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What's New in Tucson
November 2007
Tucson's Puttin' on the Ritz - The newest and largest Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Resort and Spa property has broken ground just northwest of Tucson. This development, true to the Ritz Carlton brand name, will become a world-class golf destination. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, a 250-room luxury golf and spa resort will feature two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses, a major clubhouse complex, an internationally televised PGA Tour event, and more. The clubhouse complex and 27 holes of golf are scheduled for completion in late 2008-in time to host the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in February 2009-with an additional nine holes planned for 2010. The Ritz-Carlton brand is known for providing the finest personal service and facilities around the world; the company's other Arizona location is Phoenix.
More Non-stop Air Service - Air service is expanding between Tucson International Airport (TIA) and eight destinations. Here's the schedule: American Airlines' eighth non-stop to Dallas returned September 9. Southwest Airlines began nonstop service to Oakland, Calif., the gateway to San Francisco Bay Area, November 4. ExpressJet Airlines began non-stop service to Omaha, Reno, and Spokane, November 11. Sun Country Airlines will join TIA with twice-weekly non-stop service to Minneapolis, December 16 through April 7. Delta Airlines will begin twice-daily non-stop service to Los Angeles, December 17. United Airlines will resume daily non-stop service to Washington, D.C. Dulles International Airport to accommodate seasonal demand, February 14 through June 2. For the latest information on fares and airline service in Tucson, visit the Tucson Airport Authority's website portal, www.AirTucson.com.
Glowing Holiday Nights - The soft golden glow of luminarias announces the holidays in Tucson. A mix of classic, candle-lit paper bags and modern, electric versions of the traditional Mexican Christmas decoration line walkways and rooftops. Visitors can enjoy these Tucson-style decorations at three special events: Tucson Botanical Gardens' Luminaria Nights includes strolling musicians and a buffet of tamales, empanadas, and hot chocolate, December 7-9. Tohono Chul Park's Holiday Nights display of 500,000 luminarias and lights also features holiday treats and live music, the last two weekends in November. The Village of Tubac's Luminaria Nights, Fiesta de Navidad is a shopping wonderland of boutiques and art galleries, with carolers and refreshments, December 7-8. More information on these and other holiday events is available on the Major Events calendar at www.VisitTucson.org.
10-Day Native American Powwow - Tucson will host a 10-day festival celebrating the cultural contributions of indigenous peoples around the world. The big event on December 28, 2007-January 6, 2008 at Rillito Raceway Park combines two festivals: the New Millennium First People's World Fair & Powwow, or Thunder in the Desert, and the Indian America New Year's Competition Powwow and Craft Market. The lineup includes competitive and social powwows, exhibition and ceremonial dances, drumming contests, art and craftworks exhibits, fashion shows, native food vendors, a midnight friendship round dance, and a sunrise ceremony. In 2004, 187 indigenous nations were represented. Admission is $12 for adults; children eight and under are free. For information, contact the North American Indian Information and Trade Center, (520) 622-4900.
New Year's Jazz Gala - The Tucson Jazz Society will stage a star-studded New Year's Eve Jazz Gala Weekend at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort, December 29-31. The three-day festival is being billed as the "greatest jazz party Tucson has ever experienced." Performances by national and local jazz musicians are scheduled around Friday happy hour, Sunday brunch, and Monday dinner, with a New Year's Eve dance party featuring New York's Yaz Band, starring saxophonist Yasuyuki Takagi. More information, including hotel-and-ticket package prices, is available from the Tucson Jazz Society at (520) 903-1265 or www.tucsonjazz.org.
Slow Food Film Festival - The third annual Tucson Slow Food Film Festival, January 10-13, will be an extended weekend of classic food films, culinary events, and cultural discussions. Screenings of feature films, documentaries, shorts, and animation will be combined with panel discussions about the cuisines and cultures shown on the screen, along with culinary events at participating restaurants. Program highlights include screenings of "Wedding Banquet," with brunch at Vila Thai; "Like Water for Chocolate," with dinner at Miguel's; and "Fried Green Tomatoes," with an organic foods and wine feast at the Ventana Room. Pima Community College Culinary Arts Program Dean, Barry Infuso founded Slow Food Tucson in 1999. For details, visit the program's website, www.slowfoodtucson.org.
Winter Tennis, Anyone? Two youth tennis tournaments are taking advantage of Tucson's winter sunshine. The National Winter Tennis Championships, headquartered at Randolph Tennis Center, is a United States Tennis Association (USTA) sanctioned tennis event on the national junior schedule, open to 12- and 14-year-old boys and girls, December 27-January 1. Details are available from Randolph Center, (520) 791-4896. The Copper Bowl is a top-rated national junior tennis event for boys and girls aged 12 and 14, conducted at the Tucson Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort's 31-court site and other nearby courts. For details, contact Dickinson Sports, (520) 742-2204.
Holocaust Exhibit Begins National Tour - The Tucson Jewish Heritage Center (TJHC) will be the first U.S. city to host the Holocaust remembrance exhibit, "Letters to Sala," before it begins a nationwide tour. The exhibit about a young Jewish woman imprisoned in a forced labor camp during the Holocaust contains a collection of actual letters she received from family as well as photos depicting life in the camp. "Letters to Sala" will run January 1 through January 25, seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Group tours will be offered by appointment. The Tucson Jewish Heritage Center, located at 564 S. Stone Ave., is the original site of the first Jewish synagogue in the Arizona Territory, built in 1910. The building, formerly known as the Stone Avenue Temple, recently completed a 10-year restoration that most recently included installation of locally crafted, stained-glass windows that recount the history of Tucson's Jewish pioneers. For more information, phone (520) 670-9073. For more information, visit www.jewishheritagecenter.net.
Miraval Spa Offers Holiday Special - Exclusively for Arizona residents, Miraval Life in Balance Spa-Tucson is offering a special, all-inclusive nightly rate of $399. The offer is valid on new reservations on the following days: November 11-13; November 18-30; December 1-5; December 12-26. Miraval's flagship Tucson property has been the industry's highest-ranked destination spa for several years. The spa's 104 hacienda-style guestrooms sit on 317 acres, surrounded by mesquite trees and cascading streams. For more information, contact Miraval at (800) 232-3969 or visit www.miravalresorts.com.
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