Another fun and interesting conversation with Lisa. This one ranged from the Tucson Botanical Gardens to the Arizona Inn to degrees of separation to color TV. With lots of stops and rabbit trails in between. The conversation spurred my interviewer to talk about her history with the Gardens. She told a story about how they
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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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The name Maynard as well as bike shops and running are a big part of Tucson. At least from my perspective. Lisa Schnebly Heidinger and I spent some time talking about these topics on her podcast “Celebrating Arizona.” As usual, her reporter’s sense and our ability to have a balanced conversation made for a fun
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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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As I’ve mentioned in this space before, the best way to get to know a community is eyeball to eyeball. Sure, coffee shops, breweries and bike shops are a start. But here in Tucson, we have another outlet. The local farmers markets. There is a rhythm and tone to when and where they are held.
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The place has been a fixture of Tucson’s restaurant landscape for 60 years. It’s a classic diner with a counter and booths. And pies. Yup, pies. I thought I had left good pies behind in Dallas with Humble Pies. But I soon discovered that those 60 years of experrience amount to something when it comes
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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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El Tour de Tucson is a fixture on the calendar, particularly with the cycling community. With 10,000-plus riders on the three top distances (Century, Metric Century, Half Metric Century) plus the shorter rides and running events, this is an immersive event for the city and county. The 2025 edition of this event was a turning
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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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Brandi Fenton Memorial Park in North Tucson is actually a multi-faceted site. That is, it is home to a memorial, fine art, history and green space. Sal and I frequent it often. Recently our friends up at Meet Me Wednesdays approached us about putting together an art walk at the site. It actually came together
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