PRESS RELEASES

Costa Mesa has transitioned into Stage 2 of reopening some businesses and activities within the city. Many restaurants are now offering dine-in service while continuing take-out and delivery. Most large-scale venues, like the performing arts center and museums, continue to offer virtual performances and engaging online activities such as dance lessons, live musical performances and interactive games.  Costa Mesa is preparing to safely welcome visitors in the weeks and months ahead.  A roundup of entertainment and activities that can be enjoyed both virtually and in-person are listed below.

 

Upcoming Events

Concerts@ The CAMP  is a new drive-in concert series in the Costa Mesa community. Locals and visitors to the city can enjoy a live concert and take-out dining from several restaurants located at The CAMP. Guests may pre-purchase meals and dine inside their vehicles while listening to live music from local bands.  These events are Thursday evenings from through June 25 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

 

Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) has extended the viewing of Cinema Orange “Unstoppable: Sean Scully and the Art of Everything” – a rags-to-riches story of an artist brimming with self-confidence and tenacity bred from a youth of poverty and grit. RSVP for this limited viewing  opportunity through May 30 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT).

 

OCMA is also hosting a crowd-sourced project to demonstrate how individuals have spent their time reading at home during quarantine. Artist Amir Zaki is seeking photos from the community showing their personal environment and where they read at home. To contribute photos to this this project, visit the website. Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. PDT on June 4.

 

 

Pacific Symphony produced a virtual concert with the music of “John Williams: Maestro of the Movies,” featuring music from Harry Potter, Star Wars and Indiana Jones, which can be viewed beginning May 30 at 11:00 a.m. and available on demand for 45 days. Visit Pacific Symphony Virtual Concert for more information.

 

Evergreen Content

South Coast Repertory, the Tony Award®-winning theater in Costa Mesa, has created online games and activities highlighting the theaters history and behind the scenes information.

• Moment of Stagecraft: How did we fit an elephant onstage in The Emperor's New Clothes.
• Theatre Game: In this Word Search, find all the terms connected with hair and makeup.
• Fact or Fiction: Do you know your facts about SCR's history? Test your knowledge!
• Throwback Thursday: Step back and relive the early 2000s at SCR. Check it out. 
• Recommended Reading:  Associate Artistic Director John Glore dishes on what he's reading now—and some other books that caught his attention.

SOCO and The OC Mix has launched a Virtual Kids Club where families and their children can watch videos with Kids Club host Stephanie Holdridge reading a series of books and teaching families an easy at-home craft. The series can be viewed online at any time.

 

Segerstrom Center for the Arts hosted a Virtual Spring Carnival and is planning other events – both virtually and in person. Follow Center at Home featuring free online dance lessons, acting classes, scenes from Broadway and more. Those interested in supporting the importance of art in communities can help Segerstrom Center for the Arts  Raise the Curtain by making a $100 tax-deductible donation, which also earns them a special invitation to a reopening celebration.

 

Travel Costa Mesa content

Travel Costa Mesa aims to inspire leisure travelers to consider Costa Mesa for a weekend getaway. As communities begin to open, visitors seeking to make road trips closer to home can start by experiencing Costa Mesa with a virtual vacation in the City of the Arts®. Explore 360-degree videos, short clips highlighting the Costa Mesa Art Walk, plus updated blog posts and content to inspire future travel to the city. The status of businesses and hotel operations can be found on the business updates page of Travel Costa Mesa's website.

 

Since the April press release – Costa Mesa Comes Together During The COVID-19 Crisis – businesses and individuals throughout the city have continued to support each other and those in need:

 

AnQi Bistro teamed up with South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and Melissa's Produce to distribute more than 400 pre-packaged pantry boxes to food and beverage industry workers who have been furloughed or laid off as a result of coronavirus.

 

IKEA Costa Mesa hosted two separate food distribution events where more than 2,000 vehicles were loaded  with produce and packaged meals for families who are out of work or otherwise in need of food supplies. In partnership with Orange County Food Bank and Power of One, more than 150 volunteers participated in the effort.

 

Costa Mesa-based Vans® footwear awarded Toast Kitchen & Bakery with a customized shoe through their Foot The Bill program.  The restaurant was able to design a custom slip-on shoe that is sold online, and all proceeds go to help pay employees of this Costa Mesa restaurant.

 

Tandoori Fresh is working with Ahlulbayt Initiative, Love Coexists, and CityNet Orange County to feed 60-80 homeless each week.

 

Greenleaf Kitchen raised over $15,000 and delivered more than 40,000 meals to frontline responder organizations in Southern California during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The team at Wahoo's Fish Taco has provided meals to essential workers at grocery stores and healthcare facilities since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.