Oak Creek Canyon Block Party
It’s been a long summer for business owners in Oak Creek Canyon. Not only did they suffer through the Slide Fire at the end of May, they had to deal with the intermittent closure of SR…
Sedona vacation
Sedona Winefest
If you love wine, especially Arizona wine, there’s no better place to be Sept. 27 and 28 than the 6th annual Sedona Winefest. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2,500 wine lovers will…
Behind the Cellar Door
Thinking about building a new home or remodeling your current abode? Media rooms are passe – it’s all about the custom wine cellar. Peek inside three unique cellars and find out what local wine collectors are…
Hoel’s Indian Shop
At its worst, the 21,000-plus-acre Slide Fire in May came within 300 yards of historic Hoel’s Indian Shop – the forest service’s backburns were a mere 100 yards from the shop’s back door. But Hoel’s…
Red Rocks Music Festival
Love chamber and operatic music? Then Red Rocks Music Festival is right up your alley. Back for its 13th year, the festival takes place Aug. 28-31 with performances at the Arizona Opera Center in Phoenix (1636…
Huckaby Trail
Huckaby Trail is a favorite hike among locals and tourists alike, so it’s no surprise that it was suffering from too much love. Originally constructed in 1998, the trail was rerouted at the end of last…
Celebrate Native American Music and Dance
Head to Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village on July 5 and 6 for the Celebration of Native American Music and Dance featuring Tony Duncan, the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, Kelvin Mockingbird and Maestro Drew Diego Bennett….
Treasure Art Gallery
Treasure Art Gallery has stood in the same location on SR 179 between Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek since 1961, but its longevity can be attributed to a passionate love affair as much as…
Born to Rock
Decker Brandon Decker had been making music for 10 years when he embarked on a tour in support of his first album, Long Days. He says when the tour ended he decided to “pursue music with…
Sedona Bike & Brew Mountain Bike Race
What do mountain bikes, golf and microbrews have in common? The inaugural Sedona Bike & Brew Mountain Bike Race, which takes place at Sedona Golf Resort on Aug. 22 and 23. The race begins with a…
Sedona View Trail
The recently opened Sedona View Trail lives up to its name, offering panoramic views of West Sedona in its entirety. The trail also provides a much-needed route for hikers and mountain bikers by connecting the Airport…
Attr-active
Summer in Red Rock Country means hiking, mountain biking, golfing, swimming and tennis. Who says you can’t look hot while having a little fun in the sun? Pictured in the top photo: fedora by Pistil. Aviator…
The 8th Annual Sedona Bluegrass Festival
The creek-side park at Los Abrigados will be filled with that high lonesome sound for the 8th year in a row when Chamber Music Sedona presents its annual Sedona Bluegrass Festival concert June 7-8. The festival…
The Flagstaff Pro Rodeo 2014
Grab those cowboy boots! For the first time in five years, the rodeo returns to Flagstaff. The Flagstaff Pro Rodeo 2014 takes place June 27 (7-9 p.m.), June 28 (5-7 p.m.) and June 29 (1-3 p.m.)…
Sedona PhotoFest
Whether your idea of a camera includes the latest-and-greatest digital SLR, your smartphone or (gasp) an archaic device that uses film, there’s something for every photographer at Sedona PhotoFest, presented by the Sedona Arts Center. This…
Timo
For foodies who have been making the trek to Flagstaff, Cottonwood or even Phoenix in search of creative cuisine in a posh environment, here’s some good news: You can find what you’ve been looking for right…
Cats Have His Tongue
Sedona wildlife sculptor Ken Rowe gently places the back of his hand in front of the nose of Sage, a 25-pound, 2-year-old bobcat. Sage flicks her ears, bringing to mind an alert housecat. She sniffs his…
Picnic in the Moonlight
When the board of directors of the Verde Valley Sanctuary began brainstorming ideas for a 2014 fundraiser, their goal was to offer local residents a completely unique party. The result is Picnic in the Moonlight, which…
Copper Art Museum
When Drake Meinke was dreaming of a location for his Copper Art Museum, he started to research copper mining in the U.S. and discovered that Arizona is the largest producer of copper in the country. Seventy…
4th Annual Great Sedona Chili Cook Off
For the past several years, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village (336 SR 179) has been the place to be the first Saturday in May when it hosts the Cinco de Mayo Celebration and the Rotary Club…
Mooney Trail
With an unprecedented number of sunny days in January and February and an influx of visitors from the East Coast this winter, Sedona trails have seen a fair amount of use thus far in 2014. So…
Great Southwest
The nearly 6-foot-tall Day of the Dead Ferris wheel in the window at the Great Southwest gallery in Hillside attracts a lot of attention, as does the 5-foot-tall corn maiden katsina that greets visitors when they…
Chuck Wagon Trail
Used by mountain bikers for years, Chuck Wagon Trail only recently became an official Coconino National Forest trail. The route has been modified to accommodate hikers and provide an alternate path to Devil’s Bridge, a popular…
The Schoolhouse Restaurant
Chef Christopher Dobrowolski and his wife, Laura Fayette-Dobrowolski, opened The SchoolHouse Restaurant in Cottonwood in March 2013, and Arizonans statewide haven’t stopped buzzing about it. Located inside the Verde Valley’s first grade school (1878 to 1917),…
Celebration of Spring
Spring has sprung! Join the City of Sedona’s Parks and Recreation Department for its 6th annual Celebration of Spring on April 19 from 9 a.m. until noon at Posse Grounds Park (525 Posse Ground Road in…
The Sedona Table Reheated
In March 2009, Sedona Monthly’s first book, The Sedona Table: Recipes From the Top Restaurants in Red Rock Country, was published, and it was an instant success. The book featured 14 local chefs, 12 restaurants and…
Green Day
It’s time to don your favorite shade of green! The 44th Annual Sedona St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival returns March 15. Presented by Sedona Main Street Program, Northern Arizona University Parks and Recreation Management Program and…
Eagle’s Nest
Red Rock State Park, a 286-acre nature preserve located on the southwestern edge of town, includes 10 developed trails, daily guided nature walks and a plethora of monthly activities. Oak Creek runs through the park, and…
Tea Light Café
Tucked in a corner at the back of Hillside Sedona sits Tea Light Café, which opened its doors in November. The small eatery boasts a bright and casual indoor dining area, a patio with seats next…
Events
March 2014 Calendar Mar. 1 20th Annual Sedona International Film Festival (thru 3/2). Call 928-282-1177 for information or visit www.SedonaFilmFestival.org The PEACE Program: Project for Empathy and Compassion Education with Lisa Doskocil, 10 a.m. (every Saturday…
Wayne B. Light & DeNise L. Bowers: Sedona’s Fine Jewelry & Art Experience
When you walk into Wayne B. Light & DeNise L. Bowers: Sedona’s Fine Jewelry & Art Experience, you are immediately struck by the color, light and sparkle of the space. Large glass cases house gold and…
Sedona JazzFest
During its heyday, Sedona Jazz on the Rocks attracted thousands of music lovers to Red Rock Country. With the future of the festival in flux for the past few years, locals and visitors have lamented the…
Anthony Mazzella
They say music is the language of love, so if you are still looking for a special way to woo your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, look no further than the Old Town Center for the Arts…
Mesa Grill at the Sedona Airport
There’s one common complaint we hear about Sedona restaurants, and it has nothing to do with the food. Diners seeking a great view along with a fabulous meal have limited options; which explains why every time…
Vue: A Renee Taylor Gallery
You don’t even have to walk through the large glass doors of Vue: A Renee Taylor Gallery before you realize it’s not the same 1930s creek-side cottage located toward the back of Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts…
Red Rock Rendezvous
Friday, February 14 3:33 p.m. Check into Adobe Grand Villas There are plenty of resorts, hotels and inns that offer romance packages, but we believe the 16 rooms – if you can even call them that…
Fay Canyon
Fay Canyon has long been one of the most popular hikes in Red Rock Country and for good reason: There’s plenty of parking at the trailhead, the route is relatively flat until the end and the…
On the Run
The Sedona Marathon, which returns Feb. 1 at 9 a.m., continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Last year, the Coconino National Forest gave the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, the marathon’s organizers, the green light to…
Javelina Cantina
When we first moved to Sedona, we were obsessed with seeing the elusive javelina, a wild peccary that resembles a boar. Instead, we had to content ourselves with frequent visits to Javelina Cantina in Hillside Sedona…
West Fork
West Fork in the fall. We’ve hiked it. We’ve photographed it. We’ve written about it. We’re over it. Don’t misunderstand: Oak Creek Canyon’s most popular trail (and arguably the most heavily used trail in the area)…
12 Holiday Happenings: Christmas in Sedona
Celebrate the Holidays with the Romeros Dec. 1, 2:30 p.m., Sedona Performing Arts Center (995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road) 928-204-2415; $40 Classic guitar quartet concert. Ice Skating in Sedona Dec. 1-8 Mon.-Thur., 2-8 p.m.; Fri.,…
Teacup Trail
It’s easy to see why many of Sedona’s most iconic rock formations received their names – there’s no mistaking Bell Rock or Snoopy Rock. But Teacup Rock is a bit more difficult to discern. The best…
Sandmen
Sedona Monthly’s 7th annual cover story featuring Native American artists focuses on Navajo sandpainters. A fairly recent art form, sandpainting was traditionally used by medicine men in religious ceremonies until enterprising artists began using the medium…
Pizzeria Bocce
When Eric and Michelle Jurisin, owners of The Haunted Hamburger and Grapes in Jerome and The Tavern Grille and Nic’s Italian Steak & Crab in Cottonwood, opened Pizzeria Bocce in Old Town Cottonwood this summer, we…
Marg’s Draw
For a casual hike with stunning views, it doesn’t get better than Marg’s Draw. The trailhead is located in the center of town, the ascents are short and the red-rock pinnacles are inspiring.
Top of the World
Humphreys Peak captivated us long before we moved to northern Arizona, and judging by the number of people we encountered on our hike to the summit, we aren’t the only ones. Unlike the impressive mountain ranges…
Wine Country
Seven tasting rooms and one fabulous festival that have put the Verde Valley on the wine map. Taste the best wines our state has to offer in Page Springs and Cottonwood, and at Sedona Winefest on Sept. 28 and 29. By Erika Ayn Finch
HOT!
Hot: family-owned eateries, art classes, swinging from the trees, thrifting and funny girls. Not: Camping in front of the air-conditioner for two months. Here are 21 reasons to get out of the pool and seize life…
Modern Rocks
This season, fashionistas are rocking eye-catching black-and-white ensembles. Add some playfulness to your look with bold, modern jewelry from Sedona’s boutiques and galleries, and you’ll look like you just stepped off the runway! Photographs by…
Pizza My Heart
In Italy, they sell it by the gram. In New York, it’s by the slice. It’s deep-dish in Chicago, wood-fired in California and topped with pineapple in Hawaii. Any way you slice it, pizza tops the…
Love Thyself
Why is it that in the U.S., “pampering” is often a four-letter word, a verb reserved for the uber-selfish and the 1 percent? By Erika Ayn Finch.
10 Favorite Sedona Hikes
This month, Sedona Monthly celebrates 10 years of publishing Arizona’s magazine with the great view. Hooray for us! Hiking is one of the reasons we moved to Sedona, and since our first issue in March 2003,…
Let’s Get (Meta)physical
For years, Sedona Monthly has shied away from giving too much ink to Sedona’s New Age community for two reasons. One, it’s been done by local and international media. And two, there are more shady characters…
Happy Hour
So it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right? While boutique wineries and craft breweries will always be popular, hold on to your fedoras because the cocktail hour is making a ferocious comeback. Afterall, who doesn’t want to spend…
On the Road Again
Schnebly Hill Road Distance from the ’Y in Sedona (one way): 6.5 miles Attractions: red rocks If you have a high-clearance vehicle or a four-wheel drive, jump in and make a beeline for Schnebly Hill Road….
Zuni Style
In a remote corner of western New Mexico, near the border of Arizona, sits the 450,000-acre Zuni Pueblo. It’s the largest of New Mexico’s 19 pueblos and, according to the Zuni Department of Tourism, 80 percent…
Hog Heaven
Ah, barbecue. It’s as quintessential to summer as flip-flops and tank tops. We poked around northern Arizona for the best barbecue joints, and we came up with these six. A note to our vegetarian readers: You…
Accessories to a Crime
Fashion report 2012: We show you this season’s hottest jewelry, sunglasses, boots and scarves. These accessories are so hot, it’s criminal! But before you run the risk of jail time just to keep up with…
Dance Fever!
For a rural area, Sedona and the Verde Valley offer a surprising variety of dance classes, from ballroom to hip-hop to contra dance. So What are you waiting for? Get out there and shake your booty!…
Ruined
Navajo National Monument, located just south of Monument Valley, encompasses three cliff dwellings. Two of those dwellings are open to visitors. both are amazing destinations, but only one is truly worth the effort. Read on for…
Hopi Holidays
Dorleen Gashweseoma Lalo: Basket Maker Dorleen Gashweseoma Lalo did not learn to speak English until she met her husband, and for many years he acted as her interpreter as she traveled to museums and shows with…
Sweet Eats
The staff at Sedona Monthly have one big thing in common: We each have a ginormous sweet tooth. When we started putting together our list of favorite local desserts, our mouths began to water collectively, and…
Festival Fever
October might just be the best month to be in Sedona. Warm days with bright blue skies and billowing clouds are followed by crisp, clear evenings studded with twinkling stars. The leaves are starting to turn…
High on Sedona
Spend some time with your head in the clouds! Come fly with us as we board a helicopter, hot air balloon and biplane to discover a new perspective of Red Rock Country. Think flying is for…
Monument Valley
Monument Valley has captured the imaginations of people all over the world since Hollywood first showed us the expansive landscape and soaring monoliths in 1925. Countless photographers have been inspired by the colorful rock formations and…
Barefoot in Tlaquepaque
Fashion 2011: Summer trends are footloose and fancy free. Check out our Sedona style guide – it’s time to go shopping! Shot on location, April 18, 2011, at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village (336 SR…
That High and Lonesome Sound
In 2003, Chamber Music Sedona and the Sedona Historical Society united for Sedona’s Arts and Heritage Week, but that wasn’t the only pairing that took place that week. Wanting to try something new, Bert Harclerode, the…
Go! Get Outside! Hike!
Hiking has been our passion for years and is part of the reason we moved to Sedona in the first place. After visiting and living in Sedona for more than 10 years, we just now feel…
Wild Arizona
When families visit Sedona, it’s not always easy to find kid-friendly activities. (We have yet to meet a 10-year-old interested in a day of gallery shopping or spa treatments.) Lucky for all of us, three distinctly…
Holidays at Home
Back in December 2007, Sedona Monthly featured a cover story about all of the unique holiday events that take place in northern Arizona. Every December since that issue, we’ve received e-mails requesting that we do the…
Music to Our Eyes and Ears
Despite the public flogging Arizona has received over the past few months, we still think this is an incredible state. We have Grand Canyon and Saguaro national parks and the red rocks of Sedona in our…
It’s Beer O’Clock!
Beer is the new wine. Have you heard that one lately? While northern Arizona’s wine culture has received lots of press in recent years, our seven microbreweries have flown relatively under the radar unless you’re one…
Dream Weavers
In 2007, Sedona Monthly wrote about a Navajo family of silversmiths as the first installment of our annual cover story devoted to Native American art. Since that issue, we’ve written about Hopi katsina carvers and potters…
Road Trip!
California may be known as the car-culture capital of the country, but Arizona boasts some of the most scenic, historic and fun roads (without the traffic). Here’s a look at six of our favorites. Red Rock…
Burger Heaven
These days, it’s rare to read a restaurant menu and not see at least one burger offering, even in the most upscale locales. A few months ago, we were stopped at Bashas’ by a tourist asking…
Sedona’s Passion for Fashion!
Fashion 2010: Sure, the Sedona woman may be laid-back and favor timeless over trendy, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love to shop! Check out the latest finds from the best boutiques in Red Rock…
Surfin’ Safari: Arizona’s Big Wave
Last fall, Sedona Monthly hiked the rings of Saturn. It took us years to get there, and the permit process was painful, but the payoff was absolutely worth it. Our group included three of the 20…
History Remade
When the first issue of Sedona Monthly was published in 2003, it included a story about the filming of 1950’s Broken Arrow in Red Rock Country. Joe McNeill, the article’s author and the magazine’s creative director,…
Made in Sedona
Shop at home for the holidays. We’ve all been hearing a lot lately about shopping locally, especially those of us living in small towns like Sedona. As the only locally owned and operated magazine in Sedona…
Grand Canyon
On average, it rains on Thanksgiving Day in Arizona every 10 years. Naturally, that once-a-decade storm would bring downpours, lightning and snow to northern Arizona as we shopped for freeze-dried food and compressed our sleeping bags…
A Journey to the City in the Sky
About two years ago, on my way home from Santa Fe, N.M., I noticed the signs for the Acoma Pueblo along Interstate 40. Being a fan of Acoma pottery, I pulled off the highway only to…
Sedona Confidential
When we moved to Sedona many moons ago, we felt like we already knew the town like the back of our own hand – we had, after all, vacationed in Sedona for five years. But a…
Sedona Bed and Breakfasts
Earlier this year, TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel community (more than 10 million registered members at www.tripadvisor.com) featuring online reviews of hotels and attractions, released its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards, which include the top 10 inns…
Sedona Fashion Gets Back in the Saddle!
A lot has changed in Sedona, including local fashion, since Zane Grey’s The Call of the Canyon was filmed in the area in 1923, but our red rock skylines aren’t really fazed by 86 years….
Our Sedona Table
The story behind The Sedona Table really begins with the November 2006 issue of Sedona Monthly. To say that issue was huge would be an understatement; foodies all across the United States sat up and took…
Arizona is for Snowbirds
December is here, and if it hasn’t happened already, thousands of northern Arizona residents are watching the sky, holding their breath until the first delicate snowflake drifts down. While our friends in other locales – the…
11 Reasons Autumn in Sedona is So Cool!
Autumn’s arrival in northern Arizona heralds more than just shorter days and cooler nights – in fall, Sedona seems to awake from a sluggish summer slumber to show off all her splendor with vibrant changing leaves,…
Glittering Surprises!
Objets d’art are everywhere in fashion this season, from antique French lace and Italian crystal buttons to handpainted scarves and vintage velvet trim. Perhaps the easiest way to update your look and express yourself (not…
10 Places to Go to Beat the Arizona Heat
It’s a dry heat. Sedona has four mild seasons. Summers aren’t bad – we have monsoons. We’ve heard it all and, while we’ll admit our summers are a walk along the beach compared to our neighbors…
Guys and Dolls
The word “kachina” comes up often in the Southwest, commonly understood to refer to small dolls created by Native American artists from cottonwood root. They make for popular gifts, but many visitors are unaware of their…
The Best Spa Therapists
We’ve come to a conclusion about spas: No matter how good the treatment, it’s the therapist who matters most. That’s why we’ve dedicated this year’s annual Sedona Monthly spa issue to introducing you to six spa…
Live Your Sedona Adventure!
Opportunities for adventure in Sedona are as endless as the brilliant blue sky or breathtaking red rock vistas. It’s a fact that hits home for me every day – my husband, Daniel Finch-McCaffrey, is Hilton Sedona…
At Home for the Holidays
Yes, Virginia, there is more to the holiday season than frantic trips from mall to mall trying to get your hands on this year’s “It” item (Halo 3, perhaps?), scrubbing floors before the in-laws arrive, standing…
Wine! Inside 7 Verde Valley Vineyards
Speak to the owners and winemakers at the seven wineries in the Verde Valley and you’ll hear one thing again and again: Visitors just can’t get over the fact that vineyards are being grown and wine…
Get The Picture
Most of the millions of visitors who come to northern Arizona are connected to their cameras like it was a third eye. Wandering through galleries, seeing images of iconic locations such as Red Rock Crossing and…
Star Attractions!
For as long as humans have inhabited our corner of Arizona, their necks have been craned to the sky, gazing at the stars. Look at the pictographs of animals and hunters at the Palatki Heritage Site…
The Inner Light: Inside 3 Slot Canyons
Antelope Canyon is one of the most alluring spots in the Southwest, thanks largely to the talented nature photographers who’ve beautifully captured and shared its ethereal light beams, golden hues, and corkscrewing rock walls that seem…
Summer Casual
Sedona’s style is more about comfort than chasing trends – in Red Rock Country, women need clothes that look good and transition easily from lunch with the girls to working in the garden to happy…
Romancing the Stones
Alice Lister excitedly pulls out a plastic bag full of dusty stones from under her workbench, pulling out chunks of uncut turquoise, dark blue lapis, and purple sugilite like a kid showing off a prized baseball…
Sedona After Dark: 7 Days of Nightlife
From the first time I visited Sedona in 2000 I’ve always heard the same thing: The streets roll up at 5:30 p.m. In Sedona, it’s midnight at 9 p.m. There’s nothing for young people to do….
