Happy Friday, East Valley. In today’s edition: Senior Holiday Dinner Dance, The Nutcracker, Mesa Public Schools repairs, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Keeping nights out safer: Tempe is considering an ordinance requiring bars to offer drink-spiking test kits to curb tampering. Comments are open through Dec. 14, with a meeting Dec. 10 at Tempe Public Library — see how you can weigh in.

Aging buildings challenge learning: Mesa Public Schools faces $1.4 billion in repairs after years of deferred maintenance. Following a Dec. 3 public tour, the district is convening citizen committees to guide budget choices — get all the details.

Partnership drives freeway upgrades: ADOT has reached the halfway point of the Loop 202 Santan Freeway widening, adding capacity along eight miles between Loop 101 and Val Vista Drive. Completion is expected spring 2027 — see what’s planned and when.

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.

Highlights this week

• Ride to the North Pole with Santa
• Shop holiday market and see illuminated boats
• Stargaze through telescopes at Veterans Oasis Park
• Bring toys to the off-road vendor show
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Holiday happenings around Chandler: Chandler’s holiday season starts with the Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 6. The tree glows nightly through Jan. 4. Grab a free photo at Santa’s House and pitch in at the Fire Department Toy Drive, with fire-truck rides for donors on Dec. 7. More events citywide all month. Check out the full lineup.

New eatery helps students: Jersey Mike’s is now open at 2540 W. Apache Trail in Apache Junction. Through Sunday, Dec. 7, its grand opening doubles as a fundraiser for Apache Junction High School, with regular subs for a $3 minimum donation if you have the special coupon. Open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with pickup, delivery, and curbside via the app. See location, hours, and fundraiser.

Patio pints, anyone? A two-level patio, dog-friendly hangout, and a rotating lineup of house beers pour alongside a legit kitchen at 12 West Brewing – Downtown Mesa. Downstairs, The Cellar adds pool tables and occasional live tunes when you want to linger a little longer.

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 that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity 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.

📆 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

💃 Senior Holiday Dinner Dance @ Chandler Community Center | Friday (12/5) at 5:30pm – Chandler’s active adults are throwing the annual holiday dinner dance, complete with catered eats, live music, and a cameo from Santa. The theme is Nostalgic Holidays, so dust off the tartan, polish the shoes, and bring your finest ugly sweater. Ages 55+, merrymaking guaranteed.

☕ A Gilmore Girls Christmas Evening Tea @ The Quirky Royal Tea Room | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – Holiday season calls for Stars Hollow vibes, not mall parking lots. Swap Luke’s coffee for a Gilmore Girls evening Christmas tea, soak up the cozy chatter, and talk fast, sip slow. Seats are limited, so reserve early, bring your favorite plus-one.

This weekend

🎻 Home Grown Bluegrass Festival| Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – This beach house bluegrass fest keeps it simple, free, and gloriously homegrown. Expect toe-tapping sets, good grub, and open jams, so bring that fiddle you said you’d learn, or just lean back, sip something, and let the strings do the heavy lifting.

📚 Mesa Book Festival @ Downtown Mesa | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Mesa’s book lovers are getting their moment, as the 2025 Mesa Book Festival is stacking the shelves with author talks, indie presses, and plenty of dog-eared treasures. Details are still in edits, so bookmark anthology.org for updates, and warm up your tote bag.

🕯️ Desert Bloom Candle Holder Workshop @ Tempe Center for the Arts | Saturday (12/6) at 11:00am – Score a free workshop where you shape air-dry clay into a desert-bloom candle holder, layering petals around a tealight. Finally, a succulent you cannot kill, and a functional, beautiful piece your coffee table deserves, or a handmade gift for that friend who is “not crafty.”

🥂 AZ Brunch Fest @ Scottsdale Stadium | Sunday (12/7) at 10:00am – Patio weather calls for a full brunch celebration, and this festival gathers many of Phoenix’s best spots in one place—no juggling reservations required. Graze your way through sweet and savory bites, sip mimosas, Bloody Marys, cocktails, and local craft beer, and enjoy a relaxed, festive atmosphere perfect for easing into the holiday season.

🧸 Chandler Fire Department Annual Toy Drive at the Mall @ Chandler Fashion Center | Sunday (12/7) at 12:00pm – Skip the shopping frenzy and swing by Chandler Fashion Center to drop a new, unwrapped toy or gift card for local families in need. Do a little good, get a ride on a fire truck, and feel like a hero without even finding parking.

🩰 The Nutcracker presented by Ballet Etudes @ Chandler Center for the Arts | Sunday (12/7) at 3:00pm – If you’ve been waiting for a sign the holidays are officially here, Ballet Etudes’ 39th annual Nutcracker is it. Life-sized mice, swirling snow, Tchaikovsky, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Bring the whole crew, pretend it’s for the kids, and call it tradition.

Next week

🎄 A Christmas Carol @ Hale Centre Theatre | Monday (12/8) at 5:00pm – Step into the glow of Victorian Christmas cheer with Hale’s beloved annual production. Expect heart-tugging moments, big laughs, and all the holiday magic you secretly wish you felt all year. Perfect for families, date nights, and anyone who loves a good redemption arc with their seasonal spirit.

🎄 Mini Magic: Ornament Wish Lists @ Sunset Library | Tuesday (12/9) at 5:00pm – Finally, a way to shrink those mile-long wish lists into something the tree can handle. Kids craft make-and-take ornaments that magically shrink into keepsakes to hang, gift, and hoard. Family friendly, low mess, while supplies last.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 Ingested @ The Rosetta Room – 5:30 pm
• 12/7 Alice Wetterlund @ Tempe Improv – 6 pm
• 12/10 Holiday Concert Party @ The Watermark – 11 am
• 12/10 Holiday Happy Hour @ Pedal Haus – 6 pm
• 12/11 Matt Friend @ Tempe Improv – 7:30 pm
• 12/12 Concerts in the Courtyard @ Chandler Community Center – 6 pm
• 12/14 Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts – 4 pm

🏠️ Price is right – East Valley 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: Alexis E Carlson (Realty ONE Group)

Single-story stunner in The Bridges North, this 4-bed setup adds an office and flex zone, introduced by a courtyard. An airy great room opens via multi-panel slider to the patio. The chef’s kitchen brings an oversized island, abundant cabinetry, and a coffee bar. Thoughtful upgrades include fresh bedroom carpet, two newer ACs, solar, misters, and a tankless water heater.

Out back, it reads like a resort with pool, spa, putting green, and a covered BBQ lounge. Epoxied three-car garage, plus an orchard from lemons to mango. The Bridges adds themed parks, lakes, splash pads, trails, and a top-rated elementary.

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