Greer's Blog

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Alisal Ranch Marks 80 Years with a Summer of Celebration

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By Greer Wylder
August 06, 2026

Alisal Ranch, the 10,500-acre working ranch and resort in the Santa Ynez Valley, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this summer. The property first welcomed guests on July 16, 1946, and has spent eight decades building a reputation for Western hospitality and family tradition. I've never stayed there myself, but I have friends who have, and they can't stop raving about it. It's firmly on my bucket list.To mark the milestone, the ranch is rolling out a summer's worth of experiences and keepsakes. The centerpiece is the 1946 Legacy Package, a two-night stay for six adults priced at a symbolic $19,460.…

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Palm Springs Gets a New Reason to Stay and Stay Awhile

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By Greer Wylder
July 29, 2026

Palm Springs' famed Palm Canyon Drive just got a stylish new anchor. Thompson Palm Springs, by Hyatt, has paired up with downtown newcomer Bar Issi to give visitors a fresh way to experience the desert: a secluded resort escape by day and a lively coastal Italian dining scene by night.Perched above downtown with sweeping views of the San Jacinto Mountains, Thompson Palm Springs delivers the kind of desert calm that feels far from everything, even though it's right in the middle of it all. Guests will find lush, open-air walkways, two cabana-lined pools and firepit-warmed lounges made for slowing down.…

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Winter Fest OC Kicks Off Christmas in July Sale

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By Greer Wylder
July 24, 2026

Summer just got a little more festive. Winter Fest OC, Southern California's largest winter festival, is bringing back its Christmas in July ticket promotion, giving guests a chance to lock in the season's lowest prices starting today through August 5th. Now heading into its 12th year, Winter Fest OC will once again turn the OC Fair & Event Center into a winter wonderland from Nov. 27, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027. Expect all the holiday charm that's made this a local tradition: real snow, sparkling lights, ice skating under the stars and a visit or two with Santa himself.The Classics Are…

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VIII by Selanne Unveils Summer Tasting Menu

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By Greer Wylder
July 23, 2026

VIII by Selanne, the intimate tasting-menu restaurant next to Selanne Steak Tavern, has introduced a new summer menu celebrating California's seasonal harvest through a multi-course dining experience.Available for a limited time, the menu highlights premium seafood, locally sourced produce and expertly prepared meats, with each course designed to capture the freshness of summer and reflect VIII's contemporary approach to fine dining.Executive Chef Vince Terusa and his team open the experience with an assortment of canapés, including king crab tartelette, beef tartare and pomme dauphine, before moving into California Coastline, a seafood trio of bay scallop, bluefin tuna toro and Misty…

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One Night, Five Courses, and a Top Chef Canada Champion at Balboa Bay Resort

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By Greer Wylder
July 20, 2026

Balboa Bay Resort is bringing something special to Newport Beach this summer. On Thursday, Aug. 6, the resort will host an intimate chef's dinner with Coulson Armstrong, winner of Top Chef Canada and Culinary Director of Toronto's Our House Hospitality. Tickets are $415.90 per person and available on Eventbrite and at balboabayresort.com.Armstrong is one of Canada's most compelling culinary voices. He serves as Executive Chef of the celebrated Prime Seafood Palace, where he works alongside restaurateur Matty Matheson, and his Season 12 win on Top Chef Canada earned him fans well beyond the industry. But what shaped his cooking most…

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