What's Inside...

• FRIDAY July 18th

• SATURDAY July 19th

• SUNDAY July 20th

  • Trivia

  • Back Bay Buzz

  • Nice News

  • It's Happy Hour!

  • Sowing Seeds

  • Summer Concerts

  • Plan Ahead...

  • Fill up the Treat Jar

🗓️ THIS WEEKEND’S PICKS 🗓️

~~ FRIDAY JULY 18th ~~

🍭 OC Fair Food Crawl This year’s food at the OC Fair is wild: Frog legs battered and fried, bacon cotton candy on a pork belly stick, mozzarella meatballs deep-fried on a skewer and beans and cheese served in a waffle cone. Don’t miss the $5 tasting menu, available daily from 11am–4pm.
July 18–Aug 14 | OC Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa

🧘 Yoga in the Peace Dome Flow through movement, stillness, and sound with Kaila Dixon, the heart behind The Peace Dome. Her nature-aligned yoga and sound bath practice is a gentle return to peace—within and all around. Friday, July 18, 9–10:15 AM | The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano

🎤 Secret Comedy Night Underground comedy show with surprise comedians and a secret Laguna Hills location (revealed day-of). No two-drink minimum—just laughs.
Friday, July 18, 8pm | Laguna Hills

🎹 Checkout South OC Live Music Options

🤔 Trivia

“The OC” TV show wasn’t actually filmed in Newport Beach. Where was it filmed?
A) Huntington Beach
B) San Clemente
C) Santa Monica
D) Manhattan Beach

Hit reply with your guess. 1st correct response will get a shoutout next week
(Scroll to bottom for answer)

Newport & Costa Mesa…

Subscribe to Back Bay Buzz. It’s a newsletter like The Scene but focusing on another area in OC. Plus, Jonathan the publisher is a really nice guy!

🍹 Not Baja, But Close…
Happy Hour at Todos Santos

Fresh off a trip to the real Todos Santos in Baja, we came back craving tacos and tequila—and Todos Santos in RSM delivered.

Todos Santos Restaurant & Bar is a vibrant spot with a great happy hour.

Here’s why it’s worth your time:

🍸 $5 Margaritas on Mondays — all day!

🕑 Happy Hour: 2–6pm on weekdays, 4–6pm on weekends with deals like $4 draft beer, $8 house margarita and $10 cadillac margarita (in the bar & patio)

🌮 Taco Tuesday features taco trios for $10, drink specials and a live DJ after 9pm.

It’s festive without being overwhelming, and the patio is a sweet spot to wind down (or kick things off).

📍 Todos Santos, 22335 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita

Did it measure up to the drinks we had in real Todos Santos in Baja California?
Absolutely!

🌱 FREE Garden Seeds

You can now check out actual seeds from the library—as in, tomatoes, basil and zinnias.

It’s part of a new Seed Library pilot program aimed at helping the community grow its own food, flowers, and herbs. And good news: three South OC branches are on the list.

Dana Point Library
Ladera Ranch Library
Foothill Ranch Library

Here’s how it works:
Adults with a library card can check out up to three seed packets per month—one per variety. It’s free, simple, and a fun way to dig into something new. You don’t even have to return the seeds! Learn More.

🎤 Summer Concerts This Weekend
Friday July 18
Laguna Niguel: The Dreamboats, Crown Valley Park – 6:30pm
Ladera Ranch: Led Hot Fighter Pilots, Town Green – 6:30pm
Mission Viejo: The 805 Social Club, Oso Viejo Park – 6:00pm
San Clemente: Corey Angeli, Casa Romantica – 10:00am

Saturday July 19
Irvine: Family Style, Mike Ward Community Park, Woodbridge – 5:30pm
Silverado: The Brother Jonathan, Community Center – 6pm

Sunday July 20
Dana Point: Anthony Small / Small World & Family Style, Sea Terrace Park – 2:30pm & 4:30pm

See all the concerts happening around South OC…

✏️ Plan Ahead…
 (stick it in your Calendar)

🐟 Grunion Run at Doheny Catch one of SoCal’s strangest natural spectacles as thousands of grunion fish ride the waves onto shore to spawn under the moonlight.
Friday, July 25, 10:15pm–12:15am | FREE | Doheny State Beach, Dana Point

🧘‍♀️ Yoga & Hiking Start your morning with a 4-mile hike featuring sweeping 360° views, followed by a gentle outdoor yoga session focused on breath, balance, and recovery. Advanced registration required. This fills up. Saturday, July 26, 8:30–11am | FREE | Irvine

🔥 BBQ Battle Smoked meats, carnival rides, live music, and a grill-off between BBQ pros and backyard champs. Only VIP, and Wild Fork BBQ Lounge tickets include BBQ tastings. General Admission does not include tastings.
July 25–27 | Oso Viejo Park, Mission Viejo

🎸 Live Music on The Deck Enjoy classic rock and oldies poolside and a food truck by Xclusive.
Saturday, July 26, 1–4pm | Montanoso Rec Center, Mission Viejo

🐾 Evening Pack Walk Stroll, sniff, and socialize on this pack walk through Laguna Niguel Regional Park. It’s a fun way to connect—with your pup and fellow dog lovers.
Saturday, July 26 | 5:30pm | Laguna Niguel Regional Park

🎶 Honky Tonk Angels A feel-good, boot-stompin' musical featuring country classics.
July 30 – August 17. Laguna Playhouse

➡️ Explore more South OC theater options

🛥️ Dockside Drafts in Dana Point An open-air seafront event where you’ll sip craft beers from local breweries and enjoy bites from Delanya’s Texas BBQ—all while taking in harbor views. No RSVP or ticket needed—just show up!
August 2 | 11am–5pm | Ocean Institute, Dana Point Harbor

🎨 Clay Handbuilding Series Learn the fundamentals of handbuilt ceramics—pinch pots, coiling, and slab construction—while creating a kiln-fired project each week. Tuesdays, Aug 5–26, 6–8pm | Potocki Center for the Arts, Mission Viejo

🍷 OC Wine & Spirit Fest Sip, dance, and soak in the magic of Silverado Canyon at this luxe tasting event under the stars. Enjoy unlimited pours of wine, spirits, and brews, live music, dancing—all set against the lush charm of Giracci Vineyards. Saturday, August 9, 6:30–9:30pm | Silverado

🐎 Capistrano Polo Classic  The First Annual Capistrano Polo Classic brings horses, live music, food trucks, and cocktails to the Ortega Equestrian Center. Sunday, August 10 | 11–3pm | San Juan Capistrano

🖼️ Glass in Motion A bold new exhibition of molten glass frozen mid-ripple, with color, light, and gravity-defying forms by Irvine artist Greg Price. Opening reception includes artist Q&A and light bites.
Thursday, August 14, 2–4pm | Art at City Hall, Irvine Civic Center. Exhibit runs Aug 14–Dec 12 | FREE

🛍️ Vintage Walk ‘n’ Shop Explore Old Towne Orange’s best thrift and vintage shops, collect passport stamps, and enter to win a $600 gift card.
Saturday, August 16, 10am–5pm | Orange

🔥 OC Smoke Show Dig into top-tier BBQ from SoCal pitmasters, sample 100+ whiskeys at the Barrel Saloon, and hit the line dancing tent between bites. Chris Young to headline.
Saturday, August 16, 1–10pm | San Juan Capistrano

🌊 Floating Obstacle Course Challenge Run, slip, and splash your way across a giant inflatable course at Sierra Rec Center. Free for members; $10 guest pass.
Sunday, August 17, 12–4pm | Mission Viejo

🎠 Sea Country Festival Carnival rides, live music, food vendors, and family fun return to Laguna Niguel’s biggest annual bash.
Fri–Sun, August 23–25 | Crown Valley Park, Laguna Niguel

📢 Want to Advertise?

If you’ve got a business, event, or brand that belongs in Inboxes across South OC, let’s talk.

Learn more here.

Woof, woof… share The Scene!

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.