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From the BLM:

BLM Partners with Museum, ASU, and Tonto National Forest on Perry Mesa Exhibit:
Agua Fria National Monument staff have been working with the Pueblo Grande Museum, Arizona State University (ASU) researchers, Tonto National Forest officials, and others to help develop a Museum exhibit about Perry Mesa. Perry Mesa is the dominant geographic feature in the Agua Fria National Monument. The 50,000-acre Perry Mesa National Register District, which spans the Monument and part of the adjacent Tonto National Forest, was designated to recognize the significance and extent of the archaeology on Perry Mesa. Originally designated in 1975, the District was expanded in 1996 and is now one of the largest prehistoric districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exhibit will highlight the history, ecology, rock art “petroglyphs,” artifacts, and pueblo ruins in the area, and their connections to the entire central Arizona landscape and other cultures. The nearly 3,000 square foot exhibit opens March 5, 2010, and will be on display for one year at the Pueblo Grande Museum.

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When I think back over my life, I often find that while I’ve done some cool things, I’ve also failed to participate in the common high school and college activities. Not drinking or doing drugs, having long-term relationships (thereby skipping the dating scene), and working and volunteering frequently pushed my life in a different direction than most of my friends.

For whatever reason, I was also far less interested in many of the popular culture activities that most people that age seem to be. Movies, tv, fashion, and music are all examples. Concert-going in particular was something I just seemed to miss.

Kim brought me to a Pearl Jam concert—my first concert experience—several years into our relationship. I had a blast, but that’s what you’d expect in seeing your favorite band perform live.

Fast forward another 8 years or so, and my concert total remained unchanged. That changed on St Patrick’s Day when I joined a few friends at the Flogging Molly concert at Tempe Beach Park. I’m not a big music fan, so while I had heard of the band before, I didn’t know any of their songs. I had a good time—in spite of the pushing, flinging sweat, and attempted theft of my iPhone—and enjoyed the experience even though I didn’t fully participate in the bouncing, fist-pumping, and singing.

I’ll probably never enjoy live music to quite the degree that my friends do, but maybe I should give it a shot more often.

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Friends of Ironwood Forest and the Bureau of Land Management invite you to a

Free Tour of the Ironwood Forest National Monument
on Saturday, March 20

Spend a day in one of southern Arizona’s most treasurered landscapes as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Ironwood Forest National Monument. Throughout the tour, BLM speakers and resource specialists will share the history and cultural heritage within the Monument, as well as highlight the diverse vegetation and wildlife surrounding the Ironwood trees, for which the Monument was named. Limited seats available; please register by March 8.

Schedule of activities

Saturday, March 20, 2010
8 a.m. – Meet at Cortaro Rd. & I-10 Park and Ride Lot. Exit 246.
9:30 a.m. – Visit base of Ragged Top
11:30 a.m. – Depart for lunch and desert hike.
12 p.m. – Lunch (Bring your own), then desert hike OR drive to historic Silver Bell Cemetary (45 minute drive).
3:30 p.m. – Arrive at Cortaro Rd. & I-10 Park and Ride.

Directions and transportation

Free transportation from Park & Ride will be provided. From Tucson, take I-10 west. Take exit 246 and turn west (left) at N. Cortaro Rd. Your first right enters into the McDonald’s parking lot and the park and ride.

Register now

Click here to register for this free event. Tour size is limited and filling quickly. [update: the tour is full, but there is a waiting list; you can also ask about additional opportunities to tour the Monument from Lahsha below]

For more information

Lahsha Brown
Friends of Ironwood Forest
lahsha@ironwoodforest.org
520-628-2092

IFNM 10th Anniversary Tour Invitation

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I’ve previously mentioned last week’s 10-year anniversary celebration of Agua Fria National Monument (and the National Landscape Conservation System), so I thought I should post an update on how it went.

I spoke with the BLM yesterday and the event wildly surpassed our estimates. We had projected about 500 attendees, but were surprised when more than 2,200 showed up.

2200!

There was a steady stream all day and the giveaways went quickly. Hell, the event programs were gone well before things really got rolling. BLM stopped counting after 800 vehicles. The Friends of the Agua Fria National Monument and the Friends of Sonoran Desert National Monument were both there, along with many other great organizations.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the planning (especially the Friends!), volunteered and performed at the event, and of course, all of you who came out to commemorate the Monument’s birthday. I hope everyone had a blast celebrating one of the state’s coolest places.

Now, check out some of the other celebrations.

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I’ve definitely considered going – I even listed it on my 101 things to do in 1001 days list. And I tried to organize an outing with some friends the last couple of years. But the general cost and timing always seemed to get in the way. This year, with talk of the Coyotes being sold, I figured I needed to make it happen.

And while the outcome wasn’t what I hoped for – Phoenix won 3-2 in overtime – it was nice to have the experience and mark it off my list.

Here are some additional thoughts on the evening:

• Free parking? I’m in! It was very easy to get in and out of the parking lots. I guess it helps that only a few thousand poeple are showing up for the game. BTW, iMarkMySpot is a great app for finding your vehicle afterwards.
• Westgate looks like a blast. Many options to hang before and after the game.
• The free food inspired me to buy the tickets, but it shouldn’t have. While it was easy to get it, after standing in the two lines where it was available, it was a limited selection and some of it (I’m looking at you hot dogs and nachos) was downright disgusting.
• No wonder the Coyotes are going broke – their ticket prices are too high. The lower bowl is nearly empty while the upper decks are packed.
• The Red Wings don’t look like the Red Wings of old. I hope they can pull it together as the season progresses.
• Only the Coyotes would sell off naming rights for their will call window.
• The Coyotes need to refine their crowd interaction efforts. First, skip calling them the “cai – yotes.” Second, get a better mascot. Thirdly, play a cool entrance video when the team comes out on the ice.
• I was reminded of why football is my favorite sport. One of those reasons is that it’s simply hard to get too excited about winning or losing when you have another 80+ opportunities. There wasn’t much jubilation after the victory, most fans clapped and cheered for 5-10 seconds and then headed for the exits.
• Anyway, it was a good time and inspired me to buy a Wings jersey, and I think we’ll try to make it out to at least one more game this season.

Check out the snapshots if you’d like.

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