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RAISE YOUR GLASS Food and drink festivals abound all month long BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
February has something for food and drink lovers of all kinds – here are five of the major events we can’t wait to sink our teeth into this month.
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Brewer’s Bowl: Feb. 4 Created to showcase the growing craft beer scene in Arizona, the Brewer’s Bowl will feature beer tastings from nearly 20 local breweries, plus live music, giant bar games and food trucks. The event will be held in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale along Brown Avenue. General admission is $35 and includes 20 beer-tasting tickets, while VIP admission is $55 and includes 25 tickets, plus early entry into the event at 4 p.m. A portion of event proceeds will benefit the Paradise Valley Emergency Food Bank. www.brewersbowl.com. Street Eats: Feb. 11-12 This premier food truck event will return to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick for a weekend packed with more than 70 food trucks dishing out everything from comfort classics to gourmet grabs. The Gorilla Cheese Truck, Queso Good, Burgers Amore, Rockstar Hotdogs and Wok Sticks are just a few of the headliners signed on for this year. All samples are $2, but this year, the $12 entry fee also gets guests access to a new attraction called UnCommon Markets, which features an array of handmade goods, art and upcycled home furnishings. www.streeteatsaz.com. Arizona Cocktail Week: Feb. 17-24 Arizona Cocktail Week honors the craft of the cocktail with everything from parties, spirit tastings and educational seminars to mixology competitions, drink specials and cocktail pairing dinners. The majority of the main events take place at or near the Hotel Valley Ho. The signature event, Cocktail Carnival, will take place Feb. 17 and will feature mixologists from all over the country. Tickets for the Cocktail Carnival start at $40 and tickets to individual events vary. www.arizonacocktailweek.com. Corks & Cactus: Feb. 18-19 The Desert Botanical Garden plays host to this annual foodie event, which features tastings of 40 boutique wines each day, almost all of which are available for purchase by the bottle during the event to benefit the garden’s education, research, exhibition and conservation programs. The festival will also include cooking demos, small bites and live performances by Obadiah Parker and Sydney Sprague. Tickets start at $35. www.dbg.org. CRUSHBREW Festival: Feb. 18-19 Celebrating and promoting the craft beverage movement, CRUSHBREW Festival puts craft beer, small boutique wines, hard cider and artisan distilled spirits in the spotight. Taking place at the Scottsdale Waterfront, the event will benefit Southwest Human Development, Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development. It will also include food pairings; hourly cocktail, wine and/or beer demonstrations; live music; and an afterparty at the W Scottsdale. Tickets start at $45. www.crushbrewfestival.com.
| FEBRUARY 2017
1/24/17 12:44 PM