La Ciudad Ideal

McAllen es una ciudad cosmopolita la cual está creciendo con rapidez. Contando con 72 plazas pequeñas y 5 plazas grandes como Pavellon, Las Tiendas, Trenton Mall , Palms Crossing que es la más nueva de las plazas y La Plaza Mall, por cierto la más grande. Aquí se encuentra desde zapatos, joyería y lo mejor de la moda. Además de tener el beneficio de estar a tan solo 13 millas de Reynosa y estar a cinco minutos de todo. Se puede encontrar más de 600 restaurantes desde comida rápida hasta comida gourmet. McAllen cuenta además con varias opciones para alojamiento, están desde los hoteles de 5 estrellas hasta cómodos y económicos moteles de cadenas nacionales que ofrecen comodidad y conveniencia al estar localizados la mayoría en el área céntrica de la ciudad.

While Strolling Through the Park...

Good Morning,

My name is Cheryl and I'm quietly keeping my finger(s) on McAllen's pulse. With everything happening in this great city, I'm thinking I might need more fingers.

Saturday evening, I strolled over to Archer Park (101 N. Broadway) and had a fantastic time laughing myself silly, while watching Kung Fu Panda. This movie was the first of season for McAllen Parks & Rec's Movies in the Park series. Each Saturday evening through July 25, there will be a different movie (except for July 4th) . There's no charge, so grab a blanket, pop up a bag of popcorn and come check out the action. You can find the entire movie schedule at http://www.mcallen.net/ .

I really like Archer Park. This 1-block park has been a fixture in McAllen since 1917. McAllen's first Mayor, Oliver Percy Archer (b1869 - d1930) deeded the land to the city for a park. The Park was named for him in 1933. The gazebo/bandstand that stands in the center of the park was dedicated in 1918 and at one point, the McAllen Public Library was housed in the basement. It is now home to the office of Keep McAllen Beautiful. (Public restrooms are also under the gazebo)

In front of the gazebo is the Texas Historical Marker, erected in 1981.

Tucked behind the gazebo is the Internatioal Friendship Fountaian, which was presented to the City in 1989 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sister-city relationship between McAllen and Irapuato, Guanajato, Mexico. A nearby plaque commenorates the event.

I guess what impresses me most about Archer Park isn't so much what is there, but what isn't. No picnic tables - there are benches, no bar-b-cue pits or pavilions, no gaudily painted playground equipment. It retains the charm of a town square from the era in which it was built.

So if you have a chance, come stroll down one of the two concrete walkways running diagonally across the park, sit a spell on a bench, and let your mind wander back to a quieter chapter in McAllen's past.

South Padre Island

Howdy! My name is Jeramie Heflin and I am the new intern here at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. I am a senior at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX…A WHOOP, and I am majoring in business management. Upon graduation in the spring of 2010, I plan on going to graduate school to obtain a master’s degree in human resource management. I enjoy photography, travelling and experiencing other cultures, mountain biking, volleyball, swimming, and being with family and friends. In fact, it is so wonderful that I will be home in McAllen this summer with my family; we have so much fun together. One of the great things about living in the Valley is how close we are to South Padre Island (it is only about an hour and a half drive). Everyone in my family, especially my dad, loves to fish. Last weekend I got the opportunity to go fishing with my parents in the Laguna Madre Bay, and here is a picture of me with the Redfish I caught:
Needless to say, it was a big fish, and took some work to reel it in to the boat. This weekend I will also be returning to South Padre Island to spend some time with out of town family members and I am sooooooooo excited. I don't know if I will catch another "Big Red," but I do know that it will be a great weekend. I love South Padre Island!!!!

A Friday at the Office

It's a beautiful day in McAllen today. What's even more exciting is that it's Friday!! I'm ready for the weekend. The plan for today is to organize our file room upstairs. We hope we can get it all done by the end of the day. It's interesting going through the files and seeing the various projects we have done throughout the years. Well, with a new fiscal year quickly approaching it will be interesting to see what new projects lie ahead for us for the upcoming year!

Saving Water & Saving Energy

If you're trying to figure out how you can starting living a "green" lifestyle, you should check out the Green Living Speaker Series next week.

Next Tuesday, June 9th, Barbara Storz from Texas A&M University, will discuss Saving Water and Saving Energy in the Landscape. These helpful hints will help steer us in the right direction when trying to save money as well as save the environment.

The Green Living Speaker Series is held once a month at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce FREE of charge at 5:30pm. Send me a comment if you need more info. Hope to see you there!

CAINTRA and Sister Cities

At the meeting of the Chamber of Industry (CAINTRA) the keynote speaker was Luis Armando Salazar, Director Nafinsa in Coahuila State, with the theme "Support Program for the Revitalization of Pop Business exposing the contents of this program, which is aimed in particular at shops and services in general across the country. This program is defined by the time May 15 to August 15 this year to support enterprises of the economic damage suffered during the period of absence from work (1st to May 5).

Moreover, I attended the monthly meeting of the National Association of Sister Cities, where the keynote speaker was Inq. Laura Cantu, Manager of Environmental Engineering System for Handling and Processing of Organic Waste (SIMEPRODE), who gave an explanation on the processing and reuse waste gas emanating (methane) that transform into electric power, which is used in the Nuevo Leon State government building and some municipalities.

McAllen Arts Council Awards Grants

The McAllen Arts Council awarded 8 grants of $1,000 each today, June 3rd, at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. The winning applicants were the South Texas Symphony Orchestra, South Texas Indian Dancers, Dance Conservatory of McAllen, McAllen Memorial High School Art Department, McAllen Town Band, Irma Burr, Dignan and the McAllen Creative Incubator. We highly encourage individuals and organizations to apply for these grants. Look for the next round of grants early next year.

Sincerely,

Greg Schuller
Cultural Arts Director
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
(956) 687-2787
gschuller@mcallencvb.com
www.mcallenart.com