The last of Summer's Wine and Gin, Nordes Gin & Trap Hike in a Vineyard with Frose.

 By Laura Medina

https://nordesgin.com/en/

The Spain is the biggest sippers and guzzlers of gin.

It can't help but make their own gin, with white wine added in the end, after macerating sage, bay leaf, lemon verbena, eucalyptus, peppermint and glasswort, a plant found in coastal regions, juniper, ginger, cardamom, hibiscus and black tea.

The white wine grapes adds sweetness, reminiscing of Sean Puffy's Ciroc Vodka.

What's one of the best ways to celebrate the fruits of Summer than gin cocktails.

Included are two Summer-worthy cocktails but if you want more recipes, go to https://nordesgin.com/en/gin-cocktails-en/

If you want to get fit while sipping frose and rose wine or/and you need a "Sideways" excursion, why get the best of both worlds and TrapHike with Mountain Mic.

Hiking up and down Adam Semler's Malibu Wine Vineyards, get some fresh air, while hydrating frozen slushie Frose, from wine plucked fresh off the vine.

Plus, getting rewarded with Coleman back pack coolers to enjoy more water and frose.

What a way to enjoy the fruits of Summer.

Amazon Prime's "The Boys," First Burn Butt at Barry's Bootcamp Then Refuel with "The Boys" Sandwiches at Petit Trios with Chef Ludo.

 By Laura Medina

Even though doesn't feel like your normal Emmy Awards season as before COVID-19, it's still here and Amazon Prime's "The Boys" For Your Consideration aka FYC is doing things different.

Spread out but still hitting impacts, Amazon Prime is sponsoring free "The Boys" workouts at various Barry's Bootcamp spread all over Los Angeles, the Valley, and the South Bay areas.

Then, pre or post-fuel with Amazon Prime's "The Boy" sandwiches based on the tv series characters at Petit Trios location, made fresh everyday with Chef Ludo's kitchen staff.

Specifically, you just want the free "The Boys" sandwiches, you can't park at the restaurants' limited parking lot but you just want walk in and get a sandwich. They even have a bouncer to control the crowd, the flow, and one sandwich per a person.

A different sandwich per a day...

Supe Sandwich of the Day: Queen Maeve (House-made top round roast beef, black pepper mayo, extra-thin fried onions, on baguette) at Petit Trois and Petit Trois Valley

Supe Sandwich of the Day: A-Train (Pork rillette, Dijon mustard, pickled red onion, arugula on a sandwich or sesame bun) at Petit Trois and Petit Trois Valley

Supe Sandwich of the Day: Starlight (Harissa-roasted leg of lamb, sliced thin, confit tomato, pickled peppers, fresh dill, lemon yogurt on a baguette) at Petit Trois and Petit Trois Valley

Supe Sandwich of the Day: Translucent (Carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, radishes, sungold tomatoes, avocado, sprouts, Maggi ranch, EVOO, lime on a baguette) at Petit Trois and Petit Trois Valley

Supe Sandwich of the Day: Black Noir (Pastrami, swiss, pickles, black mustard on Diamond Bakery pumpernickel) at Petit Trois and Petit Trois Valley

Supe Sandwich of the Day: The Deep (Tuna, hard-boiled eggs, anchovies, tomatoes, breakfast radishes, cucumber, green pepper, gem lettuce, red onion, fennel, black olives, spicy creamy vinaigrette on a baguette) at Petit Trois and Petit Trois Valley. Appearance by Chef Ludo at Petit Trois Hollywood.

Supe Sandwich of the Day: Homelander (Jambon de Paris, American cheese, French breakfast radish, cornichon, honey butter on a baguette) at Petit Trois and Petit Trois Valley. 

Towards the end of the week-long promotions, Chef Ludo made appearances, first in his Hollywood location then his Valley bistro.

What a way to promote!

Get Nourish at Openaire Then Burn It Up at Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a "Studio 54" Speakeasy.

 By Laura Medina

This bon vivant relish a good night.  A good night consists of a meal then a great night out.

With people emerging out of their quarantine cocoon, Nile Rogers' DisOasis, https://luxurist.blogspot.com/2021/08/its-not-roaring-twenties-get-your-disco.html, Disco is the trend where people are dying to release and fly their freak flag and let out their tumescence.

This lucky scribe was invited to the opening of a disco speakeasy since everyone needs one, coming out of quarantine.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a min "Studio 54," a disco speakeasy.  Special front doors replace the red velvet ropes.

Pre-game, nourish up at Openaire, https://www.thelinehotel.com/los-angeles/bars-restaurants/

AHI TUNA TARTARE, AVOCADO MOUSSELINE, PICKLED CUCUMBER, YUZU

with 

CRUNCH CHOCOLATE CAKE, DULCE DE LECHE, COFFEE ICE CREAM

to keep you coming into the night.

PURPLE HAZE HIBISCUS RUM, CHERRY HEERING, APRICOT, YUZU, ORGEAT, PEYCHAUD’S BITTERS

The sweetest drink, SHATTERED KAFFIR LIME LEAF TEQUILA, ALOE VERA, YUZU, PEYCHAUD’S BITTERS, ask the bartender to add in blood orange.

Welcome back, Disco. We miss ya'.

At Tail End of Summer, Santa Anita State Fair Closes Out Summer.

 By Laura Medina

The month-long Santa Anita State Fair, on the Santa Anita Racetrack, signals Summer transiting into Fall.

With school returning, the fair is an after-school treat for families on Thursday and Friday nights.  All day and night, weekends, it's dating and just plain hanging-out for big kids.

Big you gobble up on the fun, fried food, hit the gravity-defying and tossing rides, the swings and the rollercoaster then hit the fried food...

Afterwards, relax on the nice and easy Ferris Wheel then enjoy the vista...

Or, catch the stunt extreme motorcyclists, like Patrick Evans...

Then, finish the night by catching a rocking concert by Bon Jovi cover band, Slippery When Wet...

By the concert stage, there's an huge beer garden for the big kids.

So long Summer. Farewell Fair, til next year, https://www.santaanita.com/events/fair-at-santa-anita/#.YR-_pnySmUk

8th ANNUAL CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC, Where Cedric the Entertainer Takes a Swing for Kyles Family Foundation benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo.

 By Laura Medina

Cedric the Entertainer, with friends Anthony Anderson and George Lopez, paid and played it forward by throwing a golf tournament fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Camarillo.

Raised by a single mother in Missouri, Cedric said having the Boys and Girls Club gave him  positive male figures, role models, and bonding he craved and needed as a boy growing up.

Now as a success, he figured why not use his fame and fortuen and fun, with his love for golfing, and use it to raise funds for something that helped him, growing up.

Here are his friends who showed for support:

Cedric The Entertainer DL Hughley George Lopez Marcus Allen Anthony Anderson Julius “Dr. J” Erving Eric Dickerson Scottie Pippen Peter McKenzie David Justice James Worthy Ronnie Lott Alex English Debbe Dunning Ozzie Smith Willie Gault Mike Woodson Donovan Carter Greg Vaughn Sugar Ray Leonard Carter Thicke Dondre Whitfield Peter McKenzie Reggie Theus Chris Hale Chris Hale Roland Martin Philip Bailey Christian Okoye Alex English Jason Scheff Jim Plunkett Claudia Jordan Norm Nixon Isabelle Shee Jeffrey Osborne

8th ANNUAL CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER  CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC is the way a golf tournament should be done....

At his charity golf match, he has a DJ, a massage tent, a roving fully-stocked bar that travels with you, from hole to hole, and a smoke BBQ...

8th ANNUAL CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER  CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC does it right and for a right cause....

While getting some fresh air and some peaceful and relaxing activities.

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National Anthem on Sax

LA Art Show Returns With Rita Ora Hosting.

 By Laura Medina

The celebration was hosted by international pop star Rita Ora in conjunction with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® for a celebration of art and charitable components and exhilaration continued throughout the weekend, heightened by a surprise visit from Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

The event kicked off with a visit from Mayor Eric Garcetti, celebrating both the return of the show and the 50th anniversary of the Los Angeles Convention Center, followed by a successful opening night complete with red carpet. 

The LA Art Show wrapped a socially distanced special summer edition of the fair with half the attendance but doubling their sales! Being among the first events to return live - galleries, art dealers, curators, collectors and art lovers masked up and made their way to Los Angeles Convention Center this past weekend to surround themselves with arts and culture. 

It's Not the Roaring Twenties; Get Your Disco Groove on with Niles Rodger's DiscOasis in South Coast Botanical Gardens, Good Times for a Good Cause, "We Are Family" Foundation.

 By Laura Medina

Sensing the world needs to let loose and celebrate life that now includes diversity and inclusivity,  legendary Chic member and producer, Nile Rodgers, with help from old pal, Madonna, he picked the spacious but under-appreciated, lush gem of South Coast Botanical Gardens in Torrance/Rolling Hills Estates/Palo Verdes, just below LAX, to host his dream roller disco rink for the whole month of August then it disappears on Labor Day.

His DiscOasis is an oasis of good times, giving anyone and everyone the creative release to fly "your freak flag." In this day and age, it's no longer "freak."  It's the unique real you in the rainbow spectrum.

DiscOasis is a magical theme park where guests are greeted by performers representing the Hippie Sixties, Seventies Disco, and "Like a Virgin" Madonna Eigthties.

Then, this magical theme park greets them...

Breathing in the open, fresh air and the space for freedom to get your boogie down, with letting it all out and loose and hanging, getting your boogie down as exercise. The happies of the Seventies are back.

Every Sunday night is fun night, Those are the nights that legendary DJs play guest host DJs.  This night was the legendary DJ, Grandmaster Flash.

Convinced by his friend, Nile Rodgers, Grandmaster Flash flew the overnight red eye, landed in LA at 6:30 am then spent the whole day Sunday just get Angelenos to shake their booties for just one night then he's jump back on 11:30pm overnight flight back to NYC.

In one night, in three, non-stop, hand-raising, fist-pumping hours, Grandmaster Flash played his Eighties classics, mixed in with Guns N' Roses and the White Stripes!

There's more to DiscOasis than legendary DJs.

DiscOasis has their roller-skating dance troupe that do classic Disco Waltz dancing.

Ah, the golden age of disco.

There's more to DiscOasis than a dream of a roller rink and a flashing concert stage.

There's a souvenir merchandise tent.  Always two food trucks. Two bars. An vintage video arcade. A VIP area and yes, restrooms.

Even Sunday nights are DJ nights, Tuesday to Saturday nights are great date nights. Get an hint.

Remember, there's "oasis" in it's name for a reason.

Like a disco mirage, it's meant to be temporary.

By Labor Day, all this will be a memory.

If there's anything that quarantine taught us, is to never take any moment for granted.

With Andy Warhol Photo Party, this scribe is having a Seventies/Eighties moment.

In Olympic Spirit, Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles & Soon to be Ambassador to India, There for Angel City Sports and How He Brought the Summer Olympics Back to the City of Angels 2028.

 By Laura Medina

Back at his alma mater, Harvard-Westlake, Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti talked how Harvard-

Westlake and the 1984 Summer Olympics made a big impression on him.

"My parents took me to the 1984 Olympics."

It was because of this, that Angel City Sports held their disabled sports festival at the mayor's old stomping grounds.

Garcetti, a proud Los Angeleno wants to bring the spirit of the Los Angeles Olympics, in just a variety of nationalities and ethnicities all together but to make the City of Angels, sports-friendly to disabled jocks.

He talked how Boston, the original winner of 2028, realized they didn't have facilities, the infrastructure, the money or the time to be up to Olympic level.  But, he won the bid because Los Angeles already have the infrastructure, hosting the Olympics in 1932 and 1984.  10th Street was renamed Olympic Boulevard because of this.

They have experience, the money and the energy with pride and history to revamp facilities and build new ones.

Summer Olympics 2028 is LA28.

When he says these, this is his last few, remaining days as the Mayor of Los Angeles, before he embarks on his new journey as the US Ambassador to India in a few weeks and months.

Roller Disco-ing to Grandmaster Flash at DiscOasis

Grandmaster Flash at DiscOasis

SMALL TOWN NEWS: KPVM PAHRUMP on HBO & HBO Max TONIGHT @ 9 PM ET/PT

 By Laura Medina

SMALL TOWN NEWS: KPVM PAHRUMP provides an entertaining glimpse into a scrappy, hardworking local news broadcaster looking to expand into a bigger market during challenging times. With warmth and humor, the series celebrates the can-do spirit, community pride and political diversity among the station’s charismatic and often humorous employees.

Only 95 independently owned news stations still exist in the United States; KPVM in Pahrump, Nevada, 62 miles west of Las Vegas is one of them. Owned and operated by Vernon Van Winkle, known as “Vern,” and his wife Ronda, a singer/songwriter,  KPVM provides a look at what it takes to report the news in a small desert town with a population of over 37,000. SMALL TOWN NEWS: KPVM PAHRUMP features the heart of Pahrump’s news gathering machine including long-time devoted news director, Deanna, who along with co-anchor Eunette, and reporter Missey, produce and deliver the local nightly news with a small crew from and to the community.  Missey’s husband, John, joins the team as KPVM’s fun-loving weatherman and up and coming sales associate.