The Santa Ana Police Department holds a DUI checkpoint tonight that kicks off a couple weeks of special traffic enforcement operations by various Orange County law enforcement agencies. Aimed at taking drunken and/or unlicensed drivers off the roads, the checkpoint runs from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the 2100 block of North Main Street, […]
Newport Beach
Hook & Anchor Elevates Fast-Casual Seafood in Newport Beach
Around four years ago, I ate at the exact spot I’m writing about today. I was reviewing a new place that was simultaneously called Biggie Baguette and Quebec Montreal Poutine. The restaurant had two names because it had a split personality; it couldn’t decide whether its specialty was sub sandwiches or poutine. The place shuttered […]
OC Grub Guide: Mother’s Day 2018 Edition
Mother’s Day shouldn’t be the only day we express our love to mom (Okay, Valentine’s and birthdays will do). Restaurants go all-out for this particular May day. Then again, she did give you life. We find the goods to get you through next weekend. Reserve now! Monarch Beach Resort – Dana Point Presenting a duo […]
Eat This Now: River Street Reuben at Tower 48
The newly opened Tower 48 is serving up modern deli fare with a twist. The Newport Beach eatery from Andrew Dorsey (SOCIAL Costa Mesa) and Dan Biello (Chronic Tacos co-founder) offers a variety of delectable sides like loaded tower fries (thick cut fries served with bacon jam, melted American cheese, pickled red Fresno chiles, green […]
OC Spring Menu Coverage, Part Two
More veggies = less guilt about ordering alcohol; photo courtesy True Food Kitchen More spring menus? Why, yes. A change in seasons gets kitchens excited about new produce and ways to incorporate it into their menus. This time around, we find one DTSA local and a few well-branded names cranking out delicious dishes. Lazy […]
Newport Beach Film Festival Presents Its Funniest Lineup in 19 Years
I have sat through so many films while on the Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) beat. Because so many friends and family members know that, I am invariably asked to name my favorite NBFF film. It beats the hell out of me; that would be like choosing a favorite toe. However, to deal with the […]
OC Grub Guide 4/12-4/18: Sanrio, Serato and Sidecar
We spy with our roving eye so many reasons to get out of the house and dine. Brunch, beer dinner, doughnuts and even a festival are in our lineup! Go alone or with a friend; either way, it’ll be good eats. Casa Barilla Carbonara Special – Costa Mesa Happening now through May 6, satisfy […]
Third Wave of Anti-Sanctuary State Council Meetings Slated This Week in OC
They keep coming. City councils in Orange County are passing resolutions, filing court documents supportive of a federal lawsuit and even suing California on their own against its “Sanctuary State” laws. This week, three more city governments will consider taking action in various forms in a revolt first unleashed by Los Alamitos last month. Not to […]
OC Grub Guide: Easter Dining Edition (Hop to It!)
There are holidays, and then there’s Easter. We want to enjoy all the bountiful buffets and plated treats, but we can only choose one. Today, we present you with a sizable list of contenders to help you decide your fate. Now run along—time’s a-wastin’. Hotel Irvine Prepare for a premium experience when you head […]
Lido Bottle Works Offers Curated Craft Brews and Waterfront Views: What the Ale!
It doesn’t get any better than this! Located in the Lido Marina Village, recently renovated by the developers that built Pacific City in Huntington Beach and rebuilt the Bella Terra Mall, Lido Bottle Works offers a gorgeous harbor view, plus a wide variety of craft beer and wine. There are 15 beers on tap, and […]
Anti-DUI Checkpoint, Patrols and Luck o’ Lyft Run All St. Patrick’s Day Weekend
The Buena Park Police Department Traffic Unit holds a St. Patrick’s Day DUI checkpoint Saturday from 7 p.m. through 3 a.m. Meanwhile, the Garden Grove and Newport Beach police departments are among the Orange County law enforcement agencies that will run “saturation patrols” all weekend. And, tonight and Saturday night, Lyft is offering OC passengers […]
See How the Other Half Swings at New Club Champion Golf Fitters in Newport Beach
Yours truly got to see how the other guys’ foursome lives at a golf club fitting session last week at the new Club Champion studio in Newport Beach. You can check out the operation yourself Thursday evening, when Club Champion hosts a combination grand opening and benefit for the nonprofit Folds of Honor, which provides educational […]
In Praise of Orange County’s Cherished Brunch Spots of Yesteryear
Orange County is awash with trendy new restaurants catering to the latest food crazes, and brunch is no exception. And while nobody can deny the delight of drinking hand-crafted, bacon-infused Bloody Marys in the company of bearded hipsters, we instead pay tribute to the county’s cherished collection of old-school breakfast institutions, those reliable purveyors of […]
What’s Old Is New Again: OC Dining Reinvents Itself to Stay Relevant
Whether it’s a change of address or knowing when a tried and true formula is working, some of the heavy hitters in Orange County know how to bring in diners. We look at five examples of restaurants that handle change like pros. Marché Moderne As one of the best dining rooms associated with a shopping […]
OC (and Beyond) Valentine’s Lineup 2018!
Somewhere between the cost of flowers, scoring prix-fixe reservations and standing in line at Victoria’s Secret, we realized February 14 was not made for those trying to spend less. Or is it? This is not your typical Valentine’s lineup. We’re going above and beyond to give you a list of alternative couples (and maybe […]
Murder Cases Show Orange County DA Favors White Lives Over Brown
Determined to become one of Southern California’s prominent criminal-justice voices, L. Song Richardson waited mere days into her term as the new dean of UC Irvine’s School of Law to conduct a Jan. 13 “teach-in & training” honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by, as her event poster declared, “mobilizing for justice in an unjust […]
SEC Accuses Newport Beach Man of Fraud in Golf Course Deal
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today filed a complaint against an Orange County businessman and his Texas-based partner for allegedly devising a $675,000 fraud scheme involving the proposed purchase of an unfinished, $5 million Colorado golf course. Caliber Capital Management LLC. owner Paul A. Garcia, a 53-year-old Newport Beach resident, and Richard T. […]
10 Signs You Grew Up In Between L.A. and O.C.
Growing up in the northern middle ground of Los Angeles County and Orange County (oh, to be from Long Beach!) has its perks and cons. At times it feels like being bi-racial, rejected by both cultures. (or counties in this case.) Other times, being able to live and play in both worlds feels like a […]
Now Open: The Ritz Prime Seafood In Newport Beach
We knew that when The Ritz Restaurant by Fashion Island closed last year, it would return in grand fashion. However, we did not anticipate the makeover that took place in the former home of Chart House along Pacific Coast Highway. Guests still experience polished service in a formal atmosphere; hints of the original menu are […]
On the Line: Brian Doherty Of Fairmont Newport Beach, Part Two
We wrap things up in Newport, digging further into Brian Doherty's past and what shaped him to be the chef he is today. Our interview with Chef Doherty began yesterday. Why don't you check it out? The rest is found below. What would you be doing if you weren't in this business? I have always […]
On the Line: Brian Doherty Of Fairmont Hotel Newport Beach, Part One
Recently, I attended the American Liver Foundation's Flavors of OC at Fairmont Newport Beach. While there were many talented, well-known local chefs present, I knew nothing about one: Fairmont's own Brian Doherty. I was assigned to his table, and experienced a dinner that blew me away. From his experiences at other locales to their adoption […]