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

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Get ready for Ballet Theatre of Phoenix monthly dance classes, 83rd Avenue lane closures testing your patience, and BASIS schools acing national rankings — catch up here.

State-level stories: Tempe is set for NYC’s Prince St Pizza launch, Arizona mayors unite on Colorado River talks, and the Grand Canyon leads top natural wonders — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Previously hacked data repository relaunches, ramen packs recalled over missing soy warning, and crypto markets tumble on inflation fears — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Get low-cost pet vaccines on wheels
• Join art-making workshops and network with educators
• Transform your yard with drought-tolerant natives
• Join our Equality Day fundraising luncheon
• This home warranty is 50% off until 8/24

🫶 We got your back

Trails: You don’t need a road trip to feel miles away. These best local hikes deliver everything from sun-baked desert vistas to shaded leafy loops.

Travel: When the summer heat peaks, a two-hour drive north brings you to 70-degree breezes in Flagstaff with happy kids in tow. Our family-friendly spots are pre-tested by real children who demand bathrooms, snacks, and fun every 37 minutes.

Kitchen: Skip the $800 monster machines that could probably blend your iPhone and the $30 lumps that choke on ice. Our 2025 blender guide cuts through the hype so you get a blender that actually works without leaving you $200 poorer.

Vintage: Whether you’re after a perfectly broken-in leather jacket, a band tee older than you, or something that makes strangers say “wait, is that…?”, Cactus VHS is a treasure trove of retro finds, funky one-offs, and the kind of closet gold that’ll have you feeling like you time-traveled (in style).

Home: Many homeowners have no idea they’re sitting on thousands in equity they can use to redo their bathroom, kitchen, or whatever their hearts desire. This free equity loan comparison tool can help you find the best fit and get started on the right foot.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

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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

🎺 The Charles Lewis Quintet +1 @ The Nash | Friday (8/22) at 7:00pm – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to trade your usual happy hour for something more refined, swing by Charles Lewis’s birthday show with his original quintet plus one. Expect decades of piano, flutes, and sax weaving classic local jazz, no pretension required.

🎷 The Clark Gibson Quartet @ The Nash | Friday (8/22) at 10:00pm – Whether you’re nursing a work hangover or craving jazz past bedtime, swing by the Nash for Clark Gibson’s Quartet. No cover, a drink in hand, and tunes that blend classical chops with global grooves, the kind of late-night treat we locals live for.

This weekend

🧜‍♀️ Under the Sea Donut Party @ Great Skate | Saturday (8/23) at 10:00am – Great Skate is morphing its rink into Ariel’s undersea donut playground, complete with a meet and greet that feels more magical than your last mall run. You’ll glide through sea-themed games, snag a free donut, and pretend you still have your skating groove.

🏈 Raiders vs. Cardinals @ State Farm Stadium | Saturday (8/23) at 7:00pm – This preseason tune-up throws our Cards against the Raiders on home turf for the first clash since they hit the brakes in Vegas, roof decision a mystery so pack sunscreen, a sweater. Call the roof hotline on your way over, then kick back and enjoy.

🎶 Azz Izz Band @ Westside Blues & Jazz | Saturday (8/23) at 7:30pm – Think your weekend can’t get hotter? Azz Izz’s Westside debut mixes island-soaked grooves, a horn section that hits like a brass-powered freight train, and enough cowbell to license a drum circle. Show up ready to dance and pretend you invented reggae-Latin fusion.

💦 Splash Bash @ Pioneer Community Park | Sunday (8/24) at 1:00pm – Nothing says suburban bliss like coating kids in SPF and running for cannonball shots at the community splash pad, and this free day at Pioneer Community Park really delivers. Then hit the Diventures Ramada for water-themed games, snacks, a quick safety lesson, and raffle prizes.

🎸 Hot Rox: A Tribute to the Rolling Stones @ Westside Blues & Jazz | Sunday (8/24) at 3:00pm – Just because streaming counts doesn’t mean it rocks. Hot Rox, the Valley’s finest Stones tribute, is back on the Westside, and it could be their only local encore this year. Expect swagger so real you’ll check the corner of the stage for Mick.

🎂 Rachel Eckroth Birthday Bash @ The Nash | Sunday (8/24) at 3:00pm – Dust off your party hat and join our favorite keyboard chameleon for a birthday blowout, where her tight-knit trio expands into a nine-piece powerhouse with surprise guests. Expect eclectic grooves, sly surprises, and enough musicianship to make your next Zoom call sound flat.

Next week

🤖 EcoRobotik Workshops @ The Peoria Main Library | Monday (8/25) at 4:30pm – Got a kid who loves to tinker? Instructor Gabriela Gabaldon leads a hands-on hour where grades 4–8 build a basic electronic circuit and get introduced to Tinkercad—no previous experience needed. Registration and a parent consent form are required; snag both on EcoRobotik’s Library Partnerships page under “Peoria Main Library.”

🎨 Hello Fall & More: Reversible Porch Charm Paint Party @ Throne Brewing | Monday (8/25) at 6:00pm – Porch cred is everything, so swap out last year’s wreath for a reversible sign that flips from “Hello Fall” to “BOO Y’all.” All materials are provided, so grab a brush, pick your palette, and become the envy of your block.

🐭 Modest Mouse @ The Van Buren | Monday (8/25) at 8:00pm – Our favorite weirdos from Modest Mouse are taking the stage with off-kilter riffs, nostalgic lyricism, and enough dry humor to rescue your Monday mood. Expect a surprisingly warm crowd, memorable hooks, and that shared moment when indie rock feels like home.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/22 Take 6 @ Musical Instrument Museum – 6:30 pm
• 8/22 The Mini Mistresses @ The 44 Sports Grill – 8 pm
• 8/23 Azz Izz @ Westside Blues & Jazz – 7:30 pm
• 8/23 Images of Eden and more @ The 44 Sports Grill – 8 pm
• 8/24 Vishal-Sheykhar @ Arizona Financial Theatre – 6:30 pm
• 8/24 Our Last Night @ The Van Buren – 7:15 pm
• 8/24 Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation @ Phoenix Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 8/25 Cyrus Chestnut Jazz Trio @ Musical Instrument Museum – 7 pm
• 8/25 Micah Bentley @ Thunderbird Lounge – 8 pm
• 8/26 Pantera @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre – 7 pm

🏠️ 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: Heather Barajas (HomeSmart)

Four bedrooms, three baths, and a solar setup that’s fully paid off—this place is ready for whatever you throw at it. The oversized lot comes with a three-car attached garage, a two-car detached garage, and not one but two RV gates, so bring the boat, the camper, and the collection of weekend toys. No HOA means you make the rules.

Inside, custom two-tone cabinetry and granite counters add some flair to the upgraded kitchen, while hardwood floors and a split floorplan keep things practical. Out back, a pool, built-in BBQ, and firepit set the stage for low-maintenance good times.

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