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The Day the Desert Turns Green: Local St. Patrick's Day Events

How it is already March!? Anyone else absolutely astonished by how fast the start of the new year has come and gone? Well, we sure are. But that’s fine because what lay ahead is warm and sunny weather, baseball, and of course: Saint Patrick’s Day! The luck of the Irish floods the valley in the coming weeks with fun events celebrating St. Patrick's Day, and we've created a list of these celebrations you'll want to add to your March calendar. Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Faire Just a short drive from your Acero Estrella Commons apartment is the lively and vibrant city of Phoenix, and on March 14th, the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the valley! The parade starts at 10 a.m. and will have everything from Irish dancers and floats to bagpipers and marching bands. Following the parade is the St. Patrick’s Day Faire in Margaret T. Hance Park, where all kinds of vendors, food booths, drinks, and live entertainment await! If you’ve never been to the Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day parade, also known as the “greenest day in the desert” make this the year that you do, we can guarantee you won’t regret it! (Photo by @Patricksdayphx) Green Beer & Pizza at N-Dub Pizza Pub If pizza, beer and pool better fit your idea of a celebratory St. Patrick’s Day, then you’ll want to head to the N-DUB Pizza Pub on March 17 for their St. Patty’s Day party. With green beer and green pizza (don’t ask, we don’t really know how either) you’ll feel the luck of the Irish running through your blood as you dance along to live music from Risky Business, a new Goodyear 80s party band! Live entertainment, bar games, delicious pizza, and Irish Whiskey is what you’ll find at this St. Patty’s Day party, so keep N-DUB Pizza Pub in mind when you're pondering ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Autograph Day at the Goodyear Ballpark Sport your favorite green outfit and head to the Goodyear Ballpark for a spring training game this Saint Patrick’s Day! The Cincinnati Reds will face the Cleveland Indians on the 17th, and to make it even better, the park is hosting “ Autograph Day ”! Enjoy the game, grab some happy hour (4:30 - 5:30 p.m.) and get an autograph from your favorite MLB stars this St. Patty’s Day. (Photo by @Goodyearballpark) St. Patrick’s Day Cookie Decorating Workshop Channel your inner baker and show up to this year’s St. Patrick’s Day party with the cutest cookies in town after attending the Craft House Goodyear’s St. Patty’s Cookie Decorating Workshop ! Attendees will follow along as the owner of Crystal’s Cake Creations (a home bakery here in Goodyear AZ) teaches the best techniques for baking, applying icing to cookies and much more! Plus, you’ll leave with 6 adorable, delicious, and festive St. Patrick’s Day cookies! (Photo by @Thecrafthousegoodyear) There are a handful of St. Patrick’s Day events happening in Goodyear this month, so give these celebrations a go and let us know how they went on Facebook and Instagram ! While you’re at it, keep following the Acero Estrella Commons blog here for more festive events and happenings in the area.

Catch A Spring Training Game at the Goodyear Ballpark

Goodyear Arizona is a destination location for many reasons, but especially so if you are a Major League Baseball fan! Lucky for you, Acero Estrella Commons is so close to the Goodyear Ballpark you could probably catch a foul ball from your apartment patio (okay, we’re not that close, but we are less than 10-minutes from the stunning fields). Locals know that the beginning of Spring here in Arizona means one thing: MLB Spring Training ! The Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds spend a majority of March at the Goodyear Ballpark for their Spring Training games and player development, so here’s all you need to know about living right next door to all of the baseball action. Spring Training and the Cactus League If you’re not a baseball fan, you might be asking yourself, “what exactly is Spring Training ?” To put it simply, it’s Major Leauge Baseball pre-season. It’s a time for the players to get back in the swing of things (no pun intended) with games, batting practices, and overall player development ahead of the regular season, in a location and climate that is more suitable than where their home ballpark is located. During Spring Training season (Mid-February and all of March), the Goodyear Ballpark hosts approximately 30 Cactus League games and is home to the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. Why is it called the Cactus League, you ask? Well, this is Arizona. The league is made up of teams like the Seattle Mariners , Oakland Athletics , the Arizona Diamondbacks and roughly 12 other teams from around the nation looking for a warm place to play ball ahead of the season to come. You can find the full schedule of Spring Training games happening at the Goodyear Ballpark this month, here . (Photo by @GoodyearBallpark) The Goodyear Ballpark There’s something truly special about the Goodyear Ballpark on a sunny Arizona day. The stadium can host nearly 10 thousand fans , with 8,000 stadium seats, six luxury suites, behind-the-plate seats, a right-field pavilion, and 1,500 lawn seats. Needless to say, this ballpark is a staple in the great town of Goodyear and brings together not only the community, but baseball fans (and players!) from all around the nation. The park is the practice field and Spring Training game day location for both Ohio teams during the months of February and March, and the remainder of the year serves as a complex for the City of Goodyear recreational leagues and special events. (Photo by @GoodyearBallpark) Fan Experiences and Food Not only do locals and visitors alike enjoy great baseball during the Spring Training season, but there’s also an abundance of fan experiences throughout the season as well. Whether you’re hoping to get a front-row view of the Indians batting practice in the Fan Zone or attending a postgame meet and greet Q&A session, you are in the right place to make it happen. And of course, there’s food at the ballpark. The concession stands offer your traditional ballpark favorites, with everything from hotdogs and pretzels to veggie burgers and even a Cleveland Polish Boy for you to enjoy as you sit back, relax and watch the game unfold. (Photo by @GoodyearBallpark) Now you have something to look forward to in the upcoming weeks here in Goodyear! Have you ever been to the Goodyear Ballpark for a Spring Training game? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram, and while you’re at it keep following the Acero Estrella Commons blog here for other Goodyear highlights.

Hit the Lanes at These Local Bowling Alleys

One of the best parts of bowling is that even if you’re not great, it can still be a good time. These days, all bowling alleys have gutter bumpers (so no matter what, you can’t be that terrible), and most have food, a bar, music, and much more! That’s why a bowling outing is such an effortlessly fun activity for social events, date nights, family gatherings and even just something to do after work. So the next time you’re ready to hit the lanes, remember these local bowling alleys near Goodyear that know how to have a good time! Bowlero Avondale | 1425 N Central Ave, Avondale, AZ 85323 Let’s clear one thing up before we dive into these great bowling alleys; bowling is no longer “just for the kids”! Take Bowlero Avondale for example. This alley, located less than 10 minutes from your home at Acero Estrella Commons, is a hub full of arcade games, pool tables, a bar and restaurant, and weekly specials! Did we mention tacos? Yes, they also have taco Tuesday’s with $2.88 games, $2.88 tacos, and much more. Add all of that to a whopping 40 bowling lanes, and you could spend hours chatting with friends in the lounge area, playing some games, enjoying some food and drinks from the sports bar, and overall having a great time! Bowlero Avondale is our type of bowling. (Photo by @BowleroBowl) Main Event Avondale | 10315 W McDowell Rd, Avondale, AZ 85392 It’s not called “ Main Event ” for no reason! Stretching beyond your typical idea of a bowling alley that might only have a few lanes and a drink station, Main Event Avondale has laser tag, video games, gravity ropes, shuffleboard, and a full-service restaurant and bar. It may actually be more of a challenge to pindown which of the many activities at Main Event is in fact, the “main event", but we think the 26 state-of-the-art bowling lanes speak for themselves. And while the other events make the experience all the more entertaining, the quality of the lanes speaks for themselves and makes it one of the best alleys in the Goodyear area! (Photo by @Mymainevent) Uptown Alley | 13525 N Litchfield Rd, Surprise, AZ 85379 The Uptown Alley may not be as close to home as Bolweo Avondale, but the 40 bowling lanes, high definition flat-screen TVs, virtual reality experiences, two-story laser tag (yes, two stories!) and the sports theater makes every minute of the drive worth it. Let’s break each of those down a little more; the 40 bowling lanes have a state-of-the-art scoring system and 15 HDTV’s to watch in between turns. Uptown Alley also has a multi-player, all-immersive VR experience where you and a group of friends can battle giant robots (among other games). Two-story laser tag doesn’t need much of an explanation other than it’s pretty “next level” if you ask us! And for the avid sports fans, catch the big game on the 10 ft projection screens at the Uptown Alley Sports Theater. Needless to say, this bowling alley is a "strike" for both kids and adults, as it truly has it all. (Photo by @UptownAlleySurprise) Now you know the best places near Goodyear and Acero Estrella Commons to enjoy a great game of bowling, among much more! Keep these in mind the next time you’re looking for some fun entertainment, and share your experience with us on Facebook and Instagram ! As always, don’t forget to keep following the blog here for more local favorites.

Getting Crafty in Goodyear: DIY Craft Studios

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through Pinterest, Etsy or Instagram and said to yourself: “I could totally make that” just to try and have it turn out as a complete fail? Yeah, us too. That’s why we’re in love with DIY craft studios! In case you haven’t heard about them, these local studios provide all of the paint supplies, canvases (and maybe even wine!) that you'll need to make those impressive DIY projects, without the DIY disaster. Here are three Goodyear art studios where you can paint, sip and have a blast making unique keepsakes and memories. Our Creative Escape | 725 Estrella Pkwy #105, Goodyear, AZ 85338 Not only do we love the business name of Our Creative Escape (because hello, crafting is one hundred perfect an escape from reality!) but we also can’t get over the ambiance of the studio itself. Twinkling lights, tall, bright ceilings and an overall open-concept space invites your creativity to blossom as you paint your canvas and unwind. While some do-it-yourself studios offer a variety of different DIY projects, Our Creative Escape specializes in canvas paintings . A BYOB establishment, Our Creative Escape invites you to bring your preferred liquor, craft beer or wine to enjoy as you create your canvas-painting-masterpiece. (Photo by @OurCreativeEscapeAZ) Board and Brush Creative Studio | 13048 W Rancho Santa Fe Blvd #113, Avondale, AZ 85392 Imagine paint and sip night, but at Board and Brush Avondale , your canvas is wood and you get to bring your favorite bottle of wine or six-pack of beer with you! Socialize with family and friends as you make a trendy wood sign that once you’re done will look so great, people will think you bought it from a store. Similar to most DIY painting and craft studios, no experience is necessary, however, after just one class you might have a newfound passion for woodworking! And if your creative spirit is pulling you beyond the traditional painted wood signs, Board and Brush also offer a wide range of other materials for crafting, such as terra cotta pots, slates, glass, canvas pillows and more. Channel your inner artist with a visit to Board and Brush, and you’ll find yourself with not only fun memories but beautiful new home decor for your Acero Estrella Commons apartment too. (Photo by @BoardandBrushAvondale) The Craft House Goodyear | 500 N Bullard Ave #29, Goodyear, AZ 85338 When you attend a workshop at The Craft House Goodyear , you’ll feel like you’re right at home; and that’s because this DIY craft studio is less than 5 minutes from your apartment at Acero Estrella Commons! Not only is it close to home, but The Craft House is a jack of all trades when it comes to DIY projects. Whether you’re looking to make your own soaps , candles , chalk art or even beautiful cookies, they’ve got a class for you. And because we all need a little zen in our life, The Craft House also hosts monthly meditation workshops, so you can master the “art and craft” of deep relaxation. It sounds like a win-win to us! Check them out and see for yourself why we love this Goodyear DIY studio so much! (Photo by @TheCraftHouseGoodyear) So the next time you’re looking to get crafty, keep these Goodyear DIY craft studios in mind, and share your creations with us on Facebook and Instagram ! While you’re at it, don’t forget to keep following the Acero Estrella Commons blog here for more local Goodyear discoveries.

Walk on the Wild Side at The Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park

Did you know that when you live at Acero Estrella Commons, you are just a short 15-minute drive from one of the largest collections of exotic animals in all of Arizona? The Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park is right up the street, with over 600 different species, daily shows, and beautiful exhibits for you to experience and admire. So join us as we take you on a safari guide through the park, and highlight the main attractions that you won’t want to miss while you’re there. Ride Through the Safari Park All aboard the safari park train ride, it’s time to experience the speed of a cheetah in person! Not only is The Wildlife World Zoo home to the fastest land animal in the world , but the 15-acre safari park also hosts dozens of other species, such as spider monkeys, African lions, antelope, ostrich and much, much more! Visitors can take a walk on the wild side and stroll through the safari park, or board the tram and ride through several of the individual animal exhibits. (Photo by @WildLifeWorldZoo) Dive into the Aquarium Okay, you won’t actually be diving into any sea-life filled waters, but at The Wildlife World Aquarium , you are invited to venture through 75 different indoor exhibits! Beautifully exemplifying the immense diversity of the ocean, the “ Diversity of Life in Water ” exhibit is where you’ll find colorful fish, amphibians, reptiles, turtles, starfish, and other underwater creatures. The aquarium is also home to much more unique water-loving species that you can experience in the sea lion exhibit, the river monsters or predators exhibits , and of course, “ the wild and the wonderful ” exhibit. And one thing you absolutely cannot miss during your trip to the Wildlife World Aquarium is the ultra-rare white alligator in Dragon World . (Photo by @WildLifeWorldZoo) Feed a Giraffe, Watch a Show and More! There’s much more to the Wildlife World Zoo than simply snapping photos of beautiful animals and sea creatures in the wild. While you’re there, you can also catch a show, or even feed the giraffes, sea lions, penguins or parrots! With plenty of activities and attractions throughout the park, you could easily spend an entire day roaming about, surrounded by exotic animals and beautiful scenery. (Photo by @WildLifeWorldZoo) If you’ve never been or simply didn’t even know that the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park even existed, then now you have a complete guide to what you should catch while you’re there. And once you make it in the park, make sure you share your wild photos with us on Facebook and Instagram , and keep following the Acero Estrella Commons blog here for more local favorites.

Your Guide to Valentine's Date Night in Goodyear

Despite the number of anniversary dinners and date nights you’ve had over the years, a common piece of advice for a happy relationship includes continuing to “date” your spouse. And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, now you have a great excuse than to put on a nice outfit, grab a bottle of wine and treat you and your loved one to a special date. Haven’t planned date night in a while? Don’t worry, we’re here to help you out with that. Stroll through the Estrella Mountain Regional Park These days it’s easy to find ourselves staying cozied up inside, watching our favorite shows, and mindlessly scrolling through our phones for hours on end. Switch it up with a date that takes you and your adventure buddy outdoors for a fun day on the trails! The Estrella Mountain Regional Park is nearly 20,000 acres of beautiful desert land and mountain scenery, with a grassy picnic area perfect for enjoying lunch and embracing the views. During the winter months, the park is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., so you could spend an entire day exploring! Bowling & Games at Bowlero Avondale A little competition always makes for a great date night! Challenge your valentine to a game of bowling, arcade games or maybe even some pool at Bowlero Avondale . Channel your young spirit at this local entertainment center, then grab a refreshing cocktail and a bite to eat from the onsite sports bar afterward. One thing about this date night that you and your valentine are sure to appreciate, is that when it comes to bowling on one of Bowlero’s 40 lanes, there are bumpers! You don’t have to be a great bowler to have a great time. So make a game out of it and take your Valentine’s Date night to the next level. (Photo by @Bowlerobowl) Catch Dinner and A Movie Sometimes, taking it back to the classics is just as romantic as trying something new. In this case, the perfect date night this Valentine’s Day might simply include enjoying a quality dinner, a glass of wine, and watching a movie on the big screen! Lucky for us here at Acero Estrella Commons, the Harkins Estrella Falls 16 theater is just minutes from home, along with delicious restaurants like Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar , Vogue Bistro and much more. (Photo by @Flemingssteakhouse) We all know that the worst part about date night is having to plan it, so we’ve gone ahead and done the hard part for you. Now, you and your date can relax and have a great time this Valentine’s Day! Let us know how your Goodyear date night went on Facebook and Instagram , and keep following the Acero Estrella Commons blog here for more Goodyear outings and ideas.