Wednesday, December 18

Tag: Stomping Grounds

Food Review: Tacos y Hot Dogs El Giro
Features, Stomping Grounds

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...
Peak show at Picacho: Ostrich by day, ‘Lion’ by night
Features, Stomping Grounds

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 Tucson, welcoming Tucson-born artist Thriftworks
Arts & Entertainment

Gem and Jam Festival returns to Tucson, welcoming Tucson-born artist Thriftworks

Thriftworks performs on stage at Gem and Jam 2018. Photo courtesy Peter Speyer.  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 in conjunction with the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. The Gem Show itself has several events taking place across town between Jan. 20 and Feb. 21.  “Over 55,000 people are expected to gather and visit Tucson, AZ from around the world during the 3 week Gem and Mineral Show,” reads the Gem and Jam website. “Which has motivated the organizers of the Gem and Jam Festival to provide a unique atmosphere- celebrating the...
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,...
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...
Donuts fit for a king
Stomping Grounds

Donuts fit for a king

On the outskirts of town, near Old Tucson, lies a cleverly hidden little donut shop. A donut you may say is fit for a king, Queen Donuts. It’s basically your local ma-and-pa-owned donut shop.  There’re no bells and whistles, no crazy outside decoration to flag you down. Just a yellow sign with their name that sits atop the coffee shop. You walk inside the bell rings and notice it’s appearance is nothing special. The décor is plain, but that in itself gives it a homely feel. The walls are plain white, aside from a couple paintings of Angkor Wat, a John Deere clock and a wall by the register covered with plaques. On the counter lie some American flags and a Cambodian riel (money). Then you’re greeted by Queen Donuts owner Sal Oum, a quiet, humble man who the community adores. Oum is a Cambod...
Juanito’s es bonito
Features, Stomping Grounds

Juanito’s es bonito

          By HANK ROBICHAUD Taqueria Juanitos is a delicious madre-and-padre Mexican restaurant. There are no chips and guacamole here, but it is the closest thing you will get to eating at a taco stand in Mexico. In Tucson, Juanitos, which is located in a building with a purple exterior on the corner of Grant Road and 15th Avenue, is a great place to unwind and get a filling lunch or dinner made from scratch. In 1986, Juanitos started as a food truck in Van Nuys, California, and grew into a free-standing building in 1987 in the San Fernando Valley. The concept was started by Juanito Sr., once of three generations of Juanitos. In 1996, Juanito Jr. started the Taqueria Juanitos in Tucson. The fast-casual restaurant’s variety of selections will leave y...