Hello Tucson! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Zoo’s Pathway to Asia, summer night market, and Bluey paint session + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New exhibit nearing debut: Reid Park Zoo's Pathway to Asia will bring red pandas, Malayan tigers, and Komodo dragons. Construction is close to complete, opening expected by fall after a 0.1 percent sales tax -- read the full story.
Evening market fun: Old Tucson’s Summer Night Markets continue Saturday, June 27, from 6:30 to 10 p.m., with free admission and parking, over 45 local vendors, rides, and music -- see what’s planned.
New parking rates ahead: Parking at Tucson meters will cost more starting July 1, rising from $1 to $1.50 per hour. Park Tucson says enforcement hours remain the same, Mondays through Saturdays -- get the full details.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Desert oasis vibes: Need a breather from errands and asphalt? Agua Caliente Regional Park serves up a legit oasis with a spring-fed pond, shady palms, mellow trails, birdwatching, picnic spots, and a small art center. Bring a book, your binoculars, or that friend who insists saguaros are just trees.
Prickly pick me up: If your yard's giving more beige than Sonoran, swing by Bach's Greenhouse Cactus Nursery for a stroll through greenhouse rows of spiky personalities. Find tough-as-nails natives, pots that actually look good, and friendly advice so your new plant survives its first Tucson summer.
Cute-prize therapy: Kon-Ni-Chi-Claw is a Japanese-inspired claw machine arcade at Tucson Premium Outlets, fully automated and weirdly addictive. Pop in between errands, test your grabber skills, and see if you can score a plush or two before your self-control taps out.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧒 6/25 10am & 1pm: Parent & Child Workshop @ Studio C | Thursday (6/25) at 10:00 AM – Trade the playground meltdown for an hour at Studio C, where you and the kid each glaze a 3x6 gecko tile, cuerda seca style. No experience needed, materials included, and your kiln-fired masterpiece is ready next week. So Tucson, and it doubles as a trivet.
🐾 Wackadoo! It’s Bluey Time @ Poppin' Off Pop Culture Gifts & More | Thursday (6/25) at 3:00 PM – Whether you know Bluey from your kids’ TV takeover or your own guilty binge, this Jay101 paint session at Poppin’ Off turns puppy chaos into a guided, beginner-friendly canvas. For $30 you get supplies, a snack, and bragging rights, plus laughs, color, and fridge-worthy art.
🦎 Desert Reptiles of Arizona @ Miller-Golf Links Library | Friday (6/26) at 10:30 AM – If your HOA newsletter skips what to do when the dog finds a Mojave in the yard, Jeff Servoss of USFWS is unpacking Arizona’s venomous locals. Behavior, myths, first aid, and conservation, plus live specimens in lockable enclosures. Educational, not adrenaline.
🏚 The Addams Family @ Edward B. Berger Performing Arts Center | Friday (6/26) at 3:00 PM – Skip the Speedway crawl and duck into The Berger for a kid-powered take on The Addams Family, creepy, kooky, and delightfully PG. It’s Tucson summer survival at its finest, all AC, live laughs, and a reason to snap in unison with the grandkids.
🏊 Centaur Summer Splash Day @ Academy of Math and Science | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Cool off at Centaur Summer Splash Day, a low-stress family hang with water play, games, snacks, and cold drinks. Kids get soaked, you chat in the shade, and bilingual school tours make it easy to peek behind the curtain of campus life.
🏗 Canstruction Tucson: Build for Hunger 2026 @ Park Place Mall | Saturday (6/27) – Local architects, engineers, builders, and designers face off in a quirky competition, stacking canned goods into jaw-dropping sculptures that fight hunger. Think Jenga, but with beans, rules, and real purpose. It’s peak Tucson, equal parts clever, charitable, and delightfully nerdy.
🎬 The Muppet Movie @ The Loft Cinema | Sunday (6/28) at 9:15 AM – Think you still know all the words to Rainbow Connection? The Muppet Movie returns for Loft Kids Fest with free admission, a new animated short, rainbow glow sticks, and a very Tucson cherry on top, a free Eegees after. Kids cheer, parents nostalgia-brag, everyone wins.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Tucson report Weather forecastToday — High: 108°F — Low: 79°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 108. Heat index values as high as 104. West southwest wind 1 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 79. West wind 2 to 9 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 108°F — Low: 77°F — Precip: 6%
Sunny, with a high near 108. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. This house is wildThis Sabino Springs estate spans two premium view lots in a guard-gated golf community, with nearly an acre of privacy and Catalina Mountain views. The remodeled single-level main home pairs travertine floors, 12-foot ceilings, and a stone fireplace with a detached guest house and a climate-controlled 11-car garage setup. Outdoors, a basketball court, hot tub, and rooftop deck steal the show.
Take a peek inside → |
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