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- 🥾 Hiking the Grand Canyon Blind
🥾 Hiking the Grand Canyon Blind
I Heart Pluto Festival, Rim 2 Rim Blind, Theater for all
Alissa Zorn
February 11, 2025
Good morning Flagstaff! Sometimes we hear just the right story at the right time and it inspires us to keep going through impossible seeming circumstances - more about that in the Rim 2 Rim Blind section!
Today in Flagstaff Inspires:
🦯 Rim to Rim Blind
🧡 I Heart Pluto Festival
🎰 Casino planned at Horseman’s Lodge
Let’s go!
— Alissa Zorn
Community Sparks
Rim 2 Rim Blind
📽 Local filmmaker, writer, and Grand Canyon guide, Krocky Meshkin was recently part of a team leading visually impaired retired NASA engineer, Michael McCulloch, rim to rim in the Grand Canyon. Now he’s launched a Kickstarter to bring this amazing story to the world.
Meshkin is currently editing the documentary with footage captured during the hike. Take a breath to watch the slightly nerve-wracking, but gripping trailer below:
At age 64 glaucoma had made Michael McCulloch completely blind. Once part of the crew that launched the International Space Station, he now found himself battling depression and hopelessness.
Then he came across a YouTube video about blind adventurer Eric Weihenmayer climbing Mt. Everest. That story changed him, inspiring him to start pushing his boundaries and finding ways to empower others.
Since then he has climbed Machu Picchu, gone skydiving, taken up cross-country skiing and now hiked rim to rim in the Grand Canyon.
Rim 2 Rim Blind will not only tell the story of McCulloch hiking rim to rim, but will also give the viewer vast knowledge of the Grand Canyon, the history of the International Space Station, and a better understanding of what it's like to live visually impaired.
Meshkin is now seeking funding to do more interviews, editing, and extensive audio work so that visually impaired audience members can feel like they're along for the ride.
How to Get Involved
Get in Touch! Are you, or do you know someone who’s visually impaired? Meshkin would like to involve more visually impaired people in the making of this documentary, both with the technical work and to give feedback during the creation process. If you or someone you know would be interested please reach out to him at: [email protected].
@FLAGSTAFFINSPIRES
Shakespeare on Pluto, FlagShake’s next theater for young audiences play, opens this week! This play is silly, scientific, and Shakespearean! Appropriate for all ages, youth tickets are only $5!
The show runs February 14-23 at the Beaver Street Theatre in downtown Flagstaff. TICKETS (Use the code “ShakespeareinLove” for a 2 for 1 deal if you’re going on Valentine’s Day!)
Tag @flagstaffinspires to get your photos featured!
AROUND TOWN
TheatriKids Summer Camp Open for Registration
🌟 TheatriKids Summer Camp is the perfect place for young performers to act, sing, dance, and let their imaginations soar. TheatriKids offers week-long camps for kids ages 6-12, and performance workshops for ages 10-18. Find all the TheatriKids camps and register here before spaces are filled!
I Heart Pluto Festival Begins February 13th
🧡 Flagstaff has a slew of out-of-this-world events February 13th -17th for the I Heart Pluto Festival. A few highlights include:
The Pluto Pub Crawl February 14th
Talks with Adam Nimoy, son of Leonard Nimoy and author of “The Most Human”. February 15th and 16th
Pluto’s Birthday Party February 17th
🌳 If you have ties to Southside Flagstaff, the City of Flagstaff wants to know your stories for a piece of public art. Artist Beth Nybeck will be incorporating words from the community into a large-scale sculpture entitled “Rustle,” that will be installed at the new Cleo Murdoch Park. Share your stories for this public art project here.
Business News
🚘 Save on Car Washes: Clean Freak Car Wash has teamed up with Route 66 Centennial to offer a discount for drivers sporting the Route 66 Centennial sticker on their car. You’ll get $3 off your car wash with the sticker. You can get a Route 66 Centennial sticker at Old Highway Trading Post at 698 E Rt. 66 or in Route 66 Centennial’s Etsy shop.
🎰 Casino Planned for Horseman’s Lodge Property: The Navajo nation has secured authority to build a gaming hall on the property that has been the site of Horseman’s Lodge Steakhouse since 1975. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said that Gaming Enterprise plans to re-open the steakhouse as part of the project as well. He doesn’t yet have a timeline for when the casino will be built.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Tuesday 2.11
👨👦 Toddler Tales: Your toddler will delight in this special time for stories, songs, games and more. 10-11:30 AM, at Downtown Library
💌 Valentine Poem Writing Workshop: Express your love the poetic way! Thin Air Magazine invites you to write a valentine poem with the help of writing professionals at this fun free event. 3:30 - 5 PM, Hal Jansen Rec. Center
🚣♀️ Film Screening of Undammed - Benefit for Grand Canyon Youth: Come for the cause, stay for the fun! Enjoy a screening of Undammed, great happy hour specials, and a chance to win exciting prizes throughout the night! 5:30 - 8 PM, High Country Motor Lodge
👽 Flagspins Vinyl Night: DJ Quick Kay will be spinning vinyl on Tuesday evenings at the DSB Beer Garden. Beer discounts if you bring your own vinyl! Every Tuesday, 6 - 9 PM, Dark Sky Beer Garden
😂 Improv Workshop: The UFOs, Flagstaff's improv company is entering its fourth year and you can join the fun! Everyone is welcome to this free workshop - from first-timers to seasoned actors. The only requirement is a desire to try new things and have fun! Come be silly Tuesdays from 7 - 8:30 PM, Beaver Street Theatre, Text (415) 519-0883 for more info or to sign up.
Wednesday 2.12
👩👧 📚 Preschool Express: Get together for fun surprises, stories, songs, and games! 10 - 10:30 AM at Downtown Library
📝 Weekly Writing Group: The Wily Writers is a weekly group to practice your writing habit with the use of prompts, time allotments, and group sharing. Wily Writers will learn more about their writing and support others along the way. Wednesdays 6 - 7 PM Downtown Library, Northwest Corner
💓 Pre-Valentines Dinner at Dark Sky Beer Garden: Celebrate love with a 5 course meal that includes a sample beer flight and a Cryptid Cupid Sticker. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available too. 5 - 9 PM (no reservations required) Dark Sky Beer Garden
🎤 Erotica Slam: Come to a night of spicy performance poetry with Flagslam. The only rules are a 3-minute time limit, no props, no musical accompaniment, and no nudity! Poets will be judged by five randomly selected members of the audience, and the winner will receive $20. Sign up online or in person by 6 PM if you want to perform! 6:30 PM at Firecreek Coffee Flagstaff
🌝 Full Moon Hike at Buffalo Park: Flagstaff Park and Recreation invites you to bundle up and join them on this monthly full moon hike. This time they’re doing the Nate Avery Loop Trail. 6 PM Buffalo Park - If you have questions, contact Sylvia at [email protected].
🧠Trivia Night: Challenging questions, delicious local mead, fun visual and audio rounds, and prizes for 1st and 2nd place! Teams of up to 5. Get to The Mead Hall on time as seats fill up quick! Wednesdays 6 - 8:30 PM, Drinking Horn Mead Hall
Thursday 2.13
👨👧Preschool Express: A second day for this preschool fun time! Get together for stories, songs, and games. 10-10:30 AM, Downtown Library
🎮 Game Day: Kids ages 8 to 17 can swing by the community room at the East Flagstaff Library to play video games and table top games! 3 - 4:30 PM, East Flagstaff Library
🍷 Wine Tasting: Taste 4 featured wines and learn about them with descriptions from local sommeliers and guest wine makers in Oeno’s welcoming environment. 5 - 8 PM, Oeno Wine Lounge
🌌 The Science of Star Trek & Boldly Go Beer Release: Celebrate the start of the I Heart Pluto Festival with this special edition of Astronomy on Tap. Taste the collaboration beer, hear talks from astronomers about the science of Star Trek and play trivia! 6 PM, Mother Road Brewing
💃🕺Thursday Night Swing: Join Flagstaff Swing every Thursday for a FREE beginner swing dance lesson! After the lesson, stick around for a swingin’ hot social dance. No partner needed! Lesson: 7-8 PM Social: 8 – 10 PM, Museum Club
🙋♀️AZ Beer Week Trivia Night: TAPP’D Trivia takes on BEER as the topic for this week’s trivia to celebrate the beginning of Arizona beer week. Free to play, 21+ Thursdays 7-9 PM Dark Sky Beer Garden
LIVE MUSIC
Tuesday 2.11
Drinking Horn | Open Mic | 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Museum Club | Karaoke Night | 9 - 11:30 PM
Monte Vista Lounge | Karaoke Night | 9:30 - 11:30 PM
Wednesday 2.12
Flagstaff Mall | Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music Bluegrass Jam | 12-1 PM
Hops on Birch | Open Mic | 6 - 10 PM
Charly’s | Blues Night w/Ace Slim | 7-9:30PM | $5
Cornish Pasty | Jazz Jam | 8 - 10 PM
Gopher Hole | Karaoke & Service Industry Night | 9:30PM
Thursday 2.13
Drinking Horn | Celtic Music - GreenLaw | 7 - 9 PM
The Orpheum | Ole 60, Sons of Habit | 8 PM | TICKETS
Monte Vista Lounge | Karaoke Night | 9:30-11:30PM
Willow Bend is Hiring
Passionate about environmental education?
🍃 Willow Bend is looking for a motivated individual to be an Education Assistant! This position will focus on developing and delivering educational programs to schools and community members around Flagstaff (and sometimes beyond!).
This is a part-time position - approximately 15-20 hrs/week with a semi-flexible schedule at $22/hr. Starting in starting in late March or early April 2025.
There is the opportunity for qualified candidates to transition to full-time employment based on funding availability and performance. Applications due February 17th.
Stay Inspired!
Thank you for reading Flagstaff Inspires. When we connect, our community is stronger! If you’ve found today’s email helpful or just a bit interesting, please forward it to a friend who you’ve been meaning to get coffee with.
Have ideas, feedback, or an event you want to be shared in Flagstaff Inspires? I’d love to hear from you. Hit reply or send me an email here → [email protected]
