There are just too many great places in Tucson to fit into one post last week, so this is the follow up. Some of these are recommendations from friends in town who know the cool stuff, and some of these recommendations are those friends.

1. Jessica Wills Photography

Along with being a lovely lady friend from the best high school class ever (Hi Dr Draper!), Mrs Wills has an awesome eye, and can photograph the hell outta any puppy, wedding or other life form. Her stuff is gorgeous and endearing, and my favorites are her nature shots. Her photos make me want to go back to Costa Rica now.

2. Tucson Tamale Company

Man, do I miss this place. The Tucson Tamale Company has some of the most inventive and delicious tamales I have ever shoved in my face, and I have shoved a lot of tamales in my face. The ingredients range from soy chorizo and green chilies to Thanksgiving tamales, stuffed with roasted turkey and cranberries. They ship, luckily, and you still have time to get your hands on them before the holidays. I know it’s off-season, but the green corn tamales are my favorite. Hint hint, mom.

3. Chocolate Depot

From what I hear, this place has some of the most delicious chocolate covered caramels this side of the Mississippi. I used to go to this little shop when I was in high school and would make my friends take old-timey photos at Trail Dust Town. It’s not fancy and there are often little grubby hands leaving fingerprints on the glass cases. The shop is in the Trail Dust Town complex, adding to the fun of shopping in the store, and I am excited to get back to Tucson and do my research on these caramels I keep hearing about..

4. Carly Quinn Tile Designs

Carly worked with my mom a few years ago when my parents re-did their kitchen, and mom hasn’t stopped talking about her since. The work that she does is beautiful, and feels like Arizona, without the normal pastel-coyote-howling-at-the-moon thing. Her work is modern and colorful and unique. I need to find an excuse to get those Dia de los Muertos skeletons.

 

Again, I don’t live in Tucson anymore. I just miss it a lot. If you know of anything I am missing, please let me know!