A Dash of Wine

Windmill Winery

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When Phillip and I took our anniversary trip to Florence, Arizona, we saw a handmade sign in front of a house that just said “winery” with an arrow.

Obviously, we had to investigate.

Windmill Winery Florence AZ

It turns out the winery in question was not, as the sign seemed to suggest, in someone’s backyard, but a totally legit operation down the street. The Windmill Winery was quiet except for a few donkeys, and it turns out the tasting room is closed on Mondays. We moved on with no wine and only a little whine.

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The scene was very different when we were back months later. Even though it was early Sunday morning, people were already bustling around and a DJ was spinning. The winery was hosting the Dionysus Dash, a 5k run for a charity that Phillip’s work supports.

Dionysus Dash

The scene before the #dionysusdash at @windmillwinery – tutus, togas, and a wine tasting afterwards!

A video posted by stephanieliebold (@stephanieliebold) on

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Barn at windmill winery

After the runners were done running and we were done running the raffle booth, we got to visit the barn for a special tasting set up for the event, then say hi to the donkeys and chickens and check out the lake and the outside of the actual tasting room.

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Maybe one of these days we’ll actually visit during regular hours and go inside.

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Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

Happenings in Arizona: February 2016 and Beyond!

We’ve been including a list of hand-picked maker/artist/explorer events in our monthly newsletter, and I thought I’d share the Arizona portion here today.

Arcosanti cafe

Now – Apr 30 Arcosanti Resident Art Show

Arcosanti, near Cordes Junction. Art by Arcosanti residents and alumni for sale. The day we had breakfast at Arcosanti was also during an art show. Work for sale included jewelry, photography, and mixed media pieces.

  • Gourd Art: Mar 2 + Apr 6. Basic gourd art for beginners. $35-$45.
  • Terrarium: Mar 11 + Mar 12. Choose your succulents and create an indoor garden. Walk-in class. $15.

Macayos margarita

Feb 21 – Mar 29 Macayo’s Tequila Dinner Series

Macayo’s Mexican Grill & Cantina, Scottsdale. Read our review of the redesigned Macayo’s Scottsdale.

  • Feb 21 3-8pm (National Margarita Day!): Tequila & Margarita Tasting to benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society with 9 Top Shelf Tequila samples, 9 handcrafted cocktail samples, appetizers, and live music by Nick Hranek. Open house style event. $40/person.
  • Feb 23 5:30pm: Tequila Dinner & LIVE! Macayo Salsa Challenge
  • Mar 29 5:30pm: Tequila Dinner

Eucalyptus trees at arboretum

Mar 2 – Apr 6 Craft Classes at the Arboretum

Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior. Whether or not you take a class, it’s a lovely place to spend the day.

  • Gourd Art: Mar 2 + Apr 6. Basic gourd art for beginners. $35-$45.
  • Terrarium: Mar 11 + Mar 12. Choose your succulents and create an indoor garden. Walk-in class. $15.

Heritage Square Phoenix

Mar 5 Phoenix Flea

10am-5pm in Hertiage Square, Phoenix. Market for vintage goods, fine art & crafts, fashion, and artisan food.

Southwest Maker Fest

Mar 12 Southwest Maker Fest

12-7pm in Downtown Mesa. Read about a previous SWMF or my travel journal workshop.

Quilling

Mar 14 CraftHack

6pm at Gangplank Chandler. Meet other artists and crafters and learn something new or bring your own project to work on!

Art Detour

Mar 19-20 Annual Art Detour

Phoenix. Self-guided tour of studios in Phoenix Arts District.

Ceramic art by Robin Ray.

Now – Apr 3 Arizona Fine Art EXPO

26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 100 artists set up shop under big tents in Scottsdale for 10 weeks. Also cafe, sculpture garden, and weekend music. $10 season pass.

Good stuff for makers, artists, and wanderers!

Did you get a copy of our shiny, new, just-relaunched Maker/Artist/Wanderer newsletter in your inbox?!

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If not, you have another chance! Sign up by Wednesday, and I’ll pretend you were on the list all along.

I’ll send you the latest issue while you still have time to take a free dance class (in Phoenix) or send a free letterpress snail mail card (anywhere). And in time for a heads up on the happenings going on across the US this month that I handpicked to share with you guys.

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Next month’s newsletter is already in the works with goodies like a free ecookbook.

To get in on all this goodness, just enter you email address on our newsletter page or below.

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What should we send you?




Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

Ballet under the Stars is Back

ballet under the stars

In Arizona, we plan outdoor events during most of the year with reckless abandon. Organizers bet on clear skies, because the odds are just too good to pass up.

Of course, sometimes they bet wrong.

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Like when the Ballet Under the Stars performance we usually attend in Tempe had to be canceled last year due unseasonably late and unusually heavy rains.

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We decided to drive an hour south to the Casa Grande performance at the Paul Mason Sports Complex a few days later. The rain had stopped, and it was a beautiful drive with the golden hour sun dropping below the clouds.

While there was still a great turnout, it was a much smaller crowd with even more of a community vibe and much more convenient parking.

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We had packed a simple picnic of cheese, crackers, hummus, fruit, and chocolate. We spread out our blanket as the dancers warmed up and the sky erupted into increasingly spectacular shades of pink and orange.

It was a beautiful show.

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What to know about Ballet Under the Stars 2015:

  • There are 5 performances in different locations September 24-October 2 at 7pm. (Unfortunately, I don’t see Casa Grande on the list this year.)
  • Admission is free, but you can make a donation to support Ballet Arizona online or at an event.
  • No photography is permitted during the event.
  • Bring something to sit on (blanket, lawn chair, etc.).
  • Expect some background noise. There will be people moving around a bit, kids doing kid things, and parents stage-whispering things like “Don’t hit your brother with that glow stick.” or “Stop asking strangers for snacks.” It’s actually not that disruptive, as long as you don’t get stuck behind oblivious people who decide to chat through the whole performance. May the odds be ever in your favor.

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Phoenix Classic Movie Nights

It’s not too late for summer movies! In fact, there are some interesting movie events coming up in the Phoenix/Tempe area this week that I thought I’d share.

Since the current temperature outside is officially hothothot, 2 out of 3 are indoors – the other one includes snow imported to cool things down. More of the traditional “movies in the park” nights around here happen in the spring, so I’ve listed those, as well.

Screenings Starting This Week

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1. Heist film series at FilmBar

Today through 9/3

  • Series includes True Romance, The Italian Job, The Usual Suspects
  • FilmBar also features a monthly Arizona Filmmaker Showcase (next one: 9/5) and wine tastings the 3rd Friday of every month.
  • Light rail stop: Roosevelt/Central
  • FilmBar and CityScape (see #2) are each about .5 mile from Civic Space Park and its suspended sculpture, Her Secret is Patience.

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2. Grease at CityScape

8/20 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Movie at 7:40 p.m.)

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3. The Last Starfighter at Pollack Tempe Cinemas

8/22 9:30pm

  • Cult Classics hosts a monthly screening of classic films year-round with giveaways and commemorative merch.
  • Each screening is announced the month before.
  • VIP ticket packages that include prints, t-shirts, etc. are also available.

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Spring events

Phoenix Film Festival (April 7-14, 2016)

Movies in the park (approximate dates based on past year):

What kind of movie events do you enjoy (in Phoenix or elsewhere)?