Make It Mesa » Family Fun

THE SWEET SMELL OF CITRUS

VisitMesa — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:45:49 +0000

Hello, my name is Gayle and I’m known in the office as the resident birdwatcher, hiker, and gardener. I’d like to be able to say that I can pick oranges from my backyard tree but it was planted about a year ago and is too young.

So, what do I do when I want some tasty citrus? Take a drive to the original Orange Patch on Lehi Road. It reminds me of walking into a Midwestern produce market. Right inside the door are samples of navel oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and Arizona sweets — so you can try before you buy. The market also has honey, nuts, chocolate, jams & jellies, dates, ice cream cones, snack mixes and a whole lot more. I recently visited the Orange Patch to have navel oranges shipped to Illinois, Michigan, and Washington. Friends and relatives look forward to receiving some homegrown Mesa citrus every year. They tell me it’s like receiving sunshine in a box. Of course I came home with a 20-pound sack of sweet and juicy navels for my local family and friends. Nothing like locally-grown – how sweet it is!

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!

2nd Friday Night Out: Summer Block Party

GoGo Ginger — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:00:29 +0000

September: Block Party

Second Friday Night Out in DowntownMesa– Theme: Block Party

6-10pm

Free

Shopping, Dining, Entertainment and more, on and aroundWest Main Street.

(480) 890-2613, http://2ndfridaynightout.com
Friend us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mesa.secondfriday

Additional event activities include: fire equipment display and 9-11 tribute, Classic Car Show and a Fantasy Fashion Show.
[ENCREDICON (Evermore Nevermore's Comic Review of Enlightened Drawing & Inscribing Convention!) And ENCREDICON means it’s time again for the 2nd Friday Sci-Fi & Fantasy Fashion Show with outrageous original costumes and character origins!
The 2nd Friday Sci-Fi & Fantasy Fashion Show is sponsored by Evermore Nevermore, the OneOhOne Gallery and Enchanted Touch, and will take place at 8:00 PM, 9/9/11 in the OneOhOne Gallery showroom (101 W. Main Street) during the 2nd Friday Block Party festivities! Join us for September’s 2nd Friday to see some of the craziest costumed characters ever created!]

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

2nd Friday Night Out: Dog Days of Summer

GoGo Ginger — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:30:21 +0000

Dog Days of Summer

Second Friday Night Out in DowntownMesa– Theme: 2nd Annual Dog Days of Summer

6-10pm

Free

Shopping, Dining, Entertainment and more, on and aroundWest Main Street.

(480) 890-2613, http://2ndfridaynightout.com

Event activities include: several dog rescue groups on
board, a dog psychic, hot dog booth, dog caricatures, dog photos, several art
gallery exhibits with related art, lots of our regular activities such as live
bands, art booths, entertainment, and more.

It’s not too hot for this Farmer’s Market – Indoors!

GoGo Ginger — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:28:51 +0000

Super Farm Market is the ONLY Indoor Farmers Market ON A FARM!
Open year-round: Thursdays 4:30pm-7:30pm

The Summer heat hasn’t stopped the Farmers, Ranchers & Business Owners from getting their work done. Super Farm Market is EVERY Thursday night from 4:30pm-7:30pm at Superstition Farm.

This Thursday you can find:

*Farmers with Fresh Organic Produce including but not limited to: Eggplant, Armenian Cucumbers, Carrots, Sweet onions, Green Onions, Spaghetti Squash, Acorn Squash, Zucchini/Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Apples.

*Ranchers with Grass Fed Beef & Free Range Chickens

PLUS
artisans that include Dairy, Fresh Baked Bread, Raw Honey, Eggs, Natural Dog Treats, Salsa, Beauty Products, Gourmet Smoked Salts & Peppercorns, Vegan Crackers, Multiple Types of Cheeses & Butters, Toffee & Brittles, Udder Delights Ice Cream is Available plus Much Much More!!

Dinner is available from Local Food Trucks that will be serving up Burgers, Fry Bread, Tacos & More to have a Family Dinner on a Farm!

Activities for the Kids: Petting Zoo is available (free admission), Feed and hayrides available for only $1. Horse rides 6pm-7:30pm for $3. Milk Bar with 12 Flavors for only $1, Arizona Snow Pit is Free to run
around in and Cool off with the Water Hose!!

Supporting LOCAL has never been easier. You’re local dollars make more “cents” staying
locally. “Put your money where your house is.” (credit LocalFirstAZ.com)Please, join us Thursday on the Farm from 4:30-7:30PM
3440 S. Hawes Rd Mesa, Az 85212
(602) 432-6865

“Like” the Super Farm Market on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SuperFarmMarket

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

Join Game and Fish for bighorn sheep workshop and Canyon Lake boat tour

GoGo Ginger — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:16:16 +0000

Arizona Game & Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is partnering with the Dolly Steamboat at Canyon Lake to host a public workshop to see and learn about the state’s desert bighorn
sheep.

This fun and informational wildlife workshop starts with a classroom presentation from 7-9p.m. on Friday, June 24 at the Game and Fish Mesa regional office at 7200 E. University Drive, where participants will learn about bighorn sheep, their natural history, management and historical significance from a wildlife biologist.

The following morning, Saturday, June 25, from 9-11:30 a.m., participants will join
biologists aboard the boat and tour Canyon Lake, located northeast of Apache Junction, to learn more about bighorn sheep natural history and view the animals in their natural environment.

The lake tour costs $25 per person. Advance registration is required. To register, call the
Dolly Steamboat at (480) 827-9144. All attendees must be at Canyon Lake at 8:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. departure.

The Friday classroom session is free, but pre-registration is requested due to space limitations. Those planning on doing the lake tour are strongly encouraged to attend to maximize their knowledge and viewing experience. To register for the Friday evening classroom session, call the Game and Fish Mesa office at (480) 324-3546 or e-mail rbabb@azgfd.gov.

“June is the time of year when the bighorns stay pretty close to water. It will be hot on the lake, but that’s when bighorns come down to the water’s edge for a drink,” said Randy Babb, information and education program manager for the Game and Fish Mesa region. Babb added that the bottom level of the Dolly Steamboat is air conditioned.

Participants are encouraged to bring a camera, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and binoculars.
Only water will be allowed to be brought on board, but snacks can be purchased from the cantina. Space is limited, so those who have not registered prior to the event will be accommodated only as space allows.

“This is a great opportunity for people to learn about bighorn sheep and conservation efforts by the Game and Fish Department and its partners for bighorn sheep,” says Babb.

Anyone with questions about the workshop may contact Randy Babb at (480) 324-3546 or by e-mail at rbabb@azgfd.gov.

Desert Belle’s 2011 Memorial Day Weekend Special!

GoGo Ginger — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:47:20 +0000

** SPECIAL PRICE TO ALL MILITARY PERSONNEL – 50% off **

All United States Active and Retired Military Personnel may enjoy any public cruise this weekend at a 50% discount! ($10 adults, $9 seniors 60+)
The Desert Belle Captains and Crew want to THANK YOU for your service to our country.
Please present your Military ID to receive this special discount.

Cruise times:
Saturday 5/28 12:30, 6:00PM
Sunday 5/29 12:30, 3:00PM
Monday 5/30 12:30, 3:00PM
Regular Price: $20/adults $18/seniors 60+ $10/kids from 5 to 12 kids under 5 free

Military Price: $10/adults $9/seniors 60+ (no additional discounts)

** SATURDAY NIGHT HAPPY HOUR ENTERTAINMENT CRUISE **
Saturday 5/28 6:00PM – Jazz Group Luckey & Wilson
Join us Saturday night for Jazz Entertainment with Donna Wilson & Todd Luckey
Drink Specials: Beer and Wine for only $2.00

Book Online www.desertbelle.com or call 480-984-2425 or 1-877-749-2848 extension 701 to book by phone.

The Desert Belle is located at the Saguaro Lake Marina, 14011 N Bush Highway Mesa, AZ 85215