Travel Costa Mesa Blog
Chinese Lunar New Year at South Coast Plaza
February is going to be an exciting month at South Coast Plaza with Lunar New Year events, specials and giveaways. The Year of the Snake will kick-off on February 5, with a towering snake exhibit and floral arrangement. The exhibit will be on display in Jewel Court until February 17.
Between February 7 and 17, shoppers have a chance to win prizes and a South Coast Plaza shopping spree. There will be an enter-to-win promotion at the four concierge desks with special red envelopes concealing prizes. Thousands of envelopes will be distributed, but only 50 contain a prize. Read More
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Top 10 Places for a Hot Beverage in Costa Mesa
The recent weather has had us bundled up a little more than usual because it’s not too often that the thermometer dips below 40 in Orange County. Because of the chill in the air, we’ve been drinking more coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Our hunt for hot beverages was the inspiration for our list of the best places in Costa Mesa to help you combat the cold with a steaming cup or warmth.
1. Portola Coffee Lab is a playground for the most skilled baristas in Orange County. To try an espresso, coffee or any creative offering available is to try the best handcrafted beverage available. The Lab is the dream, or rather, the physical manifestation of owner Jeff Duggan’s passion/obsession with coffee. Each staff member is an expert on everything coffee. From the type of bean, roasting process, brewing process or presentation, they will have an answer for any question you may have. The décor is not sleepy like most coffee houses, but a vibrant green. Everything is upbeat and friendly. And, being that it is a lab, baristas creating drinks wear lab coats.
Courtesy of Anne Watson
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Chef Thomas Keller Signs Copies of Bouchon Bakery at South Coast Plaza
Hundreds of people anxiously waited in line to meet renowned Chef Thomas Keller and his Executive Pastry Chef Sébastien Rouxel. The two famous chefs appeared at Williams-Sonoma at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa to sign copies of their new cookbook, Bouchon Bakery. It was their only book signing in Orange County. Read More
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Orange County’s Best Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Shopping in Costa Mesa
There is no rest for the weary during the holidays. Between family gatherings, home-cooked meals and holiday parties, there isn’t much free time for shopping. Holiday decor hangs in stores earlier each year. While the scent of your Thanksgiving meal still lingers in the kitchen, it’s already time to focus on holiday shopping. Whether your list is for one or one-hundred, there is a good chance shopping is on the agenda for the long Thanksgiving weekend. With many big-brands offering large discounts on Black Friday, fighting through the crowds may be worth the savings. If leaving the house seems like too much to ask, there is Cyber Monday, where online retailers and e-commerce sites offer savings on products and shipping with one-day-only deals. In between the Black Friday swarm and the Cyber Monday searches is Shop Small Saturday, a national movement that promotes shopping at locally owned businesses. Read More
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Early November Events in Costa Mesa
With Election Day tomorrow and the upcoming annual November events of Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this week’s events in Costa Mesa provide a calm before the holiday storm. November generally marks the beginning of winter. For Orange County visitors and residents, this doesn’t mean cold, harsh weather, but it does mean that the holiday season has arrived. We know November as the eleventh month of the year, however, on the Roman calendar it was the ninth month of the year. The root word, “novem” means nine. In homage to the Roman calendar, we thought we would share nine non-holiday events in Costa Mesa before images of food, shopping and in-laws inundate you until the New Year. With events for pet lovers, foodies, theatergoers and children this is a great week to get out and have fun before everything turns its focus to the holidays. Read More
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