Santiago

As part of the redevelopment of its main square of Santiago, called "Pueblo Magico", held the event in the planting of a tree, where the mayor Edelmiro Cavazos named Mr. Bruce Williamson "guest of honor" and I had the opportunity to attend.

Santiago is a small city with a very Mexican touch and is located 20 minutes from Monterrey

McAllen Now Recycles Glass

The award-winning McAllen Recycling Center dedicated its new glass pulverizer yesterday. Now the City can accept glass as well as paper, aluminum, organic composting materials and all the other things it recycles. This is definitely a step in the right direction- McAllen's recycling program is the leading one in the Valley, and one of Texas's leaders, too.
The City does a lot to be green. This is another step in that process. For more info on going green, go to www.mcallen.otg/visitors.

McAllen Arts Council Grants

It is almost spring and that means that it is time for the McAllen Arts Council to start accepting applications for this years MAC Grant. These grants are given yearly and are meant to help foster the arts in the McAllen area. Grants are up to $1000 each. Applications are accepted from March 15 through April 30 and can be obtained by going to the MAC website, www.mcallenartscouncil.com or by contacting Greg Schuller at 956-687-2787. Best of luck.

LA BOHEME COMMING TO McALLEN

Experience one of Puccini's best operas presents in McAllen by South Texas Lyric Opera. La Boheme will be perform in McAllen March 27, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Sung in Italian admission: $ 45.00$65.00 : Senior & Students$20.00.

Thank you,
Teo Rojas

Video del puente anzalduas

Mucha gente nos pregunta como llegar al puente Anzalduas??? y en nuestra ultima visita grabamos un poco para poder darles una ubicacion.,, Les dejo este video informativo,, para aquellos que desean visitar McAllen utilizando este puente que en realidad si nos ahorra mucho tiempo y nos da seguridad,, espero les sea de utilidad.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXpYYFcZ2lM

Saludos

Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorale presents

VSO & Winter Concert

Tickets starting @ $15.00

Friday, February 19, 2010

Doors open at 7:30 pm

Concert starts at: 8:00 pm

Not recommended for children under age eight

McAllen Civic Center

1300 S. 10th St, McAllen, TX 78501

Gershwin -- Cuban Overture

Bizet/Shchedrin -- Carmen Suite

Stravinsky -- Symphony of Psalms

Valley Symphony Chorale

Borodin -- Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor

Valley Symphony Chorale

Peter Dabrowski, Music Director & Conductor

Dr. Christopher Munn, Chorale Conductor

Sponsored by: City of McAllen, Texas Commission on the Arts & Valley Keyboards

For more information contact: Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorale - www.valleyorchestra.org

956-661-1615

BROADWAY IN MCALLEN !

It is great ! you do not have to go away to a large city to see a great Broadway show ! this season Broadway is coming to McAllen--secure your seats today before you hear the word " Sold Out" Rain, Walking with Dinosaurs, Cats, Cabaret and Stomp all these great shows are coming to McAllen!

For tickets call (888) 502 2929 or www.broadwayInMcAllen.com

Thank you,

Teo Rojas

Border Fest 2010 March 4th-7th

This year Border Fest 2010 will start March 4th-7th at the premesis of State Farm Arena formally known as Dodge Arena. You can get more information of the event and ticket prices on the following website.

http://www.borderfest.org/

Ice skating seminar in McAllen

The Olympics have everyone talking about winter sports. We don't have those sports in McAllen, of course, since we're a semi-tropical area. Here people start pulling out sweaters when it gets down to 70 degrees!
But if you're interested in learning how to ice skate, there's a seminar at Valley Ice Center February 21. Coach Sheila Thelan, who holds a Professional Skaters Association Master Rating, will be teaching on-ice classes and off-ice classes for all levels of figure skaters. Also, she'll offer Powerskating class for adult hockey players.

Crossing Anzalduas Bridges you will saved 30 minutes

Last Monday we traveled to McAllen to have some meetings and to attend the McAllen Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting. Arriving in Reynosa, we started to shoot with our camera, the path that would take us to the Anzalduas Bridge and saw with pleasure that the signs are already in place. This will help more for the people of Monterrey has a faster and secure access to McAllen, since we saved about 30 minutes.

McAllen in Spring...Field Study of Birds

Spring .....one of the most delightful seasons in the Valley. The weather is mild and the landscape responds with colors & wildlife. Enjoy lectures & day trips, but no tests! We have brought together the best talent creating four outstanding workshops at Quinta Mazatlan.
Join us for the first workshop coming in March!

Raptor Behavior
March 21-27, 2010
$799.00 p/p
Instructor: William S. Clark
Join raptor expert and field guide author Bill Clark for an adventure in search of amazing birds of prey during peak hawk migration through the Rio Grande Valley.

Sunday, March 21
Program: Raptors of the Rio Grande Valley

Monday, March 22
Program: Raptor ID I
Field trip: Bentsen State Park

Tuesday, March 23
Program: Raptor ID II
Program: What is Harlan's Hawk?
Field trip: Anzalduas Park and boat trip on the Rio Grande

Wednesday, March 24
Program: Raptor ID III
Field trip: Santa Ana NWR and Valley
Agriculture Fields

Thursday, March 25
Program: Raptor ID IV & V
Field Trip: Laguna Atascosa NWR, Boca Chica and the Laguna Madre

Friday, March 26
Program: Eagles Quest
Field trip: Valley Agriculture Fields

Locations and site visits may vary depending on weather and rarities. Transportation to and from Quinta Mazatlan, hotel accomodations and evening meals are the responsibility of each participant. For lodging and restaurant information, visit www.mcallencvb.com

Register online at www.mcallenchamber.com
Phone: 956-682-2871 Fax: (956) 631-8571
Email: mmunoz@mcallencvb.com

Cabaret Comming to McAllen

Remember Cabaret is coming to McAllen. March 9 you will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the best Broadway show ever. come and see Cabaret at the McAllen Civic Center March 9, at 7:00 p.m. for show tickets call (956) 681-3800.

The McAllen Civic Center is located at 1300 South 10th Street. This is a great show.


Thank you,

Teo

Valentine's Day in McAllen at El Patio on Guerra

I heard an ad on the radio today for special Valentine's packages at El Patio on Guerra in McAllen. The restaurant will feature a special menu and live music beginning at 2 pm. If you haven't been to this restaurant yet, I highly recommend it. It's on 17th Street in the Entertainment District and has terrific food and a wonderful ambience- laid back and yet upscale. The restaurant is accepting reservations on line at http://www.patioonguerra.com/dotnetnuke/Reservations/tabid/57/Default.aspx.
See you there?
Yum!

2010 Texas Homeland Security Conference

The McAllen CVB will be at the 2010 Texas Homeland Security Conference from Feb 15-18 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Tx. There are over 3000 attendees at the convention! Elected officials, first resopnders, emergency managers, and decision makes from across Texas will be attending the conference.


I believe this conference will be a success!
Pam

Film Making Workshop February 16

There will be a FREE Film Making workshop on Tuesday, February 16th at 7pm at the Incubator. M3 Productions will host the event that will include them as well as other local film makers. It will be a question and answer type workshop where participants will be able to ask the panel about film making and get professional feedback and demonstration. This is going to be a must do workshop for anyone who uses a camcorder and wants to hone their skills. Call Greg Schuller at 956-687-2787 to sign up for this workshop.

McAllen CVB attends 2010 Southwest Showcase in Austin

The McAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau attended the 2010 Southwest Showcase Meeting Planning Networking Event in Austin. The event was in early February.

Pam Alvarez, my sales manager, and I were very lucky to have wonderful people with us representing McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley in our booth.

I would like to thank the following people:

Andrea Rodriguez, Lily Quintanilla - Embassy Suites, McAllen
Cindy Ehler, Cullum Wallace - Homewood Suites, McAllen
Rebecca Olaguibel, Laurie Pulido, McAllen Convention Center
Albert Gonzalez, Mercedes Economic Development Corporation - Outlet Mall

Again, thanks!

Ernie Arredondo
Director of Sales
McAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau

Happy Valentine`s Day

This weekend a lot of regiomontanos will travel to McAllen to make their purchases, chocolates, candies and of course engagement rings, also they will enjoy an excellent dinner on the occasion of Valentine`s Day.

Puente Anzalduas

Debido a las constantes preguntas de las personas que visitan McAllen, en cuanto a la
ubicacion exacta de el Puente Anzalduas,, esta semana proxima en nuestra visita a McAllen, grabaremos un video de como llegar al puente...lo estaremos subiendo al facebook de Mcalleando,, y algunos otros sitios en donde puedan checarlo y asi saber con certeza la ubicacion del mismo...

Que tengan un productivo martes!!!

Usually, when a meeting planner or tourist is thinking about McAllen, the first thing they do is check out our web page. We think we have a pretty good page, but we are committed to making it great! We'll be working with our web master on a monthly basis for the next few months to initiate new informational "buttons" and to simplify and make the page more user friendly. we have already moved the "hotel" button to the front of the CVB page and we are working on linking every member hotel's page to our page.

We will be creating a section of the web pages to our McAllen Entertainment District soon. This exciting part of town has developed over the past two years to the point that it's a significant destination in McAllen.

Take a look at our web page and give us some ideas. All the good ones come from our friends who talk to us about how we can serve you better. You can contact me at Jdeuser@mcallencvb.com.

Let's meet in McAllen!

MEXICAN ARTISAN EXPO

"A Vibrant Heritage"On February 5 & 6 the McAllen Chamber of Commerce will host a new event for the Rio Grande Valley Community. "A Vibrant Heritage" Mexican Artisan Expo will bring together a group of artisans and artists from different Mexican regions who will sell their paintings and other works of art to the public. The expo will also include the Music After Hours concert series featuring the music of Karen Eubanks, Happy Hour, Squarer Roots and Highway 7. There will also be food booths which will provide food and fun for the entire family. Please come and enjoy.

Teo

January Sister Cities Association meeting

During the monthly meeting of the Sister Cities Association last week, I had the opportunity to self-present with the mayors of Marin Mr. Jose Cruz Sr. and Cerralvo José Estevan Cerralvo O.. I also welcome the mayor of Santiago Edelmiro Cavazos, the Consul of the United States of America Bruce Williamson and city officials of Allende, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Cadereyta, Garcia, Montemorelos, Hidalgo, General Teran, the Secretary of the City of Guadalupe Gabriel Tlaloc Cantu, the Director of Institutional Relations of the Monterrey City Hall Mr. Jose Ortiz, as well as to International Trade Coordinator State Government of Nuevo Leon Lic. Marco Antonio Garza and Artisan Development Coordinator State Government Nuevo Leon Lic. Arnoldo Reynaldos. This will form part of our public relations objectives of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce

Mexican Artisan Show

A Mexican Artisn Show will be held at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce this coming Friday, February 5 from 5pm to 10pm and Saturday, February 6th from 11am to 6pm. This show will feature arts and crafts from all over Mexico. There will also be entertainment outside in the Courtyard of the Chamber with Musicians and Dancers performing. For more information, contact Luis Cantu at 956-682-2871.

Mexican Artisan Expo

On February 5 & 6 the McAllen Chamber of Commerce will host a new event for the Rio Grande Valley Community. "A Vibrant Heritage" Mexican Artisan Expo will bring together a group of artisans and artists from different Mexican regions who will sell their paintings and other works of art to the public. The expo will also include the Music After Hours concert series featuring the music of Karen Eubanks, Happy Hour, Square Roots and Highway 7. There will also be food booths which will provide food and fun for the entire family.
The Mexican Artisan Expo will be held at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce parking lot and its conference room areas from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5 and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, February 6. For more information, please contact Luis Cantu at 682-2871.

FREE-peat

FREE, FREE,and FREE. those are the prices for three events taking place in McAllen this Friday, Feb. 5th.

The first event is the 1st Friday Artwalk. Artwalk is a self-guided tour of art galleries and local art hosts and is held in one of the oldest areas of McAllen. Guests can start their tour at any location and proceed at their own pace. Artwalk begins at 6:00 pm and lasts until around 10:00pm. For a list of venues and a map,go to http://www.mcallenartwalk.com.

In conjunction with the Artwalk, will be a Mexican Artisan Expo entitled, "A Vibrant Heritage" which will run from 5:00pm to 10:00pm on Friday, as well as Saturday from 11:00am to 6:00pm. The expo will be located tin the parking lot across teh street from the Chamber(1200 Ash). Visitors will be able to appreciate and purchase arts & crafts from Chiapas, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Taxco as well as other Mexican states.

Finally, Music After Hours, the free concert series, has been moved up one week to coincide with these events. Music After Hours will begin at 7:00pm and will be located in the Chamber parking lot. Featured performers are: Karen Eubanks( Acoustic/Indie), Happy Hour(Acoustic/Powerpop), Square Roots(Indie/Rock) and closing out the evening will be Highway 7(Country/Rock).

I understand the weather is supposed to be wonderful and it sounds like any or all of these events would be a wonderful way to spend an evening in McAllen. Come out enjoy.