Hello downtown friends -
Spring is officially here and the downtown has many opportunities to get outside, be active, and enjoy arts and culture. Take a self-guided Haiku Hike featuring twenty winning haiku displayed in colorful flowering planters downtown. Don’t miss the upcoming art exhibitions at Blue Lotus Artists' Collective and Tucson Museum of Art.
There are many other outdoor activities and tours including Meet Me At Maynards, Taste of Tucson, Tucson Food Tours, and a dozen walking tours hosted by the Presidio Museum. Our own staff even got outside to enjoy a Laughter Yoga session at Jácome Plaza. Read more about these activities, other news, and upcoming events below.
See you downtown,
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Kathleen Eriksen, President & CEO
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Blue Lotus Artists' Collective Opening Reception
The Blue Lotus Artists’ Collective (B.L.A.C) is having its preview opening reception on March 25! B.L.A.C is a new non-profit gallery established to support and uplift Black artists. It is a gathering place that values and promotes Black culture and community involvement.
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Arizona Biennial 2023 at Tucson Museum of Art
The Arizona Biennial at Tucson Museum of Art is a juried exhibition hosting an array of diverse and imaginative works from emerging and established artists all over the state. The exhibition opens on April 1. See the featured artists and learn more here.
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Meet Me At Maynards - Every Monday!
Meet Me At Maynards is a free community walking/running event for all ages and abilities scheduled for Mondays at 5:30 p.m. beginning at Hotel Congress. The mission of Meet Me at Maynards is to bring active adults and families to the downtown Tucson area to enjoy healthy exercise, experience the beauty, history and architecture of our unique neighborhoods, and to appreciate and patronize local businesses.
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Winning Haiku Now on Display
Presented by the DTP and the UA Poetry Center, the 4th annual Haiku Hike literary competition showcases twenty winning haiku poems printed on acrylic signage in planters located on Congress Street and Stone Avenue. This literary competition and self-guided urban poetry hike have become one of Tucson’s signature “rites of spring,” signaling new beginnings and growth. This year’s theme is Planting Seeds.
Tucson's poet Laureate, TC Tolbert, selected this year's winning haiku from a total of 1,556 haiku submissions. Among the submissions, 1,114 came from Tucson while the remaining came from 28 states and 23 countries. The photo on the left is one of the winners posing behind their haiku! View the winners and more details about the Haiku Hike here.
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Presidio Museum Walking Tours
The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum offers over a dozen walking tours including the Turquoise Trail, Public Art & Murals, Mansions of Main Avenue, and many more! Most tours sell out quickly so plan ahead and book in advance. Learn more and book a tour here.
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Taste of Tucson Downtown
Taste of Tucson offers an exciting (and tasty) three-hour walking tour of Historic Downtown Tucson every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Tours include a historic walking tour, four food stops, and a ride on the modern streetcar. Learn more and book a tour here.
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Tucson Food Tours
Visiting tourists and locals agree that Tucson Food Tours are an exciting way to learn about the downtown area. On this tour, sample food from at least six local restaurants. Guides point out architectural highlights, cultural sites, and great local shops along the way. Learn more and book a tour here.
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DTP Staff Takes Time to Laugh
This past Monday DTP staff took a break from work to participate in some lighthearted Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga is a popular movement and breathing exercise that aims to cultivate joy, bring out your inner child, and help you let go of daily life stressors. Laughter, either real or fabricated, is scientifically proven to release a rush of stress-busting hormones like epinephrine and dopamine. This class was a great way to start off a Monday laughing as a team!
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DTP Keeps it Clean
Our Safety & Maintenance Ambassadors work around the clock to keep downtown clean and safe. We perform a number of beautification, cleaning, and maintenance initiatives throughout the downtown Business Improvement District. Do you see something that needs some cleaning or maintenance within the public sidewalk area? Submit a maintenance request online by clicking here.
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Board Meeting Recap
We appreciate the board members who attended the DTP Board Meeting on March 9. Thank you to our featured presenters, Brandi Champion, Sarah Launius, and Francisca Villegas from the City of Tucson. View the DTP Board Meeting recap here or click here to see a photo gallery from the meeting.
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Tucson Featured in Time Magazine
Time Magazine named Tucson one of the "World's Greatest Places of 2023." Tucson's world-class cuisine was recognized along with our designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Numerous Downtown Tucson restaurants, the upcoming Leo Kent Hotel, and The Citizen Hotel were honored in this article.
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The Largest Free Music Festival in AZ Next Week
The 38th Annual Tucson Folk festival takes place from March 31-April 2. Watch over 125 live performances celebrating Americana and Folk Music traditions, including bluegrass, blues, country, jazz, Celtic, zydeco, and various styles of Latin and Mexican music. Plan your visit to the festival and learn more here.
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Upcoming Events
Click here to view the Weekend Report and don't miss these upcoming special events:
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