Where GuestBook Orange County 2012 by California Media Group

where GUESTBOOK

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Welcome to orange county

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ExpEriEncE World-class shopping, dining and pErforming arts,

southern california style.

located in orange county, ca 800.782.8888 southcoastplaza.com/traveler

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O.C. essence 16

SUN-KISSED RETAIL

26 Q&A

ANAHEIM PACKING HOUSE A historic building is lovingly transformed into a hip food hall.

40 THE BIG PICTURE

DITA VON TEESE The international high priestess of burlesque was raised in Irvine. By BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

By GERALD HICKS

2o LINE IN THE SAND

28 SKY’S THE LIMIT

OCEANFRONT CHIC Laguna Beach architect Mark Singer’s eco-friendly statement.

By ROGER GRODY

on the grape vine Reviving the Orange County wine industry—in Napa Valley. By JOSEPH LEMOYNE

By JOHN WEYLER

44 THE ART OF DESSERT

PHOTO ESSAY The O.C. from above: dangling from a helicopter at 100 mph. BY EDWIN SANTIAGO

36 ORANGE CRUSH

GREG MACGILLIVRAY The Laguna Beach resident is the world’s foremost Imax filmmaker.

SUBLIME ENDINGS A trio of sophisticated finales from chefs at the top of their field. By ROGER GRODY

cover and opening spread, cliff wassmann. left, priscilla iezzi. center, courtesy OF jacqueline thompson

contents

4 W H ERE GUE S T B OO 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 O.C.’s best restaurants, from gastropubs to molecular gastronomy.

78 PlAy TImE ATTRAcTIONS Get out! What to do, what to see: museums, performing arts, theme parks, golf courses, nightlife and tours.

88 PARTING SHOT Solar eclipse, Huntington Beach

fROm lEfT: EDWIN SANTIAGO, mAcGIllIvRAy fREEmAN fIlmS, vlADImIR PERlOvIcH

cONTENTS

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where GUESTBOOK

ORANGE COUNTY On the Web: guestOC.com

publisher Jeff Levy EDITOR IN CHIEF Benjamin Epstein ART DIRECTOR Carol Wakano MARKETING DIRECTOR

Audrey Nimura

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR production artist

Heidi Schwindt

Ryan Furuya

contributing WRITERS

Roger Grody, Gerald Hicks, Joseph LeMoyne, Zoe Lorenzo, Edwin Santiago, John Weyler contributing photographers

Idris Erba, Jeff Farsai, Benjamin Ginsberg, Priscilla Iezzi, Bjarne Gravesen Jensen, Vladimir Perlovich, Edwin Santiago, Ashok Sinha, Cliff Wassmann, Ian White ACCOUNT MANAGERS

April Driggers, Heather Howard-Heintz, Kerry Brewer, Sara Kemp, Joanna McLean, Mali Mochow, Laura Napolitano CIRCULATION MANAGER Sarah Trainor 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 honorary president

Haines Wilkerson Ted Levy

125 E. baker st., suite 250 costa mesa, California 92626 Phone: 714.825.1700 Fax: 714.825.1710 EMAIL Business JLevy@SoCalMedia.com Editorial Benjamin.Epstein@SoCalMedia.com Art Art@SoCalMedia.com Production Ads@SoCalMedia.com Circulation Sarah.Trainor@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© 2012 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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Mastroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ocean Club | The Sushi Tower | Crystal Cove Shopping Center

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Experience over 300 stores and restaurants on Pacific Coast Highway overlooking the Newport Coast.

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Sprinkles Cupcakes

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ShopIrvineCompany.com Fashion Island and The Coastal Collection are registered trademarks of Irvine Company. ©The Irvine Company LLC, 10/2012.

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firstlook THE COUnTY’S TOp mUST-SEE aTTRaCTiOnS: BEaCHES, THEmE paRKS, mUSEUmS, pERFORminG aRTS ... viSiT aT YOUR LEiSURE.

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Disney Resort

Disneyland makes millions of dreams come true every year. Since Walt Disney opened its gates in 1955, families have started out on Main Street, U.S.A., and explored the theme park’s eight famous lands, from Frontierland to Toontown. Iconic landmarks such as the snowcapped Matterhorn, Sleeping Beauty’s castle and the Haunted Mansion beckon even as new attractions debut. Disneyland, Disney once said, “will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” Sister park Disney California Adventure has gotten the attention of late, launching Cars Land, inspired by the Disney-Pixar film Cars. World of Color, the world’s most spectacular light and water show, wows nightly, and the thrills never end at California Screamin’, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Soarin’ Over California. There’s no admission at Downtown Disney, a lively promenade with shops, cafés and entertaining venues such as House of Blues. 1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565, disneyland.com

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Segerstrom Center for the Arts The center has in recent years presented Southern California’s first complete Wagner Ring cycle and forged an unprecedented festival relationship with Carnegie Hall. This season, Segerstrom Hall, its largest venue, offers Broadway musicals, half a dozen local premieres including Memphis, The Addams Family and Billy Elliot, and exclusive Southern California engagements of acclaimed dance companies such as the Mariinsky Ballet, Hamburg Ballet and Trey McIntyre Project. 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. There’s jazz in both halls. More intimate presentations—cabaret and chamber music—take place in Founders Hall and Samueli Theater. 600 Town Center

Bowers Museum Blockbuster exhibitions at the Bowers have been developed with venerated venues around the world, such as the Shanghai and British museums. This year, the venue presents shows including The Tsars’ Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs and Cut! Costume and the Cinema, featuring renowned British costumer Cospropr Ltd. The county’s largest museum is also its most diverse. More than 130,000 artifacts and works of art make up 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. Bowers Kidseum is nearby. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.567.3600, bowers.org

pREviOUS SpREad, idRiS ERBa. TOp, aSHOK SinHa. BOTTOm, EdWin SanTiaGO. OppOSiTE, ian WHiTE

Drive, Costa Mesa, 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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Beaches

Orange County’s coast is stunning. Half a dozen cities—from Dana Point and San Clemente at the south end to Seal Beach in the north—offer an amazing array of beach experiences, from intimate craggy coves to wide, sandy expanses, some seen from Coast Highway, others hidden behind cliffs. Laguna Beach boasts the most individual beaches; its Victoria Beach has a tower fit for Rapunzel, and accessing Thousand Steps Beach offers as much exercise as a StairMaster. Huntington Beach offers two of California’s three cleanest beaches; Huntington State Beach hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing. The Wedge in Newport Beach is a world-renowned bodysurfing mecca; explore tide pools at photogenic Little Corona Beach in Corona del Mar.

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Fashion Island The supreme outdoor coastal shopping experience—relaxed and sophisticated, as pleasant a shopping environment as can be imagined—recently got more impressive still. Thanks to a recent redesign, the look is even more sophisticated: Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s Court, for instance, gained a hand-carved granite fountain with a 45-foot-high obelisk and a classical pavilion designed and built in Italy. And the center got more convenient, thanks to trolleys in the parking lots. Recent additions include anchors Nordstrom and Whole Foods and boutiques Joie and C. Wonder. Among fine restaurants are True Food Kitchen, Roy’s and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar; there’s also wine service at Island Cinema. ’Lette Macarons and Casey’s Cupcakes are huge draws, too. 401 Newport Center

aBOvE: BjaRnE GRavESEn jEnSEn. BElOW anD OPPOSITE, EDWIn SanTIaGO

Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.2000, shopfashionisland.com

South Coast Plaza

You’d be hard-pressed to come up with a list of elite retailers that aren’t here: The nation’s highest-grossing planned retail venue also boasts its highest concentration of the most iconic names in shopping. The center, a state-designated tourist attraction, has been dubbed the ultimate shopping resort. At nearly 3 million square feet, it includes high-end department stores, such as Bloomingdale’s, and several hundred boutiques, among them Oscar de la Renta, De Beers Jewellery and new Roger Vivier. More than 30 restaurants include some of Orange County’s best, notably Marché Moderne. And it’s within walking distance of the county’s major performing-arts venues. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 800.782.8888, traveler.southcoastplaza.com

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SUN-KISSED

RETAIL

ABOVE: THE WORKERS AT THE ANAHEIM ORANGE AND LEMON GROWERS ASSOCIATION PACKING PLANT ON ANAHEIM BOULEVARD WERE MOSTLY WOMEN. OPPOSITE: ROWS AND ROWS OF BRONZE-TINTED CYLINDER LIGHTS HAVE BEEN METICULOUSLY RESTORED AT THE ANAHEIM PACKING HOUSE.

WITH ITS SMOOTH STUCCO MISSION REVIVAL architecture and arched windows, the block-long building along the train tracks south of Anaheim’s Civic Center is often mistaken for an old church. But a popout piece just above door level—a Sunkist orange that’s been there for nine decades—tells of a different history. Entering its large oak door along Anaheim Boulevard offers a walk back through time. The wood floors, the white ceiling framework, the rows and rows of bronzetinted cylinder lights and the windows tilted north for better sunlight all tell of a time when this was the liveliest business in the city: the packinghouse of the old Anaheim Orange and Lemon Growers Association. Thousands of bushels of oranges were trucked in daily from a hundred citrus ranches. On the north side, they were dumped onto conveyor belts to be washed, graded and crated, then loaded onto boxcars on Southern Pacific tracks on the south side. Destinations reached to the east coast and beyond. “It’s not just a building; it’s a treasure,” Art Beas, president of the Anaheim Historical Society, says of the old packing plant. “It tells the story of an era.” The city is determined to preserve this treasure—but not as a museum piece. A $10 million renovation transforms it into a grand food hall, with bistros, bars and bakeries, and ballads and other soft music filling the space. Community lounges—the “living room”—allow diners to enjoy items from separate vendors together. The Anaheim Packing House is city-owned; the operator is Lab Holdings, LLP of Costa Mesa, whose portfolio

includes the Lab and the Camp. The packinghouse and nearby Center Street Promenade, also developed by Lab Holdings, make up the Anaheim Packing District. It’s not just the inside of the converted packinghouse that has folks excited. Adjacent along Anaheim Boulevard is a farmers park of craft shops and eateries that also functions as a festival venue—a “front porch” for the packing plant, city officials call it. A long boardwalk connects the packing plant and the outdoor park to the Packard auto dealership, built in 1925, half a block north. It houses the Anaheim Brewery and new Umami Burger. The two share a patio; hundreds of 1929 license plates uncovered during the patio conversion have been turned into two chandeliers that have Umami diners’ rapt attention. The park and packing plant open at a time when most major construction projects in the county have been hammered shut by a dour economy. “It’s not coming cheap, but it’s worth it,” says Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait. “We aren’t just preserving history. We’re bringing much-needed energy back to downtown Anaheim.” The city touted a motto in large letters amid the renovation: “Using our history to build our future.” Lab Holdings founder Shaheen Sadeghi calls the packing plant a natural to become the kind of food hall like those in South America and Europe. Builder Brookfield Homes has restored the old northside platform to make it one long dining patio. Lab Holdings turns the front offices into a repository featuring vintage photos and the old vault that is still in place.

PHOTO ANAHEIM CREDITHISTORICAL GOTHAM BOOK SOCIETY. 5.5/9PTOPPOSITE, VLADIMIR PERLOVICH

A former citrus packinghouse is lovingly transformed into an anchor of the new Anaheim Packing District. BY GERALD HICKS

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THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE, VLADIMIR PERLOVICH

“So symmetrical, so thrifty, so appealing to one’s sense of the artistic” is how the Valencia orange is described in a 1926 visitors guidebook. That history dates to 1919, when the packing plant opened to much city fanfare. “We are justified in our rejoicing,” the Anaheim Gazette crowed at the time. That would have been a surprise to the city founders. Anaheim was born of the grape, not the orange, formed as a planned community in the 1850s by German investors from San Francisco who believed the land south of Los Angeles would be rich for vineyards. Their dreams came true—for three decades. But a blight in the 1880s wiped out the industry. They tried chili peppers, then walnuts, with little success. The orange saved the city. With the creation of the Valencia orange by the area’s most successful rancher, C.C. Chapman—Chapman University in Orange is named for him—ranchers began converting their acreage to citrus orchards. They often lost their profits to speculators, however, so area ranchers created their own associations and packing plants to control the sale of their products. The largest were the Anaheim Orange and Lemon Growers Association and its packing plant on Anaheim Boulevard—known then as Los Angeles Boulevard. The first year, the plant packed five train boxcars a day and did $2 million in business; those numbers doubled in five years. A mammoth cooling unit was added. It became the county’s largest and most modern orange plant; the lemon portion of the business was small. The workers were mostly women—“the girls,” administrators of the time called them. A kitchen was built so they wouldn’t have to leave on lunch breaks. Nothing was thrown away. Oranges that were bruised or overripe were sent across the tracks to a marmalade factory, a building still there today but mostly empty. “Beautiful, fascinating, profitable” is how the plant’s first manager, G.W. Sandilands, described the Valencia orange in a 1926 visitors guidebook. “So symmetrical, so thrifty, and so appealing to one’s sense of the artistic.” The plant thrived until the 1950s, when urban development saw orange groves converted to housing tracts and business districts. It closed in 1955. “There are really two Orange Counties,” explains James Doti, president of Chapman University and one of Southern California’s leading economists.

“There was the old agricultural county, and then there was the Orange County after Disneyland and the freeways in the mid-1950s. They are really two very separate counties with separate histories.” The packinghouse was converted for a number of uses, from a car motor plant to furniture storage. Someone even tried ice-making. The city bought the property in 2000 and signed an agreement with Brookfield Homes to restore it as a “retail destination.” Lab Holdings signed on in 2010 to operate it. The renovators have preserved as much as possible, even putting down new flooring compatible with the old flooring still in place. Their work has brought high praise from city officials, including Councilwoman Kris Murray. “I am passionate about restoring the greatness that is Anaheim’s historic downtown,” she says. The Historical Society is gung-ho, as is Stephen Faessel, a member of the city’s Planning Commission and author of numerous books on Anaheim history. “The Sunkist Packing House is one of the few last remaining connections Anaheim has to its citrus heritage,” Faessel says. “While Anaheim’s preservation of its citrus industry is a bit mixed—residential and commercial development over the years erasing much of its heritage—this historic preservation is very welcome.” The packing plant has been “lovingly restored,” Faessel adds, “including the replacement of the longremoved twin cupolas.” “The old Sunkist never looked better.”

TOP: THE ENTRANCE TO THE MISSION REVIVAL-STYLE ANAHEIM PACKING HOUSE. ABOVE: THE BREW AT ANAHEIM BREWERY, HOUSED IN A 1925 PACKARD AUTO DEALERSHIP. OPPOSITE: 1929 LICENSE PLATES UNCOVERED DURING THE PATIO CONVERSION HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO CHANDELIERS AT UMAMI BURGER.

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LINE IN THE SAND

a BOlD, ECO-FRiEnDlY STaTEmEnT in laGUna BEaCH iS THE anTiTHESiS OF a TUSCan mCvilla PlUnKED DOWn On THE CaliFORnia COaST.

KEvin WinTER

BY ROGER GRODY

he Gold Coast from Newport Beach to San Clemente represents one of the nation’s most expensive stretches of real estate, rivaling any enclave of the rich and famous in California. It embodies the exclusivity of Bel-Air, the glamour of Beverly Hills and the breezy informality of Malibu or La Jolla. This rarefied stretch of sand is populated by an elite crowd of CEOs, movie stars and athletes. Architectural styles vary, but its best examples of luxury real estate are those drawing a contemporary line in the sand. On a coveted but not particularly large oceanfront lot in Laguna Beach, a short walk from the heart of the village, is a spectacular expression of architect Mark Singer. While many of Southern California’s most lavish coastal properties present borrowed architectural constructs—Tuscan villas, Spanish Revival estates, even Cape Cod manors—the property at 992 Oceanfront in Laguna Beach is a true California original. The newly minted home was recently offered for $16,495,000 by Jacqueline Thompson of Surterre Properties in Newport Beach. The residence occupies a quarter-acre parcel, not much larger than a standard suburban lot; its 4,300 square feet of living space is generous by most standards but hardly extravagant for this neighborhood. It’s not size, but location and design, that makes it the quintessential representation of laid-back O.C. luxury. According to Thompson, no stranger to magnificent coastal properties, it likely could not be

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mETiCUlOUS SiTE ORiEnTaTiOn iS DESiGnED TO FUllY CaPTURE THE PanORamiC COaSTal viEWS. BElOW: THE mEDia ROOm. OPPOSiTE: THE COURTYaRD- CEnTRiC COnCEPT alSO CREaTES an inviTinG GaTHERinG SPaCE.

replicated. “It is extremely rare to have a newly constructed home of this caliber on the water in Laguna Beach,” she says, citing what she considers increasingly onerous development restrictions along the coast. The home took five years to gain approval and another three to construct. “If you want something built on the ocean, it’s nearly impossible, especially one with private beach entry, pool and spa ... and designed by Mark Singer,” says Thompson. Singer’s modern style incorporates classical notes. Influenced by mid-20th-century modernist masters such as John Lautner, Richard Neutra and Louis Kahn—the very architects who thrust Southern California residential architecture onto the world stage—he believes modernism best suits the coastal context. As a beach home shoehorned into a somewhat constricted site, this project presented serious design challenges. But Singer arrived at a plan that organizes lightflooded living spaces around a dramatic courtyard. The Laguna Beach-based architect’s residential projects often blur lines between indoors and out, and their meticulous orientation on the site is designed to fully capture the panoramic coastal views. A native New Yorker with a passionate appreciation for his adopted Orange County, he’s in great demand. His work particularly suits Laguna Beach, prized for its secluded coves, rocky cliffs and hillside neighborhoods with extraordinary views. Bob Chapman, a veteran broker with HOM Sotheby’s International Realty and a former planning commissioner for the city of Laguna Beach, explains why homes designed by Singer—as well as by Christian Light, another prominent local modernist—command

friendly elements such as photovoltaic panels, a waterrecovery system, stack ventilation and natural day lighting would work well there and that the home, no matter how luxurious, could have a negligible carbon footprint. Completed in 2012, the home is a model of green design, headed for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council—a rare honor for a residential structure—based on the use of sustainable finishes, the natural cooling abilities of a home that brings the outdoor environment inside and some high-tech innovation. The 12,000-square-foot site was zoned for two homes yet presented unusual conditions for a luxury residence. “One side bordered a public access to the beach where there was a parade of beachgoers,” recounts Singer, “on the opposing side a recently built home, and a narrow street with no public parking provided access.” With about 40 feet of vertical slope from the street to the sand and zoning regulations restricting lot coverage to 35 percent of buildable area, there was no opportunity for a rambling estate. “These limitations suggested the use of a large central courtyard with pool and spa.... Living spaces are organized into two discrete building masses, one oceanfront with direct coastline views and the other street-side with courtyard views.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JaCqUElinE THOmPSOn

aBOvE: THE FamilY ROOm-KiTCHEn.

a market premium: Those architects “have an ability to create volume in houses without them appearing too massive, and the clean lines of their homes achieve a seamless interface between interior and exterior spaces.” Chapman observes that contemporary architecture has become more popular with luxury buyers in recent years, a gradual shift from the coast’s more prevalent Mediterranean-style architecture. Adopting the practice of Frank Lloyd Wright, Singer uses native materials rather than incongruent products from halfway around the globe. All materials used on this home are readily accessible; Spanish marble for flooring is one of few exceptions. He is also a master at minimizing the impact of surrounding civilization. “We like to edit out the neighbors so that you see the nature around you but not the nearby residences,” Singer explains. Singer describes his first visit to the site on a spring day, when it was still occupied by three deteriorated bungalows. “The coastline view and beach from this oceanfront site was captivating,” recalls Singer, “yet my thoughts were taken by the comfort I experienced in just a T-shirt and shorts. Feeling the warmth of the sun and soft ocean breezes, I knew this was the perfect place for a sustainable project.” Singer was convinced that eco-

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Photo credit gotham book 5.5/9pt

WHEN YOU’RE ENTERTAINING IN THE COURTYARD AND LOOK “STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE FOREVER OCEAN VIEWS,” SAYS SURTERRE’S JACQUELINE THOMPSON, “IT COMPLETELY TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY.”

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Photos COURTESY Jacqueline Thompson

The courtyard-centric concept also creates an inviting gathering space. Notes Thompson, “When you’re entertaining in the central courtyard with pool and spa, and your guests are able to look straight through to the forever ocean views, it completely takes your breath away.” Singer elaborates. “Long galleries connect the front and rear sections while providing views to the courtyard. While access to the public beach is an incredible asset, it also presents a privacy issue, given the constant procession of surfers.” A solid limestone wall insulates the home from the activity and, notes Singer, “resonates into the courtyard and the internal spaces.” The architect is extremely proud of the home’s modest impact on the environment. He reports that the cost for executing all of the green building concepts added only 10 percent to the construction budget. Singer even insisted that materials from the existing bungalows be recycled for use on other projects: Weather-worn wood is a trendy material these days in restaurants and boutiques. The house is tricked out with state-of-the-art technology. With its Savant “smart home” system, virtually every mechanical function—lighting, security, temperature, irrigation, even mood music—can be controlled with a tap on an iPad or iPhone. Technology and art combine in a kitchen worthy of a Michelin-starred chef. It shows off sophisticated Le Corbusier-inspired Poggenpohl cabinetry, Silestone natural quartz countertops, an island seating 10—and, of course, $16 million views. Thompson cites the massive family room-kitchen as her favorite space in the house. “This large room is an entertainer’s dream,” she says. “The entire oceanfront side of the home opens up to the beach with Fleetwood doors for the ultimate indoor-outdoor living.” She points out an amenity that is hardly a standard feature, even on this gilded coast: “Did I mention that when the door from the exterior opens up, it triggers the central vac system and sand gets removed from your feet?” Most of the western walls of glass, through which spectacular Pacific sunsets can be witnessed, neatly fold back to fuse interior spaces with the broad decking and courtyard, in the kitchen and adjoining family room as well as the living quarters. The terraces are expansive, with 2,100 square feet of usable space accommodating an infinity-edge pool and spa and complementing the 4,300-square-foot interior. Overall living space is effectively increased by about 50 percent and takes full advantage of the coastal, Mediterranean climate. Thompson suggests this incorporation of outdoor living space makes the house feel considerably larger than it

actually is, and the market applies a significant premium. The concept also supports Chapman’s assessment of Singer’s ability to create homes with substantial volume while eschewing excessive mass. The mahogany-treaded stairway leading upstairs from the courtyard, illuminated by striking modern pendant chandeliers, is a dramatic statement in its own right, ascending along a soaring, 20-foot-high wall of glass framing spectacular views of the pool and ocean. The master suite is also ensconced in glass, so its occupants need never miss the sight of migrating whales, dolphins at play or Catalina Island on the horizon. With ingenious photochromatic properties, however, the glass “fogs up” for privacy with the flip of a switch. “It’s essentially an LCD panel that becomes opaque when current is applied,” Singer explains. Fold back a glass wall and the master bath offers the luxurious experience of soaking in a tub outdoors, on the very edge of the Pacific Ocean. Refreshingly, this home feels neither ostentatious nor excessive, and its formidable price is attributed more to its coveted coastal location and world-class design than to its sheer size. It is relatively modest, compared with the 15,000-square-foot mega-mansions—estates that often have less to do with quality of life than the egos of their owners—scattered up and down the coast. While bringing tremendous luxury to the surroundings, Singer has been able to retain the ambience of the quintessential Southern California beach house from a quieter era. The concept has simply been expanded, updated and dressed up with elegant finishes. It’s also as green as the Pacific is blue.

OPPOSITE: THE MAHOGANY-TREADED STAIRWAY FROM THE COURTYARD IS A DRAMATIC STATEMENT IN ITS OWN RIGHT. ABOVE: THE MASTER SUITE IS ALSO ESCONCED IN GLASS—WHICH, however, “FOGS UP” FOR PRIVACY WITH THE FLIP OF A SWITCH.

BELOW: BEACHSIDE VIEW OF 992 OCEANFRONT IN LAGUNA BEACH, DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT MARK SINGER.

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Q&A

Cointreauversial

Dita Von Teese, internationally acknowledged high priestess of burlesque and darling of fashion icons, was raised in lower-profile Irvine. BY BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

he tops best-dressed lists, has launched namesake fragrance, lingerie and cosmetics collections, just completed her third book and, oh, yes, is the undisputed international queen of burlesque, its biggest name since Gypsy Rose Lee. Born Heather Sweet in Michigan, Dita Von Teese moved to Orange County when she was 12 and still a blonde; she graduated from University High School in Irvine and remained here until she was 27. Now 40, she determines every aspect of her dazzling sets and haute-couture Swarovski-crystalbedecked costumes. As Cointreau’s global ambassador, she performs a grand version of an iconic striptease that culminates with her bathing in a cocktail glass and recently headlined the 100th-anniversary celebration of the Beverly Hills Hotel. Von Teese has been featured at events for Louis Vuitton and Cartier and was the first guest star ever at Paris’ historic Crazy Horse; she was named best actress at the Beverly Hills Film Festival and has appeared on TV’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She has homes in Hollywood and Paris and collects vintage cars and china. AIDS research group Amfar bestowed on her its Award of Courage; she spoke at the Oxford student union, where her predecessors have included the Dalai Lama, Tony Blair and Mother Teresa.

You bring sophistication and perfectionism to a field usually considered merely bawdy and downscale. Are your contributions evolutionary or revolutionary?

I’d like to say evolutionary. Even though I’m very well versed about the history of American burlesque, it’s very important not to create a replica, but to show its evolution. It’s been very important to me in my 20-year career to keep evolving. How is it that you cut across class lines to reach the mainstream?

That’s a good question. What you mentioned, my perfectionism, is part of it. But more than that, it’s because I have such a genuine love and interest in what I do, and that definitely comes across. I’ve had a lot of time to think about what makes a good show in burlesque— and that authenticity also comes across. Retro fashions go in and out of style—the ’60s come back for a time, for instance. What is it about your sense of retro that always makes it look more now than now?

I’m not dressing like I’m on a movie set. I combine different articles that I love from different eras with modern pieces. The 1930s and 1940s are constantly referenced in fashion. I have something of the same affinity for them as designers Jean Paul

Gaultier or Galliano—they’re also obsessed a little bit. These eras are timeless at this point.

What is it about the county that makes it so conducive to the likes of Gwen Stefani, Social Distortion’s Mike Ness and Dita Von Teese?

You’ve got lingerie and cosmetics collections, fragrances, books, yet I understand you might continue doing burlesque until you’re 70.

For some reason there is always a great scene there. O.C. has really bred some incredible alternative performers who have crossed over. The tattoo-pinup-rockabilly retro scene there was very special. I miss Orange County for a lot of those things.

(Laughs) People become very focused on beauty and youth and their body. I may be known because I make my living off being in a G string, but you don’t get to the level where I am, or where Gypsy Rose Lee was, by looking good in a G-string. I’ve put a lot of thought into my career, and why I’m at the top of my game is not because I’m the prettiest or because I’m the best dancer—I’m not going to just fall off the face of the earth once I don’t look good in my underwear. There is some very interesting technology out there now. I was turned into a hologram for Christian Louboutin’s exhibit at the Design Museum in London. I’d say it’s very possible for people to still see my show when I’m 70. Was it in Irvine that your fascination with lingerie took off?

No, younger—I’d say my real fascination started when I was really young, 6 or 7. I remember stealing my mother’s lingerie and bras. I was really intrigued by this rite of passage for women.

What are your best memories of Orange County?

When swing dance really took hold in the early ’90s. I have a lot of good memories, driving my old cars, and dating guys that drove old cars. It’s so different from Los Angeles—those nice, wide-open roads, not so much traffic…. I often went for drives. I’d go up and down Pacific Coast Highway, especially along the Newport Coast area. It is a place that I really loved. You’ve written a guide to eccentric glamour. What is your No. 1 tip?

To really remember that the things that make me different from other people are the things that will make me good. I can appreciate someone else’s style, but that doesn’t mean I have to wear it myself. People start dressing alike when they hang out together. I think it’s important to keep a sense of yourself.

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SKY’S THE

LIMIT As a travel photographer, I get on airplanes about 32 times a year—but on big 707s and 777s, not a helicopter the size of an Audi. My first aerial photographs were taken above Niagara Falls; I’ve since done such shoots in the south of France, Hong Kong and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The helicopter moves at 100 mph; you have to be quick to frame your subject and quick to change your camera settings. An hour flight seems to last minutes. In Orange County, the doors were removed so I could hang from the helicopter. It was exhilarating and, yes, scary. But the view of freeways, trailer parks, parking lots and junkyards are suddenly beautiful in an abstract way that artists would appreciate. And you do get high from the experience. PHOTOGRAPHY AND TEXT BY EDWIN SANTIAGO 28

KNOTT’S SOAK CITY WATER PARK IN BUENA PARK

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OPPOSITE: BOATS AND YACHTS IN NEWPORT HARBOR.

RIGHT: BIG-RIG TRUCKS PARKED IN BUENA PARK.

“THERE WERE ABOUT 20 OF THEM LINED UP PERFECTLY IN THIS BLACK PARKING LOT. ORANGE IS A VERY STRONG COLOR. THE GEOMETRY, THE SYMMETRY, THE SHAPES, THE COLORS— IT ALL REALLY POPPED.” BELOW RIGHT: HUNTINGTON STATE BEACH.

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LEFT: PARKING LOT AT BUENA PARK DOWNTOWN.

BELOW: ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT PLANT 2, HUNTINGTON BEACH.

“IT REMINDS ME OF AN OUTPOST IN A GEORGE LUCAS MOVIE, THE INDUSTRIAL, METAL TEXTURE, REALLY BEAUTIFUL IN AN OUTER-SPACE SORT OF WAY. THE SHAPES OF THE TANKS ARE ALSO VERY BEAUTIFUL— THEIR ROUNDNESS, THE SAME SIZE, HOW THEY’RE LINED UP—AND IT’S VERY RAW.” OPPOSITE: LIFEGUARD STATION, HUNTINGTON BEACH.

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RIGHT: NAVAL WEAPONS STATION, SEAL BEACH.

OPPOSITE: LIDO ISLE, NEWPORT BAY.

“DRIVING, YOU DON’T NECESSARILY REALIZE THERE ARE ISLANDS. I LOVE THE SHAPE OF THIS ONE, THE BEAUTY OF ITS HOMES AND BOATS— BEAUTIFUL FROM THE GROUND, SPECTACULAR FROM THE GROUND UP. NOBODY NOTICES, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF RED ROOFS. FLYING OUT OF THE COASTAL GREENNESS, EVEN OUT OF THE FOG, IS THIS ISLAND OF RED.” BELOW RIGHT: SEACLIFF COUNTRY CLUB, HUNTINGTON BEACH.

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Orange

CRUSH

LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS REVIVE THE ORANGE COUNTY WINE INDUSTRY—IN NAPA VALLEY. BY ROGER GRODY

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Although there is little evidence of it today, Orange County was once blanketed in vineyards. It dominated the California wine industry, and Anaheim was the St. Helena of the mid-19th century. In the late 1880s, blight destroyed the vineyards; citrus groves replaced them, then houses. Subdivisions, shopping malls and theme parks are the current cash crops; local winegrowers today mostly outsource their grapes. But another group of ambitious entrepreneurs ensures a continuing wine presence with a stake in the state’s better known wine country. SODARO ESTATE WINERY Don Sodaro arrived in Orange County in 1966 from his native Illinois and eventually split his time between Southern California and the Northern California wine country. Sodaro built a company called Sixpence Inns of America, a 50-property, 6,600-room budget chain eventually bought out by Motel 6. He also invested in commercial real estate, taking advantage of the county’s boom years. Sodaro and wife Deedee now spend half the year on the property of Sodaro Estate Winery in Napa Valley. “We’re still very involved in Orange County, socially and politically,” says Sodaro, who loves both Newport Beach and Napa Valley despite their dramatically different lifestyles. “It’s so beautiful [in Napa] and absolutely quiet. But you wouldn’t necessarily want that all the time.” Sodaro was not drawn to the wine industry through a passion for wine, but by his affinity for agriculture. Though his father was a physician and surgeon, the family owned a 337-acre farm near Chicago, and his work there during summer vacations left an impression for life. He does, however, also have familial ties to viticulture: His grandfather was a wine-barrel-maker in Vallelunga, Sicily. In 1998, the Sodaros acquired 21 acres in Coombsville, an up-and-coming appellation east of the city of Napa,

cooled by the wind and fog of San Pablo Bay. Neighbors in the Coombsville AVA (American Viticultural Area) include Far Niente and Silverado Vineyards. Sodaro’s consultants determined that the property was suited to Bordeaux varietals, which are currently planted on the estate. When Sodaro started out, he retained the services of prominent viticulturalist Paul Skinner, Ph.D., whose company, Terra Spase, analyzes the soils, topographies and microclimates that define any given terroir. “It’s really very intense,” Sodaro says of the scientific aspects. “At the time, I would just say, ‘OK, sure,’ and write the checks.” Production at Sodaro Estate now ranges from 800 to 1,100 cases per year. A wine called Felicity (Deedee’s given name) combines cabernet sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals; Sodaro Estate Blend is higher-priced. The DotiSodaro is 100 percent cabernet sauvignon priced at $125 per bottle; only 75 cases are made. Sodero sits on the board of trustees for Chapman University in Orange; the superpremium wine is named for a fellow University of Illinois alum, Chapman president James L. Doti. Don Sodaro has no regrets about his Napa Valley adventure. “The wine industry is very challenging but very rewarding,” he says.

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coniglio wines Charles Coniglio, whose family arrived in upstate New York from Cerda, Sicily, in 1891, became a successful entrepreneur in the textile industry in New York and New Jersey before relocating to Southern California in 1980. “I told my wife it would be about a two-year stint and then we’d be going back ... but 32 years later, I’m still here,” says Coniglio. The family name means “rabbit” in Italian, and Coniglio Winery bottles bear handsome labels featuring silver embossed rabbits. Serial entrepreneur Coniglio, who lives in Santa Ana, was looking for a new venture when winemaker Craig Becker called about launching a winery; the business was founded in 2001. Coniglio makes its wine with grapes from prestigious AVAs, including Spring Mountain, Atlas Peak and Diamond Mountain. Current production is 2,000-3,000 cases per year; its cabernet sauvignons and cabernet francs retail from $40 to $60 per bottle. At the request of his white-wine-preferring mother, Coniglio has also produced several vintages of sauvignon blanc crafted in an Old World style. The winery’s prices reflect a mission to produce premium wines that are accessible. But, the owner cautions, “I’m not going to make anything that I wouldn’t be drinking personally.” In Orange County, Coniglio wines can be found on lists at acclaimed restaurants such as Antonello in Santa Ana, the Hobbit in Orange and the Cellar in Fullerton. The owner enjoys appearing at winemaker dinners, particularly at prominent country clubs around the nation, where his wines enjoy a strong following. While some of his vintages have scored in the 90s from leading publications, the 63-year-old Coniglio doesn’t lose sleep over what critics might say. “It gives me great satisfaction to know that people enjoy what we create,” he says, adding that money and recognition are secondary.

and the Montage resort, both in Laguna Beach, and Bistango in Irvine. Founder and co-owner Jim Borsack was running his family’s El Portal Luggage business when the 150-store chain was acquired in 2000 and he realized his entrepreneurial spirit was ill-suited for the buttoned-up corporate culture. An accomplished home chef, his interest in wine grew from his passion for cooking; around the winery, he’s affectionately known as the “Mad Chef.” Researching the industry prior to founding B Cellars in 2003, Borsack realized the only way to attract top talent—such as innovative Kirk Venge, who signed on as winemaker—was to demonstrate passion and to use the best-quality fruit. Like Coniglio, Borsack contracts with growers, in this case buying grapes from some of Napa Valley’s most famous vineyards. The grapes are processed at B Cellars’ own winery on the Silverado Trail, where its neighbors include Sterling Vineyards, Clos Pegase and renowned Araujo Estate. Borsack, who has been an Orange County resident for 22 years, admits that old-time Napa Valley winemakers can sometimes be cliquish and slow to welcome outsiders. But, he explains, “we go out of our way to be very involved with the Calistoga community, participating in events, hosting chamber of commerce functions and nurturing close relationships with growers.” The wines of Borsack and co-founder Duffy Keys are consistently well reviewed by leading critics including Robert Parker. B Cellars’ Blend 23 combines chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and viognier; its cabernet sauvignons are typically multi-vineyard blends. Total annual production is about 6,000 cases. Borsack, 59, spends a lot of time traveling the country, meeting with distributors and hosting winemaker events at restaurants. But he’s always in Calistoga during harvest season, making daily decisions with Venge. He says an owner and his winemaker should constantly challenge one another, a practice that results in the winery’s innovative style. “B Cellars is based on a financial model, and our investors are looking for a rate of return on their money,” says Borsack.“But if you’re not passionate about it every day, this industry will burn you out.”

kelly fleming wines b cellars B Cellars, based in the Napa Valley community of Calistoga, blends different varietals into nuanced wines that appear on lists at top restaurants around the nation, including Orange County standouts Sapphire Laguna

A slightly removed but noteworthy O.C.-Napa Valley connection appears in Kelly Fleming Wines, a highly regarded boutique winery in Calistoga turning out estatebottled cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc. Owner Kelly Fleming was previously married to Orange County

previous spread, istockphoto.com/mbbirdy. top, vladimir perlovich

He takes pride in building Sodaro Estate Winery into a successful business, as he has done with other ventures, and now turns his attention to producing wines of acclaim. “My long-term goal is to make 98- or even 100-point wines and hope that the winery will be kept in the family,” says the congenial 79-year-old entrepreneur.

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resident Paul Fleming, founder of the Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and P.F. Chang’s restaurant chains. The restaurateur’s latest concept, Paul Martin’s American Grill, has opened at Irvine Spectrum Center. The 300-acre Napa Valley property (of which 12 acres are now planted) was purchased by the thencouple, but the success of the winery is exclusively credited to the independent stewardship of Kelly Fleming. Each year, she turns out nearly 2,000 cases, aged in French-style underground caves insulated by ancient limestone walls. The wines are consistently lauded by critics and enjoyed in Orange County’s best restaurants—including some of her former husband’s establishments.

levendi winery Levendi Winery, a boutique operation in Napa Valley, was founded by James Gianulias, son David and family friend Todd Rustman. Together, they take time out from their highly successful Orange County real estate and asset management business to continue a family winemaking tradition that dates back centuries in the Gianuliases’ native Greece. Since 1926, they have produced hobby wines in America, and now their winery’s chardonnays, cabernet sauvignons and syrahs regularly score in the 90s and are awarded medals at prestigious competitions. “Levendi” is a toast in Greek that acknowledges a day of labor and achievement. Creating a business that the entire family could participate in and pass on to future generations was the

winery’s inspiration, according to 72-year-old James Gianulias, who has been passionate about wine his whole life. The owners brought in seasoned winemaker Alison Green-Doran, who had been mentored by legendary wine expert André Tchelistcheff, one of the most influential figures in the California wine industry. Her philosophy revolves around harvesting at optimum ripeness; she struggles to get a “pop and jump” out of every grape. “The winemaker is the key to a successful brand,” says Gianulias. “We’ve had one winemaker since our first vintage, and our style of wine is reflected in her passion and knowledge of the terroir.” One of the reasons these Orange County owners have never felt like outsiders in the wine country is that Green-Doran has lived in Napa Valley most of her life. While the value of her presence cannot be overstated, Gianulias believes competing winery owners are genuinely supportive of newcomers, with or without a local connection. “The wine industry is like a community, where everybody assists one another,” he explains. Levendi wines are poured at many of Orange County’s finest restaurants, including Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza and the Ranch in Anaheim. On the second floor of Antonello in Santa Ana is the Levendi Wine Room, showcasing the family’s vintages in an elegant environment. The room, which seats up to 14 diners, is a unique venue for corporate events or family celebrations and underscores the connection between Orange County and Napa Valley.

this page: (LEFT) DON AND DEEDEE SODARO’S HOME IN NAPA valley, WHERE THE COUPLE SPEND HALF THE YEAR. (RIGHT) JIM BORSACK, FOUNDER AND CO-OWNER OF B CELLARS. OPPOSITE: (ABOVE) CHARLES CONIGLIO SAMPLES ONE OF HIS CONIGLIO WINES AT NIEUPORT 17 RESTAURANT IN TUSTIN. (BELOW) THE LEVENDI ROOM AT ANTONELLO RISTORANTE IN SANTA ANA. PREVIOUS SPREAD: THE GRAPES may be NAPA’S, BUT THE OWNERS LIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY.

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THEBIG PICTUR E GREG MACGILLIVRAY OF LAGUNA BEACH HAS 36 IMAX DOCUMENTARIES, AND TWO OSCAR NOMINATIONS, TO HIS CREDIT. BY JOHN WEYLER

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reg MacGillivray seldom leaves a contingency unconsidered, so he thought he was prepared for this. The Laguna Beach filmmaker had held meetings with his crew members, making sure they absolutely understood they could not insert themselves in the life-and-death drama unfolding before their eyes and high-powered lenses. No matter how much they had come to adore the twin polar bear cubs scrambling for their lives over the ice cap and to admire their courageous mother, they were not to help her. And she had just decided it was time to stand her ground, turning to face the much-larger hungry male that had been chasing her family for four miles. There would be no maneuvering the 103-foot icebreaker to cut him off. No yell or wave of the arms. They stood transfixed on the deck, silently pleading for the pursuer to decide that a fight with a mother willing to die to protect her young wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be worth the meal. This time, the huge aggressor did. WHERE GUESTBOOK

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THE ARCTIC, lAtESt In fIlmmAKER GREG mAcGIllIVRAy’S SERIES Of 70-mIllImEtER EyE-POPPERS. ABOVE: mAcGIllIVRAy, RIGHt, AnD HIS tEAm HAD mADE SEVEn tRIPS tO tHE ARctIc In fOUR yEARS, BUt tHEIR EncOUntER WItH A POlAR BEAR AnD HER tWO cUBS cHAnGED EVERytHInG. OPPOSItE: ScEnE fROm THE LIVING SEA (1995), OnE Of mAcGIllIVRAy’S tWO OScAR-nOmInAtED ImAX DOcUmEntARIES.

“I’d told them numerous times that it would be totally unethical to interfere in any fashion,” says MacGillivray, a two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker with 36 Imax documentaries to his credit. “But we had watched her nurse and cuddle and play with her cubs for almost a week. You can imagine our relief when it ended happily. “That was the longest, most thrilling chase I’ve ever captured,” he adds. “It happened three more times, and they survived every attack. Any one of them could have gone the other way—and we were prepared for that.” They weren’t prepared for the unprecedented access this mother polar bear had granted them. Unlike the others they encountered, she had sniffed them and deemed them benign. She made no attempt to elude the boat shadowing her, instead going about the daunting task of raising two cubs in the Arctic. The cameras recorded 20-plus hours a day—that allday Arctic lighting is a filmmaker’s dream—for almost a week. “In 45 years of filmmaking, many of which have been about oceans and remote areas, I was unprepared for what I found in the far north,” MacGillivray says. MacGillivray and team had made seven trips to the top of the world in four years, but this one changed everything, including the entire script, focus and scope of To the Arctic, the latest in a series of 70-millimeter eye-poppers that have made MacGillivray the first documentary filmmaker to reach $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales. “You can feel the ice,” says Meryl Streep, the film’s narrator. But as breathtaking as the photography is, the story of the bear and her cubs is more compelling. “It’s something we human mothers can empathize with very strongly,” Streep says, “the desire to safeguard our children and make their future secure. You’ll do anything, anything, to help them survive.” The crew likely would have never come across this courageous mother fighting for her family if the melting ice cap hadn’t forced polar bears into an ever-shrinking

environment. “And those magnificent creatures aren’t the only ones climate change is pushing into a corner,” says MacGillivray, who is devoted to raising awareness about ocean pollution and global warming. “With average temperatures rising there two times faster than anywhere else, the once permanent summer ice pack may be gone by 2050 … and it’s easy to see how changes there will affect the rest of the world.” MacGillivray has also assessed the state of the ocean while strolling the beaches near his home for 40 years; he doesn’t like what he sees. So MacGillivray and his wife, Barbara, started the One World One Ocean Foundation and put $10 million of their own money into a project—an Imax and 3-D theatrical film and 3-D television series—to be filmed at 40 locations in all five oceans.

reg MacGillivray’s bond with the ocean was forged before he reached his teens, when skimming in front of a wall of white water on an inflatable canvas mat provided him his most exhilarating moments. “In the early days after [World War II], my dad was a lifeguard in Corona del Mar,” MacGillivray says. “I was 2, and we were living in, well, basically a sea shack that my dad and grandpa built out of spare lumber. If a big storm came through, it would have blown down for sure. “Then he got a job as a schoolteacher, and he built us a solid-wall home, and we’d go to the beach every weekend and ride our mats at Big Corona. My dad did some surfing, and I got my first surfboard when I was 10. It was a horribly shaped balsa-wood board I got for $10.” About that time, he also discovered the thrill of watching a photograph magically come to life on a blank sheet of paper in the darkroom he’d built in his garage. Boy, camera, surfing: They soon were inseparable. When he was 12, his parents used Green Stamps to get him a small Kodak Brownie 8-millimeter movie

PREVIOUS SPREAD AnD lEft, WARnER BROS. EntERtAInmEnt. OPPOSItE, mAcGIllIVRAy fREEmAn fIlmS

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camera. Soon, he was spending as much time on the beach shooting pictures of his buddies as in the water surfing with them. “I’d do gardening and baby-sitting jobs and use my allowance to buy film,” he recalls. “The frame was a quarter-inch wide, but you could learn to edit and tell a story and make little 10-minute movies. I’d borrow a projector and spin records on a turntable and have, like, 20 kids in the garage and even charge admission.” MacGillivray was making and producing surf films before he’d ever seen one, but that soon changed, and he talked his dad into taking him to every film by Bud Browne, Bruce Brown and John Severson—pioneers of the genre—shown within driving distance. By the time he was 15, MacGillivray was determined to make his own full-blown surf film—but one that was different, that didn’t focus on gasp-inspiring wipeouts on 30-foot Hawaiian waves (probably a wise artistic choice: He wasn’t even old enough to drive, and you’d have to mow a lot of lawns to raise the airfare to Hawaii). “I was into performance surfing on smaller waves in glassy conditions. The bone-crushing wipeouts weren’t that interesting. I wanted to make an artful film about that soulful style of California surfing with lots of animation and wonderful color with filters ... and a jazz score.” It took four years to finish A Cool Wave of Color. To save money, he shot only when surf and lighting were perfect, about one day a month. He speculates that more time and energy went into it than any surf film ever made. MacGillivray was a freshman at UC Santa Barbara majoring in physics when the film premiered in 1964. “I had absolutely no expectations of it even breaking even,” he recalls, “but it paid itself off quickly, then it started producing a profit.... All of a sudden, I had this fan base, and I thought, wow, maybe this isn’t a one-time thing.” The release of Brown’s seminal The Endless Summer rocked the surf-movie world; MacGillivray dropped out of school to pursue his dream of making movies. He teamed with filmmaker Jim Freeman. The collaboration led to an extraordinary friendship, legendary surf films such as Five Summer Stories and the birth of the world’s foremost documentary filmmaking enterprise.

f you’ve ever been to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., you’re likely one of 100 million people who have plopped down in front of the six-story-high screen … and at some point wondered if they were going to lose that museum cafeteria sandwich they just ate.

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The vertigo-inducing To Fly! cost the museum $750,000. It has grossed more than $200 million since its premiere 36 years ago—and it’s still playing. In the early ’70s, MacGillivray and Freeman began to work away from waves. They’d filmed the aerial scenes for Towering Inferno and Jonathan Livingston Seagull when the Smithsonian approached them to make a film about flight for its new Imax theater, the world’s fourth. Tragically, Freeman was killed in a helicopter crash while filming a commercial in the Sierra Nevada the week the film was to premiere in 1976. Instead of a heady beginning to an exciting new career, the film’s debut seemed very much to MacGillivray like an ending. “We had worked together for 11 years,” he says. “He was my best friend, not just my business partner. Our girlfriends were best friends. We had always pushed each other professionally, made each other so much better.” They had made a perfect team. MacGillivray would rather stay behind the lens; Freeman was an extrovert who, MacGillivray says, would walk up to the president of the United States and say, “I’m making a movie, can I get a shot of you kissing this dog?” “I wasn’t sure if I could carry on,” MacGillivray says. “I knew for sure that even if I could, it wasn’t going to be as much fun.” He eventually found the will to work, the thrill of capturing the perfect shot still a driving force; the outcome has been a string of breathtakingly beautiful films, box-office successes and technical innovations. The Living Sea (1995) and Dolphins (2000) were nominated for Academy Awards. His 1998 film Everest was the first giant-screen film to hit the box-office top 10 in North America. He has produced nearly half of the 20 highest-grossing large-format films. He’s also credited with initiating the development of the industry’s first lightweight camera, first slow-motion camera and the all-weather camera used to film Everest. MacGillivray-Freeman Films—Jim’s name stays as a memorial to a friend—has produced films that have played in more than 200 museums in 32 countries. MacGillivray worked with the legendary Stanley Kubrick on The Shining and other Hollywood films and has made numerous commercials. But it’s the really big screen that still intrigues him most: “Photography is the No. 1 thing, moving people visually,” he says. “Imax is the epitome of delivery systems. Having the chance to make films in this stunning format, and that people are learning from them, thrills me.” And the survival of three polar bears recently made the job a little easier.

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the art of

dessert desserts from THREE CHEFS who CONSIDER A MEAL'S FINALE a chance TO FLIRT WITH THE SUBLIME. By ROGER GRODY

The culinary scene in Orange County has never been more sophisticated or more exciting, as chefs push the envelope with unusual ingredients and Space Age techniques. Dessert hasn’t been left behind; pastry chefs are doing their best to create transcendent final impressions. Here is a trio of masterpieces from local pastry icons: Amelia Marneau of Marché Moderne in Costa Mesa, Stéphane Tréand of the new Art of Pastry academy in San Clemente, and Jorge Sotelo, executive pastry chef at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, and its superb restaurant, Napa Rose, in Anaheim.

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ITALIAN SPONGE CAKE STÉPHANE TRÉAND / THE ART OF PASTRY French-born pastry artiste Stéphane Tréand was presented the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France designation by the president of France, an honor reserved for craftsmen demonstrating exceptional skills. Although his roots are in the modest pâtisseries of northern France, Tréand is best known as a showman, creating spectacular sculptures of chocolate and sugar at international competitions. Locally, he has served as executive pastry chef at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort. Now the showman has become the patient teacher, opening the Art of Pastry, a San Clemente academy for food enthusiasts and professionals alike. “With all of my desserts, I use exceptional ingredients and try to keep it simple so you can identify every flavor in the dish,” says Tréand, who believes that two to three different flavors on a plate is about right. “I think many pastry chefs are not really cooking for customers but are trying to impress other pastry chefs.” Despite his ability to create towering exhibition pieces, his personal preferences combine the rustic and a more exotic side inspired by his travels. “In France, we traditionally focus on ingredients such as coffee, chocolate, praline and caramel, which are familiar and comforting,” he says. “But I have a weakness for tropical flavors like mango, passion fruit and coconut.” When it comes to plating, Tréand—when he’s not in competition—is relatively conservative, though sugar art might make an appearance. Some of his presentation principals are based on behavior he has observed over the years. At the St. Regis, he used oversized, flat white plates to dramatically present desserts with deconstructed elements. “I’d have some chocolate sorbet in one corner, some raspberry sauce along the side, and a dollop of crème anglaise someplace else, because I noticed people liked to play with their food.” Apparently, when it comes to dessert, nobody ever grows up! His pistachio-flavored Italian sponge cake—layered with raspberry and vanilla cream, plated with drops of raspberry puree and hazelnut crumble, and topped with aesthetically enhanced raspberries, a crunchy tuile and even some gold leaf—presents a mixture of textures, which Tréand regularly stresses in class. “Pistachio and red fruit go very well together,” he explains. “Pistachios have a soft, round taste that is complemented by the acidity of the fruit.” Because of the cake's Italian inspiration, the showman might present it with a sugar sculpture of a Venetian mask.

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In the Magic Kingdom, sweetness is a way of life. The day-to-day responsibilities of Jorge Sotelo, executive pastry chef at the Grand Californian Hotel, include plating the artful, sumptuous desserts at Disney’s top table, Napa Rose. Sotelo has been at Disneyland and the Disney Resort for 16 years. “The opportunity to be creative, to see our guests happy when they are biting into one of our flavorful desserts” is what motivates Sotelo. “That’s what makes me the Happiest Chef on Earth!” “My philosophy is to have our guests begin eating with their eyes,” says Sotelo. “It should start melting in your mouth before you take a bite.” Despite his penchant for intricate presentation, he eschews the architectural construction of desserts that convey visual drama only to collapse the moment you sink a fork into them. The chef is

dedicated to freshness and seasonality and the best ingredients available; he insists on fruit from local farmers. Although he speaks passionately about cherries and peaches, Sotelo is an admitted chocoholic. He first made his elegant chocolate-hazelnut “pâté” when executive chef Andrew Sutton arrived on the scene, and together they perfected it. “It’s now a signature dish, and people complain if we take it off the menu,” says Sotelo. The pâté, created from California’s own Scharffen Berger bittersweet chocolate, is sprayed with a chocolate and cocoa butter coating for a finish that adds greater dimension to the presentation, then placed over hazelnut crème anglaise. A whole hazelnut—seductively dipped in glossy caramel to glamorous effect—is placed right on top, along with hazelnut-infused Chantilly cream.

previous spread and opposite, priscilla iezzi

cHocolate-Hazelnut pÂtÉ cHocolate-Hazelnut pÂtÉ JorGe sotelo / napa rose JorGe sotelo / napa rose

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MACARON AMELIA MARNEAU / MARCHÉ MODERNE South Coast Plaza’s Marché Moderne is not only one of the finest restaurants in Orange County, but the stylish bistro may also be the best restaurant you’ll ever encounter in a shopping center. It’s operated by one of the county’s top culinary couples, chef Florent Marneau and his wife, Amelia Marneau. One of the premier pastry chefs in Southern California, Madame Marneau trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, then apprenticed at the Hôtel de Crillon, whose royalty-studded guest list demands perfection. She worked at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel before turning her attention to a far more personal project with her husband. At Marché Moderne, many of Marneau’s creations are grounded in tradition but presented with contemporary flair. Creating “an elegant, modern interpretation of great French classics” is her goal. As for presentation, she says, “My approach is balance and symmetrical plating,” citing a preference for combining organic and formal sensibilities. ‘‘ ‘Organically formal’ is a great way to describe it.” Every pâtisserie in Paris, even in working-class neighborhoods, exhibits endless rainbow-esque rows of macarons, the meringue sandwich cookies that are just beginning to show up significantly stateside. Soon they will be as ubiquitous as cupcakes, but making a proper macaron requires skill and patience. “I’m passionate about macarons because they transport us to Paris,” says the chef. “Macarons are a culture.” Marneau is a master at crafting superior macarons. The magic is in the contrasting textures; here she artfully plates her delicate treasures with Tahitian vanilla mascarpone cheese and house-made gelato. “This macaron is an amazing dessert, with its chewy texture, strawberry- and rose-scented gelato and whipped mascarpone cream, which adds a nice richness yet is tart enough to cut the sweetness,” explains Marneau, who also makes pistachio, praline-chocolate and yuzu-andcoconut versions of macarons.

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Neighborhoods

ANAHEim Disneyland put Anaheim on the global map. But these days, sibling Disney California Adventure steals its thunder with an elaborate new Pixar-inspired Cars Land and the world’s most spectacular water, light and sound attraction, World of Color. 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. New hip and historic Anaheim Packing District includes Center Street Promenade and food-themed Anaheim Packing House. Angel Stadium is home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team; Honda Center hosts the Anaheim Ducks and pop acts such as Rihanna. Nearby is the Jetsonesque Anaheim Convention Center.

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 (Xcelerator rockets to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds), Camp Snoopy for youngsters and some tasty chicken dinners just outside the park. There’s a Halloween Haunt in the fall, adjacent water park Soak City in the summer and seasonal ice shows. Also on Beach Boulevard is a family entertainment row that includes Medieval Times and Pirate’s Dinner Adventure. Nearby Stanton boasts Googiearchitecture-style restaurant ParkAve and adjacent Il Garage.

COSTA mESA The city boasts the county’s major performing-arts venues, some of the region’s finest dining and one of the nation’s most successful retail centers. South Coast Plaza’s several hundred stores and boutiques represent the highest concentration of marquee retailers anywhere. The center’s owners 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, both within walking distance. Nearby are Metro Pointe; South Coast Collection, anchored by the OC Mart Mix; and a hip shopping and dining stretch that includes the Lab and outdoorsthemed the Camp.

DANA pOiNT Dana Point is one of the most picturesque cities in California, combining Cape Cod style with its surf and yacht lifestyle. It’s best known for its harbor—there are 2,500 yachts in its two marinas— and as a departure point for whaleand dolphin-watching excursions, sport-fishing expeditions and trips to Catalina Island. Doheny State Beach is popular, too. 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.

FROm lEFT: BjARNE GRAVESEN jENSEN, jEFF FARSAi, jEFF FARSAi, EDWiN SANTiAGO

ORANGE COUNTY COmpRiSES mANY VERY DiFFERENT COmmUNiTiES. HERE ARE THE mOST ViSiTED.

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EdWin SanTiaGO. faR RiGHT, vladimiR pERlOvicH

fUllERTOn Music spills out from bars; dining options are many and varied; and the shopping is distinctive and vintage. Residents of Fullerton love their city, which blends historic architectural styles and a hip and savvy vibe thanks to its university and city college. Plummer Auditorium offers concerts and shows, Fullerton Museum Center intriguing exhibits; Fullerton Arboretum is 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 Surf City USA hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing every summer; it has a surfer statue, a quirky surfer museum and even a surfer walk of fame. Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach are two of the three cleanest beaches in California, drawing millionplus crowds each summer. Main Street intersperses fun dining options with its surfwear shops. The pier is one of the longest on the West Coast; also along Pacific Coast Highway are restored wetlands, ideal for bird-watching, and luxury hotels. The city will always be thought of as America’s surf capital, but there are more attractions inland: Its Central Park and library are among the county’s finest, and Bella Terra is an outdoor Mediterranean-themed entertainment and shopping destination.

iRvinE The nation’s safest city for eight years running is also its largest planned urban community, all of it impeccably manicured. The Irvine Spectrum Center, where the 405 and 5 freeways meet, is a shopping, dining and entertainment magnet with Moorish architecture and a giant Ferris wheel; it claims more visitors per annum than Disneyland. The University of California’s Irvine campus is huge, and the Orange County Great Park, when complete, will eclipse New York’s Central Park. You can spot its tethered orange balloon aloft from the freeways; rides are free. A wildlife corridor, museums and botanical gardens are in the works.

laGUna BEacH The beaches and coves along this stretch of the coast are among the world’s most beautiful, chief among the lures that first drew artists to the now charming and sophisticated village. Art remains the city’s soul. 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 remain absolutely 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, whereoc.com OR THE where usa app

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ORANGE The city steadfastly preserves its older buildings, so the historic district appears often in movies and commercials. 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 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 have upscale discount venues. Farther west, in Garden Grove, is spectacular Crystal Cathedral.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO A vast panorama of history unfolds here: the Shoshone tribe 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 that preserved 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 has dedicated itself to the arts and has a skyrocketing hip factor. Bowers Museum hosts blockbuster exhibitions; downtown Santa Ana hosts a thriving contemporary art scene amid its restaurants, bars and coffeehouses. The East End Promenade replaces the Fiesta Marketplace along historic Fourth Street, but it’s still colorful; the restored Yost Theater, now a live-music venue, is a centerpiece. The civic center’s Old County Courthouse has been used for dozens of movies and has its own historical museum. Santa Ana is O.C.’s only city with its own zoo.

edwin santiago

NEWPORT BEACH Wide, sandy beaches, a harbor lined with gorgeous homes with docks for yachts, huge homes on the bluffs and hills behind with endless ocean views.... Many consider this oceanfront paradise to be the county pearl. Balboa Peninsula and seven man-made islands house the rich and often famous. Summer beach visitors near Newport Pier number more than a million. There’s distinctive shopping on charming Balboa Island and in lovely Corona del Mar. Up the hill is Fashion Island, one of the county’s premier retail destinations—with 200 stores, boutiques and restaurants—and Corona del Mar Plaza. To the south, in affluent Newport Coast, is Crystal Cove Shopping Center.

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

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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

OPPOSITE: oc mart mix, vladimir perlovich

h Anaheim GardenWalk Outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment center with waterfalls and gardens is steps from the Disney Resort 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 stateof-the-art movie theaters, some with synced-motion seats. 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.635.7410, anaheimgardenwalk.com Anaheim PACKING DISTRICT The owners of the Lab and the Camp, innovative shopping destinations in Costa Mesa, work their hip magic, with an eye to historic preservation, at new Center Street Promenade and environs. Center Street features eco-conscious Home Economics; BarBeer Shop, a barbershop serving beer; the Good Californian Haberdashery; and Heart & Sole for shoes. The Anaheim Packing House is a historic building featuring foodie vendors opening in 2013; adjacent is a 1920s Packard showroom housing Anaheim Brewery and new Umami Burger. Center Street and Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim, 714.966.6661 Bella Terra Tuscan-themed destination with cobblestone walkways boasts an attractive roster of outdoor sports and activewear specialists including Huntington Surf & Sport, REI and Diane’s Beachwear, women’s boutiques No Rest for Bridget 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 SEED People’s Market, Ecco for Italian cuisine and Taco Asylum for unusual tacos. 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.966.6661, 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. 800984 Avocado Ave., Corona del Mar, shoptheirvinecompany.com h Crystal Cove SHOPPING CENTER The exclusive designer boutiques and restaurants at this elegant center reflect the gorgeous coastal community it serves. Among the boutiques, all with ocean views, are Jenny Lee, Millie, Novecento and At-Ease for Men. There are superb dining options including Bluefin, Mastro’s Ocean Club, Javier’s and Tamarind. 7845-8085 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.720.2689, shoptheirvinecompany.com h The District at Tustin LegacyCL900687 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, 714.259.9090, thedistricttl.com Downtown DisneyCL0000022721 Outdoor retail esplanade in the heart of the Disney Resort features family favorites such as Build-A-Bear Workshop, World of Disney, Lego Imagination Center and Ridemakerz for radio-controlled-car buffs. Boutiques Sanuk and Apricot Lane are new. 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, the elegant, sophisticated Fashion Island features the county’s only Neiman Marcus as well as Bloomingdale’s and a new Nordstrom. Boutiques include Kate Spade, Trina Turk, Elie Tahari; Joie and C. Wonder are new. Among finedining options are True Food Kitchen, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Great Maple. 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.2000, shopfashionisland.com

SHOE-INS With three of the most coveted shoe names among its highprofile tenants, South Coast Plaza is a mecca for shoe aficionados. The late Roger Vivier popularized the stiletto heel in the 1950s; his shoes, above, have been referred to as “the Fabergé of footwear.” The new Costa Mesa location is only the French house's third in the United States (714.435.0015). Parisian designer Christian Louboutin, known for his redlacquer soles, returned stilettos to the limelight in the 1990s and 2000s with heel heights of nearly 5 inches. With its tile facade

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

and ceilings adorned with 2,500 brass butterflies—their wings silhouettes of shoes—the boutique is one of the county's most stylish (714.754.9200). And then there's London-based Jimmy Choo, among the best known of luxury shoe brands and another bastion of towering heels—also guaranteed to put your head in the clouds (714.327.0644).

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ing distance of the county’s major performing-arts venues. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 800.782.8888, traveler.southcoastplaza.com WESTfIELd MaINPLaCECL0000022727 More than 200 retailers cover every style from classic to fashion-forward; stores include Macy’s and Macy’s Men’s Store, Nordstrom, Coach 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

HaNdBaG aT STUaRT WEITzMaN, SOUTH COaST PLaza

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 Eye Society for upscale eyewear. Dining options include Habana for Cuban fare and Zipangu for sushi. 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.966.6660, thelab.com h THE OUTLETS aT ORaNGE Huge shopping, dining and entertainment center—120 stores, including the county’s only outlets—formerly the Block at Orange, is at the confluence of the 5, 57 and 22 freeways. Among upscale discount draws are Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Levi’s Outlet. Also there: 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, 714.769.4000, outletsatorange.com

SOUTH COaST COLLECTION00276 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 eyewear, Eva’s Trunk Denim Bar, Beauty Cirque, Savory Spice Shop and We Olive & Wine Bar. 3303-3323 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 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 new Roger Vivier and Diane von Furstenberg, an amazing concentration of elite retailers. More than 30 restaurants include some of the county’s best. It’s within walk-

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: fashionforward couture from Paris and Milan, and the U.S., in a sophisticated setting. The Row, Calleen Cordero, Pierre Hardy—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, 29, has developed Iris 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. 352 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 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 and dog doorstops. Gift-wrapping is free, and beautiful; 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 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 handcrafted 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 BEaCH BUNNy SWIMWEaRCL9000006888 Former swimwear model and cover girl Angela Chittenden founded her lingerie-inspired line of swimwear 10 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 BEaCHCaNdy By BRITB Though ready-made suits are available, most at new BeachCandy are

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AGW_G

dining, e ntertainment & fun Just steps from Disneyland®

Find out what’s happening at Anaheim GardenWalk!

Facebook.com/thegardenwalk

Twitter.com/thegardenwalk

321 West Katella Avenue • Anaheim • 714.635.7410 • anaheimgardenwalk.com

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custom. Women can choose their fit, color, style and “candy”—up to 500 Swarovski crystals complete the look on suits by Brit Barber, 26. 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

SERVING ORaNGE cOuNty SINcE 1935 • pROud REpRESENtatIVES Of tufENkIaN aRtISaN caRpEtS

Rugs are woven into the very fabric of our lives. When it comes to rugs, Alexander Rug Gallery has been serving the needs of Orange County since 1935. Family owned and operated, we at Alexander Rugs are specialists in sales, rug repair, restoration, and cleaning, employing the delicate yet powerful Mirza cleaning system. With our new showroom in Laguna Beach, we bring our rich family tradition, love, and expertise to which customers are accustomed from our warehouse in Anaheim to South County. Come, see for yourself, our collection of unique, hand-crafted rugs. Laguna Beach Gallery 412 North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 | 949.715.7727

Anaheim Warehouse (Two Blocks from Anaheim Stadium) 1130 East Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92805 | 714.535.5197

www.alexanderrugs.com

C. WONDER The boutique's first West Coast location, at Fashion Island, delivers “brightness to every corner of life” with clothing, accessories and home decor items—diverse, versatile, spirited products often with fresh twists, such as unexpected colors and patterned linings. Fashion Island, 347 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.644.4376, cwonder.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 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 ELiZaBETH CHaRLESL9000006891 The boutique opens its third location at Westcliff Plaza in the space long occupied by A’maree’s (the oth-

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ers are in San Francisco and New York). A loyal following that includes a gaggle of celebs and stylists can be attributed to personalized service and the distinctive mix of high-end merchandise. Find KARL by Karl Lagerfeld clothing, Rona Pfeiffer jewelry, Be Inthavong handbags, Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, KBL sunglasses and Pret-a-SURF swimwear. 1649 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach, 949.645.2300, elizabeth-charles.com ELiE TaHaRiCL9000006891 Elie Tahari's 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 FETNEH BLaKECL9000006891 One of Southern California’s most progressive boutiques recently marked a decade of seemingly effortless chic as visionary Fetneh Blake—who originally featured then-unknown Rick Owens and Olivier Theyskens— continues to showcase fashion’s most forward-thinking designers. 427 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.494.3787, fetnehblake.com HaRLEY-DaviDSONCL900689 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

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Great Brand Names. Terrific Low Prices. Shop Orange County’s Only Outlet Center

The Outlets at Orange has always been the ultimate Southern California outdoor shopping experience with more than 120 outlet and value stores, and over 25 different dining and entertainment options. With so much to choose from, finding the perfect something for less will be a breeze. So now you can relax in style. Mention this ad at Simon Guest Services and you’ll receive a FREE Coupon Book worth hundreds of dollars in savings! ®

ON THE CITY DRIVE JUST OFF THE 5 IN ORANGE, CA. 4 MILES FROM DISNEYLAND. 714.769.4000

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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

A complete collection of limited-edition, distinctive men’s luxury sportswear handcrafted to perfection.

The world’s finest knitwear is 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

www.stcroixshop.com 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

★ THE HEARTHSTONECL0000022734 For some 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 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 along the garden path....” 320½ Main St., Huntington Beach, 714.580.9909, islandcowgirl.com

The Hearthstone 2711 E. Coast Hwy., Corona Del Mar (949) 673.7065 www.orangecountyfireplace.com

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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 boutique; a champagne bar makes fittings less stressful. Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 7942 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.376.8100, jennyleebridal.com JOIEL9000006891 Women’s contemporary brand has opened its first West Coast boutique at Fashion Island. The airy interior

reflects the clothing, shoes and handbags: feminine, sophisticated and understatedly chic—yet inspired by Southern California cool. 591 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.759.0472, joie.com 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 know the type—and been seen on TV shows including Desperate Housewives. The men’s jeans bar offers Italian lines such as Black Orchid Denim. Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 8002 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.1700, novecentofashion.com OC MART MIX A centerpiece of the South Coast Collection, the hip, disarming venue features more than 30 shops and vendors, many of them skewed to foodies, under one very eclectic roof: Alexander Gray, Analog, Beauty Cirque, Deer Lovely, Eva’s Trunk Denim Bar, Hat Rack, Stoned Jewelry and 31 Bits as well as Portola Coffee Lab, Savory Spice Shop, the Cheese Shop, We Olive & Wine Bar and N’iceCream. 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, theocmartmix.com ★ OMEGACL9000006927 It took 162 years for the luxury Swiss watch manufacturer–known for six lunar landings, the first diver’s watch and world-record accuracy– to open its fi rst 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 ★ ON QUE STYLE With its striking designs, beautiful collections and couture fashion, stylist Kirsten Prosser’s “walk-in closet” boutique studio is the place to find distinctive pieces from luxury

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A Fresh Dining Mix The The District District at at Tustin Tustin Legacy Legacy

VisiT us onLine For A VisiT us onLine For A coMpLeTe sTore LisTing coMpLeTe sTore LisTing

TheDisTricTTL.coM TheDisTricTTL.coM

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ Aloha Hawaiian BBQ Auld Dubliner Irish Pub Auld Dubliner Irish Pub Ben & Jerry’s Ben & Jerry’s Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A Daphne’s California Greek Daphne’s California Greek Five Guys Burgers and Fries Five Guys Burgers and Fries In-N-Out In-N-Out JT Schmid’s Restaurant & Brewery JT Schmid’s Restaurant & Brewery Juice It Up Juice It Up

Lucille’s Bar-B-Que Lucille’s Bar-B-Que Luna Rossa Ristorante Luna Rossa Ristorante Mobtown Pizza Mobtown Pizza Native Foods Café Native Foods Café Nothing Bundt Cakes Nothing Bundt Cakes Panera Bread Panera Bread Peet’s Coffee & Tea Peet’s Coffee & Tea Pei Wei Asian Diner Pei Wei Asian Diner Pinkberry Pinkberry RA Sushi RA Sushi Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill Subway Subway Thai Bamboo Bistro Thai Bamboo Bistro The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar Whole Foods Market Whole Foods Market

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labels, as well as remarketed luxury designer and vintage clothing and 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, known for his red-carpet gowns and evening wear, 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 REcyclEd RaGSCL0000022739 For four decades, Recycled Rags has provided sophisticated clothing from the wardrobes of the best-dressed people. The store is filled with 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 some 650 million ways to customize radio-controlled cars. “Customizers” choose from an array 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 ROGER ViViER006891 The late Roger Vivier’s shoes, “the Fabergé of footwear,” have included the stiletto heel he created nearly 60 years ago. Now his Paris maison opens its third location in the

U.S., offering Vivier shoes as well as handbags, jewelry and sunglasses and selections from the limited-edition Rendez-Vous collection. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.435.0015, rogervivier.com h ROlEX Business is brisk at Rolex, which in 2008 opened its first boutique in the United States at South Coast Plaza, never mind price tags venturing well into six figures. The boutique showcases one of the largest selections of Rolex in the world, more than 1,000 of the coveted timepieces including the Lady-Datejust Pearlmaster, DayDate II and Cosmograph Daytona. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.241.8088, rolex.com 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, 949.284.0576; 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 knitwear and outerwear are made in the U.S. using the finest raw materials and hand-finished for best fit. Fashion Island Atrium Court, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.8191; 800.366.6964, stcroixshop.com TRadiTiOnal JEWElERSCL9000006905 Purveyor of timepieces offers renowned brands including Tag Heuer, Rolex, Cartier and Patek Philippe. It also maintains an extensive collec-

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tion of spectacular diamonds in all colors and setting styles. The shop itself is a jewel, with Michelangelostyle ceilings and wall murals. Fashion Island, 203 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.9010, traditionaljewelers.com

offers an eclectic mix of photographs, pastels, watercolors, oils, acrylics and sculpture by award-winning artists shown and collected by museums here and abroad. 326 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.510.5481, joanneartmangallery.com

Trina TurkCL9000006905 Inspired by the culture, architecture and landscape of Southern California, the collection features 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

LEN WOOD'S INDIAN TERRITORYCL0000022751 Landmark specializes in Hopi kachinas, Zuni fetishes and Navajo textiles and boasts one of the finest collections of Mission Indian baskets and artifacts anywhere. Also for sale are Navajo, Zuni and Hopi jewelry as well as books and weaponry. Its Museum of the First People displays weavings dating to 1870 and baskets from from 1850 to 1929. 305-D N. Coast Hwy., 949.497.5747, indianterritory.com

Galleries h ALEXANDER RUG GALLERY45 The gallery has been offering Oriental rugs since 1935. Among them are Persian rugs (made in Iran such as Kerman, Kashan, Bokhara, Saruk and Isfahan) and Armenian rugs from the Caucasus (including Chelaberd, Khntzoretzk, Kedashan, Karabagh and Kazak)—as well as Chinese art-deco rugs made in the 1920s and antique Navajo tribe rugs and blankets. 412 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.7727, alexanderrugs.com

Peter BlakeCL0000022751 Prestigious fine-art gallery now marking its 20th anniversary is a definitive resource in Southern California for modern and contemporary art, most of it in the abstract genre. Edgier than most Laguna galleries, the venue shows paintings, drawings, sculpture and photography; represented artists including Lita Albuquerque, Tony Delap and Ed Moses. 435 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.376.9994, peterblakegallery.com

Dawson Cole Fine ArtCL0000022745 The gorgeous gallery offers works by renowned figurative sculptor Richard MacDonald, whose monumental pieces include The Flair, honoring 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

WYLAND GALLERIES Pre-eminent showcase for marine-life art. In keeping with the artist’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. Wyland is wellknown for his Whaling Wall murals, one of which is outside the gallery. 509 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.8000, wylandgalleries.com

JOANNE ARTMAN GALLERY0000022751 Laguna Beach-based JoAnne Artman brings the hip Santa Ana attitude of her SpaceOnSpurgeon to North Coast Highway. The aptly named Artman

8DINING 8ENTERTAINMENT 8SHOPPING 8SIGHTS

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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 MANY OF ITS BEST RESTAURANTS.

WHERE GUESTBOOK

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OPPOSITE: SHORT-RIB PAPPARDELLE, CUCINA ENOTECA

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. The menu is creative. The halibut is a favorite; the burger is excellent. There is also a café/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

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 by new Michelin-starred chef Luigi Fineo. 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

BAySIDE2 Eclectic. Stylish spot near Balboa Island and the harbor canals serves firstrate 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

H AGORA CHURRASCARIACL900623 Brazilian. Choice cuts cooked over a fire pit, seasoned with rock salt. Waiters dressed as gauchos offer 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

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. Signature garlic noodles; molecular gastronomy. L, D (daily). Bloomingdale’s, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.5679, anqibistro.com

THE BEACHCOMBER American. On the Crystal Cove State Park beach. It’s like a weather-worn yacht with umbrellas on the deck. Roasted French feta; red-wine-braised Kobe short ribs; Gimme S’mores! dessert; Tonga Lei Bowl at the outdoor Bootlegger Bar. Shuttle or walk down from the Los Trancos lot. B, L, D (daily). 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Beach, 949.376.6900, thebeachcombercafe.com

H AMELIA’SCL9006928 Seafood/Italian. Charming local favorite for half a century offers classic fare such as linguine with fresh bay shrimp, 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 ANTONELLO RISTORANTECL002659 Italian. Top-notch, romantic northern Italian spot recently marked its 30th anniversary. Co-chefs offer orecchiette pasta with Pugliese sausage and Swiss chard; cavatelli with slow-cooked lamb ragu; and superior tiramisu. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). South Coast Plaza Village, 3800 S. Plaza Drive, Santa Ana, 714.751.7153, antonello.com

BLUEFINCL0000022661 Japanese. Master sushi chef Takashi Abe offers exquisite sushi and hot entrées. Toro tartare with osetra caviar; seafood tempura with truffle sauce and matcha salt; prime filet mignon with mixed mushrooms. Opt for omakase tasting. L, D (daily). 7952 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.7373, bluefinbyabe.com

ANAHEIM WHITE HOUSECL002658 Italian. A 1909 manor is a romantic setting for superior North County venue. Dramatic presentations of northern Italian fare, impeccably served in silk-draped rooms. Owner Bruno Serato was named a CNN Hero for his work with underprivileged children. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.772.1381, anaheimwhitehouse.com

BAMBúCL0000022660 Californian. Set in a four-story atrium amid lush gardens, palms, orchids and 20 bamboo trees. Creatively presented fare with Asian, French and Italian influences enhancing seasonal and regional foods of Southern California. B (daily), L (M-F), D (Tu-Sa). Fairmont Newport Beach, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.476.2001, fairmont.com

H BLUEWATER GRILLCL900630 Seafood. Seafood so fresh—grilled Australian barramundi, Costa Rican mahimahi, farm-raised Mississippi catfish—that the menu changes daily. Waterfront patio in Newport; 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

SOMETHING BREWING The buzz on coffee? New Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab, a six-seat bar adjacent to superb Portola Coffee Lab at OC Mart Mix, offers craft-coffee creations such as a Kyoto oldfashioned, using fermented Kintimani coffee from Bali, barrelaged in oak for six months; a liquid-nitrogen affogato, above; and erudite coffee flights (949.284.0596). At Kéan Coffee in Newport Beach, coffee maven Martin Diedrich offers organic and fair-trade artisan coffees that he personally roasts fresh on-site daily; his espresso drinks are works of art (949.642.5326). Joseph Mahon, who cooked in the world's capitals and was chef at L.A.'s fabulous, now-shuttered Bastide, opens Early Bird in Fullerton (714.529.4100), offering breakfast, lunch and the highestrated, in-season, small-batch, single-origin green coffees from around the globe, craft-roasted and delivered each morning.

H Starred liStingS are featured gueStBook advertiSerS. WHERE GUESTBOOK

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BROADWAY BY AMAR SANTANA0054534 American. Former longtime chef at Charlie Palmer opens his own spot with decor inspired by New York’s Broadway (as opposed to the nearby Laguna street of that name). He’s serving “modern cuisine of the Americas,” including dishes such as wild-mushroom bolognese with pasta, smoked tofu and shaved Romano cheese, and superior handcrafted cocktails. D (M-Sa). 328 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 949.715.8234, broadwaybyamarsantana.com

OC’S ITALIAN HOT SPOT Chef Alessandro Pirozzi’s Culinary Collection of Coastal City Restaurants LAGUNA BEACH 696 S. Coast Highway

949.715.9581

NEWPORT BEACH 6700 W. Coast Highway

949.645.2148

HUNTINGTON BEACH 520 Main Street

714.969.2148

LAGUNA BEACH 234 Forest Avenue

949.497.8222

w w w.MareCulinar yLounge.com w w w.CucinaAlessa.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 The Capital GrilleCL9000006868 Steak. East Coast steakhouse adds portraits of local historical figures to its elegant wood-clad dining room. Lobster-crab cakes; bone-in, Konacrusted 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 The Cellar Eclectic. Romantic dinners in a subterranean setting oozing with character (originally designed by Disney craftsmen) in the cellar of the 1920sera California Hotel. New, more eclectically skewed menu (e.g., tofu Napoleon with Thai barbecue glaze) retains many of its favorites (velvety lobster bisque, chateaubriand for two). Top-notch service, crafted cocktails and smashing wine list. D (TuSu). 305 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, 714.525.5682, cellardining.com

Chapter One: The Modern Local Eclectic. Hip library-themed spot in hip downtown Santa Ana offers creative fare—e.g., skirt steak with apple chimichurri sauce and yucca fries, and gourmet doughnuts—and superb changing “culinary cocktails,” among the county’s very best. Open until 2 am. L, D (daily). 227 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.352.2225, chapteronetml.com Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’sCL9006301 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 h Chart HouseCL00265 Seafood. Destinations known for seaside vistas offer creative seafood, choice beef and renowned desserts such as the molten chocolateliqueur Lava Cake. 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 h CUCINA ALESSACL00268 Italian. Popular trattorias feature house-made pastas, such as braised short rib tortelloni and lobsterstuffed ravioli, and delectable pizzas. Prosciutto and mozzarella bar in Laguna Beach is the county’s first; the Huntington Beach location offers happy hours 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

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CUCINA ENOTECAL0000054534 Italian. New spinoff of San Diego’s popular Cucina Urbana combines California-inspired Italian classics and a wine shop. Chef de cuisine is Lulu De Rouen (ex-Pinot Provence). Vasi (filled mini-mason jars), stuffed squash blossoms, veal piccata, shortrib pappardelle, foraged-mushroom and truffle-oil pizza. Wines are retail plus $10. L, D (daily). Irvine Spectrum Center, 31 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.861.2222, cucinaenoteca.com THE FIRST CABINCL002670 Californian. 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

PriMe SteAkS. legeNDAry SerViCe. Fine Wine • Private Dining • New Menu

Santa Ana South Coast Plaza Village 1641 W. Sunflower Ave. 714.444.4834

Anaheim 1895 S. Harbor Blvd. 714.621.0101

mortons.com

FIVE CROWNSCL0000022671 Continental. Venerated Lawry’sowned spot in replica of England’s oldest inn has a new 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. 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; inviting happyhour 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

FRANCOLI GOURMETCL0000022672 Italian. Convivial, handsome destination with ornate orange-glass chandelier, intriguing art on the walls and Italian ceramics everywhere looks 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 HAVEN GASTROPUBCL9006859 Brewpub. Thought-provoking list of palate-provoking handcrafted beers 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. Transporting experience at homey hacienda revered for special occasions. The seven-course prix-fixe affair includes aperitifs upstairs, hors d’oeuvres in the wine cellar and new Continental classics in elegant dining rooms. Menu changes weekly. Reservations essential. D (WSu). 2932 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.997.1972, hobbitrestaurant.com H HOUSE OF BIG FISH & ICE COLD BEERCL9006924 Seafood. 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. Hawaiian-style poke,

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lobster fondue, caramelized salmon, bananas Foster bread pudding. Lively atmosphere, ocean views. L, D (daily). 540 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.4500, houseofbigfish.com IL BARONE RISTORANTECL9000006862 Italian. Chef Franco Barone offers distinctive Italian fare at stylish spot near the airport. Paper-thin focaccia sheets filled with Crescenza cheese; off-themenu wild-boar carpaccio. The tripe reflects Barone’s rustic Sicilian roots, modern art his sophisticated side. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 4251 Martingale Way, Newport Beach, 949.955.2755, ilbaroneristorante.com IL GARAGECL0000022678 Italian. David Slay’s beguiling spot, in a garage amid vintage tractors, overlooks his tour-worthy ParkAve garden. Items from the garden inspire the menu; some produce comes from the Fullerton Arboretum. D (Tu-Su). 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 stylish decor, Baja-style seafood and other south-of-the-border classics. Irvine Spectrum Center, 45 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.872.2101; 7832 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.494.1239, javiers-cantina.com H JT SCHMID’SCL002679 Brewpub. Popular spots with laidback California decor known for handcrafted beers brewed on-site and classic brewpub cuisine. Wood-fired pizzas, Prime aged steaks, pastas and burgers share eclectic menu with ahi sashimi, blackened fish tacos and jambalaya. 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 JULIETTE KITCHEN + BAR American. New. Former owners of the Filling Station in Orange take

over the space left by venerated Tradition by Pascal, serving superior New American fare and adding adjacent wine merchant. Juliette Chung oversees the restaurant, husband Jon Hughes the wine and daughter Erica Choi the pastries; chef Daniel Hyatt hails from L.A.’s Delius L (M-Sa), D (T-Sa). 1000 Bristol St., Newport Beach, 949.752.5854, juliettenb.com KATSUyA By STARCKCL0000022679 Japanese. Bento box-inspired surroundings by designer Philippe Starck and huge images of geisha eyes and lips provide striking backdrop for stunning cocktails and cuisine by master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi. Japanese ingredients with hip American sensibilities; robata-grilled skewers; haute hot dishes. You feel beautiful inside and out. Deck overlooks Coast Highway. L, D (daily). 858 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.793.4030, sbe.com/katsuya/laguna-beach H K’yA BISTRO BARCL002680 Eclectic. Handsome bistro inside the Hotel La Casa del Camino pairs small plates and wines by the glass. Chicken empanadas, petite lamb burgers, lobster macaroni-and-cheese, Hawaiian poke, grilled filet mignon, truffle risotto. B, D (daily). 1287 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.9718, kyabistro.com H K’yA STREET FARET Eclectic. Venue celebrates the way 2.5 billion people eat every day— local dishes from street vendors. 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 Californian. Chic and sleek affair from the Patina Group makes graceful use of its site within the grand, glittering Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert

Spectacular Waterfront Dining Chart House has built its reputation on delighting guests with spectacular views, outstanding cuisine and impeccable service. Enjoy fresh fish specialties, awardwinning prime rib and decadent dessets while you dine leisurely right on the Pacific Coast.

Online reservations at chart-house.com

Serving dinner 7 days a week Newport Beach • 2801 Coast Highway West 949.548.5889 Dana Point • 34442 St. of the Green Lantern 949.493.1183

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brunch. lunch. dinner.

Hall. Acres of windows and curving lines set the scene for sophisticated and cutting-edge cuisine. Ideal for pre- or post-performance. D (Tu-Su). 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.429.7640, patinagroup.com 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 Southern California’s finest bistro experiences. Bone marrow; grilled Spanish octopus; duck-leg confit; exquisite cheeses; transcendent desserts. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.434.7900, marchemoderne.net

sustainable seafood & prime aged steaks. endless champagne brunch saturday & sunday. late night lounge thursday - saturday. happy hour monday - friday. private events. 714.979.2400

www.ScottsRestaurantandBar.com

3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa Ca 92626

★ MARE CULINARY LOUNGECL00543 Italian. Chef-owner Alessandro Pirozzi’s glittery new spot tops his own fine coastal Cucina Alessa locations. Infused pastas are a theme. Lavender ginger martini; stuffed orange sweet Peppadew peppers; limoncello-infused mafaldine pasta with lobster tail, shallots and pinot grigio-local lemon sauce. B, L, D (daily). 696 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9581, mareculinarylounge.com ★ MASTRO’S OCEAN CLUBCL002681 Seafood. Seafood is flown in daily and served in majestic proportions at this bluff-top, oceanview spot. Start with dry-ice enshrouded Seafood Tower; end with the warm butter cake. In the O Bar, people eat off the glass-topped grand piano. D (nightly). Crystal Cove Promenade, 8112 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.376.6990, mastrosrestaurants.com ★ MASTRO’S STEAKHOUSECL00268 Steak. Portions at swanky and cozy spot are larger than life. We’d be happy with any one dish, notably the wetaged hand-cut bone-in filet; excessively good sides such as the off-the-menu crab gnocchi; and the—oooh—warm butter cake. White-jacket service adds to the special-occasion feel. The bar of-

fers fine live music. D (nightly). 633 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.546.7405, mastrosrestaurants.com ★ MIXCL0 Californian. Venue with lounge in the Hilton’s atrium lobby offers often organic dishes: grilled citrus-crusted salmon with vegetable hash and sweet potato, natural New York strip steak with grilled asparagus. B, L, D (daily). Hilton Anaheim, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, 714.740.4412, hiltonanaheimhotel.com ★ 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. Adjacent 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 NAPA ROSECL0000022687 Californian. The Disney Resort’s ode to the wine country is a 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 ★ NEWPORT RIB COMPANYCL00268 American. Family-owned and -operated spot has been offering superior baby-back ribs for nearly 30 years—plus choice steaks, slowroasted 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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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 Californian. Tight menu of contemporary seasonal small plates amid lush atrium look. Tortilla soup; macaroni and cheese; 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 RESTAURANTCL9006304 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. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Su). 11200 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714.901.4400, parkavedining.com PINOT PROvENCE CL0000022693 French. Sophisticated French-Med dishes at this enduring marvel is a favorite for executive breakfasts and lunches, pre-theater dinners and special occasions. The intimate dining room boasts a massive stone fireplace; charming walled patio beckons year-round. B (M-Sa), L (daily), D (Tu-Su), 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 Jo-

seph Bastianich replicates their much acclaimed Los Angeles collaboration, serving transcendent pizzas. Start with fried squash blossoms with ricotta or bone-marrow al forno; end with caramel coppetta 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. Pizza with fresh ricotta, house-cured pork cheek, scallions and fennel pollen; pear and pecorino tortelli. L (M-F), D (nightly). 650 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.445.4900, pizzeriaortica.com

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

h RA SUSHICL9006853 Japanese. Upbeat sushi restaurant and bar offers distinctive Japanesefusion cuisine such as sushi tacos. With its red-globe-light-bedecked ceiling, sleek decor, oversized aquarium and hip soundtrack, the Huntington spot has a club-like 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 h RAINFOREST CAFECL002694 Themed. Animatronics, aquariums and special effects bring the adventure of the rain forest indoors. Seafood, beef, chicken, pastas, salads, sandwiches, pizza and Volcano dessert amid lush vegetation, lightning and wild animals. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.424.9200; Downtown Disney, 1515 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.772.0413, rainforestcafe.com RALPH BRENNAN’S JAZZ KITCHENCL002695 American. Find New Orleans jazz and Creole cuisine at this festive spot, modeled after New Orleans’ French Quarter. Pasta jambalaya, gumbo ya-ya,

5TH STREET, BOUTIQUE 120 AT THE STRAND HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA (714) 969-1700 www.baguetier.com

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Think out of the box & experience...

The perfect summertime companion to picnics on the beach & everything Laguna... also taste our new Mediterranean beer & wine selections.

Creole calamari and bananas Foster. 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 Ramos House CaféCL0000022696 American. Captivatingly ramshackle abode in a historic district offers delectable daytime fare. Contemporary American breakfasts, the county’s best, and lunches have a Southern accent befitting the rustic, alfresco setting and the rumble of passing trains. B, L (Tu-F); Br (Sa-Su). 31752 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.1342, ramoshouse.com THE RANCHCL0000054534 American. New sophisticated restaurant and super-fun glittering saloon. Kobe beef carpaccio with pecorino Romano, wild arugula and truffle; silver barramundi with white shrimp, Castroville artichokes and fire-roastedheirloom-tomato-fennel broth; bonein cowboy rib eye. D (nightly). 1025 E. Ball Road, Anaheim, 714.817.4200, theranch.com RayaCL9000006865 Latin-global. Elegantly presented global cuisine from Latin chef Richard Sandoval amid spectacular ocean views. Alaskan halibut with truffled boniato, roasted corn salsa and tempura pickled chilies; fun churros. B, L, D (daily). Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000, ritzcarlton.com

MEDITERRANEAN PANINIS & SALADS 412 North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, Ca 92651 949-715-9230 zeytooncafe.com

Roy’sCL0000022697 Hawaiian fusion. Roy Yamaguchi’s Hawaiian fusion fare and sushi. Assertive flavors, unusual combinations, stylish decor. 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 classics and dishes honoring their Louisiana heritage. New Orleans-style barbecued shrimp; perfectly seared steaks sizzling in butter. 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 repasts. Hand-cut Midwest corn-fed steaks are aged 28 days; seafood flown in daily includes South African lobster tails. L, D (daily). Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.6900, samandharrys.com Sapphire LagunaCL9006971 Eclectic. Chef Azmin Ghahreman offers sophisticated, globally inspired dishes at stylish restaurant with patio overlooking Coast Highway. Seafood paella; black-peppered bison carpaccio; crispy skin barramundi; 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. Pan-roasted Thai snapper; New Zealand lamb chops with eggplant puree. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.979.2400, scottsrestaurantandbar.com SEASONS 52 American. No dish more than 475 calories, stylish decor, casually sophisticated ambience, fabulous piano bar. Eclectic seasonal menu includes spicy chipotle shrimp flatbread, lemongrass salmon salad under glass, oak-grilled filet mignon and Mini Indulgences

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desserts. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.437.5252, seasons52.com ShadesCL0000022701 Californian. Casual elegance, a winning Cal-Continental menu and ocean views make this steak and seafood restaurant a popular destination. Boutique ranch meats inspire the deft cooking. 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 SIDE DOORCL9000006885 Gastropub. Superb spot shares historic building (a replica of England’s oldest inn) with fine-dining landmark Five Crowns; regional accolades during its opening year (2011) included 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 cookbooks Amor y Tacos and The Mexican Slow Cooker. Vibrant Baja-inspired dishes; cocktails and side dishes are top-notch. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 251 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.675.9800, solcocina.com SplashesCL0000022700 Californian. Indoors by the fireplace or on the patio steps from the sand, the view of crashing waves and stunning sunsets at this posh dining room provides a dramatic backdrop for an alluring menu meant to make gorgeous memories. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). Surf & Sand Resort, 1555 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.2779, surfandsandresort.com STARFISHCL0000022703 Eclectic. New concept from Nancy Wilhelm, owner of Zagat-topping Tabu Grill, offers “Amer-Asian” cuisine, American takes on cuisines of

Thailand, Vietnam, China, Korea and India with a nice lacing of heat—amid Asian art-deco decor in shopping center opposite the Montage. D (nightly). 30832 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9200, starfishlaguna.com Stonehill TavernCL0000022703 American. Acclaimed chef Michael Mina offers New American fare in a shimmering room at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, turning the cozytavern concept on its ear by bringing the ocean indoors via windows, mirrors and veranda seating. Maine lobster pot pie; Snake River Farms pork chop with fontina cheese and mustard greens; strawberry soufflé. D (W-Su). 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949.234.3318, michaelmina.net

astro’s.

the finest prime steaks s the freshest seafood genuine service s exquisite wines s private dining live entertainment 7 nights a week

StudioCL0000022704 Cal-French. Bluff-top bungalow with azure, endless Pacific view oozes offhand luxury befitting its resort setting. Chef Craig Strong offers creative CalFrench cuisine, gilded by genteel service, ingredients from on-site garden and impressive wine program; highest marks on all fronts. Some of O.C.’s finest cocktails, too. D (Tu-Su). Montage Laguna Beach, 30801 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.6420, studiolagunabeach.com Tabu GrillCL9000006918 Seafood/steak. Cal-Pacific Rim comfort-fusion surf-and-turf menu might include Snake River Farms Wagyu flat-iron steak with three-cheese macaroni, balsamic-grilled red onion and applewood-smoked bacon, or mero sea bass with truffle soy yuzu. D (nightly). 2892 S. Coast Hwy., South Laguna, 949.494.7743, tabugrill.com TAMARINDCL9000006918 Indian. Sibling to Michelin-starred London spot. Elegantly presented Moghul-derived tandoor-oven and innovative seasonal dishes. L, D (daily). Crystal Cove Shopping Center, East Coast Highway and Crystal Heights Drive, Newport Coast, 949.415.8865, tamarindrestaurant.com

mastro’s steakhouse 633 anton boulevard, costa mesa 714.546.7405

mastro’s ocean club 8112 east coast hwy, newport beach 949.376.6990

Additional locations in California, Arizona, Las Vegas and Chicago

www.mastrosrestaurants.com

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H TANGERINE GRILL & PATIO06981 Californian. Find a culinary California adventure—with Pacific Rim and Southwestern flair—opposite Disney California Adventure. Specialties use free-range ingredients and local produce. Consider tangerine chicken; coconut-crusted mahimahi; and Malibu culotte steak. B, L, D (daily). Anabella Hotel, 1030 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.772.1186, tangerinegrillandpatio.com TRUE FOOD KITCHENCL9000006910 Eclectic. Healthful-living author Dr. Andrew Weil presents globally inspired, locally sourced dishes in cheery room and on patio with linear fire pit. Grilled steelhead salmon with arugula, beet, pomegranate and lemon; more healthful cocktails, more ecoconsciously made wines. L, D (daily); Br (Sa–Su). Fashion Island, 451 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.644.2400, truefoodkitchen.com 21 OCEANFRONTCL00270 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 FRANCECL002708 French. Classic 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 in-house at this charming bistro and bakery. B, L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.1734, viedefrance.com VUE RESTAURANTCL0000022710 Californian. Contemporary fare in upscale, relaxed setting with fire pit is

perched on a bluff above 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 (daily), D (F-Sa), Br (Su). Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, 949.487.7555, thevuerestaurant.com THE WINERyCL900691 Californian. Chef-partner Yvon Goetz offers contemporary regional cuisine at acclaimed, handsome venue; the dining room, limestone terrace, humidor patio and excellent bar menu offer a sophisticated, lively and 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 H ZEyTOON CAFEE Mediterranean. Flatbreads, salads and paninis (sujok sandwich of spicy beef sausage, tomatoes and pickles pressed in matnakash bread) plus Mediterranean beer and wines. Small market offers hummus and housemarinated olives as well as art books and handcrafted soaps and candles. L, D (daily until 6 pm); Br (Su). 412 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9230, zeytooncafe.com

540

ZIMZALA9 Californian. Surfer-chic restaurant and bar at stylish Shorebreak Hotel offers “American/beach comfort” cuisine to match—and creative Cal-Med fare, too. Grilled sirloin burger with Gruyère cheese, caramelized onions and Parmesan-garlic fries; cast-ironcooked 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, WHEREOC.COM OR THE WHERE USA APP

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KB-RF-

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happy hour Monday-Friday 2:30pm-6:30pm Come Early! Prices change every hour starting at $2.30 540 S. Coast Hwy, #200, Laguna Beach | 949.715.4500 | houseofbigfish.com

1289 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach | 949.497.2446 | rooftoplagunabeach.com

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$5.00 Happy Hour

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

8/21/12 3:37 PM 9/11/12 11:40 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

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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

9/11/12 12:35 PM

special advertising section

bluewater grill Bluewater Grill is the place for absolutely fresh seafood—it’s so fresh that the lunch and dinner menus are printed daily! The popular restaurant serves up to 40 varieties of sustainably caught or Seafood Watch-approved farmed seafood and shellfish daily, such as locally harpooned swordfish or snapper, Alaskan halibut and wild king salmon in season. It also features delicious salads, burgers, pasta and steak, and has a fresh oyster bar and lively bar scene. Sit on Tustin’s fireplace patio, or on Newport’s waterfront terrace. L,D (daily); brunch (Sa-Su).

VIe de France This bakery-café offers the best of casual French cooking, reminiscent of a familyrun 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).

630 Lido Park Drive, Newport Beach

949.675.3474 2409 Park Ave., Tustin

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South Coast Plaza 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa

Tangerine grill & Patio 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, and a newly imagined dessert menu. Seating available in the alfresco dining area or on the relaxing outdoor terrace. Happy hour daily, from 2:30-6 pm. B, L, D (daily). 1030 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim

714.258.3474

714.557.1734

714.772.1186

bluewatergrill.com

viedefrance.com

tangerinegrillandpatio.com

9/11/12 12:35 PM

SPECIAL ADVERTISIng SECTIon

silver trumpet restaurant & Bar

ra susHi Bar restaurant

miX

714.536.6390

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 eggs “Bennie,” or rum-raisin French toast. Among eclectic lunch and dinner entrée items are Pacific halibut, braised short ribs over five-cheese mac ‘n’ cheese, and 11-ingredient fried rice. Mix offers an extensive wine and signature cocktail list as well as an array of delectable desserts. B, L, D (daily).

3350 avenue of the arts, Costa mesa

the District at tustin legacy 2401 park ave., tustin

777 Convention Way, anaheim

714.442.8593

714.566.1700

714.740.4412

silvertrumpetrestaurant.com

rasushi.com

hiltonanaheimhotel.com

Just steps away from the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Plaza, Silver Trumpet gets a standing ovation for its symphony of seasonal, sustainable flavors. This restaurant features modern American cuisine sourced from the local market, using fresh and free-range ingredients as well as housemade pastries, pastas and desserts. A popular pre-show stop for the theater set, the elegant dining room also hits a high note with its warm modern décor, seamless glass windows providing fabulous lake views, outdoor lakeside dining, and a tasteful musical theme throughout. B, L, D (daily), Br (Sa-Su).

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RA Sushi approaches sushi with a chic vibrance that isn’t overdone. The music is pumping, the mood is upbeat and the atmosphere is as stimulating as a big bite of wasabi. Fresh sashimi and sushi are sliced to order, innovative rolls and specialties like RA’s Crispy Asian Tacos, Viva Las Vegas Roll and Tootsy Maki make RA a cut above your neighborhood sushi bar. Sample sake and exotic cocktails, or simply relax during Happy Hour Mon.-Sat. from 3 to 7 pm. L, D (daily). the strand 155 5th street, Huntington Beach

9/17/12 3:25 PM

special advertising section

Amelia’s

The Cellar

Royal Thai Cuisine

Simply delicious for over 50 years, 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 at least five very fresh fish daily and mouthwatering combination dinners such as the filet mignon and scampi. Fine wines available. Private parties from eight to 48. Sunset dinner $12.50, Sunday-Friday 5-6 p.m. D (nightly), Br (F-Su).

The Cellar has pampered connoisseurs with a sophisticated menu, an extensive wine list and superlative service since 1970. The romantic setting beneath the historic Villa del Sol was created by Disney craftsman Gene White, who designed the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Signature dishes by chef Sean Nemetz include sautéed escargot; velvety lobster bisque; tofu Napoleon with Thai barbecue glaze; Three “B” Hash of bacon, Brussels sprouts and butternut squash; classic chateaubriand for two; and a chocolateand-hazelnut soufflé. Craft cocktails, too. D (Tu-Su).

311 Marine Ave., Newport Beach

305 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton

949.673.6580

714.525.5682

949.645.8424

ameliasbalboaisland.com

cellardining.com

royalthaicuisine.com

Exquisite Thai dining in casually elegant surroundings is offered at this familyowned establishment, which has presented the tranquility of Thai cuisine and culture for more than 30 years. Dishes such as honey duck and enormous Lady Thai prawns from the Chao Praya River reflect the beguiling flavors of Thailand. The proprietors have served Thailand’s Royal Family and they roll out the red carpet for yours. The Sunset Dinner— four courses for $15.95—is offered from 5 to 7 pm; full-service bar. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su).

4001 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach

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 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, offseason on Tuesdays. 2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, 714.634.2000. Tours: 714.940.2070, angelsbaseball.com

PRiSciLLa iEZZi. OPPOSiTE: DiSnEYLanD, aSHOK SinHa

cRYSTaL caTHEDRaLCL0000022600 The stunning glass building and its campus have been sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and will be renamed Christ Cathedral. Adjacent architectural treasures also include Richard Neutra’s Tower of Hope and Richard Meier’s International Center for Positive Thinking. 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove, 714.971.4000, crystalcathedral.org DiScOvERY SciEncE cEnTERCL0 More than 100 hands-on displays: Kids create a tidal wave, make music with lasers and lie on a bed of nails. The iconic tilting cube houses the Boeing Rocket Lab. Highlights this year: the U.S. premiere of National Geographic Presents Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology: The Exhibition. 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.542.2823, discoverycube.org DiSnEY caLifORnia aDvEnTURECL0000022603 Disneyland’s adjacent state-themed counterpart offers lands based on Hollywood, beach culture and the Gold Rush. New Cars Land adds three attractions, notably Radiator Springs racers, inspired by the DisneyPixar film cars. The spectacular World

of Color water-and-laser show wows nightly. The thrills never end at California Screamin’, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Soarin’ Over California, an amazing simulation of gliding above the gorgeous Golden State. 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, 714.781.7290, disneyland.com 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, flightdeck1.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 HOnDa cEnTERCL0000022604 The entertainment and sports venue hosts blockbuster pop concerts—recent acts have included Lady Gaga and Rihanna—as well as family fare such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum

& Bailey Circus. It's also home to the Anaheim Ducks hockey team and to basketball’s John R. Wooden Classic. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2400, hondacenter.com JETLEv SOUTHWEST0 Jet-pack flight's a reality! Participants can fly 30 feet in the air and skim across the waters of Newport Harbor at 35 mph, thanks to Jetlev’s waterpropelled jet pack. 2600 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 888.553.6471, jetlevsouthwest.com

SOMETHinG WiLD K1 SPEED9000006938 Indoor kart racing offers challenging track for speed enthusiasts, an authentic racing experience in a safe, comfortable, accessible environment utilizing advanced European electric karts and indoor asphalt tracks. Available for private parties or corporate events. 17221 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.250.0242; 1000 N. Edward Court, Anaheim, 714.632.6999. k1speed.com

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. Others are easily accessed: Enter Crystal Cove State Park (949.494.3539) and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

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 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

(above, 714.846.3460) from coast Highway, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (949.923.2235) from Laguna canyon Road. Destinations also include Caspers Wilderness Park (949.923.2210), the largest, and the Orange County Great Park (866.829.3829), which when complete will eclipse new York's central Park. access Irvine Ranch Open Space (714.973.6865) during scheduled programs; Cleveland National Forest (858.673.6180) offers trails in the vicinity of iconic Santiago and Modjeska peaks.

H Starred liStingS are featured gueStBook advertiSerS. WHERE GUESTBOOK

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the Land of Adventure. 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, 760.918.LEGO, california.legoland.com

S H O P • DIN E • E X PLO R E • LE A R N

The Orange County Great Park

FREE Family Fun! FLY on the Great Park Balloon RIDE the beautiful Carousel PLAY on the giant North Lawn

EXPERIENCE the Great Park Gallery ENJOY our Sunday Farmers Market For more information Call 1-866-829-3829 or visit www.ocgp.org The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 or 405 freeways at Sand Canyon and Marine Way in Irvine

Farm + Food Lab and a free tethered orange balloon ride that goes up 400 feet. Sand Canyon and Marine Way, Irvine, 866.829.3829, ocgp.org

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

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

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

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, café, doctor’s office, art studio, beach, amphitheater and marina. 29 Hubble, Irvine, 949.428.3900, pretendcity.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 exhibitions. It is the best-preserved structure of its kind in the U.S. Priests still celebrate Mass in the Serra Chapel, the oldest church in California, where father Junipero Serra once presided. Free audio tours can be downloaded to your iPhone. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, missionsjc.com

RicHaRD niXOn LiBRaRY & BiRTHPLacECL0000022611 Venue on nine rolling acres offers a glimpse into the events and people that shaped, and were shaped by, the 37th president. It is inspiring and pulls no punches; you can arrange to listen to Nixon’s infamous White House tapes. Full-size replicas of the White House’s East Room and Lincoln Sitting Room on display. Docent-led garden tours on Saturdays. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, 714.933.5075, library. nixonfoundation.org

H ORanGE cOUnTY GREaT PaRKCL90000 The park, on the former site of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, is touted as the first great metropolitan park of the 21st century. When complete, it will nearly double the size of New York’s Central Park. It includes the Palm Court Arts Complex, Museum of Heritage & Aviation,

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

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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 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, 949.497.2787, 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 SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER4 Los Angeles Times music critic Mark Swed declared Soka’s “the best concert hall of its size in Southern California.... It seems an exception to the laws of physics,” adding that Yasuhisa Toyota, the same acoustician used for L.A.’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, “has produced a small masterpiece.” Offerings include the world’s touring orchestras and a jazz series. 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949.480.4000, soka.edu 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 often 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

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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 h Bowers Museum CL002691 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 in the Leo Fender Gallery are devoted to the legendary local electric guitar maker. 301 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton, 714.738.6545, cityoffullerton.com/depts/museum 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 Thursdays. 18881 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.476.2565, irvinemuseum.org 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 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 LYON AIR MUSEUM940 Some of the world’s rarest operational 20th century aircraft, e.g., the Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress,” and other historical vehicles such as Adolf Hitler’s 1939 Mercedes-Benz, displayed on the perimeter of John Wayne Airport. 19300 Ike Jones Drive, Santa Ana, 714.210.4585, lyonairmuseum.org MuzeoCL9000006940 Museum and cultural-arts center hosts three traveling exhibitions with children’s programs per year. Highlights: Spanish Masters: Goya, Picasso, Dalí. 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim,714.956.8936, muzeo.org 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 Jackson: Ain’t Painting a Pain is a season highlight. 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, 949.759.1122, ocma.net

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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 O.C.’s best golfing values. 6501 E. Nohl Ranch Road, Anaheim Hills, 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 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 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; 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 courses offer visitors some of the best golf in the U.S. The Tom Fazio-designed layouts, adjacent to the luxe Resort at Pelican Hill, sit on bluffs above the coast. Fees include cart. The clubhouse is built on a terraced hillside and features sweeping ocean panoramas. 22800 Pelican Hill Road, Newport Coast, 949.467.6800, pelicanhillgolfclub.com h STRAWBERRY FARMS GOLF CLUB Eighteen-hole course developed by former Angel third baseman Doug DeCinces features rolling greens, a picturesque canyon, wetland vistas, Orange County’s longest hole—and a barn and windmill. 11 Strawberry Farms Road, Irvine, 949.551.1811, strawberryfarmsgolf.com

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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 h Tustin Ranch Golf ClubCL00263 The course, featuring more than 6,800 yards of classic, resort-style Ted Robinson Sr. design, is most often deemed the county's best by O.C. Register readers; it recently marked its 20th anniversary. The layout offers meticulous, challenging greens including cascading falls and lakes; the signature 11th hole, often voted among O.C.'s best par 3s, requires a solid iron shot

12442 Tustin Ranch Road Tustin CA 92782 714.730.1611 www.TustinRanchGolf.com W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 8 3

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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 H cinEPOLiS LUXURY cinEMaS0263LuXrCnyI e Take dinner and a movie to a whole new level at this new 21-screen venue. Consider an artisan cheese and charcuterie plate, spicy lobster roll or chopped short-rib burger; start with a cocktail or finish with Godiva chocolate cheesecake. Just ring a waiter with the call button at every plush leather electric reclining seat, complete with footrest and swivel table. 32401 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, 949.487.1900. cinepolisusa.com

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THE cOnTinEnTaL ROOM CL0000022647 Swanky enough to dress up for, this 10:37 AM 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 H 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 HOUSE Of BLUES CL0000022649 Nationally acclaimed bayou-inspired venue offers touring name bands, dancing and soul food, including a roof-raising Sunday Gospel Brunch; the new “Crossroads” menu is by chef Aaron Sanchez. On the walls is

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a superior collection of outsider art. Downtown Disney, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.778.3585, hob.com/anaheim 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 MESa Trendy lounge at the Camp has retractable glass roof, offers New American share plates, excellent cocktails. Kitchen open until 1 am, bar until 2 am. M-Sa. 725 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.6700, mesacostamesa.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 La Casa del Camino hotel 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. 1289 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.497.2446, rooftoplagunbeach.com 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

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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

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300 AnaheimCL9000006944 This super-cool 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, threehundred.com

TOURS & TransportATION BEST CHAUFFEURED WORLDWIDECL9000006936 The company provides a customized travel option, featuring experienced chauffeurs, an extensive fleet and first-class service; pickup from hotels and airports. 866.323.2378, bestchauffeured.com BEVERLY HILLS RENT-A-CAR Breathtaking driving experiences for rent: late-model exotic, luxury and sport cars including Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis and Porsches. Pickup service available. 3939 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.250.4386, bhrentacar.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 March-November, with sporadic service during winter months, returns at 5:45 pm. 400 Main St., Newport Beach, 800.830.7744, catalinainfo.com

h DANA WHARF WHALE WATCHING 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 include two-hour luxury catamaran cruises and sunset whale-watching cruises. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, danawharf.com h JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT The pleasant ambience and ease of departure and arrival at Orange County's airport makes it vastly superior to LAX. The Thomas F. Riley Terminal features vaulted ceilings, skylights and Jura stone marble flooring with fossils. Local art is featured throughout the airport; The Flight of Ideas is suspended from the ceiling in Terminal C. Dining options range from Anaheim Ducks Breakaway Bar & Grill to Zov's. 18601 Airport Way Santa Ana, 949.252.5200, ocair.com h PEDEGO ELECTRIC BICYCLES Electric bicycles for sale or rent near the beach. Built-in electric hub motors allow cyclists to cruise the coastal bluffs and boardwalks with ease and style. 310 Fifth St., Huntington Beach, 714.465.2782; 2515 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.612.7989, pedegoelectricbikes.com h WATERFRONT ADVENTURES One-stop shop on the Huntington Beach boardwalk for a memorable day at the beach: Rent surfboards, bodyboards, beach cruisers, Surrey bikes, beach chairs and even a fire pit with beach butler for s’mores. Surf lessons and kayak tours can also be arranged. 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., 714.536.4863, waterfrontresort.com

For more OF what's happening today, see where Orange county magazine, WherEoc.COM OR THE WHERE USA APP

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Explore inner Hollywood surrounded by actual filming and production amidst yesterday and today’s most famous sets, stages, props, costumes, crafts and sounds at the world’s busiest motion picture and television studio. Includes a visit to the exclusive Warner Bros. Museum. VIP Tours depart daily, Monday through Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm with extended hours in Spring and Summer.

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PARTING SHOT

Surf City Smile

SOLAR ECLIPSE, HUNTINGTON BEACH

PHOTO BY BENJAMIN GINSBERG

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JWA_A

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nonsTop n Convenien ConvenienCe

John Wayne Airport is Orange Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aviation gateway, centrally located in Southern California and just minutes from world-famous beaches, shopping and theme parks. With nonstop service to and from more than 20 destinations across the United States, Canada and Mexico, John Wayne Airport is convenient and affordable, with first-class amenities. Facebook.com/johnwayneairport Twitter.com/johnwayneair www.ocair.com/WHERE

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