In a way, Sofia Partida was destined to make exceptional tequila. After all, the involvement her family has had in the process of making the Mexican agave-based liquor runs about five generations deep. Yet as the Southern California Regional Manager of Partida Tequila, the libations that proudly carry her moniker not only speak of her lineage, but it also symbolizes the passion for hospitality that flows strongly within her veins. In Partida’s eyes, every customer that purchases her product is just as important as the friends and family that she has entertained since moving to Orange County fifteen years ago. This viewpoint not only drives Partida to consistently produce tremendous premium tequila, it also has allowed her to forge a keenly strong connection with her customers and Orange County as a whole... Read More

Stepping Up to High Art

What to Look For When Buying that First Piece of Laguna Beach Artwork

One of the joys of living in Orange County is dropping by Laguna Beach and exploring their abundance of art galleries. In fact, the only thing better than going from venue to venue to admire the various creative talents is to plunk down some cash and purchase a piece. After all, there are few luxury items in life that make you feel truly successful than seeing an original or a limited reprint hanging somewhere in your home. Every time you walk buy the piece, it strokes your ego by serving as a reminder that you have, in fact, been rewarded for your accomplishments. Not to mention that the right piece of art will make you feel like a bit of a bad-as... Read More 

Well, That Happened: Why Your New Year’s Resolution to be Healthy Will Likely Fail

So you’ve arrived at 2012. Congratulations and welcome! You made it. While you don’t get a prize for getting here, you did get out of 2011, which is probably a reward in its own right. So go ahead and pat yourself on the back. While you’re at it, go ahead and resign yourself to the fact that whatever health-related New Year’s resolution you made for yourself, if it hasn’t been broken by now, will more than likely be smashed to bits in the very near future; possibly even before you finish reading this article... Read More  

The True Mystique of Tequila

There’s a reason why tequila has earned the dubious nickname of “ta-kill-ya.” The truth is no liquor is more responsible for a higher concentration of weird, wild, and dangerous stories than the one drawn from Mexico’s agave plants. Everyone has at least one person in their life that hasn’t touched a drop of the stuff because of “that one night back in college…”. Most of us probably have two or three folks in their circle that fit this profile. And while this may be viewed as a bad thing, it really shouldn’t. In a way, it only adds to the mystique of the alcoholic beverage..... Read More  

But What Do They Mean? Inside a Diamond’s Four C’s

The four Cs. It is a term that you have undoubtedly heard of if you have entered a jewelry store and looked at diamonds. You may have even heard it spoken about with some kind of grand importance and significance. The elements that make up this vital quartet are simple enough to memorize; carat, clarity, color, and cut. And throughout the years of looking and purchasing various kinds of diamond-studded necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings, you have gathered that they collectively form the measuring stick that separates a good diamond from a great diamond.... Read More  

Big Screen TVs: Still Tuned into Luxury?

Thirty years ago, long before the computer and digital ages came and revolutionized the way we consumed entertainment, the pinnacle of multimedia achievement was the projection television unit. Massive, expensive, and not exactly conspicuous, these beastly two-piece ambassadors of amusement not only dominated living room space, they served as an ultimate reminder of technological luxury. And with good reason: Back in the early eighties, the notion of firing up a projection TV to watch a football game or a movie on one of those new-fangled VHS tapes was an event that seemed nothing short of being larger than life....Read More >>

Bonding with James - Several Car Brands Can Help You Find Your Inner Spy

Bond.  James Bond.

That sound of that three-word phrase is simple yet elegant, and its utterance instantly evokes images of high adventure and an unmatched feeling of sleek style.  It also makes us think of the virtual army of slick cars that the film icon has driven since Sean Connery first set foot in a Chevrolet Bel Air convertible in Dr. No; a vehicle that almost seems modest compared to some of the rides that have graced the film series since...Read More >>

Finding a Winner in the Battle Between South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island...
One is enclosed, the other is wide open.  One is positioned as an entryway to extravagance, the other sits in the midst of surrounding luxury.  One is freeway close, while the other nearly hugs the coastline. Chances are these things are the first differences that come to mind if asked to describe the difference between South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island.  From there, any contrasts that are discussed between the two legendary shopping centers may be a little bit tougher to dig up, if only because there are so many things about the two complexes that are so similar.  Both opened to the public in 1967.  Both contain an abundance of experiences that are geared specifically toward those who enjoy life’s most indulgent pleasures.  Both are marketed to Orange County with impossibly attractive people wearing faces of varying sultriness.  Neither damages your social status if you admit to shopping there on occasion..…Read More » 

John Wayne Airport: The Only Way to Fly

It was founded by a local pilot.  It is named after a celluloid cowboy.  It accepts millions of people through its gates every year.  Its quirky rules and regulations are the stuff of legend. 
While all of these points serve as accurate descriptions of John Wayne Airport, perhaps the most important aspect of this airport originated by Orange County aviation pioneer Eddie Martin is the fact that it is not LAX.... Read More >>

 The Art of Dressing Elegantly

What should I wear? These four little words, when strung together, form one of the most complex questions that can be asked.  And in a real sense, a properly thought out answer seems to be tougher now than what it used to be.  Thirty years ago, if you were going to a fine restaurant, a show at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, a charity event, or even a business meeting, the way to answer the question was basic and to the point:  Suit and tie for the man – maybe a tuxedo if the occasion was indeed special – and either a suit or cocktail dress for the woman ... Read More >>   

The Power of Incidental Exercise

Can’t get to the gym? Try doing some “incidental” exercise instead. Incidental exercise is exercise you do when you’re not engaged in a structured workout. It’s the daily activities you do every day like raking leaves, running the vacuum cleaner, taking out the trash and scrubbing the floors. Most people don’t count this as part of their exercise program, but new research shows that these activities count when it comes to fitness..... Read More >>  

Up, Up, and Away to Upcountry Maui

The first streams of sunlight shoot deep red, orange, and pink hues over the top of white fluffy clouds and off of rugged mountain outcroppings, making you instantly forget about your groggy stumble out of bed and subsequent drive to the mountaintop where you stand. You drive past rolling acres of lush farmland on your descent from your elevated plateau, which leads you into a downtown area whose rustic buildings easily lure you to find a breakfast place. As you nosh on a plate of down-home grub, a gentleman in a pair of intricately carved boots walks past your table and gently doffs his pristine white ten-gallon hat your way. ...Read More >>

A Region Revitalized: Why A Weekend Getaway to the Temecula Valley is Worth Your Time
Here is an experiment for you.  Go up to someone in your neighborhood, your office, or your next social event, bring up the subject of spending a weekend in the Temecula Valley, and gauge their ensuing reaction.  If you are met with any combination of a nose crinkle, eye roll, or a head shake in a negative fashion, proceed to ask the person when the last time they have tried a Temecula wine.  Chances are the response you will receive will be an older date range going back to around 2000 or earlier.  If this is indeed the case, you will have every right to tell them that the opinion that they hold in regard to Southern California’s lone wine region is invalid, outdated, and needs to be re-assessed immediately.  Furthermore, politely yet sternly inform them they owe it to themselves to take a couple of days out of their busy schedule and explore the area in all of its award-winning glory...Read More

Letting Your Wine Breathe- Why and How to Decant Wine
In the world of wine, a new adventure comes with the pop of every cork. While it can be hard to keep from drinking a new wine right away, it may be worth the wait to decant it first. Why should you decant wine? Decanting is the process of introducing oxygen to wine to “open up” its flavors. Think of wine as a living thing that needs air to breathe just like you do. Exposing it to air releases all the characteristics that were confined inside the bottle just waiting to be freed...Read More »