🍹 Today marks the 20th anniversary of Pat Tillman’s death, and Cider Corps in downtown Mesa is honoring his legacy with PawPaw Cider, the latest release in its Honor Series inspired by units serving in our armed forces.
Cider Corps is donating $2 from every $20 four-pack of cans sold today to the Pat Tillman Foundation. The cider also is be available on draft, and Brightside Burgers will be on site from 5-9 p.m. today.
Unfamiiar with pawpaw?The taste of the fruit, native to the East Coast and Canada, has been described as a cross between a mango, banana. and pineapple.
🍹 Los Sombreros in Mesa will host its Spring Break Celebrity Bartending Event from 6-10 p.m. tonight to benefit the Kwamie Lassiter Foundation.
Diners can enjoy margaritas and other cocktails made by former NFL and MLB players such as Eric Swann, Darryl Clack, Michael Bankston, Jon Ledbetter, and Jesse Luketa.
Bartender tips and 20% of sales will be donated to the late Lassiter’s non-profit, which promotes awareness of sickle cell anemia disease.
Adrianne Calvo, an award-winning Miami-based restaurateur, cookbook author, Emmy-nominated YouTube show host, and podcaster known for her cookbook “Maximum Flavor,” will be the featured chef for the fourth annual Swing Into Spring Social.
The event, which will take place 6-10 p.m. March 23. at the Sub Zero, Wolf & Cove Showroom in Scottsdale, is a fundraiser for The Singletons, an Arizona-based non-profit supporting single-parent families facing the challenges of cancer.
Local chefs participating include Adam Allison (Handlebar Diner, Brightside Burgers), Flip Isard (Frites Street Fries), Justin Pioche (Pioche Food Group), Russell LaCasce (ZuZu), and emcee J Perry (JP Chefs).
🔪 Tracy Dempsey Originals in Tempe is hosting a culinary rummage sale March 8-9 to benefit Blue Watermelon Project, a group of Arizona chefs, restaurateurs, and community food advocates assisting schools in rethinking relationships with food.
What you can donate
Any interesting kitchen gadgets you’re ready to part with, such as gently used utensils, kitchenwares, cookbooks, dishes, and baking items from vintage to modern.
Items should be clean and in good working condition.
How to donate
Items can be dropped off at TDO (map) from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. today through Saturday or Feb. 22-24.
🍷 Peacock Wine & Book Bar, a wine bar that opened on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Baseline in Gilbert in 2019, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $150,000 to help it stay in business.
‘‘This is my last resort, as we have depleted all of our savings and retirement to keep this dream alive,’’ owner Tracy Wallace writes.
🎁 Mexican restaurant group Mesquite Fresh Street Mex is again partnering with The Foster Alliance (formerly Arizona Helping Hands) on a Toys for Tacos fundraiser.
Bring a new, unwrapped toy, game, book, or sports equipment into any of Mesquite Fresh’s nine Valley locations to receive a free taco.
Last year, an estimated 1,200 presents were collected for foster children throughout Arizona.
🐕🦺 Today is National Nacho Day, but Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup is celebrating all month with its third annual Nachopalooza fundraiser for HonorHealth Foundation’s K-9 Security Program.
Throughout November, 25% of every nacho entrée sold will go directly to the nonprofit program in which 16 highly trained handlers and protection dogs ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Gadzooks has two locations in Phoenix and one each in Tempe, Chandler, and Gilbert.
☕️🎨 Jarrod’s Coffee Tea & Gallery in downtown Mesa will hold a fundraiser Saturday in an attempt to save the business.
Jarrod Martinez launched his Main Street gallery in 2012 and added a coffee shop in 2015. The venue regularly hosts art exhibits, concerts, comedy shows, fashion shows, poetry events, and more.
But a series of recent financial setbacks – including an employee who embezzled $20,000 – has left Jarrod’s on the brink of closing.
The business has launched a GoFundMe campaign here that has raised more than $7,000. Any donations on Saturday will be matched up to $5,000.
Other activities Saturday will include a 10-hour comedy ‘‘telethon’’ with 40 comedians, bands on the patio, live art, vendors, and food and drink.
🥣 Phoenix Empty Bowls, an annual fundraiser for local non-profit Waste Not, will be held 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday at the Arizona Center on the northeast corner of Third Street and Van Buren in downtown Phoenix.
Colorful bowls created by members of the Arizona Clay Association will be on sale for $20, which includes lunch courtesy of Salad and Go. Bowls can be purchased alone for $10 apiece.
Proceeds go directly to Waste Not, which rescues perishable food from businesses and delivers it to agencies that feed the hungry.
Metered parking is available on the street, and there’s a parking garage ($4/hour) on the southwest corner of Fifth Street and Fillmore.
Can’t make it to downtown Phoenix on Friday? Tempe Empty Bowls will be Feb. 24, 2024, at the Tempe Public Library.
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🎁 Mexican restaurant group 
🐕🦺 Today is National Nacho Day, but 
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