Blog

Pancakes in Paris Living the American Dream in France
09.16.16
Author and diner-owner in Paris, Craig Carlson will be at the Laguna Beach Books on Sunday, September 18 at 4 p.m. for a book signing for his just released memoir, “Pancakes in Paris.” After working in Paris, where breakfast is an espresso, a cigarette and a croissant he craved a traditional American breakfast.
Against all odds such as never even working in a restaurant, never raising money, and not knowing the labor laws in France, Craig created the first American style diner in Paris called Breakfast in America. Now, 13 years later and with three locations, his fascinating story is being told in this book and soon to be a film or series.
Laguna Beach Books is at 1200 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach.
Blog

Canstruction Awards ceremony
09.16.16
Orange County’s top architecture and engineering design firms have elevate canned food to an art form with CANstruction throughout South Coast Plaza and ARTIC through Sunday, Sept. 25
At the end of the CANstruction display, the sculptures made entirely out of cans will be distributed by the OC Food Bank to nearly 400 soup kitchens and food pantries across the county.
Celebrating their ninth year, CANstruction Orange County is taking an artistically fresh perspective on today’s pop culture icons for this year’s competition. Inspirations range from Pokémon and Kobe Bryant, to the loveable characters in The Book of Life, Kung Fu Panda, and Finding Dory.
An annual art show, design competition, and food drive all rolled into one, CANstruction raises hunger awareness by challenging teams to create giant, whimsical, and wildly inventive sculptural masterpieces.
Each team spends months planning and designing their entries, but are only allowed one adrenaline-filled night to meticulously stack and color coordinate cans into incredible and whimsical feats of engineering.
You can come out and celebrate CANstruction Orange County at the “CAN-Do Awards” on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Pirch at SOCO in Costa Mesa to thank and meet the hard-working and creative teams for their work throughout the year. Heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine, and beer included. Tickets cost $50 per person and great gourmet appetizers and unlimited wine and beer. Tickets are available here.
PIRCH is at 3303 Hyland Ave. in Costa Mesa.
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from the blog
- 11.05.26 – All Aboard: ‘Water for Elephants’ Rolls Into Costa Mesa
- 11.04.26 – Irvine Barclay Theatre Offers Free Tickets to Veterans
- 11.04.26 – Dr. Martens Warehouse Sale Comes to Tustin Nov. 5-8
- 11.04.26 – Bacchus Hosts Dresser Winery Dinner
- 11.03.26 – Pendry Newport Beach Serves Up Thanksgiving Events
- 10.31.26 – Caymus Wine Dinner at Henry’s Coastal Cuisine Benefits Therapeutic Riding
- 10.31.26 – Sushi-Ten USA opens Sushi Blissba in Cypress
- 10.28.26 – Diamonds by Day at South Coast Plaza
- 10.28.26 – Gift Better Sleep with Hästens at South Coast Plaza
- 10.26.26 – Cult Gaia Brings Its Bold Style to South Coast Plaza
- 10.26.26 – Medicare Plan Changes? I Can Help!
- 10.24.26 – Treehouse on PCH Casts A Halloween Spell
- 10.24.26 – Barnes & Noble Returned to Costa Mesa
- 10.22.26 – BUILD Brings the Heavy Lifting to Newport Beach
- 10.22.26 – Spooky Sips and Pumpkin Pancakes at Outpost Kitchen
- 10.21.26 – Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: How to Think About the Choice
- 10.20.26 – Sushi Ii Enters a New Chapter as Sushi Suhama in Newport Beach
- 10.13.26 – Foodie Heaven at The CAMP in Costa Mesa this Fall
- 10.13.26 – Gaby Moreno Brings Her Bilingual Sound to Musco Center
- 10.12.26 – Jerry Douglas Brings His Band’s Genre-Bending Sound to Musco Center
More Daily Doses
- 11.04.26 – Balboa Bay Resort Unveils Multimillion-Dollar Renovation
- 11.03.26 – Nationally Ranked Lebanese Food Lands in Huntington Beach
- 11.02.26 – Sun Day Red by Tiger Woods Opens in San Clemente
- 10.25.26 – Bear Flag Fish Co. Opens Elevated Costa Mesa Location
- 10.22.26 – Go Greek Yogurt Celebrates Grand Opening at Irvine Spectrum
- 10.21.26 – Tiffany & Co. Opens Blue Box Café at South Coast Plaza
- 10.20.26 – Ambitious Ales Brings Its Award-Winning Craft Beer to Costa Mesa
- 10.20.26 – FARM Rio Brings Brazilian Style to Fashion Island
- 10.14.26 – Russ Bendel and Partners Open Creekside in Rancho Mission Viejo
- 10.12.26 – Tony Gilroy’s ‘Behemoth!’ to Close Newport Beach Film Festival
- 10.10.26 – Wild Strawberry Cafe’s Monster Cookies for National Cookie Month
- 10.06.26 – Newport Beach Film Festival Opens With ‘Frampton’
- 10.04.26 – Honda Center Serves Up New Eats and Big Shows
- 10.04.26 – StyleWeekOC Returns to Fashion Island Oct. 14-18
- 09.28.26 – NBFF International Spotlight Films Announced
- 09.28.26 – Pacific Airshow Celebrates 10 Years in Huntington Beach
- 09.18.26 – Roger’s Gardens Unveils Moonlight Masquerade for Halloween
- 09.18.26 – Get RELISH Ready: OC’s Premier Food and Wine Weekend Returns to Newport Beach
- 09.16.26 – Newport Beach Film Festival Turns 27, and the Lineup Is Stacked
- 09.15.26 – Purrs in Paradise Opens Its Doors at The CAMP
