Posts
Judy Pendergraft
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Monday-Friday
Park phone: 3995; Outside number: 480-288-3995
gcconcierge@robertsresorts.com
gcfrontoffice.com/concierge
WARNING FROM ADOT
Potential rockslides on I-17 north of Phoenix
High winds eroding slopes between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point
PRESCOTT – High winds are eroding the slopes on northbound I-17, causing rocks to fall onto the highway between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. ADOT has stationed equipment and personnel in the area to monitor the situation and keep the roadway clear of hazards. ADOT advises drivers to slow down and exercise caution on the steep climb northbound from Black Canyon City. Drivers planning trips are urged to monitor travel conditions by calling 5-1-1 within Arizona, 1.888.411.ROAD outside the state, or at www.az511.gov
Because weather conditions can quickly evolve, drivers are encouraged to regularly check in with ADOT’s Traveler Information Service. Motorists should delay or detour travel plans if necessary.
Spring Training Comes to the Valley
BATTER UP!
The Cactus League welcomes all baseball fans back in 2012 when Arizona gets ready to once again “Play Ball”. The 2011 season represented the first time all 15 Major League Baseball teams were consolidated in the Phoenix-metropolitan area and we saw the opening of the league’s newest stadium, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, which served as a big draw for baseball fans.
There is simply no bigger event in the Valley of the Sun that can generate the economic impact of spring training. It's almost time to play ball! Cactus League spring training games start in less than a week. So don’t miss out - stop by for schedules of your favorite teams and maps to the stadiums. PLAY BALL!
2012 Arizona Lecture Series
Apache Junction Performing Arts Center
2525 South Ironwood, Apache Junction
Monday evenings at 7:00 pm - $5.00
Those
attending the Arizona Lecture Series will be introduced to the culture
and history of Arizona. Whether you come for one evening or the entire
series, we guarantee that you will leve with a greater appreciation for
Arizona. Lectures begin at 7:00 pm on Monday evenings. Tickets are $5
for individual lectures and Season Tickets are $50. Stop by for a flyer
with information on how to get tickets as well as information on the
upcoming lecture.
The next lecture will be:
Monday, February 27, 2012 - "Sharlott Hall - Arizona Firebrand" - by Jody Drake
For much of the first half of the 20th
century, Sharlott Hall was an indomitable presence in Arizona life and
letters. As the only official territorial historian, she was the first
woman appointed to public office and her dedicated efforts restored and
preserved the governor's mansion in Prescott, which can still be toured
on the grounds of the Museum named in her honor. Jody Drake will share
with us the life of this remarkable woman who more than left her mark on
Arizona's history.Superstition Mountain Museum
2012 Legends and Lore of the Superstition
Mountains & More
Free
weekly lecture series at the Superstition Mountain Museum. The free
lectures are every Thursday afternoon at the Museum starting at 2:00 pm
(approximately 1 hour) in the Museum Amphitheater, 4807 N. Apache
Trail/Highway 88, Apache Junction, 480-983-4888. Stop by for a flyer on
the lecture series. You may want to bring a cushion, blanket, or lawn chair to sit on.
Returning once again this year, perennial favorite singer/songwriter Mark Fogelson will perform his brand of easy listening, “folk-country” music and finger picking guitar blended into funny, touching stories about people, land and life. Folk music is, by definition, music of the people. Mark’s songs capture this essence of traditional folk music by focusing on human stories, emotions and triumphs. His music harkens back to an era when storytellers handed down tales through generations, yet his songs also remain powerfully pertinent to the rapidly-changing world in which we now live.
Mark will perform “Lost Dutchman” and “Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum,” two special songs that he has written just for the museum.
Spring Out to Lunch Concert Series
at Mesa Arts Center
The Mesa Arts Center invites music lovers to enjoy their Thursday lunch hour outdoors at Mesa Arts Center's Well Fargo Garden for the Out to Lunch Concert Series. These live concerts are free and open to the public and will feature music by a diverse range of talented local musicians. Chairs and lawn seating are available; guests are encouraged to bring stadium cushions or blankets. Bring your lunch or purchase a small bite on site: Life of the Party Catering will be offering sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, antipasto plates, fresh lemonade, iced tea and more. Downtown Mesa's unique restaurants also offer convenient and appetizing take-out options.
Performers:
March 1: Mary Hoffman “Acoustic Western”
March 8: Los Thieves Due “Fold-Pop”
Mar 15: Liam Mackey and Tim Sadow “Rollicking traditional and original Irish tunes”
March 22: Island Magic “Caribbean Music, sounds of the islands”
March 29: Santan Swing Band “Swinging Big Band with Vocalist”
Day of the Fair ticket prices: $20 adult 1-day admission, $30 adult 2-day admission
Carefree Fine Arts &
Travel the world over and you would be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular gathering of artists than at the Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. These nationally acclaimed, juried fine art festivals attract artists and art collectors from throughout the United States and abroad, all sharing in their love and appreciation for magnificent fine art. Carefree is nestled in the high Sonoran Desert five minutes from the Scottsdale border.
The wine tasting part of the event includes a souvenir glass and six wine tasting tickets for $10. Between one and four tickets are exchanged for each tasting, depending on the wine you select. Additional tickets are available for purchase. 21+ only. You'll also enjoy live musical entertainment at this event.
March 3: Arizona Author Jack San Felice, 1 - 3 pm.
Gold Canyon United Methodist Church
Spring Choral Concert
Sunday, March 4, 3:00 pm
The Music Ministries of Gold Canyon United Methodist Church presents a concert of choral,
handbell, instrumental, organ and piano music that will be sure to entertain you on Sunday afternoon, March 4, in beautiful Gold Canyon. The concert begins at 3:00pm in the fabulous acoustics of the church's Sanctuary. Come early to get a good seat! Featured will be the Chancel Choir, Youth Choir, Chancel Handbells and the church's newest group, the Orchestra. Also, the Agape Brass Quintet will perform along with Keith Kassner, Timpanist, and accompanists Linda Jones and Nancy Virden on the 9'3" Petrof Mistral Concert Grand Piano.
March 8: Los Thieves Due “Fold-Pop”
Mar 15: Liam Mackey and Tim Sadow “Rollicking traditional and original Irish tunes”
March 22: Island Magic “Caribbean Music, sounds of the islands”
March 29: Santan Swing Band “Swinging Big Band with Vocalist”
Heard Museum Indian Fair & Market
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 2-4
One of Arizona’s most significant cultural events, the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market is a world-acclaimed festival that draws nearly 20,000 visitors and more than 700 of the nation’s most outstanding and successful American Indian artists.
The Fair is the perfect place for families wishing to enjoy a cultural and inexpensive weekend of music, entertainment and food. In addition to shopping, American Indian music and dance performances are held in the museum’s outdoor amphitheater throughout the weekend. Food is plentiful at the Fair. Options include American Indian favorites like fry bread, posole stew, piki bread and Hopi stew as well as Mexican and American fare tempt the tastebuds.
The Heard Indian Fair and Market celebrates Native American artists, who gather here each year from across the United States to sell their work and meet with family, friends, and fellow artists. By providing new audiences for the artists, the over 50 year-old fair helps fulfill the Heard Museum's mission of promoting appreciation and respect for Native Americans and their cultural heritage. The Indian Fair & Market features American Indian and indigenous entertainers, some of whom have not visited Phoenix for many years.
The Heard Museum Indian Fair & Market is an unrivaled experience that brings together the finest Native artists against a backdrop of entertainment and food. Each spring, more than 20,000 visitors experience the sights, sounds and smells of one of the world's finest Native American art festivals - an unparalleled combination of art, entertainment and food. (Courtesy Heard Museum)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 2-4
One of Arizona’s most significant cultural events, the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market is a world-acclaimed festival that draws nearly 20,000 visitors and more than 700 of the nation’s most outstanding and successful American Indian artists.
The Fair is the perfect place for families wishing to enjoy a cultural and inexpensive weekend of music, entertainment and food. In addition to shopping, American Indian music and dance performances are held in the museum’s outdoor amphitheater throughout the weekend. Food is plentiful at the Fair. Options include American Indian favorites like fry bread, posole stew, piki bread and Hopi stew as well as Mexican and American fare tempt the tastebuds.
The Heard Museum Indian Fair & Market is an unrivaled experience that brings together the finest Native artists against a backdrop of entertainment and food. Each spring, more than 20,000 visitors experience the sights, sounds and smells of one of the world's finest Native American art festivals - an unparalleled combination of art, entertainment and food. (Courtesy Heard Museum)
- More than 700 of the nation's finest American Indian artists
- Music and dance performances throughout both days
- Jewelry, textiles, sculpture, pottery, paintings, carvings and more Artist demonstrations
- Admission includes the museum's 10 exhibit galleries
Carefree Fine Arts &
Wine Festival
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 2-4
The wine tasting part of the event includes a souvenir glass and six wine tasting tickets for $10. Between one and four tickets are exchanged for each tasting, depending on the wine you select. Additional tickets are available for purchase. 21+ only. You'll also enjoy live musical entertainment at this event.
Massive piles of granite boulders, sharp mountains and an abundance of desert growth surround the area and provide scenes that attract visitors from around the world. The town of Carefree also boasts the claim of the largest sundial in the western hemisphere. This wonderfully unique town provides the perfect backdrop for this superb gathering of fine art, great wine, live entertainment, gourmet food and much more!
The streets of downtown Carefree are closed, making room for more than 165 artists and in excess of 5,000 original masterpieces of fine art. Artists’ works include small, medium and monumental life-sized bronze sculptures, metal, clay, wood, stone, glass and mixed media sculptures. There is an array of pottery, photography, hand crafted jewelry, batiks and select fine crafts.
The streets of downtown Carefree are closed, making room for more than 165 artists and in excess of 5,000 original masterpieces of fine art. Artists’ works include small, medium and monumental life-sized bronze sculptures, metal, clay, wood, stone, glass and mixed media sculptures. There is an array of pottery, photography, hand crafted jewelry, batiks and select fine crafts.
Parking is free. You pay $3 as you enter the event.
Parking is free. You pay $3 as you enter the event.
Lost Dutchman State Park
Hikes & Programs
Local
author and historian, Jack San Felice will be discussing his most
recent adventure as a ghost hunter. He explores and details the voices
that have been heard from the headframe/shaft area of the Silver King
Mine in his latest book Ghosthunting. Jack will share his adventures,
and historical accounts of some of Arizona’s most famous cowboys,
miners, women and other characters. Amphitheater.
March 3: An Amazing Night Under the Skies, 7 - 9 pm.
Join
Dr. Sky, a radio/TV journalist based in Phoenix, for An Amazing Night
Under The Skies. What planets will we see in the dark desert sky? Dress
warmly and be prepared to be amazed at the sightings. Cholla Day Use
area (weather permitting).
March 5: Moonlight and Music, 6 - 7 pm.
Featuring
Jim Pipkin – A performing songwriter who will appear as the full moon
rises. Pipkin has been the opening act for Rosanne Cash as well as for
JJ Cale. His songs have been recorded by Kerrville Folk Festival and
Arizona’s Joe Bethancourt. He has been described as “one of the finest
flatpickers and song writers in Arizona.” Join us at the Cholla Day Use
ramada, bring a chair and blanket. (480) 982-4485.
March 6 & 7: Ranger Led Moonlight Hike, 7 - 9 pm.
Due
to popular demand during our busy season, we are now offering two
moonlight hikes per month. There is a limit of 100 hikers per night, so
please call in advance to reserve your space: 480-982-4485. This is a
guided 2.5 mile hike on Jacob’s crosscut Trail at the base of the
mysterious Superstition Mountains. Hikers should dress appropriately and
wear trail shoes or boots. Please bring a flashlight in case of cloudy
conditions. Some parts of the trail are rocky and uneven with occasional
steep grades (elevation gain: 120’). Participants should be in good
health with no walking or night vision difficulties. Trail is NOT
suitable for strollers or walkers. After the hike gather round the
campfire for a marshmallow roast (marshmallows and sticks provided). All
ages welcome. No pets, please. Parking in Cholla Day Use Area.
March 7: Medicinal Plants of the Sonoran Desert, 9 am.
This
3.5 mile round trip hike will introduce us to the medicinal plants of
the Sonoran Desert. Tea made from creosote bush to ease arthritis, Nuts
from the Jojoba bush to nourish skin, Gum from Brittlebush to combat
bronchitis, these are just a few of the healing plants found in our
desert backyard. Meet at Cholla Parking Lot in Lost Dutchman State Park
at 9:00 am. Hike will last about 3 hours. This is a moderate hike with
an elevation change of 500 ft. Please bring water, a snack, sunscreen, a
hat, hiking boots and curiosity! Like the Pima and Papago Indians
before us, we will forage along the Treasure Loop, Prospectors’ View and
Jacob’s Crosscut Trails completing a loop that affords spectacular
views of the East Valley and the Praying Hands formation. Led by
volunteer hiking leader Georgy.
Gold Canyon United Methodist Church
Sunday, March 4, 3:00 pm
The Music Ministries of Gold Canyon United Methodist Church presents a concert of choral,
handbell, instrumental, organ and piano music that will be sure to entertain you on Sunday afternoon, March 4, in beautiful Gold Canyon. The concert begins at 3:00pm in the fabulous acoustics of the church's Sanctuary. Come early to get a good seat! Featured will be the Chancel Choir, Youth Choir, Chancel Handbells and the church's newest group, the Orchestra. Also, the Agape Brass Quintet will perform along with Keith Kassner, Timpanist, and accompanists Linda Jones and Nancy Virden on the 9'3" Petrof Mistral Concert Grand Piano.
Doug Benton, the church's Director of Music Ministries will be on the podium conducting
and performing on the 3-manual Rodgers Trillium 967 organ with MIDI. Music will include something for everyone, plus some surprises. The incredible voice of local baritone, Don Engbrecht, will also be heard as a featured soloist. This concert is open to the public at no charge as a free will offering will be received. Everyone is asked to please bring at least one non-perishable food item per person for the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church Food Bank. The church is located at 6640 S. Kings Ranch Rd., one block north of Hwy 60 (Walgreens on the corner) in Gold Canyon. For more information, please call 480-982-3776.
Kokopelli's Breakfast Buffet
Kokopelli's Breakfast Buffet
Wednesday, March 14, 7:45 - 8:30 am
We’ve changed the day of the week to accommodate those who have had Thursday conflicts. Sign up at the Concierge Desk. Cost is $10.50 per person which includes coffee or tea and tax + tip. You must pay in advance, cash only, by March 13th. For Gold Canyon residents and registered guests only.
Desert Botanical Gardens
Butterflies in the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion
March 3 through May 14 from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm daily
Take a stroll through the beautiful Marshall Butterfly Pavilion and find yourself surrounded with hundreds of fluttering butterflies. Watch as butterflies sip nectar from plants, perch in the sun and if you are lucky, maybe even land on you. Special displays feature butterfly host plants and an activity tent where you can see these scaly-winged friends up close. Members get in Free! General Public: $3.50 with paid Garden admission ($15 for Seniors).
Free Income Tax Help Sponsored by AARP
The Apache Junction Library, in cooperation with AARP, will be offering free tax help:
Sign ups are happening NOW! Call 480-474-8555 to register! Tax help at the Library has grown! Help is now available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays! BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY 1ST! We have 2 groups each day at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Gold Canyon Ledger and Guide to Gold Canyon Area Merchants
Do you enjoy reading the Gold Canyon Ledger? Are you aware that each copy costs the ADOBE Board $1.25. Were you aware that there is a "Guide to Area Merchants" for the Gold Canyon Community? Both of these publications are available ONLINE and we can help defray the costs of both by using them online. Here are the websites: Golf Canyon Ledger http://www.gcledger.com/
Community Connection - A Guide to Area Merchants http://goldcanyonconnection.com/Local_Merchants.HTML
Community Connection - A Guide to Area Merchants http://goldcanyonconnection.com/Local_Merchants.HTML
Mountain Brew Coffee House
Looking for a great place to meet new friends, get fit, or just play cards or games? You’ve found it! Apache Junction Active Adult Center offers a wide variety of activities to keep you active and engaged.
Wish you had someone to help you cope with the many challenges of life? Our Center provides social services such as peer counseling, support groups, benefits assistance, a blood pressure clinic and many other support related connections. The Outreach Specialist is available to link seniors with resources and services that facilitate independent living, as well.
Want to reach out in the Community? Apache Junction Active Adult Center welcomes you to volunteer with us! We encourage all interests and abilities and match them with our opportunities. Come visit with us to get started.
Get free admission to Arizona Museum for Youth, Arizona Museum of Natural History and Mesa Contemporary Arts on first Sundays during the Target 3 for Free program. Save up to $17 in admission. Mesa Contemporary Arts, which formerly charged admission, is now free during regular admission hours (Tuesdays-Sundays). All are within walking distance of 1 E. Main St. Details: Noon-5 p.m. first Sundays. Downtown Mesa.
http://www.mesaartscenter.com/
http://www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com/
http://www.azmnh.org/
Best Buy takes old TV's - no charge. You pay $10 and get a $10 gift card.
6832 S. Kings Ranch Road, Gold Canyon
Gold Canyon RV & Golf Resort residents get 15% off any food/drink purchase, all day Wednesdays. Wear your name badge as proof of residence. They have a varied menu of breakfast sandwiches, Panini sandwiches, soups, salads, frozen yogurt and a wide variety of beverages.
Apache Junction Senior Center
Wish you had someone to help you cope with the many challenges of life? Our Center provides social services such as peer counseling, support groups, benefits assistance, a blood pressure clinic and many other support related connections. The Outreach Specialist is available to link seniors with resources and services that facilitate independent living, as well.
Tired of thinking up something for lunch? Join us for delicious and healthy meals, Monday through Friday. Reservations and registration are necessary. Let us shop, cook and clean-up for you! Share a meal and meet new folks. Stop by the Concierge Desk for a full month's menu.
Want to reach out in the Community? Apache Junction Active Adult Center welcomes you to volunteer with us! We encourage all interests and abilities and match them with our opportunities. Come visit with us to get started.
See 3 Museums for Free!
http://www.mesaartscenter.com/
http://www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com/
http://www.azmnh.org/
We've celebrated Arizona's Centennial and congratulate this great state on the past 100 years and look forward to many more years of great climate and beautiful surroundings. Our Canadian neighbors have discovered the wonders and beauty of this state and we are glad they have. So here's to Arizona, our favorite winter vacation home. The Arizona Republic published a list of their favorite festivals in this week's paper. Here is the list and I an calling it your "Bucket List of Favorite Festivals" and if you'd like your own copy to check off the list stop by. Also, if you have other "favorite festivals" we'll add them to this list. Note that each festival has it's own web link.
Amazing Arizona Facts:
Your Bucket List of Favorite Festivals
Arizona Renaissance Festival For eight weekends, jousters, hawkers and the royal court bring the 30-acre village just outside Apache Junction back to life for this fest. People dress in elaborate period costumes and gnaw on giant turkey legs as they watch jesters perform. There are shops, old-fashioned games, amusement rides and a museum of medieval torture. Discount tickets are available at Fry's stores.
Details: Through Sunday, April 1. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 12601 E. U.S. Highway 60, southeast of Apache Junction. $12-$22. 520-463-2600, royalfaires.com/arizona
Arizona Matsuri
This celebration of Japanese culture features an anime costume contest, kimono fashion show, ondo (folk) dancing, Asahi Beer Garden, taiko drumming and martial-arts demonstrations. Look for the Ikebana display of ornate flower arrangements and the calligraphy booth, and don't miss out on the sushi and noodles.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 25-26. Heritage and Science Park, 115 N. Sixth St., Phoenix. Free. 602-262-5029, azmatsuri.org
Surprise BBQ Festival
It's baseball and barbecue during this inaugural festival at Surprise Stadium. More than two dozen competitors will face off in the Kansas City Barbecue-sanctioned competition to see which team makes the best chicken, ribs, brisket and pork. Participants can try the barbecue for $2 per sample. Adults can enjoy a whiskey-tasting tent ($10), ride a mechanical bull and listen to music from the Sugar Thieves and the Bottoms Up Blues Gang.
Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, March 3. 15960 N. Bullard Ave. $10, free age 12 and younger. $2 per food sample. 602-326-7469, surprisebbqfestival.com
Great Arizona Beer Festival
Sip and sample from a collection of more than 200 beers from 50 national breweries at this 21-and-older festival. Participating breweries include the Phoenix Ale Brewery, Santa Fe Brewing Co. and Alaskan Brewing. Drinking patrons get a souvenir mini-mug and 24 samples, and designated drivers get massages and specialty sodas.
Details: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 3. Tempe Beach Park, 54 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $45, $20 designated driver. 480-774-8300, azbeer.com
Ostrich Festival
Try a super-lean ostrich burger, attend a concert, watch bird races and visit the midway carnival and marketplace at this decades-old festival. Alternative-rock band Tonic headlines the main stage Friday night, and classic rockers Blue Oyster Cult perform Saturday night.
Details: Friday-Sunday, March 9-11. 2 p.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday. Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler. $7-$10, $5 parking. 480-963-4571, ostrichfestival.com
Scottsdale Arts Festival
In its 42nd year, this arts festival features nearly 200 national artists, 22 bands and a dozen gourmet food trucks. Youth can play and make crafts at the "Imagine Nation" kids area. Avoid traffic by taking the free trolley, the route for which is online.
Details: Friday-Sunday, March 9-11. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, 7380 E. Second St. $7, $5 students, free age 12 and younger. 480-994-2787, scottsdaleartsfestival.org
Devoured
The Valley's premier culinary festival consistently draws more than 50 A-list participants such as Kai, J&G Steakhouse, Petite Maison, Postino and Sushi Roku. Admission includes unlimited samples of food, wine and spirits. Held outside in the art museum's sculpture garden, the festival features chef demonstrations, live concerts and an auction.
Details: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, March 10-11. Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. $69 one-day advance, $79. $130 two-day advance, $150. 866-977-6849, devouredphoenix.com
Arizona Aloha Festival
This Polynesian party aims to spread the "aloha spirit" of love, compassion and peace. Festivities include a marketplace with such items as leis, woven baskets and carved-bone necklaces, along with an island-food court and activity centers. Performances include storytellers, Tahitian drummers, ukulele players and hula dancers.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, March 10-11. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. Free. 602-697-1824, azalohafest.org
Fountain Hills Fine Art and Wine Affaire
The annual celebration transforms the Avenue of the Fountains into a fine-art gallery district. The festival features sculptures, paintings, photography and other works from more than 100 artists. Patrons can visit the wine garden for $10.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday- Sunday, March 23-25. Downtown Fountain Hills, on the Avenue of the Fountains from La Montana Drive to Saguaro Boulevard. $3; free for Fountain Hills residents. 480-837-5637, thunderbirdartists.com
The Great American Barbeque and Beer Festival
This third annual festival will double in size this year, which means there are about twice as many food and drink vendors, too. Nearly 50 barbecue teams will serve pork ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken, and Valley breweries, including Chandler's SanTan Brewing Co., will pour craft beers. Visitors can compete in pie-eating, wing-eating and bratwurst-eating competitions. Bands Face to Face, Goldfinger, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Buck O Nine will perform. Discount tickets are available at Bashas' stores. Food, beverage and merchandise will be sold separately by vendors on a cash basis.
Details: Noon-8 p.m. Saturday, March 24. Downtown Chandler, Arizona Avenue from Buffalo to Boston streets. $10, free for age 12 and younger. Food and drink extra. 602-276-2499, chandlerbbq.com
Glendale Folk and Heritage Festival
The two-day festival celebrates folk music and the history and culture of the genre. From bluegrass to cowboy poetry, there are more than 150 performances and 52 workshops scheduled.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday- Sunday, March 24-25. Sahuaro Ranch Park Historic Area, 9802 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. Free. 623-930-4200, glendaleaz.com/parksandrecreation
Tempe Festival of Arts
From painters to street performers, artists of all disciplines are showcased at this bi-annual extravaganza featuring more than 400 national artists. The culinary arts are celebrated at the Cottage Edibles and Crafts area, where vendors sell infused olive oil, salsas, jams and soups. Don't miss the wine festival ($12) and beer garden ($10).
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, March 30-April 1. Mill Avenue District, University Drive and Mill Avenue. Free. 602-997-2581, tempefestivalofthearts.com
Glendale Jazz and Blues Festival
The 29th annual festival features a mix of local and national acts on two stages (one for jazz and one for blues). It's Glendale's longest-running festival. There is an art market and wine vendors.
Details: Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Free. 58th and Glendale avenues. 623-930-2299, glendaleaz.com/events
Arizona International Festival
From Japanese taiko drummers and Irish step-dancers to belly dancers and mariachi bands, see a variety of cultural performers at this festival. The market is organized by regional zones, including Africa, Latin America and Europe, and the food court will serve foods such as Asian noodles, Greek meats and Arab sweets. Tickets are available at the gate and are cash only.
Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15. Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix. $5, free age 12 and younger. 602-412-1525, ifestaz.com
Scottsdale Culinary Festival
Most people associate this annual fete with the Great Arizona Picnic, the signature outdoor culinary festival that attracts around 40,000 people to Scottsdale's Civic Center Plaza. But, the six-day foodie festival is more than just a picnic -- it features nearly a dozen events, from the fashion-forward Eat, Drink and Be Pretty party to the formal Chef Tribute Dinner. Proceeds from the festival benefit Valley organizations, including Ballet Arizona, Free Arts of Arizona and local culinary schools.
Details: Tuesday-Sunday, April 17-22. Various locations. Prices vary by event. 480-945-7193
scottsdalefest.org
My Nana's Salsa Challenge
From fruit- to tomato-based, mild to spicy, expect to see more than 100 varieties of salsa -- America's No. 1 condiment. The festival features concerts, a kids zone and beer, margarita and food vendors. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Hemophilia Association, which supports children with bleeding disorders. Remember to bring cash for parking. Discount tickets are available at Fry's stores.
Details: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 28. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $10, free for age 12 and younger. $50 VIP tickets. 602-955-3947, salsachallenge.com
Let's test your knowledge of "Facts about Arizona"
1. James Ohio Pattie: Arizona’s First Storyteller: The first Anglo-Americans to penetrate the wilderness regions of Arizona were that reckless breed known as Mountain Men. Prior to their arrival in the 1820s, few people east of “the Wide Missouri” were even aware of the vast, uncharted lands that would, some forty years later, be called Arizona.
2. Antoine Leroux: An Old West Hero You’ve Probably Never Heard Of: Heroes of the Old West came about gaining public recognition in a variety of ways. Some, like Buffalo Bill Cody, came about it by self-promotion. Custer’s greatest glory came after his death at the Little Big Horn. Jim Bridger was glorified in the dime novels of Ned Buntline. The prolific journals of Pathfinder John C. Fremont, along with florid writing of his talented wife Jessie, made Kit Carson a legend in his own lifetime. Others like Pauline Weaver, Tom Fitzpatrick and Ewing Young never got the recognition they so richly deserved. Perhaps the most deserving of them all, yet the least known in Arizona, is Antoine Leroux.
3. Greenway Road Named After Hero with Remarkable Wife: Greenway Road is named for Gen. John C. Greenway, a World War I hero and mining magnate. There is a statue of him in the old Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. He was, as noted, a war hero and big shot, but the street could have just as easily have been named for his wife, Isabella S. Greenway, one of the most remarkable women in Arizona history.
4. The Story of Carl Hayden: A New Breed of Frontier Lawmen: The Old West was still pretty new in 1877 when Carl Hayden was born. His birthplace was a mud adobe house on the south bank of the Salt River that is now Monti’s La Casa Vieja. The railroad linking Phoenix with the Southern Pacific transcontinental line at Maricopa and the rest of the civilized world was still ten years away
5. The Story of Sarah Bowman: Yuma’s First Citizen Left a Lasting Impression: One of the most colorful ladies who ever rode the old West was Sarah Bowman of Yuma. She didn’t fit the common frontier stereotype woman—calico dress, sunbonnet and a youngster hanging on each arm with another tugging at her skirt. In fact, there wasn’t anything common about Sarah.
6. Pauline Weaver: The Story of Prescott’s First Citizen: When old Joe Walker, a big, strapping, ex-mountain man, and his party of prospectors arrived at Granite Creek in the Spring of 1863, another old mountain man, Pauline Weaver, was already camped there. The area where the future territorial capital city of Prescott would be founded was the stomping grounds of the Yavapai and Tonto Apaches.
7. Lieutenant Amiel Whipple’s Good Deed Saved 47 Lives: On a hot afternoon in 1849 not far from the Yuma River Crossing, a small party of Army Topographical Engineers came upon a young Indian girl wandering in the desert. She was nearly dead from exposure, hunger and thirst. Many would have left the youngster to her fate. It was a tough, unforgiving land where the strong survived and the weak perished. The officer in charge was a kind, thoughtful man from Massachusetts, named Amiel Weeks Whipple.
8. Old Arizona’s Dick Wick Hall Puts Salome on the Map, Humors Travelers: Some of the West’s most colorful characters ended up in Arizona sooner or later. For some, it was the lure of the boom town bonanzas. Others found it a refuge from the restrictions of more established societies in the East. For DeForest Hall, it was the wide open spaces and the weather. He liked the high desert around Wickenburg so well that he changed his middle name to Wick.
9. Who is Ol’ Bill Williams… as in Williams, AZ?: The picturesque town of Williams takes its name from Bill Williams Mountain that towers above and provides as beautiful high country setting for a community as can be found in America. It’s a fitting place-name for ol’ Bill Williams, the “greatest fur trapper of ‘em all.”
10. Ewing Young: The Southwest’s Premier Mountain Man: By and large, the history of the fur trade in the Southwest regions has been left out of the mainstream of American history. Trappers like Walker, Bridger, Fitzpatrick and especially Carson have become American legends and folk heroes, their fame coming primarily from exploits in the northern Rockies and Sierra Nevada. Contrary to popular myth, the Mexican borderlands had a great impact on industry. During the early 1830s, the heyday of the business, a third of the total furs shipped east came from the Southwest. And when discussing the Southwest fur trade, an obscure individual stands out above the rest. His name was Ewing Young.
