City Week

Prepare the Laser ... Art

Arts for All Art Reception
7 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19
Epic Café, 743 N. Fourth Ave.
622-4100, ext. 204

Art for All is not just a hefty claim, but it's also the title of a local art collective (Art for All Inc., to be technical). However bold their titular claim, Art for All Inc., appears to be able to put their art where their mouths are. As their press release notes, the group "welcomes individuals, who have a love of the performing and visual arts, children and adults, young and old, with and without disabilities to come and develop their creativity," which does indeed sound like everyone.

This Saturday, Art for All Inc. will host a reception at Epic Café for the works of seven local artists. The press release notes that the reception and the corresponding exhibit--on display through Nov. 30--host "artistic styles ... from traditional 'high art' to the more modern and abstract."

Among those representing Art for All's styles are Brian Mondeau and Jared Esquibel, both working with the developing art program called L.A.T. (Laser Art Technique). Mondeau uses L.A.T. with "the laser to tell the tracker exactly what he wants, the size of the canvas and the size of the brush he wishes to use." Meanwhile, Esquibel makes his L.A.T. artwork unique with "unusual color combinations and intricate free flow line drawings." Sounds like something that must be seen to be understood.

To check out these works, meet the artists and enjoy some refreshments, attend the reception Saturday. Admission is free, and we recommend trying one of Epic's ridiculously awesome peanut butter mocha beverages. They are, quite simply, a work of art. --M.P.


Say Hello to My Video Friend

Videoke
9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18
The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.
795-0844

If you've ever--in the course of your average day--found yourself uttering lines like, "We're gonna need a bigger boat," or "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse," then the Loft Cinema has just the event for you this Friday: Videoke! That's right--a new riff on classic karaoke allows participants to act out scenes from their favorite films (and TV shows).

The operations director at the Loft, J.J. Giddings, explained via e-mail that Henri Mazza, director of promotions at the famous Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, started the event. "Everyone does it a little different, but the Drafthouse's model seemed like the easiest to adopt, since they were all on DVDs, and the clips are available to preview (at www.videoke.org)," Giddings said. "We contacted (Mazza) about hosting our own night, and he generously offered to come out and help us set it up."

As far as the selections, contestants are bound by what are on the DVDs, which is anything but limiting. "According to their Web site, there are at least 130 scenes, and anything goes," Giddings said. "I was checking them out, and one of the first scenes I saw was the infamous final scene from Boogie Nights where Mark Wahlberg proves how he got his reputation. After seeing that, it doesn't look like anything is taboo."

That doesn't necessarily mean there will be a lot of exhibitionists on hand for this Videoke, but certain scenes do get more mileage than most. "I have never been to a Videoke night ... but from what I hear, the fake orgasm scene from When Harry Met Sally is a popular request," Giddings said.

To check out what is sure to be an exciting night (remember, the Loft now serves wine and beer), head over to the theater this Friday. Giddings and the rest of the staff are interested to see what people come up with, so bring your best (or worst) DeNiro and Pacino. The event is free with a $5 suggested donation. --M.P.


A Side Dish of Healing

The 21st Annual America Online, Inc., Celebrity Waiters Dinner
6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18
Marriott University Park Hotel, 880 E. Second St.
(800) 568-1372, ext. 12

As most of you know, leukemia has directly affected us here at the Weekly, and in a big way. This is why we want to point out that this Friday, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is hosting the 21st Annual America Online Inc., Celebrity Waiters Dinner.

The dinner, dedicated to the memory of Carlos Valencia, will honor the community service of Sunstone (a local cancer center) and its co-founders, as well as the survivorship of former UA football coach Larry Smith.

Money raised by the dinner will go to benefit the Pima County programs of patient aid and public education, and the research of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. With 750,000 people currently fighting these diseases in the United States, events like this are essential in funding and supporting institutes like The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The emcees for the evening will be Alan Michaels of KOOL-FM and Isaac Ruiz. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., with dinner starting at 7 p.m. There will also be live and silent auctions for great trips, like two nights in La Paz, or seven nights at Malliouhana Hotel and Spa in Anguilla British West Indies. Tickets for the dinner can be purchased for $50 (or $60 at the door). --M.P.


Collegiate Combos

PCC Jazz Improv Combos Live
7:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21
PCC Center for the Arts Proscenium Theater, 2202 W. Anklam Road
206-6986

Jazz is one of the great musical art forms. It's tantalizing, beautiful and--frequently--improvised. Jazz also could be labeled as poetry in motion, and the Pima Community College performing arts department wants to be your Wordsworth. This Monday, three of the department's jazz combos, made up bass drums, keyboards, horns and vocalists, hope to impress audiences as they each perform different sets of jazz standards from all periods of jazz.

Called the PCC Jazz Combos, the three groups have been formed out of weekly improvisation classes at PCC. However, do not expect your average, untested musical student performances. For example, some of these groups perform at other venues around town, and each combo will have the opportunity to cut a demo CD at a professional recording studio.

The combos will be led by Mike Kuhn, part of PCC's musical faculty. When he's not instructing jazz ensembles and improvisation classes at PCC, Mike Kuhn rocks the jazz sax with the Arizona Jazz Orchestra, and plays in a smattering of venues around Tucson.

To see Kuhn's jazz all-star crews, head to the PCC Center for the Arts Proscenium Theater on Monday. Tickets are $6 for swinging hipsters (general admission) and $5 for hep cats (students/seniors/PCC affiliates). Be there, or, of course, be square. --M.P.