Eat | Drink, Issue No. 8, Wine Country CA

Thomas Hill Organics

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The very first time I came to Paso, I met Chef Ryan Sims. I was here to meet a winemaker and she took me out to one of her favorite local restaurants, Thomas Hill Organics. At the time, Ryan was an apprentice and Sous Chef, and as luck would have it that was the one time I was able to meet owner, Debbie Thomas. This time around however, Chef Ryan is the Executive Chef and the food he creates? Sheer brilliance. From the complexity to the candor of local ingredients, every single dish is a tasty art piece worthy of pause. Crafted with the local produce in mind, tonight’s dinner was nothing short of spectacular, and Chef? The best thing to happen to the region in my opinion.

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Eat | Drink, Issue No. 8

Zoetic by Chef Corinne Rice

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Corrine Rice can be described as sheer passion, purity, complexity by way of beautiful understated luxury, and passion. Her cuisine is the kind of fare that supports everything I believe in: Quality, sustainable, local, farm to table, and my all time necessaire: gluten-free. When invited to partake of this evenings’ popup, I was genuinely thrilled. Chef Rice is not the egocentric chef. She is the epitome of culinary love and it shows in every dish.

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Culture, Theatre

French Stewart as BUSTER KEATON!

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“I mean, I never thought I’d have all of this. Look at me! I’m 50, married to this incredible woman [pointing to Vanessa], have a beautiful little girl, work for Chuck Lorre during the day [MOM on CBS], and at night, I get to do this with all of my friends playing a character of a man I’ve admired all of my life. I’m living the dream!”

– French Stewart

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Culture, Dawn Garcia, From the Editor, Issue No. 7

Maya Angelou

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Letter From The Editor: You see, we live in a world that is chaotic and full of hate but then we are given a beacon of light. A human being who does not accept our willful attempts at hate. A human being who looks deeper into humanity and simply watches it behave in order to understand who it truly has become. Mind you, not who it is but rather who it has allowed itself to become. She epitomized the idea that conditioning ones soul to respond in anger or hate is mere choice by which we can make a change. She believed inexhaustibly that life was hope. That dreaming was essential. That caging a free bird was the detriment of ones soul. This woman declared that regardless of what change happens “to her”, it would never reduce her worth, her value, diminish the core of who she was. That woman – that human being – is Maya Angelou.

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Las Vegas, Cocktails, Eat | Drink, Lifestyle, Travelogue

The LinQ Las Vegas

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Las Vegas is not only the place where slot machines beckon, the dream of hitting it big gnaws at you and actually encourages you to keep taking your chances; it is not simply a city where inhibitions are free to roam, secrets are kept, clubs are in plenty, partying is inevitable, and curiosities are granted. Nope, Las Vegas is actually becoming a whole lot more than that. In fact, Las Vegas is becoming a cultural mecca for art, food, mixology, music (beyond the Vegas Shows), design, and believe it or not, outdoor socializing that doesn’t include a swim-up “pool bar”. Welcome to the LinQ

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Austin, Austin F & W, Eat | Drink, Issue No. 6

2014 Austin Food & Wine Festival

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I love the city of Austin. It’s no secret the city won my heart the very first time I visited in 2012. Combine a city of just about everything I love AND toss in the most sensational range of culinary prowess into a week long festival of kickoff events, culinary battles, sweet delights, imaginative parties, and some of the greatest chefs in the US? Um yes. Count me in. This year however, I decided to invite my Austin photographer, Kevin Curtis to go in and capture some of the more notable moments. You can see for yourself that it was nothing short of tasty entertainment!!

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Culture, Dawn Garcia, Issue No. 5

An Unconventional Letter From Mom

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The story goes that once upon a time, I swallowed a bean. It was a magical bean and it was a bean only your daddy and I would know about. It was made especially for us. We had searched high and low for the bean we “thought” was ours but turns out the seedling was with us all along. (Seems grown-ups are a little “slow on the draw” sometimes.

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Dawn Garcia, From the Editor, Issue No. 4

Living in the NOW

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We try so very hard to live in the moment but in today’s world the moments move so fast its near impossible to even see them before they pass by like a twitter feed.

The JOB.

I have a job that moves quickly, scurries about town, sends me traveling to lovely places and is in a perpetual state of “warp speed”. That said, there are sweet spots in doing what I love and those are the times I revel in. I have met so many artists, worked with some big names, and the one constant is – SO much has changed in entertainment. In hospitality. In the way that we communicate. I live in the age of digital media (even the structure of this magazine relies on it) and social media? My greatest asset. HOWEVER – we have created the land of ADHD with all of the exponential realms of instant gratification.

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Fashion, Fashion | Health, Issue No. 4

Fashion Report: Weather WHAT?

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I figured perhaps this week I’d spend a little time focusing on airy, gorgeous summery trends that bode well on far off islands and beautiful landscapes rather than feed the flurry of frenzied meteorology. This Spring | Summer 2014 Collections play with color and texture, sophistication, style, ease, whimsy. The THEME: do NOT take yourself too seriously. This year is one of total and utter change. Embrace that in the fabrics draping your bodies.

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Arts | Culture, Eat | Drink, Issue No. 4, Lifestyle, Travelogue, Wine & Beer, Wine Country, Wine Country CA

La Cosecha Paso Robles

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On site is La Cosecha Owner, Carole MacDonal – wife to Executive Chef + Restaurateur Santos MacDonal (acclaimed for his culinary mastery at many of Los Angeles’ finest restaurants). Carole is, much like her yellow tunic suggests, bright and full of sunshine. Her demeanor is calm and friendly and it’s clear she’s no stranger to media (a Hollywood Producer of some of the biggest shows on television). She explains that there are a few must-try items…

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Art, Cocktails, Culture, Events, Issue No. 4, Los Angeles, Music, Music | Theatre, Southern CA, Southern CA, Special Event

Feeling Ravenous

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In the heart of Downtown, an evening of live music, art, cocktails, food, and a crowd abundant in sophistication gathered. Celebrating the 1st official party of the year for the Magazine, I had the pleasure of curating my first official space. Working with brothers, Drew and Cory Jacobsen of Ebanos Crossing in the heart of DTLA, we began to plan an event that would allow me to feature art, bring in a phenomenal band, work with the best tequila brand around, offer tasty bites, and encourage every guests to tap into all of their senses.

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Eat | Drink, Issue No. 3, Wine & Beer, Wine Country

Wine for 5 Days You Say?

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Paso Robles is one of California’s most beautiful little secrets – though now, after being named the wine region to watch – it is a city making an impact. And producing some of the most illustrious wines! I have been invited to go visit the region for an entire week so next week you can expect to see some photos that will make you salivate from the vineyards to the helicopter wine tasting tour to delicious cuisine. I will be spending a week at the beautiful Villa San Juliette with one stop at Summerwood Resort & Winery. For those of you who want to experience something truly magnificent, I encourage you to purchase tickets. There are a few left and the Event begins Wednesday with a grand gala Saturday night.

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