City Week

Writing Revelry

Kore Press Benefit Auction and Garden Party

5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 30

Franklin House

402 N. Main Ave.

327-2127;

www.korepress.org

Since Tucson's Kore Press published Alison Hawthorne Deming's Girls in the Jungle in 1993, the nonprofit publisher has put out more than 60 original works—poetry, essays, prose and manifestos—all by women, from renowned writers like Adrienne Rich, Ofelia Zepeda and Nancy Mairs, to emerging writers hailing from the Southwest and beyond.

Kore Press also runs art-activism projects in Tucson; works with writers in London, Australia and Rotterdam; and just produced its first play—all to further its mission of promoting women's voices and educating young people about publishing and literary activism.

To celebrate its 17th anniversary, Kore Press this weekend is hosting its annual Benefit Art and Services Auction and Garden Party, where works by more than 35 celebrated local and nonlocal artists—including Valerie Galloway, Gregory Sale, Wil Taylor and others—will be sold to the highest bidders, with proceeds going directly to the press.

The party will also celebrate the conclusion of a 12-week creative-writing mentoring program that paired young female and transgendered writers with professional writers—part of Kore's successful Grrls Literary Activism Workshop, now entering its fifth year.

When asked to summarize Kore's 17 years, co-founder Lisa Bowden replied: "Blood, sweat, tears, a lot of love and a lot of letting go. (Kore Press) now has a life of its own that reaches across the country and onto other continents."

The party will feature live music by Tucson "sound sculptress" Vicki Brown, as well as catering by Gallery of Food (and yes, there will be wine)—all for $5 in advance, or $10 at the door. Art previews and proxy bidding are already underway! —A.M.


Bubble-Blowing Extravaganza!

Bubblepalooza

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday, May 31

Tucson Children's Museum

200 S. Sixth Ave.

792-9985;

www.tucsonchildrensmuseum.org

There are certain activities that maintain an almost magical appeal, regardless of a participant's age.

According to Peggy Solís, the director of community relations at the Tucson Children's Museum, blowing bubbles is one of these timeless classics.

On Memorial Day, the Tucson Children's Museum will be hosting Bubblepalooza, a summer kickoff event that will feature myriad bubble-blowing activities for children and their parents.

Early childhood-education specialist CoCo Tarantal said the event will feature some rare bubble treats.

"For this one day only, we are bringing back the museum's giant bubble-maker," she said. "You can actually be inside of a bubble."

Solís said the museum used to have an exhibit specifically for the giant bubble-maker.

"You would pull on the strings of this bubble machine, and it would create a bubble wall," she said. "We took away the bubble exhibit four years ago, and we haven't found a way to bring it back until now."

Tarantal said the event will provide children with the opportunity to make a bubble-art mural.

"We will put mural paper on the ground and have bottles of bubbles dyed different colors," she said. "When the bubbles pop, it will paint the mural different colors."

The event will culminate with a Bubble Dance Grand Finale.

"I am going with a disco theme, because there is nothing better to dance to than disco music," Tarantal said.

Solís said Bubblepalooza is the first of many special events the museum will be hosting this summer.

"Almost every month, we have an event that is hands-on," she said.

Admission to Bubblepalooza is free. —W.F.


Community Camaraderie

"Every Woman"

3 to 6 p.m., Sunday, May 30

Old Town Artisans

201 N. Court Ave.

822-6666

It's kind of a cliché for women to get together to shop, talk fashion, drink, dine and pamper themselves. But there are reasons it's done—including female bonding, relaxation and enjoyment.

So it's great that Tucson women now have a way to immerse themselves in some formulaic female fun without feeling like they're in an episode of Real Housewives or something: They're gathering for a good cause.

At "Every Woman," which has happened since fall 2009, women come together in the courtyard of Old Town Artisans for happy-hour specials, Mexican food, $1-per-minute massages, mini-facials and manicures, jewelry and craft sales—and plenty of activities, from henna body-art offerings to intuitive readings.

This month, there'll be live music by the Cordials and Douglas Hancock, a raffle, a vintage fashion show by local boutique Preen, and a performance by the Sassy Señoritas. Behind each of the event's activities, services and goods for sale are local women—so everyone who attends is helping to strengthen Tucson's female entrepreneurs and artists.

Each month, proceeds also go to an important local cause. This month, that's the Partnership for Women and Girls, which empowers females of all ages by providing opportunities for safe shelter, life-skills and leadership development, employment training, financial education, counseling, scholarships and technology education. An alliance between the Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse, the YWCA Tucson and the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council, the partnership serves more than 60,000 women and girls in the Tucson area.

Says Every Woman founder Marie Hancock, "This is a real opportunity for the community to come out and support the local economy, local women and downtown revitalization."

Admission is free and open to all ages and genders. —A.M.


There is Humor in Almost Everything

Crossing the Line: The Arizona 'Border Disorder' Comedy Show

9 p.m., Sunday May 30

Laffs Comedy Café

2900 E. Broadway Blvd.

323-8669

Arizona's new immigration law, SB 1070, has been called a lot of things.

"Funny" has not been one of those things. At least not until now.

On Sunday, a group of comedians will take their best stabs at SB 1070 and the narrow strip of desert that separates the United States from Mexico.

"One of the secrets of comedy is you exaggerate something until it's ridiculous," said Robert Mac, a Tucson native. "This topic is already on the edge. If you push it a little bit, it will gain its own momentum."

Mac will be joined by comedians Christina Lopez, Australian immigrant Tim Bateman, Steve Barancik and Tucson's "Polo the Cholo."

The show will be headlined by Joey Medina, one of the five "Original Latin Kings of Comedy." As a comedian, he is able to say a lot of things that aren't exactly politically correct, he said.

"Being a minority myself and legal—lucky for me—we look at the humor in everything," he said. "I am going to handle it with humor like any other topic: 9/11, marriage, divorce."

A former Arizona state boxing champion and policeman, Medina has a unique perspective when it comes to the border and immigration enforcement.

"My background gives me a little more insight," he said. "I don't think Tucson police officers are going to pull people over just for having a mustache."

The show is being put on in partnership with the Tucson-based humanitarian group No More Deaths.

"We wanted this to benefit someone besides ourselves, so we thought about organizations, and on some level, No More Deaths is the least bureaucratic," said Barancik, a show organizer. "They will be speaking to the audience before the show."

Admission is $8, with a two-drink minimum. —W.F.