Lake Forest

Crazy Rock at TruSushi 'n Fish Beer & Sake Bar, Our Drink of the Week!

A legal loophole may never be as sweet as a cocktail made of soju. The clear liquor, which can be made of rice, barley, or sweet potatoes, is backdoor vodka, a distilled spirit that can contain as much as 24% alcohol by volume, but can be sold by any establishment with just a beer and wine license.

Gustavo's Latest "Orange County Line" for KCRW: On OC's Love Affair with Mello-Roos Taxes!

As everyone knows, I live in a P.O. Box in Anaheim. If I ever buy a shack, it'll probably be in some rundown barrio or other--can't exactly afford much making pesos, you know? But if I ever did buy a place, no way in hell would I ever go for a neighborhood with a Mello-Roos tax on it. Who the hell i ... More >>

Sabatino's Sausage Company Coming to Lake Forest

Fire up the grills! Sabatino's Sausage Company is opening a new location in Lake Forest! Winner of the Weekly's Best of 2012 Sausage category, Sabatino's makes an Italian sausage studded with chunks of sheep's milk cheese and fresh parsley that'll take on any comers from Chicago, New York, and even ... More >>

[UPDATED with C.M. Results:] Lake Forest and Costa Mesa Held Sobriety Checkpoints Friday Night

See the update at the end of this post with the checkpoint results released by Costa Mesa cops.ORIGINAL POST, FEB. 15, 3 P.M.: The Orange County Sheriff's Department is conducting a sobriety checkpoint in Lake Forest starting at 6 tonight, while Costa Mesa kicks in with its own two hours later.Neith ... More >>

Both Sides Ready to Debate Orange County's Pervs-in-Parks Ban Before Appeals Court

When a panel of three Superior Court judges last month nullified the County of Orange's ordinance that bans registered sex offenders from county parks and recreational areas where children gather, the Orange County District Attorney's office responded it looked forward to, as the judges recommended, ... More >>

Federal Lawsuit Challenges Sex Offender Bans in Parks of Four Orange County Cities

Just days after District Attorney Tony Rackauckas honored Fountain Valley for approving on first reading a ban on registered sex offenders in city parks--based on a county law he co-wrote--word came that a registered sex offender has sued two cities bordering Fountain Valley and two other Orange Cou ... More >>

Starcraft Nerds Descend Upon OC Sports Bars For BarCraft

This weekend, a bunch of guys will be heading to local sports bars to watch the big game. Who's competing, you ask? The lineup includes MarineKingPrime, viOLet and Heart, all professional videogame players. Buffalo Wild Wings in Lake Forest and Player's Sports Grill in Laguna Hills are gea ... More >>

California Cities Cannot Ban Marijuana Dispensaries, Appeals Court Rules

​In a somewhat strange and unexpected ruling issued yesterday, the California Court of Appeals ruled that California cities cannot ban medical marijuana dispensaries so long as they cultivate cannabis at the same location. The 48-page ruling came in the case of the City of Lake Forest vs. Evergree ... More >>

San Clemente Coke Bust Caps 5 Days of Border Patrol Seizures of $1.4 Million in Drugs

​Hey, remember that Lake Forest cocaine safe house from Tuesday? Julio Cesar Perez-Arellano and Tomas Agustin Della Rocca Held in $4 Million Cocaine Bust Perhaps some recent U.S. Border Patrol busts produced some of the coke originally headed there.

Manila Groove Closes :-(

​I only knew the bad (i.e. swear) words in Tagalog growing up, and they all resurfaced when I walked up to Manila Groove in Tustin yesterday to find the place locked up and desolate inside, save for some take-out containers on the ground.

[UPDATED with Yorba Linda and Lake Forest Votes:] Hugo Godinez, Sex Offender Busted in County Park, is Ammo for Two More Cities Considering Bans

​UPDATE, NOV. 16, 4:05 P.M.: The Yorba Linda City Council voted unanimously Tuesday for an ordinance on first reading to keep registered sex offenders out of city parks unless they first get permission from the Brea Police Department, which also patrols Yorba Linda.The ordinance would be enacted 3 ... More >>

Garden Grove, Pot Capital of California?

​There's an interesting story in today's Los Angeles Times titled "Cities Seek an Antidote to Medical Marijuana." The story, by Jessica Garrison, surveys how towns throughout California are trying to navigate the dizzying conflict between state law, which says its okay for residents to cultivate a ... More >>

Neveria Flor de Mexico Offers a Treatise on Icy Treats

[SUMMER GUIDE] Where to go this summer for frozen fun you can eat

[UPDATED] Edgar Calvillo Loses Appeal in Murder After Spat Over Girl and Vandalized Car

​UPDATE, MARCH 28, 1:39 P.M.: The same day the third and final defendant was sentenced in the 2008 shooting death of a 22-year-old Lake Forest father, the shooter in that case lost an appeal over his confession.The California Court of Appeals, Fourth District, disagreed with the contentions of Edg ... More >>

Alireza Sazegari Accused of Beating, Duct Taping and Being a General A-Hole to His Wife

​A 31-year-old man was arrested after sheriff's deputies found his wife beaten and bound in duct tape in the bathroom of their Lake Forest home.After turning himself in, Alireza Sazegari was held on suspicion of witness intimidation, spousal abuse, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, and ... More >>

Emboldened by Appeals Court, 2 Lake Forest Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Reopen

​Despite the city's enforcement and court moves against Lake Forest Wellness Center, the medical marijuana dispensary has kept it doors open through the ongoing appeals process--and was able to celebrate at least a partial victory as the last of 21 clinics in town still in operation.Now, the dispe ... More >>

Mark Moen, Marijuana Martyr

The arrest of 215 Agenda's owner has OC's medical-pot community wondering if it has a prayer of avoiding trouble with the cops

Judge Denies Restraining Order to Keep Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Open

​A federal judge has denied a restraining order aimed at keeping medical marijuana dispensaries open in Costa Mesa and Lake Forest while the court considers a lawsuit filed on behalf of four MedMar Patient Care Collective patients and based on the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Dawn Marie Baloun, Teacher at Juvie, Charged With Kissing and Fondling Boy

CORRECTION: The victim's age was incorrect in an earlier version of this post. ​A female teacher at a juvenile correctional facility in Trabuco Canyon was charged today with having an unlawful relationship with a 15 16-year-old housed at the facility by kissing and fondling him after meeting in ... More >>

Warren Can't Carry Oral Roberts' Holy Jock Strap

​From the Associated Press:LAKE FOREST, Calif. - Evangelical pastor Rick Warren's plea for donations to fill a $900,000 deficit at his Southern California megachurch brought in $2.4 million, Warren announced to cheers during a sermon at the church on Saturday.Well, whoop-dee-freakin'-doo!

Show of the Day: the New Limb at Gypsy Lounge, Lake Forest

Costa Mesa quartet the New Limb write warm, introspective originals that delicately draw from indie rock and the kind of freak folk being played by Pacific Northwest kids sporting lumberjack attire and bushy beards. The New Limb's songs float along dreamily while remaining rooted in tight structure ... More >>

TOMORROW: The New Limb Launch Holiday Toy Drive at Gypsy Lounge Residency

​Remember about a week ago when we mentioned that Costa Mesa's The New Limb are bringing some shimmering indie rock tunes to the Gypsy Lounge through Dec. 17? Yes? Awesome. Hopefully that means you didn't miss last week's opening night of their free residency. But in case you did, we highly enc ... More >>

Irvine and Mission Viejo Shoot It Out Over Which Is Safer

​For five straight years, Irvine has billed itself as "America's Safest City," but new FBI rankings show it's not even the safest city in Orange County. This leads to an obvious question: What's your problem with Irvine, FBI?

This Week in Food

Flickr user LoveBones​This week in food:Dave spills the date that convenience store, 7/11, will start carrying private label wine... classy.Vickie shows how creative you can get with a little rice and a LOT of time in The Art of the Bento Box.We discover that Bodhi Tree Cafe's currently stellar ra ... More >>

Medical Cannabis Supporters Light Up City Council Meeting

Photo by Christopher Victorio Ready for face time with the Lake Forest City Council Tuesday night. ​Medical marijuana advocates offered 1,000 free hamburgers to draw supporters to Tuesday night's Lake Forest City Council meeting, but only 300 showed up to plead with city officials to recon ... More >>

Lake Forest Man Accused of Being a Gang Banger and a Video Perv

Courtesy of Orange County Sheriff's DepartmentDavid Emanuel Ramos is an alleged double-dipper.​Gang members can no longer be content with mere thievery and thuggery and all-around skullduggery. In today's lightning-fast society, one must multi-task.Take David Emanuel Ramos. Please. The 22-year-old ... More >>

Crime Time: Beer Bandits, Blood Drippers, Ripped-Off Stripper Drivers, Bowling Alley Knife Fights, Men With No Pants Roaming San Clemente

It's the Weekly's weekly round-up of local police calls--now with more beer bandits, wild chases, ripped-off stripper drivers, bowling alley knife fights and men without pants.TUESDAY, SEPT. 8Strippers' Backup Needs Backup A man who told police he was hired to be a driver for strippers met with anot ... More >>

Crime Time: Boozy Mom, Asshole Cop, Thieving Aliens, Fast-Acting Pharmacist and Lotsa Stabbers

It's the Weekly's weekly round-up of local police calls--now with more boozy moms, asshole cops, fast-acting pharmacists, apartments full of thieving aliens and loads of stabbings!Courtesy of Costa Mesa Police DepartmentCraig Anthony McVay, 48, of Garden Grove, was in the midst of three years probat ... More >>

Parents Blog, Email, Twitter, Telephone and Rally to Save Lake Forest Preschool

​Parents who have mounted a blog/Twitter/old-timey-telephone campaign to save a Lake Forest preschool from closing say their efforts are working. To prove this, they have posted letters from board members who say they are reconsidering plans to shutter the nationally accredited Lakeview Learning C ... More >>

Starbucks News, Including Four Imminent Closures

Yet another round of Starbucks closures was recently announced, including a dozen locations in Orange County. Combined with those from the previous wave that are yet to shutter, that makes 15, four of which (in bold below) have definite closing dates at this time.The branches set to close are:Anahei ... More >>

The Culinary Offerings of OC's Nudie Bars Can Be Predictably Awful—Or Surprisingly Delicious

OC Fire: Reader Photos

Some readers have shared their fire photos with us. Click the photo to see them. So far, we have snaps of the blaze from Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest and Foothill Ranch. Send yours to jpkahn@ocweekly.com with a short description (and the photographer's name) and we'll add them to the slidesho ... More >>

No Love For The Opening Of Club XO

UPDATE: Club photos are up. Last night was the Club XO opening at Kolla’s Nightclub in Lake Forest. How can I put this politely? It blew ass. I would always rather write a positive review than a negative one, so it pains me to say last night started out abysmal, and only got mediocre from there ... More >>

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from the county's best damn dining guide

grub guide

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from the county's best damn dining guide

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from the county's best damn dining guide

Grub Guide

Orange Countys best damn dining guide

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from the county's best damn dining guide

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from the county's best damn dining guide

Grub Guide

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from OC'c best damn dining guide

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from the county's best damn dining guide

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from OC's best damn dining guide

Grub Guide

Tasty morsels from the county's best damn dining guide

Diary of a Loud County

The Year In Live Reviews

Smoking in the Boys Room

Can a girl get a hook-up?

Letters

The Royal Tenenbaums

Letters