Tucson Weekly 1.5.23

ADMINISTRATION

Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher

Michael Hiatt, Vice President

Tyler Vondrak, Associate Publisher, tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Claudine Sowards, Accounting, claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com

EDITORIAL

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Executive Editor, christina@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Hope Peters, Staff Reporter, hpeter@timespublications.com

Katya Mendoza, Staff Reporter, kmendoza@timespublications.com

Karen Schaffner, Staff Reporter, kschaffner@timespublications.com

Contributors: Brian Box Brown, Rob Brezsny, Rand Carlson, Noah Cullen, Tom Danehy, Connor Dziawura, Jeffrey M. Jones, Laura Latzko, Andy Mosier, Dan Perkins, Linda Ray, Will Shortz, Jen Sorensen

PRODUCTION

Shannon Mead, Production/Design Supervisor, smead@timespublications.com

Tonya Mildenberg, Graphic Designer, tmildenberg@timespublications.com

CIRCULATION

Aaron Kolodny, Circulation Director, aaron@phoenix.org

Brian Juhl, Distribution Manager, brian@timeslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

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Candace Murray, Account Executive, candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com

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Cover image of Tom Garretson, manager of Short Rest Tavern | Photo by Nicole Haro-Gomez

DANEHY

IT MUST SUCK TO BE WRONG ABOUT COVID-19

By Tom Danehy Tucson Weekly Columnist

The New York Times, going about 1 inch out onto a limb, predicted that 2023 will be The Year of the Fabulist, with that particular sub-species being defined as “a liar, especially one who invents elaborate, dishonest stories.”

With the Republicans (sort of) taking over the House of Representatives (the infighting is going to be deliriously enjoyable to watch), the handful of midterm losers still running around screaming into dead air, and the rightwing radio talkers looking for something — anything! — to moan about, Fabulism will have its heyday. In politics, as in basketball, if you’ve got no game, all that is left for you is to talk crap.

I was listening to Sean Hannity the other day (Don’t ask me why; I guess I

couldn’t find a bed of rusty nails upon which to lie). He had on some congressman from a Southern state who was complaining about one of the successes of the Biden administration when he said (without even a tiny touch of irony), “We need to have some Benghazi-type committee hearing on this.”

Those of us who didn’t go to a charter school will know that, despite 10(!) congressional committees looking into the Benghazi attack, not one shred of evidence linking malfeasance or a cover-up to the Obama administration, in general, or then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in particular, was ever uncovered. “Benghazi committee” is congressional talk for “snipe hunt.”

That doesn’t mean that they’re not going to try, and that’s fine. It will keep

them distracted. Plus, it’s in what passes these days for their job description.

One straw that people on the Desperate Far Right appear to be grasping at concerns vaccines for the coronavirus. At first glance (and every glance thereafter), that seems like it would be a non-starter. More than eight out of 10 Americans are vaccinated; nearly three out of every four are fully vaccinated with all the boosters. The anti-vaxxers were dolts a year ago, and they’re dolts to this day.

But, because they’ve been wrong for so long in their little echo chamber, they’re now spiraling outward with ever-more-ridiculous claims. At first the vaccines were untested and therefore potentially dangerous. Then after some vaccinated people started getting COVID-19, the vaccines were ineffectual and useless. Now the anti-vaxxers are singing a double tune. The vaccines are both ineffectual and potentially deadly.

They found some guy who got a medical degree in the mail from Guadalajara who says he studied millions of people in Germany and found that peo-

ple are dropping dead at a higher rate than they were a few years ago. Ipso facto, the vaccine must be the culprit.

More than a year ago, a guy named Nick Rolovich, who was the football coach at Washington State University, got himself and several of his staff fired by refusing to be vaccinated. He gave up a million dollars a year job and put several of his assistants out of work in exchange for being Flavor of the Day on Fox News.

I wrote about his stupidity back then and my opinion hasn’t changed. The other day, I got an email from a guy who, like many others in his cave, has grabbed onto a perfectly understandable news item and is using it in an at-

SORENSEN

tempt to vindicate his position that science isn’t real.

The email read:

“Just out of curiosity, and assuming you’re still alive, now that the vaccinated are dropping like flies, do you have any desire to recant your hit piece railing against Rolovich’s sound decision? Or is it now you, yourself, who is truly anti-science?”

First off, I am still alive and I am fully vaccinated, although those two things might be purely coincidental. Rolovich is still an idiot. Forget about the money. If you are employed by an institution of higher learning, you should exhibit at least a little bit of brain power.

The letter writer’s main thrust illustrates a misplaced elation at an emerging trend that actually underscores the importance of being vaccinated. We learned early on that the vaccine doesn’t prevent someone from coming down with COVID-19, nor does it prevent the transmission of the virus. It would be great if it did, but it doesn’t. What it does do is make the vaccinat-

ed person far less likely to get serious symptoms or die from the virus than an unvaccinated person.

What we are witnessing from the anti-vaxxers is their absolute glee at learning that, for the first time, more vaccinated people are dying from COVID-19 than are unvaccinated people. All that actually shows is that people who don’t understand science aren’t likely to understand math, either.

If four out of five Americans (80%) are vaccinated (and the vaccine doesn’t keep people from getting the virus), it follows that roughly 80% of the people who are contracting the virus are vaccinated. Why, then, is the percentage of people dying from COVID-19 who are vaccinated only in the 50s? Obviously, it’s because the vaccine is doing at least one thing well; it’s making the vaccinated less likely to die.

The “failure” now being trumpeted by the loud-mouthed minority is actually a success for the vaccinated majority. It must really suck to be wrong over and over and over again. In the upcoming Year of the Fabulist, look for it to be the norm.

PEACE OF MIND LIVING AT ALBUM MARANA

55+ Active Adult Community

Greystar is excited to bring their newest Album community to Tucson. The Album lifestyle is highly sought after by young at heart, 55+ active adults. It’s perfect for those looking for more in life, style, community, and activities.

Welcome to a carefree, maintenance-free living in a controlled-access community designed to be empowering as well as peaceful. Lead your life, as you see fit, and with time to spare, in a place where the feeling is one of excitement for what the future holds.

At Album Marana, you’ll find sophisticated residences with modern features in

addition to stimulating onsite offerings and beautiful social spaces to enjoy. They’ll be conveniently just outside your door; no need to drive anywhere! Your day might begin with coffee with new friends and then to the activities calendar to decide how your day will take shape. There is so much to do here. Each day will be full of variety and fun.

Album is the perfect place to share your passions, find new ones, and make friends easily along the way. What truly sets Album apart is the opportunity to have a real say in the active lifestyle clubs and events. Residents will create, contribute their talents, and run the clubs/events

they want. Examples include teaching a cooking class, meeting up for happy hour (and yappy hours), walking club, flower arranging, movie/game night, and seasonally inspired events. The only limit is your imagination.

The Album Marana leasing center is now open and located at 7620 N Hartman Lane, Suite 172 Tucson, AZ 85743. Our team will be happy to provide you with more information on available apartment homes that will be move-in ready Summer 2023. Whether you are considering downsizing yourself or have a loved one far away that you want close, Album is an exciting option right here in Tucson!

Date: Thursday, January 26th

Time: 12pm — 2pm

Where: Marana Chamber of Commerce 13251 N Lon Adams Rd, Marana, AZ 85653

Marketplace Homes is a nationwide full-service brokerage that excels in meeting diverse real estate needs. Enjoy a complimentary lunch while learning from the experts in our market!

AlbumMaranaPoolCourtyard

TUCSON SAYS GOODBYE TO A TREASURE

By Karen Schaffner Tucson Local Media Staff

Tucson lost a true treasure on Christmas. After an illness, local businessman and philanthropist Donald Luria died at home surrounded by his family. He was 87.

Luria owned and operated the Tasting Spoon Cooking School and later opened the Terra Cotta Cafe, where he met his wife of 35 years, chef Donna Nordin. He co-founded the Tucson Originals, an alliance of independently owned Tucson restaurants and food purveyors. He also headed the Council of Independent Restaurants of America.

Before he moved to Tucson, Luria worked for the U.S. government and, for a time, with Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Berry. Luria worked in education, participating in seminars held around the United States.

He was a philanthropist and lived his philosophy of giving back, serving on nearly two dozen nonprofit boards.

“Dad was humble, kind, authentic,

generous with his ideas and time and energy,” said Michael Luria, the older of his two sons.

“He truly encapsulated a spirit of philanthropy, giving back, being an active, engaged member in your community and doing one’s part to help make it better.”

Luria served as mentor to many Tucson businesspeople, including Kate Marquez, director of the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA).

“Don was both a friend and mentor – personally and professionally,” she said. “Professionally, our paths crossed when he began his leadership as a board of director of the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance over 11 years ago. Since that day so many years ago, he has played an integral part in SAACA’s success and dedication to thinking outside the box.”

Marquez said even after his restaurant closed,. Luria remained passionate about food and hospitality.

“Because of the soft-spoken Luria’s seamless ability to turn big dreams into action, his passion for culinary arts has helped pave the way for groups such as SAACA to think of food as a cultural art,” she added.

“As a result, food and art go hand in hand in defining the diversity of culture in Southern Arizona. In 2019, SAACA dedicated our Teaching Kitchen at the CATALYST Creative Collective to Don Luria and his wife, Donna Nordin, in honor of their passion for teaching and deep love for the community they call home.”

Luria was passionate about Tucson and his family. He inspired his four children to make their communities a better place to live.

Debbie “Wednesday” Loria said she never lived in Tucson, so she did not see him as a community icon. She lives in the Washington, D.C., area.

“Even though I knew that he did all these things, really, I just feel like saying, ‘but he was just my dad,” she said, “and he was the best dad.”

Things between Wednesday and her

According to recent Gallup and Pew Research polls, more Americans than ever have a negative opinion of the church. And certainly, the word “church” can elicit strong responses, from great joy to outright hostility. Throughout history, everything from self-sacrificial humanitarian works to extreme acts of brutality and oppression have been done in the name of the “church.” And these can have a substantial impact on our view of the church as an institution, which can ultimately color our very perception of God.

The question is, what is the church, really? Merriam-Webster defines the word “church” as “a building for public and especially Christian worship.” The Bible, however, reveals a very di erent picture. The word translated “church” is used over 100 times in the New Testament; clearly, the church is an important concept within Christianity. Unfortunately, di cult life experiences often lead us to deep misunderstandings about the biblical church and we walk away from it, never looking back.

On January 8th, Serenity Baptist Church will begin a teaching series entitled “What is the Church?” We’ll look honestly and objectively at the Bible’s definition of “church” and its role in the Christian faith. And, importantly, we’ll see how the biblical church reflects the heart of God as a deep source of peace in an uncertain world. If you’ve ever questioned the relevance, the purpose, or the need for the “church” in your own life, join us at 10:30am, 15501 W Ajo Hwy, Tucson. The answers to these questions may just be life-changing!

MICHAEL, WEDNESDAY, DON LURIA, CINDIE AND ANDREW LURIA. (MICHAEL LURIA/SUBMITTED)

dad weren’t always smooth sailing, she said, but a couple of years ago she spent time alone with him when the family embarked on a food tour of Europe.

“I stayed home with my dad in Tucson,” Wednesday said. “I just have to tell you, it was the best week and a half ever because we really bonded even more. We listened to country music. We watched the Ken Burns’ documentary about country music. We watched ‘Les Mis’ twice because that’s my favorite. We just spent a lot of time. To me that is always going to be my favorite memory, just him being my dad.”

In fact, Wednesday said she inherited her love of music and philanthropy from her dad. She runs a backyard venue where local music acts come to perform.

“Really, (dad) is the person who gave me folk music,” she said. “Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, and that’s led to my love of Americana music. During the pandemic I just felt the need to support local music. Even though I’m not on any boards like my siblings, that’s my giving back to the community.”

Michael and his sister, Cindie Luria Wolfe, live in Tucson.

“As sad as I am, there’s just immense gratitude for who he was, the things he taught me and, I think, my siblings, about the importance of community and philanthropy,” Michael said. “How can we not be so proud of what he accomplished in his life?”

As he aged, Luria found pleasure in the simpler things.

“He loved his family,” Michael said. “He loved gardening. He got onto a kick about sunflowers. He had sunflowers everywhere. Last year he had one that was about 14 feet tall. He took such joy out of it”

Another of Luria’s pleasures was sitting in the sun.

“One of the things that makes us all smile is he went out the way he wanted to, with a full head of hair and a very deep tan,” Michael said with a laugh.

Cindie is a Tucson real estate agent. She said she spoke with her dad on Christmas. He was ready and he went quickly.

“It was what he wanted,” she said. “He felt like he was done, and he had

been experiencing pain. He knew he had accomplished a lot and his last two targets were meeting both of his great-grandbabies and literally he had just done it.” They are Cindie’s grandchildren.

Luria also inspired Cindie to philanthropic causes. She has served on the board of Ben’s Bells and now she will serve on the Beads of Courage board.

“It was very important to him when we all started following in his footsteps,” she said.

Andrew Luria, youngest of the children and also a Tucson resident, said his dad inspired him to think about others first.

“His legacy is really his community involvement,” he said. “He had this passion for engaging in, and being part of, the community.”

Andrew began his own philanthropic work as early as high school, when he organized a Spirit Day and his dad showed him how to get sponsorship from corporations. As an adult he moved to Atlanta and the Los Angeles areas, where he worked with organizations that focused on those who were diagnosed with HIV/AIDs.

“I just remember being very proud to tell my dad that I was doing it,” Andrew said. “I think to me his legacy is just his passion for finding ways to give back to the community, to the underserved and to people who aren’t always seen by the general community.”

Andrew continues supporting those causes, and today serves on the board of Ben’s Bells, something his dad and sister also did.

There is something else, too, that Andrew said speaks to his father’s character.

“(As) part of the LGBTQ+ community, my father and (step-mother) Donna, quite frankly my entire family, accepted me for who I was with open arms,” he said. “It didn’t faze him when I came out to him, so much so that I was bothered. I waited all this time (to come out). I thought it was going to be a big to-do, and it was nothing. It was like, ‘What are we going to do for lunch?’”

Luria will be missed by his children, yes, but also by all of Tucson.

“I, along with the whole Southern Arizona community, will miss this man we will always call friend,” Kate Marquez said.

‘TREE-POOL’ TO ‘TREECYCLE’

The bad news: the city of Tucson can’t pick up your Christmas tree any more — not at the curb, not in the alley. The good news: Your Christmas tree and your neighbors can be “gifts that keep on giving.” Load as many neighborhood Christmas trees as will fit in your truck or minivan, or just take your own. Then drop them off at one of the city of Tucson’s “Treecycle” centers all over town. They’ll grind the trees into mulch for plantings at city parks and other facilities. Make sure to remove your trees’ decorations, stands, lights, etc. or the city can’t take them. Use them for a neighborhood ornament exchange next year.

7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, 7 a.m. Monday through Friday through Monday, Jan. 16, weekday closing times vary, all locations and hours are at tucsonaz.gov/treecycle

THE ZOPPÉ FAMILY CIRCUS

Elsewhere in this week’s issue is a great story about this special circus, but we also like that its tent is pitched on some of Tucson’s most historic ground. Forebears of the Tohono O’dham lived and farmed around that spot when, in Rome, the world’s first circus, Circus Maximus, was born. The ground belonged to Mexico in 1826 when the Italian circus was invented, and even in 1842 when the Zoppé family launched its own. Over time, The Zoppé Family Circus has provided a beloved enchantment for children wherever it’s travelled. It’s now made enough annual visits to Tucson that some grandparents may be able to tell their grandchildren about it.

Various dates and times Friday, Jan. 6 through Saturday, Jan. 22, MSA Annex, 125 S. Avenida del Convento, tickets start at $25, zoppe.net

TUCSON TELLERS OF TALES

Anyone who loves to tell or hear a good story is invited to an open mic and open house to learn more about Tucson Tellers of Tales. Get ready to step up if you have a good one (under 8 minutes) about these prompts inspired by the new year: “Something New” or “Getting Started.” As the Tucson branch of Arizona’s State Storytelling Network, the group has been encouraging and promoting oral literature since 1979.

by Linda Ray

AZ HIP-HOP SHOWCASE

DJ Jahmar, who heads up the Twelve Tribes music projects and produced the first Tucson Hip-Hop Awards here last September, is kicking off 2023 with an extravaganza. Headliners are Big Meridox, Liddo Rute, Young Keddy, Da Mutt and Kidd Zeeno. DJ Staxx heads up the music. The rest of the event’s lineup includes S. Beezy, Elgin Jr., Too Real, 6iG Cuhz, XPL1CIT, Kasanova Mariie, Mike Best, Adn Crae, Big Blando, Fela Iniko, Teknik, Madlad Universe, Young Me, Prince Willie and Tbn Mafi and Fred E Mooves. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, 191 Toole, 191 Toole Avenue, $10, ticketmaster.com, age 18 and older.

TUCSON ROADRUNNERS

Friday and Saturday the Roadrunners host the Colorado Eagles. A special Friday package includes a “Yoga on Ice” feature. Saturday, there’s a $45 “Whiskey and Wings” pre-game event featuring del Bac Whiskey. Tuesday and Wednesday, the Roadrunners face the Milwaukee Admirals. Tuesday features popcorn and draft beer for $2 each and student tickets are half-price. Wednesday, kids are free and there are pregame happy hour specials and prizes at Barrio Brewing Company, 800 E. 16th Street. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, and Saturday, Jan. 7; 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, and Wednesday, Jan. 11, Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Avenue, ticket prices vary, tucsonroadrunners.com/schedule

MARIACHI NUEVO AZTECA

The Rialto Theatre may sell out this show with proud family members, but any fan of classic mariachi and ranchera traditions should try to go anyway. Mariachi Nuevo Azteca celebrates its first year as a mariachi orchestra comprising alumni of the Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo High School. The bill includes Mariachi Aztlan and Mariachi Estrella Juvenil, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, tickets start at $15, ticketmaster.com

Members tell stories in schools, libraries and nursing homes throughout Southern Arizona.

9:40 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, Unscrewed Theater 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard, Suite 39, free, tellersoftalestucson. com

“PREMIER FRIDAYS” AT D’LUXE LOUNGE

The first Friday of every month, DJ Impeccable (Antoine Moore) plays music to get better acquainted by. There’s a full menu of African and Caribbean cuisine, and bottle service is available. Reservations are required. Ladies enter

free until 11:30 p.m.

10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 and every first Friday, D’Luxe Lounge, 1901 S. Fourth Avenue, eventbrite.com, $12.36

“WINGS OVER WILLCOX” BIRDING AND NATURE FESTIVAL

Fieldtrips, seminars, talks and an expo will keep nature lovers busy learning about Southeastern Arizona wildlife from Friday evening’s welcome reception through Saturday night’s banquet and silent auction. The banquet’s keynote presenter is sparrow expert Rick Wright, author of the American Birding Association’s field guides to birds of Arizona. Register in person at The Willcox Community Center, which is “festival central” for most of the weekend. Some events are at the Elks Lodge, and many are out in the unique habitat around Willcox. Rocks, reptiles, merch, and kids’ activities round out the weekend. Times vary Thursday, Jan. 12, to Saturday, Jan. 15, Willcox Community Center, 312 W. Stewart Street, fees vary, wingsoverwillcox.com

FRUIT COCKTAIL LOUNGE

Golden Gravy Productions, creators of Retro Game Show, teamed up with The Century Room for a fabulous monthly cocktail party for LGBTQA+ folks and the people who love them. It’s got jazz, pizzazz and razzmatazz to burn with host Paul Bowman, jazz pianist and executive director of the Tucson Jazz Festival. The Century Room’s jazz club ambience, chic craft cocktails and delectable small plates were made for this sort of affair. Reservations are recommended. The room’s capacity is 100.

4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, and the second Sunday of every month, The Century Room, 311 E. Congress Street, $6, facebook.com/fruitcocktailloungetucson

ART AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

Art Attack Art & Crafts Events hosts visual artists and craftspeople offering works including jewelry, metal work, yard art, signs, woodworking and other treasures. Organizers suggest that shoppers come early for the best selection. Look for the white tents.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, to Sunday, Jan. 8, Catalina Pointe,15930 N. Oracle Road, Catalina, free, facebook. com/ArtAttackAZPromo

ALLANA ERICKSON-LOPEZ KEEPS FALLING UPWARD

By Linda Ray Tucson Weekly Columnist

Next to veteran Mo Urban, dark horse Allana Erickson-Lopez was the most popular comedian among voters in Tucson Weekly’s 2022 Best of Tucson listings. It was the first year she’d been nominated, and she outshone previous contenders with decades more experience.

This is the story of a woman who wandered into her talent and high-dived to the top of it.

“I probably do open mic or a standup at least three times a week,” Erickson-Lopez said. “Improv once a week and Keep Tucson Sketchy, which is the sketch group once a week or twice a week, depending on whether we have a show upcoming. I don’t say ‘no.’”

“Have you ever seen ‘Shark Tank’?” she asked. ‘There’s this thing on ‘Shark Tank’ where they tell the entrepreneurs who have way too many ideas that they’re ‘cursed with opportunity.’ I feel that that’s just me. I’m cursed with opportunity.

“On Wednesdays I will have From the Top rehearsals.”

From the Top is Unscrewed Theater’s musical improv team. She earned membership based on her third audition. From the Top performs on the first Friday of every month. Erickson-Lopez makes her debut at 7:30 p.m. Friday Jan. 6.

“On Thursdays, I usually go to Laff’s (Laff’s Comedy Club’s weekly open mic), but this Thursday I have a show with my little indie improv team.”

That team, All Reddy, includes Unscrewed Theater cast members John Michael Redding and Kate Morter.

On Tuesday she might drop in the

Lady Ha Ha standup open mic at Bumsted’s, and on some Fridays, she performs in Lady Ha Ha’s Kitty Ha Ha show at El Jefe Cat Lounge. The audience there comprises 30 comedy fans and 35 cats.

On weekends, she’s often included in lineups for several established local comedy showcases. And she surfaces in specialty comedy events like the recent “Depression Is No Joke” showcase. That, too, was hosted by Lady Ha Ha, which promotes its shows and mics as welcoming to all, but especially to marginalized people.

What, exactly ignited this explosion of comedy energy?

It started when she discovered a Facebook invitation from Tucson’s Female Storytellers, an organization founded in 2012 to promote feminism and encour-

age women to express themselves. FST curates a monthly showcase of women telling stories inspired by the month’s prompts. More details are at fstorytellers.com.

“Back in 2015, I wrote a story for FST, and I got to perform it,” Erickson-Lopez said. “(It) was about not being comfortable with my weight. It was fine”

“On my second go ‘round . . . I inadvertently had jokes in my story. (It) was about this friend I had worked with at the Humane Society. When we became friends, she asked if I wanted to run a 5K. I said, ‘sure’. I knew nothing about what a 5K was. I had to start training for it. Then on the day we were supposed to run together, she got stuck at work and couldn’t make it.

“So I ran it by myself. It was just about feeling proud that, even though I just did it to make a friend, I. . . had set a goal and accomplished it.”

The event’s host, Bethany Evans, a standup comic and founding member of FST, suggested that Erickson should try standup comedy.

“Then, coincidentally, the next week a friend was going to do these improv

classes with (actor and improviser) Eric Rau, and she said, ‘Do you want to come with me?’

“I’ve always loved ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’, and then she said, ‘It’s good for just public speaking.’ I said, ‘Sure, I’ll go with you.’ And then improv became my baby.

“Improv felt like a way for me to not think. It teaches you to listen to what’s happening and react to what’s happening in the moment. It is built on a pillar of ‘always say yes’. What I loved about it is I got to create with a partner or with a team of partners, this little story that happens and then it goes away. You can’t fix it. You can’t change it. It’s just whatever happened in the moment.”

And then people laugh.

“Oh God! When people laugh, it is a drug that I did not know I loved.”

Even as her commitment to improv grew, she continued to work on her standup sets. She signed up for a standup class with Urban at Tucson Improv Movement (TIM). Urban also hosts comedy shows at Black Rock Brewery

ALLANA ERICKSON-LOPEZ IS A COMEDY ALL-STAR. (ALLANA ERICKSON-LOPEZ/SUBMITTED)

ROGUE THEATRE EXPLORES SPIRITUAL, WORLDLY CONNECTIONS

By Laura Latzko Tucson Weekly Contributing Writer

In the play “Babette’s Feast,” two sisters living in a religious Norwegian village are exposed to temptations when they take in French refugee Babette. Their knowledge of the world is also broadened through her food artistry.

Based on Isak Dinesen’s short story, it was conceived and developed by Abigail Killeen and written by Rose Courtney. The short story also inspired an Oscar-winning 1987 film.

The Rogue Theatre will produce the play Thursday, Jan. 12, to Sunday, Jan. 29. Co-founder and artistic director Joseph McGrath is directing.

The production stars Carley Preston as Babette. Sisters Philippa and Martine are being portrayed by Kate Scally and Bryn Booth, respectively. The show also features ensemble members, who are offered at least three roles each season in shows.

“We try to stay with our ensemble in terms of making sure that they have work and stay in Tucson. That’s always a big challenge is keeping the talent in the area,” McGrath said.

“Babette’s Feast” hasn’t been staged very often by theater companies. McGrath said it can be challenging to stage, and it is very narrative in nature.

“We’ve been thrilled and terrified by the challenge as we’ve been going through rehearsals,” McGrath said.

“It takes place in a lot of different locales. Isak Dinesen, the author, wrote very little dialogue so we are left with a lot of narrative, which in the theater audiences expect action. They don’t expect to be told…We are trying to actually show and make the action happen in front of us.”

The show delves into the conflict between the spiritual and the worldly. It is explored through a feast, shared among residents of this Norwegian town.

“There is something transcendent about this particular story,” McGrath said.

“The people who go through the feast that Babette presents to them, they are puritans. They reject all of the temptations of the flesh, including fine food. Circumstances bring them to sit before Babette’s French feast. They are transformed by it in an interesting way.”

McGrath said the original author discussed how the worldly and spiritual are in opposition yet work together.

“Dinesen seems to honor both sides of that equation while also saying that either side is somewhat incomplete without the other. I think that is a fascinating message that she is exploring,” McGrath said.

Although the show takes place during a feast, the actors don’t actually eat on stage. They are mimicking eating mo-

tions.

“A seven-course meal with seven different wines and champagnes isn’t something that you do in a theatrical rendering,” McGrath said.

“We have worked heavily on the miming. The quality of what we are seeing in front of us and what we are trying to provoke in the imagination of the audience, I think will be quite effective.

“They have spent hours ‘eating’ every course, how the knife fits in the hand, how the fork fits in the hand and how a villager from that edge of the world picks up a wine glass they’ve never picked up before, that whole confrontation with how you handle things you don’t know how to handle and what your response might be.”

The show takes place in the 19th century, which is clear, looking at the costumes.

“Costume-wise, we are very much in the period,” McGrath said.

“We always have been at the Rogue. Cynthia Meier, the costume designer and my co-founder here, has always been marvelous at putting together very accurate period costuming.”

The roles of Philippa and Achille Papin require actors with strong singing voices. In the story, Philippa is taken on as a student by the French opera singer, who is played by Dennis Tamblyn.

In one scene, the two perform a duet

PERFORMERS BRYN BOOTH, CARLEY PRESTON AND KATE SCALLY. (ROGUE THEATRE/SUBMITTED)

By Connor Dziawura Tucson Weekly

JANUARY 5

Brice Winston and Outward Bound

The Century Room, 9 p.m., free Golden Boots

LaCo Tucson, 6 p.m., free Lucky Devils Band Club Congress, 7 p.m., free

JANUARY 6

AZ Hip-Hop Showcase

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $10

Brian Lopez w/Holy Faint Club Congress, 8 p.m., $17.51

Gimme Gimme Disco

Rialto Theatre, 9 p.m., $20

Greg Morton and Jim Stanley

LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free

Tucson Modern Jazz Quartet: The Music of Herbie Hancock

The Century Room, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $15-$25

JANUARY 7

Bex and Halsero

Hotel Congress Plaza, 10 p.m., free Eddie Clendening and the Blue Ribbon Boys: Unheard Elvis ’55 Club Congress, 7 p.m., $14.42

Insound and Flow_

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $15

Kalimba: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire

Desert View Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $30

Mariachi Nuevo Azteca

Rialto Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $20-$30

Nathaniel Burnside

LaCo Tucson, 6 p.m., free

Paul Green

The Century Room, 9 p.m., $5-$15

JANUARY 8

Mik and the Funky Brunch LaCo Tucson, 11 a.m., free

JANUARY 10

Lucas Julián Carballeira

LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts Club Congress, 7 p.m., $14.42

Miss Lana Rebel and Kevin Michael Mayfield LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free

JANUARY 11

Dale Watson

The Century Room, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $25-$35

Oscar Fuentes

LaCo Tucson, 5:30 p.m., free

and runs Lady Ha Ha with fellow Tucson comedian Priscilla Fernandez

In her TIM class showcase, Erickson-Lopez debuted 3 minutes of fresh material, some of which she says still turn up in her sets. Then she started going regularly to a Monday night open mic at The Surly Wench Pub. Roxy Merrari, who hosted that mic, encouraged her and began to include her in Wench showcases.

Then a Facebook post by Keep Tucson Sketchy (KTS) caught her eye. It was an open call for an ensemble to create a sketch show along the lines of “Saturday Night Live.” In the months after the first KTS show, she began showing up for their writers’ meetings. She won a tiny role in the second show and by the third show, she was writing sketches. Original KTS member Rich Gary now considers her one of the ensemble’s best writers.

With KTS, Erickson-Lopez feels like she finally may have found her comedy home.

“I just found a space that I can inhabit that makes sense for me, because I think the biggest thing I’ve always wanted to be and still want to be is a comedy writer, if I could write jokes for everybody and get paid for it ,” she said.

In this flurry of comedy, Erickson credits her husband, Franki Lopes, with being her ballast and lifeline.

“If I could say a last word,” she said, “it’s that my husband is my biggest supporter and I one hundred percent believe that I would not be as far along as I am if he weren’t always at a mic with me or telling me ‘Hey, get out of the house and go do something.’”

MORE COMEDY THIS WEEK

El Jefe Cat Lounge, 3025 N. Campbell Avenue, Ste. 141, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, eljefecatlounge. com, $18, reservations only, capacity is 30, 21 and older, BYOB and snacks, Kitty Ha Ha, hosted by Lady Ha Ha Comedy, lineup: Autumn

Horvat, Nicole Riesgo, Sera Sometimes, Jessie Sweeney, Mo Urban, Matt Ziemak

Laff’s Comedy Caffe, 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, laffstucson.com, $25, Daniel Eachus, winner of multiple prestigious comedy awards and star of at least one, he’s on Dry Bar Comedy with his special, “A Mild and Skinny Guy.”

Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Boulevard, unscrewedtheatre.org, $8, live or remote, $5 kids. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, From the Top Improvised Musical; Saturday, Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m. Family Friendly Improv Comedy. 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, Improv Drop-ins, in person and online, free.

Voltron Brewing Taproom, 330 S. Toole Avenue, Suite 200, zanelamprey.com, 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan 5, $24, $40 VIP, Zane Lamprey, host of award-winning television shows “Three Sheets” and “Drinking Made Easy!”

ZANE LAMPREY COMES TO VOLTRON BREWING TAPROOM. (ZANE LAMPREY/SUBMITTED)

BARS HIPSTERS MEET GAMING FANS AT SHORT REST TAVERN

By Noah Cullen Tucson Weekly Contributing Writer

Wearing a backward baseball hat and a bushy brown beard, Tom Garretson, on a 1-to-10 nerd scale ranks himself “a solid seven.”

Fittingly, Garretson manages the fantasy-themed bar, Short Rest Tavern in Tucson Mall, at the back of the 5-yearold Tucson Games and Gadgets.

Open for two years, the bar has become a haven for the nerd community and curious mall shoppers.

Dimly lit, the bar offers a variety of beer, including ales, pilsners, sours or stouts; mead; and classic cocktails with fun spins on them, such as Witches Blood (bloody Mary) or Sauron’s Tower (whiskey sour).

Drinking, however, is secondary to the activities. On Fridays, guests are invited to play board games while Dungeons & Dragons takes centerstage on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The hallway entrance to the bar is stocked with games. A catacomb of

Dungeons & Dragons character cards all with the word “DEAD” written in red pen all over them also adorn the area. Among many other characters, the wall includes a memorial for the Dragonborn Barbarian named Vetle.

Initially, Short Rest Tavern was set for the ASU campus in Phoenix, but the owner, Mark Kadow, didn’t think he could make enough to cover the rent.

Tucson and Kadow’s Tucson Games and Gadgets proved to be the perfect spot. He had extra room in the back.

Through crowdfunding, he raised $13,714, according to the Short Rest Tavern Kickstarter page.

Hailing from Minnesota, Garretson moved to Tucson for a change of scenery and to be near his dad. Growing up, Garretson and his friends created their own version of D&D. He played classic ’80s and ’90s video games like Zelda, Metroid and Mortal Kombat. He remembers frequenting a local comic book store.

“It was literally a hole in the wall,” he said. “That was the only dedicated comic book store there in town. There were other stores that did comic books and games and kind of everything in the tabletop genre,” Garretson said.

Garretson has many years of experience in the service industry. He worked at Coffee Times, a drive-thru coffee shop on Speedway, for seven years. He also delivered pizza just prior to Short Rest Tavern, where he recommends Chaucer’s triple berry mead.

He enjoys Short Rest Tavern’s atmosphere and said it’s the only bar job for him. Guests here come for more than alcohol.

“I’d say it’s definitely open to everyone, especially being right here in the mall,” Garretson said. “I don’t have any problem with them seeing it as a haven and a safe space for them because it is, there aren’t really a lot of places like this where they can go.”

In recent decades, traditional facets of nerd culture seem to have been pushed more to the mainstream. Instead of sitting on shelves in comic book stores, the Marvel Universe has amassed a wide fanbase.

According to Box Office Mojo, an IMDb-owned website that tracks box office revenues, the highest-grossing movies were made by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in six out of the past 10 years. According to Rotten Tomatoes, “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) is

the second highest-grossing movie of all time.

The extent of this shift doesn’t end at Marvel.

“I saw that start to turn around when ‘Lord of the Rings’ came out, when they had the live action movies first come out,” Garretson said.

“‘Critical Role’ happened, ‘Stranger Things’ happened, and it snowballed. I feel like it was a perfect storm, like you had ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ and the whole Marvel series take off, and then you had video games,” he said. “You just can’t ignore that nerd, niche genre coming out or just that group of people.”

An example of this could be a game called “Settlers of Catan,” a lightly fantasy-themed game of settlement building and trade. The board is created by connecting hexes of resources, wheat, brick, rock, sheep and wood, which are obtained by players placing their settlements on the intersections of the hexes.

These resources are then used to expand, build roads, more settlements, cities or knights. The game used to only be available in game stores, now it can be found in Target or Walmart. It was released in 1995 and has since sold over 40 million copies, including its variants, according to the game’s website.

“The board game industry, I think, is having a resurgence now because of COVID and everybody being a little

PLENTY OF GAMES LINE THE WALL OF THE HALLWAY THAT LEADS TO THE SHORT REST TAVERN AT THE BACK OF TUCSON GAMES AND GADGEST AT THE TUCSON MALL.

(NICOLE HARO-GOMEZ/CONTRIBUTOR)

TOM GARRETSON IS BEHIND THE BAR AT SHORT REST TAVERN AT TUCSON GAMES & GADGETS. (NICOLE HARO-GOMEZ/CONTRIBUTOR)

from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.”

McGrath said for these roles, the company looked for performers in different disciplines to fill the roles.

“We decided we were going to find some people who could sing Mozart and also play dramatic roles for us in a theatrical setting,” McGrath said. “Hearing Kate and Dennis sing Mozart is just such a delight… Opera is not our discipline. It’s a lovely thing to suddenly have on our stage.”

In celebration of the show, Rogue is hosting a seven-course fundraiser dinner at Feast on Sundays, Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 for $375.

The dinner includes Blinis Demidoff, buckwheat pancakes served with caviar and sour cream; Cailles en Sarcophage, quail prepared in a puff pastry with foie gras and a truffle sauce; an endive salad; cheeses and fruits; and Savarin au Rhum avec Figues Fruit Glacee, rum sponge cake with figs and candied cherries.

Prepared by chef Doug Levy, the Parisian-style meal will be paired with wines and cognac.

TAVERN FROM PAGE 14

more focused on being home now,” he said.

“I think it’s helped refocus people’s attention on board games.”

Garretson also said the pandemic may have pushed some D&D players to move to online formats. Some players were already accustomed to playing over formats like Zoom or Discord.

Garretson plays D&D every other Monday with a group of seven, including the dungeon master, the player who creates the game and the scenarios for the others.

In D&D, players create and customize their characters in any way they see fit, then these characters together face the dungeon master-created obstacles and scenarios.

They meet at the dungeon master’s house and set up seats around a folding plastic table. Everyone gathers and some bring drinks and food. Sometimes a bong is passed around.

“We’re there for three to four hours and maybe an hour of that is just bullshitting and catching up because we don’t see each other that often,” he said.

Two of the other players also work at the game store. Garretson’s D&D character’s class is a witch and his race is a Kitsune. He described the Kitsune as a “shapeshifting fox person.” His character’s role in the game is to make it harder for the enemy monsters to act.

“It’ll make it harder for them to hit or harder to save against any spells I cast on them,” he explained.

Garretson said he thinks even a game like D&D is leaning toward the mainstream.

“That whole nerd mentality of being a D&D nerd is still very much a thing,” he said. “It’s probably going to become a new-age hipster thing, like, ‘I was playing

The classical theater company regularly stages plays exploring social and political issues, including a Shakespeare play each season. The organization’s missions include works that challenge viewers, making them think, and elevating literature and language through performance.

During the 2022-2023, the company will also produce “The Seafarer” from March 2 to 19 and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from April 27 to May 14.

They will also have play readings of “Heroes of the Fourth Turning” on March 26 and “Constellations” on May 21.

The Rogue Theatre’s production of “Babette’s Feast”

WHEN: Various times Thursday, Jan. 12, to Sunday, Jan. 29

WHERE: The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Boulevard, Tucson

COST: Tickets start at $32 INFO: 520-551-2053, theroguetheatre.org

BERRY MEAD. (NICOLE HARO-GOMEZ/CONTRIBUTOR)

D&D before it got cool again.’ And yeah, sure, it may not become as household a game as Monopoly, but I think it’ll be a lot more frequent in households 10 years from now than it was when I was a kid.”

The Short Rest Tavern is placed in the middle: It’s a place that caters to the most devout of nerds who crave an immersive experience.

“Everybody who comes here is very open to accepting somebody new and showing them the ropes and letting them know what it’s all about,” Garretson said.

Short Rest Tavern

MARIJUANA VIEWS LINKED TO IDEOLOGY, AGE

By Jeffrey M. Jones Gallup

Americans’ support for marijuana legalization remains at the record-high 68% recorded each of the past two years.

When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana in 1969, 12% of Americans were in favor. Support grew from there, reaching 31% in 2000 and surpassing the majority level in 2013. Since 2016, at least six in 10 have been in favor.

The latest results are based on an Oct.

3 to Oct. 20 Gallup poll.

Combining data for the past five years, from 2018 through 2022, allows for a more robust analysis of demographic differences in views about marijuana legalization than is possible from a single poll. Using this aggregate, Gallup finds support for legalization averaged 67% among the general population but varied significantly by subgroup. Conservative, religious and old-

er Americans are the least supportive, while liberal, nonreligious and younger Americans are the most supportive.

Specifically, subgroups whose support for legalization exceeds the national average by 10 or more percentage points include those with no religious preference (89%), self-identified liberals (84%), Democrats (81%), young adults (79%) and those who seldom or never attend religious services (78%).

Groups whose support is at least 10

points below the national average include those who attend church weekly (46%), conservatives (49%), Republicans (51%), older adults (53%) and Hispanic adults (56%).

A statistical analysis that takes into account the influence of multiple respondent characteristics simultaneously confirms that ideology, religiosity, age and party identification are the

most important predictors of marijuana attitudes. The model indicates that ideology is slightly more influential than the other variables.

After controlling for the effects of other respondent characteristics such as gender, age and education, political liberals are about three times more likely, on average, than political conservatives to support legalizing marijuana. Similarly, younger adults, Democrats, those who seldom or never attend church and those without a religious preference are slightly less than 2.5 times more likely to say marijuana should be legal than older adults, Republicans, weekly churchgoers and those with a religious preference, respectively.

The analysis also indicates that educational attainment and the region of the country where one lives do not have meaningful relationships with marijuana attitudes.

Given the importance of ideology and age in predicting individuals’ support for marijuana legalization, ideological subgroups of different ages show some of the largest intergroup differences in attitudes.

At every age level, conservatives are less likely than moderates or liberals to support making marijuana legal. However, majorities of younger conserva-

tives (those under age 50) favor legalization, compared with 32% of older conservatives.

Age differences among political moderates are more modest, with 20 points separating the oldest (62%) and youngest (82%) moderates. That contrasts with a 33-point gap between the oldest and youngest conservatives. Liberals, on the other hand, show similarly high support — 81% or higher — regardless of age.

Americans have grown much more supportive of legalizing marijuana over the past two decades, but support appears to be leveling off for now, not showing any change in the past three years.

While majorities of most major subgroups are in favor of legalizing marijuana, there are a few holdouts — namely, political conservatives and regular churchgoers. Small segments of the population (in particular, older conservatives) are still disinclined to think marijuana use should be legal. However, younger conservatives and younger moderates are more inclined than their older counterparts to think cannabis should be legal. As such, in future decades support for legalizing marijuana can be expected to continue to grow as newer, likely more pro-marijuana, generations replace older generations in the U.S. population.

TUCSON AREA DISPENSARIES

BLOOM TUCSON

4695 N. Oracle Road, Suite 117

520-293-3315; bloomdispensary.com Open: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

BOTANICA

6205 N. Travel Center Drive

520-395-0230; botanica.us Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

DESERT BLOOM RE-LEAF CENTER

8060 E. 22nd Street, Suite 108 520-886-1760; dbloomtucson.com

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Offering delivery

DOWNTOWN DISPENSARY

221 E. Sixth Street, Suite 105 520-838-0492; thedowntowndispensary.com

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

D2 DISPENSARY

7139 E. 22nd Street 520-214-3232; d2dispensary.com

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

EARTH’S HEALING

Two locations:

North: 78 W. River Road 520-253-7198

South: 2075 E. Benson Highway 520-373-5779 earthshealing.org

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; Offering delivery

GREEN MED WELLNESS CENTER 6464 E. Tanque Verde Road 520-886-2484, greenmedwellness.com

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

THE GREEN HALO

7710 S. Wilmot Road 520-664-2251; thegreenhalo.org

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

HANA GREEN VALLEY

1732 W. Duval Commerce Point Place 520-289-8030

Open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

HARVEST OF TUCSON

2734 E. Grant Road 520-314-9420; askme@harvestinc.com; harvestofaz.com

Open: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

NATURE MED 5390 W. Ina Road 520-620-9123; naturemedaz.com Open: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

THE PRIME LEAF

Two locations:

• 4220 E. Speedway Boulevard

• 1525 N. Park Avenue 520-44-PRIME; theprimeleaf.com

Open: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays

TUCSON SAINTS

112 S. Kolb Road 520-886-1003; medicalmarijuanaoftucson.com Open: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)

“My life was the best omelet you could make with a chainsaw,” observed flamboyant author Thomas McGuane. That’s a witty way to encapsulate his tumultuous destiny. There have been a few moments in 2022 when you might have been tempted to invoke a similar metaphor about your own evolving story. But the good news is that your most recent chainsaw-made omelet is finished and ready to eat. I think you’ll find its taste is savory. And I believe it will nourish you for a long time. (Soon it will be time to start your next omelet, maybe without using the chainsaw this time!)

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20)

After meticulous research of 2023’s astrological omens, I have come to a radical conclusion: You should tell the people who care for you that you’d like to be called by new pet names. I think you need to intensify their ability and willingness to view you as a sublime creature worthy of adoration. I don’t necessarily recommend you use old standbys like “cutie,” “honey,” “darling,” or “angel.” I’m more in favor of unique and charismatic versions, something like “Jubilee” or “Zestie” or “Fantasmo” or “Yowie-Wowie.” Have fun coming up with pet names that you are very fond of. The more, the better.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20)

If I could choose some fun and useful projects for you to master in 2023, they would include the following: 1. Be in constant competition with yourself to outdo past accomplishments. But at the same time, be extra compassionate toward yourself. 2. Borrow and steal other people’s good ideas and use them with even better results than they would use them. 3. Acquire an emerald or two, or wear jewelry that features emeralds. 4. Increase your awareness of and appreciation for birds. 5. Don’t be attracted to folks who aren’t good for you just because they are unusual or interesting. 6. Upgrade your flirting so it’s even more nuanced and amusing, while at the same time you make sure it never violates anyone’s boundaries.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22)

When she was young, Carolyn Forché was a conventional poet focused on family and childhood. But she transformed. Relocating to El Salvador during its civil war, she began to write about political trauma. Next, she lived in Lebanon during its civil war. She witnessed firsthand the tribulations of military violence and the imprisonment of activists. Her creative work increasingly illuminated questions of social justice. At age 72, she is now a renowned human rights advocate. In bringing her to your attention, I don’t mean to suggest that you engage in an equally dramatic self-reinvention. But in 2023, I do recommend drawing on her as an inspirational role model. You will have great potential to discover deeper aspects of your life’s purpose—and enhance your understanding of how to offer your best gifts.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)

Are the characters in Carlos Castañeda’s books on shamanism fictional or real? It doesn’t matter to me. I love the wisdom of his alleged teacher, Don Juan Matus. He said, “Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question. Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t, it is of no use.” Don Juan’s advice is perfect for you in the coming nine months, Leo. I hope you will tape a copy of his words on your bathroom mirror and read it at least once a week.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)

Teacher and author Byron Katie claims, “The voice within is what I’m married to. My lover is the place inside me where an honest yes and no come from.” I happen to know that she has also been married for many years to a writer named Stephen Mitchell. So she has no problem being wed to both Mitchell and her inner voice. In accordance with astrological

omens, I invite you to propose marriage to your own inner voice. The coming year will be a fabulous time to deepen your relationship with this crucial source of useful and sacred revelation.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22)

Libran philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche offered advice that is perfect for you in 2023. It’s strenuous. It’s demanding and daunting. If you take it to heart, you will have to perform little miracles you may not yet have the confidence to try. But I have faith in you, Libra. That’s why I don’t hesitate to provide you with Nietzsche’s rant: “No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life. There may be countless trails and bridges and demigods who would gladly carry you across; but only at the price of pawning and forgoing yourself. There is one path in the world that none can walk but you. Where does it lead? Don’t ask, walk!”

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21)

How might you transform the effects of the limitations you’ve been dealing with? What could you do to make it work in your favor as 2023 unfolds? I encourage you to think about these question with daring and audacity. The more moxie you summon, the greater your luck will be in making the magic happen. Here’s another riddle to wrestle with: What surrender or sacrifice could you initiate that might lead in unforeseen ways to a plucky breakthrough? I have a sense that’s what will transpire as you weave your way through the coming months in quest of surprising opportunities.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

Sagittarian singer Tina Turner confided, “My greatest beauty secret is being happy with myself.” I hope you will experiment with that formula in 2023. I believe the coming months will potentially be a time when you will be happier with yourself than you have ever been before—more at peace with your unique destiny, more accepting of your unripe qualities, more in love with your depths, and more committed to treating yourself with utmost care and respect. Therefore,

if Tina Turner is accurate, 2023 will also be a year when your beauty will be ascendant.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)

“I’m homesick all the time,” writes author Sarah Addison Allen. “I just don’t know where home is. There’s this promise of happiness out there. I know it. I even feel it sometimes. But it’s like chasing the moon. Just when I think I have it, it disappears into the horizon.” If you have ever felt pangs like hers, Capricorn, I predict they will fade in 2023. That’s because I expect you will clearly identify the feeling of home you want—and thereby make it possible to find and create the place, the land, and the community where you will experience a resounding peace and stability.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)

Storyteller Michael Meade tells us, “The ship is always off course. Anybody who sails knows that. Sailing is being offcourse and correcting. That gives a sense of what life is about.” I interpret Meade’s words to mean that we are never in a perfect groove heading directly towards our goal. We are constantly deviating from the path we might wish we could follow with unfailing accuracy. That’s not a bug in the system; it’s a feature. And as long as we obsess on the idea that we’re not where we should be, we are distracted from doing our real work. And the real work? The ceaseless corrections. I hope you will regard what I’m saying here as one of your core meditations in 2023, Aquarius.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)

A Chinese proverb tells us, “Great souls have wills. Feeble souls have wishes.” I guess that’s true in an abstract way. But in practical terms, most of us are a mix of both great and feeble. We have a modicum of willpower and a bundle of wishes. In 2023, though, you Pisceans could make dramatic moves to strengthen your willpower as you shed wimpy wishes. In my psychic vision of your destiny, I see you feeding metaphorical iron supplements to your resolve and determination.

By Rob Brezsny. Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s EXPANDED WEEKLY HOROSCOPE 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700 $1.99 per minute. 18 and over. Touchtone phone required.

JAN

15

he’s been likened to Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Jimmy McGriff.

IN THE CLUB

• CENTURY ROOM

OPEN AIR

One of the great jazz saxophonists of our time (Herring) matches his soulful, expressive playing with one of the hottest trumpet players around (Pelt) in a toetapping, mind-blowing Soul Jazz concert that is everything jazz is supposed to be: cool, swinging, and just a little mysterious.

- HOTEL CONGRESS PLAZA

Nicknamed the Gypsy-Jazz Warbler by the New York Times, Tatiana rose to the spotlight with 70 million views on YouTube. “An acclaimed millennial shaking up the jazz scene,” (Vanity Fair), her French and Balkan heritage inspired a passion for Gypsy music & sultry New Orleans Jazz.

VINCENT HERRING & JEREMY PELT

18

in partnership

Fair-hiring inits.

Grammatical connector like “is” or “seem” … or a connector found literally in

24-, 35- and 49-Across

___ Jose

Three-wheeler

Some honkers

“___ to a Superhero” (Weird Al Yankovic parody of “Piano Man”)

at rudely

Stately homes

“Sweet” sweetheart in a barbershop quartet standard

Take shape

order

Dark European thrush

Juliet