Weekend Guide September 24th-26th

Planning ahead for this weekend’s festivities?

We’ve outlined some of the valley’s weekend events and menu specials that caught our eye, to make it a little easier.

Here’s our Weekend Guide for September 24th -26th, Friday through Sunday…

Enjoy!

Friday, September 24th

• Dinner Hours – Arizona Restaurant Week (September 18th- 26th)

Participating restaurants will offer a 3-course dinner menu of signature dishes for $29 or $39 per person (some include a drink as well!). For a list of participating Phoenix restaurants, visit arizonarestaurantweek.com

• 6pm-10pm – Beer Garden at Desert Botanical Gardens – $55

Sip, savor and mingle at Beer Garden this weekend, hosted at Desert Botanical Gardens. Purchase of the general admission ticket ($55 for non-members) includes garden and event admission, 5 oz. commemorative sampling mug, 10 (4oz.) beer samples and entertainment. Additional sampling tickets may be purchased. Enjoy the dinner buffet for an extra $25. For a list of beers, bands and buffet menu, visit the event website here.

• 8pm – Live Music (Pete Pancrazi) at Next Coffee Company

Pete Pancrazi, a graduate of Berklee School of Music, performs at Next Coffee Company in Glendale. Audiences in Arizona voted him the “Jazz Guitar Player of the Year” in AzJazz Magazine’s 2000 Readers’ Poll. There is no cover, but be sure to grab a glass of wine, coffee or dessert while you’re there! For more details, visit nextcoffeecompany.com.

Saturday, September 25th

• 7am-11am – North Scottsdale Farmer’s Market – FREE

Experience and shop from local vendors selling food, art, music, packaged goods, and other unique items. For exact location, visit azlocalfarmersmarkets.com

• 8am-3pm – Daily Special at Essence Bakery – $8.95

Saturday’s special at Essence Bakery in Tempe features their “Signature Breakfast Turnover filled with their Special Sausage, Gruyere Cheese and Mushrooms, Served with Fried Eggs and Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Rosemary and Cracked Pepper” for $8.95. For exact location, visit essencebakery.com

• 11am-6pm – Urban Wine Walk in Downtown Phoenix

Purchase a METRO day pass and experience the restaurants along the METRO light rail in Downtown Phoenix. Each restaurant will offer three wine samples and a snack all at can’t-beat-it pricing reserved exclusively for Urban Wine Walkers. Participating restaurants include: Kincaid’s, 1130 The Restaurant, ICON Lounge, Steve’s Greenhouse Grill, Phoenix Public Market, Brick Pizzeria and Wine Bar, District Kitchen, Caffé Boa, Ghost Lounge, Hula’s Modern Tiki, Maizie’s Café, My Big Fat Greek Restaurant, and Ra Sushi. *Must be 21 or older. For more details, visit the event website here.

• 2pm-11pm – Third Annual Chandler Oktoberfest – $10

Local microbrewer SanTan Brewing Company will set up Bavarian style Biergartens, and offer a spectacular assortment of fine craft beers (available for purchase by adults 21 and over). SanTan Brewing and Von Hanson meats will also serve up signature-style Bratwurst, German sausages, and many other Oktoberfest treats. Chandler’s Oktoberfest will showcase an impressive line-up of entertainment, including authentic polka tunes from the Arizona Accordion Club, and live music and entertainment (to be announced). Tickets ($10) may be purchased at SanTan Brewing Company. For more information, read the write-up published by Arizona Foothills Magazine here.

• Dinner Hours – Arizona Restaurant Week (September 18th- 26th)

Participating restaurants will offer a 3-course dinner menu of signature dishes for $29 or $39 per person (some include a drink as well!). For a list of participating Phoenix restaurants, visit arizonarestaurantweek.com

Sunday, September 26th

• 8am-11am – Ahwatukee Farmer’s Market – FREE

Experience and shop from local vendors selling food, produce, crafts and more. For more details, visit arizonafarmersmarkets.com

• 9am-1pm – Sunday Breakfast Brunch Buffet at Next Coffee Company – $7 with the purchase of a drink

All the good stuff…bacon, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, hash…and more! For location, visit nextcoffeecompany.com

• 4:30pm-10:00pm – Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Culinary Event – $150

Stand up and fight against childhood hunger and enjoy a 5-course meal with wine and cocktail pairings. Taste of the Nation will be held at Sanctuary Resort on Camelback Mountain. Find out how to purchase tickets and view our recent write-up about the event, by clicking here.

• Dinner Hours – Arizona Restaurant Week (September 18th- 26th)

Participating restaurants will offer a 3-course dinner menu of signature dishes for $29 or $39 per person (some include a drink as well!). For a list of participating Phoenix restaurants, visit arizonarestaurantweek.com

Have an event you’d like to see on our Weekend Guide? Contact us for more information.