The biggest events happen at the Sedona Performing Arts Center, which is only about 6 minutes down the road. If you wish, you can even park and take a free shuttle to all the theaters. This setup will keep you out of those pesky traffic lines that occur getting into Sedona’s thriving shopping and arts center, Uptown. Other than grabbing a fat sack of a powerful Led Zeppelin-like weed called Black Dog from Curaleaf dispensary, I was able to avoid the Uptown snarl throughout my entire stay. West Sedona has plenty of places to stay, some within walking distance of the theaters, with tons of wonderful options for food of all sorts within arm’s reach.
There are all manners of fine cuisine with exceptional choices on all price levels, with plenty for vegans. And it is all framed by amazing red rock vistas. Even waiting in the drive-thru in the West Sedona Starbucks is a picture postcard moment, as a red rock outcropping towers over you while you wait for your Venti. If you enjoy spirit questing, there are also some choice vortexes on that side of town. It’s ultra-convenient in a mellow shade of turquoise.
7000 Miles
Nothing is quite as reflective as a screening after an invigorating vortex visit. After a rousing astral workout on the breathtaking Rachel’s Knoll vortex, sinking into The Surrogate was like being carried by tiny bubbles into the story. A very funny drama directed by Amy Glazer, the movie hit that indie stride of keeping unpredictable, pleasantly catching me off guard several times. Wendie Malick, one of the stars of the film making an in-person appearance, spoke about how great it was seeing The Surrogate screened in public, as many premieres never happened during the pandemic.
This was also true for the previous night’s gala screening of 7000 Miles, with Malick and Maxwell Caulfield of Empire Records and Grease 2 (still my beating heart) in attendance. The lingering hum of the vortex rang on during the showing of the poignant documentary King Coal. The jaw-dropping cinematography and druid-like forest imagery took this remarkable autobiographical reflection on West Virginia coal economies into some heavy Game Of Thrones atmosphere. The documentary literally gets medieval on your a*s.
