What ART thou doing this weekend?

If your Friday evening is open, you might want to check out the McAllen ArtWalk. Now in it's 6th year, the ArtWalk is held the first Friday of the month from September through May and runs from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public and serves as a means to showcase the community's Art Culture. The ArtWalk takes place in McAllen's De Palmas Historic District which is bordered on the south by Bus. 83, extends north to Pecan and is between 10th street and Bicentennial. This self-guided tour encompasses over twenty venues. Visitors can begin their tour at any venue and proceed at their own pace.

For a map and a complete list of the venues, go to the ArtWalk Website www.mcallenartwalk.com (Please note, this site has not been updated, so the dates listed are incorrect).

If you would like additional info, you can contact Becky Guerra @ 956-618-4959 or email nsantander@aol.com

The ArtWalk will give you the opportunity to mingle with a variety of people, possibly meet up with old friends and even create new ones who share your passion for the Arts.

Hummingbirds....

I saw them flying around again this morning as I came into work today. This is another one of God's most beautiful creations. Come by the Chamber to check them out!

Oil Painting Classes are Coming

Look for Oil Painting Classes in the near future at the Incubator. We are finalizing talks with a very reknowned artist to teach oil painting classes two days a week at the Incubator. We will be offering beginners and intermediate classes. This is a very unique and exciting opportunity to find out everything about painting with oils and bringing out your inner artist. For more information on this, call Greg at 956-687-2787. This information will be posted on the Internet at www.mcallenart.com as soon as it gets finalized.

Last week to enter the McAllen Tropical Cocktail Contest!

It's your last week to enter the drink contest! If you've got a cocktail to enter, be sure to get it in by the 31st. We'll announce the winner in September- be looking for it!
To enter, go to www.mcallencvb.com and click on the "Tropical Cocktail" button. Simple!

Henry Cuellar Town Hall Meeting

Yesterday, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, was here in McAllen at the McAllen Convention Center to attend a McAllen Chamber of Commerce and Hispanic Chamber sponsored event. Many would refer to it as a town hall meeting, the topic for this particular event was health care reform in the Rio Grande Valley. I was there along with estimate of 725 people of all ages comprised of various backgrounds: veterans, students, baby boomers, and the new generation. The event was a success, good turn-out really good. There were no riots. Everything was peaceful, even with people having various opposing views
on the subject matter.

It's just a matter of time there is a transcript/video of the items discussed on the meeting, so for the time being for those that were unable to attend or interested in finding it. Google is the answer. I'll post it, if I find it first.

For those that don't know Congressman Henry Cuellar, here is a picture of him.

Termina la franquicia....

Este 31 de Agosto termina el beneficio de la ampliacion de la franquicia en la cual tenemos todavia este fin de semana de $300.00 usd por persona,,asi que hay que aprovecharla hasta el ultimo momento....siguen las ofertas en McAllen en donde somos bienvenidos,,,con lo mejor de Hoteles,,Tiendas,, Restaurantes y ahora para los desvelados el padrisimo desarrolo en la calle 17th en la cual tenemos muchisimas opciones para visitar bares para todo tipo de gustos!!!!


Que tengan un excelente martes!!!

Stay Cool in this Heat..

What else is there to do on these hot summer days but to find a way to stay cool? Nothing sounds better than enjoying a delicious frozen treat. Whether it be ice cream, frozen yogurt, or a raspa all these are sure to cool you down a bit. McAllen has some great places to visit to find these treats.

One of my favorites is Young's snowcone stand. They have great tasting raspas that won't put a dent in your pocket. They also have all sorts of flavors to satisfy your every craving.

Another place I like to visit is Ben & Jerry's. Every year in April, they hold a free ice cream cone day. It's the best thing ever, so don't forget to go next April. They have all flavors of ice cream like plain vanilla or Cherry Garcia. There are also all kinds of frozen fruit shakes.

If you want something that you might want more of later, go to your local supermarket and grab a pint of your favorite kind of ice cream. There is Blue Bell, Haagen Daz, Ben & Jerry's and many more.

Other places to visit in McAllen include Euro Gelato, Ice Cream Club, The Paletera, Banga Juice, Marble Slab and many more!

South 15th & 17th Streets

I have three more historical sites to share with you this week. Two are located in McAllen's Entertainment District - S. 17th Street and the third is two blocks East on 15th.
Cine El Rey - ("The King Cinema"), located at 311 S. 17th. the Cine El Rey was designed by W.E. Crawford and erected in 1947. At that time McAllen had 4 other theaters, but they catered to the English-speaking populace. After WWII, there was an influx of nearly 5-million immigrants from Mexico who came to work in agriculture as part of the Government's "Bracero Program". Cine El Rey was built in the city's Mexican Quarter as a "Mexican Theatre" and showed only Spanish-language films. It served the community in this capacity until the mid 1980's when it also began showing second- run American features. The cinema closed in 1988. From 1996 to 1998, the building was used as a religious outreach center. The Cine El Rey has been lovingly preserved from its projecting neon marquee to its enamel panels adorning the lower portion of the front facade, and sports a plaque indicating its listing on the National Registry of Historical Places. Inside, except for necessary code updates, the theatre retains its original charm and serves as a venue for art films and live performances.

"Patio on Guerra"
Did you know that at one time, 17th Street was known as Guerra Street? I didn't. Around a century ago, three brothers from Starr County bought a building in downtown McAllen. When the political atmosphere in Starr County got to "hot", their father, Deodoro Guerra high-tailed it out of town and joined his sons in McAllen, thus began "D. Guerra and Sons". The building located at 116 S. 17th has served as a blacksmith's shop, grocery store, used clothing shop and a warehouse for a sporting goods store. Today, it houses the newly opened restaurant, "Patio on Guerra", [(956) 683-4446] owned by cousins Art & Che Guerra and Che's wife Becky. Area history encompasses the building. Inside, there are portions of the original tin ceiling as well as a 100-year old bar from San Miguel, Mexico. The walls sport vintage beer ad posters. Outside, a line of bricks are inscribed with the names of the Guerra men from they time in Spain through the present.

My last stop this week is at 306 S. 15th Street. Sacred Heart Catholic Church. I had fun trying to get a picture of this structure. It's really tall! I was awestruck by all of the stained-glass windows. The white stone framing them makes them pop. According to historical marker, Priests from LaLomita Chapel in Mission ministered to Catholics in McAllen from 1908 to 1911, when a mission was begun here and a wood frame chapel was built. By 1917 a school and rectory were added and Sacred Heart became an independent parish. When I was researching "Bessie" the steamboat bell (see my Wichita Street blog) there was mention that a dispute over ownership of the bell kept it from being purchased by Sacred Heart and saved the bell from a fire in 1924 that destroyed the church. Since there a couple of other Sacred Heart Churches in the area, I don't know if this is the same church or not. The Sacred Heart parish has served as "Mother Church" to many missions in central Hidalgo County.
Take a stroll down 15th or 17th street and check out some more of McAllen's history.

SHOPPING GROUPS TO LA PLAZA MALL

The city of McAllen is becoming more popular with Mexican groups choosing McAllen to do their shopping. In August we had 150 people shopping at La Plaza Mall. These people left McAllen happy and with plans to return. We are getting ready to receive two more groups shopping in November; they are 80 people from Pemex attending a work shop and the other is a group of 350 doctors attending a Urologist conference. Come and shop in McAllen where we offer the best merchandise selection.

Thank you,

Teo Rojas

What To Do? What To Do?

What is there to do in McAllen? Lets see, big benefit concert at the Incubator Friday, August 21, 9 bands performing. Pottery, Yoga, Acting & Drama, Zumba, Photography classes. These happen weekly, sometimes several times a week. FREE Line Dancing and 2 Step workshop coming September 1st. Sign up early to guarantee your seat. And remember that Friday, September 4th is the start of Artwalk. And with Artwalk come Music After Hours, our FREE Outdoor Concert Series. So come on, turn off the computer, the TV or the Playstation and get out and do something unique and different, meet new people, learn new things and just have a good time. For more information on any of these activities, visit our website at www.mcallenart.com or call me, Greg Schuller, at 956-687-2787.

Website changes

Please notice some changes we've made to the website. On the front page, you'll find buttons for some new items, like weekly free recipes that use foods special to the area, and green living tips.
Also, until the end of the month, we're having a Tropical Cocktail contest. To suggest a drink, just click on the button and follow the easy and short instructions.
We're trying to make our website as informative- and fun- as possible. We'd love feedback! If you have questions, thought, ideas, whatever, please let us hear from you!

Renaissance Casa de Palmas by Marriott in McAllen Hosts Mixer

Hola McAllenites!!!!

I attended a mixer last Thursday at the Renaissance Casa de Palmas by Marriott in McAllen, Texas. McAllen is best known as the "The Texas Tropics"

The hotel just finished remodeling. The carpet was beautiful!!!

Also, the chef provided some delicious shrimp and pasta dishes.

You got to check out this place!!!

Ernie

Ernesto Arredondo
Director of Convention and Tourism Sales
McAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
956-240-8033

Meetings in Monterrey

Last Wednesday Steve Ahlenius, Luis Cantù, Teclo Garcìa and I had several meetings at Casa McAllen in Monterrey.
Last Thursday I attended the CAINTRA monthly meeting, where we talk about the preparations for the PYMES (Medium and Small companies) trade show, where we will have a booth at no cost.

My wife, Joyce, went to Progreso, Mexico yesterday with her friend, Elaine. They go about once a month to have lunch and go shopping. She got me a bottle of scotch which they sell there at VERY good prices. She bought three bracelets from a street vendor whose wares she reviews whenever she visits. He remembered her and offered a "special discount" as she was a frequent shopper. When you visit Progreso, you have a choice, you can pay the posted price like we do in the States or you can haggle! Joyce is not comfortable "haggling" but she got an even better deal anyway. The "new" security officers on the Mexican side were more thorough than the previous ones, but courteous and efficient. Joyce said it made her feel even more secure although, for us, going to Progreso is about as "adventurous" as going to the local grocery store. No disrespect intended, but going to Progreso is safer than going to almost any large U.S. city. We almost always take visitors to Progreso so they can get a "taste" of Mexico, find an incredible assorment of good, better, and best, merchandise from all over the country, and eat great food at great prices all in one afternoon. I like to tell people that this little town has about 10,000 residents and 9,999 of them have only one goal in life-to make sure we have fun!

Junta con Cintermex

El dia de hoy Silvia y yo, tuvimos una reunion con los encargados de los salones para conferencias en cintermex en donde nos muestran el area nueva para nuestros eventos....los salones cuentan con todas las facilidades y algo muy practico para las necesidades que pudieramos tener.

Por otra parte, la gente se prepara para este fin de semana en donde aprovecharan las ofertas de regreso a clases (tax free day) asi que pues esperen a muchos regios este fin en McAllen...


saludos y que tengan un excelente martes!!!

McAllen Downtown 17th St. Bars/Venues Continued...

Almost left you without some of the venues that are already there, check out this website, pretty cool, for those that want to know what's happening or where to go and have fun. http://www.downtownmcallen.com/barsclubsdining/page/13

Here are some of the nice places to go have a drink, hang-out or eat: "The website above is pretty neat, check it out."

Venetian Fine Dining
209 S. 17th St. McAllen, Texas. 78501n/a
Volta 17
221 S. 17th, McAllen, Texas 78501n/a
The Patio on Guerra
116 S 17th St McAllen, TX 78501(956) 661-9100
España
701 N. Main St. McAllen TX (956) 618-1178
The Dive Bar
216 S. 17th St McAllen, TX 78501(956) 627-2471
The Barrel House
1705 Chicago Ave. McAllen TX(956) 664-0941
The Boiler Room
1710 Chicago Ave McAllen, TX 78501(956) 240-3889
Shine
100 S 17th St, McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 686-3155
Rooftop Lounge
324 S. 17th St. Mcallen, Texas.78501N/A
Element
1110 Austin Ave McAllen, TX 78501(956) 618-4411
Flesh
200 S. 17th St. McAllen, TX 78501(956) 994-0199
Gallery Bar
209 S. 17th St, McAllen, Texasn/a
Lumen Lounge
108 S. 17th St., McAllen, Texas. 78501N/A
Chicago East
115 S. 17th. St. McAllen, TX 78501(956)664-2002Click for more info
Elephant Room
1106 Austin St. McAllen, Texas(956) 867-1679Click for more info
Rhythm & Brews
214 S 17th St McAllen, TX 78501(956) 664-BREW (2739)Click for more info
The Spanish Room
101 N. Main Street, McAllen, Texas 78501Phone: (956) 631-1101Click for more info
Alhambra
525 S. 17th Street, Mcallen, Texas. 78501N/A
Cine El Rey
311 S 17th St McAllen, TX 78505(956) 971-9825
Crazy Guido's
1613 Chicago Ave., McAllen, Texas.78501n/a
Dirty Bottle
210 S. 17th St. Mcallen, Texas. 78501N/A

17th St. Downtown McAllen Bars/Clubs/Venues

In case you want to take a break relax and have a little bit of fun, here is a new destination in McAllen located in downtown McAllen on 17th Street. Check out this news article from our local newspaper, The Monitor, it has pretty great info. on yout venues downtown:

http://rhythmandbrewsrgv.com/

Just in case you can't view them on the link here's the list:
"Be tempted to go...and experience good beats, atmosphere, and drinks/food."

>> BAR 201201 S. 17th St.www.bar201.comOpening: Any day nowStyle: Live music venueOwner says: "It's going to take [17th Street] to another level." -Albert Gonzalez.
Bar 201 is being built in three phases. The first phase is the downstairs bar and the live music stage. The next step is the dance floor and couches on the second level, which opens in late summer. Finally, Bar 201 will have a 3,500 square foot rooftop patio, debuting in time for the New Year's Eve Ball Drop.

>> ROOFTOP LOUNGE324 S. 17th St.Opening: End of MayStyle: Rooftop patio
The Rooftop Lounge owners won't tell revela anything about their bar. They say they want people to be surprised when it opens. As the name implies, this place is a lounge and it's on a rooftop. Duh. Also, it used to be a herberia. The rest will be revealed soon.

>> LUMEN LOUNGE108 S. 17th St.Opening: End of JuneStyle: Modern loungeLook for it: Between The Patio on Guerra and the Shine Martini Lounge
Lumen Lounge will be the only bar on 17th Street that's built brand new. It used to be an empty lot between The Patio on Guerra and the Shine Martini Lounge. Owners broke ground in the spring, and they say building it from scratch gave them total design freedom. They've used that liberty to incorporate natural lighting, bamoo and organic colors.

>> DIRTY BOTTLE210 S. 17th St.Opening: Within two months
Ever notice the party balcony on 17th Street? It's a rare site, but during Another Music Festival last month you probably saw people making merry on a balcony between Flesh and Rhythm and Brews. That place is becoming Dirty Bottle, the early front runner for best downtown bar name. The buzz is building. During the music festival, Mark Liscano had a photo shoot that got a little too sexy. The police even came to see what was up with all the hot women and sleek cars. Is there a cooler way to introduce yourself to the neighborhood?

>> CHICAGO EAST115 S. 17th St.Opening: End of JulyFeatures: Chicago-style pizza, an outdoor patio, and beer.

>> HACIENDA 17117 S. 17th StreetOpening: Within six monthsStyle: Bar and grillFeatures: Massive, three-location size and a patio

>> CRAZY GUIDO'S1613 Chicago Ave.Opening: End of JulyFeatures: Chicago-style pizzaOther location: 2002 N. Conway Ave., Mission

>> VENETIAN FINE DINING209 S. 17th St.Opening: End of SeptemberMusicians: Piano players Jim Kane and Grace Valdez, who have played with Rene Sandoval at Embassy Suites
The owners of McAllen's Venetian Fine Dining, a restaurant on Pecan Boulevard, are opening a second location downtown. The place will have the same menu, prices and cuts of Kobe beef as the first location. It will also have a piano bar, an outdoor patio and a rooftop lounge. The owners want a romantic date night place where couples can dine, dance and get cozy in a more private setting than a crowded bar or club.

>> GALLERY BAR209 S. 17th St.Opening: Within three months
This spot will be located right next door to Venetian Fine Dining. It's a quaint place that will blend a lounge-style bar with an art gallery.

>> YET-TO-BE-NAMED CAJUN BAR & GRIL 301 S. 17th StreetOpening: TBD

>> VOLTA 17221 S. 17th St.Opening: TBDStyle: Bar and Mediterranean restaurant

>> VICE 221 S. 17th Street

>> ALHAMBRA525 S. 17th StreetWe don't know a whole lot about this intriguing new club, but by the looks of this artist's rendering, it just might be the envy of 17th

11, 12, 23

What do 11, 12 and 23 have in common? The obvious answer is that 11+12=23. The other commonality is they are streets in McAllen and they each have a historical marker site. The first site is at 118 N. 11th (between Ash & Beech). Here you will find the McAllen Lodge #1110 A.F. & A.M. This Masonic lodge was organized by Master Mason R.M. Bounds and a group of about 30 Masons in Dec., 1915. Prior to a temple being erected here in 1927, the group met at the Joseph and Osbourne buildings in McAllen. The lodge and its 200+ membership continues to be active in civic affairs in the city. In 1995, the Texas Historical Commission recognized this site.

Now, if you backtrack to 12th street and cross business 83 (watch for traffic) and go to the intersection of 12th and Beaumont, you'll find the next marker at the First Presbyterian Church of McAllen. First Presbyterian was established in 1908 when the Rev. M.W. Doggett preached the first sermon in a local lumber yard. The first sanctuary, a prominent McAllen landmark, was build in 1910. The Church encountered some tough times from 1909 to 1919 because of the Mexican Revolution, but was sustained by its woman's society that was formed in 1909. As McAllen Grew, so did First Presbyterian. A fellowship hall was added in 1949, followed by an education building in 1953 and a new sanctuary in 1959-60. A Historical Marker was placed in 1994. (If you look right above the corner of the pickup box, you can see the marker.)

I also discovered another piece of history at this site. As I approached the church, I noticed a structure across the street from it. I thought it looked like some type of memorial and that is exactly what it is. The engraving reads: McAllen High School Memorial. After some additional research, I learned the site was the original location of McAllen High School and this memorial commenorates that.

Now, we have one more stop on this tour and it is at the intersection of S. 23rd and Ithica street, St. Joseph the Worker catholic Church. The church was dedicated in 1963, but it is not the historical site. The history is what lies within. Supposedly at the top of three rickety ladders that lead up to the belfry, is "Bessie" the steamboat bell. From the 1840's to the early 1900's, more than 100 steamboats plied the Rio Grande transporting supplies to troops in both the Mexican-American and Civil Wars. as rail service developed, steamboats became obsolete and it was sometime in 1900 that "Bessie" made her last voyage on the river. From 1902 until 1909, the 400-lb bell was used by John Closner at his Sugar Mill near Hidalgo. If you noticed, earlier, I said "supposedly" when introducing the bell. This is because to this day, there exists a controversy over whether this is the real bell or not. In 2007, employees at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle discovered a bell that had been in storage since 1970 when a small plane crashed in to the shrine. Another story tells of of how the bell was given to Sacred Heart Church, survived a fire in 1924, cracked in 1937, and was the recast and given to St. Joseph the Worker. To read the whole story, go to www.themonitor.com/news/bell_6402___article.html/bessie_fort.html

So, not only do we find history in McAllen, we find mystery. Will we ever solve the mystery of "Bessie" the bell? Maybe someday the truth will be tolled. Until then, join me as I seek out other historical markers around McAllen

Top 25 List for What Exactly do McAllen-ites Spend Their Time Doing?

Part III of IV

11. All you have to do is visit our McAllen Texas Tropics Facebook Page to catch a glimpse of how McAllen-ites spend a day enjoying cool breezes, our Rio Grande River and a bi-national view…all while kayaking! Several weeks ago, many of our own employees at the McAllen Chamber got to experience a day on the Rio Grande River. Trust me, you don't have to know the individuals pictured to get a great laugh and sense of adventure any individual or group can take advantage of with organizations like Los Caminos del Rio! Bring on the pros and newbies alike; they cater to everyone! After-all, why be next to the water, when you can be in it?! ;)


12. It took about 8 months of taking the same route home in my somewhat zoned state, to discover that in my short absence McAllen had gained its own ice rink! That's right...one moment you're eating a raspa under a palm tree and the next you're cooling off on the ice! I highly recommend visiting RGV Ice Center…whether you're a weathered local or fair visitor -it’s a deliciously cool break!

13. Most cities have a city bird, a city flower, a city logo…but now McAllen is introducing our city's own Tropical Cocktail! What better way to decide that, than to ask our devoted residents and visitors to help us find the recipe? The McAllen Chamber/CVB is hosting a Tropical Cocktail Contest, and by visiting our website @ www.mcallencvb.com, anyone (of legal age) can submit a recipe. McAllen-ite's palettes and taste are continuously growing and seeking out new experiences, and what better to celebrate our lively lifestyles, than a city-cocktail!

14. Don't see New York and musicals in your near future?...not a problem. With a brand new, state-of-the-art convention center, as well as, our popular auditorium, broadway is coming to McAllen! From Hairspray and High School Musical to Rocky Horror Show…there are plenty of shows to fill you craving without emptying your wallet! Come discover a McAllen secret!

15. Go Dancing! Last night I dropped my sister off at the Ice House and if their glass floor looking down into the wine cellar below isn't enough (not to mention it's actually McAllen's old ice house -beautifully renovated, my sister was joining a 90's dance party!I love dancing and having so many venues and varying theme nights allow me to get creative and boogey the night away! ;)

Eric Genuis in Concert Thursday, August 20, 2009 in McAllen

Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 7:00pm at Holy Spirit Church in McAllen


Eric Genuis is a composer, virtuoso pianist and captivating performer that delivers a powerful message of hope to our youth and our families...


Donation: $15.00

For tickets, please call 956-383-0133

Ophalmologists Wives Group from Mexico

This past Monday, August 10, 2009 we had a group from Mexico. The group was comprised of wifes of Ophalmologists around 150 of them. I have included a few pictures so you can have an idea of what I'm talking about. We hosted a small welcoming with a table filled with goodies and shopping materials/coupons. This is just some of the little things we do for our guests.

Great Outdoors Speaker Series

If you like the outdoors, and would like to know more about McAllen's amazingly diverse flora and fauna, mark your calendars for Thursday nights and head to Quinta Mazatlan. Each Thursday, for just $3, you'll be treated to an expert in some field of nature, from birds to plants to mammals to insects. It's a great opportunity to learn something new and to visit McAllen's gorgeous birding center. Take the kids along- the presentations begin at 7, last just an hour and are guaranteed to be family-appropriate. If you try one, you'll be hooked- and, while there, you can check out the range of other programs Quinta Mazatlan offers as well.

What To Do? Are You Kidding

Ok, so it's been really hot the last few months and I know exactly why. The events at the McAllen Creative Incubator have really been sizzling. The Pottery workshops with expert potter Alfredo Ibarra have been a lot of fun for all ages and we have a second round of them coming up next month. The Photography workshops have been cookin, with expert photographer Rafael Sepulveda at the helm. Students are learning about every aspect of their camera. And we have not even mentioned Irma Burr's Yoga and Creative Journaling classes. In fact, Irma is getting ready to start Zumba high impact workouts in the next week or two, so watch out. And of course we cannot forget Screen Actor's Guild member Pedro Garcia and his professional Acting and Drama classes. So now maybe you know why it has been so hot. Imagine how hot it has been for me. I have to work around all this. If you need more information on any of these activities, please do not hesitate to call Greg at 956-687-2787 or visit our website at www.mcallenart.com. See Ya Soon!!!

Ophthalmologists`s Wives in McAllen

This week was held in Cintermex (The International Trade Center) where our Casa McAllen is located, the National Convention of Ophthalmologists, who requested support from Casa McAllen for the trip of 155 of their wives to McAllen. Teo Rojas and Robert Zapata received them in La Plaza Mall am delivered bags with information, discount coupons and souvenirs, as well as water bottles and coffee. The ladies came Desperados to do a lot of shopping. Iam sure they enjoyed their trip to McAllen.

Promociones

Este jueves nos llegan las promociones de la temporada y nuestro compañero Teo Rojas es el encargado de traerlas a Monterrey,, asi que esten pendientes para aprovechar cada oferta, el viernes en nuestra oficina podran recogerlas en el horario de 8:30am-1:00pm y de 2:00pm-5:00pm solo necesitas pasar por ellas.....

Que tengan un maravilloso martes!!!!

Wichita Street History

I decided to keep traveling south in my search for historical markers, and ended up on Wichita Street. The west end of Wichita is a pretty busy section of town. On the North side of the street, you have La Plaza Mall - a shopper's dream come true. A bit further west, you have the Windgate Inn Hotel. On the south side of the street, you have McAllen/Miller International Airport. And finally, at the extreme end of Wichita, is La Piedad Cemetery.

The first marker I was interested in is actually located inside the terminal at the Airport and honors Texas' first licensed pilot, Floyd H. "Slats" Rodgers (March 7, 1889 - July 5, 1956). "Slats" was a pretty colorful character. Born in Georgia, raised in Texas, he turned a childhood love of kites into a career in aviation. He built and flew (without lessons) his first airplane, "Old Soggy No.1" in 1912 - a mere 9 years after the Wright brothers. In 1916 he became a flight instructor for the Army. After WWI he worked as a barnstormer and circus stunt pilot. During prohibition, he was known to fly bootleg liquor from Mexico to Texas. "Slats" even ended up spending time behind bars for gambling and moon shining. The Civil Aeronautics Commission (CAA) on a number of occasions fined him for aerobatic hi-jinks and at one point refused to issue him a license until he paid off all of the fines. In the 1930's he settled in McAllen and had a crop-dusting business. Floyd H. "Slats" Rodgers died of natural causes and is interred in Laurel Hills Cemetery in Mission.

The second and third markers are located at the cemetery. La Piedad, which means "Pity" in Spanish, has actually been a burial ground even before McAllen was a city. The land originally belonged to merchant/rancher John McAllen and was probably set aside as a burial ground on the extensive McAllen Ranch. The oldest marked grave in the cemetery is that of Gertrudis Cavazos (1856-1895). In 1965, Emmett & Margaret Arnold deeded 10.69 acres to La Piedad Cemetery and an additional 2.5 acres were added in 1972. There are over 7,000 grave sites within the cemetery. Over 250 of the graves are those of veterans who served in WWI, WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. In Addition, there are graves of soldiers from foreign armies.
The Asociacion del Cementario La Piedad was founded in 1913 and incorporated in 1930. The Asociacion maintains the cemetery and in 2005 was recognized with a Texas Historical Marker and Medallion which flank the building's entrance. A second Historical Marker is slated for installation sometime this year.

If you're ever in the vicinity of Wichita St., take a few minutes to check out these markers and then go have some fun at La Plaza Mall!

Back to School Sales in McAllen

It's that time again!!

The kids are heading back to school and with that said parents are scrambling to get school supplies and clothing.

Take advantage of the many sales McAllen has going on in it's shopping centers and at La Plaza Mall. In addition to the savings many of these stores are offering, also take advantage of the tax free savings scheduled for August 21-23.



Remember: the best shopping is in McAllen!

Independent films in McAllen

Lots going on with independent films right now. We're helping 1 that starts filming soon, another that filmed here 2 years ago and is now planning its premier, a third that hopefully will begin filming next month, and a 4th that is well into pre-production. We also have two workshops for film makers coming up, one featuring an Italian film maker and the other sponsored by Texas Film Commission.

Green Living Festival coming

October 17 is the date for McAllen's 2nd annual Green Living Festival, presented by Shell Exploration & Production. It'll be a day full of information and fun. Speakers will cover various aspects of living more sustainably, and there will be an exhibit hall full of booths displaying the latest in green supplies and services available here in the Valley. Plus, there will be activities for children and a special "green" art display from the McAllen Independent School District. The event is from 9:30 to 6 pm at the McAllen Convention Center, and entrance is free.

Check out the website for more details. Come learn how to save money and treat the earth more gently at the same time.

BIRDWATCHING IN MCALLEN

Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley offers astounding diversity because the area is a favorite stopover for birds heading down the Gulf Coast. At dusk, the skies swirl with barn swallows beading to roosting areas to bed down for the night. for more information go to worldbirdingcenter.org

I went to Quinta Mazatlan Yesterday!

Dear people,

I am not what you would consider a nature person. But, I really like Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen's Wing of the World Birding Center. Even though it was a bit warm out, I traveled to this tropical paradise for a meeting. This never gets old....

Quinta Mazatlan is a treasure that everyone should indulge in often!!

Ernie

Ernesto Arredondo
Director of Sales
McAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau
McAllen Chamber of Commerce

The Elusive Purple Martins Have Been Sighted!

We were pulling into Chick-Fil-A, near the busy "Jackson and Jackson" intersection on the McAllen side of the Pharr-McAllen city limits. Elaine spotted the black swarms through the sunroof. We think the nearby bright Sam's Club parking-lot lights had attracted the elusive Purple Martins.

Eight minutes later when we came out with our takeout food, we could not see the swarms, even by the light of a full moon, but Elaine could hear their distinctive chirps to the east. Local sunset tonight was at 8:17 p.m.

We then followed the loud sound to a row of scrawny oak trees along the north border of the Sam's Club fuel pumps, which front on South Jackson Road. Easy viewing nearby. A nice gas attendant there, Lupe, said, yep, they have been noisily roosting in those trees for several nights now. He was anxious to have the breed's name for his P-SJ-A high-school studies. The martins do not roost overnight, he added, in a much larger oak tree just across on the Pharr side of South Jackson Road.

Were there "thousands of birds," as we have seen above previous years' spectacular pre-migratory roosts? Sure.

Frank Birkhead, 74, of adjacent Pharr is a retired McAllen city official and a Valley resident of 48 years. He was named McAllen Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year in 2006.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs

Last week I attended the monthly meeting of Sister Cities where Mr. Camacho Hugo Galvan, delegate of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs was the guest speaker and his topic was the activities it carries out its office in other countries mainly in the United States Amèrica mentioned is the country with the largest number of Mexican immigrants across the world
Also, last Friday I attended the ratification of the twinning of the town of Parras Coahuila and Villa de Santiago.(Sister Cities ratification).

WHAT'S HOT! Art Show at the Incubator

August 7 & 8, 2 days of urban art from ten artists, Health Organizations, Live Music, snacks and refreshment. Something for all ages. This art show is a thank you to everybody who takes an interest in non-mainstream type art, who dares to do something different and struts to the beat of their own drum. We have combined the hottest, most expressive art in the area for your viewing pleasure, we have also connected with a couple of health organizations to promote healthy living and personal safety. No better way to beat the heat than with What's Hot!
Dont forget our weekly Yoga, Acting, Photography and Pottery classes. For more information on any of this or on upcoming shows, contact Greg Schuller at (956) 687-2787.

A lot of people are complaining about how hot it is, but actually, we have such a consistent breeze-sometimes its a wind-that unless you are in direct sunlight, it's really quite pleasant outsinde. As our city matures, I see more and more big trees and lots of shade. My street now reminds me of those older cities where the trees meet in the middle of the block and it "looks cool" even in the middle of the day. I played golf yesterday on my tree shaded golf course from 2:00 PM until almost 6:00 PM and didn't suffer a bit. Soooo come on down and enjoy McAllen.

Ultimas semanas de Vacaciones

Hola a todos,, pues regresando despues de unas merecidas vacaciones y con toda la energia,,les platico que en estos dias las preguntas mas frecuentes es,, Que promociones tienen en McAllen???,, tenemos hoteles, restaurantes, tiendas etc,,,, la gente sigue preparandose para visitar nuestra hermosa ciudad y hacer las compras de los utiles escolares para los niños, asi como ropa y aprovechando que todavia sigue la franquicia, pues cosas que hagan falta en casa,, estas son las ultimas semanas de vacaciones para los niños hay que aprovechar para ir de descanso y hacer compras...

Que tengan un excelente martes!!!

Virtual Tours for Hotels "See and Stay"

Check out local hotels at our McAllen CVB site http://www.mcallen.org/Visitors, under Visitors, click on Hotels. You will be able to see our new "Virtual Tours" of selected hotels, each week more hotels are being added with Virtual Tours. Now you will be able to see before you stay. Pretty nice feature...

Main Street History, Part 3

This week, I'll wrap up my walk along Main Street and look at the last two Historical Markers that I found. As you travel south on Main, you come to our next destination. McAllen City Hall (1300 Austin). While the City Hall itself isn't historic, the plot of land it sits on is. According to the Historical Marker, (erected in 1996) in front of the building, this was the site of the original McAllen Municipal Hospital. The hospital was erected on S. Broadway in 1925 and had a capacity of 25 beds. In 1928, another hospital was built on this site and the two structures were connected by a covered passageway. As the area's population grew, so did the hospital, with additions being made in 1954, 1960, 1967 and 1973. I remember applying for a job at the hospital when I first moved to the Valley in 1978, and my dad was admitted there for a very nasty kidney stone. In the 1980's, a medical complex began to develop along expressway 83 at 2nd St. In 1992, the decision was made to raze the old hospital building to make room for a new City Hall. Demolition was complete in May 1993 and on Oct 29, 1995, the new City Hall opened for business. Although the building no longer exists, one only need to look down Ridge Rd. to see that the legacy lives on.
Continue south on Main, cross W. Jackson and you'll find the location of the final marker. Roselawn Cemetery (1201 S. Main). The marker, erected in 2007, is located in front of the cemetery office at the south end of the property. This burial ground was established in 1908 on land donated by the Hidalgo Canal Company. The oldest marked grave dates back to 1909. Prior to 1930, the cemetery was known as McAllen Cemetery and Valhalla Cemetery. Roselawn Cemetery became the official name in 1930 to reflect the planting of rose bushes as part of a beautification project. And I must admit, Roselawn does have a more tranquil ring to it. Today, Roselawn encompasses 22 acres and continues to serve as a reminder of McAllen's past.
So, the next time you find yourself on the south side of town, check out these sites. I know wandering through a cemetery might not appeal to everyone, but the shade, in this heat, really was enjoyable.
Well, that's the history along Main St. I'm not sure where I'm off to next, but check back as I find more historical markers around McAllen.