Hip little Tucson heats up [View all]

[Ptah]

Janis Cooke Newman

May 5, 2013

The local bookstore (an independent) hosts both a Steampunk book group and a
Democracy and Dissent book group. The Food Conspiracy Co-op, way more crunchy
than any Whole Foods could ever hope to be, carries gray toothpaste in little jars
and shampoo that's formulated for dreadlocks. There's a guy at the Saturday
Farmers' Market who roasts his own coffee - he learned from the founder of Peet's.
And the local bike shop, Bicycle Inter-community Art & Salvage, shuts down every
Monday for Women, Transgender and Femme workshop day.

Portland? Or perhaps, "Portlandia"?

Nope, Tucson. Yes, that Tucson.

This smallish southwestern town, better known as a jumping-off point for the
Saguaro National Park, has turned into a surprisingly hip little burg. A kind of
Portland without the rain. A Mission District without the attitude
(and without the long lines for restaurants).

http://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/article/Hip-little-Tucson-heats-up-4484163.php?t=69177aa32f