Dining, Arts & Entertainment

The SCV-Newhall Optimist Club for the month of July went on a hiatus and decided to take the month off for some needed R & R.  With school just around the corner, we are busy getting involved with high hopes of starting a brand new Octagon Club at Golden Valley High School.  We will be hoping to charter the club sometime after school begins. 

“I’m hanging at CTG,” says Olga Kaczmar proudly, president of Santa Clarita Artists’ Association (SCAA).  The Canyon Theatre Guild will be featuring Kaczmar’s art in their hallway gallery from July 2 to Sept 3, 2010.  The exhibit will run concurrently with the performances of Neil Simon’s hit comedy, The Odd Couple.

By now, we all know that I date fairly regularly.  I would never label myself a “serial dater.”  I’m not out there dating just to date.  I’m actually looking for that one person to grow old with.  I don’t even particularly like dating, although once in a while I find myself truly at ease with someone, enjoying my time so thoroughly that I look forward to spending more time with him.  This isn’t one of those times.

Sisley unveils slew of summertime sun retreats with a weekly series called “Party on the Patio.” Join the gorgeous garden patio that plays host to weekly beer and wine tastings this summer – all from local breweries and wineries. Enjoy stellar bites from a new happy hour menu that combines classic favorites with new twists on old originals all at bar menu prices.

This time of year is my favorite because Santa Clarita is still relatively cool and I get to drive down to Santa Monica through the “June gloom” which still seems to be hanging around down south.  It even sprinkled on me as I was shopping at the farmers’ market this past Wednesday.  I prefer the cool weather so I don’t glow with perspiration when I carry all the fruit and vegetables to my car up a flight of stairs.

Celebrating their 10th anniversary in October, Egg Plantation surely is doing more than one thing right.  It’s a love story that began many years ago before owners Simon and Shannon Mee had even met.  At the young age of 14 Simon knew he wanted to own his own restaurant and the Mee’s will tell you how much they love the restaurant business.  Each week Egg Plantation uses over 6,000 extra large farm fresh eggs, making each of the delicious dishes from scratch, with no MSG or trans fat.  Egg Plantation is also extremely proud to be the first certified green restaurant in Santa Clarita.  What does that mean you may ask?  The Green Restaurant Association’s program rewards restaurants with points in seven environmental categories: energy, water, waste, disposables, chemical and pollution reduction, sustainable food, and sustainable building materials.  To become certified, restaurants must meet the following criteria: accumulate a total of 100 Points, meet a minimum of 10 points in six of the seven categories, have a full-scale recycling program, be free of Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) and implement a yearly education program.  To date, Egg Plantation has earned over 115 points within their program!

The City of Santa Clarita and the Santa Clarita Arts Commission are seeking artist submissions to develop an exhibition celebrating the 50th “birthday” of Bubble Wrap. Artists’ will submit artwork using Bubble Wrap as a component of an art piece. At least 20 pieces will be selected for inclusion in the exhibit.
“Bubble-licious: All Bubbles Are Not Created Equal” is an Art in Public Places program by the City of Santa Clarita. 

Contest Invites Transit Riders To Create Short Videos On Why They Love Transit

City of Santa Clarita Transit, Metro and 11 other Los Angeles County transit operators are sponsoring a video contest, Transit Flicks, to give transit riders the chance to show the world what they like about using public transportation. Entries will be judged on originality, believability and how well they convince others to try transit.

Classic car owners with pre-1975 era, show quality vehicles are encouraged to enter their cars in the Sespe Creek Car Show to be held in downtown Fillmore on Sunday, July 4.  There will be 32 categories of judging from street rods, mustangs, stock, modified, muscle, drag and many, many others.  Each vehicle owner chooses the category they wish to compete in.  The event will begin at 9 a.m., and winners will be announced at 3 p.m. 

Tired of your old routine? Try the new Mononoke Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar in Canyon Country. The restaurant offers a wide variety of options certain to please even the most discerning epicurean. Mononoke’s large menu features rolls, sushi, and sashimi, made using only the freshest ingredients.

Summer is here and so are the stars!  Santa Clarita, thank you for making my job as Mamarazzi an easy one!   The celebrity sightings continue to come in as the stars are seen roaming in and around our Valley.  Keep em’ coming!
I had the wonderful opportunity to sit and have coffee with Mark Nilan Jr., one of the musicians on Fox’s hit television series, Glee. Mark is a pianist, composer and producer. 

Betty Ferguson Foundation (BFF) Mes Amies womens’ group will be touring the local Help The Children facility at our next gathering on July 20 at 7 p.m. in Valencia.
BFF is a Non-Profit organization whose mission is to Train, Develop and Empower Women and Youth to be a Vital Force in Society.

Here we are in July, and it is Vacation season.  A lot of people take a cruise.  Lots of old people take cruises.  I was on a ship recently with people who had strategically planned their vacation to coincide with their last week on Earth.
Many people go camping. 

Now celebrating its 40th Anniversary, the Canyon Theatre Guild announces its 2010-2011 Season.  Executive Artistic Director, TimBen Boydston, said, “It is an incredible accomplishment for a non-profit performing arts organization to be producing for forty years.  Literally thousands of people have given of their time, talents, and resources to help us achieve this milestone.  We’re looking forward to our next forty years! 

Since first opening their doors almost 20 years ago, the folks at Sisley Italian Kitchen have done more than craft one of the finest dining experiences the Santa Clarita valley has to offer. They grew as our community expanded, they thrived as we became one of the most desired cities to raise a family in.

The clock was ticking.  She got to Starbucks a couple of minutes early, totally expecting him to be there.  She scanned the padded wrought iron chairs surrounding the fountain.  The place was packed for a Saturday morning.  Couples, kids, dogs – there was even a bird sitting on a woman’s shoulder.  But she didn’t see him.  She went inside and glanced at every man in the café on her way to the counter.  Nothing.  So she ordered her drink and secured a seat outside with clear view of the parking lot.  

Now in 2010 everything is changing including marketing tools and the way consumers look for their wants and needs.
Internet advertising has been used for years now but every year there are new gadgets, applications and programs available.
It’s not easy to keep up with all the new Apps. But if you want to stay in touch with your customers of all ages one needs to be very creative with advertising.

Newhall Coffee, the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, and Local Retailers Partner to Keep Coffee Profits Local

When life hands you lemons, don’t just make lemonade, make a stand and sell it.  Nearly every facet of the economy has been impacted by the recession, and charitable contributions to non-profits were down in 2009, continuing through 2010.