best of flag 2014 winners edition

BEST OF FLAGSTAFF 2014 - WINNERS’ LIST

Winners Edition

Advertising Supplement

2 BEST OF FLAGSTAFF 2014 - WINNERS’ LIST

Table of ContentsMaking moments countFlagstaff photography studio Tangled Lilac won over the readers of the Arizona Daily Sun and earned the “Best Photographer” award. We’ll meet with the shooters Melissa Dunstan and Kristen Carnes about their win this year.

Best of the cutsA new business downtown, Proper Meats + Provisions has risen up the love list by picking up the Best of Flagstaff honor of Best Meat Department. Proper is bringing the idea of the local town butcher downtown.

Parents are going bananasA brand new business that opened up has parents delighted, as the BananaLand Play & Café is a coffee shop and soon-to-be restaurant that also offers a play area for children that is supervised. This means relaxing with coffee while the kids are attended to. It’s a win-win.

Southern comfortsThe “Best New Restaurant” category is always a great one to watch. And this year, the honors went to Field House Chicken and Waf� es. We check in with this new comfort food favorite and its down-home menu.

Finding homeRe/Max Peak Properties was named the winner of this year’s Best Real Estate Agency, a competitive category in the Best of Flagstaff competition. We learn more about their views on the market and their approach to the business.

Boot scooting wins the day The Museum Club won the Best of Flagstaff Best Place to Go Dancing category. While the club is not new to the category, it has done much to upgrade its venue and make it a draw following a big anniversary.

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2014FOOD Bakery: Sugar Mama’sBBQ: Satchmo’sBar Food: Lumberyard Taproom & GrilleBartending Staff: Rendezvous Martini BarBreakfast: Martanne’s Breakfast PalaceBreakfast Burrito: Route 66 Dog HausBrewery: Mother Road Brewery Co.Burger: Diablo BurgerCandy Store: Sweet Shop & Nut HouseChicken Wings: Buffalo Wild WingsChinese Food: August MoonCoffee House: Macy’s European Coffee HouseCoffee Roaster: Macy’s European Coffee HouseDive Bar: Monte Vista Cocktail LoungeDeli Sandwich: Crystal Creek Sandwich Co.Dessert Menu: Coppa CaféFamily Dining: Himalayan GrillFine Dining: Cottage PlaceHappy Hour: Criollo Latin KitchenHole-in-the-Wall Restaurant: Martanne’s Breakfast PalaceHoliday Brunch: Little AmericaHot Dog: Route 66 Dog HausIce Cream/Frozen Yogurt: Cultured CaféIndian Food: Himalayan GrillItalian Food: Mama Luisa’sJapanese Food: Karma SushiLate Night Snack: Majestic MobileLunch: MixMexican Food: Salsa BravaNew Restaurant: Field House Chicken & WafflesPizza: Fratelli’sOutdoor Dining: Lumberyard Taproom &GrilleOverall Restaurant: Tinderbox Kitchen(Retail) Beer Selection: Majestic Mobile(Retail) Liquor Selection: Majestic Mobile

Salad: MixSalsa: Salsa BravaSeafood: Buster’sSoup: Wildflower Bread CompanySports Bar: Sportsman’sSteakhouse: Outback SteakhouseSushi: Karma SushiTaco: Tacos Los AltosThai Restaurant: Pato ThaiVegetarian Selection: Red Curry KitchenWait Staff: Cottage PlaceWine Selection: Wine Loft RETAIL Antique Shopping: Carriage HouseAppliance Store: SearsArtist Gallery: Artists’ GalleryAuto Dealer: Findlay ToyotaBike Shop: Absolute BikesBook Store: Bookman’s Entertainment ExchangeClothing Boutique Store: Shoes ‘N’ SuchCraft/Hobby Store: Michael’sConvenience Store: Butler ChevronDepartment Store: DillardsElectronics Store: Best BuyFabric and/or Sewing/Knitting Store: JoAnne’s FabricsFloor Covering: Carpets of DaltonFlorist: Sutcliffe FloralFurniture/Applicance Rental Store: Aaron’sFurniture Store: Designs WestGift Shop: FizzibellaHome Improvement/Tool & Hardware Store: HomCo Ace HardwareHome Accessories Store: p.j. chilcottageHunting Outfitters: Bull Basin ArcheryJewelry Store: Jeff Karl JewelersLandscape Company: Warner’s Nursery and LandscapingMeat Department: Proper Meats + ProvisionsMusical Instrument Store:

Arizona Music ProPlace to buy Native American Jewelry/Art: Museum of Northern ArizonaNursery/Plant: Warner’s Nursery and LandscapingOffice Supply: StaplesOutdoors Shop: Peace SurplusPet Supply: PetSmart/Olsen’s Grain (tie)Pharmacy: WalgreensProduce Department: SproutsShoe Store: Shoes ‘N’ SuchSmoke Shop: McGaugh’s Smoke and BottleSpecialty Store: Majestic MobileSporting Goods: Big 5Tanning Salon: Tanning TimeTattoo Parlor: Birch Avenue TattooThrift Store: GoodwillTire Store: Discount TireWestern Wear: Cal RanchWindow Treatment Store: Carpets of Dalton SERVICES Advertising Agency: Overdrive MediaApartment Community: Forest MeadowsAuto Repair (Mechanical): Heath’s Auto ServiceAuto Repair (Collision): Latham’sBank: J.P. Morgan ChaseBarbershop: Alley CatsBrake Service: Heath’s Auto ServiceCar Wash: Woodlands Wash & LubeCarpet Cleaner: SpotsCatering: Simply DeliciousCellular Service: Verizon WirelessChiropractice Services: Munderloh ChiropracticComputer Repair: Flagstaff Computer GuysCredit Union: Arizona Central Credit UnionDay Care: Rockhouse PlayschoolDay Spa: Massage EnvyEvent Planning: Peak Events

Financial Services: Edward JonesFitness Club: Flagstaff Athletic ClubFraming Shop: Hidden LightHair Salon: Gossip GirlsHome Builder: JKC Inc.Home Cleaning Service: Merry MaidsHotel: Little AmericaInsurance Company: State FarmInterior Design: Herron Interior DesignInternet Service: SuddenlinkMartial Arts Training: Monster FitMassage: Massage EnvyManicure/Pedicure: Aveda Red 115Mortgage Company: Wallick & VolkOil Change: Woodlands Wash & LubePersonal Trainer: High Altitude Personal TrainingPet Boarding: Kingsmark KennelsPlace to Adopt a Pet: Second Chance Center for AnimalsPlace to find Cheap Gas: Sam’s ClubPhotographer: Tangled LilacPrint Shop: The Print RavenProperty Management : 928 RentalsProperty Restoration: Mammoth RestorationReal Estate Agency: Re/Max Peak PropertiesSkin Care Services: Massage EnvyTravel Agency: Avenues of the WorldWifi Café: MixYoga Studio: The Yoga Experience FAVORITES Local Artist: Shonto BegayAnnual Event or Festival: HullabalooElected Official: Jerry NaboursFlagstaff Attraction: Arizona SnowbowlPlace to Take the Kids: BananaLand Play & Café Live Music Venue: Orpheum TheaterPlace to go Dancing: Museum ClubPublic Agency: Flagstaff Public LibraryNonprofit Organization: Paw PlacementRadio Show: Joe Harting Show - Big Talker

Best of Flagstaff Winners' List


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Proud to show ourAppreciAtion

THE SKYDOME CAN HOLD 10,000 SCREAMING FANSBut it can’t hold half our readersEvery day the Daily Sun is read by an estimated audience of 23,000. And that’s not counting the huge audience that reads us online.

And newspaper readers aren’t just a cross-section of a given population. They’re better educated, have higher household incomes, are more likely to vote and are generally more engaged in the community.

For our advertisers, that’s really something to cheer about.

Sources: United States Census Bureau, Audit Bureau, Audit Bureau of Circulation, Newspaper Association of America.


F lagstaff is a mountain town blessed with a mountain of photographic talent.

From internationally acclaimed photographers to top-notch event and commercial shooters, one does not have to look far to fi nd a sharp camera pro.

For this reason, the Best Photographer award in Best of Flagstaff has become both competitive and coveted. This year, the winner was Tangled Lilac Photography, which is actually two photographers with Melissa Dunstan

and Kristen Carnes.Tangled Lilac has become well-

known for shooting weddings, anniversaries, senior portraits, new moms and new babies and more. They also have been working in magazine work with shoots for Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living.

We checked in with Carnes and Dunstan shortly after winning the award to get a few thoughts about the win.

This year, readers of the Arizona Daily Sun selected

Tangled Lilac Photography as Best Photographer. What do you think it is about your studio and photographic work that appeals to your clients and, by extension, our readers?

Carnes: Individually, and as a studio, we pride ourselves on being genuine. I think this quality comes across in our work and the level of personalized service that we provide to our clients.

Dunstan: We strive to capture our client’s true genuine

personality, their emotions in the moment and the relationships that bind families together. We also strive for high customer service and off er beautiful heirloom art

count

Makingcount

MakingmomentsTangled Lilac picks up

Best Photographer honors this year.Best Photographer honors this year.By the Daily Sun Staff


pieces that families can enjoy for generations.

You two have worked

to establish teamwork and partnership with Tangled Lilac. What strengths do each of you bring to the table and how has that helped in your success?

Carnes: I think our mutual respect, common goals and ethical outlook on business has provided a great foundation for our boutique photography studio. It is very comforting to work in an environment where you can share ideas, brainstorm and push each other creatively.

Dunstan: Teamwork is the foundation for our company. In 2009, when I hired Kristen as an assistant for a wedding, I knew that I wanted her to be my business partner one day. She’s a very talented photographer, smart and a creative thinker. When we started Tangled Lilac Photography in 2012, which was launched from my own personal business, we agreed to be 50/50 partners and share all strategic planning, duties and responsibilities.

What is your core philosophy as a photographer and what are some of the goals you try to achieve with your work?

Carnes: Whether we are shooting a wedding, a newborn or a family’s annual portrait, I want our clients to have a genuine experience. Melissa and I strive to have a personal relationship with each of our clients. We really want to get to know our clients so we can capture their memories in a way they will cherish forever.

Dunstan: My philosophy is to help my clients see the love

and beauty that I see when I look though my lens. I want to capture the look of complete adoration when parents look at their kids, or how a woman looks at her best friend, her 28 year old horse, knowing all their adventures will soon come to an end. I want my clients—and their descendants—to look at their photos 50 years from now and still feel the love pouring from the images.

What are some of the

favorite aspects of your job and career and what have been some highlights for you?

Carnes: I absolutely love my job. It’s all about the special moments in life and all that is in between. Melissa and I get the pleasure of capturing and documenting a person’s history. We often photograph a couples engagement, wedding, maternity and newborn then go on to photograph their family portraits, business headshots and children’s senior portraits. We are very blessed to have these relationships and get the honor to watch our clients lives change and grow through our camera lens.

Dunstan: The relationships that I’ve created through photography continue to overwhelm me with love. Watching a family grow and photographing all the stages of life is very rewarding. From a couple getting engaged, to married, to having babies, adopting pet family members, to seniors in high school, to family reunions and so on … I love being the photographer for all the stages of their life.


O ver the years, the Best of Flagstaff Best Meat Department winner has

typically gone to a grocery store with a top meat counter. This year, the competition heated up with a new meat purveyor in town.

Although only open a few weeks before the start of the Best of Flagstaff voting, Proper

Meats + Provisions in the 200 block of South San Francisco Street picked up the Meat Department award, winning our readers over with its focus on local cuts and specialty sandwiches.

This neighborhood meat shop and casual eatery opened in a historic building to a big crowd. Started by Paul Moir of Brix and Criollo Latin Kitchen fame, this

corner butcher sources from local ranches.

“We’ve always worked with local farmers, but the logistics can be hard for them, so we’ve taken over that process to off er whole animal butchering to our restaurants and the public,” Executive Chef David Smith shared in a recent interview.

By the Daily Sun Staff | Photos by Taylor Mahoney

Best of thecuts

Proper Meats + Provisions win Best Meat Department as the new kid on the butcher block


Continued on page 14

2014!

The meat case is known to hold breeds of rib eye, side-by-side, in traditional portions and larger haunches, cut to order. The butcher can then discuss the diff erences in marbling, size and fl avor profi les to best meet the client’s request.

In the case of pork, Proper currently stocks Red Wattle with dark, lean, tender meat; Berkshire, a fi rst class, fl avorful, dark pig; and succulent Duroc. The shop’s “Obscure Board” is as advertised. From lard to dog bones and heart, kidney and tongue all might show up here.

As noted in an article in Flag Live, writer Wil-lie Cross noted, “From the farm to the butcher to the table,


Proper Meats is providing the key ingredient to a growing culinary

puzzle in Flagstaff . Upon that fi rst time hearing that Proper Meats would open, I told myself that I would purchase a portion of pork belly and prepare it for friends.”

He continued, “And, on Proper Meats’ opening day … I did exactly that.

At the dinner I had prepared, I had the privilege of explaining to them where the meat came from, who carefully butchered it, and why that was all so important.”

Cross summed up what made Proper notable, with the notion that the new butcher’s shop fi ts into a tradition of the trade and something behind the usual super-market off erings.


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“The distinction that most butcher’s shops offer begins with the butchers themselves,” he wrote. “A butcher is not meant to just be someone who has a precise knowledge of the dissec-tion of an animal for consump-tion. While that is essential to their trade, a butcher should also be someone that is a part of the community.”

He concluded, “After all, we’re talking about the individu-al that is providing the meat that the members of a community are setting on the table for them-selves, their friends and their families to eat.”

Beyond butchery, Proper Meats + Provisions also supplies local grocery products and deli sandwiches. For a town that gets more and more focused on great cuisine and a foodie sensibility, Proper is bringing the meat to the table.


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W ith a fun and curious name and monkeying themes, BananaLand

Play & Café swung in and swept up the “Best Place to Take the Kids” category in this year’s Best of Flagstaff contest.

Readers of the Arizona Daily Sun moved this new business—it only opened a few weeks before the Best of Flag voting came online—to the top spot, likely for its atmosphere that is family and kid-friendly and for the joy of parents, who can bring their

children to a place where childcare is built into the activities.

To reiterate: parents can take their children to BananaLand and have them supervised while they enjoy a break, often much-needed. It’s no wonder readers could not help but pick this east-side establishment as tops for a place to take the kids.

The idea for the business came from co-owner Rachel Abdallah, who explained a visit to the coff ee shop before children and after children.

Parentsmust

begoinggoing

bananasBananaLand Play & Café

wins Best Place to Take

the KidsBy the Daily Sun Staff


Thank YouThank YouThank you for voting me,

Best ElectedOfficial for 2014.

Your support andrecognition isappreciated!

Mayor Jerry Nabours

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“I used to love going to coffee shops,” she said. “But, when my first child was born, going to the coffee shops wasn’t fun anymore. So, I really wanted a place where a mom or dad could read a book or study with a cup of coffee or a bite to eat while their children were attended to and having a lot of fun.”

BananaLand—located at 3510 E. Route 66, in the Park Santa Fe Shopping Center on the east side of town—had its grand opening on Oct. 11. Abdallah brought it to life with her husband Adham and brother-in-law, Sam. From there, parents began to find the place as a great option for the kids and to take a break.

“I had the idea for several years,” Abdallah explained. “And my brother-in-law was ready to open a business. So, he moved up here (from Phoenix) and helped us get this going. We needed a suite big enough for both a play area and a coffee shop, so that took time to locate.”

On the supervised play, she noted that currently it is offered for parents who stay on site in the adjacent café for a cost of $5 per hour for the first two children and $4 for additional siblings. But they are working to get set up so that parents can also drop off their children for a few hours at a time and leave to run errands, kid-free.

Along with the major benefit of on-site childcare, the owners of BananaLand said they want to create a quality café with great fare that is inviting to parents

and nonparents alike.“First of all, my husband and

I are very health conscious, so we make sure that all of our products have no trans fats, no MSG, no high-fructose corn syrup. We have organic milk and organic coffee. We’ve tried to keep our prices competitive and our offerings unique, including specialty lattes.”

As of press time, they were still working on expanding into a food menu, but plan to offer shawarma, which is roasted chicken and beef vertical rotisserie and cut for sandwiches and wraps. They also will make fresh falafel for a vegetarian option.

“We’re looking to create a menu that is quick and easy, and very minimal, kind of like the way its set up at Chipotle,” Abdallah said.

Parents will also want to take note that BananaLand Play & Café has reasonably priced birthday party packages that include customized T-shirts, food and fun and, of course, a playful atmosphere. This is part of a new business that is growing and evolving quickly. The three business partners are even looking at expanding with additional locations in the Phoenix area. But the first-ever location is here in Flagstaff.

But where did the curious name BananaLand come from? Abdallah explained, “I have four kids and they all love to say the word banana. And we loved how BananaLand just rolls of the tongue. It’s just a fun name.”


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Daily SpecialSSunday — BBQ HamMonday — PastramiTuesday — Crystal VeggieWednesday — Crystal RapidsThursday — MeatballFriday — Tuna SaladSaturday — Turkey

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By the Readers of the AZ Daily Sun

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Proudly Celebrating41 YEARS

in Business!

Thank You Flagstafffor voting us

besthotdog&bestbreakfastburrito2007 & 2008 & 2009 & 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

by readers of the AZ Daily Sun

2915 N. Fourth St. • Flagstaff, AZ 86004(928) 556-0853 • 1-800-230-3322www.avenuesoftheworld.com

Thank you Arizona Daily Sun readers for voting us BestTravel Agency in Flagstaff again, the 14th year in a row!

O ne of the categories to watch for each year in the Best of Flagstaff

competition is the Best New Restaurant. With a robust culinary scene, the next big favorite eatery often leads to an expansion on the dining horizon.

This year, the readers of the Arizona Daily Sun voted Field House Chicken and Waffl es as the Best New Restaurant. This celebrator of all things comfort and southern, Field House has wowed many

SouthernSouthernSouthernSoutherncomforts

Story and photos by the Daily Sun Staff

Field House Chicken and Waffl es wins the coveted

Best New Restaurant

category


local and visiting diners with its breakfast and lunch menus.

Located in the Hilltop Shops north of the Wal-Mart and Bashas on the west side, Field House has become a late-breakfast hotspot and big-appetite favorite.

Essentially with this new restaurant, the owners of Taverna Greek Grill—located in the same plaza—have gone Southern fried. Brian Terpay and his business partners opened Field House Chicken & Waffl es only a few months ago.

“Taverna is more healthy food. We wanted a diff erent take on food,” Terpay said in a recent interview. “Chicken and waffl es, it’s

Southern comfort food. We also wanted to create a cool hangout, somewhere you can go to have a good breakfast after waking up at noon and watch the game with your friends.”

In keeping with that laid-back attitude, the restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 7:30 a.m. on the weekends. It’s located in the same

shopping plaza as Taverna.The restaurant off ers nine

diff erent chicken and waffl e dishes all day long, Terpay said.


Some of the favorites are the Nutella, which includes chicken with sliced bananas and drizzled with Nutella spread and house-made caramel sauce. There’s also an a la carte chicken and waffl es menu, where diners can mix and match their favorites.

Perhaps one of the more unusual off erings on the menu is a chicken and waffl e topped with blue cheese and blueberry sauce, combining pungent with sweet in a way that has to be tasted to be believed.

Besides chicken and waffl es, Field House also off ers a variety of other breakfast dishes all day long. One unique off ering is the Cinnamon Crunch Toast—French toast encrusted with breakfast cereal.

The restaurant also serves lunch for those who want to skip breakfast altogether, with a variety of salads and sandwiches. The sandwiches include three beef burgers for those who might have had chicken for breakfast. There’s also a list of entrees for dinner, including meatloaf, gumbo and other tasty Southern delicacies.

Just meeting friends for a beer and the game, try a couple of the 11 diff erent starters, such as pickle chips (fried pickles) or fried green tomatoes.

In order to wash all that food down, the restaurant has a full bar with both draft and canned beers and a variety of cocktails. That list includes four diff erent kinds of Bloody Marys. These Marys pack a wallop, and come with bacon and veggies stacked in such a way that it almost drinks like a meal.

For fun, they also serve Pabst Blue Ribbon in a can, wrapped in a paper bag. For designated drivers, there’s also the regular assortment of soda pop, sweet tea, lemonade, juice, coff ee and hot tea.

Make sure to leave some room for the restaurant’s Maple Bacon Cupcake for dessert. There’s also peach cobbler, banana cream pie or brownies.

Both Taverna and Field House are locally owned and involved in the community, Terpay said. Taverna holds multiple fundraisers throughout the year for local organizations.

BUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSJOURNAL

Downtown's BIG Change

November 14, 2014 Issue 1 Vol. 1

Business

JOURNALN O RT H E R N A R I Z O N A

How Flagstaff’s Historic District Is Expanding and Changing

On an innocuous fall Friday morning,

I found myself between meetings downtown

and decided to stroll a loop around the

Southside. I have walked this kind of loop

around downtown, this one from Route 66

down Beaver Street to Benton Avenue, then

east to South San Francisco and up.

I likely walked this same way 10 years ago.

But much has changed in those 10 years. The

sidewalks are wider, the businesses are different,

the trees are planted, the fixtures and new bike

racks are in place. This came with the Southside

streetscape improvements of five years.

SEE PAGE 4 FOR THE FULL STORY

Local Entrepreneurs and Upstart

Companies Find Success in

Pursuit of the Big Dream

CollegeAmerica opens

new facility in Flagstaff

The restaurant business

is big and getting bigger

in Flagstaff

12

10

18

COMING THIS DECEMBER IN THE ARIZONA DAILY SUN


W e have a large number of real estate agencies and realtors in Flagstaff,

which has come to make our Best Real Estate Agency category a competitive and interesting one. This year, RE/MAX Peak Properties enjoyed a repeat win in our Best of Flagstaff competition.

And the victory comes at a sweet time, as the agency celebrated a recent interesting milestone. The office is located in the Koch House, a historic home the agency purchased on Riordan Road 10 years ago this year. The historic home, a notable example of Arts and Crafts architecture and a residence with a strong tie to Flagstaff’s early lumber history, turned 100 years old this year.

With that aside, RE/MAX Peak Properties has 28 agents and is an active and bustling office residing in the beautiful home. We asked a few questions of Judy Louks, the RE/MAX Associate Broker and Manager at Peak Properties.

The Arizona Daily Sun readers have selected you for Best Real Estate Agency. What is it about your agency and approach that you think resonates with our voters?

It is a combination of professionalism, friendship, camaraderie, hard work, common vision, success, community service, reputation and fun that impacts and improves the professional and personal lives of the sales associates, their customers and clients as well as our staff and management.

What are some of your core business principles as an agency and how do you follow those in your day-to-day business practices?

If you consistently exceed the expectations of those you serve, you reach the highest level of personal and professional success. A key is setting expectations with those you serve. We assist our agents in formulating business plans and strategies and coach them throughout the year on continuous self-improvement, leadership by and through action. Maintaining an optimal business culture, living a balanced lifestyle and having fun and remaining positive are a few others.

With the challenging economy

and market, followed by the recovery, what are some ways you’ve been able to adapt and thrive?

RE/MAX International immediately started presenting the Certified Distressed Property Expert designation, which many of our agents obtained and used to assist those residents in the area who were most impacted by the declining economy. Many others within the office were foreclosure experts, assisting lenders dispense of those properties obtained during the leaner times. Most of all our sales people stuck to the basics, they continued to stay in touch with their spheres, they continued to offer their valuable knowledge and expertise, to expand their educational opportunities and volunteer within the community to stay positive.

Finding homeBy the Daily Sun Staff

RE/MAX Peak Properties wins the Best Real Estate Agency category


1000 North humphreys street | FlagstaFF | (928) 774-4022 | www.sportsmaNsFlagstaFF.com

winner of Best sports Bar 2011,2012,2013 and 2014

Dailys specials$3.00 pints all day everyday.

tuesDays$2.00 tacos all day, fish, shrimp, chicken, steak,

pork and ground beef.

weDNesDays1/2 off all wings.

thursDay$2.00 sliders all day.

FriDaysFish & shrimp fry all u can eat $10.99

saturDay aND suNDayshomemade pazolli and green chili soup

we have over 15 hi deftV’s and show everysporting event.NBA • NFL •MLB • NHL • SOCCER

and all college games.

we host parties, christmas, Birthdays,work parties with special discounts.

What are the particular challenges and changes in the Flagstaff market and what makes real estate here unique compared to other places?

Flagstaff is unique in as much as we are an island in this vast expanse of beautiful Ponderosas. We have limited opportunities to expand and most of what is remaining presents obstacles of some sort. So where we use to be looking at homes on large lots and big shopping centers, we now are seeing homes on smaller lots, more multiple housing and mixed use communities. The uniqueness comes with the existing communities which may house homes from the $200,000s up to over a million and one’s pricing doesn’t impact the other. In most area’s you may see all $200,000 homes, all $400,000 homes but rarely mixed areas. We are unique in the ability to have city conveniences with the great outdoors just minutes away, which is in very high demand. We have had great stewardship over the years

and kept our small town atmosphere which adds to the desirability factor.

What is your favorite part of

your job and why? We get to be the eyes and

ears of Flagstaff, we are the pulse. Seeing the joy on people’s faces when they find the right home is so rewarding because you know at that point you’ve listened, you’ve heard and fulfilled their wishes.

Can you share a few of your

biggest highlights from the year? Shining the spotlight on 10

agents who sold between five to ten million dollars worth of property in 2013 and are on target to surpass those numbers this year. We also won the Best of Flagstaff Real Estate category in 2013. And we celebrated the Centennial Anniversary of our building and being presented a letter of recognition from the City of Flagstaff for preserving our heritage.


W hen it comes to having a night on the town with some good fun and a

chance to take a twirl on the dance fl oor, the readers of the Arizona Daily Sun picked the Museum Club as the place to cut a rug—or hardwood fl oor, rather.

The Museum Club has long been an institution in Flagstaff . And for those people who like to put on their dancing shoes (read: boots), this place that’s nicknamed The Zoo is

it. Also, this year, the venue has had some serious upgrades that make it an even better night spot.

Museum Club owner Brandyn Tullis has been ramping up the hopping nightspot’s draw on big-name acts and local standouts to pave the way for history to come full circle in this, the 75th anniversary of the Club.

Tullis has worked hard for nine years to bring living country legends onto the tree-fl anked stage

that’s recently doubled its girth. “Putting big national acts on there was so hard we had to rent stage extensions. It just didn’t fl ow well with the building,” he said in a recent interview.

Local sonic experts at Peaks Audio delivered a seamless listening experience for revelers and musicians alike, a job Tullis noted was done for the long haul.

“After time, you kind of live and learn … let’s build it, lets still keep

the integrity of everything, but also make it so the bands can get on stage and appreciate what we’re doing,” he added. “I think we’ve accomplished that.”

Subwoofers nest in the wooden base of the stage while speakers cascade from the ceiling and play off the natural acoustics in the space.

“They found out in the ‘30s music sounds good in here and it really hasn’t changed,” Tullis said. “Technology’s changed and it sounds better than ever. Back then the reason live music kept showing was because it made sense to be

here. It was apparent before my time that that was the case, and it’s the case now.”

Mainstays like the taxidermy elk trophies dot the walls and Dime Beer Wednesdays blend a cocktail of tradition with new hits like Latino Sundays and partnered comedy nights with the Shadows Foundation. The same can be said for the live music happening almost every night of the week.

The Museum Club bleeds country, but Tullis noted the storytellers’ genre comprises more than the typical pick-and-sing style. His booking plays on the past, but he also enjoys the grittier splinter groups like Texas Red Dirt and outlaw country and books shows that pack the place with diff erent faces every night.

His appreciation for heroes like Waylon Jennings leads to living legends like Joe Ely and Justin Townes Earle sharing the stage. Also this year they brought back living legend Billy Joe Shaver

Boot scootingBoot scootingBoot scootingwins the day

Museum Club always tops for Best Place to Go DancingBy the Daily Sun Staff


Voted Best of Flagstaff2007–2014

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among their many acts.The tradition and atmosphere

compel patrons and musicians alike to stop for a pint to relive memories and create new ones. Some have met their wives or husbands at the Museum Club. Tullis added, “You can listen to a CD at home, but to see live music in a place that’s just chock full of history—it’s second to none.”

Even without the live shows, the Museum Club has been teaching dancing and sharing the techniques for many years. Annette Fallaha teaches country line dancing on the first three Thursdays of every month, and again on the fifth Thursday in longer months, at the Museum Club.

“A lot of what I love about line dancing is the new upbeat country music and meeting new people

that take my class all the time,” she shared in a past interview with Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine. “I love learning new dances and teaching them, so I can put a smile of accomplishment on the faces of those who learn them.”

But do you have to wear the boots? “Boots aren’t a requirement for country dancing, but a good leather cowboy boot is probably the best shoe to wear when it comes right down to it, because of the leather sole on wooden floors,” Fallaha said. “I also think when wearing a boot, it gets you more in the mood to be ready to dance!”

— Some information comes from a previous article

written by Diandra Markgraf.

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