Revolutionary Grounds
I was wandering Fourth Avenue just after sunrise when a coffee
craving hit, so I ducked into Revolutionary Grounds, a small, leftist
coffee shop and bookstore in the old Rainbow Planet spot at 606 N.
Fourth Ave. The coffee was strong; the books on everything from Leon
Trotsky to self-made clothing were worth a browse; and the outdoor area
peppered with spice plants will be lovely when the heat abates. The
place serves food, too. Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through
Thursday; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
Sunday. 620-1770; revolutionarygroundsonline.com.
Fields to Tables
Watermelons, squash, corn, beans and many other foods have been
cultivated along the Santa Cruz River for more than 4,000 years, but
it’ll only take you an hour or so to learn about it at the Fields to
Tables exhibit, opening Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Joel D. Valdez
Main Library (101 N. Stone Ave.). The show—which closes Monday,
Aug. 31—celebrates local agricultural history through photographs
by Josh Schachter and writings by Anita Fonte and Steven Harvath, and
it’s free. Call 791-4010 for more information.
Tortillas!
All tortillas are not created equal. If they’re still warm when
purchased, you’re in for a treat—but the cold, prepackaged ones
can leave you feeling as flat as the food itself. A recent meal called
for quality, so I headed over to the grand opening of La Mesa
Tortillas’ newest location (2112 W. Grant Road; 623-9703) for some of
their jalapeño-flavored tortillas. They were undeniably fresh,
but could’ve benefited from more flavor and kick. La Mesa—which
also has storefronts at 7823 E. Broadway Blvd. and 3929 E. Pima
St.—sells unflavored corn and wheat tortillas, too, and serves
lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Visit www.lamesatortillas.com for more
information.
Top Dog
El Güero Canelo (5201 S. 12th Ave., 295-9005; 2480 N. Oracle
Road, 882-8977) was named one of the “Top 10 Best New Places for Hot
Dogs” in the August edition of Bon Appetit magazine. “Of
America’s many regional hot dog styles, the Sonoran is one of the least
known,” the article reads. Our beloved Sonoran dogs may be a rarity
elsewhere, but El Güero Canelo—a frequent Best of
Tucson® winner—has dished them up since 1993.
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2009.
