Aliso Viejo

Victor Manuel Sanchez Charged with Murder in Cop Chase That Killed Gamer Engineer: Update

See the update at the end of this post on Victor Manuel Sanchez being arraigned today on charges of murder and other counts.ORIGINAL POST, JUNE 3, 10:11 A.M.: The man killed in a crosswalk during a Santa Ana police chase last week has been described as a "genius" computer-gaming engineer. Some bysta ... More >>

Saif Mohamed Moussa Held for Allegedly Trying to Snatch and Marry 17 y.o. Girl Shopper

A man who allegedly wrapped a 17-year-old Barnes & Noble shopper in a bear hug and began carrying her out the front door of the Aliso Viejo bookstore saying he wanted to marry her was arrested Saturday.Saif Mohamed Moussa, 29, was later held in lieu of $100,000 bail on kidnapping and child annoyance ... More >>

German Bravo DeJesus, Healthcare Creeper, Guilty of Fondling Little Girls at Work and Park

A 34-year-old Lake Forest man was convicted today of touching the vaginal areas of a 7-year-old visiting a family member at the Laguna Woods healthcare facility the creeper worked at and a 6-year-old attending movie night at an Aliso Viejo park. German Bravo DeJesus now faces a maximum sentence of 4 ... More >>

The Orange County Beer Trail

A map to all of our fine craft breweries, liquor stores and pubs pouring the good stuff!

Assemblywoman Diane Harkey's Husband Dan Harkey Due in Court as Fraud Lawsuit Begins

Lawyers for disgruntled investors in Point Center Financial, the Aliso Viejo company owned by Dan Harkey, husband of Assemblywoman Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point), have told their clients the trial is a go this morning.The investors essentially allege that Dan Harkey lied to them when he sold them on fu ... More >>

Catholic Diocese of Orange Bishop/Pedophile Protector Tod D. Brown to Retire--HOORAY!!!

Just got word that tomorrow, Diocese of Orange Bishop Tod D. Brown is going to announce his retirement, and his successor will also be named.HELL YA! ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!This represents only the second good thing Brown has done in his 14 years heading Orange County Catholics--the first, of course, bei ... More >>

[Slide Show]: Plugged Into Local with Billy Kernkamp at Time Out Tavern

See Also:*Billy Kernkamp Headlines Plugged Into Local Aug. 29 at Time Out Tavern*Billy Kernkamp Covers the Pixies' "Wave of Mutilation"*Jack Grisham's Band the Manic Low Headlines Plugged Into Local On Wednesday, the second round of Heard Mentality's new Plugged Into Local concert series dipped its ... More >>

Mark Dell Donne, Ex-CEO, Must Repay $500k to Defunct Government Contractor's 401(k) Plan

The former CEO of an Aliso Viejo electrical contractor has agreed to restore $570,983 in 401(k) payments he'd stiffed 105 company retirement plan participants out of, the U.S. Labor Department announced.San Clemente's Mark Dell Donne, who served as a fiduciary of the plan, already returned $98,748 t ... More >>

Esteben Colberto v. Minuteman Jaime Gilchristo on Tonight's Colbert Report?

Jim Gilchrist's Minuteman Project--think the American Revolution, only the British have been replaced by desperate brown people looking for work--makes an appearance on tonight's Comedy Central masterpiece, The Colbert Report.Can we expect an appearance by Esteban Colberto?

[VIDEO:] Ever See a $379,700 Lamborghini Aventador on Fire?

What is believed to be the first fire incident involving a Lamborghini Aventador happened on a test drive this past weekend in the southbound lanes of the San Joaquin Hills toll road (Route 73) past El Toro Road in Aliso Viejo. The fire broke out in the left rear wheel well area before fully engulf ... More >>

Couple That Lives in Whitney Houston's Former Laguna Hills Home Sets Up Shrine For the Late Star

​Whenever an icon dies, journalists scramble to report on what we like to call "the local connection." Hey, we're not above such fodder. Whitney Houston, who was found dead at the Beverly Hilton at age 48, has OC ties. Around 2006, the damaged songstress rented a house in Laguna Hills to ... More >>

Buena Park Holds Checkpoint and the Sheriff Has DUI Patrols in South County Tonight

​Buena Park holds a sobriety checkpoint tonight, while roving patrol for drunken drivers will be conducted in Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo.The checkpoint runs from 7 p.m. through 2 a.m. Saturday in the 8000 block of La Palma Avenue.

About That Soka University Cover: A Note From the Editor

​This week's cover story about Soka University in Aliso Viejo has generated a firestorm of reader comments. The piece discusses the university's first 10 years of existence, as well as the controversial history of the Japan-based, lay Buddhist organization that founded it, Soka Gakkai Internationa ... More >>

Artist Renditions of the 'New' Fourth Street for Santa Ana: Bye-Bye, Virgin of Guadalupe!

Adiós, morenita...​Earlier this week, someone mailed me a package with no name on the envelope, no return address--nothing. I like those! Inside were architectural drawings and a note saying these were the plans that the developers currently ripping up Fourth Street in SanTana to de-Mexify it hav ... More >>

¡Ask a Comida Critic! Favorite Food-Themed Song?

​Sorry, folks: I answer what people ask. And while I have in the queue preguntas about sausage, chocolate, Aliso Viejo restaurants (or, rather, the lack of) and other more pressing issues, I couldn't help but like the query sent by Ramón:So, what's your favorite food-themed song?Hmm. I'm not sure ... More >>

Long-Stalled In-N-Out Opens Friday in Costa Mesa

Edwin Goei​You may have not realized it, but there was a long hard slog to get the In-N-Out that replaces Kaplan's Deli off the Harbor exit of the 405 approved through the proper authorities.  It opens on Friday.As the Daily Pilot reports, "The approval process was lengthy, requiring both the ... More >>

3.7 Quake Shakes North OC and Long Beach

​I was sprinkling a light dusting of blueberries and Trader Joe's Organic Granny's Apple Granola on top of my bowl of Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Oat cereal at 9:06 this morning when it sounded as if something was trotting across the attic over the kitchen cabinets.My wife in bed with a col ... More >>

Drunk After Work: Opah

Edwin GoeiThe Place: Opah at Town Center, 26851 Aliso Creek Rd., Ste. C, Aliso Viejo, (949) 360-8822; www.opahrestaurant.com. Opah at the Marketplace, 13122 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, (714) 508-8055;www.opahrestaurant.com. The Hours: Sun.-Thurs., 4-6:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 9-11 p.m. The Deal: $6 marti ... More >>

National Cardio Labs Settles Whistleblower Suit for $3.6 Million

​An Orange County heart-monitoring service will pay $3.6 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged the company defrauded government health care programs, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles announced. National Cardio Labs LLC was based in Santa Ana, Aliso Viejo and then Irvin ... More >>

Crystina Renee Bock Gets 5 Years For Stealing $200,000 From Church Basket

​In March, former financial secretary Crystina Renee Bock pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the weekly offerings made by congregants at Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo. Today, the 34-year-old Ladera Ranch resident learned her sentence.

Asian Pear Martini at OPAH

Jessica Ford​OPAH's light-up bar top stretches around a whole side of the Irvine restaurant. The expansive indoor bar seating is exceeded in swanky-ness only by the heated outdoor patio; even during those colder nights, you can stay warm outside while sipping on a specialty Asian Pea ... More >>

Aliso Black on Life and Death

The Aliso Viejo-based rapper rhymes about workin' the Great Recession

Deputies Hunt for Drunken Drivers in South County Tonight

​Anaheim is not the only Orange County town launching DUI saturation patrols tonight.

New Food Network Reality Show Features OC Contestants

Food Network​So the Food Network is close to debuting a food competition show called The Worst Cooks In America on January 3rd. Yes, if the Bravo show is called Top Chef, this would have to be referred to as Bottom Chef. But here's my question: How hard is it to find a bad cook, really? You ... More >>

Five Great "Anti-Starbucks" Coffeehouses

​By "anti-Starbucks" I don't mean they've launched campaigns against the coffee behemoth (not that I know of, anyway), but that in terms of look, feel and menu they're the antithesis of the chain everybody loves to hate. The Gypsy DenOf the two locations (Costa Mesa and Santa Ana), I prefer the la ... More >>

OC Register Says Advertisers, Clients Screwed Them Out of $350,000

Lawyers for the Orange County Register have filed nine lawsuits in the last nine months--including two in recent days--seeking more than $350,000 in outstanding debt from advertisers, commercial printing clients and at least one distributor of OC's largest daily newspaper.According to Superior Court ... More >>

Two More Sandella's Slated To Open in O.C.

Edwin Goei If you think that I write a lot about what goes on at Diamond Jamboree: you're right, but also, you're wrong. In case you haven't noticed, I also write a lot about what goes on at The District, which is a block away. So there!  HA! As you might have guessed, I pass by both on my ... More >>

Wider Disneyland Rides for Wider Rider Asses?

David Koenig, the Aliso Viejo author of Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland, Mouse Under Glass: Secrets of Disney Animation & Theme Parks and More Mouse Tales: A Closer Peek Backstage at Disneyland has an interesting MousePlanet post that features an unnamed source s ... More >>

[Special Screenings] 'Under the Bombs,' 'Border Café,' 'The Big Lebowski,' More

It's a Quick Read 35

Orange County Register: Cypress father and Long Beach Memorial hospital pharmacy manager Hugo Bustamante, 46, was one of the two victims slain by a fellow pharmacy worker Mario Ramirez, 50, who then took his own life. . . . Harold Edward Trees, a 36-year-old Orange man who is believed to be a member ... More >>

It's a Quick Read 22: Weekend and Monday Edition

Orange County Register: Robbins: The chance of dying in Orange County from a natural disaster is relatively low. This is based on a study Fox News cheerily lables "the death map." . . . Wisckol: A 59-year-old Aliso Viejo woman's description of kissing President Barack Obama on his cheek at ... More >>

Taco Truck Politics

Not everyone that matters in Orange County can vote, of course. I ran into Chepe while scarfing down overpriced tacos at a taco truck outside China-Mex Super Buffet in SanTana. He came to this country illegally in 1987 as a scared 20-year-old from Michoacán, promptly knocked up some chick, and spen ... More >>

Road Builders Union to Surf Industry: Fuck Off!

The Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council issued an ultimatum to the Aliso Viejo-based Surf Industry Manufacturers Association: stop sponsoring environmental groups opposed to the 241 Foothill-South toll road or face the mighty wrath of more than 100,000 union workers ... More >>

OC Sex Inventions

Inspired by an exhibit of sex inventions at the New York-based Museum of Sex, I thought I'd do a little trolling through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's online search for anything interesting coming out of our fair county. Anaheim inventor Wayne Manska was awarded patent #6,645,164 in 2003 ... More >>

Thursday's Headlines & Surprises: Dirty Cop Sting

Catch a crooked cop: Nope. Sorry. Not here in the USA. No way. But in Mexico, authorities want a no corruption zone for the the five-mile road from the Tijuana border south to the beach. Officials are “installing cameras to catch extortion attempts, publicizing that people can pay tickets with cr ... More >>

Tuesday's Headlines

Parade rejects float: A Huntington Beach panel gave a thumbs-down to an Independence Day entry celebrating the desegregation of state schools, saying the theme didn't have "entertainment value." Paying for parking lot rage: A Costa Mesa man was sentenced to 15 years in prison yesterday after runnin ... More >>

Bait and Switch (Great Wall edition)

It looks like it's not a not a good week to be a Minuteman or Minuteman sympathizer (Minnie-symp?). Not because those kids at Columbia were mean to Aliso Viejo's own Minute-Grand Wizard Jim Gilchrist– when you're working the xenophobia racket, you really don't expect to get much love from Ivy ... More >>

Paranoia Roundup: Immigration edition

This will come as no surprise, but Aliso Viejo's Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minutemen (not the immortal patriotic heroes of Lexington and Concord– Jim's are the flabby guys who have figured out how to combine xenophobia and birdwatching by scanning the horizon for Mexicans instead of great ... More >>

Supervise the Supervisors-Stop the Toll Road

On Feb. 28, the OC Board of Supervisors will consider adopting a resolution to support the Transportation Corridor Agencies' Foothill-South (241) extension. The motion was put forth by Supervisor Bill Campbell at the Board's Feb. 7 meeting (item 32 on the agenda). No doubt this is meant to trump the ... More >>

Special Screenings

Special anemic holiday week edition!

Aliso Viejo

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Belated thanks for the Xmas candy, Luther of Orange

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Trawling for Tinis

Badass Roller Coaster

Lukes Chicago Pizza delivers the Italian beef

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