HAUTE CHILD N THE CITY | Meetup.com’s OC Social Superfly KALIDA Rocks the House NYC-Style at the Crowne Plaza in Irvine

If you haven’t already met one of the most charismatic social butterflies here in Orange County, you may be meeting her really soon. Meet Kalida Verdi, a saavy European international traveler with a vivacious spirit and love for people that is contagious. Kalida is one of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet in the OC. As founder of the Active European American Club on Meetup.com in Orange County, Kalida leads a party that draws on one of the largest, leading upbeat social meetup groups in town and is this month’s HAUTE CHILD N THE CITY.

HAUTEOC: For those of you unfamiliar with meetups,  Meetup.com is an amazing social network tool that specializes in one thing, it  allows folks to form groups based on like-minded special interests. On the online meetup platform you choose a selection or category of interests, city location, specify your interests and voilà an array of meetup groups customized by your own personal preference complete with calendar dates, open comment forums, post event reviews, and of course, all new friends. … Continue Reading

INTERNATIONAL AFICIONADO | Friends, Trends & Trade Secrets of Sir Simon Trumper, Purveyor of The Suite Life, Director of International Business Development at STRUT.

At STRUT®, we pride ourselves in our renown trendsetting and distinctive collections of triple-chromed grilles, wheels, and accessories designed for luxury SUVs and automobiles. All collections are designed like fine jewelry and created exclusively for discriminating automotive enthusiasts who desire to personalize their vehicles to reflect the perfection they demand in all of life’s pleasures. STRUT® recently expanded into the Marine industry, Specializing also in Luxury High Performance Offshore Boats, headquartered in Huntington Beach, California. www.strutmarine.com

I’ve spent the past 7 years in the Luxury and Exotic Automobile market as Director of International Business Development, and it has taken me on many a great trips, both near & far. From the OC to DC and the U.K to U.A.E.

I myself am instinctively a purveyor of finer lifestyles in the art of travel & style from place to place. I travel the world and meet some of the most remarkable people of our time, from Princes to American Heroes.  In my latest endeavor I had the opportunity to meet up with the world’s historic moonwalk team Apollo 11 Buzz Aldrin.  It was an honor to meet one of the first heroes to walk on the moon at the Inauguration of Jetsuite Air’s latest event announcement at the stunning Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast. … Continue Reading

DISCOVER OPULENCE IN PUERTO RICO | The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort to Mark the Legendary Brand’s First Property in the Caribbean Opening this Fall 2010

Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico – Opening November 4th, 2010, The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico will mark the debut of the first St. Regis property in the Caribbean, introducing unparalleled luxury and bespoke service to one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Ideally located on a former coconut plantation nestled between the lush El Yunque rainforest and the tranquil waters of the Espiritu Santo River, The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort will be the Caribbean’s first certified Gold Audubon Signature Sanctuary. The spectacular 483-acre resort embraces the Island’s stunning natural beauty and is destined to set new standards of service and luxury for Puerto Rico, offering St. Regis’ legendary Butler Service and featuring Jean-Georges’ restaurant Fern, a 10,000 square foot Remède Spa and a magnificent golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. “We are thrilled to introduce St. Regis to the Caribbean with the debut of The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico, offering travelers access to the highest expression of personalization, refined elegance and uncompromised guest experiences the St. Regis legacy is distinguished for,” says David Kurland, General Manager of The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort. “With the region’s fascinating natural surroundings, welcoming atmosphere and vibrant culture, Puerto Rico is certainly one of the world’s most coveted destinations for our discernable guests, and The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is poised to become the Caribbean’s idyllic address.” … Continue Reading

ADVENTURE QUEST | Landing the Shortest Runway in the World – Sarosh Georges Jacob Quest to the remote Island Saba

HAUTEOC caught up with one of our friends from NYC,  Adventurer Sarosh Georges Jacob on his incredible trip to a remote island east of the Virgin Islands, not your typical landing but definitely exciting – we asked him to share his journey with us – check out his incredible video and photos to Saba!

SAROSH: Saba (say-bah) is located not too far from St Maarten and has a land area of only 5 sq miles. The entire island is basically a big volcano so there are not too many flat surfaces to land on. (photo of Sarosh Georges Jacob – RT)

HAUTEOC:  Sarosh you have such a great appetite for adventure,  how did you learn about Saba and what peaked your interest in heading there.

SAROSH: I first heard about Saba when I was reading an article on some of the top scuba diving sites in the world. What interested me the most was how off-the-beaten-path Saba is. The island is so laid back; it’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.  As I was on limited time, I could only spend 3 days there but I could have easily stayed longer. … Continue Reading

FASHIONISTA NOW BOARDING | The Art of Travel & Style Where the Surf Meets the Turf by Christina Clay, CEO of Stylecliques.com

Last week friends and I attended Opening Day at Del Mar Racetrack starting the day packing brunch and taking the train to the race tracks on the Surfliner from Santa Ana, Orange County to San Diego.

This trip was a victorious 90 minute coast line ride. And one cannot complain, we enjoyed a relaxing excursion,  just us girls, with no traffic in sight, we kick back, sip wine and enjoy the beautiful coast on a sweet ride to Del Mar.

Without a doubt, Opening Day at Del Mar Horse Races is by far one the busiest and most attended events in San Diego of the year, in fact some 40,000 get tickets annually. We attend, of course, to also observe one of the most fashionable sports in town as ladies showcase their finest and most proper hat attires and delicately dress to impress.  From Kentucky Derbys to Dress Hats to Soiree Headpieces and Birdcage Poppies, it is quite a head-turning show. How can anyone miss one of the most renown fashion landmarks of the year! … Continue Reading

HAUTE OFF THE GRILLE | Javier’s Cantina & Grill in Crystal Cove – A Culinary Exploration to Mexico by Melissa Sherman Pearl

So there we were, relaxing on the main patio with margaritas in hand and ocean breezes ruffling our hair. The warm crunchy tortilla chips partnering with fresh guacamole and roasted salsa lent themselves perfectly to Kat and me chatting it up like a couple of college chicks whose IDs were no longer a lie. But how would we make it to pick up our kids by 3 if we’re all the way in Mexico? Oh, that’s right, we’re simply enjoying an afternoon lunch at Javier’s in Crystal Cove, Newport Coast. Pomegranate Margarita for me, Tamarind Margarita for Kat (really, only one for each of us – it was lunch time, ya know), and so the fresh, fanciful feast began. We started with a halibut and octopus ceviche, so light and flavorful, citrusy and dusted with finely cut cucumber, onions, cilantro. Yum. As for main dishes, Kat can afford the calories so she ordered Carne Tampiquena – a combination of grilled aged USDA Prime center cut 6 oz. New York steak topped with strips of chiles and onions … Continue Reading

OC AIR COMMUNITY FOCUS | Jazz-Age Inspired mid-century artwork to be featured at John Wayne Airport by Jenny Wedge for OCAir.com

A collection of paintings depicting the Jazz Age in a mid-century Geometric Abstract style are on display in John Wayne Airport (JWA) Terminal A Vi Smith Concourse Gallery across from Gates 11 – 14 now through September 20, 2010. This exhibition features art by 12 California artists who explored geometric and angular abstraction during the Post WWII era. All of these artists worked with water-based paints including transparent watercolor, casein, acrylic and gouache.  Monkey Cages by Wayne Carl La Com (1949) Courtesy: Jeff Olsen Collection

The Airport is pleased to welcome this exciting and introspective collection of artwork, said Airport Director Alan L. Murphy. We hope our passengers enjoy a look into this historic California artwork while visiting … Continue Reading

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE | Orange County’s Well-Traveled gather for another V-12 Powered Event “EAST MEETS WEST” by Valerie Valenzuela Marketing Director of Aston Martin Newport Beach

Aston Martin has been known to create dynamic sports cars built for performance and racing. So when they introduced The Rapide – The world’s most elegant four-door and the first ever sedan in their lineup, curious onlookers and brand loyalists paid attention.  Careful planning and outreach are essential to any new product launch. Not to mention creativity, especially when the vehicle is introduced to a local and highly discerning audience. As was the case for Aston Martin Newport Beach: our highly visible location granted access to the ideal profile of clients.

On May 7, 2010, Aston Martin Newport Beach held an exclusive reception to launch the Rapide. To add value for its VIP attendees, the dealership also announced a ride-and-drive weekend for those interested in experiencing the Rapide first-hand. The event hit capacity within hours of releasing the invitations. Support from local sponsors helped to elevate the evening : Tommy Bahama Island Grille provided delectable hors d’oeuvres while guests enjoyed hand-selected wines from OC Wine Mart. Luxury travel partners HAUTEOC TRAVELER, … Continue Reading