Make It Mesa » Attractions

We love Pinterest!

VisitMesa — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:08:55 +0000

Have you heard of the new craze, Pinterest? It is very addicting for those “pinning” craft ideas, home décor, planning weddings, and book marking places they would like to visit, and things they want to see. It is like scrapbooking, only virtual. So Visit Mesa thought that we would create our own Pinterest account and be part of the action. After all, a picture says a thousand words and we have plenty of them and plenty to say about Mesa! We want to help people decide where to visit, use our tourism bureau as a fun resource while planning their trip, and connect with us after they have left. We also want to create a relationship with the local residents and show them how to experience their own city. Since starting Pinterest, we have found many connections with companies far and wide that have Pinterest accounts. All these efforts to show off Mesa’s many charms are what helps spread the word about our city’s friendly character and uniqueness as a tourism destination. Lucky for us, we can now share these images of Mesa’s great places and spaces with our followers through yet another outlet!

So, take a look at our Pinterest page and you will find boards such as: Places To Stay, Things To Do, Weddings and Events, The Outdoors, Art, Dining, Shopping, and Sports. And let us know if there is a board we haven’t yet created but should! We are always adding more and more pins and boards every day (word of caution: pinning is addicting!).

Pinterest requires an invitation so let us know if you would like an invite. We look forward to seeing you on the site. As Pinterest would say, “Happy Pinning”!

Fabulous 50 +

VisitMesa — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:04:33 +0000

Texas Terrie here, I attended the Lovin’Life After 50 Expo at the Mesa Convention Center yesterday. I thought I would blog about the adventure I took across the street in order to inform our older generation that reads our blog know about this expo and upcoming ones being held.

Lovin’ Life After 50 is an annual expo held for, you guessed it, people over 50. Vendors that specialize in the 50+ set attend the expo in order to promote services and/or products that are primarily used by this generation of boomers and zoomers. Some attend to learn about new products; others are there to fill a bag with “free” stuff (kind of like adult trick or treating); and some folks attend just to take it all in. Either way, it was a full house and packed!

For those of you over 50 years old or those who have family over the age of 50 and you missed today’s expo, never fear another is near! Join us on Wed., Feb. 8 when the Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host their Annual Winter Visitors Expo at the Mesa Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Save the date! The last expo of the season will be held on Feb. 14 & 15 when the Canadian Snowbirds host their annual Snowbird Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. also held at the Mesa Convention Center.

Signing off,

Texas Terrie always looking out for the over 50 crowd!

2nd Fridays in Mesa

VisitMesa — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:36:53 +0000

Today is Friday the 13^th! It is also 2^nd Friday Night Out in Downtown Mesa. If you have not had an opportunity to come enjoy downtown Mesa and what it has to offer, tonight is the night! Known as the “Square Mile of Unique Style”, it is really becoming the place to be for shopping and dining. This is the perfect chance to do some local shopping and support the small businesses in your community. I have even taken a personal pledge to “Shop Local” and made this effort for one of my 2012 resolutions.

On the 2^nd Friday of every month Downtown Mesa’s Main Street’s sidewalks fill up with unique vendors and the store fronts stay open late. Every month there is a theme to the event, this month’s is “Film Fest”, and last month’s was “Art Attack”. If you come dressed as your favorite movie star you have a chance to win a prizes. They will also have movie trivia and they will be hosting a Short-Film Contest by local filmmakers.

Starting at 6pm, the art galleries are open to the public. You can grab a coffee at Lo-Fi and some food from a vendor or restaurant and enjoy the live entertainment. Or you can pop in all those cute boutiques you have driven by and never took the time to park the car and go inside.

Whether you want to participate in the theme for the month or just want to enjoy the evening, 2^nd Fridays in Downtown Mesa is a fun spot to check out great vendors and discover small businesses.

On your mark, get ready…SHOP! Less than 10 days til’Christmas!

VisitMesa — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:59:02 +0000

Hi! I’m Kara – Mesa resident and local tourism know-it-all for the Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau. There are some great holiday shopping locales we want to tell you about and there is still time left to snag that coveted, unique item sure to get a great reaction this holiday! I enjoy discovering the best local goods and telling others about my hidden gems and fabulous finds! Always shopping for the best deals and dining in town.

I stopped in Blossom Boutique to get some flirty feather earrings and a cocktail ring for my sister’s gift for under $20! For those wanting to book a holiday hair-do, be sure to check out the stylists in the Blossom Salon.

Next stop on Main was Domestic Bliss – a store full of surprises and inspiration for anyone that wants to spruce up their digs. Trendy knick-knacks everywhere, from wall art to candles, clothing, jewelry, house wares, bedding, even unique iPhone and Ipad, and laptop cases which are great for gift giving! Fun odds and ends, couture baby clothes, really cute aprons, is just the place if you are planning to be home for the holidays especially since they have online store as well.

My last stop was to take a peek at Contagious! I would prefer to keep this place my own little secret. Here, I picked up five one-of-a-kind holiday home accent pieces. This way I have a little something to give to all the hosts this season, and may end up with a left over one for myself. For mom’s and anyone shopping for little girls, you will find adorable tutu’s and affordable trending casual apparel and accessories for little ones. Think ribbons and curls! And pink! Plus, they have holiday décor [see photo] and shabby chic accent pieces for the home. A little something for everyone, but the kicker is the price tags! You will be amazed at the deals to be had at this Main Street Mesa boutique.

Shoppers….Start Your Engines!

Mesa Arts Center – 2011/12 Season Kickoff Party

GoGo Ginger — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:00:39 +0000

Guitars & Handlebars Season Kick-Off Festival: Sept 9-11, 2011

Mesa Arts Center & Mesa Contemporary Arts

While the Mesa Arts Center season opening event is now an established
tradition, Mesa Arts Center will kick off its 2011 fall season with a full weekend festival that will begin with MCA’s opening reception on Friday, September 9. The festival will open that night at 6pm with an outdoor display of motorcycles and cars that take over the seven-acre campus grounds, accompanied by live music, artist demos, food booths and a beer garden. The Friday evening events coincide with 2nd Friday Night Out in Downtown Mesa, featuring artists, music and free activities.

Free and open to the public! You’re invited to Guitars & Handlebars, a
blowout event featuring rock music, motorcycles, cars, great art, and sneak peeks of the upcoming season at the Mesa Arts Center
theaters and studios. Festival goers can visit the galleries, watch
demos in the Art Studios, see live music and theater performances, tour MAC’s four theaters, and explore a motorcycle and car show in which many of the top customized vehicles in the Valley will be exhibited. Saturday evening will feature World Classic Rockers live in concert, an all-star group that brings
together former band members from Santana, Journey, Steppenwolf, Toto, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Boston.

MAC also opens Six-String Masterpieces, a charitable art exhibition featuring an amazing collection of Dean Electric Guitars that have been hand-painted, illustrated and sculpted by leading musicians, tattooists and contemporary visual artists. Come see all the new rock & roll, and motorcycle themed exhibitions opening at Mesa Contemporary Arts.

Premiering Exhibitions:

• Six String Masterpieces – South Gallery

• Radical Rides: the Art of Motorcycles – Main Gallery

• Easy Ridin’ and Hard Rockin’ AZ Style – North Gallery

• American LEGOcy – Project Room

• Altered States: Dreams, Nightmares and Fantasies
– SRP Permanent Collection Gallery

Festival Days & Times:
Fri., Sept. 9, 6pm-10pm
Sat., Sept. 10, 10am-10pm
Sun., Sept 11, 10am-4pm

Mesa Arts Center
1 East Main St.
(480) 644-6500
www.MesaArtsCenter.com

New Cinema in Mesa!!

GoGo Ginger — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:07:59 +0000

The Midnite Movie Mamacita’s new Mesa theater, The Royale, opens (softly) Friday in conjunction with the downtown association’s monthly Second Friday street party. Christening the screen will be the Canadian action movie Hobo With a Shotgun, based on a winning trailer of the same name from Robert Rodriguez’s SXSW Grindhouse trailer contest and starring Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner, Batman Begins, Ladyhawke), Brian Downey (Lexx) and Gregory Smith (Everwood, A Wrinkle in Time, Small Soldiers).

The film plays 8 p.m. Friday at The Royale, 108 W. Main St.
Tickets cost $6. There will also be a hobo costume contest, with the winner
receiving two passes to the International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival.

The Royale Cinema: (480) 649-0040, www.theroyaleaz.com
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/TheRoyaleAZ

Downtown Mesa’s 2nd Friday Night Out 7/8/11 BEACH PARTY

GoGo Ginger — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:07:25 +0000

Downtown Mesa’s 2nd Friday Night Out: 7/8/11 BEACH PARTY

Downtown Mesa’s 2nd Friday Night Out 7/8/11, “Beach Party”
6-10pm, downtown Mesa

www.2ndFridayNightOut.com

2011 All-Star MLB – Cacti On Parade

GoGo Ginger — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:58:10 +0000

Mesa’s cactus arrived downtown earlier this week.

Located on the NE corner of Main & Center St this cactus is part of 10 different statues being displayed throughout the valley to promote the upcoming MLB 2011 All Star Game & events that will be held in Phoenix July 8-12.

Schedule of Events – All Star Week:

July 8-12 – Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest atPhoenixConvention Center

July 9 – MLB All-Star Saturday Night Charity Dance Party

July 10 – Taco Bell All-Star Sunday at Chase Field featuring: XM All-Star Futures Game & Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game

July 11 – Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Chase Field featuring: State Farm Home Run Derby

July 12 – 82nd MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2011/

NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK – May 7-15

GoGo Ginger — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:31:48 +0000

The Annual Salute to Travel and Tourism in America

The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984. Localized events are presented in cities, states and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel. It was established as National
Tourism Week when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution in 1983 designating the week to be celebrated in May. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with “the appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
Since its establishment, the U.S.travel community has collectively marked the event in a number of creative ways, from staging local rallies and conducting media outreach to securing proclamations and resolutions from local legislative bodies.

courtesy: http://www.ustravel.org/marketing/national-travel-and-tourism-week

Stargazing – 2 Fabulous, FREE, Family-friendly events

GoGo Ginger — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:32:19 +0000

Stargazing for Everyone @ Usery Park Usery Mountain Regional Park
Date: 4/30/2011 Time: 7:30 PM Registration Required: No Fee: $6.00 per car
Come watch the sky with us under the expert guidance of Tony and Carole La Conte! Come look through telescopes and enjoy a slide presentation under the stars. Learn the names of stars, see the constellations, and listen to stories of the night sky. When visible, view the craters of the moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and the rings of Saturn. We will have information about the Challenger Learning Center of Arizona. This is truly a fun night out! Come alone or bring your entire family. No pets, please. We encourage you to bring your own binoculars or the family telescope but it is not necessary. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for your comfort. The program lasts about 2 hours and meets at Group Picnic D.

Usery Mountain Regional Park
3939 N. Usery Pass Road
Mesa, AZ 85207
Ph: 480-984-0032 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 480-984-0032 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/usery/

The MCC Astronomy Nights
Monthly Planetarium Show
Friday, May 6th

Planetarium shows begin at 6:00pm and repeat every 30 minutes approximately.
The last show begins at 9:30pm and ends at 10:00pm.
FREE show tickets are handed out at the event on a first-come, first-served basis. Wait times are usually no more than 30 minutes. If a staff member does not approach you about tickets during the event, please ask for them.
No reservations are required. However, if you plan to bring a group of 20 or more, please contact Dr. Kevin Healy with the showing you plan to attend so we can hold tickets for your group.
During Astronomy Nights, we also offer telescope viewing of the Moon, planets, and other celestial sights. Unlike the planetarium shows, telescope viewing will only occur if the skies are clear.
Astronomy Nights are the first Friday of the Month.

Mesa Community College Campus
@ Southern Avenue &Dobson Road
PhysicalScienceBuilding/ PS15
http://www.mesacc.edu/planetarium