While ruminating my “Fab 5” weekly e-mail recommendations for this week, I decided, instead, to tell you what I’ll be doing over the next five DAYS because … well … you can’t get any better recommendation on what to do than from the gal running around this weekend on all that she’s decided is the Best of Laguna Beach … right?
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Thursday, Aug. 29th
Let’s face facts here. Emails and return phone calls from clients, prospects and your closest family members stopped cold somewhere around last Friday. No one but no one is around now through the rest of the weekend. So, you might as well start the weekend right with the last big OC Parks Concert at Salt Creek Beach. Hundreds upon hundreds of people will be turning out for the finalé featuring two bands, Crash Boom Bang followed by LIT. It’s free. Details here…
Friday, Aug. 30th
AM – Early in the morning, before the happy mobs descend on our weekend, I like to trot down my beach to the Lost Pier for my favorite view with my favorite breakfast burrito (it’s stuffed with big chunks of hickory bacon). Owned and operated by the folks at The Ranch Laguna Beach, this is very decent “beach shack” food with one of the best cups of coffee you’ll find in the land. Here’s my story on Lost Pier …
PM – On the second to the last day of the Festival of the Arts, they’re pulling out all the stops with the return of Terry Steele. He first performed in concert on July 9th (a Luther Vandross tribute) and he brought down the house. It’s free with Festival admission (Laguna residents always get in free.) More details on Terry and the seating situation here …
Saturday, Aug. 31st
AM – Out the door early, I’m off to my favorite trail, stair and beach run at the Dana Point Headlands and Strands. Blue skies and blue ocean with plenty of good surfer watching as you pound your way down the Strands boardwalk. See my story on the 1528-stair run that includes this same area …
PM – The Laguna locals are beginning their “End of Summer” parties where we finally emerge from our underground barrens (since the end of May), blinking in the bright light of day. I’m heading to my favorite party – I think this is the 9th year in a row. Absolutely no way am I giving away this location. You can try to peek through the fence all you want.
Sunday, Sept. 1st
Early AM – A tradition of mine for a long time running, I try to get down to The Ranch’s Harvest Restaurant on early Sunday mornings to sit with my cappuccino, write a few plans for the upcoming week, and watch the day wake up on our beautiful canyon golf course. What a gift Mark Christy has given us – and the breakfasts are good fare, too. (I don’t care if it’s a holiday – I am NOT going near that delicious bacon-striddled giant cinnamon roll.)
Mid-Morning: BEACH DAY! It’s supposed to be 84 degrees and sunny. There’s no excuse. Normally, I’m the Virgo who takes business books or spreadsheets down to the beach with me. Holiday weekends, though … it’s pure fiction, thanks to my BFF, Lisa, finding me something at her treasure trove, Laguna Beach Books.
PM – I have this weird tradition of always riding the Laguna Beach trolley on its last day of summer service. Call it my somewhat melancholy ode to summer’s close. The trolley is the coolest thing, even though you’re still crawling along at the same pace as all those other cars. I love gawking at all the stuff I never see when I’m driving my own car.
So, ’round about 1:30, I’m heading to my trolley stop and boot-scooting all the way to North Laguna for my now-favorite music afternoon, Aloha Sunday at Royal Hawaiian. Fabulous live music and vibe, and I’ll be saving up all weekend for their equally-as-fabulous RH Burger (with a slice of grilled pineapple). See details …
Monday, Sept. 2nd
AM – Yet another giant locals’ party, this one is certainly willing to take in unsuspecting passerby – it’s our Annual Laguna City Police & Firefighters’ Pancake Breakfast. They’re behind the grill and dishing out hundreds of flapjacks for several hours. See details here …
PM – OK, you’ve had your breakfast burrito, your burger, your tiki cocktail and your pancake breakfast. You can’t say say “goodbye” to Labor Day weekend, however, without a margarita. That would be … illegal or something. I have favorites at Carmelita’s, South of Nick’s and South Laguna’s La Sirena. But, fortunately, some of the very finest margarita makers in town are within yards of my home at the SoLag ‘hood hangout, Coyote Grill. While many restaurants are closed on Labor Day, Coyote will be operating regular hours. Shoulder your way in, say howdy to your hosts Desirée and Steve, and toast a goodbye to summer with a mob of Laguna friendlies. See my story on Coyote here …
Then, it’s off to an early evening back home. After all, we have The Ranch’s Vino & Vinyl tomorrow night …
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. Be safe. Don’t drink and drive. Be kind to pedestrians, even if they’re jaywalking. Our summer season will be over before you know it.