This year was my first rodeo experience ever! I had always wanted to attend an event, but never made actually made it out; this year I am certainly glad I did. The entire experience was great. The drive from downtown to the rodeo grounds was quick and easy. Parking was simple and cheap; only $5!

As I walked through the gates at the rodeo grounds, there were all the great fair-like food concessions creating smells of delicious popcorn, hot dogs and my favorite, cimarronas, AKA "snow cones."  These mouthwatering delights mingled perfectly with the tell-tale aroma of dust and ranch animals to make even the smell of the place completely authentic.

All things considered, hands-down, the best part is the actual rodeo action. I loved the way all the fans cheered for on their favorite cowboys and cowgirls. They even cheered for ropers that missed or riders that fell off just to thank them for the effort. The crowd was really into it, clapping and whistling, which only made my experience that much more thrilling!

I had an amazing view of all the rough-stock riders coming out of the chutes. I was simply in awe of what I was witnessing, from the cowboys being bucked off, and the saliva hanging from the bulls' mouths. Wow! I was thinking "these men have to be the toughest athletes out there!"

The competition categories from bull riding, steer wrestling, bare back riding and barrel racing had me on my feet! The excitement from the crowd was contagious. I was able to gather some great photos for my scrapbook, as well as to share with friends and family. If you are one of the few who have never been to the Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Rodeo in Tucson, I would say this is an event worth the trip!

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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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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.

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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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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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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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These days I find myself thinking less about what I want to do in my spare or leisure time and more about what I can afford to do. I look for events and activities that offer great value and I shun name brands for store brands (and make them last longer). I'm not alone. I've found a new "store" brand in Tucson this summer, the return of the Tucson Toros! It's professional baseball without the attitude, ego or expense that has come to dominate the sports landscape. This latest incarnation of our beloved Toros competes in the Golden Baseball League throughout the western US. The games are played at Hi Corbett Field, right in the center of town. There is no affiliation to a major league club (or a minor league one for that matter). These guys play because they love the game, the coaches coach because they love the game; I go to see them because I love the game. For a $5.00 general admission ticket, you're guaranteed a great view of all the action. The expected ballpark snacks and treats are plentiful and affordable (especially on Thursdays!). Each home game features an interactive series of events for fans and the atmosphere is exciting, friendly, fun, safe and genuine ... it's three hours of bliss for the avid or casual fan. Every Friday home game features an awesome fireworks show that seems to last forever. Check it out at www.tucsontoros.com. Did I mention the parking is free?

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Even though I've lived in Tucson my entire life, I had never been to the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, but I've seen his famous paintings scattered throughout Tucson. My parents even have a few prints hanging in their living room.

I finally took a trip out there a few weeks ago, and it was nothing like I anticipated. I think I expected the typical (and somewhat boring) gallery where you hurriedly walk around looking at paintings hung on plain white walls, then quickly look through a gift shop, and head home. First, DeGrazia's gallery is unique because he built it by HAND with a few of his friends almost half a century ago. He literally made the adobe bricks with desert soil mixed with water that then baked in the hot Arizona sun. Second, rotating exhibitions display some of the 15,000 originals DeGrazia housed at the gallery. We even got to see one New York scene painting that had never before been seen by the public prior to this current exhibition, DeGrazia: 100 Years, 100 Works.

One neat thing about the building is that you enter the gallery through this huge, unique (and quite heavy) iron door, which DeGrazia built as a replica of the Territorial Yuma prison gate. As you begin walking through the gallery, you notice all of the little ways DeGrazia left his mark on the building - various hand prints in the walls, added art carved into the walls by both DeGrazia and his wife (New York sculptor Marion Sheret), and even the flooring itself is unique! DeGrazia used the skeletons of Arizona cacti to create the floor - that in and of itself was one of my favorite pieces of "art" from the entire tour.

The art on display is amazing. It's interesting to look at all of the different ways DeGrazia painted throughout his life. Not one typical piece of art hung in that gallery. Just when you think you've seen all that one man could have created in his life, you move on to another room, and another, and another ...

After seeing all of his great works inside the gallery, our guide took us out to DeGrazia's original home built on the property, which - you guessed it - he built by hand for him and his wife to live in. On the way to the house, you see DeGrazia's art on the outside of the building as well, in the form of sculptures, outdoor murals, and even flowers made out of beer cans! And, of course, we went into his Mission in the Sun, the adobe mission DeGrazia built in honor of Padre Kino and dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe. The paintings on the wall of this open-air building are incredible! Check out the pictures:
 
DeGrazia led such an interesting life, and it's portrayed in all of his beautiful art (which includes the building itself in my eyes!). His gallery is a definite must-see for all of you art lovers.

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
6300 N. Swan Road
(520) 299-9191
Admission: FREE!
http://degrazia.org  

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Every Tuesday night in the summertime (until November) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the bar at Hacienda del Sol's "The Grill" opens up its enormous wine list to the public, free of charge.

What better way to kick back after work than to pull up a seat at the Grill while Hacienda's sommelier and director of wines, Dan McCoog, makes a few selections from The Grill's 2,000-plus wine list, and pops the cork for experts and novices alike?

The small bar at The Grill can get crowded on wine tasting nights, but the Terraza del Sol - a roomy outdoor patio adjacent to the bar area - catches the overflow. Wine tasters line up at the far end of the bar for a splash or two of McCoog's choices, and for a quick, easy-to-understand explanation of each pour.

On my last Tuesday night wine tasting, McCoog showcased four wines - three reds and one white. The crisp white - a 2006 California Sauvignon Blanc by Geyser Peak - was fruity with hints of melon, and made for a refreshing wind-down on a hot night.

The second of McCoog's selections was a smooth 2002 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, with traces of florals, plum and cherry. Third up was an Italian Barbaresco: A 2000 Castello Di Nieve "Santo Stefano." This Northwestern Italian wine was earthy, with deep flavors and a tannic finish. This was new to me and an amazing find I probably would've never tried on my own.

Lastly, McCoog poured a 2001 Napa Valley Meritage - Juslyn "Perry's Blend." This full-bodied red was fruity, woody and well balanced, and made a great end to a relaxing night of new wine.

To clear the palate between wines - or heck, to just enjoy - the bar and Terraza del Sol serves up a great selection of gourmet fare. From Prosciutto di Parma-wrapped Figs with Toasted Walnuts and aged Balsamic ($8) to Fois Gras Toast Points with Truffle Oil ($14).  

Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort
5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Rd.
Tucson, AZ  85718
(520) 299-1501
Free wine tasting: Tuesdays from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

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Tight budgets shouldn't stop anyone from having fun in Tucson! We just found this great local blog, http://tucsononthecheap.com, in which the writers post new bargains and freebies daily, including family fun, attractions, hotels, restaurants and bars. They call it "Tucson On The Cheap: The Cheapskate's Guide to Fun in Tucson," but I call it "Search for spare change in your couch and get out and do something!"

For example, today's post reads:

Monsoon Mondays at the Tucson Children's Museum

The Tucson Children's Museum has a GREAT deal for the kiddies. It's called Monsoon Monday Nights, and the deal is that everyone is admitted to the museum for $1 on Monday evenings. Details below. Typically, kids up through about the age of ten love going to this museum. They always have cool stuff going on.

Where: Tucson Children's Museum, 200 S. 6th Avenue Tucson, 85701 (520) 792-9985.
When: Monday evenings from Memorial Day, 2009-Labor Day, 2009. 5:00PM - 8:00 PM.
How much: $1 admission

Check it out!

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