A year ago yesterday, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others were shot at the “Congress on Your Corner” that she was hosting in Tucson. Six people died. The past few days have been filled with various tributes to the victims. And the big buzz around town was that Rep. Giffords would be attending the candlelight…
Well, it’s mid-November in Tucson, and that means it’s time for another bike swap meet. Yesterday, thousands of bicycle enthusiasts converged on 4th Avenue for a day of buying, selling, and trading bikes and accessories… Does your bike need a crankset? Plenty to choose from at the swap… Or maybe your taste runs more toward…
Yesterday was one of those cool, breezy days that offered a hint of the Tucson winter to come. And since it was the first Sunday of November, it was time for Tucson’s annual All Souls Procession. This year’s edition featured a new route: From 4th Avenue and University Boulevard, go straight down Fourth to Congress…
On August 20, 1775, a bouncing baby city was born. Its name? Tucson. It’s been 236 years, and the Old Pueblo still has quite a bit of bounce. It was certainly in evidence at one of the biggest events in the month-long celebration of Tucson’s Birthday. The big event? 2nd Saturdays Downtown, which brings tens…
Looks like our monsoons have taken a vacation. Other than brief sprinkles, we haven’t had rain in almost a week. So, with thunderstorms not threatening Tucson’s Tuesday evening, I decided to ramble around the neighborhood. First point of interest was the new Fifth Avenue Greenway, which has transformed the look of this alley between Waverly…
In my previous post, I talked about the good, bad, and ugly aspects of Downtown Tucson revitalization. Time for an update. I noted a messy situation in the Aviation Underpass, which is on one of the main routes in and out of Downtown. In recent months, this area had turned into one of the littering…
Yesterday evening, I did my 100th Meet Me at Maynards walk around Downtown Tucson. While I padded along in the 100-degree heat, I shot the following photo essay. It’s intended to show the positive and negative sides of Downtown Tucson’s revitalization efforts. First, the positives: Let’s start with Meet Me at Maynards itself. It’s been…
2nd Saturdays Downtown celebrated its first anniversary this past weekend. This event has been drawing tens of thousands of people to Downtown Tucson for arts, entertainment, shopping, and good old fashioned people watching. The Ronstadt Transit Center isn’t known for its musical entertainment, but haven’t you always wanted to sing a song while waiting for…
The official 2011 Tucson Folk Festival photo gallery is up and ready for you to enjoy! Feast your eyes on images of performances, workshops, the Songwriting Contest, the Folk Women’s Jam & Song Circle, the Children’s Show, and Tucson Folk Festival scenes.
My previous Cyclovia Tucson post focused on notion that streets aren’t just for cars. People traveling under their own power also have a place. This post will cover one of the greatest benefits of self-powered travel: An enhanced ability to see and hear what surrounds you. With this thought in mind, let’s look at the…
Cyclovia Tucson riders had a special treat awaiting in Armory Park. The Food Conspiracy Co-op’s annual Solar Rock concert offered a musical feast that was 100% powered by the sun. Tucson’s GeoInnovation furnished the 800-watt solar array that kept the tunes coming. This array can generate 4 kilowatt-hours per day… Performers included Robyn Landis… …and…
If you’re like most Tucsonans, you live in a house that does a lousy job of keeping the winter’s cold outside. Which means that you’re left with the uncomfortable choice between living in an icebox or dealing with heating bills that rival your mortgage payment. Almost all houses inside the Tucson city limits were built…
Today was a big day for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She’s made remarkable progress since suffering a gunshot wound to the head during a January 8 assassination attempt. Recent reports have noted that Giffords is able to stand with assistance and use an iPad. This morning, she was discharged from University Medical Center. Giffords was then…
This past Saturday morning, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords hosted a “Congress on Your Corner” event in the La Toscana Village shopping center at the corner of Ina and Oracle Roads. As has been widely reported, a 22-year-old man opened fire on Giffords and others. Six people died, and 13 were wounded, including Congresswoman Giffords. Yesterday, President…
This past weekend marked the return of a Tucson tradition, the 4th Avenue Winter Street Fair. The cloudless skies and warm temperatures brought thousands of people out to enjoy more than 400 arts and crafts booths, 35 food vendors, two performance stages, a bevy of street musicians, and unlimited opportunities for people-watching. On Sunday, I…
America’s second largest bicycle swap meet happened in Tucson this past Saturday. The fall 2010 edition of our two-wheeled buying, selling and trading extravaganza drew thousands of cyclo-philes to Fourth Avenue. And the bike swap had something for everyone. So, you say you need some new sneakers for your favorite mountain bike? Gotcha covered… Or…
This past Sunday, the annual All Souls Procession wound its way through Downtown Tucson. This event is meant to help participants remember the departed, and attendance is well into the five figures. Like any large Tucson event, there’s a substantial police presence. Here’s part of the law enforcement contingent that gathered at 4th Avenue and…
This past weekend was Homecoming at the University of Michigan. For its alumni, the university pulled out all the stops. Take, for example, the College of Engineering. My father’s an alum, and I attended the college’s events with him. The pre-game party included a Michigan Marching Band concert… An a capella version of "Hail to…
Tucson Meet Yourself is an annual celebration of the Arizona-Sonoran region’s cultural diversity. Over the course of three days, you can chow down on food from all over the world, try your hand at various folk arts, visit historical exhibits, and learn new dance steps. And then there’s the music. You name the culture and…
The heat of the summer months is starting to abate, which means that late afternoons and evenings can be enjoyed outdoors. This past Saturday, thousands of Tucsonans did just that. They converged on the heart of the city for 2nd Saturdays Downtown. This event combines street performances, arts and crafts tables, and business specials. The…
Yesterday evening was one of those times when the "Yeah, right!" storm clouds stomped through central Tucson. You know those clouds. They throw out plenty of thunder and lightning, but rain? No way. So, I got on my bike and pedaled over to Main Gate Square’s First Thursday Art Walk. This month’s event featured work…