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Good morning, Surprise! In today’s edition: Glow-in-the-dark skating with unlimited pizza, new outdoor sculptures unveiled, Pelvic Meatloaf’s 35th cat-rescue fundraiser, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Innovation Core project advances: Peoria has launched an expansion of Lake Pleasant Parkway from Loop 303 to north of the CAP Canal to ease congestion and improve safety, including a bridge expansion — get all the project details.
A year in the making: New outdoor sculptures at Peoria’s Centennial Plaza have been unveiled, exploring water, desert waterways, and plant architecture, created by the Peoria Arts & Culture Department with pieces by Nicolas Rascona — get all the details.
Farewell to beloved hangouts: From downtown Phoenix to Litchfield Park, nine notable bars and breweries closed in 2025. The list includes Valley favorites that poured their last pints and notes which spots remain open — see the full list.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
A call to greatness: The City of Surprise will host its 10th Annual MLK Day of Celebration and Service on January 17 at Willow Canyon High School. The theme centers on service. Dr. Christopher Pullins will keynote, with performances and hands-on projects that support the community. Get all the details.
Big kid wonder unlocked: At Arizona Science Center, expect hands-on exhibits, a giant-screen theater, and the reimagined Dorrance DOME with immersive space shows. Ideal for a midweek curiosity kick or a weekend family detour that delivers equal parts entertainment and education.
Weeknight burrito fix: Let the burritos reclaim the spotlight at Rito’s Mexican Food in Surprise, a decades-running Arizona staple with counter-service simplicity. Grab something satisfying, no fuss, and get back to your evening plans. Classic, quick, and exactly what weeknights ordered.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🍔 Farmer Boys Grand Opening Fundraiser @ Farmer Boys | Friday (1/9) – Fresh food, big hearts, and a guilt-free reason to skip cooking. Farmer Boys is celebrating a grand opening, and your meal helps Phoenix Children’s. Yes, the drive-thru counts as philanthropy, and no, you don’t have to share your fries.
🎖 Horsepower-Veterans and First Responders @ Silver Lining Riding | Friday (1/9) at 5:00 PM – If you’ve waited for a sign to trade duty gear for saddles, this is it. HorsePower by Pinnacle Peak and 77th is a two-day reset for veterans and first responders, all teamwork, grit, and zero trust falls, with meals included, free thanks to Trajan Wealth.
🎻 Greater Phoenix Strings Festival @ Trevor G. Browne High School | Saturday (1/10) – Skip the brunch line and let your shoulders drop at the Greater Phoenix Strings Festival, a celebration of violins, violas, cellos, and bass. Polished ensembles, rising talent, and that rare Valley luxury, quiet, then a civilized cocktail where you can actually chat.
🎨 63rd Juried Fine Arts Show @ Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Sixty-three years strong, Glendale’s juried fine arts show takes over Historic Saguaro Ranch Park, and admission is gloriously free. Stroll the grounds, admire one of Arizona’s longest running statewide shows, and try not to let the peacocks judge your taste.
🌵 January to December: A Practical Desert Gardening Plan @ SummerWinds Nursery Glendale | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Finally, gardening advice that speaks fluent low desert, not zone 6 fairy tales. Local Master Gardener Angela Judd shares a simple year-round plan, realistic planting windows, and what to plant each season in this free class with Q&A, and seating is limited, first come.
🐱 Pelvic Meatloaf @ The 44 Sports Grill and Nightlife | Saturday (1/10) at 1:00 PM – Pelvic Meatloaf turns 35, and they’re celebrating the milestone by raising money for a cat rescue, because of course they are. Expect affectionate chaos, sharp banter, and a crowd that knows how to clap, donate, and be home in time to feed the actual cat.
🦁 Safari Family FunFest @ Attain Peoria Autism Center | Sunday (1/11) at 11:30 AM – Load the minivan and hit the grand opening of the new autism center, a family fest with hands-on reptile fun, bounce house, balloon twister, and local eats. Meet the team, explore therapy spaces, and let the kids burn energy. Parking is plentiful, a local miracle.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📣 Own or manage a local business?
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How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
- We’ll manually verify your business is legit
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Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Surprise locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.
Click here to get started (it’s free) →
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📻 Surprise report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 60°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 65%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 11am and 4pm. Partly sunny. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear. Low around 36, with temperatures rising to around 38 overnight. West northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 61°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 0%
Areas of frost between 8am and 9am. Sunny, with a high near 61. North northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 34. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
This house is wild
On a corner lot across from the park in North Surprise’s Desert Oasis, this like-new single story has 4 beds, 3 baths, and a 3-car garage. A split plan tucks the primary suite at the back, with wood-look tile throughout. The great room links dining and kitchen, and a slider opens outside. The kitchen adds white cabinetry, quartz, subway tile, stainless appliances, a gas range, and a walk-in pantry.
Out back, the yard brings a paver patio, turf, a fire pit, and desert trees. The primary bath includes dual sinks, a walk-in shower, a large closet, and linen storage. Rear garage access and a single-story only neighborhood amplify privacy.
Take a peek inside →
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