Kids reading with library dogs, comics & creators expo, Phoenix Mercury game, and more. 
Happy Friday, Phoenix. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Phoenix Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Kids gaining reading confidence with library therapy dogs, Valley swelling into an AI data center hub, and bigger down payment aid in Maricopa County — catch up here.
State-level stories: Toyota’s new 5.5 mile desert test track, a coast to coast train pulling into Flagstaff, and steep discounts on prescriptions for Arizonans — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Federal judge orders fresh review of gray wolf safeguards, OPEC+ output increase pushes oil under seventy dollars, and a mislabeled pasta recall — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Explore comics and meet local creators
- Join Grammy-winning mariachi for dance and conversation
- Attend local job search assistance workshop
- Join free indoor playtime with your child
- Compare home equity loans for free
🫶 We got your back
Pizza: Skip the usual chain and taste thin, square, wood-fired pies piled high with toppings that make you swoon. Discover pizza spots tucked right around Phoenix.
Wildlife: Arizona delivers a front-row seat to nature’s best at these wildlife viewing spots. If you’re looking for an escape from staring at a screen, it might be just what you need.
Organization: You spend a weekend lining up matching containers only to find chaos three weeks later. Real-life hacks for your messy, beautiful life are here. Try these sustainable organization tips to keep clutter at bay.
Florist: In need of a last-minute gift, a romantic gesture, or just some color in your life, Baseline Flowers arranges petal-powered masterpieces that speak volumes without saying a word.
Family: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🦇 Queer Goth Nite @ The Rebel Lounge | Friday (8/8) at 8:30pm – Rebel Lounge is going full goth with darkwave DJs, drag acts, crafty vendors, and party photos darker than your ex’s heart. It’s the perfect excuse to swap flip-flops for leather, plus a buck from each ticket goes straight to Ripple PHX.
🕺 Yung Bae @ Crescent Ballroom | Friday (8/8) at 9:00pm – Think you’ve outgrown disco? Think again. Yung Bae’s bringing that silky funk for locals who prefer velvet grooves over thumping bass solos, with general admission at $28, plus fees, or perch in the 21+ bleachers for $38, plus fees if you fancy a view.
This weekend
📚 Comics & Creators Expo @ Phoenix Civic Center | Saturday (8/9) at 10:00am – Comic lovers rejoice: city scribes, storytellers, and that dusty stack you swore you’d read gather under one roof at Phoenix Plaza Civic Center. Two bucks gets you in, and kids 12 and under get free admission. All proceeds fuel our favorite free community events.
🔍 True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show @ Embassy Suites by Hilton Tempe | Saturday (8/9) at 6:00pm – Who says dinner can’t double as a crime scene? Tempe-Phoenix just landed The Dinner Detective’s award-winning interactive murder mystery, where the actors blend into the crowd, so watch your back and your entrée. Expect wry comedy, twisty plot turns, and questionably helpful neighbors.
💿 Mystery Skulls – Ultra Rare Tour @ Crescent Ballroom | Saturday (8/9) at 8:00pm – Brace yourself for a one-night-only Mystery Skulls gig, complete with skeleton beats, neon lasers, and a pre-show arcade showdown if you spring for VIP. It’s the kind of night that says “you’ve arrived” without shouting about it, perfect for locals who’ve seen it all.
🏀 Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream @ PHX Arena (formerly Footprint Center) | Sunday (8/10) at 3:00pm – Friday night at PHX Arena means one thing: the Mercury taking the court against Atlanta with more drama than my neighbor’s DIY patio mishap. It’s all digital tickets, cashless concessions, and a free Valley Metro ride so you can brag you didn’t drive downtown.
🎸 7Horse Double Summertime Tour @ Valley Bar | Sunday (8/10) at 7:30pm – Brace yourself for 7Horse’s Double Summertime Tour, where gritty blues meets ’90s alt in a rollicking tribute to Dada classics. It’s like finding your old mixtape at the corner dive, dusty, delightfully rough, and guaranteed to make you feel way cooler than you are.
Next week
🐴 Horsegirl @ Valley Bar | Monday (8/11) at 7:00pm – Horsegirl trots into town with taut guitar riffs, intimate vibes, and enough earworms to cure your midsummer slump. Local buzz act Godcaster opens, and with tickets under twenty bucks, this 16+ show feels like highway robbery worth bragging about.
👻 Ghost: World Tour 2025 @ PHX Arena (formerly Footprint Center) | Monday (8/11) at 8:00pm – Stash your phone in its stylish pouch and sink into Ghost’s truly haunting live show that demands your full attention, no screens allowed, no sneaky snaps. Bring a card for merch and drinks, and prepare to really listen, no peeking at notifications.
🍸 Femmes Of PHX – Ages 21+ @ The Rebel Lounge | Tuesday (8/12) at 7:30 pm – Calling all femme-identifying powerhouses: this is your official invite to desert-chic mingling and cheeky cocktails. Slip into your sassiest heels and sip on craft concoctions while you network with Phoenix’s fiercest squad. Whether you’re flying solo or rolling deep with the crew, expect killer beats, glow vibes, and a night you won’t forget.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/8 Live Music @ Boondocks Patio & Grill – 5 pm
- 8/8 Chris Mims @ Charley’s Place – 7 pm
- 8/8 Lamont Landers @ Last Exit Live – 7:30 pm
- 8/8 The Riddims and more @ 44 Sports Grill – 7:30 pm
- 8/9 KrashKarma and more @ 44 Sports Grill – 7 pm
- 8/11 Gunshine and more @ 44 Sports Grill – 7 pm
- 8/12 Hed Pe and more @ 44 Sports Grill – 7 pm
- 8/12 Ateez @ Desert Diamond Arena – 7:30 pm
🏠️ Price is right – Phoenix edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Jessica Bojorquez (eXp Realty)
This North Phoenix stunner sits against Lookout Mountain Preserve, serving up unobstructed sunsets from an oversized deck and a backyard built for poolside lounging. Inside, every inch feels intentional, from the climate-controlled wine room and leather-seated theater to the workshop that’s ready for your next big project. Oversized rooms and curated spaces dial up the comfort without dialing down the style.
Owned solar, Tesla charging, surround sound, and a heated pool make everyday living feel like a five-star stay. No HOA, just privacy and perks, with hiking trails, top schools, and Desert Ridge Marketplace minutes away.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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