Orange Coast magazine - October 2021

TO WATCH

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A POPPY & SEED BLOSSOMS IN ANAHEIM

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O.C. ARTS PREVIEW

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N GENERATION Z /

G O C T O B E R 2021

GEN Z LOCALS

21 IN R E S B H

FUTURE E TH

OC ARTS PREVIEW: The shows are on!

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OCTOBER 73

O.C. ARTS PREVIEW

After about 18 months without many live performances, Orange County audiences and organizations are eager to connect. Check out the whole season of events at a glance.

“We will never take what we do for granted. We are reenergized to embrace better than ever before how we bring joy, peace, and connection into people’s lives.”

—CASEY REITZ, PRESIDENT OF SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS, WHICH WILL HOST BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO DE AMALIA HERNANDEZ, BELOW

BY ANASTACIA GRENDA

102

21 GEN Z LOCALS TO WATCH

118

PEOPLE PERSON

We’ve chosen 21 Gen Zers from O.C. who represent what’s possible. This group, born in 1997 or later, includes entrepreneurial, tech-savvy, and politically progressive young people who are doing incredible things across the country and in our own backyard.

Santa Ana native Alexis Garcez is the founder and force behind Gente Market, a monthly festival that promotes the vibrant Latino culture.

O N T HE COV ER

Illustration by Andrew Hart

6 O RA NGE CO A ST • October 2021

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS

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OCTOBER 67

12 17 18 20 24 26 31 32

EDITOR’S LET TER PEOPLE & PL ACES

Limestone cliffs in Laguna Beach

’HOODS A fun day out in Laguna Hills PERFECT G E TAWAY Martha’s Vineyard is laid-back and lovely.

C U LT U R E P H I L E Barbara DeMarcoBarrett celebrates the dark side of a desert paradise.

O.C . E VENT S Halloween happenings and more this month ST YLE & HOME Pots and plants from Palm and Ninth S T Y L E TA L K WITH ...

Kyslee Greve, founder of Playground Active

8 ORA NGE CO A ST • October 2021

36

FINDS Black-and-white pieces for fall

38

ON THE MARKET A property on Balboa Island perfect for Halloween celebrations

40

ROOMS WE LOVE An at-home bar in Huntington Beach by designer Laura Brophy

61

FOOD & DRINK Poppy & Seed’s seasonal menu of share plates shines in Anaheim.

78

SPOTLIGHT Heidi Zuckerman brings fresh perspective to Orange County Museum of Art and its new building.

80

PROFILE Laguna Playhouse artistic director shares behind-the-scenes tales from a life in the theater.

86

QUOTES Laguna Beach artist pivots in pandemic.

88

ARTS EVENTS A month-by-month look at the 2021-22 season

66

THREE’S A TREND Dishes with house-fermented ingredients

INING GUIDE 134 DMany of our

67

FOOD TRENDS Four local spots for Korean corn dogs

144 PI NE TRESROENS TO F

70

MY O.C .

New doesn’t always mean better.

restaurant reviews

Owner of Sweets Party Treats and The Sweets Ranch mobile pett ing zoo

144 WEB EXT R A S

Jonathan Blackford, executive chef-owner at Fork and Knife in Costa Mesa, prepares pork rack with succotash and chile cream. orangecoast.com /cathythomas Get the latest updates on O.C.’s dining scene. orangecoast.com /food-drink Read more about what’s new at Fermentation Farm in Costa Mesa. orangecoast.com /fermfarm

@ORANGECOASTMAG

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOGRAPH BY BARRY GROSSMAN; CORN DOG PHOTOGRAPH BY BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

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EDITOR’S LETTER

M

y kids are part of Generation Z, but they had zero interest in talking to me about it (rolling their eyes when I used the vocabulary we cite on Page 114).

So I enlisted one of my favorite young people, Haley, whose mom is a dear friend. Haley’s independent spirit and wisdom has been obvious since the moment I met the Laguna Beach native when she was 4. She’s now 20 and away at college.

She generously agreed to chat about her peers and the world events that have shaped them.

How would you describe Gen Z? I feel like we are a lot more tied to tech than most others, since we’ve grown up with it. Our socializing works differently because it’s so based off social media. I think it makes it harder to connect with people. I feel like there’s kind of a social dance when you’re meeting people for the first time in person. I don’t really understand it. My own thing is I try to intentionally put my phone away when I’m hanging out with people I want to spend time with. But that’s not necessarily matched.

How did COVID-19 impact your interactions?

Throughout the entire pandemic, I think I only talked

to five people consistently. I was spending all of my time in one room with maybe two people. I completely forgot how to have a conversation unless it was with them! It’s strange thinking about going back to in-person classes. The common experiences you would normally talk about, it feels like a lot of that has gone away.

Is there a defining characteristic for this group?

I feel like more than anything, we’re very self-conscious.

I think we’re more nervous to participate or speak our mind or put ourselves out there. I noticed it while we were on Zoom classes—there was a lot of dead silence when someone was asked to participate. I think we’re nervous to go out of our own circle.

Do you agree with traits ascribed to Gen Z? I think we’re very creative and entrepreneurial. (We’re also) very active politically and focused on environmental action. (Seeing) the environmental downfall, I think it’s pushed us to fight faster for change.

What famous person epitomizes the age group to you?

Greta Thunberg made a huge impression and a huge difference. I’ve seen a lot of people on TikTok or YouTube I agree with. There’s a Twitch streamer named Hasan Piker: He does 10 hours of streaming about political news. It’s a great education about politics in an engaging way that gets a lot more viewers from our generation.

Amen to that! The passion and promise of more O.C. young people is evident in our Gen Z story (Page 102).

MS. AL AN GIBBONS

E D I T O R-I N- C H I E F

A G I B B O N S @ O R A N G E C O A S T.C O M

OC ARTS PREVIEW Live performances are back!

Plenty has changed, but the joy is the same. See a list of events for the entire season.

Orange County Museum of Art has an impressive new director to go with its stunning new building; she’s perfect for this moment.

Meet Laguna Playhouse’s artistic director as she shares insights from a storied career in theater.

Bravo for the inclusivity displayed by Irvine Barclay Theatre’s online site. When you order tickets, choose from many (65!) options for titles: Countess anyone?

SPECIAL SECTION STARTS AT PAGE 72.

12 ORA NGE CO A ST • October 2021

illustration by M A R T H A N A P I E R

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14 ORA NGE CO AST • October 2021

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DISCOVER

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PEOPLE

PLACES

IN PL AIN SIGHT  T H E S C E N E Limestone cliffs in Laguna Beach  G E T T I N G T H E R E Head to Thousand Steps Beach and turn right at the bottom of the stairs.  E X P L O R E R C R E D I T Carol Encarnacion @kerrolina  B E H I N D T H E S H O T “I’ve seen photos of this shoreline before (particularly the sea cave), but these huge limestone cliffs were definitely a delightful surprise. The color and pattern reminded me so much of a slice of mocha cake, and the grand, lavish houses on top sit like icing on the cake!”

33°29'55.5"N 117°44'34.9"W

October 2021 • OR A NGE C OAST 17

PEOPLE

PLACES ’ H O O D S

P I C K-M E-U P S

New and old favorites along Alicia Parkway provide a fun day out in LAGUNA HILLS. by Robin Jones

Ú G O O D TO KN OW

Feed the family or grab lunch for yourself; meal boxes at Porchbox are available in one or four portions.

P O RCH B OX

H A FE Z C A FE

N U CLE A R COMI C S

KOMI CO FFE E

Opened over the summer, this takeout spot offers the perfect picnic food: an entree and three side dishes, all pleasingly packaged in a brown paper box ($14 to $15). Everything is made from scratch with fresh ingredients, including the pulled pork, roast chicken, quiches, potpies, mac and cheese, green salads, and seasonal fruit salads. Boxes are customizable, with glutenfree and vegetarian options.

Traditional Persian food dominates the menu here. The large dining room, with TVs on the wall tuned to soccer games, is nothing fancy. But the food provides plenty of color, including the shirazi salad (diced cucumber, onions, and tomatoes, $6) and the skewers of ground beef, chicken breast, or beef filet served with basmati rice and grilled tomatoes ($12 to $23). The house-made flatbread and hot tea are gratis. 24781 ALICIA PARKWAY,

A local favorite since 1994, this shop is known for its friendly, knowledgeable staff, who can provide recommendations for comic book newbies and collectors alike. The comics, graphic novels, and back issues are nicely organized in easy-to-browse displays, and collectibles such as trading cards and action figures perch on shelves and bookcases.

Check Instagram for updates on new merchandise and special events. 24741 ALICIA PARKWAY,

Sunlight streams through big windows at this modern cafe, which offers a full slate of coffee and tea drinks. Choose among espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes, or opt for iced fruit tea, green tea or milk tea with boba, pudding, or jelly.

Favorites include the pretty rainbow chia tea ($4.50), blue on top and reddish orange at the bottom; and the Milky Way cold brew coffee with a twist of lemon ($4.25). 25401

LAGUNA HILLS, 949-600-9544

LAGUNA HILLS, 949-581-1566

25616 ALICIA PARKWAY, LAGUNA HILLS, 949-446-9083

18 ORA NGE C O AST • October 2021

ALICIA PARKWAY, 949-215-1799

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

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PEOPLE

PLACES

P E R F E C T

G E T A W A Y

M A R TH A’ S V I N E YA R D

Laid-back and lovely, bustling yet bucolic, this island offers plenty for everyone. by Lynette Brasfield

20 ORA NGE CO AST • October 2021

FISHY BUSINESS

Larsen’s Fish Market in Menemsha, a small fishing village, is the place to go for fresh seafood, straight from sea to boat to table (or beach blanket). Luscious lobsters, chunky chowder, and awesome oysters are among the to-go choices for a delicious sunset picnic. Scenes in “Jaws” were filmed at this very spot.

Check out funky stores, including cedar-shingled Beetlebung, featuring island-inspired graphics by local artists. The town’s quaint bike ferry has carried many famous folks such as Bill Murray, Billy Joel, Ted Danson, and Mary Steenburgen.

A CAROUSEL AND C O T TA G E S

Visit the Flying Horses Carousel, one of the oldest in the country, which was built for Coney Island in 1876 and moved to Oak Bluffs in 1884. The brilliantly painted horses boast tails and manes of real horsehair and glass eyes that glint a welcome. After a whirl, wander nearby streets and wonder at the 300 candy-colored gingerbread houses, which

ABOVE The Harbor View Hotel overlooks a 130-year-old lighthouse.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BARRY GROSSMAN

M

artha’s Vineyard is a fun, quirky place: Until recently, alcohol could not be sold in any town that did not have an “o” in its name. But rest assured, there’s plenty of fine wining and dining to be had.

Accessible only by ferry, boat, or plane, the island’s population of 17,000 swells to more than 150,000 in the summer, with nary a stoplight in sight. Famous residents abound, including the Obamas, whom you might spot enjoying a chef’s tasting dinner at The Sweet Life Cafe in Oak Bluffs or browsing at the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore.

PEOPLE

PLACES T I P

F R O M

A

L O C A L

“The Barn and Bistro in Oak Bluffs is so wonderful that I get emotional just thinking about it— and the beers! It’s where the locals go— best menu on the island. They also have bowling.”

LEFT There are nearly 300 colorful houses like this in Oak Bluffs.

RIGHT Back Door Donuts offers amazing apple fritters and plenty of traditional doughnut options.

evolved over the years on the site, originally a Methodist campground in the 19th century. At night, paper lanterns light the streets, adding to the magic.

ARTISTRY AND HISTORY

The Field Gallery in West Tisbury features contemporary art by emerging and established artists in three galleries, but best is the large field replete with whimsical sculptures designed by its founder, Tom Maley, and others. For insight into the island’s history and its lighthouses, visit the eponymous museum in Tisbury ($18 for adults).

B R I L L I A N T B R E A K FA S T S

The Artcliff Diner in Vineyard Haven serves creative American diner food made from scratch.

You might have to wait a bit, but it’s worth it to savor your choice of coconut banana pancakes (four for $12), or spicy chicken hash with two eggs, red onion,

M AR K YOU R C ALE NDAR Created by Icon Fair from the Noun Project

and avocado ($15). Or enjoy heavenly apple fritters, the claim to fame at Back Door Donuts.

LOW KEY OR LUXURY?

The island is the perfect place for families to hang out, so consider reserving a vacation rental in residential West Tisbury or Vineyard Haven. The rich and famous stay in Edgartown at the Harbor View Hotel with a view of the iconic lighthouse. The historic 130-year-old structure is close to the town’s stately Greek revival houses, restaurants, and boutiques with attitude. It offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites and cottages ($1,000 and up) and a Presidential Skyhouse.

The Lightkeeper’s Inn, with six rooms ($300 and up), offers a great location and amenities at a more affordable rate.

HIKING FROM TREE TO SEA

Forest-bathe and meditate

as you meander 4 miles near meadows and beneath leafy canopies along John Presbury Norton Farm’s trail, ending at Blackwater Pond. Little-known Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary has several interlinked trails at the end of a 1-mile dirt road. Glimpse high-end homes through the trees and a wealth of birds as you trek toward a white-rock beach fringing the multihued ocean.

BIKING AND BEACHES

Bike 6 miles along Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, a paved trail with the Nantucket Sound on one side and the 7-acre Sengekontacket Pond on the other. It’s flat—the island’s highest peak is only 311 feet at Peak Hill in Chilmark. Enjoy rarely visited Tashmoo Beach for a family picnic. Long Point and Lucy Vincent are two of the most beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches on Martha’s Vineyard.

Oyster Fest, Oct. 1 and 2. Enjoy demonstrations, music, a five-course dinner, and learn recipes while mingling with local growers, chefs, and wine folks. A portion of the proceeds supports oyster habitat restoration. mvoysterfest.com

22 ORA NGE CO AST • October 2021

HOUSE PHOTOGRAPH BY BENJAMIN RASCOE; PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF BACK DOOR DONUTS

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PEOPLE

PLACES

C U L T U R E P H I L E

LAST RESORT

Corona del Mar author, radio and podcast host, and writing teacher Barbara DeMarco-Barrett celebrates the dark side of a desert paradise as editor of “Palm Springs Noir.” by Valerie Takahama

P

art of the Akashic Books’ city-centered noir series, “Palm Springs Noir” includes stories

by Janet Fitch, T. Jefferson Parker, Alex Espinoza, Eric Beetner, and 10 other writers, all with a connection to Palm Springs or the surrounding desert communities. As in a great noir plot, DeMarcoBarrett’s latest literary caper started with a chance encounter, one that occurred years ago at a book festival.

How did the book come to be?

This really came out of Ú

“Orange County Noir.” I was at the L.A. Times Festival of Books in 2009, and I remember being in the green room with Susan Straight and T. Jefferson Parker.

We were standing at the buffet table, and Susan said, “Barbara, you should talk to Gary Phillips because he’s putting together this anthology; maybe you have a piece for it.” I later talked to Gary, and he was like, “Yeah, it’s a noir anthology, and you can have Costa Mesa.” I had never written noir fiction before but I said, what the heck. That story came out, and then it was chosen for the “best of,” the “USA Noir” that Akashic put out in 2013. Around that time, I started going to the desert a lot. I started holding writers retreats out there. Every summer, I would rent a house.

But before I would sign a lease, I would look up the Palm Springs crime log to make sure the neighborhood was safe, and where the trouble was. I grew to love noir more and more, and I put a proposal together for a desert anthology.

24 ORA NGE CO AST • October 2021

Why is Palm Springs a good locale for noir fiction?

What’s interesting to me Ú about Palm Springs is it’s such a sunny, relaxing place.

It’s one of my favorite places ever to go to. You go to the market and there’s all these people with their six-packs and sodas, but then there’s a lot of homelessness out there. That provides an interesting contrast.

Are you a noir person? Is there such a thing? Ú Of all the mystery subgenres, I think it’s mine. I’ve never been into cozies. Noir is a little more realistic to me. My mother-inlaw says noir is like life: Things go from bad to worse. It has characters who want to do better but just keep falling into the same patterns. I think we can all relate to that. A therapist once told me that everbody has a dark side. Noir is that dark side, except most of us choose the high road if we can. But noir characters keep making the same mistakes.

They think, this time, it’s going to be different. I have empathy for them.

What else distinguishes noir fiction?

It’s the tone. It’s word choice, Ú attitude. When you look at all the genres, it’s tone. Is it breezy?

Is it going to be cozy with a neighborhood where somebody found a dead body in the garden

and maybe it’s a little amusing?

With noir, there are tropes: sex, greed, and murder. Jeff Parker’s story (“Specters”) doesn’t have any of them, but it has the tone.

It’s like what they say about pornography—you know it when you see it.

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

A D VER TISEMEN T

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Teryn Clarke, MD and Ivar E. Roth, DPM/MPH

NEWPORT BEACH DOCTOR DISCOVERS A MEDICAL ADVANCE FOR CURING CHRONIC PAIN

PAINCUR™

The pain in Jeff Goffman’s injured thumb was so debilitating, he had planned to have surgery.

William Manrow had eight back surgeries but still complained of sciatica and uncomfortable stiffness in his legs.

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The treatment, trademarked as PAINCUR™ entails several injections of an FDA approved drug into the exactly pinpointed base of the nerve. Alleviation of pain is almost immediate and long lasting or permanent, according to patient testimonials.

Part acupuncture, derived from wisdom of the ages, part state-of-the-art medical technology, using an advanced drug, and part intuitive medical knowledge, derived from Dr. Roth’s vast experience and expertise in his specialty field, this new treatment is viewed as a revolutionary and long awaited alternative to other forms of pain mitigation that can be addictive, invasive or cause unwanted side effects.

Dr. Roth explains the methodology of this newly developed protocol, saying, “There is a neurological connection that exists between the foot and other parts of the body, including the knee, hip, back and sciatic region. The same neurological connection also exists between the hand and upper body parts. By applying treatment to the nerve endings in the hand, we have been able to remediate pain in the shoulders, neck and even the hand itself."

Jeff Goffman, a recent patient, claims his chronic thumb pain was remediated immediately upon treatment. “I tried everything, including PRP, months of rehab, and consultations with an orthopedic surgeon. The pain was so debilitating, I was ready to try surgery,” he says.

“After the first treatment, it was like the pain had never even existed.”

“My pain was so severe that I could not sit for more than a few minutes,” says Manrow, who, after treatment, got much welcome relief from his debilitating discomfort. “The improvement of my condition is remarkable.”

With the efficacy of the treatment proven over and over again, Dr. Roth reached out to his trusted colleague and respected Newport Beach neurologist, Dr. Teryn Clarke, who immediately recognized the value of this protocol and has since joined Dr. Roth to administer this effective method of pain alleviation to her patients.

DR. IVAR ROTH

So far, 100 percent of Dr. Roth’s patients claimed to have their pain significantly diminished or totally remediated after completion of the PAINCUR™ protocol. “I knew this had the potential to cure pain but even I was surprised that it has been successful on every single patient I have injected,” says Dr. Roth, whose office staff has extensively interviewed each patient to determine the treatment’s efficacy.

Relieving pain with the PAINCUR™ method is the first step of treatment for many of Dr. Roth’s patients. A very important aspect of this treatment is to also take care of the underlying cause of pain, according to Dr. Roth.

“Foot, leg, knee, hip and back pain is typically rooted in improper function of the foot,” explains Dr. Roth, who has developed a unique orthotic to correct the gait and improve posture.

“When the foot positioning is corrected, the hip sinks back into its socket and the back straightens out. This restored alignment remediates the stress that otherwise inflicts the foot, joints, leg and back.

As a foot specialist I have worked with so many patients seeking to restore the quality of life that comes with pain free mobility. Being able to offer a revolutionary and highly sophisticated treatment option that works is truly gratifying.”

If you are suffering from pain call Dr. Roth’s office to schedule a free consultation and complimentary initial first test shot.

Patient testimonials available to view on YouTube: PainCur. Dr. Ivar E. Roth DPM/MPH Concierge Podiatry and Spa 495 Old Newport Boulevard, Suite 300 Newport Beach, CA 92663 949-647-4904 | www.paincur.net

• Highly accredited and trained in foot and ankle surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital of Chicago with world-renowned podiatrist Dr. Lowell Scott Weil Sr. • Founding Chairman of Podiatric Surgery at Hoag Hospital of Newport Beach.

• First podiatrist awarded full orthopedic privileges for foot and ankle surgery at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach.

PEOPLE

PLACES

OCT. 8 ZL ATOMIR FUNG, CELLO

Fung, who started playing the cello at age 3 and studies at the Juilliard School, was the youngest musician and first American in 40 years to win the International Tchaikovsky Competition’s cello division. He’ll play selections from Mendelssohn and Bartók, among other composers. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-5532422, philharmonicsociety.org

of a Lifetime Talent Search, but a love triangle threatens to tear them apart. It features several hits of the 1960s, including “Unchained Melody,” “I Only Have Eyes for You,” “Tears on My Pillow,” and “Duke of Earl.” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-497-2787, lagunaplayhouse.com

DON’T MISS IN OCTOBER

Halloween happenings and more by Robin Jones OCT. 1

PAT METHENY SIDE-EYE WITH JAMES FRANCIES & JOE DYSON

The jazz guitarist with 20 Grammy Awards has played with everyone from Herbie Hancock to David Bowie. He’ll perform with two rising stars—keyboardist Francies and drummer Dyson. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org OPENS OCT. 2 “A SHOT RANG OUT”

The world premiere of this one-man show by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg was written for South Coast Repertory’s artistic director, David Ivers. In it, an actor returns to the stage alone after a long period of isolation and reflects on his mistakes and moments of joy.

South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-5555, scr.org OCT. 9 AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN

Singer and pianist Feinstein is known for his interpretations of the Great American Songbook.

26 O RA NGE CO A ST • October 2021

He has been nominated for five Grammys and has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House, and for world leaders at the White House and Buckingham Palace. Expect to hear the music of composers such as Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, and Duke Ellington. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org OCT. 10 AURYN STRING QUARTET

The musicians who founded the Auryn Quartet—Matthias Lingenfelder, Jens Oppermann, Stewart Eaton, and Andreas Arndt—have been together for 40 years. Before they retire at the end of 2021, they’re touring one last time. With pianist Armen Guzelimian and baritone Benjamin Howard, they’ll perform several compositions from Joseph Haydn.

Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org OCT. 13 THROUGH 31 “SH-BOOM! LIFE COULD BE A DREAM”

In this jukebox musical, a group of boys form a doo-wop quartet to audition for the Dream

OCT. 14 THROUGH 16 BEETHOVEN’S “EROICA”

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, known as “Eroica,” was said to be so influential that it changed classical music. Pacific Symphony will play the piece, along with the world premiere of L.A. composer Frank Ticheli’s “All the World’s a Stage” and Tchaikovsky’s cello concerto “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” with cellist Gabriel Martins, winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild/Young Classical Artists Trust Grand Prize. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org OCT. 16 BALLETX

The innovative ballet company from Philadelphia celebrates its 15th anniversary.

Known for commissioning new works that showcase inventive and creative young choreographers, the troupe has performed in venues across the country, including the Kennedy Center, the Joyce Theater, and Jacob’s Pillow.

Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org OCT. 16 GEORGE LOPEZ

The comedian and actor makes a stop in Orange County on his OMG Hi! Comedy Tour.

In addition to his eponymous sitcom, Lopez has also appeared in several films and has three Grammy Award nominations for Best Comedy Album. His Netflix comedy special, “We’ll Do It for Half,” premiered in June 2020. Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-7042500, hondacenter.com

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIET Y

E V E N T S

EVERYONE PLAYS A PART

PEOPLE

PLACES

OCT. 16

OCT. 21 THROUGH 23

BACKHAUSDANCE: “GARDEN FLOW”

MEGAN HILT Y

Sherman Library & Gardens commissioned the contemporary dance troupe to create this site-specific piece, which was inspired by a residency at the gardens. Visitors can watch dancers rehearse in the week before the two Saturday performances. Sherman Library & Gardens, 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, 949-673-2261, thesherman.org

Hilty, a Broadway superstar, originated the role of Doralee in the musical “9 to 5” and played Glinda in “Wicked” on Broadway and in the touring company. She also starred in the NBC musical drama “Smash” and was nominated for Tony and Drama Desk awards for her performance in “Noises Off.” She’ll sing an array of show tunes and standards. Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

OCT. 21 THROUGH 28 NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL

The event marks its 22nd anniversary with a collection of studio and independent movies this year after a virtual event last year. Check the website for program updates or to buy tickets, which go on sale starting Oct. 1. Newport Beach Film Festival, Newport Beach, 949-2532880, newportbeachfilmfest.com OCT. 21 AKI KUMAR: BOLLYWOOD BLUES

Three jazz legends join forces. Reeves, winner of five Grammy Awards, provides the vocals, while Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Valdés—a six-time Grammy and threetime Latin Grammy winner—accompanies her, along with groundbreaking saxophonist Lovano. Reneé and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org OCT. 23 NATE BARGATZE: THE RAINCHECK TOUR

Bargatze rose to fame with his first stand-up comedy special on Netflix, “The Tennessee Kid.” Since then, he has released a second special, “The Greatest Average American,” as well

THROUGH OCT. 24 “YELLOWMAN”

A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in drama in 2002, this play follows Alma, a dark-skinned African American woman, and Eugene, a lightskinned African American man, as their lifelong friendship turns into a romantic relationship. They fight to overcome the challenges brought on between them and within their families due to colorism in their communities. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, 714-777-3033, chancetheater.com OPENS OCT. 28 “L AND AS KIN”

In collaboration with Cal State Fullerton’s Department of Visual Arts, this exhibit features photos, paintings, maps, flags, beadwork, and ceramics created by multigenerational Native California families. The show was guest-curated by Amy Redfeather, and artists include Gerald Clarke, Katie Dorame, Mercedes Dorame, River Garza, and Tracy Nelson. Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, 714-738-6595, themuck.org

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SHERMAN LIBRARY & GARDENS

Kumar, who originally moved to the U.S. from Mumbai to work as a software engineer, shifted his focus to music soon after he discovered the blues. He writes and performs songs that blend the soulful genre with Indian music.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-4982139, casaromantica.org

OCT. 22 DUETS: DIANNE REEVES, CHUCHO VALDÉS, AND JOE LOVANO

as a weekly podcast, “Nateland.” He’ll do two shows in this engagement: one at 7 p.m. and another at 9:30 p.m. City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714712-2700, citynationalgroveofanaheim.com

28 ORA NGE C O AST • October 2021

PEOPLE

songwriter and bestselling artist Browne will join him. Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-704-2500, hondacenter.com

O C T . 2 9 A N D 3 0 CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

This family-friendly event marks the spooky season by celebrating the nocturnal birds and bugs that visit the gardens after dark, including owls, hawks, and scorpions. Entertainment and educational activities will be available for all ages. Sherman Library & Gardens, 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, 949673-2261, thesherman.org

OCT. 28 DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

Two of Southern California’s best-known troupes—Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles—will perform together to commemorate the Day of the Dead at this annual festival. Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, 714-738-6595, themuck.org OCT. 29 AND 30 BOO HA HA: A HAUNTED OKTOBERFEST

will also be available, and costumes are encouraged. OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-1500, theboohaha.com OCT. 30 JAMES TAYLOR WITH JACKSON BROWNE

Folk singer-songwriter Taylor, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, has sold more than 100 million albums since 1968, has won multiple Grammy Awards, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Fellow singer-

Organized by Brew Ha Ha Productions, this Halloween-themed beer tasting will feature several Oktoberfest and German-style lagers, along with brews from some of the most popular West Coast breweries. Food and live music

PLACES

THROUGH OCT. 31 57TH ANNUAL OPEN JURIED ART COMPETITION

Artists across Southern California submit their work for this annual contest held by the Anaheim Art Association. The winners in acrylic painting, drawing and pastel artwork, mixedmedia art, watercolor, oil painting, and photography will be shown. Muzeo, 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714-956-8936, muzeo.org THROUGH OCT. 31 “LEGEND: 200 YEARS OF SLEEPY HOLLOW”

Curated by Cal State Fullerton graduate student Clark Silva, this exhibit puts the spotlight on the classic short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Artifacts from the publishing and film industries, collectibles, and artwork created specifically for this exhibition will explore the origins and influence of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Muzeo, 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714-956-8936, muzeo.org

FIND O UT T HE L INEUP FO R T HE SEA SO N

For events from now through June, see Page 88 and the OC Arts Preview section.

newports premier blowout parlor

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SHERMAN LIBRARY & GARDENS

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October 2021 • OR A NGE C OAST 29

O.C. Scene

PROMOTION

PEOPLE

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OPENINGS

ORANGE COAST’S BEST OF 2021 PARTY PRESENTED BY CADILLAC Our annual Orange Coast’s Best of 2021 Party presented by Cadillac was held at the beautiful Rancho Las Lomas in Silverado. This fully outdoor event allowed guests to explore current and past winners along with fan favorite food and drink tastings all night long. Maker’s Mark provided signature bourbon whisky cocktails in a newly added section of the party. Calidad Beer served up their Mexican-style lager and michelada mix.

Guests were able to check out the latest vehicles from Cadillac like the next generation 2021 Escalade, CT4-V, and CT5-V. Plus, capture memories in the photo booth, listen to music provided by DJ Mark Moreno and help raise funds for Alzheimer’s Association.

Special thank you to Rancho Las Lomas, 24 Carrots, Perfect Hydration, Elephant Craft Hard Seltzer, Larson Lighting and Alpha-Lit Orange County.

Congratulations to all the Best of 2021 winners!

Continued on page 35 30 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

Photos by Ron Levy Photography

STYLE

HOME

FESTIVE PL ANTING THE FIND Pots ($18 to $28) and plants ($10) from Huntington Beach's Palm and Ninth GOOD TO KNOW Owner Kat Nein offers services including office and home plant design, plant maintenance, and more, in addition to selling her assortment of plants, pots, and home decor. WHERE Palmandninth.com as well as local boutiques

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

October 2021 • O R A NGE COAST 31

STYLE

HOME S T Y L E

T A L K

W I T H . . .

P L AY G R O U N D A C T I V E The colorful activewear line is owned by a Gen Z entrepreneur. by Chelsea Raineri

K

yslee Greve, a 24-year-old Laguna Beach resident, created Playground Active hoping to bring a fashion element to activewear. But she didn’t stop there—she also incorporated sustainable and ethical elements into the brand. “I wanted to have a mission that stood deeper than the product, because the fashion space can be so wasteful,” Greve says. “I wanted to create a brand that was going to give back to people and the Earth.”

How did you come up with the idea for Playground Active?  I had the idea to create Playground when I saw a gap in the market for activewear in your everyday.

It’s really marketed to sports, but people are wearing these products to go to the grocery store, not necessarily to run a marathon. (Other activewear) products didn’t have the fun fashion element that people want in their everyday wear.

What inspires you when designing?  I really look to the everyday girl— what she’s wearing, wanting, doing, and buying. I mostly look to the ready-to-wear market and forward-thinking brands and see how I can incorporate those things into the active space to help fill out that girl’s closet, so she’s able to have the fashion trends she’s seeing with the comfort and confidence that activewear gives you.

How would you describe the style?  It’s very fun and playful. I’ve had multiple people say you can’t put on Playground and not feel happy.

I think what you put on your body is what shapes your mood, and if you’re putting on something that makes you feel and look great, it’ll stimulate a happy mindset.

What makes your brand sustainable?  All our secondary materials are recycled and compostable—the bag that the garment is in, as well as the hangtags and all paper supplies are printed using a water-based vegetable dye and made of recycled and recyclable materials. It’s the bare minimum of what you need, packaging-wise. Every order that’s

32 ORA NGE CO A ST • October 2021

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

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TruckTrucking Accident Bicycle AccidentEntity Allied OC Register • Largest jury verdict in Orange County history—$934 million in aPremier complex business litigation trial Public Settlement in OC History Allied SM Allied Trucking Trucking OC OC Register Register Public Public Entity Entity California’s Litigation Firm $28,000,000 $38,000,000 Largest Class Action SM SM$17,000,000 $28,000,000 $38,000,000 $17,000,000 California’s California’s Premier Premier Litigation Litigation Firm Firm $28,000,000 $28,000,000 $38,000,000 $38,000,000 SM • Daniel Callahan Named One of Nation’s Top Ten Trial Attorneys $17,000,000 $17,000,000 Largest Class Action Truck Accident Largest Largest Class Class Action Action Bicycle California’s Premier Litigation Firm • Taking “Bet the Company” cases toClass trial and winning—C&B recently obtained a 100% defenseAccident Settlement in●OC History Largest Action 3 Hutton Centre Drive Ninth Floor ● Santa Ana ● CA 92707 ●Named (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com Truck Accident Bicycle Accident Truck Accident Accident •Action Daniel Callahan One of Nation’s Top TenBicycle Trial Attorneys Accident Accident Largest Class • class Top 100 Southern California Super - 2010 toBicycle 2017 Truck Accident Largest Largest Class Action Action Settlement in OC History Bicycle Accident 3 Hutton 3Settlement Hutton Centre Centre Drive Drive ●securities Ninth ● Ninth Floor Floor ● Santa ●Class Santa Ana ● Ana CA ●on 92707 CA 92707 ●Truck (888) ● (888) 892-6554 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com ●Lawyers www.Callahan-law.com Settlement in OC in History OC History Settlement in OC History verdict in a action trial behalf of a major Southern California bank Truck Accident Bicycle Accident 3 Hutton Centre Drive ● Ninth Floor Santa ● CA ●Truck (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com Truck Accident Accident Bicycle Accident Accident • Ana Top 100 92707 Southern California Super Lawyers - 2010 toBicycle 2017 Settlement in OC History Settlement Settlement in ● OC in History OC History • All 30 C&B Attorneys Have at Least 10 Years Litigation Experience • All 30 C&B Attorneys Have at Least 10 Years Litigation Experience

Callahan & Blaine Callahan Callahan && Blaine Callahan &Blaine Blaine

Experience Matters - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys Experience Experience Matters Matters - 30 - 30 Senior Senior Litigation Litigation Attorneys Attorneys • Daniel Callahan Named of Nation’s Top Ten Litigation Trial Attorneys • Matters Daniel Callahan Named One ofOne Nation’s Top Ten Trial Attorneys Experience - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys California’s Premier Firm • • •

• Callahan • Daniel Daniel Callahan Callahan Named Named One One of Nation’s ofTop Nation’s Top Top Ten Ten Trial Trial Attorneys Attorneys California’s Premier Litigation Firm &Nation’s Blaine • Named Callahan Named of Nation’s Top Ten Trial Attorneys • Daniel Callahan Callahan Named One One of of Nation’s Top Ten Ten Trial Trial Attorneys Callahan & Blaine • • Daniel Daniel Callahan Named One ofOne Nation’s Top Ten Trial Attorneys • Daniel Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2010 toAttorneys 2017 Top •100 California Super Lawyers -- -2010 to 2017 • Top Top 100 100 Southern Southern California California Super Super Lawyers Lawyers - 2010 - 2010 to 2017 to 2017 •Southern Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers 2010 to 2017 SM

SM

3 Hutton Centre Drive ● Ninth Floor ● Santa Ana ● CA 92707 ● (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com

3•Hutton Centre DriveSouthern ● Ninth Floor ●30 Santa Ana ● CA 92707 ● (888) • California All C&B Attorneys Have at Least 10 Years Litigation TopTop 100 100 Southern California Super Super Lawyers Lawyers - 892-6554 2010 - 2010 to● www.Callahan-law.com 2017 to 2017Experience

• • Top California Lawyers - Litigation 2010 to 2017 • Experience • Southern All 30All C&B 30 30 C&B Attorneys Attorneys atSuper Least at Least Years 10 Years Litigation Litigation Experience Experience • All C&B Attorneys at10Least Years Litigation Experience Matters -Have 30Have Senior Litigation Attorneys All 100 30 C&B Attorneys Have atHave Least 10 10 Years Experience • All All 30 C&B 30 C&B Attorneys Attorneys Have Have at Least at Least 10 Years 10 Years Litigation Litigation Experience Experience California’s Premier Litigation Firm Experience • All 30 C&B Attorneys Have at Least 10 Years Litigation Callahan & Blaine Experience Matters 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys California’s California’s Premier Premier Litigation Litigation Firm Firm Callahan Callahan && Blaine Blaine California’s Premier Litigation Firm

Callahan & Blaine

SM

SM

SM

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Callahan & Blaine California’s California’s Premier Premier Litigation Litigation Firm Firm Firm California’s Premier Litigation Callahan Callahan && Blaine Blaine Experience -●30 Attorneys Callahan & Blaine 3 Hutton CentreExperience Drive ● Ninth Floor ●Matters Santa Ana CASenior 92707 ● Litigation (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com Experience Matters Matters - 30 - 30 Senior Senior Litigation Litigation Attorneys Attorneys 3 Hutton Centre Drive ● Ninth Floor ● Santa Ana ● CA 92707 ● (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com 3 Hutton 3 Hutton Centre Centre DriveDrive ● Ninth ● Ninth FloorFloor ● Santa ● Santa Ana ● Ana CA●92707 CA 92707 ● (888) ●California’s (888) 892-6554 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com ●Premier www.Callahan-law.com Litigation Firm SM

3 Hutton Centre Drive ● Ninth Floor ● Santa Ana ● CA 92707 ● (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com SM SM

Experience Matters - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys 3 Hutton 3 Hutton Centre Centre DriveDrive ● Ninth ● Ninth FloorFloor ● Santa ● Santa Ana ● Ana CA●92707 CA 92707 ● (888) ● (888) 892-6554 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com ● www.Callahan-law.com

SM

3 Hutton Centre Drive ● Ninth Floor ● Santa Ana ● CA 92707 ● (888) 892-6554 ● www.Callahan-law.com

Experience Matters - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys Experience Experience Matters Matters - 30 - 30 Senior Senior Litigation Litigation Attorneys Attorneys Experience Matters - 30 Senior Litigation Attorneys

STYLE

HOME anaheim ballet presents

a r c c k t er u N The

OC’s own Nutcracker with Symphony Irvine

Nov 27 | 2 & 7 p.m.

City National Grove of Anaheim

Dec 9-12 | 3 & 7 p.m.

Riverside Resort, Laughlin, NV AnaheimBallet.org/Nutcracker Eye-catching pieces from Playground Active’s line

Catch the Spirit of the Season!

Anaheim Ballet is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization

October Sale: 10% Off All Rhône Wines!

Love Syrah, Grenache, Viognier & more?

These are excellent food & Fall wines-- stock up & save!

10% off both online & in-store purchases. Limited to items on hand, no rain checks. Sale is from October 1-31,2021.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Hermitage, Côtes du Rhône & more!

Hi-Time Wine Cellars

250 Ogle Street • Costa Mesa, CA 92627 • 949.650.8463 • hitimewine.net 34 ORA NGE C O AST • October 2021

placed, we plant a tree. We partnered with Trees for the Future to help us offset our carbon emissions.

I feel that it’s so important to give back to this Earth that has provided us so much.

How is your brand ethically made?  When I was picking my supplier, it was very important to me that the people manufacturing my clothes were treated fairly. Our factories in China are owned by an Australian company, and their entire labor force and staff is very well paid. Their labor standards fit so many codes. At the end of the day, to me the most important thing is the quality of life of my workers.

What do you want other Gen Z women to know?  I funded my whole business with (money) that I saved through college and COVID-19. I had this idea, quit my day job, and I’ve really loved every minute of it. It’s just so exciting to own a small business; every time I make a sale, I get a notification on my phone and I celebrate every single one. I just want to (encourage) other women to go out and follow their dreams. playgroundactive.com

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

O.C. Scene

PROMOTION

PEOPLE

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PA R T I E S

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EVENTS

|

OPENINGS

Continued from page 30 Food & Drink Participants Benchmark Blinking Owl Distillery Calidad Beer Chato’s Bar & Grill El Mercado Modern Cuisine Elephant Craft Hard Seltzer Hula Girls Shave Ice Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen Kitchen 1726 La Casa del Camino (Rooftop Lounge & Comedor) Lox Dining Maker’s Mark Morning Lavender Oak Laguna Beach Perfect Hydration Puesto Rich Elixirs Strong Water Anaheim Teofilio Coffee Company Toast Kitchen & Bakery Twenty Eight Restaurant and Bar Uroko Café Visit orangecoast.com for party pictures and more events!

Photos by Ron Levy Photography

October 2021 • Or a nge Coast 35

STYLE

HOME 1

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3 F I N D S

IN BLACK AND WHITE Don these two-toned pieces for fall. by Chelsea Raineri

Local Find!

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EF Collection 14K rose gold, white-and-black diamond huggie earring, $298, Saks Fifth Avenue, South Coast Plaza, 714-540-3233

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Tweed blazer, $7,550, skirt, $4350, and boots, $2,425, Chanel, South Coast Plaza, 714-754-7455

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36 ORA NGE CO A ST • October 2021

Balmain sailor stripe short-sleeved sweater, $1,195, Intermix, South Coast Plaza, 714-754-7895

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Out of Office bag, $46, Style Society, Costa Mesa, 949-791-8937

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The Row Constance thong sandal, $850, Nordstrom, South Coast Plaza, 714-549-8300

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Darma highwaisted miniskirt, $225, Alice + Olivia, Fashion Island, 949-269-3644

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International Award-Winning Author

Connie Spenuzza, MSEd. “Unusually rich in imagery, history, and spirituality. Spenuzza’s prose reflects her emotional connections with those who walked the earth in bygone centuries. Unique, mesmerizing, loaded with esoteric historical tidbits.”

—KIRKUS REVIEWS

“Joyously refreshing … poetry in motion.”

—US REVIEW OF BOOKS

“Inspiring and fascinating.”

—FOREWORD REVIEWS

AVAILABLE AT ALL BOOK SELLERS

www.ConnieSpenuzza.com

STYLE

HOME O N

T H E

M A R K E T

BALBOA HALLOWEEN

$3.5 million

Newport Beach

WISDOM

Tim Bodenhoefer’s family has owned Balboa Candy for 17 years. He shares memories of Halloween on the island.

FROM

a candy store owner

UNIQUE CANDIES …

If people want to decorate their homes or are having parties, they’ll come to us to get the cool-looking stuff that you can’t really find anywhere else. A lot of times people will get gummy eyeballs, brains, vampire teeth— those things usually sell the fastest. On Halloween, we hand out free candy to kids on the island who come by.

38 ORA NGE C O AST • October 2021

HALLOWEEN ON BALBOA …

(There are) massive amounts of families walking around and having a great time. Everybody travels there to spend their Halloween. (Homeowners) give out great candy; a lot of houses down there give out full-size candy bars. Word travels, so everybody around Orange County comes down to the island. It’s just a great Halloween atmosphere.

BEST PART OF OWNING A CANDY SHOP …

It’s great to see everybody come in, and it’s really hard not to see a smile. You have kids who are seeing certain candies for the first time, and you have adults who say, “Oh my goodness, I haven’t seen this in forever.” It brings them back to (childhood) memories. Seeing the joy that it brings—that’s the great part.

P R O P E R T Y P H O T O G R A P H S B Y L I N O VA P H O T O G R A P H Y, I N C .; H E A D S H O T C O U R T E S Y O F B A L B O A C A N D Y

 2,150 square feet  3 bedrooms  3 bathrooms This home has an elevator that leads to the main bedroom.  Of note: Enjoy Halloween on Balboa Island with homes going all in on decorations, which makes trick-or-treating here unforgettable. 127 Amethyst Ave.  Bernadette Whelan, 949-280-6852, and Penny Pattillo, 949-632-2252

STYLE

HOME R O O M S

W E

L O V E

SETTING THE BAR

Newport Beach-based interior designer creates an at-home bar with black accents. by Chelsea Raineri

W

hen interior designer Laura Brophy entered a mostly empty room in this Huntington Beach home, she and the owners came up with a plan to create space for entertaining guests. This room became a modern, beach-

style bar that highlights pieces from the couple’s travels around the globe, including the skull that takes center stage. “We didn’t want to go all brand-new, on-trend pieces,” Brophy says. “We wanted to create more of a unique vibe that really reflected the family.”

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3

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LAMP “The husband is a retired firefighter. We took his vintage fire extinguisher and turned it into a lamp,” Brophy says.

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CABINETS “The color makes it more moody; it’s timeless.”

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40 ORA NGE C O AST • October 2021

WINDOWS “We changed out all the windows in the home. It makes such a difference.”

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BACKSPL A SH “(The wood) really finishes off the space and makes it look more designed.”

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LIGHT FIXTURES “These add another element to the space that’s interesting and tells a story.”

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PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM HIRSCHMANN

2

Follow Us! Tips on the best O.C. dining, shopping, events and more.

@orangecoastmag More info: orangecoast.com

g ae tanoi nc . c om 714.536.6942 CUSTOM INSTALLATION & REFINISHING FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1955

Photography credit: Darlene Halaby

S P O N S O R E D CONT E NT

Industry Expert Q&A: PG. 44 Trends: PGS. 46-58 Photo: South Coast Collection (SOCO) | SOCOANDTHEOCMIX.com

October 2021 • Or a ng e Coast 43

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INDUSTRY EXPERT Q&A

INSIDE THE MIND OF DESIGN with Melanie Andrews

Q What makes The New Home Company stand out among other luxury home builders?

A

At The New Home Company we live by our credo, comprised of several key pillars that define who we are as a leading home builder – A better experience, a better home, a better life. We approach the homes we build as individual works of art, each created with the customer in mind. We are recognized as the nation’s most awarded builder for customer satisfaction, and our best-in-class quality consistently exceeds industry construction standards. We partner with leading architects and design firms, winning over 300 awards in the past 8 years for architectural excellence. Our onsite Design Studios allow for personalization in every home, with an esteemed design professional guiding our buyers every step of the way.

Q Why is the kitchen one of the most important spaces in the home and how does the kitchen influence potential luxury homebuyers?

Melanie Andrews | Vice President Purchasing

A

The New Home Company

The kitchen is probably the most utilized space in the home and serves as the epicenter for the household. It is the heart of the home not only to have a space that is inspiring to prepare and cook in, but also to entertain and create lasting memories.

Q What are the key design elements in your kitchens?

A

As the VP of Purchasing, Melanie has been an integral part of The New Home Company since its inception in 2009. We sat down with her to discuss luxury home trends and why the kitchen plays such an important role in home design.

Q Why did The New Home Company choose Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove as the standard appliance package for your homebuyers in your luxury new home communities?

A

(657) 269-5874 subzero-wolf.com/west 44 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

We believe in including premium products in all our homes. At our luxury new home communities, we offer Sub Zero, Wolf, and Cove because of the character, dependability, and exceptional quality of the products

Q Are recognizable brands important to your luxury homebuyer?

A

SHOWROOM 655 Anton Boulevard Costa Mesa, CA 92626

It’s important for the layout of the kitchen to feel open. High-end luxury appliances that have smart technology are becoming essential to homebuyers, so we make them available in many of our homes. Spaces that allow for customization to include features such as a wall of wine unit, multiple dishwashers, or appliances completely integrated into cabinets are key to our kitchens.

Recognizable brands are important to our homebuyers. They create a sense of confidence with our buyers that every aspect of the purchase has been considered. We provide brands we believe are top in quality and that we can stand behind as a builder well beyond the close of escrow.

Q How important is technology in the kitchen to your homebuyer and what role should it play?

A

Technology is increasingly becoming a critical part of every aspect of the home. Connected appliances that help simplify or enhance the cooking experience is expected in new homes, so we stay at the forefront of what we offer in this regard.

WESTMINSTER TEAK L U X U R Y

T E A K

F U R N I T U R E

Outdoors ... at home, anywhere.

Odyssey Folding Chair & Ottoman/Tray

LONG AFTER TRENDS ARE FORGOTTEN

DEALER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

844.446.000

www.teakfurniture.com/oc

BUILT TO CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS WITH PREMIUM QUALITY TEAK FROM RENEWABLE PLANTATIONS

Use Promo Code OC2021 for additional 5% savings

VISIT OUR NEW SHOWROOM IN ANAHEIM, CA

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TRENDS 1

Westminster Teak

Surf's Up Clean lines, welcoming curves, and the organic feel to the touch of its smooth rounded edges give the Surf Folding Collection its immediate appeal. First impressions hardly reveal that the exceptionally comfortable chair (needs no cushions!) folds effortlessly. Though visually robust and generously scaled, it is relatively lightweight yet structurally strong given its solid teak stature, allowing this chair to endure the test of time and the outdoors. With a graceful stance and statuesque silhouette, the Surf Collection will fit beautifully anywhere: on a superyacht, at a dining table, on a sun-drenched terrace, or extra seating when needed... wherever, whenever.

844.446.0001 westminsterteak.com

customhardware.net

949-859-6073 | 32 TESLA, IRVINE, CA 92618 46 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

949-859-6073

32 Tesla Irvine, CA 92618 www.customhardware.net

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TRENDS 2

Creo

Creo Outdoor Sconce Inspired by nature and designed to withstand the elements, local ceramic artists handcrafted the Creo in Laguna Beach. This new sconce from Cerno embraces the unglazed terracotta, celebrating the clay's natural red earth tones.

The versatile form works well in modern outdoor and indoor environments as well as in more transitional spaces.

949.715.1534 cernogroup.com

3

Superior Tree Cares

Sheltering Shade Mature trees add greatly to the beauty of your property, giving it solid character and quiet charm. When it comes to the health and beauty of your trees, call on a company you can trust.

714.502.0226 superiortreecare.net

Bronwyn Gorman Owner | Interior Designer

We Make Homes Beautiful It’s in our attention to detail and customization that we can truly make a difference, as we can offer options and resources to create a room like no other, one that is uniquely you.

(949) 755-2032 • bronwyngorman.decoratingden.com

48 Ora nge C o ast • October 2021

I N S P I R E D D E S I G N E D

A N D

BY

M A D E

N AT U R E I N

C A L I F O R N I A

Valeo floor

Explore our line of artisan lighting. cernocurated.com

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TRENDS 4

VERGOLA

The VERGOLA® opening and closing roof system gives you control over your environment. With smart rain sensor technology and double skin aerofoil louvers for better insulation, the VERGOLA® lets you relax or entertain outdoors, rain or shine.

855.949.8374 vergola.com

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Chic Italian Design

The beautiful Italian kitchen designs are much sought after due to their visual appeal and comfortable interior. Modulnova provides the possibility of building your environment with extreme flexibility and originality with monolithic blocks, full-height doors, integrations with sliding unit and other details.

201.281.6316 chicdesigngroupco.com

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Cantoni

Kayak Sideboard

by Cattelan Italia The sculptural doors of the Kayak Sideboard reflect light and create unique shapes and shadows that give it a different look from every angle. Impossible to ignore, it's the perfect statement piece in any room in your home that needs storage and a focal point. Made in Italy.

949.585.9191 cantoni.com

50 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

MILAN SERIES EUROPEAN KITCHEN CABINETS

+ COLORS 100

CUSTOM ORDER

4-5 WEEK LEAD TIME

ROJO

GRIS PLOMO

BASALTO

AZUL INDIGO

BLACK

COBALTO PEARL EFFECT

CUZCO COPPER

LK98 ROVERE MATRIX

LK55 PALISSANDRO MATRIX

LM69 CITY OAK - MATRIX

LN30 VINEYARD OAK - MATRIX

LN26 RUSTIC OAK - MATRIX

LR17 BAGNOLA SABLE

LR18 FIASCHERINO SABLÉ

S134 PRAGA ESPERA

TEXTIL ORO

GUAYAN

OLIVO

ROBLE FRAPPE

LASER BLANCO

SUPERMATT AGUA MARINA

SUPERMATT AZUL INDIGO

ORIENTAL BLACK

ORIENTAL WHITE

SUPERMATT ANTRACITA

SUPERMATT BLACK

METAL DECO ANTRACITA SM

METAL DECO BASALTO SM

NATURAL OAK BEAMWOOD

SMOKED OAK BEAMWOOD

BURNED WOOD

OCEAN SCHOKO

OCEAN WALNUT

Why Pay More? See It, Buy It, Take It Home Today!

48 YEARS IN BUSINESS

BUILDERS SURPLUS 1-888-299-1261 www.BuildersSurplus.Net KITCHEN & BATH CABINETS

1800 East Dyer Rd Santa Ana, CA 92705 Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 AM - 6 PM Closed Sunday & Monday

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TRENDS 7

Pacific Shore Stones

Green is the new grey!

Green introduces us to a colorful and happy ambiance with a sense of calm and tranquility. The space feels alive and brings the outside in. Most darker tones such as forest and olive green are the trend. Also moss and taupe green are perfect for a more toned-down feel.

949.536.5055 pacificshorestones.com

8

California Closets

A system the whole family can enjoy This classic built-out display case in Cashmere is perfect for showcasing your favorite books, sentimental items, and add some functionality to your empty wall space.

714.899.4905 californiaclosets.com

Creating spaces for better living.

c h i c d e s i g ng r o up c o. c o m 201.281.6316 | 657.232.0001 STONEMILL DESIGN CENTER: 2915 RED HILL AVE STE F106, COSTA MESA CA 92626

52 Ora nge C o ast • October 2021

With over 20 years of experience and a true passion for kitchen design, Chic Design Group has the tools and skills to create your dream kitchen. Formed by a love of history, Chic Design Group offers beautiful Italian kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, walking closets, and interior doors. Beautifying homes since 2000 Please call us for an appointment and come check out our beautiful, newly renovated showroom!

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TRENDS 9

Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove

Discover induction: the innovative cooking technology that has rightfully gained popularity in professional and home kitchens alike. This sleek range provides efficiency, control, and consistency atop Dual VertiCross convection electric oven with Gourmet Mode. Available in 30" and 36" widths. Make a showroom appointment to see it at the Costa Mesa showroom.

Showroom: 657.269.5874 subzerosocal.com/costamesa

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PIRCH

Want a unique and creative wall décor solution? We now offer M|R Walls. Mario Romano creates the most beautiful 3D textured surfaces in the world. M|R Walls offers an exclusive line of non-repeating designs of any size, infinitely customizable, and installed with a patented process that conceals the seams between panels. It can be back lit and used outdoors with water features. See it on our website and on display in our Costa Mesa showroom.

Costa Mesa – 949.429.0800 Glendale – 818.743.9999 San Diego – 858.966.3600 Rancho Mirage – 760.646.8220 Solana Beach – 858-966-3655 Coming soon to Mission Viejo!

Pirch.com

11

The Folding Door

From your imagination to installation, The Folding Door Store can make your dream home a reality. With over 30 years of construction experience, the owner, Brad Kinder, and his team of design consultants are the best choice to help you seamlessly bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home.

949.333.3711 TheFoldingDoorStore.com

54 Ora nge C o ast • October 2021

FOLDING AND SLIDING PATIO DOORS It’s what your neighbors doing

The largest display of folding doors in California!

Carrying the only fully integrated door system with screens and shades built by

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP

• • • • •

Point of Sales Plans and Permits Engineering Construction Installation

WE DO IT ALL! Call for a FREE ESTIMATE 949-333-3711 TheFoldingDoorStore.com Visit our showroom today!

1350 Reynolds Ave., Ste 117 | Irvine, CA 92614

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TRENDS 12

Bazaar del Mundo shops

Overflowing with treasures and women’s fashions from around the globe, you’ll find one-of-a-kind handcrafted folk art, colorful home and garden accessories, artisan jewelry, unique collectibles, and so much more at the always vibrant Bazaar del Mundo Shops.

Celebrating 50 years in business in San Diego, owneroperator Diane Powers has created and continues to curate an international shopping destination beloved by residents across southern California, the Southwest, and beyond. Experience the true spirit of shopping as you travel around the world at Diane Powers’ Bazaar del Mundo Shops in Old Town San Diego.

619-296-3161 bazaardelmundoshops.com

13

SOCO and the OC Mix

DESIGN OFFERINGS: Bang & Olufsen | BoConcept | Brown Jordan | C.S. Wo & Sons | Calligaris OC | Design Within Reach | Famosa | Farrow & Ball | Hay Design | La-Z-Boy | Lightopia | Ligne Roset/Scavolini | Local Fare Sauces & Such | Modani | Natuzzi Italia | Nest Bedding | PIRCH | Rejuvenation | Robert Westley | Roche Bobois | Room & Board | Roomscapes | Stark Home | TFS Natural Home | The Shade Store | The Sliding Door Company | Timothy Oulton 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 socoandtheocmix.com

14

B&C Custom Hardware and Bath

Toto’s Neorest NX2 toilet incorporates a bacterianeutralizing ultraviolet light and a titanium dioxide-fired toilet bowl, This extraordinary technology initiates a photocatalytic process that breaks down even microscopic waste particles. TOTO has developed the world’s first zero-gravity bathtub in which bathers experience total weightlessness. Zero Dimension is an extraordinarily calming, tension-free bathing experience, Zero Dimension tub retail $19,269. Neorest NX2 toilet retail $13,000.

949.859.6073 customhardware.net 56 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

LOUVERS OPEN AND CLOSE

OUTDOOR LIVING FOR ALL SEASONS. The award-winning VERGOLA® is the original and best operable louver roof system for residential or commercial application.

For over 35 years VERGOLA® has remained the number one choice for enhancing the use of your outdoor space and adding value to your home or business.

Total control of light, heat, shade and ventilation Weatherproof with automatic sensor to close during rain Custom design and configuration by inhouse specialists Installation by VERGOLA® licensed contractors Engineering and permits all organized

by VERGOLA® Full manufacturer’s warranty

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE, NO OBLIGATION IN HOME ESTIMATE. 855-WHY-VERGOLA (855-949-8374) OR 213-995-6877

Vergola_OrangeCoast_BV_FP.indd 1

Visit our purpose-built showroom 13800 Crenshaw Blvd, Hawthorne 90249 vergola.com / vergolausa CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE #1022142

24/6/21 12:28 pm

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TRENDS 15

Gaetano Hardwood Floors, Inc.

Contemporary Design with glass railing. These custom stairs are solid white oak treads and risers with a 1-1/2" square edge detail. Hand Crafted and installed by: Gaetano Hardwood Floors, Inc. 714.536.6942 gaetanoinc.com

16

Bronwyn Gorman / Decorating Den Interiors

The Accent Table Accent Tables are a design option being used more and more, replacing end tables or paired alongside a chair for guest's easy reach to set their drink, while adding charactor, beauty and functionality. Contact Bronwyn Gorman Decorating Den Interiors.

949.755.2032 bronwyngorman.decoratingden.com

17

Marvin Windows

Replacing windows and doors can seem stressful and overwhelming. There are so many styles, design features, materials, and more to choose from. That's why Marvin developed their latest window and door replacement guide.

This helpful guide will walk you through every step in the process - from identifying the signs that it's time to replace, selecting the right products and options for you, what to expect during installation, and lastly, enjoying your new windows and doors for years to come. After reading this, you'll have the confidence you need to find the right partners to work with, and the knowledge to find the perfect products for your home.

Replacementmadeeasy.com 58 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

KCET ORIGINAL

NEW SEASON

October 13

FOOD

DRINK

ICEBERG WEDGE SAL AD THE DISH Bacon, tomato, radish, and pickled red onion THE DETAILS It’s topped with Gorgonzola blue cheese and herb and shallot vinaigrette. THE PRICE $16 THE PL ACE Poppy & Seed in Anaheim TURN THE PAGE for our review.

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

October 2021 • O R A NGE COAST 61

PHOTOGRAPH BY TKTK

62 ORA NGE C O AST • October 2021

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

FOOD

M A I N

DRINK

C O U R S E

POPPY & SEED

Seasonal menu of share plates shines in Anaheim. by Gretchen Kurz

PHOTOGRAPH BY TKTK

Y

ikes, the parking lot at the Anaheim Packing House is sheer bedlam. I can see the gabled glass roof that signals Poppy & Seed, but parking the car is a cruel game of Tetris. The prize is a garden table at sunset, immersed in the calming alfresco embrace of one of this year’s most promising new independent restaurants.

Cooling cocktails bearing flowers and bubbles supply welcome relief. Until our paper straws collapse. As we wait, and wait some more for replacements, we take in the garden-like setting.

The fully fenced, near-rustic area somehow overcomes the earshot proximity to restless Anaheim Boulevard. Racks of thriving herbs and greens dot the gravelly courtyard, facing west to best absorb the setting sun.

We dither over options on the compact menu of hyper-seasonal fare, many of which are shareplate size. Everything sounds so inviting and of the moment. Sensing our indecision, the waiter suggests building dinner from four or five items ordered as we go. We start with two—a sourdough tartine and the grilled lamb meatballs.

Laden with fresh peaches, prosciutto, burrata, marcona almonds, and pineapple mint, the busy tartine tastes of summer, but I push aside toppings to better taste the superb peaches. Four skewered meatballs are tender and bite size, glistening with a sweet-sour glaze and a sprinkling of fennel pollen. They taste better than any meatball I’ve had all year. When I look for them on a subsequent visit, they’re dressed in a fennel-spiked tomato sauce and garlicky yogurt.

Chef-owner Michael Reed is a quick-change artist. Constantly swapping and revamping

dishes makes his concise menu seem larger. It can’t remain static because he’s so tightly tuned to the seasons and their subseasons.

New to O.C., Michael and Kwini Reed also own 7-year-old Poppy + Rose, a popular daytime cafe in downtown Los Angeles. The two were on-site in O.C. during every one of my three visits, clearly giving the newest Poppy their full attention.

Most dishes are versatile, working well as a light, snacky meal or in a blowout grazing dinner. Vegetable dishes often shine—rather appropriate given that the weekly farmers market convenes mere steps away. Roasted beets and ripe strawberries married with basil, yogurt, and pistachios come together in fetching fashion, highlighting the sweet-ripe berries so often served for color rather than flavor. Wild mushrooms with crisp edges play nicely with dainty English peas, barely grilled ramps (tender wild onions), bright mint, and egg yolk, all nudged by a grating of assertive pecorino. Like the afore-

350 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Anaheim 714-603-7130 5 BEST DISHES

Grilled lamb meatballs Crispy wild mushrooms Farmers market carrot Spinach cavatelli Wagyu skirt steak PRICE RANGE Share plates $10 to $23 Mains $25 to $125 Cocktails $16 FYI A chef’s table and tasting meals are slated for later this year.

LEFT Grilled lamb meatballs with glaze and fennel pollen and the farmers market carrot dish with peaches and marcona almonds RIGHT The bright, sunny setting is a perfect accompaniment to the fresh food. photographs by E M I LY J . D AV I S

October 2021 • OR A NGE COAST 63

FOOD

DRINK mentioned peaches and berries, ramps and peas are fleeting and long gone by now. Memo yourself and don’t miss them next time around. Ever-popular Brussels sprouts hang around all year, and here they’re fried, seasoned à la Caesar, showered in Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Seemingly basic spaghetti is elegant in its simplicity, al dente strands twirled in a loose, light sauce of luscious heirloom tomatoes, fresh garlic, and fragrant basil.

Satisfying spinach cavatelli with a crumbly pork ragù and pungent pecorino vanishes like that, despite arriving not hot.

Proteins shine as the changing array includes pork ribs, poultry, beef, and select seafood. House-cured okra and serrano chile light up the jerk duck leg, prepared as a confit for extra richness.

Reed’s affinity for duck pays off again with a smoked breast fused with plum, tart onions, and chile heat. Texas wagyu beef from acclaimed Rosewood Ranches appears often. Alas, I missed the toma-

Grilled octopus and fresh tomatoes

hawk and hanger steak, but lucked out with the skirt steak. Reed flatters the savory cut with high-volume notes of fresh sorrel, mint, and dribbles of precious aged balsamic. A la carte meats call for sides, so consider duck fat fingerling potatoes or heirloom carrots with crème fraîche frills. Those wild mushrooms are also a great call for any steak.

Weekend brunch is a familiar roster of sweet and savory items plus boozy beverages. Fried chicken thighs, delicate buttermilk biscuits, and the Nute-

lla waffle are standouts. Egg dishes are well executed, if conventional. Daylight dining is especially suited to these alfresco surroundings. Know that the striking glass structure with dramatic black mullions doesn’t house diners— they’re lounging on the sprawling garden patio. All other operations take place indoors—you could say the whole house is the back of the house here.

Considering Poppy & Seed opened mid-pandemic, it’s hard to fault raggedy service. All restaurants are battling a labor shortage. Some friction points are easier to smooth. Requiring a credit card with strings attached for reservations is a big ask in these parts. And that 4 percent charge for “health”? Just fold it into menu prices, please. Here’s hoping the hospitality soon measures up to the compelling performance of the kitchen.

Once that happens, this beguiling newcomer will rank among the best new acts of this wacky year. photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

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DRINK T H R E E ’ S

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T R E N D

FERMENTED FOODS

House-fermented ingredients add depth of flavor and health benefits to these local dishes.

by Michelle Pagaran Fermentation Farm Roasted brassicas and red curry, $14 Chef Amy Lebrun’s love for cruciferous vegetables shines in this dish. A bounty of yellow and purple cauliflower, broccoli, turnips, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage sits on fermented red curry paste. Coconut cashews on top add more texture.

COSTA MESA , 949-650-0830

Whitestone Stuffed chicken, $29 Chef Anthony Celeste loves incorporating everything from kimchi (fermented cabbage) to fermented rice in his cooking. This pastureraised chicken breast is stuffed with gochujang (fermented chile paste) mousseline.

DANA POINT, 949-489-8911

Glasspar Yellowtail crudo, $16 Chef Rob Wilson ferments the aguachile used in this seafood dish for 72 hours. This allows the flavors to intensify, creating a bold contrast to the mild and sweet fish.

DANA POINT, 949-240-6243

MADE IN ORANGE COUNTY

Garden Grove

Made with fresh herbs and Thai chile peppers, C H A M D I P P I N G S A U C E is a condiment inspired by the owners’ Vietnamese heritage. Available in multiple heat levels, it pairs well with seafood, veggies, steak, egg rolls, and chicken wings. $9 to $17 per bottle. At chamdippingsauce.com and Sunrise Supermarket in Fountain Valley

66 ORA NGE CO AST • October 2021

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F F E R M E N TAT I O N FA R M ; P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F C H A M D I P P I N G S A U C E

FOOD

FOOD F O O D

DRINK

T R E N D S

K-DOGS!

PHOTOGRAPH BY BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

In Korea, corn dogs are called “hot dogs”—but adding to the confusion, Korean hot dogs don’t require a hot dog. They can contain mozzarella cheese or sausage or rice cakes. Like American hot dogs on a stick, they’re skewered, batter-coated, and deep-fried, but Korean hot dogs are usually rolled in toppings, drizzled with sauces, and dusted with sugar. by Benjamin Epstein

The star of the show at South Korean chain MYUNGRANG HOT DOG , with a location at The Source OC, is the squid-ink hot dog with half mozzarella and half sausage; its crispy rice-flour batter is charcoal-hued and its end splayed to suggest a squid.

Among other styles, one has a chewy Korean rice cake inside, another wraps the sausage in cheddar cheese. Mix and match five sauces and three sprinkled seasonings. Mukbangs, videos of people rapturously enjoying the dogs, screen overhead. 6940 BEACH BLVD.,

CHUNGCHUN RICE HOTDOG is inside a

Mochinut—a Korean doughnut chain exploding with new locations. A plant-covered wall hanging celebrates both treats with a neon doughnut, hot dog, and the words “you’re a dough rable.” The dogs might be topped with crispy potato cubes or ramen noodles; several styles are spicy. The melty mozzarella provides photo-worthy cheese pulls. Seven sauces include garlic Parmesan and mango habanero. 9711 BOLSA AVE.,

In addition to the “better burgers,” vegan destination BELEAF also features international selections including a Korean corn dog. This one is unusual, and not just because the sausage is plant-based or the batter is purposely less crispy. It’s also hands-down the sweetest and gooiest corn dog we encountered, liberally zigzagged with honey mustard and ketchup, sparkling with sugar, and sprinkled with specks of parsley. 12865 BEACH BLVD.,

The menu at UMAI SAVORY HOT DOGS opens with two pages of internationally themed dogs and sausages on American-style buns. The allbeef Waffle Dog and the Big Mozzarella Cheese Stick are the only Korean (on-a-stick) hot dogs. The Big Mozzarella isn’t big, but boy is it stuffed with mozzarella. Order it “Korean-style” for tangy stripes of Sriracha ketchup and honey mustard; or pair it with marinara dipping sauce. 23622 ROCKFIELD BLVD., LAKE FOREST, 949-317-0209

STANTON, 714-379-7040

WESTMINSTER, 657-232-1955

BUENA PARK, 714-752-6390

October 2021 • OR A NGE COAST 67

PHOTO CREDIT: JEFF DRONGOWSKI, JENNIFER FUJIKAWA, KYLE MUNSON

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MY O.C.

Use It and Keep Using it New doesn’t always mean better, as a washing machine meltdown proved. by Jeanette A. Fratto

I

’m either very loyal, or I resist change. I prefer to lean toward loyal.

The truth is, if I like a product or service, I stay with it for a long time. No searching around for the next big thing. My hairstylist had no children when I first met her; she is now a grandmother.

I’ve watched my manicurist’s children go from preschool kids to college graduates. I imagine I’ll attend their weddings next. I won’t even mention how many

years I’ve been seeing the same doctor and dentist. And when it comes to appliances, if they’re working, I’m happy. If a repair is needed, it’s taken care of.

In the throwaway society we seem to have become, this amazes my friends and family. My grandson, looking at my fully functioning—ancient by today’s standards—top-loading washer, asked, “Grandma, can you really wash clothes in that?”

“Yes, I can,” I replied, “and when we move, I intend to donate it to the Marines so another family can use it.”

He simply shook his head.

Y E S, W E W E R E M O V I N G . F O R years, my husband and I had been waiting for a new senior community in Rancho Mission Viejo to be built.

Finally, a date was set and soon we’d be downsizing from a two-story home in Laguna Niguel to a new one-story unit. All the appliances, new and stateof-the-art, were included. I looked forward to a long relationship with them, as I said goodbye to my old ones.

The marketing assistant walked me through the operation of the kitchen appliances once we were somewhat settled. Easy enough, and not relevant anyway as I wouldn’t be doing much cooking. Then we entered the laundry room, where a large front-loading washer sat beside an equally large front-loading dryer. My grandson would be so impressed! I felt a bit intimidated. The operation seemed simple enough, just push a button here and there.

It didn’t take long to make new friends, enjoy numerous activities, 70 O RA NGE CO AST • October 2021

illustration by P E T E R YA N

MY O.C. and become comfortable with our retirement lifestyle.

MY WEEKLY L AUNDRY DAY WAS uneventful. Until ... I had put in a load of clothes and was in another part of the house. I heard what sounded like metal scraping against metal coming from the laundry room. Sort of like a whining sound. I stopped and listened.

Quiet. The washer finished without any further disruption. Perhaps it was my imagination. After all this was a new, deluxe washer.

I forgot about it until the following week. I started the laundry and left the room. After about 10 minutes, I heard the same sound, this time more pronounced. I quickly returned to the machine and listened to it clank for a few seconds more and then stop. Definitely not my imagination. I stayed alert until the cycle was finished. There were no more strange sounds. The next week the noise continued. It was starting to sound like a hammer and nails were inside when it went on the spin cycle. Something was definitely loose.

One of the many amenities we enjoy is on-site maintenance. I called and reported the problem and was quickly visited by a repairman. I explained what I’d heard, and he ran the washer through all its cycles. Like a car that makes noise and is suddenly quiet when brought to the mechanic, my washer was silent. No whining, no clanking. Just my word for it.

“I don’t see any problems,” the repairman determined. “It seems to be working just fine. If it happens again, just call us.” With that, he left. He had no explanation for what I heard.

Of course the problem continued.

Each load of laundry treated me to a new chorus of sounds, depending on the cycle. Clanking, whining, rattling.

I called maintenance again. A new technician came out. Once again, the machine behaved beautifully. Once again, I was told all was well, but be sure to call back if it keeps happening.

I was beginning to feel like the crazy likely faithfully churning away in some lady they had to be nice to. Just humor Marine family’s home, and wished I her, and she’ll be OK. had it now.

I started to dread laundry day.

The sounds escalated. The machine vibrated so much I expected it to walk “RIGHT AWAY ” STRETCHED INTO itself out of the room and ask for a several weeks. My follow-up calls were glass of water. But I couldn’t call main- met with concern and assurance that the tenance again without a plan. As all manufacturer’s representative would be writers know, show, don’t tell. Thank out soon. One day, I received the call I goodness for cellphone cameras. I was waiting for. He would be out the next would show them. The next time I did day. Was I available? Absolutely.

Finally, something would be done. laundry, I stood at the machine, camera aimed, and waited. When the noise Surely the manufacturer would know began, I started the video. I continued what do with the product. No, he was the process until I had enough noisy as puzzled as everyone else, especially evidence to convince the most unbe- when the washer stayed nice and quiet when he tested it. Once he watched my lieving maintenance man. video, his attitude changed.

“Please send a copy of the video to my phone,” he asked. “I’ll relay it to my supervisors.”

He departed, and again I waited for the next step. My occasional calls to maintenance assured me I would hear soon. Would the president of the company be the next one to come out?

Then I received the final call. I would be getting a new washer! No more repair attempts, simply replacement. Is this the new normal? A new washer, identical to the one replaced, was installed. So far, it’s quiet. But once burned, twice shy. Now I’m wary and My request was responded to again, listen for strange sounds when I do and this time the repairman who laundry. I have also developed a discame out originally was the one who trust for my other appliances.

I stand in the kitchen and admire returned. When I played the video for him, sound turned up high, his look of the shiny new stove and refrigerator, amazement was priceless. He ran the their sharp looks belying the possiwasher through its cycles again, and bility they might have their own meltdown. My neighbor has complained again all was quiet. He had no answer.

“We are going to have to contact the her cakes all burn and her oven needs manufacturer and have someone from recalibrating. My gaze falls to the their office come out. We’ll let you countertop and my landline phone, message machine attached. Not shiny know.”

“I’m concerned with all this noise the anymore, but reliable. It has served us washer will eventually break down,” I for years and will no doubt continue to do so. It’s a nice reminder that looks said.

“Yes, it probably will,” was his dis- aren’t everything, and new doesn’t couraging answer. “We’ll work on it mean perfect. It might be wise to hang on to what works, because many right away.”

I thought of my old top-loader, most things seem not to.

I WAS BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE THE CRA Z Y L ADY THEY HAD TO BE NICE TO. JUST HUMOR HER, AND SHE’LL BE OK.

October 2021 • OR A NGE COAST 71

ARTS PREVIEW

ART

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DANCE

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MUSIC

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THEATER

ARTS PREVIEW

ARTS ARE BACK , After about 18 months without many live performances, Orange County audiences and organizations are eager to connect.

by ANASTACIA GRENDA

PREVIOUS PAGE: BALLET X

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVEN GEORGES

BUT CHANGES ARE CERTAIN

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVEN GEORGES

TRIO BARCLAY

I

f spring is for lovers, then fall is for arts lovers.

It’s the season when culture takes the spotlight in O.C. One night, a symphony launches its season, while the next a theater premieres a new play. There are gallery receptions to mingle at, dance concerts to attend, museum lectures to listen to and learn from. We feel a pulse of excitement not just from watching a coloratura soprano or concert pianist dazzle us with their artistry, but from experiencing it in community with fellow audience members. That thrill has been gone, and we’re ready to have it back.

October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 73

ARTS PREVIEW

But this fall, despite the hunger for live events, they’re still a work in progress. COVID-19 has changed things, and the delta variant continues to keep plans in flux, sometimes from one day to the next. In late August, eight of the county’s major arts groups—Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory, Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale, Musco Center for the Arts, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Irvine Barclay Theatre, and Soka Performing Arts Center—announced they will require audiences to be fully vaccinated and wear masks indoors.

There’s only one guarantee amid the uncertainty: Things will be different.

“It’s clear to me change is here to stay,” says Jerry Mandel, chairman and president of the Irvine Barclay Theatre. “The pandemic caused us to rethink who we are and what we want to do. Before COVID-19, we were a building 74 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

“IT’S CLEAR TO ME CHANGE IS HERE TO STAY.” — J E R RY M A N D E L

chairman and president of the Irvine Barclay Theatre

that presented the performing arts. Now we are an organization that presents the arts inside and outside of the building.”

For the Barclay, that means mounting shows at local sites ranging from Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach to the Great Park, and developing an outdoor plaza and a full summer season. There’s also a drive to draw new audiences with a lineup of shows studded with big names (such as Pat Metheny and David Sedaris) as well as performances from new groups, such as

Trio Barclay, the theater’s resident classical music ensemble.

Programming presents a range of pandemic-related challenges. Some are financial: Festival Ballet Theater cut its staff to the bare minimum to fund two productions this season (including its popular “Nutcracker”) instead of the usual four, says Elizabeth Farmen, assistant to the artistic director, Salwa Rizkalla.

Other issues are logistical.

Andrew Brown, president and CEO of Pacific Chorale, says concerts through the fall are scalable, designed by the artistic director, Robert Istad, to be performed in small ensembles of 24 singers up to 80 singers, depending on how the county is faring. Because singing presents unique risks, potential mask mandates add a new wrinkle. “We can perform masked if we have to, but it’s not the same sound quality,” Brown says. Pacific Chorale is one group

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CASA ROMANTICA; BOWERS MUSEUM; BENJAMIN EALOVEGA

CASA ROMANTICA

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CASA ROMANTICA; BOWERS MUSEUM; BENJAMIN EALOVEGA

BOWERS MUSEUM

SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

“SPEAKING TO ALL THE DIFFERENT POPULATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS INTERESTING TO ME. I WANT TO DO THINGS THAT SERVE AND REFLECT THE COMMUNITY.” — J E N N I F E R BAC K H AU S founder, Backhausdance

mandating vaccinations and masks for concertgoers.

Renee Bodie, general manager of Soka Performing Arts Center, likens planning the venue’s 10th anniversary season, which starts in January, to doing a jigsaw puzzle.

“We postponed and rebooked shows several times during the pandemic, and then had to fit those shows into the schedule for the upcoming season,” Bodie says. “It’s also changed aspects of how we present shows, and many of these

parameters we still don’t know as the landscape shifts. Do we have intermissions, or run straight through to avoid crowds mingling?

Do we allow concessions? This is an unprecedented time for venues, and we will need to adapt quickly to changing scenarios.”

That flexibility will manifest in different ways. Some groups are exploring new venues. Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble’s regular home, Grand Central Art Center, closed for performances. So the

company presented shows online and at alternate spaces such as Alta Baja Market in Santa Ana. Backhausdance is in residence at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar developing a site-specific work that will be performed Oct. 16.

Safety is a primary concern at all the venues, with heightened attention paid to changes in local, state, and federal guidelines. How that will look depends on the venue, the show, and the county’s infection numbers. For instance, Chance October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 75

ARTS PREVIEW

ORANGE COUNTY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART

CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE

“WE RELY ON THE ARTS TO HELP US THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, CONNECTING INDIVIDUALLY BUT ALSO COLLECTIVELY ON A DEEPER LEVEL.” — C A S E Y R E ITZ

president of Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Theater in Anaheim Hills offers “Vaccinated+” shows: audience members must be fully vaccinated and wear masks. All shows have socially distant seating so patrons don’t share an armrest with anyone not in their group.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens has the advantage of 2.5 acres of outdoor space, where socially distant performances are 76 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

easier to manage. The San Clemente center is also bringing back its in-person arts education and wellness programs with social distancing—but is ready to convert to takehome pandemic kits if needed. That ability to turn on a dime is now part of doing business. In August this year, Leslie Eisner, artistic director of the Camino Real Playhouse, kept a wary eye on the county’s infection

rate as the San Juan Capistrano venue prepared to reopen.

“I’m hesitant to claim a direction because the minute I do, it veers off another way,” she says.

“Our position was no one can perform who is unvaccinated because we didn’t want to put people onstage with masks if it wasn’t necessary. But if even vaccinated people have to wear masks indoors, I’m not sure what we’ll do. I think all theaters are in the same boat—we’re trying our best to follow regulations, but we’ve also been shut down for a year and a half. People are eager to get back to the theater, and we’re eager to have them back.”

The drive to serve audiences has powered O.C. arts organizations through these times. The result is a strengthened commitment to community. In the wake of America’s intensified racial reckoning, local audiences will see diverse

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE; ORANGE COUNTY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART; SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS; ARPIT MEHTA

SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS

CHANGES THAT STICK

The pandemic called for digital innovations; here are some that will stay ´Orange County Center for Contemporary Art will continue to offer self-guided virtual exhibit tours filmed with a 360 camera and available via links on the venue’s website. ´Philharmonic Society of Orange County plans to offer virtual and livestreamed concerts that will be separate from its in-person season.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE; ORANGE COUNTY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART; SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS; ARPIT MEHTA

PACIFIC CHORALE

programming that represents a broad swath of the county’s demographics. Pacific Chorale’s Oct. 30 concert features works by Korean American and African American composers, Casa Romantica has upcoming series focused on Indian and Chinese culture, and Backhausdance founder Jennifer Backhaus is one of many arts leaders exploring equity and issues related to Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the community.

“My work is driven by humanity and connection; it’s being honest about what’s happening in our world,” she says. “Speaking to all the different populations of our community is interesting to me. I want to do things that serve and reflect the community.”

Sara Guerrero, Breath of Fire’s founding artistic director, is being cautious when planning live events in Santa Ana, which has been hit hard by COVID-19.

“We’re being careful and not trying to rush anything,” she says.

“We’re still weathering storms and watching our community suffer.

And with numbers going up, as a mom and a director, I need to think about what a project means to my home and theater. We’re putting ourselves out there, too.”

What the community needs, more than ever, is the connection arts provide.

“We recognize the value of what live artists mean to those in our community,” says Casey Reitz, Segerstrom Center for the Arts president. “We rely on the arts to help us through difficult times, connecting individually but also collectively on a deeper level. Coming out of the pandemic, we will never take what we do for granted ever again. We are reenergized to embrace better than ever before how we bring joy, peace, and connection into people’s lives.”

´Chance Theater moved its postshow audience engagement series online and created Chance Cyber Chats. The theater’s Veterans Speak Up program also went virtual, allowing people across the country to participate on weekly Zoom calls. ´Casa Romantica turned its lecture series with academics and cultural experts into podcasts. ´Writers across the country develop new plays during Breath of Fire’s online incubator workshops. “I just renewed my Zoom account,” says Sara Guerrero, founding artistic director. ´Bowers Museum continues to offer virtual programming for its exhibits, as well as docent-created themed online tours of the Santa Ana museum’s collections that aren’t on public display. “From a creative perspective, it’s given us wings to come up with outof-the-box ways to serve our audience, and it exposes the Bowers to visitors around the world,” says Victoria Gerard, vice president of programs and collections.

October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 77

ARTS PREVIEW

78 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

LIFE IN ABSTRACT S P O T L I G H T

Heidi Zuckerman brings a lifelong love of art and an entrepreneurial spirit to her role as CEO of the Orange County Museum of Art.

by Valerie Takahama

As a college student looking for a summer job in Palo Alto, Zuckerman cold-called art galleries in the phone book until she found one that would take her on. The gallery exposed her to leading abstract expressionist and conceptual artists.

“I got all of this incredible experience. I did my first studio (visit) with an artist; it was Sam Francis. I sold my first work of art, which was a Robert Motherwell monoprint, and met Bruce Conner.” She never looked back.

Her career spans posts at the UC Berkeley Art Museum, the Pacific Film Archive, and the Jewish Museum in New York.

As director of the Aspen Art Museum, she oversaw the construction of a new building by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban and proved herself a prodigious fundraiser for the $47 million facility. She also found innovative ways to raise the museum’s profile, such as collaborating with Aspen Skiing Co. to commission top artists to create artwork printed on lift tickets. “Part of my philosophy is I want to be able to put art in front of people, particularly when they’re not expecting it. Sometimes people think a museum might be weird or scary or ‘not for me,’ but if they encounter art unexpectedly, we might be able to capture the curiosity, and they can have this potentially transcendent moment.”

She left the Aspen museum in late 2019 and spent the next year writing books; hosting a podcast, “Conversations About Art”; and working on other projects. She was lured back to the museum world in part by OCMA’s new 53,000-squarefoot building designed by Morphosis, the firm founded by another Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Thom Mayne. Her family felt comfortable in Orange County, too. “We hadn’t

spent that much time here, but my daughter is an equestrian and she showed here. We were here last summer, and my son said, ‘This has to be the most beautiful place in the world.

It’s like Northern California landscape and Southern California weather.’ I think I was just sort of fated to come here.”

She spent the first 100 days of her tenure in Costa Mesa talking and listening to a broad cross-section of people about what they loved about the museum and where they thought it fell short. A clear favorite was the California Biennial, exhibitions mounted from 1984 to 2010 that highlighted emerging artists on the brink of national recognition. So the new building will open next October with the California Biennial 2022 (CB22). Zuckerman is curating another of the inaugural shows, “13 Women,” a reference to the women who founded the original museum on Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach in 1962, the second contemporary art museum in Southern California. “We have deep holdings of female artists in our collection, including artists I have these long-standing relationships with such as (pioneering video artist) Diana Thater.

We own one of her most significant works. Coming here, the collection was a big draw for me.”

She envisions a huge pool of potential visitors, members, and donors at OCMA and is eager to tap into that for the future of the museum. “I’m still figuring out where the opportunities are here, but one of them for sure is our proximity to South Coast Plaza and the fact that 24 million people a year come (to it) as a shopping destination. One of the enhancements I made to the museum was to create a dedicated retail experience within the institution. … I would like people to be able to bring things home that reflect the experience that they have in the museum.”

OCMA’s fundraising gala, Art Sense, is Oct. 8.

Email knemirov@ocma.net to buy tickets or donate.

October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 79

ARTS PREVIEW

80 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Laguna Playhouse artistic director offers a peek backstage and dishes about famous actors.

by LYNETTE BRASFIELD

A

portrait by EMILY J. DAVIS

fter nearly three decades working with luminaries of the theater world at L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, petite, glamorous, yet down-to-earth Ann E. Wareham was delighted to accept the position of artistic director at Laguna Playhouse in 2011.

“I’d built great relationships over the years with some of the smartest people in the business,” Wareham says. “I was excited to bring those connections and what I’d learned to regional theater in Orange County.

Already, Laguna Beach had a wellearned reputation for supporting and caring about the arts. And from a personal perspective, I wanted to take on new, exciting challenges.”

Actor Donald Sutherland, play-

wright August Wilson, and fashion designer Bob Mackie are just a few industry stalwarts Wareham has watched in action. She has seen tempers fly, tears shed, and many a joyful standing ovation. She has been witness to the genesis of iconic plays including “Angels in America” and Wilson’s “Radio Golf.”

Yet Wareham knows well that the magic on the stage belies a great deal of practical, hard work by dozens of

people behind the scenes. There are often glitches large and small during a run—most are invisible to the audience, though not all.

“But theater folk are resourceful,” Wareham says. “During a production of ‘Putting It Together’ at the Mark Taper Forum, we had a technical glitch with the scenery. Carol Burnett, who was starring in the production, headed to the stage and did 20 minutes of comedy and conversation with the audience until the problem was solved.”

Technical problems aside, it’s no secret actors can be temperamental.

During a production of Neil Simon’s “I Ought to Be in Pictures” at the Mark Taper Forum, stars Tony Curtis and Dinah Manoff were in the midst of a contentious relationship.

October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 81

ARTS PREVIEW

One night, they both stormed out of the theater during intermission and didn’t return.

“The stage manager had followed them to the parking lot, where they both got in their cars and took off,” Wareham says. “So we told the audience that we would be experiencing an extended intermission, have a drink on us, we’ll be back.

“The stage management team quickly got the understudies ready to go on for the second act. Funnily enough, the first line of the second half of the show, uttered by Joyce Van Patten’s character (Tony Curtis’s sister in the play) to the understudy now playing Tony Curtis’s role, happened to be ‘Well, you’ve changed.’

The whole audience exploded in laughter, it broke the ice, and then it was ‘on with the show.’ ”

R

egional theater has its own unique challenges, particularly in casting star actors. Wareham has had significant success in that regard, with the likes of Melanie Griffith, Leslie Caron, and Rita Rudner gracing the Playhouse stage.

“People here may recognize celebrities, but they don’t hound them,” Wareham says. “Also, it’s a great place for actors to try out roles somewhat under the radar. They see us as 82 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

1

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a lovely, safe, supportive community, which we are.”

But accomplished actors sometimes have expectations that aren’t easily met when finances are limited.

Caron inquired who her draper might be in the production of “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.” Drapers are used to ensure the clothing fits well on actors—but in regional theater, it’s too costly to hire someone dedicated only to that task.

“For Leslie, the way her clothes

fit and move is an integral part of her stagecraft,” Wareham says.

“But draping is a highly specialized talent. Not to mention drapers are hard to find and expensive. Thank goodness, Leslie had a long-standing relationship with Bob Mackie, and I had worked with Bob on ‘Putting It Together.’

“He very generously let us borrow some beautiful pieces from his collection, hand-picked by Leslie. That’s not something he’d do for everyone,

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ED KRIEGER

1. “Harvey” 2. “Clybourne Park” 3. “The Graduate” 4. “Blues in the Night”

“Despite challenges, I believe our theater will continue to be a valuable and sustaining part of this wonderful artistic community.”

3

—Ann E. Wareham

“Thus began a friendship with Melanie I continue to have and enjoy; within a few years, she came down and starred in our production of ‘The Graduate’ in 2018.”

Plans for Griffith to star in “Barefoot in the Park” were derailed by scheduling issues, but future roles remain a possibility. Wareham says Griffith loves Laguna Beach and calls it a “jewel of a city.”

O

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ED KRIEGER

4

and I was profoundly grateful. Along with our costume designer, Kate Bergh, who actually is a brilliant draper, the designs were perfect for Ms. Caron and perfect for the production.”

Rudner, who lives in South Orange County, is an audience favorite in Laguna Beach. For three consecutive years before the pandemic, she did a popular New Year’s Eve comedy show at the Playhouse and is often seen in the audience on

other occasions.

Wareham emphasizes that relationships and connectivity with stars like Rudner is “what it’s all about.”

She cites her relationship with Griffith as another example.

“Melanie came to see her son in a production of ‘I’m Still Getting My Act Together.’ Melanie loved the theater and was interested herself in getting back onstage. She mimed ‘Call me!’ ” Which Wareham happily did.

ne of Wareham’s most precious memories involves watching Kirk Douglas rehearse for his one-man show, “Before I Forget,” based on his book, “My Stroke of Luck.”

“At the time, Kirk was 92 and had worked for more than a decade to bring his health and speech back to its previous form. He was incredibly agile, mentally and physically, but there were certain words from the script he’d written (and which he had completely memorized) that, sitting out in the house of the theater, the director and I, along with Kirk’s longtime speech pathologist, couldn’t understand,” Wareham says.

“Every time we encountered that issue, he would stop, work through the word, insisting he clarify it. Only then would he move on.

“He was a meticulously hardworkOctober 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 83

ARTS PREVIEW

“Barefoot in the Park”

“That’s what theater’s all about— the house lights go down, the stage lights come up, and, for a few hours, you are transported … and sometimes transformed.”

—Ann E. Wareham ing actor and a brave and brilliant human being. I was grateful to have been in his and his beloved wife Anne’s life.”

Wareham has admiring words to offer about many celebrities she encountered during her long tenure as producing partner with the Center Theatre Group.

“The presence of playwright August Wilson in my life and career was immeasurable. To have had a ringside seat to the manifestation of every one of August’s Century Cycle of plays, 84 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

well, it was a privilege,” she says.

D

eciding which plays work for the Playhouse is a demanding job. In pre-pandemic times, Wareham was out and about viewing new productions and networking, or in her small office, where a flotilla of index cards adorned with names of productions are stuck on a board directly across from her desk.

“That’s how my mind works; it’s a visual mulling over of the possibilities. I move the notes around all the time. Ellen (Richard, executive director) and I sometimes stare at them as we talk about season planning. We have a great team at the Playhouse, which makes my job so much easier,” she says.

The Playhouse normally averages 330 performances a year, from dramas to musicals to comedies to the annual Lythgoe Family Panto.

“We had a great lineup planned for 2020, our hundredth anniversary. Then COVID-19 happened,” Wareham says wistfully. “But in the theater, we’ve spent our whole lives pivoting. So that’s what we did. We pivoted and managed to keep our patrons engaged.”

During the pandemic, the Playhouse streamed numerous shows, including some one-man performances by the versatile Hershey Felder.

“Some of the most popular virtual work for us was ‘The Gin Game’ with Joe Spano and JoBeth Williams, and the piece we did with Wendie Malick and Dan Lauria, ‘Sitting and Talking,’ ” Wareham says. “Wendie was a delight to work with—so real, so smart.

“We’re all acutely aware that much has changed in the way we work, during and post-pandemic.

As the world, and the unions, sort through all of this, we’ll continue to produce work on our stage in whatever way we safely and effectively can. Despite challenges, I believe our theater will continue to be a valuable and sustaining part of this wonderful artistic community.”

Wareham is excited about the Playhouse’s still-developing plans for the 2021-22 season, even if it needs to be somewhat truncated.

One of her hopes for the future is to bring a deaf musical to Laguna Beach. Her work in the deaf community is one of her greatest passions, particularly the work of L.A.’s Deaf West Theatre.

“Those productions can be a life-changing experience,” she says.

“And that’s what theater’s all about— the house lights go down, the stage lights come up, and, for a few hours, you are transported … and sometimes transformed.”

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ARTS PREVIEW Q U O T E S

A PA N D E M I C P I V O T

This O.C. artist taught herself new skills during the shutdown. by Denny Freidenrich

R

obin Hiers has been creating her whimsical O.C. lifestyle paintings since she returned to her Laguna Beach roots in 2013. Her work can be seen at the Laguna Gallery of Contemporary Art and at events for the many charities she supports,

including Dream Guild of JDRF Orange County, Surf and Turf Therapy, and Surfers Healing. Hiers was busy expanding her paintings to jackets, surfboards, and custom Champagne bottles when the pandemic began. Like many artists and others, she had to figure out how to adjust.

When COVID19 hit, I had to relearn how to market my art.

I had to teach myself how to keep up with the growing online business of selling art.

Ú I discovered a new, untapped market I hadn’t embraced before the shutdown occurred. Many customers have now become avid collectors of my work. Ú I am an extrovert, so the challenge for me was being alone last year.

Even though many of my clients were online, they helped me bridge that gap. I feel a true friendship with them now. Ú Generally speaking, the life of an artist is sink or swim. It was a lot of work, but I was determined not to drown. In the end, I didn’t just survive, I changed. Ú My art celebrates a beautiful life. I tend to put a bit of a retro twist on everything I create. I love the old-school surf culture, but I also adore the glam of a bygone era with its bright colors and vivid style.

86 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

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ARTS PREVIEW

TCHAIKOVSKY’S FIFTH, PACIFIC SYMPHONY

OCTOBER 1: LYNYRD SKYNYRD “Big Wheels Keep on Turnin’ Tour,” FivePoint Amphitheatre, 14800 Chinon, Irvine, 949-988-6800, livenation.com/venues/33640 /fivepoint-amphitheatre 1: Jazz musician PAT METHENY, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org 1-2: EMANUEL AX PLAYS MOZART, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 2: Broadway star KRISTIN CHENOWETH, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 2-NOV. 6: “A SHOT RANG OUT,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-5555, scr.org THROUGH OCT. 3: “THE NERD,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949-489-8082, caminorealplayhouse.org 88 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

3: TCHAIKOVSKY’S FIFTH, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 7: Folk band THE WAILIN’ JENNYS, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org 8: Classical cellist ZLATOMIR FUNG, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 8: Comedians LOUIE ANDERSON AND RITA RUDNER, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 9: Singer MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org 9: BRAD PAISLEY TOUR 2021, FivePoint Amphitheatre, 14800 Chinon, Irvine, 949-988-6800, livenation.com/venues/33640 /fivepoint-amphitheatre

16: Comedian GEORGE LOPEZ, Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-704-2500, hondacenter.com

13-31: “SH-BOOM! LIFE COULD BE A DREAM,” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-4972787, lagunaplayhouse.com

18: AN EVENING WITH DAN BUETTNER, longevity and happiness Expert, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

14: LUKE BRYAN: PROUD TO BE RIGHT HERE 2021, FivePoint Amphitheatre, 14800 Chinon, Irvine, 949-988-6800, livenation.com/venues/33640 /fivepoint-amphitheatre 14: Jazz-pop singer-songwriter SPENCER DAY, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, 714-738-6595, themuck.org 14-16: BEETHOVEN’S “EROICA,” Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

20: Singer AMY GRANT, City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-712-2700, citynationalgroveofanaheim .com 21: AKI KUMAR: BOLLYWOOD BLUES, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139, casaromantica.org 21: Singer MEGAN HILTY, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org

15-31: “THE LONG WEEKEND,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949-489-8082, caminorealplayhouse.org

22: Jazz band THE BLACK MARKET TRUST, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

16: BACKHAUSDANCE “GARDEN FLOW,” Sherman Library & Gardens, 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, 949-673-2261, thesherman.org

22: DIANNE REEVES, CHUCHO VALDÉS, AND JOE LOVANO, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

16: BALLETX, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS

S E A S O N AT A G LA N C E

10: AURYN STRING QUARTET, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org

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ARTS PREVIEW 23: LES VIOLONS DU ROY WITH AVI AVITAL, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 23: Folk-rock musician A.J. CROCE, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org THROUGH OCT. 24: “YELLOWMAN,” Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, 714-777-3033, chancetheater.com 27: Singer CHRISTOPHER CROSS, City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-712-2700, citynationalgroveofanaheim .com 28: DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION WITH MARIACHI GARIBALDI DE JAIME CUÉLLAR AND BALLET FOLKLORICO DE LOS ANGELES, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, 714-738-6595, themuck.org

28-DEC. 9: “LAND AS KIN,” Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, 714-738-6595, themuck.org 29: Saxophonist ERIC MARIENTHAL, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 30: CATALYST QUARTET, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 30: JAMES TAYLOR AND JACKSON BROWNE, Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-704-2500, hondacenter.com THROUGH OCT. 30: ANAHEIM ART ASSOCIATION’S 57TH ANNUAL OPEN JURIED ART COMPETITION, Muzeo, 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714956-8936, muzeo.org THROUGH OCT. 31: “LEGEND: 200 YEARS OF SLEEPY HOLLOW,” Muzeo, 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714956-8936, muzeo.org

NOVEMBER 3: JERUSALEM QUARTET WITH PINCHAS ZUKERMAN AND AMANDA FORSYTH, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 5-6: CHRISTIAN JAMES HAND: THE GENIUS OF QUEEN’S “BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY,” Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 5-6: Composer and pianist DAVID FOSTER, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 7: GIPSY KINGS WITH NICOLAS REYES, City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-712-2700, citynationalgroveofanaheim .com

9: Writer and comedian DAVID SEDARIS, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org 9-14: “JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR,” Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 11: BALLET HISPÁNICO, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 11-13: MENDELSSOHN’S VIOLIN CONCERTO, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 12: MODIGLIANI QUARTET, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 12: CIRQUE MUSICA HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR, City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-712-2700, citynationalgroveofanaheim .com

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@orangecoastmag More info: orangecoast.com

90 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

ARTS PREVIEW

“SAM HYDE HARRIS, SEEING THE UNUSUAL”

SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA

FESTIVAL BALLET THEATRE’S “THE NUTCRACKER”

18: Pop-jazz group POSTMODERN JUKEBOX, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 19: VIENNA BOYS CHOIR, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 19-FEB. 27: “SAM HYDE HARRIS, SEEING THE UNUSUAL” art exhibit, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139, casaromantica.org 20: Singer STEVE TYRELL, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 20: Jazz singer VERONICA SWIFT, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org

92 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

20: PARSONS DANCE COMPANY, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 20: Pop singers ENRIQUE IGLESIAS AND RICKY MARTIN, Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-704-2500, hondacenter.com 21: Classical music group TRIO BARCLAY, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org 26-DEC. 26, “STRIKING 12,” Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, 714-7773033, chancetheater.com 26-DEC. 19: “A CHRISTMAS STORY,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949-489-8082, caminorealplayhouse.org 29: “CHRISTMAS FROM A CELTIC TABLE,” Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org

DECEMBER 2-4: Pianist HAOCHEN ZHANG PLAYS RACHMANINOFF, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 5: Classical pianist GABRIELA MONTERO, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 5: HANDEL’S MESSIAH, PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 8: TAKACS STRING QUARTET, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org

11: THE BEAUTIFUL DAY: KURT ELLING SINGS CHRISTMAS, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 11: CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER: THE COMPLETE BRANDENBURG CONCERTI, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 11-24: FESTIVAL BALLET THEATRE’S “THE NUTCRACKER,” Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org 12: SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA, “SALSA NAVIDAD,” Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 15-17: JOHN LLOYD YOUNG’S BROADWAY, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

17-18: Singing group MIDTOWN MEN, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 21: HOLIDAY ORGAN SPECTACULAR, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 22: FIESTA NAVIDAD, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 26: A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

JANUARY 6-8: MOZART & MAHLER, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 7-23: “LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-5555, scr.org 9: MAHLER’S SYMPHONY NO. 4, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 11-23: “MY FAIR LADY,” Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 13: Impressionists THE EDWARDS TWINS, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 14: ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 15: ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

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October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 93

ARTS PREVIEW 4-20: “BLITHE SPIRIT,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949-489-8082, caminorealplayhouse.org 5: Nordic World musicians DREAMERS’ CIRCUS, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 5: LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 6: Classical pianist VADYM KHOLODENKO, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 9-MARCH 6: “WICKED,” Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org CIRCA

16: TICHELI AND BEETHOVEN, Pacific Symphony, Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-480-4278, soka.edu 16: TANGO ARGENTINA, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 20: Broadway star PATTI LUPONE, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 21: Classical pianist YEFIM BRONFMAN, Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-480-4278, soka.edu 21: Hawaiian musicians KULAIWI—NATIVE LANDS, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 21: JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

94 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

22: Classical musicians HUB NEW MUSIC WITH SPECIAL GUEST KOJIRO UMEZAKI, Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-480-4278, soka.edu

28: LAO TIZER QUARTET FEATURING KAREN BRIGGS, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949498-2139, casaromantica.org

23: Kids’ musician LAURIE BERKNER, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

29: Blues-rock band THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org

26-FEB. 13: “THE SPITFIRE GRILL,” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-497-2787, lagunaplayhouse.com

31: Author FRAN LEBOWITZ, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org

27-29: Actresses JANE LYNCH AND KATE FLANNERY, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 27-29: TCHAIKOVSKY’S VIOLIN CONCERTO, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 28: Jazz musicians THE METTA QUINTET, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org

FEBRUARY

10-11: Chinese zither musician BEI BEI, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139, casaromantica.org 11-12: Mezzo-soprano KATHERINE JENKINS WITH THE PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 12-MARCH 12: “WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714708-5555, scr.org 13: Folk singer JUDY COLLINS, Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-480-4278, soka.edu

2-3: Contemporary circus troupe CIRCA, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org

17: CALIDORE STRING QUARTET, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org

4: DAVE BRUBECK CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WITH THE CLAYTON HAMILTON JAZZ ORCHESTRA, THE BRUBECK BROTHERS, AND DIANNE REEVES, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

17-19: CATHEDRALS OF SOUND, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 18: Spanish musicians CASALS QUARTET, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

2021–22 SUBSCRIPTION SEASON Season Tickets | Mini-Packages | Single Tickets Design your own Season

RE-OPENING CONCERT

RE-OPENING CONCERT

Ava Kuntz

Grace Zhou

Solène La Van

F E AT U R I N G

THE McBETH FOUNDATION 2021 COMPETITION WINNERS Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”

October 29, 2021 | Friday Evening at 7:30 pm CONCERT CONCERT 22

C E L E B R AT I N G

BlackArtists

featuring AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSICIANS & COMPOSERS In partnership with New Hope Presbyterian Church

The Unstuffy Symphony

February 5, 2022 | Saturday Evening at 7:30 pm CONCERT CONCERT 33

March 26, 2022 | Saturday Evening at 7:30 pm CONCERT 4

All Concerts at COAST HILLS AUDITORIUM 5 Pursuit | Aliso Viejo 92656

THE PREMIERE COMPETITION FOR THE OC

F E AT U R I N G

THE McBETH FOUNDATION 2022 COMPETITION WINNERS

Friday & Saturday Evenings at 7:30 pm

April 30, 2022 | Saturday Evening at 7:30 pm CONCERT CONCERT 55

TICKETS: Call the Box Office anytime 714-731-8079

(or) Order on-line www.southcoastsymphony.org

F E AT U R I N G

Broadway Star DAVID BURNHAM

May 28, 2022 | Saturday Evening at 7:30 pm

For immediate attention, call “Sue” at the Symphony Box Office 24/7:

(714) 731-8079

ARTS PREVIEW

GEORGE LI

20: SCHUBERT’S “TROUT” QUINTET, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

25-MARCH 13: “THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949-4898082, caminorealplayhouse.org

22: Classical pianist GEORGE LI, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-5532422, philharmonicsociety.org

26: Cabaret act STORM LARGE AND LE BONHEUR, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

24: Jazz organist JOEY DEFRANCESCO, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 25: Singer LINDA EDER PERFORMS THE SONGS OF JUDY GARLAND, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 25: RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

96 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

MARCH 2-20: “FIRST LADY OF SONG: ALEXIS J. ROSTON SINGS ELLA FITZGERALD,” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-4972787, lagunaplayhouse.com 4: BASEL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 6: Guitarist MILOŠ, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

10: Jazz singer STACEY KENT, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org

18: Classical musicians ESME QUARTET, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

10-12: SAINT-SAËNS’ ORGAN SYMPHONY, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

18-19: BOZ SCAGGS WITH THE PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

11: JOSHUA BELL AND ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS, Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

19: Violinist ANDRE RIEU AND THE JOHANN STRAUSS ORCHESTRA, Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-704-2500, hondacenter.com

11: Folk-rock show LIVE FROM LAUREL CANYON, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 12: THE PERONDI’S STUNT DOG EXPERIENCE, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 15-16: Pop singer THE WEEKND, Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-704-2500, hondacenter.com

19-20: FESTIVAL BALLET THEATRE’S “DON QUIXOTE,” Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org 20-APRIL 10: “CLEAN,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714708-5555, scr.org 22: LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH SIR SIMON RATTLE, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

SHELÉA

22: AN EVENING OF LOVE SONGS WITH LINDA PURL, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139, casaromantica.org 22-APRIL 3: “THE BAND’S VISIT,” Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 24-26: Singer TONY YAZBEK, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 25: BESSIE, BILLIE, AND NINA: PIONEERING WOMEN IN JAZZ, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org 25-APRIL 10: “PLAY ON,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949-489-8082, caminorealplayhouse.org 26: IRANIAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION WITH THE PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

26: JERSEY BOYS AND GIRLS CONCERT, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org 27: UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 27: Jazz pianist and composer MATTHEW WHITAKER, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org 30: BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO DE AMALIA HERNANDEZ, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org

APRIL 3: AN EVENING WITH JACK JONES WITH THE ALL-STAR BAND FEATURING TOM SCOTT AND GRAHAM DECHTER, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE

7, 9, 12: VERDI’S “OTELLO,” Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

21: Singer and guitarist JOHN PIZZARELLI and singer CATHERINE RUSSELL, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

9: EDGAR MEYER AND THE SCOTTISH ENSEMBLE, Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

21: Classical musicians SHEKU AND ISATA KANNEH-MASON, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-5532422, philharmonicsociety.org

14: ENGLISH BAROQUE SOLOISTS AND SIR JOHN ELIOT GARDINER, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

22-23: CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

16: Hawaiian music band WAIPUNA, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 20-MAY 8: “ALMOST, MAINE,” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-497-2787, lagunaplayhouse.com

22-MAY 8: “THE CLUELESS SHERIFF,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949-4898082, caminorealplayhouse.org 23: Soul singer SHELÉA, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 24: TETZLAFF QUARTET, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org

October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 97

ARTS PREVIEW

26: DANISH STRING QUARTET, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org 28-30: Pianist JOYCE YANG PLAYS RACHMANINOFF WITH THE PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 29: COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 30: “FOR BETTER OR WORSE: TALES OF MARRIAGE,” Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

5: EMERSON STRING QUARTET, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org

14: Radio host IRA GLASS, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

7-JUNE 4: “OUR TOWN,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714708-5555, scr.org

15-JUNE 12: “TIGER STYLE!” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-5555, scr.org

10: Classical pianist JEANYVES THIBAUDET and cellist GAUTIER CAPUÇON, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

18: PHILIPPE QUINT AND MEMBERS OF THE JOFFREY BALLET: ASTOR PIAZZOLLA AT 100, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-8544646, thebarclay.org

12: Jazz trio BRUCE FORMAN, JOHN CLAYTON, AND JEFF HAMILTON: “THE POLL WINNERS REVISITED,” Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org

19-21: THE MOZART PROJECT WITH PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

MAY

13: SLACK KEY GUITARIST MAKANA, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949854-4646, thebarclay.org

1: Organist PAUL JACOBS WITH THE PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

13-14: THE MUSIC OF ABBA WITH PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

98 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

19-21: Singer CAISSIE LEVY, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 20-JUNE 5: “YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN,” Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949-4898082, caminorealplayhouse.org

22: MOZART’S “REQUIEM,” Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 31-JUNE 12: “TOOTSIE,” Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org

JUNE 3-4: BLOCKBUSTER BROADWAY WITH THE PACIFIC SYMPHONY, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 9: Big band jazz JOHN BEASLEY’S MONK’ESTRA, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org 9-11: BEETHOVEN’S PIANO CONCERTOS, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org

BOWERS MUSEUM

“COME FROM AWAY”

OPENS JUNE 10: “SHAPE AND STRUCTURE” ART EXHIBIT FROM ARTIST DUO CHIAOZZA, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949498-2139, casaromantica.org 12: BEETHOVEN’S “EMPEROR” CONCERTO, Pacific Symphony, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5788, pacificsymphony.org 21-26: “COME FROM AWAY,” Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714556-2787, scfta.org 23-24: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL GUILD’S “SHAKESPEARE’S SCENES & SONNETS,” Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139, casaromantica.org 29-JULY 17: “SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER,” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949-497-2787, lagunaplayhouse.com

MUSEUMS/ART CENTERS

Frank M. Doyle Pavilion Orange Coast College 2701 Fairview Road Costa Mesa, 714-432-5102 orangecoastcollege.edu

Beall Center for Art and Technology UC Irvine 712 Arts Plaza 949-824-6206 beallcenter.uci.edu

Fullerton Museum Center 301 N. Pomona Ave. 714-738-6545 cityoffullerton.com

Bowers Museum 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana 714-567-3600 bowers.org Children’s Museum at La Habra 301 S. Euclid St. 562-905-9793 lhcm.org Chuck Jones Center 3321 Hyland Ave. Costa Mesa, 949-660-7791 chuckjonescenter.org Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, 800-487-3378 foapom.com

Grand Central Art Center 125 N. Broadway Santa Ana, 714-567-7233 grandcentralartcenter.com Heritage Museum of Orange County 3101 W. Harvard St. Santa Ana, 714-540-0404 heritagemuseumoc.org Heroes Hall O.C. Fair & Event Center 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa 714-708-1500, ocfair.com Hilbert Museum of California Art 167 N. Atchison St. Orange, 714-516-5880 hilbertmuseum.com Huntington Beach Art Center 538 Main St., 714-374-1650 huntingtonbeachartcenter.org

International Surfing Museum 411 Olive Ave., Huntington Beach 714-960-3483 surfingmuseum.org Irvine Fine Arts Center 14321 Yale Ave. 949-724-6880 irvinefinearts.org The Irvine Museum Collection UC Irvine 18881 Von Karman Ave., Suite 100 irvinemuseumcollection.uci.edu Kidseum 1802 N. Main St. Santa Ana, 714-480-1520 bowers.org/kidseum Laguna Art-A-Fair 777 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, 949-494-4514 art-a-fair.com Laguna Art Museum 307 Cliff Drive Laguna Beach, 949-494-8971 lagunaartmuseum.org Laguna Plein Air Painters Association 949-376-3635 lpapa.org

October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 99

ARTS PREVIEW

BEGOVICH GALLERY

Muzeo 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim 714-95-MUZEO (956-8936) muzeo.org Orange County Center for Contemporary Art 117 N. Sycamore St., Santa Ana 714-667-1517 occca.org Orange County Museum of Art 1661 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana 949-759-1122 ocma.net Palm Court Arts Complex at Orange County Great Park Marine Way and Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine 866-829-3829, ocgp.org Pretend City Children’s Museum 29 Hubble, Irvine 949-428-3900 pretendcity.org Sawdust Art Festival 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach 949-494-3030 sawdustartfestival.org

100 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

SELECTED O.C. GALLERIES

SCAPE

Daniel Oropeza Original Sculpture

1041 W. 18th St., Studio A-106 949-650-6169 danieloropeza.com

CAC, Room, and University Art Galleries UC Irvine, 949-824-9854 arts.uci.edu

LIULI Gallery 3333 Bristol St. 714-438-8888, liuliusa.com

Susan Spiritus Gallery 2070 Business Center Drive, Suite 290 714-754-1286 susanspiritusgallery.com

ANAHEIM

Martin Lawrence Galleries South Coast Plaza 3333 Bear St. 949-759-0134 martinlawrence.com

Village Gallery Irvine Spectrum Center 59 Fortune Drive, #338 949-450-8282 villagegallery.com

Artists Republic 400 W. Disney Way, #137 949-988-0603 artists-republic.com

Randy Higbee Gallery 102 Kalmus Drive 714-546-2156 randyhigbeegallery.com

ALISO VIEJO Founders Hall Soka University 1 University Drive 949-480-4081 soka.edu

CORONA DEL MAR SCAPE 2859 E. Coast Highway 949-723-3406 scapesite.com

COSTA MESA The ARTery Gallery @ The Lab 2930 Bristol St. thelab.com

FULLERTON Begovich Gallery Cal State Fullerton 800 State College Blvd.

657-278-7750 fullerton.edu

IRVINE Art Resource Group 2082 Michelson Drive 949-640-1972 artresourcegroup.com

LAGUNA BEACH Artist Eye Laguna Gallery 1294 S. Coast Highway 949-497-5898 artisteyegallerylaguna.com Avran Art & Design 540 S. Coast Highway, Suite 104 949-494-0900, avranart.com Dawson Cole Fine Art 326 Glenneyre St. 949-497-4988 dawsoncolefineart.com Forest & Ocean 480 Ocean Ave. 949-371-3313 forestoceangallery.com

JOANNE ARTMAN GALLERY

JoAnne Artman Gallery 326 N. Coast Highway 949-510-5481 joanneartmangallery.com

saltfineart 1043 N. Coast Highway 949-715-5554 saltfineart.com

Kelsey Michaels Fine Art 354 N. Coast Highway kelseymichaels.com

Sandstone Gallery 384-A N. Coast Highway 949-497-6775 sandstonegallery.com

LCAD Gallery 374 Ocean Ave. 949-376-6000, lcad.edu Las Laguna Gallery 577 S. Coast Highway 949-667-1803 laslagunagallery.com Lu Martin Galleries 372 N. Coast Highway 949-494-8074 lumartingalleries.com Prima Fine Art Galllery 570 S. Coast Highway 949-715-0039 primafineartgallery.com Quorum Gallery 374 N. Coast Highway 949-494-4422 quorumgallery.com Redfern Gallery 1540 S. Coast Highway 949-497-3356 redferngallery.com

Studio 7 Galleries 384-B N. Coast Highway 949-497-1080 studio7gallery.com Sue Greenwood Fine Art 330 N. Coast Highway 949-494-0669 suegreenwoodfineart.com Village Gallery 502 S. Coast Highway 949-494-3553 villagegallery.com Wyland Galleries Laguna Beach 509 S. Coast Highway 949-376-8000 wylandgalleries.com

NEWPORT BEACH Ethos Contemporary Art Gallery 3405 Newport Blvd.

949-791-8917 ethoscontemporaryart.com

Gray Matter Museum of Art 530 32nd St. gmmaca.org Huse Skelly Fine Art Gallery 229 Marine Ave. huseskellygallery.com Lahaina Galleries 1173 Newport Center Drive 949-721-9117 lahainagalleries.com

ORANGE Guggenheim Gallery Chapman University 1 University Drive 714-997-6800 guggenheimgallery.com

SAN CLEMENTE San Clemente Art Association Gallery 100 N. Calle Seville 949-492-7175 paintsanclemente.com

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO The Cottage Gallery 31701 Los Rios St. 949-340-6693 cottagegalleryonlosrios.com

LCAD GALLERY

Mission Fine Art Gallery 31760 Camino Capistrano, Suite C 949-291-7738 Missionfineart.gallery

SANTA ANA Avantgarden— The Art Gallery 417-B N. Broadway 714-558-8843 avantgardenoc.com Bear Street Gallery South Coast Plaza Village 3851 S. Bear St., Suite B-15 714-540-6430 ocfinearts.org F+ Gallery 661 Poinsettia St. 714-493-9430 facebook.com/fplusgallery Showcase Gallery South Coast Plaza Village 3851 S. Bear St. Suite B-15 714-540-6430 ocfinearts.org

TUSTIN Chemers Gallery 17300 E. 17th St. Suite G 714-731-5432 chemersgallery.com October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 101

21

GEN Z LOCALS TO WATCH

M

embers of Gen Z, born in 1997 or later, include entrepreneurial, tech-savvy, and politically progressive young people who are leading the next wave of innovation and doing incredible things across the country and in our own backyard. We’ve chosen a few from O.C. to represent their cohort—athletes, podcasters, performers, documentarians, social justice reformers, humanitarians, and more.

102 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

TATUM LARSEN AND SYDNEY CHARLES Ages: 23 and 22, respectively Cohosts of the “Black Fam 2.5” podcast

BONA FIDES: UC Irvine literary journalism graduates Larsen and Charles were first introduced by lecturer Amy DePaul, who recommended the pair collaborate on a podcast for a class project. The two became fast friends and launched “Black Fam 2.5” in early 2020. The podcast aims to redefine the minority experience and began by focusing on issues affecting Black students at UC Irvine. The name references the low percentage of Black students at UC schools. The women interviewed students and faculty first, and later expanded to topics outside of campus—everything from mental health and the impact of COVID-19 on minority populations to the Black Lives Matter movement. The School of Humanities asked the duo to host an online video series highlighting Black students, alumni, and faculty.

“The Welcome Table” was funded by the Office of Inclusive Excellence and won a Council for Advancement and Support of Education District VII gold award. Larsen and Charles are now roommates and doctoral students at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

IN THEIR WORDS: “Within the first week of launching, a Black guy came up to me at a grocery store near campus and was like, ‘Hey, you made that podcast! I really like it.’ It felt so good to have someone from the community we were making it for validate it and say they needed it.”—Sydney Charles “In every generation, it’s the young people leading the activism. We have to hold the older generations accountable.

We need everybody to get with the program, because there’s no going back. We’re going forward.”—Tatum Larsen GEN Z INSPIRATION: Both: Zoe-Raven Wianecki, Tatiahna Chrishon, Alesia Robinson, and Sarah Sulewski of OC Protests Community Coalition October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 103

G E N E R AT I O N Z

AVA AUGUST Age: 16 Singer-songwriter

BONA FIDES: The Laguna Niguel teen caught the nation’s attention in the spring when she made it to the Top 12 on “American Idol.” The Dana Hills High School student plays piano, ukulele, and guitar, and has been singing at farmers markets, baseball games, and other community events around Orange County since she was very young. A talent scout reached out to her to audition for NBC’s “The 104 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

Voice” at age 12. Though she didn’t receive a chair turn, she got another opportunity last year when she was asked to audition for “American Idol.” After earning a golden ticket to Hollywood, her performances were heavily showcased during her run, most memorably a duet with Josh Groban on the Joni Mitchell classic “Both Sides Now.” Judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan praised the performance, calling it “Oscarworthy.” August is in talks with record labels, recently performed the national anthem at SoFi Stadium, and is set to release new music.

IN HER WORDS: “The music industry today is so diff erent for my generation.

You used to get signed, and that was it. It’s a lot more work now in terms of finding your own path. There are so many opportunities to be heard now, which is great, but on the other hand you’re competing with everyone including viral TikTok videos. But you just have to follow your dreams. My dream is to perform at Ohana Fest or even Coachella one day.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: singer Billie Eilish

to not be queer. It was the wellness counselor at my high school who first helped me out and led me to the direction of the LGBTQ Center.

(My experience) definitely impacted me; I wanted to be a figure for other people. Prism is so important because as a young queer adult, the first thing thrown in your face is alcohol and drugs. I created events at the center (that were) alcohol-free and drug-free.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: James Bacon, volunteer at LGBTQ Center OC

BROOKE SHANNON Age: 24 Founder of Jilaine Swim

MIGUEL ZAMUDIO Age: 22 Volunteer at LGBTQ Center OC in Santa Ana

BONA FIDES: The Irvine resident is one of the facilitators of Prism, a young adult group for the local queer community in Orange County.

One of the group’s goals is creating a safe space for everyone to feel comfortable. Zamudio was originally a member of the group when the previous facilitator noticed his leadership qualities. He started to draw more people to the group by

organizing events including game nights and “Queers, Peers, and Dears,” an annual speed dating event. In addition to being a source of comfort for members, the group provides information about navigating healthy relationships, safe sex, financial literacy, and finding a job. With a goal of being a social worker, Zamudio finds joy in bringing people together and is eager for in-person events to return.

IN HIS WORDS: “Growing up queer in O.C. was definitely rocky. I am also Mexican American, and there’s a machismo culture that pushes you

BONA FIDES: Shannon’s love for the ocean began when she moved to Huntington Beach as she was entering high school. In an oceanography class, she learned about the poor state of our oceans and began participating in beach cleanups. Her passions for swimwear and design were melded together when she attended Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, where she not only learned more about the industry, but also how the waste it produces negatively impacts the environment. Jilaine Swim, the line that bears her middle name, uses fabrics made from regenerated ocean waste and recycled water bottles. The durability and quality of the material also prevent it from releasing harmful particles into the ocean, which can happen with fast-fashion fabrics.

Her designs have caught the eyes of celebrities including Jillian Michaels, who wore a Jilaine Swim top on the cover of Women’s Health UK. IN HER WORDS: “(It’s important to) understand that it’s better to have quality over quantity and learn where you’re buying your products from. It’s worth buying a sustainable product over something that’s fast fashion.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: YouTuber Emma Chamberlain October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 105

NATALIE NIELSEN Age: 19 Received AA in Japanese while in high school

BONA FIDES: Nielsen’s love for anime drew her to the Japanese language. But it wasn’t one of the languages off ered at El Modena High School in Orange.

So the incoming freshman asked her counselor and principal if she could take a Japanese class at Irvine Valley College and have it apply to her high school credits. They agreed to the plan.

After taking several classes, Nielsen decided to work toward receiving her AA in Japanese. During the pandemic, Nielsen created a club through her high school called the College Prep and Future Planning Club, where she informed fellow classmates about dual enrollment and the options available to them. Nielsen graduated Summa Cum Laude in December with her AA. In June, she graduated high school and is now studying engineering at UCLA. IN HER WORDS: “I’d say I work about as hard as a varsity athlete, because it takes about the same amount of time—you spend a few hours after school (at the college class) and then a few more hours of homework.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: Dutch inventor and entrepreneur Boyan Slat

NIKHITA KAUSHIK Age: 16 Founder and president of the Southern California Youth Neuroscience Association

BONA FIDES: In elementary school, Kaushik was introduced to a child with autism, which launched her interest in

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neuroscience. This continued into high school at Arnold O. Beckman High in Irvine, when she attended a two-week camp focused on neurobiology. After realizing that most kids interested in neuroscience don’t have access to classes on the subject until college, Kaushik began the Southern California Youth Neuroscience Association (SCYNA). Members can attend career panels, lectures by professors, and even journal clubs where they read various neuroscience articles and discuss them with graduate students.

The association also reaches out to elementary school students to spark early interest. Prospective members can join by applying online.

IN HER WORDS: “In school, we don’t have any classes that talk about the brain and depths of neuroscience. It’s such a vast field, so diff erent people with diff erent interests can go into it.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: family friend Padmaja Sundaram

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KEANE VERAN Age: 23 Founded a company, OURA, to help Make-A-Wish kids

BONA FIDES: At age 10, the Anaheim Hills resident was diagnosed with leukemia. After the Make-A-Wish Foundation gave him the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama, he felt inspired to give back to the group by becoming an ambassador and speaking at charity events. At the same time, Veran was undergoing

chemotherapy, which caused him to lose his hair. He started wearing hats and realized how dirty they got. Having a compromised immune system, he wanted to find hats that could be easily washed or that were antimicrobial. In 2017, he was declared a cancer survivor.

That same year, he and his brother started OURA, which creates products such as hats, aprons, towels, and more with antimicrobial compounds woven into the fibers. Each purchase helps grant a wish to a child in the Make-AWish program. So far, the company has granted six wishes.

IN HIS WORDS: “The one thing that really stood out to me was (Obama) talked to me like I wasn’t just another kid. He made me feel so comfortable for someone who was so nervous and insecure, and I think that was what really stood out to me the most.

He said, ‘It’s kids like you that really inspire me.’ To hear that from one of my idols was just beyond anything I could really hope for.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai

October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 107

G E N E R AT I O N Z

O.C . G EN Z

TIKTOKERS TO KNOW

BRENT RIVERA @brentrivera Followers: 40.5M Content: Comedy LEXI BROOKE RIVERA @lexibrookerivera Followers: 18.3M Content: Comedy VI LUONG @viluong Followers: 1.1M Content: Social media growth JORDAN HEXEM @jordanhexem Followers: 354.9K Content: Photography, travel KAYLA KILBRIDE @girltalksstocks Followers: 159.4K Content: Finance, female empowerment

108 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

CLAIRE JANTZEN AND SARA NELL Age: Both 22 Codirectors of a 2021 GSA BAFTA Student Award-nominated film

BONA FIDES: During a film class, Chapman University students Jantzen and Nell were put into a group of five women to create a short documentary. The group looked to the two of them to be the film’s directors, and Nell also edited the project. The team wanted to make a film that helped to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations’ understanding and opinion of climate change. Jantzen and Nell began researching subjects for their film, which is when they came across a now 95-year-old Glacier National Park ranger, Doug Follett, who had been working in the park for close to 60 years. The film, “Your Friend, Ranger Doug,” is

focused on Follett and his powerful messages about climate change, having witnessed the glaciers melting firsthand. After winning awards at various festivals, Jantzen and Nell learned their film had been nominated for a 2021 Global Student Accommodation BAFTA Student Award, one of the most prestigious student film awards.

IN THEIR WORDS: “(The experience) alone was a big enough win for us. That’s what filmmaking is for us—the process of creating and what you learn along the way.”—Claire Jantzen “I felt that our personal strengths were each other’s weaknesses. We really balanced each other out.”—Sara Nell GEN Z INSPIRATION: Both: cinematographer Céline François and producer Kayla Borkovec October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 109

KAYA DO-KHANH Age: 19 Poet

BONA FIDES: At 17, Irvine’s DoKhanh self-published “When You Know Nothing,” a poetry book that is available on Amazon. She describes the book as “a collection and dissection of (the) emotions of a Generation Z teen.” The book is also heavily influenced by Do-Khanh’s love of the sea; she grew up on the beaches of Orange County and vacationed in

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Hawaii every year with her family. She developed a habitual and natural love for writing in middle school, always scribbling in journals and forming her thoughts as poems. She looks up to fellow poet Rupi Kaur, who has a distinctive, minimalistic style and whose poems are accessible and often shared on Instagram. Going into her second year as an English and communications major at UC Davis, Do-Khanh is working on a project depicting the college experience during the COVID-19 era.

IN HER WORDS: “I think my book itself is the characterization of Generation Z having grown up with technology. I was able to self-publish a poetry book with online resources at 17. I think people can step into the mind of an Orange County Gen Z teen through this book. It captures the breaking, the loving, the growing, the beginnings, the endings, and how social media and technology (are) part of our lives.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: O.C. poet and activist Kinsale Hueston

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF TISHA CUSTODIO AND JORDAN BENTLEY

G E N E R AT I O N Z

IN HER WORDS: “(I saw) Mouse start as a strict rule follower and end up as a confident and self-assured young woman at the end of the season. It didn’t really hit me that Mouse meant a lot to younger audiences until I started receiving messages saying how this character I am portraying is helping them feel more confident in who they truly are, since they finally have a character that represents them in the media.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: castmate Tiana Le

JORDAN BENTLEY

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF TISHA CUSTODIO AND JORDAN BENTLEY

Age: 24 Owner of clothing brand Hypland

TISHA CUSTODIO Age: 20 Actress and singer-songwriter

BONA FIDES: The OCSA alumna recently starred in “Big Shot,” a Disney+ original series featuring O.C.’s own John Stamos, who plays a basketball coach at an all-girls private high school. Custodio credits her passion for acting to her Shakespeare instructor Peter Uribe. She went on to become an intern at Shakespeare Orange County. On the show, she portrays Carolyn “Mouse” Smith, one

of the girls on the team. An episode that aired during Pride Month this year included a scene in which her character confesses her romantic feelings to another girl through song.

As a Filipino American immigrant, she is passionate about helping create and tell stories centered on diversity. She was especially drawn to “Big Shot” for touching on topics that aren’t highlighted as much in the media. Also a talented musician who plays guitar and banjo, Custodio spends her free time writing songs with the goal of releasing a debut EP.

BONA FIDES: Bentley started Hypland for a school project when he was 13.

He awoke from a dream in which he had collaborated with an anime show, which sparked the idea of combining his love of fashion with anime. His school project turned into a hobby, selling shirts at school. In 2016, when Bentley was 19 years old and attending UC Irvine, Hypland made its first million dollars. After realizing how his business was quickly turning into a full-time job, Bentley switched his computer science major to international business, which helped him with his company. In 2018, he started selling Hypland at Zumiez; now it’s one of the top-selling brands at the retail chain. This month, Hypland will release a collaboration with Yu-Gi-Oh. IN HIS WORDS: “What I love so much about school that helped me with my business was … I got to talk to so many diff erent folks that are studying diff erent things, and I could really implement knowledge and information from all these subjects.

I think that was my main takeaway from college—all the relationships and the freethinking ideas everyone has while you’re in school.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: his brother Trevor Williams October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 111

LAURIE HERNANDEZ Age: 21 Olympic Gold medalist, author, and TV personality

BONA FIDES: At age 16, Hernandez earned two medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics: gold for the women’s gymnastics team event and silver on the balance beam. She later became champion of “Dancing With the Stars.”

She has also penned a memoir, “I Got This: To Gold and Beyond,” and a children’s book, “She’s Got This,” both of which made it onto The New York Times bestsellers list. After an injury kept her from competing in Tokyo, Hernandez leaned into her experience, hosting “American Ninja Warrior Junior” and doing Olympics commentary for NBC Sports. She lives in Costa Mesa and is looking forward to pursuing a career in acting and production while continuing to be an advocate for mental health.

Catch her in the Gold Over America Tour gymnastics event.

GEN Z INSPIRATION: American trampoline gymnast Charlotte Drury and American snowboarder Chloe Kim

NITHIN PARTHASARATHY Age: 17 Zero Waste Initiative founder

BONA FIDES: Parthasarathy is the founder of Zero Waste Initiative, a nonprofit that collects food otherwise discarded from local eateries and gives it to organizations that feed the hungry. The group has donated more than $3,000 in food that would have

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been thrown out. Parthasarathy had to make a lot of phone calls at the start to convince food venues of the need for the program, gaining his first agreement with Bruegger’s Bagels. Now the initiative receives extra food for donation from close to a dozen Orange County places.

The Northwood High School (in Irvine) alumnus and finalist for the 2021 California Prudential Spirit of Community Award believes Zero Waste has had a positive impact on the community. He’s actively looking to recruit more people to join in the

eff ort and hopes to add to the list of businesses that can donate surplus food. Parthasarathy says he’ll always remember the smiles on people’s faces, especially the kids, when he shows up with his bags of free food for those in need.

IN HIS WORDS: “I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to help people.

We even donated bagels to the firefighters fighting the Silverado Canyon fire last year.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: environmental activist Greta Thunberg

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF LAURIE HERNANDEZ

IN HER WORDS: “My mom’s a social worker and my sister’s a therapist, so I kind of grew up learning a lot about mental health. I struggled a lot when I was younger in understanding my mental health and even though things were explained to me, there was still a lot of self-discovery that was happening throughout the years. Once I started talking about it publicly, people were just responding and connecting with everything I was saying. Even on TikTok, I’ll joke about my own struggles in a way that people can connect with.

It’s spreading the word about it and pulling the stigma (away) from it.”

G E N E R AT I O N Z

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF LAURIE HERNANDEZ

TARA TANJASIRI Age: 24 Food safety manager at Crema Bakery in Irvine

BONA FIDES: As the daughter of Tarit Tanjasiri, owner and chief executive baker of Crema Bakery, Tara grew up in the food industry, working at the family restaurant in Seal Beach.

After a whirlwind year for the family business, she stepped up and lent her knowledge and expertise to expand the bakery’s wholesale clients.

She describes her role as “making other people’s jobs easier,” handling everything from payroll to cooking staff meals. During the pandemic, Tanjasiri hand-delivered baked goods to neighbors and was on-site at the artisan pop-up in Orange distributing free meals to frontline health care workers. She has also been instrumental in maintaining a tremendous standard for health and safety, which has led Crema to secure accounts as large as the Disneyland Resort. After studying environmental science at USC, Tanjasiri is also

helping transition Crema Bakery into the digital age and becoming more eco-friendly in its operations.

IN HER WORDS: “I think the thing I bring right now is a fresh perspective. I helped redo all the websites. We used to have paper ordering for all the pies.

We made nearly 900 pies in 2019, but we switched to online ordering and made more than 1,200 in 2020. Instead of paper invoices, we’re using digital invoices.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: roommate Stephanie Kim, project coordinator at “AsianBossGirl” October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 113

G E N E R AT I O N Z

G EN BET – Definitely, for sure “I’ll pick you up at 9.” “Bet.” CHEUGY – Uncool, following an out-of-date trend “Those Uggs are cheugy.”

NO CAP – No bluffing, exaggerating, or lying “That was the worst movie I ever saw, no cap.”

SWERVE – A way to tell someone to move out of the way. Often used disrespectfully.

“I need to use the bathroom right now, swerve!”

DRIP – Large amounts of expensive garments or jewelry on one’s person “Head to toe Gucci. He’s got the drip.”

SLIDE – To show up or drop by “Can I come over now?”

“Yeah, slide.”

BOP – A song that is catchy or really good “Beyonce’s new single is such a bop.”

SLAPPER/SLAPS – Synonym for bop “That song slaps.”

GOES HARD – Does something well “I love Megan Thee Stallion.

She goes so hard.”

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SL ANG AIN’T IT, CHIEF – Phrase that connotes a negative reaction “Oof, you’re being homophobic in my own apartment? That ain’t it, chief.”

CATCH THESE HANDS/ THROW HANDS – Term for fighting “If you keep touching me, you’ll catch these hands.”

HIGH KEY – Very much “I’m excited about this concert, high key.”

LOW KEY – A little, or on the down low, something to keep quiet “I low key have a crush on Sarah.”

MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY/SYNDROME – Acting like the world revolves around you “She’s got main character syndrome because she’s an only child.”

SENDING – The feeling of being swept away by something funny “This meme is sending me.”

SUS – Short for suspicious, shady “That guy over there is being sus.”

ELENA BOCK Age: 20 Co-president and hub coordinator of Sunrise Movement at UC Irvine

BONA FIDES: An environmental science and policy major at UC Irvine, Bock has been passionate about the topic of climate change since she was quite young.

Originally from Davis, the rising junior chose UC Irvine specifically for its interdisciplinary environmental science program.

Bock heard about Sunrise Movement—a national youth organization focusing on political action for climate change—when she was a freshman. Now she runs the group alongside her friend Kelly Perymon. Bock considers her chapter’s biggest achievement thus far to be pressuring Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) to publicly support and cosponsor the Green New Deal in Congress. Bock and her team pushed for a meeting with Porter for months, using social media to make their voices heard. They also appear at local town halls and protests, armed with facts and posters and prepared to face those pushing back on their ideas.

IN HER WORDS: “Climate change is one of the biggest threats to our generation. We’re taking action because we’re feeling its eff ects already, and it’s only going to get worse. Sometimes we show up with our signs and banners and

people tell us we’re too young and uneducated to know what this country needs. It’s intimidating. But we just have to rise above.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: Kelly Perymon, co-president and hub coordinator of Sunrise Movement at UC Irvine

JORDYN CURET Age: 12 Actress, model, and singer

BONA FIDES: The Orange County native is an up-and-coming star

who started modeling as a baby, eventually landing commercials for Target and campaigns for brands such as Gap and Guess. She then embarked on her acting career and moved to Los Angeles to pursue it full time, appearing in the hit Disney Channel series “Bizaardvark” alongside Olivia Rodrigo and Jake Paul. Since her acting debut, she has appeared in the Oscarwinning drama “A Marriage Story” starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver and is a series regular on ABC’s “Home Economics,” now in its second season. Curet is also working on a

secret Lucasfilm project and hopes to one day star in her own drama film.

IN HER WORDS: “My character Shamiah (on “Home Economics”) is a super sweet, super outgoing girl. She loves fighting for what she stands for such as social justice and women’s rights. All of that is what she is willing to put out into the world. She’s not afraid to speak her mind. I relate to her because she is so outgoing and so courageous with those things.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: tennis player Naomi Osaka October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 115

Age: 19 Led protest for in-person learning at Newport Harbor High School

BONA FIDES: After months of online learning in 2020, Somers longed to get back into the classroom for face-toface interaction with her teachers, classmates, and friends at Newport Harbor High. Being involved in sports and associated student body, she missed all that comes with the high school experience. Somers was excited to find out that students would be 116 O R A N G E C O A S T • October 2021

able to come back for hybrid learning in September of last year, only to be disappointed when that date was pushed back twice. In October, she organized a protest at the school district to open hybrid learning. She created a graphic to post on Instagram as well as posters to carry. The next day, around 100 students and parents showed up to the protest, which lasted more than an hour. Afterward, Somers applied for the Newport Beach Foundation Scholarship Program. She was one of four students to receive the award out of 50 applicants.

IN HER WORDS: “I take pride in where I go to school, and I just wanted it to be a safe and healthy learning environment. That’s why I pushed for hybrid learning.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: Sadie Robertson from “Duck Dynasty”

ARUSH MEHROTRA Age: 17 OC Justice Project founder and president

BONA FIDES: Mehrotra envisions a world where equal justice for all is not

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ANNIE SOMERS AND DEJAH MULIPOLA

ANNIE SOMERS

G E N E R AT I O N Z

enact change in the areas they feel strongly about.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor and gun control activist David Hogg

DEJAH MULIPOLA Age: 23 Softball Olympian

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ANNIE SOMERS AND DEJAH MULIPOLA

BONA FIDES: Mulipola started playing T-ball at home in Garden Grove when she was 4 years old. She was introduced to softball by her mom and aunt, who also played, and her two younger sisters ended up playing as well. When Mulipola was a freshman at the University of Arizona, she was asked to play for Team USA. She played on the junior national team her first year, was on the Japan roster her sophomore year, and on the women’s team her junior year.

She was asked to try out for the 2020 Olympics, which she did in October 2019. While the team was finishing tryouts, she learned she had made the roster for her senior year. She flew to Tokyo in July, where she and her team played six Olympic games, five of which they won, earning them the silver medal. Mulipola hopes to play in the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

just an ideal, but a fact. He started the nonprofit OC Justice Project while attending University High in Irvine. His goal: provide a platform for other high school students to get involved in social activism. He hopes to inspire others to address the issues he believes undermine the democratic ideals of the American justice system. Mehrotra credits a TED Talk for sparking his initial interest.

The presentation was about the cash bail system and how a person’s socioeconomic status could be used unjustly as punishment. Soon,

Mehrotra was writing op-eds for his school newspaper, then opinion pieces for the Los Angeles Times. Last year, he hosted a virtual town hall with Farrah N. Kahn, now the mayor of Irvine. The 2021 WAVE Guiding Light honoree believes it’s important to provide a platform for others in his age group to advocate against social inequities, especially within what can be a complex legal system.

IN HIS WORDS: “The social justice system can seem out of reach for high school students, but our project lets people who have a desire to, actually

IN HER WORDS: “I was just super stoked to even be at the tryout, whether I made the team or not. It was a goal of mine since I was a little kid to get to the Olympics. To have that chance was something I was working toward, whether or not it was going to come true.”

GEN Z INSPIRATION: her teammate Rachel Garcia

by Crystal Chang, Soleil Easton, Astgik Khatchatryan, Michelle Pagaran, Chelsea Raineri, Barbara Neal Varma, and Maria Watson photographs by Emily J. Davis

October 2021 • O R A N G E C O A S T 117

PEOPLE PERSON S N A P S H O T

Santa Ana native Alexis Garcez is the founder and force behind Gente Market, a monthly festival that promotes the vibrant Latino culture. by Aliese Willard Muhonen A practicing marriage and family therapist, Garcez has had nearly every milestone of her life take place in Santa Ana: She was born and raised there, attended school there (with the exception of her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at nearby Chapman University), met her husband and had a son there, and lives there.

Growing up, she loved the city’s diversity and Latino culture but was frustrated by the negative perceptions surrounding it. “People would ask where I was from and I would say ‘Santa Ana.’ They would say, ‘Really? From Santa Ana?’ And that always really, really bothered me— just how people (from here) were, frankly, looked down upon. So that’s when I felt like something needed to change, and I needed to do my part in that.”

Her first step came in 2018 through her creation of the Instagram account Santanera Living, named after the local term for a female native of Santa Ana. She initially posted artistic pictures of the city and promoted local businesses. “I wanted to highlight a different part of Santa Ana, the part that I knew, and that I know is there. And I think people really took to it because finally it was a positive side, a positive look at our city.”

As Santanera Living’s followers increased, the account evolved into a Chicano lifestyle brand for which Garcez designed clothing, jewelry, and decorations. While selling her wares, Garcez recognized the need for a more regular event to showcase Latino entrepreneurs photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

I hope that people from all areas can come and experience the Latino culture in an unexpected and fun way.

and creative culture. “I was thinking of different places—Olvera Street in downtown L.A., San Diego has Barrio Logan—cities and areas of Chicano-owned businesses that have a rich culture and have different events that highlight that culture. And I feel like Orange County needs that.”

Her solution was Gente Market (gente means people in Spanish)—a monthly open-air market and festival. She and her family put on the first event at the Blue Lot in downtown Santa Ana in December 2019. Garcez chooses a theme for each event, and the lineup includes an array of food trucks, musicians, dancers, artists, plant installations, and crafts. July’s theme, Frida Fest, featured a Frida Kahlo look-alike contest. “I wanted to do this to create something for locals, for families, for all different types of classes and cultures to be able to mix in one space. If you come to our markets, you see a very diverse set of people. That’s why I called it Gente Market, because it’s like the people’s market. So my goal is to help a lot of these small businesses, these entrepreneurs, artists, to elevate their products in a way that people can really, truly see the beauty in them.”

Garcez’s idea has flourished, despite the challenges of rescheduling events and ensuring safety during the pandemic. “Our first market we had maybe 20 or 25 vendors, and probably 200 to 300 people showed up. And now we’re at a point where we have about 80 vendors and we’re at about 3,000 people attending our event. So in the past year and even through a pandemic, it’s amazing to me how much we have grown. I hope I can start working with other people in the community— other cultures—to do markets that are representative of (their) cultures as well.”

October 2021 • OR A NGE COAST 119

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S P O N S O R E D CONT E NT

A GUIDE TO HEALTH & WELLNESS

SIMPLE WELLNESS TIPS for a

Healthier Life Looking and feeling your best is an attainable goal, no matter your age. It all comes down to prioritizing healthy practices, making smart choices when it comes to diet, exercise and stress management and staying current on scheduled wellness exams. Our trusted health and lifestyle experts are available to help you discover renewed confidence and vitality.

October 2021 • Or a nge Coast 121

A DV E R T IS E M E NT

Ten Tips for

M A I N TA I N I N G

YOUR BRAIN

M

ost of us know we need to exercise to keep the body fit, but what about mental fitness? How many people put equal emphasis on exercising their brain?

“It’s more important than you think,” said Beverly Sanborn, LCSW, gerontologist for Belmont Village Senior Living. “Just as we build muscle strength to keep our bodies fit, we need to build cognitive reserve to help our brains stave off memory problems and keep our minds active as we age.”

Experts believe that changes in the brain can begin as early as two decades before symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease begin to show. However, research shows that the right lifestyle choices can help the brain build cognitive reserve that aging adults can draw on to maintain function.

The best tip, according to Sanborn?

“Don’t wait to start, and don’t give up hope. There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but taking care of your brain is the best way to maintain function and slow decline.

Even if you’re older, or already have some memory loss, it’s not too late. At Belmont Village, we’ve seen improvements in our residents with early-stage loss once they started participating in our memory programs on a regular basis.”

Belmont Village Senior Living has served California seniors for nearly two decades, creating an environment where seniors can thrive at every age. At Belmont Village, residents experience unparalleled hospitality in Assisted Living and awardwinning Memory Care for Alzheimer’s and dementia. Residents have everything they need at their fingertips — from 24/7 on-site nurses, a salon, chef-prepared meals and concierge services.

1. Eat Right

5. Reduce Stress

Low salt and saturated fats, plenty of dark skinned fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

Chronic stress releases a cascade of hormones that eventually affect memory.

2. Exercise

6. Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

Minimum 30 minutes a day, with a mix of cardio and strength training.

Sleep deprivation disrupts the coordinated activity of an important brain network.

3. Challenge Your Brain

7. Be Present

The best exercises teach you something new and are a mental stretch:

Interruptions interfere with short and long-term memory formation and older brains have a harder time quickly switching back and forth between tasks.

Practice Critical Thinking – Read a controversial article and tell someone about it, presenting both points of view.

8. Embrace Your Spirituality

Use Mind & Body Together – Dancing is perfect, as are sports & activities with strategies or complex moves.

Whether doing good works or taking time for prayer or meditation, attending to your spiritual side creates well-being and reduces stress.

Learn Something New – Pick an interest you’ve wanted to explore but never had the time.

9. Maintain Your Purpose

Recall Long-Term Learning – Use skills and knowledge you stored away years ago.

Practice Organizing Ideas – Interpret a proverb, verbally or in writing – the harder the verse, the better the work-out.

Think Analytically – Solving math and analytic problems helps keep the mind sharp.

4. Stay Social Isolation and inactivity can lead to depression, which contributes to certain dementias.

Feeling that your life has meaning and that you are in control of it fosters positive attitudes and emotions and a healthier brain.

10. Evaluate and Adjust Just as in physical exercise, mental workouts have to be adjusted periodically to remain effective and interesting.

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A GUIDE TO HEALTH & WELLNESS

PURSUE DAILY WELLNESS

F

rom remembering to apply daily sunscreen to taking mini mental health breaks throughout the day, rethinking how you practice self-care can form the foundation of a healthy lifestyle.

Practice skin protection. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen and look out for signs of sun damage which include abnormal shapes and skin discoloration (brown spots, red spots), wrinkles, rough skin, & potentially pre-cancerous & cancerous lesions. California Skin Institute recommends you do a self-check and if you find anything suspicious come see one of our board-certified dermatologists. Learn more at californiaskininstitute.com.

Take a hike. OC is home to dozens of scenic trails, and studies show hiking can lower your risk of heart disease, boost bone density, strengthen your core, and improve balance!

Become less “social.” Hitting pause on social media and other online activities can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve your sleep. Make it a practice to turn off your device at least an hour before bed and use the time to meditate, crack open a book or begin a gratitude journal.

Choose a better bra. At A Perfect Fit Fine Lingerie, brafitting experts will assure you the most comfortable bra while also showing you the healthiest way to wear it.

Feed your creativity. Paint, write, garden, cook, sew, redecorate a room–you might discover a new passion!

Get your Daily Dose of wellness. If you live with daily pain, Frequency and Neuromuscular Therapist Danielle Palmer wants you to know that relief is available, even if you have “tried everything.” As the owner and Therapeutic Director at Daily Dose Wellness in Newport Beach, she uses safe and effective frequency therapy to stimulate your body’s healing abilities via microcurrent, with exceptional results. Learn more at dailydose.health.

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DANIEL S. YANNI, MD, FAANS NEUROSURGEON

DISC COMFORT, INC. Dr. Daniel S. Yanni is a board certified and spine fellowship trained neurosurgeon and is also one of the few surgeons in the country who specializes in Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Surgery.

Rated number one by his peers and patients alike, Dr. Yanni continues to research and develop new innovative approaches to surgical problems at his Disc Comfort, Inc. practice in Newport Beach.

“We bring the wealth of knowledge from the University academic days and marry it to a private practice concierge style model that provides the highest caliber of personalized care,” he says.

Dr. Yanni was a teenager in a high school anatomy class when he decided to become a neurosurgeon.

He graduated summa cum laude from UCLA in Neuroscience. His passion for Neurological Surgery grew further while in medical school at the University of California, San Diego.

“I was impressed by the anatomy and wiring in the brain and spine—how electrical signals are translated into motion, sensation, memories and speech,” says Yanni.

Ever focused on innovation, Dr. Yanni performs spine surgery through key-hole sized incisions, a minimally invasive procedure that allows patients to be released within hours or days and return to work within weeks.

In addition, Dr. Yanni also performs traditional open surgery for complex, deformity, and revision cases.

“Any patient suffering from neck pain, back pain or difficulty walking – this is what we are here for.”

1501 Superior Avenue, Suite 214 Newport Beach office 949.515.0051 | fax 949.515.0052 yannimd.com October 2021 • Or a nge Coast 125

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ENGAGE WITH THE EXPERTS O

C is home to some of the nation’s top health and wellness professionals. Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge housed here in your own backyard.

Access life-saving treatments from Orange County’s only academic health system.

At UCI Health, we don’t just practice medicine; we create it.

UCI Health is at the forefront of groundbreaking research and innovations to meet the toughest health challenges in our community. We are the first to provide such leadingedge treatments as adult bone marrow transplantation and we offer the most early-phase cancer clinical trials in our region. We are the only Orange County-based NCI126 Ora nge C o ast • October 2021

designated cancer center, which means we provide the most advanced, comprehensive cancer care for our patients.

Our newest medical complex in Laguna Hills offers all the expertise and advanced care that only UCI Health can provide – from cancer, cardiology, digestive diseases, dermatology and neurology to pain management, integrative health and all surgery specialty services – in one convenient location. With more healthcare offerings and locations than ever, UCI Health stops at nothing to help you and your families live your best lives. Learn more at ucihealth.org.

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A GUIDE TO HEALTH & WELLNESS

DANIELLE PALMER, CNMT

OWNER AND THERAPEUTIC DIRECTOR

DAILY DOSE WELLNESS, LLC. A STIMULATING APPROACH TO PAIN MANAGEMENT If you live with daily pain, Frequency and Neuromuscular Therapist Danielle Palmer wants you to know that relief is available, even if you have “tried everything.” As the owner and Therapeutic Director at Daily Dose Wellness in Newport Beach, Danielle is highly skilled using a frequency device called SCENAR ® to naturally relieve pain.

Th is proven modality, developed by scientists including Russian Neurologist Dr. Alexander Revenko, has been successfully used for over four decades and Danielle is one of very few U.S. practitioners trained by Revenko himself. Th is innovative therapy has garnered praise from patients and medical professionals alike; both noting Danielle as an expert.

Danielle became a proponent of this therapy due to fi rsthand experience. “I was born with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and dealt with chronic infl ammation. I even began losing my eyesight.

When I found this device, I started believing something outside of mainstream medicine could help.”

Danielle’s experience gave her an insatiable desire to heal others. She explains that this therapy works by stimulating the body’s healing abilities via microcurrent, using the same impulses as the nervous system. Th is results in a speedier healing process with no reported adverse side effects, and the sessions are pain free.

“I found SCENAR ® reading a New Zealand medical journal and contacted the Doctor. He stated that this was an indispensable tool. I researched in the USA and found Danielle who has been a true treasure for both my patients and me.”

- Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy M.D., Medical Director Center for New Medicine and Author of “The Cancer Revolution”

“Working with Danielle, and undergoing SCENAR ® myself, has been life-changing. I have been so impressed that I now refer patients to her.”

- Dr. Julie Sarton, PT, DPT, WCS, Owner Sarton Physical Therapy

“Danielle is by far, the most well-versed practitioner in frequency modalities that I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”

- Heather Hiniker, CEO Ascent Adaptation and Regeneration Center

1601 Dove Street, Suite 185 Newport Beach, CA 92660 714.457.4686 dailydose.health @dailydosehealth @thefrequencytherapist SCENAR® is a registered trademark for RITMSCENAR OKB, Inc.

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Dr. Steven A. Miyamoto, DDS Fullerton Oral Surgery

“We got your back” is more than a slogan for Dr. Daniel S. Yanni, a board certified and spine fellowship-trained neurosurgeon in Newport Beach. Dr. Yanni is also one of the few surgeons in the country who specializes in Minimally Invasive, Complex Spine, and Revision Surgery.

Rated number one by his peers and patients alike, Dr. Yanni continues to research and develop new innovative approaches to surgery at his Disc Comfort, Inc. practice in Newport Beach.

Learn more at yannimd.com or call 949-515-0051.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Steven A. Miyamoto specializes in using growth factors and stem cells to expedite healing after surgery. His practice includes pinhole surgery for gingival recession, wisdom teeth removal, diagnosing and treating facial pain, facial injuries and Osteonecrosis, as well as dental implant and bone grafting procedures. He completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey after graduating from UCLA Dental School. Dr. Miyamoto teaches continuing education classes, and serves as general anesthesia inspector for the California Dental Board along with volunteering at several other professional committee boards.

113 W. Amerige Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832 714-525-1178 | fullertonoralsurgery.com

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128 Ora nge C o ast • October 2021

Re-map your brain’s highway.

S P O N S O R E D CONT E NT

A GUIDE TO HEALTH & WELLNESS FOR THE FINEST FIT IN BRAS

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A GUIDE TO HEALTH & WELLNESS

WORRY LESS, SMILE MORE OFTEN

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positive attitude goes a long way when it comes to feeling confident about your mental, physical and even your financial future.

Become a lifelong learner. Boost your brain

fitness by taking up a new hobby, learning a new skill or even perfecting a foreign language.

Safeguard your smile. Dr. Steven Miyamoto offers a full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery with expertise ranging from wisdom teeth surgery with stem cells to speed up your healing to dental implants to replace missing teeth. His practice can diagnose and treat facial pain, facial injuries, TMJ disorders, and perform a full range of dental implant and bone grafting procedures.

Proponents of the latest technology, including computer-guided surgery, growth factors and stem cells technology, Dr. Miyamoto offers world-class dental care for his patients. With Dr. Miyamoto’s decades of experience and knowledge of new dental technologies, your family’s oral health is in the best of hands.

Learn more at fullertonoralsurgery.com.

Put your trust in the insurance experts.

”Walker Insurance Solutions in San Clemente has been helping clients find the right insurance products for their specific needs for over two decades. Whether you are looking for Medicare coverage, individual coverage or group insurance, they have you covered! Learn more at everyhealthplan.com.

130 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

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A GUIDE TO HEALTH & WELLNESS

FEEL GOOD AT EVERY AGE

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hinking holistically about personal care, how you spend your free time and even where you live will help you thrive now and well into the future.

Detox your brain. Read something inspirational each day and incorporate personal affirmations into your daily routine.

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Live pain free. Newport Beach Doctor Discovers A

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RESOURCE GUIDE A Perfect Fit Enderle Center 17300 E. 17th St., Ste. A Tustin, CA 92780 (714) 665-5994 aperfectfitonline.com --------------------

Belmont Village Senior Living 300 Freedom Ln. Aliso Viejo, CA 9265 (949) 643-1050 belmontvillage.com --------------------

California Skin Institute 475 S. State College Blvd.

Brea, CA 92821 (714) 332-6522 caskin.com -------------------Concierge Podiatry & Spa 495 Old Newport Blvd., Ste. 300 Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 650-1147 conciergepodiatryspa.com --------------------

CTOrganics 27128B Paseo Espada San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 (310) 709-6536 ctorganics.com --------------------

Daily Dose Wellness Newport Beach, CA 92660 (209) 604-0384 dailydose.health --------------------

Daniel S. Yanni, MD, FAANS 1501 Superior Ave., Ste. 214 Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 515-0051 yannimd.com --------------------

European Optical 1294 S. Coast Hwy., Ste. C Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (949) 494-6106 europeanopticalinc.com --------------------

Fullerton Oral Surgery 113 W. Amerige Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832 (714) 525-1178 fullertonoralsurgery.com

HRC Fertility 1-866-HRC-4IVF havingbabies.com 500 Superior Ave., Ste. 210 Newport Beach, CA 92663 1950 Sunnycrest Dr., Ste. 2400 Fullerton, CA 92835 23961 Calle de la Magdalena Ste. 503 Laguna Hills, CA 92653 3231 Waring Ct., Ste. M Oceanside, CA 92056 -------------------Providence Cancer Institute providence.org/canceroc Crosson Cancer Institute Providence St. Jude Medical Center 2151 N. Harbor Blvd., Ste. 3200 Fullerton, CA 92835 (657) 577-8772 Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange 1000 W. La Veta Ave. Orange, CA 92868 (949) 877-7715 Leonard Cancer Institute Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo 27799 Medical Center Rd. Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (866) 506-0267 -------------------UCI Health ucihealth.org UCI Medical Center 101 The City Drive South Orange, CA 92868 (714) 456-7809 UCI Health Gottschalk Medical Plaza 1 Medical Plaza Drive Irvine, CA 92697 (949) 824-8600 UCI Health outpatient services 1640 Newport Blvd.

Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (714) 456-7720

UCI Health — Tustin 1451 Irvine Blvd.

Tustin, CA 92780 (714) 838-8878 UCI Health — Orange Main Street 293 S. Main St., Ste. 200 Orange, CA 92868 (714) 838-8848 UCI Health — Yorba Linda 18637 Yorba Linda Blvd.

Yorba Linda, CA 92886 (714) 790-8600 -------------------Walker Insurance Solutions, LLC 940 Calle Negocio, Suite 110 San Clemente, CA 92673 (949) 545-0163 everyhealthplan.com -------------------Senior Resource Group La Vida at Mission Viejo Independent & Assisted Living · Memory Care 27783 Center Drive Mission Viejo, CA 92692 (949) 625-1533 Lavidamissionviejo.com Las Palmas Independent & Assisted Living · Memory Care 24962 Calle Aragon Laguna Woods, CA 92637 (949) 382-1144 Laspalmasseniorliving.com The Regency Independent & Assisted Living 24441 Calle Sonora Laguna Woods, CA 92637 (949) 441-4177 Theregencyseniorliving.com The Wellington Independent & Assisted Living 24903 Moulton Parkway Laguna Woods, CA 92653 (949) 377-0292 Thewellingtonseniorliving.com

UCI Health — Newport Beach 2161 San Joaquin Hills Road Newport Beach, CA 92660

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DINING GUIDE

DINING GUIDE ORANGE COUNT Y’S DEFINITIVE SOURCE F O R R E S TAU R A N T N E W S & M I N I R E V I E W S P R I C I N G $$$ $50 and up $$ Less than $50 $ Mostly less than $25 Denotes Critic’s Choice restaurant

ANAHEIM BLUSKY RESTAURANT & BAR Gawk at the view from the 12-story rooftop digs, but know that BluSky’s Basque cuisine is what really makes this hotel restaurant Anaheim’s most interesting newcomer. Executive chef Edgar Beas is fresh off stints at Michelin-star kitchens, applying mastery to a tight menu of Spanish dishes. Look for Ibérico pork items, indulgent salt cod, and lobster paella.

Radisson Blu, 1601 S. Anaheim Blvd., 714-409-1458.

Dinner only. $$ CATAL RESTAURANT AND UVA BAR Dead center in Downtown Disney, Catal is the Patina Group’s nod to Spain’s Mediterranean cuisine. Expect an urbane spin on rustic fare such as lobster paella, making this one of the zone’s better spots for fine dining. Just outside, Uva Bar is an alfresco saloon with light eats and great peoplewatching. 1580 Disneyland Drive, 714-774-4442. $$$ NAPA ROSE Wine country thrives at the Disneyland Resort by way of this classy dinner house— no park admission required. Chef Andrew Sutton leads his crew in an exhibition kitchen, turning out imaginative, highly seasonal fare. The room mixes rustic with refined, and the notably wine-savvy waitstaff, many qualified as sommeliers, deftly tailors unforgettable meals around wines from one of the region’s finest cellars. Grand Californian Hotel, 1313 Disneyland Drive, 714-300-7170. $$$ POPPY & SEED Chef-owner Michael Reed applies his verNEW satile chops to a spirited, seasonal dinner menu of share plates and thoughtful proteins. Clever variations on of-the-moment produce are high points as are premium steaks and duck dishes. The one-of-a-kind greenhouse garden setting is a calming contrast to neighbor Anaheim Packing House.

Weekend brunch. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 350 S. Anaheim Blvd., 714-603-7130 $$$

THE RANCH RESTAURANT & SALOON Oozing top-notch ambition, The Ranch packs some big guns—executive chef Michael Rossi and his brother David, pastry chef. The large venue also includes an upscale saloon and dance hall, sited in the six-story headquarters of Extron Electronics. The whopping (mostly) seasonal American fare is a mashup of down-home and uptown.

1025 E. Ball Road, 714-817-4200. $$$ TRUE SEASONS ORGANIC KITCHEN This sleek storefront by Saifon Plewtong now adds wraps, bowls, smoothies, and desserts to a menu that once focused solely on hot pots. Still, the spotlight is on organic, GMO-free local produce and allnatural proteins. Do try the fresh-pressed sugar cane juice for a refresher like no other in these parts.

5675 E. La Palma Ave., 714-462-9223. $$ URBANA This colorful latecomer to the Anaheim Packing House brings vibrancy and a cool cantina attitude to a food hall that really needed a good taco and mezcal cocktail. Executive chef Ernie Alvarado’s short menu of savvy street food changes often, and you can’t go wrong with his daily specials. Cozy surroundings offer a choice of ambience—festive or sultry. 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., 714-502-0255. $$

ANAHEIM HILLS EL CHOLO A spiffy suburban outpost of the combo-plate chain that started in L.A. in 1923. Many dishes are listed with their year of origin. One of the best dates from the birth of the restaurant: the Sonora-style enchilada topped with a fried egg. Green corn tamales have achieved cult status. 8200 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, 714-769-6269. See Corona del Mar and La Habra locations. $$ REUNION KITCHEN + DRINK Popular with the locals, this dapper haunt oozes bonhomie thanks to a solid team led by industry vet

Scott McIntosh, whose feel-good American classics are consistently executed by a tight kitchen. Service is sharp. Look for a homey meatloaf, laudable fried chicken with yummy mashers and fresh biscuits, and house-made desserts. Modern cocktails and a roomy patio increase the pleasure factor. 5775 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, 714-283-1062. Second location (not yet reviewed) in Laguna Beach. $$

BRE A BRUNOS ITALIAN KITCHEN One of North County’s best venues boasts advantages that are fairly rare in these parts: thoughtfully executed Italian cuisine, a cozy setting, and appealing prices. This sibling of neighbor Cha Cha’s does winning arancini, steamed mussels, house-made pappardelle, and a fine branzino. A notable happy hour features steep discounts on terrific appetizers and signature Italian cocktails. 210 W. Birch St., 714-257-1000. $$ CHA CHA’S L ATIN KITCHEN This cool hang with a wraparound sidewalk patio is Birch Street Promenade’s most enduring dining success. Helmed by industry vets Don Myers and Peter Serantoni, the menu of modern Mexican fare is boosted by a wood-burning oven and new dishes that blur some borders—sopes, empanadas, aguachile, and pozole. Taco Tuesday is just one of many weekly specials. Impressive tequila menu.

110 W. Birch St., 714-255-1040. See Irvine location. $$ OLD BREA CHOP HOUSE North County’s fine diners can skip the trek south to splurge on old-school steakhouse dinners. Longtime Morton’s veteran Tony Fasulo breaks away, polishing the classy formula to a high sheen. Expect deluxe beef, say a Tomahawk chop or a strapping Delmonico, boosted with first-class seafood, precise cocktails, and cosseting service.

Marinated skirt steak is the sleeper call. Cozy yet utterly contemporary, the venue includes a 25-seat bar. 180 S. Brea Blvd., 714-592-3122. Dinner only. $$$ TAPS FISH HOUSE & BREWERY Taps continues to be O.C.’s landmark pick for dining on a wide range of appealing seafood, pasta, steaks, and spunky New Orleans specialties that go down well with award-winning ales and lagers that change often. Happy hour is a big draw for value-seekers. Sunday brunch is a popular feast.

101 E. Imperial Highway, 714-257-0101. $$

CORONA DEL MAR THE BUNGALOW Comfy booths, a lively bar with stiff martinis, and lots of premium wines by the glass lure diners to this dinner house darling with the feel of a Craftsman home. Prime beef is king, but you also can get a huge Aussie lobster tail. Desserts are classic berries and cream, and chocolate souffle cake, so you can concentrate on your surf ’n’ turf. Lunch is hearty sandwiches and huge high-quality salads.

Just save us a seat on the charming patio. 2441 E. Coast Highway, 949-673-6585. $$$

OUR CRITERIA Restaurants are reviewed by our dining critics and staff and have no relationship to advertising in Orange Coast.

Listings are updated regularly. We do not accept free meals; visits are anonymous. Price classifications are based on a typical three‑course dinner (appetizer, entree, dessert) for one person. Alan Gibbons edits this listing. You can reach her at agibbons@orangecoast.com.

134 Ora nge C o ast • October 2021

Ahi tuna at Glasspar EL CHOLO It’s combo-plate heaven at this venerable local chain that started in L.A. in 1923. The Sonora-style enchiladas are topped with a fried egg. Green corn tamales have achieved cult status. 3520 E. Coast Highway, 949-777-6137. See Anaheim Hills and La Habra locations. $ FARMHOUSE AT ROGER’S GARDENS This beguiling patio is chef-owner Rich Mead’s fourth and busiest enterprise yet, an inspired collaboration between a farmer’s dream chef and O.C.’s iconic outdoor lifestyle retailer. The restaurant-gazebo seats 120 with rustic style, making this the fresh favorite for dates and celebrations. Mead’s seasonal menu shifts often to reflect his passion for local family farms and ranches. Craft cocktails have a farmers market tilt, and a nascent cheese program rounds out the ever-changing feast. 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, 949-640-1415. $$$ FIVE CROWNS O.C.’s beloved, vine-covered, fine-dining landmark of 1965 stays current thanks to a refreshed menu by executive chef Alejandra Padilla (formerly with Hillstone and Patina groups). Foodies thrill to foie gras brûlée and roast goose with wild grains, but sumptuous feasts of prime rib retain a hallowed spot on the carte at this Lawry’s-owned institution.

As always, service is polished and accommodating.

Leave room for the righteous sundae made with C.C. Brown’s hot fudge, an old Hollywood marvel. 3801 E. Coast Highway, 949-760-0331. Dinner only. $$$ photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

SIDEDOOR Nested within the landmark Lawry’s Five Crowns, this gastropub welcomes come-asyou-are diners with a changing daily menu of imaginative small plates, seasonal soups, prime rib sandwiches, potpies, and desserts. Don’t miss the charcuterie station with choice cured meats and artisanal cheeses. Always interesting wines by the glass, craft beers, and signature cocktails boost the inviting room’s jolly British vibe. 3801 E. Coast Highway, 949-717-4322. $$

COSTA MESA [

SEE ALSO SOUTH COAST METRO

]

2145 Santa Ana native and Pizzeria Ortica veteran Eduardo Salcedo brings an artisan mindset and Japanese aesthetic to this Neapolitan-style pizza joint in a cleverly repurposed auto shop. Aromas of almondwood fire whet the appetite for his finely crafted pies and imaginative toasts on house-baked shokupan, Japan’s beloved breakfast loaf. Sit at the white marble bar or under umbrellas on the patio to enjoy bresaola and burrata salad with pickled fennel, or hyper-tender octopus with diced potato, charred scallions, and squid ink mayo. Star dessert: horchata tiramisu. 2145 Placentia Ave., 949-873-5853. $$ DESCANSO Descanso’s novel twist is the elevation of the taquero to center stage. Inspired by the dynamic street foods of Mexico City, owner Rob Arellano

seats diners right at the plancha grill to watch their tacos sizzled with pizazz. Happy hour is particularly tempting if you can scoot in midweek, from 3 to 6 p.m. 1555 Adams Ave., 714-486-3798. $$ HABANA Flickering candles light the way through a highceilinged dining room, convivial bar, and lush patio at The Lab’s enduring Cuban hang for date nights and late nights. Most of the fare sticks solidly to classics, such as roast chicken and ropa vieja, but the appetizer side is loaded with winners. Updates include a lavish, all-you-can-eat brunch with live island music and an array of delicious baked goodies.

Intimate confines make reservations a smart move.

2930 Bristol St., 714-556-0176. See Irvine location. $$$ IZAKAYA HACHI A handsome, modern izakaya from the owners of Manpuku, Hachi is a boisterous, convivial gem.

The charcoal-grilled skewers shine, including the chicken meatball and chicken thigh. Expect a little bit of everything here: gloriously marbled beef, fresh oysters, fried chicken, and unique pressed sushi. 3033 Bristol St., 657-231-6566. Dinner only. $ MESA At this high-style hipster hang with a retractable roof, expect shareable dishes that play by the seasons and don’t shy away from intense flavors. Highlights include mussels sizzled in cast iron and fried cicchetti olives. An interesting, value-packed wine list beckons, as do inspired artisan cocktails. 725 Baker St., 714-557-6700. $$$ OLD VINE KITCHEN & BAR Popular for its brunch-type fare in a town rife with competing options, this charming nook has upgraded with a larger space. Foodies rave about urbane dishes, many with an Italian accent. Think barbecue pork omelet by day, seasonal tasting menu by night. Chef-owner Mark McDonald likes to pair his dinners with interesting wine flights from the world over, and he regularly leads culinary excursions to southern Italy. 2937 Bristol St., 714-545-1411. $$ TACO MARÍA Every dish is a marvel of deeply considered modern Cal-Mex cuisine from chef-owner and O.C. native Carlos Salgado, who parked his esteemed food truck enterprise for this site. Even the stripped-down setting draws all attention to the food. Dinners are four-course prix fixe affairs, with thoughtful wine pairings. Lunch—when the tacos appear—is a more laid-back and affordable way to sample the refined slant that snagged Salgado a Michelin star and several James Beard nominations for chef awards. 3313 Hyland Ave., 714-538-8444. Beer and wine. $$$

DANA POINT GLASSPAR Now an improv market offering the primo seafood typically sold to coastal resorts, Glasspar launched as a classic seafooder, oyster bar, and tap room.

Veteran top toque and local Rob Wilson helms his dream retool of the old Mahe site, paused for dining but open for supporting the community with ultra-fresh goods and his five-star tips for serving seafood at home. A tight focus on top-shelf cocktails is sure to be much appreciated once groups gather within toasting distance. 24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949-240-6243. $$$

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DINING GUIDE WATERMAN’S HARBOR A beacon of new on Dana Point Harbor’s salt-worn embarcadero, this sleek seafooder offers two floors with scenic views of the breakwater action, including a big, breezy patio shaded from the sun’s rays on those high UV days. Fresh oysters are the $1.50 star of happy hour. 34661 Golden Lantern St., 949764-3474. $$$

FULLERTON THE CELL AR Downtown Fullerton’s abiding choice for classy, oldschool French dining is a North County staple for romantic meals, thanks to an underground room that’s ornate, yet cozy. Expect swanky choices such as chateaubriand, and a fine dark chocolate souffle.

305 N. Harbor Blvd., 714-525-5682. $$$ KHAN SAAB DESI CRAFT KITCHEN Born in the crucible of the pandemic, this halal bistro serves flavorful kabobs, curries, and street snacks alongside wood-fired Wagyu steaks. Creator and executive chef Imran Ali Mookhi applies a Michelin mindset acquired after years in fine-dining kitchens.

Khan Saab has the best stocked alcohol-free bar in O.C. 229 E. Commonwealth Ave., 714-853-1081. $$ MIIRCH SOCIAL This Indian mashup is a relaxed haunt that leans modern. The open kitchen serves traditional Indian cuisine tweaked with global ingredients or Indian flavors applied to comfort foods. Think butter chicken paneer poutine, nine-spice tandoori wings, and a fabulous lamb biryani. Don’t overlook the ingenious cocktails and mocktails. 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., 714-519-3501 $$ SUMMIT HOUSE Set high above Fullerton’s northern city limits, this imposing Tudor manor house offers a sparkling citylights view at night, though the attractive grounds are pretty by day, too. The American menu offers few surprises; British-style prime rib and oak-grilled Skuna Bay salmon are reliable. Polished service brings back plenty of special-occasion diners. The cozy tavern bar is popular for light meals and happy hour. 2000 E. Bastanchury Road, 714-671-4111. $$$

GARDEN GROVE NOVA KITCHEN & BAR This glamorous sleeper is a terrific dinner choice for distinctive fare that nods to Japan, Korea, and China. The handsome 35-seat lanai covered patio is beyond fine. Executive chef Abel Vargas oversees a sizable menu that also includes showy sushi and top shelf cocktails. Do consider the tuna tartare, corn tempura, or coriander-braised short rib. Genteel service. 12361 Chapman Ave., 714696-0888. $$$

HUNTINGTON BE ACH SESSIONS Surf City is the ideal spot for the second “West Coast deli,” this time across from the sand. Terrific sandwiches that eat like a meal for two are gourmet creations, meticulous stacks of top ingredients with exacting ratios, so every ’wich is scrumptious to the last bite. From-scratch soups, sides, and dressings. A surfer ethos extends to hearty breakfasts featuring Kéan coffee and house-made granola. 414 Pacific 136 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

Mango avocado arugula berry salad at Miirch Social Coast Highway, 714-594-3899. Beer and wine. See Irvine and Newport Beach locations. Fourth location (not reviewed) in Newport Beach at 101 Newport Center Drive. $ WATERTABLE Here’s a rare bird, a hotel restaurant in a tourist resort that the locals love for lots of reasons. Progressive takes on global dishes, tip-top craft cocktails, copious happy hours, and the steady hand of longtime Chef Manfred Lassahn keep this venue on point. We return just for the white cheddar and thyme biscuits with seasonal butter. The new morning lineup of health-first bowls, smoothies, and toasts caters to beach runners. Hyatt Regency, 21500 Pacific Coast Highway, 714-845-4776. $$$

IRVINE ANDREI’S CONSCIOUS CUISINE & COCKTAILS Irvine’s ever-slicker business zone is a good home for this classy, top-floor, New American choice for power diners, office pals, and couples. Modern craft cocktails enhance a menu that blends California ingredients with global flavors. Top toque Porfiro Gomez’s menu retains favorites such as the beef spring rolls, watermelon salad, and Duroc pork T-bone. Happy hour is a standout in a crowded field. 2607 Main St., 949-387-8887. $$ CHA CHA’S L ATIN KITCHEN This addition to the restaurant family owned by industry vets Don Myers and Peter Serantoni is an inviting casa with a menu of modern Mexican fare boosted by commendable new dishes that blur some borders—sopes, empanadas, aguachile, and pozole to name a few. The indoor-meets-outdoor

patio by designer Thomas Schoos is a fine upgrade of the Brea flagship. Weekly specials add value and excitement. Impressive tequila menu. 13126 Jamboree Road, 714-408-7819. See Brea location. $$ HABANA We waited 22 years for this glamorous Habana sibling, and it was worth it—a sprawling 300-seat compound that co-opts Cuba’s frozen-in-time splendor.

A roomy patio open to the sky is made intimate by high walls and lots of beautiful props and vignettes, with alcoves dedicated to house pastries and coffees. Despite the impressive scale, the menu hews tightly to the focused offerings at its Costa Mesa original. 708 Spectrum Center Drive, 949-419-0100.

See Costa Mesa location. $$$ JA JIAOZI It’s all about handmade dumplings here. They grace every table, anchoring meals rounded out with other hot and cold dishes. First-timers, ask your able server for help. Top picks include steamed Flaming Hot and boiled Signature jiaozi, along with refreshing tofu-skin salad. Top-notch shrimp fried rice is a winner, too. Watch the masters at work from a five-seat bar. 13776 Jamboree Road, 714-786-8999. $$ PORCH & SWING This delightful indie serves a “taste BEST NEW RESTAURANT of Charleston” starring original riffs 2021 on American classics and cocktails

by Andrew Parish. Must-try dishes include roasted pork jowl over grits, amazing creamless creamed corn, and gorgeous salads. House-baked breads are a strength, too. 2010 Main St., 949-418-7988. $$ PUESTO San Diego’s high-profile taqueria has two Irvine options. Delectable tacos are the main event, elevated by crispy griddled Oaxacan cheese, photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

and tortillas made by hand from organic, non-GMO, blue corn masa. The cheese is especially brilliant on vegetarian tacos. Ask about the monthly taco special. The Park Place venue is intimate and colorsplashed. Park Place, 3311 Michelson Drive, 949-6087272; Los Olivos Marketplace, 8577 Irvine Center Drive, 949-608-9990. New locations (not yet reviewed) at Bella Terra in Huntington Beach and The Westin Anaheim Resort. $$ SESSIONS No. 3 is a charm for O.C.’s indie chainlet of “West Coast” delis. Expect terrific sandwiches that eat like a meal for two, gourmet creations that are meticulous stacks of top ingredients with exacting ratios, so every ’wich is scrumptious. From-scratch soups, sides, and dressings. A beguiling lakeside setting beckons for lazy breakfasts featuring Kéan coffee and house-made granola. 4736 Barranca Parkway, 949-333-3949. See Huntington Beach and Newport Beach locations. Fourth location (not reviewed) at 101 Newport Center Drive. $ TACO ROSA With agave-sweetened margaritas, daily aguas frescas, and house-made churros, these flagships of the Taco Mesa chain take fresh Mex to the max. Try the Oaxacan enchiladas. 13792 Jamboree Road, 714-5056080. See Newport Beach location. $$ TWO LEFT FORKS This inland sibling has the strong appeal of its now-closed original Dana Point location, except the coastal site has been swapped for a roomier space with easy parking, as well as lunch and week-

end brunch service. Come here for bananas Foster pancakes or an open-face sandwich with burrata, prosciutto, avocado, and eggs your way. Popular for happy hour. 6511 Quail Hill Parkway, 949-3876700. $$$

LAGUNA BE ACH BROADWAY BY AMAR SANTANA Boy wonder chef Amar Santana and industry vet Ahmed Labbate decamped Charlie Palmer to create this sexy urban bistro. Fans old and new keep the tight quarters humming to the backdrop of an open kitchen and vintage flicks playing on the flat-screen over the expansive bar. Santana’s dishes are opulent and intense. The wine list includes many notable half-bottles. 328 Glenneyre St., 949-715-8234. $$$ THE DRAKE The grown-ups sipping cocktails are here for a full serving of primo live music paired with the cuisine of Paul Gstrein (ex of Bistango and Bayside). Laguna’s own Alec Glasser prevails in creating a dashing joint where the musicians and the kitchen have serious chops. Diners dig into Euro-inflected dishes (try the lamb lollipops, the Alpine Melt, the chile-lime swordfish). The room generates a superlative groove. 2894 S. Coast Highway, 949-376-1000. $$$ DRIFTWOOD KITCHEN With its gorgeous seaside panorama, this place perfectly illustrates the food-versus-view gamble.

Prudent choices on chef Rainer Schwarz’s seasonal menu include whole fried fish, an unusual entree pairing of butcher steak-pork belly, and tarts by pastry chef Rene Baez. Brunch items and craft cocktails also are good bets. 619 Sleepy Hollow Lane, 949-715-7700. $$ LUMBERYARD Veteran local restaurateur Cary Redfearn brought new life to this downtown landmark with a welcoming bar and comfort classics such as meatloaf and chicken potpie that lure tourists and villagers alike. Look for a solid happy hour. 384 Forest Ave., 949-715-3900. $$ NICK’S Perched on Laguna’s prime stretch of Coast Highway, this inviting, urbane bar and grill lures grown-ups who prefer to skip the surfer grub scene in favor of tasty cocktails and a compact all-day menu of comfort classics with modern twists. Ace bets include the steakhouse salad and blackened halibut sandwich. Softly lit and cushily appointed, the open-air space boasts a sidewalk patio. Sociable service is notably polished. 440 S. Coast Highway, 949-3768595. See San Clemente location. $$ OLIVER’S OSTERIA Wedged into an oddball canyon retail center, this tidy shop is chef-owner Erik De Marchi’s all-out defense of faithful fare inspired by his home turf of Italy’s Emilia-Romana region. Pastas are wondrous, but do wait to hear the daily specials that can include juicy lamb chops or crepes (crespelle) with porcini mushrooms in truffle-perfumed

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DINING GUIDE

DUMPLINGS OF A DIFFERENT COLOR | PARADISE DYNAST Y

béchamel. Tight quarters make dining noisy when the room is full. And Oliver? He’s De Marchi’s first child, born on opening day. 853 Laguna Canyon Road, 949-715-0261. $$$ SAPPHIRE CELL AR CRAFT COOK The latest incarnation of Laguna Beach’s historic Coast Highway venue is much better than it has to be, given its bulletproof location.

Upmarket, innovative American cuisine by executive chef Jared Cook includes irresistible weekend brunch waffles and Benedicts, classy lunch salads, and dinners that star fresh oysters and a splendid ribeye. On-site pantry for beach eats. 1200 South Coast Highway, 949-715-9888. $$$ SEL ANNE STEAK TAVERN Anaheim Ducks star Teemu Selanne cements his brand with this polished and popular

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long bao, eight rainbow-hued, delicately pursed, intensely flavored, and extremely juicy dumplings. The flavors: luffa gourd, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, Sichuan, and original with chicken or Kurobuta pork. Other highlights include “steamed salted egg yolk custard lava charcoal bun,” 17 versions of hand-pulled

steak joint on a venerated stretch of Coast Highway.

Prime, pricey beef rules the day on executive chef Vince Terusa’s menu designed for a pro athlete’s appetite and fan base. We like the main floor’s easy, breezy tavern for terrific cocktails, the superlative burger, and world-class people watching. 1464 S. Coast Highway, 949-715-9881. Dinner only. $$$

LAGUNA HILLS IRONWOOD The savvy team behind Vine, Sapphire, and Olea notches another hit with this dinner house in a zone with scant options. Executive chef Jared Cook’s modern, seasonal menu roams from delicate to hearty, but all dishes showcase his knack for upping the crave factor. Examples: chicken schnitzel with mush-

noodles, and spicy, crispy Sichuan chicken. Contemporary chandeliers feature hundreds of oblong plexiglass elements that seem to float. Singapore’s largest restaurant group launched an outpost of its casual Le Shrimp Ramen at Collage. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-617-4630 —BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

rooms, Zinfandel-braised lamb shank with mint yogurt. Terrific craft cocktails shift with the seasons.

On-point service from a gracious crew. 25250 La Paz Road, 949-446-8772. Dinner only. $$$

LAGUNA NIGUEL CALÓ KITCHEN + TEQUIL A Chic and breezy as a Baja resort, this sprawling spot has its act together, luring local crowds for upscale Mexican classics. An unending flow of worthy margaritas keeps the white marble bar humming while the kitchen churns out well-executed shrimp ceviche, carnitas, combo plates, and short rib enchiladas. Huge portions, sharp service, and modern digs seal the deal. 28141 Crown Valley Parkway, 949409-7380. $$$

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F PA R A D I S E D Y N A S T Y

D

umpling destination Paradise Dynasty has opened its 45th location and first outside of Asia at South Coast Plaza. The restaurant anchors Collage, a new two-story collection of eateries in the center’s Bloomingdale’s wing. The signature dish is “Specialty Dynasty” xiao

HENDRIX From the group behind Laguna Beach’s The Deck and Driftwood Kitchen, Hendrix features partner Austrian-born Rainer Schwarz as executive chef. A showpiece rotisserie roasts plump chickens, porchetta, and lamb while basting potatoes in the catch bin with juices from the meats. Irresistible small plates include prosciutto fritters, Brussels sprouts with Marcona almonds, and chicken-fontina flatbread. 32431 Golden Lantern, 949-248-1912. $$

LA HABRA EL CHOLO It’s combo-plate heaven at this venerable local chain. The Sonora-style enchiladas are topped with olives and a fried egg. Green corn tamales have achieved cult status. This location oozes a family vibe. 840 E. Whittier Blvd., 562-691-4618. See Anaheim Hills and Corona del Mar locations. $

LAKE FOREST BRÜ GRILL & MARKET Ambitious, with 245 seats, this suburban indie goes all in for craft and microbrews, memorable cocktails, and pub food: a killer artisan sausage platter, Belgian-style mussels, and top-tier charcuterie.

Entrees can be hit or miss, though the bone-in pork chop is a triumph. Drinks and brews (35 on tap) outshine the wine list. The on-site market retails

wine, cheese, and other menu items. 23730 El Toro Road, 949-305-5757. $$

MISSION VIEJO DUBLIN 4 GASTROPUB Publicans Darren and Jean Coyle welcome a varied crowd to this chipper modern pub, designed to rival Dublin’s finest. Executive chef David Shofner applies fine-dining cred and scratch cooking to a menu of new and old-school fare that sparkles. Don’t-miss items include premium cottage pies, a killer lamb burger, and anything with house-cured meats. Upscale pricing and dapper surroundings prove this is not your frat brother’s Irish pub. 26342 Oso Parkway, 949-582-0026. $$$ WINEWORKS FOR EVERYONE This near-hidden pocket bistro is a top choice for wine-centric cuisine in South County. A retooled menu by chef David Shofner, who also helms the kitchen at Dublin 4 next door, brims with seasonal California fare that flatters a wine list of West Coast and international bottles. Must-haves include sausage flatbread, and a killer cheese plate. 26342 Oso Parkway, 949-582-0026. Beer and wine. $$$

NE W P ORT BE AC H A&O KITCHEN + BAR A serious reboot of this fabled lounge—formerly Duke’s—transforms this waterside venue into a gastropub with a newly youthful vibe. Expect all the

43 YEARS

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MALAYSIAN BISTRO

714.505.9908

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Friday, October 22, 10am to 6pm

La Galleria is hosting a Joseph Ribkoff Trunk Show Friday, October 29th, 2pm to 5:30pm

Charleston Provence is hosting wine and appetizers plus take a 15% discount Thursday, November 18th, 5pm to 9pm

Enderle Center’s Annual Holiday Open House

The Coffee Grinder 714.838.0960 The Crab Cooker 714.573.1077 El Torito 714.838.6630 Zov’s Bakery & Café 714.838.8855 Zov’s Bistro 714.838.8855 SERVICES 17th Street Optometry

usual share plates: battered fries, shishito peppers, bacon-wrapped dates, plus several hearty plates including a worthy Kobe burger with bacon mayo on a cheddar-bacon bun. Bold, neonautical decor plays off the “anchors and oceans” theme and brings the bay view to life. The water’s-edge patio is inviting for sunset drinks. Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Highway, 949-630-4285. $$ BAYSIDE Bayside remains a go-to choice on many fronts. Nightly happy hour stars a winning small-plates menu that keeps the bar hopping.

Rotating artwork keeps the dining room ever fresh for re-laxed meals of debonair American fare. Long favored by the coastal set for jazzy brunches, insiders stop in Friday night for a legendary jam session in the bar. Prix fixe menus are a strength here. 900 Bayside Drive, 949-721-1222. $$$ BELLO BY SANDRO NARDONE Sandro Nardone flies solo with this molto moderno Italiano overhaul of a sprawling spot. Nardone’s style is urbane, so expect no lasagna here.

Instead, look for distinctive creations such as mortadella mousse canoli with liquid pineapple mustard.

Crispy octopus with Calabrian vinaigrette is another crowd favorite. Cocktails show imagination, and the wine list has some rare gems. 1200 Bison Ave., 949-520-7191. $$$ FABLE & SPIRIT From the family behind Dublin 4 BEST NEW RESTAURANT comes this lush addition to the area 2020 across from Lido Marina Village. But

Fusion Hair 714.838.6000 Hair Industry The Salon 714.731.2530 Rebecca Pelletier Interiors 714.508.8581 Studio J PILATES

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SEVENTEENTH STREET & YORBA ST., TUSTIN — 55 FRWY. NORTH OR SOUTH, EXIT SEVENTEENTH ST. EAST October 2021 • Or a nge Coast 139

DINING GUIDE don’t assume this is an Irish pub that mimics the other. This plush room features inventive fare that’s a mashup of American and Irish. Here you start with Hares Looking at You, a cocktail starring Wheatley vodka and carrot juice, move on to the refined beet agnolotti with chèvre foam, or share a wood-fired duck confit pizetta. The fish and chips are superior, and so is the rabbit fricassee. 3441 Via Lido, 949409-9913. $$$ LIDO BOTTLE WORKS This handsome waterfront venue sounds like a liquor store, but it’s a sleeper of a full-service restaurant hiding in Lido Marina Village. Hyper-seasonal and prettily plated, notable creations include Dory Fleet catches of the day, opulent Iberico secreto pork, a solid burger, and one glorious chocolate mousse.

3408 Via Oporto, 949-529-2784. $$ OLEA CELL AR CRAFT COOK Eastside’s dapper dinner house is the latest offering from the polished crew behind sister restaurants Ironwood and Vine, a homegrown hospitality group. Fans of chef Jared Cook will recognize some familiar dishes from his sibling shops, but there are exclusives here, too. We’re mad for the opulent duck liver terrine with bacon and bourbon, and those fine oysters baked with blue crab in tarragon butter. Add top-notch cocktails and 50 notable wines by the glass. 2001 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach, 949-287-6807. Dinner nightly. $$$ SESSIONS This busy “West Coast deli” on the peninsula crafts terrific sandwiches that eat like a meal for two.

Gourmet creations with kooky names are meticulous stacks of top ingredients with exacting ratios, so every ’wich is scrumptious to the last bite. A surfer vibe extends to hearty breakfasts at 7 a.m. daily, starring Golden State Coffee Roaster coffee. 2823 Newport Blvd., 949-220-9001. Beer and wine. See Huntington Beach and Irvine locations. Fourth location (not reviewed) in Newport Beach at 101 Newport Center Drive. $ SHOREBIRD Hidden inside the Vue Newport enclave, Shorebird is invisible until you enter the airy split-level space dominated by its waterfront view.

Expect contemporary American fare plus familiar side detours for sushi and tacos. Best bets include Duroc pork chop, lump crab cakes, avocado fries.

2220 Newport Blvd., 949-287-6627. $$$ SUSHI ROKU The sixth location of this Cal-Japanese concept makes a huge impression with striking decor and vibrant cuisine. If the dining room’s busier than the sushi bar, blame the thoughtfully designed and executed menu, notably dishes such as fluke kumquat sashimi, blue crab tartare, Prime ribeye Japonais, and the deconstructed s’mores. The creative sushi deserves a night all its own, and the bar and patio offer their own vibes. Look for scores of noodles, salads, and bento boxes at lunch, and sakes. 327 Newport Center Drive, 949-706-3622. $$$ TACO ROSA With agave-sweetened margaritas and house-made churros, these flagships of the Taco Mesa chain take fresh Mex to the max. 2632 San Miguel Road, 949720-0980. See Irvine location. $$ TAVERN HOUSE KITCHEN + BAR David Wilhelm, the county’s restaurant laureate, returns to Newport Beach with this fetching and welcome rehab of a waterside venue. Menus 140 Ora nge C o ast • October 2021

Osso buco at Mayfield read like a playlist of Wilhelm’s champion recipes tweaked for 2020. Stand out new dishes for dinner and weekend brunch include red snapper Veracruzana, Buddha bowls, sirloin meatballs, and fried chicken with malted waffles. Look for a natty presunset happy hour on weekdays. 333 Bayside Drive, 949-673-8464. $$ THE WINERY RESTAURANT & WINE BAR The snazzy venue overlooks the yacht and Duffy boat traffic in Newport Harbor, flaunting its waterfront charms with 180-degree views from two floors plus a cigar patio. The space sizzles with bonhomie— and diners who love their surf, turf, wine, and VIP treatment. Expect cosseting service from partners JC Clow, William Lewis, and executive chef Yvon Goetz.

Best bets include Goetz’s signature Alsatian “pizza” and the Colorado buffalo carpaccio. 3131 W. Coast Highway, 949-999-6622. See Tustin location. $$$

NE WPORT COAST MARCHÉ MODERNE The finest French bistro south of BEST NEW RESTAURANT Beverly Hills is reborn in coastal digs 2018 that express a fresh chapter for the redoubtable Florent and Amelia Marneau. Added space and oversize windows let the outdoors into a room that oozes grace and sophistication. Beloved dishes such as Spanish octopus with chorizo return to the dinner menu alongside new creations from the open kitchen—think crispy suckling pigs and beans, a three-day cassoulet. Amelia’s new desserts

include ravishing Napoleons served weekends only.

7862 E. Pacific Coast Highway, 714-434-7900. $$$ WASA SUSHI James Hamamori cemented his stardom at this striking shopping-center spot brimming with devotees of modern spins on sushi. Renowned for such fare as salmon with ginger sauce and fresh orange. Exceptional selection of salads, appetizers, and entrees as well. 1344 Bison Ave., 949-760-1511.

Beer and wine. $$ ZOV’S NEWPORT COAST This attractive shopping center offshoot of the popular original Zov’s in Tustin is a go-to patio cafe that lures locals with creative Cal-Med dishes such as Moroccan salmon salad, spiced lamb burger, and pomegranate baby back ribs. Desserts are a standout, as are cocktails and chic mezze starters. 21123 Newport Coast Drive, 949-760-9687. See Tustin location. $$$

ORANGE BOSSCAT KITCHEN & LIBATIONS Old Towne’s newest gastropub thoughtfully transforms a historic corner into a lively whiskey bar serving worthy eats with a southern accent. Look for parm-crusted meatloaf, gulf shrimp and grits, and a yowza burger. The service is sharp. Sunday brunch and a robust midweek happy hour. 118 W. Chapman Ave., 714-716-1599. $$

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

are

GABBI’S MEXICAN KITCHEN Gabbi Patrick grew up working in her family’s Mexican restaurants, then studied at the Greystone Culinary Academy in Napa. The menu reveals her formal training as it embraces her family’s background.

With items such as gorditas al pastor (masa cakes with Kurobuta pork belly and a pineapple-onion relish), Patrick’s plates celebrate simple, honest flavors. 141 S. Glassell St., 714-633-3038. $$ HAVEN CRAFT KITCHEN + BAR A serious contender in the gastropub category, this popular storefront in Old Towne lures a mixed crowd of brew fanatics and foodies, thanks to a rich roster of esoteric suds and polished pub grub from chef Craig Brady. Dishes such as a braised lamb pappardelle and coriander roasted baby carrots.

Lunch and early dinner are options for bypassing the crowd. 190 S. Glassell St., 714-221-0680. $$

PLACENTIA

9/3/03

EL FAROLITO Often packed tighter than a taquito, this is a go-to favorite for traditional border fare, served fast and friendly. Pass the wait with an icy Negra Modelo— regulars know to grab one from the cooler out front.

Huevos dishes—rancheros, machaca, chorizo—are 11:35 AM popular Pageon2weekend mornings, and served until 3 p.m. 201 S. Bradford Ave., 714-993-7880. $

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA THE BLIND PIG KITCHEN & BAR Lakeside seats, terrific craft cocktails, and daring fare by young chef Karl Pfleider earn local love for this rare gastro-canteen in Rancho Santa Margarita. Midweek tapas start at 3 p.m. with goodies such as steak tartare with pistachio XO sauce. But wait until 5 p.m. for the mahi-mahi with paprika mole. 31431 Santa Margarita Parkway, 949888-0072. Second location (not reviewed) in Yorba Linda, 4975 Lakeview Ave., 714-485-2593. $$

SAN CLEMENTE MRK PUBLIC Three chefs, two of them former co-chefs at Tabu Grill in Laguna Beach, transform a fast-casual fixture into a winning spot that offers craft beers, all $5, and a tightly edited menu of elevated favorites, notably Tuscan toast, and a terrific fried chicken sandwich.

The rear counter offers a distant ocean view. 1402 S. El Camino Real, 949-441-7621. Beer and wine. $ NICK’S On a prime stretch of vintage Avenida del Mar, this inviting bar and grill is just urbane enough to lure grown-ups who prefer to skip the surfer grub scene in favor of crackerjack cocktails and a compact allday menu of comfort classics with a modern twist.

Ace bets include the steakhouse salad and blackened fish sandwich. And there’s a sidewalk patio with fireplace. Sociable service is notably polished.

213 Avenida del Mar, 949-481-2200. See Laguna Beach location. $$ SOUTH OF NICK’S From the festive boxes of Chiclets at the reception station to scores of fine-sipping tequilas at the roomy bar, this beach burg shop from the team behind Nick’s is all about hospitality and scratch cooking. Cocktails are special, so are desserts, but don’t miss the feel-good dishes such as mini-sopes, sea bass in poblano cream, and pork chile verde. 110 N. El Camino Real, 949-481-4545. Second location (not reviewed) in Laguna Beach at 540 S. Coast Hwy., 949-376-8595. $$ VINE A decor revamp of the cozy dining room and a menu overhaul add up to impressive new heights, because owner Russ Bendel Jr. wisely gives sauce monster and executive chef Jared Cook full reign over the kitchen. Look for killer duck wings and nightly specials that tend to sell out. A garden out back only sweetens this beach burg gem. 211 N. El Camino Real, 949-361-2079. Dinner only. $$$

SAN JUAN C APISTRANO MAYFIELD Modern, hyper-seasonal California fare meets the timeless food ways of the Middle East at this ingenious newcomer. Breezy two-story digs include a pretty quartz bar for leading-edge cocktails. Do try fried eggplant, lamb meatballs, and

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DINING GUIDE shareable dips. By day, look for indulgent brunch dishes. 31761 Camino Capistrano, 949-218-5140. $$$ RAMOS HOUSE CAFÉ A sweet adobe hiding in the historic Los Rios district, Ramos House Café turns out some of South County’s most delectable daytime fare. Contemporary and clever American breakfasts and lunches (brunch on weekends) have a distinct Southern accent that fits the rustic, alfresco setting with passing trains as soundtrack. Look for ethereal biscuits and crab hash. 31752 Los Rios St., 949-443-1342. $$

SANTA ANA [

SEE ALSO SOUTH COAST METRO

]

BENCHMARK Quirky but capable, this Santa Ana spot goes all-in for alfresco, luring diners with a tree-shaded setting on a vintage residential street. The menu of American bistro dishes is just big enough to have wide appeal. Happy hour and weekend brunch have a backyard party vibe. Dinner surprises with upmarket dishes, say a lovely bavette steak atop celery root purée. 601 E. Santa Ana Blvd., 714-480-0225. $$ CHATO’S BAR AND GRILL This Mexican canteen offers less familiar dishes— corundas, roast quail—alongside comfort favorites such as ceviche and chilaquiles. Michoacán native Sergio Ortega, previously of Descanso, is executive chef. Inaugural meals include dinner nightly and Sunday brunch. 400 N. Broadway, 714-852-3256. $$ MIX MIX KITCHEN BAR DTSA got a major dining upgrade BEST NEW RESTAURANT with this winner from chef-owner 2017 Ross Pangilinan. A veteran of highend dining, his major culinary chops rule the day but not the tab at his breakout venue with zero pretension and multicourse meals packed with finesse. Think prosciutto toast with quince honey, and seared foie gras with al pastor spices and charred pineapple. Spiffy craft cocktails, too. 300 N. Main St., 714-836-5158. Dinner only. $$$

SE AL BE ACH 320 MAIN Seal Beach’s dark-but-cheerful indie venue boasts a long-respected cocktail program, and new chef James Miller complements those craft cocktails with a menu of rich, high-flavor fare. Think bone marrow Wellington, and for brunch, fried chicken Benedict.

Fun day-of-the-week specials include Tiki Tuesday and Wine and Whiskey Wednesday. 320 Main St., 562-799-6246. $$ MAHÉ Mahé is a hot spot for locals. Entertainment and a lively bar are the backdrops for sushi, steaks, and seafood. The inventive rolls, such as the salmon bomb, will make you a regular. 1400 Pacific Coast Highway, 562-431-3022. Dinner only. $$$

SOUTH COAST ME TRO ANQI

Tight focus on the fare makes dining at this South Coast Plaza hot spot better than ever.

Executive chef Ron Lee makes delicious harmony with matriarch master chef Helene An’s spicy beef tacos and roasted New Zealand lamb rack, as well as her fabled roast crab (Tuesday only). Zen chic decor turns heads. Drinks at the dramatic bar daz-

142 Ora nge C oast • October 2021

Seared scallops with gingered carrot puree and pea shoots at Benchmark zle the cocktail crowd, but try Sunday brunch for a more kickback experience, or snag a padded stool at the adjacent noodle bar. 3333 Bristol St., 714-5575679. $$$ ANTONELLO RISTORANTE For more than three decades South Coast Plaza’s Italian grand diva has reigned for ultrafine feasting on authentic, traditional dishes backed by a savvy wine selection deep with Italian stars. House-made pastas, breads, and desserts. The restaurant’s aura of privilege is underscored by pampering service for VIPs. A full-service wine bar is the latest update.

3800 South Plaza Drive, 714-751-7153. $$$ THE HALL GLOBAL EATERY Upscale yet low key, full service Crudo gets a bit lost amid The Hall’s 10,000-square-foot wonderland of casual offerings, but do search out the latest menu from Amar Santana. It stars seasonal riffs on crudos exploding with worldly flavors plus endless choices from the raw bar, charcuterie list, and don’t-miss intricate cocktails by bar star Michael Rooney. Patio seating highly recommended. 3333 Bristol St., 714-515-5544. $$ DIN TAI FUNG Fans happily endure long waits to satisfy their craving for xiao long bao, juicy pork dumplings, handpleated with care. Bowls of noodles, rice, and stacks of bamboo steamers crowd tables as diners blend their own aromatic dipping sauce from rich soy, black vinegar, and shreds of fresh ginger. 3333 Bristol St., 714-549-3388. $$

HAMAMORI Sushi master artist James Hamamori applies persuasive talent to this South Coast Plaza penthouse dazzler of a sushi bar. Son Jim is now behind the bar, too, but this heavenly venue also shows off non-sushi dishes such as uni floating in edamame puree, Kobe rissole, and miso-marinated lamb chops. Omakase is truly top-notch. 3333 Bear St., 714-850-0880. $$$ KNIFE PLEAT Knife Pleat inhabits the penthouse of South Coast Plaza. Chef Tony Esnault and partner Yassmin Sarmadi are new to O.C. though acclaimed in Los Angeles, and in the case of Esnault, covered in Michelin star dust after years with mentor Alain Ducasse. Esnault is a disciple of the seasons; his style is light, graceful, and precise as revealed by escargot ravioli in broth, his famous legumes de saison, or the ultrarefined cassoulet. Don’t skip Germain Biotteau’s indulgent desserts. 3333 Bristol St., 714-266-3388. $$$ ROYAL KHYBER Arun Puri, the creator behind Orange County’s first Indian restaurant, is still buying the spices and manning the tandoor oven in the skilled kitchen at this upscale choice for first-rate renditions of classics such as butter chicken, tikka masala, and the signature Khyber’s Nectar, a dish of slow-cooked lamb shanks said to be an aphrodisiac. 1621 W. Sunflower Ave., 714-436-1010. $$

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

TERRACE BY MIX MIX Canny chef-owner Ross Pangilinan leverages the success of his original Mix Mix Kitchen Bar in downtown Santa Ana with this minimalist aerie overlooking the stylish Bridge of Gardens skywalk at South Coast Plaza. This venue lacks a full bar, but it has wine and beer and is open daily with ample free parking. Fans love the three-course lunch for $20, but weekend brunch with its mimosa cart beguiles, and dinner offers the best prix fixe in the center.

Don’t-miss dishes include Asian ribs, hamachi crudo, and pork cheek adobo. 3333 Bear St., 657-231-6447. $$ VACA Top chef Amar Santana and ace partner Ahmed Labbate return to Costa Mesa with an exuberant, singular ode to Spain. Santana sidesteps the “eat local” crusade, offering peerless jamon Iberico, lush bomba rice for paellas, and verdant Mahon gin for cocktails. Dozens of authentic tapas beg to be tried, but do consider excellent wood-grilled steaks, dryaged in-house. Dinner tables at prime times are scarce, so plan, wait, or aim for lunch. 695 Town Center Drive, 714-463-6060. $$$

TUSTIN CENTRO STORICO Old Town Tustin’s new kid on the old block transforms a vintage building into a spaghetteria and bar, plus a back pocket cafe. Artisan, fresh daily pasta is the latest effort from the Pozzuoli family behind Centro, the excellent micro pizzeria next door. Signature dishes include Capperi e Olive (casarecca),

Aglione (bucatini), and grilled porterhouse for two.

405 El Camino Real., 714-258-8817. $$ CHAAK Gabbi and Ed Patrick of Gabbi’s Kitchen chose Old Town to show off the county’s most sophisticated take on the regional fare of Mexico’s wondrous Yucatan Peninsula, naming their new location after the Mayan rain god. The dazzling space features a retractable roof and sliding Roman shades to lovely effect. Must-have dishes include sikil pec, a roasted pumpkin seed dip, as well as cochinita pibil and carne cruda. A 16-seat bar invites lingering over elaborate cocktails or a glass from an uncommonly diverse wine list. 215 El Camino Real, 657-699-3019. $$$ THE WINERY RESTAURANT & WINE BAR The O.C. power crowd doesn’t care that this isn’t a winery, but a huge, handsome restaurant that attracts disciples of steak, wine, and cigars. They’re exactly the folks you’d expect would follow partners JC Clow and William Lewis from their previous gig at Morton’s, with executive chef Yvon Goetz in tow.

Best bets include Goetz’s signature Alsatian “pizza” and the Colorado buffalo carpaccio. If the 7,500-bottle wine cellar isn’t enough, you can always purchase a private wine locker. 2647 Park Ave., 714-258-7600.

See Newport Beach location. $$$ ZOV’S TUSTIN BISTRO Fans love Zov Karamardian’s modern, creative way with Mediterranean flavors. Zov keeps her flagship venue fresh and stylish. Expect Cal-Med dishes such as Moroccan salmon salad,

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spiced lamb burger, and pomegranate baby back ribs. Desserts are a standout, as are cocktails and chic mezze starters. The patio cafe out back stays busy at lunch. 17440 E. 17th St., 714-838-8855. See Newport Coast location. $$$

YORBA LINDA BLUE AGAVE Southwestern favorites, from tamales to carnitas, and mole enchiladas in generous portions, keep regulars coming back. For something different, try the Puerto Nuevo tostada with shrimp, mahi-mahi, sour cream, and raspberries in a pumpkin seed-citrus dressing. 18601 Yorba Linda Blvd., 714-970-5095. $$ THE WILD ARTICHOKE Chef-owner James D’Aquila and his winsome crew raise the culinary bar at this teensy, modest storefront. Expect skillful, gourmet incarnations of comfort fare, such as pasta Bolognese. Desserts are few but mighty. 4973 Yorba Ranch Road, 714-777-9646.

Beer and wine. Dinner only. $$

DINING NEWS To keep up with the latest Orange County dining news, subscribe to our O.C. Dining newsletter and follow our food-and-dining coverage at orangecoast.com.

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O F

I N T E R E S T

THE SWEET LIFE

Rachele Sweetser of Laguna Hills juggles two unique businesses—a red-carpet cookie company called Sweets Party Treats and a mobile petting zoo known as The Sweets Ranch. by Astgik Khatchatryan

Can we talk cookies first?

I started doing cookies because I loved party planning, and that was one element that seemed doable as a business. I had made some cookies for a fundraiser for the families of fallen police officers, and this woman came up to me and said, “Would you be able to do cookies for an event for Stevie Wonder next week?” I thought she was blowing smoke, but sure enough!

I’ve made cookies for the SAG Awards and for Golden Globes parties. And I had the privilege of being a contestant on Hulu’s new baking show, “Baker’s Dozen.”

Where do the animals come in?

Early last year, I was ready to really (grow)

144 O RA NGE CO AST • October 2021

the cookie business. Not only had I done so many red carpets, we were in People magazine. I had a couple of horses, but I got my first miniature horse, Peanut, and I was planning to incorporate him into the redcarpet business. He could carry the cookies in a satchel. Then COVID-19 happened. My parents always said, “Are you going to sink or swim?” And I’m a swimmer.

How did you pivot?

We rent a little ranch near our home. I got more animals—goats, chickens, rabbits, a baby doll ram, and another miniature horse. And we started doing petting zoo parties. Our trailer looks like a woodie beach wagon. The animals come brushed,

clean, and happy. The horses are usually dressed up. Buggy rides and cookie decorating are optional add-ons. The big difference with us is that we take care of these animals ourselves. Each one has a special story. Some were rescued. I’d love to eventually own my own space so I could rescue more animals and continue doing the parties as well.

FIND O UT MO RE!

Check out thesweetsranch.com and sweetspartytreats.com.

photograph by E M I LY J . D AV I S

Vol. 47 Issue 10 ORANGE COAST (ISSN 02790483 and USPS 360-630) and ORANGECOAST.COM are published monthly by Orange Coast Magazine LLC, 10100 Venice Blvd., Suite 213, Culver City, CA 90232. 949-862-1133. Copyright 2021 by Orange Coast Magazine LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photographs must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Periodical U.S. postage paid at Los Angeles, CA and additional entry offices. Subscription rates in continental U.S. $15 for 12 months.

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P E R S O N

TITAN of Resilience An Le had typical teen worries about what to do with her life. At the nationally-ranked College of Business and Economics at Cal State Fullerton, she discovered her love for accounting and engaged in real-world professional opportunities like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), providing free tax preparation to low-income individuals. An has now graduated, joining more than 115,000 Titan alumni in Orange County who are powering and leading our business community.

Learn more about An’s story at: campaign.fullerton.edu/resilience.

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