Urban Fresh closes,
but story’s
not ended
Urban Fresh, the downtown vegan restaurant where chef/owner Kathy Iannacone worked magic with her plant-based cuisine that included everything from mock meatballs and spaghetti to fresh-baked pastries and veggie-bursting wraps, closed late last month.
In a Facebook posting, Iannacone said she was leaving to pursue her main mission — educating people about a plant-based lifestyle. Her business partner and daughter, Krista, relocated to San Diego last month.
Urban Fresh, 73 E. Pennington St., had been in business 2½ years — one of only two vegan restaurants in Tucson.
Iannocone said a new operator is expected to take over the space and has asked to keep the name. On Monday, she said she doesn’t have many details and was not sure if the restaurant would continue with the vegan theme. She said she expects to meet with the new owners in a week or so.
“We gave it a good run, but it’s all good,” she said. “I wanted to pursue what my passion was, which is plant-based cuisine.”
Tax relief? No, but cheap eats don’t hurt
The clock is ticking on the 2015 tax-filing season — you have until midnight Wednesday — and several Tucson restaurants are offering tax relief in the form of freebies and near-freebies.
Here’s a sampling:
- RA Sushi, 2905 E. Skyline Drive in La Encantada, is rolling out a special happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday with more than 25 sushi and appetizer selections (Tootsy Maki, Viva Las Vegas roll, rainbow roll and pineapple cheese wontons among them) ranging from $3.49 to $8.99. Wash it down with beer, wine, sake and signature cocktails from $3.75 to $8. Details: rasushi.com
- Fired Pie, 350 E. Congress St., downtown, is playing off Tax Day’s date — 4/15 — in its special $4.15 pizza deal. The outpost of the Phoenix-based fast-casual pizza chain, celebrating four months in Tucson, will bake you an 11-inch, fully customized pizza with whatever toppings you desire for $4.15 —about $4 off its regular price. The deal is good throughout the day Wednesday. Details: firedpie.com
- Get a baker’s dozen bagels and two tubs of cream cheese for $10.40 — a $3.50 deduction — at Bruegger’s Bagels Saturday through Wednesday. But you have to be a member of Bruegger’s e-club or sign up by Thursday. Signing up literally takes 45 seconds and it’s online at
- brueggers.com
Borderlands hosts bacchanal music fest
It seems appropriate that Tucson brewery Borderlands is hosting a weekend festival that by definition is supposed to be a celebration of wild and drunken revelry.
That’s how Mr. Webster defines a bachannal. It’s a springtime festival fashioned after the Roman festival of Bacchus, the Greco-Roman god of wine, freedom, intoxication and ecstasy.
Expect some beer to flow — a brewery is hosting, after all — but the Borderlands event Saturday and Sunday is more squarely centered on music and art.
The festival takes place at Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave., beginning at noon both days.
Comedian Henry Barajas will be the master of ceremonies. Saturday’s entertainment opens at 3 p.m. with Tucson Improv Movement and Mike Celi performing.
Bands Saturday include Still Satellite, Wake Up Joel, Adara Rae, Aztral Folk “Duo,” The Hotchiks, Endless Pursuit and Liquid Sound Disciples. Saturday’s headliners beginning at 9:30 p.m. are Copper and Congress, and The Bennu.
Sunday is more focused on film and the arts with Steven Bye curating. The standup comedy segment includes comedians Alex Kack, Ryan Malco, Pauly Casillas, Kevin William Lee, Gary Hood, and players from Tucson Improv Movement.
Throughout the weekend, guests can check out muralist Joe Pagac’s new work painted on the backside of Borderlands’ north wall. It’s billed as Pagac’s largest mural yet.
Admission is free. For the complete schedule and more information, check out facebook.com/events/458414090979467
