Greer's OC

Greer's Daily Dose

Mother’s Day Pop Up Shop

05.04.12

TOUS, the Spanish luxury brand, is set to show some motherly love as it plans to host a popup shop in Diamond Jamboree in Irvine today through Sunday! The TOUS popup will, not only, sell and showcase select products, but also offer a special Mother's Day promotion - something that I'm sure all the mothers out there are very upset about! The promo, in which all customers that spend $250 or more receive either an iPhone case or any TOUS fragrance, will run May 5-13 in all TOUS stores including its flagship West Coast store in South Coast Plaza.

The TOUS popup store at Diamond Jamboree, located at Jamboree Road and Alton Pkwy in Irvine, there will be a live DJ, light refreshments, and a goodie bag for the first 50 customers each day! In addition, there will be a TOUS prize giveaway! - anyone 18 or older can enter to win online at www.diamond-jamboree.com or at the TOUS popup store over the weekend. One winner will be selected for each of these three prize categories: 3rd prize – TOUS L’eau signature fragrance gift set ($95 retail value); 2nd prize – signature TOUS Bear Black Pendant in Black Onyx/Sterling Silver ($169 retail value) and 1st prize – TOUS KAOS Handbag ($359 retail value).

The TOUS popup shop will only be at Diamond Jamboree, so pop in to check out their latest products, grab a goodie bag, and enter the prize giveaway - the perfect chance to find your Mom something special for Mother's Day!

Sushi for Education

Please consider changing the future of two bright and caring Kenyans that I met in a small village in Western Kenya. My best friend Mona Shah of Moxxe PR and I will be guest bartending during Ra Sushi’s Puma Thursday next Thursday, May 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. at RA Sushi in Tustin to help educate Jack & Milly in Kenya. RA Sushi will donate 10 % of all food and drink sales made from 7 to 10 p.m. to help fund their university education. RA Sushi’s Puma Thursday is an extended happy hour featuring great food and drink specials, ranging from $2 to $7.

Tempting specials include chicken yakitori, calamari tempura, kaisen ceviche, seared tuna tapas, salmon carpaccio, shishito peppers and RA must haves such as crispy spicy tuna, tootsy maki, tuna tataki, viva Las Vegas roll and specialty crunchy calamari rolls.

An array of drink specials will be priced from $2 to $6, including: Bud Light, Miller Lite, Sapporo and Sapporo Light, Cruzan mojitos, Sauza margaritas, cold sakes by the glass and wines by the glass. Or choose from signature sips like Cougar Juice (flavored sakes); The Prowler (lemonade made with Three Olives Cherry Vodka and fresh squeezed juices), Cat’s Meow (Skyy Vodka, mixed melon liqueur and other fruit flavors), Flirtini (Skyy Pineapple Vodka, raspberry and Champagne), and Gold Digger (Grey Goose Vodka mixed with tropical fruit flavors, shaken ice cold).

RA Sushi in Tustin is at 2401 Park Avenue in Tustin. 714.566.1700.

High Hopes Lunch

El Sol Science and Arts Academy in Santa Ana will be honoring community leader Kelly Thornton, founder of the Center for Living Peace at the annual High Hopes Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. Proceeds will support El Sol, the successful public charter school in Santa Ana that serves nearly 750 mostly low income Latino children.

The keynote speaker will be former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Jeffrey Davidow. The return on your investment in High Hopes will be measured by increased educational opportunity for children who before El Sol had little opportunity.

Tickets to the luncheon cost $300 per person. Hyatt Regency at 17000 Jamboree Road in Irvine. For more information contact 949.474.5805 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Menu Upgrades at Java Bakery Cafe

The Java Bakery Café in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Irvine upgraded its menu and added more seasonal treats and specials like panini, summer espressos and iced lattes with fresh citrus, mint and mochas. You can also order fine cakes including tiramisu, eclairs, fruit tarts, apple tart Normande, pear almond tarts, chocolate decadence, cheesecake, napoleon, mango mouse and delicious flans. Catering is available and Java Bakery will deliver.

Open 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Five Points Plaza Shopping Center is at 18685 Main St. #107 in
Huntington Beach. 714.842.5020.

Open 5: 30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 1064 Bayside Drive in Newport Beach. 949.760.6886.

Open 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. 18100 Culver Drive in Irvine. For more information, call 949.786.9292.

Pin It

Taste the Best of OC

05.03.12

Celebrate the inaugural OC Tastefest, a food, wine and entertainment festival Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m. at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. The two-day event highlights the range of cuisine and culture in Orange County.

More than 25 restaurants will offer samples of new and seasonal items mixed along with classic menu items. Participating restaurants include Brasserie Pascal, 118 Degrees, Marrakesh, Salt Creek Grille, Ten Asian Bistro, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Slater’s 50/50. Specialty retailers will offer culinary and other items to purchase including Cutco Cutlery, Olive Oil & Beyond, and Bad Pickle T-Shirts.

Stop by the Celebrity Chef Challenge on Saturday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. to find out what six challenger chefs including Raya Belna of Seabirds food truck, Doug Stratton of Spiced Bamboo, Bridget Reilly of Bite Market, Stef Kelly of Stef Candy Co., Anna Allen of Delicious Nutrition, and Chris Tzorin will create dishes inspired by fitness, health, sustainable, raw, citrus, and chocolate. Hosting chefs include Susan Irby the Bikini Chef with Stuart O’Keeffe and Manouschka Guerrier of Food Network’s Private Chefs of Beverly Hills. A few judges include Top Chefs Josie of Bravo’s Top Chef, Scotty of 24 Carrots, Pascal Olhats of Pascal Restaurant and Café Jardin, Jonathan Grahm, chocolatier to the stars, Jenny Rose of 118 Degrees, Rachel Marie of Blackmarket Bakery.

Live entertainment includes performances today by Steely Dan tribute artist Pretzel Logic and 80’s sensation Flashback Heart Attack; on Saturday the Santana tribute band, Savor will perform along with the Eagles tribute band, Desperado, and L.A. rock favorite The Hollywood Stones.

All registered OC Marathon runners will receive a free ticket to OC Tastefest. Runners can pick up their bibs at the OC Marathon Expo Friday and Saturday and attend the OC Tastefest later.

OC Tastefest costs $12 for a one-day ticket. General admission at the event will be $20 per day. General admission tickets include10 Tastefest coupons ($5 value). VIP tickets are available in advance for $95 and $125 at the event. VIP tickets include access to the OC Tastefest VIP tent with complimentary cocktails and wine, and VIP seating at the OC Tastefest stage for the live entertainment, VIP seating at the Celebrity Chef Challenge, and a gift bag. Advance online VIP ticket purchases also include preferred parking.

OC Tastefest is at OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa.

Roger Vivier Comes to Costa Mesa

Roger Vivier, international fashion legend, the inventor of the stiletto heel, has opened a new boutique in South Coast Plaza. Tonight, there is a private event celebrating the opening of the French icon’s store with cocktails from 6 to 8 p.m. The store resembles more of an art gallery than a simple boutique. Under exquisite lighting, browse their iconic shoes, bags, clutches, along with select furniture pieces with a unique Parisian feel.

Roger Vivier worked tirelessly from the 1930’s to the 1990’s and created his own style that came to represent the chic French fashion. During his working days, he invented numerous heel shapes that include the Comma, Choc and Stiletto. Beloved by celebrities such as Jackie Kennedy and fashion aficionados worldwide, his collection is timeless and beautiful.

With Roger Vivier’s passing in 1998, Bruno Frisoni brought a modern twist to the classic brand. While not straying from Vivier’s heritage and style, Bruno and Ines de la Fressange have brought his timeless Parisian chic back to life. With stores in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong, Milan, Miami, Shanghai, Osaka and Tawain, Costa Mesa joins in the club of showcasing and celebrating Roger Vivier’s work.

Hidden Gem Sale

One of our favorite hidden gem boutiques, Naomy & Adrian at Westcliff Court in Newport Beach is having an unbelievable Mother's Day special through Saturday, May 12. Naomy & Adrian received new spring merchandise and is offering 20% to 50% off the entire store.

It’s a fashion haven for handmade knits and hand selected apparel, beautiful scarves, handbags, and jewelry that you’d normally find in New York, or a French boutique. It’s latest addtion is Liebskin, a great handbag line from Berlin, Blues by Kyky and many other coveted jewelry lines that will make great gifts.

Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Naomi & Adrian is at 1651 Westcliff Drive (in the Gardenology Courtyard) in Newport Beach. 949.650.1880.

Stinko de Mayo

Don’t miss Stinko De Mayo 10-year anniversary charity benefit for Rock the Autism Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Newport Dunes in Newport Beach. The all day musical festival features a dozen bands (including ska, roots and rock) two stages on the water, a Miss Newport Dunes Bikini Contest and classic and custom hotrod and chopper show. Gourmet food trucks will be on site including Chomp Chomp Nation.

Presale tickets cost $10, at the gate $15, and kids under 12 free. Newport Dunes is at 1131 Back Bay Drive in Newport Beach.
949.729.3863.