Life Along The Streetcar

Before Margaret Mullin led Ballet Tucson, she helped clean its studios as a work-scholarship student. Today, she guides the organization where she trained—a full-circle Tucson story rooted in opportunity, determination, and a lifelong love of dance. In Episode 399 of Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with Ballet Tucson’s Artistic Director as the company celebrates its 40th anniversary....

Artists help bring downtowns to life. How do we make sure they can afford to stay? WAMO Executive Director Chris Leighton and curator Paul Gold join Tom Heath to explore the spaces, people, and partnerships supporting Tucson’s arts community—and preview A Gorgeous Excitement 2026 at Steinfeld Gallery. Chris shares the thinking behind the Warehouse Arts Management Organization’s mission to keep art...

When businesses were leaving downtown Tucson, Kathy and Fiore Iannacone were moving in. Beginning in the early 1980s, the couple brought their New York roots, Italian cooking, and entrepreneurial spirit to a downtown still searching for its next chapter. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, they join Tom Heath to share the stories behind restaurants including Old Pueblo Eatery, Cafe Renais...

DJ Jahmar grew up surrounded by reggae music, but his family’s connection to Tucson’s music scene goes much deeper than the records he plays today. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, Jahmar shares the story of his father, Dennis Francis — better known as Papa Ranger — who helped establish a reggae community in Tucson through radio, live performances, concerts, and the 12 Tribes reggae sh...

Singer-songwriter Aivila is one of the newer voices finding a place in Tucson’s music community. Originally from Houston, Aivila talks with Tom Heath about moving to Tucson, connecting with the local music scene, and building a sound that draws from pop, R&B and soul. She shares the story behind her debut album, Reflection, which traces the emotional arc of a relationship from connection through h...

Groundworks Tucson is giving young musicians and artists more than a place to perform — it is giving them a chance to help shape the creative community around them. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath talks with Logan Greene, one of the founders and current director of Groundworks Tucson. Logan shares how his own roots in Tucson’s music scene, along with his experience as a musi...

For 40 years, Children’s Museum Tucson has been creating a place where kids can explore, experiment, imagine and learn through play. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with executive director Hilary Van Alsburg to look at the museum’s history, its role in downtown Tucson and how the organization continues to grow while remaining rooted in the urban core. Hilary shares...

Mr. Bing is creating entertainment experiences designed to make people feel as though they have stepped out of the 21st century and into another era. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with the Tucson producer and creative visionary behind Mr. Bing’s After Dark, an old-Hollywood lounge experience at the Leo Kent Hotel featuring live music, tableside magic and vintage...

Chandler Warden’s connection to Tucson began during childhood summers at Tanque Verde Ranch and eventually grew into a lifelong commitment to the Old Pueblo. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with Chandler to explore the story of his grandfather, Bert W. Martin, and the family foundation that continues his legacy of philanthropy. Chandler shares how Bert Martin rose...

Chef Gary Hickey has been part of Tucson’s restaurant story for more than three decades. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with Gary for a wide-ranging conversation about food, survival, hospitality, family, and the community built around Tucson’s restaurant scene. Gary shares how he first found his way into the kitchen as a teenager, the early restaurant jobs that s...

This week on Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with three of Tucson’s standout muralists — Jessica Gonzales, Camila Ibarra, and Pen Macias — to discuss their collaborative mural, “Threads of Tucson, Woven by Women.” Located in the El Presidio neighborhood, the mural celebrates the women, traditions, cultures, and communities that have helped shape Tucson’s story. Jessica, Camila, and P...

This week on Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with Sofia Perez and Darlene Ollada from the Fox Tucson Theatre, winners of the inaugural Streetcar Cocktail Competition. Their winning cocktail, La Luz, tells a Tucson story through coffee, creativity, and a deep connection to the urban core. Sofia and Darlene share how the drink came together, from early failed experiments to the final a...

This week on Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with Dean Howard, the namesake behind Dean’s Public House on Fourth Avenue. Dean shares his Tucson story, from arriving as a child and falling in love with orange blossoms, sunshine, and lizards, to discovering the service industry through Mama’s Pizza and eventually helping transform Trackside into Dean’s Public House. The conversation ex...

This week on Life Along the Streetcar, Tom Heath sits down with Matt August, the Kasser Family Artistic Director of Arizona Theatre Company — Arizona’s official state theater. From Broadway and Madison Square Garden to Tucson’s historic Temple of Music and Art, Matt shares the journey that brought him to Southern Arizona and how ATC continues to produce nationally recognized theater right here in...

In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we sit down with Tucson-based artist Angela Solis as part of our “Meet the Artist” collaboration with the Tucson Gallery. Angela shares her journey from growing up in the Sonoran Desert to traveling the world—and ultimately returning home to reconnect with her roots. Drawing inspiration from nature, family heritage, and the expansive energy of the deser...

What starts with a few dance moves can turn into something much bigger. In this episode of Meet the Artist, we sit down with Brian Dahl, better known as The Guy Who Dances on Congress—a local creative who’s turned energy, movement, and connection into a growing brand across Tucson. From dancing at Hotel Congress to collaborating with local businesses, launching products, and even creating his own...

In this episode we collaborate with the Tucson Gallery and present Meet the Artist. Host Tom Heath sits down with Tucson-based artist Victor Navarro for an engaging conversation about creativity, culture, and the journey that shapes an artist’s work. Victor shares insights into his artistic process, the experiences that have influenced his style, and how his work connects to both local and interna...

Tucson muralist Ignacio Garcia returns to Life Along the Streetcar to share what he’s been working on since his last visit, when we discussed the unveiling of his massive Los Vaqueros mural celebrating 100 years of Tucson rodeo history. In this first part of our conversation, Ignacio gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process, the research and emotion that go into each of his murals...

What happens when you dedicate an entire radio show to music made right here in Arizona? This week on Life Along the Streetcar, Tom sits down with Hope and Bo — the voices behind The Arizona 411, Downtown Radio Tucson’s program devoted exclusively to Arizona-made music. Since launching the show, they’ve spotlighted hundreds of artists from across the state — from Tucson’s hip-hop roots to indie ro...

Downtown Tucson is shaking things up—and this episode is proof that the rising tide truly raises all ships. 🌊 This week on Life Along the Streetcar, host Tom Heath sits down with two of Tucson’s influential hospitality entrepreneurs: Billy Elliott of Elliott’s on Congress and Brendan Scott of John Henry’s and the recently renamed Dean’s Public House, to talk about their exciting new venture—Stage...

📅 Original Air Date: January 2026 📻 As heard on Downtown Radio 99.1 FM & DowntownRadio.org This week on Life Along the Streetcar, we’re tipping our hats to one of Tucson’s most iconic events — the Tucson Rodeo Parade! 🤠 Host Tom Heath chats with Herb Wagner, a dedicated volunteer and local historian who’s been involved with the parade since the 1980s. Herb takes us back to the origins of this u...

Tucson photographer Steven Meckler joins Life Along the Streetcar to talk about photography, storytelling, and life in downtown Tucson. Living and working in the urban core since the early 1980s, Meckler has documented Tucson’s makers, musicians, architects, and cultural moments with an eye for narrative and environment. In this conversation, host Tom Heath explores how Meckler approaches environm...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Krystal Popov, founder of FuturePreneur, we explore how her hands-on business kits and upcoming FuturePreneur Live event are helping kids—starting as young as seven—discover their creativity, confidence, and entrepreneurial spark. Krystal shares how parents and children learn together, why real-world skills matter, and what families can expect at the February Fut...

Krystal Popov joins us for Part 1 of a fascinating two-part interview. As the founder of Proper Shops and now the powerhouse behind FuturePreneur, Krystal shares her journey from engineer to entrepreneur — and her passion for making business dreams accessible to all, especially kids. FuturePreneur is a movement: hands-on business kits for youth aged 7–14 that teach real-world entrepreneurship thro...

We're shifting gears this week and diving into a major topic that’s shaping Downtown Tucson’s future — affordable homeownership and urban density. Host Tom Heath sits down with Louis Parrish of United Realty Specialists to explore a new condo development project that could transform the residential landscape in the heart of the city. Whether you're a real estate enthusiast, a hopeful homeowner, or...