Loving Life After 50 - Tucson - May 2021

May 2021

A Rest for the Soul

Ryanhood says its beautiful melodies will calm nerves

Coming Full Circle

Rialto Theatre names Cathy Rivers executive director

A Stroke of

REALISM

Social media keeps Erin McLoughlin inspired

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The latest news and top local stories!

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A Stroke of Realism

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A Rest for the Soul

Social media keeps Erin McLoughlin inspired

Casino Del Sol named one of the best hotels Ryanhood says its ‘beautiful melodies, harmonies and rhythms’ will calm nerves

Coming Full Circle

Rialto Theatre names Cathy Rivers executive director

Food & Wine Unconventional Convention Restaurant

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Music 16

Just Najima

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Columns 18

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Ask the Expert

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Traveling art exhibit shares Marine Corps’ talents

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Upfront

‘Honor, Courage, Commitment’ Traveling art exhibit shares Marine Corps’ talents at Pima Air & Space Museum

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Maj. Gen. James W. Lukeman says more people can benefit from understanding the history, traditions and culture of the Marine Corps.

“Through artwork, we are able to convey those experiences in a very personal and powerful way,” says Lukeman, the chief executive officer of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.

The foundation is sponsoring the traveling combat art exhibit “Honor, Courage, Commitment: Marine Corps Art, 19752018.” The tour kicked off at the Pima Air & Space Museum.

The exhibit features 36 works of art by 15 combat artists, focusing on the Marine Corps service immediately following the Vietnam War through recent years.

The exhibit will travel across the country through mid-2023.

Most of the artwork is from the inaugural “Combat Art Gallery” exhibit at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.

The selected pieces include 34 works on canvas and two sculptures.

“The initial National Museum of the Marine Corps has a very rich combat art collection,” says Lin Ezell, former museum director and the travel-

www.LovinLife.com

Scott Marchand is director of the Pima Air & Space Museum, while Lin Ezell is the former museum director and the traveling exhibit’s curator.

(Submitted photos)

ing exhibit’s curator.

“There are 9,000 works,” Ezell says.

“The bulk of the works were created by Marines when they were in service. The Marine Corps instructs them to go to war, do art. It’s unscripted and left to the perceptions and expressions of the arts. The collection probably had its biggest growth spurt during Vietnam.”

It’s a rich commentary on the men and women of the Marine Corps who are “no better friend,

no worse enemy” in their engagements around the world, Ezell says.

“Marine Corps art is up close and personal,” she says. “It is about the individual Marine — in combat, during training or while delivering assistance during times of great need.

“This art helps us better appreciate those who have worn the uniform and those who continue to serve today.”

War takes a terrible toll, not only on the person who fights but the family or loved ones he or she leaves behind, Ezell says.

The Virginia museum attracts about 1 million visitors per year, which is a testament to its message.

“They’re largely from the East Coast, although a good number of people get there from around the world,” Ezell says.

“There are a lot of people who will never make that voyage, so we’re bringing the collection to other locations.

“Through this, we’ll forge a great partnership with the museums where the exhibit will live for a few months. It’s a winwin proposition for us.”

The “Honor, Courage, Commitment: Marine Corps Art, 1975-2018” exhibit features 36 works of art by 15 combat artists.

MORE INFO

What: “Honor, Courage, Commitment: Marine Corps Art, 1975-2018” When: Through September 5 Where: Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road Cost: Free with paid admission Info: 574-0462, pimaair.org

MAY 2021

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A Stroke of Realism Social media keeps Erin McLoughlin inspired

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Erin McLoughlin was a little girl, growing up in Anthem, when she saw Norman Rockwell paintings for the first time.

She admired his portraits with exaggerated emotions, she said. McLoughlin did her best to replicate his works, and now the 2017 Boulder Creek High School graduate is a highly sought-after artist.

“My mom and grandmother had a book by him laying around,” she says. “It was a gallery of all his work. I went through all the pages and tried to replicate them. It’s crazy. I can’t believe how it’s gone from there.”

McLoughlin’s subjects have included Devin Booker, Tom Brady and golfer Rickie Fowler for the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, Golden State Warriors and ex-Phoenix Suns baller Kelly Oubre Jr., Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

“Julian Edelman was a commissioned piece,” she says. “He saw it on Twitter, which was pretty cool. Kelly Oubre Jr.’s was auctioned for the Suns. He saw it and signed the painting.

I’ve done a few Kobe paintings, too.”

She painted Booker after her high school friend referred the basketball player’s personal chef to her.

“He was looking for a Christmas present for him,” she says. “He had this photo of him, and he commissioned me to do a painting for him. I never met him person-

Erin McLoughlin painted Devin Booker from a photograph of him after she was commissioned by the Phoenix Suns player’s chef.

(Photos courtesy of Erin McLoughlin)

Erin McLoughlin erinmcloughlinart.com zona, where she is studying psychological science and public health. McLoughlin’s goal is to work as a physician’s assistant.

“I’ve been drawn to art, though, since I was in the second grade,” she says. “I just started drawing, and I’ve been doing it ever since. My senior year in high school I got into painting. I didn’t really take it seriously until college. I’ve been doing it on the side, all through college.”

McLoughlin is approached so frequently for commissioned work that she can pick and choose what she wants to do. She charges “a few thousand,” depending on the size of the canvas and

ally, but he has one of my paintings.”

Since the day she was introduced to Rockwell’s paintings, she has been interested in realism.

“I’ve always loved drawing portraits and people. I guess it’s just because everybody’s different. Every single painting I do is different. It keeps it entertaining for me,” Rockwell says.

“I never get bored of it.

That’s why I paint people.

I enjoy the realism, and I add little impressionism in it. That’s why you can see

Legendary basketball player Michael Jordan was the subject of one of Erin McLoughlin’s paintings.

ple I see on social media,” she says. “I got on TikTok a lot and see artists on there. I started using these gold pieces in the background after seeing it on TikTok.” McLoughlin was born on Staten Island and moved to Arizona at 6 years old. She is a senior at the University of Ari-

the image.

“I charge a lot now that the demand’s kind of higher,” McLoughlin says.

McLoughlin is getting ready to graduate from UA. She’s hoping to move to Scottsdale and further her studies in the Valley.

“I hope I can get a place big enough to have a studio so I can take it more seriously,” she says. “I want a room dedicated to art.”

A 2017 Boulder High School graduate, Erin McLoughlin painted Kobe Bryant based on a photograph of him.

some brush strokes in there.”

If Instagram says anything, McLoughlin has 43,300 followers on her artwork page and 11,100 on her personal one.

“I’m inspired by a lot of different peo-

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MAY 2021

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Award Winner Casino Del Sol named one of the best hotels

Casino Del Sol was named one of the best casino hotels and golf hotels in Arizona.

(Photo courtesy of Casino Del Sol)

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Casino Del Sol has been named one of the top hotels in Arizona, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Additionally, the property received a silver badge, signifying it ranks within the

top 30% of all ranked Tucson hotels.

“It has been a challenging year for the hospitality industry, but nevertheless our phenomenal team continued to deliver on our promise of providing extraordinary customer service and amenities for

our guests while keeping safety top of mind,” says Kimberly Van Amburg, CEO of Casino Del Sol. “Their relentless dedication is the reason we ranked in the top tier of this prestigious list.”

The U.S. News & World Report Best Ho-

tels ranking evaluates more than 30,000 hotels across more than 400 destinations around the world.

The hotels are scored using a methodology that combines each hotel’s industry awards with its star rating and guest reviews. The highest-ranking hotels are typically those that experts and guests recognize for their exceptional quality.

In addition to being named one of the best hotels, Casino Del Sol was also named one of the best casino hotels and golf hotels in Arizona. The award-winning property has been recognized by many for its championship golf course, Sewailo Golf Club, as well as its gaming options and promotions, including the newest slot titles, table games, bingo and more.

Casino Del Sol also offers first-rate restaurants, entertainment and spa treatments in Tucson.

“The travel industry has faced numerous challenges over the past year, emphasizing the need to support and recognize hotels that continue to maintain exemplary standards,” says Zach Watson, travel editor at U.S. News. “This year’s list offers a reliable guide for travelers to use when planning their next getaway, whether that’s in a few months or next year.”

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A Rest for the Soul

Ryanhood ryanhood.com

Ryanhood says its ‘beautiful melodies, harmonies and rhythms’ will calm nerves

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tucson’s Ryan David Green and Cameron Hood — who comprise the acoustic duo Ryanhood — say they feel their latest album, “Under the Leaves,” is perfect for turbulent times.

“I think this record is a rest for the soul,” Hood says. “There are a lot of beautiful melodies, harmonies and rhythms. It’s a record you can put on and you feel rested as you listen to it.”

Hood says the album’s songs talk about the need to slow down, listen a little bit and catch our collective breaths. People these days are living life too quickly to fully grasp how they’re feeling.

“When we slow down, we become better citizens in the public space,” Hood says. “We need to make space for the self we want to bring into the public space.”

“Under the Leaves” sees lead guitarist Green as its sole producer, weaving a tapestry of lush strings and rich harmonies.

As the band’s primary lyricist, Hood penned dream-like verses about seeds and forests, breath and wind, and the cycles and seasons that frame our lives.

Throughout the album’s songs, a question is asked: How do we create meaningful and lasting change in a world filled with division and turmoil?

“We toured everywhere in the country,” Hood adds. “We met red people and blue people.

We saw good people each place we went.

All the ideologies were really different.

“We all feel really strongly about our ideological positions. We saw a lot of that while we traveled. A lot of people believe in a lot of different things. The only proof

is how you love.”

Ryanhood was planning on slowing down itself. After touring on and off practically for seven years, the band was to take six months off to decompress. The pandemic cemented that decision.

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MAY 2021

Ryan David Green, left, and Cameron Hood comprise the acoustic duo Ryanhood.

(Photo courtesy of Ehab Tamimi)

“It just so happened — it was just coincidental — that we were going to take the first half of 2020 off from touring,” Green says. “We already were planning not to be on the road. We settled in to do that, and then the pandemic hit.

“We were some of the lucky few who were in a holding pattern already. It didn’t necessarily interrupt anything. We were going to take a six-month touring sabbatical. Now it’s become over a year.

We wrote the material on the road previously. Most of the record was written pre-pandemic. So, we took advantage of being off the tour and poured that into creative time.”

“Under the Leaves” is different in that there’s a companion book that’s the size of an LP. It has expanded artwork and stories and essays behind the songs.

“Whether you’re streaming the music or downloading it, you can read some insights into the music and where we’re coming from,” Green says. “It’s equal parts technical commentary, musical approach and philosophical discussion.”

Green adds many performers shroud their music and write ambiguous lyrics.

“We tend to be a band that errs on the side of wearing our hearts on our sleeve and let people in,” he says. “We hope to welcome people into a shared experience and see that commonality that we have.” www.LovinLife.com

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Arts

Coming Full Circle

Cathy Rivers will take over as executive director of the Rialto Theatre in June. (Photo courtesy of Cathy Rivers)

Rialto Theatre names Cathy Rivers executive director

BY LAURA LATZKO Cathy Rivers has worked with community radio for 10 years. Soon, she will be involved with music in a different format.

In June, Rivers starts her job as the Rialto’s executive director, taking over for Curtis McCrary, who was in the role for 16 years.

Along with serving as executive director since 2015, Rivers worked as a program director and DJ for KXCI. Rivers says she’s ready to move on, but she wanted to be sure that KXCI was in a good place.

“It was the perfect time for me to leave KXCI, as the staff and board of directors are really rock solid right now,” Rivers says.

“They are ready to move on without me. We had to learn to go from live broadcasting to remote broadcasting. Once we learned how to pivot like that and keep

KXCI doing really well, it made it feel fine to now move on.”

Rivers is passionate about animals, the arts and music, so she wanted her next job to be in one of these sectors. She says the Rialto was a good fit for her background and interests.

“When the opportunity presented itself, it just seemed perfect,” Rivers says.

With her new job, she will help reopen and bring music back to the Rialto stage.

She says, like her, audiences are ready for live music again.

“I think once we get to a safe place in our community, people are going to be so excited to get out and experience art and music together,” Rivers says.

She says that reopening the Rialto will a collaborative effort.

“There’s a great team just waiting to get back to the Rialto Theatre. The suc-

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cess of the year before COVID is owed to them, and they’ll come back,” Rivers says.

“I’ll be overseeing all of that, but we will have managers in their departments and talents.”

Right now, the Rialto is focused on “The Rialto Theatre Gallery Project,” an introspective show featuring posters and photos from past events. The show is open to limited-capacity audiences.

As executive director, Rivers will work with the Rialto’s various department on educational programming, foundational development, and local and national grant funding.

“The Rialto had a stellar year before COVID, with great music and great staff supporting the theater. So, now my job will be to round out the foundation,” Rivers says.

She knows there will be financial challenges because of COVID-19, but she is ready to address them.

Arts opportunities were integral to Rivers’ education. She says it is important for youth to form bands, learn to run sound, share ideas and collaborate in other ways.

“I was fortunate enough growing up that I had a lot offered to me in my public school system, which is why my resume looks the way it does,” Rivers says.

“I think the Rialto can offer those opportunities to those young people that may not have the ability to get trained. If

you don’t take a music class, and you pick up a guitar for the first time and decide to play electric guitar, it is much easier now.

But then you really lose that community element of being in class with other students.”

Rivers is looking forward to forming relationships with other Downtown organizations and businesses.

“Some of the excitement is getting to know the new neighbors that are in and around the Rialto and will be coming to Downtown and being able to work with them and partner with them,” Rivers says.

“KXCI is a little more of its own island because we fully own our own building.

We do our thing. It’s a very different organization. KXCI is radio public. The Rialto will be a lot more in-person, working with neighbors in the area to help expand and grow Tucson.”

Rivers has a wealth of experience in the entertainment industry to bring to her new position. For 25 years, Rivers worked in radio, TV and music, doing voiceover work; booking talent for Plush locations in Tucson and St. Louis; releasing two albums and one EP as a singer/songwriter; and serving as a day manager for the bands Cracker and the North Mississippi Allstars.

She was one of the original board members for the Museum of ContempoDirector...continues on page 11 www.LovinLife.com

Director...continued from page 10 rary Art Tucson, which was founded by artist friends of hers. She has also been on boards for the Reveille Men’s Chorus and the Arizona Broadcasters Association.

Hailing from Ohio, Rivers has loved theater since she was young. Her parents supported her passion for the arts and took her to the Cleveland Play House to see productions. She did theater throughout high school and then went to college for drama and voice.

Rivers also played guitar and, in high school, performed with a cover band, where she would sing songs by Kiss, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. She doesn’t have much time to perform live, but music will always be important to her.

“Music is always on in the house, and I’m always a part of it, one way or another,” Rivers says.

After moving to Tucson, she got her start in radio. She was told she had a voice for radio, and her first opportunity came during a voiceover job for a Fourth Avenue thrift store ad. This led to a job with then-classic rock station 97.5.

“I helped (the production director) every day that I could, and eventually I started getting paid $4.25 an hour to do a couple of days a week,” Rivers says.

“Then, before I knew it, she was leaving, and I became the production director. I got my own show. Then, I became music director, and that was it.”

Rivers expects she can use those skills with the Rialto.

“I really feel that moving to the Rialto Theatre is going to allow all of my life experiences to come into play. Being a musician myself, having day-managed bands and knowing what it is like to be on the road, knowing the end from a marketing and promotional standpoint, having a theater background, I think everything that has given me every wrinkle

on my face is going to come into play with this career,” Rivers says.

Her knowledge of the Rialto is vast. Rivers lived in a studio apartment upstairs at the Rialto in the ’90s, and later married at the theater.

She has attended numerous shows at the theater, seeing artists such as Tom Jones, Snoop Dogg, Los Lobos, Natalia Lafourcade, Brandi Carlile, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Jake Shimabukuro.

“Everything I’ve seen there, I’ve really enjoyed,” Rivers says.

“I, like the staff at the Rialto, like a real variety of music. So, I like being surprised, and there have been amazing shows at the Rialto.”

When she lived above the Rialto, it housed people in the arts and music scene.

“When I say studio, don’t think luxury loft. I’m talking really rundown rooms upstairs that didn’t even have commercial kitchens,” Rivers says.

“If I remember correctly, we had a bucket sink in our kitchen. Each studio had a bathroom and a halfway kitchen. They were really meant for art/workspaces, not for live/workspaces, but we all lived up there anyway, and the landlord didn’t really pay attention.”

Rivers remembers how one tenant projected movies on the side of a Downtown building, and other renters gathered at their windows to watch on Friday nights.

Since that time, she has felt a close kinship with the Downtown area around the Rialto.

“I think that really sweet era led to my love for that theater and that whole corner of Congress,” Rivers says. “At one point, I also worked at Café Quebec. My living radius was Fourth Avenue, Hotel Congress, the Rialto Theatre and Café Quebec, other than the radio station.

That was my community.”

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Maybe you have seen him interviewed on CBS by Steve Ochoa or during the Dr Oz show, maybe you saw him on NBC. He has brought this new treatment to persons suffering from neuropathy in Tucson. He uses two kinds of Light to stimulate the nerves to function better. He uses pulsed infrared technology that helps reduce the pain, and FDA approved cold lasers that help the cells function better. He offers his consultation for FREE. He looks at the interview time as a time for him to see if you have the type of neuropathy that he treats but more importantly, for you to interview him and see if he is someone that you would like to work with. His clinic is certified with the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of America and he has received advanced training in the treatment of neuropathy. There are fewer than 100 doctors in America that have received this advanced training in this type of therapy. Dr T looks at neuropathy as a thief that comes to your life and starts to steal from you. If you allow neuropathy to continue, it will steal your independence (driving, walking, balance) As Dr T says “Everyday we are having more success relieving neuropathy pain, WHY NOT YOU?” Give his office a call and schedule the FREE consultation and see if you qualify for this new therapy 520-445-6784.

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MAY 2021

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Food & Wine

Unconventional Convention Restaurant There are muchas razones to visit El Mezquite Downtown

BY VALERIE VINYARD If you only need one reason to try El Mezquite Grill and Taqueria in Downtown Tucson, the lure of free validated parking should do it.

However, there are so many other reasons to check out this new hotel and restaurant.

El Mezquite — or, as English speakers know it, “Mesquite” — is located inside the new Doubletree by Hilton Tucson Downtown Convention Center. This isn’t the typical cookie-cutter restaurant found at many convention center hotels, however.

During a March sneak peek of the menu and craft cocktails, the hotel and its employees were able to showcase its pristine interior and friendly and attentive service. A tour of the facility showed off some of the 170 rooms and six suites.

Depending on the time of year, room rates can start as low as $109 per night.

Andrew Fairbanks, director of sales and marketing for the Doubletree Downtown Convention Center and the Hilton Tucson East, moved to Tucson from San Francisco right before the pandemic began.

“It’s a nice, dynamic time down here,” he says. “The cuisine is really unique. It’s

El Mezquite features Mexican-style, organic and healthy cuisine, plus cocktails and craft beer at its designer bars.

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MAY 2021

Above, El Mezquite features plenty of patio lounge seating. Right, try the toritos congrejos.

(Photos courtesy of El Mezquite)

based on a Mexican healthy style of food with fresh ingredients, fresh seafood and homemade tortillas.”

The hotel and restaurant opened March 23. The Southwestern-style décor has a modern flair, and the seating is comfortable inside and on the patio.

“This is really a standalone restaurant where you can walk into the restaurant directly from the street without having to go through the hotel,” Fairbanks says.

Live music is featured regularly, and the restaurant maintains a robust calendar of events.

But the main reason most people visit a restaurant is for the food. El Mezquite features Mexican-style, organic and healthy cuisine. Cocktails and craft beer are at its designer bars.

And the food doesn’t disappoint. Much of that is because El Mezquite snagged a local rock star in the culinary world.

Virginia “Ginny” Wooters has helmed highly rated kitchens in Tucson such as The Abbey, Commoner and Co., and Alloro D.O.C. Italian Trattoria and Chophouse at the Hilton Tucson East.

“She takes the very typical and makes it her own,” says Fairbanks, noting one example as being when Wooters stuffs her poblano chiles with goat cheese and crab instead of the more typical Mexican

cheese and shrimp.

“She’s cooked all over the world, and her food is delicious with unique flavors.

It’s still that comforting type of food.”

El Mezquite’s menu is full of items that at first glance, sound fairly typical. On a closer look, however, many of the dishes have something extra.

Take the short rib, a popular dish at many upscale restaurants. Rather than the more typical Italian style that’s served with polenta, El Mezquite’s short rib mole negro ($26) is cabernet-braised with crispy yucca, heirloom carrots and squash, and a habanero-fig salsa.

Or there’s the harissa octopus ($29), which is cast iron charred in a chorizo-roja broth. It comes with corn, potatoes, leeks, shrimp and black garlic toast.

You don’t often see snapper on Tucson menus, but El Mezquite’s version sounds delicious. Its snapper ($28) is cocoEl Mezquite...continues on page 15 www.LovinLife.com

The Delta Force

The Delta

New restaurant to bring Southern charm to Downtown

BY VALERIE VINYARD Travis Peters is bringing the fun to Downtown Tucson this summer.

It’s not much to look at right now, but after construction is completed, a new restaurant called The Delta will emerge from what was the former Downtown Kitchen and Cocktails at 135 S. Sixth Avenue.

Downtown, which was owned by acclaimed chef Janos Wilder, closed last October after a decade.

Peters is still working out the menu details for The Delta, but it wouldn’t be wrong to expect family-style offerings, a lot of small dishes, hopefully a raw bar and a few well-chosen entrees. Perhaps the occasional whole-roasted alligator will make an appearance, too, as it has in the past at The Parish.

“It’s like this,” chef and owner Peters says when describing the new concept. “If a punk rock guy who got a big record deal fell in love with a sophisticated chef who is very Southern and they opened a restaurant, it would have a lot of edge and a lot of elegance.

“He’s going to bring the rowdy and the fun, and she’s going to bring the elegance and sophistication. She’s the yin to his yang.”

Peters, 46, is one-third of Parish Restaurant Concepts, with Bryce Zeagler and Steve Dunn making up the rest of the partnership. Zeagler owned The French Quarter, the New Orleans-style bar, and Dunn hired Peters around 2007 to cook for the restaurants at Hotel Congress.

A self-taught chef, Peters also logged time cooking for Nonie, a New Orleans-style restaurant that closed in 2006.

“I’ve been cooking Southern-style cooking for a long time without knowing it,” Peters says with a laugh.

135 S. Sixth Avenue

Peters opened his first restaurant, The Parish, at 6453 N. Oracle Road in 2011. The Parish is a fusion gastropub that draws its restaurant inspiration from Southern comfort, hospitality and community. The Parish is also the number one seller in Arizona of Abita beers, a brewery based north of New Orleans in Covington, Louisiana.

With The Delta’s menu, Peters is rethinking approaches to familiar food, like creating jalapeno poppers that are stuffed with pate instead of cream cheese.

“We’re going to take a fun approach to things you’re very familiar with,” he says. “I just want to come up with fun food.”

Peters has always been a champion for local businesses. When the pandemic closed in-person dining over a year ago, Peters bought takeout from a locally owned restaurant each week and featured it on his social media channels.

“It seems like it caught on,” Peters says. “I think the city really gravitated toward it. It’s good for Tucson.”

Peters featured locally owned restaurants because he says he was tired of driving by Chick-fil-A and other chains and seeing a line of cars waiting for food.

“I would drive by one of these places and there’d be a line around the block,” he says.

Peters is excited to add to the burgeoning restaurant scene Downtown and offer something beyond the typical.

“There’s a gap in the food scene,” Peters says. “We saw a spot we could fill.”

That aside, Peters wants success for all his local cohorts.

“The better anybody does, the better it is for me,” he says. “I want to be surrounded by greatness.”

Travis Peters is opening The Delta in the former Downtown Kitchen and Cocktails at 135 S. Sixth Avenue. (Photo courtesy of Travis Peters)

El Mezquite...continued from page 14 nut-crusted and comes with cauliflower chicharrones, dates, sauteed kale, pinon nuts and lemon manchego cream.

Even the spaghetti squash flautas ($19) come with a litany of extras, including Oaxaca and goat cheese, poblano cream, leeks, mushroom and pomegranate seeds.

The desserts ($9) include a Mexican molten chocolate cake with horchata ice cream and peanut brittle, coconut lemon flan and the much-heralded churros and dulce de leche with whipped cream and strawberries.

For those looking to focus on drinks, Fairbanks describes the three bars inside the hotel.

“Where else can you go and bar hop in a hotel?” Fairbanks asks.

There’s Pueblo, a “really cool bar”; Bar www.LovinLife.com

el Nez, a centrally located bar that offers coffees, wine, cocktails and phone chargers and Barrio Playa, a poolside bar open Thursdays through Sundays that features margaritas, draft beer and “El Bar Bites” ($3-$15). The El Bar Bites menu includes a $3 carne asada or roasted chicken taco and an $8 bacon-wrapped Sonoran dog with all the typical toppings.

The beer list includes options from at least seven local microbreweries, including Crooked Tooth Brewing Co., Firetruck Brewing Co. and Borderlands Brewing Co. Hand-crafted cocktails ($11 to $24) range from a Violet G+T ($11), which is a gin and tonic with a crème de violette twist, to a Day of the Dead Tea Party ($12/$24), a Port Charlotte single malt monkey shoulder scotch with ginger, lemon and honey.

Dulce de leche churros, left, and truffled cheese crisp are on the menu.

“The whole concept of the Doubletree brand is approachable and comfortable, but we think we’re a little hipper, too,” Fairbanks says. “It’s a place to come and be seen and have fun.”

And don’t forget that free parking.

MORE INFO

What: El Mezquite Grill and Taqueria Where: Doubletree by Hilton Tucson Downtown Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue HOURS: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Info: 372-7100 MAY 2021

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Music

Just Najima Singer brings Southwestern gothic soul to town

BY LAURA LATZKO Najima Rainey, a Tucson artist who goes by Just Najima, has developed an eclectic sound that combines blues, jazz, gospel, rock and soul, called Southwestern gothic soul.

Her musical influences span genres to include Marvin Gaye, Björk, the Cure and Nina Simone.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic did impact her musical opportunities, she has stayed busy with musical endeavors, including an album and EP in 2020.

Rainey released her first album, “Queenie,” in January 2020 and followed up with the EP “Endless Summers” in September. She recorded the EP with her friend DJ Tadj Roi during the pandemic.

“It gave me a person to be in contact with, a person to create with. I feel really good about the music that we released,” Rainey says. “I really like the sound we created. I really like what we were working on, and I can’t wait to get back to it.”

Her EP features her version of Lana Del Rey’s “Freak,” with the accompanying video. The EP also has the songs “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Caught Up” and “Lover Come Over.”

Along with releasing new music, Rainey has participated in livestreams, including a virtual concert with Arizona Arts Live in July.

Her music is often focused on topics such as sexuality, class and race.

“I’m a Black woman and the mother of a young Black man,” says Rainey, who has a 20-year-old son. “For me, those considerations have been part of my daily life since I became a mother. When it comes to my baby, I want it to be a nice world, an even playing field, a better world.”

The artist blends more traditional gospel and blues music with lyrics about current topics, such as police brutality and immigration policies.

She says her inherently political music reflects her personality.

“Being a big, fat, loud Black woman in a world that wants you to be thin and silent is a political act,” Rainey says.

Along with speaking out in her music, Rainey is a longtime activist who has worked with organizations such as BIPOC

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United and Black Lives Matter, as well as reproductive rights organization.

For Black Lives Matter Tucson, she helped to organize, emceed and performed at the Celebration of Black Lives event at the University of Arizona Mall last June.

The Trayvon Martin death was a turning point for her as an artist. Her focus has been on racial equality and social justice for the last seven years.

“People don’t seem to understand that we love our kids just as much as white people love their kids. When our children are murdered, we want justice, too,” Rainey says.

Creating her music has been part of her recent journey as a musician. She decided to go solo in 2018 after her last act, the Sinners, disbanded. At the time, she was in a dark place, after losing her job and having her car stolen. She channeled those feelings into her songs.

“Queenie” takes audiences through fun, carefree and darker emotions and ends with “bittersweet resilience.” The release was a monumental moment in her career.

“Nothing can take away that moment for me, the moment when I had my big release party, when my whole family was there, when my community was there, when I got so much love from my hometown,” Rainey says.

“My plans for the album and the release were spoiled, but those were secondary.

The most important thing was doing the album and releasing the album. People listen to the album, even now.”

“Endless Summers” has a sound similar to “Queenie” but shows growth as an artist.

“My sound has changed from where I was when I wrote that album,” Rainey says. “At the core, I will always be a blues and soul singer. I feel like even if I was singing covers of Guns N’ Roses songs, somehow they would come out bluesy and soulful because that’s the way that my voice and presence as an artist is. In that, I think we can evolve that sound.”

The artist has always loved music and the variety of genres offered. Her dad was a jazz musician when she was a young

child, and her family shared a love of music. Despite this passion for music, she was encouraged to pursue other endeavors and to treat music as a hobby.

“I’ve always loved music, and music has always been a big part of me and my family,” Rainey says. “It’s how we relate to one another. But as far as it being a thing that my whole family has had positive feelings about for a long time, it hasn’t been.”

She didn’t think she had the chops to be a solo performer. The breakup of her band was the push she needed to write and sing her music.

“I really didn’t think of myself as a real

musician,” Rainey says.

“I thought of myself as a person with a really nice voice. I thought of myself as someone who backed up other people’s vision. It was the first time I musically had a vision of my own, and I started hearing music in my head, hearing lyrics in my head and creating those things. It was an awakening. It came about mostly because I was so heartbroken maybe and desperate not to let go of what I had already started building.”

Rainey just returned to Tucson after a three-month trip to Zanzibar, an island

Najima...continues on page 17

Just Najima justnajima.com Artist Just Najima brings a style of music that blends different genres, called Southwestern gothic soul. (Photos by Rachel Marie Photography)

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Najima...continued from page 16

performing American blues music,” Rainey says. “It was a really fun experience getting to perform for those audiences and bringing my American version of blues, mixing it with their Afro-reggae and coming up with an amalgam.”

Zanzibar allowed Rainey to perform her music differently.

“I had to be flexible and open to hearing my music in a new way and trying my music in a new way,” Rainey says.

The artist says although she is reflecting, she expects her time in Zanzibar to impact her music.

“I go through periods where I can’t do anything,” Rainey says. “During those times, I’m ruminating on ideas. I’m ruminating on things inside of me. When I’m ready, it comes out in the form of music and art. I’m still ruminating on it.

“Music expresses in a way that words can’t exactly how you’ve felt, the complications of it. It can be both beautiful and tragic. It can be both full of joy and bittersweet. All of those things you can encapsulate in the nuances of music. For me right now, it’s this rumination period, but definitely it’s going to impact my music, down to the fact that I want to record songs in Swahili.”

region in the Indian Ocean that is part of the East African country of Tanzania.

Overseas travel is nothing new to Rainey, who taught English in Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.

During her recent trip, she went on a safari in a national park filled with animals such as elephants and giraffes.

She also visited a local village, where she experienced the lives of nomadic individuals who are part of an ethnic group called the Maasai.

“Getting to go to this village and have this experience of what it would be like to live a tribal existence, something that I personally have been disconnected from, was a very beautiful experience,” Rainey says.

She says the trip changed her life.

“It was something that I never thought I would get to do,” Rainey says. “It’s been a lifelong dream to get to go to Africa,. so being there was beautiful. The Indian Ocean was moving. The experiences were indescribable.”

While she was there, she was surprised with a birthday cake. Local folks at her lodge sang a birthday song in Swahili.

They followed local tradition and poured water on Rainey’s head.

While visiting ZanJust Najima recently returned from a three-month trip to zibar, a prominently Zanzibar, where she performed Muslim region with for tourists at local resorts and a heavy military and sang with Afro-reggae bands. police presence, she adhered to local etiquette, including dressing for local modesty standards.

She was scheduled to perform at a music festival there but left because of concerns of growing COVID-19 numbers. She did perform, though, for tourists at local resorts. She sang, too, with Afro-reggae bands.

“They were excited by me singing and

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Columns

Ask Gabby Gayle

Don’t give up on church

Ask the Expert

5 ways to prevent kidney stones

BY TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER Passing a kidney stone is believed to be one of the most painful experiences a person can have. It’s also pretty common, particularly in the Stone Belt of the United States, with more than 1 in 10 people developing a kidney stone during their life.

The bad news is people who pass one stone have a greater chance of developing another. But there is some good news — you can take actions to prevent developing or having recurring kidney stones.

“Nobody wants to go through that pain again,” says Dr. Mohammed Sikder, nephrologist, Tucson Medical Center.

“Fortunately, there are lifestyle changes you can make to prevent kidney stones from developing. Without making these changes, stones can, and probably will, come back.”

Drink lots of water This is especially important if you sweat a lot, whether from exercise or from heat. That’s because the more you sweat the less you urinate, which allows for stone-causing minerals to precipitate and settle in the kidneys and urinary tract.

“For those with a history of kidney stones, doctors usually recommend drinking enough fluids to pass more than two liters of urine a day,” Sikder says. “Because it gets so hot here during the summer, you may need to drink even more water, approximately 64 ounces a day. If your urine is light and clear, you’re probably drinking enough water.”

Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods Oxalate is a natural substance found in many foods that your body uses for energy and nutrition. Once your body uses what it needs, waste products travel through the bloodstream to the kidneys and are removed through urine. When there is too much waste and not enough liquid in the urine, crystals form that can stick together and form kidney stones.

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If you tend to form calcium oxalate stones, your doctor may recommend eating fewer foods rich in oxalates, such as rhubarb, beets, okra, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, nuts, tea, chocolate, black pepper and soy products.

Reduce sodium and animal protein Don’t eat as much salt. Try a salt substitute such as Mrs. Dash instead. Also, increase plant-based protein in your diet.

Red meat, organ meats and shellfish can lead to a higher concentration of uric acid in your body, making it easier for uric acid stones to form.

Eat calcium-rich foods, but be careful about calcium supplements Calcium found in foods does not increase your risk of developing kidney stones. However, calcium supplements have been linked to kidney stones. Ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian who can help you develop an eating plan that helps reduce your risk of kidney stones.

Take medications as prescribed Some medications can control the amount of minerals and salts in the urine and may be helpful to people who form certain kinds of stones by making them more soluble in the urine. It is important to take medications as prescribed by your doctor.

If you suspect that you have kidney stones or have a family history of kidney stones, talk to your primary care provider about seeing a specialist.

Need a primary care provider? Find one at tmcone.com.

Get your copy today!

BY GAYLE LAGMAN-CRESWICK

Q

Dear Gabby Gayle: Last month, someone wrote in, questioning whether she needed to go to church or not. She felt she was spiritual and had found the church she belonged to prior had been filled with church rules, etc. I had a similar experience with a church I joined in the past. Now I am in a good Bible-based church, where all are welcome, and they don’t have a bunch of manmade rules. My advice to her would be not to give up on churches, just find the right one. Church really helps me to grow stronger in faith.

Signed, GB

A

Dear GB: Thank you for writing.

Every so often this topic arises and gets lots of involvement. I will state again that I believe you can be a good person without going to church. I also believe that what you do with what you learn in church is the most important thing. Do you leave the church parking lot yelling at some little old person who cut in front of you? Do you cheat others? Do you help the less fortunate? Got the picture? Just going to church doesn’t fill the bill. You have to live it!

Signed, GG

Q

Dear Gabby Gayle: I belong to a dating site. I am 55 years old and a widow. I would like to find someone my age to have a serious relationship with.

However, I find that every man my age is looking for a woman 20 years younger than they are! What is wrong with these men? Do they really want to raise kids again? Or have more babies? Have you found this to be true also, or is it just me?

I am ready to give up.

Signed, BR

A

Dear BR: I have had an opposite experience. I hear from men 20 years younger than I. They claim to like older women, which I do not believe.

My rule is I will go as much as five years younger, and older depends on what shape they are in. My divorced son is on a

dating site, and he tends to want younger women, too. I was 10 years younger than my first husband, and when he remarried, he married an even younger woman! I think these men think marrying younger will keep them feeling young or some equally silly thing! I would love to hear from men as to why they want younger women! Keep looking, BR. Remember, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince!

Signed, GG

Q

Dear Gabby Gayle: I have been friends with this person for 20 years. I will still remain friends with her, but she is so tiring! I need to vent. I hear from her three or four times a week. She tells me every little chore she has done.

She made the bed, she cleaned out a drawer, she cleaned the floor, had her coffee, and then she says goodbye. She has never once asked me how I am or what I am doing. Sometimes I just want to shout, “Don’t you ever wonder about me?” What do you do with a friend like that?

Signed, Fed Up

A

Dear Fed Up: I am surprised that you are still friends! Evidently, you are the bright spot in her week. It appears that she leads a pretty boring life if all she has to share is the mundane daily chores.

I might be inclined to say one day before she says goodbye, “My friend, aren’t you a little curious about what I have been up to or how I am feeling?” She is probably totally unaware that she is self-centered!

I would like to commend you for being such a loyal friend. Usually in a friendship, both derive some pleasure. No one would blame you if you moved on from her. Life is short! Thanks for writing.

Signed, GG Confidentially to AG: Yes, Ask the Old Bag column in Colorado is the same column as Ask Gabby Gayle in Arizona. Colorado prefers the Old Bag. Smile!

If you have questions for Gabby Gayle, please send them to Ask Gabby Gayle at lagmancreswick@gmail.com.

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Puzzles

GOby FIGURE! Linda Thistle

ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

King Crossword ACROSS 1 Put two and two together?

4 Recede 7 Crib cry 11 Weaving frame 13 Standard 14 Author Hunter 15 Falco of “The Sopranos” 16 “The Greatest” 17 Donate 18 Line dance 20 Wife of Jacob 22 Moreover 24 Like bell-bottoms 28 Fragrant flower 32 Ouzo flavor 33 Sparkling Italian wine 34 Nile biter 36 Complain 37 Daily trio 39 Flying horse 41 Soup grain 43 -- of 1812

44 Victor’s cry 46 Small boat 50 TV clown 53 Tool set 55 Traditional tales 56 Ms. Brockovich 57 Scratch (out) 58 List-ending abbr.

59 Lights-out tune 60 Gender 61 Hill dweller DOWN 1 Mr. Guinness 2 Nitwit 3 Slay 4 Ecol. watchdog 5 Event for Cinderella 6 Fleeting 7 The Duchess of Sussex who once starred in “Suits” 8 Bird (Pref.)

9 Dallas hoopster, briefly 10 Chemical suffix

12 Multi-state lottery with a huge jackpot 19 Blackbird 21 In the style of 23 “CSI” evidence 25 Ocho --, Jamaica 26 Isaac’s eldest 27 Cozy rooms 28 Doorframe piece 29 Cruising 30 Flag feature 31 Mentalist’s gift 35 Church seat 38 Stitch 40 Helium, for one 42 Oxen harnesses 45 Goddess of victory 47 Tiny bit 48 Drescher or Tarkenton 49 Fedora fabric 50 Wager 51 Man-mouse link 52 Energy 54 -- -Mex cuisine

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 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 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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WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT MADE EASY TM

WINDOW & DOOR F L A S H SALE “Everyone we’ve dealt with so far have been just awesome! They’ve been up front and honest, very friendly and professional. Love this place! And we won’t have to deal with a bunch of contractors, plus they offer great warranty and quality” - Pam M., Google, 12/11/20

Richard Karn Home Improvement Expert

At Dreamstyle Remodeling, our goal is to deliver the best home improvement experience of your life and it’s our #1 priority. From our top-of-the line customer service, expert installation, and superior products from top name brands, we aim to deliver a five star experience and won’t settle for anything less.

WITH

* OR LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS THIS MONTH ONLY

Call your FREE consultation: 833-356-1735 *Valid with the purchase of 4 or more windows. Not valid on previous orders. Valid on initial consultation only. 0% APR for 18 months available to well qualified buyers on approved credit only. Finance charges will be waived if promo balance is paid in full in 18 months. Down payment may be required, OAC, See representative for details. Valid on purchases made in the month and year of consultation and purchase of product. ©2021

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ADVERTORIAL

There is a reason we have been helping people change their lives with Reverse Mortgages for over 30 years.

Get safety and Security with a New Reverse Mortgage from Sun American Mortgage. Reverse Mortgage. Retire Better!

When Marjorie and Steve were young, they didn’t think about owning a home, let alone retirement!

As they grew older, as we all do, they wanted the American dream, owning a home. That dream for Marjorie and Steve took hard work.

With a good job, paying the bills, mortgage and of course keeping up with the kids, their house is more than just a home. It is the family they’ve built and the life they have lived. It was worth it all.

Now nearing retirement age, they are looking forward to enjoying what they earned. Marjorie and Steve couldn’t wait to sit back and relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor. But even with all their careful planning, unforeseen events and unexpected expenses diminished the assets they set aside for their retirement. The only realistic option they could see was to sell their retirement home in Sun Lakes.

It felt like an impossible task.

Luckily, their son, knowing how

hard they worked and desired to stay in their home, suggested an alternative; a reverse mortgage.

Marjorie and Steve’s credit card debt were not a part of their retirement plans, but Sun American Mortgage stepped in to help turn a bad situation into an opportunity for them to stay in their home. With 30 years of experience assisting Arizona seniors in similar situations Sun American Mortgage is a leader in the Reverse Mortgage industry.

Instead of selling their precious home they worked so hard for in Sun Lakes, Marjorie and Steve were able to turn to the equity in their own home to pay off their credit card debt and get back on track to retire better.

With their reverse mortgage line of credit, they can take money in and out of their home without recourse.

They can make payments on their reverse mortgage if they want to, but also feel safe knowing that in a pinch, no payment is required. They pay their property taxes, homeowners’

insurance and HOA fees as always.

Marjorie and Steve have options.

They can simply pay the interest, make a full payment every other month, make two payments every month, or never make a payment again for as long as they live in the house. The reverse mortgage gave them the flexibility to live the future they dreamed of, even though their retirement plans didn’t go quite as planned, they can… retire better.

Biz Box • Classifi ed • Friendship Ads Call: 480-898-6465

THREE EASY WAYS TO PLACE AN AD: Email: class@timespublications.com

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Free Referral & Advisory Service I provide personal assistance in selecting independent living, assisted-living, memory care or independent home care for you or your loved one.

4140 E. Baseline Rd., Ste. 206, Mesa, Arizona 85206 An equal housing opportunity company, member of the Better Business Bureau & the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association • Mortgage Banker License #BK7548 • NMLS #160265 Parker Turk: LO-0912436 • NMLS#267132 Rex Duffin: LO-0911707 • NMLS#169138

This material is not provided by, nor was it approved by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) or by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

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Senior Services and Assistance TUCSON SENIOR SOLUTIONS If you are considering the next step in senior care, allow me to help you navigate the many choices in Pima County. I provide a free local referral advisory service and can personally work with you to simplify the process of selecting independent living, assisted living, memory care, or independent home care.

Frank LoPilato 520-5751691 frank@tucsonseniorsolutions.com

See our ad in the Biz Box Section

Call us at 480-898-6465 or email class@timespublications.com to learn how we can help you stand out from the crowd.

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MAY 2021

Sell Your Stuff!

Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

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MAY 2021

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Your primary care physician should know you at ALL levels of health.

- Jeffrey Selwyn, MD FACP Member of the P3 Patient Engagement Committee You don’t have to be sick to see your primary care provider.

In fact, one of the easiest ways to stay healthy is to schedule a comprehensive visit. Your face-to-face visit helps you connect with your primary care physician, establish trust, and share your health care preferences before serious illness hits. Best of all, it‘s often covered by your insurance.

Take back your health in

2021.

YOUR PARTNER IN HEALTH:

Dr. Jeffrey Selwyn

Schedule your comprehensive visit TODAY with your PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER! Or call (520) 244-0600 with questions. I P3Arizona.org

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