It’s the hidden oasis in Midtown Tucson. Celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2026, the Tucson Botanical Gardens are a showcase of the plant life of the Sonoran and Chihuahua Deserts. I only discovered the gardens since I’ve returned. Having left in 1977, this wasn’t a place that really was even on the map for me
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On a recent “spa” day I had the chance to try a new breakfast place. The Happy Rooster Cafe is at Sarnoff and 22nd Street in what looks like a former convenience store. There is little wall surface that doesn’t have some kind of artwork. But we couldn’t find a signature! Besides the art this is a
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Recently I was a guest on a podcast and the topic turned to what made Arizona, well, Arizona. We are more than a melting pot. That would just be a collection of things, more of a recipe. A melting pot coalesces everything and just makes the “dish” kind of homogenous. With a mulligan stew, on
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Being the car nut that I am and have been most of my life, it was only natural to make my way to the collection. Really, in the car-culture crazy Phoenix Metro area, it was a great starting place. This is really owner and founder, Mel Martin’s, personal collection. It’s not just the 175 or
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This museum was recommended by my neighbor. They told me it was an immersive experience. And they were right. To just call it a museum would be falling short of it’s whole description. It truly is immersive. Filling two full floors of a massive structure in North Phoenix, the MIM as it is called, is
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It was a like a trip in the Wayback Machine. My sister and I had been planning this adventure for sometime. Our mission was to head for the apple and peach orchards and snag some fresh corn from this converted cowtown. Back in the 1880s when Willcox, about 80 miles southeast of Tucson, was founded
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As we’ve mentioned in this space before, Tucson and environs are teeming with murals and other works of art. Since returning to Southern Arizona in July 2024, I have personally seen almost 700 pieces of art. However, today we are focusing on the murals. What started this discussion was a conversation with my friend and
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This was the “other” city park when I was growing up. That is, a city park of any size next to Randolph Park. And Himmel, too, was a midtown park. With a similar history to Randolph Park. With a library and extensive playgrounds and sport fields, this was the jewel of midtown. Surrounded by the
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With Frank Lloyd Wright being such a presence in the Valley, it only made sense to drive the 15 minutes to see his Taliesin West. Well worth the time and a most enjoyable tour of a creative space. Made up of 16 stops and guided by an audio tour played through an app on your
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After doing a bit of research, I found this collection of murals and public art in Downtown Phoenix. Arrayed along Roosevelt Street near its intersection with Central Avenue in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, this really is a motherlode of murals. It is truly a walkable arts district. Within less than 20 minutes and a
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