La Mesa Boulevard Stroll is becoming a monthly event aimed at reuniting local businesses and the public in an effort to bring the community together. This is a community event starting on the right foot. More than 30 businesses and restaurants signed up for the first event, offering activities for kids, street music and dancers, artists on display, guest speakers, special discounts, face painting, among many other things for the community to see and participate in.
La Mesa Boulevard Stroll is becoming a monthly event aimed at reuniting local businesses and the public in an effort to bring the community together. This is a community event starting on the right foot. More than 30 businesses and restaurants signed up for the first event, offering activities for kids, street music and dancers, artists on display, guest speakers, special discounts, face painting, among many other things for the community to see and participate in.
The idea was brought to reality by four local business owners: Teri Favro, owner of Amethyst Moon, Kim Creekmore, owner of Cultivate-a HairLoveDesign Salon, Jen Derks, owner of Four Fin Creative, Marvin Ballo, of La Mesa Wine & Spirts and Roz Oserin, co-owner of Prêt-à-Porter Salon & Spa.
Business owners are going out of their way to come up with original methods to attract customers and promote their products. The community response is so far positive and people believe this project should be geared more toward problem solving, on top of profit making and promoting local businesses.
Cheryl Caruso, a wellness advocate for doTERRA, offered free hand massages and oil samples at the event, and thought the city had the right idea because, “this allows for a different kind of interaction with the public. People feel like there are parts of something bigger than just going shopping for a particular item. We offer samples and gifts and so there is a little bit of an incentive for just strolling and enjoying the evening in the Village. We also hear people’s stories and that helps us meet their needs.”
Bonnie Barannof is one of the founders of La Mesa Conversations, a civic, non-partisan, non-profit organization meant to bring people together monthly to talk about issues concerning the local community. Barannof said “we are very happy to participate and get more people interested in what we are doing, but also having fun in the Village with everybody, spending time and dollars here.”
Down the street from Barannof’s table, a very animated volunteer attracted quite an audience by telling everybody about the benefits of a non-invasive technique to check for breast cancer, promoted by local clinic located just on the boulevard: Total Thermal Imaging. Giovanna Espiritu is a cancer survival and very grateful to share her story and to passionately dedicate time and effort to raise awareness about this disease.
More surprises are coming for the next events, which include historic tours, picnics and contests. The next stroll is scheduled for Sept. 7. Get involved, have fun and get to know more about what La Mesa has to offer.
For more details and updates, check the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/boulevardstroll.
