Good morning, Chandler. It's a quiet stretch on the civic calendar, but the weekend fills back up with markets, live music, and a Father's Day at the brewery.
- 🎭 Chandler Center for the Arts' longtime director is moving on. A leadership change at the city's main performing-arts venue.
- 🌽 Corn Roast at the Queen Creek Olive Mill, Friday. 5 to 9 PM, family night.
- 🛒 Two farmers markets run Saturday. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park and Merchant Square.
- 🏭 Planning and Zoning meets Wednesday. Plus downtown's summer slate.
- 🏀 The Aces visit the Mercury Wednesday. One of a few valley picks worth the drive.
Chandler Center for the Arts loses its longtime director
Michelle Mac Lennan, who has led Chandler Center for the Arts for years, is moving on, leaving an opening at the top of the city's main performing-arts venue.
Key facts:
- Who: Michelle Mac Lennan, longtime director of Chandler Center for the Arts.
- Where: The CCFTA campus in downtown Chandler, near Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard. Three theatres plus a 2,000-square-foot gallery.
- Why it matters: CCFTA is one of downtown's three big draws, the room that brings touring acts to the city and partners with Chandler Unified on student programming.
The center has anchored downtown's cultural calendar for decades, and the director's chair shapes which shows land here and how deep the school partnerships run. The announcement does not spell out who steps in next.
What to watch: the search for a successor, and what it means for next season's lineup. Details.
The week ahead
The library runs storytimes most mornings this week. Baby Time at Hamilton Library and Preschool Time at Sunset Library both go Tuesday, with Toddler Time at the Downtown Library the same day. Basha Library kicks off a four-week Bucket Beats drumming series for kids 6 to 12, also Tuesday.
- 🚐 Chandler Discovery Library at Snedigar. The mobile branch parks at Snedigar Recreation Center Tuesday with a lucky-day collection, free Wi-Fi, and a seed library.
- 🎶 Legends of Country Music dinner show. Weekly live-music dinner series at Legends Showcase, running through the end of June. Details.
- 🎸 Chad Wilson Bailey at Cork & Craft. Live music Wednesday from a multi-instrumentalist with a six-decade songbook. Details.
- 🍺 Unplugged at SanTan Gardens: Sky Daddy. Friday in the barrel room, food trucks on site. Details.
- 🌽 Corn Roast at the Olive Mill. Friday, 5 to 9 PM at the Queen Creek Olive Mill. Details.
- 🛒 Two farmers markets Saturday. The Downtown Chandler Farmers Market at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, and the Local Farmer's Market at Merchant Square, 8 AM to 2 PM. Downtown details.
Around Chandler
🏠 Typical rent in Chandler is about $1,871 a month, down 1% over the past year.
🎬 Harkins Summer Movie Fun is on at Chandler Fashion Center. Eight kids movies over eight weeks for $8, sold as online-only digital season tickets. A cheap way to fill a hot weekday morning with the kids through late July. Details.
🏭 Tech & Downtown Chandler
Downtown's summer slate, plus the city meetings worth a note this week.
🪧 Planning and Zoning Commission. The board that reviews development and rezoning proposals meets Wednesday at 5:30 PM, 88 E. Chicago St. Details.
🏃 Run Club at QuartHaus. The downtown run club meets Wednesday, 6:30 to 7:30 PM, starting from QuartHaus. Details.
📺 Love Island watch party at The Uncommon. Tuesday, 7 to 8 PM downtown. Details.
🍻 A hoppy Father's Day with SanTan Brewing & Distilling. Sunday, 8 AM to 3 PM downtown. Details.
From the schools
The fight between the East Valley Institute of Technology and nine member districts, Chandler Unified among them, is still unresolved after early hopes for a quick settlement fell through. EVIT runs the career and technical programs many CUSD high schoolers take. Details.
Around the Valley
A few picks worth leaving Chandler for this week, all downtown Phoenix.
🏀 Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces. Wednesday, 7 PM at the Mortgage Matchup Center. The Aces are the league's marquee road draw. Tickets.
🎸 Metric, Broken Social Scene, and Stars. Wednesday, 7 PM at Arizona Financial Theatre. Three 2000s indie headliners on one bill, an unusual co-bill for one night. Tickets.
⚾ Diamondbacks vs. Angels. Tonight, 6:40 PM at Chase Field. Interleague at home to open the week. Tickets.