Greer's OC | The latest in Orange County fashion, dining, and trends.

Staying in the City of Angels

By Greer Wylder

April 06, 2012

On a recent escape to Los Angeles, we stayed at the Hotel Angeleno, a favorite boutique hotel, that’s best known as the former Holiday Inn, an iconic circular tower built in 1969 by Lundgren + Maurer. Whether you’ve stayed there or not, you’ve seen it plenty of times off the 405 at Sunset Boulevard, just south of the Getty Center. Since Joie de Vivre took it over about seven years, revamped it, and put its chic stamp on it, you can’t imagine the transformation. From its secluded pool, modern, yet warm interiors, all rooms boasting a balcony and view, and…

REN FAIRE ARRIVES!

By Greer Wylder

March 27, 2012

By Christine Marie Springtime has arrived yet again and so has the 50th Renaissance Pleasure Faire, which has thankfully moved location from faraway Glen Helen Regional Park to nearby Irwindale’s Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area (15501 East Arrow Highway). Yes, perhaps it is time for a romp into Merry Ole England and the charm of being swept away to another time and place. With more than 13 stages of dazzling entertainment, this year’s Ren Fair (as regulars call it) includes dazzling entertainment, hearty food, fine spirits, fantastic wares, rollicking musical performances and fun rides and games. The faire also features…

WALKABLE BEACH GETAWAY!

By Greer Wylder

February 23, 2012

By Sheryll Alexander As a travel editor and hotel reviewer, I have visited some the best hotels in The West. My favorites, however, are charming boutique hotels. Small and located in cool neighborhoods, boutique hotels allow guests to live more like a local. In OC, South Laguna is home to some of the coolest new (and old) boutique hotels. All of these reasonably-priced accommodations are located within walking distance of each other in the center of South Laguna, which is one of OC’s most hip neighborhoods filled with grocery stores, designer shops, coffeehouses, recreation outfitters and some of Laguna’s best…

EXPLORE THE GOLDEN ISLE OF ST. SIMONS

By Greer Wylder

January 20, 2012

Review by Carolyn Burns Bass It’s not hard to understand why this stretch of the Georgia coast is known as the Golden Isles. Miles of marsh grass wave in the breeze, carved by streams, rivers, and inlets to form a jigsaw puzzle of islands. The sun rises like a glittering coin over the Atlantic and blankets the marshlands in gold and amber as it sets over the isles. Poised on the mouth of the sound leading up to the bustling port city of Brunswick, is St. Simons Island, the largest of Georgia’s Golden Isles. The Spanish named the island and…

Oasis for the Soul

By Greer Wylder

December 23, 2011

We could use some inner wisdom in 2012, and now we’re in luck. We found out that our favorite Palm Springs getaway, the Moroccan-Mediterranean inspired Korakia Pensione will be adding “Oasis for the Soul” retreats in 2012 with Ronda LaRue an internationally renowned spiritual author and master-teacher trainer. Korakia Pensione will be the exclusive Palm Springs venue for this one-of-a-kind three-day retreat offered Jan. 16 to 19, Sept. 24 to 27, and Dec. 3 to 6. Ronda brings her Ojai SoulArts method of finding and following your own inner wisdom and helping you discover a sense of spiritual connection, balance and meaningful…