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What's New in Tucson
February 2009
Baseball History On Deck at Hi Corbett Field. Built in 1937, Hi Corbett is Arizona's oldest spring training site. Vintage architecture and a grassy location in tree-filled Reid Park evoke a simpler time. The close-to-the-action seating is perfect for collecting autographs and talking with players. The prime place to catch a fly ball is in the bleachers; the cheap seats are usually the best at this stadium. Hi Corbett may not have the flash of newer ballparks, but watch a game here and you'll get a feel for baseball of the past. Many greats played here, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams and Satchell Paige. You can see Hi Corbett in the movie Major League, filmed in part here using University of Arizona baseball players as extras. Then catch the 2007 National League pennant winning Colorado Rockies compete against other Cactus League Major League Baseball teams during spring training, Feb. 25 - April 2.
Shop and Groove at 4th Avenue Street Fair. Three days of shopping, music, and food is coming to downtown Tucson. The Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair is March 20, 21, 22. This annual, outdoor shopping-and-entertainment extravaganza happens along Fourth Avenue, between downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona. More than 400 arts and crafts booths and 35 food vendors will line the six-block area. Visitors can groove to live music on two stages, admire roving musicians and street performers and amuse the kids with hands-on craft activities. Fourth Avenue's 100-plus shops and eateries remain open during and after the fair, which runs from 10 a.m. to dusk. More details are at http://www.fourthavenue.org/.
Spring Rides and Runs. Get ready to exercise outdoors in Tucson's warm spring air. The Tucson Bicycle Classic returns for its 23rd event March 6-8. This three-day United States Cycling Federation stage-race offers a $6,800 purse and a challenging course that's been called "a proving ground for future Olympians and champions." The first annual Sunrise at Old Tucson Studios Cross-Country Trail Run, March 8, is a family-friendly, four-mile running event that loops through the dusty streets and horse trails of Old Tucson Studios. The fifth annual Arizona Distance Classic Half Marathon & Northwest Medical Center Oro Valley 5K will be a celebration of runners, walkers and wheelchair-racers, young and old, fast and slow, through beautiful Oro Valley on March 29.
New Wingate by Wyndham Hotel Oro Valley. The new Wingate by Wyndham Hotel Oro Valley has opened north of Tucson. Designed for business and leisure travelers and families, the Wingate Oro Valley offers 104 guest rooms and suites, spacious meeting rooms, a private boardroom and complimentary business and fitness centers. Other guest amenities include a two-story breakfast area overlooking an outdoor pool patio with hot tub and water feature, free high-speed wireless Internet access, TTY telephones for hearing impaired guests and 32" LCD TVs with 12 high-definition channels. The Wingate Hotel Oro Valley is near fine dining and exceptional shopping and golf courses, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the Santa Catalina Mountains. For more details, visit http://www.wingatehotels.com/.
Old West Founder's Day is Newest Event. The Tombstone Rose Festival and Ed Schieffelin Days have been merged to create a single, new event in the Town Too Tough to Die. The new Old West Founder's Day in Tombstone takes place April 3, 4, 5 2009. For more information, visit ttp://www.tombstonechamber.com/.
Tucson Shines in New Indie Film. Lightbulb, an independent feature film shot entirely in Tucson, recently dazzled critics at the prestigious Santa Barbara Film Festival. Entertainment trade newspaper Variety praised Lightbulb as "a terrific little yarn about pluck, perseverance and friendship overcoming the odds." The rags-to-riches story earned kudos for its "impeccable cast" and cinematography that "takes advantage of the Arizona desert's golden hour." Stars Ayelet Zurer and Jeremy Renner both have other films hitting movie theaters in the spring. Zurer stars opposite Tom Hanks in Angels and Demons, while Renner has a lead role in The Hurt Locker. For more information, visit www.FilmTucson.com/buzz.
Gourmet Corn Artist. Whether served at home or in a restaurant, handmade tamales will give you a taste of Tucson's culture. Home cooks make this delicious treat from scratch at traditional Mexican tamale-making parties. Preparing the cornhusk casing, corn-dough wrapping and chopped filling is a labor of love that can last for days. The simplest way to enjoy tamales is at one of Tucson's excellent Mexican restaurants. The new Tucson Tamale Company offers a gluten-free menu of healthy tamales stuffed with savory combinations of mostly local, fresh meats and veggies as well as a rotating menu of sweet options including chocolate. You can eat in, take out, or order online; shipping is available within the continental United States. For more information, visit http://www.tucsontamalecompany.com/.
Tucson Tableware. Chris Bubany designs and creates earthenware for all occasions. Her richly hand-painted serving pieces and dinnerware are famous for their bold colors and whimsical style. Signature patterns feature perky images of creatures and plants, native to her Tucson home, bordered with cheerful polka dots, wavy lines and geometric accents. All objects in her collection - from platters and plates to plaques, pitchers and bowls - can be personalized. Chris Bubany pieces are sold at fine retail stores throughout the Tucson area and in Phoenix, Sedona, Denver and Santa Fe. Visit her studio, shop the showroom, or order online at http://www.chrisbubany.com/.
A Slice of Cowboy Southwest. Take a trip to Tucson of yesteryear when cattle ranching and cowboys reigned. Cocoraque Ranch, northwest of Tucson, is a century-old working cattle ranch situated on 16,000 scenic acres. This authentic Old West destination doubles as a meeting and team-building facility that is ideal for those who crave the open air and a rustic setting. The ranch offers unique venues at both the Cocoraque Ranch House - a two-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot burnt adobe home built in the 1890s - and Cocoraque Pavilion. The Ranch House features a mesquite-fired barbecue grill, horse corrals and more, while the Pavilion is a secluded and private desert retreat. Customize a meeting or a group event here by adding a Jeep tour, hayride, trail ride, or game such as mechanical calf roping. For more information, visit http://www.cocoraque.com/.
Suitable for Framing. Send an e-postcard from the city of blazing sunsets and saguaro forests. Images of Tucson landscapes and outdoor activities - hiking, biking, horseback riding and golf - are available to anyone wishing to create and send an e-postcard from the website of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. On the homepage, click on Photo and Video Tour and follow the steps to share e-postcards with friends and family, or follow this link: www.visitTucson.org/visitor/gallery.
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