Category: Things to Do

🇯🇵 Japanese culture takes center stage in Phoenix this weekend as Arizona Matsuri returns for two days of food, performances, and hands-on cultural experiences at Steele Indian School Park. Running Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the

🍖 The sweet smell of smoke will be drifting across southwest Phoenix this weekend as the 74th annual Laveen BBQ returns to Cesar Chavez Park on Saturday – a one-day tasting tour that’s equal parts neighborhood tradition and full-blown food

🍫 The Chocolate Affaire returns to the Glendale Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for a free celebration dedicated to cocoa in all its glorious forms. Billed as the Valley’s premier event for chocolate lovers,

🍔 Jim Bob’s Burgers Pop-Up Worth Takeaway, downtown Mesa’s cult-favorite sandwich shop, hosts its eighth annual annual two-day burger takeover – think juicy, griddled patties, melty cheese, and pop-up energy on lock. It’s an homage to the Fox animated sitcom

🏄 Cannon Beach, the entertainment and lifestyle destination near the southeast corner of Power and Warner in southeast Mesa, will hold a free grand-opening block party from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. The party will include music, local food vendors, petting

🎬 Fork n’ Film, a self-described ‘‘experiential hospitality company’’ that transforms movies into edible journeys, is bringing its immersive dinner series to Arizona for the first time. The Westin Tempe in downtown Tempe will host the dinners during which a

🌮 Mexico City’s El Califa de Leon, the world’s only Michelin-starred taqueria, is holding a four-day pop-up through Sunday at Westgate in Glendale. The pop-up will run noon-10 p.m. each day in the former Wicked Wolf space in front of

🧡 Match Market and Bar, the signature restaurant at the Found:Re boutique hotel in downtown Phoenix, is taking reservations for its latest creative theme dinner. ‘‘The Orange Dinner,’’ which will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10, will consist

🥃 La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen in downtown Chandler will host a tequila tasting from noon-3 p.m. Saturday. The tasting will include a sampling of tequilas from Casamigos, Don Julio, and 21 Seeds, whose representatives will be on hand to

👨‍🍳 Chicken Penne de Majorca and Pork Molise will be the featured co-entrees when Romeo’s Euro Cafe in downtown Gilbert holds its weekly ‘‘Taste of Romeo’s’’ dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The dinners, held in a private dining room, feature

🍽️ A tribute to Lee Cohn and Big 4 Restaurants, the legendary hospitality group he founded, will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at Jalapeño Inferno Takeout Kitchen & Cantina in north Scottsdale. Recent Valley residents likely won’t recognize Cohn’s

👨‍🍳 Romeo’s Euro Cafe in downtown Gilbert will host its monthly ‘‘3rd Tuesday’’ food and wine pairing – featuring three seasonal dishes paired with three wines – at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18. The menu and wine pairings: First course:

🎅🏼 Jingle Bars: Holiday Bar Crawl takes place 2-6 p.m. Saturday in downtown Mesa. Tickets for the 21-and-over self-guided tour are $17 and get you exclusive discounts and specials at more than 15 participating bars. Check-in is at BRI Taproom between 1:30-3:30 p.m. 🎁 Tracy

🥃 Here’s an event that whiskey fans won’t want to miss: Dan McKee, master distiller for Michter’s, will be the featured guest for a four-course pairings dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at Proof at the Four Seasons Resort

🍷 Vineyards in the Valley, a three-day wine festival supporting healthcare initiatives in Haiti, runs through Saturday with wine tastings, food pairings, VIP dinners, and a charity auction at various Scottsdale locations. 🍺 Mesa brewery Beer Research Institute celebrates its

🍖 More than 40 top pitmasters fire up their smokers this weekend for the second annual Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic. The competition kicks off with dessert and appetizer categories from 5-9 p.m. today, followed by four meat categories from 11 a.m.-5

🪖 Cider Corps, the veteran-owned craft cidery in downtown Mesa, celebrates its seventh anniversary this weekend. Blueberry Brahma, the latest canned cider in Cider Corps’ Honor Series, will be released Friday. The collaboration with Meat Market Vintage Goods honors the Marine’s

🍖 More than 40 top pitmasters fire up their smokers this weekend for the second annual Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic. ‘‘There truly is no other event in metro Phoenix that comes close to what people can expect to see and taste,’’

🥣 Tru Bowl Superfood Bar celebrates the opening of its Chandler location on the northeast corner of Germann and Dobson on Saturday. The first 100 people in line at 8 a.m. get free small bowls; everyone else gets a BOGO deal

🌮 Mexican restaurant Los Sombreros (pictured) in Scottsdale celebrates its 30th anniversary with a michelada bar, giveaways, live music, a photo booth, and more today through Sunday. The restaurant recently introduced a Throwback Menu featuring popular dishes from its past