Dining, Arts & Entertainment

Christmas in Italy is rich with traditions going back for centuries.  Some traditions vary from region to region but much is the same throughout the country.  Italians celebrate Christmas for nearly a month, from December 8 to January 6 with a strong focus on religion, family, friends, and incredible traditional foods. 

Recognizing the critical need for Alzheimer- and dementia-afflicted seniors as well as their caregivers, dignitaries from Eternal Valley Memorial Park visited the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center on November 3 to lend their support to the Center’s Adult Day Care & Resource Center.

Greetings and Happy Holidays!  No doubt about it, this year has definitely been a challenging one!  Our City’s economic diversity, strong and sustainable local business community and supportive local government have enabled our community to weather the financial storms better than most cities, while continuing to move forward in a positive direction. 

People ask me all the time about what they should be looking for when picking fish and what they should be looking for. I will address these questions but also would like to add that the freshest fish is not necessarily the best tasting. Before you start saying that I must be crazy and putting words into my mouth, let me explain to you what the average consumer puts into their mouth as far as fish is concerned.

Aficionados are very familiar with the Graycliff brand.  Created by Enrico Garzaroli, founder of the Graycliff hotel and restaurant in Nassau, Bahamas, it is the world’s only five-star brand.  To create his coveted cigar line, Enrico teamed up with legendary cigar maker Avelino Lara, Cuba’s most accomplished roller who at one time rolled all of Castro’s personal cigars. 

On December 6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., four extremely talented individuals will compete for the title of SCV’s 2009 “Over-All Most Talented Performer.”  One finalist, of four age categories, will be awarded a cash award of $2,000, a $1,000 recording session plus a Head Shot package provided by Grins 2 Go Photography.

The Odyssey Restaurant is a vision of the Valley, featuring fine dining with a breathtaking view from any area in the dining room and banquet rooms.  It’s our setting that first captures your attention, but it is our service that defines your perfect day.  Join us for the holiday season!  We are serving a scrumptious buffet brunch/dinner buffet Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for only $34.95 per person.

Famed Actor and Author Dan Frischman performed a free magic show along with a book signing at the Valencia Barnes and Noble on Saturday, November 14. 

A well-deserved night out is something to treasure.  With daily stresses and constant commotion, peace and quiet in an elegant dining space with appetizing food is just the thing.  Excellent dining starts with great service.  Feeling welcomed as soon as you walk through the doors creates an instantly inviting atmosphere.  Kelly’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant provides wonderful service from the moment you walk in. 

Well here we are in the month of November, and the first thing I think of is Thanksgiving.  I made a mistake last year and spent Thanksgiving at my sister’s, “the vegetarian.”
Nothing I enjoy more than that traditional Thanksgiving tofu.

‘Tis the season of merrymaking and magical moods.  Climb onboard one of Fillmore & Western Railway’s Holiday train rides.  Bring the family and create memories.  Many southern California families begin their Christmas seasons with a ride on the Christmas Tree Holiday Train, a tradition they repeat year after year.  The train departs twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each every Saturday and Sunday beginning the weekend following Thanksgiving. 

More than 30 bands expected to participate, including all Hart District Bands

Hart High’s award-winning marching band and colorguard, Hart Regiment, will host its 26th Annual Hart Rampage Marching Band Field Show Tournament on Saturday, November 7, at College of the Canyons.

What do you get when you gather over 175 talented singers and dancers from Hart High School and let them showcase what they love to do?  Hart Show Choir of course!

Hart Show Choir has a long tradition of giving students the opportunity to perform and learn how to use their voices and dance skills in a musical performance setting. 

Made from the tobaccos of five countries and rolled at the Nestor Plasencia owned Tabacos de Oriente factory in Honduras and Segovia Cigars in Nicaragua, each line will offer Robusto, Belicoso, Lonsdale and Toro sizes. The Habano Colorado line will offer two additional sizes: Churchill and Petit Corona.

On Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Valencia Library, the Santa Clarita Artists’ Association (SCAA) presents Scott Bruckner, next in a series of art lectures entitled 60 Minutes with an Artist.
Bruckner, a contemporary sculptor, creates his art from found objects, milled lumber and copper.  Each piece is free standing from six to eight feet in height and is finished to become a central part of a contemporary home. 

With the holidays nearing, it is no surprise a lot of us are getting busier each day.  From picking up the kids, to planning parties, to shopping, our lives become a whirlwind of duties.  It is important to take time out of your day to slow down, and treat yourself to something special.  Giving time back to yourself and a loved one is a simple way to ensure a calm and stress-free holiday season.  Dining out is something we all might be doing a little more when things get busy.  But instead of rushing for take out, enjoy eating in a beautiful atmosphere with good company.

Just southeast of San Fernando Road and Sierra Highway lies a little a gateway that once connected the main roadway of Los Angeles and Newhall.  It was also a popular location for pioneer filmmakers to make films such as Broken Ways in 1913, Straight Shooting, Three Jumps Ahead, The Iron Horse and Stagecoach.

Organic, organic, organic. You hear that all the time now.  So what is this all about?  Are organically raised vegetables and fruit better for you?  Without a doubt, but why?  Well, first of all a farm that uses organic practices are not permitted to use herbicides nor pesticides so their crop may be more susceptible to being eaten by little critters such as snails, beetles, worms, etc.  In order to combat that, they need to go back to practices from thousands of years ago which include rotating crops and planting certain vegetation that these pesky guys do not like around the intended crop.