I actually got my husband Noel to attend this cool event. Now that is a feat in itself since he is so BUSY and always thinks that I attend “chick events” on a daily and nightly basis (come on we have been married for almost 40 years and he still puts up with me…) Anyway, what a fun event with everyone who is anyone in the OC attending. I think there were about 300 future patrons wandering around drinking first class champagne, wine, cocktails, and INCREDIBLE appetizers by chef Jessica Roy. She was seen “torching” the shrimp right as it was served, seriously she was following the trays – she is a genius in my opinion – can’t wait to go to lunch again at her restaurant and have some of her BUTTERMILK CHIVE GRUYERE BISCUITS ! Make reservations at http://www.608dahlia.com

Here is some information on the wonderful sponsors of this event (from Mona Nesseth):

HI Kathy,
Thank you Kathy for joining us on Thursday for the “Secrets of the Gardens, Revealed.”You are so sweet to give me much of the credit, but it was a group effort that included Kim Smith – Ilya Serov Entertainment, Donna Di Bari – Sparkling and White Wine and the Botanical Mimosa Skirt, Angela Cortright recruited Nolet Spirits / Ketel One & underwrote the bartenders and I underwrote Blake Barrios and Rebellium Wine, the Canpagne Mimosas in a can, the Hula Girls Shave Ice, the Cutie Pies by the Flaky Apple Pie Co.and the 49 bottles of fine wine prizes featured in the Wheel of Wine.
Cheers,Mona

FROM THE SHERMAN GARDENS BLOG:

The event “Grow the Gardens” at the Sherman Library & Gardens, made possible by the generosity of Mona Nesseth, was a truly enriching experience for all attendees. The gathering, held on May 16, 2024, provided valuable insights into the future plans for this prominent location in Corona Del Mar. It was an opportunity for participants to delve into upcoming developments and gain a deeper understanding of the vision for this historic site.

Mona Nesseth’s benevolent contribution ensured that individuals were able to partake in this enlightening occasion, fostering a sense of community and shared enthusiasm for the preservation and growth of the gardens. The event not only showcased the plans for the site but also united individuals who are passionate about supporting and contributing to its future success.

If you would like to further support the Sherman Library & Gardens or learn more about the event, including opportunities to donate, please visit their website for additional information. Your contribution can make a meaningful difference in the realization of this vision for the future of this cherished location.

In the meantime I took some photos of our friends enjoying the awesome wines and appetizers from chef Jessica. The wine, spirits and entertainment donors were Mona Nesseth, Donna DiBari, Kim Smith and Angela Cortwright.

More sponsors:

We attended the Revel Republic’s second annual Newport Beach International Boat Show – why you ask?

1. We LIVE IN NEWPORT BEACH and why would we travel to San Diego or Florida to see a Tiara when we can take a shuttle or WALK, God Forbid…
2. We own a boat that costs us a fortune in slip fees, maintenance, DIESEL, and we need to “keep up with the Joneses” to make sure our hulls are super clean. On our last trip from Catalina Island we limped into the harbor with no throttle…
3. All of our “yachting buddies” are going (FOMO!) They even bragged about attending all of the VIP parties that we obviously weren’t invited to…
4. Who knows? Maybe we will find our DREAM BOAT (we did but it cost over $1 million – what a bummer!)

I would like to shout out to: EMBARK MAGAZINE (Natalie McCollum’s first edition – BEAUTIFUL), BOATBOT (www.BoatBot.ai) Maryann & David Johndrow – you have to check out their APP, it will help all of us boaters…, LUKE BROWN YACHTS WEST Trish Burns from San Diego who was so nice, SUN COUNTRY MARINE GROUP’s Ryan Landaal, who has our dream boat for sale (brand new Riviera 395)…the yummy MALIBU FARM restaurant and their servers, NOMADIX – very cool tiny towels, blankets, etc. and the FOUR SEASONS RESORT AND RESIDENCES LOS CABOS AT COSTA PALMAS with the very handsome crew of our Jim Glidewell’s SERENGETI YACHT (we got to attend the exclusive party…)

CHECK OUT MY PHOTOS!!!

Although not officially press/media for this event it was a blast! We cruised the crazy, busy strip in Las Vegas from Wednesday November 15 to Saturday November 18. We ate at fabulous restaurants (Golden Steer, Peppermill, Edge Steakhouse and Gordon Ramsay’s Pub.). I played the Buffalo slot machines (oops and a few others…) and believe it or not mostly WON! I loved the whole racing scene at all of the casinos and ended up buying way too much merch…the easy way to navigate the race was via the MONORAIL. I took the monorail both days to view the race. We also had an amazing view of the MSG Sphere from our friend’s condo in Turnberry. It is the world’s largest spherical structure (366 feet tall and 516 feet wide.)You have to see it to believe it. It has 1.2 million LED lights that constantly change to produce ads and awe inspiring images. Here are some photos. By the way with the race late at night it was hard to stay awake that long!

We are off to the Races – Yes, the Formula One big race in Las Vegas is this November 15-18, 2023. Of course we had to prep by watching “Drive to Survive” on Netflix and I even watched “Gran Turismo” to see how that kid who played video games all day long actually became a race car driver…

I applied for a media/press pass and chose FERRARI because I have always loved red Ferrari’s (my boyfriend Bill’s dad had one back in 1980…) however I may have to switch over to LEWIS HAMILTON AND MERCEDES because Ferrari had too many press applications. Oh well, either way I AM SO EXCITED TO GET BACK TO VEGAS! Our group will just have to cruise the strip, the Westgate, the Stirling Club, etc. and try not to lose too much cash on BUFFALO (my favorite slot machine…)

For more information check out the website:

https://www.formula1.com/en.html

Here is the latest from the Las Vegas SEMA Show…

2023 SEMA Show Sets the Pace for Aftermarket Growth

The 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., officially opened, welcoming approximately 160,000 attendees to the four-day trade show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Oct. 31, 2023) – The 2023 SEMA Show officially opened this morning, welcoming more than 2,200 exhibitors and approximately 160,000 attendees to the Las Vegas Convention Center campus to network and discover the next-generation products that will drive business success, industry growth, and the future of the aftermarket in the coming year.

The SEMA Show campus is overflowing with custom vehicles builds, interactive experiences and demonstrations, extensive networking opportunities and thousands of new products for buyers and exhibitors in search of the “next big thing” for their businesses. 

“The connections made and relationships built here this week will set the course for our industry,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA Vice President of Events. “The Show gives our members the opportunity to build those important relationships with fellow industry professionals, both on the show floor and at dozens of other events and ensure future success.”

The 2023 Show opens at a time of tremendous growth and optimism across the industry. A new SEMA Economic Impact Report recently found that the aftermarket industry contributes $337 billion to the American economy and creates 1.3 million jobs, employing more people than the U.S. aircraft industry and the entire motion picture and video production industry.

The industry is at the forefront of adopting policies and technologies that help reduce emissions from vehicles, fostering businesses that are on the forefront of change and innovation, while the Show serves as a critical annual platform to help small business grow, build partnerships and drive industry change.

These strong economic indicators are driving optimism among SEMA members. In the recently released SEMA State of the Industry Report, two-thirds of industry companies report stable or growing sales over the last year and 55 percent of manufacturers expect growth in the coming year. 

“The incredible support for this year’s SEMA Show demonstrates that our industry is strong and thriving,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “Our members, many of whom are small businesses, are true drivers of growth and prosperity in the United States.”

Attendees come to the SEMA Show from across the United States and around the world to make connections and discover the latest products that will power growth for their businesses. The New Products Showcase, relocated to North Hall, is a popular must-see for those seeking the latest and greatest innovations in styling and performance products from hundreds of start-ups and legendary exhibitors.

The SEMA Show is constantly evolving, a characteristic exemplified by the exhibitors. This year, more than 20 percent of the exhibitors are at SEMA for the first time, including Sandy Vans, a manufacturer of accessories and lifestyle products based in Chula Vista, Calif., that helps people get the most out of their vans and enjoy the outdoor adventurer lifestyle.

“SEMA isn’t just a trade show; it’s the pulse of the automotive industry, highlighting what’s next,” said Alan Mondus, Co-founder and CEO of Sandy Vans. “We’re truly excited and grateful to be joining SEMA for the first time and share our top-of-the-line van and exterior product line.”

Another can’t-miss exhibit is the SEMA FutureTech Studio, an expansive exhibit dedicated to renewable fuels, hybrid technology, sponsor vehicles, engaging discussions and education to keep members on the cutting edge.

Several automakers are also out in force at the Las Vegas Convention Center, including Ford EV, Ford Performance Parts & Accessories, Lexus, Nissan and Toyota. Several will be debuting new vehicle concepts, custom builds and new parts and accessories designed for enthusiasts to personalize their rides. 

Other Show highlights include a robust education program, offering nearly 100 sessions on a wide variety of topics; the Shell “Performance Unbound” Experience, where attendees can engage with Shell scientists about the fuel maker’s new and improved premium gasoline; Optima Village, an action-packed Show favorite featuring celebrity driver appearances, demonstrations, amazing project vehicles and plenty of tire smoke; the Overland Experience moves outdoors and showcases the latest trends in off-road adventure vehicles and accessories; and SEMA Garage: ADAS, Emissions, Product Development, an expanded interactive exhibition with live demos and knowledge to help SEMA members develop high-quality, robust, compliant products.

Battle of the Builders, a prestigious competition of the best builders in the industry, celebrates its 10th anniversary with judging taking place throughout the week, and will narrow the field from 40 finalists to one ultimate winner announced on Friday, November 3, while connecting consumers through social media and a television show airing in January 2024. And as the SEMA Show draws to a close, SEMA Fest opens its doors, bringing enthusiasts from the music and automotive worlds together for two days of music, motorsports and car culture featuring 22 diverse musical acts on two stages, demonstrations from Formula DRIFT, Hoonigan and Nitro Circus, E-gaming and more. 

To learn more about the SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com or download the official SEMA Show Mobile App.

About SEMA and the SEMA Show

The SEMA Show is a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963. Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks. Additional details are available at www.semashow.com or www.sema.org, 909/396-0289.

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