Barrio Books

Barrio BooksAn abundance of booksBarrio Books is the only bilingual woman-owned bookstore in Tucson, AZ. We specialize in carrying literature from Latinx authors as well as other BIPOC authors. We dedicate ourselves to serving the Tucson community by providing a space where our customers can find representation in the books they read. Barrio Books began as a pop-up vendor, going to different events throughout Tucson and the surrounding areas. In January, we were fortunate to have a partnership with Hotel McCoy who provided our first Brick and Mortar location rent-free. We are currently working on our bookmobile in order to have an easier and more efficient way of getting more literature into our neighborhoods.

Representation Matters

SYRENA AREVALO-TRUJILLO
Selfie of Syrena at Barrio Books

I am a native Tucsonan and a graduate of the University of Arizona. Throughout the years, I have been involved in organizations throughout the community that focuses on Social Justice and Cultural enrichment.

Tucson is such a diverse city and so incredibly supportive. We saw that first opening at our Brick and Mortar location! There were so many people that came in rooting for Barrio Books to succeed. And so many others that were eager to learn and devour the literature that we sell. Even today, there are still so many people so excited to come in and take in the unique vibes of Barrio Books.

Barrio Books MerchRepresentation for Latinx peoples is incredibly important in all mediums, especially literature.  Barrio Books is a way to get books out to people in the community who have no idea where they can find books that reflect them and their unique journey through life. This is especially important for young readers. Books that have characters who look like them, eat the same foods, or go through the same obstacles can really lure them into wanting more books and in turn, create lifelong readers!

 

“Quickly has become one of my favorite bookstores in town. Syrena has been extremely kind and helpful when it comes to helping me find rare Latinx-focused books, and I am very grateful for all the wonderful finds!” -Luis Silva

COMPANY NAME: BARRIO BOOKS

OFFICE ADDRESS:
HOTEL MCCOY
720 W SILVERLAKE #302
TUCSON AZ, 85713

WEBSITE: BARRIOBOOKS520.COM
CONTACT NAME: SYRENA AREVALO-TRUJILLO

Kristi Frank – American Family Insurance

Kristi Frank American Family Insurance Office Tucson AZ
Kristi Frank American Family Insurance Office Tucson AZ

Kristi Frank – American Family Insurance

Kristi Frank Agency, INC.

4319 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85711
Office: 520-323-0017
Fax: 855-383-8085
Website
E-Mail: kfrank@amfam.com
24-Hour Claims Reporting: 800-374-1111

I’ve known Kristi Frank for years and she always has been someone in the community I respect and trust. And my clients, they can’t say enough about her. From the minute they walk in and meet her and her associates, they know the experience is going to be different. Everyone is friendly and professional at Kristi Frank’s office.

My clients have told me that they appreciate how Kristi cares enough to really examine their entire financial situation before offering her services. Best of all, she usually gets them more insurance and still saves them money. She has done the same for me.

Whether it’s home owners insurance, renters insurance, flood insurance, auto insurance, an umbrella policy or a combination, you should at least give her a call and see what she can do for you.

Kristi Frank American Family Insurance
Kristi Frank American Family Insurance

I know that when you meet Kristi, you’ll feel at ease about discussing and disclosing personal information with her. You will also get an overwhelming sense that she genuinely cares about you and your needs. You’ll know immediately that she is someone on your side and someone you can trust.

You’ll be sending me an email with a big thank you.
A small gift would be nice too, just saying LOL

The legal stuff:
©2005 American Family Mutual Insurance Co. and its Subsidiaries
Home Office – Madison, WI 53783

Feel Good Fitness Tucson

Image of FeelGood Fitness group

The FeelGood Fitness Tucson community supports one another in developing an overall sense of well-being while maximizing joy through fitness. We offer fun outdoor fitness classes designed for people of all ages and abilities. Our community prides itself in being an all-inclusive, authentic, energetic, safe, and caring community that is 100% body-positive and LGBTQA+ friendly. FeelGood Fitness HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes in public parks include a full-body workout that incorporates strength training, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. FeelGood Fitness Coach Antonio Rubio offers expert training, support, accountability, and inspiration to help his clients meet their personal goals. “I am committed to serving others and cultivating a judgment-free community of fitness friends.”

FeelGood Fitness Tucson Formation

FeelGood Fitness Tucson came to being at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coach Tony was laid off from his job as a Personal Trainer & Group Fitness Instructor at a local gym that is now permanently closed called the Nerd Gym. Once Coach Antonio realized that the pandemic affected his community’s mental, physical, and social health, he leaped into action. He invested his life savings into FeelGood Fitness Tucson, and he created a safe outdoor fitness space where people can feel connected to the community and enhance their emotional, physical, and social well-being in a time that our community needed it the most.

Image of Coach Tony and 2 clients from Feel Good FitnessCoach Antonio is super passionate about providing space for people that the fitness industry typically underserves. He also is passionate about cultivating community. “I am a Tucson native, and my community here in Tucson has always provided space for me in some of my lowest and darkest periods of life. It is comforting to know that we have the power to create a family through community. If it weren’t for my community, I would not be the person I am today. We all deserve to take up space, feel loved, appreciated, and valued. I try my very best to give that feeling to everyone that comes to my classes or utilizes any of my services.”

There is no other fitness space in Tucson like FeelGood Fitness. Coach Antonio is one of a kind and will inspire you to be the best version of you.

If you are interested in services, you may contact Coach Antonio himself via email feelgooodfitnesstucson@gmail.com or call (520) 358-1264. Tell him Tony Ray at GayTucson sent you : )

FeelGood Fitness Tucson membership flyer

Client Reviews

Joining Feel Good Fitness was the best decision I could’ve made for me and my health this year. Since working with coach Antonio I’ve gained many positive habits, and met many awesome people along the way. It’s only week four of my 12 Week Program and my body is already transforming. Previous to starting I had a shoulder injury that required surgery, but after strength training I may not need it anymore and that is such an exciting thing for me! Every session is full of laughs, positivity and hard work, I look forward to my time spent with coach Antonio, he is the best and his dedication to all of us is beyond admirable.” -Deij Jimenez

“There is so much I could say about this one man wonder. Antonio is a true light of positivity bringing happiness, wellness, and health to Tucson. He is extremely driven by his clients success, and is hyper-focused on YOUR goals. Antonio is able to cater to whatever physical needs you may have. He creates personalized workouts, that he shares with you after your personal session so you can go home and continue the progress you have started!! I have never met anyone like him, he is truly changing the Tucson fitness community one client at a time.

If you have gone from personal trainer to personal trainer, gym to gym, maybe not seeing results, not hearing the things you want to hear, please reach out because he is seriously unlike no other. I have personally been on my fitness journey for 4 years, and have never felt so motivated and cared for by someone who I am simply a client for. Much love for FeelGood Fitness Tucson.” -Kayla Stegner

Southern Arizona Psychology

Southern Arizona Psychology
Southern Arizona Psychology
Bryce Paradis, MA, started Southern Arizona Psychology after years of professional experience working with children, young adults, and adults in diverse settings. Ranging from private practice consultations to community mental health and professional athletics. Bryce, a South Dakota native, has resided in Southern Arizona since 2015. Bryce’s background in Freudian psychotherapy has been integrated into the treatment of protocols in private practice, community mental health, professional athletic organizations, and family medical practices and training programs.
Southern AZ Psych
Bryce Paradis, MA
Bryce has received extensive training in improving the lives of individuals experiencing various areas of mental and emotional discomfort or distress. As a master’s level professional Bryce has years of professional experience working with individuals who experience moderate to severe mental health issues struggle with addiction and life/functional difficulties in response to personal trauma. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Bryce provides first-hand knowledge and understanding of the struggles that the community faces in his clinical practice and interventions.

The Mission

Southern Arizona Psychology operates with the mission and goal of providing patients with top-of-the-line mental health services. Your well-being is the number one priority. Southern Arizona Psychology goes above and beyond to cater to the needs of every client with gold standard personalized services. Services provided by Southern Arizona Psychology include couples coaching, individual coaching, family coaching, and athletic performance/mental health coaching. Emotional and behavioral issues are addressed by guiding patients every step of the way and implementing various methods to help individuals develop new attitudes towards all of life’s most complex matters. The goal of the process is to solve current problems and improve positive thinking and behavior. I will help you “re-frame” your reactions and provide you with valuable tools to cope with life’s obstacles.
Southern AZ Psych exterior
Southern AZ Psych exterior
Personal growth and the cultivation of self (self-discovery, self-worth, and self-esteem) is paramount to Southern Arizona Psychology’s practice. It is our mission to provide our clients with tools, emotional regulation, and positive self-worth to lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.

Contact

Southern AZ Psych Logo
Company Name: Southern Arizona Psychology, LLC Office Address: 183 W. Broadway, Tucson AZ 85701 (Downtown Tucson & Via Zoom) Contact Name (s): Bryce Paradis, MA Phone: (424) 234-9591 Pricing: $80 – $100 per session (sliding scale available based on income and/or economic hardship). Website: www.southernAZpsych.com Office hours: 7 Days a week based on appointment availability
Southern AZ Pych Services Graphic
Southern AZ Pychology Services

Creatively Queer Press

creatively queer press logoHave you ever felt seen, valued, or important? Here at Creatively Queer Press, we want everyone to experience that feeling through the media they consume. We’ve seen in popular media that many people in the LGBTQ+ or BIPOC communities lack representation with accuracy or empathy if represented at all. Our mission as a publishing company is to change that. We look to media for versions of ourselves and for visions of who we could be. If we don’t see ourselves represented then our dreams can feel limited, or at worst, discouraged. Diversity is something we believe should be visible and celebrated.

The Media

Cuentos CoverOne of our first publications does that for the queer Latinx community: Cuentos. This bilingual Latinx mythology art anthology came to fruition by our Creatively Queer Press team. With the help of two dozen queer Latinx artists and writers. Every entry is a painting or illustration about a myth, legend, or creature from folklore. The artworks are accompanied by either fiction or non-fiction writing about the subject in both Spanish and English. Through Cuentos our founder Luis Silva discovered our first editor for the CQP team: A. Dante Bravo. Originally a contributing artist and writer, Dante took on the task of editing the book layout and running the Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the print books of Cuentos. To help finish Cuentos, our second editor Joelle Blot was also invited to join us on the book’s publishing journey. Together our team of three queer creators works to share our books all across the town of Tucson, AZ, and far beyond. By collaborating with queer and POC creatives from all over the world, Creatively Queer Press strives to create and publish accessible entertainment for fans of all genres of comic books, art anthologies, gaming books, and so much more. We are also working towards building an animation team to help us create groundbreaking animated films that serve our mission of inclusive representation. We invite everyone who values diversity to discover a new favorite on our website at www.creativelyqueerpress.com

The Tucson Museum of Art

the Tucson Museum of Art
Kasser Family Wing of Latin American Art exterior
The Tucson Museum of Art has been a leader in the fine arts and education in Southern Arizona for nearly a century. It was established in 1924 and is in Tucson’s historic downtown and moved to its current location in 1975. TMA features permanent and traveling exhibitions of Modern and Contemporary, Indigen
Patrick Martinez work at the Tucson Museum of Art
Patrick Martinez’ neon signs on view in the Kasser Family Wing of Latin American Art
ous, American West, Latin American, European, and Asian art. The museum resides on a four-acre campus, and its exhibits and arts education programs are central to its mission. In addition, the museum hosts events serves as a steward of five historic properties and has a 6,800-square-foot art education center and research library. It has a permanent collection of over 12,000 works spanning continents, centuries, and media.
TMA
View of the gallery for Latin American Folk Art
The museum will take you on a journey through art, history, and culture and with artwork ranging from ancient to contemporary, there is something for everyone! Thousands of lives have been enriched by the museum’s programs and exhibitions including: an award-winning outreach program serving Tucson’s refugee community, robust k-12 programs, one of the state’s longest-running biennial exhibitions, public programs, and lifelong learning programs like TMALearn! Docents. The museum provides numerous opportunities to connect and engage with the arts and local community, such as free First Thursday and Second SundAZe, lecture series, annual spring and fall artisans market, youth studio programs, K-12 field trips, and more!
The Tucson Museum of Art Summer Camp Class
Teacher leading a group of students during summer camp

Reviews 

“This place is a quiet gem. It was so much more than what we expected. Masterful artworks on careful display. I’m no art expert but I found this museum to be an excellent way to spend a relaxing few hours. Although as an introvert I found myself exhausted after exploring the many displays. Go if you haven’t been!  We also enjoyed salad for lunch at the attached café.” Paul H on Yelp 9/27/2021 “The Tucson Museum of Art was a great stop. We took three generations of our family to visit it. The layout of the museum is expansive. We covered a lot of ground (not all of the buildings were open, so we didn’t get to see everything) over a two-hour period. The exhibits on display were definitely thought-provoking and got us talking about topics that may not have come up otherwise. I’m glad we made the trip there for the discussions it invoked. Wear comfortable shoes and plan enough time to really soak everything in!” Karl A on Yelp—1/11/2019
Tucson Museum of Art
North Entrance to TMA
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block Office Address: 140 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701 Contact Name (s): Marianna Pegno Phone (s): 520-624-2333 As of July 1, 2023 the following will go into effect for hours and pricing related to admissions: HOURS Wednesday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm First Thursday of every month 10 am – 8 pm ADMISSION General $15 Senior/ Educator $12 College Students $10 17 and under/ Veterans and Military/ Members – Free TOURS PreK – 12 Student $7 Art-making $5 ($12 total) NOTE: Discounts for College and Senior tours will no longer be offered.

Feast

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Feast Restaurant
3719 E. Speedway
Tucson, AZ  85712
(520) 326-9363
Feast Website

 
Feast Restaurant Diners

 

Locally owned and very gay friendly, this hip little restaurant packs a lot of punch.  I recommend you schedule yourself to dine in at least once a month.  You’ll love the food, atmosphere and the staff.

One of the great things about Feast is that it seems like there is always something different.  That’s because the chef /owner changes the menu each month.   And not to worry, there are a few items that stay the same for those creatures of habit.

Not in the mood to dine in?   How about a nice candle light dinner for you and that special someone at home? Tasteful takeout is Feast’s motto.

They also cater!  I have been at an event catered by Feast.  Definitely a crowd pleaser.  If you have special dietary needs, certain social expectations, a specific culinary palette in mind, talk to Cassandra and she will help you create the perfect menu at the right price.

Here’s some more punch.  Feast restaurant has won best caterer from Best of Tucson, four times.  The food at Feast has also earned accolades from the New York Times and Zagat Guide.

Okay, so go have a great lunch or dinner at Feast.  Let them know you found them on GayTucson.com.

Have fun, Tony Ray

The Window Covering Company

The Window Covering Company
The Window Covering Company

The Window Covering Company

I’ve know Dell for several years and they have always exceeded my clients expectations. For many of my clients they treated every window of their new home.

Now, The Window Covering Company has a full selection of window coverings, almost every brand name possible. And Jason and Dell really know the product. Pair their knowledge of the product with their creative enthusiasm and that’s why I think that they are so good at what they do.

But what makes them great is that they measure and install your window treatments for you and the price is usually lower than the price you would pay at the super “depot” type stores.
It doesn’t get better than that.
Make sure you tell Dell that you heard about him at Gay Tucson.

The Window Covering Company - Logo
The Window Covering Company – Logo

The Window Covering Company

3661 N Campbell pmb 250
Tucson, AZ 85719
contact: Dell De-Lorenzo
(520) 326-4648

The Window Covering Company - Shades

Bob Hunt – Message Therapist

Bob Hunt – Massage Therapist

Massage the way you like it. You describe your needs and I will design a massage to assist with your needs. Your satisfaction is my largest concern. Call Bob in Tucson 760-578-4003. Rates start at $80 per hour. Enjoy Swedish, deep tissue, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage, sports massage or Therapeutic massage. Just want to relax, Lomi Lomi massage is a great way to relax, with long deep strokes up and down the body. Give me a call so I can help!

When we meet we go through where in your body you are in pain or stiff and I will build a massage designed around your needs. I have many different modalities to relieve your pain or stiff neck or back. And there is nothing to lose, on your first experience with me if you do not like the massage, you don’t pay! But that has never happened in my 20 plus years of massage, so give us a call Bob at 760-578-4003!