Flagstaff Makes Kiplinger's 2009 Best Cities List

This year Kiplinger says it's all about jobs when choosing the 10 Best Cities. They were looking for safe havens during the current recession. University and government jobs are a part of that environment.

Here's the list of top 10:

1. Huntsville, Alabama
2. Albuquerque, New Mexico
3. Washington D.C.
4. Charlottsville, Virginia
5. Athens, Georgia
6. Olympia, Washington
7. Madison, Wisconsin
8. Austin, Texas
9. Flagstaff, Arizona
10. Raleigh, North Carolina

Looks like quite a diverse line-up, across the country. Read more about the picks and their methodology at Kiplinger 2009 Best Cities.

Flagstaff: National Train Day

National Train Day is May 9, 2009. Marking 140 years of connecting travelers from coast to coast, National Train Day commemorates the day the first transcontinental railroad was created.

Read about the final spike ceremony on May 10, 1869, at Golden Spike National Historic Site and 140th anniversary--Golden Spike and Transcontinetal Railroad at Promontory Summit.

"Train travel is deeply rooted in American culture and it shows great promise to become a growing part of our country's transportation future," said Emmett Fremaux, vice president marketing and product management, Amtrak. "National Train Day gives the public a glimpse into how the train shaped the country and how it will continue to do so by showcasing how train travel provides greener travel options with clean technology and greater efficiency through high-speed rail travel."

Amtrak services Flagstaff twice daily on the Southwest Chief line, stopping at the Historic Train Depot on the original Route 66. According to the company's 2008 fiscal year report, it was the busiest Amtrak station in Arizona. The historic train station is also the city's official Visitor Center making it the perfect stop for anyone looking for directions, planning travel, details about area attractions, dining suggestions or local history.

For more information about National Train Day. For more information about Flagstaff visit Flagstaff CVB.

Lowell Observatory & Economic Impact of DCT

"Since breaking ground on the Discovery Channel Telescope in 2003, construction of DCT has pumped over $14 million in direct spending into the state of Arizona; about 72% of this in Flagstaff. Arizona’s DCT contractors have provided highly skilled workers and technical services including design and construction of the DCT facility and dome, fabrication of structural components, primary mirror figuring, and mirror support design."

Read the rest of the story on the Lowell Observatory Blog Economic Impact of DCT.

Riordan Mansion Brown Bag Lunch Lectures

2009 Brown Bag Lunch Lectures at Riordan Mansion are set. Brown Bag Lunches scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:15 pm, on the front veranda of the historic 1904 Riordan Mansion. Stop by with lunch for a different presentation each Tuesday.

• Mar 10: En Vogue: 90 Years of Riordan Women’s Fashion
• Apr 14: Browsing the Bookshelves at Riordan Mansion: Topics and Titles from the Early Years
• May 12: Arizona’s Amazing Women
• Jun 9: Victorian Fashions in Arizona Territory
• Aug 11: Call of the Canyon
• Sep 8: Jerome in the News
• Oct 13: Arizona Mines and Minerals
• Nov 10: “Mark Twain in the American West”
• Dec 8: Christmas Music during the Riordan Years

Contact the Park:

(928) 779-4395

Riordan Mansion SHP
409 West Riordan Rd
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Riordan Mansion Evening Slide Presentation Series

2009 Evening Slide Presentation Series at Riordan Mansion

• Mar 7: Protecting Historic Sites during Wildland Fires
• Mar 28: Protecting the Archaeology and Petroglyphs of Picture Canyon
• Apr 18: Stone Landmarks: Flagstaff’s Historic Buildings and Geologic Landscapes
• May 2: Arizona's War Town: Flagstaff and World War II
• Jun 20: "Louis Akin's Lost Bride: The Photos, Poems and Adventures of Mai Richie Reed"
• Jul 11: Two Guns and Route 66
• Aug 29: “Ain’t it Purty”: Tourist Impressions of Grand Canyon

All presentations held at 7 p.m.

Riordan Mansion SHP
409 West Riordan Rd
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Programs are free but reservations are recommended due to limited availability. Please call (928) 779-4395.

Flagstaff Area--Sunset Volcano and Prehistory

If you're interested in Sunset Volcano and its effects on the peoples of the Flagstaff area and haven't watched this video, you'll want to. In the Shadow of the Volcano: Prehistoric Life in Northern Arizona is about the U.S. 89 Archaeological Project: Sunset Crater and the History of a Volcanic Landscape.

In the winter of 2003, the Center for Desert Archaeology published an issue of Archaeology Southwest Highlights--In the Shadow of the Volcano: Recent Research at Sunset Crater about the findings of the project.

It's really interesting information about the archaeological findings from the time of the eruption of Sunset Volcano. And I think, a must-read before a visit to Wupatki National Monumant, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument.

Pluto Anniversary at Lowell Observatory

It's going to be a busy week at Lowell Observatory, here in Flagstaff, Arizona. Tonight, February 15, 2009, Lowell will host a Winterfest Star Fest, from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Tomorrow, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., since students will be out of school, all the activities at the Observatory are free for kids, with adult supervision.

Wednesday, it's Pluto Night at Lowell. On February 18, 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto. This celebration will include a presentation at 7 p.m. by Will Grundy and Kevin Schindler about that discovery and the exciting work that is being done at Lowell Observatory today.

For details of these events, call 928-774-3358 or go to Lowell Observatory Outreach.

What a Wonderful Morning

Here's what Flagstaff awoke to this morning:

There's joy at the Snow Bowl today. It's going to be a great week for skiing. And a perfect time to stay indoors and look out the window on this winter wonderland.

Winterfest Flagstaff

February is for Winterfest in Flagstaff! The Chamber of Commerce is the driving force behind this month-long series of events in Flagstaff.

Sports, art, music, film and food--they're all part of the fun throughout the month of February.

Get all the details and a calendar of events at Winterfest Flagstaff.

The Last Wagon Train at Riordan Mansion

Just a reminder that Riordan Mansion State Park is hosting another free Evening Slide Presentation Series event, The Last Wagon Train: The Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition. It's a presentation by Stewart Aitchison of the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Call 928-779-4395 for more information.

Flagstaff Recycled Glass

Where does your glass go? That's a question asked in the winter edition of Cityscape published by the City of Flagstaff. What's the answer?

The glass that Flagstaff residents drop off for recycling is handled right here because it's too costly to ship it to the closest recycling facilities in California. It's ground into glass sand and can be used for many landscaping projects. The sand is free to the public, at the Materials Recovery Facility on Butler Ave.

According to Cityscape, "However, the majority of the glass sand is used at the City's Cinder Lake Landfill to reduce environmental impacts, extend the life of the landfill, and save money. State and Federal regulations require that the working area of the landfill be covered each day. An Alternative Daily Cover is made from a mixture of glass sand, paper sludge and wood mulch. This cover replaces the need for soil to be trucked in from other areas at a substantial cost. By using the glass sand mixture the City saves nearly $3,000 per day on the purchase and hauling of soil. More than 14,000 gallons of diesel fuel are saved and approximately 39 metric tons of green house gas emissions are avoided annually. Thousand of cubic yards of landfill space are also saved each year by the use of glass sand for Alternative Daily Cover."

I think this is such an interesting way of approaching the dual dilemma of what to do with our glass and the need to take care of our landfills.

Kudos to the City of Flagstaff!

Hawk Walks at the Arboretum

During the winter, January through March, visitors to the Arboretum can reserve a spot on a guided workshop to learn about birds of prey. With the help of licensed falconers, you can get up close to these amazing birds.

Get all the details at Winter Hawk Walks.

Arizona Snowbowl is Open for 2008-2009

It's been a great two weeks for the Snowbowl. The latest snow report is:

• 12-16" in the last 24 hours
• 13-17" storm total
• 36-60" settled snow depth

And the latest forecast is for an additional 12" or more by Friday.

If you want to get in some skiing over the holidays, just remember that chains or 4-wheel drive are required.

Get the latest snow reports and details for the lifts and lodging at Arizona Snowbowl.

Northern Arizona Snow

Just the beginning of our first heavy snowfall. It's difficult to get a true picture of how much snow we saw in the early morning light, since I'm not venturing any further out than the deck. At least 9 inches around Flagstaff. Maybe Friday morning I'll be brave enough to get out and about to get some pics at the end of this winter event.


Schools and college classes are cancelled, so it's a great day to be snug and warm inside.

National Monuments Trip

If you haven't visited Flagstaff Area Monuments for a while, it's time to think about taking that day trip. Last week we visited Walnut Canyon, stopped in at the Sunset Crater visitor center and then took the loop drive around to Wupatki and Highway 89. We didn't have enough time to take any of the trails or visit the Publeos at Wupatki, but will get back soon if the snow doesn't ruin the plans.

This should remind you of why you need to take this trip:

Down into Walnut Canyon

Walnut Canyon Wall

Toward Wupatki on the Loop Road
Painted Desert in the Distance

Here's the link to an article about the Flagstaff Monuments that I wrote for Southwest US Travel at About.com.

Eugene Shoemaker Video

We just discovered this video from TLC' "Solar Empire." It features a wonderful two-minute clip of Eugene Shoemaker. This is the first video of him that I've seen.

He talks about "discovering" evidence of a meteor impact crater right here in northern Arizona, after looking at it for 30 years. I just wish it was longer. Flagstaff and the world certainly lost a real treasure when we lost him.

See the video at Solar Empire: Impact Craters on Earth. If you aren't familiar with Dr. Shoemaker, you can learn about him, his work and how his life was cut short at USGS About: People.

Flagstaff Tourism in Sky & Telescope

I really like the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau ad in the December 2008 issue of Sky & Telescope. Sorry I didn't write down the page number when I saw it at Barnes & Noble.

I did jot down a bit of the copy written beside the photograph of the interior of the Clark Observatory at Lowell:

Hot stars.

Big lenses.

{No paparazzi.}

Great job, CVB!

Sunrise on the First Snowfall

Flagstaff awoke to a blanket of snow this morning. It won't last long, but it is so beautiful while it lasts!

Flagstaff Visitor Center Information

I have mentioned in previous posts about the Flagstaff CVB and the Visitor Center and what a great job I think they are doing. Well it seems Flagstaff visitors agree with me. The Fall Cityscape cites the results of a guest satisfaction survey. It seems that out of 760 surveys returned, 736 were returned with the highest possible scores. Kudos to the hardworking staff.

Last week I stopped in to pick up hard copies of the brochures that I have been raving about in pdf format available on the CVB website. I have to admit I still love the pdf's but these really are great printed brochures.

As usual the Visitor Center was a beehive of activity with friendly and attentive staff all around. Take a few minutes and see how the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau is doing its job.

Cityscape Fall 2008

Flagstaff Cityscape for Fall 2008 just arrived. Can't wait to read it.

In skimming this issue, I did see that the Starlight Pines Bed & Breakfast was honored as the 2008 Best of Flagstaff Award from the U.S. Local Business Association. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

We'll get back to Cityscape next week. Have a great weekend