Family play time, Mesa community farmer’s market, introduction to digital photography class, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, Scottsdale. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Scottsdale Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Dreamy Draw Festival expands lineup and capacity, the Arizona Innovation Challenge wants SaaS startups, and a free trolley loop now connects three community hubs — catch up here.
State-level stories: Arizona’s top resorts, a threatened jaguar’s migration path could be cut off by a new wall, and standout women executives will be celebrated — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: New SSA tech offers more reliable service, national recalls, and a housing market update — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Explore memory-building activities with caregivers
- Enjoy free ice cream and save labs
- Discover AAPI talent and community resources
- Shop fresh produce and crafts every Friday
- Enjoy cocktails and tour Sweetwater Groves
- Get $400 off Windows with Renewal By Andersen
🫶 We got your back
Trails: Skip the treadmill, head out at sunrise through cactus-studded hills. These hiking routes around Scottsdale deliver peak views that’ll make you forget all about your cardio app.
Golf: Desert courses dotted with saguaros and backed by mountains turn every round into a bucket-list adventure. Grab the top tee times that’ll have your buddies begging for an invite.
Cleaning: Tackling the entire house can feel like climbing Everest in flip-flops, right? This cleaning checklist breaks the job into manageable bites so you can crush it room by room.
Furniture: Need décor with a backstory deeper than your latest streaming binge? Antique Trove is the gallery that’ll turn your living room into a time capsule… just bring a sharp eye and an appreciation for pieces that only improve with every chapter of history.
Finance: Ready to break up with debt for good? National can help you cut ties, pay up to 30% less than you owe, and finally get some peace. This isn’t your average debt relief advice… it’s a financial fresh start, complete with a happy cry or two when your balance hits zero.
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📆 Around town this week
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.
This week
📚 Books Can | Tuesday (8/12) at 10:00am – Little ones get the VIP treatment at this storytime-meets-playgroup combo. With singalongs, rhymes, picture books, and hands-on activities, it’s early learning disguised as fun. Bonus: it’s great for those mini social butterflies in training.
👨👩👧👦 Family Play Time | Tuesday (8/12) at 5:00pm – Whether you’re dodging rogue Cheerios or refereeing a paint-smeared Picasso in training, this free, weekly drop-in play session gives parents and caregivers full access to an indoor adventure zone. Think pint-sized furniture, sensory havens, and zero-judgment corners for curious under-fives.
🍦 DLRR Fundraiser @ Cold Stone Creamery World Headquarters | Wednesday (8/13) at 1:30pm – Whether you’re a die-hard ice cream fanatic or in need of a good excuse to eat dessert, swing by Cold Stone’s Scottsdale HQ for a free scoop when you donate to Desert Lab Retriever Rescue. Expect puppy cuddles, frozen treats, and feel-good bragging rights.
🍅 Mesa Community Farmer’s Market | Friday (8/15) at 9:00am – Friday mornings in Mesa mean dodging half the neighborhood in flip-flops for ruby peppers, kombucha that actually tastes like something, and hand-painted mugs you’ll proudly display once. Friendly locals stand at booths to school you on composting and community news.
💼 2025 Impact Conference @ Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia | Friday (8/15) at 10:00am – Picture the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia, only with more neon leg warmers than a Scottsdale pool party. The “Back to the 80’s” Impact Conference will have you trading PowerPoints for shoulder pads and networking over themed cocktails. Dust off your Rubik’s Cube.
This weekend
🥍 Beginners Lax Clinic | Saturday (8/16) at 8:00am – Desert Stix is commandeering the ASU Rec fields for a free, no-experience-needed lacrosse clinic for girls K–12. Lace up the sneakers, bring the energy, and pretend you know what you’re doing while the pros handle all the heavy lifting.
📷 Introduction to Digital Photography Class @ Tempe Camera | Saturday (8/16) at 9:30am – If you’ve been pointing your fancy DSLR at your latte and still can’t nail the shot, it’s time to stop blaming the lighting. Join a small crew led by a 50-year photography guru, master manual modes, exposure, metering, and focus.
⏳ MAC 11th Hour @ Tempe Center for the Arts | Saturday (8/16) at 7:30pm – Whether you need some serious tap from Friends in Dance or you’d rather get lost in fable-inspired leaps, MAC & Company’s two-part concert has your weekend sorted. Local choreographers serve up fantasy, fun, and enough footwork to make you reconsider your couch.
💃 Dance Till Dawn @ The Westin Tempe | Saturday (8/16) at 9:00pm – Take a break from the reruns and slide into the Opal Ballroom for a one-night Bachata bash complete with a complimentary lesson, DJ Papi Chulo spinning Salsa and Bachata, and a live set by Latin Grammy-winner Mayinbito. Then dance until you remember there’s a sunrise.
🔮 Introduction to Mediumship @ Everything Just Rocks | Sunday (8/17) at 2:00pm – Grab your curiosity and head to the local rock shop for a two-hour spy mission in spirit world, no fog machines required. Tina Escoto demystifies mediumship for $25, materials included, so you can finally decide if ghosts really RSVP.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/13 Happy Hour @ Handlebar J – 6 pm
- 8/13 Wildflower Mind @ The Rebel Lounge – 7 pm
- 8/13 Keb’Mo’ and more @ Celebrity Theatre – 7:30 pm
- 8/13 Travis Nelson @ Tempe Improv – 7:30 pm
- 8/14 Ice Nine Kills @ Mullett Arena – 6:30 pm
- 8/14 Los Caimaneados @ Casino Arizona – 7 pm
- 8/14 DJ Goth @ The Rebel Lounge – 7:30 pm
- 8/15 Collie Buddz @ Marquee – 7 pm
- 8/16 Police Experience @ Casino Arizona – 7:30 pm
🏠️ This house is wild
Listed by: Frank Aazami (Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty)
Old World glamour meets Arizona drama in this Italian-inspired showpiece by Edward Chavez, perched on nearly five flat acres with panoramic mountain and city views in every direction. Inside, six en-suite bedrooms and nine baths mingle with a chef’s kitchen, movie theater, wine cellar, cigar bar, and game room, while the gym and elegant living spaces keep the party going.
The 11-car garage is a flex for car lovers, and the backyard rivals a boutique resort with a pool, spa, guest quarters, and a walled grass yard perfect for impromptu bocce tournaments. Tucked on a private cul-de-sac, this is Scottsdale living with a Roman holiday twist.
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