What’s New in Tucson
September 2007
An Arizona Odyssey—The Arizona Odyssey Relay Run Adventure makes its Tucson debut, Friday and Saturday, October 12–13. The 195-mile, 24-hour relay run is geared to teams of competitive and recreational runners of all skill levels. Teams are made up of 12 runners, with each participant running three- to eight-mile segments of the race. The event starts and finishes at Rillito Park Racetrack (southeast corner of First Avenue and River Road) and covers a beautiful and challenging course that weaves through Saguaro National Park West and East, Sabino Canyon, Mission San Xavier del Bac and other Southern Arizona landmarks. Registration closes September 15. For more information, visit http://www.arizonaodyssey.com/.
Tucson’s Small World—An array of ethnic foods, prepared by Tucson cultural groups and professional chefs, will be sold at more than 30 booths during the Tucson Meet Yourself festival, October 12-14. A favorite of local food-lovers, this free festival also features a lively mix of music, singing, dancing, art demonstrations, and special events performed by local ethnic and folk groups. In 1974, internationally recognized folklorist and author, Jim Griffith founded the event. It takes place at El Presidio Park, downtown between the Old County Courthouse and Tucson City Hall. Photos and other information are at the festival website: http://www.tucsonmeetyourself.org/.
Greenhouse Butterflies—For people living in tropical forests, butterfly farming offers a way to make a living without cutting down trees. That’s why tropical butterfly exhibits are helping support global sustainable conservation efforts. The Tucson Botanical Gardens presents its annual butterfly exhibit, Butterfly Magic at the Gardens, October 16–March 31. The exhibit will showcase more than 100 different species of live, colorful butterflies from Australia, Asia, Africa, and the tropical Americas. Visitors can walk through a natural free-flight greenhouse and visit a public viewing room for an up-close look at butterflies wriggling out of their chrysalides. For more information, call (520) 326-9686, email info@tucsonbotanical.org, or visit http://www.tucsonbotanical.org/.
Check Out Pima County Sports History—This museum for sports fans covers 90 years of Pima County sports history and honors world champions and local legends. Inside are varied displays, trophies, autographed memorabilia, newspaper clippings, old photographs, and framed pictures of the current 244 Hall of Famers. Every year 10-12 new inductees are added from a pool of amateur and professional athletes, coaches, contributors, and journalists who have made a major impact on the local sports scene. Dozens of sports are represented: baseball, football, tennis, golf, gymnastics, swimming, bicycling, rodeo, auto racing, and more. One room focuses on baseball, with displays devoted to local champions like Tom Pagnozzi, a former Tucson High School star who played for the St. Louis Cardinals; Eddie Leon, a college baseball All American at the University of Arizona before he played for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox; and Ed Vosberg, a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 10-year career with the likes of the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, and Montreal Expos in the National League, and the Oakland A's and Texas Rangers in the American League. The non-profit, all-volunteer museum is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Downtown Tucson at La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave., Suite 6120. For more information, call (520) 406-0742.
2007 Hall of Famers—The Pima County Sports Hall of Fame (PCSHF) will host its 18th annual induction banquet, Sunday, Oct. 21, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Holiday Inn Palo Verde. The ceremony honors the 12 inductees of the PCSHF Class of 2007 (composed of either athletes, coaches, officials, or contributors). Tickets are $40 each at the PCSHF museum, La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave., Ste. 6120. For details, call Marilyn Hensley at (520) 747-7643.
Masters of Mexican Cinema—The Puro Mexicano: Tucson Film Festival returns to town for the third year in a row, November 2-8. This year’s festival starts at the Fox Tucson Theatre with a program of award-winning Mexican and Mexican-American short films; it continues at The Loft Cinema with a weeklong retrospective of works by Gabriel Figueroa (1907-1997), one of the world’s most important cinematographers, whose camera work defined the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. The festival was created in Tucson and showcases the best in Mexican and Mexican-American cinema. Festival volunteers are needed; for more information, call Peggy Johnson at The Loft, (520) 322-5638, or go to http://www.tucsonfilmfestival.org/.
Secrets of the Creators—Tucson’s fall Open Studio Tour is a chance to visit artists in their studios and talk with them about the creative process. What inspires them? What is their workspace like? See for yourself Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10–11, noon to 5 p.m. More than 100 emerging and established artists will open their studios to share works in progress. Visit historic warehouses, shared studios, homes, backyards, garages, and other creative spaces. Talk with the people who weld metal, blow glass, model clay, weave homegrown wool, mold paper, and paint murals. Information on this free, self-guided, self-paced tour of artists throughout Pima County is available through Tucson-Pima Arts Council: http://www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org/.
History Set in Stone: A new exhibit explores Arizona’s gem and mineral trade and how it shaped the character of the American Southwest. “Set in Stone: 2,000 Years of Gem and Mineral Trade in the Southwest” opens December 21 at Arizona State Museum (just weeks before the 2008 Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase). Displays will include examples of jewelry created by contemporary American Indian artisans as well as ornaments crafted in prehistoric periods. Arizona State Museum is located on the campus of the University of Arizona, and is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the American Southwest. For more information, call (520) 621-6302, or visit http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/.
Museum of the Desert People— The new Tohono O’odham Nation Cultural Center and Museum has an extensive collection of basketry, pottery, and historical and contemporary photos. The museum’s store offers exclusive items such as one-of-a-kind works by Tohono O’odham artists, clothing imprinted with images by celebrated painter Mike Chiago, handmade baskets and jewelry, traditional foods such as saguaro syrup, Waila band CDs, and limited edition Pendleton blankets with Tohono O’odham basketry designs. The 38,000-square-foot, $15.2 million facility opened in June 2007, 60 miles southwest of Tucson in the shadow of the tribe’s sacred Baboquivari Peak. For more information, call the museum at (520) 383-0201; or media contact, Mary Paganelli at (520) 235-4376.
What's New —The Major Events calendar at visitTucson.org has a variety of events to entertain and inform both visitors and residents alike. See “Upcoming Events” at the homepage, or click here http://www.visittucson.org/events.
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