Beat On The Street The second issue of Border Beat, a locally published bi-monthly arts journal which proudly proclaims to be "certified 100 percent government-free" with regard to funding, is yours for the asking. The handsome, recycled-paper booklet celebrates la Virgen de Guadalupe with 45 pages of fiction and photography by local and national talents: "Vatolandia," an excerpt from Ana Castillo's lauded collection of short stories, Loverboys; poetry by Alicia Gaspar de Alba; a first-published personal essay by award-winning author Denise Chávez; and black-and-white reproductions of paintings by local luminary Christina Cárdenas round out the issue's spotlight on Chicana writers and artists. A black-and-white photo essay by José Galvez likewise pays homage to the ubiquitous image of Our Lady, eloquently summarized in an opening quote by writer Richard Rodriquez: "The Virgin appears everywhere in Mexico. On dashboards and on calendars, on playing cards, on lampshades and cigar boxes; within the loneliness and tattooed upon the very skins of Mexicans." From its literary leanings to lighthearted features like a brief history of Mexican brews or an interview with former Blaster Dave Alvin, who made one of his frequent passes through Hotel Congress last September, Border Beat offers fine reading with a sincere regional flavor. No howling coyotes or patina finishes here. It's such a quality product, it's hard to believe it's free. Look for Border Beat's dust-colored jacket at more than 20 cafés and bookstores around town, as well as the Hotel Congress lobby, Time Market and the Tucson Arts District and T/PAC offices. For information call 321-0928; or send comments to BorderBeat@aol.com. WRITERS' CIRCLE: Congratulations to regular Weekly contributor Stacey Richter, whose original short fiction will appear in two distinguished quarterly literary magazines this winter. Richter received a cash prize for "The Beauty Treatment," to be published in December in the Mississippi Review; followed by "My Date With Satan," coming out in February in the Greensboro Review.

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