Tucson, AZ

The nights are getting cool in the Old Pueblo and as a result, I can be more easily coaxed out of my house even before sunset these days. I heard that merchants and artists would be participating in a free event on 4th Avenue from on a Saturday evening from 4:00-9:00 p.m., an event called Rendezvous on the Avenue, and it would be featuring live music, vendors, and a fashion show. To start things off, I met my friend Carol around 6:00 p.m. for a yummy slice of Magpies pizza. Since the Avenue was full of hustle and bustle and parking was at a premium, I parked in the lot nearly Brooklyn Pizza. The weather was nice enough to enjoy the sunset and live music on the patio outside Magpies. We snacked on our slices and listened to the band, Nobody Et. Al., play as tables filled with couples and families ate their dinner and indulged in a little dancing

Upon the suggestion of my friend Carol, some girlfriends and I met at Cushing Street Bar and Restaurant in Barrio Viejo on a Saturday evening for some scrumptious fare and live jazz. Cushing Street is one of my all-time favorite haunts for atmosphere alone, so I was curious to check out the ambiance with live music thrown in the mix. This downtown establishment is located in a restored building dating back to the late 1800’s and is nestled in the barrio just south of the Tucson Convention Center, amidst other historic structures.

Happy Birthday Tucson! August marks Tucson’s 233rd birthday and there are a multitude of activities going on this month to celebrate in the Old Pueblo.

On a Friday night that was graced with cooling breezes and no monsoons in sight or sound, I took some out-of-town visitors to help me celebrate Tucson’s birthday at the annual “Heart and Soul of Tucson – ART” birthday festival.

This interesting little mini-festival is being held on the patio of the Vila Thai restaurant all during August. For those of you who have not discovered the Vila Thai — which many believe is the best Thai restaurant in Tucson — it is upstairs at 972 East University Blvd. at Park Street.

When the temperature soars to the triple digits in Tucson, I am rarely convinced that life exists in the Old Pueblo. I, like many desert inhabitants, was in the throes of my reverse seasonal hibernation when my friend Susan invited me see her friend’s band play at Frog and Firkin. I hadn’t been out much due to the heat, so I agreed to meet her and some of her friends at the University-area bar and restaurant for some live music and lounging on the patio. Now that the college students have filtered out of town for the summer, I can be more easily talked into hanging out on the University Main Gate area. Parking also was no problem as the parking garage on Tyndall and 4th Street was free after normal business hours and had ample spaces just a short jaunt away

We were all saddened to hear that after 10 years of hosting the “Locals Only” segment featuring local music from the Tucson community, Don Jennings was ending his tenure at KXCI radio. To give him a proper send off, his final show, a free Chango Malo performance, was to be recorded live at Club Congress. Friends and I converged for this early show on a Sunday evening.

okemon Trading Cards are as popular as ever. Trainers and collectors in Tucson can now come to the Heroes & Villains Gym to hone their skills under the tutelage of Gym Master Eric while battling other trainers from the Tucson area. The gym is located in the game room adjacent to Heroes and Villains Comics & Adventure at 4533 E. Broadway Blvd. (northwest corner of Swan and Broadway). We’ve been taking our young trainers there each Saturday from 1 to 4 pm, to learn the game and make some friends.

Dressing up in Tucson isn’t exactly like dressing up in other places; the heat almost requires being much more laid back, making what might be ‘formal’ in other regions comfortable and casual, especially with the humidity of the monsoon. That doesn’t mean that looking good is out of style, though, as we found in [...]

A fairy kingdom lies in wait of my discovery, tucked away behind an unassuming glass storefront exactly where I least expect to find it, at Crossroads Festival in the center of Tucson on the northeast corner where Grant and Swan intersect. A sign on the glass invites me to bring my Cold Stone Creamery concoction inside, and how can I resist? I open the door of Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s Toys and step into a magical wonderland where kids can be kids and grown-ups can be kids, too.

Finding indoor entertainment over the summer for children of elementary school age is always a challenge in Tucson. Though I’ve lived here for eight years and had a child of movie-going age for the last five of them, I only just discovered the Summer Kids Club at Oracle View and Crossroads Cinemas. Neighbor, it’s a ganga.

When I heard that the 20th Annual Waila Festival advertised on our local community radio station, 91.3 FM KXCI, I made a mental note to attend this year. I recalled fond memories when I attended years ago of Tohono O’odham music, food, and dance, so understandably, I was eager to relive the experience. This year, I decided to head out early and to drag my parents along. The festival was held at the Bear Down Field, just south of the University of Arizona Main library. Normally, I avoid navigating the parking garages or meters at the University because it can be such a hassle. This day, however, the parking garage adjacent to the field was free, as was the festival