Archives for 2013

It is a rare opportunity to become immersed in a time period other than your own. But that is exactly what The Queen Mary is presenting August 30 – September 2. This Labor Day Weekend, the 9^th Annual Queen Mary Art Deco Festival welcomes visitors to step aboard the largest Art Deco collection in the world.

The Queen Mary and Art Deco Society of Los Angeles celebrate an art form that has influenced design in visual arts, furniture, fashion, architecture, and ocean liners for nearly a century. “We’re growing the festival,” says John Thomas, The Queen Mary Historic Resources Advisor and President of the Los Angeles Art Deco Society. “We continue to restore The Queen Mary, perhaps the best living monument to Art Deco, and every year our festival draws more people because of its authenticity.”

With more than 8,000 people expected to attend various Queen Mary events over the Labor Day Weekend, this year’s festival should prove to be the largest in its history.

The Queen Mary epitomizes an art movement at its zenith. “Art Deco defines a visual expression, mindset, and lifestyle of an era,” Thomas says. “What better place to stage an Art Deco event. There are prime examples around every corner,” denotes Thomas. “We appeal to a broad spectrum of enthusiasts, students, tourists, curiosity seekers, and philanthropists,” says Thomas. “We’re preserving an art form, while conserving The Queen Mary.” One hundred percent of the Art Deco Grand Ball proceeds fund on-going Queen Mary conservation initiatives.

Most devotees would agree the themed Pajama Derby and Art Deco Grand Ball, featuring today’s top talent of the era including Dean Mora Orchestra, Ian Whitcom and Bungalow Boys, and Jim Zeiglerare the weekend highlights. However, these two events may prove to be the “opening act” with the return of the sell-out Sunday Tea Dance and first-ever recreation of the famed Starlight Lounge. Both will deliver vintage libations, velvety tunes and a smokin’ hot dance floor.

For those looking to “Deco”rate, the Vintage Bazaar and Auto Display attract vendors as far away as the United Kingdom. Many sellers and collectors return year after year to showcase their unique merchandise and collectables to the highly coveted clientele.

Throughout the weekend, the Art Deco Lecture Series will dive into topics ranging from architecture and automotive to musicology. For the night owls and vintage film buffs the Movie and Martinis Under the Stars celebrate Hollywood’s Golden Age with The Queen Mary regular Bob Hope as he graces the silver screen in “The Big Broadcast of 1939”.

A la carte tickets are available starting at $15 to suit the interest of every festivalgoer. Art Deco aficionados can take advantage of The Art Deco Grand Passport or Hotel Package offering a total weekend immersion starting at $295.

About the Queen Mary

Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. The Queen Mary’s signature restaurants include the award-winning Sir Winston’s and Chelsea Chowder House & Bar as well as a weekly Champagne Sunday Brunch served in the ship’s Grand Salon. History buffs enjoy the ship’s museum and Glory Days tour, guests of all ages love the Ghosts and Legends show, and the ship is currently featuring the renowned Diana: Legacy of a Princess exhibit and Tea Room. The Queen Mary features 80,000 square feet of event space in 17 remarkable Art Deco salons as well as a tri-level, 45,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall. The Queen Mary boasts 314 staterooms including nine full suites. For more information or for reservations, visit: www.queenmary.com or call (800) 437-2934. The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach.

For more information or to become a vendor:

Ninth Annual Queen Mary Art Deco Festival or call (877) 342-0738

Looking for a way to try new healthy foods? We found the perfect way! We found a great website called Bestowed and they offer a monthly plan and an annual plan. You can receive a box with 5-7 NEW healthy foods delivered straight to your door every month-each one chosen by celebrity nutritionist and author, Heather Bauer. I received the June Box and the products included: ZICO Natural Coconut Water, Bakery on Main Cashew Truebar, ROOTS by Deeply Rooted: Superfood Powder Packets, Dr. Prager’s California Veggie Burgers (free coupon), GimMe Seaweed Cheddar Cheese Roasted Seaweed Crumbles, Herban Essentials Mini Pack and Artisana Organic Foods SuperFood Acai Berry Nut Butter. I loved trying all of these items and I really also like that there is a note from Heather with a tip for each one. It’s such a great way to try these new products! The monthly plan for The Box is $19.00 a month or you can pay annually for $209. a year. The Boxes will ship and arrive on the 5th of every month and shipping is included. (Boxes ship via USPS and within the US only).

I also really like the Bestowed website! I find it really helpful! The website includes Tips & Recipes and I love the Categories section. Great categories such as Kids, Dinner and so many more! Would you like to try this great service for yourself? We are teaming up with Bestowed for an exciting giveaway! One winner will receive one free month! You must be a subscriber to SoCal City Kids to enter! Next, go to the Bestowed Facebook page and “like” them. You can tell them we sent you! Next, check out their website and let us know your favorite thing by posting in the comments below! Deadline to enter is July 24th, 2013. One winner will randomly be selected from all entries. Also, a special deal for all our readers: $5 off the first month of Bestowed! Anyone who signs up will get $5 off their first box using discount code 5OFFBSTOWED02.

More about the Founder of Bestowed: Heather Bauer. (*Credit:Bestowed website)

Heather Bauer is a nationally recognized nutrition expert, author, and entrepreneur.

Her fresh and inspiring approach to diet has landed her prime time spots on Good Morning America, CNN, CBS, The Talk, Access Hollywood Live and The Tyra Banks Show. She has also been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine.

She is the author of two top selling books; The Wall Street Diet (Hyperion 2008) and Bread is the Devil (St. Martin’s Press 2012) and has regular columns on The Huffington Post and US News & World Report where she covers the latest trends in diet, health and nutrition.

In 2012, she founded Bestowed — a subscription service that offers consumers a personalized way to discover, sample, shop and learn about the best nutrition and lifestyle products on the market.

She is also the founder of Nu-Train (nu-train.com), a diet and weight loss counseling center where thousands of people have learned how to safely lose weight and keep it off for good.

Heather is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and a New York State Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist (CDN). She graduated from The University of Wisconsin and is a member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the New York State Dietetic Association (NYSDA).