Making its debut on Valentine’s Day, Saint Marc Pub-Café, Bakery & Cheese Affinage will offer brunch from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Sundays and 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Recognized as a futuristic new hotspot at Pacific City in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saint Marc takes a step (or five) beyond your traditional brunch with their “Imbibe at Sunrise” and “Reverse Happy Hour,” which encourage guests to indulge in brunch seven days a week. Their impressive menu boasts delicious Danishes a la mode, a tableside Bellini bar—named one of the best Bellinis in Orange County by CBS Orange County—free flow bread, chicory coffee and beignets, and variations of the classic continental and European brunch.

Created by world-renowned culinary and mixology mavericks—CEO Thomas (Mac) McFarland Gregory III and vice president of culinary and operations Frank Mathew Belosic III—the new and enticing brunch menu is destined to become a favorite for brunch enthusiasts and a must-see for Southern California vacationers as the wide-ranging menu and beverage program takes the brunching experience to a whole new level.

“This has always been a vision of ours. We’ve always hoped to create a brunch experience that has a wide array of food and beverage options that will set Saint Marc apart from others” says Gregory. “Our vision is coming to life – from our signature Ghost of Bloody Mary to our cold-canned beer and a shot hangover program, and even Jell-O shots to top it off!”

Gregory and Belosic, with more than 20 years of industry experience at Five Star and Five Diamond restaurants and hotels throughout the U.S., are certain to excite taste buds through food and beverage and surpass their vision with the wide range of options specifically created to enrich the brunching experience. As veterans of the industry, Gregory and Belosic understand the non-traditional work schedule, which is why they incorporated a weekday brunch, a feature that is not offered at most other brunch spots.

While browsing the restaurant’s innovative iPad menus, Saint Marc customers are welcomed with “free flow bread.” Bacon lovers will be thrilled to find a bacon bar comprising of 11 different types of bacon by the slice along with bacon bites and biscuits with bacon gravy. Among other great options are the anytime omelets, southern cheese grits, grit sticks and chocolate croissants. Brunch at Saint Marc combines an irresistible sense of hospitality along with five-star quality food and drinks that leaves taste buds and spirits satisfied.

Be sure to secure your Valentine’s Day date at Saint Marc today! OpenTable reservations are available and highly recommended. Saint Marc can accommodate both small and large party reservations.

Belosic adds, “From breakfast to brunch, lunch, dinner and late night, we want to be the place that people know offers it all.”

For more information, visit www.saintmarcusa.com. Saint Marc is also on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

About Saint Marc: Saint Marc Pub – Café, Bakery & Cheese Affinage is the brand’s first and flagship establishment, situated along the Huntington Beach coastline within the vibrant new Pacific City. Saint Marc offers nostalgic, Americana cuisine in a family and pet friendly environment. Ambassadors serving as personal culinary consultants offer expert advice on Saint Marc’s unique selection of distinctive food and hydration available tableside or self-selected from free-standing stations. iPads of information offering images and on-demand ordering of what guests want when they want it, free-flow bread from the bakery, over 100 cheese selections from boards to fondue, craft beers in a can, 32 wines on draught, with mixology served in Red Solo Cups and dishes served on faux paper plates – highlight just some of the enticing features and unique characteristics that set Saint Marc on a less-traveled path. To learn more, visit www.saintmarcusa.com.

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. Credit: Saint Marc.

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Bixby family’s arrival in Southern California, Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site’s 2016 lecture series will focus on the contributions of these Long Beach pioneers. The series will take place on Saturday mornings, 10am-11:30am, in the Rancho’s Sunporch. Seating is limited so advance reservations are requested. Admission will be $7 per person ($5/students with an I.D.). Please call 562-206-2040 to reserve your space.

An array of knowledgeable speakers will help illuminate the life and legacy of the Bixby family, which first settled in Southern California in the 1860s. Originally from Maine, the Bixbys arrived in California for the Gold Rush and began sheep ranching under the name Flint, Bixby & Co. in Northern California in the 1850s. Purchasing Rancho Los Cerritos in 1866, Jotham Bixby and family brought sheep south and operated the Rancho on behalf of the company. After almost 20 years at Rancho Los Cerritos, the Bixby family began selling off portions of the 27,000 acre Rancho for agriculture and townsite development; the cities of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, Paramount, Bellflower, and Downey were eventually formed on this land. Over the years Jotham, his brother, and their descendants became involved in many other ventures, from mining and stage coaching, to cattle ranching, dairy farming, and real estate development. In 2016 the Bixby Land Company, an off-shoot of the original family company, celebrates 120 years of continuous operation.

On February 20, Bixby descendent and family historian Stephen Dudley will speak about the early years of the Bixby and Flint families in the gold fields of Volcano and at the Rancho San Justo near Mission San Juan Bautista. Shortly after arriving from Maine during the Gold Rush, the family got involved in the butchering business and then established their first sheep ranch near Hollister, California.

On Saturday, March 19, retired Rancho Los Cerritos Curator Steve Iverson will examine the family’s economic ventures in Southern California. He will share his knowledge of Jotham Bixby’s local sheep ranching operation, which began with the purchase of Rancho Los Cerritos in 1866, as well as other commercial operations that the family invested in. Iverson will also
trace the family companies and their impact on developing Southern California.

On Saturday, April 23, USC historian Bill Deverell will illuminate the influences – and outcomes – of the tremendous shift from ranching to urbanization that took place throughout Southern California. Deverell will examine how and why the era of sparsely-populated ranchos gave way to the densely-populated cities of modern Southern California, and he will also explore the role played by pioneer families like the Bixbys in this process.

On Saturday, May 14, Anne Peterson of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation will discuss the importance of local history and the modern movement to preserve historic places with a special focus on Rancho Los Cerritos, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.

Credit Rancho Los Cerritos:
Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is located at 4600 Virginia Road in Long Beach. Built in 1844, the adobe home and grounds echo with the rich history of Spanish, Mexican, and American California and with the families who helped transform Southern California. The site, a National, State and Long Beach Historic Landmark, also includes historic gardens and a research library and archives. The Rancho is operated by the Rancho Los Cerritos Foundation in private-public partnership with the City of Long Beach. For more information please call (562) 206-2040, or visit the website at www.rancholoscerritos.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rancholosc.

Mango Guacamole

Ingredients:

• 3 ripened avocados
• 1 ripened mango
• ¼ cup lime juice
• ½ cup cilantro
• ½ cup white onion
• 3 teaspoons salt

Preparation:

1. In your IMUSA Molcajete, add half of the diced mangos and mash with the pestle into a pulp.
2. Then add one avocado and mash into a pulp with the mango.
3. In a separate bowl mix remaining ingredients, including mango, and add more lime juice if needed.
4. Fold mixture with pulp inside Molcajete and serve with tortilla chips.

Credit: Courtesy of leader in Hispanic and ethnic cookware, IMUSA.

South Bay’s premier retail destination Del Amo Fashion Center is adding some classically stylish retailers to their already top-notch roster of stores, including Madewell, J. Crew and ANGL.

The new fashion options will join the center’s state-of-the-art Fashion Wing, which celebrated a grand opening in October with the addition of Nordstrom and 100 new stores.

“We’re excited to broaden our options for chic style here at Del Amo Fashion Center,” said Lindsay Hermance, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Del Amo Fashion Center. “The style scene is alive and well in the South Bay, and we’re delighted to be the new home to a number of fashion-forward options.”

Known for their great jeans and wide range of effortlessly cool pieces, Madewell will celebrate its grand opening on January 26 with graphic designer Kimberley Pesch of EAT/SLEEP/WEAR and photographer Taylr Anne. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., shoppers can enjoy sips, small bites, a DJ and the retailer’s newest arrivals. Each shopper gets a complimentary Bien Fait tote bag with any purchase, while supplies last.

The 3,000-square-foot store officially opens at 10 a.m., and they will be handing out Madewell gift cards to the first 25 people who stop by. Shoppers are encouraged to use the hashtag #MadewellCA.

Madewell’s sister store J.Crew, which focuses on style over fashion, is also slated to open on January 26 on the main level of the Fashion Wing, between Luxury Court and Nordstrom.

The roughly 5,500-square-foot store is known for color blocking and pattern mixing, and specializes in women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, shoes and accessories.

Also joining the center on the upper level of the new Fashion Wing, next to Torrid, is ANGL in a 2,400-square-foot space. ANGL is the West Coast contemporary retail destination for fashion-savvy, confident, and luxury-minded ladies, focusing on ready-to-wear apparel and accessories. The store is slated for a May opening.

Other recently opened stores include Arhaus, Banana Republic, Guess/Marciano, Express, a 25,000-square-foot H & M, KIKO Milano Cosmetics, Michael Kors, Tumi, Vera Bradley, Godiva, Kiehl’s Since 1851, Kipling, Roberto Durville, Varga, Fossil, Ben Bridge, Lush, MAC Cosmetics, Melissa Shoes, Nordstrom, PacSun, Papyrus, Sumo Salad, Uniqlo, a flagship Victoria’s Secret and a two-level Zara.

For ongoing updates and to learn more about the continued transformation of South Bay’s retail destination follow Del Amo Fashion Center on Facebook at facebook.com/DelAmoFashionCenter, Twitter at twitter.com/delamofashion or Instagram at instagram.com/delamofashion.

Credit: Simon.

The Shops at Mission Viejo is preparing to give a warm welcome to six new stores, studios and restaurants that will be joining the center over the next few months, including Madewell, The Melt, Full Psycle, A Pea in the Pod, Soma, and Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks.

“We’re excited to welcome a mix of new fashion, dining and lifestyle options for our shoppers,” said Patsy Sanquist, Director of Marketing and Business Development for The Shops at Mission Viejo.

Scheduled to debut on January 26, Madewell is the perfect shop to find great jeans and create an effortlessly cool wardrobe.  The 3,400-square-foot store will be located on the upper level, near Center Court.

In celebration of their grand opening, Madewell will be inviting blogger Courtney Halverson of Pretty Little Fawn and fashion photographer Sisilia Piring, to join in the excitement on January 26 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. In addition, Madewell will supply delicious sips and snacks for shoppers to enjoy, as well as a take-home complimentary Bien Fait Tote with any purchase, while supplies last. To RSVP for the celebration, e-mail rsvpmissionviejo@madewell.com.

Following shortly after, The Melt will be making its appearance with a 2,000-square-foot eatery and outdoor dining area in mid-February. Located on the lower level near Nordstrom, The Melt will offer fresh American cuisine, made with 100 percent natural ingredients.

Also slated for a mid-February opening is Full Psycle, a full-body cycling studio with spin classes that pair standard indoor cycling routines with strength training and pilates-based core exercises.

Three more retailers are slated to join in the spring, one of which is A Pea in a Pod, a store featuring luxury and casual clothes for mommies-to-be. The store will be located on the lower level near Nordstrom.

Soma will also join in the spring, moving into a roughly 2,200-square-foot storefront featuring lingerie and loungewear.

Offering another sit-down dining option, Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks will be the final retailer in the lineup, expected to join the center this summer. The restaurant specializes in gourmet burgers, fresh cut fries and tropical drinks that will pair well with their great happy hour deals.

For more information, visit The Shops at Mission Viejo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ShopsAtMissionViejo, Twitter at twitter.com/ShopsMV or Instagram at instagram.com/ShopsMV.

About The Shops at Mission Viejo

Among the 150 stores and restaurants at The Shops at Mission Viejo, this indoor mall features Nordstrom, H&M, Macy’s, Apple, Sephora, and The Cheesecake Factory. The Shops at Mission Viejo serves many nearby communities such as Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, San Juan Capistrano and the city of Mission Viejo. The Shops at Mission Viejo is conveniently located at the intersection of the I-5 and Crown Valley Parkway in the city of Mission Viejo. With over 150 stores and restaurants, The Shops at Mission Viejo is south Orange County’s main shopping destination. For a map and store listings, as well as directions, events and job listings, visit http://www.simon.com/mall/the-shops-at-mission-viejo or call 949-364-1771.

Credit: Simon.

Join OC Parks at Mile Square Regional Park on Saturday, February 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the 7^th annual Monarch Butterfly Day.

Children and families can learn everything about the California Western Monarch Butterfly and its habitat with an up-close look at the magnificent creatures while they flutter inside netted butterfly enclosures in the park’s Forest Shelter. Children can help the Butterfly Garden continue to grow by registering to plant one of three different types of milkweed in the garden to attract Monarch Butterflies. Butterfly experts will also be on-site to provide educational information and answer questions about the beautiful and unique specimens.

Additional event activities include three different children’s crafts, face painting, balloon twisters, and an inflatable obstacle course. Each family in attendance will receive a book by a local author (while supplies last). Come learn more about Monarch Butterflies and other creatures.

Monarch Butterfly Day

Date: Saturday, February 6, 2016

Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

Location: Mile Square Regional Park

Address: 16801 Euclid Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Website: http://ocparks.com/parks/mile

Cost: Free Parking: $5 per vehicle

Public Contact: (714) 973-6600 or (714) 973-3197

Special Instructions: Recommended for ages 4 to 12. Rain will reschedule this event.

Credit: OC Parks.

It’s a new year, so why not try new things? Now is the perfect time to try Chuck E. Cheese’s brand new Pretzel Dippers with delicious cheesy dipping sauce, at Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurants nationwide.

“Soft pretzels have been an American favorite for years, so we’re excited to bring our guests a dip-friendly, share-centric variety of this old standby,” said Chef Gregory Casale, senior director of culinary innovation for CEC Entertainment, Inc. “Our mom and kid-approved pretzel sticks are great for the whole family and a delicious treat to complement any of Chuck E. Cheese’s taste-test winning pizzas, salads or wraps.”

Pretzel Dippers will only be available until March 31, so don’t miss the chance to get your hands on these salty, cheesy treats before they’re gone. Balance out Pretzel Dippers’ savory flavor with something sweet, like Chuck E. Cheese’s churros with white chocolate and salted caramel dipping sauces.

About CEC Entertainment, Inc.

For nearly 40 years, CEC Entertainment has served as the nationally recognized leader in family dining and entertainment and the place Where A Kid Can Be A Kid^®. Chuck E. Cheese’s goal is to create positive, lifelong memories for families through fun, food, and play. Each Chuck E. Cheese’s features musical entertainment, games, rides, and play areas for kids of all ages, as well as a variety of freshly prepared dining options. Committed to providing a fun, safe environment, Chuck E. Cheese’s helps protect families through industry-leading programs such as Kid Check^®. As a strong advocate for its local communities and childhood education, Chuck E. Cheese’s has donated more than $12 million to schools through its fundraising programs. The Company and its franchisees operate a system of 591 Chuck E. Cheese’s and 140 Peter Piper Pizza stores, with locations in 47 states and 11 foreign countries and territories. For more information, visit chuckecheese.com and peterpiperpizza.com or connect with us on social media:

Facebook: Chuck E. Cheese’s + Peter Piper Pizza

Twitter: Chuck E. Cheese’s + Peter Piper Pizza

YouTube: Chuck E. Cheese’s + Peter Piper Pizza

Instagram: Chuck E. Cheese’s + Peter Piper Pizza

Pinterest: Chuck E. Cheese’s

Foursquare: Chuck E. Cheese’s

Stay tuned! SoCal City Kids will be reviewing Chuck E. Cheese in the near future!

Credit: Chuck E. Cheese.