Travel Costa Mesa Blog
Valentine’s Day Special Events in Orange County
Whether you’re looking for a night out to celebrate with your love, or weekend away for Valentine’s Day with that special someone, look no further than Costa Mesa, Orange County’s City of the Arts™. Oysters, champagne, “Shakespeare in Love” on stage; how does that sound for a classic date night? Or, get a little funky and check out the hit show from Lincoln Center in New York – “Kinky Boots.” Both shows are running through the weekend of February 10 to get you in the mood for cupid’s favorite holiday!
Dinner and a Show, through February 10
Plan to dine out before the show at one of these popular Costa Mesa restaurants:
Make reservations at Leatherby’s Café Rouge and enjoy their new mouthwatering Pre-Theater Menu, including a selection steak, fresh seafood and specially crafted cocktails from the bar. Leatherby’s is the dining concept from celebrated Chef and Patina Restaurant Group Founder Joachim Splichal and Executive Chef Greg Stillman. A passionate meat expert and The French Laundry veteran with more than two decades of culinary experience, Stillman presents a menu that focuses on steakhouse classics with a contemporary approach. Dine in luxury with a view overlooking the gorgeous Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
If dining on February 14, a special Taste of Love Valentine’s Day menu is available at Leatherby’s Café Rouge. Be sure to make reservations.
After dinner, stroll through the spectacular performing arts center to South Coast Repertory – Orange County’s Tony Award-winning production house. Pick up your tickets to “Shakespeare in Love” and head inside for a pre-show cocktail then prepare to fall in love. “Mistaken identities, ruthless scheming, and backstage theatrics make this romantic feast a joyous celebration of theatre,” according to the Daily Telegraph.
“Kinky Boots” follows the true story of a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business around with help from a dancer in need of some sturdy stilettos. The music from this six-time Tony Award winning Broadway hit is by none other than, Cyndi Lauper.
I HEART The OC MIX, February 10
If you’re looking for the perfect gift to by for a friend or sweetheart, head over to SOCO and The OC Mix for a day of shopping, special offers, tastings and live music from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The OC Mix is a collection of boutiques offering clothing, jewelry, spices, coffees, libations and more. We think it’s a perfect place to find unique items you won’t find anywhere else. Some of Costa Mesa’s favorite restaurants are also located here.
ARC Food and Libations and ARC Pizza House
Located at SOCO, Chef Noah creates delicious salads, one of the biggest burgers you’ll ever see and carefully crafted libations for lunch and dinner at ARC Food and Libations, as well as a selection of wood-fired pizza’s at the ARC Pizza House. If you want to go on Valentine’s Day, an extra special menu has been curated for couples. Start with The Goose is Loose cocktail made with fresh blackberries, tequila and citrus, followed by savory appetizers, a Wedge salad for two and champagne. The main entrées being offered are grilled wild salmon or a 14 oz. filet mignon, accompanied by a glass of cabernet sauvignon, followed by apple cobbler and an after-dinner desert cocktail. Dinner for two is $200. Make reservations soon before they are booked.
Want a little more quality time together, how about a cooking class with a multi-course dinner as the finale?
Sur La Table’s “Night Out – French Romance” is all about creating your own crave-worthy romantic French food at home. On the menu are French Onion Soup, Seared Chicken with Mustard and Bacon and Roasted Winter Vegetables. Classes are $85 per person excluding tax and gratuity. For more information please call 714.549.1280 or 714.241.0118 at South Coast Plaza.
Antonello Ristorante owners Antonio and Fiorella Cagnolo are also cooking a special Valentine’s menu where at the conclusion of class, you’ll enjoy a four-course dinner featuring the evening’s selected menu items. Classes cost $65 per person excluding tax and gratuity. From February 9 – 15, the restaurant will also serve a Valentine’s menu. Reservations required, please call 714.751.7153.
Williams-Sonoma is also offering a fun-filled afternoon of Valentine’s baking for adults or kids.
South Coast Plaza is not just a top-shopping destination; it is home to more than 30 restaurants and cafes, many of which are serving up special menus just for Valentine’s Day, February 14.
A Valentine’s Day five-course menu and live entertainment await you and your guest. Start with an appetizer selection of Ossetra Caviar with Pan-Seared Day Boat Scallop or Filet Mignon Pot stickers with Foie Gras. Next, enjoy Endive and Five-Spiced Walnut Salad or Hamachi Sashimi, followed by Misoyaki Butterfish or An’s Famous Garlic Noodles with Colossal Tiger Prawns. The final savory course is a choice of Herb Roasted Filet Mignon or A-5 Wagyu Steak. Conclude with a dessert duo of Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tart with Cardamom Ice Cream and Passion Fruit Parfait with Lychee Sorbet. Enjoy all of this for $125 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Served from 5 – 10 p.m. For reservations please call 714.557.5679.
Darya Fine Persian cuisine will be offering a specialty three-course Valentine’s Day menu for $59.95 per person excluding tax and gratuity. Enjoy live entertainment in the evening by singer Laura Angelini. Reservations required, please call 714.557.6600.
In addition to Vaca’s full à la carte dinner menu, award-winning chef Amar Santana will offer select Valentine’s specials including ceviche mixto, terrina de unagi y foie gras terrine, paella de veira with braised lamb neck, oysters on the half shell with bloody marry sorbet, house cured Mediterranean sardines and Valrhona dark chocolate ganache with churro toast and olive oil ice cream for dessert. Specials range from $13-$45; à la carte prices vary per selection (exclusive of tax and gratuity). Served from 5 – 10:30 p.m. For reservations, please call 714.463.6060.
heART bEAT Mixer on Valentine’s Day
Want to meet your match? You might have luck and at a little bit of fun at the Center 360 Heartbeat Singles Mixer at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. This is a great opportunity to experience the City of the Arts™ with live entertainment, karaoke and giveaways on the recently opened outdoor Julianne and George Argyros Plaza. Bring your friends, or a date. The Center 360 Café has a full bar serving spirited libations, craft coffees, along with a variety of appetizers, entrees and dessert! The event runs from 5 – 9 p.m. on February 14.
See the Premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA
Show your endless love by planning ahead and getting tickets to the hottest new show coming to the stage in Costa Mesa – LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil, premiering February 21 at OC Fair & Event Center. Tickets are available to shows running through March 25. LUZIA brings multiple places, faces and sounds of Mexico to the stage in a surreal dream-like performance. If you need more reason to see the show, here are Five Reasons you won’t want to miss this spectacular performance under the big top.
Celebrating the weekend after Valentine’s Day has its perks, and comes with a bit of luck! Lunar New Year celebrations begin the weekend of February 16 with performances, special offers and activities for the whole family to bring in the Year of the Dog. South Coast Plaza has a schedule for the celebrations taking place through March 24.
With so much to celebrate, we hope to see you soon! Costa Mesa hotels have created many special offers to help you extend your stay.
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Lunar New Year Celebrations in Costa Mesa
In Costa Mesa, we celebrate the Lunar New Year almost as much as the traditional American New Year’s Eve is celebrated! Whether you’re planning a visit for a day or multiple days, there are many reasons why you won’t want to miss celebrating the Year of the Rooster here. Stay and relax with us for a few days while you enjoy the beginning of a New Year!
The Westin South Coast Plaza wants to make your visit to Costa Mesa extra special with this special Lunar New Year Package. With all the comforts you enjoy at home, you can stay in Costa Mesa and receive complimentary breakfast, a $100 gift certificate to South Coast Plaza and in-room tea service, plus other special amenities. Book a room at Westin today and celebrate the Lunar New Year with us.
Just across the way, you can walk to South Coast Plaza where the Lunar New Year celebration begins January 28 and hosts a robust schedule of events through February 12, 2017. Celebrate the New Year with traditional cultural performances, live entertainment, and crafts and activities for the whole family. Many of the stores sell Lunar New Year-inspired merchandise like the Oscar de la Renta red silk dress with gold belt created especially for South Coast Plaza, a Ferragamo shoulder and hand bag, or the Rooster embossed writing instrument at Montblanc.
With more than 250 unique boutiques, designer retailers and nearly 30 restaurants under one roof, you can spend the day shopping with plenty of options for dining. AnQi Asian Bistro located near Bloomingdales serves some of the best garlic noodles around and features a menu of items from Southeast Asia. Din Tai Fung is a casual restaurant famous for xiao long bao (Asian pork dumpling) and was named one of the “top ten gourmet restaurants in the world“ by New York Times. Also nearby, East Borough prepares Vietnamese favorites like banh mi and spring rolls.
Getting into the festive mood will be easy with the dazzling Year of the Rooster decorations found throughout South Coast Plaza. Be sure to visit Jewel Court as it is transformed with a custom-built display into a vibrant exhibit of decorations filled with symbols of luck and good fortune to welcome the New Year.
Each day during the three-week celebration, scheduled performances will take place throughout South Coast Plaza. There are many opportunities to bring good luck for the New Year through prize giveaways for shopping extravaganzas and special gifts-with-purchase commemorating the 2017 Lunar New Year.
Children will enjoy scheduled entertainment by Bing Bing’s Magic House and an activity to assemble their very own lanterns.
Families can explore a variety of experiences including weekend entertainment by Wu Fei, a native of Beijing and a current Nashville resident, and a master of the guzheng, the ancient 21-string Chinese zither.
“Lucky Eight” Promotion January 28 to February 4, 2017
Users of Weibo and WeChat will have daily opportunities to participate and win prizes from popular South Coast Plaza boutiques. Enter to win a shopping spree by visiting one of the concierge desks throughout South Coast Plaza, and visit the ACCESS VIP Suite near Saks Fifth Avenue on Level 2 to see this year’s exclusive gift with purchase – a commemorative LIULI vase.
2017 TET FESTIVAL AT OC FAIR & EVENT CENTER
One of the largest Lunar New Year festivals in the world will happen again this year in Costa Mesa, the weekend of January 27-28, 2017, at the OC Fair & Event Center. Beginning Friday evening, visitors will be immersed in a vibrant array of traditional foods, contests, live entertainment, cultural displays, festive games and rides and a fireworks show celebrating the New Year.
The 36th Annual Tet Festival is presented by the nonprofit organization Union of Vietnamese Student Associations, and is coordinated entirely by student and adult volunteers. The Tet Festival is an entertainment event where family and friends can celebrate the Lunar New Year and share hope and prosperity for a new year. Admission is just $6 and children 2 and under are free. Proceeds from this event help to serve the Vietnamese community by building leadership skills and cultural awareness as well as support for strong civic responsibility.
What Lunar New Year events do you plan to attend? Let us know in the comments!
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The Year of the Horse at South Coast Plaza
You don’t have to travel to China to celebrate the Lunar New Year. With a variety of festive events including live entertainment, exhibits, prizes and more, all you have to do is visit South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa to commemorate the Year of the Horse. This year will be the fifth consecutive year that South Coast Plaza celebrates the Lunar New Year by incorporating dazzling Chinese displays throughout the shopping center, with many individual retailers offering shopping specials.
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