About Tucson

Pima County Public Library

2009-07-22T13:19:00.002-07:00

I know that a lot of people are currently scaling back on their expenditures. But I've also noticed that some people just don't seem to know some of the stuff that is already available often free.

For example, the public library. Now, I'm pretty sure that everyone has been to the library at one time or another, but I've also found out that very few people go regularly, which is a real surprise. The library has so much to offer, and all of it is free (well I haven't been charged for anything)! Besides books, you can check out DVDs, CDs, read current magazines, use the free Wi-Fi, use the library's computers to browse the internet, get help in researching a topic, use a meeting room, view the art exhibits. All of it 100% free. Not only that, they make it easy, too.

One of my favorite ways of getting books is to reserve them on line. Once the the book becomes available, it is shipped to the branch of you choice and the send you a notice when it's ready for pickup. I just stop on my way home once a week, return last weeks books and get any new ones. It's easy, fast (in and out in under 5 minutes), and a great way to read books that I probably wouldn't have bothered to purchase. I've done the same with DVDs, too.

So, if you live in Tucson, check out the great work that your public library is doing. It is downright amazing. (If you live elsewhere, I bet your hometown library does a great job, too.)

Food Inc.

2009-07-19T09:20:00.003-07:00

This past weekend I went to see Food, Inc. at the Loft Cinema. Since I had read The Omnivore's Dilemma and a number of other books on the current state of food production in the U.S. I wasn't too surprised by the movie. But, if you haven't read about it, you might be surprised by some of what goes on. For example:

The FDA can not recall contaminated food
It is Illegal for a processor to test all cows for BSE (mad cow disease) which would make for safer beef
Food manufacturer's say the more food recalls are good thing.

And in case you are wondering about the current food recalls, you can check the FDA itself. As of today, they list 19 food recalls in the last 12 days. More than one a day!

Now it might seem as though you can't do anything to change the way our food is processed and sold, but it turns out that you, the consumer, wield all the power. You are the one choosing how food is manufactured and sold in the U.S. And you have the power to change it if you don't like it; the easiest way is by being selective when you shop.

For example, Walmart no longer uses rBST milk in their private brand. They don't make a change like this because they believe it is in the best interest of your health, nor do they do it out of concern for the cows. They do it because people would buy the non-rBST milk instead of the Walmart milk and they saw that by changing they could increase profits. So you see, simple changes can have large effects.

What other changes can you do?

Shop at Farmers markets. You can search Local Harvest to find one nearby. Just about everyone will find a market close by where they can get fresh, local, and organic food, meet and talk with the grower, and try foods you might not have found elsewhere.

Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). I'm a member of the one in Tucson, and think it is the best thing I've ever done in terms of eating. Every week I get a share of fresh vegetables (generally eight items) that are grown in a sustainable organic way. And I know it's so, because I've been to the farm. I've spoken with the people that grow what I eat. I've seen how my food is grown and harvested. In fact, on farm visits, I've even picked some of my food. You can search for CSAs at Local Harvest, too.

Buy local. Not just local food, but local anything. Your money will stay in your community, helping it to grow and prosper. And isn't that what we all want -- a prosperous, vibrant community? After all, it's where we live.

Downtown Mural

2009-06-09T11:37:00.003-07:00

A while back I wandered around the downtown area taking photos. One of my favorite is here on the right. I think the reason I like it is that the mural looks so life like. It's as though someone pasted a large photo on top of a muted Aztec mural.

For those that want to see it for themselves, you can find it on the back of the Chicago Music Land store on Congress.

June Cinema La Placita

2009-06-09T11:31:00.002-07:00

The latest schedule for Cinema La Placita is out. From the first Thursday to the last Thursday in June:

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Singing in the Rain
Kramer vs. Kramer
Topper

Sorry, I posted these a bit late.

Grand Canyon Trees

2009-06-09T11:20:00.005-07:00

As it has been a while since I last posted, I thought that I'd put up another photo of the Grand Canyon. It's funny, but of all the photos I took at the Grand Canyon, I happen to like those that don't show the canyon the best. I guess that's because it is so hard to capture it in a way that no one else has. Whereas, a photo like the one on the left has far fewer similar photos to compete with.

Now in case you are wondering, I didn't really post-process this at all, just a simple circular polarizer was used to bring out the blue sky.

Hope you like it.

Maynards Market

2009-05-24T15:50:00.002-07:00

This past Thursday we stopped in at Maynards Market for dinner. This is the second time we've been here, and I think we can say that we'll be going back.

We arrived around 5:30 and were met by the hostess and promptly seated. Perusing the menu, we both decided on the Mac' and Cheese side (large), and one of us had fries as a second side and the other had chard with raisins and pine nuts. Let me tell you, the large Mac' and Cheese is a meal. Do not make the mistake of ordering it to go along with something else. As it was, we had to take home a small box for the next day.

After a wait of about 20 minutes, two large, extremely hot, bowls of M&C were brought to the table. Covered in slightly toasted, garlicky, bread crumbs, it was obvious that these were done in the oven as all good M&C should be. Taking a bite, one could tell that they used a smoked Gouda along with Parmesan, and probably some Mozzarella to add to the stringy consistency. Wow! This is how M&C should be made!

The fries, well, they were fries, nicely done and crispy, and the chard with raisins and pine nuts, was quite good. Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert, but of coarse there's always next time.

The vibe at Maynards is quite Tucson-like. Instead of trying to make the train depot conform to the restaurant, the restaurant conforms to the depot. Drink menus hang on a railroad spike at the table, and the main dining area looks out over the tracks so you can watch the trains go by. Overall, Maynards is bit on the noisy side, but that was just because it was quite busy. I hope it stays that way.

North Shore

2009-05-24T15:28:00.003-07:00

As I mentioned in the last post, we took a quick vacation up north. To the North Shore of Lake Superior, in fact. It was quite nice to see the bright new green showing up everywhere in the spring, and the area was just beautiful. I'd highly recommend a trip up there.

We spent a few days going along the shoreline, pretty much covering the area from Duluth to Canada, stopping to wander out to the lake shore, or watch the cascades of snow melt tumble down rivers on the way to the lake. Every time we would see the rushing cascades, I would think of the story Paddle to the Sea by the wonderfully named Holling C. Holling and winner of the 1942 Caldecott Award.

For those that haven't read Paddle to the Sea, you are missing out.

Ice Break

2009-05-10T09:45:00.003-07:00

This year it looks as though I missed the ice break on the Rillito. We took a short vacation up to one of those northern climes. You know the kind of place -- where the real ice had broken just a week or so prior. Really. In fact, right up near the Canadian border we happened to see a lake that was still covered in ice! And when we arrived back in Tucson, the radio announcer said it was a lovely 100° degrees in Tucson.

Here in Tucson, we don't have real ice on the rivers, or even water for most of the year, so we make up our own version of an ice break. The first day above 100°. This year it was on May 7th.

Keep cool.

Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society

2009-04-26T09:51:00.004-07:00

When most people think of the desert, they think dry, brown, and dusty. It can be all of that, and more. For example, the photo to the left (a tricocereus) was taken right here in Tucson, just a day or so ago. Not quite brown and dusty is it?

In fact, right now a number of things are blooming here in the desert, although they are mostly cacti of some sort: prickly pears, chollas, and even the saguaros are starting to bloom. And what is nice is that cacti bloom every year without fail. It doesn't matter how much or how little rain we get, they bloom. That, and the minimal care that is needed, make cacti one of the best landscape plants for Tucson in my opinion. To make it even easier, you should get native cacti. That way there is no wories about the plants getting too much sun. Yes, too much sun. The first year we lived in Tucson, we went out and picked up a number of cacti from one of the nurseries in town and nearly all of the cacti ended up dying from sunburn. Ah well, live and learn and pass it on.

To avoid problems like acclimitization, I generally buy cacti for the yard from the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society (click on the title) sales. They offer up rescued plants at terrific prices, and for the most part you can just put them in the ground, cover them with shade cloth for a season, and you're done. If you're looking for great blooms, check out the hedgehogs (echinocereus spp.), you won't be dissappointed.

Grand Canyon

2009-04-19T09:38:00.003-07:00

I've lived in Tucson a fair number of years, and surprisingly (to me), I've only been to the Grand Canyon once. Just once, and that was late last year. The reason it's surprising is that it is relatively close: 4 to 5 hour drive. A half of a day to get to one of the most spectacular locations in North America.

If you're like me, you tend to put off those close by attractions in favor of something more exotic. Something distant, perhaps a plane trip overseas. And by doing so you miss out on some really great experiences. I tend to think this is natural, but kind of a shame, really. You (and I) should spend more of our time doing things close by. Learn about the area we live in. Eat the regional foods. Visit those small local shrines. These are what makes it so exciting to live in Tucson.

So with that, get out and start exploring!

Cinema La Placita

2009-04-08T18:45:00.002-07:00

Ok, I know a number of people are asking when Cinema La Placita will start showing the free movies downtown, and which movies are the showing. I get asked because I attend regularly, but I'm not affiliated with Cinema La Placita in any other way.

Well, I don't know the answer to the second question. But to the first, Cinema La Placita should start up the first Thursday in May.

Now while the movies are technically free, they're not really free, or at least shouldn't be for most people attending. It does cost money to put on the shows, and the amount isn't insignificant, either. Now I know you say to yourself, "I can run down to the video store and rent this movie for $3, how can it cost much more to show it outdoors?" Well, for one thing, when you rent a movie from the video store, it's for home use. Not for public viewing. When you show a movie publicly, you must pay licensing fees.

So between the licensing fees, the popcorn, the security staff, and everything else showing one movie costs around $600. Yes, $600. Over a season that's around $15000. So you see it's not free. But where does that money come from? Not from the city. Not from a grant. Not from a wealthy benefactor. It comes from you and me -- the patrons. All of the costs of putting on Cinema La Placita come from donations. Every dime.

And the audience could definitely stand to kick in a bit more; last year they contributed around $4000. Just a bit over 25% of the cost. You can see that's not sustainable. So this season, dig deeper. I know it's tough. But do it anyway and chip in your $5 (per person) when you go to the movie. Keep the series going. It's up to you.

Se you there!

Agave

2009-04-07T13:34:00.002-07:00

I just thought that I'd include another photo of an agave. This also was taken out at ASDM and I happen to like it for the way it shows off the "ghost leaves," or impressions leaves embedded in other leaves that formed when the agave was a tight rosette.

Hope you like it.

A Closer Look at Cactus and Succulents

2009-04-05T11:11:00.004-07:00

Opening today are two great exhibits that anyone interested in the beauty of the desert should see: A Closer Look at Cactus and Succulents and Gentry's Agaves. Both are out at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. While they are officially opening today, I happened to get a quick sneak peek yesterday. As usual, the quality of the artwork presented at ASDM is just amazing.

While these exhibits will be around to June 7, 2009, I'd suggest that you get out there before then as it is too easy to forget about going.

Now just in case youo think that the photo is one of the pieces you'll see, it isn't. It's one I took yesterday.

ASDM in the spring

2009-03-29T10:46:00.003-07:00

I recently went back out to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) and spent pretty much the whole day taking pictures including this one of a female hummingbird on her nest.

For those that don't know, ASDM is one of the few places that regularly breeds humming birds and it can be a great place to see these little jewels up close. Yes, even while the birds are raising their young, you can still go in the aviary and get within a few feet of any of the hummingbirds. Just not too close, of course, you don't want to scare the mother off the nest. And no flash photography on the nesting birds, which, as you can see, doesn't mean you can't get good photos.

Earth Hour

2009-03-29T10:20:00.003-07:00

Yesterday was Earth Day and we took part by turning off all our lights from 8:30 to 9:30. It was sooo easy that I'm surprised that more people don't do it. After all, it's only an hour.

So what did we do for that hour? Well for part of it we took a walk around our neighborhood. And I was quite surprised by the number of people who are apparently afraid of the dark. Some of the houses are lit up like a prison. But, I guess for some people that's what their house has turned into. A prison that must be kept lit on the outside, locked up tight, and their "owners" ensconced inside avoiding the outside world.

Other houses looked as though they were participating. Even entire streets looked dark, which added to the serenity of walking around at night watching the thin moon on the western horizon.

Since our walk took only 40 minutes, we spent a bit of time in our backyard looking at the stars. The Big Dipper shown brightly with its familiar pattern. Since we took out binoculars, we found the double star in the dipper's handle. That was a first for both of us -- surprising really since we both have been out looking at the stars many, many times. Orion was up, too, holding his club high overhead. And Cassiopeia, looking like a sideways 'W.' It is always such a treat to see the star shining in the night sky.

With our walk being such a success, we've decide that we'll take more nighttime strolls. Once summer hits, it'll be cooler at night, and who knows what creatures we might see out at that hour. And to avoid stepping on one of them we'll bring flashlights.

Spring

2009-03-22T10:48:00.003-07:00

As those in the Old Pueblo know, Spring is here. Of course, that means it won't be too long before summer appears. With that in mind, here's a photo taken on the vernal equinox.

Spring Artisan's Market

2009-03-22T10:25:00.002-07:00

Now I know that I often post about things that we've done in the Tucson area after we've already done them. Unfortunately, this doesn't quite work for special events that are over once you read about them on these pages. So today, let's talk about an upcoming event: The Spring Artisan's Market at the Tucson Museum of Art.

Taking place next weekend (27-29 March 2009), the TMA will be hosting aproximately 150 artisans selling their artwork on the courtyard and lobby. This is a perfect time to pick up a gift for that special someone, or even do a little early Christmas shopping. With just a little searching, you'll be able to find a unique gift that someone might treasure. And consider shopping for yourself, too. One of the things we've tried to do when we go on vacation is to purchase just one really nice item to remind us of our trip. Sure it's harder than picking up a lot of trinkets, but over the years we've been much happier looking or using that special item. For us, examples include watercolor paintings of the local area, photographic prints, and the like. For you, well you decide.

Now if the art sale isn't enough, the Museum of Art is also open that weekend -- and it's free.

Have fun,

Queen Creek Olive Oil

2009-02-28T12:23:00.002-07:00

As we do every Thursday evening, we headed downtown after work for our weekly date night. We must have started this tradition, oh, probably seven years ago when we became regular Cinema La Placita attendees.

This past Thursday, we had dinner over at Maynards in the Historic Train Depot (very good, by the way and they seemed to be having a pretty good evening). Afterwords we stopped in the shop of the same name next store and were pleasantly surprised to see quite a number of local items for sale, including Queen Creek Olive Oil. Since we had been planning to try it, we picked up a bottle.

Now if you buy olive oil based just on the price, don't bother seeking out Queen Creek; it'll set you back around $15 for 1/2 a liter. We didn't mind the cost since we tend to use oil rather sparingly and this money goes directly back into our community. So how is it? It's very good, but it's a lot different than other olive oils I've had over the years (lately the California Olive Oil sold in Trader Joe's). Initially it has a very mild flavor, but the finish is a bit peppery; definately a keeper and well worth getting.

Now if you want to try it out, we've seen it in a few palces around Tucson: ASDM, Maynards, Local Harvest Marketplace, and possibly a few other places. Or if you live further afield, you can order from their website (http://www.queencreekolivemill.com/).

Where in Tucson?

2009-02-23T13:39:00.006-07:00

Ok, here's another shot from my most recent visit to downtown Tucson. Do you know where these stairs are?

I'll give you a hint: near the end of a bridge.

And that's the only hint I'll give out. So get out there and see if you can find the location of these stairs.

I took the photo for the attention to detail. Here, in the most pedestrian of places, the builder has added tiles for no other reason than they look nice. There is no structural reason, no safety reason, no reason at all to go to the extra expense and trouble to put tiles on the risers of these steps. Most places would be happy to have the risers just be plain anonymous concrete, but not here. A this location, most of the buildings are made to stand out (oops, another hint) which adds just a bit of something to the atmosphere.

Happy hunting.

Downtown Tucson

2009-02-22T09:15:00.002-07:00

Last night I went down to downtown Tucson to try to get some interesting photos. Now I know that a lot of people worry about going downtown. They worry about the crime. They worry about the parking. In short they just don't know anything about downtown Tucson.

As for crime: I've never had any trouble. Never even seen trouble in the downtown area. And I've wandered pretty much every street in the downtown area. At all times of the day and night. I've been downtown at 8am. I've been downtown at midnight. And nothing has ever happened.

As for parking: another failed argument. I've never had trouble finding parking. Never. And everytime I've been able to find free parking. Yep, 100% free parking, right on the street. You just have to know where to look. On weekends and evenings it's easy. All street parking is free after 5pm. Other times it can be a bit more difficult. But it is there. Of course, you might have to walk a block or two more. But, for me that's not a big deal.

Finally, I did take some photos while I was downtown. For the most part I followed the Presidio trail (the turquoise line painted on the sidewalk--you can get a guide at the visitors center), and was quite surprised by the number of things going on late Saturday afternoon. Armory park had a family freindly event. Maynard's Kitchen in the depot was bustling. People were out and about. Lots of restaurants were open and busy. Quite a chnage since when I first started heading into the downtown area.

So about the photo? Where is that mural? That's for you to figure out. All I'll say is that it's one of the easier ones to spot in the downtown area.

Shop your farmer's market

2009-02-15T09:31:00.004-07:00

How would you like to get great produce and for less than you'll find in the supermarket? I thought so. The secret is Shop at your local farmer's market.

We stop in from time to time (almost all of our produce comes through Tucson CSA), and I can say that they have some great deals. A few Saturdays ago we stopped in the Farmer's market in St. Phillips plaza to check out what was available. Now the Saturday market isn't as well established as the one they hold on Sunday, so the number of vendors was a bit thin. Even so, there was a lot to choose from.

How about organic oranges and grapefruit (just picked that morning) for 50 cents each? Each orange probably weighed close to a pound so I don't think you can beat that price. And the taste. Wow, were they sweet! You can definitely tell they had ripened on the tree.

Tomatoes? Yes. Heirloom tomatoes were available for about $2/lb. More than in the store, but if you're like me, you wouldn't take a store tomato if it were free -- no flavor. So $2 is more than fair.

An even better farmer's market is held on Tuesday mornings down at the Community food bank. Here it's all produce (no arts/crafts). When we stopped in we picked up carrots, eggs, broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower. Cost? Under $10. Taste? Great. And the best part, knowing that your money goes to support someone in your community.

So to get you started on, check out the link on the title. It'll take you to a listing of Arizona farmer's market. Find one close by, and stop in. You won't regret it.

Local Harvest Marketplace

2009-02-08T09:47:00.003-07:00

I read in the paper about the plight of the recently opened Local Harvest Marketplace. Right now it's on the verge of closing due to lack of clientele, which would be areal shame since it is trying to fill such an important niche. That of truly local and organic food at reasonable prices.

We have stopped in, and the prices are good, and they have a pretty good selection of local foods, including, at the time, the rare Black Phoenix date. These are probably one of the best dates you can find, sweet and smooth, with a melt-in-your mouth texture. Not gritty and coarse like some other dates. The Black Phoenix dates are from a mutation that occurred in the 1930s. Not many people handle them because they are fairly fragile, meaning they don't pack and ship well. (Like all the food you buy at the supermarket, the most important quality is the how well they ship; taste never comes into the equation).

So if you're serious about buying local, stop in and show your support, by purchasing some local produce from a local business.

Animal sightings in Tucson

2009-02-02T18:35:00.002-07:00

Tonight we were pretty lucky -- we saw our neighborhood bobcat again. Right around dinner time our cat, came racing through the house with her tail all puffed up and ran to the back window. We looked out to see what all the commotion was about and there was a full grown bobcat walking through our yard!

Naturally, I went to grab the camera for a few quick photos, but by the time I was able to get it out, the bobcat had moved on. Drat! Even so, it was a great thrill to see it wander through.

This isn't the first time we've seen a bobcat in our yard. I think we've seen one possibly a half dozen times in the last couple of years, and it's always exciting. I like to think that it is the same cat, but I really don't know for sure. We never get to see them for more than 30 seconds to a minute, so it's really hard to determine if they have any distinguishing marks.

As an aside, right as I'm writing this, I can hear a western screech owl out in our front yard. We've seen these little guys (and gals, presumably) several times, and often hear them at night. They have a very distinctive call, a Hoo-hoo-hoo call that descends in pitch with the hoos coming more rapidly. The best description I can give is that of a ping pong ball bouncing on a table. Once you hear one, you'll know.

Now while we live outside of Tucson (at least the city limits), we aren't in that rural of an area, so regardless of where you live, you might want to keep an eye out for wildlife. It's there if you're watching.

A Raisin in the Sun at Arizona Theatre Company

2009-02-01T11:36:00.004-07:00

Just recently we headed downtown to the Temple of Music and Art to see the play A raisin in the Sun. It's a play about the dreams and hopes of a black family living in South side Chicago during the 1950s. The family is about to come into $10,000 from an insurance policy and various members have differing ideas as to how to use the money to improve their lot in life. The oldest son wants to purchase a liquor store, believe that by being a small business owner he'll be able to get ahead. His wife and mother believe that buying a house is the right way to go.

Now I won't tell you what happens, except to say that this is a play packed with emotional drama and a bit of gritty reality for the times. From start to finish, the play lasted a bit over two hours and we left the theatre commenting on the wonderful performances by the entire cast. Like really good plays, after a short while you stopped noticing that you were watching actors and instead it seemed as though you were watching the lives of people from years ago.

As I've said elsewhere, the immediacy of a play just can't be duplicated in film. It is truly something that must be experienced in person. So, if you can, I'd suggest you head on down and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Tohono Chul Park

2009-01-25T10:03:00.003-07:00

This weekend we stopped in at Tohono Chul Park for the member's reception. We've been members for a number of years and used to visit and stroll the grounds regularly, but with busy lives, it seems as though it just dropped off the table; I'm not sure why. Well I know why, it seems like we just don't have the time to get over there. But when I really look at it, that doesn't make sense. For us, its perhaps a ten minute drive, and we normally spend a little over an hour wandering the grounds. Sometimes we stop in the tearoom for lunch. We always have a good time.

So for the lack of two hours (come on, we have to be able to find a couple hours free every once and a while), we dropped visiting one of Tucson's gems. If you haven't been to Tohono Chul, I recommend it as a nice way get out in the desert, without really leaving the city. After all, the park is located one block west of Oracle on Ina. Pretty much right near one of the busiest intersections in town. Yet, it never ceses to amaze me the wildlife I've seen there. This past Saturday, a hawk (perhaps a Harris's) was just sitting in a palo verde tree right on the grounds. We also saw a number of hummingbirds, cactus wrens, quail, gold finches, and the ubiquitous desert cotton tail rabbits. Plus you get to see quite a number of desert adapted plants (many labeled), with the possibility of purchasing them at their greenhouse.

So, we've discussed it some, and we plan on returning to our habit of stopping at Tohono Chul park a bit more often. At least to demonstrate our support for this corner of desert that is sorrounded by asphalt, because if it were to go away, that would be a great loss for Tucson and its people.

San Diego Zoo

2009-01-20T13:56:00.003-07:00

One of the things we like to do occasionally is visit San Diego. It's a quick and easy flight, or if you so inclined, you can drive there in about 6-7 hours. Generally, we fly on Southwest so that we can leave late in the afternoon both on the outbound and return trip. The flights are direct, take an hour, and if you get them in advance, generally cost a little over $100/pp.

It's funny that we like to go to San Diego so much as we always do pretty much the same thing: visit the zoo and the wild animal park. Since we hadn't been for several years, we were surprised by the numerous changes. At the zoo, the new Monkey Trails exhibit was open, and out at the Wild Animal Park we were disappointed that the train is no longer. It has been replaced by another tour, but I really don't think the new tour is quite as good. It's a bit shorter and doesn't cover quite as much ground. Plus you're in carts being pulled behind a truck, so it's a bit noisier, too. That didn't stop us from riding twice, though.

With all the changes at the zoo, we nearly spent two complete days seeing everything, including the extra booths out for Koalapalooza (that's where the above photo was taken), where you could talk with the veterinary staff, or have a close up with some of the animals.

Now you might think that it's pricey to go to the zoo and wild animal park, but what I'd recommend is to become a member. For a couple, it'll run you $89 ($74 for renewals), which provides you with unlimited admission to the wild animal park and the zoo. Free rides on the skyfari (normally $4), and free Journey into Africa tours (normally $10/pp). Plus you get a couple of free admission coupons for a friend. It really is a great deal.

So consider heading over to Balboa Park next time you're in San Diego.

Visiting ASDM

2009-01-11T08:55:00.003-07:00

When I talk with people in Tucson, I'm always amazed by the number of them that haven't visited the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, as we visit probably once per month.

On our most recent trip out, the animals were probably the most active that we've seen them. For example, both bobcats were out looking around, as you can see by the photo at left. Normally, they are sleeping on a ledge near the top of their enclosure, so that you pretty much see a lump of fur.

While standing there, we always overhear comments along the line of: "These are much smaller than the one I saw in the wild. That one was...." Finishing up with some improbable size. I know these people believe what they are saying, and I'm sure they remember it that way, too. But really now, why would the animals be smaller here than in the wild? Their not. Instead, they are in an enclosure so that people feel safe when they see them allowing people to get a true feel for their size. Out in the wild, you might just have a fleeting glimpse, and the adrenaline might be going, you're natural instincts kick in and you are focusing intently on the animal. With all that happening, the animal looms large in your mind. It looks bigger. It's a curious effect.

Anyway, the day we were out, the mountain lions were also out and about, drawing large crowds, and the raptor free flight was great as always. And the coati treehouse was finally open, showing once again that everytime we go out, it's a new visit.

So make the drive over Gates pass, and visit. Spend the day enjoying the animals. Or wander the trails looking at the diverse plant life that occurs here in the Sonoran desert. It is truly amazing.

Tucson Museum of Art

2009-01-02T09:02:00.002-07:00

For the first post of the New Year, I thought that I'd mention Tucson's Museum of Art. Right now they have a special exhibit with works by Maynard Dixon that looks really good. Now I be completely honest in that I've never heard of Maynard Dixon, but I have seen some of the reproductions on the various advertisements for the show. The show will cover some of his works on Arizona (and possibly Tucson) landscapes which have a airy light feel to them.

Try to check it out for yourself; I know I'll be down there this weekend.

New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T15:27:00.002-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything. It seems as though it is just too easy to ignore adding to a blog. After all, there is tons of other things I could be doing. But, with the New Year upon us, I'm going to make a resolution to try to post something, anything, at least once a week, with a special emphasis on local things to do.

To start a bit early, there is First Night tonight in downtown Tucson. I'll be honest, I don't plan on going, even though they are going to have fireworks. And it's not that I don't want to head downtown, it's just that for the most part, to me, New Year's Eve is a more a time of quiet reflection and remembering the year gone by. For those that do want to check it out, you can find more information here.

Have fun!

El Rio Theatre Project

2008-09-28T10:25:00.002-07:00

One of the odd things that I've found over the years, is that many people don't go to plays. I find it strange, because plays have an immediacy that movies and most other venues don't have. Think of the difference between a concerts and listing to a CD. The concert is a lot more fun, right? With a play you have similar dynamics going on. Performers giving their all, to tell a story, and that really comes across in the play. With movies, there are plenty of chances for retakes when someone flubs there lines or misses a cue. Not so with live theatre. The performers must be right on, the first time and every time. So why don't people go to plays? I think that many people think they are too expensive, or perhaps not accessible enough, or maybe they are not sure what to expect, I really am not sure.

Fortunately, for whatever the reason, Tucson does have an answer and it it's going on right now. On weekend nights through October 12th, The El Rio Theatre Project is performing one of Shakespeare's most accessible plays: Hamlet. For a $5 donation (and no one is turned away if you don't have the donation), you can watch Hamlet in the open air ampitheater in Himmel park. We went last night and happen to think that the El Rio Troupe did an excellent job with perhaps Shakespeare's most famous play. For those that think Shakespeare is had to follow, you really should see this play. The story is straightforward, the language is not filled with thees and thous, instead it contains some of Shakespeares most memorable lines: To be or not to be..., A method in his madness..., Something rotten in the state of Denmark..., and so on.

So before it's gone, make sure to head on down to Himmel park and check out Shakespeare under the stars. Bring a blanket to sit on. Bring a picnic. And bring $5 per person to show your support. You may find that live theatre is, indeed, a lot of fun.

Last month of Cinema La Placita for 2008

2008-09-21T09:22:00.004-07:00

October will see the last month of movies at Cinema La Placita for 2008, so make sure to head on down to check out a movie under the stars. And it should go without saying, offer up $5/person to make sure they can bring more movies next year (they get no, I repeat no, funding other than donations and sponsorships).

Without further ado, Octobers movies are:
All the President's Men,
The Senator was Indiscreet,
All the King's Men,
The Candidate,
and for Halloween,
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

For more details, click on the title of the post, otherwise see you there!

September movies

2008-08-22T09:47:00.002-07:00

Just a quick note to indicate the Cinema La Placita schedule for September have been released. You'll find a link to the right.

Cheesemaking

2008-08-18T19:02:00.004-07:00

As vegetarians we realize that we need to watch where we get our protein. For us, since we eat dairy and eggs, that's not too hard. What does make it tough is getting these items local. Fortunately, the Tucson CSA carries local eggs (some from backyard chickens right here in Tucson) from Josh's Foraging Fowls and during the summer and fall one can purchase shares of cheese from a goat farm (Black Mesa Ranch) up in snowflake. Both are excellent, far surpassing the eggs and cheese that you'll find in a typical grocery.

Once winter heads our way the cheese starts to taper off, so we have to revert back to ordinary (non-local) cheese from the store. That is until now.

First, let me talk about something that seems kind of unrelated, but trust me, it fits in. Several years ago we read Michael Pollans' book, The Omnivore's Dilemma and decided to start buying and eating local food; if you've read the book, especially the part about Polyface Farms you'll understand. Thanks to the Internet and the web site Local Harvest, we found the Tucson CSA and started getting most of our vegetables through our Farm Shares. Soon after we read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, where Barbara Kingsolver describe her families effort to eat local for a year. Part way through she talks about making cheese and visiting "Ricki, the cheese queen" to take a cheese-making course, blithely claiming it's easy to make cheese, and that anyone can do it. After a year or so, we make the plunge and order up a kit to make mozzarella and ricotta. Well, guess what, it is easy.

From start to finish it takes about 30 minutes to make fresh mozzarella cheese. It takes no special equipment other than a thermometer, and the only special ingredients are rennet, citric acid, and non-iodized salt, and all of that, including the thermometer is included in the kit. So now we have a source of very local cheese. Of course, we do need to work on the local milk. For the time being we are going with Shamrock Farms, which at least is nominally an Arizona dairy.

So how did it turn out? Just like mozzarella, only richer, less rubbery, and a bit milder that the stuff at the store. How much did we get? Well, a gallon of milk made about a pound of cheese. How can you get a kit? Order one from Ricki at www.cheesemaking.com or click the title of this post, or search for "cheese queen." Disclaimer: I get nothing if you click through, I offer the link up solely for your convenience.

Self-checkout (aka self-flagellation)

2008-08-03T09:30:00.004-07:00

I did something I really hate yesterday, and I did it on purpose, too. And guess what? Just like I expected, I hated it again, and vowed never to do it again.

Yesterday, I went into one of the supermarkets in town that have the self-checkout. I had only a few things to get, and it was moderately late so I could go in and be out in 10 minutes. Picking up a basket on the way in, I went off and got the few items I needed and headed up to the front. Naturally, there was a line of about five people (definitely more than three maximum that this particular store guarantees) in the single open checkout line that was staffed by a human. As an aside, why do they have 20 checkouts, but I've never seen more than 3 open? Anyway, I saw that open, empty, self-checkout lines were available and went over. I really didn't want to, but I figured it had to be better than the other times I've used it. They must have worked out the kinks, right?

So I scan item one and put it in the bag. The screen say to put the item back in the basket. This even though it rang it up. After a bit it's ready. I scan item two. It doesn't scan. I try again. It doesn't scan. And again. And again. Then it locks up stating "assistance needed." That's cleared, and I scan, item two. This time it rings up, so into the bag. Then I scan item three. Once again, assistance needed." That's cleared. So I scan item three, and in the bag it goes. item four, five, six and seven scan without problems albeit slowly as you *must* wait until it has read the price aloud before moving onto the next item. Then item eight decides to be a trouble maker. Again with the "assistance needed." That's cleared, and I'm able to scan the remaining items: nine, ten, and eleven.

Press pay, and it says please pay now, but reverts back to the scan mode. Press pay again, and the same thing happens. Third time it works. Who knows? Perhaps it waits to stars are aligned just right, or maybe it just wants to be extra, extra, extra sure that when you press the "pay now" button, you really want to pay now. After that their is a menu of about 13 choices on how you want to pay (most likely including through foreign currency transactions involving a third party). Maybe I'm just stupid, but the only ways I can think of paying are: cash, check, or credit/debit card. Do they offer the 10% down, 90 days as good as cash on one of those choices? Who can say.

By now I realized why the self-checkout were empty, the five people in the original line have already checked out and have exited the store, leaving me with struggling with the self-checkout. Apparently, they've tried to use them enough times that they've realized it actually takes far longer to go through the self-checkout than it does to stand in line.

Now, I'm sure that many of you out there like them, and to that I say hooray, but I'll let you in on a little secret. While they seem like they save you time, it's really more that they've given you something to do, which makes you feel busy during that time so you're less likely to notice that it takes a little bit longer. For example, at the regular line, I can swipe my credit card, while the items are scanned and bagged, but not at the self-checkout

Just so you don't think I'm a technophobe crank (maybe just a bit), some of the self-checkout stuff I just love. The pay-at-the-pump (although I wish they would remember my preferences, I mean, I stop at the same gas station, use the same card, inform the pump that the card has not somehow turned into a debit card and ask for a receipt, and I've done this for years. Why can't it just remember that it's a credit card and I want a receipt?) is the best invention of the 21st century and ATMs are wonderful (although, I'd really like to customize those too; again I have one standard transaction that never varies, why can't it offer: "withdraw $X, receipt, and return card just like the hundreds of times previously, or press here for something different?" I'd love to be able to go on line and set that up rather than everytime answering the same questions and waiting while it ponders my response), and I've even used the self-checkout at other stores without problems.

And if they would just fix the self-checkout at this particular store so that they worked, I'd probably come to love those, too. It's just that right now, they leave more than a bit to be desired.

Top Hat theatre Club

2008-07-28T08:31:00.003-07:00

This past weekend we decided to check out the Top hat Theatre club and take in a showing of Harvey. Now, I'm sure many people have seen the film by the same name, where Jimmy Stewart plays Elwood P Dowd, the man who sees the six-foot-eight white rabbit; I have too, and found it to be quite humorous, so I wanted to see it performed live.

As you probably know, Elwood becomes good friends with Harvey, talking to him and introducing him to friends and acquantences, much to the annoyance of his sister and niece who want to have him commited to the local sanatarium. While going through the commitment process, Elwood's sister admits to hearing about Harvey so often, that she thinks she has seen him, too. This results in Elwood being released and her being commited instead. This turn-about gets turned about again, when the director of the sanitarium talks with Elwood who calmly mentions Harvey, resulting in a mad scramble to release the sister, and find Elwood. During the ensuing chase, Harvey reveals himself to the director, who now thinks he is going a bit batty. At the end, Elwood is going to be giving an injection that will cure him, but his sister has second thoughts after talking with the cab driver who explains how he has seen many people who have recieved this injection. They no longer have a lucky-go-happy attitude, instead they are grouchy and crabby, "just like normal people." At hearing this, the injection is called off, and everyone, including Harvey, head home.

Overall, the performance was very good and we had a great time at this small theatre.

The theatre itself, is in a stripmall on the corner of Ft. Lowell and Country Club, and while not fancy, it is quite adequate for performances. Besides, one doesn't attend the play for the decor.

So do yourself a favor, and check out a show.

The Loft: A Great Deal

2008-07-20T08:55:00.002-07:00

It seems that lately everyone is trying to save a few bucks. And who can blame them? It would be nice if saving became a real trend here in the US. Personally, I think that would go a long way in reducing and eliminating many of the economic issues that we are currently facing.

Of course, talk like that doesn't help you right now, but this might. Do you like movies? Perhaps you go once a month or so and spend some serious buckage on the ticket, a coke, and popcorn. Just to let you know, on Friday, we headed out to the movies, bought a coke and a bear, and had a bag of popcorn each for the grand total of $6.25 ($7.00 if you include the tip). How did we do it? Perhaps you're thinking we hide the popcorn and beer in heavy coats on the way in. Nope. We simply became members of The Loft.

For a $100/couple here's what you get (along with estimated value): 2 passes for any movie ($17), a free movie a month (12*$17 = $204), free members popcorn at each screening ($1*13 = $13). That's a $234 value for a Franklin, and that's if you only go to the free screenings.

Yeah, I hear you saying, The Loft only shows those funny artsy films that no one can understand anyway. Not true! In reality, The Loft shows some of the best movies from across the globe. Not just that dreck that Hollywood decides you should see. Yes, the movies are often subtitled, but provide you can read, after about 10 minutes, you hardly notice you're reading the words. To be hnest, for years I didn't go to the first run movies because I nevere seemed to get my moneys worth. I'd pay my money, watch some formulaic film for 90 minutes, and leave thinking I would have had more entertainment value if I had stuck the wad of cash in a blender and hit frappe. Including a few quarters would probably up the excitement level a bit by shooting sparks out the top.

With the Loft it's different. The movies often tell stories that you haven't seen, and sometimes they can be just so intense that you leave the theatre drained. And you can feel good that the Loft is a home grown Tucson theatre contributing to the community.

With that, see you at the movies.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

2008-06-29T09:01:00.004-07:00

I had mentioned just the other day that we were planning on quite a lot of things for the weekend. A big part of our plans was to go see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Wow, was it good! Three hours of excellent dialog, story, and acting. After a few minutes, it no longer seemed as though we were watching a play. Instead, it was as though we were watching a family try to work through all their struggles. I can definitely recommend it without reservations.

Now, if you missed it (today is the last show for the summer), you'll have another opportunity to see it come Fall (3-6 September), and don't forget the other productions that are available through the UofA.

Weather in the Old Pueblo

2008-06-25T18:41:00.004-07:00

On Monday, the newspaper had this for the weather forecast for tomorrow. Note the words, "Partly cloudy and cooler," with the forecast of a high of 105°.

Truth be told, we have it easy compared to our neighbors to the north and west. I can remember a few years back when the high for Bullhead City was 126°. That's hot.

And the time we stopped out in Gila Bend on the way to San Diego. I don't know what the thermometer read, but it was distinctly hotter than anything I've experienced in Tucson. So again, we have it pretty easy.

Now, for those not from the Southwest, those that talk about their heat and humidity. Sure, it's humid back East, and hot, too. But here, well, let me tell you a true story from a few years back.

A couple, who had lived in Tucson for several years were being transferred back East. Since the couple liked the Southwest and were hikers, they headed up to Piccacho Peak for a hike. The hike is about 4-5 miles, up and over the saddle of a small mountain. I'd consider it moderate in difficulty. They did this in the summer, so like anyone in this area, they brought water with them to drink along the way. Unfortunately, they didn't make it. Their bodies were found a couple of hundred yards from the ranger station. That's what the heat in the Southwest can do. Experiance hikers with water dying in the desert. That's from tryng to complete a 4-5 hour moderate hike.

So, if you are heading out in the heat, be careful, and drink water until you slosh.

I'm bored

2008-06-22T09:53:00.002-07:00

I'm always amazed at the number of people who say there isn't anything to do in Tucson. For us, it seems like there is so much going on that we have to pick and choose carefully to make sure to fit in what we want. Let's take next weekend for example:

On Thursday we are planning on seeing Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at Cinema La Placita. Friday, we'll see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof down at UofA Marroney theater. Saturday, of course, it's Mars Day at the Fox Theatre where we'll see Angry Red Planet and Earth versus the Flying Saucers. In between the movies, we probably head over to the Center for Creative Photography for the Lee Freidlander: American Monuments exhibit. Followed by Sunday with Shakespeare in the Park at the Demeester center.

So how can you join in the fun, and how much will it set you back?

As I've written here before, Cinema La Placita is technically free including all the popcorn you can eat, they do request a $3-$5 donation to help keep the series going. Now, I know that you think that it only costs a couple of bucks to rent a DVD so someone must be making out. Nothing is further from the truth. First, to show a movie in a public setting requires paying the licensing fee to the studios. Second, there's security personel. Third, there's the cost of equipment. And then there's even the cost of the popcorn. All told, it runs over $500 for a single night. Once you realize that, I'm sure you'll chip in $5.

The play, put on by the School of Theatre Arts will run you $28. It's easily the most expensive of everything I listed, but consider that for 2 hours, you'll have probably 30-40 people working on stage and behind the scenes with the sole goal of entertaining you. And there is really nothing quite like a live performance.

Mars day at the Fox has free events, but the movies will set you back $8 per. Agian, it might seem that you could see the same movies just by getting a DVD from Casa Video, but it won't be the same. With your $8 you get to see these film in the best movie house in Tucson. And the $8 will help keep the Fox going.

The Center for Creative Photography is another of those things that is technically free, but asks for donations. I'd pitch in $5 a person.

Finally, for Shakespeare in the Park, you get the chance to see one of the works of the greatest playwright (for those that don't think the can understand Shakespeare, it is far easier to watch the plays than to read them). Cost: free, although I suspect they'll pass around the hat to help keep the tradition going, so let's call it $5.

Grand total: $5 + $28 +$16 +$5 +$5 = $59 for 4 days of entertainment with a total of 6 venues. Not bad.

So, next time you think there is nothing to do, think again.

Starting to warm up

2008-06-09T12:41:00.002-07:00

It's finally starting to warm up here in the Old Pueblo. Days are in the low 100s and nights in the 60s, and the air conditioner hums throughout the day. It's days like this that help make Tucson one of my favorite places to live. Really.

Why? Well, in the summer a lot of the snowbirds leave town, so there is a lot less traffic on the city streets. between the snowbirds leaving and the students from the UofA departing, the effect is quite noticeable.

The other thing that is nice is that there are a lot of things that start up in the summer for the locals. ASDM starts up the summer Saturday evenings (and we headed off to the first of the season). The summer movies at Cinema La Placita start up. It is a great evening when you can sit under the starts and watch a classic (or not so classic) movie. The Fox theatre starts its summer movie classic series. This summer it'll be old horror films: Frankenstein, Dracula, you know the lot. See, a lot does go on during the summer. You just have to know where to find it.

Western Screech Owl

2008-05-25T14:33:00.003-07:00

Yesterday afternoon while we were out in the back yard we happened to look up into one of the palo verde trees and saw this little guy (or gal). Yep, right there just feet away was our own little Western screech owl. I say "our" because this owl has lived in our yard or immediate area for a number of years.

We hear it in the early evening in both the spring and fall when the windows are open, and last fall we happened to catch mom teaching her owlet to fly.

We spent a few minutes watching the owl and watched it silently fly off to another tree a bit later; apparently we disturbed it a bit with our attempts at picture taking.

Today, I went back out to the tree and it was right back in the same place. So it looks like this palo verde tree might be its daytime roost. I hope so.

Have fun finding the wildlife in your backyard.

Local honey

2008-05-19T10:05:00.005-07:00

Hmm. Looks like the ice on the Rillito will break today. For those that don't live in the Tucson area, the Rillito (little river in Spanish) is one of the rivers through Tucson. Right now it's dry. The breaking of the ice means temperatures should run over 100°F for the first time this year.

We finally stopped in at Southwest Bee Supply (south 6th ave and 18th st) to pick up some local honey. It's just a small shop that looks like it's been around for years with easy parking right around the corner. We picked up a pound (a pints a pound, the world around), which cost a bit over $3 including a jar. The honey itself costs $2.40/# which seems like a real deal, and you can bring in your own jar to save the price of buying a new one each time. Seems perfect. We get to reuse a jar that would otherwise end up in the trash (here in Tucson all glass ends up in a landfill--even the stuff put in a recycle bin, alas), and we get another local product at a reasonable price.

Center for Creative Photography

2008-04-27T10:32:00.002-07:00

This past Friday we decided to spend the day wandering around the downtown area and check out a couple of the galleries as there were several exhibitions that we wanted to see.

First up was a trip to the Center for Creative Photography. We've talked about visiting off and on for years. Literally years. I don't really know why we put it off. It's just one of those things that happens.

Anyway, we had noticed a exhibit of works from the f/64 group and decided to make sure to see it. It was great! The Center has four large rooms at the University dedicated to displaying photos from their collection -- they are the archive for Weston, Ansel Adams, etc. so the stuff they show is really good. And how much does it cost? Just offer up a donation, that's all they ask. For those that are new to Tucson, this is just one of the great things they have down on campus, and available to all.

Afterwards, we stopped in Bison Witches to get a sandwich the size of our heads. If you've been there, you know what I mean. This place serves up the largest sandwiches this side of, well, I don't know of any place that has larger sandwiches. All served up on local bread (from the small planet bakery). Stop in some time. It's really good.

Then on to a couple of galleries down on Congress street. We've been glad to see more and more opening up in the core downtown area. In both cases, we just wandered in, looked around and wandered out. No one tried to sell anything. In fact, in both we didn't even see anyone (one was completely empty, the other someone was around the corner).

To finish up with the arty stuff, we headed down to the Temple of Music and Art for an exhibition based on old Tucson postcards. It was a lot of fun to look at the enlargements of the postcards and figure out where in Tucson they were taken.

After all that, we headed back to pick up our Tucson CSA food. While our feet were tired, it was good to know that we live in such a walkable city.

Get out and explore it yourself.

More Wildflowers

2008-03-11T14:32:00.003-07:00

I just thought I'd put up another photo of the wildflowers. This was taken last Sunday out by Picture Rocks pass.

Make sure to get out there before the flowers are all gone.

OK Feed Store

2008-03-11T13:32:00.002-07:00

I'm sure none of you remember way back in the early posts where I talked about Sonora our cat. Well, one of the things we realize is that our cat is a carnivore. She eats meat. In the wild she'd just eat meat (and fur, feathers, bones, etc.). If you have a cat, it would be the same for them. Now with that in mind, please go read the ingredients list on your cat food. Don't worry, I'll wait.

Back already? Were you surprised? Bet you didn't know your cat was actually feasting on corn, did you?

Now even if you try to get the best food for little precious, you'll find that it is mostly grains and by-products. Why? Because the pet food companies are in the business of making a profit, and it is easier to do that by selling you a "fancy" cat food, rather than a good cat food. So what can you do to really get your cat a better cat food? Well, head on down to a local feed store. We use OK Feed and Supply on Ft Lowell and Dodge. They have quite a number of pet foods you probably won't find at the large chains and you might not recognize the names, but you'll find ones without grains and fillers. Some all natural. Some even raw. Now you might say what about cost?

We normally pick up 6oz cans and the run between $1-$2 per can. It is more than the "Fancy" kinds at the big box pet food land. But not that much more. To me, it's a win-win. I get a better grade cat food for our cat, and a local place gets my trade.

Oh, and you can get food for all your other animals there, too. From horses to birds, maybe even mice.

Another local shop

2008-03-11T10:08:00.002-07:00

Just the other day I was searching for more local food sources on Local Harvest and ran across a new entry: Southwest Bee Supply. Now I've known about it for years having passed by it on 6th Ave many, many times. I've just assumed that it had items for the apiarist, but they have more. They sell honey, which makes sense, and they sell pastured eggs. Now we haven't stopped in, yet, but once we need some more honey, this'll be the place.

As an aside, if you are looking for good eggs, by which I mean eggs that taste good, and where the hens actually get to go out side and eat grass and bugs, look for the words "pastured eggs" on the carton. As it turns out, "cage free," "free-range," and terms like that don't really mean what they say (see this article for example: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-pastured-eggs.htm).

Three new reads

2008-03-11T09:43:00.003-07:00

Today, I finally put up a few more Read All About It columns. Here you can read quick book reviews on dozens of books we've reviewed over the past few years; possibly you'll find you next great read. Since there are quite a few up, I'll let you know the most recent ones are Flesh and Bone, Songbirds, Truffles, and Wolves, and In Defense of Food.

The review for In Defense of Food includes a hypothetical discussion with your great-grandmother about "Go-gurt Portable Yogurt Tubes" that I find to be hilarious (one of the tenets is that you shouldn't eat food your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food). More sobering is just how much of the items we eat, really are not food; instead they are food-like products pushed by big corporations with the sole intent of increasing profits. Read the book and you'll see.

As an example, I saw in the paper yesterday that Monsanto has started a group that wants to force the removal of the statements on dairy products that state that no rBGH or hormones were used on the cows. Not too surprising, they've found that they can't compete if all the information is presented. So they start lobbying to remove the information because consumers can't make wise decisions on their own. More surprisingly, is that for most foods they've already hidden the truth. Did you know that when Mad Cow disease (BSE) was rampant, a small company wanted to test every cow for BSE, but the USDA would not let them. Why? Large corporations were afraid that, to compete, they would have to test every cow, too, and they could not afford it. Note that your health or safety was not part of the decision.

Anyway, enough ranting. You can, and should, find out for yourself.

Wildflowers

2008-03-10T14:14:00.003-07:00

This winter we had some pretty good rains. That means it's wildflower season, perhaps the most amazing time to be out in the desert. On Sunday we went out to check out the wildflowers over by Picture Rocks pass as on previous years we had success in finding large stands of Gold Poppy and Lupine. We were not disappointed as the photo shows. Hard to believe this was taken in the desert, isn't it?

From what I've read the wildflowers are near their peak and it should start tapering off a bit, so you should head on out and find a few for yourself. If you want to check out the flowers at Picture Rocks, just head out west on Ina Rd, take a left onto Wade Rd (after the last light) and follow it over the pass to the parking lot that'll be on your right. The best flowers are on the south side of the road, and if you walk back up the pass you'll find some good stands of Lupine, too.

Three local items

2008-01-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a while since I last posted. Sorry to those people that actually read this.

Anyway, today I have a couple of new local things to tell you about.

First, where to get the best tortillas in town. For several months we had been picking up tortillas from a lady who sells her own at the local farmers market and without a doubt they are quite good. Unfortunately, we haven't seen her since about Christmas and we are really needing a tortilla fix. For those that have had good tortillas you know what I'm talking about. Light, thin, slightly chewy, and just plain delicious. Compared to true tortillas, the ones sold in the stores under the national brand names might as well be slightly damp cardboard; there really isn't a comparison. Anyway, with the tortilla lady nowhere to be seen, we headed off to the place in Tucson that is supposed to have the best tortillas and picked up a dozen. Once home, we heated one up, and let me tell you they were heavenly. Very thin, light, slightly chewy, and when toasted a bit crispy. The perfect tortilla. So where can you get a tortilla like this? Head on over to St. Mary's Mexican Foods, a small restaurant/shop just west of the Freeway on St. Mary's road. Trust me, it's worth it.

A second thing to mention. While we've been extremely happy with the produce from Farmer Frank and the Tucson CSA, we have been trying to get more local fruit. So on Friday we wandered over to the fruit stand on the corner of 6th and Speedway. I'm sure everyone has seen it right there on the corner with the stenciled signs indicating what's available. We mainly stopped in because of the recent article in the AZ Daily Star and my disgust with the last orange that we got at the supermarket: dry, flavorless; I literally threw away half. Stopping in the little market we found that prices were half of that at the supermarket, and much of the fruit was local (or at least from AZ). We've decided that we'll be stopping in regularly.

The final local thing to mention: eggs. Winter time normally means a reduction in eggs from chickens. It's their time to molt, and when they do, they energy they expend to replace feathers means fewer eggs. So lately it's been hard to get the eggs at the Tucson CSA. When some would come in they'd sell out almost immediately. Finally needing eggs, we picked up a dozen at Trader Joe's; these promised to be cage free.... To my mind they should have been promised as flavor free. Now, I never would have believed it, mainly because I didn't notice too much of a difference when we started buying eggs at the CSA, but when we tried to switch back it was painfully obvious that commercial eggs really aren't that good. I consider it a lesson learned.

So why are we trying to eat more local? It's a hard question to answer, as there are many subtle reasons. I guess the most important is that this is something we put in our mouths and swallow. Shouldn't we know a little more about it than the price? With local, we can (and do) visit the farm where our produce is grown. We can (and will) visit the ranch where our cheese is made. We might even see how the chickens that lay our eggs are treated. And by seeing that, and meeting the people that produce these things for us, we'll get a feel for the quality of our food.

Think about it for a minute: if the chickens are mistreated at an egg factory (as many are), why would you trust them to produce sound eggs? If the goats and cows that produce the milk for our cheeses are mishandled, why would you expect the products to be handled properly? If the land where your produce is abused, why would you expect the vegetables to arrive pristine? What you put in is what you get out. And I guess that's one of the many reasons we try very hard to buy local items.

Feel free to let us know about your local find.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-25T09:51:00.002-07:00

This year, as usual we had a Happy Turkey day. The turkey was happy (if they can be) because we had a turkey-less dinner. This year we went for the Tofurky. Now for those that haven't had it, and think: yuck! It's not bad. It won't fool anyone into thinking it's turkey. But that's not the point. After all many people eat sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes, but no one says that the sweet potatoes are a poor substitute since they do not taste like white potatoes. Instead the sweet potatoes are allowed to stand on their own. Same with the Tofurky. It's a different choice.

Turkey or no, we had a lot to be thankful for. Food on the table. A roof over our head. Clothes to wear. Good health. Far more than what most people on this Earth have. Yes, we had a lot to be thankful for. I bet you do too.

Farmer's Markets

2007-11-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

Almost every Saturday we head off to the farmer's market down at Plaza Palimino. Why? you may ask, since we are part of the Tucson CSA where we get fresh produce every week. Simple. The farmer's market adds a few things to our diet that we don't normally get from the Tucson CSA.

Normally, we pick up tomatoes and fruit (if it's available), and the best tortillas in town. There is a lady who shows up most weeks with fresh homemade tortillas. And, wow are the good. We often have quesadillas for lunch made with tomatoes and goat cheese. Mmm.

Now the tomatoes, on the other hand are good, but they are grown in a greenhouse so they don't taste quite like real tomatoes; they are better than the red tennis balls you'll find in the grocer's though.

For fruit, it varies through the season. Right now it's apples. Earlier it was peaches and plums. All have been at least as good (generally better) than that in the store. Best of all, we are supporting something local. Meaning that most of what we spend stays here in Tucson and the local area, helping to boost our community.

Perhaps you'd like to try a farmers market, too. Just click on the title above for a listing of those in AZ.

Have fun,

A whole month

2007-11-05T19:06:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that a whole month has gone by since i lasted posted anything. A lot has happened: Tucson Meet Yourself, a showing of Twelfth Night, all the October movies at Cinema La Placita (over for the year), several movies at the Fox Theatre, and a bunch of other miscellany.

So you might ask, what about November? What's fun to do in Tucson in November? Well, there's the El Tour. Head out and cheer the riders on, or even ride part of it yourself. There's stuff going on at UAPresents. Stuff at many of the venues around town. Or you could do like we do and make an evening of it with dinner, drinks and a movie.

Here's how it works, we stop in the Public library and pick up a DVD. Perhaps the selection isn't what you'd find at blockbuster. Perhaps they don't even have a movie you wanted to see. That's OK. Pick out one you've never heard of. It won't cost you anything but a little time to watch it. Then, if you are inclined, head out and get some dinner. Tucson is loaded with lots of good restaurants, you'll find something in pretty much every neighborhood, and for every taste. Mexican: perhaps try South Tucson. Greek: try Athens on Fourth. Not sure? Pick a restaurant at random. It's only a meal. It'll set you back a few bucks. Try something new. Order a dish that you've never tried. There's a reason it's on the menu. Someone thinks it's good. Maybe you'll be the next one who likes it. Perhaps it'll be your new fave. Just have fun. That's the main thing. Now head on back home, put the DVD in and watch. Have fun here, too. Make some popcorn. Maybe it's a terrible movie. Groan loudly at the bad parts. Laugh at the forced lines or terrible special effects. Whatever.

Just remember: You life is what you make it.

October Movies

2007-09-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, the October listing for Cinema La Placita is up. Movies this month are: The Birds, Mad Love, The Haunting, and It lives Again. And of course, this is the last month for the series this year so make sure to get down to see a few of them.

If you go, please realize that it does cost money to show these movies and the folks at Cinema La Placita can do it only through your donations and sponsorships. They get no money from the city, from grants, or anywhere but our donations; make sure to cough up a fiver per person to keep the series going.

See you there!

Zero at the Bone

2007-09-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update: A new Read All About is up in place. This months installment is a real local book: Zero at the Bone, by Erec Toso. Erec is a writing professor here at the UofA who happened to have been bitten by a rattlesnake. This is his story of the bite, the recovery, and his interaction with the natural world. It is highly recommended. To read an excerpt, just head on over to the Local Couple's site (you'll find a link on the right).

September Cinema La Placita

2007-09-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Well, the September movies for Cinema La Placita have been selected and the schedule is up at the Local Couple's site: just click on the title of this rambling.

Once again, we are sponsoring a movie this year, with the showing of Paint Your Wagon. If you stop on by on the 20th, you'll have the chance to see Clint Eastwood sing. Not exactly your typical Eastwood fare. But, entertaining nonetheless and I'm sure we'll see you there!

Mondo Mondays at the Loft

2007-08-21T19:12:00.001-07:00

Last night I went to the showing of Infra Man at the Loft Cinema. It's part of their Mondo Monday series, where each Monday they show a really bad movie. One that's so bad you just can't take your eyes off the screen. So far, besides Infra Man, I've also seen The Brain that Wouldn't Die. Both worthy of being included as a Mondo Monday Feature.

The basic premise of Infra Man seemed to be that some weird monsters that looked quite a bit like people in weird rubber costumes were trying to take over the World. So a professor created Infra Man to beat up the monsters using Kung Fu skills and boots that sparked as Infra Man flew through the air. Add in quite a number of other skeleton looking monsters and a whole group of military scientists Kung Fuing each other and you pretty much have the entire plot wrapped up. Oh, toss in an Earth quake, some motorcycles racing around, a radar dish, and whatever other footage happens to be lying around. It'll fit right in.

Now just so you can join in the fun, stop by the Loft on Mondays before 8pm (showtime), get your ticket ($2) and a Mondo Monday Munchie bucket ($1) -- which is all the Halloween-type candy you can fit in a small cup -- and sit back and prepare to have a great laugh.

And just so you can check out what's playing next, the title will click right through to the Mondo Monday schedule.

Quick Update

2007-08-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

A couple of quick things: First, a new Read went up in case you're looking for it. Just click through to Read All About It on the right. Second, I've added a link to Black Mesa Ranch so that you, too, can get some of the best goat cheeses around.

A word about the links. They are provided, only because I like the product. Period.

August 2007 Movies at Cinema La Placita

2007-08-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, The schedule is out. You can see the latest list of movies at the Local Couple's Guide to Tucson. Click here, and remember : no ads, no pop-ups, just info.

Sorry for the lack of posting. Had to travel a bit, so this has to go by the wayside. During my travlel, I realized just how lucky we are here in Tucson. We have good restaurants. Believe it or not, not all cities do. I spent a week in another city, asked everyone I could find for good restaurants, and they always pointed me towards a chain like crapplebee's. By the time the week was up, I could see why. It was the best restaurant there. Now that is really saying something is it? Crapplebee's, a knockoff of other chain restaurants, being the best. So yes, be glad you live in Tucson, where you can find good restaurants.

Speaking of restaurants, I noticed that Centro Bistro was closing. Some of you might remember that it was in the restored train depot downtown, and that it recieved a swinging deal from the city for a 10 year lease. Basically, 18 months free and reduced rent afterwards. And now it is closed with the owners thinking of suing the city because of the construction nearby as they claim that is what put them out of business. It isn't. I know because I ate there.

Now I'm not saying the food was bad. I'm just saying that it didn't fit in downtown Tucson. It was rather pretentious, rather pricey, and just OK tastewise. It seemed more like a Cailfornia restaurant that was out of place. Of course, I'll admit that I'm completely biased. I've been eating downtown for years (yes, years), and I've seen the other places struggle to survive but get no help from the city. Then this new place comes along and gets what seems like an unfair advantage. So I never had any interest in going. I did go once, when everything else was pretty much shut for the summer season, so I do have some idea of what the food was like.

Well, enough ranting.

Black Mesa Ranch

2007-07-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

Now here's something that's not quite local, but I can heartily recommend: cheese from Black Mesa Ranch up in Snowflake AZ. We had some shipped down here just the other week, specifically a boule (which means ball and is close to mozzarella in taste and consistency), and a couple of pound of feta. So far, we've eaten most of the boule and wow is it good! Highly recommended.

We have yet to try the feta, but if it is anywhere near the quality of the other cheeses that we've gotten from Black Mesa Ranch, I'm sure we'll be quite happy, and we'll be ordering more.

Now, if you go to the site, you'll see that the cheese might be pricier than what you are used to pay. It is worth it.

Now all we need to do is find someone that makes cheddar.

A trip to the farm

2007-07-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we headed up to the farm.

Part of what Tucson CSA does is to help people learn about where their food comes from and why it is important to buy local. Most of this is basically by setting an example, but twice a year the CSA people arrange a day outing to the farm where the food is grown. As part of our effort to learn a bit more about eating local, we headed up to Glendale, AZ.

Once on the farm, Farmer Frank took us on a short tour where we got to pick pretty much anything that we wanted: corn, melons, cucumbers, melons, more melons, and still more melons. As you can tell, it's melon season. After the tour we headed back to the house where we were treated to a huge lunch of: melons, roasted corn, quasidillas, grilled squash, potatoes. Was it ever good. Even the farm cats were wandering around eating scraps of melon, potatoes, nopalitos, just about anything.

We had a great time, brought home a number of freshly picked melons. We know they were fresh, 'cause we picked 'em ourselves, and a renewed appreciation for all the hard work that Farmer Frank does to provide us with a great selection every week.

To him, we say Thanks!

To learn more, click on the title and you'll go to the Crooked Sky Farm's website.

Cinema La Placita July 2007 schedule

2007-07-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

The July Cinema La Placita Movies have been announced. You can find them by clicking on the title of this entry.

And, just a reminder, when you show up, keep in mind that it is strictly donations that keep the film series going, so do your part.

Thanks,

Cinema La Placita Donations

2007-06-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, I just have to tell you I'm embarrassed. Not by something I did, however. Instead, I'm embarrassed by some of _you_ people out there.

This past Thursday, we attended Cinema La Placita, and prior to the movie, we were informed that of the 400 people that attend, they raised a total of about $370 for the movies. That's less than $1 a person. For a movie and free popcorn. Those people that don't offer up a donation for a night's entertainment aught to be ashamed.

Cinema La Placita is a great opportunity to show that it is possible for people to just get together, have fun, and not have to resort to either defined admission fees or tax dollars.

Now some of you might think that since it only costs a couple of bucks for you to go rent a movie at the non-local video chain, that it can't cost much to put on movies downtown. That's where you are wrong. The downtown showing is a public venue, and if you've ever read the warning at the beginning of the movies, you can't show video rentals in a public venue. At least not without paying royalties. So, showing movies downtown cost a lot more than just a $3 video rental fee. Instead, the rental fee for a public showing is on the order of $500. Now add in security. And popcorn. And the need to periodically purchase chairs. All of the sudden the cost is approaching $650 for the night.

So next time you show up for the movie on Thursday night, think how much it really costs to keep the movies going and offer up $5. That's far less than you pay at a indoor cinema, and you wouldn't get free popcorn there, either. Besides, your donation goes strictly to keep the series going, and if you don't help, who will?

Finally, if you *really* can't afford $5, let me know, and I'll pay the $5 for you. Just realize that before I'll pay for you, I'll ask if you have a cell phone, cable or satellite TV, an iPod, ate out anywhere in the previous week, have internet access, and possibly a few other questions. If you answer any with a yes, you can afford the $5.

This months Read

2007-06-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

I just put a new Read All About it Up on the Local Couple's Site. This month it is a review of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, et al. And, I'll be the first to admit, that this is the first book of hers that I read. Mostly because it deals with the incredibly important topic of eating local.

Now you may ask why? Why is it so important to eat local? Well, it's hard to single out just one reason, so I have to list a few. 1) the average distance food travels before you eat it is 1500 miles. That's a lot of oil/gas being burned to get you something that probably grows right near you. 2) Local food is fresher, hence better tasting. 3) It supports your local community.

Now, in the book you'll find a lot more reasons, so you might want to pick up a copy. It's a good read, and you, too, might jump on the Local Express.

June Cinema La Placita Schedule

2007-06-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know a few people have been waiting for it so here's the schedule (remember the Local Couple' Guide to Tucson will have it earlier than this):
7 June Three Days of the Condor
14 June Sabrina
21 June Key Largo
28 June Boys on the Side

The last was filmed in Tucson. See you there!

The Loft Cinema

2007-05-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to see the worst movie ever filmed: Plan 9 from Outer Space at The Loft Cinema. Now, I won't really describe the plot of Plan 9, you can find that information elsewhere, but let me tell you it was great! I feel sorry for those people that try to watch this movie on a DVD at home. It must be seen on the big screen with a large audience. Imagine cheering as Vampira enters the first set, chuckles at the cardboard yokes during the cockpit scenes, and huge laughter at the bad dialog (of which Plan 9 has in abundance). Great, just great! And if that weren't enough, you can get yourself a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon to have along with the movie.

Now, could you expect a chain theatre to show Plan 9? Of course not, they wouldn't get much of an audience , and besides, it doesn't fit in with the corporate line. Fortunately, here in Tucson we don't follow the corporate line and have a couple of independent theatres, of which The Loft is one. So, if you like to have fun at movies, try the Loft. You'll support someplace local, and have fun.

For all those that think that it is good enough to watch movies at home on the flat panel TV, you are wrong, so wrong. Movie going is a communal activity, a chance to cheer along with friends and strangers. A chance to suspend belief along with your neighbors and join in rooting for the hero and booing at the villain. When did we lose this fun night out? I don't know, but it's a real loss.

Local Spirits & Food

2007-05-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

As part of our effort to eat local produce, we've made a couple of changes recently. I've started to buy Nimbus beer (at least for home consumption), and we just recently tried an Arizona made wine (Pinot Gris) from the Dos Cabezas winery. The beer from Nimbus is quite good, while the wine was a bit on the harsh side for me. It seemed like a bit too much alcohol in it, at least for my tastes. If you want to try the local wine, you can check out Plaza Liquor's on Campbell. For Nimbus, well most store's have it. Or go right to the source http://www.nimbusbeer.com/

We also stopped in the Farmer's market at Plaza Palomino (Swan and Grant) yesterday. The Farmer's market is open on Saturday from around 9 (in the summer) or 10 (in the winter) to at least noon. And we bought tomatoes. Good tomatoes. And ate most of them already. Lunch was tomatoes and cucumber (also from the Farmer's market) salad, and quesadillas on fresh tortillas. The tortilla's, too we from the market. Dinner, homemade pizza with mozzarella fresh tomatoes and fresh basil. Mmmm. We are already planning on heading back to the Farmer's market next week.

Hope to see you there.

Author Readings

2007-05-13T09:32:00.000-07:00

This past week, we went to a couple of author readings. The first author nearly everyone knows, Barbara Kingsolver. The second might be a little bit more obscure, Erec Toso, author of Zero at the Bone.

Barbara Kingsolver and her husband Steven Hopp were back in town to promote their new book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I say back, because they used to live here in the Old Pueblo, leaving just a scant 3 years ago. Their new book, is about how they decided to "live local" for a year. Basically, just try to purchase all their food from within the county in which the live. While I haven't read the book, you can be sure that it'll show up as one of our book reviews some time soon. Now, it may sound as though everyone is getting on the bandwagon to "eat local," and that is partly true. However, I happen to know that Barbara Kingsolver has believed in the buy local for quite a number of years. When The Poisonwood Bible came out, she did a reading/signing session, not at one of the major book chains in a mall where you might attract thousands, but instead, the readding and signing was held at Antigone Books, a locally owned bookstore right downtown on Fourth avenue. And the tickets for this event were sold through Antigone's, with the proceeds going to Native Seeds/SEARCH.

The other author, Erec Toso, read from his book the describes his experience of being bitten by a rattlesnake. Right now, I'm about halfway through, and I must say that it is better than I expected from the reading. This book too, will be reviewed in the near future, so I won't go into any great detail, except to say that it is a local (to Tucson) book, so you should really consider purchasing it from UApress. This will help to support books like these, that are important, interesting, well written, and good, but that (presumably) major publishers weren't willing to take a chance on.

That's it for now.

Fox Theatre Summer Movie Schedule

2007-05-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

If anyone's interested (we are), the Fox Theatre has posted the summer movie schedule. While there are only a few movies we would have selected, I'm sure we'll be going to, oh say, a half dozen throughout the summer.

Hope to see you there.

Native Seeds/Search

2007-05-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

A couple of things. Previously, I posted about the Tucson CSA, and how I was starting to look for more local foods. One I've known about for a number of years just came back to my attention: Native Seeds/Search. Several years ago, we had wandered in there store, and now we went back to pick up a couple of things. Specifically, tepary beans. Quite a while ago I had a small amount of tepary beans while visiting the Tohono Nation, and wow were they good. So I looked around a little bit. Not too much, just casually. But with the goal of eating more local produce, I looked in earnest, and Native Seeds/search had them.

So with the weekend loaded with things to do downtown (Tucson Thunder, the Folk Festival, a 4th avenue car show), we made sure to stop in a get a couple of pounds. Now, I'll admit they are more expensive than beans the come from China and are sold at the local Albertson's. But, I wonder if they really are. After all, there is often a *hidden* cost associated with most purchases. The cost of the changing the environment. The additional pollutants for moving beans ahalfway around the world. The cost of not supporting local farmers and businesses. All of these tend to play into the equation. They are just much harder to see, so I guess *hidden* costs is a good term.

Anyway, if you are starting to think that maybe cheapest is not best, you might want to check out Native Seed/Search, too.

Cinema La Placita is Back!

2007-04-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

Cinema La Placita is back. I just got the e-mail today, so the schedule is now up for your perusal. Just click on through.

We'll see you there on Thursday 3 May.

Tucson CSA

2007-04-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Over a couple months to years, I have been getting more and more disgusted with the quality of produce at the grocery store: unripe fruit, crummy selection of vegetables, wilted lettuce, etc. I mean why pay good money for a cantaloupe that is hard as a rock, and flavorless? (That happens to be my latest mistake at the store).

About a month ago, I finished reading An Omnivore's Dilemma, by Micheal Pollan (highly recommended, by the way) and started thinking more and more about buying local, but where? Farmer's Markets didn't match our schedule, looking in stores seemed unlikely. So, I turned to the semi-trusty internet and found the web site for Local Harvest. From there, it was the Tucson CSA (community Supported Agriculture). We stopped in the next Monday, learned a bit more, tried it out for a few weeks, and now we are hooked!

The quality of the food is great! I like that we are getting new vegetables that we might never have bought at the grocer's: beets, turnips, leeks; vegetables that we can't get at the store: dandelion greens, I'itoi onions, rainbow chard; and fruit: grapefruit and oranges. All of it picked that day (or maybe the day before) when it's ripe.

So how's it work? Simple, if you want to try it, stop in some Monday evening, talk to them, and you might be able to pick up a share right then and there. For $18 you'll get about a bag full of produce. Enough that it takes us the entire week to eat it all, and we're vegetarians! If you like it, sign up for the next season, where you pre-pay for 13 weeks (at $17/week). Then every Monday eve (or Tuesday morn) stop by the old YMCA (about 5th and Univeristy) and load up a bag to take home. But wait, there's more.

You can also sign up for goat cheese shares where you get a 6oz log of cheese every two weeks (some of the best goat cheese I've had), for $20 (4 logs over 8 weeks). They'll also sell them singly if available. But wait, there's even more.

Often you can find other items too: eggs, honey, things to sample. All of it outstanding. As you can tell, I can't say enough about it.

Now to finish off, I've started looking for other local Tucson foods/drinks/products. So if you know of any, please leave a comment.

Thanks,

Visiting I'itoi

2007-03-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. Now, here in the US, we seem to use it as an excuse to: go shopping, drink to excess, and/or eat corned beef and cabbage. Of course, in Ireland, where St. Patrick's Day begain, it's a bit different. There, St. Patrick's Day is a religious holiday, and has nowhere near the hooplah, where perhaps the devout might climb Crough Patrick, a beautiful conical mountain, in the Irish countryside.

Not having access to Crough Patrick for St. Patrick's day, we went on a hike up a mountain right near Tucson: Baboquiveri peak, with the goal of visiting I'itoi's cave. Now for those that don't know, I'itoi, or Elder Brother, is the creator of the Earth and all the Tohono O'odham people and he watches over the Tohono from a cave up on the sacred mountain of Baboquiveri. Now, I won't relate much more about the creation story, or how I'itoi relates to the Tohono as I would likely mangle it in places, and I get the impression that parts of it don't translate into English very well, anyway.

Now it is not really easy to get to the cave, first you have to head out on the Tohono Nation to Sells, and then a bit south on 19 (Indian route, not Interstate) to a dirt/gravel road that you follow about 12 miles to a picnic area. From there, there is a trail, perhaps a mile long that ends at a small cave, the home of I'itoi. Now when you visit the cave, you are supposed to bring an offering, or, as I've read, you won't be able to find your way out. I would suggest a small offering, perhaps something natural (as was suggested to us), since I'itoi probably doesn't need modern conveniences, and based on the location of his cave I'd say he relishes the beauty of the desert and natural world more than simple man-made items.

While it wasn't exactly what I envisioned (I don't know what I really expected), it was a great little hike, and having the privilege to hike a sacred mountain and visit the cave is something that I'll remember for a long time, and would be more than willing to repeat in the future.

If you want to visit I'itoi, I'd recommend contacting the Baboquiveri Headquarters on the Nation to see if a permit is required, and perhaps get a bit more detail on the location than I've provided here (mainly because it is a sacred place, and I only want to encourage those willing to seek it out).

St. Patrick's Day Party Kickoff

2007-03-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

We went to the kickoff for the St. Patrick's day party at the Fox Theatre this past Friday. Overall, it was good, with two groups: Round the House and Oceans Apart, and, of course Irish Dancers came out on stage for some of the songs. After all, you can't have a concert of Irish music without dancers, now can you.

Only one thing really got in the way of having an excellent evening; our seats were right in front of The Louden's (my name for groups of people that are loud and stupid). Now, at the risk of boring you just a bit, I'll tell you what they did. Not because I think that you would do any of these things, but just so I can vent just a bit.

First, they bring along a small child who kicks the seat in front of them. I run into this in airplanes, and other public places. If the child is very small, it's no big deal, they aren't old enough to know better, but by the time they are 7, or so.... Please, don't be a Louden, teach your child how to be civilized. The others that live in your community will thank you.

Second, they seemed to think that every comment the performers made were meant for them alone. So they responded. Loudly. I mean who can be so stupid as to think that when a performer mentions, well anything really, that they are expecting a loud response from the audience. And when that sole response is coming from directly behind me.... Please, please, don't be a Louden. Realize that you are at a public performance. And that means there are more people there than just you.

Finally, they talked incessantly. Come on. Get a grip you are not in your living room. You are at a venue. People around you didn't come to hear you talk. They came for the performance.

Now, I know that you've run into your share of Louden's, and I'll have to deal with them (apparently often), just don't become one yourself.

Not too much

2007-03-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

OK, I've really slacked off. But given what you pay for this, what do you expect.

Anyway, there's a new "Read all About It" up on the Local couple's site. It went up yesterday, so you might want to check it out if your looking for a good book to read.

On a different topic, if you like classic movies and want to see them at the Fox Theatre in downtown Tucson, you might want to head over to their site. They have a way you can vote for your fifteen favorite movies (from a limited selection, of course). I guess that they tabulate the results and choose the top 15 vote getters for the summer classic series.

And, don't forget the Irish party this Friday.

Upcoming Fox Events

2007-02-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, here a few upcoming events at the Fox downtown. This Friday, Blazing Saddles and two weeks from Friday, Back to the Future. Rest assured that we'll be there for both. And in early March there will be the St. Patrick's Day party with Round the House, a local (very good) Irish band. Should be great fun.

A word of warning if you plan on going: get your tickets early. The last few times we've purchased tickets, it takes FOREVER. It is just unreal. I can't figure out why they can't just spew out tickets like in the old days. You know, push the button and a pre-printed ticket comes out. Two seconds tops. I think the last couple shows had delayed starting from the people trying to purchase a ticket or two (and by delayed, read a half-hour).

But, I guess that's the price you pay for technology that makes it simpler by doing the accounting automatically, someone has to shoulder the burden, and it appears to be us.

Even so, it's worth it to see movies as they were meant to be seen.

Diverse week

2007-01-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

A few diverse things today.

Yesterday, we went down to the Fox Theatre for a showing of The General starring Buster Keaton. Now, I know it's not a recent release. In fact, it is a silent movie. But, with the piano accompaniment, it was great. Quite funny and entertaining, and you can see why some of these movies were so popular in their day, but i think if you give some of them a try, you might really be surprised.

For a complete contrast, the day before we went to see Indian Jones (also at the Fox), and here is a movie that I just don't understand the popularity. I mean, it was ok, but there really isn't much of a story, now is there? The basic premise is: bad guys and good guys try to get something valuable. Bad guys get killed, good guys win. The end. Oh, and put a bunch of special effects in to fluff up the plot a bit. Sorry, that just doesn't cut it.

Finally, for some news you might be able to use: we had just finished reading Micheal Pallans, The Omnivore's Dilemma. If you've read it, you know how it examines the current state of our food supply in the World, and it got me thinking about what should I be doing (it also doesn't help that most stores have the *worst* produce). The upshot is that we've joined Tucson's CSA (community supported agriculture). By joining, each Monday we'll get to stop off on the way home from work and pick up this week's harvest. All of it local, all of it organic. It sound's like a great idea, I hope it works in practice. Perhaps, you could find a similar arrangement in your area. Here's a good place to start looking : Local Harvest.

Sorry I haven't written much lately, but....

Family Arts Festival

2007-01-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Today's the day for the Family Arts Festival, but it's too cold for me to attend. It's not even supposed to get up to 50 degrees today, and tonight it's going to be in the mid-20s. That's too cold. Don't let it stop you from attending the Arts Festival; it's a lot of fun, and they have quite a bit more than art. Think animal encounters, performances, food, perhaps films, food, activities, and, of course, food. It really is a fun day. I'd provide a link, but I'm sure that you can use Google as well as the next person.

Instead, we'll take it easy, being Sunday, read the paper, perhaps do a few errands. Nothing great.

Sorry, I didn't have anything better, but, that's how it goes.

Quiet Night

2007-01-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I really don't have a lot for today, so you get a photo. We happened to see this polar bear one day while downtown and just had to get a photo of him lit up at night. I happen to like the contrast between the neon lights and the Christmas lights.

If you want to see this yourself, well it's on Stone Ave directly across from the police station.

Resolutions

2006-12-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again: the day when we make resolutions, the day when we look back on the year that was, the day when we make plans for the new year.

Now I haven't really thought of any New Year's Resolutions. It's not because there isn't any room for improvement. There is. Trust me. But, it just seems so artificial. Make stunning resolutions, such as lose fifty pounds, on New Year's Eve, only to find out you can't (or won't keep them). Instead, why not chose small resolutions, that only have to last for a short time, a week say. For example, let's say you want to eat healthier. Perhaps you resolution would be to eat an extra piece of fruit a day, and you would do so for a week. That's a resolution that everyone could achieve. Just a thought.

Let's talk a bit about some Tucson activities coming up. On the 6th of January the Fox Theatre will be showing The Wizard of Oz. Should be fun, and we'll be there. On the 14th, it's the family arts festival in the downtown area. I'm not sure we'll make it this year, but we have gone in the past and had a good time. The following weekend is Dillinger Days, also downtown. We didn't go last year, but who knows, maybe this year. It could be fun.

I guess that one resolution that I'll try to make, and that you might want to consider, is to support your community more by going to more of these events, and patronizing local business. After all, it's you community, and you make it what it is.

Happy New Year!

PS A new read all about it is available right here.

Christmas Eve

2006-12-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow is Christmas.

Lately, it has been a bit troublesome to drive near the malls. Everyone out trying to get the perfect gift, I suppose. In many respects, I don't see why. Most people have way too much "stuff" as it is. Do they really need the combination egg poacher/toaster? What about the revolving liquor dispenser? Most likely, these gifts and others will be relegated to the back of a closet somewhere, never to see the light of day after New Years.

I tend to think that we could all step back and celebrate in a better way. Give a little more from ourselves. Perhaps, try to be a bit nicer, a bit kinder, a bit more understanding and tolerant of each other. More generous to strangers. Not necessarily monetarily, but perhaps something simpler. Offer a cheery greeting of hello. Hold the door open for them. Be polite. Say Please. Say Thank You. A lot. Realize just how many people help you all year long. People that bring your food to the table. People that take away your trash. People that bring your mail, provide water to your house, offer to help you find something in the store. People that fix your car. Plow your streets.

You might say these people are paid for what they do. True. But aren't you thankful that your street is plowed? You're car runs? Trash isn't stacking up outside your house? If so, offer a simple "Thanks." It'll cost you nothing, but you might be surprised by what you get in return.

So with that, I say "Thanks" to you. Have a Merry Christmas.

Downtown Saturday

2006-12-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm going to tell you about last Saturday. I'm sure that you'd like to hear about a few things that you can do in the near future. Alas, that is not to be.

Saturday was an action packed day in the downtown Tucson environs. We had planned on heading downtown for the walking tour of the warehouse district. But then at the last minute we added on a tour of the Temple of Music and Art, a stroll through the 4th Avenue fair, watching the Festival of Lights parade, and a movie. Oh and lunch and dinner thrown in, too.

The tour of the warehouse district was pretty good. We wandered streets that we've wandered before, but this time with a guide who presented a bit of the history. And best of all, we stopped in a few of the warehouses to see how they were being used today. One, on Sixth Ave, is an upscale furniture shop, another -- the old Packard dealership -- is an art gallery with some really nice pieces for sale, and yet another is a combination art gallery and performance venue. Just a lot of fun, and our tour guide, Ruth, was just delightful and full of the infectious type of enthusiasm. Highly recommended for a Saturday when you are looking for a nice morning stroll. You can join in by meeting in the Hotel Congress on the second Saturday of the month during the winter. It'll set you back a fiver.

After that tour was over, we hustled it down to the Temple of Music and Art for the free behind-the-scenes tour. I personally didn't find this as interesting, but it was a well done tour, you learn about the building, how it started, get a peek behind the stage, in the costume shop, and so on. Altogether, it's a little over an hour, and a nice introduction to some history here in Tucson. Join in by being at the Temple of Museum and Art at 11:30 on the second Saturday of the month.

Then it was going on one, so we headed over to the 4th avenue street fair to find some lunch. We stopped at Bison Witches, and ordered up what we thought would be a light lunch -- a veggie sandwich. It was huge. About as big as you head. Maybe bigger. And quite good. Highly recommended if you're looking for a sandwich that'll last days.

Afterwards we wandered around the stalls, and finding it exceedingly crowded, wandered off to Old town Artisans. We we specifically looking for Christmas cards that had a Tucson theme. Didn't find any, so wandered to the Tucson Museum of Art to check their gift shop. Nope, not here either. By then it started to get a bit chilly, so back to the car to pick up a jacket. Wander back to the Library for the tree lighting, and then off to dinner. Caffe Milano. Great as always. Best Italian food here in Tucson. No kidding.

While eating on the small patio the festival of lights started, and after finishing up dinner we wandered a bit closer. It was as though it were put on by a small town with a million inhabitants. Homemade floats. Cars for local clubs. marchers that appeared to be a family reunion that happened to join in. It was an almost anything goes type atmosphere. The Dodge Charger club had two cars, well three really, as the lead car was a remote control Dodge Charger about a foot long with a small tree mounted on top. Later there was the SWAT team armored vehicle dressed in lights. I kid you not. An APC covered in Christmas lights roaring around the corners. Quite a number of old police, fire, and ambulance vehicles, and perhaps best of all, was the hook and ladder truck that did donuts at nearly every intersection. Wow. What fun.

About 7:30, we headed off to the Fox Theatre for a showing of It's a Wonderful Life. Now, I know everyone has seen this movie, but on the big screen? It really capped off a great day in the Old Pueblo.

Visiting Kartchner Caverns

2006-12-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

Today, a couple of things.

First, a new Read All About It is up on our web site. Now I wouldn't want you to have to click too much, so I've provided a link.

Second, we went down to Kartchner Caverns over the weekend. Three words: It is good!

While there we did both tours, the Big Room tour in the morning, followed by a picnic lunch on the ground, complete with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Then a quick stroll around the Foothills path, which at 2.5 miles was a good follow up to lunch. We did have to hoof it a bit. We had only planned about an hour for the entire walk, thinking it was on pretty much level ground. Alas, no, but it wasn't that strenuous, although upon arrive back at the Discovery Center, it turns out that the recommend over two hours. Who knew?

In the afternoon, we went on the Throne Room Tour. This was even better! In fact, we were both really glad that we had done them in the order that we did. I think the other way around would have left us dissappointed with the Big Room tour. This way, we had a great time in each.

If you haven't been there yet, make sure to go. It is a bit pricey, but I think it's well worth it.

Armory Park tour

2006-11-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I hope you had a good Thanksgiving.

This past weekend we went on a small walking tour of Armory Park. Put on by the Southern Arizona Railroad Museum volunteers, these tours are giving every fourth Saturday throughout the winter -- watch the paper for more information. (On the second Saturday, a walking tour of the Warehouse district is conducted).

Not knowing what to expect, we met in the Lobby of the Hotel Congress and handed over the $10 that would cover us both. Stepping out back we learned how and when the railroad came into Tucson, what grew up in the vicinity of the depot, and then moved into Armory park proper. Now we've never really explored Armory park, so this was a good introduction. We wandered by a number of old houses, and around to Armory Park itself. Learned a little about the Carnegie Library (now the children's museum), and some of the lives of the early settlers. Finally we finished up beside the steam engine behind the railroad depot. All together we spent about 2 hours, and walked maybe 2 miles (but probably closer to 1), and had a good time.

The presentation by the leader was good, the information was interesting, and had a few humorous anecdotes thrown in. Over all, I'd recommend it as a nice way to spend an early Saturday morning. I know we'll head on down for the warehouse tour.

A teddy bear wrapped in a blanket.

2006-11-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went out for dinner at one of downtown Tucson's hotspots, Caffe Milano. We had been planing this for a week or so, partly because the choir that the other half is in was performing at St. Agustin cathedral, and partly because it was an excuse to get some of the best Italian food in Tucson.

The service seemed long, with the homily talking of how we should help those in need. Help the homeless, clothe the naked, and feed the hungry. Wonderful ideals, but what bothered me was that there was nothing concrete, not a single example of how the church helps. Or even anyone associated with the church helping in this difficult problem.

The service finally finished and we headed on our way to dinner. On the way there, we passed a woman standing on the corner, I'm not sure the other half saw her, but we've seen her there several times before. She's obviously one of Tucson's homeless. We went on to dinner, and the food was wonderful, as always. Caffe Milano was quite crowded and doing great business. We were dressed up and sitting by the window watching the passing scene. And right about the time desert showed up, the woman who we saw earlier passed by. She was just walking, not bothering anyone. Not asking for anything. Just walking, presumably to someplace where she could sleep for the night. She was carrying something, however. Carefully wrapped in her arms was a teddy bear, and the teddy bear was wrapped in a blanket to keep out the cold.

Making things easy

2006-11-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Let's see what photo I can drag up today.

Funny, but you'd think it'd be easy, but instead it's an exercise in semi-complexity. First start up Kodak DifficultShare, which takes a couple of minutes to start up. Why it takes 2 minutes, when all I want to do is look at a few photos is beyond me. Then root through the folders. Find one I like. Edit it. Save as "best for web" so I don't spend 10 minutes in the uploading stage. And there you have it. Good thing I didn't want to do anything tricky.

I guess it shows you how difficult it is to make something easy. It's so difficult that recently MIT has added a Department of Simplicity, or something to that effect, after a professor couldn't find a cell phone that was understandable. This is something I can understand. While I don't have a cell phone, if I were to get one, I'd like one that makes and receives calls. Period. No need for different ring tones -- it's not a radio. No need for different volumes of rings -- just turn it off when you're someplace where you don't want to disturb others. You get the idea.

Instead of simplicity, gadgets today are loaded down with dozens of usless and unused features. For example, our clothes washer has half a dozen dials and, I don't know, perhaps 5 wash cycles. Why? We use the same cycle all the time (and I suspect you do too), and then we change the temperature of the water. That's it. Everything else is fluff.

Our oven is the same way, you can program it to bake by time and temperature. We just turn it on. Put the food in. Take it out when it's done. Turn it off.

Microwave? you can set the power in 10% increments, turn on and off the turntable, and who knows what else. We use it to make popcorn, reheat leftovers, and occasionally use the timer. W could get by with an on button that stays on for 5 minutes. I'm willing to bet that you could too. So why the drive to complexity? It's obvious, really. With a microchip, it's easy to add a feature, and it might be one the competition doesn't have. Maybe you'll never use the week-long timer on the refrigerator, but who knows. (well, secretly you know it's fluff, but it sounds good, and when you compare your microwave with the Jones' next door, well....)

So all that came from trying to find a simple photo to post. Consider it an AZ Found.

The Chieftains

2006-11-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

The link really goes to their "official site." I didn't check extensively before I made the link so if it has lots of pop-ups, etc., sorry.

Anyway, they are coming to Tucson in January; we just purchased our tickets and are already excited about seeing them once again. They have some of the best concerts going, presumably because they just have fun while up on stage and it really shows.

One of the best things is that they occasionally will get some locals up on stage to join them for the last set. I've suggested to my better half, that she brush up on her Gaelic. You know, just in case. But having seen and heard a bit of Gaelic, she demurred. Not that I blame her. Once, while in Ireland, we heard a commercial on channel 4. It sounded exactly like:

"Martian, martian, martian, martian, martian, martian, Northern Exposure, martian, martian, martian, martian, martian, martian, tee gee car"

(The "tee gee car" part refers to channel four; it's the only thing I can say in Gaelic. Roughly the same as any language other than English)

Oh, if you want to go, get tickets from UAPresents.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

2006-11-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

With the first of the month, that means a new Read All About It, and this month is a real winner. By Bill Bryson, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is a wonderful, funny, and at sometime introspective of his life growing up in the 1950s, and how America has changed over the years. While it is easy to look back in time through the rose colored glasses, and see a time that didn't really exist, some of it does seem to be true: the idea that it was simpler and kids were treated more leniently in many respects (for example, allowed to play pretty much anywhere).

I think that anyone that was born during the so-called baby boom (as I was, but just barely), will see parts of their childhood reflected in this memoir, and will look back with a twinge of nostalgia. But, as the final chapter makes clear, those days are gone. They will not return, so you best be looking forward.

Pick up a copy, you'll like it

Photos of downtown Tucson

2006-11-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

Just a picture that I happen to like and thought that I'd share it. This is a scene from downtown Tucson, I won't give away any more than that.

I just happen to like the juxtaposition between the blank wall, the ornate fascia, and the light pole. I cropped it down a bit, to eliminate the shadows and the nearby windows, but perhaps they should have stayed.So I've provided the original to let you decide.

Halloween

2006-11-05T09:35:00.000-07:00

Halloween has come and gone. And this year, much to our surprise, we had very few trick-or-treaters. When we first moved in to our neighborhood, we had a huge number . I think the first year, we went through 12 bags of candy, and I had to run out and buy a few more to finish off the night.

This year, we bought about 8 bags of candy and only had about 20 goblins, ghouls, and witches show up. Quite disappointing. I guess I find it disappointing since I remember Halloween with such great fondness. It was the time to wander the streets at night, collect candy, and try to scare each other.

Yes, there were some years when trick-or-treating was in the daytime, which was quite odd to wander the streets in the middle of the afternoon. But most times the following year would be at night, and all would be right. The crunching of the crisp fallen leaves as we walked down the sidewalks; sometimes we'd shuffle our feet to make the sound louder. The crisp night air, signaling the coming of winter, and with it Thanksgiving and Christmas, and snow, and the cold winter winds, the early setting of the sun, and the cold treks to and from school.

I can remember always having to bring home the candy so an adult could check it over, and then carefully sorting it on the living room floor. Selecting the favorites as the ones to eat first, and leaving the "bad" candy for last. This could take the better part of an hour, but it was always worth it to know that you had 23 "sixlets" and 12 butterfingers (or whatever). Today, I really don't remember the eating of the candy; as a child, that seemed like the highlight, but today, looking back, it wasn't the candy at all that was important. It was the excitement that went with making the costumes, the wandering on streets we didn't know, and just the sounds and sights of the evening when ghosts walked the earth.

Hope you had a good Halloween,

Raptor Free Flight

2006-11-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

The weekend is approaching fast, and with this weekend is the start of the raptor free flight at ASDM. If you haven't seen this, you should make sure to go at least one time this winter.

Generally, there are two shows a day, the one in the morning has raptors or other birds of prey that tend to be solitary hunters, such as a barn owl, a peregrine falcon, or even a road runner. In the afternoon it's generally a family of Harris' hawks. In both cases, you get the opportunity to see these birds up close and acting natural. The best is when the Harris' hawks decide to soar. They'll head up and up, until they are just barely visible as a speck in the sky, and then a trainer will raise their arm (a signal that they have food), and the bird will stoop. Dropping like a rock at what must be over a hundred miles an hour (I think falcons have been clocked at 200 miles an hour), and skim just above the audience's heads to land gently on the trainer's arm. Is is awesome (in the real sense of the word, not the cheapened sense that is widely used).

We'll be there, you can be sure.

Tucson: A world class city

2006-10-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with one of my sisters. She had asked where I planned to move to, once I retire. I stated that I don't plan on moving, but plan on staying right here in Tucson. For some reason, she thought I was joking, and it took several minutes for me to convince her that I was absolutely serious. Now, you may be asking why, too. And if you read on, I'll tell you.

Last night we went shopping. First stop was the PetSmart to get our cat some essentials (cat litter), and some non-essentials (a twelve pack of furry mice). Then on to Trader Joe's to get a few essentials and non-essetials for us. And it was in the parking lot that it hit me (again) why I want to stay in Tucson. It's the end of October, and I'm wandering around in a t-shirt. And this isn't unusual. In fact, it's quite normal to have highs in the 80s when approaching November. So weather plays a big part in it. I *know* I could plan a bar-b-que a year in advance, and not have it rained out. Next year-fourth of july cookout? No problem, what shall we have?

The weather here is indeed great, but there is another reason, too. And it might just surprise you. On Thursday, we went to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, El Minuto, and had a great meal. But, the best part is that almost all the staff are bilingual. You hear them speak in Spanish to each other and to guests. It really makes it seem like a true Mexican restaurant, and provides that worldly atmosphere. So, yes, I like that we have such a large population of immigrants. It means Tucson is alive and moving forward. That people want to build a better life here. With that immigration comes the wonderful food, music, and traditions that we can all enjoy. I think back to when I was a child: Could I have gotten an enchilada? a chille rellano? corn chips and salsa? Nope, no way, and very unlikely. Now all of these are common place (and quite tasty). Isn't that indeed an improvement?

Now this doesn't hapen with just the Hispanic culture. A Italian restaurant we really like (I mean really, really, like), Caffe Milano, is operated by a couple from Milan. It really adds to the meal, the whole dining experience, when the owner greets you in Italian, treats you as one of a great big Italian family, and serves up the best Italian food I've found in Tucson.

I sould say similar things about Maya Quetzal, a Guatamalan restaurant. Or Thai, or Chinese, or, well, you get the idea.

So yes, I do plan on staying in Tucson, for Tucson is a world-class city in the best sense, and I couldn't imagine finding the same blending of cultures elsewhere.

Cinema La Placita's last movie...

2006-10-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

... Of the year. Tomorrow, it's Arsenic and Old Lace and if you haven't seen it, let me tell you it is pretty funny. Not funny in a vulgarway as many of today's "comedies" are. But instead in the way that requires a script. And some effort. And acting ability. It's altogether quite a fun movie. Make sure to come on down for it.

Once the movies are over, we continue with our Thursday night dinner and a movie schedule. We stop at the libray to select a DVD, then stop in at our favorite watering hole for Happy Hour, then dinner, and then home to watch the movie. I'm really looking forward to the start of that next week, because we plan on going to one of my favorite restaurants: Maya Quetzal. They just have the best food.

For those that don't know, Maya Quetzal is on 4th ave, right across from that italian place that's been around for years, and whose name escapes me at the moment -- no matter, because I don't really like their food that much anyway. But MQ is a treat. A separate vegetarian section. Chile Rellanos stuffed with potatoes and walnuts, cheese rice, black beans instead of the more common refried beans (they are a Guatamalan restaurant, not Mexican). Oh, it is so good. I am always amazed that they are not turning people away for lack of space. But, I guess some people just want the mediorce food at places like Dead Lobster.

Anyway, enough rambling, see you tomorrow night at the movies. And bring a jacket.

Kartchner Caverns

2006-10-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

Today, I made reservations for the Kartchner caverns cave tour. First, I used their website. In all honesty this has to be one of the worst websites for purchasing anything. Tickets time out after 10 minutes (there is up to a 3 minute wait while tickets are secured, and a five minute wait for purchasing), and there is a clock ticking down to remind you. Sometimes the tickets you select can't be secured the first time, but you can secure them the second. If you want to continue shopping, you go back to the home page. The first time it wouldn't take my order. The second time it couldn't calculate the price correctly. (And since I rushed to avoid the 10 minute time out, I selected the wrong dates). Altogether, it was 30 minutes wasted.

With Mea Culpa on my mind, I called the reservation line. They fixed me up in 5 minutes. Correct dates, correct billing, correct everything. In talking with them, they say they get a lot of calls like mine, and that they used to keep a list of complaints, sending them to Phoenix to see if they could get it to work better. No such luck. They suggested that everyone just call for tickets, because a significant fraction have to call afterwards anyway.

I hope it'll be good, and I'll let you know.

Another picture

2006-10-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Fall is definately approaching. We found that out for sure last Thursday when we went downtown for the Thursday night movies (As an aside, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre has the famous lines about badges--almost always recited incorrectly as "we don't need no stinking badges!") and were quite chilly by the end of the evening. We shivered a bit, but we survived, and had a great time.

That's perhaps the most surprising thing about the weather in the desert. The difference between the high for the day and the low at night can easily by 40 degrees. So it might be 80-85 degrees during the middle of the afternoon, and 50 degrees by10pm, making you wish you had brought something warmer.

To finish up, I'll provide a picture. For those that don't go into the Barrio Viejo, this is just one of the many things that you are missing. For those that do, you know about all the other iron desert creatures that abound on this building, including a bobcat, spider, rabbit, and many more. And for those that want to see for themselves, just take a short walk down Cushing Street southe of TCC.

I'll keep this short

2006-10-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrows movie at Cinema La Placita will be The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

See you there!

Just a Picture...

2006-10-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

... I happen to like. If you want, consider it another AZ Found, although I wouldn't put it in that catagory. To keep the mystery, all I say is that it is in Tucson at a place that is visited by quite a number of people, perhaps even you. Maybe you missed it. Maybe you saw it but didn't give it a second thought. When I saw it, I liked it. I liked the way the shadow hit the ground, the way that everything became clear in the late morning light, that someone had the creativity to turn a bicycle rack into this.

Yesterday, we went down to Tucson Meet Yourself. It didn't seem quite as big as last year, but it was good anyway. As always, lots of vendors selling food (some was quite good, others a bit disappointing), performances, for the most part, were very good. If you haven't been to Tucson Meet Yourself, you should try it. It's been an annual event for 33 years and is just a fun way to spend the day, and the weather couldn't be better. And if you get bored, you could follow the Presido trail walking tour (you'll see the turquoise line painted around), or even follow The Local Couple's Downtown walk.

Tucson Meet Yourself

2006-10-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

It has started to cool off a bit here in Tucson. Daytime highs are only reaching into the 80's which is realy nice, and in the morning it's a decidely chilly 60 (or so). But that means we can start having the windows open at night and leaving the AC off.

Now tomorrow night is Cinema La Placita, of course, and with the cooler weather starting up, I'm considering bringing a jacket to work so I'll have it tomorrow evening. Tomorrow's movie is a good one: Twelve Angry Men. This will be the third time this year that they've tried to show it. The other two times it was rained out.

And in case you don't know it, October is the last month for the free movies so stop on by and enjoy.

On another topic, don't forget that this weekend is Tucson Meet Yourself. It's a great opportunity to head on downtown, learn about the cultures that call Tucson home, and get some good food while you're at it. There's craft demonstrations, music, perfomances, perhaps a car show, and food booths. All is free (except the food). We're going.

A New Read All About It

2006-10-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

A new Read All About It went up on our site today. I'd tell you what it is, but the book itself has been banned here in the United States. Fortunately for you, we are willing to review it anyway, but, at most, we'll provide the link to the review. Just click on the title (If the Blogger beta is working -- at least until the link is surpressed).

And no, I'm not kidding about this particular book being banned here in the United States.

I wish I were.

Godzilla

2006-10-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

A while back we stopped in the East Arizona Museum & Historcal Society over in Graham County. It's in a small town over there, you can easily find out exactly where it is on the web.

Like most small town museums, this one has quite a number of artifacts that are important to many of the locals, but not too interesting to outsiders. The pictures of early settlers captioned, "Mr. Joseph Smith & Edith Smith." without any clue as to why they were important in the area. From the photos they could have been anyone from the local gang of cattle rustlers to the first mayor & wife of the town.

But I really liked this museum in particular. Partly because of the wide variety of artifacts, ranging from achealogical artifacts to sewing machines to stock items left when the drugstore closed. And best of all, off in the mineral collection was this guy. A small Godzilla.

Now I ask, who couldn't like a museum that has a small Godzilla amongst the minerals (they also had a small plastic dinosaur collection, too)? This is what museums should be, filled with things you might not expect, and of course fun.

If you get the chance, find your way over to this museum. It's worth a stop in.

Sunset

2006-10-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

There's no particular meaning to the sunset picture. I took it several years ago, and I really don't think it's all that good. I just thought it'd be nice to have a picture for tonight.

Today our bobcat came back on through. He wandered slowly through the back yard, and up into the front where he half-heartedly tried to catch a rabbit. The rabbit ran off and hid, and the bobcat wandered across the street, and through the neighbors yard.

Sonora, our cat, was all puffed up and ran from window to window, trying to get a better view. If the bobcat noticed her, he didn't pay any attention to her hopping all around.

The best is when she stands up on her hind legs to look out the window. It looks as though she's wearing baggy pajamas, an dit always reminds me of artwork by Louis Wain.

What? you never seen work by Louis Wain? why google him right now. I think you'll enjoy it.

Tomorrow is movie night at Cinema La Placita: Some Like it Hot. If you go, have some free popcorn on us.