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What’s New in Tucson / February 2007
New Tucson Air Service—Just when you thought it couldn’t get any easier to get to Tucson, ExpressJet Airlines added daily nonstop flights from Tucson International Airport (TIA) to five more destinations. Beginning in April, the new flights will consist of daily nonstop service to Austin, Texas; Kansas City, MO; and Ontario and Sacramento, Calif. A route to San Antonio, Texas will be added in mid-summer, with more destinations possible. The five cities represent key markets for both conferences and leisure travel in Tucson. With the new ExpressJet routes, TIA’s service will include 24 nonstop destinations, more than 80 daily departures, with roughly 7,500 available seats. ExpressJet, a regional provider for Continental Airlines, is one of the country’s largest regional airlines, and one of Fortune Magazine’s “Most Admired Airlines.” Visit www.tucsonairport.org for more information and www.airtucson.com to search for the best airfare.
Tucson Ranked 10th Healthiest City—Tucson ranks tenth on a new list of the top 20 healthiest cities in the U.S. The "Cooking Light 20 Best Cities" list appears in the "Enlightened Traveler" column in Cooking Light magazine's January/February issue. The list honors the top 10 American cities that best reflect the magazine's mission to "Eat Smart, Be Fit, and Live Well." The top cities were chosen for their healthy lifestyles and cuisines, including the residents’ access to nutritious food, and opportunities for maintaining optimum physical health and well-being. Tucson was noted for its innovative restaurants, vibrant farmer’s markets, abundant green space and parkland, and exercise options, among other factors. Visit the magazine’s website at www.cookinglight.com.
H.O.G. Rally Thunders into Tucson—Throughout the weekend of May 3-6, over 2,000 Harley Owner Group (H.O.G) chapter members will gather in the streets of Downtown Tucson to reconnect, raise money for charity, and show off their motorcycles and riding skill. Rally festivities include group rides to area attractions, a charity ride, “bike games”, blues and rock concerts, and a parade through Downtown Tucson led by our very own Mayor Walkup. Locals and visitors alike are invited and welcome to join in the fun. Visit www.azstatehogrally.com for more information.
The Land before Superhighways—Can you envision what life was like before fast cars and superhighways? A uniquely Tucson, mid-March event will offer visitors the opportunity to peek into the past at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum. Tucson will commemorate the 127th anniversary of the arrival of the railroad in the Old Pueblo, with a free public ceremony, Tuesday, March 20, at 11 a.m., in front of historic Locomotive #1673, at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, 400 N. Toole Ave., Tucson, 85701. Contact: (520) 623-2223.
Spring Arts Festival–The Greater Oro Valley Arts Council and Comcast present the 13th annual Oro Valley Festival of the Arts, Saturday and Sunday, April 14-15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., at Canada del Oro Riverfront Park. The free event features 75 juried-artists booths, live performances, children’s activities, such as an instrument petting zoo, face painting, and balloon art, with a variety of delicious food vendors. For more information, go to www.govac.org.
Viva Mariachi—Mariachi musicians and folklorico dancers from throughout the Western Hemisphere will gather in Tucson to learn and perform during the 25th Tucson International Mariachi Conference, April 23-26. For its silver anniversary, the award-winning Tucson conference will host several stars of the genre, including Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Mariachi Cobre, Mariachi Mujer 2000, and Tucson’s own Los Changuitos Feos, to name a few. Tucson is one of the premiere showcases for mariachi music and its characteristic soulful singing, passionate strumming, ornate costuming, and lively dancing. Following educational workshops, public performances by both student and professional mariachi groups will take place at Tucson Convention Center Arena, Tucson Music Hall, St. Augustine Cathedral, and DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park. Tickets are available now by calling (520) 838-3908, or visiting www.TucsonMariachi.org.
Cowboy Cuisine—Tucson is home to the Southwest’s best steak dinner—just ask anyone who has eaten at these traditional prime rib-and-steak houses. Li’l Abners Steakhouse (744-2800) is a cowboy cuisine landmark that has, for many years, stuck to the restaurant’s strong suit: simple mesquite-grilled steaks, complemented by weekend country-western entertainment. Pinnacle Peak (296-0911), with its casual no-ties-allowed atmosphere, is home of the world-famous cowboy steak. El Corral (299-6092) has been serving its legendary prime rib and other true flavors of the Old West at the same rustic location for more than 60 years. McMahon’s Prime Steakhouse (327-7463), a relative newcomer, prepares its exquisite filet mignon with Portobello mushrooms, garlic, and aged Romano cheese, and its New York sirloin with garlic, and cracked black pepper with live piano music in the background. A meal at one of these establishments is a must during Rodeo Week in Tucson, February 17-25.
Creepy Crawly Good Times—Think bugs. Really big bugs. True-to-life insects painted 30 to 200 times their actual size. These are America’s largest hand-painted scientific illustrations and they can be found Feb 3 – Apr 22, 2007 at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Jessa Huebing-Reitinger is a performance artist who paints enormous portraits of individual insects that inhabit planet Earth – while you watch. She works on a stage looking at actual insects under the microscope and transforming them into dramatic wall-sized oil paintings on canvas. While the artist paints on canvas, her husband James paints insect “tattoos” on children and encourages them to talk about their own insect discoveries. This interactive experience delights children and adults alike. The Project InSECT exhibition is open daily at the Desert Museum’s Ironwood Gallery. Jessa Huebing-Reitinger is on stage and painting Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Desert Museum also offers a webcam so anyone can watch the process and progress of the art online at www.desertmuseum.org.
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