November is a month for gratitude, and there is plenty to be grateful for at our Senior Centers. Between special events, weekly classes, and support groups, there is something to do at both Mesa Downtown and Red Mountain nearly every day of the week. Whether you want to stay active, try something creative, learn something new, or simply enjoy good company, here is your guide to the month ahead.
Special Events This November
Mark your calendar for these one-time events.
- Monday, November 2, 1:00 to 3:30 pm (Red Mountain): Parkinson’s Support Group. Presented by the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, this group is for people living with Parkinson’s Disease and their loved ones.
- Thursday, November 5, 10:00 to 11:00 am (Red Mountain): Women’s Social. Meet like-minded friends in a low-pressure social hour.
- Friday, November 6, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Mesa Downtown): Gratitude Party. Volunteers are planning a special lunch party celebrating all we have to be thankful for.
- Friday, November 6, 10:00 to 11:00 am (Red Mountain): Protect Yourself From Fraud. Navy Federal Credit Union presents the latest financial fraud tactics and how to keep yourself and your savings protected.
- Friday, November 6, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm (Red Mountain): Veteran’s Appreciation. Celebrate those who served with a themed lunch, music, a memorial, and more.
- Wednesday, November 11, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Mesa Downtown): Veteran’s Day. Join us for a special presentation, lemonade, treats, and a morning honoring those who served.
- Friday, November 13, 10:00 to 11:00 am (Mesa Downtown): Protect Yourself From Fraud. The same Navy Federal Credit Union presentation, offered at our Downtown Center.
- Wednesday, November 18, 11:30 am to 12:00 pm (Both Centers): November Birthday Party. Come celebrate everyone born this month with cake.
- Thursday, November 19, 10:00 to 11:00 am (Red Mountain): Men’s Social. A relaxed social hour just for the guys.
Honoring Our Veterans
Veterans have several ways to connect this month. Beyond the Veteran’s Appreciation lunch and Veteran’s Day celebration above, two ongoing groups welcome you:
- Veterans’ Social: Enjoy coffee and donuts with fellow veterans. It meets the 1st and 3rd Monday at 8:30 am at Mesa Downtown, and the 2nd Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 am at Red Mountain.
- Veterans’ Art: Presented by the Mesa Art League, this group makes art together every Thursday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Mesa Downtown.
Stay Active
- Morning Movement*: Get your day moving with indoor exercise. $2 per person. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8:15 to 9:15 am, Mesa Downtown.
- Line Dancing*: Live music and lots of fun every week. $5 per person. Mondays, 1:30 to 2:30 pm, Mesa Downtown; Thursdays, 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Red Mountain.
- Tai Chi* (Beginner and Advanced): Beginners start at 10:00 am and the advanced class starts at 8:30 am. Cost varies. Mondays and Thursdays, 8:30 to 11:00 am, Mesa Downtown.
- Geri Fit: A great workout with bands, weights, and more, facilitated by the Area Agency on Aging. Tuesdays and Fridays, 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Mesa Downtown.
- Chair Yoga*: Calm your mind with seated yoga. $3 per person. Thursdays, 10:00 to 11:00 am, Mesa Downtown.
- Wednesday Dance: Cut a rug every Wednesday. Wednesdays, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, Red Mountain.
Get Creative
- Art Studio*: Open Art Studio is on Thursdays, and Portrait Painting with a live model is on Fridays. Bring your own supplies. Thursdays, 8:00 am to 1:30 pm, Mesa Downtown; Fridays, 8:30 to 11:00 am, Red Mountain.
- Diamond Art*: Create dazzling pieces and bring your own project to work on. Cost: supplies. Mondays, 9:00 to 11:00 am, Mesa Downtown; Mondays and Thursdays, 12:30 to 3:00 pm, Red Mountain.
- Stitch & Chat: Enjoy good company while crafting creative pieces. Tuesdays, 9:00 to 11:00 am, Mesa Downtown; Tuesdays, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Red Mountain.
- Writer’s Guild: Share, learn, and spark your creative juices. Fridays, 9:30 to 10:30 am, Mesa Downtown.
- Senior Players: A fun-loving theater group, and no experience is needed. Mondays, 2:00 to 3:00 pm, Mesa Downtown.
Learn Something New
- World History Class: Learn about remarkable events through history. Tuesdays, 2:00 to 3:00 pm, Mesa Downtown.
- Art in Action: Discuss art history from all eras and parts of the world. Tuesdays, 9:30 to 10:30 am, Mesa Downtown.
- Hall of Fame: Learn all things baseball with volunteer Art. Wednesdays, 9:00 to 10:00 am, Mesa Downtown.
- Book Club: Facilitated by New Frontiers of MCC, for anyone who shares a love of reading. Wednesdays, 10:00 to 11:00 am, Mesa Downtown; 1st Friday, 10:00 to 11:00 am, Red Mountain.
- Science Workshop: Each Friday, explore how our world works with videos, discussion, and an informative handout. Fridays, 9:00 to 10:00 am, Mesa Downtown.
Have Fun Together
- Karaoke: Sing golden oldies in a judgment-free zone. Mondays, 12:30 to 1:30 pm, Mesa Downtown; 1st Wednesday, 10:30 to 11:30 am, Red Mountain.
- Deaf Support Group: A weekly group for people with hearing loss to make friends and chat. Everyone is welcome to play cards and games, learn sign language, and enjoy good company. Tuesdays, 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, Red Mountain.
Health and Support
- Blood Pressure Screenings: Learn your numbers to better manage your health. Thursdays, 9:30 to 10:30 am, Mesa Downtown; Wednesdays, 9:00 to 10:00 am, Red Mountain.
- Grief & Loss Support: A bereavement support group for seniors, facilitated by EMPACT. Wednesdays, 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Mesa Downtown; Fridays, 10:00 to 11:00 am, Red Mountain.
- Movin’ Forward: For those who have already been through a loss and want to make new friends, facilitated by EMPACT. Fridays, 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Red Mountain.
More Happening This Month
Don’t miss two other November favorites:
- Free weekly movies with popcorn, at 12:30 pm on Thursdays at Mesa Downtown and Mondays at Red Mountain.
- Health workshops with University of Arizona College of Nursing students at Mesa Downtown on November 4 (Preventative Screenings) and November 17 (Preventing Falls), from 10:00 to 11:00 am.
Ways to Get Involved
Start with one thing. You don’t need to do it all. Pick one class or event that sounds interesting and come try it. Many of our groups, like Senior Players, need no experience at all.
RSVP. To sign up for an activity, call your Center, email, or stop by in person:
- Mesa Downtown: 480-962-5612 | cbs@asteraz.org
- Red Mountain: 480-218-2221 | cbs@asteraz.org
Know which activities have fees. Activities marked with an asterisk (*) have fees and require pre-registration. These are Morning Movement, Line Dancing, Tai Chi, Chair Yoga, Diamond Art, and Art Studio.
Bring a friend. Many of our events, like the birthday party, socials, and the Gratitude Party, are even better with a friend by your side.
Stay for lunch. Both Centers serve a daily nutritionally balanced lunch (view the current menu), so you can make a full day of it.
Aster Senior Center at Mesa Downtown
247 North Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201
Map to Mesa Downtown
Aster Senior Center at Red Mountain
7550 East Adobe Street, Mesa, AZ 85207
Map to Red Mountain
Both Centers are open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To explore all of our programs and services, visit asteraz.org or call 480-964-9014.
About Aster Aging
Aster Aging is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving our local communities since 1979. Aster provides a full continuum of services to help older adults and their families navigate aging with independence and dignity.
Aster impacts thousands of older adults and their families in the East Valley through our core programs:
