Sept. 30
Banned Books Read Out/Speak Out
The First Amendment reigns supreme this week at the UA Library, celebrating Banned Books Week with their Read Out/Speak Out event and panel discussion. Since 1982, the American Library Association has been promoting Banned Books Week from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, an event that celebrates and appreciates our liberties of free speech in the United States — liberties that are often taken for granted. The UA Library currently has an exhibition of banned books, featuring Harper Lee’s controversial and critical novel “”To Kill a Mockingbird.”” This Thursday, students and university faculty are invited to share excerpts of their favorite banned books, preceded by a reception with refreshments. The evening will come to a close with a panel discussion about the ins and outs of censorship — who and what do we ban? The panel will consist of speakers from the Pima County Public Library as well as the UA Libraries.
UA Main Library
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
2010 Manhattan Short Film Festival
Cinema aficionados will get a chance to attend the world’s largest film festival this Thursday at the Loft. The 13th Annual Manhattan Film Festival is a worldwide event, happening all around the globe from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3. Held in over 200 cities, the Manhattan Film Festival showcases 10 carefully selected short films made by innovative, fresh faces on the film scene. Patrons receive voting cards, and the results will be revealed on Oct. 3 in Manhattan. For more information on the films being shown this year, visit msfilmfest.com.
The Loft Cinema
3233 E. Speedway Blvd.
7 p.m., $9
FRIDAY, Oct. 1
First Fridays’ ARToberfest
Every first of the month, Tucson Young Professionals offer their First Friday events, and this month it will take place at Tucson Museum of Art. The event begins with a reception at 7:30 p.m. with appetizers and refreshments, followed by a Bavarian themed beer tasting at 9 p.m. First Fridays aims to combine music, art, dance and pop culture and immerse them in a social atmosphere.
Tucson Museum of Art
140 N. Main Ave.
7:30 p.m.- midnight, $10, 21+
SATURDAY, Oct. 2
Flandrau Planetarium Laser Light Shows
Likely unbeknownst to most young Tucsonans, the Flandrau Planetarium provides a psychedelic joyride every Friday and Saturday evening with their laser light shows. The 3-D event is a sensory overload of vibrant colors and booming audio, accompanied by special effects like the planetarium’s star projector and fog machine. The light show comes in three unique parts — Pink Floyd’s “”Dark Side of the Moon”” at 9 p.m., followed by Led Zeppelin at 10 p.m. and an electronica hour at 11 p.m.
Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium
601 E. University Blvd., $7.50
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
Ray Harryhausen’s classic sci-fi thriller, “”Earth vs. the Flying Saucers,”” comes to the Fox Theatre this Saturday. The film is an exciting first delve into the idea of alien invasion and follows Dr. Russell Marlow, a scientist, in his quest to create a weapon to defeat the aliens that are destroying Washington, D.C. To modern viewers, the special effects of this 1956 film are just the right amount of amusing and impressive.
Fox Theatre
17 W. Congress St.1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., $8
SUNDAY, Oct. 3
Tucson Oktoberfest
This four-day, festival-style event is now in its ninth year and willbe featuring 100 arts-and-crafts booths along with traditional singing, dancing and food. Indulge in mini donuts, strudel, turkey legs and several varieties of beer, or catch the Hofbrauhaus Band at one of their three Sunday performances. “”Come,”” the website invites you, “”and dance the day and night away!””
Sept. 30-Oct. 3, Hi Corbett Field
3400 E. Camino Campestre
Four-day event passes available online and on-site. $9.95.
This year’s event to benefit the Optimist Clubs of Tucson.
