Orange County Classic Jazz Festival August 7 through August 10 2008. Come join the fun and festivities in Costa Mesa California. Great Music all weekend! Some of the bands performing this year will be Buck Creek, Fulton Street Jazz Band, Yve Evans, Night Blooming Jazz Men, Titanic Jazz Band, Midiri Brothers, Le Jazz Hot, Jean Kittrell and the Riverman, Ivory and Gold and many many more. 

Located at the Headquarters Hotel & All Five Ballroom Venues at the Hilton Costa Mesa
3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, California 92626
exit the 405 freeway at Bristol and travel south one block To purchase tickets and find out more about the bands and show schedule and hotel accommodations 

Visit http://www.oc-classicjazz.org/  

Ingredients

2 quarts cranberry juice cocktail
8 slices (quarter size and about 1/8 in. thick) peeled fresh ginger
2 cinnamon sticks (about 3 in. long)
2 whole star anise
1/3 cup cognac or brandy
8 cups Champagne or other sparkling wine (about 2 2/3 bottles, 750 ml. each), chilled
32 to 48 fresh cranberries, rinsed, or frozen cranberries (optional)

Composed of the rarest ingredients in the world with no regard to their cost, Clive Christian No. 1, which has only been produced for the past six years, retails for $2,350 for 30ml of the pure perfume. Only 1000 bottles each of the men’s and women’s perfumes are released each year. The single most expensive bottle of the Clive Christian perfume, the No. 1 Imperial Majesty bottle made of Baccarat Crystal and inset with a white diamond on the neck, was on display Saturday as well at Saks. Valued at over $200,000, only 10 bottles were ever produced.

Number of ships: 2
Ship capacity: 1,791 to 2,592 passengers
Price range: Expensive

The audience: The line’s specialty—now as ever—is the transatlantic crossing, so the demographics skew older. Expect plenty of retirees and other genteel types looking forward to the peace and quiet of six days at sea with no ports and no distractions other than accomplished speakers and the many books they’ve packed. Probably a handful of Titanic fans, too.

Strengths: The Queen Mary 2, the world’s largest ocean liner, has taken over the torch from the venerable Queen Elizabeth 2, which retires in fall of 2008. The Queen Victoria will set sail in December 2007. The new vessels still, however, adhere to the class (or should we call it caste?) system of each cabin category getting its own dining room—four in all, with the dining experience becoming more intimate as you move up the ranks. Regardless, the food is excellent throughout. The guest lecture series is another standout: It draws actors such as John Cleese and Carrie Fisher, and literary lions like New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik. Lastly, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub is gorgeous and staffed by therapists who have been trained at the original outpost in Tucson. It’s arguably the best spa on the seas.

Weaknesses: The line is now owned by the parent company of Carnival, so don’t be surprised that the old days of “stump the chef” ordering at the Queen’s Grill (the top-level dining room) have been reined in. That said, the new ships have some pretty nifty amenities, including restaurants helmed by Todd English (try the braised short ribs over polenta), a planetarium, and a fully stocked library.

Insider tip: After all those days at sea, there’s often a big rush to get off at disembarkation. If you can handle your own luggage, obtain “self-help” baggage tags before arriving. The stalwart folks who carry their own bags are also the first group allowed off.

Itineraries: Besides the six-day transatlantic crossing between New York and Southampton (from $1,399 per person), the QM2 sails to Northern Europe, the Caribbean, and makes a fall foliage trip along America’s northeast coast. The Queen Victoria will have its maiden voyage in Northern Europe and then embark on a world cruise in 2008.

Cunard Line
Tel: 800 728 6273

Where: Le Tobsil, Marrakesh, Morocco

Why Go: You want to experience the lengthy, elaborate Moroccan meal known as a diffa in a seductive, small-scale setting—not a jam-packed tourist trap.

A Side of Atmosphere: After the adrenaline rush that comes from jostling your way through the labyrinthine medina, this restaurant, hidden behind an unmarked door (next to the Riad Catalina hotel), feels like a sultry sigh of relief. Gnaoua guitarists pluck out hypnotic, trance-inducing melodies, candlelight flickers from every nook, and rose petals on the tables actually feel right strewn amidst all the silk and velvet. This is mystical Marrakesh—rich, dark, sexy—at its most beguiling.

Appetite for Seduction: Le Tobsil has one of the medina’s most well-executed set menus, so be prepared for a procession of succulent, savory dishes such as slow-cooked chicken with onions and roasted tomatoes (it’s paired with cornmeal crêpes) or aromatic leg of lamb made with ras al-hanout (a heady blend of spices like cardamom and nutmeg) and topped with cinnamon-quince sauce.

The Hot Seat: The restaurant only seats 50 people, and tables are arranged around an open-air courtyard and its upper perimeter. Table 9, under an archway on the balcony, has the best position over the overall scene; downstairs, the “table de la cheminée” is snuggled into a dark nook by a fireplace.

Le Tobsil
22 Derb Abdellah ben Hessaien
Marrakesh, Morocco
Tel: 212 24 44 4535
Email: restobsil@yahoo.fr

COMPLIMENTS OF CONCIERGE.COM

Saba is ideal for the traveler looking for a secluded haven, in peaceful and friendly surroundings. Rising steeply from the azure sea, the tiny island in the Caribbean is a magical experience far away from the cares and worries of today’s hurried world.Four small villages are as quaint and charming as the gentle, friendly manner of the Saban people, descended from hardy 17th century pioneers. Visitors feel they have stepped back in history, yet many modern luxuries are here to be enjoyed. Saba is a monument to nature’s best above and below the ocean’s surface. The famous Saba Marine Park is second to none. Saba is a magical place for scuba diving, hiking, admiring the nature or honeymooning!

The Unspoiled Queen
Imagine an island in the Caribbean untrampled by time. Imagine unspoiled landscapes that make you feel like an early explorer, and friendly English speaking people who make you feel at home. All this is Saba… VISIT: WWW.SABATOURISM.COM

What the Critics Say

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Calvisius Caviar*
From the white sturgeon, the roe is firm with a large grain and dark in color, exhibiting a rich, nutty, creamy flavor. Chipped ice and a caviar spoon is all that is required to fully appreciate this exceptional caviar. Sustainably raised in Italy.