Sips and Sweets, National Catfish Day, DeSoto Food Crawl, and More This Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Phoenix New Times' Sips and Sweets
Saturday, June 25

This Saturday, almost 20 of Phoenix's top bakers and 10 of Phoenix's most respected mixologists will gather at Vintage 45 to serve their best sips and sweets. The list of talent includes Tracy Dempsey of Tracy Dempsey Originals, Celine Feezell of Beignet Babe, and Lisa Levinson of The Bakery PHX, as well as mixologists including Micah Olson of Crudo, Eddie Garcia of Jade Bar at Sanctuary, and Libby Longlott of The Camby. General admission tickets cost $25 in advance, which includes event entry; unlimited sweets samples; 10 samples of cocktails, beer, and wine; and access to the vendor village. The event runs from 3 to 6 p.m., and you must be at least be 21 years old to attend. To purchase tickets, visit the Ticketfly page and to see the full list of participants, visit the Sips and Sweets website. 

Five Year Anniversary Party at Phoenix Ale Brewery 
Friday, June 24

Phoenix Ale Brewery is celebrating five years since it brewed its first batch of beer with a party on Friday night. Guests can look forward to free snacks, pizza from The Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen, and $4 pints. Sip on Phoenix Ale Brewery classics such as Biltmore Blonde, Watermelon Ale, and the Orange Peel IPA. The party is from 4 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit the Facebook event page or The Phoenix Ale Brewery's website. 

Food Crawl at DeSoto Market
Saturday, June 25

If you've always wanted to sample a bunch of the different food at DeSoto Central Market, this Saturday will give you the chance. At this Saturday's Food Crawl at the Food Hall, guests can enjoy $2 to $5 bites from six of different restaurants housed in the downtown food hall. Attendees can dig into PB&J sliders from Desoto Burger Joint, Blue Point oysters from Walrus & the Pearl, an Oaxacan rice croquette with roasted corn sambal from Adobo Dragon, pigs' ears from The Larder + The Delta, and your choice of a DeSoto Smash or Motor Mule sample cocktail at the DeSoto Bar. The event goes from 5 to 9 p.m. Register using this link or check out the event's Facebook page. 
 

National Catfish Day at Texaz Grill 
Saturday, June 25

Believe it or not, Saturday is National Catfish Day (President Reagan declared this a holiday back in 1987), and Phoenix's Texaz Grill is celebrating by offering an all-you-can-eat catfish deal for $14.95. Guests can enjoy their catfish served two ways — either breaded in buttermilk biscuit crumbs, fried, and served with a side of tartar sauce and lemon plus fries, or for something lighter, grilled catfish dusted with seasoned flour. This special is limited to one order per guest. No sharing, no to-go orders, and no doggy bags. For more information, visit Texaz Grill's website. 


Valley Bar Rolls Out New Summer Drink Menu
All weekend

Downtown Phoenix's underground bar, Valley Bar, has rolled out a new summer cocktail menu. To counteract summer's sweltering heat, the four new cocktails can be described as "crisp and refreshing." In keeping with the bar's other drinks named after politicians, there's the Oh My Goddard, a combination of locally made Caskwerks gin, Aperol, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and the 99 to Fife, a mix of Patron Reposado, lime juice, chili simple syrup, and chili salt. For more information, visit Valley Bar's website.