Things to do at the awesome Mesa Arts Center

Hanson
7 p.m. Sept. 14, Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater, $32
The blonde-locked "MMMboppers" are all grown up, and the brothers - natives of Tulsa, Okla. - have just released their fifth studio album, "Shout It Out."
NBC's "Last Comic Standing"
8 p.m. Sept. 17, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, $40
The Emmy-nominated TV show currently weeding out the comic competition Monday nights on NBC will return with a new group of finalists.
Sheena Easton
8 p.m. Oct. 1, Piper Repertory Theater, $38
Eighties pop star and Grammy Award winner Easton performs an intimate, stripped down concert, highlighting hits from her 30-year career.
Nikki Yanofsky
7:30 p.m. Oct. 14, Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater, $30
At the age of 16, this Montreal-born songstress has already headlined international jazz festivals, played Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, toured with award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, performed with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra, and had a No. 1 hit on the Canadian music charts with her single "I Believe," the official song for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Vince Gill
7:30 p.m. Oct. 19, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, $52-$67
The Country Music Hall of Famer and 19-time Grammy winner gives an intimate performance.
Jean-Michel Cousteau
7:30 p.m. Oct. 20, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, single ticket price not yet posted
The underwater explorer and conservationist - and son of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau - reflects on his father's life and legacy in this National Geographic Live Speaker Series presentation.
Ravi Shankar
8 p.m. Oct. 23, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, $40-$70
Named the "Godfather of World Music" by Beatle George Harrison, Ravi Shankar's talent has been compared to that of Mozart. The virtuoso sitarist, composer, teacher and writer is India's most esteemed musical ambassador. In addition to the performance, there will be a celebration of Indian traditions before the show.
Eugenia Leon
8 p.m. Oct. 30, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, $34-$38
The Mexico City-born songstress is often considered to be one of the best singers in her country, and her shows have been called cultural gems.
"Celebrity Autobiography"
Nov. 4-21, Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse, $35
The hit New York comedy show and winner of the 2009 Drama Desk Award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience features a line-up of revolving comedians who perform and interpret unintentionally hilarious words and stories written by celebrities. The ever changing cast has included "Saturday Night Live's" Rachel Dratch, "The Soprano's" Steve Schirripa, "Ugly Betty's" Vanessa Williams and "Law & Order SVU's" BD Wong and Paul Rudd. Mesa's cast has not yet been announced.
Straight No Chaser
8 p.m. Nov. 5, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, $35
Last year, this group's version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" became the hottest viral video of the holiday season. Instead of relying on digital processing and vocal tooling, they reinvent a cappella pop.
Lang Lang
7:30 p.m. Jan. 6, 2011, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, $52-$92
Named one of "Time" Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2009, Lang Lang might be the most popular pianist on the planet. He was watched by over five billion people in the 2008 Olympic Games, and his performances have sold out all over the world.
Joshua Bell
8 p.m. Feb. 11, 2011, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, $40-$70
Apart from winning Grammys and Oscars, Bell has made music for movies such as "Angels and Demons" and "Defiance," and was named 2010 instrumentalist of the year by Musical America. The accomplished violinist's concert is expected to sell out quickly.
Canadian Tenors
8 p.m. March 4, 2011, Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater, $35-$45
The group recently seen on "Oprah," fuses the powerful tenor voices of four talented young men with an eclectic blend of classical and contemporary pop.
Steve Tyrell
7:30 p.m. March 18, 2011, Piper Theater, $44
One of last season's fan favorites, Grammy Award winner Tyrell makes an encore to perform jazz standards.

Mesa restaurant to serve real lion burgers

At Il Vinaio Restaurant in downtown Mesa, they like to experiment.
"We're stepping outside the box, trying something new," chef Jason Bacon said.

This Wednesday and Thursday, the kitchen will put something on the menu.
For $21 a plate, the restaurant will serve the lion in one-third pound burgers along with special fries and corn.

Selogie said he started planning the special lion meal a few months ago and is doing it now in celebration of the World Cup in South Africa.

The lions are raised on a farm in Illinios. They are regulated by the USDA.

Breaking news

You must tune into channel 15 tonight at 10:00 to see what is happening Downtown. I will try and send a link later if I can.

Update on the Charrette... your chance of a lifetime to give your two cents on Downtown!

Important decisions about the character and scale of development in downtown Mesa will be made during a two-day workshop.
Here is the schedule:

· Brown-Bag Lunch. Wednesday, June 23 from noon to 1 p.m. A discussion about Form-Based Codes, appropriate building types and pedestrian-oriented street design. Bring your own lunch and come ready with questions.
· Open Studio. Wednesday, June 23 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by and talk with the design team members one-on-one.
· Open House. Wednesday, June 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. An informal information session and review of the in-progress drawings will be held.
· Closing Presentation. Thursday, June 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A formal presentation and public comment session will conclude the workshop. If you have limited time, this is the meeting to attend.

Affordable and attorney in one sentence!

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Ah oh people are catching on

Random Zeffler Thoughts for Wednesday, June 16, 2010
I went to the Second Friday event last week in downtown Mesa, Ariz. and actually liked it. I live in Mesa and bemoan the fact that downtown closes at three in the afternoon. That is an exaggeration, but not by much. I think it would be a great opportunity to meet people I want to photograph in person. I would also like to help build downtown Mesa into something better. Family-friendly does not have to mean boring. My family is here for the long haul it seems, it is time to start making the best of it.


Seems like the secret is getting out for which I am thankful! It is nice to share.

Rag Doll Clothing

A perfect skirt for the Arizona Celebration of Freedom on July 2nd and 3rd in Downtown Mesa. Get your's at:
Contagious
37 W. Main St.
480-615-0110
Mon-Sat
10am-6pm

*open til 9pm every 1st and 2nd Fri of each month!

Shabby Chic Paradise: Blossom Salon & Boutique in Mesa

The uber-cute Blossom Salon in Mesa. The storefront that lines the quaint street of historic downtown Mesa, feels like Anthropologie. Open the door to a wealth of unique tops, dresses and accessories!

Have you ever participated in a "Charrette"?

I have on three occasions. One of them was a brainstorming session about the area of land we now know as "Riverview". I sat at this table with people I had never met before and we had this blank map that had the boundaries of some property off of the 202 freeway. There was a gravel pit and a golf course/park area and basically some lines that we had to stay within. We were told the history of the area from way back to present. Our group started coming up with all kinds of ideas and placing them on the paper- there was so much space we could not even fill it all. One of the ideas was a place called "Bass Pro Shop" and it was suggested because we thought the gravel pit would make a nice lake someday where people could fish or test drive boats. Ok- I don't know much about either (and those of you who know me can attest to this). I certainly didn't have any idea what the store was and was assured it was a great place that someone had seen in like Oklahoma or someplace. BUT there was so much room to fill in that we all went along with the idea. Who would have thought.....

So now YOU have the opportunity to get in on the action to craft a vision for the mile-wide urban corridor that straddles Main Street between Country Club Drive and Gilbert Road. Believe me you don't have to be an architect or a land planner by profession. In fact all you have to have is the desire to own and be a part of the community you live in. You see our opinion matters in these settings before all those professional's who have to figure it out after we decide!

The two-day "charrette" is June 23-24 at the former Mervyn's, 1240 E. Main St. You know the place called POOL. If you haven't been there this is the perfect opportunity to check it out (under the guise of being an interested resident of Mesa). Hope you all come join the fun and think it is as cool as I did. And then I hope the powers that be do this more often...

Charrette-The word charrette may refer to any collaborative session in which a group drafts a solution to a design problem. Each sub-group then presents its work to the full group as material for future dialogue. Charrettes serve as a way of quickly generating a design solution while integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people. Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2010/06/10/20100610mesa-council-main-street.html#ixzz0qUncvdU5

Took this from Tuesday's with Dorie

This carob tree resides in Downtown Mesa. This big guy is very very old. The "history" on this tree is odd but true. Apparently waaay back in the early 1900's 3 men were hung from my tree by some vigilantes who caught them shortly after they shot the local sheriff. It was the last hangings in Mesa.

FREE Family Movie night.... right around the corner.

Grab a blanket and head over to the Mesa Amphitheatre on Friday, Jun. 11 for a free showing of Planet 51 sponsored by the Mesa Parks, Recreation Commercial Facilities Department.

Planet 51 is an animated movie about an American astronaut who lands on Planet 51 thinking he's the first person to step foot on it. To his surprise, he finds that this planet is inhabited by little green people and he’s considered the alien.

The movie is rated PG, and stars the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, and John Cleese.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show time at 7:30 p.m. Free bounce houses, affordable concessions and a 50/50 raffle drawing will be available. The Mesa Amphitheatre is located at 263 N. Center Street. For more information about this event, visit http://www.mesaamp.com or call (480) 644-2171.

Make it a full evening out and head over to Second Friday after the movie from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This month’s theme is “Summer Sizzles.” Enjoy the food, entertainment and vendors on display in downtown Mesa.

Light Rail Stations!

After several months of public participation and community discussion, the Mesa City Council helped to further define the Central Mesa light rail extension with approval of four station locations and a Main Street traffic configuration plan at their City Council meeting last night, June 7.

Recommended station locations on Main Street:

East of Alma School Road

East of Country Club Drive

East of Center Street

East of Mesa Drive

These locations were identified for their proximity to activity centers and bus connections, least impact to adjacent property and curbs, economic development potential and convenient pedestrian access.

Recommended Main Street traffic configuration, Sycamore to Mesa Drive:

Sycamore to Country Club – Remains as two lanes of traffic in each direction. On-street parking will be removed to reduce impacts to adjacent property and sidewalks.

Country Club to Mesa Drive (Downtown Mesa) – Transitions into one lane of traffic in each direction. On-street parking and existing signalized pedestrian crossings will be maintained where possible.

All intersections along the line will have separate left turn lanes with dedicated left turn arrows.

The above recommendations will be forwarded to the METRO Board of Directors for their review this summer.

In addition, the Council committed to City funding for operations of the light rail extension.

SUMMER SIZZLES this FRIDAY

Main street sidewalks will be full of artists, six bands, a summer fashion show with clothing by local designers followed by a reception to meet the models and designers, City of Mesa Parks and Rec, the Mesa library, street performers, and the radio station 103.9 attending this month-they will be broadcasting live.

Spread the word bring some friends and enjoy a free Friday night event in OUR Downtown.