Taste of Newport Celebrates it’s 20th Year!

The Taste of Newport is a highly successful three-day party combining great food and drink with equally great music and fun at Newport Center’s Fashion Island. The year’s event runs from Friday, September 19, 2008 through Sunday, September 21, 2008, and tickets can be purchased in advance. General Admission tickets can be purchased at the gate for $25.00.

The schedule is as follows:
Friday, September 19th from 6:00pm-11:00pm
Saturday, September 20th from 4:00pm to 11:00pm
Sunday, September 21st from 12noon to 8:00pm

The Taste of Newport includes culinary offerings from almost 35 of Newport Beach’s finest restaurants, plus 15+ premiere wineries from throughout California as well as other brews and cocktails. This event is so popular that it has consistently attracted over 75,000 attendees during its’ three-day run who had the opportunity to sample great food from great restaurants in a convenient and convivial atmosphere.

To cap off the tasting event, the Taste of Newport includes some great live musical acts.
Friday night’s entertainment is headlined by Third Eye Blind (multi-Platinum Artist), with appearances by The Bolts and The L.A. Superstars.
Saturday’s entertainment is headlined by STYX (four-consecutive Triple Platinum Artist), with appearances by Derek Bordeaux and Lights-the Premier Tribute to Journey.
Sunday’s entertainment is headlines by UB40 (the world’s most popular Reggae Band), with appearances by Derek Bordeaux, Kristi Jo, and the O.C. Beach Band.

For ticket information and prices, go to: http://www.tasteofnewport.com/default.asp?contentID=510

For a list of the 2008 participating Restaurants, go to: http://www.tasteofnewport.com/default.asp?contentID=508

For a list of local charities and grant recipients over the past few years as a result of The Taste of Newport, go to:
http://www.tasteofnewport.com/default.asp?contentID=512
See you there!

Born out of a promise made to her dying sister, Nancy G. Brinker vowed she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. That was 1982 and this is now. Nancy’s promise became the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, the largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Events like the Komen Race for the Cure® have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world, and have invested nearly $1 billion USD to fulfill that original promise from one sister to another.

The Komen Race for the Cure® series has become the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world with more than 120 Races and more than 1.5 million participants in 2008 alone. The Race held this September 28, 2008, at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island area is one of the premier Races attracting typically 30,000 +/- participants. Up to 75% of the net income from each Race stays in the community to fund local breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects. A minimum of 25% of the net income from each Race supports the Komen Award and Research Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking cancer research.

Race Day is Sunday, September 28, 2008, from 6:30am-12noon.
For more information, contact the Komen organization at (714) 957-9157 or race@komenoc.org.
To register: www.ockomen.org/race or call 1-877-GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)

Another great line-up for this month’s continuing sights and sounds of the free Summer Concert Series 2008 at Fashion Island, Newport Center, Newport Beach!  Groove to the following great artists and enjoy their talents over the next several Wednesday evenings.  All concerts start at 7:30pm in the (very large) Bloomingdale outside patio area.  Come early to find your spot.

AUGUST 6th – MELISSA MANCHESTER

The woman of 2007 delivers songs with an earthier, smokier, sexier style than the girl of 1975 who popped out “Midnight Blue.” Each track of “Road” -her new recording – is accompanied by a single instrument – a guitar here, a piano there, even a soulful violin on “When Paris Was a Woman” – a song she says was inspired by the life of Gertrude Stein. “I sing at a lower register than I ever have because I want more intimacy. The songs reflect a more intimate point of view,” says Manchester, who will sing songs from her 2004 CD, “When I Look Down That Road.”

AUGUST 13th – RICCI MARTIN crooning the songs of DEAN MARTIN

Get to know Dean Martin through the eyes of his youngest son, singer, songwriter and musician, Ricci Martin. In this loving tribute to his father, Ricci takes you on a walk down memory lane, singing all of Dean’s most familiar songs like “Volare,” “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You,” “Memories Are Made of This” and of course, Dean’s chart-topping signature ballad, “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime.”

AUGUST 20th – MARILYN McCOO and BILLY DAVIS, Jr.

Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. have enjoyed tremendous success through the years as recording artists, performers and authors. They have received 7 Grammy Awards and earned 15 gold and 3 platinum records, and enjoyed starring roles on television and stage. They have performed to sold-out concerts around the world. In 2004 the couple wrote a critically applauded book, which shares their secrets of staying happy and committed to each other in Hollywood. It’s entitled Up, Up and Away…How We Found Love, Faith and Lasting Marriage in the Entertainment World.

What a fabulous round-up of talent for the month of August.  Enjoy!

Here’s a list that’s been circulating of free WiFi spots/Internet access in Newport Beach. Check it out and send me any additions or corrections to this list.

Apple Store – Fashion Island

Panera Bread – 1348 Bison Avenue (close to Macarthur)

Newport Beach Brewing Company – 2920 Newport Blvd. (Peninsula)

The Cannery – 3010 Lafayette Rd (on Peninsula @ 30th)

Gelson’s Markets – 1660 San Miguel Dr (& San Joaquin Hills)

Wienerschnitzel – 4501 Jamboree Road (b/t Macarthur & Campus)

Jack in the Box – 4625 W Coast Hwy (@ Superior)

Balboa Saloon – 700 E. Bay Avenue (on Peninsula @ Washington)

Newport Beach Public Library – 1000 Avocado Ave. (just north of Coast Hwy & you need a library card)

Park Newport Apartments – 1 Park Newport (Jamboree @ San Joaquin Hills)

Balboa Yacht Club: 1801 Bayside Dr

For the complete Fashion Island Summer Concert Series 2008, see the post below.  Here’s the line-up for July 2008.  Enjoy!

July 16, 2008 – Diane Schuur:  Music on the Island, Fashion Island Summer Concert Series 2008, Newport Center

Vocalist/pianist Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. A longtime disciple of Dinah Washington and other legendary jazz singers of the ‘40s and ‘50s, Schuur has built a stellar career by embracing not only the jazz of her parents’ generation, but also the pop music of her own youth during the late 1950s and ‘60s. In a recording career that spans nearly three decades – and includes two Grammy Awards and three Grammy nominations – Schuur’s music has explored nearly every corner of the 20th century American musical landscape. 

Born blind from birth, Schuur discovered the world of jazz from her father, a piano player, and her mother who kept a formidable collection of Duke Ellington and Dinah Washington records in the house.  Schuur has the rare gift of perfect pitch and taught herself piano by ear to accompany her rich, resonant vocal style.

Diane Schuur’s July 2008 Schedule:  (1) Newport Beach, CA Fashion Island – July 16, 2008;  (2) Paris, France  New Morning Club  July 19, 2008;  (3) La Spezia, Italy  Paizza del Bastione-Jazz Festival  July 20, 2008.

July 23, 2008 – John Waite:  Music on the Island, Fashion Island Summer Concert Series 2008, Newport Center

If one were asked to sum up the life and music of John Waite in one word, that word would have to be “romantic.” There’s a fairy tale quality to his story that, like most good fairy tales, contains a good deal of darkness and conflict to go along with the princesses and epic sojourns. From his early days through cold, dark winters in Northern England, to the night lights of New York City, to the tours that have taken his bands to the far corners of the world and back, Waite has lived like a modern troubadour. His songs describe a restless spirit in search of deeper meaning, true love, and the poetry in the landscape–whether it be rural England or the human heart.

July 30, 2008 – Freda Payne, A Tribute to Ella Fitgerald:  Music on the Island, Fashion Island Summer Concert Series 2008, Newport Center

Fashion Island in Newport Center does it again as it’s hosting their annual free Concert Series every Wednesday evening beginning at 7:30pm in the Bloomingdale’s Courtyard.  Concerts are complimentary but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Preferred, reserved seating is available for $20 through Guest Services (949.721.2000).  Come early and dine in Newport Center while enjoying the balmy ambiance of this lovely coastal area.  This is a perfect mid-week break in the routine and music is good for the soul.

2008 Summer Concert Series schedule:   Jul 16 2008 Music on the Island – Diane Schuur     *    Jul 23 2008 Music On The Island – John Waite     *    Jul 30 2008 Music On The Island – Freda Payne, A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald     *    Aug 06 2008 Music On The Island – Melissa Manchester     *    Aug 13 2008 Music On The Island – Ricci Martin, An Evening of Dean Martin Music and More     *    Aug 20 2008 Music On The Island – Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.