Do you live in Mesa or the Southeast Phoenix Valley and love to knit? You will want to check out The Fiber Factory. This store is famous for having one of the widest selections of knitting products of any place in the Phoenix Valley. There is more than 4000 sq ft of yard and supplies for knitting, weaving, spinning, crochet, tatting, basketry or Navajo weaving. There are also classes to help learn all these arts and skills. Visit their website to learn more about his unique area treasure.

The Fiber Factory is an official destination on the contest - Think Outside the Sox. This fun and unique contest runs through January 1, 2009. Check out the contest website to lern more. There is more than $20,000.00 in contest money as a part of this fun contest. This could be a fun way to spend some hours in the upcoming hot summer season.

If you happen to be near the Scottsdale Civic Center and are seeking a wonderful place where you can enjoy eating outdoors look for the AZ 88 Bar and Restaurant. This is a chic and stylish restaurant with a wonderful outdoor patio. Located at 7353 Scottsdale Mall in Scottsdale Arizona, you can call 480-994-5576 for more information about their fare.

Near Southern and 32nd Streets in Phoenix Arizona is a popular destination called The Farm at South Mountain. The site contains acres and acres of farmland and meadows along with picnic benches and countless pecan trees. On site are a number of organic restaurants. One restaurant is The Farm Kitchen where picnic foods are the speciality. There is also a restaurant called Quiessence Restaurant and Wine Bar where fresh local offerings are served in a gourmet fashion. Then there is The Morning Glory Cafe where, as the name indicates, they serve breakfast and brunch items until noon. In addition to all the great food the facility also offers spots on the grounds for special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, or birthdays. There is also a retreat, farmers’ market where one can buy produce, an art studio as well as a doctor’s office. For more info about the events taking place at The Farm at South Mountain visit their website or give them a call at 602-276-6360.

If you live in Pinal County Arizona and are interested in the preservation of wildlife you will want to check out the non-profit called Superstition Area Land Trust or S.A.L.T. for short. In 1993, the Superstition Area Land Trust (S.A.L.T.) was born when a group of residents of the communities and settlements bordering the Superstition Wilderness Area created a nonprofit organization to preserve the riparian areas, native vegetation and wildlife of the vanishing Sonoran Desert.

Most of the land surrounding the Superstitions is owned by the Arizona state land department, whose mandate is to manage the land to fund various public institutions. As urban sprawl creeps eastward from the Phoenix suburbs, pressure to develop more state land increases. The organization is interested in making sure that any development is handled responsibly and with attention to the natural beauty of the Arizona desert.

If you are interested more in S.A.L.T. visit their website.

Thinking about relocating to Arizona, contact Bob and Carolin Benjamin at 480-201-3001. We look forward to connecting with you and helping you with your relocation needs. Visit our website to check the MLS in the area.

In historic downtown Mesa Arizona is a unique building called Inside the Bungalow. This old historic home has become the location for arts, yoga, coffee and hosting events. There is also yoga classes and yoga teaching. And it does not stop there - there is massage as well, everything from deep tissue Swedish to Thai foot massage and more. There is something relaxing for everyone. Built in 1916, the building has stood the test of time and still has original parts like the old 1916 fireplace. Outside there are live orchid trees and water features. Call them at 480-844-2353 for more information about events, classes, hours and more.

 The Apache Junction Arizona Reach Out Food Bank is an emergency food source for people that live within the area defined by Ellsworth Road east to Queen Valley including those who live within the Apache Junction Unified School district. The food bank is in desperate need of food and supplies. As the financial and housing market continues to affect more and more people, there are more requests made to the food bank to help those in need.  If you live in the East Phoenix Valley and can offer donations of food, or know that your business or other group can help, contact them at 480-288-3178, or stop by at 575 N Idaho Road in Apache Junction Arizona to ask how you can assist.

The Apache Junction Library is seeking teenage volunteers ages 12 and older to help run a summer reading program. Participants must be entering the seventh grade or higher. Applications must be turned in no later than May 3rd. If you have a teenager looking for a summer volunteer job and you live in the Apache Junction Arizona area, then this may be an opportunity to check out. More information can be gotten by calling the Apache Junction Public Library Youth Services at 480-474-8555.

Several schools in Pinal County Arizona are needing additional substitute teachers. The school systems are running short of teachers due to illness, family bereavement, jury duty and maternity leave. Residents of Pinal County who are high school GED recipients or college graduates are invited contact Pinal County School office at 75 North Bailey Street in Florence. Interested parties can also check out the Pinal County school website.

Looking for something more unusual than the regular "big box" retail store items for your home? If so and you live in, or around. the Mesa Arizona area you may want to check out Domestic Bliss. Domestic Bliss is a unique store that carries unusual Anthropologie-like home decor. They also carry unique women’s wear and baby wear. Visit their website for more information. They also offer design services if you are not sure what you need to add to make your home achieve the look you want.

The stingrays are back for an annual visit to the Phoenix Zoo. This year there are three nurse sharks and nine bamboo sharks in addition to the regular group of about 30 cownoses and southern stingrays. Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N Glavin Parkway in Phoenix. For more information about is annual fun Stingray Bay exhibit that the entire family will enjoy check out the website for the Phoenix Zoo. This attraction that features a 14,000 gallon aquarium made its debut last year. It was a very popular attraction and now it is back. Be sure to catch it before it leaves for the season on April 30th this year.