Arizona's Magazine With the Great View
What happens when you combine great movies with balmy Sedona evenings? The City of Sedona Parks and Recreation Department’s new Sedona Summer Cinema Series, which begins June 6 and happens every Wednesday through the month. The…
BOTTOMS UP Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival, one of the largest brew fests in Arizona, happens Saturday, June 9, and features more than 50 breweries and distilleries. Pepsi Amphitheater, situated in a green, forested…
Fourteen years ago, Eric Glomski, owner and director of winegrowing at Page Springs Cellars and co-founder of Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, decided to marry two of his biggest passions, wine and music, with an annual harvest festival….
Most people would agree that dining in 2018 is equal parts ambience and cuisine. At SaltRock Southwest Kitchen and Craft Margaritas at Kimpton Amara Resort and Spa, the dining room has a modern-meets-Mid-Century-meets-Southwest feel, from the…
If you don’t mind the long drive, hiking into the amphitheater of Red Mountain, a 1-million-year-old cinder cone in the San Francisco Peaks Volcanic Field, is a must-have experience. The trail begins at the end of…
If you’re reading this in northern Arizona, a medically progressive part of the world, it won’t surprise you to hear that research done by the Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona has indicated that cancer patients who…
TAKE IT TO THE EXTREME A thrill-seeking alternative to dinner and a movie is Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course where partners get in touch with their inner child on tree-to-tree rope courses and zip lines. The course…
For all of you domestic mavens, May is your month. First up is the 2018 Prescott Historic Home Tour, which takes place May 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s tour focuses on the…
FLY LIKE AN EAGLE Remember when you were a kid and all you wanted to do was fly? The Hualapai Tribe, owners of Grand Canyon West, have made that possible – sort of. The destination debuted…
Last summer, an 80-year-old, housebound man named James Bean passed away in Uptown, Sedona. He didn’t have any family, but before quietly passed away, he told his caretakers that his biggest concern was that his partner’s…
Back in 2004, four art experts – Peggy Lanning, Isabelle Cozart, James Ratliff and Karen Ely – founded the Sedona Gallery Association as a way to promote Sedona’s fine art galleries. With the association came the…
Named after the base used to make gelato, Crema Craft Kitchen & Bar is where you want to be the morning after a long night (ahem). It’s where you bring your friends for Sunday brunch or…
Looking for something to do with the kiddies during spring break? Family in town? Sometimes not everyone is up for – or capable of – a 6-mile hike in the red rocks. That’s when Cottonwood’s Jail…
In 1958, a group of Sedona residents came together to establish the town’s first library in a donated space. They brought with them three shelves of books and magazines, which were also donated. The library moved…
It all started with four sold-out movie screenings in April 2016 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. The film was Medicine of the Wolf directed by Julia Huffman, and the organizers were Betsy Klein and Timon…
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME SORBET WITH YOUR SYRAH? Low lighting, brick walls and floor-to-ceiling wine racks make FLG Terroir Wine Bar & Bistro Flagstaff’s quintessential wine bar. Patrons of all ages enjoy wines from around the…
Scott Newth pulls out several binders filled with photocopied documents from the 1800s, maps, diagrams, and pages and pages of research on rock art in the Verde Valley. You’d swear he’d been researching the…
In late winter and early spring, Dry Creek is anything but dry. Depending on how much rainfall we’ve received, it’s completely impassable in some locations. The key to hiking this trail is finding that ideal time…
Spend even a short amount of time with woodworker, furniture maker and artist Dan Taylor, and there’s one thing you’ll understand immediately: Dan respects his materials above all else. His material of choice for the past…
Red rock views? Check. A casual yet upscale ambiance worthy of wearing something nice? Check. A consistent menu that’s creative while at the same time cohesive? Check and check. It’s no secret that The Hudson has…
In LosAngeles back in the late 1990s, Blues Dawg was a quartet playing blues standards and originals, and they were receiving plenty of buzz. The band performed at legendary LA venues including B.B. King’s Blues Club,…
You might be familiar with Handel’s Messiah, but we bet you’ve never heard it like this before. On March 17 at 7 p.m., the nonprofit Sedona Conservatory will present the second annual All-Arizona Messiah SingIn at…
HIT THE SLOPES March is typically one of Flagstaff’s biggest snow months, and the mountain town’s local weather expert, Lee Born, assures us that there will be snow this month. Skiers and snowboarders can always count…
TODAY In the black cinder fields northeast of Flagstaff, the fierceness of the wind makes your eyes water and your nose run. Prickly brush grows from coal-colored sand, and gnarled pine trees stand sentinel. Occasionally, you…
You might say Jane Alexander’s acting career is the stuff that dreams are made of. She earned an Oscar nomination for her film debut in The Great White Hope (1970) but only after she starred in…
Norman Petty is the most famous person you’ve probably never heard of. He was a music industry whirlwind: instrumentalist, songwriter, audio engineer, talent manager and, most important, an independent record producer. The 20 Top 40 hits…
Lace up those sneakers! The 13th Annual Sedona Marathon Event takes place Feb. 3 on Navoti Drive behind the Sedona Medical Center. The race begins at 9 a.m. and is expected to draw more than 3,000…
Even though world-renowned ceramicist Don Reitz passed away in 2014 at the age of 84, his spirit can still be felt around the kilns and in the studio at his off-the-beaten-path ranch in Clarkdale. The ranch’s…
The only remnant of any movie set ever built in Sedona is a tall rock chimney and fireplace shrouded in brush and trees on a rocky basalt road at the top of the Mogollon Rim. Reaching…
Admittedly, we don’t get out for breakfast all that often, but when we do, we like to make an event of it. Think brunch à la Sex in the City. Casa Sedona Inn, a secluded, boutique…
Now in the middle of its 35th season, Chamber Music Sedona has a winter lineup that will warm everyone’s ears. First up, the Fifth Sedona Winter Music Festival happens Jan. 10-14 and features clarinetist and festival…
The first six sound movies photographed on location in Sedona were produced by the Fox Film Corp. between 1930 and 1933. Last of the Duanes, El último de los Vargas (a Spanish-language version of Duanes simultaneously…
REDS Restaurant at Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa has a modern vibe that has made it a favorite locals’ hangout for years. If you live here, it’s practically a given that you’ll run into someone you…
It’s amazing how many stories – and generations – can fit inside a 375-square-foot space. You’ll discover that when you visit Azadi Navajo Rugs, tucked away in one of Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village’s more hidden…
The verdict is in: Courthouse Butte Loop is one of the prettiest trails you’ll hike in the snow – and it’s easy. The 4.5-mile loop traverses the base of Courthouse Butte, one of Sedona’s largest monoliths,…
When Harrison Begay takes the stage, he might play a Jimi Hendrix or Miles Davis song, but it’s not going to sound like Jimi Hendrix or Miles Davis. “We give those songs an R&B groove or…
What’s better than shopping? Shopping for a cause! Sedona Arts Center’s Loving Bowls event returns Dec. 9 from noon to 3 p.m. More than 1,100 bowls created by area ceramicists will be sold for $10 each….
35th Annual Christmas Boat Parade of Lights Put on a sweater and gather along the shores of Lake Havasu in the far western corner of our state for London Bridge Yacht Club’s 35th Annual Christmas Boat…
When you think of Native American art in Sedona, some family names come to mind: Hoel, Wilcox and, of course, Garland. The Garland family moved to Sedona from Phoenix in 1970 (they had spent years vacationing…
Ever since Jeff Smedstad opened Elote Cafe in 2007, hungry devotees have been flocking to the restaurant. When the doors open at 5 p.m., there’s frequently a line outside (Elote doesn’t take reservations). What keeps the…
When it came time to make plans for November’s Native American Heritage Month, Ken Zoll, executive director of Verde Valley Archaeology Center, had an idea. Ken sits on the advisory board for Verde Valley Sinfonietta, and…
Scenic Boynton Canyon near Enchantment Resort is one of Sedona’s most popular trails and deservedly so. But because it’s in danger of being loved to death, we haven’t written about it in 12 years. Instead, we’ve…
Thinking about holiday gift giving? Forgo online shopping and spend a weekend browsing local artist studios during Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition’s Fall Open Studios Tour. The self-guided, free tour takes place Nov. 10-12 from 10 a.m….
It’s that time of the year when thoughts turn toward costumes and candy. There is no shortage of haunted happenings in the Verde Valley for the young and the young at heart, starting with the Pumpkin…
The A.B. Young Trail is the only route (of which we know) that climbs the west wall of Oak Creek Canyon. From AZ-89A in the northern reaches of the canyon, you can spot the trail, which…
It’s that magical week in fall when Sedona’s streets, trails and viewpoints are teeming with plein-air painters from around the country. We’re talking about Sedona Art Center’s invitational 13th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival, which returns…
If you love to shop and you love the red rocks, there is no better festival than Sedona Arts Festival, now in its 27th year. On Oct. 7 and 8 on the sports field at Sedona…
In Sedona, everything is better in October. Daytime temperatures slowly start to drop and the summer monsoon storms dissipate. It’s also an ideal time to explore Pumphouse Wash in Oak Creek Canyon. Five miles of…
There is no shortage of remarkable experiences to be had in Sedona, and dining at Cress on Oak Creek at L’Auberge de Sedona has to be at the top of that list. First you have the…
When Claudio and Karla Herrera first met, they were part of a small population of Ecuadorian immigrants living in New York City. Karla was attending the Fashion Institute of Technology, intent on studying fashion design and…
If what Gandhi said is true and the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated, then Sedona is already pretty great. In the first six months of 2017, 316…
Under a big-top tent on the field at Posse Grounds Park, wine lovers leisurely made their way from one winery to the next, sipping on glasses of red, white and rose. They nibbled on squares of…
Sometimes you just want to walk in the woods, Hansel-and-Gretel style. That’s when you need to explore Loy Canyon and Loy Canyon Trail. The trail meanders along the floor of the canyon for 4 relatively flat…
The 45th annual Fiesta del Tlaquepaque, a celebration of Mexican Independence Day, takes place Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. Tlaquepaque’s longest-running tradition will feature mariachis, flamenco dancers, ballet…
For a couple of years now, we’ve been receiving emails from readers touting the hidden gem that is Miley’s Cafe. We had been to Miley’s on several occasions for breakfast, which is served all day, but…
Sedona Golf Resort’s 4th Annual Sedona Bike & Brew Festival returns Aug. 26 with mountain bikers racing a 6-mile course at the resort. The race takes bikers around all 18 holes and through 80 acres of…
The horse, that quintessential symbol of the American West, will be celebrated at the Phippen Museum’s fourth annual Hold Your Horses! invitational exhibition and sale. The opening reception takes place at the Prescott museum on Aug….
Lake Havasu State Park If the name Lake Havasu conjures up images of girls gone wild on spring break, you’re not completely off the mark: It’s still a party hot spot for coeds in March and…
We don’t hike much during this time of the year, however, if we’re going to spend time on a trail, Baldwin ticks all of the boxes for a summertime jaunt. It’s in close proximity to Oak…
Any foodie can attest to the fact that the humble burger has been elevated in recent years from fast-food status to gourmet fare. No matter what type of burger aficionado you consider yourself, Dellepiane, the new…
Apple pie? Check. Charcoal for the grill? Check. Patriotic playlist? Check. Happy 241st birthday, America! It seems like every community in the Verde Valley and northern Arizona has something lined up for the Fourth of July….
Like many good stories, this one begins with a bottle of wine. It was October 2015, and Eric Holowacz and Paul Amadio had recently moved to Sedona; Eric relocated from Baton Rouge, and Paul had most…
In Italy, an osteria is a restaurant with a short and simple food menu and an extensive and sophisticated wine list. That’s basically what you’ll find at the new Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room & Osteria, which…
To spend time in R.C. Gorman Navajo Gallery in Uptown’s Cedic Plaza is to receive an education on the lithograph printing process and R.C. Gorman, arguably the first Native American to be internationally recognized as a…
Thunder Mountain Trail is a gem of a hike that meanders along the base of its namesake, also known as Capitol Butte or Grey Mountain. Though there isn’t a ton of shade along the trail, it’s…
What’s summer without a block party? How about four of them? Tlaquepaque North will be hosting block parties every Saturday in June from 4 to 8 p.m. Each free event will feature live entertainment along with…
Everett McGill stands at the back of Oak Creek Espresso wearing all black with a haircut that wouldn’t be out of place on a 20-year-old Dolce and Gabbana model. We both raise an eyebrow at what’s…
Tim Young looks like a musician. His long blonde hair is worn loose under his trademark black fedora, and when he plays, he’s frequently in a black button-down shirt and blue jeans, his prized Martin acoustic…
When you push open the glass door of Twede’s Cafe located on a busy corner in North Bend, Washington, you experience one of two sensations. If you’re a fan of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s early-90s…
Arizona’s mile-high town is the place to be May 20-21 when the Jerome Historic Home and Building Tour returns for its 52nd year. The guided tour takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the last…
Despite the threat of rain, last year’s inaugural Verde Valley Wine Festival was a sold-out event: 1,400 people spent the cool afternoon at Clarkdale Town Park, sipping wine, beer and spirits, noshing on tidbits from local…
Back in the day, accessing the Vultee Arch Trailhead wasn’t nearly as challenging as it is now. The only way to reach it today is with a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle (yes, you need both high…
If you’ve already perused this month’s cover story, you know that we ate a lot – A LOT – of burgers this spring. To balance it with something healthy, we stopped by Local Juicery for breakfast…
Peggy Lanning has owned and operated Turquoise Tortoise Gallery for 46 years as of this month, first in Glendale, Arizona, and then in Sedona since 1981. Even though she doesn’t have an education in fine art,…
Butterfly Garden Inn The burgers at Butterfly Garden Inn in Oak Creek Canyon are easily one of Sedona’s best-kept secrets (until now, of course). Some people might not even realize that there’s a kitchen mixed in…
Mary Senseney The first thing that strikes you about Mary Senseney’s Village of Oak Creek garden is its orderly, well-manicured and thoughtfully executed design. But when you stroll through the courtyards and along flagstone pathways, you…
It seems like lately consumers are looking for experiences when it comes to parting with their hard-earned cash. Mike Upp, co-chair of the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition Open Studios Tour, understands that, and it’s one of…
Tempt Lady Luck when the Scorpion Booster Club brings the action of a Las Vegas casino to Sedona Golf Resort on April 21 from 6-10 p.m. during Viva Las Vegas. The event will act as the…
For those who like to spend half the day rambling through Red Rock Country at a leisurely pace, Templeton Trail is right up your alley. You’ll only encounter one steep climb along this 9-mile (round trip)…
Mark your calendars, francophiles: On April 8, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village will host A Taste of Provence from 4-7 p.m. Listen to songs in French and English from three French bands; watch demonstrations by a…
One of the most contemporary and comfortable eateries in Sedona right now is Pump House Station Urban Eatery and Market in Tlaquepaque North (its name comes from its next-door neighbor, a historic water-pumping station). The interior…
Never underestimate the importance of a single act of kindness. It was the late ’90s, and Danielle DuBoise was sitting in front of Whitney Tingle in eighth-grade math at Big Park School in the Village of…
Artwork from 58 of the country’s most renowned women western artists will be on display in what is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about art shows in the state: Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other…
For those of you already familiar with the complex spices, varied textures and bold colors of Indian cuisine, rejoice that we have an Indian restaurant that offers up all your traditional favorites right here in Sedona….
We’ve hiked this trail in warm weather without a puddle in sight, so we suspect our experience was relatively rare, which made it even more special. Despite a blustery breeze, the scenery made us feel like…
The Golden Dragon Acrobats, a renowned troupe of 16 Chinese artists, will take to the stage at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on March 4 at 7 p.m. The show, presented by Yavapai College Performing Arts…
Maybe you’re someone who regularly “shreds the red.” Or you just like to drink craft beer, sample food-truck fare and hang out with the cool kids. Both of you will want to be at the Sedona…
When you think of Bruce Hornsby, you probably automatically think of his 1986 hit, The Way It is, which earned him a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1987. What you may not know is that…
On April 1, 1952, a 1-kiloton atomic bomb, part of the U.S. military’s Operation Tumbler-Snapper – aimed at developing tactical nuclear weapons – was detonated at Area 5 of the Nevada Proving Ground, later known as…
Love biking? Passionate about microbrews? Head to Oak Creek Brewing Co. on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. for the Bike and Brew event organized by Dennis Ketterman, publisher of Bike and Paddle Magazine. “It’s really…
Pilisa Rainbow Lady walks through the bright gallery at the back of Creative Gateways artist co-op and points to one of her glass plates hanging on the wall. She explains that when she got stuck on…
There’s something about an open kitchen that gives a restaurant a modern vibe, almost as if you’re ignoring the “employees only” sign and peeking into the window of a secret world. Place an inviting bar in…
Cathedral Rock Trail has long been one of our top 10 favorite hikes in Sedona, but the recent crowds in the area have kept us at bay for a couple of years. Then it dawned on…
Chamber Music Sedona will put a soundtrack to the short days and cold nights of winter during its Sedona Winter MusicFest IV happening Jan. 4-8. This year’s festival sees the return of clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein and…
Arizona Nordic Village Arizona Nordic Village, formerly known as the Flagstaff Nordic Center, changed hands in October 2015, and last winter the cross-country-ski playground began encouraging snow bikes to come out and play. It also added…
When the days are short and the temperatures chilly, we like to explore some of Sedona’s shorter trails, and Boynton Canyon Vista checks all the boxes. The trail leads to a saddle between two red rock…
Right about now, as sacrilegious as it might sound, we’re sick of turkey and cranberry sauce. We want something with more of a kick and a crunch. That’s why we head to Hog Wild BBQ in…
George Bailey, Clarence Odbody and the town of Bedford Falls are coming to Prescott. Yavapai College Performing Arts Center will host a production of It’s a Wonderful Life: The Musical Dec. 15-18. The cast of 30…
Last year, Sedona Athletic Club, located inside Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock, hosted Socks for Seniors, a sock drive that benefited local elderly residents. All of the donations were delivered to Verde Valley Caregivers and…
Inside a Cottonwood building that was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright to be a dentist’s office in the 1950s, two art lovers have merged their galleries in what is one of the best…
