Beer and Firefighters For a Good Cause

OC BREW HA HA Festival Fundraiser to Feature 100+ Craft Beers, 50+ Breweries

9/11 fundraiser to support Orange County Fallen Firefighters Relief Fund

Irvine, Calif., September 2010 – The Orange County community will be given the opportunity to honor fallen firefighters during a unique 9/11 celebration, the OC Brew Ha Ha festival fundraiser from noon to 3 p.m. at Hidden Valley Park in Irvine. On Saturday, September 11, attendees will have the opportunity to sample more than 100 custom craft beers from some of the most prestigious breweries in Southern California, as well as enjoy food, entertainment and beer seminars. In addition, off-duty firefighters will be pouring and serving up brews to the public throughout the event.

This 9/11 event will serve as a way to observe and show appreciation for local firefighters as a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales are donated to the Fallen Firefighters Relief Fund, a non-profit organization that aids families of Orange County firefighters lost in the line of duty.

All tickets, restricted to those 21 years and older, include a commemorative glass and 10 four-oz. samplings, free water/soft drinks, and free parking. Additional samplings may be purchased – three for $5. Regular admission is $35 per adult and special VIP packages are available starting at $45 for early admission (11 a.m. entry), two extra tastes, and preferred parking. Other packages include a $60 pass with an exclusive food and beer gathering with brewers and firefighters after the event (3 p.m. – 4 p.m.); and a $10 Designated Driver ticket for those who will not be sampling brews. For more details or to purchase tickets, visit ocbrewhaha.com  or call (949) 363-1774.

“As a retired Lieutenant Commander from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves, I have a special interest in helping those associated with service to the community and to our country, so I wanted to produce a 9/11 event that celebrated the contributions of the many brave men and women who wear uniforms to serve and protect,” commented Carrie James, event producer for the OC Brew Ha Ha fundraiser. “Our goal is to raise funds while having a great time enjoying quality beers at what we hope will become an annual craft beer festival in Orange County.”

In addition, guests will be able to gain knowledge from Beer Appreciation Presentations, some led by fully certified Cicerones. In the beer industry, this is the equivalent of a wine Sommelier, and the OC Brew Ha Ha will have four of the most respected authorities on beer in the nation: Ed Heethuis (Celebrator Beer News), discussing Sensory Analysis of Beer; Stef Ferrari (The Bruery), on the topic of Barrel Aging: Past, Present & Future; Jonathan Porter (Tustin Brewing), on The Journey from Homebrew to Going Pro and Dr. Bill Sysak (Stone Brewing), revealing the Secrets of Exceptional Food & Beer Pairing.
The OC Brew Ha Ha will be held at Hidden Valley Park (8800 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618), one of the premier private-event facilities in Southern California. It is centrally located in Irvine, between the Verizon Amphitheater and Wild Rivers, where the 5 and 405 come together. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ocbrewhaha.com

For more information, contact: Mona Shah, Moxxe PR at +1 818 749 1931 or mona@moxxepr.com

On our Pandora: Weezer's "Say It Ain't So"

Hot off the Presses!

"That's the last time we have a monkey do our PR!"

Ah, King Kong. The most misunderstood primate of all. People thought he was out to destroy the human race (beginning with that pretty blonde), when really all he wanted was to get the word out about The OC Gazette. There's a tragedy, if I ever saw one.

But you know what's not a tragedy? The September issue, being hot off the presses! The rumors are true, it's HERE! This month we feature an exclusive interview with funny man Jon Lovitz, a look at Aerosmith's current shenanigans, a day in the life of Tiger Army front man Nick 13, an artist spotlight on fashion illustrator Danny Roberts, the history of the Tustin blimp hangars, a spotlight on Surfrider Foundation, your local events calendar, and much more!

Pick up your copy today! As always: It's free! Free! Free!

Read on and prosper!

-Blythe

on my Pandora: Spoon's "I Saw the Light" 

Culture Crash Course at OCMA

[Lawrence Schiller, Tippi Hedren and Alfred Hitchcock, Los Angeles, 1962]

Alright, we both know you're long overdue for your dose of cultural enrichment. But don't worry, I've got just the thing for you. OCMA has an exhibit going on through October 3rd called "15 Minutes of Fame: Portraits From Ansel Adams to Andy Warhol." As the name obviously infers, the show covers a wide and varied range of photographers and styles: early modernism, the 1930s to 1960s, photojournalistic street photography, and contemporary portraiture. It's like a crash course to get you up to speed on all the culture you've been missing out on!



- Amy
On my Blip.fm : Neko Case's "Pretty Girls"

15 Minutes of Fame: Portraits From Ansel Adams to Andy Warhol

Exhibit: Goes through Oct 3rd

Museum hours: Wednesday - Sunday - 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday - 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Location : OCMA,  850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660
Admission : Adults - $12, 

      Students (w/ valid ID) & Seniors (65+) - $10, Children under 12 - Free
      Members - Free
      Second Sunday of the Month - Free

September is California Wine Month

Until very recently, I didn't know that September is California Wine Month. There's an idea! Even though OC may not be sprawling with vineyards, we sure do appreciate some good vino, don't we? A PR friend of mine (a valuable friend in my line of work) tipped me off about it recently, and informed me about some great deals to post for you readers. La Casa Del Camino, Laguna Beach Inn, and Hotel Menage will be offering "Sip, Sand, and Save" packages in honor of California Wine Month. Here are the deets (click on the hotel names to visit their websites):  

1) Sip, Sand and Save— The Hotel La Casa Del Camino, 
Laguna Beach
Located in the heart of Laguna Beach, La Casa del Camino Hotel is celebrating California Wine month by offering a getaway just steps from the sand.  Enjoy a suite from the renowned Casa Surf Project and a special CA wine themed dinner for two featuring carefully selected California Wines paired with delicious entrees from Chef Craig (voted Top Chef in Orange County 2010) at the hotel’s famed K’ya Bistro.   
Casa Surf Suite Sun-Thurs: $269, and Fri-Sat: $369 (Savings of $60.00)

2) Sip, Sand and Save— Laguna Beach Inn, Laguna Beach
Located in a prime stretch of Laguna Beach, the Laguna Beach Inn is celebrating California Wine Month with premier rates for a vacation by the sea.  With the Laguna Beach Inn Sip, Sand and Save package, guests enjoy an overnight stay plus includes breakfast for two at K’ya Bistro and a complimentary bottle of CA wine. 
Available Sunday - Thursday: $139 (Savings of 25% off)

3) Sip, Stay and Save—Hotel Ménage, Anaheim

Stay at Hotel Ménage, located steps away from Disneyland®, and Sip, Stay and Save on your next California vacation.  Hotel Ménage is celebrating California Wine Month with this exclusive package featuring an overnight stay in our Standard Room and complimentary bottle of CA wine. Featured amenities at Hotel Ménage include modern stained concrete floors, dramatic eleven-foot ceilings, ambient lighting, cozy sitting area, over-sized custom desk, and state-of-the-art 42” high-definition plasma television.

Sun-Thurs: $99, Fri-Sat: $109 (Savings of 20% off)

Happy sipping, sanding, and saving!

-Blythe

on my iTunes: Andrew Bird's "Nomenclature"

A Tale of Two Kings

Tucked in the trees in Garden Grove's historic center lies the Festival Amphitheater, where this and every summer talented actors perform some of Will Shakespeare's best plays. Last month, Shakespeare Orange County featured the lighthearted romp “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” filled with love triangles, laughs, and even a really adorable dog (I hear he's a union actor.) For nine performances in September, the theater takes a serious turn as it presents “King Lear,” a tragedy considered one of Will's best.

The title character will be played by Dennis Krausnick, a well-known theater guru and a founder of Shakespeare & Company: located in Massachussetts, the company is one of the country's most prestigious. Other actors include Evelyn Carol Case, Carl Reggiardo, Kim Blair-Shively, Michael Nehring, and Ryan Shively. Against the late-summer sky, the actors perform their roles in the outdoor theater unamplified and with a thorough knowledge of the work, making for an intimate experience. I've been lucky enough to see a few of Shakespeare Orange County's plays, and as a non-scholar I've been amazed at how understandable and moving the Elizabethan English is when performed by great actors.

After the show, you may need some cheering up (It is a tragedy, after all). Head just down Main Street to the Azteca Mexican Restaurant for an experience fit for a king... or rather, the King. Azteca Mexican Restaurant is home to the Crooner's Lounge, an over-the-top bar devoted to none other than Elvis. With a phenomenal kitschy collection dedicated to the King, you'll swear you're in Graceland. On Thursday nights, the lounge hosts “Drink and Draw,” when local artists come out to work on their projects while sipping beer in the cushy booths. The lounge also hosts a serious karaoke crowd on the weekends, has generous and sweet bartenders, and happens to be where the thespians like to imbibe post-show, so you'll likely rub elbows with some of the actors.

“King Lear” will be performed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. from September 2nd to 18th at the Festival Amphitheater in Garden Grove. Friday, September 3 is the official opening night and will be followed by a wine and cheese reception. Tickets are $32 general admission and $30 for students and seniors. Purchase tickets online at seatadvisor.com. For the budget-conscious, stop by for “Pay What You Will” Thursdays, where you can treat yourself to top-notch Shakespeare for a donation of your choosing.

Check out the Facebook event or the Shakespeare Orange County web site for more details. See you there!

-Alex

in my earbuds: Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs-  "Repo Man"