This weekend Downtown Tucson hosts a downtown Saturday Night program – a collection of gallery open houses, musical events, evening shopping and culinary happenings. When I relocated from New York City to Tucson I knew that – more than anything – a vital downtown was key to keeping me happy in my new hometown.

Tomorrow, I’ll first walk the historic district, taken some photos and then enjoy what they call an urban block party. El Presidio in downtown Tucson is home to one of the nation’s oldest inhabited Native American sites as well as the original Tucson walled fort. In this historic district you can stroll amidst impressive adobe homes and remnants of the 18th-century walled compound that was old Tucson.

So we’ll walk around the Presidio district first to see the homes of diverse architectural styles. Then we’ll visit the small chile festival planned at Old Town Artisans and purchase chile ristras to hang on our door for the holidays.

The block party will be across downtown, including Church and Congress streets. I consider Congress – with the historic Congress Hotel and train depot anchoring one end and the historic Fox theater at the other – the main drag of our town. On Saturday one of the larger galleries, DinnerWare artspace, will host an opening. There will be music venues open at the Hotel Congress and I’ll also I’ll probably have dinner at Caffe Milano.

Recently Downtown Tucson also participated in Global Park(ing) Day, a day when artists and regular people take over parking spots and transform them temporarily into small green community spaces. It wasn’t a slick New York City happening, but it was worthwhile.
All these elements make up a downtown trying to define its sense of place, and I’m hoping others feel as I do that it is worth it, to build community while enjoying a local happening.