In March, my parents drove down from Sedona to visit and enjoy some of Tucson's wonderful Spring weather. Considering how much time my parents spend pruning, changing, trimming, and beautifying their yard, I thought they would love to go visit Tohono Chul Park.

Tohono Chul Park is considered one of the best botanical gardens in the United States, and it shows! The park is located in north Tucson, just west of Oracle Road and slightly north of Ina Road. They have paved paths and dirt trails that meander throughout the entire property, with signage that describes the incredible amount of local flora. Volunteer docents are always available and very helpful with their knowledge of the Park's history and it's plants, as well. They also have guided tours, school outreach programs, and great activities for kids.

There is also an art gallery, in which we spent a good amount of time gazing at the local art, a greenhouse (that at the time had an amazing plant sale going on), and a very well regarded restaurant, the Tea Room.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed taking a break from the bustle of the city to walk the serene trails, take photos, and just be part of the Sonoran Desert. It was amazing that we were still technically surrounded by "city." You'd never know it!

My family kicked off the extra long Memorial Day Weekend with a trip to the extended engagement of "BODIES: The Exhibition" downtown in the Rialto Theater. Clearly, it's a popular temporary attraction for Tucson, as there was a line out the door on a Friday after lunch. Fortunately, the Exhibit is inside, comfortably air conditioned, and the line moved quickly.

My husband and I entered with two teenage daughters in tow and you never really know what to expect with girls! Although, since both are fairly science-minded and have spent a lot of time with Doctors over the years, we knew it would be of interest to them. Our youngest, spent the first half of our time there just coming to grips with the fact that everything we were seeing was real, and not a sculpted model like she's used to seeing with her Pediatrician. I would have to agree that it was fascinating to know that what we were viewing were real examples of what our bodies look like inside. My husband seemed to enjoy all of the skeletal views with muscles & tendons to see where it hurts when he over-exercises. We all also found the petrified-looking slices really interesting, along with the full body view of all the arteries and vessels. It's amazing how small and threadlike they really look, as we all expected them to be much thicker.

Easily the most memorable were the models that showed sickness and disease in the body. Seeing the healthy examples of lungs & then seeing smoker's lungs was a pretty powerful image. We really liked the care and thought that went into having a clear trash bin for people to immediately drop their cigarettes into directly next to it. Hopefully, that power of suggestion will keep the motivation to give up smoking for good for those that do. Our daughter has struggled with asthma since she was a baby, so it was interesting to see up close & personal.

For anyone who has ever had surgery or injured a part of their body, it was easy to gravitate closer and longer to those special areas of interest for you as an individual. You can go (as we did) unguided and just read the signage and fun facts at each display. Or, you can get an audio guided tour with these small, hand-held devices that explained each display with just a push of a button.

Our greeter told us to allow about an hour to an hour-and-a-half to get through it all. But, the ease of navigating around the displays will allow you to do it in less time, if need be. It truly is a once in a lifetime experience to see it for yourself and really see what you're made of. The Rialto Theater is easy to get to and they have nice long hours every day, so it should fit into about any schedule you are on. And, everyone should have an interest in it at some level, because it's exploration of your own body. BODIES: The Exhibition is also a nice break from the Summer heat as a unique indoor adventure.

"Where Words and Imagination come to life" is an excellent description of the 2nd Annual Tucson Festival of Books on the University of Arizona campus. On Saturday, March 14th my daughter invited me to join her and her family to go the festival. I thought we'd only be there a couple of hours for my granddaughters to look around. What I didn't envision was that you could hardly haul me away from the place once I got there. This festival truly has something for all ages.

 

Upon our arrival, we watched the Lindley Lopez literary Circus who performed spectacles and tricks with literary themes. The group originates from San Diego's Sophia Isadora Academy of Circus Arts. My granddaughters Dana and Amaya were enthralled by the contortionists and enjoyed Thing 1 and Thing 2 performances from the Dr. Seuss book, Cat in the Hat. Looking at the crowd around me, I saw all ages enjoying the performance.

Dana and Amaya took turns at the Tucson Medical Center's prize wheel, played giant checkers and saw characters such as Curious George, Wild Thing, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Skippyjon Jones. There was so much to do and see. The girls could draw, paint or even get free books. Both entered a contest to name a woolly mammoth. Grandma wanted a Tomas the Turtle Hat but the TMC tent ran out early.

Turning the corner, Janos Wilder of Janos Restaurant at the Westin La Paloma was whipping up chile rellenos in the culinary stage tent. We began to get hungry and headed off to the food vendors. Some of Tucson's favorite restaurants such as Ziva's, Beyond Bread, Fat Greek and Choice Catering and served up a reasonably priced lunch. Seating for meals was under a large tent. The tables were all pretty much full so my son in law asked a couple of women if we could join them at their table. I kept thinking that the one woman looked familiar, and then I could finally read her name tag. It was Janis Ian, the songwriter/author who was promoting her book, Society's Child and would be interviewed by the bestselling author JA Jance on Sunday! It was all I could do not to ask her about Jimi Hendrix or what Arlo Guthrie is really like.

Then it was off to the BIO5/ Ventana Roche Science Zone Tent. There, my granddaughters extracted DNA from their cheek cells to wear in test tube around their neck, learned what life as a water molecule would be like and entered the fascinating world of insects. My personal favorite exhibit in the science tent was Brain Works.

Presented by the UA School of Mind, Brain and Behavior, there were experiments that illustrated how the brain plays tricks on you and how the different parts of the brain work. The exhibit had a brain zoo that consisted of bug brains, pigeon brains, cat brains, whale brains and even human brains! I never thought that in my lifetime, I would actually touch a human brain or examine a really human scull but I did. It was totally amazing. I was so into the exhibit that my granddaughters thought that I was out of control. For me however, it was a one of a kind learning experience.

Looking back at the event, I would suggest that you map out your festival events in advance. There are so many diverse authors, workshops and activities that attending both days of the festival is a must. Books are available on site for purchase for the author signings. Wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen. Bring a camera as you will never know who you will see there. For the many free books, pencils and assorted freebies bring a tote bag or backpack and if you want a Tomas the Turtle hat, come early.

Next year's, 3rd Annual Tucson Festival of Books is slated for March 12-13, 2011.

I took my 19 month-old son, 6 year-old niece and 10 year-old nephew to the Tucson Children's Museum this past Sunday. None of the kids had been to the museum yet. I was so excited to see how they would like it. The older kids were practically jumping out of their shoes at the description of the experience to come! My sister-in-law joined us so we could divide and conquer to keep track of everybody.

We grown-ups only expected to be there for a little over an hour. Our children's museum is wonderful, but it is a bit smaller than others I have seen. Well, in the end, we only left the museum after two and a half hours because they were closing it down! The kids could have easily stayed much longer!

My son, the youngest of the kids, loved the police motorcycle, fire truck, and the coloring center. He could have easily spent his time running between these three things. When I finally convinced him to move to wee world (a lovely, padded playground for the little guys) he spent a good amount of energy rearranging, climbing and jumping around there. That is, until he discovered the Mind Your Body area which provided him with a shopping cart that he could fill and empty, and most importantly, run around like a maniac with! It was hilarious. He had the best time playing with the "grocery store cash register" and loading up his grocery cart.

The older kids enjoyed the Electri-city exhibits but became enamored with the rope and mat gym exercise. They each connected their belts to every color of rope and climbed around each other to follow them to their other end. My nephew absolutely loved the dinosaur exhibit and corraled us all into the room when the show was to begin. He wanted to make sure we could all speak intelligently on the topic later. While tons of fun was had in the light room, the music room, the dinosaur room, and the aqua room; nothing really equaled the excitement of the health area. Immediately, my niece went into the new "veterinarian's office" area, put on a smock and cap and began treating her new patients. She was in there for the longest time. My nephew marveled at how he could hear his heartbeat translated by a little bass drum and how it got quicker after running around the room a few times. The older kids also got a huge kick out of the giant Operation game.

There were more fun, funny and exciting moments in those few hours at the Children's Museum than I could possibly recount all at once. The long and the short of it is this: GO! The Tucson Children's museum is a wonderful, safe place to take kids of almost any age to have a wonderful time filled with fun and discovery. I live here in Tucson and will absolutely be getting a membership so we can come back time and time again!

AARP has named Tucson the number one place to live for the "active adult" community, alias the "mature adult" community. Looking to a simple life, Tucson garnered top kudos over all other places in the nation.

And indeed, Tucson is a grand place to live. I willingly traded months of  grey, drizzly weather...and shoveling snow for a couple of months of "dry heat." Early mornings are perfect for a meandering walk and after dusk lends itself to upbeat outdoor concerts.

Tucson has integrated culture which makes it a vibrant community, blending it's history as a part of Sonora Mexico prior to the Gadsden Purchase, with that of Native American culture, and Chinese culture. The white man found Tucson with the advent of the railroads and brought with them new ideas of architecture, lumber, and eastern accountrements.

Tucson is rimmed with mountain ranges; the Catalinas to the north-northeast, home of the nation's southermost ski area; the Rincons to the east; the Santa Ritas to the south, and the newest mountain range, the Tucson Mountains, to the west. The topography is different in all the areas, but all provide interesting and diverse hiking paths and birding areas, one of the criteria of the AARP study.

Combine that with exceptional cultural activities, it's own Symphony, a myriad of live theaters, the Center for Creative Photography which houses the Ansel Adams collection, the Tucson Museum of Art, DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, and excellent small galleries, Tucson is making it's name in the art and music world.  With one of the best Jazz Societies in the United States, a vibrant Blue Grass Society, Chamber Orchestras, Pops In the Park, citizens can toe tap to any rhythmn.

As someone enthusiastically once said to me, "the healthiest I've ever been is when I lived in Tucson."  There are various sports activities, Senior Olympics, city owned tennis courts, golf courses galore, an assortment of classes offered by Parks and Rec, and classes in all types of activities ranging from Pilates to Weight Training to Salsa dancing at Pima Community College.

Combined with the bragging rights of 360 days of sun, Tucson offers its inhabitants low cost activities, the beauty of the desert, affordable housing in comfortable communities, local produce at Farmer's Markets, a plethora of volunteer activities, and excceptional medical facilities.

AARP really nailed it correctly! Tucson is the place to live!

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.

 

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!

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!

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.

It had been five years or so since my husband and I had visited Bisbee, so when our friends Jody and Greg suggested a weekend jaunt, we were ready. We figured there wouldn't be much to do there but that didn't dissuade us from jumping at the chance. The thought of escaping the heat, if only for a day or two, trumped any concern over time on our hands.

We were already looking for lunch when we approached the Sonoita crossroads. Greg's exhaustive internet search had turned up a restaurant that was inexplicably - yet undeniably - closed. With a sigh we stopped for suggestions at Dos Cabezas Winery. We got one - Grasslands Café - and more. We left carrying a case of local nectar and four stemmed glasses that promised discounts at several wineries down the road. 

By the time we rolled into Bisbee it was late afternoon and the weather a pleasant 85. We checked into El Dorado Suites, an historic hotel overlooking Brewery Gulch and the "oldest continually operated bar" in Bisbee. It's a wonderful spot for families or couples traveling together: our suite featured two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, bath and balcony. "Awesome," we all cooed as we unpacked and prepared for a walk around town.

Turns out, the second Saturday evening of each month is "Bisbee after Dark," the local gallery "walk." As we headed up the street, I realized Bisbee had changed a bit in the last few years: there were shops and galleries and stores and restaurants ... and they were open!  There was food and drink and musicians accompanying our evening stroll. This was a revelation ...and it was fun!

Thank goodness we had the presence of mind to make a reservation for dinner. Cafe Roka is one of Arizona's top 100 restaurants and it fills up fast. We finished up our gallery tour just in time to eat, and eat we did. We were seated and attended to immediately, even though the restaurant's three levels were all a-hopping. I had the artichoke and mushroom lasagna with three sauces. It came with appetizer, salad and sorbet, for $16.50 - memorable for its taste, price and the historic ambience. My dinner companions' dinner choices brought comparable amenities and aaahs.

We head back to the hotel and fall into bed. We need to be up and at ‘em by 9 to take the tour of the old Bisbee Mine. First it's breakfast at Copper Queen Hotel and then into our slickers for what turns out to be a private tour of the now-defunct mine. Early Sunday morning is the time to beat the crowds, we comment as we disembark, jostling the hordes awaiting the 10:30 tour. Our timing -- or is it luck? -- has been "spot on" all weekend.

As we head back to Tucson, we're already making our plans to return. There's the historic home tour and the 1,000 Stairclimb and the garden tour and the vintage wine tasting and the yoga festival and, and ... So much for time on our hands.