The Historic Y

“The Historic Y is a vibrant, artistically and progressively oriented community, home to a variety of visual, architectural, performing and healing arts professionals as well as many of Tucson’s pre-eminent non-profit environmental, conservation, educational, cultural, social justice and community service organizations, including Tucson Audubon Society, Paulo Freire Freedom School, The Rogue Theatre, and ZUZI’s Theater.”

The Historic Y is located at 738 N. 5th Avenu and 300 E. University Blvd. (SE corner of N. 5th and University). “The main building at The Historic Y was designed by Annie Graham Rockfellow to house the YWCA of Tucson and was completed in 1930. Expanded in the 40’s and 50’s, the entire complex was updated and converted to offices in the 1980’s, with care to preserve the original architectural features that lend the building its wonderful charm and character.”

(The YWCA of Tucson has moved to their lovely, new building at 525 N. Bonita Avenue).

Most people in Tucson know that a number of “Green-friendly” organizations are housed in this building: Arizona League of Conservation Voters, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, Arizona Wilderness Coalition, Sierra Club – Rincon Group of the Grand Canyon Chapter , Sky Island Alliance, as well as the aforementioned Tucson Audubon Society (and Nature gift shop).

Need I say more? For more need information about long term office leasing, or booking an event or class in The Historic Y Conference Room, Courtyard, Second Floor Lobby or other rooms including the art gallery, please contact Shawn Burke at shawnburke@me.com or 520.622.4700, or log onto www.TheHistoricY.com.

Coming up: Artwork & photography by students of Paulo Freire Freedom School, May 24-28, 2010, in the Historic Y Gallery.

An Annual Pie Baking contest (since 2003) is coming up on Sunday April 11. Enter your favorite pie (fruit, cream, vegan, other) between 1 and 2 p.m. at Dunbar School Auditorium (325 W. 2nd St., at Main Ave.), followed by judging.

Eating of these pies (yum) is from 4 to 7 p.m., once the winners are announced. These delicious pies will be sold for $3 a slice, or $5 for two slices.

For more info: www.pieparty.org (including photos of previous year’s contests). Organizers are Megan “Turtle” Southern and Ian Fritz.

You can eat as much as you like. Here are the prize categories:

Best in Show -
Wins a 4 night stay at a beachside condo in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, and chooses the recipient of the event proceeds from a list of non-profits on the website (also see list below).

Pie contest logo

- First Place -
(one in each category)
Dinner for two at Janos, Maynard’s, The B-Line, or Lovin’ Spoonfuls

- Second Place -
(one in each category)
A whole pie from Bentley’s, Cup Cafe, Pastiche, or Epic Cafe

- Third Place -
(one in each category)
A 2010 edition “Eat More Pie” t-shirt

Ribbons will be awarded to all winning pie bakers, including third place. A prize will also go to the most creative pie.

So, get out that favorite, secret, gourmet pie recipe from your Tante Gunhild, Uncle Toby, or Greatgrandma, and bake it up for this pie contest.

One lucky non-profit from this list will receive the event proceeds:

Center for Biological Diversity
Desert Harvesters (4/15 update: received $3,750 proceeds)
Dunbar Coalition
Earth First! Journal
Gloo Factory
KXCI
No More Deaths (No Mas Muertes)
Nuclear Resister
Owl and Panther Project
Sky Island Alliance
Tucson CARES (Companion Animal Rescue, Education, and Support)

Eat more pie!