Civil War in the Southwest

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | No Comments

Arizona Parks Foundation marks a single battle of the American Civil War, a skirmish fought near Picacho Peak located between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Each year around this time, that Civil War tussle is re-enacted, and you can come out and watch. (Note that they moved it a year or so ago, but it seems to be back at Picacho Park again this year. The Civil War battle is this weekend.)

Civil War Re-Enactment at Picacho Peak Park

Now, actually, when you go, you’ll see THREE Civil War re-enactments. At 11:00 AM each day, you will see the re-enactment of the Battle of Valverde. At 1:30 (both days), watch the re-enactment of the Battle of Glorietta Pass. The big one, the Battle of Picacho, will be re-enacted at 3:30 PM. Also, expect to see what seems like a cool fashion show (fashions of the time) and some artillery demonstrations. Read more

Walking Ghost Tours of Downtown Tucson

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | No Comments

This Saturday night, come out and take a walking tour of Downtown Tucson. But that’s not all. It’s a . . . ghost tour! Bwaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaa!  Learn details about Tucson’s haunted downtown. Historical information, eyewitness interviews and paranormal investigation findings allow the tour guides to regale you with fascinating, spine-tingling tales.

This two-hour walking ghost tour visits Hotel Congress, the Amtrak train station and more. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a camera if you would like to capture some ghosts on film. Reservations required. Read more

Best of Contemporary Mexican Fiction

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | No Comments

The UA Poetry Center website features a book club that discusses some quite delightful works. You are invited this Thursday to an author reading of “Best of Contemporary Mexican Fiction Anthology Reading.”

The UA Poetry website says this anthology contains work by 16 of Mexico’s best writers born after 1945. I read the description, and the book sounds very cool. One of the stories is about a mariachi singer who suffers from mediocrity and another  is about an embalmed man seated in front of his TV. Honestly, when I read those descriptions, I wanted to rush out and buy the book. (It is for sale at the UA Poetry Center, so if you find yourself in a moment of weakness, you are in luck.)

Ok, so I just got off the phone from talking with Linda (a wonderful lady I actually met once on a birding trip). She informs me that there are actually TWO events that are really super this week. There is the event on Thursday at 8:00 PM in which two of the authors (and the editor) will read from the work. Then on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 4:00 PM, the authors and editors will return for a panel discussion on this work. You are invited to both events. The readings and panel discussion will be in English.

The editor is Álvaro Uribe. Fiction writers Vivian Abenshushan, and Cristina Rivera-Garza will be present to read and then discuss on Friday.

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Free Sample Meal at Panda Express

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | No Comments

Panda Express wants you to try their new honey walnut shrimp. In fact, they’ll give you a free sample. Well, ok, I will then. Actually, that combination sounds pretty good to me–shrimp and honey walnut. In any case, what you need to do is print out this coupon from Panda Express, good for one free sample serving of honey walnut shrimp. Sounds like a hot deal to me!

No other purchase is necessary. Coupon good at participating locations while supplies last. One coupon per person. Not valid with other offers or discounts. Read the rules.

Good for one day only–Wednesday, March 10, 2010. There are quite a few locations in Tucson, so you’ll have to check their website for one near you.

–Posted by Hortense P. Tightwad

The Apple Turnover Murder

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | No Comments

Barnes and Noble (the Broadway location) hosts Joanne Fluke, author of The Apple Turnover Murder, a Hannah Swensen mystery). Come out and meet the author!

From the book blurb . . . “Hannah is working long hours at her bakery, the Cookie Jar, in Lake Eden, Minn., as well as dating two men, dentist Norman Rhodes and local sheriff Mike Kingston. Her personal life gets more complicated with the reappearance of Bradford Ramsey, a college professor with whom Hannah had a brief fling when she was a naïve graduate student. Hannah hopes ladies’ man Bradford has forgotten the embarrassing episode. When Hannah winds up serving as a magician’s assistant for a charity show, she has the misfortune to find Bradford, the show’s host, backstage stone cold dead. With her usual wit and flair, amateur sleuth Hannah narrows down the list of suspects in Bradford’s murder, but can she catch the culprit before she becomes the next victim? Scrumptious recipes include mocha nut butterballs and chocolate marshmallow cookie bars.”

Apparently, the good professor is holding an apple turnover when he is found dead. Hmmmmm.

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