SEPTEMBER 2025 6    Saboten Con Times vary; at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix, 340 N. 3rd St. Saboten (cactus in Japanese) is the largest anime convention in Arizona – and they’re celebrating their 17th anniversary this year. This is the final day of the event, so dress in your best anime costume for panel discussions, contests, a talent show, fashion and photo ops, music, themed cafes, workshops and vendors. Events vary from day to day. Ticket prices are $20-$450. sabotencon.com  Dinner and a Movie 5:30 p.m. at Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale. Guests are invited to Marcellino for a three-course summer special dinner while watching a classic film on the house. Tonight’s movie is Moonstruck: Cher and Nick Cage battle family and cultural differences while falling in love under the New York moon. Dinner starts at $50 per person. marcellinoristorante.com   Sushi Making Class 3:30 p.m. at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale. Guided by expert chefs, guests will learn the techniques and history behind this iconic Japanese cuisine. Participants aged 11+ can sample appetizers while grown-ups sip on a signature nitrogen sangria cocktail. There’s also a goodie bag to commemorate the experience. Registration is required, and tickets are $45 per person. tikitakascottsdale.com    Murder Mystery Dinner 6-9 p.m. at the Embassy Suites, 4400 S. Rural Road, Tempe. It’s dinner and a show. While enjoying a meal, guests will interact with the actors, disguised as diners, who will have to figure out who the bad guy is before dinnertime ends. This event’s theme is “Game Over.” Tickets start at $80 and include dinner, the “murder mystery experience,” and a prize for the person who figures out whodunit. thedinnerdetective.com   Mahjong & Shopping 6:45 p.m. at ICONIC by Kaitlyn Wolfe, 16419 N. 91st St., Scottsdale. Scottsdale Mahj Society is hosting this evening of mahjong and shopping at designer Kaitlyn Wolfe’s Shop my Warehouse. Enjoy friendly competition – and come ready to play – browse through unique items, and socialize with fellow enthusiasts. Attendees will receive 20 percent off their purchase, and tickets include snacks and beverages. Admission is $35. Instagram @scottsdalemahj    Phoenix Small Business Expo 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. 3rd St. Learn about some of the small businesses in the Valley with this one-day networking event. Guests can attend workshops led by leading experts, shop and learn about new products at the vendor marketplace and check out the industry meetup and networking mixer. Registration for general admission is free. For add-ons, tickets start at $25-$300. thesmallbusinessexpo.com  
Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road. More than 160 local and national artists, curators and vendors will be on-site showcasing their wares – everything from vintage to handmade – at this 13th annual market. There will also be live music and food trucks. Sign up for early admission and receive a reusable shopping bag. Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the gate, with VIP options available. junkinthetrunkvintagemarket.com Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market at WestWorld. Free Arts and Dance Theater West are inviting the public to a reception and performance of Peter Pan, taking place September 14 at Scottsdale Center for the Arts (7380 E. 2nd St.) at 2 p.m. This Professional Artist Series showcases kids aged 8-18 years old, from foster care group homes, that studied with DTW for four weeks. Guests can view exhibits, enjoy the performance and participate in an art activity. Attendance is free, registration is required. freeartsaz.org Arizona Restaurant Week is back for the fall season. This Valley-wide event offers various dining options for every palate – and from September 19-28, diners can get outside the neighborhood and try something new. Restaurants range from Southwestern faves, comfort food and snacks, five-star dining, and everything in between; participants include Aftermath, Chula Seafood, Saint Urban, The Ends, and more. Prices are $33-$55 per person. arizonarestaurantweek.com Southwest Human Development will debut the annual “ Birth to Five Helpline Awareness Week ” from September 29-October 5. This event showcases the organization’s free support line for Arizona parents, caregivers and professionals to call, text, or email questions or concerns about parenting and the early development of children from birth to age 5. Childhood specialists are available at 877-705-KIDS, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. birthtofivehelpline.org The America First Credit Union Charitable Foundation is now accepting applications for its 100% For Kids Teacher Grant Program . This year, 20 teachers will be awarded grants of up to $2,500 each to bring innovative classroom projects and ideas to life. Teachers can apply online through September 30, 2025. americafirst.com Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Care and Education Campus debuted Helping Hands, a volunteer group designed for people living with dementia and their caregivers. On September 5 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. (and the first Friday of each month going forward), the group will partake in crafts and activities geared toward the interests and abilities of the participants. One example is making and painting bookmarks for the library. This event is free. dementiacampus.org Arcosanti has unveiled its Agriculture Program , a series of hands-on workshops running from September 2025 through 2026, beginning with Seminar Week and continuing with in-depth training in sustainable farming, food systems, and regenerative practices. Participants will gain experience in composting, irrigation, and food preparation, while exploring the integration of agriculture within the broader vision of arcology. Tuition starts at $630 per person. arcosanti.org Send some snuggles this year with PANDA’s annual Pandas for Patients campaign from September 29-October 5. Community members can help further pediatric research by purchasing a stuffed panda bear for $35 online or at PANDA’s “pop-ups” at select Fox Restaurant Concept locations. All bears will be delivered to children at the Steele Children’s Research Center. Find pop-up dates and locations on the website. azpanda.org The Shemer Art Center (5005 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix) is now accepting entries for Arizona artists interested in participating in its 2025 Shemer Arizona Arts Festival , to be held November 1-2, 2025. This annual event features fine art created by artists from across Arizona, as well as chalk artists and blacksmiths. Those interested can reach out to Shonna James for more information. shemerartcenter.org    

7 SEPTEMBER 2025    Parks and Rec Rewind 5 p.m. at Scottsdale Civic Center Park, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. Parks and Rec Rewind is back for a night of throwback fun, nostalgia, and all-ages good vibes. Attendees will find a DJ dance party, live music, laser tag, historic exhibits, craft stations, arcade zone, movie-themed photo ops, food and drink vendors and more. Admission is free for this all ages bash. scottsdaleaz.gov 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb 4-9 p.m. at Salt River Fields, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. The ninth annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb honors the people who lost their lives during the attacks on the World Trade Center. Participants will climb the bleachers for an equivalent of 110 stories – the same amount in the WTC – to raise funds for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation programs. Registration starts at $35. saltriverfields.com Bingo Loco 6 p.m. at Marquee Theater, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. This is not your typical bingo event, this is a bingo rave where attendees can check out comedian MCs, throwback anthems, lip sync battles, dance-offs, dancers, confetti showers, CO2 cannons, conga lines, and – of course – play a game of bingo! This event is for ages 18 and up. Tickets are $48 per person. bingoloco.com Fall Garden Prep Class 10 a.m. at Dig It Gardens, 3015 N. 16th St., Phoenix. Tomatoes, basil and carrots, oh my! Beginner and expert gardeners can head to Dig It to learn all about how to plant your herb and vegetable garden this fall. Whether it’s from seed or seedling, you will learn everything you need to know about growing your own food and taking care of your plants so they thrive in Arizona’s unique climate. Admission is $10 per person. digphx.com  Chef Silvana Book Debut 7 p.m. at Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe. Award- winning chef Silvana Salcido Esparza has spent her life breaking barriers and challenging the status quo – and now, she’s sharing her story in the pages of her new book. Guests will hear those stories and may just leave the event feeling ready to take on the world. This event is free, registration is required. changinghands.com Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable 6 p.m. at the Scottsdale Public Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. The Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable will host Dr. George C. Rable, a Civil War historian and Professor Emeritus from the University of Alabama. Dr. Rable has published numerous books; his most recent is Conflict of Command: George McClellan, Abraham Lincoln which garnered numerous awards. Doors open at 5 p.m. for meeting the speaker, book sale, and viewing Civil War videos. This event is free. scottsdalecwrt.org   NICU High Tea and Luncheon 11 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale. September is NICU Awareness Month, and in honor of the resilience and innovation of the HonorHealth NICU team, guests are invited to the eighth annual NICU High Tea Luncheon. The event will start with a reception and silent auction before attendees are treated to lunch, a special program and live auction. Tickets start at $300 per adult. honorhealthfoundation.org   Animals in Focus: Photography Class 8:30 a.m. at the Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix. Join Phoenix Zoo for a 90-minute walk, where attendees will learn the basics of photography including composition, lighting and capturing emotion. Experts will explain how to photograph through fences, glass and foliage in addition to learning more about the zoo and the animals that call it home – with a few other nature facts thrown in. Admission is $70 and registration is required. phoenixzoo.org Sippin’ Series 7 p.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St. Sippin’ Series is an intimate discussion that explores the world of spirits, wines and cocktail concepts with the professionals. Each event will develop participants’ knowledge on the topic through in-person experience. Tonight’s bevvie is rum, and guests will be able to sample three different kinds from Club Kokomo. Tickets start at $50. scottsdaleperformingarts.org   True Crime Ghost Tour 7:30 p.m. starting at 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. True crime aficionados, this one is for you. Spirit of Arizona Tours will take guests to some of the most haunted locations in Phoenix. Learn dark historical facts and urban legends while maybe experiencing supernatural sightings, psychic encounters, and unexplained moments. If you scare easily, you might want to sit this one out. Tickets start at $70. spiritofarizonatours.com 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Salt River Fields. Murder Mystery Dinner at the Embassy Suites in Tempe. Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology • Service Learning Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8