The menu changes several times a year and also features rotating specials. The night we visited, a delicious sweet potato puree soup was the soup of the day, made with a splash of cream and hint of ginger. The chef is known for his soups, which are a must-try on any visit. From there we sampled the signature roasted red beet and California goat cheese salad—as beautiful to look at as it was tasty; presentation and consistency are two of chef Paul’s cornerstones. Main dishes included the savory slow-roasted braised beef short ribs, one of the daily specials, and Bayside’s famous green risotto, which gets its color from pureed fresh veggies, making it light and flavorful. Meals can be excellently paired with selections from the restaurant’s extensive wine list. In fact, General Manager Glenn Norton is also a trained sommelier. He suggested an ice wine to end our meal, as we enjoyed the chocolate soufflé with hazelnut ice cream for dessert.

Chef Paul hails from Austria, where his family has owned and operated a hotel and restaurant for 400 years. Paul began his French culinary training at Villa Blanca Culinary School in Innsbruck, Austria, before moving to America at age 21 and studying food trends at some of the most respected restaurants. He continues to constantly read, evolve and explore, bringing fresh flavors to Bayside’s New American cuisine.

The contemporary cuisine is complemented by the restaurant’s contemporary art and architecture. Bayside hosts a rotating modern art exhibit, featuring selected works available for purchase. Nightly music—from Latin to jazz and rhythm and blues—completes the ambience. Happy hour and bar visitors can enjoy small plates—scaled down versions of the main menu—and patrons can also choose to sit outside in the lounge area, which offers plush leather couches and sunset views.
Whether coming for lunch, dinner, drinks or Bayside’s popular Sunday Champagne Brunch, the restaurant lures in locals with its quality, consistency and ambience.

Bayside, 900 Bayside Dr.; 949-721-1222; baysiderestaurant.com

Musicians—the dedicated, driven ones—have to play music. Sure, it would be nice to headline at the Hollywood Bowl, hobnob with celebrities and have a summer villa in Majorca. But there is no formula for the complicated set of factors that go into stardom, which, as it turns out, is good news for local fans.

Many of these gifted and underappreciated musicians live in and around Newport. Some are on their way up, and some just didn’t catch that lucky break. Some never cared one way or the other—the size of the stage was never part of the equation.

“It’s something we do because we love it,” says Steve Carson, the singer and guitarist for local favorite, Echo Echo (featured above, photo by Gary Carson). “It’s definitely not a hobby. This isn’t a bowling league or poker night for us. As far as the art form, the performances, we take it very seriously.”

In October 2005, Echo Echo, then known as the Steve Carson Band, opened for the Beach Boys at Newport’s Centennial Celebration. Nominated for best live act last year and best rock band this year at the Orange County Music Awards, Echo Echo plays original material that sounds like a distillation of the last 50 years of American music into a potent yet thoughtful vision.

“Everybody wants to make a living; it was always the hope,” Steve reflects. “But as you get older, you start to realize it should be more about the integrity of the music, how it makes you feel. I can’t imagine not doing it—never even considered stopping. I think it’s the same way for everybody in the band. Everybody does it because that’s what we do. We love performing.”

Steve grew up in the area. He got a drum kit at age 8 and a few years later started playing the guitar. “I wanted an electric guitar, but my parents said the only way they were going to do that was if I took lessons,” he says, grinning from an armchair in the band’s Santa Ana studio. “I started playing in a band in eighth grade. From that point on, I’ve always been in bands. There’s never been a time I haven’t been playing or recording.”

Over the course of his career, Steve has toured the country several times, mostly from the back of a cramped van. The majority of his gigs, though, as part of various band lineups, have been at local venues. “When we started out, there was the Gypsy Lounge—that was our OC home,” he says. “We enjoy playing locally because the majority of our fan base is here.”

Although the Lake Forest lounge has since closed its doors, others have opened in its place. Steve rattles off a handful that Echo Echo play regularly, including House of Blues in Anaheim and La Cave restaurant in Costa Mesa. “Just in the last couple of years, we’ve met a lot of great people,” he says. “There’s a bigger sense of community going on in the OC music scene.”

Foster the People at Detroit Bar, photo by Leslie Kalohi

Music for Every Taste
One of the most exciting developments in recent memory has been the evolution of Club Mesa, which once featured suspect punk and heavy metal bands, into the eclectic Detroit Bar. “We just celebrated 10 years,” general manager, Jason “Huey” Husted, says. “We’ve added and replaced quite a few things with our sound system. It’s the best it’s been, and we’re still not done.”

It’s no longer necessary to trek up to LA to catch “the next big thing.” What was once a nightmare local dive bar is now a hip club featuring some of the most hotly tipped indie acts from around the world. Deerhunter, Autolux, the Antlers—bands who normally command far bigger stages in far larger cities—have all played here. “Last January our resident band was Foster the People,” Huey recalls. “It was the same time their song (the viral phenomenon, “Pumped Up Kicks”) blew up. The first few Mondays were normal, with about 100 to 150 people. The last night we had a line of 400-plus by 9 o’clock.”

Other Detroit Bar residency bands, who play on Mondays over a four-week stretch, have included the likes of Cold War Kids and Young the Giant before they became top-selling sensations. “The talent buyer changed about four years ago, and we got more aggressive about getting bigger and better acts,” Huey explains.

Young up-and-comers such as the New Limb, winner of best indie band at the 2010 OC Music Awards, have also enjoyed the boost of the resident slot at Detroit Bar. “That was one of our first really big breaks,” guitarist and vocalist Dan Perez says. The band, now based in Los Angeles, congregated in Costa Mesa from various parts of Southern California to refine their chops and hone their sound. “We were kind of orphans in the OC music scene,” he adds. “We didn’t grow up here, so we didn’t have a lot of friends from high school who would come to shows. Then we started playing Detroit Bar and other places, and it was really exciting.”

The Blue Beet, near the Newport pier, hosts a variety of genre-specific bands. R&B cover band L.A. Sound Project play here every few weeks. Members of the band all pursue impressive work outside of the band. The bassist, Ben Eisen, will soon embark upon a U.K. tour with his wife in an electronic band called Lovers and Poets. The guitarist, Eric Desiderio, contributed to the music score for the film “Immortals” and currently works on the Showtime production “The Borgias.”

“We love Orange County. The people are nicer,” L.A Sound Project singer Yaze says, with a big smile, probably only half joking. “LA’s a tough crowd—they are not nurturing people!” The remark is surely self-depreciating because the band puts on an immensely entertaining show, opening with a nifty version on “Knock on Wood,” a song that’s been covered by everybody from Otis Redding to David Bowie, and following with Motown classics like Smokey Robinson’s “Get Ready” and “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.” The dinner crowd is reserved at first, but by the time the band reaches the middle of their set, the Blue Beet is a packed house of dancing bodies.

Anita and the Yanks at Muldoon’s, photo by Scott Sporleder

Music—Anytime, Anyplace
Sunday afternoons are a terrific time to scout out local talent. Muldoon’s Pub at Fashion Island offers an array of suitably Irish-accented bands. “Muldoon’s is a special place for us,” says Anita Mansfield of Anita and the Yanks. “It has so many good memories, and there’s a lot of support for us there.”

Anita, who was born in Waterford, Ireland, originally emigrated to Boston, but for the past 10 years she’s lived in Southern California. Although she has been writing songs since her early teens, it took some time to work up the courage to perform her own songs in front of an audience. “I had a lot of fear surrounding it,” she confesses in a charming brogue. “But it became more and more painful not to do it. Finally, I said, I’m going to give it five shows.”

Nowadays, Anita and the Yanks are typically booked for a dozen shows a month. They’re cutting two records, one of traditional Irish music and one of Celtic rock ‘n’ roll, which, if their live show is anything to go by, will combine the swagger of Fleetwood Mac with the quiet intensity of Cat Power. Delicate mandolins and expressive fiddles are a keen reminder of the band’s Irish heart, though it’s the cleverly crafted rhythm section and Anita’s impassioned vocal range that will inspire listeners to sing along. “We work hard and play a lot,” Anita says of the band’s burgeoning success. “It’s a labor of love.”

Muldoon’s isn’t the only place to find engaging live music in Newport on a Sunday afternoon. A growing number of locals jump from venue to venue. “People seem to like to change it up,” says 3-Thirty-3 manager Paul Ankenman, who currently rotates two bands in this time slot. “People will go from restaurant to restaurant. They’ll go to one place for an hour, then come here for a couple of hours. There’s a whole group of people in Newport Beach who like to travel around on Sunday afternoons.”

“It’s a lot of fun,” says Diana Grace of Hollywood Blonde, who plays at 3-Thirty-3 every other week. At three o’clock in the afternoon, it’s near standing room only. They blast through an energetic set of ’70s, ’80s and ’90s pop songs, from Van Morrison to No Doubt. The crowd steadily becomes more responsive, and by the end of the show, half the audience is dancing and shouting out requests. “We try to mix it up, so we can please everyone,” Diana adds.

Local and Live
Just minutes outside of Newport’s city limits is a venue that has been hosting some of the top talent to come through Orange County for more than 30 years. San Juan Capistrano’s The Coach House (thecoachhouse.com), owned by Gary Folgner, gives patrons the chance to see iconic musicians like B.B. King, Violent Femmes, Debbie Reynolds and Willie Nelson without the inconvenience of an amphitheater-sized crowd.

“We offer a unique experience as a music venue because we have tables surrounding the stage providing guests with an intimate concert experience that you just can’t get anywhere else,” says The Coach House spokesperson Sara Ostrovitz. “It’s very hard to find venues in California, let alone Orange County, where you can be up at the stage next to performers.”

An eclectic mix of artists such as Ben Kweller, Donovan Frankenreiter, Ted Nugent and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are set to take the stage this spring and summer as the venue shows no signs of slowing down.
“It’s important for us to book great music that people want to see,” Sara says. “You can go to a concert anywhere, but it’s the experience you have seeing live music that makes you want to come back for more.”

Listen to the Music 3-Thirty-3 Waterfront, Sunday (Top 40), 949-673-8464; 3thirty3nb.com Back Bay Bistro, Fridays (acoustic), Saturdays, 949-729-1144; backbaybistronewportbeach.com Bayside Restaurant, Nightly (piano/vocalist), 949-721-1222; baysiderestaurant.com The Blue Beet, Nightly (jazz, various), 949-675-2338; thebluebeet.com Brasserie Pascal, Thursdays, Fridays (acoustic), 949-640-2700; pascalnpb.com Commonwealth Lounge & Grill, Mondays, Tuesdays (jazz), Wednesdays (summer), select Sundays, 949-675-4444; commonwealthlounge.com Detroit Bar, Sundays (karaoke), Mondays (residency), Tuesdays (local), Wednesdays – Saturdays (touring), 949-624-0600; detroitbar.com Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Fridays (karaoke, blues), Saturdays (karaoke), 714-957-1951; durtynellysoc.com The Harp Inn, Thursdays (country), Fridays – Saturdays (’80s, Top 40), Sundays (Irish, classic), 949-646-8855; harpinn.com La Cave Restaurant, Most nights (various), 949-646-7944; lacaverestaurant.com Landmark Steakhouse Sundays (singer-songwriter), 949-675-5556; landmarknewport.com Mastro’s Ocean Club Nightly (piano bar, acoustic), 949-376-6990; mastrorestaurants.com Muldoon’s Irish Pub, Most nights (Celtic rock, reggae), 949-640-4110; muldoonspub.com Palm Terrace Restaurant, Fridays, Saturdays (Top 40), 866-554-4619; theislandhotel.com The Quiet Woman, Tuesdays (country rock), Wednesdays (classic), Thursdays – Saturdays (Top 40), 949-640-7440; thequietwoman.com Siena Italian Restaurant & Bar, Select Sundays (summer), 949-675-6400; balboainn.com Shamrock Bar & Grill, Fridays, Saturdays (Top 40), 949-631-5633 Skosh Monahan’s, Thursdays, Sundays (acoustic), 949-548-0099; skoshmonahans.com Sol Grill, Sundays (acoustic), 949-723-4105; solgrill.com Woody’s Wharf, Tuesdays (karaoke), 949-675-0474; woodyswharf.com

Many major labels have declared bankruptcy, and the few survivors continue to struggle. Chain store retailers, like the once mighty Tower Records, are long gone, replaced by Walmart, Best Buy and the iTunes store. Perhaps most disheartening, over the course of a single decade more than half of the independent record stores in the U.S. have also called it quits.

Fortunately, Laguna record store owner Jim Otto has weathered the storm of progress. “The Internet, to a certain extent, almost has too much data for someone who’s just trying to find their way in the world of music,” Jim says. “Going to a place where you can find someone who knows and cares about the music is a dying breed—it’s becoming harder and harder to find.”

Walking Back in Time

Sound Spectrum is a throwback to another generation—a quaint, dusty old record shop with a satisfying mix of modern and classic bands. There are posters of the Black Keys, the Doors and Bob Marley lining its walls. It’s a place where idealistic teenagers and serious audiophiles come together, not only thumbing through CDs and rare vinyl, but analyzing, debating and propagating cultural trends—often in stark contrast to the mainstream.
Jim and two partners opened the store in a converted old house at the height of the ’60s counterculture movement. “We attended the Monterey Pop Festival, so that was inspirational,” Jim says. Then, with a wink and nod, he adds, “It was definitely the Summer of Love.”

He describes Laguna during this turbulent period with great affection. “We opened in ’67,” Jim says. “Things were going on around us, society was changing. Stuff happened here that didn’t happen anywhere else. There were some really amazing stores that aren’t around anymore.”

But not every youngster of the era who wore tie-dye T-shirts and protested Vietnam went on to start a business. “There wasn’t a cool, hip record store in Laguna,” Jim explains. “There was a record store, but it was more classical and jazz. I really loved music, and I liked the retail experience. My father was in retail, so it seemed natural to put those two things together.”

Record stores have historically been a launching pad for aspiring musicians and artists. Sound Spectrum, as Jim will proudly tell you, has had its fair share of interesting characters and success stories. Timothy Leary’s son Jack worked there at the time when President Richard Nixon called Timothy “the most dangerous man in America.” One former employee, Robert Santelli, went on to write several books, including biographies of Bruce Springsteen and Woody Guthrie, become the curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, and now works at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

“They usually start because they like a certain kind of music, and they’re really involved in it,” Jim says. “And nothing could be better than working in a record store listening to your favorite bands. But what happens is, with people talking about other music, they hear stuff they wouldn’t ordinarily listen to, and they find their musical tastes changing and evolving.”

Knowledge Never Goes Out of Style

A good deal of Sound Spectrum’s longevity can be credited to Jim and his knowledgeable staff. “If you go into your favorite bookstore, and the person behind the counter is able to open your eyes to a whole new kind of fiction, or a new author, then you’re going to want to go back,” he says. “It’s the same thing with record stores.”

Jim’s a veritable encyclopedia of pop music. He’s apt to inform customers that Jimi Hendrix was also an accomplished painter, though he often crumpled up the finished pieces and threw them away. Jim also notes that the cover art of the Clash’s “London Calling”—the seminal punk double album released in 1979—is a tribute to Elvis Presley’s debut record.

“It’s interesting,” he says, pointing out the similarities. “The same colors, the same layout. The Clash thought this was the first rock ’n‘ roll album, Elvis the first rock ’n‘ roll star, and that they were the first punk band, so they used those images.”

With a small measure of friendly encouragement, Jim is happy to recount trivia about nearly every album in the store. In addition to his role as a musical tour guide, he also hosts “Reggae Showcase” on KSBR 88.5 FM on Sunday afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m.

Darwinian Rock ’n‘ Roll

“I find the ones that survive,” Jim says of indie record shops, “are the ones that give extra service, or the ones that have the one thing you can’t find anywhere else.” Loyal Sound Spectrum customers cite helpful tips, like how to keep vinyl clean, listening stations so they can check out used CDs before buying, and an extensive collection of rock ’n‘ roll memorabilia.

The store is chock-full of out-of-print posters, postcards, T-shirts, badges, Zippos with band logos, groovy hippie jewelry and assorted oddball stuff like a bottle of wine with a Grateful Dead label. Through the lean years, Jim says these items helped keep the store afloat. But the unlikely lifeline for indie shops continues to be returning customers flocking to vinyl with a passion.

“A good thumbnail look at the evolution of my record store is if you look at the center racks,” Jim says. “These are my original racks, and over the years we put the dividers in for CD racks. Now, as records are coming back, I’ve taken the dividers out and put the records back.”

Although vinyl never completely went out of fashion, especially with collectors, the latest generation of music lovers has discovered the benefits of analog recordings. There have been significant advances in analog technology, and vinyl today is thicker than it used to be, making it far less likely to warp.

Whether they have a collection of high-end audio equipment at home or not, people are gravitating back to vinyl simply for the comfort of the physical product. Vinyl collectors enjoy the larger cover art and liner notes. There’s a greater sense of connecting with the artist.

It’s a growing trend the record labels have noted and have taken steps to encourage.
Vinyl now comes in a variety of attractive colors. Reissues get re-mastered, further improving the sound quality. And now, more often than not, vinyl records come with a download code, so buyers can have the best of both worlds—MP3s for their iPods and physical copies for home entertainment.

Reversing the Trend

For years, vinyl record sales were flat, but in 2006, there was a perceptible uptick for the marginalized format. This year, for the first time since the dawn of Internet downloading, there were more independent record stores opening than closing. “Some days I do more sales with vinyl records than compact discs,” Jim explains. “That’s a big change.”

All the industry talk aside, what really gets Jim excited is still the music. “What I always try to stress is that it’s good music, not a certain kind,” he says. “I think that still holds true, whether it’s alternative or alt folk, hip-hop or jazz fusion. We’ve seen all these changes come down the pike, and all the good artists, the inventive performers rise to the surface.”

And for people who are unable to spend half their lives sifting through silt to find gold, Jim’s experience is an invaluable resource. “It’s easy in hindsight (to recognize a quality act), but while it’s happening there’s always so much music pouring out. We’re like a museum curator; we’re selective about what we carry and play in the store.”

You can find Jim at Sound Spectrum: 1264 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-5959; soundspectrumlaguna.com.

Take a step back in time and enjoy the charming historic details of the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. With Phase II restorations complete, Crystal Cove Alliance prepares to open its remaining cottages this spring in time for visitors to soak up the sun along 3.5 miles of natural coastline. Cottage 14, the “South Beach Suite,” is open for rental. In the waning months of Spring, explore the cove’s rich early film history at Cottage 13, future home to the “Beaches” Film and Media Center. 

Already open to the public, the Education Commons offers a beautiful, lush garden area in the heart of the historic district, where park visitors can relax and enjoy historic displays on bathing suits, books and games. Fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves at the two newly restored cottages open now for overnight rentals: Cottage #45, Soda Shack, a bright and charming one-bedroom cottage dating back to 1935; and Cottage #40, Creekside Studio, an ADA-accessible bluff top cottage with a panoramic ocean view, built in 1926.

Crystal Cove Cottages; Crystalcovebeachcottages.org

“Sustainability as a culinary theme is paramount in our kitchens,” Chad explains. “This year, the beehives are estimated to produce approximately 100 pounds of honey, which will be served to hotel guests as part of the hotel’s commitment to offering local, organic, sustainable cuisine.”

The house-harvested honey is a key ingredient in the Fairmont’s many decadent desserts, with specialty items such as the Roof-Top Honey Glazed Apples, Pistachio Honey Ice Cream and Honey Filled Dark Chocolate Bee Hive Truffles. The hotel offers many ways to indulge in this growing trend, including participating in special event honey tastings or enjoying honey as a sweet accompaniment to tea service.

The Fairmont, 4500 MacArthur Blvd.; 949-476-2007; fairmont.com/newportbeach

On any given night 11 years ago, you probably had only one choice when it came to seeing live music in Laguna Beach: the local rock band at a downtown bar. That all changed in 2001, with the founding of Laguna Beach Live!, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing professional jazz and chamber music to our beachside community.

Even if you haven’t heard of Laguna Beach Live!, you’ve more than likely heard one of their concerts. Over the past 11 years, Laguna Beach Live! has brought hundreds of professional musicians to Laguna including, most recently, Grammy Award-winning artists Billy Childs and Joshua Bell. The organization is also responsible for the annual Laguna Beach Music Festival, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in February.

“As a nonprofit, we’re limited in how much marketing we can do, so it’s very frustrating to me when people come to a concert and say, ‘Wow, this is so great! When did you start?’ ” co-founder Cindy Prewitt explains. “When I tell them how long we’ve been around, they immediately want to know, ‘Why didn’t I know about it?’ ”

Well now you know! And as the great Louis Armstrong once sang, “Now you has jazz”—thanks to Laguna Beach Live!.

The Beginning
Laguna Beach Live! was founded in August 2001 by Cindy, Joe Byrne and Sam Goldstein simply because “no one was playing jazz down here,” as Joe says.

“There are lots of visual arts in Laguna, but not much of the performing arts,” Cindy says. When the hotels agreed to the 2 percent Business Improvement District bed tax, 1 percent of which goes to support the local arts, they saw their opportunity.

Photo by M. Felt Photography

The group banded together, called their organization Laguna Beach Live! and held their first concert at Seven-Degrees with Sally Kellerman, who was best known as “Hot Lips” from the TV show “M*A*S*H*.”

“She’s a wonderful actress and funny lady, but a lot of people at that time didn’t know she has a terrific voice [and] can really sing,” Joe says. He and Sally have known each other for more than 40 years, ever since attending Hollywood High School together, so she was happy to help an old friend out.

Thanks to Sally’s smooth, sexy vocals, the concert was a success, and jazz music in Laguna was born.

Music for All
It’s not just the rhythmic notes of jazz that can be heard floating through the ocean air, however. Laguna Beach Live! puts on nearly 30 concerts a year featuring accomplished musicians in jazz, chamber, bluegrass and even gospel.

“We keep trying new things,” Cindy explains. “We look around and see what we don’t have, especially in the south county area, and try to bring it here.”

All the concerts are held in intimate venues that allow the audience to get up close and personal, and even interact with the musicians after the show.

It’s all part of the organization’s mission to increase local appreciation of music while making the concerts accessible to everyone, “regardless of their ability to afford good music,” says board member Joe Hanauer.

Most of the concerts are free, but ticket prices never go above $40, even for the most accomplished musicians. A Joshua Bell concert in overpriced New York City, for example, could cost as much as $200.

“To have this kind of music and be able to drive 10 minutes to enjoy it is quite a luxury, especially with those kinds of prices,” Joe says.

Visitors Far and Wide
Laguna Beach Live!’s other goal is to attract tourists to Laguna to support local businesses, he says.

“The business environment is so critical to the way of life we have in Laguna,” Joe explains. It’s important to the organization that they give back to the community, especially the hotels that generously pay more taxes to support the arts. “What Laguna Beach Live! does is it presents something for the hotels to help direct their visitors to.”

Arts and culture are magnets for tourists, and tourism research repeatedly shows that cultural travelers stay longer and spend more than other travelers. Audiences to arts and culture events pump nearly $32 million a year into Laguna’s economy, excluding the cost of admission, according to the 2005 study “Arts & Economy Prosperity III.” Spending by arts and culture organizations and their audiences also supports nearly 1,500 full-time jobs in Laguna.

Arts organizations like Laguna Beach Live! help local businesses grow, create jobs and secure Laguna’s reputation as a worldwide destination.

“It’s an eco-cycle that works,” Joe says.

It’s not just tourists that Laguna Beach Live! is hoping to attract, however.

“I think you would be surprised to hear the percentage of locals who come to see our shows versus out-of-towners,” co-founder Sam Goldstein explains. Sam estimates only about 30 to 35 percent of their audiences are locals.

“It depends on the concert,” Cindy says. Events like the Laguna Beach Music Festival, which has a lot more press and marketing, probably has an audience comprised of two-thirds out-of-towners, she says. Smaller concerts like their First Sundays are comprised of 80 percent locals. 

“It’s the search for bodies. You’re always trying to bring people in,” Sam says. A good example is the Billy Childs concert Laguna Beach Live! held at Laguna Beach High School last October, which was also filmed for PBS television.

“I was lucky enough to get Billy Childs, who’s a three-time Grammy winner, and last year won the Grammy ‘Jazz Musician of the Year,’ ” Sam says. “He’s sold out Disney Hall [which seats 2,265], and we had to scuffle to fill the high school auditorium.

“It’s amazing. You can almost bring in God and you can also perform to a bowling alley,” he adds with a laugh.

Just the fact that Laguna Beach Live! has been able to attract such talented musicians, however, is a testament to the positive things they’ve accomplished in a relatively short period of time. And their vision for the future continues to grow.

On Air
Laguna Beach Live! hopes to televise more shows like the Billy Childs concert, which is the first television show of a musical event ever produced in Laguna. It will air on PBS SoCal April 14.

“I’ve created a wonderful relationship with KOCE,” Sam says. “But like all things, the cost of production is high.”

Laguna Beach Live! had permission from Joshua Bell, Edgar Meyer and the Calder Quartet to film their performances during the 2012 Laguna Beach Music Festival, but they couldn’t find the money to get the production made.

The other main challenge Laguna Beach Live! continues to face is finding venues for their shows.

“There are no jazz rooms in the city where you can sit 150 people,” co-founder Joe Byrne says. So the organization has had to improvise with the help of Hotel Laguna, Laguna College of Art & Design and the high school, which lend them space throughout the year at a reasonable fee.

“We’re very flexible and creative with finding space,” Cindy says—one reason they’re thrilled about a new relationship they’ve formed with the Laguna Playhouse. A change in leadership at the playhouse, with new Executive Director Karen Wood coming in, has opened the door to forming a partnership that will allow Laguna Beach Live! to use its 420-seat facility.

Their first collaboration together was holding the February music festival at the playhouse, which Cindy says was a huge success. It’s that kind of local support that has allowed the organization to grow and fill Laguna Beach with the sound of music.

“A lot has changed since we started 11 years ago. There’s a lot more music in town,” Cindy says, who sometimes has multiple shows to attend in one night. “We have the luxury now in Laguna of having a lot of choices, so it’s great having that variety. You’re able to have a choice now.”

Name the style themes designers look toward to anchor their projects, and you’ll likely get the usual suspects—traditional or modern, perhaps the locally driven choice of a beach influence, and if you’re lucky, a Western pick that’s overflowing with personality. But to transform your own home with the fundamental spirit of these design styles takes experience, which is why we’ve asked four local tastemakers to give us the inside secrets on how to successfully incorporate these decorating trends in any home.

Sand- and Sea-inspired
“Beach style is a breath of fresh air,” says Ohara Davies-Gaetano of Bliss Design in Newport Beach (pictured above). “The feeling should be very open and light, with an emphasis on natural materials.”

Embracing the elements of nature like the surf, sand, sky and trees, and developing a palette of colors and textures that incorporate those elements is key to success with beach-inspired décor. Ohara suggests keeping upholstery fabric light in tone and in a natural fiber, and adding elements like wooden furniture in lighter stains and furnishings that feel eclectic and traveled. “The interior should tell a story. It is important that it does not feel matchy-matchy,” she explains. “I love the use of organic and unusual objects. I recently purchased a collection of antique turtle shells that were used as fireplace firebacks in the 1800s in Europe. These shells are so beautiful and when hung on the wall, they tell an amazing artistic and sculptural story, tying our mind to the sea and the thought of a time past.”

To incorporate color, the designer recommends earthy hues, allowing a beautiful transition between the indoors and outdoors. “If you use bold colors, limit it to just two different tones,” she advises. For Ohara, sheer linen drapes are also a must-have: “Nothing beats opening a door on a beautiful day and having the wind catch the breeze of sheer window panels and watching them billow.”

Sophisticated Surroundings
“Traditional style presents grace, symmetry, sophistication, attention to detail and most of the time a sense of formality,” says Shala Shamardi, principal designer of Haute Design Studio in Newport Beach. “I strive to make a traditional home keep its sense of tradition and formality while still remaining comfortable and practical.”

Traditional style, Shala explains, can be created with simple additions like embellished accent pillows, which add elegance, as well as still life paintings and tailored window treatments with features like fringes and scalloped edges. A dark color palette and wood paneling are often associated with this style, and floral patterns are a common integration. One challenge, Shala says, is designing a cohesive collection of furniture, art, architectural details and colors. “You have to know when to draw the line in order not to overstate the point,” she explains.

A New Take on Modern
“Modern style is no longer all sleek, shiny and colorful,” says Rick Thompson, principal designer at Keir: Interior Design in Newport Beach. “Integrate ruff hewn reclaimed wood planks on a feature wall, and balance it with soft, light neutral furnishings, leather, mirror, and bright vessels and accessories,” he adds. Contrary to preconceived notions about modern design, Rick says the style is not about a sparse or minimalist finished state. “I never use modern style to be cold and impersonal; it is always the opposite. I find that personal heirloom and vintage items lend a modern room a sense of timelessness amid the clean, horizontal lines of a typical modern space.”

When it comes to color, it’s important to balance a palette of whites, grays and taupe with vibrant accents, Rick explains. “My current favorites include tangerine, bright teals and citron yellow, and can be used in accessories like pillows.” Grabbing many of his home ideas from restaurant spaces, which he says are at the forefront of modern and edgy décor, Rick says he also looks for comfortable, rectilinear shapes when shopping for furniture. “Then I’ll add in something unexpectedly round or curved.”

Western Elegance
Newport Beach doesn’t usually conjure visions of Stetson hats, cowboy boots and spurs, but for clients with a strong affinity for the outdoors, a modern take on Western style just might be the perfect addition to a room. Designer Chris Kittrell of Kittrell and Associates, who has done custom designs on Balboa Island, Lido Isle and around Orange County for more than a decade, says you don’t have to be a modern-day cowboy to utilize this theme. “Look at your recreational hobbies and try and use those as inspiration,” she says. Incorporating natural materials like wood, granite and leather with subtle details like a Southwestern motif fabric can pull the theme together, she explains. The earthy color palette should include Western colors reminiscent of a sunset—shades of orange, rust and brown.

Pulling this style together is fairly easy when it comes to artwork and accessories. Chris recommends using items you already have, like cowboy boots and hats, as home accents and hanging outdoor-inspired art. “[Paintings or sculptures] driven by outdoor hobbies like fishing, hunting or horseback riding is an easy way to make this style work.”

When Rayne Frey and Moriah Robison took over for their acclaimed former chef, and Nancy Wilhelm went half a mile down the road to throw open the doors to Starfish, Tabu Grill was hit with the proverbial double whammy—a challenging crux at which most restaurants run around with their heads cut off, while the vultures impatiently circle overhead.

Fast forward to today, and after being greeted by Nancy herself, this writer will gladly call you a fool if you are to pass up an open table or a canceled reservation at this 21st century Laguna icon.

So you’ve been to Tabu before? Great, then you already know about the intimate, whisper-in-her-ear environment that makes this easily the most romantic restaurant for miles. Tall seats at small tables and close quarters at cozy booths with a single lit candle make for the ideal setting to share bites and naughty glances—Tabu’s a place where conversation topics could easily drift from tannins in merlot to long walks in Molokai—so proceed with caution when your cuter half’s in tow; the candle-lit island décor can and will get her.

Nancy opened Tabu because, as she put it, “Laguna needed a steakhouse, and there wasn’t one when I opened Tabu.” So Nancy filled this void with a gorgeously marbled, prime cut of rib-eye sitting atop a bed of her signature “forbidden rice” black risotto, fire-roasted corn, whiskey-braised onions and accents of tangy bleu cheese in a pinot noir reduction. The accoutrements don’t distract either; it’s all about the fantastic cut of meat that you will finish, whether you filled up on crisp focaccia or not.

The Colorado lamb chops are hearty cuts of red meat prepared so deftly that you’ll leave quietly crossing your fingers you find a lost lamb wandering PCH so you can run it back to the kitchen for more—perhaps it’s best they’re raised in Colorado.

The mero sea bass is beyond flavorful in its taste and is prepared beautifully with truffle soy yuzu subtly holding its hand the entire way—roll your eyes if you’ve heard this before—truffle is strong stuff and Nancy’s crew knows this and nails it. The chocolate mousse is light and sneaky good, with its crumbles of hazelnut and Nutella accompanying some fresh and ripe raspberries—yes, Nutella does come in crumbles, so save room.

This “new” Tabu seems just like the “old” Tabu, hmm …

And while Mark Twain may not always come to mind when you hear Nancy’s name, one of his sharp quips provides a nail-on-the-head quashing of the derisive whispers of Tabu’s sudden demise: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

Tabu Grill, 2892 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-7743; tabugrill.com; Hours: Nightly, 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Price: $11 to $46 (entrees)

TIP: Parking can be found (meter-free) in the adjoining neighborhood streets around Nyes Place.

Once known as “Little Hollywood,” Newport Beach has long enjoyed a vibrant filmmaking history dating back to the early 1900s, when it was first used as a location for the 1917 film “Cleopatra,” which starred silent screen vamp Theda Bara. Well, “Little Hollywood” has come a long way since then, and the Newport Beach Film Festival has put the spotlight back on the city as the home of one of the leading lifestyle film festivals in the U.S. From April 26 – May 3, the festival will celebrate its 13th anniversary with an exclusive selection of award-winning independent and studio films from around the world.

Co-founded in 2000 by Gregg Schwenk and Todd Quartararo, the Newport Beach Film Festival has grown exponentially over the last decade, and more than 52,000 film devotees attended the event in 2011. As a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, the festival’s eight-day run will include an eclectic lineup of feature-length narrative, documentary, short, animated and student films.

“It’s been a rewarding and exciting journey to watch the growth of the festival from its humble beginnings to a renowned industry player on the film festival circuit,” says Todd, the festival’s marketing director and co-founder. “The Newport Beach Film Festival has received international acclaim and has become the largest entertainment event in Orange County. Last year alone we presented over 350 films from 40 countries.”

In addition to presenting its first-class film program, the festival will also feature nightly special events, including red-carpet premieres, gala celebrations, filmmaker receptions, filmmaker Q&A sessions, international spotlights, industry seminars, musical performances, fashion shows, technology panels and retrospectives. Special programs include the Action Sports Film Series, Environmental Film Series, Art, Architecture + Design Film Series, Music Film Series, Family Film Series, Collegiate Showcase, Youth Film Showcase and a free Seminar Series.

“From the amazing opening night film and gala to our award-winning industry seminars to non-stop screenings and events, the 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival offers our community the unique opportunity to see great film and interact with incredible talent from around the world,” says Gregg, the CEO of the festival and co-founder.

Held at various locations throughout Newport Beach, including Orange County Museum of Art and Lido Theatre, the festival is guaranteed to offer something for audiences of all ages. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned festival-goer, don’t miss this outstanding cinematic showcase set amongst the scenic backdrop of Newport Beach.

For more information on the Newport Beach Film Festival, including a schedule of films, visit newportbeachfilmfest.com.

“Sherlock Holmes”

Orange County Film Society
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Orange County Film Society (OCFS), a nonprofit founded in 2006 by the Newport Beach Film Festival, the community can continue to enjoy celebrated international and American cinema on a year-round basis. In addition to offering quality film programming to its membership, the OCFS also brings in directors, screenwriters, actors, documentary subjects, curators and scholars to participate in interactive panel discussions.

For the 2011 season, the OCFS screened such highly acclaimed films as “The Artist,” “The Help,” “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” “The Debt,” “Beginners,” “Tyrannosaur” and “Warrior.” “Like Crazy,” a film with local Orange County connections, was also screened and included a Q&A with screenwriter Ben York Jones.

“’The Artist’ was a big highlight for us,” says Leslie Feibleman, director of special programs and community cinema for the NBFF and OCFS, commenting on the engaging, black-and-white silent film that won an Oscar for Best Picture this year.

“The Artist”

Held at the historic Lido Theatre, the film screening included an entertaining Q&A with supporting actors James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller, and producer Richard Middleton. In fact, the OCFS was so taken with “The Artist” that they bestowed the first-ever Best Picture Award to the charming film that pays tribute to the early days of Hollywood. It was while screening at the Toronto International Film Festival that several of the organization’s film programmers fell in love with the movie and subsequently encouraged other programmers to see the film, which resulted in the decision to create the first Best Picture Award ever presented by the OCFS.

Besides big-budget studio films, the OCFS screens a diverse array of cinema, including documentaries, action sports films, environmental films, animation and shorts. The Newport Beach Film Festival, often in partnership with the OCFS, also presents year-round events with the Cinema Sage Hill free community film series, Cinema Orange film series at the Orange County Museum of Art, Environmental Film Series at the Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center, Movie Mondays at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Target Free Second Sundays at Orange County Museum of Art, and the Pacific Symphony American Composers Festival, which is held every other year.

“Like Crazy”

“We have to carefully plan our schedule and balance it out, and respond to the demands of our audiences,” explains Leslie. “We’ve been fortunate to have great success with our year-round programs.”
Future plans for the OCFS, Leslie says, include continuing to present studio films and to incorporate more international and documentaries in the mix, as well as continuing to cultivate partnerships and build membership. “Community outreach and sponsorships, and expanding to new venues are a big thing for us, too,” she comments. 

An annual OCFS membership includes 10 - 12 advanced screenings of various films prior to their wide theatrical release, four tickets to the Newport Beach Film Festival, and advanced notice for special events throughout the year. For more information, visit orangecountyfilmsociety.com.

NBFF and OCFS Highlights:
Newport Beach Film Festival:
1999 Newport Beach Film Festival founded; attendance at 13,000.
2001 NBFF honors Robert Wise with Lifetime Achievement Award.
2002 NBFF honors composer Elmer Bernstein; attendance grows to 20,000.
2005 NBFF opens festival with North American Premiere of “Crash.”
2005 NBFF hosts Jim Henson retrospective.
2005 Cinema Orange film series launched with Orange County Museum of Art.
2005 Action Sports Film Series launched.
2006 Will Ferrell hosts the Youth Film Showcase as honorary chair; attendance grow to 35,000.
2007 NBFF presents An Evening of Disney Animation Rarities with Roy E. Disney and Don Hahn.
2007 NBFF hosts Ten Decades of The Duke: The Official John Wayne Centennial Celebration.
2007 Attendance grows to 40,000.
2008 NBFF hosts An Evening with Richard Sherman.
2008 NBFF presents first-ever Chuck Jones Award for Excellence in Animation.
2009 NBFF celebrates its 10th anniversary with a Cirque Du Soleil performance on opening night.
2009 McG named honorary chair.
2009 NBFF launches Cinema Sage Hill free community film series at The Studio at Sage Hill.
2009 NBFF hosts Nickelodeon Spongebob Squarepants’ 10th Anniversary Celebration.
2010 Art, Architecture + Design Film Series launched; attendance reaches more than 51,000.
2011 NBFF presents free panel with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin.
2011 NBFF hosts Island Cinema grand opening celebration event.
2011 Attendance has reached more than 52,000 film devotees.

Orange County Film Society
2006 Orange County Film Society created.
2009 OCFS partners with Carnegie Hall and Philharmonic Society of OC as film curator of Ancient Paths/Modern Voices celebration.
2009 OCFS, NBFF, Pacific Symphony host ACF film event with composer James Newton Howard and Ed Zwick.
2010 OCFS presents “City Island” with actor Andy Garcia.
2010 OCFS Carnegie Hall and Philharmonic Society of OC presents films at Japan OC celebration.
2010 OCFS presents Oscar winner “The King’s Speech” with screenwriter David Seidler.
2011 OCFS, NBFF, Pacific Symphony host American Composers Festival film event with composer Philip Glass.
2011 OCFS presents “The Artist” with actress Penelope Ann Miller, actor James Cromwell and producer Richard Middleton.
2011 OCFS presents “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” with actor Jared Harris.
2011 OCFS celebrates its fifth year with 500 members.

Text by Somer Flaherty

More than any other room in your home, the master bedroom should be comfortable and approachable—which doesn’t mean it can’t be glamorous, modern, rustic or any other design style you prefer. The guiding principle in creating any space in your home is to have the design align with your needs. Laguna Beach designer Annie Speck, who has been featured on the HGTV series, “Designer’s Challenge” and “Outer Spaces,” says more than any other room, the privacy of the master bedroom space allows for a more personal approach to design. That personal aesthetic doesn’t mean you have to completely gut the space for a lasting impact; focus on small changes that will yield big design dividends.

Assess Your Needs

Whether you spend your nights retiring to a corner nook or a grand master suite, your bedroom is more than a space for a good night’s slumber. Before implementing your new design, consider your needs as an individual, couple or family using the space.

“Typically the master bedroom isn’t a place to just watch television and crash,” Annie says. “Most people really want a place where you can get away throughout the day when you are home, like a private little sanctuary.” Assess whether you spend time reading in the space or if you need a separate sitting area to have a cup of tea at night or large windows to take in the view.

For example, lighting is a very personal thing, Annie explains. Dark bedrooms with blackout curtains are great for a jet-lagged business traveler, but the lack of light can hinder activities like sinking in for a good read. For lighting that can transform with most needs (and activities), install dimmers for a mood-altering effect.

Annie suggests looking for lighting and complete bedroom inspiration images in magazines or design books, which can provide a good starting reference point and will help assimilate your own tastes with the unlimited possibilities.

“Look at an image of a complete master bedroom that you love and then dissect that image,” she says. “Maybe it’s the canopy bed that you are drawn to, or maybe it’s the fact that it’s flooded with lots of natural light. Try to decide what you love about the bedroom, and use those elements in your own design.”

A Touch of Luxury

Your master bedroom should be just as luxurious as a full hotel suite, Annie says. During the cooler months, there’s nothing better than snuggling up next to the fireplace. If your home didn’t come with a built-in fireplace in the master bedroom, you can still create a sense of warmth with a versatile portable option. Annie says luxury can also be achieved in the master bedroom with fabric. “Think about forgoing paint and upholstering the walls with a rich velvet or silk,” she suggests.

Annie points to high-end hotels as setting the direction of bedding in master bedroom design. “Invest in really good, down pillows but stay away from too many pillows on the bed—it just isn’t livable—and stick with sheets that are solid instead of a print,” she advises. For Annie, opulence doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple by choosing a duvet that you can launder at home.

If you already incorporate fresh flowers in your home, move the vase to the bedroom. “Fresh flowers or a plant in the bedroom seems like a little thing, but when you stay in a nice hotel and they have a couple orchids or fresh flowers it’s such a nice touch and a great way to spoil yourself.”