Casino/Entertainment Reporter

Charlie Vargas

Charlie Vargas is a Casino and Entertainment reporter for the Southern California News Group. Charlie transferred from Chaffey College to San Diego State University where he graduated with a degree in journalism. He previously worked for the colleges' publications The Breeze Paper and The Daily Aztec where he covered a variety of topics from news to arts and entertainment.

In this June 18, 2022, file photo, people walk along Mission Inn Avenue in downtown Riverside on the opening day of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture. The Cheech is among the museums in Downtown Riverside and draws art fans to the Riverside Artswalk, which takes place on the first Thursday of every month. (File photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

10 Southern California art walks to stroll through in the summer evenings

July 17, 2025 at 11:39 a.m.

Art walks though out Southern California feature paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, ceramics, live entertainment and more.

Bopomofo Cafe’s Beef Noodle Sandwich was among the dishes served at the Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival in Los Angeles. (Photo by Bailey Holiver/L.A. LIVE/Bernstein Associates, Inc.)

Here’s the 6 best things we ate at the Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival

July 15, 2025 at 5:11 p.m.

The Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival featured over 20 restaurants showcasing some of the best Asian cuisine around Los Angeles.

Comedian Hasan Minhaj performs onstage at the Peacock Theater at The Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 13. (Photo by Bailey Holiver/L.A. LIVE/Bernstein Associates, Inc.)

Belly Laughs Fest closes out weekend event with tasty food and big laughs

July 14, 2025 at 4:24 p.m.

The two-day comedy and food festival wrapped up its weekend event at L.A. Live on Sunday, July 13.

Hasan Minhaj (pictured speaking onstage at the Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards at IAC Building on Dec. 09, 2024, in New York City) will perform at the Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on July 12 and 13. (Photo by Bryan Bedder, Getty Images)

Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Fest in LA announces set times, lineup changes

July 10, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

The two-day event, taking place on July 12 and 13, will feature over 30 Asian comedians and 20 Asian food vendors from Los Angeles.

Season 14 winner chef Michael Leonard will join other cooks on MasterChef All-Stars Live!, which will stop at the Cerritos Center in Cerritos on Oct. 23 and at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center on Oct. 24. (Photo courtesy of TCG Entertainment)

‘MasterChef’ goes live with tour stops in Southern California in October

July 10, 2025 at 3:44 p.m.

MasterChef All-Stars Live! will stop at the Cerritos Center in Cerritos on Oct. 23 and at Harrah's Resort Southern California in Valley Center on Oct. 24.

Tuệ Nguyễn is among the chefs serving up tasty Asian cuisine at the Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival on July 12 and 13. (Photo by Yoshi Eumura)

Chef Tuệ Nguyễn will bring Vietnamese flavors to Belly Laughs Festival in Los Angeles

July 3, 2025 at 8:42 a.m.

The food and comedy festival will showcase more than 20 Asian Los Angeles restaurants on July 12 and 13.

Margaret Cho will perform at the Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 13. (Photo by Nick Spanos)

Margaret Cho powers through adversity one joke and song at a time

July 2, 2025 at 9:31 a.m.

Margaret Cho will hit the stage for the Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival. She'll be joined by more than 30 stand-up Asian comedians, including Hasan Minhaj, Kumail Nanjiani, a surprise...

Experience Father’s Day differently with these 10 events around Southern California. (Photo Courtesy of Yuran-78, via Getty.)

Father’s Day 2025: 10 things to do in Southern California to celebrate Dad

June 10, 2025 at 8:56 a.m.

Experience Father’s Day differently with these 10 events around Southern California.

In this Nov. 5, 2022 file photo, Ashlyn Carter, a fan of the band 7 Seconds, crowd surfs during their performance at the Punk in the Park music festival. Brew Ha Ha Productions will host Punk in the Park Los Angeles at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5. (File photo by Drew A. Kelley, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Punk in the Park Los Angeles announces full lineup for festival in October

June 6, 2025 at 11:41 a.m.

The two-day festival will be headlined by Bad Religion and Pennywise on Oct. 4 and Descendents and The Interrupters on Oct. 5.

An interior shot of the French-Moroccan restaurant Zizou in Lincoln Heights. (Photo by Jorden DeGaetano)

Zizou will celebrate its one year anniversary with a summery patio party

June 5, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

This French-Moroccan restaurant in Los Angeles serves homestyle dishes with a charming, earthy and beat-driven ambiance.

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