This year they’re ditching the bowtie and bringing in the bright lights and glamour of Las Vegas.
The El Rio Community Health Center is throwing their Vecinos Block Party in downtown Tucson from 7 – 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 21.
If it’s samples from over 30 local restaurants and breweries you’re craving — this is the place to be.
That’s not all that’s going on during the event, though. Several vendors, dueling pianos, a photo booth, beer garden, casino games, and live music fill the Jácome Plaza.
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General Admission is $85 per person and that includes six drink tickets, food samplings, and other entertainment.
Take a look at the food vendors that are setting up shop this year. It may be wise to create a list so that you’re sure to visit the restaurants you’d like to try before you’re stuffed to the brim.
Participating Food Vendors
Beyond Bread
TBA
Brother John’s Beer, Bourbon & BBQ
Miscellaneous barbecue meats
Charro Del Rey
Meatballs and grilled vegetables
Charro Steak
TBA
Charro Vida
TBA
Chef Chic
German Cheese Sauced Meat Slider and German potato salad
El Charro Restaurant
Chips, guacamole, and a salsa bar
HUB Restaurant & Creamery
Mac n’ Cheese
Kingfisher
Cajun Fried Shrimp with cocktail sauce
La Indita
TBA
Living Room
Mini Chilaquiles with creme fraiche, jack, and salsa verde
North Italia
Margarita Pizza and the Pig Pizza
OBON Sushi Bar Ramen
Tuna Poke Bowls
Penca
Esquites with Coffee Rubbed Pork
Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink
Tomato Burrata with basil oil
Renee’s Organic OvenÂ
Bruschetta with tomato, basil, mozzarella, and crostini
Sauce Pizza and Wine
Meatball sliders, caprese sliders, and pumpkin and espress cannolis
Tavolino Ristorante
Crostini with roasted salmon, carrots, red onion, celery, bell pepper, potato, green beans
Bonet with chocolate custard and caramel
Vivace
Salata Salad
If you’re in the mood to try a new brew — the Vecinos Block Party’s got you covered.
This year’s beer garden has more than 10 local, regional breweries and out-of-towners, so there’s plenty to taste with some of your closest friends.
Participating Breweries
Barrio Brewing Company
Black Rock Brewers
Borderlands Brewing Company
Buqui Bichi Brewing Company
Catalina Brewing Company
Crooked Tooth Brewing Company
Dillinger Brewing Company
Dragoon Brewing Company
Firestone Walker
Four Peaks Brewing Company
Modern Times Brewing Company
Pueblo Vida Brewing Company
Uncle Bears Brewery
With each ticket sold, the proceeds will help support El Rio Children’s Dental Programs and provide emergency dental care services for kids in Tucson.
Aside from the great food and bubbly brews, there’s going to be other alcoholic beverages and dessert as well.
Participating Bars & Distributors
Cobra Arcade
Codigo Tequila
Elliot’s on Congress
Finley Distributing Company
Gentle Ben’s Brewing
Heineken
Hensley Beverage Company
High Wire
Playground Bar and Lounge
Participating Dessert Vendors
Casino Del Sol
Cupcakes
HUB Ice Cream Factory
Various flavors of ice cream
Frost
Gelato
Fria Ice Cream Truck
Various flavors of ice cream
Jácome Plaza is located downtown at 101 N. Stone Ave. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit elriovecinos.com.
At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.