From the Pueblo Show I walked north just a little bit to the Rapa River show in the Days Inn. This was my first time here, and it was bustling with activity. There are plenty of outdoor dealers and a large indoor exhibition arena. This show is mostly gems, beads, and the mineral dealers are all foreign, with Brazilian dealers being the most prevalent.
Large Billboard promoting the NY/NJ Show, which is going to be a mega-event in April
The billboard is right above the Days Inn Hotel sign for the Rapa River show
Tents to the South of the Days Inn, mostly Brazilian Amethyst and Agate dealers
Row of tents in the background
Beautiful Brazilian Agates
Large sliced Brazilian Amethyst Geodes and Citrine
The motel courtyard
Bustling activity in the motel courtyard
Another view of the motel courtyard, with some large Brazilian Quartz
The Pueblo Show is a great show. Although many of the dealers are beads and holistic, there are still some great finds and pleasant company here. There is also an "International Fine Mineral Building" on the south side, which has some well-known dealers that have recently taken residency in this show. The atmosphere at this show is very laid-back, as apparent from the pictures listed below. When the weather is nice it makes this show all the more pleasant!
Entrance to the Pueblo Show at the Riverpark Inn
Tents in the outdoor courtyard
The tents are mostly gemstone and bead dealers
Pool with tents in the background and the NY/NJ Show Highway Billboard
The relaxed and very pleasant atmosphere at the show
People enjoying the outdoors at the show
I took a pleasant lunch break in this area
Tents near the pool
Note the deep blue sky and beautiful palm trees
Inside the main large tent
Mostly gem and jewelry dealers
Tents near the pool
Note the deep blue sky and beautiful palm trees
These dealers have wares in their hotel rooms,
and have more right outside their rooms underneath overhangs
Tents near the pool
Note the deep blue sky and beautiful palm trees
Large tent with giant polished Quartz
Steve Bookbinder's Amazing Display of South American Quartz and Amethyst
This show is worthy of a vist just for seeing this alone!
Giant Brazilian Quartz at Steven Bookbinder
It is taller then the tall person standing next to it!
Note the International Fine Mineral Building in the Background
Hershel in front of his poster promoting the Minerals.net contest
This is Rob Lavinsky's 50% off room in the International Fine Mineral Building
This specimen was acquired from Rob Lavinsky
I came to the Tucson Gem & Mineral ShowTM in the Tucson Convention Center on Wednesday, February 13, to drop off our flyers for the main show. It was fascinating to see all the dealers setting up, so I took some pictures to share with everyone. It was also interesting to see all the special exhibits empty. This means that all the special exhibits are setup in just one day!
The Tucson 22nd Street show is a relatively new show on the corner of 22nd Street and the I-10 Freeway. The show is located inside a HUGE tent which you cannot miss while driving in Tucson. This show has a diverse variety of dealers in here, from mineral, gemstone, bead, and fossil dealers. There were some amazing large fossils present at show which were especially noteworthy.
I had attempted to take a photo of the enormous tent from the outside, but the perspective was missed in my photo, so I only have indoor photo shots:
Inside the massive tent
More views of the show
Just look how far down the tent goes
Amazing dinosaur and sea turtle fossil
Enormous Quartz crystals from Arkansas
The show promoters (R-L): Lowell, Christine, and Russel
Hershel with Lowell Carhart
Minerals.net Giveaway cards on the information table
Huge poster promoting the NY-NJ show in April
The InnSuites show is one of my favorite in Tucson. Its a large show in the sprawling Hotel Tucson near downtown Tucson, where all the dealers sell out of their hotel rooms. You'll find most of the recognized names in mineral dealers at this show, with an amazing array of variety and friendliness. When the weather is nice, it's a pleasure to walk around as the grounds are mostly outdoors.
For all those unable to attend the show, I snapped plenty of pictures so you can get a sampling of the show. I also took a few pictures of interesting minerals I came across. All photographs taken by Hershel Friedman.
Tents outside near the front by the hotel sign
The front entrance of the hotel
Side view of the main hotel entrance
Giant Uruguay Amethyst at the main hotel entrance
Inside the hotel near the main entrance
View of the hotel coming outside from the lobby
Tents on the hotel grounds.
Wrapped up dinosaurs on the hotel grounds
Beautiful view of nearby Downtown Tucson from the InnSuites
Looking towards the main hotel wing with those dinosaurs
More dinosaurs on the property
Side view of the hotel near the highway
The Fine Minerals International House, right off the InnSuites.
This building houses some of the most expensive minerals available for purchase.
The tent for the Granada Ave Mineral Show, right off the InnSuites.
Hershel in Adam Wright's room with the new Crocoite finds.
Hershel is standing in front of the Crocoite poster hanging on the wall.
Adam Wright's display of the new Crocoite specimens
from the 2012 Red River Pocket.
