“Language of Love” music program was magnificently displayed with grace and humbleness through rhythmic heartstrings and warm melodies. Performed by members of Pacific Chorale at Meng Concert Hall in Clayes Performing Arts Center at California State University, Fullerton on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Artistic direction led by Robert Istad, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Fullerton.
Other commendable accomplishments include being an established Grammy Award-winning conductor for the group since 2017 and serving on the Executive Board of Directors of Chorus America and as Dean of Chorus America’s Conducting Academy. Pacific Chorale’s mission statement is to inspire our community through artistry and innovation in choral music performances and education programs.
PHOTO CREDIT: Priscilla C. Scott
The concert celebrates love in all its complications and complexities. The accompanying three-piece instrumental band included accomplished musicians in their own right; David Clemensen on piano, Sean Emch on bass, and Matthew Smith on drums. The evening emphasizes selections of classic and popular songs to flesh out the emotions, connections, and phases of love’s stronghold on human unification.
“La Vie en Rose” (1945) was lovingly sung in the original French language with soloist Stephanie Shepson setting the intrinsic mood for the course of the intimate evening. “Les Chansons des Roses” (1993) spearheaded the group’s spiritual vocals in a grand display highlighting range and discipline. “L-O-V-E” (1965) brings the light back from intermission with a toe-tapping and finger-snapping earworm.
PHOTO CREDIT: Priscilla C. Scott
A delicate rendition of “Something in the Way She Moves”(1968) with soloist Nate Brown on his soulful guitar. A powerfully meticulous “I Will Always Love You” (1973) with soloist Emily Border. Other soloist delights include Sammy Salvador with “Your Song” (1970), Alan Garcia with “The Luckiest” (2001), Rebecca Hasquet with “When We Were Young” (2015), and Chelsea Chaves and Matthew Kellaway with “And So It Goes” (1983). The evening concluded with the timeless romance banner of eternal love as featured in the film and Broadway musical Moulin Rouge, “Come What May” (1996) spiritually performed by soloists Eleen Hsu-Wentlandt and Michael Fagerstedt.
PHOTO CREDIT: Priscilla C. Scott
“Language of Love” chorus music concert by Pacific Chorale was a tasteful post-Valentine after-dinner mint that refreshes the mind and spirit with more than just chocolates and flowers. The love language of music surely resonates throughout all of the group’s performances. Pacific Chorale’s moving vocals are an angelic serenity of pristine magnitude. The spectacle witnessed at the Meng Concert Hall in Cal State Fullerton is certainly as pronounced as performances inside the prolific Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.
Learn more about Pacific Chorale at www.PacificChorale.org including their upcoming schedule.
Broadway In Hollywood has announced their new 2024-25 Season – consisting of Six Los Angeles Premieres and the return of two blockbuster favorites, both back by popular demand, and both available for priority access to all who purchase or renew into this new season. All productions will play at the iconic Hollywood Pantages Theatre, located in the Heart of Hollywood at the intersection of Hollywood & Vine.
Broadway in Hollywood President Jeff Loeb states, “Get ready to unlock the magic of Broadway with an all-new Hollywood Pantages season that will cast a spell on theatre lovers everywhere. With six L.A. premieres, all direct from Broadway, and the return of two of the biggest blockbusters to ever grace our stage – what else could a lover of live entertainment wish for? Join us for a journey through time filled with laughter, great music, and moments that will enchant us long after the final curtain call. Our 2024-25 season is SO GOOD. SO GOOD. SO GOOD!”
The new 2024-25 Season at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre kicks off with this past Broadway season’s most Awarded production, KIMBERLY AKIMBO, the 2023 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical. Next up will be the newest West End & Broadway fan favorite BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical, based on the 1985 Universal Pictures / Amblin Entertainment film.
Following that will be a 19-week engagement of the Los Angeles premiere of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, the highest-grossing non-musical play in Broadway history. Following a short break, cheering audiences will return to the Hollywood Pantages for the L.A. premiere of A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: The Neil Diamond Musical, which celebrates the life of the groundbreaking songwriter using a catalog of over 30 of his original songs.
Following this will be the L.A. premiere of the Tony and recent Grammy award-winning musical comedy hit SOME LIKE IT HOT, featuring music and lyrics by the Tony-winning songwriting team from Hairspray and Catch Me if You Can. The sixth and final L.A. premiere production is the Broadway hit SHUCKED – the farm-to-fable tale about one of two of America’s greatest pastimes: Love and CORN!
As previously announced, Hollywood Pantages Theatre will welcome back two Broadway Blockbusters to Los Angeles as Season Add-On productions which will play over this Fall and Holiday seasons: HAMILTON and WICKED. Season ticket holders who purchase or renew into the new 2024-25 Season will have priority access to both of these productions: immediately for WICKED starting today, and beginning March 18, 2024, for HAMILTON.
Season Ticket Packages are available now at www.BroadwayInHollywood.com/SeasonPackages or by phone at 866-755-BWAY (2929) (M-F; 9am – 5pm PT & Sat; 9am – 3pm). Current Season Ticket Holders can renew their seats beginning today. New customers may purchase new season packages beginning today as well. Season Ticket Holders lock in the best seats at the best prices and enjoy benefits such as complimentary ticket exchanges online and at the box office, lost ticket insurance and 24/7 account access. Season Ticket Holders are also guaranteed priority access to added events. Mobile Tickets offer Season Ticket Holders greater security and flexibility, as well as greater ease in managing season tickets.
Season Production #1
Winner of Most Tony Awards of the Year Including Best Musical KIMBERLY AKIMBO
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
October 15 – November 3, 2024
Producers David Stone, The Atlantic Theater Company, James L. Nederlander, LaChanze, John Gore, Patrick Catullo, and Aaron Glick are thrilled to announce that KIMBERLY AKIMBO, the winner of five 2023 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will make its L.A. Premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from October 15 – November 3, 2024.
Named BEST MUSICAL by the Tony Awards, New York Drama Critics Circle, The Drama Desk Awards, The Lucille Lortel Awards, and The Outer Critics Circle Awards, KIMBERLY AKIMBO is also the winner of 4 additional Tony Awards: Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Victoria Clark), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Bonnie Milligan), Best Score (David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori), and Best Book (David Lindsay-Abaire). With her win for KIMBERLY AKIMBO, Jeanine Tesori made history as the first female composer to win two Tony Awards for Best Score.
Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush…and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO features book & lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer Prize-Winner David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Tony Award-Winner Jeanine Tesori, choreography by Danny Mefford, with direction by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone. KIMBERLY AKIMBO is based on the play by David Lindsay-Abaire.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO features scenic design by David Zinn, costume design by Sarah Laux, lighting design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, sound design by Kai Harada, projection design by Lucy MacKinnon, and wig, hair, and make-up design by J. Jared Janas . The production’s Music Director is Chris Fenwick. KIMBERLY AKIMBO features orchestrations by Tony Award nominee John Clancy, with additional orchestrations by Macy Schmidt.
Season Production #2
2022 Olivier Award-Winner for Best Musical BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
November 5 – December 1, 2024
Lead producer Colin Ingram together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back to the Future film trilogy, are thrilled to announce the 2022 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical, BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical will make its L.A. Premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from November 5 – December 1, 2024. The Broadway and West End hit show is based on the 1985 Universal Pictures / Amblin Entertainment film.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical opened on Broadway in August 2023 at the Winter Garden Theatre. The critically acclaimed West End production officially opened in London in September 2021, and has been seen by more than 800,000 people to date and has broken multiple Adelphi Theatre box office records. The production won the Best New Musical Olivier Award as well as multiple WhatsOnStage Awards and a Broadway World Award for Best New Musical.
Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love to save his own existence.
Based on the Universal Pictures / Amblin Entertainment film, BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical has a book by Bob Gale, new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.” Bob Gale is the co-creator and co-writer of the Back to the Future film trilogy and Alan Silvestri composed the iconic film score for the series.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical is directed by Tony Award® winner John Rando and features a multi-Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team that includes Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone (lighting), Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video), with choreography by Chris Bailey, musical supervision and arrangements by Nick Finlow, illusions by Chris Fisher, orchestrations by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, dance arrangements by David Chase, and casting by Tara Rubin.
Back to the Future the film was released in 1985, starring Michael J. Fox as “Marty McFly” and Christopher Lloyd as “Dr. Emmett Brown.” The film grossed $360.6 million at the box office worldwide and the total box office for all three films in the Back to the Future franchise was $936.6 million (over $1.8 billion in today’s money).
Season Production #3
“One of the Most Defining Pop Culture Events of the Decade” – Forbes HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
February 13 – June 22, 2025
Producers Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions are pleased to announce that the internationally-awarded, record-breaking hit HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD will make its L.A. Premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for a 19-week engagement from February 13 – June 22, 2025. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD has the unique distinction of being named by the Guinness World Records as the most successful non-musical play in Broadway history with over $270 million total sales and over 2.5 million tickets sold.
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage and the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play. The international phenomenon has cast its spell worldwide with productions currently running in London, New York, Hamburg, and Tokyo, and has completed runs in Melbourne, Toronto, and San Francisco. The original two-part production in London’s West End recently celebrated its 7th anniversary, while the reimagined Broadway production celebrated its 5th anniversary.
The six-time Tony Award winning play picks up right where the last Harry Potter film left off: Nineteen years after Harry, Ron and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Harry Potter’s headstrong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all – with the power to change the past and future forever.
Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling,Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is a play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany.
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD features movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison, music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe. US Casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA.
Prepare for a mind-blowing race through time, spectacular spells, and an epic battle, all brought to life with the most astonishing theatrical magic ever seen on stage. “You’ll be wondering ‘how’d they do that?’ for days to come” (People Magazine).
Season Production #4
Presented in Association with and Endorsed by Neil Diamond A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: The Neil Diamond Musical
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
July 8 – 27, 2025
Producers Ken Davenport, Bob Gaudio and NETworks Presentations are pleased to announce that A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL will make its L.A. Premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from July 8 – 27, 2025. The Broadway production continues to play for cheering audiences nightly at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City.
“Some of my most thrilling nights have been while I was on tour, bringing my music to audiences across the world,” said Neil Diamond. “Having A BEAUTIFUL NOISE go on tour is an honor and I can’t wait for audiences across North America to experience this show. I hope they enjoy it as much as I have.”
The untold true story of the legendary Neil Diamond comes to life on stage in an uplifting new Broadway musical, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE, featuring all his hit songs including “Sweet Caroline,” “America,” and “Cracklin’ Rosie.” This is the story of that Brooklyn kid who made it big and took us all along for the ride. From those exhilarating early days in New York to the sold-out spectacles that defined his career, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL explores the life of a rock icon through the music that made him “a national treasure” (Los Angeles Times).
Directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), choreographed by Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and written by four-time Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Two Popes), A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is a thrilling look at an artist’s search for himself and a celebration of the enduring power of his music.
The design team for A BEAUTIFUL NOISE on Broadway features Tony Award winner David Rockwell (scenic design), Tony Award nominee Emilio Sosa (costume design), four-time Tony Award winner Kevin Adams (lighting design), Tony Award winner Jessica Paz (sound design), and Luc Verschueren (hair and wig design). The production has music supervision and arrangements by Sonny Paladino, incidental music and dance music arrangements by Brian Usifer, vocal design by AnnMarie Milazzo, and orchestrations by Bob Gaudio, Sonny Paladino, and Brian Usifer. The A BEAUTIFUL NOISE tour will be directed by Austin Regan and choreographed by Yasmine Lee.
Season Production #5
The Tony and Grammy Winning Musical Comedy Hit SOME LIKE IT HOT
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
July 29 – August 17, 2025
The Tony and Grammy winning musical comedy hit SOME LIKE IT HOT will celebrate its L.A. Premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from July 29 – August 17, 2025. Inspired by the 1959 MGM film starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe, SOME LIKE IT HOT is the winner of 4 Tony Awards®, including Best Choreography and Best Costumes. The show is also the recent 2024 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Theatre Album.
SOME LIKE IT HOT is “A Super-Sized, All-Out Song-And-Dance Spectacular!” says The New York Times. Deadline calls it “a tap-dancing, razzle-dazzling embrace of everything you love about musical theater.” Set in Chicago when Prohibition has everyone thirsty for a little excitement, SOME LIKE IT HOT is the “glorious, big, high kicking” (Associated Press) story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they catch a cross-country train for the life-chasing, life-changing trip of a lifetime.
SOME LIKE IT HOT features an original score by Marc Shaiman (Music & Lyrics) and Scott Wittman (Lyrics), the Tony & Grammy winning song-writing duo of Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can, a book by Matthew López (The Inheritance) and Amber Ruffin (The Wiz – upcoming revival), and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin).
The creative team includes Scott Pask (Sets), Gregg Barnes (Costumes), Natasha Katz (Lights), Brian Ronan (Sound), Josh Marquette (Hair), Milagros Medina-Cerdeira (Makeup), Christian Borle & Joe Farrell (Additional Material), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Music Supervisor), Kristy Norter (Music Coordinator), Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter (Orchestrations), Marc Shaiman (Vocal Arrangements), Glen Kelly (Dance and Incidental Music Arrangements) and The Telsey Office, Bethany Knox, CSA (Casting). The production team also includes Steve Bebout (Associate Director), and John MacInnis (Associate Choreographer).
Season Production #6
The Tony Award-winning Musical Comedy SHUCKED
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
August 19 – September 7, 2025
Producers Mike Bosner and Jason Owen proudly announce that SHUCKED, the new original musical comedy, will make its L.A. Premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from August 19 – September 7, 2025.
SHUCKED celebrated its Broadway premiere during the 2023 Broadway season, beginning previews March 8, 2023, and playing at the Nederlander Theatre for 327 regular performances between April 4, 2023 through January 14, 2024.
“THE BEST AND FUNNIEST NEW MUSICAL ON BROADWAY”
NEW YORK POST, Johnny Oleksinski
“THE SURPRISE DELIGHT OF THE SEASON”
VARIETY, Frank Rizzo
“A TIMELY NEW MUSICAL WITH MORE GAGS
THAN EVERY OTHER CURRENT BROADWAY SHOW PUT TOGETHER.”
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Chris Jones
SHUCKED is the Tony Award®–winning musical comedy The Wall Street Journal calls “flat out hilarious!” And nobody knows funny like economists. Featuring a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy® Award-winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”) and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater.
SHUCKED features a book by Tony Award® winner Robert Horn and a score by the Nashville songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, who collectively have earned three Grammy Awards® and 18 Grammy nominations. The production is directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien with choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, and music supervision, music direction, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award nominee Jason Howland.
The design team for SHUCKED includes Tony Award winner Scott Pask (scenic design), Drama Desk Award nominee Tilly Grimes (costume design), Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman (lighting design), Tony Award winner John Shivers (sound design), Academy Award winner and Emmy Award winner Mia Neal (hair and wig designer), Stephen Kopel, and C12 Casting (casting director).
Special Added Production #1
The Tony-Award Winning Musical Phenomenon HAMILTON
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
September 4 – October 13, 2024
Producer Jeffrey Seller is pleased to announce that HAMILTON will return to the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for a limited run from September 4 – October 13, 2024. Season ticket holders who purchase the new 2024-25 season will enjoy PRIORITY access to HAMILTON beginning Monday, March 18th. Season ticket holders will have priority access before any other single ticket presales.
A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation. HAMILTON is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation.
Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, it has won Grammy®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.
HAMILTON features book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire.
HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA.
The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.
Special Added Production #2
Flies back to the Hollywood Pantages Theatre this Holiday Season by Popular Demand WICKED
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
December 4, 2024 – February 2, 2025
As previously announced, WICKED, L.A.’s most popular musical, will return to the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for a limited engagement from December 4, 2024 – February 2, 2025. Season ticket holders who purchase the new 2024-25 season will enjoy IMMEDIATE access to WICKED.
Currently the 4th longest-running show in Broadway history, WICKED celebrated its 20th Anniversary on Broadway last fall. Winner of over 100 international awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, WICKED has been performed in over 100 cities in 16 countries around the world (U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, The Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland and China) and has thus far been translated into six languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean and Portuguese. WICKED has been seen by over 65 million people worldwide and has amassed over $5.5 billion in global sales.
In addition to the Broadway production, WICKED in North America has enjoyed unprecedented record-breaking sit-down engagements in Chicago, where it ran for nearly four years; Los Angeles, where it ran for two years; and San Francisco, where it ran for nearly two years, as well as two North American Tours.
The Broadway sensation WICKED looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”
With a thrilling score that includes the hits “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good,” WICKED has been hailed by The New York Times as “the defining musical of the decade,” and by Time Magazine as “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage.” NBC Nightly News calls the hit musical “the most successful Broadway show ever.”
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production is directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello with musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento. WICKED is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Universal Studios Hollywood and Spirit Airlines have joined forces to launch the first-ever Airbus A320neo featuring a SUPER NINTENDO WORLD aircraft wrap. The flight takes to the skies from Detroit (DTW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and the specially-themed aircraft will continue flying to destinations through May 2024.
The plane featuring the special-edition livery belongs to one of the most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry. Travelers can experience Spirit’s affordable nonstop flights from 20 U.S. cities to Los Angeles (LAX) en route to Universal Studios Hollywood and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Flight bookings on the specially-themed aircraft are based on the plane’s flying schedule.
Spirit Airlines travels to more than 80 destinations and 15 countries in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean, inviting guests to enjoy the latest interior designs featuring wider seats, extra cushions, and more usable legroom for an enhanced experience in style and comfort.
As Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates the first anniversary of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, guests can find new ways to level up, including the debut of a commemorative, special-release Golden Power-Up Band™ and a complimentary 1st Anniversary Button, while supplies last. Guests can also enjoy the all-new Power-Up Cafe, serving Super Mario Power-Up-themed menu items.
First-time visitors and returning guests to the land will be swept up into the 360-degree world of Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach where they become an integral part of their exhilarating world. From the moment guests pass through the iconic green pipe, a journey filled with exploration, discovery, and play awaits that is unlike anything they have ever experienced. Their journey begins as they enter Peach’s Castle before venturing further into the colorful Mushroom Kingdom.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is a visually spectacular land, located within an expanded area of Universal Studios Hollywood, filled with the vibrancy of colors and architectural ingenuity. The land features the groundbreaking “Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge” ride and many thrilling and interactive activities to engage the entire family within the captivating Mushroom Kingdom.
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Along with themed dining at Toadstool Cafe™ and shopping at the 1-UP Factory™ retail store, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is an inspiring, game-changing addition to the world-famous theme park.
Coinciding with the Spirit Airlines’ SUPER NINTENDO WORLD aircraft wrap is the Next-Level Flyaway Sweepstakes inviting guests to enter for a chance to win a three-day, two-night trip for four to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Sweepstakes entry dates are from February 21 to March 20, 2024.
Roundtrip coach (economy) flights with Spirit Airlines from the winner’s origin airport to LAX
2-Night standard hotel accommodation at the Sheraton Universal Hotel
2-Day General Admission tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood where they can experience SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and all of the other theme park’s dynamic immersive lands, rides and attractions.
The newest Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase featured games full of poignant storytelling, puzzling challenges, character customization, exciting action … and even some viscous goo! This broad variety of games from Nintendo’s diverse publishing and development partners are coming to Nintendo Switch throughout 2024.
Announcement highlights include the reveal of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed – an action-adventure game that sends Mickey Mouse on an epic journey that requires creativity and a spirit of discovery; Grounded, a survival-adventure game where you’re the size of an ant, and the dangers are larger-than-life; And Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, the first all-new title in the Super Monkey Ball series in 10 years.
Nintendo also brought to light the new undersea exploration game Endless Ocean Luminous, plus five classic games from Rare that are available to play today for Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members. These Rare titles – including the Super NES game BATTLETOADS IN BATTLEMANIACS and the Nintendo 64 game Blast Corps – are available for the first time on a Nintendo system since their original launch.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed: Join Mickey Mouse on a colorful adventure as he traverses Wasteland, a world inspired by Disney classic stories. Play the 2010 classic along with a variety of upgrades in this enhanced remake of the action-adventure 3D platformer originally released on the Wii console.
Along with updated graphics and other improvements, Mickey Mouse’s abilities have been improved with a whole new set of skills and more. For fans of the original and new fans alike get ready for an adventure of truly “epic” proportions when Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed launches on Nintendo Switch this year.
STAR WARS: Battlefront Classic Collection: Fight across the STAR WARS galaxy in this collection of large-scale combat classics! Featuring the 2004 STAR WARS Battlefront and its 2005 sequel STAR WARS Battlefront II, each game features solo campaigns, local multiplayer matches** and massive online* battles of up to 64 players. Pilot legendary starships and defy the odds as familiar characters like Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader.
This collection also includes additional playable characters such as Kit Fisto and Asajj Ventress and bonus maps like Jabba’s Palace, Bespin: Cloud City and Yavin 4: Arena. STAR WARS: Battlefront Classic Collection lands on Nintendo Switch March 14. Pre-orders are available now in the Nintendo eShop.
SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY!: Team up with Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny to save the town in this co-op action game. Customize your own New Kid and battle your way through the snow-piled streets of South Park solo or with up to three friends in an all-new story. Equip a variety of weapons and deploy devastating special abilities on an adventure to save the world and enjoy a day without school.
SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY! will launch on Nintendo Switch March 26. Pre-orders are available now in Nintendo eShop.
Loungefly has announced an all-new collection in celebration of Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary of Hello Kitty. Available on Loungefly.com, Sanrio.com, and select retailers this March, the new line brings fans timeless and fashionable accessories inspired by the adorable red bow-wearing character.
The whimsical Hello Kitty-inspired assortment captures her playful and charming personality, as she embarks on delightful adventures in her classic blue overalls and signature red bow. With Loungefly expertly representing Hello Kitty’s 50th Anniversary through its high-quality products, this must-have collection offers fans nostalgic and stylish designs to commemorate the beloved cultural icon.
Adding to the celebration fun, Funko has also revealed an all-new line of Hello Kitty Pops! to commemorate this major milestone for the brand.
Below is the complete list of Loungefly and Funko’s Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary collection:
Loungefly intricately designs its backpacks, wallets, crossbody bags, apparel and small accessories to tell wearable stories inspired by the most beloved franchises in the world. Crafted with care and precision, Loungefly leaves no detail overlooked, so fans can find value in every stitch. From detailed zipper charms to custom themed linings, Loungefly’s accessories showcase an authentic passion for the fandom that collectors proudly wear.
Visit Loungefly.com to be notified when the Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary collection officially launches.
A delicious slice of style has just been served with the Disney Eats Pizza Collection, available now on DisneyStore.com!
Mickey Mouse icon “pepperonis” decorate the lower half of these melted cheese-colored Spirit Jerseys, which are perfectly accessorized with the matching Mickey Mouse Pizza Loungefly Mini Backpack and glittering Minnie Mouse Pizza Ear Headband. The ear headband’s bow even looks like it’s ”dripping” with melty pizza cheese!
You’ll never be without your favorite Disney Eats treat when carrying this Loungefly Mini Backpack-themed to pizza. Mickey Mouse icon ”pepperoni” decorates the illustrated slices that seem to be ”dripping” with melted cheese. The front zip pocket is a slice of heaven in itself. Hurry and order so we can deliver while it’s hot!
You’ll be baked into your favorite Disney Eats treat when wearing this tasty Spirit Jersey themed to pizza. A Mickey Mouse icon ”pepperoni” pattern decorates the lower half, while the puffy Disneyland and Walt Disney World logos and melty-cheesey colors make you hunger for a slice. Hurry and order so we can deliver while it’s hot!
Minnie has indulged in her favorite treat with this glittering pizza themed ear headband. The ears are covered in sequined mouse icon pepperoni toppings, while the outer bow is simply ”dripping” with melty pizza cheese. A simulated leather crust serves it all up with style.
After this hearty helping of pizza, it’s only appropriate that the next course will feature a little something sweet. Stay tuned for the Disney Eats Macaron Collection coming to DisneyStore.com in March!
National Geographic announced that their groundbreaking, genre-defying natural history series A REAL BUG’S LIFE has been picked up for a second season. Narrated by award-winning actress Awkwafina and produced by Plimsoll Productions, the series will take viewers on five new and exciting trips around the world to get up close and personal with insects and their moving stories. The new season will come to Disney+ this fall.
Inspired by the World of Disney and Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, the new season of the genre-busting series will feature an all-new cast of insects including femme fatale firefly, bachelor luna moth, a real-life assassin bug, the botany bay weevil and other incredible tiny heroes living on our planet. The five-episode season of A REAL BUG’S LIFE will continue to tell the tales of love, perseverance, and triumphs in their very own microworlds.
Using the latest camera technology, scientific revelation, and an incredible score, audiences will crawl, fly, and jump alongside bugs, experiencing new locations. With new microscopic terrains to explore, A REAL BUG’S LIFE will build off the first season, uncovering epic tales, mind-boggling facts, and never-before-seen insect behavior.
This new season will include the episodeTHE MAKING OF… A FLY ON THE WALL, pulling back the curtain on the team of innovative scientists, filmmakers, and bug experts as they share the process of bringing the tiniest creatures on earth to the big screen. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the crew used cutting-edge technology and cameras to capture the bugs in their natural mini-habitats.
Step into the spellbinding world of bugs with the following episodes:
LOVE IN THE FOREST(Smoky Mountains, Tennessee)– It’s the end of the longest day of summer. A young fawn frolics to exhaustion. While it falls asleep, the forest comes to life – and tonight, love is in the air. At the forest edge, a lonely female firefly is looking for a male, but the Big Dipper fireflies nearby are dancing to a different tune.
LIFE’S A BEACH(Borneo, Malaysia) – The beach may look like paradise to us … but it’s a brutal place for bugs to make a home. From the sand out to the reef, the waves and the tides hammer their home 24/7. Time and tide wait for no bug.
TINY HEROES DOWN UNDER (Australia) – Down Under – a land filled with familiar fluffy faces like kangaroos and koalas, but the bugs here are a lot of people’s worst nightmares. A eucalyptus forest in eastern Australia is full of ’em: funnel web fangs, ant stings … even exploding bombardier beetles! But there’s much more to Australian bugs than horror stories. Some are cute as it goes.
ONCE A POND A TIME(England) – Water is a cradle of life for all sorts of amazing tiny creatures, but when one is “bug-sized,” its strange shape-shifting properties can have huge consequences. Through the year, the pond undergoes a series of near-magical transformations from ice crystal to water vapor. The tiny creatures that make their home here have found amazing ways to cope with life in this turbulent world.
THE MAKING OF … A FLY ON THE WALL – Surrounded by hordes of army ants, chasing the fastest-running insect on Earth, crawling through muddy mangroves … this was everyday life for the team of world-renowned scientists, experts and filmmakers who created A REAL BUG’S LIFE. Armed with innovative filming equipment, they stopped at nothing to reveal the untold stories of the planet’s most underappreciated animals – bugs!
A REAL BUG’S LIFE is produced by Plimsoll Productions for National Geographic. Martha Holmes, Grant Mansfield and Tom Hugh-Jones are executive producers for Plimsoll. For National Geographic, Justine Schmidt and Pamela Caragol serve as executive producers.
Disney+ has announced, the Original series “Renegade Nell” will premiere all episodes on March 29, 2024, exclusively on Disney+. The eight-part Original series is written and created by BAFTA-award-winning writer Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley) with lead director Ben Taylor (Sex Education).
Nell Jackson, a quick-witted and courageous young woman, finds herself framed for murder and unexpectedly becomes the most notorious outlaw in 18th-century England. But when a magical spirit called Billy Blind appears, Nell realizes her destiny is bigger than she ever imagined.
“Renegade Nell” stars Louisa Harland (Derry Girls) in the leading role of “Nell Jackson” with Frank Dillane as “Charles Devereux”, Alice Kremelberg as “Sofia Wilmot”, Ényì Okoronkwo as “Rasselas”, Jake Dunn as “Thomas Blancheford”, Bo Bragason as “Roxy Trotter”, Florence Keen as “George Trotter”, with Nick Mohammed as “Billy Blind”, Joely Richardson as “Lady Eularia Moggerhangar” and Adrian Lester as “Robert Hennessey, Earl of Poynton”. Pip Torrens as “Lord Blancheford” and Craig Parkinson as “Sam Trotter” also star.
“Renegade Nell” is produced by Lookout Point. Executive Producers are Sally Wainwright, Ben Taylor, Faith Penhale, Will Johnston, and Louise Mutter for Lookout Point, and Johanna Devereaux for Disney+. Amanda Brotchie (Gentleman Jack) and MJ Delaney (Ted Lasso) also direct episodes. Jon Jennings is the Series Producer and Stella Merz is Producer.
LEGO has unveiled the enchanting LEGO|Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Cottage set, a tribute to the very first Disney Princess character. This quaint forest cottage meticulously recreates the memorable details from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, now in brick form.
Based on the original 1937 Disney Animation film, this 2228-piece set contains 10 minifigures, including Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs, the Prince, the Queen with the Red Apple, as well as accompanying animal friends. A wishing well featuring a dove is also included, along with the glass box, depicting Snow White’s awakening.
Nestled deep in the enchanted forest, the iconic cottage is packed with nostalgia, from the bedroom with seven beds to the room with the pipe organ, baking table, sink, and cupboards.
The LEGO|Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Cottage set is available for LEGO Insiders from 1st March 2024 at www.LEGO.com/Snow-White and LEGO Stores for all from 4th March 2024 priced at €219.99 / £189.99 / $219.99.
Loungefly has recently announced its all-new McDonald’s collection inspired by the world’s largest food chain’s nostalgic characters and highly sought-after menu items.
The collab serves up Loungefly’s signature mini backpacks (MSRP: $80), crossbody bags (MSRP: $60-$75), a zip-around wallet (MSRP: $40), stationary and more, providing must-have accessories for Mc-ultimate fans!
The collection is coming soon. Visit Loungefly to get notified when the items go on sale.
MCDONALD’S TRIPLE POCKET FRY GUYS MINI BACKPACK
Dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Triple Pocket Fry Kids Mini Backpack! On the front, a Fry Girl sits on a brick wall. Up above, two of the Fry Guys appear in individual zippered pockets as they wear fun disguises. Turn the bag around to see the McDonald’s logo appear on the side pockets while the Fry Kids accompany a slogan on the back. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this mini backpack will keep you looking stylish on your next adventure.
The Loungefly McDonald’s Triple Pocket Fry Kids Mini Backpack is made of vegan Saffiano leather (polyurethane). The bag has adjustable shoulder straps and shiny gold hardware. Additional features include applique, embossed, and embroidered details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.
MSRP: $80
MCDONALD’S FRY GUYS ZIP-AROUND WALLET
Dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Fry Kids Zip Around Wallet! On the front, the Fry Kids sit on a brick wall while an embroidered McDonald’s logo appears above them. Turn the wallet around to catch the Fry Kids in an encore appearance. Inside, the wallet has four slots for holding cards with a McDonald’s logo die-cut window for holding the ID. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this accessory will keep your belongings safe on your next adventure.
Loungefly McDonald’s Fry Kids Zip Around Wallet is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Wallet zips closed with shiny gold hardware. Additional details include applique, debossed, embroidered, and printed details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.
MSRP: $40
MCDONALD’S VINTAGE HAPPY MEAL CROSSBODY
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Vintage Happy Meal Crossbody Bag! Recreating the iconic Happy Meal box silhouette, this bag sports a shiny gold handle in the shape of an M. On the bag’s front and back, Ronald McDonald stands beneath the Happy Meal logo with Grimace, Hambuglar, Birdie the Early Bird, and a Fry Kid. Turn the bag around to see the friends playing at the beach and in a field of rainbows. Nearby, some beloved menu offerings join the fun in the form of a vegan leather bag charm. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this accessory will keep you looking stylish on your next adventure.
The Loungefly Vintage Happy Meal Crossbody Bag is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Bag has adjustable (detachable) shoulder strap, detachable bag charm, and shiny gold hardware. Additional features include applique, molded metal, and printed details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.
MSRP: $75
MCDONALD’S SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM CONE CARD HOLDER
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Soft Serve Ice Cream Cone Card Holder! Inspired by the sweet treat we know and love, this oversized card holder gives shape to one of McDonald’s beloved menu items. Look closely and you’ll see debossed details that highlight the card holder’s creamy soft-serve swirls and crispy wafer cone! On the back, four slots for holding cards accompany a zippered pocket on the side. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this accessory will keep your belongings safe on your next adventure.
The Loungefly McDonald’s Soft Serve Ice Cream Cone Holder is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Card holder zips closed with shiny gold hardware. Additional features include applique, debossed, and printed details.
MSRP: $25
MCDONALD’S BIRDIE THE EARLY BIRD CROSSBUDDIES BAG
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Birdie the Early Bird CROSSBUDDIES™ Bag! This crossbody bag takes the shape of the McDonald’s breakfast fan we know and love. Birdie’s signature features come to life with embroidered facial details and glittered hair bows, and she holds a Fry Kid on a coin bag beneath her wings. Unbuckle her wings to swap between the Fry Kids on the coin bag’s reversible design! On the back, Birdie’s name makes an appearance. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this bag will keep you looking stylish on your next adventure.
The Loungefly Birdie the Early Bird CROSSBUDDIES Bag is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Bag has adjustable (detachable) shoulder strap and shiny gold hardware. Additional features include applique, embroidered, glitter, and printed details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.
MSRP: $60
MCDONALD’S MCFLURRY CROSSBODY BAG
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s McFlurry Crossbody Bag! Inspired by the sweet treat we know and love, this figural bag gives shape to one of McDonald’s most popular menu items. Look through the clear, domed lid and you’ll see embroidered chocolate flakes mixed with the creamy soft-serve details on the bag’s top, along with a spoon-shaped bag charm to accompany the bag’s shoulder strap. A McFlurry logo appears with the iconic cup design on the body below. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this accessory will keep you looking stylish on your next adventure.
The Loungefly McDonald’s McFlurry Crossbody Bag is made of vegan leather (polyurethane) with clear PVC details. Bag has adjustable (detachable) shoulder strap and shiny gold hardware. Additional features include applique, embroidered, and printed details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.
MSRP: $65
MCDONALD’S HAPPY MEAL 3″ COLLECTOR BOX PIN
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Happy Meal 3” Collector Box Pin! Inspired by the snack we know and love, this hinged pin takes the shape of a Chicken McNuggets box. On the front, you’ll find the classic McDonald’s logo. Flip open the lid to reveal six smiling chicken nuggets inside! Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this enamel pin adds a playful touch to any outfit or bag.
Enamel pin has hinged part details with shiny gold hardware. The back features the signature Funko/Loungefly crown debossing noting the limited edition 1,950-piece count.
MSRP: $20
MCDONALD’S CHARACTER MYSTERY BOX PINS
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Character Mystery Box Pins! Inspired by the friends we know and love, these pins take the shape of some residents of McDonaldland. In this set, you may find Hamburglar, Ronald McDonald, Birdie the Early Bird, Mayor McCheese, and Officer Big Mac.
There’s a 1 in 12 chance of finding the glitter chase pin of Grimace! Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, these enamel pins add a playful touch to any outfit or bag.
MSRP: $10
Please note: We cannot accept requests for specific items. Item selection is random, as each piece is in blind packaging. You may receive duplicate figures. Chase variants are shipped at random. Receiving a chase with purchase is not guaranteed.
MCDONALD’S FRY GANG 4 PC PIN SET
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Fry Gang 4-PC Pin Set! Inspired by the restaurant’s adorable french fry-loving friends, these enamel pins take the shape of some of McDonald’s Fry Kids.
In this exclusive set, you’ll find Fry Kids in dark blue, light blue, pink, and orange. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, these accessories add a playful touch to any outfit or bag.
MSRP: $20
MCDONALD’S CHICKEN NUGGIES LANYARD WITH CARD HOLDER
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Chicken Nuggies Lanyard with Card Holder! On the front of the card holder, six chicken nuggets smile from inside a takeout box. The back features a clear slot for holding ID. Up above, the lanyard shows an all-over print of the McNuggets with the McDonald’s logo. A rubber charm of a chicken McNugget completes the look. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this accessory makes a playful addition to any adventure.
Card holder is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Lanyard features printed details and shiny gold hardware.
MSRP: $12
MCDONALD’S HAPPY MEAL LUNCHBOX NOTEBOOK
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Happy Meal Lunchbox Notebook! Recreating the iconic Happy Meal box silhouette, this notebook sports an M-shaped handle on the side of each cover. On the front, Ronald McDonald stands beneath the Happy Meal logo with Grimace, Hamburglar, Birdie the Early Bird, and a Fry Kid. Turn the journal around to see the friends play at the beach.
On the inside, Ronald and his friends frame lined note pages while Happy Meal box artwork appears in the book’s centerfold. You’ll even find a space to write your name on the inside front cover, along with themed sticky notes in the shape of a vintage thermos! Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this notebook makes a playful addition to your next adventure.
The Loungefly McDonald’s Happy Meal Lunchbox Notebook is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Additional features include sticky note and printed details.
MSRP: $12
MCDONALD’S FRENCH FRIES NOTEBOOK
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s French Fries Notebook! Inspired by the side dish we know and love, this notebook recreates the iconic McDonald’s french fry packaging with shiny vegan patent leather and an embroidered McDonald’s logo. Faux suede fries appear above with debossed details to highlight their shape. A zippered pocket appears on the back, giving extra storage for pens. Inside, a lined notepad shows the McDonald’s logo while printed fries spill down the page. Don’t worry – once you’ve used all your notes, you can replace the notepad inside with a paper refill! Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this notebook makes a playful addition to your next adventure.
The Loungefly McDonald’s French Fries Notebook is made with vegan leather (polyurethane), faux suede details, and shiny gold hardware. Additional features include applique, debossed, embroidered, and printed details.
MSRP: $30
MCDONALD’S MCDONALD’S GANG TAB NOTEBOOK
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Gang Tab Notebook! Inspired by the restaurant’s iconic Happy Meal design, the front of this journal shows Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Hamburglar, Birdie the Early Bird, and a Fry Kid beneath the McDonald’s logo. Turn the notebook around to see the friends take a trip to the beach. Up above, the McDonald’s characters peek above the notebook, splitting the notebook into separate sections with coordinating artwork on each divider. You’ll even find a sticker sheet featuring some of the residents from McDonaldland! Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this notebook makes a playful addition to your next adventure.
The Loungefly McDonald’s Gang Tab Notebook is made with frosted clear plastic. Notebook features shiny gold hardware and lined notebook pages.
MSRP: $12
MCDONALD’S CHICKEN NUGGIES PENCIL CASE
Make a dash to place an order with the Loungefly McDonald’s Chicken Nuggies Pencil Case! Inspired by one of our favorite snacks, this pencil case recreates a chicken McNugget box on its front zipper pocket. Up above, a group of McNuggets form a tower. Turn the pencil case around to see them make an encore appearance. A durable lobster clip appears at the top of the case, making it easy to carry your important items with you. Whether you’re dining in or placing an order to-go, this pencil case makes a playful addition to your next adventure.
The Loungefly McDonald’s Chicken Nuggies Pencil Case is made of vegan leather (polyurethane). Case zips closed with shiny gold hardware. Additional features include applique, debossed, and printed details. Take note of the coordinating inside lining.
Port Hueneme is a hidden gem (photo by Greg Aragon)
Port Hueneme is a hidden gem on the California coast. Tucked between a naval base and a large port, the oceanfront town in Ventura County is easy to pass on the freeway, but as I recently learned, it is well worth an overnight visit.
My getaway to Port Hueneme began when the family and I discovered the Holiday Inn Express Port Hueneme (www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels), the perfect hotel for exploring the city. Located a block from the beach, the hotel is modern, clean, and efficient. The staff is super friendly and the rooms are spacious and feature a refrigerator, microwaves, HD TVs, high-speed Internet access, and comfortable beds.
The hotel also offers free gourmet breakfast to guests, a heated pool and Jacuzzi, a fitness center, and bike rentals. Besides being next to the beach, the property is across the street from lots of food options, a few blocks from the new U.S. Seabee Museum, and three miles from the Ventura County Maritime Museum in Oxnard.
The Holiday Inn Express Hotel makes a perfect homebase (photo by Greg Aragon)
Once acquainted with the room, we walked five minutes to Hueneme Beach Park, a 50-acre park on the water, with soft white sand, picnic tables, barbecue pits, volleyball courts, and a long, beautiful walking/biking path following the sand. The park also features a great seafood joint, Port Hueneme Lighthouse, and the city’s historic pier.
Port Hueneme Pier was originally constructed in 1956, when it was 650 ft long. Today, after a few renovations, the wooden plank pier is 1,250 feet long and is a great spot for fishing, strolling, viewing large container ships coming in and out of the port, and watching the sunset behind the nearby Channel Islands.
After visiting the pier we walked down the long, paved beach path towards the port and lighthouse. The path is partially protected by a large wall of rocks to keep high tides at bay. It is great for walking, jogging and running, and takes visitors past the pier, scores of wild cats, and ends next to the lighthouse and port.
Port Hueneme is a leading importer / exporter for autos and fresh produce (photo by Greg Aragon)
Port Hueneme (www.portofhueneme.org/), where the city gets its name, is the only deep water port between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The port is a leading importer / exporter for autos and fresh produce, such as pineapples, bananas, onions, strawberries, flowers and more. The port brings in an estimated $2.8 billion in economic activity while creating nearly 25,000 trade-related jobs.
Next to the port is Port Hueneme Lighthouse, which is owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and was constructed in 1941. The Art Deco styled lighthouse is currently closed, but will soon be open for public tours. On the long rock jetty next to the lighthouse we encountered fishermen, more incredible views of the Channel Islands, and a group of cute, wild cats that live among the rocks and abandoned port buildings.
The Art Deco styled Port Hueneme Lighthouse was constructed in 1941
Near the lighthouse is the Alaska Air Flight 261 Memorial Sundial. The Memorial features a 36-foot diameter concrete plaza with a curving sand wall and seating area and a raised sundial in the center. It commemorates the 88 passengers and crew who lost their lives aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 261 near Anacapa Island on January 31, 2000.
Back at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel, we had the entire heated pool and Jacuzzi to ourselves. For dinner we walked across the street to Pizza Man Dan’s (www.pizzamandans.com) for tasty pizza and chicken wings.
Surrey bikes are a great way to explore town (Photo by Greg Aragon)
The next morning we enjoyed a great complimentary breakfast buffet at the hotel. Sitting next to a big window looking over the pool, we devoured biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh pastry, coffee, a variety of cereals and fresh juices.
After breakfast I met hotel manager Ruben Franco who suggested we rent a surrey bike to explore the beach area. He also gave us a loaf of bread to feed the local ducks.
The first highlight of our ride was rolling over the railroad tracks made famous in the movie Back to the Future III. The tracks, which aren’t used much anymore, were the sight of a charging locomotive crashing into Michael J Fox’s time-traveling Delorean car. From here we pedaled the four-seat Surrey bike along the beach and onto the old wooden pier, where we saw a few fishermen and got an incredible view of the Channel Islands about 20 miles offshore.
Feeding ducks is fun for the whole family (photo by Greg Aragon)
Our next stop was Bubbling Springs Park, a 21-acre community park, with lots of grass, walking paths and canals. The park surrounds a natural, unlined stormwater channel draining to the ocean. There are a variety of animals living around Bubbling Springs, including beautiful bird species, fish, frogs, turtles, crayfish, squirrels, raccoons, lizards and Canadian geese. There were also lots of hungry, quacking ducks that instantly surrounded us as soon as we showed them our bread. The animals came right up to us for a bite and the kids loved it.
From the park, we pedaled back to the beach for lunch at Seaside Seafood (www.surfsideph.com/), a popular local spot, set right on the sand! Our meal was highlighted by the best fish and chips I’ve had in a long time. They came with Alaskan Pollock, coleslaw and fries. We also enjoyed thick and tasty clam chowder, seared ahi tuna, oysters on the half shell with pico de gallo and ponzu sauce.
Back at the Holiday Inn we returned to the pool and Jacuzzi, where we watched the sunset behind the Channel Islands.
Port Hueneme is also home to beach and banana festivals. The Hueneme Beach Festival, held each August, is a two-day event with live music, rides, games, attractions, food and exhibits. The Banana Festival is an annual event with tours of the port, food, and entertainment.Attendees spend the day celebrating the over 3.3 billion bananas that come through the Port of Hueneme each year.
Journey into the Bayou as Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” returns to the big screen at the El Capitan Theatre. Tickets for this special theatrical engagement from March 1 – 9 are on sale now.
A fan event screening will take place at 7:00 pm on Friday, March 1. Each attendee will receive popcorn, a beverage, and an event credential with their ticket. Tickets are $22.
Daily showtimes for “The Princess and the Frog” Monday through Thursday are 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 7:00 pm. Daily showtimes Friday through Sunday are 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 7:00 pm. Dates and showtimes are subject to change.
A modern twist on a classic tale from Walt Disney Animation Studios features a beautiful girl named Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) who dreams of owning her own restaurant. When she meets a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, a fateful kiss leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana…with the villainous voodoo magician Dr. Facilier (Keith David) in hot pursuit.
Disney Legend, author and Cal State Fullerton alumna Martha Blanding will speak at a CSUF commencement ceremony for the College of Humanities and Social...
