Flagstaff, AZ: This month could be your last chance to visit Riordan - the AZ State Legislature swept the funds for State Parks and Riordan is slated to close on March 20th. So, don’t procrastinate a visit any longer.

Please note that we are now on our Winter hours, open Thursday - Monday: 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with tours beginning at 11:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day at the top of the hour, the last tour of the day is always 4:00 p.m. Reservations are always recommended. The Park is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.0

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is scheduled to be CLOSED on March 29, 2010 because the Arizona State Legislature has swept the funds of Arizona State Parks again.

A local group the Riordan Action Network has been formed to raise money in the community in an effort to keep the Park open on a limited basis to protect it. For more information, please email RiordanActionNet@aol.com or see their website www.riordanmansion.org

If you are looking for information on the budget crisis, try the Arizona State Parks Foundation website. This non-profit was created to advocate for Arizona State Parks. www.arizonastateparksfoundation.org . The best thing to do still is to contact your Arizona State Legislators, the Foundation website has a link to help you do this. The other best thing you can do is VISIT Arizona State Parks and bring your friends! We need to generate revenue and attendance!!

On-Going Series of Brown Bag Lunch Lectures, 12:15pm

Note: Our March Lecture is in Celebration of Arizona Heritage and Archaeology Awareness Month
Mar 8 Smithsonian Expeditions to Northern Arizona
Peter Pilles, Archaeologist, Coconino National Forest In the early days of the Smithsonian, leading archaeologists were sent to = northern Arizona to study ruin sites, including Jesse Walter Fewkes. Examine “then and now” photos documenting the ruin sites as they were found and as they are today. Presentation will be illustrated with photos by several early archaeologists.
**Note this is a Monday**

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Evening Slide Presentation Series, 7pm RSVP Free!
(Program is Free. Reservations are recommended due to limited availability.)

Note: Our March Lecture is in Celebration of Arizona Heritage and Archaeology Awareness Month
Mar 20 Excavations at Lizard Man Village
Neil Weintraub, Archaeologist, Kaibab National Forest
25 Years ago, archaeologist Neil Weintraub participated in the second year of excavations of the Grinnell College archaeological field school at Lizard Man Village. Located near Camp Townsend Winona Road, the field school made important contributions to the understanding of local prehistory. 25 years later, important preservation efforts are being made at a nearby petroglyph site called Picture Canyon (contemporaneous with Lizard Man). Weintraub will discuss the importance of these archaeological efforts located right outside our own doorsteps!

Mitchell Butte UT-AZ Border 1995, by Terry Falke
Flagstaff, AZ: Coconino Center for the Arts - Landscape Interrupted is a new photography exhibition focused on the influence, interaction and change that happens within the landscape when humans impact the natural world. Juried by William Jenkins, Professor of Photography at Arizona State University.

Opening Reception
January 16th 2010. 6-8 pm

Exhibition Open to Public
January 19th - February 17th

In contemporary times it is hard to consider nature as having it’s own entity. Humans have become part of the identity of the natural world and it’s becoming difficult to find a spaces in the wilderness that are untouched or unoccupied. Landscape photography has altered its focus away from utopian scenes and artists are using cameras to poignantly display the interaction between people and the landscape. Photographers are pin-pointing the changing landscape and as this natural change becomes accepted, absurdity becomes appealing and the spaces become occupied.

Flagstaff, AZ: Please note that we are now on our Winter hours, open Thursday - Monday, 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with tours beginning at 11:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day at the top of the hour, the last tour of the day is always 4:00 p.m. Reservations are always recommended.

If you are looking for information on the budget crisis, try the Arizona State Parks Foundation website. This non-profit was created to advocate for Arizona State Parks. www.arizonastateparksfoundation.org . The best thing to do still is to contact your Arizona State Legislators, the Foundation website has a link to help you do this. The other best thing you can do is VISIT Arizona State Parks and bring your friends! We need to generate revenue and attendance!

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park will closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays through March 2010 due to the ongoing State Budget crisis.

On-Going Series of Brown Bag Lunch Lectures 12:15pm, Free!
Mon, Jan 11
History of Postcards
Presented by Kathy Farretta, M.A., Riordan Mansion State Historic Park In conjunction with a new exhibit of family postcards on display, come learn about how postcards became a staple of American family vacations. This presentation will be illustrated with slides of many family postcards. For a special treat, we will unveil the new exhibit in the West House!
**Note this is a Monday**

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Evening Slide Presentation Series, 7pm RSVP Free!
(Program is Free. Reservations are recommended due to limited availability.)

Jan 23
Corvid Lore: Ravens and Crows in the American Southwest Presented by Shannon Benjamin, Museum of Northern Arizona Ravens and Crows are two members of the Corvid family. These enterprising creatures have long been known as tricksters in American Indian stories. Join us for an exploration of Southwestern Native American folklore about these intelligent birds and learn about their surprising traits and abilities.

If you haven’t given in to your craving for a tasty burger yet this year - well, it’s time. MamaBurger (Downtown, right next door to Just Wireless on Route 66 - 928-226-0616) is extending their hours for the new year - 10:30am until 8pm most days - except Weds., Fri. & Sat. when they’ll stay open until 3am! So when you’re closing down the bars in downtown Flag, and need some sustenance to get you through the night - here is your answer! Of course their fresh cut fries and tasty milkshakes are not to be missed either. Remember to keep some cash in your pocket - they’re cash only.

Flagstaff, AZ: Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is pleased to announce the following upcoming special events for the month of December 2009. These events are free and open to the public.

Gift Shop Sale!! 20% Off! Dec 12 to 24 Only! Come support your State Park and get unique gifts for your family and friends for the holiday season. Books on the Arts and Crafts Movement, Flagstaff history and northern Arizona. T-shirts, kids’ books, and more!

Please note that we are now on our Winter hours, open Thursday - Monday, 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with tours beginning at 11:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day at the top of the hour, the last tour of the day is always 4:00 p.m. Reservations are always recommended.

If you are looking for information on the budget crisis, try the Arizona State Parks Foundation website. This non-profit was created to advocate for Arizona State Parks. www.arizonastateparksfoundation.org . The best thing to do still is to contact your Arizona State Legislators, the Foundation website has a link to help you do this. The other best thing you can do is VISIT and bring your friends! We need to generate revenue and attendance — and the holiday season decorations are a great reason to come visit!

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park will closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays through March 2010 due to the ongoing State Budget crisis.

On-Going Series of Brown Bag Lunch Lectures 12:15pm, Free!
Mon, Dec 7 Lindbergh’s Trains & Planes: The First Transcontinental Flight Route
Jerry Snow, Historian
New York to Los Angeles in an unheard-of 48 hours in 1929! And what a way to go–luxuriously appointed Ford Trimotor Airplanes, meals served aloft, and a window seat for every passenger. We will show original footage from those flights and learn how close they few to Flagstaff.
**Note this is a Monday**

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Dec 12 Christmas Party and Crafts 9:00-11:00am
The community is invited to attend our annual Christmas Party which will be held in the Visitor Center. From 9:00 - 11:00 am Santa will be on hand to give out candy and Mrs. Claus will read Christmas stories to the children. In addition, there will be crafts for the children to make and take home, as well as Christmas music and general good cheer. To help fend off the cold, hot cider and cake will be served. This year we will also host the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy’s Choir at 10:00am.

Holiday Tours at Riordan Mansion–The Month of December The Mansion is festively decorated in turn-of-the-century style with wreaths, garlands, greenery and a towering fir tree trimmed with old-fashioned ornaments. Guided tours include glimpses of folklore and traditions of Christmas, both past and present. Reservations are recommended. Adults $6.00 (14 years and up); youth $2.50 (7-13 years); 6 and under are free. Closed Christmas Day.

Flagstaff, AZ: The new Route 66 Mini-Market brings life’s little necessities to downtown! In addition, he’s grinding his coffee on site - Royal Cup Coffee with names like “Two Guns” medium roast and “Road Kill” dark roast can be had along with a bagel or some Uncle Buzz’s chocolate! He is also carrying some Route 66 souvenirs as well as mini-mart staples like candy, chewing tobacco and toiletries you may have forgotten. Visit this new business, and meet Jeff Bonner - and welcome him and his new business to Downtown Flagstaff. Located on the corner of Birch & San Francisco - across from the Courthouse.

Flagstaff, AZ: Once again, the Museum of Northern Arizona is hosting Trappings of the American West. This is a sales exhibition that includes contemporary paintings, photography and bronzes.

Exhibit visitors will view and be able to purchase the work of 90 juried artists, from 14 Western states, Hawaii, and Canada, whose art preserves the time-honored traditions of craftsmanship. This year’s artistic mediums will include painting, bronze sculpture, photography, saddles, tooled leather, bits and spurs, boots, hats, knives, engraving, hitched horsehair, braided rawhide, and instrument making. Knife and spur maker Larry Fuegen remarked, “The fascinating thing is that we are all self-taught. There are no schools to learn these trades. They are passed from one generation to the next, and these art forms are really one generation away from being lost.”

Presented by the Dry Creek Arts Fellowship, Trappings is one of three Arizona events this year to be recognized with an ALTE grant (Arts Link to Tourism and the Economy). Funding for this prestigious award comes from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. The ALTE grants support projects that promote a community’s or region’s artistic resources and create cultural tourism.

Museum Hours: 9am to 5pm daily. You can call 928-774-5213 or visit the Museum’s website.

Flagstaff, AZ: Please note that we are now on our Winter hours, open Thursday - Monday, 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with tours beginning at 11:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day at the top of the hour, the last tour of the day is always 4:00 p.m. Reservations are always recommended.

If you are looking for information on the budget crisis, try the Arizona State Parks Foundation website. This non-profit was created to advocate for Arizona State Parks. www.arizonastateparksfoundation.org.The best thing to do still is to contact your Arizona State Legislators, the Foundation website has a link to help you do this.

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park will closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays through March 2010 due to the ongoing State Budget crisis.

On-Going Series of Brown Bag Lunch Lectures 12:15pm, Free!
A special Brown Bag in celebration of Samuel Clemens’ birthday
Mon, Nov 9 Mark Twain in the American West
Kathy Farretta, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park In celebration of Samuel Clemens’ birthday, we will explore the forces which caused him to make the trip to the newly established Territory of Nevada with his brother Orion, in 1861. From printer’s apprentice to steamboat pilot; prospector to newspaper correspondent, follow Sam Clemens’ journey to the American West.
**Note this is a Monday**

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Evening Slide Presentation Series, 7pm RSVP Free!
(Program is Free. Reservations are recommended due to limited availability.)

Nov 7 The Great Southwest of the Santa Fe Railway
Alan Petersen, Coconino Community College & MNA The Santa Fe Railway introduced a great many visitors from around the world to the people and geography of the Southwest. They were also great patrons of the arts and used the art they commissioned as part of their marketing strategy and materials. The Santa Fe Railway marketing department hired well known artists and their prints and paintings have, in many ways, come to define the stereotypical image of the Southwest.

Nov 14 Lava dams on the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers
Wendell Duffield, USGS & NAU
Volcanoes are notorious for building dams across rivers that get in their way. Northern Arizona has been a hotbed of this kind of no-bid construction. Eruptions in the Toroweap area created about a dozen dams in the Grand Canyon during the past 700,000 years. The most recent attempt for yet another was only 1,000 years ago, but the volcano ran out of lava before the project could be carried out. The Little Colorado River has seen at least four lava dams created during the past two million years. The youngest of these is at Grand Falls and is only 20,000 years old. From a geological perspective, future eruptions are likely to occur in northern Arizona. It’s interesting and a bit frightening to contemplate the consequences should such eruption create a new lava.

Flagstaff, AZ: This Friday, October 30, BIG WILLIE & THE POLKA MEISTERS
will be at The Matterhorn Grill entertaining you with authentic German Music from 6:30 till 9pm. Mention this E-mail and receive a bottle of Riesling for just 1 penny with the purchase of two complete dinners. (not valid with other offers and promos) Hope to see you there. So make your reservation as soon as possible !!!

Saturday Oct. 31, HALLOWEEN, ROLLIE & THE POLKA KATZEN will be at the Matterhorn Grill entertaining you with authentic German Halloween music, Polkas-Waltzes-Tangos & more. Opening Bell is 6:00 pm and they will be playing till at least 9pm. So dust off your Lederhosen & Dirndl’s, or come all dressed up in your spiffiest Halloween Costume, put on your Dancing Shoes and head on over to The Matterhorn Grill. Mention this E-mail and get a bottle of Riesling for just 1 cent with the purchase of 2 complete Dinners. So make your reservation as soon as possible. The more the merrier! CONTEST ON THE HOUR-EVERY HOUR
See you all on Saturday night, October 31!!

Reminder….. Wine Tasting is coming . Thursday, November 5th We will be serving a Special 4course dinner, along with Imported Cheeses, fresh fruit, breads & crackers. Youngs Market, together with Diamond Back Wine and Spirits, is sponsoring this event. You will be able to taste our new line of German Wines from the Baden & Wuerttemberg Region, light, fruity and more on the dry side , with a crisp, full flavored pallet. So mark your calendar!! Reservations are strongly recommended. The Matterhorn Grill is located downtown Flagstaff at 103 W Birch - Parking Available! (928)226-7388

Flagstaff, AZ: With the cooler fall temperatures upon us, the Aspen leaves are changing the forest into a sea of gold. Many leaf peepers make their annual trips to northern Arizona to see nature in its entire autumn splendor. But there is not much time left, as the colors are currently at their peak.

There are few better vantage points from which to observe this wondrous sight than from the Arizona Snowbowl’s Scenic Skyride.

This weekend Flagstaff is forecasted to have clear skies and temperatures in the mid 60’s making it an ideal time to enjoy the wonders of the fall colors on the San Francisco Peaks.

The Scenic Skyride will be open for its final weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM, October 23 -25, 2009. Lunch is served at the Peak Side Cafe. Snowbowl is located minutes from downtown Flagstaff and on the way to the Grand Canyon, at the intersection of Hwy 180 & Snowbowl Rd., then 7 miles up Snowbowl Rd.