'Atmosphere' brings the American dream to Tucson

Sean Daley is not your typical Caucasian, African-American, Native American, Finnish, Irish, Norwegian, rapper from Minneapolis. Well, maybe he is.

Daley, a.k.a. Slug, 31, from underground hip-hop group Atmosphere has a racially mixed bloodline that reads like a globetrotting swinger's wish list. The diversity has both challenged and blessed Daley. [Read article]

South of the Safeway and west of the gas station lies a bright and delicious asset to an otherwise stale-looking intersection. At the southwest corner of Prince and Campbell is the place that bans canned anything and embraces authenticity.

Bienvenidos a Guadalajara Grill.

I arrived at 4 p.m. to a restaurant empty of customers but still full with a small but attentive staff and lots of character. The original "Table-Side Salsa," where one of the "salsa girls" comes around and prepares a made-to-order salsa, where patrons can choose green tomatillos, smoked chipotles, cilantro, jalapenos, garlic and the like isn't available until 5 p.m. nightly. But before I had a chance to kick myself for skipping lunch so requiring a late afternoon feast, the server announced happy hour. [Read article]

Three bars, one block, and you don't even have to cross the street

Che's Lounge
346 N. Fourth Ave.

Rating: 4 of 5

Ok, I'll admit it: some of the paintings scare me a little bit, but that doesn't mean that Che's Lounge isn't a swell place to whet your whistle.

From the moment I found out that Pabst Blue Ribbon was $1 a can in this Fourth Avenue bar, I would never turn it down again. And for those familiar with my in-bar video game obsession, yes, there is sit-down Ms. Pacman. [Read article]

When I first read the upcoming movie screenings and saw "Under the Tuscan Sun," I misread the Tuscan for Tucson and got excited.

Tuscany and Tucson are quite different. Tuscany has gorgeous landscapes and foliage throughout the countryside. Tucson has ugly buildings and disturbing aromas.

"Under the Tuscan Sun" wasn't that great. Diane Lane ("Unfaithful") goes to Tuscany after her divorce and becomes an independent woman. The movie looks like it might end in a somewhat unconventional way, but everything turns around for the best in the last two minutes. Some people might like it. Most of those people will have vaginas. [Read article]

Rating: 5.0

Hollywood loves to give audiences a dumbed-down and sped-up story that leaves them with predictable and syrupy endings.

The studio must have forgotten to butcher "Lost in Translation." Or maybe they thought it was foreign, since it's set in Tokyo, and left it alone. I don't really care what happened, I'm just glad that it did.

"Lost in Translation" is the best film of the year. It's a film that's smart and subtle when funny. A film that's tragic yet understated when it's sad. [Read article]

If you are fed up with paying expensive door fees to watch a DJ spin tunes in a nicotine-fragrant local club, are just a hair-short of 21, or want to relax before a big Thursday night, the University Activities Board and the Second Street garage might have the answer for you.

The "DJs At The Garage" is a free concert series for students that will feature a different weekly beat-head on the wheels-of-steel every other Thursday afternoon on the Plaza Stage by 2nd St. garage near the turnaround on the north side of the union. [Read article]

Pop goes the punk!

MXPX is back with a new LP, following the Renaissance EP and their greatest hits compilation, Ten Years and Running.

And it seems many things have changed for the three-piece.

While their best work is scarcely produced (Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo, Life in General), BEAA is bubble-gummed up for the masses thanks to a mixing by the Lord-Alge brothers, who've wussed up songs from artists like Blink-182 and Weezer. [Read article]

Are you a Jet or a Shark?

For those UA students who are drawing a blank when posed with this question, think back to the musical hit, "West Side Story" ÷ a modern-day Romeo and Juliet that will be coming to Tucson and starring · you!

Students are invited to experience the streets of New York as any number of characters from the musical by donning costumes and singing along with the film a la "Rocky Horror Picture Show" style. [Read article]

Going on in Music