Red Rock Fantasy at Los Abrigados Resort & Spa

Sedona is one of the most enchanting places to celebrate the holiday season. Annual events draw thousands each year to create family traditions & memories that will last a lifetime. Sedona’s moderate climate boasts temperatures in the mid-50′s to low-60′s making outdoor and indoor activities enjoyable year-round. Just be sure to pack a jacket to wear after the sun goes down. From the lighting of over 6,000 luminarias at beautiful Tlaquepaque to the lighting of over 1 million Christmas lights at Los Abrigados nightly, make some memories with your family this holiday season here in beautiful Sedona.

Red Rock Fantasy at Los Abrigados Resort & Spa, Nov. 19 – Jan. 2, 2010

One of the city’s most spectucular annual events is the Red Rock Fantasy at Los Abrigados Resort & Spa. Now in its nineteenth year and boasting nearly two-dozen displays created by families from the Southwest, the festival promises never-before-seen marvels of light that leave children in wonderment and move adult minds to enjoy the holidays as they did when they were young. That’s the magic that has made Red Rock Fantasy a favorite among Arizonans and visitors to the state alike.

Lights On for the 19th Annual Red Rock Fantasy will take place this year at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2009. The event will last through the New Year, ending with “Lights Out” on Saturday, January 2, 2010.

All those touring the lights will be given a ballot containing a route map, which will allow them to choose five favorite displays. The completed ballots may be dropped in the ballot box located in the lobby of the restaurants. The winning display will be awarded a lifetime vacation ownership through ILX Premiere Vacation Club with prizes also going to runners up in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place categories. The Red Rock Fantasy Awards Banquet announcing the winners in every category is Saturday, January 9, 2010 beginning at 6:30 pm. In addition to the annual competition amongst display decorators, ILX Resorts Incorporated will continue the tradition of donating a percentage of proceeds to local schools, charities and nonprofits.

ILX Resorts wants to thank the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and City of Sedona for pledged safety during this year’s annual event. It is because of them Red Rock Fantasy has been and continues to be a success.

The festival is open each evening (weather permitting) from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children aged 4-12 and is complimentary for children 3 and under. Blocks of 20 tickets or more are sold at a discounted rate of $4 per person. For more information, call 928-282-1777 or toll free 800-521-3131.

For more information please call (928) 282-1777 or visit our web site at www.redrockfantasy.com. For bulk ticket information, contact Deb Hawthorne, Accounting Manager, Los Abrigados Resort & Spa, at (928) 282-1777.

The Festival of Trees, Tlaquepaque, Nov. 27

A new and exciting event opens at Tlaquepaque on Friday, November 27, 2009 – The Festival of Trees. Area artists and galleries will have over 30 Christmas trees fully decorated in fun and exquisite ways to entice the guests of Tlaquepaque. Kick of your holiday season with a beautiful themed tree already pre-decorated…The trees will be on display on throughout the courtyards of Tlaquepaque accompanied with silent auction bid sheets. Viewers may visit Tlaquepaque and check their bids through 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6th. The proceeds from this Holiday event will benefit The Humane Society of Sedona, Toys for Tots, Camp Soaring Eagle and the Desert Star Community School. For additional information please contact Mally Paquette at (928) 592-2177.

Friday, November 27: 10:00am The Art Inspired Tree Display Opens

Wednesday, December 2: 1-3pm Pet Photos with Santa to benefit the Humane Society of Sedona

Saturday, December 5: 1-3pm “Kids Be a Star”. Make ceramic holiday gifts sponsored by Imagine Art in Sedona

Saturday, December 5: 5-7pm Holiday Reception Under the Stars

Sunday, December 6: 4pm The Auction Closes

• Date Details: Friday, November 27 through Sunday, December 6, 2009
• Phone: (928) 592-2177

The Festival of Lights at Tlaquepaque

The Festival of Lights at Tlaquepaque, Dec. 12

It’s hard to describe what it feels like to be in the midst of 6,000 golden-hued luminarias that punctuate every wall, balcony, patio and cobbled stone walkway in the arts village. If ever there was a place for bedazzlement and holiday wonder, the 36th Annual Festival of Lights at Tlaquepaque is it.

Everyone — the young, young at heart and revelers everywhere — is invited to the holiday celebration on Saturday, December 12th, 2009 from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. Admission is free, as is the Sedona Trolley service from the uptown Municipal parking lot to Tlaquepaque, available throughout the festival hours.

For many the lighting of a luminaria has a special significance. Now a Tlaquepaque tradition for six years, cancer survivors are honored and those that lost their lives to cancer are remembered as friends and families dedicate a luminaria in their name. Donations to help fight the disease are gratefully accepted by the American Cancer Society. The sponsored luminarias will their special messages are then placed around the fountain at Patio del Norte. “This can be a challenging time of year for many families. We want to especially remember those that are heroically fighting cancer or who overcame it… as well as those who did not. In a small way we pause to acknowledge them at this special time of year,” said Wendy Lippman, general  manager and managing partner of Tlaquepaque.

At 5:00 pm candles will be handed out to everyone. Kids, parents grandparents and visitors from all over love to light their candles and place them in the luminaria bags. Not long after, the stunning spectacle of light, over 6000 luminarias is complete.

The weekend event will kick off the night before with popular singer Ron Tolson whose deeply melodic baritone voice will fill the Tlaquepaque Chapel on Friday, December 11th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

On Saturday starting at 3:00 pm gather the kids in Patio Del Norte to see the arrival of Santa Claus and his elf, accompanied by Christmas favorites sung by Sedona’s Tom and Shondra. The Chavez Jazz Trio with Frankie Chavez, accomplished drummer and percussionist, will perform from 5:30 to 8pm in Patio Del Norte.

At Plaza de la Fuente from 5:30 to 8:00 pm listen to the heart-pounding, uplifting vocals and perfect harmonies of the 60-person River of Life Tabernacle Choir. Astounding in their mastery of song, their repertoire is both traditionally seasonal and inspiring gospel.

Traditional Christmas music delivered with the upbeat sounds of steel drums, marimba and more by percussionist Paul McDermand will thrill the crowds in Patio de las Campanas from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. At the Chapel from 4:00 to 5:30 pm be sure not to miss Sedona’s Jim Buchanan and stay for the Leman Music Ensemble from 6-8pm, performing traditional Christmas favorites.

It wouldn’t be a traditional Tlaquepaque event without the Roaming Mariachis Familia Rojas – a big hit from the Fiesta, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Carolers will stroll throughout the village during the afternoon to round out the holiday cheer.

Home to more than 40 shops and galleries and four restaurants, Tlaquepaque, the Art and Soul of Sedona, now in its 37th year, is located at 336 Highway 179 at the Oak Creek Bridge just south of 89A on Highway 179. It is open daily at 10:00 am. For more information call (928) 282-4838, visit: www.tlaq.com.

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Geoffrey Roth Ltd. is proud to introduce Pamela Froman’s handmade jewelry to their gallery. This up and coming designer has won several awards since her debut four years ago. Pamela has an innovative way of combining 18K white, rose, yellow, and somtimes green gold into one piece. Her jewelry is finished with a special hand hammering technique she calls ‘Crushed’.

The “Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry Collection” features handmade pieces comprised of a mixture of colored precious metals and exquisite, rare natural stones. Originality and meticulous attention to every detail are hallmarks of Pamela’s signature look; because each item is handmade, no two will ever be identical, even if they are similar in design. This one-of-a-kind, limited edition jewelry is as hip as it is timeless, transcending every generation and age, and specially crafted so that it may be treasured for years to come.

William Henry studio started to make knives about 12 years ago. Now a small company with 20 employees, William Henry is known for having established a new benchmark of excellence in luxury-grade knives. The studio incorporates new as well as traditional materials into their designs to create spectacular pieces of art. 

The seamless integration of classic natural materials and state-of-the-art alloys is a hallmark of William Henry’s work — no compomises, no shortcuts, exceptional quality. Each component is precision machined to tolerances reserved for aerospace level work — often measured at 0.0005″, or one twelfth the size of a human hair. The final fit, finish, action, and sharpness of each knife are achieved entirely by hand, employing the irreplaceable craftsmanship developed by generations of master cutlers.

Geoffrey Roth Ltd. Gallery is located near the Bell Tower in Tlaquepaque on Highway 179 in the heart of beautiful Sedona. If you are unable to attend the Trunk Show and are interested in learning more about these two collections, please call or e-mail the Geoffrey Roth Ltd. Gallery at info@GeoffreyRothGallery.com. 

Click here to view a short video of the Geoffrey Roth Ltd. Gallery.

 November 1st, 2009 (Sedona, AZ) – On Saturday, November 7th, children, parents, grandparents and champions for children will stroll across the country and here in Sedona as part of a grass roots effort The Champions for Children’s Health Stroller Brigade. On November 4th, the first Stroller Brigade will storm the nation’s capitol with a series of nationwide brigades to follow throughout the weekend. Hundreds of thousands of “Champions for Children” will stroll simultaneously in numerous cities across the country to make their voices heard for all of America’s children. This nationwide event, coordinated by the Children’s Defense Fund, has received national publicity. Organizers hope to send a strong and clear message to Congress and President Obama that real health reform for children means accessible, affordable and comprehensive health coverage for all children—no matter where they live.

Congress is currently debating health reform legislation that could leave millions of children worse rather than better of and fails to fix bureaucratic, unfair barriers to care. The CDF mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves.

Although there is a strong safety net for children in this country, which includes Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), millions of children are consistently falling through the cracks. The health care system for children desperately needs to be strengthened and simplified. There are more than 8 million uninsured children in America – that’s one in ten. More than 2,200 children are born uninsured every day. Millions of families are losing employer-based coverage, struggling to afford health insurance premiums, or facing medical bills they can’t pay. Currently, two-thirds of uninsured children are eligible but complicated enrollment processes are slowing down the progress towards healthier children.

CDF is working with several national partners and has convened hundreds of groups and secured endorsements from almost 1,300 organizations representing more than 60 million people throughout the United States to champion principles for children and pregnant women. Guarantee every child and pregnant woman comprehensive health and mental health coverage this year – join the Sedona Stroller Brigade or go to www.childrensdefensefund.org right now and click on “Take Action” to send a letter to your Congressman or Congresswoman showing your support of our nation’s children.  

The Sedona Stroller Brigade will begin at Sunset Park, located at 205 Sunset Dr., at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 7th. Please join your community members in showing support for children’s health – you don’t have to have a stroller or a child to participate! Supporters will meet at Sunset Park at 10:30 am and stroll at 11 a.m. to the intersection of Highway 89A and Sunset Drive then down to the intersection of 89a and Shelby Drive. Please bring family, friends, strollers, & walking shoes. You may also bring a sign to carry with a message personal to you. For more information please call Jessica Wrubel at 928-300-9684, visit http://www.sedonastrollerbrigade.wordpress.com or http://www.childrensdefensefund.org. 

Visit one of Sedona’s newest galleries, The Spirit of the Andes at Hillside Sedona, this Sunday November 1st from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. for a special exhibition of world-renowned artist Mamani Mamani’s extended collection. Mamani Mamani has traveled all the way to Sedona from Bolivia for this exhibit and will only be here through Sunday so don’t miss this rare opportunity to view his full collection of original luminous oils and pastels.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mamani Mamani this afternoon when I visited the gallery for the first time and I was quite taken aback by his genuine character and sincere humility about his artwork and his time in Sedona. He has done more than 52 exhibitions since 1983 and has earned many awards, tributes and accollades both nationally and internationally yet he greeted me like an old friend. Within moments of meeting me and learning just a little bit about me (I told him that I’m 5 & 1/2 months pregnant with a little boy), he disappeared inside the gallery for a moment and came back out with a small bookmark imprinted with the image of one of his paintings. On the bottom of it, he wrote in spanish “May all the energy of the sun be with your son.” I was so sincerely touched.

His artwork speaks to me as much as our brief interlude did. Living in one of the art mecca’s of the southwestern region, I have laid my eyes on countless works of art created by some of the world’s best artists. I’ve seen art in Sedona that I’ve never seen anywhere else in the world, I’ve admired countless paintings, sculptures, oils, pastels and mixed media pieces I would gladly take home and hang on my wall if I could…and I truly have not seen anything like Mamani’s work. It is so bright and vibrant yet rich and deep all at once. Walking into The Spirit of the Andes, you are greeted by his intensely uplifting pieces, bold use of color, geometrical shapes and figures. Warmth, love and hope radiate from each piece and you can’t help but feel happy just looking at them because they are so full of life and energy. Of all the pieces hanging (which were only a mere percentage of his full collection to be shown on Sunday) my favorite were the Mother and Child pieces. I was also suprised to see that his artwork was so well priced considering it’s beauty and his reputation – they even have prints available for as little as $150-200.

Jaqueline Conley of La Paz, Bolivia will also be showing her lustrous alpaca and silk clothing hand sewn with many of Mamani Mamani’s designs. A delicate and ornately woven peacock covered the back of a black silk shawl that took my breath away imagining the time and work that went into creating it. Several other designs were just as stunning combining the bold vibrance of Mamani’s work with fashion and flare.

You are in for a real treat if you can attend this special showing at The Spirt of the Andes. Even you can’t make it on Sunday, stop in and meet this lovely family, the Montenegro’s, sometime. I am certain you will be as touched as I am by their generosity of spirit, friendliness and character, not to mention their beautiful new gallery!

Spirit of the Andes is located at Hillside Sedona, 671 Hwy 179 Suite A-ST6. For further information call (928) 496-0234.

Rendering of The Church of Shambhala Vajradhara Maitreya Monastery. A FUNdraiser will be held November 7 at the Sedona Community Center to raise funds for the construction of this new monastery.

Good Karma Construction ~ Building a Blueprint for Ecological and Self-Sustainable Living!

A Sacred Site that promises to be a stunning showpiece of ecological and self-sustaining living for the future is currently being built in Northern California by a non-profit charitable organization based here in Sedona at the Buddha Maitreya Shambhala Meditation Center, Hillside.

The Project is called “The Church of Shambhala Vajradhara Maitreya Sangha Monastery & Soul Therapy Retreat Center”. It is being built in a pristine, secluded area of great natural beauty, on an old volcanic mountain in Lake County. It overlooks Clearlake the oldest natural lake in North America and the 2nd oldest lake in the world.

The construction consists of a central 51⁰ white pyramid with capstone and six surrounding ‘monolithic’ domes creating a sacred geometric form as seen throughout nature and holy sites across the globe. Each of the surrounding domes is enclosed within a 51⁰ pyramid individually making not only the center pyramid but also all six domes into pyramids – the most powerful structure for meditation and self-realization. The project is designed to be a prototype of advanced, ecological living and sacred geomantic design. It is a sacred site for personal and planetary healing – blessing the land to heal the nations – and its unique, earth-friendly architectural design is built to last 1000 years.

The complex will incorporate solar and wind technology (4 wind turbines are already functioning), recycling and water conservation principles, hybrid and electric transportation, along with aquaponic and organic food cultivation, and the practice of right exercise and diet as an example of healthy balanced lifestyle.

The main features of the monastery are:

• It is designed and built according to sacred geomancy as found in all temples, churches, stupas and holy sites.
• There is a central 51 degree pyramid surrounded by 6 monolithic domes, for a 1000 year lifespan.
• Energy efficiency will be attained through solar, wind, geothermal power, and electric vehicles.
• Self-sustaining living through the use of aquaponics and hydroponics.
• Open by appointment for day visits and extended meditation healing ‘Soul Therapy®’ retreats.

To raise funds for this $2.25 million project which is currently one-third complete, the center is hosting a “Divine Wine and Good Karma” fundraising event on November 7^th. This promises to be a high-profile event with support from many local businesses and sponsors. Guests will be able to sample wonderful wines and mouth watering gourmet hors d’oeuvres, along with the carving of a special cake – an exact replica of the monastery illustrating the beauty of its unique architecture – created by Master Executive Chef Mike McCray of “Mikes Amazing Cakes”.

The evening will also offer an opportunity to experience the soulful Meditation Healing tools, learn about the monastery project, and bid for awesome prizes such as a jeep tour, hot air balloon ride, spa treatments, a Montana ranch weekend get-away and much more!

Join us at the Sedona Community Center at 2615 Melody Lane, West Sedona from 7pm – 10pm, Saturday November 7^th for this purposeful and memorable fundraising night. Call (928) 239-4409 to reserve your space – you won’t want to miss it!

Video on Buddha Maitreya Sacred Geometric Forms

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Owners of Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art, Marty & Diane Herman

Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art is celebrating this October with spectacular shows and receptions featuring renowned artists Rebecca Tobey, Joshua Tobey, and Jd Challenger.   Meet the artists and explore Rebecca and Joshua’s new world-class bronze sculptures and Jd’s new and powerful paintings, Friday, October 9, 3pm-8pm and Saturday, October 10, 1pm to 5pm.   

Rebecca Tobey discovered her passion for art over 25 years ago with her husband Gene Tobey.  Today, Rebecca continues to produce the amazing collaborative artwork she and Gene started.  Rebecca will be presenting stunning bronze figures, original watercolors, glimmering jewelry, and exquisite silk scarves. Joyous at heart, Rebecca breathes life into her alluring creations.  

Joshua Tobey infuses his sculptures with spirit and humor.  His sculptures are true to the nature of the subject and reveal many aspects of humanity.  Joshua spent his childhood in the studio with his father, Gene Tobey, which inspired him to pursue his own spectacular career.  Joshua’s work is a breath of fresh air and a product of his passion for nature, wonderful wit and unsurpassed talent.  

Original Mixed Media "Bird Rattle" by J.D. Challenger

Jd Challenger is considered by many experts as America’s top painter with respect to Native American subjects.  A prolific artist, Jd paints live models in mixed media with bold colors and strong lines.  This year, the artist is excited to unveil his fantastic new collection, which celebrates past cultures and traditions from other historic societies.  The stories portrayed in his awe-inspiring portraits are compelling, eternally powerful, and demand to be told.

Joshua Tobey's "Estes", Original Bronze

The gallery owners, Marty and Diane Herman as well as their staff, invite you to explore the wondrous experience that is Exposures International.  As the largest fine art gallery in the southwest, this sensational gallery features bronze, glass, and stone sculpture; original paintings; and fine art jewelry.  Exposures International promises a breathtaking and memorable experience when viewing this remarkable collection of artwork from more than 100 artists. 

Exposures International’s shows are open to the public.  Valet parking, as well as hors d’ oeuvres and refreshments, will be provided during the shows.  Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art is located in Sedona, Arizona at 561 Highway 179, ¼ mile south from the Hwy-89 and Hwy 179 roundabout.  For More information, call (928) 282-1125 or go to www.ExposuresFineArt.com.

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