The entry is at the top level. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

A loft-style foyer with a sitting area overlooks the combined living and dining space, reached by a wide staircase with glass railings. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

A raised linear fireplace anchors the living room. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

The gourmet kitchen. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

The prep kitchen with a walk-in pantry. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

The family room. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

The ocean-view balcony off the main living areas. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

The house enjoys ocean views. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

Private steps descent to the backyard and the beach beyond. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

One of two ocean-view primary suites. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

One of two primary bathrooms. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

One of two primary walk-in closets with built-in cabinetry. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

A secondary bedroom with built-in bunk beds. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

A Laguna Beach home, one of eight Three Arch Bay beachfront properties, is on the market for under $30 million. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

A Laguna Beach home, one of only eight directly on the sand in Three Arch Bay, is on the market for $29.95 million.

The three-story, 5,072-square-foot house, completed in 2007 and newly remodeled, boasts four bedrooms, six bathrooms and private steps that descend to the backyard and the beach, accessible by land only to residents of the guard-gated community.

Sited on a 9,040-square-foot, cul-de-sac lot, the house enjoys ocean views from inside the open floor plan, courtesy of floor-to-ceiling bifold glass doors.

The entry is at the top level. A loft-style foyer with a sitting area overlooks the combined living and dining space, reached by a wide staircase with glass railings.

Beneath the loft is the gourmet kitchen featuring quartz-countertops, a peninsula, an island with breakfast bar seating, high-end stainless steel appliances, a glass-enclosed wine wall and a prep kitchen with a walk-in pantry.

A raised linear fireplace anchors the living room.

The main living areas open to an ocean-view balcony, which runs the width of the rear of the house.

There’s an elevator in the family room.

The lower two levels each include an ocean-view primary suite, with one suite featuring a bonus room. Both suites have a fireplace, a bathroom and a walk-in closet with built-in cabinetry. Glass walls open up to covered balconies.

Elsewhere, one of the two secondary bedrooms has built-in bunk beds.

An attached three-car garage adds to the home’s offerings.

Tim Smith of Coldwell Banker Realty holds the listing.

Records show the house belongs to a Minnesota-formed limited liability company associated with the late Robert J. Lothenbach, a commercial printing entrepreneur and owner and breeder of champion thoroughbreds. Lothenbach Prop IV LLC acquired the property in September 2015 for $15.8 million.

Lothenbach died in November 2023 at 64.

King tides are a natural, predictable phenomenon that lets scientists and everyday marine enthusiasts marvel at the changing seascape that is vastly different in just a few hours. And with many friends, family and visitors in town, the tide pools that appear are an inexpensive way to get out and explore nature. Hopefully the rain cooperates.

“The king tides have the highest highs, and the lowest lows of the year,” said Christine Whitcraft, professor of biological sciences at Cal State Long Beach, noting that the highest and lowest tides will occur from Jan. 1 through Jan. 4.

King tides are caused when the sun, moon and Earth are aligned, creating a stronger-than-normal gravitational pull.

The drastic changing of tides — near 7 feet high in early morning hours and negative tides in the afternoon —  show “just how cool the ocean is,” she said.

Low tides offer a look as the ocean peels back to give people a glimpse at the critters and plant life usually underwater.

“I love it because suddenly, we can see all the subtidal areas now exposed,” Whitcraft said.

“Suddenly we are seeing the far edges of the tide pools, the oysters beds we have restored and some of the mudflats and eelgrass that are usually hidden,” she said. “I think because we’re not marine creatures, we don’t get access to that very often. This is really the hidden end of the world we’re getting to see on our terms.”

On the other side of the tidal swing, the highest tides of the year can show the “power of the ocean,” Whitcraft said.

From a more scientific perspective, the high tides help visualize what future sea level rise will likely look like, she said.

“When you combine them with any kind of weather — rain or wind or surf surge — it’s pretty dynamic,” she added.

Recent rains mean water levels in harbors are already higher, and there’s a chance of overspill during early-morning hours that could make a mess of Pacific Coast Highway in low-lying areas such as Sunset Beach.

From the ocean side, surf in the 3- to 4-foot range isn’t massive, but the combination of high tides could send ocean water into parking lots or flood streets and homes in areas such as Capistrano Beach and the Newport Peninsula.

Whitcraft’s team is part of the California King Tides Project, an initiative of the California Coastal Commission that asks scientists and the public to photograph the impact of waves and rising groundwater on shorelines and nearby communities during king tides.

Photographing these extreme high tides brings attention to the impact of climate change and helps prepare for the future, organizers with the California King Tides Project said in a statement. “The images are used by climate researchers, as well as local and state officials, to validate sea level rise models and assess local vulnerabilities to erosion and flooding.”

The project is one of many similar citizen science efforts across the world to create a visual record of changing coastlines.

“We’re interested in monitoring sea level rise resilience along the coast,” Whitcraft said. “How do these systems respond to events like king tides and storm surge?”

One area they monitor is San Clemente, where water has been known to overtop railroads tracks. They also document areas that have natural resistance, such as plants and dunes, to see how those systems respond to seawater.

“It’s important to document the conditions for our coast to understand how they will be impacted, but also to design solutions,”  Whitcraft said.

At estuaries, such as Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad, Bolsa Chica in Huntington Beach and Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach, they monitor plant life and tidal gauges that have been left out to see how high the water reaches.

The public is advised to prioritize safety when taking king tides photos: Stay clear of waves and always be aware of the ocean. Give space to shore birds or other animals that may be further inland than usual during these extreme high tides.

The tides on Thursday will reach nearly 7 feet at about 6:30 a.m. and be at their lowest around 2 p.m.; on Friday, the high tide, which will now be more than 7 feet, is about 7:30 a.m. and low tide is about 3 p.m.; on Saturday, high tide will be about 8:15 a.m. and low tide around 3:30 p.m.; and on Sunday, high tide will be about 9 a.m., still more than 7 feet, and low tide will be about 4:22 p.m.

Some spots for exploring the tide pools are in Crystal Cove, along Laguna Beach’s rocky shoreline, such as Treasure Island, and the shore in Corona Del Mar.

There are several marine protected areas along the coastline, which prohibit removing animals, shells or rocks from tide pools; and experts encourage looking but not touching to preserve the ecosystems.

Submit your photos to coastal.ca.gov/kingtides

Escrow closed Monday, Dec. 15, on the deal that will move the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center from the hills in San Clemente to a vacant building in downtown Laguna Beach and much closer to the ocean.

Executive Director Jeff Alter said the move is a long time coming, the process spanning nearly a year of planning.

“We have a pretty big plan in place,” Alter said, just after having a celebratory toast Monday evening with board members and others who helped make the vision come to a reality. “We have the keys, it’s closed. (Tuesday) we have construction crews coming in to demo walls and the floor, and we’ll just start rebuilding it. All of our permits are in place and we’re ready to go.”

The design team will get to work, with Laguna Beach’s Tuvalu Home spearheading the look of the new space, once a drug store, Alter said.

“It just kind of happened, it’s kind of surreal to be honest,” Alter said.

The new building needed to be big enough to hold hundreds of surfboards and thousands of invaluable relics and artifacts.

In anticipation of the move, relics, magazines, photos and more have already been boxed up, Alter said, with a detailed archiving of the historic memorabilia.

“Not only is it going to be the biggest and finest collection for all the surfing artifacts than any place in the world – we’re just so excited it can be in a place where the public can find it, park in downtown Laguna,” said Dick Metz, who in 1999 founded SHACC, which currently sits in an tucked-away industrial area about 2.5 miles from the beach.  “We are more than excited, I’m just beside myself.”

The space is much bigger and better for entertaining, he said.

“Everything about it is a perfect spot, you can almost throw a rock into the ocean,” said Metz, who grew up in Laguna Beach and started surfing and lifeguarding just steps away at Main Beach.

For years, the idea of moving had been floated around; at one time, a relocation to the Dana Point Harbor was looked at, but discussions for that partnership fizzled.

A new SHACC board of directors was recently formed, with several industry leaders joining its ranks with a new vision for the center. The news of the potential move was unveiled last May.

In the 1940s, the building was a Sprouse Reitz Co. store, and then for years it was a drug store. Most recently, the building has been empty for several years, with a bank using a small portion, which will continue.

The building wasn’t for sale, but when Mark Christy, a Laguna Beach preservationist who sits on SHACC’s board, saw it was for rent, he reached out to the owners to see if they would be interested in selling the property.

Christy had previously tried to purchase the building 15 years ago, in an attempt to create an entertainment and music venue, but the owners turned him down. They changed their minds when plans for the surfing museum were laid out, Christy said in a past interview.

“They made this happen because they recognized how important this was going to be for surfing heritage and for the city of Laguna,” he said when the sale was announced earlier this year. “This is going to be a game changer for the official sport of the state of California, and a game changer for Laguna Beach on a level that is going to blow people’s minds.”

The space is an expansive 12,000 square feet, with about 9,500 square feet downstairs slated for exhibits and entertainment. Offices, storage and archives will go upstairs.

Large wooden beams stretch across the 30-foot-tall ceilings, and the rustic red brick walls will remain in the building that spans between Broadway Street and Ocean Avenue.

It has large ceilings — an important factor when trying to display standing up the massive wood surfboards surfers used in the early 1900s.

There’s a vision for a temporary stage for music bands or inspirational talks, a small bar area for beer and wine and a place that can be used for large gatherings or where corporate groups can sit amongst the quiver of historic boards.

With the LA28 Olympics surf competition to be held nearby in Lower Trestles, south of San Clemente, the hope is for SHACC could become a gathering spot for production crews and meet-and-greets during the games.

Moving to Laguna Beach takes SHACC back to its roots. It’s where Metz first rented a small office in the ’90s on top of the Royal Hawaiian just next to Main Beach to keep his collection, which he has been acquiring since the ’60s.

Not long after, he met Spencer Croul, also an avid board collector with a passion for surf history, and the two joined their collections to get SHACC off the ground.

Croul found the large building in the hills of San Clemente that the center is in now, and the duo spawned what is considered to be the world’s largest collection of surf artifacts, often referred to as the “Smithsonian of Surf.”

The hope is, in the new high-traffic location, even more people can learn about the sport’s history, said Alter.

“It’s a game changer, compared to where we were in San Clemente,” Alter said. “This is going to be something – it’s going to be very, very impressive. We have big ideas.”

The question that will appear on the November ballot is whether councilmembers should be limited to two consecutive terms and then have to wait a two-year hiatus before running again. Laguna Beach presently has no term limits, and in some cases, councilmembers have served as many as six consecutive terms.

The Laguna Beach City Council last week accepted the ballot initiative following a signature-gathering effort by Laguna Beach resident Michael Morris and other volunteers who collected more than 2,200 signatures earlier this year. A ballot initiative requires the signatures of 10% of the city’s registered voters, of which there are 18,179.

If the measure is adopted by more than half of the voters during the general election to be held in November, the term limits will begin applying to those who win council seats during that same election.

“It applies prospectively only, so it does not apply to any prior term that’s been served,” City Attorney Megan Garibaldi said.

Morris said the group of volunteers collected more signatures than was needed and also delivered them ahead of the prescribed date, indicating the issue is “long past due” for Laguna Beach voters.

He also said the “non-partisan support” of those willing to sign the petition demonstrates the appeal the idea of term limits for elected office holds as a means of fostering greater democratic participation.

“It reduces croninism and backroom dealing and levels the playing field for newcomers,” he said during the Dec. 9 City Council meeting.

“Our mild form of term limits, requiring only a two-year break, means that termed-out incumbents can realistically return to their previous office if their passion for serving at the level of City Council endures,” he said.

But another resident who spoke at the council meeting noted that only a few people have served more than four terms.

“Seventy-five percent of the time, incumbents are being voted out,” she said. “It doesn’t seem to be a problem here. The democratic process is to let people vote for who they want, not limit the pool. We don’t live in an Olympic-size pool like Irvine; we live in a kiddie pool. We don’t have the amount of people who can step up and do this.”

Another woman, who said she was among those who gathered signatures for the term-limit initiative, said nearly everyone she asked signed the petition.

“It brings in fresh ideas and fresh people,” she said.

Another resident said he didn’t like the idea of “erecting artificial barriers and constraints” on those who want to serve.

“Those who are wishing to serve ought to be able to continue to serve,” he said. “We don’t have an infinite number of right-minded people who want to make the tremendous sacrifice of serving on this council.”

The cost to place the ballot initiative on the 2026 general election ballot is $55,000, according to city officials, per the Orange County Registrar of Voters Office.

Throughout Orange County, place names pay homage to people, geography and even local lore.

There are the namesakes that are well known, such as the famous surf break, the Wedge, named because of how the wave refracts off the rock jetties and meets up with another wave, forming a “wedge.”

And just how holy was Holy Jim? Well, let’s just say Jim Smith was first dubbed Cussin’ Jim in the 1880s before his name evolved to “Holy Jim,” a whole canyon area now bearing his nickname.

But, sometimes the backstories have become murky with time and maybe you, too, have driven by and wondered: Where did that name come from? Here are five we were curious about — maybe a little trivia you can use at your next holiday gathering:

1. Black Star Canyon

This tucked-away nature preserve got its name from the Black Star Coal Mining Company, said Chris Jepsen, president of the Orange County Historical Society.

In 1877, the Black Star Coal Mining Company found coal deposits and opened a mine near the mouth of the canyon.

The mine, which gave Black Star Canyon its name, operated on and off until it was completely shut down in the early 1900s.

There were actually several mines out in the area, and while the canyon didn’t produce high-quality coal, it was cheap and didn’t have to be transported. Santa Ana Laundry used the mine exclusively for a while, Jepsen said.

Some of the mines still exist, though some of the shafts have been flooded in, and others sit on private property.

“If you go poking around, there’s still places where there’s surface coal, you can just walk on ridges and see coal under your feet,” Jepsen said. “Not real pure coal, but it’s definitely what it is.”

Today, the canyon is known as the Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park and is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year for both its introductory trails for beginner hikers and families and more challenging routes for advanced trail users.

Due to its central location, Black Star Canyon acts as a wildlife corridor for larger animals such as bobcats, mountain lions and deer. The creeks within the canyon, including Santiago Creek, lure wildlife from the Cleveland National Forest and Limestone Canyon, providing animals with cover and fresh water.

OC Parks hosts Wilderness Access Days to explore the area with guided hikes, go to ocparks.com for more information.

2. Fossil Reef Park

The prehistoric wildlife in O.C. is a pretty wild story and the source of a park name in south Orange County.

Laguna Hills is home to Fossil Reef Park, and those fossils date back 17 million years, according to the city. It’s the only preserved portion of a fossil reef in Orange County, and some 48 species of marine fossil vertebrates, including shark teeth and Desmostylus, can be found, according to the city.

It’s a reminder that most of Orange County was at one time under the ocean, Jepsen said.

“It’s pretty literal,” he said of the name. “It’s amazing how far up if you get up the hills and mountains, if you’re digging, you can find marine fossils.”

When Lake Forest was graded in 1972, a very large limestone formation was uncovered. Many Pecten shells were found at the site, and thus the name “Pecten Reef” was given by local paleontologists, according to the city.

The site was destroyed by a housing project after only a limited period of research. A second section of the reef was discovered in 1973. The Natural History Foundation of Orange County and other groups helped to preserve a portion.

The exposed fossil ridge was recognized as a county prehistoric site by the Orange County Historical Commission, which dedicated the 1-acre Fossil Reef Park in Laguna Hills in 1982.

The grassy area with rock exposed is located on Via Lomas between Moulton Parkway and Alicia Parkway.

3. Barbara’s Lake

Did you know Laguna Beach touts the largest natural lake in Orange County, Barbara’s Lake?

Actually, there were once three lakes, well, more like ponds, up in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. One of the smaller bodies of water, Bubble’s Pond, has its own storied history, named after a female hippo that escaped from the Lion Country Safari across the way and decided to settle in for a bath, said longtime environmentalist Mary Fegraus.

People went crazy for the hippo, T-shirts saying “save Bubbles” were made as she refused to leave. Rescuers used tranquilizer darts, only Bubbles stopped breathing and died. To make matters worse, they later found out Bubbles was pregnant.

“If there was social media back then, it would have been something,” Fegraus said.

Ok, that was just too interesting a story not to tell – but back to Barbara.

Fergraus first met Barbara Stuart Rabinowitsch back in the 1970s, a petite ballerina from New York, a “dynamo” who had moved to the beach town in 1959,  Fegraus recalled.

Along with helping to co-found the Ballet Pacifica, Rabinowitsch became a passionate environmentalist. She became friends with James Dilley, founder of the Laguna Greenbelt nonprofit, and she started hosting gatherings at her home.

“We would go through everything we were working on. Barbara was just an ardent supporter of it all, lots of spirit to her,” Fegraus recalled. “I call her a Laguna treasure.”

As the toll road was being built and development happened, Bubble’s and Barbara’s ponds combined to make one large lake — a third vernal pond still shows up when there’s enough rain, Fegraus said.

“Really, we have two lakes, both the only natural lakes in Orange County,” she said. “They are a delight. People are amazed.”

It was sometime in the early ’90s that a group lobbied the city to name the large body of water Barbara’s Lake. Rabinowitsch died in 1998.

But don’t show up with a bathing suit or fishing pole, the lake is more for the wildlife to enjoy.

“It’s a source of water for the animals that come to drink there,” Fegraus said. “I don’t think I’d swim in it. It’s not a recreation lake. It’s definitely for nature.”

Getting there is an easy trek from the James Dilley Preserve or Nix Nature Center just north of the 73 toll road.

4. Robber’s Peak

There is an area in Santiago Oaks Regional Park known as Robber’s Peak or Robber’s Roost, and while Jepsen said he’s not sure just how true the story is, the lore goes that a group of bandits used to go up there to watch for targets coming down the road.

“The idea was that robbers would watch for people traveling that they could swoop in on,” he said.

In 1973, the peak was shaved down as Anaheim Hills was being developed. But the robber’s cave is said to still be in Fremont Canyon.

“People love that kind of romantic of early California stuff, whether it’s true or not,” Jepsen said.  “It is a great place to go hike.”

Santiago Oaks park, located in east Orange, is a spider web of 18 miles of trails and Robber’s Roost reaches the highest elevation at 1,979 feet, according to a 2018 story in The Orange County Register.

“Legend has it that bandits Joaquin Murrieta and Three Finger Jack used the vantage point to spot oncoming stagecoaches in the late 1800s,” the article reads.

Santiago Creek runs through the park. The main entrance is at 2145 N. Windes Drive in Orange.  Parking is $3 on weekdays, $5 on weekends and an OC Parks annual pass can be used. Robber’s Roost gives a 360-degree view for miles.

5. China Cove

Corona del Mar in Newport Beach is home to several tucked-away coves – but ever wonder how “China Cove” got its name?

The name pays homage to a unique home dubbed the “China House” by locals that once sat just at the Newport Harbor entrance, a distinct architectural landmark that mariners would use in their navigation to enter the waterway.

The home was built in a pagoda-style in the 1920s, located on Shell Street in Corona Del Mar.

“The China House was a beloved and iconic landmark at the harbor entrance,” the Newport Beach Historical Society says in one social media post.

It was demolished in the late 1980s to make way for two new homes after a year-long preservation battle and an unsuccessful lawsuit. But the architect incorporated a few pieces of the roof into the new design, which was originally going to be entirely Cape Cod style.

“China House was a distinctive bright pink house with elaborate scrolling and curved Chinese architecture,” reads a summary by Laguna Friends of Architecture. “China Cove, where the house once stood, was named after the house.”

One of the residents who fought to preserve the China House kept a piece of the historic structure when it was torn down.

The pieces of the roof ended up being used on a little building just above his garage on Way Lane, about 50 yards from where the original China House stood. Underneath, a painted ceramic tile plaque reads: “This is the original roof of the China House, restored in memory of Barbara ‘B’ Renard (1914-1996). She was China Cove.”

From spots serving steaming congee and classic chicken pot pie to tender meatballs and fragrant bowls of pho, here are nine restaurants in Orange County that will get you in the cozy mood, be it 65 or 75 degrees outside.

Butcher’s House

3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa; butchershouse.com

Highlights at this French brasserie include onion soup topped with an emmental granite, a Toulouse sausage dish with mashed potatoes and au jus, a beef cheek paired with mustard seed mashed potatoes.

But if there was a heavyweight champ of French comfort fare, it would be the cassoulet, and this Costa Mesa spot treats it with the care and reverence it deserves. It’s not just a stew; it’s a slow-simmered mélange of house-made sausage, duck confit and pork loin, all of it resting in a bed of Tarbais beans. True to the tradition of southern France, the hearty dish is twice baked in order to create that essential, shattering golden crust to unleash the savory warmth hiding within.

El Maguey

31481 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano; elmagueysjc.com

This Mexican restaurant has been serving comforting fare since 1986. Guests can look forward to burritos galore, an adobada plate with chorizo and potatoes, enchiladas de mole and fajitas served with chicken, steak and shrimp.

But the soups are where this spot shines brightest during the chillier months. My favorite is the albondigas, a meatball soup that, due to demand, sells out quickly. When it’s snapped up, I opt for the equally tasty caldo de res. It comes to the table steaming and stacked with fatty, tender chunks of beef swimming in a savory broth, alongside carrots, chayote and half a corn cob. Use the accompanying tortillas (corn or flour) to sop up every drop or build your own juicy taco right there at the table.

Le Hut Dinette

730 Poinsettia St., Santa Ana; lehutdinette.com

Few eateries are as synonymous with coziness as the American diner. This one, conceived by the folks behind Heritage Barbecue, features fare by chef Ryan Garlitos who uses his Filipino-American heritage to influence his work with phenomenal results. Coconut creamed corn with chile oil and aged gouda, eggplant lasagna with smoked brisket bolognese and beef rib for two are a few rib-sticking highlights.

Of most importance, Garlitos’ patty melt, one of America’s greatest achievements, is the real star. It’s made with juicy ground brisket, caramelized onions, American cheese, pickles and a special sauce, all sandwiched between toasted milk bread baked next door from its neighbor, 61 Hundred Bread. Don’t miss out on the Japanese milk bread pudding for dessert.

ALSO SEE: Here are 10 places to warm up with comfort food in LA County

Oliver’s Osteria

853 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach; olivers-osteria.com

For those who want to go above and beyond the classic red-sauce joint, chef Erik De Marchi’s Oliver’s Osteria (and Oliver’s Trattoria, his 2023 Irvine spinoff) hits the mark. The parmigiana, a dish of baked eggplant layered with mozzarella, fontina and tomato sauce, is top-notch. And his pappardelle al mascarpone featuring a creamy mascarpone sauce with porcini and shiitake mushrooms, is an ideal cure for the winter blues.

However, the bechamel-based lasagna takes the humble dish to stratospheric levels. In lieu of the tomato-based meat sauce dolloped with ricotta lasagna found at many an Italian-American restaurant, the one here layers creamy bechamel with bolognese for a traditional Emilia-Romagna interpretation of the dish. The crisped spinach gives the lasagna the faint hint of lightness, but make no mistake: this is one deeply comforting meal.

Ospi

234 E 17th St., Costa Mesa; ospi.com/costamesa

With eight different types of pizza on the menu, ranging from the sweet-and-spicy soppressata with honey and chili to the deeply savory mushroom pie with smoked scamorza, taleggio, maitake mushroom and caramelized onion, Ospi, a relative newcomer to Orange County from a “Top Chef” alum, offers homey Southern Italian fare.

But for something truly memorable, I recommend the chicken parm. It’s essentially a butter chicken prepared in the “parm” style. It features a pounded chicken breast that gets fried golden-brown in a butter frier, then brushed with browned butter, followed by layers of mozzarella, a dusting of parmesan and a spicy vodka sauce. Also worth noting are the Neapolitan meatballs, spherical wonders of beef and pork highlighted with ricotta and pine nuts.

Pho 79

9941 Hazard Ave., Garden Grove; pho79.com

Noted as the first Orange County restaurant to win a James Beard Foundation award, this Little Saigon eatery is known for its pho. The lauded spot offers a variety of steaming bowls of its titular fare, including beef meatballs, chicken, shrimp and meat-free iterations.

Yet its oxtail pho, in particular, remains a standout. As food critic Brad A. Johnson wrote in 2017, “The oxtail is a massive bone with lots and lots of tender slow-cooked meat, more than enough to share.” What’s more, the lauded eatery’s famously complex broth adds even more rich, beefy flavor. Word to the wise: Get in line early, if possible. Pho 79’s oxtail has been known to sell out daily.

ALSO SEE: Where to find warming comfort foods in the Inland Empire

Pop Pie Co.

270 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa; poppieco.com

For bone-warming food on the go, this spot is a must-visit. Specializing in sweet pies and savory pocket pies, it’s the perfect answer when a leisurely, sit-down meal isn’t what you’re looking for. The menu is overall fantastic, but the savory highlights really shine. Try the steak and ale, red chili pork pie, a sausage roll (a criminally underrated snack) and the excellent chicken pot pie.

What makes its chicken iteration so good is its golden, two-pronged crust. As Johnson noted in 2019, this pie is “masterful ” because it technically has two crusts: “a sturdy short crust on the bottom to contain the fillings and a flaky butter crust on top.” Sweet pies, prepared like traditional round pies, include a salted caramel apple crumble and a chocolate chess pecan pie, to name two.

The Vox Kitchen

3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa; 16161 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley; eatvox.com

Part of the Kei Concepts roster of restaurants, the Vox Kitchen offers such warming fare as a mushroom and beef stir fry, house garlic noodles with garlic butter and scallions, rib-bone soup with potatoes, mushrooms and glass noodles. If you really want maximum comfort, its congee sets the bar for cozy, hearty fare. The savory rice porridge, ideal for sick days at home or particularly chilly nights, can come with either bone-in beef rib or crab. Additional accouterments include pork floss, fried garlic, onions, shimeji mushrooms, scallions and an egg yolk.

Yuk Dae Jang

3851 Alton Parkway, Irvine; instagram.com/yukdaejangusa

Pork-rib kimchi hot pot. Bulgogi. Purple rice. Dumplings. This Irvine spot offers Korean comfort food galore. Three notable dishes include seolleongtang, a rich beef noodle soup wherein Yuk Dae Jang simmers its bones until every bit of collagen and flavor surrenders to the broth. The result is both unctuous and milky, yet surprisingly light thanks to a sharp tangle of scallions cutting through the beefiness. The spicy beef noodle soup, or yukgaejang, is also a winner.

If you’re dining with a crowd, I would be remiss not to demand that you also order the budae jjigae (Army base stew), a bubbling, spicy hot pot packed with kimchi, spam, sausages, mushrooms, instant ramen noodles and cheese.

“It’s a beautiful thing when you see your message connect with people, especially the children, because they are going to inherit all these challenges. But I’m optimistic,” said the renowned marine artist, who launched his art career in Laguna Beach.

The Wyland Foundation recently announced $250,000 raised at a recent gala held in San Clemente will support clean water initiatives, from inland to the ocean, across the country.

The event, held at Gray Matter Museum, brought together supporters, community members and art enthusiasts to help expand the foundation’s ocean conservation and youth environmental outreach through programs such as the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center, a traveling 1,000-square-foot science exhibit that brings hands-on watershed education to Title I schools and community events nationwide.

Other initiatives include public art partnerships, climate and water-resilience workshops, the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, and the Streams of Hope watershed program, which launched in 2022 and empowers middle-school students to adopt and study their local waterways.

The Wyland Foundation nonprofit launched in 1993, and in the past three decades has worked to protect oceans, lakes, rivers and streams through education, public art, community engagement and national awareness campaigns.

Wyland, a Detroit native who says he was first inspired after seeing a gray whale off Laguna Beach during a summer vacation as a youngster, came back to the beach town to create his first-ever Whaling Wall in 1981, the start of a 103 mural series. He has made his mark around the world and across Southern California

A few months ago, Wyland Foundation helped create a first-of-its-kind “3D Visual Experience” in Laguna Beach, transforming his Gray Whale and Calf mural, which spans 140 feet, into a 3D illumination.

Also, Dana Wharf Sportsfishing and Whale Watching a few weeks ago unveiled its latest collaboration with the artist, wrapping the hull of its Ocean Adventures catamaran with his artwork.

Dana Wharf has long partnered with the artist, launching together the Wyland Whale Watching Art Contest 15 years ago, which runs from the end of January through April. Young artists get to create marine art aboard a boat, with the Wyland Foundation picking winners at the end of the series.

The artwork on the catamaran’s hull depicts a pod of humpback whales swimming alongside bottlenose dolphins, marine mammals regularly seen off Orange County’s coast.

“These whale images are deeply personal – each one a reminder that when art lives on the water, it can move hearts the same way the ocean moves the tide,” Wyland said.

He’s also been focusing his attention inland with the Streams of Hope initiative.

“I’ve known for a long time, if we’re going to protect the sea, we have to protect the water habitats,” Wyland said. “I’m trying to think big and share what I know. And, at the end of the day, it’s going to require all 8.5 billion people to ensure we have clean water and healthy oceans now and in the future.”

What happens on lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands impacts the ocean, he said. “If you love the ocean and love marine life, you have to take care of our freshwater.”

Clean water is the most important issue of our time, Wyland emphasized.

“The reality is,” he said, “we have plenty of water, but we’re not taking care of it.”

1. Santa Margarita 10-3

2. Mater Dei 8-3

3. Mission Viejo 9-2

4. Servite 6-5

5. Orange Lutheran 3-9

6. Los Alamitos 12-2

7. San Clemente 9-5

8. JSerra 3-7

9. Tustin 9-2

10. Yorba Linda 8-3

11. Corona del Mar 9-2

12. San Juan Hills 2-10

13. Edison 7-6

14. Crean Lutheran 10-1

15. Huntington Beach 8-3

16. La Habra 11-3

17. Capistrano Valley 8-3

18. Laguna Beach 9-2

19. Villa Park 7-6

20. Dana Hills 10-2

21. Aliso Niguel 8-4

22. Troy 10-2

23. El Modena 5-6

24. Western 6-6

25. Orange 6-5

–

26. Tesoro 3-7

27. El Toro 6-5

28. Trabuco Hills 4-6

29. Newport Harbor 3-7

30. Beckman 11-3

31. Fullerton 9-3

32. Brea Olinda 10-4

33. Irvine 9-4

34. Foothill 3-7

35. Pacifica 8-4

36. Marina 6-5

37. El Dorado 4-6

38. Cypress 3-7

39. Portola 6-5

40. Segerstrom 8-3

Notable this week: Santa Margarita is the No. 1 team in the final Orange County rankings for the 2025 season. … The Eagles won the CIF-SS Division 1 championship Friday by defeating Corona Centennial 42-7 at the Rose Bowl. … Los Alamitos passes San Clemente in the poll after it defeated the Tritons 33-20 in the Division 2 championship game. … La Habra moves up to No. 16 after its 27-13 win over San Jacinto in the Division 4 championship game.

1. Santa Margarita 10-3 (75 points)

The Eagles, led by first-year coach Carson Palmer, dominated Centennial 42-7 at the Rose Bowl in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game. Trace Johnson threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns. Trent Mosley had 10 receptions for 293 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns. Santa Margarita beat Sierra Canyon in the first round and Orange Lutheran in the semifinals. The Eagles play Concord De La Salle (12-0) in the CIF State Open Division championship game Dec. 13 at Saddleback College.

Previous ranking: 1

2. Mater Dei 8-3 (72)

The Monarchs lost to Centennial 28-27 in the Division 1 semifinals. Mater Dei tied Santa Margarita and St. John Bosco for the Trinity League championship. The Monarchs lost by one point to Santa Margarita in a league game and beat Bosco in a league game. Mater Dei is No. 10 in this week’s MaxPreps.com national rankings.

Previous ranking: 3

3. Mission Viejo 9-2 (69)

The Diablos went 3-0 in the Alpha League, including wins over Los Alamitos (Division 2 champion) and San Clemente (Division 2 finalist). Mission Viejo beat Santa Margarita to begin the season and lost to Mater Dei 20-0 in the first round. It was Mission Viejo’s first shutout loss since 1995.

Previous ranking: 3

4. Servite 6-5 (65)

The Friars finished fourth in the six-team Trinity League. Their league wins were over JSerra and Orange Lutheran.  Servite lost to Centennial 41-6 in the Division 1 quarterfinals.

Previous ranking: 5

5. Orange Lutheran 3-8 (64)

The Lancers finished fifth in the Trinity League. Orange Lutheran pulled off a big upset with a 20-19 win over St. John Bosco in the Division 1 quarterfinals. Two nonleague wins early in the season became forfeit losses when it was discovered that Orange Lutheran used an ineligible player in those games.

Previous ranking: 4

6. Los Alamitos 12-2 (60)

Los Alamitos won the Division 2 championship. The Griffins trailed San Clemente 17-3 in the first half before coming back to win 33-20. Kamden Tillis rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Lenny Ibarra rushed for 102 yards, had three tackles and a 64-yard punt. Jackson Renger had two of the team’s six sacks. Los Alamitos plays Cathedral Catholic (10-2) in the CIF Southern California Regional Division I-AA final Friday at Veterans Stadium.

Previous ranking: 7

7. San Clemente 9-5 (57)

The Tritons lost to Los Alamitos 33-20 in the Division 2 championship game. Jaxson Rex had three receptions and an interception. Running back Colin Granite scored San Clemente’s two touchdowns. San Clemente defeated Leuzinger 35-7 in the semifinals.

Previous ranking: 6

8. JSerra 3-7 (54)

The Lions did not qualify for the playoffs. They finished sixth in the six-team Trinity League with a 0-5 league record.

Previous ranking: 8

9. Tustin 8-3 (49)

The Tillers went 5-0 in the Delta League and won the league championship. They lost to Rancho Cucamonga 45-8 in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 9

10. Yorba Linda 9-2 (46)

The Mustangs won the Bravo League championship. Yorba Linda lost to Los Alamitos 35-28 in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 10

11. San Juan Hills 2-10 (44)

Previous ranking: 11

12. Corona del Mar 9-2 (43)

Previous ranking: 12

13. Crean Lutheran 10-1 (41)

Previous ranking: 13

14. Edison 7-6 (38)

Previous ranking: 14

15. Huntington Beach 8-3 (31)

Previous ranking: 15

16. La Habra 11-3 (30)

Previous ranking: 17

17. Capistrano Valley 8-3 (29)

Previous ranking: 15

18. Laguna Beach 9-2 (24)

Previous ranking: 18

19. Dana Hills 10-2 (20)

Previous ranking: 19

20. Villa Park 8-5 (19)

Previous ranking: 20

21. Troy 10-2 (13)

Previous ranking: 21

22. Aliso Niguel 8-4 (12)

Previous ranking: 23

23. El Modena 6-5 (10)

Previous ranking: 23

24. Western 6-5 (7)

Previous ranking: 24

25. Orange 6-5 (3)

Previous ranking: 25

The 35th annual Winter Fantasy has arrived just in time for holiday shopping. It is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., through Dec. 21.

More than 180 artists have their crafts on display, plus there are artist demos, free art classes, live music, and food and drink booths. For the full list of amenities and entertainment, go to sawdustartfestival.org.

Santa Claus also has made his holiday headquarters on Laguna Canyon Road, sitting among decorated trees waiting to hear children’s Christmas wishes.

Artist Diane Valentino creates colorful hats, crafted from recycled materials ranging from quilt-like cottons to crochet or any fabric that catches her eye.

“When I work, I listen to rock music, and the words turn into abstract paintings in my mind that then turn into the patterns of my hats,” Valentino said. “Each hat takes me about four to five hours, and I make them in several sizes.” (Booth 216)

Among ceramicists, Timothy Hahne stands out for his multi-use and decorative vessels, many of which were created by the Laguna Woods resident in the Clubhouse 4 ceramics lab.

“I’ve exhibited at the Sawdust from 1979 to 1996, and after my journey as a missionary in Romania, returned here in 2020,” Hahne said. (Booth 518)

Anyone nostalgic for some favorite music stars – think David Bowie or Bob Marley – or perhaps supernovas like Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol will find Jesse Bartels’ black and white portraits done on tiles intriguing. Even Peewee Herman is here, along with Amy Winehouse and Bob Dylan.

“I’m fully laden with tiles for winter – summer not so much since it sells out faster,” he said. “I switch my work and style with the seasons and also make custom installations for clients.” (Booth 916)

Martin Roberts transposes photographs – taken on his travels through lyrical locales in Mediterranean regions – into images on tiles and canvas.

“My tiles are particularly suited for home/kitchen decor,” he said. (Booth 606)

Among painters, David Milton’s watercolor depictions of historic California architecture, landmarks and signage attract browsers and buyers keen on nostalgia rendered in flawless technique and composition. (Booth 613)

Ron Shearer’s glass mosaics combine the compositional aesthetic of painting and glass through use of line and color.

“My mosaics are made with smalti glass, which has been made in Venice for at least 11 generations,” he said, referring to opaque, colored glass. “It’s timeless.” (Booth 418)

Anyone up for caricatures, not often seen hereabouts, will enjoy the work of David Fleischmann.

“I’ve been a professional caricaturist for 25 years and have shown here for four,” he said. “I’ve drawn Lucille Ball and also Frank Zappa, Dali and Picasso and countless others.” Last Sunday, he drew a charming rendition of a French bulldog. (Booth 706)

To support local arts, the festival is starting something new this year in the form of an end-of-year campaign to raise $50,000 to its giving fund. The fund supports local artists in need and art education, among other art-related causes.