Pima County Library wants kids to 'dig in'

Summer vacation's almost here, and it's time to dig in - to books.

Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!

Bacon's everywhere it shouldn't be - ice cream, coffee, apple pie, even vodka.

Get your bacon freak on at Bacon Fest

Bowing down to all things porky.

Runners get moving while they're also building confidence

People know Amy Dowe by her running shoes.

The Minivan Momologues: Too much to ask for? Kittens, doves, no dirty socks on kitchen counter

Stupid Mother's Day. The older I get, the crankier I get about the - let's put it in quotes, shall we? - "holiday."

Fairy tale Fashion: Pima Community College readies for sixth annual student showcase

In the end, Pima Community College's fairy-tale-themed fashion show will be fanciful and fun, but getting there has been anything but a fantasy. It's hard work. "The students feel like it's chaotic and that they have so much to do and not enough time to do it," said Yekatherina Bruner, the a…

The Minivan Momologues: On kids' clothing, I'll tolerate just about any travesty

He sat, a gray plastic cape draped over him, head bowed and giggling so hard his body shook.

Contigo marks birthday with summer of specials

Call it taco and tequila Thursdays, and it kicks off today.

Local, handmade T-shirts are Earth-friendly

Every Wednesday, before Kenneth Armstrong puts together his pop-up clothing shop at the Wednesday downtown farmers market, he slips the medicine man who sells dreamcatchers a buck. Armstrong asks the medicine man to bless his booth from the elements.

Satisfying Bigfoot-like appetites

You don't need to be Bigfoot to eat at The Lodge Sasquatch Kitchen. But it helps. Entrees arrive on platters. Burgers - including one with two grilled cheese sandwiches in lieu of a bun - teeter so high that you practically need unhinging jaws. Unless you've got a sasquatch-sized stomach, th…

Review: Bring a big appetite to Lodge Sasquatch

As the name implies, everything is big coming from Aaron May's kitchen.

The possible dream: Music theater class is a second act for stage-struck adults

We huddled in the dark, breathing deeply, nervously.

The Minivan Momologues: Kristen Cook: I like to cook - I mean, do I look like Kristen Takeout?

More than a few of my friends have husbands who cook. These gals think they're pretty lucky.

Morsels: Daglio's is done; victim of high operating costs

Daglio's is done; victim of high operating costs

Greyhounds keep her running

Cindy Hall always considered herself a cat person. Now she's a greyhound gal.

The Minivan Momologues: No, no, there's nothing distracting about ... @!&#

I sat, in my darkened bedroom, trying to write something Pulitzer-Prize winning.

The late Ted DeGrazia: 'Way of the Cross' was a fine idea, he came to realize

No.

Tucson loses Daglio's hoagie shop

Owner blames increased operating costs.

Redo keeps North's creative flavor

When we first heard that North restaurant was undergoing a makeover, fear gripped us - well, specifically our stomachs.

Review: North Fattoria Italiana

Reimagined Sam Fox restaurant keeps some of our favorites and adds new favorites.

The Minivan Momologues: Hubby and I were craaaaazy - but it was looooong ago

Here's IMDb's synopsis of the 2010 movie "Date Night" starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell:

Gunmen of yore draw down again

Ed Adams has quite the souvenirs from his days working at Old Tucson: six knee surgeries, a herniated disc, a limp.

Novelist turns sleep-time joke into profane rhyme

It was news to Adam Mansbach that he's participating in not one, not two, but three panels at this weekend's Tucson Festival of Books.

Everything carnivores need to know to buy, cook meat today in one book

If meat's what's for dinner, then Bruce Aidells' cookbook is what you want on the bookshelf.

Sadly, skills in math have disintegrated

Hey, kids, head on over to the comics for a few minutes. I know this kinda looks like a cartoon, but see all the words? Not a comic, so scoot on through the paper, OK?

Author of food-truck guidebook offers tidbits

When it comes to food trucks, this much is true: If the Airstream's a-rockin', do come a-knockin'.

Cooking his way up the ladder at Miraval

Justin Macy fooled his way into Miraval.

Review: Stalled at the intersection of good food, bad service

Agustin Brasserie does French food fabulously, but there's much to be desired when it comes to service.

Don't be dreary in making staple dish: Get creative with pasta, cheese

Who knew?

The Minivan Momologues: My new teenager is sweet, smart, lovable - now

13.

Mission: 'Saving outer soles'

Kathy Gowin knows how to shine.

History, photos, recipes: how Italian food rules

"How Italian Food Conquered the World" by John F. Mariani (Palgrave Macmillan, $16) is for readers who like their recipes on the side.

Sweets take over celebrations

Sweet. That's the name of the game for weddings, and not "sweet" in a sentimental, pull-out-the-baby-photos-of-the-bride-and-groom way.

Pastime became a calling for children's book author

As a child, Jennifer Ward wrote and illustrated her own books - starring the family pets - but she never dreamed she could grow up and do it for real.

Book offers recipes to try after farmers market trip

A good farmers market is a beautiful thing.

The Minivan Momologues: Water, water everywhere ... what an unholy mess

That's it. I'm done. I'm officially throwin' in the towel. The dusting towel. It makes absolutely no difference anyway. Cleaning my house was, is and always will be an incredibly thankless, pointless job - as long as it's full of kids and dogs.

The Minivan Momologues: SS Cook sailed in style - then life sort of happened

Nothing signals freedom, independence and impending adulthood like your very own car.

New Tucson Whole Foods has taqueria and a bar

River Road location to open Wednesday with a bar serving beer and wine.

The Minivan Momologues: Laundrageddon: Washer, dryer take 12 days off

Well, look at that. It's January and the world didn't end. So much for the Mayan calendar end-o'-the-world predictions. Although, the truth is, people - well, at least the citizens of Pima County - don't know how very, very close they came to being buried alive ... by dirty clothes. Generate…

Dogs with a bite

Sean Draper starts off each morning with a hot dog.

The Minivan Momologues: Twas the night before a nervous breakdown (mine)

It's almost Christmas. Oh, fa. ... la la. Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas, I do. It just makes me break out in hives and hyperventilate because there's so much to do. So much. And while kids can make the holidays a whole lot more fun, they also increase the difficulty level. Exponentially.

4 simple words define couple's life

Love. Laugh. Care. Share. The quartet of words - interspersed with puffy red hearts - made up the logo on the posters for the recent Family Arts & Music Experience held on the Children's Museum grounds downtown.

Old Tucson: Twelve miles and a hundred years from town

Editor's note: This is part of an occasional series about Tucson's touristy spots from a local's perspective.

The Minivan Momologues: This is middle age - tell me, how did I get here so fast?

Not to brag, but I got carded the other day. OK, who am I kidding - I'm totally bragging. But give me this little ray of sunshine. I need it. Everything about my life, including my age - most especially my age - reeks of … middle age.

Sonoita winery hosting speakeasy for wine's release

Arizona Hops and Vines' event includes live music and car show.

Tucson diners rejoice: Janos jerked pork returns

Chef Janos Wilder brings favorite dish back to life as a dinner special next week.

A stash of 'staches

Mustaches - they're not just for faces anymore. Curled at the ends, thick, thin, no matter the 'stache style, they're all in. And recently, they've been popping up everywhere - on mugs, clothes, even phone cases.