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Funny-footed critters are waiting for you at Funny Foot Farm
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Funny-footed critters are waiting for you at Funny Foot Farm

A kangaroo enjoys the shade at Funny Foot Farm in Tucson, Arizona.Two emus sit by the fence at Funny Foot Farm in Tucson, Arizona.This capybara waits to meet guests at Funny Foot Farms who have paid the extra $6 for the "exotic tour." Story and photos by QUENTIN S. AGNELLOPima Post When you picture a petting zoo, you imagine docile animals like goats and pigs, and not unusual species like capybara or emu. At the Funny Foot Farm in Tucson, you can see them all – including ducks, porcupines, warthogs and even a kangaroo. This place is abundant with animals that some people have never seen before, let alone up close. Kenneth McNeal, the owner and operator, says he started his business on a single purchase.  “We used to own a lizard and bug shop and one day we saw a wholesa...
Pandemic Playbook: Santa Cruz River Park Disc Golf Course
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Pandemic Playbook: Santa Cruz River Park Disc Golf Course

By Kevin Murphy The clean and crisp desert air, the jingle of the chains, the audible yelling and laughter in the distance: this is what playing a round of disc golf at the Santa Cruz River Park Disc Golf Course is like. For those not in the know: disc golf - or frisbee golf - is like the game of golf, except instead of golf balls being shot with a club towards holes in the ground, frisbees are thrown from a concrete tee pad toward above ground baskets installed on the course.  Like regular golf, each basket is still called a hole. It is a game of skill, played solo, in pairs, or in groups, where the true opponents are yourself and the elements. Nestled within Santa Cruz River Park in the El Rio Acres neighborhood near Speedway and I-10, this hidden treasure, established in 1978, is freq...
Food Review: Tacos y Hot Dogs El Giro
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Food Review: Tacos y Hot Dogs El Giro

By Lanissa Patterson It is not always easy to find cuisine cooked with passion and knowledge at an affordable price, but in Tucson there is Tacos y Hot Dogs El Giro. Tacos y Hot Dogs El Giro is a food truck located on the corner of Golf Links and Harrison, right in front of Walgreens. According to cashier Daisy Palacios, it originates from the local restaurant chain Taco Giro, which serves the Tucson and Sierra Vista area. The food truck is open from 7am-8pm Tuesday through Sunday, and closes early at 4pm on Monday. Working in a food truck is not easy work according to Palacios. “It’s very different from other jobs,” she said. “On special days [when we serve specific items] it is very stressful”. Tacos y Hot Dogs el Giro offers Taco Tuesdays, when you can get tacos for only 99 cents ea...
Stomping Grounds, Uncategorized

Tucson Businesses with specials and big hearts

Eegees is the perfect cool down for this coming summer (pink passion is the flavor of the month). With our current situation, everything is truly different. Local businesses are especially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, what's truly amazing is when communities come together, and everyone helps each other out. The Aztec Press would like to highlight some businesses offering specials, so you can support your local business without breaking the bank. We are also highlighting those that are giving back to our community.   Mama's Famous Pizza and Heroes is a perfect New York style pizza restaurant. While I highly recommend their family size pizza, their current deal is a family meal deal with a large Neapolitan one-topping pizza, four garlic sticks and two cannoli for $30. ...
Peak show at Picacho: Ostrich by day, ‘Lion’ by night
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Peak show at Picacho: Ostrich by day, ‘Lion’ by night

Story and photo by  DALTON GRIJALVA As you drive West on I-10 toward Phoenix, you might want to check out Exit 219, which will take you to Picacho Peak.  The area is home to beautiful hikes and is the site of the smallest battle that took place during the Civil War. It’s also a great spot for Valentine’s Day.  First, start off things slowly and stop at the Rooster-Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, a slightly exotic petting zoo of sorts. The farm located all the way to the left: Just keep going even if you see dead-end signs. You pay $12 total, which is a steal for what you get to do.  The cashier will give you two cups. One cup is full of green feed pellets for the larger animals as well as a stick with parakeet food on it. I was lucky enough to snag a picture of kissing ones.  When you meander...
Gem and Jam Festival Returns to Pima Fairgrounds Jan. 2020
Arts & Entertainment, Stomping Grounds

Gem and Jam Festival Returns to Pima Fairgrounds Jan. 2020

  By ELLIANA KOPUT  After their 2019 hiatus, Gem and Jam Festival returns to the Pima County Fairgrounds Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2020. Encapsulating a collective experience of music, visual arts, gemstones, camping and workshops, this festival is a grassroots staple in the Southwest.  The festival takes place during the Tucson Gem and Mineral show, which has several events taking place around town between Jan. 20 and Feb. 21.  Gem and Jam harbors a lineup of local, national and international talent, consisting primarily of jam bands and electronic artists.  Tucson’s own, Soulular juxtaposes an indescribable array of wholesome downtempo beats, vortexual grooves, drum and bass and spacey dubs. Having played at festivals like Oregon Eclipse, Shambhala and June Jam, it’s a pleasure to welcom...
Immerse yourself with art and music at Dusk Music Festival
Arts & Entertainment, Stomping Grounds

Immerse yourself with art and music at Dusk Music Festival

  By ELLIANA KOPUT Dusk Music Festival will return Nov. 10 and 11 to Tucson at Armory Park.  The gates will open at 2 p.m. both days, and the event will end at 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday. The eclectic music lineup is primarily a combination of electronic, indie and pop music.  General admission two-day passes can be purchased for $109 plus fees. Single-day passes are $59 plus fees. For information on VIP passes, or to make a purchase, go to https://wl.seetickets.us/RelentlessBeats/Dusk2019  To avoid online service fees, all Bookman’s locations are selling hard copy tickets as well.  Here’s a look at the following acts that will perform at the two-day festival. SATURDAY DJ and producer Kaskade is one of the biggest names in EDM. His music encompasses a wide array of house,...
Hop into east side’s Hop Street Lounge
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Hop into east side’s Hop Street Lounge

By JOSHUA SHAVER From the outside, Hop Street Lounge looks like a smaller bar. But once I walked in, I saw a really big, clean bar. Impressive. There’s a lot of room for people to lounge around, socialize and feel comfortable while drinking a variety of alcoholic beverages.  Hop Street opened about six months ago. It has seen an influx of people that are there to play various games and drink craft beers.  The very clean bar and new equipment give off a comfortable vibe. I loved the setting and the lighting of the bar, which gives off a smooth and chill environment.  The eight TVs that Hop Street features is a bonus for people who want to drink and watch sports.  The owner of the bar, Damien Jenkins, talked about opening his first bar. “It was an exciting risk that has paid off due t...
Now is the time for ecstatic dancing
Stomping Grounds

Now is the time for ecstatic dancing

Story and photo  by ELLIANA KOPUT    It’s not infrequently that we hear, like a bitter ghost of perpetual displeasure, “Ugh! There’s nothing to do in Tucson” echoing through the hallways at Pima Community College.  While we know that this is hyperbolic and seemingly fallacious, we must not hate the player. Instead, we should hate the game itself.  Many might be bored, but perhaps it’s because they don’t know where to look when seeking external stimulation or entertainment in any form.  Look no further, because I come bearing wonderful news. As a young woman under the age of 21 in the Old Pueblo, I, too, find myself reverting to the dark underbelly of Facebook’s news feed when placed in a trance of extreme boredom.  A few weeks ago, an ad popped up for an event happening every o...
MMA through the eyes of Birchak
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MMA through the eyes of Birchak

Photos and story by MATTHEW HILL     Unlike going to your traditional gym where you work out with weights and machines and run on treadmills, you can get a full-body workout learning new self-defense techniques and body-movement skills practicing jiujitsu. Located at 4765 E. Speedway Blvd., 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is home to many practitioners who want to keep evolving and challenge themselves through this martial art. The gym offers discounts to University of Arizona and Pima Community College student first responders, as well as active-duty military and veterans. With access to over 100 gyms worldwide, there is unlimited training in jiujitsu, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, MMA, strength and conditioning, and nutrition plans. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is owned and operated by A...