Relaxing at Tohono Chul Park
Last Friday, some colleagues and I went to Tohono Chul Park for a breakfast and tour of the park. I had the eggs benedict, which was delicious, but everybody's orders looked equally enticing. Watching hummingbirds and butterflies flit around the butterfly garden while enjoying breakfast was a perfect way to start the day. After breakfast the group then headed off into the park, which was beautiful. The variety of flowers, trees, cacti, etc. was simply astounding. Tohono Chul is truly a desert oasis in the middle of the city (49 acres of oasis that most people don't even realize is there!)
This visit made a regular out of me. I'll be returning every time the seasons change so I can see what is happening out there. We took a break from walking through the park and sat down to learn about reptiles from "Snake Boy." (On Fridays there is a reptile presentation.) His presentation was enjoyable for an audience of all ages. "Snake Boy" and his crew pulled out a slew of snakes, a Gila monster, and a turtle for us to observe as they taught us about how they survive in the Sonoran desert. With our knowledge of our reptilian neighbors expanded, we then took a quick trip through the plant propagation area and saw everything they had to offer and a variety of different garden styles. I highly recommend that anyone thinking about a landscaping project spend some time at the park gathering inspiration.
Whether looking for a fantastic breakfast, ideas for your desert garden, or just a quiet oasis to stroll and hang out in lush flora of the Sonoran Desert, Tohono Chul is a great choice.
Dinner and Theater in Downtown Tucson
My fiancée, Trish, and I are lovers of theater and dry, English humor so when we found out that Monty Python's Spamalot was coming to Tucson's Music Hall, we jumped at the chance to see it.
We both work downtown and thought it would be great to have drinks and dinner before the show. We spent a good amount of time just trying to figure out where to eat downtown, as the ever-growing list of restaurants were all very tempting. We finally settled on Ascolese's Italian Restaurant, located next to La Placita and within a very short walking distance to the theater. We hadn't made reservations, but the staff was friendly and accommodating and sat us in a quiet corner of the bar area. The service was good, and the huge entrees came out surprisingly fast! Trish enjoyed cheese tortellini in a vodka sauce and topped with sausage, while I went with penne pasta in marinara sauce, also topped with sausage. We were so stuffed after our entrees that we couldn't even think of dessert, though the choices were mouth-watering.
After dinner and a cocktail, we still had some time before the show, so we meandered around and finally settled on benches by the large fountain in front of the Music Hall. It was opening night of Spamalot so there was a large, enthusiastic crowd gathered, all enjoying the mild evening as well as drinks being served outside.
After watching a gorgeous Tucson sunset, the doors opened and we got swept up in opening-night excitement, finding our seats quickly and waiting for the show to start. Finally, the lights dimmed and the crowd quieted as the first actors stepped onstage. There is something magical about theater, and we were immediately pulled away from our daily routines and tossed happily into another world. In true Monty Python style, Spamalot was witty, funny, and even a bit raunchy. As the lights came back on, the audience gave the talented actors a standing ovation, and I for one wished the show had not ended.
Blinking back into reality, Trish and I filed out of the theater and walked back to our car, with our sides aching and smiles on our faces. It was really a wonderful evening downtown, and we will certainly do it again!
Everyone Can Enjoy the Tucson Museum of Art
Today I ate lunch on the fly and spent my "lunch hour" at the Tucson Museum of Art. I work downtown so it's just a short walk over historic surface street overpasses and through some city squares to TMA.
Once in the cool lobby, I flashed my Tucson Attractions passport and received half-off the admission price and paid only $4! You can get your very own passport here.
The latest exhibit at TMA is The Arizona Biennial ‘09. I had been a periodic visitor to TMA until I saw the last exhibition, Trouble in Paradise. Well, actually, I went and saw it three times. I really liked it and got into the permanent collection through these visits.
Now, I have vowed to return, at least, to see every new exhibition. The Biennial holds a particular spark of interest for me because a good friend of mine, Herb Stratford has a piece in it.
The description of the Arizona Biennial '09 is "Highlighting the trends of contemporary art in Arizona." Well, I'm not a big contemporary art fan, but I gave it a go. The Juror, Tim Rodgers, Ph.D. Chief Curator at New Mexico Museum of Art makes an opening statement about the opposition featured in the show; dark/light, funny/serious, sensitive/ironic.
The exhibition was really an adventure for me. I saw things I loved and things I didn't love so much. Most importantly, I saw things that made me think, made me smile, and made me return for a second glance. Pieces included depictions of "Famous Facial Hair" to "Cloned Cell Study". Most surprising to me were my two favorites. A piece using only shade variations of scarlet red called "Full Scale Red" by a Tucson artist named Carrie Seid and a giant digital print of morning cereal called "Trix." Seid's piece actually seems to have life. It's amazing how someone can lay down variations of one color that make the painting appear to follow you. Don't laugh at my second favorite. It was stunning! It made me feel young, hungry, and buoyant at the same time.
I'm not an art expert, but I know what I like and I enjoy the Tucson Museum of Art. The temporary exhibits are always interesting and the permanent collection is always great to visit over and over. In particular, I love the giant "Bridge to Nowhere" piece downstairs. I learned that this painting was actually featured in a movie called Life Stories that was directed by Robert Di Nero! Hands down, though, I will return time and time again to the Louise Serpa photographs in the Art of the American West section in the Goodman Pavilion.
I never thought I'd be a regular to an art museum, but here I am, a convert. If you haven't had the chance to, please stop into the Tucson Museum of Art. There is plenty of parking and it's in a very cool area downtown. There are amazing restaurants all around it. The first Sunday of every month is FREE admission. AND, you'll become a fan; a passionate fan at that! I did!
Relive the Wild West in Old Tucson
Howdy! If you haven't been to Old Tucson Studios lately, it's time you paid them a visit. A friend and I recently spent a day there and enjoyed an exciting trip back in time to the Old West. First, we saddled up and went on a trail ride. Our guide, Jason, was a real cowboy and gave us some good tips and information about riding along the desert trails. The views of the Tucson Mountains are so beautiful. We rode for close to one hour. The fresh air and exercise made us hungry, so we headed to Big Jakes Bar-B-Q at Old Tucson Studios where we had a great and hearty lunch. You have to try their hickory-smoked brisket. Wow! We got lots of laughs watching the Old West stunt show and a cowboy shoot-out in the street. Both were very funny. Yahoo! Other stops we made at Old Tucson included the Court House and the Stage Coach ride. We had some frosty lemonade at the Grand Place Hotel & Saloon as we watched their can-can show, and, of course, we went window-shopping. The shops are filled with Western and American Indian jewelry, leather goods, clothing, and souvenirs like mugs, key chains, and cactus candies. If you're looking for a cowboy or cowgirl hat, Old Tucson has a big selection. A great day and adventure! Thank you, Old Tucson Studios.
A Patagonia Gem: Velvet Elvis Pizza Company
On a holiday weekend last summer, my husband and I headed south for the annual Sonoita Rodeo, and made a side trip into Patagonia for lunch. Sixty miles south of Tucson, in the tiny town of Patagonia, the Velvet Elvis Pizza Company crafts delicious, unusual pizzas from fresh, house-made ingredients. The pie is fantastic, and the kicker - most of the menu options are healthy (or, not so unwholesome as your typical slice)!
Both the pizza and the red sauce recipes at Velvet Elvis are 70 years old, and originated in an Italian pizzeria in Brooklyn. But since 1998, chef and owner Cecilia San Miguel has made Patagonia the home of Elvis' tasty pies.
Velvet Elvis is a small adobe building just inside Patagonia city limits, decorated in earthtones, with a small garden patio out front. We ate inside, where the walls are colorful tributes to the Lady of Guadalupe, and diners seat themselves at large tables that sometimes require dining with another group - a great way to get to know your fellow diners!
In addition to serving pizza, Velvet Elvis also specializes in raw juices, fresh organic salads and vegetarian soups. We were definitely there for the pizza, but we started with a couple of glasses of Limonada Rosa - limeade made with freshly squeezed limes and hibiscus. It was brightly colored and tart, and incredibly tasty on a hot day.
The "Designer Pizza" menu was deep and really unique, with pies like "El Mariachi Blanco," topped with green chili and jalapeno cream sauce, capers, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, garlic and sundried tomatoes. The "Inca Quinoa Pizza" - which requires 24 hours notice to order, is a deep-dish work of art, with a quinoa-flour crust, fresh vegetables and cheese.
However, we settled on the "Pancho Villa" pizza - a concoction of Elvis' famous red sauce, house-made beef chorizo, fresh tomatoes, yellow onion, cilantro, fresh jalapenos, and asiago and mozzarella chesses. A word of warning for the weak of tongue - this is one spicy pizza! The fresh jalapenos are eye-wateringly spice and there's a few in every bite, but for those who like it hot, this pizza will leave you craving more. (You'll definitely need a refill or two on your limonada to put out the fire in your mouth, though!)
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano recently named Velvet Elvis Pizza Company an "Arizona Treasure," and I couldn't agree more. The next time you're headed to wine country, start out with a slice or two from Velvet Elvis.
