Lovin' Life After 50 - Tucson - April 2022

April 2022

Let’s Groove Earth, Wind & Fire is ingrained in culture

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6 One Size Does Not Fit All

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Opinion

4 5

Tuesday

Leibo At Large

APRIL

5

Ask Marisa

Entertainment

8

12

The Luck of the Irish Celtic Woman travels from ‘Old Sod’ to Tucson

10

Tuesday

APRIL

Calendar of Events

12

Casinos

Thursday

APRIL

Let’s Groove

14

Earth, Wind & Fire is ingrained in culture

Food & Drink

14

BATA-bing!

15

What’s Cooking? with Jan D’Atri

New restaurant brings a creative flair to Downtown

16

Wednesday

The Black Top Thrills

APRIL

New grill is a welcome addition to the Northwest side

20

2:00 p.m.

Samantha Johnson, DPT, TMC Outpatient Therapies

OH MY ACHING HEAD! 2:00 p.m.

Frances West, NP-C, Center for Neurosciences

STRESS RESILIENCE IN THE AGING BRAIN 10:00 a.m.

Daniela Zarnescu, PhD, UArizona College of Science

GRIEVING BRAIN: SURPRISING SCIENCE OF HOW WE LEARN FROM LOVE AND LOSS 2:00 p.m.

Mary-Frances O’Connor, UArizona Department of Psychology

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Thursday

APRIL

Columns

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PROSTATE, ED & YOUR BLADDER: WHAT’S THE CONNECTION?

The Healthy Geezer

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Ask the Expert

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An Ageless Attitude Since 1979

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11:00 a.m.

William Abraham, MD, TMC Pain Clinic and Susan Thompson, PharmD, TMC Pharmacy

Tuesday

PRICES MAY VARY: LEARN ABOUT FUNERAL OPTIONS

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2:00 p.m.

Martha Lundgren, Funeral Consumer’s Alliance of Arizona

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Opinion

Leibo At Large

Neighbor’s suicide leaves regret, questions in its wake

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ

ROC# 032524

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES! BESTOF

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Our reader poll is designed to let YOU tell us about your favorite people, places, shops, restaurants and things to do in Tucson.

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APRIL 2022

The white house sits across the street from the window fronting my desk. Not much distinguishes the place from the rest of the block where I moved two weeks ago. Four orange trees, their trunks painted white, line the east edge of the driveway.

The side gate has a sign that reads “Beware of the Dog” in faded orange letters. On the porch sits a white pot sprouting a metal replica of a sunflower.

The flower’s bright yellow adds a little cheer to the scene, but this is not that kind of story.

I met the woman who owned the house once, a few days after I moved in. I was unloading the last of my boxes.

She walked over from across the street and introduced herself as Linda. She looked to be approaching 80, and blunt in the way people of a certain age can pull off.

“It’s a nice street,” she assured me, with a hard glance that seemed to suggest I had better keep it that way.

I learned Linda had lived in the small white house for decades, beside Carolyn, her best friend and forever neighbor. There was rarely traffic on the block. Dogs barked on occasion. I told her my name. Then my phone rang. It was a work call I needed to take.

We said goodbyes and I thought nothing more of it for a few days, when I came home to a street full of police cars and an ambulance. The low white house had police crime scene tape blocking the driveway. Officers milled about. Carolyn, the forever neighbor, sat on her porch talking into her phone. I could see her shoulders heaving.

The sergeant running the scene met me in the street. He had little to say except there had been a death. Now a death investigation was happening. I asked whether there had been a crime.

He said he didn’t think so, that it looked

like an older woman, the home’s only occupant, had taken her own life. No, not with a gun. It appeared she had hanged herself.

“That’s sad,” was the best I could do.

“Very sad,” he agreed. A thought occurred to me: “I guess she might have been lonely.”

A couple of visitors have come and gone from the house since that afternoon, and I have looked for excuses to bump into Carolyn from the house next door, to ask if there’s anything I can do.

Each morning, I glance through the obituaries, to see if there might be more to Linda’s life — loved ones left behind, a memorial service scheduled, a charity where one might pay tribute.

Possibly, that’s the reporter in me, wanting to know “the rest of the story,” as Paul Harvey used to say. But more likely, it’s the human being in me, the new neighbor who wishes he hadn’t answered his phone, who regrets not being warmer, who wonders how he might have made some small difference.

This is magical thinking, I suppose.

The world may feel small today, with everyone in each other’s business on Facebook, on Twitter, online, but the truth is, we have never been more isolated.

Buried under the outward self we show the world, the #blessings and proclamations of gratitude, each of us has endless hidden nuances, stories we take pains to keep locked away.

Now I write a story about a neighbor no longer here to read it, while I stare at the house she left vacant and wonder what happened behind those closed curtains, that front door with the iron security grate.

So it goes. We are here until we’re not, and sometimes we take the rest of the story with us.

David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995.

Contact david@leibowitzsolo.com.

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Ask Marisa

Relationships deeply enrich lives

BY MARISA PEER

Q

Dear Marisa, I was married for three decades and recently found myself divorced. Our marriage was over emotionally long before it was over officially, so I’ve “moved on” faster than I thought I would.

Surprisingly, I feel ready to date again after many years of silencing my need for physical and emotional connection.

I don’t necessarily want another marriage — definitely not one like the one I just ended — but I’d love companionship in this phase of my life.

But here’s the thing: I have no idea how to date in this day and age. With apps, dating services and social media, things have changed so much since the last time I was single. I don’t even know if people my age really belong on those apps. I am intimidated by the whole concept of getting back out there, and I think perhaps I’m not the only one my age who feels that way.

Do you have any advice?

Signed, Lonely but eager

A

Dear Lonely but eager, Good for you for getting back out there again. It takes courage and self-belief to go after what you want no matter what age you are, and I commend you for that. I truly believe that everyone on the planet is deserving of love, and I can guarantee that you are no different.

As far as the apps and websites go, I don’t blame you for feeling overwhelmed. It’s often the case that people form rather extreme views on these things: Either they feel entirely against

technology, and look down on people who look for love on apps, assuming it’s full of scammers and liars. Or, they become obsessed with them, looking through apps and dating profiles as if it’s a full-time job and become fixated on scheduling as many “dates” as possible. For those people, it can become more about quantity than quality.

I would encourage you to take neither of these two paths. Instead, you can start out slowly and cautiously on the apps, using best practices — don’t give out personal or financial information; always meet in a public, busy place; and be wary of people who seem to avoid meeting face to face — to avoid any uncomfortable situations. I’d also suggest signing up for an app or service that caters to people of your age group, which might make you feel more comfortable.

At the same time, don’t just rely on modern technology as you re-enter the dating world. Get yourself out there doing all sorts of things. Follow your interests and curiosity: Get involved in senior or church groups, sporting leagues or a choir, or offer to dog-walk.

Many people in their 60s and older met their new partner through dog-walking, visiting elderly neighbors and being involved in the community. And don’t forget to pay attention!

Whether you’re at a coffee shop, a shopping mall or a neighborhood social gathering, don’t forget that modern dating is not either/or. You can meet people the old-fashioned way, too. Remember, if you move through the world with confidence and positive self-belief, you will see that reflected to you.

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There’s one more thing I want to say to you. You don’t say much about the nature of your divorce, other than indicating that marriage was perhaps unhappy for quite some time before it ended. This is quite common, but I would encourage you to do some investigation around why you allowed your needs to go unmet for so long.

Oftentimes, we assume that the problem with our failed relationships was the other person. We simply chose wrong. They weren’t good for us. They gave up on the relationship. But the truth is we all show up to relationships with our own patterns from our past. Sometimes, we’re even attracted to people who aren’t good for us because we’re desperately trying to get an old unmet need met. I don’t want you to do that again, so it’s important to spend some time with a therapist figuring out what went wrong in your marriage and why you allowed yourself to silence your own needs. As I explain in my book, “Tell Yourself a Better Lie,” you might find that the answer to that lies very early in your life, long before your marriage ever began.

Whatever happens, I wish you the best of luck on this new chapter and remember “what you want wants you.”

Both your life and somebody’s else’s life are about to be deeply enriched by you meeting and being with each other.

Very best, Marisa

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5

Features

One Size NOT Does

Fit All

Tucson med spa revolutionizes approach to anti-aging skin care

BY JORDAN HOUSTON Beauty is not one size fits all — and the approach to aesthetics shouldn’t be either, according Kelly Muzall, a registered nurse.

The master injector and dual-certified esthetician founded Downtown Faces, 428 S. Stone Avenue, roughly four years ago to create customized, anti-aging treatment plans for all types of skin.

Whether it’s acne, melasma, wrinkles, aging skin or hair loss, the med spa aims to inspire natural-looking results. Its mission is to provide “harmony and well-being in a celebration of beauty,” according to its Facebook page.

Muzall, boasting more than 20 years of industry experience, says she has built a reputation for herself based on a “less-ismore” mentality.

“People come in and say, ‘We hear you’re conservative,’” she tells Lovin’ Life After 50. “My whole career is a conservative approach to staying natural looking. I think you can really do that by educating the client and taking the time.”

Downtown Faces offers a plethora of services, ranging from Aquagold and microneedling to facials, chemical peels, wellness vitamin shots, Botox, dermal fillers, facial contouring and coolsculpting.

Dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, hydrodermabrasion and tattoo removal are also offered.

“I’m from Berkeley, and I hate what we’ve done as an industry. I think it’s atrocious how a lot of women are overinjected and overfilled. I’m looking for new, non-natural ways to stay looking natural,” Muzall laughs.

Her No. 1 recommendation for aging skin, however, is polydioxanone (PDO) threading, the registered nurse shares.

The nonsurgical facelift, a revolution-

6

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APRIL 2022

ary development taking the health and beauty industry by storm, uses dissolvable sutures to tighten and lift the skin.

PDO threading can be used to accentuate the cheeks or tighten the jawline. It also generates the production of natural collagen, Muzall explains.

“I thought it was so interesting. I could see the skin texture start to change, and I could see a lift — it added another tool to my toolbox that I never had before,” she says. “We had been using filler for so long to lift tissue when really it’s meant to add volume.”

The thread lift is a less-invasive procedure than facelift surgery and can often be performed in under 45 minutes without needing to go under a scalpel.

“I think almost all day long I do threads.

You have to do a lot of hand holding, because it’s not your instant gratification that filler can be,” she continues. “A lot of my clients are 50 and over and they’re coming back every two months. I’m really all about skin texture looking beautiful.

I think threads and lasers do that. Botox and neurotoxins I like to use as icing on the cake.”

Regardless of the procedure, Downtown Faces champions promoting a customized approach to meet each individual client’s needs.

“I think it’s the education we all have, and the time in the industry, that allows us to give really good feedback about which directions to take,” Muzall says.

“We’ve got a demographic in Tucson that is largely Hispanic, and we have to be careful about which lasers and treatments we use for different skin types, because it can create a lot of damage by using the wrong ones.”

Throughout her career, Muzall has worked with a wide range of wellness

professionals — but her path to Downtown Faces wasn’t exactly straightforward.

The Tucson resident earned a fine arts degree from the University of Arizona. She later attended beauty school and went on to work at the health and wellness resort Canyon Ranch for 14 years.

Muzall also pursued a master’s degree in nutrition at New York University before eventually returning to Arizona for nursing school.

“I went to do nursing school to get out of skin care, but I realized during nursing school I was not meant to be in hospitals,” Muzall recalls. “I think the wellness industry was more up my alley.”

Muzall has since worked with renowned plastic surgeons and dermatologists around the region, covering all Kelly Muzall, a registered nurse, master injector and dual-certified esthetician, founded Downtown Faces to create customized, anti-agends of the skin care ing treatment plans for all types of skin. (Downtown Faces/Submitted) spectrum. She has also served as a lead injector to several of the positive effect on the skin’s elasticity, acarea’s med spas specializing in Botox, cording to the National Library of Meddermal fillers and laser treatments. icine. Its anti-inflammatory properties In 2013, she opened the medical skin have also been deemed to lessen the care and massage studio Estudio De Piel. symptoms of certain skin conditions such The studio offered facials, microderm- as psoriasis and eczema. abrasion, dermaplaning, chemical peels, For more information about Downsclerotherapy and injectables. town Faces, visit downtownfacesaz.com.

“My clients have been my support system in life,” Muzall explains. “I get to go to work and work with people I love and work on clients that are really good friends of mine now.”

Now, always on the hunt for new ways to evolve, Muzall is in the market for an organic a CBD oil to offer at Downtown Faces.

“We have tried a couple of CBD more-organic-type oils and that sort of thing, but we haven’t found the right fit yet,” she discloses. “We also have a clientele that doesn’t want to use retinols, so we are looking for the right organic line.

Studies have shown that CBD has a

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Puzzles

GOby FIGURE! Linda Thistle

ANSWERS ON PAGE 19

King Crossword ACROSS 1 Bar legally 6 Decorator’s theme 11 Floodgate 12 Apple music service 14 Maidens of myth 15 Nap 16 Doctrine 17 Varieties 19 Up to 20 Casual tops 22 -- Paulo 23 Optimum 24 Passover repast 26 Heller and Conrad 28 Chips go-with 30 Small barrel 31 High-ranking angels 35 Nintendo princess 39 Neural transmitter 40 Snitch 42 Eye drop

43 44 46 47 49 51 52

Spasm Croc’s kin GI’s address Runs off to wed Transforms (into) Safe and sound Dawn-of-mammals epoch 53 Ninnies 54 “-- you!” (challenger’s cry)

10 11 13 18 21 23 25 27 29 31 32 33 34 DOWN 36 1 Parisian palace 37 2 Tallied 38 3 Bit of advice 41 4 Folksinger Phil 44 5 Mexican money 6 Identified incorrectly 45 48 7 Elevator name 50 8 Calendar abbr.

9 Foot part

Fixation Tizzies Mariners British rule of India Auto style Sire Shred “-- who?”

Sentence parts Fills up Driven out Highly ornate Perched Figure skater, at times Author du Maurier Got up Actress Marisa Richard of “Chicago” Crucifix Young dog HDTV brand

SUDOKU TIME

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words.

Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!

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APRIL 2022

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7

Entertainment

The Luck of the Irish Celtic Woman travels from ‘Old Sod’ to Tucson

BY TIM WAHL Music listeners don’t have to be Irish to fall in love with its tunes.

Songs of pining, love, land and loss are like magnets to the Emerald Isle, cheekily coined “the Old Sod,” which gave the world Yeats, Joyce and Shaw — and U2 — and a host of who’s who “content creators” and world-class performance artists. Not much argument that Irish music is one of Ireland’s most endearing and defining cultural products.

Enter Celtic Woman, the all-female singing sensation from Ireland. Co-founded in 2005 by David Downes, music director for the Irish stage show Riverdance, this ensemble of three singers and an instrumentalist — “Riverdance with voices,” an arts critic tagged them — is about to take its show on the road to the United States.

Headlined “Postcards from Ireland,” the show fuses traditional Irish music and modern songs in what could be earmarked as an “edu-tainment” experience for concertgoers. Publicity purports it to “celebrate Ireland’s rich musical and cultural heritage.”

In the lead-up to this foray is a treasure trove of accomplishments for Celtic Woman, which has brought its song to all the continents save Antarctica. Particularly, it has sold over 10 million CDs and DVDs, was named Billboard’s No. 1 World Music Artist six times and nominated for a Grammy in 2019. It has entertained presidents at the White House twice and appeared on numerous TV shows.

Now the women are on an 83-city U.S. tour that hits the Tucson Music Hall on Tuesday, May 3.

“We owe tremendous gratitude to PBS and the American people,” says Tara McNeill, Celtic Woman’s harp and fiddle player.

A member of Celtic Woman since 2016, McNeill lauded the “unique” yearslong relationship between her group and PBS. “That’s how we got started off on our journey (in 2005).”

But the “crowning jewel” of having “made it” may have been, oddly, recognition on “Saturday Night Live.” McNeill

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met the parody with aplomb, expressing what some would say is a prototypical Irish way to be able to laugh at one’s own foibles.

“Wasn’t it hilarious?” she gushed, noting her tickle over a character in the skit who thought he had procured tickets to a Boston Celtics game and was astonished to land in a concert of four lovelies from Ireland.

A first thing to get straight about the ensemble is that the “C” in “Celtic” is hard like a “k,” learned in grade school phonics class, not the soft “c” or “s” sound, common in the United States, thanks to the basketball team.

Second, it’s not a mistake that Celtic Woman is a singular, mass noun. “It personifies the collective spirit and the legacy of the Celts,” McNeill says, “particularly its women.” In Celtic society, believed to predate the Roman Empire, the women are said to have been rugged and independent beyond minding the hearth, qualities that mark the amalgamated energy of women in modern Irish life.

“So ‘Celtic Woman’ signifies ‘we are one,’” McNeill adds.

From its inception, Celtic Woman has acted as a placeholder for the comings and goings of talent. Fifteen performers have occupied the roles of vocalists and instrumentalist, the role currently held by McNeill.

Only Chloë Agnew, who came onboard at 14, is an original cast member. While Muirgen O’Mahony, the newest member, Megan Walsh and she are rooted in the Republic of Ireland, McNeill is from Northern Ireland — alternately referred to in the Republic as “the North of Ireland,” a nod to Ireland’s past as a whole, undivided isle before “the troubles,” the euphemism for the political rift over the British-occupied section of Ireland called Ulster.

Audiences at the stagings of “Postcards from Ireland” may recognize many traditional ballads as well as familiar vistas in a land known for green and lots of rain. The moors and the bogs, the verdant hills and valleys, lush streams and ancient castles

define the Emerald Isle and its heritage, commonly populated with images of leprechauns, shamrocks and St. Patrick.

“For the two hours or so (of the concert) I want people to feel like they’ve landed in Ireland,” McNeill says.

A selection of the ditties in the performance are performed in Irish, which to lay ears may sound the same as Gaelic, although linguistic purists may beg to differ. Handed down by the Celts, the Irish language is compulsory in Ireland’s education system. Pupils must pass an Irish language proficiency exam to receive a “leaver’s certificate” (equivalent to a high school diploma).

Irish is spoken in all provinces including a few areas in the North. Many tunes throughout the land — in pubs, private homes and concert halls — are crooned in the Irish tongue.

Thus, the segue to Irish in song is a natural process for the performers in Celtic Woman, even though McNeill’s upbringing in the British education system in Northern Ireland precluded schooling in the Irish language.

Celtic Woman is a mix of members from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The group comes to Tucson Music Hall on Tuesday, May 3. (Celtic Woman/Submitted)

“Voices of Angels,” like the title of an album released in 2017, is yet another nom de plume bestowed on these beautiful and talented sirens from Ireland, known as Eire (sounds like “air”) in Irish, whose rapturous music seems to transcend earthly boundaries and bring audiences in abundance to concerts.

The approaching spectacle of Celtic Woman, in luminous, flowing gowns, includes background performers and a 50-piece orchestra on traditional Irish instruments — tin whistles, Irish harps, bodhráns (drums), Uilleann pipes (bagpipes), concertinas, bouzoukis and banjos.

Despite what some claim is a nominal difference between Irish and Celtic music, McNeill notes a fusion of cultures in the music of Celtic Woman.

“Our songs are a mixture of traditional Irish music, classical and modern music,” Celtic...continues on page 11 www.LovinLife.com

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APRIL 2022

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Calendar of Events

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

SAHBA Home & Patio Show, various times through April 10, Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue, tickets start at $8, tucsonconventioncenter.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 April Fool’s Day!

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

An Evening with Chris Botti, 7:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $47.50, foxtucson.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 3

Steve Winter: On the Trail of Big Cats, 6:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $25, foxtucson.com

MONDAY, APRIL 4

James Capo Art Exhibit, various times through April 15, Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive, Oro Valley, free admission, library.pima.gov

TUESDAY, APRIL 5

“Curious Conversations: Inspired by the Blues Shows,” 1 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, free, registration required, foxtucson.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

1-on-1 Library Resource Tech Help, 10:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Murphy-Wilmot Library, 530 N. Wilmot Road, free admission, library.pima. gov

THURSDAY, APRIL 7

The British Invasion, 7:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $37.50, foxtucson.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

SAHBA Home & Patio Show, various times through April 10, Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue, tickets start at $8, tucsonconventioncenter.com

The Gootter Grand Slam, 4 p.m., La Paloma Country Club, 3660 E. Sunrise Drive, $300, https://bit.ly/JensenBros. The event supports the lifesaving accomplishments of the Steven M. Gootter Foundation, which over the past 17 years has raised millions of dollars for ongoing research for sudden cardiac death at the UA Sarver Heart Center and has distributed over 400 AEDs that have been placed in schools, sports venues, public places, nonprofit organizations and law enforcement vehicles throughout Southern Arizona. The event features an exhibition match featuring the UA men’s tennis team followed by UA head football coach Jedd Fisch and UA head men’s tennis coach Clancy Shields taking on the Bryan Brothers (Bob and Mike). The grand slam event concludes with a match between the Bryan Brothers and tennis legends the Jensen Brothers (Murphy and Luke). A gala dinner follows at 6 p.m.

SAHBA Home & Patio Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue, tickets start at $8, tucsonconventioncenter.com

MONDAY, APRIL 11 Holy Monday

TUESDAY, APRIL 12

Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band, 7:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $42.50, foxtucson.com “Hadestown,” various times through April 17, Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard, tickets start at $25, broadwayintucson.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

“Hadestown,” various times through April

17, Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard, tickets start at $25, broadwayintucson. com

THURSDAY, APRIL 14

“Hadestown,” various times through April 17, Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard, tickets start at $25, broadwayintucson.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 Good Friday

“Hadestown,” various times through April 17, Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard, tickets start at $25, broadwayintucson.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Holy Saturday

“Hadestown,” various times through April 17, Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard, tickets start at $25, broadwayintucson.com Friends of the Pima County Public Library Members-Only Book Sale, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friends of the Pima County Public Library Book Barn, 2230 N. Country Club Road, free admission, friendsbookbarn.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 17 Easter Sunday

“Hadestown,” 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Boulevard, tickets start at $25, broadwayintucson.com

MONDAY, APRIL 18 Easter Monday

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

Tucson Organic Gardeners Monthly Meeting, 6:30 p.m., tucsonorganicgardeners.org, Zoom. For this month’s program, Mark Morris, owner of the local worm farm Inch by Inch, will discuss industrial scale vermiculture. The meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month, August through April. For a Zoom link, email tucsonorganicgardeners@gmail.com

The Music of Cream: Disraeli Gears and Clapton Classics, 7:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $27, foxtucson.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Arizona International Film Festival Opening Night Screening, 7:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $13.64, foxtucson.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

Cinema Tucson: La Mami, 7 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $6, foxtucson.com “Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

An Evening with Kristin Chenoweth, 7:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $82.50, foxtucson.com “Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

Madaras Gallery presents Spring Bling featuring Bling by Wilkening Jewelry, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan, free admission, 615-3001, madaras.com. The Mother’s Day jewelry showcase features a meet and greet with Whitney Wilkening, whose jewelry has been featured in Bloomingdale’s, as well as the hit TV series, “Say Yes to the Dress,” the Oprah Blog, “Good Morning America” and “The Today Show.” Diana Madaras will also be signing art purchases in the morning.

Tucson Regional Ballet: “The Princess & the Pea,” with excerpts from “Don Quixote,” various times through April 25, Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Avenue, visit website for ticket information, leorichtheater.com.

Calendar...continues on page 11

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www.LovinLife.com

Calendar of Events continued from page 10

Martha Redbone Roots Project, 7:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $29.50, foxtucson.com “Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

Mozart and Brahms, 2 p.m., Tucson Symphony Center, 2175 N. Sixth Avenue, $16, 8828585, tucsonsymphony.org.

“Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

MONDAY, APRIL 25

“Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

“Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

PAID ADVERTORIAL

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27

“Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

“Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

FRIDAY, APRIL 29

Keb Mo, 7:30 p.m., Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, tickets start at $35, foxtucson.com “Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Mother’s Day Jewelry Showcase, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan, free admission, 615-3001, madaras.com.

“Titanic,” various times through May 1, Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 214, tickets start at $40, arts-express. org/titanic

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They saved what they could, and now retirement is around the corner.

Then 2020 arrived, and Covid19 swept the globe. At first, Ron and Mary thought worldwide fear and panic might keep things in perspective, but panic continued to escalate. Stocks were volatile, businesses feared forced closures, and everyone seemed shaken. Amid the panic and fear, Ron and Mary’s priorities became crystal clear; they needed safety and security.

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Celtic...continued from page 8 she says. “They are universal, for everyone, not just for people with an Irish connection. Wherever we’ve toured — China, Japan, Korea — people relate to our songs.”

Multicultural provenance extends to Celtic Woman’s orchestral accouterments, which have evolved through centuries of use and been adopted from other cultures. Particularly, she references the banjo, originating in Africa and crossing to America in the times of slavery. This instrument has a prominent role in American country-western and bluegrass, genres, she observes, that bear “striking similarities to traditional Irish folk music.”

In anybody’s book, the compass settings for Celtic Woman’s USA gallivant pose a recipe for a logistical nightmare.

Night after night after the curtain falls and the set is struck, like “the travelers,”

the nomadic people in the land they’re from, the entourage and ancillaries in the production, namely instruments and set fixtures, set off in a convoy of three buses that zigzag north and south, edging to Tucson.

Days off are rare, which mean that unpacking and setting up, blocking, lighting and dealing with the physics and acoustics at each venue is a daily grind.

This leaves little time for sightseeing, or craic (pronounced “crack”), the Irish word for “fun.” “But you’ve got to be careful using this word in America,” admonishes McNeill, with an impish smile. Crack, of course, is a toxic and illegal drug.

Celtic Woman

WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 WHERE: Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Avenue COST: Tickets start at $39 INFO: 792-41010, tucsonmusichall.org

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APRIL 2022

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Casinos

Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey and Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire will play Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater on Friday, April 22.

(Jabari Jacobs/Submitted)

Let’s Groove Earth, Wind & Fire is ingrained in culture

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Earth, Wind & Fire bassist/founding member Verdine White is a man of few words. He shares his expectations for the legendary band’s upcoming gig at Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater in a few succinct sentences.

“It’s going to be the hits and things like that,” White says. “We’re grateful to be out there. It’s been a long two years with COVID. The audiences are going to be very happy to see us.”

Fans can expect songs like “Let’s Groove,” “September” and “Reasons,” all of which have become ingrained in culture.

“The songs are part of people’s lives,” White says.

“People come up to me and thank us for making the music. When we write

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APRIL 2022

songs, we definitely don’t think they’re going to be timeless. That’s just something that’s out of your control.”

White’s younger half-brother, Maurice, founded Earth, Wind & Fire in 1969 and named the band after the elements from his astrological charts.

The band has scored eight No. 1 hits and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. The catalog includes 23 albums, eight of which went double platinum and hit the Top 10.

In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Chicago-based act won nine Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement prize in 2012.

In 2020, Earth, Wind & Fire celebrated its 50th anniversary in entertainment.

In 2019, its contributions to arts and cul-

ture were acknowledged in Washington, D.C., with the Kennedy Center Honors.

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery also awarded Earth, Wind & Fire with its Portrait of a Nation Prize.

Earth, Wind & Fire fans include acts like Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper and Solange.

Charity work is important to Earth, Wind & Fire as well, as it has worked with nonprofits like the Make a Wish Foundation, Race to Erase MS, the American Cancer Society and the Human Society.

In 2007, leader Philip Bailey founded Music Is Unity, which helps youth in foster care successfully transition into adulthood and provides instruments to youth with musical aspirations but lacking the resources.

Verdine White opened The Verdine White Foundation in Los Angeles as a mecca to serve youth with music scholarships and other programs.

White acknowledges the impact that Earth, Wind & Fire has made on culture.

“There was a lady who came up to me a week ago, crying and thanking me for the songs and the band,” he says. “She was a big fan of Maurice’s. It’s always great to hear that. It is all about the fans.”

Earth, Wind & Fire

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, April 22 WHERE: Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road COST: Tickets start at $30, with discounts for military INFO: casinodelsol.com www.LovinLife.com

SALES REPRESENTATIVE/ACCOUNT MANAGER Hardworking, Professional Sales Representative Needed for Print and Digital Publishing Company Tucson Local Media, publisher of local popular weeklies like Tucson Weekly, Foothills News, and Explorer, seeks a full-time Sales Representative to join its team of talented professionals.

You will be responsible for developing new business, primarily through cold calling using the phone and email, offering solutions to drive company revenue.

A top candidate will possess excellent communication skills, phone presence, and enthusiasm, and must be able to meet critical deadlines, have a positive, professional attitude, and the ability to work as part of a team.

Responsibilities: • Present and sell company products and services to new and existing customers • Prospect and contact potential customers • Reach agreed upon sales targets by the deadline • Resolve customer inquiries and complaints • Set follow-up appointments to keep customers aware of latest developments • Create sales material to present to customers

Qualifications: • Previous experience in sales, customer service, or other related fields • Familiarity with CRM platforms • Ability to build rapport with clients • Strong negotiation skills • Deadline and detail-oriented

This is a good position for an individual who is financially motivated, and offers a base pay plus commission and a real opportunity for income growth for those who can aggressively and professionally close and maintain a book of business.

Send your resume with cover letter to GTackett@TimesPublications.com www.LovinLife.com

APRIL 2022

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Food & Drink

BATA-bing!

New restaurant brings a creative flair to Downtown

BY VALERIE VINYARD It’s always exciting when a new restaurant opens.

It’s even more thrilling when it’s a masterpiece like BATA. Chef Tyler Fenton’s newest restaurant, located Downtown in an expansive former warehouse, opened March 9.

After two visits, including during one of the four soft opening nights, we’re enchanted.

As one recent visitor gushed online: “Your favorite restaurant is now your second-favorite restaurant.”

Even if this wasn’t at the tail end of a pandemic, where major restaurant openings are few and far between, BATA’s design, atmosphere and food make this a special place.

Its menu features a welcome burst of creativity. Add that to impeccable service and a sophisticated but comfortable vibe, and BATA shines.

Located in the Downtown Warehouse Arts District on Toole Avenue next to Borderlands Brewing Co., BATA occupies a 6,000-square-foot space. The building first was built as a supply warehouse in the 1930s and later was transformed into offices and a community arts space.

BATA’s decor leans contemporary. Its high-ceilinged, sweeping dining room boasts an open kitchen and well-spaced

Grilled pork belly, charred onion and daikon costs $16.

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booths and tables. Midtown Artisans created the walnut tables with white oak accents for the diners.

A well-appointed bar with about 10 barstools sits off to the side and provides a view of the kitchen.

Sure, the high ceilings and lack of soundproofing makes for energetic acoustics. The noise level, however, isn’t as high as other restaurants in town with similar construction.

Though the restaurant’s name is in all capital letters, BATA is not an acronym.

Its name was taken from the term robata, a Japanese style of grilling that uses fire.

Fire is a prominent theme throughout the menu.

As Fenton puts it: “We’re not a Japanese restaurant, but we do pull a lot of influence from Japan.”

The 34-year-old Fenton has lofty goals for BATA. “The goal with the restaurant is to be where we’re pushing forward in a major way,” Fenton says. “Our goal is to be the best restaurant in Tucson and to change the restaurant model to where I think the way restaurants want to be run.”

Fenton’s first restaurant, Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink, opened Downtown at 101 E. Pennington Street on August 1, 2012. He opened Reilly North, 7262 N. Oracle Road, on August 1 last year.

Of his 22 employees at BATA, Fenton plucked a few from his Reilly locations to open his new venture. He also hired a crew of A-listers from restaurants around town to work in the kitchen and as servers. David Solorzano, formerly the chef of Penca Restaurante, is BATA’s chef de cuisine.

Service is friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. Knowledge comes in handy when some of the ingredients listed on the menu stump a diner.

It’s not an intimidating menu, but it’s a unique one.

Take the malawach ($10), which is a tasty Israeli flatbread. The dish comes with labne, a soft Mediterranean cheese, fermented tomato and cured egg yolk.

Or there’s the smoked cauliflower chawanmushi ($14), which is a delicious Japanese savory custard that comes with allium dashi and chive.

BATA’s menu has small frequent changes, with larger structural ones weekly.

Seasonally, it’s revamped.

An example of a micro change is keeping all the components of a dish the same, such as the sauce and garnish, but changing out the protein. A larger structural change is more of “a total dish overhaul” and could be where the sauce is changed out with another vegetable or herb.

“A year from now, none of the dishes will be there in their current form,” Fenton said.

He wants to be driven by the market and focus on buying locally grown foods.

In fact, 90% of the products served at BATA come from within 400 miles of Tucson.

Fenton also adopts a more responsible format with his dishes and eliminates

Grilled dry-aged pork loin, charred squash and pecan with coffee amino costs $28.

(Submitted)

waste. For example, if a whole pig is delivered, the menu will be based around that.

There might be pork belly one day, another day pork shoulder, then pork loin.

“One of our goals is to minimize waste,” he said. “We’ll try to use everything that we get in.”

For example, he said that leftover kale stems will get salted and turned into seasoning. Other leftover pieces will be dried over the fire or fermented, and most will turn into seasoning on other dishes.

In early summer, Fenton plans to open the basement and offer a Spanish-style tapas bar. Its working name is BAR BATA. He described the drink menu as less cocktail focused and having more wine and vermouth, or “easy-drinking drinks.”

“We’ll serve food through a different lens,” said Fenton, noting it can serve as a holding space for people waiting for a table upstairs. “They can get a drink and a couple of snacks.”

BATA’s capacity is 90, but initially its seating will be limited to about 60. A private dining room for smaller events can seat about 14 and features a prix-fixe menu, and a larger event space can seat about 40.

In the main dining room, the largest tables seat six, because Fenton said the small-plate format is best suited to parties of two and four.

“I definitely think we have a number of dishes that I haven’t seen around town,” he said.

Some dishes are single bites or two, such as the ash-roasted beet tartlet with BATA...continues on page 15 www.LovinLife.com

What’s Cooking?

Lasagna soup

BY JAN D’ATRI

Labneh, fermented tomato and cured egg yolk is $12.

BATA...continued from page 14 cultured cream ($4), while others are more substantial, such as the grilled pork belly with charred onion and kohlrabi ($15).

The dry-aged beef tartare ($16) is topped with aerated buttermilk aioli and comes with a white Sonoran wheat tortilla. Fenton designed it to “kind of taste like a breakfast burrito.”

“I wanted to go in the opposite direction and have you eat it with your hands,” Fenton said of the dish. “It lets the meat really be the focal point even though we hide it with the sauce. We’re pushing away from norms.”

For those wanting dessert, BATA features three options ($13 each), including chocolate mousse with a smoked almond tart and Arizona olive oil caramel and sourdough ice cream with whey granita and hearth-dried dates.

“It’s inventive, fun and exciting,” said 34-year-old Brian Smith, executive chef at Maynards Market and Kitchen, of BATA’s menu. Smith was enjoying dinner during one of BATA’s soft openings.

“Tucson hasn’t seen anything like this.”

Even the food staples possess flair. BATA’s grilled potato bread ($6) comes with pillowy soft rolls made with fermented

potato buttermilk and has butter that is made in-house. Fenton said that BATA makes all the butter that the kitchen uses.

Perhaps one of the most interesting items is the chewy carrots ($12) with ajo blanco and cilantro. Fenton said that the vegetarian restaurant Amass in Copenhagen, Denmark, was the first eatery that featured this labor-intensive dish. His version takes three days to create, including soaking the carrots in an alkaline solution, then curing, cooking, drying and rehydrating them, making them “the most flavor-intensive dish on the menu.”

“I think the goal with this restaurant is to push people a little out of their comfort zone and to try new things,” Fenton said. “You come to for the experience where you know you’ll come for delicious food and not a signature dish.

“We want to lead the charge to push in a new direction.”

BATA

35 E. Toole Avenue 367-4236, batatucson.com 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Get your copy of

Lovin’ Life After 50 today!

www.LovinLife.com

Allow me to introduce you to my new favorite dish! If you love lasagna, you’re going to absolutely be giddy over making this simple soup that tastes exactly like lasagna.

I can’t stop making it for friends and family, and I get a kick out of watching them come back for seconds — and thirds — and then holding their tummy because they’ve eaten too much. Be prepared for the same reaction!

This lasagna soup is just scrumptious.

I often hear that folks love lasagna but only order it in restaurants because it’s rather tedious to assemble. With lasagna soup, it’s a one-pot wonder of deliciousness without the stress. In fact, you don’t even cook the lasagna noodles ahead of time. You simply throw the raw noodles

into the soup! It’s just as delicious whether you use turkey, beef, Italian pork sausage or a combination of all three!

One of the things that really makes it taste like lasagna is the ricotta mixture that you dollop on top of the soup when you plate it!

If you like Italian cuisine, if you like easy, if you like to please people with a hearty dish that they will adore, then I hope you make lasagna soup soon.

Lasagna soup Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 3 cloves of garlic, minced • 1 sweet yellow onion, chopped fine • 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey, beef or Italian sausage (I prefer half beef or turkey with half sausage) • 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce (prefer Rao’s Tomato Basil) • 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, or half a pint of fresh cherry tomatoes, chopped • 1/2 cup chopped basil, plus more for topping • 1 teaspoon oregano, dried or fresh • 4 cups chicken broth • 1 cup water • 1 cup heavy cream • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon pepper • 8 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into pieces (about 10 noodles) • 1 cup whole milk ricotta • 1 cup shredded mozzarella • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping

Directions:

In a pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic and onion until soft and translucent.

Add the turkey, beef or sausage and cook until browned. Add the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, chopped basil, oregano, chicken broth, 1 cup of water, heavy cream, salt and pepper. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often. Break the lasagna noodles into bite-sized pieces (about 1- to 2-inch pieces) and add them to the pot. Stir occasionally until the noodles are tender. (Do not overcook the noodles. They should be al dente, or a bit firm but cooked through.) Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the ricotta, shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, mixing to combine. When the soup is done, spoon it into a bowl, top with a big dollop of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan and fresh basil.

Boun appetite!

Watch Jan D’Atri’s how-to videos at https://bit.ly/JanDAtri.

APRIL 2022

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15

The Black Top Thrills New grill is a welcome addition to the northwest side

BY VALERIE VINYARD Moving from the streets to a brick and mortar less than six months ago, The Black Top Grill is on fire.

“Things have been going great,” owner Gabe Ceniceros said. “People love it.”

Founded as a food truck in 2014, The Black Top Grill specializes in hot dogs, but those who eschew them as well as vegetarians will still enjoy it.

Sandwiches include a pesto chicken sandwich ($10.95-$13.95 as a combo), which is dipped in basil pesto, melted mozzarella, tomato and mixed greens on buttered bread.

Ceniceros said that the restaurant sells hundreds of half-pound beef hot dogs every week.

We tried the award-winning elotero hot dog, which included fire-roasted corn, bacon, chipotle lime sauce, asadero cheese and queso cotija. The savory hot dog overflowed with toppings and made for a satisfying meal.

The four types of loaded fries ($10.25 each) were impossible to resist and

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enough to share. Diners choose between regular or sweet potato fries. We liked the loaded green hatch chili and cheese fries,

One of the hundreds of hot dogs is created at The Black Top Grill. The restaurant goes through hundreds of hot dogs every week.

which were topped with green hatch chili, dairy free avo cream, queso cotija, asadero cheese and red onion.

Seven varieties of generously sized quesadillas ($6$11.25) are on the menu.

They include a traditional cheese option ($6) and a “fancy quesadilla” ($10.25), which is stuffed with melted mozzarella, feta and spinach and is topped with sriracha garlic seasoning and cotija.

Kids even have a choice of one of four baskets ($6.50), including nachos, a hot dog or quesadilla.

The kids’ baskets include a choice of side and a drink.

There’s a nod to those on diets, including a section of tacos called Ta-Ketos ($9.95-$12.95) for those folOwner Gabe Ceniceros puts the finishing touches on one of The Black Top Grill’s quesadillas.

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APRIL 2022

lowing the keto diet.

And two generously portioned salads — taco or buffalo chicken ($12.95 each) — will satisfy those looking for a healthier item.

With combination dishes, diners can choose sides that include chili and cheese, mixed green salad, fries, chips and salsa, onion rings and roasted elote (each $3.50). Our favorite was the elote, or fire-roasted corn, which comes drizzled in chipotle lime sauce and is topped with queso Cotija and garlic sriracha spice.

Nonalcoholic drinks ($1.75-$3.25) include traditional fountain sodas as well as bottles of Mexican Coca-Cola ($3.25).

Margaritas and a variety of local beers also are for sale.

Desserts include a variety of floats ($6.50), such as a Creamsicle float, which is vanilla ice cream and bottled Fanta orange soda topped with whipped cream and orange powder.

Traditionalists will enjoy a Coke float, with the added bonus that the vanilla ice cream is paired with bottled Mexican Coke before it’s topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

The Mandonada ($6.50) sounded intriguing, with vanilla ice cream topped with mango syrup, chamoy, organic mango chunks and tajin.

The desserts are rounded off with sopapillas and churros ($6.50 each). The churros were a crispy, sweet way to finish a satisfying meal.

Troy Lustino has visited The Black Top Grill a few times. The northwest side student usually orders one of the hot dogs, although he’s tried the loaded steak nachos ($13.25).

The nachos come with house-made tortilla chips smothered with melted asadero cheese, nacho cheese, steak, tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, dairy-free avo

Gabe and Marielle Ceniceros, owners of The Black Top Grill, pose inside their brick-and-mortar restaurant on the northwest side. The grill opened as a food truck in 2014 and moved to its North Thornydale Road location last November.

(Mandy Rena Photography/Submitted)

cream and cilantro.

“I’m a hot dog guy, and Black Top has a bunch of options,” said Lustino, 24. “They do a solid Sonoran hot dog ($7.75-$10.25), but the Hawaiian one ($7.75-$10.25) was a good option. I was surprised by the coconut at first, but I ended up liked it.”

Not surprisingly, the Hawaiian dog comes with crushed pineapple. Diced red onion, pickled jalapeño, a strip of bacon and baked coconut round off the toppings.

“At least it didn’t have spam on it,” he said, laughing.

The Black Top Grill

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Columns

Ask the Expert

The Healthy Geezer

The sinus infection, toothache mystery solved

BY FRED CICETTI

Q

Can a sinus infection give you a toothache?

A

I can write from personal experience on this one. I had a bad toothache that sent me to my dentist. He did some X-rays and could find nothing wrong. He asked me about my sinuses, and I told him I was fighting an infection.

Bingo.

Yes, infection in the sinuses located in your cheekbones can cause your upper jaw and teeth to ache and your cheeks to become tender to the touch. Sinusitis is a nasty malady that can do much more than give you a toothache.

Sinusitis, which is infection or inflammation of the sinuses, creates suffering for about 37 million Americans every year.

The sinuses are four pairs of cavities: the frontal sinuses over the eyes, maxillary sinuses inside each cheekbone, ethmoid sinuses just behind the bridge of the nose, and sphenoid sinuses behind the ethmoids. Each sinus is connected to the nose.

Acute sinusitis lasts for four weeks or less. Subacute sinusitis runs four to eight weeks. Chronic sinusitis can continue for years. Recurrent sinusitis includes several acute attacks within a year.

Unlike sinusitis, a common cold usually goes away without treatment in about 10 days. So, if you have what feels like a bad cold for longer than 10 days, go to your doctor for a checkup.

Most cases of acute sinusitis start with a cold or allergy attack, which inflames the mucous membranes of the sinuses.

Swelling traps air and mucus in the sinuses, and they cannot drain properly. The

trapped mucus creates ideal conditions for bacteria to grow.

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis may be less severe than those of acute sinusitis.

However, untreated chronic sinusitis can cause damage to the sinuses and cheekbones that sometimes requires surgery to repair.

Most people with sinusitis have pain or tenderness. Other symptoms of sinusitis can include fever, weakness, fatigue, nasal congestion, cough and sore throat.

If you have acute sinusitis, your doctor may prescribe decongestants, antibiotics and pain relievers. Many cases of acute sinusitis will end without antibiotics.

Many health care providers treat chronic sinusitis as though it is an infection, by using antibiotics and decongestants. Others use both antibiotics with steroid nasal sprays. Further research is needed to determine the best treatment.

When medical treatment fails, surgery may be the only alternative for treating chronic sinusitis. The most common surgery done today is functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) to enlarge the natural openings and allow drainage.

FESS is less invasive than conventional sinus surgery. With the endoscope, the surgeon can look directly into the nose while clearing the narrow channels between the sinuses. This type of surgery can be done under local or general anesthesia.

One worthwhile way to help keep your sinuses clear is to use an over-the-counter saltwater nasal wash every day. Most pharmacies carry them. They help remove mucus and bacteria from the nose and sinuses. I use one myself, and it has been beneficial.

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APRIL 2022

Six things worth knowing about Valley fever

BY TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER

If you live in Arizona, you’ve probably heard of Valley fever.

It is caused by a fungus — coccidioides — that grows in the soil of places with low rainfall, hot summers and mild winters, making Arizona and other Southwestern states a hot spot for the condition. In fact, most Valley fever cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention come from Arizona or California.

If you’re not familiar with Valley fever, here is some helpful information on symptoms, treatment and prevention from Dr. Sean Elliott, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at TMCOne.

What are the symptoms of Valley fever?

Some 60% of Valley fever patients are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t experience any symptoms at all. Another 35% have flu-like symptoms such as lowgrade fevers, malaise, achy muscles and headaches. The remaining 5% with severe Valley fever will have higher fevers, chest pain, cough and, sometimes, low blood pressure.

“Many patients, even those with mild symptoms, will experience night sweats,” Elliott said. “We’re talking the kind where one needs to dry out the pillow and the bedsheets in the morning. Many will also experience achy joints.

In fact, Valley fever has been called ‘desert rheumatism’ because it causes small joints such as hands, wrists, feet and ankles to be achy.”

Some patients will develop a hive-like rash and red nodules on the lower legs over the shins. “Such people are having a hyper-immune response to the fungus causing Valley fever,” Elliott said.

When should you see a doctor?

Those with high fevers, severe cough or difficulty breathing, or losing weight from anorexia or malaise should see their doctor.

“Practically speaking, many patients seek medical care for prolonged fevers and night sweats or for the rash, which can be quite striking,” Elliott said.

How do you get Valley fever in the first place? Is it contagious?

Valley fever is contracted by inhaling the spores in the air. It is typically associated with the dust in the air and seasonal winds. Those working in occupations such as construction, excavation, agriculture, archaeological digging or other fields that disturb the soil may be at increased risk of exposure.

It is not contagious from human to human.

How can you prevent getting Valley fever?

Because of how one contracts Valley fever, it can be hard to avoid. However, you can limit your exposure to the outdoors during windy times.

Who is at risk for severe disease?

Everyone who lives and travels in an area with Valley fever is at risk for getting the disease. However, being part of one of the following may increase your risk of developing severe disease: • People with weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant patients, Hodgkin’s disease patients, HIV/AIDS patients, and people taking corticosteroids or certain types of drugs for autoimmune diseases or chemotherapy.

• African Americans and Filipinos are not more likely to get Valley fever, but, if they do get it, they have a higher risk of severe disease. Experts are not sure why this happens, but it might be because of genetic differences.

• People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing severe or chronic pneumonia. Diabetics with better-controlled sugar levels may have less severe disease.

• Pregnant women are at greater risk of getting chronic or disseminated Valley fever, especially during the third trimester and right after giving birth.

How is Valley fever treated?

Most people do not need treatment, because their immune system handles it.

Those with risk factors for severe disease, Expert...continues on page 19 www.LovinLife.com

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Expert...continued from page 18 such as certain ethnicities (Black, Filipino or Marshallese), people with immunodeficiency diseases or those who are on immunosuppressive medications, are more likely to be treated with fluconazole, an antifungal medication, than someone without these risk factors.

If you have symptoms you are con-

cerned about, please schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.

With 18 convenient locations across Tucson, TMCOne is a one-stop shop for primary, specialty and urgent care.

TMCOne provides quick access to care that is convenient and compassionate. As a TMC HealthCare affiliate, TMCOne patients have access to inpatient services at Tucson Medical Center and a whole network of like-minded health care professionals. Visit tmcone.com to find a provider for your health care needs.

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