Featured Guest: Megan Dolan

Megan Dolan is a woman that has seen and experienced a lot. In her early years divorce and a cult were just the name of the game. Bouncing back and forth between homes and families, she and her brother learned to navigate a lot. As time passed, Megan found her footing in the performing arts and cheerleading – two activities that helped distract her from the challenges of life, but also helped to develop her views on the world. College came, and with is sororities and drinking which lead to new challenges and connections to the world. Softball and a handsome stud eventually added themselves to the mix, and then wedding bells and kids. Autism, ADHD, and so much more have lead Megan down the path of sharing her stories through a Ted Talk, an incredible one woman show, and taking pen to paper for an upcoming anthology of other incredible women just like herself.

Buckle up! You’re in for laughs, tears, tangents, and stories galore! Learn more about Lemur Mom on Sunday, 14 April 2024 at the Curtis Theatre in Brea – get your tickets here - and We Are Brave Together’s upcoming book, “Becoming Brave Together.”

April Showers Bring “the Force,” Jokes, Art, Movies, Rowing and Corgis!

It’s a jam packed episode of This Weekend, with Nick Pagliochini for this week’s installment. Final glimpses of Easter and egg hunts in Arcadia, laughs in Malibu & Santa Monica, film fests on the eastside of LA and Hollywood, delectable treats and eats in Pasadena, and the return of a faire from days gone by…just to name a few of the 14 events recommended to start out This Weekend!

Last Call and Free 99 features support for Palestine, Encyclopedia Commedia, art reframed, beer, the nature of gender, corgis at the beach, and a day at the docks!

Don’t forget to see what Nick Pagliochini is up to by checking in with him on social media @NickPagliochini & @ThisWeekendWithNick, as well as getting show notes and more details at ThisWeekendWithNick.com.

Featured Guest: Mark Hilbert

Mark Hilbert, born in New York but growing up in California since three months old, has a passion and drive for innovation and storytelling. After a successful engineering career where he invented a device to improve air conditioning efficiency, he became a real estate investor. His true passion blossomed in 1992, when he and his wife Janet fell in love with California Scene paintings while decorating a home they bought together in Palm Springs. And as is said, the rest is history. This has led to a 30+ year lover affair with all things artistic in the Golden State, and they have amassed a collection of over 3,000 pieces, and that collection continues to grow!

Their love for art and dedication to artists and creations made in and about the state of California have truly turned into a lifelong commitment to collecting and sharing this incredibly special and dynamic collection with the world. The Hilberts collection depicts California’s beauty and everyday life in many special and unique ways. They believe art is a powerful teaching tool, so they founded and funded the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University in Orange. This museum isn’t just a place to see art – it’s a place to experience it - where stories come alive! And now, let our host, Nick Pagliochini, bring to life the backstory of Mark Hilbert and how he became a steward of the Golden State and how his passion for art and life can be felt in every interaction with him, and he with the world.

To learn more about the Hilbert, please visit their website where you can make that ever-important “Free 99” reservation and enjoy your “This Weekend, with Nick Pagliochini” dreams to your heart’s content.

“The theater, the theater, what happened to the theater?” Car Culture, Comedy, WonderCon, Peeps & More!

Lucky #13! Spring has sprung, kids are enjoying a break, and thus outside of Bunny related activities, it’s a little quiet in and around the southland this weekend as folks are getting in a little travel, but don’t think our host, Nick Pagliochini, doesn’t have a few things lined up for you between Ventura and San Diego.

This Weekend, with Nick Pagliochini takes us to theatres around LA, Orange County, and a very special one in San Diego for Theatre Week and the Centennial Celebration of an incredible institution. LA’s car culture, takes center stage, with a solid dose of jazz, and comedy goes to the dogs, and cats, and guinea pigs… Wonder what’s happening in Orange County? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

Last Call and Free 99 celebrates Ephemeral Monuments and moments, a Peep Show and a hippity, hoppity visitor to Southern California. Hop to it, and enjoy!

Once upon a time, in sunny San Diego, there was a splashy water park named Aquatica. In 2022, there was a magical Big Bird-sized transformation! Sesame Street’s furry friends like Elmo and Abby Cadabby flew in, turning the park into a land of sunny days and laughter. With rides, shows, and everyone’s favorite characters, Sesame Place San Diego has become a super Sesame Street celebration! Now, get ready for a second birthday bash fit for the Count himself – ha, ha, ha, ha!

Allyson Sevedge brings the magic! As Entertainment Manager at Sesame Place San Diego, she creates unforgettable live shows and keeps the fun flowing. From her stage-managing days to now leading the Creative Show Operations team, Allyson’s passion for entertainment shines through. She’s all about making memories that last a lifetime for guests of all ages!

Allyson has such a love for all things Sesame Street and Sesame Place San Diego, and works to make every guest’s experience incredible, and every ambassador’s day a magical one. Join us as we chat about her past, her experiences, her passions, and what you can expect this year at Sesame Place San Diego during their “Telly (Monster) rrific Two” year!

In 1964, SeaWorld San Diego splashed onto the scene with a dream: to connect people with the wonders of the ocean. From a few dolphins and sea lions, it’s grown into a vibrant world of shows, thrilling rides, and fascinating animal encounters. But SeaWorld’s heart has always been in rescue. Countless seabirds, seals, and even whales have found a safe haven here, getting expert care and a second chance at life in the wild. Today, the park keeps its eyes on the future, with innovative shows and a focus on conservation, inspiring millions to be ocean stewards. It’s a place where learning and fun meet, and the journey towards a brighter future for our seas begins.

Tyler Carter is the Vice President, In-Park Revenue at SeaWorld San Diego, but more than that, he’s a guest service and experience rockstar with an extensive background in, knowledge of, and hands-on time with theme parks in Southern California. His smile, that’s as bright as the So Cal sun, is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the level of drive, passion, and focus he has on and brings to his guests – those walking through the front gate, or working behind the scenes. From delicious dining options to exciting retail finds, Tyler makes sure every visit is filled with fun. His passion for the park and his team is contagious, and he can’t wait to “SEA” you there!

Join Tyler and I as we chat about all things SeaWorld – past, present and future! Don’t forget your poncho, you’re getting ready to grab a seat in the “Splash Zone!”

Featured Guest: Darcy Staniforth

Nick is really having an EPIC time with these BONUS “In Conversation…” episodes, and this one is no different! It’s his 12th of the year and look at that – we are 12 weeks in! Now, this episode was originally to be a conversation with Darcy Staniforth about her involvement and experience with Haunted OC, the Kellogg House, and the Heritage Museum of Orange County, but if you have learned one thing in the last 11 episodes, no conversation goes quite according to plan, and this interview is no different. Nick will definitely have another sit down with Darcy here in the near future about “all things that go bump in the night” – Halfway to Halloween is just around the corner of course – but please enjoy this “all over the map” chat with this incredible talent and scholar of life – Darcy Staniforth.

Celebrating Mammoths, Orcas, Big Birds, small monsters, and las golondrinas!

The first day of Spring has come and gone, and what does that mean for you? Well, we are almost a quarter of the way through the year, and your kiddos are likely to have visions of egg hunts, baseball, theme parks, and Spring Break on the mind! Let host Nick Pagliochini suggest some ideas of fun things for you to do on your own – a little “me time,” with your special someone, with the kids, and with your extended friends and family!

This Weekend, with Nick Pagliochini takes us to a wrap up a snowboarding weekend for the whole family in Mammoth Lakes, CA, down to San Diego for the kick off of the 60th Anniversary of Sea World, Elmo’s Eggstravaganza at Sesame Place in Chula Vista, Adult Night Hikes and Dog Walking Hours, Comedians vs. AI, and so much more!

Last Call and Free 99 start out with SoCal Museums Annual Free-For-All, take us to a Vegan Street Fair, down to San Juan Capistrano for the 64th Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado, and several opportunities to hop around Southern California to get an early start on your Easter Festivities!

Featured Guest(s): Jacqui Groseth & Kylie Travis

This week, Nick gallivants off to south Orange County for a visit to Casa Romantica in San Clemente. While there, he was able to chat with co-executive directors: Jacqui (Resource Development and Administration) & Kylie (Operations and Programming) about their lives growing up in Southern California, their educational backgrounds, their individual and shared passions, how they came to “the Casa,” what it means to them, and what they want you to learn about it and experience. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this trip down “…the coast…”

Welcome to the Roarin’ 2020s! May the Luck of the Irish be with YOU!

“If I can create the minimum of my plans and desires, there shall be no regrets.” – Bessie Coleman, Pilot, 1921.

That statement comes from an incredible woman from the 1920s, with her role in history carrying far more weight and gravity than “This Weekend, with Nick Pagliochini” in 2024, yet it is no less relevant for this lil’ podcast. Thank you for being a subscriber!

This week starts with “The Great Gatsby” and ends with a genuine treasure trove of events “…at the end of the rainbow!” Your veritable pot o’ gold for what to do in and around the Southland this weekend, and beyond!

Episode 11 of Season 2 of “This Weekend…” covers Great Gatsby Night at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, the LA Marathon, “Cartoon Dissonance” at ArtBarLA in Mar Vista, and After Hours and Piano Quartet at Casa Romantica in San Clemente – just a few of the 13 events covered this week!

Last Call and Free 99 covers all things green in LA, Orange County, and the Inland Empire, as well as parades in LA, art in OC, and classic film screenings in the IE!