BEST Things To Do In Tucson
The Event Oracle knows ALL the fun things to do in the land of the Tucson sun. Select your date above then scroll down to check out what events are going on this week...
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Carnival of Illusion
Scottish Rite Grand Parlour
160 S Scott Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701Carnival of Illusion is an evening of Old-World Magic in the style of classic entertainers such as Buster Keaton, Mae West, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Harry Houdini. The hosts have performed as house entertainers at the world's top resorts, Fortune 100 CEOs, to the 200 Most Powerful Women in America and operate the longest-running Arizona theater show. Carnival of Illusion is “Magic, Mystery, and OOOH La La.”
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Birds of Tohono Chul Walking Tour
Tohono Chul Park
7366 Paseo del Norte
Tucson, AZ 85704Tohono Chul hosts several docent-led and self-guided walking tours of its grounds. Learn to identify birds that are local residents and those just passing through, plus information on habits and habitat during the Birds of Tohono Chul tour. Tours are included in the admission price; reservations are not necessary.
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The Retablo of Ciudad Rodrigo
University of Arizona Art Museum
University of Arizona, 1031 Olive Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85721The Altarpiece of Ciudad Rodrigo is a jewel of the University of Arizona Museum of Art's collection and one of the most important works produced in 15th-century Spain. This altarpiece, also called a retablo, was made for the cathedral of the city (Ciudad) Rodrigo in the province of Salamanca, Spain, between the years 1480 and 1488, and after 1493. This exhibit is on permanent display, Tuesday-Sunday, at the University of Arizona Museum of Art.
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UA Museum of Art Exhibition: 6 & 6
University of Arizona Museum of Art & Archive of Visual Arts
1031 North Olive Road
Tucson, AZ 85721Both science and art start with basic observations of the world around us. Science takes that inspiration and makes it empirical, and art conceptualizes such catalysts. To showcase life in the Sonoran Desert, the Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers (N-Gen) Arts and Science Initiative forged a collaboration between artists and scientists. Six artists and six scientists were paired together to foster cross-pollination in research methods and to create a shared vision. This exhibition is the manifestation of their collaborative research that depicts life in the Sonoran Desert and articulates a sense of place, at the University of Arizona Museum of Art.
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Woven Through Time: American Treasures of Native Basketry & Fiber Art
University of Arizona
1013 E. University Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85721Arizona State Museum's new permanent exhibit features a sampling of the more than 35,000 specimens of basketry and other fiber art in the museum's extensive collection, ranging from millennia-old objects to modern-day masterpieces that celebrate the Southwestern U.S. region's ancient and abiding fiber-weaving traditions. ASMs total assemblage of basketry and fiber art specimens dating back some 8,000 years represents the major indigenous basket-making cultures from across North America. The museum's unparalleled collection of basketry and pottery has been designated an American Treasure by the National Endowment for the Humanities Save Americas Treasures Program.
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Richard Avedon: Relationships
Center for Creative Photography
University of Arizona 1030 N. Olive Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85721The exhibit, drawn from the Richard Avedon collection at the Center for Creative Photography, presents 80 portrait and fashion photographs ranging from the 1950s to the early 2000s including examples of Avedons large-scale prints. The exhibition will explore three kinds of relationships in Avedons life and work: the interactions between the figures within the frame, the partnerships Avedon formed with longstanding subjects, and importantly, the relationship between Richard Avedon and the Center for Creative Photography. Avedons works, which he personally selected for donation to the Center, enrich the collection through the importance of the subjects he photographed, the widespread circulation of his images through publication, Avedons unique and influential photographic approach, and his blurring of the line between artistic and commercial production. The exhibition will feature film footage and related documents to tell the story of Avedons choice to invest in the Center as a recipient of his photographs, and will explore the range of photographs he gifted to the institution. Visit today to experience the rich heritage of modern North American photography. Free and open to the public.
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The Resiliency of Hopi Agriculture: 2000 Years of Planting
The University of Arizona
1013 E. University Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85721Arizona State Museum presents this photographic exhibit--guest curated by Michael Kotutwa Johnson, Hopi farmer, photographer, and UA Ph.D. candidate in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment--which illustrates traditional Hopi farming practices, which are based on spiritual beliefs, community values, and ancient, time-tested techniques. Arizona State Museum is closed on Sundays and federal and state holidays.
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First Fridays at Arizona History Museum
Arizona History Museum
949 E. 2nd St.
Tucson, AZ 85719A Blue Star Museum that offers free admission to active-duty military and their family, Memorial Day-Labor Day, the Arizona History Museum presents a free program for all ages, all year round, which is included with admission to the museum on the first Friday of every month.
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Tucson Roadrunners Ice Hockey: Tucson Home Games
Tucson Convention Center Arena
260 S. Church Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701Watch the Tucson Roadrunners cross hockey sticks with competing teams at the Tucson Convention Center Arena in downtown Tucson. The Tucson Roadrunners are the American Hockey League affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes ice hockey team. During the 2018-19 season, home games take place on select weekdays, from October 6 through April 13. Consult the website for schedule information.
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Joe Lovano, With the UA Studio Jazz Ensemble
UA Presents
888 N. Euclid, Rm. 203
Tucson, AZ 85721-0158Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer and producer Joe Lovano is fearless in finding new modes of artistic expression. With a Grammy win for his 52nd Street Themes and 14 other nominations, he has won DownBeat Magazine’s Critics and Readers Polls countless time as Tenor Saxophonist, Musician of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year and Triple Crowns from DownBeat. He has also gotten numerous awards from Jazz Times and the Jazz Journalists Association for Tenor Saxophone, Album of the Year and Musician of the Year. Joe Lovano continues to explore new horizons within the world of music as a soloist, band leader and composer.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 29, 1952 he attended the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston where years later he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate. Since 2001 he has held the Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance and is a founding faculty member since 2009 of the Global Jazz Institute at Berklee directed by Danilo Perez. He is a guest lecturer at New York University’s Jazz Program, Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music as well as Clinician at Universities around the globe.
Joe has also performed and recorded with a long list of jazz greats including Woody Herman, Mel Lewis, Bob Brookmeyer, Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Tony Bennett, Abbey Lincoln, Charlie Haden, John Scofield, Gunther Schuller, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Ed Blackwell, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Hank Jones, Dave Liebman, Michael Brecker, Dave Douglas, Judi Silvano, Ravi Coltrane, Chucho Valdés, Ornette Coleman and many others.
In addition, composer Mark Anthony Turnage wrote a Concerto for Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra for Joe called "A Man Descending" which has been performed globally and Maestro Michael Abene orchestrated an album of all-Lovano originals called "Symphonica for the WDR Symphonic Orchestra and Big Band", which was released on Blue Note and received a Grammy nomination.
This Tucson performance is the finale event for the UA's Fred Fox School of Music AZ JAZZ WEEK Festival.
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Free Form Friday
Unscrewed Theater
4500 E. Speedway
Tucson, AZ 85716All kinds of Improv Comedy. Long form, short form, and musical. Unscripted and different every show. Second Friday of every month. *May contain adult language and subject matter. 17+ encouraged.