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Happy Friday, Glendale. In today’s edition: Ballet Arizona: The Nutcracker, the Peoria Holiday Festival, Arizona childcare shortages, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Investigating spaceborne microbes: Glendale Community College’s biology department received a $297,537 NASA grant for a two-year astrobiology project with Marshall Space Flight Center. Students get lab training, possible Huntsville travel, and publication opportunities — get all the details.
LEED Gold logistics campus debut: Walmart bought the 1.27 million-square-foot Luke Field Building C in Glendale for a record $152,161,730, the highest Arizona industrial sale of 2025. It is Luke Field’s first tenant commitment — read the full story.
Childcare shortages strain Arizona: CSI report finds Arizona’s licensed child care providers down nearly 50% since 2002 as costs hit record highs, deepening shortages and pushing parents, especially mothers, out of the workforce — 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.
Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.
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🫶 We got your back
Giving spirit takes center stage: Glendale’s 12th Hometown Christmas Parade rolls out Saturday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. Bands and floats will benefit Phoenix Rescue Mission and Hope for Hunger. Up front: a massive American flag led by Luke AFB’s Color Guard to mark America’s 250th, with in-his-90s car buff Mel Martin as Grand Marshal. Get all the parade details.
Cash crunch reshapes park pricing: Maricopa County will raise regional park fees starting Jan. 1 to shore up a cash-strapped system. By 2028, many charges nearly double: day-use entry climbs from $7 to $12 and individual annual passes from $85 to $160. Officials say higher costs forced the move, though affordability worries persist. See what’s changing and when.
Fresh cut, zero fuss: In Glendale, Salon Encore AZ is a family-run studio for hair, nails, makeup, massage, and aesthetics, plus a boutique of current fashions. Friendly pros, streamlined service, and a polished finish make self‑care simple.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.
Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.
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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
🎸 Sugar Thieves (Blues & American Roots Music) @ Westside Blues & Jazz | Friday (12/12) at 7:30pm – Settle in for Sugar Thieves, a blues and American roots throwdown that feels like a back-porch singalong, minus the splinters. Two-drink minimum is in play, and there’s an automatic 20 percent tip, so bring a thirst, not a calculator.
🩰 Ballet Arizona: The Nutcracker @ Symphony Hall | Friday (12/12) at 7:30pm – Whether you’ve been humming Waltz of the Flowers since grade school, or you just want an excuse to dress up downtown, The Nutcracker returns to Symphony Hall with Ib Andersen’s choreography and The Phoenix Symphony. Classic sparkle, real musicians, and zero mall parking trauma.
This weekend
🎨 14th Annual Phoenix Festival of the Arts @ Margaret T. Hance Park | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Phoenix Festival of the Arts is filling Hance Park with live performances, interactive art, and 150-plus local artists, plus food trucks and a free Family Zone. Come browse, buy, and feel virtuous with raffles and fundraisers, then be home before the dog judges you.
🧙 Witchcrafted Yule Market @ Glendale Civic Center | Saturday (12/13) at 11:00am – Downtown Glendale gets a little witchy at the Witchcrafted Yule Market, with over 90 vendors slinging handcrafts, crystals, candles, and occult art. Grab a tarot reading in the courtyard, snack from food trucks, then smugly enjoy five-dollar, cash-only entry and free parking.
🎄 Peoria Holiday Festival @ Bikers Edge Cycle & Fitness | Saturday (12/13) at 5:00pm – If you want an easy win with the grandkids, Downtown Peoria becomes a wonderland with free parking and admission, Santa, music, and a tree lighting. Grab food truck bites, shop artisans, sing at the Jam Tram, then feel festive.
🎅 Santa Hustle Arizona Half Marathon, 5K, 10K, Kids Dash @ Westgate Entertainment District | Sunday (12/14) at 8:00am – Whether you crush half marathons or treat the 5K as a victory lap to happy hour, join the Santa Hustle at Westgate for a jolly jog. You get a long sleeve shirt, beanie, and medal, and the kids can dash themselves tired.
🚗 Westside and Barrio Latino Presents: Groovin & Cruisin for a Cause @ Westside Blues & Jazz | Sunday (12/14) at 2:00pm – Consider this your excuse to dance for a good cause. Westside and Barrio Latino keep it local with live tunes, community vibes, a 2-drink minimum per person, yes even mocktails, plus automatic 20% gratuity, so we groove, give back, and tip like we mean it.
🎙️ A Very Sinatra Christmas Special at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown @ Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel | Sunday (12/14) at 6:00pm – Trade the mall soundtrack for rooftop Sinatra, cocktails, and downtown views that almost make Phoenix feel wintry. A top local crooner tackles Frank’s holiday favorites, you handle the toasting. Make it a staycation and snag a room discount, sweater strictly optional.
Next week
🎅 Experience the Magic of Santa at Arrowhead Towne Center @ Arrowhead Towne Center | Monday (12/15) at 9:00am – Santa has set up shop at Arrowhead, with free visits, photo packages, pet nights, and a sensory-friendly session so holiday magic can be calm too. Knock out the wish list, do good with the Angel Tree, then reward yourself with something shiny and a pretzel.
👼 Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program at Arrowhead Towne Center @ Arrowhead Towne Center | Monday (12/15) at 10:00am – Holiday shopping at Arrowhead actually doing some good? Grab an Angel Tree tag near Dick’s, snag the gift, then drop it back and feel like a hero between Sephora and pretzels. Toss a few bucks online to St. Mary’s, five meals per dollar.
🎁 Phoenix City Grille Announces Holiday Gift Card Bonus @ Phoenix City Grille | Tuesday (12/16) at 11:00am – Treat someone you love (or yourself, no judgment) to a $100 gift card and score a bonus $20 card for free—perfect for stuffing stockings or planning a future dinner out. The deal runs through Christmas Eve, but you’ve got to buy in person to snag the extra perk. A holiday win-win in the dining department.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
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🏠️ Price is right – Glendale 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: Christopher Collier (Citiea)
High above city lights on a gated 1.3-acre perch at Thunderbird Conservation Park, this 8,900 sq ft estate pairs crisp architecture with walls of glass and mountain views. The primary suite claims a private veranda for nightly Sonoran sunsets. Outside, a sparkling pool, putting green, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and generous lounge zones.
Inside, a chef’s kitchen, theatre, fitness room, flexible lower level, and a separate casita handle daily life and guests. Two RV garage spaces plus room for up to 14 cars suit the toy collector. Miles of preserve trails start nearby, basically a luxury desert trailhead.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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