Lovin Life After 50: Tucson 10.01.2020

October 2020

Strong and Resilient The Fox Tucson Theatre celebrates nine decades

Nest Best

As Exotic as Its Name Saffron Indian Bistro continues to delight

THING

Tucson Botanical Gardens’ new show is for the birds

It’s All About Love Aloe Blacc dedicates new music to his wife

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OCTOBER 2020 |

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Inside This Issue Upfront

5

Nest Best Thing

6

Strong and Resilient

Tucson Botanical Gardens’ new show is for the birds

7 HMO Chart Info 10 Get Out and Vote

Tubac center encourages engagement with exhibits

The Fox Tucson Theatre celebrates nine decades

News

JOIN US ONLINE FOR THE FOLLOWING VIRTUAL CLASSES Register in advance at TMCAZ.COM or call 520-324-1960 to receive the link for the class

Wednesday

OCTOBER

14

Wednesday

OCTOBER

21 Monday

OCTOBER

26

BATTLING THE COVID “FIFTEEN” POUNDS?

KEEP IT CLEAN: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES

PREVENTING FIRES IN THE HOME 2:00 p.m.

15 As Exotic as Its Name

Dining

Saffron Indian Bistro continues to delight

14 Café a la C’art

Starts Up Again

Beloved restaurant eases back with a new menu and look

16 Food for Thought Online cooking classes teach and inspire

Sports

17 Returning Home

Football player Cole Sterns looks forward to the Rattlers’ season

Music

28

29

Artists & Makers Studios moves into Steam Pump Village

Tucson Fire, Life Safety Education Division

Join the UA Nutrition Dept. for information about dietary factors that may support or reduce the inflammatory process, affecting disease risk and severity.

Thursday

13 Celebrating Local Art

10:00 a.m.

Gina Murphy Darling, Mrs. Green’s World

INFLAMMATION FRIEND OR FOE

OCTOBER

Arts

10:00 a.m.

Finding a New Normal for Eating While Staying Home Mary Mellady RD, TMC Wellness

Wednesday

OCTOBER

12 News Briefs

10:00 a.m.

ELDER LAW SERIES: UNDERSTANDING WILLS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY 2:00 p.m.

Shanelle Schmitz, JD, Zack & Schmitz, PLC

18 Carving a Path

advance at TMCAZ.COM OR BY CALLING 520-324-1960

Aloe Blacc dedicates new music to his wife

Columns

21 Medicare & Me 22 Gabby Gayle

21 Ask the Expert Publisher

Travel Editor

Administrator

Vice President

Graphic Designer

Contributors

Executive Editor

Sr. Account Executive

Steve T. Strickbine Michael Hiatt

You will receive a link to watch the classes live when you register in

20 It’s All About Love

Michael Des Barres just wants to be himself

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Ed Boitano

Courtney Oldham

Tonya Mildenberg Gordon Wood

Leah Kari, Gayle LagmanCreswick, Laura Latzko, Kendall Rooker, Valerie Vinyard

For more information and a full list of events, visit TMCAZ.COM/SENIORS

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©2020 by EOS Publishing, LLC. Lovin’ Life in Tucson is a monthly publication dedicated to informing, serving and entertaining the active adults of Arizona. It is published by EOS Publishing, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company.

www.LovinLife.com

Upfront

Nest Best Thing Tucson Botanical Gardens’ new show is for the birds

BY VALERIE VINYARD Nests and birdhouses are taking center stage at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

These aren’t just any birdhouses and nests. A dozen artists have created their own larger-than-life versions that will be displayed around the gardens until January 3.

Although these sculptures aren’t meant to be used by actual birds, they will enhance the gardens’ cultural landscape.

The gardens partnered with SculptureTucson, which was formed by local artists and entrepreneurs Barbara Grygutis, Steve Kimble and Jeff Timan to promote professional development for sculptors and enhance Arizona’s cultural landscape through public art projects, workshops and the creation of a sculpture museum park in Tucson.

“We are thrilled to work with Tucson Botanical Gardens to host this showcase, which highlights some of our most talented local artists,” Grygutis says.

“The stunning natural landscape of the gardens is the perfect home to display the sculptures featured in ‘Bird Houses and Nests.’”

This is SculptureTucson’s first partnership with another nonprofit, and its artists applied to be included in the show. The sculptors were required to design a sculpture that stood taller than 6 feet.

Various artists are using materials that include found objects, metals, fire-glazed ceramics and weather-resistant fiber.

Works explore the shapes and forms of nests abstractly, while others create stories about birds and nesting.

Featured artists are Pamela Ambrosio; www.LovinLife.com

Amabelle Aguiluz; Judy Bales; Greg Corman; Jeffrey Falk; Judy Gans; Richard Jones; Jonquil LeMaster; Phillip Lichtenhan; Hector Ortega and Taryn Moore; Nick Rascona and Lon Walters.

S c u l p t u r eTu c s o n chose the artists on the basis of the past work they submitted. All works featured in the exhibit are newly created, with the gardens in mind, and in response to the theme. Some artists are working on a larger scale or this subject for the first time. Those selected received a $500 honorarium, and all sculptures in the exhibit are available for sale.

“It’s a kind of fun departure for them,” says Ryan Hill, director of SculptureTucson. “Some are working larger than they’ve ever worked before. It’s an opportunity for artists to spread their wings. It should be a fun show.”

Gardens spokeswoman Michelle Conklin is excited for the new exhibit and says the partnership with SculptureTucson was a long time coming.

“We’d been talking a couple of years about working together and doing something together,” she says.

“I wanted to make sure it fit with our mission and theme—connecting people with nature.”

Conklin described one of the featured birdhouses as a 7- or 8-foot towering pagoda.

“I’m always amazed when I see the artists who live and work in Tucson,” she says.

SculptureTucson’s headquarters are at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park. Grygudis, Kimble and Jeff Timan are sculptors themselves.

Normally, the nonprofit has an annual SculptureTucson Festival Show and Sale in April that features about 65 sculptors and is the largest outdoor juried sculpture show in Arizona. This year’s festival was canceled because of the pandemic. Next year’s is March 19 to March 21.

SculptureTucson is dedicated to furthering the profession of Nests and birdhouses are taking center stage at the Tucson Botanical Gardens until January 3. The gardens partnered with Sculpsculpture in the Southwest, es- tureTucson.

(Submitted photos) pecially Tucson. The organization has shown almost 250 artists, includ- annual Savor Food Festival, are in danger of being postponed if the pandemic ing about 100 from Tucson.

“It’s for new audiences to appreciate,” doesn’t ease.

However, she says, that all isn’t bad, Hill says about SculptureTucson’s partnership with the gardens. “It’s an audience and even in the 100-plus-degree heat, that loves gardens, that loves plants, that people continue to visit the gardens.

“It’s hot,” Conklin says, laughing. “Our loves animals, so why not bring in some art appreciation? It’s a way for sculptors numbers are only a little bit lower than last year, but we’re missing the European to respond to nature.”

Because of the pandemic, the gar- tourists who are coming over this sumdens closed in mid-March and partially mer. We’re moving forward.” reopened July 9. Like before, Conklin is open to offering new events to attract visitors, such as the SculptureTucson What: “Bird Houses and Nests” partnership.

When: Through January 3 Where: Tucson Botanical Gardens, “We have done everything from Lego 2150 N. Alvernon Way to origami,” Conklin says. “We love to do Cost: $15 for adults; $13 for students, things that are different and unique.” seniors (62 and older) and military; The difficult times aren’t over for the $8 for children. Free for gardens gardens, however. While Conklin was members and children younger quick to express her appreciation for the than 4. donations the gardens has received, she Info: tucsonbotanical.org, says traditional upcoming events, such sculpturetucson.org as the lumanarias in December and the

MORE INFO

OCTOBER 2020 |

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Strong and Resilient

The Fox Tucson Theatre celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

The Fox Tucson Theatre celebrates nine decades

BY LAURA LATZKO Since it opened in 1930 as a vaudeville performance space and movie house, the Fox Tucson Theatre has been an integral part of the city’s history.

The space has been used in different ways over the years, including for Saturday morning screenings hosted by Tucson’s chapter of the Mickey Mouse Club.

From October 17 to October 25, the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation will commemorate the venue’s 90th anniversary virtually with social media activities, performances, a video on the theater’s history, and a silent auction.

The Always Chasing Rainbows party combines the theater’s annual gala and an anniversary celebration originally planned for April but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bonnie Schock, executive director for Fox Tucson Theatre, says the week of festivities pays tribute to the resiliency of the venue, which has continued despite

challenges throughout its history.

“The Fox has this extraordinary, enduring story,” Schock says. “Each chapter and each moment is another part of that. That’s one of the things that we are so genuinely excited about, is that this is a story that we get to keep telling and that the whole Tucson community gets to keep telling as this space that people care about and want to be back in. This moment in time is different than it’s ever been, but that, in a way, is all the more reason to remember how important it is to us.”

Schock is new to the Fox Theatre, having started in her position in March, but she has held leadership positions at different historic

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(Photo courtesy the Fox Tucson Theatre)

documentary-style video will provide a glimpse into different facets of the Fox Theatre’s history, including a 25-year period from the 1970s to ’90s when the theater was closed.

During the pandemic, the space became a center for Downtown Tucson’s homeless community.

“Even in a time when the building wasn’t functioning in the purpose that it was created for, people found a way on their own to use it, bring it alive and let it still be a space to foster community,” Schock says.

Tucson will serve as the honoree for the celebration, and a community “cookbook” will feature recipes and a look spaces and knows the value.

“They are these spaces, places and repositories for people’s memories of coming together in community, oftentimes for wonderful experiences or special moments in their lives.”

Schock has heard stories from the community of various ages about their experiences with the theater, including going on first dates and meeting their spouses at the venue.

The week of festivities begins October 17 with a virtual Moody Blues tribute. A livestream concert on October 24, available to donors and a limited number of nondonors at a pay-what-you-can ticket price, will highlight Latino pop artist Gina Chavez. RVSPs are required.

The celebration will wrap up on October 25 with a special livestream event celebrating the history of the Fox Theatre.

During this event, local jazz vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway will debut a commissioned song.

Schock says spotlighting this local artist goes along with the theater’s mission of bringing in not only national and international acts but local artists from Arizona.

“I believe in supporting artists. One of the things that spaces like the Fox do best is to bring audiences and artists together,” Schock says.

During the culminating celebration, a

at the city.

Leading up to the week-long celebration, the Fox Theatre will offer exclusive ghost tours to a limited number of individuals. Reservations are required for the Friday night events.

A silent auction will offer a range of items, including trips, sports memorabilia and restaurant and chef experiences. Patrons can also bid on special items, such a guitar signed by John Prine during one of his final concerts.

Businesses and organizations can support the Fox Theatre through sponsorships.

This year, the Bert W. Martin Foundation will match sponsorships, auction items and gifts up to $100,000.

Schock says through the silent auction, sponsorships and donations, the community can invest in the future of the theater.

She says that while times are challenging because of COVID-19, the Fox Theatre is resilient.

“We know we will endure because we’re going to put in the work to make that happen, and the community is rallying and will continue to rally to ensure that that’s the case,” Schock says.

Activities, performances and the final night celebration will be available for view at foxtucson.com/chasing-rainbows and facebook.com/foxtucsontheatre. www.LovinLife.com

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364 days in a calendar year

364 days in a calendar year

Skilled Nursing Facility

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$0 copay per day, Days 1-20. $184 copay per day, Days 21-40. $0 copay per day, Days 41-100 in plan skilled nursing facility (SNF). Same cost share applies with prior authorization at non-plan skilled nursing facility. No prior hospitalization required.

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Outpatient Prescription Drugs

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T1 - Preferred Generic $0; T2 - Generic $9 Extended day supply for T1/T2 provides 100 days for One copay; T3 - Preferred Brand $47; T4 - Non-Preferred Brand $100; T5 - Specialty 33%. Network pharmacies nationwide.

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Silver & Fit, Over-the-Counter allowance, Telehealth, No charge upgrade to rechargeable Hearing aids, Eyewear allowance, 20 visits for Complementary medicine (chiro/acupuncture/therapeutic massage) using preferred network providers, Dental cleaning/exam/xray.

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Silver & Fit, Over-the-Counter allowance, Telehealth, No charge upgrade to rechargeable hearing aids, Eyewear allowance, 20 visits for Complementary medicine (chiro/acupuncture/therapeutic massage) using preferred network providers, Dental cleaning/exam/xray.

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Outpatient Care Physician care for hospital or office services, surgery, anesthesia, X-ray, laboratory, injections, splints, casts, dressings, physical and speech therapy, radiology, ambulance, prosthetics, etc.

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Humana Gold Plus Plan HMO H0028-021 Pima & *Pinal County (*New for 2021) (Pima County)

United HealthCare AARP MedicareComplete (HMO) (Available in Pima County)

Premium or Subscription Charges

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No monthly premium. Medicare Complete contracts with Medicare to provide full Medicare coverage plus additional benefits. Member must continue to pay Part B premium.

Registration or Policy Fee

$0

NONE

Pre-existing Health Conditions

No health restrictions

Individuals with end stage renal (kidney) disease is not eligible.

Costs on Entry to Hospital

$180 days 1-7 $0 days 8-90

Member has a total out of pocket maximum for all copays except pharmacy and physician. The copay for hospital is $275 days 1-7 counted toward a out of pocket maximum of $2,800.

Maximum Period of Coverage for Any One Benefit

Hospital - Unlimited number of authorized, medically necessary days.

Other limitations may apply for other benefits.

Benefits are based on the calendar year and are covered 365 days of the year.

Skilled Nursing Facility

$0 days 1-20 - $178 days 21-100

$0.00 days 1-20/ $160.00 - days 21-38/ $0.00 days 39-100

Medical Coverage for Part B

Members must continue to pay Part B premium to Medicare

Covered in full after applicable copayments/coinsurance. In-patient services by physicians are covered at no cost.

Physician care for hospital or office services, surgery, anesthesia, X-ray, laboratory, injections, splints, casts, dressings, physical and speech therapy, radiology, ambulance, prosthetics, etc.

$0 PCP office visit; $30 Specialist office visit; $0 lab ; Ambulance $195; $0 COVID-19 Testing and Treatment; $699/$999 Hearing Aid Coverage; $0 copay Routine Podiatry; Telehealth primary care, urgent & behavioral $0 copay

$0 for Preventative Services. $0 for PCP and $35 for specialist visits.

Radiology $7-20%, Lab service is $2. DME, Prosthetics, and Part B drugs are 20% coinsurance. O/P Hospital and O/Ps surgery $250.

Ambulance $250. ER $80, waived if admitted. Copays and coinsurance count toward the out of pocket max of $2800.

Outpatient Prescription Drugs

Preferred Mail Order $0 for 90 day supply Tiers 1 and 2 - 30 day supply Tier 3 $47, Tier 4 $100, Tier 5 33% - NO Part D deductible -

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OCTOBER 2020 |

9

Get Out and Vote Tubac center encourages engagement with exhibits

BY LAURA LATZKO

The works chosen approach the conWith the national election coming up cepts of women’s voting rights and in November, there is a lot of discussion equality in multifaceted ways.

“It seems like we live in this time of about voting. Two exhibitions at the Tubac Center of the Arts look at different rage. There is so much anger. The idea facets of and histories related to voting. that art is both love and pain is, I think The Museum on Main’s traveling exhi- in the end, what I decided this work is bition, “Voices and Votes: Democracy in about,” Rogers says. “It’s like finally we America” and “Raise Your Voice,” will run get the right to vote, but there are so from October 2 to November 15. many people who don’t vote, and they “Voices and Votes: Democracy in don’t understand what women went America” raises questions of who can through in order to get to this point. vote, whose voices are heard and what Celebrating that women have the right responsibilities citizens have in a de- to vote is a wonderful thing, along with mocracy. just being able to make the kind of work It offers different ways for patrons to that you want as a woman.” learn and engage, including educationShe hopes that after seeing the exhial videos, games, stories, mock voting bition, adult women will want to vote. opportunities for kids, archival photos “Hopefully women will understand and videos, and historical voting mate- what other women went through to get rials such as campaign items and protest them the right to vote, and they will use it. If women all voted, what an incredible signs.

The national juried art exhibit “Raise Your Voice” explores the topics of women’s right to vote and the 19th Amendment through 42 contemporary pieces by artists from different states.

This art exhibition was juried by Barbara Rogers, a botanical artist who has explored women’s issues in her work in the past.

Rogers says female art is often inherently political because of the personal values that the artists bring to their work.

“What we value, I’m finding, is differ- JoAnne Hungate’s “Our Turn” acrylic painting will be featured in the “Raise Your Voice” exhibition at the Tubac Center of the Arts. (Photo by JoAnne Hungate) ent for each person.

Their art is their way of letting off steam, difference it would make,” Rogers says. showing love or trying to share and conMany Arizona artists were featured in nect with like-minded people of what the national exhibition. they think is, if not beautiful, worthy of JoAnne Hungate, a Tucson artist who content. Their art ends up being about does acrylic, watercolor and miniature paintings as well as mixed-media works their identity as a person,” Rogers says.

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| OCTOBER 2020

Also the owner of On the Edge Contemporary Gallery in Tubac, Kuzara hoped to inspire women through her piece.

“I really wanted to encourage women’s participation in the election process and convey some of the history of women’s rights movements,” Kuzara says.

“As an artist, I’ve always felt that it is important to speak up about issues in our world. I think it’s important for women to speak up, which these women did.”

Kuzara will often use her artwork to comment on larger societal topics.

Recently, she took part in the Lowe House Project’s “Rio Compartido/Shared River” exhibition, which featured artists from Mexico and the United States.

This exhibit not only focused on the Santa Cruz River as a shared waterway between the United States and Mexico but also explored environmental, cultural and societal issues related to the river and the U.S./ Barbara Kuzara’s “We Rise” acrylic mixed-media piece will appear in the “Raise Mexico border.

Your Voice” exhibition at the Tubac Center of the Arts. (Photo by Barbara Kuzara) Recently, she has In her work, Hungate has always used been working with materials such as rice bright colors such as reds, oranges, yel- paper, which she incorporated into her lows and golds. women’s voting rights piece. She says Like Hungate, many of the other art- that she enjoys collaging because of the ists involved in the exhibition work in a textures she can create. variety of mediums.

“I don’t just collage one sheet of paper Barbara Kuzara, an artist from Rio Rico on. I tear it. You have to wait for everywho does monotypes, mixed-media thing to dry to do the next layer,” Kuzara works, paintings, sculptures and jewel- says. ry, created a mixed-media acrylic piece called “We Rise” for the exhibition.

Raise Your Voice and Voices Within the collaged piece, she comand Votes: Democracy in bined different words and phrases, America Exhibitions such as “vote,” “the time is now,” “for Various times October 2 to women” and “rights,” with images of November 15 suffragists and women’s marches. They Tubac Center of the Arts, are brought together within the central 9 Plaza Road, Tubac image of a woman’s face.

Free admission The pictures used in the piece are of 398-2371, tubacarts.org everyday women from different periods in history.

and monotypes, will showcase an acrylic painting called “Our Turn.”

In the piece, five women of different backgrounds stand in unity with their backs to viewers.

“My preface was to have them look like strong women who were moving ahead and to not be an illustrative work with period garments. These could be any women,” Hungate said.

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Do You Have Pain/Numbness/Tingling in the Feet/Legs???

A doctor has moved to Tucson that treats neuropathy (nerve problems), and his name is Dr Trent Freeman DC (Dr T). He has been treating Neuropathy for the last 10 years.

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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Prediabetes Pre-blindness One in three American adults has prediabetes, a condition that comes with a number of associated health risks.

The good news is, it can often be reversed through lifestyle changes, like exercising more and eating healthier.

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OCTOBER 2020 |

11

News Briefs

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

LGI Homes introduces new floor plan lineup LGI Homes Inc.’s new community, Vahalla Ranch in Valencia West, has five new floor plans.

LGI Homes at Vahalla Ranch is selling a lineup of one-story, single-family homes.

These newly designed homes range in size from approximately 1,200 to 2,500 square feet with three to five bedrooms.

Notable features of these homes include expansive, covered front porches and patios; attached, finished garages with Wi-Fi-enabled garage door openers; open-concept layouts and front yard landscaping.

Every new home also includes LGI Homes’ CompleteHome package. Major highlights of this package are kitchen upgrades that are all included at no additional cost. Energy-efficient Whirlpool appliances, spacious granite countertops, a stainless steel undermount kitchen sink, Moen faucets with Power Clean spray technology, and sleek recessed lighting all combine for a chef-ready kitchen.

“Vahalla Ranch is a must-see neigh-

borhood for homebuyers in the Tucson area,” says Chris Kelly, president of the company’s West Division. “The value you will find here for a brand-new home in an incredible location with all upgrades already included is simply unparalleled.

Add in LGI Homes’ simplified buying process and exceptional customer service, and homebuyers will find no better option in their new home search.”

To accommodate homebuyers, the Vahalla Ranch information center is open for tours by appointment only and is in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local safety guidelines. Quick move-in opportunities are available for qualified buyers. To schedule an appointment, call 1-855-2539683, ext. 762, or visit lgihomes.com.

HSL Properties Tucson Jazz Festival to resume in 2021 Jazz in January, the nonprofit entity and organizer of the HSL Properties Tucson Jazz Festival, will move forward with its 2021 festival.

The seventh annual TJF will be held

“Heartland Triptych” by Diana Madaras is an original acrylic comprised of three 16-by-20-inch panels. It will be featured at her fall show, “The Art of Respite 2020.” (Photo courtesy Madaras Gallery)

outdoors on March 20 and March 21 at a yet-to-be-determined location Downtown, with support of Downtown Tucson Partnership and businesses.

“Our Tucson community is yearning for live music entertainment right now and the connections that are created from it,” says Khris Dodge, TJF executive director.

“We want to give Tucson something to look forward to in March, and we will do it safely and responsibly with the help of the city and our other partners. Part of our mission is to engage our community, and if we can do this and play a small roll in reviving our Downtown, all the better.”

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Despite the change in format, TJF promises a high-caliber lineup.

“We are in the middle of putting together the perfect short list of artists for the 2021 festival, and offers will be submitted soon,” says Andrew Birgensmith, TJF artistic director.

“The 2021 festival will host nearly as many headliner artists in two days as the festival has over 10 days in the past. We are excited to bring you a diverse lineup and even more excited to see you in March.”

The festival will offer several ticket options, including VIP/platinum tickets, which will include entrance to both days of the festival, a VIP viewing deck, reserved seating and drink tickets. Seated reserved and general admission options will also be offered. More details and pricing will be shared soon.

New to the organization this year are TJF memberships for individuals. Benefits vary depending on the contribution amount.

“We all thrive in our wonderful arts community when we work together. Being a member of TJF not only helps bring the festival to life but also puts you on the team who is strategically trying to engage our community year-round,” Dodge says.

HSL Properties has agreed to be the TJF title sponsor once again this year.

“Tucson’s music scene has faced a real challenge, and the HSL Properties Tucson Jazz Festival is taking the lead in returning live performances to our community,” says Elliot Glicksman, RJF board president.

“Thanks to the unwavering support of HSL Properties, Rio Nuevo, Visit Tucson and many other sponsors and supporters, we are able to host our seventh annual festival and can’t wait to see you there.”

Info: tucsonjazzfestival.org Briefs...continues on page 13 www.LovinLife.com

Briefs...continued from page 12 Rotary Club cancels Tucson Classics Car Show; fundraising continues Due to the recent increased outbreak of COVID-19 in Arizona, the Rotary Club of Tucson has canceled the October 17 14th annual Tucson Classics Car Show but will continue fundraising efforts to benefit Pima JTED and Make Way for Books.

The Rotary Club of Tucson will hold its annual Corvette raffle Saturday, October 17, and an online auction Friday, October 16, with all net profits going to Pima JTED and Make Way for Books. The goal is to sell 30,000 tickets at $5 each. Though they will not have the cars on display, the raffle drawing will be held at 3:30 p.m.

Saturday October 17.

For tickets, visit rotarytccs.com or tucsonclassicscarshow.com.

The raffle’s grand prize is a 2007 Corvette or $15,000 cash. Additional prizes include a $3,000 shopping spree at one of four Sam Levitz furniture stores, $2,500 in cash from Wellspring Financial Partners, $2,000 in appliances from Tucson Appliance Company, $750 massage package from Tucson Family Wellness and $500 car care package from Jack Furrier.

Donations from individuals and businesses throughout the community will make up the items for the online auction, which will be available for public viewing and bidding until 8 p.m. Friday, October 16.

The donation link for the auction is biddingforgood.com/auction/item/donate. action?auctionId=341696381.

“We are all disappointed, but we believe the health of our vehicle owners, club members, volunteers, vendors and show attendees could be put at risk as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. We are deeply sorry we will not be sharing the many classic and fabulous vehicles with our community this year,” says Cliff Bowman, Tucson Classics Car Show 2020 chairman.

The Rotary Club of Tucson is the largest of 135 Rotary Clubs in Arizona. It was chartered in Tucson in 1921 and serves the Southern Arizona community. The Tucson Classics Car Show has been its signature fundraising event for last 14 years.

The family event has resulted in over $1.6 million in donations to local charities for children’s literacy, vocational training, and women and teens in need.

The car show, sponsored by WeBuyHouses.com, has been an anticipated family event for the past 13 years in Tucwww.LovinLife.com

son and will be back October 16, 2021, with the celebration of the Rotary Club of Tucson’s centennial.

Arts

Madaras unveiling 20 paintings at her fall show Madaras Gallery will unveil 20 new paintings by its namesake, Diana Madaras, at its fall art show, “The Art of Respite 2020,” at 11 a.m. Sunday, October 25.

The show, featuring original acrylics, watercolors and pastels, includes imagery of some of Madaras’ happy places, as well as animals and florals that illicit feelings of joy and comfort. The show runs through November 6. Reservations are required by calling 615-3001.

The Madaras Gallery is at 3035 N. Swan.

For more information, visit madaras.com.

Casino Del Sol earns nine Best of Gaming Awards from magazine Casino Del Sol racked up a total of nine wins in Casino Player Magazine’s 2020 Best of Gaming awards, the publication’s annual reader survey of the best casinos from coast to coast.

Casino Del Sol took top honors for the Native Southwest region in five categories, winning first place for Favorite Casino Resort to Vacation At, Best Golf Course, Best Table Game Tournaments, Best High Limit Room and Best Poker Tournaments. The casino also took second place for Best Spa and third place for Best Reel Slots, Best Live Poker and Best Bingo.

“The Best of Gaming awards are decided by the players themselves, which is what makes these awards so special,” says Kimberly Van Amburg, CEO of Casino Del Sol. “It is an honor to be recognized by our guests for our amenities like our spa and golf course, and our variety of gaming offerings and tournaments.”

Casino Player’s Best of Gaming awards are a celebration of the industry’s finest, with votes cast by casinogoers for gaming properties across the country. Casino Del Sol adds nine Best of Gaming awards to an extensive list of honors the property has received so far this year, including AAA’s Four Diamond designation, a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its fine dining restaurant, PY Steakhouse, and it has been nominated for Global Gaming Awards Property of the Year and American Executive of the Year.

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Artists & Makers Studios in Maryland offers working studios for artists and consumers alike to take advantage of. It’s opening a location in Steam Pump Village in Oro Valley. (Photos courtesy Judith HeartSong)

Celebrating Local Art

Artists & Makers Studios moves into Steam Pump Village

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Judith HeartSong’s Artists & Makers Studios in Maryland has found the perfect fit within that community in Oro Valley.

Based on the award-winning studios in Rockville, Maryland, the Oro Valley location in Steam Pump Village provides 12 studio work spaces for creatives, as well as a gallery/shop and on-site supportive management.

“We worked with a really wonderful developer who we met here in Maryland,” HeartSong says.

“Our visions on what we could do for each other went together nicely. It’s been a really nice partnership with Oro Valley, as we were looking at locations, and it seemed like the perfect fit for a very artistic community in Tucson. It’s also an

area that could do well with the kind of programming that we run.”

In Maryland, Artists & Makers Studios houses 150 resident artists—painters, pastel artists, photographers, fiber and jewelry artists—in two buildings.

“As we ferry artists in, we try to make sure there’s a good mix of people, so they all interact with each other,” HeartSong says. “We want the public to see a wide range of crafts.”

Artists & Makers Studios has working studio spaces, with windows in the doors and hallways.

“Even if the artist isn’t there, a visitor can see what they do as they walk by,” says HeartSong, a 35-year artist. “Many artists have gallery walls where they display their works. It’s great.”

Artists & Makers Studios Arizona

11061 N. Oracle Road, Suite 150, Oro Valley artistsandmakersstudios.com orovalley@artistsandmakersstudios. com

OCTOBER 2020 |

13

Dining

Café a la C’art Starts Up Again Beloved restaurant eases back with a new menu and look

BY VALERIE VINYARD Mark Jorbin hopes to transform Café a la C’art.

For 25 years, the Downtown café has delighted diners with its reasonable prices, fantastic fresh foods and substantial portions. The café originally was open for lunch only on weekdays, but over the years it morphed into a breakfast, lunch and dinner destination.

Like the restaurant, Jorbin’s bustling catering business was put on hold in March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jorbin reopened to diners July 29 for lunch and weekend brunch to a streamlined menu. For now, the lunch menu features four sandwiches—including chicken, ham and short rib sandwiches—and four salads. There also is a daily special and house-made soup.

And, of course, the café is known for its award-winning desserts. Many customer favorites are available, includ-

ing the Chocolate Bomb ($6.50), a baseball-sized globe of mouthwatering chocolate cake, chocolate ganache and chocolate mousse.

“For the summer, we have simplified the menu,” Jorbin says. “We have narrowed it down to the most-popular items that people want to eat.”

He cites the Café Croque ($12.50), a classic French sandwich, as an example of the café returning to its classical roots.

He also likes the niçoise salad ($14.50), because “it’s simple and it’s delicious and has become very, very popular.”

Located across from the courtyard

With social distancing in mind, Mark Jorbin placed trees and shrubs in between tables for safety. (Submitted photos)

from the Tucson Museum of Art and housed inside the century-old historic Stephens House, the restaurant features a large entryway off Main Street. Unlike much of Downtown, free parking isn’t usually too difficult to find. The lot behind the restaurant offers free parking, and any metered parking stops charge after 5 p.m. weekdays.

Jorbin sees the café as a place where people enjoy a glass of wine or cup of coffee on the café’s expansive patio while listening to a guitarist play. In its indoor dining rooms, he envisions vin-

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tage silent movies and black-and-white shorts playing while customers dine on fresh food from the café’s kitchen. Vintage jazz from the 1920s and ’30s will play inside.

“It’s going to be a hangout spot,” says Jorbin, noting that the restaurant will remain fast-casual all day so people will order drinks and food at the counter.

“There aren’t going to be a whole lot of places like it that has the kind of space that I do. You’ll be able to listen to quiet music on the patio and sit and drink a

glass of wine.”

With social distancing in mind, there is “tons of outdoor seating” where trees and shrubs have been placed in between tables for safety. Jorbin estimates the patio can seat 75 with social distancing. Inside the five dining rooms, he says about 100 can sit.

“I want us to be the Downtown hangout spot,” Jorbin says. “We’re not a bar per se. If we market properly, we’re going to ride this out better than most.”

Occasional customer Elena Valenzuela is excited that Café a la C’art is up and running again.

“I’ve missed that place,” she says, estimating that she normally tries to visit the café about once a month. “I love their burgers and beer-battered fries.”

Café a la C’art

150 N. Main Avenue 628-8533, cafealacart.com 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Starting October 1, the café’s hours will be extended through the late evening. Check the website for updated information. www.LovinLife.com

As Exotic as Its Name Saffron Indian Bistro continues to delight

BY VALERIE VINYARD When you walk into Saffron Indian Bistro during the day, you’ll first notice the well-spaced tables bathed in light from large picture windows.

Solicitous employees seem willing to cater to every diners’ need. On a recent Monday afternoon, a handful of tables were occupied, including a few on the patio. The restaurant also was doing a brisk takeout business, with masked customers regularly entering Saffron’s doors to pick up food.

General manager Marc Thomas praised the community for continuing to patronize the restaurant since the pandemic started.

“I think that we were blown away by the support of the local community,” he said. “The support has really warmed our hearts.”

Opened in 2008, the 4,500-square-foot restaurant is located near the border of Tucson and Oro Valley on North Oracle Road near Magee Road. The dining room seats 100, half of its normal capacity because of the pandemic. Over the past few months, Saffron’s patio was expanded and can seat between 30 and 45 people.

For those who choose to dine at the restaurant, a menu full of Northern Indian dishes offers standbys and surprises.

At the bar, a $6, all-day cocktail special offered customers a chance to try new drink combinations for a reasonable price.

Thomas, who left his job as a property manager to manage Saffron in February 2018, described Saffron as a “modern Indian restaurant serving authentic dishes in a contemporary environment.”

“I love the food industry, and I was fed up with property management,” Thomas says.

For the past seven to eight years, chef Hargeet Singh has headed the kitchen at Saffron.

“We can service to very specific needs and wants at Saffron because it’s a scratch-made kitchen,” says Thomas, such as addressing gluten and tree nut allergies.

For those new to Indian food, Thomas recommended trying a daal ($12.95) for an appetizer.

“Daals are very intricate, with three to www.LovinLife.com

six different types of legumes, lentils and beans,” he says. “They’re very flavorful and easy to digest. It flies under the radar.

Daal comes in many shapes or forms— yellow (yellow, orange and red lentils) or dark daal (mung beans, black and brown lentils, kidney beans).”

He also urged diners to sample one of the 15 naans that are offered and to go beyond just the garlic or plain varieties.

Naan, which are succulent, pita-like halfmoons of bread, cost $2.95 to $4.95.

Jan Wright, a mother of three kids younger than 14, lives in Oro Valley and visits Saffron about once a month. Her kids especially like to “chow down” on the naan.

“They love the flavors and consistency of Saffon’s naan,” Wright says, laughing.

“I’m lucky if I can get a piece myself.”

She likes exposing her children to new flavors and cultures, and she says Saffron fits the bill.

“We usually get a couple of the same meals, but I try to choose something different each time so my kids can see if it’s something they like,” she said. “It’s different, but it’s not too out there. It’s a nice break from pizza and burgers.”

Indian cuisine features a variety of vegetarian dishes, and Wright likes “sneaking” in extra vegetables for her family.

“Sometimes my kids will eat something and not even realize there wasn’t meat in the meal,” she says. “That’s not easy to do with my kids.”

Thomas says customers return to Saffron because “it’s the service, it’s the food, it’s authentic.”

One of the most popular dishes at Saffron is the chicken tikka masala ($14.95), a spicy, tomato-based dish seasoned with garlic, ginger and garam masala. Thomas also noted the tandoori grill items are very popular and aren’t saucy like many other dishes.

Saffron still offers goat, but COVID-19 has affected the ability to get fresh goat from a local farm, Thomas says.

“COVID is affecting so many layers of the supply chain,” he says.

Thomas says he is working to provide customers with more Arizona-made alcohol, such as vodka from a Phoenix distillery and beer and wine that’s made in Arizona. Saffron offers three Indian beers

(Top) Chicken tikka masala ($14.95) is a favorite at Saffron Indian Bistro; (Center) Tandoori chicken ($12.95) is deeply marinated chicken leg quarters (dark meat) infused with yogurt, ginger, garlic, achiote and freshly ground exotic spices, then seared in a clay oven over charcoal; (Bottom) Saffron Biryani ($16.95) features chicken, lamb, shrimp and vegetables cooked with basmati rice, fresh herbs and freshly ground Indian spices and garnished with almonds.

(Photos courtesy Saffron Indian Bistro)

(Kingfisher, Taj Mahal and Flying Horse) and two Indian wines—a chenin blanc and shiraz—from Sula Vineyards. For now, an Oak Creek beer from Sedona and three Arizona wines from Page Springs Cellars and Aridus Winery round out the local alcohol offerings.

Thomas hopes eventually to have live music return to the restaurant. Before the pandemic, Saffron hosted an African and Indian band, complete with sitars and bongos.

“I think the combination of the impeccable food with great service with the contemporary setting results in a very comfortable, homey and welcoming ex-

perience that I think other places in Tucson lack,” Thomas says.

Thomas says if he can get people in the door, his work is half-finished.

“Someone who steps into Saffron has already opened his mind to a new experience,” Thomas says. “I just have to find and answer their specific needs and wants.”

Saffron Indian Bistro

7607 N. Oracle Road, Suite 101 742-9100, tucsonindianrestaurant.com 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays OCTOBER 2020 |

15

Food for Thought Online cooking classes teach and inspire

BY VALERIE VINYARD Learning to cook has never been better—or more comfortable—than Flying Aprons’ virtual cooking classes.

Michele Schulze, owner of Flying Aprons, opened her fledgling business in February.

She offered in-person cooking classes for all skill levels.

“All of our classes are taught by Tucson’s most beloved and talented chefs,” Schulze says.

Six weeks later, the pandemic temporarily shut down most businesses, including Flying Aprons.

Not to be deterred, Schulze moved her classes online. They range from 60 to 90 minutes long and cost $40 to $60 per screen. That means friends or an entire family can learn at the same session. The classes are taught through Zoom and can be viewed on a desktop computer, laptop, iPad, etc.

Don’t worry, there’s no need to buy special equipment: The recipes have been created to use pots, pans and utensils found in

Flying Aprons’ virtual cooking classes

The cost is $40 per screen.

A minimum of 10 people per class is required.

Information: FlyingApronsTucson @gmail.com or 261-1996

most home kitchens.

One of the “beloved” chefs on her roster is Devon Sanner, who teaches monthly classes for Flying Aprons. Sanner boasts an impressive resume, including executive chef stints at Downtown Kitchen and Cocktails and Carriage House.

“I love teaching,” says Sanner, who, before his chef days, taught first- and second-year Russian and Polish. “It’s the career I had before I was into cooking.”

In late July, he was asked to teach Zoom classes for Flying Aprons. His first class was filmed at Hamilton Distillery using Whiskey del Bac varieties to create cocktails paired with savory bites.

“It’s an interesting challenge,” Sanner says. “It’s harder with seeing tiny little boxes on Zoom.”

While there is an element that’s “lost in translation,” Sanner says the classes are helpful, informative and fun.

He plans on hosting classes that cover basic techniques, such as how to create

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quick and easy but delicious meals. And, of course, he likes to keep everything local. He also sees pairing up with his daughter and teaching a kids’ class.

Schulze, who grew up in Tucson and is a UA journalism graduate, surrounded herself with Tucson’s best chefs because she herself is not a chef.

“I’m just a foodie,” she says. “I’ve never worked in the hospitality business. A love of food was born. This was a dream I had for a very long time.”

During the classes, the chef is cooking with you, guiding you through every step, giving you personalized attention. Plus, the Zoom moderator will ensure the chef answers all your questions.

To Schulze, the name of her business makes perfect sense.

“In the kitchen, we’re always wearing an apron,” she says. “There’s always people flying around. I just know myself when I’m in the kitchen, ingredients are flying, and pots and pans are flying.”

Rather than just sit and watch, the students in Flying Aprons’ classes should be ready to participate.

“We encourage people to cook along,” Schulze says.

When people register for a class, about a week out, they’ll get a recipe packet and a Zoom link. The information includes a shopping list and equipment list, as well as any chef notes.

For a few classes, participants who register early will be able to pick up free ingredients at the participating restaurant ahead of time in order to cook along with the chef.

October classes include: • 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, October 17, featuring Genie Patterson from the Gekas family, who has been in charge of the Greek Festival for the past 20 years.

The festival is not taking place in person this year, so Patterson will cook with Nancy Jimmerson and showcase Greek dishes.

• 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 20, per-

Chef Devon Sanner prepares bites paired with Whiskey del Bac cocktails during a virtual cooking class with Flying Aprons.

(Photo courtesy Devon Sanner)

sonal chef Jane Cherry will teach a class about how food processors can be your best friend in the kitchen.

• Time TBA Thursday, October 22, with Miguel Heredia, executive chef at Lodge on the Desert’s Cielos restaurant.

• 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 27, Kyle Nottingham, chef/partner for Ares Collective, which includes Tucson restaurants Prep and Pastry, Commoner and Co. and August Rhodes Market, teaching a class with a Dia de los Muertos theme.

Going forward, Schulze envisions offering cooking camps that are single-subject focused, such as baking, sauces or braising.

Sanner believes there’s a need for these classes.

“People want to do this because we have all been confined at home for way too long and we miss our favorite restaurants, which means we miss our food from our favorite chefs,” Sanner says.

“You can find out their thought process, how do they prepare spices with food. It’s getting into their minds and really hearing from them.”

Schulze advertises through social media, on her website and in her weekly blog, called “Give my compliments to the chef.”

Also, the chefs who lead the classes promote their classes.

“You really feel like you’re with the chef,” Schulze says. “You can hold up what you’re working on, there’s still the interaction.

“If you have questions, the chef answers them in real time.”

Plus, there’s something to be said for staying safe at home.

“You get to be in the comfort of your own kitchen,” Sanner says. “You don’t have to schlep all of your own gear somewhere.

It’s convenient.

“You can make yourself a cocktail, prepare yourself a nice meal and eat with your family.” www.LovinLife.com

Sports

Returning Home

Football player Cole Sterns looks forward to the Rattlers’ season

BY KENDALL ROOKER Tucson native Cole Sterns strongly believes Arizona produces great athletes but the Grand Canyon State doesn’t get the due that Texas and California receive.

“The football in Arizona is just as good—if not better—than the other places across the country,” says Sterns, 25.

“Arizona is not to be slept on. We have a lot of talent here. I feel like it is overlooked. We’re the same way; we just haven’t gotten the hype and whatnot yet.”

Sterns is hoping to make his mark with the Arizona Rattlers, whom the 5-foot-11, 195-pound athlete joined for the 2021 season as a defensive back.

He’s hoping his family and friends can watch him play, given the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing mandates.

The season starts in March at the newly renovated Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

Sterns, who was expected to play for the Rattlers in 2020 until the pandemic hit, says he plays with a lot of heart.

“I’m a great athlete,” he says. “I put everything in the game. I got more heart than most guys. I’ve been through a lot on and off the field, but I try not to let that interfere and try to translate in my game.

Bad play, good play—I have to move on to the next play.”

Sterns is eager to get back out on the football field, as he hasn’t played the game since 2018.

Tucson native Cole Sterns joined the Arizona Rattlers for the 2021 season as a defensive back.

(Submitted photo)

“Being out on the field is something you can’t describe,” he says. “It is why I play the game and why I do this.”

Sterns began his football career and graduated from Sahuaro High School, where he played wide receiver and defensive back.

While playing for the Cougars, Sterns was named USA Today First Team All-State Defensive Back, First Team All-Southern Arizona Wide Receiver, First Team All-City Wide receiver and Arizona Daily Star Second Team All-Southern Arizona defensive back. He recorded 23 touchdowns while

playing for Sahuaro, where he also holds the school record with six touchdowns in a game.

After redshirting his freshman year at NAU, Sterns was named the Lumberjacks’ Defensive Most Improved Player in 2015.

During his time in Flagstaff, he competed in 32 games, compiling 61 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions and nine pass breakups.

“It’s like a real home feeling. Growing up in Tucson then going to NAU still represents Arizona, and (I) take pride from being in (this) state,” Sterns says.

As a graduate transfer student, Sterns transferred to Dallas’ Southern Methodist University, where he started in two games and registered 18 solo tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

“It was nice to play at SMU. I have family in the Dallas area and got the chance to play at a higher level of football,” Sterns says.

The Arizona Rattlers were founded in 1992 and are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). In the two seasons that the Rattlers have been in the IFL,

they have won one championship in 2017 and were in the conference championship last season.

The Rattlers spent 24 seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL), and in that time made 10 appearances in the ArenaBowl, winning in 2014, 2013, 2012, 1997 and 1994.

Sterns hopes to continue that success, but he’s taking things day by day.

“I control what I can,” he says. “Every day I try to get better at something. I am a big believer that it will take care of itself.”

Looking back at Sahuaro, if Sterns knew where his football career would lead him, he would be pleased.

“I’d be excited just with the opportunity to still be playing football,” he says.

“God blessed me with the opportunity to be this old, playing the game at 25, since I was 5 or 6 years old. Having the chance to play the game at a high level is a blessing, and I don’t take it for granted.”

Arizona Rattlers azrattlers.com

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Music

Carving a Path Michael Des Barres just wants to be himself

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Singer Michael Des Barres doesn’t see success as a trophy or an award. The Pasadena resident considers it something very different.

“What is success?” he says rhetorically.

“It’s not a gold, symbolic prize. It’s not double platinum. It’s being able to love yourself enough to be loved. That’s the ultimate award.”

That’s also the takeaway from the new documentary “Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me to Be?,” which is available on multiple on-demand platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW, Google Play/YouTube Rentals, Comcast, Cox, Spectrum, Cablevision, iTunes, Microsoft Store and Vudu.

He’s found happiness with his third wife, Britta Hayertz, owner of LA’s Britta Morgan Pilates, and he calls his son, Nick, his confidante.

“I trust him more than I trust everybody,” says Des Barres, who was formerly married to Nick’s mother, Pamela Des Barres, reportedly one of the inspirations behind the “Almost Famous” character Penny Lane.

“I trust everybody until they become untrustworthy. You can see the disguise very quickly and then you reassemble your thoughts.

“We can tell each other what time it really is. I don’t have to boost his confidence and he with mine. One of the greatest spiritual functions is making amends. You call them up, send a pigeon, say, ‘Yeah, my bad. I love you.’”

Loving himself came with sobriety, which came in June 1981. In the mid1980s, he co-founded Rock Against Drugs, and he later did volunteer addiction counseling and worked with homeless teens.

Parentless “Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me to Be?” tells the entertainer’s story. He’s the son of a junkie aristocrat (Marquis Philip Des Barres) and a schizophrenic showgirl (Marquise Irene Des Barres), as he says. He was born and raised in Hove, Sussex, England, and attended a boarding school in Derbyshire.

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“When you’re born into a world with no parents, you tend to really be very, very conscious and aware of what’s going on around you,” Des Barres says.

“There’s nobody to tell you what’s going on around you, or explain to you what’s happening. You discover the joy of people and the foibles of people and the animalistic side of human nature. And one learns quickly how to take care of yourself.”

A host of eyewitnesses, including Gabriel Byrne, Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), Don Johnson, John Taylor (Duran Duran), Nigel Harrison (Blondie), Allison Anders, Ed Begley Jr., Pamela Des Barres and Steven Van Zandt, all join in to corroborate Des Barres’ tale.

Director J. Elvis Weinstein, a veteran television writer/producer (“MST3K,” “Freaks and Geeks”), said, “I’d never met anyone quite like Michael; he confounded my expectations. In an age of ‘toxic narcissism,’ I found instead in Michael what I would call ‘a benevolent narcissist,’ someone who rewards your attention by reflecting his attention and enthusiasm back on you.”

Des Barres has carved a path through show business with record deals over the last 50 years, and acting in more than a hundred TV and movie appearances.

His roller coaster career began with acting in “To Sir, With Love,”

with Sidney Poitier, and includes lead role in “Ghoulies” and “MacGyver.” He was signed to Led Zeppelin’s label by Jimmy Page; wrote the omnipresent hit “Obsession,” later covered by Animotion; and performed at “Live Aid,” fronting the Power Station.

He replaced the great Robert Palmer in the Power Station—which also featured Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, bassist John Taylor and drummer Tony Thompson—when the “Addicted to Love” singer preferred not to tour.

“I knew him 10 years before, when he was in Vinegar Joe,” Des Barres says. “I loved him. We were quite close, but he was in the Marvin Gaye world and I was in the Steve Marriott world.

“It was two very different things. He was very subdued and a crooner.

When I was in Chequered Past, I opened for Duran Duran and Andy said he remembered me. They watched us because they loved Jonesy (Steve Jones

of the Sex Pistols). When Robert said, ‘Look, I don’t think I’m comfortable singing to 60,000 topless girls,’ he recommended me. They called me to come to New York. I met John and Tony, met Andy, who had the final say, as he was the leader of that pack. Boom, boom, boom, my first gig was Live Aid.” He says he wasn’t nervous at all about taking Palmer’s place after the Power Station scored hits with “Some Like It Hot” and “Get It On.” “I jumped up on stage fearless,” he says. “What else are you going to do? I had big shoes to fill, but I wasn’t going to do an impersonation of Robert Palmer.

‘Some Like It Hot’ just got hotter.”

Des Barres continues to act and preach the “rock ‘n’ roll gospel” on SiriusXM on “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” to an audience of millions.

“They’re my friends out there,” he says.

“There are 5 million every day. I use the same vibe for them as I do to myself. It’s a wonderful educative, entertaining feeling. Whatever happened to me in those younger years paid off.

“I’m lucky. I get to work here in my house. I have a studio in my house. I’ve been doing a lot of music, and it’s the best music I’ve ever made—but I always think like that. The song I wrote this morning is the greatest thing I’ve ever written. I’ve been writing this book of poetry for years. I love the romantic Lord Byron, Keats and Shelley.”

Des Barres has lived in Pasadena for three years, leaving “horrible” Hollywood behind.

“It’s a rat race of ambition and poison, on top of which is coated in dust,” he says. “I lived there for years.

When I got this wonderful gig with Stevie, I said I was going to buy a (expletive) huge house and put a studio in it and stay right there. I’ve been lucky. I said, ‘Let’s get acreage and trees and hammocks.’ I did that.

“It was prescient because of what was going down, this dreadful fight that we’re having with both culture and division, the pain, the inequality, the injustice and the COVID. This is a double header—a punch to the stomach and the heart. The birth of Hollywood really was here. All the great stars all have houses out here. Life is what you learn from it. That’s been my credo and why I’m still here. I’m 72 years old.

I’m Lestat’s brother. I’m a vampire with a heart in the right place.” www.LovinLife.com

Puzzles ANSWERS ON PAGE 17

Do it for your family.

Do it for yourself.

HAVE YOU PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED? ACROSS 1 Former freshmen 6 Squid squirt 9 Doctrine 12 Construction piece 13 Cattle call 14 IRS employee 15 1492 ship 16 SAT takers’ equipment 18 Pet rodent, often 20 Warmth 21 Second person 23 More, to Manuel 24 Portion of a repair bill 25 Great Lake 27 Amulet 29 “Where the Wild Things Are” author 31 “Nighthawks” painter 35 Edition 37 Genesis maker 38 Sings like Ella 41 Apprehend

43 44 45 47 49 52 53 54 55 56 57

Promptly Sea eagle Downy ducks Necklace ornament “Psycho” star Commotion Tall tale Rod of tennis lore Actress Myrna Toss in Tools for duels

DOWN 1 Taste the tea 2 Japanese sash 3 Gotham City super-villain 4 Detest 5 Unctuous flattery 6 Mischievous 7 Yule refrain 8 “-- -Tiki” 9 Less friendly 10 Pie-in-the-face sound

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

www.LovinLife.com

11 17 19 21 22 24 26 28 30 32 33 34 36 38 39 40 42 45 46 48 50 51

Sail supports Winners Supports “Certainly” Mined find Expert Rewrote, maybe Winning Fool Musingly thoughtful Swelled head Uncooked One Calyx component Guiding principle Bother Ball VIP Oklahoma city Harvest Carte lead-in “Golly!”

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OCTOBER 2020 |

19

It’s All About Love Aloe Blacc dedicates new music to his wife

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Aloe Blacc doesn’t spend a lot of time writing love songs or ballads.

But when his 10th wedding anniversary came around, he decided it was time to start. So, he rounded up co-writers who were good at “that sort of thing” and collaborated.

“The song ‘I Do’ I wrote and dedicated to my wife,” Blacc says about the track that appears on his album “All Love Everything,” due out October 2.

“I decided the 10th anniversary was a great moment to dedicate a song to her.

The music video is film footage from our wedding ceremony. The song is from the universal standpoint of the process of finding love.”

Blacc married Maya Jupiter—a Mexican-born rapper, songwriter, MC and radio personality who grew up in Australia—in 2010.

“We are from two different continents and were an ocean apart,” says Blacc, who grew up in Laguna Hills, California.

“We realized that love is something that ultimately chooses you, rather than you choosing it. The odds of us finding each other was amazing. She was raised in Sydney and born in Mexico only two weeks apart from me. Potentially, we could have met on the same soil in the same coast, but her parents moved to Australia and she was raised there.”

“I Do” was supposed to be a surprise, but Jupiter heard their daughter singing it.

“She said, ‘This is your song. Daddy

made it for you,’” he recalls about a conversation Jupiter had with their daughter. “It hadn’t been finished yet. I wanted to present it in the final form. She didn’t spoil the surprise, though.”

Blacc believes “All Love Everything” is “important for this time,” as it focuses on family and togetherness, a sentiment shared by many because of the pandemic.

The album is peppered with different genres, including Americana, Latin, soul and R&B. “I just wanted to take the production in the direction that best suited the story I was telling,” he says. “The song ‘My Way’ is definitely a classic soul feel, and it has elements of hip-hop with the sonic fidelity of the drums and bass.

“I have a lot of flexibility with my voice.

I tend to use my voice how it best serves the song. The vocal producer on the

track will get me to perform in a way that best communicates the sentiment and the energy. They’re two different kinds of energies.”

While awaiting the release of “All Love Everything,” Blacc was focused on transforming the justice system.

“The House of Representatives passed a justice reform bill, and I’m looking at the possibility of getting that bill passed in the Senate,” he says. “We need to find a way to weed out the bad apples. That’s what everybody’s interested in—from the law enforcement side to the public side. We need to find a way to promote the good cops and get rid of the bad cops.”

Blacc, who lives in Los Angeles, says some police officers were agitating crowds during protests.

“I saw some images of po-

lice leaving bricks on corners so that people outside the community could come and do damage,” he says. “That’s completely not the way peaceful protests are done. It upset outside agents and provoked doing damage to these businesses who had nothing to do with these issues.

“The peaceful protests were exercises of the First Amendment, right to speak your voice. There were a lot of people out there, though, who wanted to make the peaceful protests look bad.”

Aloe Blacc aloeblacc.com

Get your copy today!

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| OCTOBER 2020

www.LovinLife.com

Columns

Medicare and Me

Ask the Expert

5 ways to help a loved one dealing with cancer

BY TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER When someone close is diagnosed with cancer, it’s natural to want to be supportive. It’s sometimes hard to know how to do that in a helpful manner.

Kimberly Kastel is a nurse navigator in the thoracic oncology program at Tucson Medical Center. Her job is to help patients understand their diagnosis, treatment and options as well as be their advocate.

“One of the most important things you can do to show support is to be understanding and available but not take over,” Kastel says. “Ask what you can do for them.”

Go to the doctor together (in person or via video chat or phone) Offer to go to the doctor with your loved one. If you can’t be there in person, see if your loved one can bring you in on video chat. Try not to freak out when you hear about chemo, radiation or other treatments, though. Rather, show support and be positive. On that same note, know that chemo treatments and side effects are a lot different than they used to be. If there are side effects, they are usually manageable.

Before the appointment, encourage the patient to write down questions as not to forget them at the doctor’s office.

Also, let the nurse navigator or someone who isn’t as close to the patient on a personal level take notes so you can focus. Your nurse navigator will write down everything the doctor says in a way your family can understand. She will then go over it with you again to ensure you know what’s going on.

Be there to listen Listen to your loved one’s concerns, fears and hopes. Offer words of encouragement and support.

Let them do their thing Independence is important, especially when you have an illness. It’s easy to try www.LovinLife.com

and take the reins so your loved one can rest. But try not to do everything. If they feel up to it, let them do the things that make them feel normal, whether that’s cooking for the family, working in the yard or running errands.

Dr. Google is not your friend Don’t freak yourself out more by consulting Google. Your care providers will have a list of reputable websites you can use for references. Ask for them.

Take care of you If you’re the caregiver, take time out for yourself. Allow a friend or family member to stay with your loved one so you can step away and do things on your own— even if that’s just a solo trip to the store.

About TMC’s nurse navigators Nurse navigators guide patients through that critical and overwhelming time between diagnosis and treatment.

The navigator can help line up tests and arrange visits with specialists, as well as follow up with patients to meet any additional needs and serve as a point of contact for all your doctors.

Our nurse navigators will make sure your regular doctor has reports, results and timely communication throughout the process—from diagnosis to the recommended course of treatment—and will be invited to help develop a comprehensive care plan.

The Tucson Medical Center Wound Care Center, managed by Healogics, provides specialized treatment for chronic or nonhealing wounds, which are defined as sores or wounds that have not significantly improved from conventional treatments. Associated with inadequate circulation, poorly functioning veins and immobility, nonhealing wounds lead to lower quality of life and may lead to amputations. When wounds persist, a specialized approach is required for healing. Typically, a wound that does not respond to normal medical care within 30 days is considered a problem or chronic wound.

Talk to your doctor about a referral to our Wound Care Center or contact us directly for an assessment. Call 324-4220 for more information. Learn more tmcaz.com.

Late to the insurance game?

You’ll sit in the penalty box

BY LEAH SUGAR KARI Your enrollment in Medicare is an important event that requires your fact finding, attention and timely action.

Medicare pays approximately 80% of Medicare-approved Part A and B charges, so it’s a benefit you’ll want to claim as soon as you are eligible.

Medicare has many moving parts and regulations. This article broadly addresses the penalties and price paid for not enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B on time.

Medicare Part A (hospital benefits) costs no monthly premium for most of us. Work 40 quarters or 10 years, and you’ve paid for Part A through payroll deductions. Most people enroll in Part A in their initial enrollment period (IEP) even with employer’s group coverage. Part A is in effect the first day of the month you turn 65 or qualify through disability, with no premium and no penalty.

What if you or your spouse don’t qualify for premium free Part A? You’ll pay a monthly premium up to $437. Postponing your enrollment triggers a 10% penalty that’s added to your Part A premium.

The penalty doubles for each year you delayed in enrolling in Part A, and you’ll have to wait to actually enroll in Part A if you’ve missed your IEP. Medicare Part B (the medical benefit) costs $144.60 per month for most beneficiaries in 2020. The premium may increase based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) based on your last year’s tax return, which actually is a two-

year lookback. Enrollment in Part B may be delayed if your employer’s coverage is considered “creditable” (at least as good as what Medicare would provide) when you’re eligible. When you leave your employer’s coverage, you have eight months to enroll in Part B without a penalty. COBRA coverage doesn’t provide a special enrollment period for Part B and can cause significant increases in your Part B premium when you do finally enroll.

Beware. If you miss your IEP and don’t have creditable coverage provided by your employer’s plan, you must wait until January 1 to March 31 (the general enrollment period) of the next year to enroll in Medicare A or B. Your coverage won’t begin until July 1 of that year. The Part B penalty is a hefty 10% premium increase for each full 12 months that you don’t enroll. This penalty does not disappear but is charged for as long as you are enrolled in Part B. It’s never too early to prepare for entering Medicare. Visit medicare.gov or socialsecurity.gov or consult your licensed insurance agent to be clear on the rules and requirements to put your Medicare benefit in place. You’ve earned it!

Leah Sugar Kari, AMR, FHIAS, is a local licensed life and health insurance agent specializing in showing Medicare eligible people their insurance options. Reach Kari for comments at 4843807 or email leahkari4@gmail.com. (TTY users dial 711.) She is a retired pharmaceutical representative.

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Ask Gabby Gayle

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BY GAYLE LAGMAN-CRESWICK Gabby Gayle: With all the Q Dear protests regarding racism in our country, I have made a discovery: My parents are racist! I love these people and they did not raise us to be racist, but they are! I’m a widow and have been seeing a really nice Black man. Before introducing him to the folks, I tested the water and asked them a few questions like, “How do you feel about mixed marriages between Blacks and whites?” My dad went on for an hour about why that is not a good idea.

I asked, “What happened to what you taught us that all are created equal?” Dad said, “They are equal, but separate.” That is a racist statement, but I did not want to argue. Can you change people you love who are in their 70s?

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Help: The short answer: “You A Dear can’t change them!” The long answer is three things have to happen for a person to change. 1. They have to realize they have a problem. 2. They have to want to change. 3. Then they have to do the work to change themselves. It doesn’t sound as if they know they have a problem! If it were I, I would probably tell them about this nice guy you have been dating, and you would like them to meet him, and you want to be sure they will be cordial. Sometimes, when forced to look at themselves and how much they love their daughter, people give up their unrealized prejudices and move ahead. When they get to know the person, they realize how silly they were. Or, sometimes it can go badly, and you will then have to make a choice!

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Our job is to make our daughter feel good about herself, and I’m afraid mom will

22

| OCTOBER 2020

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cate of people “minding their own business.” I have a rule that says, “Never give advice to your adult children unless they ask for it, and then only very carefully!”

Evidently, your mom does not subscribe to that philosophy. I think you have to tell your mom, “We have a very well-thoughtout plan made with her doctor, and we are following that. I would appreciate it if you help us make our daughter feel good about herself the way she is.” No guarantees. I hope it works!

Signed, GG

CLEAN TILE

Gabby Gayle: I am writing Q Dear about dad, who lives with us. He has very irritating habits. I love him and get so mad at myself for losing patience with him. He doesn’t like to shower and put on clean clothes. When I tell him I need to wash his clothes, he says his clothes are not dirty and he isn’t either. How do I cope with this? Any ideas?

Signed, Out of Patience

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Patience: When the older A Dear generation lives with the younger generation, they are bound to get on each other’s nerves. That is why when readers ask my advice about parents living with them, I usually say it often does not work well. I think you have to pick your battles.

When my grandfather lived with us, my mom would steal his clothes while he was sleeping and put out the clean clothes, which he would not put on until he showered! He would grouse about it every time, but he did it. Also, old people don’t sweat as much, and most wash off every day at the sink, so they really don’t have to change clothes or shower often. Hope this helps.

Signed, GG

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