My Homemade Wreath

My Homemade Wreath

What you need:

1. Left over pine tree branches/ cuttings from tree
2. Fishing line

Bend a few longer branches in a round(ish) pattern. Wrap tightly in fishing line around and around. Then weave shorter pieces of branches between the fishing line and tuck ends in. Voila.

Tucson's Hidden Foods

Tucson's Hidden Foods

The charm of Tucson comes from its individuality. If one wanted to visit cookie cutter, all they’d need to do is drive an hour and forty-five minutes north to the land of the apartment complex. Tucsonan's favorite spots say a lot about them. They’re often a little off the beaten path, may not have the freshest coat of paint and that’s what people love about them. As for food places, you’ll find that the best spots are stashed just out of sight.

La Cocina - The serving sizes may not justify the meal price, but the food is still quality and the energy of live music on their outdoor stage is perfect. Especially when that summer nighttime breeze hits you.

Where can I find it? Just a short stumble to Court Avenue downtown and you’ll find the sign. (Don’t get fooled by El Charro’s line, it’s just another block south) Open everyday with a late night grill.  

Zemam’s Ethiopian - What’s not to love? B.Y.O.B. and you pay a small corking fee and you’re guaranteed to leave full and happy. You tend to feel as though you’re in their living room as the service staff is friendly but quiet.

Where can I find it? Right on the side of the road on Broadway. You’ve driven by it a thousand times. Closed on Monday.

Cafe a la C’Art - Tucked downtown adjacent from the Tucson Museum of Art is this small gem. The patio is big enough to accommodate those who come during the crowds since inside holds only a few sets of tables and chairs. I recommend dessert. But then again, I always recommend dessert.  
Where can I find it? Downtown, find Washington Street and you’ll get to their parking lot. It’s not straightforward, but you can always park at the Museum of Art and ask around. Open except for dinner on Sunday.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Cafe Poca Cosa, Sushi Garden and No Anchovies, and usually my suggestions for visitors include these. But in this case, the effort you take to hunt down these obscure spots rewards you with the chance to really meet Tucson. These places exist to give a little more character to the city I’ve grown to love.  

I'm getting real sick of foreigners - tips on travelling

Dear American travelers,

While traveling with a friend in Europe I was struck by her attitude. "I'm getting real sick of all these foreigners" I couldn't even formulate words to respond to this statement. Firstly, you ARE the foreigner. Secondly, why are you here? It took me a few days to really put together why this bothered me so much. Yes it was her first time out of the country, but that's no excuse. If it's a general bias against non-Americans, then why travel? So, my advice to others is simply to have an open mind. Try your best not to let the unknown make you uncomfortable. Keep in mind that you are in their world. Your preconceived notions about how the world should work only apply to your little bubble. What you may see as standoffish-ness may be just be a language barrier or a local faux pas. Don't be so quick to judge. And by all means, don't think that others need to adjust their way of life to accommodate you. 

Lauren