Return To The Golden Era At Lido Theater

June 14, 2017 By Melodi Steinberg Leave a Comment

When you think of the Golden Era, classical Hollywood Cinema at that time was booming and thousands of movies were issued from the Hollywood studios. It’s still a beloved generation to this day and many people love to associate with this iconic time.

Lido Theater in Newport Beach is an Orange County gem that throws back to this wonderful Era. This beautiful single screen theater is celebrating its 80^th anniversary next year and showcases the splendor of how movies were made to be enjoyed.

From the moment you walk into this theater you will marvel at the sheer beauty it emanates. Beautiful chandeliers hang from the ceilings and vintage Catalina tile art hangs on the walls. Also, the bathrooms inside this theater are immaculate! There is a powder room in the ladies restroom specifically for mirror use.

The concession stand is manned by the same person who takes your ticket so it’s a very personal experience. Plus, the concessions are very affordable.

Tell me it’s not mesmerizing to watch popcorn pop? I could watch it forever!

When you arrive in the theater you will be greeted by a big beautiful waterfall red velvet curtain that rises with each show. The space in between the rows is fairly tight but the seats are very comfortable and they offer booster seats for little ones. Guests can also sit up on the balcony if they so choose.

The single-screen auditorium walls also have stunning murals depicting underwater ocean scenes that appear to glow from black lights illuminating the walls when the house lights dim.

Fun Facts About Lido Theater

The Newport Beach landmark opened in 1938 with the Bette Davis movie, “Jezebel”.
A resident of nearby Corona del Mar, Miss Davis is said to have traveled by the site daily while the theater was being built, and requested a sitting parlor in the ladies room, that still remains today.

Grab A bite To Eat Before Or After

For an afternoon or evening of family fun or a date night, there are numerous restaurants at Via Lido Plaza, adjacent to the Lido Theater. Bear Flag Fish Company, Z Pizza and Woody’s Diner are just a few of the nearby options, along with Starbucks, perfect for a pick-me up before a matinée or after a show.

***CARS 3 Will be opening tomorrow night 6/15/17. Don’t miss the change to see it on a state-of-the-art projection and sound system.

For more information visit Lido Theater on Facebook and Instagram.

Fresh Brothers Continues To Give Back

June 13, 2017 By Melodi Steinberg Leave a Comment

Disclosure

Philanthropy is a wonderful gateway into connecting with people from all over your community. That is why I love Fresh Brother’s Pizza and everything they stand for. Not only do they cater to the customers who eat a Gluten-Free lifestyle, but they consistently give back to the community. This weekend we attended a fun event where Fresh Brothers held a fundraiser at their Newport Beach store donating 20 percent of total food and beverage sales back to three local schools: Anderson Elementary, Harbor View Elementary and Lincoln Elementary.

We met slice the pizza, kids made their own personal pizzas, they played with dough and even decorated their own box! the employees and all the staff at Fresh Brothers are always so friendly and engaging.

My favorite thing on their menu is their chicken wings! They are baked and oh so flavorful. Pair it with one of their signature salads and you have the perfect meal. They also have meatball sliders and chicken parmesan sliders. You really cannot go wrong with any item on their menu.

In 2016, more than $40,000 has been raised through similar Fresh Brothers fundraising events for schools across Orange and San Diego counties. The community fundraiser is just one example of Fresh Brothers’ commitment to be an active part of the communities that it serves by supporting local schools, sports teams and charitable organizations.

As part of its commitment to support local communities, Fresh Brothers in Newport Beach is sponsoring Anderson Elementary School’s second annual Port Street Helicopter Golf Ball Drop fundraiser. The golf ball drop takes place Friday, June 16 at 1:45 p.m. at Anderson Elementary. To donate and purchase golf balls (raffle tickets), click here: http://bit.ly/2svVSOv

The community weekend also celebrated the operational enhancements at the store. In the past year, Fresh Brothers hired additional seasoned managers and conducted ongoing extensive training programs for its cashier and kitchen staff. The staff has improved delivery and pickup times while maintaining the quality and consistency of its fresh, family-friendly dishes.

Currently, Fresh Brothers serves more than 4,000 pizzas a week to students from Westlake Village to Carmel Valley, San Diego. The Fresh Brothers sauce is packed with 100% fresh tomatoes, not concentrate. The mozzarella is all natural, with no fillers, additives or preservatives. Nothing is ever fried; wings, bites, and tenders, even the Fresh fries are baked. The Fresh Kids(™) Special Sauce has a mix of five different finely-ground veggies blended into the pizza sauce.

Visit Fresh Brothers on Facebook and on Twitter.

Best Places To Get Mai Tai’s in Orange County

June 7, 2017 By Melodi Steinberg Leave a Comment

As the weather gets hotter and the nights get longer that can only mean one thing, Summer is almost here. So lets celebrate with an ice cold Mai Tai. Here are 8 of our favorite places to get these palatable Polynesian drinks:

Best Places To Get Mai Tai’s in Orange County

Islands Burgers & Drinks – At under $5, Islands Mai Tai will knock your flip-flops off without breaking the bank. This ice-cold drink pairs perfectly with other Islands grub, like Islands’ savory Hawaiian Burger and warm gooey cheddar fries.

Don The Beachcomber – Mai Tai in Polynesian means “good”, and the Mai Tai in this establishment are definitely good. Plus they have happy hour daily from 4pm-7pm.

The Royal Hawaiian – The Mai Tais are authentic and the island fusion fare is scrumptious. You will feel like you are stepping onto the big island while you are here.

Tommy Bahama Restaurant – The millionaire Mai Tai is a favorite at Tommy Bahamas. They are delicious, refreshing and pack a serious punch!

Trader Sam’s – Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is a Hawaiian-themed hut located at the Disneyland hotel in Anaheim. With moving tikis, tropical scenery and crazy looking drinks, you’ll be transported to Hawaii. Try not to get tripped up ordering your mai tai, which they call the HippopotoMai-Tai

No Ka Oi – The Mai Tai’s here are as big as your head, so pace yourself when ordering one of these. They sneek up on you quickly!

Roy’s Restaurant (Anaheim Gardenwalk) – Incredible service here and the Roy’s Island Mai Tai’s are out of this world. I had one on Mother’s Day and it was perfectly sweet with just the right amount of rum and chilled just right!

Duke’s Huntington Beach – The Bartenders are friendly and the Mai Tai’s are top-notch. Plus they are served in cute tiki glasses!

Where is your favorite place to sip on a Mai Tai? Let us know so we can include it on our list!

Kids Can Explore Various Instruments in Orange County

June 2, 2017 By Melodi Steinberg Leave a Comment

Approximately 2 years ago, my son said to me “Hey mom, I really want to try playing the drums”. Startled by this question since we are in no way musically inclined and no one in my family plays or has played an instrument, I started looking around for places where he could take some casual lessons. I wasn’t sure how much he was going to like it and didn’t want to invest a ton of money into a set of drums.

Fortunately, we found an amazing place in Laguna Hills called The Music Vault Academy and he has been playing drums ever since. Not only are all the teachers kid friendly but all instructors have many years of teaching, playing and performing experience; with most being graduates of, and having master degrees from, some of the best music conservatories and universities in the country: Harvard University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Rice University, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, Boston Conservatory, and University of Southern California.

Here is a clip of my son playing “Lane Boy” by 21 pilots. Recently his teacher asked him if he wanted to learn how to play the marimba so after just a few weeks he was able to transition the marimba into his drum concert. So exciting!

But what do you do if your child isn’t quite sure which instrument they want to play? Now it’s easy. Bring them to the “Exploring The Instruments” class and let them decide for themselves.

**Cost: Classes are a drop in with $20 per student fee. 10% discount for sibling

EXPLORING THE INSTRUMENTS

Children and musical instruments belong together, and there are so many choices! At the Music Vault Academy we offer private and/or group lessons in voice, piano, percussion, violin, flute, saxophone, and guitar. We also offer instruction in many styles of music.

This is a series of hands-on introductions to our most popular instruments. You will hear an expert performance in various styles and traditions, learn about the instrument and how to care for it, and have an opportunity to try to play a little.

Bring your child to this series of classes to get an idea of which one might work best for your student. This class is intended for children in elementary school and older.

Discover a new instrument each week through this series of 45min. classes held on Saturdays at 1pm.

Upcoming instruments:
Piano – June 3rd
Violin – June 10th
Drums – June 17th

PIANO: SATURDAY, JUNE 3RD, 2017 AT 1PM

Music Vault Academy
25255 Cabot Rd. Suite 100
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Tel: 949-257-2744

Spend Summer Fearless at Camp Galileo

May 26, 2017 By Melodi Steinberg Leave a Comment

Disclosure

Summer is just around the corner and if you are furiously searching for camps to keep your kids busy and engaged, I highly encourage you to look into “Camp Galileo“. Last year my son attended this very special and unique camp for a week long session and he had such an incredible experience. Camp Galileo created an innovator within my son and challenged him to use his imagination in ways I didn’t realize he was capable of.

Each day at drop off your child will be engaged by spirited camp counselors that make the day fun and exciting. Some of the activities they do are art, science and outdoor activities all while building confidence and encouraging team work . As campers grow, the curriculum grows too, evolving to include more advanced concepts, complex projects and creative freedom.

One of the projects my son worked on while he was at camp was a robotic arm built from popsicle sticks, syringes and tape. It was a challenge, so they worked in groups and at the end of they day they competed to see who’s creation outlasted the others. It was a great way for kids to learn team building exercises, communication and learn about physics, logistics and more.

After a week at camp, you’ll hear your kids use words like “trusses” and “visionary” without missing a beat. You’ll probably even hear that mistakes are marvelous things to make.

I also loved how the counselors played games with the kids outside so they got some fresh air, exercise and a chance to run around and stretch their legs. Even better, I was able to pay for lunches ahead of time so I didn’t have to pack anything for him! That made me a very happy mom!

At the end of the week parents are invited to see all of the inventions their child has created…. almost like an open house. I was able to clearly see the confidence boost Camp Galileo gave my son along with new friendships and and an enormous amount of resilience. This camp also helped improve his decision making skills and allowed him to try new things. We cannot wait to go back!!

Did you know?

Camp Galileo draws heavily from the innovation process inspired by the Stanford d.school.
They even have camps for kids as young as Pre-K and as old as 8th grade.
They have are over 70+ locations in the Bay Area, SoCal and Chicagoland with extended care from 8am – 6pm. You also have the optional healthy lunch program. To sign up or learn more, visit www.galileo-camps.com or call 1-800-854-3684.
Many of the staff at Camp Galileo are professional teachers and educators.

Learn more about the mission of Camp Galileo here.