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What's New The Forum Carlsbad recently celebrated the opening of women's boutique Van De Vort. Known for its elevated style and contemporary fashion, the boutique brings founder Andrea Van De Vort's LA-inspired perspective to North County. The eponymous boutique, founded in 2013 with a second location at One Paseo, strives to inspire women through accessible, statement-making style. "Opening at The Forum Carlsbad feels like a natural next step in sharing our style perspective with a broader community," says Van De Vort. "We're here to help women embrace their personal style, and we're excited to connect with our new Carlsbad customers." shopvandevort.com Amalfi Cucina Italiana has expanded its North County restaurant offerings to Oceanside. With locations in San Marcos and Carmel Valley, Amalfi is helmed by Emiliano Muslija, founder and manager, alongside Executive Chef Marcello Avitabile and Pizza Chef Joseph Serra. The restaurants are known for their imported mozzarella, variety of bruschetta, farm-to-table salads, and housemade pizzas and pasta made with premium ingredients. The Oceanside restaurant will undergo a remodel in the first part of 2025. During this time, they will serve Roman-style pizza until their new pizza oven is built, when they will offer the Neapolitan-style served at their other two restaurants. (Roman-style pizza is typically thinner and crispier, often baked in large rectangular trays and sold by the slice. Neapolitan-style pizza has a soft, chewy crust with a slightly charred, puffy edge, and is cooked quickly at high temperatures in a wood-fired oven.) On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Amalfi Oceanside hosts live music from 5:30 to 8:30pm. An already popular Sunday Brunch, also with live music, includes bottomless mimosas. amalficucinaitaliana.com Aka, a new Asian fusion concept, has made its grand debut in the Gaslamp Quarter. The much- anticipated restaurant, bar, and lounge, helmed by renowned chef Takuya Kudo, delivers an immersive dining and nightlife experience that celebrates San Diego's cultural diversity with a menu fusing Chinese, Japanese, and Thai flavors. Weekday live entertainment creates a relaxed atmosphere, while weekends bring high-energy performances and a lively dance scene. "Our mission at Aka is to reinvigorate the Gaslamp with a multi-sensory journey that revitalizes the spirit," says co-founder Alessandro Minutella. akagaslamp.com Aka New, Now, Next: Winter Edition Van De Vort Amalfi Cucina Italiana ranchandcoast.com