Starting May 11 at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway:

The real-life story of “legendary musician, activist and revolutionary” Bob Marley, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland)

Co-presented by Zia Record Exchange

Bob Marley’s universal appeal, impact on music history and role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. MARLEY is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best.

From Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (One Day In September, The Last King of Scotland) comes the story of a towering figure of musical history, whose music and message has transcended different cultures, languages and creeds to resonate around the world today as powerfully as when he was alive.

Bob Marley was a half black/half white Jamaican, a very talented reggae musician, father of several children one being musician Ziggy Marley. Years ago I read a biography about him so I know he died very young at age 36 from melanoma in his toe, which spread throughout his body. He died on May 11, 1981, coincidentally 31 years from the day this movie opens at the Loft. And for those of you who are Marley fans, you probably know that he prophesied his own death at age 36.

More on Bob Marley (the “King of Reggae”) at wikipedia (click here).

Delicious and inexpensive Jamaican food in the form of a $5 lunch special (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) can be found on the NE corner of N. Swan and E. 1st Street (south of Speedway) at CeeDee’s Jamaican Kitchen. Address is 1070 N. Swan, phone 520-795-3400. They are open Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 to 9:30 p.m.

They offer the usual jerk and curry chicken, but also curry goat, brown stew chicken, and steamed tilapia, along with other specials, including rum cake and potato pudding. I tried the lunch special of jerk chicken with rice, a plaintain (banana) and steamed vegetables. It was a terrific deal, plus I had my favorite drink, guava juice, from their selection of tropical juices including soursop, mango, passion fruit, coconut. I even got to taste their unique sorrel juice drink. (We don’t have that plant back home in Hawaii).

“Cee” (for Cardell) and “Dee” (for Deon) the co-owners, moved here from New York, but they are both from originally from Jamaica (St. Catherine and St. Elizabeth, respectively). They opened this small, colorful Jamaican restaurant on Mother’s Day, 2010. The place is very charming, with colorful walls, Jamaican flags on the ceiling, maps of Jamaica on the tables of the four booths, Bob Marley photos on the walls. There’s even a counter with 6 stools, all decorated Jamaican style.

Catering is also available, just call.

I previously blogged about D & D’s Jamaican lunch wagon this summer (click here).

And we’re all still waiting for Caribbean Platinum (N.1st Avenue, between Grant and Glenn) to open.

Jamaican flag

Delicious authentic Jamaican food can be found at D & D’s Island Grill JA lunch wagon, decorated in the colors of the Jamaican flag: black/yellow/green. Danny Heath (from Kingston) and Duwayne Hall (from Morant Bay) are the entrepreneurs behind this lunch alternative in Tucson. I like ordering at lunch wagons which are ubiquitous back home in Hawaii.

flag of Jamaica

D & D’s serves: curry goat, curry chicken, jerk chicken, brown stew chicken, fried fish, oxtail stew, beef patties, along with rice & peas, a vegetable of the day, and cornbread. They also have soda, water, and exotic, tropical drinks such as “watermelon splash”, and sour sop with lime or milk.

Some of us like sour sop (also known as guanabana in the Caribbean) back home in Hawaii but not usually as a drink. I tried the sour sop with lime drink and it had a tangy, fresh flavor. (We usually just eat sour sop fruit pealed and fresh.) But now I may try to juice this fruit and add some lime, Jamaican style.

Location of this lunch wagon: 6245 E. Broadway (NW corner of Wilmot), behind the Chase Bank, in a shady parking lot with a beige canvas canopy with chairs & tables for eating under the trees. Phone #s for information or catering: 520-861-2271 or 520-867-0100.

I ate the jerk chicken combo meal for lunch and it was some “irie” (some good). My combo came with lots of chicken & sauce, rice, boiled cabbage, and cornbread. Next time I’ll be braver and try the curry goat (don’t think I’ve ever had goat before).

D & D’s lunch wagon is open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and there was a long line of hungry customers behind me yesterday, attesting to their popularity.

Try some international food!