The Breakfast Club


The Knife & Fork

Breakfast Club Visits Flagstaff, Air Fare Cafe




11 Jun 2005
by Warren McIlvoy


When the Breakfast Club event committee met last November to map-out the schedule for 2005, one consideration came to the forefront, keep the summer destinations relatively close and pick places that would be cooler the desert climates where we departed from. Flagstaff was chosen for the June event as it is close the temperatures would be cooler. Little did we realize at that time, that June (at least the first part anyway) would have below average temperatures. Flagstaff was cooler alright, bordering on brisk.

An early Saturday morning departure from Deer Valley Airport to the north, soon has us over the burgeoning Verde Valley and on to Sedona. We checked-in on the Breakfast Club, group flight following frequency, to get in on the chatter and position reports. The air at this hour of the morning was quite smooth that made for a very enjoyable flight even if it was a relatively short one. What little winds there were at Flagstaff, were out of the southwest and thus it was a left down-wind entry to runway 21. Todays event served a dual purpose for me at it was also a Flights For Life Mission so the first thing after landing and taxing to parking, was to off-load my cargo and take it to Wisemans for exchange for the return materials. I went back to the ramp area where all the other Breakfast Club folks had gathered for greetings and some group photos.

From where we were all parked, it was maybe a little over a 100 yards to the walk-through gate that would get us to the street-side of the terminal building. The Air Fare Café is located on the first level and about midway down the long lobby area. The Air FareCafé came under new ownership near the end of 2004 and Kelly Roessig is the new owner. The Café is a rather small place with seating for about 15-20 people. Since I thought that we might have 20-30 folks in attendance, Kelly and I worked-out a plan to have a catered affair on the balcony level of the terminal building. The open area of the balcony is almost right above and on the opposite side of the lobby area. The southeast side of the balcony level is arrayed with a tall, wide window wall that affords a panoramic view of the ramp area. The northwest side, and the wall above the lobby area, has clerestory windows the entire length of the building. This view has a breath taking vista of the snow-capped Humphrey's Peak. This view can only be had from the balcony level.

Kelly had arranged a series of tables set-up in an "L" shape with the serving line arranged in front of the ramp windows. The menu consisted of scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage & bacon, a pastry tray with a variety of Danish, a fresh fruit tray with several kinds of melons and grapes, three different juices, and the ever popular, coffee. Out hostess for the morning, Sarena, did an admiral job of keeping things in order and to attend to any other necessities that our folks needed. The foods items that needed to be kept warm were heated just right and the cold items were kept on ice. All-in-all, the Air Fare folks did an outstanding job of providing the Breakfast Club group with a tasty and enjoyable meal in a pleasant venue. In retrospect, the twenty folks in attendance, would have been easily accommodated in a side room that was adjacent to the main floor café area. I believe that 30 would have overwhelmed the first floor space and it would not have had the views that we enjoyed on the balcony level.

After our leisurely breakfast meal and time to chat with many of the other folks in attendance, we went down to the main lobby level to explore the other features to be had in the terminal building. When it was time to depart, we retraced our course back to the ramp area. By this time, the skies had clouded-over with an overcast sky at about 3000' agl. There was an occasional raindrop to let us know that changes in the weather were looming. Though the temperature had warmed a bit, the wind had also become a bit more enthusiastic out of the southwest.

We departed runway 21 and with the increased wind, the take-off roll was somewhat abbreviated. There was an abundance of thermals in the area that made a climb to 9500' the altitude of choice for the return trip. Once off the Rim, the air smoothed-out a bit but still had some turbulence to it. In the vacinity of Sedona, we got another dose of virga but it did not last very long.

If you would like to contact Kelly Roessig, call her at (928) 779-9866.


The Flagstaff Group


What's Next?

The July Breakfast Club event will see us traveling a tad further west to historic, Seligman, Arizona and Lilo's West Side Café. In August, we will be heading to Sedona and the Sedona Airport Café. That's all for now but remember, fly safe.

Below are links to some photos of our Flagstaff event. Just click on the link and enjoy.


BC Group on Ramp   Partial Serving Line   Northside View   Southside View   Sarena

Air Fare Menu   Main Floor Cafe