You wouldn’t know it from all the parking lots and shopping centers in our immediate vicinity, but out on the fringe of suburbia, acres of peaches are growing fat and juicy in the warm spring sunshine.

If you haven't been by the patio at Monti's La Casa Vieja in Tempe for a while, it's changed.

They may be so commonplace they’re unappreciated, so simple they fail to activate the saliva glands at first sight, but in our book it’s hard to go wrong with chips and salsa.

On a normal day, thirsty revelers easily drain two kegs of Guinness at Boston's Black Rose tavern. Come St. Patrick's Day — an official holiday in Bean Town — and they'll plow thorough 55 kegs.

RINCON, Puerto Rico — Several years ago, I found myself needing a certain type of vacation — one that would help me reset life and that combined my passions: fitness and sports, the outdoors and travel, healthy food and new people.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — There may have been a time when Puerto Rico was a cheap getaway but those days are long gone. Puerto Rico is heavily dependent on imported goods and fuel and that's reflected in prices from a taxi ride from the airport to the mojito at your hotel. And it is, after all, the Caribbean, where tourists should expect eye-popping bills in season. A six-star hotel that opened recently in Dorado, east of San Juan, advertised rates starting at $1,500 a night, ranging up to nearly $5,000. There are, of course, cheaper options. There are also things to do that don't cost anything at all. Here are five of them:

Pancheros Mexican Grill, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant, is opening Jan. 29 in Chandler, and they’ll sell $1 burritos to mark the occasion.

Looking for a few simple ways to freshen up the go-to dish of the Super Bowl? We cobbled together a mighty tasty basic guacamole, then came up with four ways to turn basic into unbelievably good.

Support your local economy while stocking up on fresh vegetables, jams, salsas, jellies, natural meats and handmade craft projects at Mesa Community Farmers Market.

It's easy to have romantic visions of the holidays - cozy fires, perfectly wrapped gifts, your house decorated like a magazine spread, all your friends gathered to celebrate, marveling at your culinary prowess.

Love tequila? Then you will want to attend the fourth annual Phoenix Tequila Fest this weekend in Phoenix where there will be tastings and samplings of some of the world’s finest tequilas.

Sweet, spicy flavors combine for an enticing festival of gourmet chocolates, southwestern salsas, music and dance at Desert Botanical Garden.

Second Mesa • A road trip to the Four Corners region of the Southwest offers a window into Native American culture, from ruins older than any other man-made structure in the U.S., to glimpses of contemporary life amid the Navajo and Hopi.

Whether you want to explore a classy art festival or cheer at the ostrich, or even Chihuahua races, the East Valley has it! Let’s take advantage of our Arizona paradise and dance outdoors to live music, indulge during a cook-off, put on our boots for the rodeo and Old West Days, or run foot races.

Blue Adobe Grille (144 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa, [480] 962-1000). The carne adovada plate is the highlight of the New Mexican dishes found at this award-winning establishment. There’s an excellent selection of Southwest infused seafood as well, including lobster tamales with mango salsa and raspberry chipotle. $$

Fall is arriving, and residents of the Valley are starting to enjoy the outdoors again. Mesa Arts and Crafts Festival, starting up in October, is a good way to enjoy the weather, take a stroll, indulge in tasty treats, listen to live music and shop for art, jewelry and crafts.

Tempe Elementary School District students will soon be seeing a healthy, fresh change to their school lunches as the district works with a chef to introduce different foods into the lunch rotation.

Performing Arts 2012-13 season preview

El Palacio’s Mexican Restaurant in Chandler is celebrating Mexico’s independence from Spain with a homemade salsa competition, live mariachi bands, dancing provided by Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli and a kids activity zone. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Xico — a nonprofit arts organization.

“So You Think You Can Dance” is fun to watch, but you can do some dancing of your own at Dance Doctors in Gilbert, where a drop-in class on Wednesday evenings make it easy to learn some memorable moves.