Mysti Moon/Arizona Voodoo Kittens

What to do and where to do it, featuring the Arizona Voodoo Kittens, who have big plans for their Guilty Pleasures show.

And, for more Tucson bands with new music on the horizon, check out our roundup of CD release parties.

There's plenty of fresh air at the TMA's annual Holiday Craft Market.

It’s almost time for Thanksgiving, which means…it’s time to think about holiday shopping—two words that have become dirty, but not for any fun reasons. Searching for those gifts, most of us end up trolling the mall for hours on end. We eat too much Panda Express, get frustrated by the slowest-moving humans ever and buy things because we have to, not necessarily because they’re the perfect gift for that special someone on the list. By the time it’s all over, the fresh air outside seems foreign and wrong.

Bah humbug.

It doesn’t have to be that way. It won’t be that way, thanks to a number of local shopping events where you’ll find wares that are handcrafted and options that are unique. Added bonus: The exits are close and the sanity-level reasonable.

"Hellraiser"

Horror film fans will be wrapped up in their “Hellraiser” sleeping bags (if only!) for the annual All-Nite Scream-O-Rama at the Loft. That’s just one of the must-attend events that made our Weekend Hit List.

Feast's winter squash stew is on its Thanksgiving to go menu.

As you eat the rest of that Halloween candy (if you have any…mine’s long gone), it’s time to turn culinary thoughts to Thanksgiving. And if you don’t want to spend the day in the kitchen, it’s time to think about making a reservation at one of the many places around town offering to do the cooking for you.

This being Tucson, some places are still making plans, but plenty others know exactly what they’re doing. Our Thanksgiving meals story has the when, the where and the what you’ll get.

GWAR

Looking at the concert calendar for Nov. 9-15, it’s hard to see past the towering theater of metal that is GWAR. If you like your rock dressed up—really dressed up, beyond those easy-to-put-on masks Slipknot wears—well, you’ll agree. If Kiss were in town, my head might explode. Although, if you’re not drawn to music that’s turned up to 11, there’s room for everyone in this big ole musical world. Tucson has plenty of shows to consider giving your dollars to this week, and all of our picks are in the weekly Tucson Concerts.

Photo by Andi Berlin/Special to Metromix

Always on the lookout for dining deals in the Old Pueblo, our latest story is on the happy hour at elle, a good choice for many reasons. Here are two: Not only is their happy hour daily, but it finds all items on the bar food menu half-off. And, as we found out, that includes the well-stocked cheese plates…

Photo by Bryan Johnson

Remember Hanson, those cute tweens with the “MMMbop” song? If so, you may be aware that the trio has been at it all this time and, after a fight with their record label, have been independent for years. They’re also all grown up (babies! all of them have babies!) and are headed to the Rialto Nov. 10. Read a Q&A with singer Taylor Hanson, who talks about comparisons to the Jonas brothers, playing with supergroup Tinted Windows and why he’s not sick of performing “MMMbop.”