To Market to Food Market

Master Gardeners Open House

There is so much going on this weekend…

The second annual open house will be held at “The Gardens on Campbell Avenue” located at 4210 N. Campbell Avenue on Saturday, November 7, 2009 from  9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The first open house last year attracted a record crowd behind the gates of one of Tucson’s best kept secrets. Operated by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Office, the demonstration gardens are created and tended by certified volunteer Master Gardeners.  Master Gardeners are certified gardeners who have gone through specific training to be able to assist the Extension office in providing accurate, research based gardening information to county residents.

At the open house, volunteers will lead tours throughout the day through the Specialty Gardens including the Vineyard and Winery, Xeriscape Gardens and more. There will be workshops about container, vegetable, cacti, and succulent gardens as well as activities for kids and of course, refreshments.

Special guest experts including John P. Begeman, the director of the University of Arizona-Pima County Cooperative Extension along with UA Research scientists, a cooking demo in the vegetable garden by Chef Albert Hall of Acacia and Acacia Marketplace and many other local food and wine authorities on hand to provide information on how to gain the best results when gardening in Tucson’s extreme climates.

The public is welcome and admission is free.  For additional information, call (520) 626-5161.

Shameless self promotion: In no way do I have a green thumb and my blood orange tree that I planted recently is not doing that well. But what I really want to talk about is dogs — bring your dog/s – any breed to the Greyhounds & Friends, Fall Festival on Saturday November 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brandi Fenton Park for three fun-filled hours. People without dogs are welcome too.

There will be contests, raffles, silent auction, famous local media people one with red hair who has dog named Sawyer, hot dogs & smoothies, pumpkin decorating for kids, other animal rescues, nail trimming (for dogs), and more.

The event benefits Arizona Greyhound Rescue which last year spent $63,000 on vet bills alone readying retired race dogs for adoptive homes.

Food, Art, Wine Festival

October should be named food and wine festival month in Tucson. The first weekend celebrated the Tucson Culinary Festival; the second weekend, Tucson Meet/Eat Yourself, this weeked is the Southern Arizona Food, Art, Wine Family Festival, and next weekend is the Jewish Food Festival, but more about that later.

The Festival presented by the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance features food and fun for all ages on October 17 and 18. Check out the two-day schedule.

Of course, there’s food vendors, a culinary arts pavilion, tamale eating contest, ice carving, fruit and vegetable carving, salsa showdown, culinary vendors, how to grow your own garden, and much more.

Thirsty? Taste wine, beer, and mixed drinks; learn about wine pairing.

Kids keep busy with plenty of activities including face painting, jumping castle, pumpkin patch, balloon twisting, pizza tossing–don’t try the last one at home.

It sounds like nobody will be bored or hungry.

Admission $5/person; children 10 years old and under are admitted free at Rillito Raceway Park, 1st Ave @  River Rd. Admission includes beer  or wine tasting! Parking is free.

I’m going to list all the exhibitors so they all get some online time and you know what you’re missing.

The Melting Pot
Grimaldi’s Pizza
Mountain Munchies
Flavorbank Spices
Dicky’s Barbecue Pit
Acacia at St. Philips
Domino’s
Not Just Doggs, LLC
R  G Foods, Port a Pit Catering
State Fair Old Fashioned Lemonade
Gelato! Dessert Café
G.R. Concession
Texas Fajita Patio Café
Ice Cream Avenue
The Happy Belly
Costco Wholesale
Everyday Pasta
High Desert Nut Roasters
Ry-Sum Enterprises LLC
Tastefully Unique
Lao Student Club – Asian Inspired Cuisine
It is Greek to me
JC’s Midnite Salsa
Richard Altenhofen
Designs by Nanette Dick Hoge Photography
Gone Home
Coyote Country
Deep Sky Glass
Hearth Stone Pottery
Weelainy
Holloway and Company
House Crafts
Leiloni Designs
Fun Files
ClayFlora LLC
SukieBows  Treasures
Artifacts Studio
Jimmy Ray’s Creation
Betty Curious
Mirror Image
Amigo Metal
Pickled Pig Jewelry Designs
Kevin. K. Desgins
Concrete Crafters
Silky Hut
Trade Assets-Hat Heaven
No Sweat Creations
Dos Hermanos
Catalina Creations
NINIWI
Reflections in Metal
AZ Magnetic Jewelry
Rustic Accents
The Art Institute of Tucson
Cracker Barrel
Fox 11
Golden Eagle Distributing
Hotel Congress
PSI Travel/Australian Tourism Centre
Send Out Cards
Water Ice International, Inc.
Southwest Fair Housing Council