Travel Costa Mesa Blog
Costa Mesa is Your 4th of July Getaway!
The 4th of July holiday is the essence of summertime, a national holiday that brings family and friends together to celebrate American Independence; barbecues, pool parties and traditional fireworks displays. And the 4th of July also brings two great new events to Costa Mesa in 2017. It’s the perfect spot for a long weekend getaway, staycation or quick flight to John Wayne, Orange County Airport from nearby Northern California, Phoenix, Vegas and many other cities.
The skies will light up around Orange County, as they do every year, but for the first time, Costa Mesa is an official 4th of July destination for families and friends to gather and celebrate.
On Tuesday, July 4, 2017, the City of Costa Mesa will host a free family-focused 4th of July celebration at OC Fair & Event Center from 3 – 9 p.m. with a pyrotechnic show as the highlight of the evening. Visitors can spend the afternoon exploring Heroes Hall Museum (located at OC Fair & Event Center) between 3 and 5 p.m., followed by a variety of children and family-oriented attractions, live music and by shopping some of the popular OC Marketplace vendors. Various foods and beverages will be available for sale throughout the duration of the event.
For those who have been faithful fans of the Pacific Symphony for more than 30 years, this spectacular musical event will continue for years to come, with performances at its new home in the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa.
The 2017 Pacific Symphony SummerFest kicks off on Tuesday, July 4th with “Symphonic Springsteen: Bruce in the USA.”
The concert beneath the stars is a festive way to celebrate the 4th of July with a tribute to “The Boss.” Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the concert at 8 p.m. concluding with a spectacular display of fireworks at 10 p.m. A variety of vendor options from Spectra and the award-winning caterer 24 carrots will also be onsite to serve up selections from a gourmet menu (offering simple to elaborate!) for pre-concert dining. Guests can also dine on the Pacifica Plaza pre-concert or in the seats during the performance. Ticket prices start at $25.
There are plenty of activities happening around Costa Mesa throughout the summer.
Costa Mesa hotels are conveniently located, many that are walkable, a short drive, or accessible by the city’s free ART shuttle to popular attractions around Costa Mesa and Orange County. While visiting, check out Heroes Hall or Centennial Farm at the OC Fair & Event Center. Spend a day shopping at South Coast Plaza, or head over to a local’s favorite, trendy outdoor dining space at The LAB and The CAMP, or SOCO and The OC Mix, where there is often live music, a weekend farmer’s market, and kids activities. The Triangle entertainment center is a hit for the whole family with bowling, movie theaters and a diverse dining scene.
Wherever your plans may take you, be sure to include Costa Mesa on your list of places to visit.
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Posted in Events, Misc, Music & Art, Play
Stay All Weekend and get $100 While Enjoying Costa Mesa Events
Looking for events this weekend or for Memorial Day? The Costa Mesa events calendar has something for the everyone. And, if you stay two nights, you’ll enjoy $100 to dine in the City of Costa Mesa.
Make a night out at the original and largest Asian-themed Night Market in the U.S. when it returns to OC Fair & Event Center May 19-21. The event hosts more than 200 attractions including food vendors, crafts, music and live entertainment and merchandise. The Night Market is open from 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday and from 4 to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 and parking is $8. Children under 6 get in free.
Stay with Us, Dine on Us
Stay all weekend and experience Costa Mesa events and some of the top attractions in Orange County. Right now, through Memorial Day, Costa Mesa hotels are offering some great packages to help you extend your stay and put a little money back in your pocket. Select Costa Mesa hotels and the trendy dining and retail center, SOCO and The OC Mix invite you stay with us and dine on us.
Book a two-night stay through May 29. Costa Mesa hotel guests will receive $100 to experience some of the best dining in Southern California. Choose from more than 20 restaurants including authentic French crepes at Bistro Papillote, or Spanish tapas at Pueblo, or make your own plate with hand-cut cheese from The Cheese Shop, with olive oil and wine tasting at We Olive Wine Bar. These are just a few of the flavors you’ll find at SOCO and The OC Mix.
If you’re wondering what to do this Memorial Day weekend, we have some ideas.
Friday, May 26, check into your hotel; take in an early dinner at Leatherby’s Café Rouge, or Water Grill…walking distance from most hotels. Get tickets to see to the popular Celtic Women at Segerstrom Center for the Arts that evening. Experience the live stage performance of the Voices of Angels. Enjoy the angelic sound of the three Celtic women while they perform alongside new Celtic violinist Tara McNeill and watch as the trio makes stunning wardrobe changes throughout the evening.
Saturday, May 27, head over to SOCO and The OC Mix where you can start putting your $100 gift card from your Stay and Shop package to use. Grab a seat on the patio for a late breakfast or lunch at Restaurant Marin…you’ll feel like you’ve been swept away to a different time in this charming location while you enjoy the comfort of freshly crafted menu items. Be sure to take the time to visit one of Orange County’s largest farmer’s markets from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during your trip to SOCO and The OC Mix. There is plenty of fresh produce, floral arrangements and crafts for kids (gift card not redeemable at Farmer’s Market). Be sure to stroll around the center to see the creative boutiques and designer showrooms at this location.
Memorial Day weekend also brings the Scottish Festival to Costa Mesa at OC Fair & Event Center on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27. Whether or not you’re of Scottish heritage, the Highland Games are a great form of entertainment and showmanship. Spend the day outside enjoying traditional food and music while experiencing this annual Southern California event.
Costa Mesa dining, shopping and attractions are all within minutes of each other so it’s easy to head back to SOCO and The OC Mix anytime throughout the weekend to try the exceptional brew at Portola Coffee, sample the Kombucha sodas from Farm & Culture Co., or pick up a sweet treat at ST Patisserie Chocolat, you will find the best food trucks all around the city, ice cream trucks with unique flavors, and great texture thanks to the refrigerator container options they use.
In the City of the Arts™, you won’t want to miss the experiential Costa Mesa Art Walk around Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Sculptures can be found in a hotel, concert hall, along pathways throughout the performing arts complex, and at South Coast Plaza – one of the largest shopping centers in California with hundreds of retailers, unique boutiques, designer retailers and restaurants.
Getting to Costa Mesa is easy being just 90 minutes north of San Diego, one hour south of Los Angeles and an hour flight by air from San Francisco, Phoenix and Las Vegas into John Wayne Airport, Orange County.
See you soon!
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Posted in Events, Food, Hotels, Locals, Misc, Music & Art, Play
Become a Pastry Chef in a Day! Baking and Pastry School at ST Patisserie Costa Mesa
Do you aspire to be a pastry chef, but you don’t have the nerve to share your creations outside of your own kitchen? Costa Mesa has its very own baking and pastry school at SOCO and The OC Mix! We’re sure you’ll feel more confident about sharing your homemade dessert creations after taking a class with world-famous French Pastry Chef Stéphane Tréand of The Pastry School and ST Pâtisserie Chocolat. This may sound intimidating, but The Pastry School offers a variety of classes designed to teach beginners, and seasoned professionals, the techniques to take their pastry techniques to the next level.
It’s a great way to turn a vacation to Costa Mesa into an Eatcation!
Chef Stéphane recently offered a sneak peak of his classes when he was featured on an episode of the California Dream Eater. The show’s host, Chase Ramsey, dropped in on Chef Stéphane to congratulate him for being selected as part of Visit California’s #DreamEats program. Chef Stéphane took that opportunity to show Ramsey a few of the secrets to making amazing desserts.
Classes at The Pastry School vary from 5-day weeklong sessions to a single day, depending how intense one wants to get with the craft. The one-day classes are also a great opportunity for a date, or outing with girlfriends. For those who are seriously thinking about developing their skills, and can dedicate more time, a Master Series is also available. These have been making waves online, being mentioned on articles like https://educationspeaks.org/gordon-ramsay-masterclass-review/ have increased their visibility in a marked way. Reviews like that don’t come often and they have to be pleased by it for sure.
Chef Stéphane teaches “the joy of baking and arts” and has been doing so in the U.S. since 2012 when he relocated from Paris and opened his first pastry school in Southern California. Within a few years, he moved his school from San Clemente to Costa Mesa’s SOCO and The OC Mix where he opened ST Pâtisserie Chocolat in two locations to share his delightful creations with visitors.
Chef Stéphane is just one of four artisans in the U.S. with the prestigious title of Un des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF), which is awarded by the French Ministry of Labour in Paris and given to artists and chefs competing to create their perfect masterpiece.
To learn more about the California Dream Eater and Costa Mesa being designated as a #DreamEats destination, see our blog about Costa Mesa’s Amazing Aged Steaks.
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Springtime Family Events and Easter Brunch
Springtime has arrived and brings great weather, beautiful blooms, and maybe a weekend escape! If you’re looking for a spring break getaway with the kids, or you just want to get out and enjoy the warm weather and sunshine, head to Costa Mesa for your springtime activities. We’ve got a roundup of free events you won’t want to miss this month, especially if a visit with the Easter Bunny is on your list.
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On Stage this Spring in Orange County
Don’t miss the award-winning lineup of arts and theater this spring in Costa Mesa! Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located in Orange County’s arts and theater district, with a schedule of some of the best Broadway and stage performances in the country. Visitors will find shows or concerts most every weekend throughout the spring season in one of four theaters on the campus conveniently located in the city of Costa Mesa.
Whether you’re a theatergoer who enjoys the latest Broadway performance, someone who seeks cultural experiences in symphony or opera, or an upbeat concert is what you live for, the performers at Segerstrom Center for the Arts offer something for everyone. If you haven’t already, start planning your next (or maybe your first!) visit to Orange County’s theater, because tickets to these shows will go fast.
The Academy Award® winning film Finding Neverland comes to life on stage for the first time and tells the story about how Peter became Pan. Performances now through April 2.
An American in Paris, the four-time Tony Award®-winning musical about an American soldier and a mysterious French girl will also make its Orange County debut April 25 – May 7, 2017.
If you loved the Oscar®-nominated Warner Bros. film The Bodyguard, revisit the love story of the superstar and her bodyguard along with some of the biggest selling songs like “I Will Always Love You.” Starring Grammy® Award nominee and R&B Superstar Deborah Cox, the Broadway performance runs May 30 – June 11 at Segerstrom Hall.
Kids looking to be entertained this spring will find interactive events during the children and family theater programming offered by Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Doktor Kaboom: LIVE WIRE! is a one-man show combining the creativity of theater arts with the wonders of science exploration. Doctor Kaboom uses his comedic personality to entertain while demonstrating mostly successful science experiments for this audience. It’s educational and entertaining. Tickets are on sale for April 1 and 2, 2017.
Marvin, a mouse, longs to be the “cool” rat and wants to adventure to the moon to show that he too can be a hero. Through dance, puppetry and 3D theatricals, this performance of Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey demonstrates how everyone can celebrate their differences without being bullied. Performances are April 22 and 23.
Show attendees are encouraged to arrive an hour before the performance time to experience free creative activities.
With an already highly applauded schedule of performances this theater season, the performing arts scene is going to continue to heat up in Costa Mesa. Its no rumor, Hamilton the Musical, which dominated the Tony Awards in 2016, is headed to Orange County for the 2017-18 season. We can’t wait!
But, until those tickets go on sale, there are plenty of popular Broadway and theater performances to enjoy this spring.
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Posted in Events, Misc, Music & Art
