Category: Things to Do

Fresh off its April Fool’s Day-themed beer dinner, SunUp Brewing in Phoenix is hosting a Smoke & Mirrors beer dinner – ‘‘where nothing is as what it appears’’ – at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 13. The evening features five SunUp beers

Romeo’s Euro Cafe in Gilbert holds its weekly ‘‘Taste of Romeo’s’’ dinner, hosted by chef Romeo Taus and his wife, Janice, in a private dinning room, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13. The dinners typically feature five courses selected from

1. The eighth annual Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival returns to Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler from noon-10 p.m. Saturday. 2. More than 60 BBQ and food vendors will serve more than 20,000 pounds of smoked meats. Other food

In a rematch of last year’s World Series, the Chicago Cubs face the Cleveland Indians in a Cactus League game in Mesa on Friday. In honor of the Cubs’ Series win last November – which broke the franchise’s 107-year-old ‘‘Curse of

Downtown Chandler’s 55 Chicago is hosting a pair of events Thursday. From 5-7 p.m., you can stop by and meet the head brewer from Elevation Brewing. The Colorado brewery’s notable offerings include Apis IV quad, Oil Man imperial stout, and

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers in Chandler hosts a Phoenix Suns viewing party for tonight’s 5 p.m. game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Gorilla, Suns Dancers, and Solar Squad will be on hand to give away autographed merchandise.

In honor of today’s Cactus League game between Chicago’s Cubs and White Sox at nearby Sloan Park, The Brass Tap at Mesa Riverview will feature beers from Chicago’s Goose Island at its weekly team trivia night from 6-9 p.m. On tap: Four Star Pils,

For the first time in 39 years, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival has added a national headliner to its music lineup: Singer LeAnn Rimes. The fest will take place Saturday, April 8, and Sunday, April 9, at Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Rimes will perform April

1. The 15th annual Tamale Festival, where attendees are able to taste and buy a variety of savory and sweet homemade tamales, will take place 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Cesar Chavez Plaza (map) in downtown Phoenix. 2. Admission is

Zappone’s Italian Bistro in Gilbert will hold its annual Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. The dinner, also known as ‘‘The Vigil,’’ is an Italian-American tradition, typically held on Christmas Eve, featuring seven different seafood dishes. This year’s menu:

Tickets for the 2017 Devour Culinary Classic – which will be held 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5, at the Phoenix Art Museum – went on sale this morning. Devour, formerly known as Devoured, features unlimited food

1. The seventh annual Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook-Off – a celebration of 1880s-era Old West chuck wagons – takes place 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Tumbleweed Park (map) in Chandler. 2. Admission and parking is free.

Bourbon Jacks Bar & Grill in downtown Chandler celebrates its fourth anniversary Thursday with the launch of a new theme night, but the party will continue through the weekend. Thursday: A new night – ‘‘Thursday, This One’s For The Girls’’

1, The annual Olivepalooza Harvest Party – featuring food, music, games, crafts, local vendors, and, of course, olives – will take place 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday at the Queen Creek Olive Mill (map). 2. Admission and parking is free. 3. A

1. Live & Local, a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale featuring Valley food, drink, and music, will take place 5-9 p.m. Sunday at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall (map). 2. General admission tickets are $75 per

1. The second annual AZCentral.com Food & Wine Experience will take place Friday through Sunday at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (map) in Scottsdale. Parking will be free. 2. All events are 21-and-over. No children or strollers are allowed. 3. The main

1. The second annual Bacon, Blues & Brews Festival will take place noon-8 p.m. Saturday at Founder’s Park (map) in Queen Creek. 2. Admission is $8 in advance (buy here) or $12 at the gate. Kids 12 and under get free admission with a paid adult. $65 VIP

Game on, Michigan natives! With rivals Michigan and Michigan State meeting on the football field for the 109th time Saturday, The Hungry Monk in Chandler will open at 9 a.m. for ‘‘Founders, Football & Flapjacks.’’ (Jim Lolli, owner of The Monk, was born and

Tucson’s Barrio Brewing will be the featured brewery for this month’s beer dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday at JC’s Steakhouse in Gilbert. The menu will feature five beers and four dishes prepared by chef-owner Dennis Petty: Social beer: Barrio Rea’s

1. The sixth annual Wingstock chicken wing and live music festival moves from its traditional date in the spring and will take place 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Mesa Amphitheatre (map) in downtown Mesa. 2. Admission is $8 in advance (buy here) or $12 on Saturday. Kids

Romeo’s Euro Cafe in Gilbert holds its weekly ‘‘Taste of Romeo’s’’ dinner, hosted by chef Romeo Taus and his wife, Janice, in a private dinning room, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The dinners typically feature five courses selected from the restaurant’s

Social Box Neighborhood Eatery in Chandler celebrates its second anniversary with food and drink specials and live music from 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday. Taking over the longtime Iguana Macks on Oct. 17, 2014, SoBo promised a unique concept ‘‘that combines

Cornish game hen will be the entree at this month’s ‘‘3rd Tuesday’’ dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Romeo’s Euro Cafe in downtown Gilbert. The three-course dinners feature three new dishes from Romeo’s creative kitchen crew paired with three wines selected by the

1. The seventh annual Arizona Taco Festival, the world’s largest taco competition, will take place 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. 2. General admission is $12 online or $15 at the gate. VIP packages

JC’s Steakhouse in Gilbert will hold its monthly wine dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This month’s focus will be on Greece. The food-and-wine pairings: Stuffed grape leaves with two kinds of hummus, paired with Skouras Zoe White Lentil soup and Greek salad, paired

1. The 44th annual Four Peaks Oktoberfest will take place this weekend at Tempe Town Lake. Hours are 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, noon-midnight Saturday, and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. 2. For the first time, the festival will charge admission. Single-day general admission

1. The fall edition of the twice-a-year A Taste of Greece festival takes place this weekend at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church (map) in Chandler. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. 2. Free

My Wine Cellar in Ahwatukee will hold its monthly wine and cheese tasting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. This month’s four featured cheeses: Raclette Triple crème brie Toleggio Aged Stilton The tasting is $25. RSVP: 480-598-9463.

El Palacio Mexican Restaurant & Cantina will hold its fifth annual Rockin’ Taco Street Fest from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday in downtown Chandler. The new location (the event previously had been held in El Palacio’s parking lot) will allow it

The seventh annual Arizona Taco Festival is still a month away, but the organizers will try to whet your appetite with a new teaser event – Rock the Guac – from 6-9 p.m. Friday at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale. Rock

The Hungry Monk in Chandler celebrates its sixth anniversary Saturday with a slew of customer-appreciation specials. The all-day deals include $2 sliders, $2 tacos, and $3 craft beer pints. Owners Jim and Carol Lolli opened a franchise of Cincinnati-based Buffalo Wings

Wingstock, Arizona’s only chicken wing and music festival, moves from April to October this year: The event will be held Saturday, Oct. 29, at Mesa Amphitheatre. The festival, which debuted in 2011, typically has been held Easter weekend, but Easter fell in March this

The Arizona Vignerons Alliance, a nonprofit formed by Arizona wineries to educate the state’s growers, winemakers, and customers, will hold its first symposium Saturday, Nov. 5, at The Farm at South Mountain. The symposium, called #WineResearch, will feature two seminars, a

Francis Ford Coppola Winery in northern California’s Alexander Valley will be featured in the monthly wine dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday at JC’s Steakhouse in Gilbert. (Pictured: The appetizer trio for last month’s French wine dinner.) This month’s food pairings will

Temperatures are still close to 110, but there are signs fall is just around the corner. Most kids are back in school, and the Cardinals open their NFL preseason schedule Friday. That means it’s also time to start getting your tickets to some

Two of the East Valley’s top chefs – Anthony Serrano (pictured on left) from El Palacio Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Chandler and Salvatore Zappone (right) from Zappone’s Italian Bistro in Gilbert – are throwing down this weekend. The two are

The Rockin’ Taco Street Fest is on the move. Launched by El Palacio Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in 2012, the annual celebration has outgrown the Chandler restaurant’s parking lot and will move to downtown Chandler this fall. The fifth annual fest, which will

Zappone’s Italian Bistro in Gilbert will hold a ‘‘Summer in Calabria’’ cooking class and lunch at noon Saturday Aug. 13. Chef and owner Sal Zappone will cover the making of four dishes:  Insalata verde: Baby greens salad Zucchine ripiene con ricotta:

Looking for something for your children to do while it’s sweltering hot outside? Family-run Brooklyn V’s Pizza in Gilbert is holding a Kids Pizza Workshop from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Monday. All kids will make their own personal pizza. Cost is $10,

JC’s Steakhouse in Gilbert will hold its monthly wine tasting at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This month’s focus will be on France. The food pairings will feature classic French fare: Pairing #1: Caviar, escargot, and steak tartare, paired with Jean-Francois Merieau Touraine

Arizona Breakfast Weekend – an Arizona Restaurant Association promotion that debuted last summer to somewhat ho-hum interest – is giving it another try. From July 28-31, participating Valley breakfast and brunch restaurants will offer special dishes for $7, $10, or $15.  Confirmed restaurants

Just a reminder: If you’re a fan of Ina Garten, aka the Barefoot Contessa, tickets for her Nov. 15 show at the Mesa Arts Center went on sale over the weekend. The show will celebrate the Emmy-winning Food Network star’s 10th book, “Cooking

El Palacio chef Anthony Serrano and Zappone’s Italian Bistro chef Sal Zappone will compete mano a mano in a South of the Border Throwdown on Sunday, July 31. The pair will prepare dishes from Mexico to Argentina with a little

The latest additions to the MXSW’s Upcoming Events listings: Romeo’s Euro Cafe in Gilbert will host its monthly ’’3rd Tuesday’’ dinner on Tuesday, March 15. Stereo Rex will headline the St. Patrick’s Day fun on Thursday, March 17, at the House of Brews

Garlic Chicken Pesto and Mediterranean Stuffed Gyros (pictured) are the featured entrees of this week’s “Taste of Romeo’s Euro Cafe” dinner, hosted by chef Romeo Taus and his wife, Janice, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Related: Romeo Taus ‘engineers’ culinary success with Euro Cafe The

The Perch, Uncle Bear’s, Beer Research, Sonoran, Desert Eagle, and Bad Water are among the local breweries participating in the second annual Downtown Mesa Brewfest from 2-6 p.m. Saturday on Macdonald south of Main. General admission to the family- and dog-friendly

The Brass Tap at Mesa Riverview and Huss Brewing are teaming up to celebrate this spring’s first Cactus League baseball game at Sloan Park on Friday. The Sloan Park Opening Day Tailgate will kick off at 10 a.m. with $2 hot

Red blends are the subject of tonight’s monthly wine tasting at My Wine Cellar in Ahwatukee. Held from 6-8 p.m., the $15 tasting will include: Bordeaux blend Super Tuscan Napa blend Washington blend Wine tastings are held on the last

Top of the Rock Restaurant is offering a special three-course meal to raise money for Arizona Camp Sunrise & Sidekicks, where children fighting cancer can spend a week riding horses, fishing, and sitting around campfires. Through Feb. 29, diners can

It’s been a good month for the East Valley’s three homeless food truck roundups. The former Gilbert Food Truck Food Court, which lost its downtown location in December, reopened Jan. 8 at Gilbert Town Square with a new name: Gilbert Town

JC’s Steakhouse in Gilbert will hold its monthly wine tasting at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This month’s focus will be on Brazilian wines. The food-and-wine pairings: Callia Alta Torrentés paired with Brazilian black-eyed pea shrimp fritters. Macaw Tannat paired with feijoada (black bean

Looking for a new way to impress your sweetheart this Valentine Day? Zappone’s Italian Bistro in Gilbert will host a Romantic Cooking Class at noon Saturday, Feb. 6. You will learn how to make: Lobster bisque Filet & lobster tail

Get your butt off the Chesterfield and put on your tuke: The Queen Creek Olive Mill kicks off its third annual Canada Week today. Food specials all week will include poutine, Montreal-style pastrami on rye, lox bruschetta, butter tarts, Nanaimo bars,

Attention, Michiganders: Koegel’s will be in the East Valley this weekend. The iconic Koegel Meat Company, founded in Flint, Mich., in 1916, still produces 27 types of meat products, led by its signature hot dogs. (According to hot dog connoisseurs, you’re not

Tickets for the seventh annual Devoured Culinary Classic, which will take place March 5-6 at Phoenix Art Musuem, go on sale to the public today. The 2016 fest will feature a new layout offering four areas to explore: In the Great

Has the East Valley’s largest and longest-running weekly food truck roundup come to the end of its road? The Gilbert Food Truck Food Court posted a dire-sounding message on its Facebook page today: We’ve been fighting this for a lot

The Monastery in northeast Mesa is celebrating the upcoming release of ‘‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’’ with a droid-friendly party at 4 p.m. Saturday. Beers on tap will include Firestone Walker Wookey Jack, Deschutes Twilight, and Mudshark Full Moon. Those wearing

This Saturday night, Mesa will see the soft opening of the city’s first weekly food truck roundup, dubbed the Mesa Feastival Forest, at Pioneer Park on the east edge of downtown. The roundup, which will run 5:30-9 p.m., is from the organizers of

Goose Island’s Migration Week, a touring series of promos for the Chicago brewery, arrives in the Valley this week and includes four events in the East Valley. (See the full list of Migration Week events around the Valley here.) Tonight at The

The monthly dinners, which start at 6:30 p.m., feature three new dishes from the creative kitchen crew paired with three wines selected by the knowledgable waitstaff at Romeo’s Euro Cafe in downtown Gilbert. Sept. 20 “3rd Tuesday” menu: Slider Trio: Chicken parmesan with spicy marinara and

The sixth annual Arizona Taco Festival, the world’s largest taco competition, will take place 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. General admission is $12 online or $15 at the gate. Kids 12 and under

Five of the East Valley’s top chefs are working together on an evening of great food and music Monday, Nov. 16, to raise money for local charities. The participating chefs, all of whom run their own small, independent restaurants, are (pictured

A second food truck roundup is coming to Gilbert: The Town Square Feastival will have its soft opening from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday at Gilbert Town Square. The festival will set up in the parking lot near the Regal Cinemas Gilbert 14 movie

If you like California wines you won’t want to miss the Great Calfornia Wine Debate dinner on Friday, Oct. 23, at Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler. The 6 p.m. dinner will feature three courses, each paired with two wines facing

Saturday is the second anniversary of Brooklyn V’s Pizza, and the Gilbert eatery is celebrating with a party from 5-9:30 p.m. Every 30 minutes, Brooklyn V’s will be giving away gift cards and shirts. One of the restaurant’s most popular

With Valley temperatures finally expected to start cooling down this weekend, Pier 54, the lakeside patio restaurant in Tempe, has introduced a sunset dinner special for two. Every day after 6 p.m., when you spend $25 on food you’ll receive a

Gyros, moussaka, and baklava are just a sample of what’s on the menu this weekend at A Taste of Greece, a three-day festival held at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Chandler. Arizona’s largest Greek festival runs 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

It’s National Coffee Day! Here’s where you’ll find giveaways today in the East Valley: Peixoto Coffee: Get a free 8-ounce drip and cold-brewed coffee. Dunkin’ Donuts: Get a free medium cup of hot or iced dark roast coffee. Krispy Kreme:

Ravioli Marco Polo and Pork Molise (pictured) are the featured entrees of this week’s “Taste of Romeo’s Euro Cafe” dinner, hosted by chef Romeo Taus and his wife, Janice, on Thursday. The weekly five-course dinner, held in a private dining room, highlights a

JC’s Steakhouse in Gilbert will host its monthly craft beer dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The steakhouse is offering a four-course menu paired with beers from Mudshark Brewing in Lake Havasu City: Reception beer: Full Moon Belgian-style white ale 1st course: Spicy pork belly paired with

Garlic gelato, anyone? That’s just one of the things you’ll find at the second annual Garlic Festival, which will take place 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Queen Creek Olive Mill. The fest will feature organically grown bulbs of

Spokes on Southern in Tempe will host its third annual beer festival – featuring 21 rare and speciality ales – from 4-8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $35, which include 15 4-ounce samples. Here’s the tap list: Ninkasi Mango IPA Ska

Ahoy, matey! Saturday is annual Talk Like a Pirate Day, and The Perch Pub & Brewery in Chandler is celebrating with a rooftop patio starting at 6 p.m. All night, you can enjoy $4 Piraat beers, a Belgian pale ale from Van Steenberge brewery

Fibber Magees Irish Pub in Chandler is holding a “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” promotion tonight. Get 20-ounce Guinness drafts for $5, and pints of Guinness Golden Lager, Smithwick’s, and Harp for $4.50. The Guinness Golden Lager girls will be

Two dozen East Valley restaurants will participate in Arizona Restaurant Week’s fall edition, which starts Friday and runs through Sunday, Sept. 27. Restaurants will offer special prix fixe menus for either $33 or $44 per person. Typically, the menus include

Uncle Bear’s Brewery in Ahwatukee will celebrate its second anniversary with a party beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday. The highlight of the evening will be the tapping of its seasonal Barktoberfest, a traditional German-style Octoberfest beer brewed with Munich malt and Czech

1. The fourth annual Rockin’ Taco Street Fest will take place 4-10 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of El Palacio Mexican Restaurant on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Germann in Chandler. 2. Taco-related activities will include a taco-eating contest;

Weekly five-course “Taste of Romeo’s Euro Cafe” dinners, hosted by chef Romeo Taus and his wife, Janice, in a private dining room, highlight a rotating selection from the regular menu of the downtown Gilbert restaurant. Sept. 17 “Taste of Romeo’s” menu: Greka: Baked feta

JC’s Steakhouse in Gilbert will hold its monthly wine tasting at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This month’s focus will be on Chilean wines. The food and wine pairings: Santa Rita Organic Sauvignon Blanc paired with humitas (Chilean tamales). Santa Rita Reserve