Ah, water. With the long, hot summer approaching, here are examples of cool, aquatic places in Tucson to visit and enjoy.

I miss the Pacific Ocean and sometimes go out looking for ponds and public water features around town. So here’s my list of where there are large bodies of water (and fountains) in Tucson. Lots of ducks and other aquatic birds habitate most of these ponds.

Ponds:
1) Reid Park ponds, with cascading streams on the hill nearby. NE corner of E. 22nd St. and Country Club
2) Ft. ...

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Dig this! Summer reading program “Dig into Reading”:

May 24 to July 20 at all Pima County Public library branches, including one near you.

520-791-4010, www.library.pima.gov. Click on the images for more information about summer reading events.

More About Summer Reading 2013

Children will receive a game board when they sign up. Each time they reach a goal, they can visit their library to pick up stickers, special lists of recommended activities, activity booklets with coupons for ...

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“A Snowball’s Chance” book review

Powerful, traumatic stories of teenage drugs, pregnancies, juvenile prison time, poverty — by eight young people in Southern AZ are edited by Susan Lulic Enholm of Tucson. The eight (Carlos, Christina, DeAnne, Jarid, Marquis, Megan, Melissa, Nicole) are all now adults, and in their own words honestly related how they grew up with mostly unwed or divorced parents, in poverty, in dysfunctional families where some of their parents used drugs. And these...

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The Tin Drum / Newly Restored Director’s Cut!

Sunday, May 19 at 11:00am and Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00pm (Essential Cinema monthly film series)

Free Admission • Suggested Donation $5 at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Winner of the 1980 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award and the 1979 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or!

Danzig, 1924. Just before the start of WWII, Oskar Matzerath is born with an intellect beyond his infancy. As he witnesses the hypocrisy of adulthood and society, h...

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Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) Arizona chapter is sponsoring a conference in Tucson on September 20 and 21, so save the dates now and register online for the Saturday all day event (click here). Friday night talk will be free, but it costs $35 for the Saturday workshops/conference.

Schedule:

Friday, Sept. 20
7-8 PM
Unisource Building Conference Room
88 East Broadway in Tucson.
Eric Klinenberg, an inspiring, nationally known speaker (author of the critically acclaimed book, Heat Wave:...

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Back in January I reported that this exquisite chandelier designed for the castle of Empress Josephine of France has found its way to Tucson (appraised at $50,000), and is being raffled off to benefit Dragonfly Village. Click here for earlier post. Josephine was the first wife of Emperor Napoleon I of France.

photo courtesy of J. Jones

Last reminder, Tuesday, May 14 Grand Prize crystal chandelier and auxiliary prizes. The drawing is scheduled to take place at Dragonfly Gallery from 4-6 p.m. Tic...

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From 7:45 to 8 p.m. on Saturday May 11, Belly Dance Tucson will be performing on the Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress and Broadway, for the monthly urban street fest known as 2nd Saturday Downtown. More events/happenings at www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com.

Belly Dance Tucson offers Tucson’s best belly dance classes for dancers of all levels, student recitals, professional dance troupe performances, and community events. We are Tucson’s premier full time Belly Dance Studio. Come take a clas...

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NEON MILE: SIXTH ANNUAL HISTORIC
MIRACLE MILE OPEN HOUSE AND TOUR

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013, 5:30 P.M. – 10:30 P.M.
STARTING POINT: MONTEREY COURT, 505 W. MIRACLE MILE

The Sixth Annual Historic Miracle Mile Open House and Tour will take place on Friday, May 10, 2013, from 5:30 p.m. to – 10:30 p.m. This year the FREE event will feature historic and revitalized resources on Miracle Mile between the Oracle Road intersection and Fairview Avenue.

This special evening will include history lec...

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Poster above drawn by Katie M. Berggren.

Emerge! serves many mothers who would go to the end of the earth to protect their children. Each year we choose one mother, a mother who has displayed exceptional courage and strength. At our Mother of the Year Luncheon we tell her story, and celebrate her bravery. This 12th annual event will also honor the service of our CEO for seven years, Sarah Jones.
Help us celebrate!

Save the Date! 12th Annual Mother of the Year Luncheon
Thursday, May 9, 2013, 11...

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WENDY’S® TO GIVE FREE JR. HAMBURGERS TO TUCSON’S EDUCATORS ON MAY 7, 2013 IN HONOR OF NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY

©2013 Oldemark LLC

Tucson, Arizona – The Tucson Wendy’s franchise wants to show their support for all Tucson educators and “Give Something Back” on their special day for the hard work and dedication they put forth each day. On National Teacher Appreciation Day Wendy’s is inviting all Tucson educators and staff members to visit any one of 14 locally owned Tucson...

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On April 22 I reported that Tucson was ranked # 1 in the 2013 National Mayor’s Challenge on Water Conservation (click here) for our city size. The deadline to take the pledge online was April 30. Tucson was competing with other cities in the 300,000 to 600,000 population size. Well, Tucson won, along with Denver (CO), West Palm Beach (FL), Bremerton (WA) and Laguna Beach (CA)!

National Press release from Wyland Foundation below. They say on their website that “Together we pledged to ...

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Children under 12 admitted free at Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon way on May 5, 2013, Children’s Day in Japanese culture.

There will be gold fish netting, origami paper folding, traditional Japanese toys, yukata (light kimono like clothing), plus taiko drumming by Odaiko Sonora. New Hours for May at the gardens is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Traditionally May 5 was Boys’ Day, with Girls’ Day being on March 3. Note the calendar sequences of numbers, 5-5 for boys, 3-3 for girls, w...

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More info and biographies of the headliners: http://www.tkma.org/</a

May 4, 12 noon to 10 p.m.
May 5, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

TKMA stands for Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association. This folk festival is open and free to all.

The center of Festival activity, including the TKMA Kitchen Store and food & craft vendors, is in El Presidio Park in downtown Tucson. All venues are easy walking distance from the Park. Performances take place on the following stages:

Plaza Stage at City Hall
Courtyard...

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Free admission, live animal displays, guided hikes, kids activities, speakers, information booths, etc., even a Star Night Party. There will be cake too.

Live Music & Ceremonies

Large Group Area Ramada
9 am. Flag Raising, Troop 232, Catalina Council, Boy Scouts of America
9 am – 10:30 am. Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Band Mens & Ladies Chorus
11 am. Catalina State Park’s 30th Anniversary Ceremony
Noon. Monarch Music Performance, Stacy Scheckel
1 pm. Sun City Strummers
2 pm. Friend...

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A Kubrick Odyssey: The Films of Stanley Kubrick
In conjunction with our May 3rd opening of the new documentary Room 237, The Loft is thrilled to present A Kubrick Odyssey: The Films of Stanley Kubrick, a month-long retrospective of nine classic feature films from the innovative, influential and always controversial filmmaker. One of cinema’s undisputed masters, Stanley Kubrick changed the way we thought about film, unleashing his trademark stylistic rigor, technical innovation and devilish wit...

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Five perspectives on the core issues in environmental law will be taught by professors from the UA’s Rogers College of Law. Included will be how various aspects of water law, international trade, (invasive) species migration, and climate change impact aspects of environmental law. Classes will meet May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30.

Also in May Professor J. Pat Willerton will lead “Russia in Search of a National Idea” and will examine current political systems, institution building, elites, and soc...

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Loft Aid: An Evening to Benefit The Loft Cinema at La Cocina

Tuesday, April 30 from 5:00pm – close at La Cocina, 201 N. Court Ave. (in Old Town Artisans courtyard)

Free Admission (a percentage of food and drink sales will benefit the Loft’s “Building for the Future” campaign)

Music! Comedy! Raffles! Surprises! Howe Gelb! Al Perry! And more!

Prepare yourself for an unforgettable evening of live music, hilarious comedy, fabulous prizes and exciting surprises at Loft Aid! The Loft Cinema ...

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“It’s Friday and you need to laugh”, is what their flyer says, and indeed this improv comedy group acts (out) every Friday. Last night was my first time at Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed (NBOJU), Tucson’s Premiere Improve Comedy Troupe at the Executive Inn & Suites, 333 W. Drachman Rd. Their shows are free, family-friendly and funny.

The fun started at 7:30 p.m. in the dark, with MC Rob Sparks announcing their live theater show and explaining that everything is made up ...

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If you want to see what Tucson looked like in 1956 when the Valley National Bank (now Chase Bank) building was the tallest one downtown, go to the big screen film showing of the drama “A Kiss Before Dying” at the lovely Fox Tucson Theater downtown, 17 W. Congress. Admission is free or suggested donation of $5 for this Sunday April 28 showing at 2 p.m.

The former Valley National Bank building is just catercorner from the Fox, so this is an appropriate venue for this showing. Check it ...

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If you missed the first of two Cyclovia Tucson events on April 7, here’s information on the 2nd one in midtown/north central Tucson, on April 28, also 10 to 3 p.m.

The April 7 event was well attended with hundreds of bicyclists (two wheels, tandems), three wheeled vehicles, scooters, baby strollers, wagons, skaters, walkers, etc. enjoying the downtown streets sans automobiles/trucks. There were numerous family-friendly activity centers along the route, as there will be on April 28 as well...

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