Southern California Guide

After a two-hour tour through the always fascinating Annenberg Space of Photography in Century City, my friend and I mulled over where to have dinner.  Departing from the huge office complex housing the Annenberg, we glanced around and both fixed our eyes on Craft, a short walk away and a restaurant with a reputation for […]

Attending a performance of the Pageant of the Masters each summer at the Irvine Bowl in the picturesque town of Laguna Beach is a tradition I always look forward to.  Every year I am captivated by the astoundingly accurate recreations of life-sized great works of art which magically appear on stage accompanied by live orchestral […]

Casa del Mar, one of Santa Monica’s most luxurious hotels, has added a new recreation/health feature for the enjoyment of its guests.  ElliptiGO, Inc., a San Diego based company has created the world’s first elliptical bicycle now available at the Casa for rides along the bike path of Santa Monica  beach.  Bike  riders  enjoy a […]

by Valerie Summers The iconic blue and yellow striped tent is back on the beach next to the Santa Monica Pier.  An excited crowd gathered  under the gigantic tent in anticipation of what was in store.  The newest Cirque du Soleil continues to amaze and delight audiences with its unique themes, amazing talent and comedy.  […]

The Skirball Cultural Center’s original exhibition, Women Hold Up Half the Sky opens October 27 and continues through March 11, 2012.  Inspired by the book penned by  Pulitzer Prize winning journalists Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, this unique exhibit presents a call to action. […]

San Francisco has outdone itself as a cultural mecca. This season, straight from the Musee National Picasso in Paris, more than 100 Picasso masterpieces are displayed at the de Young Museum in  gorgeous Golden Gate Park and there is just enough time to catch the extraordinary Gertrude Stein collection at the San Francisco Museum of […]

Old Town Temecula was born with the arrival of the California Southern Railroad and the feeling of bygone days remains with history and charm.  It’s a historic town with ongoing year ‘round festivals and festivities.  Through the first Friday in September, Friday Evening Hot Summer Nights is the place to be for the whole family […]

A major coup by San Francisco’s  de Young Museum has resulted in the extraordinary exhibition of Picasso masterpieces directly from the Musee National Picasso in Paris.  The exhibit encompasses many of the most important art movements of the 20th century which Picasso was a part of including Expressionism, Cubism, Classicism and Surrealism. Pablo Picasso’s vastly […]

Both written and performed by multi-talented Tom Dugan, Nazi Hunter — Simon Wiesenthal is not a story of revenge but one of justice.  In the intimate setting of Theatre 40  in Beverly Hills, Simon Weisenthal came to life, portraying his last day in his office in Vienna  before retiring.  Wiesenthal,  an Austrian Jewish Holocaust survivor […]

On Armistice Day in 1924, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels donated The Legion of Honor to the people of San Francisco honoring the Californians who died during World War I.  The massive complex houses a variety of  paintings, prints, porcelains, illustrated books and sculptures in a beautiful setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and a  few […]

With the emerging awareness of healthy  diets, many of us are taking things a step further, investigating hair and cosmetic products.  Quite by accident, I discovered the salon of my dreams.  My dear friend invited me to accompany her to an art exhibit in Silverlake, an artsy Los Angeles community, held, of all places, in […]

Known as one of California’s most picturesque and charming cities, the coastal community of Santa Barbara boasts a gorgeous climate, pristine beaches, marina, cultural venues, shopping and fine dining.  A pleasant drive to the nearby wine country gives visitors an opportunity to taste some of California’s fine wines from its more than 50 wineries and […]

Raul Esparza, Brooke Shields and a cast of more than 30 other shining stars lit up the stage of the Los Angeles Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre in the world premiere of Leap of Faith.  Adding to the glamor, members of the audience included the gorgeous Vanessa Williams, talented Ben Vereen and a host of other […]