November 14, 2019 - OC Weekly

MOXLEY CONFIDENTIAL: NEW DA VS. OLD DA | HOLA MEXICO FILM FEST IS BACK | GOD OF CARNAGE PREYS NOVEMBER 15-21, 2019 | VOLUME 25 | NUMBER 12

PASS THE SCHMALTZ | OCWEEKLY.COM

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inside » 11/15-11/21 » 2019 VOLUME 25 | NUMBER 12

ORANGE FEATHERS »

» OCWEEKLY.COM

FELIPE FLORES

up front

The County

06 | MOXLEY CONFIDENTIAL |

New DA blasts old DA’s gross misconduct.

By R. Scott Moxley 07 | ALT-DISNEY | Disney Plus arrives minus union musicians’ residual pay.

By Gabriel San Román 07 | HEY, YOU! | Sour notes.

By Anonymous

Cover Story

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08 | FEATURE | Shhhhhhh! We’ve got secret menu items all up in here.

By OC Weekly staff

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in back

Calendar

13 | EVENTS | Things to do while

25 | EAT & DRINK THIS NOW |

Taking refuge at Blind Pig in Yorba Linda. By Greg Nagel

Film

27 | FESTIVAL | Hola Mexico’s return is muy bien for cinema fans on this side of the border.

By Matt Coker 27 | SPECIAL SCREENINGS |

Compiled by Matt Coker

Culture

29 | THEATER | Did God of Carnage smite or bless Wayward Artist?

By Joel Beers 29 | ARTS OVERLOAD |

Compiled by Aimee Murillo

Music

31 | CONCERT | Pop-punk legends inhabit “trash pop” duo Simple Creatures. By Josh Chesler 33 | CONCERT GUIDE |

Compiled by Aimee Murillo

getting secret sauced.

Food

21 | REVIEW | Dine out as if you’re in

The Great Gatsby at the Drake.

By Edwin Goei 21 | WHAT THE BOOZE | Prohibition hits Santa Ana? By Greg Nagel 23 | THE ROOT | Plant Power Fast Food will take your vegan order.

By Charisma Madarang

also

35 | TOKE OF THE WEEK |

Shoogies. By Jefferson VanBilliard 38 | SAVAGE LOVE | By Dan Savage

on the cover Illustration and design

by Federico Medina

online»ocweekly.com

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®

EDITOR Matt Coker MANAGING EDITOR

EDITORIAL ART

Patrice Marsters

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

SENIOR EDITOR, NEWS & INVESTIGATIONS

AlGae, Bob Aul, Felipe Flores, Paul Nagel

R. Scott Moxley

PHOTOGRAPHERS

STAFF WRITERS

Wednesday Aja, Scott Feinblatt, John Gilhooley, Eric Hood, Isaac Larios, Eran Ryan, Christopher Victorio

Anthony Pignataro, Gabriel San Román

FOOD EDITOR

Cynthia Rebolledo

CALENDAR EDITOR Aimee Murillo EDITORIAL ASSISTANT/ PROOFREADER Lisa Black CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dave Barton, Joel Beers, Josh Chesler, Alexander Hamilton Cherin, Stacy Davies, Alex Distefano, Erin DeWitt, Steve Donofrio, Edwin Goei, Charisma Madarang, Todd Mathews, Greg

DON’T

me

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Brianna Carman, Austin Hall, Nikki Nelsen, Hanh Truong

EDITORIAL

TROLL

Nagel, Nick Nuk’em, Anne Marie Panoringan, Andrew Tonkovich, Jefferson VanBilliard, Brittany Woolsey, Chris Ziegler

PRODUCTION

ART DIRECTOR Federico Medina PRODUCTION MANAGER Mercedes Del Real

SALES

PUBLISHER Cynthia Rebolledo SALES DIRECTOR Kevin Davis

SR. SALES EXECUTIVE Jason Hamelberg

SALES EXECUTIVES Kathleen Ford, Daniel Voet, Jason Winder

MARKETING

SALES COORDINATOR Megan McElroy

ADMINISTRATION PRESIDENT & CEO

Duncan McIntosh

VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER Jeff Fleming HR MANAGER Debbie Brock AR COORDINATOR Courtney Countryman OC Weekly is located at 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. (714) 550-5900. Display Advertising, (714) 550-5900; Classified Advertising, (714) 550-5900; National Advertising, (888) 278-9866, voicemediagroup.com; Fax, (714) 550-5908; Advertising Fax, (714) 550-5905; Classified Fax, (714) 550-5905; Circulation, (888) 732-7323; Website: www.ocweekly.com. The publication is free, one per reader. Removal of more than one paper from any distribution point constitutes theft, and violators are subject to prosecution. Please address all correspondence to OC Weekly, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; email: letters@ocweekly.com. Published weekly (Thursday).

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“Dana Rohrabacher, as with the President, continues to live rent-free in your collective minds. The OC Weekly continues its downward death spiral into the investigative equivalent of The Pennysaver. Laces out, obsessives! Dana still haunts you from the political grave, à la ‘B-1 Bob.’ “Stick to what you’re good at: covering pot-dispensary grand openings and food-truck reviews.”

—One-Term Harley, commenting on R. Scott Moxley’s “Mr. Two-Face: Was ExRep. Dana Rohrabacher the Biggest Pig on Vladimir Putin’s Animal Farm?” (Nov. 8) We respond: The problem is, OTH, every time we go to a food truck or pot-dispensary grand opening, we bump into Dana.

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the county»news|issues|commentary

New DA vs. Old DA

Spitzer calls out Rackauckas for prosecutorial misconduct in infamous doctor-girlfriend rape case

W

hat prompted journalists around the globe to preposterously report in September 2018 that a Newport Beach doctor and his girlfriend had drugged, then videotaped themselves raping 1,000 women?

In July, Susan Kang Schroeder—the media flack for Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas until his defeat in the 2018 election—sat for a sworn Irvine deposition in a related civil case and tried to conjure up explanations to exonerate herself as well as her boss for the lies told about Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley.

Philip Cohen, Robicheaux’s defense attorney, asked Schroeder if she considered accurate headlines such as “Reality TV Surgeon and His Lover Appear to Have Drugged and Raped Up to a Thousand Women On Camera After Luring Them From Bars and Festivals.”

Even though the Weekly first revealed a year ago that there is no evidence of a single recorded rape, Schroeder defended the false, sensational report as truthful and accurate.

Cohen followed up, probing for her rationale.

CONFIDENTIAL “Because it was feared [sic] to have drugged, raped up [to a thousand women],” she answered coyly. “It doesn’t say they did R SCOTT in fact.”

MOXLEY Cohen mentioned other misleading reports, including an NBC News article headlined, “California Surgeon, Girlfriend Accused of Rape; Possibly Preyed on More Than a Thousand Victims.”

Schroeder pointed to the word possibly and argued the headline was “not inaccurate.” She then implied it was reasonable to believe there were a thousand victims.

She also appeared baffled by the identity of anyone who could have inspired reporters to push the assertion.

But there’s no mystery who sold People v. Robicheaux and Riley as a legitimate bombshell criminal case. Schroeder deleted all of her emails after questions were raised about her conduct. Sadly for her, some records were recovered and proved her office had unambiguously pushed the “thousand victims” line to reporters behind the scenes.

The guilty here were truly hiding in plain sight. Rackauckas and Schroeder conducted numerous press conferences

moxley

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SCHROEDER IN THE HOT SEAT: HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, MADAM?

ILLUSTRATION BY FEDERICO MEDINA

on the case; produced a 2.5-minute film showcasing the couple’s good looks as a way to demonstrate, as they claimed, that not all monsters are ugly; issued multiple misleading press releases; and repeatedly called everyone from ABC’s Good Morning America to The New York Times to The Howard Stern Show. They even prompted a special episode of Dr. Oz, in which the defendants were convicted on-air as worthy of direct trips to state prison—before there was even a real trial.

The timing of the Rackauckas/Schroeder media blitz wasn’t coincidental. About a month earlier, private professional polling revealed that their hated nemesis, Todd Spitzer, was poised to win an upset victory that would boot them out of office after a scandal-scarred, 20-year stint. Schroeder, who managed her boss’ public image as Mr. Law and Order and served as his de facto campaign manager, needed a miracle that might hit Spitzer with a whammy: winning massive, free pre-election publicity selling Rackauckas as a heroic champion of sexual assault victims in an election when the turnout of female voters was expected to surge.

Enter sucker-punched victims Robicheaux and Riley, who became forced campaign fodder.

There were obvious signs of hankypanky in the prosecution from the outset of the case 13 months ago. First, detectives

inside the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) had thoroughly investigated two 2016 rape complaints against the couple, concluded the accusations were baseless and officially closed the files as non-crimes. It was those complaints that Rackauckas dredged up as genuine and publicized while trying to fight off Spitzer.

To help explain away the time gap, the DA put out a September 2018 press release with a timeline of the case that oddly omitted NBPD’s conclusions.

During a June deposition, Cohen asked Rackauckas to explain the omission.

“I don’t think it’s important,” he replied. “I don’t see the relevancy of it.”

The DA’s timeline was also crafted to make reporters believe that a 2018 coldcase DNA hit on a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database had strengthened his prosecution of the couple, an allegation spread around the planet by the media. But here, too, was another glaring, unforgivable doctoring of the record. The vaginal DNA match, which had been collected shortly after one professed victim claimed she’d been raped, wasn’t tied to either Robicheaux or Riley. It belonged to the woman’s boyfriend.

Cohen pressed Rackauckas on this point, too, asking, “Would it be fair to say that the cold-case hit that came back did not strengthen a case against Robicheaux and Riley?”

The chagrined ex-DA replied, “I think that would be fair to say,” but later insisted, “There was no attempt to do any misleading.”

After hours of questions, Rackauckas conceded to Cohen that he’d seen the case as a vehicle for publicity and re-election.

Last week, as the Weekly reported, Spitzer digested the depositions and wrote a letter to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra accusing Rackauckas and Schroeder of “shamelessly exploiting” the case as a campaign stunt.

“The former DA and [Schroeder] repeatedly engaged in prosecutorial misconduct by exploiting pretrial publicity for re-election purposes,” Spitzer wrote in a letter unsealed by a judge on Nov. 6. “In doing so, they each further victimized the victims in this case and prohibited the [Orange County district attorney’s] office from exercising its sacrosanct duty to ensure a fair trial and its duty to seek justice.”

The new DA added, “This is not a close call. It is a blatant abuse of power and misuse of government resources for personal gain by the former administration of this office. This office cannot suffer any more credibility setbacks given its history of prosecutorial abuse.”

Officials plan a December court hearing in the alarming mess that should be studied in law schools across the nation.

RSCOTTMOXLEY@OCWEEKLY.COM

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isney Plus finally debuted Nov. 12 with its catalog of streaming content—from Star Wars to The Simpsons—and a labor dispute, to boot! When it comes to scoring soundtracks for exclusive films and shows, musicians are hoping to be heard in their demands for residual pay rights. Under the banner of #BandTogether, the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has fought for months to ensure its members don’t get left behind as Disney’s media empire expands.

Directors, writers and actors all earn residual cuts from streaming services. But under an extended contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that expired this week, musicians don’t. And they’re looking to change that, especially with Disney Plus’ big rollout.

Musicians handed out leaflets explaining their cause at the Anaheim Convention Center in August. “We knew Disney was going to be announcing Disney Plus at the D23 Expo,” says Edmund Velasco, vice president of AFM Local 7.

“We tried to bring awareness to the public about

GSANROMAN@OCWEEKLY.COM

HEYYOU!

» ANONYMOUS Sour Notes

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ou are the neighbor who leaves notes on cars parked in front of “your house.”

The folksy smiles and compliments on cool cars aside, your notes come across as controlling and possessive. Guess what, lil’ miss meter maid? It’s all public parking. Feel free to park across the street like the rest of us and keep the lame notes to yourself.

BOB AUL

HEY, YOU! Send anonymous thanks, confessions or accusations—changing or deleting the names of the guilty and innocent—to “Hey, You!” c/o OC Weekly, 18475 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, or email us at letters@ocweekly.com.

OCWEEKLY.COM || || OCWEEKLY.COM

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EDMUND VELASCO

the struggles musicians are having with the new streaming platform.”

Last month, Velasco joined fellow musicians in protest of Disney CEO Bob Iger’s appearance at the Alex Theatre in Los Angeles to promote his new book, The Ride of a Lifetime. This time, they brought instruments along for a flash-mob-style street performance.

To mark Disney Plus’ launch, union musicians protested various studios on Nov. 12, ending at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

“Right now, Disney is the biggest player in the movie industry,” says Velasco. “They don’t want to have to pay musicians anything after the first time they do the recording.” Since studio recording work can be sporadic, losing out on residual payments could lead to a steep 75 percent cut in income, claims the union. That, and many musicians have given producers discounted rates on the assumption streaming content would offer the same residual pay as traditional “secondary market” DVD home release and cable reruns.

“It’s a matter of fairness,” says Velasco. “We know that the times are changing, but we’ve got to make sure that we don’t leave people behind.”

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ILLUSTRATION BY FEDERICO MEDINA

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housed in the Hood Kitchen Space near John Wayne Airport, ‘Ai Pono now has its own brick-and-mortar location on 17th Street in Costa Mesa (the soft opening openhappens on Friday, with the official open ing a week later). The plate lunches—lomi tomato, mac salad, divine kalua turkey and, of course, huge cubes of ahi poke— anyremind me of the island more than any thing else out here. Similar to how many restaurants and stores in Hawai‘i offer “kama‘aina” discounts for residents (prices are notoriously high throughout the state), ‘Ai Pono now offers special “Pono Cards” disfor repeat guests. But rather than offer dis counted food, the cards unlock not only a secret item, but also an entire secret menu.

“The only way to get it is to eat at the café,” owner Gene Villiatora says. “You have to get a certain amount of punches on the card to access the new menu.”

That menu will also change every week, according to Villiatora. “One of the items might be our shoestring fries, which are full of flavor,” he says. “We won’t do burgers on the menu, but one week, we might have a pork belly burger. Maybe breakwe’ll have soups—who knows? Or a break fast item. It’s not going to be the same item each week. And even though we’re going to be labeled as ‘fast casual,’ we want to keep things seasonal.” (Anthony Pignataro) 283 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, (949) 402-6877.

!! ! ! ! h h h h h h h h Shhh day! u-may ishesn e y sa tre c e aters Ixnay on the ters-turned-e ri w ly k ee W s one Some intrepid for food item ty n u o C e g n d Ora t menus. have scoure cal restauran lo n o d e st li raw does not find lads, pastas, sa , rs e rg u b s, app e Cream” We’re talking nown as “Lov k g in th e m sion fishes and so dercover mis n u r u O ). h a aaaa rican (awwww, ye fe to the Ame a C o n o P i ‘A ick’s Pizza took us from de Anda to N a ri e u q a T d n us going Dream a jolts to keep h it w , o n a li a ping Ristorante It strom’s shop rd o N e x lu e d nd a serve at 7 Leaves a ecial. You de sp e ’r u o y se sted spree. Becau e what’s not li rv se e d u o y d . An the waitonly the best r bracelets at u o y le tt a R s. ears for the peon hts into their g li e d se e th r pe staff and whis the know. ill soon be in w u o y ht . . . se u ca be ietly at midnig u q ts o tr x fo d t midnight.

Oh, and the re trots quietly a x fo d re e h T REPEAT . . .

MR. LEE’S SECRET SAUCE AT WAHOO’SFISH TACO

Living on Maui for a dozen years taught me the wondrous variety of Hawai‘i street food.

There, you can find some of the best poke at the supermarket, which is (as it should be) just a mix of inch-thick cubes of fresh

ahi, shoyu and sweet Maui onions (you can scoop it onto rice and add avocado if you want to get fancy). Then there’s the salty fried deliciousness known as Spam musubi, best bought from a Minit Stop gas station.

Obviously none of that exists in OC, but we do have ‘Ai Pono Cafe. Originally

COURTESY OF WAHOO’S

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

EDWIN GOEI

PONO CARD AT ‘AI PONO CAFE

Maybe it’s not so much a secret anymore given how awesome it is, but it is off-menu. Mr. Lee’s Secret Sauce was created by Wahoo’s patriarch Cheong Kwon Lee, who wanted an extra kick to spice up his plate. It’s a Chinese chile paste that packs flavor (think Indonesian sambal)—spicy, smoky and umami. Add it to any Wahoo’s dish for an extra layer of savor. (Cynthia Rebolledo) Multiple locations; www.wahoos.com.

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» FROM PAGE 9

COURTESY OF ALTA BAJA

PINCHE JACK DAVE AND NACHOS MAXIMUS AT ALTA BAJA MARKET

COURTESY OF NORDSTROM

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BLACKENED SALMON CAESAR SALAD AT NORDSTROM MARKETPLACE CAFÉ

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The Marketplace Café is nestled in a comfy corner on the third floor of Nordstrom at Brea Mall, inviting shoppers and diners alike. Just don’t expect to spend quality time ruminating over menu items after getting a table. The café asks patrons to order upfront at the counter before being seated and served. An easy way to move the process along but an even faster way of getting to the grub is to toss the menu aside altogether.

Do so by asking for the blackened salmon Caesar salad.

A staple of past menus, the dish has gone underground as the Marketplace Café’s best-kept and tastiest secret. It doesn’t appear anywhere but does come out of the kitchen when ordered by those in the know who can’t let a good thing go.

When the plate arrives, the blackenedsalmon fillet stands out in all its caramelized Cajun-spice-rub charm atop a bed of romaine lettuce. It’s complemented by crunchy croutons and a lemon wedge awaiting a squeeze.

Crack the Parmesan-cheese crisp with the blunt edge of a fork before mixing the leafy greens together with the salmon, which flakes off with ease. The convergence of citrus and spice with creamy Caesar dressing makes for a refreshing, satiating department-store dining experience. The fish gives the dish its ampleness, one that can be walked off at the mall just fine.

And to settle any remaining curiosities, this off-menu must is also available at Ruscello at South Coast Plaza. Just don’t tell anyone, okay? (Gabriel San Román) 300 Brea Mall, Brea, (714) 529-0123.

For those in the know, asking for the secret Nachos Maximus at Alta Baja will score you a mound of Have’a Corn Chips done up with two layers of beans and cheese, pickled peppers, tender carne adovada (slowcooked pork in adobo chile sauce), crèma, salsa, avocado, and cotija cheese. And if you really want to pop off, you can add fried eggs for extra ooze.

Alta Baja’s Pinche Jack Dave isn’t on the menu, but it’s one of the market’s most popular dishes, thanks to regular Dave Leon (owner of Lockout Music Studios).

It’s essentially the Desayuno Bowl with extra goodness—quinoa, roasted purple cabbage, grilled onions and veggies—topped with two poached eggs and creamy avocado slices. It’s finished with spicy harissa, housemade jalapeño dressing and a sprinkling of cotija cheese. Did we mention it’s paleo and gluten-free? (Pro tip: You can only order these off-menu dishes if they’re not busy). (CR) 200-201 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana, (714) 783-2252; www.4thstreetmarket.com.

CHORIZO CHILI MAC N’ CHEESE BURGER AT THE AMERICAN DREAM

Tucked inside the food hall at Pacific City shopping center sits the American

Dream. The friendly staff, modern yet rustic interior and views of the cascading waves create a dreamy, cozy atmosphere.

Whether you sit indoors or outdoors, the surf is always in view. Once seated and scanning the menu, it can be overwhelming choosing among the various juicy burgers as well as the long list of beers on tap. But the only item you need to order off the menu isn’t even on the menu! The American Dream offers a spicy kick with its Chorizo Chili Mac N’ Cheese burger.

Similar to the Chorizo Chili burger, it comes with a juicy signature chuckbrisket patty, hearty chorizo chili, Cheddar cheese, red onions and creamy, spicy aioli sauce. Although it doesn’t have some of its original toppings—such as mashed avocado and tortilla strips—the burger does come with truffle oil and a smoky yet savory red-wine reduction as well as the cheesiest mac-and-cheese shells. The cheese oozes over the burger in a beautiful way (not like the unicorn spew that is the Magical Burger from Ground House).

For a couple of more bucks, you can ask for additional toppings, but beware, a knife and fork are needed to devour this scrumptious secret. (Brianna Carman) 21058 Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 130, Huntington Beach, (714) 374-1330; www.theamericandreamhb.com.

HANH TRUONG

LOVE CREAM AT 7 LEAVES

Beyond the rich and nutty House Coffee that 7 Leaves is known for, the Orange County-native coffee and milk tea shop has so much more to offer. Don’t let the minimalistic menu of 16 drinks fool you; overlooking the Thai tea and mung bean milk tea, there’s the Love Cream. The aromatic jasmine milk tea is topped with a drizzle of caramel. A 7 Leaves barista will blend the drink with a bit of half and half to ensure the floral notes of the tea and the sweetness of the caramel intertwine, making each sip reminiscent of vanilla ice cream. But there’s no need to go into detail when ordering this drink; just mention “Love Cream,” and it’s coming right up. (Hanh Truong) Multiple locations; 7leavescafe.com.

BRIANNA CARMAN

COURTESY OF CHAPTER ONE

BANANA LEAF-WRAPPED TAMALES AT CHAPTER ONE: THE MODERN LOCAL MATT COKER

DELLA CASA AT NICK’S PIZZA RISTORANTE ITALIANO

NIKKI NELSEN

NACHOS AT TAQUERIA DE ANDA

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

If your usual taco order just isn’t cutting it, try the off-menu nachos at Taqueria de Anda instead. With all the necessary components already on hand, a member of the kitchen staff will build you a plate of nachos with all of your favorite fixings.

Housemade tortilla chips are topped with shredded cheese, refried beans, onions, cilantro, red or green sauce, and your choice of eight different meats, which include carne asada, al pastor and carnitas. The nachos have the perfect chipto-topping ratio and will surely leave you stuffed. (Nikki Nelsen) Multiple locations; www.taqueriadeanda.com.

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Food fads, a major remodel of the shopping center surrounding it and irascible founder Nick Fodero’s retirement have failed to stop the family-owned Nick’s Pizza Ristorante Italiano from going strong after more than half a century.

Over that time, menu items have come and gone (and, in the case of Nick’s Futura pizza, come back again). Della casa is a pasta dish that disappeared from the menu at least a decade ago and has yet to come back. However, you can still order it if you corner longtime members of the wait or cooking staff. A perfectly prepared rigatoni tube pasta is tossed with peas, garlic, mushrooms, virgin olive oil, chopped tomatoes and the star of the dish: the sweet and tangy marinara sauce that accompanies several Nick’s items.

The first runner-up ingredient, artichoke hearts, was missing during a recent lunchtime visit, so we’ll assume the longtime members of the wait and cooking staff we usually corner were working the dinner shift. (Our young server did not know what della casa was, but she got the cook’s okay.) The bowl of pasta arrived at the table piping-hot and, despite the missing ’choke, was delicious, especially when fortified with freshly shaved Parmesan. At $14.95, it might sound like a pricy lunchtime dish, but it comes with a basket of addictive house-made garlic bread and your choice of soup or a garden or Caesar salad. You can split the order with another or take half the della casa home for a second swell meal. Warning: You’ll be tempted to empty the basket while sopping up the delicious salad dressing. Dear God, resist! You need some bread to dip into that amazing marinara. (Matt Coker) 2300 Harbor Blvd., Ste. K1, Costa Mesa, (949) 722-7566.

In addition to tacos, Chapter One’s Taco Tuesday menu features succulent banana leaf-wrapped tamales—but did you know they’re available every day by request?

The fillings and sauces change each week, and the tamales range from traditional to modern, such as barbacoa beef with citrus sour cream, salsa roja and cilantro.

Other tamal options include carnitas with salsa verde and a chicken mole. (CR) 227 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, (714) 352-2225; chapteronetml.com.

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sponsored content»

Oak Laguna Beach Gives back On a mission to make a difference

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n September 20, Oak Restaurant had the distinct honor of hosting its 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament benefiting The ALS ( Lou Gehrig’s Disease ) Association—Orange County Chapter at San Juan Hills Golf Club in the beautiful city of San Juan Capistrano.

Founded in August 2017, Oak has become a staple in the Laguna Beach community for both locals and tourists. The owners have exemplified the importance of giving back and helping those around them by reaching out to the Orange County community. One of their most important initiatives every year is the Oak Charity Classic, a golf tournament that benefits different organizations in the OC area.

In partnership with PriorityWorkforce Staffing, the tournament’s Marquee Sponsor, as well as many other sponsors, generous participants, and vendors, a total of $31,330 was raised for the Orange County Chapter of the ALS Association. All monies raised will go directly to the association’s Care Services Program, which provides equipment, transportation vouchers, communication devices, and support group necessities for those affected by the disease and their families.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Additionally, Oak has partnered with the Orange County Rescue Mission and its Restoration Café by volunteering time and helping to prepare meals for the mission’s residents. Oak plans to expand its community outreach to continue making a difference in the community.

If you would like to find out more about the Oak and its mission to better the community, please contact Melissa Navarrete at (714) 404-0033.

Sponsored by

OAK LAGUNA BEACH 1100 S. Coast Highway #202, Laguna Beach, (949) 940-3010; oak-lagunabeach.com

calendar * fri/11/15

ALLEN ALCANTARA

sat/11/16

Laughs Guaranteed

Shop Smart

Garage Theatre’s two day-comedy showcase sounds like the kind of rowdy fun we could use in our lives right now—and it’s open only to adults (sorry kiddos!). Among the events is a superhero story that’s completely derived from audience suggestions, then performed by Held2gether, Long Beach’s favorite improv group. Later in the evening, there will be a celebration of personal ads and hooking up in the digital age via apps and Craigslist. The caravan of comedy continues tomorrow night with the frightfully funny Twirly the Clown and an action-sports parody with High Stakes Comedy Sports. Special guests and surprises are also promised, so you can expect wacky, wild shenanigans!

Comedy Extravanganza at the Garage Theatre, 251 E. Seventh St., Long Beach, (866) 811-4111; thegaragetheatre.org. 8 p.m.; also Sat. $15. —AIMEE MURILLO

As seasonal decorations at your local Target and commercials have so abrasively declared, it’s holiday time yet again. The oncoming shopping rush is likely not going to make gift-buying any easier, and most of us are too exhausted to weather the crowds on Black Friday. Luckily, the annual Mermade Market in Dana Point returns to help us breeze through our gift list. Peruse the wares of local artisans who make everything from ceramics to jewelry to artsy home goods. Specialty vendors will offer candles, cookies, organic skincare, holistic remedies, and other edible and/or wearable goods. Check out the full schedule and lineup of vendors on the Mermade Market site—and don’t be shy about picking out something for yourself!

Mermade Market at 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point; mermademarket.com. 10 a.m.; also Sat. Free. —AIMEE MURILLO

Mermade Market

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[CONCERT]

ROAD WARRIORS Cold War Kids

Fullerton-born, Long Beach-based Cold War Kids have kept things fairly local when it comes to the start of their current nationwide tour.The blues-rock/blue-eyed-soul band celebrated the releases of their seventh album, New Age Norms 1, and their anthology (as well as the title of their new brew with Ballast Point),ThisWillAllBlow OverinTime .Tonight in Anaheim, the boys are sure to play such radio-friendly hits as “First” and “Love Is Mystical,” as well as new material, including “Complainer” and “4th of July.” Send Cold War Kids off in style for San Luis Obispo, as they’ll be on the road through at least mid-February.

Cold War Kids at the House of Blues at Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 W. Disney Way, Ste. 337, Anaheim, (714) 520-2334; houseofblues.com/anaheim. 8 p.m. $27.50. —MATT COKER

[FOOD & DRINK]

Let’s Get Ready to Taco!

Taco Throwdown

Trademark Brewing in Long Beach is hosting its first Taco Throwdown, pitting takes on the Mexi meal against each other. Going head to head, Long Beach and Los Angeles taco popups vie for barrio bragging rights.

Celebrity judges will have their say—but who are they? That’s secret for now. But attendees will help to crown a winner.

Standard entry includes four tacos—one from each contestant—a raffle ticket and a voting token. (Yes, vegetarian options are available for all non-carnivorous cabrones!)

Once all competing tacos are washed down with beers, only one will emerge from the event as the titan of tacos.

Taco Throwdown at Trademark Brewing, 233 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, (562) 308-7722; www.trademarkbrewing. com. 2 p.m. $20-$50. —GABRIEL SAN ROMÁN

OCWEEKLY.COM | | || OCWEEKLY.COM

[SHOPPING]

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[GAMES]

The Race Is On

Beer Can Pinewood Derby Who says Cub Scouts should have all the pinewood-derby fun? Here’s your chance to build and decorate your own little wooden car, then race it down a track (powered only by gravity) just like the kids do. The rules include all the size and weight requirements that apply to Cub Scout races, with one additional parameter: all cars must “incorporate at least one Golden Road beer can into the design.”

And don’t think this is just for kicks: First prize gets a package that includes “beer for a year,” plus a “merch gift bag, $100 pub gift card, trophy as proof [and] ultimate supreme eternal glory.” Game on!

Beer Can Pinewood Derby at Golden Road Brewing, 2210 E. Orangewood Ave., Anaheim, (714) 912-4015; goldenroad.la.

10:30 a.m. $10-$30. —ANTHONY PIGNATARO

COURTESY OF MEET ON BEACH

[COMMUNITY EVENTS]

Beach Party

The King of Comedy

The Frida Cinema is currently in the midst of a Martin Scorsese retrospective before the master’s latest, The Irishman, rolls there later this month. Fortunately, the look back includes showings of Scorsese’s criminally underappreciated 1983 black dramedy The King of Comedy. Delusional Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) goes from staging an imaginary talk show in his mother’s basement to kidnapping the program’s real host, Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). Pupkin, who wants Langford to honor a dreamed-up promise of a guest spot, is helped by an equally insane accomplice played to the hilt by Sandra Bernhard. The King of Comedy actually launched her career and reopened Hollywood’s eyes to Lewis’ acting chops. But it’s low-simmering De Niro who really delivers; as events grow ever more over-the-top, he never does, making you almost believe Rupert deserves his shot.

The King of Comedy at the Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana, (714) 285-9422; thefridacinema.org. 2:30, 5:30 & 8 p.m.; also Tues. & Nov. 22. $7-$10.50. —MATT COKER

tue/11/19 [ARTS]

Drunk Drawing Craft & Arts

Is beer the secret to unlocking unbridled creativity? We sure hope so, as it gives us a reason to check out this boozy art class at Gunwhale Ales. Every Tuesday, let your inner Picasso (or Jackson Pollock, or Yayoi Kusama, or insert your favorite artistic analog here) out at this painting party. For the price of admission, you’ll receive all the materials needed to create a stunning work of art, plus one complimentary craft beer to imbibe. Instructors will be on hand to guide your creative process, while you and your friends have fun drinking and working—and hey! You’ll get to bring home your own finished art piece.

Craft & Arts at Gunwhale Ales, 2960 Randolph Ave., Costa Mesa, (949) 2399074; gunwhaleales.com. 7 p.m. $35. 21+.

—AIMEE MURILLO

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

The seven cities connected by 21-mile-long Beach Boulevard are joining together for Meet On Beach, a community festival that will stretch from La Habra to Huntington Beach. There will be arts and crafts in La Habra; sidewalk art and 1.5 miles of carfree streets in Buena Park and Anaheim; an obstacle course in Stanton; food trucks in Garden Grove; a bike-skills rodeo in Westminster; and BMX demonstrations in Huntington. Plus, the Satin Dollz, RedBoy Productions, Springsteen Experience and the Ramsey Brothers Band will perform at various spots. Think of it as the largest street fest in county history—one organizers hope will bring together the communities that make up the heart of Orange County.

Meet On Beach events take place at various locations along Beach Boulevard; meetonbeach. com. 9 a.m. Free. —ANTHONY PIGNATARO

Let’s Hear It For . . .

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Meet On Beach

COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

[FILM]

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thu/11/21 [PERFORMING ARTS]

Back and Forth

The Art of Performance: Moten Swing COURTESY OF UCI

*

[THEATER]

DISCO DAZE

Company, The Musical Americans in the 1970s indulged even more in the freedoms won during the ’50s and ’60s—namely, that of sexual liberation, the ability to postpone marriage and drug experimentation. But theater director Eli Simon looks closely at how those freedoms also misled individuals into “looking for love, sometimes in all the wrong places,” as he takes the helm of Irvine BarclayTheatre’s production of the 1970 Stephen Sondheim musical, Company. It’s about a young bachelor exploring his options and contemplating “sealing the deal” with the right person. Some of his forays into serious dating go hilariously awry, and his friends are there to help him decide whether marriage is right for him. Check out this disco-laden musical for a limited time only.

Company,TheMusical at Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine, (949) 854-4646; www.thebarclay.org. 7:30 p.m.

Through Nov. 23. $12-$25. —AIMEE MURILLO

[RECREATION]

Ice, Ice, Baby

Skating Under the Stars

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[FILM]

HEY, I’M WALKIN’ HERE!

Midnight Cowboy

As you watch Jon Voight go off on a proTrump rant, close your eyes and ears and think back to his bravura turn in Midnight Cowboy, John Schlesinger’s classic 1969 buddy drama and the first and only X-rated Best Picture Oscar winner. ATV actor who was starring in his first motion picture, Voight stepped into the cowboy boots of Joe Buck, a wide-eyed young Texan who thinks he can latch onto a rich NewYork socialite and live the easy life. But the gritty and crumbling Big Apple of that era proves inhospitable, and Joe winds up living in an abandoned building with small-timer Enrico “Ratso” Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman). Stick around afterward to fire questions at Variety editor emeritus Peter Bart about the unlikely friendship that develops as sickly Ratso helps strapping Joe become a hustler.

Midnight Cowboy at Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach, (949) 494- 8971; lagunaartmuseum.org.

6 p.m. Free with museum admission ($5-$7). —MATT COKER

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

—AIMEE MURILLO

COURTESY OF UNITED ARTISTS

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Some days, it’s actually chilly enough to feel the fall fantasy: chunky sweaters, hot drinks and bundling up. Indulge even more heavily in the season at Irvine Spectrum, where guests can skate on a communal ice rink located just underneath the giant ferris wheel. Simply rent or bring your own skates for a reduced ticket rate, then hit the ice. Socks, lockers and helmets are available to rent, and you can purchase tickets in advance to skip the line. The rink will be open daily (except Thanksgiving Day), but be sure to check the schedule online for free-admission time blocks and reduced rates. Private-party reservations are available, too, so you and your friends can re-create your favorite Peanuts Christmas scene (or, even more realistically, slip and fall in privacy). Don’t forget to use your toe pick!

Skating Under the Stars at Irvine Spectrum Center, 670 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine, (714) 742-0160; irvinespectrumcenter.com.

3, 6 & 9 p.m. Through Jan. 5, 2020. $18-$199.

When two different disciplines come together, the creative output can be surprising. In one corner, we have George Herms, a notable Californian who has built his career out of creating assemblage art from everyday objects. In the other is renowned jazz pianist Kei Akagi. With the use of various multimedia elements, Herms will improvise onto sculptural proofs while Akagi provides live music interpretations.

Bouncing off each other like a mesmerizing ping-pong match, this lively collaboration pays tribute to UC Irvine’s first Department of Art chair, Tony DeLap, who became a pioneer of West Coast minimalism and Op Art through his illusion-heavy sculptures.

Don’t miss this meeting of two masters!

The Art of Performance: Moten Swing at Experimental Media Performance Lab, 4000 Mesa Rd., Irvine, (949) 824-2787; arts.uci.edu. 7:30 p.m. Free. —AIMEE MURILLO

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food»reviews | listings CLASSICS DONE RIGHT

WHATTHEBOOZE » GREG NAGEL

Prohibition Hits Santa Ana?

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High On the Hog

PHOTOS BY EDWIN GOEI

Dine out like you’re inThe Great Gatsby at the Drake

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THE DRAKE 2894 Pacific Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, (949) 376-1000; www.thedrakelaguna.com.

Open Sun.-Thurs., 5:30-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 5:30 p.m.-midnight. Appetizers and salads, $9-$18; entrées, $21-$48. Full bar.

BLINKING OWL DISTILLERY 802 E. Washington Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 852-3947; blinkingowldistillery.com.

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

The chefs in the kitchen are a father and son. The father is Paul Gstrein, the cook who opened Bistango and Bayside.

His son, Nick, is his sous. But it was because I heard that the elder Gstrein cut his teeth at Spago in Beverly Hills, Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and Campanile in Los Angeles that I knew his halibut would be cooked as properly as it was. You don’t work at those places without knowing how to sear a fish. That he plates it like so many other fish dishes I’ve had everywhere else—hoisted atop mashed potato and above a pool of white-wine sauce— did not diminish its ability to impress.

If you want to try Gstrein’s hat tip to the Drake Hotel, he prepares venison as a steak Diane, a dish that was invented there. But if there’s a meal that most represents this restaurant and the customers it serves, it’s the apple-glazed pork chop.

The chop comes from a Heritage Duroc.

It’s the most premium cut of meat from the most premium breed of pig. The phrase “living high on the hog” doesn’t get more literal. Gstrein roasts it to a crispy brown outer crust and mediumrare pink interior. Instead of a starch, he offers the porcine steak on a slaw made from Brussels sprouts because even those who can afford to dine this high on the hog still need to keep up with the Keto.

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seems to have its own theme song. Either that, or it’s about the original hotel—I don’t know for sure. The lyrics are impossible to Google without getting results for the other Drake.

As upscale as it is, the service isn’t stuffy or formal. In fact, it’s rather accommodating. Along with the choice of bottled or sparkling water, the waiter also offered tap, which is nice because I always feel weird asking for it when they don’t give you the option. He even suggested to split the order of beet salad. After I agreed, it came out in two perfectly plated portions. Each platter had three beet hunks sitting on their own puddle of runny goat cheese, with greenapple slices and endive stuck upright like sails. Scattered pistachios and a drizzled balsamic reduction elevated the dish from being a trope.

The rest of the menu has few surprises.

There are appetizers of tuna sashimi and hamachi tartare. Salads include a Caesar and a burrata with tomato. Main entrées run through the gamut of American restaurant proteins as predictably as Disney remakes its classics. You’d be right in guessing there’s scallops, a salmon and a chicken breast. You’d also be right if you predicted the three steaks are a New York, a rib-eye and a filet. But what I didn’t expect to see were the lobster tacos. Fistfuls of mayo-dressed lobster meat are packed into a thick flour tortilla, then topped with an avocado slice and microgreens—it’s an East Coast lobster roll meets a West Coast fish taco, and it’s one of the better bargains since an order comes with two.

COURTESY BLINKING OWL

hough it’s something I rarely wonder about when I’m dining somewhere, this time, I couldn’t shake it: How many investment bankers, lawyers and executives are in the room? Maybe it was because at the garage for the mandatory (but complimentary) valet, I saw more Audis than Toyotas. Or maybe it’s because now, more than when the place was Tabu Grill, the customers looked as though they just came off a Fortune magazine photo shoot. But then, so does the restaurant.

Gone are Tabu’s wicker chairs and parasol-covered ceiling. Now, there’s a lounge in which a piano player’s tip jar overflows with greenbacks. On the patio, flames lick the glass in a fire pit that doubles as a fence. But at reserved tables in the main dining room is where the wealthy and powerful sit. Leonardo DiCaprio from Titanic would feel out of place here, but Leonardo DiCaprio from The Wolf of Wall Street would be right at home. Or I should say Leonardo DiCaprio from The Great Gatsby? The space is supposed to summon the spirit of the Art Deco style of Manhattan’s Drake Hotel, which was built in the Roaring Twenties— right around the time F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel was published.

The room certainly seems as if it could host one of Jay Gatsby’s lavish café-society parties. Sexy drapes separate booths.

The chairs are plush. A small stage in the middle is designed for live music. And if you pay attention to the tune piped into the restroom, you’ll hear a jazz crooner singing “Meet Me at the Drake.” Yes, the restaurant

BY EDWIN GOEI

anta Ana’s Blinking Owl Distillery recently announced it’s getting a little taste of Prohibition thanks to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Because of an odd interpretation of a law pertaining to serving private parties, the distillery’s tasting room has been shut down for 25 days.

According to a statement on the Blinking Owl website, an ABC agent called ahead to make a private reservation for two. Per state law, each person at a production distillery tasting room is allowed 1.5 ounces of alcohol per day unless they’re part of a private party that has been booked ahead of time.

The undercover agents were served two cocktails each, but they were seated among non-private-party guests, according to the statement. The agents saw this as a violation of the law, and because of prior related violations, ABC closed down a private business that was acting in good faith as it continued to adjust its practices.

I’ve visited more than 20 distilleries throughout the state of California, and I’ve found that interpretation of the law is inconsistent and each business employs different ways to service its customers.

Distillery laws are written in such a way that companies tend to follow their local ABC’s interpretation rather than the letter of the law. For example, if you visit a distillery in San Francisco, San Diego or Paso Robles, you’ll likely be told you need to be a private member, have an appointment for a tour, or have completed an educational phone app in order to buy direct. But why?

In all my time writing about drinks, I’ve seen a large beer distributor get nailed with more than 20 counts of illegal unfair business practices that basically limit the public’s beverage choice at restaurants and stores, yet only pay a measly $10,000 fine. With Blinking Owl, two ABC agents getting an extra drink among other customers is means for shutting down the most lucrative part of a small business. Welcome to Bizarro 2019.

Blinking Owl will reopen Dec. 8. Be sure to stop in and do some gift shopping!

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food» FAST VEGGIES

OC WEEKLY’S CURATION OF THE LATEST FOOD & DRINK NEWS OF THE WEEK, COMPLETE WITH RESTAURANT REVIEWS & EVENT PICKS.

COURTESY OF PLANT POWER FAST FOOD

Eat Like You Mean It

Vegan Plant Power Fast Food to replace Carl’s Jr. in Fountain Valley

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THEROOT

» CHARISMA MADARANG

LETTERS@OCWEEKLY.COM

FOLLOW US @OCWEEKLYFOOD

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

the next window, you’ll be handed a Big Zac—two “beefy” patties with American “cheese,” plus a tidy offering of pickles, lettuce and tomato.

A quick scroll through Plant Power’s Instagram reveals the company knows who is holding the credit card. The logo and packaging speak to ’70s cool, with orange, yellow and green color blocking and a round, Cooper font. Disembodied hands hold up various burgers and milkshakes for their close up—hitting all the marks of ideal content. But the cleverest aspect of it all is there’s not a single mention of it being vegan in its Instagram bio or on its website. Instead, Plant Power proclaims its products are 100 percent plant-based. This choice in terminology conjures up fresh vegetables and healthy sentiments, opening the doors for people who might have turned away at “vegan” or “vegetarian.” It’s a suggestion to eat more vegetables, not an appeal to abandon meat forever. For many, this flexibility is enough to get them in the door.

Each Plant Power location offers a lineup that nods to what you find at McDonald’s and In-N-Out. Aside from the soy-based burgers, the breakfast menu has every vegan interpretation of the McMuffin possible. Patrons can even chase down orders of animal-style fries with strawberry shakes made with almond milk.

In the same way that McDonald’s revolutionized the restaurant industry in the 1950s, it’s clear that new businesses are vying to do the same for the modern consumer—using the assembly-line blueprint to churn out plant-based versions of fastfood classics. And while Plant Power may be the first to supplant these fast-food giants, it certainly won’t be the last. In a way, it’s almost poetic.

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he landscape of the burger is changing. There’s no mountain of onion rings or waterfalls of truffle aioli. And the patty is getting a makeover, sans meat.

Fast-food joints big and small are scrambling to reincarnate the meat patty for the plant-based palate, with brands such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat ushering in the new era. Burger King recently rolled out the Impossible Whopper, and McDonald’s is hot on its heels with the P.L.T., a “plant-lettucetomato” burger now being tested in Canada. On the local level, Munchies, the allvegan diner in McFadden Public Market, sold out of its coveted “bacon cheeseburgers” last time I stopped by, and I suspect the line snaking through the food hall had something to do with it. Each month, more restaurants are adding their own interpretation of a meatless burger—and with good reason.

While vegans currently make up just less than 5 percent of the U.S. population, according to The Economist, a quarter of 25-to-34-year-old Americans claim to be vegan or vegetarian. In 2018, sales of vegan foods in America surged 10 times faster than food sales as a whole. And just this October, Business Wire reported that the Impossible Burger was the No. 1 product sold at grocery stores on the East and West coasts, and it’s currently available at 17,000 restaurants nationwide.

Having found success in San Diego and Long Beach (see Erin DeWitt’s “Plant Power Is Long Beach’s First Vegan DriveThru Fast Food,” July 10), the Plant Power Fast Food franchise has set its sights on Orange County. The zinger? It’s going to replace a Carl’s Jr. on the corner of Brookhurst and Garfield in Fountain Valley, with plans to open in 2021. This strategy of taking over shuttered drive-thrus is part of the long play for the company.

The move makes it easier for them to not only convert the space, but also to tap into the car-centric culture of fast food. But instead of picking up your Super Star at

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food» THE NEXT COUGAR BAR?

PHOTOS BY GREG NAGEL

That New Pub Smell Taking refuge at the Blind Pig in Yorba Linda

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EAT&DRINKTHISNOW » GREG NAGEL

THE BLIND PIG 4975 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda, (714) 485-2593; also at 31431 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 888-0072; theblindpigoc.com.

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

especially nice refresher after being glued to a car seat for an hour and moving a mere half-mile. The cocktail menu utilizes handy three-word descriptors, something I usually do when taking notes. The Blind Pig said the drink was “tart, vegetal, and herbaceous,” while I scribbled, “creamy, floral, and herbaceous.”

The Italian vibe doesn’t stop there, thankfully. Many of the drinks employ a bevy of amaros and aperitivos to lay the groundwork. If I were to write a Michelin-style guide to good cocktails in Orange County, the Blind Pid would definitely be in there, as it has proper tiki, topshelf, mid-tier and draft cocktails—hell, there’s even some shots to be had.

My GPS still showed the 91 resembling a blood clot, so I grabbed a food menu.

The tasty white nuggets of the roasted cauliflower sit in a warm bowl filled with a browned butter-soy emulsion, tart Granny Smith apples, pine nuts and chives. When properly soaked and drizzled with the comforting broth, the bites achieve next-level veggie satisfaction.

The nice selection of vegetarian options struck my fancy. I didn’t expect to see falafel on a pub menu, but the kitchen nails that perfect chickpea crunch, and the creamy whipped yogurt and chile oil on the side were perfect for additional dredging. Maybe someone can dredge more lanes on the freeway?

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tuck on the eastbound 91 during one of our recent fires, I remembered that the Blind Pig had opened its second location in Yorba Linda. “My Belinda?” I joked, as I wondered whether it was anywhere near my whereabouts. Turns out, if you’re ever stuck inching forward on the 91 at Imperial Highway, there’s some really great food and drink nearby.

The new Blind Pig sits in a business/ grocery center at the bustling intersection of Lakeview Avenue and Yorba Linda Boulevard. It’s so new, in fact, that my first impression of the interior was that it had that new restaurant smell: freshly dried paint and wallpaper and just-opened IKEA boxes.

The eatery is, however, adorable, centered on a large, square-shaped bar. On my visit, it was completely filled with Boomers sipping $6 Round Hill Chardonnay during happy hour. “Could this be the next greatest cougar den since the Foxfire went code blue?” I thought to myself.

The menu is anything but Boomer, however, with kimchi fried rice, kung pao broccolini, and a version of cacio e pepe for around $5 during happy hour (3-6 p.m.). Draft beers and well spirits are a scant six bucks during this magical time, and craft cocktails are a measly $9 apiece.

“When I was 21, I could get a goddamn cocktail for less than $8!” I bellowed to bartender Rachel Keeney. She assured me the crowd gets significantly younger as the night goes on. When I’m old, I sure hope there’s a place as cool as the Blind Pig where I can get cheap drinks.

I started with the Botanist, but only because it shares its name with one of my favorite gins out of Scotland. “But this uses Italian gin!” Keeney said with a grin.

The concoction of gentian-based aperitif, basil eau de vie and bergamot made for an

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film»reviews|screenings

From MexicoandBeyond

Can’t-miss films come to Frida Cinema and UC Irvine

BY MATT COKER

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TAZZEKA

ola Mexico Film Festival’s return to the Frida Cinema is good news for cinema fans on this side of the border.

Well, at least for this particular cinema fan because last year’s run included one of the best pictures I saw in 2018, Issa López’s Vuelven (Tigers Are Not Afraid).

Here is what’s on tap at this year’s fest, where films are presented in Spanish with English subtitles:

COURTESY OF TAKKA FILMS

Las Niñas Bien (The Good Girls).

In Alejandra Márquez Abella’s 2018 drama, a socialite (Ilse Salas) uses her infatuation with Spanish singer Julio Iglesias to escape the reality of her wealthy husband’s downfall amid Mexico’s 1982 economic crisis. Fri., 7:30 p.m.

Mirreyes vs. Godinez. Chava Cartas’ new comedy is about Genaro (Daniel Tovar), a young godín (a colloquial term for a low-level office worker), banding together with fellow employees against Santiago (Pablo Lyle), their new spoiled mirrey (which refers to the spawn of the wealthy) boss. Sat., 1:30 p.m.

El Ombligo de Guie’Dani (Guie’dani’s Navel). Xavi Sala’s

Como si Fuera la Primera Vez (It’s Like the First and Last Time). Mau-

Dulce Familia (Sweet Family).

Nicolas Lopez’s bittersweet new comedy is about a talented baker (Fernanda Castillo) whose family is adamant she lose weight before

English title sound familiar? That’s because Ceslo Garcia’s new romcom is a remake of the 1997 American version starring Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz. When her longtime best friend (Carlos Ferro) pops the question to someone else, Julia (Ana Serradilla) realizes she loves him and tries to stop the wedding at any cost. Wed., 7:30 p.m.

Ocho de Cada Diez (Eight Out of Ten). Sergio Umansky Brener’s

new psychological drama is about a man (Noé Hernández) whose son was violently murdered in broad daylight. After meeting a woman (Daniela Schmidt) who was also unjustly separated from her child, they form a dangerous alliance. Thurs., Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m.

U

C Irvine has four intriguingsounding films coming up that allow attendees to create their own mini-festival. Each includes an audience Q&A, refreshments and—get this—free admission!

The Infiltrators. Cristina Ibarra

and Alex Rivera’s excellent new “hybrid” documentary, which I recently recommended when it played at OC Film Fiesta, mixes footage of real-life activists with re-creations made with actors. It

MCOKER@OCWEEKLY.COM HOLA MEXICO FILM FESTIVAL at the Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. $7.50-$10.50.

UCI SCREENINGS at McCormick Screening Room, Humanities Gateway 1070, Irvine, (949) 824-6117, exceptCry Out Loud, which screens at Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway 1517, 234 Pereira Dr., Irvine, (949) 824-6803. Free.

HorrorBuzz Presents Young Frankenstein. Your one-stop shop for all things frightful pulls a funny with Mel Brooks’ 1974 black-andwhite classic that demonstrates Gene Wilder’s genius writing and comedic acting. He plays a neurosurgeon who follows his grandfather Dr. Victor von Frankenstein’s instructions to reanimate a monster (Peter Boyle). The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 8 p.m. $7.50-$10.50.

Desolation Center. Stuart Swezey’s 2018 documentary splices together interview and performance footage of Sonic Youth, Minutemen and Swans to chronicle a series of Reagan-era anarchic punk rock desert happenings. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org.

Fri., 10 p.m. $7.50-$10.50.

Bliss. Joe Begos’ new horror flick is about a brilliant artist (Dora Madison Burge) with a creative block until heavy drugging and partying get her juices—and a desire for blood—flowing. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 10:30 p.m.; Sat., 8 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs., Nov. 21, 10 p.m. $7.50-$10.50.

An Evening With Adam Green.

Watch Hatchet (2007) and Frozen (2010), plus experimental shorts, with the filmmaker. Green shares comical, cringeworthy and inspiring tales during this three-hour event.

The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema. org. Sat., 7 p.m. $20.

CRY America Orange County Presents Lion. Garth Davis’ 2016 fact-based drama screens in honor of Universal Children’s Day. A young man (Dev Patel) who got separated from his parents as a child and lived on the streets of India before being adopted by an Australian couple returns to his original hometown to find his lost family. A discussion with an OC Human Trafficking Task Force official follows.

The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema. org. Sun., 12:30 p.m. $5.

Fleabag. I’ve enjoyed the two episodes I’ve seen of the series that was inspired by the one-woman stage show of Phoebe WallerBridge, who has won several awards for each version on both sides of the pond. She plays an oversexed and emotionally unfiltered woman bothered by family, friends, lovers and her struggling café.

Directed by Vicky Jones, this live performance was captured from a London stage this past summer. Various theaters; www.fathomevents. com. Mon., 7 p.m. $15.

Spaceballs. In Mel Brooks’ 1987 skewering of Star Wars, only Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) can possibly stop Lord Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) from carrying out the order from planet Spaceballs President Skroob (Brooks), who aims to steal planet Druidia’s abundant supply of air.

Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738-6327. Thurs., Nov. 21, 1 p.m. Free.

Autism Goes to College. Erik Linthorst’s documentary tells the story of five students—including Cal State Long Beach School of Art alum Jonathan Martin—on the spectrum and dealing with college life. An audience Q&A follows. Cal State Long Beach, UT-108, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach; www.autismgoestocollege. org. Thurs., Nov 21, 7 p.m. Free.

Spirits In the Forest. Anton Corbijn’s new rockumentary follows Depeche Mode on their 2017-18 Global Spirit Tour. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Nov. 21, 8 p.m. $7.50-$10.50.

Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear.

This faith-based drama is about surfer and star Sage Burke, who was paralyzed by fear after nearly dying in a wipeout at age 13. But the ocean mysteriously draws him back in. A Q&A with Douglas Burke, the director and Sage’s father, follows. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Nov. 21, 8 p.m. $7.50-$10.50.

MCOKER@OCWEEKLY.COM

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

ricio Valle’s new rom-com is about a young man (Vadhir Derbez) who has a meet-cute with a young woman (Ximena Romo). When he tries to continue the magic the next day, he learns she has no memory of the night before and must re-woo her, again and again.

Sun., 6 p.m.

La Boda de Mi Mejor Amigo (My Best Friend’s Wedding). Does the

COURTESY OF FÁBRICA DE CINE

depicts Dreamers who infiltrated a privately run Homeland Security detention facility in Florida to, at best, win detainee releases or, at worst, prevent deportations. Rivera attends a reception before and audience Q&A after the screening.

Fri., 4 p.m.

Cry Out Loud. Dr. Ethiraj Gabriel Dattatreyan’s 2016 documentary explores the challenges that African nationals face as they make their lives in Delhi, India. Afterward, Anneeth Kaur Hundle, the Dhan Kaur Sahota Presidential Chair in Sikh Studies, leads a Q&A with the filmmaker. Tues., 3 p.m.

Tazzeka. Jean-Philippe Gaud’s 2018 French/Moroccan comedy is about a young man (Mahdi Belemlih) who is tempted to leave his Moroccan village after meeting a top Parisian chef (Olivier Sitruk) and a young woman (Ouidad Elma). European Languages and Studies professor Laura Klein leads a post-screening discussion.

Tues., 5:30 p.m.

Containment. Harvard professors Peter Galison and Robb Moss’ 2015 documentary wonders what society will do with some of the deadliest, longest-lasting substances ever produced. A Q&A with Galison follows. Thurs., Nov. 21, 7 p.m.

» MATT COKER

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2018 drama is about the racism encountered by the indigenous people of Mexico, as seen through the eyes of a Zapotec teenager (Sótera Cruz). Sat., 4 p.m.

108 Costuras (108 Stitches). Fernando Kalife’s 2018 drama is about two pals (Kuno Becker and Jose Angel Bichir) who see their childhood pro baseball dreams realized.

But their lifelong bond is fractured by fame, success and contracts.

Sun., 3:30 p.m.

marrying her loving fiancé (Vadhir Derbez). Mon., 7:30 p.m.

Si Yo Fuera Tú (If I Were You). Alejandro Lubezki’s 2018 comedy— which is a remake of the 2006 Brazilian film Se Eu Fosse Você (If I Were You)—has a bickering married couple (Sophie Alexander and Juan Manuel Bernal) switching consciousnesses after a rare cosmic event. Tues., 7:30 p.m.

108 COSTURAS

SPECIALSCREENINGS

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culture»art|stage|style HOW COME I’M NOT IN THAT FRAME?

ARTSOVERLOAD » AIMEE MURILLO

Nov. 15-21 HAIR: 1960s counterculture is on full

S’il Vous Play

PHOTOS BY JORDAN KUBAT

BARBIE TRUCK TOTALLY

How I learned to stop hating the French and (kind of) tolerate at least one French play

T

BY JOEL BEERS won’t hit that fluid critical mass.

Kudos to director Sarah Ripper and scenic designer Daniel Espinoza, who make this production look and feel big enough in the very intimate setting. That’s crucial in a show such as this because the audience needs to feel as if it’s watching a trainwreck—but also needs to feel as if it’s onboard. And by the play’s end, when psyches are laid bare and a Brooklyn flat ravaged, it really does seem as if you’ve just spent an hour and a half at a small cocktail party, sitting in the corner, sipping on your gin and juice, and wishing there were popcorn as you watch all the civilities and niceties and bullshit of Western culture spiral into the drain and into the fetid gutter where all those things that make life truly worth living—for those of us honest enough to admit it—incubate: selfishness, cruelty, superiority. Fortunately, we can all leave the theater, take a psychic shower and, if possessed of enough self-awareness, ponder if that’s the route we really want to take on our path to destruction. One can only wonder what the poor, sad fuckers at the end of God of Carnage will do.

Thus marks the finale of the Wayward Artist’s second season. In those two years, it’s proven to be the county’s most intimate literate house, staging powerful and compelling plays that always leave you with something to think about. Even if they’re French.

GOD OF CARNAGE at Grand Central Art Center, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, (657) 205-6723; thewaywardartist.org. Thurs.-Fri., Nov. 14-15, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. $15-$25.

HELLO KITTY “TABLE FOR TWO” ONIGIRI WORKSHOP: Table for Two, a Japanese nonprofit health organization, hosts these cooking lessons. Sat., noon & 2 p.m. $30.

Tanaka Farms, 5380 3/4 University Dr., Irvine, (949) 653-2100; www.tanakafarms.com.

“SACRED AND HEALING WATERS: FLUID MEMORY IN ORANGE COUNTY”: Carolina Caycedo’s art exhibit concerning climate change welcomes its second phase with an artist discussion and reception. Sat., 3 p.m. Free. Orange County Museum of Art, 1661 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 780-2186; ocma.net.

“CHICANX ART EXHIBIT”: An evening of poetry, food and art by Chicanx-identifying artists. Sat., 4 p.m. Free. El Centro Cultural de Mexico, 837 N. Ross St., Santa Ana; elcentroculturaldemexico.org.

ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW: More than 50 artisans, upcyclers and designers show off their wares. Sun., 9 a.m.

Free. Old World Huntington Beach, 7651 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 895-8020; www.rcpalmer.com.

“THE FIRST 40 YEARS”: A celebration of the Arboretum’s growth over the years. Open daily, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Through Jan. 19, 2020. Free. Fullerton Arboretum Museum, 1900 Associated Rd., Fullerton, (657) 278-3407; fullertonarboretum.org.

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

before the War of the Spanish Succession.

Since its 1998 Broadway opening, it has been translated into 30 languages, and for two years in the early 2000s, it was produced some 45 times by American professional theaters and Buddha knows by how many non-professional companies. That number may not seem very high, but discounting musicals, few plays this century have even come close.

But 12 years later, Reza’s next play, God of Carnage, was an even bigger hit. It took home a bunch of the major Tony awards in 2009, then got turned into a major motion picture, Carnage, in 2011—though it was directed by Roman Polanski, which torpedoed any chance of it meriting any Academy Award consideration. (Polanski won an award for adapted screenplay in Italy, but let’s face it, no one cares about that.)

But while Art and God of Carnage are similar in cast size and feature bougie characters talking about bougie things, the latter is better in that it’s more of a satire in which the apparently tamed characters are revealed to be as savage, petty and childish as the two adolescent boys whose encounter has sparked their meeting.

And based on this Wayward Artist production, it’s also a far funnier play. Aimee Guichard, Keith Bush, Shayanne Ortiz and Garret Replogle all discover surprising laughs in their interpretations of the dialogue, which could easily sound as stilted and phony as the hypocrites at their characters’ core. All but Bush’s Michael, the apparently most-stable-but-watch-out character, still seemed to be easing into the fluid group dynamic that is so essential in a play like this. But it was also opening night, and there is nothing in their portrayal to suggest they

THROWBACK TOUR: America’s favorite iconic doll marks 60 years with this appearance at the Spectrum, where retro-inspired merchandise will be available. Sat., 10 a.m. Free. Irvine Spectrum Center, 670 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine, (949) 7535180; barbie.com/barbietruck.

N OVE MBE R 15- 2 1, 20 19

his review (what there is of it) is filled with venom and rancor. For it is a review of a play written by a French person.

And the French are awful. The French are awful because earlier this year, France announced the non-permanent sports it wanted the International Olympic Committee to include as part of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Surfing, skateboarding and climbing were on the list. Baseball/softball were not. But breakdancing was.

Yes, breakdancing—which certainly trends hipper, more urban and ethnically diverse—is in the 2024 Olympics, but North America’s most beloved sport (sorry, fútbol fans, but the Dominican Republic and Cuba are also in North America, so suck it) is not.

Whether this is payback for Freedom Fries or France collectively waking from its national nightmare and realizing Jerry Lewis isn’t all that, it is an outrage, and France should be fucked in every fucking hole that France can be fucked in.

Which brings up Yasmina Reza, the playwright of Carnage. No, Reza doesn’t merit a metaphorical bukkake, and these fingertips should be ashamed for even typing that, but it’s easy to wish some kind of misfortune on her. First off, she’s French.

Second, she is probably the most successful playwright of the 21st century. Nothing wrong with that; some poor schlub has to hold the title. But that’s merited on TWO plays. The first was Art, the theatrical equivalent of a Hostess cupcake—satisfying and tasty at first, but empty calories and shallow upon further inspection. It was the closest thing to a successful military invasion the French have waged since at least

display in this rock musical about young people navigating social change. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.

Through Nov. 23. $14-$24. Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, (562) 494-1014; lbplayhouse.org.

AUTUMN FESTIVAL: The cultures of Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines are celebrated through food, entertainment and performances. Sat.-Sun., 9 a.m. Free with admission. Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, (562) 590-3100; aquariumofthepacific.org.

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music»artists|sounds|shows BEHOLD THESE SIMPLE CREATURES

Simple Creatures Rise

ASHLEY OSBORN

Mark Hoppus and Alex Gaskarth form a ‘trash-pop’ duo

BY JOSH CHESLER and push for ideas that he loves, so it’s been a really good partnership.”

Other than the familiar voices, fans shouldn’t expect the “trash-pop” (as Hoppus calls it) outfit to sound anything like their main bands. Simple Creatures’ music carries more of a retro electronic feel. For a couple of guys who’ve spent most of their adult life in the same subgenre, this grimier work is a nice change of pace and a distraction. “It’s great having no expectations other than being a great time,” Hoppus says. “Having the ability to totally change lanes, do something way left of center, and have fun doing it is awesome.”

And in case anyone’s concerned that more Simple Creatures will mean less blink-182 or All Time Low, Hoppus is quite clear that’s not the case. The veteran bassist sees the projects as being part of a perfect balance. Plus, the new band lets him bring back some of that spontaneous weirdness blink-182 hasn’t been able to fully embrace for well more

than a decade. “I love that blink has a following where we can go play giant amphitheaters and arenas, and I love starting this baby band from square one, where we’re trying to build up knowledge of our band and get the word out,” Hoppus says. “Because we’re so new and so small, it’s great to be so mobile and agile.

“One day, we had a strange idea to make a sock-puppet music video, so April [Salud, from Simple Creatures’ management camp] spent a weekend with her friends making a sock-puppet video. We can be very random with our ideas and execute them very quickly, whereas blink is a very large organization with a long legacy. It’s like a cruise ship in that it takes a lot longer and a lot more effort to change directions.”

SIMPLE CREATURES perform at the Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 957-0600; observatoryoc.com. Thurs., Nov. 14, 8 p.m. $29. All ages.

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

he’s working on new music, whether in the studio or performing it live. “It’s great to have two different creative outlets and different people to work with, and to me, it feels like a giant playground or a house party,” Hoppus says. “It’s more like getting together with your friends and coming up with ideas.”

Aside from his work with blink-182 (which includes two records written with the poetic Matt Skiba), the bassist/ vocalist has produced records for bands such as Motion City Soundtrack and New Found Glory. As Hoppus has worked with some of the best musicians in the genre, Gaskarth might have expected to fill some rather large shoes while recording with an artist who inspired his own band. “[Gaskarth] is a great foil in the studio, and he’s a great ‘other’ voice,” Hoppus says. “I think because people knew that Alex grew up listening to blink-182, he might be very deferential in the studio, but he stands up for everything. He will push back on ideas that he disagrees with

N OVE MBE R 15- 2 1, 20 19

F

or pop-punk fans of the late 1990s and 2000s, seeing Simple Creatures perform at the Observatory will be a burst of nostalgia wrapped in a shiny, new package. Even for those who aren’t into the synth-heavy pop sounds, it’s the chance to see one of the first shows of the new passion project from blink-182’s Mark Hoppus and All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth. The duo recently released their latest five-song EP Everything Opposite.

“The Simple Creatures shows are super-fun,” Hoppus says. “They’re very loose. It’s just Alex and I onstage, and we have really cool production. We trade off playing instruments like keyboard, guitar, bass and drum machines. . . . It’s a giant party that we hope everyone will enjoy.”

This seems to be the simple reason why Hoppus and Gaskarth joined together.

While their main bands continue to be successful, the two friends could’ve enjoyed some rest during their downtime.

But Hoppus finds himself happiest when

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concert guide» CAUTIOUS CLAY

JOHN DANIEL POWERS

Friday

Sunday

ART ALEXAKIS (OF EVERCLEAR): 8 p.m., $25-$99,

DIRTY CAKES; THE SOUTH HOLLOWS; MOVIE CLUB: 8 p.m., $5, 21+. Alex’s Bar; alexsbar.com.

GUTTERMOUTH; LOVE CANAL; RHINO 39; 21 GUN SALUTE: 2 p.m., $11, 21+. Alex’s Bar; alexsbar.com.

MINDFORCE; REGULATE; DEAD HEAT:5 p.m.,

21+. The Wayfarer, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, (949) 764-0039; wayfarercm.com.

BLACK BEACH AWAKE; LEFT WITHOUT; BRAIN ANCHOR; BFAME: 8 p.m., $7, all ages. Programme

Skate & Sound, 2495 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton, (714) 798-7565; www.facebook.com/programmehq.

CLUB SAVE THAT SH!T PRESENTS: LIL PEEP MEMORIAL: 10 p.m., $10, all ages. Garden Amp,

12672 Main St., Garden Grove, (949) 415-8544; gardenamp.com.

THE CURRENTLY CLASSIC; LEFT UNSAID; ACID STRIPES; LOC DAWGS; OUTERPARIS; NO SIGNAL: 7 p.m., $10, all ages. Chain Reaction,

1652 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, (714) 635-6067; alleges.com.

DAVID BRIGHTON’S SPACE ODDITY—THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE; POLLY VINYL: 8 p.m., $20, all ages. The Coach House,

33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 496-8930; thecoachhouse.com.

THE METEORS: 8 p.m., $20, 21+; also Sat. La Santa, 220 E. Third St., Santa Ana, (657) 231-6005; lasantaoc.com.

MISSING PERSONS: 8 p.m., free, 21+. Gallagher’s Pub, 300 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, (714) 951-9229; gallagherspub.com.

$15, all ages. Constellation Room; observatoryoc.com.

Monday

FRAMEWORK; SHIMMER; DCR POLLOCK: 8 p.m.,

free, 21+. The Wayfarer; wayfarercm.com.

WORLD; INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY: 8 p.m.,

$12, all ages. Chain Reaction; allages.com.

Tuesday

DARDEN SISTERS: 6 p.m., free, all ages. Campus

Jax, 3950 Campus Dr., Newport Beach, (949) 261-6270; campusjax.com.

FREE TEQUILA; THE SBINS; PALACE ROOMS:

9 p.m., free, 21+. The Continental Room, 115 W. Santa Fe Ave., Fullerton, (714) 526-4529; www.facebook.com/continentalroom.

USELESS ID; THE LAST GANG; TOXIC ENERGY; LIZZIE FRANKS; MELTED: 8 p.m., $10, all ages.

Garden Amp; gardenamp.com.

Saturday

Wednesday

THE BABE RAINBOW; CLAUDE FONTAINE: 9 p.m.,

CONOR MAYNARD: 8 p.m., $25, all ages. House of

D.I. RESIDENCY NIGHT 3; QUAZIMOFO; MONODELUX; INFAMOUS STIFFS; BLACKSTAR ROCKETS: 8 p.m., $10, 21+. The Doll

Hut, 107 S. Adams St., Anaheim, (562) 277-0075; www.worldfamousdollhut.com.

THE HIGHWAYMAN SHOW; SHANE HALL: 8 p.m.,

Thursday, Nov. 21

ALISAN PORTER; KARLY MORENO; FOUR SUE—UNPLUGGED: 8 p.m., $20, all ages. The

Coach House; thecoachhouse.com.

CAUTIOUS CLAY:8 p.m., $20-$40, all ages. The

Observatory; observatoryoc.com.

JAZZ AT JAX WITH CHRIS WILLIAMS: 10 p.m., $5,

all ages. Campus Jax; campusjax.com.

NAKED AGGRESSION; CORRUPTED YOUTH; CHEMICAL X, DIVERSITY; MXBXDX; NNN; HEAD HUNTERS: 6:30 p.m., $7, all ages. Chain

ICON FOR HIRE; AMY GUESS; FEVER JOY; MOONBROCH: 7 p.m., $15-$199, all ages. Chain

POST MALONE: 8 p.m., $83.50-$808, all ages; also Sun.

IT’S SKANKSGIVING II, WITH THE SKATALITES:

Reaction; allages.com.

Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, (714) 7042500; hondacenter.com.

SAVE FERRIS; THE BOMBPOPS; MATAMOSKA:

7 p.m., $25, all ages. Garden Amp; gardenamp.com.

SHINE ON “THE WALL 40TH ANNIVERSARY”:

8 p.m., $10, 21+. The Wayfarer; wayfarercm.com.

Reaction; allages.com.

7 p.m., $10, all ages. Garden Amp; gardenamp.com.

SONODA; VERY NICE MASSAGE; CONES:

8:30 p.m., $8, 21+. The Wayfarer; wayfarercm.com.

ZURICH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: 8 p.m., $28-$268,

all ages. Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, (714) 556-2787; www.scfta.org.

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

$20, all ages. The Coach House; thecoachhouse.com.

MUSIQ SOULCHILD: 8 p.m., $47.50-$57.50, all ages.

City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, (714) 712-2700; citynationalgroveofanaheim.com.

Blues at Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 W. Disney Way, Ste. 337, Anaheim, (714) 778-2583; www.houseofblues.com/anaheim.

EXPANDING OC HIP HOP: 9 p.m., free, 21+. The Doll Hut; www.worldfamousdollhut.com.

TRULIO DISGRACIOUS: 8 p.m., $10, 21+. The Wayfarer; wayfarercm.com.

VALLEY RATS; EL SHIROTA; THE NO. 44:10 p.m., $5, 21+. The Continental Room; www.facebook.com/continentalroom.

N OVE MBE R 15- 2 1, 20 19

$20, all ages. The Constellation Room, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 957-0600; observatoryoc.com.

BOOGALOO ASSASSINS: 8 p.m., $15, 21+. Alex’s Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, (562) 234-8292; alexsbar.com.

COSMIC GATE: 8 p.m., $25, all ages. The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 957-0600; observatoryoc.com.

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cannabis» TOKEOFTHEWEEK

» JEFFERSON VANBILLIARD Shoogies t’s not often that a product comes across my desk that fits into so many Icategories, as Shoogies brand edibles

do. Born out of the idea that cannabis should be a part of your daily wellness regimen, Shoogies’ packets of cannabisinfused cane sugar and agave nectar are convenient for your bag, purse or pocket—which means you can stay medicated all day.

The proprietary blend of organic, pure cane sugar or agave nectar and THC distillate gives you an entourage effect.

Practically indistinguishable from their non-euphoric counterparts, Shoogies packets contain 5 milligrams of THC and are designed to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, so the effects are felt faster and longer.

The Oakland-based subsidary of Apex Solutions wants to change the way you use sweetener, whether it’s to imbibe, cook or bake, all while ensuring you are ingesting only the purest ingredients. So next time you’re feeling sluggish, skip the sugary products that line the shelves of every grocery-checkout line and instead

COURTESY OF SHOOGIES

reach for a packet of Shoogies. It will make your day a lot groovier, I promise.

LETTERS@OCWEEKLY.COM

Available at Long Beach Green Room, 1735 E. Seventh St., Long Beach, (562) 218-0021; lbgreenroom.com.

SEE MORE INDUSTRY NEWS AND REVIEWS AT

M ONT H X X–XX , 2 014

| OCWEEKLY.COM | 2

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15- 2 1, 20 | OCWEEKLY.COM | 19N O VEMB ER

EMPLOYMENT Audit Associate (Irvine, CA) Perform financial statement audits for CPA firm clients. Bachelor's in accounting. Resume to: PK LLP, 2100 Main St #200, Irvine, CA 92614 Visual/Digital Media Production Specialist Work in collaboration w/ personnel to produce variety of video products for distribution, webcasting & video streaming, etc.

Reqs: BA in Visual Arts (Media); & must have taken :Digital Imaging” and “Scripting Strategies” courses.

Apply to: PGA Media, Inc. Attn: Kyu Yang 905 S. Euclid St., #105 Fullerton, CA 92832 Marketing Specialist – Korea Region Promote educational (including ESL, summer camp, vocational training, etc.) programs catered to Korean speaking students.

Prepare, design marketing strategy and material specifically for interested students in Korea. Send resume to: Ivy Guardian Consulting, 1501 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite 104, Fullerton, CA 92835

15-21, 2019 | OCWEEKLY.COM | NOVEMBER

Chief Financial Officer Zen Within Inc. has an opening in Costa Mesa, CA. CFO: management, budgets & forecasting + systems & process. 10% dom & int'l travel req'd.

Submit resume (principals only) to: sarah.glubka@ planetinnovation.com. au & include recruitment source + job title in subject line. EOE

Solution Architect – Oracle ERP Cloud to be responsible for the full-life cycle of ERP On Cloud projects. Req. 100% domestic & international travel to client sites.

Jobsite: Irvine, CA. Mail resume & ad copy to Vice President, Computer Technology Resources, Inc., 16 Technology Dr., Ste. 202, Irvine, CA 92618 General Tool, Inc. in Irvine seeks Nat. Acct.

Sales Mgr. to oversee sale of diamond tools.

BS in Physics, Chem, or rtd. + 2 yrs of exp. req’d. Email resume: generaltool@yahoo. com.

Sales Executive.

Reqs: Bachelor’s degree plus 6 months of experience. Submit resumes to the attention of Xavier Pericas, Premo USA, Inc., 17451 Bastanchury Road, Suite 100-B, Yorba Linda, CA 92886

NOW HIRING

House of Blues Anaheim is hiring for the part-time positions below.

JR-24864 Banquet Se rver (Special Events) JR-21690 Dishwasher JR-25457 Foundation Room Cocktail Server JR-25088 Foundation Room Host JR-25086 Foundation Room Security Door Host JR-24501 Line Cook JR-24780 Music Hall Busser JR-24778 Music Hall Barback JR-24809 Music Hall Cocktail Server JR-24833 Music Hall Green Room Server JR-24735 Music Hall Security Door Host JR-23092 Music Hall VIP Host JR-24810 Prep Cook JR-26812 Restaurant - Bartender JR-25673 Restaurant Busser JR-25623 Restaurant Host JR-25182 Restaurant Server JR-26628 Retail Associate Visit https://www. livenationentertainment.com/careers/ to apply today!

BULLETIN WE BUY & SELL SURFBOARDS CHEAP!!

ANY SIZE. ANY CONDITION CALL MARK 949-232-2603

Architectural Designer (Irvine, CA): Resp. for arch. project planning, design & specs. Req: Bach in Arch + 6 mos. exp. Mail Resumes: HPA, Inc., Ref Job #ADES001, 18831 Bardeen Ave., #100, Irvine, CA 92612.

Advertisements are published upon representation by the advertiser and that advertiser is authorized to publish thereof, that the contents are not unlawful, and do not infringe on the rights of any person or entity. In consideration of the publication of advertisements, the advertiser will indemnify and save the OC Weekly harmless from and against any loss or expenses arising out of publication of such advertisements. The OC Weekly accepts no liability for its failure, for any cause, to insert an advertisement. Publication and placement of advertisements are not guaranteed. Liability for any error appearing in an advertisement is limited to the cost of the space actually occupied. OC Weekly reserves the right to revise, reject or omit without notice any advertisement at any time. OC Weekly reserves the right to revise its advertising rates at any time.

| OCWEEKLY.COM |

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INDICA, SATIVA, HYBRID PREMIUM INDOOR: $200 OZ & $1OO 1/2 OZ & $75 OZ DELIVERY 714-737-4965

Senior System Center Configuration Analyst at Insight Direct USA, Inc. (Irvine, CA): Be responsible for the architecture design, planning, implementation and/ or migration of SCCM hierarchy.

Create and manage Active Directory Sites, Boundaries and Boundary Groups for content distribution. 3 yr exp.

Add’l duties, requirements, travel req. available upon request. Email resume and cover letter to josh. crum@insight.com, ref Job#RD01.

N OVE MBE R 15- 2 1, 20 19

GOT BUDS

Church Music Director: Plan & conduct music prog. for worship services.

Req: BA/BS in Church Music or Music.

Mail resume: Purely Evangelical Church 2101 W Crescent Ave #F Anaheim, CA 92801

196 POSITION WANTED

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sex»

Sissy That Talk

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My boyfriend and I met online to explore our kinks. We’d both been in relationships with kink-shaming people who screwed with our heads. Since we weren’t thinking it was more than a hookup, we put all our baggage on the table early and wound up becoming friends. Eventually, we realized we had a real connection and started a relationship in which we supported our desire to explore. I’ve never been happier. The only issue is how he gets down on himself if I get more attention than he does. After the first kink party we went to, he would not stop trying to convince me that no one looked at him all evening.

I tried to boost his confidence, and I also brought up things like “You were on a leash, so maybe people assumed you were off-limits.” No dice. I couldn’t get him to even entertain the notion that anyone even looked at him. He’s a cross-dressing sissy who loves to be used by men—heterosuckual—and he has a lot of baggage with every last one of his exes citing his cross-dressing as a reason to leave him for a “real” man. To make things worse, we have had issues with guys coming over for him, finding out there’s a Domme female in the picture, and switching focus to me. I feel like I wind up avoiding kinky sexual situations (which I love!) because I’m so concerned about protecting his ego. I’ve tried using my words, and we generally communicate well, but he is unwilling to entertain any interpretations that don’t mesh with his theory that he’s obviously undesirable. The breaking point for me was this past weekend. He encouraged me to go to a swingers party with a friend, and I had a blast. It was super-empowering, and all I wanted to do was tell him every detail—the way he will when he services cock—and he was so jealous that I was able to effortlessly get so much attention he wasn’t ready to hear it. It made me feel the same sex shame I felt with my ex. It also made me feel like he was insinuating how could I get so lucky, which hit all my chubby girl selfconscious places hard. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!

Seeking Insightful Stress Solution, Yup

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Tell that sissy to get over herself.

Your boyfriend is making you feel guilty about something you have no control over: Women get more attention at mixedgender sex/play parties than men do. And as far as your respective kinks go, SISSY, there are always going to be more people out there who want to get with Domme women than guys who want to get with/ be serviced by submissive heterosuckual cross-dressers. Your boyfriend will always attract less interest than you do at a kink party, just as someone who goes to a BDSM play party hoping to do a little knife play will attract less interest than someone who’s looking for a little light bondage.

Instead of counting the number of guys who approach you at a party, and then trying to ruin your night for getting more attention than he does, your boyfriend has to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way.

And if some guy approaches him at a play party only to realize he’s on a leash, SISSY, isn’t that guy supposed to turn his attention to the Dominant partner? If your boyfriend could resist the urge to spiral down at those moments—if he could resist

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the urge to make himself the center of negative attention—those men would probably turn their attention back to him at some point, particularly if you encouraged/gave them permission to do so. You could and perhaps should also make it clear to anyone who approaches you at some-if-not-all kink parties that you’re a package deal: You play together, or you don’t play at all. But even then, your boyfriend has to accept that you’ll be leveraging your desirability on both your behalves and be at peace with it.

Usually when I advise readers to “use their words,” it’s about making sexual needs clear, i.e., asking for what we want with the understanding that we may not always get what we want. But what you need (and you need to use your words to get), SISSY, is for your boyfriend to knock this petty, hypocritical slut-shaming shit off. (He’s essentially shaming you for being the slut he’d like to be.) It might help if you got him to recognize and grieve and accept not just the reality of the situation—women with more mainstream kinks are more in demand at mixed-gender kink parties than men with niche kinks—but also the risk he’s running here: His insecurities are sabotaging your relationship. Him setting traps for you—like encouraging you to go out and play only to make you feel terrible about it afterward—and making hurting insinuations about your attractiveness is making this relationship untenable. Tell him that you’re going to dump him if he can’t get a grip. And then ask him what will be worse—being partnered with someone who gets more attention than he does in kink and swinger spaces or being a single male in those spaces. (It’s a trick question, at least partly, as many of those spaces don’t allow single males.)

I love my boyfriend, and he knows I like women, too. Our sex life was okay, a little boring and routine and always “doggy style.” And he hardly ever goes down on me—like, at all. I can count on one hand the number of times he’s done it in four years! So I agreed to have a threesome to spice things up, and we bought condoms.

When we got down with another woman, he decided to have sex with her after me, and he also decided to go down on her.

You know, the thing he never does for me.

I’m so upset now, I can’t even have sex with him. I feel like it was a betrayal of my trust for him to eat out a woman he barely knows when he won’t do that for me. He also didn’t use the condoms—he says he “didn’t have time.” He said it meant nothing. But it’s really got me upset.

Now Overlooking My Need Of Munching Not only would I have been upset during that threesome, NOMNOM, I would have been single very shortly after it. Dude doesn’t eat pussy—dude doesn’t eat your pussy—and can’t find the time to put a condom on when he wants to (gets to!) have sex with another woman in front of you? DTMFA. On the Lovecast (savagelovecast.com): sex workers’ rights advocate Elle Stanger.

Contact Dan via mail@savagelove.net, follow Dan on Twitter @fakedansavage, and visit ITMFA.org.

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