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Poe Me A Drink...
Drink a raven-blue cocktail at the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy (yes, in a cemetery chapel), then breathe deep on a mindfulness hike, wander Books & Blooms, sing along to “Rocket Man” lakeside, and choose Dad’s day: bourbon-smoked BBQ, a dad-joke trail, or a soul-soothing sound bath.
Jason Ladd & Lorna Ladd
June 11, 2025
Welcome to The Scene… your weekly round-up of what’s actually worth doing in South Orange County. Think hidden gardens, live music, rooftop bars, and great happy hours worth changing out of your sweatpants for. (Was this email forwarded to you? You can get your own weekly copy by subscribing here.)
What's Inside...
🗓️ This Weekend’s Picks…
»» FRIDAY
Mindfulness Hike
🌿 Mindfulness Hike in Aliso Viejo Slow down, breathe deep, and reconnect on a 2.5-mile guided hike through Aliso and Wood Canyons. Expect moving meditations, forest bathing, and serious nature vibes under the oaks — plus a killer lookout spot to practice gratitude.
🗓️ Friday June 13, 5:45pm | Canyon View Park, Aliso Viejo
»» SATURDAY
Artisans & Elton Vibes
~Day~
📚 Books & Blooms
Shop 55+ artisan booths, catch live music, and hit the Kindle decorating station (yep, that’s a thing) at this bookish, bloom-filled outdoor market.
🗓️ Saturday, June 14, 3–8:30pm | Free | Woodbury Town Center, Irvine
~Night~
🎹 Elton Concert at Lake Mission Viejo
Get ready to Rocket Man the night away! This high-energy Elton John tribute brings the glitter, the grand piano, and all the sing-along hits, right to the lakeside stage: “Tiny Dancer,” “Crocodile Rock,” and more. This is where we’ll be.
🗓️ Saturday, June 14, 7pm | Lake Mission Viejo - North Beach
🎟️ Free for Mission Viejo residents
»» SUNDAY
4 Father’s Day Options
~For the Dad with Small Kids~
1️⃣ Dana Point Citywide Scavenger Hunt
Embark on a self-guided adventure through Dana Point with this interactive scavenger hunt running all month long. It’s a fun, free way for families to explore local landmarks together—no planning required. This is where we’ll be!
🗓️ Daily through June 30 | Dana Point (start at any of the 10 stops)
~For the Smoke & Oak Dad~
2️⃣ Father’s Day Bourbon & BBQ
Celebrate Dad with a bold lineup of smoky BBQ and smooth bourbon at this waterfront feast. Choose from tri-tip, ribs, smoked chicken, and pair it all with a bourbon flight that hits every note from rich caramel to oaky depth.
🗓️ Saturday–Sunday, June 14–15 | Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach
~For the Funny Dad~
3️⃣ Dad Joke Hike
Take a two-hour guided walk with pun-filled pit stops, corny one-liners, and nature views to boot. Perfect for the Dad who thinks he’s funny - and the family who lets him believe it!
🗓️ Sunday, June 15, 9–11am | Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Newport Beach | Free with registration
~For the Self-Realized Dad~
4️⃣ Father’s Day Sound Bath
Give Dad the gift of deep calm with an immersive one-hour sound bath featuring live vocals, crystal alchemy bowls, and meditative instruments - all designed to relax the body and clear the mind in a stunning dome setting.
🗓️ Sunday, June 15, 11am | The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano
🤔 Trivia
Which Orange County park is nicknamed “The Grand Canyon of OC”?
A) Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve
B) Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
C) Caspers Wilderness Park
D) Santiago Oaks Regional Park
(Scroll to bottom for answer)
Your Guide to Giving Back… without leaving South OC
A friend recently told me she spends Tuesday mornings reading to shelter dogs—part of a local volunteer program to help shy pups get adopted. She started on a whim and now says it’s the best part of her week.
Summer’s the perfect season to give back right here in South OC. Here are some local volunteer gigs that might just spark something:
👟 StandUp for Kids – Orange County This nonprofit supports youth facing homelessness and always welcomes new volunteers. Roles include in-person outreach and virtual mentoring. How to get involved: Email Xiomara at [email protected]
🚲 Community Volunteers – San Juan Capistrano Join a local group helping with bike patrol, event staffing, info kiosks, and park patrol. Monthly lunch meetings keep you looped in on all things SJC. How to get involved: Contact Steve Harsh at 949-637-1945 or [email protected]
🌱 Trabuco Trailblazers 4H – Trabuco Canyon This youth program is looking for volunteers to share real-world skills with the next generation. From gardening to crafting, your talents are welcome. How to get involved: 4-H Club
🌊 Surfrider Beach Cleanups – Countywide Pitch in at a local beach cleanup and help keep OC’s coastline pristine. Surfrider hosts regular events with all supplies provided. How to get involved: cleanups.surfrider.org
💀 Spooky Speakeasy
The Edgar Allan Poe traveling Speakeasy serves up theater and drinks!
Poe Me a Drink…
When you walk into a chapel in a cemetery and someone hands you a cocktail called The Pale Blue Eye, you know you’re not at your average speakeasy.
The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy is a traveling show where four of Poe’s twisted tales are brought to life—literally—by a troupe of charismatic (and slightly unhinged) actors.
Each story comes with a custom cocktail that nods to the tale’s theme. For example, The Pale Blue Eye was a light blue drink with a blueberry floating ominously at the bottom.
Are these mixologist-level masterpieces? No. They're pre-batched for the crowd. But the creativity is there, and the show’s the star anyway.
It’s eerie, it’s clever, and the setting—an actual cemetery chapel in Santa Ana—is perfect. Tickets sell out fast (we told you about it in a past newsletter, remember?) so if you missed it, do yourself a favor and get on their alert list.
They pop up in cities across the country, but when they creep back into SoCal… you’ll want a front-row pew. Check out this short video of what it’s like.
🎤 Summer Concerts This Weekend
June 12. Zach Churchill
Dana Point at The Harbor
June 13. Lola Kristine
Laguna Beach at Heisler Park
June 13. 90’s Rockshow
Nellie Gail at Gallup Park
June 14. Elton, The Early Years
Lake Mission Viejo at North Beach
See all the concerts happening around South OC…
🎶🎶 Live Music in South OC
Fancy a fun night of music with some great Italian food?
George Fryer Combo Playing over 200 gigs in SoCal every year, he’s got a repertoire of over 5,000 songs, so all you’ve got to do is ask!
Take a listen to his version of ‘Heavy’. Do you recognize that tune?
How’s it compare to these versions you’ve heard before…
🗓️ Friday June 13, 6pm | Alza Italian Kitchen | Rancho Santa Margarita
Check out the full listing on The Scene website.
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✏️ Plan Ahead…
🕵️♂️ Laguna Playhouse Peril in the Alps: A New Hercule Poirot comic mystery. A fresh take on Agatha Christie's iconic detective.
June 11–29 | Laguna Beach
➡️ Explore more South OC theater options
🌊 San Clemente Ocean Festival. Lifeguard relays, surf comps, sand sculpting, and a one-mile ocean swim—this beach bash packs it in. Add a kids' zone, car show, and live music, and you’ve got San Clemente summer at full send.
July 19–20 | San Clemente Pier
🍦 Summer Nights & Local Delights at the Kaleidoscope. Live music, 15+ local vendors, permanent jewelry, photo ops, and free ice cream for shoppers. Plus, Bluey for the little ones.
Friday, June 20, 5–9pm | Mission Viejo
🦅 Birding by the Creek Grab your binoculars—Aliso Creek is one of OC’s top birdwatching spots. Join a guided 3-mile loop through the Wilderness Park, with just 50 feet of elevation gain and plenty of chances to spot herons, hawks, and other winged locals.
Saturday June 21, 8–10:30am | Free | Laguna Niguel
🎉 Beach Bash Street Market in Mission Viejo. Kick off summer with sunset vibes, a beer garden, food trucks, artisan vendors, and games for all ages.
Saturday June 21, 5–9pm | Free | North Paseo at Los Osos, Mission Viejo
🏄♂️ Doheny Surf & Art Festival Celebrate surf culture, coastal vibes, and local art at this two-day fest on the sand.
Sat–Sun June 21–22, 10am–5pm. Doheny State Beach | Dana Point
🧑🎨 Summer Art Show & Festival Laguna’s summer art scene officially kicks off June 27 with Art-A-Fair’s opening day. Explore juried works from 120 artists, live music, and hands-on workshops in a lush garden setting just off the canyon. It’s creative inspo, alfresco.
June 27 - Aug 31 | 10am–9pm | Laguna Beach
(note: Art-A-Fair is a separate event from the Sawdust Art Festival, but they’re neighbors)
🎨 The Sawdust Art Festival 185 artists, live music, and immersive creativity under the trees - the iconic summer tradition for the whole family.
June 27 - Aug 31 | Pre-order tickets and save | Laguna Beach
🎶 Redo Vinyl Market The best vinyl show in SoCal spins back into Dana Point June 28. Dig through crates, sip something cold, and vibe to live music with fellow vintage lovers.
Saturday, June 28 | 4–9pm | Dana Point Community Center
🌍 Lake Forest Multicultural Festival Experience a vibrant afternoon of music, art, food, and entertainment from diverse cultures.
Saturday, June 28 | 3–7pm | Civic Center Campus, Lake Forest
About Us: Lorna’s an OC native who thought she knew the area—until starting The Scene led her to dozens of hidden gems she’d never knew about. Jason’s a Brit who traded London fog for year-round sunshine and now tends to 15 aquariums like tiny underwater kingdoms (It’s called aquascaping. Look it up).
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: A) Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve (home to "The Sinks," known as the Grand Canyon of OC)
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