Where GuestBook Orange County 2011

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Welcome to orange county

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CONTENTS

O.C­.­essenCe PRETTy WILD

PHOTO ESSAy On the trail in the county’s wilderness parks, remote canyons and ecological reserves.

AT HOME IN O.C. Residential architects reinvent the California dream in the ultimate real-life studio.

PHOTOGRAPHy By PRISCILLA IEZZI

By ROGER GRODy

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THE GLEE FACTOR

MATTHEW MORRISON The star of the hit TV show Glee, an O.C. High School of the Arts alumnus, is his alma mater’s unofficial ambassador.

By GERALD HICKS

30 DREAM DESIGNERS

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THE GREENING OF GOLF

38 MADE IN THE O.C.

RAJ MANUFACTURING One of the last swimwear manufacturers in the U.S. offers a sunny economic outlook.

By JOSEPH LEMOyNE

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Q&A KATE LEVERING The actress, an ice queen on television’s Drop Dead Diva, plays a sweetheart in real life.

CONSCIENTIOUS COURSES Players and birds alike appreciate environmentally sensitive facilities.

By ANNABELLA ÅSVIK

By JOHN WEyLER

44 SLICE OF HEAVEN

SOPHISTICATED PIZZA An unparalleled collection of superb pizza venues, within 15 minutes of each other.

By BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

COVER: PRISCILLA IEZZI. OPENING SPREAD, THE SINKS, COURTESy O.C. PARKS

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4 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K

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O.C. essentialS 10 FIRST LOOK must-see DESTINATIONS County-defining attractions include beaches, museums and theme parks; visit at your leisure.

48 NEIGHBORHOODS

CITY GUIDE A dozen of the county’s most

noteworthy communities, from Anaheim to San Juan Capistrano.

52 SPENDING TIME SHOPPING

Profiles of the county’s major shopping destinations and select boutiques and galleries.

62 CHOW TIME DINING

A guide to the best restaurants, from gastropubs to molecular gastronomy.

80 PLAY TIME aTTRACTIONS Get out! What to do, what

to see: museums, performing arts, theme parks, golf courses, nightlife and tours.

88 Parting shot Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Previous spread FROM left: JOHN ELLIS, PRISCILLA IEZZI, PAUL SMITH. This page: left and right, priscilla iezzi; center, Kirill Popov

contents

6 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K

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where GUESTBOOK

ORANGE COUNTY On the Web: guestOC.com

publisher Jeff Levy EDITOR IN CHIEF Benjamin Epstein ART DIRECTOR Bree Berri ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Nicole Bordges MARKETING DIRECTOR Audrey Nimura ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Heidi Schwindt ASSOCIATE EDITOR Katie McCarthy production artist

Ryan Furuya

Contributing Art Director

Carol Wakano

contributing WRITERS

Annabella Åsvik, Roger Grody, Gerald Hicks, Joseph LeMoyne, John Weyler contributing photographers

John Cizmas, Idris Erba, Priscilla Iezzi, Bjarne Gravesen Jensen, Vladimir Perlovich, Kirill Popov, Edwin Santiago ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Heather Howard-Heintz, Scott O’Hanlon, Sara Kemp, Joanna McLean, Mali Mochow, Laura Napolitano, Laura Renner CIRCULATION MANAGER Leah Bigelow PRoduction manager Dawn Kiko Cheng WEB MANAGER Christina Xenos Administration

Leanne Killian, Beth Moline, Christine Noriega vice president of national sales

Rick Mollineaux 202.463.4550

MVP CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER Haines honorary president

Wilkerson

Ted Levy

125 E. baker st., suite 250 costa mesa, California 92626 Phone: 714.825.1700 Fax: 714.825.1710 EMAIL Advertising Nicole.Bordges@SoCalMedia.com Business JLevy@SoCalMedia.com Editorial Benjamin.Epstein@SoCalMedia.com Art Art@SoCalMedia.com Production Ads@SoCalMedia.com Circulation Leah.Bigelow@SoCalMedia.com Where GuestBook Orange County is published by Southern California Media Group under license from Morris Visitor Publications. Where GuestBook publishes editions for the following U.S. cities and regions: Amelia Island, Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Beverly Hills, the Big Island, Bonita Springs, Boston, Boulder, Cambridge, Captiva Island, Charlotte, Chicago, Clearwater, Colorado Springs, Dallas, Denver, Fort Myers, Fort Worth, Greater Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Kaua’i, Los Angeles, Marco Island, Maui, Memphis, Naples, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, O’ahu, Orange County, Orlando, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Ponte Vedra Beach, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, San Antonio, San Diego/La Jolla, San Francisco, Sanibel Island, Santa Barbara, Seattle/Eastside, South Florida, Tacoma, Tampa, Tucson, Wailea, Washington, D.C., and Winston-Salem/Greensboro/High Point.

Copyright© 2011 by Southern California Media Group. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility to any party for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any errors and omissions therein. By placing an order for an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.

Printed in the United States.

Circulation audited by Audit Bureau of Circulations.

A Maggie Award-WINNING publication Best consumer annual

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Beaches

Half a dozen beach cities along 42 miles of coastline offer an amazing array of Southern California surf, sand and sun experiences—from intimate craggy coves to wide, sandy expanses, some easily seen from the highway, others hidden behind cliffs, from Dana Point and San Clemente at the south end to Seal Beach in the north. Laguna Beach boasts more individual beaches than any city in the state; its Victoria Beach has a tower fit for Rapunzel, and accessing Thousand Steps Beach offers as much exercise as a StairMaster. Huntington State Beach hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing. The Wedge in Newport Beach is a bodysurfing mecca known the world over; explore tide pools at photogenic Little Corona Beach in Corona del Mar.

firstlook THE COUNTY’S TOP MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS: BEACHES, THEME PARKS, MUSEUMS, PERFORMING ARTS ... VISIT AT YOUR LEISURE.

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Segerstrom Center for the Arts This season, the 25th, may be the center’s most ambitious yet, but that’s often been true. In recent years, it presented Southern California’s first complete Wagner Ring cycle and forged an unprecedented festival relationship with Carnegie Hall.

Segerstrom Hall, the center’s largest venue, offers Broadway musicals, such as, aptly enough, the 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables, as well as performances by such dance companies as the American Ballet Theatre. Cesar Pelli’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is home to the Pacific Symphony, the Pacific Chorale and national and international touring orchestras presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. More intimate presentations take place in Founders Hall and Samueli Theater. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa,

Bowers Museum Blockbuster exhibitions at the Bowers—such as this year’s Warriors, Tombs and Temples: China’s Enduring Legacy, mounted with seven leading Chinese institutions—have been developed with venerated venues around the world, such as the Shanghai and British museums. The county’s largest museum is also its most diverse. More than 130,000 artifacts and works of art make up its collections of Native American art, pre-Columbian art, Asian art, art of the Pacific, art of Africa and Orange County history. On permanent display are Visions of the Shaman, Songs of the Priest and Masters of Adornment: The Miao People of China. The world’s indigenous peoples, and cultural art, remain the focus, yet many consider the California-themed exhibitions to be the highlight. The Bowers Kidseum is nearby. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.567.3600, bowers.org

pREviOUS SpREad and lEfT, EdWin SanTiaGO. TOp and OppOSiTE, KiRill pOpOv

714.556.2787, ocpac.org

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Mission San Juan Capistrano

Take any of a number of tours, including audio tours downloadable to your iPhone. View museum exhibits. Listen to the mission bells. The jewel of the California missions, the birthplace of Orange County, was founded by Spanish padres in 1776, the seventh of the state’s 21 missions. The Great Stone Church was begun in 1796, completed in 1806 and destroyed by an earthquake in 1812. The Serra Chapel is the oldest church in California. You can visit all of those sites, as well as the padres’ quarters, soldiers’ barracks and cemetery, and wander about 10 acres of lush gardens and fountains. A few descendants of the indigenous Juaneño tribe work at the mission. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, missionsjc.com

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Disney Resort Disneyland, Walt Disney once said, “will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” What Disney might not have imagined is that his words would apply equally well to adjacent Disney’s California Adventure and Downtown Disney. The World of Color attraction at California Adventure, unveiled in 2010, is the world’s most spectacular light and water show, and Cars Land debuts in summer 2012. Highlights at Downtown Disney, a shopping, dining and entertainment esplanade, include House of Blues, Ridemakerz for radio-controlled-car buffs and Sanuk for sandals. At Disneyland, Star Tours and Fantasmic! are updated, Michael Jackson’s Captain EO is back, and the fireworks show is forever better than ever. 1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565, disneyland.com

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Crystal Cathedral It will take a miracle to keep one of the world’s most spectacular religious edifices— a trinity of architectural treasures that offer a contemporary counterpoint to such landmarks as the Hagia Sophia and Notre Dame—from new ownership; the Roman Catholic Diocese and Chapman University in Orange are among those that have made credible bids on the financially troubled property. In any event, the buildings won’t change. Philip Johnson designed the main sanctuary using 10,000 panes of glass supported by a steel lattice; its five-manual pipe organ, with its 16,000 pipes, is one of the country’s largest. The megachurch also boasts Richard Neutra’s Tower of Hope and Richard Meier’s International Center for Positive Thinking. The Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his wife, Arvella, founded their ministry in a drive-in movie theater in 1955; he retired as senior pastor in 2006. It was renowned for the Hour of Power, broadcast internationally from the cathedral. 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove, 714.971.4013, crystalcathedral.org

Galleries OppOSiTE, idRiS ERBa. TOp, KiRill pOpOv. BOTTOm, EdWin SanTiaGO

Traditional art, contemporary art, California impressionism, wildlife, photography, sculpture, Native American pottery—the renowned galleries of Laguna Beach run the gamut. Highly recommended stops include Marion Meyer Contemporary Art and Peter Blake Gallery for new works, Dawson Cole Fine Art for sculpture, and Wyland Galleries for marine art.

The seaside town, an arts haven since its inception, has been attracting artists and collectors since the late 19th century. In 1918, artist Edgar Payne opened a gallery that would ultimately become the Laguna Art Museum.

California impressionism was the pre-eminent genre, but today, stylistic diversity rules, and the contemporary art gets edgier all the time. Most Laguna galleries participate in the monthly First Thursdays Art Walk.

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ExpEriEncE World-class shopping, dining and pErforming arts,

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pretty wild Draws include wildflowers, bird-watching and dramatic vistas. Dangers include mountain lions and rattlesnakes. The remoteness of some trails in the county’s parks and wilderness parks can be both draw and danger. The accessibility of others—you enter Crystal Cove State Park and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve from Coast Highway—hardly precludes solitude. Destinations include Caspers Wilderness Park, the largest; Irvine Ranch Open Space, accessed during scheduled programs; and Cleveland National Forest, with trails in the vicinity of Santiago and Modjeska peaks. Surprises and beauty await at every turn.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PRISCILLA IEZZI

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THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: BIRD-WATCHING MECCA BOLSA CHICA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE IN HUNTINGTON BEACH

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THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: black star canyon, A remote area in the Santa Ana Mountains, is said to be haunted; the 19th-century murders and massacres that inspired the stories are fact.

For hikers and mountain bikers, the haunting beauty of its flowers trumps local legend.

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OF WEBS AND WATERY VISTAS. TOP LEFT AND OPPOSITE, BOLSA CHICA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE; ABOVE, DENIZEN OF HOLY JIM TRAIL, IN THE SHADOW OF SANTIAGO PEAK; LEFT, OFF THE BEATEN PATH AT LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK.

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THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: HOLY JIM TRAIL, in the santa ana mountains NEAR TRABUCO CANYON. THE APPROACH INCLUDES nearly five MILES OF very ROUGH ROAD; a one-mile hike ALONG A stream leads to intimate HOLY JIM FALLS.

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the

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Glee Factor

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alUMNUS MaTTHEW MORRiSON iS UNOFFicial aMBaSSadOR FOR O.c. HiGH ScHOOl OF THE aRTS

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n the foyer of the main tower at Orange County High School of the Arts in downtown Santa Ana, black and white photos depict a dozen graduates who went on to great success. But one high-school senior in particular draws student attention: a young man with wavy hair, a sly grin, and sideburns a bit longer than he has now.

That would be Matthew Morrison, class of ’97, from the public charter school’s musical theater conservatory.

His credits include Broadway, a singing tour and movie roles. But Morrison’s meteoric rise to stardom began two years ago, when he became Will Schuester on Fox TV’s hit show Glee.

At the school—usually referred to as OCHSA, pronounced OH-shuh—officials now gush about a new, unofficial role for Morrison: He has become its primary ambassador.

“He’s the first alum to become a household name,” says Shelly Clark, a senior who, along with her friends, is a devoted Glee fan. “His success is inspirational to the rest of us. He’s also made the public aware that our school has been an important steppingstone in his life.”

In fact, school administrators cite Morrison and Glee’s popularity as a major reason for its recent growth spurt.

OCHSA became a public arts school in 1987, a school born within a school at Los Alamitos High, at the county’s north end. It remained there for 13 years, with a 450-student capacity and no room to grow. When it moved to its present location on Main Street in Santa

By GERald HicKS Ana in 2000, enrollment immediately shot up to 900.

This school year, it reached a record 1,700 students.

Despite the fact that students attend one of a dozen arts conservatories in addition to regular classes, it ranks in the county’s top five schools academically.

There’s also been a financial boom. It’s gone from raising $750,000 annually early on to $5 million a year.

Ralph Opacic, founder and president of OCHSA, cites three reasons for those impressive numbers:  Other public schools, because of major budget woes in these tough times, have had to decrease their arts programs, making OCHSA all the more attractive to parents of students gifted in the arts. Those parents appreciate the combination of arts and academics.  With private-school costs growing relentlessly, OCHSA offers an attractive alternative. “Some parents say it’s like getting a private-school education at a public school,” Opacic says.  The Glee factor.

No question, Opacic says, Morrison’s promotion of OCHSA since his success has brought the school an astonishing amount of national attention. “Matt has been very generous to involve the school when he talks with the media about his success,” he says.

But Morrison doesn’t just talk about his alma mater.

He shows up. Often.

Morrison returned in spring 2011, for instance, to host—and perform at—the school’s annual fundraising

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MATTHEW MORRISON PERFORMS AT THE ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ART’S 2011 GALA, CHAIRED BY MORRISON, AT THE HYATT REGENCY IRVINE.

gala. He also auctioned off visits to the Glee set, two spots at $25,000 each, an unexpected and generous bonus to the school’s budget. He also comes back to visit students and donates his own money.

But Morrison, 33, has his own reasons for helping his old school: He credits it with making his career possible.

Morrison attended OCHSA at its Los Alamitos campus and loved it. “It was the first time I was thrown into that world, taking acting classes and training my voice properly ... and dance classes,” he recalls in a 2011 video for bing.com. “I’d never really danced before.”

Morrison was a quick learner. When fellow OCHSA alum Susan Egan returned for a benefit performance following her Broadway success as the original Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Morrison was among those students who got a chance to perform with her.

Recalls Opacic, “She walked off the stage and told us, ‘That young man will be your next Broadway star.’”

Many of Morrison’s teachers agreed. “He was the triple threat,” Opacic says. “He could sing, dance and act. He just had that charisma, that natural charm about him.”

It was Morrison himself who took some convincing.

OCHSA offered no competitive sports at that time, and after his junior year, he wanted to transfer to his regular high school so he could play soccer. Opacic talked him out of it. And upon leaving OCHSA, Morrison considered pursuing medical school instead of an arts career.

Opacic and Morrison’s friends had to redirect him again.

“Dr. Opacic sat me down and made it real clear to me that I had something special and that I should continue on with the arts,” Morrison says in the bing.com video.

“He really gave me the confidence to continue on my journey.”

Morrison and his fellow OCHSA students performed in musicals such as Bye Bye Birdie and The Sound of Music. But Morrison recently told the OCHSA newspaper, Evolution, that one of the things he loved about the school was that students could perform in edgier works, such as Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins.

A girlfriend at OCHSA persuaded Morrison to apply to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. While still a student there, he won minor roles on Broadway.

But in 2002, after leaving school, he got his big break, as the original Link Larkin in Hairspray, followed by his lead role in The Light in the Piazza, for which he earned a Tony nomination, and TV work, including a two-year soap opera gig.

The Glee offer came in 2009.

Morrison returned to OCHSA during his Broadway years to visit with students. One of those students was Jackson Tobiska, who now teaches at OCHSA. He and the staff were delighted when Morrison made an unannounced visit to the school in 2010 with cameras from cambio.com. The students listened intently when he told them: “What I have learned is that acting is reacting.”

He also made to the school a surprise personal donation of $15,000, saying, “This school just keeps on growing and becoming more and more amazing.”

Indeed, OCHSA, which offers curricula for grades seven to 12, has changed dramatically since Morrison attended. The move to Santa Ana was to a seven-story office building, a church and a “tech” building. The next year, it added the 40,000-square-foot annex.

OCHSA recently purchased a splendid venue, the OC Pavilion, less than a block away. Most of the school’s performances will now take place in what has been renamed the Margaret A. Webb Theatre. (Webb and her husband, Lewis, made the original donation to help start the school, then made another large donation when it

PHOTOS THIS SPREAD COURTESY O.C. HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

MATTHEW MORRISON TOLD CAMBIO THAT ONE OF HIS JOYS IS WORKING WITH THE OCHSA STUDENTS: “I JUST TELL THE KIDS, ‘I WAS YOU.’ ”

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CLOCKWISE FROM aBOvE: MaTTHEW MORRISON WORKS WITH STUDENTS DURING a SURPRISE vISIT TO THE ORaNGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL OF THE aRTS; SCIENCE TEaCHER JON SPREKELMEYER WITH ONE OF HIS aRTSMINDED CHaRGES; OCHSa STUDENTS PERFORM aT THE SCHOOL’S 2011 GaLa.

moved to Santa Ana.) Administrative offices are on the top floor; the basement can be used for cabaret theater.

Expansions allow for more programs. The school has added commercial music to its Broadway, classical music and jazz offerings. Opacic is also excited about a new culinary arts program for 60 to 80 students. And the school plans to offer a digital-media program.

Administrators also plan a major landscaping project—billed as “a masterpiece in the making”—with a border and overhead walkways to connect some of the buildings and give OCHSA more of a campus feel.

Morrison was given a tour and highly approved.

His other visits had been before he was a huge Glee star. Notes Tobiska: “Who would have thought that 10 years later, he’s back here, taking his time, sharing with kids just like he did when I was a student.”

The 2011 gala attracted a record 680 guests. Morrison performed with OCHSA students, just as he and his classmates had performed with Egan in the 1990s, and he promised to return for the next gala.

But there’s more. Morrison spent much of last summer touring as the opening musical act for the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block. It remains to be seen if it will pan out, but rumor has it he’s trying to make arrangements for a benefit performance at OCHSA. Morrison told Cambio that one of his joys is working with the students: “I just tell the kids, ‘I was you.’ ” He

finds it humbling that the school sees his success as a plus for its potential growth. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to give back,” he said. “The foundation and fundamentals I learned at this school were just invaluable. Not every kid is good with math and science; they think with the other side of their brain. To be immersed in that, and to figure out, ‘oh, I am good at this’—it’s priceless.”

His first moment after arriving at OCHSA last summer, he gave Opacic a huge hug. He later told him that on Glee, he was basically just playing Opacic. “So, thank you for honing that character,” he said, smiling.

Clark, managing editor of the school’s Evolution staff, believes that Morrison makes it easier for people to understand what OCHSA is all about: “As an art-school student, I often had to explain to outsiders what it was and why someone would want to be in an environment like that. Since Glee became so big, people seem more open.... I think much of this acceptance is because of the things that Matthew Morrison has said and done to display the importance of OCHSA, and art as a whole, in the lives of kids.”

Which may be why students love pointing out to visitors his high school picture in the foyer.

Opacic believes Morrison’s ambassador role isn’t important just for OCHSA’s growth; it also means something very special to the individual students, he says. “It makes it seem for them like Broadway is not so far away.”

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I GNERS

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Southern California has its share of ostentatious homes, proving that money can’t buy good taste. High-end residential architects are often viewed as little more than hired guns for temperamental celebrities, professional athletes and real-estate moguls creating monuments to themselves. But Orange County’s finest designers demonstrate that extravagance can be accommodated with a genuine respect for both art and environment. BY JOSEPH L E MOYNE

WITH ITS RUGGED HILLSIDES and sweeping vistas of sea and mountains, Orange County is the ultimate real-life studio for residential architects reinventing the California Dream, blending resort and home on one of the most dramatic urban coastlines in the world. Because it represents such an alluring canvas, the county has attracted some of the nation’s finest architectural talent, eager to leave an imprint on its luxury real-estate market.

Like Los Angeles to the north, Orange County has a rich history in residential architecture, evidenced by the likes of Rudolph Schindler’s Lovell Beach House in Newport Beach and John Lautner’s Rawlins House on Balboa Island. The influence of these modernist giants established early on the credibility of clean-lined, glassensconced living environments. Today, many distinct styles coexist in one of the most impressive inventories of luxury homes in the nation.

Southern California has earned international recognition as a center of world-class residential architecture and of those working to preserve its landmarks.

Promising reports from the field suggest that clients, while no less demanding than in previous years, increasingly defer to their architects for artistic, and not just technical, solutions. Here we meet four celebrated home designers whose portfolios keep Orange County in the architectural spotlight.

MARK SINGER // PROCESSIONS

THROUGH MODERNISM

A native New Yorker who has practiced in Orange County for more than 30 years, Mark Singer has been profoundly influenced by modernist masters such as Lautner, Richard Neutra and Louis Kahn, resulting in a contemporary approach that he maintains is exceptionally well suited to the local environment.

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tery. He achieves that through the strategic positioning of compelling design elements, such as a water feature anchoring an entryway, or a source of light propelling you into an alcove.

In the tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright, Singer is a proponent of using materials native to the site, despite the current ease with which one can import exotic woods or stones from halfway around the globe. “I also favor juxtaposing softer materials with harder ones, like a rich wood paired with concrete,” says Singer, an accomplished woodworker and furniture craftsman.

The architect’s own Laguna Beach home is an excellent example of this philosophy, and its use of light helps to promote his procession-driven approach.

Underlying Singer’s modernist tendencies is a core philosophy of designing homes for the way people live today, eschewing formality and pretension. His consciousness of contemporary living has resulted, for instance, in kitchen designs that recognize the space as a center of both activity and creativity.

Although Singer has won more than two dozen prestigious awards for home design in Orange County, clients interested in ostentatious Tudor-style mega-mansions may not be drawn to his sophisticated brand of modernism. Many homes along the Newport coast imply a formality incongruent with their context, Singer insists.

“Contemporary architecture suits the relaxed Orange County coastal lifestyle most of us enjoy,” he says. “It seems correct for this time and very special place.”

PREVIOUS SPREAD, the thornton house, and above, the singer residence, both by mark singer, in laguna beach opposite: loggia at the m c sunas residence in irvine, by robert hidey

“Contemporary architecture is particularly siteresponsive, without the constraints of adhering to a traditional style,” says the Laguna Beach-based architect, noting how the integration of large expanses of glass captures spectacular ocean vistas. In contrast, some transplanted architectural styles do not allow that flexibility; architects who deviate from established precepts risk compromising the original architectural intent.

Through his orientation of the house on its site, Singer can enhance the natural environment while minimizing the impact of neighbors. “We like to edit out the neighbors,” he says, “so that you see the nature around you,” which here includes migrating dolphins and whales.

In addition to providing a balance of light within a home, Singer focuses on creating a rewarding procession through the structure, like the unfolding of a mys-

With Orange County’s enviable Mediterranean climate, creating an indoor-outdoor living experience is a priority for most local architects. But to Irvine-based Robert Hidey, whose Mediterranean-style estates line the Gold Coast, it is a core concept. “Our houses should feel like resorts—we live in a resort-like setting,” says Hidey, whose expertise is supported by his design work in Newport Coast’s lavish Resort at Pelican Hill.

One of Hidey’s strengths is his ability to carve outdoor spaces from virtually any environment, using the sun to create spatial illusions of either expansiveness or intimacy. He succeeds in making small rooms feel larger and provides unexpected outdoor spaces adjoining private sanctuaries such as master bedrooms or baths.

Years ago, cost-conscious developers wouldn’t go along with Hidey’s recommendations for full-scale outdoor rooms—it was hard to monetize that exterior square footage in real-estate listings—but they’ve seen

OPENING SPREAD, JERI KOEGEL. this page, john ellis

Robert Hidey// Living Outdoors

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aBOvE: NicOlaS caGE’S fORmER RESidENcE iN BaYSHORES, NEWPORT BEacH, BY cHRiSTiaN liGHT OPPOSiTE: THE SOaR HOUSE iN cORONa dEl maR, BY BRiON JEaNNETTE

the light. “These days, you have to provide large outdoor covered spaces that can be fully furnished or you can’t compete,” he says. “It’s almost as essential as a three-car garage.”

To Hidey, the concept of outdoor living spaces is merely an extension of the courtyard-centric architecture the Spaniards introduced when they arrived in California.

The same contextual conditions they found here in the 1700s—for that matter, the same conditions encountered in the Mediterranean throughout history—exist here today, Hidey notes. His designs for the SeaCrest estate homes at Crystal Cove, in idyllic Newport Coast, are loaded with outdoor living spaces large and small.

Although the outdoor room is suddenly ubiquitous— bubbly HGTV hosts encourage every suburban homeowner to give greater definition to the outdoors—Hidey does not believe in doing it without careful consideration.

He is adamant about creating outdoor spaces with a scale and dimension consistent with the house as a whole and insists on a covering—with a structural form or simply a canopy of trees—to accentuate the sensations of privacy and protection. Hidey also suggests these

outdoor rooms be enlivened with fountains, fireplaces or ornamental gardens. Each outdoor space he designs makes sense functionally and aesthetically, never applied as an afterthought or token design gesture.

cHRiSTiaN liGHT//

SHaRiNG THE viSiON Southern California native Christian Light has emerged as one of the Gold Coast’s premier residential architects, best known for a modernism infused with classical notes and for homes whose voluptuous curves and glass walls take full advantage of ocean vistas.

Light bemoans the fact that some contemporary residences look more like dentist offices than homes. “My projects are less edgy and represent a warmer contemporary style, which is more resort-like,” he notes. Light’s work is not defined by a specific architectural style or design element but by his general approach to residential architecture, the most personal of specialties.

At his Newport Beach office, Light establishes a client relationship that is rare in the ego-driven world of architecture. “My practice revolves around listening to a

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client’s needs and preferences,” he explains. He believes a designer should be willing to collaborate with the future inhabitants to arrive at a vision for the house, resisting temptation to dictate his own concepts.

If a client insists on a traditional style, whether Cape Cod, Craftsman or Georgian, Light will generally execute the exterior with historical accuracy but will also abstract and contemporize the interior with open floor plans that suit a 21st-century lifestyle.

Most architects engage in prolific sketching of design vignettes; Light supplements that technique with extensive notes to arrive at a consensus with the client. “It’s important to define in words what will become the concept for the project,” he maintains.

Most of Light’s houses are coastal properties, which demand materials able to withstand the elements of the sea. Although only about half of his residential commissions are contemporary, he believes that is the style best suited for coastal sites, as it maximizes view opportunities and lends itself to indoor-outdoor living.

“During the last 20 years, I’ve perfected a logical transition from indoors to out,” says Light, resulting in quality outdoor spaces that can be furnished with wide-screen televisions and plush furniture. “The Italians invented it with their loggias. My outdoor spaces tend to be more wide open, unencumbered by vertical supports.”

The Newport Harbor home previously owned by Nicolas Cage provides an example of Light’s ability to introduce outdoor living into a contemporary context. A modern house with lines rooted in classical traditions, it sold for $35 million in 2008, an O.C. record at the time.

BRIOn JEAnnETTE //

ERIc fIGGE

SEnSITIZInG EXTRAVAGAncE Newport Beach-based Brion Jeannette is best known for his contemporary coastal residences but doesn’t flinch when a client insists on plunking down a Tuscan villa on the Pacific Coast. “We quite enjoy it and always find a way to merge the environmental issues with the needs of the client,” says Jeannette, whose villas and châteaus tend to be true to their respective heritages.

The gracious designer takes pleasure in finding innovative strategies for environmental issues such as water management and energy conservation. That’s the case for every project, even if the client is preoccupied with other issues. What sets Jeannette apart is his genuine respect for the site and the organic solutions he brings to it.

Among the architects whose work he most admires are Frank Lloyd Wright, Antoni Gaudí and John Lautner, all

of whom exhibited a keen sensitivity to the environment and nurtured a project long before the first shovel of earth was turned. “I sit down at a site and let it talk to me,” explains Jeannette. “Each property has something to say about how to protect it and how to work with it.”

For his 1996 Rock House in Laguna Beach, he arrived at a successful resolution for a perplexing site—essentially a massive outcropping of San Onofre breccia—that five other architects had failed to achieve. Instead of chopping off the top of the rock to create a buildable site, Jeannette burrowed it out to accommodate much of the home’s interior living space. The result is an extremely energy-efficient design whose steel-and-glass skin with retractable sectional doors creates a barely visible transition from home to beach for the owners while preserving views of the original topography for the public.

Elements of the nautically inspired Rock House can also be seen in two homes by Jeannette in Corona del Mar, the Soar House and the Portabello Estate, a 30,000-square-foot home perched on a bluff.

Vaguely reminiscent of Eero Saarinen’s TWA terminal at New York’s JFK Airport, Portabello combines graceful organic forms with Jetsonesque futurism. Inside, it’s packed with every amenity imaginable, including a re-creation of Main Street from the client’s hometown, bowling alley, jewelry store and retro movie palace.

But more impressive than all the bells and whistles is the architect’s aesthetic sensitivity. “The driving force was the site, with its 200 feet of oceanfront,” says Jeannette. “Melding it into the ground was critical.…

The curved rooflines and glass walls [which mirror waves] keep it part of the ocean, yet protected.”

Because of a restrictive 14-foot height limit, the challenges were immense. Portabello’s three levels were folded into the bluff, so from the curb, the mega-mansion, once priced at $75 million, appears quite unobtrusive.

Even modest.

 fEATURED ARcHITEcTS ROBERT HIDEy ROBERT HIDEy ARcHITEcTS, 7585 IRVInE cEnTER DRIVE, SUITE 200, IRVInE, 949.655.1550, ROBERTHIDEy.cOm BRIOn JEAnnETTE cUSTOm ARcHITEcTURE, 470 OlD nEWPORT BlVD., nEWPORT BEAcH, 949.645.5854, cUSTOmARcHITEcTURE.cOm cHRISTIAn lIGHT cJ lIGHT ASSOcIATES, 1401 QUAIl ST., SUITE 120, nEWPORT BEAcH, 949.851.8345, cJlIGHT.cOm mARK SInGER mARK SInGER ARcHITEcTS Inc., 1100 BAlBOA AVE., lAGUnA BEAcH, 949.499.6244, mARKSInGERARcHITEcTS.cOm

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The first golf courses were created by nature. Man was limited to discovery, not design. As the game developed, however, course designers severed the umbilical cord with Mother Nature and soon developed a well-deserved bad rap with environmentalists.

Fifty years ago, says Arthur Hills, who designed Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, “we weren’t even aware of what might happen to the environment.” No site seemed too pristine to bulldoze.

Conservationists might feel that “environmentally friendly golf course” is an oxymoron, yet some general managers are as concerned with their clubs' green image as they are with their putting greens.

This sensitivity to ecological impact, and a sand trap full of laws and regulations, means building a new course now requires more than just a developer, architect and building contractor—maybe an archaeologist, biologist, botanist, coastal research manager and woodland and wildlife consultant.

But what can an established golf course do?

The first giant step, says Hale Kelly, golf director at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, is to seek Cooperative Sanctuary Program certification

by Audubon International. The process—environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical-use reduction and water-quality management—can take years. But Kelly says the certification “answers every question” about a course’s commitment to the ecology … and can make a nice addition to the clubhouse wall.

Tustin Ranch Golf Club in Tustin irrigates entirely with reclaimed water. At Irvine’s Shady Canyon Golf Club, a 300-acre private course in the ecologically sensitive San Joaquin Hills, only 80 acres are devoted to greens and fairways. The threatened California gnatcatcher is thriving on 77 acres of restored coastal sage scrub at Black Gold.

And Strawberry Farms Golf Course, set amid canyons and wetlands in Irvine, has narrow fairways paralleled by environmentally sensitive tall

underbrush areas that are clearly marked and treated as lateral hazards to keep golfers out.

“For 15 years, we’ve employed a biologist consultant—an ornithologist—who monitors the progress of mating pairs of endangered species of birds which thrive in those areas,” says Strawberry Farms general manager Rick Howard.

The U.S. Golf Assn. has spent some $25 million on studies of computerized irrigation systems that save water; weed-resistant grasses that reduce chemical use; courses’ effects on migratory birds; and ways to control insect populations by disrupting mating patterns rather than by using pesticides.

Fifty acres of manicured rough at Oak Creek Golf Club have been cut in half; unmaintained, the area is ideal for the western bluebird. “There are 36 nesting boxes around the course,” says golf director Eric Lohman, “and 76 percent were occupied the last time we checked, with the potential to produce more than 70 chicks this season alone.”

The course is also home to bobcats, coyotes, rabbits, hawks, owls and a variety of waterfowl.

Helping the ecology has its rewards—who doesn’t like baby birds? But is reclaiming water money down the drain?

“Customers select golf courses based on reputation, location, value and experience,” Lohman says. “They recognize and appreciate our efforts."

Tom Fazio designed Oak Creek and both ocean courses at Newport Coast’s Pelican Hill Golf Club, deemed one of the world’s top 25 golf resorts by Condé Nast Traveler readers. He has more courses on Golf Digest’s list of the 100 best courses in the U.S. than any other living golf course architect.

Fazio believes the recent emphasis on protecting the environment has been a boon for golf, as well as for the self-esteem of those in the industry.

“People feel good if they are part of ... protecting and enhancing the environment,” Fazio says.

“Creating open space and taking care of the land is part of golf.”

If it wasn’t always that way, it certainly seems to be now.

The GreeninG of Golf players and birds alike appreciate the new environmentally sensitive golf courses. by John weyler

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OCEAN NORTH COURSE, 17TH HOLE, AT PELICAN HILL GOLF CLUB

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made in the o.c.

BY JOSEPH L E MOYNE

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY PRISCILLA IEZZI

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One of the last remaining swimwear manufacturers in the U.S.—source of suits for Guess, St. John, Hurley, Ella Moss, Tommy Hilfiger and Splendid— is in Orange County. Raj Manufacturing offers a sunny economic outlook. where guestbook

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previous spread: stacks of fabric line the perimeter of the cutting room; most of the 400 employees are involved with high-tech cutting and embroidering. top: Lisa vogel, co-president of raj manufacturng and designer behind the swim line luxe by lisa vogel.

ABOVE and opposite: logos are attached at one station, signature guess nail heads are attached at another; on a busy day, raj turns out more than 8,000 garments.

S wimsuit manufacturing has long been centered in Orange County, whose surfside communities are part of Southern California beach lore, liberally referenced in Beach Boys lyrics. But while many of its competitors have outsourced production overseas, Raj Manufacturing in Tustin has double-downed on the county. With its products gracing the pages of Business Week, Marie Claire and Sports Illustrated, Raj has earned its place in the sand.

“Nothing is made in America anymore” is a common phrase echoed from the mouths of politicians railing against free-trade agreements and unemployed factory workers seeing their jobs shipped overseas. There is, in fact, plenty made in America, but very little of it is women’s apparel. So the story of Raj Manufacturing is particularly heartening: The company continues to be a market leader while creating jobs in Orange County.

The company was founded more than 40 years ago

by Raj Bhathal and his wife, Marta, who officially retired in 2006. The couple’s children, Alex Bhathal and Lisa Vogel, now oversee the business as co-presidents, although their parents keep a hands-on approach in their retirement. Alex explains that his parents were initially drawn to beachwear because it was a seasonal business that allowed time for family and travel in the off-season.

“Oh, how times have changed!” says Alex, who now faces an industry bombarded by global trends and a frenzied fashion media even in the dead of winter.

The Raj factory and company headquarters occupy 140,000 square feet in an industrial park in Tustin. In the reception area, an American flag shares wall space with glamour shots of swimsuit models, including Paris Hilton in a gold lamé bikini by Guess by Marciano, one of Raj’s high-profile design-house clients. The headquarters are reminiscent of an advertising firm: Casually dressed executives and designers occupy offices or cubicles; conference room walls are plastered with concept boards.

In the building next door, high-tech cutting and embroidering machines keep most of the 400 Raj employees busy. “We’ve been very fortunate to have grown the business during these tough times and have not had any staff reductions,” Alex reports.

Since she was a young girl, sister Lisa has been happily testing out the family’s fashionable products on beaches all over the world; she appeared as a model in the company’s ad campaigns. Now armed with a degree from USC, she has become a major player in the industry, as well as one of its hottest designers, with her Luxe by Lisa Vogel, a line of beachwear that combines sexiness and practicality for women who don’t model lingerie for a living.

According to Alex, Orange County remains the center of the swimwear world, an incubator for emerging designers and boutique manufacturers. “Many companies have outsourced production to Asia, but the largest swim and surfwear companies are still headquartered in the O.C.,” he notes.

Raj manufactures swimwear for iconic lines such as Ella Moss, Splendid, Guess, Hurley, St. John, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica and Reef. The company also has three house brands: Athena, an athletic line called Next by Athena, and Luxe by Lisa Vogel. “We’ve been able to build the industry’s best brand portfolio,” says Alex.

Raj proves that local manufacturers can outperform competitors taking advantage of inexpensive labor in Asia or Latin America. “When faced with cost advantages in foreign countries, they have chosen to move production to cheaper markets,” says Alex. Raj, meanwhile, focuses on owning the supply chain—“vertical production,” as it’s referred to in biz school: “We have advantages vis-à-vis inventory control and short lead times that keep our domestic model competitive,” he explains.

Raj’s licensing agreements with its major-brand customers don’t simply require the mass-producing of suits to predetermined specifications. After communicating a general vision for the season, these major apparel companies entrust Raj to create the actual swimwear designs.

Handling so many distinct brands demands remarkable versatility from Raj designers.

Guess products, for instance, are targeted at the sexy girl who knows she’s got it and loves to flaunt it, while St. John—aimed at the facetiously named “missy” demographic—attracts a more mature, refined shopper willing to pay upward of $800 for a garment. (An industry insider once joked, “The only water touching a St. John customer comes from her pool boy’s spritzer bottle.”) Ella Moss is geared toward the flirty, free-spirited “butterfly girl,” who peruses fashion magazines and exhibits a personality that blends bohemian with chic.

After the initial meeting with the client, Raj designers create an “inspiration board” that captures the spirit of their customer’s brand and vision for the season but is devoid of actual swimwear images. Designers then develop swimsuit concepts with computer-aided design software, pairing pieces with prospective colors and patterns.

The classic bikini may not have changed that much— after 60 years, it’s still essentially a series of triangles—but Raj designers reinvent it a hundred times every season in Tustin. Once a concept has been approved by the client, prototypes are produced, and models arrive for fittings.

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A design given the green light at SwimShow Miami, the annual confab of swimwear designers held every July, is on shelves at Neiman Marcus the following spring.

The manufacturing facility at Raj consists of two massive spaces. The first is a cutting room where a computerized, laser-guided cutter the size of a truck slices through 50 layers of fabric at once. The perimeter of the room is stacked with rolls of fabric reflecting the hottest colors for the coming season—neon greens, hot pinks and leopard prints that would get anybody noticed on a beach.

After cutting, components are transported to another cavernous space, where a sea of seamstresses meticulously assembles scant pieces of nylon or spandex. Logos are embroidered at one station, the signature Guess nail heads are attached at another. On a busy day, Raj turns out more than 8,000 garments.

The ability to deliver inventory in a timely manner is critical. Because SoCal remains the heart and soul of the beach world—despite competition from such locales as Ibiza, Saint Barts and Ipanema—Raj has a distinct advantage over manufacturers in Shanghai or Jakarta trying to satisfy demanding customers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. And while it may go unappreciated by teenage girls catching rays in Newport Beach, there’s something very poetic about slipping on a bikini made just a few miles away.

In addition to her success as a manufacturer, Lisa Vogel is making a name for herself as a designer. Her Luxe by Lisa Vogel line debuted in 2009, and it’s rapidly growing. The look was inspired by her own evolution from beach babe to business exec and mom—one who still wants to feel glamorous. “As a mother of two, I found that the itsy-bitsy bikinis I used to love were no longer providing the fit and look I aimed to achieve,” she says. Luxe keeps their contemporary look but adds a sophisticated fit that better suits most women’s bodies.

Raj-manufactured products regularly appear in major magazines and television shows, and celebrities including Scarlett Johansson and Gisele Bündchen are among the company’s A-list clientele. “Having celebrity clients is an essential part of any brand, as celebs and media coverage direct trends…. It also helps with word-of-mouth, which drives sales of any brand,” says Lisa, noting that trends in the industry are as fluid as the water appearing in the background of a swimwear fashion shot.

The challenge for designers at Raj Manufacturing is to keep ahead of those trends for both their customers and house brands. For 2013 and beyond, you can bet their swimwear will be hot—and made in the O.C.

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Q&A

On Location

An ice queen on TV’s Drop Dead Diva, and a parent-in-crisis in the indie film Like Dandelion Dust, Kate Levering plays a sweetheart in real life. BY ANNABELLA ÅSVIK to look the part, which could be anything from a mom to an athlete.

And the castings are all over the city. On one toothpaste audition, they asked me to take my makeup off and make my hair soaking wet.

I had just spent an hour and a half making myself pretty, had driven 45 minutes in traffic and was hauling a rolling suitcase with outfits for all my other auditions for that day! I walked out of the door and never auditioned for commercials again.

You grew up in California but got your big break in New York.

[My fiancé] owns a company in Newport Beach. When I booked the role of Kim Kaswell, he opened a branch in Atlanta so he could visit me. He also took me on amazing dates in Newport Beach.

I had acted in plays at a theater company in Sacramento since I was 13. At 18, I wanted to try my luck on Broadway. I felt I had a leg up because of my experience and was fearless! That attitude helped me book my first audition, a national tour for the musical Chicago. But after eight years in New York and six back-to-back Broadway shows, I felt ready to come back home and focus on film and TV. I’d also fallen for a man from Newport Beach.

You shoot Drop Dead Diva in Atlanta half the year. But your relationship stays rock-solid.

During your hiatus, you no longer go back to Hollywood.

We’re planning to get married soon.

I love living in Newport Beach, where everyone isn’t an industry person and I’m not only an actress.

The quality of life is so much better.

Everything is accessible, even parking spots at the grocery store!

Many actresses make a living in commercials while auditioning for shows and films. You skipped that.

You also act in films during your hiatus from the TV show.

I tried to do commercials. But for each commercial audition, you have

My most recent film, Like Dandelion Dust, was truly magical.

It won multiple film festival awards but had a very limited release.

Unless it’s a major movie with a huge budget, you stay unattached to the results or you end up disappointed. You do it for the joy of acting.

Your look is very glamorous on Drop Dead Diva. What’s your beauty routine off the set?

I kick back in my Lululemon workout gear, no makeup and sunglasses.

But if people recognize me from the show, I don’t want to let them down! So I always wear a little concealer, blush and liquid eyeliner. I like looking pretty and stylish, too.

You spent one season as a brunette on Drop Dead Diva, and then you went back to blonde.

I’m very specific about color—the way your hair looks can really affect how you feel. Every time I need to change my look, I see Jack at Jack Winn Salon in Newport Beach. He has dyed my hair every shade from blonde to brunette to red and back.

cauliflower, poached eggs and the “Sunshine” drink with orange juice and raspberry puree. R&D Kitchen at Fashion Island is my lunch spot.

In the evening, we take friends out in our Duffy electric boat, have wine and cheese and watch the sunset.

Or we go culinary cruising and pull up to our favorite restaurants, SOL Cocina or the Cannery.

It didn’t take you long to get your dream gig, a starring role in a TV series! What are the challenges?

The only challenge for me is the pressure to be super-skinny. I was once asked to lose 10 pounds. I was a size 2. I was devastated and cried and cried. I was a dancer—I have an athletic build. But the camera adds 10 pounds. When I’m on hiatus, I’m a size 4 and stay healthy by working with a trainer and running the Castaways Trail around the bay— it’s so beautiful. If someone doesn’t want to hire me because of my size, I don’t want that job. I want to enjoy life! And Newport Beach is the perfect place for that.

What’s the first thing you do when you get back to Newport Beach?

You also help others to enjoy life.

I’m really into the county’s food and culture. The first place I go to is 242 Cafe Fusion Sushi in Laguna Beach. I crave it! For breakfast, I go to Zinc Cafe in [Corona del Mar] with our rescued dog, Gunther, sit on the terrace and order the roasted

I volunteer with Kwagala Project, which rescues children and women from sex slavery in Africa. Its safe house provides medical care, mentoring, schooling, vocational training and love. But before heading back to Newport, I’m going on safari!

PAUL SMITH

A

fter California native Kate Levering conquered Broadway—a decade ago, she was nominated for a Tony and won the Fred Astaire award for best female dancer for her stint in the musical 42nd Street—she fell for a boy back home. Following her heart west, she stole that of Hollywood. After starring in TV’s Cashmere Mafia, she got the role of a lifetime as the cutthroat Kim Kaswell on Drop Dead Diva. While playing a bitchy blonde climbing the career ladder, Levering, 32, moved from Hollywood to Newport Beach.

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sliCe oflife

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The longtime pizza faves are still there, but Costa Mesa and Newport Beach are suddenly hotbeds of far more sophisticated pies. How hot?

900 degrees.

BY BenJamin epstein

N

ick’s in Costa Mesa has been a local fixture for 40 years; families have flocked to nearby Doria’s Haus of Pizza for 30; and the Pizza Bakery has been serving “New York-style pizza with a California flair” in Newport Beach for more than 20.

But the pizza landscape on and near the county’s coast has changed dramatically of late. The crescendo began with Canaletto at Fashion Island and Cucina Alessá, which has several beach-city locations.

Then, for pizza aficionados, all heaven broke loose.

The arrival in quick succession of Pizzeria Ortica, Ecco and Il Dolce—all inspired by the pizzaiolos of Naples, Italy, birthplace of modern pizza—made Costa Mesa a pizza mecca.

There are others elsewhere: Pizza e Vino in Rancho Santa Margarita, for instance, is the county’s first—the country’s 39th—to be Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) certified. Its misto salumi pizza, with mozzarella, sopressata, capocollo and fennel sausage, is a flavor explosion that would do Mount Vesuvius proud.

But Costa Mesa and Newport Beach offer an unparalleled collection of such pizzerias, within minutes of each other.

Neapolitan-style pizzas are 12 inches or less in diameter, with thin crusts progressing from billowing corniciones on the circumference to delicate centers moist with such toppings as San Marzano tomatoes—from Naples, of course—fresh mozzarella and fresh basil. They’re finished in a very hot woodburning oven, up to 900 degrees, for 90 to 120 seconds.

Now, unfettered with Neapolitan guidelines, comes Pizzeria Mozza in Newport Beach. From culinary stars Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton and Joseph Bastianich, Mozza replicates the trio’s acclaimed collaborations in Los Angeles and Singapore.

Silverton, best known for the breads of her La Brea Bakery, shaves a third off VPN-mandated cooking temperatures—her oven is 500 to 600 degrees—and doubles the cooking time to nearly four minutes. The results can be transcendent.

Il Dolce and Ecco use Caputo 00 flour from Naples; David Myers’ Pizzeria Ortica uses Giusto 00 flour from Northern California.

At Mozza, Silverton says, “I use unbleached bread flour very similar to most of our breads at La Brea Bakery. It’s not a sourdough—the long, cool rising time is what gives it its flavors.

“Nowadays people think there are two categories—classic Neapolitan and everything else. But there are many styles of pizza and many different ovens. Our crust can’t be baked in a 900-degree oven for 90 seconds—it wouldn’t be cooked.”

Silverton’s crusts have both sour and sweet notes; the rims are very puffy. She might top them with rapini, cherry

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sausage, panna, red onion and scallions at pizzeria mozza, new in Newport Beach.

OPENING SPREAD: Prosciutto di Parma pizza, finished with An arugula-onion salad and Sicilian sea salt, AT ECCO in costa mesa.

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tomatoes, anchovies, olives and chilies, or speck, bufala mozzarella and tapenade.

Not since Wolfgang Puck introduced California pizza at Spago have so many renowned chefs shined a light on the once humble pie. One of the world’s most popular foods, pizza has always inspired fierce loyalties among blue-collar workers. Now, sophisticated foodies have gotten pizza religion, too.

“People compare this pizza from Mozza with this one from Ortica—they go from pizza place to pizza place, taking notes,” says Ecco executive chef Kris Kirk.

“People love to try new places, and there aren’t many people who don’t like pizza.”

Silverton agrees. “Pizza is everybody’s guilty pleasure,” she says. “Many think of it as a fast food, junk food, bad-for-you food. But nobody can deny the cheesy goodness and satisfaction. I think of it as Fritos—and I don’t believe anybody who says they don’t like Fritos.

There’s even something to be said for bad pizza. I’d rather eat bad pizza than many other things!

“Those perceptions of pizza changed with the opportunity to have a crafted pizza, not fast food. That brought credibility.”

Case in point: Ortica’s brilliant chef David Myers, best known for Sona, for years one of L.A.’s finest restaurants, and Comme Ça, with locations in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

How did a chef who excelled at the most sophisticated French fare and Asian cuisines decide to go into pizza?

“Who doesn’t love pizza? I love pizza. I love Italy,” Myers says. “I thought, what the heck; it would be fun!” He and chef de cuisine Justin Miller follow “true traditional Napoli style—the technique of the dough, how we cook it, how long we cook it.” They begin with a 300-year-old biga from Naples.

“The dough being 300 years old, when I eat it, to me there’s history there, the aromas, the times,” Myers says. “At Sona, we had a 100-year-old starter, and it kept getting better over time. Here we have a 300-yearold biga. To be able to make pizza with that is remarkable—so deep and intense, and it develops.”

To crusts with beauteous, bubbly blisters, Myers and Miller might add intriguing ingredients such as housecured pork cheek, ricotta, scallions and fennel pollen, or dandelion greens, mushrooms and pecorino.

At modest Il Dolce, VPN-trained Roberto Bignes’ simple pepperoni pizza may be the county’s best. His pistachio pizza, with Parmesan and Gruyère cheeses, red onions, rosemary and olive oil, is both profound

KELLY CAMPBELL. PREVIOUS SPREAD, JOHN CIZMAS

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il dolce, don bartletti/los angeles times

“Pizza is everybody’s guilty pleasure,” SAYS MOZZA’S NANCY silverton.

“Many think of it as fast food, junk food, bad-for-you food.... THOSE PERCEPTIONS CHANGED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE a crafted PIZZA.” and a delight. The salsiccia, with garlic sauce, pancetta, fresh mozzarella, Italian sausage, caramelized onions and rapini, offers a tarantella of Italian flavors.

For Ecco’s signature pizza, Kirk and pizzaiolo Carlos Abarca use squash, squash blossoms, crushed tomatoes, Burrata, red onions and Sicilian sea salt. But Kirk’s favorite is the fresh black-fig and prosciutto pizza, with basil pesto, mozzarella, fontina and goat cheeses and topped with wild arugula and balsamic syrup.

Myers’ favorite at Ortica? The salsiccia, with housemade sausage, caramelized fennel, mascarpone, red onion and bufala grana.

“That would be my No. 1,” he says. “It brings to memory the pizzas I had growing up. I never had one like this, of course—it wasn’t a wood-burning oven, it wasn’t Neapolitan—but similar flavor, similar toppings.

“In fact, I’m craving it right now.” above: IL DOLCE’S ROBERTO BIGNES PRESENTS HIS Prosciutto pizza, with arugula, tomato, fresh mozzarella and Italian balsamic vinaigrette.

RIGHT: THE GUANCIALE PIZZA, WITH HOUSE-CURED PORK CHEEK, FRESH RICOTTA, SCALLIONS AND FENNEL POLLEN, AT DAVID MYERS’ PIZZERIA ORTICA.

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Neighborhoods

ANAHEIM Disneyland put Anaheim on the global map, but sibling Disney’s California Adventure has been getting the attention of late. Its new World of Color is the world’s most ambitious water, light and sound attraction, and a Pixar-inspired Cars Land opens in summer 2012. Between the parks is the admission-free pedestrian shopping, dining and entertainment zone Downtown Disney. Nearby Anaheim GardenWalk is a dining, retail and entertainment center; some of its UltraLuxe cinemas have synced-motion seats. Angel Stadium is home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team; the Honda Center hosts the Anaheim Ducks and pop acts such as Lady Gaga. Nearby are the Jetsonesque Anaheim Convention Center and new Battle of the Dance.

BUENA PARK Knott’s Berry Farm was the nation’s first theme park.

(Disneyland came later.) What started as a fruit stand along Highway 39 today boasts a splendid collection of roller coasters for thrill-seekers and Camp Snoopy for youngsters, not to mention steaks, and some tasty chicken dinners just outside the park. There’s a Halloween Haunt in the fall, seasonal ice shows, and adjacent water park Soak City in the summer. Also on Beach Boulevard is a family entertainment row including Medieval Times and Pirate’s Dinner Adventure. Nearby Stanton boasts Googie-style restaurant ParkAve and adjacent Il Garage.

COSTA MESA The city boasts one of the nation’s most successful retail centers, superior performing-arts venues and some of the region’s finest dining.

South Coast Plaza’s several hundred stores and boutiques represent the highest concentration of elite retailers anywhere. The owners of South Coast Plaza, built on their lima bean fields, donated the land and most of the millions to build the Segerstrom Center for the Arts—home of Segerstrom Hall and the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and future home of the Orange County Museum of Art—and South Coast Repertory theater. Nearby are Metro Pointe; the new South Coast Collection, anchored by the OC Mart Mix; and a hip shopping and dining stretch including The Lab and outdoors-themed enclave The Camp.

DANA POINT It’s best known for its harbor— there are 2,500 yachts in its two marinas—and as a departure point for whale- and dolphinwatching excursions, sport-fishing expeditions and trips to Catalina Island. Doheny State Beach is also popular. Yet Dana Point is one of the most picturesque cities in California, combining Cape Cod style with its surf and yacht lifestyle. The town, and spots such as the Killer Dana surf break, are named for 19th-century seafaring writer Richard Henry Dana, who described the headlands in his book Two Years Before the Mast.

Classes at the Ocean Institute take place aboard a replica of the tall ship Pilgrim, on which Dana sailed.

BJARNE GRAVESEN JENSEN; EDWIN SANTIAGO; COSTA MESA AND DANA POINT, PRISCILLA IEZZI

ORANGE COUNTY comprises MANY VERY DIFFERENT communities. HERE ARE THE MOST VISITED.

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ALL PHOTOS, EDWIN SANTIAGO

FULLERTON Residents of Fullerton love their city, which blends historic architectural styles and a hip and savvy vibe thanks to its university and city college. Music spills out from bars; dining options are many and varied. Plummer Auditorium offers concerts and shows, Fullerton Museum Center intriguing exhibits, Fullerton Arboretum the county’s largest botanical garden. The train station is the county’s busiest and its major Metrolink stop.

Fullerton used to be the city you passed through on your way to Disneyland; these days, you might pass through Disneyland on your way to Fullerton! To the north is Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda.

HUNTINGTON BEACH Main Street and environs offer surfwear shops and fun dining options. The city’s Central Park and library are among the county’s finest. Bella Terra is the major inland shopping destination. But first and foremost, Huntington Beach will always be thought of as America’s surf capital.

The city hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing every summer and has a quirky surfer museum and even a surfer walk of fame. The three beaches—Huntington City Beach, Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach—draw millionplus crowds each summer. The pier is the longest on the West Coast; also along Pacific Coast Highway are restored wetlands, ideal for bird-watching, and luxury hotels.

IRVINE The nation’s safest city for seven years running is also its largest planned urban community in land mass, all of it impeccably manicured. The University of California’s Irvine campus is huge, too. The Irvine Spectrum Center, where the 405 and 5 freeways meet, is a superb shopping, dining and entertainment center with Moorish architecture and a giant Ferris wheel. Irvine may soon be best known for the Orange County Great Park. A tethered-balloon ride is free; you can spot the orange balloon aloft from the freeways.

Still to come are a wildlife corridor, museums and botanical gardens.

LAGUNA BEACH The beaches and coves of Laguna Beach are among the most beautiful in the world; it’s no surprise that many of the artists who live there capture on canvas some of the California coastline’s most spectacular views. Galleries are everywhere. Laguna Art Museum offers fun and provocative exhibitions. Crowds jam the town each summer as they head to the art festivals along Laguna Canyon Road. At the Pageant of the Masters—which seems to be in a new Golden Age—volunteers stay very still to re-create artistic masterpieces of the past. The Laguna Playhouse presents theater fare from comedic to profound.

For MORE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN o.c., see where orange county magazine

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NEWPORT BEACH Many consider the oceanfront paradise to be the county pearl.

There’s much to recommend it.

Wide, sandy beaches, a harbor lined with gorgeous homes with docks for yachts, really large homes on the bluffs and hills behind with endless ocean views....

Summer beach crowds near Newport Pier reach more than a million. Balboa Peninsula and seven man-made islands house the rich and often famous. On the coast are charming Balboa Island and lovely Corona del Mar. Up the hill is Fashion Island, with 200 stores, boutiques and restaurants, and Corona del Mar Plaza. To the south, in affluent Newport Coast, is Crystal Cove Promenade.

ORANGE Plaza Square, the traffic circle— actually an oval—is at the center of Old Towne Orange, bustling with antique shops and very fine newer restaurants. The city steadfastly preserves its older buildings, so the historic district appears often in movies and commercials. The city radiates outward from there. Nearby homes date from the late 1800s to the 1940s.

To the east is the equestrian neighborhood Orange Park Acres.

To the west is The Outlets at Orange, where the likes of Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue offer their upscale discount venues.

Farther west, in Garden Grove, is spectacular Crystal Cathedral.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO A vast panorama of history unfolds here: the Shoshone tribes of Indians; the founding in 1776 of the jewel of California missions by a Spanish expedition; the Mexican rancho era in the 19th century; the area’s development in the 20th century into an agricultural center with the foresight to preserve its heritage; and the charming, sophisticated but still laid-back burg of the 21st century. Los Rios Street is much as it was two centuries ago, and the original families still own many of the homes. Downtown retains the flavor of the rancheros.

Homes in the $10-million-plus range and lavish horse stables dot the hills above downtown.

SANTA ANA The county seat is a city in transition, still colorful but with a newfound dedication to the arts and a skyrocketing hip factor. Bowers Museum hosts blockbuster exhibitions, and downtown Santa Ana hosts a thriving contemporary art scene amid its bars and coffeehouses. The new East End Promenade replaces the Fiesta Marketplace along historic Fourth Street, with the restored Yost Theater a centerpiece. The Old County Courthouse, dwarfed by the civic center around it, has been used for dozens of movies and has its own historical museum. It’s the only city in the county with its own zoo.

ALL PHOTOS, EDWIN SANTIAGO

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spending time SHOPPING ORaNGE COUNTy OFFERS amERICa’S GREaTEST SHOPPING ExPERIENCE. THERE—WE SaID IT. THE REaSONS? THE mOST SUCCESSFUl, mOST BEaUTIFUl aND mOST PlEaSURaBlE SHOPPING DESTINaTIONS aNyWHERE. HERE aRE SOmE OF THE BEST.

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SHOPPING DESTINaTION SHOPPING H aNaHEIm GaRDENWalK Outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment center with waterfalls and gardens is steps from Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center.

Among the draws are shops including White House | Black Market and Harley-Davidson, restaurants such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Roy’s, an upscale bowling lounge, and state-of-the-art movie theaters, some with synced-motion seats. 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.635.7410, anaheimgardenwalk.com

OPPOSITE: FaSHION ISlaND, EDWIN SaNTIaGO

BElla TERRa Tuscan-themed destination with cobblestone walkways boasts an attractive roster of outdoor sports and active-wear specialists including Huntington Surf & Sport, REI and Diane’s Beachwear, women’s boutiques Madison Bleu and ANGL Inc., and Whole Foods market. 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.897.2533, bellaterra-hb.com THE CamPCL0000022718 Outdoors-themed center opposite The Lab is geared to action-sports and dining enthusiasts. Hip spots set amid woods, aluminum and piped-in sounds of burbling brooks and chirping crickets include eco department store SEED People’s Market, Ecco for Italian cuisine and Taco Asylum for unusual tacos. 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, thecampsite.com H CORONa DEl maR PlazaCL0000022719 Boutiques and restaurants at Corona del Mar Plaza reflect the area’s casual yet sophisticated coastal lifestyle. Shops include Gail Jewelers, Savory Spice Shop and Antonia, A Shoe Boutique. Other highlights:

Jack’s Surfboards, Diane’s Beachwear and Bikini, Tommy Bahama’s Island Grille and Sprinkles Cupcakes.

800 Avocado Ave., Corona del Mar, shoptheirvinecompany.com H CRySTal COvE PROmENaDE The exclusive designer boutiques and restaurants at this elegant center reflect the gorgeous coastal community. Among boutiques, all with oceanfront views, are Jenny Lee, Millie, Novecento, At-Ease for Men and Trio. There are also superb dining options: Bluefin, Mastro’s Ocean Club, Javier’s and new Indian venue Tamarind. 7772-8112 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.720.2689, shoptheirvinecompany.com THE DISTRICT aT TUSTIN lEGaCyCL9000006878 Center offers 1 million square feet of retail, restaurants and entertainment.

ULTA Cosmetics and DSW Shoes are anchored by one of the world’s most impressive Whole Foods. Hip bowling lounge Bowlmor Lanes, with 30 glow-in-the-dark lanes and flat-screen sports walls, is among the hot spots.

There are outdoor performances and a wealth of dining options. Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway, Tustin, 714.259.0290, thedistricttl.com DOWNTOWN DISNEyCL0000022721 Outdoor retail esplanade in the heart of the Disneyland Resort features family favorites such as Build-A-Bear Workshop, World of Disney, LEGO Imagination Center and Ridemakerz for radio-controlled-car buffs. Sephora and new boutiques Sanuk and Apricot Lane are popular. Dining options include House of Blues and Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. 1565 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.300.7800, downtowndisney.com

H FaSHION ISlaNDCL0000022722 Southern California’s premier coastal shopping experience, elegant, sophisticated Fashion Island features the county’s only Neiman Marcus, as well as Bloomingdale’s and a new Nordstrom. Numerous exclusive boutiques include Kate Spade, Trina Turk and Elie Tahari. Among fine-dining options are True Food Kitchen, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and new Great Maple. 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.2000, shopfashionisland.com

laGUNa GEmS It makes sense that you'd find

IRvINE SPECTRUm CENTERCL0000022724 Outdoor center has ornate walkways, courtyards, campaniles and nine fountains inspired by Moorish architecture. Anchors Nordstrom and Macy’s are complemented by more than 120 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues. Check out the Giant Wheel, visible from freeways, and the nation’s most popular cinemas and Imax theater. 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.753.5180, shopirvinespectrumcenter.com THE laBCL0000022725 Alternative retail center offers shops you’d likely find on L.A.’s trendy Melrose Avenue. They include Urban Outfitters for cool clothes, Arth for hats, Mode for handmade bicycles and Troy Lee for motocross-inspired fashions. Dining options include Habana for Cuban fare and Zipangu for sushi. 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.966.6660, thelab.com

truly distinctive jewelry in artoriented laguna Beach. at adam Neeley Fine art Jewelry, the designer uses Elektra gold, a proprietary hand-fused gradient gold of seven exquisite hues; his gold and blue-sapphire “Revealing Beauty” pendant, above, has won industry awards for its use of laser technology (949.715.0953). at Silver Blue & Gold, in a center filled with galleries, you can peruse collections by internationally recognized jewelry artists such as Davide Bigazzi and Petra Class, and watch owner Karin Worden create her own nature-inspired pieces (949.715.3000). Each necklace at Judy Klimek's left Turn Jewelry is an original and boldly imaginative art piece

H THE OUTlETS aT ORaNGE Huge shopping, dining and entertainment center—100 stores, including the county’s only outlets—formerly the Block at Orange, is at the confluence of the 5, 57 and 22 freeways.

using silver and rough gemstones such as citrine, coral, peridot and tourmaline. No two are alike, and many are paired with earrings (866.954.lEFT).

H Starred liStingS are featured gueStBook advertiSerS. WHERE GUESTBOOK

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START YOUR LAGUNA BEACH EXPERIENCE HERE Beach-front deck, picturesque fountains, coffee bar ... and ocean art from environmental visionary Wyland.

Among the upscale discount draws are Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Levi’s Outlet. There’s also Lucky Strike Lanes for bowling, Vans Skatepark for indoor boarding, Burke Williams Day Spa and more than a dozen dining options. 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, 714.769.4001, theblockatorange.com SOUTH COaST COLLECTION0000022726 Called SoCo for short, the progressive center offers more than 300,000 square feet of design showrooms, featuring home furnishing and accessories, and creative studios. Star of the show is OC Mart Mix, featuring a mix of about 25 specialty vendors under one roof. Among them are Alexander Gray for hip eyewear, Hat Rack, Surf Heritage Museum and We Olive & Wine Bar. 3303-3323 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.435.8800, southcoastcollection.com h SOUTH COaST PLazaCL0000022726 The highest-grossing planned retail venue in the U.S., and one of the largest, has been dubbed the ultimate shopping resort. It includes high-end department stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s Men’s Store, and several hundred boutiques, including Oscar de la Renta, Christian Louboutin, Prada and De Beers Jewellery, an amazing concentration of elite retailers. More than 30 restaurants include some of the county’s best. It’s within walking distance of the county’s major performing-arts venues. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 800.782.8888, traveler.southcoastplaza.com

A R T. C O N S E R V AT I O N . C O M M U N I T Y.

Open Daily | Wyland Galleries | 509 South Coast Hwy | Laguna Beach, CA 92651 800-WYLAND-1 | www.wyland.com “Visit Wyland Galleries Laguna Beach and mention this ad for a free Wyland print.”

WESTfIELd MaINPLaCECL0000022727 More than 200 retailers cover every style from classic to fashion-forward; stores include Macy’s and Macy’s Men, Nordstrom, Coach, Eddie Bauer and Forever XXI. There are also some 20 casual eateries, complimentary package carry-out, a kids’ Play Space and a budget movie theater. 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.547.7800, westfield.com/mainplace

SHOPS & BOUTIqUES a’MaREE’SCL9000006934 It’s been a standout among local boutiques since the 1970s, but A’maree’s raised its own lofty bar when it moved into stunning standalone quarters overlooking Newport Harbor. The goods: fashion-forward couture from Paris and Milan, and the U.S., in a sophisticated setting.

Brunello Cucinelli, Calleen Cordero, Christian Louboutin—they’re all here. Semiannual sales are legendary among local fashionistas. 2241 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.642.4423, amarees.com h adaM NEELEy fINE aRT JEWELRyCL9000006886 Nationally influential jeweler Adam Neeley, 28, has developed Elektra gold, a color gradient of gold that he uses in one-of-a-kind creations fusing fine jewelry and fine art. Modern lines and sensuous forms showcase rare gemstones and precious metals; Neeley’s specialties include custom design, appraisal and advanced goldsmithing. 353 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.0953, adamneeley.com aNTONIa, a SHOE BOUTIqUE Splashed in feminine pink, the intimate space is filled with an eclectic mix of the finest names in shoes, from espadrilles to boots, as well as bags and accessories. Featured designers include Gastone Lucioli, Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang and Michael Kors. Owner Darlene Gardner offers winning advice.

Corona del Mar Plaza, 906 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, 949.644.6910, shopantonia.com aREO0687 Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary gift? Areo offers a beguiling mix of distinctive crafts, jewelry, books and housewares, all appealing to the artistic eye. Typical: a silver cuff imprinted with a map of Laguna, cast-iron mermaid bottle openers, dog doorstops.

Gift-wrapping is free, and beautiful;

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AGW_W

dining, e ntertainment & fun

Just across the street from Disneyland.

Find out what’s happening at Anaheim GardenWalk!

Facebook.com/thegardenwalk

Twitter.com/thegardenwalk

321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim • 714.635.7410 • anaheimgardenwalk.com

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corrugated boxes are wrapped in a blue ribbon and sealed with a French gold wax. 207 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.376.0535, areohome.com

MILLIE

ART FOR THE SOULCL9006921 Owner Valinda Martin handpicks merchandise from small gifts to works of art for her colorful gallery boutiques. Her aptly named spots offer a whimsical, inspirational experience.

Both locations are filled with blown glass, funky prints and hand-crafted jewelry and furniture. Items also include clocks, mirrors, frames and paperweights. 210 Marine Ave., Balboa Island, 949.675.1791; 272 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.497.8700, art4thesoul.com

Crystal Cove Promenade 7882 E. Coast Hwy. Newport Coast P 949 715 1111 Monarch Bay Plaza 36 Monarch Bay Plaza Monarch Beach P 949 429 1144 Mission Promenade 26850 Ortega Hwy., Ste J San Juan Capistrano P 949 218 1118 millieclothing.com

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AG Jeans Autumn Cashmere Chan Luu Jewelry Frye Boots Gypsy 05 Hanky Panky Hudson Jeans James Perse Joie Kai Body Products Michael Stars Seaton Velvet White & Warren and many more.

colors. The boutique itself, with its tile facade and butterflies on the ceiling, is among Orange County’s most stylish. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.754.9200, christianlouboutin.com DE BEERS JEWELLERYCL9000006891 The only thing that rivals the architecture, with its etched-glass facade, is the precious merchandise displayed in the seductively illuminated cases.

Custom-designed diamond pieces in the high-end jewelry room are museum-worthy; an extensive selection of engagement rings, watches and bracelets attracts anybody looking for a special gift. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.641.5820, debeers.com

BEACH BUNNY SWIMWEARCL9000006888 Former swimwear model and cover girl Angela Chittenden founded her lingerie-inspired line of swimwear nine years ago, got global distribution and lots of media attention, and opened her first boutique, a provocative environment in which each suit gets its own mannequin. Braziliancut designs are made for the poolside runway. 950 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.548.0348, beachbunnyswimwear.com

ELIE TAHARICL9000006891 Elie Tahari designs are inspired by his belief that “clothing should be quieter than the woman so that her true beauty can shine through.” He also offers women’s luxury shoes, bags and jewelry, as well as men’s shirts, ties and leather accessories. This was his first freestanding boutique in California. Fashion Island, 575 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.258.7933, elietahari.com

BEACHCANDY BY BRITB Though ready-made suits are available, most at new BeachCandy are custom. Women can choose their fit, color, style and “candy”—up to 500 Swarovski crystals complete the look on suits by Brit Barber, 24. Turnaround is three weeks for a custom suit, a day or two to add crystals to a ready-made. 2824 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.640.0988, beachcandyswimwear.com

FETNEH BLAKECL9000006891 One of the most progressive boutiques in Southern California celebrates a decade of seemingly effortless chic as visionary Fetneh Blake continues to showcase fashion’s most forward-thinking designers. She recently opened a second boutique nearby. 427 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.494.3787; 1476 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.1180, fetnehblake.com

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTINCL9000006890 Since Parisian designer Christian Louboutin hit the scene with his supersexy, super-high pumps, sandals and boots, a glimpse of those red-lacquer soles is all it takes to set a fashionista’s heart aflutter. Handbags and clutches come in inventive shapes and bold

★ GAIL JEWELERSCL9000006932 Gail Jewelers has been adding glamour to customers’ lives for half a century. Every piece of jewelry is meticulously evaluated to meet the highest standards for design, craftsmanship and value before it makes it into the display case. CEO Barry

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Benowitz and wife Gail are demanding of their designers; their clientele is fiercely loyal. Corona del Mar Plaza, 844 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, 949.760.5424, gailjewelers.com HARLEY-DAVIDSONCL9000006896 The boutique exhibits vintage bikes, and the interior suggests a motorcycle engine complete with giant shock absorbers and cylinders. It offers virtually everything with the storied company’s bar-and-shield logo. Hats, jeans, T-shirts, mugs, poker chips, belt buckles—even teddy bears—are available, along with touring atlases and accessories. Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.399.0080, harleyfullerton.com HARRY WINSTONCL9000006895 The name most often associated with red carpets is Harry Winston, king of showstopping diamonds. His salon has a private viewing room where serious shoppers discreetly ogle rings, timepieces and baubles. In addition to earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches are men’s cuff links, money clips and tie bars. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.371.1910, harrywinston.com ★ THE HEARTHSTONECL0000022734 For 45 years, the fireplace specialist has offered the finest in French, English and American antique, reconditioned, contemporary and original components. The 2,400-square-foot showroom also displays the latest custom fireplace fixtures in brass, bronze, steel, chrome, aged silver plate and wrought iron. 2711 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.673.7065, orangecountyfireplace.com ★ ISLAND COWGIRL JEWELRYCL98 Rugged and romantic handcrafted jewelry, worn by the likes of Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff and Jessica Biel, is carved with poetic etchings and words of inspiration. Owner-designer Heather Kraty finds beauty in things that she loved as a child: “the sun on my back, the sand in my toes, flowers

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along the garden path....” 3201/2 Main St., Huntington Beach, 714.580.9909, islandcowgirl.com JENNY LEECL9000006899 Luxury wedding-dress and eveninggown designer Jenny Lee showcases extravagant creations of Italian silk and French lace. Her designs appear in the movies and at celebrity weddings.

The gowns possess an elegant contemporary sophistication. A Swarovski crystal chandelier casts a flattering glow over her flagship boutique; a champagne bar makes fittings less stressful. Crystal Cove Promenade, 7942 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.376.8100, jennyleebridal.com ★ MILLIE The merchandise at the stylishly casual boutique evokes beachy chic and boho sensibilities and a soothing sense of liberation. Distinctive belts, handbags and jewelry make it an ideal spot for accessorizing.

Crystal Cove Promenade, 7882 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.1111; Monarch Bay Plaza, 36 Monarch Bay Plaza, Monarch Beach, 949.429.1144; Mission Promenade, 26850 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.218.1118; millieclothing.com MOONLIGHT GRAHAMCL900687 New men’s clothing boutique in Old Towne Orange was named for a key character in the Kevin Costner baseball film Field of Dreams. The store captures baseball’s vintage grit and American spirit with woven sport shirts, denim, beanies and T-shirts, as well as vinyl records, books and, of course, baseball memorabilia.

401 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.639.0084, moonlightgraham.net NOVECENTO The proprietors specialize in luxury fashion, shoes, handbags and accessories for men and women, and they excel when it comes to glam. Clothing has been worn by Paris Hilton, Sharon Stone and Eva Longoria—you

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ORANGE COUNTY’S PREMIER LUXURY DESIGNER CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE & STYLIST AGENCY

WE PAY UP TO 60% TO CONSIGNERS WE ACCEPT DESIGNER BAGS ON TRADE

“I invite you to come by OnQueStyle where you will find amazing treasures.”

onquestyle will pay cash or consign your new or gently used Balenciaga, Cartier, Chanel, Chloe, David Yurman, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Rolex, Tiffany’s, Yves Saint Laurent and other luxury designer handbags, shoes, apparel or jewelry!

L U X U R Y APPAR E L 2900 East Coast Highway

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H ANDB AGS

Corona del Mar, California

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SHOE S

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949.717.7795

JEWELRY •

www.onquestyle.com

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O N E O F T H E FI N EST S EL ECT I O N S O F FI R EPL AC E FI X T U R ES I N CA L I F O R N I A

know the type—and been seen on TV shows including Desperate Housewives. The men’s jeans bar offers Italian denim from lines such as Just Cavalli and GF Ferré. Crystal Cove Promenade, 8002 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.1700, novecentofashion.com h OMEGACL9000006927 It took 162 years, but the luxury Swiss watch manufacturer, known for six lunar landings, the first diver’s watch and world-record accuracy, has just opened its first boutique in Orange County. It carries the brand’s entire line, including the new Ladymatic mechanical watch. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.850.0558, omegawatches.com

The Hearthstone

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h On QUE STylE With its striking designs, beautiful collections and couture fashion, 2711 E. Coast Hwy., Corona Del Mar stylist Kirsten Prosser’s “walk-in (949) 673.7065 closet” boutique studio is the place www.orangecountyfireplace.com to find distinctive pieces from luxury labels, as well as remarketed luxury designer and vintage clothing and 8/23/11 12:43 PM accessories. Prosser accesses the latest fashions, seeking hard-to-find pieces as well as pieces by renowned designers. 2900 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.717.7795, onquestyle.com OScAR dE lA REnTACL9000006903 One of the world’s legendary names in fashion comes alive at this exclusive boutique, where magnificent outfits are displayed in an elegant whitewashed space with bold art.

Timeless glamour is expressed in sophisticated dresses, formalwear, shoes, jewelry and accessories. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.754.9044, oscardelarenta.com PRAdA A luminous space designed by Roberto Baciocchi in South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court, radiant with mirrored beams and light boxes, prominently features Prada’s dresses, the exclusive, sexy shoe collection and the designer’s signature hand-

bags and accessories. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.338.2200, prada.com h REcyclEd RAGSCL0000022739 For four decades, Recycled Rags has provided exquisite clothing from the wardrobes of the world’s best-dressed people. The store is filled with styles for all tastes in ball gowns, blue jeans, shoes, handbags, hats and accessories. Classic and contemporary designs, from Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Dolce & Gabbana, are offered at reasonable prices. 2731 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.675.5553, recycledrags.com RidEMAKERzCL9000006877 The automotive garage-themed retail environment offers more than 650 million ways to customize radiocontrolled cars.

“Customizers” choose from a wide variety of makes and models, adding side pipes, blown engines and custom rims to create a one-of-a-kind ride. The Ridez can be picked up at the end of the day or shipped anywhere in the world.

Downtown Disney, 1540 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.776.0216, ridemakerz.com h SAVORy SPicE SHOPCL0000022740 This foodie paradise offers an unbelievable array of spices and seasonings. Spices are ground fresh on the premises in small, weekly batches; more than 140 seasonings are original recipes hand-blended on-site.

Both are offered in quantities as little as a half-ounce and packaged in either bags or bottles. The shop also offers extracts and sauces. Corona del Mar Plaza, 928 Avocado Ave., Corona del Mar, 949.717.7776; OC Mart Mix, 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.333.0893; savoryspiceshop.com h ST. cROix SHOPCL0000022740 The men’s boutique specializes in sportswear, knits, leather jackets, Italian-made golf and sports shirts and travel-perfect trousers. All knit-

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wear and outerwear are made in the U.S. using the finest raw materials and hand-finished for highest quality and fit. Fashion Island Atrium Court, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.8191; 800.366.6964, stcroixshop.com Trina TurkCL9000006905 Inspired by the cultural mix, architecture and landscape of Southern California, Trina Turk’s collection includes the season’s most casually sophisticated must-have silhouettes.

The designer’s philosophy every season is to create wearable, optimistic fashion that incorporates the best aspects of classic American sportswear. Fashion Island, 581 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.717.7881, trinaturk.com TrioCL9000006906 Casual lifestyle boutique champions unfussy women’s clothing brands and O.C. must-haves such as Ella Moss and J Brand jeans. Pieces suited for an evening out include edgy styles from LaROK, silk minidresses from Rory Beca and maxidresses by Current/Elliott. Handbags and sunglasses round out the accessories. Crystal Cove Promenade, 7876 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.497.9003 WATERMAN The brand’s first store carries its namesake collection by Quiksilver as well as Quiksilver lines; it offers apparel, footwear and accessories designed for the Southern California waterman, whether his sport is surfing, paddling or fishing. Accessories in this case translates to select boards and other necessities for the active lifestyle. Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.718.9792, quiksilver.com

Galleries Dawson Cole Fine ArtCL0000022745 The gallery offers works by renowned figurative sculptor Richard MacDonald, whose monumental works include The Flair, honor-

ing the 1996 Olympics, and Momentum, marking the 100th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. The gallery and must-see sculpture garden also show works of Robert Heindel and Henry Moore. 326 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 949.497.4988, dawsoncolefineart.com Marion Meyer Contemporary ArtCL0000022749 Venue represents mid-career and internationally known artists including Claudia Meyer, Quim Bové, William Beaver, Robert Mah and Ingrid Dee Magidson. The owner-run gallery, on a prestigious stretch of Coast Highway known as North Gallery Row, features cutting-edge multimedia installations as well as sophisticated solo exhibitions. 354 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.497.5442, marionmeyergallery.com Peter BlakeCL0000022751 The prestigious fine-art gallery is a definitive resource in Southern California for modern and contemporary art, edgier than most Laguna galleries. The venue shows paintings, drawings, sculpture and photography; artists represented include Lita Albuquerque, Tony Delap and Ed Moses. 435 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.376.9994, peterblakegallery.com h WYLAND GALLERIES The pre-eminent showcase for marinelife art is known the world over. ln the spirit of Wyland’s original vision, the gallery offers works in a variety of media, originals and reproductions including oil and watercolor, abstracts, Sumi-E, Chinese brush paintings, photography and sculptures—but the subject is always the sea and its creatures. The artist is well-known for his Whaling Wall murals, one of which is outside the gallery. 509 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.8000, wylandgalleries.com

-9909 714-580 irl.com t e Stre ndcowg n a i l a s M i 2 / 320 1 ach, CA. 11:58 AM Page 1 Ad-NB-Guestbook-WHERE-F11 ton Be8/1/11 Hunting

Distinctive men’s luxury sportswear handcrafted to perfection in limited quantities.

The world’s finest knitwear made in the usa

FASHION ISLAND Located in Atrium Court below Bloomingdales Home Store

NEWPORT BEACH REQUEST A FREE CATALOG!

1- 949-760-8191 1- 800-366-6964

For more shopping destinations, see where Orange county magazine

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chow time

DINING THERE ARE SUPER-TRENDY SPOTS AND ENDLESS ETHNIC POSSIBILITIES, BUT THE FOCUS IN ORANGE COUNTY IS ON TIMELESS SOPHISTICATION AND MARKET-DRIVEN, SUSTAINABLE AND OFTEN ORGANIC CUISINE. HERE ARE THE COUNTY’S BEST RESTAURANTS.

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DINING A RESTAURANTCL9000006302 American. This stylish spot at a historic dining location preserved the ambience of its predecessor (e.g., red leather booths) while adding contemporary touches. On the menu: chicken liver terrine with kumquats and cornichon; crispy wild-caught trout; stroganoff; oh, and the county’s best burger. There is also a cafe/market on site, ideal for coffee or picnic baskets. L (M-F), D (nightly). 3334 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.650.6505, arestaurantnb.com

OPPOSITE: PRISCILLA IEzzI, ANDREA IN NEWPORT COAST

H AGORA CHURRASCARIACL9000006236 Brazilian. Choice cuts are cooked over a fire pit and seasoned with rock salt. Waiters dressed as gauchos offer a succession of 16 sumptuous cuts, from picanha (a sirloin specialty) to coração (delicate chicken hearts); it’s carnivore heaven. An elaborate hot and cold bar features vegetable and seafood specialites. L (M-F), D (nightly). 1830 Main St., Irvine, 949.222.9910, agoranow.com H AMELIA’SCL9000006928 Seafood/Italian. A charming local favorite for half a century, Amelia’s offers classic fare such as scampi Caesar salad, linguine with fresh bay scallops and baby calamari in marinara sauce, and cioppino. The intimate patio table is among the county’s most romantic spots. D (nightly), Br (F-Su). 311 Marine Ave., Newport Beach, 949.673.6580, ameliasbalboaisland.com H ANAHEIM WHITE HOUSECL0000022658 Italian. A 1909 manor provides a romantic setting for one of North County’s finest restaurants. Dramatic presentations of refined northern Italian cuisine are impeccably served in silk-draped rooms and in a garden

gazebo. Owner Bruno Serato was named a CNN Hero for his work with underprivileged children. L (MF), D (nightly), Br (Su). 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.772.1381, anaheimwhitehouse.com ANDREACL9000006861 Italian. Elegant but unstuffy setting offers one of the county’s most spectacular views, of elysian vistas and the Pacific Ocean beyond, and regional cuisine of northern Italy.

Burrata with sweet-pea salad, speck and focaccia; lasagnette with lobster ragout, bell pepper and sweet chili; osso buco with polenta. Pasta and gelato are handmade in dedicated rooms. L (W-Sa), D (daily), Br (Su).

Resort at Pelican Hill, 22701 Pelican Hill Road S., Newport Coast, 800.820.6800, pelicanhill.com ANQICL9000006860 Vietnamese fusion. A 60-foot glass catwalk erected over a running stream, reclaimed tropical wood and a backlit bar contribute to a dramatic, sexy setting, and an altogether stunning backdrop for an innovative cuisine dominated by small plates. Guests share items such as steamed buns with braised pork belly and the signature garlic noodles—and incredible examples of molecular gastronomy.

L, D (daily). Bloomingdale’s, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.5679, anqibistro.com H ANTONELLO RISTORANTECL0000022659 Italian. Top-notch, romantic northern Italian spot recently marked its 30th anniversary. Co-chefs add new dishes such as orecchiette pasta with Pugliese sausage and Swiss chard, and cavatelli with slow-cooked lamb ragu; they keep the superior tiramisu. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). South

Coast Plaza Village, 3800 S. Plaza Drive, Santa Ana, 714.751.7153, antonello.com BAMBúCL0000022660 California. Set in a four-story atrium amid lush gardens, palms, orchids and 20 bamboo trees, Bambú offers creative fare creatively presented, with Asian, French and Italian influences enhancing seasonal and regional foods of Southern California.

The Petite Quattro Lunch is a fourcourse prix-fixe menu for those on the go. B (daily), L (M-F), D (TuSa). Fairmont Newport Beach, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.476.2001, fairmont.com BAYSIDE2 Eclectic. The Ghoukassian clan helms this stylish spot near Balboa Island and the harbor canals, serving first-rate New American fare by veteran chef Paul Gstrein. The handsome space and sprawling bar and patio draw a local crowd for exec lunches, romantic dinners and lazy brunches.

Live jazz and rotating art displays. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.1222, baysiderestaurant.com THE BEACHCOMBER American. On the beach at Crystal Cove State Park is the quintessential SoCal eatery. Inside, it’s like a weatherworn yacht; outside are umbrellas on the deck. Highlights: roasted French feta; red-wine-braised Kobe short ribs; and the Gimme S’mores! dessert.

There’s usually a wait. Consider a massive Tonga Lei Bowl at the outdoor Bootlegger Bar, a gem. Shuttle or walk down from the Los Trancos lot. B, L, D (daily). 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Beach, 949.376.6900, thebeachcombercafe.com

LEAN AND GREEN SPA-TINI

SKINNY DRINKS We've got the skinny on cocktails that manage to be both highflavor and low-calorie. Raise a glass to the new collection of five Spa-Tinis, each under 200 calories, at Morton's the Steakhouse in Anaheim and Santa Ana. They include the Lean and Green with Ty Ku Soju, Monin agave nectar, lime juice and mint leaves, and the Red Velvet with Lindemans Framboise Lambic, Lunetta Prosecco and Chambord.

Healthful-living author Dr. Andrew Weil endorses the CucumberKumquat Skinny Margarita at True Food Kitchen; it uses Casa Noble Tequila, freshly muddled ingredients, mint and a splash of soda, and demand is huge. The Organic Slim Margarita at Sol Cocina, also in Newport Beach, is among the Baja-inspired eatery’s most popular signature concoctions. Soda mollifies the tartness of the lime, but it's still less sweet than, say, the Cadillac. Health-conscious drinkers don’t seem to mind at all.

H Starred liStingS are featured gueStBook advertiSerS. WHERE GUESTBOOK

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THE BEST STEAK ANYWHERE

®

gREAT STEAK fiNE WiNE pRivATE diNiNg Visit our location: Santa Ana South Coast Plaza Village 1641 W. Sunflower Ave. 714.444.4834 mortons.com/santaana

BlUEfin CL0000022661 Japanese. Master sushi chef Takashi Abe offers exquisite sushi and hot entrées. Highlights at Bluefin Fine Japanese Cuisine include toro tartare with osetra caviar; seafood tempura with truffle sauce and matcha salt; prime filet mignon with mixed mushrooms. Opt for omakase, the chef’s choice tasting. L, D (daily).

7952 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.432.1140, bluefinbyabe.com

THE CEllaR french. Romantic dinners in a subterranean setting oozing with character feature classic French fare with a California accent in the cellar of the 1920s-era California Hotel. Buffalo tartare with fried quail egg; Trois “B” Hash (Brussels sprouts, bacon, butternut squash); and soufflés. Top-notch service, smashing wine list. D (TuSu). 305 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, 714.525.5682, cellardining.com

h BlUEWaTER GRillCL9000006300 Seafood. The seafood selection is so fresh that the menu changes daily.

Loyal customers often begin with ahi sashimi or lobster bisque and continue with grilled Australian barramundi, Costa Rican mahi mahi or farm-raised Mississippi catfish. Waterfront patio in Newport Beach; fireplace patio in Tustin. L, D (daily); Br (Su). 630 Lido Park Drive, Newport Beach, 949.675.3474; The District at Tustin Legacy, 2409 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.3474, bluewatergrill.com

CHapTER OnE: THE MOdERn lOCal Eclectic. Hip new library-themed spot offers creative fare such as skirt steak with apple chimichurri sauce and yucca fries, and a soft chocolate ganache with chocolate “soil,” soy caramel and fried wontons.

Start with the C1 Bloody Mary with house-made bacon bourbon, ancho and mole bloody mix and pickled daikon. Open until 2 am. L, D (daily). 227 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.352.2225, chapteronetml.com

CanalETTOCL0000054534 italian. Superb salumeria, antipasti, wood-fired pizzas and specialty meat and seafood dishes star at this impressive Venetian-inspired restaurant. The wine list features little-known wines of Italy’s northeast, with a special section devoted to prosecco. L, D (daily). Fashion Island, 545 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.0900, ilfornaio.com/canalettonb

CHaRliE palMER aT BlOOMinGdalE’SCL9000006301 american. Star chef Charlie Palmer brings his mojo to O.C. with this dazzling effort, his first in SoCal, serving up exceptional modern American dishes. Awash in sunshine by day, smartly lighted by night, the space is super-stylish and relaxed. Everintriguing bar menu; cocktails are among the county’s best. Next Vintage wine shop is adjacent. L (M-Sa), D (nightly), Br (Su). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.352.2525, charliepalmer.com

THE CapiTal GRillECL9000006868 Steak. The East Coast steakhouse here adds portraits of local historical figures to its elegant wood-clad dining room. Lobster-crab cakes or Wagyu beef carpaccio might be followed by bone-in, Kona-crusted sirloin with caramelized shallot butter.

Five thousand wines complement the cuisine; the bar pairs lollipop lamb chops with classic cocktails. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.432.1140, thecapitalgrille.com

h CHaRT HOUSECL0000022665 Seafood. Destinations known for seaside vistas offer creative seafood, choice beef and renowned desserts such as the molten chocolate-liqueur Lava Cake. Newport Beach: L (Sa-Su), D (nightly). Dana Point: D (nightly). 2801 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.548.5889; 34442 Street of the Green Lantern, Dana Point, 949.493.1183, chart-house.com

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CUCINA ALESSACL0000022668 Italian. Popular trattorias feature an array of house-made pastas, such as braised short rib tortelloni and lobster-stuffed ravioli, and delectable pizzas. The prosciutto and mozzarella bar in Laguna—shaved-to-order aged prosciutto, imported mozzarellas—is O.C.’s first. Huntington Beach happy hour, 3-6 pm and 9 pm-close. B (Sa-Su), L, D (daily). 520 Main St., Huntington Beach, 714.969.2148; 6700 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.645.2148; 234 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.497.8222; cucinaalessa.com h ESPN ZONECL0000022670 American. Sports-themed spot serves generous portions of American grill food. An arena of interactive games and attractions provides entertainment; flat-screen TVs everywhere make for an unparalleled sportsviewing experience. The bar offers a winning selection of beer, wine and cocktails, as well as “mocktails” for the little ones. Downtown Disney, 1545 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.300.3776, espnzone.com THE FIRST CABINCL0000022670 California. The restaurant’s bayside location offers a panoramic view of Newport Harbor and its gleaming yachts and sailboats. Chef Josef Lageder’s seasonal California-Continental fare includes king crab legs in lemon butter and a chateaubriand for two or more. The extensive wine list is a Wine Spectator award winner. Indoor and outdoor seating. B, L, D (daily). Balboa Bay Club & Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.630.4145, balboabayclub.com FIvE CROWNSCL0000022671 Continental. The venerated Lawry’sowned spot in a replica of England’s oldest inn has a new head chef, tasteful new decor details and a menu with a new emphasis on creativity—but the signature prime rib and other favorites aren’t going anywhere. Popular new SideDoor gastropub is adjacent (see separate listing). D (nightly), Br (Su).

3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.760.0331, lawrysonline.com FLEmING’S PRImE STEAKHOUSE & WINE BARCL0000022672 Steak. Sleek venue at Fashion Island serves prime everything. The classy feel extends to the bustling bar, which offers more than 100 wines by the glass and in flights, and inviting happy-hour options. Sizzling steaks come with peppercorn, Madeira or béarnaise sauces on request; prime rib on Sundays. D (nightly). 455 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.720.9633, flemingssteakhouse.com

Spectacular Waterfront Dining Enjoy a seamless blend of fine seafood and steaks at two Southern California Chart House locations.

We offer world class dining and unparalleled service in an atmosphere of comfortable elegance.

FRANCOLI GOURmETCL0000022672 Italian. Convivial, handsome northern Italian destination took a quantum leap in quality, both in style (e.g., the ornate orange-glass chandelier, intriguing art on the walls, Italian ceramics everywhere) and on the plate after its move to Old Towne Orange looking out onto the Orange Circle. Specialty Italian products available for purchase. L, D (daily). 100 S. Glassell St., Old Towne Orange, 714.288.1077, francoligourmet.com GABBI’S mExICAN KITCHENCL0000022673 mexican. Old Towne Orange daytrippers and tequila connoisseurs duck into this haven for spirited takes on regional Mexican fare that reaches far beyond tacos and burritos. The rustically stylish space packs them in during peak periods despite the absence of a sign (look for the patio next to the Army-Navy surplus store).

L, D (daily). 141 S. Glassell St., Orange, 714.633.3038, gabbimex.com h GEN KAICL0000022674 Japanese. Local favorite for more than 30 years features colorful sushi plates prepared by chefs trained and certified in Japan. The lobster roll uses whole 6-ounce lobster, the king crab roll an entire crab leg. Happy hour nightly 5-7 pm. L (M-F), D (nightly).

3344 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.675.0771

Newport Beach

Waterfront dining & picture perfect sunsets over Newport Bay 2801 Coast Hwy. West • (949) 548-5889

Dana Point

Perched high atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean & Dana Point Harbor 34442 St. of the Green Lantern • (949) 493-1183

Also visit us in Cardiff, Malibu, Mammoth Lakes, Marina Del Rey, Monterey & Redondo Beach

Online reservations at chart-house.com WHERE GUESTBOOK

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Bluewater Grill C A S U A L , M O D E R AT E LY P R I C E D

>

O P E N 7 D AY S , 1 1 A M - 1 0 P M

>

N OW O P E N I N P H O E N I X

come in

get hooked

“Best Seafood in Southern California!”

By Readers of The Daily Breeze & The Register

Full bar and patio featuring classic and contemporary seafood specialties!

N E W P O RT B E AC H

630 Lido Park Drive (949) 675 3474

THE DISTRICT IN TUSTIN 2409 Park Avenue (714) 258 3474

Bluewater TV on air now at bluewatergrill.com

R E D O N D O B E AC H

665 North Harbor Drive (310) 318 3474

A FRESH DINING EXPERIENCE THAT CELEBRATES LIVING WELL SEASONALLY INSPIRED DINING CHOICES CASUALLY SOPHISTICATED AMBIANCE AWARD-WINNING WINE LIST LIVE MUSIC IN THE PIANO BAR NIGHTLY

LOCATED AT SOUTH COAST PLAZA 3333 BRISTOL ST, SUITE 2802 COSTA MESA, CA 92626 714.437.5252

For details on group and event dining, visit www.Seasons52.com

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GREAT MAPLECL0000022674 American.

Sophisticated-woodsy indoor-outdoor spot next to Nordstrom offers creative small plates, wood-fired flat-bread pizzas, 10-spiced grass-fed beef burger, house-fried pasta, flat-iron steak with blue cheese and pink peppercorn, peanut butter banana split. L, D (daily). 1133 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.706.8282, greatmaplefashionisland.com HAVEN GASTROPUBCL9000006859 Brew pub. Thought-provoking list of palate-provoking handcrafted beers are offered on tap—and in many of the menu items, including the desserts. Adventurous fare such as crispy rabbit liver and onions, curried goat poutine and bacon ice cream; one of the county’s best burgers and house-made chips. L, D (daily). 190 S. Glassell St., Orange, 714.221.0680, havengastropub.com THE HOBBITCL0000022675 Continental. Dinners are a transporting experience at this homey hacienda revered for special occasions. The seven-course prix-fixe affair begins with aperitifs upstairs, continues with an amazing array of hors d’oeuvres in the wine cellar and culminates with new Continental classics in newly redone elegant dining rooms.

Menu changes weekly. Reservations essential. D (W-Su). 2932 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.997.1972, hobbitrestaurant.com ★ HOUSE OF BIG FISH & ICE COLD BEERCL9000006924 Seafood. It’s as the name suggests: fresh fish paired with an excellent selection of beer. Fish can be grilled or blackened, with several sauces and toppings to choose from. Signature items include Hawaiian-style poke, lobster fondue, caramelized salmon and, for dessert, bananas Foster bread pudding with rum sauce. Lively atmosphere, ocean views. L, D (daily).

540 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.4500, houseofbigfish.com

IL BARONE RISTORANTECL9000006862 Italian. Franco Barone, longtime chef at Antonello, and his wife, Donatella, offer distinctive Italian fare at this stylish spot near John Wayne Airport.

Consider paper-thin focaccia sheets filled with Crescenza cheese; trufflescented wild boar carpaccio and cuttlefish-ink-tinted pasta with lobster are off-the-menu specialties. The tripe reflects the chef’s rustic Sicilian roots, the modern art his sophisticated side.

L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 4251 Martingale Way, Newport Beach, 949.955.2755, ilbaroneristorante.com IL DOLCE PIZZERIACL9000006862 Italian. Superior artisanal Naplesstyle pizzas and lovely pastas—and Argentine empanadas!—on a busy intersection opposite Triangle Square.

The simple pepperoni pizza may be the county’s best; the pistachio pizza, with Parmesan, red onions, rosemary and Gruyère, is a more unusual delight. L, D (daily). 1902 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.200.9107, ildolceoc.com IL GARAGECL0000022678 Italian. David Slay of acclaimed ParkAve opens a beguiling Italian spot in a garage, amid vintage tractors and red-checkered tablecloths, overlooking the ParkAve garden.

Items from the garden inspire the menu; some produce comes from the Fullerton Arboretum. Seared baby artichokes with rosemary and grilled lemon; arugula and white figs with crispy prosciutto; lasagna al forno. D (Tu-Sa). 11200 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714.901.4400, parkavedining.com JAVIER’SCL0000022678 Mexican. Buzzing with margaritafueled good cheer, these lively Mexican siblings are known for their decor, Baja-style seafood and south-of-the-border classics. Coastal spot has Moorish chandeliers, mother-of-pearl tiled walls and a spectacular metal-tree wall sculpture.

The Irvine location is stylish, too.

Irvine Spectrum Center, 45 Fortune

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Drive, Irvine, 949.872.2101; 7832 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.494.1239, javiers-cantina.com h JT Schmid’sCL0000022679 Brew pub. Popular spots with laidback California decor are famous for handcrafted beers brewed on-site and classic brew-pub cuisine. Woodfired pizzas, 32-ounce “cowboy steak,” pastas and burgers share an eclectic menu with jambalaya, fish tacos and sashimi. Enjoy the inviting patio or banquet dining facilities.

L, D (daily). 2610 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.634.9200; The District at Tustin Legacy, 2415 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.0333, jtschmids.com KATSUYA BY STARCKCL0000022679 Japanese. Splendid bento boxinspired surroundings by renowned designer Phillipe Starck and huge images of geisha eyes and lips provide a striking backdrop for stunning cocktails and cuisine by master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi. The menu pairs Japanese ingredients with hip American sensibilities and adds robata-grilled skewers and haute hot dishes. You feel beautiful inside and out. The deck overlooking Coast Highway is a scene unto itself. L, D (daily). 858 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.793.4030, sbe.com/katsuya/laguna-beach h K’ya Bistro BarCL0000022680 Eclectic. At this handsome bistro inside the Hotel La Casa del Camino, small plates make for tremendous variety, paired with a wide selection of wines by the glass. Chicken empanadas, petite lamb or ahi burgers, lobster macaroni-andcheese, Hawaiian poke, grilled filet mignon and truffle risotto reflect the diversity of the cuisine here.

B, D (daily). 1287 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.9718, kyabistro.com h K’ya street faret Eclectic. The restaurant celebrates the manner in which 2.5 billion people eat every day—local dishes

dispensed by street vendors. Enjoy dishes from every corner of the world: hibachi salmon from Tokyo, pommes frites from Paris, crisp calamari from Bangkok. Signature items of Chicago, San Francisco and New Orleans, too—and none more than $10. B, L, D (daily). Hotel Ménage, 1221 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.758.0900, kyastreetfare.com Leatherby’s Café RougeCL0000022686 California. Chic and sleek affair from the Patina Group makes graceful use of its site within the grand, glittering Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Acres of windows and curving lines set the scene for sophisticated and cutting-edge cuisine. Ideal for preor post-performance. D (Tu-Su). 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.429.7640, patinagroup.com Lucca Cafe & MarketCL9000006913 Mediterranean. Euro-chic bistro, deli and wine bar in upscale shopping center is a serious destination for foodies seeking items such as mole salami made by Mario Batali’s father, Armondino, and menu items inspired by the South of France, Italy and Greece using artisanal and organic ingredients direct from local farmers markets. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). Quail Hill Village Center, 6507 Quail Hill Parkway, Irvine, 949.725.1773, luccacafe.net

brunch. lunch. dinner. happy hour. private events. late night lounge.

714.979.2400 www.ScottsRestaurantandBar.com 3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa Ca. 92626

Marché ModerneCL9000006303 French. Chef Florent Marneau and pastry chef wife Amelia raise the bistro to delicious heights with their unstuffy but oh-so-French effort, among the finest bistro experiences in Southern California. He revels in what’s good and what’s seasonal to fashion superb ever-changing choices: oysters du jour, scallops with bone marrow, La Belle Farms foie gras, galangal-scented monkfish, roasted venison filet. To finish, choose among exquisite cheeses or one of Amelia’s transcendent desserts. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.434.7900, marchemoderne.net

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h MaSTRO’S OcEan clUBCL0000022681 Seafood. This bluff-top, ocean-view spot is a sibling of swanky Mastro’s Steakhouse in Costa Mesa. Seafood is flown in daily and served in majestic proportions. Start with the dry-ice enshrouded Seafood Tower; end with the warm butter cake. In the O Bar, people eat off the glass-topped grand piano; the pianist plays “The In Crowd,” and the dressed-to-impress locals eat that up, too. D (nightly). Crystal Cove Promenade, 8112 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.376.6990, mastrosrestaurants.com h MaSTRO’S STEaKHOUSECL0000022682 Steak. It’s larger than its Beverly Hills sibling yet still cozy, especially the bar, with its fine live music nightly.

Portions are larger than life. We’d be happy with any one dish, notably the wet-aged hand-cut bone-in filet; excessively good sides such as the off-themenu crab gnocchi; and the—oooh— warm butter cake. White-jacket service adds to the special-occasion feel. Love the contemporary glass chandelier at the door. D (nightly). 633 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.546.7405, mastrosrestaurants.com

no CorKaGe Fee. ever. opa!

GreeK FaMilY reCipeS. $2 happY hour 4pM-6pM MondaY-FridaY liKe You are in GreeCe. no airline tiCKet needed.

South CoaSt Metro | 3940 S. BriStol Street, Ste 113, Santa ana | 714.708.3000 FaShion iSland | 401 newport Center drive, newport BeaCh | 949.717.7600 www.thaSoS.CoM

open 7 daYS | dine in | taKe out | Full CaterinG availaBle.

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h MORTOn’S THE STEaKHOUSECL85 Steak. Classy bastion of beef offers service-plus and colossal portions amid cozy lighting and mahogany booths. Consider double filet, Cajun rib-eye or retro filet Oscar. Show-andtell table-side menu recitation. Begin, or end, an evening with Power Hour in Bar 1221. Santa Ana: L (M-F), D (nightly). Anaheim: D (nightly). South Coast Plaza Village, 1641 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, 714.444.4834; 1895 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.621.0101, mortons.com MR. STOxCL9000006883 american. North County favorite with impeccable service in a Missionstyle building with elegant interiors serves dishes such as Maryland crab cakes, osso buco and USDA Prime New York steak. Breads and pastries are baked on the premises; Wine Spectator has honored the 1,000label wine list since 1983. L (M-F), D (nightly). 1105 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.634.2994, mrstox.com

h Mi caSaCL9000006914 Mexican. Family-owned haciendastyle eatery has attracted a devoted cadre with Sonoran-style Mexican fare since 1972. Consider chili verde tostadas, massive tacos, Mexican pizza and one of 20 margaritas and cocktails including the Waborita, with Cabo Wabo Blanco and Cointreau. L, D (daily). 296 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.645.7626, micasa1.com

napa ROSECL0000022687 california. Wine country comes to the Disneyland Resort by way of this stunning celebration of beauty in the bottle and the bounty of nature. Ace chef Andrew Sutton leads a stellar crew, conjuring sophisticated seasonal dishes. The stylish setting has a relaxed air, thanks to a polished staff (including dozens of sommeliers) eager to tailor memorable meals that employ one of the region’s finest wine cellars.

D (nightly). Grand Californian Hotel, 1600 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.3463

h MixCL0 california. Venue with lounge in the Hilton’s atrium lobby offers often organic dishes including grilled Caribbean mahi mahi with mango and pineapple sauce and basmati rice, and natural USDA Choice rib-eye with cognac green peppercorn sauce. B, L, D (daily). Hilton Anaheim, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, 714.740.4412, hiltonanaheimhotel.com

h nEWpORT RiB cOMpanYCL0000022688 american. Family-owned and -operated spot has been offering superior baby-back ribs for more than 25 years—plus choice steaks, slow-roasted tri-tip, seafood, chicken, sandwiches and salads. Full bar with sports TV; takeout from 10:30 am.

L (Sa-Su), D (nightly). 2196 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.631.2110, ribcompany.com

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Nieuport 17CL9000006884 Continental. Venerated spot named for World War I fighter plane attracts fine diners, famed aviators. Amazing collection of aviation memorabilia, German hunt lodge decor. Beef Wellington, aged hand-cut steaks, prime rib, fresh seafood. Live entertainment, vintage cocktails and gastropub appetizers in the convivial Barnstormer Lounge. L (M-F), D (nightly). Lafayette Plaza, 13051 Newport Ave., Tustin, 714.731.5130, nieuport17.com ORANGE HILL CL0000022690 Continental. Hilltop hideaway with endless city-light views; traditional and updated fare includes seafood appetizers, pastas, chateaubriand for two and lobster. The new Orange Bar offers small plates and has a retro orange theme that extends to the Burning Mandarin martini, orange chandliers and even an orange piano.

D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 6410 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.997.2910, theorangehillrestaurant.com.

PALM TERRACEL0000022691 California. A tight menu of contemporary small plates changes with the seasons; the dining room and lounge have a lush atrium look. Consider tortilla soup; macaroni and cheese with Taleggio cheese, crushed truffles and Parmesan tuile; or prime beef short ribs sous-vide-braised with rum and pepper. Desserts are spectacular. B, L, D (daily). The Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 866.554.4619, theislandhotel.com Park Ave RestaurantCL9000006304 Steak. Acclaimed spot serves creative renditions of classic American cuisine featuring house-made and home-grown specialties. Owner-chef David Slay endeavors to maintain an all-natural menu: Most produce is meticulously grown on the premises, and diners are invited to visit the garden. The architecture is Googie, the decor midcentury retro. Entrées

include diverse cuts of steaks and seafood. Il Garage is adjacent (see separate listing.) L (Tu-F), D (TuSu). 11200 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714.901.4400, parkavedining.com Pinot Provence CL0000022693 French. Sophisticated French-Med dishes at this enduring marvel from the acclaimed Patina Group is a favorite for executive breakfasts and lunches, pre-theater dinners and special occasions. The intimate dining room boasts a massive stone fireplace, but the charming walled patio beckons year-round as well. B (M-Sa), L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su).

Westin South Coast Plaza, 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.444.5900, patinagroup.com PIZZERIA MOZZA CL0000022693 Italian. New spot from culinary stars Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton and Joseph Bastianich replicates their much acclaimed Los Angeles collaboration, serving transcendent pizza including one with rapini, cherry tomatoes, anchovies, olives and chilies, another with speck, bufala mozzarella, olive tapenade and oregano. Start with fried squash blossoms with ricotta or bonemarrow al forno; end with caramel copetta with marshmallow sauce and Spanish peanuts. L, D (daily).

800 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.945.1126, pizzeriamozza.com PiZZERIA ORTICA Italian. Spot owned by lauded Los Angeles chef David Myers offers refined authentic fare using intriguing ingredients (and a 300-year-old biga starter) beneath soaring ceilings and frescoes. Consider pizza with fresh ricotta, house-cured pork cheek, scallions and fennel pollen, or the Calabrese, with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, rapini, Calabrian chilies and bottarga. The pear and pecorino tortelli is memorable.

L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 650 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.445.4900, pizzeriaortica.com

We have a lot of competition...BUT

www.ribcompany.com Online re servations and ordering

2196 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Call: (949) 631-2110

• Large Comfortable Booths • A great selection of Prime Steaks, Seafood & Innovative Salads • Warm Cozy Bar • Gluten Free menu options • Kids menu options • A local Landmark for Tourists and Locals alike for over 27 years

5800 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, CA 90803 Call: (562) 439-7427

Take-Out: 10 a.m. Daily, Dine-In: M-F open at 4 p.m.; Sa-Su open at noon

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h RA SushiCL9000006853 Japanese. Upbeat sushi restaurant and bar offers distinctive Japanesefusion cuisine and sushi dishes such as the Chili Ponzu Yellowtail, crab-andshrimp Tootsy Maki and salmonand-mango Crazy Monkey Roll.

With its red-globe-light-bedecked ceiling, sleek decor, oversized aquarium and hip soundtrack, the Huntington Beach location has a clublike feel. L, D (daily). The Strand, 155 Fifth St., Huntington Beach, 714.536.6390; The District at Tustin Legacy, 2401 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.566.1700, rasushi.com

ANAHEIM

1545 DISNEYLAND DR. • ANAHEIM, CA 92802 714.300.ESPN(3776) • ESPNZONE.COM

© Disney

h Rainforest CafeCL0000022694 Themed. Animatronics, aquariums and special effects bring the adventure of the rain forest indoors. Dine on fare including seafood, beef and chicken, pastas, salads, sandwiches and pizza among lush vegetation, lightning storms and wild animals.

There’s a kids menu, of course; end with the Volcano dessert. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.424.9200; Downtown Disney, 1515 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.772.0413, rainforestcafe.com h Ralph Brennan’s Jazz KitchenCL0000022695 American. Find New Orleans jazz and Creole cuisine at this festive spot, modeled after New Orleans’ French Quarter. Menu standouts include pasta jambalaya, gumbo ya-ya, Creole calamari and bananas Foster. Enjoy beignets at the Jazz Kitchen Express, quieter romantic dining upstairs and casual lunch and dinner downstairs.

Check out the beaded piano! L, D (daily). Jazz Kitchen Express opens at 8 am daily. Downtown Disney, 1590 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.776.5200, rbjazzkitchen.com

Contemporary California Cuisine • Handcrafted Brews Banquet Facilities • Wide Screen TVs • Outdoor Patio

Ramos House CaféCL0000022696 American. Tucked away in the historic Los Rios district, Ramos House Café is a captivatingly ramshackle abode that turns out truly delectable daytime fare. Contemporary Ameri-

can breakfasts—many think they’re the county’s best—and lunches have a Southern accent that befits the rustic, alfresco setting with the rumble of passing trains as a soundtrack.

B, L (Tu-F); Br (Sa-Su). 31752 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.1342, ramoshouse.com RayaCL9000006865 Latin-global. Global cuisine from Latin chef Richard Sandoval served up amid spectacular ocean views.

Sweet corn soup with huitlacoche, avocado, mussels, crab, lobster and popcorn shoot; ancho-pistachiocrusted ahi tuna with peach chayote salad, mole verde, crab-stuffed squash blossom and habanero-ginger glazed carrots. Fun churros complete the sophisticated, elegantly presented meal.

B, L, D (daily). Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000, ritzcarlton.com Roy’sCL0000022697 Hawaiian fusion. Roy Yamaguchi pioneered the Pacific Rim cuisine that led to his Hawaiian fusion fare.

Assertive flavors, unusual combinations, stylish decor. Pineapple-infused martini; Yamaguchi sushi. D (nightly). Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.776.7697; Fashion Island, 453 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.7697, roysrestaurant.com RuTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE3 Steak. Iconic steakhouses feature beloved classics and dishes honoring their Louisiana heritage. Begin with New Orleans-style barbecued shrimp or crab cakes before tucking into tender, perfectly seared steaks that arrive sizzling in butter. The Anaheim spot is dramatically designed. Anaheim, D (nightly); Irvine, L (F), D (nightly).

2041 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.750.5466; 2961 Michelson Drive, Irvine, 949.252.8848, ruthschris.com Sam & Harry’sCL0000022699 Steak. Fine steaks, pristine seafood and potent cocktails make for swank

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repasts. Sleek decor is retro and ofthe-moment. Hand-cut Midwest cornfed steaks are aged 28 days; seafood flown in daily includes South African lobster tails. Have a nightcap by the fire pit. L, D (daily). Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.6900, samandharrys.com

seasonal menu at the handsome spot includes spicy chipotle shrimp flat bread, lemongrass salmon salad under glass, oak-grilled filet mignon and Mini Indulgences desserts. Master sommelier George Miliotes compiled the wine list. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.437.5252, seasons52.com

h SapORi RiSTORanTE2 italian.

Chef-owner Salvatore Maniaci creates authentic dishes amid inviting decor in a spot tucked away near Balboa Island, with inside dining and a fire-warmed patio.

Maniaci thrives on creating memorable meals; on the menu are polenta e porcini, penne otero, farfalle salmone and scaloppine Gorgonzola.

1080 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949.644.4220, saporinb.com

SHadESCL0000022701 california. Casual elegance, a winning Cal-Continental menu and ocean views make this steakhouse and seafood restaurant a popular destination. Boutique ranch meats inspire the deft cooking, and wine flights elevate the possibilities. The poolside patio is favored for the lavish Sunday brunch. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su). Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.845.8000, waterfrontresort.com

SappHiRE LaGUnaCL9000006917 Eclectic. Chef Azmin Ghahreman offers sophisticated, globally inspired dishes at his stylish restaurant and lounge; the patio overlooks Coast Highway. Malaysian black-pepper prawns; Argentine-style beef carpaccio; South African red mango curried barramundi; and a fantastic burger. Gourmet pantry for takeout. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su).

1200 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9888, sapphirellc.com h ScOTT’S Seafood. Superb seafood, prime steaks and fun desserts, plus excellent cocktails in the lounge, all close to shopping and ideal for pre-theater— there’s even a bell 15 minutes before showtime. Australian barramundi with endive, almonds and arugula risotto; bison moco with quail egg and Madeira sauce. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.979.2400, scottsrestaurantandbar.com h SEaSOnS 52 american. No dish more than 475 calories. Lots of flavor. Plus fabulous piano bar, stylish decor and casually sophisticated ambience. The eclectic

SidE dOORCL9000006885 Gastropub. Superb spot shares historic building (replica of Ye Olde Bell, England’s oldest inn) with finedining landmark Five Crowns; recent regional accolades include Restaurant of the Year. D (nightly), Br (Su).

3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.717.4322, sidedoorcdm.com

SOL cOcinaCL9000006916 Mexican. Stylish spot overlooking the harbor canals features the fare of Deborah Schneider, author of the cookbook Amor y Tacos. Vibrant Baja-inspired dishes include pibilroasted fish on a banana leaf and Kurobuta carnitas; cocktails and side dishes are sensational. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 251 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.675.9800. solcocina.com SpLaSHESCL0000022700 california. Whether you’re indoors by the fireplace or on the patio steps from the sand, the water’s-edge view of crashing waves and stunning sunsets at this posh resort’s dining room provides a dramatic backdrop for meals from an alluring menu meant to make gorgeous memories. Molecular cocktails

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Antonello Specialty Restaurants

on Thursdays. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su).

Surf & Sand Resort, 1555 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.2779, surfandsandresort.com STARFISHCL0000022703 Eclectic. New culinary concept from Nancy Wilhelm, owner of Zagattopping Tabu Grill, offers “AmerAsian” cuisine—American takes on cuisines of Thailand, Vietnam, China, Korea and India with a nice lacing of heat—amid Asian art-deco decor in a shopping center opposite the Montage Laguna Beach. L, D (daily).

30832 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9200, starfishlaguna.com STONEHILL TAVERNCL0000022703 American. Acclaimed chef Michael Mina offers sensational contemporary fare in a shimmering room at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, turning the cozy-tavern concept on its ear by bringing the ocean indoors via windows, mirrors and veranda seating.

His urbane ode to New American fare includes Maine lobster pot pie; braised Kurobuta pork short rib with kumquats and sweet-potato puree; and roasted banana soufflé. D (W-Su).

1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949.234.3318, michaelmina.net

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smoked bacon; seared hiramasa with steamed bamboo rice and sweet-andsour cucumber sorbet. D (nightly).

2892 S. Coast Hwy., South Laguna, 949.494.7743, tabugrill.com TAMARINDCL9000006918 Indian. New sibling to Michelinstarred spot in London offers elegantly presented Moghul-derived tandooroven favorites and innovative seasonal dishes. Grilled scallops with peppercorns, fennel and star anise; chicken tikka with pureed tomatoes, ginger, green chilies and fenugreek. L, D (daily). Crystal Cove Promenade, East Coast Highway and Crystal Heights Drive, Newport Coast, 949.415.8865, tamarindrestaurant.com

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Cucina Nostalgica Italiana South Coast Plaza Village 3800 S. Plaza Dr., Santa Ana 714 751 7153 antonello.com

A Touch of Southern Italy South Coast Plaza West 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa 714 540 3365 nellocucina.com

Contemporary Northern Italian Cuisine South Coast Plaza 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa 714 754 0300 quattrocaffe.com

Private Parties | Catering

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TRADITION BY PASCALCL9000006919 French. Acclaimed chef Pascal Olhats celebrates more than 20 years at this spot near John Wayne Airport offering elegant, rustic dishes, relaxed ambience and vin-de-pays

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TABU GRILLCL9000006918 Seafood/steak. Cal-Pacific Rim comfort-fusion surf-and-turf: Snake River Farms Wagyu flat-iron steak with three-cheese macaroni, balsamic-grilled red onion and applewood-

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H THASOS GREEK ISLAND GRILLE Greek. Extensive menu of family recipes—classics such as dolmades, falafel, gyros, spanakopita, moussaka, pastitsio—are made from scratch and served in a warm, casual setting. Baklava and Greek yogurt with honey and nuts, as well as tiramisu, make for sweet finishes. L, D (daily). 3940 Bristol St., Santa Ana, 714.708.3000; Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.717.7600, thasos.com

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STUDIOCL0000022704 Cal-French. Bluff-top bungalow with a stunning azure and endless Pacific view oozes offhand luxury befitting its premium resort setting.

Chef Craig Strong offers very creative seasonal Cal-French cuisine, gilded by genteel service, ingredients from an on-site garden and an impressive wine program, earning highest marks on all fronts. D (Tu-Su). Montage Laguna Beach, 30801 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.6420, studiolagunabeach.com

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H TANGERINE GRILL & PATIO 0006918 California. Find a culinary California adventure—with Pacific Rim and Southwestern flair—opposite Disney’s California Adventure. Specialties use free-range ingredients and local produce. Consider tangerine chicken; Grand Marnier chili-lime jumbo shrimp; coconut-crusted mahi mahi, Malibu culotte steak; and prime rib. B, L, D (daily). Anabella Hotel, 1030 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.772.1186, tangerinegrillandpatio.com

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with Over 70 Items $10 Or Less!

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ISH ISH SH ISH BIGF IGFI BIGF BIGF B ISH ISH ISH ISH ISH BIGF Fresh BIGF seaFood, BIGF BIGF View, BIGF ocean ISH ISH ISH ISH ISH BIGF bar, BIGFliVe entertainment BIGF BIGF BIGF SH Iand ISH 70+IGFicy oVer ISH brews ISH ISH BIGF BIGF B BIGF BIGF ISH ISH ISH SH ISH BIGF BIGF IGFI BIGF BIGF B ISH ISH BIGF BIGF ISH ISH BIGF BIGF ISH Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm Daily ISH BIGF BIGF happy hour Mon.-Fri. 3-5pm SH IGFI B 1/2 Off All Mojitos, Beer, Wine & Well Drinks ISH SH SH I F G BIGF IB GFI BI H H H S H S I H S I S I F I F F GF Close BIGFIS 1289 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, Ca 92651 oPen BIG BIG dailyBIG11:30am BIto ISH ISH SH ISH SH 949.497.2446 | rooftoplagunabeach.com BIGF IB GFI BIGF IB GFI BIGF ISH ISH ISH SH ISH BIGF BIGF IGFI BIGF BIGF B ISH ISH ISH ISH ISH BIGF BIGF BIGF BIGF BIGF biG bi G SFish FH ISH ISH ISH ISH BIGF IGFI BIGF BIGF t-shirts tB-shirts BIGF ISH H ISH ISH & hats hats FISH GFIS BIGF BIGF I BIGF Starting Take a culinary adventure BIGat B $10 H H H S H S I H I IS S at K’ya Street Fare, which IS BIGF BIGF IGFI BIGF BIGF B serves street food and ISH SH SH SH FISH available I F IB GNow IB GFI G BIGF IB GFI authentic dishes reflecting BI HbiG FishFISHGiFt cards H S H I H S S I F S I the flavors of different I BIG BIG BIGF BIGF BIGF cultures from Paris, Chicago, Bangkok, New Orleans ISH ISH SH ISH SH BIGF IB GFI BIGF haPPy IB GFI BIGF hour and more. K’ya Street Fare promises to hit the spot H H H S H S I H I IS S IS BIGF BIGF Monday-Friday IGFI with delicious, fun fare and not a dish over $10 in sight!

BIGF BIGF B H ISH ISH ISH ISH GFIS BIGF BIGF BI2:30pm-6:30pm BIGF BIGF $5 HaPPy HOur Come ISH SH Early!

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$5.00

Happy Hour & Bonus Happy Hour

(1/2 Off Any Food Item with Puchase of Cocktail, Beer or Wine)

7 Days A Week 4:30-5:30pm

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1287 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 949.376.9718 | kyabistro.com

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8/24/11 12:49 PM 9/13/11 11:00 AM

wine list. Adjacent Pascal Épicerie offers sophisticated quick fare.

Olhats also helms Brasserie Pascal at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and French 75 in Laguna Beach.

L (M-F), D (Tu-Su). Plaza Newport, 1000 Bristol St., Newport Beach, 949.263.9400, pascalnpb.com

poised California cuisine and enlightened wine list. Surfer-chef-owner Justin Monson’s seasonal cookery tastes right at home in a hand-hewn space with open kitchen. St. Roy Chef’s Pub is adjacent. L (W-Sa), D (Tu-Sa). 211 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2079, vinesanclemente.com

True Food KitchenCL9000006910 Eclectic. Healthful-living author Dr. Andrew Weil presents globally inspired, locally sourced dishes in airy, cheery room and on inviting patio with linear fire pit. Tuscan kale salad; grilled steelhead salmon with arugula, beets, pomegranate, lemon and cold-pressed olive oil; more healthful cocktails, and more eco-consciously made wines.

L, D (daily); Br (Sa–Su). Fashion Island, 451 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.644.2400, truefoodkitchen.com

Vue RestaurantCL0000022710 California. Contemporary fare in upscale, relaxed setting with outside fire pit is perched on a bluff overlooking Dana Point Harbor. Kobe short ribs with porcinis, English peas and truffle essence; wild king salmon with curry quinoa, spinach and grapefruit beurre blanc. B (daily), L (M-Sa), D (F-Sa). Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, 949.487.7555, thevuerestaurant.com

h 21 OceanfrontCL0000022707 Continental. Romantic restaurant offers sunset views of the oceanfront, Catalina Island and Newport Pier.

Inside are cozy bars, classic decor, an award-winning wine list, servers in black tie and a menu featuring abalone, oysters, jumbo prawns and crab legs, as well as top-notch steaks and osso buco. Live entertainment in the lounge. D (nightly). 2100 W. Oceanfront, Newport Beach, 949.673.2100, 21oceanfront.com h Vie De FranceCL0000022708 French. Classic French dishes— onion soup, niçoise salad, omelets, quiches, crepes, boeuf bourguignon and lots more—are made from scratch, breads and pastries baked fresh daily, sandwiches made to order and desserts also made inhouse at this charming bistro and bakery. B, L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.1734, viedefrance.com ViNeCL0000022708 California. Laid-back beach burg takes wine-country detour with

The WineryCL9000006911 California. Chef-partner Yvon Goetz offers contemporary regional cuisine that earned the handsome venue recognition as Restaurant of the Year

by O.C. concierges. The dining room, limestone terrace, humidor patio and excellent bar menu offer a versatile experience. Fresh seafood, wild game and prime steaks, not to mention Alsatian pizza and artisan cheeses, are complemented by wines from the 7,000-bottle cellar. L (M-F), D (nightly). 2647 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.7600, thewineryrestaurant.net ZIMZALA9 California. Surfer-chic restaurant and bar at stylish Shorebreak Hotel offers stylish “American/beach comfort” cuisine to match—and excellent creative Cal-Med fare, too. Signature dishes include the grilled sirloin burger, with Gruyère cheese, caramelized onions and Parmesan-garlic fries, and cast-iron-cooked mussels.

Br, D (daily). 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.861.4470, restaurantzimzala.com For hundreds more DINING listings, see where ORANGE COUNTY magazine

74 WHERE GUESTBOOK LBVCB Where Guestbook Ad.indd 8/24/11 3:39:50 PM Page 1

062-74_DINING LISTINGS_GBOC11.indd 74

9/13/11 11:00 AM

special advertising section

AGORA CHURRASCARIA

MENU HIGHLIGHTS Table-Served Side Dishes Fried bananas Brazilian cheese bread Tomato vinaigrette Salad Bar Selections Caesar salad Baby greens Eggplant salad Hearts of palm Sliced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella Marinated artichokes Pickled shiitake Roasted beets Selection of cold cuts and cheeses Salmon gravlax Shrimp cocktail Hot Dishes Clams with olive oil and white wine Chicken stroganoff Baked salmon Feijoada (black bean stew) Mussels

“Agora Churrascaria, a meat lover’s paradise, is the next best thing to dining in Brazil.”

—The Orange County Register Agora Churrascaria, located in the heart of Irvine, is a traditional Brazilian steakhouse where restaurant patrons are offered a fixed-price menu. It includes a selection of the finest beef, lamb, pork and chicken cuts, which gaucho-dressed waiters carve tableside.

All of the meats are prepared and cooked as they have been for centuries: seasoned with rock salt to accent the individual tastes of each cut and slow-roasted over an open-flame mesquite charcoal pit. Also included in the fixed-price menu are the tableserved side dishes, the sumptuous salad bar and a selection of hot dishes. A salad bar-only option is also available. Agora’s full bar features classic and specialty cocktails along with an extensive wine list. Valet and public parking available in the adjoining lot.

Reservations are recommended. L (M-F), D (nightly).

1830 Main St. (at MacArthur Boulevard), Irvine

949.222.9910 agoranow.com

075-79_FORMAT ADS_GBOC11.indd 75

Meats Filet mignon Brazilian-style linguiça sausage Chicken wrapped in bacon Coração (chicken heart) Top sirloin Tri-tip Lamb chops Pork tenderloin Picanha (top sirloin cap) Garlic beef Beef skirt steak Beef ribs Leg of lamb Pork tenderloin with parmesan Filet wrapped in bacon Salmon Desserts Chocolate mousse cake Brazilian flan Tiramisu Acaí Cheesecake Passion fruit mousse Gelatos and sorbets

9/13/11 10:54 AM

special advertising section

MASTRO’S OCEAN CLUB

MASTRO’S steakhouse

Mastro's Ocean Club Newport Beach offers unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island from its vantage on a bluff high above the ocean front. The menu offers an impressive array of fresh seafood as well as classic steaks. Selections range from ahi tuna and sautéed scallops to Chilean sea bass, live Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab legs. Sip a glass of wine on the Lighthouse Patio overlooking the ocean, dine in the courtyard, or enjoy a hand-shaken dry-ice martini and listen to live music at the piano bar. Live entertainment. D (nightly).

Mastro's Steakhouse Costa Mesa, located just steps from South Coast Plaza and the performing arts district, perfects hand-cut wet-aged steaks and fresh seafood. Among menu favorites are the renowned three-tiered iced Seafood Tower, bone-in filet, king crab black truffle gnocchi and one-of-a-kind warm butter cake.

The expansive restaurant displays contemporary décor throughout two spacious floors, and provides guests with a variety of dining options including an outdoor patio, a full-bar piano lounge, and private rooms for large parties or special events. Weddings are hosted in the spectacular Noguchi sculpture garden and are followed by lavish receptions, both coordinated by an in-house director of events. Live entertainment. D (nightly).

8112 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach

633 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa

075-79_FORMAT ADS_GBOC11.indd 76

949.376.6990

714.546.7405

mastrosrestaurants.com

mastrosrestaurants.com

9/13/11 10:54 AM

special advertising section

Ra sushi bar Restaurant RA elevates the ancient art of sushi to new heights with its modern Japanese fusion cuisine served in a hip, trendy atmosphere that is fashionable yet unpretentious. The dĂŠcor hints of traditional Japanese architecture but features a dramatic backdrop of deepred-stained wood, stainless steel, bamboo canopies and signature lighting that casts a seductive red glow. Fresh sashimi and sushi are sliced to order; innovative rolls and specialties like the crispy onion albacore tapas, Pacific roll, and apple teriyaki salmon make RA a cut above your neighborhood sushi bar. It's a RA tradition to enjoy a festive happy hour Monday-Saturday from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. as well as sample the bar's wide selection of sake and exotic cocktails.

L, D (daily).

Sapori Ristorante Italiano For over 20 years chef and owner Salvatore Maniaci has been creating authentic Italian dishes that have impressed even the harshest critics. Tucked away near Balboa Island, Salvatore’s restaurant is redesigned and welcoming, with both inside dining and an outdoor, fire-warmed patio. The food surpasses the ambience, and Salvatore loves to personally create special meals and memories. Amazing pastas, fresh seafood and hand-selected filet mignon in mushroom-cabernet sauce are just some of the tempting menu items that are sure to leave you satisfied. Wine list and full bar. L (M-F); D (nightly).

The Strand 155 5th Street, Huntington Beach

714.536.6390

075-79_FORMAT ADS_GBOC11.indd 77

The District at Tustin Legacy 2401 Park Ave., Tustin

1080 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach

714.566.1700

949.644.4220

rasushi.com

saporinb.com

9/13/11 10:55 AM

special advertising section

GEN KAI

Tangerine grill & Patio

At Gen Kai, diners are provided all the comforts and care of Japanese hospitality in an authentic Japanese environment. The eatery, a local favorite, was established in 1978; personable owner Sachiko Brewer, at the helm since 1994, bustles about the tables and booths overseeing each detail of her diners’ pleasurable experience. The food is the centerpiece, a wide variety of colorful sushi dishes prepared by chefs trained and certified in Japan. The lobster roll uses a whole 6-ounce lobster, the King crab roll an entire crab leg.

Signature items also include the “pizza roll,” a California roll wrapped in salmon skin, baked and served hot. L (M-F), D (nightly).

The Tangerine Grill & Patio at the Anabella Hotel is quintessentially Californian, offering casual ambience and elegant cuisine in Spanish missionstyle decor. Executive chef Sergio Rivera has created an imaginative menu of California dishes with Southwestern and Pacific Rim influences using free-range ingredients and locally grown produce.

Highlights include coconut-crusted mahi mahi, California tacos, and grilled citrus chicken with tropical fruit salsa. Seating in the al fresco dining area or on the relaxing outdoor terrace. B, L, D (daily).

3344 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar

1030 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim

949.675.0771

075-79_FORMAT ADS_GBOC11.indd 78

MIX Mix Restaurant at the Hilton Anaheim offers an exciting fusion of globally inspired flavors and fresh locally sourced ingredients in a contemporary setting. Enjoy a hearty breakfast with the entire family, a satisfying lunch between meetings or an intimate dinner for two—“Mix” it up at this inviting spot for dining and entertainment. Intriguing breakfast selections include pacific lobster benedict on brioche or shrimp and avocado omelet. Among eclectic lunch and dinner entrée items are grilled Australian barramundi, natural pork tenderloin with tomato apricot chutney and wiener schnitzel. Mix offers an extensive wine and signature cocktail list as well as an array of delectable desserts. B, L, D (daily).

777 Convention Way, Anaheim

714.772.1186

714.740.4412

tangerinegrillandpatio.com

hiltonanaheimtour.com

9/13/11 10:55 AM

special advertising section

ANAHEIM WHITE HOUSE located in a 1909 mansion that is a national historic landmark, anaheim White House offers an elegant fine-dining experience featuring italian-French entrees, an award-winning wine list and spectacularly presented desserts. Menu highlights include calamari with grappa and the signature salmon chocolat, a steamed salmon fillet atop a Belgianwhite-chocolate mashed potato puree. twelve private dining areas accommodate groups of 12 to 70 guests; the west-wing ballroom offers 1,800 square feet for parties of up to 170. l (M-F), d (nightly), Br (su)

887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim

AMELIA’S

VIE DE FRANCE

celebrating 50 years, amelia’s seafood & italian restaurant has been delighting visitors and locals alike. located among the boutiques on Balboa island, this quaint european-style restaurant specializes in exquisite pasta and delectable seafood. try the linguine with baby calamari and fresh bay scallops with marinara sauce. amelia’s features fresh fish and mouthwatering combination dinners such as the filet mignon and scampi. Fine wines available. private parties from 8 to 50. d (nightly), Br (F-su)

this bakery and café offers the best of casual French cooking, reminiscent of a family-run bistro. authentic specialties such as French onion soup, niçoise salad, beef bourguignon and steak frites are prepared by experienced chefs and enjoyed in a cozy, casual environment.

Breads and pastries are baked fresh daily, and sweet finishes include chocolate mousse, fruit-filled crêpes and pain perdu. a wide variety of sandwiches, salads and lighter, vegetarian dishes provide additional versatility. vie de France is an ideal way to enjoy the cuisine of France closer to home. B, l, d (daily).

311 Marine Ave., Newport Beach

South Coast plaza 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa

714.772.1381

949.673.6580

714.557.1734

anaheimwhitehouse.com

ameliasbalboaisland.com

viedefrance.com

Seafood & Italian Restaurant

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play time ATTRACTIONS THEME PARKS, stadiums, museums, theaters, amphitheaters, galleries, golf courses, skate parks, gardens, nightlife: it’s all here.

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aTTRacTiOnS

PRiSciLLa iEZZi. OPPOSiTE: REnEE anD HEnRY SEGERSTROM cOncERT HaLL, VLaDiMiR PERLOVicH

anGEL STaDiUM CL0000022599 Home of Major League Baseball team the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, World Series winner in 2002 and often American League Western Division champs. The halo atop the 23-story “Big A” in the parking lot lights up when the team wins.

Friday night fireworks. Tours Tu-W 9:30 am, 11 am and 1 pm when the team is away, off-season on Tuesdays.

2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, 714.634.2000. Tours: 714.940.2070, angelsbaseball.com BaTTLE OF THE DancECL0000022600 The international dance and dinner show is fashioned after the Son Amar in Mallorca, Spain. The show follows a narrative and features flamenco, Celtic, Bollywood and pop dancers, as well as magicians and acrobats.

2232 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.740.1045, battleofthedance.com cRYSTaL caTHEDRaLCL0000022600 The future of the glass cathedral designed by Philip Johnson and known from TV’s Hour of Power is hazy, but the buildings are timeless.

Architectural treasures also include Richard Neutra’s Tower of Hope and Richard Meier’s International Center for Positive Thinking. Tours daily.

12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove, 714.971.4000, crystalcathedral.org H DiScOVERY SciEncE cEnTERCL0 More than 100 hands-on exhibits. Interactive displays include Dino Quest Adventure, Eco Challenge, Science of Hockey, Planetary Research Station and, inside the center’s iconic tilting cube, Boeing Rocket Lab. Kids can also create a tidal wave, make music with lasers and lie on a bed of nails. 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.542.2823, discoverycube.org

DiSnEY’S caLiFORnia aDVEnTURECL0000022603 Disneyland’s adjacent state-themed counterpart offers lands based on Hollywood, beach culture and the Gold Rush. The Pixar-film-inspired Cars Land opens in summer 2012.

The nighttime World of Color is the world’s most spectacular water, light and sound attraction. Other highlights: Soarin’ Over California, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Little Mermaid—Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.

1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565, disneyland.com DiSnEYLanDCL0000022602 Mickey Mouse’s theme park recently marked its 55th anniversary. Highlights include Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Space Mountain, Innoventions, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, It’s a Small World, Fantasmic! and a fireworks show that somehow always outdoes itself. 1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565, disneyland.com

HOnDa cEnTERCL0000022604 The entertainment and sports venue hosts blockbuster pop concerts— recent acts have included Sade and John Legend—as well as family fare such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice. The arena is home to the Anaheim Ducks hockey team and to basketball’s John R. Wooden Classic. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2500, hondacenter.com KnOTT’S BERRY FaRMCL0000022605 More than 165 attractions at “America’s first theme park” include a topnotch collection of roller coasters, among them Xcelerator, Silver Bullet and GhostRider; the WindSeeker ride is new. Camp Snoopy is for younger kids. In October, the park becomes Knott’s Scary Farm. Dining options include Spurs steakhouse in Ghost Town and Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner. Adjacent Soak City Water Park is open in summer. 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.220.5200, knotts.com

DRiVEn TO EXPanD new rides are one thing, a new land is another. crowning a multi-year expansion project at Disney's california adventure in anaheim is cars Land, opening in summer on 12 acres and inspired by the Disney•Pixar blockbuster film Cars. Three attractions are based on the movie, including one of the most elaborate ever created for a Disney park:

H FLiGHTDEcK aiR cOMBaT cEnTERCL900692 Flightdeck’s F-16 flight simulators offer the ultimate “Top Gun” adventure.

Takeoffs, aerial maneuvers and landing on an aircraft carrier provide exhilarating experiences in the “cockpit” that few civilians can imagine. Minimum age, 11. 1650 S. Sinclair St., Anaheim, 714.937.1511, flightdeck.com FULLERTOn aRBORETUMCL9000006937 The county’s largest botanical garden features 26 lush acres, boasting more than 4,000 unusual plant species set amid ponds and streams. The tranquil retreat recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, 657.278.3407, fullertonarboretum.com

LEGOLanD caLiFORnia CL0000022606 Theme park south of Orange County features more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including Bob the Builder in 4-D, Dune Raiders and the Land of Adventure. 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, 760.918.LEGO, california.legoland.com LOnG BEacH aqUaRiUM OF THE PaciFic CL0000022606 The venue boasts more than 11,000 sea animals, nearly 500 species. The focus is on Pacific Ocean sea life. Draws also include Shark Lagoon, where you can pet the sharks; Lorikeet Forest, where you can feed the birds; and Turtle Vision in 4-D. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 562.590.3100, aquariumofpacific.org

Radiator Springs Racers. You can also take a spin on Luigi’s Flying Tires or Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. The park gets a redesigned entrance, through a gate and onto Buena Vista Street, which suggests the atmosphere Walt Disney experienced upon first arriving in Los angeles in the 1920s. its Red car Trolleys recall the transportation system that once served Southern california; carthay circle Theatre, modeled after the site of the 1937 world premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, will house the park's most elegant restaurant.

H Starred liStingS are featured gueStBook advertiSerS. WHERE GUESTBOOK

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Strawberry Farms Golf Club Orange County’s Home Course Featuring O.C.’s Longest Hole – 630 yard 5-par

Home to the West Coast’s Finest Golf Instruction

Play your next 18-holes with Strawberry Farms

“Hotel Guest” Preferred Rates

Green Fees Discounts • Rental Club Discounts Ask your hotel concierge today for details.

11 Strawberry Farms Rd. Irvine, CA 92612

Easy to book online at www.sf-golf.com or call (949) 551-1811.

Medieval Times CL0000022607 Dinner theater show features jousting knights, Lipizzaner stallions, swordsmanship, falconry and a fourcourse feast; the pageantry unfolds in an 11th-century-castle setting and a ceremonial arena. In the gift shop is truly impressive merchandise, including elaborate swords and knives.

7662 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.523.1100, medievaltimes.com

shaped, and were shaped by, the 37th president. It is inspiring and pulls no punches; arrangements can be made to listen to Nixon’s infamous White House tapes. On display are full-size replicas of the White House’s East Room and Lincoln Sitting Room.

Docent-led garden tours take place on Saturdays. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, 714.933.5075, library.nixonfoundation.org

Mission San Juan Capistrano The jewel of the California missions, founded in 1776 and considered the birthplace of Orange County, draws visitors with its architecture, gardens, history and history-inspired exhibitions. It is the best-preserved structure of its kind in the United States. Priests still celebrate Mass in the Serra Chapel, the oldest church in California, where father Junipero Serra once presided. Free audio tours by iPod. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, missionsjc.com

h San Diego ZooCL9000006922 As the old children’s rhyme goes: You belong in the zoo. At this zoo, visitors are in good company with more than 4,000 creatures from nearly every corner of the world. Animals well-known and unfamiliar live in habitats modeled after their natural homes (e.g., Elephant Odyssey).

The landmark is a longtime leader in care and conservation. 2920 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park, 619.231.1515, sandiegozoo.org

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure2610 Join the crew of an 18th-century Spanish galleon on a high-seas adventure; cheer for your favorite pirate as he battles the evil Captain Sebastian Black.

Daredevil stunts, cannon blasts and Port of Call Feast complete the swashbuckling, musical fun. 7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.640.1497, piratesdinneradventure.com Pretend CityCL9000006938 Children’s museum near Irvine Spectrum Center and Verizon Wireless Amphitheater is an interconnected miniature city designed for children 10 and under featuring exhibits that encourage interactive experiences and play.

Included are a farm, grocery store, cafe, doctor’s office, art studio, beach, amphitheater and marina. 29 Hubble, Irvine, 949.428.3900, pretendcity.org Richard Nixon Library & BirthplaceCL0000022611 Venue on nine rolling acres offers a glimpse into the events and people that

h San Diego Zoo Safari Park3 The Serengeti is thousands of miles away, but the 1,800-acre Safari Park lets visitors experience a safari near San Diego. More than 3,500 animals roam the grounds, designed to resemble natural habitats such as savannas, forests and lakes. The park’s exhibits bring animal adventurers safely close to elephants, giraffes, gorillas, lions, antelopes, zebras and rhinos. 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, 760.747.8702, sandiegozoo.org/park Sherman Library & Gardens2 Ten themed gardens on 2.2 acres are hidden along Coast Highway. Immaculate gardens, patios and conservatories at the horticultural retreat are linked by brick walkways, beds blooming with seasonal flowers and burbling tile fountains. The library is a research center devoted to the Pacific Southwest. Café Jardin offers a “coastal garden” Cal-French lunch.

2647 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.673.2261, slgardens.org

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Vans SkateparkCL0000022613 The skate park features a combi pool that is a replica of a pool at a renowned 1980s skate park, an 80-foot miniramp and a street course. There’s also a pee-wee area. Equipment rentals are available. Vans shoes and apparel store is adjacent. The Outlets at Orange, 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, 714.769.3800, vans.com/skateparks

Performing Arts Irvine Barclay Theatre CL0000022615 This cultural gem has something for everyone, from an annual New World Flamenco Festival to string quartets to hip-hop. The intimate, 750-seat hall wins loyal audiences for its commitment to intriguing programming; it also hosts emerging local ensembles.

UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949.854.4646, thebarclay.org Laguna PlayhouseCL0000022616 One of the West Coast’s oldest continuously operating professional theaters offers a wide array of works.

Highlights in 2012 include Lonesome Traveler, inspired by American folk music, and Tickled Pink, co-written by comedian Rita Rudner. Moulton Theatre, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.ARTS, lagunaplayhouse.com Segerstrom Center for the ArtsCL0000022614 The county’s premier performingarts venue offers Broadway musicals and dance in Segerstrom Hall, concerts by the Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale and touring orchestras in the Cesar Pelli-designed Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. More intimate events take place in Founders Hall and Samueli Theater. The 25th anniversary season is the venue’s most ambitious yet.

600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787, scfta.org South Coast RepertoryCL0000022617 One of America’s foremost producers of new plays, Tony Award-winning SCR has germinated such acclaimed

productions as Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit and offers a wide range of classics as well. The more intimate Julianne Argyros Stage usually presents world or West Coast premieres. 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555, scr.org Verizon Wireless AmphitheaterCL0000022618 The outdoor concert amphitheater hosts major touring pop, rock and country acts. The Pacific Symphony Orchestra puts on summer concerts with fireworks. There are some 10,000 reserved seats and nearly 6,000 spots on the lawn, ideal for a pre-concert picnic. 8808 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, 949.855.8095, livenation.com

Museums Bowers Museum CL0000022619 Cultural-arts venue hosts blockbuster shows with venerated museums around the world and houses art and artifacts of indigenous peoples.

Permanent exhibits include Ancient Arts of China: A 5,000 Year Legacy; Headhunters: Art of the Pacific Islands, and several that are Californiathemed, among them California: The Golden Years. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.567.3600, bowers.org EXPLOROCEAN The museum, until recently the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, is in two new facilities near the Balboa Fun Zone’s Ferris wheel: the Richard and Betty Steele Model Pavilion, with its superb collection of model ships, and the East Wing Gallery, offering such exhibits as Extraordinary People, which focuses on iconic heroes of the sea. 600 E. Bay Ave., Newport Beach, 949.675.8915, explorocean.org Fullerton Museum Center The focus is on intriguing exhibitions in the areas of history, science and art, often with a pop-culture bent. Ongoing exhibits include Solid Design: Leo Fender’s Telecaster. 301 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton, 714.738.6545, cityoffullerton.com/depts/museum

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Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum Hear a Dick Dale guitar riff in your head and you’ve got the good vibration behind this shrine. One of Dale’s 1954 electric guitars is displayed.

Though small, the collection includes photos, ukuleles and surfboards, including an original hardwood that belonged to Duke Kahanamoku, who popularized surfing in the 1920s.

411 Olive Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.960.3483, surfingmuseum.org Irvine MuseumCL0000022622 Modest venue in an office building focuses on California Impressionism.

Artists include Paul De Longpré, Franz A. Bischoff, Anna Althea Hills and Granville Richard Seymour Redmond.

Guided tours on Thursdays. 18881 Von Karman Ave., Suite 100, Irvine, 949.476.2565, irvinemuseum.org

NO WONDER IT’S WORLD FAMOUS sandiegozoo.org

Choose your safari

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Laguna Art MuseumCL0000022623 With roots dating to 1918, this may be the county’s oldest cultural institution, but the eclectic museum now attracts a younger, edgier set, with exhibits 3:42 PM celebrating pop culture: video games, custom cars, comic books, surfing and tattoos. It also showcases California art of the late 19th century. 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949.494.8971, lagunaartmuseum.org

sdzsafaripark.org

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Orange County Museum of ArtCL0000022624 Premier visual-arts venue champions 20th-century and contemporary art and culture. The museum’s own exhibitions have traveled to more than 20 museums in the last decade.

Richard Diebenkorn: The Ocean Park Series is a season highlight. 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, 949.759.1122, ocma.net

Golf

Anaheim Hills Golf CoursE Course spread over Old California terrain features stirring hillside vistas, graceful valleys and a natural stream flowing past stands of stately oaks and sycamores. Fees include cart and GPS system. The 30,000-square-foot Mediterranean-themed clubhouse adds to one of the county’s best golfing values.

6501 Nohl Ranch Road, Anaheim, 714.998.3041, playanaheimgolf.com Black Gold Golf ClubCL0000022627 Arthur Hills designed the North County canyon course, whose challenges include elevation changes and blind tee shots. The 12th hole is O.C.’s highest elevation for a tee area; there’s a waterfall off the 18th green. Fees include cart and GPS. Optimal views from reception venue.

1 Black Gold Drive, Yorba Linda, 714.961.0060, blackgoldgolf.com

LYON AIR MUSEUM940 Some of the world’s rarest operational 20th-century aircraft, including the Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress,” and other historical vehicles that helped define the century, such as Adolf Hitler’s 1939 Mercedes-Benz touring wagon, are beautifully displayed on the perimeter of John Wayne Airport.

19300 Ike Jones Road, Santa Ana, 714.210.4585, lyonairmuseum.org

COYOTE HILLS COUNTRY CLUB7 North County course designed by Cal Olson and PGA Tour legend Payne Stewart shares nearly 250 acres with flowing streams, gnatcatchers and coyotes. There’s also a lighted driving range, chipping and sand play area.

Fees include cart and GPS system.

1440 E. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton, 714.672.6800, coyotehillsgc.com

MuzeoCL9000006940 Museum and cultural-arts center hosts three traveling exhibitions with children’s programs per year. Up recently was Chocolate: the Exhibition. 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.956.8936, muzeo.org

h Monarch Beach Golf LinksCL00269 The beautiful Robert Trent Jonesdesigned course next to the St. Regis Monarch Beach offers sweeping views of sea and sky. The par-five 7th hole traverses Salt Creek twice;

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the 3rd and 4th holes play adjacent to the soft-sand beach—and one very large natural-sand bunker. Fees include cart. The pro shop was named one of America’s best by Golf World Business. 50 Monarch Beach Resort Drive N., Dana Point, 949.240.8247, monarchbeachgolf.com OAK CREEK GOLF CLUB7 This graceful Tom Fazio design, with rolling doglegs and fairways lined with California wildflowers and other native vegetation, features wide fairways and large, open-fronted greens. Fees include cart. 1 Golf Club Drive, Irvine, 949.653.5300, oakcreekgolfclub.com PELICAN HILL GOLF CLUBCL0000026134 The club’s gorgeous Ocean North and Ocean South golf courses offer Southern California visitors some of the best golf anywhere in the country. The Tom Fazio-designed courses, adjacent to the super-luxurious Resort at Pelican Hill, sit on bluffs above the coast and offer great ocean views. Fees include cart. The clubhouse is built on a terraced hillside and features sweeping panoramas. 22800 Pelican Hill Road, Newport Coast, 949.467.6800, pelicanhillgolfclub.com

★ TUSTIN RANCH GOLF CLUB CL00263 The Ted Robinson Sr.-designed course, rated four stars in Golf Digest’s “Places to Play,” is the only public course in the county to offer private caddie service. It recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The layout offers meticulous, challenging greens including cascading falls and lakes; the 11th hole requires a solid iron shot to a green with water on all sides.

12442 Tustin Ranch Road, Tustin, 714.730.1611, tustinranchgolf.com

NIGHTLIFE BOWLMOR LANESCL9000006943 Hip state-of-the-art, glow-in-thedark bowling lounge features 5,000-square-foot sports bar and global cuisine. The District at Tustin Legacy, 2405 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.2695, bowlmor.com THE CONTINENTAL ROOM CL0000022647 Swanky enough to dress up for, this spot with plush red decor takes you back to the fabulous Las Vegas of the 1960s. There’s nightly live entertainment and no cover. 115 W. Santa Fe Ave., Fullerton, 714.469.1879, thecontinentalroomfullerton.com

★ STRAWBERRY FARMS GOLF CLUB Eighteen-hole course developed by former Angel third baseman Doug DeCinces features rolling greens, picturesque canyon, wetland vistas and Orange County’s longest hole.

11 Strawberry Farms Road, Irvine, 949.551.1811, sf-golf.com

★ HEAT ULTRA LOUNGECL9000006909 Superb Las Vegas-inspired, 10,000square-foot nightclub near the Anaheim Convention Center and Disney Resort features plush decor, stateof-the-art lighting and sound, two rooms with deejay booths, VIP sections and a luxurious indoor patio.

Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.776.4328, heatultraloungeoc.com

TALEGA GOLF CLUBCL0000022631 Course designed with input from Fred Couples offers wide, lusciously green fairways contrasted with bunkers of crushed white marble sand; it rewards accurate driving and intelligent strategy more than strength. The back nine enter a picturesque canyon; a large lake borders the green at the finish.

990 Avenida Talega, San Clemente, 949.369.6226, talegagolfclub.com

HOUSE OF BLUES CL0000022649 Nationally acclaimed bayou-inspired venue offers touring name bands, dancing and soul food, including a Saturday Reggae Brunch and Sunday Gospel Brunch; new “Crossroads” menu is by chef Aaron Sanchez. On the walls is a superior collection of outsider art.

Downtown Disney, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.778.BLUE, hob.com/anaheim

Experience over 120 hands-on attractions, interactive programs and live demonstrations! Blast off with the Boeing Rocket Lab, skate into action at the NHL Science of Hockey exhibit, or take a trip through the universe at the NASA Explores the Universe exhibit. You’ll encounter adventure in another dimension in our 4D Movie Theater and become a green superhero at the all new Eco Challenge exhibit!

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The Improv Comedy showcase and dinner theater at two lively locations. Professionals bring down the house, amateurs launch careers at the original comedy club. Dining pre-show gets priority seating. Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.854.5455, irvineimprov.com; 120 S. Brea Blvd., Brea, 714.482.0700, breaimprov.com

DAILY ADVENTURES INCLUDE:

Whale Watching on our Luxurious 63-foot Catamaran with Large Viewing Deck Whale or Dolphin Sightings Guaranteed or Ride Again FREE!

MESA Trendy lounge at The Camp has retractable glass roof, offers adventurous New American share plates and excellent cocktails. Kitchen open until 1 am, bar until 2 am. M-Sa. 725 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.6700, mesacostamesa.com

Sportfishing For all Skill Levels and Ages

To check availability and buy tickets:

800.979.3370 or online at DanaWharf.com

Muldoon’s Dublin PubCL9000006945 Cozy spot wrapped around a courtyard near Fashion Island offers Irishthemed events such as kilt and fiddle contests in the Celtic bar, plus really good food—Irish fare, such as the offthe-menu Black Bush stew, as well as American dishes. 202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.4110, muldoonspub.com h The Rooftop Lounge Local favorite—and a must-hit for visitors—offers a front-row seat for spectacular sunsets and ocean views.

Enjoy cocktails including mojitos, lunch and appetizers atop Hotel La Casa del Camino in the heart of Laguna Beach. Heat lamps and blankets are available. For a lounge, this is the early shift: 9 am-9 pm Su-Th, F-Sa 9 am-10 pm. 1287 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.497.2446, rooftoplagunbeach.com

RECREATION & RESORT MANAGEMENT, INC.

in room child-care nanny service parent’s helper in-room pet care children’s conventions child-care at weddings

NOT JUST A BABY-SITTING SERVICE Kid’s Nite Out is one on one child-care in the comfort of your hotel or resort. Whether you are off to a meeting or getting a massage, you can enjoy peace of mind when leaving your child in the care of our staff.

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CPR, First Aid Trained, Licensed & Insured Services available 24/7 For Reservations: 1 (800) 696-8105 x0 Anaheim: (714) 740-4418 www.kidsniteout.com thoroughly screened & trained

Steamers Jazz Club CL0000022655 The county’s premier jazz venue heats up lively downtown Fullerton nightly with the sounds of Latin rhythms, bigband arrangements, Dixieland melodies, sultry vocals and more. A hearty menu is served until closing time to satisfy those late-night cravings. 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, 714.871.8800, steamerscafe.com

Sutra LoungeCL9000006942 Vibrant dance club presents intriguing lineup of musical acts (they’ve included Ludacris, Nelly, Paul Oakenfold, Snoop Dogg) and big-name deejays.

“Smart casual” attire. Th-Sa. Triangle Square, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.722.7103, sutraoc.com 300 AnaheimCL9000006944 Bowling is back big-time. This supercool bowling lounge near Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center feels like a nightclub: music videos screen wall to wall, creative cuisine and cocktails are delivered right to your lane. Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.783.2810, 3hundred.com

DESTINATIONS h DANA POINT HARBOR 9006945 The harbor offers 2,500 slips, three yacht clubs, Catalina Express, Dana Wharf Sportfishing (which also offers whale-watching) and watercraft rentals. Shops include Sea Styles and DaVine Food & Wine; for dining, consider Gemmell’s or Harbor Grill. The Ocean Institute displays the tall-ship Pilgrim. Dana Point Harbor Drive and Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.923.2255, danapointharbor.com h HUNTINGTON BEACH DOWNTOWN 9006945 More than 300 unique and exciting businesses line the streets of downtown Huntington Beach, offering events including Surf City Nights, a street fair and certified farmers market held Tuesdays from 5 to 9 pm.

Artwalk, held every third Wednesday from 6 to 9 pm, is an ever-growing event featuring art on display at 30 local businesses. Main St. at Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.536.8300, hb-downtown.com h LAGUNA BEACH VISITORS & CONFERENCE BUREAU The bureau celebrates 25 years of commitment to Laguna Beach visitors. The center, inside the Coast Sotheby’s International Realty office,

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offers maps, brochures and assistance daily from 10 am to 5 pm. 381 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.497.9229, lagunabeachinfo.com Little Saigon CL00260 The largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam covers 3 square miles in Westminster, Santa Ana and Garden Grove. Sample Vietnamese food and French-inflected pastries, view a Vietnam War memorial, peruse the huge gold jewelry marts at Asian Garden Mall. Bolsa Avenue and Magnolia Street, Westminster, 714.898.9648, westminsterchamber.org OLD TOWNE ORANGE Anchored by the Orange Plaza traffic circle, the walkable district is on the National Register of Historic Places; thanks to its diligently preserved buildings, it’s often used for movie shoots. The antiques mecca overflows with shops such as Affaire de Coeur; excellent dining options include Francoli Gourmet, Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen and Haven Gastropub. Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street, Orange, 714.538.3581, orangechamber.com

TOURS & TransportATION BEST CHAUFFEURED WORLDWIDECL9000006936 The company provides a sophisticated and customized travel option, showcasing a team of experienced chauffeurs, an extensive fleet of the finest vehicles and a commitment to first-class service and experience from arrival to departure, including pickup from hotels and airports.

866.323.2378, bestchauffeured.com CATALINA FLYER The largest passenger-carrying catamaran on the West Coast is the fastest way to get to Catalina Island, 26 miles off the coast. The Flyer departs at 9 am daily at Balboa Pavilion MarchNovember, with sporadic service during winter months, returns at 5:45 pm. 400 Main St., Newport Beach, 800.830.7744, catalinainfo.com

h DANA WHARF SPORTFISHING Dana Point is the county’s premier year-round whale-watching destination. The harbor’s location makes it easy to access the spots where the behemoth mammals are spotted most often. Tour options at Dana Wharf Sportfishing include a two-hour day trip and a sunset whale watch.

34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, danawharf.com GW Tours CL900693 The Segway is one of the best modes of transportation for leisurely coastal sightseeing. This company, which offers Segway tours of Huntington Beach, is the only company in Southern California that allows you to ride on the sand. Consider a sunset ride for two. 120 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 657.464.9137, hbsegwaytours.com

SERVICES H ERGONIQUE “CosMed” spa and salon at Corona del Mar Plaza offers an array of wellness and medical treatments: laser treatments, Botox and fillers, one-hour thread lift, weight management, “age management,” wraps, body and facial contouring including body-jet liposuction, augmentation and lift procedures, as well as massage, skin care, waxing, manicure, makeup, hair studio and brow bar.

978 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, 949.721.8304, ergonique.com H Kid’s Nite Out In-room hotel and event child care and parents’ helpers for children ages 6 weeks to 14 years, as well as in-room pet sitting. The licensed professional staff is thoroughly screened and trained, and sitters are certified in child and infant CPR and basic first aid. Hilton Anaheim, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, 800.696.8105, 714.740.4418, kidsniteout.com For more OF what's happening today, see where Orange county magazine

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PARTING SHOT

On a Mission

MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO PHOTO BY vlAdIMIR PERlOvICH

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Orange County’s only outlet center and home to more than 100 outlet and value stores, The Outlets at Orange is the vacation place to shop with more stores, more brands, more values, and more fun. Plus, you’ll find more of everything you want for much less. The Outlets at Orange means more of what you’ll want to remember on your trip, and it won’t be hard to convince the kids to tag along.

Mention this ad at Simon Guest Services and you’ll receive a FREE Coupon Book worth hundreds of dollars in savings! ®

Located on The City Drive, just off I-5, near its junction with Hwy 22 and Hwy 57 in Orange, CA. 714.769.4000

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