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As much as we think of Catalina as being a summer destination, there is a lot to do even in the off season. My girlfriend Cat and I recently went out before the chill of winter arrived and had the good fortune to stay at two beautiful hotels on Catalina Island: the Aurora Hotel...

Even without snow or cold weather in Newport Beach, we still have special ways to celebrate the holidays. Locally we have the Christmas Boat Parade, but just across our Newport border is Winter Fest, which is held at the Orange County Fairgrounds through January 6. This is their...

Last Saturday, the Irvine Barclay Theatre hosted an evening with The Side Deal, our own local (Newport Beach) harmonious collection of Charlie Colin, formerly of the group, Train; Stan Frazier, formerly of Sugar Ray, and the brothers Joel and Scott Owens, from the PawnShop kings....

One of my favorite events is the annual KAABOO Festival at the Del Mar Racetrack. That weekend affair brings together world famous musical performers, comedians and a fantastic selection of art work and food. You won’t have to travel as far this weekend to experience Big...

You may recall the 2003 movie version of “School of Rock,” starring Jack Black. In the movie Black plays struggling rock guitarist Dewey Finn, who is kicked out of his band and subsequently masquerades as a substitute music teacher at a prestigious prep school. Now you can...

This is the third consecutive year I have made a trek to Catalina, which always starts with the Catalina Flyer, our own local taxi service to Fantasy Island. With one ferry daily at 9 a.m., you pull into Avalon Harbor 75 minutes later. During the trip over you have many different...

To say the latest Cirque du Soleil is unique is a given; they are all different. After 38 shows over 34 years it may be hard to come up with something new, yet the latest Cirque du Soleil iteration, “Luzia,” does just that. “Luzia” is a Mexican fiesta; a party, which includes...

By Norm Bour & Christopher Trela | NB Indy Everyone loves a circus—make that a cirque, French for circus. American circuses are on the wan, while unique cirques from Canada have taken over the circus world in spectacular fashion. Indy writer Norm Bour caught a performance of...

Women continue to exert their power in politics, business and everyday life. For proof, look no further than Leadership in Heels, a nonprofit organization started by Scharrell Jackson, a full-time Partner, COO and CFO for Squar Milner in Newport Beach, one of the top 70...

Orange County doesn’t have any major rock concert festival-style events (think Coachella), so the closest thing to a truly unique musical experience is called KAABOO, which I recently attended at the Del Mar racetrack in San Diego county. Only an hour away by car, KAABOO is even...

The recent Las Vegas shooting rampage was a tragic event that reminds everyone that violent incidents have become all too frequent in modern society. Consider these statistics: There were more than 350 mass shootings in the United States in 2015. That same year, more than 12,000...

For many years the Pacific Symphony has ended its outdoor summer concert season with a night of spectacular music by Tchaikovsky. This year was no different, but the venue was. Since the Irvine Meadows/Verizon Wireless Amphitheater closed last year, the Symphony has been staging...

The disconnects between men and women is fodder for comedians, idle chit chat and deep conversations. Lack of communication is one of the biggest causes of divorce and personal relationships issues between siblings, children and those that are not blood related. The “glass...

Tom Donavan began his hospitality career where all managers of Five Star resorts should start: in the kitchen. Donovan, the new general manager of The Resort at Pelican Hill, is from Oyster Bay, Long Island. He knew at an early age that hospitality and lodging was what he wanted...

We often take the most common things around us for granted. We see the harbor and the beach and don’t always appreciate what’s in our own backyard—even if that backyard is 26 watery miles away. Newport locals have been visiting Catalina for many years, since its only just over an...

The 44th annual Newport Boat Show docked at Lido Marina Village on Thursday, and the timing is works out great for the revitalized community. The newly refreshed Lido Marina Village is alive with a new vibrant tone that it has been lacking for many years. New shops are opening...

Many of us want to leave a legacy behind. Something that we will be remembered for. Leonard Nimoy had no such problem since he is forever and indelibly engraved in our collective social conscience as the iconic Mr. Spock on the Star Trek series. For 40 years Nimoy shared his...

 “The Long Way Back” is a train wreck of a movie—but it’s one of the most compelling and scary train wrecks you will ever see, and punches you in the gut with the reality of one of the most deadly and preventable diseases in the country: opioid addiction. Directed by Richard...

The Broadway musical “Finding Neverland” at Segertstrom Center for the Arts through April 2 is the mostly true story of how J.M. Barrie created his classic fable “Peter Pan,” and it’s the opportunity to bring along someone who will be absolutely delighted with the show: your...

The business community in Newport is diverse, and includes entrepreneurs with unique stories. This week I focus on two of those stories: Kona Ice Truck and The Butchery. Kona Ice Truck Launched last July, Kona Ice Truck is owned by Jayson and Holly Yardley. This unique rolling...