Eat. Sip. Bid!

at Jerome Beillard Festival for Life on Saturday Nov 19, at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Road (east of La Canada, north side).

“Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuveres, and a no-host bar while viewing and bidding on more than 600 pieces of artwork, one-of-a-kind experiences, and gift packages featured in the Festival for Life live and silent auctions”, now in its 23rd year.

5:30 p.m. event registraton
6:00 p.m. silent auction dorrs open
7:00 p.m. live auction begins

Auction items include a trip for 2 to Bali, Mexican vacation packages, framed artwork by local artists Gail Marcus-Orlen, Liz Vaughn & Wil Taylor, framed photographs by Betsy Leacock and Lorraine Darconte, a ballet-themed Christmas tree, gifts baskets.

Each year, Festival for Life features more than 80 framed Paper Prayers for bids in our silent auction as well as 100s more unframed for sale at $10 each. Paper Prayers are created by artists, SAAF staff, clients, and volunteers and are one of the highlights of each year’s event. In Japan, when someone is ill, friends and family bring pieces of artwork on strips of paper, the traditional gift to inspire good health.
Bidding on framed Paper Prayers begins at $40.

Featured entertainment by Flam Chen, the Street Minstrels, Jose Luis Puerta.
Moderated by Lupita Murillo, KVOA Channel 4, and Bobby Rich, 94.9 MIX fm.

More info: www.festvalforlife.org or call 520-628-7223. All proceeds benefit SAAF, the Southern AZ Aids Foundation, www.saaf.org. It’s fitting to use these paper prayers to aid in the healing of SAAF’s clients.

Tickets are $25 in advance (purchase online) or $35 at the door.

December 8, 1989 was the first Festival of the Trees, a fundraiser for the People with AIDS Coalition of Tucson (P.A.C.T). The event auctioned off nearly 200 decorated trees and wreathes for the holiday season. Over the years, the event grew and in 1992, Festival of the Trees became Festival for Life adding artwork, menorahs, and celebrity items. That year also had a special appearance by Miss Mary Wilson, formerly of the Supremes. In 1995, P.A.C.T.’s co-founder and Executive Director, Jerôme Beillard, passed away from AIDS complications and Festival for Life was renamed to the Jerôme Beillard Festival for Life – honoring the work and spirit of a great man. Each year added amazing artwork, designer Christmas trees, gift baskets, celebrity items and sculptures. Each year also added local sponsors and community members all supporting the same cause.

Can’t attend but want to support Festival for Life? Make a $10 donation by texting “SAAF” to 20222 on your cell phone.

From Bohemia, an artisans emporium: Open 7 Days a week! They sell lots of local artists’ handmade creations (jewelry, paintings, mosaics, wooden furniture, metal art, yarnwork,clothing, note cards, handbags, mirrors, gourds, mobiles, etc. etc).

I know of some of the Tucson artists who have their work there: Rand Carlson, Gavin Troy, Wil Taylor, Pamela Powers (“Tucson Progressive“), Ruben Moreno, Janet K. Miller, Liz Vaughn, and our Editor Ryn Gargulinski as well.

Bohemia now has 2 locations:
–2920 E. Broadway (west of Country Club)

artisans' wares for sale at Bohemia

Sun-Mon 11am-4pm
Tues-Sat 10am-6pm

–417 N. 4th Ave (south of E. 6th Street)

Sun 12-5pm
Mon, Wed-Sat
11am-6pm

extended holiday hours coming soon! Photos courtesy of Bohemia.

Shop Local Day!!
Traditionally the day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday…when big box stores and chain retailers open their doors at the crack of dawn or sooner for the crowds of peeps that are looking for deals of the year…well, 2 years ago our lovely Governor Napolitano proclaimed the day “Shop Local Day” as she understood the importance of keeping your dollars where you live! It is certainly hard for small, local businesses to compete with big box discounts, but we do our best and we offer so much more in the way of uniqueness, quality and special service!

So, in keeping with local shopping “tradition,” we will be offering 20-40% almost everything storewide at both locations this Friday, November 26th!! Visit us at 2920 E. Broadway or 417 N. 4th Ave (our cohorts in The Little Village, The Wooden Tooth and Ventana Gallery, will be offering discounts as well!) from 10am-7pm for great savings on lovely, handmade creations!

We encourage you to try to shop local all season long (or all year!)…visit www.localfirstaz.com for a guide to other amazing local spots and their deals for Shop Local Day!

typical artwork for sale at Bohemia by Liz Vaughn