Fa-la-Laguna Beach: My 2 Fave Holiday Events
Both start next Friday, Nov 22nd!
It’s Nov 15th already and I don’t know what happened to November. The “Happ-happiest Time of the Year” is screaming down the rails and it’s time to get ready, my friends.
Christmas Day is just 39 days away! Yipes!
While I’ll be providing a more concise list next week of ALL the holiday events in Laguna Beach, I’m focusing first on my TWO top-of-the-list favorites.
Di’s #2 Favorite Thing: Ruben Flores Teaching Holiday Decor & Wreaths
This Friday, Nov. 22nd, 3:00 p.m. at Laguna Nursery, 481 N. Coast Highway
$30 - CALL (949) 494-5200 to say you’re coming and show up with friends.
If you know Ruben … have heard Ruben on my radio show (friends are now calling it “The DiRu Coffee Chat Show”) … or have gone on Ruben’s Garden Walks (another one next Sat, Nov. 23rd), you know you’ve entered the magical realm of Crazy-Great Creativity. And, he’s so danged funny about it.
This Friday, Ruben’s Annual Holiday Decor Workshop returns to Laguna Nursery in north Laguna and, in one hyphenated word it’s: Mind-Boggling.
“Holiday Decor Done Naturally: Wreaths and More” is this year’s theme and here’s what’s funniest about Ruben: He DOES create all these natural, live plant arrangements and wreaths naturally. It’s just innate, in his blood. For ME, the person who writes really well but can’t tie her shoes or draw a stickperson … ehrm, not so natural to make a holiday wreath. But just watching Ruben in action is worth the $30 entrance fee a hundred times over.
He’s so damned entertaining.
He’ll be yapping away about all this great information on what to get and how to combine colors, and different themed materials you want to use for various decor themes, and what the “in” colors really are this year, and how to do THIS outside and how to do THIS as a simple decor item in the guest powder room. And while Ruben’s saying ALL OF THIS, he’s whipping together something like 11 wreaths, 7 Christmas tree looks, 4 magically sprawling table centerpieces … and he decorates a partridge in a (live) pear tree to boot.
It’s mind-boggling, chock full of great new ideas and super entertaining. I’ll see you there.
Di’s #1 Favorite Thing: Sawdust Winter Fantasy
Starts THIS Friday, Nov 22 thru Dec 22. Weekends only on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays, 10 am - 7 pm
Fridays are free for locals. Purchase online tickets before Nov. 22nd and save $2. Tickets online or at the event are $12 adults, $10 seniors 65 and up, $5 for kids ages 6-12. Children under 5 are free.
I’ve said many times in past blogs that I wait for the Sawdust Winter Fantasy Festival to do my Christmas shopping. I’m also quite sure that if I were to ever think of leaving Laguna Beach, my closest friends around the world – who are repeated recipients of gifts from the Winter Sawdust – would hold an emergency meeting, cobble money together and buy me a $6 million beachfront home just to ensure that the Winter Sawdust gifts would keep coming.
There’s simply nothing like the Winter Sawdust Festival anywhere. Although I dearly love the summer Sawdust Festival, too, there’s just something cozier and magical about our weekend-only winter addition. And, you see a lot more Laguna local buddies at this event, too. Aside from the 180 artists in residence at their individually-crafted booths, the Winter Fantasy has a petting zoo, craft-making for kids, live music almost every hour in two locations, plenty of food, beer and hot cider, wandering carolers and, of course, a most outstanding Santa Claus ready for last minute wishes.
Now, I love every single Laguna Beach-based artist here …
I love the restaurants here, my beloved Franziska and Ragip at GG’s Bistro on one side … Chef Lewis of Evan’s Gourmet … “Gonzo” Rebollar at his new Taco Loco stand right next to Evan … but here are just two of my favorite artists that you’ve got to see:
Suzi White - Santa Cap Knitter Extraordinaire
This year, Suzi finally returns and is sharing a booth with our most talented woodworking artist, Shane Dunlap. When Suzi lost her well-known husband, Bruce White (“Shark Bite Lounge” fame, all you longtime residents), we lost her for a couple seasons.
It didn’t even feel like Christmas anymore.
But now she’s back! Suzi’s famous Santa knit hats and super-soft beanies are a giant hit, so be sure to make a beeline to her booth on your arrival. These things sell faster than proverbial hotcakes.
I just chatted with Suzi, too. She says she’s been knitting up a storm. Her record sales at Winter Fantasy includes 97 beanies and 67 Santa hats, in addition to all the super-luxe shawls, scarves and mini Sant hat ornaments she knits. She had to get a cortisone shot afterwards for her cryin’ fingers.
She’ll be in the house Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Shane will be manning the shop with his genius wood gift creations on Fridays and Saturday mornings.
Baruch Kaufman - Super Unique Jewelry Made With Rare Gems
Every time I see Baruch at the Summer or Winter Sawdust, I buy more jewelry. It started when I spied a raw fire opal gleaming its crazy reds and green and purples in the sun. The buying craze just continues. Last year at the Winter Fantasy, I purchased multiple unique necklaces for each of my female coaching clients around the world, too. Baruch knows the history and backstory of every single gem, so we chose necklaces that paralleled each of my client’s greatest strengths.
I have two of Baruch’s signature necklaces that I wear everywhere - in practically every single weekly coaching call I do on Zoom, in every airport I travel, in my every day life. People everywhere are absolutely taken with these beautiful, unique designs. Because Baruch is a musician at heart, the gold cages housing the gems are treble clefs. I think that’s cool.
And BTW…
Baruch will be live on my radio show THIS Monday, Nov. 18th at pm PST/5 pm EST
Baruch will be joining me at KXFM Radio 104.7 this Monday to talk about his jewelry, his extracurricular band and movie production, and his insider tips for getting the most out of the Sawdust Festival. It’ll be a hoot; this guy is fun and funny.
If you’re in Laguna on Monday afternoon, twirl that radio dial to 104.7 FM. If you’re listening in from elsewhere, download the free KXFM Radio app from Google Play or the App store OR just stream online from:
P.S. I’ll be announcing my winner on Monday, too: Dinner with me at one of our local new restaurants!
Today is the LAST DAY you can donate to support our nonprofit Community Radio, KXFM Radio 104.7. Everyone who donates under “Team Best of Laguna” is added to the raffle pot. My guest, Baruch, will choose ONE name on Monday during my radio show to win dinner with me in Laguna Beach, my treat.
Donate now to support a great cause - community radio with 80 volunteer hosts sharing all the amazingness of Laguna Beach with you. AND be included in the drawing! Just click this button, click the blue DONATE button at the top, and donate whatever you choose. Many, many thanks for your love!