Bakery‑Café opens

Tasteful Creations Bakery‑Café has opened in Tuscani Pointe, 711 E. Carefree Hwy. Owner Ursula Baker specializes in designer cakes for birthdays, weddings, and special events. Everything is baked fresh daily from scratch without  preservatives, additives or trans fats. The café will feature daily lunch specials. For more information, call (623) 587‑1100.

Cool option for hot nights

Robert Gabrick, owner of Carefree Station in Carefree’s charming Spanish Village, announced their new, giant, retractable awning and misting system is being installed and will be ready by the end of June. The upstairs patio lookout features seating for 80, fabulous views, great food, and their “Cool Days of Summer All‑Day Happy Hour” when you mention you read about it The Desert Advocate. For more information, call (480) 488‑8182.

Cold Shott to rock DBG

The Desert Botanical Gardens continues its Jazz in the Garden 2007 Concert Series with Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns at 7:30 p.m. on June 22.

Formed in 1990, The Cold Shott Blues Band made its mark in Phoenix as a classic and contemporary blues trio. The band reformed in 1992 to include The Hurricane Horns. Cold Shott and The Hurricane Horns remains a powerful mainstay in the Arizona music scene with a big band presentation of R&B, blues, soul, funk and jazz.

Fabulous Food Catering provides gourmet picnic dinners for an additional charge and there is a cash bar available as well as wine tastings and sales. Patrons must be 21 or older to attend the concert.

Tickets are $20 for non‑members and $14 for members. DBG is located at 1201 N. Galvan Pkwy. in Phoenix. Call (480) 941‑1225 for information.

Alma Performing Arts to stage benefit

Alma Performing Arts will present “From Broadway to Spain” at 7 p.m., June 23, at Paradise Valley High School, 3959 E. Bell Rd. in Phoenix.

The program is an enlightening performance exploring all types of dance and music from around the world. Dancers will perform pieces in flamenco, musical theater, tango, jazz, salsa, ballet, tap and Mexican folk dance.

All proceeds will go to benefit Terry Earp and Brazos Abiertos. Earp is a popular Phoenix actress and playwright who was seriously injured in a car/bicycle accident in 2006. She continues her rehabilitation at her Valley home. Brazos Abiertos is a Valley organization dedicated to helping children in need, says event organizer Alma Schnell.

Alma Performing Arts in Phoenix is dedicated to providing a culturally diverse artistic education where students are given the opportunity to become involved with their community and dance in a professional setting.

Tickets are $15. For information, call (602) 402‑4660.

Summertime fun offered at Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo is offering kids of all ages cool summer fun activities during its Starry Safaris from 6‑9 p.m. through August 3.

The evenings feature a variety of activities including water play, up close animal encounters, zoo rides including the Safari Train, camel and the Endangered Species Carousel. Visitors can also rent bikes and pedal boats and see the zoo from a different perspective.

Because some of the animals will be resting in the evenings, not all zoo trails will be open, but some favorites including Monkey Village, giraffe, zebra, flamingo and the orangutans will be available for viewing. The Arizona Trail and the zoo’s lakeside loop will be accessible until dusk.

Starry Safari admission is $3 for all ages and $2 for Phoenix Zoo members. Children 2 years and younger are admitted free. Additional fees apply to various rides throughout the zoo.

Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N Galvan Parkway in Phoenix. For information, call (602) 273‑1341.