Southern California Guide

by Valerie Summers Although the Valley Performing Arts Center opened three years ago, my first visit occurred recently when I headed over to the San Fernando Valley for a performance featuring the great jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis.   Situated on the southeast corner of  the California State University, Northridge campus, the stunning  glass walled landmark […]

by Valerie Summers At last visitiors from foreign countries arrive and depart in  Los Angeles at a terminal that Angelenos can be proud of.  Although not entirely completed, it is a good start.  The area for arriving passengers is now comfortable and attractive with places to have a drink or a bite to eat while […]

by Valerie Summers Silicon Valley keeps on making life easier. A state of the art battery charger which comes in six different styles and capacities are available to suit every need.  For people on the go and especially world travelers, Jackery, a slim, attractive battery charger for smartphones and tablets provides up to 220 hours […]

by Valerie Summers The question I asked myself while blindly driving through a raging dust storm in the wine country of northern Argentina, which locals call a Zonda wind, was why I hadn’t instead re-visited Napa.  But I had heard so much about the merits of this extraordinary wine producing region surrounded by the magnificent […]

By Valerie Summers An out of the ordinary family adventure began with a pleasant drive through the rolling hills and villages of north San Diego County.  I had visited this destination more than 25 years ago when it was called Lion Country Safari and was eager to check out the changes which had taken place […]

By Valerie Summers Spelled backwards, in French, IOMA means “For Me”.  Indeed this newly introduced unique personalized skin care line is created specifically for each woman according to the dictates of a newly invented technology.  The exclusive daily complexion treatment has been a huge hit with women in Europe and has just recently been introduced […]

By Valerie Summers My introduction to Temptu Airbrush Makeup was delivered by the hands of one of the top movie studio makeup artists, Fionagh Cush.  The trial makeup session took no more than 15 minutes and the results were impressive.  I just looked really good….not made up.  This line has been preferred by  film and […]

by Valerie Summers Inspired by the beauty of the Arizona desert, Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most acclaimed architects in the world, designed his winter camp on a site at the base of McDowell Mountain which commanded a view of the entire Valley of the Sun in Scottsdale.  Arizona’s desert held a special appeal […]

The brainchild of diet guru extraordinaire Dr. Andrew Weil, True Food Kitchen has raised dining out to a whole new experience.  TFK serves foods which are Seasonal, Sustainable, Simple, Pure….and delicious.  In a spacious, bright, indoor /outdoor setting, the extensive menus feature a variety of choices, from very down-to-earth dishes to multi-ingredient more elaborate fare.  […]

  Southern California offers a cornucopia of nearby getaways.  It’s possible to play in the snow part of the day and spend the afternoon boating or swimming.  Head to the desert, the mountains or the seashore…so many options to choose from in the Southland. One sunny January day I decided to head out to the […]

Not a member of the Magic Castle but love magic?  Not a problem.  Illusionist extraordinaire Ivan Amodei transports his audience into the world of magic each Friday and Saturday evening amidst the grandeur of the landmark Beverly Wilshire Hotel.  The venue itself sets the mood for a night of elegance, music and surprises.  Entering the […]

Named the Best Travel Accessory for 2012 by Travel & Leisure, the award winning Grace Carter Stylish ShoeCover has created, as the name appropriately describes, a beautifully designed, easy to use protective shoe cover for all kinds of inclement weather.  Shoes have long been a woman’s major fashion accessory but the problem of protecting them […]

Just in time for a trip abroad, I discovered a practical new travel accessory.  Brincatti Easy-Fill Travel Bottles are just that — wide mouthed — easy to fill with my favorite beauty products and the perfect size for airline carry-ons.  The plastic carrying case features four plastic bottles, one with a sprayer plus labels so […]

by Valerie Summers More than a century ago, real estate baron Henry Huntington brought super-surfer George Freeth from the surfers’ paradise in Hawaii to the Southern California seaside resort of Redondo Beach.  This exciting new addition to the fledgling beach town proved only the beginning of the diverse community which it has become. Today, vacationers […]