One of the more visible signs of our tough economy is the increase in homeless people. To be sure, Tucson has long been a wintertime magnet for those who are down on their luck. After all, where would you rather be on the streets in January? Minneapolis? Or here in Arizona? In central Tucson, our…
Euclid Avenue isn’t one of Tucson’s glamorous thoroughfares. It’s a workmanlike street that takes you past apartment complexes, strip shopping centers, schools, and sturdy little houses, some of which are a century old. While much of central Tucson’s transportation improvement efforts are centering on the Grant Road widening project, Euclid is still, well, Euclid. No…
Saturday was a great day for indulging my passion for bike-tography. I pedaled my bicycle and camera over to the east side of the University of Arizona campus, which was blocked off for the UA Criterium. This closed-course event drew bicycle racing enthusiasts from hither and yon, but there were plenty of good spots to…
Here in Tucson, we have been experiencing a weather spell that would be better suited for northern climes. We’re talking daytime highs that barely make it past the 40-degree mark. And the nighttime lows? Well below freezing. A couple of mornings ago, the wind chill made the air feel like it was four degrees above…
If you’re like most Tucsonans, you live in a house that does a lousy job of keeping the winter’s cold outside. Which means that you’re left with the uncomfortable choice between living in an icebox or dealing with heating bills that rival your mortgage payment. Almost all houses inside the Tucson city limits were built…
Today was a big day for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She’s made remarkable progress since suffering a gunshot wound to the head during a January 8 assassination attempt. Recent reports have noted that Giffords is able to stand with assistance and use an iPad. This morning, she was discharged from University Medical Center. Giffords was then…
This past Saturday morning, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords hosted a “Congress on Your Corner” event in the La Toscana Village shopping center at the corner of Ina and Oracle Roads. As has been widely reported, a 22-year-old man opened fire on Giffords and others. Six people died, and 13 were wounded, including Congresswoman Giffords. Yesterday, President…
One of the great joys of bike-tography is catching cyclists in motion. And when you’re shooting a bicycle race, that motion can turn into a blur. Which raises one of the great photographic questions: Should you freeze the action or embrace the blur? In this shot of El Tour de Tucson 2010 finishers, I chose…
This past weekend marked the return of a Tucson tradition, the 4th Avenue Winter Street Fair. The cloudless skies and warm temperatures brought thousands of people out to enjoy more than 400 arts and crafts booths, 35 food vendors, two performance stages, a bevy of street musicians, and unlimited opportunities for people-watching. On Sunday, I…
This past Saturday was a bike-tography extravaganza for Yours Truly. The 28th annual El Tour de Tucson drew me and my camera to the Downtown finish line for some photographic fun. First, the anticipation. The top finishers hadn’t arrived yet. But Tucson’s tifosi were waiting for them… The 109-mile race was won by Eric Marcotte,…
America’s second largest bicycle swap meet happened in Tucson this past Saturday. The fall 2010 edition of our two-wheeled buying, selling and trading extravaganza drew thousands of cyclo-philes to Fourth Avenue. And the bike swap had something for everyone. So, you say you need some new sneakers for your favorite mountain bike? Gotcha covered… Or…
This past Sunday, the annual All Souls Procession wound its way through Downtown Tucson. This event is meant to help participants remember the departed, and attendance is well into the five figures. Like any large Tucson event, there’s a substantial police presence. Here’s part of the law enforcement contingent that gathered at 4th Avenue and…
While outsiders think that Arizona is nothing but dry, barren desert, we residents know better. This state has a surprising amount of biodiversity. Take, for example, our riparian areas. Here’s an impressive stand of cottonwoods growing near the banks of the Hassayampa River, which doesn’t flow during dry seasons like the one we’re having now…….
Tucson Meet Yourself is an annual celebration of the Arizona-Sonoran region’s cultural diversity. Over the course of three days, you can chow down on food from all over the world, try your hand at various folk arts, visit historical exhibits, and learn new dance steps. And then there’s the music. You name the culture and…
The heat of the summer months is starting to abate, which means that late afternoons and evenings can be enjoyed outdoors. This past Saturday, thousands of Tucsonans did just that. They converged on the heart of the city for 2nd Saturdays Downtown. This event combines street performances, arts and crafts tables, and business specials. The…
April 2015 update: This site was redesigned by the university. The University of Arizona Department of Nutritional Sciences website has a new look. It’s based on an oft-heard bit of dietary advice: “Eat Your Colors.” The site’s seven sub-navigation bars reflect the colors of healthful foods: The default sub-navigation adopts a pink Persimmon theme. It points…
April 2015 update: This website is no longer online. Dr. Randy Burd is on the faculties of the University of Arizona, Holy Family University, and Thomas Jefferson University. His research focuses on the effectiveness of radiation therapy in cancer treatment, while minimizing the effects of radiation on normal tissue. I just designed a laboratory website…
A severe thunderstorm dumped almost an inch of rain here yesterday. To be quite honest, I didn’t think this storm would do much of anything. Oh, yes, it started out with a lot of wind, which brought the term “blowhard” to my mind. And then the wind picked up. I started to wonder if my…
Yesterday evening was one of those times when the "Yeah, right!" storm clouds stomped through central Tucson. You know those clouds. They throw out plenty of thunder and lightning, but rain? No way. So, I got on my bike and pedaled over to Main Gate Square’s First Thursday Art Walk. This month’s event featured work…
One of Tucson’s best Southwestern landscapes is at the airport. That’s right, the airport. Here’s how to find this urban treasure: If you’re taking the city bus (and, sorry to say, the drivers are on strike right now) catch the southbound #6 and get off at the park and fly lots just north of the…
After a three-month absence, an intermittent visitor has returned to the Southern Arizona desert. While commonly referred to as “rain,” this visitor is also referred to as “relief” and less flattering terms, the most common of which is, “Where in the #$%^& have you been?” The rain in my back yard was a welcome sight…