The Phoenix Traveler

More than 20 Arizona authors will sell and sign their books at the 15th Annual ArtFest of Scottsdale today and tomorrow. New for this year’s event, “Book Street” gathers the authors all in one area, near the Scottsdale Mondrian hotel at the northwest corner of the festival site, in Old Town Scottsdale.
A few travel writers, including Christine K. Bailey, author of Destinations: A Complete Guide to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona and Central Arizona, and Teresa Bitler, whose Great Escapes Arizona was just released are scheduled to appear.
Also plan to see arts & crafts booths, food and live music at the festival …read more

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This photo was taken by me two summers ago on a trip to Southeastern Arizona. It was raining, and a waterfall came pouring down this creek that hugged the side of the mountain. Just for fun, can you name the mountain where this creek is located? If so, post your comment below. I’ll check back in next week to post the correct answer.

(Photo used with permission by Jackie Dishner.) 
Technorati Tags: Post Creek,Phoenix travel blog,Southeastern Arizona,photo,Jackie Dishner

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First stop: Sedona. Next stop: wine country. It’s a day trip to the Verde Valley–one of Arizona’s hidden gems.
Called Sedona Wine Tours, this guided trip calls out to those of you who love Sedona and love to visit vineyards but didn’t know you could have both on the same day. You can.
To play it safe–no drinking and driving–let Detours take you there.
Detours, a Phoenix-based tour guide company, created this trip to give guests the opportunity to safely explore Arizona’s rich wine region in the Verde Valley. Even with four wineries open, the tasting rooms are still relatively …read more

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If you don’t plan to bring the 20-pounder home with you from the grocery store, if you’ll be in town and away from home on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 27) without plans,  or if you just don’t plan on cooking the big meal this year, here’s a short list of local resorts that will serve a gourmet feast for you (Click on the names to see the menus):
Arizona Biltmore  2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. For dinner reservations, call 602-381-7632. Cost: $85/adults; $45/child (age 12 and under). Dinner is served from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. A brunch buffet is also …read more

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In a recent post here at The Phoenix Traveler, one person posted a comment about being “too poor to travel.” Boy, do I understand that, which is why it’s good to know that there’s always budget travel options to consider.
For instance, Now that gas prices have dropped below $2.30/gal., how about a road trip? In less than two hours, you can hop in your car, pick east or west, and wind up in small town Arizona where you’ll be able to see the Western lifestyle up close. No need to reserve a room, take the dog to the kennel, or …read more

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They call the main drag High Street, and it cuts through the center of Phase I of the new controversial shopping plaza east of Desert Ridge Marketplace. It’s called CityNorth and just opened this week, north of the 101 Freeway at 56th Street. (I didn’t bring my camera, so, sorry, no pictures.)
In a deal with city of Phoenix, developers reap profits from the sales taxes paid by consumers who will be shopping and dining here–50 percent of the profits, I read online. That’s a lot of dough to give away, and I can see why people are upset, what with …read more

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A microphone used by Edward R. Murrow in 1938, a Phoenix Gazette street sales box–with a copy of the last issue of the paper from 1997–and other news-worthy items are among the artifacts on display at the Marguerite and Jack Clifford Gallery. The gallery is the new museum debuting this week at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Open to the public, the gallery (located on the second floor) also showcases items and information about the school’s namesake, Walter Cronkite, and his long career in broadcasting.  
MUSEUM DEDICATION–part of a week-long schedule of events (Nov. 17-21) to celebrate …read more

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While he’s still in the news and on your mind, I thought I’d look up articles and information about John McCain, the Republican senator from Phoenix who just lost the presidential election to Barack Obama. I focused on finding information that might give you a bit more insight into our state. I came up with these. You’ll see there’s a running theme involved:
_Here’s one from HGTV.com. It’s a decorating Web site to which I contribute, so too bad I didn’t think to pitch this story about John and Cindy McCain’s cabin near Sedona. It’s actually in Cornville–also part of the …read more

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A few of the original cast members and VIP’s from the iconic TV show, “Happy Days”, will be in the Gammage Theater audience on opening night for the Tempe debut of the musical stage version of the hit TV show.
Producer/writer/director Garry Marshall, Anson Williams (Potsie) and Don Most (Ralph Malph) are among the noted celebrities who will attend the Tuesday, Nov. 18 performance.
Heeeeey, it should be cool. The cast and VIP’s plan to arrive in classic 1950s cars and walk the red carpet.
Gammage, part of Arizona State University, is located on Mill and Apache. 
SHOW DETAIL:
HAPPY DAYS ● NOVEMBER 18-23, …read more

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I’m no mycophile (lover of fungi), but next time I hear about the mushroom club scheduling a mushroom hunt, I’m going to invite them into my neighborhood.
I should have taken pictures this past summer, because white mushrooms were growing wild here. I found them grouped together in my yard, sticking out of the cracks and crevices of my neighbor’s brick wall, and growing elsewhere. I don’t know if they were the edible kind; I don’t eat mushrooms and certainly didn’t try them. My dog didn’t even sniff at them. But I couldn’t get them to stop growing. I’d mow …read more

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