Happy Tuesday, Phoenix. In today’s edition: Moon meditation, Jim Martinez – A Charlie Brown Christmas, ultimate family play date, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Stakeholders applaud Arizona initiative: Arizona’s State Broadband Office launched the first-in-the-nation Arizona Permit Finder, an interactive map centralizing permitting details to streamline broadband builds and speed deployment, especially in underserved and rural communities statewide — read the full story.

Economic snapshot: Phoenix trends: Phoenix’s economy kept pace in August, with the labor force and jobs growing and average hourly earnings up 5.2% to $36.60, though unemployment ticked up as participation outpaced hiring — see the latest figures.

Inside Safe Outdoor Space: Two years after the Zone, Phoenix’s sanctioned tent shelter runs smoothly, guests say, though a three-year cap and expiring pandemic funds leave its future uncertain — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.

Highlights this week

• Law Rocks Phoenix returns for year six
• Experience Phoenix Zoo’s dazzling ZooLights
• Bring the family to Santa’s Country Jamboree
• Donate toys at Caffeine and Chrome
• Discover handcrafted gifts at Art at Anthem
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals

🫶 We got your back

New concepts under construction: Vivili Hospitality Group is investing $4 million to bring three spots to Roosevelt Row in early 2026: Pizzanista! (LA-based pizza shop known for mac-and-cheese “Sunday” slices), Hero (scratch-made pastas with a big patio), and Bar Saint Bruno (a late-night cocktail bar) near First and Portland. Get all the details.

New ways to give back: Arizona drivers can now choose three new specialty plates: Phoenix Mercury, Ovarian Cancer Awareness, and Verde Valley Wine Trail. Plates cost $25, with $17 going to their respective causes. Personalization is an extra $25 per year. MVD now offers 109 options, and last fiscal year specialty plates generated $14.5M. Learn where the proceeds go.

Chihuahua-style burritos, anyone? Meet Tacos Chiwas, a family-run spot rolling burritos on handmade flour tortillas. Go picadillo or deshebrada, red or green. Consider it a midweek reward, comforting and straightforward… exactly what your brain wants when cooking feels optional.

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.

Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.

📆 Around town this week

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.

This week

🎭 Light in the Window @ Herberger Theater Center | Wednesday (12/03) at 12:10pm – Step into a warm living room where handmade Parols glow, holiday scents linger, and stories flow between generations. This tender Filipino Christmas tale blends memory, music, and tradition as Lola gently passes her light—and legacy—to her Apo. It’s cozy, heartfelt, and just the right dose of seasonal soul food.

🌙 Moon Meditation @ Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix | Thursday (12/4) at 7:00pm – Trade doomscrolling for a Full Moon ceremony that helps you release clutter, invite abundance, and actually exhale. Wear comfy clothes, bring water and a yoga mat or blanket, and leave with a Biophilia self-care gift bag. RSVP is not a ticket, grab one in advance.

🎸 Sixth Annual Law Rocks Phoenix @ Crescent Ballroom | Thursday (12/4) at 7:00pm – Whether you’ve always wanted to see your attorney trade briefs for guitar riffs, or you just love a good cover tune with a side of swagger, the sixth year of Law Rocks is back in Phoenix. Expect solos, bigger bragging rights, and zero billable hours.

⛳ 18th Annual Los Diablos Sam Ramirez Legacy Golf Tournament @ Papago Golf Club | Friday (12/5) at 7:30am – Think your short game can still hang? The Los Diablos alumni crew is back with their 18th Annual Sam Ramirez Legacy Golf Tournament, a day of fairways, ribbing, bragging rights, a good cause, and the kind of clubhouse chatter that lasts longer than your drive.

🖼️ First Friday | Stories in Motion: Honoring Delores Browne Abelson @ Heard Museum | Friday (12/5) at 4pm – Kick off First Friday with free admission, fresh exhibitions, and an evening that blends dance, storytelling, and community energy. Tiffany Mellard brings a special performance and movement workshop in honor of Delores Browne Abelson, the ballerina and arts advocate who championed Indigenous creators. Sip something from the Cantina, linger in the galleries, and let the creative sparks fly.

This weekend

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Ultimate Family Play Date @ Scottsdale Civic Center | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Your kids get a free, play-filled morning to burn energy, and you get to call it early learning. Library packs 40-plus booths, chalk art, face painting, balloon animals, and dance parties with Pete the Cat, Elephant and Piggie, plus photos with the Grinch. Everybody wins.

📷 Animals in Focus: Photography Class @ Phoenix Zoo | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Grab your camera and take a 90-minute stroll at Phoenix Zoo to refresh composition, lighting, and capturing emotion. Learn to shoot through fences, glass, and foliage, then get a review of your shots. Wild Side and Savanna are included, so the views beat yard work.

🎄 Jim Martinez – A Charlie Brown Christmas @ The Nash | Saturday (12/6) at 7:00pm – Jim Martinez and his jazz trio are reviving the Peanuts Christmas soundtrack, plus a few classy holiday standards. Expect Guaraldi vibes and cozy nostalgia. Yes, you will hum Linus and Lucy all week, and students 25 and under score half-price seats with the code “student.”

💃 Hung Dance @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | Saturday (12/6) at 7:30pm – Take a break from the usual and catch Taiwan’s Hung Dance making its Arizona premiere with BIRDY, a sleek blend of tai chi, contemporary movement, electronic beats, and Chinese classical sounds. Smart, symbolic, and fun to watch, plus a post-show chat if you like closure.

⚖️ Chad Lawson Cooper’s Justice on Trial Off-Broadway Play Phoenix @ The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center Phoenix | Sunday (12/7) at 7:00pm – Trade your true-crime binge for the real thing at Justice on Trial Reloaded, a sharp Off-Broadway courtroom drama landing in Phoenix. Expect high-stakes testimony, moral whiplash, and justice served hotter than a July sidewalk. It is smart, tense, and refreshingly grown-up.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/2 Light in the Window @ Herberger Theater Center – 12:10 pm
• 12/2 Greyhaven @ The Rebel Lounge – 8 pm
• 12/3 Phoenix College Big Band & Combos @ The Nash – 7 pm
• 12/3 Rivest Dunlam & Friends @ Tempe Improv – 7:30 pm
• 12/3 Shucked @ ASU Gammage – 7:30 pm
• 12/4 Candlelight: 90s Hip-Hop on Strings @ Warehouse 215 – 7 pm
• 12/4 Primitive Man @ The Rebel Lounge – 7 pm
• 12/4 Sixth Annual Law Rocks @ Crescent Ballroom – 7 pm
• 12/7 Tis the Season @ Musical Instrument Museum – 9 am

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Angela Garcia (My Home Group Real Estate)

Ten bedrooms and 4.5 baths on an expansive lot, finished with gleaming hardwoods and an updated gourmet kitchen starring a commercial gas range and a massive walk-in pantry. The oversized primary suite pampers with a luxe walk-in shower. Upstairs brings a vaulted loft and six more bedrooms, including one with attic access via built-in stairs and a slide, a little whimsy baked right in.

Out back, a covered lounge with TV and outdoor kitchen faces a heated pool and hot tub, plus playground gear, RV parking, raised beds, and irrigation. Part resort, part crowd-pleaser, currently a standout vacation rental.

Take a peek inside →