7th Annual
BEST OF DANA POINT PEOPLE’S CHOICE LANTERN AWARDS
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE OVERALL
Best Customer Service
GOLDEN LANTERN
Tutor and Spunky’s Deli
Tutor and Spunky’s Deli
Sandwiches made to order and with a smile has been the order of the day since 1988. “Not be clichéd, but the customer is always right—even when they’re wrong,” said owner Tom Blake. “Every time someone walks through the door or calls it’s a chance to win over a new customer or please a regular—many of whom we know by name and know their usual order. Every employee knows this and does everything they can to make a good impression.” 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.248.3851, www.tutorandspunkys.com
SILVER LANTERN
Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari
24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com NOMINEES: 2nd Hand Treasures • 949hometeam • Anthony’s Shoe Repair • Art Sea Gallery • Artistry Hair Salon • A’s Burgers • Beach Cities Pizza • Beach Hut Deli • Bella Bazaar • Best Western Plus Dana Point Inn-by-the-Sea • Best Western Plus Marina Shoes Hotel • Bike Religion • Blue Lantern Inn • Bonjour Café & Bistro • Brio Tuscany Grille • Burton A. Lucich, D.C./Lucich Chiropractic • Camellia Boutique • Carlos Mexican Restaurant • Choya Japanese • City of Dana Point • Cox Communications • Crank & Grind • CrossFit Dana Point • CVS Pharmacy • Cyclelogical • Dana Point Aquatic Foundation • Dana Point Auto Service • Dana Point Bodycentre • Dana Point Chamber of Commerce • Dana Point Foreign Car Service • Dana Point Grooming and Pet Spa • Dana Point Hardware • Dana Point Jet Ski & Kayak • Dana Point Marina Inn • Dana Point Nursery • Dana Point Yacht Club • Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching • DaVine Food & Wine • Dawgy Style Groom Shop • Doheny Builders Supply • Doheny Clothing Exchange • Downstairs Store • Ed Reiner Diving Company • Edward Jones • Edward Jones, Tammy McKennon • Elaine LaVine/State Farm Insurance • El Torito Mexican Restaurant & Bar • Evergreen Realty • FedEx • Gelson’s Market • Gemmell’s Restaurant • Girl in the Curl Surf Shop • Golden Galleon Boutique • Harbor Delicatessen • Harbor House Café • Hogan’s Bait & Tackle • I Heart Yoga in the Park • Infinity Surfboards • Jack’s Restaurant • Jack’s Surfboards • JC Beans Coffee House • Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern • Jon’s Fish Market • JTC Salon • JunQies Vintage Boutique • Killer Dana Surf Shop • Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa • Lantern Bay Interiors • Leo Chade Real Estate • Luciana’s Ristorante • Luxe Restaurant & Martini Bar • Mahé • Massage Envy Spa • Mike Plouff/Allstate • Mission Hull • Monarch Beach Market • OC Dana Point Harbor • Ocean Institute • Outbound Yacht Services • OverVue Lounge • Pacific Acupuncture Services • Pacific Cleaners • Pacific Western Bank • Paul’s TV • Performance Haus Volkswagon • Proud Mary’s Restaurant • Ralphs • Raymar Cleaners • RJ’s Café • Royal Cleaners • Salon Revelation • Salon Rouge • Salt Creek Grille • Ship To Shore Insurance • Sign Lingo • Smart & Final • South Coast Fire Protection • St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort • Stack’s Pancake House • State Farm, Ted Bowersox • StillWater Spirits & Sounds • String Tennis Shop • Sun Salute Yoga • Sundara Salon • Sunsets Capo Beach • Surterre Properties • Taco Surf • Tavern on the Coast • The Brig Restaurant • The Coffee Importers • The Gift Chateau • The Harbor Grill • The HIVE & Co • The Little Asian Kitchen Café • The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel • The Shwack Beach Grill • The Surfin Cowboy • The UPS Store • The Wee Loft • The Wine Bistro • Threads Cleaners • Timeless Teak • Turk’s Restaurant • Vintage Marina Partners • Waterman’s Harbor • Westwind Sailing • White Pelican Gallery • Wind & Sea Restaurant • Woody Hut 2013 WINNERS: Gold: Tutor and Spunky’s Deli; Silver: The Coffee Importers
BEST VETERINARIAN GOLDEN LANTERN
Golden Lantern Animal Hospital
Owners Bob Stone and Tom Saunders can expect many more years to come as the community’s top choice for all their pets’ medical needs. Last year, the hospital went above and beyond typical pet care practices by adding anesthesia-free dental cleaning. “We are so grateful to our clients for the last 24
“We have been individually owned for 26 years and are not a chain. We’re proud of that. But we also know we have a job to do and must represent Dana Point as one of this city’s outstanding businesses.”
BEST SPECIALTY BEAUTY SERVICE
TOM BLAKE, OWNER, TUTOR AND SPUNKY’S DELI
years of continued service,” said manager Rhonda Bell of the hospital’s loyal customer base. “It’s very humbling.” 32545 Golden Lantern, 949.493.1370, www.goldenlanternah.com
SILVER LANTERN
Dana Niguel Veterinary Hospital
quite enjoy pampering their four-legged clients. The pets seem to like it too— relishing the special treatment while being groomed to perfection. The driving force behind such harmony in DP’s animal kingdom is owner Tamara Muslin, whose enduring passion for animals is still going strong after 10 years in business. “It just seems to work,” she said.
34249 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.661.6375, www.dananiguelvet.com
34102 La Plaza, Suite B, 949.429.7297, www.ocgroomer.com
NOMINEES: Gary Johnson, D.V.M./Dana Niguel Veterinary Hospital • James W. Bridge, D.V.M./Dana Capistrano Animal Clinic • Tom Saunders/Golden Lantern Animal Hospital • Wendi Browne, D.V.M./Estrella Veterinary Hospital 2013 WINNERS: New Category
SILVER LANTERN (TIE)
BEST GROOMING/ PET CARE GOLDEN LANTERN
Dana Point Grooming and Pet Spa
In this happy environment, pet stylists
Dawgy Style Groom Shop
GOLDEN LANTERN
The Lash Spa of Orange County
Long lashes are an enduring sign of beauty for many cultures, with the practice of enhancing eyelashes dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Owners Kristy Johnson Armijo and Noelle Mathieu are licensed professionals in modern lash extensions with nearly a decade of experience. Inside their serene space, brow and lash tinting, body waxing, hair extensions, makeup application and other beauty services are also offered. 34071 La Plaza, Suite 130, 949.661.1200, www.thelashspa.com
34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 112, 949.496.3315
SILVER LANTERN
SILVER LANTERN (TIE)
OC Happy Tails Dog Grooming 32802 Crown Valley Parkway, 949.370.6033, www.ochappytails.com
NOMINEES: Beach Dogue • Dana Niguel Veterinary Hospital • Estrella Pet Grooming • Estrella Veterinary Hospital • Golden Lantern Animal Hospital • Paws for a Tail 2013 WINNERS: Gold: Dana Point Grooming and Pet Spa; Silver: Dawgy Style Groom Shop
The Sculpted Brow
24422 Del Prado Avenue, 949.293.3193, www.thesculptedbrow.com NOMINEES: Artisty Hair Salon • Azalea Salon & Boutique • Dana Point Bodycentre • Dawns Day Spa • English Rose Skincare • Glycelene • JTC Salon • Kelly’s Hair Salon • Magical Shears Hair Salon • Planet Beauty • Posh Nails • Pro Nail • Salon Revelation • Salon Rouge • Spa Alana • Sundara Salon • Tic Tac Nails • Top Nails & Hair • Vanity Salon 2013 WINNERS: New Category
DP Times Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards 25