My favorite thing to do in Tucson is definitely to go shopping! I really enjoy spending time with my friends when they come to visit, especially going to one of the shopping malls and having a nice dinner at a restaurant. Vivace is one of my favorites, which has a delicious crab-filled chicken breast. For me, shopping is a great way to relax and change my daily routine, but there is always something going on in Tucson: festivals, dance presentations, conferences, symposiums, and so much more. So, no matter if I want have fun, relax, or learn new things, Tucson offers me a wide variety of stuff to do.

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The fall weather in Tucson is so incredible that my fiancé and I are always looking for fun things to do outdoors. We were already close to Downtown, so we decided to head down to Jácome Plaza to see what the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival was all about.

I was surprised to learn the festival was celebrating it's 36th anniversary and was disappointed we didn't have more time to peruse all the booths and watch all the performances. The festival wasn't just about it's amazing cultural food selections, but also included so many demonstrations, performances, shows, and even a local farmer's market, that it could be an all-day event for the whole family.

After watching some great banjo players at the Courthouse Stage we walked across Church Street, passing the bouncing low riders as they set up for their car show, and settled in to watch the Columbian Folklore dancers on the Youth Stage.  When they were finished, we browsed some of the local club booths and the farmer's market located at the downtown library's plaza.

Our stomachs telling us it was time to eat, we headed back to the Ethnic food area with a plan.  Being one-quarter Danish myself, I was excited to see the Tucson Danish Club had a booth so they were my first stop. Remembering how my mom made aebleskivers (basically spherical pancakes stuffed with fruit) I wanted to see how the Danish booth's compared.  These didn't have fruit in the middle, but rather some rasberry jelly on the side.  Still, not only was I pleasantly surprised with them, but I also got to chat with some Danes and signed up for their club's newsletter. Next, we found the Thai booth and shared a plate of chicken curry with potatoes and onions on a bed of white rice, and it was scrumptuous. Our bellies expanding but not yet full, we shared a tasty chicken sandwich (gyro) from the Persian Club and for dessert, we sipped on a bubble tea from the Vietnamese Alliance of Tucson Booth.

We were stuffed beyond capacity but managed to waddle over to watch a performance on the Martial Arts Lawn before heading back to our car. With all there is to see and do at the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival, I can see why it is a two-day event.  And it's cheap! Next year, we're planning on going both Saturday and Sunday to sample more of the great food and watch more of the interesting cultural performances. Heck, maybe next year I'll be in the Danish booth handing out aebleskivers myself!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Last year I discovered what a great escape Mt. Lemmon is when the summer heat makes Tucson less than ideal for outdoor exercise. At approximately 9,000 feet, the hiking trails near the top of the mountain wander through evergreen forests, with grassy areas, wildflowers, and even wild raspberry bushes lining the paths. Best of all, it's cool enough to enjoy the sunshine, even in the middle of July.

Although the Meadow Trail at the top is one of my favorites, this past weekend I decided to challenge myself on the Butterfly Trail. As you start the hike, the route opens up to scenic vistas of the valley below before descending into a shady valley. (I should note here, that the descent and subsequent ascent on the way back are what makes this trail physically challenging.)

On the way down the mountain, the hike was easy enough for me to enjoy the sites of cheerful yellow columbines cascading down a gully and patches of tall swirling meadow grass. The pine-scented air was refreshing and energizing, and both my dog and I enjoyed the adventure. As we neared the point where the Butterfly Trail joins the Crystal Springs Trail Trail, I was shocked to find myself in a field of emerald green ferns. It was a scene that I only would have imagined in the Northwestern part of the country.

When we reached the intersection with the Crystal Springs Trail, only about 1.5 miles from the starting point, I decided to turn around. The hike down was steep enough that I was a little worried about how well I would do on the way out. As it turned out, my dog was less excited about the hike out than I. Every few feet, she would stop in front of me, lie down on the trail, or crawl under the shady ferns and grass along the way. After many rest stops, we finally made our way back to the top. Tired and sweaty, but feeling very virtuous and healthy, we headed home. 

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The American Bicycle Association BMX Southwest Nationals competition took place at the Tucson Convention Center this past weekend. Tucson hosted an amazing number of talented racers and I was lucky enough to get the chance to ride with them during Friday's practice rounds. The dirt track was impressive - tight turns, big jumps, step-ups, and the bone jarring "rhythm section" (a series of back to back jumps). They decked me out in a Tucson BMX jersey and a very snug helmet. It was a thrill to ride out just behind a group of racers during their practice session and the adrenaline was pumping as I hit the first jump. I definitely felt my youth coming back to me. As I approached the final turn I could hear my co-workers cheering me on and for a second I thought about waving but ultimately decided that keeping the bike upright would be preferable. Managing to avoid any untimely "dismounts," I really enjoyed my time on the track. Unfortunately the ride was over before I knew it and I was left thinking about what could have been had I gotten into BMX racing a long time ago. This event is definitely worth checking out when it returns next summer, and rumor has it that there are a couple of local tracks to practice on in the meantime!

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One of our favorite late-summer activities is splashing in the mud at Tucson's annual Mud Monster Mud Puddle Party at Reid Park. Slipping, sliding, and wallowing in mud pools with thousands of fun-seekers brings out the freewheeling kid in everyone. There's something revitalizing about being slathered in the cool muck: mud wraps are used to purify the skin at some of Tucson's finest spas! As for family-friendly fun in the mud, Reid Park is the place to be in August.

This year, my husband and I and our two preteen-aged kids arrived at the park by 7:30 a.m. in time to register before the 8 a.m. start. We headed straight for the obstacle courses, which are sectioned into areas for kids, teens, and adults. Toddlers and younger kids can slosh around in shallow, muddy, sand pits, with adult supervision.

Racing round the obstacle courses is a blast. My eight-year-old son won first place in a foot race with another boy by sliding across the finish line. He was covered with mud from head to toe, and grinning from ear to ear. Next, while my husband took photos, my 11-year-old daughter and I took our turns maneuvering the courses. For her, sliding along a 10-foot plastic mat, sinking into puddles, and diving through inflated plastic tubes was a breeze. For me, a mom who can barely handle the mess of dying Easter eggs, it was a ... challenge. I couldn't get used to the mud/sand that clung to my every pore; yet I continued, laughing with my daughter all the way! We tripped our way through two giant, rubber tires hanging from a tree. We scaled a five-foot, slippery, mud-caked wall, using a rope to haul us up and an onslaught of rushing muddy water to help us slide down. We belly-crawled under low bars and over a military-type net suspended atop a mud puddle. What a workout! At the end of the course, the Tucson Fire Department rinsed off the crowd with fire hoses.

Until the fun ended at noon, we enjoyed a festival with live entertainment and affordable food from vendors. We're already planning a "kids versus parents" race for next year. Hope to see you there. Until then, here's mud in your eye!

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