Featured story ~~ Christmas Season in Southern California

As we enter the Christmas season and holidays, some of the best places in Southern California to see, dine and/or experience are in this article; if you want the IPA Magazine opinion!

Glamour and music at the FASHION ISLAND CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING Newport Beach, California

This is just like being at Disneyland. The excitement level is rising; expectations are high as seen in the eyes of the beautiful little children, in their fashionable christmas outfits, who are standing up in their seats, patiently awaiting the big show! A 90 ft. tree adorns the plaza which has approximately 20,000 lights.Fashion Island has been a magical setting for the last 7 years, as a premiere venue for the annual Christmas Tree lighting which takes place in front of Bloomingdale’s, near Neiman Marcus. This year, Fashion Island officials expected 10,000 guests to attend the 2 nights of the tree lighting, Nov. 15 and 16th at 6 p.m.

Sam Rubin, KTLA Entertainment Reporter was the host of the evening festivities. Special appearances from Disneyland Ambassador, Megan Navarette, as well as, the famous Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the hosts of the Disney ceremonies. Did you know Mickey and Minnie are Disneyland’s ‘first couple’? Mickey and Minnie sang songs from Disneyland’s ‘Christmas Fantasy Parade’ which shows at the Disneyland Park in Anaheim. Then, ‘Goofy’ came on stage singing ‘Must Be Santa’. All of the children were in awe and clapping for their favorite Disney characters. Next, ‘Donald Duck’ did a medley of songs with the Disney singers/dancers, “Feliz Navidad”, “Dashing through the Snow’, “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,”, among a few of the songs.

If you didn’t think this was over the top, the finale was a show stopper!! ‘Snow or bubbles’, came out the top of huge columns placed throughout the courtyard. Yes, instant snow and the feeling of Christmas beauty!!

Each year, there is a different theme and guest. A great start to the holiday season. Be sure to check the dates each year, as typically this is held 1-2 weeks prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. You don’t want to miss it!!A truly magical night. Many thanks to the Irvine Company who sponsored this event.

Go back in time to the good old days and visit JULIAN, California – great fun for the entire family!

The town of Historic Julian is always one of my favorite destinations. From Orange County, it takes a little over an hour driving, and from San Diego, it’s an hour east. Julian is an historic gold mining town. It’s the premier mountain retreat in the county and is unique in that it has 4 seasons. Also, it’s the B & B capital of Southern California, known for its romantic atmosphere, but it’s becoming a great destination for families, hikers, weddings and corporate retreats. Julian is famous for its apples and their ‘superb apple pie’, which when I was there, long lines were forming outside all of the pie houses, as people order their pies for the Holiday’s. Specialty shops line the streets. During Christmas, it’s truly a display of old fashioned christmas, reminiscent of years ago that you may have remembered. Walking the street, a horse drawn carriage goes by with a couple entranced with each other, enjoying the wonderful ambiance.

At the Julian Cider Mill, get yourself a warm fresh cup of homemade apple cider, piled high with whipped cream.The Cider Mill has been family owned and operated for over 30 years, with the Slaughter’s original ideals of low prices, family values, cleanliness, and excellent products still in practice today. The Mill is managed by Willis’s granddaughter, Sandra Moretti, and run by a friendly and knowledgable staff who are always ready to serve you. My favorite is the ‘Jalapeno Honey Mustard’, the garlic sesame strips and this year I tried the ‘Holiday Jam’, a blend of orange liqueur with a touch of pears and rasberries. This is a wonderful jam for all holiday parties.

It’s hard to decide what I like most about the JULIAN BREWING COMPANY & BAILEY’S BBQ!

Just down the street, I noticed a line of people flowing out the door of this restaurant and out on to the sidewalk. So I went in to see what all the excitement was about. I squeezed my way up to the hostess and asked her “Is this place really that good”? She said “Absolutely.” When I mentioned I was with the magazine, she led me through the crowd of people back to the kitchen to meet the owner. This is where we went from completely hungry to seriously full!!

Vince Marsaglia, the Owner, was hospitable and proud of his restaurant. He showed us his BBQ brick wood pit where he stokes the fire to cook the meats above. Myself and associates were served a tasting tray of pulled pork, beef brisket, beef ribs and tri-tip but not before we tasted samples of 4 different kinds of beer. All of the meats are ‘mouth watering’ and so delicious. Then, we had sides of potato salad, cucumber salad, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese. Every item is freshly made each day. BBQ plates and sides have ample servings. Other menu items are: appetizers (nachos are awesome!), salads, sandwiches, kids meals and besides the BBQ, they have their own Brewing Company. Try the ‘Julian Brewing Co., Cedar Creek Honey beer’ – a nice blend of honey and lemon.

The prices are truly reasonable, especially for families. Service is excellent. It’s not gourmet, but it is comfort food, at it’s best. It could be considered a ‘gourmet BBQ’; at least many people I talked to were positive it was. Please visit them while in Julian or go to their website at: www.baileybbq.com. On certain nights and days they have live entertainment on their stage.

We could have stayed here all day, to tell you the truth, but we had to move on. I will be back whenever I visit Julian!

Lots of comfort food and joy at MOM’S PIES JULIAN

For those of you apple pie lovers or that have a large sweet tooth, this is the place for you! Once again, drawn by the commotion of a line going out the door along the sidewalk ( note: I’m learning quick in this town, when there is a line out the door, there is something good to be had!) thank my lucky stars this time, I didn’t have to wait in this line and was ushered straight to the manager, Richard Bell. He told me to grab a table as quickly as possible. It took 15 minutes for one to come available. So, I suggest when you get here, if there’s more than one of you, split up and have one person wait to grab a table and the other person wait in line to put in your order.

I love their newest dessert, ‘Apple Dumpling’ – a whole apple is peeled and cored and mixed with nutmeg, brown sugar, cinnamon, baked in a cream cheese and butter flakey crust on the outside. Simply delicious! As I was enjoying my dessert, I started to give the place a real good look and noticed in the kitchen, behind the counter were hundreds of pies packed in boxes ready to be shipped, sold or picked-up.

Everything we sampled; the apple boysenberry pie, apple pie, etc., are outstanding. For more information, go vist them or view their website at: www.momspiesjulian.com.

For more information on the wonderful town of Julian, please visit their website at www.julianca.com for the most updated information on upcoming events, tours, wineries, places to eat and lodging. This is a great place to come even for 1 day, especially during the Holiday season!!

One of the best restaurants is SUNDRIED TOMATO AMERICAN BISTROS & CATERING San Juan Capistrano, California

SUNDRIED TOMATO is one of the most popular cuisine’s in the historic downtown of San Juan Capistrano. It is known for its signature ‘Tomato Soup’. Per Ashley, the General Manager, besides the locals and surrounding cities, customers literally take the train from Los Angeles, arrive at the Train Depot, minutes to the restaurant, and specifically come for the ‘tomato soup’ or other entree’s. It is simply that delicious!

SUNDRIED TOMATO opened 20 years ago. Some of the ‘new’ changes to this location is a ‘patio.’ Happy hour is served both inside and outside the restaurant daily from 3-7pm. One of their biggest attractions is their Catering department. They have a large kitchen and staff to accommodate most events, including weddings, corporate events, or smaller parties. On Saturday night, they were doing 14 parties in one night, per Ashley.

Ashley, a very gracious host, started myself and associates with a sampling of the famous ‘tomato soup.’ This is so rich and creamy, I definitely understand why people come here just for the soup!! Then, following, were a sampling of starters, ‘crispy blackened chicken spring rolls with a honey-cilantro pesto sauce.’ The ‘honey-cilantro pesto sauce’ can be purchased in the restaurant. Absolutely delicious. We had a sampling of the mini ‘rustic jars’, roasted artichoke hummus, and sundried tomato, pesto and whipped goat cheese torte served with the most delicious flatbread. From the pasta section, we had samples of the ‘Blackened chicken over bowtie’ pasta. This dish has whole roasted garlic, red bell pepper, sundried tomato puree, gorgonzola, asiago, parmesan cheese. For you cheese lovers, this is the dish for you! This dish is a favorite of mine. Our evenings main dish was the ‘6oz. prime filet Bacon-Wrapped Medallion’, made with blackberry sage brown butter. We were so full and satisfied, our stomachs would not even allow for dessert!!!! This is a very high quality, creative cuisine with exquisite menu items that will keep you coming back for more and more. SUNDRIED TOMATO has one other location in San Clemente in Talega. You must treat yourself and go to either the San Juan Capistrano or San Clemente location. Please visit their website at www.sundriedtomatocafe.com. During the Holiday season, receive 20% discount off of your dinner ticket if you attend a performance at the Camino Real Playhouse, located across the street.

A magical Christmas at DISNEY RESORT AND DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK Anaheim, California

A must stop at Christmas, for you and the family and for those travelling to California, are both of the Disneyland Parks! Trust me, and do yourself a favor, get Park Hopper tickets so that you can enjoy both Parks, as they are equally enchanting. Each Park has their own unique shows and rides to experience. The above picture is from the newest show, ‘The World of Color’ which easily compares to the water fountain show at Bellgaio in Las Vegas. This can be seen nightly at the Disneyland California Adventure Park from Nov. 13 through Jan. 6, 2015 this year.

Explore 8 exciting lands that bring to life Disney and Pixar stories and characters through amazing attractions, entertainment and dining! The 2 most recent additions—Buena Vista Street and the awe-inspiring Cars Land—join the themed lands of Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak, Paradise Pier, Pacific Wharf, “a bug’s land” and Hollywood Land. With so much to do day and night, Disney California Adventure Park has something for every member of your family.

DISNEYLAND PARK

Every yuletide holiday, Main Street, U.S.A.—Walt’s idyllic vision of the main thoroughfare of his childhood hometown—is transformed into an avenue aglow with seasonal splendor, and this year is no exception.

Festive garlands, cheerful wreaths and thousands of white and colored lights illuminate the night sky. A towering 60-foot Christmas tree, festooned with more than 70,000 lights and 2,000 custom-made ornaments, reaches for the sky while the smells of freshly made peanut brittle and fudge fill the air.

And what would the holidays at Disneyland Park be without music? Don’t miss the Main Street Carolers as they delight Guests with their tuneful renditions of classic Christmas carols accompanied by pealing handbells.

Then turn your attention toward Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle for the spellbinding Believe… In Holiday Magic fireworks spectacular, a fitting conclusion to a most magical evening.

Stroll on the boardwalk or view from a boat the Christmas lights at BALBOA ISLAND Newport Beach, California

As Newport Beach’s Christmas Card to the world, the boat parade will set the harbor ablaze for five consecutive nights, beginning Wednesday, December 18 and ending Sunday, December 22, 2013. The parade starts off Bay Island at 6:30 pm and finishes at the same site at approximately 9:00 pm each evening.

Beautiful multi-million dollar yachts, kayaks, canoes and other small boats will light up the harbor as a dazzling array of holiday lights and music fill the air at the Christmas Boat Parade. Many of the boats will be richly decorated with animated Christmas scenes accompanied by music and costumed carolers. Some boat owners in the past have spent over $50,000 to decorate their vessels for the event. The Christmas floats will wind their way some 14 miles around the harbor to give viewers in restaurants, yacht clubs, on public beaches, and in private homes an incredible sight that has delighted millions of people for a century.

The Christmas Boat Parade, which has been hailed as “one of the top ten holiday happenings in the nation” by the New York Times, is truly a magical holiday tradition for all ages. The parade continues to be a premier event during the holiday season in Southern California that brings joy and happiness to all that view it.

RING OF LIGHTS, Newport Beach, California

Serving as the backdrop for the hundreds of lighted boats in the parade is the annual “Ring of Lights” contest, hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Beautifully decorated bayside homes and businesses surrounding the harbor go “all out” with their own holiday spirit, featuring everything from roof-top animated scenes to dancing Christmas trees. With its own judged categories and prizes awarded, the “Ring of Lights” has become as celebrated as the boat parade itself.

Award winning homes this year. The ‘Beary’ Christmas house on the left and look for the home with the ‘penguins’ on the right which had a fabulous light show. People walking with their hot cocoa in hand,stopping and gazing in amazement at these fantastically decorated homes. This reminds me of driving the neighborhoods with my parents several nights a week right before Christmas. After you’re done here, I would head over to Laguna Hills to a housing development called Nellie Gale and view their spectacular homes all decorated in lights.

Now, let’s get some BBQ over at Stoney’s place. His restaurant is called BBQ BALBOA at the Balboa Fun Zone, Newport Peninsula, California

This is my favorite spot to watch the Christmas boat parade go by and eat some amazing BBQ!! Prices are very reasonable with large portions! Every sample we had was ‘mouthwatering’….pulled pork, baby back ribs, southern brisket and the sides, BBQ beans ( best ever with a hint of brown sugar) and homemade potato salad (just like Mom used to make it). If you’re on Balboa Island, take the Ferry over to the Fun Zone. There is a ferris wheel, lots of boutique shops, and an Arcade. Fun for the whole family!

GULLIVER’S RESTAURANT AT CHRISTMAS OR ANY TIME OF THE YEAR! Irvine, California

We were graciously greeted by Oded Mazor, the owner of Gulliver’s and were made to feel right at home as he does all of his customers. My first suggestion, if you’re going to order their world famous ‘prime rib’, would be to compliment it with a bottle of Alexander Valley Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon. It isn’t hard to find a restaurant serving prime rib and steak in Orange County, but how many can seat you at John Wayne’s favorite table? The charismatic screen legend was a frequent guest at Gulliver’s and it’s easy to see why. The portions are huge, the service is friendly, and most importantly, the beef is cooked to perfection.

Come to Gulliver’s and travel back in time to 18th century England. Escape from the stresses of the 21st century and enjoy a dining experience you’ll long remember. Your English dining experience at Gulliver’s includes an experienced, gracious staff, a hearty meal and comfortable environment. Guests are surrounded by a veritable museum of leaded glass pieces, pewter and ceramic objects, and a collection of prints from Hogarth, Rowlandson and other Gulliver’s Travels illustrators.

Then we asked Oded about the wonderful christmas decorations throughout the restaurant and bar area. He said their bartender, Dennis who has been with the restaurant for over 30 years, literally transforms the restaurant into a traditional ‘christmas village’ every year. Dennis has a real dedication and love for this restaurant, which is evident as he adorns Gulliver’s with the most fabulous authentic Christmas decor; including Old-fashioned Santa Clauses, extra large wreaths with beautiful red bows, Christmas villages under the tree. Per Dennis, it takes him almost 80 hours to perfect this amazing beauty which can not be found in any other restaurant in Orange County! This is a must see.

The menu offers something for every taste, and lovers of Prime Rib will savor the choice cuts. Hand-selected beef (corn-belt) is slow roasted in a unique patented oven system to assure flavorful, tender and juicy Prime Rib dinners. Three different cuts are offered: Brobdingnagian, the biggest, best and bone in; Gulliver’s Prime Cut; and the thinly sliced Traditional English Cut. Other specialties include in-house aged Prime Steaks, Châteaubriand, Salmon, Rack of Lamb, Baby Back Ribs and roasted Long Island Duck. Dinner accompaniments include hearty cream soups, freshly prepared salads, spinach souffle, Yorkshire pudding and Gulliver’s legendary creamed corn. I sampled the ‘prime rib’ which melted in my mouth. I was having a “heavenly dining moment”. ” It was done to perfection, and their horseradish sauce was perfect in every way.”

Lunch time regulars enjoy favorites like Shrimp and Crab Louie salad, Ahi Tuna salad and warm New York steak salad. The lunch menu also offers Fish and Chips, a variety of sandwiches, lunch cuts of Prime Rib and the Catch of the Day. Daily lunch specials range from Roast Loin of Pork to Short Ribs and old fashioned Pot Roast. Whether you dine at Gulliver’s for lunch or dinner, be sure to leave room for one of the mouthwateringdesserts, freshly prepared in-house. The authentic English trifle is almost too beautiful to eat, filled with Devonshire cream, raspberries, layers of sponge cake, a sprinkle of rum and topped with whipped cream, strawberries and sherry. Equally tempting, the Baked Alaska, Bananas Foster, Raspberry Crème Brûlée and Chocolate Fantasy Cake will linger in your memory long after the last bite.

Gulliver’s lively Pub has long been a popular meeting place. Elbow up to the solid oak copper top bar for an ale on tap, or gather with friends on the new patio for appetizers and cocktails. Selections range from a Shrimp Martini Cocktail to Dungeness Crab Cakes and a Carpaccio Duet of Smoked Salmon, Tenderloin Beef and Capers served with horseradish and parmesan.

A wonderful place to dine for lunch and dinner. Please visit their website at www.gulliversrestaurant.com.

What I love about Knott’s Berry Farm, is that you can enjoy all of the Christmas festivities and decorations, while ushering in the New Year’s Eve with a warm wholesome environment for the whole family.

The countdown to the New Year is on at Knott’s Merry Farm! With special fireworks, live entertainment, and extended hours, plus Knott’s signature rides and attractions, Knott’s New Year’s Eve celebration is the place to ring in 2014.

Special one-night-only entertainment serves up family fun for a variety of ages and interests, including the Midnight Party on the Midway! Count down the New Year with music, stilt walkers, party hats, and noisemakers for everyone. And new this year, the Knott’s Sky Cabin, adorned with special lighting effects, will dramatically rise to the top of the “K” tower to count down the final moments of 2013. The cabin will reach the top at the stroke of midnight and the skies above Knott’s will be ablaze with colorful fireworks!There’s live entertainment everywhere you turn.

Adding to the line-up of can’t miss performers are:

• Krazy Kirk & The Hillbillies! From the deep country hills of Anaheim, these boys will have toes tappin’ hands clappin’ and guts bustin’ during the best darn musical comedy show ever performed on the Wilderness Dance Hall stage.
• The Reflexx, the ultimate 80’s party band, headlines the Calico Square Stage with a blast to the past of radical music from Depeche Mode, Flock of Seagulls, A-Ha, and more. And before The Reflexx take the stage, DJ REESSO spins popular high energy music in the Calico Square.
• Comedy Magic of Dana Daniels will fill the Boardwalk Ballroom with uproarious laughter as he combines clean comedy, astounding magic, and a psychic parrot in his show.
• Sharp Turn Ahead will headline the Camp Snoopy Theater with the up-and-coming teen duo’s fresh combination of energetic acoustic guitar and smooth keys, playing original tunes and covers of today’s pop hits.
• Salsa Dancing with Louie Angon, DJ JC & Snoopy invite you to show off your dance moves at Fiesta Plaza and groove to the beat of this spicy music scene that’s Hot Hot Hot!
• Party in the Dance Hall is home to boot scootin’ line dancing and two-stepping good times led by Dusty, the line dance caller on the Wilderness Dance Hall stage (between Krazy Kurk sets).
• It’s Christmas, Snoopy will present encore performances into the evening. Join Snoopy and his pals as they skate their way through the joys of the Holiday season.
• Snoopy’s Magical Nights of Lights features thousands of sparkling lights and holiday music throughout Camp Snoopy all night long, beginning at dusk.

New for 2013, the Ghost Town and Calico Railroad celebrates Christmas on Engine 41. Calico Steam Train is pulling out of the station and it’s time to gather your packages and experience a Calico Christmas! There’s a whole cast of characters ready to brighten your holidays with Christmas cheer and traveling adventures. Climb aboard a vintage railcar and meet an ever-changing group of Ghost Town residents eager to share their Christmas plans with you.