Well hello {{first name | there}}!
Egg hunts are taking over South OC this weekend.
It’s the unofficial kickoff to Easter season, with plenty of chances to get outside with the kids or grandkids, grab a basket, and join in. We’ve also got a roundup of Easter brunch spots with the best views.
A few other things worth flagging:
🍷 OC Food & Wine Celebration at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach offers unlimited wine, craft beer and gourmet bites benefiting local kids in need. April 8. Save $10 with code SCENE.
🎨 Art in the Canyon is a free guided watercolor class with Sawdust artists (no experience needed) starting with a short meditation. Register now, this one will fill up.
🎹 Dueling pianos with Tom Bagley is back at The Coach House on April 8th: if you like singalongs and a lively crowd, this one always packs out. Use code SCENE48 for a BOGO.
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
What's Inside...
🗓️ THIS WEEKEND’S PICKS
~~ FRIDAY MARCH 27th ~~
Free Telescope Star Party at Orange Coast College Planetarium
🔭 FREE Public Telescope Star Party
Planetarium staff will guide you through the night sky as you view planets, stars, and deep space through telescopes.
Fri, Mar 27 | 8:15–9:15pm | OCC Planetarium, Costa Mesa
🍓 U-Pick Strawberry Experience
Pick your own fresh strawberries straight from the field and enjoy a hands-on farm experience. .
Fri–Sun | 9am–1pm | The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano
😂 Rob Schneider Live
The SNL alum and comedy film star brings his stand-up tour to Irvine Improv with multiple shows all weekend.
Fri, Mar 27 | 7:30pm + 9:45pm | Irvine Improv, Irvine
🎭 The Lagoon Improv Show
A fast-paced, fully improvised comedy show featuring some of the area’s best local performers making it up as they go.
Fri, Mar 27 | 7:30–8:30pm | COVE Coworking, Laguna Beach
Scroll down to see what’s happening next week and beyond:
➡️ NEXT WEEK
🎶 🎶 Checkout This Weekend’s Live Music Options
~~ SATURDAY MARCH 28th ~~
Hortense Miller Garden & Mid Century Modern Home open house.
🌿 Hortense Miller Garden Open House
Explore this hidden Laguna Beach garden with trails, ocean views, art, workshops, and tours.
Sat, Mar 28 | 10:30am–2:30pm | Hortense Miller Garden, Laguna Beach
🗼 Springtime in Paris Boutique
A Paris-inspired shopping event with 70+ local makers, food, live entertainment, a Bellini bar, and free kids crafts.
Sat, Mar 28 | 8am–4pm | Community Center, Mission Viejo
🎻 Lord of the Strings: The Black Market Trust
A vocal jazz group blends crooner classics with Gypsy–style guitar for a high-energy night of swing, jazz.
Sat, Mar 28 | 7–9pm | City Hall Council Chamber, Mission Viejo
🎶 Live Music at the Market
Browse the flea market and craft fair while enjoying live folk and bluegrass sets in a canyon setting.
Sat, Mar 28 | 9am–2pm | Silverado Canyon
🍷 Sensory Wine Tasting Intensive
A guided tasting of 7 wines with aroma training and palate exercises to help you understand how you taste and why.
Sat, Mar 28 | 6:30–8pm | WorkWell, Irvine
🛍️ 25+ Home Neighborhood Garage Sale
Park once and explore 25+ garage sales across multiple streets. Streets include Rancho Maralena, Clemente, del Lago and more.
Sat, Mar 28 | 7am–12pm | Rancho Niguel, Laguna Niguel
🐰 Easter Egg Hunts & Spring Celebrations:
Ladera Ranch | 12pm–3pm
Laguna Hills | 9–11am
Laguna Niguel |10am–1pm
Lake Forest |11am–2pm
Mission Viejo | 11am–1pm
Newport Beach | 10am–12pm
San Juan Capistrano | 10am–12pm
Santa Ana | 10am–2pm
Scroll down to see what’s happening next week and beyond:
➡️ NEXT WEEK
🎶 🎶 Checkout South OC Live Music Options
~~ SUNDAY MARCH 29th ~~
🎶 Immersive Sound Bath
A deeply calming experience using gongs, handpan, and didgeridoo to help you unwind and reset.
Sun, Mar 29 | 3–4pm | Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano
🍷 Sip, Stroll and Paint at the Vineyard
Wine, live music, local vendors, and painting. Registration required for painting.
Sun, Mar 28 | 12–4pm | Giracci Vineyards & Farms, Silverado
🏀 March Madness at The Deck
Catch the games on the patio at Montanoso’s with free admission and light refreshments during each matchup.
Mar 29 + Apr 4 | 3pm | Montanoso’s The Deck, Mission Viejo
🤠 Line Dancing & Axe Throwing
Line dancing, axe throwing, and a lively crowd, all for a $10 cover.
Sun | 8pm–12am | Whoop Axe, Mission Viejo
Scroll down to see what’s happening next week and beyond:
➡️ NEXT WEEK
🎶 🎶 Checkout South OC Live Music Options
This is such a fun sing-along with dueling pianos Tom Bagley and Missy Alcazar! See what it’s like in this short video. And remember, use code SCENE48 for a ticket BOGO !
🤔 Trivia Time
Before Dana Point Harbor existed, what was thrown off the cliffs to the shore below, then loaded onto ships for export?
A. Lumber
B. Lima beans
C. Cattle hides
D. Wool
(Scroll to bottom for answer)
Brunch With A View
This was originally meant to be an Easter brunch roundup… but as of today, some of those reservations are already snapped up.
The good news? Mother’s Day (Sunday May 10) is right around the corner, and if you book now, there are still plenty of beautiful spots with a view.
Ocean View
Splashes at Surf & Sand Resort, Laguna Beach
Brunch by the Sea at the Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach. Two options available:
1) A family friendly brunch on the Bella Vista Terrace (a la carte)
2) A formal four course meal at Splashes (prix fixe)
Golf Course View
O’Neills Bar & Grill at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course
Brunch overlooking rolling greens with Saddleback Mountain in the distance at O’Neill’s Bar & Grill in Mission Viejo. Chef-driven stations include carving, fresh seafood, omelettes, and classic brunch favorites across multiple seatings.
Prettiest Patio
Habana Cuban restaurant at the Lab Anti Mall in Costa Mesa. Also in Irvine.
Cuban-style brunch at Habana in Costa Mesa, set in a dreamy, leafy courtyard. Expect bold, flavorful dishes and a lineup of desserts like bread pudding, strawberries & cream, Caribbean flan, and carrot cake. A few Easter spots are still open!
Lake View
Domenico’s on the Lake in Mission Viejo
Brunch by the water at Domenico’s, where patio tables overlook Lake Mission Viejo. Expect indulgent favorites like crème brûlée French toast, short rib hash, and filet mignon benedicts. Still a few Easter reservations left — grab one while you can!
🗓️ NEXT WEEK…
✏️ Add these events to your Calendar
MONDAY MARCH 30th
🤠 Free Country Two-Step Lessons
Learn the basics of country two-step with free weekly lessons. No partner required, just show up ready to dance.
Mondays | 6–7pm | Swallow’s Inn, San Juan Capistrano
🏓 Ping Pong
Drop-in ping pong games. All skill levels welcome.
LAST NIGHT Mar 30 | 12–2pm | Aliso Viejo Ranch | Aliso Viejo
TUESDAY MARCH 31st
🧠 Trivia Tuesdays
Free-to-play DJ trivia night with prizes, team competition, and just enough pressure to question everything you thought you knew.
Tuesdays | 7pm | Station Craft Brewery
🍔 BOGO Burger Day at Hennessey’s
Buy one burger, get one free all day.
Tuesdays | All Day | Hennessey’s Tavern
WEDNESDAY APRIL 1st
🌿 Tin Can Herb Garden
Turn everyday tins into a mini herb garden you can keep growing.
Wed, Apr 1 | 10:30am | San Clemente Branch, San Clemente
🎨 Paint Laguna Beach with Lisa Rainey
Capture coastal landscapes in this relaxed painting class open to beginners and experienced artists alike.
Wednesdays Apr 1 | 1:30–4:30pm | LOCA Arts Education, Laguna Beach
🧠 Trivia Nights
A few regular spots around South OC where you can test your random knowledge.
Pub 32 Mission Viejo
Los Molinos Beer San Clemente
Brewhouse SJC San Juan Capistrano
THURSDAY APRIL 2nd
🎨 First Thursdays Art Walk
Laguna Beach throws open its gallery doors once a month for a self-guided evening of art, culture, and creative wandering. Trolley available.
First Thursday of every month | 6-9 pm | Laguna Beach
🤠 Country Line Dancing Night
Boots on, drinks flowing, and free lessons if you need a little help—Thursday nights at Bigshots bring full honky-tonk energy.
Thursdays | 8pm | Bigshots Billiards, Lake Forest
FRIDAY APRIL 3rd
💙 OC Singles Mixer
A hosted singles night with guided icebreakers, one-on-one rounds, and mingle stations designed to spark real connections in a high-energy setting.
Fri, Apr 3 | 7–10pm | Westwood Coast, Costa Mesa
SATURDAY APRIL 4th
🎸 Bon Jovi Fans, This One’s for You
The nation’s top Bon Jovi tribute band brings the arena rock energy with all the sing-along anthems you know and love.
Sat, Apr 4 | 8pm | The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
🥞 Celebrate Spring in Dana Point
Pancake breakfast, magic show, and egg hunts make this a full-on spring morning for families across two parks.
Sat, Apr 4 | 8–10:30am | Pines Park & Sea Canyon Park, Dana Point
🐰 Spring-tacular
Egg hunts, live music, Bunny visits, and family fun at this free spring celebration.
Sat, Apr 4 | 9am–12pm | Vista Hermosa Sports Park, San Clemente
💦 Splashtacular
An underwater egg hunt with a snorkel bunny, pool inflatables, games, and cookie decorating.
Sat, Apr 4 | 12–4pm | San Clemente Aquatics Center, San Clemente
🏀 March Madness at The Deck
Catch the games on the patio at Montanoso’s with free admission and light refreshments during each matchup.
Apr 4 | 3pm| Montanoso’s The Deck, Mission Viejo
SUNDAY APRIL 5th
🎶 Easter Gospel Brunch at Mozambique
Brunch with a side of soul. Gospel music and worship from Trust 1 Band and Choir, paired with a full brunch menu in one of Laguna’s most vibey spaces.
Sun, Apr 5 | 12:30pm | Mozambique, Laguna Beach
🌼 Sunshine Daydream
A laid-back spring gathering with live music, local brews, vendors, and plenty for kids to roam, craft, and explore, plus Peace Pizza and a full café lineup.
Sun, Apr 5 | 3-8pm | The Ecology Center | San Juan Capistrano
✏️ PLAN FURTHER AHEAD:
To see what’s happening even further ahead, check out our full Event Finder listing.
New events added daily…
📸 This Weeks Snapshot
We love exploring all the communities that surround us. Here we are jumping off a trolley tour of Dana Point. The Dana Point Historical Society puts on a variety of trolley, driving and walking tours where you can hear fascinating stories - we loved seeing the historical homes, the story about the ‘grand hotel’, and discovering the pointed arches and the hidden elevator shaft.
Grab a brochure or orgnize a tour with a docent…
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:
✅ C — Cattle Hides
Credit: Dana Point Historical Society
Long before Dana Point had a harbor, this stretch of coastline was part of the hide trade made famous in the early 1800s.
Ranchos across California raised large herds of cattle whose primary value was in the hides and tallow.
Here’s the wild part: there was no proper port. Ships anchored offshore, and workers known as hide droghers would haul the dried hides to the top of the bluffs and literally throw them down to the beach below, where crews gathered them and loaded them onto small boats, then ferried them out to ships.
The hides were heavy, stiff, and stinky, but they were in huge demand for leather goods back east.
This whole scene was documented by Richard Henry Dana Jr. in his memoir Two Years Before the Mast. Dana spent time working along this very coastline, and the area was later named Dana Point in his honor.
Today, you can still see a tribute to this history along the bluffs at Dana Point, a sculpture called “The Hide Drogher.”
Want more OC Trivia? Here’s a quiz.
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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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©️ 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.