Saturday, July 31, 2010

Tucson Birthday Time

Posted By on Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 11:59 AM

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Do you love Tucson? I mean, do you really love Tucson?

Excuse the Gordo's reference, but really, do you love Tucson?

Prove it. Tucson turns 235 on Aug. 20, but don't wait until that grand day. Besides walking the dog in the wee cool hours of the early morning before the temp hits 100, or enjoying your employer's air conditioning, we need more excuses to leave house. Tucson's birthday is celebrated throughout August, and it's the best time to show it some love.

During election season and the ongoing idoiocy of SB 1070 and people like Russell Pearce, who really don't represent Tucson, it's also a good time to remember that we are all Tucsonenses.

Tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 1, it begins with breakfast at the Mission Garden gates near A Mountain. City of Tucson birthday organizers have a website here, where you can check out the schedule (new events are added every week) and also get involved and create your own birthday celebration. Neighborhood block party?

Organizers sent out this press release to kick off the frenzy:

The Friends of Tucson's Birthplace will launch this year's month-long birthday celebration on Sunday, August 1, with breakfast and a dedication of the Mission Garden gates beginning at 8:30 a.m. The gates were built and donated by Lloyd Construction and mark completion of the first phase of development for the interpretive center. Plans for the completed project include demonstration gardens interpreting eras of agricultural practices on the site dating back 4,000 years to the first-known corn production along the Santa Cruz River at the base of “A” Mountain.

To reach the site, exit I-10 at Congress and head west to Grande (which turns into Mission). Head south on Grande just past Mission Lane to park in a vacant dirt lot.

Other birthday events on the press release:

- August 2: See the work of Mexican-born muralist and decorative artist Salvador Corona (1895-1984) at the Arizona State Museum, University Arizona Campus. $5.00; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- August 3: Kids can color the five flags that have flown over Tucson at family night at Chik-fil-A at El Con Mall. FREE.
- August 3: Beowulf Alley Theatre shares stories as told on the radio during the Golden Era of Radio in Old Time Radio Theater. 7 p.m., $8 adults, $5 first 2 kids ages 6-12.
- August 4: Contreras Gallery opens “Milagros,” an exhibition of small metal paintings, based on the Ex-Voto style of painting, with European and Hispanic origins. FREE, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- August 6: First Fridays hosts the first official Birthday Party of the month at the Tucson Museum of Art. 8 p.m. to midnight, $10 before 8:30 p.m., $20 after.

Added to the Birthday calendar of events this week is an August 21 celebration at Boondocks Lounge featuring the Wayback Machine and several specially-priced items for people who remember to wish
Tucson a Happy Birthday at the door.

Tucson’s month-long birthday celebration was conceived in 2006 by Cele Peterson. The month celebrates the contributions of many cultures and interests, as well as the environmental features and institutions that have made Tucson a unique community.