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

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Booming apartment completions next year in Phoenix, the state funding hundreds of arts nonprofits, and a library on wheels bringing books to VA patients — catch up here.

State-level stories: Arizona’s NFL team unveils desert inspired rivalry jerseys, a seamstress ships 15,000 heart pillows to survivors, and astronomers spot a planet carving rings — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Homeowners are delisting homes rather than cutting prices, the S&P 500 hit record on AI gains, and Ford recalled 500,000 SUVs for brake hose flaws — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Connect over breakfast with Ripple Intent
• Learn funding strategies for your school district
• Empower women with actionable business strategies
• Kids build creativity with Art Bots
• Shark robot vacuums are 51% off on Amazon ’til 9/2

A painter that offers a 9-year warranty?

Family-owned Prime Painting has been serving Phoenix since 2004. You may have seen their trucks around. They handle interiors, exteriors, cabinets, drywall repair, epoxy floors, power washing, and more. They have done it all in the last 20+ years.

You can count on their crews to be licensed, insured, and experts in their trade. Expect a polite, timely, crew members who are consistently focused on keeping your space clean.

These are professionals. With a nine-year labor and material warranty, you know the finish will hold up.

Visit their site to see their work or get in touch today.

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

🫶 We got your back

Coffee: Skip the drive-thru and step into indie spots where cozy nooks, creative drinks, and fresh pastries collide. These coffee shops in Phoenix are the perfect backdrop for your next caffeine fix.

Festivals: Ready to party? From 600,000-strong golf blowouts to vulture-watching shindigs, the sunny season is packed. Start planning with our ultimate festival guide.

Reading: Starting a local book club is easier than you think. Follow these simple steps to start swapping stories and making friends in no time.

Wine: Whether you’re a casual sipper who still calls everything “red or white” or the friend who won’t shut up about tannins and terroir, GenuWine Arizona pours the good stuff. Come for the glass (or bottle), stay for the vibe that makes weeknights feel like weekends.

Home: Labor Day means special deals on all sorts of things, and American Home Shield’s warranty coverage is no exception. For a limited time, they’re offering 50% off select plans than cover your big ticket appliances (yup, even the ones older than dirt).

📆 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.

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

Today

🏐 Gonzaga University Women’s Volleyball vs UTGRV | Friday (8/29) at 4:00pm – If you’ve been craving some hometown excitement that doesn’t involve another farmers market aisle, catch the Gonzaga women’s volleyball squad taking on UTGRV. Expect rallying chants, clutch smashes, and just enough school spirit to remind you why you moved here in the first place.

🎨 Canvas Combat @ The Duce | Friday (8/29) at 7:30pm – Think your paint strokes are sharper than a jaywalker’s scream? Head to the Art District for a laid-back paint-off where everyone swaps brushes, no art school required. Expect playful rivalries, colorful messes, and a well-earned excuse to sip some wine.

This weekend

🧘 Rise Yoga with April Denning @ The Westin Tempe | Saturday (8/30) at 7:30am – Start your weekend with an energizing flow led by April Denning. This morning session is all about breath, movement, and setting the tone for a day that feels grounded yet uplifted. Bonus: the serene setting at The Westin makes your savasana that much sweeter.

🏈 Arizona State vs. Northern Arizona @ Sun Devil Stadium | Saturday (8/30) at 7:00pm – If you’re itching for some home opener energy, grab your best gold gear and join our Deaf/HoH Sun Devils cheering squad. It’s The Inferno’s first act of the season, so dust off those signs, crank the noise level, and claim our house.

🌙 5th Annual J’Ouvert in the Desert: Night Glow | Saturday (8/30) at 10:00pm – You know summer isn’t complete until you wash neon paint out of your hair for weeks, so grab your water bucket and join Arizona’s desert glow party under the stars. Picture paint-slicked skin, powder plumes, and grown-ups gleefully acting like kids. Pure, messy fun.

🎭 Forbidden Broadway @ Phoenix Theatre – Judith Hardes Theatre | Sunday (8/31) at 2:00pm – Broadway gets a hilariously cheeky makeover in this long-running parody revue. With sharp wit and show-stopping spoofs, no hit musical is safe from the satire spotlight. Expect big laughs, clever twists, and a matinee that proves even Broadway loves a good roast.

🐾 Pop Art Your Pet @ The Playa II | Sunday (8/31) at 6:30pm – Take your pooch from park bench to pop icon at this pet portrait pop art workshop, and watch Fido transform into a neon legend at our favorite playa spot. Expect vivid colors, cheeky commentary, and the weird satisfaction of seeing your cat in sunglasses.

🤪 Weird Al Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder Tour @ Arizona Financial Theatre | Sunday (8/31) at 7:30pm – If you thought your ’80s mixtapes couldn’t get any funnier, brace yourself. Weird Al is rolling into town with accordion-driven anthems, eye-popping visuals, and a super-sized band to serve up your favorite parodies along with never-before-heard live surprises. Expect nostalgia, chaos, and top-tier people-watching.

Next week

🇮🇳 Experience India @ Musical Instrument Museum | Monday (9/1) at 9:00am – Spice up your usual museum visit with live Indian rhythms and dance, all included with your ticket (members, it’s free). Expect tabla beats punchier than your morning espresso, colorful costumes, and more spice than your neighbor’s questionable curry experiment.

📅 Open Monday @ Arizona Science Center | Monday (9/1) at 10:30am – If you’re hunting for the escape from backyard barbecues or overheated family drama as Phoenix temps hit triple digits, Arizona Science Center has your Labor Day fix. Roam four floors of mind-bending exhibits, nerd out over stellar displays, and soak up that sweet, sweet air-conditioning.

📚 Devoney Looser: Wild for Austen @ Changing Hands Bookstore | Tuesday (9/2) at 6:30pm – For anyone who’s figured that after endless dinner party chatter Jane Austen has nothing left to teach us, Devoney Looser is here to prove you hilariously wrong. She and Tara Ison will dissect everything from Regency romance to modern fandom, no bonnet required.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/29 Jam Now @ Cactus Jack’s – 4 pm
• 8/29 Adam Roberts and more @ The Nash – 7 pm
• 8/30 Experience India @ Musical Instrument Museum – 9 am
• 8/30 Shahid Parvez @ Musical Instrument Museum – 7:30 pm
• 8/31 Let the Good Times Roll @ Hormel Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 8/31 Hibou @ Rebel Lounge – 8 pm
• 9/1 Sosa @ Maya Dayclub – 12 pm
• 9/1 Jeff Goldblum and more @ Musical Instrument Museum – 8 pm
• 9/2 fromis\_9 @ Mullett Arena – 7:30 pm
• 9/2 X Ambassadors @ The Van Buren – 8 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Phoenix 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: Breena Westfall (The Brokery)

Clean lines, soaring windows, and a splash of sunshine in every corner set the tone at 100 Northern, where contemporary design meets everyday ease. The kitchen is a culinary playground with Wolf appliances, custom cabinets, and a quartz waterfall island that doubles as a conversation starter. The first-floor primary suite is more spa than bedroom, featuring a freestanding tub, dual vanities, and a closet that could double as a dressing room.

Energy-efficient perks like spray foam insulation and LED lighting keep things cool and clever, while the low-maintenance backyard means weekends are for play, not yard work. Gated, secure, and just minutes from light rail, top schools, and North Central’s best bites and boutiques.

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