“When you grow up in a small town in Newfoundland, you see that people have a sense of humor about hard times. I turned that into a career and hit the road.”
That bit of narration begins, and perfectly encapsulates, the premise of the CBC TV series Still Standing. It’s kind of a mix of travel show, stand-up comedy special, and small town documentary.
Think Corner Gas meets Rick Steves, and you’ll be on the right track.
Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.
“Now I’m on a mission to find the funny in the places you least expect it – Canada’s struggling small towns. Towns that are against the ropes, but still hanging in there, still laughing in the face of adversity.”
Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan.
Each episode, comedian Johnny Harris travels to a different rural Canadian town and spends time learning what life is like there.
Fraser Lake, British Columbia.St. Laurent, Manitoba
That means tasting the local cuisine, trying out unusual things people there do for work or for fun, and visiting sites important to the town’s history. He chats with residents to find out what makes where they live special and what makes it challenging.
Wells, British Columbia.Okanagan Falls, BC, “OK Falls” for short.
He then weaves all those experiences and his insights into a stand-up set tailor-made for that particular town. Instead of relying on tired tropes deriding small town life, he celebrates the unique quirks of each place he visits in a way that is both warm and really funny.
Buxton, Ontario.
Since locals make up the live audience for his set, he can make a super-specific reference about the town or its residents, and everyone gets it. Laughter and nods of recognition ripple through the crowd, because everyone knows what (or who) he’s talking about.
Wakefield, Quebec.
As viewers, we’re in on the jokes too. The show’s clever editing cuts back and forth from Johnny’s comedy set to the experiences that inspired it.
Bamfield, British Columbia (pilot episode screencap).
The pilot episode, for example, takes place in Bamfield, a beautiful village on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
Bamfield, British Columbia (episode screencap).
At the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Johnny takes a tour lead by enthusiastic staff member Kelly, and then has an awkward encounter with a sea cucumber.
Everyone in the room has probably met Kelly. A good number of them have probably even met the sea cucumber. And we’ve seen the footage, so we know them too.
Bamfield, British Columbia (episode screencap).
At the point in the set when he mentions water taxi driver Mark, we’ve already seen him ferry Johnny across the Bamfield Inlet. We’ve heard him talking about the fishing industry that motivated many people to relocate to the town, then drove them away, and why he continues to stay there.
It kind of feels like we were riding along with them.
Carcross, Yukon
In fact, by the end of each episode, I tend to feel like we’ve just been introduced to a fascinating new corner of Canada and met some of the lovely people there.
And, in a way, we have.
Still Standing night at the drive-in theatre in Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan.
Still Standing is free to stream on Tubi, Freevee, and Pluto. Even though I just started watching it, there have already been nine seasons of the show and a tenth one is in progress!
All photos in this post are via Still Standing/CBC. Quotes are from Johnny Harris.
It’s spring and there are yellow wildflowers blooming along most of the roadside from Picacho Peak to Phoenix!
The Happenings List
Events for art, culture, food, and nature lovers with Goodies* starred throughout the List! If you’re not in Arizona, then the Anywhere section is for you, and so are the aspects of Arizona events labeled “ANYWHERE.”
Escape from Dreamland Villa, 1982 by Anne Coe via MOAZA.
now – TBD / Museum of Arizona Artists (virtual museum) / Free
The first solo exhibition on the online Museum of Arizona Artists (MOAZA) is a retrospective of artist Anne Coe’s work over fifty years. According to Julie Sasse, Chief Curator of the Tucson Museum of Art, her “colorful and often whimsical paintings … reveal a passion for the West with all its stereotypes, icons, and ironies.”
What got my attention:
A museum dedicated exclusively to work from Arizona artists!
March 2, 10:30 am MST (UTC/GMT -7 hours) / Zoom / Free
Workshop on using history to better understand, connect with, and tell the stories of our ancestors. Taught by Duane Roen, a retired professor of English at ASU.
From the organizer(s)…
…we yearn for more personal connections to and understanding of those who came before us, found in stories about their lives and accounts of their daily struggles, hopes, and dreams.
March 8, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST (UTC/GMT -5 hours) / livestream / Free
March 8 is International Women’s Day! The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) will livestream the keynote presentation that will be happening during their day of celebrations.
From the organizer(s)…
Ferren Gipson is a British-American art historian, writer, and artist. In this virtual program, Gipson will discuss the women artists featured in her latest book Women’s Work: From feminine arts to feminist art (2022).
March 12, 12:00 pm MST / Live presentation via Zoom / Free
Livestream talk on the life of Pearl Hart before and after her famed stagecoach heist by John Boessenecker, the author of Wildcat: The Untold Story of Pearl Hart, the Wild West’s Most Notorious Woman Bandit.
This will be the last program in the museum’s Arizona Biography Series: The Stuff of Legends.
From the organizer(s)…
“On May 30, 1899, history was made when Pearl Hart, disguised as a man, held up a stagecoach in Arizona and robbed the passengers at gunpoint. …Word of her heist spread, and Pearl Hart went on to become … the most notorious female outlaw on the Western frontier.”
Detail of El Juego de los Probabilidades by Oscar Muñoz, examined during a virtual Slow Art session with Phoenix Art Museum.
This is a day for the people to come together and celebrate the unique culture of record stores and the special role they play in their communities. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet + greets with artists, parades, and (of course) DJs spinning records.
Now – May 11 (most Saturdays) / Desert Botanical Gardens (DBG), Phoenix / Included with admission
Walk your dog through DBG’s trails on Saturday mornings this spring. There are always plenty of interesting new things to see – and to sniff – especially this time of year when the Garden is in bloom!
Specific dates: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 + April 6, 13, 27 + May 4, 11 from 8-11am
now — July 7 / Phoenix Art Museum (Fashion Design Mezzanine), Phoenix / included with paid admission ($10 during free admission times)
Exhibition about Barbie’s identities and influence through the last six decades. It includes over 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, and exclusive interviews.
From the organizer(s)…
The exhibition is complemented by original PhxArt exhibition The Power of Pink, which is drawn exclusively from the Museum’s expansive fashion-design collection. The Power of Pink explores the history, science, and associations of the color synonymous with the iconic Barbie brand.
Chuck Close self-portrait at the Phoenix Art Museum
now — December 1 / Phoenix Art Museum (Rineberg Gallery + Ballinger Gallery), Phoenix / Included with admission
Exhibition of works from the Phoenix Art Museum Collection curated by members of the Museum’s security, event-rentals, and retail-services teams.
From the organizer(s)…
The project, which challenges traditional museum hierarchies and fosters dialogue about who can and should talk about art, is the first of its kind at Phoenix Art Museum.
SN: The gallery attendants and other staff see firsthand how visitors respond to museum pieces day-to-day, so I’m sure they have some interesting picks!
A poster made at a recent all-ages rally for Palestine in Tucson.
Weekly gathering to make, write, and mail postcards to Congressional reps to demand a ceasefire in Palestine. The postcard writing sessions will continue every Sunday until there is a permanent ceasefire.
If you’re unable to make it on Sundays, postcards and materials will be available in the backroom seating area anytime Palabras is open.
Contributions of stamps, postcards and cereal boxes (to be made into postcards) are needed!
March 1 – 3 / Gilbert Regional Park, Gilbert / $25 admission / All ages
Festival loosely based on Celtic/Nordic/world traditions with a focus on competitions and pageantry. Also a British car show.
Entertainment: Live music, photo booth, Clydesdale horses, competitive athletic events, piping and drumming, and highland dancing.
Vendors: Themed merchandise, clothing, art, jewelry, genealogy services, and bottles of wine from Zarpara Vineyard.
Food + beverage: Scottish, Irish, British, New Zealand and other cuisines, plus a host of snack and sweets options. Impex Beverages whisky tastings. Water, soda, and Guinness available throughout the event.
ANYWHERE: You can donate to the Gilbert-based USA Clydesdale Foundation, which is working to save Clydesdales, a Scottish breed of draft horse whose population is shrinking.
March 1, 8, 15 / Shemer Art Center, Phoenix / $270-290 total class fees
Three-part workshop on Ikebana, the art of Japanese flowering arranging, including making ceramic vases for the arrangements. Students will be able to take their creations home with them!
From the organizer(s)…
The practice of Ikebana brings natural botanical materials (flowers, branches, leaves etc.) into living spaces. Vases not only provide the function of supplying water to flowers, but also help achieve the perfect harmony between natural materials and man-made forms.
SN: I find Ikebana fascinating. It seems like such an exquisite art form! And it’s neat that you learn how to make the vase in the same workshop too!
Class fee details: $225 tuition + $45 materials fee (includes glazes and flowers) + $20 clay fee (optional)
March 3, April 7, May 5, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm / 55th Avenue between West Campbell + West Glenrosa Ave, Maryvale
New monthly market on the westside the first Sunday of each month through May. The family-friendly event will have live entertainment, while you shop unique goods from small businesses. It is part of the same nonprofit that’s behind the Mujeres Mercado, E.L.L.A. (Empowering Latina Leaders in Arizona).
Vendors: Local vendors of accessories, apparel/fashion, art, beauty and wellness products, candles, crafts, as well as produce and desserts/drinks.
Food + beverage: Food trucks and other food businesses.
Exhibition and sale of fine art from Mexico that will fill the Museum grounds, patio, and barn! Artisans will be on-site demonstrating their work and conversing with visitors. Finished pieces will be available for purchase.
From the organizer(s)…
Pottery makers from Mata Ortiz and wood carvers from Oaxaca will be on hand. Celebrated weaver Porfirio Gutierrez will be here with his loom, showing you his technique using all natural dyes.
March 9, 1:00 pm / Tempe Public Library, Ironwood Classroom, Tempe / Free (includes supplies)
Special workshop where participants will create a bound poetry chapbook and have the opportunity to be part of the library’s Poetry Month display of work by local poets.
All experience levels with poetry are welcome.
All supplies will be provided.
Registration required.
Display will be on the main floor of the library April 8-22.
March 9, 10:00 am / Tempe Public Library, Desert Willow Program Room, Tempe / All ages / Free
Workshop on making and playing simple percussion instruments created from everyday household objects. The instructors will demonstrate some percussion instruments that they have built (like rain sticks, cajons, kalimbas, guiros, and thunder drums), explain their building techniques, and then help participants make their own.
Taught by Maureen Roen (Chandler Symphony Orchestra percussionist!) and Duane Roen, retired professor.
The workshop will end with a brief concert with the class performing on their newly-made instruments.
Mural by Ignacio Garcia, who designed the custom sticker collection for the festival.
March 9, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm / Downtown District walkways and Civic Center Plaza, Glendale / Free
Community festival with over 100 artists, musicians, and interactive arts experiences!
Entertainment: Art installations, pop-up performances in front of local businesses, community chalk art competition, live street painting, dance and live music performances throughout the day.
Vendors: 75 food and artisan vendors along W. Glenn Drive, between 57th and 58th Ave.
Food + beverage: Food trucks will line the streets of Murphy Park, and there will be a local wine and beer garden in The Civic Center Plaza and surrounding courtyards.
A limited-edition custom sticker collection by mural artist Ignacio Garcia will be at participating businesses on the day of the event and beyond.
March 15 – 17 / The Gila River Indian Community’s Mul-chu-tha Fairgrounds, Sacaton
Annual fair of the Gila River Indian Community! Open to the public, it includes a rodeo, fair, carnival, parade, and Pow-Wow. It began as a fundraiser for a community pool and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year!
Entertainment: battle of the bands, car show, concerts and cultural performances, sporting events (basketball, Shoñgivu’l, thoka)
Vendors: Native American jewelry, arts, and crafts
March 20, 7:30 pm / Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center, Mesa / $37-55/ticket + fees
Immersive storytelling experience from Kiliii Yuyan, a photographer of Siberian Native (Nanai) and Chinese-American heritage, who has traveled across the polar regions with National Geographic. He will share beautiful images from the Arctic, an often misunderstood area that is actually home to 40 different Indigenous cultures – including the Nanai – as well as lots of unique flora and fauna.
Carrol’s Garden quilt at Quilter’s Oasis in Mesa
Quilt Arizona!: Quilt Show that Says It’s “Hip to be Square”
March 21 – 23 / Mesa Convention Center, Mesa / $5-10 admission (includes snacks)
From the organizer(s)…
With a theme centered around squares, this Arizona Quilters’ Guild event will showcase imaginative quilts from traditional artwork to modern abstract compositions.
Quilt Arizona 2024 will offer five lectures, included with admission.
March 22 – 24, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / Downtown Carefree / General admission: $5 (cash only), Souvenir wine glass with tasting tickets: $15 (cash preferred)
From the organizer(s)…
The carefully curated selection of fine art ensures that guests are exposed to a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums, allowing them to discover new favorites and expand their artistic horizons.
Entertainment: Live music by After Glow (instrumental contemporary jazz and funk tunes).
Vendors: Over 160 world-class artists displaying pieces in a variety of media, including paintings, blown glass, hand-thrown pottery, woodwork, gourd carvings, metalsmithing, sculptures, photography, and one-of-a-kind jewelry.
Featured artist duo: Myra Burg and Liz Cummings, two individual artists who normally work with completely separate media, joining forces to create Quiet Oboes.
March 23, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm / Auditorium at Sunland Village, Mesa / All ages / Free
Bird-themed Earth Day celebration targeted to trail lovers, nature enthusiasts, and conservationists. There will be a seed swap table, where growers can share their excess seeds or pick up new seeds to try.
Entertainment: Free plants, a seed swap, and animal rescue organizations with live reptiles and birds.
Vendors: Wildlife photographers and small businesses like Blue Planet Outdoors and Big Sky soap will be selling their products. There will also be space for non-profits, including the Arizona Trail Association, Tru Garden Hydroponic Growers, and Desert Audubon.
March 23, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm / Kroc Center Phoenix (East Field), Phoenix / Free with RSVP / All ages
Festival with over 40 local women artists and vendors, live performances, art demos, food, music, and giveaways.
Substance-free, family-friendly event.
Organized by the Black Girl Brown Girl Collective, a South Phoenix nonprofit that aims to provide opportunities for women to engage in cultural events and share their art and make all women feel safe and welcomed.
March 30, 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm / Dave White Regional Park, Casa Grande / All ages / $10 advance, $15 day-of admission + ticketing fees, free admission for children 12 and under (with paid adult admission)
Entertainment: Live music featuring headliner Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, as well as folklorico dancing and Mariachi Nueva Era. There will also be hot air balloon tethered rides (weather permitting), a fireworks display, and activities for kids (inflatables, face painting, balloon artist).
Vendors: Retail vendors.
Food + beverage: Taco, salsa, and margarita vendors, and a beer garden. Food and beverage is not included in the ticket price, and you can’t bring in your own alcohol and/or food.
April 18, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm / Shemer Art Center, Phoenix / $75 fee + $30 supplies / materials
What got my attention:
This workshop sounds phenomenal! I love the use of a wide variety of materials and the spirit of experimentation with different techniques for artists at any level.
From the organizer(s)…
Dive into the realm of tactile artistry in this immersive course. Explore the possibilities of compounds, pastes, collages, art- and non-art materials.
Other upcoming workshops with Bela Fidel:
4/19: Acrylic Pouring ($75 + $30 materials fee)
4/26 – 5/24 (Fridays): Abstract Painting through Working on a Series ($150 + $30 materials fee)
now — April 12 / Natural History Institute, Prescott / Free
Exhibition of fine art nature photography by Taylor McKinnon. The collection centers on the beauty of western North American landscapes, the biodiversity within them, and our relationships with the natural world.
3/23, 1pm: Nature Photography for Everyone. Loosely-structured workshop in Prescott’s Granite Dells with the exhibition’s artist, Taylor McKinnon. Learn about cameras and composition and practice photographing beautiful scenery on the Mogollon Rim. Advanced registration required. $35/person
March 1 – 30 / Petrified Forest National Park, Holbrook / Included with admission ($25 per car) / No children under 12.
The Petrified Forest National Park offers guided hikes on Fridays and Saturdays through backcountry trails to notable locations within the Park. Descriptions of individual hikes will give you an idea of the level of difficulty (easy to strenuous), distance, elevation gain, and how much time to allow.
Don’t forget to make a reservation for your guided hike!
While pets are not allowed on guided hikes, they can come to this National Park with you and even participate in the BARK Ranger program!
March 8 – 9, 5 showtimes over 2 days / Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University., Prescott / $5 admission
What got my attention:
Jane Goodall. Hope.
From the organizer(s)…
Drawing on decades of work by the world’s most famous living ethologist and environmentalist, Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope, is an uplifting journey around the globe to highlight good news stories that will inspire people to make a difference in the world around them.
Learn how to use, eat, and grow the mesquite trees native to Arizona, as part of living a more sustainable life. In addition to learning about mesquite, attendees will be able to spend time with other people who are also interested in topics like permaculture, homesteading, and natural living.
What got my attention:
Off the beaten path, relaxed, sustainability, mesquite.
From the organizer(s)…
Come on out to Golden Valley, Arizona (a hamlet nestled between Kingman and Bullhead City) to taste mesquite in its many forms … and enjoy a slow weekend in a small town right off of historic route 66.
April 5 – 7 / Camp Verde Parks + Rec Building, Camp Verde / Free admission + workshop fees
Inaugural Arizona Fiber Festival, featuring three days of workshops, vendors, and demonstrations on an array of fiber arts, including spinning, dyeing, weaving, felting, knitting, crocheting, basketry, beading, braiding, and embroidery. Work by members of the Arizona Federation of Weavers and Spinners Guilds on display.
The vendor market, demonstrations, and Guild booths are free and open to the public.
April 20, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm / Red Rock State Park, Sedona / Included with admission
Celebrate Earth Day in one of the world’s most beautiful places – surrounded by Sedona’s red rocks! There will be live wildlife presentations with rescue animals, as well as hikes, community partner booths, games, prizes, and kids’ crafts.
April 27, 6:00 pm / Homolovi State Park’s Visitor Center Museum and Observatory, Winslow / Included with admission
A night under the stars that begins with a guest speaker presentation, followed by viewing deep sky objects – like nebulas, distant stars, and galaxies – through a 14″ telescope.
now — May 11 (select dates) / University of Arizona Poetry Center, Tucson + online / Free
Series of poetry readings by nationally-known and Arizona poets, as well as interdisciplinary performances and outreach events where writers of all ages share their creative work.
now – October 20 / Tucson Museum of Art (TMA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Exhibition that looks at the traditions of Maya storytelling and image-making from ancient times up to the present. As a starting point, it uses Mayan mythology from the Popol Vuh. Artwork by Guatemalan modern artist Carlos Mérida (including a wall that looks like a giant, flat piñata) complement the ancient work.
*First Thursday. On the first Thursday of the month, TMA offers extended hours (5-8pm), pay-what-you-wish admission, art activities, entertainment, and a cash bar. Reserve your free ticket online.
*Second SundAZe. Focused on intergenerational learning, the Second Sunday of the month features activities and art-making for kids, as well as docent talks, free performances, and pay-what-you-wish admission.
Scenery near Roche Tissue Diagnostics via Visit Tucson.
Now – May 3 / Ventana Gallery at Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Tucson / Free
Exhibition of work by artists who live, work, and/or were inspired by Oro Valley, in honor of the town’s 50th anniversary. It will be housed in an unconventional space – a gallery located on the campus of Roche Tissue Diagnostics.
Monthlong focus on watching hawks and other raptors migrate through Tubac with experts on these birds of prey. Several thousand raptors migrate north above the Santa Cruz River – including over half of the Common Black Hawks in the U.S. Many stop to roost in nearby cottonwood trees overnight before continuing their journey.
Entertainment: Guided nature walk along the Santa Cruz River, raffle, demonstration by local nature artist and plein-air painter Virginia Vovchuk, opportunity to learn how to identify hawks and why they fly over Tubac, children’s activities that include a Birdy Treasure Hunt.
Vendors: Major optics companies will display their products. (Binoculars and such, I assume.)
March 2024 will be the 12th year that Peter Collins will count the hawks over Ron Morriss County Park.
March 5 – April 7 (approximately) / University of Arizona Zoom platform + San Xavier Cooperative Farm / $120 tuition
From the organizer(s)…
Many people call the Sonoran Desert and its striking landscapes home. Long before our urban centers and city lights lit up the dark desert skies, the Tohono O’odham were cultivating and shaping the land with abundant agriculture. Learn about the foodways of the Tohono O’odham and their connection to the land, plants and animals. This includes pre-encounter methods of farming, hunting, and food gathering, contemporary cultivation methods and effects of food subsidy programs on traditional diet.
4 live online sessions on Tuesdays March 5, 12, 19, 25 from 5pm – 6:30pm
5th class will be a hands on learning experience in person at San Xavier Cooperative Farm, date TBD (first week in April).
Ukrainian-American Society of Arizona booth at Tucson Meet Yourself.
March 9, 11:00 am / St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Tucson / $25 Adults, $10 Students.
From the organizer(s)…
In this 4-hour workshop at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Tucson, you will learn how to decorate eggs using symbolic designs made with wax and colored vegetable dyes according to the practices of generations.
SN: If you read my Pysanky post and thought “Wow! I’d love to try that some day,” then here’s your chance to do it and support a good cause!
All profits donated for humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Sponsored by the Ukrainian-American Society of Arizona.
March 9 – 10 / Tubac School of Fine Art, Tubac / $395 fee
Workshop on how to keep a sketchbook journal to record an event, memory, or your day-to-day life. Instructor Jim Petty will also cover basic drawing, perspective, and values. This course is both in the classroom and outdoors!
What got my attention:
Journaling through art! Inside AND outside! Another way to do a travel journal.
March 15 – 17 / Sculpture Park (in Brandi Fenton Memorial Park), Tucson / Free
Outdoor juried Sculpture Festival hosted at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park. The 2024 Festival will showcase sculpture across a wide range of media by over 50 sculptors from around the country.
Now – 5/20: Julia Arriola and Hector Ortega Exhibit
March 15, 7:30 pm / Fox Theatre, Tucson / $23-81 / ticket (includes fees)
Concert of Irish traditional music from the band Altan, along with step dancers and a guest fiddler from Ireland.
From the organizer(s)…
Ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching old Irish songs all the way to hard hitting reels and jigs, Altan is committed to bringing the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers, to contemporary audiences. Altan believes that Irish traditional music is modern music in every sense and its growing popularity proves them right.
*Public tours of Fox Theatre the first Tuesday of each month at noon. (Requires climbing stairs.) Free, but donations to the non-profit, historic theatre are welcome.
March 16 – 17 / Oro Valley Marketplace, Oro Valley / Free
Juried arts and crafts marketplace with work in a variety of media on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend.
Entertainment: Celtic musical performances (bagpipers, traditional folk dance from the Maguire School of Irish Dance, Saguaro Stompers clogging, and fast Irish jigs from bands Rave Review and Puca and the Wild Ones), inflatable art installations, a comic bookmobile, and a kid’s crafting station by Lucky Cat Social.
Vendors: Metal sculpture, jewelry, photography, handmade beauty products, and artisan foods from over 125 artists.
Food + beverage: Sonoran style carne asada, home cooked BBQ, Italian ice, fruit smoothies, and a full beer and wine garden.
Outside of the Firestone Building, where DAM pop-ups are held.
March 16, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm / corner of 6th Street + 6th Avenue under the pavilion in front of Let’s Sweat, Tucson / Free to shop
From the organizer(s)…
Desert Air Market (DAM) is a recurring outdoor popup market created and run by Tucson artisans for Tucson artisans since the Winter of 2020. As fellow creators, we uniquely understand the highs and lows of running a small business, and we created this one-of-a-kind pop up with a focus on our local creators.
March 16, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm / UA Cooperative Extension (4210 N. Campbell Avenue), Tucson / Free
Over 40 exhibits to increase your knowledge on efficient water usage and sustainable landscaping in the Southern Arizona desert!
Entertainment: Hands-on activities for all ages, free raffle for items and services, and a chance to take home one of 200 free trees from Civano Growers!
March 17 — October 6 / Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson / Included with admission
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) celebrates 100 years since its founding by looking at the relationship of art to time. The “Time Travelers: Foundations, Transformations, and Expansions at the Centennial” exhibition looks at significant artworks collected by the museum over the past century to reconsider their complex relationships to the past, present, and future.
Self-guided walking tour of haiku poetry printed on acrylic signage and placed in planters along Congress Street and Stone Avenue. The 20 poems are winners of an annual literary competition, submitted by the public and chosen by Tucson’s poet Laureate, TC Tolbert.
March 22 – 24 / Fourth Ave, Tucson / Free / All ages
Bi-annual, family-friendly tradition that hosts artists from around the world, decadent food, and local entertainment. Produced by local non-profit, North Fourth Avenue Merchants Association, proceeds are used to support the Avenue’s infrastructure, invest in surrounding neighborhoods, and host programs that promote arts, culture, and community.
Julia Patterson, who I met during the Hidden in the Hills artist studio tour in Cave Creek.
March 22 – 23 / Tubac School of Fine Art, Tubac / $270 fee
From the organizer(s)…
Have you ever said of an abstract in a museum: “Well, hrrmph, I could do that”? Time to find out!
This course welcomes, not only artists and art lovers, but all curious participants to the world of abstraction. Through this two-day course, you will practice letting go of expectations and creating with the abandon and joy of a child.
What got my attention:
I like the idea of giving the naysayers the opportunity to try it themselves! Regardless of the outcome, it sounds like a fun and freeing – maybe even therapeutic – class.
March 23, 10:00 am or 1:00 pm / Creative Kind at La Encantada, Tucson / $60 fee (includes supplies)
Choose charms and a chain, and create your own chunky charm necklace! Includes either a 14k gold plated or 14k silver plated “paperclip” chain (both hypoallergenic). You are also welcome to bring your own chain. Customize it with 6-8 charms that speak to you from an assortment of gold, silver, and enamel chunky charms.
2 separate class times: 10am–noon or 1-3pm
Workshop seats are non-refundable.
*Anywhere in the US: Free shipping on Creative Kind orders over $75
April 4 — August 31 / Poetry Center’s Jeremy Ingalls Gallery and the Center for Creative Photography’s Alice Chaiten Baker Interdisciplinary Gallery / Free
Multilingual exhibit (O’odham / Spanish / English) examining the intersection of spirituality, migration, and policies that have impacted the borderlands of the Sonoran Desert through the work of collaborating poets, photographers, and artists.
Lara Ruggles with guest Kevin Heinle performing at Tucson Folk Festival.
April 4 – 7 / Jácome Plaza, Tucson / Free / All ages
From the organizer(s)…
Festival celebrating Americana and Folk Music traditions and all the wonderful variations, including bluegrass, blues, country, jazz, Celtic, and various styles of Latin and Mexican music! This annual family-friendly festival is held in some of the most historic sections of Tucson.
4/4: Official festival kick off party at Monterey Court.
4/5: Performer social and annual Stefan George Memorial Songwriting Competition on the Plaza Stage at Jácome Plaza.
4/6-7: Main event. Five stages downtown and more than 125 live performances.
April 7, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / 4th Avenue + 7th Street, Tucson / Free to shop
From the organizer(s)…
It’s not just about commerce, it’s about community.
The Made in Tucson Market is a celebration of the risk-takers and dream-makers that personify the Tucson maker movement. It honors the authentic nature of the rugged desert and the unique spirits that call it home. It revels in the profound resilience and connection of our community.
Vendors: Pima County based artists and makers selling their own work.
Food + beverage: Food trucks, trailers, and booths.
Funds from Made in Tucson go right back into community projects like murals and events.
Lake at Kennedy Park, where the Maíz Fiesta will be held.
Tucson will host the first weekend of a month-long international food and culture celebration. The festivities will include regional food vendors, chef demonstrations, live music and entertainment, educational panels, art installations, and so much more celebrating the rich traditions of maíz.
4/11, 4pm:Noche de Maíz Chef’s Dinner at The Carriage House. Chefs from four UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy collaborate on wine-paired courses + hors d’oeuvres. $150/ticket
4/13, 4-10pm: Maíz Fiesta at Kennedy Park. Live music, art installations, and family-friendly activities. Free
4/14, 7pm:CIMAFUNK at The Rialto Theatre. Afro-Cuban Rockstar who aims to subvert classical Cuban rhythms with innovative mixes of funk, afrobeat and hip hop. $20/ticket advance or $25 at the door
Phillip waiting for an AZIFF screening to begin in Main Gate Square.
The Arizona International Film Festival (AZIFF) is a venue for independent filmmakers in search of an independent audience. Screening locations this year include The Screening Room (downtown), MSA Annex, Hotel Congress, UA Main Gate, and other venues throughout Tucson.
The Selection Committee will be announcing the finalists for the 2024 Festival by March 18.
April 18, 8:00 am – 10:00 am / Mission Garden, Tucson / Free / All ages
Help plant agave in the style of traditional Hohokam-era agave plantings on nearby Tumamoc Hill, while learning more about this food’s ancient methods and future possibilities. At the end of the planting, Archaeologist Allen Denoyer will demonstrate the use of a replica agave knife, used for cutting leaves off agaves in preparation for roasting.
April 19, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm / Hotel Congress Plaza, Tucson / $25/advance ticket / 21+
Concert to kick off the Agave Heritage Festival, featuring Grammy Award-Winning Mariachi Flor de Toloache with Som do Sisal, a 13-piece Brazilian Youth Orchestra that plays instruments made of repurposed Agave Sisal plants.
*The first 200 concertgoers will get an agave spirit sample courtesy of Mezcal Union!
Explore Mission Garden and learn more about agave from staff and volunteers, as well as environmental and cultural organizations from around the region.
9am: The Future of Agave. Panel discussion on why agave’s drought-tolerance may make it a key crop of the future.
10:30am: Agave Roast with the Hualapai Tribe. Members of the Hualapai Tribe will describe their own traditions and relationship to agave roasts, using a different type of agave and a different style of roasting pit than the Hohokam methods demonstrated in past years. They will then open the roasting pit and share tastes with visitors!
April 20, 10:00 am / AC Marriott, Tucson / $210 fee
Course exploring the history, production, and taste of six different agave spirits. Over the course of 2.5 hours, you will taste 6 different varieties, learning how to identifying aromas, flavors, and overall quality, as well as gaining the tools to better appreciate the many varieties of mezcal.
April 20, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm / Hotel Congress, Tucson / $65 /ticket / 21+
Signature event with over 50 artisanal and ancestral mezcals, an agave cocktail showcase, live music, agave art, and presentations from industry experts.
Each ticket also includes…
4 agave spirit tastes
1 beer sample
2 cocktail samples
paired food from the Cup Café culinary team
Mayahuel (agave goddess) mural by Rock ‘‘CYFI’’ Martinez.
April 27 – 28 / Oro Valley + Tucson / $25-32/ticket
The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra (SASO) performs a series of concerts from fall to spring.
Saturday performances are 7:30pm at DesertView Performing Arts Center in Oro Valley. $32/ticket (includes tax + fees).
Sunday performances are 3pm at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Tucson. $25/ticket.
In the final performance weekend for the 2023/2024 season, guest conductor Giovanni Pompeo leads the orchestra in playing Verdi’s Overture to I Vespri Siciliani and a selection from Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5, in addition to Kalman’s Hudson Concerto and Rósza’s Spellbound Concerto, which will both feature pianist Alexander Frey.
ANYWHERE: Watch SASO’s series of livestreamed concerts from the 2020-2021 season, featuring smaller string ensembles on a socially distanced stage.
l had so much jewel-toned goodness to share with you in part 1 of this color story that it overflowed into this whole separate post!
So you can continue to revel in jewel-toned art, nature, artisan goods, destinations, and DIYs.
Also, I’ve put all the Etsy items from both posts into a Jewel Tones collection, so you can find them more easily. (I’m an Etsy affiliate, so you can click through one of the links on this page, buy something awesome, and you’ll be supporting the site at the same time!)
1. Amethyst-colored feathers cover the heads of male Costa’s hummingbirds, like this striking fella, who was perched in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s Hummingbird Aviary. / photo by @reenagiolaphoto (avid photographer of birds + her Australian shepherds) via Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2. “Crystal Trees” oil painting by Erin Hanson. Its palette was inspired by lush springtime in the Texas hill country. / prints + textured replicas are available to ship worldwide
3. “The Sacred Garden Box” made by gem intarsia artist Nicolai Medvedev from opal, sugilite, lapis-lazuli, turquoise, and malachite. / H/T Western Spirit (“Scottsdale’s museum of the West”), which had an exhibition of his work in 2023. / Photo by Harold + Erica Van Pelt
5. Fabulous Cheesecake with Blueberry Glaze, a dessert re-discovered on a clipping from a 1975 issue of Southern Living magazine tucked into in a family recipe box. / via Food.com
6. Still life with plums, part of the Endless Summer series of 9 paintings by French illustrator Léa Maupetit. / Endless Summer has been exhibited in the artist’s home city of Paris at Klin d’oeil Boutique + Galerie and as far away as 1905 Re-creative Space in Shenyang, China!
7. LOVE bracelets, part of a project providing artisans worldwide with fair wages. / Pictured are Carolina, Claudia, and Wendy, three sisters from a village near Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, who earned enough money weaving these bracelets to build an extra floor onto their home! / via Love Is Project
8. “Enchanted” soy candle in a tin made by A Bearden Project. / sold via The Bee Hive, a boutique collective of independent makers in Atlanta
9. Phoenix Chile Pepper Festival attendees mingling as the sun goes down. / We went to the festival in 2016. Unfortunately, I don’t think they hold it anymore.
10. “Woodland romance” bouquet made from foliage with a mix of textures and tied with cascading ribbons. The flowers and other decor were inspired by the woodsy outdoor setting of a wedding reception. / flowers by Lace and Lilies + photo by Lori Kennedy Photography via The Perfect Palette
12. The Northern Lights in Norway! / The photo comes from one of the Sustainable Susie comic books, where the titular character shares responsible travel tips for seeing the aurora borealis and exploring fjords. The books were created by the nonprofit United States Tour Operators Association. / Photo credit: Hans Petter Sørensen + FarOutFocus/Visit Norway via AFAR Media
14. Large malachite gemstone in the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem + Mineral Museum, Tucson. / I took the photo when I visited the museum last fall. It’s one of Tucson’s top spots to see crystals, gems, and minerals all year round!
16. Guide for making beeswax food wraps, bee-less vegan food wraps, and snack bags, as reusable alternatives to single-use plastic wrap and baggies. / by Mountain Rose Herbs
17. Boozy Gem Jams by Moxie and Sassafras, a Tucson maker of small-batch macarons, alcohol-infused jams, and other treats with unexpected flavors.
19. At Sky Bar in Tucson, a video that looks like space plays on the big screen, while we wait for them to wheel out the telescope. They have nightly stargazing on the patio with volunteer astronomers to guide you and answer questions!
20. Fluorite and smoked quartz at the Galerie de Géologie et de Minéralogie in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris. It was found on Mount Blanc by crystal prospector Christophe Péray, who had lost his longtime collaborator Laurent Chatel on the same mountain range the year before. In his memory, Christophe named this specimen “Laurent.” / Photo by F. Farges via Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
21. Dark Chocolate Detox Bites topped with dried fruit that looks just like the red fluorite in Laurent (from #20)! / The sweets are meant to be a healthier version of a traditional French Christmas candy, called mendiants (medallions). / by The View From Great Island
Think of mineral pigments. The way a body of water takes on shades of what it carries – a cloudy blue glacial stream, a teal bay concealing a forest of kelp, a river that turns mud-brown with sediment. The hue of flames shifting from fuel and temperature changes. Or the impact of heat and chemical makeup on the color of lava, of aurora, of stars.
The rich, saturated colors of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, and other gemstones are actually from trace elements within them. It’s those so-called imperfections that create the gorgeous palette we call jewel tones.
With Tucson’s gem show season beginning today, it seemed like the perfect time to explore jewel-toned things to make, places to visit, handmade items to shop, and nature to marvel at.
In fact, I found so many gems to share with you that there will be a Part 2!
10. Looking up at the cut-gem shape of the ceiling of the Byrd Theatrein Richmond, Virginia. / photo by Florence Womack
11. Fruit and Tonics: Recipe for giant, fruit-infused ice cubes that will give your drink more flavor as they melt instead of watering it down! / Add to gin and tonics, plain sparkling water, lemonade, or a pitcher of sangria. / via A Beautiful Mess
14. Prickly pear juice handcrafted by Desert Forager’s John Slattery. / At Tucson Meet Yourself, he was hustling to ring up beverage orders on one side of his booth while selling and signing his book, Southwest Foraging, on the other! / Return the jar your drink is served in for a discounted refill.
15. Traditional Palestinian Costume: Origins and Evolution by Hanan Karaman Munayyer, a beautiful book I borrowed recently.
16. Lanterns to celebrate Buddha’s birthday (Vesak Day) in Seoul, South Korea. / via Huffington Post
17. Hand-cut glass bottle wind chimes made by Bottles Uncorked. / You can order a set of all 10 colors or choose a single bottle.
18. BIRDLOVER Guatemalan Huipil Blouse, handwoven and embroidered by Doña Juana, a Mayan weaver in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. It was a 6-month long project! / via Mayan Artisans on Etsy
Photos link to their sources. This post contains Etsy affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on purchases – at no extra cost to you! Win-win!
It seems like a million years ago. But also like it was just last month. It seems impossible that he was ever here, living, breathing, just a phone call away. And it also seems impossible that now he’s not.
Mom and Dad at having lunch at Main St. Sweets in Mesa.Mosaic by Rylee Sturgeon at Banner Ocotillo Medical Center, Chandler.
My dad showed me how to notice the little details, especially in nature. He loved a hike, he loved a road trip, was curious about the world, and wanted to make the most of opportunities that popped up along the way. (“As long as we’re here, we might as well… go inside and check out the menu / take a boat tour / drive a few more miles to see a wagon train re-enactment / take a helicopter ride / see what it’s like to park in the desert and watch a dust storm….”)
He believed in being prepared (often way over-prepared). He liked building things and was actually very big on safety. Thanks to his influence, I cringe when someone on tv is using power tools or handling dangerous materials without the gloves or eye protection that they should be wearing.
“Sunrise Over San Tan” by Arizona photographer Marilyn Smith on the wall at Banner Ocotillo Medical Center.
I have started and stopped writing a version of this several times over the past year, and I’m determined to get through it this time – even if it means ending abruptly. (Many things do.)
Me, Dad, and my adorable little sibling Ian!Dad with his favorite walking stick outside MD Anderson Cancer Center.
So although I haven’t even scratched the surface of the multi-faceted person my dad was or how he meant so much to me, I’ll just leave you with a few highlights of Dad helping out on this site.
Top Marty Moments on Travelcraft Journal
1. He wrote a post about he and mom randomly walking into a restaurant in Prescott, where almost everyone was wearing pajamas.
3. When he explained how an insulated water bottle works. I had hoped he’d be able to contribute his technical explanations more regularly. We even talked about doing a series where he pointed out Pinterest crafts that were actually fire hazards or otherwise bad ideas.
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