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What's New in Tucson
August 2008
Great Lodging for the Budget-Minded. Though young and young-at-heart travelers with less money to spare generally stay at hostels, this inexpensive style of lodging is increasingly attracting like-minded travelers of all ages and backgrounds who don't mind bunking up and sharing with others. Tucson's only hostel, the Roadrunner Hostel and Inn, is in Armory Park within walking or free-shuttle distance of the Amtrak Train Depot, Downtown Tucson, and the University of Arizona. Built in 1900, the four-bedroom, two-bath hostel regularly fills to its 10-guest maximum occupancy during the winter, and many of the same people return year after year. Owners David Stefanovich and his daughter Rhae Vaiana are both knowledgeable ambassadors for Tucson. They will arrange weekend painting workshops at scenic Tucson locations, led by the Roadrunner's artist-in-residence, Cliff Brown, who painted the bright murals on the hostel's exterior walls. Find out more at the Roadrunner's Web site.
Old Pueblo Celebrates 233rd Birthday. Tucson has a long history of celebrating both the saint's day of its patron Saint Augustine (Fiesta de San Agustín is August 30), for whom its cathedral is named, and the anniversary of its founding as a Spanish fortress, Presidio de San Agustín del Tucson, on August 20, 1775. This month, the city's 233rd birthday celebration kicks off with an event at a new museum, documenting Tucson's origins, located on the site of the original adobe fortress in what is now Downtown Tucson. Tucsonans will attend public events, listed on Tucson's Birthday Web site, which showcase the city's multicultural diversity. The Tucson's Birthday celebration is a project of Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to celebrating Tucson's history, arts, and culture.
Tucson Resort Named a ‘Best of Arizona Business.' Loews Ventana Canyon Resort has received three top awards from Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Business 2008, the largest business public-opinion poll in Arizona. Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, the only hotel from Tucson to make the 2008 top-10 list, ranked second in resort/hotels with 350 or more rooms, third in meeting/convention space with 49,999-square-feet or less, and fifth in day/resort spas with 99 or fewer staff (Loews Ventana Canyon is the top-ranked spa of its size in Tucson in this poll). More details about the four-diamond resort hotel, located on 100 acres in the tony foothills of Tucson's Santa Catalina Mountains, are at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort Web site.
Celebrity Chefs Heat Up Tucson at 6th Annual Culinary Festival. Award-winning, world-renowned chef Norman Van Aken, known as the "Father of New World Cuisine," will don an apron at the sixth annual Tucson Culinary Festival, October 23-26 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. For many food-and-wine connoisseurs, the Tucson Culinary Festival is Tucson's premier dining event. Besides being a fundraiser for three local charitable organizations, it features fun events and extraordinary food and drink. On the menu this year is the annual World Margarita Championship, the exclusive Reserve Tasting, the signature Grand Tasting, Copper Chef Challenge, and Sunday Brunch featuring the sun-drenched cuisine of celebrity chef Norman Van Aken. The Tucson Culinary Festival is the inspiration of the Tucson Originals, Tucson's leading group of independent restaurants. More information is available at the Tucson Culinary Festival Web site.
New Heritage Tourism Map. A new resource will help travel writers and travelers interested in exploring the enchanting Santa Cruz Valley, a roughly 3,300-square-mile area extending from Marana to Nogales and from Arivaca to Elgin. The online version of the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Tourism Map identifies various destinations that tie into 10 travel experiences unique to this area. Viewers can plan outings based on their interest in (1) sky islands and desert seas, (2) streams in the desert, (3) bird habitats and migration routes, (4) Native American lifeways, (5) desert farming, (6) ranching traditions, (7) Spanish and Mexican frontier, (8) remnants of historic mining booms, (9) U.S. military posts on the Mexico border, and (10) U.S.-Mexico border culture. The non-profit Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance (SCVHA) created the map as a project of the proposed Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. Vanessa Bechtol, SCVHA Programs Manager, is available to speak to groups about the proposed National Heritage Area; contact her at (520) 429-1394.
Still Cooking After 35 Years. After 35 years, Tucson Meet Yourself is still cooking. The annual culture fest returns to Downtown Tucson's El Presidio Park, October 10-12. At the ever-popular food booths, cooks representing more than 20 ethnic backgrounds will prepare exotic favorites, such as Filipino adobo, Spanish paella, and Jamaican jerk chicken. At the same time, a global lineup of musicians and dancers and singers, clad in traditional folk costumes, will stage nearly nonstop entertainment. Folk-art demonstrations and workshops will provide learning experiences for all ages. Special events will include face painting, children's games, and a car show. This free event has celebrated the richness and diversity of Tucson's traditional arts since 1974. More details are at the Tucson Meet Yourself Web site.
Your Passport to Tucson Travel Savings. The rising cost of gas is driving many families to take a "staycation" and experience what their area has to offer, instead of leaving town on vacation. Savvy travelers will find discounts and 2-for-1 offers to Tucson and Southern Arizona attractions inside the pocket-sized Tucson Attractions Passport. The 2008-09 edition will be available for purchase in early September. Details are available at the Tucson Attractions Passport Web site.
Tucson Symphony CD Release. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra will kick off its 80th season by releasing its first-ever commercial recording. A CD recorded live in Tucson last spring will be released September 25-26 during opening-night concerts for the 2008-09 season. Canadian record company Analekta will release the CD, which contains three works by French-Canadian composer André Mathieu and comes out before a movie about Mathieu's life expected to hit North American theaters in 2009. The CD can be pre-ordered through August 31 at the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Web site; beginning September 30 it will be available in Tucson at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Bookmans. For media assistance, contact Terry Marshall, TSO Public Relations Manager, at tmarshall@tucsonsymphony.org.
Live Bands & Indie Films. The Tucson Film and Music Festival will light up the Congress Street entertainment corridor in Downtown Tucson, October 10-12. Launched in 2005 to celebrate Tucson's indie music and filmmaking scenes, the festival is becoming a platform for artists who capture the Arizona/Southwest spirit. In 2007 more than 2,500 fans enjoyed the festival's diverse program of music videos, short films, narrative features, documentaries, and live bands, including hometown star, Calexico. Details are at the 2008 Tucson Film and Music Festival Web site.
One of America's Top 10 Farmers' Markets. The Santa Cruz River Farmers' Market is one of "America's Top 10 Farmers' Markets." Described by national magazine Eating Well as "one of Tucson's gems," the market supports local agriculture and celebrates the culinary heritage of the Sonoran Desert. Regular items include locally grown produce sold directly from the farmers, plants, cacti, herbal remedies, honey, eggs, and Mexican baked-goods. More details are at the Community Food Bank Web site, which operates the market on Thursdays, February through mid-November.
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