As a child, I agonized over what to buy my father for Christmas. He never wanted or needed anything under $10, my budget for his gifts. No, he always asked for something priceless, like me creating art (non-media specified) and giving him love and respect. With typical pre-teen dissatisfaction I thought, 'why can't he just ask for a tie or a sweater?'
I get it now. He didn't need a lousy tie or sweater he needed to teach his daughter that the best gifts shared are those that come from the heart and soul. Peace on earth, good will to all, and maybe some hand-crafted art. Or local services, experiences or a membership that helps benefit a Tucson non-profit. It's a lot cooler and more considerate than a gift certificate to a big box store.
Beyond eschewing big box shopping, spending your cash with Tucson businesses goes further than you think. Local First Arizona's website, www.LocalFirstAZ.com, tells us that "45 cents of every dollar stays in Arizona - versus only 13 cents of every dollar spent at a national chain." Put that in your bow and tie it around a locally produced present! Also check out their website for member businesses (Zocalo is one) and learn more about the importance of keeping it local.
In terms of local food sustainability, Ted Parks writes about Tucson Community Supported Agriculture, an organization that provides "fresh, local, naturally-grown produce, straight from the field," in his article On The Table. Carli Brosseau covers Tucson's biggest money making event, the gem shows - which hit town at the end of January and run through mid-February. Brosseau digs into nuances of what some of the show's vendors desire from the city and how the city has responded.
In eclectic local art news, Phoenix Michael and Heather Woodward write about artists' collectives Parasol Project and Placita de la Luna; Dolly Spalding covers the new Mini Time Machine Museum, Jim Lipson scribes about the UA Press' 50 years of publishing and Rene Schafer Horton looks at MOCA's evolution and upcoming move.
There's also music reviews, live music listings and a whole slew of events, performances, films, gallery and museum exhibits. If it's not on these pages, see www.TheZMag.com for even more content. Questions, comments and feedback are also welcome. Send us an email at frontdesk@zocalotucson.com or Jamie@zocalotucson.com.
Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year!
