A special invitation for this evening at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen

INVITATION
Mayor Richard Cortez and the City Commission invite you to be their special guests for “Franco Iglesias Opera Ensemble," featuring six world-renowned vocalists. The evening under the stars will honor the internationally acclaimed MAESTRO IGLESIAS
and the Rio Grande Foundation for the Performing Arts. Tonight, Thursday, April 8,
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset, McAllen. RSVP with Sonia Cantu at 681-1001. Dessert buffet & wines will be served.

Last night I attended our "Broadway in McAllen" production of STOMP. It was the second time I've seen this delightful show and I think I enjoyed it even more than the first time. This show makes you smile and laugh for an hour and a half without a single word of dialogue. It's amazing what "miming" and body language can communicate! Broadway in McAllen has been a long-time partnership with the CVB, bringing this type of entertainment to town four to six times a year. It's another "quality of life" issue that makes McAllen a great place to live. Come see us when you can and let us "meet you in McAllen."

Broadway in McAllen & Other Area Shows...

Mcallen has a little bit of everthing it's convention centers cater to conventions, concerts, and braodway "type" shows. I went to an ANNIE show last year and there have been numerous shows like that, such as CATS and today & tommorrow STOMP will be there. for more information: http://www.mcallenconventioncenter.net/events/featured/civic_auditorium/stomp.aspx

If we take a 5 minute drive south of 10th St. from McAllen airport/mall area, you will run into another entertinment venue, the State Farm Arena, formally known as Dodge Arena. This week, Disney on Ice will be there on April 7-11, 2010. For more information: http://statefarmarena.com/

Not Your Mother's Art Exhibition

The McAllen Arts Council is sponsoring its second annual Fine Arts Show this week through 10 pm Friday night at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, 1200 Ash Avenue, 1/2 block east of Archer Park. Some of the McAllen area's best artists are exhibiting and selling their art. There are oils and watercolors enough to please any traditional art aficionado, but there's also a lot of funky art- sculptures, jewelry, mixed media and just "different" expressions. Plus, you get to vote for your favorite artist. Stop in Thursday any time from 8 to 5 or Friday from 6 to 10. Music After Hours will be going on Friday night, too, so it's a multi-arts experience in McAllen. Come check it out.

Interested in the Arts in McAllen...

For those interested in looking or buying Art work in McAllen, you will find the following link quite useful, here are several venues here in McAllen that carry and display art or that cater to the arts. McAllen Art www.mcallenart.com also has useful information on art and entertainment programs in the McAllen area.

http://www.mcallenart.com/Venues

Beading

I've just discovered beading and am having so much fun with it! There are lots of bead stores in McAllen- I've found 6 already. A friend came over to the house and showed another friend and me the basics last weekend, and I've been obsessed ever since! The McAllen Chamber's Creative Incubator has a workshop series on different cultural arts and crafts, and there's been jewelry making before. I'll be watching for it again!

McAllen weekends are awesome!

McAllen weekends are the best- hit 17th Street and surrounds for the newest and best in food, live music, and fun. No matter what you like- a big dance floor or an intimate place to just kick back, McAllen has it. This weekend will be the perfect time to try out a new spot. What a great way to end Spring Break!

The Perfect Weekend in McAllen

It looks like it's going to be a perfect McAllen weekend. With a free outdoor concert early Friday night at Archer Park, and with all the activity in the Entertainment District- great dining and loads more live entertainment later in the evening, it's the perfect opportunity to try out a new place. It seems that every time I turn around there's a new lounge or restaurant opening downtown.

Artwalk tonight!

Don't miss it! Of you've always wondered what it's all about but have never made it out, tonight's the night. The weather is going to be prfect, and the art, music and friends will be at their peaks. See you there!

Studio Available at the Creative Arts Incubator

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has a studio available for rent at the Creative Incubator. The Creative Incubator is a venue that offers low cost studios for aspiring artists. The Incubator is meant to foster the creativity of the tenants and provide emerging artists and organizations with managerial, legal and technical support. The goal of the Creative Incubator is to support the continued professional growth of artists in order to enhance the cultural and economic vitality of our community. If you are interested in applying for a studio at the Incubator, please contact Greg Schuller at 956-687-2787.

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

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!

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.

Candlelight Posada

Tomorrow and Saturday McAllen will celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season with the 26th annual Candlelight Posada, a family event that meshes holiday traditions of both the U.S. and Mexico. Thousands of McAllen area residents and visitors join together in Archer Park to enjoy food, music, and the holiday spirit.
Friday is the annual lighted parade down Main Street, culminating with the lighting of the City Christmas Tree. And Saturday is the actual "posada," an event that welcomes participants and spectators. It's a stylized reinactment of Mary and Joseph's search for an inn. People are invited to walk along with the couple (Mary rides a burro) and sing Christmas songs in both English and Spanish. Finally, when they arrive at the Main Stage, there is a reading, also in both languages, of the scripture. It's a beautiful event.
Both evenings also feature live entertainment, Santa available for photos, and special activity areas for children and for teens. And the food is fantastic! Local non-profit organizations sell everything from turkey legs and tacos to funnel cakes and pizza.
The event is free, and guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit. I hope you'll join us!

Walking With Dinosaurs

Walking with Dinosaurs starts this Friday night at the Dodge Arena. It's a real blast from the past! Good for kids and adults- don't miss it! Tickets at the box office and at www.ticketmaster.com.

We are looking forward to the McAllen Candlight Posada this coming December 4th and 5th. Saturday, the 5th is my favorite day because starting at 7:00 PM we have the Candlight Posada Procession with Joseph and Mary and a real donkey. We have shepherds and kings and angels all walking about eight blocks down main street to Archer Park. While we walk we sing traditional Christmas songs in both English and Spanish. Don't worry, the melodies of the Spanish songs are very catchy and we provide song books with the words for everybody. So you can dive right in to this unique cultural experience. We added a "new wrinkle" this year to the music. Thanks to Brenda Lee Huerta and Univision Radio we have all the songs and carols pre recorded in their studio so it will be twice as impressive as we sing "live" along with "ourselves."

The weather is usually mild and after we get to Archer Park we find waiting for us lots of food booths with turkey legs, funnel cake, and other great stuff. Come join us! For more information, call Jim Deuser at 956-682-2871 or email me at jdeuser@mcallencvb.com

Este es mi Mexico Art Exhibit at IMAS Until Nov. 15, 2009

Content from IMAS: http://www.imasonline.org/

Este es mi Mexico
This is my Mexico will be on exhibit at IMAS from October 1, 2009 - November 15, 2009

This exhibit is a collection of children’s art work from an the XII edition of the international children’s art competition sponsored by the Mexican Foreign Affairs Department and coordinated through the Mexican Consulate in different countries around the world. The opening reception will be on Thursday, October 1, 2009 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. and is generously sponsored and hosted by the Mexican Consulate.

For more information, please call IMAS at 956.682.1564

Today I met with Joe Rodriguez, the CEO of the Heart of the City of McAllen Improvement Corp. This is the economic development "engine" for the central core of McAllen that initiated and has driven the "Entertainment District" which has become so popular with over 20 venues along 17th and Austin Streets in downtown McAllen. The exciting news today concerns the second annual McAllen new Year's "Bash." This second celebration of New Years will be bigger and better and will include a VIP party on the top of the new parking garage right next to the ball drop. We are inviting hotels to create "packages" for out of town guests who can enjoy this unique celebration in comfort and elegance. For more information, call Jim Deuser at the Chamber at 956-682-2871.

Upcoming events, historical info, what else?

The McAllen CVB staff has been writing about all sorts of things the last few months- conventions coming to town, special events, our wonderful nature and historical sites, and more.
What are we forgetting? What would you like to know about that we haven't mentioned? Let us know and we'll do our best to add it in.