It’s almost three years since the very first 2nd Saturday Downtown kicked off on May 8, 2010 (click here for the first photo gallery), and the fun & excitement has continued every month since then (except for a few nights with a bit of inclement rainy weather, and also on January 8, 2011 after that mass shooting in Tucson).

I’ve been blogging about this monthly event every month before the 2nd Saturday of the month. There’s been free outdoor movies to see hosted by Cinema La Placita and even often free films (or live performances) at The Screening Room (127 E. Congress St.). This Saturday the Cinema La Placita showing is at a new location: the Old Pueblo parking lot, 43 E. Congress St. between Scott & Stone Ave.

There’s been live music bands on the streets of E. Congress and close by, on the large Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress and Broadway), and at both the Fox and Rialto Theaters.

Performing along E. Congress are usually the 7 Pipers Band (Scottish bagpipes), and sometimes the mute or singing/dancing living statues from the Parasol Project. Tucson Circus Artists on stilts are usually entertaining downtown.

Food vendors and art & craft merchants are often selling their wares somewhere near the Scott Avenue Stage (there’s been some changes due to the modern streetcar construction). And eclectic art receptions have been held at Sacred Machine (245 E. Congress), The Drawing Studio (33 S. 6th Ave.), Dragonfly Gallery (146 E. Broadway), and Etherton Gallery (135 S. 6th Ave.)

Check out the event schedule every month at www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com.

There’s even entertainment now (or so I hear) on the top of the somewhat new green Pennington Street Garage (110. E. Pennington). This venue is being abbreviated as T.O.P. (Top Of Pennington) with jazz, rock & roll music, etc. Check it out.

And if you’re new to Tucson, or rarely go downtown, here’s your chance to enjoy downtown Tucson, mostly for free at this urban street fest. Just find Congress Street and roam around that area between the Hotel Congress & Rialto Theater on the east end, to the Fox Theater on the west end.

The Tucson Progressive Film Festival

“Lights, Camera, Progressive Action”

The Tucson Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, The Screening Room, and Tucson MoveOn announce the first ever Tucson Progressive Film Festival – “Lights, Camera, Progressive Action”. It is aimed at engaging the Progressive community through viewing and discussing films featuring issues of importance to Progressives. The Festival will be at The Screening Room and will take place Oct. 26-28. A total of six films will be shown followed by a discussion lead people either involved in the film’s production or who have expertise in the subject of the film.

PRICE AND HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

$8/ film

$10/ one day pass

$15/ entire festival weekend

To pay admission, go to http://pdatucson.blogspot.com/, at bottom of far right column entitled Tucson Progressive Film Festival is the Pay Pal button. Use the Pay Pal receipt for admission.

WHERE: The Screening Room, 127 E Congress

FESTIVAL FILMS, DATES, AND TIMES

Fri. Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
“Heist: Who Stole the American Dream”, discussion with filmmaker Frances Causey

Sat. Oct. 27, 3 p.m.
“Urban Roots” (the Greening of Detroit), discussion led by Tucson urban gardeners and a representative from the Community Food Bank

Sat. Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
“Koch Brothers Exposed”

Sun. Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m.
“Cyanide Beach”, discussion with film maker John Dougherty (former U.S. Senate candidate in Arizona in 2010)

Sun. Oct. 28, 2:45 p.m.
“Vote”, discussion with State Senator Paula Aboud (LD 28)

Sun. Oct. 28, 4 p.m.
“Laramie Inside Out”, discussion with filmmaker Beverly Seckinger

CONTACTS:
Leslie Hunten – lhunten@gmail.com
Pam Powers – 520-609-0178, pjp333@gmail.com (blogger “Tucson Progressive” here at Tucsoncitizen.com & over at Blog for Arizona)
Phil Lopes – 520-861-7654, lopesphil@gmail.com (former LD 27 State House rep.)

I’ve seen two of these films — the deeply moving “Laramie Inside Out” about the killing of gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, and just a few weeks ago the Arizona women’s film “Vote” about the importance of voting and the continued fight for women’s reproductive rights. And I have yet to see recently released “Cyanide Beach” about the same people who are proposing the Rosemont Mine in Southern Arizona.

This is your chance to enjoy Brazilian & Caribbean music on April 14, 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. all over Tucson’s 2nd Saturday Downtown. First off from 5:30pm-6pm: Batucaxé & Friends Procession along downtown streets.

On the Scott Avenue Stage (E. Congress/Scott Avenue):

6pm-6:45pm: Capoeira Brasil
6:45pm-7:45pm: Batucaxé (Afro-Brazilian drum & dance)
7:45pm-8pm: Flam Chen, accompanied by Batucaxé
8pm-8:15pm: Poi-Zen Fire Troupe
8:15pm-9:15pm: Key Ingredients of African Soul (Afro-Beat/Reggae)
9:15pm-9:30pm: Poi-Zen Fire Troupe
9:30pm-10:30pm: Latin Funk Project (Latin/Rock)

Over at the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress, for free:

7pm-9pm: UA Steel Band brings a Caribbean dance party with the sounds of soca & calypso music! Photo and info below from Fox website:

The University of Arizona Steel Band program is comprised of two steel bands, UASteel and Blue Steel. The steel band program was founded in 1987 by Professor Gary Cook and then doctoral student, Jeannine Remy. Born from a small group of personal steel drums, the band now has over 50 instruments and involves students from across the campus. Eric Hines is the current Director of the UA Steel Band program.

UA Steel Band

Over at Ronstadt Transit Center (E. Congress/6th Avenue):

7-8:30pm: A Son y Sol Latin-American Music with a twist
9pm-10:30pm: Sticks & Fingers percussion ensemble featuring recording artist Richard Noel from the Caribbean island of Trinidad & Tobago.

Carnaval is coming to downtown Tucson! There’s going to be dancing in the streets!

And not to worry about Congress Street being temporarily closed (between Stone Ave. & Toole) due to the modern streetcar construction. Here’s a press release from 2nd Saturdays Downtown about parking & traffic flow (click here).

Not Caribbean, but FREE screenings on Saturday night for the 21st Arizona International Film Festival:
The Screening Room 127 E. Congress St.
5pm: Family Shorts 1
6pm: Family Shorts 2
7pm: Alligators Always Avoid Anchovies
8pm: Stardust and the Bandit (“A nerdy for mob accountant named Guy Bacon enters the Witness Protection Program and is relocated to Old Tucson Studios, the famous movie-set-turned-theme-park in southern Arizona. Things start to get a little hairy for Bacon, however, when someone recognizes him”.)
9pm: Comedy Shorts