Go.See.Do Winter 2021

The Capistrano Dispatch December 24, 2021-January 13, 2022

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The Capistrano Dispatch December 24, 2021-January 13, 2022

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Welcome to Go.See.Do Our corner of the world is just as beautiful when it’s chilly as when it’s warm—with plenty of activities and events that live up to the festive season. As live theater returns to South Orange County, learn more about your local playhouses and upcoming performances. Get tips for the best spots and time frames to go whale watching right off our coast. We’ve also profiled local recording artists who are well on their way to stardom. For those in search of their next watering hole, check out our guide to South OC’s Great Dive Bars, which includes a quick tour of Turk’s, The Outrigger, Swallow’s Inn and other favorite haunts. We hope that the Go.See.Do winter edition serves as a guide to fulfil your seasonal sense of adventure.

Photo: Courtesy of Casa Romantica

Making Cultural ‘Connections’ at Casa Romantica

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BY ZACH CAVANAGH

or its 2021-22 season of programming, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is spanning the globe to expand the “cultural” side of its name.

Casa Romantica introduced its Connections programming in September for a yearlong program that consists of clusters of events related to selected themes. The themes range from the culture of different communities, such as India and China, to the culture of the arts with dancing, music and more.

Each of the program’s themes features a variety of events in visual and performing arts. The events are all low-cost or free to remove barriers to allow people of all ages to experience arts and culture and build a stronger bond with Casa Romantica and the community.

The themes began with a fall program called “Beyond Bollywood,” in which the center highlighted Indian-American performing artists who showcased traditional and contemporary arts. A centerpiece was the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. There was an energetic performance by the Blue13 Dance Company and a fusion of Indian music with American blues by Bollywood Blues musician Aki Kumar.

The upcoming winter program will celebrate Chinese New Year with events from Jan. 29 through March. This program will be

highlighted by several musical performances of traditional Chinese music and a blend of contemporary music.

The program begins on Jan. 29 with the Pacific Trio, which presents traditional music of China with the zither, pipa, dizi, er-hu and other authentic instruments. The concert is free with general admission to Casa Romantica.

The other headlining musical performances are back-to-back shows by one of the world’s premier guzheng musicians, Bei Bei. The guzheng is a Chinese plucked zither, which has strings stretched over a wooden table. On Feb. 10, Bei Bei will perform on the ancient Chinese instrument, as she had recently on the soundtrack for Disney’s live-action Mulan. Tickets for this event are $25 to general visitors and $20 for Casa Romantica members.

Bei Bei will follow up on Feb. 11 with a performance titled “Year of the Funky,” in which she blends her traditional zither skills with contemporary pop/funk music. There is a $12 cover charge for this event.

The winter program will also feature a Chinese herb gardening workshop every Tuesday from Feb. 1-22, ink brush painting classes every Wednesday from Feb. 9-March 2 and a classical Chinese dance and drum performance on Feb. 17.

This program will be followed in the spring with a celebration of hip-hop as a music and dance form for “The People’s Poetry” from April to May, and the Connections programming will wrap in the summer with “Art in the Gardens” from May to July.

Expand your cultural breadth with a trip to Casa Romantica in the coming months. Tickets and classes are available online at casaromantica.org or by calling 949.498.2139.

The Capistrano Dispatch December 24, 2021-January 13, 2022

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They’re all coming in at a different level,” Knowles said. “It’s a good challenge for me, and it’s forcing me to become a better musician and a better singer myself.”

Before the pandemic, Knowles constantly traveled to perform at events. These days, she stays in the area more. Her local gigs such as at Casa Romantica are her favorites since she can practically walk down the street to the venue—literally with the Casa.

“I’ve just always wanted to sing. I’ve been singing since the day I could speak,” Knowles said. “I love it. I get a high from it. It can distract you from anything that’s going on in your life.”

If you’re eating at a restaurant in downtown San Juan Capistrano, chances are you might get to enjoy the musical stylings of local performer Olivia Rohde.

Photo: Alura Delgado

Sweet Sounds

San Clemente musician Lark Knowles enjoys performing for audiences at Casa Romantica and other venues. Photo: Collin Breaux

A Look at Musicians in South OC

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BY COLLIN BREAUX

n a fall weekday night, Lark Knowles sits behind a piano and entertains supporters of Casa Romantica with renditions of familiar pop songs.

Knowles lives in San Clemente and makes her living as a musician and music teacher.

On any given day or night, you can either find her instructing students in her apartment or performing at a venue in Southern California.

“I’ve been singing my whole life. I’d always wanted to be a singer, but my family was in the restaurant business in New Jersey,” said Knowles, who has been in San Clemente for four years. “I went to school for hospitality at (the University of Nevada, Las Vegas) and got a babysitting job. I ended up being matched with a family where the mother and father were dueling piano players, and I had never played piano, so I didn’t think that was something I could do.”

The couple began training her after hearing her sing, though, and from there, she gradually set upon her current path of playing covers—including requests from the audience. Her first gig came in Las Vegas 14 years ago, when there wasn’t anyone else available to play.

“I knew about 12 songs, and I got on stage

at a dueling piano show, and I just did the same 12 songs over and over,” Knowles said.

“From there, I just put the pedal to the metal learning songs. The gigs just kept coming, and even though I was a complete musical disaster, I was confident with the crowd and the singing—which is really what dueling pianos is about.”

That rapport with people shined through during her Casa Romantica performance, when Knowles chatted and smiled with audience members between songs, which ranged from Oasis to Petula Clark. She enjoys country and female folk, but she is willing to adapt her style to her audience. Knowles describes herself as “entertainer first, singer second, piano player last.”

As for her musical teaching, that side of her life picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Knowles has a full schedule of students from Monday through Friday, and is trying to balance that out with the gradual return of musical gigs. Her tutoring of students—including a session that took place right before her Casa Romantica show—includes tips on vocal singing. Knowles is up to 20 students a week, who range from afterschool kids to homeschoolers during the day and even some adults.

“Every kid is so different, and they all have their different strengths and weaknesses.

The Capistrano Dispatch December 24, 2021-January 13, 2022

Over in San Juan Capistrano, Olivia Rohde also keeps busy performing music at local venues—including Rancho Capistrano Winery and Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Rohde was born and raised in San Juan, and she has been working as a professional musician for nearly 10 years.

She loves her hometown, and she won Junior Miss Fiesta with the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association in 1997. Rohde has been in the Swallows Day Parade numerous times, always announcing her local heritage during gigs.

“I do the restaurant circuit here in town. I generally like to keep all of my gigs within one minute of my house,” Rohde said. “Pretty much every restaurant is offering live music, which is great for artists like myself, because I definitely stay busy in San Juan Capistrano. The music is booming. There’s a lot of great musicians from the area, and there’s a lot of variety.”

Rohde has two full-length cover albums out, as well as a few music videos. She is also in a band called Sapphire Road, which recently released some new music. Rohde’s go-to on the restaurant circuit is performing covers, from the ’50s through today. She goes from The Mamas and the Papas to Post Malone.

“Pretty much all genres, so I have hundreds if not thousands of songs in my wheelhouse. I do take requests, which is a cool thing for a lot of the restaurants, because it gets the crowd interacting and I’m not just the musician shoved in the corner playing background music,” Rohde said. “I’m always up for a challenge.”

Rohde also works as a lifeguard (a job she’s been in since 2001), jet ski guide, and

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first responder for aquatic emergencies. She loves to sing because of how it makes her feel and brings people together in a “beautiful ambience with good food.” Rohde played the French horn throughout middle and high school.

“No one in my family is musical whatsoever,” Rohde said. “I got a little guitar from Santa when I was just a little kid, and I only knew basic chords. (In) high school, one of my teammates at Dana Hills High School water polo had a boyfriend who would just always hang around and play the guitar, doing Sublime and stuff like that. I say, ‘Hey, let me check it out.’ ” Rohde began practicing chord progressions from there and got involved with surf music bands with friends. She’s also a surfer and skateboarder.

Over in Dana Point, Ava August is continuing with her musical career after receiving national exposure on American Idol. Since she last spoke with Dana Point Times earlier this year, August has been writing and working on music with different producers and collaborators, along with spending time in Nashville.

“Now I’ve got 40 songs that are in demo form,” August said. “I have all these songs ready to go. They just need to get mixed and mastered.”

August is looking at releasing an EP in early 2022, which she said will have a singer-songwriter feel and story-like elements.

“I want the EP to appeal to a lot of Gen Z people and 16-year-olds,” she said.

On the live performance side of things, she recently sang the national anthem for a Chargers-Rams preseason game.

“It was so big,” August said of that performance. “Hearing the crowd chanting was one of the most thrilling things ever.”

As for her next steps, August is working on signing with a management company and will sing the national anthem again for a Lakers game in January.

“I’m really excited for the future,” August said.

Dana Point-based musician Ava August is working on new music after a successful run on American Idol.

Photo: Tiffany Perry Photography

FIND THESE MUSICIANS ONLINE Lark Knowles: larkknowlesmusic.com Olivia Rohde: oliviarohdemusic.com Ava August: avaaugust.com

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SOUTH COUNTY’S A STAGE

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Live Theater Is Back

BY COLLIN BREAUX

hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no actors on stage at Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano, no audience members to laugh or clap, no crowds heading out to the nearby downtown restaurants to eat before or after performances.

The community theater was closed, like many venues during the outbreak, but it has since roared back to life after in-person performances returned in September. Since then, Camino Real Playhouse has had a steady season of comedy shows—the chuckles a welcome reprieve from these stressful times.

The San Juan venue will host an international playwriting festival from January 7-16. The event will feature seven 10-minute plays from different playwrights and directors.

The festival is suitable for teens and adults, and the audience will vote for the winner.

Further ahead in 2022, Camino Real Playhouse will also host performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time from Feb. 25-March 13. The stage play is an adaption of the 2003 novel about a 15-yearold boy who works to solve a mysterious death while dealing with behavioral difficulties.

Over in San Clemente, Cabrillo Playhouse is

also back to onstage performances. The theater reopened for indoor performances of Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon, the show they had to close down when the pandemic started.

“We have since been doing performances inside and are back to a ‘normal’ schedule for our seasons of shows,” said Cabrillo Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Michael Lopez.

“Opening on Jan. 14 will be the comedy Play On by Rick Abbot.”

Play On is about a performing arts group putting on a play and dealing with an interfering author in the process. The show runs through Feb. 6.

“A little over a year ago, when I realized that the pandemic was not going to end anytime soon, I came up with the idea of doing outdoor performances,” said Lopez.

“The CDC and Orange County were starting to allow outside dining, and theater with specific regulations, so we were able to come up with a performance space that would allow us to keep live theater going, break even, and keep the Cabrillo going. We were able to do a few shows before the city stopped us and told us we couldn’t.”

Visit caminorealplayhouse.org and cabrilloplayhouse.org for tickets and more information.

South OC’s Great Dive Bars South Orange County is certainly an area associated with fine dining, classy cocktails and rich-tasting wines. But for those who aren’t looking for a bougie night out, the three towns here also have plenty of dive bars, where the music is loud, the beers are cheap, and the drinks are stiff. u MULLIGANS Tucked away in San Clemente’s “surf ghetto,” Mulligans is a fun hideaway, perfect for friends and sports fans to gather. The pool tables, of which there are plenty, are free to play and the TVs always have a game on.

And when it comes to food and drink, well, there are daily specials on beers and cocktails, and every month, the bar features a specialty burger.

1401 Calle Valle, San Clemente. 949.492.4400. mulligansbarsanclemente.

TURK’S Fishermen, sailors, or those hoping to one day live a pirate’s life flock to Turk’s at the Dana Point Harbor. This waterfront saloon is adorned with nautical antiques, archival photos of Dana Point and other seafaring memorabilia, which helps create the allure of drinking out at sea. Turk’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering daily specials on food and drinks. u

34683 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.496.9028. turksdpharbor.com.

u SWALLOW’S INN Swallow’s Inn is the quintessential dive bar among the three South Orange County towns.

Located just down the street from the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, Swallow’s Inn has earned its own reputation as a beloved haunt for those who love country music and line-dancing. Just about every night at Swallow’s, there’s bound to be something fun happening, whether it’s live music, karaoke or even country dancing lessons. Swalllow’s outside patio is spacious for those who enjoy the fresh air or need a smoke.

31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. swallowsinn.com.

OUTRIGGER TAVERN Outrigger Tavern, which dubs itself “The Local Dive Bar” in San Clemente, is another fun spot to knock back a few beers or cocktails, which are regularly on special. Patrons can play pool and enjoy the bar’s never-ending-summer atmosphere on the patio area. u

1920 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente.

949.492.1935. outriggertavern.com.

The Capistrano Dispatch December 24, 2021-January 13, 2022

u GOODY’S TAVERN Goody’s in Downtown San Clemente knows how to keep the fun times going, as there’s always something happening. Located in an area colloquially referred to as The Triangle, Goody’s has pool tables and sports on the TVs, regularly hosts karaoke nights, as well as live music with bands and DJs. Goody’s just generally knows how to attract a fun crowd with its bevy of happenings and daily drink specials.

206 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.3400. u OLE’S TAVERN Though Ole’s is well known as a sports bar in San Clemente’s downtown corridor, it certainly fits the bill for what makes a great dive—a full liquor bar, cheap (and strong) drinks, a contingent of locals and a welcoming neighborhood vibe. The tavern, which is a safe haven for Green Bay Packers fans, also offers patrons pool tables and other games, a jukebox, and a plethora of TVs so everyone can watch live sports.

127 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.498.9400.

u KNUCKLEHEADS SPORTS BAR Self-proclaimed as Orange County’s No. 1 dive bar, Knuckleheads, which also promotes that it’s sorry for being open, knows how to not take itself too seriously—perfect for those who aren’t fans of hoity-toity cocktail and wine bars. Located in San Clemente’s North Beach district, Knuckleheads rocks and rolls by offering customers stiff drinks, good food, and billiards, as well as a venue for local artists, musicians and comedians to show off their talent.

1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente.

949.492.2410. knuckleheadssportsbar.com. u RED FOX LOUNGE Though technically a lounge, the Red Fox deserves an honorary mention as a dive.

This downtown San Clemente bar is a favorite for many locals. The bar is reminiscent of an old-time speakeasy, while the covered back patio gives smokers a cozy place to continue sipping on drinks. And there’s always great music playing.

220 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.3403.

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Photo: Courtesy of Loriannah Hespe/danawharf.com

WHALE WATCHING

Explore Local Shores

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BY BREEANA GREENBERG

s the trademarked Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World and a Whale Heritage site, Dana Point offers a unique, year-round opportunity to see dolphins and whales galore.

WHAT SETS DANA POINT APART Donna Kalez, of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, and Gisele Anderson, of Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari, assert that Dana Point has the best whale watching scene around.

The deep coastal canyons right outside the Dana Point Harbor offer an ideal environment for whales and dolphins, and the water has the perfect depth and temperature.

“Everything about it is ambient for these whales, and so they like coming here and bringing their babies by, and it’s actually pretty easygoing,” said Riley Russell, director of Education at the Ocean Institute.

On a whale watching tour, passengers may also see common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins and Risso’s dolphins.

Unlike other local harbors, Dana Point’s

deep coastal canyons and shorter harbor mean that whales can be seen just outside the harbor, Anderson explained.

“We don’t have to go three, four or five miles out to go find them, or north to go find them,” Anderson said. “Sometimes we do, because they’re not just hanging around waiting for us, but because we have these really deep coastal canyons, that’s where the cold water is, and when you have cold water, you have nutrients and phytoplankton, and that feeds plankton and small fish; and when you have small fish, you have dolphins.”

More than 450,000 dolphins reside off Southern California, according to Dana Point Whale Watching.

Russell added that there’s etiquette among boaters to respect whales; because of this, there typically are never more than three boats around a whale at a time.

“There’s a lot of respect for whales here,” Russell said. “And I think you do enough of that type of behavior for decades, whales remember that. So, they like coming to these types of places.”

DANA POINT AS WORLD HERITAGE SITE The City of Dana Point was named the

Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World and a Whale Heritage site by the World Cetacean Alliance in 2020. Kalez and Anderson, co-directors of the Dana Point Whale Watching Company, successfully trademarked the city as the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World in 2019.

Dana Point is among only a handful of Whale Heritage sites in the world, and the first of its kind in the U.S. Other sites include Hervey Bay, Australia; The Bluff, South Africa; Tenerife-La Gomera Marine Area, Spain; and Algoa Bay, South Africa.

“Being the first Whale Heritage Site in the Americas is an amazing accomplishment and serves to further recognize Dana Point and the whales and dolphins that live and visit here the recognition they deserve, as well as send a message to the world that Dana Point is also a place that protects and responsibly watches cetaceans,” Anderson wrote on the Dana Point Whale Watching Company website.

Dana Point’s Festival of Whales is the longest-running celebration of the gray whale, the city’s biggest migratory whale.

“Dana Point is home to the longest-running festival of whales in the world, and we have never had to cancel a festival, even due to COVID,” Kalez said. “That’s why we were able to obtain the World Heritage Site designation, because they recognized our location as someplace that celebrates whales, and whale watching is in their heritage.”

Dana Point will be celebrating the 51st annual Festival of Whales this coming March.

Experts believe gray whales travel so closely to the Dana Point shoreline because the Dana Point Headlands serve as a landmark for their journeys.

Kelsey Reimer, program development manager at the Ocean Institute, explained that gray whale migration has already begun.

“We’ve already started to see a couple come through, and then that will go through March, which is the big Festival of Whales,” Reimer said. “And so, we’ll see them on their path down to Mexico and back up. And so, we kind of get a double showing of those gray whales; they’ll go down pregnant and come back with calves.”

WHEN TO SET SAIL Another unique aspect of the local whale watching scene is that Dana Point has an abundance of whales to see year-round, Kalez said.

There isn’t necessarily a best time of year to go whale watching; rather, there’s a “best time of year” to see particular species of whales.

GIVE THE GIFT OF NATURE WITH OC PARKS ANNUAL PASSES

HOW TO BOOK u Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari offers whale watching tours daily. Tours can be booked at dolphinsafari.com/cruises.

24440 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point.

949.577.8403. dolphinsafari.com. u Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching offers three 2-hour cruises daily. Tours can be booked at danawharf.com/whale-watching. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point 888.224.0603. danawharf.com. u The Ocean Institute offers whale watching every Saturday and Sunday, unless the boat is booked for a private event. Tours can be booked at oceaninstitute.org. The Ocean Institute campus is open for general admission from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point.

949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

EXPERIENCE HOW DINOSAURS ROAMED THE EARTH

Looking for a holiday gift? OC Parks’ annual passes cover a full year of parking at all OC Parks. The All County Parks and Beaches Parking Pass is $80 for all county-operated parks and beaches. The County Regional and Wilderness Parks Parking Pass costs $55. A stand-alone County Beach Parking Pass is also available for $55. Discounted passes are available for seniors and disabled visitors. Distinguished military veterans are eligible for a nofee pass. Purchase your pass at ocparks.com or at most park offices.

The Capistrano Dispatch December 24, 2021-January 13, 2022

“Dana Point is a year-round destination for whale watching,” Kalez said. “So, it really depends on what you want to see. Right now, we’re entering the gray whale season, so from December until May is when we see the majority of the gray whales, and so our focus is really going to be on the gray whales. And then when they leave, it becomes humpback to fin whales and blue whales, the largest animal on the planet.”

As for the best time of day to go whale watching, Anderson explained that comparing sightings from morning, afternoon, and evening cruises, there isn’t a significant difference in one’s chance to sight a whale throughout the day.

On occasion, the morning fog makes it a little harder to see, but it’s generally a smoother ride in the morning.

“In general, boating is more comfortable in the mornings, because it’s not typically as windy out there or as many waves, so I’d say if you’re someone who wants a more smooth ride to gear towards those earlier morning cruises,” Reimer said. “Although sunset cruises are always beautiful.”

For residents who have yet to go out on a whale watching cruise, November through March is a perfect time to watch the migrating gray whales that the city celebrates at its Festival of Whales.

“If someone is living here, and they haven’t done this yet, it’s time,” Anderson said. “What are you waiting for? This is the best season to come to see gray whales; it just started with our first gray whale. It’s time to come and see what the world would love to come and experience.”

Jurassic Quest is coming to the Los Angeles Convention Center, Dec. 29-Jan. 2, with more than 100 lifelike dinosaurs, dinosaur-themed rides, live shows, interactive activities, bounce houses, inflatable attractions and more. Visitors will see the dinos that ruled on land and deep-dive into the “Ancient Oceans” exhibit with a moving, life-size, 50-foot megalodon. For more information and tickets, visit jurassicquest.com.

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