A Christmas Carol at Grand Canyon Railway Depot

After its send-off in Los Angeles, the Grand Canyon Railway Depot in Williams, Arizona, will be the first stop for the cross-country train tour promoting “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” new 3-D film from Robert Zemeckis, starring Jim Carey.

A sneak peek preview of the movie in Disney Digital 3-D will be featured in an inflatable theater, but don't expect to get a peek at Jim Carey. Unfortunately, he won't be along for the train ride.

"Featuring four custom-designed vintage rail cars full of behind-the-scenes attractions, entertaining demonstrations, and fun activities, the tour will have its inaugural stop at Los Angeles’ Union Station over Memorial Day Weekend, from May 22nd through May 25th. During the next 24 weeks, the train will make 40 stops in 36 states, as it travels its way across more than 16,000 miles of track. The tour will finish at New York’s Grand Central Terminal over the weekend of October 30th through November 1st."

--Disney Train Tour

The three-day event is free and there is still time to make last minute plans to head to the Grand Canyon Railway Depot to be among the first to get a preview of Disney's latest holiday movie, A Christmas Carol.

For more info: Grand Canyon Railway

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.

Northern Arizona Book Festival 2009

Northern Arizona Book Festival
April 24-26, 2009

My personal pick of Festival events is:

Indefatigable Influence: An Exploration of the Grand Canyons' Influence on the Visual and Literary Artists and Writers Past & Present on Saturday, at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., April 25, 2009.

Regionalist, Rod Parnell will moderate a discussion panel examining the ways in which environment (specifically the Grand Canyon and Mogollon Rim) have influenced artists from the Ancient inhabitants of the region to present. The panel will consist of an array of painters, photographers, poets, essayist, and historians, including Bruce Aiken, Wayne Ranney, Steve and Lois Hirst.

Orpheum Theater
Flagstaff, Ariz.

Admission: Free – Event sponsored by the Arizona Humanities Council.

Learm more at Northern Arizona Book Festival.

Note: The Orpheum Theater will be closing on April 26, 2009, after the showing of Film: "The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?".

Arizona Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Month

March 2009 is Arizona Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Month. There are events scheduled in state parks across Arizona.

The calendar and all the details are available at Arizona State Parks.

GCA Community Lecture Series

The Grand Canyon Association Community Lecture Series continues February 18, 2009, with Wendell Duffield. He's a northern Arizona geologist who will speak about the San Francisco Volcanic Field that runs from Williams to Sunset Crater.

Cline Library
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff
7:00 p.m.

You can learn about Duffield's book at Volcanoes of Northern Arizona: Sleeping Giants of the Grand Canyon Region. Also, the Grand Canyon Association Bookstore should be set up to sell the book at the lecture.

I highly recommend the book and I'm really looking forward to the lecture.

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.

Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Verde

If the weather permits, you can take a day trip and join the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde on February 14-15, 2009. You'll get to see:

• Living History Presentations and Military Encampments
• Riding Demonstrations
• 1870s Period Equipment and Uniforms

For times and more details see Fort Verde State Historic Park.

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.

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.

Haunted Flagstaff 2008

Don't know how I missed this! The Visitor's Bureau is offering (has been all through October) walking tours of "Haunted Flagstaff. Two days left--tonight and tomorrow night, Halloween. Hopefully, you can still make reservations, although it isn't absolutely necessary to reserve a space.

Tours begin at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. from the Flagstaff Visitor Center at the train station downtown. Before you go, you might check out this spooky pdf.

Sounds like a terrific way to spend a Halloween night.

Get more details at the CVB or call 928-774-9541.

A New Perspective on Mars at Lowell

On Saturday evening, October 25, 2008, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Lowell Observatory will host the grand opening of an international exhibit created by the German Space Agency. "A New Perspective on Mars" is making its first stop in the western United States at Lowell and will be on display from October 22 through December 3, 2008.

This showcase of large-format images from the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft will be on display in Lowell Observatory's Rotunda. The Rotunda is a great choice. It's a wonderful building, filled with history. Obviously one of my favorite places.

At 5:45 p.m., Dr. Ralf Jaumann, Head of DLR's Planetary Geology Section and Experiment Manager for the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on Mars Express, will give a 15-minute presentation.

Be sure to put this on your weekend calendar. This is a great opportunity to hear Dr. Jaumann and see this exhibit that comes to Flagstaff after visiting Europe, Canada and the United Nations.

Thanks to Steele Wotkyns, Lowell Observatory Public Relations Manager for the advisory about this grand opening.

Homecoming at NAU

Make your plans for lot of fun in Flagstaff. Next weekend, actually Thursday, October 23, 2008 through Sunday, October 26, 2008, is Northern Arizona University's 84th Homecoming. Check out all the activities now because you'll need to make reservations.

Get tickets at the Central Ticket Office for Saturday's NAU Homecoming Game vs. Weber State at the Skydome.

Autumn Star Fest at Lowell Observatory

It's that time of year again. This Sunday, October 12, 2008, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Lowell Observatory will host Autumn Star Fest, with indoor programs and telescope viewing. It looks like the weather will be great for stargazing. It is going to be a bit nippy though, so be sure to dress appropriately.

Just a hint of autumn on the way to the Snow Bowl 10-5-08

Looks like fall is here with lows dipping into the twenties over the next few days. Time to get out and see what's happening with the georgeous colors around Flagstaff and the Peaks.

Flagstaff's 15-Minute Makeover Reminder

Don't forget that on 10-15-08, at 10:15 a.m., we can all participate in Flagstaff's first annual 15-minute makeover.

Head outside and clean up the litter. If we all donate just fifteen minutes of our time, we can't make a huge impact on our city landscape. All we have to do is just pick up what does not belong. Be sure to toss it in an appropriate trash or recycle container.

The City of Flagstaff is asking everyone to register online. They're even going to offer prizes to randomly chosen participants. The sign-up form does not appear to be available yet, so check back on the City website.

Trappings of the American West

In addition to all the Flagstaff Festival of Science activities this weekend, a new exhibit opens at the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA). During the 19th annual Trappings of the American West, October 4 through November 2, 2008, the Historic McMillan Homestead on the grounds of MNA, will be open to the public for the first time.

With the 1886 Homestead as its backdrop, Trappings will showcase contemporary art of the American West, but Flagstaff's history will also occupy part of this unique stage.

What an opportunity to enjoy the interpretation of the cowboy and the American West by these talented artists and learn about the fascinating people who built the foundation of our modern American town.

What a great fall weekend!

Athletics at NAU

If you are interested in attending athletic events at Northern Arizona University (NAU) you'll like the NAU Lumberjacks website. One really handy resource is the Event Calendar. You can see each days' events by a simple mouse-over of the date. Easy access to the times for all activities, including volleyball, tennis, soccer, not just the big sports like football and basketball.

In addition you can see current news about NAU sports, like recaps of recent games or profiles of players. This is such a good resource since we no longer have Channel 2 News to keep us up-to-date on what's happening around town in Flagstaff and around campus.

Note: You can also see the TV Schedules for events that can be viewed on cable.

Flagstaff Bed Races

This weekend, join the fun and support Toys for Toys at the Flagstaff Bed Races. It all starts at Wheeler Park and its free. On Saturday, September 13, 2008, activities run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.

You can watch the Bed Races and the Toys for Tots Parade. This will be two days of fun for the kids, too. There will be a ferris wheel, a bounce house and lots of kid's activities.

Don't forget the food and the craft show. Sounds like something for everyone at this 14th annual Flagstaff Bed Races.

Flagstaff Prelude to Open Studios

The Prelude to Open Studios exhibit is now open at the Coconino Center for the Arts. The Prelude is a glimpse of what we will be able to see during Flagstaff Open Studios, September 20-21, 2008. This exhibit features new works by all the artists participating in Open Studios.

You can get the details at Flagstaff Cultural Partners. Printed brochure maps for Open Studios are available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center, as well as at the Coconino Center for the Arts.

Flagstaff Weekend Events--So Much To Do

Flagstaff Route 66 Days has arrived. Lots of things going on tonight through Sunday. See the calendar of events here.

In addition, if hot cars amid "the cool pines of Arizona's High Country" is not for you, then head over to FlagstaffArizona.org and check out the calendar for the weekend. There's just too much to highlight it all here.

You have your choice of everything from a public recycling tour this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. to NAU Women's Soccer or NAU Football to the Grand Canyon Music Festival on the South Rim.

Sounds like there is something for everyone. Now, if we only knew what to do first.