks, to the downright fuzzy looking flocossa. In addition, there are many breeds with no thorns whatsoever that are safe to the touch.
A half hour and ten dollars later, I was headed home with a pincushion cactus. Similar to a small barrel cactus, the pincushion not only looks cool, it occasionally produces the amazing purple flowers shown below. Video courtesy of djacob7
It's been almost a week now and so far so good. I don't know what I'll do if it dies... maybe get a goldfish.
If your having problems with your cacti or just need general information, check out the cactiguide.com forum
A few weeks ago, word started to spread in certain circles about a massive (1000 people plus) rave scheduled to take place in Tucson on Sept. 15th. What the official website referred to as a "peace festival," the rave was to be one of 360 taking place simultaneously in 57 countries around the globe. Moreover, while many raves take place outside the sphere of what could be considered "legal," Earthdance was rumored to be completely licensed and legitimate, ensuring a full night of dancing without police intervention.
Much more than glowsticks and booty shaking, Earthdance was a humanitarian event as well, requiring that half of all event proceeds go to a local charity. Being a strong humanitarian myself, the following video only enforced my resolve to go.
It was the ultimate call to the lazy activists of our generation. World peace was nearly at hand, and all it would require was a little partying on our part.
Intent on making my contribution to humanity, i began the difficult and extremely shady quest to find my tickets. The success of a rave depends on the organizer's ability to keep it a secret. The more people that know, the more likely an authority figure will be alerted and the operation shut down. Therefore, information is only passed on by word of mouth, usually from friends and people in the raver community.
On a tip from my friend, I was sent to a local jewelry shop. From there, I was sent into a back room where someone took down my name and provided me with my tickets. When I asked about the location, I was told he couldn't tell me anything. Instead, he gave me a hotline number to call two hours before the rave, with a message that gave more specific directions. Raves often use these hotlines to ensure that no one (including the police) can find out about the rave too early and have it shut down.
With my tickets in hand and a ridiculous glow in the dark cowboy hat on my head, I waited until sundown and called the hotline. The message gave directions to a location on the border of national park lands. Driving closer and closer, I could see the lights in the distance and feel the bass line pounding in my chest. I knew I had finally found my rave.... er, I mean "peace festival". And a festival it was. Crazy costumes,twirling glowsticks, and music loud enough to rattle your soul.
Drugs are an integral part of the rave scene as well, and the evidence was all around. Orange juice and pacifiers for ecstasy users, tabs of acid tucked into headbands. "Heads up man," said a kid who couldn't have been much older than 15, "The DJ in the back is selling Mollies for 30... I'm rolling so hard right now." Mollies are a particularly potent form of ecstasy that can also cause hallucinations.
I came to have fun but not that much fun, and drugs weren't my scene. After all, I was here on a humanitarian mission and the dealers definitely weren't going to be giving any proceeds to charity. I pressed on towards my target, the dance floor. There, I proceeded to move with as much rhythm as any Caucasian could muster.
Unfortunately, the festival wasn't without it's downsides. First, was the rag tag security team armed with shotguns who wandered the premise, hassling ravers and searching for contraband. Shotguns? At a peace festival? Not cool.
Second, the rave only ran a few hours before noise complaints from neighbors drew the attention of the sheriff's department. The music was cut and a drug addled army of ravers were instructed to get in their cars and go home. Obviously the sherrif's department realizes it's much safer to have people tripping out behind the wheels of cars than in a field dancing. Ridiculous.
As we headed en masse back to the parking lot, we lamented our rotten luck. "I don't get it" said Adam Westreich, an acquaintance and fellow dance fiend i met earlier in the night. "This was all for such a good cause, the money was suppose to go to help Tibetan refugees." Oh well refugees, we tried. Hope the rest of Earthdance had better luck.
Experience a rave firsthand at a similar event called "Innovation in the Sun"
or get a feel for what you missed with glowstick demos
You won't find any pre-movie advertisements asking you to turn off your phone or keep silent during the film. Not tonight anyway. That's because tonight is the Loft Theater's Friday Night Shorts competition, one of the Tucson venue's most creative and unique events.
The premise= anyone can bring in a film, ten minutes or less, and the Loft will screen it before a bloodthirsty (and let's face it, mildly drunk) audience of their peers. The film is run for three minutes uninterrupted. After that, things tend to get a bit crazy.
A red spotlight is lit, shining down on a large bronze gong just offstage. Standing next to it is host Max Cannon, who some people may know through his work for Comedy Central or his comic strip "Red Meat."
"The red light is the signal," said Jeff Yanc, the Loft program director. "If the audience hates it, it's their chance to scream and yell as loud as they can."
And yell they do... not to mention boo, curse, catcall, you name it. "We serve beer and wine, so the audience is expected to get a little rowdy during the show," said Yanc.
If the discontent of the crowd grows too great, Cannon smashes the gong with a mallet and the film is disqualified from competition. The few films left standing at the end are judged and the audience favorite receives a hundred dollars from the Tucson Film Office.
The best part of the competition isn't the audience interaction but the films themselves. From westerns to science fiction to claymation peas, these films probably aren't going be winning any Oscars. They are however, guaranteed to leap of the screen with an originality and an irreverently twisted sense of humor that, quite frankly, just wouldn't fly in any where else.
The films aren't rated or pre-screened beforehand, so you're never quite sure what you're going to get. "There's definitely been some questionable subject matter in the past but no one's gone too far overboard," said Yanc. "In between films we also have 'ringers' and funny clips like old exercise videos because we want to make this a fun event and keep people energized."
It's a winning formula and it happens the first Friday of every month, so come to the Loft and shout it out with an audience of students and the intoxicated. Just be sure to bring some attitude and a strong set of lungs.
Many people are already familiar with the work of Arizona born photographer Pedro E. Guerrero, they just don't know it yet. That was the reason Suzanne Johnson, President of the non profit organization Gnosis,Ltd. took it upon herself to capture Guerrero's life and work in a film titled "Pedro E Guerro: Portrait if an Image Maker."
If you've ever seen a picture of a Frank Lloyd Wright building, chances are it was a Guerrero Photo. According to the film, Guerrero got his start at 22 when, armed with only a camera and an art school portfolio, he approached the legendary Wright looking for work. Under Wright's supervision and guidance, Guerrero found not only a job but a launching pad to a brilliant career.
He became well known for the simplistic, direct manner in which he photographed buildings, letting them stand alone; pieces of art in their own right.
In addition to architectural photography, he worked to capture portraits of famous artists like Wright and the sculptor Calder in their creative environments. During the Vietnam war, Guerrero also became a politically active individual in his hometown, participating in anti-war protest and serving on a draft board. The film captures not only Guerrero's beautiful photography, but the humble personality and the joyful soul of the man behind the camera.
the same people screamed their guts out in the haunted house when brushed with spider webs. It's the simple stuff that gets you...
