In 1989, my mother packed up my sister, myself, and the cat and left the greenery of Massachusetts for Tucson. I turned 6 in the car on the way.
We lived in midtown until I graduated from Tucson High in 2001 and moved away for college. After 10 years, I came home to be near family and try grad school at the University of Arizona.
Though Iโve traveled my whole life, Tucson is and will always be my hometown. In May, I finished degrees in journalism, Middle Eastern and North African Studies and Judaic Studies at the UA, and am now finishing nearly three years with the Arizona Daily Star.
This week, I leave Tucson again and this time, thereโs no apparent return date.
My time here has formed me and informed me. Looking back, Iโm filled with fond memories, while looking forward makes me sweetly regretful of the many things I never quite had time to do. Some are strange, some familiar, but all of them, in my opinion, are totally Tucson. Here a few of my favorite things:
Stormy Leigh a member of Black Cherry Burlesque goes through her routine for her act, โGreek Statue,โย as she rehearses for an upcoming performance at the Surly Wench Pub on Sunday, January 18, 2009, in Tucson, Ariz. Photo by A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star
Black Cherry Burlesque at the Surly Wench Pub: Founded in 2006, Black Cherry is Tucson’s first burlesque troupe. I’ve known founder Kate Johnston since we were 6, and recall conversations while living in Georgia when she had just begun to say “So, I have this crazy idea ...” She hit the stage as Inga Kaboom, and since then, the group has spawned acts and performers, expanded and contracted and been reincarnated many times over. Its offshoots include the body-positive Burlesque for the Soul mentorship program, and the Manly Manlesque show, an all-male parade of body hair, comedy and kitsch that is so charming and funny, it can’t help but be sexy. Find performance schedules and links to tickets at facebook.com/tucsonburlesque and facebook.com/manlesque
Pam Golden runs the last leg in the Catalina State Park during the 50k race on October 22, 2005 in Oracle, Arizona.
Catalina State Park Run: When I first returned to Tucson in 2011, it was hard to find my footing, despite growing up here. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that in times of uncertainty there is always comfort to be found outdoors. Tucson’s affinity for outdoor events, and especially running, seemed to have grown alongside my own while I was gone. Everyone Runs organizes the Catalina State Park 5.2- and 10.35-mile races. Running in a beautiful place, with people who appreciate the smells of creosote and wildflowers, and the tracks of desert animals in their path as much as I do, gave me something to look forward to and helped me find my way home. This fall, the run includes a 5K road run/walk as well as the trail runs. It takes place Sept. 25; register at everyoneruns.net
Ali Han has some fun as he serves Turkish ice cream during the annual Tucson Meet Yourself event downtown.
Tucson Meet Yourself: It seems obvious, but what event could be more Tucson? I remember eating chicken skewers in the courtyard of the historic Pima County Courthouse at “Tucson Eat Yourself” when we were both much smaller. It’s come a long way since then, having served more than 120,000 people and hosted more than 550 artists, musicians, dancers and “tradition bearers” since its 1974 inception. Organized by the UA-affiliated Southwest Folklife Alliance, this year’s event is Oct. 7-9. Information for guests and vendors is at tucsonmeetyourself.org
While at the Star, Iโve gotten to try a lot of things, including being dropped off a 17-story building, learning about historic district building codes and more about beer than I ever thought was possible. I also discovered about a million more things there never seemed to be enough time to try. Here are just a few of the things I wish I hadnโt missed:
Brew at the Zoo: I just can’t understand how this event managed to pass me by year after year. Oh wait, yes I can: grad school. Anyway, few things have ever sounded like as much fun, or seemed as badly needed in one of our stifling summers as cold beer and a (relatively) cool night of grownup time at the zoo. If you haven’t committed to this event yet, there’s still time. It happens Saturday, June 18, and tickets are available online at reidparkzoo.org/event/brew-zoo
Homero Ceron plays kettle drums with the Tucson Pops Orchestra during the opening concert of its 2014 season.
Music Under the Stars/Music in the Park: The best things in life are free, and this is not lost on Foothills Phil, Tucson Pops and Arizona Symphonic Winds director and UA alum László Veres. The Tucson Pops just ended its 62nd annual Music Under the Stars free concert series at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center in Reid Park, and Music in the Park just closed out its 30th season of free concerts at Udall Park’s László Veres Amphitheater. Somehow, I never made it to either venue to spread out a blanket in the spring air and bask in the community concert appreciation. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Get information on concert dates from tucsonpops.org and Facebook.com/ArizonaSymphonicWinds
Yoga@MOCA: I love yoga, and I love art, and yet, believing there was always time perhaps next week, never made my way to the great hall of the Museum of Contemporary Art, 265 S. Church Ave., to combine the two. The spaciousness and surroundings of the museum, not to mention the powerful air conditioning, have always made MOCA a tempting place to practice. The next session begins next Wednesday, June 22, with sessions at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Fridays and Sundays. Each session is $8, free for MOCA members. More at www.moca-tucson.org/program/yoga-moca
