I’m sooo excited to share this news!

 The Nation’s most historic maritime icon, The RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, is proud to announce its inaugural Summer Event Series, set to kick-off May 3rd through June 2024. Packed with an exciting array of entertainment from captivating monthly Movie Nights to the Night Market, refreshing Margaritas on the Mary, and more, The Queen Mary’s Summer Event Series promises to be a highlight of the season in Southern California.

“We are thrilled to launch our Summer Event Series, featuring fun experiences such as the Night Market alongside some exciting new offerings designed for families of every generation,” expressed Steve Caloca, Managing Director of the Queen Mary. “With an action-packed lineup of activities and entertainment, we’re hoping everyone will come aboard and join us for an unforgettable summer at The Queen Mary.”

Kicking-off the Summer Series is Margaritas on the Mary on Friday, May 3rd from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Indulge in $3 tacos and sip on refreshing signature margaritas while soaking in the scenic views from The Ship’s historic decks. Plus, groove to the beats of a live music performance of steel drums by Banana Bunch. Complimentary ship admission included with reservation. Reservations are required and can be made here: Margaritas on the Mary. 

Each month starting on Thursday, May 9th, grab your favorite shopping buddy and head to The Queen Mary’s Night Market! Back by popular demand, indulge in dishes from local food trucks and various chefs, shop at pop-up small business boutiques, unwind at the beer garden, and groove to live music from local artists and bands. Perfect for a family night out, date night, or hangout destination with friends of all ages. Vendors interested in participating can email: events@queenmary.com. Reservations are required and can be made here: Queen Mary’s Night Market

Enjoy family-friendly fun under the Long Beach starry night sky with The Queen Mary Movie Nights, featuring themed movie screenings all summer long. Pack up your loved ones, a lawn chair, blankets, and your favorite movie snacks for screenings once a month from 6:00 pm -10:00 pm with the historic ship as the movie back-drop. Want to make the night extra special? Upgrade to the Date Night Package for $79, which includes a bottle of champagne, assorted small snacks, and reserved couch seating.” The series begins on International Day of Families, May 15, with Disney’s Coco. Monthly screenings include Coco (May 15), Barbie (June 12), Little Giants (July 17), Wakanda Forever (August 21), and Wonka (September 18). Reservations are required and can be made here: Queen Mary’s Movie Nights. 

Starting May 1st, The Queen Mary will extend its hours for summer, with tours and exhibits open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Guests can enjoy classic tours like the Glory Days tour (offered in English and in Spanish), Royal VIP Tour and Afternoon Tea, Hollywood Tour, Haunted Encounters Tour, and more.

In addition to the Summer Series, visitors can experience a season fit for royalty with events like The Stargazer Supper Club on May 16th where guests can travel back in time to 1955 to tunes from Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra with dinner and a live performance from a 7-piece band. 

Come aboard for the Meet Me at the Mary Series in the Observation Bar for weekly Happy Hour on Tuesdays with live music and dance lessons and sing along during Karaoke Wednesdays. Every Thursday is KJAZZ Night at the OB, and guests can end their weekend with Sunday Night Live Music. Don’t miss the monthly Studio 534 Disco Party kicking-off on May 11th. 

Celebrate the pinnacle of summer aboard The Queen Mary with the All-American 4th of July extravaganza! The day promises delicious food, great entertainment, family games, activities, and a World War II aircraft flyover. As the sun sets, experience SoCal’s most spectacular fireworks show, lighting up the night sky for 15-minutes with vibrant colors and paired to themed music. More information to be announced soon.

The Queen Mary’s Summer Event Series is a testament to the ship’s ongoing commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for visitors from near and far. Whether seeking relaxation, adventure, or simply a good time, the Queen Mary’s summer events, programming, and tours promise to deliver an unparalleled summer experience.

For a full calendar of What’s On Deck visit Queenmary.com/whatsondeck/. For more information on the Queen Mary visit http://queenmary.com, or connect with us on social @TheQueenMary.

Credit: The Queen Mary.

I’ve always been a big fan of tea but thought I preferred coffee until I found out about the Racer Tea Bar. Someone I met on a dating app actually told me about the place. That definitely didn’t work out (the date) but I checked out the place a couple of months ago and have been hooked ever since! I’ve tried a few of the tea lattes and prefer The Rocker and The Greaser. My new favorite is the Peppermint Greaser! Oh my! It tastes like an Andes Mint in a cup! I don’t even know how that is possible but they also have a Bananrama that tastes like a banana nut muffin in a cup.

I also found the story of how this place all started quite intriguing! It all started with a 1975 Dodge Van that the owner (Chad Webber) was serving tea from during the pandemic, the middle of 2020. He had a passion for making tea after a trip to Southeast Asia and wanted to share that experience with others! For 2 years he drove all over LA serving his creative tea lattes and on December 23, 2021 they opened their first brick-and-mortar! So far it’s going great and they have uncovered so many tea lovers and have even made those who thought they disliked tea, love it! It’s a tea revolution! Here is a video made prior to their opening of the store in Redondo Beach.

I also recently learned that they have live music there on Saturday evenings (which I will be checking out soon and will report back!)

This is a place you will have to check out this holiday season! If you love Tea…..it’s a must-try! If you don’t love Tea….this place definitely could change your mind! They also have the best protein balls and scones and yes, I’ve tried them both. Actually, I can’t go in there without buying the protein balls. The crew there are super friendly and I have to give a shout-out to Drew & Leila!

Now, if I can only find a dating app that rocks like this place! 😉

Happy Holidays!

Back by popular demand, internationally acclaimed “LIGHTSCAPEpresented by U.S. Bank”returns to the 127-acre Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden for its third year selected nights from November 17, 2023 through January 2, 2024.  Reimagined brighter and bolder for 2023, this after-dark, illuminated trail spans one mile and features spectacular sights with eye-catching artistic installations that come alive at night with color, imagination, and sound. Lightscape is a family-friendly walking event that celebrates the sparkle of the holiday season and helps commemorate the Arboretum’s 75^th anniversary. Visit arboretum.org/lightscape to purchase tickets. Lightscape’s magical pathways shimmer with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights used in various creations designed to highlight the natural grandeur of the Arboretum grounds. Installations include returning favorites Winter Cathedral’s heavenly arch tunnel and Fire Garden’s dynamic glowing blazes. New installations include Feast of Light’s glittering suspended beaded curtains, Dancing Palms’ rows of radiant swaying trees, Snowflake Avenue’s fanciful feathery ice crystals, Flower Lawn’s beautiful blooms towering over 10 feet in the air, along with twelve additional dazzling activations. Take a sneak peek HERE. In the days leading up to Christmas, Lightscape boasts visits from Santa Claus on designated Santa Nights: December 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 & 23. Mr. Claus will greet families and pose for photos where guests can use their own devices to capture cost-free memories with Santa. Visitors will revel nightly in holiday cheer as Michael Bublé classics “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Cold December Night” along with Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s merry rock symphonies “Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24” and “Wizards in Winter” among other spirited tunes will fill the air. Check out the music featured in Lightscape HERE.

“I’m so excited to welcome everyone to our signature holiday light show, Lightscape! We have pulled out all the stops this year to deliver an incredible multi-media experience unlike any other holiday event,” says Michael Desplaines, CEO of Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. “Lightscape is sure to entertain kids of all ages. We can’t wait to see you here!”

“At U.S. Bank, our North Star is powering the potential of our clients and communities, and a big piece of that is helping consumers and business owners get back to what matters most – creating lasting memories with friends and family,” said Sekou Kaalund, Head of Branch & Small Business Banking for U.S. Bank. “We are excited to partner with the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden to bring Lightscape back for a third consecutive year and hope it plays a small part in brightening your holiday season.”In addition to the acres of extraordinarily photogenic visually luminous backdrops, Lightscape will also quench your palate. Multiple food trucks offering a wide variety of delicious fare will be stationed around the Arboretum’s famous Bauer Fountain and three full-service bars featuring specialty Lightscape cocktails will pepper the property. Plus, Lightscape will have two pop-up shops selling child-friendly glow-in-the dark items, traditional holiday gifts and more. Lightscape was conceived and designed by a core team of 12 visionaries from around the world. A full-time team of 21 local electricians, carpenters, and artists with help from an auxiliary team of 40 vendors and specialists takes 20 days to install the illuminated trail. The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Gardens together with Sony Music and Culture Creative produce Lightscape in Los Angeles. Year after year, Lightscape has amazed millions of people with similar shows in multiple locations across the U.S., U.K., and Australia. 

Credit:

About the L.A. Arboretum:This year marks the 75^th anniversary for the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Over seven decades of visitors have enjoyed the 127 acres of plants, natural landscapes and historic architecture along with its collection of 10,000 trees and plants from around the world. The grounds transport guests to exotic lands while Baldwin Lake and structures from the 1880s celebrate California history. The Arboretum has been a popular location site for Hollywood productions that have included the 1930s “Tarzan” movies, TV episodes of “Dallas,” “Wonder Woman,” “Six Million Dollar Man,” “Hart To Hart,” “The Fall Guy,” Dynasty,” the original “Fantasy Island” series and Katy Perry’s “Roar” music video. The Arboretum is also a resource for environmental stewardship and education for visiting schools from across L.A. County.  The Arboretum is located at 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007. www.arboretum.org

About Sony Music:Sony Music has been delivering illuminated Christmas trails for ten years. Each trail is carefully designed to showcase the natural and unique environment of the individual location. There are currently 30 trails across the UK, Europe, USA, and Australia within the My Christmas Trails and Lightscape portfolios. The chosen partners for national and international heritage brands such as The National Trust; Forestry England; and work with a number of prestigious venues, including Blenheim Palace; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh; Chicago Botanic Garden; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, San Antonio Botanical Garden; The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney; and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. Learn more at www.mychristmastrails.co.uk

About Culture Creative:Culture Creative is a creative project and production management company based in the UK. The company works across a wide range of cultural fields including art, sport, heritage, tourism, festivals, and events, developing projects from concept to delivery. Since 2013 Culture Creative has worked closely with Sony Music to create illuminated trails in various venues across the UK and overseas. Learn more at www.culturecreative.co.uk
About U.S. Bank:U.S. Bancorp, with approximately 77,000 employees and $681 billion in assets as of June 30, 2023, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. The Minneapolis-based company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses: Consumer and Business Banking; Payment Services; Corporate and Commercial Banking; and Wealth Management and Investment Services. Union Bank, consisting primarily of retail banking branches on the West Coast, joined U.S. Bancorp in 2022. The company has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, social responsibility, and customer service, including being named one of the 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies and Fortune’s most admired superregional bank. Learn more at usbank.com/about

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) is proud to commemorate Día de los Muertos, a cherished Mexican tradition celebrating life and death, through an enriching  lineup of cultural events. The family-friendly celebration on Saturday, October 28 from 2 to 9 pm will feature festive live entertainment from local performance groups including Neiya Arts, Ballet Flor de Mayo, Grupo La Rosa,  Folklor América, Poco Pocho and local Latinx student groups, colorful community altars and a Latinx popup market offering a diverse selection of crafts, arts and treats curated by Molcajete Dominguero. Family and pet-friendly activities and arts & crafts will also be part of the celebration, including face-painting. 

The larger-than-life La Catrina public art sculptures, created by legendary Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero, will also be on view throughout the Third Street Promenade. Soltero’s iconic La Catrina sculptures range up to 14 feet in height and welcome guests to the Promenade in brightly colored traditional Mexican attire inspired by Day of the Dead traditions, Mexican icons and embroidery. This year, Soltero will also unveil an all new Alebrije (Mexican folk art) sculpture, in the shape of a Chihuahua dog, Pauli. The community altars and public art installations will be on display during the festival.

WHEN / WHERE:

The community celebration on Saturday, October 28 is along the Third Street Promenade from 2 to 9 pm with performances on the Promenade mainstage in the 1300 Block and live music and DJs will be on all three blocks. 

La Catrina sculptures will be on display daily from 10 am to 9 pm from Thursday, October 26 through Sunday, October 28 and are viewable along all three blocks of the Third Street Promenade. 

MORE INFORMATION:

For more information and a full event schedule, visit downtownsm.com or follow @DTSantaMonica on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or DowntownSantaMonica on TikTok.

Credit: Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM, Inc.)

Get ready for a holiday season like no other as Descanso Gardens announces the long-awaited return of two beloved events—Carved and Enchanted Forest of Light!

Mark your calendars because from October 6 to 29, 2023, Carved will light up Descanso Gardens with a mesmerizing pumpkin wonderland featuring a new route, new locations and even more pumpkin fun! As you stroll through the captivating displays, you’ll be amazed by luminous jack-o’-lanterns, fallen tree sculptures and whimsical installations, including Tom&Lien Dekyvere’s glow-in-the-dark Rhizome installation in the Rose Garden Labyrinth and giant carved pumpkins under the Rose Pavilion. Don’t miss the expanded Día de los Muertos ofrenda altar, providing guests with a place to meditate and remember loved ones. The pumpkin house, hay maze, and fall food offerings will all be back to round out the fun, making Carved the perfect family-friendly adventure, bringing joy and wonder to visitors of all ages.

And the magic doesn’t end there! From November 19, 2023, to January 7, 2024, Descanso Gardens will transform into the breathtaking Enchanted Forest of Light, taking you on a captivating journey through stunning light displays set amidst the serene beauty of nature. This year, you can explore a new route through the Rose Garden, discovering exciting light displays that spark awe and wonder. Prepare to be amazed as the Rose Garden’s Labyrinth comes alive with HYBYCOZO’s 3-D geometric sculptures, and a glowing field of “meadow grass” sways amidst the rose bushes. Tom Fruin’s charming “stained glass” houses will create a village of their own on the Main Lawn, featuring new interactive lighting options. Plus, you can immerse yourself in a new hanging light installation under the oaks which evokes an ethereal ambiance that will leave you spellbound.

Ticket Information:

Tickets for both events will be available for purchase on the Descanso Gardens website, www.descansogardens.org. Mark your calendars:

• Descanso Gardens members will have exclusive access to tickets starting August 23 at 10 am.
• General admission sales open on September 6 at 10 am.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adults:

• Members: $30-$40
• Non-members: $35-$45

Children 2-12:

• Members: $20-$25
• Non-members: $25-$30

Children under 2 are admitted free of charge.

For more information about Descanso Gardens and to purchase tickets, please visit www.descansogardens.org.