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Casa Romantica Presents an Evening of Sinatra with Tony Desare

San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, welcomes jazz pianist, singer and composer Tony DeSare to perform for its annual fundraising gala on Friday, March 16, 2018.  Casa Classic: An Evening with Tony DeSare will support performing arts and cultural programs for people of all ages in Orange County, and is the cultural center’s second largest fundraising event. The cabaret-style evening features a live performance of Frank Sinatra songs by DeSare along with a three-course catered dinner, fine wine and martinis, and a live auction. An Evening with Tony DeSare is […]

Why People Call Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” the Best Film Ever Made

This event has passed. Visit Casa Romantica’s calendar to see an up-to-date list of events. Ranked as one of the top films of all time by the American Film Institute, the British Film Institute, and Sight & Sound consecutively for several years, it’s no secret that Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 film Vertigo is a film that captivates people — over and over again. But what makes it so brilliant? Surely Psycho was scarier, and Rear Window more clever. Here’s what top film critics say about the timeless lure of the film: The plot is mysterious, suspenseful, romantic and hypnotizing — in the […]

Casa Romantica Presents Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with California Chamber Orchestra

San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, welcomes the California Chamber Orchestra for a unique performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s famous Four Seasons concerti on Thursday, February 8, 2018.  The concert, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Dana Zimbric, will include eleven string musicians and a harpsichordist. The violin lead will be performed by guest soloist Annelle K. Gregory, winner of the 2017 National Sphinx Competition for string music. Casa Classic: California Chamber Orchestra is made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Rafik and Eileen Daher, San Clemente-based patrons of […]

VoyageLA magazine interviews Executive Director Berenika Schmitz about Past, Present and Future

Since her tenure began in 2013, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens’ Berenika Schmitz has seen a shift in south Orange County’s perception of the nonprofit institution. Once the home of San Clemente’s founder, Ole Hanson, much of the local community assumed that the property was still owned privately, or was only used for weddings, for several years after the nonprofit opened to the public in 2004. But the institution had new life breathed into it when Schmitz came aboard, hand-picked by Board of Trustees President Ruth DeNault to spearhead a new vision for the Casa. Raised in the Canadian […]

Legendary Cake: Choosing Wedding Dessert Displays

Wedding trends change daily, but something that never changes is that craving for something sweet on your big day! We have come a long way from the traditional six-tier wedding cakes and perfectly-posed ‘bride and groom’ cake toppers. Couples are straying from the norm by creating one-of-a-kind dessert displays that incorporate some of their all-time favorite sweets into an Instagram-worthy aesthetic. Our Casa Romantica couples have gone above and beyond in the dessert department. From ice cream sandwich bars to decadent doughnut walls, we are truly in awe of the masterpieces that have come through our doors. As a premier […]

Casa Romantica welcomes internationally-acclaimed violinist to San Clemente

San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens welcomes the upcoming performance of acclaimed violinist and composer Michi Wiancko for its Casa Classic series on January 11, 2018 at 7:00 PM. Since her debut concerto performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic, the musician has thrilled and delighted audiences with her performances alongside a wide variety of both classical and contemporary recording artists. “Michi Wiancko is a professional musician who performs with today’s biggest names in classical music, and her development was influenced by Southern California’s art scene,” says Casa Romantica Executive Director Berenika […]

Casa Romantica receives $1,000 donation from Farmers & Merchants Bank on behalf of Dr. Standiford Helm

San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is proud to announce that the institution was selected to be the recipient of a $1,000 donation from Farmers & Merchants Bank on behalf of Dr. Standiford Helm, owner of the Helm Center For Pain Management in Laguna Woods. Dr. Helm was honored by Farmers and Merchants Bank along with nine other members of the Southern California community on November 2. “Casa Romantica is humbled to be the recipient of this donation from Dr. Standiford Helm and Farmers and Merchants Bank,” said Casa Romantica Executive Director Berenika Schmitz. “This gift […]

A Year to Remember: Casa Weddings in Review

As we finish out the 2017 wedding season at Casa Romantica, we can’t help but look back at all of the incredible memories we’ve experienced in the last year. All of the “best day ever” and “I do’s” are what keep us looking forward to the next year ahead, and all of the visions that our couples make reality against the backdrop of the Casa’s structures and vistas make each new wedding a delight to behold. As Southern California’s most exquisite bluff-top estate with spectacular views of the beautiful Pacific and stunning architecture, Casa Romantica provides the perfect venue for […]

Campaign Premiere: #CultureMatters

This #GivingTuesday, Casa Romantica launched a new video campaign called #CultureMatters. The campaign, which is comprised of three videos as well as related social media, highlights Casa Romantica’s core mission to make arts, culture, history, and education accessible to everyone in the Orange County community. Viewers are encouraged to share the video with their friends and use the hashtag #CultureMatters to describe why they value the arts, or how Casa Romantica has impacted them. To make a gift toward Casa Romantica’s year-end fundraising campaign, visit https://www.casaromantica.org/donate/. Our goal is to raise $10,000 toward our 2018 programs, with a Board of Trustees […]