Radio Veteran,
Cathy Rivers
By Stacey Gregory
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Cathy Rivers spent many spring breaks in Tucson thanks to her dad and his love of the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians). Between spring training baseball games, she got to explore the Sonoran Desert, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and all the beautiful things Arizona had to offer. So, after leaving the University of Cincinnati College, she traded Cleveland’s gray sky for the bright Tucson sun, where
she began her impressive career in broadcasting.
A 30-year radio veteran, Rivers is the current executive director of The Rialto Theatre Foundation and a gifted performer with a distinctive voice. She’s led community radio, been an on-air DJ, and is a voice-over artist. She’s also an accomplished singer, songwriter, recording, and touring musician who has served on committees and boards of many local nonprofits. Since reopening the Rialto Theatre post-COVID, Rivers has led the start of the Rialto Theatre Foundation’s first year-round educational program, Stagecrafters, and opened the theatre’s new gift shop, El Regalo.“
Someone once asked me to describe Tucson in one word, and my first thought was moxie,” said Rivers. “I stay here for the community, the desert, the evolution of the Wild West, and the city’s tenacity and inclusion in its work to grow so that everyone fits.” We asked her to share more of what she loves about Tucson to help you find your way around the Old Pueblo.
Cathy's Taste of Tucson
The nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant, continuously operated by the same family and where legend has it that the chimichanga was invented, is her number one recommendation for where to eat in Tucson. Established in 1922, El Charro Cafe offers a variety of Northern Mexican and Tucson-style Mexican dishes, from enchiladas to tamales to tacos to burros, on a menu hailed by everyone from Bon Appetit to the NY Times to Nation’s Restaurant News. The Mexican theme continues with her other favorite, The Little One, in downtown Tucson, where you’ll find healthy Mexican lunch favorites with a side of hugs and kisses to thank customers for their support. And when it comes to steak, she has high praise for Daisy Mae’s Steakhouse.
“The corn tamales and Carlotta’s Chicken Mole are my favorite dishes at El Charro Cafe,” said Rivers. “At Daisy Mae’s, they cook outside on a mesquite grill, and the ribs are so tender that when you look at them, the meat falls off the bone. You gotta order the baby back ribs, yum!”
Follow Cathy Around Tucson
When asked what she likes to do around town, she suggested driving through Gates Pass along the crest of the Tucson Mountains for its breathtaking views of saguaros and the desert landscape you’ll only find here. Exploring Sabino Canyon is also a must, as is wandering around downtown.
“Tucson is having such an amazing moment right now with creative new restaurants and hotels, music, art, and events; there is so much to explore from the Barrios to the heart of downtown,” she said. “As a music lover, I would suggest catching a show at the Rialto or Fox Theatres and the Century Room at Hotel Congress for jazz.
Her must-not-miss attraction might surprise you: San Xavier del Bac
Mission. This active Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Tucson is located within the Tohono O’odham Nation and welcomes all visitors through its doors.
“No matter what your religion you are, this beautiful historic mission is a wonderful place for rest and reflection while learning about the history of the area,” she said.