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
Laguna’s 2021 Thanksgiving Options are Bountiful
Last year at this time, the State of California moved back in to “purple tier” status, which sent our Laguna Beach restaurateurs scrambling to figure out what to do with all of their Thanksgiving dining reservations. This year let’s hope we’re in for a more...
Scott McIntosh Opens 3rd Reunion Kitchen Location
Congratulations to my restaurateur/chef buddy Scott McIntosh, who’s known in this town for Boat Canyon’s successful Reunion Kitchen as well as Asada Tacos + Beer. On Monday this week, he opened his 3rd Reunion Kitchen location, this time in Santa Barbara right on the...
Upcoming Events & News
Surfing Santa 2021 Gets Spirits Soaring: Nov 20 & 21
One of the coolest non-profit ideas around, Surfers Healing is designed for children with autism. The greatest surfers in the world jump in to help these kids experience surfing in multiple surf camps throughout the United States Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. One...
Hospitality Night (Santa is Coming!) Fri, Dec. 3rd, 2021
"Every first Friday in December (except maybe not last year, at least not in full regalia as usual), Laguna Beach celebrates Hospitality Night. It's a great "locals' night" for people watching, live music, dancing, great restaurant get-togethers, retail shop and...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
Chef Jet Tila – Food Network’s Iron Chef
Meet the Food Network’s Celebrity Chef Jet Tila, the likable and uber-talented chef on a number of shows, including Iron Chef America. Chef Jet Tila is returning for his second year to OC Chef’s Table as the spotlight celebrity chef. Click to learn more about Chef...
Chef Jason Neroni – Rose Cafe – Santa Monica
Meet Chef Jason Neroni, the renowned L.A. based chef of Rose Cafe in Santa Monica. Chef Neroni has heard about the OC Chef's Table, and was so affected by the homelessness in his own neighborhood, that he contacted Illumination Foundation, the non-profit entity...
Best Food & Drink
“We Got the Beat” at Harley’s Party – Nov. 5th
On Friday, Nov. 5th, Go-Go’s drummer, Gina Schock, will be hosting a “meet & Greet” at Harley Laguna Beach. Tickets are $125 per person and include a signed copy of Gina’s new book, Made in Hollywood: All Access with the Go-Go’s, as well as two premium drink...
San Shi Go Coming Soon … I Promise
Posted Oct. 13, 2021 - Local favorite San Shi Go looks to be rounding the final bend for their re-opening at the former Okura Sushi restaurant at Thalia and Coast Highway. San Shi Go closed in its old location on March 1st. A devastated fan base moped for months...
Where’s My Rum?
You may recall that months and months ago – April 13th, to be exact – I announced that Rum Social Kitchen & Cocktails would be taking over the old Watermarc space. Termed by the longtime restaurateurs as “an upscale Hemingway speakeasy,” the team planned to open...
Wine Gallery’s Tasting Tuesdays Return
The “Locals’ Season” is in full swing with restaurants all over town offering creative events. Wine Gallery’s popular “Tasting Tuesday” has returned. Owner Chris Olsen initiated the every-other-week event prior to COVID and started them up again in September. “I...
7 Laguna Restaurants Participate in Marriott Bonvoy “Eat” Campaign
Marriott Bonvoy has recently launched an "Eat Around Town" campaign that awards 4 points for every dollar you spend as a Marriott member, and 6 points for every dollar you spend if you're "elite" status (Ambassador, Titanium, Platinum, Gold or Silver). For the month...
Hotel Laguna Readies for October Restaurant Diners
This past weekend, Hotel Laguna opened her doors for a few private-invite "sneak peeks." It was met with such enthusiasm and wonder that it reminded me of the original Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory movie when the fabled factory allowed a handful of people in...
Upcoming Events & News
Oil Spill Closes Laguna City & County Beaches, DP Harbor and Newport Harbors Closed
A major oil spill out of Huntington Beach on Saturday night has required the closing of all City and County beaches, including Laguna Beach and Dana Point. OC Parks has also closed Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor. Both Newport Harbor, Bayside Beach in Newport...
Cook with Chef Amar
Chef Amar Santana is teaming up with Lung Cancer Foundation of America for a "Cook with Chef Amar" virtual cooking class on Saturday, Oct. 2nd from noon to 1 p.m. Chef started his first restaurant here in Laguna Beach, Broadway by Amar Santana. He later opened Vaca by...
Festival of Arts 2021: What I Love Most
The Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters is exactly that - two enormous productions that symbiotically co-exist next to each other on the same grounds. This year's Pageant of the Masters is titled "Made in America, Trailblazing Artists & Their Stories,"...
Laguna Beach Fireworks 2021
The Laguna Beach fireworks show is back in play and will begin at approximately 9 pm on Sunday, July 4th. As usual, the fireworks show will originate from Monument Point at Heisler Park. For this reason, the Monument Point area will be closed all day on the 4th of...
Sunglass Gallery’s Harry Bagga Shines
After properly grieving the loss of my 14-year Fendi sunglasses, I trooped back to the only man I trust - 31-year Sunglass Gallery Owner Harry (Harjit) Bagga. This is the guy who looks at you once and heads right to the perfect sunglasses. Fendi, apparently, has lost...
Citing COVID Cases, Sawdust Marketplace Closes
Initially scheduled through December 20th, the Sawdust Marketplace closed yesterday (Saturday) for the season and the year. Marketplace organizers noted that "Due to rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases in our own area, and several confirmed cases among our Sawdust...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
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