Dining, Arts & Entertainment

That’s exactly what I got at Tortas Ahogadas Las Originales – Delicious drinks, traditional tunes and exceptional service!  Guadalajara, Mexico is known for tequila, mariachi and friendly people, and owners Francisco Negrete and Gerry Robledo worked very hard to create that very atmosphere right here in Santa Clarita.  The restaurant is bright, colorful and filled with delectable aromas that will make your mouth water the minute you walk in the door.

It’s August, and that means the kids are going back to school!  No more sleeping in late, lounging by the pool, and enjoying the laid-back routine my whole family effortlessly fell into just two short months ago.

Climb aboard, sit back and relax, be waited on, or put on your dancin’ shoes, party and make merry aboard one of Fillmore & Western Railway Co.’s summer dinner trains.  Murder Mystery Dinner Theater is the most popular as you guess “who dun it?”  Dancing and dining are features of other summer dinner trains such as Shake, Rattle & Rail, Margarita Madness, and the Wine Express.

We are proud to announce that this month on August 14 and 15, at J.R.’s Comedy Club we are bringing you another star talent, the one and only Emo Phillips.  Emo is widely regarded as one of the top 100 comedians of all time.  Every line in his act is layered with genius.  He has had numerous television specials on HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central. 

It was March 9, 1842.   Legend says that after herding cattle, rancher Francisco Lopez took a nap under an old oak tree.  Dreaming of gold and riches, Lopez then woke up, hungry and looking for food.  As the story goes, he dug up some wild onions under a nearby tree with his pocketknife.  Hanging from the roots of the onions were nuggets of gold. 

Tri-tip happens to be one of those blessed foods that can be incorporated into many different recipes and immensely enjoyed!  Anywhere that protein is requested, tri-tip can serve as a flavorful exchange for more, shall we say, mediocre meats.  About six months ago, Charles “Chuck” Joseph embarked on the journey into the restaurant business, and Tri Tipps opened in Valencia to cater to the residents of Santa Clarita and all of their steak needs.  

August is a robust month, despite the fact that it is the only month that cannot boast of a major federal holiday in the United States.  Formerly created into the month we all know and love, August was named after the Roman emperor Augustus in the year 8 B.C.  This was the same month that the city of Alexandria, Egypt, fell to the Romans in 30 B.C.  Another famous event, which occurred in August, was the end of WWII.  In 1945, after the August 6 bombing of Hiroshima and the August 9 bombing of Nagasaki, Emperor Hirohito spoke on behalf of Japan and declared unconditional surrender by the 15th of the month.

Rolled with specially selected ligero leaf, all top quality, Serie ’V’ packs a punch due to its full body; however, its strength does not dominate the experience. Specially aged and fermented tobaccos make for a complex flavor, adding layers of enticing notes of pepper, leather and earthy undertones. This line represents the strongest and richest cigar Oliva has to offer.

The College of the Canyons Theatre Department is holding auditions for five of next season’s biggest productions, which include Broadway, Shakespeare and a variety of other genres.
“We have a very exciting season planned for this year and are hoping for a large turnout at the auditions for all of our productions,” said Paul Wickline, chair of the college’s theatre department. “We are looking for a talented, multicultural cast for director Randee Trabitz’ concept of ‘HAIR’ and a smaller cast for the powerful drama ‘Keely and Du’ directed by Susan Hinshaw.”
Hair – Taking the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center stage during the month of October, “HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” provides insight into the philosophy of the flower children of the 1960s. The first and most successful of the rock musicals, HAIR has greatly influenced musical theatre for more than 40 years.

LARC Ranch is currently looking for sponsors for its annual fundraiser, scheduled for Sunday, September 13 at LARC Ranch.  This year’s event will feature the smooth sounds of the Tom Nolan Orchestra, regulars at Rusty’s on the Santa Monica Pier, where they have been in residence for 15 years.  Lunch and refreshments begin at 1 p.m. and the concert is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.  A limited number of sponsorship packages are still available at $2,000 with varying levels of media and event exposure.

2009 Series Kicks Off July 11 at Central Park

The City of Santa Clarita’s Concerts in the Park series is one of the most popular summertime traditions year after year. The 2009 talent lineup, complete with returning favorites and first-time bands, ensures that the hits will keep on coming. The concert series is free to attend and kicks off July 11 at Central Park, continuing every Saturday evening at 7 p.m. through August 29.

Independence Day, for many American families, is a tradition that involves food, friends and fireworks.  Unfortunately, as with many holidays, it’s easy to lose sight of why we are celebrating.
The United States of America was born because its founders believed in a series of principles and ideas.  Having escaped religious persecution in Europe, the first non-native Americans were firm defenders of liberty, freedom and opportunity. 

The Love Goddess is coming to Valencia!  Hello again!  What a July I have in store for you.  We have a very special event coming the week of July 10 to 11 with the one and only Judy Tenuta, the Love Goddess.  Judy will be performing with her trusty accordion three big shows, Friday July 10 at 9 p.m., and Saturday July 11 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Classic car owners with pre 1975-era, show quality vehicles are encouraged to enter their cars in the Sespe Creek Car Show being held in downtown Fillmore on Saturday, July 4.  There will be 32 categories of judging from street rods, mustangs, stock, modified, muscle, drag and many, many others.

Santa Clarita-based World Wine Education is now an official location and instructor for Immediate and Advance certification for WSET, joining only three other approved sites in the state of California: Newport Beach, West Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Wine tasting can be an exciting, yet daunting task.  Often, people are uncertain of the right kind of wine to bring to an occasion, and they may not understand the importance of pairing wines with the correct kind of meal to get the best flavor.  Others have had experiences with wines that were unfortunately less than enjoyable. 

Summer is upon us!  After the June gloom, the bright sunshiny days of summer are very welcome indeed!

The Santa Clarita City Council recently approved the 21-Point Business Plan for Progress. This first-ever economic stimulus program will help to enhance local business partnerships, encourage quality job creation in the area, and bolster retail spending and attract external dollars to the community.  In May, the City Council increased the City’s local preference purchasing policy to 10 percent to create more opportunities for local businesses to do business with the City.  We have partnered with many local organizations on a new Think Santa Clarita Valley campaign to promote our local economy.

Advancing the Status of Women Locally and Worldwide
Zonta’s business meeting in May featured the award by the Santa Clarita Valley Zonta Club Foundation of $15,000 in grants to local organizations who assist women and children, and  $1,500 in scholarship funds to two young women.  The recipients all strive to improve the status of women and children through health, education, and service.