Art

Embracing Tucson: Shopping Centers of the past

They were the anchors of neighborhoods and parts of town. If you said you lived near a specific one then your conversant probably knew about where you lived and how to get to your house. Each had its own collection of stores. Usually anchored by a grocery store and a drug store, they may have […]

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Embracing Tucson: Signs and Slogans

Growing up in this town there were lots of local personalities that produced (and many times, starred in)  TV advertisements for their businesses.  This is not a Tucson-only phenomenon, but, you have to admit, we have had our share of characters over the years. “Call for Wally! Call for Wally! For an estimate Free, given

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Embracing Tucson: The Rodeo Parade

Every February, usually the last Thursday and Friday of the month was rodeo break from school. It was our week to dress up in boots and pearl button shirts and cowboy hats. And the big event was the parade. The La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros rodeo parade is the longest, non-mechanized parade in the world.

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Embracing Tucson: Pop McKale’s Place

It has a power and magnetism few places have. From the “A” on the basketball floor to the banners in the rafters, it is the spirit of Arizona. McKale Center is an electric place. I had the chance to see a game in the hallowed structure. The first time I’ve been there in some time.

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Embracing Tucson: Memories of Dime Stores and Downtown

My sister related a story to me earlier today about a memory she had of downtown Tucson as a little girl. “There were three dime stores downtown,” she related to me.  “I remember the cosmetic counter at McLellans, the lunch counter at Woolworths, and the escalator at Kresge’s.” The “Five and Dime” stores she mentions

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Embracing Tucson: Local Authors

As part of my immersion into all things Tucson, I’ve taken to reading local authors telling local stories. I started with my high school and college classmate, Lisa Schnebley Heidinger. Her books, podcasts and texts and emails helped me make the transition back to my old hometown. Inspired, I moved on to a couple of

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Embracing Tucson: The Fox Tucson Theatre

A friend recommended that I take the monthly tour of the revitalized and restored Fox Tucson Theatre downtown.  It was well worth the 2 hours. Held at noon on the first Tuesday of each month, the tour is led by a staffer knowledgeable in the history of the place.  I learned today that the Fox

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Embracing Tucson: 100 Years of the Rodeo

Murals and art are such a significant part of the culture of Tucson in the 2020s. so why not create and showcase a mural commemorating 100 years of the Tucson Rodeo? It was a beautiful Saturday to “unveil” the mural–that is, if you “unveil” something that is a city block wide and four stories tall

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