After a long week at work, my friend Nikki coaxed me into joining her for some live music and dancing at Plush on a Friday night. We hadn’t been out dancing in a while and when she mentioned that local bands Latino Solido and The Jons would be playing for just a $6 cover at the downtown venue on 4th Avenue, I put my dancing shoes on. Read the rest of Live Music and Dancing with Latino Solido at Plush - Tucson »
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.
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The first thing that actually attracted me to the Native Foods Demonstration at Bookman’s was the chance to learn some local history – to maybe learn it in a hands-on way, or even a tastebuds-on way, was an added bonus. But then it occurred to me – at food demonstration, there might be free food! And at that, I was completely sold.
And as it turned out, plenty of free food there was – Celebrando el Pueblo de Tucson offered a great mix of history, hand-on, and food in the fun and laid-back Bookman’s setting. Read the rest of Handmade Native Food and History at Bookman’s »
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 Boulevard at Park Avenue. Read the rest of “Heart and Soul of Tucson” Art Show Birthday Party »
We’ve been having a pretty mild summer in Tucson, but it’s still something hot, of course. When there was a dearth of rain for a few days in the middle of the monsoon, that didn’t stop us from still finding a way to cool off, though, and we even got to play in the mud at Mud Monster, the mud puddle party in Reid Park!
I went actually expecting a smaller event, perhaps just a mud-filled obstacle course - I couldn’t really fathom what else might be put together, or how much mud could really be conjured in the heat. I realized when I got to the park mid-morning, however, that I probably should have come earlier – it was downright busy with crowds of smiling and cheering people doing a variety of muddy activities! Read the rest of Just Add Mud for Fun in Tucson »
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. Read the rest of Live Music and Dining - Frog and Firkin, Tucson »
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.
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Pokemon 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. Read the rest of Play Pokemon Free on Saturdays in Tucson »
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 experiencing a wine tasting and restaurant that characterized perfectly Tucson’s chic and casual side, at Vin Tabla and Zona 78.
Vin Tabla wasn’t too far away from where my roommate and I live, near the University of Arizona, about ten minutes going right up N Campbell Ave to E Skyline Dr. Located in the Plaza Colonial across from La Encantada mall, it’s easy to find on the eastern side of the complex (look for an entrance with cacti, twinkle lights and the smell of wood stoves), but if you’ve got some time, a stroll through the courtyards nearby is also nice. Read the rest of Laidback and Classy Wining and Dining »
I love flowers. One would be hard pressed to find a flower that evokes a negative emotion – even a black rose or orchid would rather be described as darkly beautiful, not depressing or sad. And for those in search of the vibrant sunset and rainbow colors of blossoms, Tucson does not disappoint, with vivacious wildflowers sweeping across most any slope around town.
Of course, if you’re less inclined to make that more outward drive, all that same desert beauty can be found within Tohono Chul Park!
Just west of Oracle Rd and Ina Rd, the park is pretty easy to find and about a ten or fifteen minute drive from Central Tucson – head west and go north on Oracle! Just remember that the entrance to the park is off of N Paseo del Norte, not N Northern Ave; otherwise you might find yourself at a rear, no-access part of the park like I did.
But back to the actual entrance! There were gorgeous, vibrantly red and gold flowers catching my eye before I even made it to the ticket counter (at $7, well-worth on of the Ten Great Botanical Gardens in the world). I was intrigued by what appeared to be a small restaurant near the entrance area, but I wanted to explore the various areas of the park first. Read the rest of Wild Wildflowers in Tohono Chul Park »
