Arts, Life

So much to do at 2nd Saturdays Downtown on 11/12/11

Every month on the 2nd Saturday of the month, our dilemma is what to do downtown on Congress Street. Should we go to a concert the Fox Tucson Theatre, or listen to music at the Scott Avenue Stage, or watch a Cinema La Placita movie at the big empty lot on Congress Street, or, or, or….

There’s so much to do that the choices are overwhelming. Sometimes it’s just fine to walk along and about Congress Street between the Hotel Congress and the Fox Theater, and just enjoy the Parasol Project mute performers, the street minstrels, the circus folks on stilts, the food wagons, classic cars, the children enjoying their world of fun. And don’t miss the monthly athletic acrobatics of Les Avenge (this month at the SW Corner of Congress St./Stone Ave. 6pm-10pm).

Since August, 2011 a group of independent film makers have been showing free films on 5th Avenue:

The Short Film Showcase is a major event in Tucson, Arizona and will be a revolving event that will take place on the second Saturday every month on 5th Ave between Broadway and Congress on the south end on the Rialto Building Patio. Several local talents from Tucson, Arizona will have their shorts screened at this event. It is free to the public and will take place on November 12th, 2011 outside and will start at 7pm and last till 9:00pm. Short Film Showcase Facebook contact –TucsonSFS@groups.facebook.com or Daniel Geffre, geffreap@live.com/520-271-1026 or Yuri Machado, authenticproductions@live.com/520-331-2451.

Right up the street from this Short film Showcase is a brand new urban coffee bar, Sparkroot (for more photos, click here).

Also new to downtown is the Mars & Beyond exhibit in the Rialto building (catercorner from Sparkroot), which opened on October 22. Here’s the description from the 2nd Saturdays Downtown website:

Mars & Beyond 300 E. Congress St. 622-8595. 9am-9pm. The wonders of Earth’s neighborhood, our solar system, in stunning color and clarity, with an emphasis on Mars, including some of the latest cutting edge scientific work by UA teams on NASA’s HiRISE Mars high-resolution orbiting camera, the Phoenix Mars Mission science lab lander, the upcoming OSIRIS-REx, and more.

For the entire event schedule for Nov. 12, click here. And as for food, most of the restaurants are open, plus there’s all types of inexpensive food at the wagons parked along the south side of Congress Street between Scott Avenue and Stone Avenue. There’s even a booth on Scott Avenue selling delicious-looking, decorated cupcakes.

Enjoy 2nd Saturdays Downtown in November!

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2nd Saturday Downtown on Feb. 12 (most events have been re-scheduled due to mass shooting on January 8)

Most of us were glued to our TV sets, radios, computers or other electronic devices due to the horrific news on the last 2nd Saturdays Downtown on January 8. Most of the street events were canceled, due to the shock and grief over the 6 innocent dead victims and 13 others wounded (including CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords) shot by suspect Jared Lee Loughner. And many families & friends were at the various hospitals that were treating the wounded, especially University Medical Center.

So, coming up Feb. 12, TNT (AC/DC Tribute) will now be re-scheduled at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., 7 to 9 p.m.

Listed below is the event schedule from 2nd Saturdays Downtown website, with a message of sympathy:

We are regrouping for Feb 12th to celebrate Tucson’s community,
to honor those who were lost on Jan 8th and to offer healing to those recovering. Mucho amor a Tucson!

Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress
7pm: Tucson’s Christian Youth Theater presents Roald Dahl’s timeless story of the world-famous candy man “Willy Wonka.” ($10 to $15)

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Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress and Broadway):
5:45pm-7:00pm: Tammy West & The Culprits (Soulful Americana)
7:15pm-8:30pm: Five Way Street (Classic Rock)
8:45pm-10:00pm: Kevin Pakulis Band (On the rock side of Americana)

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Congress Street @ 4th Avenue
6pm-9pm: Les Avenge (beat boy acrobatics)

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Along Congress Street

4:45pm-5:15pm: 7 Pipers Band
5:30pm-7:30pm: Odyssey Story Arts Cart
6pm-10pm: Living Statues by Parasol Project

Live mural paintings by Joe Pagac, SW corner of Congress & 5th Ave.

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Scott Avenue @ Congress Street

6pm-9pm: Odaiko Sonora (Taiko Drumming, demos & hands-on workshops)

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Along 6th Ave.

5pm-10pm: Cristales Car Club

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Ronstadt Transit Center @ 6th Ave. & Congress St.

*7pm-9pm: Magician John Coppin performs a non-stop show*

5pm-6pm: The Wonderfools (family variety show)

Wonderfools taken by Shanda Romans, courtesy of 2nd Saturdays Downtown

6pm-7pm: Avatara (ethno psychedelic fusion)
7pm-7:30pm: Batucaxe (Brazilian drum & dance)
7:30-8pm:The Wonderfools (family variety show)
8pm-9pm: Lykiska (tribal fusion bellydance)
9pm-10pm: Mik Garrison (eclectic one-man band)

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Indian Village Lot – Kid’s Corner! Between Stone & Scott on Congress St.

West Wall: Cinema La Placita – 6pm – Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971, with Gene Wilder)
7:45pm – City High Short Films Festival: “As We See It – Digital Narratives” on the topic of Unconditional Love

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Old Pueblo Garage, 27 E. Congress St.

5pm-7pm: Jacob Garcia

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NW Corner Congress St./Stone Ave.

5pm-7pm: Mik Garrison (eclectic one-man band)

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Chicago Store, 130 E. Congress St.

6pm-9pm: Deceptively Innocent (Rock/Pop/Alternative)

Log onto 2nd Saturdays Downtown website (click here) for more info on the entertainment schedule (plus more photos). If you haven’t been downtown for this 2nd Saturdays monthly event yet, you’re in for a real urban treat, just prior to Valentine’s Day!

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Arts, Life

Horrible Holiday Sweater Contest and other fun events at 2nd Saturday Downtown

Join thousands of other Tucsonans on December 11, 2010 for the monthly 2nd Saturdays Downtown for: Special Holiday Activities!

–Santa Claus at the Downtown North Pole (120 E. Congress)
–Holiday Window Decorations Contest
–“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Screening
–Horrible Holiday Sweater Contest (45 S. 6th Ave.,at Rockin’ Queen)
–Wintery-Weather Event
–Free Concert by Five Way Street at the Fox Tucson Theatre

I’m one of the lucky people on Earth who has NEVER received a horrible holiday sweater or sweatshirt. What a relief, so I don’t have any chance of entering this contest, unless one of my loyal readers wants to donate just one of their horrible sweaters to me, by leaving it at the Tucson Newspapers Inc. front desk. (Hint: my size is medium).*

Five Way Street will be performing a musical tribute to Crosby, Stills and Nash at the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., 7 to 9 p.m.

On Scott Avenue stage:
5pm-6pm: Lunar Light Collectors
6:45pm-8pm: Jazz Telephone
7:45pm-9pm: Kristen Chandler

Along Congress Street

5pm-9pm: Critical Stilts
5pm-9pm: Living Statues presented by Parasol Project
5:30pm-7:30pm: Odyssey Story Arts Cart

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Along 6th Ave.

4pm-9pm: Old Pueblo Vintage Fire Brigade’s Vintage Fire Trucks

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Ronstadt Transit Center @ 6th Ave. & Congress St.

4pm-5pm: The Dusty Buskers
5pm-5:30pm: House of Dance
5:30pm-7pm: Les Avenge
6:30pm-8:30pm: Magician John Coppin
7pm-8pm: The Dusty Buskers
8pm-9pm: Technophobes

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Indian Village Lot – Kid’s Corner! Between Stone & Scott on Congress St.

West Wall: Cinema La Placita – “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”
East Wall: Wintery-weather event, Zero Gravity Jumping, Art activities & more

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MEB Management/North Pole 120 E. Congress St.

5:30pm-8:30pm: Santa & Elves

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Old Pueblo Garage, 27 E. Congress St.

5pm-7pm: Mitzi Cowell & Rebecca Horton

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NW Corner Congress St./Stone Ave.

5pm-7pm: 4th Street String Band

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SW Corner Congress St./Stone Ave.

7pm-10pm: Les Avenge
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Chicago Store, 130 E. Congress St.

5pm-9pm: Toby Chivers

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* Side note: Noticed an ad in Zocalo magazine (December issue, page 33) that the Tucson Thrift Shop has tons of recycled Christmas sweaters (“for your Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties”). They are at 319 N. 4th Avenue, phone 520-623-8736. Check them out today or tomorrow during the 4th Avenue Winter Street Fair. You’ll have plenty of time to acquire one before the Saturday night horrible holiday sweater contest.

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2nd Saturdays Downtown schedule for November 13

Entertainment Schedule for 2nd Saturdays Downtown, www.http://www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com/ on Saturday, November 13, 2010 (mostly between Hotel Congress and the Fox Theater on Congress Street). Parking is on the street or in the Pennington Street Garage.

Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.
7pm-9pm: Nils Lofgren, guitarist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band
Acoustic show. $15 – $75. “Prior to Springsteen, Nils recorded with Steven Stills, Neil Young, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, Grin, Dr. John, Los Lobos, Kathy Mattea, and has also released twelve solo albums.”

Scott Avenue Main Stage @ Broadway Blvd. —
6:00pm-7:00pm: Silverbell

7:15pm-8:30pm: the RAiLBiRDz (funky, soulful blues, R&B)

8:45pm-10:00pm: Michael P’s Big Band (soul, funk, honkey-tonk and rock)

Street Performances along Congress St.:
6pm-10pm: Living Statues, presented by Parasol Project

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Ronstadt Transit Center @ 6th Ave & Congress St
6pm-6:15pm: Preview performance of “An evening with Shel Silverstein”
6:15-8pm: The Bike-A-Stra
8pm-10pm: Five Way Street – Classic rock and expert harmonies

7pm-9pm: Magician John Coppin

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Indian Village Lot – Kid’s Corner! Between Stone & Scott on Congress

West wall: Cinema La Placita – “Alice In Wonderland” (animated version).
East Wall: Ultimate Electronics hosts Rock Band video competitions. Plus art activities for the kids, and more!

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Old Pueblo Garage, 27 E. Congress St.
6pm-8pm: (-J.)™ (ukelele, guitar, folk)
8pm-10pm: Cruz Billy – Delta blues

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NW Corner Congress St/Stone Ave
6pm-8pm: The Fourth Street Stringband – (Americana/folk/bluegrass)

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SW Corner Congress St/Stone Ave
7:30pm-10pm: Les Avenge – beat boy acrobatics
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Chicago Store, 130 E. Congress St.
6pm-10pm: Toby Chivers with Deceptively Innocent
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Flanagan’s Celtic Corner, 222 E. Congress St.
7pm-9pm: Tucson Fire Department Pipes and Drums
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Plus an art opening reception of “Small Wonders” at the Drawing Studio, 33 S. 6th Avenue –their annual holiday fundraiser featuring a large variety of “small works priced for holiday giving”, 6 to 9 p.m.

I’ve only missed one 2nd Saturdays Downtown since their inaugural event on May 8, 2010. Come on downtown & enjoy the musical performances and all the fun! Bring the kids.

December 11 is the next 2nd Saturdays Downtown.

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Teenager Toby Chivers opening at the Fox for 2nd Saturdays Downtown

13 year old Toby Chivers (rock guitarist) will be the opening performer at the historic Fox Tucson Theatre, before Latin jazz musical group “Descarga”, on Saturday October 9 for the monthly 2nd Saturdays Downtown urban street fest. Concert is free, from 7 to 9 p.m., 17 W. Congress Street. Chivers plays with a teen band called “Deceptively Innocent.”

Toby Chivers

Event schedule to date from website, www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.org.

Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress St. and Broadway Blvd.):

6:00pm-7:00pm: A Son y Sol (Latin American music with a twist)
7:15pm-8:30pm: Banana Gun (upbeat acoustic)
8:45pm-10:00pm: Jumper (power-pop)

Along Congress Street:

Art Car Exhibit: 10+ vehicles presented by Automorphosis
Odyssey Storytelling: Look for the StoryArts Cart on the topic – “Masks: Hidden Identities”
5:30 pm-6:15pm: 7 Pipers Band – bagpipers
7pm-9pm: Critical Stilts – Stilt walking & dancing
6pm-10pm: Living Statues, presented by Parasol Project (see photo below courtesy of Donovan Durband)

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Ronstadt Transit Center @ 6th Ave & Congress Street:
5:30pm-7pm: Les Avenge – beat boy acrobatics
7:00pm-8:00pm: Desert Melodies
8:00pm-9:00pm: The Technophobes – candy folk music
9:00pm-10:00pm: Honey Pistol – folk rock/indie/acoustic
7pm-9pm: Magician John Coppin
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Indian Village Lot – Kid’s Corner! Between Stone & Scott on Congress:
West wall: Cinema La Placita screens “Alice in Wonderland” & an encore presentation of a compilation of music videos from the Tucson Film & Music Festival.
East Wall: Ultimate Electronics hosts Rock Band video competitions.

Plus art activities for the kids, an anti-gravity jumping device and more!
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Old Pueblo Garage, 27 E. Congress Street:
6pm-8pm: Blanco Cliff & John White – blues

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NW Corner – Congress St./Stone Ave:
6pm-8pm: The Missing Parts – Folk music from an undiscovered country

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SW Corner – Congress St./Stone Ave:
7:30pm-10pm: Les Avenge – Beat boy acrobatics
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Chicago Store, 130 E. Congress Street:
6pm-10pm: One Phat DJ
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June’s Corner Store, 10 E. Broadway Blvd.
6:30pm-8pm: TBA
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Flanagan’s Celtic Corner, 222 E. Congress Street:
Annual Celtic Pumpkin and Gourd Carving Contest. Gift Certificates to Flanagan’s Celtic Corner will be awarded.

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And over at El Presidio Park and the Jacome Library Plaza of the Joel D. Valdez Main library is Tucson Meet Yourself, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., also on Saturday! Read my blog on that annual event (click here).

Upcoming 2nd Saturdays Downtown: Saturday, November 13, 2010 and Saturday, December 11, 2010.

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Arts, Life

Photos of another great 2nd Saturdays Downtown fest on 9/11

September 11 marked the fifth 2nd Saturdays Downtown on and around E. Congress Street, filled with revelers, street musicians, more and more art & craft vendors, delicious food, and shows at all three theaters– the Rialto, the Screening Room and the Fox. We caught a bit of flamenco at the Screening Room, then listened to a lively free concert by Anna Warr & Giant Blue Band (six musicians with trumpets and saxophones, guitar, keyboards, drums).

Photos below all courtesy of Ward 6 Council aide Donovan Durband.

7 Pipers bagpiping down Congress Street

Here’s a photo of one of the acrobatic performers with “The Fying Tortillas” aka Les Avenge at the Ronstadt Transit Center.

Lot of delicious food vendors selling a variety of cuisine are available each month.

Laos Student Club food vendor

These four human statues called the “7 Blahs” (Parasol Project) would stand perfectly still until someone gave them money, then they would shout out “blah, blah, blah” and dance. Very amusing for the kids.

Screening Room marquee (flamenco dancers inside)

The Missing Parts street musicians

Fox Theater crowd down the street

Anna Warr & Giant Blue Band performed inside the Fox Theater

large crowd in the Empty Lot on Congress

puppet vendor on Scott Avenue

Good night from three of the “7 Blahs”.

Next 2nd Saturdays Downtown slated for October 9.

Be there.

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Don’t miss upcoming “2nd Saturdays Downtown”

Coming up on Saturday July 10, the third (and hottest due to the July temperatures) 2nd Saturdays Downtown urban street fest on E. Congress Street.

Last month an acrobatic/break dancing troupe of young men calling themselves Les Avenge performed across the street from the Fox Tucson Theatre. Here’s a photo of one of the young performers flying in the air (courtesy of Donovan Dean Durband).

Les Avenge acrobatics

Les Avenge acrobatics

Check out the website (www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com) for the upcoming schedule on the Scott Avenue stage:

6:30pm-7:30pm: Seashell Radio : Indie/Electroacoustic/Rock

7:45-9pm: Kate Becker & The Zodiacs : Jazz/Soul/Funk

9:15pm-10:30pm: Rich Hopkins & The Luminarios : Indie/Psychedelic/Pop

The Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band will be performing at the Fox Tucson Theatre from 7 to 9 p.m, doors open at 6 p.m.

Singer Jamie O’Brien will be performing in front of the Old Pueblo Garage on Congress Street from 6 to 8 p.m. He plays guitar & ukulele, and sings mostly Irish and Celtic songs (and sometimes Hawaiian melodies using slack key tuning on his guitar as well). He performed at the first urban fest event (see photo from May 8 article – link below).

Since its inaugural event on May 8, followed by the second fest on June 12, these 2nd Saturdays Downtown happenings have been wildly successful, drawing tens of thousands of partiers. The FREE concerts at the beautifully renovated Fox Tucson Theatre are a huge draw, as are the free music performances on the Scott Avenue stage and on the street.

The delicious food options and interesting craft vendors and activities are a huge plus as well. Last month even scientists from the Flandrau Planetarium were there providing telescopes to see Mars! Most of the shops and restaurants downtown on and around Congress Street (between the Hotel Congress/Rialto Theater, and the Fox Theatre), as well as 6th Avenue and Scott Avenue, are open as well.

And look for those unique, well-dressed, face painted human statues scattered along Congress Street. Photos from May 8 fest (click here) and June 12 fest (click here).

Nothing to do this coming Saturday night? Venture on downtown for some hot urban fun.

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7/11/10 UPDATE: photo gallery online now (click here).

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Photos of second “2nd Saturdays Downtown” fest

What a great urban street fest it was last night on E. Congress Street, marking the second “2nd Saturdays Downtown” monthly event. If you missed it, mark your calendars now for July 10 and August 14 for the next ones.

Seven Pipers Pipe Band performing

Seven Pipers Pipe Band performing

I especially enjoyed the Seven Pipers Pipe Band (men/women in Scottish kilts playing bagpipes) marching along E. Congress, and the FREE concert by the Creedence Again tribute band at the Fox Tucson Theatre (they rocked playing Creedence Clearwater Revival songs). The eager line of fans waiting for the first concert stretched around the block onto Stone Avenue.

line outside Fox Theater for Creedence Again concert

line outside Fox Theater for Creedence Again concert

Les Avenge break dancer

Les Avenge break dancer

An entertaining male acrobatic/break dancing group called Les Avenge, performed across the street from the Fox. Lots and lots of vendors were there selling jewelry, note cards, solar flashlights, leather belts, cloth bags, tshirts, bath products, tin can lanterns, puppets, hair clips, bead necklaces, bubble wands, folk art, wooden boxes, pottery, even metal furniture.

jewelry artisan

jewelry artisan

metal tin can lantern artisan

metal tin can lantern artisan

Some folks were offering face painting, henna body art, tarot card readings, and Flandrau scientists were there as well offering telescope views of Mars and Saturn. Gypsy Sojourners living statues were again ever present. The guy offering “free advice for 5 cents” (at the inaugural May 8th event) was notably
absent.

more human statues

more human statues

Food options were numerous (dine in at downtown restaurants or at food booths), and the 1961 movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was showing by Cinema La Placita on the big screen at the big empty lot (sans metal fence) on Congress Street. The Scott Avenue stage again offered terrific music– by the lively Drama Club, followed by popular local singer Leila Lopez, and lastly the Sand Rubies. Something for everyone!

Leila Lopez performing at Scott Ave. stage

Leila Lopez performing at Scott Ave. stage

Photos are all courtesy of Steering Committee member Donovan Dean Durband, Ward 6 Council aide. And thanks to all the rest of the hardworking folks on that 2nd Saturdays Downtown steering committee (listed on their website) and all the generous sponsors, for making this “Downtown Happening” really happen (twice now).

Screening Room marquee

Screening Room marquee

good night from the human statues

good night from the human statues

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