The Dime Picnic: a Wine, Beer, and Food Festival

The Dime Picnic

The people who brought the SIPurbia Wine and Beer Festival to Paramount Ranch are back with a new plan: a “daycation,” if you will. The Dime Picnic, with tastings of local wines, beers, spirits, and food, will be held at a private estate in Hidden Valley on October 14. But this time, there are only 1,000 tickets to be sold!

sipurbia dime picnic logo

Ticket prices are $100 each for the first 100 tickets, and $200 each for VIP (only 50 of these available). All tastings AND food are included in those prices! Spoiler alert: there’s a discount code at the bottom of this post!

Where’s Hidden Valley? Well, it’s so hidden that I had to Google it: it’s basically across Potrero from Westlake Elementary School. In other words, a beautiful area for guests to mingle with friends, check out the vendors, and enjoy live entertainment.

This is good news because SIPurbia was so much fun. Allow me to tell you about it in pictures:

A gorgeous location


Cute photo booth

For a good cause

Interesting (and tasty) vendors

sipurbia dime picnic

…and friends around every corner.

In case you hadn’t noticed, sundresses both short and flowing, flowery jumpsuits, and hats were the most common fashions seen at Paramount Ranch that day. So get your tickets now, and don’t put away those stylish summer digs yet. It’s bound to be nice and warm in October in The Bubble.

The even better news is that if you use the discount code AHM25 when you buy your tickets you’ll get 25% percent off! That is a great deal! Pass it on, friends, and I’ll see you in October. I might be wearing a floppier hat. The cowboy hat makes my head hurt, even though it’s cute.

The Dime Picnic
DATE:  SUNDAY OCTOBER 14, 2018
TIME:  3 – 8 P.M. (last call 7:30 p.m.)
ADDRESS:  1350 W. POTRERO RD., THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91361
CAUSE:  A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER CONEJO VALLEY

Butterbeer Ice Cream at Wizarding World of Harry Potter Universal Studios

butterbeer universal harry pott

Butterbeer ice cream at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood.

I still haven’t been to the “new” Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. First I was waiting for Christmas, but it was too crowded. Then I was going to do it for my son’s birthday, but he wanted to do something else. Now there’s Butterbeer-flavored ice cream?

I don’t think I can wait any longer. Universal Studios just announced that Butterbeer™ ice cream is now being served at “ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ™” at Universal Studios Hollywood ™, arriving just in time for summer.

The rich palate-pleasing Butterbeer-flavoured hard pack ice cream is a delightful and delicious new addition to the menu of Butterbeer items currently available, including such Butterbeer favorites as traditional, frozen and hot beverages, as well as Butterbeer Potted Cream and Butterbeer Fudge.

Reminiscent of butterscotch and shortbread, Butterbeer ice cream is perfectly fine-tuned as a cool Hogsmeade treat and will be served at various carts located within Hogsmeade and at Three Broomsticks™.

Gathering inspiration from historic British taverns, the adjoining Hog’s Head pub features original draught beers and spirits created exclusively for the land, including Hog’s Head Brew, Dragon’s Scale, Wizard’s Brew and Fire Whisky.  Also available are Pumpkin Fizz and Gilly Water and the three Butterbeer choices: traditional, frozen and hot.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including as its iconic focal point, Hogwarts castle.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they watched on the silver screen.

The architecturally stunning land also includes the captivating and highly acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” thrill ride, enhanced with 4K-HD and ride film projecting at an astounding rate of 120 frames-per-second for an even more immersive glimpse into Harry Potter’s world, as well as “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor family coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” resonates with immense detail, inviting guests to enjoy authentic food and beverages at multiple locations, including Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head pub, as well as the Magic Neep and Butterbeer carts.  A foray through the shops adds to the authenticity of the land with such retail venues as Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear, Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods and the Hogsmeade™ Station.

California residents can get discounted tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood that are as low as $99 per adult! Check the website for prices and dates. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Just Dance Live Coming to LA This Weekend

Just Dance Live is coming to life in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Palladium March 29-31

One of our family’s favorite video games is Just Dance – the kids love it because they can dance along with the characters on screen and earn points by making all the right moves, and I love it for those reasons plus we get to spend time together doing something physical and fun, especially when they were younger. Also maybe because I often win. I can’t help it if I’ve got the music in me.

Ubisoft, the maker of the game, is bringing it to life in a traveling live show called Just Dance Live – it hits Los Angeles THIS WEEKEND! The interactive experience will feature hits from Pharrell Williams, Jessie J., Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and many more.

Part stage show, part audience-involvement, fans play an integral role in the show—from walking the red carpet, to mingling with other JUST DANCERS, to transforming their hair and makeup looks in the “Get Ready For It” zone — all before entering a thrilling live performance that surrounds audience members.

These images from other stops on the tour are pretty amazing. It looks like the show brings the dancing characters from the game into real life!

Just Dance Live
Hollywood Palladium
6215 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90028
March 29-31

Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. This looks like a really cool chance to be IN a favorite video game!