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TOURific Escapes says, “See the stars.” TOURific Escapes is a new food and sightseeing tour company located in Los Angeles offering a unique view of Hollywood. “We want to show locals and travelers visiting Hollywood how fantastic our city is, treating guests as if they were our best friends in town for the weekend,” says co-founder Matt Rubenstein.

The tour will focus on the fantastic sights Hollywood has to offer. You’ll go from the Kodak Theater, where the Oscars are held every year, to trendy Melrose and down the legendary Sunset Strip, as well as a few other surprise locales.

“I love to eat, and I really enjoy trying new restaurants of all types,” notes tour director Trish Procetto, as she explains that you’ll not only see Hollywood, but enjoy some delicious food from both historic and trendy celebrity chef-owned restaurants on this fun-filled tour. “I always get hungry while on tour, so why not incorporate delicious bites while our guests learn about the fascinating Hollywood history,” explains Trish.

The cost of the tour is $85 per person with a reduced rate for kids under 12. Included is a fully escorted tour with tasty treats from 4-5 food stops along the way. You’ll spend about 4 hours seeing and eating the in’s and out’s of Hollywood attractions.

Outnsd.com, a new happy hour website, changes the way San Diego residents decide to go out and spend their money. Drinking and eating on a budget has never been easier with a resource such as this. “With more than 275 bars in a 20 mile radius, San Diego needed a go to site for those wanting to know where the hottest spots and best deals are,” says Griffin Thall, founder of Outnsd.com. “We save users time and hard-earned money by showing them the cheapest drinks and the best eats in San Diego everyday.”

With a wealth of information and a massive social media following, Outnsd.com bridges the gap between bar owners and potential new customers. The site’s information, broken down by neighborhood, offers users the opportunity to rate their favorite bars and restaurants. “We provide an interactive profile page with photos, maps, descriptions, and up-to-date happy hours,” says Trevor Jones, Co-founder. “The easy to use platform allows our users to scope out information faster than ever before.” In addition, their iphone app enables users to browse all of San Diego’s latest happy hour deals on the fly.

Outnsd.com also gives users a weekly blog that lists up-to-date news and events on the San Diego social scene. Although your average happy hour ranges from 3-7PM, these guys are no stranger to nightlife. Partnering up with big names such as DJhere Productions, Cali Party Bus, and Bar West have helped them create constant buzz throughout the San Diego community. Founded in 2008, Outnsd.com has gained popularity throughout the San Diego college community and those looking for a great deal. Next time you’re on the go and in need of a quick drink, check Outnsd.com for all your happy hour needs!

What was made famous via a little television show called Beverly Hills 90210 has since turned into the most sought-after zip code in the world. The fact that the calendar date equivalent (9.02.10) looms on the horizon is not lost on Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills has a lot to celebrate – perfect weather, gorgeous landscapes, exclusive trend-setting fashion houses and dining establishments with cuisine beyond compare. A 9.02.10 Day celebration to commemorate this special date and this amazing city will take place the evening of September 2 on the rooftop space adjacent to The Beverly Hilton. Residents and visitors alike are invited to enjoy this grand scale event. Hosted by Larry King, 9.02.10 Day will feature gourmet food options from world-renowned chefs, beer, wine and cocktail tastings and a live musical performance from international pop sensation and Grammy nominee, Natasha Bedingfield. To be a part of this experience, visit 9.02.10 Beverly Hills Celebration Event. For more details, visit http://www.beverlyhills.org/90210day.

TASTE OF BEVERLY HILLS

9.02.10 Day, a signature event all on its own, is just the opening act for what promises to be a Labor Day Weekend to remember in Beverly Hills. The premiere Taste of Beverly Hills, presented by Food and Wine, kicks off with the 9.02.10 celebration, the precursor to a series of mixing and tasting events that are guaranteed to tantalize tastebuds. Here’s a summary to whet your appetite:

Friday, SEPTEMBER 3
The Art of Mixing (7 – 11 pm) – The best in culinary meets the best in cocktails as guests sample a “mix” of cuisine, cocktails and music from the city’s top restaurants, mixologists and DJs.

Saturday, SEPTEMBER 4
Secrets from the Kitchen and Cellar (11 am – 3 pm) – A day filled with sessions from top chefs, master sommeliers and other food and wine experts to include an LG-sponsored Taste of Something Better Cooking Competition.

Date Night (7 – 11 pm) – An amazing evening of food, wine and entertainment with live cooking demonstrations, a Grand Tasting from 40+ hand-selected restaurants in the LA area and wine sessions from master sommeliers, wine educators and winery owners.

Sunday, SEPTEMBER 5
The Art of Brunch (10 am – 3 pm) – The hottest brunch spots in LA congregate in one place for this grand brunch feast featuring a “Gospel Brunch” performance, a 50-foot table overflowing with breads, pastries and other baked breakfast goods and a specialty drink area (Bloody Mary Bar, Mimosas and Bellinis).

BBQ in the Hills (7 – 11 pm) – The perfect ending to a perfect summer weekend, the Taste of Beverly Hills ends on a high note with a “BBQ in the Hills” as top chefs present their individual take on BBQ fare and the weekend winds down with a festival finale showcasing top musical performers and celebrities.

To sweeten the pot, Beverly Hills hotels are offering special Taste of Beverly Hills hotel packages, making your time here even more delicious. The special offers include a variety of perks from special room rates and complimentary breakfasts to hotel credits and customized Taste of Beverly Hills amenities. Those hotels offering packages include Avalon Beverly Hills; The Beverly Hilton; Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel; Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive; Maison 140; Mosaic Hotel, Peninsula Beverly Hills and Thompson Beverly Hills. Visit http://www.thetasteofbeverlyhills.com to purchase tickets.

FASHION AND FERRIS WHEELS

What do fashion and Ferris wheels have in common? Just about everything if you’re headed to Fashion’s Night Out on Rodeo Drive on Friday, September 10. Rodeo Drive merchants will erect a large Ferris wheel (a replica of the very wheel that debuted at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893) in celebration of the global shopping extravaganza known as Fashion’s Night Out. Rodeo Drive anchors the West Coast effort with more than 50 luxury retailers stepping up to create a block-party environment with exclusive in-store events, cocktail parties and extended shopping hours.

So how exactly do you get a ride on the big wheel? Simply show a receipt for purchases made that evening at any of the participating retailers, and you (and a friend) will enjoy spectacular views of the city and the surrounding Hollywood Hills from high atop the Ferris wheel. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be sure – available to anyone who shops at Chanel, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino or any of the many Rodeo Drive boutiques paying tribute to fashion as part of this night out on the town. For details, visit http://www.rodeodrive-bh.com.

To plan a visit to Beverly Hills, visit www.lovebeverlyhills.org or call 1.800.345.2210.

Carlsbad, Calif. – Affirming its commitment to bringing a new level of environmental consciousness to San Diego County,
La Costa Resort and Spa-A KSL Luxury Resort has earned a Bronze level rating from Green Seal, which provides science-based environmental certification standards across vast industries. La Costa is the 17th certified hotel in California and the only certified hotel in San Diego.

“La Costa offers guests a taste of the Southern California coastal lifestyle, making it our responsibility to protect our natural resources and be good stewards of our environment,” said Paul McCormick, general manager of La Costa. “We are thrilled that our vibrant sustainability program has met the criteria for this certification and it is our goal to continue on this path of environmental consciousness.”

Sustainable highlights include:

* In an effort to reduce, reuse and recycle, La Costa has one of the first kitchens in San Diego to install the eCorect Food Waste Decomposition System, which dehydrates food waste to produce soil that is suitable for landscape use on the golf course and in hotel plant and flowerbeds. These compost machines handle 182,000 pounds of food scraps per year.

* As a leader in reusable resources, La Costa is one of the longest standing users of reclaimed water in San Diego. To decrease the impact on the environment and use less water, La Costa uses 2.2 gpm faucets and aerators, 1.6 gpf toilets and 2.5 gpm showerheads. Additionally, the plants and trees on property are tolerant of local weather conditions and adhere to local limitations on watering.

* The resort features “smart” thermostats in most guestrooms, which saves energy in unoccupied rooms. Additionally, La Costa uses energy-efficient lighting and web-based computerized controls on pool and spa heaters to minimize gas use. Furthermore, all golf course equipment operates entirely on biodegradable oil.
* La Costa offers a recycling program for guests and staff, recycling all materials that are accepted locally.
* The resort uses environmentally preferable cleaning products.
* La Costa caters to groups meeting on property by providing local and/or organic foods at functions and events, upon request, reducing the group’s carbon footprint.

Through these initiatives, La Costa has reduced a significant amount of electricity, gas and water usage on property. In 2010, La Costa’s electric impact (kilowatts) was down 2.1 percent from 2009 and 11.7 percent from 2008; gas was down 7.0 percent from 2009 and 13.4 percent from 2008; and water (resort gallons) was down 8.3 percent from 2009 and 34.6 percent from 2008. Through aggressive use of computerized energy management systems, green lighting and staff training, La Costa saved enough electricity in 2008 to power 200 homes.