Good morning, Queen Creek.
Another triple-digit stretch is on the way, so the best of this week happens after the sun goes down or before it comes up.
- 🏜️ San Tan's summer programs run at dawn and dusk. Night bike rides, early hikes, and a scorpion safari at the regional park.
- 🏗️ Council trims 1,500 homes from the general plan. A downzoning vote on the town's future growth.
- ⛽ A QuikTrip fuel station heads to a council vote.
- 📚 Queen Creek Library's family slate fills the weekend. Puzzle night, Lego club, and kids' crafts.
- 🏠 154 homes sold in town last month.
- ⚾ Around the Valley. The D-backs host the Cardinals and Les Misérables plays Phoenix.
The desert's open at dawn and dusk
In July, San Tan Mountain Regional Park moves its ranger programs to the cooler edges of the day, and the next 10 days are full of them.
What's on the schedule:
- San Tan After Dark. A casual, no-drop night mountain bike ride on glowing trails, Wednesday evenings. Details.
- Guided Reptile Hike. An early-morning hike with Ranger Eric looking for Sonoran Desert reptiles, Wednesday, July 22. Registration required, limit 15. Details.
- Tortoise Feeding. Meet the park's resident tortoises at breakfast with Ranger Nikki, Friday, July 24. Details.
- Discovery Station: Meet the Critters. A drop-in session with the park's animal ambassadors at the Nature Center, Friday, July 24. Details.
- Scorpion Safari. An easy 2-mile night stroll hunting scorpions and other nocturnal critters with Ranger Nikki, Saturday, July 25. Registration required, limit 30. Details.
San Tan sits at the town's southern edge, which makes it the closest real trailhead for most of Queen Creek. The two hikes cap their headcounts, so reserve a spot before you plan the morning around it.
The weekend
All at the Queen Creek Library unless noted.
Today, Thursday
Friday
Tuesdays
- ❓ Trivia at Uncle Bear's. Free live trivia, 6:30 PM, on Rittenhouse Rd. Details.
Around Queen Creek
🏗️ Council trims the growth plan. The town council voted this week to pull about 1,500 planned homes, roughly 5,000 future residents, out of its general plan. The downzoning cuts that much housing capacity from the land's long-range development map. Details.
⛽ A QuikTrip goes to a vote. A proposed QuikTrip fuel station is on the council's docket for a decision. Details.
👮 New school resource officer deal. The town is set to enter new agreements for school resource officers across QCUSD campuses. Details.
💅 Modern Grace opens. A new laser and aesthetics practice from licensed aesthetician Michelle is open in the Artistic Umbrella studio suites at 40975 N Ironwood Dr, serving Queen Creek and San Tan Valley. Details.
🚗 Cheapest gas in town. A quick rundown of where the pump price runs lowest in Queen Creek right now. Details.
🏠 Housing. 154 homes sold across Queen Creek last month, per Redfin. Details.
Around the Valley
A few picks worth the drive this weekend.
🥍 Arizona Juggernauts vs. Las Vegas Rockers. Mullett Arena, Tempe, Saturday, 6:30 PM. The closest of the bunch to Queen Creek. Tickets.
⚾ Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals. Chase Field, Phoenix, Saturday afternoon. St. Louis only swings through the desert a couple of times all season. Tickets.
🎭 Les Misérables. Stephenson Theatre at Phoenix Theatre, Saturday. A full staging of the Boublil and Schönberg standard. Tickets.