Bored? Look no further. Moments of boredom shall now be few and far between — that is, if you take advantage of these events and places. I bet you did not realize how large Tucson really is until now — how about a little bit of poetry, some crowded street vendors and a couple of biomes to get started?
Particularly poetic experiences
The UA Poetry Center is nationally recognized and sitting in your own backyard. You know what that means — take advantage of this honking piece of history and its first-rate resource while you still can! Famous poets from around the world participate in readings throughout the semester. The Poetry Center has invited Liza Porter, the 2009 Mary Ann Campau Fellow to read on March 25 at 8 p.m. For more information on events and poetry competitions, visit poetrycenter.arizona.edu.
More than flimsy tents and boiled hot dogs
Fourth Avenue bulges at the seams: Hundreds upon hundreds of vendors selling trinkets, rugs, paintings, vases, pizza, hot dogs, etc. squeeze into the street, line the sidewalks and hold up traffic. Music vibrates off buildings, competing with the thousands of conversations and innumerable footsteps. Every Tucsonan may or may not be there. The Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair takes place March 19 to March 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You will need to set aside at least three hours if you want the whole experience. For more information visit fourthavenue.org/fairs/general-information.
A global trip in miniature
It is a bit of a drive, but worth every mile. Biosphere 2 may be one of the few places where you can stroll through mangrove wetlands, a fog desert, savannah grasslands and a rainforest in a little more than an hour’s time. Follow stairs deeper into the biosphere and you can even observe an ocean complete with a coral reef. Between 1991 and 1994, two groups of researchers were sealed in Biosphere 2 for months on end. Trapped under globes made of glass, the biomes are still being used for researching the relationships between human life and earth, studying space science and nurturing endangered plants back into the environment. Pathways have been constructed through trees and bushes from around the world, allowing tour groups easy access between the environments. There are even lungs — not human lungs, but two massive, sealed off structures designed back in the day to keep Biosphere 2 from imploding or exploding due to changes in oxygen levels. Its echo ability is astounding: Youtube “”Biosphere 2 lung chant”” to hear the blessing monks bestowed on the lungs before it opened. Located at 32540 S. Biosphere Rd., Biosphere 2 is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Student tickets are discounted at half price ($10). For more information visit www.b2science.org.
— Kim Kotel
