missing tucson

spending the weekend in tucson has been nice.  it's easy to forget about the beautiful catalina mountains, cooler (but unfortunately not that much cooler) weather, and the local shops. there isn't enough time in two days to revisit all of the yummy restaurants & bars that tucson offers. ah, the college nostalgia is all coming back to me.
frog & firkin with their various beers on tap, delicious burgers (veggie or not) & beer-battered fries, and  what me & jessa enjoyed as the 'shank & yellow special' - a deep dish black olive & onion pizza with a pitcher or two of miller light. yum. the b line breakfast burrito - delish - and the location/ambiance are part of the experience. magpies vegan cheese & various toppings pies were a tasty choice for the exploring vegetarian (tim). brooklyn pizza co has the most delectable garlic knots and NY style pies & slices, and always had local artwork posted on the walls of this whole-in-the-wall. el charro has a tasty menu, but it was usually nico's that was frequented. on par with los betos or filibertos, this 24-hour spot was especially busy around 2 in the morning, after a night of heavy drinking, this was one of the best ways to satisfy the midnight hunger and prevent a hangover. lovin' spoonfuls should have a location in phoenix, for sure, as they have an amazing vegan menu and prices that can't be beat. the bison witches in tucson is better than the one in tempe - no contest. blue willow is awesome. lucky's chinese delivers (quickly!). sushi garden has all you can eat sushi and sashimi for $20, and cheap saki bombs. pho 88 has the best pho in town. and if i don't mention frankie's (frankie's south philadelphia cheesesteaks and hogies, to be precise), i'll hear about it, for sure.
for cheap beers and a frat guy-free zone go to che's lounge. for pitchers, a chill night, and a top-notch bathroom (girls, you know the importance of this) head to the shanty. and of course, the auld dubliner never used to disappoint (although we didn't know this was a chain when it originally opened, and have heard that under new management, the scene there is different now, and changes depending on the night).
don't forget the bi-annual 4th avenue street fair, which are always an interesting display of hippies and their artwork & incense, tucson bums having their space invaded by a bunch of college kids and rich foothills dwellers, and, of course, kettle corn & snow cones. creative ventures always features local hand-crafted goods, and is where tim watched the jeweler make the claddagh ring he got for me (jeez - that was 4 years ago already!) desert vintage & costume, tucson thrift shop, and value village are all second-hand shops that always provide hours of rummaging through fun, funky and antiquated clothes, jewelry, furniture, and knick knacks.
too bad there were no good jobs in tucson for college grads - we probably would have stayed longer. and i sometimes wish we should have stayed anyways. its really a wonderful city, and its only a short drive from the urban sprawl that we currently reside. on days or weekends when i feel like the metropolitan is swallowing me, i can come back to the familiar city where i still feel i should sometimes belong.