2nd Saturdays: Free Event to Launch in Downtown Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- From The Rialto Theatre and Hotel Congress on the east end to The Fox Theatre on the west, downtown Tucson will come alive in a series of free-to-the-public, arts, entertainment, shopping and dining happenings called 2nd Saturdays Downtown, set to kick off Saturday, May 8, 2010 and every second Saturday of the month thereafter. The monthly event is attracting unprecedented levels of merchant, performer and organization participation and is being underwritten by Tucson's Providence Service Corporation (NASDAQ: PRSC).

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About the May 8 Downtown Tucson 2nd Saturdays Debut:

The 2nd Saturdays series begins May 8 and initially will encompass an area bounded by Broadway, Pennington, Church and the 4th Avenue Underpass. It introduces a 2nd Saturdays outdoor stage, an arts and foods promenade along Congress, concerts produced by the Rialto, Fox and Hotel Congress, "pop up" retailers and featured events by organizations including Beowulf Alley Theatre, Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, and The Screening Room. There will also be special 2nd Saturdays dining, performance and retail promotions offered by the businesses situated within the event area.  Parking will be free at the City's Pennington Street Garage, accessed from Scott Avenue, one-half block north of Congress Street. Admission to the event is free except for a small cover charge at The Rialto.

Exclusively for the May 8th 2nd Saturdays event:

Kicking off the 2nd Saturdays series in grand style is a world- class free concert by the Portland Cello Project (www.portlandcelloproject.com) at the Fox Theatre.  This indefinable ensemble transcends your typical conceptions of what a string group can do, playing everything from inspired original compositions, to obscure 19th -century folk songs to straight-ahead rock n' roll. As a special treat, Tucson-based singer-songwriter Howe Gelb will join the ensemble as they combine symphonic stylings with one of Tucson's most renowned musical collectives.

Other free concerts will be held on the Scott Avenue Stage at Broadway and Scott, featuring well-known local bands playing for an all-ages-welcome street dance, along with an outdoor stage in the plaza of Hotel Congress.

Other elements planned for the initial 2nd Saturdays event include:

A giant, free The Beatles™: Rock Band™ (Wii game) competition, underwritten by Bourn Partners, and presented by Ultimate Electronics and Cinema La Placita, will awaken the vacant lot on the south side of Congress next to the historic Indian Village Trading Post building.  A new grass park will open and be the setting for this outdoor event area, projecting the Rock Band competition on the adjacent Western Union Building.

Now-vacant downtown storefronts will be occupied with "pop-up" ventures including retail, arts, exhibit and demonstration spaces. Potential businesses eyeing pop-ups now include comics, local records from KXCI, a bike shop, bookstore, cupcake store, urban clothing and several galleries. Jim Click Automotive will introduce Tucson's first pop-up auto dealer. The Jim Click Automotive team will display new models, have sales and credit staff available and offer Second Saturdays specials during the pop-up hours, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Downtown Tucson.

The eating establishments of Maynard's Kitchen, Xoom Juice, A Steak in the Neighborhood, El Charro Cafe, Jimmy John's, Coyote Cafe and Bistro, On A Roll Sushi, Shot in the Dark Cafe, and the Hotel Congress will offer specials from 6PM until closing.  A new Downtown Tucson eating establishment located at, and aptly named, 47 Scott, will premier with a special "comfort food" menu.  

Retailers Desert Bloom, Hydra Leather and More, The Chicago Music Store, Flanagan's Celtic Corner, Cricket, Rockin' Queen, Black Rose, Chief Print, and June's Corner Store will remain open and offer a number of specials during the event. The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, which is celebrating National Railroad Day, will feature kids activities and a book-signing.  Downtown's newest gallery, Sacred Machine, at 245 E. Congress, will debut at the May 8 event.

Events and programming are updated daily on the website: http://www.2ndSaturdaysdowntown.com. For current information, vendor applications and sign-ups, as well as details about scheduling, event locations and parking, check the website.  Merchants in the area are encouraged to participate and can contact 2nd Saturdays at the website.

About the 2nd Saturdays Movement

An active group of business owners and downtown organizations are working together to create a monthly series of entertainment, shopping, dining and marketing events intended as an ongoing catalyst for economic and entertainment happenings in Downtown Tucson. For additional information about participating in and support 2nd Saturdays, visit the website: http://www.2ndSaturdaysDowntown.com/

SOURCE The Providence Service Corporation