Editing La Mesa, California (section)

==Arts and culture==

=== Silent film history ===
[[File:The Bandit of Point Loma poster.jpg|thumb|212x212px|''The Bandit of Point Loma'' (1912)]]
From 1911 to 1912, film pioneer [[Allan Dwan]] kickstarted his career in La Mesa, directing over 150 silent films produced by [[Flying A Studios]]. He often used local mentions in the title of his works such as ''Bonita of El Cajon'', ''Mystical Maid of Jamacha Pass'', ''The'' ''Bandit of Point Loma, The Land Baron of San-Tee'', ''and The Winning of La Mesa''. After Dwan moved to [[Los Angeles]] for the rest of his career, it was reported that La Mesa missed its chance to be "Hollywood before Hollywood."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newland |first=James D. |date=2011-08-10 |title=Proto-Hollywood: 100 Melodramas Were Made In La Mesa 100 Years Ago |url=https://patch.com/california/lamesa/100-simple-melodramas-were-made-in-la-mesa-100-years-ago |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120214913/https://patch.com/california/lamesa/100-simple-melodramas-were-made-in-la-mesa-100-years-ago |archive-date=2015-11-20 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=[[Patch Media]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Khari |date=2013-12-31 |title=La Mesa's Cinematic Past Focus of Silent Film Festivity |url=https://patch.com/california/lamesa/la-mesas-cinematic-past-focus-of-silent-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016151609/https://patch.com/california/lamesa/la-mesas-cinematic-past-focus-of-silent-film |archive-date=2015-10-16 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=[[Patch Media]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Farmer's market ===
There is a farmer's market in La Mesa Village every Friday afternoon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityoflamesa.com/index.aspx?nid=449|title=La Mesa, CA - Official Website - Farmer's Marke|website=Cityoflamesca.comt|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>

===Flag Day Parade===
On June 14, 1997, with the help of Councilmember Ruth Sterling, the City of La Mesa inaugurated its First Annual Flag Day Parade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflamesa.com/directory.aspx?EID=6&PREVIEW=YES |title=Ruth Sterling |publisher=City of La Mesa |access-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223700/http://www.cityoflamesa.com/directory.aspx?EID=6&PREVIEW=YES |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===La Mesa Walkway of the Stars===
The “Walkway of the Stars” is a pedestrian walkway that has been transformed into an urban park in downtown La Mesa. The vision for a place to recognize La Mesa's extraordinary volunteers was provided by Councilmember Ruth Sterling. The park's theme honors the city's outstanding volunteers who have provided 10,000 or more hours of service to the city of La Mesa. “Walkway of the Stars” is located between the Allison Avenue municipal parking lot and La Mesa Boulevard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityoflamesa.us/785/Walkway-of-the-Stars|title=Walkway of the Stars &#124; La Mesa, CA - Official Website|website=Cityoflamesa.us|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>

===Oktoberfest===
At the beginning of each October, La Mesa holds its biggest event of the year, [[Oktoberfest celebrations|Oktoberfest]], attended by approximately 200,000 people over the three nights of the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.lamesaoktoberfest.org/ |title=La Mesa Oktoberfest|website= lamesaoktoberfest.org|access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref>

===Back to the 50s Car Show===
The Back to the '50s Car Show is an annual summer event where classic car enthusiasts come to display their vehicles. The event is held every Thursday evening during the months of June through August in La Mesa Village along La Mesa Boulevard. Admission to the event is free.<ref>{{cite web|title=La Mesa Car Show|url=http://www.lmvma.com/lmv_car_show.html |date=April 22, 2019 }}</ref>

===Sundays At Six===
Sundays At Six is a free concert series that is offered every year in the months of June and July. For six Sundays, free concerts are performed in Harry Griffen Park from 6 pm to 7 pm. The concerts began in 2002 after being conceived by then-city councilman Mark Arapostathis and assistant city manager Yvonne Garrett along with members of the community. They are organized by the La Mesa Arts Alliance and sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-free-sunday-concerts-la-mesa-2013may17-story.html |title=Free Sunday concerts in La Mesa on their way |date=May 17, 2013 |first=Karen |last=Pearlman |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref>

===Other events===
Other annual events include Holiday in the Village,<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.lamesavillageassociation.org/holiday-in-the-village-a-la-mesa-tradition |title= Holiday in the Village: A La Mesa Tradition|website= lamesavillageassociation.org |access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref> Trick-or-Treating in La Mesa Village,<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.lamesavillageassociation.org/trick-or-treating-in-la-mesa-village |title=Trick-or-Treating in La Mesa Village|website= lamesavillageassociation.org |access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref> and the raising of the Pride flag at La Mesa City Hall to mark Pride Month each June.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Dave |title=La Mesa is more than welcoming to the LGBTQ+ Community |url=https://sdnews.com/la-mesa-is-more-than-welcoming-to-the-lgbtq-community/ |website=sdnews.com/ |date=June 23, 2022 |publisher=SD News |access-date=March 29, 2024}}</ref>

===Grossmont Center===
The city's major mall, [[Grossmont Center]], opened by the Cushman Family in 1961.<ref>{{cite book|last=Engstrand|first=Iris Wilson|title=San Diego: California's Cornerstone|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RhCQUf1XQ84C&q=%22grossmont+center%22+%22marston%27s%22&pg=PA172|year=2005|publisher=Sunbelt Publications|page=172|isbn=9780932653727}}</ref> In 2021, Grossmont Center was purchased from the Cushman Family by Federal Realty Trust, which valued the shopping center at $175 Million and plans to redevelop and modernize the 925,000 square-foot property.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grossmont Center Sold|url=https://www.sdbj.com/news/2021/aug/13/grossmont-center-sold/|access-date=December 28, 2021|website=San Diego Business Journal|date=August 13, 2021 }}</ref>

===Alternative media===
The original offices of ''[[The San Diego Door]]'', a popular [[underground newspaper]] of the 1960s, were located in La Mesa at 7053 University Avenue.