Gorgeous Gardens, Magnificent Moms, Audacious Young Artists
By Dixie Hall, President, Mission Hills BID and Owner of DixiePops
The month of May has many unusual things to celebrate – from Date Your Mate Month to National Bike Month to National Blood Pressure Month. A special Mission Hills celebration in May is the return of the Mission Hills Garden Walk. This annual garden walk is celebrating its 23rd year with “Where Flowers Bloom So Does Hope” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 8. It includes nine beautiful gardens, activities for kids, musicians, and art for sale at the Mission Hills Nursery. The walk begins at our own Mission Hills Nursery, created by Kate Sessions – the beloved “Mother of Balboa Park.” Those on the walk have been assigned time frames to allow for social distancing and will pick up Garden Club Walk maps at the nursery accordingly. Although this year’s ticketless event sold out quickly, efforts will be made to accommodate the wait-list. (This seems like the right spot to mention that May is also Gifts From the Garden Month.)
It is great to see that many longtime and new businesses in the neighborhood are supporting this year’s Mission Hills Garden Walk by serving as sponsors – including the Mission Hills BID as a Gardenia Sponsor with an ad in the Garden Club Walk souvenir booklet. While you are out and about enjoying the neighborhood’s gorgeous gardens, we encourage you to arrive early or stay a little longer to also enjoy our splendid shops and fantastic food. The Garden Club will provide a map of all the sponsor locations for handy reference.
And what better place to spend Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 9 than in Mission Hills? When remembering the wonderful mother and mother figures in your life know that the perfect Mother’s Day gifts await you right in the neighborhood. From flowers to pampering to a unique specialty item, or brunch for Mom at a local eatery, an array of gifts and gift certificates are right at your fingertips. Make it easy and celebrate while supporting your favorite re-opened businesses. If dining out is just right for mom, make your reservations in plenty of time to get your favorite table.
We are so happy that Grant K8 School re-opened. As I am writing this, there are classrooms at Grant and after school programs at Paint Box Art Studio filled with young children who are hand painting very large banners that will be displayed on lamp posts throughout Mission Hills commercial core from mid-May through June 4. Please look-up to enjoy these beautiful works of art, which are the result of a partnership between the Mission Hills BID, Grant K8 School and Paint Box Art Studio known as the Colors on Canvas contest. Contest judges will evaluate the banners in late May, with an awards reception to take place on June 7. This contest was introduced to the Mission Hills BID by board member Audrey Patterson. Patterson Engineering, Inc. has again donated the Marianne Kalem Legacy Award Grand Prize. Please visit the BID’s website to learn more about this contest.
Finish off the month with a Memorial Day celebration – whether it be a backyard bar-b-que or a picnic at Pioneer Park. And if you don’t feel like cooking – let one of the Mission Hills’ eateries do it for you.
And, on a back to reality note, you may have noticed that along with COVID-19 the homeless population and illegal encampments in Mission Hills have grown. The BID has been working with business owners and the City and County of San Diego to address these issues, which have created an undue burden on our small businesses. We have also been working with PATH who has two homeless outreach workers in Mission Hills. You can help our businesses and PATH by reporting homeless individual and illegal encampment locations as soon as you see them. Just download to your phone the City of San Diego’s “Get It Done” app at https://www.sandiego.gov/insidesd/how-use-citys-get-it-done-app.
There are many different ways to learn more about the Mission Hills BID, its meetings and activities, including our website: MissionHillsBID.com, Facebook: MissionHillsBID, Instagram: MissionHillsSD and Twitter: MissionHillsSD. If you love the Mission Hills business neighborhood and have ideas and time to help promote it, the Mission Hills BID needs you. Please contact us at MissionHillsBID@gmail.com.
Category: Business, Events, feature, Holidays, Local News, Nonprofit, Restaurants
