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Celebrate National Ice Cream Day at these Gilbert Ice Cream Shops

Have you been looking for any excuse you could find to indulge in a sweet ice cream cone lately? Well lone and behold, here is your excuse. Not only is it National Ice Cream Day this Sunday, July 19th, but the entire month of July is ice cream month! It’s time to #TreatYoSelf. 212 Ice Cream Studio The 212 Ice Cream Studio makes the top of our list for a couple of reasons. 1.) It’s less than 5 minutes from Acero Cooley Station, and 2.) They offer some of the most unique, delicious and totally photo-worthy ice cream cones we’ve ever seen! 212 Ice Cream Studio is locally owned, so while you’re supporting your sweet tooth you’re also supporting the small businesses of Gilbert. And if that wasn’t enough you make you say “Scoop yeah!” then get this, the studio offers both sugar-free and vegan ice cream! Feel good about your National Ice Cream Day indulgence when you stop by the 212 Ice Cream Studio. (Photo by @Peanuttandjelly) Rockwell Ice Cream Co. With weekly specials and made from scratch ingredients, there’s no doubt about it we’ll be visiting Rockwell Ice Cream Co. in celebration of ice cream month. I mean really, is there anything better than an old fashioned ice cream cone? (The answer is no, there’s not). Rockwell Ice Cream Co. was inspired by the nostalgic “old-time” ice cream shops and a love for ice cream, bringing a taste of history and passion here to Gilbert. You can find your favorite classic ice cream flavors , such as rocky road and vanilla, along with a few more unique flavors like honeycomb or “the G.O.A.T.” (which has g oat cheese base with blackberry, lemon jam swirls, and honey rosemary roasted almonds). (Photo by @Rockwellicecream) The Baked Bear Imagine your favorite homemade cookie, sandwiched with your favorite ice cream in the middle, then topped with drizzled chocolate, sprinkles, and anything else you could imagine. That’s what The Baked Bear is all about! Premium ice cream sandwiches that bring your most favorite creations to life. The process is quite simple, first, you choose your cookie (whether that be snickerdoodle, brownie, cake batter, you name it), then the ice cream filling, add your favorite toppings, and if you’d like, you can even have the cookie warmed up a bit. Our mouths are watering, how about yours? If you’re looking for something unique and out of the norm this National Ice Cream Day, do your sweet tooth a favor and visit The Baked Bear in the SanTan Village! Oh, and did we mention they ship right to your door? Yep. You don’t even have to leave your Acero Cooley Station apartment to enjoy this special treat! (Photo by @Thebakedbear) As we mentioned before, July is ice cream month, so if you’re reading this and thinking you can’t wait for National Ice Cream Day to indulge, you might as well go grab a scoop today! And when you do, share with us on Facebook or Instagram where you end up going. That’s all for today, stay tuned for more on the Acero Cooley Blog here . See you next time!

Healthy Smoothie Recipes to Keep You Cool this Summer

This Arizona heatwave is no joke! In the blink of an eye, Gilbert is continuing to see daily temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. While this isn’t necessarily a huge surprise, given we do live in the valley of the sun, it can leave us in search of something refreshing and cold when hunger strikes. And that is what smoothies are practically made for! Nothing tastes better than a frozen smoothie on a hot day. Check out these three simple, easy and delicious smoothie recipes that take less than 10 minutes to make and use ingredients you can likely find at the local Sprouts , Trader Joes or Natural Grocers . Mixed Berry Smoothie Summer = berry season. Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries; everything in between! Throw them in a blender and you’ve got a delicious smoothie that tastes like summer in a cup. Here’s our favorite mixed berry smoothie recipe: Ingredients: - ½ cup fresh blackberries - ½ cup fresh blueberries - ½ cup fresh strawberries - ½ cup vanilla greek yogurt - ½ cup alternative milk of choice (coconut milk is our favorite) - 1 cup ice Directions: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth! Protein-Packed Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie One thing’s for sure when the heatwave hits: cooking large, filling meals tends to be the last thing you want to do in the middle of the day or for dinner that evening. That’s when you turn to a protein smoothie to cool you down and fill you up! This is our go-to protein smoothie recipe for those days you don’t feel like cooking, but are pretty hungry too. Ingredients: - 2 bananas - ½ cup peanut butter - 1 cup alternative milk of choice (for this recipe we prefer almond milk) - 1 scoop protein powder (vanilla or chocolate) - 1 tablespoon honey - 1 ½ cups ice Directions: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth! If you prefer a slightly sweeter smoothie, add another tablespoon of honey. If you don’t have protein powder, that’s fine! The peanut butter and bananas will still fill you up and have a healthy amount of natural protein. Peachy Mango Green Smoothie Everyone loves a good green smoothie! Throw in some frozen peaches and mango and you’ve got yourself a delicious treat that is healthy, nutritious, and sure to keep you cool in those 100+ degree Arizona temperatures. Ingredients: - 1 cup spinach - 1 cup kale - 1 cup frozen peaches - 1 cup frozen mango slices - 1 cup alternate milk of choice (we recommend coconut milk for this recipe) - ½ cup vanilla greek yogurt Directions: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth! Cheers to keeping cool amidst the ongoing Arizona heatwave with these super simple smoothie recipes! Give these a try and let us know how you liked them with a photo and a tag on Facebook or Instagram . While you’re at it, keep following the Acero Cooley Station blog here for more posts like this one, all summer long!

Fireworks, Food Trucks and the Fourth of July in Gilbert

This Saturday, July 4th, celebrates both the independence of our nation and Gilbert, Arizona’s 100th birthday! Our community has without a doubt experienced massive change in the recent months, but if one thing remains it is our good spirits and sense of togetherness. This weekend the city of Gilbert is hosting it’s Centennial Fourth of July Celebration at Crossroads Park, where attendees can enjoy a beautiful firework show, food trucks and a social distancing-friendly good time. Here’s what the weekend will look like. Red, White and Blue Illuminates Gilbert Water Tower On Friday, July 3rd the Gilbert Water Tower will be illuminated with red white and blue lights in honor of America’s Independence Day. If you’re new to the area, you might not have seen this before! It’s a beautiful sight to say the least, and it’s fairly common to see the tower light up in the observance of various holidays or in celebration of events, local happenings, etc. The Gilbert Water Tower is a staple in our home town, so remember to take a look at it this Fourth of July to see it glowing in red, white, and blue. (Photo by @GilbertYourTown) Drive-In Firework Show It wouldn’t be the Fourth of July without a Gilbert firework show! This year, given COVID-19 and the heightened awareness of social distancing practices, this annual event will be held in a drive-in fashion. Locals are invited to Crossroads Park (2155 E Knox Road, Gilbert, AZ 85296) where the parking lot will open at 6:30 p.m. for attendees to find a spot and get comfortable. Parking spots are first-come, first-serve, and cars will be directed to park at a safe distance from neighboring vehicles. While watching the show you can be in your car, on your car, in the back of a truck bed or wherever you can see, while remaining within 5 feet of your own vehicle. You can find more information on the City of Gilbert event page, here . Bring A Snack or Visit the Food Trucks As mentioned before, there will be food trucks on-site! However, if you wanted to bring your favorite Fourth of July pasta salad, or a rack of ribs you made in your Acero Cooley Station kitchen, you are invited to do that as well. It wouldn’t be the 4th without some of your favorite BBQ food, so pack dinner and snacks for your evening at the park. The fireworks are scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m., so anticipate being out for most of the evening! Now you have something to look forward to this Fourth of July weekend! The 100th birthday of our magnificent city of Gilbert, and a drive-in celebration of our nation’s independence. Share this post with neighbors and friends on Facebook or Instagram to let them know what’s going on this weekend, and stay tuned for more like this on the Acero Cooley Station blog .

Spend Father's Day with Dad - From A Distance!

Holiday’s may look a little different these days, but that doesn’t make the reason for celebrating any less worthy! Father’s day is this weekend, and whether you can’t make it to see dad or you are continuing to practice social distancing, here are a few ways you can still celebrate Father’s Day from a distance. Organize a Beer Tasting This idea could go a variety of ways, depending on your dad's preference. If on a typical Father’s Day you and dad might find yourself at local Arizona brewery, like 12 West or Barrio , then this year, bring the tasting to dad! And if your pops prefer a glass of wine or maybe even whiskey, the same concept applies. Grab your dad and yourself a variety of different local brews (say, an IPA, a golden ale, a cider, a stout, and a lager) and host your own home beer tasting! Hop on a FaceTime call or Zoom conference call and chat about each beer and what you like (or dislike) about each. If your dad isn’t much of a beer fan, execute the same idea, but substitute for wine or whiskey! Either way, it’s a fun Father’s Day activity and doubles as a gift if he likes the beers, so we’d say that’s a win-win. (Photo by @12westbrewing) Virtual Coffee Date There’s nothing like a peaceful Sunday morning in your Acero Cooley Station apartment. So this weekend why not share your morning, and this special holiday, with dad and a cup of warm coffee over a FaceTime call or Zoom video conference! Stay cozy with your favorite beverage and chat with dad as if the two of you were out for coffee somewhere in Gilbert. Times are strange right now, might as well embrace them! And if you wanted to go the extra mile, you could even pick up a latte from Higher Grounds ahead of time and drop it off on your dad’s doorstep. How special you want to make it is up to you! Drop Off Dinner or Lunch You may have heard the saying once before, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!” and we couldn’t agree more. Show Dad you love him with dinner or lunch from his favorite restaurant this Father’s Day. Or, better yet, make him dinner yourself in your Acero Cooley Station kitchen! Treat him to a day off from cooking or worrying about dinner plans, and surprise him with something he always looks forward to. Because let’s be real, if we weren’t staying home you’d likely be eating out to celebrate anyway! Whether you end up making dad’s favorite spaghetti sauce or dropping off a sandwich and soup from this preferred cafe (did someone say La Madeleine French Bakery? ), he will surely appreciate your thoughtfulness and the delicious food. (Photo by @LamadeleineCafe) We know things are different these days, but that doesn’t mean they are any less special! Show dad how much you love and appreciate him with a thoughtful social-distancing friendly celebration this Father’s Day. If you give any of these a try, be sure to let us know how they went on Facebook or Instagram ! And while you’re at it, keep following the Acero Cooley Station blog here for more like this one. See you next time!

Best Spots to Picnic in Gilbert

Grab the basket and blanket, it’s picnic season! What better way to get outdoors and breathe in that crisp Gilbert air than with lunch at a community park or nature area. With stay at home orders and such, we have found ourselves not only cooking more, but looking for more social distancing friendly ways to spend some time outside of the apartment. A picnic is a great way to do just that, and here are a few Gilbert community spots near Acero Cooley Station where you could bring your lunch and enjoy some time outdoors. Gilbert Regional Park We did mention that Gilbert has lots of amazing parks and recreation… right? First on the list is without a doubt the Gilbert Regional Park , a recent addition to the town of Gilbert! Phase 1A of construction was completed in September of 2019, unveiling an extremely impressive playground, a splash pad fountain park, a large picnic tables area, restroom facilities and an overwhelmingly beautiful park in Gilbert. Words don’t really do this prime picnic location enough justice, so here’s a virtual tour of the stunning park for you take a look and see for yourself! Phase 1B of the Gilbert Regional Park is expected to be open late this summer. Less than 10 minutes from your apartment, you’d be missing out if you didn’t treat yourself to a picnic at this blossoming Gilbert community treasure. (Photo by @GilbertRegional) Desert Sky Park Acero Cooley Station is lucky to be surrounded by a handful of beautiful parks and recreation sites. So many so that it is hard to pick our favorites! But it’s easy to say that the Desert Sky Park is more than worthy of making the list for great picnic spots in Gilbert. Located a mere 4-minute drive from Acero Cooley Station, the Desert Sky Park is a recent addition to the Gilbert community, boasting a serene lake, multi-use fields for outdoor activities, and even a playground. The Desert Sky Park is the perfect place for a morning stroll with your coffee, a walk with the dog and of course, a picnic. There are plenty of picnic tables, with covers providing shade from the hot Arizona sun, as well as lush greenery if you wanted to lay a blanket down and relax with some cheese and crackers. The Desert Sky Park was practically made for picnicking! (Photo by @Drewjohnson_imagery) Adventures at Boulders Park Adventures at Boulder park might take a backseat to the glitz and glam of the Gilbert Regional Park and the Desert Sky park, but it is one of our favorite places to pack our picnic baskets for an outdoor lunch. This peaceful desert oasis is only about 5 minutes from Acero Cooley Station and has well-kept landscaping, lush green fields and a small play area with Arizona inspired boulders. Boulders Park is like a little hidden secret that makes for the perfect getaway picnic spot! If you’ve been wanting to bring your lunch break or afternoon snack outdoors, consider these Gilbert community parks near your home at Acero Cooley Station! If you liked this blog, find more like it here , and get social with us on Facebook and Instagram . Take care, we’ll see you here next time!

Shop Small, Support Local at the Gilbert Farmers Market

Every Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m. the Gilbert Farmers Market hosts dozens of local vendors, offering everything from fresh produce to delicious food trucks and beautiful flowers. Located just West of the iconic Downtown Gilbert water tower, the farmers market is a weekend staple to Gilbert locals as well as out of town visitors. Even now, amidst COVID-19 and the tremendous changes our community has endured in recent months, the Gilbert Farmers Market remains. If you’re new to town or have simply never made it to the market before 11 a.m. (we get it, Saturdays are for sleeping in) then let us remind you of all that the market features, and give you a few reasons to set that alarm clock; even on the weekend. Fresh, Local Produce Fresh is best, especially when it comes to produce! Making the Gilbert Farmers Market part of your weekly grocery shopping routine could be one of the best things to happen to your favorite recipes. Market vendors offer a huge variety of locally grown and produced goods and food products, such as organic eggs, naturally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh honey, pecans, coffee beans, tortillas and so much more. Elevate your cooking and reward your tastebuds with the flavor of fresh, locally sourced ingredients from right here in your community. You can find the full list of Gilbert Farmers Market vendors, here . (Photo by @Rhibafarms) Supporting Small Businesses You’ve probably heard this more times than you can count lately with all that’s going on in the world, but supporting small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic is wildly important! The vendors and businesses at the Gilbert Farmers Market are as local as it gets. Drive a little while in pretty much any direction from your Acero Cooley Station apartment and you’ll likely see the very farm that has a booth at the Saturday market. When you purchase your vegetables and kitchen staples from the Gilbert market, you're supporting the local farmers, their operations, and ultimately investing in the economic health of our beautiful town. Everyone wins when you shop small and support local, just another reason to love the Gilbert Farmers Market! (Photo by @Beriescoffee) Food Trucks As if local produce and supporting small businesses wasn’t enough to convince you to head to the Gilbert Market this Saturday, maybe this will; food trucks! What if we told you you could grab an iced coffee from Mama’s Cold Brew and a gourmet waffle from Waffle Crush while you shop the market? And if waffles aren’t really your thing, Curbside Crepes are there as well! Along with these sweet options, Morning Kick usually shows up to offer their award-winning breakfast burritos and bites. Honestly, we don’t really know what more could you want! (Photo by @Morning_kick) With all the change in our world recently, it comes as no surprise that there are also changes to the Gilbert Farmers Market operations. We encourage you to check the market’s website and social media for the most recent COVID-19 updates (such as no dogs allowed at the market, “rush hour” times and more). If you liked this post, share it on Facebook and Instagram with your friends and neighbors, and while you’re at it, stay tuned for more like it, here .