Well hello {{first name | there}}!

Not sure how the weather will behave this weekend but either way we’ll be at the OC Food & Wine event in Laguna Beach. Good wine, good cause (it benefits local kids). If you see us, please come say hi.

We also pulled together 8 places around OC you might not know about but are absolutely worth checking out (keep scrolling).

A few other things worth highlighting:

🎨 Align & Design’s Let Go and Let Grow on May 2 is a really well-done mix of painting, planting, and manifesting in Laguna Niguel.

💃 There’s a Madonna tribute coming to The Coach House later this month, with proceeds going back into South OC communities. Good entertainment and a good cause.

🌿 Next weekend you can actually tour gardens all around South OC as part of local Earth Day events. See April 18 below.

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.

See you out there!
Lorna & Jason

🕊️ The Birds
A chilling stage adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic tale, where isolation, paranoia, and terror take flight as strangers face an unexplained avian uprising.
Apr 10 – May 3 | Times vary | Cabrillo Playhouse, San Clemente

🎭 Macbeth at Saddleback College
Ambition, betrayal, and a slow spiral into chaos take the stage in this classic Shakespeare tragedy, brought to life with a modern edge.
Apr 10 -12 | McKinney Theatre, Mission Viejo

🎤 Herman’s Hermits
A throwback sing-along with the original frontman behind hits like “I’m Into Something Good” and “Mrs. Brown.”
Fri, Apr 10 | 8pm (Doors 6pm) | The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano

🎶 🎶 Checkout all of this weekend’s Live Music Options

➡️ NEXT WEEK
Scroll down to see events happening next week and beyond.

🍷 OC Food & Wine Celebration
An all-inclusive afternoon of wine, spirits, craft beer, gourmet bites, desserts, and live music with 60+ vendors all benefiting The Roosters Foundation supporting local kids in need. Save $10 with code SCENE.
Sat, Apr 11 | 3–6pm | Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach

🎶 A Poolside Music Fest in Laguna Hills
Seven bands take over the VOCO Hotel with a mix of jam, rock, and improvisational sets, plus deck games, vendors, crafts, detox yoga, and a painting class for full getaway vibes. Come for a few hours or stay all weekend.
Apr 11–12 | VOCO Hotel, Laguna Hills

🌱 UC Master Gardeners Expo
Free plants, expert advice, and 1,500+ more to shop, plus quick talks on everything from tomatoes to composting. One free plant per family.
Sat, Apr 11 | 9am–1pm | Murray Community Center, Mission Viejo

📀 Redo Vinyl Market
Dig through thousands of records from 20+ vendors with live music, a beer garden, and food.
Sat, Apr 11 | 4–9pm | Dana Point Community Center, Dana Point

🍺 Field Trip Fest
An outdoor community festival hosted by Docent Brewing featuring craft beer, live music, local vendors, food, and a VW bus show.
Sat, Apr 11 | Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, San Juan Capistrano

🎨 Art Party of the Year
Local artists, ocean views, live music, and a little wine-fueled art shopping.
Sat, Apr 11 | 12-7pm | Laguna Beach Sanctuary, Laguna Beach

📚 Books & Vines at Giracci
A full day of book culture under the trees at Giracci Vineyards, author readings, themed crafts, live music, plants, coffee, and Kindle decorating.
Sun, Apr 12 | 10am–4pm | Giracci Vineyards, Silverado

🛍️ Modern Makers Mart: Berry Sweet Spring
A curated outdoor market with 55+ vendors, live music, crafts, and a kid-friendly setup.
Sat + Sun, Apr 11–12 | 10am–4pm | Woodbury Town Center, Irvine

🐾 Pet Adoption Event
Meet adoptable dogs, browse local vendors, and hang out with fellow animal lovers—plus free food and plenty of tail wags.
Sun, Apr 12 | 12–3pm | South County Lexus, Mission Viejo

🌿 Garden Social at Laguna Cliffs Marriott
A springtime resort-style afternoon with yoga, live music, a curated marketplace, cocktail garden, and harbor views.
Sun, Apr 12 | 11am–4pm | Laguna Cliffs Marriott, Dana Point

🎶 🎶 Checkout all of this weekend’s Live Music Options

➡️ NEXT WEEK
Scroll down to see events happening next week and beyond.

Orange County has its share of well-known spots, but tucked between the beaches and planned communities are places that feel surprisingly off the radar, from a working farm where you can have lunch to a canyon that looks like it belongs in Sedona.

Here are eight worth checking out…

The Ecology Center is an unexpected regenerative farm and community hub where visitors can explore sustainable agriculture firsthand. You can enjoy hyper-seasonal, farm-to-table dining at Campesino Café, wander through lthe farm, or experience a restorative sound bath or yoga session inside the serene Peace Dome.

The Ecology Center
📍32701 Alipaz St, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
🎥 Watch short video to see what it’s like

The LAB Anti-Mall offers a creative alternative to traditional shopping with its art-filled courtyards, vintage boutiques, and independent cafés.

This walkable, "anti-mall" experience emphasizes local culture and is conveniently located directly across the street from The Camp, where you’ll find additional eco-friendly eateries, shops, and a brewery.

The LAB Anti-Mall
📍2930 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
🎥 Watch short video to see what it’s like

Retirement savings face two quiet threats: cash flow gaps and inflation eroding purchasing power over time. The 15-Minute Retirement Plan helps investors with $1,000,000 or more account for both and build a portfolio designed to last the distance.

Download your free guide.

🧐 Trivia Answer:

✅ B — Coto de Caza

While the show’s intro often features sweeping shots of the Pacific Ocean, the "OG" cast members actually lived in Coto de Caza, one of Orange County’s oldest and most prestigious master-planned communities.

The choice of Coto de Caza was pivotal because it defined the "behind the gates" aesthetic of the mid-2000s. Unlike the coastal glamour of Laguna Beach or Newport, "Coto" represented a specific brand of suburban wealth.

The show’s creator, Scott Dunlop, was a resident of the community and realized that the community’s social dynamics were the perfect recipe for a "modern soap opera."

When the show premiered in 2006, it highlighted a specific side of OC lifestyle: the beauty of the inland canyons, the equestrian trails, and the close-knit neighborhood culture of the "Coto Valley."

While the show eventually expanded to include the coastal cities, it all started right there in the serene, oak-lined hills of Coto.

Want more OC Trivia? Here’s a quiz.

🥱 Boring Stuff

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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©️ 2025 The Scene: South OC | All content and information set forth above was created by Lorna Ladd and Jason Ladd and is the intellectual property of this publication. It is protected under US copyright law, including but not limited to “The Digital Millennium Copyright Act.” Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or duplication of any material, in whole or in part, without express written authorization & consent, is strictly prohibited by law and may result in legal action. Violators will be subject to prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.