Wild Strawberry Cafe’s Monster Cookies for National Cookie Month

Soft, delicious and popular at every location, the Monster Cookies at Wild Strawberry Cafe have earned local recognition, are trending on TikTok and sell out daily. Flavors include chocolate chip, strawberry matcha and gluten-free peanut butter. They are available at all three Newport Beach locations and the Laguna Beach location.

National Cookie Month is a great time to treat yourself, and the cafe is offering an easy way to save. Buy one Monster Cookie and get the second 50% off.

Wild Strawberry Cafe is a family-owned business built on love, hard work and community. The team is dedicated to serving clean, high-quality food made with care, in a space filled with positive energy. That same care goes into every Monster Cookie, which makes them a treat worth sharing with family and friends. Their goal is to serve great food, create a welcoming environment and build strong connections with the community they call home.

Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday 
610 Newport Center Dr. in Newport Beach. 949.423.2066.

Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. 
240 Newport Center Drive. 949.706.0462.

Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Saturday. 
400 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach. 949.704.2162.

Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
1440 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. 949.704.2122.

Pups & Pours Pairs Premium Pours With Senior Dogs

Spirits lovers and animal lovers have a reason to head to Hi-Time Wine Cellars on Saturday, Oct. 10. Their hosting Pups & Pours, a charity tasting benefiting The TM Crew, a rescue dedicated to senior dogs.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., guests can wander the Hi-Time parking lot sampling agave spirits, rum and whiskey from a lineup of more than a dozen brands. Tickets are $30 here, and adoptable dogs will be on hand to meet.

Featured vendors: Mainland Rum, Spinnaker Rum, Et Al., SPIRIBAM, Mount Gay, Roaming Road, Raising Glasses, Bedford Park, ArteNOM, G4, 4 Copas, Foursquare, Lágrimas Tequila and Fallen Barrel House Whiskey.

Taqueria HOY will be serving tacos to keep the tasting going.

It's an easy way to spend a Saturday afternoon: sip something special, grab a bite and help make life a little sweeter for older dogs looking for a home. Tickets and more information, available here. 

Hi-Time is at 250 Ogle Street in Costa Mesa. 

Newport Beach Film Festival Opens With ‘Frampton’

The 27th Newport Beach Film Festival opens Thursday, Oct. 15, with "Frampton," an intimate documentary portrait of rock icon Peter Frampton. The screening begins at 7 p.m. at Big Newport, Screen 1. Frampton and director Rob Arthur will take part in a live Q&A afterward.

The film follows Frampton from the stadium-sized success of "Frampton Comes Alive!" in the 1970s through the long road of rebuilding his career and the personal cost of fame. It also looks at his diagnosis with Inclusion Body Myositis, a degenerative muscle condition that threatens his ability to play guitar. Rare archival footage, candid interviews and concert moments tell the story of an artist determined to make every performance count.

After the screening, the celebration moves to Fashion Island with live entertainment, food and specially crafted cocktails. The gala is for guests 21 and older. Cocktail attire is strongly encouraged, and since the event is outdoors, bring a coat or jacket.

The festival runs through Oct. 22 and features more than 100 films from around the world. Highlights include:

Festival Honors, Sunday, Oct. 18: A brunch at Balboa Bay Resort, held with Variety 10 Actors to Watch, will celebrate Taraji P. Henson (Artist of Distinction Award), Jack O'Connell (Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award), Mckenna Grace (Spotlight Award), Sosie Bacon (Breakout Award) and casting director Sarah Finn (Casting Visionary Award). The event will be filmed for broadcast on PBS SoCal in January.

Additional honorees: KJ Apa on Saturday, Oct. 17, Justin Hartley and Jonás Cuarón on Monday, Oct. 19, and Gemma Chan on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Closing night,  Documentary Feature: Thursday, Oct. 22: The West Coast premiere of "Unleashed Spirits: The Rise of the Hollywood Vampires" screens at 8:30 p.m. at the Lido Theater, with director Daniel E. Catullo III and members of the band expected to attend.

For the full lineup and tickets, visit newportbeachfilmfest.com.