Night Life Diva

Written By: Yeni Alvarez - A very appropriate name for a fluid, explosive show, Cirque du Soleil's "O" is this Diva's choice for entertainment when visiting Las Vegas. The signature show of sin city's Bellagio Hotel, this water-filled extravaganza pays tribute to the magic of theater and the spell cast by dreams. By now, who hasn't heard of the incredible feats and flying acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil's fame? It's so famous, Traveling Diva is happy to introduce an adjective in their honor "Cirquedusoleil-ish." No acrobatic show will ever again escape the comparison.  Written and directed by Franco Dragone, "O" has raised the standards of must-see shows on the Las Vegas Strip.  This incomparable show can only be experienced live and its creators are very careful when releasing pictures or videos, thus keeping their secrets safe and the element of surprise on their side.  No pictures are allowed during the show, and the awed look on the audiences faces is enough to let this diva know why. Audiences were dazzled by the floating carousel dropping from the sky slowly in a clockwise motion only to be further attonished when they sailed away on the surface of the water. Performers leaped in and out ...

Title: 1st Annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl Location: Santa Monica, CA Link out: Click here Description: The First Annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl will take place on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 5PM in Santa Monica, CA at the city’s best bars and restaurants to help raise money and food for those in need for the holidays, through a partnership with the Westside Food Bank. Participating locations will be offering drink and food specials as part of the SANTA Monica Pub Crawl festivities. Crawlers are asked to bring non-perishable food donations to drop at Westside Food Bank collection barrels strategically placed along the pub crawl route, which will allow them access to the drink specials at each location. For a list of bars, pub crawl maps and updates, visit the official Web site at www.santamonicapubcrawl.com. SANTA Monica Pub Crawl participants are asked to dress in Santa/Holiday attire so the streets of Santa Monica will be filled with merry cheer as Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves, Reindeer, Carolers and Santa\'s Helpers. The Pub Crawl will include bars on Wilshire, 4th St. and Broadway to Santa Monica Blvd and Ocean Ave as well as bars in and around the Main Street and 3rd Street Districts. COST: ...

Live Musical Performances by Porter Lori and Peter Goetz Rock ‘n Roll Wine will host their next event on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 at the House of Blues VIP club, Foundation Room and feature performances by Porter Lori and Peter Goetz. The Vegas-famed wine party will feature 15 plus hand-selected, mouth-watering wines from around the world, including brands such as Kim Crawford, George DuBoeuf, Geyser Peak, and Barnard Griffin, as well as Rock 'n Roll Wine's own award-winning blends: “Reggae Rhapsody,” and “The Grotto”. Rock 'n Roll Wine invites LA to “Rock Out With Your Cork Out®” on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Foundation Room! Doors open at 7:00 p.m.  The festivities will conclude at 10:00 p.m. though patrons will be able to remain in Foundation Room for the remainder of the night. Tickets for this event are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.  Ticket price includes all live entertainment, wine tasting, and light hors d'oeuvres. To purchase your tickets in advance, visit www.rocknrollwine.com or call 702-240-3066.  Must be 21 years of age or older to attend. “We’re excited to continue to bring our signature, high-energy wine tasting concept to Los Angeles exposing new fans to delicious wines and cutting ...

Featuring All-Female Performances by Mandi Perkins, Sara Haze, Elizabeth Nicole, Samantha Stollenwerck, Katie Cole, Emily Jaye, Gabrielle Brisson and a Special Guest Appearance by Caitlin Crosby Koffeehouse Music Productions presents another stellar line up of talent at Koffeehouse Sessions, the popular musician’s showcase at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica, taking place on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009.  This month’s showcase, LOVE YOUR FLAWZ, will feature some of LA's most talented female artists, including the amazing Mandi Perkins, Sara Haze, Elizabeth Nicole, Samantha Stollenwerck, Katie Cole, Emily Jaye, Gabrielle Brisson and a special guest appearance by Caitlin Crosby. The evening is dedicated to supporting Caitlin's LOVE YOUR FLAWZ movement dedicated to empowering young women everywhere. For more info go to www.loveyourflawz.com. Doors open at 6:30PM with Open Min until 8PM. Cover charge is $10.00 or just $5.00 if you bring with you a handwritten note embracing your flawz (Visit www.loveyourflawz.com for ideas). For more info on the artists performing, see their individual bios below. “I am thrilled to be collaborating with Koffeehouse on their music series and to perform with such a wonderful group of women, says Caitlin.  “It’s great that so many people are interested in spreading the word about my website LoveYourFlawz.com.  I ...

The Yard, the popular neighborhood gastropub in downtown Santa Monica, celebrates its brand new look and menu and introduces Executive Chef, Chris “CJ” Jacobson of Bravo’s hit cable TV show “Top Chef.” The grand re-opening week will begin with a private celebration on Tues. Nov. 3, 2009 at 6p.m.  This fully-hosted extravaganza will consist of a complementary smorgasbord of hand-crafted specialty drinks, mouth-watering American-style tapas, live entertainment, and meet-n-greets with Chef CJ. The Yard will open to the public, continuing with the festivities at 9 p.m. Please go to the official website www.theyardsm.com to view an updates of the grand opening week’s offerings. “The Yard was started around the idea of creating community around the Arts and Westsiders, in general, at an underground location that ran for two and half fun, crazy years,” says Sean Norris, owner of The Yard.  “Now that we have CJ on board at our great new location, we have all the elements of what I like best in a restaurant - outstanding food and drinks served in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.” Chris Jacobson, better known as “CJ,” is thrilled to be fulfilling his long-time dream of running his own kitchen as Executive Chef at The Yard.  A ...

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo Santa Monica, CA 9-21-09 Chicagoans living in exile in Southern California may not miss the weather, but we sure do miss the foods - pizza, hot dogs, Italian beef & "sanguages". That's why there were 300 people, connected with the entertainment/media industry,  packed into Chicago restaurateur Jerrod & RJ Melman's new eatery, "La Grande Orange" in Santa Monica, CA. Rich Melman speared headed the original Chicago "Windy City West" parties beginning 22 years ago. This party, with AT & T sponsorship, along with many other entities; including United Airlines, Chicago Sun-Times, Columbia College and the Illinois office which assists filmmakers, promised Lou Malnati pizza, Portillo's Italian beef, with sweet peppers, Eli's cheesecake and other assorted treats, which caused party goers to fast for at least two days prior to the party. The logjam at the kitchen where none-other-than-Mark Malnati was hand-making luscious Lou Malnati pizzas was prodigious. Nonetheless, I got what I came for with a bonus...three pieces, of Malnati pizza and the opportunity to let Mark Malnati know what fans we are of his products. Whenever we're in Chicago we take an insulated bag to Lou Malnati's restaurant near the airport, and load up on frozen pizzas. We ...

Title: ORO CD Release Party PALENKE SOULTRIBE Location: The Conga Room - 800 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA Link out: Click here Description: Palenke Soultribe was created in Los Angeles in 2005 by Colombian producers Juan D. Borda ( AKA Insectosound) and Andres Erazo ( AKA Popa) and later joined by drummer/percussionist A.Zuluaga. Under WC-Music Records and up to 2008, they have released a vinyl named \"Folkloric Deconstruktion\" (2005); followed by their first album called \"Tropic an Heaven\" (2007 )( album that was awarded with the Independent Music Awards 2008 in the Dance/Electronica category; and a compilation of remixes entitled \"Tropico y Cielo\". Their upcoming album release, ORO, shows a development in the sound of the project and features known international artists like Miami\'s Locos por Juana ( Grammy nominee 2009), Sr. Mendez ( Grammy Winner 2007), Cesar Pliego ( bass player from KINKY), Elastic Bond , Toddy Walters and many more. Official released date scheduled March 2009. Palenke Soultribe deconstruct atmospheric and warm Colombian sonic textures that ride over underground beats and exploratory synthesizer sounds. The foundation of PST\'s work is the colorful sound of Colombia\'s traditional music mixed together with electronic beats. Start Time: 9pm Date: 2009-07-30 [gallery]

July 10th marks the unveiling of Vegas-famed wine, Rock 'n Roll Wine party at the House of Blues in the Sunset Strip.  Featuring amazing varietals  from around the world, including the company's own award-winning wines, this evening of live music and wine tasting proclaimed its residency upstairs at the House of Blues' exclusive Foundation Room. Following on the footsteps of their Vegas success, RNR Wines wooes Los Angeles with live music pairings to the featured wines. Artist Jeremy Cornwell delighted audiences with his music, while guests swayed from table to table perusing the different selections from the featured vineyards. Tunes ranged from Californication to Sweet Child of Mine. Willamette Valley's Lavelle Riesling 2006, a fantastic semi-sweet Kabinett style Riesling with aromas and flavors hinting of peaches and apricots, was sweetly paired with Tyler Hilton's Kiss On.  Also a favorite, the French import,  a 2005 Maison Galhaud Grenache Noir with deep ruby color reminiscent of its black fruits, pepper and spice, created a buzz by smoothly pairing up with Black Eyed Pea's I Gotta Feeling. This fabulous event takes place only once a month. Tickets are $35-$40, and well worth it.  This splendid event of delicious wines and appetizers by the House ...

Title: Running with The Bulls in Pamplona Location: Pamplona, Spain Link out: Click here Description: The Pamplona festival – also known as the San Fermin Festival or Sanfermines– is held in Pamplona, Spain every year from July 6-14. The most famous part of the festival is the bull run or encierro when 12 bulls charge through the streets of the old city. Although the festival begins on July 6, the bulls do not run until July 7 and then run for 7 consecutive mornings at 8 a.m. until the end of the festival. Anyone over the age of 18 can run with the bulls and there is no charge to participate. Start Date: 2009-07-06 End Date: 2009-07-14 El festival de la corrida de toros de Pamplona - tambien conocido como el Festival de San Fermin - toma lugar en Pamplona, España anualmente en Julio.  Este año será de Julio 6 al 14.  Lo que hace famoso al festival es el "encierro" o corrida de los toros cuando sueltan a 12 toros a la carga en las viejas calles de Pamplona.  Aunque el festival comienza Julio 6, los toros no corren hasta Julio 7, y por 7 días consecutivos de las 8 a.m. hasta el fin del ...

Title: Audible Mainframe LIVE at Harvelle's Location: 1432 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA Link out: Click here Description: Every Wednesday in July Harvelle's brings you Audible Mainframe.  Originally from Boston, AUDIBLE MAINFRAME moved to the Los Angeles in 2006 and have been wowing crowds ever since. AMF includes six young musicians comprised of a vocalist, guitar, bass, drummer, keyboards/trumpet, and a DJ who combine their musical talent with the realities of everyday life in pure, hip hop form. Vocalist and Emcee, Exposition (a.k.a. Expo), takes the crowd on a journey of poverty, anger, happiness, and revolution through his masterful diction and rhyme. The AMF sound has been compared to such groups as The Roots, Rage Against the Machine, De La Soul, and Radiohead; however, their combination of old and new hip-hop gives AUDIBLE MAINFRAME a fresh, eclectic sound with a creative message that sets them apart from the rest. July 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th at 9pm with a $5 cover. Check them out!  http://theaudiblemainframe.com/ Start Time: 9:00 PM Date: July 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th