Sweet Orange

Movie on the Lawn–free admission, $8 parking-located at the Preview Park

“The Dark Knight“–October 10, 2009–8:00 PM

Balloon Rides–free admission-located at the Preview Park

“The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Park’s first major attraction. With the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 visitors and soar up to 500 feet above the surrounding landscape, passengers can watch the Great Park’s development unfold as construction activity increases.”

The free flights are available year round, weather and wind permitting. Call ahead (866) 829-3829 (toll-free), or send an email to info@greatparkballoon.org.

Great Park Pumpkin Harvest (and Food Drive)–free admission, $8 parking–located at the Preview Park

October 24, 2009–1 PM to 5 PM

“Enjoy an afternoon of fall activities, including pumpkin picking* and decorating, games, kids crafts and activities, a costume parade, Halloween treats, a petting zoo, and more!”

*One pumpkin per child, while supplies last.

Fall Gardening Workshops—free admission and parking–located at the Great Park Farm and Food Lab

“In 2009, the Park opened its Farm and Food Lab, the beginning of a larger agricultural program planned for the Great Park. The Garden Workshop Series is part of a pilot program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.”

• The Busy Gardener–October 10, 2009–10:00 AM to Noon–October 10, 2009-10:00 AM to Noon
• Spice Up Your Life - Grow Your Own Herbs–November 14, 2009–10:00 AM to Noon
• Holiday Crafts from the Garden–November 21, 2009–10:00 AM to Noon

Over 100 tons of fruits and vegetables grown at the Orange County Great Park Community Farm and neighboring farms have been donated to the Orange County Food Bank. If you have a garden, you might do the same. You can make sure nothing from your garden is wasted by donating any extra fruits and vegetables to a food bank, such as the Second Harvest Food Bank, which is located at the Great Park, or the Orange County Food Bank.

Natural History Lecture series–free admission and parking–located at Second Harvest

“The Orange County Great Park presents the Natural History Lecture series, a series of evening events offering new insights into our natural and dynamic Southern Californian environment.”

• Native California Bees Looking for New Real Estate–October 8, 2009–7 PM
• 21st Century Megafires in Southern California: Adapting to Fires in Paradise–October 22, 2009–7:00 PM

Also, tickets for Cirque du Soleil’s January 2009 performances at the Great Park are currently on sale.

PHOTOS AND QUOTES COURTESY THE ORANGE COUTNY GREAT PARK WEBSITE

Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a suburban city with an economy based on retail, commerce and light manufacturing.–Wikipedia

For more information on Costa Mesa history and statistics, see the Wikipedia’s Costa Mesa entry.

Related post: “Market Watch: Costa Mesa Housing Stats and Foreclosures”

Income: The estimated median household income in 2007 was $63,619; the estimated per capita income in 2007 was $31,218. The 2008 cost of living index in Costa Mesa was 152.1 (very high, U.S. average is 100).

CNNMoney states that Costa Mesa’s 2008 median family income was $71,450.

Note: Household and family income do not have the same definition.

Population Density: The land area is 15.6 square miles. On January 1, 2009, the population was 116,479. Density was 7,448 people per square mile.

2008 FBI Crime Data: For 2008 Costa Mesa crime statistics, see the FBI Uniform Crime Report data provided by the OC Register.

But in two Orange County cities - Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach - the number of violent crimes increased in 2008, according to the FBI’s preliminary report of 2008. Violent crimes in Costa Mesa increased by 36 percent, with the bulk of the increase occurring in reported robberies and aggravated assaults.–Salvador Hernandez, “Two O.C. cities buck trend of lower violent crime, says FBI,” The Orange County Register

2000 U.S.  Census Crime Data: