Tucson Young Professionals First Fridays – Andy Warhol Pop Art
March 4, 2010
The first Friday of the month, the Tucson Young Professionals put on a an event – and tomorrow is no exception!
This Friday, March 5, 2010, they’re holding an Andy Warhol Pop Art event at the Tucson Museum of Art from 8pm to midnight. And I’ll be there at 8pm on behalf of the Tucson Digital Arts Community building canned food sculptures.
Yes, sculptures of food cans. In honor of Andy Warhol.
So come support me and team TDAC as we compete with 2 other teams in the canned food extravaganza, in support of the Community Food Bank. We’ve got a sweet sculpture planned, but you gotta be there to see it for yourself!
But it’s not just fun with canned food. There’s complimentary hors d’oeuvers, martini samples from Sullivans, a fondu fountain, two full bars, a DJ, dancing, and – of course – networking with other young(ish) professionals from Tucson. Plus, your ticket includes admission to all galleries at the Tucson Museum of Art. A deal that can’t be beat.
Admission is $10 before 8:30, when the price goes up to $20. Bring 3 cans of food for $5 off.
And don’t forget stop by the team TDAC canned sculpture table and say hello!
Grant Road Improvement Workshops
November 4, 2009
The Grant Road widening project continues to make plans. Construction isn’t due to start until 2013, but they’ve made a lot of plans and decisions already.
There are workshops in two weeks for the public to discuss how businesses and neighborhoods will be accessed from the new Grant Road. If you live anywhere along that corridor, or have interests in those businesses, it might be useful to attend.
If you do, you’ll learn about how drivers will enter/exit the roadway using shared driveways and new median openings. You’ll also be able to provide input on the preliminary design, the streetscape, the landscape, and public art.
The Grant Road task force would appreciate an RSVP though, by emailing information@grantroad.info, or by calling (520) 624-4727.
To discuss Swan to Country Club area, the workshop is November 16th, 5:30-8:30pm at the Tucson Association of Realtors office, 2445 N Tucson Blvd.
To discuss Oracle to 1st Ave, the workshop is November 18th, 5:30-8:30pm at the Pima Downtown Campus Amethyst Room, Building CC, room 180 at 1225 N Stone.
To discuss 1st Ave to Country Club, the workshop is November 19th, 5:30-8:30pm at the Tucson Association of Realtors office, 2445 N Tucson Blvd.
As always, you can find more info at the Grant Road project site – www.GrantRoad.info.
Urban Athletics – Tucson Bootcamp and Discount
October 21, 2009
Over the summer this year, I won a free week of bootcamp from Tucson’s Urban Athletics.
Naturally, I was terrified. I am not exactly athletic. But I consulted with my scale and figured it was worth a shot.
Turns out, bootcamp in the park is actually pretty enjoyable. Well. Maybe enjoyable is the wrong word. It’s a tough workout, but it can be adapted to pretty much any level of fitness. My heart rate monitor says I regularly burn between 550 and 700 calories during the hour of exercise.
But it isn’t the various exercises that keep me coming back. It’s the people. There’s a community of folks there to struggle along with you, encourage and assist you when you need it – and I’m there to do the same for them. Unlike going to the gym to hit the elliptical on my own for an hour – which I could never stay motivated to do for long – I go work out with a group of people, comprised of a wide variety of body sizes and ages, and we make it through together. It’s like a built in motivation and accountability system. And I’m a huge fan.
AND. It is Urban Athletic’s 2 year anniversary, so they’re celebrating with a discount.
If you sign up during October for the next session (here’s the workout schedule – it varies by location), use the coupon code "anniversary" to get $100 off your registration.
From Paul Rose, one of the owners:
Urban Athletics started as a way to prove to ourselves that we could get an incredible workout, no matter where we were. We started coming up with routines that would engage the whole body, which triggers a faster metabolism. What started as just a few friends working out in the park, has turned into a proven exercise method that works for anyone.
In our two years of training we have seen amazing results with out clients. Seeing people completely change their body type is the most gratifying part of the job – I think we help show that getting into great shape doesn’t mean changing your entire life, just a few small things.
The cookie filled holidays are approaching… Work off your future cookies now. 
Tucson Oktoberfest 2009
October 2, 2009
Break out your lederhosen and tubas. It’s Oktobefest in Tucson!
The Optimist Club of Tucson puts on Oktobefest every year at Hi Corbett Field, complete with a polka band, strudel, sausages, and, of course, beer. There’s other stuff to see and eat too – check out the whole line up of entertainment on the Tucson Oktobefest website.
U of A has Tuba Cats? Apparently so. This, I might need to see.
Tucson Oktobefest runs October 1 – 4th at Hi Corbett Field – that’s South of Broadway at Reid Park, 3400 E Camino Campestre. Admission is $3 for adults, kids under 12 are free.
Hours:
- Friday October 2nd – open noon to 11pm
- Saturday October 3rd – open 10am to 11pm
- Sunday October 4th – open noon to 6pm.
So go have fun at Oktoberfest – there are plenty of exhibitors and foods and fun to be had. And all to benefit a good cause.
Greek Festival 2009
September 23, 2009
It’s saganaki time! OPA!
Every September brings the Greek Festival at the St. Demetrios Hellenic Center, over at 1145 E Ft. Lowell. This year, from September 24th to the 27th, you can enjoy all that is Greek – the food, the beverages, the pastries, the music, the dancing.
As you may have guessed, my favorite is the food.
Admission is $3, kids under 12 get in free, and active duty military get in free as well. On Thursday and Sunday, if you bring a can of food for the Community Food Bank, you’ll get a $1 food line coupon – a bargain, to be sure. Friday and Saturday, there is parking and shuttle service from the Salpointe High School stadium (off of Glenn and Mountain) – I recommend the shuttle, as parking can get crowded closer to the event.
Hours vary by day: Thursday is 5 – 10pm, Friday is 5 – 11 pm, Saturday is 4 – 11pm, and Sunday is noon to 6:30pm.
There’s more information over at www.stdemetriostucson.org.
Go check it out, have some tasty eats, and enjoy the cooler Tucson evenings. Ought to be a lovely festival this year.
Arizona Restaurant Week in Tucson – Sept 19th – 26th
September 14, 2009
Arizona Restaurant Week starts in Tucson this Saturday!
This is the second year for this event, and the first that it has come to Tucson I believe. There’s about 30 local high-end restaurants who will offer a three course prix-fixe dinner for $29/person (or $58 for two) during the week of September 19th to the 26th.
The goal of Arizona Restaurant week is to position Arizona as one of the top culinary destinations in the nation, but for those of us that aren’t ‘foodies,’ it seems like a week of very lovely meals at really nice places at a fabulous price.
The list of participating restaurants in Tucson is here, and includes such places as:
- Blanco
- Flemings
- Gold at Westward Look
- Lodge on the Desert
- Kingfisher
- Sullivans
- The Grill at Hacienda del Sol
- Zinburger
and lots more. Hungry yet? I am.
Flor de Liz Dance Spring Ensemble Performance
May 14, 2009
It’s that time again! 
I’m a teacher and choreographer and dancer over at the Flor de Liz Dance studio, and our Spring performance is this weekend.
It’s at the Stevie Eller Theater on the U of A Campus this Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm. That’s this May 15th and 16th. Tickets are $8 for adults, and $6 for children, seniors, and students.
It lasts about an hour and is a very family friendly show. There’s some formal ballet, some modern, some group pieces, solos, dancers of all ages, all of it entertaining and fun.
I’m in one piece, sort of a jazzy period piece wearing these snazzy shoes and polka dots.
Yes. Polka dots. That should be enough to pique your interest right there.
AND – my tweens are performing a piece I choreographed for them from Les Patineurs, a dance about skaters. They’re very sweet and happy and dance their little buns off. I’ve been working with them quite a bit this year about formations and exact positions, and it’s starting to pay off. I’m so proud of my class this year!
So come and watch the performance. Bring a friend, buy a ticket at the door. It’ll be a good time, I promise.
Tucson Festival of Books
March 13, 2009
Cool free thing to do this weekend – check out the Tucson Festival of Books at the U of A campus. There’s a huge group of authors and poets and journalists and screen writers all doing presentations, speaking on panels, giving workshops, telling stories, and generally enjoying the rest of the festival, which includes cooking demonstrations, book signings, performance entertainment, crafts, and a whole lot of other stuff.
They’ve got somewhere around 300-400 authors (depending on which source you believe) including some names I recognize like J.A. Jance and Diana Gabaldon
Better yet, admission is free and parking is free in the University parking garages over the weekend so you can browse and enjoy at your leisure.
There’s also an expo area and a food court, as well as special areas for kids and teens.
Check out the schedule and get more information over at the Tucson Festival of Books website, or get the downloadable schedule here.
Tucson on the Cheap
February 19, 2009
Discovered a new Tucson Blog the other day called Tucson on the Cheap, the "local resource for freebies, discounts, and deals in Tucson." With authors like Cheap Chick, I. M. Frugal, and Hortense P. Tightwad, how could I not love this one immediately?
Not only do they provide various discount information, but they’re mentioning a lot of smaller local events – things like the 2nd Annual Carnaval in Tucson coming up this Saturday, which is a free event. 150 drummers at the finale? Brazilian dances? This I may have to see.
Extreme Makeover Tucson
January 16, 2009
The ABC TV show Extreme Makeover Home Edition is coming to Tucson! I’m told they’ve picked the family, but haven’t told them yet. The team is being led by John Wesley Miller, a local builder. You can volunteer to help, over at the Extreme Makeover Tucson web site – looks like they’re looking for help on January 27th through February 4th.
If you don’t want to volunteer, there’s also a spectator area that you can watch the crew and the house progress, open from 8am to 8pm. I wonder where the house is going to be…
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