Marana Unwrapped

Have you ever gone camping with your kids? Well here’s your chance. Tomorrow, April 12, 2008, might be the perfect time.

Marana is having Family Night Under the Stars, which sounds like a lot of fun. There’s going to be music, a movie (“The Goonies”), stargazing, bonfires, and more.

The flyer says you need to be registered for overnight camping by last week, but don’t worry, it’s not too late. You can register online by 11:59p.m. on Saturday, April 12.

If you don’t want to spend the night, feel free to take your family to Ora Mae Harn park and enjoy a beautiful, fun-filled evening. The weather will be kind of cool, with a low of 55 degrees, so be prepared.

Have fun! If you go, please let us know how it turns out. 

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Marana’s Founders’ Day 2008 was a great event to take my daughter. She’s now almost 3 and a lot of fun (and work) when it comes to outings, so when it rolled around this past weekend we jumped at it.

There was really almost too much to do for such a little one, so we concentrated on the area designated for kids. Wouldn’t you know it, though? My daughter preferred to play on the jungle gym, which she could have done any day of the week almost anywhere in town.

The highlights were the free pony ride (which my daughter decided not to do after standing in line for 20 minutes) and the tractor ride. We got to sit in one of those HUGE John Deere tractors. It was a blast, even though the tractor was stationary.

Marana really knows how to throw a celebration, so the next time there’s something at Ora Mae Harn park, be sure to check it out.

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Perhaps you have the day off today. Or you might be hard at work. Maybe you’re studying for an upcoming exam.

Whatever you’re doing today, take a few minutes to remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our country wouldn’t be as great as it is without the hard work, sweat, and literal blood of Dr. King and many more people dedicated to improving the lives of others.

Today I thought about how many advantages I have, thanks to the civil rights movement. I wouldn’t be living where I do, I wouldn’t be as educated as I am, and I wouldn’t be free to live my life the way I am. Today I remember how much I have to be thankful for.

Remember.

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Have you always wanted to learn Spanish, take a workout class, or even teach your dog to avoid rattlesnakes? Maybe you want to learn self-defense, guitar playing, or CPR.

The Town of Marana has it all, and maybe even a little more. There are classes for children as young as 9 months old, and plenty of classes for adults. Each class is in a different location, so make sure it’s convenient for you.

A full listing of the special interest classes is available on the Town of Marana website. Hurry before classes fill up.

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Miracle’s Inc. is having their 7th annual Christmas party this Saturday, December 22.

After sponsoring a toy drive this past weekend, the non-profit group will be giving every child who attends a toy or gift certificate (depending on their age).

This children’s Christmas party is free, and there’ll be games, free food, entertainment, free raffles for the kids, and even a jumping castle.

It’s going to be held at the Ora Mae Harn park starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Decermber 22, 2007.

Don’t miss out on the fun, and tell us what you thought about it after you go! 

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Tower Theatres in the Arizona Pavilions is open, and it seems like it’ll be a success. The sneak preview on December 6 was interesting. The parking lot was pretty full, a few radio stations were out front, and they collected lots of unwrapped toys and canned food for the price of admission.

If you’re used to the Foothills theater, you’ll definitely find the lobby area rather small. I guess you could call it cozy. The arcade was also small, but this is in comparison to the large arcade next to the Foothills theater.

The Tower Theatres’ website is up and running, so you’ll be able to purchase tickets online.

I do have one small critique. I asked some of the staff what a certain movie was about, but no one really knew. I think it wouldn’t hurt if the staff were given a synopsis of the movies that were showing. Not that I can’t look it up online in the future, but opening night didn’t publicize the movies ahead of time. A small point, but something they might want to consider.

My biggest concern is traffic safety. I’ve always felt that the curving road makes it difficult to see when you’re exiting onto Arizona Pavilions Drive, but there wasn’t a lot of traffic anyway. That’s going to change with the theater, In-N-Out, Chili’s, and Panda Express.

It might be a good idea for the town to add another traffic light, or maybe several speed bumps. And perhaps they need to move any bushes or trees that make it difficult to see around the corners. I’d also like to see more stop signs within the theater’s parking lot. Safety first!

Have you been to Tower Theatres? Tell us about your experience.

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The Arizona Pavilions shopping center is getting a new movie theater this week. Tower Theatres will open on Friday, December 7. They’ll be charging only $1 for food and drinks, and will offer free video games all week for their grand opening.

I’m pretty excited. I don’t go to the movies much, but I like the idea of not having to drive all the way to Foothills Mall. And I always like to play video games.

If you want to get a sneak peek, for the cost of 2 canned goods or an unwrapped toy, the theater will be open on Thursday, December 6 from 5:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. You’ll get to see a free movie with free refreshments, and you’ll meet some new people if you want.

If I find out which movie is showing on Thursday (or if you let me know), I’ll share it with you soon.

I’m amazed at how much Marana has changed in the two years I’ve been here. You can look forward to more about new venues in town and nearby.

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Photo copyright 2007 by Stephen Ax

Today I took my daughter to see El Tour de Tucson. The cyclists were riding various places in Marana, including Silverbell and Tangerine Roads, so all we had to do was find a shady spot on the sidewalk.

Those bicycles are really fast! We saw all kinds, including tandem bikes, and some where the person was a foot from the ground (sort of like a grown-up tricycle, but with two wheels, called a recumbent).

My daughter had fun waving at people, and a nearby family cheered for everyone that rode by. It was a great day for bike-watching.

What is El Tour de Tucson?

According to the official website, the bicycling tour began in 1983, and is now “America’s largest perimeter bicycling event.” More than 9,000 cyclists are expected for this 25th El Tour de Tucson.

Each year, El Tour de Tucson takes place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, so mark your calendars for next year’s.

I know we will.

(I found the great picture at this webpage. I didn’t bring my camera with me.)

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