Fashion Island is Finally Open
Just like the title says, Fashion Island is finally open! And a lot of people are celebrating the return of their favorite shopping destination with beautiful grounds, stores galore, and tranquil koi pond. While the destination is definitely on the way back, things look quite different these days. Gone are careless wondering, browsing, and mingling; gone are fitting rooms and people interaction. Hopefully it won’t be forever, but right now there are rules and limitations is place that visitors better follow or lose the privilege of shopping at their favorite stores.
South Coast Plaza Curbside Pickup
Curbside pickup was something that Walmart shoppers did. It was not a cool and trendy thing, it was simply convenient. But all of that was before coronavirus changed so many things about our lives. Today curbside pickup is necessary, it is chick and is done everywhere, from nurseries to luxury retailers, like Bloomingdales.
Online Shopping at South Coast Plaza Stores
South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA closed all operations on March 16th with hope to reopen by the end of March, the hope shared by all businesses everywhere. But that was not to be as state after state were issuing quarantine orders and all non-essential business closures. California is one of the leaders here, one of the first to close, and probably one of the last to open. Sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The iconic mall was closed due to an abundance of caution after one of the employees tested COVID-19 positive. What happens in the future we will have to see, but for now all the stores are closed indefinitely. The closures don’t’ mean that all shopping opportunities are gone. On the contrary – online sales are booming with people preparing to emerge glorious, victorious, and good looking once the lockdown orders are lifted. And they will be lifted one of these days, so let’s stay patient and do some retail therapy online.
South Coast Plaza Mall is About to Close
South Coast Plaza Mall is a well-known destination for luxury shopping that attracts not only local south Californians, but visiting guests as well. The mall is usually busy no matter what time of the year it is thanks to California’s climate and its draw for people from everywhere.
Tet Festival of Costa Mesa
The festival is inviting families to join the celebration for three days and immerse yourselves in Vietnamese and other Asian cultures through various entertainments. This is what you will be a part of for three glorious days:
- Carnival rides and vendor booths all day long for kids and adults alike. Vendors will be serving traditional foods and Vietnamese merchandise will be for sale.
- Miss Vietnam of Southern California Pageant – local and guest Vietnamese beauties will be competing for the crown while displaying grace, pose, beauty, and talent.
- Raising of Village Bamboo and Prayer to Village Deity – traditional costumes and performances.
- Opening ceremony – expect dancing, colors, music, and rich traditional elements.
Valentine's Day Gifts According to Kate Spade New York
Say Valentine’s Day and you will immediately picture flowers and chocolates. Those staples never get old and at the same time they are kind of expected, a bit cheesy, and can definitely be boring. Our suggestion is going a bit different route this year – give her something that costs slightly more than chocolates, but will be loved 100 times more and used all the time. Isn’t it what Valentine’s Day is all about?
Family New Year's Eve Celebrations in Southern California
If you haven’t made plans for how you will meet the 2020 in South California, this might be the perfect time and the perfect list. We have some amazing events for you to consider with SoCal Field Trips, during which you will have plenty of fun and will be able to tuck your little ones in for the night before the ball drops in the Big Apple.
Visit the websites or call the individual places for more information if you would like to join them, but here are the winners in our eyes:
10 Retailers Who Personalize
In today’s competitive retail climate, the winners are those who manage to personalize our shopping experience and tailor their products to fit our needs to at. Once we get offline and lift our gaze from our devices, we are all about experiences and special treatment. It has definitely been the case when people lived in small communities where every shop owner knew everybody’s name, hobbies, favorite food, and shopping habits. Modern retailers have been striving to get back to that for years, but it’s not very easy when they have thousands of chains to manage and online processes to figure out.
Family Holiday Events in Orange County
As holidays are fast approaching, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations are everywhere, from Christmas tree lightings to fairs, Santa’s visits, and food and drink festivals. This is the best time of the year to make an outing out of that and encourage your family to make memories while immersing in holiday spirit.
South Coast Plaza Santa's Village
Christmas is not only about Black Friday shopping and decking the halls as early as the beginning of November. Christmas is the most magical time of the year probably because of festive mood, family time, and childhood memories. One of those memories for me and now for my kids is visiting with Santa and taking pictures. Yes, my 9 and 7 year olds are already wondering about this whole Santa thing, but I intend to hold on to him as long as I can.
Things to Do at South Coast Plaza During Holidays
As soon as we are done with spooky Halloween stuff, retail stores become winter wonderlands and start offering all kinds of fun for families. Some do that so scarily early that Halloween has nothing on them. One way or another parents love those mall winter magic villages because it means that kids might want to go shopping with them for once. Plus everybody loves some Santa, decorated stores, and courtyards, not to mention various sales and magically good deals.
Angelitos Card Week at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa
This event is organized by Angelitos de Oro, a branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Orange County, who are raising funds for support of the organization’s mentor educational programs. The OC group has been around since 1958 and so far raised over $6 million for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The local headquarters are located in Santa Ana and oversee the operations of Orange County. The entire organization helps support over a quarter million children, while OC branch together with Inland Empire, which opened in 2013, are serving over 3,400 children. If children stick with the program and their mentor, they have a better chance to stay at school, avoid violence, and illegal activities. The importance of that can’t be underestimated for families with difficulties and for kids without role models.
Fashion Island Mall
Newport Coast Fashion Island mall opened up in 1967 and was initially made of four stores: JC Penney, Buffum’s, J.W. Robinson’s, and The Broadway. There were a few smaller shops around the giants too, but just a few. As time went on, more stores opened up, including Neiman Marcus in 1978. JC Penney closed in 1982 and its building became an “Atrium Court” for small shops and food court.
How to Save at South Coast Plaza
Most malls in Southern California might look and feel like luxurious destinations with their palm trees and perpetual sunshine, but few are as perfect as South Coast Plaza. This shopping heaven is the crown jewel of luxury shopping on the West Coast. The mall is well-known not only in California or the U.S., but world over.
Shoppers are welcomed by exceptional architecture, clean lines, and beautiful surroundings everywhere in the mall. Even if you don’t feel like spending money there, it’s beautiful to just walk around, window shop, and people watch. Shopping includes a lot more than just going from store to store here.
Art of Fashion on September 12th in South Coast Plaza
If you think you might be interested in a trip through England and Scotland, a golf package from Foresight Sports, a New York City get away from Alaska Airlines and Life Hotel, or a South Coast Plaza “Shop, Stay, and Play” package, you might want to come to the South Coast Plaza mall in Costa Mesa on September 12th. Why, you might ask? Because this is a day of fashion and over $54,000 worth of auction prizes and raffle drawings at The Country Friends Art of Fashion at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.
This celebration is rooted in tradition as it’s the 15th year it has been happening in the middle of September. Local people and visitors love to gather and celebrate giving and fashion at South Coast Plaza, which is among the patrons and organizers.
September Festival of Children in Costa Mesa
South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is at it again in September and it’s a go time for all the kids. The Festival of Children is organized by Children Foundation, a non-profit organization of OC and brings an entire month of family-friendly fun at Costa Mesa mall.
This event started 18 years ago and today over 70 local charities are expected to participate in the celebration with over 2 million local and tourist visitors estimated to attend. Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, the founder of the foundation, is very excited about the place this event occupies in more and more hearts year after year.