Sky Rock Sedona Makes an Easy Weekend Escape From Orange County

If a quick reset is calling, Sky Rock Sedona is an easy option for an off-the-grid style getaway that does not require a long-haul flight or complicated planning. Just a short flight or a manageable drive from Orange County, the modern, 109-room boutique hotel is a great choice for a long weekend trip or staycation with a change of scenery.

Sky Rock Sedona, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott, debuted in March 2024 following a full property reimagining. The hotel blends contemporary design with Sedona’s natural beauty and spiritual energy, creating a place that works just as well for outdoor adventure as it does for slowing down and unplugging.

Centrally located in Sedona and within walking distance of several trailheads, the hotel makes it easy to head out for a morning hike and be back in time for sunset. The property is known for its 360-degree red rock views, with sweeping panoramas of Snoopy Rock, Thunder Mountain and Coffee Pot Rock, giving guests a front-row seat to some of the area’s most recognizable landscapes.

What sets Sky Rock Sedona apart is its thoughtful programming and attention to experience. The hotel’s “Vortex Hunters” curate outings and activities that tap into Sedona’s unique mix of outdoor adventure, wellness and spiritual exploration. Guest rooms are designed as calming retreats, with neutral tones, handcrafted leather headboards, locally inspired artwork and soft lighting that make it easy to unwind after a full day outside.

The lobby serves as a social hub, with bold art, amethyst-accented details and inviting seating areas. Bar WooWoo, the hotel’s lobby bar, opens to a terrace with elevated views of the red rocks and offers Southwestern-inspired small plates, local beer and wine, and creative cocktails that are especially inviting at sunset.

For guests looking to fully lean into rest mode, the hotel’s treatment room features services by Body Alchemy Sedona and skincare by Anastarr Sacred Skin, with treatments designed for relaxation and recovery between hikes and excursions. Daily programming includes morning yoga and meditation, evening moonrise gatherings, sound healing, stargazing and live music, all complimentary for hotel guests.

Sky Rock Sedona also caters to small retreats and intimate gatherings, with flexible spaces that work for everything from wellness weekends and creative workshops to small weddings and incentive trips.

1200 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ. 928.282.3072

A Newport Beach Landmark Turns 100: From The Arches to A Restaurant

In 2026, A Restaurant will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its iconic location along Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The milestone marks a century of hospitality, community and history at one of Newport Beach’s most recognizable dining destinations.

For many locals, A Restaurant is more than historic. It is personal. I have been going there since I was a kid, and years later it became the place where Paul and I celebrated our wedding reception. Like so many longtime Newport Beach favorites, it holds decades of memories for the community.

The property first opened in 1926 as The Arches, the same year Coast Highway connected Huntington Beach to Newport Beach. Founded by John Vilelle and James Sturgeon, the roadside diner and service station got its name through a community contest advertised in the Balboa Times. The winning name came from 10 year old Victor Chatten. With its Mediterranean style architecture, arches and red tile roofs, The Arches quickly became a gathering place for locals and travelers and a familiar landmark along the coast.

In 2008, partners Joseph “McG” Nichol and restaurateur Jordan Otterbein of River Jetty Restaurant Group took over the historic property and reintroduced it as A Restaurant, keeping the signature “A” as a nod to its past. The concept evolved into a modern steakhouse while preserving the character and legacy of the original space.

Today, Executive Chef Robert Gomez leads the kitchen with a seasonally inspired menu that highlights premium ingredients and longstanding relationships with local farms and purveyors. The menu focuses on both land and sea, paired with a thoughtfully curated wine list designed to complement each dish.

While the name, ownership and menu have evolved over the decades, the heart of the restaurant has remained the same. A Restaurant continues to be a place where people gather for celebrations, dinners with friends and special occasions.

Giving back has also long been part of the restaurant’s story. Over the years, the restaurant and River Jetty Restaurant Group have supported organizations including the Hoag Hospital Foundation, Newport Beach schools, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through its Bike MS fundraising ride from Orange County to San Diego.

That commitment continues in 2026. River Jetty Restaurant Group will participate in several Hoag related events this year, including sponsorship of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club from March 22 through 29, as well as the Hoag Summer Fest at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort in June.

To commemorate the centennial, A Restaurant will celebrate throughout 2026 with special anniversary programming and community events. The official anniversary falls in August 2026.

One hundred years after it first opened, A Restaurant remains a Newport Beach classic. 

For more information, visit ARestaurantNB.com.

The Arches circ. 1926. Photo courtesy of the City of Newport Beach. 

Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles

Imagine hearing The Beatles performed live with a full symphony orchestra. Audiences will get that experience on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., when Classical Mystery Tour returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a special 30th anniversary concert.

This milestone performance celebrates three decades since Classical Mystery Tour’s very first concert, presented at Segerstrom Center (then called Orange County Performing Arts Center) in 1996. For this anniversary event, the acclaimed Beatles tribute will be joined by a 30-piece orchestra comprised of Pacific Symphony musicians, bringing the beloved Beatles catalogue to life as it was originally recorded.

Tickets range from $35 to $155 and are on sale now. There is an optional separate admission post-concert reception at The Silver Trumpet Restaurant (located within Avenue of the Arts Hotel) across the street from Segerstrom Center. Meet the band and enjoy appetizers, dessert, drinks, and live music. Price includes validated parking at the hotel for the evening (show and VIP reception), one drink ticket, and gratuity. Event limited to 50 people.

Visit SCFTA.org for tickets and more information. 

Far more than a tribute band, Classical Mystery Tour recreates the Beatles experience with remarkable authenticity. The four musicians look and sound just like The Beatles, delivering spot-on renditions of the hits fans know and love—from “Yesterday” and “Eleanor Rigby” to “All You Need Is Love,” “A Day in the Life,” and “Hey Jude.”

“The emotional and nostalgic connection that our show has for audiences is powerful,” says Jim Owen, Classical Mystery Tour’s founder and the show’s John Lennon. “We have some real show-stopping numbers like ‘A Day in the Life,’ which features an orchestral soundscape that is exciting to hear.”

Since debuting in Costa Mesa three decades ago, Classical Mystery Tour has:

• Performed with over 100 orchestras worldwide
• Played more than 1,000 concerts
• Appeared at major concert halls including the Sydney Opera House and with prestigious ensembles such as the Boston Pops
• Earned its reputation as the #1 Symphony Pops attraction in the United States

From the Beatles’ early years through their solo eras, the show offers audiences the chance to experience “The best of The Beatles like you’ve never heard them before.”

Tickets are available through Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ website and box office. Visit SCFTA.org for more information.