Good morning, Mesa.
- 🏨 The 233 opened at 233 E. Main St. A boutique hotel, two restaurants, and a speakeasy on one downtown block.
- ☕ Charlee Rose Coffee is moving to Mesa. The mother and daughter shop is leaving its Gilbert space.
- 🎤 A Very Laufey Day is Sunday. Mesa Public Library releases a limited-edition library card at the Mesa Express branch.
- 🚤 Canyon Lake closes for four months. SRP work at the Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams drives the shutdown.
- 🎖️ Veterans parade applications are open. The 19th annual East Valley Veterans Parade takes entries through Oct 9.
- 🎸 Four picks across the Valley. Tom Petty tribute, Pepper, Martin Lawrence, and Atmosphere.
A hotel, an Italian restaurant, and a speakeasy on Main Street
The 233 Suites has opened at 233 E. Main St., putting an overnight option and three places to eat and drink on a single downtown block.
Key facts
- Hotel: Unscripted by Hyatt, a boutique property
- Food: Crust Simply Italian and Bombolino's Café
- Bar: The Nightingale, a speakeasy
- Address: 233 E. Main St., downtown Mesa
- Status: officially open as of Aug 6
Main Street between Country Club Drive and Mesa Drive is the original 1878 townsite, and until recently the block had almost nothing in the way of rooms. The 233 sits on the same downtown grid as Mesa Arts Center and the Arizona Museum of Natural History at 1st and Macdonald, which means visiting families and out-of-town parents now have somewhere to stay inside walking distance of both.
Watch for hours and reservation details from the individual restaurants as they settle in. Details.
The weekend
Thursday
- 🧸 Toddlertime. Storytime for early childhood at the Main Library, 10 AM. Details.
Friday
- 👀 Strengthen Your Senses: Eyes. Eye-muscle activities tied to early reading, Main Library, 10:15 AM. Staff send families home with practice tips. Details.
Saturday
Sunday
- 🎤 A Very Laufey Day. Mesa Public Library is partnering with the Grammy-winning singer and her book club on a limited-edition library card, released at the Mesa Express branch ahead of Library Card Sign-Up Month in September. All ages. Details.
- 🎧 Luh Tyler, Destined For Greatness Tour. The Rosetta Room, 104 E. 1st Ave., 8 PM. Details.
- 🎧 Fenix Flexin. Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., 8 PM. Two rap shows the same night, one on each side of Main. Details.
Early next week
- 🎧 Raq Baby, Robert Johnson tour. The Rosetta Room, Aug 25 at 8 PM. Details.
- 🍺 Trivia at Mr. Brews Taphouse. Free, every Tuesday at 6 PM, prizes for the winners. Details.
- ⏱️ Minute to Win It. Dobson Ranch Library, Aug 26 at 4 PM. Ages 6 to 12. Details.
- 🕵️ Be a Spy. Dobson Ranch Library, Aug 27 at 4 PM. Ages 6 to 12. Details.
Around Mesa
☕ Charlee Rose Coffee is relocating to Mesa. The mother and daughter coffee business is leaving its current Gilbert cafe for a new home here. No address or opening date has been made public yet. Details.
🚤 Canyon Lake closes for four months. SRP work at the Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams shuts down recreation at the lake northeast of the city. If Canyon Lake is your default fall boat day, pick a backup now. Details.
🎖️ Veterans parade applications are open. The 19th annual East Valley Veterans Parade, presented by EdgeCore, runs through downtown Mesa. Entries have to be submitted online by Oct 9 to be eligible. Details.
🇺🇸 America250 neighborhood pledge runs through 2026. The city is asking residents to commit to hosting a block-level event or a service project sometime this year. Details.
🚑 A 16-year-old was honored for performing CPR. Laya Jackson called 911 and started chest compressions after a Wisconsin National Guard soldier collapsed while running in Mesa, and stayed with him until responders arrived. Details.
🏫 MPS Governing Board meets Thursday, Aug 27 at 6 PM. The Mesa Public Schools board oversees the whole district, not one campus. The listing puts it at the district office, 549 N. Stapley Dr. Details.
🏠 Homes in Mesa are taking about 55 days to sell right now. Details.
Around the Valley
A few picks worth leaving Mesa for this weekend.
🎸 Pepper & The Movement. Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Friday at 7 PM. Tickets.
🎵 The Broken Hearts, a Tom Petty tribute. Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Thursday at 7:30 PM. The Marquee is a big room for a tribute act, which usually means everybody sings. Tickets.
🎤 Martin Lawrence. Gila River Resorts and Casinos at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Thursday at 8 PM. Tickets.
🎧 Atmosphere & Friends. The Van Buren in downtown Phoenix, Thursday night. Make a night of it, the light rail runs from Mesa. Tickets.