Travel Costa Mesa Blog
5 Reasons to See LUZIA in Costa Mesa
The Big Top returns to Orange County once again this year as Costa Mesa welcomes Cirque du Soleil in February with LUZIA. LUZIA, a waking dream of an imaginary Mexico that fills the spirit and soothes the soul, will be the first performance of Cirque du Soleil’s 10-year contract with the Orange County Fair & Event Center.
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Ready, Set, Play in Costa Mesa: Your Orange County Marathon Guide
It’s that time of the year again! The Orange County Marathon, one of Southern California’s premier races, returns this spring. Now that registration is open, we’re breaking down where to eat and play, and what OC Marathon hotels are your best bet for a successful race weekend.
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9 Holiday Events and Free Things to Do in OC
Take a Break and a Weekend Escape
Ready to celebrate the season? Costa Mesa has a lineup of 9 holiday events and free things to in OC to help make your holidays memorable. We want you to indulge in yourself or with your family and friends this season, and we have a special gift to help get your planning under way. Now through January 11, 2018, book two nights at a participating Costa Mesa hotel and receive $100 to shop or dine at South Coast Plaza. Plan around our calendar of events in Orange County and join us to celebrate the holidays.
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A Farm-to-Fork Dining Experience in Orange County
A Fire-and-Ash Wine Dinner at Centennial Farm will take place Saturday, November 4, 2017 in the Red Barn at the OC Fair & Event Center.
This farm-to-fork dining experience is just one example of how Costa Mesa continues to become a culinary destination where award-winning chefs and popular restaurants are opening on the regular in this Orange County hot spot. Restaurants like Old Vine, Taco Maria and Vaca are not only serving up some of the freshest dishes with both locally sourced and high-quality imported ingredients; they are creating experiences that have foodies coming back time and again. In just a short time, “Top Chef:All Stars” alum from Bravo TV, Richard Blais, will join the trending foodie movement in Costa Mesa when he opens his first Orange County location of The Crack Shack.
With so much good food to choose from, how do you decide where to go when dining out? Sure, there is a time and perfect place for an intimate dinner with special people in your life, but think about the times that are most memorable with groups of friends, experiencing something new for the first time.
Specially curated dining events have become more and more popular as a way to experience great food, meet new people, learn cooking techniques and even rub elbows with the chefs behind the creative cuisine.
This is exactly what you’ll find at A Fire-and-Ash Wine Dinner. It’s held on a fully functioning farm inside the Red Barn at Centennial Farm in Costa Mesa. When you’re there, you’ll feel as though you’re miles away in the middle of the country, under twinkling lights and sounds of nature.
This exclusive dinner has all the components of being a talked-about Costa Mesa culinary event. Guests will be treated to a variety of sparkling wines from the Orange County Wine Society along with roasted butternut squash soup shooters, flatbreads and short rib polenta cakes for appetizers, followed by tours of Centennial Farm.
The multi-course, family-style dinner menu will feature items from California’s bountiful produce and artisan meats cooked exclusively in ash over an open fire. Each course will be served with wine that perfectly complements the dish. The first course begins with a savory waffle Panzanella micro green tower; the second course includes Cornish game hens, an ash-roasted autumn squash trio and beefsteak Portobello complemented with wines from Martin Ray from Sonoma. Dessert is the third of four courses and includes a traditional dessert that is cooked over an open flame – S’mores – but in this case there is a twist on these melt-in-your-mouth, marshmallow and chocolate-stacked graham crackers. Pastry Chef Stéphane Tréand of ST Patisserie Chocolat in Costa Mesa will prepare handmade, fired, passion-toasted marshmallow and dark chocolate Bon Bons. Is your mouth watering yet? As if this wasn’t enough, Mini Donuts with Affogato (shot of espresso and vanilla ice cream) will be served with Orange County Wine Society’s port wine or Bailey’s Chocolate Cherry.
If you’ve been looking for the next dining experience to raise the bar on an evening with good food and friends, there is still time to be a part of this fall event. In fact, it’s a great time to snag those tickets by using a discount code to save a few bucks. Read on for more details and to order your tickets. By attending this event you are helping to provide year-round educational opportunities through Centennial Farm, Heroes Hall and Imaginology community programs at OC Fair & Event Center.
Reservations for this unique dining experience are $125 per person, which includes dinner, wines, gratuity, tax and parking. As one of our neighbors, you can save $25 per ticket by using code OURBARN when purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster. Extend the weekend with hotel deals in Costa Mesa and experience events happening around this lively city.
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Posted in Misc
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
