South Coast Metro Fast Facts - March 1, 2010 South Coast Metro getting involved with Social Media! Check out our new Facebook and Twitter Pages! Become a fan and help spread the word.   Metro Meetings & Events March lunch meetings (11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.): March 10: Commercial Leasing & Property Managers Group meeting at Maggiano’s Little Italy March 11: Apartment Home Advisory Council meeting at Maggiano’s Little Italy March 30: Board of Directors meeting at Maggiano’s Little Italy   Don’t miss South Coast Metro Nights at the Theater: March 26: Rain -- Orchestra tickets are available for $58 April 9: Hairspray -- Orchestra tickets are available for $67 April 30: Dreamgirls -- Orchestra tickets are available for $63 June 10: Lion King -- Orchestra tickets are available for $67 Contact Diane for tickets: 714.435.2109   Metro News Dacor, market leader in luxury kitchen appliance design, manufacturing and distribution has relocated its corporate headquarters to Plaza Tower in South Coast Metro. Dacor signed a long-term lease with Plaza Tower as this location is one of Dacor’s largest markets, the building itself is attractive for having earned LEED-EB Gold Certification for its environmentally-friendly construction and operation. Dacro’s new home is thus compatible with the company’s serious commitment to the conservation of the environment. OCTA is considering adding a 405 toll lane between Long Beach and South Coast Metro. They see adding the toll lane, also called a High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane, as a way to relieve congestion. The toll-road plan for the 405 creates a freeway seven lanes wide in each direction or a total of 14 lanes wide total. The tolls are supposed to pay for construction costs. Palo-Alto based Essex Property Trust Inc., an apartment developer and owner, is nearing completion of an acquisition for the Skyline development and a deal could be reached by the end of March. Santa Ana’s City Council approved an application to allow rentals at the project. The sale is being overseen by New York-based iStar Financial Inc. South Coast Metro-based, vocational-school operator Corinthian Colleges Inc. topped Wall Street expectations with results for the recently-ended quarter and upped its outlook for the current one. Corinthian reported a profit of $40 million, up 144% from a year earlier. South Coast Metro-based CH2M Hill Company’s South Coast Metro office saw local billings drop a reasonably-modest 1.1% in 2009 to $109 million. The company is seeing continued demand for work cleaning up old waste treatment sites. CH2M Hill also has been consulting on solar, water and other “green” projects.   People in the News South Coast Metro-based SYSPRO, the leading provider of visionary, pragmatic ERP software, announced that SYSPRO President Joey Benadretti has been selected as “Pro to Know” in the Provider category by Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine. This is the second-consecutive year Benadretti has been so honored. Comerica Bank hired Rocky Bandzeladze as senior vice president and regional manager for retail banking in its South Coast Metro office. First American Corporation in South Coast Metro named Craig Barberio as director of investor relations for the company’s financial services group. David Bigelow also was named vice president of investor relations for the information solutions group. Jonathan Rogan returned to South Coast Metro-based El Pollo Loco Inc. as executive chef. William Ihrke was promoted to partner at South Coast Metro-based Rutan & Tuker LLP. Irhke practices land use, redevelopment and general municipal law. He is a member of the firm’s public law section and also is on the board of the Legal Aid Society of Orange County.   Restaurants & Retail More than 100 restaurants across Orange County’s vast dining landscape are ready to dish up amazing food at fantastic prices during Orange County’s most anticipated culinary event, Orange County Restaurant Week, February 28-March 6. South Coast Metro participants with links to their Restaurant Week offerings: AnQi Antonello Ristorante Leatherby's Cafe Rouge Nello Cucina Pinot Provence Pizzeria Ortica Quattro Cafe Royal Khyber Scott's Restaurant & Bar  Signature Kitchen Wolfgang Puck Bistro   Loehmann's, The IT store for designer fashions, will open its new Costa Mesa store in the Metro Pointe at South Coast shopping center on March 12. Join in the opening celebration on March 13 with a live, outdoor performance featuring Band from TV (whose members include actors Hugh Laurie, Jesse Spencer, Greg Grunberg, Bob Guiney, Adrian Pasdar and Scott Grimes) as well as many guest-star appearances. Tickets to the concert are $35 and 100% of the proceeds will go to charities. It's springtime at South Coast Plaza and time for kids to meet the Easter Bunny and participate in Easter fun.  Outgoing children will love conversing with the small, chatty Bunny operated by professional puppeteers in the gazebo at Carousel Court. A traditional Easter Bunny is located in the Macy's Home Store Wing. Both bunnies look forward to sitting with kids of all ages.  Easter Photos and Springtime Crafts are also available in both locations. Guests will receive special offers good at California Pizza Kitchen ASAP, Haagen-Dazs, Puzzle Zoo, Rainforest Cafe, Ruby's Diner and Vie de France. The Bunny Carousel is in operation March 5 through April 30. Rides are $1. The yearly Angelitos Card program at South Coast Plaza generated $195,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County in 2009. “It was a smashing success,” said Elizabeth Korczykowski, general manager at Tory Burch, noting that both sales and foot traffic went up. “It’s great because it brings everyone together for a good cause.” Tory Burch was among 130 stores and restaurants at the plaza that took part in the charity drive. For a week, customers bought cards at participating boutiques for $60. Every dollar went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County. As an incentive during that week, participating shops and restaurants offered 20% discounts savings to card holders. South Coast Plaza named three new stores coming to the Costa Mesa shopping center: Teavana will sell fresh, high-quality teas and the products to serve them in. It will be located near the carousel on level 2 and is slated to open in April. Herve Leger will be an Orange County exclusive. The brand is famous for the “bandage dress.” The store will sell women’s apparel and accessories and the brand is owned by BCBG MaxAzria. It’s slated to open in April or May and the store location will be announced soon. Intimacy will also be an Orange County exclusive. The shop will sell custom-fit lingerie and bras. It will be located in the Bloomingdale’s wing on level 1 and is slated to open in May.