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Happy weekend, East Valley!
In today’s happening-today edition: Ostrich Festival delights, dachshund and corgi races, a home with a 60 ft corkscrew slide, and more. + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Arizona drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*
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📰 In the news
Where haggling still thrives: East Valley shoppers are buzzing about Mesa Market Place Swap Meet, a massive Mesa market with cheap finds on clothing, home goods, and jewelry, plus a food scene locals love — read the full story.
Downtown transformation gains steam: Mesa is weighing an over $30M plan with ASU, set to negotiate a cost-share for a creative tech building at the post office, plus replacement post office and infrastructure upgrades — see what’s planned downtown.
Nation’s largest veteran ticket nonprofit: Veteran Tickets Foundation has begun its 2026 baseball push after giving 600,000-plus tickets in 2025, with more opportunities for local veterans, service members and first responders expected this season — read the full story.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*
Highlights this week:
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💎 Local business spotlight
Make weekends epic: Whether it’s a backyard birthday, school carnival, or neighborhood block party, A Perfect Party Rental brings the fun with bounce houses, water slides, obstacle courses, a rock climbing wall, and a trackless train. Add tables, chairs, concessions, patio heaters, even margarita machines, delivered across Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, and beyond.
Upgrade your next shindig: Skip blender drama and let Frosty Cactus Margarita Machine Rentals roll in a frozen-drink rig with margs, daiquiris, piña coladas, even dirty soda slushies for the kiddos. Delivered, sanitized, and so simple they show you once and you’re set. Backyard hangs just got cooler.
Upgrade your home base: If your lease is creeping up, Desert Mirage offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in Gilbert with two resort-style pools, a legit fitness center, and a fenced dog park with agility gear. You also get full-size washer/dryer, spacious patios, and easy East Valley living.
These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.
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🫶 We got your back
Thinning hair? Don’t treat the wrong thing: When my ponytail started thinning, I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, sprays, etc.) and not one of them lasted. Turns out, most products target the strand, not the follicle… and that’s the whole problem. Once follicles go dormant, they need targeted help to come back. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn about my favorites here →
Last call for the CVS Epic Beauty Sale: Today’s your last chance to save on all sorts of self-care products at CVS, including makeup, beauty tools, skin care, hair masks, moisturizers, and more from all your favorite brands. *Shop the sale before it ends →
Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →
Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →
Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →
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📆 Around town today & tomorrow
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🐦 Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival @ Rawhide Western Town & Event Center | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – The Ostrich Festival is strutting into its new home at Rawhide for a bigger, better run over two weekends, which means you might find parking. Expect rides, music, and fried things, with the birds still the divas we pretend not to photograph.
🚜 Arizona Antique Tractor and Engine Show @ Rodeo Park (Apache Junction) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Out in Apache Junction, the old iron wakes up for the Arizona Antique Tractor and Engine Show. Expect a rumbling parade, a proper tractor pull, kids games that actually tire them out, and enough grease, grit, and nostalgia to make your granddad grin.
🛍 East Valley Outdoor Native Market @ The Chaha’oh (Mesa) | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Make a Saturday of it in Mesa at this outdoor market showcasing Native American artists, makers, and creators, with jewelry, pottery, and textiles you cannot fake on Etsy. Grab frybread and treats, meet the folks behind the work, and call it culture with a snack.
☕ Afternoon Tea and Tour @ Chateau de Vie (Chandler) | Saturday (3/14) at 2:00 PM – Stroll a charming Chandler mansion, then settle in for afternoon tea featuring lavender farm blends, delicate finger sandwiches, warm scones, and decadent desserts. It is the classiest Kyrene detour you will take all year. Tables book as a group, ages 12+, reserve at thelavenderfarms.com.
🏺 Clay Mosaic Bowl Workshop @ Tempe Center for the Arts | Saturday (3/14) at 3:30 PM – This hands-on workshop makes a mosaic bowl your keys will finally respect, with air-dry clay, natural textures, and all the tiny shiny bits. It’s free, no registration, and leans equal parts tradition, creativity, and bragging rights. Low stress, high satisfaction, and totally counter-worthy.
☘ 2026 Shamrock 10K/5K @ Tempe, Arizona | Sunday (3/15) at 7:30 AM – Break out the green, Kiwanis Park’s 10th annual Shamrock 10K/5K is the March ritual that justifies carbs before noon. Chip timed, medal, dri-fit shirt, and a runner’s brunch. Out of town? Go virtual, keep the swag, smugly skip the crowds.
🐕 Treasure Box II Family Market @ Flatiron Community Park (Apache Junction) | Sunday (3/15) at 9:00 AM – Whether your dog thinks it’s a tiny torpedo or you’re just here for chili, Apache Junction’s hosting dachshund and corgi races, plus a vendor market, live music, and food trucks. Five bucks per heat or to taste and vote, benefiting The Barking Lot Dog Rescue.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 East Valley report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 91°F – Low: 58°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South southeast wind 0 to 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 91°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 91. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind 0 to 5 mph.
This house is wild
An experience-driven Gilbert estate pairs resort-caliber play with serious privacy. The main home offers 4 beds and 5.5 baths, joined by a 1-bed, 1-bath casita. A 60 ft corkscrew slide tunnels into a rock grotto with a swim-up lounge and bar cave, plus a pump track, sport court, putting green, hybrid sauna, cold plunges, and a 12-car garage.
Take a peek inside →
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