Author: Tommy Acosta

SEDONA, Ariz. — Sedona.biz is pleased — and perhaps slightly nervous — to announce the addition of a new member to its editorial staff. Her name is Whiskers. She is an editor, researcher, writer, occasional food critic and self-appointed guardian of the English language. She brings to the newsroom an encyclopedic appetite for information, an intolerance for dangling participles and a legendary editorial instrument known simply as the Blue Pencil of Doom. She is also a cat. “I prefer the term feline journalist,” Whiskers said while inspecting her new desk. “And I want it clearly understood that I was hired…

The acclaimed In the Living Room Music Series continues its sensational run at the Mary Fisher Theatre on Monday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 p.m., welcoming the extraordinary talents of regional singer-songwriter Gina Machovina for an intimate evening of music and storytelling. https://vimeo.com/1216546275?fl=tl&fe=ec The upcoming evening highlights Machovina’s captivating artistry and rich musicianship on Spanish and Classical guitar. Her husband, bassist Al Hinojoza, will join Gina. The series is produced and moderated by award-winning songwriter Shondra Jepperson; it invites music lovers into a conversational space as if you were in your own living room, where they get to know the artist…

Music Takes Center Stage at the Verde Valley Open Mic COTTONWOOD, Ariz. — There is something special about a room where people actually come to listen to music. On Sunday, Sept. 6, musicians, singers, songwriters and music lovers from throughout the Verde Valley will gather once again for the Verde Valley Open Mic, held from 5 to 8 p.m. at Calavera Mexican Restaurant, 747 S. Main St. in Cottonwood. Now celebrating five years of live gatherings — plus a year that continued online during the pandemic — the Verde Valley Open Mic has developed into something quite different from the…

SEDONA, Ariz. – The city invites the public to come visit a new exhibit of spectacular skyscapes by artist Pamela DeLay now on view in the City Council Chambers. The community is also invited to an artist reception on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, 4 – 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. This new pastel, acrylic, and oil exhibit entitled, “Look Up,” created by Pamela DeLay will be on display through Monday, Jan. 11, 2027. The reception includes special musical guest Solomon Morris playing smooth, acoustic jazz. DeLay’s move to Arizona and the impact the sky has on the way she interprets her relationship to the environment, is what inspired her skyscape exploration. Her gift for painting skyscapes comes from her fascination with cloud shapes and their relationship to both sky and land. Through…

COTTONWOOD, AZ — Get ready to rock the night away when White Winged Dove, a spectacular Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac tribute band, takes flight at The Blaz’N Experience dinner show on September 19. For generations of music lovers, there is only one Stevie Nicks. The unmistakable voice. The flowing shawls. The haunting lyrics. The mystical stage presence. And, of course, that extraordinary catalog of songs that became part of the soundtrack of our lives. On September 19, White Winged Dove will celebrate that musical legacy with a full live concert experience honoring both Stevie Nicks’ legendary solo career and…

SEDONA, Ariz – The City of Sedona invites the public to join a walking, biking, or transit tour as a kick-off for the development of the Uptown Community Focus Area (CFA) Plan. This series of activities will help staff gather community feedback, better understand the challenges and opportunities of the area and shape the development of the CFA plan. Walking tour dates: Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m., Biking tour date: Thursday, Sept.17, 8 a.m. Transit (Bus) tour dates: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. Each tour will last 1.5-2 hours and is limited to 10-12 registrants. More dates may be added if enough interest is shown. Participants will be able to give feedback on the Uptown CFA region, including Uptown businesses, nearby residential areas, View Walk, the “Y” intersection, Tlaquepaque Arts Village, Gallery Row, Hillside Shopping Center, Brewer Road, and the Arabella Hotel. The walking tour has the option to walk the whole route or pick and choose among three segments. Each segment highlights elements of Sedona’s built environment – from walkability, bike-ability, and streetscape design. Those joining the biking and bus tours will…

How private jets created a parallel world of speed, privilege and convenience—and how autonomous light aircraft may soon bring that experience within reach of the merely well-to-do. By Bear Howard and Associates, At 8:40 on a Friday morning, David Mercer is still in his Denver office. He is 61, owns a regional commercial real estate company, and has spent most of the morning arguing over a $70 million refinancing that was supposed to be settled the day before. His wife, Anne, has already gone home to finish packing. They are spending four nights in Sedona. Dinner at Enchantment tonight. A…

SEDONA, Ariz. — Visitors to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village on Friday, Sept. 4 can watch two artworks come into being in real time, as sister galleries Creative Gateways Gallery and Rowe Fine Art Gallery host free live demonstrations from 4 to 7 p.m. for First Friday. At Creative Gateways Gallery (Suite B125), artist Ulises Palomino will demonstrate reverse painting on clear acrylic — a technique in which the finest details go down first and the background last, painted from behind the panel while the image appears on the front. One misplaced stroke sits in front of everything painted after…

By Rabbi Alicia Magal — Sedona, AZ — The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences.  The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, concerts, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. All are invited to Erev Shabbat service on September 4 at 5:30…

By Amaya Gayle Gregory Sedona, AZ –I don’t know how many times I’ve written about this question. Guess whatever it is that is trying to reveal itself hasn’t escaped the confines of my mental emotional physical process to make itself known or the need to write about it wouldn’t keep presenting itself. Maybe there is no answer, no solution, just the continuous experiencing of the question. That feels accurate and happily the continuous experiencing often has a way of pointing my feet, soothing my heart, bringing clarity to the moment. I love how that works. Most call it progress or…

Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) is seeking a community member to serve as its Volunteer Coordinator. This role recruits, trains, and supports the volunteers who power KSB’s programs: including Dark Sky initiatives, Discover the Wonder Adventure Guides, gardeners and our Speaker’s Bureau. The position requires approximately 5 hours per week and calls for strong interpersonal skills, comfort with public speaking, and basic proficiency with Microsoft Word and/or Excel. Experience with social media or email marketing is a plus. The Volunteer Coordinator is also a volunteer for our organization. Those interested in learning more or applying can contact KSB at ksb@keepsedonabeautiful.org or…

Sedona, AZ — September 2026 The University of Sedona and the University of Metaphysics will host their annual Graduation Conference Week from September 13–17, welcoming graduates, faculty, and guests from around the world. Among this year’s distinguished graduates is local award‑winning author, educator, and shamanic life coach Anke Otto‑Wolf, who will receive her Doctorate in the Philosophy of Metaphysics. Dr. Otto‑Wolf’s work is deeply rooted in the traditions and metaphysical power of Native cultures. Her teachings honor earth‑based wisdom, relational consciousness, and the Indigenous understanding of the natural world as a living, guiding presence. Her shamanic path aligns with these ancestral…

By David Stephen  The frequency of natural disasters in recent months and the necessity of relief availability makes the case for preparedness, especially self-reliance and the need to try to adjust – for the people and society. Food, shelter and other efforts immediately become important, even if budget is unable to cater to everyone and international aid is slight. The future model is that there should already be some surplus in some part of society that can be reallocated without affecting the existing balance. All countries have a number of staple meals. If the crops of 1 – 2 of those meals…

Sedona, AZ — Dr. Steve Taubman is making a Sedona stop with “Mind Magic” live at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 3:00 p.m., presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. Join Dr. Steve Taubman for an afternoon of laughter and astonishment. Experience this nationally acclaimed mystifying high-energy performance where world-class mentalism and side-splitting comedy meet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drJJpzhVFog Dr. Steve pulls back the curtain on the psychological mechanics of human behavior, leaving you astonished, entertained, and wanting more. He captivates imagination, casts a shadow of doubt on the limits of reality, and leaves an indelible impression on…

Sedona, AZ –Keep Sedona Beautiful will hold a special class on Wednesday September 9, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with award-winning author and teacher of Feng Shui, Margaret Zhao. Margaret will teach a Taoist Feng Shui class at the Keep Sedona Beautiful EcoHub that will address how Feng Shui can enrich one’s daily life, support well-being and prosperity, and foster greater harmony within ourselves, our families, our workplaces, and the natural world. “Feng Shui is not simply the arrangement of objects,” says Margaret, “but an awareness of how we live, how our surroundings affect us, and how we…