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UPFRONT PLACES | PERSPECTIVES | HAPPENINGS
A Culinary Cruise
Sail the Douro River with chef Amar Santana during a unique vacation experience .
Set sail with renowned chef Amar Santana , known for appearances on Bravo TV ’ s “ Top Chef ” as well as for his fine dining restaurant , Broadway by Amar Santana , in downtown Laguna . From Nov . 5-12 , avid foodies and travel lovers can cruise Europe with Santana as their guide during the upcoming Sail With Amar Santana experience . The trip , which is being organized by Village Travel Laguna Beach , will whisk guests along the Douro River through Portugal and Spain aboard the S . S . São Gabriel , stopping at local farmers markets and vineyards to procure food and vino . Santana will prepare a specialty dish each night using the fresh ingredients they find along the coast while Broadway ’ s co-owner , Ahmed Labbate , will curate the wine pairings . There will also be cooking classes aboard the ship . An optional , three-night excursion through Lisbon , Portugal , may also be added on to the end of the cruise . Santana is currently on air as a contestant on “ Top Chef All- Stars ,” which began airing in early March . ( 949- 464-5778 ; villagetravellaguna . com ) — Ashley Ryan
GOING GREEN
With its Marine Protected Areas and status as a water-wise city , Laguna Beach has already made its mark as an environment-friendly locale , but the new Eco Now store downtown is helping take that a step further . Located in the Lumberyard Mall , the shop offers eco-friendly , handmade and locally sourced household goods made from biodegradable materials , all in an effort to provide sustainable options and reduce waste ; bring your own reusable containers or purchase one from the store . In addition , Eco Now hosts monthly sustainability workshops on things like composting , fixing things and cleaning up the community in order to educate locals on what they can do to help the planet . A grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony was held in early March , though this isn ’ t owner Thea Merritt-Pauly ’ s first retail venture . Eco Now originally set up shop at Orange County farmers markets in 2018 and there are now permanent stores in Costa Mesa and Anaheim as well as a shop reopening in a new location this spring in Riverside . ( 949-715- 0632 ; econowca . com ) — A . R .
Eco Now is a new store downtown that offers sustainable household goods without packaging .
TOP SECTION : COURTESY OF UNIWORLD RIVER CRUISES ; BOTTOM : ANDREA BADILLO
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