While at Tucson Meet Yourself back in October I met the daughter of Chef Natasha who is opening a new Russian restaurant in Tucson, named Kalina, “a taste of Russian luxuries”.

She has named the restaurant after her father, who just passed away on November 18. The Grand Opening was originally planned for November but is now set for December 5.

In Chef Natasha’s own words:

“Kalina” is my family last name from Ukraine. It is a beautiful tree with red berries that are very healthy and can be eaten by people. Berries stay on the tree over the winter to help birds through cold time with food. I make homemade tasting Russian and European food. Many recipes are my grandmothers and my family.

They are located at 8969 E. Tanque Verde Road #209, website: www.kalinarestaurant.com. Open for regular hours 9:30am – 9:30pm on Dec. 5 with “free samplings and offerings and discounts”. Please call 520-360-4040 to make a reservation due to the small but cozy dinning room. Lunch/dinner menu below.

OPEN HOURS:
Tuesday through Saturday 9:30am – 9:30 pm
Lunch
High Tea all day
Dinner
Closed Sunday and Monday
Will have Sunday brunch very soon with omelet and blintzes bar.

Lunch/Dinner

Siberian Pelmeni
meat dumplings served with creme fraiche
small 7 large 9

Poltava’s Vareniki
mashed potato dumplings served with mushroom consomme
small 6 large 8

Stuffed Bell Pepper
rice, carrots and onions stuffed bell pepper with tomato sauce
meat 9 vegetarian 7

St. Petersburg Beef Stroganoff
thin slices of top sirloin, challots, cremini mushrooms and sour cream
served over homemade egg noodles
10

Chicken Kiev
served with roasted potatoes and mushrooms
10

NY Steak
served with root vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes
12

Borscht (Soup)
Ukrainian beet Borscht and fried cabbage Piroshki
6

Olivier (Salad)
kielbasa, potato, peas, carrots, pickles, saffron mayo,eggs
served with black bread
8

Venigret (Salad)
red beets, potato, red onions, cornichons,sour cabbage, shredded carrots
served with black bread

I know people in the Russian & Slavic Studies Dept. at the U of A who will be very happy to hear this news. Enjoy these Russian delicacies.

Former Tucson Birthday’s photographer Jon Scanlon was there on assignment (by me) to take most of these graphic photos, including the one above of the crowd scene. Viewer warning: the photos below are not recommended for children, as they are quite bloody and gruesome.

I can credit myself for the first three shots below (the lady with the dead baby in her belly, the gruesome guy with a half zombie body on his back, and another scary male zombie). And I took the bonus photo at the very end of this photo gallery. It was a busy night with 2nd Saturday Downtown (where the Zombie Walk ended at about 9 p.m.) as well as Tucson Meet Yourself going on to the west side of downtown.

The theme of this year’s Zombie Walk was “The End is Here”, and many of these photos exemplify that theme. Website: www.tucsonzombies.com (for a photo archive of previous zombie walks). Thanks Jon for the graphic photos below:

So since “The End is Here”, let’s see what happens next year 2013 (the thirteenth year of the 21st Century) if there is another zombie Walk. And if you’re wondering what that half body on the back of the gruesome guy in photo #3 above looked like, here’s a bonus photo I took:

Aidswalk Tucson is in its 24th year (started in 1988) and is now moving to the Jacome Plaza downtown in front of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, on Sunday October 14. Event starts at 8 a.m. The Main library is at 101 N. Stone, just south of Alameda.

AIDSWALK TUCSON 2012 EVENT SCHEDULE

Event Program Begins:..8:15 a.m.

Warm Up/ Music:………..8:30 a.m.

Walk Start Time:………..9:00 a.m.

Ending Ceremony:……..10:00 a.m.

Quilt Opening:…………..10:15 a.m.

2012 Honorary Chair is new Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild.

After 6 years at the University of Arizona mall, and previously at Rillito Downs, Aidswalk Tucson has found a new location in downtown. The Tucson Meet Yourself festival runs from October 12 to 14 at the Jacome Plaza, and elsewhere in downtown such as El Presidio Park and La Placita Village. Participate in Aidswalk on October 14, then stay for the rest of the multi-cultural festival. More info: www.aidswalktucson.org, to sign up online. Aidswalk is sponsored by the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation (SAAF).

You can even make a $10 donation on your cell phone by texting “SAAF” to 20222.

Help raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and attend/enjoy Tucson Meet Yourself as well.

Walk straight ahead to downtown for Aidswalk 2012

Tucson Meet Yourself Folklife Festival:
Friday, October 12th, 11am – 10pm
Saturday, October 13th, 11am – 10pm
Sunday, October 14th, 11am – 6pm

Schedule for October 12, 13, and 14:
http://tucsonmeetyourself2012.sched.org/

The annual event has grown considerably. The festival is proud to debut the following special themes and new events:

Kidlore: The Culture of Kids – activity area and educational hands-on programs focused on the traditions of children between the ages of 6 and 15 such as games, riddles, jokes, pranks, superstitions, rhymes and games played in the school playground; concerned with those activities which are learned and passed on by children to other children.

25th Anniversary AIDS Walk — (Sunday morning October 14, 2012) within perimeter of Tucson Meet Yourself footprint in downtown Tucson, culminating in ritual unfolding of Quilt Panels (national and local) in partnership with Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF).

Symbols and Traditions of AIDS Activism – exhibit of artifacts and mementos of the folk community and folk practices that came together around the AIDS crisis starting in the early 1980s, one of the most complex epidemics in modern history (plus complimentary program of lectures, story circles, health prevention education booths, and select performances).

Quilts Making a Difference — mirroring the 2012 theme of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. “Creativity and Crisis,” exhibit and activity area including hands-on quilting demonstrations, sewing circles, and storytelling about quilts made to raise awareness about a range of social issues.

Lowrider Car Club “Dukes” 50th Anniversary — commemorative exhibit, story circles, and special events about the world’s oldest lowrider car club in continuous existence, with over 30 chapter all over the USA (including Tucson) as well as Australia and Japan.

Lowrider Car Show and Contest (organized by the Dukes Club Tucson) — complimented by live auto-parts and modifications demonstrations, story circles, and special events commemorating America’s automobile industry’s unique and authentic folk traditions. Other highlights include a “Chop Shop” garage, interviews with car owners, and “oldies” DJ music in the tradition of lowrider gatherings.

Pow Wow 101 — the first installment of TMY’s new statewide folk arts scope “Arizona Traditional Arts” introduces the public to everything they always wanted to know about a pow wow but were afraid to ask: the rules of comportment in this intertribal Native gathering, different styles of Northern and Summer drumming and singing, drum maker demonstration, sales of Native crafts, fancy and traditional dancers, and community dance where everyone is welcomed to join.

Traditions of Caribbean Music and Ritual — (three days of fun, festivities and educational workshops) A local celebration of the many strands and cultural objects and sounds of one of the world’s most exuberant celebrations, the annual Carnival from Trinidad. Authentically led by Tucsonans who hail from the island. Expanded in 2012 to include dress-making demonstrations, calypso, soca, and limbo demonstrations as well as hands-on workshops. Also featuring presentations over three days of other related Afro-Caribbean sounds and rituals, including Puerto Rican “bomba y plena,” Cuban Orisha chanting and drumming, and Jamaican reggae.

“Who wouldn’t enjoy Tucson Meet Yourself? Essentially, you can travel the world right here in Tucson,” says Jim Griffith, Tucson Meet Yourself cofounder. “You can watch world-class performers, find unique folk art and meet people from all corners of the globe. Many folks wait all year long for the home-cooked foods. Here, we come together to celebrate all kinds of communities and the traditions they carry on. The food and entertainment are the hooks; our goal is fundamentally educational.”

Once again Tucsonans, for the 39th year, meet people, try different ethnic foods, & enjoy the many wonders of Tucson Meet Yourself.

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.

Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse provides domestic abuse crisis intervention and housing, prevention and education, and support and advocacy services to women and children. Emerge! is the largest domestic abuse shelter and provider of domestic abuse prevention and abuse programs in Southern Arizona.
24-Hour Bilingual Crisis Line and Shelter:
(520) 795-4266
(888) 428-0101 Toll-free

Pima County Board of Supervisors just voted yesterday to allocate $100,000 from their Contingency fund to keep Emerge! operating. Since October is DV Awareness month and this is the only emergency shelter left in Tucson for victims of DV (mostly women & children), please help if you can as well.

Website: http://www.emergecenter.org/

As the former Interim Director of the DV Commission (before it went bankrupt due to unpaid federal payroll taxes by the previous Executive Director) and a former practicing attorney for an Americorps DV Victims Project, I would like to emphasize the importance of education & prevention & intervention in DV situations. I still remember a case I had back in Hawaii where I and another woman attorney were representing a young wife, who had been brutally hit on the head by her husband with a metal bucket. Right in front of us, as we were talking with her, their 2 year old son picked up a toy bucket and hit it on the head of another child. It was disturbing to see this abusive, copying behavior learned at a very young age.

List of activities for DV Awareness month from Emerge’s website:

http://www.emergecenter.org/about-us/domestic-violence-awareness-month/

October 3-6: Clothesline Project at University of Arizona Mall. Anyone (not limited to UA students) can participate in this activity by designing a t-shirt depicting the impact domestic abuse has had on them, their family, and/or their community.

October 8: Binational Health Fair presented by the Mexican Consulate (9am-2pm- El Pueblo Community Center, Room 1A)

October 10-12: Purple Flag Display (UA Mall, ongoing). Oasis Health Services at the University of Arizona will display 1 flag for each domestic abuse-related death in the last year. This is a time of memorial and observance of those who have lost their lives to domestic abuse.

October 12th: Candlelight Vigil at San Xavier District (4pm-7pm- San Xavier District Conference Room). This is an informational fair to be followed by a candlelight vigil.

October 13th: 10th Annual Community Celebration and Crime Prevention Fair, presented by the 29th Street Coalition (5:30pm-7:30pm- Freedom Park, 5000 E. 29th Street). This annual event brings together nonprofit, government, business and community organizations to provide fun and activities! Fun for all ages – email annual29thcelebration@yahoo.com for more information.

October 14th: Tucson Meet Yourself (11am-5pm, Outside Pima County Administration Building). Emerge! and the Pima County Attorney’s Office will be providing information to Tucson Meet Yourself attendees and will have fun activities for children. Stop by our tables!

October 15th: Delta Chi Lambda Basketball Tournament (9am-3pm, Bear Down Gymnasium). Delta Chi Lambda is sponsoring a basketball tournament, and all proceeds will benefit Emerge!.

October 15th: Tucson Meet Yourself (10am-5pm, Outside Pima County Administration Building). Emerge! and the Pima County Attorney’s Office will be providing information to Tucson Meet Yourself attendees and will have fun activities for children. Stop by our tables!

October 15th: heART Show (11am-4pm, Offices of Dr. Carol McGonigle- 1802 E. Prince Road). A local art show/sale to benefit Emerge!, Featuring art from past Emerge! participants, children in Emerge! programs, and local artists who are donating their time/artwork.

October 15th: Tucson Pride (10am-8pm, Kino Sports Complex). Emerge! and the Pima County Attorney’s Office will be present to provide fun games for children and tons of information for adults.

October 16th: Tucson Meet Yourself (11am-4pm, Outside Pima County Administration Building). Emerge! and the Pima County Attorney’s Office will be providing information to Tucson Meet Yourself attendees and will have fun activities for children. Stop by our tables!

October 17th-19th: Clothesline Project at University of Arizona Mall. Anyone (not limited to UA students) can participate in this activity by designing a t-shirt depicting the impact domestic abuse has had on them, their family, and/or their community.

October 22nd: Show @ Eclipse Bar (9pm-11:30pm- 1601 North Oracle Rd). A local performance artist and volunteer artists will participate in a show to benefit Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse. Must be 21+ to enter.

October 29th: Marana Founder’s Day Festival (9am-4pm, Ora Mar Harn Park)- Emerge! and the Pima County Attorney’s Office will be present with information for adults, fun and games for children. Family friendly event- great for all ages!

October 30th: Marana Founder’s Day Festival (10am-4pm, Ora Mar Harn Park)- Emerge! and the Pima County Attorney’s Office will be present with information for adults, fun and games for children. Family friendly event- great for all ages!

Saturday Aug 13, 2011
Time: 7 PM
Admission: FREE
Contact Name: Jonathan Holden
Phone: (520) 624-1515

This free, all-ages concert features Yaqui guitar maestro Gabriel Ayala jazz & flamenco Trio, acoustic World Pop from singer-songwriter Rahe & her six-piece band illumiNation, the internationally acclaimed Reveille Men’s Chorus, and Tejano 10-piece dance music from Suerte.

This concert coincides with the monthly 2nd Saturdays Downtown urban fest downtown on Congress St. (6 to 10:30 p.m.).

Visit the Happy Birthday Tucson website www.tucsonsbirthday.org for more information:

This is our second annual concert showcasing Tucson’s unique cultural diversity,” said organizer Richard Elias, Pima County Supervisor, District 5. “We hope this free event will attract families downtown to enjoy great music at the beautiful Fox Tucson Theatre.” The performance is presented by Celebrate Tucson! In collaboration with Tucson Meet Yourself, Community Investment Corporation and 2nd Saturdays Downtown. Made possible by grants from the Pima County Board of Supervisors, The office of the Honorable Richard Elias, Service Employees International Union of Arizona (SEIU Arizona), Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (CPSA), The Pasqua Yaqui Nation, Cox Communications, Providence Service Corporation, the Honorable Regina Romero of the City of Tucson, La Frontera and the Fox Tucson Theatre.

The Gabriel Ayala Trio features Yaqui guitar master Gabriel Ayala, percussionist Greg Curtiss and bassist Gilbert Nagore. Based on a foundation of classical guitar compositions, the trio embraces the passion of Spanish flamenco with jazz improvisation and polyrhythmic world rhythms. Gabriel Ayala’s original repertoire is complemented by material from such diverse musicians as Chick Corea, Paco de Lucia, Vicente Amigo, Erik Satie, and The Eagles. Gabriel Ayala was recognized for musical achievement by former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and nominated by the Native American Music Awards for Best Independent Recording. He has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. and at La Festival Internacional de la Guitarra Academica in Venezuela.

Rahe & illumiNation– Award-winning multilingual vocalist/composer/guitarist Rahe was raised in Spain, Japan and the United States. Her music can best be described as Acoustic World Pop, blending influences from Spain, Brazil, Africa, American Soul and Jazz. Her fresh, original sound includes Rahe on vocals and nylon string acoustic guitar, a saxophone quartet (alto, tenor and 2 baritones) and drums. In February she released her debut CD of all original multilingual material, Out of the Box, which reflects the diversity of her multicultural upbringing and passion for creating music that crosses boundaries, genres, and world cultures.

Reveille Men’s Chorus– Tucson’s internationally recognized men’s chorus is now in its 17th year of changing lives through music. What began in 1995 as a gay men’s community chorus with an array of singers has grown into a community institution of seasoned performers with an added public health focus on HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention. Under the leadership of artistic director, Shawn Cullen, Reveille continues to change lives through music via its community outreach, volunteer work and musical productions filled with humor and heart. Reveille Men’s Chorus is dedicated to musical excellence and performs worldwide to promote human rights, diversity and a world free of AIDS.

Suerte formed in 2009 to play old school Tejano music with a big band sound. This 10-piece orquesta features vocals with two trumpets, saxophone, piano, guitars, bass, percussion and drums. Tejano music originated in 19th century Texas when German, Czech and Polish immigrants introduced waltzes and polkas which blended with the corridas sung by Mexican musicians with guitars, flutes and drums. Suerte is comprised of veteran musicians who have played with groups in our city dating back to the 80′s and 90′s. Today, Tejano music incorporates elements of pop, rock and R&B as Suerte continues the evolution of this infectious border dance music.

To hear District 5 Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias talk about this upcoming birthday event on the Buckmaster radio show, click here. Supervisor Elias’ ancestor was here in the Tucson area since 1775, when the Presidio was first established.

Toby Chivers

Event schedule to date from website, www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.org.

Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress St. and Broadway Blvd.):

6:00pm-7:00pm: A Son y Sol (Latin American music with a twist)
7:15pm-8:30pm: Banana Gun (upbeat acoustic)
8:45pm-10:00pm: Jumper (power-pop)

Along Congress Street:

Art Car Exhibit: 10+ vehicles presented by Automorphosis
Odyssey Storytelling: Look for the StoryArts Cart on the topic – “Masks: Hidden Identities”
5:30 pm-6:15pm: 7 Pipers Band – bagpipers
7pm-9pm: Critical Stilts – Stilt walking & dancing
6pm-10pm: Living Statues, presented by Parasol Project (see photo below courtesy of Donovan Durband)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Ronstadt Transit Center @ 6th Ave & Congress Street:
5:30pm-7pm: Les Avenge – beat boy acrobatics
7:00pm-8:00pm: Desert Melodies
8:00pm-9:00pm: The Technophobes – candy folk music
9:00pm-10:00pm: Honey Pistol – folk rock/indie/acoustic
7pm-9pm: Magician John Coppin
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Indian Village Lot – Kid’s Corner! Between Stone & Scott on Congress:
West wall: Cinema La Placita screens “Alice in Wonderland” & an encore presentation of a compilation of music videos from the Tucson Film & Music Festival.
East Wall: Ultimate Electronics hosts Rock Band video competitions.

Plus art activities for the kids, an anti-gravity jumping device and more!
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Old Pueblo Garage, 27 E. Congress Street:
6pm-8pm: Blanco Cliff & John White – blues

……………………………………………………………………………………

NW Corner – Congress St./Stone Ave:
6pm-8pm: The Missing Parts – Folk music from an undiscovered country

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

SW Corner – Congress St./Stone Ave:
7:30pm-10pm: Les Avenge – Beat boy acrobatics
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Chicago Store, 130 E. Congress Street:
6pm-10pm: One Phat DJ
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

June’s Corner Store, 10 E. Broadway Blvd.
6:30pm-8pm: TBA
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Flanagan’s Celtic Corner, 222 E. Congress Street:
Annual Celtic Pumpkin and Gourd Carving Contest. Gift Certificates to Flanagan’s Celtic Corner will be awarded.

———

And over at El Presidio Park and the Jacome Library Plaza of the Joel D. Valdez Main library is Tucson Meet Yourself, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., also on Saturday! Read my blog on that annual event (click here).

Upcoming 2nd Saturdays Downtown: Saturday, November 13, 2010 and Saturday, December 11, 2010.

37th Annual Tucson Meet Yourself, Friday October 8 & Saturday October 9, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday October 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Driving force behind this folk festival is Mia Hansen, Executive Director (520) 370-0588, mia@tucsonmeetyourself.org (whom I just met last weekend at the Pima County Courthouse where the Folk Arts Market will be).

There will be six Festival areas this year:
1. Key Ingredients in El Presidio Park;
2. Meet Our Heritage in Jacomé Library Plaza;
3. Meet Your Soul in La Placita Village;
4. Pima County Meet Yourself in the Pima County Administration Building/Surrounding Areas;
5. Traditions of Home and Games People Play in Tucson Convention Center (TCC) Plaza; and
6. Meet the Street area on Church Street

Website: www.tucsonmeetyourself.org for lots more photos and event information, including the daily performance schedules. Plus see event map below.

Admission is free to Tucson Meet Yourself. Over 75,000 people attended the 2009 festival, and donations are needed to offset costs. Look for volunteers with orange buckets asking for your financial help again this year.

crowd at Tucson Meet Yourself by Pima County Courthouse

Board of Directors of Tucson Meet Yourself

JAMES GRIFFITH, Ph.D., Founder, Research Associate, University of Arizona Southwest Center
MARIBEL ALVAREZ , Ph.D., Chairwoman, Research Social Scientist/Folklorist -University of Arizona
CELESTINO FERNÁNDEZ, Vice Chair, Ph.D., Distinguished Outreach Professor, University of Arizona
ROBERT SHATZ, Treasurer, COO, Innovative Technologies Development Center
RICHARD NOEL, Aerospace engineer
CARMEN BONILLAS, Teacher/Tucson Unified School District
SHIRAZ ALI PEERA, Coldwell Banker Residential
RALPH COLWELL, Commercial Real Estate Investor
DON LURIA, Slow Food Tucson

official map

human statue, courtesy of Donovan Durband

A Son y Sol at Ronstadt Transit Center, courtesy of Donovan Durband

Roll Acosta on the Scott Avenue Stage, courtesy of Donovan Durband

A couple of art receptions were going on as well at Arts Marketplace (featuring artist Mel Dominguez), teen art at The Drawing Studio, and “The Art of Functional Fashion” mixed in with bike training (with drums!) at the newly opened 02 Modern Fitness center at 186 E. Broadway (corner of 5th Avenue). Over on Congress, Daniel Martin Diaz was showing his art in Sacred Machine (photo below). There was definitely diverse community art to choose from last night.

Daniel Martin Diaz's Sacred Machine gallery, courtesy of Donovan Durband

Also here are some photos by Jon Scanlon for Tucson’s Birthday at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

standing room only at the Fox Theater, courtesy of Jon Scanlon

We spent almost our entire time at the free Fox Tucson Theater concert, featuring first The Seven Pipers Scottish bagpipe troupe, then the Gospel Music Workshop of America, followed by former Tucson Citizen staffer Daniel Buckley‘s video of Cele Peterson, and a short talk by “Big Jim” Griffith (of Tucson Meet Yourself fame), then lots of great music.

Gabriel Ayala at the Fox, courtesy of Jon Scanlon

Gabriel Ayala (Native American guitarist) was followed by STICKSnFINGERS Caribbean band with 5 calypso like dancers, Chinese Lion dancers of the Tucson Chinese School, then guitarist Salvador Duran (with Chili Willie on bongos), Los Gallegos (4 talented brothers), and finally Mariachi Sonido de Mexico with singer Olga Flores. Wow, it was a multi-cultural fest of terrific local music & dance, for over two hours.

Sticks & Fingers with dancers, courtesy of Jon Scanlon

Chili Willie with Salvador Duran, courtesy of Jon Scanlon

Los Gallegos at the Fox, courtesy of Jon Scanlon

Mariachi Sonido de Mexico, courtesy of Jon Scanlon

“Big Jim” on stage said it all “This is our community, and ain’t it great?” This event was a tribute to Tucson’s “First Lady of Fashion”, Cele Peterson, who passed away at age 101 in May of this year. For more photos of this Fox Birthday event, go to the Tucson Birthday website (Flickr) for Jon Scanlon’s photo file (click here).

If you haven’t been to a 2nd Saturdays Downtown event yet, mark your calendars for the next one on September 11. It’s a family-friendly event as well, as shown by this photo last night of these joyful little boys playing with bubbles:

boys playing with bubbles, courtesy of Donovan Durband