Warning: This is not an unbiased review. I love Las Brisas Restaurant for its incomparable location. The place is quaint, just comfortable enough to satisfy, with flashy rose gardens in seasonal bloom,  but make no mistake, it is the ocean which holds pride of place. It sits on a promontory overlooking the sun-dappled Pacific Ocean, with curving Laguna Beach to the south replicating vistas of  Italy’s Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, our families’ ancestral home.

For us former Chicagoans, the place, especially in January, represents a fantasy of beauty and breezes (hence the name – The Breezes) to which we’ve brought our most beloved family and friends. Our Chicago-born fathers, Mike DeCarlo and Pete Rocco, taking their first plane ride in their 80s, relished the experience of eating in sunshine on a winter day. My sister, Christine, and others have shared our delight in merely being in this sublimely spectacular spot. Native Californians cannot fathom the depth of pleasure experienced by we cold-clime folk, who find ourselves squinting into the winter sun as we munch delicious Las Brisas nachos on the terrace. We can almost feel we’re again visiting fabled Positano, Italy, seated on the terrace of the celebrated San Pietro Hotel. The scenery is that similarly spectacular. Any visitor will respond favorably to the sensual charm of the area.

We are not alone in our devotion to the Las Brisas experience. The Southern California landmark began in 1938 as the Victor Hugo Inn. It became Las Brisas in 1979, and has been a magnet for visitors from all over the world, not just Chicago. Having on-property valet parking is no small thing in a beach town with limited street parking.

Of course the food is lovely…the calamari is particularly delicate and flavorful with a soft garlic lemon butter sauce ($10.25) that is a fine introduction to whatever comes next. On one recent visit we had our favorites on the patio –fish and chips and cheesy nachos – yummy. The patio has its own menu, separate from the inside dining room. Last week the couple seated next to us on the patio were visiting from Naperville, Illinois, a town near our former Downers Grove hometown.Noticing my Cubs bag they struck up a conversation and we had the most pleasant time talking about our rotten-weather Chicago and how glorious is Las Brisas.

Reservations are taken but the promise of a window seat is withheld. Therefore to increase your chances of unobstructed ocean views try going on a Monday when there is more opportunity to snag a window table to catch sight of the pelicans fishing for their lunch or if one is lucky seeing dolphin play dates carousing in the distance.  There is an outcrop of rocks off the gazebo viewing area which is home to marine birds and mammals – I think they may be seals.

The place offers Mexican Riviera seafood dishes, as well as beef and chicken entrees for breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch and cocktails. My lunch dish of four large sea scallops sautéed in spicy chardonnay with garlic butter sauce and wild mushrooms was marvelously fresh-tasting and flavorful ($17.50).  I’ve enjoyed the Ensalada de Primavera –substituting romaine for the spring greens but keeping the caramelized walnuts, pear, cranberries, feta cheese with a citrus-ginger dressing. ($6.50). Never having acquired a taste for alcohol I cannot speak for the drinks but I did notice margarita cocktails were priced at $9.50.

For those seeking every opportunity for beautiful vistas it is worth mentioning a small park with gorgeous views reached off Pacific Coast Highway by turning right (if you are driving south) onto Crescent Bay St. Continue to the end of the cul-de-sac and park on the street. The little park provides wonderful views up and down the coastline. The town of Laguna Beach is filled with art galleries and other interesting shops. Begin and end at Las Brisas and you are sure to enjoy it all.

Las Brisas Restaurant
361 Cliff Drive
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949-497-5434 – reservations online –
www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com

Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright, 2010

Koffeehouse is proud to present its 4th Annual “Evening of Independence” benefitting MusiCares® on August 7, 2010 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. The evening will feature the most talented emerging artists and special guests with featured performances by Verve/Universal recording artist, actress KATHARINE MCPHEE, Island Def Jam recording artist JON MCLAUGHLIN, national recording artists HONEYHONEY, Los Angeles Indie-rockers THE DAYLIGHTS, GRAMMY-nominated SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, who will be reuniting at The Ford after a six- year hiatus as well as a special performance by award-winning cellist, TINA GUO accompanied by Marcelo. The event will be hosted by award-winning correspondent and host, ANGELA SUN of Yahoo! Sports’ Minute, Tennis Channel and NBC First Look.

Koffeehouse’s 4th Annual “Evening of Independence” is in official partnership with Los Angeles County Arts Commission and is sponsored by ABC7, KPFK 90.7fm, Univision, LA Weekly, LA18, and Fusicology. One hundred percent of the evening’s net proceeds benefit MusiCares, whose mission is to provide a safety net of critical assistance for musicians in times of need (www.grammy.org/musicares.com).

“When we started these intimate showcases in my backyard nearly seven years ago, we had no idea we would be participating in the promotion and production of so many high-profile concerts and music festivals years later,” says Koffeehouse Founder Jeremy Koff.  “We’re extremely honored to have worked with so many talented artists and take pride in giving them a platform to share their extraordinary ability with the music industry.”

The pre-show will take place in The Ford’s Edison Plaza courtyard from 6:00-7:30PM and will feature a silent auction, picnicking and performances by some of LA’s most talented emerging artists including Terra Naomi, Freddie and Francine, Shawn Hlookoff and Jayme Dee. Picnic baskets and wine are permitted during the pre-show in the Ford’s entryway as well as in the Ford Amphitheatre itself.

Previous Koffeehouse “Evening of Independence” concerts have featured artists including Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Alex Band (The Calling), A Fine Frenzy (Virgin), Rocco Deluca & The Burden (Ironworks), Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon), Tyrone Wells (Universal), MoZella (Universal), Trevor Hall (Geffen/White Balloon), Ryan Star (Atlantic), among many others.

Tickets to Koffeehouse’s 4th Annual “Evening of Independence” are $25 if purchased 7 days or more before the show and $30 thereafter. VIP tickets are available for $100 which includes pre-paid parking at The Ford, access to the VIP lounge—which includes an open bar and food, a mention of you or your company in the official event program, a gift bag full of goodies and the best seats in the house. Discounted student tickets and group tickets are also available. Doors open at 6:00PM. The pre-show runs 6:30-7:30PM. The main show starts at 8:00PM.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.FordTheatres.org or by calling the Ford Box Office at (323) 461-3673.

This is no ordinary art event! The Venice Art Walk & Auctions is a fundraiser for Venice Family Clinic, the largest free clinic in the country, and each ticket you purchase helps provide a medical visit for an uninsured person in need. (Purchases of art and tickets to Art & Architecture Tours go even further!) So bring a friend. Or two. Or ten. After all, taking care of the uninsured is good for karma. Click any of the links below for more information or to purchase tickets.

Art & Architecture Tour: Rustic Canyon: The Sequel
Saturday, May 22
Picking up where last year’s historic walking tour left off, Leo Marmol, FAIA, takes visitors deeper into this architecturally bountiful neighborhood, stopping to tour a fresh collection of homes representing the old and the new.
$175 per person, benefits Venice Family Clinic, includes lunch and reception
Art & Architecture Tour: Architects’ Homes in Venice and Santa Monica
Saturday, May 22
Explore homes that architects and designers built for themselves in this self-guided walking tour along the border of Venice and Santa Monica.
$100 per person, benefits Venice Family Clinic, includes reception

Art & Architecture Tour: Life and Style on Venice’s Walk Streets and Canals
Sunday, May 23
You can’t get more Venetian than this self-guided walking tour of homes on Venice’s charming walk streets and serene canals.
$100 per person, benefits Venice Family Clinic, includes Venice Art Walk & Auctions ticket

Venice Art Walk & Auctions
Sunday, May 23
The Los Angeles Times calls it “the granddaddy of them all.” For this one special day, more than 50 Venice artists open their studios or create special exhibits in equally special spaces around town. Back at the school, the silent art auction collects works by 400 Southern California artists under one roof. Great Westside restaurants serve up the nourishment you’ll need to see it all, and there’s even free parking and shuttle buses.
$50 per person, benefits Venice Family Clinic

Tickets
Buy online at www.veniceartwalk.info or call 310.392.9255.

Discounts!
LACMA/MOCA/KCRW/KCET members receive a 20% discount on advance purchases of tickets to the Sunday, May 23, Venice Art Walk & Auctions only. Purchases must be made by phone at 310.392.9255 by 5:00 pm on Thursday, May 20, 2010. Please have your membership number ready.

One Great Cause
All proceeds benefit Venice Family Clinic, providing free, quality health care to more than 24,400 people in need through eight locations in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, and Culver City.

EdenLA and Los Angeles Magazine have announced an exclusive event Thursday, May 13 at 6:30pm with a night of tapas, wine and furniture!  They are certain you’ll find them to be an amazing resource to clients of discerning tastes.  Designers, architects and real estate professionals, amongst the area’s leading voices and VIPs will mingle surrounded by comfy furnishings and luxurious fabrics.

Those lucky enough to get invited can be seen and heard at:

edenla

11600 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
90049

Phone: 310-820-8109
Email: edenla@edenla.com

See you there!  I’ll be the one by the clown.

The 12th edition of the Spa Week Event is slated for April 12th – 18th, 2010. In total, the nationwide Spa Week Spring Event will include 30 markets and a list of participating spas will be posted on www.spaweek.com by mid-March. The Spring Spa Week Event will bring $50 spa treatments to consumers at over 800 spas across North America. As always, the goal is to introduce a new generation of consumers to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle by opening up the spa industry to the masses. Spa Week has spent the last 6 years turning “wellness” from a mere buzzword into a healthy reality.

Thanks to the efforts of Spa Week and their Spa Week Spring and Fall Events, the spa industry now offers health benefits to an unprecedented cross-section of the American public. Since its inception, Spa Week has afforded hundreds of thousands of people the ability to heal, strengthen, and energize at the spa. Spa Week has dashed the old myth that the spa is where the rich and famous go to be pampered; thanks to the success of the Spring and Fall Events, over 350,000 affordable spa treatments have been booked and enjoyed by average Americans since 2004.

Never content to rest on past successes, though, each Spa Week Event brings the cutting edge of health and wellness technology to the average consumer. In addition to offering traditionally beneficial stress-busting and immune-boosting spa treatments like massage, Spa Week brings intensive, clinical therapies to consumers at the same $50 price point with hundreds of participating medi-spas all over the country.

As the healthcare crisis rages on in Washington, Spa Week’s mission to educate consumers to the health benefits of the spa lifestyle is more important—and more successful—than ever. Spa Week affords everyone the ability to experience the incredible physical benefit of spa treatments and therapies.

Spa Week was created and founded by Cheryl Reid, who hails from successful careers within the luxury spa industry and publishing spheres. Spa Week is thrilled to announce it’s 2010 Presenting and Title Sponsor: Dove Deodorant; National Media Sponsor: Allure Magazine; Exclusive Cosmetic Sponsor: Bare Escentuals; Exclusive Wine Sponsor: Rioja; Exclusive Destination Sponsor: Canyon Ranch; Exclusive Wedding Sponsor: The Wedding Channel; Exclusive Fashion Sponsor: Fashion Week Daily; and Exclusive Spa Association Partner: ISPA.

Content borrowed from www.spaweek.com

*

You are pregnant…congratulations!  Like all moms, I’m sure you want to do everything possible to make sure that your baby is healthy, and going green during your pregnancy is a great way to ensure this.  Here are 6 green living tips that will make a big difference in your life and your pregnancy.  As of the writing of this article, I myself am almost 5-months pregnant and I feel great.  Hopefully my tips will help you feel great too and help ensure that your baby is as healthy and happy as possible!

1. Eat green! You should be eating green both literally and figuratively.  Get as many organic, whole foods into your diet as possible (whole foods mean foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.)  Try and cut out any calories that are not filled with nutrients as they will not nourish the baby but WILL lead to excess weight gain.  Eating healthy is probably the single most important thing you can do for your baby while you are pregnant.[1] It’s also supposed to be helpful in mitigating some of the “symptoms” of pregnancy.  From my own personal experience (again, I’m just a sample of one), I have had no issues with nausea or cravings, no “pregnancy constipation” (which is caused by our digestion slowing down to squeeze the most nutrients out of our food) and my weight gain has been slow and steady.  Also, when it comes to eating green you should literally be eating green foods.  Folic acid, which is very important for avoiding certain birth defects, is easily found in most green vegetables.[2] I can tell you from personal experience, I’m a mostly-raw vegetarian, and when I had my blood tested my folic acid was very high.  In fact, all of my blood results were very good except for Vitamin D, which brings me to point #2.
2. Check your Vitamin D. When you first get pregnant your doctor will do a blood work-up on you.  Be sure to ask her if your work-up includes a test for Vitamin D also known as “the sunshine vitamin.”  The studies on Vitamin D deficiency are pretty new (about 3-years old) but compelling and especially important for a developing baby.  Vitamin D is actually more of a hormone than a vitamin and its deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis, depression, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, parathyroid problems, immune function and even weight loss.[3] Even though I live in sunny Los Angeles and walk my dog for 20-minutes every day, my Vitamin D test came back severely deficient.  There is talk about raising the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D, but one thing to keep in mind is that if you are dark-skinned, as I am, than you need even more sunshine since the melanin in our skin blocks the UVB rays that synthesize Vitamin D from sunlight.  There are also Vitamin D supplements that you can take orally as well.  Honestly, EVERYONE should be tested for Vitamin D deficiency.  You’ll probably be hearing more and more about this as doctors are just now starting to realize how important Vitamin D is for our bodies.  After giving me my test results my doctor had himself tested and was shocked at how low his own Vitamin D was. 
3. Forget registering for your baby shower…get hand-me-downs! Kids grow quickly, in fact; they grow so quickly that many of the products they used can be passed down to many other children.  My goal is to not buy anything new except for whatever fabrics or paints I may need for the baby’s room and maybe the occasional “special event” outfit (those holiday clothes are super cute!)  As soon as my husband and I decided to get pregnant we started spreading the word that we would take any hand-me-downs that were 1) not subject to recalls, 2) in good condition and 3) made out of natural materials (except for car seats and strollers.)  So far we have gotten 2 cribs (one is for my parent’s house who live very near by), an organic crib mattress, lots of cotton bedding, a solid wood rocking horse, a solid wood high chair, a solid wood rocking chair, a glider, 3 car seats, 2 strollers, lots of books and a changing table.  We haven’t received any clothes yet because we don’t know the sex of the baby, but there is lots of that on the way too.  Ask and you shall receive, it’s amazing!
4. Use green paints in the baby’s room. Most people end up painting their baby’s room.  If you do, be sure to look for paints that are “no-VOC” or even all natural paints like Old Fashioned Milk Paint, made with lime and milk protein.  These paints will not “off-gas” into the baby’s room creating a better breathing environment for your child.  This is especially important for newborns since their lungs are the last thing to develop and will continue to grow as they grow[4].  AFM Safecoat and Yolo Colorhouse and excellent no-VOC paints that cost approximately $50/a gallon which is the same as other “high-end” paints.
5. Eliminate chemicals from your life. One of the most dangerous places in most homes is that cabinet under the kitchen sink with all the cleaning products.  Make an effort to eliminate chemicals as much as possible from your life.  Switch to earth and people friendly cleaners like baking soda and white vinegar or to brands such as Bi-o-kleen, Bon Ami and Begley’s Best to name a few.  I try to buy locally so most of the brands I mention are West Coast based.  If you are on the East Coast then Seventh Generation is an excellent resource for you.  If a product smells toxic to you, it probably is toxic, and you might as well get rid of this stuff before the baby is born!  Products to definitely get rid of include anything with heavy perfumes (often these masks dangerous chemicals like as phthalates), and anything with chlorine and ammonia in them.  Also, be sure to switch to safer insecticides and pesticides such as boric acid and neem oil for around your house and in your garden.
6. Exercise. Exercise is great for building and maintaining muscle tone and stamina, for helping to moderate pregnancy weight gain and for helping to improve your mood among other things.[5] It can also help with constipation brought on by pregnancy![6] Regular exercise, along with a good diet, is said to help with many of the “symptoms” of early pregnancy, and from my own experience, except for occasional fatigue I have had NO pregnancy symptoms.  Now, if you weren’t a marathoner before your pregnancy, now is definitely not the time to start training for one, but getting regular movement is very important for your pregnancy. Maintaining your stamina is especially important if you are going to go for natural child birth (which I am and will be sure to write about when it happens) since labor can be a very tiring experience and you want to be sure you have reserves of strength so that when your midwife or doctor says “you can start pushing” you still have the energy to push.  Walking is a great, low-impact exercise.  My midwife advised me to get up to 3-miles a day (about an hour of vigorous walking) if I could.  At this point in my pregnancy I have been able to maintain my pre-pregnancy exercise regimen of yoga, weights, walking and elliptical training with no modifications.

Remember, every person and every pregnancy is different, so be sure to consult your medical professional before making changes to your diet and/or exercise regimes.  The information in this article should not be taken as medical advice.

Alegre Ramos is a LEED AP interior designer and green living expert based in the San Fernando Valley.  Her store, Green and Greener, is located in Valley Village and online at http://green-and-greener.com.  Stay up to date on important green info by signing-up for her Twitter feed http://twitter.com/greenandgreener.  Copyright Green and Greener 2010.  All rights reserved.

[2] http://vitamins.lovetoknow.com/Foods_High_in_Folic_Acid

[3] http://www.womentowomen.com/healthynutrition/vitamind.aspx

[4] http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/bpd.html#

[5] http://www.babycenter.com/0_seven-great-benefits-of-pregnancy-exercise_7864.bc

[6] http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/fitness/pregnancy-exercise/?page=2

R2: RESEARCH: which means that once you’ve decided you really need to buy something, do the research to buy the “greenest” option out there. Questions you should ask include: is the product made with recycling in mind, did the company who made it pay a fair wage in its manufacturing, is the product non-toxic, where was it made and can I get it more locally? Do your homework. This step will also help with step R1: reducing consumption because sometimes you might find that there is no green option out there and maybe that means you shouldn’t buy the product at all.

R3: RUN IT INTO THE GROUND: once you’ve decided to buy something, use it until it falls apart!  I rarely buy something that I don’t plan on hanging onto for 10+ years.  You don’t have to be that extreme, but if you buy something that you need and/or like that is a quality product, why not make the most of it?  It’s better for the environment (by minimizing demands on raw materials and on energy use for production) and it’s HEAVEN to your pocket book.

R4: REUSE/REPURPOSE/REPAIR/RETURN: traditionally the second R was “reuse” which means to continue to give a product life beyond it’s perhaps short planned life, however, we felt that was a little narrow. So for instance, you are REUSING a plastic water bottle by refilling it with water a second time. However, you could also REPURPOSE it by using it as a bird feeder. Also, once something has broken you can make it useful again by REPAIRING it.  The fourth option RETURN is something that was very popular back in the day which is to RETURN the product to where it came so it may be reused (for instance: glass milk bottles.) The benefits of RETURNING over RECYCLING is that the product doesn’t need to undergo an energy intensive remanufacturing (aka: recycling) process to be useful again.  REPURPOSING can also be really fun in that it encourages you to look creatively at the resources you have.  For instance, when we remodeled Green and Greener we took the old vinyl blinds from the previous tenants and applied them to the walls as a decorative finish and we turned old wine crates into speakers.

R5: RECYCLE: Only once you have exhausted the options above do we move on to recycling, which has gotten a disproportional amount of the 3R attention considering it is the lowest ranking of them.  Recycling means: to take an object and use energy and resources in order to turn it back into raw materials for further manufacturing.  While it’s better than throwing an item away, it still requires a lot of transportation and energy, so it’s not the cure all many believe.  Almost anything CAN be recycled, the real question is: is it valuable enough that someone is actually doing it?  Use the web to find out the what/where/how of recycling.  Two good resource are the National Recycling Coalition’s site: http://www.nrc-recycle.org/localresources.aspx and LIME’s guide to “How to Recycle Everything:” http://www.lime.com/features/limes_guide_to_recycling

R6: RESPONSIBLE DISPOSAL: Once you’ve done everything above, you might still have some items to dispose of and the key is to do this responsibly. Remember that fruit, vegetable and yard waste doesn’t have to be thrown away; it can be composted (which is step R3.)  Most metal, paper, plastic and glass can be easily recycled locally (step R4.)  Other traditionally “trash” items have green alternatives such as biodegradable cellulose sponges instead of the synthetic variety and rechargeable batteries instead of single use.  Items such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, single use batteries, prescription drugs, electronics and paint thinner are just some of the “household hazardous waste” (HHW) that needs to be disposed of properly in order to not contaminate the land and water in your area.  It only takes very little mercury or leads to do real harm to ground water and you’d be surprised at how often these two metals show up in products!  Check with your city’s waste pick-up for HHW drop-off locations in your area.  Often, living a greener life means you will have fewer HHW items because you will have reduced your consumption of these items to begin with.

With a little practice the 6R’s will become second nature to you and will keep you and the planet healthier and wealthier.  Don’t feel overwhelmed by the information, true change comes with time.  The key is to do a little bit now and to grow from there.  Remember, that big change comes from lots of people making little changes.  So make your little change today!

*****

Alegre Ramos is a LEED AP interior designer and green living expert based in the San Fernando Valley.  Her store, Green and Greener, is located in Valley Village and online at http://green-and-greener.com.  Stay up to date on important green info by signing-up for her Twitter feed http://twitter.com/greenandgreener.  Copyright Green and Greener 2010.  All rights reserved.

Cure in the Canyons

Cure In The Canyons III, the luxury-fest for Breast Cancer research, returns on Sunday, October 4th from 11am-4pm at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village to raise funds for innovative medical and clinical Breast Cancer research. Set between sequoia trees and cascading waterfalls Sunday afternoon at the Four Seasons will be filled with the best of lifestyle, beauty, wellness, epicurean and fashion and top exclusive high-end luxury trendsetters, all donating their time and products to fund breast cancer research.

For today’s economy the price of $60 ticket may seem steep, but not so when it includes a gift bag valued at over $500 upon departure. The first 250 guests to arrive by carpool will also receive a special gift.  Personally speaking, I loooove goodie bags!  No matter what’s inside, I look forward to unwrapping, unveiling, untying, undressing…. Yes!  Goodie bags rule, and this event looks worth the trip out to Westlake Village.

Cure in the Canyons honors breast cancer survivors and those undergoing treatment with a very special celebrity hosted Tea Party sponsored by Revolution Tea.  What better way to feel better?  How about the experience of over $1,000 worth of extraordinary free treatments, samples and gourmet delights, strolling through 28 cabanas on six breathtaking acres?  There are luxurious free products to enjoy including, spa and beauty treatments with Four Seasons Thai massage, skyn ICELAND, Calidora Skin Clinic, California Health & Longevity Institute acupuncture, OPI manicures, Napoleon Perdis and Jane Iredale fall makeovers, with a special guest appearance by Billy and Melissa Yamaguchi of Yamaguchi Spa and Salon who will conduct Feng Shui beauty seminars while his dedicated style experts take fall glamour to the next divine level.

And for that special gentleman in your life, The Club Car, a luxurious Men’s Ultra Lounge offers mini-spa treatments, SINGHA Premium Beer, extra spicy salsa and hors d’oeuvres, Harley Davidson and a luxury skin care line just for our gentlemen guests while they peruse three new 2010 Lexus Luxury Hybrids or take one out for a quick spin.

Five-star gourmet delights from New Zealand Natural Ice Cream, Hamptons, Onyx, Atmospheric Events, and Four Seasons Executive Chef Mario Alcocer add to the day’s epicurean experience with wine and spirit tastings provided by Korbel and ONEHOPE Wine.

As if all this was not enough, guests also enjoy an over-the-top 100+ item silent auction featuring fighter-pilot training, Caribbean yacht charters for seven of your closest friends, sports memorabilia and fabulous jewels.  Competing for your attention is an extraordinary dance performance by the New York City quartet as live Jazz and Rumba Flamenco trios entertain guests throughout the day.  Attendees are asked to arrive early to take advantage of as many product demonstrations and services as possible.

Event Celebrity Co-Chairs are actress/TV personalities, Shannon Tweed, and daughter Sophie Tweed Simmons (stars of A&E’s Gene Simmons Family Jewels). Celebrity Co-hosts for “Cure in the Canyons” Thomas Calabro (Melrose Place), Jack Wagner (The Bold and The Beautiful), Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris), Mark DeCarlo (Taste of America with Mark DeCarlo), Ivan Sergei (The Break-Up) actresses Lorraine Toussaint (co-star of TNT’s Saving Grace), CCH Pounder (Warehouse 13), Catherine Dent (The Shield), Aaron D. Spears (The Bold and The Beautiful), Adrienne Franz (Y&R), Ashley Jones(Bold and the Beautiful/True Blood), Brenda Song (Disney’s Suite Life of Zack and Cody), Claudia Jordan (Celebrity Apprentice), Jimmy Jean-Louis (Heroes), Lesley-Anne Down (The Bold and The Beautiful), Marcellus Wiley(ESPN), Shawn Hlookoff (Singer/Songwriter), Stacy Heidi (Y&R), Vanessa Marano (Y&R), Winsor Harman(The Bold and The Beautiful), Willie Macc (comedian/actor) and more. Many of Los Angeles’ prominent residents, as well as several personalities whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer, are expected to attend.

Actress Lorraine Toussaint explains why research is so important; “I walked through chemo with a friend of mine and saw the devastating effects it had on her. It was almost like the treatment was worse than the disease. We’ve got to do better. The time for treatment is over. It’s time for a cure.”
Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village is located at 2 Dole Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91362. Tickets are on sale now and available at www.cureinthecanyons.com. Guests attending “Cure In The Canyons” should plan on spending the entire day at the festival to enjoy all activities and complimentary services.

“Cure In The Canyons” is a prequel event to “Run 4 Her Life” 5k/ 10k www.run4herlife.com,” on Sunday, October 18 at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, CA.
For further information on “Cure in the Canyons” and “Run 4 Her Life” go to www.cureinthecanyons.com and www.run4herlife.com

Run 4 Her Life 5k / 10k for Breast Cancer Research will take place on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. and feature a live musical performance by GRAMMY® award-winning recording artist and “Dancing With The Stars” contestant, Mýa. Registration fee is $35 in advance and $45 day of and includes a custom designed Affliction/Run 4 Her Life t-shirt ($82 value), gift bag and all event festivities, including entrance to the concert.  Team and Groups are also encouraged to participate.  Please visit www.Run4HerLife.com for additional details and to register.

The Americana at Brand, located in the heart of downtown Glendale, will offer entrants and guests a variety of live entertainment, expo and post-event party. In addition to the competitive 5k / 10k races the event also offers a 5k Family Fun Run / Walk. “Caruso Affiliated is honored to support this inaugural event and its critical mission of funding for breast cancer research. Our team is working hard to ensure that it also will be a delightful day for the entire family,” said Rick Caruso, president and CEO, Caruso Affiliated.

To get in shape for the October 2009 Race, lululemon athletica Glendale will conduct complimentary Sunday morning fitness classes at The Americana at Brand designed to improve your running while offering tips, motivation and camaraderie.  Located on two acres in downtown Glendale, The Americana at Brand is LAs newest shopping and dining destination developed by Caruso Affiliated. With residences built atop the shops and restaurants, race entrants will have a built in audience and cheering section at the start and finish lines.

Funds raised will support local California research at USC/Norris Lee Breast Center, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Michael Press, MD. PhD. and National Research. Grants are awarded as deemed by our Medical Advisory Board to have the most significance in the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer.

“We are grateful to be a part of this event to raise funds for breast cancer research,” said Michael Press, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the Harold E. Lee Chair for Cancer Research at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. “As we learn more about the molecular and genetic causes of breast cancer, we are positioned to attack this deadly disease at its origin and to prevent its development in thousands of women.”

Run 4 Her Life is green, breaking new ground with the worlds-first Eco-friendly Running Bib. The focus of Karin Purvis, Race Director, and Founder of ‘Run 4 Her Life’ and ‘Cure in the Canyons’ is to facilitate a healthy, eco-friendly race, allowing runners to participate in a “green” event. As a tribute to breast cancer research, emediagroup is providing bib numbers made from seed paper, which entrants can plant after the event and will bloom Black-Eyed Susan’s creating a lasting memory.  By combining breast cancer research awareness and environmentally friendly materials, emediagroup is proud to participate in this unique event.

Run 4 Her Life will feature live musical performances by Mýa, The Quiet, Lili Haydn, Jordan Johnson, and Margie Hauser and an interactive family friendly expo with 15 cabanas including Glendale Hospital offering orthopedic therapy consultations, and Katsuya and ONEHOPE Wine who will be hosting the VIP celebrity lounge.  The Nesquik Bunny will be greeting runners at the expo and plans to run the 5k as well!

Grammy Award® winning multi-platinum artist Mýa, became a star at the age of 18 with her eponymous debut album which yielded three Top-10 singles. In addition to releasing five full length albums, one of which went platinum and another, gold, she tangoed her way into our hearts in the acclaimed film Chicago. Mýa is currently a popular contestant on the hit TV show “Dancing With The Stars”!

As a philanthropist, Mýa continues to devote her time and resources to various causes. From 1998 to 2001, she became the spokesperson for Secret to Self Esteem. In 2005, Mýa founded TMATF: The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing disadvantaged youth growth and opportunity through arts & technology education, where she serves as both executive director and teacher. Mýa is also an advocate of breast cancer as her mother is a 10 year survivor. In 2006 & 2007 she collaborated with the Lifetime Television Network in the Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign, recording “My Bra” a song sold on iTunes donating 100% of proceeds to breast cancer

research.

Sponsors include Affliction, ONEHOPE Wine, lululemon, Luna Bars, Katsuya, Paul Mitchell, Icy Hot, Gold Bond, Lange Productions, Alacer, Pop Chips, Power Bars, Powerade, Glaceau Smart Water, Emergen- C, Nesquik, Queasy Pops, Capco Labs Foot Cream, Hypoxy and Dole.

EVENT: First Annual Run 4 Her Life 5k / 10k for Breast Cancer Research

DATE/ TIME: Sunday, October 18, 2009

7:00 a.m.     On-Site Registration Opens

8:00 a.m.     Opening Ceremonies and Warm-Up

8:15 a.m.     Lili Haydn           www.myspace.com/lilihaydn

8:30 a.m.     5k

9:00 a.m.     10k

10:00 a.m.   The Quiet            www.myspace.com/thequiet

11:10 a.m.   Margie Hauser     www.margiehauser.com

11:20 a.m.   Jordan Johnson    www.myspace.com/jordanjohnson

11:30 a.m.   Mýa                    www.myamya.com

WHAT:

5k / 10k Run and 5k Family Fun Run / Walk benefitting Breast Cancer  Research  featuring live musical performance by GRAMMY award winning recording artist and “Dancing With The Stars” contestant, Mýa.

LOCATION:

The Americana at Brand

889 Americana Way  Glendale, CA 91204   818.637.8982

(Bounded by Central Avenue, Colorado Street and Brand Blvd.)

FEE:

$35 in advance; $45 day of

Where do fabulous divas play? Everywhere! And where do they get ready to play? At Face to Face LA! Rumor has it that golden bunny Kendra Wilkinson loves her spa days! She spent yesterday at this fantastic facial space filled with tanning, manicures, pedicures, facials and massages.

According to eonline.com: Kendra said “the bride should be really spoiled and be treated like a queen, and that’s how I’m feeling right now!” Bridesmaid Brittany Binger is worried about fitting into her dress after all the desserts and champagne…but not enough to skip the sweets! “We’re all just eating. I don’t care!” she said.

Kendra’s nuptials are scheduled for this weekend at the infamous Playboy mansion. The fabulous facials from Face to Face LA Salon will surely bring out her inner glow on this important day. And while everyone will stare and wonder how Kendra does it, this diva’s secret is safe with us.

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Face to Face LA

www.facetofacela.com
11331 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 2a
Studio City, California, 91604
818.505.0107