Diane Armitage
21-year Laguna Beach resident &
absolute devotee of this amazing town.
Here our thousands of insider tips and
recommendations
for all the best places
to dine, drink and play in
LAGUNA BEACH
Best Food & Drink
Rum Social Hoping to Open Late August
As of about a week ago, the City of Laguna gave Rum Social owners the greenlight to complete their interior renovations. Rum Social is the highly anticipated new concept moving into the old Watermarc location at 448 S. Coast Highway in "Restaurant Row." The ownership...
Seabutter Sushi Opens This Week
This week, Seabutter Sushi began its soft open phase in the old San Shi Go location at 1100 S. Coast Highway. Essentially, they're using this week to dial in the service and food before they expand to full operational hours. This Friday and Saturday (and moving...
Upcoming Events & News
President’s Day Soirée Celebrates Art & Music
Here's your perfect reason to actually celebrate President's Holiday on Monday, Feb. 17th - an Art & Music Soirée at The Deck's Bungalows! While The Deck provides its usual great party fare, there will be plenty going on with Pink and Foo Fighters musician Jessy...
Ahh, the gift of a Valentine Spa Day
Hopefully, you've made dinner reservations for Valentine's Day (that's tonight, folks) or Valentine's weekend. If you haven't yet, you can check out my Valentine Dining Roundup article on what's available out there. Now, for that gift! Given the latest stress levels...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
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Best Food & Drink
Chef Azmin’s last day of service at Sapphire is Saturday, March 7th
For 13 years, Chef Azmin Gharhreman has offered one of the most innovative, globally-oriented menus in Orange County. While I'm a fan of everything I've had the pleasure to try at Sapphire, I have to tell you this, straight up: If you've never tried the hot dog at...
Bear Flag Looking at 18 Months Before Opening in Old Boom Boom
In August last year, the same Bear Flag Co. of Wild Taco announced its intentions to move its third Bear Flag Fish Co. restaurant into the former Boom Boom Room space. At that time, Bear Flag Founder Thomas Carson noted that he had always wanted to open his first Bear...
Best Margaritas in Laguna Beach 2020
National Margarita Day is Saturday, Feb. 22nd, and as far as I'M concerned, THIS is the LOVE holiday we really need to be paying attention to in the month of February. (I can't believe the greeting card industry hasn't caught on to this one yet.) SO, time to roll out...
Wine Gallery’s “Tasting Tuesday” Features Rosenthal Imports
Wine Gallery has another pop up Tasting Tuesday happening on Feb 25th, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. These are awesome fun. It's a mini-workshop … maybe more like a science lab … with a variety of wines and proffered pairings with the regular Wine Gallery menu. This coming...
Sapphire’s Chef Azmin Hands Baton to Award-Winning Restaurateur Russ Bendel
Rumors are true … Chef Azmin Ghahreman, Executive Chef & CEO of Sapphire Culinary Group, is selling the Sapphire Restaurant and Pantry at The Pottery Place to focus on other Sapphire Culinary interests. In a statement released late Thursday afternoon, Chef Azmin...
Laguna Chefs Share the Love on Valentine’s Day
Yesterday, I was talking to one of our Laguna chefs about Valentine’s Day. Oddly … reservations for Valentine’s Day tend to occur well in advance, while Mother’s Day reservations tend to happen at the last minute. Imagine that. If you’re still putting your plan...
Upcoming Events & News
Gate and Garden Tour Returns with 10 Private Gardens
It’s that time of year again: Friday, May 4th is the date for the Laguna Beach Garden Club’s fundraiser, the Gate & Garden Tour of South Laguna, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This year, the diversity of the gardens in South Laguna stands out. The 10 private gardens on the...
Big Pour is On: California Wine Fest is a Must in Dana Point on April 20th
The giant California Wine Festival is back in play in just a couple weekends, Friday and Saturday, April 20 & 21 at Dana Point’s Lantern Bay Park (top of the hill overlooking the Harbor by the Laguna Cliffs Marriott). Tickets for this event sell out well in...
ROUX Closes, Chef Michael Leech Might Step In “Temporarily”
On Tuesday, ROUX Creole, the well-received new restaurant in Laguna Beach, lost founding Chef Norm Theard due to “irreconcilable difficulties” between Theard and investor partners. Theard resigned early Tuesday morning, citing "lack of support and negativity from the...
3 Big Superbowl Parties: Just the Stats
Despite the fact that we’ve been seeing a lot of the New England Patriots in Superbowls lately, it’s important that America, as a collective, gather ‘round this Sunday for the Superbowl commercials. Oh. And the game. That, too. (As far as I’m concerned, the...
66,000 Homeless in O.C. – National Innovators on Homelessness Issues are Here Feb. 8th
On Monday, Jan. 22nd, Orange County officials began clearing the homeless encampment on the Santa Ana riverbed. This encampment, one of the largest in the L.A. basin and the largest in Orange County, stretches more than three miles and houses approximately 1,000...
Oi! Jack Sparrow’s Ship Invites You Aboard!
If you’re a Pirates of the Caribbean fan, here’s your chance to walk in Jack Sparrow’s shoes (preferably not shambling as he does). In fact, even Spock fans will find this an equally interesting tidbit: This coming weekend, the Ocean Institute is enjoying one last...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
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