One of the features on Southern Arizona Guide is The 7 Best Picnic Areas In Southern Arizona. Last Sunday, we “discovered” yet another one near the top of Carr Canyon. And yesterday we enjoyed an old favorite among the boulders of Texas Canyon.

One reason this is a favorite picnic spot is the Amerind is here. Not only can we picnic among the boulders, we can also visit both the museum & art gallery. The collections of American Indian artifacts & western art are excellent. This is a particularly good place to bring school age children.

I know a lot of Tucson locals who say they have never been to the Amerind because it’s just too far for a day trip. Just FYI: from downtown Tucson, it took us 57 minute to arrive here.

I had the good fortune to do lunch at Pasco Kitchen & Lounge at Main Gate Square the other day. I won’t do a review here & now. It was just lunch, albeit a tasty one. And I had the good fortune to meet their bartender, Nick. I intend to return and have him practice his mixology on me next time.

Of course University Blvd. is totally torn up as workman lay track for the coming Modern Streetcar.

Clearly all the shops & restaurants along the route are suffering disproportionately compared to the rest of us who will ultimately benefit from this project. Out of simple fairness, I have determined to dine somewhere along the construction route at least once a week just to support the merchants.

That isn’t quite as altruistic as it may sound. If we don’t patronize them now, some, perhaps many, won’t be there when the project is completed. And that would leave us all the poorer.

Paul Hopman: Scratchboard Artist
On a completely different subject, Paul Hopman creates amazing animal portraits.  I just made a short video featuring his scratchboard art wherein he illustrates how his beautiful animal images are created. You can view this and 50 other original videos about some of the most interesting people and places in Southern Arizona by going to SouthernArizonaGuide.com. For Paul’s video, click here.

Beginning July 1st, the Tucson Museum of Art will offer FREE admission to students 18 years of age and under. Also included in their new FREE admission policy are active military, vets, and of course museum members.

This pricing is particularly timely as the Museum is now exhibiting the large B&W photographs of Scott T. Baxter entitled 100 Years 100 Ranchers. I’ve seen several of these fine prints last year at Sky Harbor and they are exquisite. This exhibit will continue until September 23rd.

If you are not a member, college students pay $5; seniors $8; and all other adults $10. Memberships start at $40.

“We wanted to help make art as accessible as possible for everyone in Tucson; especially the younger population,” says Robert Knight, CEO of the Museum. “With an increasing number of fiscal cut backs, high school students are not offered many art electives in school.  So, TMA would like to grant them free admission to our museum. Inspiring young people to not only appreciate but also learn from the art in our exhibitions, this new admission policy will go into effect July 1, 2012.”

Museum Hours:
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday, and Major Holidays

Tomorrow evening, Thursday June 21st, I will be attending the first of three garden concerts at Tucson Botanical Gardens. It will be a pleasant way to spend a summer evening.

Come join us from 5-8 PM.

 

Balloon Rising: Foothills of the Tucson Mountains

Hot Air Balloons

Neighbor Roy lives just up the street from us. Day before yesterday, he and Ms. Karen were on their early morning walk with the (4) dogs when all of a sudden this hot air balloon rises from the ground right in front of them.

Arivaca Wildflowers
On another note, I have it on good authority that wildflowers are in bloom in and around Arivaca. Resident Paul Perino tells me that many varieties can be spotted all along the roadsides and hiking trails, as well as within the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR).

Among the performers, you will find: Bajada Lupine; Stork’s Bill Filaree; Wooley Daisy; and of course, Mexican Poppy.

If there is ever a “best” time to wonder through the BANWR, this is it. Take the kids. Bring a camera. Also, I believe this

Arizona Blue Eyes

coming Saturday is First Saturday in Arivaca – a rural version of a street fair. Farmers’ Market. Games for kids.  Good fun for all.

Directions
If you go, take the Arivaca Road exit off I-19 and drive west about 23 miles to the Village of Arivaca. Just before you reach the Village, you can get fresh roasted coffee (several blends) at The Gadsden Coffee Company (on the right). Just before you enter the Village, you will see a big sign on the left announcing your arrival at La Cienega portion of the Wildlife Refuge.

Once you are in the Village proper, do visit: (1) the Artist’s Co-op; Cactus Rose Gallery; and the historic La Gitana Cantina (according to Esquire Magazine, one of the top 100 bars in America)

Bajada Lupine

While you’re there, do acquire a copy of the book: Wildfowers: A Field Guide to Flowering Plants of Southern Arizona. Highly recommended. It was written by Maggie Milinovich who also publishes the local newspaper Connection and is proprietor of La Gitana (gypsy) Cantina.

Where To Dine
When you get hungry, I recommend Sweet Peas Cafe. Any of the town folk can give you directions. Good food. Good value. Try the quiche. If you go, let me know if Jenni has her liquor license yet. jg

This coming Friday and Saturday evenings, March 30^th & 31^st, you and I can enjoy fine art, extraordinary wines,  and great food creations from some of Tucson’s best restaurants, including Acacia, Feast, Flemings, Janos, Tavoino.

This, of course, is CRUSH, the annual fundraiser for our Tucson Museum of Art, and it’s sure to be lot of fun again this year.

This Friday is the informal CRUSH pARTy from 6 to 9 PM in the courtyards of the Museum. It features at least 150 select wines and beers from around the world and food prepared by some of our best chefs. Tickets: $75 in advance, of which $45 is tax deductable.

In addition, all of us will be able to participate in the silent auction, which is always fun even if ours is not the winning bid.

Then, Saturday evening from 5:30 – 11:00 PM is the more formal CRUSH Gala at Loews Ventana Canyon resort featuring the best wines, gourmet dining, and dancing to the Ronstadt Cousins Band. The gala’s guest vintner will be Tuck Beckstoffer, proprietor of the Tuck Beckstoffer Wines – Napa Valley, California.

At the live auction, which is even more fun than the silent ones, we can bid on fine art, rare wines, and even trips to France and Costa Rica. Neighbor Roy just came back from 10 days in Costa Rica and told me that it is a fantastic destination, one of the best vacations he ever took – this from a retired gentleman who travels for pleasure overseas at least twice each year. Tickets: $225 per person.

I have another event Saturday that I must attend, but perhaps I’ll see you at Friday’s pARTy in the Museum’s courtyard.