I hear this is a great show: The Theatrikos Theatre Company continues its presentation of Cabaret, on Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.  The play brings to life the dark, sexually-charged decadence of 1930s Berlin. It sizzles and provokes with classics such as Wilkommen, Money, and of course, Cabaret.  Continues on weekends through February 18^th.  Doris Harper White Playhouse in downtown Flagstaff.  Tickets.

The NAU School of Music continues its High Country Concert Series on Friday afternoon.  The series presents musical performances by students accompanied by light refreshments and snacks.  High Country Conference Center, 2:30 p.m.

Bundle up and head downtown on Friday evening for Flagstaff First Friday Art Walk.  It’s the monthly celebration of the Flagstaff art community where downtown galleries, businesses and studios open their doors for special shows, performances and refreshments. 6 p.m.

On Saturday, the National Park Service offers an extraordinary treat with a Discovery Hike (guided) into Wupatki National Monument areas rarely seen by the public.  See spectacular ruins and rock art that has been preserved for hundreds of years.  Hikes begin at 12:00 p.m. every Saturday through March 31^st.  Reservations are required.  Hikes are moderately difficult.  Park entrance fee is required.  For more information, call (928) 679-2365.

NAU Men’s Basketball vs. Portland State, Saturday, 6:35 a.m., NAU’s Rolle Activity Center.

To kick off Flagstaff’s celebration of the Arizona Centennial, make plans to be at the Northern Arizona Centennial Fandango on Saturday evening at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel.  Music by the Burnett Family Bluegrass Band with brief remarks by Jim Babbitt and Schnebly Heidinger.  Ongoing show of historic photos, hors d'oeuvres and cash bar.  Period costumes encouraged.  7:30 p.m., $20/person.

Flagstaff Shelter Services is having a Homeless Shelter Benefit Dinner on Saturday evening to raise money and increase awareness of hunger and homelessness in Flagstaff.  A four course meal will be created by seven local chefs from Cottage Place, Karma Sushi, 1899 Bar & Grill, Red Raven, Josephine's, High Country Conference Center and Abineau Lodge.  Cocktails at Coconino Center for the Arts, 5 – 7 p.m., with dinner seating at 7 p.m.  $75 plus 4 non-perishable food items.

Other entertainment picks:  See Flagstaff blues guitarist Ray Rossi at Altitudes Bar & Grill on Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.  Also on Saturday it’s the Flagslam Poetry Showcase, 7 p.m.  Sundara Fine Art Café and Boutique. $3.  Poetry featuring Christopher Fox Graham, You Phonik, and Evan Dissinger and music by Lilah Rose.

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I've already got two galleries picked out for this coming Friday's stroll through downtown Flagstaff:

Pieter Schaafsma's "One Man Show" opens this week at Gallery 113 (113 East Birch Avenue).

I also want to stop in at Arizona Handmade/Fire on the Mountain to check out the selection of Debbie Leavitt's Rock & Roll Album.

Of course, there will be much more, as there always is at Flagstaff's First Friday Artwalk.

On Friday evening, the Flagstaff Symphony presents Showcasing the FSO.  Soloists: bad-to-the-bone trombonist David Vining, and Louise Scott, violin; Mary Beadell DiBartolo, cello; Rebecca Kemper Scarnati, oboe; and Kent Moore, bassoon.  Selections include Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont in F Minor, Op. 84; Haydn’s Sinfonia concertante for Violin, Cello, Oboe, and Bassoon in B-flat Major, Hob. 1:105; Tomasi’s Concerto for Trombone; and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93.  NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.  Tickets.

See JesterComedy standup comedian Bob Kubota on Friday evening at The Orpheum, in downtown Flagstaff at 9 p.m.  Performing since 1987, Kubota’s penchant for dry wit, lighthearted sarcasm and deciphering life’s ironies has led him to shows across the U.S.

Theatrikos Theatre Company presents Cabaret, beginning Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.  The play brings to life the dark, sexually charged decadence of 1930s Berlin. It sizzles and provokes with classics such as Wilkommen, Money, and of course, Cabaret.  Fridays and Saturdays through February 18^th.  Doris Harper White Playhouse.  Tickets.

Start Your Own Business with the help of Coconino County Community Services with classes starting on Saturday.  Classes are classroom-based, online or as independent study.  (Classroom training runs 8 weeks in Flagstaff.)  Coconino County Building, 2625 N. King St.

NAU Women’s Basketball vs. Sacramento State, Saturday, 6:35 p.m., NAU’s Rolle Activity Center.

On Saturday, join the excitement at the Northern Arizona Wedding Expo, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel.  Caterers, photographers, reception venues, DJs and more.  Make all your wedding plans in one place.

Other entertainment picks:  See local singer-songwriter Matt Bingham on Friday evening at Charly’s Pub & Grill at the Hotel Weatherford, 9 p.m.  See up-and-coming, Abilene-based country star Aaron Watson on Saturday evening at the iconic Route 66 Museum Club. 9:30 p.m.

Come live in Flagstaff! It's so much fun!

The 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest surrounding Flagstaff is one of the most diverse national forests in the country, with landscapes ranging from pine forests to the famous red rocks of Sedona to alpine tundra.  Its beauty and diverse recreation opportunities are a part of why it’s so wonderful to live in Flagstaff.

The Coconino National Forest has the largest stand of ponderosa pine in the world.  Hiking, sightseeing, wildlife watching, boating, fishing, camping, horseback riding and skiing are the predominant recreation activities enjoyed in this land of mountains, forests, prairies and lava flows.

Large herds of elk roam the forests and edgelands. Bald eagles and ospreys live and hunt around the lakes. Pronghorn antelope graze the prairies.

Features of the Coconino National Forest:

• Elevation: 2,600' to 12,633' (Flagstaff itself is at about 7000’)

• Pine-covered plateau cut by deep canyons and bordered on the south by the spectacular Mogollon Rim, a 1,000-foot cliff running for miles across central Arizona.

• San Francisco Peaks, including Humphreys Peak (12,633').

• Trout fishing in several lakes and streams.

• All or portions of ten wilderness areas.

• Boating on Lake Mary

• Hunting for elk, deer, antelope, and turkey.

• Scenic drives include: Around the Peaks, Lake Mary-Long Valley Road, Oak Creek Canyon and the Mogollon Rim Road.

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When you’re ready to buy a home in Flagstaff a try, start here: BestFlagstaffHomes.com.

On Saturday evening in Flagstaff, the Coconino Center for the Arts hosts the opening reception for it’s 10 x 10 Show – 100 artists – 10” x 10” works of art – 100 years of Arizona history.  It’s an examination of what happens when 100 artists each create a small work of art exactly the same size.  7 – 9 p.m.

The Flagstaff Light Opera Company continues its production of the new musical play, All the More to Love, on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Based on a real-life shop for plus-size women (and for guys who like to wear their clothes) with music ranging in style from country to R&B and opera, it's a must-see for everyone who's ever fought the battle of the bulge or broken a New Year's resolution.   Coconino High School Auditorium. Continues next weekend on January 20 & 21.

On Friday evening, the Flagstaff Folk Project presents Vincent Z, singing and playing traditional melodies and rhythms from around the world – truly a sampling of World Music – samba, beguine, rumba, gypsy swing, soukous, and more..   All ages.  Beacon Unitarian Universalist Church (510 N. Leroux), 7 – 9 p.m.

On Saturday afternoon the CocoNuts Robotics Team at Coconino High School hosts the High Altitude Robotics Extravaganza.  23 teams from four states compete in robotics challenges with robots they have designed and built, Qualification round for the first world championship in St. Louis in April.  Coconino High, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

NAU Women’s Basketball vs. Idaho State, Saturday, 3:05 p.m., NAU’s Rolle Activity Center.

It’s Great Gatsby Night on Saturday at Uptown Billiards. Celebrate with a 1920s/Speak Easy style costume party and contest, DJ’d prohibition era music throughout the evening, the (in)Famous Uptown Billiards Burlesque show, costume party with trophies for the Most Gatsby, Best Costume, and Best “Eyes of Eckleburg.” 8 p.m.

Also at the Coconino Center on Saturday night, the Grand Canyon Guitar Society presents Swedish guitarist Johannes Mollers, winner of the Guitar Foundation of America’s Concert Artist Competition, now on a 50-concert world tour.  Enjoy his charismatic and soulful performance. 8 – 10 p.m.  Tickets

On Sunday, the Stories to Life Series continues at the Coconino Center for the Arts, bringing together words and music, taking the audience on a journey of Arizona history. Travel the cowboy trail and be a part of 100 years of Arizona tales, featuring Tony Norris and Warren Miller.  Stories to Life provides a setting where classic tales, poems and literature come to life through the talents of spoken word actors amidst the backdrop of live music from the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. 4 p.m.

Other entertainment picks:  Deadheads unite on Saturday night as the Orpheum Theater presents Grateful Dead Tribute Band, Xtra Ticket, 9 p.m.  A Southern Rock band that’s been setting the Dallas/Ft. Worth area on fire, the Josh Davis Band, plays The Museum Club, Friday and Saturday, p.m.

Flagstaff weather:  Sunny on Friday with a slight chance of showers for the duration of the weekend.  Daytime highs near 50 with overnight lows near 30.

When you're ready to join us living in Flagstaff, start here for Flagstaff real estate advice.

The 2012 Flagstaff Sled Dog Races are a ‘go’ for Saturday and Sunday in spite of the sunny, mild and dry weather Flagstaff has been having!  See 16 mushers of all ages, and more than 70 dogs racing on courses at Mormon Lake Lodge.  9 a.m.  (30 miles southeast of Flagstaff on Mormon Lake Road)  Races scheduled again on January 21 & 22.

The Flagstaff Light Opera Company presents a new musical, All the More to Love, on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Based on a real-life shop for plus-size women (and for guys who like to wear their clothes) with music ranging in style from country to R&B and opera, it's a must-see for everyone who's ever fought the battle of the bulge and broken their New Year's resolutions.  Coconino High School Auditorium. Continues next weekend.

On Friday, Flagstaff's premiere new music quartet Erasable Color will perform their exciting program, "Meaningless Patterns in Meaningful Noise" at Sundara Fine Art Café & Boutique, 7 p.m.  Comprised of pianist Jess Ryan, saxophonist Liza Stegall, and percussionists Drew Worden and Owen Davis, this quartet specializes in the energetic and dynamic performance of contemporary music.  (22 E. Route 66)

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, national parks and monuments in the Flagstaff area will waive entrance fees, Saturday – Monday, including Grand Canyon, Wupatki National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, and Sunset Crater National Monument.  The Sedona Red Rock Pass fee is waived except for areas specifically operated by concessionaires.  While entrance fees are waived, other fees such as camping fees still apply.

On Saturday, feel the excitement of the Lumberjack Invitational Track and Field Meet, beginning at 9 a.m. in the NAU Skydome.

Also on Saturday, the Museum of Northern Arizona continues its Discovery 2^nd Saturday program.  This month it’s Picture Perfect: Explore the exhibit Photographic Journeys and learn to interpret photos with your own artistic eye. For kids of all ages. 2 – 4 p.m.

NAU Men’s Basketball vs. Montana State, Saturday, 6:35 p.m., NAU’s Rolle Activity Center.

Author and retired National Park Service ranger Robert Audretsch, presents an evening slide presentation, Shaping the Park and Saving the Boys: The Civilian Conservation Corps at the Grand Canyon, 1933-1942.  Riordan Mansion State Park, 7 p.m. During the Great Depression, nearly three million men performed conservation work in national parks, state parks, national forests and other publicly held lands. Corps members put their hearts and souls into digging, constructing and restoring the canyon’s assets and infrastructure.

Dare to Dream is the theme of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration March on Monday, 4:30 p.m.  The march begins at NAU’s University Union, ending at the duBois Center, with a program beginning at 5 p.m. entitled The Meeting – a fictional depiction of a conversation between Martin Luther King and Malcom X.

Other entertainment picks:  Catch local folk singer, Steve Reynolds, at Altitudes Bar & Grill, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.  Have an ear for classic rock?  See Ty One On at the Museum Club on Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.

When you're ready to join us living in Flagstaff, start here for Flagstaff real estate advice.

The regional transportation authority has been awarded $2,688,000 to purchase six new hybrid electric buses for Flagstaff's Mountain Line Transit. This will convert all the buses in Flagstaff. The retirement of all diesel buses in Flagstaff's core fleet should be complete by the end of this year. The new buses require less maintenance and have longer life-spans than the existing buses. 

The grant will pay for 80% of the acquisition cost for the new buses with the remainder coming from a tax approved by Flagstaff voters in 2008.

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Amahl and the Night Visitors

Living in Flagstaff in wintertime is great. Recently, our daytime temperatures have hovered in the 50s with blue skies and lots of sun. Remember that our mountain town nights our chilly, so when you head out to enjoy these weekend activities in Flagstaff, bundle up.

On Friday evening, Studio Bella Voce & Performing Arts presents an English opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors. It’s a story of a poor widow and her crippled son who are visited by the Three Kings on their way to the Christ Child — a story of miracles, love and hope.  Composed by Gian Carlo Menotti, it’s one of the most performed operas in the world, first composed specifically for television.  United Church of Christ, 740 N. Turquoise, 7:30 p.m.  Adults $5, Seniors/students $3.

Also on Friday, First Friday Art Walk kicks off for 2012, 6 – 9 p.m.  Downtown galleries, studios and businesses keep their doors open late for this monthly highlight of the Flagstaff art scene.  Special exhibitions, performances, live music and treats.

On Saturday, the NAU Community Music and Dance Academy presents an exciting new program, Percussion Discovery, for percussion students in the Flagstaff community. This monthly class is an adventure into the world of percussion instruments for 7th-10th graders. Dozens of instruments will be surveyed, sparking imagination and inspiring inquiry and investigation.  10 a.m.  Full details.

NAU Women’s Basketball vs. Eastern Washington on Saturday, NAU Rolle Activity Center, 6:35 p.m.

Sundara Fine Art Café and Boutique presents a singer-songwriter show on Saturday evening, 8 p.m.  Enjoy the music of Decker, Judson Claiborne, Bryant Vasquez and Dave Logan.  (22 E. Rt. 66)

Contra dancing is a fine way to spend a Saturday evening!  Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music hosts a dance on the first Saturday of each month at NAU’s Ashurst Hall, 7:30 – 11 p.m.  Instruction and basic contra dance moves are taught at 7:30.  Come alone or bring a friend.

On Sunday, parents interested in the NAU Community Music and Dance Academy Suzuki Strings Program are invited to learn about the opportunities the program has to offer to young musicians in the community.  NAU Ponderosa Building, 590 W. Riordan Rd., Building 92, 4 p.m.

Bingo and Bubbles returns to The Wine Loft on Sunday, 12 – 3 p.m.  It's free to play, free prizes, $3 glasses of champagne, $2 Lumberyard IPA's and $1 corkage fee.  17 N. San Francisco St.

When you're ready to give living in Flagstaff a try, start here: Flagstaff real estate with Ann Heitland!

The timing is unfortunate for those residents who are already suffering in a tough economy, but Doney Park Water Company hasn't imposed a rate increase in 17 years and with fees from new construction down, something had to give. Those who live in Northeast Rural Flagstaff and are on the mutually-owned Doney Park Water System will see hikes in their water bills this year.

Flagstaff local paper's review of 2011 for local business: Year in Review.