Want to Welcome Visitors to Tucson?

Call for Volunteers for Mobile Visitor Center  

"Visit Tucson" is partnering with Downtown Tucson Partnership (DTP) to launch a mobile visitor center called INFO on the GO Bike that will be at various locations throughout Downtown. 

DTP is looking for volunteers to serve as Downtown Ambassadors for the INFO on the GO Bike. Ambassadors will share marketing materials, brochures, maps, and more with Downtown residents and visitors. 

If you are interested in becoming a Downtown Ambassador, CLICK HERE to fill out a volunteer form. 

Not Trivial Tucson Trivia! We're ranked #5!

From left: Kylie Walzak, LSA, Andy Bemis, City of Tucson Department of Transportation (DOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Coordinator, Jesse Soto, City of Tucson DOT, Krista Hansen City of Tucson DOT

Hey everyone! Tucson was ranked #5 in the nation for bicycling according to the "People for Bikes/Places for Bikes" survey. Click here to read more. GO TUCSON!  YAY!  To visit the Places for Bikes website with all of the ranking info, click HERE. 

Greetings from Tucson - part of national tour

This retro-inspired "Greetings from Tucson" postcard is part of a national tour of traveling artist Victor Ving and photographer Lisa Beggs. Read more about this fabulous traveling art project and see progression shots of this mural being created. FUN! 

Rosie in Bloom!

Earlier this week I told you about the Tucson Botanical Gardens' "Corpse Flower," Rosie. She bloomed early! People were lined up for HOURS on Monday night to enjoy the beauty and the awful smell that accompanies it. Quite a spectacle! I am going to see if I can pop in there and get a glimpse and a whiff!
Photos courtesy of Susan Dodson.

So long, farewell! Come to the Goodbye party!

It's not often that I can post a photo of something in Tucson that is scheduled for demolition. Most often I touch on that when I do my "Throwback Thursday" feature and display a photo of a mural, building, or sculpture that has disappeared. I was alerted to this mural's upcoming demise by a site follower.

Here is a striking mural in the courtyard of the Clifton Hotel on South Stone. This mural will be lost when the hotel begins an expansion plan. For more info about it, click here for the newspaper article. 

The Downtown Clifton, at 485 S. Stone Ave., will celebrate Danny Martin's mural this Saturday, April 21, at 5 p.m. The Torch Bearers and DJ Ramshur Rx will provide the music and Geronimo's Revenge food truck will be selling food. More info here. 

Tucson Food Friday ~ Coffee! More Coffee!

When I think of Dutch products I think of chocolate but apparently Dutch Brothers Coffee is well known in the northwest and now it is coming to Tucson. A building similar to this drive through in Chandler will be built at the corner of Wilmot and Broadway (near the now-defunct Mimi's Cafe). Here's the full story! Coffee drinkers will cheer this new addition to the coffee purveyors in town. 

Friday Food - all about Tucson on NPR!

It's no surprise that we have many great Mexican restaurants in Tucson - some of them have been been open for nearly 100 years. Here is a feature piece on National Public Radio that salutes our many Sonoran-influenced culinary treats and products. It also mentions a few "must try" restaurants that are not mentioned in some of the traditional restaurant guides. Click here to read all about it. Yum! 

Tucson's Cathedral is expanding ~

08 MARCH 2010

Tucson's Cathedral ~

THEN:

Surely one of the most beautiful buildings in downtown Tucson is St Augustine Cathedral on Stone Avenue. Over the front door carved in stone are various desert plants and inside the santuary the saguaro cactus blossom is featured on the main altar, pulpit, lectern and baptismal font. On the north end of the property is a colorful canopy/gazebo/stage which is formed of brilliantly colored metal flowers. I'll post that tomorrow so stay tuned!

http://www.staugustinecathedral.com/

NOW: Construction! The north side of the property is being developed as a low-income property for seniors. The colorful floral bandshell will be moved but I can't find a confirmation of its new location. 

See the Budweiser Clydesdale Horses!

 
This Tucson race track is where Quarter Horse racing began! The winter schedule runs from Feb 10 to March 18 so you have three more weekends to check it out until next year. For the full weekend program - including the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses - click here. 

Snow everywhere but here!

You may not know this bit of Tucson Trivia.... Tucson's Mt Lemmon is the southern-most ski resort in the U.S. Yes! Tucson DOES get snow enough to enjoy skiing - but not this year. Here is the full story on this year's "Non-Ski-Season" at Ski Valley. 

Story and Photo courtesy of Doug Kreutz. 

Get Your Rodeo On!

This is the last Rodeo weekend in Tucson for the year! For the schedule of all events and times, click here. This is quite a spectacle in Tucson. The first rodeo was held in 1925 and it remains a very popular event drawing thousands of visitors each day to watch the best rodeo cowboys in the world compete. 

The tail end of the story ~

In 2005 a mighty tile rattlesnake was created to sit on the median at Wrightstown Road at Pantano Road. The snake could not withstand the stresses of weather and traffic and over time it eroded until just the lonely head was left. Happily, a group of students was charged with restoring the snake and he is back to his original 64-foot glory. In fact, he's probably better than ever! And here is a link that shows the reconstruction of this mighty rattler. 

Gone Giraffe!

15 FEBRUARY 2012

Another naming opportunity ~

THEN:

In addition to the fine rooster posted on Monday, Phil at Copper Country Antiques has also added this patriotic giraffe to his menagerie. This tall one is also currently without a proper moniker. Ideas, anyone? Red, white, & blue - how about SAM?

www.coppercountryantiques.com

NOW: Sadly, Copper Country Antiques and its wonderful shops and cafe and kooky animals are all gone now. The business closed in January of 2016 and the building remains vacant. Here's the news story with more details.  

The Time is Always Right to do What is Right ~

All the ways you can make a difference this MLK Day

By Bethany Hines, CNN

Updated 3:25 PM ET, Sun January 14, 2018

Martin Luther King Jr.'s emphasis on nonviolence and service to his "beloved community" garnered the civil rights leader worldwide recognition. In 1964, at 35 years old, King became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

(CNN)Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not just a federal holiday where you take off work, it's also meant to be a national day of service -- a time for action. "You can have a person in your own house that needs help. Your neighbor needs help. That is the whole premise," said Carmen Coya van-Duijn with the King Center in Atlanta.

Here are some ways you can make a difference on this day -- and all year long.

Donate time

Deliver meals: Ten million senior citizens in America face the threat of hunger and Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals for homebound seniors. You can sign up to deliver a meal and give a quick safety check for senior citizens in your area.

Start a conversation: Points of Light Sunday Supper was inspired by Dr. King's vision that people of diverse backgrounds would come together to discuss injustices and create a plan for action. Share a meal and conversation about community issues here. Other ways to volunteer are listed on the organization's website.

Use your words: Good with words? You can write a letter thanking a veteran, first responder or a new recruit through Operation Gratitude.

Donate talent

Build homes: Find out what the housing need looks like in your community here and help build homes for those in need with Habitat for Humanity.

Educate others: The MLK National Day of Service site provides tool kits you can use to teach your friends, families and neighbors topics ranging from disaster preparedness to well-being. Start your own project here.

Offer help: Are you a medical professional? Doctors without Borders recruits medical, administrative and logistical support personnel to provide medical care to people worldwide.

Donate treasure

Give money: Life-changing events like natural disasters happens often around the country and many people need of support. CNN's Impact Your World has a list of causes you can donate to.

Be kind: Give a compliment. Open the door for someone. Help mom cook dinner. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "The time is always right to do what is right."

Outpouring of love, prayers, hope ~

11 JANUARY 2011

Outpouring of love, prayers, hope ~

THEN: 

There is no one in Tucson unaffected by Saturday's events. Here is a glimpse of the public outpouring of emotion displayed in front of Gabby Giffords' Tucson headquarters. Hundreds of candles and flowers perfume the air; dozens of handwritten signs beg for peace and healing for the victims and their families.

This constant vigil is just one site established for prayer during this difficult time. Tonight there will be a "Healing of our Community" mass at 7pm at St Odilia Church (7570 N Paseo del Norte).

http://giffords.house.gov/

NOW:

A permanent memorial of the January 8, 2011 event will be built downtown. Here is more info as well as photos and a video of the dedication. 

Throwback Thursday - 7 years ago today in Tucson

09 NOVEMBER 2010

Tucson's Fantastic Day of the Dead Parade

THEN:

Each year Tucson hosts a fun, creative, and amazing event - the All Souls Procession. People gather to honor departed loved ones and to revel in extraordinary costumes. The procession extends for miles and culminates in a spectacular finale with fire & flames. 

Photos courtesy of Chance Agrella.

http://www.allsoulsprocession.org

NOW: 

The Festival is celebrating its 28th year! WOW! Stay tuned for tomorrow's posting of two participants from the 2017 celebration. 

Did you know? Tucson is the 1st US City to receive this award....

Tucson was selected to receive the "Capital of Gastronomy" designation bestowed by UNESCO. Our food cultures are diverse in Tucson and that, along with the robust local farmer's markets and imaginative and award-winning chefs catapulted Tucson to the first city in the United States to be so recognized. Here is the full story in the Smithsonian Magazine. 

Tucson Trivia! Did you know Tucson was voted the best....

Source: Flickr user bill85704

..."Best Bike Town in the Nation" by Outside Magazine? There is a Ciclovia event that opens miles of public streets for bicycle (and pedestrian) use. And then there is the world-famous Tour de Tucson that takes place every November. Pedal on! And hundreds of miles of bike paths! 

Tucson Trivia - Did you know...?

 Did you know that Amazon ranked Tucson as the 4th most well-read city in America? Tucson is home to one of the country's largest book fairs every spring (held on the University of Arizona campus). Bibliophiles Live in Tucson!

Storm from hell ~

It's easy to imagine our monsoon storms as just being lots of rain. They are that, for sure, but they also come with hellacious winds that uproot trees and do a LOT of damage. Here are two views of an apartment building that was slammed by our recent storms. Happily (and amazingly) no one was hurt as these trees crashed into the roofs!
Photos courtesy of Mark Sykes.