EDITORIAL ARCHIVE

No Man’s Land Show

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Ah dating. We’ve all done it, we’ve all had some doozies along the way but one thing’s for sure: we ALL have a few worthy stories to share but none quite as impacting as Comedian, Rajiv Satyal whose “solo show about being solo”, No Man’s Land touches on the impending woes of not only dating but dating in a culture that requires certain, well, requirements. Rajiv delves right into his first childhood crush and from that point on we are taken on his romantic journeys over the last three decades. The highs the lows, the cultural implications of “finding a wife” suitable to familial obligations, all done in a way that makes you laugh AND think.

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New Hope for Cambodian Children

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In the heart of Beverly Hills just a stone throw away from Rodeo Drive, an event is happening that is changing the lives of children in Cambodia living with HIV/AIDS. A couple, John and Kathy Tucker have sold every piece of property they own, decided to live their lives simply in order to build a 20-acre orphanage – New Hope – offering solace, medical care, education, and most importantly, love to the children living with HIV/AIDS.

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Chef + Restaurateur Michael Mina

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An Avid supporter of his Chefs, Michael, in spite of being one of the youngest chefs to receive a Michelin star rating (in his 20’s), is a down-to-earth visionary, husband, and father who truly believes in creating food that makes people happy. It’s simple and admirable and flawlessly executed. A Four-Star Award Winning Chef, Mina is not the typical celebrity chef. His passion and desire to always strive to give a remarkable customer experience is unparalleled. Chef Mina takes pride in the dishes he has created and with multiple chefs working to bring his vision to life, he gives his heart and soul to his craft.

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The Byrd Series – The Dustbowl Revival

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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – Imagine a boutique hotel tucked away in the streets of West Hollywood, an entrance, a man, a list, an elevator, a rooftop – you pass a pool all too inviting and follow the strings of Edison bulbs dangling overhead in rows of ambient wonder, down the steps. You see a large fire pit made of tiles and stones nestled cozily on the planks of wooden flooring amidst rows of over sized tangerine cushioned chairs, a corner bar with bartenders buzzing about the abundant crowd inquiring of cocktails and wines and plates of fare. Now imagine all of this as a band is arranged at the front of the deck; music and sound traveling with an undulated swing of sheer playful delight – that is tonight’s Byrd Series and the band: The Dustbowl Revival.

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LA Meets Nashville

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While there are major bands living and playing all throughout the city, there are smaller indie musical artists that take you by surprise. The kind that envelop the more unfiltered parts of ourselves. The singers, songwriters, and musicians that play with a hunger within to simply tell their story – the kind of music that comes from Nashville or Chicago or another time altogether and somehow, when lucky enough, you get 3 in one night!

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Taco Tuesday

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We’ve all heard the term excitedly expressed, TACO TUESDAY! *Which usually means, affordable tacos and beer. Yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to admit it is a bonus to get at least one day a week where incredible food isn’t going to raid your bank account.

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Oscars Fashion

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Going to the Oscars is an exciting event; The #RedCarpet event was a jaw dropping fashion show, from amazing silhouettes to detailed embroidery, sexy lace to stand out colors. This Oscars was the most exciting fashion show yet. It was the epitome of inspiration and glamour!

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TINY: A Story About Living Small hits the nail on the head

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TINY: A Story About Living Small hits the nail on the head. TINY, which premiered at the SXSW festival in early March of 2013, follows the filmmakers’ journey toward self-discovery when Smith decides one day that he’s going to build a tiny home on a trailer that he can then haul out into the middle of a plains-area (of which he owns some property) and live “the simple life.” Although the internet and research tell him otherwise, Smith optimistically predicts that construction will be completed by the end of the summer.

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Restaurante Azrak Spain

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SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN – Juan Mari Azrak and Elena Azrak Espina work in tandem. A Father and Daughter duo, their cuisine has taken Spanish fare to an entirely new level. First introduced to them through research, it is their passion, their quest, their innate desire to bring new life to cuisine that cultivates authenticity, fresh high-quality ingredients, and an ever evolving willingness to surprise that endeared me to want to share them with you.

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TOTEM Cirque du Soleil

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Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential. Uniquely beautiful costuming, golds, eccentric, feathers, bowls, juggled balanced passed from performer to performer with a skill absolutely bewildering.

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Antonello Ristorante: Service Done Right

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We begin our evening with Veuve Clicquot … that beautiful yellow label that introduces you to a world of crisp bubbly delight and fresh bread served with their version of “salsa verde” consisting of garlic, serrano peppers, cilantro, parsley, capers, anchovies, and olive oil. (The bread and salsa verde burst with flavor.)

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2014 Oscars Documentary Films

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LOS ANGELES, CA – Last night I had the honor of attending the Annual Oscars Academy Award Nominee Symposium for the 5 Nominated Documentary Shorts and Documentary Features. The films each possessed qualities of sheer humanity in every form and while yes, that is the nature of documentaries on the whole, it doesn’t always happen with such candor.

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“A” Restaurant Newport Beach

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Newport Coast is a city that travelers from all around the globe flock to for it’s gorgeous pristine beaches and high brow lifestyle. And while there are beautiful and gorgeous new developments, the real charm of the city lies in the architectural gems and authentic finds. One such find is “A Restaurant” located on the Coast Highway. As you pull in to the valet and enter through the main door, you are immediately taken back to another place in time.

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Matthew Morrison Impresses Segerstrom Audience

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The set pieces all come from Morrison’s latest album release, Where it all Began, which can aptly be described as a collection of standards, many first made famous in Broadway musicals. An appropriate assemblage when you consider that the singer/dancer/actor himself got his comeuppance in the Great White Way many years prior to his television namesake.

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Visual Culinary Prose

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When fare becomes poetry: Two weeks of divine tastings …

Above is how I started my journey. The beautiful Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica.

While we gear up for a multitude of tastings and posts, I figured I’d give you a little visual stimulation of just what I’ve been eating:

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If You Build It, A Film

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The film is split into three distinct sections seamlessly tied together with the help of Oscar-nominated editor, Doug Blush, and appropriately, iconic graphics. Following Pilloton and Miller, we meet the wood shop class students: boys and girls who are depicted at first to fit the uncertain, marsh-riddled town stereotype of drowning in muddled obscurity. Students who seem so woefully different from what we—especially in Orange County—expect or are used to when it comes to 16-year-olds (arguably), but who we very quickly realize are as different from us as we are from ourselves.

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