Happy Friday, Scottsdale. In today’s edition: Childcare crunch, Phoenix Festival of the Arts, Free Family Fun Holiday Fair & Marketplace, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Valley compassion earns spotlight: A WalletHub study ranked Scottsdale and Gilbert among America’s top five most caring cities, with Chandler and Mesa also scoring high, while Phoenix landed midpack and Glendale and Tucson trailed — see how Arizona cities ranked.

Childcare crunch deepens statewide: Arizona’s licensed childcare providers have dropped nearly 50% since 2002 as costs reach record highs, leaving too few slots and pushing parents from the workforce, a new CSI report warns — read the full story.

Budget pressures reshape park pricing: Maricopa County will raise park fees starting Jan 1, with increases continuing through 2028. Day-use, annual passes, and campground rates will nearly double by 2028, raising concerns for low-income families — get all the details.

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

• Holiday lights illuminate enchanting rainforest paths
• Holiday concert blending Celtic and orchestral music
• Meet Santa and superheroes for free
• Enjoy immersive Pink Floyd tribute performance
• Scottsdazzle debuts chef demo and Toyland
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

European aesthetics, Arizona energy: Estelle is now open in Old Town Scottsdale: a two-story, open-air “beach house meets nightlife” spot from the team behind The Montauk and Diego Pops. Expect rooftop Camelback views, Mediterranean-meets-Mexican menus from Chef Hector Cruz, $12 Golden/Lunar Hour specials, and citrusy cocktails. Hours start 4 pm weekdays, 10 am weekends. Grand opening party Dec. 20. See the menu highlights and hours.

Data-driven expansion takes shape: Edo Japanese Grill, a popular Canadian fast-casual teppanyaki brand, is now open at Scottsdale Fashion Square, serving teriyaki, bento, noodle bowls, sushi, poke, and boba. It’s the chain’s second U.S. outpost (after Chandler) and a flagship for its Arizona rollout, with a Gilbert location slated for late 2026. Read the full story.

Fresh cut, zero fuss: At Etch Salon, education-driven stylists work in a bright, airy space, using pro favorites like Kérastase and Oribe. Expect shape, shine, and staying power that suits your life, not just the mirror. You’ll leave feeling like your best self, minus the drama.

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 for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are 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

🎄 VCS High School Music Program Presents Christmas Joy ’25 @ Valley Christian Tempe Campus, Auditorium | Friday (12/12) at 7:00pm – Holiday season at VCS means one thing, a student-powered Christmas concert that’s better than your memory of school assemblies. Expect choirs, bands, and harmonies that make you forget you’re in an auditorium. Sponsored by Specialty Insulation, so the vibe, and hopefully the HVAC, stay cozy.

🎸 Esteban’s Coming Home for the Holidays Concert @ Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort | Friday (12/12) at 7:00pm – Nothing beats a hometown holiday concert when Esteban plugs in and tells stories that make your aunt cry, your dad nod, and you actually silence your phone. Expect soulful guitar, classic cheer, and the kind of legendary show only a local icon pulls off.

This weekend

🎨 14th Annual Phoenix Festival of the Arts @ Margaret T. Hance Park | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Consider this your annual reminder that Hance Park turns into a pop-up arts village, with 150-plus local artists, live performances, and hands-on fun. Bring the kids, your curiosity, and your snack budget, then linger for raffles, community vibes, and surprisingly good food-truck fare.

🎡 Free Family Fun Holiday Fair & Marketplace @ Arizona Boardwalk | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Holiday season calls for free fun the kids will actually remember. Swing by a family fair with professional photos with Santa, a faux snow blizzard, live entertainment, bounce houses, face painting, and coloring contests. It’s outdoors, it’s free, and your sanity might survive.

🐾 Shop With Your Pet @ Scottsdale Quarter | Saturday (12/13) at 12:00pm – Holiday errands call for four-legged plus-ones. Bring your pup to The Quarter to shop pet-friendly spots, sniff around, and supervise your spending. Grab a free pic with the green grouch, enter the Ugly Sweater Contest, or meet adoptable pups from the Humane Society.

🍺 Breathe & Bond with Brews @ Hundred Mile Brewing Company | Sunday (12/14) at 11:00am – Swap the doom scroll for deep breaths, real conversation, and a well-earned local brew. It is part mindful reset, part neighborhood hang, all low-pressure. Inhale, exhale, sip, repeat, and remember why you actually like the people you know.

✨ Christmas Memories in Song! @ Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center | Sunday (12/14) at 4:00pm – Enjoy a warm, nostalgia-packed holiday concert featuring festive favorites, reflective tunes, and a mix of Christmas and Hanukkah storytelling through song. Whether your memories involve tree lights, family dinners, or caroling at Grandma’s, this performance is designed to bring them all rushing back.

🕎 Drinks and Dreidels – A Young Jewish Professionals Chanukah Party! @ Old Town Scottsdale | Sunday (12/14) at 7:15pm – Light up the night with top-shelf drinks, brick-oven pizza, latkes, doughnuts, raffles, and a giant menorah lighting—plus plenty of mingling with other young Jewish professionals. With dreidel tournaments and a lively Old Town vibe, this Chanukah bash is built for making memories (and maybe a few new friends).

Next week

🎓 ASU Fall 2025 Graduate Commencement @ Desert Financial Arena | Monday (12/15) at 9:00am – Caps, gowns, and a whole lot of well-earned bragging rights. Celebrate ASU’s newest grads as they walk the stage and kick off their next chapter with Sun Devil pride. Expect big cheers, bigger smiles, and a full morning of milestone magic.

✨ Chompie’s Announces Merry and Bright Holiday Night DEC. 16 @ Chompie’s Restaurant | Tuesday (12/16) at 5:00pm – Chompie’s is hosting a family holiday night across the Valley, with free kids’ meals with regular entree purchase, cookie decorating, letters to Santa, photo ops, and goodie bags, free to attend. Bribe them with sugar, you enjoy pastrami in peace, your house stays glitter-free.

🎹 Keyboard Conversations ®️ with Jeffrey Siegel | Beethoven-The Young Genius @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | Tuesday (12/16) at 7:30pm – Trade your streaming playlist for the real thing and hear Jeffrey Siegel unpack young Beethoven, from Sonata Pathetique to Rage Over a Lost Penny, with stories, wit, and thunderous keys. It is part concert, part conversation, then a lively Q&A, all substance, no stuffiness.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/12 Tetra String Quartet Holiday Celebration @ Tempe History Museum – 7 pm
• 12/13 Rita Rudner @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts – 7:30 pm
• 12/14 Brunch Collect @ The Rebel Lounge – 6 pm
• 12/15 The Paper Hats @ The Rebel Lounge – 6:30 pm
• 12/17 Drunk Christmas Carol: A Boozy Holiday Comedy @ The Rose Theatre – 7 pm
• 12/19 Jam Festivus Celebration @ Pho Cao – 7 pm
• 12/20 Christmas Bar Crawl @ Boondocks – 4 pm
• 12/21 Grinch Drag Brunch @ Tempe Improv – 12 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Scottsdale 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: Allison Swopes (Engel & Voelkers Scottsdale)

Modern Santa Barbara vibes on a quiet cul de sac near Gainey Ranch. This remodeled 4-bed, 3.5-bath spreads out with an open, light-filled plan, new built-in appliances, custom cabinetry, and a statement island that operates as party HQ. The primary suite goes full resort with a spa-like bath, a generous walk-in closet, and direct access to the backyard.

Out back, a private refresh zone stars a sparkling pool and spa, plus updated hardscape for low-fuss lounging. Stroll to Gainey Village restaurants and shops, Scottsdale convenience with cul de sac calm.

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