Carefree Station offering New Year's choices

Carefree Station will feature an unusual twist on the New Year's Eve celebration this year. Based upon the assumption that many people don't stay up until midnight anymore, the restaurant is offering a "Celebrate America's New Year" theme for the evening. Patrons will be able to celebrate a full‑scale New Year's Eve whenever the clock strikes midnight in any of the four contiguous American time zones.

The first celebration will be at 10 p.m. Arizona time and the last will be at 1 a.m. for those who want to stick around and celebrate with the West Coast. The concept gives early birds an opportunity to legitimately ring in the New Year at 10 or 11 p.m. and then head home to rest up for the next day's bowl games. Hardy partiers are welcome to come and sing "Auld Lang Syne" four times.

Carefree Station is located in Spanish Village in downtown Carefree. Call (480) 488‑8182 for reservations or information.

ASU to host international piano competition

Forty‑two talented international pianists from across the globe make their way to Tempe Jan. 7‑13 when the Arizona State University Herberger College of Fine Arts and the Arizona Young Artist Committee host the second Böösendorfer and Schimmel USASU International Piano Competitions.

The public is invited to witness these accomplished pianists perform in a competition that is considered one of the best in the United States. A complete schedule of events is listed at http://herbergercollege.asu.edu/pianocompetition.    

Winners are competing for a host of prizes, including $33,000 in cash awards as well as performances with the Phoenix and Mesa symphonies and solo recitals in Germany and Austria. 

A ticketed guest artist concert with Sergei Babayan kicks off the event Jan. 7. Hailed by critics as a "poet of the piano," Babayan has received the highest global acclaim for his performances and recordings.

Tickets are $6‑$12 and can be  ordered by calling  (480) 965‑6447. All recitals and concerts of the international event will be in the ASU Herberger College School of Music building, 40 E. Gammage Parkway in Tempe. The public can attend the free semi‑finals, finals and winners' recitals.

Students create Christmas exhibit at museum

The holiday season is in full swing at Cave Creek Museum as Cactus Shadow High School students have created a Christmas Pageant Exhibit on display through Dec. 31. The exhibit commemorates the efforts of 50 years of community residents.

Memories from past Christmas holidays are shared through a special display case in the Museum's Historic Church built in 1946 and housed the museum until the 1980s. The exhibit includes greeting cards from area dude ranches, a collection of Bibles and toys from the museum collection.

Located at 6140 Skyline Dr. in Cave Creek, the museum features an extensive collection of prehistoric and historic artifacts describing the lives of Native Americans, miners, ranchers and pioneers.

The museum hours are Wed. through Sun. from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fri. from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entrance fees are $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and students younger than age 12. Group tours are $2 per person. The museum is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

For information call (480) 488‑2764, or visit www.cavecreekmuseum.org.