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CALLING ALL IDIOTS! ARE YOU THE BIGGEST GREEN DAY FAN IN ORANGE COUNTY? SHOW US! Submit a 8” x 10” poster design for American Idiot and your artwork could be part of the set for AI’s engagement at the Center! The top 3 posters will be picked by the Tony Award-winning set designer Christine Jones and will be part of the back wall of the set! WIN tickets to opening night and have a chance to go on stage after the show to have your photo taken next to your artwork!
Photos by Doug Hamilton and Paul Kolnik.
Send us a 8” x 10” poster design as a pdf to contest@scfta.org by Friday, May 18! For more details visit, www.scfta.org.
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Erik Hale Skipper “Action”. They say this word to start a scene in a movie. It let’s you know that it is time to do something. Take action. We started a company from scratch. We did not research. We did not formulate. We did not work on a business plan or study the competition. We took action. Two years later that act of a first step (probably closer to a leap) has been our tenant and our watchword. We are continually moving forward. We are excited to debut the all new LocaleMagazine.com. We want it to become your source for all things local. We love our fans and will continually take ACTION to provide you with the best ways to “Live Like A Local”. We hope this issue inspires you to take ACTION!
GRAND OPENING of the new Bronzed Bunny Tanning Spa & Boutique! Now you can experience all of life’s sweetest things in one glamorous spot! OC’s only all organic tanning & sugar spa. We specialize in bringing you only the best in airbrush tanning, sugar hair removal, sugar scrubs and body facials!
Michael Zschoche Clean Up Michael Zschoche takes “jack of all trades” literally. Michael is a world traveler, photographer, race car driver, vintage motorcycle rider, entrepreneur and foodie. His former ventures included the lifestyle store, Zschoche and Michael Zschoche Gallery on Balboa Island. Currently he shares his visionary prowess through his branding and advertising firm, Nzsch and as Art Director of LOCALE Magazine. Michael’s eclectic style and interests have led him to the creation, delivery and management of interactive, print and outdoor communications for an equally diverse client base. He has had the great fortune of working in a multitude of dynamic industries not limited to: mega-yacht, art, law, engineering, tug boat, music, film, retail, adult, pet, internet infrastructure, clothing and periodical.
Melissa Lunt Designer Extraordinaire
CONTACT US TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT!
Coming from a nomadic family, Melissa Lunt has spent her life in Northern California, Florida and Hawaii. Currently a resident of San Clemente, Melissa embodies the soul of the Southern California lifestyle with a passion for creativity. She practices yoga, is an avid reader and does not believe in microwaves. As Art Director of the boutique advertising and branding firm, Nzsch, she has participated in developing successful brands and campaigns for a diverse clientele.
Ashley Hickson Gilligan Born and raised in New Jersey, Ashley Hickson had made yearly visits to her family in sunny Southern California, quickly realizing that there wasn’t anywhere else she would rather live. After graduating from Chapman University in Old Town Orange, Ashley pursued her dreams and began the journey of helping create Locale Magazine. Often referred to as Erik’s right and left arm, Ashley is THE go-to-girl for everything LOCALE. She enjoys being an intricate piece to Locale’s puzzle and is proud of the down-to-earth, innovative magazine.
365 OLD NEWPORT BLVD STE B NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92663
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For advertising, marketing, accounting, and to find out where Erik is, call Locale Magazine and Ashley will answer all of your questions.
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Jen Hood Associate Editor of Fashion Jen Hood is an artist and designer, a sponge of culture, a piano man, a sieve of word and song. She’s a rolling stone, a product of manifest destiny, a one-time creative director, an avid bath taker, a reader, a writer, a doodler, a “miner of truth and delusion”, but partial to love and hope. She seeks the beauty and “crazy” that shines on. Wegothoodzpah.com
Kristal Docter Associate Editor of Food A writer transformed by the beatniks before her, Kristal Docter headed west after earning a BA in Literature and Creative Writing with a journalism concentration from Southwest Minnesota State University. Her career has been driven by diversification as a newspaper editorin-chief, copy editor, corporate advertising professional, non-profit marketing maven, and brand contributor to a venture capital firm. Throughout her journey, Kristal continued asserting an appetite for all things linguistic, and now contributes a fresh voice as LOCALE’s foodie. She is the creator of independent writing company VergeINK and a blogger who embraces bizarre personalities www.mysocalledocdlife.com. A vocab vixen and grammar guru, Kristal’s pick from her trusty Webster’s is serendipity. She prefers a pen and paper to a computer, is an eternal book whore, live music lover, casual culinary artist, conch diver, and will always be a farm-girl at heart.
Nancy Villere
Ralph Palumbo Born and raised a Jersey boy, Ralph Palumbo’s artistic and thoughtful photography manifests glimpses of a Manhattan-esque edge, revealing a dramatic and unique eye for his acclaimed editorial spreads. After graduating from the Germain School of Photography, New York City, Ralph relocated in 1996 to share his artistry with Southern California. Ralph launched Ralph Palumbo Photography, shooting for magazines, red carpets, concerts, model portfolios, portraits, advertisements, weddings and events. He recently earned nine honorable mentions at the International Photography Awards, a competition showcasing work from 103 countries across the globe. He is currently crafting two composition pieces that involve use of his old medium format film camera. When he’s not snapping subjects, Ralph cruises up and down the coast to beach bike in Huntington, mountain bike in Wood Canyons Park or to spend the day CD sifting at Hollywood’s Amoeba Records. For more from the Ralph Palumbo Photography portfolio, visit www.ralphpalumbo.com.
Chris Chavira Southern California photographer Chris Chavira regularly shoots corporate, portrait, entertainment and advertising photography. He has been published with clients of all sizes and industries. Chris is energized by creating impactful images for clients. Use of light, composition, space and storytelling all play a part in the process.
Erin Rose Belair
Nancy Villere has been a professional photographer for 18 years. She loves to always push her limits for creativity. Her passion for photography lies in the discovery of another human being. Her client’s energy and excitement gives her energy! Their images are a cocreation! She is currently uncovering her purpose as a photographer through her studio, Crush Photo Studios, crushphotostudios.com. Fashion, commercial and boudoir photography are Nancy’s emphasis. It is her greatest joy to witness the freedom and self-confidence women experience after their boudoir sessions and she feels honored to contribute to their process. Nancy loves LOCALE and their commitment to expand awareness of our local passionate business owners!
Asami Zenri Asami Zenri is a Japanese born fashion photographer based in Southern California. With a keen eye in art, fashion and photography, she has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and now Orange County. Asami has worked with various international clients from USA, UK, Finland, Taiwan, Hongkong and Thailand. Portfolio available at www. asamiphotography.com
Erin Rose Blacque Belair is a writer living happily in Newport Beach. She received a Bachelors of Arts in English with a creative writing emphasis from the University of California Irvine in the spring of 2010. She has since then spent her time traveling the world, reading endlessly, and writing constantly. You can catch all of her adventures and works in progress on her blog roseblacque.blogspot.com. She loves iced tea and her black cat Belladonna.
Jenavieve Belair Jenavieve Belair is a girl who looks at the world through a lens, whether it be a fisheye, wide angle, or macro, her camera is always by her side. She lives in Newport Beach with her two sisters and cat Bill. She began taking photos at a young age with disposable cameras and over the years her camera collection has grown along with her portfolio. She lives by three words her mother always said, “dare to be.”
LovinLife Multimedia Nicky Vallee Nicky Vallee is a musician, writer, wine blogger and public relations professional. For more than a decade, Nicky worked as a television news reporter, most recently as a general assignment reporter for the CBS affiliate in Palm Springs, where she covered a variety of stories, including the devastating and deadly Sawtooth and Esperanza wildfires. In her spare time, she enjoys collecting vintage pop culture memorabilia, hiking, wine tasting, cooking, reading and traveling.
Most things unachieved have yet to be attempted in the mindset of Antonio Pullano, Director of Photography for LovinLife Multimedia. From Niagara Falls, Canada, this trilingual, MBA graduate, provides worldwide creative services as a Producer/Director/Cameraman published by; CASIO America, G-Shock, The Associated Press, Nylon Fashion, CBS, Fuel TV, Transworld, Crow Bar, OCCF CrossFit, and over 1,200 faces in the OC nightlife & event scene. A resident of Newport Beach, live music, the outdoors, international cuisine, and flying RC Helicopters tops his list of free-time activities. For your upcoming fashion, sports action, new product, wedding, or corporate marketing campaign, choose www.lovinlife.ca for your photo & video needs.
Jeff Farsai Jeff Farsai specializes in editorial, celebrity, fashion, sports and wedding photography. After earning his B.F.A. in photography and visual communication, he quickly dove into the commercial world of photography. Since then, Jeff has photographed countless celebrities, musicians and gold medal athletes all over the world. He recently started writing and directing music videos. Additionally, he is working on a feature film which is projected to finish by the end of 2011. For more info check out his site: www.JeffFarsaiPhotography.com.
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Andrew James Abajian Andrew James Abajian is a Southern California based editorial and wedding photographer. With an evident passion for music, fashion, and romance it seems that he translates simplistic beauty into his work. Using natural light and daily surroundings to capture moments, you’ll find that when working with him that any opportunity can become a piece of art. You can view more of his work at: AjAbajianPhotography. com and follow him on Twitter: @AjAbajianPhoto
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VS. A Flurry of Curry
The Crew Erik takes his boys to Rancho Las Lomas for fun and fashion.
We explore Indian, Vietnamese and Japanese curry to determine our favorites.
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How to eat out on $30 a day We visit 3 different parts of OC to show you how to eat well for less.
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Fish Out Of Water We talk expansion with Mingo Lee as Wahoo’s opens a new location in NYC.
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Let’s Brunch We explore the perfect combo that is breakfast and lunch.
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True Drink
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A delicious drink recipe from our health conscious friends at True Food Kitchen.
Bringing it Home An interview with the founder of Harvest to Home.
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Let Go Of My Liege Bruxie owners iron out a fresh trend.
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Locale Looks What to wear and when to wear it.
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It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere A county wide photo and essay feature of great happy hour locations.
Like a Fox An in depth interview with the fashionistas behind Stone Cold Fox.
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That’s What She Said Our irreverent shopping guide readies you for The Great Escape.
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Our body part by body part guide to the perfect you.
We imitate iconic album covers from 6 decades with our cover girl, Kelly Julian.
Cover ART
You, Perfected
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Anatomy of A Rescue An up close look at what happens at the Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach.
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Native Knowledge Our idea starting calendar that you will want to keep on the fridge.
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growing up punk An interview with the cast of the Green Day based musical.
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Setting The Table Fantasy Brunch at Haute Cakes with Gatehouse.
Horse Power Our girls go horse back riding for this 8th installment of First Timer’s Guide.
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Valley Girls We take you on a girls only trip to the Temecula Valley.
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Go Fish! We explore the many ways that fisherman ply their trade locally.
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Getting His Game Face Back Hutch foundation founder tells us about the incident that changed his life and the long road back.
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All rights reserved © 2012, the entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any forms or by any means without the express written prior permission of the copyright owner. LOCALE Magazine 2043 Westcliff Dr. #204 | Newport Beach | CA 92660 ph: 949-436-8910 | fax: 949-682-4807 | info@localemagazine.com to contact the Skipper: erik@localemagazine.com to submit events: info@localemagazine.com to advertise: ashley@localemagazine.com to subscribe: home@localemagazine.com Cover Art: Photographer: Jeff Farsai of Jeff Farsai Photography Model: Keely Julian Hair & Make Up: Celena Fahey of XO Salon & Lynn Simpson of Delilah Beauty Jewelry Provided By: Heather Pullis Designs Clothing Provided by:McCalister, Tavik, On Que, BB Dakota, Cali Dreaming & Schutz Stylist: Elizabeth Watson, elizabethwatsonstylist.com
Garret Amerine Agency: ReFresh Talent Agency Website: www.refreshtalent.com Thank you to ZARZAR Modeling Agency and ReFresh Talent Agency for providing all models in Locale Looks. Cover: Photographer: Jeff Farsai of Jeff Farsai Photography Model: Keely Julian Hair & Make Up: Celena Fahey of XO Salon & Lynn Simpson of Delilah Beauty Clothing Provided by: On Que, BB Dakota, McCalister Jewelry Provided By: Heather Pullis Designs, heatherpullisdesigns.com Stylist: Elizabeth Watson, elizabethwatsonstylist.com
Locale Looks: Photographer: Asami Zenri of Asami Photography, asamiphotography.com Stylist: Charity Baker, charitybaker.com Locations: Pizzeria Mozza, Crow Burger, Javier’s Crystal Cove, Deck on Laguna Beach Clothing Provided By: L.A. & JO, Malia Mills, Lilikoi, Tavik, Doll Boutique & Gifts Jewelry Provided By: Heather Pullis Designs, heatherpullisdesigns.com Models listed in order from left to right. Happiest Hour: Paige Chrisman Pamela Noble Natalie Paladin Olivia Paladin Agency: ZARZAR MODELS Website: www.zarzarmodels.com Ditch Fridays: Brooke Mangum Kristin Tolbert Agency: ZARZAR MODELS Website: www.zarzarmodels.com Me & My Girls: Tayler Ahern Rosanna Lathrop Agency: ZARZAR MODELS Website: www.zarzarmodels.com Watching the Lake Show: Lauren Kipps Taylor Gilfoy Julie Kipps Agency: ZARZAR MODELS Website: www.zarzarmodels.com
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The talented model, singer and song writer, Keely Julian of Newport Beach shows us her versatility as she pays tribute to iconic generational artists by recreating their most famous album covers. At 23, Keely has been signed by Universal Republic Records in New York and appeared on American Idol. Keely is a unique artist that is fashionable, talented and sexy. We cannot wait to see what Keely will do next.
The Crew: Photographer: Nancy Villere of Crush Photo Studios Models: Jason Bogle, Corey Wilson, Miles Kirchner, Mikey Klein, Evan Dorian, Brett Lawrence, Mike Algarin, Steve Sakamoto, & Aaron Wdowin Stylist: Elizabeth Watson, elizabethwatsonstylist.com Hair/Make Up: Brie Leach Clothing Provided By: GARY’s at Fashion Island, garysonline.com & Fyasko, fyasko.com Watches Provided By: Traditional Jewelers, traditionaljewelers.com & Vestal, vestal.com Hats Provided by: Arth Hat, arthhats.com Location: Rancho Las Lomas
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publication cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. Sincerely, Erik Hale (Skipper)
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he idea of an enjoyable yet exploratory food journey with a date or an out-of-town visitor might not immediately include a dish as distinctive as curry. Known for its powerful aroma and creamy consistency, curry can be overwhelming, but as LOCALE traveled from Vietnam to Thailand and from Japan to India to execute our challenge of finding the best, we discovered that this spice-laden food can be light and pleasant to gourmet palates, too. An often crave-able concept with origins in the East, curry is a culmination of spices used to produce intense sauces for many foods, including meats, vegetables and rice, and comes in varying colors and styles of cuisines. On our tour of Orange County’s curries, we also discovered that this often zesty dish is offered by nearly every Eastern culture. Surprisingly, exotic and complex curries of all kinds can be found throughout our county and some seemed so strikingly authentic that the intense flavor profiles transported our taste buds to foreign lands of which most of us can only dream. Be adventurous. Get out there and try the “flurry of curries” we found right here in our very own Orange County.
by Erik Hale and Kristal Docter Photography by Erik Hale
A Flurry of location: Mint Leaf Thai Cuisine 31
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Curry
WINNER: Taste
WINNER: Authentic
Mint Leaf Thai Cuisine Curry Dish: Pumpkin Curry
A burst of modernity amidst the nostalgia of the peninsula neighborhood, Mint Leaf Thai Cuisine was opened by Boonyanudh Jiyarom (you can call her Lisa) in January 2012. Bright blue and yellow walls enhance the even brighter red, green and orange striped motif that is shown throughout the menu and interior, and tiny little letters which comprise the Thai alphabet are sculpted onto the opposite wall above the cozy leather banquets. Tradition has its home in a tiny space above the counter where “Lisa” has set up a customary Thai altar where she and the staff place daily offerings. I’m in my happy place even before I am served Mint Leaf’s equally delightful dishes. I feel like I’m going to get a home-cooked Thai meal but know that I am going to be served fresh and new takes on my favorites. Insisting on giving us the full three-course experience, Lisa instructs her staff to start us off with her famous Fresh Summer Rolls ($6.95). Consisting of classic ingredients like lettuce, bean sprouts, mint and cucumber wrapped in soft rice paper, these little works of art were presented vertically with fresh greens protruding from the tops. The substantiallysized rolls looked as if they were still growing from the garden situated with bunches of flowers on the side. Our second course, and the reason for our visit, was the Pumpkin Curry ($10.95). Again, it tasted like the time-honored coconut milk red curry, but the addition of sweet pumpkin and tomatoes added an unexpected richness and balanced the Thai flavors so beautifully that I can proclaim with confidence that this was the best Thai curry I’ve ever had. Lisa also shared with us a very traditional dessert called Mango with Sticky Rice ($6.95). Her finesse and skill in her cut work is presented beautifully in this light and warming dessert. The sweet and warm sticky rice made with coconut milk was surrounded by intricately cut mango placed in the shape of a heart and topped with toasted sesame seeds. This establishment’s devotion to serving tasty Thai food to its patrons shines through in every dish. Native Knowledge: Are you hungry but don’t feel like going out for dinner and also want to avoid ordering pizza again? Mint Leaf Thai Cuisine delivers! (with a minimum order of $15 and within a 3-mile radius) 712 E. Balboa Boulevard Newport Beach, CA 92661 (949) 675-9995 www.mintleafthaicuisine.com
Punjabi Tandoor Curry Dish: Lamb Curry, Shrimp Masala, Chicken Makhani and Nav Rattan Korma
The next time you make a family expedition to Disney, please do your mouth a favor and arrive or leave with enough time to make a pit stop just over the 5 at Punjabi Tandoor. Originally from San Diego, and a perennial USD student favorite, this decade old family business opened in Orange County two years ago and is making a name for itself because of their high quality of food. Everything is made fresh and cooked feet away from where you order on an enormous six-burner stove. While we were there, we witnessed freshly made Nan, a gentleman with the unfortunate job of chopping crates of onions and a stew pot full of curry that could feed a platoon of marines. We sat at one of the rustic wood tables and were impressed by the interior’s brick walls and exposed beamed ceiling. When our food arrived we both looked around to see if they had mistakenly brought an order for a family of eight to our table. They assured us that the mound of food was for us. They like to serve things family style. At all of the other locations we had narrowed down our selection of curry to one dish. We each tasted all four dishes that they brought not once but twice before looking at each other perplexedly and deciding jointly that each dish was so well done it would be impossible to choose one over the other. The restaurants are family owned and work off recipes that have been in the family for centuries. It truly felt like food you would be served at home in a traditional Indian household. The blend of flavors and freshness combined with the adherence to the fundamentals made Punjabi Tandoor our overwhelming choice for the Most Authentic Curry on our adventure. Native Knowledge: No matter how much you eat make sure to take home some extra Nan. It is homemade and baked in their tandoor oven as you wait. Try the garlic Nan if you’re not on a date. It is otherworldly. 327 S. Anaheim Blvd., #A Anaheim, Ca 714-635-3155 www.Punjabitandoor.com
Bamboo Bistro Vietnamese Cuisine Curry Dish: Chilean Seabass Curry with Malaysian Crepes
Chau Dang Haller opened this celebrated Corona Del Mar eatery 12 years ago with the intent to make Vietnamese cuisine noteworthy in the Beach Cities, and with a packed house nearly every day,she has accomplished just that. Taking after its name, the entrance is lined with large bamboo sticks that are repeated throughout the space from the effect of the mirrored wall and the surrounding architecture. Vivid art of Vietnamese villages decorate the remainder of the room, while the bar brilliantly simulates solid jade. Cozy outdoor patio seating is also available. Bamboo Bistro is also recognized for its extensive wine selection, displayed in wooden wine racks outside of the kitchen. I can see why this simple yet elegant space has become such a staple. The menu is broad but captures Haller’s heritage while including other Eastern influences. One of her most popular and original dishes is the Chilean Seabass Curry ($24.95) served with a side of Malaysian Crepes. The seabass is simply grilled, but the rich, red curry surrounding the fish delivers a complex blend of mild yet individually intense flavors. Grilled eggplant and shiitake mushrooms also add to the refined sophistication of this dish, making this the most luxurious curry I have ever been served. The accompaniment of the Malaysian Crepes, which are delicious for dipping, elevates this plate of curry to a level suitable for particular palates and fine diners. Native Knowledge: Bamboo Bistro is owned and operated by the sister of the famed Westminster Vietnamese restaurant Brodard. So if you live closer to the beach and Westminster seems like a drive, try Bamboo Bistro for a taste of this family’s acclaimed recipes. 2600 E. Coast Highway, #160 Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 (949) 720-1289 www.vietbamboobistro.com
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Chaya Japanese Grill Curry Dish: Curry Rice with Pork Cutlet
Located near the market and across from one of the primarily Asian strip malls in Costa Mesa, Chaya Japanese Grill is unlike its neighboring eateries because it doubles as a comic book store. Opened five years ago as solely a bookstore, Chaya added a large, open restaurant to accommodate its customers. The interior is everything you might expect with silk scrolls, Japanese characters and paper lanterns, but with an open kitchen and high-beamed ceilings Chaya feels more like a bistro than a typical Japanese hotspot. The wooden bar is so long it could likely seat 20, and the airy dining room filled with booths feels like a hip lunchroom. The manager is friendly and greets us with a warm welcome, offering one of their home-style Japanese dishes. The crunchy Curry Rice Pork Cutlet ($8.99) swims in a comforting beef-based sauce with carrots, onions and rice with a garnishment of red pickles, which effectively cuts the richness of the gravy, which the Japanese do so well. The dish reminds me of a lighter, hopefully healthier version of my Mom’s beef stew but with rice instead of mashed potatoes. It is unlikely that you’ll have room for dessert after this hearty meal, but if you do, try their light and surprising tofu cheesecake ($3.25).
FRESH • ORGANIC • HOMEMADE Napolitan style Pizzas & regional Pastas In a Los Angeles Time Review, S. Irene Virbila said:
“Delicious Naples Style pies and pastas at Il Dolce.”
Native Knowledge: Become a member of Chaya’s Internet Comic Café for $3 and earn the entrance to the bookstore as well as the opportunity to receive members-only happy hour prices and discounted food. 3030 Bristol Street Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 436-5798 www.chayateahouse.com
1902 HARBOR BOULEVARD COSTA MESA, CA 92627 WWW.ILDOLCEOC.COM | 949.200.9107 FACEBOOK.COM/ILDOLCE
Curry House, Irvine Dish: Kobe Shabu Curry Japanese-style Curry and Spaghetti
There are a myriad of choices for curry in Irvine. Japanese curry alone is as prevalent as Subway in this part of the county so we decided on a local staple. Curry House boasts 10 restaurants in greater Southern California and serves an extremely traditional Japanese curry menu. After being seated in the busy establishment we spent the next ten minutes perusing the expansive eight-page, full-color menu before settling on the Kobe Shabu Curry. We picked a medium heat setting (we should have ventured a few steps hotter on their six level scale) and waited with anticipation. When the plate arrived we both decided that if we came back we could easily split one portion. Half of the large 33
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oval dish was full of white rice and half was filled the thick brown curry covered in thin sheets of Kobe beef. The stew was rich and contained thick pieces of perfectly cooked carrots, corn and onions. The Curry House boasts the use of over thirty vegetables and spices to make their sauce. The sauce was rich, warm and perfect for a chilly day. They sell the simply named table condiment we used generously on our curry, “Hot Oil for Curry”, and I think we would make a trip back for it alone. Native Knowledge: For an extra 50 cents you can bring the heat with their extra hot and super hot variations made from a proprietary spice blend mixed with black pepper and chili. 14407 Culver Dr. Irvine, Ca 949-654-1449
Silk Thai Cuisine Dish: Yellow Curry w/ Filet Mignon
Personal service reigns at this family-owned establishment opened in 2005. When we arrived, the staff actually outnumbered the guests. We were warmly greeted at the door and escorted to a comfortable booth. After a long day of eating curry this was our final stop. We ordered two massive Thai teas and the lunch special. The special came with soup, salad, rice and our curry dish. After some deliberation and input from our waitress, we decided on an extremely traditional Gaeng Ka-ree or Yellow Curry with Filet Mignon and brown rice. We were offered a choice of heat on a scale of 1-10 and chose a five (it seemed safe). When the curry was delivered the waitress told us to stir the curry because the spice was on the bottom. We forgot all about this until our second heaping scoop when we remembered to stir the curry before scooping it and found the spice. The fire associated with a five had my eyes watering. I cannot imagine what a 10 would be like. The sauce was a very rich combination of spices and mixed well with the perfectly cooked potatoes, carrots and onions in the broth. On our way out the manager invited us back and suggested we bring our families. This is a restaurant we would definitely bring them to dine. Native Knowledge: Arrive between 3 pm and 6 pm for their earlybird special for 20% off your entire dinner order. 19690 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach, Ca 714-964-1151 www.gosilkthai.com
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Wing Lam - Co-Founder
e r o m s l l i r g ho
W
t h g u a C Wild
wahoo than anyone else in the world?
.
. That’s Drop In. Have Fun. Eat Well.
Visit Us At: California, Colorado, Texas, Hawaii - New York Fashion Island - Irvine Spectrum - South Coast Plaza 35
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www.Wahoos.com
™
Representing clients throughout Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, Allison Root
ALLISON ROOT SUCCESSFULLY REPRESENTING
possesses the varied and requisite skills to succeed in this competitive marketplace. Her exceptional customer service and strong negotiating skills – in addition to life-long knowledge of the local area – separate her from most agents and enable her to provide an uncommon level of comprehensive service. Challenging market
CLIENTS IN NEWPORT BEACH
conditions are her forte, and Root has favorably navigated myriad clients through
AND LAGUNA BEACH
Her keen understanding of what buyers are looking for helps Root to develop
the often-intricate details and unforeseen problems of modern day transactions. tailored marketing and exposure plans that highlight a property’s strongest attributes. Results speak for themselves and hers often surpass that of other agents.
allison root 949.300.5484 m 949.478.7704 t aroot@homgroup.com 1200 newport center drive, suite 100 newport beach, california 92660 949.554.1200 . www.homgroup.com
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by Gaby Sunheart Photography by Ana Cavanaugh
Tighten How to Eat Out on $30 a day
up
Mission: Visit three neighborhoods in Orange County and find quality meals in charming establishments for under $30 per day.
location: gypsy den 37
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Day 1 Santa Ana & Costa Mesa
Eat Authentic
BREAKFAST Gypsy Den | 125 N Broadway | Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 835-8840 | www.GypsyDen.com The Lab in Costa Mesa is the first stop on my minibudget mission. I have $30 in my pocket and a plan in my head. I have done some research and on the first day of my mission, I am abiding by the “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” axiom, so I start at Gypsy Den. I park next to a stack of artfully rusted metal drums repurposed as a quirky water feature and make my way towards the restaurant. My thrifty food journey has begun.
Gypsy Den The Combo breakfast plate: $8.62 and a cup of th eir house coffee: $1.89 THASOS GREEK ISL AND GRILLE Thasos Bundle Lunch Feast: $9.43 MEMPHIS at the Santo ra Beet Salad: $5; Happ y Hour Mixed Drink: $6
I could not have felt more at home as I walked into Gypsy Den. Maybe it was the coffee mug they TOTAL: $30.94 served me, which was painted with ginormous rainbow and declared “You’re the greatest Dad,” or maybe it was my native Portlandia sixth sense that adored the mis-matched furniture, antique tables and hippy vibe. I ordered The Combo breakfast plate and a cup of their house coffee, which they source from a local organic roaster (WIlson Coffee Roasters). My breakfast arrived – two scrambled eggs, a 10-grain blueberry pancake and red potatoes. The eggs were really fluffy and satisfying, and the potatoes weren’t treated like the obligatory side dish – they were perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The pancake was served up with real maple syrup and silky Greek yogurt. I had never thought of choosing yogurt as pancake topping, but I was now obsessed. What a great way to start Day One. Gypsy Den served me filling meal in a great environment, and I had barely busted my first Hamilton.
LUNCH Thasos Greek Island Grille | 3940 S Bristol St | Ste 113 | Santa Ana, CA 92704 (714) 708-3000 | www.thasos.com I am still satiated from this morning’s breakfast, but lunch has arrived, so I punch in the address of the next destination on my GPS, which is navigating us towards a shopping center near South Coast Plaza. I have driven past this corner so many times, but have never ventured in until now. Thasos Greek Island Grille is nicely decorated and smells wonderful. I ordered The “Thasos Bundle Lunch Feast,” which encompassed all of my favorites. Falafel for my main dish, served in a warm soft pita, salad and hummus. The service is fast and the food is yummy. I can’t believe that five minutes later I have devoured the entire plate after the breakfast I had. The falafel is crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside and seasoned well. The pita is warm and perfectly chewy and made even more delicious when topped with their garlic hummus. The salad is really fresh and topped with tomatoes, cucumbers and kalamata olives. Check lunch off the list.
Dinner Memphis at the Santora | 201 N Broadway | Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 564-1064 | www.memphiscafe.com After eating two meals that hit the spot, my stomach needed a break. I decided to head to downtown Santa Ana for a light meal and drink during happy hour. I needed to let my mind and stomach relax. Santa Ana is re-emerging into becoming the cultural hub of Orange County that it once was. Theatres, clubs and restaurants are all pushing boundaries and attracting the hippest crowds. There are a dozen great restaurants within walking distance of where I parked, but I picked Memphis at the Santora. With only $10 of my budget left to spend, I picked out the goat cheese and beet salad for $5 and one of their amazing premium $6 happy hour drink specials. The salad is simple and not overly complicated with a pile of fresh young arugula, a generous portion of tangy and creamy goat cheese and beautifully roasted beets tossed in a really light vinaigrette and sprinkled with hazel nuts. My drink the “Vodka Daisy” was made with Ketel One vodka, orange Curacao, fresh lemon juice, house-made grenadine and was the perfect complement to the salad and end to my day. I did splurge on the drink by a dollar, but the Vodka Daisy sounded so much better than a Greyhound.
Serving our family recipes since 1966
12 Locations in Orange County & LA County to serve you www.AvilasElRanchito.com
MY GALLEY Breakfast Burrito (A KA hangover cure): $6.25 ; House coffee: $1.75
Day 2 NEWPORT BEACH & Peninsula BREAKFAST MY GALLEY | 500 W. Balboa Blvd. | Newport Beach, CA 92661 | (949) 375-4355 | www.mygalleybalboa.com If you have ever raced to the Wedge to watch the waves pummel body surfers, or taken the fairy to the Funzone from Balboa, there is a good chance you have driven past My Galley. It is located just across the street from The Balboa Public Library and within walking distance of the boardwalk and the harbor. This establishment has become a fixture for locals. I notice that two of the people in line in front of me know the staff by name, and the third doesn’t even need to communicate her order since the girl behind the counter already knows exactly what her regular customer wants. They mix great food with great service and greet the regulars like family. I order a Breakfast Burrito and a Spiced Chai Latte and take a seat on the patio to enjoy the weather and people watching. After seeing two bagels served piled high with avocado, cream cheese and tomatoes, I second guess myself, but don’t change my order. The burrito is out several minutes later, tastes home-made and is very filling. The Chai Latte is hot and yummy. What a great way to start Day Two.
Woody’s Bowl of chowder: $4 .95 Il Farro Pizza Margherita: $5.99 TOTAL: $18.94
LUNCH WOODY’S WHARF NEWPORT | 2318 Newport Blvd. | Newport Beach, CA 92663 | (949) 675-0474 | www.woodyswharf.com “Let’s keep lunch simple” was my motto today. Woody’s is popular locally for two things: their late-night singles scene and their Champagne Sunday brunch. This was my first time stopping in for lunch, and I was pleasantly surprised. I decided to sit on the patio to take in some sun and gorgeous views of the harbor. I ordered a glass of water and a bowl of clam chowder ($5). After going over my budget yesterday, I was determined to keep it in check today. This was one of the first times in a restaurant that I realized I would rather the food take just a little bit longer to come out. The day was gorgeous, the clam chowder hit the mark, and I was way under budget.
DINNER il FARRO | 111 21st Pl. | Newport Beach, CA 92663 | (949) 723-5711 | www.ilfarro.com I had such a small lunch that I was hungry long before the dinner bell sounded on night two. I headed back down to the peninsula and squeaked through the door just before il Farro’s Happy Hour ended (5pm). IL farro is wedged between bars, donut shops and surf stores, but as you enter, you are transported to Little Italy. I had to order quickly to take advantage of the specials, and I landed on the Pizza Margherita for only $5.99! It was delicious. A wonderful whole wheat crust topped with their home-made sauce, a velvety mozzarella cheese and a few basil leaves. Il Farro was the perfect way to end Day Two with money in my pocket.
we'll go home with you anytime...
the little woman gourmet to go 11-5
monday-saturday
3238 pch
cdm
640.0551
www.quietwoman.com
Day 3 SAN CLEMENTE BREAKFAST The Bagel Shack | 777 S. El Camino Real | San Clemente, CA 92672 (949) 388-0745 | www.thebagelshack.com Day Three has me heading South. San Clemente always feels like a vacation to me. It is so laid back that it is often hard to believe you are still in Orange County. I decided to stay with a hyper local favorite for breakfast. The Bagel Shack is definitely a high-five establishment. Everyone knows everyone. The Bagel Shack’s breakfast bagel, rightfully named “Churches” after a local surf spot, boasts a generous schmeer of cream cheese, buttery slices of fresh avocado and sweet tomato sprinkled with lemon pepper. A lot of cafes have a version of this, but The Bagel Shack’s fresh cheddar bagel is absolutely insane – crispy, cheddary goodness on the outside, fluffy fresh bagel on the inside. My bagel sandwich paired perfectly with their real fruit Aloha Berry smoothie, which is sweet and refreshing. And together they came in at under $10!
LUNCH BOARD N BREW | 979 Avenida Pico | San Clemente, CA 92673 | (949) 498-2739 | boardnbrewsc.com Board and Brew definitely screams surfer vibe. It’s clean, airy and super relaxed. Amused by the little “socks” on the beer bottle taps, I take a seat at the bar and order one of their combo deals, which consists of a half vegetarian sandwich and a bowl of their home-made cheddar broccoli soup. The sandwich was served on fresh squaw bread and loaded with veggies. It was delicious. The soup’s flavors were perfectly developed and really satisfying. Sometimes there is nothing better than a great sandwich and a nice bowl of hot soup, and Board N Brew nailed it for well under $10. If you like to support your mom and pop restaurants and you want a deal, this is the spot!
The Bagel Shack The Churches Break fast Bagel: $5.30; Aloha Be rry Smoothie: $4.35 Board and Brew Soup and half sandwich combo: $7.54 Cafe Mimosa: Caesar Salad: $11.00 TOTAL: $28.19
DINNER Cafe Mimosa | 243 Avenida del Mar | San Clemente, CA 92672 | (949) 481-6780 | www.cafemimosasc.com The atmosphere at Café Mimosa is what I would call homey Mediterranean. Its cozy and chic surroundings had me concerned that I may not be able to afford the offerings, but I spotted a Caesar salad for $11, and after coming in under budget for breakfast and lunch, I decided to splurge. Café Mimosa’s version of the Caesar salad was unique. The dressing was not heavy or too creamy. The mound of romaine was topped with delicate, crunchy and well seasoned home-made croutons, and my favorite: fried capers. The portion was big enough that it made for a very satisfying dinner. I leave Day Three under budget and decide to take a walk on the pier to celebrate. I wonder if I have enough left over from the expedition for a “Cotton?”
Simple, pure flavors... Seasonal local and regional ingredients... Great tasting food that’s good for you. FASHION ISLAND 451 Newport Center Drive | Newport Beach, CA | 949.644.2400
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Developed inACTION partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil 2012
truefoodkitchen.com
MULTI MEDIA ART & EVENT VENUE 891 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949.376.1555 ext. 106 dora@seven-degrees.com Visit www.seven-degrees.com for more information.
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WEDDINGS PRIVATE PARTIES RECEPTIONS CORPORATE EVENTS BENEFIT GALAS CATERING
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by Erik Hale Photography by Tad Mask, tadmask.com
An interview with Wahoo's Co-Founder Mingo Lee about their new restaurant in NYC
location: Wahoo’s NYC 43
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The next time you visit NYC you can eat like you are at home and pick up a copy of LOCALE Magazine. The address is 333 Park Ave S. New York, NY 10010 212.466.3330
When did the first Wahoo’s open and where? Our first store was opened on Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa in November 1988. How many locations are there now? 61 Are they all company-owned or do you offer franchises? We have a mix of both. Thirty-two of our stores are corporate and the rest are franchised. Which Wahoo’s is your current favorite? The original store remains my favorite. It represents our funky, eclectic style. A very close second is our new Orange store which is in a restored building, which used to be the Vineland Hotel. The new Wahoo’s in Manhattan in NYC is your first east coast store. Why did you pick the Big Apple? What better place than Manhattan to have as our East Coast flagship. What were the biggest challenges of opening a store 3,000 miles from home? Do you plan on opening more there? We have had several challenges, but training is at the top of the list. We didn’t have the luxury of bringing the entire staff to an existing store down the road for full exposure to a live store. Our trainers have done a phenomenal job. In addition, sourcing our proprietary goods has kept our logistics team very busy. We even had to FedEx some protein for the opening, which is not cheap. Our franchise partners in New York signed a multiple-store deal for Manhattan
with additional options to expand into neighboring areas, so expect more stores to pop up down the road. Did you test Wahoo’s in NYC first or assume that people everywhere will love your tasty surf-style tacos? We had a strong belief along with our franchise partners who live and work in New York that Wahoo’s would fly. We offer fresh, highquality food at a great price in a very unique environment – even for New York. Did you make any changes to the menu for this location? No, we stayed true to our roots and are serving the traditional Wahoo’s menu. So far the feedback has been fantastic, but we have been discussing some new items for our colder climate diners. Where do you see Wahoo’s five years from now? We hope to continue growing at a steady pace (5 – 10 stores per year), building around existing locations as well as entering new markets when they make sense, like Manhattan. We’ll focus on the states that touch the ocean but keep seeking out unique opportunities in the “middle,” too. Colorado has been a great market for us. Do you feel that this could develop into a global brand? With the global growth of extreme sports and appetite for American brands that fuel the lifestyle, we are definitely looking beyond our borders. Our first stop is probably Japan. We will be partnering up with a surfer/restaurateur just like us.
COA S T PO I NT RESTAURANT
&
LOUNGE
* Happy Hour 4PM-Close & Shabu Shabu
New Concept, New Patio, Best Mandarin & Sushi in O.C.
* DJ & Dancing * Birthday Parties * Banquets * Special Events * Big Screen TVs 2800 WEST COAST HIGHWAY, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92663 | 949-631-8031 | CP2800.COM
Voted “Restaurateurs of the Year� for 2012 by Southern California Restaurant Writers
R&B Saturdays Get into the grove through the funk and soul of our live R&B performances
Smooth Jazz Sundays Enjoy contemporary smooth jazz with live performances by top artists
Located at the District (at Jamboree & Barranca Pkwy.) | 2647 Park Ave. | Tustin, CA 92782
Please call for reservations 714.258.7600 | www.thewineryrestaurant.net
location: chapter one
by M. Elizabeth Biscevic photography by erik hale
BRUNCH
Coined in 1895 by British journalist and gastronome Guy Berringer, the Sunday meal is for “Saturday-night carousers.” In other words, Berringer is referring to the nineteenth century hangover meal following a crazy Saturday night. Served around noon on Sundays, brunch was meant to envelop a relaxing close to the weekend by eliminating the need to wake up in a rush for breakfast. The ambiance is typically cheerful and social, providing partakers with a setting to relive their previous evenings over a large and hearty breakfast. The trend continued throughout the 20th century and soon replaced formal Sunday lunches for a more casual mid-day meal. The cuisine shifted to feature more sweet renditions for breakfast, more intricate lunches, champagne and cocktails. Now an appealing Sunday afternoon event for late-night partiers and families alike, we are lucky to have some of the best brunch spots right here in the OC. Here are a few of LOCALE’s favs . . .
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Chapter One: The Modern Local For struggling artists and fashionable foodies This is the perfect brunch location for a romantic Sunday morning. Whether you are here to enjoy that old style Euro-posh ambiance or get a little tipsy with cocktails, this is the spot for you. Chapter One prides itself on unique twists on entrees and drinks. That new-age flavor is counteracted by its quaint and old-style ambiance. The dining room features book shelves and home-style decorations, providing a laid back and casual feel. That casualness is revamped by the food and upbeat wait staff. Their delicious C1 bloody Mary is a unique rendition of the standard tomato-vodka cocktail that features bacon to add a little musk to this tangy drink! The food is rich and savory and features a wide range of options. Brunch entrees include the Scotch egg, a light and crunchy dish; the foi gras burger that includes caramelized onions, seared foi gras, and delicious meat. Other favorites include the mini mac and cheese complete with bacon and a panko crust, the potato pear, and the skirt steak chimichurri. All entrees also feature unique sauces that seal in all the flavors. Oh, and you can’t forget the duck fat fries! After a delicious brunch at Chapter One your possibilities are endless. Stroll around downtown Santa Ana or hit the local day bars. Chapter One provides a laid back and hip environment that makes this outing an escape from reality.
296 E. 17th StrEEt CoSta MESa, Ca 92627 949.645.7626 www.micasa1.com • •
227 North Broadway, Santa Ana | (714) 352-2225
Shades For a fresh escape from reality Shades restaurant is located right in front of Pacific Coast Highway, giving patio guests that perfect ocean view. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable. Mix that with the crisp courtyard that faces the interior, and you have yourself the start of a great weekend morning. The decor is relaxed and beach themed, perfect for that post-surf brunch. Shades is known to locals for their fresh menu and exciting renditions of seafood. The restaurant brings in fresh Wild Barramundi and Salmon every day. They feature small plates that include BBQrubbed Salmon served on a potato pancake; Kobe beef burgers on toasted buns; meatball sliders with delicious sauces; and smoked mozzarella sticks. It’s definitely a hearty meal. You can also expect to be seated quickly, served promptly, and treated like one of the family.
21100 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach | (714) 845-8000
Back Bay Bistro For those that want to get your drink on Back Bay Bistro is a go-to spot for OC locals and out-of-towners alike. They feature one of the best champagnes for their famous Sunday Brunch and your glass is never empty. Their food options include rich prime rib, a seafood bar and mouth watering clam chowder. For dessert the Back Bay Bistro features a huge chocolate fountain on top of its delicious pastry and cake options. Located on the Back Bay in Newport Beach, the bistro is located right on the water, giving you the perfect spot for a tipsy brunch walk. The Back Bay Bistro is generally considered a more upscale option for brunch, but the bartenders and hosts are casual and fun. The cocktails, ordered on request, are handcrafted and delicious (a perfect hangover cure).
1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach | (949) 729-1144
$3 happy hour $4 Margarita Monday $1 taCo tuESday A
The Dock For a quiet afternoon brunch Located on Lafayette Avenue, The Dock in Newport Beach is a perfect spot for a family brunch. The restaurant is half outside and half inside. The open section overlooks the docks and gives a very Gatsby feel when you’re looking across the bay. The place is beautifully decorated with throw pillows in fun colors, giving a feel that could be both romantic and playful. We love this Sunday Brunch for its easy atmosphere, delicious entrees and delicious morning cocktails. Bloody Mary’s here are to die for, especially when paired with the steak tartar appetizer and grilled prawn entree. The prawns are served on a flavorful risotto and paired perfectly with fresh grilled asparagus. The Dock also offers a large selection of wines and champagnes. It’s a trendy and very modern restaurant that features an extensive menu. Perfect for brunch and a great spot to chill after a long weekend!
2816 LaFayette Avenue, Newport Beach | (949) 673-3625
locAl fAvorite since
1972
Mi Casa is a story of family; of multigenerations dedicated to good food and festive times.
opEning Soon
in
ranCho Santa Margarita
Sorry, cupcake!
Bundtlets are better. The Queen Mary For when you just want to be on a boat The Queen Mary brunch is a go-to spot in Northern OC. Located in the Grand Salon, the ship’s original first-class dining room, it is enclosed and elegantly decorated, making visitors feel like they are truly at sea! For brunch, the Queen Mary features a quartet that provides music in the middle of the room. Bottomless champagne is also a must and the music and social ambiance of the ship makes the Queen Mary the perfect spot to start your classy Sunday Funday. The wait staff is on point with the refills and the servers make sure your glass is always half full! The buffet features a variety of stations including an omelet bar, waffle bar, salad and sushi platters, smoked meats and cheeses, and entrees that include Asian, Italian, and Mexican food. The dessert bar features steamed bread puddings, crepes, and a variety of pies, cakes and puddings. Each table hosts a few uncommon ingredients that can add a little something new to every dish. This spot also offers a separate buffet for kids, complete with smaller sized pancakes and sweet treats!
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach | (562) 499-1606
(949) 642-2900 270 E. 17th Street #4 Costa Mesa
The Old Vine For the hipster’s perfect Sunday From their lodge-themed exterior to the airy, homey interior, The Old Vine is the perfect brunch spot. Set within The Camp in Costa Mesa, The Old Vine specializes in fluffy and filling omelets and pizzas. The Old Vine also offers a variety of unexpected home-made sauces and spreads. From smoky hot sauces to sweet and salty pistachio spreads, Old Vine’s variety gives every dish its own personality. The hazelnut crepe was to die for, topped with specialty hazelnut creme that made the breakfast a dessert! The staff is overly accommodating. I mentioned it was cold waiting outside, and they cranked the heat up for us. It’s a very chill environment. The wait staff is friendly and personable, reaffirming The Vine’s mellow, live-in-the moment charm.
Suite A102, 2937 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa | (714) 545-1411
nothingbundtcakes.com
Then
& Wow
“Come and try the new, true Italian cuisine.” -Antonio Cagnolo
Six Privates Rooms for the Ultimate Party
RistoRante
Unique and Extensive Wine List
3800 south Plaza DRive | santa ana, Ca 92704 714.751.7153 | www.antonello.Com
Regulars “love every bite” at this South Coast Plaza “time-tested treasure.”
25 Food
23 Decor
25 Service
$54 Cost
Call us to sign up for the monthly cooking classes with Antonio and Fiorella Cagnolo.
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A
s with many small businesses, Mike Saraylian started his business Harvest to Home ,from home. More accurately he started the business on his deck on the Balboa Peninsula. He packed this 300-square-foot deck with boxes of vegetables in hopes of making a business out of tiny, self-sustaining gardens. Mike drew inspiration for this venture while working at a suction cup manufacturing company in Laguna canyon. Another employee had turned the roof of the building where he worked into a giant boxed garden. Mike made a trip nearly every day to the roof to make a simple lettuce, carrot and tomato salad. The organicallygrown salads were so amazing that Mike decided to leave the company to start delivering boxes of vegetables to the community. He started the company in May of 2009 by selling his pre-packaged gardens at the swap meet. He now has a 3,500-square-foot farm in Huntington Beach and three locations.
by Erik Hale Photography by AJ Abajian location: harvest to home
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Happy Hour Monday – Thursday, 4pm to 7pm $4 Draft Beer, $ 4Well Drinks, $4 Wine & Half Price Appetizers. You said making salads from the roof garden was your inspiration. What else inspired you to start your portable garden business? I was traveling in Europe one summer and had a very simple salad in Italy. There were only three ingredients, but I felt like it was the best salad I had ever eaten. I only realized later that it was so delicious because it was fresh.
How are the boxes different than planting my own garden at home? The boxes are pre-planted, covered to retain moisture, self fertilizing and take advantage of wicked hydroponics that draw from a three-gallon reservoir. We also use a special potting mix instead of soil to fertilize the plants.
Hosting Orange County’s Best Live Bands; Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday afternoons.
Do you just drop off the boxes at my house? We actually survey your property to determine the best spot for the sun. The box can go on your deck, patio or in the yard. We also offer an optional watering system that connects to your hose. The only maintenance other than harvesting your vegetables is spraying them weekly with an organic spray.
What do I do when my box is finished growing? Let’s say you have had your box for four months and the herbs and snap peas are done. We replace the box for spring with a box of tomatoes or cucumbers. You pick what you want and get a new round of boxes every four months.
Can you give us an idea of the expected yield on one of your boxes?
Outdoor covered & heated Patio. Great Irish favorites on the Menu: Fish &Chips, Bangers & Mash, Corn beef & Cabbage, Shepherds Pie.
They all differ, which also affects the price. Lettuce can produce 10 heads of lettuce or 5-6 salads per week. You can expect 30-50 lbs of tomatoes or approximately 2 months of solid picking.
How many boxes does the average person have? We find that typically the average has two, but some have as many as 10. We also just developed a 7” pot option. They are a good starting point, and you can find them at Bristol Farms and 118 degrees.
What were the main factors that led you to choose this line of work? I have always been into working out and the health aspect drew me in. It was also something positive that has an impact. I was selling suction cups. I wanted to do something that helped society.
Harvest to Home 949-873-5400 Orange County 310-876-3766 Los Angeles www.harvesttohome.com
130 EAST 17TH STREET COSTA MESA CA 92627 PHONE • 949 646 8855 WWW.HARPINN.COM
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Let Go of My Liege Bruxie™ Irons Out a Fresh Trend with the Bold Fold™
location: bruxie
What is Bruxie™? Dean Simon (DS):
“A Belgium waffle that is crispy, light and yeasty and not sweet – the platform used for all of our sandwiches. Our Liege waffle is dense and sweet with pearls of caramelized sugar.”
What made you think waffles would work? DS: “We both believed in it. If we could find the proper format in which to present it, we knew it would be exceptional. We spent a year and a half developing ingredients and coming up with the concept of portable, international street food. The waffle itself lends itself to some exceptional flavor combinations, which not many other ingredients can do.”
Kelly
Mullarney (KM): “The characteristics are unique. It takes on the flavors that you pair it up with. The texture is crunchy on the outside and warm and yeasty on the interior. The waffle as a platform is new and exciting.”
When you came up with the concept for Bruxie™, how did you foresee keeping the idea fresh to us fussy foodies? DS: “In the beginning, people were struggling to get on board with the waffle idea, but once they tried it, people went crazy.”
KM: “We knew that we had to go
by Kristal Docter Photography by Ralph Palumbo roving that waffles are not just for early-morning eaters or southernstyle spreads, Founders and Chief Wafflers Dean Simon and Kelly Mullarney are creating a revolution around one novelty nosh: waffles. Since opening Bruxie™ Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches in Old Towne Orange in November 2010, expanding in Downtown Brea in November 2011, and soon, a third location in Rancho Santa Margarita, Simon and Mullarney are generating an overwhelming buzz with an edible platform that kids crave and adults have fun digging into. Bruxie’s™ praised, refined waffle recipe won them a place in the “Top 10 US Yelp Restaurants of 2011” (among other contenders in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco), was mentioned on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and continues to make Belgium waffliers proud here in Orange County by attracting crowds of just about every character 57
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out and talk to people to help them understand what we were doing. So we talked about it and explained our menu to diners. We explained the ingredients like Michel Cordon Bleu smoked salmon, which all came in at a price point under $8 during the recession. The value was there and they embraced it. The younger generation really got it and what we were trying to accomplish. Once they got to the front of the line, they became excited, confident.”
– from eager shoppers needing a morning coffee to students taking advantage of Bruxie’s™ free Wi-Fi to business partners making deals alongside grandparents making memories with their grandchildren, happy and covered in Bruxie’s™ famous frozen Wisconsin custard. If you’re still skeptical about taking your date to dinner for the ultimate adventure in waffles (though the line of people out the door should be proof enough), try one of their savory specialties like the “Prosciutto and Gruyere,” which carries complex flavors from quality ingredients like true Prosciutto di Parma, gruyere cheese, whole grain mustard and chives, and your doubt will quickly diminish. Join me in jumping on the Bold Fold™ fast train for an often nostalgic experience on this wild waffle ride while Bruxie’s founders share their secrets to swift success.
Why do you think the idea of the waffle has taken off so vigorously here in Orange County? DS: “I was down in Newport and there was a line out the door for this new gelato place. Buzz just gets around. Once they understood the ingredients we were offering and started trying the pairings, it all became evident.”
Do you ever get tired of eating waffles? KM: “No. I try and avoid eating
sandwiches anywhere else, because when I’m going to have a sandwich, I’d rather have it be a Bruxie™.”
Bruxie’s™ additional menu offerings like artisanal sodas, Wisconsin custards, waffle fries and Peet’s Coffee and Tea are perfect partners to the waffle. How did you choose these items? DS: “The reason we serve Peet’s coffee is because that’s what I drink at home. We developed our own sodas based on what Kelly drinks in a bottle, and we wanted to be nostalgic, so we got frozen custard. What we do brings back a lot of memories. The accompaniments really make the experience.” KM: “We try to get people to have the whole experience, because if they do, they’re thrilled about it. It’s that depth of the experience.”
What would you be doing if you hadn’t made an empire out of dreaming up savory and sweet waffle combos? KM: “We both began our careers in the culinary industry when we were teens – bar backing, prep cooking, washing dishes. I always had an affinity to go griddle garlic bread in this steak and lobster restaurant I washed dishes in. It was the little details in the kitchen that impressed me. If I weren’t making waffles, I’d be continuing restaurant consulting for other people and traveling around the world, but I’m awfully happy
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to be making waffles.”
DS: “At 50, I didn’t think I was going to be opening a waffle shop. I had a 20-year career in developing specialty produce for retail stores, and am surprised to be back in the kitchen after so many years. But to me, cooking is like meditation . . . it’s relaxing. And if I can please other people with my cooking, that’s very cool.”
For those food lovers who haven’t had the chance to check out your revelatory waffle sandwiches, which Bruxie™ flavor fusion would you recommend? DS: “The ‘Lemon Cream & Berries’ from the sweet offerings. I love a great lemon meringue pie, particularly the crust. The waffle serves as the perfect pie crust.”
KM:
“The ‘Prosciutto & Gruyere’ has a light simplicity that’s enhanced by the saltiness of the ham and the brightness and tanginess of the mustard. Our Eastern-Carolina-style pulled pork special is another favorite. We also get a lot of create-your-owns.”
A lot of chefs seem to be inspired by their culinary travels. Dean, I understand you were inspired by the waffle on a trip to Belgium, and Kelly has been influenced by his trips to Asia. What do you think it is about having eating experiences abroad that often conjure such culinary inventiveness? DS: “Typically when you travel, you go to where things are originated – where things are really done right. You get to see how things are done. Whenever I travel, I always eat local. When I go to Nebraska, I’ll have a steak. When I go to Peru, I want the best ceviche.” KM: “I travel a lot out of the country. It has a lot to do with culture. Food is very much a part of life. It’s the social, it’s the family, it’s part of
your emotional experience of the day. When I’m traveling abroad, I sit at the carts and shops and markets with the people. I really try to experience the whole cultural aspect. There is a real food revolution going on in Southern California, which we’re proud to be a part of.”
What do you want to tell the people of Orange County about the future of the waffle in America? DS: “Wherever our imagination and our customers’ imaginations will take us, we will go to keep the experience fresh and exciting. Our motto is excellence all the time.”
KM: “We are prisoners of our perfectionism. When you’ve had amazing food and can smell the intense aroma from the streets, you know how to create a great platform. I’ve always got waffle on the brain. And if we tell you anymore, we’ll have to kill you.” Bruxie™ Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches are open from 9 am – 9 pm on Sunday - Wednesday and 9 am – 10 pm on Thursday - Saturday and are currently available at the following locations (but look for their third location in Rancho Santa Margarita soon!): Brea Downtown: 215 W. Birch Street, Suite 1 | Brea, CA 92821 | (714) 255-1188 Old Towne Orange: Brea Downtown: 292 N Glassell Street | Orange, CA 92866 | (714) 633-3900 Visit www.Bruxie.com for daily and seasonal specials at each location.
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OceanView Bar & G OceanView Bar & Grill
Named as one of the Top 50 Scenic View Restaurants in the Nation by OpenTable Diners
Open daily at 8:30 a.m. offering Breakfast, Lunch, Appetizers, Dinner and Wines by the Bottle! Live Entertainment every Weekend!
Both Restaurants Located inside the New Historic Hotel Laguna 425 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 | 949.494.1151 | claesovation.com facebook.com/hotellaguna | Twitter: @Hotel_Laguna and @CLAESOvation
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It’s 5 O’clock
Somewhere by Kristal Docter Photography by Ralph Palumbo
Log off that laptop. Transfer all calls to voicemail. Make a quick stop to touch up your lipstick on your way out of the office. Come on – shed that all-business blazer and show some shoulder. It’s the hour for which we all anxiously await: Happy Hour! There’s nothing like an hour (or three) of on-special drinks and food to make the people of Orange County flock. And who doesn’t want to sip and
savor in a social setting? Whether you’re searching for a swanky place to rendezvous with your colleagues or a dive bar done right, let LOCALE guide you through the diverse happy hour options So Cal has to offer. After examining our insightful catalogue of the in-crowd’s favorite cocktail haunts, you’ll know just where to go when your friends inquire: “Where should we meet?”
location: the cannery
The Cannery 3010 Lafayette Road, Newport Beach, CA 92663| (949) 566-0060|www.cannerynewport.com A favorite place to start off the weekend – the Jellyfish Lounge at The Cannery Seafood of the Pacific has been serving Newport Harbor locals for several years and recently received a modern makeover. The Cannery has become the hottest spot on the harbor on Friday nights. A place for Newport’s notables to mingle, network and host celebrations, the Jellyfish Lounge showcases one of the most lively sushi bars in the area. Their vast selection of seafood is flown in fresh daily and each of their “vintage-inspired cocktails” is seasonally created and playfully complemented by a memorable quote or fun fact. With a private room, a fire pit, high-top seating with a glowing backdrop, intimate corner accommodations and a sushi-bar, the Jellyfish Lounge at The Cannery Seafood of the Pacific is the place to see and be seen for every class of cocktail connoisseur. Native Knowledge: Who says you have to go to LA to see stars? Lead Bartender Joey Oehrlein reports that Green Day’s drummer Tre Cool stops in to say hello whenever he’s in town. Cool has even spent time teaching this tender a thing or two about a good drink. “He once said ‘give me a bottle of tequila, a tumbler of ice, 3 lemons (2 for the juice and 1 for the drink) and tonic water.’ He calls the drink a Cheech, because he golfs with Cheech Marin,” Oehrlein said. HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Time: 7 days a week from 4 pm-6:30 pm Provisions: $2 off cocktails | $3.50 draft beers | Half-price sushi menu | Tuesday nights only: half-price bottles of wine HH OBSESSION: The rolls! My fav is the Cannery’s Albacore Roll ($7), because they add spicy tuna and top it with papaya relish to highlight the sweetness and give it a kick. Community: Young professionals, older business professionals that have been coming to the Cannery for 30-40 years and business travelers. Attire: Eclectic environment from cocktail dresses to Duffy-boat casual. Beats: A mixed vibe of rock and radio hits.
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Red Chair Lounge at the Hyatt Regency 21500 Pacific Coast HWY., Huntington Beach, CA 92648 | (714) 698-1234 | www.huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com If the Rat Pack designed a swanky hangout in Sonoma, it would look like the Red Chair Lounge. Filled with tones of red from the leather-treated walls and the star of the Red Chair Lounge at center stage – the red chair – this hotel hideaway feels more like a library-meets-a-game-room. A shuffle board brings attention to the space in the foyer upon entering, the Billiard Room houses a vintage pool table, while wooden chess board tables furnish the cozy seating arrangements that lead you there. The artwork throughout by Clifford Bailey contains a jazz theme, which isn’t surprising since The Red Chair Lounge entertains its summer guests with a piano player every weekend. Other standout features include a beautiful outdoor patio with a glowing fire pit and amazing views of the ocean. The Red Chair Lounge’s “Social Hour” is an elegant place to retreat after some surf and sand. Native Knowledge: For Orange County’s cigar connoisseurs, The Red Chair Lounge also provides a stocked humidor with specialty cigars that can be smoked on the patio.
HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Time: Sunday - Friday from 5 - 7 pm Provisions: $5 well drinks and house wines | $4 domestic beers | Half-price appetizers HH OBSESSION: Red Chair Martini ($12) – okay, it’s not actually on the happy hour menu, but this delectable drink is a nobrainer, crafted with a custom strawberry-pineapple infusion, mixed with Cointreau and Chambord and topped with an edible chocolate straw. The California Cheese Plate ($7) served with garlicky crusty bread that’s sweetly tied with a parchment paper bow and garnished with raisins on the vine. Community: Travelers, local professionals, book clubbers and bikers who come to smoke cigars. Attire: Collared shirts and pencil skirts. Beats: An eclectic mainstream mix from REM to Coldplay.
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Avila’s El Ranchito 2515 East Coast HWY, Corona del Mar, CA 92625| (949) 644-TACO|www.avilaselranchito.com Free - yes, free - appetizers during happy hour at this 45-year-old, family-owned and operated establishment. The more you drink the more food they’ll bring. Owner Sergio Avila, his wife Marybell and daughters Maribel and Bianca moved from across the street to this larger Corona del Mar location in April 2010 (formerly Oysters). Along with other family members and cousins, the Avila family owns 12 neighborhood restaurants throughout the county. Mother Marybell Avila illuminated the interior of this Avila’s El Ranchito sprawling space with a multitude of colorful lanterns and cowhide-covered barstools, which she had imported from Mexico. More decorative details like the Spanish tiles embedded into the stone and portrait-style paintings embrace a warm family heritage of which the Avila’s are passing on to their employees. Bartenders Adam and Paco don’t hold back on sharing the love in their tequila-based cocktails either. All of the happy hour offerings derive from Avila family recipes. So what are you waiting for? Come join the lively lineage at Avila’s El Ranchito and relish over the best happy hour deals in the county. Native Knowledge: The bar back is a 1930s piece from the Chicagoan Al Capone era. When the Avila’s discovered the history of the bar, they decided to keep it and focused on bringing out some of its details in order to keep the character and story alive.
HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Time: Monday - Friday from 3 - 6 pm Provisions: $5 premium beers, tequila shots, house wines and house cocktails | complimentary appetizers made to order – choose from mini burritos, quesadillas, tostadas and chicken wings HH OBSESSION: Paloma Margarita ($5) muddled with ruby red grapefruit, fresh lime, agave nectar and Tres Agaves Tequila. Chile quesadilla – it’s snack-size, cheesy and gooey and spicy. Community: Neighborhood families famished after soccer practice and girls from the nearby salons, men in collared shirts and bros at the bar ready for a repasado. Attire: Comfortable casual – clothe yourself in what you would wear to Mom’s for dinner. Beats: Radio hits like Ray Lamontagne, the Black Keys and reggae.
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House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer 540 South Coast HWY #200, Laguna Beach, CA 92651| (949) 715-4500|www.houseofbigfish.com Currently the only sports bar in Laguna Beach, House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer was opened in March 2010 for those looking for reasonably-priced fresh seafood and a place to watch the game. Started by a group of nowgrown guys who were local surf kids and fisherman, this Laguna institution has become happy hour headquarters for seafood lovers and sports fans. The staff wear baseballstyle tees and the space (previously Aegean Café) boasts seven big-screen TVs for viewing while cracking open Alaskan king crab legs. “People who are visiting and staying at the hotels up and down the coast come and try it, and end up coming back four days in a row, because we’re giving them quality product at a really reasonable price . . . and we don’t do anything wimpy here. We’re not a gastro pub or a draft’s choice, and we’re not trying to be anything we’re not. It has a personality of its own, and it’s Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer,” Owner and Chef Craig Connole said. Look for the Hawaiian Ulua Fish in the window as you’re driving down PCH, and you’ll know you’ve reached House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer. Native Knowledge: You’ll never get an old oyster at the House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer. Connole reports that the bar easily goes through two to three bushels of oysters per day. That’s about 90 pounds of aphrodisiacproducing appetizers!
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HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Time: Monday - Friday from 2:30-6:30 pm Provisions: $1 off all beers | $5 well drinks, flavored margaritas and wines | $6 select house martinis | food price changes every hour: 2:30 pm all happy hour apps are $2.30, 3:30 pm all happy hour apps are $3.30, etc. HH OBSESSION: Start with $1 oysters fresh daily, served on the half shell; then, move through the Salmon Piada ($2.30 - $5.30, depending on what time you get there), an Italian flatbread taco filled with a generous portion of fresh pan roasted salmon, salsa, arugula and creamy garlic sauce. Community: Travelers, seafood bargain hunters, beach goers, sports fans. Attire: Come straight from the water in your board shorts and bikinis. Beats: Choose your own from the TouchTunes interactive jukebox.
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Anthill Pub & Grille C-215 Student Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 | (949) 824-3050 | www.anthillpub.com The only on-campus pub educating students to be better beer drinkers, the Anthill Pub and Grille offers 27 craft brews and three ciders (the majority of which are locally made) to its university consumers and beer aficionados. The pub was relocated in September 2007 to its current first-floor space and is operated by students for the students. It is even partially owned by the Associated Grad Students (AGS). “We harbor an environment where people can learn about craft beers, try new ones and enjoy our prices and selection. We sell beer cheaper than some of the breweries,” Assistant Manager and Bartender Kevin Leonard said. Brightened by beer tap art, periodic tables of beer styles, and, of course, light-up beer signage, we found Anthill Pub & Grille packed with people on an early Thursday afternoon, and it wasn’t just because of the beer. Keeping with the sports bar/pub theme, the cooks called out order after order of food over the loud speakers like sportscasters announcing each play.
HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Time: Monday - Friday from 4-7 pm Provisions: $1 off pints | $3 off pitchers | $3 wine HH OBSESSION: Purple Haze ($8 per pitcher) – a raspberry wheat beer. Community: Students, alumni and faculty of the University of California, Irvine and beer enthusiasts. Attire: Jeans and tees or just roll out of your dorm in your sweats. Beats: It’s the bartender’s choice in this pub, playing anything from the Black Keys to Metallica to Muse and Taylor Swift.
Native Knowledge: Seasonal premium beers that are higher in price and alcohol content are listed on a secret menu and called Cork Beer. Leonard advises that if you see Cork on the menu, it’s something good. And if you want to pair that craft brew with some grub, order one of the secret menu items like the Stoner Fries for $6.50 or the Stoner Tots for 50 cents more. Both are covered with cheddar cheese, carne asada, guacamole and salsa for a scrumptious Americanmeets-Mexican treat.
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The Crosby 400 North Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701 | (714) 543-3543 | www.thisisthecrosby.com Designed around creating a hub to connect the owners’ friends with their interest in music and art, Phil Nisco, Marc Yamoaka, Chris Alfaro (all co-owners) and General Manager Dante Parel have made The Crosby home to some of Orange County’s coolest. Opened in April 2008, the Crosby has grown from catering to a late-night music scene powered by a wall of boom boxes (now neatly displayed atop the bar for artsy aesthetic) to hiring French-trained Chef Aron Habiger to feed flocking food critics the more eloquent eats they desired. The combo of concepts proved to be exactly what Orange County ordered. The collaborative concepts continued with the inspiration for their bizarre backdrop and decor. The wall paper, which appears to be a graphic floral print, actually forms skulls. You’ll find columns plastered with band stickers and cartoons projected above the door, and maybe most peculiar of all – their deer head logo, which came from an idea of the boom boxes being held up for all to see with taxidermy. The Crosby offers a dinner experience from which your music alter ego could only dream. Native Knowledge: Check out the Crosby on the second Tuesday of every month for Dust Collectors Night. The owners play all vinyl all night from their own collections. And keep an eye on the live music schedule – the Crosby is the only venue in Orange County where world-renowned guest musicians like Gaslamp Killer, Flying Lotus and Free Moral Agents have graced the stage.
HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Time: Monday - Friday from 5 - 7 pm (Mondays only happy hour runs all night long!) | Late Night Menu every night from 11 pm-1:30 am Provisions: $2 off all flatbreads and well drinks | $3 sweet potato fries | $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon | $3 white & red house sangria HH OBSESSION: Vegan flatbread ($9) made with a garbanzo bean romesco, marinated mushrooms, herbs and zucchini, topped with white wine parsley pesto and fried garbanzos. Just trust me – it’s delicious, and I’m not vegan either. Community: Underground city lounge vibe – music-driven dudes and tattooed girls with pinup style. Attire: Platforms and bold jewelry and definitely leather. Beats: Live bands and DJs in every genre from Doo-wop to punk to metal and soul. 67
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The Hidden Jewel Women’s Fashion ~ Accessories ~ Gifts ~ Home Decor
NEW SPRING ARRIVING DAILY Free People • Veronica M • Greylin Michelle Jonas • Language • Sanctuary Charlotte Tarantola • David Lerner Level 99 • Heartloom • Crown Jewel Tylie Malibu • Bernardo Footwear
1686 Tustin Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 574-2160 hiddenjewelCA.com Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/TheHiddenJewel Voted one of OC’s Best Fashion Boutiques
Kitsch Bar 891 Baker Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 | (714) 546-8580|www.kitschbar.com “Eclectic art, music and people = kitsch” is the adored affirmation prominently displayed on this bar’s DJ booth. General Partner Mike Hannegan describes the vibe as “a cross between a dive bar and a club. It’s dark but intimate.” Purchased by the location’s favorite resident bartenders Dave Nola and Hannegan in 2010, Kitsch Bar has refined its chic hipster style with a moody makeover. It still possesses the sexy red women’s bathroom and the wall-size display case, exhibiting random objects and quirky garage sale treasures from Big Boy Dolls and Mr. Potato Heads to antique fire extinguishers and newspaper clippings from famous days in history, but it has added other elements of fun with a red-carpetready photo booth ($5 for two strips of four pictures each) and logo-etched glass walls. Although they don’t serve food, you can’t beat Kitsch Bar’s chronological choice for happy hour. For those that can’t make it out of the office in time to hit most happy hours and either hope to be home or well on your way before the latenight happy hours hit, Kitsch Bar is the perfect place to lounge and let go from 8 pm-10 pm. Native Knowledge: Want to be on the Kitsch Bar “It List?” Text message Kitsch Bar at 85346 to receive specials and giveaways that no one else knows about. Regular text specials include simple instructions like “bring this text in for two free drinks.” I think you can handle that.
HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Time: Sunday – Thursday from 8-10 pm | Friday and Saturday from 7-9 pm Provisions: $3 well drinks and import beer | $2 domestic beer | $4 glasses of wine | $3 mixed shots HH OBSESSION: Triple X Horchata ($3) served with a cinnamon rim and a cinnamon stick garnish is shaken with cinnamon whiskey, Godiva chocolate liqueur and Bailey’s Irish Cream. Yum. Community: “An all-race, all-age melting pot,” Hannegan admits. The scene is as unique as its namesake. Attire: Casual club wear. Combine those heels with some Motostyle. Guys – no shorts, no flip flops on Fridays and Saturdays. Beats: Live DJs playing house, hip hop and indie rock mash-ups.
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Rock’N Fish 422 South Coast HWY., Laguna Beach, CA 92651| (949) 497-3133|www.rocknfishlb.com More than just fresh fish, Rock’N Fish dispenses the largest selection of artisanal craft beers on tap in Laguna Beach, making it a beer drinker’s beach paradise. With a lively weekend bar scene, this inviting second-floor lounge and restaurant with a view features nautical furnishings and a rock and roll attitude within a refined atmosphere (shown in finishes like the ancient piece of polished Brazilian riverbed, which constructs the bar). Rock’N Fish’s brews are served in matching branded glasses and their plates are piled high with exquisite attention to detail. (It was evident that my plate of shrimp was purposefully stacked.) Amongst the seahorse and anchor murals announcing “Our spirits will lift yours,” another theme is prominent in its food and flare: New Orleans spice and soul. “I love the lighting, the high-back chairs and the brick. Every day when I hit the top stair, I can really see and feel the warmth of it,” Operating Partner Jim Donegan fondly admits. I recommend scouting out this seaside parlor on a weekend when they have live bands. Native Knowledge: Some of Rock’N Fish’s most notable recipes are those of an old Manhattan Beach restaurant called Hibachi. Built in 1960, the space is now occupied by the original Rock’N Fish location and as an ode to the owners, Rock’N Fish continues to carry on some of their traditions. Try their Navy Grog cocktail – so acclaimed that only two people in each Rock’N Fish location know the secret recipe.
HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Time: Monday - Friday from 3-6 pm | Late night happy hour from 9 pm-close Provisions: $5 premium beers, wines and martinis | $5 off appetizers HH OBSESSION: Freshly battered-to-order Popcorn Shrimp ($7.95) made with 18 enormous Mexican wild shrimp, served with a spicy rémoulade. The Teriyaki Beef Tenderloin Skewers ($10.95) served on a bed of house-made sticky rice are also a stellar steal. Community: A plethora of young artists and old locals who sit at the bar every Friday night. Attire: Stylized and upscale beach wear. Beats: A playlist with everything from Santogold to “Slow Ride.” 71
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Let Our Waterfront Expreience, Create Yours!
at The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel 21100 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach CA 92648 714-845-8444 www.waterfrontresort.com
True Food Kitchen in Fashion Island is a treat for the senses. The layout and design of the restaurant are beautifully choreographed to match the style, taste and presentation of the food. It is large and open but still welcoming. It is modern but feels natural. There are copious amounts of wood, concrete, steel and glass but it still seems rustic. The partially covered patio is surrounded by plants and is nearly as large as the dining room. The outdoor glass-encased fire-pit can accommodate a full birthday party of guests on a chilly evening, and they offer a menu that is fresh, mostly organic and one that also takes advantage of produce, seafood and meat sourced within our community. The full bar offers a variety of drinks and fresh ingredients you would unlikely find anywhere else. We visited before the restaurant opened to try their ‘Spontaneous Happiness’ and watch them prep for the day.
True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.” -Albert Einstein
Drink Spontaneous Happiness
Ingredients
Fresh lime juice Ginger and Vanilla infused Schochu (rice based liquor 24% ABV) St. Germaine Elderflower
Daily prep
(8 qts. each) Grapefruit Cucumber Oranges Pomegranate seeds Lemons Mint GInger
true drink by Erik Hale Photography by Chris Chavira 73
In the photo: Kristin Hunter
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True Food Kitchen Fashion Island 451 Newport Center Dr. Newport Beach, CA 92660 P: 949.644.2400 Monday – Thursday: 11 am to 9 pm Friday: 11 am to 10 pm Saturday: 10 am to 10 pm; Brunch served until 3 pm Sunday: 10 am to 9 pm; Brunch served until 3 pm
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Blast Consignment Vintage
& Current Designer Clothing
aCCeSSorieS Home Decor
Gucci Coach Prada Chanel Versace Louis Vuitton Manolo Blahnik John Paul Gaultier Christian Louboutin
“What happens at Blast stays at Blast.” 1936 S. CoaSt Hwy, Laguna BeaCH, Ca 92651
949.494.9608
BLaStConSignment.Com ACTION 2012
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OC VS.
LA Trending Topic for spring 2012
Bold Prints As of late, I can’t help but notice the abundance of bold prints that I’ve seen in both the 949 and the 310. When it comes to fashion, I love anything with the word bold in front of it. Which is exactly why I was extremely excited to hit the streets and stalk those who were willing to push the limits when it comes to their spring wardrobe. From fabulous florals to sassy stripes, the ladies of LA & OC are making spring 2012 a statement season.
Alicia Furio, Downtown LA Tunic, Show Me Your Mumu
animal prints
by shannon funk
photography by Jenavieve Belair
Candace Cope, Costa Mesa Jumper, Forever 21
Ashton Westmoreland, Pasadena Shirt, Forever 21
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BLUE EYED GIRL
Shannon Funk, Beverly Hills Shall, LF Boutique
Sasha St Pierre, Costa Mesa Shall, Bella Bleu
floral This is clearly one trend that makes your personality pop. The lovely ladies roaming the streets of OC & LA showed more personality similarities then usual. Bold prints come in all shapes and sizes but these ladies proved that stripes, animal prints & floral prints are among their favorites.
Pushing the fashion limits is not for everyone but if you are feeling like a fearless femme this spring, here are some tips from The Dolls for being bold & beautiful:
Blend color block with prints. Why not mix two trends together? Pair a floral pump with a color blocked outfit featuring two of the colors from your print.
Take caution when wearing more then one print. Bold print separates pair best with solids. Black is always a good backdrop for animal prints. Leopard & snakes aren’t a good pair on or off the body.
Stick to stripes that are flattering for your figure. Vertical stripes help to create a vertical (rather than horizontal, or wide) illusion, which we could all use, right? Also, the wider the stripe, the bolder the statement and if you haven’t noticed, we are all about the statement!
Laguna Beach Old Pottery Place 1200 S. Coast Highway, #106 Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-715-4646 ShopBlueEyedGirl.com Facebook.com/ShopBlueEyedGirl San Juan Capistrano • San Clemente • Santa Barbara
Bailey 44 • Goddis • Gypsy 05 • Johnny Was • Hudson • J Brand • Jeffrey Campbell • Michael Stars • Odd Molly • Rails • Velvet •William Rast
Gorgeous (gor’-jes) 1. The quality of being brilliant, magnificent, attractive, beautiful, dazzling, & lovely. 2. Being all of the above, all the time, Everyday...
Hair by Ashley Gannon
1808 Newport Blvd | Costa Mesa, CA 92627 | HeyGorgeousBoutique.com ACTION 2012 79 949.307.2602 | Facebook.com/Hey.Gorgeous.Boutique
AT VANGUARD UNIVERSITY, WE’VE GOT THE PERFECT MIX — UNBEATABLE ACADEMIC TRAINING, WORLD-CLASS ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS, A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS AND A STRONG SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION. We believe learning goes beyond the classroom and happens in the context of relationships with faculty and other students. Our professors serve as mentors inside and outside the classroom, giving students the knowledge they need and the wisdom to apply it in the real world. Visit vanguard.edu and see why at Vanguard University, we go beyond the classroom, beyond scholarship, beyond the expected. At Vanguard, your story matters.
55 FA IR DRIVE , COSTA ME SA, CA 9 2 6 2 6
vanguard.edu
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There are a few things I know for sure: life is full of surprises and fun, and there is a lotta life to live! Maybe it’s a sign of the times that’s got me so positive these days, or maybe it’s just the fact that the sun is finally peeking out on a more regular basis this spring than it did over those cooler winter months. Whatever the case may be, I think it’s high time that I brag on a few more places around spring-time Orange County that are bound to put pep in your step and a smile on your face. From eating to shopping, to just plain hangin’ out, we here at Locale are keeping our promise in dishing about the best of the best of local businesses in the county. Here goes…you ready?
by holly clinard Photography by Asami Zenri; Asami Photography, asamiphotography.com Styling By: Charity Baker, charitybaker.com
Face it, you’re a local at it’s finest. Now get out and enjoy your surroundings in style! You can follow Holly on her chic fashion blog: www.hollyinheels.com Holly in Heels smitten with shoes, addicted to style.
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here are twentyfour hours in a day – twenty-four hours filled with routine things like waking up, brushing your teeth, picking out an outfit, heading to work, and doin’ your thang. But what happens when you’re sick of routine, and tired of the day-to-day business that soaks up all the hours? I’ll tell ya’ – you just create your happiest hour. I’ve found that setting aside some time to unwind and appreciate the simple things in life is therapy in itself. Simple things like a salty margarita and a basket full of warm chips + salsa, with the beachside behind you! Sounds pretty happy, eh? Javier’s on salty Pacific Coast Highway in Crystal Cove is bound to be a local’s favorite for these happiest of hours. Waltz through those oversized double doors that welcome you in, and head right to the dimly lit bar to meet those best gals in your life that you’ve been dying to see all week! The aroma of warm chips, fresh enchiladas and a dash of tequila and Mexican beer is just the sorta’ thing you might need when breaking up your groundhogs day routine. Javier’s was established back when gas was $1.09 a gallon, Whitney Houston was in her prime, and Braveheart hit the box office—in the 90’s. 1995 to be exact is when this cantina and grill made its way into Laguna Beach and quickly became best known for its lively atmosphere and insanely delicious food. After moving away from the Laguna Beach scene, Javier’s salsa’d its way into the heart of Crystal Cove in Newport Beach and the Irvine Spectrum, just south. If you’re headed to the Newport location for happy hour, grab some of their famous guacamole, campechana, and choose from a few of their offered ceviches. Tacos, nacho plates, and a full dinner menu also may tempt you into indulging even more! And lucky you, it just might be the most difficult decision
of the night to pick from Jav’s crazy long list of wines, margaritas, martinis, tequilas, and cervezas (aka beer). Just what the doctor ordered, your happiest hour of the day, spent in sparkling Newport Beach. Make sure you sparkle plenty as you enjoy your happiest hour with your happiest girls. Watch out, because L.A. & JO in Corona Del Mar is dressing you up for the occasion! With a fresh collection of everything from high-end threads to bargains you will not believe, L.A. & JO boutique carries a variety of the latest styles in apparel, jewelry, and handbags. Owner Jo Milyon has had this spot open for just 6 months, but you’d never know it when you walk in! Jo is obviously a pro at the boutique thang, selling her regulars and walkin customers everything from jackets, tops, dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags, and scarves, too, along with a new line of fashion-inspired furniture. That’s right, L.A. & JO carries this special collection of furniture that’s designed for the fashionista at heart (that’s YOU!). Fun fact about this boutique is that everyone here is a designer themselves—in a matter of 2 weeks, they bring the things they’ve seen on the runway to the customer direct in their boutique. That’s what happens when you get a bunch of mad designers in one spot, right? They get all creative and amazing and bring you things that you’ve yet to see at all the big stores around town. You heard right, you’ll be ahead of the fashion trends when you stick with these gals! And have I mentioned their denim selection yet? Well, get ready for your denim dreamboat at L.A. & JO—a fantastic variety to quench your thirst for both casual and dressy denim is found right in your own backyard. Now that you’re all gussied up by L.A & JO, it’s time to hit up that happy hour (and the after party too!).
Javier’s Cantina 7832 East Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92657 javiers-cantina.com L.A. & JO 2801 Pacific Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 laandjo.com Heather Pullis Designs 1670 Santa Ana Avenue, Suite A&B, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 heatherpullisdesigns.com Models Provided by ZARZAR Models zarzarmodels.com
HAPPIEST
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rom the time you were a carefree teenager in what seems like ages ago, there’s always been one thing for sure—nope, it’s not the awkward dates that you’ve been on or the fact that you were never able to ace that algebra test—it’s that Fridays are ditch days. Some things never change, folks. Fridays are known throughout the nation for being the favorite day of the week, that’s for sure. It’s a slower day for most of us in general—so why not just start your weekend a little bit early and ditch reality? Finding yourself basking in the rays at The Deck in Laguna Beach is a much smarter way to spend your Friday anyway, in my humble opinion. And something tells me you agree! The Deck is a beachside hidden gem of a restaurant at Pacific Edge Hotel—and the perfect place to spend your ditch day. Pacific Edge Hotel has gotten a bit of a makeover recently, and they’ve mayyy-jorly updated their image. You’d never even recognize the place from what it looked like before, but it’s now a gorgeous, surfer-town spot where the vibe is just right. Their scrumptious and fresh appetizers, salads, lunches and dinners are a perfect pair for your day at the sand. Mahi mahi tacos are a must and the burgers are outta sight! You can catch your slice of paradise near the crashing of the waves, with one of their signature martinis or bellinis in hand. Simply delish. The views from The Deck make the place— they hold the proud reputation here of being the only restaurant in Laguna that is actually on the sand. Can’t beat that! And this restaurant isn’t like some of the other OC spots where you feel like you have to get all decked out (no pun intended) and dressed up to hit up the scene—oh no no, this place is attitude-free, take my word for it! If you’re looking to go all out on this ditch day, make sure to rent one of The Deck’s posh cabanas for the day, and have your own private, oceanfront space with a private deck right on the sand, and full, direct beach access. Swanky bottle service awaits in your private cabana, along with flat screen tvs, air conditioning for when it gets a little too steamy, and your very own cabana girl to wait on you hand and foot. VIP baby! And just how every single one of you would wanna spend your Friday, I just know it. Beats your normal Friday daytime plans, I’ll bet! After you’ve had your fun, come back to The Deck and bring the family, for a kid-friendly beach spot that will never grow boring. 83
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Step right up to The Deck in Laguna and undress yourself from those constricting work clothes you’re used to sportin’. A day like this is built for bikinis! That’s why Newport Beach bikini boutique, Malia Mills, is dressing your hot bod today. Business partner and sister owners of this booming boutique, Malia and Carol, are (believe it or not!) based out of style-chic New York, but have always had a heart for the west coast—and rightly so! This sister duo grew up in Hawaii and after moving to the big apple, decided to remain connected to the magical west coast lifestyle in some way. So now with their fourth boutique in the great state of California, Malia Mills is well on the road to style success! Their Newport Beach location is just miles away from The Deck, where you’re ditchin’ today, and just south of some favorite local-goer spots like A’maree’s and A Market. When asked what makes their boutique special and stand out in OC, they told me of Malia Mills’ “love thy differences” mantra, keeping them true to the fact that clothing and swimwear should be made for everyBODY! Love that. Brands like Inhabit, ACB, Demylee, Tucker, Iro, Clare Vivier, and Lemlem grace the racks in this PCH boutique, and keep the styles fresh yet basic and classic. Aside from their collection of dazzling clothing brands, swimwear separates are truly their thing: American-made swimwear here is engineered to fit AA through E, and sizes 2-16 too. Talk about everything for everyone! Something else to know about this simple and chic boutique is that owner Malia Mills herself has her very own ready-to-wear collection of bathing suits of all shapes & sizes, cover-ups, dresses, and blousy apparel, all exclusively sold here! Tops, and bottoms sold separately, including tankinis, and the favorite “one of a kind behind” bottoms that are customized with Swarovski crystals (perfect for a bride to be!). Face it folks, it’s basically swimsuit season, and now the perfect time to head to Malia Mills for your best beauty bathing suit. So spring season here we come—I wanna see each of you make the most of your Friday ditch day (and the rest of the days of the week for that matter) and have some fun in the so cal sun!
The Deck 627 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 deckonlaguna.com
ditch
fridays
Malia Mills 2429 West Coast Highway #101, Newport Beach, CA 92663 maliamills.com Heather Pullis Designs 1670 Santa Ana Avenue, Suite A&B, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 heatherpullisdesigns.com Models Provided by ZARZAR Models zarzarmodels.com
irls gotta special bond, ya’ know? Sure, we can be overflowing with gossip and occasionally too catty when we feel like it—but we can also roll on the floor laughing with one another, put on each other’s make up better than we can do our own, and bring the best out of one another. Because of that unmistakable connection we got goin’ on, nothing can be better than a little time with the girls. I know when I‘m ready for some fun, I call the chicas on my quick dial list and request some time, just me and my girls. And on this fine, spring day, we are headed to Pizzeria Mozza on beautiful West Coast Highway, in the ever-popular city of Newport Beach. This local Italian fare is a part of a family of well-known restaurants throughout the country. You may recognize a few of Mozza’s sister locations including a few in New York, Las Vegas and neighboring Los Angeles. Acclaimed restaurateurs, Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich pioneered the way in Italian cuisine, and added Chef Nancy Silverton to their Pizzeria Mozza spot in the Newps. The long, long list of wines that greet each customer here is a vino-lover’s delight! From all regions and varieties, you’re bound to find the perfect pairing with your yummy Italian dish. Ok, and are you ready for carbs today? Because you’ll have to shy away from your normal skinny girl diet and get ready to indulge in buttery bread, handtossed pizza crust, some out of sight meatballs, and mozzarella cheese that’s outta’ this world. YUM to my tum! You and the girls can handle it, right? Comfort food for the Italian in everyone, the meats and sausages on the menu are a must-have. Oh, and don’t get me started on their famous bone marrow al forno spread that’s served with salt, garlic oil, parsley and toast to spread this heavenly stuff onto. It may sound frightening—bones, body parts, you know—but Pizzeria Mozza gets rave reviews for this starter! If you’re in the mood for something a bit on the lighter side, grab Nancy’s Chopped Salad—a delish salad that’s loaded with almost everything you’d put on a pizza, but on some greens! The atmosphere in this warmly lit,
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adobe-esque building is welcoming and sweet—just as you’d imagine your favorite Italian restaurant to be. Perfect place for you and the girls to get together, unwind, grab a glass of vino and grub on the best Italian cuisine OC has to offer! For dressing up or dressing down with your girls today, you’ll want to be fashion-forward with a touch of beach girl—and lucky you, because that is the official style at Lilikoi Boutique at The Bluffs in Newport Beach. Park yourself right into this bustling shopping center surrounded by some of the bigger chain restaurants you’re probably already familiar with, and uncover this locally-founded boutique that’s been a staple for the past few years in Newport Beach. The buyers for this boutique sure do know their demographic—beachside bathing suits by L*SPACE, tons of denim by William Rast, Hudson, and Paige, and also an adorable selection of blousy tops & tees by RVCA, Billabong, Free People, Alternative Apparel, and more of every OC lady’s favorite tags. Let the stylish window displays and dressed up racks in here inspire your fashion senses, as you grab tops, denims, their selection of Havianas sandals, and other adorable flats and shoes. There’s always a sweet and friendly Lilikoi staff member there to help show you to their dressing rooms at the back of the boutique, and even make some stylish suggestions on what else you might like. Accessories at Lilikoi Boutique are also off the hook. Check out the table in the center of the store, constantly filled to the brim with chain link and beaded necklaces, colorful gems and enamel bracelets, medallions, cuffs of leather, gold and silver. So what makes this Newport spot different than all of those other amazing boutiques that line PCH? I’ll spill it. It’s the fact that Lilikoi offers all of the clothes and accessories you want in your closet. Clothes, swimwear, handbags and jewelry that will take you looking sharp to work, to the beach for a tan, and then to hanging out with the girls for your weekend date. Something for every gal in one little spot, I guarantee it. A shopper’s deeeelight!
Pizzeria Mozza 800 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92663 pizzeriamozza.com Lilikoi 1344 Bison Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92660 shoplilikoi.com Heather Pullis Designs 1670 Santa Ana Avenue, Suite A&B, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 heatherpullisdesigns.com Models Provided by ZARZAR Models zarzarmodels.com
ME AND MY
GIRLS
ne of the reasons you pay so much in rent and gas to live and dwell in a county like ours is the amount of fun to be had all around! From LA down to OC there are hundreds (possibly thousands) of great restaurants, bars, and beaches to spend your weekends. But tonight it’s time to mix it up and head to what some call “the lake show.” Catching those local celebrity Los Angeles Lakers sport their stuff all around the court just might be a So Cal resident’s dream come true! But before you head up the highway to watch that game, make sure to stop by Newport Beach’s newest burger bar, Crow Burger Kitchen. The name may ring a bell—The Crow Bar and Kitchen in Corona Del Mar is an Orange County crowd favorite. And just when you didn’t think it could get any better, Chef John Cuevas does it again with Crow Burger Kitchen and its broad menu of burgers—anything from the simplest to the most complex in taste. Chef Cuevas is no stranger to the tastier things in life—he’s been all over the map, working his way from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, then to Sous Chef at one of the top restaurants in Scottsdale, then out to sunny so cal to create food masterpieces at resorts like the St. Regis, and The Montage. This is why it’s no surprise to me that Crow Burger Kitchen has recently made lists for OC Restaurant Week, and ravingly rad mentions in OC Weekly, The OC Register, and all of the top foodie blogs. Locals will find themselves feeling like family in this cozy corner kitchen, hungry for anything from the bird burger (ground turkey & chicken with all the fixins), the double j burger (jalapenos galore!), the green label burger (100% prime chuck ground in-house), or get cray cray with the ‘byob’ and build your own masterpiece. All of the burgers here are a special blend of prime chuck, short rib, brisket and hanger steak (your mouth watering yet?), with ingredients never frozen and au natural. And get ready to practice your carb-loading diet, because the burger buns served up here hail from a local bakery and are simply unforgettable. Oh and it doesn’t stop there—choose from hand cut, sweet potato or duck fat fries (with some amaaaazing dipping sauces to pair), and add on a house made milkshake…hey you’re here, so might as well go big! Of course the giant list of beers on tap and even the wine list is stocked with all of your favorites, or you can go the non-alci route and grab a Mexican coke to cut the juices with some sugar. Either way, we all know you’re here for the burgers—I sure was! Curl up courtside with some comfy threads to cheer on your team (and make sure you didn’t get any crow burger juice anywhere!). Men: you’ll find your favorite spring wardrobe in button 87
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ups and t-shirts from TAVIK men’s line—another locally grown phenom; perfect for catching those slam-dunks that you’re taking bets on! If you’re not familiar with TAVIK’s lifestyle brand, let me school you. TAVIK is a self-proclaimed “contemporary lifestyle collection that delivers style at an affordable price.” Their threads are active, stylish, sophisticated and strong. I love their masculine styles—shirts that have buttons here and there, pockets to accent, and great plaids, denims and stripes to create texture on your guy. Their crew neck and v-neck tees range from simple logo-branded designs, pocketed tees, or loudly text-adorned graphic tees that will have heads turning! Jackets and sweatshirts are always in TAVIK’s collection of goods for sale, putting an iconic spin on a simple, basic piece of clothing. Founded in 2004 by a group of OC visionaries, you can see their style and mix of surf, street, music and style coming through each tee and top. You can find this Costa Mesabased TAVIK wear online or in store at big-shot places like Tilly’s, Surfside, Pac Sun, The Closet, and a few of the more locally-owned surf & skate shops. Guys, let’s see you dressed at your best this spring! For the ladies to sport and score big time in the style category, Doll Boutique and Gifts in Costa Mesa will have just what you want. Doll is amongst the best places on 17th Street’s Promenade to bring you clothing, knick-knacks and gifts that are mostly under $100! Oh yes, you heard me, their tables are full, full, full of approachably priced clothing from Wildfox, Kilique B, some amazingly adorable denim, tees, and even party dresses. Colorful patterned blouses and simple striped tanks are all around when you walk into this white-walled boutique favorite of mine. Take a few more steps around the chic little store, and amidst the stylish threads you’ll find a fun-sized collection of aromatic candles, trendy perfumes, bath and body finds, and more. This place has it all! Not bad for being one of the newer spots on 17th Street, eh? I think one of the best parts about Doll boutique is the great jewelry here. Boutique jewelry, I have found, is different from the stuff I find at the bigger department stores. Here, it’s more thoughtful, and more fun to accessorize your super-unique outfit, to make you stand out from the rest. And don’t be afraid of this boutique and its uber trendy style—the prices are just right. Much to the surprise of my bargain hunting eyes, Doll carries a large amount of stock that’s priced even under $50. Perfectly priced boutiques like this leave more cash in your wallet for another round of drinks after the game, right?
Crow Burger 3107 Newport Boulevard, Newport Beach, CA 92663 crowburgerkitchen.com TAVIK tavik.com Doll 270 East 17th Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 facebook.com/dollboutiqueandgifts Heather Pullis Designs 1670 Santa Ana Avenue, Suite A&B, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 heatherpullisdesigns.com Female Models Provided by ZARZAR Models zarzarmodels.com Male Model Provided by ReFresh Talent Agency refreshtalent.com
WATCHING THE
LAKE SHOW
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GrAnD OpEninG MAy 2012 17th Street promenade, Costa Mesa
Shop online nOW www.ajewelrywonderland.com
Alexis Bittar | L.A.M.B. | Chan Luu | Mars & Valentine | CC Skye | Dogeared | Sophia & Chloe 270 E. 17th Street | Suite 3A | Costa Mesa | CA | 92627 | 949.644.4669 | www.ajewelrywonderland.com ACTION 2012
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Velvets, Laces, and Silks! Oh My!! by Erin Rose Belair photography by Jenavieve Belair
here is only one first time for everything, and the best of those moments tend to stick with us throughout our lives, like a first kiss or a first love. It was this very feeling I had the first time I put on a dress designed and made by Stone Cold Fox (SCF): a clothing line established in 2009 that takes inspiration from vintage clothes to create their own whimsical and unique look. I found one of their magical dresses hanging in a friend’s closet, and it spoke to me. I wore the dress out that night and
seemed to sparkle. Was the moon bigger? Were my teeth whiter? I was in love. To my delight Stone Cold Fox is an Orange County based company with a lovely little warehouse right here in Costa Mesa. The girls of SCF invited me over one afternoon to get a firsthand look at how they make their magic. Their graceful look and laidback vibe was everything I was hoping to find in the creators of my Cinderella dress. The girls and I spent the afternoon talking fabrics, futures and the finer things in life.
I want to start by thanking you girls for having us over. We adore your line. Could you introduce yourself to our readers? I am Cydney Morris, 25, and I am the Designer and Marketing Coordinator of Stone Cold Fox. I am Dallas Wand, 25, and I am the Production and Order Manager of Stone Cold Fox.
How did the two of you meet? You seem like sisters. Wand: We met in this father-daughter program called Indian Princesses. I think we were in about second grade. Our dads became really close and pretty much from then on we have been best friends. It’s really nice because now our families are pretty much family, so we go on a lot of vacations together. Every summer growing up we would all spend it in Mexico. It was like a second home to us. Our families spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together as well. We love looking back at photos from our awkward teenage phases.
I would love to see some of those photos! So, from awkward teenage phases to now: how did you girls find yourselves here today? Morris: I went to school at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. I got my Bachelor’s in fine arts and majored in Fashion Design. My senior project was a fashion show, and I had an entire collection that actually is SCF’s first collection, Foreign Cinema. So, I took my senior collection after we both graduated, we made a blog, worked in my parents’ extra room downstairs, and tried to sell it by word of mouth. From then on it grew into our careers. Wand: I went to school at FIDM in Los Angeles, and Majored in Merchandise marketing. I have a Bachelor’s in business. I originally went to
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school to be a buyer. I have always wanted to own my own boutique, and I had intentions of doing that. We started SCF as a fun side project. Sometimes I think back to cutting out orders on a kitchen table and laugh. Like, I don’t know how we did it back in the day.
Everyone starts somewhere. I love the name Stone Cold Fox, what’s the story behind that? Morris: We love Sophia Coppola’s film Virgin Suicides, and it just came to us one day when we were watching it. Josh Hartnett puts his arm around Kirsten Dunst and says, “You’re a... stone cold fox.” It just fits perfectly with the aesthetic of our clothes. Wand: We like to think that when you put one of our items on you turn into a fox. It’s like a babe. We definitely notice that men are very attracted to girls in SCF; they compliment it all the time.
This is a pretty incredible operation. What does a “normal” workday look like for you? Morris: I am the designer and marketing side of the business. I spend a lot of time doing the pattern work for each item. I sketch a lot, and do a lot of work in Photoshop and Illustrator. I spend a lot of time picking out fabrics; getting them made and really putting the whole creative look of Stone Cold Fox together. I have to keep thinking of new fresh ideas and silhouettes. I try to blog and really get our name out there. We both wear many hats, but the design and marketing is my skill. Wand: I am the one who does production, filling all of our store orders and making sure that we have enough of each item and getting it to our retailers. I am constantly running back and fourth to our production team, making sure things are done correctly and on time. We get personal orders in all day, so besides retailers we still do custom orders on the side. It’s quite busy.
What is your favorite part about your job? Morris: I love that I get to fulfill my passion and actually make a living off of it. I get super excited when I’m designing new items, and that I get to use the creative side of my brain every day. It’s very rewarding just seeing women feel really good in clothes that I have made, so that’s my absolute favorite part. When I get a nice email about how great of a night they had in SCF, or how special they felt, or they got engaged wearing SCF, I cheesily just melt. Makes it all worthwhile. Wand: I absolutely love doing the photo shoots. It is so fun to get a whole team together to photograph the clothes for our
look book. I love being able to make beautiful clothes, meeting new people in the industry and getting creative minds together. I definitely love being my own boss.
Let’s talk inspiration. What is your fashion muse? Morris: I probably get my greatest inspiration from vintage lingerie. When I was living in San Francisco I used to collect a lot of things from the great stores they have there. Lingerie has such beautiful detailing, it’s delicate and soft and the laces that they use are so unique. So, you can probably tell that SCF has a very lingerieinspired aesthetic. I just tried to make it something that you wear outside of your home and every day. Yet we still use silks and laces. I also get really inspired by fabrics, texture details, the way it flows on the body, and showing off the best parts of a woman’s body.
Wand: I get really inspired by the places that I have traveled. I think that SCF is effortlessly beautiful, and we want it to be something that when you wear it, you feel like you’re on vacation. It’s not tight and constraining, it’s flowy, sexy and comfortable. You literally could probably sleep in SCF it feels so good on. Easy living and a gypsy-style-life inspire me, so we try to incorporate comfort into beautiful fancy clothing.
WINNER of OC HOTLIST BEST WOMENS BOUTIQUE! We range in spectrum from glamour girl chic to hippie boho babe... here’s a taste of our favorite lines...
House of Harlow Y UNIF Y Chaser Y For Love & Lemons Y WILDFOX Y Blank NYC Y Jen’s Pirate Booty Y Brandy Melville Y LUSH Y Audrey 3+1 Y One Teaspoon Y L SPACE Y MINKPINK Celebrity Endorsed brands along with up and coming boutique brands, at prices so unbelievably AFFORDABLE you wouldn’t believe us if we told you... so come in for yourself and see what the hype is all about....
You girls have mentioned travels to Mexico. How does that play into what you’re doing here in California? Wand: We both have traveled a lot of places together, and we have been places and found things that are so special to us. We like to think that having an SCF item, feels special like that. We change the fabrics often, and not every piece is the same, so the items feel really unique, like your own special gem. You are not going to walk into a bar and see ten different girls in the same top.
What do you think was the greatest era for fashion? Morris: We both love the 70s and the 20s.
What do you hope your clothes are saying for you? Wand: That they are timeless pieces that you will have in your closet forever. That they are special and unique garments that make you feel sexy.
Tell me about your fabrics. This is clearly something that sets you apart from the rest. These pieces are heavenly. What are your favorites? Morris: Sand washed silks, Guipure laces and Burnout velvets.
What is burnout velvet? Morris: It’s a mix of silk chiffon and velvet, and it’s when they burn out a print into the velvet. Part of it is sheer. The other part is velvet.
Like us at
Facebook.com/LunaBoutiqueHuntingtonBeach to see our “New Arrivals” posted weekly! 19680 Beach Boulevard, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 714.962.9749 28251 Crown Valley Pkwy Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949.349.9400
We like to think that when you put one of our items on you turn into a fox. How do you sand wash silks? Wand: Our silk man does
it for us, but it’s a process they do when making the silk, it’s a wash with a million little rock type things that make it super soft.
What type of hand dying process do you use? Wand: When we first started we used to color remove and dye fabrics to get that perfect shade of blush or ivory, but thank god we now have a man that gets the perfect color for us, so we don’t have to do it in our bath tub any more.
Where do you source your fabrics from? Are they American made? Wand: We get all of our fabrics in LA, and we have a company that makes our silks and gets the prints made that we design. All our clothes are made right down the street from our Head Quarters as well.
How often do you put out a new collection? Morris: We do two per year, and
one
SCF home collection a year.
How does a new line get dreamed up? Morris: It starts very organically.
We fall in love with a fabric or a style and design around that. It is all sketched out and we make the pieces slowly. At the end we eliminate and add to get an entire collection look together. It takes quite a bit of time getting fits right, thinking of color schemes, and a mood we want the collection to portray. 93
What can we look forward to seeing from you girls in the coming seasons? Wand: You can always count on us using silks, and laces, but you will see the designs mature, and become more unique. We plan on keeping SCF’s aesthetic but always keeping it fresh and new.
Tell us about SCFhome? Can we expect more home goods in the future? Wand: We absolutely love home décor. We get it from our mothers. And we want SCF to eventually become more of a lifestyle brand. If it looks good on your body, it will look good on your bed as well. Morris: We use the same laces as we do on our clothes, beautiful linens, faux furs and silk velvets. We are coming out with a new SCFhome collecting in March of 2012.
What makes SCF unique from other Californiabased brands and designers? Wand: We are not a surf brand, we are a higher-end, fashion forward women’s clothing company, that uses luxurious fabrics and detail, but still is influenced by the beach lifestyle.
What are your plans for the future of SCF? How do you hope to expand? Wand: We are planning on expanding into Australia and Canada to start, and hopefully get into a few more stores on the East Coast. We also plan on maybe coming out with more collections each year, expanding
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our home line, and doing more accessories. Morris: We want to expand, definitely. We hope we can retire in Bali one day with our future husbands and babies. But we want to keep the personal vibe of SCF intact, and make sure that SCF stays feeling special.
Best place to relax?
What has been the most defining moment thus far for SCF? Morris: Being featured in Vogue and
Timeless, Sexy, Effortless
Elle was pretty amazing. Getting in Free People’s catalogue. Wand: Realizing we could quit our silly side jobs and just do SCF. Moving into a big warehouse and really feeling professional.
Where is home for you girls? Wand & Morris: Laguna Beach How has Orange County influenced SCF? Morris: The laid back beach style,
and how you don’t have to try so hard when getting dressed. We like the look of a beach cover up, but also being able to go out. It’s very subtle style.
Favorite spots in Orange County? K’Ya, the beach, music in the park in the summer in Laguna.
Favorite Beach? West Street or Shaws Cove
Favorite Breakfast? Zinc Café and Eat Chow
Best Coffee? Alta
We love going to Habana and sitting there for hours, drinking sangria and laughing with friends.
Best drinks? The Cannery, The Deck, Watermac, Turks in Dana Point
Three words to describe SCF? It isn’t everyday that I come across a piece of clothing that seems almost destined to not just be a part of my wardrobe but an addition to the collection of who I am. Stone Cold Fox strives, and in my opinion succeeds, at making a brand of clothing that feels as good as it looks. The individualized attention given to each piece and design makes any owner of SCF feel as if they have come across a gem made just for them. For daily musings and style points you can follow SCF on twitter, @TheStoneColdFox, or you can tune into their blog, shesascf.tumblr.com. Visit their website TheStoneColdFox. com to find everything from look books to film projects, and a detailed list of boutiques and websites that carry their clothes. Find yourself in their clothing and you’re sure to be Stone Cold Fox as well.
Candace Paige on Balboa
324 Marine Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92662 949.673.5707 | shopcandacepaige.com
Come experience Balboa Island’s best kept secret...
Eight years of personalized and sanitary natural nail care in our relaxing lounge. Enjoy our seasonal menu of goodies for your hands and feet.
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224 1/2 Marine Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92662 www.roseytoesllc.com 949.673.8637 Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00AM - 6:00PM Saturday: 9:00AM-5:00PM Sunday & Monday: Closed
laurenly clothing boutique
142 N Glassell St. Orange, CA 714.538.SHOP laurenly.net follow us on facebook for daily updates!
facebook.com/laurenlyboutique ACTION 2012
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hello world,
here I come. What to wear when you do your prodigal trot up and down the coast this spring. Who knows what -] or who you might encounter? Put on your sunglasses and pack your bags full of taunting bikinis and roaring colors for a bon voyage. And don’t forget to wear protection - sunscreen of course.
THAT’S WHAT
SHE SAID
(An irreverent fashion column by Jennifer Hood)
San Francisco
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Sky swooping bridges, gravity defying streets lined by colorful rows of houses - this city of uniqueness and color requires just the same: an original, comfortable number with plenty of rainbow and street savvy. Don’t forget a sassy sheer dress to slip into for some nightlife naughtiness.
1. Giorgio Armani Rounded Plastic Wayfarer Sunglasses 2. Brixton Fiddler Hat 3. MARC BY MARC JACOBS Jacobson Bow Ring 4. Olivia Harris Toggle Hinge EW Satchel in Rust Sheepskin 5. Stella McCartney Clouds Silk Shirt 6. LNA Pocket Tank 7. Hannah Cool Siwy Jeans 8. MARC BY MARC JACOBS Meridia Stripe 9. Halston Heritage Halter Gown 10. Boutique 9 Linya Leather and Satin T-strap Wedge Sandals
7. 1.
2.
Silk, sheer button ups in bright colors or quirky patterns. 8.
Flashy accents mixed with classic looks.
Find hot shoes that can go from day to night looks seamlessly.
Wayfarers always win. Try a hat a la Streisand in “What’s Up Doc.”
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Pastels and bright colors in everything from jeans to bikinis. 97
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Love these!
Portland
I know, I know, when in Rome. But vegan food and a ban on leather? I like my Palmeranian purse dog as much as the next trust fund hellcat, but I simply cannot give up my seared ahi and leather jackets. Sigh, I’ll do my best to fit in here. Let’s compromise with earth-inspired colors and materials, stopping by the green anarchy rally for a quick “whine” and a fist pump, followed by a round on me at the local craft brewery.
Extra Portland points for being made by a social-conscious business working with African artisans. koradesigns.com
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4.
1. Equipment Blouse Orange 2. Kate Spade New York Gumdrop Studs 3. MARC BY MARC JACOBS Matte Rounded Small Wayfarer Sunglasses 4. Kora Ceremonial Rings 5. AG Jeans in Neon Lime 6. APC Suede Ankle Boots 7. Assorted Wooden Bangles 8. Tori Burch Robinson Saffiano Mini Satchel 9. Zimmerman Underwire One Piece Grey 3.
Color, color, and more color. Bags, shoes, pants... everything.
More airy blouses! Oranges and greens go sweetly. 1.
5.
9.
2. 8. 7.
Natural, earth tone bangles, earrings, and rings in stacks.
As fabulous as the men you’ll see wearing them downtown!
Palm Springs
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Old Hollywood, new money, retro hideouts with crystal pools and plenty of room in the spa for gentlemen visitors - it’s Palm Springs. And you’re not here for the golf. You’re here for the golfers - bronzed ones with the polos and Lambos. You’re here to follow in the footsteps of the starlettes of yesteryear, to relax in the rays, blow on some dice, blow out some lounge parties, find a “snuggle buddy” and then sleep in ‘til after noon. Do it all in style. Go for retro prints and structures, desert inspired textures, colors and materials, Hollywood-worthy glamor, and definitely red lipstick. For added intrigue, mention your “agent” in casual conversation, allude to that “stalker” you had to get a restraining order on, and wear sunglasses indoors.
1. Elizabeth and James Fairfax Sunglasses 2. Tucker Silk Dress 3. Belle Noel Molten Diamond Shaped Earrings 4. Aqua Criss Cross Enamel and Crystal Bangle 5. BCBG MAX AZRIA Clutch - Matte Sequin Envelope 6. Aqua Sandals - Silvia Platform 7. Zimmerman Underwire Bikini and One Piece 8. Max & Cleo Asymmetrical One Shoulder Dress
Check out Locale’s 2012 Guide to the Greater Palm Springs Area in this issue. Find out where to stay, shop and chill out in the ultimate desert oasis town.
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Roughly hewn jewelry and gemstones are great desert looks.
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Chunky peep toe sandals in lavish colors are instant ‘60s glamor. And yes, these go great with bikinis. 99
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Even a one piece can be boudoir sexy with the throwback underwire style.
where to get your
VACA Y LOOKS (the play by play shopping day) 9:05am Wake Up Roll out of bed. Wait, where am I and who is this Sasquatch next to me?! Ew. Vodka, you betch. Too tired to shower. Dry shampoo, some mascara and a quick nose powder will have to do.
9:30am Alta Coffee in Newport Need Caffeine. Double shot. Get it with a scone (don’t tell my personal trainer). 506 31st St. | Newport Beach, CA 92663 949-675-0233 | altacoffeeshop.com 10:00am Sak’s Fifth Avenue This is the Mecca of style. You’ll find platform sandals, wedge heels, swimsuits, sweet day dresses and sexy gowns for an evening soiree. Bring your credit card. South Coast Plaza 714-540-3233 | saksfifthavenue.com
12:00pm AnQi Now for some lunch. This place does amazing lettuce wraps and sushi at the midday hour. You gotta check out their special events too. One Wednesday per month AnQi presents an evening of “Couture & Cuisine”, where you can enjoy an amazing dinner while watching a fashion show. Go online for details and dates. South Coast Plaza 714-557-5679 | anqibistro.com 1:30pm Novecento Boutique Here’s our stop for fabulous, lavish fashion. Got a travel occasion requiring couture gowns, sequins, or feathers (tastefully done, I assure you)? This is where you’ll get it. The owners have cultivated a fabulous collection for their boutique, including a lot of European inspired numbers. 8002 E. Coast Highway | Newport Coast, CA 92657 949-715-1700 | novecentofashion.com
2:40pm A’MAREE’S Amaree’s is stunning in it’s new location on the water in Newport. Their spacious boutique offers top brands from around the world. The service and savvy of the family owners is still the same as it was when it started in the ‘70s - fabulously on target. Apryl, Denise, Dawn, and their mother Nancy know how to donne you in what will make you look fabulous. Also, therapeutic shop dog petting sessions are complimentary... and wonderfully fluffy. 2241 West Coast Highway | Newport Beach, CA 92663 949-642-4423 | amarees.com 3:40pm Twice The Style This is where the best dressed in Orange County send their hand me downs. It’s like having the most stylish older sister in the world. Only you have to pay for it. They carry top designers and only the latest styles. Old looks are flushed out regularly to keep only the most current trends. Best of all, the prices are amazing. 369 East 17th St., Suite 1 | Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-1844 | 2xstyle.com
European taste with southern California style.... Women’s clothing, accessories and more.
4:45pm Beach Bunny Swimwear You can’t leave town without one or two new skimpy pool numbers. This might be your most powerful tool of seduction during the whole trip. A lot of the suits at Beach Bunny come with flirty showy cuts that require a very cared after, toned up set of buns (the Kardashians wear their brand). So get to the gym and get to sweating. 950 West Coast Highway | Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 548-0348 | beachbunnyswimwear.com 6:00pm Rock’N Fish It’s way past that time for a handshaken cocktail. Seriously, shopping fuels addiction. I like to go here to scout the local men and yell without comprehension at the games on the TV. I can’t tell if it frightens or impresses them. 7:30pm Port Restaurant & Bar After-drinks drinks and I suppose some dinner since my therapist said it will help my mood swings. Live music and creme brulee should do the trick. - Bottoms up, ladies.
178 Wells Place Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949.650.2900 verbaniaboutique.com Open: Mon - Sat: 10 AM to 5 PM
where to get your
VACA Y LOOKS (the play by play shopping day) 9:05am Wake Up Roll out of bed. Wait, where am I and who is this Sasquatch next to me?! Ew. Vodka, you betch. Too tired to shower. Dry shampoo, some mascara and a quick nose powder will have to do.
9:30am Alta Coffee in Newport Need Caffeine. Double shot. Get it with a scone (don’t tell my personal trainer). 506 31st St. | Newport Beach, CA 92663 949-675-0233 | altacoffeeshop.com 10:00am Sak’s Fifth Avenue This is the Mecca of style. You’ll find platform sandals, wedge heels, swimsuits, sweet day dresses and sexy gowns for an evening soiree. Bring your credit card. South Coast Plaza 714-540-3233 | saksfifthavenue.com
12:00pm AnQi Now for some lunch. This place does amazing lettuce wraps and sushi at the midday hour. You gotta check out their special events too. One Wednesday per month AnQi presents an evening of “Couture & Cuisine”, where you can enjoy an amazing dinner while watching a fashion show. Go online for details and dates. South Coast Plaza 714-557-5679 | anqibistro.com 1:30pm Novecento Boutique Here’s our stop for fabulous, lavish fashion. Got a travel occasion requiring couture gowns, sequins, or feathers (tastefully done, I assure you)? This is where you’ll get it. The owners have cultivated a fabulous collection for their boutique, including a lot of European inspired numbers. 8002 E. Coast Highway | Newport Coast, CA 92657 949-715-1700 | novecentofashion.com
2:40pm A’MAREE’S Amaree’s is stunning in it’s new location on the water in Newport. Their spacious boutique offers top brands from around the world. The service and savvy of the family owners is still the same as it was when it started in the ‘70s - fabulously on target. Apryl, Denise, Dawn, and their mother Nancy know how to donne you in what will make you look fabulous. Also, therapeutic shop dog petting sessions are complimentary... and wonderfully fluffy. 2241 West Coast Highway | Newport Beach, CA 92663 949-642-4423 | amarees.com 3:40pm Twice The Style This is where the best dressed in Orange County send their hand me downs. It’s like having the most stylish older sister in the world. Only you have to pay for it. They carry top designers and only the latest styles. Old looks are flushed out regularly to keep only the most current trends. Best of all, the prices are amazing. 369 East 17th St., Suite 1 | Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-1844 | 2xstyle.com
European taste with southern California style.... Women’s clothing, accessories and more.
4:45pm Beach Bunny Swimwear You can’t leave town without one or two new skimpy pool numbers. This might be your most powerful tool of seduction during the whole trip. A lot of the suits at Beach Bunny come with flirty showy cuts that require a very cared after, toned up set of buns (the Kardashians wear their brand). So get to the gym and get to sweating. 950 West Coast Highway | Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 548-0348 | beachbunnyswimwear.com 6:00pm Rock’N Fish It’s way past that time for a handshaken cocktail. Seriously, shopping fuels addiction. I like to go here to scout the local men and yell without comprehension at the games on the TV. I can’t tell if it frightens or impresses them. 7:30pm Port Restaurant & Bar After-drinks drinks and I suppose some dinner since my therapist said it will help my mood swings. Live music and creme brulee should do the trick. - Bottoms up, ladies.
178 Wells Place Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949.650.2900 verbaniaboutique.com Open: Mon - Sat: 10 AM to 5 PM
The warmth of a tranquil seaside Mediterranean experience and the power of the waters of the Pacific Ocean await. Welcome to Pacific Waters Spa. For a day of retreat or a lifestyle commitment, Pacific Waters Spa is your wellness sanctuary. Pacific Waters Spa is located at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa. 21500 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach, CA 92648 714-845-4772 www.pacificwatersspa.com
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The Solution to your Basic & Fashion Needs Over 120 Styles of denim, tops, blouses, dresses, shoes, etc. AG Denim, Sinclair, Hudson, Current Elliott, Paige Jeans, Joe’s Jeans, Genetic, Siwy, Earnest Sewn, Citizens, Poleci, Gold Hawk, Faith, Single, Sky, Fifteen Twenty, Michelle Jonas, Converse, Howe for men, 7 Diamonds Accessories and More! 1719 WESTCLIFF DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 949.650.0479 • WWW.SOLUTIONSDENIM.COM .
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Swimsuit: Tav ik, tavikswim wear.com Necklace and cuff: Heather P ullis Designs, www.heather pullisdesigns. com
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A tribute to iconic album covers across generations. You are the music while the music lasts. -T. S. Eliot
Model: Keely Julian Photography by Jeff Farsai Stylist: Elizabeth Watson Www.elizabethwatsonstylist.com Assistant Stylist: Crystal Ung Www.lizandcrys.com Make-up: Lynn Simpson, Delilah-Beauty.com Hair: Celena Fahey, xosalon.com
“Some girls won't dance to the beat of the track She won't walk away but she won’t look back..." Artist: Lady Gaga Album: The Fame Monster Song: Dance In The Dark ACTION 2012
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Swim suit: Tav ik, tavikswim wear.com Dress: Vintage Richard Tyler Couture from www.onquesty On Que, le.com Shoes: Schutz Necklace: Hea ther Pullis Des igns, www.heather pullisdesigns. com
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“I gotta shake, shake it off gotta do what’s best for me baby and that means I gotta shake you off.” Artist: Mariah Carey Album: The Emancipation of Mimi Song: Shake It Off
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“Take your time, hurry up The choice is yours, don’t be late.” Artist: Nirvana Album: Nevermind Song: Come As You Are
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ing, Bikini: Cali dream g.com in m www.cali-drea Pullis Designs, Necklace: Heather designs.com www.heatherpullis ACTION 2012
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Bathing suits: Tavik, taviksw imwear.com Dress worn as skirt: BB Dak ot a, www.bbdak Bikini top wor ota.com n as www.cali-dream belt: Cali Dreaming, ing.com Pink chain Nec klace used as bracelet and ea rring: Heather Pullis Designs, www.heather pullisdesigns. com
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“You’re sorry now And you’ll change somehow And I am what you need to get out” Artist: Cyndi Lauper Album: She’s So Unusual Song: Witness ACTION 2012
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ground from On Que, Jacket: vintage Royal Under www.onquestyle.com aire, Gold dress: vintage Macalist m .co www.macalistaire1850 Jack by BBDakota, White hooded trench dress: bbdakota.com signs, Earrings: Heather Pullis De om www.heatherpullisdesigns.c
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“A new royal family A wild nobility We are the family� Artist: Adam and The Ants Album: Kings of the Wild Frontier
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“Well Mack the finger said to Louie the King I got forty red white and blue shoe strings And a thousand telephones that don’t ring” Artist: Bob Dylan Album: Highway 61 Revisited Song: Highway 61 Revisited
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Macalistaire Jacket: vintage Ungaro from Pants: vintage Macalistaire, www.macalistaire1850.com com Shirt: Tavik, tavikswimwear. ns, sig Necklace: Heather Pullis De om www.heatherpullisdesigns.c
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Treat yourself or someone special to a night at Doryman’s Oceanfront Inn. Relax, unwind and feel like you are a world away...
Overnight Dinner Package Package incluDes: One night stay in an oceanfront room Bottle of champagne upon arrival Gift Certificate good towards dinner at 21 Oceanfront Continental breakfast for two Overnight parking Call for current package rates GIFT CERTIFICATE MUST BE USED THE NIGHT OF STAY • PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE TAX OR GRATUITY RATES ARE BASED ON AVAILABILITY • PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE • CALL FOR BLACKOUT DATES
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Getting His Game Back Catching Up With Human Superman Brian Hutchison
by Kristal Docter Photography by Antonio Pullano of LovinLife Multimedia
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Face
He woke up angry and in a state of pain and confusion. Just a few hours earlier, his brain was visible from the back of his head and blood poured from his ears. Fearing that he may harm his recovery post brain surgery, the doctors induced a coma. When he woke up a second time, he couldn’t talk, walk, eat, drink, smell or see without everything appearing in doubles. He suffered from stroke-like symptoms and worse. He’d lost the ability to communicate or even respond. The doctors told him he’d never be able to play sports or have sex again. At 23 years old, Brian Hutchison had lost his manhood. He didn’t understand what was happening and certainly couldn’t comprehend what he was about to endure in the next few months and likely throughout the rest of his life. Brian Hutchison had suffered a severe case of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and his whole life was about to change. Affixed on his athletic build and peaceful demeanor, I stared speechless and could only take his
word for the lifeless, suspended state Brian Hutchison said he had lived in for months after the accident. As he sat across from me with an I-am-ready-totake-on-anything attitude, he seemed perfectly normal. You’d never know that he still deals with intense daily side effects like spinal drainage, a left-hand that stops functioning at random, constant ear pressure and excessive exhaustion; yet after experiencing a horrifyingly severe case of Traumatic Brain Injury, now 25 years old, Hutchison still says everything happens for a reason. Hutchison was the MVP and played shortstop on a fiercely competitive men’s softball team. He doesn’t remember playing in the tournament in Chino Hills that nearly took his life. He remembers gearing up for the game at Islands Restaurant with his best friend who was subbing that night, and he remembers his girlfriend at the time telling him she wasn’t going to be in the bleachers rooting for him, because she didn’t want to see him get hurt.
Understandable since Hutchison always did everything “balls to the walls,” but he was an amazing athlete because of it. He had grown up giving his life to sports, and had even trained on a basketball team that was good enough to be sponsored by Nike. He never thought to look for a cement curb jutting out of the fence in left field when he lunged to make that momentous catch that almost cost him his life. The back of his head hit squarely on the edge of that cement curb, causing multiple skull fractures, an ear fracture, a jaw fracture, a wrist fracture, a rib fracture and a paralyzed optical fixed nerve, but he reminds me that he still made the catch. “I’d suffered sports injuries over the years, but I didn’t know that type of pain existed in the world,” Hutchison revealed. “From the time I woke up, I was in unbearable pain throughout the day everywhere in my body. I was petrified. It was like being on a bad airplane ride for the rest of your life.”
It was like everything in my body forgot how to work. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize how much motion is involved in just taking a shower, but I started to try by breaking things down and spent hours on just one part of that and used that in every form of my recovery.â&#x20AC;?
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Hutchison was released from the hospital and today has no memory of being in either of the two facilities in which he was treated. They told him to rest and take pain medicine. People who suffer from severe Traumatic Brain Injuries are customarily entered into an inpatient rehabilitation program to receive the treatment required to relearn basic skills and improve the ability to function normally, but Brian Hutchison’s insurance carrier only covered two days of therapy. He didn’t receive the care he needed until nearly eight
out how to brush his teeth or take a shower. He was “working on getting over the little humps,” Hutchison said. “It was like everything in my body forgot how to work. You don’t realize how much motion is involved in just taking a shower, but I started to try by breaking things down and spent hours on just one part of that and used that in every form of my recovery.”
into shock, and he spent 10 hours in his grandparent’s bathroom regaining the strength to move. He refers to that moment by stating, “even though sometimes I failed miserably, it was better to try doing something than just sitting there doing nothing.” The first time Hutchison went to a bowling alley, he cried. “I worked so hard and suffered so much, and to
Humbled, Hutchison reluctantly learned to recognize the impact that his story might have on other TBI patients and their supporters as well as anyone who encountered loss in life or had struggled for survival. His goal with the Hutch Foundation is to raise enough money (approximately $1.4 billion) to build California’s first full-service TBI rehabilitation center. He hopes to develop educational programs and be a resource for other TBI patients and families by sharing his philosophies and routines during their recovery, whether they can afford to pay for it or not. Hutchison doesn’t want to turn away even one patient.
DEFINITION Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Damage to the brain as a result of an injury, resulting from a violent blow or jolt to the head that causes the brain to collide with the inside of the skull. Serious TBI can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding and other physical damage to the brain that can result in long-term complications or death. **Definition from the Mayo Clinic, a non-profit medical foundation.
months later, because he couldn’t afford the $800-per-day fee on his own. Some of his first memories post-injury are moments of his release when his grandparents took him into their home to recover. “My grandparents are my rock. They are everything to me,” Hutchison added. Hutchison spent many days and nights weak and scared and just trying to figure out how to sleep more than two hours at a time every couple of days. He couldn’t lay his head on anything, so he sought comfort on his grandparent’s couch. Eventually he’d let his head hang off the side of the sofa to fall asleep, which resulted in severe neck problems later. He thought he was dying and couldn’t explain what was wrong with him. He felt constant shooting pain in his entire body. Shortly after he was sent home from the hospital, he hit rock bottom. He thought there was no hope. Hutchison eventually “accepted everything - the anger, the pain, the fear,” he said, “because I was tired of being scared. I thought I wanted to die.” But a couple months later, the determinative personality Brian Hutchison was born with slowly started coming back. He became tormented by doing nothing, so he did something. He started to mentally work on how to do things again like figuring
LA Kings President Luc Robitaille, a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, who responded to Hutchison after hearing his story with, “you need to tell people this stuff.” Now Founder and CEO of the Hutch Foundation, Brian Hutchison didn’t realize how many people would be interested in his story. He said he “didn’t know anyone would care about some guy just trying to survive.”
Soon he turned his mental workouts into a routine, spending 15 minutes on a mental exercise, 15 minutes on a physical exercise, followed by a different mental and physical exercise the next hour. He worked on the same four-part drills every hour the entire 24 hours in each day until he started to see and feel progress. He used music as a way to relearn how to talk. He couldn’t remember the words to any of his favorite songs, so he spent 15 minutes every hour, listening and repeating and he eventually regained his speech. He set a goal to get his life back. Hutchison started stretching for 15-minute increments in order to regain basic body movements. He recalls his first single successful pushup, which took him multiple days and approximately 20 hours to accomplish. Six months into his recovery, Hutchison tried to jog, which resulted in his body going
get something like that back was overwhelming,” Hutchison said. “It’s not fair to ask someone to do what I did to get better. I had no clue that it would work. I didn’t know what normal recovery was, because I had nothing to compare it to. I just naturally tried to do it, and fortunately I had the will power to get through it on my own,” Hutchison said. “That’s why I started the Hutch Foundation, because no one should have to do that alone.” A non-profit organization established in 2011, the Hutch Foundation emerged because Brian Hutchison (aka “Hutch”) chose to focus on a new purpose – dedicating his life to encouraging other TBI patients to rediscover normal lives. The idea for the Foundation came to Hutchison after attending a charity event where he was approached by the
Until Hutchison’s goal of building a rehabilitation facility is reached, and if you know Hutch, he will reach that goal, he is providing advocacy and support to TBI patients and their support systems. He incorporates and applies the knowledge and lessons he’s learned through playing sports his entire life to coaching TBI patients through their most critical moments of recuperation. Hutchison travels all over Southern California, giving his time to those afflicted with TBI, sharing his own story and motivating them into the mindset of recovery. He implements an individualized program for each TBI patient after spending time with the patient’s support system to determine things like how much each person remembers of the time of injury and what form of communication works most effectively. Hutchison gets to know each patient personally by discovering their interests and their level of comprehension. After a couple of meetings he provides the patient with a personalized mental, physical and sometimes just motivational program. “I have to get them to understand in whatever way I can that I’ve been through that. I can be their motivation that recovery is possible. I want to make the most impact that I can,” Hutchison said. He tells me a story of one TBI patient recovery that will remain with him forever. He was helping a woman who got hit by a bus, and explains that she wasn’t as lucky as he was in that she remembers every moment and detail surrounding the accident. She was petrified of going outside ever again. She suffered from some of the same injuries as Hutchison and had become severely depressed until she met Hutchison. “I talked with her and told her my story. She didn’t have
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I’d suffered sports injuries over the years, but I didn’t know that type of pain existed in the world”
FACTS Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) TBI is a leading cause of death and disability among children and adults. In the US, an estimated 1.7 million people sustain TBI annually. TBI is a contributing factor to a third of all injury-related deaths in the US. **Reported by the US Government a lot of family around what happened to me and what I have to help her, so she lit up Centers for Disease Control and when I started visiting her to deal with every Prevention. day to actually start and knew I could relate. I to deal with it. If think the improvements in her rehabilitation were someone woke up in my body tomorrow, a mixture of her seeing where I was and knowing what I went through. they would probably have a nervous breakdown. If this was going to happen to someone on the team She came such a long way in such a short time,” that day, I’m glad it happened to me,” Hutchison Hutchison said. After working with this woman for a short couple of weeks, Hutchison helped her reach assuredly admits. “How many people get to wake up and have a chance to help people every day? I her goal of going outside and crossing the street. know not everyone is built that way, but it makes me happy to be able to help.” And even while Hutchison is out there saving lives, he is still fighting every day to regain his own strength post-injury. He wakes up at 5 a.m. every So what else could this twenty-something do to make himself more of a phenomenal human being? morning and continues to follow a routine: he eats In 2011, Hutchison was recognized as one of OC breakfast, lays down on the floor and rotates in different positions to drain the spinal fluid caused Metro’s youngest “Movers and Shakers” in Orange by some of his skull fractures that are not healing County for his work with the Foundation. He is properly, does his 20-minute mental exercises, and currently interviewing screen writers for his movie, spends the rest of his day adapting, trying to be as has plans to publish a book and is trying his talent at radio and TV hosting. Hutchison also travels the productive as possible with the physical conditions that afflict him. He admits that his mind still country giving inspirational speeches for other foundations to help raise money for a multitude doesn’t always sync up with his body, but through everything, Hutchison says, he fights to “put on the of causes. Most recently, he was invited to speak game face.” at a star-studded New Year’s Eve party called the “Ultimate Party with a Purpose,” hosted by Club When I asked what the most important part of Curry in Las Vegas. As part of the event’s “Future Hutchison’s personal recovery has been he said Forward” theme, Hutchison was asked to share his peace and acceptance. “It took me accepting story to raise money for foster children through a 121
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program called Child Focus, Inc. Hutchison remains so humble that he didn’t even notice when he received a standing ovation. Hutchison passionately adds about his ambitious accomplishments, “Why wouldn’t you want to be better than you were yesterday? I appreciate the knowledge that I’ve gained. I don’t ever want to forget what I went through. I am proud of who I am now.” Did Hutchison ever think he would make such a powerful impact with his life? He says, he doesn’t think he has yet. “If I am still kicking 40 years from now and have Hutch Foundation Facilities all over the world, then I might answer that question with a yes.” While he works his way to his own high level of success, Brian Hutchison continues to dedicate his life to the cause and the Foundation and the people that he has the opportunity to help, maintaining a sense of humor and a genuinely positive attitude during his arduous journey. “It’s tough to play the superman role all the time, but I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Hutchison said with a gracious smile. If you’d like to support the Hutch Foundation or participate in any of their upcoming events, tournaments and auctions, visit www. hutchfoundation.org
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Professionally Installed Factory Electronics Factory Upgrades Video Systems iPOD â&#x20AC;˘ MP3 Factory Bluetooth Systems Back Up Safety Systems Navigation Software
Costa Mesa 775 West 17th St., Unit B 949.722.0707 www.RoccosAutoTech.com
Experience...... Located off the 405 Freeway & Harbor Blvd. exit 3303-3323 Hyland Avenue Costa Mesa, CA sococollection.com 949.760.9150 BURNHAM USA: A Burnham-Ward project
DESIGN.DECOR.FOOD.FASHION.LIFESTYLE
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stagecoach photography by: A.J. Abajian
what to wear to coachella & stagecoach 2012
Clothing Provided By: Laurenly Boutique, 142 N Glassell St. Orange, CA 92866 * 714.538.SHOP (7467), laurenly.net
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coachella
Clothing Provided By: Luna Boutique, 19680 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92648, 714.962.9749 & 28251 Crown Valley Pkwy Laguna Niguel 92677, 949.349.9400
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PRESENTS
THE
GUIDE TO GREATER
Written and Designed by: Jennifer and Amy Hood of Hoodzpah Art + Graphics
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4
TIP No.
etc. DON’T FORGET...
allow yourself at LEAST
A
A BOOK
TIP No.
1 CHECK THE WEATHER
D A Y S
SHADES
Before you pack or plan anything, you gotta check the temps. Here's the monthly averages of the area to help you in your planning. MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AVERAGES BIKES
You can't rush relaxation. Sure, you can do Palm Springs in a day. You can also wear gauchos, feed a dog chocolate and eat at the strip club buffet. That doesn't mean you should. Especially when it comes to gauchos. That being said, allow at least three days since one day will be half eaten up by travel. In the words of Sinatra, "nice and easy does it every time."
110˚
TIP No.
100˚
5
90˚
The whole point of a Palm Springs vacay is good ol’ fashioned R&R. So toss out your hour by hour itinerary conquering every site in town, head to the pool, and lounge for at least two hours. Then eat, drink, shop and explore at a leisurely pace. The minute your eyebrows start to furrow in stress, hit the pool/links/ spa and zone it out.
80˚ 70˚ 60˚
A SWIM SUIT ...OR TWO
50˚
DON’T OVER PLAN
40˚ 30˚ DO FORGET...
20˚ 10˚ 0
09
TO DO:
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WORK
MAKE RESERVATIONS
3 PALM SPRINGS IS DOG FRIENDLY
Make sure you don’t miss what you want to see/do/eat/drink/explore by planning ahead.
Call ahead to see if establishments have pet friendly rooms or outdoor dining areas.
TIP No.
2
TIP No.
UNSPOKEN ROADTRIP RULES: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Get directions. Allow plenty of time. The 91 can get messier than an OC Housewife after a bottle of Pinot and a missed Botox appointment. Hit the loo before you hit the road. Bring snacks. Create two driving playlists (one for snoozing/zoning and one for singing with your head out the sunroof.) Start the road trip off with an epic anthem to set the
6 PACK RIGHT
7 DO IT LIKE OL’ BLUE EYES.
TIP No.
TIP No.
It’s the desert. Days are hot, but the nights can turn cold. Make sure and pack clothes for warm and cold weather, and when you go out bring layers just in case.
This is your vacation. Do what you want, not what the travel guide says (excluding this travel guide, of course. We will never lead you astray...). Sinatra did it his way, which was to try everything once and raise a little Cain along the way.
8
TIP No.
15 rules to prevent the car from descending into an MMA cage fight... mood. Any kind of '80s monster ballad is preferable. Don't hog DJ duties. If you get shotgun, be the Goose to your Maverick. Hold his/her drink, assist with directions and looking for exits, feed him/her snacks, etc... 9. Don't be a backseat driver. 10. If you're driving - PAY ATTENTION. 11. Take turns driving. 12. Stay positive and don't provoke. If someone starts 7. 8.
getting cranky just give them some quiet time to let the scenery and tunes melt away the cabin fever. 13. Don't sing along to every song. No one wants to hear you sing every vocal riff in Adele's "21" half a note off key. 14. If you bring goodies, share! 15. Stop for a photo shoot with the Cabazon Dinosaurs. It's not everyday you can get weird with the worlds' biggest dinos!
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Will you be staying here? a quiz to find out...
TAXIDERMY a. Decor b. Do I use the 1040 EZ or the 1099 form? c. Good company BLACK a. Keys b. Tie c. Metal LEATHER a. Jacket b. Penny Loafers c. Underwear Mostly a's: Yes Mostly b's: Nu-uh Mostly c's: Maybe
ACE HOTEL
Prepare to take the best Instagram photos ever. You wont even need the “earlybird” filter, this place comes with a built in sun-faded lomo effect. One of a growing number of Ace Hotels, the Palm Springs location continues the Ace philosophy of “functionality meets simplicity” with plenty of unique flavor and scrappy style. The property is peppered with stone walls straight out of Marsha Brady’s house and amoebic wire framed chairs echoing a '70s college rec room. The place is stylishly worn, like your favorite pair of Levi’s jeans.
What you get: The rooms are effortlessly thrown together, with simple linens, airy windows, flat screen TVs, and modest vintage furniture populating the space. Some rooms have record players with throwback vinyl collections, mini bars, fireplaces and private
patios overlooking the swim area. Rooms start at around $175/night.
The gym is 24/7, the Feel Good Spa offers all the standard services, and the pool and spa (open till 2 a.m.) come with plenty of hammocks, events daily (including yoga classes, DJs, and live bands), and a poolside bar that serves alcoholic sno cones! The hotel's diner, Kings Highway, is a laid back joint using local, seasonal and organic ingredients to cook up American fare for the foodie vagabond. The Amigo Room is the in-house bar, with artisanal cocktails and plenty of young, good looking company. Bottoms up.
701 E. Palm Canyon Dr. | Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-325-9900 | acehotel.com/palmsprings
etc.
EAST COAST PIZZA IN THE WEST DESERT OASIS
LIKE A ROMAN HOLIDAY
What does it take to get a great East Coaststyle pizza with that signature thin crispy crust? 800 Degrees Fahrenheit and a jaunt down Palm Canyon Drive. Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro uses an authentic wood-fired masonry oven, fresh dough made daily, and exciting topping combinations to make the best pizza in town. Enjoy your pie in an urban style atmosphere overlooking downtown Palm Springs’ main drag.
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2000-ish years ago The Coachella Valley is the home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. They live near the natural hot mineral springs in the cold months, and then move camp to the canyons during the high temperature months.
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Voted “Best of the Valley Thrift Stores” by The Desert Sun. Hunt for that Moby Dick of thrift finds at this mega consignment store of clothing, furniture, art, jewelry and more.
760-413-2883 scootpalm springs.com
611 South Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-318-6491 | revivalsstores.com
becomes a state.
hot
o by :
E d w ar d S . C ur
tis
THRIFT STORE shop: REVIVALS
The best way to cruise Palm Springs? On two wheels with a peppy horn. Located at the Ace Hotel
1850 California P
Palm n gs i r p S
155 S. Palm Canyon Dr. | Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-778-6000 | matchboxpalmsprings.com
DEAL: 100NSunny Promo • Standard King for $100 or a Standard Double for $129 • Half off your resort fee • $25 Feel Good Spa credit. Yo ho ho and a bucket of beers Blackout dates apply. Valid on Thursdays – Sundays through September 20, 2012. Promo code: 100NSUNNY
1853 “Palm Springs” is first coined by the United States Topographical Engineers when surveying the land.
etc. WISH YOU WERE HERE: SOUVENIRS DONE RIGHT
If you simply must do the souvenir thing, don't fall for the cheap tee or shot glass again, do it with class. Go to Just Fabulous in downtown Palm Springs for an upscale boutique full of retro gifts, books, art, music and cards, mostly priced under $50! 515 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-864-1300 bjustfabulous.com
ACE HOTEL
BACKYARD OASIS: THE SWIMMING POOL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHY, 1945 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1982 The Pool: it's that magical summer place you longed for as a child, that harmlessly swanky place you went to show off and court peers as a teenager, the place that was made more useful to young punks on decks when it had no water. If it were to be the praised golden calf of any people, it would definitely be to those desert dwellers of Palm Springs. Raise a salute, or at least a brow, to the photographs that have ventured to capture the many sides of California's love affair with the pool. Showing through May 27, 2012 at the Palm Springs Art Museum. 101 Museum Drive | Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-322-4800 | psmuseum.org
TOURS & SITE SEEING A Map of Palm Springs Modern Stop at the Palm Springs Visitor Center on your way into town (it's that soaring roofed old building on the intro page of this guide). There you can pick up the Palm Springs Modern Committee's self-driving tour guide of the area's most famous architectural offerings by greats like Albert Frey, John Lautner, and Richard Neutra.
2901 N. Palm Canyon Dr. | Palm Springs, CA 92262 800-347-7746 | palm-springs.org Grand Tour of Palm Springs 2.5 hours | Adults $48.95, kids $18.95 You'll cover all the best parts of the greater Palm Springs
1877 The U.S. Government gives Southern Pacific Railroad half the land surrounding the railroad they were constructing in the So. Cal. Desert around Palm Springs. The Agua Caliente are given the other half of the property.
area, from Rancho Mirage (playground of the Presidents) to Cathedral City to Palm Springs itself, where you will see more than 50 celebrity homes - including those of Elvis Presley (see inset photo), Frank Sinatra, Liberace, and many more. Palm Springs Tours 800-409-3174 | palmspringstours.net Sunset Jeep Tour of the San Andreas Fault 2 Hours | Starting at $100 per person Great for families, active people, green enthusiasts, and photographers! Put your Indiana Jones hat on and hop in the
Big Red Jeep. Prepare to witness and learn about the science and history behind the amazing geological cuts and canyons of the San Andreas Fault zone, the natural palm oasis, and an old mining camp, all while the sun sets in the west. Reservations required! Desert Adventures 888-440-5337 | red-jeep.com Guided ATV Tour Tours range from 2 Hours at $150/person to Half Day at $250/person. $50 for passengers. What better way to see the Coachella Valley desert than on four screamin' wheels with the wind at your back? A guide will lead you on an adventure through the desert!
Quad Squad 760-861-QUAD | desertatvtours.com
1884 First white settlers make Palm Springs permanent home. It is San Franciscan Judge John Guthrie McCallum and his fam. He and the local Indians build an irrigation aqueduct that brings priceless pure water 19 miles from the source into Palm Springs.
1886 The first
hotel is built by Dr. Welwood Murray: The Palm Springs Hotel.
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Palm Springs Hollywood Style bedroom.
Midcentury Nights Dream
PALM SPRINGS
in the style of
might do. From Madison Avenue to Beverly Hills, the rich and famous playboys of the 1960s found a private playground in Palm Springs. Exclusive clubs featuring the hottest acts in town, pools fringed by bikinied kittens sipping mai tais, days waned away playing golf with Bing Crosby. With the act perfected by greats like Sinatra and Elvis, why reinvent the system? Just take a walk in their shoes. And watch the suede, it stains.
THE BACHELOR PADS 1 “A Midcentury Nights Dream”
4 bedrooms, 4 Baths, Sleeps 8 Walking Distance to Palm Canyon Dr., Private Pool, and Internet Winter Rates (Until May 31): $520/Night | $3,220/Wk. What says '60s chic more than shag carpets, mid century modern architecture,
wood paneled and stone stacked walls, and a marble facade on the house's stately front? All you need are the Bond girls and a dry martini. This home was originally built and designed for the heiress of Philips Petroleum. The one story home is glamor in 3,200 ft.: fully furnished in designer vintage, kitchen fully equipped for entertaining, an original Terrazzo pool with lounge chairs, outdoor dining for 8, a gas fire-pit and BBQ grill, a private gate and walled off yard, and all rooms offering direct access to outside (for easier sneaking in and out).
1909 The Desert Inn is founded by Dr. Harry and Nellie Coffman. Originally a sanitorium for tuberculosis patients, the inn later evolves into a popular resort hotel visited by millionaires like the Vanderbilts and Hearsts. Palm Springs’ reputation as a playground for the rich and famous is already beginning.
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2 “Palm Springs Hollywood Style”
OPTION No.
3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Sleeps 6 Private Pool, Spa, Internet Winter Rates (Until may 31): $295/Night | $1,550/Wk.
When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in Palm Springs, do as Don Draper
OPTION No.
Palm Springs Hollywood Dining Area
1919 Silent films frequently film in the Palm Springs area, bringing the stars and buzz with them.
This Alexander-built William Kriesel home simply weeps style from its flirty lemon walls and rich black accents. The house was redesigned to echo the style and spirit of the famous Palm Springs Viceroy Hotel. Features include a heated pool with beautiful outdoor furniture, a whirlpool spa, beautiful mountain views with soaring palm trees, a quiet neighborhood located minutes from downtown, Cable TV and a DVD player, high speed WiFi, TVs in all rooms, an outdoor BBQ, and a fully equipped kitchen. You will truly feel like an A-lister of the golden era of Palm Springs when staying in this Hollywood Regencystyle home.
1276 N Palm Canyon Dr., Suite 211 Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-778-7832 or 800-590-3110 Book Online 24/7! vacationpalmsprings.com Davis Meyer (Sales & Marketing Manager) 760-778-7832 ext. 122
1938 The Village of Palm Springs is incorporated. Palm Springs is already the escape destination for Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Charlton Heston, Lucille Ball and others.
PALM SPRINGS
etc.
in the style of
FOR THOSE WHO LIKE THEIR '60s WITH LESS LUST AND MORE SINGING:
CONT'D.
DRESSING THE PART Deja Vu Vintage Finery
"PALM SPRINGS WEEKEND" (1963)
PUT ON YOUR DINNER JACKET, WE’RE GOING TO Melvyn's
DINNER
It’s where Frank Sinatra and Barbara had their pre-wedding dinner. And the menu has hardly changed since. Preserved as pristinely as the elegant tuxedos on the waiters flambéing dishes table-side, Melvyn's is a relic of the golden era of Palm Springs. The food isn't enlightening and the crowd tends to be a bit older, but the atmosphere and history more than makes up for it. Melvyn's dining rooms are opulent and rich, each with a unique décor. The restaurant is named after it’s owner/ proprietor Mel Haber, who was once the largest employer in Palm Springs, and former owner of Cecils, a lavish Palm Springs disco that rivaled Studio 54 in star power. After dinner, slip away to Melvyn's Casablanca Lounge for live piano music and dancing starting at 8 p.m. nightly.
200 West Ramon Road | Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-325-2323 | inglesideinn.com/melvyns_restaurant
Is your '60s nostalgia more in the vein of Frankie Avalon? Then rent this gem: a sugary sweet romcom film set in Palm Springs in the '60s. It even delivers the random and totally unnecessary song number typical to "Beach Party" type films.
Deja Vu is the place for real, fine vintage clothing for men and women. Unlike many “vintage” shops who just carry grossly used consignment clothes and a few scrappy period pieces, Deja Vu is carefully curated, a beautiful collection of sumptuous, quality clothing dating from the 1940s up to the ‘80s. William Miller, an interior designer, and Caroldean Ross, a fashion femme fatale, co-created the boutique planting it in the Uptown Design District. The boutique carries high-end period designers like Nina Ricci, Judith Leiber, Oscar de la Renta, Louis Feraud (Rachel Zoe picked up a number by him at Deja Vu), Mr. Blackwell and Oleg Cassini, a famous designer who also served as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s official and only couturier, creating her signature “Camelot Look.”
644 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-699-5365 | dejavuroom.com
GAMBLIN' B
E
A
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Order a shaken not stirred and hit the poker tables at Fantasy Springs for some responsible gaming and irresponsible winning.
Offers: 2,000 slot machines, 40+ table games, Pai Gow, Mini baccarat, Poker, Jackpot bingo (no self respecting Mad Man would ever), Off-track betting Fantasy Springs also has a 24/7 bowling alley, stand up acts at their Improv Comedy Club, and The Rock Yard, an outdoor concert stage that hosts tribute bands, house bands, and top-name recording artists. Admission is complimentary with shows running March through October.
84-245 Indio Springs Pkwy. | Indio, CA 92203 800-827-2946 | fantasyspringsresort.com
1939 A 1939 census
numbered 5,336 year-round residents with a seasonal jump to over 8,000 people
Oleg Cassini and Jacqueline Kennedy
To be well dressed is a little like being in love.” – OLEG CASSINI
1940s During WWII, General George S. Patton chooses 18,000 square miles of Arizona and California Desert surrounding Palm Springs to train American troops. Patton calls the US's newly acquired land in the southwest the Desert Training Center. Troops called it “the place God forgot”. The training is to prepare US Troops to take on Rommel in North Africa.
1940s Palm Springs’ Torney General Hospital treated U.S. wounded during the war. Italian Prisoners of War were used as hospital laborers.
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It's.. some sort of old money hideaway, a mischievous Hotel California Wonderland that has a culture and time zone all it's own."
R' EDI TO
S
THE PARKER
What is now called the Parker, was once the first Holiday Inn in California, which a singing cowboy named Gene Autry later bought to house his baseball team, the Angels, when they came to Palm Springs to practice (he renamed the inn Gene Autry's Melody Ranch). The property was eventually bought by hotelier Jack Parker, who hired famed designer Jonathan Adler to give the Parker new life. Adler transformed the hotel into a snarky and wonderfully merry place to mellow out. In fact, you'll never want to leave (despite the omen on the ceramic frieze below the concierge desk that reads “eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you shall check out”). The Parker hotel was designed to give visitors the feel of visiting a rich old aunt's estate. Think Miss Havisham without the dust and old wedding dresses and sinister matchmaking. It's that kind of destination – some sort of old money hideaway, a mischievous Hotel California Wonderland that has a culture and time zone all its own. It will hypnotize you with croquet and gardens, pools and hammocks for acres (13 acres to be specific). The amenities are vast and luxurious, the 18,500 square foot spa
1940s An airfield was built to receive and dispatch military cargo and personnel. Today it is the Palm Springs Regional Airport.
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is infamous, and the house restaurants range from sunbathed to swanky (in an interview with Travel + Leisure, Jonathan Adler described Mr. Parker's restaurant as “a clubby little lair for Mr. Parker but with lurid psychedelia, because he's a little dissolute, as if Mick Jagger had bought a castle in seventy-two.”). The estate is one exceptional layer after another. “The Parker has all the luxury of a five star without all the stuffiness and pretension,” says Marisa Zafran. She's in charge of media and press relations for the Parker. Zafran has carried on Jonathan Adler's style and spirit for the Parker by working with the hotel management and a film director to create a series of unceremonious and stylish teaser videos for their website. The shorts give a humorous and vivid look into every quirky and grande aspect of the hotel, a virtual tour that all-out trumps flat photos and text on a website. Do yourself a favor and spend about 30-minutes to watch every short on their website. You'll immediately know why it is the pinnacle of “stays” in Palm Springs.
Rooms range $300-$1000/night during winter season 4200 East Palm Canyon Dr. | Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-770-5000 | theparkerpalmsprings.com
1962 John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe’s only night of intimacy in their rumored affair occurs at Bing Crosby's house in Palm Springs according to Daniel Spoto, a Monroe biographer.
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1988 Sonny Bono becomes mayor of Palm Springs and serves 4 years.
1990 Bono founds the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF)
etc.
FAMILY FUN 1
OPTION No.
Cabazon Dinosaurs
There's no better Palm Springs photo opp than with the world's biggest dinosaurs! Go inside the T-Rex museum, dig in the sand for fossils, and learn what you never knew about dinosaurs, the existence of man, and the creation of the world. Exhibits are curated by scientists from around the world.
50770 Seminole Dr. | Cabazon, CA 92230 951-922-0076 | cabazondinosaurs.com
OPTION No.
2
Knott's Soak City Palm Springs Beat the heat with 16 acres of water rides and fun! You can tough it out in the Wave Pool or just cruise the day away on the Sunset River. Go online to buy tickets and plan your visit.
1500 S. Gene Autry Trail | Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-327-0499 | soakcityps.com
OPTION No.
3
The Living Desert Zoo This will be a family favorite day trip. It is so much more than a zoo. You can feed the giraffes, see the elusive jaguar, or hike some of the 1080 acres of undisturbed Sonoran desert that is part of the Living Desert's nature preserve. Visitors can even go behind the scenes on a docent led tour through the Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center to observe animal examinations and learn
GOLF
what it takes to care for the Living Desert's animals. Make sure to stop in at the new Miriam U. Hoover Discovery Center too, where interactive exhibits teach kids what makes the Coachella Valley tick. Go online for rates and hours.
The legendary "Two-Hour Rule" of Hollywood studios put Palm Springs on the map as a perfect getaway for stars. The rule stated that actors under contract had to be available within two hours from the studio just in case last minute film or photo shoots had to occur. Palm Springs was about as far away a private paradise the stars could find from Hollywood.
47900 Portola Ave. | Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-346-5694 | livingdesert.org
4
OPTION No.
Palm Springs Air Museum Feast your eyes on the nation's largest collection of World War II flying aircraft. Besides the fascinating planes and artifacts, documentaries are shown daily, an extensive library related to aviation and American military history is at your fingertips, and Saturday commemorative education programs often showcase demonstration flights.
745 N. Gene Autry Trail | Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-778-6262 | palmspringsairmuseum.org
It wouldn't be a day in the desert without
a tee off at the greens... When it comes to golf, it's hard to get a better package than JW Marriott Resort & Spa's Desert Springs Golf Club. Their two championship 18-hole golf courses are beautifully designed by Ted Robinson with plenty of waterways, rolling fairways, and sweeping views, making it both challenging and enjoyable. Practice facilities are available, and kids 15 and under play free after 3pm when accompanied by a full paying adult. After a round of golf, hit the Resort for dinner or drinks (just not with the kids).
74855 Country Club Dr. | Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-341-1756 | marriottgolf.com
2006 The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) names Palm Springs to its exclusive annual list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations for architecture.
THE HOLLYWOOD 2 HOUR RULE
WINING & DINING
best b-fast: CHEEKY'S Open Wednesday through Monday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pet friendly patio A weekly menu inspired by the freshest seasonal foods from local agricultural resources, and completely homemade batters, sauces, dressings, sausages, pastries and cakes? You better believe this is the best place for delicious and unique versions of classic breakfast and lunch favorites. 622 N. Palm Canyon Dr. | Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-327-7595 cheekysps.com
THE GHOST OF CARY GRANT
Cary Grant had a longtime residence in the Movie Colony in Palm Springs. To lay low he had his name listed in the phone book as Archibald Leach, his birth name. Present owner of the residence, Dr. Jane Smith, jokes that Grant's ghost still walks the halls “wearing a dinner jacket, of course.”
JAKE'S RESTAURANT For when you're far from home but don't actually want to go home.
Jake's offers your favorite American comfort food essentials with European accents. Also check out their fabulous weekend brunch (they invited Saturday to the brunch party)! Get a Spiked Arnold Palmer or Horseradish Vodka Bloody Mary, pair with Eggs in Purgatory, and chill out on the hip, casual patio. Oh yeah, two words: full bar. 664 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-327-4400 | jakespalmsprings.com Dog friendly patio
Today The permanent yearround Palm Springs population is 45,000, and doubles during the winter season.
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2 Pioneertown DESTINATION No.
1 The Integratron DESTINATION No.
The Integratron's statement of purpose says it all: “The Integratron is an acoustically perfect tabernacle and energy machine sited on a powerful geomagnetic vortex in the magical Mojave Desert.” Questions? Us too. Apparently this perfectly acoustic, dome-shaped building called the Integratron was created by aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and UFO movement leader George Van Tassel. It was conceived in August of 1953 when Van Tassel had an encounter with extra terrestrials from Venus who showed him how to rejuvenate living cell tissues in humans. He would build the Integratron in Giant Rock, CA across 18 years as a place to perform the rejuvenation therapy. Van Tassel died in 1978, but the building is still maintained today according to his original vision. Go for a “sound bath” in the magnificent space that scientists have dubbed “a mass battery” and experience the cellular level physical and spiritual healing Van Tassel intended. “Sound is nutrition for the nervous system.” 2477 Belfield Boulevard | Landers, CA 92285 760-364-3126 | integratron.com
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Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace Originally a cantina facade for the set town in the '40s and '50s, then a gristly biker burrito bar (yes, that's a real thing) in the '70s called “The Cantina”, onto a Tex-Mex style restaurant with live music owned by Harriet and her husband, Claude "Pappy" Allen in the '80s. Whatever the theme, the location has always been a unique spot for down-home food and entertainment of some sort. Now in it's 4th generation of ownership, you can thank New Yorkers Robyn Celia and Linda Krantz for infusing Pappy & Harriet's with some of its glory day exuberance. Through their efforts the old saloon's stage now plays host to world class and underground favorites alike, including Leon Russell, Lucinda Williams, The Cold War Kids, Sean Lennon, Robert Plant, and more. Grab a beer and some BBQ, mind the bikers, and prepare for greatness in small spaces.
53688 Pioneertown Rd. Pioneertown, CA 92268 760-365-5956 | pappyandharriets.com
Photo of the Integratron by Jessica Albano. Extra stars and sky added by Amy Hood
Every society has a fringe. This is palm Springs'. Its the outer limits, where Seussesque Joshua Trees are king, the mother ship makes contact regularly, and the wild West is well and truly alive. Hop on your motorcycle, ready your spirit for transmission, and start your David Lynch worthy odyssey into the desert....
Our next coming attraction: Pioneertown, a movie set town created by Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Russell Hayden, and the Sons of the Pioneers in 1946. In the '40s and '50s, more than 50 television shows were filmed here. Today a small handful of people actually live in the frontier town's buildings, there's an inn where you can stay, the corrals where you can camp out and put up horses for mere tens of dollars, a bowling alley, and even a world famous bar and music venue called Pappy & Harriet's, which you've probably never heard of. That ends today.
Amazing mid century modern vintage home furnishings
Uptown Design District
BESIDES OUR PREVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHTED VINTAGE SHOPS, HERE'S WHERE TO SHOP IN THE DESERT TO GET.... The top brands and latest styles
El Paseo
DESTINATION No.
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Hicksville Trailer Palace & Artist Retreat Defect from society for a while and take a trip to this fringe colony of solar powered trailers and refugee artists hiding out in Joshua Tree. Like something out of an "X Files" episode, the quirky trailer motel and artist retreat at Hicksville is a secluded desert gem that is literally off the grid. Not even Google knows exactly where LA writer/director Morgan Higby Night's caravan of trailers set up camp in 2010. Only those who check in and pay the toll get coordinates to the ultimate artist's hideout. Hicksville is a creative buffet offering a recording studio, a filmmaker's dream editing trailer with a Mac Pro (equipped with Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Final Draft, etc.), an archery and BB gun range, a roof deck with hot tub, an Astroturf greenbelt with a saltwater pool, and even a tipi with a fire pit. Living quarters are themed vintage trailers, including a swanky one with wig head lamps designed by Fifi Mahoney's wig store in New Orleans, and a punk Tiki trailer inspired by The Cramps. At Hicksville, you'll see the stars again, you'll feel the old, grande crudeness of nature again, and you'll hear voices from the great beyond of consciousness.
Somewhere in Joshua Tree | hicksville.com
4 10th Annual Joshua Tree Music Fest DESTINATION No.
If Coachella is getting too mainstream for you, go deep under the radar with the miscellaneous musical offerings of the 10th Annual Joshua Tree Music Festival. From Ashwin Batish & Family (the “Sitar Power from the Zappa-esque master of funky Indian fusion”) to Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, to Morning Teleportation (a psychedelic experience featuring some of our childhood pals from Bowling Green, KY), there's plenty of music to open your mind to. And of course there's camping. Set up camp against the backdrop of Joshua Tree and the Mojave Desert. The festival website warns, “dancing is not required, but virtually unavoidable.”
May 18-20, 2012 | joshuatreemusicfestival.com
Clothes, jewelry, art and home décor, all in a quaint downtown-feel layout. Plus, there are great dining options and caffeine stops to break up and refuel the voyage. Art Walks hosted every first Thursday of the month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
877-735-7273 | shopelpaseopalmdesert.com Located in the heart of Palm Desert, south of Highway 111, between Portola and Monterey (Hwy. 74) A replica Britney Spears rhinestone bra and a enough sequined dresses, faux fur, and boas to dress every show girl in Vegas
Marianne of Palm Springs This was one of our favorite spots while walking the downtown Palm Springs strip. Gaudy costume jewelry, blinding sequined numbers, fur hats straight out of From Russia With Love, belly dancer glitz bras – this place is everything you could ever hope for when on leave from the real world.
palmspringsuptowndesigndistrict.com HIGHLIGHTS: • Boulevard 800 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Ste. A Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-832-9011 boulevardps.com • Modernway 745 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-320-5455 psmodernway.com • Christopher Anthony Ltd 800 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 Austrian Emil Stejnar 760-322-0600 snowball hanging lamp christopheranthonyltd.com circa 1955 - Christopher • House 849 Anthony Ltd 849 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-325-7854 house849.com • Interior Illusions 803 N. Palm Canyon Blvd. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-325-0300 interiorillusionshome.com • Studio 111 2675 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-323-5104 studio111palmsprings.com Hand carved tree trunk chair - House 849
236 North Palm Canyon Dr. | Palm Springs CA 92262 760-416-0226 | marianneofpalmsprings.com Outlet Prices
Desert Hills Premium Outlets There's 150 name brand outlet stores and barely enough parking for the employees, but hunt the lot till you get one. The prices and the finds are worth it. Sometimes... Stores include Saks, Coach, Gucci, Versace, Burberry's, Brook's Brothers, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Lucky, Izod, Kenneth Cole, Polo Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Barney's, DKNY, Armani, Prada, Nike, Adidas, Puma... The list goes on.
20 minutes West of Palm Springs on I-10 (Interstate 10) premiumoutlets.com “California Chic” for women and men
Trina Turk Vibrant colors and patterns in luxurious, light textures. This is the crown jewel of downtown Palm Springs' style offerings. Trina also has a small collection of hand selected vintage pieces in the boutique.
891 N. Palm Canyon Dr. | Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-416-2856 | trinaturk.com
"Spring Spires" by Tina Bluefield - Studio 111
Tip:
you can browse many of the great Palm Springs home furnishing stores online at 1stdibs.com before you even get to Palm Springs.
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All your Fav’s…. Ella Moss Splendid Dolce Vita Velvet 7 for all mankind Mother Paige Hanky Panky Vitamin A And much much more!!
2610 East Coast Highway | Corona del Mar | T.949-644-7467 | www.shopharpers.com | Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-4 Become a fan of Harper’s Facebook.com and get daily updates of our Hottest New Merchandise!!!! ACTIONon 2012 137
TEETH
Why be insecure about crooked teeth? It's 2012 and there are plenty of discreet ways to fix a gap or overlap! The Center for Oral Health is a premier, preferred provider of Invisalign and can help perfect your smile. Invisalign can treat underbites, overbites, crossbites, gaps and crowding, with a nearly invisible, custom made aligner similar to a retainer. Treatments only take around six to 18 months. There are financing options and an initial Invisalign consultation with the doctors at Center for Oral Health are free. Center for Oral Health 17742 Beach Blvd., Ste. 350 | Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 842-5561 | 4eversmile.com
How to get the perfect you, from the best in OC!
YOU
Perfected by Jennifer Hood Photography By Nancy Villere of Crush Photo Studios
THE OVERALL DANCER'S BODY
“Cardio Barre ® is a barre based cardio workout unlike any other barre or exercise class! It builds long, lean muscle (no bulking up) and burns fat with high energy, no impact exercises done on the barre and with light weights. It lengthens, strengthens and tones every inch of your body (from sexy toned shoulders to a more lifted and toned booty) in a one hour class! I've been doing this workout for three years and always have people asking me if I'm a dancer – I never was! The most rewarding aspect of owning Cardio Barre ® Costa Mesa is seeing the amazing body transformations. If you're looking for a results-oriented workout or dream of having a dancer's body, then come check us out!” Allyson Carrier, Owner Cardio Barre (Costa Mesa) 369 E. 17th St. | Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 791-8058 | cardiobarre.com
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CARDIORESPIRATORY
SKIN
“Airbrush tanning not only saves your skin from the damaging effects of UV rays, it also hides all of your body's imperfections. Your instantly bronzed new color will leave you with a thinner, toned and more confident looking you. Our organic spray tans offer gorgeous, natural color with flawless fade.” Jeni Nola, Founder and Owner Bronzed Bunny 365 Old Newport Blvd., Ste. B | Newport Beach 92663 (949) 650-1266 | bronzedbunny.com
ABS
“Our secret to beach body abs is total core connection during all exercises on our exclusive Pilates Plus Proformer in our shirt-drenching 50-minute Workouts. Our Profomer uses resistance training to target your deepest abdominal muscles which are not accessible in the traditional "boring" crunches and sit-ups. Our technique offers endless exercises to help engage the abs and obliques. Combined with breath connection, these techniques will reshape and mold the tummy into chiseled abs and the love handles into a cinched waistline. Each integrated movement transforms your midsection into a Pilates Plus work of art!” Vanessa Malchev and Amy Briant, Owners and Instructors Pilates Plus OC 1220 Bison Ave., Ste. A3 | Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 554-7272 | pilatesplusoc.com
BLOOD PRESSURE
“Infrared Saunas are a great way to relax while lowering high blood pressure. A University of Missouri study proved that three 30 minute Infrared Sauna sessions a week significantly lowered blood pressure in just six weeks. At SuiteSweat, clients enjoy 40 minute Infrared Sauna sessions to help achieve this goal even faster. Appointments are encouraged at SuiteSweat but walk-ins are always welcome. Sweat for Life!” Lee Braun, Managing Partner Suite Sweat (Costa Mesa) 488 E 17th St. | Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 722-1264 | suitesweat.com
“Cycling is a low impact way to achieve a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness. It helps to encourage rapid recovery following strenuous physical activity. Working out can sometimes seam like a chore. But two wheels on the road or trail powered by my own fitness help fun override the effort.” Adam Ogden, Creative Director and Sales Director Surf City Cyclery 7470 Edinger Ave. | Huntington Beach, CA 92647 | (714) 842-1717 257 E. 17th St. | Costa Mesa, CA 92627 | (949) 646-1717 Join in on Surf City Cyclery's Saturday Mountain Ride. All levels are welcome on this scenic and fun ride. RSVP Friday prior.
ARMS
“Boxing is a great way to tone up your arms and despite what you might think, anybody is capable of participating in a boxing workout. At LA Boxing, we have one hour workouts designed to get you fit in all aspects, especially your arms. You have 14-16 oz gloves on and are constantly punching a 150 pound bag that provides a tough resistance to your whole body. What this means for you ladies is that your arms will become more toned through resistance training. When boxing correctly, your shoulders, hips, back, legs, and core are being used too, so not only are you toning up those "perfect arms" you are achieving a full body workout. There are multiple LA Boxing locations in Orange County, so try out a free class for your first time or come workout with me personally at the original LA Boxing in Costa Mesa.” Jeremiah Maestre, Instructor and Personal Trainer LA Boxing (Costa Mesa) 103 East 17th St., Ste. 1 | Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 642-KBOX | laboxing.com
BODY DETOX
“The best yoga posture for detoxification is the Ardha Matsyendrasana: the Spine Twisting Pose. Twisting postures are good for stimulating the digestive fire in the body and energizing the spine. This pose is great at the end of a rigorous practice for ringing out toxins just as if you were to ring out a wet towel.” Aileen Pham, co-owner Ra Yoga 3077 Bristol St., Ste A | Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 708-3060 | rayogastudio.com
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BUTT
“Enerji Barre is an amazing way to sculpt the rear end (we all know how important this is). It takes a combination of butt-toning exercises and heart-pounding cardio to see real results. You can't reach your potential without both, and that's exactly what we do in Enerji Barre.” Adam Gentry, Owner Enerji Fitness 3011 Newport Ave. #109 | Tustin, CA 92780 (714) 368-7655 | enerjifitness.com Enerji Barre classes burn 500-1000 calories in an hour. Try your first class free!
THIGHS
“My favorite move to get great thighs is the Plie Squat. To do it: a. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart with your toes pointing out. b. Bring your arms straight out to your sides so that they are parallel to the ground and lower into a squat. c. Come back up and repeat. Go as low into the squat as you can without letting your knees move past your toes. d. Be sure to tuck your tailbone under and contract your glutes. Keep your torso tall, and your weight in the back of your heels. e. Do for 1 minute. (After about 40 seconds, pulse at the bottom of the squat for 20 seconds.) The muscles this focuses on are the adductors, glutes and quadriceps.” Kelly Curtis, Owner Core Reform Pilates 1058 Irvine Avenue | Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 646-8600 | corereform.com
GRACE AND POISE
“Yoga has many poses that help to develop grace, poise and good posture. One posture in particular is a balancing pose called Natarajasana, also known as Lord of the Dance pose or King Dancer pose. It requires both strength and flexibility as the upper body is gracefully unfolded to open the chest, abdomen and shoulders. It also strengthens the standing leg and ankle and stretches the hip flexor and quadriceps of the raised leg. An asymmetrical pose, dancer is performed on both sides to keep the body in balance.” Julie, Instructor “Yoga can noticeably improve your posture, making you look taller, thinner, and more confident. Many postural problems are caused by the hours spent each day hunched over a computer at work or driving a car. Yoga poses can help counteract your tendency to slouch as well as increase body awareness, improving your posture. Dancers pose (Natarajasana) is great for opening the lower back and stretching out the rotators cuff on the shoulder. Also standing forward fold (Uttanasana) with arms bound behind the back is great for opening shoulders, waking up the hamstrings, and becoming more in tune with your internal structure.” Joey, Instructor Curl Fitness 3505 Via Oporto | Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 566-9290 | curlfitness.com Learn these poses at a Curl Fitness class. Call for details or go online to sign up for a free two day pass.
Jill Sperry and Becky Hartman
HAIR
“Spring/Summer 2012 is all about bolder hair color, flowing locks, pony tails, top knots, messy buns, boho braids, texture, confident brows and a pop of color for your effortless look.”
Ty's Top Knot Bun How To 1. Turn your head upside down and sweep your hair on top of your head into a ponytail. It's fine if it's messy. 2. Visually coil hair around ponytail. 3. Once hair is in place, pin it loosely to the underneath hair or coil tightly for a sleeker top knot. 4. Complete your look by spraying TY ALEXANDER Dynamic Hairspray to tame fly aways for a chic look. Ty Alexander, Owner and Stylist Ty Alexander Salon 230 Newport Center Dr., Ste. 90 | Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 706-0900 | tyalexandersalon.com
CELLULITEPRONE AREAS
LEGS
"TRX plié lunge squats and wide squats are superb overall functional leg movements, especially for women. These movements target the entire lower body muscle groups at once, while also de-loading the knee with leaning and weight reduction using TRX straps. Save those knees! Remember your training outcome is a direct result of your effort. Train like you love yourself!" Alley Miesch-Nie, MA, BS, NASM-CPT, Elite Trainer Renaissance ClubSport (Aliso Viejo) 50 Enterprise | Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 (866) 592-5998 | renaissanceclubsport.com/aliso-viejo Go online to receive a free guest pass!
You know it – that awful dimpling on your tummy, legs, butt, and hips. That yuck that glares from your bikini. Even though it's often hereditary and common in both thin and fuller women, there is a treatment! Velashape is the only FDA cleared device that effectively and safely contours, shapes and slims the body. The treatment, which is offered at Dr. Sanjay Grover's plastic surgery center, reduces cellulite and firms problem areas in as little as four treatments. How does it work? Well, by heat and infrared light elements, the Velashape device stimulates the trapped energy in your body's fat cells, causing them to slowly shrink. As they shrink, so do the areas of cellulite. All the while, the Velashape device is also using mechanic rollers to manipulate and smooth the contour of your problem areas. It is a safe device for all skin types and colors according to the FDA. Results are optimal when you combine the procedure with healthy diet and exercise. Dr. Sanjay Grover, MD, FACS The Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 360 San Miguel Dr., Ste. 507 | Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 759-9551 | drgrover.com
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ReFresh Talent works with all types of businesses and marketing budgets, and will find the perfect model for your next project. Discover the difference...
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new take on talent in Orange County We provide models for: Catalogs Advertisements Fashion Shows Digital Media Promotions Trade shows and more
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ReFresh Talent is looking for new model talent in the OC! Women and men age 18+ should go to refreshtalent.com and click on Become a Model to be considered for an appointment. 143
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Barre enerjifitness.com
Yoga
Knockout
13011 Newport Ave. Tustin, CA
Zumba (714) 368-7655 ACTION 2012
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by Nicky Vallee Photography by A.J. Abajian
It’s an all too familiar scene.
A handful of trained technicians are pacing, anxiously waiting as they stand outside in the parking lot of a critical care facility. All eyes are on the lookout for the arrival of their latest patient. They will need to treat this patient quickly, because each minute that passes could mean the difference between life and death. No, this isn’t the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy. This is the type of real life, gritty, behind-the-scenes scenarios that play out each and every day at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. This non-profit organization is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of mammals that end up stranded along the Orange County coastline. These “patients,” as they are lovingly termed, show up at the facility on Laguna Canyon Road with everything from illness to injury. Just as depicted in a medical drama on network TV, these patients all have their own stories to tell. I didn’t think Effie would make it,” says Michele Hunter, Director of Operations/Animal Care. Effie is a California sea lion that was malnourished, hypothermic, and hypoglycemic upon admission a few days prior to our visit. “Her recovery has been nothing short of amazing,” she marvels. “She was having seizures and basically freezing to death, so we gave her dextrose into her abdomen and then put her into a sink with hot water to help increase her temperature. A few hours after she got here, we saw her stabilize and were so relieved. We truly lose sleep over them. It’s those little steps that are the baby steps and they matter. We celebrate every animal,” Hunter says, her voice choking with emotion. The Center is the only organization in Orange County that is licensed to rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals that are stranded anywhere between San Onofre and Seal Beach. Typically, the survivability rate is between 70-75%, which depends largely on the season and the situation. The busiest time in terms of rescues is usually between March-July when the animals typically begin stranding as pups when they start leaving their mothers. The healing process begins as soon as the animals, including Pacific harbor seals, California sea lions, and northern elephant seals, are treated, and culminates with their re-release into the wild. The Center contains a central vet clinic, where the mammals are logged in, charted, and all have their own computerized records. Digital X-rays and pictures are taken, and a thermographic camera is used to read the internal heat of each animal. The mammals are fed mostly herring and smelt, and sometimes squid as a treat because it has hydrating properties. Each animal is given their own customized fish formula packed with vitamins and nutrients. “Ours is truly a living, breathing mission to heal,” says Melissa Sciacca, the Center’s Director of Development. “There is no sugar coating the types of things we encounter here. We’ll see animals come in that are suffering from severe malnutrition and various injuries like shark bites. We also treat those that have ingested trash or have become entangled in fishing gear.” Sciacca has a staff of ten full and part-time employees, and an additional 80 volunteers. For these dedicated professionals, the visual progress of the mammals in their care provides immeasurable rewards. Sciacca believes that this tangible result is largely responsible for the recent increase in donations, money that is integral to maintaining the facility and financing its annual $900,000 budget. “It is obvious. People are more likely to invest in something that they can see for themselves,” she contends. “When those 145
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Ours is truly a living, breathing mission to healâ&#x20AC;?
For more information: Pacific Marine Mammal Center 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach (949) 494-3050 www.pacificmmc.org Native Knowledge: The Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Admission is free, and the facility is open from 10am 4pm, seven days a week.
donors visit here, they actually tell us ‘Wow, this is really a great way to invest my dollars.’” Building that sort of awareness is also part of the Center’s mission in educating the general public about the ocean environment and how human behavior can impact marine mammal recovery. Summer campers, Girl Scout troops earning badges, and students from underserved area school districts are among the 20,000 visitors who spend time here each year. State grants help pay for transportation to the Center where invaluable lessons are learned. “Some of these kids have never even seen the ocean and they get to see firsthand how some of their behaviors are affecting these animals,” explains Sciacca. “They get to see how they can make a difference, and we send them home with reusable bags after talking about not using plastics, reducing and recycling, and shopping more wisely. We make those connections for them, and hopefully create some better lifelong habits in the process.” 147
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One student writes, “When I grow up, I will love to donate my time to helping marine life. I love animals, and little did I know that before I visited the Marine Center, that my trash that I throw away would be killing harmless animals.”
Once they near the point of re-release, the animals are weighed every week. When they first start to gain weight, they are fed together to determine whether they are well enough to compete for their meals and appear social.
We also met Cookie, an elephant seal who was severely underweight when she was rescued off Balboa Island. At the time of our visit, Cookie weighed a whopping 250 pounds, and as you can imagine, handling an animal of this size is a challenge for even the most seasoned rescuer.
“Sea lions bond naturally, so we often see them pairing off or having a buddy,” says Sciacca. “We try to release at least two animals at once so that they have each other as they start their journey back into the wild.”
“We have to tag them when they first come in, so with an animal of this size, we can’t handle them physically,” explains Animal Care Supervisor Dean Gomersall. “We have to put them in a restraining cage. The bigger the animal is, the more dangerous the bites can be. We don’t take them for granted. We also use steel toe shoes and boards to hold them back.”
That journey would not be possible if it weren’t for the dedication and passion of those who have made it their mission to care for these helpless creatures. These are the caregivers who show up day in and day out, at all hours, their hearts pounding, waiting with bated breath to make a difference. “We know that not all of them are going to make it,” Hunter acknowledges. “But the ones that do, it’s because of us. Knowing that because we intervened they can get that second chance, that is what makes it all worth it.”
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Take a 5 a.m. hike along Crystal Cove State Beach. Your Monday and the rest of your week will thank you.
$2 Taco Tuesday’s at The Royal Hawaiian? Yes ...Trust us!
331 N Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (949) 494-8001 | royalhawaiianlagunabeach.com
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Start your week with a unique coffee experience at Portola Coffee Lab. The OC Mart Mix 3313 Hyland Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (949) 284-0596 | www.portolacoffeelab.com
Surf.Swim.Hike.Run.Walk. Bodyboard.Scuba.Snuba. Ride. JUST GO OUTSIDE!!!
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Buy a cute outfit at Harper’s in CDM. Retail therapy always helps. 2610 E Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 (949) 644-7467
Leave your office early for AFTER OFFICE at Chapter One: The Modern Local, and try a $6 home-made Moscow Mule. What office? 227 N Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 352-2225 | chapteronetml.com
$3 Happy Hour at Mi Casa in the Burro room is super local and super fun. 296 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 645-7626 | www.micasa1.com
Watch a movie in a D-Box seat that moves along with the movie while enjoying adult beverages at the UltraLuxe Theatre. The Shops at Anaheim GardenWalk 321 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802 (714) 399-0300 | ultrastarmovies.com/theater
Grab a to-go order of the Combo Salad from Ho Sum Bistro, go home and hide. Monday is almost over. 3112
Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 675-0896 | www.hosumbistro.com
Tuesday nights still belong to MESA. Cool crowd, great bartenders, Peter and The Tempura Green Beans. 725 Baker St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 557-6700 | www.mesacostamesa.com
Take the family for a PIG OUT. 9 scoops of Han’s Home-made ice-cream and 9 toppings. CASH ONLY and so worth it. 3640 S Bristol St, Santa Ana, CA 92704 (714) 979-8815
Take a class at Cardio Barre, Pilates Plus OC, Enerji Fitness or Core Reform Pilates to get you ready to eat tonight.
If you have made it this far through the week you deserve a juicy burger from our 2010 burger winner Haven Gastropub. 190 S Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866 (714) 221-0680 | www.havengastropub.com
250 Ogle St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 650-8463 | www.hitimewine.net
Make an appointment to look your best for date night at super posh TY Alexander Salon.
230 Newport Center Dr, Ste 90, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 706-0900 | www.tyalexandersalon.com
Take a walk. Grab the paper. Head home and sit on your patio.
1052 Irvine Ave, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 200-3330 www.massageenvy.com/clinics/CA/Newport
Make date night extra special and take her to the newly opened, swanky Cucina Enoteca at The Irvine Spectrum. 31 Fortune Dr, Ste 306, Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 861-2222 | www.cucinaenoteca.com
Live Music, a great wine selection and a house salad on a turntable make The Quiet Woman (QW to locals) a favorite stopping point for date night. 3224 E Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 (949) 640-7440 | www.quietwoman.com
The Sun Group have done a great job attracting great looking locals to the Crow Bar and Kitchen on Thursday nights. The coolest place to be.
Bring your date, grab an overstuffed chair and enjoy some great wine paired with a banana and Nutella panini at The Twisted Vine.
Head East, young man. DTF (Down Town Fullerton) for a drink at the 70’s inspired Continental Room.
127 W Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832 (714) 871-1200 | www.twistedvinewines.com
115 W Santa Fe Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832 (714) 469-1879 www.thecontinentalroomfullerton.com
Round up the neighbors for a nostalgic spaghetti dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory.
Try a Peanut Butter Jealousy burger at the new Slater’s 50/50. It’s half bacon, half beef. Yes, HALF BACON.
Stop by Promeli’s Seaside Market on the Peninsula for picnic supplies and enjoy them while watching the break at the Wedge.
“Ditch Fridays” at The Deck should be self explanatory by now. Splurge: rent a cabana and you could start to be one of the #koolkids
LEAVE WORK EARLY. You don’t live near the beach so you can waste away in a cubicle. #feetinsand
Watch any sporting event from the giant recliners in the front row of the ESPN Sports Zone in Downtown Disney. It’s like your house with waiters and giant TV’s.
Take the Surfliner train somewhere… anywhere. It’s so much fun!
Let’s eat peanuts, throw the shells on the floor, choose from an epic amount of draft beer and play shuffle board with the locals at Goat Hill Tavern.
Drink a Mai Tai on the patio at Billy’s at the Beach. The glasses are PG-13. The drinks are rated R.
Bring your ice chest and your wallet to the Newport Pier by 5:30 pm for some of the freshest fish and seafood you will ever find.
2325 E Coast Hwy, Corona del Mar, CA 92625 (949) 675-0070 | www.crowbarcdm.com
Big plans this weekend? A party is not complete without a trip to Hi-TIme Wine Cellar.
Get rid of your humps on hump day with a rub down at Massage Envy.
8082 Adams Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92646 (714) 594-5730 | huntington.slaters5050.com/home
Treat yourself and the kids. Grab a dozen donuts at The Donuttery. Make sure you grab at least one blueberry. 17420 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 847-7000
508 West Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92661 (949) 566-9996
647 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (949) 494-6700
1545 S Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802 (714) 300-3776 | www.espnzone.com
Black and Tan’s at The Harp Inn while watching La Liga or Premier League Futbol. 130 E 17th St, Ste A, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 646-8855 | www.harpinn.com
2751 W Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 722-1100
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by Erik Hale Photography by brent deal, the director of the film “decade of dominance”
In 2005, the Newport Beach Film Festival launched the Action Sports Film Series (ASFS) with the vision of creating a premiere destination to celebrate action sports films, filmmaking, culture, art, design, music, fashion and the action sports lifestyle. After successful premieres of Step Into Liquid, Riding Giants and following our curatorial debut of the Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture skate film series at OCMA, we decided to do what felt natural and create the Action Sports Film Series as a new vertical within the Festival. With our Newport Beach location and a huge demand for action sports cinema, we saw the incredible potential for the program to flourish here in Orange County, which is internationally known as the epicenter for a thriving action sports industry and home to international surfing contests, surf museums, skate parks and the legendary surf spot ‘The Wedge’). The 2012 Action Sports Film Series will spotlight independent action sports films, filmmakers, visionaries, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, artists and designers who have shaped the action sports culture and cultivated its progression with their innovation, energy and creativity. Each year, the Festival brings together filmmakers, athletes, artists, musicians, actions sports industry professionals and film-goers from around the world to experience incredible action sports film-making on the big screen. With the assistance of our media sponsors, the creative team at Irvine-based ChopShop (our talented co-producing partner), our action sports board and our NBFF Action Sports core team, the series has expanded its reach and has emerged as the largest action sports film event on the West Coast.
Newport Beach Film Festival screening venues:
103 E. 17th St.
415 South Associated Rd.
23982 Alicia Pkwy.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Brea, CA 92821
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949.548.6328
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Island Cinema
Triangle Square Cinemas
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1870 Harbor Blvd Costa Mesa, CA 92627-5022
Regency Lido Theatre 3459 Via Lido Drive Newport Beach, CA 92663
Interview with: Leslie Feibleman, Director of Special Programs + Community Cinema, Newport Beach Film Festival. (Co-founder/director, NBFF Action Sports Film Series)
When did you begin with the NBFF and what prompted you? After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Architecture, I continued to immerse myself in the creative worlds of art, design, architecture and photography, working on projects at awardwinning firms in San Francisco, LA and OC. With a strong interest in building, not only structures, but also the local OC cultural scene and the arts community, I then made a 90-degree turn and transformed my (Bay Area influenced) passion and fascination for film and filmmaking into a true adventure. In 2002, I began working at the NBFF and have since focused my energy on artistic programming, film education and creating community through cinema. After working at the Festival for over ten years (in a purely caffeinated, volunteer capacity and as a mom of two teens) I have found that I truly love curating and creating international film programs, building cultural collaborations, engaging new audiences and working directly with independent filmmakers. My passion for action sports began years ago. As a teen in the 80’s I enjoyed skateboarding, surfing in La Jolla and organizing local surf screenings.
What amazing movies have you debuted at the film festival in the past? Our past NBFF Action Sports Film
Series world premieres rocked! Memorable red carpet fest debuts include The Westsiders, The Glacier Project featuring Garret McNamara, Reef’s Cancer to Capricorn: The Path of the Modern Gypsy with Rob Machado, Street Dreams, Make it Count: The Element Story, plus OC local films Echo Beach and Living it Forever.
Are any movies making their world premiers this year? H2Indo, Decade of Dominance, Hicks on Sticks (a new skate film from Vancouver), Crusty Demons 16 – Outback Attack and Man and Machine (from NBFF alumni filmmakers Jeff Pakosta and Grant Wheeler).
What sports are included in the series? Surfing, Stand Up Paddling (SUP), Paddleboarding, Skateboarding, Skiing, Snowboarding, Motocross and Base Jumping.
What athletes have been involved in the series? Over the years, several notable action sports athletes have attended Festival screenings and parties and have participated in post-screening Q&A’s and autograph signings. Our list includes Rob Machado, Stacy Peralta, Laird Hamilton, Alex Gray, Garret McNamara, Ryan Sheckler, Rob Dyrdek, Paul Rodriguez, Tanner Hall, Tom Curran, Alana Blanchard, Dave Rastovich and Parks Bonifay
What films have Orange County connections this year and what are they?
OC filmmaker Brent Deal directed both H2IndO and Decade of Dominance. H2IndO features the “The Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle" race in Dana Point and local OC SUP athlete Chuck Patterson, who is also the executive producer on the film. Fleshwound Films of Huntington Beach produced Crusty Demons 16 – Outback Attack. The documentary Manufacturing Stoked features Derek Sabori from Volcom and other OC surf industry locals.
You said that H2Indo is making their debut. Tell us about that film. With the popularity of Stand Up Paddling (SUP) growing exponentially both locally in OC and internationally, the Festival looks forward to celebrating the sport and its athletes with this highly anticipated film. H2IndO takes us on an exciting journey to Indonesia with seven of the world's greatest stand up paddlers: Dave Kalama, Connor Baxter, Slater Trout, Talia Gangini, Chuck Patterson, Dave Boehne and Jamie Mitchell travel to Indonesia on a private boat to stand up paddle Indo's most famous surf breaks. The result is a personal and compelling look at the world's fastest growing sport through the eyes of seven of the sport’s top athletes.
Decade of Dominance with Jamie Mitchell (Quiksilver Waterman) is by an Orange County director? Tell us more about it. The Festival is thrilled to premiere
Orange County filmmaker Brent Deal’s freshest documentary film Decade of Dominance. Each year the world's best paddleboarders gather in Hawaii to contest the World Championship of Paddleboarding. To claim the world title the winner must cross one of the world's most treacherous bodies of water, the 32 mile Ka'iwi channel, aptly named the 'channel of bones'. Since 2002 Jamie Mitchell has made the world title his an incredible nine times. One more victory would cap off a perfect decade of dominance in one of the world's toughest events. Decade of Dominance follows Jamie as he prepares for and contests the most important race of his life.
Tell us about 5 movies you do not think we should miss. With an international slate of19 films in our 2012 lineup, we of course recommend them all. A few not to miss are the World Premieres of H2IndO and Decade of Dominance (Jamie Mitchell is scheduled to attend from Australia), All.I.Can (NBFF programmer Diane Kim’s top pick) plus Quiksilver’s new film Stacked. For the surf history buffs, we suggest Boardroom.
Are any of the films award winning that are arriving? All.I.Can won ‘Best Film’ at the recent X-Dance Film Festival Art of Flight and Lost & Found also won special awards at X-Dance.
Newport Beach Film Festival film list: All.I.Can The Art of Flight BoardRoom Crusty Demons 16 - Outback Attack Day at the Pool
Decade of Dominance DROP Format Perspective H2indO Hicks on Sticks
Lost & Found Man and Machine Manufacturing Stoke Minds in the Water Ordinary Skier
Stacked Surfing the Wild East Winter Wyoming Triumph - A workingman’s ski and snowboard feature ACTION 2012
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t happened just as the sun cut through the light branches of a willow tree and fell across my face. The breeze picked up and I thought, this must be what peace feels like. I slowly bounced back and forth in the western saddle to the slow rhythm of Applejacks’ trot. Applejack is an Appaloosa, known for their spot patterns, and he is a beauty. He likes to stop and snack on tall grasses and flowers, but I don’t mind. For the first time in a long time I am in no hurry at all.
K E L LY S L A T E R
It was a bright morning in early February when Jenavieve and I took the 55 out to the high hills of Irvine Regional Park, located just six miles east of the city of Orange in Santiago Canyon, to visit Country Trails and Riding School. We checked into our reservation at Country Trails as I buttoned up my denim shirt and put on my boots. I was looking like our Orange County friend Mr. John Wayne himself. Country Trails is located within the 477acre preserve that is Irvine Regional Park. If you ever have the slightest inclination to get away from all the cars, the noise, the deadlines, and buzz that is our lives then take the short drive. Irvine Regional Park is open to the public year round and costs only five dollars for parking. In addition to Country Trails, there are a handful of other activities to enjoy like mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, paddle boat rentals, horseshoe pits, a botanical preserve, and a center for children with train rides and a zoo! As we got fitted for helmets inside the stable, I noticed the vast age range of smiling faces. It seemed folks of all ages enjoy riding (though you must be eight years old to saddle up.) I was quickly introduced to Applejack and Jenavieve was introduced to her horse Snickers. I was immediately struck by Applejack’s great size and his intense beauty. It doesn’t matter how many western movies you have seen, horses are much larger and far stronger in person. I had never been this close to a horse and never had the pleasure of getting to know one so well. Applejack’s long mane fell stylishly to one side. I gave him a pet and introduced myself. I then turned around to catch a glimpse of Jenavieve as she mounted Snickers like a regular in the Wild West. I wondered: if she is Lewis does that make me Clark? I put one foot in the stirrup and not so gracefully hoisted myself onto Applejack.
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The horses at Country Trails are so incredibly trained and well mannered that my anxiety and hesitations melted away. We began a slow walk in a single file line out of the stables and onto the trails lead by our guide and another following behind us. Country Trails shares a property with Peacock Hill Equestrian Center, a premium boarding facility for privately owned horses that gets its name from the flourishing peacock population on the grounds. These majestic birds are out fanning their feathers in the sun all over the place. Our guide took us on her favorite of the many trails in Irvine Regional Park: the Willow Trail. It wound through the hills and a grove
Q U I K S I LV E R . C O M
of willow trees, over dry creek beds, and through open meadows where the spring would soon bring wildflowers. I learned many tricks along the way; like to give Applejack a little nudge in the side with my heel to get him going, to take the reigns to one side or the other to tell him to turn, and to help the horses keep their balance we lean forward up hills and back as we go down them. Applejack stops every once in awhile for a snack and I pull up on his reigns to remind him we’re going somewhere, although it’s really no where in particular. We start talking horses as we wind through the hills. My guide has spent most of her life here at Country Trails, practically growing up in the stables, and I am fascinated by her take on horses as a healing power. It makes perfect sense to me. She tells me kids who are shy or awkward often come to the stables to learn that caring for such a creature instills a tremendous amount of confidence, because these
animals are so great and powerful. The feeling is that if one can handle a horse, one can truly handle anything. Now I am no awkward teen but this message seems to cut right through to me. I started to feel a sense of security riding Applejack. “Good boy,” I said and gave him a pet. Trail rides depart Tuesday through Sunday throughout the day by reservation, and are 45 dollars per rider for one hour and 90 dollars for two hours. In addition to the relaxing rides, Country Trails also offers a more hands-on experience for those that that would like to truly learn the art of horseback riding. Their Riding school operates year round and is geared toward longterm students. Lessons are 200 dollars a month with four lessons every month taking place at the same time each week to help instill commitment and routine. Lessons are two hours long in which one hour is spent riding
FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE
by Erin Rose Belair photography by jenavieve belair
She mounted Snickers like a regular in the Wild West. I wondered: if she is Lewis does that make me Clark?” ACTION 2012
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and the other hour is used to learn how to care for the horses. Students learn how to bring out the horses, groom them, use the equipment, and how to clean and bathe the horses. Country Trails is a, “hands on and full experience school.” It is only through the riding school that the stable takes on volunteers who are invited to come and care for the horses. It
stopped to snap a couple of pictures in a dry riverbed. The photograph is hanging in my apartment: Applejack and I next to Jenavieve and Snickers, all four of us smiling like kids. Every time I look at it, it reminds me to slow down and take a deep breath. I think of the clip clop of his hoofs on the dry packed dirt, the rhythm of my body, and the warm winter breeze playing in the leaves of willow trees. There are very few things in life that I have found as calming as the slow walk of a horse.
There are very few things in life that I have found as calming as the slow walk of a horse. seems as if some riders simply fall in love and just never really leave. Country Trails also operates 8 weeks of summer camp for kids: Monday through Friday from 9-3 at 450 dollars a week. The kids generally ride for two hours a day and spend the rest of the time learning about everything from breeds to bridles. At the end of their week-long camp the kids go on a wilderness ride through the very same trails I had the pleasure of taking with Applejack. The camps tend to fill up quickly so be sure to reserve a spot!
Country Trails is open year round. The only time they aren’t going on trail rides are Mondays, rainy days, and if the temperature peaks over 100 degrees because it’s too hot for the horses. I can’t think of a better way to relax and unwind, let your mind wander, and watch nature slowly pass by. The healing power of horses became very evident to me that day in February and I feel so lucky to have the chance to share it with you. Visit ctriding. com for more information and call (714)538-5860 to reserve your trail ride soon.
As we started to loop back around the trail and head for the stables we
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Fueling A Legend Finding out what propels 11 time World Champion Kelly Slater by erik hale
A common refrain from pro-athletes is "When I don't love it anymore I will stop". It is hard to imagine you not loving surfing. What will let you know it is time to stop competing? KS: Competing and surfing are completely separate things. The competition side of things restrains parts of your surfing. There's no doubt about that. Sometimes I really enjoy the idea of going and just searching for surf a lot more than competing. When that becomes too strong and the motivation for heats wanes, I'm done.
Who is your favorite surfer? KS: Probably Dane Reynolds and Shane Dorian. Dane for maneuvers and small wave. Shane for all around charging.
You have accomplished so much in surfing. What else would you like to accomplish in your life? KS: Just complete fulfillment personally. On a physical level just being as fit as I can be and having longevity with a great quality of life.
What moment were you most afraid in the water? KS: A few times in big surf as a kid. Praying the next wave wouldn't drown me. I had an unrealistic fear of drowning when I was young so it wasn't hard to get in scary situations. I've never likely been very close though. I would remember that easily.
Do you feel there is a "next" Kelly Slater? If not, whom do you feel has the ability to compete with you record 11 championships? KS: Well everyone has their own approach. Mine is my own. The next guy, his own. I felt destined to do what I have, but it doesn't make me the best or anything. It's just an accomplishment someone hadn't done yet. You can do what you believe you can do.
Do you feel your best accomplishments lay ahead of you or behind you? KS: Hopefully ahead. You have to think big in life. Surfing
is very small beans in the scope of life and the world, but there's nothing better.
What in surfing compares to a four-foot knee-knocking putt in golf to win a hole? KS: Just riding out of a last maneuver to win a heat. Something not huge but you can't fake.
As an experienced world traveler what is one world problem you would alleviate if you could? KS: Clean water for everyone. How essential is your diet to your success? KS: Very much so. It drives the engine.
Salmon plate
Strictly as a music fan, was it more of a thrill to play alongside Eddie Vedder or Ben Harper? KS: No comment. Both were ridiculous. You recently became an ambassador for Daphne's. What is it about their restaurant that attracted you to them? KS: I love the food for one. I also really align with Bill and where he's going with the company. A giant chain probably wouldn't resonate with me but if Daphne's grew much bigger that would probably be a good thing.
What is your favorite thing to order at Daphne's? KS: Salmon plate for sure. Love it. location: Daphne's
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What is it that draws man to the sea? It is one of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest mysteries. Its seemingly magnetic pull has taken sailors to distant lands and fishermen on endless quests. It has been a fixation of writers and poets for centuries. It was here that men first learned to let the stars guide them like maps. It is this very fascination of the sea that drove me down to the shores one early morning to watch the fishermen come in. Sitting humbly next to the Newport Beach Pier is The Dory Fishing Fleet, constructed of weathered wood and stained with salt. It was founded in 1891 when a wicked storm tore apart what was once McFadden wharf. It was dubbed a historical
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landmark in June 1969, and to this day, it is in operation and serves to remind us all of the rich past these beaches have. It is here that you can view decades of photographs of people waiting for the freshest fish from the Pacific. The Dory Fishing Fleet is the last of its kind in the United States and has, “the freshest fish on the west coast unless you catch them yourself,” said Rob Bronfman. Rob Bronfman has been fishing out of the Dory Fleet since 1977 and now runs his operation with his son Scott. When I went down at sunrise one Friday morning, I found the pair coming in from the icy waters, and we spent the morning talking fish. The boats of the Dory Fishing Fleet are specially designed to launch right there off the beach into the water and oncoming waves. It’s incredible to watch. The Bronfmans fish all through the night at approximately 60 to 70 miles beyond the shore, and come back at sunrise with their catch to set up shop to sell to those seeking the freshest fish. While out at sea, they cast ten lines with a thousand hooks on each, which is ten thousand hooks every trip! They use anchovies for bait and
bring in mostly Red Snapper and Black Cod fish. They explain that other fisherman in the Dory Fleet bring in crab, lobster, and shrimp. They are open for business on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Saturday is the biggest and busiest day, so be sure to get there early
amazement as he chopped off their heads and gutted the fish right there. A few seagulls that frequent the dock were circling overhead as bright red scale flew in the air. His sharp knife cut perfect filets of fish like a ninja. Within minutes I had a whole bag of fresh cut filets, cleaned and ready for cooking.
Within minutes I had a whole bag of fresh cut filets, cleaned and ready for cooking. while there is still bounties of fish to be bought! The fleet operates with the same schedule and sells the same fish year round. I told Bronfman that I needed his freshest catch to make some fish tacos for my friends later that day. I was thinking corn tortillas, fresh pico de gallo, lots of lime, and some homemade guacamole. He pulled a few Red Snapper from the ice and threw them on the chopping block. I watched in
My tasty tacos and morning down by the water got me thinking more and more about how I could get my hands on the freshest fish in town. I already have a slew of favorite fish-friendly restaurants like Bear Flag, The Crab Cooker, and House of Big Fish and Ice Cold Beer, but I wanted to actually experience the catch. I have often noticed people fishing off the pier and beaches in Newport, and I have wondered
by Erin Rose Belair photography by jenavieve belair
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how fruitful those locations really are, so I went to check them out myself. I took a walk down to the end of the Newport Pier and discovered they have 5-dollar pole rentals. While it seems like a sunny and lovely way to spend an afternoon, I just didn’t quite see any good catch coming in. So I asked an older gentleman who had three lines in the water, “Catch anything good today?” He looked at me puzzled and stood silent. I waited for an answer and he looked back out to the water for a moment. Then he turned to me and spoke very slowly like he wasn’t quite sure I would understand, and he said, “Wait long time for one fish,” and then turned back to his poles. So there you have it, it may sound fun, but apparently you won’t catch dinner off the pier. I left the pier and headed down to Balboa in search of a more promising answer to my fish queries. I wanted to go out and catch big fish for a nice dinner. I found my answer on the bayside near the Fun Zone at The Newport Landing and Davey’s Locker. The two establishments work
in tandem taking folks out every day on whale watching and fishing expeditions. They instantly started telling me what I wanted to hear; words like halibut and albacore. I was hooked. Newport Landing and Davey's Locker take sea faring and fish-hungry folks out daily on halfday, full-day, 2-day and overnight fishing trips. Depending on the temperatures of the water, people reel in white seabass, albacore, halibut, yellowfin and bluefin tuna. With eight different boats heading out of the harbor everyday of the week, there is no shortage of opportunities for you to become a sea faring fisherman too. Prices vary depending on the length of the adventure and the time of year. You can visit newportlanding.com or daveyslocker.com for full details on booking your voyage. Ahoy, Matey!
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by Jennifer McLaughlin
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s an east coast transplant, I find myself hosting family and friends who seek to escape the cold weather climate for that of California. After receiving a call from my collegiate partner in crime, I knew I had to rescue her from the below-zero weather. I spent some time racking my brain on what luxurious Southern California activities I should share with her. Hmm - Hollywood? San Diego? Laguna Beach? All of those sounded great, but where could I take her that would offer the ultimate girls’ relaxation weekend? Then it came to me: Temecula for gourmet food, wine, wine and more wine.
A quick pick-up at John Wayne Airport and we were on our way. Forty-five minutes and eleven hits-from-back-in-the-day later, we pulled into our wine oasis South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, the ideal location for this much needed escape. The resort’s rooms are unique, constructed into an individual private villa nestled in the middle of the resort’s vineyard. Stepping onto our own private terrace with a breathtaking view, we were surrounded by rows and rows of grapes. And to make your stay at this resort even more enticing, the rooms come with a free wine tasting and bottle of wine. My friend was enthusiastic when she suggested we try to stop at every winery in Temecula. Even though I know there are over twenty tasting rooms throughout Temecula, I was willing to give it my best shot. We started our wine tour at Monte de Oro where they gave us a sneak peak at their newest creation: Legato, a 2007 red dessert wine, which I highly recommend. The view was incredible here and if it weren’t for our monstrous wine tasting mission, we would have stayed and enjoyed ourselves a little longer. Next up was Doffo, which was off the beaten path but worth the search. This family-run winery has a tasting room that is built into a house so it appears a bit awkward upon first glance, but everything comes together perfectly once inside. Our wine
My friend was enthusiastic when she suggested we try to stop at every winery in Temecula.
representative Damian welcomes us. He is the son and winery manager. He tells us his family history and how Doffo came to be. The wines are simple yet flavorful, and mixed with the atmosphere, create an everlasting impression. After sampling all of Doffo’s wines we headed back to the resort for a private tasting and dinner. With our tasting awaiting, we enter a new area recently added to the resort called the Carter Reserve Room. A wine specialist takes us through an extensive tasting and food pairing. The resort’s restaurant, the Vineyard Rose, is a wine connoisseur’s dream. Each menu item is paired with a resort signature wine and entrees range from Baby Back Ribs to Chilean Seabass, making this eatery one of the top restaurants in Temecula. For my entree I chose the Free Range Chicken over Butternut Squash Risotto, along with another glass of wine. I discovered a new favorite called Ruby Cuvee, so I made sure to order another glass at dinner and a few bottles for my home wine collection.
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We started day two of tasting at Miramonte where the wines are earthy and the staff is friendly. Our second stop was Danza del Sol. On our tour of the winery, we were shown how the wine is made from the equipment to the bottling process. We were also introduced to Syrah, the winemakers’ German Shephard. Next up on the wine trail was Keyways. Our wine pourer welcomed us with open arms and good humor. We are told that this is the only winery in Temecula owned and operated by a woman. At the suggestion of friendly locals and winery owners, we stopped at Leoness Cellars for lunch. The food looked enticing as we glanced over the menu next to the hostess stand. We took a tour of the beautiful vineyard and event space while we waited. Once seated, we ordered BBQ Chicken Flatbread, Truffle Frites and Macaroni & Cheese with Truffle Oil. With enough sustenance to soak up our first round of sipping, we were off to Lorimar, a winery located in Old Town next to multiple boutiques and restaurants. We walked off our meal while window shopping and finally headed into Lorimar’s tasting room. After speaking to our wine pourer Stephen, we discovered that in addition to his extraordinary knowledge on wine, the display of art was also created by him. When it was time for dinner, Stephen gave us a few recommendations and we decided to head to the Restaurant at Ponte. This restaurant really focused on local ingredients and traditional fare. Like the wines, Ponte’s menu changes seasonally. The almond crusted goat cheese arugula salad is a must; and we split the wild mushroom pizza drizzled with white truffle oil for our entrée. Since Ponte is a boutique wine producer their wines are made in small quantities, which means if you find a wine you love, then you better grab a few bottles before you leave, which is exactly what we did. The Super T is one of those special wines that you do not want to miss and is my recommendation from our weekend of sampling some of Southern California’s best grapes.
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When you’re thinking about planning a romantic weekend or a getaway with the girls, consider making the short trip to Temecula’s wine country. Its boutique wineries, locally produced food and quaint, small-town feel, make for an easy and enjoyable weekend escape.
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Clothing provided by: Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion Island 949-759-1622 www.garysonline.com Fyasko Fyasko.com Watches provided by: Traditional Jewelers Fashion Island 949-721-9010 www.traditionaljewelers.com Vestal Vestal.com Hats provided by: Arth The Lab-Costa Mesa 714-966-8350 www.arthhats.com
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Growing Up
Punk by Kristal Docter photography by Doug Hamilton
The Extraordinary Girl Uncovers Green Day’s Rock Manifesto
A
muse for Gen X’ers and the generations that followed, Green Day has commanded attention in music, fashion and attitudes in America for more than 25 years. With their 2004 Grammy-Award-
Winning album American Idiot, they reached the masses – approximately 14 million of the masses – with the composition of the world’s first punk rock-opera record, spinning a tale of surviving suburbia and typical teenage discovery with the obstacles and occurrences that shape the world. On April 20, 2010, punk music went Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City with the theatricalization of the band’s album as a breakthrough musical. American Idiot the Musical began its national tour in 2011, and before this impressionable phenomenon hit Southern California stages for the first time, LOCALE Magazine interviewed cast member Nicci Claspell who plays The Extraordinary Girl to prepare us punk followers and intrigued theatre-goers.
Tell me your version of what the critically acclaimed American Idiot Broadway Musical is all about. “It is a story of three suburban guys who are fed up with over saturation of the media in a post-9/11 world. It starts out with them deciding to get out of suburbia and find their own way, seeing what’s out in the world for them. They all take a different path. One gets suck at home with a pregnant girlfriend, one is seduced by the military and the other one gets dragged into a world of sex, drugs and rock and roll. In the musical, we get to see them trying to find their own paths in life”
What makes American Idiot so unique and innovative to the Broadway musical industry? “A punk rock musical has never appeared onstage before. People compare it to Hair and Rent in that people had never seen those ideas expressed on the stage before either. American Idiot is the next step. Visually it’s a spectacle and the music arranged by Green Day is something you would never imagine coming from them. It is for all audiences across the spectrum.”
From the clips I’ve seen, it seems really raw and in-your-face. Can you describe what kind of ideas and emotions the show conveys for those that somehow may have missed Green Day’s 2004 Grammy-Award-Winning American Idiot album, which sold more than 14 million copies? “It is the epitome of teenage angst and a coming-of-age, discovering-yourself-and-the-world-around-you story. There are
love stories; there are things that are going to make people uncomfortable; but, the show is about a lot of things that everyone deals with, so it’s essentially another person’s story being told on the stage which some will relate to.”
Did you know from your first performance with the American Idiot cast that it was going to become such a phenomenon? “I had a sneaking suspicion. We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response everywhere we’ve been. The audiences are amazing. It’s neat to see not just your typical Green Day fans, and not your typical Broadway musical season-ticket-holders either. This show brings both together and connects them in very different ways.”
What does it mean to you to be a part of this Broadway breakthrough? I noticed in the practice session footage on the show’s website, you seemed quite emotional while belting out harmonies in the song “21 Guns.” “I feel very privileged to be a part of something like this. It has been totally unique, working with the creative team that we have. It’s wonderful, because they don’t just want a cookie-cutter version of what they’ve had before. It gives us a chance to bring your own kind of vibe to it.”
So tell me about what your character the Extraordinary Girl represents in the musical.
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“I get to be a part of one of the most incredible parts of the show, which is the musical’s incorporation of the flying sequence. The character named Tully, who joins the military, goes into this morphineinduced dream, which I am a part of as his nurse.”
Who is Jesus of Suburbia? “He’s the narrator – a kid who inspires the other guys to find out what life means outside of their tiny, mundane community. He is Suburbia.”
Aside from the part you play, who is your favorite character in the show, and why? “It would have to be St. Jimmy – not just because he throws glitter throughout the whole show (although that’s great, too), but because he’s so everything. He’s this character that Johnny has made up who is a bad influence and an inspiration. He screams. He sings. He’s soulful and sensual. He inspires the best and worst in Johnny, a figment of his imagination, which gives the character so much freedom to just have fun.”
What is your favorite moment within the musical? “The song ‘Wake Me up When September Ends’ is beautifully arranged and the imagery is so simple, but it brings me to tears almost every single night. It hearkens upon 9/11, but can be interpreted as many things. What you see on stage is the main character coming to a turning point, while hitting rock bottom. As he starts playing the song, you see a projection of papers falling upward, and as it goes on, people come out and look out and are not sure what they’re looking at, but you can see them feeling something so deep. It’s heart wrenching for the characters to see this moment, and yet not being able to grasp what they’re seeing.”
Were you a fan of the album prior to joining the Broadway cast? “I didn’t own the album, but have always enjoyed Green Day’s music. All of my friends are fans of Green Day, and it’s cool to see them watch all of these songs brought to life in a different way than they ever expected they would be.”
What’s your favorite song on the American Idiot album? “Definitely ‘American Idiot,’ because it’s so full of energy and life, and it really says something. It’s nice to hear a song that’s pretty, but it speaks to the emotions of what people are feeling around the country. It’s raw and exciting and fun.”
Have you met Billie Joe, Mike or Tre? “No, but I have my fingers crossed that we will meet them. They’ve been busy working on their latest album, but I hope at some point they’ll come around and say ‘hey.’”
Maybe you’ll meet them at the LA show since they’re California natives. You’re a California native, too – are you looking forward to “coming home?” “There is a big build up for me in coming to LA, because we’ll have kitchens for the first time in months, and it will be just so heavenly. We’ve been staying in hotels, traveling from city to city. It will be nice to have a familiar pillow under my head in LA.”
Orange County fans will have an opportunity to see American Idiot in Costa Mesa at the Segerstrom Center beginning May 29th through June 3rd. What can they expect to see and feel? “Viewers will feel a lot of different things – the show is happy, sad and emotional. Some people even feel a little disconnected a bit, but it shows life and how people feel and how people react to what they face. It’s not a show for everyone, because there are a lot of “f-bombs” and middle fingers and sexual situations and drugs and loud music, but if you’re up for an adventure in theatre, it’s really something to behold. American Idiot is truly an amazing spectacle to see and hear and experience.”
American Idiot the Broadway Musical is currently touring the United States with shows scheduled in six cities, including two locations in Southern California: Los Angeles: Ahmanson Theatre | March 13, 2012 – April 22, 2012 Orange County: Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa | May 29, 2012 – June 3, 2012 Visit www.americanidiotthemusical.com for tickets, information about the show and concert-style merchandise.
photography by Antonio Pullano of lovin life multimedia
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Takes us for a spin around her favorite tracks
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