Meet OC’s all-star cast of insiders – the people who don’t just live here, but really live here. They know the ins and outs of Orange County, where to go to find the best burgers or live jazz or fitness craze that you didn’t even know was a craze – until now. These are the movers and shakers – the people who know this place so well that they knew what it was missing and filled in the gaps in their own right, helping to create the well-rounded, diverse county that OC has become.
GET YOUR SHOP ON
There is no shortage of places to shop in Orange County – which is what makes it so hard to narrow it down to places that are truly exceptional. That’s why we consulted with Fetneh Blake, owner of Fetneh Blake Boutique in Laguna Beach, whose impeccable taste is as trustworthy as it gets.
Here’s what she had to say:
“I have been collecting handmade porcelain French platters by Astier de Villatte from Trove in Laguna Beach – they’re beautiful and one of a kind. I also love Zinc [in Corona del Mar] because they have gifts that are really sweet and special – lovely napkins for tables or hors d’oeuvre platters. I go to Mother’s Market for natural skincare – lotion, creams, not to mention fresh juices, and Trompe l’Oeil in Newport Beach has the best waterproof eye pencil. I buy it for everyone in brown and black.”
Top Five Editor’s Picks
1 Deer Lovely :: This boutique, located at the OC Mart Mix, carries everything from adorable summer dresses to sultry lingerie to unique bags, including what may be the perfect handmade leather satchels by Zatchels in England. :: deerlovely.com
2 Planet Beauty :: When it comes to beauty products, there’s no better place to find it all under one roof than at Planet Beauty. From skincare to makeup to nails and hair, there isn’t a product we can’t find here. Locations throughout OC. :: planetbeauty.com
3 Arenbeology :: Located in an industrial warehouse off of Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa, Arenbeology is something special. Crafting custom, eco-friendly furniture from reclaimed wood in California, the results are exceptionally sustainable – and exceptionally beautiful. 800.288.0198 :: arenbeology.com
4 No Rest for Bridget :: This is one of our favorite OC clothing boutiques. Not only do they carry of-the-moment, reasonably priced clothing and accessories, but they also have a wide selection of under-tanks, candles and shoes. Locations in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa. :: norestforbridget.com
5 Fetneh Blake South :: The sister store to the chic boutique to the north, Fetneh Blake’s south Laguna store carries a selection of accessories – jewelry, scarves and handbags – and less expensive pieces from her unique and exclusive designer lines. 949.494.3787 :: fetnehblake.com
STUFF YOUR FACE
If there’s one thing we love to do, it’s eat, and we like to think we know a thing or two about OC’s culinary scene. But there are those who live and breathe food even more than we do – our county’s chefs – and of them, John Cuevas, executive chef at Corona del Mar’s The Crow Bar and Kitchen, is among the best.
Here’s what he had to say:
“One of my favorite places to eat in OC is Taco Rosa in Tustin. They have great blackened chicken tacos. I also love La Rocco’s Pizza in San Clemente. I get the pizza with jalapeño and pepperoni. A hidden gem that not too many people know about is The Corner in Huntington Beach. Chris Grodach is doing great food under the radar for sure. It’s comfort food done right.”
Top Five Editor’s Picks
1 Pho Kimmy :: If you like eating outside the box in a place that’s close to home but feels thousands of miles away, Pho Kimmy is for you. Located in Westminter’s Little Saigon, it’s like a vacation to Vietnam, with the food to match. :: 714.775.1699
2 La Sirena Grill :: Looking for something between a sit-down Mexican restaurant and a greasy taqueria? La Sirena Grill, with two locations in Laguna Beach and one in Irvine, may be your answer. It’s fresh, fast, delicious, and casual. :: lasirenagrill.com
3 Dolce :: Pizzeria Mozza is the new, big pizza heavyweight in town, but the pizzas coming out of this small corner shop on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa rank right up there with the big boys – and you don’t have to make a reservation two months in advance. 949.200.9107 :: ildolceoc.com
4 Cassidy’s Bar & Grill :: Yes, it’s a dive bar. Yes, it’s on the Balboa Peninsula. And yes, there are pool tables and arcade games. But if you can get past all that, their burger is one of the best in town. :: 949.675.8949
5 The Crow Bar and Kitchen :: You know about the Crow Burger and the seasonal flatbreads, but did you know about this gastropub’s secret menu? Now that it’s not so secret anymore, we’ll tell you that it involves things such as cold fried chicken and grilled cheese. 949.675.0070 :: thecrowbarcdm.com
RELAX AND REJUVENATE
Greer Wylder, founder of the website Greer’s OC, is one of the busiest women in the county, which makes her the ideal candidate to tell us about her favorite places to de-stress when she has five free minutes (which is not often).
Here’s what she had to say:
“My absolute favorites are the Jack Winn Salon & Body Center in Newport Beach, especially now that Deborah Woods-Berry, formerly owner of the award-winning Skin Deep-The Body Spa in Huntington Beach, relocated there. I also love True Grace in a hidden spot at Newport Center in Newport Beach. Owner Grace Gutierrez offers state-of-the art skin treatments that deliver results. I’m also a fan of the secluded Glow Skin Care in Costa Mesa. Owner and esthetician Ginger Leibfreid pampers, massages, cleans, and nurtures your skin with steam, cleansers, masks and hot stones. When it comes to excellent massages I really love Spa Gaucin at the St. Regis Monarch Beach, and the Spa at Pelican Hill Resort is dreamy too.”
Top Five Editor’s Picks
1 I•Spa :: So it turns out that the Koreans know a lot more than we do about spa-ing. For a $25 entrance fee, you get access to a variety of hot tubs and saunas; add $25 for a 25-minute scrub, $60 for acupressure or $70 for a massage. Then head over to the co-ed themed rooms (fire, ice, forest, and salt) to cap off the experience :: 949.260.9988
2 Bolsa Chica Conservancy :: Bird watching isn’t for the birds – it’s actually a remarkably interesting and relaxing experience, especially when you spend a few hours observing the birds at Bolsa Chica Conservancy in Huntington Beach, where nearly half of the bird species in the U.S. have been spotted. 714.846.1114 :: bolsachica.org
3 Zen Center of Orange County :: Counting to 10 not working for you? Then head over to the Zen Center of Orange County, where the practice of meditation is taught through introductory workshops and ongoing regular practitioner programs. The next introductory workshop is on July 1. 949.722.7818 :: zcoc.org
4 Sunset Yoga :: If you, like us, are unimpressed with the exorbitant cost of practicing yoga ($30 per class anyone?), then you’ll want to personally thank Jennifer Savino for offering bi-weekly, donation-only sunrise and sunset yoga classes at Salt Creek beach. You can find her on the grass area on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9:30-10:30 a.m. :: flowhealingwithjennifer.com
5 Island Hotel :: Anyone who has happened to pass through Newport Beach’s Island Hotel on a Friday or Saturday night can recount the happening scene in the lobby, where Jimmy Hopper and his dynamic trio play from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Order drinks, late night bites and forget all about your impossible week. 866.554.4620 :: islandhotel.com
VENTURE INTO THE WILD
Admittedly, it can feel like we live in a concrete jungle at times. But those who venture beyond the crowded coastline and suburban sprawl will be rewarded with some truly treasured verdant pastures. Laguna Beach local, IMAX filmmaker and producer, director and cinematographer for MacGillivray Freeman Films, Greg MacGillivray, fills us in on his favorite off-the-beaten track spots – ones that are, fortunately, much closer to home than the location for his latest IMAX film, To the Arctic 3D.
Here’s what he had to say:
“What? You want my secret spots? No, really, the best nature spots are in Aliso and Woods Canyons and Emerald Canyon in the natural Greenbelt Regions. They’re open to all, thanks to Mr. Dilley and all the heroic conservationists in Laguna. [One thing] few people know is that the ecosystem of historical buildings, built with a unique style (think craftsman, not contemporary) keeps Laguna a magnet for shoppers and tourists. If Coast Highway continues to drift toward contemporary architecture, our businesses are doomed.”
Top Five Editor’s Picks
1 The Irvine Ranch :: Most people know about the Irvine Company’s development of vast swaths of the city of Irvine, but few know about the company’s conservation efforts, including The Irvine Ranch Conservancy – 50,000 acres of permanently protected wildlands and parks that can be used for guided activities such as hiking, mountain biking, birding, and more. 714.508.4757 :: irvineranchconservancy.org
2 Holy Jim Trail :: Escape the tourist-flooded coast and head inland to Trabuco Canyon for some much-needed solitude. After off-roading on dirt roads, climbing past what appear to be Gold Rush-era cabins, crossing mini creeks, and hiking a beautiful canyon trail for about two miles, you’ll be rewarded with a cascading waterfall.
3 Gear Co-op :: For the adventurer preparing for adventure, this shop in Costa Mesa’s SoCo run by “total gearheads” offers the best mountain climbing brands, as well as an indoor climbing wall on which to test your gear. 714.902.9168 :: gearcoop.com
4 Buck Gully :: A hidden coastal canyon in the middle of Corona del Mar, Buck Gully’s preserved open space was recently improved with bridge reinforcements and erosion control.
:: newportbeachca.gov
5 Huntington Beach Central Park :: Even though it’s located in the middle of Huntington Beach, the city’s Central Park is one of OC’s best-kept secrets. Bring your dog, eat brunch at Park Bench Café and see a car show or equestrian jumping performance.
:: huntingtonbeachca.gov
SHAPE UP
It seems like just yesterday that we were gorging ourselves silly with the security of winter’s lineup of holidays, drab weather and low temperatures all conspiring to keep us heavily clothed and, incidentally, in denial of our growing waistbands. But there is still a beacon of hope: Katie Osumi, a fixture on the OC fitness scene, whose mission it is to inspire well-being through her own signature blend of Pilates, yoga and Spin. (Her own physique is inspiration in itself.) That being said, we listen when Osumi talks fitness.
Here’s what she had to say:
“The best-kept secret in Orange County is going down at the Costa Mesa Senior Center: Jazzercise! Once a week, a group of us girls jitterbug ourselves into an anaerobic dance party. I’m also loving the new yoga-samba class at Jabulani Yoga in Corona Del Mar with Luciana Freire. On a tougher, more no-nonsense note, I recommend Carly Farmer’s reformer classes at Villa Pilates & Yoga [in Newport Beach]. They are tough, but Carly is so sweet and her music is so good that I forget about all the profanity I wish to scream at her. At Equinox Irvine, METCON3 is the newest class to sweep through Southern California. It’s designed to take your body to its highest potential metabolically where fat is incinerated and endurance is maximized. Down south at Renaissance ClubSport, any chance I get I will drop in on the world-famous celebrity instructor Rob Glick’s indoor cycling class. And finally, I have to admit that some of the best bodies in Orange County come from running the Newport Harbor High stadium stairs.”
Top Five Editor’s Picks
1 YogaWorks :: If you’re at all interested in getting your weekend started on the right foot, pull on your yoga pants and head down to YogaWorks in Newport Beach, where Tracy Bauer’s Saturday morning Pilates class will whip your body into summer shape using rings, balls, sliding discs, and other instruments of torture – we mean, fitness. 949.640.9642 :: yogaworks.com
2 Thousand Steps :: While most sane people will use these steep steps as a means to getting to the beautiful and relaxing Laguna Beach below, fitness enthusiasts often use the never-ending flights of stairs to get in killer shape.
3 Paddle Board Bliss :: Has your downward dog lost its ability to pick you up? If the answer is yes, then we have the solution for you: Try doing it on water instead of on land. Paddle Board Bliss offers beginning and intermediate SUP-yoga classes for those interested in pushing their limits. 949.529.4242 :: paddleboardbliss.com
4 CorePower Yoga :: By combining elements of Bikram (hot yoga), traditional yoga, weight lifting, and cardio, CorePower Yoga’s one-hour heated Power Yoga with Weights class will have you dripping in sweat in no time, but we have to deduct a point or two for the unimaginative name. Locations throughout OC :: corepoweryoga.com
5 Sky High Sports :: We just found out that jumping on a trampoline burns 1,000 calories per hour, which makes us wonder why we ever laced up running shoes. The AIRobics classes at Sky High Sports in Costa Mesa will leave you breathless and exhilarated, and likely a few pounds lighter. 714.437.5867 :: ocy.jumpskyhigh.com
UNLEASH YOUR INNER NIGHT OWL
As the producer of the OC Music Awards and the owner of The ACE Agency, a PR firm specializing in music and events, Ashley Eckenweiler is out on the town more than most freshly legalized 21-year-olds we know. So leave it to her to guide you to the coolest places to catch a show, see some live music and be seen on the OC scene.
Here’s what she had to say:
“We like live indie/rock/alternative music venues such as Detroit Bar, House of Blues Anaheim, The Observatory, and the Constellation Room. But we love all kinds of music. Steamers Jazz Club for jazz. Segerstrom Center for the Arts for theater and symphony, etc. Living and working in Downtown Santa Ana, I am partial to the offerings here. The Crosby is always a favorite dance spot and The Copper Door is (literally) an underground hidden gem. Memphis at the Santora also offers after-dinner weekly jazz, DJs and band performances.”
DRINK
(Socially, Of Course)
Specialty beverages have practically become a religion in OC. Whether it’s cocktails, coffee, sake, beer, juices, or wine, our county has become extremely serious about its liquids. And who better to let us in on the best under-the-radar places to imbibe than Jason Quinn, owner and executive chef of Santa Ana’s The Playground, which has one of the best beer menus in town?
Here’s what he had to say:
“I love lunch dates with my wife at Lola Gaspar [in Santa Ana]. I always get a Huckleberry Cocktail and my wife gets the La Pistola. Another favorite place is Mil Jugos in Santa Ana. Their cachapas and arepas are insane. Plus their juices are the best around. For cocktails, 320 Main is the best. For draft beer, I love Beachwood in Seal Beach.”
Top Five Editor’s Picks
1 Au Lac :: Sidle up to the bar* at Au Lac, Fountain Valley’s delicious raw, vegan and vegetarian restaurant, and be treated to one of Chef Ito’s custom mixed creations. With names like the Jim Jones cocktail, Shroomin’ G and Digest This!, it’s sure to be an experience. *All drinks are non-alcoholic, but believe us, that doesn’t diminish the impact. 714.418.0658 :: aulac.com
2 Goat Hill Tavern :: Again: dive bar. In Newport Beach. But for those who lean towards finer beers (and we’re not talking about Michelob Ultra) this may be the dive bar for you. Sure, many of the 140 taps are devoted to the mass produced, flavored water types, but a good 70-80 taps offer beers for those interested in broadening their taste horizons. :: 949.548.8428
3 Portola Coffee Lab :: As if you didn’t have a hard enough time figuring out which coffee to get with which brew method, now there are off-menu drinks that you also may not know about. Espresso fans will want to try the Gaspar or the Flat White, or go with the 8 Stones, a skimmed espresso with cool water. 949.284.0596 :: portolacoffeelab.com
4 Commissary Lounge :: There’s no sign, it’s dark and there’s a secret door entrance, but what we can tell you is that it’s at The LAB in Costa Mesa and it offers spectacular cocktails, including one known as Tiger’s Blood. 714.557.1861 :: commissarylounge.com
5 25 Degrees :: We love milkshakes and we love cocktails, so why did it take so long to put the two together? The adult milkshakes (think Salty Caramel with Bulleit Bourbon) at 25 Degrees in Huntington Beach are just the right mix of dessert meets happy hour. 714.960.2525 :: 25degreesrestaurant.com
