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
- 10.07.26 – Pups & Pours Pairs Premium Pours With Senior Dogs
- 10.04.26 – Ben Bliss and Christopher Allen Bring an Evening of Song to Musco Center
- 10.04.26 – Microbiome Scientist, AI Author Headline Library Lectures
- 10.01.26 – Where to Eat Around the Newport Beach Film Festival
- 09.28.26 – Surfing Heritage & Culture Center Opens New Laguna Beach Home
- 09.28.26 – Levain Bakery Brings Peanut Butter Cookie to Fashion Island
- 09.28.26 – Puesto Pours a Wellness-Minded Margarita With Cymbiotika
- 09.26.26 – Pete’s Spookeasy Returns to Huntington Beach This Fall
- 09.23.26 – SAVOR 2026 Set to Honor Orange County Legends Before Anticipated Sold-Out Crowd
- 09.22.26 – Ruin Bar Celebrates 10 Years at The LAB
- 09.21.26 – QUA Debuts Afternoon Tea With a Chinese Twist
- 09.21.26 – ENC Wine Walk Returns to Support Environmental Education
- 09.17.26 – Inside My Ritual Diaries
- 09.16.26 – Willem Dafoe to Headline “The Process Unlocked” Premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival
- 09.15.26 – Broken Yolk CafĂ© Dishes Up Hope for OC Kids This Holiday Season
- 09.09.26 – Levain’s Black & White Weekend Comes to Orange County for the First Time
- 09.09.26 – LAWineFest Marks 21 Years With a New Home at the LA Equestrian Center
- 09.02.26 – Newport Dunes Celebrates Labor Day Weekend With Live Music, Beach Movies and Waterfront Fun
- 09.02.26 – Pacific Symphony Opens New Era with Joshua Bell, Celebrates Shelley’s First Season
- 08.30.26 – VOX Kitchen Brings Modern Chifa Flavor to Aliso Viejo
More Daily Doses
- 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
- 10.01.26 – Tony Gilroy’s ‘Behemoth!’ to Close Newport Beach Film Festival
- 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
- 09.14.26 – Katella Commons Adds Five More Reasons to Get Hungry at OCVIBE
- 09.13.26 – Musco Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary Jubilee! With a Decade of Its Own Talent
- 09.09.26 – Maleza Brings Modern Mexican Flavor and Mezcal to The CAMP in Costa Mesa
- 08.30.26 – Zov’s Mediterranean Restaurant Set to Open on 17th Street in Costa Mesa
- 08.29.26 – Sweet Arrival: Levain Bakery Opens First Orange County Location at Fashion Island
- 08.26.26 – OCAPICA’s Tastemakers of Orange County Celebrates 10 Years of Community-Driven Cuisine
- 08.24.26 – Telefèric Barcelona Brings Spanish Flavor to Fashion Island
- 08.20.26 – Pacific Wine & Food Classic Returns to Newport Beach in September
- 08.18.26 – Dream Glow Festival Returns to Celebrate the Beauty of Chinese Culture
- 08.13.26 – Z SUPPLY Pops Up at Lido Marina Village With New Denim Collection
