Great Southwest Cajunfest Saturday, April 18
On Saturday, the Great Southwest Cajunfest will be held downtown at the Margaret T. Hance Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This event aims to transport you to New Orleans through food and music. Angry Crab Shack will prepare bayou favorites like a crawfish boil, crab cookies and charred oysters. For the meat eaters, barbecue and other Creole specialties will be featured by Raging Cajun BBQ, Honey Bear's BBQ, JJ's Louisiana BBQ, and Sandra Dee's Catering. Louisiana favorite Abita Beer should pair well with with the food, and beignets and coffee from Welcome Diner will complete the culinary tour of southeast Louisiana. Activities and events range from a puppy parade and crawfish eating contests to kid-friendly crafts. Music acts include student jazz bands and the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies. For more information, or to purchase your $10 general admissions or $65 VIP tickets in advance, visit the Great Southwest Cajunfest website.
See also: Little Cleo's Seafood Legend: Happy Hour Report Card
Cultivate Festival Saturday, April 18
This Saturday, Phoenix will host Chipotle's annual Cultivate Festival, a free event at Westworld of Scottsdale. For the festival Chipotle combines food, ideas, and music to promote a message of sustainability. If you visit at least four of the five exhibits, which feature information on subjects from GMOs to a guacamole demo, you'll receive a voucher for a free burrito. And if you're still hungry, the Artisans' Hall will feature local vendors such as Tracy Dempsey Originals and Sweet Republic ice cream. Local brews and wines will be available, including an exclusive beer made just for the event by Sonoran Brewing Company. In addition to the exhibits, look for cooking demos from Top Chef All Stars winner Richard Blais, Chopped judge Amanda Freitag, and local favorites Charleen Badman from FnB, Christopher Schlattman from The Upton, and Joshua Herbert from Posh. The Kids' Zone should keep little ones happy with a variety of activities and free snacks. Several bands will also play throughout the day. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the event ends at 7 p.m. For more details and schedule of music and demos, visit the Chipotle Cultivate website.
Mixology 101: Gin at Last Drop Sunday, April 19
Gin can be a divisive spirit -- you either love it, or you hate it. And if you're in the former camp, then you may want to clear your Sunday afternoon schedule from 2 to 4 p.m. for the Gin Mixology Class at Last Drop Bar at the Hermosa. The Last Drop's Spirit Guide Travis Nass will offer participants a two-hour tour of gin-based cocktails. The $30 price includes not only the knowledge shared in class, but two cocktails and ample time for a Q&A session. This intimate class only has room for ten participants, so call 602-955-7878 to reserve your spot.
See also: Travis Nass of The Last Drop Bar in Paradise Valley: Spring Cocktail Guide, Continued
