Tucson Gem and Mineral Show: Frontage Road Shows Review (Tucson Gem and Mineral Show)

If you look at these venues individually in the newspaper, shows will sometimes be listed as buyer-only shows. Only half-true. Along the Frontage Road, most shows are unrestricted. And most buyer-only vendors generally sell to the public. If they don’t want to sell to you, you haven’t lost out on anything, and there’s nothing to be fearful, uncomfortable, or embarrassed about. It’s just business, and the vendors would be lucky to have you want to buy their merchandise!

2009 update: Like many shows this year, there's just not that much foot traffic along the Frontage Road. By the same token, Arizona Bead Dog still couldn't find parking and had to pay, but the lots were not full. Seemed like there were a few more food vendors this year than in 2008.

Parking: You can do it one of two ways: $5 parking at the designated areas (about ½ way along the Frontage, which means a lot of walking) or park for free east of the Frontage road, near the Simpson Street venue. It’s at approximately same location as the pay parking in terms of north-south placement, but plan on walking even more. If you only plan to go to the River Park Inn, and have fresh feet, this might be a good option for you. If you plan to make a half-day or day of the Frontage Road venues, pay for the parking.

Tip: The pay lots fill up quickly; try to get there at 10:00 a.m. Don’t park anywhere that says you can’t; the ticket’s not worth it, and the police are on the look-out to give tickets.

Food: Various food vendors are scattered throughout. On the north edge of the Frontage Road venues is a Carl’s Jr. Don’t park there; you’ll be tempted, but it’s not worth the ticket. See individual show reviews below.

Restrooms: Usually available in the hotels, and there are some portable ones scattered around.

Show dates: Although located along one corridor, these shows aren’t all open for the same length of time; they’ll all be open the first and second weekends in February. Some shows close early.

Days Inn (Also called Globe-X; beware, there are several Days Inns in Tucson so make sure you've got the right one).

(Left, shiva lingum stones and Asian art from AMI; center, meteorites from Campo Del Cielo Meteorites; right, quartz crystal from ITA Crystals Brazil; all at the Days Inn show.)

Where: At the Days Inn Hotel, 222 S. Freeway Avenue (the Frontage Road). Closest to the Carl’s Jr. on the corner of the Freeway and Congress Street; Days Inn is the furthest north of the Frontage Road venues.

What: This is a surprisingly nice venue in terms of variety. If you’re looking for an interesting assortment of bead strands, French linens, Moroccan mirrors, various decorative stone spheres, rock slabs as large as adults, emroidered jackets, copper ware, chandeliers with gem crystals, Moroccan fossils, other decors made from stone, finished jewelry, natural sponges, Asian art decor, meteorites, mineral specimens, and other natural stone and mineral items at wholesale prices, you should check out this venue. For example, Arizona Bead Dog saw large deep-purple amethyst clusters for $10/pound; meteorites from Campo Del Cielo ranged from 15 to 30 cents per gram; one large amethyst cluster at Aurora West was $7,000; a 3.5-foot tall stone vase carried a price tag of $1,700, with smaller round vases at $150-$350; and salt candle holders were $4.

2009 reader feedback: Carol F. writes, "Our all time favorite show is Globe X as far as prices, quality and variety."

Food: Pappy's International Food Court is bound to offer something for every taste: breakfast, American, fresh salads, sandwiches, Mexican, Mediterranean, and Indian.

2011 dates: One of the handful of shows to begin the last Thursday in January (the 27th), and runs over 2 weeks, including 3 weekends; its last day is Sunday, February 13th.

(Left, heliodor beryl crystal specimen from MineralWorld; center, coral, turqoise, and shell Tibetan purse from Yuthok Tibetan Crafts & Jewelry; right, antigorite beads from Indus Valley; all at Rapa River.)

What: Completely open to the public. Lots of interesting items here, from African trade beads, clothing, finished turquoise jewelry, and all sorts of trinkets, including stone spheres, pyramids, obelisks, paperweights, carved wood baskets and planters, magnetic jewelry, large and small mineral specimens, and Moroccan fossils. The Rapa River Show is laid out so it runs about as deep as it is wide, thus, it’s easy to miss some vendors who are further from the Frontage Road, so don’t forget to explore.

Food: Gary's Kettle Corn and Lococco's Pizza--all the way in the back (that is, all the way west from the Frontage Road).

2010 update: Not as many strollers along the Frontage Road shows this year as last year. I feel sorry for the vendors at the Pueblo Inn that are directly south of the main hotel--they are in rooms, not the outside tents that are also there. I don't believe many folks are walking in that area. For one thing, it's hard to see, although the hotel has signage. So don't forget to check out the rooms if they're there in 2011!

What: A well-balanced, upscale show in terms of quality and selection. Lots of unique, finished jewelry in 14K, 18K, and 22K, along with sterling silver. Arizona Bead Dog hadn't visited this show in a few years, and it's grown. You'll find Moroccan stone items in the tent in front, there's also a pearl tent with good prices, lots of beautiful finished jewelry, bead strands, Tibetan wall hangings, singing crystal bowls, amber, and many other items. Designed for wholesale buyers, but the public is absolutely welcome. There are good deals here on great jewelry you won't find elsewhere, as for example, the distinctive jewelry of Steven Ruse Designs (click to learn more). As another example, Arizona Bead Dog found a Tibetan bead and jewelry vendor in the Ballroom that offered well-crafted beads at extremely competitive prices.

2011 dates: Opens the last Saturday in January (29th) and its last day is Thursday, February 10th.

Where: South of the Riverpark Inn show, at 1010 S. Freeway Avenue. On your way there, if you walk, you'll pass the Travelodge, and a few vendors are set up there; one sells jewelry made from coconut, and there's a rug vendor and beads.

What: Like the Days Inn Show, this one offers a few surprises; lots of crystals, but not all are available to the public, particularly in the enclosed tents. Read the signs posted by individual vendors. You'll find rows of beads here at good prices; a lot of nuggets, but other beads as well: pearls, shell, stone, semi-precious, glass, and close-outs. Several purveyors of Tibetan beads and items were close together, and all offered different beads at competitive prices. This show also offered large and small quartz spheres, points, and clusters, gem stone animal carvings, Hindu statuary and decor, and many, many inexpensive and pretty trinket items.

Food: Snackbar and lounge in the hotel lobby; outside the lobby (west of the building) there's a Thai-Chinese food concession.

For additional information: (Arizona Bead Dog recently learned that AKS is no longer the show's organizer. Will update when more information is received.)

Where: South of the Howard Johnson Show, at 750 W. Starr Pass Blvd. As you walk toward La Quinta, make sure to see the vendors lined up on the south side of Howard Johnson's and the north side of the La Quinta.

What: Over 100 exhibitors offering rugs, bead strands, crystals, mineral specimens (lot of tourmaline in 2008), crystal bowls, bowl bags, quartz points, quartz scepters, mineral specimens, and fabric scarves; upstairs is the metaphysical show, which includes Ahhhmuse (offering a variety of interesting Himalyan crystals, shivalingums, jewelry, and wands); a bookseller offering good titles at half off; west of the hotel in at least 6 large covered tents are large citrine and amethyst cathedrals and other minerals; on the north side of the hotel are yet more vendors carrying items as diverse as Himalayan salt and salt lamps to beautiful gem and mineral slabs, specimens, and bulk.

2009 reader feedback: Carol F. writes, "WOW!!! Beautiful things, beautiful prices, nice people."

Food: Arizona Bead Dog didn't notice any particular concessions, but there were plenty of vending machines for soda and water.

Restrooms: Portable. (It's possible there was one in the lobby; Arizona Bead Dog didn't notice it this year [2009].)

For additional information: (Arizona Bead Dog recently learned that AKS is no longer the show's organizer. Will update when more information is received.)