Flag Live - April 2023

Tow’rs released their sixth studio album, “Joy Alchemy,” in late March and will be going on a West Coast tour in May. Read more on page

Much Ado about Nothing

About a decade ago I was invited by Dan, a jazz pianist, to be a participant at an artist’s retreat. I met Dan at a Nevada Arts Council meeting held in the conference room of a swanky Vegas mega-hotel. We were panelists awarding grants to arts organizations around the state. I could hear the faint musical encouragement of casino slot machines as we sat behind name cards discussing the dozens of applications stuffed into lethally sized binders. Cigarette smoke drifted into the room whenever the door opened.

Dan told me about the retreat over lunch. He was looking for jazz musicians and poets, he said, because “metaphor and improvisation are two of their food groups.” I was game.

In late July, 10 of us met on a dock outside of International Falls, Minnesota and boated to a small island in the boundary waters between the United States and Canada. No agenda, no schedule, no wake-up calls, no Wi-Fi.

We spent most of our time solo, canoeing, swimming, staring at clouds and retreating into our cabins to read, write or work on whatever we were working on. In the evenings, we gathered, cooked a communal dinner and sat around a scarred, wooden table sharing the meal and conversation that circled around the idiosyncrasies of creativity.

When Dan had invited me, he asked if I would be interested in leading a loose discussion around the dinner table one evening. Any topic, he said.

I chose nothing.

Nothing. No thing. The opposite of everything. The absence of anything I wanted to talk about the role of nothing in the things we made. What kind of nothing was something for each of us?

I know that talking about nothing can make your brain curly and overheated. It’s like thinking about infinity or what it feels like to be dead. There’s no satisfactory landing pad for your thoughts, and the

more you think, the muddier it can become. Philosophers have been duking it out over the concept of nothing for millennia, beginning with the recorded history of the Greeks, who took the stance that nothing was not a viable concept. It isn’t possible, they posited, for nothing to exist. Even metaphysicists, who most often train their pointy-headed hypotheses on what does exist, have ventured into the business of looking at some of the more popular scientific flavors of nothing: omissions, vacuums and void.

We weren’t metaphysicists or philosophers. We were a bunch of artists sitting around a table drinking boxed wine, deconstructing what we do When we spoke of nothing, our conversation tilted toward ideas of rest, pause, space and silence. We talked about the kind of nothing that makes our something, something. The rest between notes. The silence between sounds. The space between words. We turned toward Eastern philosophies where nothingness is cousins with emptiness

Taoist teacher Lao Tsu said, “We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.” The Chinese word for emptiness is kong; it is seen as the space between, a fertile place between lives, breaths, musical notes, words. The Japanese have the concept of ma, which is applied to all aspects of life.

It is described as an interval, the artistic interpretation of an empty space. It is the vital place for things to develop or be.

Emptiness as an aspirational idea does not appear to attract influencers, clickbait or memes. It is anathema to the shop-buyreplace culture we’ve created. It’s impossible to snap for Instagram posts How do you inspire envy when it is nothing that you are aiming for? Empty, pause, rest, nothing we connote these as terms that mean without, to have not. In a culture that competes on accumulation and exhibition, where is the value in nothing, in the opposite of everything? Can we have it all if what we want is nothing?

After dinner that night, I sat on the porch of my cabin thinking about silence, rest, pause. I thought about poems and

saxophones, birdsong and running water I inventoried my life, considering the stranglehold of productivity, the spin cycle of technology and the pace I create sometimes that leaves me saturated and numb.

What can I do to create more of those spaces where peace and creativity can germinate and bloom? What do I need to invite more metaphor and improvisation? Nothing.

Laura Kelly

EVAN BUCHHOLZ

Hot picks

MONTH OF April

liGHTS, CAMErA, ACTiON!

Here’s your motivation: you are a film-obsessed Flagstaffian who knows what’s what and checks out the FlagstaffMountainFilm Festival. Easiest role you’ve ever heard of, right? Well, we agree. FMFF has been a fixture of the community for 21 years now, and with every year that passes,they continue to grow and diversify,welcoming in new stories with new perspectives from all around the world This year, the festival welcomes over 50 films to the OrpheumTheater,celebrating earth, rivers and canyons, LGBTQ+ and transgender visibility, local and global Indigenous Knowledge, practice and ceremony Among the films being shown are “Tad’s Emerging World,” a film about conservation photographer Dawn Kish’s journey documenting Glen Canyon, “Borderlands,” which follows 25 asylum-seekers fleeing the 1980 Civil War in El Salvador and “Walking on Clouds,” a story about one man’s attempt to cross a highline between two hot air balloons.As always,they continue to elevate nonfiction filmmaking and offer a cultural alternative to the mainstream film experience.It’s a refreshing and familiar thing to return to every year,and if you would like to participate in the festivities, visit their website at flagstaffmountainfilms.org.

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» FRIDAY | 4.14 ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE

Flagsta Symphony Orchestra’s latest season has been incredibly strong. From “Celebraciones!” and “The Nutcracker” to “Classical Music Goes West” and “The Best of John Williams,” they have managed to demonstrate the versatility of classical music and the powerful grandeur of a symphonic performance, and though their season is nearing completion, they plan on going out with a bang. Joined by NAU’s Shrine of the Ages, directed by Timothy Westerhaus, FSO will be performing Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Mass in Troubled Times,” also known as the “Lord Nelson” mass. The entrancing chorus paired with the resounding symphony will result in a transcendent performance that is not to be missed. In the same spirit, the orchestra will also be performing Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony and end the season on, what FSO describes is, “one of the great victorious resolutions in the classical repertoire.” As always, this performance will be conducted at Ardrey Auditorium, and if you would like to witness it, you can purchase tickets on their website at flagsta symphony.org

» THURSDAY | 4.27 FLAP IT, FLY IT, FLAUNT IT

Welcome to Dragsta , U.S.A. and prepare yourself for a show that’s going to knock your socks o . Known for their extravagant drag performances and fervent political advocacy, FLAUNT is presenting the first Not Your Mother’s Drag Show: a ball for every king, queen and thing to strut their stu . Hosted by Saraya Lagrange, come to the Orpheum Theater to witness the tricks of Mango Sorbet, the flips of Jayde Justyce and so much more. FLAUNT is the first place to be for all things drag as they produce their own shows, cast a diverse array of artists and performers and constantly work to bring change to the community through art and expression. If you would like to attend this one-of-a-kind drag show, visit the Orpheum’s website to purchase tickets at orpheumflagsta .com

A shot from “Walking on Clouds,” a story about one man’s attempt to cross a highline between two hot air balloons.

» ONGOING | SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL THE 2023 SEASON IS THE REASON

The Pepsi Amphitheater is back in action with a lineup for the spring, summer and fall that is unlike anything we’ve seen before. To kick off the beginning of the season on May 2, they’ve got young blues star Charley Crockett; followed by the incomparable folk band CAAMP and the return of Michael Franti; June welcomes back the classic Made in the Shade beer festival. Continuing into July, they’ve booked Dave Koz and Friends as they travel for their Summer Horns tour and Shine On Floyd, a true-to-life, Pink Floyd experience. In August, they landed the amazing Young the Giant & Milky Chance with Rosa Linn, which will, undoubtedly, be one of the most exciting performances in Flagstaff this year, the iconic and fluffy comedian Gabriel Iglesias and also, Rebelution on its Good Vibes Tour 2023 September features the beloved Pickin’ in the Pines festival and October caps off the season with Goose. More dates also will be added to the schedule soon, but as an introduction to the year, we can already say with confidence that this year’s concert series is going to exceed expectations. If you would like to purchase tickets for any of the shows listed below, visit Pepsi Amphitheater’s website at pepsiamp.com.

NANCY WIECHEC

Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill has unveiled its lineup for the 2023 season.

Katie arranged ever y th i n g

Local author and illustrator, Katie Vernon, publishes a new book for kids

Camille Sipple

Since she was young, Katie Vernon was always arranging things, from her entire bedroom, to bouquets of flowers; however, after working as a florist for years, Vernon found she had a knack—and a passion—for illustration.

“I’ve always loved creating work that is beautiful but also a little bit weird,” Vernon said. “And I’ve been able to do that in a lot of different illustration markets, such as greeting cards, home décor and editorial.”

At first, Vernon said she had shied away from illustrating or creating picture books, simply because she had kept them up on a pedestal for so long, she doubted her ability to live up to them. Eventually, however, she said she decided it was time to try her hand at picture books and tackle being an author/ illustrator.

“Typically, for me, a story starts with an image, so it was really exciting to finally kind of face that pedestal and put the words and pictures together,” Vernon said.

As a nod to her own tendencies, Vernon wrote and illustrated a picture book entitled “Ari Arranges Everything.” The book follows a young child named Ari who loves arranging things.

“[Ari’s arrangements] start off small, but then it builds and builds until it gets a bit out of hand,” Vernon said. “In the end, they [Ari] learn to find some balance between their passion and how it affects those around them.”

In creating the book, Vernon said that a couple of her absolute favorite scenes include Ari’s massive flower arrangement, because of the sheer artistic detail she was

“Ari Arranges Everything,” Katie Vernon’s new book, is about a kid who has a penchant for... well, arranging things.

was able to include, and a spread depicting a jazzercise class. The flower arrangement spread was one of the first portions of the book that Vernon completed, she explained. After creating such a detailed depiction of a plotline in her head, Vernon said she felt that she could actually go through with the book itself and succeed.

Flagstaff has been a very warm and welcoming community throughout her journey as an artist and now an author, Vernon said. In the five years that she has called the city home, Vernon said she has been able to connect with local galleries and businesses such as The Heart Box and Plantae to display her work.

This book represented a project different from anything else Vernon had ever created. She explained how excited she has been to be able to share her book with the community.

“Working alone in my studio on such a big project for so long and then, finally being able to share the book with friends and family and total strangers and see their reactions and support has been so wonderful,” Vernon said.

Another point of success for Vernon was the fact that she has received compliments on the book from not just children but adults as well.

“When you write a children’s book, you’re writing it not just for the child but also for the adult who’s reading it,” Vernon said. “So hearing from fellow parents that they enjoy reading it is so gratifying.”

Following “Ari Arranges Everything,” Vernon said she has a couple of more picture books in the works. In July of this year she plans to publish a children’s book entitled “Happy Halloweenie.” This book will feature a hot dog attempting to dress up for Halloween and will be structured as a simple rhyming board book, Vernon explained. Additionally, Vernon is working on a third picture book that will be based around a little girl learning how to plan parties for a bunch of different characters such as ghosts, vikings and many more; the third book is set to publish in 2024.

Vernon said she is immensely grateful for the support she has received from the Flagstaff community and is overjoyed to be publishing her first official picture book.

“Thanks for the support,” Vernon said. “I look forward to creating many more weird and beautiful projects in the future!”

“Ari Arranges Everything” is available on shelves everywhere right now. Vernon’s work can be found on her website, katievernon. com, or her Instagram, @katievernonart.

Katie Vernon

Taking breaks

After returning to school following spring break, people asked about my time off, and I usually responded along the lines of, “It was nice. I was able to relax and not do much.” Every time, they responded with a variation of “Good! You’ve been pretty busy lately,” which is an understatement to say the least.

my meetings and classes. Those 20 minutes are frequently used to travel between meetings on different parts of campus Never spent getting coffee with a friend, catching up on homework or eating lunch outside.

Emily Gerdes

I don’t sit still often, which leads me to be constantly involved in every activity that presents itself. If you name an organization on campus there is a strong possibility I have been a part of it or worked with it in some capacity. This spring break reminded me, it is okay to do nothing.

For some, a week away from school entails a period of time when they can let loose. Go partying with friends, forget responsibilities and generally speaking, make bad decisions Since I am graduating in May, this was my final college spring break, but mine looked a little different.

I did not go downtown because only one of my friends was in town, and I spent a large portion of the week sitting on my couch or in my car. To be frank, I would not change it for the world.

It isn’t unusual for me to schedule only 20 minute “breaks” between

At the beginning of spring break, having a free 20 minutes was intimidating and unimaginable. It was hard to realize I finally had time to do more than one load of laundry at a time, vacuum the whole house at once, finish reading the book I had been staring at for months, bake cookies, clean the oven and dust the house! What do I do after all those tasks are done?

I’ll be honest, I felt lost and empty once I finished the initial chores I needed to complete with nothing else to do. What does a type-A scheduler do with an empty calendar? Well, I’ll tell you. She cleans every counter in the kitchen from top to bottom. She takes the long way on the walk to the mailbox. She binges season two of Bridgerton. She reorganizes the living room blanket collection. She spends the entire morning hanging up new lights and pictures. She sleeps. She sleeps for nine hours straight.

As nice as it was to not have a laid-out schedule with every minute planned, I was able to take a deep breath once Sunday night rolled around. However, the first week back to school I was already begging President Cruz Rivera to cancel classes.

FLAGSTAFF RECORD RECS

Three new, local albums to listen to as the weather warms

Matthew

Hayden

As the great thaw begins and the people of Flagstaff start donning their shorts, sandals and other summertime attire, it comes time to start building warm-weather playlists to keep you company while out for a jog or catching some rays.

Lucky for you, great local music abounds with new albums from CoCec,

Tow’rs and Le Trebuchet, offering listeners a variety musical flavors and perspectives that are sure to whet your palate for more, so please, read on to learn more about the unique stories that these albums have to tell and the artists who create them.

Flagstaff music is back, baby, and it’s better than ever!

The Taurus and the Geek

Local hip hop duo, CoCec, tangles with reconciliation and reconnection in their new album ‘The

Colin Haviland is one half of the hip hop group CoCec, and he does not like to let things go untouched.

In the sixth grade, when his friend Mike Heffley introduced him to The Roots, that curious impulse invited him to explore the world of independent and mainstream hip hop, it allowed him to reach different cultures from the comfort of his Flagstaff home and encouraged him to confront the idea of white privilege—a concept that was foreign to him at the time. So, years later, when he stumbled upon an unused beat pad from 2014—the first one that was ever given to him— repurposing that and other untouched demos became of paramount importance.

This nagging penchant quickly became the guiding principle of CoCec’s newest album, “The Inimitable,” a joyful and cohesive work of artistic reconnection and personal reconciliation. Produced by Cecil P. Tso a.k.a. Tsoh Tso, the other half of CoCec, the album offers a crisp and contemporary sound that elevates the emotion of each track and crystallizes Haviland’s message, but the results that came from this production were hardly expected by either member of CoCec.

“So originally,” Tso explained, “[‘The Inimitable’] was just going to be like a B sides kind of thing because most of the beats … are old… So the original plan for this was just to put something out.”

“But it all came together,” Haviland added, “and by the time we tracked it out, it was like this cohesive piece. This feels right. This feels like an album. It’s so rare that that happens. Like, where it doesn’t just feel like a bunch of singles that stop and start.”

Tso chuckled, “It’s kind of a miracle.”

For CoCec, “The Inimitable” is a miracle that is well-earned after years of repeatedly stepping away from and revisiting the project, but for Haviland, specifically, the way this album has come together is an affirmation of his artistic goals and his attempts at critically examining himself to determine what he needs

to be happy. The end result is introspective, authentic and ultimately, uplifting.

“It’s kind of self-serving in a way—as with most hip hop,” Haviland said, “It’s also a reminder to others of the same thing that I need to be reminded of, ‘Love yourself. It’s a hard world out there but know that other people are going through the struggle; especially in the last three years.’”

In many ways, “The Inimitable” is a COVID album without the COVID. It’s Haviland trying to address the mental and physical toll that the pandemic has taken without using the, oftentimes, triggering language that has been suffocating for so many. Some of the verses, he admits, are more personal than anything he’s ever written, but he’s not worried about anyone noticing.

“I’m not trying to get anyone’s attention,” he continued, “I’m just trying to vent. I’m really just trying to say those things that maybe I don’t get the chance to say often to the people I wish I could.”

From the golden-age intro “39” to the deeply personal mid-album track “The Taurus & The Geek” to the reflexive conclusion “Another 44,” Haviland and Tso have created a 10-track record that manages to be both thematically complex and stylistically unique with the help of the album’s featured artists.

Tré Orona and Carnage the Executioner bring flows that harken back to hip hop legends MF Doom and De La Soul while the hypnotic, indie interludes of Moltensky and Donivan Berube are reminiscent of artists like Modest Mouse and Phoebe Bridgers. This strange amalgam of genres works incredibly well, creating a sound that is, at once, contemporary and nostalgic.

“The Inimitable” is a supremely wellcrafted piece of work that pushes the listener to engage with their self; their impossible-to-replicate, perfectly matchless, inimitable self. It is a must-listen for locals and hip hop fans alike, and it is available now on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

CoCec is made up of lyricist Colin Haviland and beat maker Cecil P. Tso a.k.a. Tsoh Tso

IN SEARCH OF JOY

At the beginning of the pandemic, Kyle Miller, one half of the husbandand-wife duo Tow’rs, went out for a run on Observatory Mesa.

“I was trying out this new sort of thing,” he explained. “I had been reading about this thing called the runner’s high and the correlation between doing creative work and running and like, how to sync those up.”

Somewhere towards the end of that long run, between the metronomic beats of his heart and feet, a title popped into his head: “Joy Alchemy.” Years later, through careful cultivation and collaboration with Gretta, Kyle’s wife and fellow lead vocalist, and their loyal troupe of supporting performers, that title would evolve to be the foundation of Tow’rs’ sixth studio album; a mature and uplifting reflection on the choices that we do and do not have control over It’s an impressive entry into the band’s oeuvre, but its success lies not only in the familiarity of their sound but also in the way that they have executed the themes of “Joy Alchemy” in a tangible way.

In the initial brainstorming process, the Millers wrote a lot of their ideas and lyrics for the album on an old typewriter to establish a sort of permanence to their work and ground the, oftentimes, discombobulated poetry to their real life experiences.

“[It] was fun to kind of step into like these random scraps of paper all over the place that were typewritten,” Gretta said. “Like, how do we mold these ideas into something; something that still has an openness to what it means but is graspable.”

This commitment to every letter helped focus the album on themselves and the changes that they’ve had to make to find joy, but aside from the thematic introspection, the choice to narrow their focus allowed them to finish every song before they went to the studio to record their album live.

The decision to record live gives “Joy Alchemy” a wholesome quality that’s difficult to grasp, but as a seasoned music producer in his own right, Kyle suggests that it’s impossible to make something sound like it was done live without re-

cording live.

“It’s a feeling,” he said, “there’s microphone bleed, and there’s a type of energy of like, making eye contact with the people you’re recording with and it truly capturing a moment rather than layering all the pieces, which is what our past albums have been.”

There’s an honesty to a live record that’s hard to replicate, and the limits of this choice have forced the duo to ask themselves if they are okay with who they are; if they are capable of allowing their songs to speak in a way that they can feel proud of And if so, they can celebrate the freedom that comes from accepting the beauty of their work’s imperfections.

“Joy Alchemy” is a fully realized album. From its conception on Observatory Mesa to its live recording in Lafayette, CO, this 10-track record captures a palpable realness that is uncommon in a music industry that so often sacrifices originality for uniformity and poetry for consumability. Each song stands out, offering their own unique colors for the listener to paint with while also staying consistent conceptually.

The opening track, “Love is a Constant Changing,” is an energetic and touching entrée into the general themes of the album while songs like the dreamy yet melancholy “Forgone,” the simple yet delightful “Bakers Dozen” and the complex yet celebratory “Southern Facing Room” dig into the minutiae of a little life; the small battles that are earned with love and by loving. It’s a lyrical journey that ends with “Clouds,” an uplifting call for us to find the joy in uncertainty and allow room for change.

From beginning to end, “Joy Alchemy” lives up to its name, offering up a magical concoction of tracks that recognizes hardship for what it is and joy as something that can be earned.

The album is available now on Spotify or wherever you get your music. If you would like to see Tow’rs perform “Joy Alchemy” live, they are going on a West Coast tour in May and are performing in Flagstaff on May 5 at the Coconino Center for the Arts. Check out their website at towrsmusic.com for more information.

Tow’rs’ sixth studio album, ‘Joy Alchemy,’ is a fully realized exploration of choice and the magic of change

Kyle and Gretta Miller ground their poetry in real life experiences

ALBUM ART BY EMILY KELLEY

Ramblin’ men

Le Trebuchet’s new EP, ‘Without Warning’, is an acid-soaked trip through the Southwest

Miles of land separate the members of Le Trebuchet.

As the crow flies, a sum total of about 538 of them lie between drummer Alec Mayes in Durango, guitarist and singer Jeff Nickell and bassist Alec Tippett in Flagstaff and guitarist Jay Meyer in Bisbee, but despite the growing distance and contraction of time, the four musicians have produced a new EP titled “Without Warning”. Recorded in February 2020 at Frogville Studios in Santa Fe, the album feels like an ode to a ramblin’ man, wandering the Southwest, searching for … something.

In a conversation with Meyer, he admitted that it would be really cool to say that there was a specific story that Le Trebuchet was trying to tell with this new record, but this time, that isn’t the case.

“I think the throughline would just be a reflection of our lives in the Southwest,” Meyer said, “We do spend a lot of time on the road, all of us, traveling for work, and we’re all into the same things. And I think that’s why we come back together and continue playing.”

As a band that manages to meet only three or four times a year, their ability to remain connected and active is unparalleled, but Meyer suggests that their unique lack of time, though challenging, has allowed them to mature as both friends and musicians. The key, he says, is “finding ways to respect each other’s growth, process and creativity in that shared space.”

For Le Trebuchet, this manifests in the rehearsal and touring logistics— meal planning, drive scheduling, nap breaks, etc. Meyer says that this level of focus has allowed them to maximize their time together and grow closer as a result.

“Friends who haven’t seen us play for a long time, they’re like, ‘I don’t know how you guys do it, but you sound tighter and tighter every time you get together,’ and I think that’s a reflection of, like, our personal dynamic. I think that shows on stage in

a way that’s a little hard to quantify,” Meyer explained.

It’s this feeling of reunion that drives their high-energy performances, and it’s their ability to allow each other space that put them in the mindset that they needed to create “Without Warning”.

Similar to their previous albums, “Without Warning” has a timeless, rock ‘n’ roll vibe that’s sort of hard to place—each track feels rooted in its own musical history. The opening song, “Stonehouse”, chugs to a strong blues rock rhythm that harkens back to Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Chuck Berry, while the final song, “Turquoise Eyes”, is soaked in a psychedelic, west-coast vibe that feels reminiscent of The Doors.

From front to back, “Without Warning” takes listeners on an acid-soaked trip through the history of rock, transporting them to the dusty Southwest where the sun can be at once refreshing and harsh. The top notch production quality is the icing on the cake, making an already-compelling record into punchy, propulsive and digestible six-track piece.

Every new song that the band releases is an investment in themselves and an affirmation of their commitment to each other and the music.

After performing an electric show at Yucca North in February, Meyer hopes that they will be able to show off their new tracks at some larger venues in the region.

“We’ve been wanting to play some bigger stages,” Meyer said, “and I think the biggest hurdle there for us is just scheduling because everybody gets so busy in the summer. It’s hard to find one that we can all jump in on.”

But despite these challenges, Le Trebuchet isn’t worried. If “Without Warning” proves anything, it’s that challenges offer new opportunities.

“Without Warning” will be released on April 11, but if you’d like to hear more of Le Trebuchet’s music, you can listen to their first two albums “Volume II” and “The Overthrow” wherever you get your music.

RENE RIVAS

“Without Warning” will be released on April 11

ALBUM ART BY CHELSEA KAVENAUGH

Plastic Makes it (Im)possible

In the 1990s, the American Plastic Council launched a series of advertisements to persuade the American public that, as Mr. McGuire tells Dustin Hoffman in the film “The Graduate,” “There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?” Does Dustin Hoffman think about it?

If, after Dustin Hoffman entices the bride to run away from her wedding, together jumping on a bus to take them away from plastic suburban life, do they eventually buy return bus tickets to regular bourgeois life? Does Dustin begin a career working for the American Plastic Council? Will he go on to design ads that recommend a plastic-filled life to all of America?

In the 1990s, the American Plastic Council made a series of ads to convince Americans that plastic could do no wrong. In one, an image of mother and her daughter shopping at an old timey market, flies buzzing over naked chicken, naked carrots, naked meat. That image gives way to images of a shiny, new mother and daughter at a modern grocery store where her meat, her cereal, even her vegetables are properly dressed in protective films of plastic. The only buzzing comes from fluorescent lights above. One ad where skateboarding kids wear helmets and kneepads to “protect my patella,” as one precocious kid cheerfully points out, loops to another ad that begins with a women careening through barricades as the voice-over dauntingly speaks:

By the end of the week, 7 more lives will be saved (plastic airbags). By the end of the day, 16 people who couldn’t walk, will (plastic prosthetic limbs). By the end of the hour, these special filters will help make 25,000 more gallons of water ready for drinking (cool pipes). And by the end of this message, one more premature baby (heartbeat) will be protected (incubator). All of which is made possible with the help of a material, we call (dom dom) plastic.

*My daughter, born early, was incubated for weeks after she was born. My kids where helmets made out of plastic. My car is 50% plastic. I love my well-piped drinking water and the airbag armedand-ready for whatever barricades my womanly driving ways takes me through. But what Mr. McGuire, the Plastic Ad Council and Mr. Daunting Voice manage to make in their promises is the conflation of types of plastic. Single-use plastic is not the same as durable, long-term use plastic. The plastic in the supermarket is not the same plastic that is in the helmet of the skateboarding boys which is not the same as the plastic in the airbags or the plastic in the baby’s incubator. By eliding the differences between the purposes and types of plastics, the plastic propaganda machine can elicit a kind of “you’re either with us or against us” response. The suggestion: if you don’t use plastic, you might die of flies or car crashes or being born prematurely! It was a threat we took seriously. Wrap us up, American Plastic Council! With petroleum coating we shall bounce!

While I was walking my dogs, I poked

my head into someone’s recycling bin looking for something that would substitute for a poop bag because I had run out. In that bin I saw a plethora of recycling that Flagstaff’s recycling stewards have begged and begged people not to include. In Flagstaff, you can only recycle plastic that bears the number one in the middle of that churning triangle. Not all plastic is bad. Not all plastic is recyclable. Even of the plastic that people deliberately put in their recycling bins only 9% is actually turned back into plastic. The vast majority of plastic ends up on slow boats across big oceans where countries whose economic interests (read, not rich) are willing to take our garbage, for a fee. You’ve heard of the giant plastic islands that swirl around the middle of oceans. Scientists predict that by 2030, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future, reported that high-income countries send twice as much plastic to less-well-off countries than previously thought. We hide our plastic consumption, in the ocean, in other countries, in our landfills, in our recycling bins as if not looking at if actually made it disappear. A toddler’s peek-a-boo kind of system. A petroleum company was recorded saying it doesn’t matter how many electric cars people buy – they’ll make up the market for selling oil to plastic companies. They expect plastic use to double by 2050.

When I drive in my mostly plastic, mostly gas-powered (hybrid) Toyota to

work, I pass by the Dutch Bros in Aspen Place. The cars idle, spewing their Co2 into the sky while incredibly happy people with mostly plastic iPads walk up to their windows to take orders from customers who would like a grasshopper double squirt smoothie coffee please.

The grasshopper double squirt smoothie coffee comes in a plastic cup just like the Coke at McDonald’s comes in a plastic cup and the iced Macchiato from Starbucks comes in a plastic cup. Take-out from Someburros and from Pita Jungle comes in plastic (not tin!) tins. The Gatorade comes in plastic. The packaged chicken from Whole Foods comes in plastic. If I were a performance artist, I would wrap the world in Saran Wrap and say, see, this is what the world is now! One planet, secured in plastic. Plastic is the bag in which we wrap our garbage-plastic, plastic planet in.

In the summer, I was complaining to my 13 year-old son that he had to get the Gatorade bottles off the floor. He said, “Mom, what if I just left the bottles there?” Mainly he said this because he didn’t want to clean his room. But maybe he has a point. Isn’t it better to know where your garbage is? Shouldn’t we have to live with the plastic we create? Imagine our roads and forests lined with water bottles, Coke bottles, Gatorade bottles, plastic bags, plastic forks and spoons, yogurt containers, straws, Lean Cuisine containers, raspberry cartons, sriracha bottles, milk gallons and candy wrappers. We could look upon the glory that is all the plastic we ever needed to make this planet as safe as possible.

Nicole Walker

Masters of Brewtality straighten their bow ties for a visit to the 1899 Bar and Grill

Welcome back to the crypt, boils and ghouls! This month, we’re resurrecting our equally sporadic and beloved special feature, “No I Don’t Come Here Often,” with a visit to the totally haunted, north side of campus for a feast at the criminally underrated 1899 Bar and Grill.

How haunted, you ask? Probably about as much as any of the other buildings on that ancient part of campus, but we’d put money down that if you hung out long enough, you’d see something. The staff here at MOB will always remember our single semester in Taylor Hall where stereo settings would move by unseen hands and windows and doors would open close on their own accord. Not much, but still something!

We heard rumblings about the potency of the cocktails here when 1899 first opened some years ago and, when we checked it out, we weren’t disappointed. The margarita we sampled was easily one of the strongest you could put together while still being able to call it a margarita. We pride ourselves on being pretty good at drinking, and one of those took us to the moon. The food was great, too, and there’ll be an update on that later.

Flash forward to last month when we took the whole Masters of Brewtality crew out of their subterranean lair for a hopeful repeat. Things hadn’t changed much at all, which in these times of constant and almost never positive renovations, was honestly reassuring. A little consistency gives one just a

whisper of stability, and we could all use a bit of that these days. Most impressive is the massive fireplace that looks like something out of a steampunk-take on a Tim Burton film. The color scheme is muted enough to maintain an aura of class that you’d never expect on a college campus and the lighting is dim enough to create a noir ambiance that we night-dwellers love. Shockingly clean bathrooms, too, which should be a mark of deep, deep shame for several local establishments that will not be named.

We hit 1899 right around opening on a Tuesday and were pleasantly surprised to see it reasonably busy but not slammed. The old folks seemed to recluse themselves in the corner bar while the fresh-faced future of the world laughed in large groups in the main dining room. We went for a light lunch of Cesar salad and red pepper Gouda soup and, being connoisseurs of both dishes, we were impressed. The soup was rich and creamy and topped with a drizzle of basil oil that complimented the light acidity of the tomatoes and peppers immaculately, and the Cesar was as classic an expression of that dish as we’ve found in town. Simple, straight-to-the-point and well-executed. The menu is split into lunch and dinner sections, and, thankfully, most plates are under the $20 mark which is refreshing as prices have gone up everywhere else. They do offer more expensive, highend fare like Atlantic salmon and Ribeye, but the emphasis was placed mostly right up the middle. Our fast friend bartender Ryan Kinens recommended the lamb burger for lunch, and we’re going to be all

over that like maggots on roadkill next time we’re in.

Onto the drinks! The selection of fine, craft beer and cocktails is as thorough as any other bar in town. Local brews on tap include the ever-present Mother Road Tower Station, several taps from Cottonwood’s favorite That Brewery, Grand

Canyon and Historic. Odell, Breckinridge, Firestone Walker, State 48 and Blue Moon also made the cut, and the bottle selection had every macro-brewery standard you could want before hitting the big game or whatever the normal people who drink that sort of stuff do. The first measure of any tap is cleanliness. Again, there’s a few local establishments that shall not be named that could take a pointer from 1899 here, everything was clean with no funky off-flavors from dirty lines. The pours were done with an elegant grace that Ryan, with just a year under his belt there, pulled off perfectly. Each pint had just enough head, they were poured at the proper angle so as to not flatten the beer, and served immediately, ice cold.

Remembering the glory of the years-ago margarita, we wanted to kick the afternoon into high gear, so we thought we’d have a round. Wisely, this was not the degenerate display of hedonism we had last time, but it was executed like a proper margarita should be: just enough mixer to frame the flavor of the tequila and just enough bite to make you feel like you’re actually having a drink with alcohol in it. There’s nothing we hate more down here in the MOB crypt than drinking without feeling like we’re drinking. “I just follow the recipes,” Ryan said. There’s hope for the kids after all!

All in all, we’d give 1899 an 1899 on a scale of 10 and will be back anytime we pop out of the secret tunnels that run under the campus. This is one of Flagstaff’s best kept secrets, and we’re always ready to ruin that. Until next month, cheers!

Mike Williams

GAIL G. COLLINS

Flagstaff’s 1899 is more than an elegant, retail venue with global cuisine.

Full Disclosure: Whitey Winchester tests the cut of his caffeinated sails on the Coconino Coffee Crawl

Full Disclosure: Whiteney Winchester ‘Ol Whitey done swapped ethanol fer caffeine, hopefully fer good. Suffering bouts of alcoholism my whole adult life, I figgered’ my liver deserved to retire. No regrets: Whitey swilled enough hooch fer two or three incarnations.

Once upon a time pre-COVID, the bar

at the Hotel Monte Vista opened at 0630 and the coffee was two bucks. I’d join Bob— my late, lamented, fellow-traveling Old Guy—and we’d hold the fort until the hospital night shift nurses and lab technicians showed up to unwind. Nowadaze, the earliest they start servin’ is 0830, weekends only and the price doubled, but I’m getting

ahead of myself by a couple of hours. Begin at the beginning I say.

Every morning at the crack of ass, Whitey bellies up to the bar at Kickstand Kafe on the Basha’s end of Humphries. Drip for here please, and I don’t care what kind. Danger Monkey, Work Ethic, Illy or Black Mamba, long as it’s hot coffee. Oh,

and some cream. I like watching the staff hustle and bustle, a well-oiled machine overseen by Bridget, who used to manage the Museum Club back in the day. Anyhow, ya gets a free refill, so call me Mr.Two-andDone.

On Saturdays and Sundays, I leave Kickstand to parallel park on Route 66, just east

In this file photo from 2018, Audrey Canyon brews a small, smooth and strong cappuccino at Firecreek Coffee Company.

JAKE BACON, ARIZONA DAILY SUN

of San Francisco. Then trot over to Firecreek. A cup of Joe is twice as expensive there, but they still replenish your cup once, and the ambience is worth the price of admission. The walls are covered in local art, and I’ve picked up more than one purty piece for twenty bucks, give or take. Depending on your tastes and your budget, could be something there for you too.

Round the corner on the north end of the Flag Brew courtyard sits the Flagstaff Coffee Company. In my drinkin’ daze, I regularly partook of their Irish coffee. Not exactly a healthy breakfast, but mighty tasty and a bit of a buzz to boot. (Just sayin’.) In my sober state since, I poke my head in from time to time to check on my buddy Liz the barista, and generally walk out carrying a coffee with cream to go.

But most weekends I head straight from Firecreek to the Monte V, for old times’ sake. Years ago, I waxed enthusiastic about the experience in this very rag. Dig it up on line if yer ever sufficiently curious. These days, you can usually find me at the short end of the bar, best spot in the house to take a gander at wildlife seated along the east-west axis. Pull up a nearby stool if ya like, but fair warning: Whitey can be quite the Chatty Cathy when comfortably caffeinated.

Back in the day, Late for the Train inhabited the erstwhile filling station on Fort Valley Road next to Fratelli’s Pizza. The place is still a coffee joint, and I give ‘em my patronage on those occasions when a digestive event strikes me sudden-like while I’m motoring in the vicinity. Ya see, they got some real-deal old-school restrooms, tile-work Americana worth checking out if ya ever gotta go real bad. Customers only, though, so do the right thing, and make a purchase before or after ya done yer business. As fer Late for the Train per se, it’s downtown on Aspen now.

No discussion of the local coffee scene would be complete with-

out mentioning Macy’s. Once upon a time before I moved to Flag, Ol’ Whitey would always stop there whenever he was passing by on I-40. Sometimes, when I’m feeling nostalgic, I head south of the tracks fer a Café Viennese. That said, mostly now I just ramble from Kickstand to Firecreek to the Monte V. Of course, it ain’t purely the Java Jive that moves my feet. Truth be told, the friendly folks serving the stuff are a primary part of the pleasure of any caffeine crawl. The aforementioned Bridget and Liz, plus Scott at Firecreek and Jac at the Monte V. Hard to beat the Coffee Crews of Coconino. I seen ‘em come and go. Nothing lasts forever. True statement. ¡Carpe Diem!

Late for the Train’s patio is a beautiful place to relax with a cup of Joe once the weather warms.

ONGOING

MONDAY

Dark Sky Brewing: Locals Monday. Every Monday from 12–10 p.m. enjoy $2 o non-barrel aged pours 10 oz and higher for Flagsta locals.

Bingo Night. Play bingo every Monday from 6–8 p.m. $5 entry fee.

Museum Club: Open Mic Night. Every Monday night from 6–9 p.m. Bands welcome. Many musicians have been asked back for paying gigs.

Oeno Wine Lounge: Hospitality Night. Every Monday, hospitality workers get 20% o their order. Proof of employment required.

Tappy Hour. Monday-Friday 12–4 p.m. All wine and beer taps are half o .

TUESDAY

Flagsta Brewing Company: Poet Brews. Poets and writers are welcome to share their work with the public at this open mic. Sign up at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m.

Jazzercise: African Dance Class. Lessons focus on the traditional dances from Guinea, West Africa. 6:45–8:15 p.m.

Museum Club: Line Dance Lessons. Every Tuesday from 5–8 p.m. Karaoke. Every Tuesday from 9 p.m. to close.

Oeno Wine Lounge: Teacher Tuesday. Every Tuesday educators get 15% o wines.

Tappy Hour. Monday-Friday 12–4 p.m. All wine and beer taps are half o .

Unity of Flagsta : Join Jackie Labanok for yoga from 10–11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY

Brews & Cues: Brews Trivia. Eight rounds of hosted trivia. Up to 6 people per team. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. $3 Mystery Bags and $2 Jello Shots. 6:30 p.m.

Charly’s Pub and Grill: Wednesday Night Blues. Presented by Northern Arizona Blues Alliance. 6:30–9 p.m. East Flagsta Community Library: Family Storytime. Every Wednesday from 10:30–11:15 a.m.

Firecreek Co ee: Singer-Songwriter

Open Mic. Share your original songs between 7–10 p.m.

Gopher Hole: Karaoke & Service Industry Night. Happy Hour prices for service industry personnel from 6 p.m. until close with the singing starting at 9:30 p.m.

Mead Hall: Trivia Night. Themed categories, including visual and sound, and prizes for the winners. 6–8 p.m.

Oeno Wine Lounge: Warrior Wednesday. All active military and first responders get 15% o .

Tappy Hour. Monday-Friday 12–4 p.m. All wine and beer taps are half o .

THE PULSE

NORTHERN ARIZONA’S DAILY EVENT LISTINGS » APRIL 6–MAY 3, 2023

Shift: Wine Wednesday. Half-priced bottles of wine all evening.

Weatherford Hotel: Blues Night at Charly’s. Every Wednesday night from 7–9 p.m.

Uptown Pubhouse: Team Trivia. Join them every Wednesday for what Flagsta ans are calling “the best trivia night in town!” 7:30–9:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

Dark Sky Brewing: Trivia Night.

TAPP’D Trivia! Thursdays 7–9 p.m. at the DSB Beer Garden

Gopher Hole: Trivia Night. Doors open at 6 p.m. with trivia starting at 6:30 p.m.

Mead Hall: GREENLAW. Live Celtic music at the Mead Hall every Thursday at 7 p.m.

Museum Club: Free Line Dance Lessons from 5–8 p.m. Free Country Swing Lessons from 7–8 p.m.

Dimes with DJ FRSH. Amazing drink specials from 8 p.m. to close.

Oeno Wine Lounge: Wine Tastings. Stop by between 5 and 7 p.m. to enjoy $20 wine tastings and $5 tastings for club members.

Tappy Hour. Monday-Friday 12–4 p.m. All wine and beer taps are half o .

FRIDAY

Flag Tag AZ: Family Friday Laser Tag. Get two games of laser tag for only $10 per person from 12—11 p.m.

Jazzercise: Casino Rueda in Flagsta .

Cuban-style Salsa Dancing followed by social dancing. 7:30–10 p.m.

Museum Club: Acoustic Happy Hour. Live country music from 5:30–10 p.m. Check the schedule for shows and times.

Oeno Wine Lounge: Tappy Hour.

Monday-Friday 12–4 p.m. All wine and beer taps are half o .

SATURDAY Museum Club: Live country dance bands every week from 8:30 p.m.–1 a.m.

SUNDAY

Dark Sky Brewery: Pints and Poses: Yoga at the taproom every Sunday morning from 10:15–11:30 a.m. $15 fee per class.

Sunday Funday. Live music every Sunday at the DSB Beer Garden 4–6 p.m.

Flagsta City Hall: Flagsta Community Farmers Market. Celebrate your community and the hard work of its regional small growers and small businesses at the farmer’s market every Sunday. 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

Jazzercise: Ballroom social dancing. Dance lesson, open dancing from ballroom and swing to latin dance genres. 5:15–7 p.m.

Museum Club: Latino Night. Celebrating Latino and Spanish music

every Sunday from 9 p.m.–2 a.m.

Oeno Wine Lounge: Wine Education Night. A 30 minute lesson on wine topics starting at 4:30 p.m. $20 per person.

Yucca North: Degenerate Bingo For Grown Folks. All supplies included, happy hour specials and prizes for winners. 4–6 p.m.

Thu/4.6

VARIOUS EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: 2023 Trail Running Film Festival. A diverse array of filmmakers shares their stories of adventure, inclusivity, wilderness, art and diversity in the trail and ultra community. 6:30–11:55 p.m.

Gopher Hole: Popcorn, Ping Pong and Board Games. Every Thursday in April, enjoy hours of fun and games with complimentary popcorn. 6 p.m.

Fri/4.7

MUSIC EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Hemlock. Heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada with chugging ri s, rhythmic grooves and catchy-ass lyrics. 7–11:55 p.m.

Gopher Hole: The Hourglass Cats. A desert reggae and rock ‘n’ roll collective based out of Phoenix. 9:30 p.m.

VARIOUS EVENTS

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs. 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Downtown Flagsta : First Friday Art Walk. Join Downtown Flagsta between 5–9 p.m. for a series of special art exhibitions from local vendors, live music and more.

Flagsta Aquaplex: 13th Annual Small Business and Community Health Fair. Features free health screenings, fitness advice, health insurance and wellness information. 7 a.m.–12 p.m. Coconino County Cooperative Extension: Flagsta Community Seed Swap. Get your free seed bomb and learn about the resources available to you to help conserve water.

4–7 p.m.

Creative Spirits Downtown: Grand Opening Ceremony. Half-priced special class to celebrate the opening of their downtown branch. 5:30–8 p.m.

Sat/4.8

MUSIC EVENTS

Yucca North: Israel Vibration. Pure Jamaican reggae from a trio of harmony masters. 7–11:59 p.m.

Charly’s Pub and Grill: Jacqui Foreman. Local and soulful singer-songwriter that delivers an eclectic mix of folk and classic rock. 6:30–9 p.m.

Gopher Hole: DJ P-Phunk. Listen and dance to some killer tracks with DJ P-Phunk. 9:30 p.m.

VARIOUS EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Bikini Bottom Bash. Grab your bubble buddies and show o your moves to “Electric Zoo” and other beats dropped by DJ Granger. 8–11:55 p.m.

Flagsta Extreme: 2023 Tillman Honor Run. Annual 4.2-mile run to honor the legacy and impact of former Sun Devil and Army Ranger, Pat Tillman. 9 a.m.

Creative Spirits Downtown: Creative Kids Painting Classes. Drop your kids o for 90 minutes of shop time or stick around and paint with them for a fun, creative afternoon. This week’s theme: Let it Bee. 4–5:30 p.m.

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs. 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Willow Bend: Annual Eagle Celebration. Celebrate the beauty of eagles with Liberty Wildlife and the Arizona Watchable Wildlife Experience.

11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Lake Mary Water Treatment Plant: Free tour. Learn about the water treatment process in this tour presented by the City of Flagsta . Must sign up.

10–11:30 a.m.

Sun/4.9

VARIOUS EVENTS

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs. 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Mon/4.10

VARIOUS EVENTS

NAU’s International Pavilion-Auditorium 101A: The Better World Film Series. Special event with free food and DIY information on how to conserve water. Today’s film: “Truth Tellers,” presented by Professor Ted Martinez. 6–8 p.m.

Tue/4.11

VARIOUS EVENTS

NAU’s International Pavilion-Flex Lab 106: The Better World Film Series. Special event with free food and DIY information on how to conserve water.

Today’s film: “Last Call at the Oasis,” presented by Flagsta Water. 6–8 p.m.

Wed/4.12

MUSIC EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: The Wood Brothers. A folk-rock, roots band, touring for their seventh studio album, “Kingdom in my Mind.” 6–11:55 p.m.

VARIOUS EVENTS

NAU Student Union: NAU Open Market. Learn how to be more e cient with your water usage and celebrate Water Awareness Month. 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

NAU’s International Pavilion-Au-

ditorium 101A: The Better World Film Series. Special event with free food and DIY information on how to conserve water. Today’s film: “The Monarch,” presented by SSLUG and the Flagsta Sustainability O ce.

6–8 p.m.

Thu/4.13

MUSIC EVENTS

Dark Sky Brewing: Jazz Funk Trio. Josh Moore and the Jazz Funk Trio plays every second Thursday of each month. 5–7 p.m.

VARIOUS EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: 21st Flagsta Mountain Film Festival. Celebrate the wonder of nature and humanity through the lens of non-fiction filmmakers from the American West and beyond.

Gopher Hole: Popcorn, Ping Pong and Board Games. Every Thursday in April, enjoy hours of fun and games with complimentary popcorn. 6 p.m.

Fri/4.14

MUSIC EVENTS

Ardrey Auditorium: Haydn and Beethoven: Victory in Times of Struggle. In the season finale of their 73rd season, Flagsta Symphony Orchestra is joined by NAU Shrine of the Ages to perform works by two of classical music’s most genius composers. 7:30 p.m. Charly’s Pub and Grill: Tommy Dukes and Roger Smith. Local blues musicians perform from 6:30–9 p.m.

VARIOUS EVENTS

Flagsta City-Coconino County Public Library: City of Flagsta Job Fair. Talk with PROSE, FPD, Public Works, and other city departments to hear about current job openings, learn how to create a resume and cover letter, participate in mock interviews, and more. 12–5 p.m.

High Country Motor Lodge: Star Party. Join astronomers from Lowell Observatory for an evening under the stars. 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Orpheum Theater: 21st Flagsta Mountain Film Festival. Celebrate the wonder of nature and humanity through the lens of non-fiction filmmakers from the American West and beyond.

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs. 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Museum of Northern Arizona: Easton Collection Center Tour. Behind-the-scenes tour of the Platinum LEED-certified Easton Collection Center. 3—4 p.m.

Sat/4.15

MUSIC EVENTS

Downtown Flagsta : Femme Fest 2023. Music and art festival organized

by Mountain Town Sounds to uplift women and femme voices in Arizona. 11–1 a.m.

Yucca North: Blaze Ya Dead Homie. Gangsta and horrorcore rapper whose stage persona is a resurrected gang member who was killed in the 80s. 7–11:59 p.m.

Gopher Hole: Matt Miller. Local baritone guitarist and singer-songwriter. 9:30 p.m.

VARIOUS EVENTS

Orpheum Theater: 21st Flagsta Mountain Film Festival. Celebrate the wonder of nature and humanity through the lens of non-fiction filmmakers from the American West and beyond.

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs. 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Creative Spirits Downtown: Creative Kids Painting Classes. Drop your kids o for 90 minutes of shop time or stick around and paint with them for a fun, creative afternoon. This week’s theme: Quidditch Match. 4–5:30 p.m. Sun/4.16

MUSIC EVENTS

Yucca North: The Brothers Comatose. Five-piece bluegrass band with a lot of energy. 7–11:59 p.m. Downtown Flagsta : Femme Fest 2023. Music and art festival organized by Mountain Town Sounds to uplift women and femme voices in Arizona. 11–1 a.m.

VARIOUS EVENTS

Museum of Northern Arizona: Slow Art Day. Join MNA to pause, look longer and reflect upon the work of Joella Jean Mahoney. 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Orpheum Theater: 21st Flagsta Mountain Film Festival. Celebrate the wonder of nature and humanity through the lens of non-fiction filmmakers from the American West and beyond.

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs. 7:30–9:30 p.m. Mon/4.17

VARIOUS EVENTS

Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center: Senior Book Club. Every third Monday, join your fellow seniors to discuss a new book. This month they are discussing “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman. 1–2 p.m.

Tue/4.18

VARIOUS EVENTS

Flagsta City-Coconino County Public Library: Movie Tuesday. Every

third Tuesday,join the library for movie night Thismonth’smovie,“ThePublic”

5:30–7:30 p m

Cline Library Assembly Hall: NAU Film Series Join NAU for a free showing of “The Elephant Man” 7 p m

Wed/4.19

MUSICEVENTS

Yucca North: Codefendants

NOFX’s Fat Mike’s newly launched hip hop-new-wave-flamenco project

7–11:59 p m

VARIOUSEVENTS

Bright Side Bookshop: Climate Solution Series Join the shop in celebrating Water Awareness Month.

6–9 p m

Buffalo Park: “Step Into Health”

Walking Club Every third Wednesday of the month, join North Country HealthCare for a walk between 3:30 and 4:30 p m

Thu/4.20

MUSICEVENTS

YuccaNorth: Vieux Farka Touré Malian guitarist who’s been compared to Hendrix 7–11:59 p m

VARIOUSEVENTS

GopherHole:Popcorn,PingPongand Board Games Every Thursday in April, enjoy hours of fun and games with complimentary popcorn 6 p m

Fri/4.21

MUSICEVENTS

OrpheumTheater: Kalan FrFr Collegiate athlete turned burgeoning hiphop star, channels his emotions into

his performance 9–11:55 p m

Yucca North: Agent Orange An OG punk rock band that blends punk and surf rock 7–11:30 p m

VARIOUSEVENTS

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs 7:30–9:30 p m

Sat/4.22

VARIOUSEVENTS

Bushmaster Park: Earth Day Celebration 2023 Join the community in honoring our one and only planet with contests and events that are both fun and sustainable 9 a m –2 p m

Orpheum Theater: Spencer James Winner of the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas and a regular at the Tropicana and MGM Grand,James is a must-see 7–11:55 p m

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs 7:30–9:30 p m

Creative Spirits Downtown: Creative Kids Painting Classes Drop your kids off for 90 minutes of shop time or stick around and paint with them for a fun, creative afternoon This week’s theme: Folk Art Forest 4–5:30 p m

Sun/4.23

MUSICEVENTS

YuccaNorth: Snail Mail An indie rock solo project led by guitarist Lindsey

Jordan 7–11 p m

VARIOUSEVENTS

Theatrikos Theater: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” This musical is a fast-paced, interactive, crowd-pleaser with hilarious and catchy songs 7:30–9:30 p m

Mon/4 24

VARIOUSEVENTS

EastFlagstaffCommunityLibrary:

Pride in Your Community: LGBT+ History of Flagstaff Learn more about Flagstaff’s LGBTQIA+ history with our group of panelists from the Commission on Diversity Awareness and Flagstaff Pride. 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Tue/4.25

MUSICEVENTS

OrpheumTheater:SammyKershaw Country-music icon,famous for songs like “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” and“Queen of My Double Wide Trailer” 6:30–11:55 p m

VARIOUSEVENTS

Cline Library Assembly Hall: Pathways to Research Speaker Series Keynote speaker Dr Kira Banks, Professor ofPsychologyatSaintLouisUniversity, talks about how experience can lead to systemic change 6–7 p m Wed/4.26

VARIOUSEVENTS

EastFlagstaffCommunityLibrary: Teen Party Ages 12-17 are welcome to join the library for pizza,crafts,temporarytattoos,avideogametournament and more 2:30–4 p m

NAU Student Union: NAU Open Market Learn how to be more efficient with your water usage and celebrate Water Awareness Month 11 a m –2 p m

Thu/4 27

VARIOUSEVENTS

Orpheum Theater: Not Your Mother’s Drag Show Join NAU’s FLAUNT to witness the incredible tricks and flips of our town’s most talented drag artists 8–11:55 p m

EastFlagstaffCommunityLibrary: Flagstaff Water Talk Join Water Conservation Services to discuss future water conservation endeavors for Flagstaff with Q&A time 6–7 p m

GopherHole:Popcorn,PingPongand Board Games Every Thursday in April, enjoy hours of fun and games with complimentary popcorn 6 p m Fri/4.28

MUSICEVENTS

OrpheumTheater: Drezo LA-based producer and DJ whose sound has been described as bold, aggressive and malevolent 8–11:55 p m

Charly’s Pub and Grill: Jacqui Foreman Local and soulful singer-songwriter that delivers an eclectic mix of folk and classic rock 6:30–9 p m Sat/4.29

MUSICEVENTS

YuccaNorth: Sway Wild The artistic collaboration between internationally acclaimed indie folk-rockers Mandy Fer & Dave McGraw 7–11:59 p m

Charly’s Pub and Grill: Jacqui Foreman. Local and soulful singer-songwriter that delivers an eclectic mix of folk and classic rock 6:30–9 p m

VARIOUSEVENTS

Foundry: Flagstaff Foundry Variety Show Join City of Flagstaff Water Services,WaterConservationProgram and participate in conservation kit giveaways and learn more about the DIY resources you have to save water and money. 7–10 p.m.

FlagstaffAquaplex: Ahoy to Health: Anchors Aweigh to Wellness Free community event that features free health and dental screenings, free sports physicals and tons of great information about children’s health and wellness 11 a m –2 p m

Gopher Hole: Costume Dance Party Theme to be announced Check GopherHole’swebsiteforupdates.9 p.m.

Willow Bend: Adult Workshop: Tree Pruning Learn how to prune trees with ISA Certified Arborist and Municipal Specialist, Tom Hanecak 10 a m –12 p m

Fort Tuthill County Park: 10th Annual STEM Celebration STEM City, Flagstaff celebrates the importance of STEM 1–4 p m

NorthernArizonaYogaCenter: How to Stop Self Sabotage for Women A two-hour workshop exploring the nature of sabotage and how to create boundaries 1–3 p m

CreativeSpiritsDowntown: Creative Kids Painting Classes Drop your kids off for 90 minutes of shop time or stick around and paint with themforafun,creativeafternoon This week’stheme:SeaTurtles 4–5:30 p m Sun/4 30

VARIOUSEVENTS

HeritageSquare: Global Market for Girls’ Education 2023 Flagstaff student- and teacher-created art for sale, music and dance performances to raise funds for OneNewEducationandprovidescholarshipsforgirlsindevelopingcountries to go to school 10 a m –4 p m Mon/5 1

VARIOUSEVENTS

ClineLibraryAssemblyHall: NAU Film Series Join NAU for a free showingof“MoonriseKingdom”7 p m Tue/5.2

MUSICEVENTS

PepsiAmphitheater: Charley Crockett An American blues, country and Americana singer, guitarist, and songwriter Doors: 7 p m | Show: 8 p m Wed/5.3

VARIOUSEVENTS

Flagstaff City-Coconino County

PublicLibrary: Game Night Bring friends,co-workers or family for a night of fun presented by Vault 5–7:30 p m