🌱 Kuko's Nest + Hunkapi Farms Needs Donations + Glass Pumpkin Patch

Good morning, neighbors! It's Saturday in Scottsdale and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Today you'll find...

• Kuko's Nest is now open.
• Hunkapi Farms needs donations to feed their horses.
• Glass Pumpkin Patch and Desert Foothills Book Festival dates.

But first, your weekend weather: We may have an afternoon thunderstorm, with a high of 102 and low of 82.

Here are the top stories in Scottsdale today:

1. Kuko's Nest, a Greek restaurant, is now open at 10135 E. Via Linda, Suite C113. This "fast-casual restaurant" features freshly prepared menu items, such as the "Kukogyro Pita Wrap," "The Athenian Sandwich," kabobs, and various salads. Guests can also enjoy the family recipe for loukoumades as a sweet treat! The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you can check out the menu here! (NewsBreak)
2. Hunkapi Farms, an equine therapy farm, is in need of donations. The farm helps "a variety of people, like cancer patients, first responders and veterans who may have experienced trauma in their life." The extreme heat deters clients from coming out, but the farm still has to feed their horses as hay prices rise. The farm needs 160 bales of hay to feed the horses through the remainder of the summer heat, and each bale costs between $20 to $25 dollars. Click here if you are interested in donating. (Arizona's Family)
3. Looking for a unique pumpkin patch option? Save the dates and consider checking out Holland Community Center's Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch this Oct. 20-22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The Glass Pumpkin Patch will feature "over 1,000 glass pumpkins handmade by acclaimed artist Gregory Tomb available for purchase." The Desert Foothills Book Festival will also take place on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it will "showcase approximately 70 award-winning local authors." Admission is free to both events, which will be held at 34250 N. 60th St., and funds raised will benefit The Holland Community Center. (Free: The Holland Center, Subscription: Daily Independent)
4. Scottsdale was named No. 1 on WalletHub's "2023's Most Pet-Friendly Cities" list. WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 23 key metrics, such as outdoor pet-friendliness, pet health and wellness, and pet budget. The next Arizona city on the list is Phoenix at No. 30. (WalletHub)

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Tomorrow in Scottsdale:

Sunday, August 13

• Western Movie Matinees: "Rio Bravo" at Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. Purchase tickets online. (2:00 PM)
• Contemporary Literature Book Club at Civic Center Library (3:00 PM - 4:30 PM)
• “Cinematic Spies and Secret Agents” Concert at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Tom Darlington Drive. "The free concert will feature a program of fun music from iconic spy movies and TV shows and will be followed by an opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy spy-themed snacks such as 'Pop Secret' popcorn and 'Hot on the Trail' mix." (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• "Take a quick tour of the @ScottsdalePD Property & Evidence warehouse!" Video at the link! (Scottsdale Police Department via Facebook)
• "Our young patrons and their caregivers enjoyed a fun children's music concert by PapaHugs this week at Arabian Library! If you missed this one, you can catch PapaHugs next time at Appaloosa Library (Aug. 16 at 10:30 a.m.) or Civic Center (Aug. 26 at 2 p.m.)." (Scottsdale Public Library via Facebook)
• Railfair 2023 will take place on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, and more information can be found here. (McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park via Facebook)
• "Did you know that the utility vehicles used by Sports Complex Operations Staff are fitted with Turf Tires? Turf tires feature an optimized tread design and extra flotation, which evenly distributes the weight of the machine and minimizes the cutting and chunking of the grass. This feature makes them perfect for sports fields!" (Scottsdale Sports Complex via Facebook)
• "Join us for AM Connect at Gainey Business Bank on Thursday, Aug. 17 from 7:30-9 a.m.... Info and registration at: https://bit.ly/3qpTxoo" (Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• "Join the Speak Up Scottsdale online community where your voice can help shape Scottsdale to create better projects and programs for our world class city. https://bit.ly/3Yq9VBV" (Scottsdale Economic Development via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (August 15)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar on August 15th and 17th (August 15)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll see you next week!

— Megan Moreno

About me: Dr. Megan Moreno is a registered nurse, leader, cancer survivor, wife, and mother of two. Megan loves spending time with her husband, who is an Army combat veteran, and their children exploring the beautiful city of Scottsdale.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Scottsdale Patch newsletter? Contact me at [email protected]