I had an amazing time meeting up with friends and experiencing All Souls Processions. Some of us…read morecarried photos and items from lost loved ones and some didn't. Our group wasn't dressed up as we had been part of some community conversations from varying view points around the appropriate-ness of the event. However after meeting and speaking with a lovely Mexican American couple at our hotel we changed our opinion. They were very inviting to us and encouraged us to join in the festivities. They told us they annually travel to the event from Mexico to celebrate and dress up with their family. We thought it would at least be ok to attend and check it out for ourselves. The costumes and floats/props people made were beautiful. There was a large metal basket and ornately costumed "characters" collecting hand written remembrances and depositing them in the basket. When everyone began walking some music broke out from time to time, people began to sing, sometimes protest and resistance songs. Groups of dancers performed as we moved down the streets - the curbs lined were with onlookers. It was solemn, peaceful and reflective. At the end of our walk a huge crowd gathered around a barricaded stage backlight by a mega screen. We had VIP passes and were allowed into the barricade for a warm meal. There were a few large tables to eat at or rows of seating to watch the performance. Wow! Stage acts, live drumming, wacky jellyfish costumes, fire jugglers, live rock band, aerialists and fireworks. The big metal cage got lit on fire and hoisted up on a crane to let everything burn. It turned out to be a very epic evening. Lots of great local after parties, live bands and specials at neighboring bars.

This is a must see/participate in Tucson event. Look on Pinterest to see how you should dress/…read morepaint your face. The first time I went, I tried using the cheap Halloween face paint which looked awful. This year I bought the lightest coxed (porcelain) tinted moisturizer to make the light/whiteish background color for my face and it worked way better! There are also people who do professional face painting in the area (find on facebook). It gets cold at night so be sure to dress warm. I still haven't made it to the procession part yet but I want to next year. The walk ends in MSA Annex area and there are a bunch of performers and ALOT of food trucks. Then it's fun to go over to Mercado san Augustin courtyard. There is a live band and dancing here as well as food and drinks. If you want to go to Augustin Kitchen, you need a reservation.

If you ever wanted to relive the bar cave moment from the first Christopher Nolan Batman movie then…read morethis is the place to go. Except it's under a bridge. After scaring away the potential homeless sleeping under the bridge you will arrive upon a plaque with various fun facts describing the massive colony under the bridge. The bat shit crazy part is the fact that you'll definitely either step into bat feces or have them dropped on to you by the flying rodents themselves. Best time to go is about an hour before sunset. The bats typically emerge 45 minutes before sunset.

It might have been a little early in the season because there weren't many bats that came out, but…read morethis is a great spot to see them later in the season. I love that the community put a sign with information on Mexican Free-tailed Bats. I also love the quirky bat structure where they're riding a bike! You can get right under the colony by walking the bike path. Gentle reminder- not disturb their home or touch them. View respectfully

Cyclovia Fall 2014 - Great ride today. The weather was overcast and cool. Lots of people out…read moreriding, walking, rollerblading. Wonderful event for all. Thanks to all the volunteers.

Dear Cyclovia Organizers,…read more As a proud member of the downtown t-town community, I love what people like you are doing to divert the negativity of 'There's nothing to do in this town" ... however. When you are coming home with a car full of groceries and the closest you can get is three blocks from your home... it's kind of crappy! Also, to the sweet volunteer who would barely let me drive through while a cop gave me permission, I appreciate you taking your job that seriously but we all need to cooperate! I do appreciate the flyer I received the week before, but was not expecting to be trapped from getting back home. Next year I will certainly put it on my calendar and try to make it out there - instead of trying to get through it! Just wanted to give you a kind "heads up." Thank you!

I attended last year's June Momentos event and in comparison to that prior experience, this one was…read moresuper interactive and fun. I think that it can be different per type of people who attend, artist style and music... typically the drinks and snacks are similar enough. This was fun! 'Club' like music and a truly beautiful earthy artist. I enjoy how these events challenge community to come together and interact over art. What a cherish-able experience.

I enjoy this MOMENTOS series so much at the TMA! This is second one and was focused on poetry …read more The TMA staff at event check in and our discussion guide are excellent and the atmosphere inviting with the design layout. Always enjoy looking around at any and all this peaceful place houses. It is encouraged to think, feel, jot down thoughts, smile, tear up- any of a number of emotions as every person finds at the least-1-art piece(me- many!) that make them feel one way or another! Just an absolute gem in the heart of Tucson to enjoy anytime. Thank you TMA for the welcome and wonderful event! #yelptucson #tucsonmuseumofart

So many murals, and so little time. My girlfriend mapped out the walk-through downtown and into…read moresixth Avenue, stone, up to fourth Avenue where we could see murals. I didn't know that there are approximately 2000 in all of Tucson. But there is a high concentration down here and you can find the locations if you look at google for the "mural trail" for Tucson. it was so fun just to walk around downtown and all around the sixth Avenue to fourth Avenue area and discover murals of many to honor and respect all the cultures here in Tucson. What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

I was impressed by the number of restaurants and vendors here. This is really a first-class event…read more I thought there would be a couple breweries and a little wine, but there were several distributors there pouring. There was plenty of wine, beer, and a couple cocktails. It's easy to overdo it when you're sampling drinks, so be careful to keep track! A couple of the restaurants had run out of samples before we could get to them, but we still had plenty. They had great live music. Red Door Spa was there as well. My friend got a massage, and I got a five-minute manicure from the girls there. It was really fun. We enjoyed walking through the galleries a little as well. Overall, fun event. The ticket price is pretty high at $50, I wouldn't say you necessarily get your money's worth in small plates and tastings, but it's a fundraiser for the museum and a very nice event.

What do you get when you combine a fabulous space, 150 wines and 24 local restaurants? CRUSH! Oh…read morewait, I missed the live DJ, Orbital Evolution Hoop Troupe and of course the silent auction. CRUSH is one of those events that you look forward to ever year. The Tucson Museum of Art is an incredible space and houses some great art collections in addition to fabulous events throughout the year. CRUSH is all about bringing foodies, wino's and art lovers together to celebrate and support the museum. Getting to taste food from many of our favorite local restaurants and chatting with the chefs is one of my favorite parts of the evening. Chef Janos, Hacienda del Sol, Tavolino, Lodge on the Desert, Primo, Jasper cafe, Abbey, Jax Kitchen, Flemings, Armitage, Paradise Bakery, Tubac Resort and so many more were this year. Looking forward to what next year will bring!

If you've read my Spruce Street Suspension Bridge review, you'd already know my partner is an urban…read moreplanner/transit advocate. Whenever we go somewhere new, we always check out that city's metro system or unique infrastructures. He wasn't with me on this trip so I decided to surprise him with a tale of my adventures to the Rattlesnake Bridge (this bridge has a rattlesnake tail...yes I sent him the picture to accompany the tale). I found this spot on Yelp and it was an adventure finding it in person. There is no parking next to it, so I had to park at Iron Horse park and walk around until I found an entrance to it. Note: If you're coming from that side, the ramp to the bridge is closer to the main street. I think my favorite part of the bridge was the rattlesnake tail at the end. It's fun to be able to say I've been inside a snake.

This is what happens when true creativity, art and community improvement come together! The…read moreRattlesnake Bridge is a unique, functional piece of art that is as pleasing to look at as it is to use! There's a lot of road construction at his silver fanged head so we started at the back end and walked through, it's pretty cool to be in the belly of a snake!! It's not the best neighborhood area and there are folks that have decided to call the area home so be aware of your surroundings just like anywhere else nowadays! Perhaps the Tucson Art Academy could take an interest and clean it up, after all, it is an artists creation!

If you're in exploration mode, add the Bike Church to your list! Bike Church is a "walk-in"…read moresculpture made entirely of recycled bike parts. It's lovely both day and night, but the at night it is illuminated. It's really cool! It's also interactive in that the public is welcome to play the musical chimes made from bike parts. The bike church not only references the bike culture of the Old Pueblo but it is also serves as shared community memorial for cyclists. It's a reminder to please share the road :) There's room for all of us! Bike Church is located in Barrio Anita, (downtown ) on the southwest corner of W. Davis Street and N. Main Ave.

The 22-foot-tall-sculpture is on North Granada Avenue and West Davis Street near Barrio Anita. It…read moreserves as a gateway to a six-mile bike path. A walk-in metal sculpture made of hundreds of bike frames, wheels and rims with stained-glass windows and musical chimes made from bike parts, that I have driven past many times with curiosity. It's a nondenominational celebration of bike culture featuring traditional religious architecture. The sculpture's stained-glass windows resemble those of church; the top is similar to those on Islamic temples; and there are two Stars of David on the sides and a mold of a Pascua Yaqui dancer, O'Connell said. Joe O'Connell is one of the sculptures along with Blessing Hancock of Creative Machines. It serves as a permanent memorial for cyclists killed on the streets, but it's also a place for celebration. They want you to play with the chimes! You can attach pictures and mementos to remember cyclists who have passed. Let's be honest, Tucson is very bike friendly, BUT it seems like every time you turn on the news, you hear of a bike accident. At night, solar lights light up the stained glass. It is a way-cool sight!