Savor the last few weekends before the triple-temps come into play with a family road trip, an alfresco (free!) concert, a fun casting call for the kids and perhaps some sun-soaked fun at your favorite waterpark during the weekend of May 17 to May 19.
Friday:
Spring Arizona Restaurant Week
From Friday, May 17, through Sunday, May 26, participating restaurants around the Valley offer guests dining specials and menus apart from their usual bill of fare during Spring Arizona Restaurant Week. During Spring ARW, the three-course, prix-fixe menus are available for $33 or $44 per person.
Best Splash Pads and Waterparks in Phoenix
Cool down! Here are our picks for the best splash pads and waterparks in the Valley for some sun-soaked fun before the scorching summer.
Butterfly Wonderland Celebrates 50th Birthday of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”
Butterfly Wonderland has partnered with Penguin Publishing and acclaimed author Eric Carle to bring a special exhibition that celebrates the 50th birthday of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” This limited-time, one-of-a-kind exhibit transports guests to the distinctive and colorful world of Carle through August 31. Activities include live caterpillars and other creatures from Carle's books, larger-than-life storybook pages, photo opps, unique caterpillar educational trading cards, story times and much more.
Saturday:
AZ Foothills Face of Foothills Open Model Call
Calling all cute kids, AZ Foothills is on the hunt for their next Junior Face of Foothills model! Swing by Scottsdale Quarter between 1p - 3p for your kiddos chance to enter the 10th annual model search contest. The winning kid will receive a feature in Arizona Foothills Magazine and azfoothills.com, VIP event appearances, a cash prize and tons more. No previous modeling experience is necessary to enter. Applicants only need to be age 6 or older and all looks, shapes and sizes will be accepted. For more info click here.
Rock it UP Concert Series: Bob Moses
Bob Moses is set to rock The District Stage at Tempe Marketplace starting at 7 p.m. The Vancouver-bred duo consisting of Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance came to life in the Brooklyn underground scene in 2012. The free concert will also include a beer and cocktail garden and local openers.
Interactive Art Fair at QuartHaus
Self-driving technology company Waymo is powering a free Interactive Art Fair at Chandler's QuartHaus this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family-friendly community event allows visitors the unique opportunity to participate in exhibits, including robot art, arts and crafts for kids, virtual reality painting and more.
Family Road Trip to See Wildflowers
How about hitting the road this weekend to take in a serious spell of spring. Here are our favorite spots to spy wildflowers around Arizona.
“Mummies of the World: The Exhibition” at Arizona Science Center
The mystery of mummification has long-captured audiences. Valley residents can now admire the ancient practice up-close with the Arizona Science Center’s new “Mummies of the World: The Exhibition." The exhibit features 40 real human and animal mummies, as well as an additional 85 rare artifacts from around the world. “Mummies of the World: The Exhibition” is a limited-time engagement requiring a timed-entry ticket and purchase of general admission. Advance purchase is highly recommended. The exhibition ends in September.
Sunday:
Celebrate National Burger Month
In honor of National Burger Month, Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers is dishing up a variety of specialty burgers to dig into. Best of all: $1 of every featured burger purchased during the month of May will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Phoenix Zoo
Savor a sunny day at one of the nation’s largest nonprofit zoos, the Phoenix Zoo. The spot is home to more than 3,000 animals, big and small. It opens up a world of wonder, caring for thousands of animals, and features up-close animal encounters, rides, unique experiences and tours. Even the littlest animal lovers can pet and brush the goats in the large Red Barn at Harmony Farm during precious picture-perfect moments.
The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon at Musical Instrument Museum
Musical Instrument Museum has welcomed an exclusive new exhibition that is an ode to the instrument that revolutionized music—and pop culture, as a whole. The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon spotlights more than 80 of the rarest electric guitars and amplifiers in the world, including the instruments of rock royalty, like Pete Townshend and Bo Diddley. This exciting exhibition is on display through Sept. 15. In addition to admission to MIM, tickets to The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon are $7 ($10 for special exhibition only).
