The fun started at 7:30 p.m. in the dark, with MC Rob Sparks announcing their live theater show and explaining that everything is made up each time they perform, so it is a unique one night only show. What followed was truly creative (no script), impromptu, and very very fast paced and hilarious. Here’s some examples of various skits/”games” they performed last night:

SuperHeroes – the audience shouts out suggestions for a type of superhero that one of the players has to figure out, like charades. This particular hero was a smiley spotted owl, who liked Sloppy Joe’s and bungee jumping.

Mannequins – two players act as posable mannequins, with 2 audience volunteers manipulating their bodies (in a fencing duel)

World’s Worst Professions (audience suggestions, including mine of a dead animal picker upper/remover)

Boring job/tourist attraction/sport team trio kept switching the 3 scenarios (night watchmen, a twine museum in Minnesota, and a Jamaican bob sled team)

Poem – “How Not to Fall” in a foreign, made up language with a translator

A clever invention suggested by the audience

First date between a couple, with two other players on each side revealing their inner thoughts (successful romance or not?)

A Machine with computational ability with made up words, spelling, definition, used in a sentence

Novelist making up a story (with audience suggestions of “American Cheese”, a Spanish novella)

Re-wind (four different versions of a story, of a tight rope walking couple, and the “other woman”)

Beasty Boys (rap like) using first names of people such as “Jane”, “Bob”, “Sue” and numerous rhyming phrases (competition between the players with elimination rounds)

What was particularly entertaining was the use of audience interaction & participation, and the creativity and spontaneity of the skits performed. It was breathtakingly clever as the players used their wit and imagination to perform whatever the audience came up with.

The talented players performing last night were Jon Benda, Michael Pierce (Creative Director), Chris Seidman, Hilary Lyons, Jessica Spenny, and “Boz”, as well as the MC Rob Sparks. See their bios on their website, www.unscrewedcomedy.com. And they do offer improv classes as well if you feel daring enough to perform spontaneously.

Photos below (from an earlier show), courtesy of freelance photographer Jon Scanlon, who was the one who informed me of this comedy troupe when they had their fundraiser last November celebrating 10 years of comedy. Jon, his wife Patti, and Jon’s mom were in attendance there last night as well.

Amazingly, they tirelessly perform every Friday:

1st Friday of the month:
Revolutionary Grounds Cafe, 606 N. 4th Avenue, 7:30 P.M.

2nd Friday of the month
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 9071 E. Old Spanish Trail, 7:30 p.m

3rd Friday of the month:
Rock N’ Java Cafe, 7555 W. Twin Peaks Rd. Marana, 7 p.m. (note earlier starting time)

4th Friday of the month:
Executive Inns & Suites, 333 W. Drachman Rd.7:30 p.m.

SPECIAL SHOW TONIGHT Saturday April 27 — an adults only show at 9:30 p.m. at New Moon bar, at 915 W. Prince Rd. Only those over 21 will be admitted, so this show promises to be quite entertaining and free ranging/uncensored.

And next week Friday, if you need to laugh (who doesn’t?), check out this improv group at the Revolutionary Grounds Cafe, 7:30 p.m., on 4th Avenue.

First off, it’s all happening at the zoo:

On Wednesday, October 31st the animal residents of Reid Park Zoo will receive special Halloween treats. A schedule will be provided at the front gate for guests. Pumpkins will be delivered from 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Otters may nibble them, lions may roll them, and elephants will smash them. Many animals will have the opportunity to enjoy the unusual surprises. Staff will be on hand (some in costume!) to answer questions as animals discover the new items. There will be treats for the kids too!

Keepers regularly introduce a variety of foods, changes in physical environment, smells, and even sounds as enrichment. Items that are not part of a daily routine can improve an animal’s wellbeing by increasing exercise, and providing behavioral and mental stimulation. Creating a varying environment for Zoo residents has become an important aspect of animal care. For some animals, the pumpkins will be a tasty, healthy snack. For others, the source of enrichment is the presence of a new smell, shape, or texture.

Reid Park Zoo is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Regular admission fees apply.
For more information, visit www.tucsonzoo.org or contact
Kristen Metzger
Education Supervisor
837-8088 x 12

If you have children, enjoy a Halloween Extravaganza at Himmel Park branch library, 5 to 6:30 p.m., 1035 N. Treat Ave. (SW corner of E. 1st St.), in the NE corner of Himmel Park.

“Enjoy making your own treats and spooky crafts; listen to howling good stories and trick-or-treat around the library.”

Himmel library website: http://www.library.pima.gov/locations/himmel/

And if you don’t have kids and want to get in the Halloween mood, here’s a photo gallery of Zombie Walk 2012 held on the 13th of October in spooky downtown Tucson, click here. Warning for parents: these are graphically bloody photos of zombies/”undead” people taken by me and former Tucson’s Birthday photographer Jon Scanlon, so please exercise caution & discretion. (I don’t want to cause nightmares for your children.)

Hellfire Pizza Co. food truck at Zombie Walk 2012

Happy Halloween to all — children, youth, parents, elderly, even animals & zombies. Trick or treat?

Former Tucson Birthday’s photographer Jon Scanlon was there on assignment (by me) to take most of these graphic photos, including the one above of the crowd scene. Viewer warning: the photos below are not recommended for children, as they are quite bloody and gruesome.

I can credit myself for the first three shots below (the lady with the dead baby in her belly, the gruesome guy with a half zombie body on his back, and another scary male zombie). And I took the bonus photo at the very end of this photo gallery. It was a busy night with 2nd Saturday Downtown (where the Zombie Walk ended at about 9 p.m.) as well as Tucson Meet Yourself going on to the west side of downtown.

The theme of this year’s Zombie Walk was “The End is Here”, and many of these photos exemplify that theme. Website: www.tucsonzombies.com (for a photo archive of previous zombie walks). Thanks Jon for the graphic photos below:

So since “The End is Here”, let’s see what happens next year 2013 (the thirteenth year of the 21st Century) if there is another zombie Walk. And if you’re wondering what that half body on the back of the gruesome guy in photo #3 above looked like, here’s a bonus photo I took:

His photos of the birthday celebration at the Southern AZ Transportation Museum on August 18:

Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham celebrating with train museum officials

Photos of the Tropical Bash at Main Gate Square & 4th Avenue, and the Hotel Congress cake on August 18:

And photos of the flag raising ceremony at the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Grounds on August 20.

Trobadour Ted Ramirez performing after flag ceremony

Darkness settles upon the El Presidio grounds

What beautiful birthday cakes were created for these celebrations.

If you want to see some of the 2011 Tucson birthday photos by Jon, here’s the link to the former Tucson’s Birthday website (click here).

This is the 2nd Annual Chinese American Immigrant History event, following last year’s one (click here for previous blog). At one time in Tucson there were about 100 Chinese-American run grocery stores, and this year’s history event will focus on the vanishing nature of them, on Sat. Sept. 10, 8:30 a.m. into the evening.

The morning program of lectures is free, but lunch/afternoon program will cost $15 non members, $10 members of the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center. The event will be at the center, 1288 W. River Rd., east of La Canada Dr. For more info call 520-292-6900, www.tucsonchinese.org.

World Famous Chef Martin Yan (author of “Yan Can Cook”) will sign his book and host a cooking demonstration at 1:30 p.m., as well as the evening dinner at Harvest Moon restaurant in Oro Valley. The gourmet dinner costs $150 per person ($100 tax deductible).

This event is in collaboration with Sabores Sin Fronteras and Southern Arizona Food Traditions, sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, and made possible by a grant from the Arizona Humanities Council. All proceeds go to the development of the Tucson Chinese Association History Program.

And pictured below are some storybook panels (at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center) of the Chinese grocery stores of Tucson’s immigrant history, taken by Tucson’s Birthday photographer Jon Scanlon:

For lots more photos of yesterday’s birthday activities click here. There’s Flickr photos of most of the past events as well.

And it’s not over yet. For more events for Tucson’s Birthday month of August, log onto www.tucsonsbirthday.org.

General News January 10, 2011
from UANews | “President Obama will speak at a memorial event at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12 to support and remember victims of the mass shooting in Tucson, and to lift the spirits of those who have been personally affected by this tragedy.”

The event, “Together We Thrive: Tucson and America” starts at 6 p.m. at McKale Center (just west of Campbell Avenue, north of E. 6th Street) and is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 4 p.m.

University of Arizona President Robert Shelton, as well as state and federal officials will also speak at the event– Governor Jan Brewer, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and Justice Anthony Kennedy, Circuit Justice for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit are expected to attend.

“The event will include a Native American blessing, a moment of silence, a poetry reading, and a presentation of a chain featuring messages from the public.”

Attendees should arrive early because a capacity crowd is expected, and there will be increased security due to the President’s presence.

Six people were shot & killed and 13 others injured on Saturday January 8, 2011 at a Safeway store in NW Tucson, by 22 year old suspect Jared Lee Loughner. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of CD 8 was apparently his target, and 3 of her Congressional district aides were also shot — one (Gabe Zimmerman) died at the scene. Federal district court Chief Judge John Roll was also killed, and 9 year old Christina Taylor Green.

UPDATE: video of event online (click here).

Photo of event tshirt from photographer Jon Scanlon (who attended the event);

Two for the price of none: 2nd Saturdays Downtown and Rendezvous on 4th Avenue, both on 9/11. Read on about these two free urban street fests:

On the Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress and Broadway):

6:30pm-7:30pm: The Dusty Buskers – Performing with their latest four-man lineup, featuring award-winning banjo player Rudy Cortese and Hadji Banjovi of The Brambleberries on bucket bass. “Celtic-bluegrass tunes with a punk attitude and a subversive comedic slant.” TucsonScene.com

7:45pm-9:00pm: Sentido – Featuring guitarists Justin Fernandez and Brian Scott (formerly of Tesero) and bass player Andrew McClarron, the band showcases traditional Spanish flamenco music, while also incorporating lively danceable rhumba pieces. The style is comparable to the likes of the Gipsy Kings and Paco de Lu

9:15pm-10:30pm: Fourkiller Flats – “An alt-country combo that combines elements of post-punk rock with a decidedly country bent.” – Stephen Seigel, Tucson Weekly

And at the Fox Tucson Theatre (free concert) at 17 W. Congress St.:

7pm-9pm: Anna Warr and Giant Blue Band – “rock and blues served with brass and sass!”

Doors open at the beautiful Fox Theater at 6 p.m.

STICKSnFINGERS Caribbean group with dancers on August 14 at the Fox Theater, courtesy of Jon Scanlon

2nd Saturdays Downtown is more than the music performances, it’s an urban street fest with vendors selling all kinds of food, arts & crafts, some advertising programs. There have also been human statues, street musicians, telescope viewing, circus acts, free advice by a guy with a stand, tarot card readings at the past 2nd Saturdays– since the inaugural event on May 8, 2010. And most of the businesses on and around Congress Street are open for business, even the art galleries.

Big Skye pie makers, courtesy of Donovan Durband

I usually look for the friendly pie makers (Big Skye) at Ronstadt Transit Center, to enjoy one of their many delicious pies. And they’re inexpensive too!

So venture on downtown via car, bus, bike, motorcycle, skateboard, or walk under the 4th Avenue Underpass for another family-friendly urban street fest on Saturday September 11, the 9th anniversary of 9/11/01.

“Rendezvous on 4th Avenue” is also happening Saturday night as well, from 5 to 9 p.m. between University Blvd. and E. Ninth Street (north of that 4th Avenue Underpass). Live music, merchant sidewalk sales, fashion show at 7:30 p.m. at Winsett Outdoor Performance Center, 316 N. 4th Avenue. More info: www.fourthavenue.org

Rendezvous on 4th Avenue poster

UPDATE: Photos of this great 9/11 event, courtesy of Donovan Durband:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2010/09/12/photos-of-another-great-2nd-saturdays-downtown-fest/

photographer Jon Scanlon in his aloha shirt at the Big Kahuna Tropical Bash, taken by Albrecht Classen

The community birthday events were quite diverse: from the kick off at Mission Gardens at the foot of “A” Mountain, to various Pima County library celebrations, to San Xavier Mission (where I ate birthday cake), to De Grazia Gallery of the Sun (more birthday cake), to the Big Kahuna Tropical Bash downtown (even more birthday cake).

What a terrific way to connect with fellow Tucsonans. And what a lot of birthday cake, even at La Fiesta de San Agustin this past Saturday night.

Here’s the online link (click here) to the Tucson Birthday website to view his photos via Flickr from Yahoo. You can also comment below them, identifying yourself and others. There are 30 sets of photos, each labeled with the event heading.

Otherwise, go online to www.tucsonsbirthday.org, link is “Follow/friend us” on the top right, then click on “Flickr” and you’re there!

Go to the website for the final listing of birthday celebrations today August 31. And attend tonight’s finale, Noche de Luz Flashlight Parade:

Time: 6:45 pm
Admission: Free
Contact Name: Linda Ray
Email: tucsonsbirthday@gmail.com
Location: Start on Mission Rd. (see directions below)
Phone: 520-327-7544

“Volunteers, event organizers and friends will gather to close out the Birthday month with the Noche de Luz flashlight parade honoring all our ancestors. A $20 prize will be awarded for the flashlight decorated to best represent an individual’s personal heritage.

The official route will be approximately one mile, round trip.The parade begins on Mission Road at the foot of “A” Mountain’s eastern face, south of the Mission Garden and north of 22nd Street. We will proceed along the Santa Cruz River trail, and the DeAnza Trail, between 22nd Street and Mission Lane. Energetic paraders can extend the route another mile.

Please bring water!
Please rsvp to tucsonsbirthday@gmail.com.

Thanks to Pima County for co-sponsoring this event!”

Happy Birthday Tucson, till next August, 2011.

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Halau Hula O Ualani, The Maguire Academy of Irish Dance, Ballet Folklorico Tapatio, Los Changuitos Feos performed. And St. Augustine birthday cakes were enjoyed by all at the end of the fiesta.

St. Augustine cathedral & fiesta banner

people enjoying the fiesta

hula dancer performing on stage from Halau Hula O Ualani

more hula dancers performing

Maguire Irish dancers performing

lovely dancer from Maguire Academy of Irish Dance

Ballet Folklorico Tapatio performers

Ballet Folklorico Tapatio on the new beautiful flower stage

Bishop Gerald Kicanas at the Mass inside the Cathedral

St. Augustine's statue

Los Changuitos Feos leading the procession after Mass

Los Changuitos Feos in the Cathedral

Happy Birthday St. Augustine cake

Feliz Cumpleanos San Agustin cake

More photos online at Tucson’s Birthday website, www.tucsonsbirthday.org.