Good morning, Mesa. Highs sit near 103 today and hold in the low 100s through the weekend, so get the outdoor stuff done early and save the afternoons for the AC. It's a holiday weekend too: the Fourth lands on Saturday.
- ⚽ World Cup matches on the library's big screen today. Free public viewings at the Dobson Ranch branch, all ages.
- 🎆 Fourth of July closures. Mesa schools and district offices close Friday, all city libraries close Saturday.
- 🏊 City pools are open. Every Mesa pool runs daily through July 18.
- 📚 Summer programs pack the library next week. Movie nights, a family craft day, and free Excel classes across several branches.
- 🎤 Open mic and improv coming up. Live music, comedy, and poetry in Mesa next Thursday and Friday.
World Cup on the library's big screen
The World Cup is being played across North America this summer, and Mesa's Dobson Ranch library is showing the knockout matches live on its big screen. Free, all ages, a room full of other fans.
- Today, July 2: Spain vs. Austria at 12 PM, then Portugal vs. Croatia at 4 PM.
- Where: Mesa Public Library, Dobson Ranch branch, central Mesa.
- Cost: Free. No ticket, no registration.
The library has been screening matches throughout the tournament, so more are likely on the branch calendar as the bracket plays out. It's an easy, air-conditioned way to catch a game without fighting for a bar stool.
The weekend
Two more stops at the library today, then a quiet holiday stretch.
- 👶 Toddlertime at Main. Storytime for the little ones, today at 10 AM at the Main branch downtown. Details.
- 📖 Cinderella around the world. Kids ages 6 to 12 read versions of the story from different countries, then write their own. Dobson Ranch, today at 2 PM. Details.
- 🎆 Fourth of July closures. Mesa schools and district offices close Friday for the observed holiday, and all city libraries close Saturday, July 4.
At the library next week
The branches are busy with summer reading. A few picks worth marking:
- 🦖 Dinosaur movie nights. "Jurassic World: Dominion" for teens at Dobson Ranch on Monday at 2 PM, and the animated "Dinosaur" for kids at Main on Tuesday at 6 PM. Teens. Kids.
- 📊 Free Excel classes. An intro session Tuesday and an intermediate-to-advanced one Wednesday, both 10 AM at the THINKspot inside Dobson Ranch. Intro. Advanced.
- 🎨 Family Art Day: art in amber. Design a bug, animal, or plant and set it in faux amber. Main branch, Wednesday at 2 PM. Details.
- ✍️ A writing workshop for adults. A revision-focused session built around a Roberto Bolaño short piece, "Beach." Main branch, Tuesday at 6 PM. Details.
Around Mesa
- 🏊 City pools are open for the season. All Mesa pools run daily through July 18, and some aquatic complexes stay open longer. Details.
- 🐾 Mind the pavement with pets. With afternoons over 100, Mesa Animal Control's summer reminder stands: hot asphalt burns paws, and dehydration comes fast. Details.
- 🏠 The housing math. The average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.49% this week. On Mesa's median home of $452,500, that runs about $2,286 a month in principal and interest with 20% down.
- 🎤 Open mic downtown. Music, comedy, and poetry at a Powerful Voices show in Mesa next Thursday, July 9. Details.
- 😂 Stand-up and improv. The Bridge Improv Theater runs its "Act Out!" show on Friday, July 10. Unfiltered, per the billing. Details.