Newport Beach

In these troubled economic times, it's not hard to understand why people might want to protect their life savings by purchasing a hard asset like gold or silver. At least, that's the pitch of Monex, the big Newport Beach investment firm, which bills itself as "America's trusted name in precious metals investments" and assures clients that it's "committed to customer service. " So let's take a look at the experiences of some customers who say their trust in Monex was misplaced.

Krupali Tejura wants a frozen banana stand in Newport Beach. No, not Dad's or Sugar 'N Spice or any of the other venerable spots around town. She wants  that  banana stand. Earlier this month, it was announced that  Netflix would promote new episodes of the revived TV comedy "Arrested Development"  by touring the show's fictitious Bluth's Original Frozen Banana stand in the United States and England. Apparently, though, the promotion doesn't include a stop in Newport, where the series takes place.

Krupali Tejura wants a frozen banana stand in Newport Beach. No, not Dad's or Sugar 'N Spice or any of the other venerable spots around town. She wants  that  banana stand. Earlier this month, it was announced that  Netflix would promote new episodes of the revived TV comedy "Arrested Development"  by touring the show's fictitious Bluth's Original Frozen Banana stand in the United States and England. Apparently, though, the promotion doesn't include a stop in Newport, where the series takes place.

Actress Lindsay Lohan violated her probation Thursday by leaving a Newport Beach rehabilitation facility where she was to begin 90 days of treatment in a reckless driving case, prosecutors said. Mark Heller, Lohan's attorney, told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Dabney on Thursday morning that his client had already begun her therapy at the Morningside Recovery facility after opting not to go to a Long Island recovery center. Heller told the judge the facility met all the conditions of Lohan's plea agreement in a case in which she was also convicted of lying to police.

If you're over 40, you probably remember that first time someone called you "Ma'am" or "Sir. " It almost surely hurt, no matter how young and fit you felt. Evidently, your age was showing in those wrinkles and sags. Some decide to live with it; others do everything they can to obliterate the evidence. Today there are more nonsurgical options than ever to erase lines, thanks to new developments in the world of fillers. Thirty years ago, a filler such as Zyplast (cow collagen) would be injected to bring a line or scar up to the level of the surrounding skin.

A former university professor was sentenced to 12 years in state prison Wednesday in a sexual molestation case sparked when photographs showing graphic abuse of a Newport Beach girl were found discarded on a Los Angeles street. Ronald Ruskjer, 44, a one-time faculty member at Loma Linda University's school of public health, wept and apologized during a 40-minute statement before a San Bernardino Superior Court judge.

A month after banning skateboarding near the Newport Pier, the City Council is now considering amending the municipal code to prohibit the use of skateboards and roller skates in other areas of Newport Beach. Currently, the municipal code gives the council discretion to regulate the use of roller skates and skateboards only on public streets and sidewalks.

Shell has opened a new station in Newport Beach where drivers fill up at no charge. That's right: A big oil company is offering unlimited free gas. But there is a catch. The gas is hydrogen, and it's free only to those driving a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. That's not a lot of people. Only 200 fuel cell vehicles are operating in the state, said Catherine Dunwoody, executive director of the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Automakers plan to offer more, but even then the highest estimates are for no more than 50,000 in operation in California five years from now, she said.

A fight over bonfire pits in Newport Beach went regional Friday, when air quality officials proposed a year-round ban on open burning on all Los Angeles and Orange County beaches. Officials cited health concerns for beachgoers. They said the proposal is part of an effort to strengthen regional air quality regulations to meet stricter federal clean air standards for fine-particulate pollutants by 2015. "This is not going to be the end of California's storied beach culture and history," said Sam Atwood, spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Residents fighting a proposed ban on beach fire rings could find the Orange County Board of Supervisors in their corner. A staff report for Tuesday's meeting recommends that the supervisors vote to formally oppose the ban, which, if approved, could snuff out fire pits throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. Instead, the report advises the supervisors to support "an option that provides greater flexibility" for cities to determine whether or not wood smoke generated by the fires poses enough of a health risk to justify removing the rings, which many argue have provided generations of beach visitors summer fun. "The county supports a municipality's right to decide the future of its fire rings as this is a local control issue," the report says.

After skipping out on entering a Newport Beach rehabilitation facility and facing the prospect of arrest for violating her probation, Lindsay Lohan has checked into the Betty Ford Center to begin a 90-day court-mandated stay in her reckless driving conviction. Lohan also rehired her former attorney Shawn Holley, who represented her for several years, and the lawyer arranged for the "Mean Girls" star to enter the Rancho Mirage facility. The moves capped a chaotic 24 hours in which Lohan showed up Thursday at Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach, only to promptly leave.

The TCM Classic Film Festival, which takes place Thursday through Sunday in Hollywood, isn't the only high-profile fest this weekend. The 14th annual Newport Beach Film Festival kicks off Thursday evening at the Edwards Big Newport with the West Coast premiere of 'Broadway Idiot," a documentary on how the Green Day album "American Idiot" became a hit Broadway musical. The Newport Beach festival, which continues through May 2, will feature more than 350 films from 50 countries, nightly special events, galas, conversations with filmmakers, international spotlight events and seminars.

Residents fighting a proposed ban on beach fire rings could find the Orange County Board of Supervisors in their corner. A staff report for Tuesday's meeting recommends that the supervisors vote to formally oppose the ban, which, if approved, could snuff out fire pits throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. Instead, the report advises the supervisors to support "an option that provides greater flexibility" for cities to determine whether or not wood smoke generated by the fires poses enough of a health risk to justify removing the rings, which many argue have provided generations of beach visitors summer fun. "The county supports a municipality's right to decide the future of its fire rings as this is a local control issue," the report says.

A Pop Tart and ice cream concoction called the Carl's Jr. Pop Tart Ice Cream Sandwich has hit a Newport Beach location of the fast food chain. If you just did a double take and reread that last sentence because it was one of those oh-my-God-is-this-really-happening-sounds-too-good-don't-tease-me moments, you're not alone.  Spec_J posted a photo of the item on Instagram taken at an unidentified Carl's Jr. location in Newport Beach....

OC Marathon officials are watching developments following the terrorist attack at Monday's Boston Marathon as they prepare for next month's race, the organization has announced. The race starts at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and ends at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. On the OC Marathon Facebook page, the organization said Monday it places a high value on safety. “We are closely following the situation in Boston with our agency partners to understand the circumstances of today's tragedy and will continue to do so as information is released,” according to the post.

Socialite Nicky Hilton has sold her house in Hollywood Hills West for $2.625 million. The traditional-style home features a den, a gym, a formal dining room, three bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The eat-in kitchen has an island, four ovens and a large pantry. There are 4,072 square feet of living space. Hilton, 29, is the great granddaughter of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton. The former model  has her own clothing lines.   She bought the property in 2007 for $2.8 million, public records show.

Just before my neighbor Cass left on a mushroom hunting expedition in northern New Mexico, she left a message to remind me that it's Hatch chile season. Now. That's the famous New Mexican chile grown in the Mesilla Valley with its hot days and cool nights. She also sent me the link to Melissa's , a produce company that brings in the Hatch chiles. Melissa's will be roasting up the chiles at several SoCal locations over the next few weeks. Here's the schedule: Saturday, Aug. 25: Sprouts, Chula Vista Saturday, Aug. 25: Bristol Farms, Westchester Sunday, Aug. 26: Sprouts, Chula Vista - Eastlake Saturday, Sept.

Are you dreaming of a romantic Indian summer? Only an hour's drive and a world away from L.A., this charming destination offers pristine white sand beaches, renowned hotels, gourmet restaurants, designer shops and more.  Love and Links  Begin with a morning walk on the beach, followed by a picnic overlooking the Pacific. Next, indulge in a couples' massage at a top-rated spa. Later, have a heavenly dinner (and sinful dessert) at one of the area's acclaimed restaurants.

A scuba diver who died after he went missing at Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach became separated from his classmates during a class dive and apparently ran out of air, Laguna Beach lifeguard officials said Monday. Mark Gibbs, a 51-year-old Tustin resident, was pronounced dead at 1:28 p.m. Friday at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, a few hours after he went missing, according to the Orange County coroner's office. Gibbs separated from his classmates at a depth of 25 feet and was found with an empty air tank, Laguna Beach Marine Safety Lt. Kai Bond told the Laguna Beach Coastline-Pilot . Newport Beach lifeguards and rescuers from the Orange County Harbor Patrol, Orange County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Coast Guard searched the area and pulled Gibbs from the water at 12:40 p.m., more than an hour after the first 911 calls came in reporting him missing, a Laguna Beach police news release said.

A family home of pop singer Colbie Caillat is on the market in Tarzana at $1.399 million.   Owned by her father, Grammy-winning record producer Ken Caillat, the French-style house was once featured on MTV's “Cribs.”   The 3,701-square-foot house, built in 1995, features high ceilings, a media room, a den, a crafts room, four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. There is a lagoon-style swimming pool on the more than a half-acre of grounds. Colbie Caillat, 27, is a singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist.