Frequently Asked Questions

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Questions & Answers About Casa's Residencies:

What do I bring?
Bring appropriate clothing for the time of year (swimsuit always), medication if taken, toiletries including sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle (to keep hydrated in the desert), personal music choices such as CD's, cassette tapes, ipods, etc., laptop if you have one, quarters for the laundry machines, and whatever personal items you like to have around you when you write.

What writing/office supplies are in the suites/writing spaces? We have provided scissors, staplers, pencil sharpeners, pens and pencils, paperclips, 3-hole punchers, and binderclips. Dictionaries and thesauruses are also in the writing spaces and random books past residents have left and Casa has put in the suites for reading enjoyment. We recommend if you have a personal portable printer to bring it, but we do have a couple to loan on a first come first serve basis.

What is the weather like in Tucson, and what kind of clothing do I bring?
Check the weather before you come. It rains sporadically in July and August, but it's still warm. It's very hot between May and September, and mild between October and March (sometimes dipping to a chilly 40 degrees...brrrrr). It begins to heat up again late March through May, though sometimes a light jacket/sweater is still nice to have in the evenings.

What particular things about the suites are helpful to know? All of the suites have gas stoves in the kitchens which are fully equipped with dinnerware, flatware, pots, pans, and cooking utensils. There is a microwave, coffeepot, teapot and toaster in each suite. We provide drinking water in Brita filter pitchers in each fridge, and ice cube trays in the freezers. The suites all have honey, sugar, teas and coffee. The suites have standing showers, not bathtubs. The linens are 100% cotton, and the comforters are cotton and down. If you have a preference for an uncarpeted or carpeted suite, please let us know.

Is there a grocery store within walking distance to Casa Libre?
Yes. There are several markets in biking and walking distance from Casa Libre. There is a natural foods cooperative one block from Casa Libre, and a small market about two blocks away. Both have food, liquor, and sundries. There is an international market about one mile from Casa Libre.

Do residents have parking spaces on the premises? Yes, our parking lot is gated and closed at night. There are a limited number of spaces so parking in the lot is first come first serve; there is ample street parking always.

Do I need a wireless modem on my computer to access the high-speed internet? There are a couple of suites that allow for modem connection, but most the suites require a wireless card.

Are there workout facilities on the premises? Aside from taking laps in the pool, there are no formal workout facilities on the premises. The Downtown YMCA is a mile away.

Are there any animals at Casa Libre? Yes, there are cats that live at Casa Libre. Their names are Jonah, Ukulele, and Rue.

Can I send faxes? Yes, Casa has a fax machine in our office and we will send faxes for you—no more than 10 pages for each resident.

Is there a print and copy store nearby? Yes, there are a couple. Office Max is a mile away, and there is a store inside the student union on the University campus which is also a mile away.

What kinds of public or other transportation is available in the area?

Getting to and from the airport :

Arizona Shuttle (http://www.arizonashuttle.com/)
Call Arizona Shuttle to prearrange rides: 520-795-6771

Getting around town:

Yellowcab (around town): 520-624-6611
Allstate Cab (around town): 520-798-1111
Rent a bike at Fairwheel bikes (about 1 mile from Casa) http://www.fairwheelbikes.com/
Ride the city bus: Sun Tran (http://www.suntran.com/)
Ride the Fourth Avenue Trolley: Old Pueblo Trolley (http://www.oldpueblotrolley.org/)

Can I attend Casa Libre classes during my residency? Most of the classes are six to eight weeks long so it would not be appropriate to pop in for one or two classes in the middle of the class flow. You are welcome to ask a teacher who is teaching a class you are interested in, if you can sit in on one or two classes, but we will leave that up to the teacher. You are welcome to attend one-day or weekend workshops and classes if they fall within your residency period. Registration for those classes would be required. Please visit the Programs page for more information:http://www.casalibre.org/programs/programs.html

Are there literary events such as readings to attend during my residency? Tucson has several good reading series you might be interested in. The University of Arizona Poetry Center (http://poetrycenter.arizona.edu/) hosts a regular reading series; Chax Press (http://www.chax.org/index.html) runs a reading series held at Cushing Street bar. There is a great storytelling reading series hosted by Odyssey Storytelling (http://www.odysseystorytelling.com/) which are held at the historic hotel Congress a block away. You can also visit the Words on Fire website (http://www.wordsonfire.org/) which has a comprehensive calendar of regular literary events in Tucson, and the Tucson Pima Arts Council (http://www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org/calendar.html) online calendar lists many arts events, including literary events happening in Tucson. During the academic year, Casa Libre hosts The University of Arizona creative writing MFA reading series on a bi-monthly basis—and you are welcome to attend those readings. Casa Libre also hosts other events you may be interested in during your stay; visit our programming page for more information (http://www.casalibre.org/programs/programs.html).

What art galleries are in walking distance from Casa Libre? Yes, there are many! Please visit http://www.tucsonartsdistrict.org/downtowngalleries.html for a list.

Can I purchase the art in the residency suites? Several local artists display their work in Casa Libre's writing suites. The pieces that are for sale are marked with a place card on the wall. Ask!

Do you have DVD movies on loan for resident use? We have a limited selection of DVD's our residents may borrow. Ask Kristen if you want to see the selections; we keep them in Casa Libre's office.

Do you accept donations from resident writers? Yes, in fact many of our private donations come from residents. We encourage you, if you have enjoyed your stay at Casa and want to keep the writing suites available for years to come, to check out our DONATIONS page (http://www.casalibre.org/donate/donate.html) and read about ways you can contribute.

Can we have a beer sometime? Kristen, the executive director, and a couple of local artists, live on-site and will always be around to chat, answer questions and once in a while even share a beer by the pool with our residents. Your privacy and writing time is important to us, so if you need something, let us know!

If you have any question we didn't answer here, please feel free to contact us. Email us at casakeepers@casalibre.org, or call 520-325-9145.