September 11 marked the fifth 2nd Saturdays Downtown on and around E. Congress Street, filled with revelers, street musicians, more and more art & craft vendors, delicious food, and shows at all three theaters– the Rialto, the Screening Room and the Fox. We caught a bit of flamenco at the Screening Room, then listened to a lively free concert by Anna Warr & Giant Blue Band (six musicians with trumpets and saxophones, guitar, keyboards, drums).

Photos below all courtesy of Ward 6 Council aide Donovan Durband.

7 Pipers bagpiping down Congress Street

Here’s a photo of one of the acrobatic performers with “The Fying Tortillas” aka Les Avenge at the Ronstadt Transit Center.

Lot of delicious food vendors selling a variety of cuisine are available each month.

Laos Student Club food vendor

These four human statues called the “7 Blahs” (Parasol Project) would stand perfectly still until someone gave them money, then they would shout out “blah, blah, blah” and dance. Very amusing for the kids.

Screening Room marquee (flamenco dancers inside)

The Missing Parts street musicians

Fox Theater crowd down the street

Anna Warr & Giant Blue Band performed inside the Fox Theater

large crowd in the Empty Lot on Congress

puppet vendor on Scott Avenue

Good night from three of the “7 Blahs”.

Next 2nd Saturdays Downtown slated for October 9.

Be there.

Mini-facials, massages, other exciting pampering for women only in the courtyard at Old Town Artisans, 201 N. Court Ave. in downtown Tucson, on Sunday March 21, 3 to 6 p.m.
Entry is free, open to women (and their male friends of course) of all ages.

This is the fourth time this event has been offered at Old Town Artisans, and will consist of live music (jazz duo), flamenco dancing, a delicious Mexican buffet by La Cocina, a raffle of goodies, arts & crafts, even “mocktails” (no alcohol) for the children. This festive, community event promotes women artists, entrepreneurs, and causes. Mini-facials will cost $10, and massages are $1 for a minute.

Count me in. After all, March is Women’s Herstory Month, and what better way to tell your story than by looking and feeling good, and being pampered. And a portion of the proceeds and the money raised from the raffle from this Every Woman event goes to Tucson’s Primavera Foundation (www.primavera.org), an agency that assists the homeless.

courtyard at Old Town Artisans

And if you miss this Every Woman event on March 21, calendar the next one for Sunday May 30, same time, same place, same good fun. For more info contact organizer Marie Hancock at 520-822-6222, or at mariecloseness@yahoo.com.

Old Town Artisans is in an 150 year old adobe building in the El Presidio Historic District, and houses La Cocina Restaurant (Southwest fare), two art galleries (Dawn Stewart and The Outpost), and three shops (Tolteca Tlacuilo, Old Town Pot Shop, and La Zia). Something for everyone’s gift giving needs can be found here, plus you can relax and eat in their lovely, shaded Spanish style courtyard next to a charming fishpond (with live goldfish), pictured above.

For information on Old Town Artisans, call 520-623-6024, info@oldtownartisans.com, website: http://oldtownartisans.com/ .

Old Town Artisans is located one block north of Alameda, one block west of Church Avenue, between the Tucson Museum of Art (to the west) and the El Presidio de San Agustin (to the east). Experience the charm of downtown and that Old Town feeling of the “true historic Tucson experience.”