OCTOBER 2026 34 C hili weather has officially arrived… or we’re at least hoping to conjure it with this month’s Dining Scoop. October is National Chili Month, giving diners the perfect excuse to seek out bowls of the hearty, spicy, stick-to- your-ribs favorite around the Valley. Here are a few spots serving up their own take.   3749 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix chicagohamburger.com At Chicago Hamburger Company, chili isn’t just for a bowl. This longtime Phoenix favorite puts its chili to work in three classic comfort-food combinations: chili dogs, chili fries and Frito pie. If you like your chili piled onto a hot dog, smothering a basket of crispy fries or spooned over crunchy Fritos, Chicago Hamburger is the spot to be.  4340 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix pitajungle.com At Pita Jungle, their new, seasonal 6-Way Chili puts a Mediterranean spin on the comfort-food classic, featuring kafta- spiced beef, Roman beans and guajillo peppers, topped with cheddar, pine nuts and fresh herbs.    4001 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix eatupdrivein.com Eat Up Drive In is serving up two cozy chili options perfect for fall: a gluten- free turkey chili topped with sour cream, cheddar and chives, and a hearty vegan chili made with beans, quinoa, tomato, mushroom, carrot, celery, onion, poblano and chives. Both can also be loaded onto Eat Up Drive In’s baked potatoes for an extra-comforting option.   4433 N. 16 th St., Phoenix miraclemiledeli.com Miracle Mile’s homemade chili is a hearty, classic favorite made from scratch with a rich tomato base, locally sourced ground beef, pinto and kidney beans, fresh peppers and onions, and their signature blend of seasonings. It’s slow-cooked to bring all of those flavors together, creating a thick, comforting bowl with just the right amount of spice. Grab a cup for $5 or a bowl for $9.    6003 N. 16th St., Phoenix texazgrill.com If you’re craving a bowl of classic Texas- style comfort, Texaz Grill has you covered with its house chili, available by the cup or bowl. The Phoenix restaurant is known for bringing Texas favorites to the Valley, making its hearty chili a natural fit on a fall comfort-food list.  21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix foleyranch.com Foley Ranch offers their chili in a few different ways, all of which are loved by their guests. They have a chili bread bowl and Frito pie with their house made chili.   8315 W. Washington St., Peoria caldwellcountybbq.com Caldwell County BBQ’s chili was developed by Head Pitmaster Chad Diamond, a fifth-generation Arizonan who wanted to create a dish that reflected Texas barbecue traditions and Arizona flavors. Caldwell County BBQ’s version is made without beans, allowing the smoked beef and spices to take center stage. Chad also incorporates chiltepin peppers, a pepper native to the Sonoran Desert that adds a touch of heat. There’s a Scottsdale location opening soon!  7051 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale theherbbox.com For a lighter spin on a classic, The Herb Box serves up its White Bean Chicken Chili, combining tender chicken and white beans with green chiles for a flavorful kick. It’s finished with cilantro crema and crisp tortilla strips, adding a creamy contrast and a little crunch to every spoonful. EAT UP DRIVE IN  Chompie’s is bringing some new options to its menu beginning October 15. New offerings include the pastrami burger with Swiss and 1000 Island dressing, bacon cheddar burger, all American cheeseburger, Swiss mushroom burger, western burger with bacon habanero jam and onion strings, and a hot honey chicken biscuit topped with cheddar, a fried egg, bacon and hot honey. Each specialty item comes with a choice of coleslaw or French fries. chompies.com Sneakybird opened its first location in North Scottsdale in 2022 after its founders set out to answer a simple question: Could they make chicken that people enjoyed – and skip the fryer? After plenty of research and development, the answer became a menu built around 24-hour marinated, oven-grilled chicken and house-made breading. The Arizona-born restaurant has since expanded to five Valley locations in North Scottsdale, Gilbert, Surprise, Queen Creek and most recently, Arcadia (4340 E. Indian School Road). The biggest difference is pretty easy to spot: there’s no fryer. The menu has seven dry rubs and 13 sauces to mix and match. Guests can choose their meal, seasoning, sauce and side, or opt for one of the restaurant’s signature pairings. The home-style breading is designed to provide the familiar look and crunch of fried chicken in tenders, sandwiches, sliders, wraps or in wing form. On Fridays through October, the restaurant is also offering $12 flatbreads, $5 four-piece wings and $2 fountain drinks. Sides include crispy tots, salted maple sweet potato tots, fresh vegetables and sneaky slaw. Sneakybird has expanded its focus beyond the menu through Camp Sneaky, a school program that supports teachers, students and parents through sponsorships and fundraiser nights. A recently launched app offers online ordering and rewards tracking and more limited-time menu items are planned for the coming months. sneakybird.com

35 OCTOBER 2026 ARCADIANEWSARCHIVES.COM 30 30 YEARS AGO YEARS AGO A s we head into October, I want to share a few updates, programs and upcoming opportunities that may be useful to residents across District 6. From preserving our historic neighborhoods to investing in our parks and infrastructure, there are several things happening around Phoenix that I encourage you to learn more about and take part in. Historic Preservation Office Exterior Rehabilitation Grant Program If you own a historic home and have been thinking about making exterior improvements, the City of Phoenix’s Exterior Rehabilitation Grant Program may be worth exploring. The program offers 50/50 matching grants of up to $20,000 to help eligible property owners rehabilitate the exterior of historic properties. I know that maintaining a historic home can come with unique challenges and expenses, and programs like this can help make necessary improvements more manageable while preserving the character of our neighborhoods. Applications are due October 9 by 5 p.m., so I encourage interested homeowners to review the requirements and apply before the deadline. Family + Math at Phoenix Public Libraries Phoenix Public Libraries are offering a great opportunity for families with young children this fall. The six-week Family + Math Storytime series is designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their favorite grownup. Through stories, songs, rhymes and hands-on activities, children will explore early math concepts including shapes, counting, patterns and measurement. Just as importantly, participating adults will learn simple ways to support their child’s early math skills at home. Registration is required, so if you have a preschooler who would enjoy learning through play and stories, I encourage you to check the Phoenix Public Library calendar for dates, locations and registration information. Parks Master Plan Key Findings Meetings Our parks are an important part of what makes Phoenix great, and community input plays an important role in planning for the future. The city is holding upcoming Parks Master Plan Key Findings Meetings, where residents can learn what the city heard during the community engagement process and review the key findings. You can find meeting information and additional details at parksmasterplanphx.com. 56th Street Improvements There is also a significant infrastructure project coming to the 56th Street corridor between Thomas Road and Camelback Road. The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department is moving forward with improvements designed to provide important safety and infrastructure benefits along this busy stretch. Full construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2026, following the completion of utility relocations. The project is expected to take approximately two years, with completion anticipated in late 2028. I know construction projects can bring temporary inconveniences for residents, businesses and drivers, but these improvements are an important investment in the corridor. I will continue to share updates as the project moves forward. Upcoming Coffee Chats Finally, I want to remind District 6 residents that my office is continuing to hold Coffee Chats. These are informal opportunities for you to bring concerns, questions or ideas directly to me and my team. If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you would like to discuss, I hope you will join us at an upcoming Coffee Chat. Community feedback is one of the most important ways I learn what is happening across District 6, and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to reach out, attend a meeting or share an idea. I look forward to seeing you around the district this October! Councilman District 6 602-262-7491 District6@phoenix.gov KEVIN ROBINSON  October is prime time for high school football! As of press time, the Arcadia Titans are 2-1. Coach Pasquel said that defense has played well, led by Milo Marinick and Cayd Sheaffer; offense has been better the last two games led by Konnor Kammes and Joseph ‘Chewy’ Hala. “We hope to keep getting better as the season progresses and play our best football by the end of the season!” Pasquel said.