Archive for May 9th, 2010

Meet Me at Maynards a fun Monday-night tradition

Story and photo by Debbie Hadley

On a Monday night with little else to do but catch up on TV programs, Meet Me at Maynards provides social play with plenty of fresh air and exercise.

Starting at Maynards, a restaurant located at 400 N. Toole Ave. in the historic train depot, you can run or walk a route that takes athletes on a quick tour of downtown Tucson. The event is sponsored by Southern Arizona Roadrunners.

With downtown Tucson bringing to mind jury duty and expired parking meters, founders Jannie Cox and Dave Syverson decided in 2009 that something needed to change.

“We imagined what a regular crowd of active people like this could do for downtown Tucson,” Cox said.

MMM quickly became a Monday night tradition, with hundreds of Tucsonans showing up weekly. More than 12,000 people have since participated.

Check-in time is 5:15 p.m., but come early to avoid long lines. Walkers depart at 5:45, followed by runners at 6 p.m.

For further details, visit www.meetmeatmaynards.com.

Runners enter the Fourth Avenue underpass during a Meet Me at Maynards outing.

MARIE’S MUNCHIES: Pat’s Drive-In

Review and photo by Marie Rodriguez

Customers at Pat’s Drive-In say it’s a Tucson west-side staple. While the burgers are good, the hot dogs are definitely something for everyone to try.

Located on Grande between St. Mary’s and Speedway, Pat’s Drive In boasts old-school ‘50s style.

The menu here challenges any fast food value meal. The family special at Pat’s is four hot dogs or burgers and a large box of fries for just $8.

The chili in these dogs is like none you would find in any other bun. The simplistic chili tastes like a perfectly proportioned mixture of beans and hot sauce.

One can order hot or mild. Both are tasty and not too spicy. Pat’s combination of spices makes it difficult to not order seconds and thirds.

Fries here aren’t for dieters. They are full of grease and delicious for it. These fries make the perfect companions for Pat’s hot dogs and burgers.

“My brother brings his family here at least once a week,” avid customer Joey Griffin said. “And he lives in Rita Ranch.”

Frequent visits to Pat’s are not a bad idea. With the exception of to-go gallons of chili, prices are near-empty-wallet friendly. It may be an even greater idea to bring along some Tums.

PCC screens student films

By Conrad Pursley

Students in Pima Community College’s beginning and advanced digital video and film classes suffer sleepless nights and occasional bloody onscreen deaths, all for one event: the day they can show off their masterpieces at a screening.

On May 14 and 15, they’ll get that chance. The classes will hold a free screening at 7 p.m. each night inside the West Campus Proscenium Theatre.

In addition to film and video shorts from the beginning and advanced classes, the screening will include the premiere of two movies that were directed, funded and produced by the advanced cinematography classes.

The two movies are “Arizona Chainsaw Massacre,” directed by Suavek Kupiec, and “Apprehension,” written by Shannon Mier and directed by Christopher Montgomery.

“Arizona Chainsaw Massacre” is a takeoff on the famous “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” with gore-galore for exploitation horror fans. “Apprehension” is more of a psychological thriller that follows a woman concerned about someone stalking her kids.

If you think the movies will look like pixilated junk on a 6-year-old’s YouTube channel, think again. Both movies were made using a Red One high-definition digital camera, the same camera used to make some of the movies you have seen in theaters.

And, don’t blow this off as just some event that won’t achieve any future recognition. Two films from last year’s screening, “Todas Almas” by Jesse Powell and “Estaban’s Ride” by Grant Hunker, were accepted into the recent Arizona International Film Festival.

For further information, contact David Wing, cinematography instructor, at 206-6976 or dwing@pima.edu.