Titan Missile Museum
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, that austere authority on language, in 2009 accepted the portmanteau neologism staycation into its hallowed halls of officially accepted lexical items. The staycation - a deliberately planned at-home or in-state period of rest and recreation - had rapidly gained favor among budget-minded Americans in years prior. It's easy to see why.
As a way to save on the expenses and hassles of travel while still having a blast, the staycation is king. Sure, it's broiling outside. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. But those of us who don't mind the high temps are cooking up a whole lot of fun. Forget San Diego. There's plenty to do this summer here in good ol' Tucson.
On Saturday, July 9, Colossal Cave Mountain Park hosts its 11th annual Ha:san Bak Saguaro Harvest Celebration. An interactive syrup-making workshop led by Tohono O'odham tribe member Delphene Saraficio begins at sunrise. Make sure to reserve your spot ahead of time at 647-PARK, as space is limited to 25 participants at $65 per person and $100 for two. Activities from 10 am-2 pm include saguaro seed planting, arrowhead crafting and presentations by Tucson Botanical Gardens naturalist John Rhodes and flintknapper Jerry Marcantel. Colossal Cave is at 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail in Vail; see ColossalCave.com for a map to the park.
Also July 9 - and again Saturday, August 13 - from 5pm-9pm Sahuarita's Titan Missile Museum, 1580 W. Duval Mine Rd., invites the public to take a Moonlight MADness tour. Inquisitive children can fire seltzer rockets, taste space grub and try to pass the astronaut test. Admission is $7 for ages 13 and required reservations can be made by calling 625-7736. Learn more about the front line of the Cold War at TitanMissileMuseum.org.
Everyone Runs throws a Run With The Roosters 5 Mile Run/Walk at 5am on Sunday, July 10, starting and finishing at Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Rd. The closed-to-traffic course will travel alongside beautiful Tucson Mountain Park into the Ironwood Picnic Grounds and back. Free smoothies, awards and a Mexican breakfast will be provided. Register for $40 online at EveryoneRuns.net.
The Loft Cinema, Tucson's nonprofit (and air conditioned) independent art house, serves up pizza and beer with its movies. Check out First Friday Shorts, hosted by Red Meat cartoonist Max Cannon, at 9 pm on July 1 and August 5. For guaranteed over-the-top schlock, Mondo Mondays never disappoints: 1997's patriotic zombie flick Uncle Sam airs at 8 pm on July 4. Bookmans presents cult classics Clue July 15 and Mel Brooks' Spaceballs July 29. For a full schedule of coming attractions including the 5th annual Tucson International Children's Film Festival July 23-31, visit LoftCinema.com.
The Tucson Audubon Society and Arizona Riverpark Inn present the very first Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival August 17-21. Field trips to Madera Canyon, Catalina State Park, Cienega Creek Nature Preserve and Sweetwater Wetlands are only a small part of the festivities. A Sky Islands Birding Cup, a Birds & Beer Social, workshops and talks on topics including "Hummingbirds 101," and "Choosing and Using Optics" are also planned. Prices vary depending on level of participation; extensive details on all events are at TucsonAudubon.org.
Wildlife fanatics shall also be pleased to learn that the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Rd., is offering its Summer Saturday Evenings series again this year. Every single Saturday in July and August, admission after 4 pm is just $7 or $3 for ages 6-12. In all the nooks and crannies of the museum grounds from 7pm-10 pm, docents may be found explaining night sounds and celestial objects. Rattlesnakes, scorpions and kissing bugs will be on display. Depending on the date of your visit, you might even catch a presentation of "All About Bats" or "Sky Hunters" in the Warden Oasis Theater. DesertMuseum.org has more information on the Center for Sonoran Desert Studies, the brains behind ASDM's educational and scientific pursuits.
The newly remodeled Plush, 340 E. 6th St., now has food and coffee in addition to the best live music on the hip strip. They're even running a Plush Summer Pfilm Series which screens 1975 giallo picture "Deep Red" on Wednesday, July 6 at 9:30 pm. There's no cover charge to hear talented local bluesman Sunny Italy perform Thursday, July 21. See Igor & Red Elvises storm the stage Wednesday, July 27 for $10. PlushTucson.com is always the place to discover which noteworthy artist is playing during a given week. Surprise yourself and go see any random band. They'll be good; Plush only books quality acts.
Stick around this summer, and you'll be here for Tucson's 236th birthday August 20. You don't want to miss out. Fourth Avenue's Beach Party takes place that day from 5pm-9pm with a dunk tank to soak city leaders, a Wheel of 4ortune prize wheel, merchant specials all day and musicians stationed at Magpie's Gourmet Pizza, Chocolate Iguana, Spencer Park and Winsett Stage entertaining passersby. Rumor has it that Hotel Congress will have cake, too. The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association can reveal more at FourthAvenue.org.
In fact, celebratory birthday events - many of them free - take place the entire month of August, from a group hike up "A" Mountain on Monday, August 1 at 6 am to the Noche de Luz Flashlight Parade on Wednesday, August 31 at 6:45 pm. In between, youth group Mariachi Nueva Melodia performs at the Sam Lena-South Tucson branch of the Pima County Public Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave., on Tuesday, August 2 at 6:30 pm and Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center, 3455 E. Zoo Court, waives admission costs in a free swim day on Thursday, August 11. For specifics on these and many more Tucson Birthday events, stop by TucsonsBirthday.org.
The ultimate summer staycation accessory? Kiddie pool. Ace Hardware. $9.99
