Spring was upon us in So Cal, June gloom had come in May and was rapidly dissolving now that we were in the early days of June. The last week of May hearalded a full moon that lasted a full four nights and cast is luminescence and magic over the world. Those who were smart enough to tap into it’s vibration, were supposed to be rewarded by excelling in all of their endeavors. Love and abundance was showered upon them from Luna, our faithful moon.

So the days were getting longer and the heat was emerging steadily with each afternoon in these early days of the month. I called my niece, who was always up for an experience and fun and we decided to meet at Aruffo’s, a wonderful Italian restaurant in the Inland Empire. I love to take my family there, because it’s the best place to eat-ever. The cuisine is authentic Italian made from recipes direct from Italy and served in full courses. Imaginative cocktails, delicious wine, inventive and traditional appetizers, complex and artful full plates and then to bring down the curtain; desserts that were fresh and to die for with fresh coffee pressed at our table.

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I ordered Pasta Melanzana. Translated, this is Eggplant Parmesana. A delicious and decadent creamy dish with an eggplant base surrounded by fresh cooked spinach and a magical sauce that unlocks dreams of the Italian countryside and a life filled with joy and pleasure. The sauce is made with fresh butter, cream, spinach and parmesan cheese. To accompany the dish, I ordered a Bubbly Flower Martini, a cooling concoction of Prosecco and St. Germain Liqueur with a lemon twist. The Saint Germain Liqueur is made with Elderflower gathered in the French Alps and adds warm floral notes. The drink is a perfect summer refresher at the end of a hot day. It went great with the dish I ordered.

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It just happened that it was also night of the Claremont Blues & Brews Craft Beer Walk. Jazz and Blues bands took up strategic locations throughout the village and provided cool and spontaneous notes to accompany an evening of possibilities. People were cruising, enjoying the night and the vibe was magic.

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It was the perfect setting for catching up and reveling in the beauty of life. Afterward we strolled across the Claremont Colleges campus beneath towering sequoias and expansive lawns bordered with blooming rosebuds. Along each street were gorgeous old houses and school buildings where history had been made and the world changed with discoveries that had happened there.