Santa Fe

John Melvin Walker Pleads Guilty to Secretly Owning Pot Clinic Chain and Avoiding Taxes

A San Clemente man pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to secretly owning a chain of nine medical marijuana clinics in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Because John Melvin "Pops" Walker has drug-related priors and was caught with firearms, the 56-year-old was looking at the possibility of l ... More >>

Long Beach Lunch: Rocco's Deli Italiano

Gruff New Yorker attitudes don't last long on the laid-back, breezy streets of Long Beach, but there is always room for a cured-meat-filled, Italian-style sandwich with some East Coast sass. Signal Hill's Rocco's Deli Italiano just opened a second location in the East Village Arts District, and its ... More >>

Flaming Lips and Hyundai Join Forces For Super Bowl Commercial

Unless you've been living under a rock or a parallel dimension, you know this Sunday marks one of the biggest unofficial holidays of the year: the Super Bowl. When the 49ers taken the Ravens Sunday, the 47th edition of the Super Bowl is expected to be one of the most watched events of the year, if n ... More >>

C4mula's Lyrical (and Literal) Bombs That Inspired and His New Mixtape

There's usually something borderline awkward about listening to rapper's CD while you're in the car with them. You hope you like it, but what if you don't? What if you can't hide the fact t that you don't like it? The possibility that their anger and disappointment inspiring them step on the gas and ... More >>

Feds Arrest 12 In Alleged Pot Ring Operating in OC & LBC

Twelve people were arrested this morning for conspiracy to distribute marijuana in a case that federal authorities claim involves a ring of pot dispensaries that operated in both Orange County and Long Beach. A 31-page indictment released by the U.S. attorneys office today claims that the shops--nin ... More >>

On the Line: Arthur Gonzalez of Roe Restaurant & Fish Market, Part Two

Who needs three days what you can get done in two? We're tightening up the OTL format to allow more time to eat out work on other interviews. Art provides a little more insight on his life outside of Roe, then treats us to a fan favorite recipe. Oh, and their dining space is on track to be restauran ... More >>

On the Line: Arthur Gonzalez of Roe Restaurant & Fish Market, Part One

A couple of chairs flipped right side up in the middle of a gutted dining space. That is how we roll with Chef Gonzalez in his unfinished room, also known as Phase Two in the grand scheme of things at Roe in Belmont Shore. Thanks to some dedicated parking spots, we start our session on time and with ... More >>

Why Are More Mexicans Starting to Migrate to Canada?

[¡Ask a Mexican!] And are black beans of a higher class than Mexican beans?

[UPDATED with Possible Drone:] What's Red, Round and Glowing? UFO in Night Skies Over Huntington Beach and New Mexico

See end of post for update on drone possibility.ORIGINAL POST, JUNE 11, 2:45 P.M.: A reported sighting of a UFO over Huntington Beach has been affirmed . . . in New Mexico.Four unidentified Surf Citizens were looking at random things in the sky through a backyard telescope just after 9:30 p.m. Satur ... More >>

Bootlegger's Brewery Granted Conditional-Use Permit; Opening Soon

Dozens of Bootlegger's Brewery fans packed the council chambers in Fullerton last night in order to show support for the craft brewery's opening of a tasting room in downtown Fullerton's Soco District. The room was already crowded with a troop of Boy Scouts, two city commissions receiving meritoriou ... More >>

[UPDATED, FULLERTON SIGNING TOMORROW!] First Round of Book Signings Announced for Taco USA!

​UPDATE: Tomorrow, I have my first book signing for the book at the Fullerton Library's main branch on Commonwealth. 7 p.m.--see you there!ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 2: Gentle readers: it gives me great pleasure to announce the first leg of my book tour for Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America. ... More >>

On the Line: Bob Brown of Spudrunners, Part One

Bob ran late for our interview, so I did the next best thing: Grill his team. Ben, Daniel and Justin were more than happy to share stories between orders. Like this one time, when their Spudrunners luxe lonchera's engine fell out while Daniel drove up the 57. Bob pushed it with his Kia rental, and t ... More >>

[UPDATED, WITH SANTE FE CONFIRMED!] First Round of Book Signings Announced for Taco USA!

​Gentle readers: it gives me great pleasure to announce the first leg of my book tour for Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America. I'm burning the midnight coal with both ends of the candle's oil (or however that pinche metaphor goes) putting even more street corners on the agenda, but below ... More >>

Hatch Chiles to Be Scarcer, More Expensive This Year Because of Drought

I'm currently in New Mexico for...something...and the statewide tradition of roasting just-harvested chiles is beginning anew. Last evening, as I drove down the old Route 66 in downtown Albuquerque (now Central Avenue), the sweet-smoky, full-bodied scent of those enchanting pepper pods getting roast ... More >>

GQ Names Newport Beach One of The Worst-Dressed Cities in America

​Oh, no they did-n't. The style writers at GQ penned a list of of the 40 Worst-Dressed Cities in America. It's filled with stereotypical haterade (and possibly truth?).    Our own Newps comes in 29th after other "sartorially-challenged metropolises" including Santa Fe, Vegas an ... More >>

Bring A Friend To Veggie Grill Virgin Night, Get A Free Dinner!

All Hail Kale! (It's the name of their dish, not our exhortation--although kale is good...)​In yet another Earth Week celebration special, the gang over at Veggie Grill is holding a Virgin Night this evening from 4-10 p.m. at ALL locations. Before we lose you to your imagination, take a pause to p ... More >>

Profiles of OC Pioneers Who Were Klan Members: Herman Hiltscher

Not Hiltscher, but SO adorable!​In Fullerton, the surname Hiltscher is one of the oldest, one whose holders made their mark on the city in its earlier days. Patriarch August ran a farm off Orangethorpe Avenue; his sons operated the Center Meats butcher shop for decades. August Jr. was a Fullerton ... More >>

Gabacha Fiesta Queens?

[¡Ask a Mexican!] Also, hot and sexy Latin chicks on telenovelas!

Bruery Provisions to Open In Orange, Not Placentia

The Bruery​Three months ago, Edwin broke the news that the Bruery, the popular craft cervesería that operates out of an ugly warehouse in a forgotten corner of Placentia, would be opening a brewpub in Placentia's Placita Santa Fe district.Well, that's all correct, except for the brewpub part and ... More >>

Two Years of the Bruery

Courtesy of the Bruery​Got your tickets yet?The Bruery's second anniversary is coming up, weekend after next, and you'll need a ticket for the festivities. They are actually breaking down the party into four-hour chunks, two per day, so they can host as many people as possible without the ridiculo ... More >>

The Zinfandels

Santa Fe Express Cafe

A Tale of Two Chimayós: The Real Deal and the HB Travesty

​I'm currently in New Mexico to research for my coming book on the history of Mexican food in the United States. One of the chapters will deal with the Southwestern cooking phenomenon that spread across the country during the late 1980s and early 1990s and has now largely disappeared to the point ... More >>

Commonwealth Lounge: Now Serving Live Music on Wednesdays

​When you think of the small bar scene clustered in the corner of Fullerton's "SoCo District" (south of Commonwealth) most can agree that it's the only section of downtown where live music truly exists. You've heard plenty about the stages at the Continental Room, Slidebar, Steamers, Stubriks and ... More >>

Free Moral Agents Announce Tour, No California Dates Yet

​Yesterday, it was announced that Long Beach psych-rock jam artists Free Moral Agents (pictured) are hitting the road with their El Paso compadres Zechs Marquise. Their tour, which starts November 7 in ZM's hometown, is set to run for about three weeks at this point, with dates to be added shortly ... More >>

Locals Only Extra: Check Out Tan Dollar's EPs!

Tan Dollar--just last night at the Tribal Cafe in LA!​Jessica and Kady Bell, fresh talent (and sisters!) making their OC Weekly debut in our latest issue, told you about Irvine/Tustin's Tan Dollar in Locals Only. They've got a couple of shows coming up this week--tonight in Fullerton at the Santa ... More >>

Great Food, Horrible Service at Cowgirl's Café

My chica had never eaten at Cowgirl's Café, a SanTana breakfast institution located in the city's industrial area. We ate there yesterday, one of only a couple of customers on a Monday morning--damn recession. She ordered French toast; I wanted a Santa Fe omelet. Both impressed--a long serrano acco ... More >>

Hippie-Trippy

Brightblack Morning Light

Fading Away to Nada

Orange County’s lost Chicano murals

!Ask a Mexican!

'I bet they speak English during recess'

Light, Bright

The humbling effect of Quantizing Effects

The Good, the Sorta Bad and the Gott-damn Youse Ugly

Handicapping the 06 Newport Beach Film Festival

Expanded for the Web!

Grub Guide

This week in grubberies that carry us, part dos

The Spirit of Youth

Opera Pacifics Italian Girl is bellissima

This Week in Grubberies That Carry Us

Brown, Out!

Historic OC barrios awaiting extinction by gentrification

This Week in Booze Barns

The F-Ups/Wiggum

Bourbon Street West

I Steel Them From You!

10 Mexican-bashing songs from the rock & roll canon

Letters

Mystery Train

LOVE THAT BOB

T

The Indigent Girls

From Finland to Fullerton with Sideswipe

Clubbed!

Old bags, 1. Hipster girl, 0. Big cans, 2

Crow Bar

Feet, Meters, Rellenos

How to measure a Mexican restaurant

Pretty Vacant

Citrus City Grille, Grille, Grille, Grille...

Barbecouscous

Tulsa meats tabouli in Orange