Singer Josh Strickland from "Holly's World" arrives at the LAX Nightclub at the Luxor.

Wednesday night, the cast of E! network’s reality television series “Holly’s World” came out to support their leading man Josh Strickland as he debuted his newly released single “Report to the Floor” exclusively at LAX Nightclub at the Luxor. Holly Madison, Laura Croft and Angel Porrino were on hand as hundreds of fans packed the nightclub to hear Strickland perform live.

Strickland and co-producer Elliot Damon took center stage at 11:30 p.m. and unveiled their upbeat dance song to the full house. While Madison, Croft and Porrino applauded him on from the balcony, Strickland rocked it on the dance floor as he showed off his amazing vocals paired with seductive dance moves. “Report to the Floor” has climbed its way onto the top 10 on the iTunes Dance Charts.

After the performance, Strickland joined the rest of his friends in the VIP lofts located on the second floor of LAX. The whole cast spent the rest of the evening taking in the atmosphere of the Vegas club scene while sipping on cocktails and sticking around for the debut of Destination Sharam, a monthly DJ residency with Grammy-award-winning DJ, producer, songwriter and recording artist Sharam.

Also, spotted at LAX was Playboy’s 2008 Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole.

Click on the photos below to enlarge.

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It’s back! Orange County Restaurant Week returns for another round of great food and great reasons to try restaurants off your beaten path. With more restaurants participating than ever, there’s never been a better time to take advantage of this food phenom. Grab a date, loosen your belts and start checking off your list.

Running Feb. 27th – Mar. 5th, the lunch and dinner prix fixe event is repeating price points of $10, $15 and $20 lunches along with dinners ranging at $20, $30 and $40, but this year, the restaurants are stepping up with even more amazing offerings.

“Now, in our third year with our fifth event, Orange County Restaurant Week has become one of the most anticipated culinary events of the year, and this year, with only 100 of the regions best restaurants participating, we truly have something for everyone,” says Pamela Waitt, president of the OC Restaurant Association. “Each restaurant will present menus that showcase its finest offerings at great prices during this one week. After all, the goal is for everyone involved to have fun!”

Great new restaurants participating include Capital Grille, House of Big Fish and Ice Cold Beer and RAYA, but your favorites like TAPS, Ruths Chris and SOL Cocina are all in the game, too. It’s impossible to hit up every spot on the list but trust us, it’s worth trying.

For a complete list of participating restaurants and their menus for Orange County Restaurant Week or for more information, visit the official web site at www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com.

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Vineyards at Joseph Phelps Winery

California Lifestyle—A Symphony of Wine and Food

Over the Presidents’ Day weekend I celebrated my birthday with family and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area on a quest for wine and the finest dining experience.

Early Saturday morning, we headed out to Napa Valley, where our first stop was Joseph Phelps Winery in Rutherford. It has the prettiest vineyards scenery and their wines have earned high respect in the market place. Winemaker Ashley Hepworth blends their six estates’ vineyards to produce well balanced wines. The 2006 and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from their Backus Vineyard are superb and retail at $250 a bottle, the 2006 Merlot and 2009 Sauvignon Blanc at $40 and $32 are very pleasant and affordable.

Spring Mountain Winery in St. Helena

Our second stop was Spring Mountain Winery in St. Helena. This historical winery was the location of the Wine Country themed TV series “Falcon Crest.” Established in 1885, today it has 845 acres majestically sits on the slopes of Spring Mountain after four adjoining properties were acquired, each featuring a vineyard and a winery. Each has a different elevation, soil, and exposure to the elements and each block produces something unique. This great diversity of steep hillside plantings is the source of consistent, powerful, and distinctive red wines. The best we tasted were their Reserve Elivette Library 2000 to 2003 and well priced at $125 a bottle. The current releases of 2007 Syrah and Syrah co-Ferment and 2008 Chardonnay and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon can also pair well with any of your fine meals.

Spring Mountain staff got us a table for lunch at Market, a chic restaurant on Main Street, St. Helena, we were told this is the best lunch place in town, sure enough she was right, our lunch was delightful and the place was charming.

vine cliff winery cave

Our next winery stop was Vine Cliff Winery in Oakville off Silverado Trail. A small vineyard known for rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons from Oakville Appellation and bold Chardonnays from the acclaimed Carneros District. Originally established in 1871, Vine Cliff quickly grew into one of the region’s largest wineries, producing up to 19,000 gallons at its peak in the late 1800s. In 1900, the parasite phylloxera destroyed the vineyards and most of the winery structure disappeared in a matter of a few years, with the exception of the stone first floor and tunnels. In 1985, Charles and Nell Sweeney purchased the estate. Their son, Rob Sweeney took the role of General Manager responsible for planting 25 acres of Estate vines on the property’s 102 hilly, rocky acres. By 1999, new production facilities were completed including the 15,000 square feet of barrel aging caves. Vine Cliff Winery prides itself on small lots of intensely flavored, hand-made wines. Two of the six wines we tasted, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon was superb in rich flavor and smooth finish.

Our last tasting stop was Rubicon Estate Winery in Rutherford. Formerly Inglenook and Neibaum-Coppola Estate Winery, legendary movie director and wine maker Francis Ford Coppola has been making wines at this estate for 29 years before he purchased the original Inglenook Chateau in 1995 and united this historic Napa Valley estate established in 1879. The name was changed to Rubicon to celebrate the restoration of the organically certified vineyards, completion of the extensive wine caves and the return of wine making to the Chateau for the first time since 1966. The ivy-covered stone chateau building features distinctively appointed tasting rooms, vaulted stone cellars and a hand-carved staircase with an exquisite stained glass window bearing the winery’s logo leading to museum of documents, artifacts from Inglenook’s early beginning and the story of the Coppola family restoration of the Estate. A tasting of five wines in the impressive cavernous gift shop offers cabernet blanc, merlot, and zinfandel made from organically grown grapes. Bottles range from around $20 to more than $100. We were told the Coppola film memorabilia museum is no longer at this winery.

The Restaurant at Meadowood. Courtesy of Meadowood, Napa Valley

The highlight of our Wine Country visit was the dinner at the 3-Michelin star Restaurant at Meadowood. Chef Christopher Kostow studied his craft in Paris and South of France and earned 3-stars before age 30 last year at Meadowood. Our amazing 5-course tasting menu with wine pairing which started off with Roasted Sturgeon cooked with Bone Marrow, Compressed Pear and Crispy Brussels Sprouts paired with D. R. Stephens Chardonnay, Carneros 2008. We ended our dinner with combination of four desserts.

As you can imagine, after this amazing feast we had trouble staying awake. I had to roll out more than dozen jokes from my joke data base in my brain to keep all seven of us from falling asleep during our 90 minutes drive home. I want to thank Wolfgang Jilka, Director of Sales, and Nathaniel Dorn, manager of Restaurant at Meadowood who made great effort to give us the table for our group of seven. I highly recommend you to try this dining experience, but be sure to reserve your table three months in advance.

amazing views and ambiance at cavallo point lodge

We ended our weekend with glorious weather on Sunday for our walk to downtown Tiburon waterfront and hiking up to the Marin Headlands and a late lunch at Slanted Door at San Francisco Ferry Building. Our evening at Cavallo Point Lodge started with a drink at the Farley Bar with managing partner Mike Freed and wife Lydia who are good friends for many years and we shared many memorable trips together to Italy, France and Fiji. Mike’s company Passport Resorts is known for their award-winning hotels that promote environmental, sustainability, local culture and ecotourism while offering luxurious and soulful guest experience. Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur and Cavallo Point Lodge are their signature hotels.

The Lodge  is located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, offering a beautiful natural setting, a nurturing wellness spa, a cooking school and fine dining year round. Our dinner at Lodge’s 2-star restaurant Murray Circle was prepared by chef Joseph Humphrey and his team. This birthday weekend destroyed the diet I just started at beginning of this year. Oh well, who is counting the calories while having a great wine and food experience such as this!!

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50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather celebrate Mayweather's birthday at Tao.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrated his 34th birthday with a surprise dinner at Tao Asian Bistro at the Venetian on Thursday. The boxer was joined by a group of 40 family members and friends, including 50 Cent and rapper Red Café for a dinner of orange chicken, coconut shrimp and wasabi filet.

Mayweather blew out candles on not one, but two cakes, one shaped as a glove, the other was a stack of money symbolizing his boxing moniker, Floyd “Money” Mayweather, prompting 50 Cent to take pictures of the cakes with his camera.

Scott Weiland also dined at Tao Asian Bistro. The Stone Temple Pilots front man and two friends enjoyed crispy rice, lobster wontons and satay bass before heading to the nightclub for Worship Thursday.  Taking over a VIP table on the dance floor, the trio kept a low profile, taking in the sounds of DJ Five before calling it a night. Weiland and Stone Temple Pilots take the stage tonight at the Pearl at the Palms.

Click on the photos below to enlarge.

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This high-end designer is taking the catwalk by storm next month on March 11th at the Sheraton Hotel, Chicago from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. The night will kick-off with dinner and drinks and move into the fabulous runway show featuring the Fall/Winter 2011 collection.

Borris Powell has amazing silhouettes in which are based from past decades mixed with a little bit of the look for the high-end city woman. He started his own line of custom pieces in 1997 in Chicago and says his major style icon is the legendary Christian Dior. Powell’s inspiration stems from his many travels with themes anywhere from theater to philosophy. You can guarantee this designer is always sure to thrill his fashionable audience! About his mission for his collection he says, “ I try to keep things simple while constantly staying true to my work, my self and the women I design for.”

Start your couture night with your choice of dinner at the Sheraton Hotel or just strut in at 8 p.m. for the big show! Then enjoy cocktails and bust some moves on the dance floor until the clock strikes midnight.

Visit www.StyleChicago.com to purchase your tickets. Choose from Level 1 for standing room tickets or Level 2 admission for VIP runway seating, which is really the only way to go!

Sheraton Hotel is located at 301 E. North Water St., Chicago, IL; 773.857.5585

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Since its founding in 1968 by Gimmo Etro, the family-owned fashion house, Etro, has been regarded as a luxury leader, creating clothing, accessories, fragrances, textiles and home goods that are coveted around the globe. Having long held court on Madison Avenue (since 1996), Etro has recently expanded with an impressive new outpost in the hub of SoHo on 89 Greene Street, at the corner of Spring Street. Now, aficionados of Etro’s Milanese classic tailoring, bold kaleidoscopic prints and paisleys, lavish fabrics and fantastically loud colors, can invest in the choicest pieces from the most recent collections downtown.

The impressive fashion paradise measures 4,400 square feet and is located in an attractive five-story historical building from the late 1880s. Etro has painstakingly restored the two-floored space to its near-original glory. A design guru’s dream, the boutique boasts high tin ceilings, industrial overhead lighting, exposed brick walls and oversized double-hung windows.  The loft-like boutique is a new design venture for Etro, one which reflects the progression of SoHo, yet celebrates its historic past. Never to stray far from its Italian heritage, Etro ensured that all of the interior millwork (columns, capitals, etc.) was created in Italy and the stone flooring used throughout; classic Italian Santa Fiora stone.

Shoppers are welcomed onto the main level by the dapper Etro men’s collection (helmed by the founder’s son, Kean Etro), while the tasteful and airy subterranean space caters to the gorgeous Etro women’s (creations from Kean’s sister, Veronica Etro).

An assortment of cognoscenti strolled to the boutique’s opening day, Feb. 19, for a flûte du Champagne and a chance to gaze at the latest runway looks displayed under treated stainless fixtures, backed by classic Etro gray lacquered panels.  The boutique’s superb selection of accessories are displayed in glass vitrines, surrounded by well-appointed lounge areas, created from nothing less than Etro home furnishings.

“We are thrilled to be opening a new boutique in SoHo, a location we have been eyeing for several years.  Whether you live in New York City or are a visiting tourist, SoHo is a huge shopping destination known worldwide,” exclaimed Etro CEO, Ippolito Etro.

If Signore Etro only knew how elated we were that Etro has moved its sophisticated and fanciful creations downtown!

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Palm Beach is a paradise and at Mar-A-Lago, it seems to be even more of a paradise…and now it’s pink? Yes, you read right. The pink paradise is all for a good cause–to honor and celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker’s promise to her sister to eradicate breast cancer. Funds raised at the upcoming Perfect Pink Party will support research and services provided by Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The event will take place on Friday, March 11, 2011. Ticket information for the Inaugural Komen for the Cure Perfect Pink Party is available by contacting Stacy Snyder at 561.293.3344 or email palmbeach@komen.org.

The latest nightspot to hit the bustling Broward scene, SHO in downtown Fort Lauderdale gears up to honor ladies with the new ‘Elektrik Karma’ ladies night. Each Thursday, the nightlife destination will offer hardworking women a place to let loose and enjoy a mixture of music from various DJs while throwing back complimentary cocktails all night long. Well it’s about time!

Contrast to other local spots offering ladies night in Fort Lauderdale, SHO won’t be ditching the dudes, offering free drinks to men until midnight.  Bottle specials include $150 bottles of Three Olives Vodka. Music mix of hip hop, indie, house and top 40.

SHO Nightclub is located at 15 West Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954.462.3322 for reservations.

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Hundreds of hungry Miamians (and visitors) flocked to the beaches of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach last night for the kickoff of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

The most coveted ticket of the evening? The fifth annual Amstel Light Burger Bash presented by Allen Brothers and hosted by the foodie Queen herself, Rachael Ray.

The enormous white tent on the sand was hopping inside, with legitimate Code Red security blocking every entrance. No surprise considering on average tickets cost people paid on average $250 for a chance to taste test the best burgers in the nation! (There were even a dozen or so ticket scalpers out front looking to cash in on their high demand.)

The annual Burger Bash pits some of the best chefs in the nation to compete in a grill-off to see who can craft the best burger. This year’s event featured past years’ People’s Choice Award-winning chefs along with some burger bash rookies.

Chefs included Michael Schlow (of Boston’s Radius, Altastrada, 606 Congress, and Via Matta), Morimoto, Shake Shack, Spike Mendelsohn (of NYC’s Le Cirque and L.A./Vegas’ Bouchon), Jose Garces (of Philadelphia’s Garces Restaurant Group), Michael Schwartz (Miami’s Michael’s Genuine) and the Ritz-Carlton South Beach’s very own Executive Sous Chef Oscar Vides.

But the winner of the evening was, (again!) Michael Symon from Cleveland’s Lola restaurant for his “Yo! Burger,” which was actually burger made of fried salami.

To view more photos from last night’s Amstel Light Burger Bash, visit Haute Living’s Events Gallery.

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If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind gifts for the fashion set, the art crowd or anyone that appreciates a book or gift that’s like no other, then you already know about Assouline at South Coast Plaza. They’ve got art pieces, books, books and more books that are definitely a step up from any others you’ll find. And their latest — American Fashion Travel — brings art, fashion and travel all together in one great book.

The sixth title in Assouline’s CFDA American Fashion series, American Fashion Travel collects ideas from globetrotting design stars as they share their favorite locations, hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and sources of inspiration from around the world. Inside, you’ll learn why Donna Karan’s carryon essentials, where Tory Burch loves to shop when she’s abroad, and what Yigal Azrouel favorite hotel is. With a foreword by CFDA President Diane von Furstenburg (a traveller herself) American Fashion Travel will give you an entirely new view on the world and give you plenty of places to shop, eat and stay next time you step off of the plane.

Assouline Books & Gifts is located at 3333 Bristol St., at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. For more information on American Fashion Travel, call the store at 714.557-1882 or visit their official web site at www.shopassouline.com.

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