You may be thinking that we’re crazy. Okay, we may be a little crazy but this is totally legit. The brand new Butterfly Wonderland knows that AZ’s deserts are full of butterflies. So if you or your child is a shutter-bug (you can bet that pun was intended) or just like snapping some pics while you’re hiking, you should listen up. Butterfly Wonderland is launching a photo contest with a grand prize of $1,000. Second place receives $500 and third place will win a lifetime membership at the Wonderland. This contest is open to all amateur photographers that are at least 8 years old. The deadline for entries is May 20 and the winner will be chosen on May 24 by a team of qualified judges. All submissions must be uploaded by May 22. You can upload them here.

For more information, click here.

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Yes, we’re being repetitive but your mother is important. This Sunday is Mother’s Day and we have one more place where you can treat her right. Milagro Grill in Phoenix will be celebrating every mom in the building on the 12th. Every mother in the building will receive half-off brunch. She can enjoy food items like Cinnamon-Banana Pancake with Chocolate Chunks and an Frances Concha Bread French Toast, and much more. It wouldn’t be brunch if mimosas and bloody marys weren’t part of the mix, along with 20% wine. Also, every mom there will get a beautiful long-stem mum flower.

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Downtown Phoenix is growing more and more vibrant every year. If you’ve ever frequented the area, then you’ve probably seen the Phoenix Public Market. It is state’s largest open-air market with 100 vendors and open year-round, rain or shine. Now you can add the perfect place for a bite to that list. On Wednesday, May 8, from the minds who brought us St. Francis comes the Phoenix Public Market Café. Chef Paul Steele will bring together the freshest, local ingredients, with his simple and health-focused menu. If you think it’ll be expensive, you’re in for a treat. Breakfast and lunch items will be $10 and under and dinner items will be $15 and under. The café is doing some philanthropy as well with all proceeds of kids menu items going to the St. Mary’s Foodbank’s backpack program. So basically, the Phoenix Public Market Café is one of the best things to hit downtown in quite a while. To kick it all off, the mayor will be hosting a lighting ceremony on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Phoenix Public Market Café | 14 East Pierce Street | Phoenix

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This isn’t your mother’s Land Rover. This is the Land Rover Defender LXV Special Edition. And it is very special. This is the 65th anniversary edition, hence the Roman numerals in its name. There aren’t very many car models that can say they’ve reached such an achievement. Its 2.2L diesel engine isn’t built for speed, but for life expectancy. There’s a lot we don’t know about this ride, like price and US release, for example. But we can tell, this ride was meant to last.

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We know your busy but you never too busy for mom. She did bring you into this world, after all. This Sunday, May 12, is Mother’s Day. Thanks to Local First Arizona for the great ideas, here are some ways to celebrate mom’s day the local way. You can stop by one of the Valley’s many local flower shops and get her a bouquet of her favorites. Find a one-of-kind piece of jewelry from a local jeweler. You can treat to day at the spa. The list goes on. For more Mother’s Day gift ideas and the best brunch places around town, click here.

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The Appleseed Cast is probably the best band you’ve never heard of. Indie rock with a flair of the 90′s, Appleseed cast has been around since  1998. Back then, their debut album, The End of the Ring Wars, pretty much pioneered the start of the “emo” movement. Fifteen years later, their back with a new record, Illuminati Ritual. While touring extensively to promote this album, the band’s van was run off the road and they lost around $8,000 worth of equipment, according to Pitchfork. They are currently fundraising to get back on the road. Check out the title track on their Illuminati Ritual. 

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Most of us have only seen the rainforest in movies and TV. On May 25, that can all change. A little piece of the rainforest will call Scottsdale home. At the end of the month, Butterfly Wonderland will open its doors. For a limited only, you can get their lifetime membership offer for just $99 individually or $249 for a family of four. The Butterfly Wonderland spans a 5-acre parcel of land and will be home to an indoor rainforest environment that will feature the largest butterfly pavilion in America. If you’re interested, you sign up quick because the offer is only valid through June 15.

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Is it Friday already? Ah yes, the beloved weekend is here and that means it is once again time for the Weekender. Our latest and possible greatest cocktail comes to you from the brand new Salut Kitchen Bar. The Lemon Lavender Fizz is the perfect drink for summer. If you don’t feel like heading into Salut for the drink, they’ve been kind enough to share the recipe.

Ingredients:

2oz Bombay Saphire Gin

¾ oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

¾ oz Lavender Syrup

2 ½ oz Sparkling French Lemonade

Method:

Mix the gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice and shake. Fill your favorite tall glass with ice and add the the mix. Then top it off with French sparkling lemonade. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a fresh sprig of lavender.

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If you’re having a bad day, your pet can really make you feel better. So, if you’ve had a rough day, week, month, year, whatever, watch this cute animation by Madeline Sharafian. We know it will make you feel better because sometimes you just need someone who loves you no matter what.

Omelette from Madeline Sharafian on Vimeo.

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Now that it is warm outside, it’s the perfect time to go camping. Today’s object of desire was designed for all of you outdoor enthusiasts. The Luminair Tree Tent is probably the coolest tent we’ve ever seen. It’s a unique option when compared to traditional tents. Basically, you string it up in a tree and though it doesn’t have the ability to pack in and out a lot, it makes for a great semi-permanent above ground structure. At three meters in diameter, the tent can easily fit two adults. It weighs just 234 pounds which is pretty impressive seeing how it can hold more than 500. Expect to pay around $10,000 for the Luminair.

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With spring comes fresh veggies. If you’re watching your weight or just love eating salads, we’ve got an interesting twist on the Caesar salad for you. Chef Harold Marmulstein at Salty Sow has been kind enough to share the recipe for his delicious Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad. So, if you feel like showing off your newly acquired recipe to friends and family, we won’t blame you if you take the credit.

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Farmer’s markets have everything you could possibly need. If you can’t taste the difference between freshly grown local and the stuff they ship to grocery stores then there must be something wrong with your taste buds. Right now, artichokes are in season and Scottsdale’s Singh Farms weekly farmer’s market with be showing off their recent harvest. This Saturday, May 4, the farm will be having an artichoke festival where you can pick out as many as you want for just 50 cents a piece. Artichokes can run up to $5.00 a piece at stores. You can make a day of it with cooking demos, recipes, and more.

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As declared by AZCentral.com, the best burger in Phoenix wants to make sure everyone in town can try it. Located at Bobby Q’s Smokehouse Burger is truly a piece of art. The half-pound burger is topped with Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar Cheese, strips of crispy Applewood Smoked bacon, a haystack of crunchy onion strings, and both BBQ and “secret” sauces. Seeing how May is National Burger Month, Bobby Q’s will be featuring it for just $9 Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. all month long. Grab a beer and the Smokehouse Burger and you have the perfect meal.

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The engineers at Mercedes really know what they’re doing. At first glance, the stunning Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept looks like a car in a sci-fi movie. It might as well be because it is indeed a concept — for now. The crossover runs a turbocharged 2.0L engine that gets about 208 horsepower. This ride isn’t about muscle, though. The headlights are lasers that have the ability to project images. The air vents shine colored lights; blue for cold, red for hot. It also features two HD cameras on the roof that can be removed whenever you feel like it. Also, we probably won’t see this ride on the road anytime soon.

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Cinco de Mayo is almost here. We have some more May 5 specials for you and this time Ireland is getting a taste of Mexico. The Thirsty Lion Pub in Tempe Marketplace has some pretty stellar deals. The restaurant has created a special Cinco de Mayo Menu that will run from Thursday, May 2 to Sunday, May 5. You’ll have all weekend long to enjoy a brew or margarita and special grub. Check out some of the menu items.

Entrees
Spicy Chicken Nachos Tri-color tortilla chips with cheddar, jack and mozzarella cheeses, topped with spicy chicken, tomatoes, olives, jalapénos, green onions, Sante Fe black beans, herbed sour cream, guacamole and fresh salsa. 11.95

Spicy BBQ Pork Quesadilla A large flour tortilla filled with slow-cooked BBQ pork, black beans, cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, jalapeños, olives, green onions, pico de gallo and chipotle aioli. 8.95

Baja Fish Tacos With sautéed shrimp or cod, chipotle aioli, cilantro lime slaw, pico de gallo, Cotija cheese and white corn tortillas. Served with Sante Fe bacon black beans. 13.95

Jalapeno Pepperjack Burger Melted pepperjack cheese, jalapeños, Tabasco onion strings, fresh guacamole and chipotle aioli. 10.95
Green Chili Chicken Sandwich Roasted green chilies, pepperjack, fresh guacamole, lettuce, tomato and chipotle aioli on ciabatta bread. 10.95

Featured Margaritas
Blood Orange Margarita : El Jimador tequila, pureed blood orange, agave nectar, muddled fruit and sweet and sour.

Pomegranate Margarita : Tequila, triple sec, agave nectar, pomegranate juice and sweet & sour.

Tropical Margarita : Tequila, melon liqueur, passion fruit puree and sweet & sour.

Spicy Margarita : Tequila, triple sec, agave nectar, habañero pepper, lemon, lime and sweet & sour.

Cadillac Margarita : 1800 tequila, triple sec, lime, agave nectar and sweet & sour.

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Vampire Weekend may be one of the best bands today. Forming in 2006, the indie band has had many successful hits, even though they’ve only released two previous albums. The band has spent almost two years writing and recording. Their newest one, Modern Vampires of the City, is due out on May 7, we’re very excited for this latest album and we’re sure it’s going to be a hit. Check out the single Step. Fun fact: this music video was directed by actor Steve Buscemi.

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It is spring, so how about some spring-time DIY crafts? Here’s an easy project for a fruit inspired welcome mat. First, find a circular welcome mat (Ikea, $20). Fold it in half and cut down the middle. Start by cutting two rings out along outer the edge, the outer edge is bigger than the inner. Then use a red and green spray paint to color it all in. For the seeds, you’re going to want to use a stencil and black paint. For more detailed instructions, click here.

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The weekend is upon us once again and that means it is time to bring you another delicious cocktail. Thanks to Del Frisco’s Grille, here is a recipe for the perfect warm weather cocktail, a pomegranate margarita. This one comes with an added bonus: anti-oxidants.

Ingredients:

2 ounces Avion Reposado Tequila

1 ounce Cointreau

1 ounce fresh lime-sour mix*

1 ounce POM pomegranate Juice

3 parts freshly squeezed lime juice

2 parts simple syrup (1 part water and 1 part sugar)

Method:

Dampen the edge of a rocks glass. Pour all of the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake away. Put ice in the rocks glass and pour the mix in. Garnish with a lime and there you go.

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We’re here bringing you a friendly reminder that mother’s day will soon be upon us, May 12 to be exact. Brunch always goes hand-in-hand with mom’s special day, so where should you take her? The signature Latilla restaurant at the Boulders Resort will be offering a Mother’s Day brunch that features a carving station, omelet station, cold & hot items, bread & bakery, dessert and a children’s station for the little ones. Roaring Fork will be celebrating with a specialty brunch, as well. It will be featuring a selection of breakfast items, a carving station featuring roasted pork prime rib & smoked beef brisket, salads, eggs, signature side dishes, entrees and tasty desserts by Executive Chef, Michael Bouwens.

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Java nuts and caffeine addicts rejoice. Today’s object desire is just for you. Waking up early to go to work is a painful thing to do every day. That’s why the morning cup of coffee has become such a staple in our society. Why not enjoy a brilliant, gourmet cup from the comfort of your own home? The Jura Giga 5 Coffee Center makes one heck of a cup of coffee. This machine can make two cups at the same time, perfect for you and your significant other. It can make anything on the Starbucks menu, aside from the syrups. For just $5,500, this coffee center can be yours.

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