There’s quite a bit of entertainment that can come from a super action-packed, mostly-mindless, story-lacking but fun blockbuster movie. But for the next few days, Arizona is going get have the opportunity to enjoy a change of pace. Get ready to broaden your horizons and explore some cinematic art!

The Phoenix Film Festivals runs from March 29 – April 5 and there are some really great films worth checking out. The Harkins Theater in Scottsdale will turn into a mecca of storytelling and visual exploration through  a collection of international films as well as Arizona based films. The Phoenix Film Festival showcases a few competition categories that require the movies or shorts to be filmed in Arizona and/or written about Arizona, offering locals the chance to see Arizona from another perspective.

More than 160 films will screen during its eight-day run, and the schedule is packed with must-sees: From drag queen dreams of going to prom in A Fairy Tale to FDR: American Badass, which re-imagines WWI with werewolves, you won’t want to miss out on the kind of creativity that emerges when millions of dollars are not on the line. In addition to taking in indie flicks, film geeks can work on their filmmaking skills with free weekend seminars given by cast and crew members from the festival films.

You should come to the Phoenix Film Festival:

1) If you can’t find anything good to watch at AMC

2) If you have guessed the ending to the last seven movies you’ve watched

3) If you like Michael Bay movies

4) If you like romantic comedies, any of the dozen Saw movies, or a movie that spoofs another bad movie like Another Bad Teen Movie

5) If your  tired of your favorite actor playing the same role in every movie (except Tommy Lee Jones being authoritative and Sean Bean dying. They don’t count.)

6) If you find yourself not knowing most of the films nominated for Academy Awards

7) If you come out of most movies saying, “the special effects were awesome,” but struggle to talk about the storyline

8) If you’ve never seen a film short or don’t even know what is

9) If you’ve ever said, “movies these days suck”

10) If you’ve never been to the Phoenix Film Festival but saw a poster advertising it at your favorite bar

The Grand Canyon State (a.k.a The Valentine State) turns 100 years on February 14, 2012, and you bet there’s a lot of celebrating going on. From parades and festivals to lectures and outdoor adventures, Arizonans are celebrating all that makes Arizona the great state that it is. With such a rich cultural history and diversity in interests, there will be no shortage of things to do.  Events are going on year round, but you won’t want to miss the official day of the Centennial Celebration.

February 14, 2012 Arizona Statehood Day!

7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. (Phoenix City Hall)

Arizona Native American Sunrise Ceremony (Sunrise Is At 7:12am)

 7:45 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. (begins at Phoenix City Hall)

Reenactment of Governor George W.P. Hunt’s Walk to Capitol

 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Senate & House Lawns)

Happy 100^th Birthday Arizona!

• Happy Birthday Ceremony w/ Governor Brewer (9-9:45am)
• USPS First Day Issue Ceremony (10-10:30am)
• Polly Rosenbaum Writing Contest Winners & Award (1-2pm)
• Wayne Newton (2-3pm) 

ALL DAY ACTIVITIES:

• USPS First Day Issue Stamp Sale & Cancellation
• Non-stop Arizona Entertainment
• Legacy Projects & Official Centennial Event EXPO
• Centennial Merchandise
• Phoenix Food Trucks
• Birthday Cake

Other upcoming events:

64^TH ANNUAL GOLD RUSH DAYS & RODEO, Wickenburg | (February 16-19,2012) Admission to: Rodeo, Melodrama, Barbeque, Family Carnival, contests, and Webb Center concerts. Free admission to arts/crafts faire, 4th largest parade in AZ on Saturday, old mining contests on Sunday. Award winning signature event celebrating Wickenburg’s mining and ranching heritage. 2012 is the 64th anniversary celebration. The event has been named twice by the Arizona Office of Tourism as the Best Rural Event in Arizona; and the Library of Congress named Gold Rush Days as one of the Legacy events.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES PARADE & FESTIVAL GOODYEAR AND AVONDALE CELEBRATE ARIZONA’S CENTENNIAL, Goodyear (February 25, 2012) | On Saturday, February 25, 2012, the cities of Goodyear and Avondale will host a joint parade through both cities. This inaugural parade and festival will be a celebration of Arizona’s Centennial which is being celebrated throughout 2012 beginning on the state’s 100th anniversary – February 14, 2012. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on February 25th on Litchfield Road, travel east on Thomas Road and end at Dysart Road. Depending on the number of entrants, the parade is expected to last anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. We are currently seeking parade entrants – floats, bands, vintage cars, horses, gymnastic troops, dance troops, or other entertaining parade entries. An outdoor, family-focused festival called Trains, Planes and Automobiles, celebrating 100 years of transportation, will take place at Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) following the parade from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This fun-filled event will feature gourmet food trucks, light musical entertainment, antique car displays, arts and crafts, bouncers, a Kids Zone, carnival games, face painting, balloon art, and caricature art.

ROOSEVELT’S RIDE, Apache Junction (February 24 – 26, 2012) | The project will feature a President Theodore Roosevelt re-enactor who will be the Grand Marshall for the annual Lost Dutchman Days Parade. He will be riding in an era-specific vehicle. After the parade he will drive to more locations on the historic Apache Trail where he will speak about the building of the road to carry materials for the construction of the Roosevelt Dam.

THE FOUR HIKES OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA, Oro Valley (TBD) | The hiking event will focus on the beauty of the natural environment and education. A celebration at the historic Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley will involve activities for all family members and will focus on the historical aspect of the property and the heritage of Arizona.

TOWN OF PAYSON MOUNTAIN HIGH GAMES, Payson  (June 3-5, 2011) | The Payson Arizona Mountain High Games are the Southwest’s largest celebration of adventure sports combined with ATV trail rides, and a massive outdoor expo. Professional and amateur athletes from all over the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest will converge upon the mountain community of Payson to compete in 9 different competitions for cash and prizes. This year’s sporting events include: Mountain Biking, 5K Trail Run, Dutch Oven Cooking Contest, Archery Competition, ATV Rodeo, ATV Trail Rides, The Sawdust Festival, and an old fashioned horse shoe tournament.

Arizona Facts:

Arizona is located in the Southwestern United States and is one of the Four Corners states. Arizona is the sixth largest state in area and all New England plus the state of Pennsylvania would fit inside the state.  Only 15% of the land is privately owned, while the remaining area is public forest, park land, state trust land and Native American reservations. Due to the large area of the state, Arizona has several different climates. Phoenix is known for it’s triple digit heat in the summer, but its eight plus months 60 degree to 75 degree weather keeps the city’s population growing consistently.  Arizona has 3,928 mountain peaks and summits—more mountains than any one of the other Mountain States (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) with Mt. Humpheys in Flagstaff peaking at  a height of 12,643 feet. The main industries in Arizona can be summarized as the “Five C’s”: Cattle, Copper, Citrus, Cotton, and Climate.

For more Arizona Centennial Celebration events and information, go to http://www.az100years.org/

Individual tickets for shows in the Sedona Film Festival went on sale today, Monday February 15, 2010.  Over 125 films will be featured this week with special guest speakers like Michael Moore in addition to Festival favorites like the   screenwriting workshops and Sedona Green Event.  

Show tickets are selling out quickly, so make sure to check the Sedona Film Festival screening schedule and purchase them immediately.  General admission tickets are $12. If the show you would like to attend is already sold out or says “RUSH” in the schedule block, it’s worth going to theater and seeing if you can purchase a ticket last minute.

Top 10 List of recommended Sedona Film Festival movies:

1) Burma VJ – documentary by Anders Østergaard

2) Garbage Dreams – documentary by Mai Iskander

3) Which Way Home – documentary by Rebecca Cammisa

4) Sergio – feature by Greg Barker

5) Kavi – Live Action Short by Gregg Helvey

6) A Shine of Rainbows - Feature Drama by Vic Sarin

7) The Greatest – Narrative Feature by Shana Feste

8) Polliwood – by Barry Levinson (director of Rain Man)

9) Saving Grace B. Jones – Feature Drama by Connie Stevens

10) Blood Into Wine – documentary by Ryan Page & Christopher Pomerenke

* Since this is and Arizona Travel blog, we highly recommend “Blood Into Wine” for many reasons, one of them being that this is about the Page Springs Winery here in Arizona. The vineyard is ran by winemakers Eric Glomlski and Maynard James Keenan (Tool). The vineyard is gorgeous and worth a wine-tasting visit. Imagine watching the Blood Into Wine then stopping over at the Page Springs Vineyard to experience what you just saw in the theater! 3D films? Sheesh…that’s for fakers. Head over to the vineyard itself located about 25 minutes from the movie theater…really. You won’t regret it. Page Spring’s petite sirrahs are going to put Arizona wineries on the wine vacation destination map.  Here is a video of Eric Glomski giving a wine tour; a little taste if you will. If you’re thinking about staying in town for multiple nights, you can find Sedona hotels and bed & breakfasts, some with special film festival rates on Sedona.net.

Sedona Film Festival Information

Where: Harkins 8

2081 W. Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ  86336
928-282-2221

(Hwy 89A & Sunset Dr.)

From Phoenix
Start: Phoenix, Arizona
End: Sedona, Arizona
Total Distance: 113.4 Miles
Estimated Total Time: 2 hours 

Directions / Miles
Start: Depart Phoenix, Arizona
1: Take I-17 North / Flagstaff 98.4 Miles
2: At exit 298, Exit Ramp 0.2 Miles
3: Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-179 [FR-618 Rd] 0.1 Miles
4: Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-179 14.2 Miles
5: Turn Left (West) onto SR-89A [N HWY-89A] 2 Miles
End: Arrive Harkins Theatres, Sedona, Arizona 

When: February 21-28, 2010

Ticket Price: $12 per showing

Official Website: http://sedonafilm.org/

In a recent poll on VerdeNews.com, Sedona readers selected the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa for Best Hotel 2009. Readers honored the 219-room property as best in its category among other hotels in Sedona and the Verde Valley.

“It is always a great honor to be recognized by your peers,” said Edgar Lozoya, General Manager, Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa. “Hilton Sedona prides its self on being a boutique resort that offers guests the world famous Hilton hospitality.”

Learn more about the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa, the only Sedona-area property with a 25,000 square foot full-service spa and championship golf course on-site at their website – www.hiltonsedona.com

Congratulations to the Hilton Sedona Resort - Sedona Reader's Choice Best Hotel 2009

The view of Sedona's red rocks spreads across the scenic byway like a "drive-in screen"

When you hear the phrase “drive-in,” do you picture the movie-screen-al-fresco of yesterday? Well, Sedona’s drive-in is something of a different sort.

Recently given the distinction of the only All-American Road in Arizona by the US Department of Transportation, the Red Rock Scenic Byway is the road on which most visitors “drive in” to Sedona. When you drive Highway 179 from Interstate 17, this 7.5 mile scenic stretch gently winds through Coconino National Forest rather unassumingly…and then BAM! the view from the byway opens up into a spectacular panorama of red rock formations including Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock.

Hilton Sedona Resort - Red Rock Scenic Byway Artist's Rendering

“Visitors have always known that Sedona’s topography is truly unique,” said Edgar Lozoya, General Manager at the Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa. “And with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s official All-American Road designation, we anticipate the area will attract even more sightseers.”

The Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa plays a key role in experiencing the Red Rock Scenic Byway as a “destination unto itself.”

“The designation of the Red Rock Scenic Byway as an All-American Road positions our resort as the welcoming point to Sedona,” said Lozoya.

Hilton Sedona Cascades Pool

The Hilton is Sedona’s only resort with a 25,000 square foot full service spa and championship golf course on-site, and it sits at the end of the Red Rock Scenic Byway with sweeping views of the entire area, known as the Gateway to Red Rock Country.

The 219-room boutique resort offers guests quick access to Sedona and majestic views of the red rocks. Its close proximity to the Red Rock Scenic Byway allows guests to explore miles of hiking trails through Coconino National Forest, access two of the world’s famous vortexes, and experience exceptional shopping and dining along the state’s All-American Road.

Near by Byway adventures include:
• Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding – Some of the best trails in Sedona can be accessed off the byway. Enjoy over 200 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails.
• Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock Vortexes – Only minutes away from the resort, both vortexes are considered strong centers of positive energy.
• Coconino National Forest – The second largest national forest in Arizona boasts diverse landscapes, including deserts, flatlands, ancient volcanic peaks and alpine tundra.
• World Class Art – Village Gallery is a show room for 40 local artists, and regularly hosts events to allow artists to display their pieces and connect with visitors.
• Film History – Sedona’s unique beauty has been used in feature films, video productions and commercials and still serves as a film destination by annually holding the Sedona Film Festival.

Read more about the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa at their website – www.hiltonsedona.com

Get INSPIRED this Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, get Inspired by works of fine art at the first-ever Fine Arts Exhibit & Sale at the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa. Spanning the holiday weekend, November 27 – 28, 2009, this INSPIRED ’09 special event invites people from the entire Sedona and Verde Valley area and visitors from around Arizona, other states or overseas to take a holiday and come enjoy this “All Sedona Arts Weekend” event and its festivities.

Bring the Family – This inaugural event also provides a unique, INSPIRING educational opportunity for parents, teachers, students and others in the field of education to visit this exhibition of multi-media arts in every imaginable form from all over the globe. What an inspiration this will be for aspiring young artists to talk directly with these artists!

The stars of this arts event are thirty-two outstanding Sedona artists. Among the best in the greater Sedona area, they have been invited to exhibit and to sell their unique array of artistic collections.  Artists’ offerings range from art works and gifts for holiday buying as well as incredible pieces suitable for collectors.

Featured artists to include: Barbara Vickers, Celesty Claudio, James Latham, Jeannette Tuscher, Shermane Frei, Nora Graf, Jan Saunders, Betty Carr, Robert Albrecht, Mariann Leahy, Clyde Ross Morgan, James Muir, Kaayla Fox, Barbara Ragalyi, Jerry Buley, Mary Dove, Beverly Copen, Philip Ponvert, Pat Kaufmann, Dennis Ott, Jan Sitts, Gene Dieckhoner, Joan Roberts, Mel Copen, Chris Navarro, Lorraine Fexas, Daniel Hochstein, Madak Kadam, Betty Kaufmann, Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Jack Durrwachter and Gretchen Lopez.

UPDATED: Art buyers and attendees will be able to preview artists’ biographies, plus one image illustrative of their work and their contact information on the Hilton’s website. There will be live demonstrations by several of the artists during the show.

Event Details:

Dates: Friday & Saturday, November 27 & 28, 2009 – All day
Admission: Free
Location: Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa’s Grand Ballroom – 90 Ridge Trail Drive, Sedona
Information: Beverly Copen 928-284-2520
Opening Night Reception: Friday, November 27 at 5pm. Admission & entertainment is free; food & wine tickets are $25 per person and a cash bar will also be available.

Noted plein air artist, Joshua Been, was honored this past Friday, October 24^th by L’Auberge de Sedona at the “Evening with the Artists” Gala. The hotel selected Been’s “A Creekside Breakfast” for the L’Auberge Award, which will be added to the hotel’s extensive collection of original plein air art displayed throughout the property in a permanent collection. The picturesque retreat nestled in Sedona’s Oak Creek hosted the 4^th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival’s “Quick Draw” and “Evening with the Artists” Gala.

Breathtaking views of red rocks and idyllic sounds of the creek inspired over 30 invited artists to paint the landscapes of L’Auberge de Sedona during the annual “Quick Draw,” a three-hour session en plein air. With the paint nearly dry, artists and patrons attended the “Evening with the Artists” Gala in the resort’s Monet Ballroom while enjoying both the stunning red rock setting and the artistry of the hotel’s culinary team.

General Manager of L’Auberge de Sedona, Joe Mottershead, welcomed the talented artists and art enthusiasts: “L’Auberge de Sedona is a natural partner for the Sedona Arts Center and there couldn’t be a more perfect setting than our resort to inspire artists who paint in the plein air style. We will be proud to add Joshua Been’s work to our plein air collection which is displayed throughout the resort.”

In addition to the Sedona Art Center’s 4^th Annual Plein Air Festival’s Sponsors Award – the L’Auberge Award — Joshua Been has enjoyed accolades such as the “Artists Choice” award from Estes Park Plein Air Festival 2008, Honorable Mention at Frank Bette Plein Air Festival 2008, and “Best in Show” at Art of Rockies Open Awards Show in 2006. Moreover, Joshua Been was named the “Artist to Watch” by Southwest Art Magazine in June 2008.

L’Auberge de Sedona is pleased to display Joshua Been’s “A Creekside Breakfast” in the hotel lobby’s permanent collection.

Visit Sedona in November for myriad "Red Rock Canvas" events

For three days this November, the arts and culture of Sedona will be celebrated as never before. “Red Rock Canvas,” a destination event, is a beacon to art lovers, visitors, residents and part-time residents alike.

“Red Rock Canvas” guests can fully customize their Sedona weekend getaway from November 7 through 9, 2008 with art talks and demonstrations, wine tastings, outdoor or spa adventures, and much more as all of Sedona bursts with opportunities.

Sponsored by the City of Sedona and the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and presented by the Sedona Gallery Association, visual arts will be the heart of “Red Rock Canvas.” The city comes alive on Friday night with receptions at participating art galleries, then an exclusive Saturday evening ticketed gala and tribute auction for charity – with art, an array of hors d’ouevres, cocktails and dancing. This year’s “Red Rock Canvas” honoree will be artist John Henry Waddell, a former head of the Art Education Department at Arizona State University. Best known for his stunning bronze sculptures of female nudes, Waddell has been an intrinsic part of the Arizona art world for more than forty years.

Sedona is surrounded by red rocks so magnificent, so stunningly breathtaking, that artists and those who appreciate true beauty have found themselves drawn here. World-class art galleries, award-winning spas and endless possibilities for recreation have evolved to accommodate all.

The inaugural “Red Rock Canvas” event draws upon the best Sedona has to offer. Art lovers who arrive in wonder at the area’s beauty will find themselves equally surrounded by superior art galleries. This will be an art event like none other – everywhere you look. For more information visit: RedRockCanvas.com.

Thanksgiving Weekend was glorious down in the metro Phoenix area. With temps in the mid-70s, sunshine and clear skies, it was a perfect time to spend with family and friends outside.

I stayed away from the malls and big box stores on Black Friday, but did check out one of my favorite locally owned children’s boutiques to take advantage of a big sale. Twinkle Toes, located at the Scottsdale Waterfront across from Scottsdale Fashion Square, is owned by a good friend and carries the most amazing duds for children, toddlers and babies. Good stuff.

I also ventured out on Saturday to the Biltmore Fashion Park which, I was pleasantly surprised to discover, was buzzing with activity but not ridiculously crowded. After lunch with a friend and her daughter at Cheesecake Factory, we spent some time basking in the aforementioned ideal weather on the mall’s main grassy courtyard. There was a live band and complimentary espresso and kettle corn – very festive!

Sunday, I uncovered a delightful secret; while everyone else is shopping, it’s a great time to visit the Phoenix Art Museum. I am a member of the museum and try to visit at least once a quarter – there are truly fascinating exhibits rotating there year-round that typically draw significant crowds six days a week – and was giddy to find we had the museum practically all to ourselves! My friend and I toured the New Mexican “retablos” exhibit – religious art circa the 18th and 19th centuries – and had a fabulous lunch at the Art Museum Cafe, a restaurant run by local favorite, Arcadia Farms.

If you’d like to check out any of these places in Phoenix and Scottsdale, note these upcoming events and more:

Biltmore Fashion Park

SUPER TASTE OF THE VALLEY EVENT

Sunday, December 2, 2007
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Click above for information and tickets

Phoenix Art Museum – Upcoming Exhibitions

Illuminated Manuscripts
Steele Gallery
December 11, 2007 – March 9, 2008

Richard Avedon: Photographer of Influence
Norton Photography Gallery
January 12, 2008 – April 13, 2008

Masterpiece Replayed: Monet, Matisse and More
Katz Wing, Main Level
January 20, 2008 – May 4, 2008

Tuscon Museum of Art exhibit shows its splendor in many forms

By Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.15.2006

The name says it all: Our world-famous Canyon is Grand.

Artists have noticed.

Over the past century, they’ve captured the geologic, chromatic, superstructural splendor of the Grand Canyon in media from paint and photographic film to artsy arrangements of rocks and dirt.

A rich sampling of their work is on display at the Tucson Museum of Art in an exhibition called “The Grand Canyon: From Dream to Icon.”

“It’s about seeing the Canyon in a new way — and reconnecting with it in an old, familiar way,” says Julie Sasse, the museum’s chief curator.

The exhibition showcases 60 works by 55 artists. Among them are famous painters such as Thomas Moran and Ross Stefan and photographers including legendary Ansel Adams and Tucsonan Jack Dykinga. Works by conceptual artists such as Beth Ames Swartz and collaborators Rebecca Davis and Roger Asay add a measure of experimentation and whimsy.

“The whole intent of this exhibition was to show that the Grand Canyon isn’t a static place,” says Sasse. “It’s just as compelling to a conceptual artist as it is to a traditional pictorialist.

“Seeing this work is to find out about the many different ways people connect with the Canyon.”See examples of Grand Canyon photos and art on www.thecanyon.com.