Happy Friday, Gilbert. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Gilbert Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: New season at Chandler Center featuring magic shows, a masala burger fusion in Tempe, and adoptable kittens, puppies, and senior dogs await loving homes — catch up here.

State-level stories: Arizona trades its standout third baseman, Kingman earns lone spot on $500K retirement list, and a fall program prepares dentists for patients with disabilities — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Study finds adults inhale thousands of plastic fragments daily, many hearts age faster than their owners, and Ford recalls F-150 hybrids without seatbelt chime — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Join Tuesday’s Women In Leadership Committee
• Level up your running and recovery
• Celebrate and support local breastfeeding families
• Fold and label origami seed packets
• Unlock dozens of travel deals with AARP

Finally, Gilbert gets the Med Spa it deserves

In partnership with Lively Integrated Health

No more driving to Scottsdale. No more settling for basic treatments. Gilbert now has access to the same premium wellness services that Phoenix-area residents have been raving about for years.

Lively Integrated Health isn’t just opening a new location – they’re bringing world-class integrated wellness home to Gilbert. And they want to celebrate with the community that’s been asking for this.

You’re Invited to the Grand Opening

Saturday, August 9th | 10am-12pm

Tour the beautiful new facility, meet the expert medical team, and see firsthand why Lively has earned such a reputation for results. Plus, special offers exclusive to those who attend the grand opening.

RSVP for Lively Integrated Health Grand Opening

  Wanna see your business featured in a future ad spot like this? 👆

Fill out this quick form and we’ll get you in an upcoming edition!

🫶 We got your back

Wellness: Ready to send your stress packing and trade tight shoulders for savasana smiles? Gilbert’s got more spots to stretch, sweat, and even giggle with goats. Find your bliss at these yoga studios.

Roadtrip: Desert highways hide burro-run ghost towns and decommissioned missile silos that defy expectations. Ditch the typical pit stops and chase down these desert oddities.

Reads: The smell of paper, the thrill of cracking open a new story, and the chance to accidentally spend two hours debating which cover looks cooler, The Bookish Shop is basically a playground for bookworms (minus the monkey bars, plus way more coffee).

Health: Forget outdated weight loss fads and gimmicks. Modern science has changed the game. GLP-1 medications (like the ones behind today’s most talked-about treatments) are helping people manage weight in a safer, more sustainable way. Check out your options today.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Have an event to share? submit it here for free →

Today

🧵 Sew-A-Thon Weekend Retreat @ Cozycraftroom | Friday (8/1) at 9 am – It’s stitch-o’clock all weekend long at this retreat built for fabric fanatics. Whether you’re piecing a quilt or finishing that project you’ve been ignoring since spring, you’ll have everything from double tables to bottomless coffee. $75 gets you Friday through Sunday—single-day options available if space allows.

🎤 Bad Romance: The Lady Gaga Tribute @ Marquee Theatre | Friday (8/1) at 7:00pm – Little monsters, assemble. This tribute to Mother Monster brings the high drama, iconic bangers, and glittery chaos of Gaga’s greatest hits. GA is standing-room only, balcony seats are 21+, and the earlier you buy, the cheaper the ticket — so act fast and don’t forget cash for parking.

This weekend

🐶 Dog Days of Summer | Saturday (8/2) at 9:30am – If your dog has been complaining about empty weekends, drag them to Dog Days of Summer for free vendors, tail-wagging activities, and a YETI bowl engraving voucher with purchase. Bonus: you might drive home a rescue pup, thanks to two local shelters on site.

🏃‍♀️ Run Healthy Workshop & Wellness Expo | Saturday (8/2) at 11:00am – Whether you’re still figuring out which shoe doesn’t give you blisters or already plotting your next personal record, this Suffer City meetup has your back. Expect injury-proofing tips, cold plunges, IV drips, massage, and enough recovery tricks to make your foam roller jealous.

🕺 Dance Party with FlashPants 80s Cover Band @ On The Green Sports Grill | Saturday (8/2) at 8:00pm – Break out your neon scrunchies and dust off the leg warmers, Mesa’s own FlashPants is taking over On The Green Sports Grill for a free 80s dance party. Expect cheesy guitar riffs, questionable hair, and a crowd that still knows every chorus.

🎨 Miniature Painting Session@ The Silver Key Lounge | Sunday (8/3) at 12:00pm – Bust out your brushes and dive into the tiny details during this laid-back paint session. Bring your own minis or snag one onsite—supplies are provided, but seating’s first-come, first-painted. If the tables fill up, rumor has it this could become a regular thing.

🥁 Chandler Drum Circle @ Chandler Public Library | Sunday (8/3) at 2:00pm – Feel the beat and join the rhythm at this free, family-friendly drum circle. No drum? No problem — they’ve got extras to share. All ages welcome (just bring a grown-up if you’re a kid), and good vibes are guaranteed.

Next week

🚗 Monthly Tuesday Car Show | Tuesday (8/5) at 4:00pm – Ready to drool over chrome and grill marks? Head to Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers for the Monthly Tuesday Car Show—it’s free to wander among classic and contemporary beauties with zero registration required. Fuel up on $4 cans, extended happy hour, and free kids’ meals.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Night @ Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers | Tuesday (8/5) at 5:00pm – Skip the usual couch chaos and treat the crew to a budget-friendly outing on the first Tuesday. Grab an adult combo, get a kid’s meal for free, then watch them conquer raffles, snag giveaways, and unleash their crafty side. Parental heroism guaranteed.

🚧 Tempe Checkpoints @ The Shop Beer Co. | Tuesday (8/5) at 6:00pm – Nothing beats a pub crawl on foot. Tempe Checkpoints sends you and your crew on an hour-long dash to local hotspots to snag raffle tickets, before you all collapse at The Shop Beer Co. for cold brews, tasty bites, and maybe a prize.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/1 Fan Halen @ Casino Arizona – 7:30 pm
• 8/1 Flip Orley @ Tempe Improv – 7 pm
• 8/1 Bad Romance @ Marquee Theatre – 7 pm
• 8/1 KC & the Sunshine Band @ Wild Horse Pass – 8 pm
• 8/2 Live music @ Desert Eagle Brewing – 7 pm
• 8/2 World Hip Hop Dance Championship @ Mullett Arena – 6 pm
• 8/2 Incite @ The Rosetta Room – 6 pm
• 8/2 Boxelder Station @ Icons Sports Grill – 8 pm
• 8/2 Pretty Cül @ StarZ – 8 pm
• 8/3 Chris Travis @ Marquee Theatre – 8 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Gilbert 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).

*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.

Listed by: Brian Formichella (Chase Homes Sales)

Ten-foot ceilings, a sun-soaked open layout, and a kitchen that could make a chef swoon set the tone in this Circle G Superstition Ranch stunner. The front sitting room pulls double duty as a home office or creative den, while the primary suite comes with a spa-worthy bath and a closet ready for wardrobe expansion. Solid maple cabinetry, high-end appliances, and a sprawling island make the kitchen the heart of the home.

Out back, dual flagstone patios and a brand-new built-in grill set the stage for legendary barbecues, with no neighbors peeking in from behind. The three-car garage tackles storage and hobby overflow with ease, and the massive lot leaves plenty of room for backyard dreams. All this, just minutes from Gilbert’s best schools, parks, and the 60.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →