Tucson, AZ

My friend and I had a busy, productive night last night. After Halloween-costume shopping (I’m going as a Jugalette [Google it], she’s going as E.T.), we ate delicious Mexican-Japanese fusion food at Saga, which is on East Speedway, address 2955, near Country Club. We picked up another friend and went over to Alice’s to ride on her giant rocking-monster, which she created for an art show not long ago.

My friend and I had a busy, productive night last night. After Halloween-costume shopping (I’m going as a Jugalette [Google it], she’s going as E.T.), we ate delicious Mexican-Japanese fusion food at Saga, which is on East Speedway, address 2955, near Country Club. We picked up another friend and went over to Alice’s to ride on her giant rocking-monster, which she created for an art show not long ago.

When I mentioned attending the Blues Heritage Festival to my friends, many of them expressed interest in attending this free music festival with me. However, when the day of the festival arrived, no one was able to join me, so I grabbed my camera and headed out by myself. My express interest in attending the event was to get a chance to see one of my favorite musicians, zydeco queen Rosie Ledet, play live. The event was held at the Reid Park Bandshell, a grassy outdoor venue which also included a variety of vendors, food and beverage booths. I parked in the lot adjacent to Hi Corbett Field, to avoid the event traffic, and walked a distance to the entrance, in the cool afternoon air.

My father has worked at the University of Arizona since I was a child. I have many memories of going downtown to visit him in his office and sipping New York Seltzers and subsequently playing on the grass of the UA Mall. I can remember college students tossing a frisbee, playing touch football, or reading a book. I remember longhaired, disheveled men warning anyone who would listen that the world was about to end. There were students strolling casually without a care in the world, while others hurried past, definitely on a mission to get somewhere fast. Not much has changed. On any given day there is a new generation of college students doing those exact same things in the exact same spot. This time, though, it is my own children running through the grass taking in all the sights when we go to visit grandpa.

Located at 1400 North Silverbell Road and open every day from 6am-10:30pm, this recreational area offers much more than playground equipment. You can swim, take a picnic, grill out, let the kids loose in several play areas, and enjoy youth sports tournaments as this facility is home to the Western Little League of Tucson.

This past weekend I met some friends at Bohemia, 2920 E. Broadway, for Rand Carlson’s latest art installation titled “Tin-tillations.” My energy level was pretty low after a hectic work week and so the thought of spending a casual Saturday evening viewing some new art, listening to some live music, and perhaps doing a little shopping seemed like something I could manage. I had been to Bohemia before, once when they celebrated their grand opening in the new location (which is the old Austin’s eatery, for those who remember it), and a few other times to peruse their selection of unique art, jewelry, and fashion. This evening featured the live musical performances of local artists The Silver Thread Trio and Serpe.

The weather is changing in Tucson and our version of fall is upon us. The change is subtle, but the locals feel it, no doubt. In order to expedite the onset of cooler weather (or at least our experience of it), some friends and I decided to make the hour-long trek up to Mt. Lemmon’s Ski Valley for the annual Oktoberfest celebration. During the weekends from the end of September to mid-October, the local ski resort (yes, Tucson has a ski resort!) hosts this cultural event, featuring German music, food, and beer among the fragrant pines of this desert landmark. We went the first weekend of October, when a unseasonable cold front had moved into the valley. To our surprise, temperatures were in the high 40’s by the time we reached the mountain top!

Not only does Tucson spring back to life as summer nears an end, but the surrounding communities also host their fair share of enticing events and attractions this time of year. Some friends and I decided to take a little road trip southeast of Tucson to visit the town of Patagonia for their annual Fall Festival. We hopped in my friend’s red convertible and hit the road, taking Scenic Highway 83 south to Sonoita and then Highway 82 southwest of Patagonia. The drive was gorgeous, the sun was shining, and the landscape was peppered with little yellow desert wildflowers. After about an hour drive, we arrived in the little town of Patagonia. Finding the festival wasn’t hard to find as it occupied an entire park adjacent to the main road running through town.

It is October in Tucson and that always means that the city comes alive as the weather begins to cool off. I tend to feel a little overwhelmed this time of year because it seems that everyone comes out of their reverse summer hibernation and suddenly the month is filled with more events and festivals than a person can keep up with! It had been a few years since I last attended Tucson Meet Yourself and remembered fondly the food and festivities, so I made plans to meet up with friends at this free, annual event the second weekend of October. This event is held in the heart of downtown Tucson, in El Presidio Park, between the Old County Courthouse and City Hall. Here, a maze of booths and stages feature a variety of food, performances, folk art, and other special events representing a variety of cultures part of the Tucson community.

I am a native Tucsonan and as with locals of any city we all have our own preconceived ideas, biases and favorites when it comes to places in our hometown. For me growing up, Jacobs Park was always viewed as a bit of a run down park; a place you did not want to visit alone. I even worked at the local YMCA that is on the park grounds and our supervisors used to always tell us to keep a watchful eye over our campers as there were often a plethora of homeless wandering the grounds. So, when my grandmother recently suggested that I take my children to Jacob’s Park I was understandably hesitant. She persisted and so I thought I’d give it a second chance.