Your weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo.

Pick of the Week

It's another Second Saturday Downtown, which means all manner of fun in the heart of our community. On the art front, you won't want to miss Etherton Gallery's opening of Shadowlands, featuring new prints by Alice Leora Briggs and selected photographs by Joel-Peter Witkin and Roger Ballen. All three artists do dark, challenging and provocative work that's not for the easily offended. The opening is from 7 to 10 p.m. at Etherton, 135 S. Sixth Ave. More info here. Over at the Rialto Theatre, legendary British psychedelic pop rockers The Zombies will take the stage, along with local opener Brian Lopez. Doors at 7 p.m. at Rialto, 318 E. Congress St. Across the street at Hotel Congress, Crystal Radio is hosting a record-release party for the band's debut release, Ghost in You. Doors at 7 p.m. at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. You'll find more music at the Scott Avenue Stage between Congress and Broadway, where  Belinda Esquer plays from 6 to 7 p.m., Los Guapos play from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Haboob plays from 9 to 10 p.m. Plenty more is going on all day and a lot of it is free, as you can see from this schedule.

OSIRIS-REx

As you should have learned in last week's cover story, the UA has teamed up with NASA to send a spacecraft on an asteroid hunt. The launch is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8, at 4:05 p.m. Cool, right? So, how can you best celebrate the launch? You've got a few options. The UA and Time in Cosmology Center will be partying at Hotel Congress with extraterrestrials from planet, stargazing, live music and (of course) watching the launch live. The event is free, and festivities start at 4 p.m. Or, head over to Borderlands Brewing Company for Brews for Bennu: OSIRIS-REx Launch Watching Party to watch live as the mission begins. They reccomend showing up around 3:30 p.m. so you don't miss out. Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave.  

Food & Booze

Ice Cream Showdown: Who has the best ice cream in Tucson? Well, according to your Best of Tucson votes it's—just kidding! Best of Tucson Winners won't be announced for another month. To tide yourself over (and cool down on one of our remaining extended summer Saturdays), head to the Ice Cream Showdown and see what local ice cream you're loving the most. The contestants are: BrushFire BBQ Co., The Cup Cafe, HUB Ice Cream Factory, Isabella's Ice Cream, Maynards Market & Kitchen, Sullivan's Eatery & Creamery, Tazzina di Gelato and The Screamery. Bring the kids: Ben's Bells is bringing coloring books, kindness coins, and Kind Crusader super heroes. 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Maynards Market, 400 N. Toole Ave. $10 for 10 tastings, $1 per additional tasting. All of the money from the additional tastings benefits Ben's Bells.

Westside Brew District Tour: Have you noticed Grant west of I-10 has become something of a local booze haven? Take a tour of Dragoon Brewing Co., Hamilton Distillers and 1912 Brewing Co., grab some food from Mr. Cookman's, enjoy some live music and get three drinks (two beers and a whiskey) with the cost of admission. One important note: Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to each location. Each place is close enough to bike to, but you are highly encouraged to have a designated driver and drink responsibly. Meet at Dragoon Brewing Co., 1859 W. Grant Road, at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. $15, tickets can be purchased in advance at Dragoon or 1912. 

7th Annual Arizona Farmer + Chef Connection: Listen up, chefs! If you're lookin' to learn more about being a wholesale food buyers who supports local local networks, this is the event for you. Meet local purveyors of quality dairy, meats, produce and baked goods. End the day enjoying Arizona food, beer, wine, and spirits. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Sept 12. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue. $20-$100.

Titanic! Beers to Try Before You Die: Casa Video asks you to imagine you're on Titanic's maiden voyage. What are you going to do when you strike the iceberg and start going down? Try some staff favorite beers! Hang out at Casa's film bar, watch James Cameron's famous Titanic and enjoy some brews. 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.

Art

Tales From the Trash sticks the low in low-brow, the trash in trash-art. That said, it is, in fact, an actual art show curated by Tucson “art” collectors Steve Purdy (he of local reissue record label Lysergic Sound Distributors) and man-for-all-seasons Mark Bloom. The pals have for years unearthed unseemly art at swap meets and in thrift stores and Dumpsters in Tucson and around the country, and you can now see the stuff and even purchase it. The show displays glorious worst of the worst—from paint-by-number hedonistic grannies, kaleidoscopic kitties and spiraling UFOs to orange nudies that got nothin’ on Picasso’s rose period and straight-up WTFs. These colorful, head-wrenching events, which are sporadic (they happen a few times a year), are growing in popularity, and are always crammed with the snickering and the gape-jawed. 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Scratch Shack, 245 W. Speedway. Free.

Sports

Arizona opens the 2016 home football slate with by welcoming Grambling State. It is the first meeting between the Wildcats and Tigers and a rare game outside the south for the team from Louisiana. Arizona hopes to redeem itself after last week's loss to BYU and continue their success in home openers, having won 16 in a row. Kickoff is 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Arizona Stadium.

Cinema

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Tribute Screening: 2016 has been a really, really rough year in terms of beloved celebrity lives lost. Gene Wilder has left our world to take that great glass elevator to the sky, so the Loft Cinema is hosting a screening of one of his most cherished films. A portion of the proceeds from this showing will benefit the non-profit Gilda’s Club, founded by Gene Wilder in honor of Gilda Radner and offering support for people living with cancer as well as their families and friends. Noon on Sunday, Sept. 11. The Loft, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $8.

Parks and Recreation Binge Watch: Everybody loves Parks & Rec (well, maybe not the first season), so it really does seem like the perfect choice for a late night group binge. Come watch the (supposed) five best episodes of the series. This event it open to the public but students, get free popcorn with a CatCard. It's like having a Netflix weekend, but more social! 9 p.m Friday, Sept. 9. UA Mall, 1200 E. University Blvd. Free.  

Leftist Revolution: If you're a history buff, then you'll probably want to check out Exploded View Microcinema's showing of a three-hour documentary on the tales of the rise and fall of the leftist movement from 1960 - 1970. The feature film runs from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14. Exploded View, 197 E. Toole Ave. 

The African Queen: Want the chance to watch one of the most widely screened films? Join the Fox Theatre and the Hanson FIlm Institute in the 65th Anniversary Screening of The African Queen. 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 10. Fox Theatre, 17 West Congress Street. $7 adults; $5 for students; free for children under 12. 

Kids

Space Night: Sleep over at the Children's Museum learning about our universe from the Planetary Science Institute. Kids 4-12 (and their families!) will enjoy camping in the museum, a hands-on meteorite exhibit, a pizza party, smores, a telescopic look at the sky, a late-night movie and lots more science in between. Tents optional! Fun starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Tucson Children's Museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave. $50 per person, $45 for members. 

Make a Mini Spaceship: Into everything mini? The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures' Kids Create Program lets the kiddos engage with the art of miniatures. This month: spaceships! Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive. Saturday, Sept. 10. Free with admission to the museum.

Nature

Moonlight Hike: Get your nature fix without braving the sun. Head over to Kartchner Caverns' Discovery Center for a unique ranger-led hike on the Foothills Loop during the cooler evening hours. Wear suitable clothing and shoes and bring water, a flashlight, and insect spray. Trail is moderately difficult and 2.5 miles long. RSVP here: 520-586-2283. 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Kartchner Caverns State Park, 2980 AZ-90, Benson. $7. 

Second Annual Prickly Pear Fiesta: Learn about everyone's favorite desert fruit (the prickly pear) and other local edible and medicinal plants, through hands-on demonstrations and instructor-led explorations of the Sonoran Desert at the Cooper Center’s Prickly Pear. Cooper Center for Environmental Learning, 5403 W. Trails End Road. 8 a.m.-noon. Saturday, Sept. 10.

Community

Quiz for a Cause: If you're into booze and trivia, the Colibri Center has an event just for you at the Auld Dubliner. The nonprofit organization, in conjunction with the Geeks Who Drink Pub Quizzes, will host a game night to raise money for its goal to stop border deaths. It'll cost you $5 to get in, but if you're a badass at trivia, then you have a chance to get the cash prize that goes to the winning team. The event is 21 and up only. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Auld Dubliner, 800 E. University Blvd.

Homebuyer Expo: Ready to ditch the rental life and get settled in a home that's all your own? As part of the city's never-ending pursuit of economic development, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild is hosting a Homebuyer Expo to connect perspective homebuyers with information about down-payment assistance, mortgages and improving credit scores. It's not quite a party, but it is a step towards not having to ask permission before adopting a pet or painting your walls. 3:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13. UA Student Union Grand Ballrooom, 1303 E. University Blvd. (on the third floor of the student union). 

Night Out With Nonprofits: Ever wish you could speed date your way through the non-romantic aspects of your life, trying on career and housing prospects before fully committing? Well, spend an evening getting to know a series of local nonprofits, the people involved and the missions they work towards. Admission gets you two drink tickets and a wristband for discounted treats at HighWire and the Independent Distillery, if you decide to continue the party later into the night.  4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Johnny Gibson's Courtyard, 11 S. Sixth Ave. $10. 

Amped Up: Can you sing? Can you act? Are you funny? Well, make sure to head on out to the Hotel Congress on Tuesday, Sept. 13, for Open Mic Night. While most Open Mic Nights are strictly singing, Hotel Congress is opening up its stage to just about anyone who wants to get on that stage and strut their stuff. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show goes until 11 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street. Free. 

An Indigenous People History of the United States Book Club: Alternative history to most, real history to others. Come in for the reading and discussion of An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. Some time will also be dedicated in discussing to the Standing Rock youth and broader Native resistance as they organize against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Childcare provided upon request. All are welcome even if you do not have a copy of the book. 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 10. 511 N. Cuesta Ave. Free, donations welcome.

Fashion

JOGS Fall Gem & Jewelry Show: If you are a fan of gem and jewelry shows, be sure to check out the next one coming to Tucson this week. JOGS Gem and Jewelry Show draws buyers and exhibitors from all over the world with products such as fine jewelry, silver, gold, gemstones, findings, beads, minerals, watches, fashion jewelry, gem decor and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept 8-11 at the Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E Irvington Road. 750-8000. 

$1 Day at Buffalo Exchange benefiting HSSA: Get some new clothes for just $1 per item and support the Humane Society of Southern Arizona this weekend. That's, like, everything you you wanted to do this weekend, right? Buffalo Exchange, 2001 E. Speedway Blvd.