Living

A Body Love Revolution

March 19, 2014 | Elsa Watson

Jes Baker is the force behind The Body Love Conference.
photo: Liora K Photography

“To lose confidence in one’s body is to lose confidence in oneself.” – Simone De Beauvoir

Jes Baker is fierce and she is fantastic. She also happens to have a plus-sized body. In our physical perfection-obsessed American culture, fat and attractive are incongruent. We are bombarded with thousands of negative body images from the television, magazines and social media. It’s no wonder that 91 percent of American women are unhappy with their bodies. In reality, a mere five percent of American women possess the body type portrayed by the mainstream media as ideal. What’s more is that these images of so-called “perfect bodies” are very often digitally enhanced to create an even more impossible to attain and unrealistic standard of beauty.

Why? Well, it keeps us chasing perfection and spending our money to achieve unattainable goals. The real cost to society are the social ills created in great part by marketing the concept of perfection. Low self-esteem, eating disorders, depression and suicidal tendencies all have a causal link to being triggered by the negative body marketing schemes that constantly tell us that we are ugly and unlovable if we fail to meet these impossible standards of beauty.

What began as Baker’s intelligent retort, in May 2013, to Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries’ insensitive, derisive comments about fat people not belonging in his clothing line became the spark that ignited a revolution. Jes Baker’s revolution is one of celebration: The celebration of women’s bodies for the miraculous and perfect creations that they are, just as they are. It is a revolution that promotes self-love and acceptance in spite of the cultural obsession with physical perfection. A happier and healthier society is the goal of this revolution.

Acclaimed blogger and Tucsonan Jes Baker (aka The Militant Baker), did not anticipate such an overwhelming positive response when she penned her open letter to Jeffries and included a series of edgy, provocative photos similar to the racy Abercrombie and Fitch ad campaigns. Baker wanted to prove—by posing with a slender, chiseled, male model—that fat and attractive need not be mutually exclusive when, in fact, it could be beautiful, lush and sensual. When the photos went over-the-top viral, Baker was thrilled. After NBC’s TODAY show and other mainstream talk shows called, Baker knew what she had to do.

Baker is initiating history-making change locally in the form of The Body Love Conference; a conference that is extending the important conversation about self-love and self-acceptance to the Tucson community. This high energy, day-long event for women features 30 speakers along with workshops promoting and celebrating body love. Among the many highly relevant and exciting topics to be covered are: How to teach body positivity to your children, loving your body after sexual assault, how to transcend ageism, intimacy and self-acceptance, transgender body positivism and disability and sexuality.

Being held on Saturday, April 5 at the University of Arizona, a sampling of the featured presenters includes: Tess Munster, an international plus size model and blogger of EffYourBeautyStandards; Tucson photographer Jade Beall of A Beautiful Body Project and Sonya Renee Taylor, activist and author of The Body is Not An Apology.

Baker is, of course, also a presenter, discussing the history of how and why we’ve learned to hate ourselves. “Hatred is learned and can only be conquered by love and education,” says Baker.

Jade Beall, a Tucson based world-renown photographer specializing in truthful images of women has collaborated with Baker in the creation of the The Body Love Conference. Beall’s recent work, A Beautiful Body Project, was created to counter the airbrushed, “Photoshopped” and unrealistic images championed by mainstream marketing campaigns, and to celebrate the beauty of women just as they are. Beall’s book series and media platform feature un-retouched photos of women accompanied by their life stories and have garnered worldwide media attention. The images in this intimate project are candid, raw, and as uniquely beautiful as the subjects themselves. Beall’s intention for her important project is to inspire future generations of women to have healthy self-esteem and self-acceptance in a world that preys upon and thrives monetarily from the insecurities of women.

Both Baker and Beall agree that every body is a beautiful body and that it is time that we celebrate them as such. Join the body love revolution and help change the world, not your body.

The conference takes place at the UofA Student Union’s third floor ballroom, 1303 E University Blvd., from 8:30a.m.-5 p.m. on April 5. Tickets are $80. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit BodyLoveConference.com.

Gardeners Square off at “Growdown”

March 4, 2014 | Craig Baker

On your mark. Get set. Grow!

An outdoor space created at Growdown 2013.
photo courtesy Tucson Botanical Gardens

It’s time for the Tucson Botanical Gardens’ (TBG) second annual Growdown!, and this year’s gardening gurus are leaving nothing to chance. Three local landscape design firms will put their trowels to the test between March 18 and 22 in a battle to create the best small garden space in Tucson. Each of the three finalists—chosen by a committee from a pool of about ten design proposals—will be given $1500 in “seed money” and a fifteen-by-twenty-foot plot of dirt on which to craft a backyard sanctuary fit for desert royalty.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, March 22 at a ceremony and reception following a day of demonstrations by the competing designers. Judges will score the displays based on five criteria: aesthetic appeal, connection to Tucson, appeal to multiple senses, the use of space and practicality. The winner gets a handsome trophy as well as priority attention in the June issue of Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden Magazine. Last year’s cover article meant some well-earned attention for Growdown! 2013 champions Phil and Janis Van Wyck of Van Wyck Projects.

Phil Van Wyck says that the cover story led directly to a handful of projects for the company, as well as countless complimentary phone calls from the community at large. But, Van Wyck says, the pride they felt in their work was the biggest payoff.

“We used every square inch of that space,” said Van Wyck, adding that, even though they prefabricated as much of their garden as possible before the three-day installation period began, putting it all together literally came down to the final two minutes of the competition. Their winning design included custom tile art by local artist Nick Tranmer, a water feature, as well as a raised, covered platform built along a soil cement wall—a technique the Van Wyck’s demonstrated at TBG last year.

Plans for the 2014 installations (billed as “Small Gardens, Big Ideas”) appear even more ambitious than the year before: Allen Denomy and Micaela Machado of Solana Outdoor Living partnered up to create a design which features a green-roofed chicken coop; Iylea Olson of LJ Design & Consulting envisions a garden full of local edibles with a water feature that uses harvested rainwater; Petrichor Design + Build’s Maria Voris aims to erect a modern suspended swing as her small garden’s centerpiece.

People work to create the best pocket garden at Growdown 2013.
photo courtesy Tucson Botanical Gardens

Like the Van Wycks last spring, this year’s green-thumb gladiators can expect a few sleepless nights in the mad dash to install everything from gravel to gazebos from scratch, including every plant, rafter, fountain, and artistic accent in each of their pre-planned plots. And, though the time table leaves very little room for construction errors, TBG’s Marketing Director Melissa D’Auria assures us that these local agriculturalists are up to the challenge. D’Auria says that since Growdown! lets designers work without adhering to a client’s specifications, the annual competition at TBG is one of “the best opportunities for them to be creative in their profession.” And the small spaces that spring up as a result of that freedom are “really elaborate,” says D’Auria, incorporating fire elements, cisterns, and just about everything else you could reasonably think to put in your backyard.

The designers will all be on hand to answer your questions on the Saturday that follows installation, making it a spectacular opportunity to pick the brains of a few extremely talented professionals for design insight. For anyone looking to spruce up their own outdoor living areas, Growdown! 2014 is the perfect excuse to swing by TBG; you can learn a new trick-or-two from the demos, get some inspiration on how to give your small garden a big impact by checking out the finished gardens, and take an extra minute to stroll through the butterfly aviary before the exhibit flutters away again next month.

So, put on your best pruning gloves and some sunscreen and we’ll meet you in the garden.

It all grows, er, goes down March 18-22 with the final results presentation and contestant demonstrations taking place on Saturday, March 22. Growdown! exhibition is free with paid admission (adults, $13; student/military, $12; children 4-12, $7.50). More information available at TucsonBotanical.org or by calling (520) 326-9686.

Gardening for the Health Benefits

February 16, 2014 | Brandon Merchant

Ruby Red Swiss Chard is an excellent source of vitamin C and is a beautiful addition to your garden.
photo: Brandon Merchant

There are many great reasons to start a vegetable garden. Gardening is a rewarding hobby that exercises the mind, body, and the soul. Home grown produce is cheaper and tastier than produce you’ll find at the grocery store and the farmers’ markets. The greatest benefit of all, however, may be the fact the foods we grow at home are far more nutrient rich than those available in the supermarket.

Over the last century farmers, universities, and agribusinesses have made great strides in advancing the food crops we eat. Farmers today, using synthetic chemical fertilizers and genetically modified seeds, are able to grow higher yields than at any other time in history. While yields of crops continue to grow and food becomes cheaper, the nutritional content of the foods available to us has been steadily declining. The food we eat today is far less nutritious than the food we ate only 30 years ago.

Nutrient depletion from the soil caused by decades of industrialized agriculture is the main culprit responsible for the decline of nutrients. Plant breeders have also been slowly breeding the nutrients out of our foods in exchange for more desirable traits such as size, sugar content, or the ability to withstand shipping. With each successive growing season more nutrients are depleted from the soil. This means that crops planted tomorrow will have fewer nutrients than those planted today.

Well intending plant scientists and farmers are not completely to blame. When our hunter gatherer ancestors began to farm, they chose to farm and breed the foods they found to be the tastiest. By doing this they were inadvertently selecting plants that had fewer nutrients than their more bitter tasting wild relatives. In our home gardens we are not bound by the restrictions of industrialized agriculture or the decisions of our ancestors. We can grow varieties of plants that would never make it to the super market and in some cases not even the farmer’s market.

The home gardener is at an advantage because of the fact that nutrients begin to leach out of plants as soon as they are harvested. The longer it takes for your food to go from harvest to table the more nutrients will be lost. The handling, processing, and shipping of foods further exacerbates the loss of nutrients. Harvesting your dinner salad while the pasta water is boiling means that you will be getting the maximum amount of nutrients available to you. There is also the added benefit of being able to eat nutritious parts of the plant that would otherwise not be available such as carrot tops and squash blossoms.

If you are interested in gardening for nutritional content then there are some simple steps you can take to get started. First, begin by selecting crops that are more nutritionally dense such as the members of the cabbage family. Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, kale, and mustard are all crops that grow great during the Tucson cool season and all are packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Other leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, or micro greens such as arugula also fit the bill of nutritionally dense foods. Loose leaf varieties of lettuce are healthier than head types such as iceberg.

Another good way to plant for nutritional content, is to select those varieties that contain more color. For example, compared to the more common orange varieties, the “Atomic Red” carrot contains far more of the essential nutrient lycopene and the purple variety “Cosmic Purple” contains very high amounts of the antioxidant anthocyanin. There are countless colored varieties of lettuce, kale, mustard and many other vegetables available to the backyard gardener.

The most nutritious of all the foods available to the home gardener fortunately require the least amount of effort. Many of the “weeds” that sprout in our gardens are edible and contain far more nutrients then those of the the crops we discussed above. Dandelion greens, for example, contain twice as much calcium and three times as much vitamin A as spinach. Wild mustard, purslane, tumbleweed, amaranth, and lambs quarters are a few of the edible”weeds” that may show up in your garden throughout the year. Consider letting them grow and you will be greatly rewarded.

Brandon Merchant is the proprietor of Southwest Victory Gardens. Visit his website at SouthwestVictoryGardens.com.

Along The Line: Beauty, Health & Wellness

February 10, 2014 | Zocalo Staff

Sun Link – the Tucson Streetcar project that wends 3.9 miles through the heart of Tucson – is heading toward completion with an estimated time of arrival for public use at the end of this summer.

Over the next several issues, Zócalo Magazine is covering the businesses along, and in proximity to, the streetcar line – the places that make this part of town a hub of unique and mostly locally-owned enterprises.

This month, Along The Line highlights establishments focused on helping you obtain optimum health and wellness, along with places that pamper. With St. Valentine’s Day this month, it’s a good time to remember to love and take care of number one. We’re also pretty sure your sweethearts wouldn’t mind gift certificates from the following businesses that will allow your darlings to love and nurture themselves too!

Businesses are listed by location, generally from west and south to north and east.

Beauty & Wellness

These places pamper and recharge. From acupuncture to nails, the following locales offer a variety of services that aim to make you feel like a million bucks.

The Natural Sanctuary
388 S. Stone Ave. (part of Woman Kraft’s building), (520) 882-6280
TheNaturalSanctuary.com
Founded and operated by owner Jordana Silvestri, this is a full service salon. “I do everything,” says Silvestri. “We’re an all natural salon with all natural hair colors, perms, manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing… it is all natural and non-toxic. I’ve been downtown for 16 years, in Tucson for 30, and in the business for 40 years.”

The website showcases the products she makes herself and uses on her clients, available for sale online or at the salon. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Tucson Acupuncture Co-Op
439 N. Sixth Ave. #127, (520) 867-8004
AcupunctureCoop.com
Tucson is full of gems hidden in the nooks and crannies of the most unexpected spaces. Many decades ago, when the Firestone Building at Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street was a tire store, people then would probably be hard pressed to imagine that a portion of the building would eventually become a healing space offering acupuncture. But that’s what happened on March 3, 2013 when Tucson Acupuncture Co-Op (TACO) opened its doors.

Josh Whiteley applies acupuncture needles to a patient.
photo courtesy Tucson Acupuncture Co-Op

The story of how worker-owners Josh Whiteley and Ellen Vincent converged in Tucson to open TACO is one of those groovy sliding doors happenstances. What if something came up and one of them didn’t make it to the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture conference in Portland, OR, where they met? Or, further back, when one or the other hadn’t been struck by the healing attributes of acupuncture?

Ellen, who moved here from Philly – “brought here by that guy,” she says smiling, nodding at Josh – has been an acupuncturist since 2006. “I had had acupuncture in my early 20s. I graduated with a not very practical degree, so in my early 30s, I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ Acupuncture sounded like something I’d be interested in.” TACO is the third clinic she has helped open, and one is still thriving in Philadelphia, PA.

When Ellen moved to Tucson, she worked with Josh at another local clinic, but, “I’m not suited to be an employee and Josh had also been talking about opening a clinic.” When the couple made their decision, they found their new space quickly, she says.

Josh writes via email that they opened TACO “primarily as a means to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to Tucson and the surrounding communities. We also saw a big need in Downtown and the west side particularly, and wanted to help here as well as support the ongoing growth of the Downtown community.”

While situated in hub of commercial activity, TACO has carved out a space of tranquility. It has ten extremely comfortable recliners arranged in a circle around the room’s perimeter. The soft, ambient lighting and meditative music instantly relaxes most stress. The thin disposable needles are placed on points on the arms, hands, legs, feet and head. Initially it feels like a little pinch, but the sensation quickly subsides. Soft blankets are provided and one drops into what Josh calls “going to the ‘acuzone’.” It is the best nap time ever.

What can acupuncture do for you and how does it work? Josh explains that it can help “pretty much anything under the sun in some way. Acupuncture essentially works by triggering the body’s own internal healing response. We see a lot of conditions involving pain and/or inflammation and I think these are areas were acupuncture really shines particularly. It is also great for treating stress, anxiety, depression, digestive issues and all of the problems that can follow. Acupuncture can often go a long way in helping to bring the body back to a more healthy and balanced state. Sometimes in really big and life changing ways and sometimes in simply giving the patient a chance to de-stress and take care of themselves for an hour.”

Being able to inexpensively treat oneself, the sliding scale is $15-$35, and just drop out for a bit is rather priceless. TACO is very accommodating, allowing patients to stay as long as they need, and also enables people to come with loved ones to heal together. “Healing with family or the larger community itself has its own power that we don’t get enough of in this day and age,” Josh aptly states.

TACO encourages appointments, which can be made on the website, and is open various hours seven days a week. – Jamie Manser

Greentoes
529 N. Sixth Ave., (520) 777-6281, (520) 631-7398
GreentoesTucson.com
Tucked in the midst of urban Tucson is a quaint, beautifully renovated historic home transformed into a simplistic, yet cozy “eco-chic” nail studio and spa.

Located just west of Fourth Avenue, Greentoes offers nail services, massage, facials and waxing using high quality, all natural and sustainably sourced ingredients.

Open to walk-ins, bridal parties, and of course appointments, Greentoes seeks to provide services that are different.

Victor Thompson and his wife chose to open the salon after his wife dreamt about the need to take life at a slower pace. The details of the couple’s new venture were all conveyed in this dream. Together, the two were able to breathe life to this concept.

Greentoes is a cozy, eco-chic nail studio and spa.
photo: Ashley James

Greentoes is a bright and clean eco-friendly salon that uses only natural products in its spa services. Nail services are available in three tiers differing in length of time and level of luxury.

Pedicures feature a unique “blooming” foot bath soak for a truly luxurious experience. After checking in, you’re invited to choose from a colorful array of Spa Ritual nail lacquer. These polishes are free of harmful chemicals such as DBP, toulene, camphor, and formaldehyde. The best part is you get to take a complimentary bottle of lacquer home!

Greentoes offers more than just manis and pedis. Their menu includes massage, waxing, and facials that address a myriad of skin concerns from a dull and ageing complexion, to sensitive or acne prone skin. Your aesthetician will discuss your areas of concern and will customize your experience.

“Any health conscious consumer should know there is place out there that they can come to relax and receive the best possible service,” says Thompson.

The salon also feature private parking, is wheelchair accessible, military and teacher discounts, online booking and customizable gift certificates. – Ashley James

Natural Way Wellness Spa
526 N. Fourth Ave., (520) 882-8828
NaturalWayWellnessSpa.com
Friends of Lily Gabriel joke that when she left the space industry (Students for Exploration and Development of Space) to work in the spa industry, that she simply dropped the “c” and “e.”

Massage is just one of Natural Way Wellness Spa’s many offerings.
photo: Ashley James

The transition from science to massage happened after a diagnosis of a chronic medical condition that limited Gabriel’s mobility and required a change of pace.

She immersed herself in areas of health and wellness and began to foster a deep appreciation for those fields.

“I became very passionate about what wellness can do for others and how it can improve one’s quality of life,” she says.

While working at spas, Gabriel took note of what she would do differently if she had her own. In April 2012 she was able to do just that.

“I was inspired by the changes that I wanted to make and wanted to bring forth the highest quality of services and products for guests,” she explains.

The large, serene space features an airy lobby with eclectic, all-natural retail options such the spa’s signature hand-crafted skin care line (containing no more than six ingredients), tea, chakra charts, nourishing oils, jewelry, and various other wellness must-haves.

Gabriel advocates for self-care, an important and oftentimes neglected component of wellness. This is why the spa menu addresses the whole body. Offerings include semi-private yoga sessions, reflexology, custom aromatherapy, massage, facials, and much more.

The building boasts 4,800 square feet of space which she hopes will one day house additional naturopathic wellness providers and alternative healing options for clients.

For convenience, à la carte services are available for those who may not have time for longer treatments. These services range from a 15 minute warming hand massage for $20 to a 30 minute foot reflexology session for $42.

Gabriel supports local merchants on the Avenue and extends a 20 percent discount to employees and business owners located along Fourth Avenue.

Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. – Ashley James

Elements in Balance
614 N. Fourth Ave., (520) 623-3804
ElementsInBalance.com
Fourth Avenue’s Aveda concept salon and spa features a boutique-style atmosphere in a cozy and comfortable setting. Educated stylists and aestheticians provide salon services including color, cut, waxing, facials, makeup and massage.

Salon manager Lacy Tritz is proud of the talent at Elements in Balance. “We have a diverse staff here, with someone available to accommodate anyone’s needs,” she says.

Being a “senior citizen” with 15 years as an Aveda salon on the Avenue, has its perks. Tritz explained that there are dedicated salon patrons who travel from as far away as Green Valley to receive their salon and spa services.

Noteworthy points of difference make for a great salon experience, she explains. Salon guests receive a warm greeting, are offered complimentary comfort tea, and all are given a stress relieving ritual which consists of a relaxing shoulder or hand massage.

“These rituals allow us to personally connect with our clients, adding a special touch.”

The Aveda product line features organic plant and flower essences used in services and available for purchase. Chakra balancing body mists are among the more popular picks, featuring a blend of fragrant essential oils.

The chakra balancing massage uses ancient Ayurvedic techniques, reflexology and massage. “This service takes you on a sensory journey,” Tritz says.

After an initial introduction to the seven energy zones of the body, a therapist consults with each client and invites them to choose from specific chakra colors and scents they are attracted to. The choice they make corresponds with the chakra in need of balance. The service is then tailored to re-balance the body’s energy zones accordingly, melting away stress and tension in the process.

The rejuvenating chakra balancing massage is available for 60 minutes for $80 or 90 minutes for $120.

See the website for the full menu of offerings. The salon is open Monday & Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. – Ashley James

That’s the Spot… Dr. Eric’s Chiropractic Centers
800 E. University Blvd., (520) 622-3886
Facebook.com/ThatsTheSpotChiropractic
Take control of your spinal health! Overseen by Dr. Eric Vindiola, D.C., That’s the Spot offers treatments for walk-in patients for an affordable $20 with plans available for frequent patients. Chiropractic appointments are not necessary. Walk-in hours for existing patients are 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday; new patients can walk in 10 a.m. -1 p.m., Monday-Friday. However, it is closed for lunch from 2:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Massages are available, by appointment, and can be purchased in 30, 60 or 90 minute increments. Check the Facebook page for more details.

Spring Nail Salon
845 E. University Blvd. #155, (520) 791-7447
SpringNailSalon.com
From basic manicures and pedicures to deluxe treatments for hands and feet, along with hair coloring and spa services such as the “Herbology Body Experience,” this salon offers a wide range of offerings to pamper. Hours are 10 a.m.-7p.m., Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

Aveda Institutes Tucson
845 N. Park Avenue #105, (520) 207-2660
Aveda.edu/Tucson
Take advantage of student learning with a whole slew of services offered at the Main Gate Park Avenue locale, including: body treatments, hair cuts and color, facials, nails, make-up, brows, lashes and hair removal. Aveda Institutes is an arm of Aveda – a beauty company that believes “treating the whole person leads to greater balance and well-being, so we consider the effects of our products not only on hair or skin, but on body, mind and emotion.”

The company’s mission, as stated at Aveda.com, “is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world.”

Days and hours vary based on class availability. Call or visit the website to book appointments.

Beautiful, Healthy Hair

Tucson is rife with fantastic stylists in the heart of the city that work to create the best hair for your individual needs.

Civano’s Hair Studio
photo: Jimi Giannatti

Civano’s Hair Studio
110 S. Church Ave. # 4195, (520) 622-0312
BeautySalonsTucson.com
Owned by native Tucsonan, Sondra Gil, the salon has resided at La Placita Village for over six years, and Sondra has been doing hair for 23 years.

“We specialize in image enhancing,” she says, “and corrective color, awesome custom cuts, extensions, facial waxing, nails… we also do men’s hair. We can help you master styling techniques, and we also do hair for special events.” Sondra says walk-ins are welcome and gift certificates are available. The salon has three stylists and is open 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday and Wednesday, noon-8:30 p.m.

Curley’s Family Barbershop
18 E. Ochoa St., (520) 440-0654
TucsonBarbershop.us

Raul Gonzales, left, and Thomas Curley, right, at Curley’s Family Barbershop.
photo: Jimi Giannatti

Across the street from the new (as of January 2013) location is where Thomas Curley went to barber school.

“I started started barber school 35 years ago at place that was on Stone Avenue, across from the St. Augustine Cathedral,” laughs the native Tucsonan and ex-Marine.

The shop offers traditional services – haircuts, razor fades, flat tops and shaves. It is open Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

“We’re the senior barbers in Tucson,” Curley says, “and we have great customers. We’re trying to get a massage person over here, and perhaps also offer shoe shines.” – Jamie Manser

North Scott Barber & Salon
27 N. Scott Ave., (520) 623-8200
NorthScottBarberSalon.com

North Scott Barber Salon
photo: Jimi Giannatti

A Downtown staple since October 2010, the salon and its ownership is a six-person effort – “partners who share over 119 years of creativity in the barber/beauty industry,” explains barber/stylist Bernice Valenzuela.

They collectively explain via email that they are dedicated to excellent customer service by way of clearly communicating “with our clients, so that we can understand their wants and needs. We are committed to offer our expertise, attention to detail and creativity to form the individual style you’re looking for. We’re traditional with a flare in offering an array of services. We specialize in children haircuts, women haircuts, high and low-lights, color, men haircuts, business executive, flat tops, razor cuts and fades, facial shaves and neck shaves with hot steam towels for the neck and facial shaves.”

Appointments and walk-ins are available Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

“We offer a professional, friendly and relaxed atmosphere, a complimentary beverages for our clients and a pool table to pass the time,” Valenzuela adds. – Jamie Manser

The Hive Hair Studio & Gallery
315 E. Congress St., (520) 628-4188
TheHiveTucson.com
Owner Lindsey Ross says she opened the studio in May 2011. “My husband is the executive chef at Maynards so we are right across the street from each other; the space was offered to me.”

Lindsey, who has been a stylist for over three years, says that, “I’m an artist and I needed a change, and it was an opportune time to go to school and start a second career – it’s a nice artistic outlet, to be able to work with people one on one. I enjoy changing people’s lives, one person at a time.”

The services cater to both men and women and include cuts, styles, updos, color treatments and more, with a full menu available on the website and by consultation.

“I think our space is really unique and our clients are always complimenting us on how unique and clean it is, plus, our location, being inside the hotel and the space itself – the idea was to make it feel like an art gallery.”

Staff bios and online appointments are available on the website. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. on, with closing times varying depending on appointments. – Jamie Manser

Ahead of Style Salon
426 E. Ninth St., (520) 624-8400
Facebook.com/pages/Ahead-of-Style-Salon/162303653794451
Ajia Simone, Tucson’s Black Cat Ajia Simone – mind you, has been a stylist for 20 years and at the 9^th Street location since 2003.

“I come from a family of five and I’m a middle boy and I got stuck doing my two sisters’ hair. This is the third salon I’ve owned and been a part of, but this is retirement, I’m not going anywhere. I’m also one of the many show directors at IBT’s, 616 N. 4^th Ave.” The salon offers haircuts, hair color, color correction, hair extensions, relaxers, and also specializes in multi-cultural hair.

“Our hours are flexible, all of the stylists are independent and we are available seven days a week, normally like 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., but if you need us there, we will be there. Best to have an appointment, but walk-ins are always welcome.”

Fun fact: the salon is situated in what once was a six-bedroom house, “word on the street was that it was once a bordello,” Aija exclaims, giggling. – Jamie Manser

Annette Andree Hair Studio, LLC
410 E. 7^th St. (520) 474-5126

Annette Andree works her “round brush blow out” on a client.
photo: Jimi Giannatti

“After working for other people on the Avenue for ten years, I decided I wanted to go out on my own for a more personalized service,” Annette says, who has been self-employed for the last year and has been a stylist for 30 years.

Annette worked in high-end hair salons in Houston, Jose Eber and Jaque Dessange, before moving to Tucson. She specializes in corrective haircuts and color, along with offering services that include ethnic hair and face waxing.

She was an instructor at the Aveda Institute and is trained in French techniques, from Paris, in color and cuts and stays with the more natural hair products, like Pravana hair color and Pravana Nevo vegan hair care.

“I’m the original round brush blow out,” Annette explains, saying it is a technique that creates soft, sexy, and gorgeously full hair.

Services are available by appointment. – Jamie Manser

Metropolis Salon’s owner Emery Nicoletti styles Donna DiFiore’s hair.
photo: Jimi Giannatti

Metropolis Salon
529 N. Fourth Ave. (in the Delectable’s Restaurant Courtyard), (520) 296-7400
Facebook.com/MetropolisSalon

Artistic Director and owner Emery Nicoletti first opened Metropolis on April 4, 1995 on Tanque Verde at Kolb Road. “At the time,” he explains via email, “most of our clients were from the Northeast portion of Tucson so it made sense to be in that geographical area.”

The business eventually opened a second salon on Congress Street and resided for years where Playground now lives. But by the fall of 2009, the month-to-month lease was terminated to originally make way for a restaurant/bar, An Congress – which never launched. Metropolis was displaced, as Nicoletti had closed his Tanque Verde location by that point. Nicoletti tried other locales, but, “my whole staff missed the atmosphere and ambiance that resonates from the center of Tucson.

“One night while I was in my backyard stargazing, I started longing to be downtown again. Having remembered a few suites alongside Delectable’s Restaurant on 4th Avenue, I drove to 4th Avenue sometime around 2 a.m. to see if one was available. There were two available at the time. It was meant to be. I left a message at that very instant standing outside that window so early in the morning. Donna DiFiore, the owner of Delectable’s and the building responded to my message the next day and we started the build out process.

“Thankfully, we are back in the artsy, fuel-filled creative environment where we once flourished. Additionally, my partner and I fell in love with the West University Neighborhood and purchased the old Senator Harry Arizona Drachman House three blocks away on University Boulevard. If anyone told me when vacating Downtown, that not only would I be back, but I’d be living here too, complete with vegetable gardens and chicken coops, I can’t imagine what my response would have been. But, here we are, buying into the whole revitalization speech again, but with one exception; this time it feels right.”

Metropolis solely focuses on hair, and Nicoletti says his requirements for his stylists to have a continuing education in the beauty industry, along with encouraging them to be well versed in current events, and be politically active, “special incentives are given to be a part of political campaigns on both local and national levels,” sets his salon apart from others. “Our stylists continuously give back to Tucson by donating hundred of hours of their time per year to a variety of different charities. We never refuse a non-profit’s request for a donation.”

Metropolis is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday by special appointment. – Jamie Manser

Bill Dagostino, stylist and owner of 4th Avenue Hair.photo: Jimi Giannatti

4^th Avenue Hair
729 N. Fourth Ave., (520) 977-5747 or (520) 670-1523
4thAvenueHair.com

Specializing in wide variety of hair styling – from an average Joe cut to fun and funky, the website has loads of pictures to show the depth of range. Owner Bill Dagostino moved to Tucson from Rhode Island in 1976, started working on the Avenue in 1981, and founded 4^th Avenue Hair in 1997. The 17-year-old salon has lived on 4^th Avenue all of its days, though the exact locales have moved over the years. The salon is open Tuesday thru Saturday, and sometimes Sunday and Monday. It’s best to call for an appointment, though they do take walk-ins.

Blades Hair Design.
photo: Jimi Giannatti

Blades Hair Design
804 E. University Blvd. #102, (520) 622-4247
BladesTucson.com
Owned by Nadine Danton, Blades has been in the University area for 25 years and in its current location since the early ’90s.

“All of our products are organic,” says Danton, “even our color lines, we try to be very green.”

While specializing in hair – for both men and women – the salon also offers facial waxing and validates for parking in the Tyndall Avenue parking garage. While normal business hours are Tuesday-Friday, they are happy to take special appointments at any time. A full list of services is on the website. The salon also often exhibits work by undiscovered artists and hosts wine and cheese opening and closing art receptions. – Jamie Manser

Boss Shears
876 E. University Blvd., (520) 623-2235
BossShears.com
Bianca Herreras opened her salon in 1976, and has been situated in Main Gate Square since 1989. In addition to hair cuts, formal hairdos, coloring, highlights, perms and straightening, Boss Shears also provides eyebrow and lip waxing.

Chatting about the coming modern streetcar, Herreras says, “I’m glad we’ve been able to stick it out [during construction]. With the new businesses, restaurants, parking and the streetcar, it is bringing a lot more people down to this area, there is more for them to do. Some businesses say they think it [the streetcar] will take away customers, but I think there is plenty to go around!”

Asked what is unique about her salon, she says, “I think the quaintness, we are so small, I think people feel comfortable, we have more of a one-on-one personal relationship with our clients, who are our friends.”
– Jamie Manser

Fitness: Health & Wellness

If you think a toned body can only be achieved at the gym, think again. While gyms are great for attaining physical fitness, they are only a part of the larger picture. There are numerous places along the streetcar corridor that offer body-beneficial classes to help you reach and maintain your desired goals.

Platinum Fitness
photo: Jimi Giannatti

Platinum Fitness
110 S. Church Ave. #5030, (520) 623-6300
PlatinumFitnessAZ.com/platinum-fitness-downtown
Located in La Placita Village, Platinum Fitness provides its clients with group exercise classes, circuit training machines, free weights, cardio equipment, personal training, new locker rooms, sauna/steam room/Jacuzzi, and more. Hours are Monday-Friday, 5 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Lohse Family YMCA
60 W. Alameda St., (520) 623-5200
TucsonYMCA.org/lohse
Since 1914, the YMCA of Southern Arizona has been dedicated to improving the quality of human life and to helping all people realize their fullest potential through the development of spirit, mind and body.

The cause-driven organization strives to: empower youth through physical activity and educational programs, provide individuals and families with tools and programs to build a strong spirit, mind and body, and look within our community to serve.

The Downtown location offers state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment, a boxing studio, Y personal fitness programs, a full-size gym, four racquetball/handball courts, aerobic and yoga studios, a six-lane, 25 yard heated swimming pool, child watch area, community rooms, locker rooms, spa, sauna, and steam rooms – plus an indoor track and a full free-weight center.

There are also child care and youth development programs. Hours are Monday-Friday, 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Cirque Roots
17 E. Toole Ave., (520) 261-4667
CirqueRoots.com
Offering classes and workshops at its warehouse locale, Cirque Roots brings to the public the chance to learn aerial strength and conditioning, all levels of acro-yoga, Kung-Fu for self-defense and fitness, beginning and intermediate hoop classes, along with hand balancing fundamentals and conditioning. Prices and schedules are available on the website. Also see the article here.

Play is serious business at Playformance.
photo courtesy Kevin Nichols

Playformance
119 E. Toole Ave., (520) 271-1445
PlayformanceUSA.com
A youth fitness and athletic development school, Playformance caters to kids from 1- to 18-years-old with programs that include: school break camps during summer, fall, winter, spring and holidays; after school classes, along with toddler and preschool play, among others. It also provides physical education to City High, Imago Dei Middle School, Davis Bilingual, Khalsa Montessori and Satori.

Kevin Nichols, proprietor of Playformance with his wife Anna McCallister-Nichols, takes play very seriously. The business’ mission, he says, is “to revolutionize physical education by providing a challenging play-based curriculum to help young people develop the cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills that nurture them to grow into cooperative, confident and compassionate people.

“Play teaches us to think creatively, to get along with other people and cooperate effectively, and to control our own impulses and emotions. These are real world skills we all need.”

Nicholas says that true play has been taken away from most Tucson schools, and that he isn’t aware of any other gym in town that does what they do. The NAU graduate with a bachelors’ degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in Physical Education taught in the TUSD school district for 5 years before starting his own business.

“Teaching PE was my favorite part of the day as a teacher so I decided I would like to teach PE all day every day.”

Visit the website for hours and schedules. – Jamie Manser

Yoga Oasis
245 E. Congress St., (520) 322-6142
YogaOasis.com
Run by renowned yoga guru Darren Rhodes, Yoga Oasis has become a global yoga hub thanks to their offerings of teacher trainings and their creation of the Yoga Hour. With three locations (Downtown, central and east) YO offers 5-10 classes a day (classes vary by day and studio) for all skill levels from novice to expert. Yoga Hour classes, which were developed by Rhodes, are offered daily for only $5, while basic, expanding and the practice classes are offered for $11 a session. YO’s staff of experienced teachers and beautiful studio settings make it a special mecca for yogis. – Jon D’Auria

Capoeira Brasil Tucson
113 E. Broadway Blvd., (520) 909-3477
AZCapoeira.com

Capoeira Brasil Tucson
photo from azcapoeira.com

Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines movement and music, has a five century history. According to AZCapoeira.com, “Capoeira’s origin dates back 500 years to the beginnings of Brazil’s slave trade period. Throughout the 488 year slave trade the Congo, Bantu, and Angolan tribes met and intermingled in the senzalas (slave quarters) and quilombos (escaped slave nations). From this merging of cultures, traditions and rituals, Capoeira was born.”

Led by Francisco Antonio Arruda Batalha, known in the Capoeira world as Instructor Junior, the studio offers introduction, youth and all-level capoeira classes Sunday-Thursday. Single classes are $12 and monthly memberships are available.

Instructor Junior has over 20 years of Capoeira experience, and through the studio’s classes, he shares the cornerstones of the art: diversity, tolerance, discipline and respect for tradition that ensures amazing fitness.

DNA Fitness
186 E. Broadway Blvd., (520) 623-2245
DNAPersonalTraining.com
A brand-spankin’ new downtown addition – as of January 2014 – DNA took over the space at 5th Avenue and Broadway Boulevard that housed O2 Fitness for the last four years. Group training classes, as of mid-January, are held mornings and afternoons on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; indoor cycling classes are Monday and Wednesday afternoons and mornings on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. DNA also offers private training and a nutrition program. Find the class times and more information on the website.

Tucson Yoga
140 S. Fourth Ave., (520) 988-1832
TucsonYoga.com
Located in the hip area of Armory Park, Tucson Yoga offers 25 classes a week including beginning yoga, hatha flow, yin yoga, Vinyasa, mindfulness yoga, gentle yoga, restorative yoga, Mama and baby and more. Set in a beautiful eco-friendly space, Tucson Yoga is easily accessible and greatly affordable, as they offer $6 single classes, $45 for monthly unlimited passes as well as five and ten pass offerings. Mats are available to rent for $1 and drop-ins are always welcome. With 14 caring, experienced teachers and a variety of practices, you’re sure to find the class that suits your needs. – Jon D’Auria

Rocks and Ropes
330 S. Toole Ave., (520) 882-5924
RocksAndRopes.com
Downtown’s premier and only rock climbing gym for well over a decade, Rocks and Ropes has a fabulous reputation of offering interesting and challenging climbs that cater to both novices and experts, children and adults. Other offerings include six-week workshops, guided climbs and camps for kids.

Open admission hours are Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-10 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. “Kidz Climbs” are held 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturday-Sunday for those 12-years-old and under. See the website for rates, membership fees, events and more.

Tommy Padilla gets air at Get Air.
photo: Jade Nunes

Get Air
330 S. Toole Ave. #300, (520) 624-5867
GetAirTucson.com
A trampoline park, with over 20,000 square feet of floor to wall indoor trampolines, that also features dodge ball courts, foam pits, a basketball hoop, and if you dare, a slack line to challenge your balance skills on. This place beckons all ages to experience its promise of adrenaline and excitement. For younger children, Get Air has designated “Lil’ Air,” a smaller trampoline area for the wee ones. Rates per jumper are: $11/hour, $6/hour for an additional time; Small Air is $6/hour (under 46 inches). Get Air is open 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-midnight, Friday-Saturday. – Jade Nunes

The Movement Shala
435 E. Ninth St., (917) 523-2240
TheMovementShala.org

Jade’s Rockin’ Friday Night Dance Class with live drumming at
The Movement Shala.
photo: Kathleen Dreier EsensPhotography.com

Alok Appadurai speaks with passion, enthusiasm and soul when describing the The Movement Shala, and the philosophies and vision he and his partner Jade Beall hold dear.

“Our goal – Shala means sacred space – was to have a place for physical movement, spiritual movement, social movement. We wanted to help create social change and environmental awareness, in a place that is a sacred space for all types, not just physical.” Within its walls – “we laid every floor board, we painted every inch” – are various classes offered by teachers who fit in with the overall “energetics of the offerings we have here. People need to feel safe when they walk in the doors, and know that they are not being judged or critiqued – you are supported and loved for walking through that door.”

Hours and classes – yoga, dance and meditation – vary, but the website is always up to date! While at the Shala, also visit their clothing boutique Fed By Threads, which sells sustainable and organic clothing and each sale has a portion donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and Feeding America, a national hunger relief organization. – Jamie Manser

4^th Avenue Yoga
413 E. Fifth St.
4thAvenueYoga.com
The home of $4 yoga, Tai Chi and meditation classes, 4th Avenue Yoga maintains a robust daily schedule lead by experienced teachers. Located just east of 4th Avenue and north of Brooklyn Pizza, the intimate space also offers hot room classes on Wednesdays and Sundays. No mat, no towel, no problem! Rent those for a $1 each. Find the class schedule, and more information, on the website.

Take Flight Yoga and Movement

Take Flight Yoga
701 N. Main Ave., (520) 406-4437
Facebook.com/takeflightyogaandmovement
Take your yoga practice to new heights with Take Flight Yoga’s aerial yoga fitness classes. Offering classes six days a week, TFY offers an acrobatic twist to yoga with their intro, regular, acroyoga jam and body conditioning classes. While the aerial yoga intro classes are free, space is limited due to their specialized apparatus, the yoga hammock, so show up early. After your free intro, classes are available for one for $15, or five for $65 or ten for $110. Comfortable exercise clothes are urged with no zippers, snaps or jewelry and water and a mat are encouraged. – Jon D’Auria

UA Recreation Center
1400 E. Sixth St., (520) 621-8702
Rec.arizona.edu
Campus recreation isn’t just for UA students, it also offers alumni, affiliate, faculty and staff memberships, along with day passes. While it is a bit off of the Sun Link’s lines, the rec center is worth mentioning because of its state-of-the-art facilities with amenities almost too numerous to list. Highlights include: a 30,000 sq. ft. fitness center with ellipticals, bikes, stepmills, circuit strength equipment, an Olympic-size pool, an indoor track, five basketball courts, eight racquetball courts, two squash courts, sand volleyball courts, a climbing boulder wall along with RecSpa and camps for kids. See the website for all of the offerings and hours of operation.

Rodeo Fever

February 9, 2014 | Monica Surfaro Spigelman

Rodeo events start Feb. 15 and transform Tucson through Feb. 23

"Hud" by Lousie Serpa, 1971. photo: Louise Serpa/courtesy Mia Larocque

“Hud” by Louise Serpa, 1971.
photo: Louise Serpa/courtesy Mia Larocque

Not much can outshine this Old Pueblo extravaganza, with its thunder of wranglers and cattle cars that charge into the city to turn Tucson into what it has historically been – the city of the cowboy, comfortable when hooves pound and dust billows.

Whether you’re a greenhorn or a career cowpoke, the amazing combination of athleticism, authenticity, showmanship and history corrals us all for La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the 89th annual Tucson Rodeo and Parade.

This wild-west rumble draws an estimated 60,000 spectators for the sportsmanship, with 200,000 more turning out for the parade – all spiffed in polished boots and cinched jeans, with trailers of livestock filling our stables, generating more than $15 million for the city and our businesses. Beyond the dollars, top-notch horsemanship is underway: Tucson is the largest outdoor winter rodeo in the world and a key stop in the international pro rodeo circuit. This year’s purse – approximately $360,000 – will attract more than 700 contestants and 1,000 horses, including the biggest names in the business. A custom gold and silver buckle, inlaid with diamonds, will be awarded to the Tucson Rodeo’s top all-around athlete.

Rodeo is a serious sport, confirms Tucson Rodeo General Manager Gary Williams, himself a bull rider on the professional circuit with over 500 rodeos to his credit. Within the historic Tucson Rodeo Grounds on South Sixth Avenue and East Irvington Road, a complete western heritage experience awaits attendees, featuring six rodeos, including the culminating Sun., Feb. 23 finals, which will bring together the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls from the week’s events.

As Williams explains, the arena size dictates the momentum that livestock get coming out of the chute, and as Tucson is one of the largest arenas on the circuit, the Tucson Rodeo delivers world-renowned excitement. Competition all week will include bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, team roping and bull riding, all sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) sanctioning the barrel racing. World famous rodeo clown Justin Rumford will be there to wow the crowds, as will the Casa Grande women’s precision riding team called the Quadrille de Mujeres, which will lead off the rodeo in their 35th consecutive performance.

Rodeo mornings will be for the kids, with 6- to 14-year-olds competing in the Justin Boots Junior Rodeo and 4- to 6-year-olds riding sheep in Dodge Mutton Bustin’ events. The afternoons will be for the pro Rodeo activities.

You may not know it, but Tucson is home to a world champion cowgirl – Sherry Cervi of Marana, who set the all-time record in barrel racing just this past December. She’ll compete as will as other rodeo champs including the great local team steer roper Cesar de la Cruz, a multi-time national finalist.

In addition to all the daring saddle bronc and rough stock arena action, the rodeo puts on world-class western shopping, entertainment and culinary experiences. While mainstays like the Silver Saddle Steak House on Benson Highway at Interstate 10 will be overflowing, fans also can rub shoulders with famous cowboys and girls in the Coors Barn Dance tent, the stop for rodeo evening food and live entertainment. Western Marketplace vendors will offer novelties, apparel and goods reflecting working ranch life as well as frontier glam.

“It’s a combination of enjoyment, western pride, arts and the community,” says Williams, who also notes that this year’s collectible objet d’art poster features Arizona artist and cattle rancher JaNeil Anderson. Businesses including Wandering Cowboy and Kalil Bottling are among the local sponsors involved in this Tucson event, with national sponsors including Justin Boots, Coors and Ram Trucks (Dodge).

But the essence of this western experience may be best personified in the parade, the largest spectator event in Arizona. On Thursday, Feb. 20, as is tradition, businesses and schools close and families camp out to cheer on the Rodeo Parade that this year will include over 900 horses, mules and miniatures, 90 buggies and wagons, nine marching bands and more than 2,100 participants.

KOLD Anchor Dan Marries is 2014 Grand Marshal of this massive western Americana celebration, which will process a 2.45 mile route, winding along Park Avenue to Irvington Road and finally collecting at the parade grounds. More than 300 volunteers are expected to support a hardy core of 36 who comprise the all-volunteer Rodeo Committee, and more than 38,000 households are expected to watch it live on the KOLD feed.

Parade entrants come from across the country (we’ve had camels, too), and the El Paso Sheriff Posse will be there with its historic wagon that rode the Butterfield trail, as will Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and City Council representatives.

“It’s our connection to the past and future of ranching, our way of celebrating our region’s tradition,” says Rodeo Committee Chair Bob Stewart, who has been with the Parade Committee more than 11 years. He and other volunteers also manage and staff the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, a hidden gem on the Tucson Rodeo Grounds which includes a 1930s sheriff’s adobe livery stable as well as a hangar that retains the original steel frame of the 1919 Tucson Airport, the site of the first municipal airport in the United States. Buckboards used in old movies, exhibits and even an 1863 carriage built for Mexican royalty are all part of this historic hideaway.

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros and all its Tucson Rodeo accouterments are profoundly larger than life. Giddy-up, and dig your spurs into this primo cowboy event.

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros begins Sat., Feb. 15, at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Ave. near Irvington Road. Gates open at 11 a.m. The Tucson Rodeo Parade begins 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. Parking is available at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Call 741-2233 or email info@TucsonRodeo.com for fees, tickets and details. Learn more at TucsonRodeo.com or TucsonRodeoParade.org.

The Chemistry of Love & Lust

February 2, 2014 | Craig Baker

It all starts with eye contact. Maybe you see each other from across the room at a bar or an office party. There is a tingling in your extremities, a fluttery feeling in your stomach. Your heart beat quickens, your blood pressure rises as you move toward one another and everything else around you disappears. The sparks fly and later, as you recount the story to your friends and family members, you tell them that you can’t explain it, but that there was chemistry between you.

It turns out that you are probably more right than you know.

Illustration by Pop Narkotic

According to the 2012 book, The Chemistry Between Us, recently released on paperback by Current Publishing, the entire process of falling in love may be governed by just a few molecular compounds primarily within the limbic system of your brain. The limbic system is an area near the base of the brain made up of several different structures which are collectively responsible for producing emotional responses to external stimulation along with hormone regulation and production. It is interactions between your limbic system and other areas of the brain, for example, that tell you whether it’s time to sit down for a meal, run from a hungry tiger, or get ready to have sex.

Donatella Marazziti, Director of the Laboratory of Psychopharmacology at the University of Pisa in Italy says that the activation of the amygdala (a pair of small, almond-shaped structures within the limbic system) during attraction proves that “attraction is a primary emotion, like fear and anxiety,” meaning that it is linked to the survival of the species. This activity in the amygdala (which has been linked to the “fight or flight” response) means that your body reacts to sexual stimuli before the brain can even discern the quality of the input (e.g., is it trying to hug you or kill you?). The reward system in your brain is closely linked. Rewards in the form of dopamine and opioids (the brain’s form of heroin) are what motivate us to eat when we are hungry, find water when we are thirsty, and prime us for procreation while we flirt.

Says Larry Young, co-author of The Chemistry Between Us and Director of the Center for Translational Social Neuroscience at Emory University, “dopamine plays an important role in excitement and the anticipation that something might happen.” Not only does this dopamine play a part in your experience of short-term pleasure, but it also effectively mutes the processes of the prefrontal cortex—the area of the brain responsible for rational thought. Men under its influence are less likely to be distracted by loud noises; women’s pupils dilate and they begin smiling unconsciously. We experience the release of this dopamine as excitement; Young calls this “appetitive reward.” But either way, with this reward comes a strengthening of the appetite. In fact, drug users experience the same appetitive dopamine surge when looking at photos of drug paraphernalia as when looking at pictures of potential sexual partners.

Dopamine is great for that initial rush, says Young. And it is probably responsible, along with alcohol (also a dopamine releaser), for the majority of one-night-stands. But as far as love is concerned, dopamine will only take you so far. Our propensity for monogamous pair bonding—what regular people might call a loving relationship—comes from another chemical: oxytocin. Oxytocin is the chemical released en masse in new mothers when they meet their babies for the first time and is present in breast milk, helping mother and child to bond. As it turns out, it is also responsible for bonding in relationships between lovers. Young explains that oxytocin is released during conversation, periods of prolonged eye contact, and when we make physical contact—all bedroom prerequisites with respect to the art of flirting.

As the night goes on, a few more drinks, some dancing, and the oxytocin and dopamine are flowing. Now real bonding is possible. Young explains that the “oxytocin is making social cues more salient—basically it’s linking the cues of your partner… with the reward system, which is dopamine.” Men experience a spike in testosterone. The medial preoptic area (MPOA)—part of the limbic system—signals the nervous system to send blood to the genitals in both sexes. When stress is low enough and all of the environmental cues fall into place (are you alone in your bedroom yet?) a couple can really get to know each other.

“Sex is the best releaser of oxytocin,” says Young. With orgasm comes an immediate drop in dopamine (hence the falling motivation in men to get more sex after orgasm) and oxytocin is released into the blood and brain in greater quantities along with endocannabinoids, opioids, and serotonin—all of which produce a feeling of calm satisfaction.

Much like with drug addiction, all of this stimulation can lead to a need for more. Says Brian Alexander, Young’s co-author on The Chemistry Between Us, “once that bond gets formed, our brains literally change; physically, our brains change to help maintain that bond.”

Essentially, people in love become “addicted” to their partners, Alexander says. This is why love may spur us to do the myriad of wacky things that love makes us do (do we need to provide a list?). Marazziti performed a study which linked the serotonin levels of individuals in love to those of people suffering from OCD.

“When you are in love,” she says, laughing slightly, “you are a little bit crazy.”

Probably not something we needed science to tell us.

Express Your Inner Horse

January 14, 2014 | Monica Surfaro Spigelman

Tucson Sino Dancers at the 2013 Chinese New Year celelebration at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center.
photo courtesy Tucson Chinese Cultural Center

Pass the lucky-money envelopes and deck the halls anew with simply red. In the spirit of inclusiveness, tradition and fun, Tucson soon should be awash with exotic new year revelry. But don’t forget your saddle, because this is 4711, the Year of the Horse – one of the animals from the Chinese zodiac which rotates annually at this time of the Lunar New Year.

Tradition tells us that those born under the sign of the horse are energetic, intelligent, good communicators and physically strong. Of all the zodiac animals, horses love crowds and entertainment, so expect good social karma to bless Tucson during this most important and longest holiday, which lasts 15 days and begins on Jan. 31.

While Chinese (as well as Korean, Vietnamese and many other Asian) families around town celebrate by feasting at home and making auspicious, elaborate paper cuts to hang from their windows, the rest of us will want to head over to the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (TCCC), 1288 W. River Rd., to channel this traditional seasonal festival.

Opened in 2006, the TCCC’s River Road headquarters is the community hub for Tucson’s Chinese-American population, whose legacy in Tucson’s development started along Main Avenue downtown in the 1800s, and grew to include prominence in agriculture, grocery and other businesses across the region.

Now this 15,000 square-foot facility is host to a range of programs and services from business development to Tai Chi for elders, and is a community resource dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Chinese culture across Tucson. TCCC also houses a basketball court, community meeting spaces and a library, but nothing matches the concentrated burst of fiesta-styled energy that infuses Tucson via the center’s Lunar New Year celebration.

This year the public is invited to welcome in the Year of the Horse at TCCC on Sat., Feb. 1. That’s when you can snake your way through a Chinese cultural extravaganza throughout the center’s grounds, enjoying Chinese dancing, folk crafts, songs, instruments, foods and martial arts that demonstrate 5,000 years of cultural tradition. The exquisite Tucson Sino Dance will be there, as will tastings of various Chinese province cuisine. If you’ve not tried the traditional Jiaozi dumplings, local chefs including Wanda Zhang of Oro Valley’s Harvest Moon Chinese restaurant will be preparing the delicacy. (See her recipe below).

You’ll also get a chance to see the Tucson Lion Dancers, accompanied by traditional drums, cymbals and gong, in a colorful ceremony intended to drive away evil spirits and summon good luck. This precision dance requires years of training and a high degree of mental and physical fitness, and Tucson’s troupe (always a show stopper at the Rodeo Parade), has just returned from performing its twists and turns throughout the televised Dec. 28 Fiesta Bowl parade.

California author Sylvia Sun Minnick (who did groundbreaking work on the ethnography of the Stockton and San Joaquin Valley Chinese, and advises the Tucson Center’s local history program) also will sign copies of her new memoir, Never a Burnt Bridge, and present Chinese-American women stories of success and survival at the festival.

Center President Richard Fe Tom says the showcase of regional foods, culture and entertainment attracts thousands.

“We’re celebrating our biggest and most important cultural holiday, and there is something for everyone,” notes Tom, who emigrated as a child from China in the late 1950s. “For those tied directly to our culture, it’s also a time to stay connected with our heritage and our roots. At this time and throughout the year, Chinese Center also serves as a voice to remind ourselves and the community of the many societal and economic contributions the Chinese Americans have made in Tucson and the Southwest. ”

For two joyous weeks after the Saturday celebration, Tucson can expect a ritual of New Year’s activities to continue across the city. According to TCCC’s board member and history committee chair Robin Blackwood, families traditionally will clean their homes prior to the New Year’s arrival, sweeping out old, bad luck and allowing the good luck of the new year to enter. During the commemoration traditionally there’s no cleaning, so New Year’s good luck will not be swept away, she says.

“On the final night of the festival there are more dances, feasting, fireworks and displays of the paper lanterns that have brought light and color to Chinese observances for centuries,” Blackwood continues, “with mandarin oranges and tangerines, symbols of abundance and good fortune, given as gifts.”

While the New Year’s festivity grabs your attention, there are other activities throughout the year to help you further meander through Tucson’s Chinese culture and commemorate this Year of the Horse.

The center hosts lunch every Thursday to over 100 seniors, and also offers Tai Chi, lectures, mahjong and good fellowship. The center’s Chinese School teaches Mandarin Chinese and as well conducts classes in song, dance, ping pong, badminton and other arts. The center’s History Program is reaching into historic neighborhoods and including neighbors in its programs. A collection of storyboards telling tales of local Chinese families is on display in the TCCC and is free for public viewing.

Come spring, there will be a celebration of Tai Chi and Asian healthy living, and the summer Dragonboat Festival is highlighted by preparation of zongzi (Chinese tamales) by the Center’s Senior Program. A mid-autumn festival is marked by a youth lantern-design competition and lantern parade.

And so Tucson – a horse town in so many ways – finds one more reason to claim its title. To honor your inner horse, Zócalo suggests you dress in red, make some noise to ward off bad spirits and bring yourself special fortune by displaying fresh flowers. Remember your ancestors with poems written on red paper. Add Gung Hay Fat Choy (Cantonese) or Xin Nian Kuai Le (Mandarin) when extending your New Year’s howdy.

Remember how much a part we really are of this immensely diverse city, with so many treasured traditions still unbroken.

The Year of the Horse Lunar New Year celebration at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Rd., is Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. General admission: $2; free for children under 12. Year of the Horse Dinner and Fundraiser is Sat., Feb. 8, commencing at 5 p.m. at the Westin La Paloma Resort. The gala features live performance, a silent auction, casino and an elaborate dinner. Tickets are $150 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center. Call the Center at 292-6900 for additional information.

The Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (TucsonChinese.org) is open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

…

Wanda Zhang (Harvest Moon Restaurant in Oro Valley) will demonstrate Chinese cooking techniques at TCCC’s Feb. 1 Festival. Following is her recipe for New Year’s jiaozi (which makes about 20 to 40 of the dumplings, depending on your wrapping skills, which can take years to perfect):

4 ounces shrimp
4 ounces Napa cabbage
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
1 pound ground pork (or chicken)

Pinch salt
1 teaspoon garlic-flavored olive oil
3 ounces chicken broth
1 ounce cooking wine
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon sugar

Pinch white pepper
1 teaspoon oyster sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon ginger
1 package Peking Potsticker Wraps
2 teaspoons vegetable oil (for skillet)

Water

1. Separately chop shrimp, cabbage, green onion and cilantro into very fine pieces.
2. Mix together shrimp, cabbage, green onion, cilantro, and ground pork, then add the rest of the ingredients (except wrappers, oil and water) and mix thoroughly.
3. Take 1 potsticker wrap and using a finger or brush line the rim of the wrap with a thin layer of water (use a spray bottle to mist water on the wrapper if still dry).
4. Place 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of the meat and vegetable mixture in the middle of the wrap.
5. Fold and repeat steps 3-4.
6. Fry about six potstickers at a time in a nonstick pan, using 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil at medium heat, until golden brown. Then add a half cup of water and cover pan with a lid (leaving enough of a crack on the lid to allow the steam to boil off). Continue cooking about 10 minutes. The wrap will appear to bubble away from the meat when done.

Source: Wanda Zhang, Harvest Moon Chinese restaurant, Oro Valley

Tidbits

December 30, 2013 | Zocalo Staff

Out With the Old
Make room for your new holiday goods! Clear out your closets and cupboards of swap-able items and head to your local Pima County Public Library on Saturday, Jan. 4. Seven locations are hosting the annual post-holiday Freecycle™ swap from 2 p.m.-4 p.m., including: Dusenberry-River Branch Library, 5605 E. River Rd., Eckstrom-Columbus Branch Library, 4350 E. 22^nd St., Himmel Park Branch Library, 1035 N. Treat Ave., Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave., Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Ave., Quincie Douglas Library, 1585 E. 36^th St., and Woods Memorial Branch Library, 3455 N. First Ave. Inquiries can be answered by calling 791-4010.

TreeCycle!
Continuing through Jan. 12, residents can recycle their Christmas trees through the City of Tucson’s TreeCycle Program. There are nine locations accepting trees, with the list available at TucsonAZ.gov/treecycle. Remember to remove all ornaments, decorations and tree stands and consider tree pooling—fewer trips means cleaner air! Be advised, the City of Tucson is not collecting Christmas trees from curbs and alleys and other green waste cannot be accepted at TreeCycle. Additionally, from Jan. 4 through Jan. 12, the City of Tucson will have wood chips from shredded Christmas trees available for pick-up at Udall Park, Randolph Golf Course, and the Los Reales Landfill. Bring your own container and take home some free wood chips for your garden. Details are on the website or by calling 791-5000.

O2 Closes, DNA Opens
After four years of offering a variety of fitness classes, O2 Modern Fitness closed shop on Dec. 30. The same location, 186 E. Broadway Blvd., will be the new Downtown locale for DNA Personal Training–which offers personal training, semi-private training, group training and nutritional consulting. DNA will honor O2 patrons’ remaining class passes through the end of February, and is aiming to open Monday, Jan. 6. An “O2 Closing, DNA Opening” potluck is on Saturday, Jan. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Find more information at O2ModernFitness.com and DNAPersonalTraining.com.

“A Certain Slant of Light”

“A Certain Slant of Light: Emerging from the Shadows of Mental Illness”

The Coyote Task Force, whose mission is to “support individuals recovering from persistent, chronic mental illnesses; to help them regain their ability to move towards their recovery with a focus on reintegration into the community,” releases a chapbook this month comprised of works by participants in the task force’s Thursday Writing Group.

As board member of Coyote Task Force, which includes Café 54 and Our Place Clubhouse, Sheila Wilensky explains in the press release, “Misconceptions about mental illness abound. A few weeks after the Jan. 8, 2011, Tucson shooting, an Our Place Clubhouse member asked, ‘What is it with people? Why do they think that anyone with a mental illness may pull out a gun anytime and indiscriminately start shooting?’”

The question stuck with Wilensky, who is also a local writer, editor, and educator. She started the task force’s Thursday Writing Group in September 2012 to confront such erroneous notions with the intention of producing a chapbook to educate the public on biases toward those with mental illnesses.

The result, “A Certain Slant of Light: Emerging from the Shadows of Mental Illness,” features 14 co-authors ranging in ages from 20s to 60s along with suggestions for concrete action on how to change attitudes about mental illness.

The reception is on Friday, Jan. 17 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at Our Place Clubhouse, 66 E. Pennington St. Email Wilensky at sheilawilensky@gmail.com for more information.

Showcasing Innovative Tucson Homes

December 30, 2013 | Emily Gindlesparger

FORS Architecture built this stunning dwelling, owned by Andy and Kami White.
photo: John Bae

In the three years since its inception, Austin-based Modern Home Tours has scoured dozens of cities across the country for the most inventive architectural gems. Of course the next stop had to be Tucson.

“A lot of architects don’t get the ink they deserve for their beautiful work,” says Ken Shallcross, Public Relations guru at Modern Home Tours. He sees the opportunity for these tours to open unique homes to the public to enjoy for one day. The Tucson tour takes place Sunday, Jan. 19, the day after a sister tour in Scottsdale. Participants will get a map for their self-guided drive to the open doors of local modern homes.

Kami and Andy White’s Oro Valley home is part of the circuit. Designed by FORS Architecture, it commands a stunning view of Pusch Ridge. The Whites say it was crucial in the design process to keep their home connected to its environment.

“A great many homes in the desert use a traditional design that turns inward from the heat, at the sacrifice of connecting with the beautiful desert,” they wrote in an email. “By using extensive glass, protected by deep overhangs or shading metal work, the home offers a rarely enjoyed connection to the desert. The ridge top site really screamed for a home with this design approach to fully appreciate the magnificence of the view.”

To keep the view unobstructed, the designers installed a unique fireplace along the floor-to-ceiling windows that span the length of the living room, with no chimney to break the panorama. All around the house, carefully planned windows let in light, so the Whites can watch it shift across the mountains and their home through the day.

“We very much feel a part of the landscape when in the home.”

This property was designed by Kevin Howard with the landscape designed by Allen Denomy of Solana Outdoor Living.
Photo courtesy Solana Outdoor Living

Another home on the tour in Marana was landscaped by Solana Outdoor Living to integrate it into the surroundings, which include the Tortolita Mountains on one side and the Ritz Carlton golf course on the other. The landscape design capitalizes on the sunset views with a full perimeter overflow pool that reflects the sky’s colors on its mirrored surface. A water feature in the front courtyard borrows the same principles.

“We wanted to keep everything rectilinear and timeless, and break it up a little bit so there’s a little asymmetry that balances the elements throughout the property,” explains Solana designer Allen Denomy. Additionally, features on the grounds were installed with water conservation in mind, sloping the contours to make the most of the rain that falls onsite. An irrigation system doles out water precisely when it’s needed. A fence around the property crafted from bent rebar and steel flowers blends to the environment, keeping all eyes up to the view.

With this house, Solana Outdoor Living sought to create a livable space outside, complementary to what’s inside.

“What’s unique about our Tucson climate is the usability of our outdoor living; we have a longer use of our outdoor space, and it’s become an important place to develop and customize.”

While the final lineup for Tucson’s Modern Home Tour wasn’t solidified as of press time, due to December’s holidays, it will be sure to include the work of local artists and architects that show off not just the houses, but equally the land they reside upon.

The Modern Home Tour is Sunday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $25 online in advance, $30 day of. Discount packages are available if combined with the Scottsdale Home Tour on Jan. 18. Visit ModernHomeTours.com/Event/Tucson for more details or ring 1-888-611-6882.

Invite Sonoran Visitors to Shop Locally Already!

December 15, 2013 | Miguel Ortega

Right now, my huge, extended family in Sonoroa, Mexico is gearing up to do some Christmas shopping in Tucson. Soon they will be hitting our shopping malls and buying a bunch of stuff.

And soon you will join them, driving your car in those full lots as you notice all those Sonoran license plates and – because I know you are smart and you get it – you will smile knowing that these Mexican tourists are pumping millions into our local economy.

Some local tourism leaders, however, think that my relatives are obsessed with chains. They think the only way to keep my cousins coming back to Tucson is by emphasizing corporate shops. These tourism experts use social media to showcase Golden Corral, Best Buy, Starbucks, etc.

Why? Well, they say that is just how Sonoran visitors are and it’s the only way to get them here to shop.

Really?

When is the last time the Italians said you would not visit Rome if they did not first entice you with a visit to their Olive Garden? When is the last time you saw Mexico City tourism experts promote Taco Bell as a great place to get a bite to eat while visiting their great city?

News flash: Mexicans attend colleges and read books. They have things called museums. And, in big cities like Hermosillo, local business owners understand how sales taxes work and how that revenue stream helps their local economies.

Maybe a better approach would be to entice Sonoran visitors to shop locally owned businesses because, by doing so, more of their money stays here in Tucson to support the schools, roads and public safety that many of their Tucson relatives depend on. Do our tourism experts truly believe that Mexican visitors can’t understand that?

Besides, our local shops rock! Sonoran visitors would love The Sunshine Mile, 4th Avenue, Campbell Avenue or the Furniture District if they were simply informed of their existence. Sonoran visitors are no different than tourists from all over the world that crave authenticity when they travel.

What’s our problem, anyway? Let’s put away the tupperware and break out with the good stuff already!

Miguel Ortega is an independent business development consultant. His radio program, “Locally Owned with Miguel Ortega”, airs on KVOI 1030AM every Saturday at 11 a.m. You can also listen to his radio columns on KXCI 91.3FM and follow his blog at LocallyOwnedAZ.com.