Hello {{first name | there}},
Love is officially in the air. Or at least it’s hovering near a glass of wine, a dance floor, or a dinner table with live music. Below are our favorite picks for Valentine’s weekend.
Plus, check out our round up of 10 hidden gems in South OC you may not know about.
One quick heads-up while you’re planning ahead: Super Diamond is playing March 21 at the Coach House. This Neil Diamond cover band has a serious following and it will sell out. Flag it now so Future You doesn’t miss out. Grab your tickets.
To all the new readers, welcome to The Scene… Our motto is: the more you know, the more you’ll go. That’s what this newsletter is all about, sharing ideas big and small to make it easier (and more fun) to get out and enjoy OC.
XOXO 😘
Lorna & Jason
What's Inside...
🗓️ THIS WEEKEND’S PICKS
~~ FRIDAY FEB 13th ~~
🎳 Lucky Strike Bowling Night- Save 20%
A polished take on bowling with full bar service, upgraded food, and a sleek lounge feel. Grab discounted tickets and make it a fun and easy night out.
Any night | Lucky Strike/ Bowlero | Aliso Viejo or Ladera Ranch
💘 Valentine Singles Mix & Mingle
A structured, fun Valentine’s-week social designed as a speed-dating alternative for singles in their 30s and up.
Fri, Feb 13 | 6–9pm | Station Craft Brewery, Dana Point
🤠 Knockin’ Boots Line Dancing
Line dancing, champagne vibes, and a DJ-led dance floor with Champagne Cowgirl. Lessons kick off at 6 PM, then it’s boots-on-the-floor until late. $10 cover.
Fri, Feb 13 | 6–10pm | Knowlwood | Irvine
💚 Speed Dating, Matcha Edition
An after-hours, low-pressure speed dating night with guided rounds, good vibes, and great matcha. $7.77 ticket includes one drink. 18+ only.
Fri, Feb 13 | 5–8pm | Redshift Coffee | Lake Forest
💘 Love Is in the Wild
A self-guided scavenger hunt through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park with fun facts about animal courtship, plus free activities at the Nix Nature Center. Nature, learning, and a fun Valentine twist.
Now–Feb 14 | Daytime hours | Nix Center, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Scroll down to see what’s happening next week and beyond:
➡️ NEXT WEEK
🎶 🎶 Checkout This Weekend’s Live Music Options
~~ SATURDAY FEB 14th ~~
🎸 Jazz-Infused Guitar for Valentine’s Night
Sultry, flamenco-inspired jazz guitar that leans all the way into romance. Ottmar Liebert and his longtime ensemble bring sweeping melodies and slow-burn rhythms to an intimate, seated room, with dinner and drinks available
Sat, Feb 14 | Doors 6pm, Show 8pm | Coach House Concert Hall, San Juan Capistrano
🎬 Skip the Rom-Com. Watch This Instead.
Wuthering Heights. A moody, sweeping love story for those who prefer passion with a little edge. Heathcliff, Catherine, windswept drama, and romance that refuses to behave. A Valentine’s pick for anyone who likes their love stories complicated.
Showtimes vary | Laguna Beach
🤫 Shhh… Don’t Tell Comedy (Valentine’s Edition)
A secret-location comedy night with a curated lineup of comics, hosted in an intimate setting somewhere in Dana Point. Two showtimes, surprise venue, solid date-night.
Sat, Feb 14 | 7pm & 9pm | Don’t Tell Comedy, Dana Point
💚 Valentine’s Dance at Patsy’s
A no-pressure Valentine’s night for couples, singles, and anyone in between. Themed cocktails, a DJ spinning all night, plenty of dancing, and a complimentary rose if the mood strikes.
Fri, Feb 14 | 9pm–1:30am | Patsy’s Irish Pub, Laguna Niguel
💌 Love Letters: Heart 2 Heart
A Valentine’s night of contemporary dance duets focused on connection, intimacy, and emotion.
Sat, Feb 14 | 7pm | Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Beach
♥️ Love on the Vine Valentine’s Day
A romantic vineyard evening with wine, live music, dancing, a four-course dinner, and candlelit views at Giracci Vineyards.
Sat, Feb 14 | 6:30–10:30pm | Giracci Vineyards, Silverado Canyon
Scroll down to see what’s happening next week and beyond:
➡️ NEXT WEEK
🎶 🎶 Checkout South OC Live Music Options
Manifest Something Real!
Like a vision board but way better!
This hands-on art journaling workshop in Mission Viejo is built around manifesting clarity, momentum, direction, and confidence—by creating a journal you’ll love (like a vision board, but better).
Spots are almost gone. Hurry…
~~ SUNDAY FEB 15th ~~
🌲 Museum of Make Believe
Step into a hand-built storybook forest in Laguna Beach filled with miniatures, puppetry, twinkling lights, and immersive sound. A one-hour escape into pure imagination, created by local artists.
Select dates & times | 1-hour experience | Museum of Make Believe, Laguna Beach
Galentine’s Day at the Vineyard
Sip bubbly, browse vintage finds, enjoy live music, and linger over brunch treats at this vineyard market made for celebrating your favorite gals.
Sun, Feb 15 | 10am–2pm | Giracci Vineyards & Farms, Silverado Canyon
🍫 A Valentine’s Chocolate Experience
A hands-on cooking class exploring the history of chocolate, from ancient cacao rituals to modern romance. Includes stories, tastings, and a chocolate truffle–making activity.
Sun, Feb 15 | 1pm | Donald Dungan Library, Costa Mesa
🎠 Late-Night DJ Speakeasy
A Spanish-inspired speakeasy party with a full B2B DJ set, house music all night, and a hidden-room feel inside the Carousel Room. RSVP required.
Sun, Feb 15 | 10pm–2am | Carousel Room, Laguna Beach
🐝 Honey & Hive’s Sail-ebration
Celebrate six sweet years of Honey & Hive Boards with a free, family-friendly afternoon featuring complimentary charcuterie, honeycomb tastings, coffee from Bloom Espresso, and Duffy boat vibes. RSVP required.
Sun, Feb 15 | 12–3pm | Duffy Electric Boats, Newport Beach
🎨 Birdhouses and Gardening
Get hands-on with art activities, birdhouse building and painting, plus a live gardening lesson. Wander through the historic Kellogg House and catch a talk with historian Naomi Knox.
Sun, Feb 15 | 11am–3pm | Heritage Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana
Scroll down to see what’s happening next week and beyond:
➡️ NEXT WEEK
🎶 🎶 Checkout South OC Live Music Options
🤔 Trivia Time
The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano has been around for nearly 50 years. Which of the following is not true ?
A) Combines dining with live concerts
B) Attracts nationally touring artists
C) Low ticket prices because it’s independently operated
D) Originally built as a recording studio
(Scroll to bottom for answer)
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10 South OC Spots You Probably Didn’t Know Existed
1. The Sinks (Irvine)
The Sinks, mini Grand Canyon of OC
Tucked inside an Irvine canyon, The Sinks looks like a mini Grand Canyon, with jagged sandstone walls and dramatic terrain. It’s a standout six-mile hike that feels far more remote than it is.
🔗 How to go: Sign up for a free docent-lead tour. Check the schedule.
2. Hortense Miller Garden (Laguna Beach)
Perched above the coast in Laguna Beach, the Hortense Miller Garden feels like a private midcentury escape.
The home is filled with original artwork and design details, and the surrounding garden winds through quiet paths and ocean views you rarely get access to.
It’s intimate, design-forward, and completely unexpected.
Watch the video to see it’s like.
🔗 How to go: Sign up for a free docent-lead tour. Check the schedule.
🗓️ NEXT WEEK…
✏️ Add these events to your Calendar
MONDAY FEB 16th
💃 Monday Line Dancing
Here are a few regular spots around South OC where you can line dance on Mondays.
Laguna Hills Community Center | 5:30–7:45pm | Laguna Hills
San Juan Hills Golf Club | 5:30–6:30pm | San Juan Capistrano
Norman P. Murray Community Center | 2–3pm | Mission Viejo
TUESDAY FEB 17th
🛡️ Monty Python’s Spamalot
The Tony Award–winning musical comedy that’s outrageously silly, joyfully irreverent, and packed with flying cows, killer rabbits, and nonstop laughs.
Feb 17 – 22 | Times vary | Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa
🍝 Half-Off Pasta Night
All pasta dishes are half off when you sit at the bar. Order a drink, pick your favorite, and make dinner easy.
Tuesday | 3pm–close (bar only) | Tutto Fresco, Rancho Santa Margarita
🎬 $7.50 Movie Tuesday
Catch a movie without the blockbuster price tag. Every show, every seat, all day long for $7.50.
Tuesdays | All day | Director’s Cut Cinema | Laguna Niguel
WEDNESDAY FEB 18th
💃 Wednesday Night Line Dancing
Here are a few regular spots around South OC where you can line dance on Wednesdays.
Big Shots Billiards | 8pm | Lake Forest
Shorecliffs Golf Club | 4–5pm | San Clemente
Goody’s Tavern | 7:30–9pm | San Clemente
Pub 32 | 6:30pm | Mission Viejo
🧠 Trivia Nights
A few regular spots around South OC where you can test your random knowledge.
Hangar 24 Brewing | 7–9pm | Irvine
Los Molinos Beer | 6:30pm | San Clemente
Brewhouse SJC | 7–9pm | San Juan Capistrano
THURSDAY FEB 19th
🕯️ Candlelight: Best of Bridgerton on Strings
An elegant evening of Bridgerton’s most iconic melodies performed live by a string quartet, all set inside the glow of hundreds of candles. Expect a romantic, 60-minute concert that feels straight out of the Regency era
Wed, Feb 19 | Select showtimes | Richard Nixon Library & Museum, Yorba Linda
🍸 Jazz Night at Casa Romantica
Start with a cocktail reception, then settle in for an intimate French jazz concert. Vocalist Chloe Perrier returns with a set of classic love songs.
Thurs, Feb 19 | Reception 6:15pm | Casa Romantica | San Clemente
🎶 Musical Bingo Night
Songs replace numbers in this crowd-friendly twist on bingo, with prizes awarded every round. Easy to play, loud in a good way, and a solid Thursday plan.
Thursdays | 7pm | Patsy’s Irish Tavern | Laguna Niguel
🤠 Line Dancing Lessons
Boot-scoot into spring with weekly line dancing classes welcoming all levels. Drop in or commit to the full session. Ages 16+ with options for beginners and seasoned dancers alike.
Feb 19–Mar 26 | 6:30–7:25pm | Bell Tower Regional Community Center, Rancho Santa Margarita
FRIDAY FEB 20th
🍷 WineDown Friday at Giracci Vineyards
Ease into the weekend with wine by the glass or bottle, live music, and food trucks spread across the vineyard grounds.
Fri, Feb 20 | 5–8pm | Giracci Vineyards, Silverado Canyon
🧚 Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance: In the Fairy Garden
Step into an enchanting evening filled with music, dancing, and magical moments at this annual daddy-daughter celebration. Pre-registration required.
Fri, Feb 20 | 6:30–8:30pm | Laguna Hills
💎 Gem Faire
The largest gem and jewelry show in SoCal, packed with crystals, gemstones, beads, and one-of-a-kind finds straight from the source.
Feb 20–22 | OC Fair & Event Center | Costa Mesa
SATURDAY FEB 21st
🌮 Love & Tacos Fest
An evening built around tacos, live music, culture, and community.
Sat, Feb 21 | Evening | Heritage Museum of Orange County | Santa Ana
🎭 Mardi Gras Night Market
A lively night market with food vendors, live music, dancing, art, jewelry, and plenty of good vibes.
Fri, Feb 21 | 5–9pm | 25282 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo
🧧 Lunar Fest at Heritage Park Library
Celebrate Lunar New Year with crafts, activities, and cultural traditions in a family-friendly afternoon event.
Sat, Feb 21 | 1–4pm | Heritage Park Library, Irvine
🐾 San Juan Capistrano Pet Parade
Kids and their pets take the spotlight in this feel-good parade celebrating animals, costumes, and local rescue groups.
Sat, Feb 21 | Signups 10am, parade 11:30am | San Juan Capistrano
SUNDAY FEB 22nd
🎸 The Man in Black: A Johnny Cash Tribute
A live tribute to Johnny Cash’s iconic sound, performed in an intimate concert hall setting.
Sat, Feb 22 | 7pm | Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
✏️ PLAN FURTHER AHEAD:
To see what’s happening even further ahead, check out our full listing.
New events added daily…
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📸 This Weeks Snapshot
Last weekend, Jason and I stopped by Swallow’s Inn, a nearly 100-year-old bar packed with character, live music energy, and yes, hanging bras everywhere you look! Bonus: it’s also the host of this year’s El Presidente Ball on March 18.
About Us:
Lorna’s an OC native who has lived in Spain, France and New Zealand but always returns home for the tacos, the trails, and the beautiful tree-lined streets of Mission Viejo.
Jason’s a Brit who swapped pub life for paddleboards and now splits his time between aquascaping and crafting perfect cocktails. We started The Scene because there’s so much to see, do, and savor.
Thanks for letting us be a small part of your weekend.
🧐 Trivia Answer:
Which answer was not true ?
✅ D — It was originally built as a recording studio for touring musicians
The Coach House didn’t start as a recording studio. It opened in 1981 as a restaurant and wine bar, which explains why it still feels more like a great night out than a standard concert venue.
Combines dining with live concerts
The venue seats about 500 people, creating a rare setup where you’re seated at a table, can order food or a drink, and still feel close to the stage. It’s a format that’s become increasingly hard to find.
Attracts nationally touring artists
Despite its size, the Coach House has hosted an unusually deep roster of major and cult-favorite acts over the decades, including B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Pat Benatar, Joe Walsh, Kenny Loggins, George Thorogood, Al Green, Huey Lewis, Chris Isaak, and Los Lobos, along with countless blues, jazz, rock, and Americana legends.
Low ticket prices because it’s independently operated
Because it’s independently operated, ticket prices stay MUCH lower than similar shows at larger, corporate-run venues. Learn how to get the lowest price possible.
Nearly 50 years later, it remains one of those places where live music feels personal, easy to enjoy, and worth planning an evening around. Learn more.
It’s A Wrap..
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Publication Disclaimer: Everything included here is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. It is always best to double-check links to be sure event information hasn’t changed if you plan on attending something.
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