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
- 05.14.26 – 44 Women for Orangewood Luncheon in Newport Beach
- 05.13.26 – CasaDami Teams Up With Gelato Paradiso for a Summer Dessert Flight
- 05.13.26 – Riverdance 30 Brings a New Generation to Segerstrom Center
- 05.11.26 – Lido Theater Receives 2026 Preservation Award
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- 05.08.26 – Bluewater Grill Celebrates 30 Years With Seafood Tastings and Holiday Specials
- 05.08.26 – Outpost Kitchen at South Coast Plaza Debuts Mother’s Day Menu
- 05.05.26 – Alabaster International Debuts in OC with ‘Her Light & Legacy’
- 04.29.26 – ILYA Welcomes Sunday Brunch to San Clemente
- 04.28.26 – Mastro’s Plans Mother’s Day Brunch in Irvine and Costa Mesa
- 04.28.26 – Mother’s Day Style: Matching Moments for Moms and Minis at Famous Footwear
- 04.27.26 – March for Babies Returns to Irvine May 2
- 04.25.26 – Classic Packards Take Center Stage in Newport Beach
- 04.23.26 – Spring Menu Arrives at The Park Club California
- 04.23.26 – SpiceQuest Brings the Heat Home
- 04.20.26 – Honda Center Serves Up Playoff-Ready Menu for Ducks Fans
- 04.17.26 – A Night of Fashion and Giving in Newport Beach
- 04.13.26 – A Night at Knife Pleat Paired With South Coast Repertory’s Eat Me
- 04.13.26 – Sender One Expands With New Aliso Viejo Location
- 04.13.26 – Bluewater Grill Celebrates 30 Years With New Seafood Cookbook
More Daily Doses
- 05.13.26 – Uncle Fluffy Brings Viral Japanese Cheesecake to Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square
- 05.13.26 – Pure Salt Marks 10 Years With New Newport Beach Flagship
- 05.13.26 – Newport Beach TV Fest Returns With Star-Powered Lineup at Lido Theater
- 05.10.26 – A Coastal Spa Experience Arrives at Surf & Sand Laguna Beach
- 05.10.26 – Cozy Earth’s Cuddle Collection Brings Luxury Comfort to Corona del Mar
- 05.07.26 – Sweetgreen Opens at Irvine’s University Center
- 05.06.26 – Icons of Napa Valley Wine Dinner Returns to Henry’s Coastal Cuisine
- 04.29.26 – Mother’s Day Dining Across Orange County
- 04.29.26 – La La Land Kind Cafe Grand Opening at Irvine Spectrum
- 04.29.26 – J Ruby: A Colorful Creative Find in South Laguna
- 04.28.26 – A New Chapter for Zov’s in San Clemente
- 04.23.26 – David Spade Takes The Lido Theater Stage
- 04.20.26 – Arrive in Style. Leave the Driving to Us.
- 04.19.26 – Candace Bushnell Brings One-Woman Show to South Coast Repertory
- 04.18.26 – A Coastal Weekend of Wine, Food and Ocean Views
- 04.13.26 – An Evening of Connection and Compassion in Aliso Viejo
- 04.08.26 – A Mother’s Day Gathering with Costa Mesa History
- 04.06.26 – Spring in Full Bloom at South Coast Plaza
- 04.05.26 – Taste of Napa Comes to Huntington Beach and Returns to Napa Valley
- 04.01.26 – A Taste of Italy Arrives in Corona del Mar
