With tens of millions of Americans expected to travel for Thanksgiving next week despite spiking COVID-19 infection numbers nationwide, the U.S. Travel Association released an update to its guidance for healthy and safe travel—along with a plea for everyone to closely heed recommended best practices if traveling.  This comes in light of the relatively new challenge of “pandemic fatigue”—which is reportedly causing many Americans to lower their guard against the coronavirus because they are tired after eight long months of evolving restrictions and lifestyle adjustments.

Lavender and Truffles, a non-dairy frozen dessert ice cream brand made with five simple ingredients now has a pop-up parlor in Venice that will remain open throughout the holidays and until the end of the year. Plant-based products are leaping from supermarket shelves thanks to the rise of healthy and transparent diets with millennials at the forefront of the better eating movement. Lavender and Truffles is certified dairy-free and made with organic oat milk. 

The Winter Issue of Traveler and Tourist magazine is here - explore locations in South Carolina, Idaho and Mexico. Learn more about socially distanced trips, campervan van travel, and some of our top picks for travel products and services. Check out our comfort food recommendations and safe ways to travel with family and furry friends. Read about newly opened properties, wineries and ideas for your chocolate snacking fix. And as always - try our reading suggestions, recipes for libations and some fun gifting ideas. Enjoy! 

Hawthorne, California-based Common Space Brewery has a partnership with DoLA, a hyperlocal event discovery platform and community, to help fight hunger in Los Angeles with beer. The mutual goal is simple; raise funds as fast as possible in order to help feed those in need. To inspire giving and highlight how a small donation can have a big impact, Common Space brewed 25=100, based on the amazing fact that $25 can provide 100 meals to feed the hungry. 25=100 is a delicious Double IPA using the freshest designer hops and
clocking in at 9.0%ABV.
 
The Catch: this beer will not be released until a donation goal of $1,250 is raised from the community. 

Dana Point Harbor is spreading seasonal cheer with the annual holiday light display set to illuminate the Harbor beginning November 11. Each night throughout the holiday season, the Harbor’s magnificent light display will illuminate the evening sky. Themed light exhibits throughout the Harbor will include Candy Cane Lane, and the popular  “Merry Kiss Me” arch. New this year are added light displays to the island to encourage visitors to explore all areas of the Harbor and avoid large crowds.

The pandemic has caused hotel occupancy rates to plummet and forced countless changes with regard to travel. But some small boutique hotels and bed and breakfast inns in California have found a silver lining with hotel reservations: a rise in direct bookings. Instead of booking a hotel room with a few clicks with an online travel agency (OTA) website like Booking.com or Expedia, more travelers seem to be contacting hotels directly to book their rooms. The California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) has compiled a list of top five reasons to consider booking your next reservation directly with a boutique hotel or B&B.

Be on the lookout for poison oak warns California Poison Control System (CPCS), a part of the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy and is responsible to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority. Poison oak is a serious threat especially to those who are allergic to the plant. Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) is found mainly in the western regions of the state of California growing from sea level to the mountains. 

The Outdoor Edition of Traveler and Tourist magazine is here - explore locations in North Carolina, Las Vegas and Dubai. Learn more about RV trips, sustainable and responsible travel, and some of our top picks for travel products and services. Check out our wellness apps recommendations and safe ways to recreate outdoors this summer. Read about touchless travel, autonomous vehicles and newly reopened properties. And as always - try our reading suggestions, recipes for libations and some fun summer salad ideas. Enjoy! Subscribe for future issues to head straight to your inbox. Don't miss out on ideas galore for where to travel next and what to do there. Ready to subscribe? Click here

The Tribeca Film Festival is heading to Southern California to launch the "Tribeca Drive-In" at the famed Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA beginning July 2, which will feature an exciting slate of over 30 iconic films shown throughout the summer. This limited-engagement drive-in series provides a safe, comfortable entertainment experience that captivates audiences of all ages. Tickets for opening night are completely free and can be reserved here.

The summer edition of the magazine is here! Peruse some of our favorite destinations and travel-related recommendation. Subscribe for future issues to head straight to your inbox. Don't miss out on ideas galore for where to travel next and what to do there. Ready to subscribe? Click here

Another takeout win, and this time from a new spot in town. Kazan opened its doors late 2019 helmed by chef and owner Ryu Isobe, the brainchild of Tatsu Ramen restaurant on Melrose Avenue and Sawtelle Blvd, who moved on from Tatsu, and is now doing his own signature style. The focus is on homemade Japanese style soba noodles and everything is homemade fresh daily. 

Costa Mesa‘s community of large and small businesses are trying to make a difference to their fellow residents. Together, they have donated thousands of pounds of food, helped feed families that have been laid off or furloughed during this health crisis and are raising funds to support and give back to frontline workers in healthcare and law enforcement while getting through the COVID-19 crisis together. With many businesses having to shutter during this time, others are doing whatever they can to stay in business, raise funds and help each other. Following are a few Costa Mesa stories of businesses giving back, and locals helping locals. 

Since we are mostly confined indoors and can only opt for takeout or have food delivered, here’s a great deal from Ono Hawaiian BBQ if you feel like some tropical vibes are needed. Find a location near you and order ahead for pick up or drive over to find what you’d like. They have some great BOBO (buy one get one free) offers going on at the moment. I tried out a few different chicken and rice plates. Each portion comes with a hefty serving of sticky white rice and Asian salad – certainly enough for one hungry diner. 

​The chicken versions vary based on plates, so you have options such as the BBQ chicken, chicken katsu, grilled chicken breast or teriyaki chicken. each of them cooked to perfection and well paired with the salad and rice. They have a few other fish and beef options available as well, and plenty of sauce options to take the meal up a notch. I also went for some musubi appetizer which is not pictured here (it was that good I gobbled it up) – again a great portion size as each order comes with two handy pieces - of meat, teriyaki sauce and solid block of steamed white rice all happily wrapped in seaweed. 

​And to complete the experience, Hawaiian Sun drinks, which I loved by the way for their light fruity flavors unlike soda. I chose the two flavors below so need to try more flavors the next time around. Glad to have a location just a few minutes from me and hope to head back soon, maybe on another rainy day when a hot meal is on my mind. Next time, I am heading for the beef and fish. If you’ve eaten here, let me know your recommendations. Now is a great time to show support for local businesses that have had to recalibrate to new modes of operations but are still staying open to cater to our needs! 

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Gus’s Barbecue, Los Angeles’s most historical barbecue restaurant, is celebrating the official Grand Opening of their third new location at The Vineyards in Porter Ranch with Giveaways, Games, Live Entertainment, and much more, on Saturday, February 8th, 2020 from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm! ​​Inspired by the many regions of the South, Gus’s Barbecue has been serving real pit BBQ and true Southern hospitality since 1946 in its original South Pasadena location.

Read the new edition of the magazine here and subscribe for future issues to head straight to your inbox! Don't miss out on ideas galore for where to travel next and what to do there. Ready to subscribe? Click here

Located at the corner of Beverly Boulevard and N. Orlando Ave, Mandarette Chinese Café has been serving up delicious traditional Chinese cuisine with a modern twist for the past 35 years. For their anniversary, the West Hollywood mainstay, just down the street from the Beverly Center, has announced four new fall menu items. Owner Ken Yang’s culinary journey started from a little town just north of Taipei, where his father started his traditional training in the kitchen at the young age of 13, and that expertise is highlighted in all the dishes here. 

Grab your passport, hop in the nearest hot air balloon and soar over to The Raymond 1886 where the adventure of a lifetime awaits as you take a journey across libations by experiencing The Raymond 1886’s “Around the World” New 2019 Fall Cocktail Menu!

The Four Seasons Resort Orlando presented a media lunch by Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi and Capa Chef Gabriel Massip for Los Angeles press members at Culina in the Four Seasons Beverly Hills to introduce some of the highlights from their resort at Walt Disney World in Florida. ‘A Taste of Magic’ included select plates for a three-course tasting extravaganza.

Celebrate and be part of the fifth annual Masters of Taste, L.A.’s premier outdoor, luxury food and beverage festival taking place on Sunday, April 5th, 2020 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the field of the Iconic Pasadena Rose Bowl. Masters of Taste 2020 is introducing Chef Vanda Asapahu as Host Chef of Masters of Taste 2020 which also happens to mark the 5th Anniversary of this celebrated event

For a limited period only, there is a South City Fried Chicken Pop-up happening in downtown's Preux and Proper, which specializes in bringing southern cuisine to Los Angeles. If the regular menu available here wasn't enough enticement, the new pop-up will have you lining up. at a sneak peek for media, they revealed the new menu and some of the fun offerings. On the menu now are six types of fried chicken sandwiches, baby iceberg salads including a chicken bacon Cobb, sustainable seafood options such as Dungeness crab hushpuppies and cajun popcorn rock shrimp, southern snacks including fried chicken livers and jerked Colorado lamb ribs, fried chicken plates including chicken and waffles and crispy braised Dr. Pepper wings, sides such as braised collards and cajun fried pickles and finally sweets such as banana pudding' and strawberry shortcake. Just look at some of the plates below and make your way over now!

​The Lexus All-Star Chef Classic with BBVA hosted the Spanish Masters Dinner this year with Ellen Bennett acting as master of ceremony for the evening. The five course dinner was an extravagant affair with chefs and their teams preparing in real-time and the whole operation performed in front of the dinner audience, along with four large stadium screens airing the whole shebang from start to finish. Sort of dinner and a movie but at a whole other level. 

CURRENT: LA FOOD is a month-long arts initiative taking place throughout Los Angeles from Oct 5 - Nov 3. The 15 arts installations are in 15 neighborhoods throughout the city. The initiative allows visitors to interact with never-before-seenart experiences from a replica of an Iraqi palace as well as see live performances by the S.H.I.N.E. Mawusi Women’s African Drum Circle and participate in fermentation workshops, among other community-driven and celebratory food events. Here are a few of the highly anticipated sites!

The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles hosted an exclusive media preview for the annual Taste of Italy fundraiser. The cicchetti cena (Venetian small-plates style dinner) was held in Hermosa Beach at Sosta Cucina, helmed by Executive Chef Luca Manderino. The cozy evening was a culinary treat featuring some of chef’s highlights. If this is any indication then the Taste event is sure to be a blast! Check out the gallery for some of the dinner action...

Mobile Passport will celebrate World Tourism Day on September 27, 2019 by offering its app for $9.99. For each upgrade to the Mobile Passport Plus paid app, $5 of that $9.99 will then be donated to nonprofit Tourism Cares' disaster recovery fund to support Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts. This will apply to all new Mobile Passport Plus purchases on Friday, Sept. 27's flash sale. Read on for next steps!