Dining, Arts & Entertainment

Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley held its new officer installation on June 20 at the Tournament Players Club in Valencia.  Guests including club members, Soroptimist notables and local dignitaries witnessed the swearing in of the club’s new Board of Directors.  Cyndi Diaz, the newly installed club President chose her year’s theme as “Serving Together in Perfect Harmony.”

Chelsea Best received her Girl Scout Gold Award on Saturday, June 30 at the annual ceremony in Pasadena.  Her Gold Award project was titled “Beau-Tea-Ful Me.”

Reminiscing about childhood memories, the thought of going to a dress-up tea party lingered.  Chelsea spoke with her mom about what fun that was and realized that not every little girl gets to experience such a fun day.  This idea sparked her future Girl Scout Gold Award project.

Whether you’re an aged collector of wine or an amateur, proper storage of wine is vital.  And since building a wine cellar can get quite expensive, don’t worry, you don’t need one.  Sparkling wine, white wine and red wine all have different demands, but there are seven general rules of thumb you should keep in mind when storing your wine.

Hey comedy friends!  We have a sensational month of July for you, with one of the top comedians of all time, Elayne Boozler making a rare appearance at J.R.’s.
We start the month with club favorite Don McMillan, the hi-tech comedian on July 6 and 7.  Don is the only comedian working in power point. 

Am I the only one who looks back in the past and think, “what if”?  I have quite a few what ifs in my past.  I am sure we all do.  Of course, we cannot go back and change what has already happened, but we can change how we look at the future.  A little while ago, I decided to venture out more.

Thai food is far from boring with its vibrant spices and herbs.  Not only is Thai food very tasteful, but also filled with a handful of great health benefits to promote a healthier lifestyle.
Thai food’s sky rocketing popularity is due to its use of combining fresh ingredients with the finest spices available throughout southeast Asia. 

We have a winner!  Felix Wong is the reigning champion of Pho Sure’s 1st Annual Eating Competition.  He was able to consume 8.3 pounds of broth, noodles, briskets, onions and cilantro in 10 minutes knocking his two hefty competitors out of the competition.

The day starts early at each of our Santa Clarita Wendy’s.  Each morning our staff is hard at work, washing and hand-leafing whole, fresh heads of lettuce, slicing fresh tomatoes, and prepping whole rings of red onions.  Having the freshest, highest quality ingredients really makes a difference in the taste of the hamburger. 

We all look forward to summer fun – picnics, back yard parties and special events.  We fire up our grills and join our friends for lavish pot lucks.  Music, games and pool parties set the stage for celebrating friendship or special occasions.  We like to eat, drink and be merry.

Sushi has become incredibly popular in the United States in recent years.  Most people have tried it and for those that haven’t, you may find yourself in a sushi bar very soon.  While the initial thoughts of eating raw fish may be unappetizing, sushi is a very healthy food that can be enjoyed by everyone.  

To children the end of the school year means just that, the end.  Time for fun is at hand; summer camp, vacations, amusement parks, sleeping in late, staying up late and best of all - no homework.  For parents, summer planning starts long before school is out.  Day camps, vacation plans, how to keep the all too familiar phrase “I’m bored” at bay.  Yes, I remember it all too well.  For my family, regardless of an erratic summer schedule, there was one activity that stayed constant.  Summer reading.

What in the world do beekeepers and honey and fathers have in common?  They are all themed train rides offered at Fillmore & Western Railway Co in nearby Ventura County.  Discover why bees are so essential to our economy and to agriculture.  Bees make it possible for almond, avocado, citrus and many other fruits, nuts and veggies.  The first annual Honey Harvest Festival is Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10 in Fillmore’s downtown Central Park.  

Hello comedy fans!  Want to have a great time raising money for your organization?  Have a funny fundraiser at J.R.’s Comedy Club, and raise $1,000 or more and have the most fun ever doing it.  Call 661-259-2291 to find out how, or check out our website www.comdyinvalencia.com.  We have an unbelievable month of June.
On June 1 and June 2 we have Lenny Schmidt, one of the most high energy wound tight comedians you will ever see.  He has guest starred on Desperate Housewives, ER, and countless other television shows.  He is a riot.

So here I am, after my latest date, trying to figure out why it did not work.  As I thought about it, and asked some friends, I found out this is not an isolated incident.  This is a lot more widespread than I thought.  It seems that an awful lot of men and women are looking for this.  I never paid much attention to it, but obviously it is very important to a lot of people.
Now that I have your attention, and curiosity, it is time to address this. 

Maybe it had something to do with solid communication and working together as a team instead of an individual.  Maybe it was the fact that life was simpler, or maybe it had something to do with solid foundations built with respectable values.  Whatever it may be the union of marriage has seemed to change with the times.  Lifetime relationships based on hard work and faith have almost become obsolete, maybe not for everyone, but enough to take notice.  While I cannot speak for everyone and certainly do not claim to know all the answers, I can speak from experience.  That experience comes from talking with my two sets of grandparents who have both been married 50 plus years.

For high quality fresh food served or catered, visit Marketplace Café and Gourmet Catering.  Owned and operated by a classically trained chef, Teri Kelly, she and the staff at Santa Clarita’s Marketplace Café & Gourmet Catering take pride in serving fresh and seasonal “farm-to-table” cuisine in a small quaint sandwich shop, specializing in full service catering to meet all your needs. “I come from a family of professional chefs,” states Teri.  “It’s a passion that runs strong in our family.” At Santa Clarita’s Marketplace Café and Gourmet Catering, they take pride in the quality of food as well as customer service.  “Our goal is to make a difference with each of our customers.”

Cheers @ All Corked Up has re-opened and is now under new ownership!  Come wine and dine in a quiet and intimate setting, while trying out their Latin infused selection of delicious dishes, indulging in their delectable brunch menu, or enjoy a glass of wine.  You won’t be disappointed.  
Owners Carolyn, her aunt Theresa Rivera and Al Robles have partnered up to create an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.  “We serve a variety of Latin American food,” states Carolyn.  “We have traditional Puerto Rican dishes, serving up seafood, steak and chicken as well.  We have a little bit of everything.”

Chairman Donnell Jones extends an invitation to our community to attend and participate in the 3rd Annual Santa Clarita Elks Lodge #2379 Car Show and Chili Cook-Off Charity Fundraiser that will be held on Saturday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Proceeds from this event will provide free programs for children with disabilities through the Elks Major Project.
This year, Jim Lentini and Ray Paladini worked together to create a competitive and Poker Run that will begin at the Lodge at 8:30 a.m.  Registered participants, driving cars or riding motorcycles, will be given information and directions for the poker run and rally route.