“Cure in the Canyons II,” is having a party to help raise funds to fight breast cancer, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008 from 11am – 4pm at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village. This luxury lifestyle-fest will be set between sequoia trees and cascading waterfalls and provide an afternoon filled with the best of lifestyle, beauty, wellness, epicurean and fashion influences.

Guest will be able to explore five scenic acres and indulge themselves in luxury cabanas. You’ll have the California Health & Longevity Institute life balance retreat and Angeleno Magazine’s stress-free cabana featuring skyn ICELAND skincare. Paul Mitchell, Billion Dollar Brows, Youngblood, Kerstin Florian & SHAPE Magazine will provide a luxe-fix with free beauty and spa treatments including OPI manicures and signature Four Seasons massages. alosport will premiere their new bamboo tees and 24 Hour Fitness will provide stretching in a yoga mini-mat class.

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Some of your may already be uncontrollably jumping off the walls others of you may be asking WTF? What’s a “Pinball Tournament and Arcade Game”? Well, it’s awesome. It’s like going to the Natural History Museum and riding the dinosaurs, going to a car show and driving all the cars… you pick an analogy that works for you. To enter you make small donation to the charity TACA - Talk About Curing Autism - and then you get to play as many freakin’ arcade games and pinball machines until your fingers fall off. All the games at the event are free play, so there’s nothing stopping you!

If you are brave enough you may even decide to try your luck at the PINBALL TOURNAMENT (put an echo to that) where you will compete against other players and celebrities to win your very own Pinball Machine or $1000 CASH!

Also, there will be amazing raffles, catering, a full (pay) bar, and an auction.

So come, enjoy the food and games, and help participate in something good for others. Really there is no better combo.

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With the Halloween season right around the corner, thoughts turn towards the spooky, eerie and just plain odd. Images of skulls, witches and ghosts loom about, as this time of year brings out the mischievous childlike fun of hiding behind a façade. What most people do not know is that there is an ever-growing group of individuals out there who dress in Halloween-like costumes day in and out, all year long. What kind of grown adults don leather and felt costumes like six-year-olds ready to run out and yell trick or treat? A very unique and special group of pirates who have used their renewed love of playing dress up combined with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme to bring about joy and childlike wonder to thousands throughout the country and even world. At first glance this past-time can be easily scorned or scoffed, but with a closer look the gold that hides inside the treasure chest is revealed.

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Seals in need of some TLC!

The Marine Mammal Care Center, in San Pedro, is in desperate need of volunteers. The center, is dedicated to rescuing sick and injured seals and returning them to the wild. If an animal cannnot be successfully returned to its natural environment, then they do their best to find it a home in aquariums across America.

They often have more than 70 animals at a time that need feeding and care. ”We especially need volunteers over the weekend,” said Jill Romano, the center’s business director. “Vounteers need to be at least 18 years old,” she added.

So if you’re into animals, especially sea mammals, then taking the time to log some hours with the center would be for a good cause. If you’re interested in volunteering then contact the center at:

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This past, Saturday August 2, Jockey presented the City of Hope’s Underwear Affair which supports cancers below the waist. The event is used to encourage people to talk about certain types of cancer that people are often to embarrassed to discuss. Well what better way to lighten up the mood to watch a bunch of people in costumes running around in silly knickers!

If you happened to miss the event but would still like to donate, you can do so here.

And here is a small example of the awesomeness that went on this weekend (check out Vinny Chase…er…Adrian Grenier running for the cause)…

Photos by Edwin Santiago

Many of you have heard about people donating their hair, well now is your chance. 4th grader Kara Grist, recently donated her own hair to help children who suffer from alopecia areata, a condition which causes baldness for which there is no known cause or cure. Now, Riverside Drive Elementary School student Kara has set about enlisting others to share in the joy of providing a gift with potentially life-changing consequences. With her upcoming benefit titled “Hair Today – Hope Tomorrow,” she seeks to restore confidence and normalcy to children.

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Lotus Vodka and The Young Professionals in Entertainment & Media (yes, I put the drink before the think) are hosting, “I Vote, You Vote and Leadership” party: a great event to help raise funds for the American Democracy Institute.

Join Tara Perry, Charlie Ebersol, Brady Beaubien, Matt Sugarman, Pam Bachilla, TV’s Max and Jason, Courtney Ross-Tait, Brian Van Riper and Kevin Iwashina for a party with some meaning Wednesday, June 25^th at Republic. Enjoy the sounds of a soulful DJ, cocktails, appetizers and great company. Each tax-deductible ticket purchase goes towards raising money for an organization that is “dedicated to engaging, educating and empowering a new generation of American leaders to shape the future of our country.” (empowerchange.org).

Dress code is dressy casual, 21 and over to drink. $50-$1,000 Buy Tickets.

Now that the California Courts have overturned the ban on Same Sex Marriage, you may be wondering what’s the best way to show your support.  No worries.  Here’s some ideas:

1. True Colors Tour (June 28 at The Greek):

Go rock out for a good cause.  Lineup includes Cyndi Lauper, The B-52’s, Tegan and Sara, Joan Jett, Regina Spektor, Indigo Girls, Deborah Cox, and of course, Rosie O’Donnell will be on hand to be funny.   (I attended last year and couldn’t help but laugh at her get-up:  a black formal dress and bright yellow Crocs.)  Proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign, among others.

2.  Erase Hate Pendant:

The website describes this pendant as, ” a stunning titanium circle featuring words that we should all live by.  Hanging on an adjustable leather cord, this pendant is the perfect accessory to show people exactly how you feel.  This pendant measures 1in x 1in.”  Show your support by sporting one of these because you’re cool like that and they’re actually cute.  100% of the proceeds benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

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STAND and Participant Media are proud to sponsor a nationwide tour of the critically acclaimed documentary, Darfur Now, and a concert to help raise support. Schools around the country have been chosen to host the screening and concert for their efforts to fight genocide, and next week they will be ending their tour at UCLA on May 28th and 29th.

LA.CityZine is giving away tickets to this event, see the bottom of this post for details.

On May 28th they will screen the film, Darfur Now, written and directed by Ted Braun and starring Don Cheadle, Hejewa Adam, Pablo Recalde, Ahmed Mahmoud Abaker, Louis Moreno-Ocampo and Adam Sterling.

May 29th, UCLA with host a concert to help raise awareness, funds, and send a message to end genocide in Darfur, with bands such as OK GO, ROCK&ROLL, RHYMEFEST and many more.

Come and support the students that have supported the efforts in Darfur. From passing legislation to fundraising for relief and protection efforts in Darfur, they have declared that they are the anti-genocide generation.

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It’s summer time, and one of the bets things about it is outdoor food festivals.

Coming up in just over a week and a half is the annual Taste of the Nation fest, put on by Share our Strength, an event benefiting the battle against child hunger.

The event will be catered by some of the biggest and most celebrated restaurants in Los Angeles (Providence,  Fraiche, Ford Filling Station, Joe’s and plenty more). A slew of celebrities will also be on hand, including the food world’s own golden child Jonathan Gold at his “Ask the Critic” booth.

1 00% of proceeds will go to the charity, and tickets are $115 in advance, $125 at door and $175 for VIP package. You can pick them up here.

Photo by flickr-rickr

My co-worker at Peet’s today was frustrated with our regular homeless customer (who, by the way, pays for his coffee every time). The guy “smelled so bad” that he was to be banned from sitting in front of our store. I thought, well, he’s outside, we’re inside- why does it matter? I then pictured him, slouching, half-asleep, belly hanging out, taking up the entire table, all day. What image would that give to our coffee shop? Maybe she’s right, I thought. He shouldn’t hang out in front of here. But, then my familiar, homeless-pitying self returned, and I remembered that this guy must be having the hardest time just getting through each day. How could I argue that he didn’t deserve a break to relax at our tables? (Not that his break would be the least bit relaxing. The majority of the morning he probably worries that we’ll shoo him away or wonders where he’s sleeping that night.)

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The largest annual city wide community service event in America is happening today in LA. If you’re like a lot of people, who want to do something good but are not quite sure how, this is an amazing event for you. There are a number of different events going on that will help you get involved in a way that suits you. Volunteers of all ages will be doing everything they can to help support local school, homeless shelters, public parks, and much more.

Our Mission: Big Sunday mobilizes and empowers volunteers to build community through community service. This mission is driven by the belief that everyone has some way to help someone else.

So get your volunteer spirit and your wallets out and participate in Big Sunday. Here is a list of events that will be going on at Big Sunday!

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