Et Cetera

Our monthly list of what's cool, hot and happening in Tucson. This month: fashion, food,  beer... and cardboard! 

Dear Tucson...

"Once, when a pair of Jehovah’s witnesses banged on my door I greeted them in a full bear costume. I answered all questions with growls, roars and grunts until they left." So begins artist Mykl Wells' Love Letter to Tucson. Wells is a sculptor, among the founders of of the All Souls Procession, and the man behind the upcoming Cardboard Ball (see below).

He is also, clearly, a talented writer. On the Cardboard Ball: "[It] was a bellicose art party, an eclectic explosion of self-expression." On Tucson summers: "Our brains begin to boil and our imaginations steep like a teabag into our bones." On himself: "I greet every morning with a curmudgeonly skepticism and irreverence that makes it difficult to invite me to parties."

We're proud to be linking up with Love Letters every month. (Got a letter you want to send them? Do it!)

The big fashion crush

Time to save the date, and get your tickets, for Tucson Fashion Week, October 17-19. You don’t want to miss iconic fashion designer Betsey Johnson, or Bert Keeter from Project Runway. And 3 Story Magazine is a proud sponsor of the whole shebang.

The premiere runway event on Friday will feature looks by four emerging designers, along with the Betsey Johnson/Steve Madden collection. And you can dine with Betsy at the VIP “Inspired Icon" Moveable Feast, a benefit event.

When and where:
Thursday, October 17: Fashion presentation and student textile competition, 5:30 - 8:30pm, Tucson Desert Art Museum Galleria
Friday, October 18: Premiere runway and ensemble presentation, 6:00 - 9:00pm, Tucson Museum of Art
Saturday, October 19: Runway wrap-up and fashion presentation awards party, 4:00 - 7:00pm, La Encantada.
October 11 – 20: Tucson Care Card (a shopping and dining to benefit the Steven M. Gootter Foundation)
Cost: Each evening.:$35; Student/military: $25; Premiere runway seats: $70; Moveable Feast: $150
More info: www.tucsonfashionweek.com

Get creative with cardboard

The annual Cardboard Ball is a dance party with cardboard art... seriously. If you think it's for 5-year-old boys, you're mistaken: everyone's invited, and the creations are compelling. The event is a fundraiser for the All Souls Procession Workshops, which are free and open to the public, and run for 5 weeks leading up to the November procession.

When: Friday September 28th, 7:30 pm.

Where: The Steinfeld Warehouse, 101 W. Sixth Street (the same location as the workshops).

Cost: $7 in advance, $10 on the door.

Call to Artists: The Cardboard Ball is looking for art and outfits made out recycled materials, but mostly cardboard. Anybody contributing a work of art or who shows up for the ball dressed in a cardboard outfit gets in for free.
More info: Contact Mykl Wells at [email protected] or call 520 665 8025.

Something's brewing

Time to vote for your fave local beer at the second annual Born & Brewed: Tucson's Beer Cup, at Hotel Congress. Which beers will scoop up a prize? It's up to the people to decide.

Ten breweries are taking part: Dragoon, Barrio, Nimbus Company, Borderlands, Thunder Canyon Brewery, 1702, Sentinel Peak Brewing Company and Ten 55 Brewing. There will be food and music, and the winner receives placement of a handle at Congress' Tap Room.

When: Friday, September 20, 7pm.

Where: Hotel Congress plaza.

Cost: $30 per person ($35 on door). Get tickets at www.hotelcongress.com

Back on the road

We launched Tucsonan Stacie Eichenger and her long walk for charity in our May issue and we're checking in with her every month for a Walk 4 Courage update. Stacie is committed to trekking 3800 miles across America to raise money for Beads of Courage, an organization providing 'arts-in-medicine' supportive care for seriously ill kids.

To date, Stacie has trekked a total of 1,650 miles, bringing her to Presho, South Dakota where she camped under the stars to the sounds of crickets. Since we’ve last checked in, Stacie has treated herself to a birthday flight home to surprise friends, family and a much-needed rest.

Next stop: Kennebec, SD and Minnesota. Stacie’s current goal is to reach the Minneapolis by September 21^st. September is National Child Cancer Awareness Month, so Stacie hopes to spend some time at a local hospital.

Money raised to date is $13,000, $3,000 dollars shy of her $10 per mile goal. Help Stacie celebrate her 29th birthday on the road August 9th with a one time donation to Beads of Courage at Crowdrise. Follow Stacie on Facebook and donate to Stacie directly for food, an occasional hot shower along the way, and other expenses she'll incur.  

The popular Tucson Pops Orchestra concert series will continue this fall with two concerts in September. Bring your chair or blanket, join your neighbors, and revel in some free music en plein air.

When: Sunday, September 22, 7pm -  Christian Howes; Sunday, September 29, 7pm - trumpeter Jim Wilson.

Where:  DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park (off Country Club just north of 22nd Street.)

Cost: Free

More info:   http://www.tucsonpops.org

Tucson cooking whiz, 12, hits Food Network

You might remember Haile Thomas as one of the kids who joined the First Lady at the Kids' State Dinner. The Tucson kid, 12, has been making a name for herself as a healthy young cook, an host of her own cooking web show. Now you can see her whipping it up in the kitchen on a new TV show with Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri: Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off, on the Food Network, starting September 8th at 8pm PT. Kids work in teams to create a menu plan and execute the dishes. Celebrity judges taste and grade. The grand prize for one competitor: their own series on the Food Network!

Haile says getting to cook with Rachael and Guy was “amazing”.  The best part was “the opportunity to learn from one of the people I look up to”, especially practical prep tips and timing, so nothing comes out cold. Haile is proud to represent Tucson. But she emphasizes that what she really wants the show to do is inspire kids to see that cooking is “fun, easy and can be healthy”.

What’s hot for Fall fashion (besides us, of course)?

If you've been following our Fashion Crush series, then you'll love Fall Fashion Forecast at La Encantada. Fashion mavens, bloggers, shoppers et al can get their Fall fashion groove going at this event, featuring a soiree of style experts. Fringe Hair Studios will have a series of stylists demonstrating the latest looks and techniques. La Encantada Mall's clothing, jewelry and other retailers will share the season’s colors, fabrics and trends in the main courtyard. Plus, there are light bites and music.

Be philanthropic at the same time by visiting a silent auction of local artists' hand-painted vintage purses, shoes and totes, to benefit Tucson Ladies Council Foundation. The featured artists include Valerie Galloway, John McNulty, Clif Taylor, Catherine Eyde and Johnny Vegas.

When:  Friday, September 6, 6pm-8pm

Where: Main courtyard at La Encantada Shopping Center, Sunrise and Campbell Ave.

Cost: Free

More info: 520-299-3566 or laencantadashoppingcenter.com

Cook it up With Tucson Originals

Tucson Originals restaurant group has just announced the line up for the fall series of Master Cooking Classes.  Each session is three hours of fun, new techniques and hard work for 10 to 14 advanced home cooks.  The classes feature hands-on cooking side by side with the chef on state-of-the-art appliances. The students, paired up in teams, each cook a dish and enjoy a great sit-down dinner with the chef.

When: Now till November, every other Tuesday evening at 6pm. September 10 features Chef August Ench of Dakota Cafe; September 24 features Chef Massimo Tenino of Tavolino Ristorante Italiano

Where: TWS Premium Appliance Center, 4229 E. Speedway Blvd. 

Cost: $600 includes six classes, a binder and recipes for each class, a Tucson Originals apron, dinner with  paired beverages.

More info:  Colette Landeen at tucsonoriginals.com or call 343-9985.

Parlour Games

Pop down to The Parlour on 4th Avenue this month for art with your fro-yo. Throughout September one of 3 Story's fave Tucson talents, Liz Vaughn, will be showing her wares. And that frozen yogurt is full of probiotics... so you needn't even feel guilty.

Where: The Parlour, 611 N. 4th Avenue.

More info: www.theparlourtucson.com