Beyond Words bookshop in Mesa, neon murals at Dutch Bros’ Tempe HQ, Pakka Local food truck night, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, Gilbert. Hope you had a great holiday weekend! You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Gilbert Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: An ex-teacher unveils Beyond Words bookshop in Mesa, Dutch Bros’ Tempe HQ flaunts neon murals and courts, and Chandler readies a techy bingo hall — catch up here.
State-level stories: Arizona’s water puzzle gets unraveled by ASU experts, Tucson teen reshapes school climate policy, and a Phoenix popper’s moves fool millions online — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Gen Z stashing three times more in their 401k, Neanderthals crushing bones into prehistoric grease, and a blazing interstellar comet streaking by Mars orbit — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Bring your project and build things at HeatSync
- Toddlers explore maximalist art through playful activity
- Explore dinosaurs with the fam after dark
- Enjoy sizzling desi eats at Food Truck Night
- Snag $1 hardcovers at the Mesa library sale
- Got debt? See if you qualify for relief
🫶 We got your back
Home: Whether you’re actually on the market for a new home or you just like to window shop, our roundup of the coolest Gilbert homes for sale this month is fresh off the press. Check it out here.
Home Services: Life’s messy enough without spending your weekend scrubbing baseboards and moving the fridge (it’s gross back there). These professional cleaning services tackle the deep stuff so you can focus on literally anything else you’d rather be doing.
Outdoors: Craving fresh air and/or a leg-burning workout? From scenic meadows to challenging summits, this list of nearby hikes has something for every adventurer.
Community: Neighborhood shops and cafés do more than sling lattes and sell stuff—they’re the heartbeat of every block. Every dollar you spend locally keeps Gilbert wonderfully weird and uniquely ours. Learn more about the connection here.
College: If your future graduate has zero credit history, co-signing their student loan gives them instant credibility for better rates and approval chances. The best part? CollegeAve simplifies the entire process and releases you from co-signer duty once your kiddo proves they can handle the payments.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
😹 Funniest Comic in the Valley: Wildcard Round @ Tempe Improv | Wednesday (7/9) at 7:30pm – Grab your laugh track and head to the valley’s Wildcard Round, where up-and-coming comedians duke it out for bragging rights. You’ll hear razor-sharp one-liners, cringe-worthy improv, and jokes so local they practically come with a side of sagebrush. It’s the perfect excuse to sip something strong and remind yourself you still have a sense of humor.
🧸 Compassion Prep Academy Open House @ Compassion Prep Academy | Thursday (7/10) at 8:00am – Thinking about preschool? Pop in for a casual morning tour of this brand-new Christian academy — peek inside the sparkling classrooms, meet the friendly team, and learn all about their Christ-centered curriculum. Bonus: register before July 17 and your kiddo’s first week is totally free.
🌶 Pakka Local Food Truck Night @ Waterston North | Thursday (7/10) at 5:30pm – Craving Desi street food? Pakka Local is pulling up to Waterston North with fiery biryanis, sizzling Indo-Chinese favorites, and Halal-friendly eats that bring the flavor. Skip the cooking—come hungry and bring your squad.
🍅 Community Farmer’s Market | Friday (7/11) at 9:00am – Kick off your Friday mornings at the Mesa Community Farmer’s Market, where fresh-off-the-farm produce mingles with homemade salsa, quirky crafts, and info booths that actually have useful tips. It’s like a reunion for local food lovers, minus the awkward small talk. Just grab a tote, bring your reusable mug, and pretend you’re winning at adulthood.
🧸 Old MacDonald Great Arizona Puppet Theater @ Tumbleweed Recreation Center | Friday (7/11) at 10:30am – The farm comes alive as Old MacDonald and his puppet pals take over Chandler for a morning of mooing, quacking, and charming chaos. Perfect for little ones (and adults who don’t mind a catchy “E-I-E-I-O” stuck in their head all day). Registration required, but the smiles? Totally free-range.
This weekend
🍵Afternoon Tea and Tour | Saturday (7/12) at 2:00pm – Girls’ trip upgrade alert: ditch the usual spa day and come sip lavender-blended tea with dainty sandwiches, warm scones, and dreamy desserts in a sunlit Chateau setting. Follow it up with a guided tour through the mansion’s grand rooms. Limited spots, so rally your crew.
🏎️ Hot Laps | Saturday (7/12) at 7:00pm – Feel like a weekend speed demon without the ticket quotas, rally your pals for a 45-minute, four-person lap relay atop the Union One parking garage, demoing On Cloud shoes between sips from the cocktail bar. Popsicles, DJ beats, and raffle swag included.
🎤 Journey USA – The Hits of Journey @ Chandler Center for the Arts | Saturday (7/12) at 7:00pm – Journey USA is rolling into the Chandler Center for the Arts with video screens, two former Great White members, a Babys alum, and the guy who was Steve Perry’s secret stand-in. Dust off your air guitar, because ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ never sounded so legit.
😆 Mainstage Improv Comedy Show @ The Bridge Improv Theater | Saturday (7/12) at 7:00pm – Give your couch a break and head over to the improv comedy show across from Rito’s at Mesa Riverview. Six quick-witted cast members will whip up games, scenes, and stories on the spot, so expect more surprises than a back-road garage sale. It’s an hour of sharp one-liners, gentle teasing, and genuine belly laughs. Plus, you’ll earn major local cred for supporting homegrown talent.
🎪 The Circus Farm @ Mesa Arts Center | Sunday (7/13) at 1:00pm – Skipping the usual sweaty park chaos, this air-conditioned family circus serves up juggling, unicycle stunts, hula hoops, LED-lit props, a giant robot, and high-flying aerial lollipops that even the teens can’t roll their eyes at. Arrive early for MABEL’s pop-up art lab on wheels.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 7/9 Trivia Night @ Sip & Shop – 6 pm
- 7/9 Geeks who Drink @ Icon Sports Grill – 7 pm
- 7/9 Funniest Comic in the Valley @ Tempe Improv – 7:30 pm
- 7/9 Bad Cop / Bad Cop and more @ Yucca Tap Room – 8 pm
- 7/10 Disciple @ The Grove – 6:15 pm
- 7/10 Smashing Cranberries @ Good Time Charli’s – 7 pm
- 7/10 Rafi Bastos @ Tempe Improv – 7:30 pm
- 7/11 Deep Within and more @ Yucca Tap Room – 8 pm
- 7/11 Robert Earl Keen @ Gila River Resorts – 8 pm
- 7/11 Tame Impala Night @ Marquee Theatre – 9 pm
This house is wild
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Michael Buttery (Wise Choice Properties)
This Recker Pointe stunner skips the cookie-cutter look with its premium corner lot and a front-row seat to the community park. Inside, 10-foot ceilings and sunlight team up to make even Monday mornings feel bright, while the kitchen’s granite counters and oversized island handle everything from pancake stacks to impromptu science experiments.
The primary suite serves up dual vanities and a walk-in shower that could double as a phone booth. Out back, low-maintenance turf and an extended paver patio keep weekends blissfully chore-free. A true 3-car garage with an EV charger means there’s room for every hobby, and the freeway is just minutes away for spontaneous escapes.
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