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Published: 01.14.2007
Experience Tucson's B&Bs
You can tour six Downtown, UA-area inns and sample their foods for a
good cause
By Joan F. Barrett
Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Tasty tidbits, historic homes and door prizes await those who tour six
locally owned and operated bed and breakfast inns Saturday.
Adobe Rose Inn, The Big Blue House, Catalina Park Inn Bed & Breakfast,
Peppertrees B&B Inn, The Royal Elizabeth Bed & Breakfast Inn and Sam
Hughes Inn have teamed up to open their doors for A Taste of Tucson's
Bed & Breakfast Inns, a fundraiser for UApresents, a partner in the
event.
UApresents brings performing arts from around the world to Tucson and
Southern Arizona.
The inns' location, in historic Downtown or University of Arizona
neighborhoods, made UApresents a natural for the benefit, according to
Chuck Bressi, who owns and operates The Royal Elizabeth with Jeff
DiGregorio.
"We definitely recognize that the arts community is a market that enjoys
the B&B experience," says Bressi. The event is the brainchild of Bressi,
DiGregorio and Jim and Marion Hook, owners and operators of the Adobe
Rose Inn.
Marion Hook considers the tour an opportunity to introduce ticket
holders to the special ambience of each establishment. The Adobe Rose,
built as a home in 1933, shows off desert landscaping just east of
campus in the Sam Hughes Neighborhood.
Inside, Southwest décor mixes with antiques, such as a barrister's
bookcase from Pennsylvania. Architectural details include an 8-foot-high
green-and-gold stained glass window, likely installed in 1976.
Sam Hughes Inn, which offers lodging in the same neighborhood, went up
as a private home in 1931. Its exterior displays a Mediterranean design,
complete with red-tiled roof, and a brick sunken garden at the rear.
Three of the participating inns — The Big Blue House, Catalina Park Inn
and Peppertrees Inn — stand in the West University Neighborhood.
The Big Blue House Tucson's newest B&B, opened its doors last January. Tucson's Ronstadt family built the Queen Anne-style house with solid redwood in 1900. A high porch surrounds the Cape-Cod-blue structure, which still has its original maple floors and woodwork.
Four houses with a central garden contribute to the Peppertrees Inn. The
houses vary in size, are 15 to 105 years old, and feature Parisian,
Southwestern, Mexican or traditional European décor.
At the Catalina Park Inn, original artwork by local artists provides a
contemporary touch to the 1927 home. Mexican mahogany doors, crown
moldings and oak floors also enrich the interior.
Built in 1878, the Royal Elizabeth Inn stands Downtown in the Armory
Park Neighborhood. The Victorian interior features 17-foot-high
ceilings; California fir, brought by covered wagon and carved on site;
and myriad antique furnishings in excellent condition. (See today's
Accent section for more on the Royal Elizabeth and the couple behind
it.)
"Each of the inns will be showing off in small bites what they do for
their breakfast," notes David Scott Allen, UApresents director of
development. For example, participants can expect strawberry bisque at
the Royal Elizabeth and Irish oatmeal with maple cream and homemade
banana ice cream at the Adobe Rose.
● Contact Tucson freelance writer Joan F. Barrett at jbarrett2@mindspring.com.
Jim Hook
» If you go
What: A Taste of Tucson's Bed & Breakfast Inns, a tour of six Downtown
and University of Arizona-area B&B's with food, gift bag and door
prizes.
When: Noon to about 4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Meet at Centennial Hall on the UA campus at noon for free
transport to inns.
Tickets: Limited; available through UApresents, 621-3341.
Cost: $35 general public, $30 UApresents subscribers; proceeds benefit
UApresents.
Participating Inns: Adobe Rose Inn,
www.aroseinn.com ; The Big Blue House
www.144university.com ;
Catalina Park Inn Bed & Breakfast,
www.catalinaparkinn.com ;
Peppertrees B&B Inn,
www.peppertreesinn.com The Royal Elizabeth Bed & Breakfast
Inn, www.royalelizabeth.com
Sam Hughes Inn,
www.samhughesinn.com .
Information: Jill Becker, 626-5440.
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Attention Tucson bed and breakfast owners and managers; Please be aware of a Washington State man named: Randall Marriott, Federal Way, Washington.Randall Marriott made a reservation and then tried to cancel only two days prior. When we explained the cancellation policy to Randall Marriott be went totally crazy. He threatened us with legal action as well as physical violence. He actually acted like a 10 year old child, threw a temper tantrum and sent several emails that sounded more like trailer trash instead of any sort of business person. Below is a quote from his communication. Randall Marriott actually made it clear that the loss of $300 would ruin his life. He said he comes to Tucson often and we feel it is our responsibility to warn fellow B&B operators of this persons childish way of handling himself. Randall Marriott is extremely immature and be careful when dealing with him.
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