Arizona Celebrates Centennial - 100 Years of Statehood

It was on this historic day in 1912 that President William Howard Taft signed the papers to admit Arizona Territory as the 48th State of the United States of America. Today, one hundred years later, people all over the state are celebrating a century of statehood.

The Arizona Centennial Foundation has been hard at work promoting this special date all throughout the state for the past several months. They were also a major sponsor of the Arizona Best Fest, which took place this past weekend and featured a variety of exhibits, music, food, and attractions in honor of the state's history.

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World's Largest Mobile Crane at Intel's Chandler Facility

Although this is the North Phoenix Blog, I acknowledge that important things happen in other parts of Phoenix and Arizona all the time. Sometimes, very big things happen.

If you've been in the Chandler area recently, you may have seen the gigantic crane at the Intel plant. You may have even thought to yourself "Wow, that's a big crane." It is more than just big, it is one of the largest mobile cranes in the world!

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Phoenix Christmas Light Photos 2011

As a native Arizonan, I feel like I've never had the chance to get the full Christmas experience. While songs on the radio talk about sleigh rides, chestnuts roasting on an open fire and a White Christmas, I have never experienced any of those things.

Due to the climate here in the Sonoran Desert, the Phoenix area does not get snow. As a kid, one of our family traditions was to pile in the car and drive around to look at Christmas lights.

You see, when there is no snow, some folks try to make up for it by putting up a few extra strings of lights. And then there are the people who go completely and totally overboard with lights, illuminating the entire neighborhood like Times Square. Those houses are my favorite.

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Copper Chopper Custom Motorcycle by Paul Yaffe

The State of Arizona's 100-year anniversary is just around the corner! If you have been out and about lately, you may have noticed that the Arizona Centennial Foundation has selected a rather unusual mascot for the state's 100th birthday.

Rather than choose a mascot, person, or event that defines Arizona's history, the Foundation has selected a custom built "chopper" bike, created by Arizona resident and bike builder Paul Yaffe.

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Iconic Arizona Exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum

Have you heard about Iconic Arizona? It's a new exhibit of creative photography at the Phoenix Art Museum, and it's going on now! The exhibit runs from November 12, 2011 through March 4, 2012. As you might imagine, the exhibit features many of Arizona's most well-known attractions such as the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. However, the exhibit has more to offer than just the natural wonders of Northern Arizona. There are photos of the San Xavier del Bac Mission, Jerome, and man-made attractions such as the Hoover Dam and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pauson House.

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