HyperLocal News for Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Olvera Street: A little Mexico frozen in timeThose who may want to browse and munch along L.A.’s deeply historic past may have to hurry up. Olvera Street, a staple attraction of L.A. lore that has been around since, well, technically, the 1780s, may be disappearing under the flood of the current economic melt down.

Santa Monica Playhouse: catch an exciting live showTheatre is alive and well in downtown Santa Monica. From its beginnings in 1960, the Santa Monica Playhouse has flourished in this sunny and creative waterfront city.

San Diego Junior Theatre: Offering more than 60 years of exciting children's theatreFor more than 60 years, the San Diego Junior Theatre is the oldest children’s theatre program in the United States offering innovative theatre education and enriching stage productions for children of all ages.

Newport Landing Whale Watching: The blue whales are here early this year!In the mid-1980s, the fate of some of the largest mammals on Earth was in real question. For most species of whales now, however, the future looks much brighter, and adventures like Newport Landing Whale Watching are helping to promote the love of these awesome creatures.

LA Active Adventures: Adventures in modern civilizationThere is a lot more you don’t know that you stand to learn if you take a very cool and informative experiential tour of Los Angeles with LA Active Adventures.

Taste of LA History at Hollyhock HouseWine Tasting Fridays at Barnsdall Park bring a little culture, a little community and a lot of LA personality in the shadow of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House.

Music Center: The performing arts come to life in Los AngelesThe Music Center serves as the premier performing arts center of Los Angeles County and is one of the three largest and most highly regarded centers in the United States.

California Science Center: Scientific discovery at every turnThe California Science Center offers a day of family fun filled with educational exhibits, live demonstrations and interactive learning stations with an abundance of science discovery at every turn.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels: Where Angels treadEven if you are not religious, you will become a devotee of art and architecture when you visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angel.

Brentwood Country Mart: Shops and dining at your fingertipsBrentwood Country Mart is a popular destination for Brentwood residents and beyond. With a post office, dining, clothing stores, home goods and even a shoe repair shop, this mart has got it all.

The Shack: Grab a cheese steak and watch a '6ers game!Philadephia fans seek refuge at The Shack in Santa Monica. Catch all the Eagles and Phillies games here and feed your Philadelphia cravings. While you're here, stay for a beer and a Philly Cheese Steak.

BriXton: Oldies and newbies take the stage in RedondoThe official name is BriXton south bay; the capital “X” signifies that “X” marks the spot for South Bay live music. The 450-capacity nightclub has been a hotspot since its summer 2008 opening, with a steady flow of national and international touring bands and good L.A. bands as openers. These bands span several genres—rock, classic rock, alt rock, punk and reggae—with several concerts most weeks.

The Hideout: Never a cover, always a partyThis spot in Santa Monica is a place for locals and unpretentious visitors to get cozy and share a fun time. With specialty drinks, burlesque shows, comedy, DJs and karaoke, it's a party at Hideout until closing time.

Sonny McLean's Irish Pub: Where sporty New Englanders reuniteSonny's on Wilshire prides itself on its Boston roots. Die hard Red Sox fans find solace here during baseball season and beyond. You'll find beer, wine, burgers and flat screens and all the Boston sports you'll ever need.

Yummy Cupcakes: grab a mini, classic or jumbo; they're all sweetYummy Cupcakes, with locations in Burbank, Santa Monica and Brentwood, is LA's go-to bakery for gourmet cupcakes at a sweet price. Take a baking class, order baby shower cupcakes or just enjoy a sweet snack at Yummy Cupcakes.

Vienna Pastry: tasty European treatsThis bakery on Wilshire has stood the test of time. Since its opening in the 1950s, Vienna has been serving up crisp apple strudel and turnovers to Santa Monica residents and sweet-craving visitors alike.

Armstrong Garden Center: Exercise your green thumbArmstrong Garden center in Santa Monica carries flowers, vegetables, herbs, seeds and gardening equipment for the gardening novice and the green-thumbed expert.

Makeup & GO!: Professional makeup at an affordable priceBrentwood beauty studio Makeup & GO! offers customers a fresh beauty experience with professional makeup artists. Let Makeup & GO! prep your face for your next big event.

Huntington Beach: Surf, sand and miniature sloopsFun in the sun means flea meets the sea in Huntington Beach.

Maha Yoga: Upbeat yoga in BrentwoodSan Vicente's Maha Yoga, founded by Steve Ross, keeps customers happy with upbeat music, friendly attitudes and a fiercely amazing workout.

Diesel, A Bookstore: A quaint literary heaven in BrentwoodThis cozy bookstore inside the Brentwood Country Mart has the books you're lusting after. And if it doesn't, staffers are ready to find your dream book for you.

Tony Hawk's annual Fundraiser coming up.Tony Hawk and the band Jane's Addiction have teamed up for benefit in LA.

L.A. County Fair: September 4-October 3, 2010The onset of the fall season brings cooler crisp weather, beautiful color changing leaves and the widely celebrated annual L.A. County Fair.

Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival: Record-breaking seafood eats!For more than 10 years, the annual Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival has flooded the Ports O’ Call Village area of San Pedro with an abundance of buttery delicious lobster and other seafood delights.

Cirque du Soleil returns to LACirque du Soleil is coming back to perform in Los Angeles for one day only.

Janelle Monae at the PalladiumCatch the stunning live Janelle Monae show at the Palladium with Of Montreal on Oct. 30, 2010 in Los Angeles. You don't want to miss this energetic, soul-shaking performance.

Long Beach Poppin' Play FestivalAlive Theatre in Long Beach brings eleven plays to life during August and September. Whether you attend Thursday, Friday or Saturday, you'll catch at least 4 plays each night to satisfy your live theatre itch.

Scene and Screen at the W Westwood this SummerGet your Entourage jones satisfied at the backyard pool parties at W Westwood this summer.

California Philharmonic: A music lover's dreamThe California Philharmonic, led by Maestro Victor Vener, is an iconic destination for timeless musical performances in the Los Angeles area.

Taste of the World Festival: Travel the globe without leaving LAOn Nov. 5-7, 2010, check out LA's Taste of the World Festival, where food, wine, dancing and culture culminates into a fun filled five-continent extravaganza.

Glow 2010: An all-night art frenzy Sept. 25 on Santa Monica BeachOn September 25, 2010, Glow returns to Santa Monica Beach with commissions by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Lee Broson and more. Find culture and art from sun down to sun up and be a part of this year's Glow.

L.A. Flea Market: Scratching the itch for cool come as you are shoppingIf you think the world does not have enough stuff, think again. Stuff is what the new L.A. Flea Market is all about and the stuff flies through the nearly 500 vendors to the estimated 13,000 – 25,000 people who can’t get enough of it.

Hollywood Farmers' Market: Part eating, part EdenBring your patience with your appetite and head out to the Hollywood Farmer’s Market held every Sunday at famous Hollywood and Vine (or as Disney would have it, Hollywood & Dine) from 8 am to 1 pm.

Kate Somerville: Many Faces of KateKate Somerville is to beautiful faces what water is to thirst. She quenches her clients with home grown remedies developed and tested and tested again by her team of doctors, medical practitioners and aestheticians providing treatments for skin that can be found only in LA.

Small World Books: Great Beach Reads in VeniceLooking for some good reads by the beach? Small World Books in Venice can help. This little LA institution is right off the Boardwalk and provides a shelter from the storm of snake charmers, fortune readers, end of the world predictors, skaters and boarders, and … crowds.

Runyon Canyon: Walking with the stars (and their dogs)For those who would prefer to hike with the stars, Runyon Canyon "peaking" out above the Hollywood neon should be the path of choice for nature shows and the latest in exercise chic. The three-mile roundtrip hike ascends about 400 feet to views that can see all the way to Catalina Island on a clear day.

Downtown Art Walk: Downtown becomes a canvasLos Angeles's monthly Downtown Art Walks are a colorful tradition of celebration and scene-making.

Surf's Up at the Annenberg Beach HouseSanta Monica has a new stylish beach club with wide open doors.

Behind the Ball Game at Dodger StadiumThe ball game is only a stone’s throw away at LA’s Dodger Stadium.

Tapping the Grape in LA's Wine CountryJust north of Los Angeles in the rolling hills of Malibu is LA's own secret little Napa Valley.

Showtime at the StudiosMake studio audience magic in LA as a clapping and laughing member of a taping, whether The Jay Leno Show, the Jimmy Kimmel Show, The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, even the venerable Price is Right. Getting in is as simple as getting a table at Mozza on Melrose. Go on line, make a reservation, get to the venue early, get on line – and wait. And wait. Unless, of course, you know someone. Once in, you don’t just sit there. You work. You laugh loudly and frequently. And you clap loudly and frequ

L.A. now home to most expensive school in U.S.The new school opening up in Los Angeles comes with a $578 million price tag.

Jewler defends store and shoots two suspects.A jewelry story owner shot two of four would be robbers.

Mummified Infant remains leave dark mysteryTwo mummified remains of 1930's era infants found in trunk near MacArthur Park.

Missing person Mitrice Richardson found deadThe long missing Mitrice Richardson has finally been found.

Audit on LAX security?Councilwoman Janice Hahn had raised some questions about the security of LAX post 9-11.

Crustacean Beverly Hills: Hooked on the CrabA little Feng Shui has gone a long way at Crustacean, a Vietnamese restaurant in Beverly Hills that has yet to go out of favor with the fickle glitterati crowd.

Umami Burger: Umami Me, Baby!OK, we have five senses. But did you know we also have five tastes? Count ‘em: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and … umami? It’s sort of an amalgam of all the others and is so pleasing to the palate that LA has built a burger around it: Umami Burger.

That Pizza Place: Gourmet pizzas in West LAWest LA's That Pizza Place offers great discounts and free delivery to promote business, but the fresh, tasty ingredients speak for themselves. Check out That Pizza Place and let your tastebuds loose.

All India Cafe: Flavorful Indian cuisine at fair pricesIf you're in the West LA area and craving fish curry and crunchy samosa, shell out $9 for the lunch buffet at All India Cafe. All you can eat Indian cuisine is good for the soul. And the belly.

Chandni: Authentic Vegetarian Cuisine of IndianThis Wilshire Boulevard restaurant is a go-to for vegetarians that love Indian food. With many traditional north Indian dishes and an inexpensive buffet, Chandni sees many customers every day.

Sushi Shogun: California rolls on the PromenadeThird Street Promenade has many restaurant choices, and Sushi Shogun is a perfect choice for a delicious, speedy lunch at an affordable price.

The Lobster: Tempting seafood and an incredible viewThis restaurant sports the tagline "The Happiest Hour", and you'll probably agree. Between fresh seafood, delicious drinks and an amazing water view, The Lobster really does have it all.

Real Food Daily: Vegan fare with mega-flavorRFD is a great place for vegan and non-vegan eaters to cohabitate. This restaurant prides itself in healthy, delcious food that also happens to be vegan.

Hara Sushi: Great value and a very happy happy hourTucked cozily on Wilshire and Wellesley, this sushi restaurant serves up all the favorites without the hefty price tag. Coming to Hara means a friendly staff awaits you, and your dinner won't cause any buyer's remorse.

T's Thai Restaurant: Authentic, quick and inexpensive ThaiJust off Third Street Promenade, this restaurant has less hustle and bustle and more good food for your money than restaurants on the main drag. Come here for a yummy curry or Thai noodle without breaking the bank.

Santa Monica College: A top tier two-year community collegeSanta Monica College takes pride in gearing it students for transfer to prestigious universities like UCLA and USC. Students receive real-world studies here, and they go on to do great things.

Canyon Charter Elementary School: Strong values since 1894This Santa Monica school gained charter status in 1993, but it has been teaching strong values, community, arts and arithmetic to students since its humble 1894 beginnings.

SLS Hotel: A Wonderland without AliceYou may stay at the 297-room SLS Hotel for the accommodations but most people come to the hotel just for the looking. The property produces the combined results of some of the biggest brains in design, hospitality and food, only to become a flagship for what is expected to be a new chain in retro forward hospitality under the SLS brand.

Esotouric: Where Angelenos Fear to TreadFinally there is a tour company that really speaks to the pulse of LA’s weirdness. Esotouric bills itself as offering Bus Adventures into the Secret Heart of L.A. Here you can see the ghosts of glamour’s past, notorious crime scenes, the tracks of the city’s grand “noir” element and a slew kitschy, weird and whimsical wonders along the way.

Andaz Hollywood: New Look for old Rock ‘n Roll HotelIn the ‘60s and ‘70s it was the Hyatt on Sunset Strip and had rooms to its name where people like Jim Morrison stayed, The Rolling Stones partied, and The Who hung out. Now it’s the Andaz Hotel, and it still gets plenty of celebrity attention in a city where you just cannot seem to put out enough cool.

Palihouse: Putting on the stylePalihouse in West Hollywood seems to be taking on the sheen formerly resigned to the Chateau Marmont crowd in this town.

Grand Del Mar: Luxury, and linksThe Grand Del Mar just north of San Diego seems like an iconic throw back to the days of California Grandeur – when money was made the easy way and celebrities still wore diamonds around their necks to the Academy Awards.

Pets Welcome at the PalomarThe Palomar Hotel in Westwood offers panache and pampering for pets and people.