Interested in learning more about the vegan lifestyle? Or are you vegan and looking for culinary ideas? Then come to the Veg Out! Vegan Beer & Food Festival in Scottsdale, Arizona, Saturday-Sunday, March 17-18. This new event features vendors specializing in locally sourced vegan foods and beers, along with vegan-friendly skin-care products, clothing, and artwork. … Continue reading Veg out at this vegan beer and food festival in Scottsdale, Arizona

Photo by Cheryl Landes Hundreds of orchids on display, a juried art exhibition of orchid-themed works, floral arrangements and corsages, and orchid culture and information demonstrations are among the activities at the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show this weekend (March 9-11) at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. Got questions about growing your orchids? Stop by the Earl … Continue reading Santa Barbara International Orchid Show March 9-11

Featured image: A tree nymph dines on nectar from a flower at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (photo credit: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park) See more than 7,000 tropical butterflies representing 50 species in the Tropical Conservatory at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, … Continue reading Free-flying tropical butterflies return to the Meijer Gardens’ Tropical Conservatory in Grand Rapids through April

Photos courtesy Creative Commons Watching trumpeter swans gliding on the open water is an incredible, beautiful sight. They're the world's largest waterfowl with a standing height of up to five feet, a wingspan from 7 to 8 feet, and weight ranging from 21 to 30 pounds. Despite their size, their gracefulness on the water is … Continue reading Where to see trumpeter swans in the winter and during their migrations

Featured image: Snow geese in flight (photo by skeeze, courtesy Creative Commons) It's waterfowl migration season in North America. Thousands of snow geese have arrived in the Plains and Midwest, and the sandhill cranes aren't far behind. More than 500,000 snow geese have been reported at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City, … Continue reading More than a half million snow geese and sandhill cranes arriving in the Plains and Midwest

Featured image: A fried whole-belly clam plate at The Clam Box (photo credit: The Clam Box) Updated March 3, 2018 After weathering a Nor'easter causing heavy flooding in Quincy, Massachusetts, on its original opening day, the waters have receded enough for The Clam Box to officially open for the season. Today (March 3), the restaurant … Continue reading The Clam Box is now open for the season in Quincy, MA

Featured image: Collecting sap from the maple trees at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa (photo credit: Hartman Reserve Nature Center) Come to the Hartman Reserve Nature Center this weekend (March 3-4) for the annual Maple Syrup Festival from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn how maple syrup is made and explore … Continue reading Flying flapjacks at the Maple Syrup Festival March 3-4 in Cedar Falls, Iowa

The 15th annual McDowell Mountain Music Festival (M3F) is underway at the Margaret T. Hance Park, 1200 N First Street in Phoenix. The gates opened at 3 p.m. today and the festival continues through Sunday night. This year's festival features more than 30 acts, including Nick Murphy, Big Gigantic, Griz, Father John Misty, The Revivalists, … Continue reading 2018 McDowell Mountain Music Festival in Phoenix this weekend

Tickets are still available at the door tonight (March 2) for Crafts & Drafts at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 4th Avenue, in Canyon, Texas. Enjoy delicious beer-themed food (with beer to drink, of course), crafts, and games from 6 to 9 p.m. Play cornhole and flaunt your trivia prowess. Tickets cost $30 per person … Continue reading Crafts & Drafts tonight at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

Featured image by Raventhorne, courtesy Creative Commons Immerse yourself in the cowboy culture this weekend (March 2-4) at two annual events in Texas and Utah. Cache Valley Cowboy Rendezvous, March 2-4 Mountain Crest High School, 255 South 800 East in Hyrum, Utah On Friday and Saturday, admission is free to three stages of continuous western … Continue reading Two cowboy poetry gatherings this weekend in Texas and Utah