Things To Do

EVENTS March 2020 By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Have an event you would like in the calendar? Tell us about it! Send details to christina@timespublications.com

MARCH 3 North Phoenix Women’s Bible Study The group studies “James: Guidelines for a Happy Christian Life” by John MacArthur. Panera Bread at Norterra, 2370 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix, meetup.com, 7 to 9 p.m., free.

MARCH 13 Girls Night Plant Workshop Cost includes a planter, three 2- to 2 1/2-inch succulents, filler and decorative topping. Upgrades available the night of the party. Plant Bar AZ, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, 623-363-2882, plantbaraz.com, 7 p.m., $34.95.

Friends of Daisy Mountain Trails Meeting The guest speaker is Lisa Atkins, commissioner of the Arizona State Land Department. She was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey to serve as the 21st commissioner of the Arizona State Land Department on June 15, 2015. Atkins will be joined by RJ Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department director. Anthem Civic Building, 2701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem, contactus@daisymountaintrails.com, daisymountaintrails.com, 9 to 10:30 a.m., free.

“East Side Story…” A 1950s Teen Mystery Party It’s 1955 and Fontaine City has a problem with teenage street gangs. In the east, there’s a hot-rod racing gang called the D-birds. Their ladies are members of the girly clique called the Pink Chicks. These rebels attend Ryder High and spend their free time at Frosty’s Diner. The Pit Viper motorcycle gang runs the westside of town, and their ladies are the Black Widows. These hooligans attend Tuscadero High School and frequent the local hangout the Milkshake Shack. If either of these gangs ends up on the other’s turf, a whiteknuckle rumble may break out and cause chaos in the streets. At Ryder High, the cheerleaders have formed an organization known as Campus Crew, which was created to focus on reducing criminal activity in the city. The cheerleaders believe that bringing the teens of Fontaine City together will solve the gang problem, so they have scheduled the Friendship Sock Hop. You have been invited. This is where the story begins. For teens ages 13 to 17. North Valley Regional Library, 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, 602-652-3000, mcldaz. org, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., free. New River residents, many of them the sons and daughters of the area’s homesteaders, cowboys and dude ranchers, to share the area’s rich history through photographs from personal collections. North Valley Regional Library, 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, 602-652-3000, mcldaz. org, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., free.

MARCH 14 Plant Bar’s First Anniversary Party Come celebrate with free entry, music, food and plants! Plant Bar AZ, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, 623-363-2882, plantbaraz.com, noon to 8 p.m., free admission.

MARCH 18 AND MARCH 19 Spring Break Plant Adventure Camp The adventure includes plants, pizza and a drink for children ages 7 to 17. Plant Bar AZ, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, 623-363-2882, plantbaraz.com, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $34.95 per day.

MARCH 20 Dinner in the Desert See Plant Bar’s website for more information. Plant Bar AZ, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, 623-363-2882, plantbaraz.com, 6 to 8 p.m., price TBA.

Late-Night Planting Class Cost includes a planter, three 2- to 2 1/2-inch succulents, filler and decorative topping. Upgrades available the night of the party. Plant Bar AZ, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, 623-363-2882, plantbaraz.com, 8 p.m., $34.95.

MARCH 21 Mary J. Miller An Arizona native and western history enthusiast, Marcy J. Miller is a freelance writer and retired law enforcement officer. She worked primarily with

MARCH 26 Diamond Canyon School Night of Excellence Diamond Canyon School will host its annual Night of Excellence, featuring entertainment by its awardwinning bands and choirs and an update of general music classes. Diamond Canyon School, 40004 N. Liberty Bell Way, Anthem, 623-445-8000, 5 to 6:30 p.m., free.

MARCH 27 TO MARCH 29 The Association of Arizona Gunslingers’ Fast Draw Arizona State Championships Costumed cowboys/cowgirls line up and are timed as they shoot at targets with historic Pioneer Village in the background. The championships include $6,000 in cash and prizes. Pioneer Living History Museum, 2901 W. Pioneer Road, Anthem, azgunslingers.com/ shoot-for-the-stars.php, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $10 adults, $8 seniors, children and military, free for children 5 and younger.

MARCH 28 Ultimate Arizona Smash-Off! Join the library for an open competitive tournament for Super Smash Brothers Ultimate; for those 12 and adult. North Valley Regional Library, 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, 602-652-3000, mcldaz. org, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free.

“Cinderella Kids” Auditions The Musical Theatre of Anthem hosts auditions for the timeless rags-to-riches fairytale. Kids are asked to bring a musical theater song (or any song they are comfortable with), 16 to 32 bars or 1 minute in length. Bring an accompaniment with CD or iPod to sing with. Children may also sing a capella, if needed. Registration materials should be completed prior to the audition. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem, 623-336-6001, musicaltheatreofanthem.org, 10:30 a.m. general auditions, 9 a.m. for workshop participants last names A-L, 9:45 a.m. for workshop participants last name M-Z, $325 for kids ages 6 to 11, 10% sibling discount, scholarships available. Dance call is 9 a.m. Sunday, March 29, and callbacks are at 10 a.m.

85086 MAGAZINE’S CUTEST PET CONTEST 7 th

ANNUAL

Sample Entry

Name: Lucky Age: 7 Breed: Domestic Shorthair Owner: Darla Slate Zip: 85086 PH: (602) 333-3333 Names: Izzy & Duff Ages: 9 and 10 Breed: Australian Shepherd mix Owner: Tonya Mildenberg Zip: 85086 PH: (602) 593-4505

Email photos of your animal by March 22, 2020 to enter your pet into 85086 Magazine’s Seventh Cutest Pet Contest.

We’ll showcase all the entries in our May issue along with directions on how readers can vote for their favorites.

The entry with the most overall votes will get a professional photo shoot with its owners, grace the cover of an upcoming issue of 85086 Magazine, and score cool prizes.

ENTERING YOUR PET (OR ALL YOUR PETS) IN THE CONTEST IS EASY!

Email three clear, high-resolution photos of your pet (for a multiple pet entry, please email photos of your pets together), along with its name, age, breed or type, along with your name, zip code, and phone number to:

CHRISTINA@85086MAGAZINE.COM

All local pets qualify—dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, gerbils, lizards, etc.—you name it.

Wyatt, a Brittany mix, won a spot on our 2017 cover.

Cal, an English Spot/ Dwarf Mix Bunny, won a spot on our 2018 cover.

BY LAND BY SEA OR

Rec activities aplenty at Lake Pleasant and Phoenix Sonoran Preserve By Dena Roché

With an average of 3,872 sunshine hours per year, Phoenix is one of the top 10 sunniest places in the world. For outdoor enthusiasts this means the Valley of the Sun is one of the best places on the planet to get out and enjoy nature by land or water.

Lake Pleasant Cruises provides a sedated experience. (Photo courtesy Lake Pleasant Cruises)

Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Most people don’t expect a 23,000-acre water playground smack dab in the middle of the desert, but that’s exactly what awaits visitors to Lake Pleasant Regional Park. The manmade lake was created by construction of the Waddell Dam, which obstructs the Agua Fria River. The park is one of the most beautiful outdoor recreation areas in the Valley.

Lake Pleasant is a boating lover’s dream, with two marinas offering a plethora of water activities. Pleasant Harbor is the closest marina to Downtown Phoenix and it’s the perfect starting point for a day boating, kayaking, water skiing, wakeboarding or even flyboarding.

A variety of boats, kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis are available to rent. The American Sailing Association offers sailing lessons and clinics, while Tiller & Kites is the only international yachting school in Arizona. Kids and the young at heart will love the adrenaline rush while experiencing the world’s largest floating waterslide.

For a slightly more sedated experience, Lake Pleasant Cruises offers a variety of daily

cruises on the lake, and Dillon’s Bayou restaurant is an ideal place to kick back and enjoy live music or daily social activities lakeside.

Travelers who want to spend multiple days at the lake can check into the marina’s full-service RV resort, featuring a club house, pool, Jacuzzi and plenty of recreational activities including pickleball, basketball and bocce ball.

For anglers, Lake Pleasant offers fishing from the shoreline or by boat. The fish are biting best in spring and summer. In spring, large-mouth and white and striped bass are in season. With extreme temperatures in summer, night fishing is a popular activity and increases the chances of reeling in a large-mouth bass. White bass and stripers are active in deeper waters, while catfish are active at night in the coves.

Some of the best inland scuba diving in the Western United States is found at Lake Pleasant. Reaching a depth of 260 feet and filled with rock walls, canyons and underwater structures, diving here provides lots of opportunities for exploration at all ability levels. Swimming is allowed, but there are no beaches and no lifeguards.

The calm lake waters are an ideal place to channel Zen with a paddleboard yoga class.

Phoenix Sonoran Preserve

If you’re more of a landlubber don’t despair; the Valley’s weather and terrain makes the area a hiking paradise. With more than 9,600 acres and 36 miles of trails departing from three central trail heads, the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve in North Phoenix gets you up close to explore the wild desert landscape.

The Desert Vista Trailhead located in the southern section of the Preserve offers evDillon’s Bayou restaurant is an ideal place to kick back and enjoy live music or daily social activities lakeside. (Photo courtesy Dillon’s Bayou)

erything from the flat, 1-mile Bobcat Trail for novice hikers, to one of the hardest trails in the Valley, the Dixie Mountain Summit Trail. Most of the hikes from this trailhead are rated moderately difficult.

From the northern Apache Wash Trailhead, hikers have the opportunity to scale two peaks that are part of Phoenix’s Seven Summit Challenge. The relatively easy Apache Vista trail takes hikers to the summit, affording 360-degree views of the Valley, while the Ridgeback Overlook Trail is a quick loop trail that offers great southern views.

The Desert Hills Trailhead is home to the Sidewinder Trail, the most technically challenging hike in the North Sonoran Preserve. This 7-mile trek meanders up and down and connects with several other trails taking the hiker into tight washes, flats and climbs.

The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve also is a great spot for mountain bikers to test their skills. For intermediate riders, the 13-mile, nontechnical Sonoran Desert loop trail offers challenging climbs, tight turns and long, flowing downhills. It’s best to run the trail clockwise, and there are great views throughout the journey. Most of the above trails can be enjoyed on two wheels instead of two feet. Whether you want to strap on a pair of water skis or a pair of hiking boats, paddle a kayak or careen down a trail on two wheels, the sunny days in Phoenix offer a host of outdoor adventures waiting to be explored.

Hosted by Anthem Travel

March 26th, 2020 5:15pm to 7pm Anthem Civic Building ■ 3701 West Anthem Way, Community Room ◆ Adults only please ◆ Event is free ◆ Must RSVP by March 19th to Megan@AnthemTravel.com ◆ Learn about Silversea Cruises, a Small Ship, Luxury Cruise Line and Destination Expert ◆ Appetizers and Beverages being served ◆ Presentation by Silversea Cruises Representative

WWW.ANTHEMTRAVEL.COM | 3715 WEST ANTHEM WAY ◆ ANTHEM 623.444.5406

Tetsell Team

Your Neighborhood Realtors ®

serving all of Anthem and the North Valley! Discover the possibilities!

Dick 480.227.6578 dick@tetsellaz.com

Jill 480.203.9066 Jtetsell@gmail.com

Now Enrolling Students! Grades K-12

NEW state of the art Middle/High School Classroom and Gym Facility Kindergarten-2nd Grade: 14:1 Student to Staff Ratio West-Mec and Paradise Valley Community College Dual Enrollment Partnerships High School Honors Courses Diverse and Inclusive Extracurriculars Varsity Athletics To schedule a tour call the main office at 623-551-5083 or visit www.caurusacademy.org