This weekend is going to be a nightmare for many people trying to get from here to there. The Arizona Cardinals are hosting the NFC Championship game in Glendale on Sunday, January 18, 2009. That will cause problems on I-10 going west and the 101 Loop (Agua Fria) for sure. In North Scottsdale, the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction is the place to see and be seen, and in Carefree the crowds are sure to be enjoying this perfect weather at the Carefree Fine Arts and Wine Festival. The State Fairgrounds has the Maricopa County Home and Garden Show, Chandler has its Multicultural Festival, Downtown Glendale has the Glitter and Glow on Saturday night, Surprise has a Winter Festival, and the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon will take over many of the streets of Tempe and Phoenix. There are, of course, other events going on around town, too. Whew!

Many bus routes in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe and light rail service in Phoenix will be affected by the marathon and related entertainment on Sunday. Read more...

I am always on the lookout for free things to do around town. It usually isn't very hard to find interesting and unusual activities and events that don't cost a dime. Here are five more that came across my desk for the second half of January. Featured in this installment are historical literary figures who come alive for you, cowboys and horses, civil rights and jazz, wedding planning, cops who sing, and Steve McQueen.

Oops -- that's six free things! Read more...

Who doesn't! If the Eagles beat the Giants today (January 11, 2009) the Cardinals will host the NFC Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on Sunday, January 18, 2009. Tickets would go on sale at 3 p.m. Sunday. You can buy tickets by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster. There will be a limit of eight tickets per transaction. If tickets sell out, and you still want to go, beware of buying tickets from questionable sources. Your best bet at that point is to buy them from a reputable ticket broker, like TicketsNow.com (check here to buy Cardinals tickets directly from them).

I admit it. I didn't have much hope that the Arizona Cardinals could get through to the next round in the playoffs. They didn't win one game that they played back east all season. Not wanting to be a fair weather fan, though, I dressed appropriately -- in Cardinals red -- for a family dinner celebration at a local steakhouse. You've heard me rant about it before; I hate watching TV in restaurants. From our table I could just barely make out the TV screen in the crowded bar area. It was 27-7 at halftime.

They could have fallen apart after falling behind early in the game, but they stuck with the plan. Five interceptions didn't hurt the cause! The Arizona Cardinals proved to all their naysayers that sometimes having enough heart puts you over the top. Final score: Arizona Cardinals 33, Carolina Panthers 13. That makes them division champs. They now advance to meet the winner of the Giants/Eagles battle for the NFC Championship on January 18, 2009. This will be the first-ever NFC Championship game for the Arizona Cardinals. If the Eagles win tomorrow against the Giants, the NFC Championship game will take place in Glendale at University of Phoenix Stadium. Stay tuned.