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TAKE A CAR-LESS VACATION WITH KATE SPADE!

07.19.11

By Joanne Tucker and Sheryll Alexander

For a car-less vacation par excellence, head to Santa Monica’s charming and uber hip Shutters on the Beach, which has recently rolled out a fleet of shiny green kate spade new york signature beach cruisers.

Yes, head over to the hotel’s beach activity center to rent these delightfully colorful handmade Italian cruisers by Adeline Adeline for $10 an hour or $25 for a full day. (Bikes are complimentary for guests in premier rooms and suites.)

Located right on the beach of Santa Monica Bay, Shutters on the Beach is within easy bike riding distance of the Santa Monica Pier and the auto-free Third Street Promenade, which is a rider’s paradise known for its movie theaters, restaurants, art galleries and animated street performers.

When it’s time to get on your bike, follow the kate spade new york neighborhood bike map, which is a customized list of local recommendations . Go where the locals go: the Oyster Shack on Ocean Avenue to down some salty bivalves, Sundae Best on Montana Avenue for frozen yogurt at 41 cents an ounce, A+R for cool and affordable designer finds.

After your invigorating ride, relax on Shutters pool deck with spectacular oven views, go to a beachside spa or take yoga lessons on the sand. Private pool cabanas with TV and mini-fridge is available. For those who are more energetic, you can surf, play beach volleyball or follow the beach path with local walkers and joggers.

Not only can you ride in style at Shutters on the Beach, each guest room and suite offers an upscale and low key feeling from the John Robshaw comforters on the beds to a Tibetan rug that sits atop hardwood floors. Bookcases are stocked with library and keepsakes, and the entertainment center contains a flat screen TV and iPod docks. All suites are equipped with iPads. Marble bathrooms feature flat screen TVs and whirlpool tubs.

Shutters on the Beach Hotel, One Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-458-0030, www.shuttersonthebeach.com

Santa Monica Place Opens

Re-opened just last year, Santa Monica Place is located two blocks from Shutters on the Beach and steps from Third Street Promenade. This three-level, open-air shopping and dining destination features Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Nike, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and Burberry, among many others. The third-level “dining deck” has killer ocean views and six, chef-driven restaurants. Become a fan of Santa Monica Place on Facebook and you can pick up a complimentary tote bag at the center's level 1 concierge through Aug. 31 (filled with summer swag while supplies last). Visit facebook.com/SantaMonicaPlace.

Joanne Tucker and Sheryll Alexander are a mother-daughter writing and editing team based in Costa Mesa, California.

WYNDHAM OC WOWS FOR AN ARTSY GETAWAY!

07.12.11

By Sheryll Alexander and Raven Krystal

Why consider The Wyndham OC for an affordable, relaxing and culture-filled getaway? Because after staying at this newly-renovated hotel in the heart of Costa Mesa’s famed arts and shopping district, my busy family finally slowed down and enjoyed life.

You see, we’ve been taking a series of car-less vacations and this microgetaway to Costa Mesa’s arts district and adjacent mega mall South Coast Plaza has been the very best so far.

Right in our own backyard, we took in a Broadway show, shopped at swanky South Coast Plaza, ate some of the best food (with no worrying about drinking and driving!) in The OC and walked among lakes, fountains, grass, trees and historic public art.

Wyndham OC Renovates with Style

The Wyndham OC is located right on Costa Mesa’s Avenue of the Arts, which makes it just a two-minute walk to Segerstrom Center for the Arts where you can enjoy world-class Broadway musicals, repertory theater, ballet, symphonies and other live concerts.

This sophisticated $14 million renovation, in addition to the hotel’s new Silver Trumpet Restaurant, now makes The Wyndham and this slice of OC a pure delight, especially for those who are on a budget yet still want to enjoy luxury.

Although The Wyndham still retains much of its 80s vibe, the lobby has been modernized with opulent white marble, a sunk-in piano bar, purple Murano-style chandeliers and sensuous art. The 238 guest rooms and 35 suites have been completely retrofitted with genuinely upscale marble bathrooms, hardwood flooring, “divine sleep experience” bedding and custom furnishings.

We were lucky to stay in Room 627, which is a lovely one-bedroom executive suite with private balconies and (manmade) lakeside views. Maybe it was the hardwood floors that made this suite feel like a homey living room, but we were comfortable with the chocolate brown leather sectional couch, small round dining table with four chairs, giant flatscreen TV, leather-bound work desk, granite kitchenette counters, plush area rugs and artistic accents everywhere.

Double shutter doors partitioned the “living room” from the bedroom. This space was big enough with a king-sized bed, small flat screen, velvet chair and private balcony. The “divine sleep” bed was definitely comfortable and the high-quality linens felt incredibly soft. Bathrooms come with floor-to-ceiling marble with deep soaking tubs and truly fluffy white towels.

We loved waking up in the morning with the kids excited about the day. We made strong Wolfgang Puck coffee and then ate cereal and fruit in the dining room, which overlooks a garden-like park with trees, fountains and a lake. Then, we headed to The Wyndham’s pool. Although not a large pool, we enjoyed relaxing on lovely loungers or on a café table under a shady cabana while the kids splashed for hours.

We were also impressed with the poolside chatter. We met several performers from the Segrestrom Center’s many shows, including the star of Mamma Mia!, who spent 45 minutes talking to our kids about herself, her life and the show (which they had seen the night before!) in the jacuzzi.

In the afternoon, we took a leisurely walk to South Coast Plaza for lunch, some shopping and to the mall’s kid-friendly attractions. Afternoons were again spent by the pool until it was time to get ready for dinner and a show. Finally, we relaxed in our big suite and fell asleep in a big fluffy bed. Could life be any better?

Silver Trumpet Restaurant Rocks

Another great thing about the new Wyndham OC is its re-imagined Silver Trumpet Restaurant. Headed by acclaimed Chef Robert Biebrich, Silver Trumpet is a foodie oasis. Sure, the menu may be deceptively simple, but Chef Biebrich knows how to make rustic, seasonal food taste absolutely delicious.

For Broadway musicals and other top shows, Silver Trumpet offers an affordable prix fixe menu. For our Mamma Mia!-themed dinner, we dined on a three-course a menu of brilliant Mediterranean classics from octopus salad to lamb shank to a baklava-inspired dessert.

However, the not-to-miss item on Biebrich’s menu is the jidori organic chicken. The breast is traditionally roasted, but the leg is stuffed, breaded and super moist. The dish also comes with light-as-air and sautéed-to-perfection gnocci along with chicken jus and ripe farmer’s market vegetables.

Along with a rather good wine list, strong cocktails and top notch service, Silver Trumpet Restaurant is the new go-to spot for pre- and post-theatre dinners and noshes.

South Coast Plaza Eats and Diversions

To get to South Coast Plaza from The Wyndham, we walked leisurely across the street and through Segerstrom Arts Center to a hilly park in from of South Coast Repertory. The grass, trees, rocks and public art bring the visitor back to nature and just make you smile.

Cross the bridge and you land at South Coast Plaza’s Claim Jumper/brand new Forever 21 entrance. If you are traveling with kids, hop the escalator to the first floor and walk straight to South Coast Plaza’s storybook carousel. For just $1, kids and adults revel in an old-time merry-go-round ride. The Disney Store is just steps away as is See’s Candies, Puzzle Zoo, Sanrio, Gap and the Lego store.

One evening, we took a ten-minute stroll and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at Pinot Provence. Located at the base of adjacent Westin South Coast Plaza, Pinot Provence is a Patina Restaurant Group outpost that is a local hang out for excellent food and drink. Open for breakfast, lunch (weekdays only), dinner and Sunday brunch, you and your guests dine in rustic country elegance on modern American and classic French fare.

Love great wines? Pinot Provence has an excellent by-the-glass and bottle wine list. And if you don’t want to sit through a whole dinner, the wine bar is a nice place to sit before or after a show.

Still hungry? South Coast Plaza has almost as many eateries as retail stores. Here’s our insider recommendations:

Family & Budget Friendly: Z’Tejas, Signature Kitchen, Wolfgang Puck Bistro, Nello Cucina, Boudin SF, Ruby’s Diner, Corner Bakery, Champagne French Bakery, Pacific Whey Café, Claim Jumper, Rainforest Café, McDonald’s, Boudin SF, Lawry’s Carvery, Vie de France, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

Italian: Antonello, Quattro Café, Nello Cucina, Pizzeria Ortica, Maggiano’s

Sushi/Japanese: Hamamori

Steak & Seafood: Capital Grille, Mastro’s, Scott’s, Morton’s

New American/French: Leatherby’s Café Rouge, Charlie Palmer, Marché Moderne, Pinot Provence, Seasons 52

Other Ethnic: AnQi Bistro (Vietnamese fusion), Darya (Persian), Royal Khyber (Indian), Z’Tejas (Southwestern)

Breakfast: Pinot Provence, Corner Bakery, Champagne French Bakery, Pacific Whey Café, Ruby’s Diner, Vie de France

Brunch: Charlie Palmer, Z’Tejas, Royal Khyber, Scott’s

Drinks & Apps: Charlie Palmer, AnQi Bistro, Scott’s, Seasons 52, Mastro’s, Pizzeria Ortica, Morton’s, Leatherby’s Café Rouge

Wine Bars: Marche Moderne, Pinot Provence, Seasons 52, Antonello

Sweets: See’s Candies, Godiva, Hagen Dazs, Champagne French Bakery, Pacific Whey Café, Vie de France, Antonello Espresso Cafe

And remember, the beach is only a 15-minute drive from The Wyndham OC and South Coast Plaza. And all of OC’s other diversions (including Disneyland) aren’t more than a 30-minute drive (unless you hit peak traffic times or a bad accident).

Why Wyndham OC? The answer is: why not? With affordable prices and everything within walking distance, The Wyndham is a cool place to spend a few leisurely days enjoying theatre art, edible art, buy-able art and the art of truly relaxing in style.

Summer at The Center

Don’t have the bucks to enjoy Segerstrom Center for the Arts or want to support our youth in cultural experiences? On Saturday, July 30, you can enjoy a free Broadway-style show at the center’s Samueli Theater. Yes, the public is invited to attend three free performances at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. And you don’t even need to make reservations as all shows will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Considering The Wyndham OC for a quick getaway? This property is also a cool spot for visiting family with its free parking, free airport shuttle and central location to everything OC.

Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California. Follow me! @sheryllalexande

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