photo courtesy of Tucson Meet Yourself, taken by Steven Meckler

2011 FESTIVAL DATES AND TIMES! (location downtown – see map above)

Friday, October 14, 2011 11am – 10pm
Saturday, October 15, 2011 10am – 10pm
Sunday, October 16, 2011 11am – 6pm

Please pay attention to the 2011 map as this folklife festival has grown and now extends from Old Town Artisans area in the north, down to the TCC Plaza area near Leo Rich Theater to the south. I met people last year who didn’t know about all the sites & entertainment stages as they hadn’t consulted the festival map.

New this year: Tucson MOVE your Body Workout on Saturday October 15, 2 p.m. when “a giant MOVING Parade will swirl through all areas of the Festival in a ‘join-the-parade’ celebration of parade traditions, costumes and color. MOVE your body in your own style, your own expression.”

All info at www.tucsonmeetyourself.org.

Greet, meet and eat at Tucson Meet Yourself.

And what a birthday celebration it was yesterday (August 20)! Tucson’s Birthday photographer Jon Scanlon took the shots below of people celebrating all day: starting off with the downtown flag ceremony at Presidio San Agustin de Tucson, then at the “Birthday Express” locomotive 1673 at Tucson’s Historic Train depot, lovely art for sale at Old Town Artisans, creative quilts on display at Martha Cooper Branch Library, followed by a birthday cake by Nadine’s Bakery at the Hotel Congress, as well as live music at the Rialto Theater. My husband and I ate that cake & enjoyed it a lot, along with lots of other people. “Happy Birthday Tucson!” was heard throughout the day.

For lots more photos of yesterday’s birthday activities click here. There’s Flickr photos of most of the past events as well.

And it’s not over yet. For more events for Tucson’s Birthday month of August, log onto www.tucsonsbirthday.org.

Looking for a gift or clothes while working/visiting downtown Tucson?

Someone asked me if there was anywhere to shop downtown and upon reflection, here’s a list of 20 plus businesses, based on some research from the Downtown Tucson Partnership website and my own personal knowledge (click on the blue links for further info):

Desert Bloom 27 N. Stone Ave., 792-9882. Monday-Friday 9:30 am–5:30pm, Saturday Noon–5pm. Fine jewelry, unique gifts, distinctive home and garden accessories.

Flanagan’s Celtic Corner 222 E. Congress St., 623-9922. Wednesday-Friday 11am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm. Celtic jewelry, pottery, t-shirts, Guinness items, more.

Friends of the Library Bookstore at the Joel D. Valdez Main library, 101 N. Stone Ave., 594-5500. Monday to Friday 11 to 2 p.m. Low cost books,CDs, DVDs.

Hotel Arizona gift shop, 181 W. Broadway, 624-8711. Greeting cards, Southwest gifts, more.

Hydra Leather and More 145 E. Congress St, 791-3711. Monday-Saturday 11am–7pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm. An eclectic mix of fashions, lingerie, shoes, and accessories for men and women.

Indian Village Trading Post 110 S. Church Ave. #4199 (La Pilita Village), 623-1162. Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 10 am-3 pm. Jewelry, clothes and shirts native to Tucson.

June’s Corner Store 10 E. Broadway, Suite 108, 622-8100. Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm. A large selection of greeting cards and gifts.

Mahlia Collection 410 N. Toole Ave. Suite 1, 791-2185, Monday to Friday 9 to 5 p.m. Jewelry, furniture, couture, accessories.

Maynard’s Market 400 N. Toole St., 545-0577, Sunday through Thursday: 7am – 8pm,
Friday and Saturday: 7am – 10pm. Gourmet foods, specialty gift items (candles, tshirts, Vy & Elle bags, greeting cards), more.

Old Town Artisans Shops 201 N. Court Ave., 623-6024. September–May: Monday–Saturday 9:30am–5:30pm, Sunday 11am–5pm, June–August: Monday–Saturday 10am–4pm, Sunday 11am–4pm. Located in the El Presidio Historic District is the little city block of Old Town Artisans. Five shops: Dawn Stewart (jewerly/fine art), La Zia (native arts & crafts), Old Town Pot Shop (pottery, artwork, & more), The Outpost (fine art & handicrafts),Tolteca Tlacuilo (world imports).

Perri Jewelers 13 N. Stone Ave., 624-4311. Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm. Diamonds, watches, jewelry, guaranteed jewelry and watch repair.

Re-Threads 66 E. Pennington St., 884-5553. Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, Saturday 10am-2pm. Recycled fashions.

Rockin’ Queen, Inc 45 S. 6th Ave, 461-1076. Monday to Friday, 10 am to 7 pm. Women’s high-quality clothing (100% bamboo, cotton & silk).

6th Ave. Stylez 41 S. 6th Ave., 409-7928, Monday to Friday, 11 am to 7 pm. Men’s and women’s casual clothing.

Studio 220/Got All Your Marbles 220 E. Congress, 628-1433. Thursday-Saturday 10:30am-2:30pm. Featuring our own interchangeable marble jewelry, as well as other fun, creative jewelry and art.

Tiendita Gift Shop at La Pilita Museum, 440 S. Main St., 882-7454. Tuesday to Saturday, 11 to 2 p.m. T-shirts, greeting cards, ceramic crafts by local artists, more.

drawing of La Pilita Museum by Nancy Lenches, 2004

Tucson Children’s Museum (Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s Gift Shop) 200 S. 6th Ave., 792-9985. Tuesday to Friday 9 to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm. Plush novelties, coloring books, toys for children.

The Museum Shop at the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block 140 N. Main, 624-2333. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Sunday noon-5pm. A splendid selection of works by Arizona’s most talented artists and craftspeople. One-of-a-kind handcrafted glass, pottery, textiles, jewelry, and multimedia artworks available in this lobby-level shop.

We keep waiting for Downtown redevelopment to occur, for Downtown Tucson to have another “hey day” for more shopping and gifts. But check out what’s there now, and let me know if I missed any favorite shops which you frequent.