Tiny tales for tots, Hawaii’s 50th statehood anniversary party, celebration of standout women executives, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, Oro Valley. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Oro Valley Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: After four desert days Dora Rodriguez finds a Tucson home, jaguars roam a border corridor, and Marana’s first control tower is slated for 2029 — catch up here.
State-level stories: Arizona’s top resorts, a threatened jaguar’s migration path could be cut off by a new wall, and standout women executives will be celebrated — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: New SSA tech offers more reliable service, national recalls, and a housing market update — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Join women crafting projects to benefit others
- Enjoy brunch while learning dementia care
- Enjoy beer while bidding on bike art
- Sculptures come alive through interactive artworks
- Get $400 off Windows with Renewal By Andersen
🫶 We got your back
Garden: Ready to transform your yard? These nursery stops in Oro Valley offer everything from prickly succulents to leafy shade trees.
Golf: Hit fairways lined with saguaros and mountain views. Grab the top tee times that’ll have your buddies begging for an invite.
Cleaning: Tackling the whole house feels like climbing Everest in flip-flops… who even has the energy? This cleaning checklist breaks the job into manageable steps so you can crush it room by room.
Furniture: Need décor with a backstory deeper than your latest streaming binge? The Cottage is the gallery that’ll turn your living room into a time capsule… just bring a sharp eye and an appreciation for pieces that only improve with every chapter of history.
Finance: Ready to break up with debt for good? National can help you cut ties, pay up to 30% less than you owe, and finally get some peace. This isn’t your average debt relief advice… it’s a financial fresh start, complete with a happy cry or two when your balance hits zero.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
🍩 Afterschool Mini Donut Workshop @ Dusenberry-River Library | Tuesday (8/12) at 4:00pm – This free, afterschool workshop at Dusenberry Library turns your 8-to-12-year-old into a pint-sized pastry chef, minus the sugar rush. They’ll learn miniatures magic, folding 1:12 scale donut boxes and filling them with tiny, rainbow-sprinkled treats. Twenty spots only, so don’t dawdle.
🎤 Keb’ Mo’ & Shawn Colvin @ Fox Tucson Theatre | Tuesday (8/12) at 7:00pm – Imagine sneaking away to our downtown theater for an evening of effortless cool, as Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin pretend they just stumbled onto a porch jam. These Grammy-gilded songsmiths meld blues, folk, and soul like it’s no big deal. You’ll grin all night.
🌺 Hawaii’s 50th Statehood Anniversary Party@ The Watermark | Thursday (8/14) at 6:00pm – Dust off that Hawaiian shirt you hid in your closet, and pretend you flew to Maui without the airfare. You’ll dig into a killer island feast, then ooh and ahh over Halau Hula O Ualani’s dancers. It’s all ohana, so bring your appetite.
🎨 Birds & Arrows @ Habitation Realty | Friday (8/15) at 6:00pm – Art meets indie rock at this Tucson pop-up, where Birds and Arrows and their friends Bloomstone are setting the vibe for Pete Connolly’s visual art showcase. Expect a dreamy blend of music and canvas, with sounds floating through the gallery from 6 to 9 pm.
🎹 Clay Whittington @ Gaslight Theatre | Friday (8/15) at 6:00pm – The downtown playhouse is rolling back the frontier clock with a sidesplitting musical parody. Micky and Betsy saddle up to foil Doctor Lovelace’s monster scheme before our dusty town resembles a ghost town. Expect puns, piano duets, and enough tumbleweed to redecorate the valley.
This weekend
🦉 Birds of the Sonoran Desert@ Western National Parks | Saturday (8/16) at 10:15am – Sick of backyard bird dramas starring the neighbor’s cat? Head to the Desert Museum to meet desert flyers, from hawk-eyed hawks to chatty quail and beyond, then geek out with hands-on props that bird nerds envy. Only 60 seats, so claim yours now.
📖 Tiny Tales for Tots @ The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures | Saturday (8/16) at 11:00am – Fairy Caitlin is back and ready to sprinkle some storytime magic. This monthly literacy program is built for preschoolers, blending whimsical costumes, interactive storytelling, and tiny-world wonders from the museum’s collection.
🎸 Fuzz Evil – LP Release | Saturday (8/16) at 8:00pm – Bring your crew for a high-octane night of fuzzed-out guitar and stoner rock energy. Mastodonna slams heavy riffs, Sleeping With The Witch casts spooky spells, and Fuzz Evil wraps it up with glorious, ear-splitting feedback.
🎶 Journey USA @ Rialto Theatre | Saturday (8/16) at 8:00pm – Friday night at the Rialto Theatre feels like slipping into your ’80s rock fantasy. This Journey USA tribute boasts reserved seating, all-ages friendly vibes, and enough power ballads to make your hair stand up again.
🚢 Ship by Douglas Williams@ Live Theatre Workshop | Sunday (8/17) at 2:00pm – Nothing beats coming back to town, angling for a tour guide post on a historic whaler, and bickering with your big sister for hometown glory. Ship sails you through rehab hangovers, Guinness-worthy nail quests, and enough salty humor to keep you afloat.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/12 Keb’ Mo’ & Shawn Colvin @ Fox Tucson Theatre – 7 pm
- 8/12 Lip Critic and more @ Club Congress – 7 pm
- 8/13 Jason Bonham @ Rialto Theatre – 7:30 pm
- 8/14 Asphalt Astronaut @ Three Canyon – 6 pm
- 8/14 Mamma Coal @ Maverick King of Clubs – 8 pm
- 8/14 The Supervillains @ 191 Toole – 8 pm
- 8/15 The Paul Opocensky Project @ Roadies – 6 pm
- 8/15 Local Love @ 191 Toole – 7 pm
- 8/15 Douglas Williams @ Live Theatre Workshop – 7 pm
🏠️ This house is wild
Listed by: Rachel Clark (LPT Realty, LLC)
Sunlight streams through a parade of windows, bouncing off sleek tile floors and filling every corner of this 2-bed, 2-bath Ridgeview retreat with good vibes. The chef’s kitchen is ready for culinary experiments, and the open layout keeps the conversation flowing. A backyard oasis awaits with lush artificial turf, a soothing water feature, and a covered patio complete with remote-controlled blinds for instant shade or sunshine.
No neighbors peeking in from behind, just peaceful privacy and mountain breezes. The garage is dialed in with epoxy floors and wall-to-wall storage. Community perks include a resort-worthy pool, scenic trails, and proximity to all the Oro Valley essentials.
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