Lots of events going on today! Take a look at our events calendar to find something to do today. Working? There’s still many events on the weekend. Personally I’ll be working, but after that I’m heading over to the Phoenix Public Market and checking out all the many faces of small businesses that will be there today.

Have a great day!

photo by modomatic from flickr

I love tea and there have been a few tea shops I’ve really loved in town but I didn’t realize there were so many! I will never complain about nowhere to go for tea again! Here are some tea places you can go to all over the state to support local business. Skip the Starbucks and try something new. Some of these places offer high tea, great for groups of friends. Most of them have a great selection of teas, some organic and fair trade so search around and find your favorite. I have so many to try, Souvia and Mandala are my favorites right now but I plan to check out as many as I can and hope you will do the same.

Gooseberries Tea Room
13216 North 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ

Souvia Tea Phoenix
15414 N 7th St #8
Phoenix, AZ

Souvia Tea – Scottsdale
4320 N. Miller Rd. #107
Scottsdale, AZ

English Rose
201 Easy Street
Carefree, AZ

Arizona Biltmore
2400 E Missouri Ave
Phoenix, AZ

Tea Court at The Phoenician
6000 East Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ

The Urban Tea Loft
11 West Boston Street, Suite #2
Historic Downtown Chandler, AZ

The Teeter House Tea Room
622 E. Adams Street
Phoenix, AZ 4 reviews

Seven Cups
2516 East 6th Street
Tucson, AZ

Mandala Tearoom
7027 E. 5th Ave
Scottsdale, AZ

Tessa’s Tea and Treasures
4700 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ

Tohono Chul Park
7366 North Paseo del Norte
Tucson, AZ

Hackett House
95 West 4th Street
Tempe, AZ

Chantilly Tea Room
5185 Genematas Drive
Tucson, AZ

Kimberly Ann’s Victorian Tearoom
7153 N. 59th Ave
Glendale, AZ

Steve’s Espresso Coffee & Tea House
1801 E Baseline Rd
Tempe, AZ

Francesca’s Tearoom
4628 North 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ

Tea Infusion
2000 East Rio Salado Parkway Suite 1064
Tempe, AZ

White August Tea Company
3607 E Bell Road, Suite 1
Phoenix, AZ

Applesauce Tea House
213 S San Francisco St
Flagstaff, AZ

Christine Moss & Allison Barta Tea Dreams
1090 S Gilbert Rd Ste 105
Gilbert, AZ

Chakra 4 Herb and Tea House
4773 N. 20th St
Phoenix, AZ

Tea Celebrations Studio
4200 N. Marshall Way
Scottsdale, AZ

Arcadia Farms
at the Phoenix Art Museum
2301 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ

Victorian Garden Tea Room
216 N Alarcon St
Prescott, AZ

The Library of Wine and Tea
212 W. Gurley St.
Prescott, AZ

The Tea Shoppe
7005 N 58th Ave
Glendale, AZ

Here is another great opportunity to get to know your local small businesses. Mark your calendars for April 22 from 4-8pm. Stop by after work and have a great time.

Why Shop Locally? When you shop at a locally owned business, 45 cents of every dollar stays in Arizona – versus only 13 cents of every dollar spent at a national chain!
Read more on Local First AZ >>

“The Many Faces of Small Business Festival”
Wednesday, April 22
4 – 8pm
Downtown Phoenix Public Market
712 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Come downtown and visit the market for this special evening as Local First Arizona partners with The Downtown Public Market and ASBA to bring a great festival to the downtown area: “The Many Faces of Small Business,” – in celebration of the Market’s new, permanent “brick and mortar” building!

Expect to see the following vendors:
1.Sweet Republic
2.Kokopelli’s Kitchen
3.Belinda’s Pickles
4.Lizabel’s Treasures
5.Samurai Comics
6.Audrey Thacker
7. Wicked Wicker
8. Dos Cabezas
9. Green / That’s A Wrap
10.Strawberry Hedgehog
11.Tapino
12. Bruce Brown Catering
13. Cibo
14. Moira Sushi
15. Naturoli
16. Meat Shop
17. Bookmans
18. Shopdevious
19. Spinatos
20. Cookie Lee Jewelry (Bizemoms)
21. Seesaw Designs / GoGetGeek
22. Urban Farm / Yourguidetogreen.com
23. Melrose Pharmacy / Jeff Jameson (Jameson Associates)
24. SMoCA / Art On Boston
25. Foresite Foam / One Solar
26. Le Tutor
27. Maximum Business Advantage / Reconnect Locally
28. Mane Attraction / Healing Quest
29. Savvycollector / Allison Gee
30. Swedeclean / London Luxury
31. MJ Management Solutions / Watermark Insurance
32. Jamax Publishers / Design One

Self indulgence is not typically a very philanthropic activity, however, with rough economic times we all could use some extra TLC. This is a great way to give back to the community while pampering yourself and getting acquainted with a fantastic local business. From the strawberry hedgehog blog:

As you know from my last post I have been really excited about the Soap for Hope soaps I have available where 50% of the price goes directly to support cancer charities. The soaps are available online as well as at my favorite Mesa cafe/yoga studio, Inside the Bungalow, who just so happen to be hosting a super cool event on May 2nd to support the St. Baldrick’s charity. So, last week I went to drop off the fresh lemon-rosemary soap there but before leaving I checked their blog only to find that Inside the Bungalow’s massage therapist, is donating ALL of the massage proceeds to the charity!

I couldn’t resist this opportunity to pamper myself while giving to charity. What a fabulously rewarding combination! Melissa, the massage therapist, is incredibly friendly and talented. She sets you at ease the moment you arrive, has a healing touch and warm personality, listening to your concerns and adjusting to your preference. The prices are out of this world and with all of the proceeds going to St. Baldrick’s through May you really have no excuse not to go! :c) Their scheduling and online payment system is super simple and I highly recommend you leap at the opportunity as I did. I am so impressed with Melissa’s ability as a massage therapist and her huge heart, I cannot believe her generosity donating all of her time and energy to heal her clients and support finding a cure for childhood cancer. WOW!

Click here for more info.

Not bad for only being open for a couple weeks! If you haven’t been over there yet now is a great time to check them out.

Here’s a quote from AZ Biodiesel’s owner Dan Rees from local diesel forum sparkfree.com.

You told us…………”appointments are lame”

So………….no more appointments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the map to our Gilbert location for you to get fuel:
http://azbiodiesel.com/contact.htm

And just to celebrate……..biodiesel now $2.50 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah!!!!!!!!! lower methanol prices allowed us to lower our price again!!!

Thanks everyone!
Dan