Blog
Wine, Words & OC Stories—Born in OC Booksigning at Hi-Time Wine Cellars
02.24.25
Join me on Wednesday, February 26, from 5–7 p.m. at Hi-Time Wine Cellars for an evening of wine tasting and a book signing. Enjoy some wine, refreshments, and charcuterie as I sign copies of Born in OC: The Artists, Entrepreneurs, and Visionaries of Orange County, California. A huge thank you to our hosts!
Here’s a fun fact: I interviewed Chuck Hanson—one of Hi-Time’s founders and one of the fifty profiles in my book. Now in his nineties, Chuck still pops in weekly to help pick wines and hand out friendly $5 gift cards. In Born in OC, he shares his incredible stories of early Costa Mesa—when goats, pigs, and cows roamed 16th Street, his family snapped up an acre for just $500 in 1943, and his mom was canning mackerel at what’s now The Cannery in Newport Beach. I also enjoyed chatting with his niece, Diana Hirst, who grew up at Hi-Time and now serves as general manager.
I hope to see you there!
Hi-Time Wine Cellars is at 250 Ogle Street, Costa Mesa.
Blog
An Evening with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet Tracy K. Smith at Segerstrom Center
02.23.25
Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith for an evening of compelling conversation with acclaimed poet and educator Tina Chang. As part of the Center’s In Conversation series spotlighting contemporary American authors and poets, this event promises an insightful and thought-provoking discussion on Monday, March 3, at 8 p.m.
Tracy K. Smith has been a force in the literary world since her debut in 2003. Her poetry collection Life on Mars won the Pulitzer Prize, and her memoir Ordinary Light was a finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction. Across genres, her writing is powerful, intelligent, and lyrical—delving into the big questions about our world with unflinching honesty. Her work masterfully explores love, grief, desire, and hope while weaving in themes of race, power, and justice. Often described as America’s “poetic caretaker,” Smith invites readers to reflect on the stories they’ve been told and the history that shapes us.
Beyond her writing, Smith is a dedicated educator and advocate. She served two terms as U.S. Poet Laureate, bringing poetry to communities across the country, and she currently teaches English and African and African American studies at Harvard.
Tina Chang, who will moderate the conversation, is a celebrated poet and editor. She made history as the first woman to be named Poet Laureate of Brooklyn, a role she held for more than a decade. A graduate of Columbia University’s MFA program, she is the author of three critically acclaimed poetry collections and is a professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Binghamton University.
Tickets for Tracy K. Smith IN CONVERSATION start at $44.07 and are available now at scfta.org. They can also be purchased in person at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or by phone at (714) 556-2787. For group ticket discounts (10 or more), call (714) 755-0236.
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from the blog
- 03.21.26 – Cape Crusaders, Cosplay and Comic-Con Energy Take Over Anaheim
- 03.19.26 – Two Upcoming Workshops at the Environmental Nature Center
- 03.18.26 – Floral Park Home & Garden Tour Returns April 25–26
- 03.18.26 – What to Know About Medicare for You or Someone You Care About
- 03.15.26 – Puesto Introduces “Girl Dinner” Wednesdays
- 03.13.26 – What to Know About Medicare Before 65—Signing Up for Medicare
- 03.11.26 – Pure Barre Orange County Celebrates 17 Years With Free Classes and Community Giveaways
- 03.11.26 – Sky Rock Sedona Makes an Easy Weekend Escape From Orange County
- 03.09.26 – Napa in Newport Expands to Three-Day Wine Weekend for CureDuchenne
- 03.08.26 – Palmetto Superfoods and Rylee + Cru Headed to River Street Marketplace
- 03.08.26 – A Big Year Ahead for Costa Mesa’s SoBECA District
- 03.08.26 – Luke’s Lobster Brings the Heat With Chili Crisp Crab Melt
- 03.05.26 – Paul Taylor Dance Company at Musco Center
- 03.04.26 – New Brunch Additions at CasaDami
- 03.01.26 – LA Opera Young Artists in Concert at Musco Center
- 02.27.26 – Brodard Restaurant Plans Long Beach Opening at 2ND & PCH
- 02.25.26 – Cheyenne Jackson Brings Mid Life Torso Tour to Musco Center
- 02.22.26 – Spring SplashFest Brings a Taste of Spring to Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove
- 02.20.26 – ABBA Comes to The Lido Theater for a Two-Night Celebration
- 02.19.26 – Los Angeles Is Having a Moment in 2026
More Daily Doses
- 03.19.26 – Highball and Naisho Omakase Debut in Costa Mesa With a First-of-Its-Kind Dual Concept
- 03.16.26 – Bubblefest Returns to Discovery Cube Orange County for Its 30th Anniversary
- 03.16.26 – La La Land Kind Cafe Opens Its First Orange County Location
- 03.10.26 – A Newport Beach Landmark Turns 100: From The Arches to A Restaurant
- 03.10.26 – Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles
- 03.08.26 – Top of the V Unveils a Spanish-Inspired Steakhouse Experience
- 03.06.26 – Beyond A Dream Gala Supports Breakthrough T1D Research in Orange County
- 03.05.26 – Orange County Restaurant Week Returns March 8–14
- 02.28.26 – Spring Returns to The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
- 02.26.26 – California Cool Art Auction Returns to Laguna Art Museum
- 02.25.26 – An Elevated Pastry Experience Debuts at Montage Laguna Beach
- 02.24.26 – Tomatomania Returns to Roger’s Gardens for Its 15th Year
- 02.22.26 – A Coastal Stop for Artful Finds at Crystal Cove
- 02.19.26 – World Ballet Company Brings ‘Swan Lake’ to Irvine Barclay Theatre
- 02.17.26 – Festival Ballet Theatre Brings Don Quixote Back to the Irvine Barclay Theatre
- 02.11.26 – Cozy Earth Presidents Day Sale Brings Big Savings and New Toile Pajamas
- 02.11.26 – OCVIBE Unveils Six New Bar and Lounge Concepts Coming to Katella Commons
- 02.05.26 – A Valentine’s Day Dining Guide at South Coast Plaza
- 02.05.26 – Hands-On Science Takes Center Stage in 2026
- 02.01.26 – Ralph Lauren Brings Shopping and Ralph’s Coffee Together in Newport Beach
