Pick of the Week

Meet OSIRIS-REx! The UA Lunar and Planetary Lab is teaming up with NASA to head back out into space. The pretty damn cool science mission, led by Principal Investigator and UA Professor of Planetary Science Dante Lauretta, will spend the next two years chasing down the near-earth asteroid Bennu. Once OSIRIS-REx catches up with Bennu in October 2018, it will start relaying photos and other data back to earth about the makeup of the asteroid. On Independence Day 2020, the robotic spacelab will scoot right on up next to Bennu before reaching out with a robot arm to blast some dust from the surface and catch it with a container. Sometime around March 2021, OSIRIS-REx heads back to earth and in September 2023, the capsule with the asteroid dust pops loose of OSIRIS-REx and lands somewhere in the Utah desert. From there, the science teams will be off to races with their analysis of the sample.

You can learn all about the ORIRIS-REx mission at Summer Science Saturday, a day of panel discussions, talks and exhibits about OSIRIS-REx at the Lunar and Planetary Lab's Kuiper Space Sciences Building, 1629 E. University Blvd. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.

If that's not enough outer-space adventure, the nearby Flandrau Planetary is reopening the same day with free admission and $3 admission to the new theater programs. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. More info here.

Food & Booze

Arizona Beer Love Bar Crawl: Get a chance to try local beer on tap with a bar crawl on University Boulevard and Fourth and Sixth avenues. You can get your wristband at any of the participating locations, including Bear Track U, Frog & Firkin, Gentle Ben’s, Illegal Pete’s, Pasco Kitchen & Lounge, Red’s Smokehouse & Tap Room, Tap & Bottle, Che’s Lounge, Mr. Head’s and Surly Wench Pub. Wristband qualifies you for beer specials at each location you visit and getting a passport stamp qualifies you for special prizes. Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.

Beetlejuice Wine Tasting: Still upset the rumored Beetlejuice sequel isn't happening? Drink your sorrows away and enjoy the original at everyone's favorite film bar. As Casa Video says: Some great Portuguese wine is sure to fill you with Harry Belafonte-esque feelings of elation—all together now!—“Day O! Me say day, me say day, me say day.” 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Casa Video and Casa Film Bar, 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. $5, which can be applied to the purchase of a bottle.

Down South Road Trip: Get the taste of other parts of the country without having to leave midtown. Kingfisher just started serving it's final Road Trip menu of the summer, featuring "Down South" creations such as deep fried cornmeal crusted oysters, crawfish etouffe, a "charcoal box" whole roasted pig and peach up-side down cake. The menu will be available through Sept. 4. Kingfisher: An American Bar & Grill, 2564 E. Grant Road. 

Cinema

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg - Films of Catherine Deneuve: In this classic movie musical, a young Catherine Deneuve is thrust into the harsh realities of a difficult and complex relationship when her man is sent to war in Algeria. The music is composed by Michel Legrand and underscores a far-from-perfect and unconventional love story with style and sophistication. 7:30 to 9:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Regular admission prices. 

Misfortune: Filmed in Tucson, Misfortune tells the story of Mallick who is on a mission to track down the people responsible for the crime that had him locked up for years. As events spiral out of control, the prospects of a criminal fugitive lifestyle become an inevitable reality. The film is opening at Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 (5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz) on Friday, Aug. 26. Catch it if you can: The film played to a sold out crowd to the Arizona International Film Festival back in April. It took home the big prize at the Jaipur International and Black Hills, South Dakota film festivals. 

North by Northwest: Cinema La Placita is closing out its 17th season with a bang: Alfred Hitchcock’s spy-thriller North by Northwest. A suspenseful film isn’t the only thing you’ll get from this season close out—come early to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. Learn about the 100 years of national parks and the renovation plans for the Pima County Courthouse during a pre-show talk sponsored by Western National Parks Association and Visit Tucson. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. Cinema La Placita, 115 N. Church Ave.

Organpalooza: Exploded View Microcinema will host experimental film artist Douglas Katelus and his organ (hey, don’t go there) to open its fourth season of experimental music and film. Exploded View’s Organpalooza will feature the San Francisco artist’s 16mm film Keep Film Dead. Organpalooza will also host electronic artist Eric Schlappi to play alongside the music video with his song “Poseidonis,” and a collaboration between Gabriella Molina and Chick Magnet’s LANO for a night of ambient sounds and a light show, at the two-day event. Visit Exploded View’s Facebook event page for more info. 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, and Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Tombstone: The Loft is featuring Tombstone, a 1993 western featuring Kurt Russell, to honor Tucson’s birthday month. The Loft will have Ken’s Hardwood BBQ Food Truck for eats from 6 to 9 p.m. and if you’ve got a sweet tooth, a free Tucson-themed cake will be provided as long as you get there early enough to grab a slice. Guests can also enter a raffle to win a gift basket filled with film goodies like movies and merch from local Tucson businesses. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31. Normal theater admission rates apply.

Fun Philanthropy

Bite Nite: Featuring food, drinks, live entertainment and a silent auction, Bite Nite is returning again to the Westin La Paloma in its eighth year. The foodie paradise raises money and awareness for The ALS Association Arizona Chapter. 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Drive. $100 for single ticket, $1,000 for table. 

OMGFest: Do some gaming and raise money for the local food bank at the Offline Multiplayer Gaming Festival this weekend. The fest aims to bring gaming back to its "best" form—a bunch of friends in one room competing against each other with laughter and the ocasional battle cry as their soundtrack. Brush up on your Towerfall, Flop and Astro Duel skills if you want to snag a trophy. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Doubletree Reid Park Grand Ballroom, 445 S. Alvernon Way. $10 donation.

QTPOC Fest In-Virgo: QTPOC Fest describes itself as an indoor festival celebrating Tucson’s Queer and/or Trans People of Color in their varied and abounding expressions of Gender, Sex, Sexuality, and Culture. How can you not support that? The QTPOC folks are working to raise money for their second festival, scheduled for this fall. Bring some cash and some food to share and spend the evening with some people working to make Tucson a more inclusive, comfortable-for-everyone place. 7 p.m. to midnight. Saturday, Aug. 27. 2001 S. Longfellow Place. $5 suggested donation.
 

Art

There's a lot going on at MOCA this week: Art Now! with Anna Garner: Anna Garner, artist and writer who has been featured in gallery shows all over the U.S. and in Canada, joins MOCA and community members for an open discussion on the "art of our time." Admission includes light snacks and refreshments. 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25.  Free for MOCA members, $5 non-members. Head back the next night for 4th Friday Films with The Loft Cinema: MOCA is partnering with the Loft Cinema to bring free outdoor screenings for the summer at Cox Plaza. This month's film, Finding Vivian Maier, reveals the life and photography of Vivian Maier, a 20th-century nanny and photographer who took more than 100,000 photographs which came into the limelight only after her lifetime. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26. $5 suggested donation. And if you're watching your budget, save your visit for August Free Day at MOCA: Admission to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is free the last Sunday of every month! Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28. MOCA, 265 S. Church Ave. Free. All of these events take place at MOCA, 265 S. Church Ave. 

Restore + Celebrate Corbett House: A champagne toast at the Corbett House, dinner catered by Café a la C’Art and a lecture on the legacy of the J. Knox Corbett House—can you think of a better way to celebrate this Tucson icon? Seating is limited so call now (520-624-2333 ext. 111) if you're interested in attending. Don't worry if you have to miss out on this one, there are more events like this to come. 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26. Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. $50. 

Nature & Science

They belong to you. Join us in celebrating them! #NPS100 #FindYourParkhttps://t.co/wNTTQ8gPmT

— NationalParkService (@NatlParkService) August 25, 2016

Happy 100th Birthday, National Park Service: This is a birthday party you can attend in almost every city: Our beloved National Park Service has just hit it's centennial and is offering free admission to all of its 412 national parks Aug. 25-28. Pack some water and head over to Saguaro National Park (or road trip it out to one of the 411 other choices)—and don't forget to bring cake!

Cool Summer Nights: Teacher Appreciation Night: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is sending some love to teachers of all ages by letting them in for free with ID on Aug. 27 to Cool Summer Nights. Activities will include discussions, demonstrations, live animal presentations and special educational opportunities for teachers. 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. Regular admission, free with educator's ID nature.

The Pima Air and Space Museum's Summer "Night Wings" Program features new, hands-on educational activity stations stationed throughout the museum hangars/grounds. At the Aircraft Materials Station, guest will get to explore and touch different materials that aircraft are made out of and then be asked to look around and determine the materials used on the aircraft around them. In the Dorothy Finley Space Gallery, guest will get to participate in the Programming Robots Station, where they will learn about programming using markers and small Ozobot Robots that can sense the color drawn on paper. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road $10 starting at 4 p.m. Kids 10 and under get in free. 

Literature

Feminist Book Club: Put your woman-loving reading specs on and head over to Antigone to discuss Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein (of TV show Portlandia). The book is 10 percent off through the month of August. 3:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. Free Books 

Trivia

Simpsons Trivia Night: If you consider yourself a fan of The Simpsons or are just looking for a fun night out, then Casa Video and Film Bar has got you covered with a trivia night all about the fictitious Springfield family. Grab some booze from the bar and show off how much you know about the show or sit back and watch other hash it out for some Simpsons bragging rights. 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30. Casa Video, 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Free to attend, but you have to pay for your booze.