Of course, my winner was (guess what) fish tacos at Kitchen 86.

This is not fast food. It says so right on the sign. It took 20 minutes to get a heaping helping of beer-battered flaky fish and superior sauce with an excellent tortilla.

For dinner, six of us, led by the famed Wisconsin Cheesehead and foodie Danielle Gay, creator of The Traveling Cheesehead, dined at BATA, one of the original farm-to-table restaurants.

Its prix fixe $65 menu had dishes traipsing out of the kitchen, like locally grown beets and squash, and seafood from San Diego. You won't eat the same old salad or main dish because each course is a surprise.

BUT WHAT ABOUT PROSECCO?

Think Jojo's. Located in a fascinating old adobe area of Tucson. The murals throughout the neighborhood have a Diego Rivera appeal. One of my best surprises was their smorgasbord of vegetables, such as crispy carrots and mushrooms. And, of course, prosecco.

I topped off the culinary safari at the Century Room attached to Hotel Congress, which gives nostalgia a good name. I made it for an open mic night. And I heard local artists that weren't so local. One coming from Manhattan, the other a powerhouse belter Feliz Torralba, supporting the venue's reputation as a top US jazz club.

Yep, another prosecco down the hatch. (OK, two.)

Animal Encounters

I MET A SOULMATE AT THE REID ZOO.

Monday morning was a family affair as my husband and I enjoyed The Reid Park Zoo, a conservationist's dream. If you have your reservations about zoos, as I do, this is one where you can genuinely set your worries aside. The zoo staff engage with the animals but never turn them into performers. All encounters are based on the animals' natural habits, giving them more chances to live as they would in the wild.

It was a thrill to add to a hippo's happiness by scratching its back. But nothing compared to my new best friend, the giraffe, with his blue snake-like tongue, happy to nosh on any carrot I offered.

My soul mate loved posing for the camera with me. I swear the giraffe smiled for its close-up.

ANIMAL CONSERVATIONISTS TAKE HEART.

The Reid Park Zoo has everything you would expect: a carousel, areas arranged by location, exotic birds, and the big five. It also offers something more. Reid has partnered with SAFE (Save Animals From Extinction), Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, The Audubon Society, and other animal advocacy associations. Reid is the proper zoo to turn your grandchild's (and your) love of animals into an educational and endearing experience.

A Brush with the Stars

IS THE PLANATARIUM YOUR HAPPY PLACE?

Since childhood, Planetariums have fascinated me. Somehow, I settle into a comfort zone, reclining under its dark dome, staring at a zodiac of stars as a soothing voice describes the universe's enormity. At the Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, I found all this and a surprising number of engaging exhibits unusually compelling for a nonscientist like me.

I finally understood black holes, and shark behavior and saw the largest scale model of the surface of Mars. The center offers views of Saturn from a powerful telescope. But what truly fascinated me were the games and interactive opportunities for deep learning that made science fun.

NEXT, CULTURE VULTURING IN TUCSON.

I look forward to visiting many of Tucson's diverse museums. I have already started with visits to the Museum of Contemporary Art.

MOCA is a small museum gem that features interactive art and sound installations.

The Tucson Musicians Museum hidden in the Convention Center

The Musician's Museum opened my eyes to new jazz, blues, and classical performers from the Southwest.

Next time, I'll visit rooting-tooting Old Tucson with cowboy stunt shows and the OK Corral, the famous gunfight site where Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday fought it out to the death. Stay tuned for more of Tucson and its many surprises.