Flagstaff—the Pine Cone and a hot cup of coffee

New York City may have it's famous New Year ball drop, and Vincennes, Indiana may drop a watermelon but in Flagstaff, Arizona revelers celebrate with the Great Pine Cone Drop. Not to be outdone by the cities to the east with similar annual observances, Flagstaff, according to the Arizona Sun, drops the Pine Cone from the historic Weatherford Hotel twice: at 10 "for families and those enjoying the celebrations on the east coast" and later, at midnight.

Flagstaff has certainly changed since 1960. Lots of shopping, art and music and theater, coffee shops with an international flair. In line at Macy's for coffee one morning, no one near me was speaking English. I felt as if I were in Prague or Rome surrounded as I was by visitors from other countries. Macy's has good coffee. House coffee is drinkable—and I don't mean that as a backhand compliment. I'm sort of a snob about coffee. I don't like it bitter nor so weak that you can see through it when it's being poured. It's an art to make good coffee that doesn't have to be enhanced by adding sugar or flavors, cream or foam to be palatable. It's a simple pleasure to warm your hands around a hot mug and then to drink something that actually tastes good. Macy's is that. Oh, and here's a tip I heard from a local. If you want a House coffee "to go," bring your own mug.

Before Christmas the Pine Cone countdown was underway

The Weatherford Hotel

A closer look