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| March 1st, 2007 |
Crossing county lines is OK sometimes!
Some Orange Countians invaded Los Angeles recently to pre-celebrate
the Golden Globe Awards weekend at the new it club called Area on La Cienega
Boulevard across the street from another hot spot, Republic. The night began
at a chic house party on Melrose Boulevard with south OC locals Cheryl Perkins
and Big Joe, then continued over at Area to start the night where there
were a bunch of familiar faces from OC making their way inside. While dancing
with Newport Beach friends Ashley Lowden and Tracy Beetler, we
looked over and saw the Duff sisters, Hilary and Haylie chatting
it up with friends and taking stage on the dance floor in front of their VIP
table. Not really from OC but definitely the show, Adrian Brody very
casually hanging out with friends. The night concluded hanging around P.
Diddy and an entourage blockade at his table, but we knew it was time to
end the night after watching a lime get thrown at his face and him retaliate
with cocktail cups! Last stop, Farmers Market at The Grove with Brittany
Meredith to munch on nutella banana crepes before making our way back to
good ole Orange County. Home sweet home!
Front & Center
Colin Powell and Whoopi Goldberg are just a few of the headliners of Cal State Fullerton s annual Front & Center gala. Front & Center is an annual entertainment extravaganza and the university s leading community outreach event, generating net revenues to benefit student scholarship programs such as the President s Scholars. This year s Front & Center was held at the Honda Center (formerly known as the Arrowhead Pond) with stellar performances by CSUF s award winning Department of Theatre & Dance, the Titan Award presentation, and a concert by Grammy award winning rock and roll legends, Chicago. With California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O Connell, as master of ceremonies, this year s event was nothing short of a lively crowd clapping their hands and having a great time.
The night started off as a black-tie event hosting various champagne receptions. Followed was a fabulous candlelit dinner on the main floor with live music including a solo saxophone performance by Vincent Hizon, where guest such as Carole and Robert Follman, Joyce and Tom Tucker, and Director of OC Family Business Council Mike Trueblood enjoyed socializing just minutes before the night was to kick off. Soon after, approximately 8,000 attendees slowly made their way to their seats for the one-night-only sold out presentation.
Dancing? You bet! The evening showcased talented students Brian Shaw, Courtney Walton, Chris Chatman, Brian Cendeja, and Carly Menkin on to name a few of the very talented CSUF s award winning Department of Theatre & Dance. Starting off with an oldies skit joined by Top Billboard alumni singer Melanie Taylor, was an ensemble exclusively created for this year s Titan Award honoree, Rick Muth. The performers were singing, dancing, and finished off with a funny serenade to Rick about himself. Getting a kick out of the performance was Dwayne Gleason and wife Leigh. The Titan Award is given to individuals dedicated and committed to the advancement of Orange County.
Finishing up the night was one of rock and roll s most inexhaustible bands Chicago! This got the crowd, including long-time Chicago fans Phil and Vicky Giraldin, Catherine and Tyson Collier, and even her teenager son Tyson Tunick onto their feet as they performed some of their most memorable jazz infused classic rock hits. The crowd was clapping and dancing the night away. Seen obviously enjoying the concert were Daranne and Paul Folino and Susan and Alan Boerner. The night concluded with a private reception with the Chicago band mates for Rick, who was accompanied by his wife Nancy and their two daughters, and plethora of Orco employees, friends, and supporters who indulged in chocolate covered strawberries, which Diana and Mark Shuster and Ingrid and Dave Echternach made sure to enjoy.
What does one weekend plus three
cabins plus one mountain equal?
A Mammoth Trip! Tis the season to start snowboarding and local Newport friends made sure to start doing so. Our OC gang definitely brought the good weather up as it was sunny and nice, and Mammoth supplied the almost spotless snow. The weekend started off with a long road trip with Gretchen Steinbroner and Brian Krebs to meet up at the local Dublins pub in town. We then proceeded to meet up at Laura Denniston s with Anna Finch, Travis Hackett, and Scott Tippett to relax before a big day of snowboarding. Day two started off by making our way through a packed mountain. Riding on great snow mixed with good friends and perfect weather ended up being not too bad. Also on the mountain making use of season passes were Laguna Beach locals Newth Morris, Jason Koch, Brian Jacobs, and Allison Somehou. How do you end a day of snowboarding? Jacuzzi time and fun! Grabbing sushi nearby were Nick Doboran, Kendra Hollern, Christopher Sanford, and Kristen Wohl. Go figure the weekend snowboard getaway ended with leaving eight inches of fresh new snow and driving home through a snow storm and traffic!
Around the World with Wine and Overture
Around the World with Wine was an evening of wine, food, and music with Orange County s up and coming young business associates! Pacific Symphony s young professionals group, Overture, hosted Around the World with Wine, a wine tasting event held at Wine Styles wine boutique in Costa Mesa. The event raised funds for Pacific Symphony s Arts-X-Press musical educational program. Guests were welcomed by Pacific Symphony s very own brilliant violinists, a glass of sparkling wine from Tobin James Winery, and an array of appetizers, desserts, and cheeses from Health Emporium. The tasty trip of wine tasting continued to the back of the packed wine boutique where Overture members Grace Han and Christopher Trela socialized and tasted exotic wines from Germany, Italy, Spain, South Australia, South Africa, and California.
After discovering an impressive riesling, chardonnay, and cabernet sauvignon, a raffle took place in which 100 percent of the proceeds funded Overture. As the night was limited to approximately 50 guests, the odds of winning various wine gift baskets, such as tickets to a Pacific Symphony concert or gift certificates to local restaurants such as Plums Cafe and Pasta Bravo, were much anticipated.
Toward the end of the night, Overture President Steve Daxer encouraged attendees to join in hopes of reaching his goal to extend the Arts-X-Press musical education program from a weekend to a week of learning for the children.
Overture was co-founded by Chet Saguyod, whose involvement with the Pacific Symphony and interest in the community and the arts led him to establish the group. Overture is a diverse group or people of various ages with one thing in common: an interest in raising funds for the music education program while increasing awareness of the symphony.
More than lounging around at the Laugh Lounge...
Do not go further than the 105 freeway, please stay in Orange County! Okay we will! Funny man Ian Bags joked to a large crowd at Tentations Laugh Lounge. I could be doing a better job summarizing the comedy show but I was laughing so much I kept missing the next joke s punch line! Laughing along with a performance by Saturday Night Live s Jeff Richards at Omar Khashen s VIP table were Bree Kay, Komron Tarkeshian, and Jeff Pflueger. The night started with a couple comedians and wrapped up with Ian Bags picking out random people from the crowd and asking them a random question to which he responded with his witty improvisations. One participant was a sales rep who joked about being there with co-workers to only have Ian Bags continue with ten minutes of improv. Round two was recognizable movie and TV star comedian Jamie Kennedy taking the crowd by storm, especially John Saunders and his VIP table directly in a dangerous spotlight right next to the stage! I have to admit, the night definitely gave my stomach a work out!
Yoga Really Does Work
In celebration of the New Year, you probably made a list of resolutions: 1) save money, 2) drink less, and 3) get in shape...right? I bet that most of us have already broken our New Year s resolution, let s say...two or three times. Well at least I did. Picking myself up and running on the treadmill is just not as easy as it sounds! Luckily for me, my roommate Lindsay Shrader introduced me to a new hobby, yoga.
Lindsay discovered the local yoga studio was having a promotion: $25 for an unlimited 2-week trial session. I ve heard all the fad news about yoga, but I could never figure out how something that takes 90 minutes and 26 postures could gain a following 3 million strong. Why the sudden rage? I was a beginner who wanted to start a new hobby without the stares, but had no choice, walking into a studio filled with people who looked and acted like professional yoga goers. After renting a $2 yoga mat at the counter, I was ready to start.
By the end of the class, I was very surprised by John, the instructor s enthusiasm, flexibility, and energy in yoga. I honestly could not wait for the next class...until the next day of course, when I couldn t move my body. It was hard to believe how sore I was without trying to lift a weight or do a back flip. I realized that holding my poses and going with the flow from one to the next, I was concentrating on my breathing, which allowed me to stay balanced. Now I can say that yoga fanatics out there have my respect.
All in all, these two weeks of yoga have been a great experience and positive motivation for my New Year s resolution. #3: get into shape. And of course there are still resolutions 1 and 2 to work on...