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Happy weekend, Scottsdale! 

In today’s happening-today edition: Il Bracco reservations, a soufflé class, and Worldwide Women’s Film Festival + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.

Today’s sponsor (Money.com) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

Reservations now open online: Texas-based Italian spot Il Bracco will make its Arizona debut in Scottsdale on March 30. Expect a 5,000-square-foot, 165-seat space serving lunch and dinner with pastas, sandwiches, burgers, and steaks — get all the details.

From Bizet to Verdi: The Scottsdale Philharmonic will present Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody and more on March 22 at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, with free live streaming and no-cost tickets for students and veterans — check out the full lineup.

Sun & Sounds collaboration: Spring Sundays at the Merchantile Market continue this Sunday at Scottsdale Civic Center with around 100 vendors, music, and food. The first 50 guests each Sunday receive a free item — get all the details.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you (or someone you care about) to clean up all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Explore Tempe’s vibrant spring arts festival
• Pedal an easy Salt River stewardship ride
• Sip, shop, and groove under Arizona sun
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor Money.com

Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.

The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.

I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

🫶 We got your back

Soft spot for skeins: Yarn Parlour is a family-run Scottsdale haven with a welcoming vibe, hands-on classes for a confidence boost, and a curated mix (hello, Lana Grossa and Novita). Expect skeins that spark ideas, and permission to cast on something cozy… you’ve earned a new project.

Stories on a wall: Slip over to the Yaqui Mural-,Yaqui%20Mural,-Mario%20Martinez) for proof Scottsdale is more than galleries and brunch. Mario Martinez’s community-made tribute to Pascua Yaqui roots feels vibrant, thoughtful, and quietly mesmerizing, ideal for a reflective stroll or a quick reset between errands.

Old Town taproom fix: When the week calls for something crisp, hoppy, or desert-kissed, Goldwater Brewing Co.keeps Scottsdale sipping with a rotating lineup, including Hop Chowda, Desert Rose, and Machine Gun Teddy. Expect the occasional food truck and an easygoing patio perfect for low-key catchups.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 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.

🥞 Pancake Breakfast Fly-In Ride @ Black Rock Coffee Bar (Mesa) | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 AM – Whether you’re in it for carbs or propellers, we’re riding Bush Hwy to the Coolidge Fly-In Pancake Breakfast’s 1940s vibes and orange-roof hangar hospitality. Meet at Black Rifle Coffee by Mesa Gateway, bring cash for Lions Club flapjacks, and enjoy small-town charm.

🏷 Community Garage Sale @ Arizona Storage Inns – Fort Apache (Mesa) | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 AM – Head to Arizona Storage Inns Fort Apache on Main for a proper community garage sale, with furniture, tools, home décor, and vintage finds you didn’t know you needed. Multiple sellers, real deals, no infomercial guy. Bring cash, coffee, and a tape measure.

🚗 Freedom for Heroes: Classic Car Show Fundraiser @ Vintage Iron & Restoration | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Chrome, live music, and BBQ that actually helps vets. This classic car show brings raffles and a silent auction, with 100% of donations getting veterans outdoors, at no cost. Bring your ride, or just your appetite, and try not to drool on the paint.

🧑 Pastry Class – Soufflés @ Classic Cooking Academy | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Take a break from dinner reservations and learn to coax a perfect rise out of soufflés with Chef Pascal at Classic Cooking in Scottsdale. You’ll whisk up orange, lemon, and chocolate, plus sauces, then eat your handiwork or take it home, smug and satisfied.

⚰ Double Butte Cemetery Tour @ Tempe Double Butte Cemetery | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Trade the air conditioning for a free, self-guided wander through Double Butte Cemetery, where, for Women’s History Month, five Tempe women finally get the spotlight. Docents are posted at each marked gravesite to chat. Sensible shoes, limited parking, and a carpool buddy recommended.

🎬 Worldwide Women’s Film Festival @ Harkins Shea 14 | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Think you know your indie gems? Catch NOWHERE GOOD at the Worldwide Women’s Film Festival at Harkins Theatres, support women filmmakers, and remember what dialogue sounds like without explosions. Real seats, real stories, and an excuse to eat popcorn before dinner.

🏓 Pickleball Party – International Women’s Day @ Dink & Dine Pickle Park (Mesa) | Sunday (3/8) at 2:30 PM – Celebrate International Women’s Day with a free women’s pickleball party at Dink & Dine. Quick coaching from Smiley Riley, then open play, maybe a mini tourney, and discounted eats and sips. All levels, spectators, and dogs welcome, just register because cardio pairs nicely with fries.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/7 Freedom for Heroes: Classic Car Show Fundraiser @ Vintage Iron & Restoration – 9:00 AM
• 3/7 Tyler Brakeall @ Belle’s Nashville Kitchen – 3:30 PM
• 3/7 Pawlowski @ Sunbar Tempe – 4:00 PM
• 3/7 Marcus D. Wiley @ Tempe Improv – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 VJC Blue Hues @ Ravenscroft – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Gabriel Rutledge @ Mesa Arts Center – 7:30 PM
• 3/8 Sunday Fun Day @ Pat O’s Bunkhouse (Phoenix ) – 12:00 AM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Scottsdale report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 78°F – Low: 52°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 78. East wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 88°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 3%

Sunny, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph.

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This house is wild

This 4-bed, 4.5-bath retreat in guard-gated Silverleaf offers 5,000 square feet on one of the largest Casita homesites in Horseshoe Canyon. Completely renovated, it showcases steel and glass doors and windows, wood floors, and a covered outdoor lounge with fireplace. A guest casita, designer Wolf and Sub-Zero kitchen with coffee bar, heated pool, and Camelback, city views highlight the setting.

Take a peek inside →