4th Avenue Winter Street Fair
December 7, 8, 9, 2012
Open Daily 10am to 6pm

And the reports are that the Sun Link streetcar construction will be done by Dec. 4th, in time for this winter street fair.

More info: www.fourthavenue.org, Fourth Avenue Merchant’s Association (FAMA), (520) 624-5004. FAMA is located at 434 E.9th Street,at SW corner of E. 9th St. and 3rd Avenue, just east of 4th Avenue.

And also even closer to 4th Avenue at 414 E.9th Street is Fluxx Gallery & Studio, which is having an extended Street Fair:

From Ward 3 Councilwoman Karin Uhlich’s newsletter:
“Buy Local Day Party on 4th Avenue – Friday, November 23 from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Next to Creative Ventures Mall (522 N. 4th Avenue). Local First Arizona invites you to kick off the “Buy Local Month” holiday shopping season during their annual Black Friday Sale. Free gift wrapping, gift certificates from local merchants and discounted shopping tokens”. More info: http://localfirstaz.com/news/local-first-arizona-holiday-shop-local-guide-tucson/

Local First Arizona (LFA) is a non-profit organization working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining, and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the state of Arizona.

We educate citizens, stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of strong local economies. We build vibrant communities that make residents proud to call home.

Local First Arizona was founded in 2003 named Arizona Chain Reaction. In 2007, the organization expanded, applied for 501©3 non profit status, and changed the name to Local First Arizona. The name was changed in order to better define the positive messages of buying locally and community building, which better fit the mission of the organization.

Their website lists a whole bunch of local businesses in Metro Tucson and Pima County (click here). Being as Friday is the so-called “Black Friday”, a huge shopping day prior to the winter holidays, check them out for ideas where to get great gifts.

And if you’re not on their directory, contact:
Tucson Membership Coordinator
Deanna Chevas, (520) 333-2073, deanna@localfirstaz.com

I met Deanna again recently as we were in the same group for a Tucson Planning & Development Services Dept. workshop, plus I attended a press conference back in June, 2012 about their Golden coupon offer during Independents Week (click here for previous post). I used that Golden Coupon to save 20% off while eating lunch at Delectables on 4th Avenue, which really needed our business during that Sun Link construction period.

And it’s National Buy Local month, November 23 to December 25, 2012.

Enjoy shopping on “Black Friday”.

My husband and I are bikers and we have a lot of extra bike stuff. If you are like us, head over to the Fall 2012 GABA Swap meet on to sell or exchange some of your bicycle equipment, clothing, misc. stuff. This Fall swap meet is held annually a week before El Tour de Tucson, which will be held on November 17, 2012. New this year due to Sun Link Construction – the swap meet will be on 5th Avenue (see info below from GABA’s website):

Still the same and yet different ( new improved and old fashioned). We’re scheduled for Saturday, November 10, 2012 , from 8am through 2pm. We’ll have four blocks of the street closed off to car traffic, centered at the corner of 5th avenue and 7th Street, just West of historic 4th Avenue. This will be our second bike swap at this spot. It was good last April and it should be great this November. Even though it’s not on 4th Avenue, we still have a great partnership with the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association (FAMA).

More info at Greater Arizona Bicycling Association: www.bikegaba.org. Contact Greg Yares at 520-323-9020 or bikeswap@bikegaba.org.

Despite the Sun Link construction on Congress Street and more construction on E. Broadway, 2nd Saturdays Downtown in still continuing, though the crowds have lessened. Here’s your chance to check out the restaurants, music stages, and art galleries around downtown in the cool of the evening.

Next one is comning up on Saturday Sept. 8, 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (or later at the bars).

Check out the website, www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com for the full schedule, as always.

At the Fox Tucson Theatre for Downtown 2nd Saturdays: LeeAnne Savage

Saturday, September 8, 2012, 7:00 pm

Free Admission!

LeeAnne Savage

This high-energy performing artist successfully performed in and around the western US since 1995 with a collection of high caliber of musicians. Making her home in Arizona, many of her bands were not only very popular with fellow Arizonans, but received high accolades such as several TAMMIES (Tucson Arizona Music Awards) for Best Band, Best Musician, Best Vocalist.

And over at Cinema La Placita at 7 p.m. (empty lot on Jackson St. south of Broadway, west of Scott Ave.):

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (2006)
Starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke, and Ricky Gervais.

A newly recruited night security guard at the Museum of Natural History discovers that an ancient curse causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc.

Enjoy this entertainment, all happening downtown!

With the temporary closing of part of E. Congress Street for the Sun Link modern streetcar construction, going downtown has been a bit of a challenge. However, 2nd Saturdays Downtown did happen last month on April 14, and will be held again on Saturday May 14.

Downtowntucson.org reports that Scott Avenue will be expanded down to Jackson Street to accommodate the construction: http://www.downtowntucson.org/2012/05/2nd-saturdays-moves-to-scott-avenue/

Full event schedule at the 2nd Saturdays Downtown website, www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com.

And click here for a detour map: http://www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Detour-Plan.pdf. Consider taking the Sun Tran bus, biking, walking, skateboarding, to ease up some of the traffic going downtown. But remember that 6th Avenue south of E. 6th Street is now two ways for easier access, so there is parking still available, just not on Congress.

Support downtown and continue to enjoy this wildly popular & successful urban street fest, with lively music, great selection of food, crafts, movies, art receptions, science exhibits, classic cars, etc. etc. Most events are free except for the food.

Showing at The Drawing Studio, 33 S. 6th Avenue are whimsical and satirical cartoons by David Kish, who draws the Hoopleville Comics in The Tucson Weekly. I went to the opening reception last Saturday, and the show is open again this 2nd Saturday, and will continue till May 26.