Three new local shops have arrived in the MSA Annex at the Mercado District this year: La Bella Luna Boutique, Desierto Books and Ortense. Arianna Luna opened La Bella Luna Boutique about two months ago. She helped run a store called The Underestimated City (TUC) for 12 years prior with a business partner and finally had the opportunity to start her own.

A new literary haven is preparing to make its debut in Tucson, offering book lovers a chance to explore and purchase rare, new and used books with a unique focus on the Southwest.  Desierto Books, set to open at the MSA Annex at the end of March, is the brainchild of local book enthusiast Cheron Taylor, whose vision is to create a space where the community can connect with both the written word and the cultural tapestry of the region.

Tucson’s coffee scene is getting some global recognition. Savaya Coffee Market and Presta Coffee Roasters have landed spots on The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops — an international ranking that highlights top-notch cafés from across the globe.

Tucson’s known for natural wonders. But for snowbirds after a different side of the Southwest, the dynamic downtown is emerging as a destination in its own right. Come winter, streams of snow-weary northerners pack their flip-flops and pickleball paddles and make for the Sonoran Desert.

Giovanni Zoppe tried life outside of the family business. The charismatic circus entertainer briefly built trusses for homes. “I did that for three weeks and I decided I couldn’t do it anymore,” Zoppe said. “It was boring. It was so monotonous. I was doing the same thing every day. I needed something else.”

When it comes to nightlife, the inner city of Tucson offers plenty to do. The city’s size can leave some people feeling disconnected from the action, but when you look deeper than the surface, you will be able to find the fun in Tucson. 

As legend has it, French street performer and clown Napoline Zoppé wandered into a plaza in Hungary when he spotted equestrian ballerina Ermenegilda. Just like that, he was in love.

“The most important thing to know about our show is that it is an intimate family experience,” circus co-director Jeanette Prince-Zoppé told the Tucson Sentinel. “Of course it’s entertaining, but more than that, it’s a story. And it’s a piece of art and history and a legacy that is seven generations deep. And all of that is brought forth into our intimate home-like setting.”

The 35th annual All Souls Procession took place on Nov. 3. The event started at Speedway and Grande Avenue, where participants then walked south to MSA Annex for the ceremonial burning of the urn. The All Souls Procession is an event where anyone can come and grieve their passed loved ones, and celebrate life in a shared, inclusive community space.

November 1 kicks off Tucson’s All Souls Weekend, a warm up for the 35th annual All Souls Procession. The kickoff event is the first night of a dance party concert series, Dance of the Dead. Six performers, two based in Tucson, took the stage to celebrate with “music with emotional depth combined with raw dancefloor grit.”