Downtown Lowdown

{Downtown Lowdown is written and photographed by Jamie Manser, jamie@downtowntucson.org}

Tucson Downtown Alliance & Stone Avenue Temple Sponsor Mayoral Candidate Forum

On Thursday, October 9, the Tucson Downtown Alliance and the Historic Stone Avenue Temple will host a mayoral forum featuring incumbent Republican Bob Walkup and challenger Democrat Tom Volgy, with moderator Celeste Gonzalez from KUAT. The candidates will answer questions submitted by the sponsoring organizations in advance, and will also take questions from the audience.

The forum will run from 7:00pm to 8:30pm and will cover issues pertinent to Downtown. The Stone Avenue Temple is located at 564 S. Stone Ave. Parking is available on-street and in the Prince Chapel parking lot just south of the Temple.

Downtowners are urged and encouraged to attend and bring questions for the candidates. Call TDA at 547-3338 for more information.

Historic Depot Sneak Preview

For the last year, the Historic Southern Pacific Depot at 400 E. Toole has been under renovation to restore it to its 1941 look. After many years of planning, procuring federal funding, the renovation project is rapidly approaching completion. The City of Tucson plans to feature the depot as the centerpiece of an intermodal transportation center, as well as housing restaurant, retail and office space. Parties interested in leasing space in the depot are invited to the depot’s sneak preview on Thursday, October 30 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

Stephen Elton

Local Theatre Seeks Information on its Historic location

At the corner of Stone Avenue and University Boulevard currently resides a 6,000-square-foot facility undergoing development by Beowulf Alley Theatre Company. But from 1960 to 1983, 750 N. Stone Ave. was Encanto Drug Company. The non-profit theatre company is seeking pictures, stories and general history on the building. Contact Stephen Elton by calling 622-4460 or email to beowulfalley@aol.com.

Open House on Plans for Tucson Origins Cultural Park

Members of the WLB Team will present concepts and concrete ideas for reconstruction of the Convento, the Chapel and the Mission Gardens at Mission San Agustin as well as for reconstruction of a portion of the Presidio Wall Downtown. The public is invited to visit informally with project planners before and after the 5:00pm presentation, which is being held at 52 W. Congress. For more information, contact Freda Johnson, Rillito Consulting Group at 622-1933 or by e-mail to her at rcg@theriver.com.

Native Seeds/SEARCH

Native Seeds/SEARCH Storefront Facelift

Local artist Sam Casados is currently working early mornings at 526 N. 4th Ave., painting a mural on Native Seeds/SEARCH’s storefront. The store’s previous mural was never completed, and after two years its paint was flaking off. NS/S Retail Assistant Manager, Cassandra Johnson, applied for and received funding from the 4th Avenue Merchants Association to fund this project. Casados’ mural is inspired by the agricultural crops that NS/S works to conserve.

March and Rally Mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, according to the coalition’s website (www.ncadv.org). It was in October 1987 that the first DVAM was observed and that same year a national hotline was established (1-800-799-SAFE).

Sixteen years later, raising awareness of and taking a stand against domestic violence is a continuing effort. Locally, over 25 Tucson organizations are participating in this year’s activities.

A march and a rally are scheduled for Sunday, October 19. It starts at the Pima County Superior Court, 110 W. Congress St., at 11:00am and ends at the Tucson Children’s Museum (TCM), 200 S. 6th Ave. TCM will host the rest of the event with free activities, information and prizes.

On Wednesday October 29, a candlelight vigil will be held at El Presidio Park at 6:00pm. The vigil will be in commemoration of those who did not survive domestic violence and will honor the survivors in our community.

New Businesses

Tammy Rosen

The DanceLoft

Beginning Monday, October 6, The DanceLoft will open its doors, offering adult dance classes for those 16 and older. Situated above the club Heart-Five at 61 E. Congress St., The DanceLoft will offer classes in modern, ballet, modern jazz, hip-hop and more.

Tammy Rosen, Artistic Director and Owner of the new studio said its mission is to promote excellence in the field of contemporary dance, inspiring dancers to reach their maximum potential.  Rosen reinforces the principle that dance is for everyone. 

“The DanceLoft teaches and encourages people of all abilities who want to integrate movement into their lives for better physical and spiritual health.”

NEW ARTiculations Dance Theatre, which Rosen directs along with Leigh Ann Rangel, is the resident company of the studio and the majority of the classes will be taught by company members and directors.  The class schedule is modest for now, but Rosen’s goal is for the studio to become a central hub for contemporary dance, housing more than one performing company.

The class schedule can be viewed on the studio’s website at www.thedanceloft.com.  For more information call 250-4664.

Cooley Advertising

This August, Cooley Advertising opened its Tucson office in the Pioneer Building at 100 N. Stone Avenue.

“We chose Downtown because it is the heart of business and we want to be a part of the business community,” said Cooley’s Public Relations officer Tracy Scott.

According to Scott, Cooley is the first and only statewide agency in Arizona with offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Prescott. Along with opening its Downtown office, Cooley Advertising also brought Philippe Lannelongue on board to head the local office as the Vice President of Tucson Operations. For more information, log onto www.cooleyadvertising.com or call their office at 884-7200.

The Boardwalk

Continuing the “always open” vein of Pennington Street Market, proprietor Steve Monks has opened a 24 hour restaurant at 47 N. 6th Ave., across from the Ronstadt Transit Center.

The Boardwalk, which was previously The Bus Stop, sells reasonably priced pizza, brown bag lunches, fried food, sausages and vegetarian cuisine. The establishment also features 24-hour delivery.

Monks is also working on re-opening the OK Market in Armory Park, at 4th Avenue and 16th Street. “The plan is to have this business and the market feed the opening of the OK Market.”

Monks is running into roadblocks with opening the market because it is currently zoned as a residence and there is also a parking issue as the structure does not have a lot.

He said he has received enthusiastic feedback from residents, but has also encountered resistance from others who are concerned with the market morphing into an unseemly operation. But Monks disputes any notion that it will be just another liquor store. “It’s not like it’s going to be a place where you can get Busch beer for $6. We’re not even going to sell beer or wine,” Monks said.

Monks plans to enlist public support at the Pennington Street Market by starting a petition at the end of October. “I think if enough public support is galvanized, the rezoning process should be expedited,” Monks said.

Art’s BBQ/Vel’s Catering

After taking the summer off to make improvements to the nine-year old restaurant at Main and St. Mary’s, Art’s BBQ and Vel’s Catering celebrated their grand re-opening on September 27. The City repaved the parking lot and furnished a new sign for the restaurant, located at 450 N. Main. Margaret Hardy, president of the El Presidio Neighborhood Association, says that the food is great and highly recommends the cole slaw.

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