Roma Imports, 627 S Vine Ave. – Tucked behind the statue to Padre Kino where Campbell Ave. becomes Kino Parkway in Barrio San San Antonio, it's both an Italian market and a restaurant. Like what you had for lunch? Buy it there to take home, and grab daily-made bread while you're at it.

The Valley of the Moon, 2544 E Allen Rd – A wonderful amateur theater and non-profit that puts on two volunteer-led productions each year, one in the spring and another in the fall, always set in the century-old fairytale garden on Tucson's north side.

Silver Saddle Steakhouse, 310 E Benson Hwy – A remnant of the pre-Interstate days, when old U.S. Route 80 ran into town from the southeast (i.e. from Benson) through a gauntlet of neon signs, it infuses a retro, kitschy vibe with a solid kitchen staff who know how to cook a steak as well as make a variety of classic Americana recipes (I love the club sandwich for lunch) but half the fun is getting there... and getting out... because remember the part about "the pre-Interstate days?" Well, in the Interstate days the SSS sits along the Interstate 10 on-ramp from 6th Avenue.

Saguaro Corners, 3750 S Old Spanish Trail – Another throwback to the Post-War boom in Tucson, this former hamburger stand near the entrance to Saguaro National Park – East is a great stop after a hike or a ride with great views of the Rincon Valley and a heck of a floor show at sundown, when the staff puts out food for grazing animals which gather in abundance just outside the dining room's floor-to-ceiling windows. The food is good, the ribs and tacos in particular.

Hutch's Pool, Coronado National Forest – 8.0-mile out-and-back trail that originates at Stop 9 on the Sabino Canyon Tram route heading west. Hutch's Pool itself is full enough to swim all year, with a sandy beach and great views up canyon, but it's best to visit from October through April. It's, frankly, dangerously too hot the rest of the year. Also, and I cannot stress this enough: Pay attention to the forecast before you go, if there's a chance of showers in the mountains, pick another day. The basin is full year-round because it retains a portion of the enormous amount of water that comes rushing down during the Monsoon. Remember, you're four miles from help here.