15th Annual Best of Dana Point People's Choice Lantern Awards

MARCH 17, 2023 | DANAPOINTTIMES.COM

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WELCOME TO THE 15TH EDITION OF THE BEST OF DANA POINT PEOPLE’S CHOICE LANTERN AWARDS The Dana Point Times is back with another edition of our annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards. This year—with the help of our loyal readers, of course—we recognize the dozens of businesses, individuals and groups that have been voted “Best” in town for 2022.

For the past 15 years, we’ve had the privilege and honor of celebrating the local business community and some of their hard-working staffers who help make our little slice of South Orange County special, unique and charming by awarding Gold and Silver Lantern medals.

We certainly couldn’t have done it, though, without the participation of our readers who made their voices heard by casting their votes across nearly 100 categories that we’re featuring this year.

For this year’s issue, we have made some changes to the format and layout. Gone are the brief descriptions of the Gold and Silver winners.

Instead of finding a few words to say about every finalist, we’re focusing on just a handful of the overall winners, letting them tell their interesting and unique stories.

In turn, this allows us to provide our readers with a more comprehensive and intriguing view of the businesses, people and organizations that have earned the title of “Best” in Dana Point.

We’ve put an emphasis on featuring more art and photos, while telling stories more visually through video packages on our social media channels. And we also started to keep track of how many medals each finalist has won over the years, so we can better recognize dynasties and legacy businesses that win year after year.

We recognize that this change may take some getting used to.

Just know that this decision to revamp the “Best ofs” wasn’t simply made overnight. It took a considerable amount of internal discussion and consideration, and when it came down to it, the time was right to take these annual publications in a fresh, new direction.

One where we could tell better, more informed stories that we believe readers can appreciate.

Without further delay, please enjoy our latest Best of Dana Point issue and help us toast all of this year’s winners.

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 thecapistranodispatch.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER : EDITORIAL & PHOTOGRAPHY: ART/DESIGN: ADVERTISING: OPERATIONS:

Norb Garrett Shawn Raymundo, C. Jayden Smith, Breeana Greenberg, Collin Breaux, Zach Cavanagh, Jake Howard, Randy Youngman Jasmine Smith, Marc Hostetter, Chelsie Rex Lauralyn Loynes, Debra Wells Alyssa Garrett, Inna Cazares

The Dana Point Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com) and the San Clemente Times (sanclementetimes.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Welcome

CONTENTS Eateries, Watering Holes and More

Best …

Appetizers Bagel Bar Bartender Beer Selection Breakfast Breakfast Burrito Brewing Company Brunch Burger Chef Chinese Food Cup of Coffee Donut Family Restaurant Happy Hour International Eats Margarita Menu for Healthy Choices Mexican Food New Restaurant Overall Restaurant Pizza Poke Place Restaurant for a Date/ Romantic Evening Restaurant for Outdoor Dining Restaurant for Vegan Options Salsa Sandwich Seafood Sports Bar Spot for Take-Out Spot to Cure a Sweet Tooth Sushi Taco Thai Food Wine Selection

14 6 18 22 22 6 10 18 10 10 18 14 6 6 18 18 18 22 10 10 6 6 14 14 18 18 10 10 10 14 22 14 18 14 10 14 22

At the Shops

Best …

Bicycle Shop Clothing Home Décor and Furnishings Home Improvement Store Jewelry Local Grocer New Business Pet Store Place to Buy Flowers Secondhand/Thrift Store Store to Buy Gifts for Adults Store to Buy Gifts for Kids Surf Shop Tackle Shop Tattoo Shop

24 24 26 28 26 24 28 28 24 26 28 28 24 26 28

Services on the To-Do List

Best …

Acupuncturist Aesthetic Service Provider Page 3

32 32

36 Auto Repair/Service 37 Banking Institution 29 Barber Shop 37 Catering 32 Chiropractor 32 Dental health Care Provider 36 Dry Cleaner 36 Financial Planning Service 36 Grooming/Pet Care 32 Group Workout 34 Gym 34 Gym for Personal Training 29 Hair Salon 37 Home Improvement Service 34 Jeweler 36 Laundromat 37 Law Firm 37 Local Nonprofit 29 Manicure & Pedicure 34 Martial Arts Studio Medical Health Care Provider 29 36 Music School 29 Overall Customer Service 34 Pilates Studio 29 Spa for Massages 29 Spa for Facials 29 Specialty Beauty Service 36 Surfboard Ding Repair 36 Veterinarian Yacht/Boat Maintenance Repair 36 34 Yoga Studio

Getting Out

Best …

Beach Camp for Kids Harbor Recreation/Excursion Local Annual Event Lodging Park Place to Take Out-of-Towners Special Event/Wedding Venue Surf Break Venue for Live Music Yacht Club

40 40 44 44 40 40 38 44 40 44 44

FEATURES & WINNER SPOTLIGHTS Best Breakfast Best Burger Best Donut Best Home Décor and Furnishings Best New Business Best New Restaurant Best Surf Shop Best Venue for Live Music Most Medals of 2022 Most Medals to Date New Categories

8 16 12 25 30 7 27 42 23 20 4

Number of medals next to each business name represents medals in category all-time. danapointtimes.com

Welcome

FROM THE PUBLISHER

They’re baaack!

Bigger and Better ‘Best of’ Awards

By Norb Garrett

Like the sunsets over Dana Point Harbor, the swallows of Capistrano and the waves at T-Street, you can count on the annual return of our People’s Choice “Best of” awards for Dana Point Times, San Clemente Times and The Capistrano Dispatch.

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This year’s special issues feature several entirely new categories as we strive to include even more of your favorite local businesses, service providers and destination locations:

Best Brewing Company Best Chef Best Chinese Food Best Financial Planning Service Best Gym for Personal Training Best Home Improvement Service Best Mexican Food Best Thai Food In an effort to “freshen up” our special “Best of” issues, our editors have created a fun, new editorial approach to help highlight some of the trends, unique businesses and interesting people who make our communities so special.

I’m excited about the changes and, hopefully, you will be, too.

We’re always listening to your feedback, so you’ll notice Norb Garrett we expanded our “International Eats” category by creating stand-alone food categories for Chinese, Mexican and Thai. You also asked about creating a special category for “Best Chef,” so we added that, as well.

Clearly, we all like food, and the area’s culinary offerings continue to improve year after year! Each of the new categories is a result of feedback we get from you, the readers, so if there are other categories that you’d like us to consider, please email me at ngarrett@picketfencemedia.com.

As for selecting which business to profile, that came down to attempting to highlight some of the more interesting storylines—businesses that earned the most total votes, historical trends behind some of your favorite businesses, people or locations, and spotlighting newcomers to the party.

We did our best to pick a variety of storylines that made 2022 special and unique.

Please enjoy this year’s “Best of” issues, and if you’d like to check out the other “Best of” issues from the other communities, simply go online and click on “Special Publications” on our navigation bars on each website.

Thank you for voting and playing a part in this special way of celebrating our communities!

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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Carmelita’s Offers Modern Mexican Cuisine, with hand crafted margaritas. We use only organic ingredients & locally sourced produce. Our Cadillac and Blackberry Margaritas are local favorites. Margaritas and cocktails are made only using premium tequilas & liquors. Our kitchen makes our menu from scratch daily. We offer indoor and outdoor dining options.

THANK YOU, DANA POINT FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

(949) 503 4107 34255 Pacific Coast Highway, 109 Dana Point, CA 92629 Open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

carmelitastaqueria.com • @carmelitasrestaurants

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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Craft House. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Best Overall Restaurant Gold

Craft House

1 MEDAL

34094 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.481.7734, eatatcrafthouse.com

Silver Jack’s Restaurant & Bar (TIE)

1 MEDAL

24462 Del Prado Avenue, 949.489.1903, jacksdp.com

Silver Brio Tuscany Grille (TIE)

13 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avion, 949.443.1476, briorestaurant.com

Best New Restaurant Gold

Giana Bakery & Provisions

34146 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.503.1994, gianadanapoint.com

Silver aPizza Doho (TIE)

34255 Pacific Coast Highway, #101, 949.570.3636, apizzadoho.com

Silver Delahunt Brewing Co. (TIE)

34091 La Plaza, 949.503.1348, delahuntbrewing.com

Best Breakfast Gold

RJ’s Café

15 MEDALS

25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.218.5757, rjscafe.com

Silver The Coffee Importers Scoop Deck & Deli

10 MEDALS

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

Best Cup of Coffee Gold

The Coffee Importers Scoop Deck & Deli

15 MEDALS

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

Silver JC Beans Coffee House

13 MEDALS

34114 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.496.4700,

Best Donut Gold

Dippity Donuts

15 MEDALS

33601 Del Obispo Street, 949.240.6064

Silver Primi Donuts

4 MEDALS

32880 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.388.5595, primidonuts.com

Best Bagel Gold

The Coffee Importers Scoop Deck & Deli

13 MEDALS

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

Silver I Love Bagels

12 MEDALS

32545 Golden Lantern, Suite B, 949.443.3300, ilovebagelsinc.com

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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BEST NEW RESTAURANT

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Best New Restaurant Giana Bakery + Provisions Captures Magic of Food Service Industry

By Jake Howard

ooking comes from the heart. The timeless act of lovingly preparing a meal for someone using a favorite recipe and a few simple ingredients is a sacred human experience. It’s that passion and love for all things gastronomical that make Danielle Kuhn so absolutely amazing at what she does.

This year, her newest endeavor, Giana Bakery + Provisions, has earned the much-deserved Golden Lantern as Dana Point’s Best New Restaurant. You may already be familiar with her work, as she’s been the owner of the very popular eatery Maison Cafe + Market since 2018.

Giana is her latest creation for coffee lovers and those with a sweet tooth.

“My first job was working in a coffee shop in Laguna Beach, when I was 13, and I fell in love with it immediately,” Kuhn says. “There’s something magical about working in the food service business, the beautiful chaos of the kitchen and the dining room and all that’s happening, swirling around; it’s like dance.”

From the coffee shop in Laguna Beach to various restaurants throughout Orange County, Kuhn dedicated herself to learning the ins and outs of the industry. Around the same time her first son surfed into the world, she took a job at Cannon’s in Dana Point.

“I started as the bookkeeper there. When my first son was born, they let me set up a playpen in the corner and work,” Kuhn says, smiling. “I wanted to learn every aspect of running a restaurant, so that’s what I did. I bought all the books from the Culinary Institute and learned to cook.”

Kuhn says she learned how to order supplies and stock the kitchen, as well as how to keep books and run the business.

“I ran the front of the house. I love it all,” she says, proudly adding that “I would come home from tending bar at 2 in the morning and dive right into my cookbooks; I was learning the restaurant business and raising my two boys. It “There’s something magical was all-consuming.” about working in the food It’s that love, that attention to detail and dedicaservice business, the beautiful tion to her craft, that set chaos of the kitchen and the Giana—which translated means “God is gracious”— dining room and all that’s apart from other bakeries and cafes. When it comes happening, swirling around; to the food, like Maison, it’s like dance.” it starts with only the best ingredients.

Danielle Kuhn With a deep appreciation for the importance of nutritional health in our daily lives and a belief that better living can come from better eating, her approach is a repudiation of the big-food, corporatization of how we eat.

Produce is organic and locally sourced as much as possible. The various flours used for baking and making pastas are inspired by old-world cooking, a benefit for those gluten-sensitive folks. Giana doesn’t have a fryer, and it doesn’t use canola oil in its cooking, preferring to use organic olive oil and other healthier options instead.

Nobody ever said health food had to taste bad or be stupidly expensive, and Kuhn’s work at both Giana and Maison is proof-positive that the secret is all in the kitchen.

Sitting down to talk with Kuhn in the corner of Giana on a brisk, bustling morning, it’s clear that her customers are not only there for the warm coffee and mouth-watering pastries, but also for the sense of community. Midway through the conversation, Kuhn excuses herself.

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Winner Spotlight

This past year, Danielle Kuhn, the owner of the popular Maison Cafe + Market, opened her newest endeavor, Giana Bakery + Provisions, which earned her the much-deserved Golden Lantern as Dana Point’s Best New Restaurant. Photo: Jake Howard

“I’ll be right back,” she says, nodding to an older gentleman who’s come in for his morning coffee.

Kuhn walks across the room and gives the man the warmest, kindest, most empathetic embrace, like they had been friends for decades.

Immediately, it’s obvious the man is at ease and comforted.

“His wife’s been sick for a few weeks,” she says, returning to the table in the corner. “I had to give him a hug and see how she was doing.”

And perhaps that’s what makes Giana, as well as Maison, so special. It’s a place where community thrives, a place where people come together to share a cup of coffee— or a hug. It’s a place to slow down and enjoy a meal and some conversation. In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, sitting down and breaking bread together is still important. It’s still special.

Dana Point is fortunate in that the past several years, a growing number of like-minded restaurateurs have also chased their dreams, like Delahunt Brewing Company and aPizza Doho, which tied for Best New Restaurant’s Silver Lantern.

Opening during the darkest days of the pandemic, Delahunt fought tooth and nail to establish itself as an incredible destination for locally brewed beer, tacos to die for and an assortment of savory meat plates, including pork belly and chorizo.

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The creation of Todd Delahunt and brewer Kyle Boruff, the Dana Point taproom is a few short blocks from Giana, while the main brewing facility is located down the road in San Clemente.

And also opening in 2022, aPizza Doho is the relative new kid on the block, although it’s owned and operated by a seasoned team of veterans.

Located in The Row off Pacific Coast Highway, owners Marcos Costas, Christopher Christian and his nephew, Anthony Christian, have sought to pay homage to the world-famous East Coast pizza tradition—simple, classic, delicious.

The pizza dough is made fresh in-house every day, and customers have the option of ordering a house pizza or getting creative with a build-it-yourself option. Like Giana, customers and community are a pillar of this success of aPizza Doho.

“I always like to touch the table and ask how everything is, and I always like to recognize people: ‘Good to see you again,’ ” Costas says.

Thanks to the work of Kuhn and her restaurants, Giana and Maison, as well as the teams at Delahunt Brewing Company and aPizza Doho, Dana Point is quickly becoming a destination for incredible, locally created, community-inspired cuisine. Needless to say, it’s a great time to be hungry.

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Winner Spotlight

BEST BREAKFAST

Specialties such as the Cinnamon Roll French toast are some of the quality breakfast items you can find at RJ’s Cafe, winner of this year’s Best Breakfast category. Photo: C. Jayden Smith

Family Atmosphere Surrounds ‘Best Breakfast’ Experience at RJ’s Café

W

hen RJ Breeden first opened RJ’s Café in 2003 after moving back into his childhood home, he envisioned the restaurant as simply a local establishment for people to hang out and eat breakfast.

Now, just a few weeks away from celebrating the restaurant’s 20th anniversary in April, it’s

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

By C. Jayden Smith

more than certain that Breeden’s goal has come to fruition.

The well-known restaurant has served countless helpings of classics such as French toast, omelets, and turkey sandwiches every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas over the years.

However, the food is not the most important aspect of bringing customers back, according to Breeden, who says his staff is the key.

“We have an awesome staff,” he says. “The people that work here are really great. They’ve been here a long time.”

Readers of the Dana Point Times appear to love all the eatery’s features, as they voted RJ’s Page 8

the Best Breakfast spot in town, earning the restaurant its 15th overall Lantern medal in the category. Coffee Importers earned the Silver Lantern this year, as it has totaled 10 medals overall in the category.

Coffee Importers owner Jim Miller says he is thrilled that his business’s alternative take on breakfast has carried so much favor.

“We don’t have pancakes and waffles and all that kind of stuff … we have, I would say, a little healthier take on breakfast,” Miller says. “I’m really excited that people appreciate that.”

Over the years, RJ’s has stitched itself into the fabric of the Dana Point community. Breeden danapointtimes.com

says he has regulars who come in six or seven days a week, which is what he loves most about being a part of the city and creating a quasi-family environment.

After operating restaurants in Northern California and in Palm Springs, it was his mother’s passing that brought him back to town while he was determining his next move.

“After about three months, I decided to stay, and I bought my brother and sister out and I took the house over,” Breeden says. “Two years later, I found this restaurant for sale. It was a Peruvian restaurant, and I shut it down, turned it into breakfast and lunch, and decided to go back into being the breakfast guy.”

His previous experiences helped him to know to eye every aspect of his business so that he could keep prices as low as possible for his customers.

Breeden doesn’t spend all his time at RJ’s like he used to, and he credits his managing staff for the job they do in ensuring the ship remains afloat and maintaining his standards for quality.

“My kitchen manager, Jorge, he’s been back there (for) 19 years,” he says, adding, “He controls pretty much everything that goes on back there.”

The occasional check-in from Breeden still occurs, but he added that he doesn’t need to worry about his restaurant day-to-day.

That leaves him to stop in during mornings and chat with both customers and staff, make sure everyone is happy and enjoy the rest of his day.

The effort Breeden made many years ago to find a core of people who serve for a living, not just for part-time work, has paid dividends in 2023. “(For the) majority of my staff, this is what they do,” he says. “They take pride in what they do and make sure everyone takes pride in what they do. They make our customers happy.”

RJ’s reputation guarantees that there are new faces from out of town who come into the café daily. Breeden enjoys talking with them, finding out where people are from and learning how they made their way to Dana Point.

He expressed happiness upon learning that his restaurant was again nominated among the best in town.

“That means that the people love us,” Breeden says. “If the people in Dana Point are loving us, then we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”

Best of Dana Point Mainstay Harbor Grill Closes Doors in 2022 THIS PAST FALL, DANA POINT SAID GOODBYE to one of its oldest and most popular restaurants, The Harbor Grill.

After serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunches to generations of diners for nearly 40 years, Harbor Grill owners John and Wanda Hicks, along with son Keegan Hicks, announced in February 2022 that they’d be shuttering the restaurant by the end of the year.

“It has been an extremely difficult decision for us to make, but after thoughtful consideration, we know this is our time,” John Hicks, founder and co-owner of Harbor Grill, said in the announcement. “The Harbor Grill staff and customers are our family, and we’re so grateful for the memories, which we will take with us and cherish forever.”

The Harbor Grill, which first opened its doors in 1984, was no stranger to the Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards, having been a finalist several times in multiple categories throughout the years.

For the Best Overall Restaurant category, the restaurant earned 12 total medals—10 of which were consecutive Golden Lanterns between 2011 and 2020. It also earned recognition in other categories such as Best Seafood, Appetizers and Brunch.

THE HARBOR GRILL MEDAL COUNT

12

Best Overall Restaurant

7

Best Seafood

5

Best Brunch

“If the people in Dana Point are loving us, then we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”

RJ Breeden

3

Best Wine Selection

2

Best Appetizers

2

Best Family Restaurant

1

Best Margarita

1

Best Overall Customer Service

1

Best Restaurant for a Date/Romantic Evening

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Breakfast Burrito Gold

A’s Burgers

8 MEDALS

34344 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.496.4460, asburgersrestaurant.com

Silver Lupe’s Mexican Eatery

6 MEDALS

33621 Del Obispo Street, Suite F, 949.558.5430, eatlupes.com

Best Brunch Gold

THANK YOU!

ORGANICTREEJUICEBAR.COM

(949)276-7202

Craft House

5 MEDALS

34094 Pacific Coast Highway, 949. 481.7734, eatatcrafthouse.com

Silver Glasspar

3 MEDALS

24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, glasspar.com

Best Sandwich Gold

24901 Dana Point Harbor Drive, #120 2490

Tutor & Spunky’s Deli

15 MEDALS

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Suites 116 & 117, 949.248.9008, tutorandspunkys.com

Silver The Coffee Importers Scoop Deck & Deli

9 MEDALS

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

Best Menu for Healthy Choices Gold

Vibe Organic Kitchen & Juice

4 MEDALS

34255 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.259.5514, eatdrinkvibe.com

Silver The Coffee Importers Scoop Deck & Deli

15 MEDALS

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

JUICE BAR. CAFE. MARKETPLACE.

Best Restaurant for Vegan Options Gold

Organic Tree Juice Bar

1 MEDAL

24901 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.276.7202, organictreejuicebar.com

Silver Vibe Organic Kitchen & Juice

4 MEDALS

34255 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.259.5514, eatdrinkvibe.com

Best Burger Gold

A’s Burgers

15 MEDALS

34344 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.496.4460, asburgersrestaurant.com

Silver Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern

1 MEDAL

25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.388.8900, j-fat.com

Best Taco Gold

Lupe’s Mexican Eatery

6 MEDALS

33621 Del Obispo Street, Suite F, 949.558.5430, eatlupes.com

Silver Cali Costa Restaurant & Cantina

1 MEDAL

34195 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.503.1281, calicosta.net

Best Salsa Gold

Lupe’s Mexican Eatery

4 MEDALS

33621 Del Obispo Street, Suite F, 949.558.5430, eatlupes.com

Silver Carlos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

3 MEDALS

34224 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.496.4470, carloscantinadp.com

Best Mexican Food New Category!

Gold

Lupe’s Mexican Eatery

33621 Del Obispo Street, Suite F, 949.558.5430, eatlupes.com

Silver Carlos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

34224 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.496.4470, carloscantinadp.com

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Winner Spotlight

BEST DONUT

Siv Chou operates Dana Point’s popular donut shop, helping the town’s early-morning work crowd get their days started with delicious donuts and coffee. Photos: Shawn Raymundo

Dippity Donuts Delights Dana Point Residents

R

By Shawn Raymundo

unning a donut shop naturally requires a lot of early mornings. As the proprietor of the popular establishment Dippity Donuts, Siv Chou is charged with helping the town’s early-morning risers get their days going by serving delectable donuts and strong coffee.

It’s a tall order, but it’s one she and her husband have lived up to for the past 36 years—and the results have certainly paid off.

For the past 15 years, Dippity has been selected by Dana Point Times readers as a finalist—Gold or Silver winner—for our Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards for Best Donuts. And this year marks the shop’s fourth consecutive Golden Lantern.

“We’re really happy, because we work hard, we’ve been here for a long time. We’re just happy that we get rewarded for what we do,” Chou says with a laugh.

Primi Donuts in Dana Point took home a Silver Lantern this year, its fourth consecutive.

Asked what has made Dippity stand out among the local competition, Chou boasts that it’s the high-quality products—which, she notes, have gotten really expensive as of late.

But, she adds, “We don’t change our ingredients; we use the same ingredients, and we make daily fresh donuts. That’s what customers like.”

What customers particularly enjoy at Dippity, Chou says, is the apple fritter.

“They love the apple fritter; we always sell out the most every day,” she says, adding: “Customers said we have the best in town, they like the apple fritter more than any other place. We do our regular—always been the same; we don’t change.”

According to Chou, the process of preparing and frying the shop’s daily batch of donuts starts at around midnight, when her donut maker clocks in.

“We make daily fresh (donuts), and by the end of the day, when we have leftovers, they go to senior citizens, AA meetings, and the church, the Calva15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

ry Chapel in Capo Beach,” she explains.

Fortunately for her, she handles the other aspects of the business and is able to get her workday started closer to the time the shop opens, at 5 a.m.

“I work the other end,” she says laughing. “I cook the food, sell the donuts. It’s not just donuts here; we have breakfast and lunch, sandwiches— the other end.”

One of the things Chou says she enjoys most about running the business is meeting a lot of new people.

“Every day is new, talking to different people, and old customers,” she says, before noting the unfortunate circumstance of running a business for many decades. “We have a lot of new (customers), but then a lot of old (ones) who are gone. A lot.”

It’ll be 36 years ago this month when Dippity first officially opened, replacing what was previously called Donut World. Chou’s brother-inlaw had purchased it from the previous owners, and invited his brother, whom Chou had recently married, to help operate the local business, which was just one in a chain of other Dippitys.

“We live in Santa Ana, and my brother-in-law found this place, a place for us to work, so he set us up here,” Chou recalls. “He bought it from an American couple; back then, its name was Donut World. We changed it to Dippity Donuts because my brother-in-law, he had a chain.”

There are other Dippitys around California, but those are all owned separately from the Dana Point Dippity, says Chou, who immigrated to the U.S. from Cambodia in 1979.

When she first arrived in the States, she lived in Washington state. She relocated to Orange County in 1985, when she and her husband got married. The two would later have a son, an electrical engineer who’s soon to be 30 years old.

Acknowledging that her son won’t be taking over the family business in the future, Chou reflects on the legacy she hopes the long-running eatery leaves behind.

“I hope when I sell my place, the next owner keeps doing the same thing we do, quality products,” she says. “Dana Point, they like our shop.”

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Thai Food New Category!

Gold

Best Seafood

Thai This

Gold

34119 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite A, 949.240.7944, thaithis.com

Glasspar

3 MEDALS

24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, glasspar.com

Silver Thai Dara

Silver The Harbor Grill*

Best Chinese Food New Category!

Best Sushi

34255 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.661.1251, thaidaradanapoint.com

Gold

7 MEDALS

34499 Golden Lantern, 949.240.1416, harborgrill.com

Peking Dragon Restaurant

Gold

34171 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.493.9499, pekingdragonrestaurant.com

Gen Kai Sushi

15 MEDALS

34143 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.240.2004, sushiorangecounty.com

Silver The Little Kitchen Asian Café

Silver Dana Kai

Best Pizza

Best Spot for Take-Out

24831 Del Prado Ave. 949.276.7799, thelittlekitchenasiancafe.com

Gold

aPizza Doho

Gold

1 MEDAL

34255 Pacific Coast Highway, #101, 949.570.3636, apizzadoho.com

Silver Beach Harbor Pizza

Gold

Kamea Poke

Brio Tuscany Grille

2 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avion, 949.443.1476, briorestaurant.com

Silver The Little Kitchen Asian Café

6 MEDALS

34473 Golden Lantern, 949.218.1920, beachharborpizza.com

Best Poke Place

5 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avenue, 949.489.8168, danakaisushi.com

5 MEDALS

24831 Del Prado Ave. 949.276.7799, thelittlekitchenasiancafe.com

Best Appetizers Gold

7 MEDALS

34320 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.443.5226

Silver Kawamata Seafood

Silver Glasspar

5 MEDALS

26881 Camino De Estrella, 949.248.1914, kawamata-seafood.business.site

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Craft House

5 MEDALS

34094 Pacific Coast Highway, 949. 481.7734, eatatcrafthouse.com 4 MEDALS

24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, glasspar.com

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danapointtimes.com

Famously Dana Point

Since 2013

J-fat.com 949.388.8900 danapointtimes.com

25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive Page 15

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Winner Spotlight

BEST BURGER

Simply Satisfying

A’s Burgers’ Straightforward, Fresh-From-Scratch Approach Garners 15th Straight Burger Medal

By Zach Cavanagh

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Page 16

danapointtimes.com

U

p-and-down the lower stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point, there are a handful of chain fast food restaurants. All of them could satisfy any local traveler for a quick buck.

However, none of them have endeared themselves in the way that the little building with the yellow sign across from Doheny Beach has for more than 50 years.

A’s Burgers has been the go-to stop for warm-you-up breakfast burritos and fill-youup burgers and fries since late founder Angelo Vardakostas started the business in the early 1970s. And for the fourth consecutive year and seventh time overall, A’s Burgers has been named Best Burger in the People’s Choice Best of Dana Point Lantern Awards.

“I think that we have developed a product, a meal, that fits the needs of everybody that comes here, some for recreation, some for work,” says George Vardakostas, owner and operator of A’s Burgers along with brother Alex.

“For your surfers that are coming through, they just want a hot burrito, chips and salsa,” he adds. “We get a lot of blue-collar servicemen, and they’re coming in for lunch, and they just want a bacon cheeseburger and fries. We have honed that product over the years to just be exactly what they’re looking for.”

In the 15 years of the Dana Point Times’ Lantern Awards, A’s Burgers has earned either Gold or Silver Lanterns all 15 years. A’s has also earned all eight gold medals for Best Breakfast Burrito in the eight years that particular award has been a category.

“It’s simple,” Vardakostas says, “but simple is good.”

The Silver Lantern winner for Best Burger in 2022 was, for the first time, Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern near Dana Point Harbor, which features thick Mishima Wagyu beef patties. For silver in Best Breakfast Burrito, Lupe’s Mexican Eatery took its sixth consecutive Lantern Award.

At A’s Burgers, it’s pretty straightforward when it comes to burgers.

“It’s lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise and meat. That works!” says Vardakostas “We’ve been using the same meat supplier for decades, and we don’t change too much with our burgers. Cheese is American cheese.

We shred our lettuce. Onions, tomato, mayo.

Toasted bun, obviously, you want that. There’s nothing real secret to it.”

While the construction is simple, there’s two things that particularly set A’s Burgers apart from its competition on PCH. First, it’s the ingredients. As Vardakostas mentions, they’ve been using the same suppliers for decades, and anything they can do from scratch, such as cutting up their own onion rings, peeling their own potatoes or chopping up fresh salsa every single day, they make from scratch.

danapointtimes.com

George Vardakostas and his brother, Alex, carry on their family’s legacy with a fresh set of ingredients prepared and constructed in a simple but satisfying manner, earning A’s Burgers another honor as Dana Point’s Best Burger. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

“Whatever we can do in-house, we do, and that shows up in our food quality,” says Vardakostas. “It’s not something we buy from a big food supplier and just put it on the griddle and cook it.”

With the help of their general manager, Garrett Fenton, those ingredients come in-house, and those beautifully constructed burgers are then grilled up by kitchen supervisor Gerardo Lopez. It’s that charbroiling on the grill that is the second thing to set A’s Burgers apart, according to Vardakostas.

On the breakfast burrito front, it’s the same approach with freshly grated and mixed blocks of jack and cheddar cheese to pair with real eggs and the from-scratch potatoes.

It’s all part of a family legacy held up across both A’s Burgers locations in Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

The Dana Point location is the original A’s spot, where Angelo set up shop taking over the former Flake Bros. Burgers building in the early 1970s. In about 1980, George and Alex’s

mother, Maheen, began working at A’s Burgers before falling in love and marrying Angelo. According to George, it was Maheen who added salads, as well as mahi mahi and fried cod to the menu for some healthier options at the burger joint.

Maheen ran A’s fully after Angelo’s death and did so until her own passing in 2019. Since then, it’s been George and Alex Vardakostas owning and operating the Dana Point location.

George and Alex’s half-siblings from Angelo’s first marriage—Lia, Nicola and Chris—operate the San Juan Capistrano location.

“It’s an honor,” George says of operating the business with his dad’s initials still emblazoned on it. “I hope that we continue to carry on (Angelo’s legacy) and live up to what he started. It seems like we are. It’s tough to say. I can’t be the judge of that.”

When it comes to the People’s Choice Lantern Awards, the judges have rendered their ruling and keep coming back for the simply satisfying taste of A’s Burgers.

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Restaurant for a Date/Romantic Evening Gold

Luciana’s Ristorante

13 MEDALS

24312 Del Prado, 949.661.6500, lucianas.com

Silver Brio Tuscany Grille

3 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avion, 949.443.1476, briorestaurant.com

Best International Eats Gold

Brio Tuscany Grille

3 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avion, 949.443.1476, briorestaurant.com

Silver Luciana’s Ristorante

2 MEDALS

24312 Del Prado, 949.661.6500, lucianas.com

Best Restaurant for Outdoor Dining Gold

Wind & Sea Restaurant

8 MEDALS

34699 Golden Lantern, 949.496.6500, windandsearestaurant.com

Silver Glasspar

3 MEDALS

24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, glasspar.com

Best Spot to Cure a Sweet Tooth Gold

The Coffee Importers Scoop Deck & Deli

15 MEDALS

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

Silver It’s All About the Cake

10 MEDALS

24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Suite B100, 949.240.7100, itsallaboutthecake.com

Best Chef New Category!

Gold

Rob Wilson (Glasspar)

24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, glasspar.com

Silver Blake Mellgren (Craft House)

34094 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.481.7734, eatatcrafthouse.com

Best Family Restaurant Gold Silver

Brio Tuscany Grille

3 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avion, 949.443.1476, briorestaurant.com

RJ’s Café

5 MEDALS

25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.218.5757, rjscafe.com

Best Bar Gold

Turk’s Dana Warf

15 MEDALS

34683 Golden Lantern, 949.496.9028, turksdpharbor.com

Silver Brio Tuscany Grille

10 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avion, 949.443.1476, briorestaurant.com

Best Brewing Company New Category!

Gold

Station Craft

34150 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.264.8288, stationcraft.com

Silver Delahunt Brewing Co.

34091 La Plaza, 949.503.1348, delahuntbrewing.com

Best Happy Hour Gold

Wind & Sea Restaurant

13 MEDALS

34699 Golden Lantern, 949.496.6500, windandsearestaurant.com

Silver Craft House

1 MEDAL

34094 Pacific Coast Highway, 949. 481.7734, eatatcrafthouse.com

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Page 18

danapointtimes.com

CONGRATULATIONS GOLD

Dana West Yacht Club iHeartYoga Scoop Deck Turks

GOLD SILVER

SILVER

Bella Bazaar Beach Harbor Pizza The Coffee Importers Golden Galleon Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching Dana Point Yacht Club Killer Dana Surf Shop Stand Up To Trash Wind & Sea

DanaPointHarbor.com danapointtimes.com

Page 19

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Winner Spotlight

MOST MEDALS TO DATE

Coffee Importers owner Jim Miller and his cafe have become fixtures of the Dana Point community. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

S

Coffee Importers Owner Jim Miller Reflects on Family Legacy

By Breeana Greenberg

ince Coffee Importers opened in 1975, the family business has continually expanded and evolved to meet ever-growing demand.

Owner Jim Miller moved to Dana Point in 1982, later taking over the store for his parents.

Over the years, Miller has expanded on the family legacy, now looking forward to a future in which his daughter will continue that legacy.

“It just kind of evolved. It wasn’t like we sat down in 1979 and said, ‘This is what we’re going

to do,’ ” Miller says. “We were just going to have a little coffee shop.”

“My mom was kind of upset, because she just wanted a little cutesy gift shop and sell coffee and tea and be this quaint little place, because it just got so busy,” Miller continues. “At one point, my mom was complaining, ‘I can’t even talk to my customers; it’s too busy in here.’ ” Miller explains that that’s why they moved the espresso bar next door.

In 1982, Coffee Importers opened an ice cream store, selling Bud’s Ice Cream from San Francisco. More than 40 years later, the shop has gone through a few different ice cream suppliers. Lately, Coffee Importers serves Lappert’s Ice Cream, which Miller noticed sells

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Page 20

incredibly well.

In 1994, Coffee Importers expanded to open a deli and juice bar.

“It’s been an evolution of things, and I think what came out of it was that people love to talk and they love to gather; they love to have a place to go meet, and I feel like we offer them that,” Miller says.

Any day of the week, Miller says the patio space is filled with regulars.

Though Coffee Importers offers a wide variety of food and beverage options, Miller’s first passion is coffee.

“I really spend a lot of time on coffee,” Miller says. “For many years, I went to coffee classes; I did all those barista things. We were doing latte danapointtimes.com

Jim Miller. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

art before people knew there was latte art.”

What makes Coffee Importers coffee so good is the attention to detail, Miller says.

Starting with good ingredients, Miller ensures that the coffee is always fresh. Coffee Importers goes through 300 pounds of coffee a week, he says.

“It’s always fresh, quality,” Miller says. “And then how we brew it, I won’t tell you the secret, but we brew our coffee differently than most other places do.”

Consistency has been key in Coffee Importers’ success, Miller says, adding that it’s essential to serve the same quality in all the cafe offers from week to week.

“To have good coffee, to have good ice cream, have good food and a good juice bar and have everything work and everybody like it, that’s a real trick,” Miller says. “Because usually what happens is most businesses, they have a passion for one thing.”

“Like I’m passionate about my deli, I’m passionate about my ice cream store; I have all these passions that I’m working on that I think are important,” Miller adds. “And then we try to do the best we can with the quality and the danapointtimes.com

atmosphere and the service.”

Ultimately, what makes Coffee Importers so successful is the hard-working staff and loyal customers, Miller says.

In the early ’90s, Miller offered to donate coffee for school events while attending his son’s high school’s open house. From there, Miller began delivering coffee to local schools, churches, nonprofits, social clubs and more.

“That was the best thing I ever did for my business, and I still do it to this day,” Miller says.

“When they need coffee, I’m the go-to guy for the coffee, and that comes from the early years of doing that.”

“But that’s the best thing I do for the community,” Miller continues. “So, when you go out and you give back to the community, the community gives back to you.”

In turn, Dana Point Times readers have consistently voted Coffee Importers as the recipient of the many Golden and Silver Lantern awards spanning nine different categories of the Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern awards.

Coffee Importers has earned the most medals to date, receiving 80 since the “Best of Dana Point” first launched.

Over the years, Coffee Importers has been a finalist—either Gold or Silver Lantern recipient—13 times for Best Bagels; 10 times for Best Breakfast; 15 times for Best Menu for Healthy Choices; 15 times for Best Cup of Coffee; once for Best Cup of Tea; nine times for Best Sandwich; 15 times for Best Spot to Cure a Sweet Tooth; once for Best Harbor Eatery; and once for Best Lunch Spot.

Reflecting on his years of providing coffee and actively participating in the community, Miller believes that’s helped build the business.

“That’s another way that you talk about interweaving yourself into the community; you become part of the community,” Miller says. “I also was very active, not just on the Town Center committee, but I was also on the Harbor Revitalization Committee back in 1998, 1999 and Page 21

Since Coffee Importers first opened in 1975, the family business has continually expanded and evolved to meet ever-growing demand over the years, adding an espresso bar, ice cream store, deli and juice bar to the original gift shop. Photos: Courtesy of Jim Miller

with that, I’ve been a champion of the Harbor revitalization for almost 23 years now.”

“Now, because of that, I’m kind of a fixture in the community,” Miller adds. “That’s why everybody knows Coffee Importers.”

Looking ahead, Miller aims to continue the family legacy and bring in his daughter, Meredith, to take over the business. Miller looks to continue expanding, adding a full bakery when Meredith, an executive pastry chef at a St. Regis Hotel, takes over.

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Beer Selection Gold

Dana Point Ale House

1 MEDAL

24471 Del Prado Ave., Unit A, 949.525.6551, danapointalehouse.com

Silver Station Craft

2 MEDALS

34150 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.264.8288, stationcraft.com

Best Wine Selection Gold

Glasspar

2 MEDALS

24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, glasspar.com

Silver Craft House

4 MEDALS

34094 Pacific Coast Highway, 949. 481.7734, eatatcrafthouse.com

Best Margarita Gold

Cali Costa Restaurant & Cantina

1 MEDAL

34195 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.503.1281, calicosta.net

Silver Glasspar

2 MEDALS

24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, glasspar.com

Continental and French food ~ Sunday Brunch

Best Bartender Gold

Dwight Donaldson (Brio Tuscany Grille)

2 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avion, 949.443.1476, briorestaurant.com

Silver Shannon Greathouse (Glasspar)

3 MEDALS

24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, glasspar.com

Best Sports Bar Gold Silver

The Point Restaurant & Bar

6 MEDALS

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.464.5700, thepointrestaurantandbar.com

Cali Costa Restaurant & Cantina

1 MEDAL

34195 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.503.1281, calicosta.net

Thank you, Dana Point, Friends, Family and all of our Customers.

We are grateful … Chef Byron

Happy Hour Sunday-Thursday 3 pm to 5 pm

No Corkage Fee on Wednesdays. Limit two bottles. Not valid during Happy Hour

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Page 22

danapointtimes.com

Winner Spotlight

MOST MEDALS THIS YEAR

Glasspar Focuses on Fresh Seafood, ‘Elevated’ Customer Service

By Collin Breaux

A

Glasspar aims for an “elevated” dining experience, with classic American and seafood-oriented dishes. Photos: Courtesy of Outshine PR

s Glasspar owner and chef Rob Wilson explains, the restaurant is an “elevated classic American seafood hall.”

But what exactly does “elevated” mean?

“Elevated is being thoughtfully presented. There’s a thought process into the service,” Wilson says. “Being friendly and knowledgeable, but not being obtrusive or rude. Having a smile at the front door from a hostess right when you walk in, greeting you, to the bartenders saying good night as you walk out the restaurant.”

Servers can recommend wine pairings for meals and explain the food, putting diners at ease.

That commitment to quality earned Glasspar the most awards in the Best of Dana Point contest this year, as voted on by Dana Point Times readers.

Glasspar received eight awards in total—three Gold Lanterns for Best Seafood, Wine Selection and Chef, and five Silver for Best Appetizers, Bartender, Brunch, Margarita and Restaurant for Outdoor Dining.

As for the food itself?

“It’s kind of East Coast style brought to the West Coast,” says Wilson, who grew up in the local area. “We pride ourselves on seasonal ingredients. We change the menu three times a year.”

Glasspar also aims to source sustainable food.

“We focus on local tuna, swordfish, white seabass when it’s in season,” Wilson says. “Sourcing stuff from Alaska to the Hawaiian Islands to Baja California is kind of the triangle I work within.”

Glasspar also has a 12-seat oyster bar.

“We source our oysters from a number of different farm-direct (sources),” Wilson says. “We order oysters every day. One of the things I’m not ashamed of saying is we’re not afraid of running out of something, because if we run out, it sold. It comes in fresh the next day.”

People like seafood, because it’s healthy, Wilson says.

“With the right preparations and ingredients, it’s flavorful,” he says. “Seafood appeals to people, because we’re by the ocean. When people are by the ocean, they think of seafood.”

Glasspar opened in December 2019. As Wilson notes, it started up three months before being forced to close because of the COVID-19 shutdown.

Fortunately, it continued to draw in customers with its large patio after being allowed to reopen, as outdoor dining became a popular option because of restrictions on indoor dining at the time.

“We actually turned our oyster bar into a seafood market during COVID,” he says. “Then we reopened. We were very well-received by the community. danapointtimes.com

The momentum has been moving forward. We’ve been very well supported.”

The restaurant, though, continues to battle back from the impacts of the pandemic and subsequent challenges, including inflation.

“We’re still fighting our way out of it,” Wilson says. “This is not over.

The impact globally from finding bottled water is now a huge problem. A lot of our wine vendors can’t buy bottles, because the bottle manufacturers are out of business.”

The food sourcing chain has also “completely changed,” he says.

“I’m paying over $100 for a case of eggs,” Wilson continues. “Two weeks ago, I was paying over $100 for a case of lettuce. Six months ago, I was paying almost $600 for a case of lobster. We didn’t waver and not serve that product anymore.”

Weekly offerings at Glasspar include oyster nights on Thursdays and regatta menus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when customers can order three-course tastings for $35.

“We have brunch specials where we have $6 mimosas and $6 draft beers,” Wilson says.

Glasspar owner and chef Rob Wilson appreciates the support the community has shown his restaurant since the seafood hall opened in December 2019. Photo: Collin Breaux

Page 23

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Shhooppss Att tthhee S A

Browne’s Flowers. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Best Place to Buy Flowers Browne’s Flowers

15 MEDALS

Silver Wildflower Florist

3 MEDALS

Gold

34156 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.661.4748, brownesflowers.com 26945 Camino de Estrella, 949.498.3454, wildflowerfloral.com

Best Clothing Gold

Hobie Surf Shop

11 MEDALS

34174 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.496.2366, hobiesurfshop.com

Silver Golden Galleon Boutique

11 MEDALS

34677 Golden Lantern, 949.493.8521, goldengalleonboutique.com

Best Surf Shop Gold

Killer Dana Surf Shop

15 MEDALS

24621 Del Prado Avenue, 949.489.8380; 34467 Golden Lantern, 949.503.1186, kdsurfshop.com

Silver Hobie Surf Shop

14 MEDALS

34174 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.496.2366, hobiesurfshop.com

Best Bicycle Shop Doheny Bike

2 MEDALS

Silver Cycleogical

10 MEDALS

Gold

34163 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 100, 949.427.3305, dohenybike.com 34102 La Plaza, Suite A, 949.542.4777, cycleogicalbikes.com

Best Local Grocer Gold

Ralphs

5 MEDALS

32555 Golden Lantern, 949.661.6334; 24871 Del Prado Avenue, 949.661.4145, ralphs.com

Silver Gelson’s Markets

9 MEDALS

24 Monarch Bay Plaza, 949.488.8147, gelsons.com

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Page 24

danapointtimes.com

Winner Spotlight

HOME DÉCOR AND FURNISHINGS

Bella Bazaar Takes Home ‘Best Home Décor’ in Dana Point, Banks on Harbor Location

By C. Jayden Smith

T

Azar Salehi’s dedication to supporting local artisans in her harbor-front Bella Bazaar has led voters to elect the store as the carrier of Dana Point’s “Best Home Decor.” Photo: C. Jayden Smith

he idiom expressing how important location is to a business’ success is well-known, and local entrepreneur Azar Salehi is one person crucially aware of its impact.

Salehi, who has owned Bella Bazaar since 2006 through four locations, knows that her business’ current spot right in the heart of the Dana Point Harbor has significantly contributed to Bazaar’s longevity.

The storefront mere feet away from El Torito opened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Salehi took advantage and surprised herself upon finding she was able to fit 60% of the inventory from her previous location in the harbor.

A downside from the move was that she now had no room to place larger furniture pieces, but Salehi’s long-standing run in town nevertheless has allowed her to garner a positive reputation. Those in search of furniture know where to find her, whether online or at her warehouse facility in San Juan Capistrano.

It’s that connection with the area and her prioritization of carrying local artisans’ pieces that have led Dana Point Times readers to vote Bella Bazaar as the store for the Best Home Decor in the city, earning it the People’s Choice Golden Lantern.

Salehi, who previously worked in retail before setting out on her own, says she felt privileged to be nominated among the best. She added that it showed her she was correct in spurning opportunities to move inland in favor of serving her hometown.

“The fact that—it’s not a multiple choice; it’s a write-in—they have to remember Bella Bazaar in order to nominate us during the voting process,” says Salehi. “I’m very blessed and privileged that we’ve made a good enough impact for people just to remember us, period.”

2nd Hand Treasures and Timeless Teak tied for the Silver Lantern this year. danapointtimes.com

Helen Mahshi, co-owner of 2nd Hand Treasures with her husband, Ziad, says it was gratifying and that they were honored to be nominated. They strive to pick furniture and decor pieces for which customers have indicated their preference as time has passed.

“We just strive to give good personal service,” Mahshi says. “A lot of clients have become good friends.

Mostly, it’s really just about listening to what they want and trying to deliver it.”

Mike Riley, who has operated Timeless Teak with his wife, Debbi, for 24 years, says that they appreciated serving the local clientele and providing teak furniture that “embellishes” their customers’ fine homes. He notes that they are one of the only home decor stores nearby that still specializes in teak materials.

From the beginning, when Bella Bazaar carried more than 100 artisans’ works, Salehi has had people come to her over time, which has helped continue her goal of offering locally made products. The other parts of her business come from

Page 25

selling items that tourists might like and fulfilling custom orders for cushions, pillows, and other decor.

She says she loves working with people and helping their design vision come to life.

The business has evolved considerably over the years, especially including her decision to downsize when she moved into her current space. Salehi initially resisted the move but now says it “would have been stupid not to” go forward.

“It’s just easier to manage, and we’re in such a prime location that everybody sees us,” she says. “Obviously, I don’t have to do nearly as much advertising and things like that, because we do have a captive audience down here.”

She did forego having furniture on hand to display to customers, but her ever-revolving collection of clothing, jewelry and other items has helped to fill the space. Salehi has also learned to better utilize space, she says.

Being among the business owners in the harbor has been special to her because each entity has their own draw, but at the same time, they can pull together to represent the harbor as a good place to visit.

Regarding the area’s future in terms of the upcoming revitalization, Salehi says those prospects have been scary. However, she feels that major changes are not imminent.

“The natural transition, obviously, is online,” she says. “I think most likely everybody will go online while they are renovating and then perhaps come back when the renovations are finished.”

The existence of her warehouse is also a comfort moving forward.

Contributing to Bella Bazaar’s online presence is its activity on social media, as Salehi acknowledges she enjoys working with people in person but likes to post transformations of certain pieces.

“For example, somebody brings in a really old chair that’s really ugly, and then we revitalize it to make it fresh and new,” she says.

Salehi looks forward to continuing to have the exposure her location brings in anticipation of the changes to come.

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Home Décor and Furnishings Gold

Bella Bazaar

13 MEDALS

34511 Golden Lantern, 949.429.6200, bellabazaar.com

Silver 2nd Hand Treasures (TIE)

9 MEDALS

34272 Doheny Park Road, 949.218.7962, 2ndhandtreasures.com

Silver

Timeless Teak Furniture Store (TIE)

24366 Del Prado Avenue, 949.496.0179, visitdanapoint.com/what-to-do/timeless-teak/

1 MEDAL

Best Jewelry Gold

Swiss Connection

11 MEDALS

32565 Golden Lantern, Suite A, 949.488.0900, jeanjacquesmamie.com

Silver Bella Bazaar

4 MEDALS

34511 Golden Lantern, 949.429.6200, bellabazaar.com

Best Tackle Shop Gold

Hogan’s Bait & Tackle

13 MEDALS

34320 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.493.3528

Silver Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching 34675 Golden Lantern, 888.224.0603, danawharf.com

8 MEDALS

Best Secondhand/Thrift Store Gold

Lighthouse Thrift Store

3 MEDALS

34200 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.481.3620, lcfonline.org

Silver 2nd Hand Treasures

4 MEDALS

34272 Doheny Park Road, 949.218.7962, 2ndhandtreasures.com

book OC’s first whale watching company Unforgettable memories since 1971 Private and group charters available.

danawharf.com

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Page 26

danapointtimes.com

BEST SURF SHOP

Winner Spotlight

What do you sell here?

Carrie: We try to have everything that the local surfer would need.

M: From surfboards, beach gear—we do a lot of apparel, a lot of the Killer Dana brand apparel—which is our bread and butter.

People tend to like the brand; it’s not about Carrie and I, it’s about the brand, and it’s a great brand.

We sell all of your beach accessories and beach gear, as well as cold-weather apparel.

C: The thing that sells the most, and we’re constantly surprised, is Killer Dana gear. It blows us away how people come in (from) all over the world to get it.

Killer Dana Surf Shop sells everything that a local surfer would need. Photos: Breeana Greenberg

Killer Dana Hearkens Back to the Roots of Surf Culture

P

By Breeana Greenberg

aying tribute to the legendary surf spot known as “Killer Dana,” owners of the surf shop by the same name love to tell the Killer Dana story.

The shop evokes memories of the roots of surf culture, part-owner Mike Foster says.

Lifelong Dana Point resident Gary Wright first opened Killer Dana in 1991. In 2008, La Jolla Group acquired the shop. The current ownership group, Killer Dana LLC— comprising Mike and Carrie Foster, and Steve and Lee Dunn—took over the store in 2017.

Over the years, Killer Dana has become a fixture in the local surf culture, as Dana Point Times readers have voted the shop as the recipient of our People’s Choice Golden Lantern for Best Surf Shop in 2022.

In fact, Killer Dana has been a finalist—either Gold or Silver Lantern recipient—for the category every year since the Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern awards were launched 15 years ago.

Hobie Surf Shop has earned the

danapointtimes.com

Silver Lantern for Best Surf Shop.

Over the years, Hobie has been a finalist in the category 14 of the past 15 years.

The Dana Point Times sat down with Killer Dana managing partners Carrie and Mike Foster to discuss the iconic surf shop’s history.

What does the name Killer Dana evoke?

Mike: Killer Dana is, by all means, a part of the beginning roots of surfing, not just in Dana Point, but throughout the world. There are other places that people refer to as Surf City and Surf Mecca, but Killer Dana was a break that was surfed long ago.

People would come from all over the world to surf it. It’s called Killer Dana, because they didn’t have leashes back then; if they lost their board, it would get into the rocks and would kill their board.

All of your world-class surfers from the ’50s, ’60s surfed there, and Hobie Alter and Mickey Muñoz and all of the core group. It started here, and so I think that’s what makes Killer Dana so infamous, is its deep, deep history in the surf community, and helped put Dana Point on the map. Dana Point was originally a fishing and hunting destination, and then it became a surf mecca.

What sets Killer Dana apart from other surf shops?

C: I think our biggest thing is our vibe. Our customer service, we really try with the staff to have the customers come in and embrace them into the surf culture and enjoy them and just make them leave with a smile on their face and just have them have a great experience in here.

It’s not if they leave with a bag full of items, just that they enjoyed being in a surf shop and have a good experience. Because of that, they’ll remember the Killer Dana name, and they’ll come back.

One thing that may set us apart is our Killer Dana culture at work with our staff. We are like a family.

We all look after each other, and a big thing to Mike and I is to mentor a lot of these kids. We want every younger adult to leave here better than they came, and that’s very important to us.

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What brings customers back to Killer Dana each visit?

M: Having a very encouraging, uplifting experience. You never know what people are going through in life, right? So how they get treated when they come in, if they’re having a bad day or if they’re having an insecure day and one of our employees kind of is the cool surfer and snubs them, it plays on maybe what else is going on. So, it’s just, it’s the experience of coming into Killer Dana and feeling welcomed and no pressure to buy. We want everybody to walk in and feel like it’s home.

How does it feel to be recognized by the business community as Business of the Year?

C: Elated; I mean, to be recognized by the other businesses and for doing what we love and supporting the schools, which is just what we love to do, being part of Doheny State Beach Foundation.

We really do love Dana Point, and we really feel like we are a part of this town, and we want to support everything in it and every retailer and business in it, and we’re just excited to be part of it. And we just felt so incredibly honored.

Do you have a message for the Dana Point Community?

C+M: Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Mike: What it has meant to us over the last few years, the support that we have gotten from the community, I don’t know that we can really put into words how it has affected us personally, to the core.

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Store to Buy Gifts for Adults Gold

Your CBD Store Dana Point

1 MEDAL

34212 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite C, 949.545.7841, yourcbdstoredp.com

Silver Lingerie Paradis

1 MEDAL

24040 Camino Del Avion, Suite D, 949.218.1210, lingerieparadisusa.com

Best Home Improvement Store Gold

Gold

Silver

Silver

Dana Point Hardware

7 MEDALS

24422 Del Prado Avenue, Suite 5, 949.496.4158, danapointhardware.com

Ganahl Lumber

3 MEDALS

34162 Doheny Park Dive, 949.496.5765, ganahllumber.com

Best Tattoo Shop Dana Point Tattoo

6 MEDALS

Silver The Black Lantern

5 MEDALS

Gold

34144 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite D, 949.303.3410, danapointtattoo.com 24302 Del Prado Avenue, 949.429.7433, theblacklanternoc.com

Best Pet Store Gold Your CBD Store Dana Point. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Best Store to Buy Gifts for Kids Gold

The Wee Loft

15 MEDALS

2 MEDALS

24621 Del Prado Avenue, 949.489.8380; 34467 Golden Lantern, 949.503.1186, kdsurfshop.com

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

7 MEDALS

32880 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 30, 949.488.0025, wildsanimalsupplies.com

Silver Feed Barn

4 MEDALS

34192 Doheny Park Road, 949.248.8700, facebook.com/ocfeedbarn/

Best New Business Gold

32585-K Golden Lantern, 949.489.9202, theweeloft.com

Silver Killer Dana Surf Shop

Wild’s Animal Supplies

The Blend

32932 Pacific Coast Highway 949.416.4867, theblendoc.com

Silver YogaSix

34135 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B, 949.236.4455, yogasix.com

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danapointtimes.com

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Best Overall Customer Service Gold

Your CBD Store Dana Point

1 MEDAL

34212 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite C, 949.545.7841, yourcbdstore.dp.com

Silver Nexus Family Chiropractic

3 MEDALS

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 114, 949.356.0556, nexusefamilychiropractic.com

Best Specialty Beauty Service Gold

Dana Point Acne Lab & Skincare Studio (TIE)

Gold

Lashed Up (TIE)

3 MEDALS

24672 San Juan Avenue, Suite 104, 949.573.4949, danapointacnelab.com 3 MEDALS

34102, La Plaza, Suite D, 949.463.6013, lashedupoc.com

Silver Artistic Volume Lashes

2 MEDALS

34192 Violet Lantern, Suite 3, 949.573.1023, artisticvolumelashes.com

Best Manicure and Pedicure Gold

Posh Nails

15 MEDALS

24040 Camino Del Avion, 949.496.7674

Silver Eco Organic Nail Boutique

1 MEDAL

34212 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B, 949.218.5244, ecoorganicnail.com

Best Hair Salon Gold

The District Hair Salon

8 MEDALS

34161 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B, 949.248.3406, thedistricthairsalon.com

Silver Salon Revelation

8 MEDALS

34052 La Plaza, Suite 102, 949.248.8595, salonrevelationoc.com

Best Barbershop Gold

The Den Barber Shop & Shave Parlor

3 MEDALS

24901 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.218.5455, thedeninlaguna.com

Silver The Kings Club Barbershop

13 MEDALS

34085 La Plaza, 949.496.4644, Instagram.com/kingsclubbarbershop

Best Spa for Facials Gold

Dana Point Acne & Skincare Studio

5 MEDALS

24672 San Juan Avenue, Suite 104, 949.573.4949, danapointacnelab.com

Silver The Spa at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa 25135 Park Lantern, 949.661.5000, marriott.com

3 MEDALS

Best Spa for Massages Gold

The Spa at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa 25135 Park Lantern, 949.661.5000, marriott.com

Silver Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Spa

7 MEDALS 1 MEDAL

1 Monarch Beach Resort, 949.234.3900, waldorfastoriamonarchbeach.com

Best Medical Health Care Provider Gold

Nexus Family Chiropractic

2 MEDALS

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 114, 949.356.0556, nexusfamilychiropractic.com

Silver Hydration Room

1 MEDAL

34255 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 116, 949.218.4079, hydrationroom.com

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Winner Spotlight

BEST NEW BUSINESS

Since opening The Blend in September 2022, Jennifer “Zee” Zalev (pictured on the left beside Studio and Marketing Director Lauren Schneider) has experienced the community’s support for her studio, with Dana Point Times readers voting it as the recipient of our Golden Lantern for Best New Business in 2022. Photos: Breeana Greenberg

The Blend Merges Yoga, Pilates, HIIT for Comprehensive Workout

T

By Breeana Greenberg

he Blend founder Jennifer “Zee” Zalev developed her unique workout that combines aspects of yoga, mat Pilates and high-intensity interval training for herself in between teaching yoga classes in Toronto, Canada.

As a fitness competitor in her early 20s, Zalev found that lifting weights and doing cardio were not only limiting but became damaging to her body.

“That’s what led me to yoga, and then yoga led me to Pilates,” Zalev says. “But I was missing that cardio aspect.”

While developing The Blend, Zalev was looking for a workout that lengthened and strengthened her muscles while providing a burst of cardio, too.

“Eventually, what happened was clients would start asking me, ‘Well, what do you do to stay in shape?’ ” Zalev says. “Then when I started telling them that I have this blend for classes, they wanted to start doing it themselves.”

Her unique class was added to the schedule at her yoga studio before she had even named the workout, Zalev says.

“My private clients all went from doing yoga, Pilates, all separate classes, to this blend class three times a week, and a lot of them noticed changes to their body, how they felt mentally, emotionally,” Zalev says.

When she and her husband, Adam Zalev, relocated to Dana Point during the pandemic, she dreamed of opening a new studio where she could offer her blend classes.

In early September 2022, The Blend studio opened its doors at Monarch Bay Plaza, offering a variety of classes, including the unique blend flow, Vinyasa yoga, HIIT, mat Pilates and more.

A typical blend class starts gently with a yoga flow before moving into a burst of HIIT. After getting everyone’s heart rate up with the HIIT workout, the class moves into a mat Pilates workout, using props and resistance bands.

The class ends with a yoga flow moving into Shavasana, a pose in which class members can lie flat and focus on recovering their breath.

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

“So, you get that lengthening component where you stretch the body out, you get a strength component where you build on long, lean muscles, as opposed to if you were in the gym doing typical weightlifting workouts,” Zalev says.

“So, you get those long, lean muscles, and then there’s a cardio component which is the HIIT portion, which is more circuit training.”

“You get to sweat, too, because that’s all intertwined together in 60 minutes, which makes it really fun,” Zalev adds.

While the structure of the class is always the same, Zalev says you never take the same class twice, because instructors add their own creativity to the workout.

Zalev explains that the benefits of her blend flow go beyond physical.

“Part of what the blend does for people, whether it’s weight loss, toning, whatever that is, there’s also a mental and emotional aspect of it, too, because it does incorporate the mindfulness of yoga,” Zalev says.

“Then, beyond that, I think because our community is so welcoming and so warm, it’s kind of like a trifecta of physical well-being, mental and emotional well-being and then social well-being,” Zalev continues.

In the six months that the studio has been open, The Blend has been very well-received by the community, with Dana Point Times readers voting the studio as the recipient of our Golden Lantern for Best New Business in 2022.

YogaSix, which opened in the Prado West development in June 2022, earned the Silver Lantern award for Best New Business.

The name YogaSix stands for the

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six signature classes that the yoga studio offers: Y6 101, Y6 Restore, Y6 Slow Flow, Y6 Hot, Y6 Power, and Y6 Sculpt and Flow.

“We have classes that are gently warmed all the way to heated, so you can get your sweat on,” General Manager Jennifer Mussaw says.

“There’s lights that change colors throughout practice, music; it’s an experience that you can’t find anywhere else right now in Dana Point.”

At The Blend, the studio also offers a unique travel package that includes three classes—the perfect number for someone staying in town for just a week, Zalev says.

For new members, Zalev recommends having a conversation with the front desk staff to find out what classes you should start with and how you should progress from more beginner classes to more intense ones.

“Beyond that, when you go into the studio, talking to your instructor and making sure that they can modify and customize and know your goals, they can build with you,” Zalev says.

Zalev believes it’s the welcoming environment she’s been able to cultivate in the studio that has helped The Blend become so successful in its first year.

“Sometimes, what happens, especially when you’re new and not from the area, it’s almost like a fear-type thing when you go to a new studio,” Zalev says. “You don’t know anyone, and it’s a little bit uncomfortable.”

“Our whole goal with The Blend,” Zalev adds, “was we wanted everyone to feel comfortable right when you walk through the door.”

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Aesthetic Service Provider Gold

Dana Point Acne Lab & Skincare Studio

3 MEDALS

24672 San Juan Avenue, Suite 104, 949.573.4949, danapointacnelab.com

Silver Coast Medical Aesthetics

3 MEDALS

24981 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Suite E125, 949.493.1900, coastmedical.net

Best Dental Health Care Provider Gold Silver

Dana Point Dental (Dr. Lilian Cifarelli, DDS; Dr. Amir Larijani, DDS)

34080 Golden Lantern, Suite 201, 949.661.5841, danapointdental.com

Dr. Garrett Rubio, DDS

6 MEDALS

5 MEDALS

24861 Del Prado Avenue, 949.661.6255, garrettrubiodds.com

Best Acupuncturist Gold Silver

Xu’s Chinese Healing

3 MEDALS

24692 Del Prado Avenue, C, 949.493.0962

Pacific Acupuncture Center

6 MEDALS

34700 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 308, 949.489.1911, pacificacupuncture.com

Best Chiropractor Gold

PCH Chiropractic

1 MEDAL

26933 Camino de Estrella, Unit B, 949.503.2691

Silver Nexus Family Chiropractic

5 MEDALS

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 114, 949.356.0556, nexusfamilychiropractic.com

Best Group Workout Gold

iHeartYoga

5 MEDALS

34485 Golden Lantern, 949.577.6634, iheartyoga.org

Silver YogaSix

1 MEDAL

34135 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B, 949.236.4455, yogasix.com

BODY TREATMENTS

MASSAGE

FACIALS

WAXING

24582 Del Prado, Ste. F, Dana Point,

949.496.2977

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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Thank you, Dana Point, for trusting us with your skin & lashes for a second year. We appreciate your support.

Your one stop shop for beauty, facials, lashes, skincare, & gifts. $99 Facials ends March 31st.

SPECIALIZING IN REAL ESTATE, BUSINESS AND CORPORATE FORMATION. (949) 335-5440 hydee@riggslawoffice.com

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Pilates Studio Gold

Studio A Pilates & Yoga

6 MEDALS

24849 Del Prado Avenue, 949.218.0233, studioapilates.yoga

Silver The Blend

1 MEDAL

32932 Pacific Coast Highway 949.416.4867, theblendoc.com

Best Gym Gold

Peaceful Warrior Fitness

2 MEDALS

34207 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.291.1283, peacefulwarriorfitness.com

Silver F45 Training

2 MEDALS

34255 Pacific Coast Highway, Unit 111, 949.395.3408, f45training.com/danapoint

Best Gym for Personal Training New Category!

Gold Silver

Fitness Together

34255 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 107, 949.488.0005, fitnesstogether.com

Peaceful Warrior Fitness

34207 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.291.1283, peacefulwarriorfitness.com

Best Martial Arts Studio Gold iHeartYoga. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Best Yoga Studio Gold

iHeartYoga

Silver

3 MEDALS

34207 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.291.1283, peacefulwarriorfitness.com

USSD Dana Point

1 MEDAL

32585 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3340, ussd.com/stores/dana-point/

Best Jeweler

10 MEDALS

Gold

34485 Golden Lantern, 949.577.6634, iheartyoga.org

Silver YogaSix

Peaceful Warrior Fitness

1 MEDAL

34135 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B, 949.236.4455, yogasix.com

Swiss Connection

3 MEDALS

32565 Golden Lantern, Suite A, 949.488.0900, jeanjacquesmamie.com

Silver Dana Point Jewelers

2 MEDALS

24681 La Plaza Drive, Suite 110, 949.328.1055, danapointjewelers.com

We are Ecstatic that you have Chosen us Winners Every year our Office has been Open!

PCH Chiropractic bringing to Dana Point: 40 yrs experience Community Based Fee Schedules Highly Advanced Techniques Honest Answers to your family’s Health Organic Healthcare – never any drugs or surgery Convient Morning and Evening Hours Onsight Low Radiation Digital X-Rays www.pchchiropractic.com • 949-503-2691 • contact@pchchiropractic.com 15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Music School Gold

As a citizen and patriot, you can proudly serve!

Volunteer and donate to our mission and help us provide Asaacitizen citizen and patriot, support andand outreach to our As patriot, As a citizen and patriot, you can proudly serve!

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Silver Kenny’s Music Store

SEMPER FIDELIS ALWAYS FAITHFUL

3 MEDALS

Best Veterinarian Dana Point Animal Hospital

2 MEDALS

Silver Estrella Veterinary Hospital

3 MEDALS

Gold

32545-D Golden Lantern, 949.493.1370, danapointanimalhospital.com 26925 Camino de Estrella, 949.496.6661, thrivepetcare.com

Best Grooming/Pet Care Gold

OC Grooming & Pet Spa, Dana Point

12 MEDALS

34102 La Plaza, Suite B, 949.429.7297, ocgrooming.com

Silver DawgyStyle Groom Shop

13 MEDALS

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Unit 112, 949.496.3315, mydawgystyle.com

Best Dry Cleaner

our American heroes. and gain the benefits

sacrifice so much. SEMPER FIDELIS of being one of our elite SEMPER FIDELIS FIDELIS SEMPER FIDELIS Call 949.373.5375 orSEMPER battalion of businesses ALWAYS FAITHFUL that support ALWAYS FAITHFUL FAITHFUL view our website by ALWAYS ALWAYS FAITHFUL our American heroes. scanning above.

3 MEDALS

24731 La Plaza, 949.661.3984, kennysmusicstore.com

THANK YOU DANA support and outreach to our support and outreach to our mission and help us provide Fighting Fifth and their families!

POINT for your Fighting Fifth and their families!

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Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado Avenue, 949.496.6556, danmans.com

Gold

Raymar Cleaners

Silver

Sunny Fresh Cleaners

13 MEDALS

34085 La Plaza, 949.496.2640, raymarcleaners.com 6 MEDALS

24040 Camino Del Avion, Suite F, 949.240.9787, sunnyfreshcleanersdanapoint.com

Best Laundromat Gold

SEMPER FIDELIS ALWAYS FAITHFUL

Silver

The Laundry Depot

4 MEDALS

24522 Del Prado Avenue, thelaundrydepotdp.com

Barnett Coin Laundry & Wash and Fold Laundry Service 3 MEDALS

34320 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.427.8889, barnettcoinlaundry.com

Best Yacht/Boat Maintenance Repair Gold Silver

Nauti Boat Services

3 MEDALS

Pacific Edge Marine

4 MEDALS

34145 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 504, 949.415.8336, nautiboatservice.com 25802 Victoria Boulevard, Suite 102, 949.230.8557, pacificedgemarine.com

Best Surfboard Ding Repair Gold

Killer Dana Surf Shop

2 MEDALS

24621 Del Prado Avenue, 949.489.8380; 34467 Golden Lantern, 949.503.1186, kdsurfshop.com

Silver Infinity Surfboards

2 MEDALS

24382 Del Prado Avenue, 949.661.6699, inifinitysurf.com

Best Auto Repair Gold

Dana Point Auto Service

12 MEDALS

34342 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.496.1086, danapointautoservice.weebly.com

Silver Performance Haus Volkswagen

4 MEDALS

34112 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.493.3571, performancehausvw.com

Best Financial Planning Service New Category!

Gold

Ryan T. Krause, Edward Jones

32834 Pacific Coast Highway, #107, 949.487.0760, edwardjones.com/us-en/ financial-advisor/ryan-krause

Silver Elaine LaVine, State Farm Insurance

34080 Golden Lantern, Suite 105, 949.240.8944, elainelavine.net

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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danapointtimes.com

Best Banking Institution Gold

Bank of America

7 MEDALS

24801 Del Prado Avenue, 949.487.4262, bankofamerica.com

Silver California Bank and Trust

1 MEDAL

24034 Camino Del Avion, 949.248.4444, calbanktrust.com

Best Home Improvement Service New Category!

Gold

Dana Point Hardware

24422 Del Prado Avenue, Suite 5, 949.496.4158, danapointhardware.com

Silver 2nd Hand Treasures

34272 Doheny Park Road, 949.218.7962, 2ndhandtreasures.com

Best Local Nonprofit Organization Gold

Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group

9 MEDALS

P.O. Box 471, Dana Point, CA 92629, 949.373.5375, danapoint5thmarines.com

Silver Stand Up to Trash standuptotrash.com

2 MEDALS

Best Catering Gold

Pacific Thyme Catering & Events

5 MEDALS

24050 Camino Del Avion, Suite B, 949.547.3939, pacificthymecatering.com

Silver What a Dish Café & Catering

7 MEDALS

24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Suite B100, 949.276.4884, whatadishoc.com

Best Law Firm Gold

Law Office of Jan A. Meyer

3 MEDALS

32776 Sail Way, 949.607.9412, danapointwills.com

Silver Law Office of Hydee J. Riggs

1 MEDAL

34145 Pacific Coast Highway, #359, 949.335.5440

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Ouutt Geettttiinngg O G

Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners Gold

Dana Point Harbor

15 MEDALS

34571 Golden Lantern Street, 949.496.6137, danapointharbor.com

Silver Wind & Sea Restaurant

1 MEDAL

34699 Golden Lantern, 949.496.6500, windandsearestaurant.com

Dana Point Harbor. Photo: File

Thank

You

Dana

Point

All of us at Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari are very grateful to be a part of Dana Point, the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World® and the first Whale Heritage Site in the Americas.

Book your 5-star experience at DolphinSafari.com Scan for live availability, sightings, virtual tours, online booking, and more.

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Beach Gold Silver

Salt Creek Beach

15 MEDALS

33333 S. Pacific Coast Highway, 949.923.2280, ocparks.com

Dana Strand Beach

2 MEDALS

Access from Strand Vista Park on Selva Road

Best Camp for Kids Gold

Ocean Institute

7 MEDALS

24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.496.2274, oceaninstitute.org

Silver Westwind Sailing

5 MEDALS

34451 Ensenada Place, 949.492.3035, westwindsailing.com

Best Lodging Gold

Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa

25135 Park Lantern, 949.661.5000, marriott.com

15 MEDALS

Silver Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Spa

4 MEDALS

1 Monarch Beach Resort, 949.234.3900, waldorfastoriamonarchbeach.com

Best Surf Break Gold

Salt Creek Beach

15 MEDALS

33333 S. Pacific Coast Highway, 949.923.2280, ocparks.com

Silver Doheny State Beach

13 MEDALS

25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.496.6171, parks.ca.gov

Best Park Gold Silver

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

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Salt Creek Beach

1 MEDAL

33333 S. Pacific Coast Highway, 949.923.2280, ocparks.com

Pines Park

7 MEDALS

34941 Camino Capistrano, danapoint.org

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15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Winner Spotlight

BEST VENUE FOR LIVE MUSIC

Cover band Flashback Heart Attack entertains the crowd at Stillwater Spirits & Sounds with renditions of pop songs. Photos: Collin Breaux

O

Stillwater Guarantees Fun Vibes with Popular Live Music Shows

By Collin Breaux

n a Friday night, a few hundred people crowd into Stillwater Spirits & Sounds—drinks in hand, chatting, ready to enjoy hit tunes they listened to while growing up.

A red curtain hides the performance stage.

Then, the curtain opens. Cover band Flashback Heart Attack is the featured entertainment, decked out in sunglasses, headbands, and retro clothes. As they play familiar songs from days gone by—including New Order’s “Blue Monday”—the audience starts dancing.

Times like these are so renowned that Dana Point Times readers voted for Stillwater Spirits & Sounds as the Best Venue for Live Music in our annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards.

“Stillwater began about 12 years ago. We did it because there weren’t other live music venues in town, other than The Coach House,” owner Damian

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Collins says. “I’ve done a bunch of nightclub and entertainment stuff before this. I wanted to bring some better entertainment, more nightlife, to town.”

Rounding out the live music venue category is runner-up The Point, a restaurant and bar that also features regional acts, including country music.

“We try to bring in a lot of different types of music. Right now, we’re doing everything from Danman’s Music School, which is all the kids and music next door here. They do their kids’ concerts,” Collins says. “Then we do country on Wednesdays, cover bands on Thursday and, basically, ’80s and ’90s (music) on the weekends.”

Music brings everyone together, he says.

“What’s neat about here is we have people that are 21 to 61, and they’re all just having fun,” Collins says. “Music is one of those things that unites everybody, no matter what. Age, color, race, political belief, whatever, you can go out on the floor and have fun.”

Letting kids play from local music schools such as Danman’s Music School is good, because it gives them confidence, he says.

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Stillwater owner Damian Collins enjoys providing good music and times for people in Dana Point.

Photo: Collin Breaux

“What’s neat about here is we have people that are 21 to 61, and they’re all just having fun. Music is one of those things that unites everybody, no matter what. Age, color, race, political belief, whatever, you can go out on the floor and have fun.”

Stillwater owner Damian Collins

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“You get these kids that are super shy. You get them up on stage as an alter ego, as a rock star, and it gives them a whole different perspective,” Collins says. “Years later, we’re seeing them come here and play in bands.”

Collins also developed Sunsets in Capistrano Beach, which wasn’t big enough to accommodate live music.

“Now, we’re trying to focus a lot more on food,” Collins says of Stillwater’s culinary side, which offers table dining service outside the dance floor. “I brought in a really good chef. We’re trying to transition that way a little bit.”

He describes the food as “upscale gastro pub.” Despite the upscale menu, Stillwater doesn’t go for a snooty atmosphere.

“The vibe here is, pretty much, everyone fits in here. There’s no pretentiousness,” Collins says.

“You got guys that are here in sandals, and you got guys that are here in suits. Anyone can walk in, feel comfortable, get a drink, dance on the dance floor, listen to music, and have fun.”

Stillwater also has television screens, so people can watch sports games.

The attendance at music shows has taken off since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

“I think people are really wound up, looking to be around people again,” Collins says.

“Human nature is you like to be around people and interact and do things. COVID locked everyone up for two years, which really crushed us.”

“People now are more into events and going out to actual things than just going out for dinner and a drink,” he adds.

“They want to have an experience.”

Though Stillwater “took their licks” from the pandemic, they were able to continue paying staff members using funding from the federal government’s Payment Protection Plan— though Collins admits money got tight.

“If COVID would have lasted another six months and we didn’t get PPP, I don’t know if we’d be here—going through all of our reserves trying to keep as many of our employees paid,”

he says.

The crowd at Stillwater might look different on a given night, given who’s playing. Collins, for example, mentioned the country nights draw out the cowboy set.

People coming to enjoy live music at Stillwater might be on a date or celebrating a promotion at work, he says.

“If you go to a place, you have an amazing meal, you meet the girl of your dreams, you dance to an amazing band, you’re never going to forget that night,” Collins says.

He is confident in Stillwater Spirits & Sounds standing strong as a live music venue in the face of whatever challenges may come.

“Whether the economy goes down, things get crushed, people can still come out, have a beer have a cocktail, have a great night for four hours with music going on,” Collins says.

“We’re lucky. Our crowd’s a little older. I don’t have the fights here.”

Collins forecasts a bright future in general for Del Prado Avenue.

“I think this street is really going to grow. I think you’re going to see a lot more happen on Del Prado,” he says. “The REDO Market has been a rad edition.

It’s packed, man.”

Collins praised city leaders and governments for being pro-business and helping to facilitate live music and community entertainment.

“We’re happy here,” he says.

While Collins says the city does an “awesome job” of hosting concerts in the park, he would like to see more live music in the area.

“I wish there were three or more spots that had a stage,” he says. “You go down to Key West, and you walk Key West and every place you walk by has some person playing music. You go to Austin. You go to Nashville. All of them have it. They’re bigger cities, granted.”

“I’m hoping that the city continues to do things that promote music within the city,” Collins says. “We’re finally having an electronic music festival down at Doheny, so I’m super pumped on that. I’m hoping more of that stuff happens.”

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Best Yacht Club Dana West Yacht Club

14 MEDALS

Silver Dana Point Yacht Club

14 MEDALS

Gold

24601 Dana Drive, 949.661.1185, dwyc.org

24399 Dana Drive, 949.496.2900, dpyc.org

Best Local Annual Event Gold

Dana Point Turkey Trot turkeytrot.com

Silver Festival of Whales festivalofwhales.com

10 MEDALS

8 MEDALS

Best Harbor Recreation/Excursion Gold

Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching 34675 Golden Lantern, 888.224.0603, danawharf.com

Silver Westwind Sailing

15 MEDALS

4 MEDALS

34451 Ensenada Place, 949.492.3035, westwindsailing.com

Best Wedding/Special Event Venue Gold

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Spa

1 MEDAL

1 Monarch Beach Resort, 949.234.3900, waldorfastoriamonarchbeach.com

Silver Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa

25135 Park Lantern, 949.661.5000, marriott.com

12 MEDALS

Best Venue for Live Music Stillwater Spirits & Sounds

11 MEDALS

Silver The Point Restaurant & Bar

1 MEDAL

Gold

24701 Del Prado Avenue, 949.661.6003, danapointstillwater.com 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, 949.464.5700, thepointrestaurantandbar.com

Thank You Dana Point!

IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE SERVING YOU FOR 35+ YEARS

WestwindSailing.com Dana Point’s Community Sail & Paddle Locale 34451 Ensenada Pl, DP Harbor (949) 492-3035 15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Page 44

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miinneeeesss Noom N

NOMINEES

2022

The nominees were submitted by our community of voters. Please note that we have done our best to review this list and to make edits such as misspellings and elimination of nonexistent businesses. Please be advised that there may be errors. Individuals’ names are listed in alphabetical order by first name. If you have a correction to submit for next year’s Best of Dana Point issue, please email us with your suggestion at info@picketfencemedia.com. Only polite suggestions will be reviewed and considered for publishing in future issues. Thank you for your understanding and participation!

*Business Has Closed 180blü at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel 2nd Hand Treasures

A

A’s Burgers A+ Nail & Spa Advanced Dermatology Agostino’s by the Sea Aida Uddberg Albertsons Alexis Bastida Alohana Acai Bowls & Coffee Dr. Amir Larijani, DDS aPizza Doho Art of Inner Peace Art Sea Artistic Volume Lashes Ashley Focht, StillWater Spirits & Sounds Austin Savoy AVEO Table + Bar at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club Aventura Sailing Association Azmin Gharamin

B

Baby Beach Bank of America Barbara Tagudar Bare Bottoms Boat Cleaning Barnett Coin Laundry & Wash and Fold Laundry Service Baskin-Robbins Beach Cities Fitness Beach Harbor Pizza Beach Hut Deli Beachside Animal Hospital Bear Coast Coffee Beatrix Ketcham Beaushe Salon Beauty Boss & Co. Bella Bazaar Bella Donna Skin Studio Bella Terrace Nails Salon Bernice Stillwater Best Western Plus Marina Shores Hotel BevMo! Big 5 Sporting Goods Black Market Sushi Blake Mellgren, Craft House Blue Dolphin Restaurant & Billiards Blue Lantern Inn Bluff Top Trail Boneyard Café* Bonjour Café & Bistro Bourbon Steak Orange County at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club Brio Tuscany Grille Brittany Anderson danapointtimes.com

Broken Blades Barbershop Browne’s Flowers Buena Vista Market

C

Cali Costa Restaurant & Cantina California Bank & Trust Camellia Boutique Candido Torres, Brio Tuscany Grille Capistrano Surfside Inn Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari Carol McMahon Interior Design Cardboard Classic “Dinghy Dash” Carlos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina Carmelita’s Taqueria & Grill Casanova Ristorante Catalina Express Celebrity Cleaners Chart House Chase Bank Chefe Productions Christian Goodman, Dana Point Ale House Dr. Christina Meachum, DDS City of Dana Point Club Pilates Coast Medical Aesthetics Coastal Chiropractic Coastal Kitchen Cold Plunge Therapy Lounge Compass Real Estate Cooper Bird Correct Choice Dental Group Courtney Ramoska Craft House Creekside Park CrossFit Dana Point Cycleogical

D

Dana Cosmo Dental Dana Cove Park Dana Hills High School Football 12th Man Booster Club Dana Kai Dana Niguel Banfield Pet Hospital Dana Outrigger Canoe Club Dana Point Acne Lab & Skincare Studio Dana Point Ale House Dana Point Animal Hospital Dana Point Aquatic Foundation Dana Point Auto Service Dana Point Barber Dana Point Bodycentre Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Dana Point Charters Dana Point Classic Car Show Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group Dana Point Dental Dana Point Dermatology Dana Point Farmers Market

Dana Point Festival of Whales Dana Point Festival of Whales Clam Chowder Cook-Off Dana Point Free Concerts in the Park Dana Point Halloween Spooktacular and Trunk or Treat Dana Point Harbor Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights Dana Point Harbor Youth Foundation Dana Point Hardware Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area Dana Point Jet Ski Dana Point Jewelers Dana Point Laundromat Dana Point Marina Inn Dana Point Nursery Dana Point Shipyard Dana Point Smiles Dana Point Sunset Wine Cruises Dana Point Tattoo Dana Point Turkey Trot Dana Point Water Wars Dana Point Yacht Club Dana Point Yacht Club Youth Sailing Dana West Yacht Club Dana West Yacht Club Charity Regatta Benefiting American Cancer Society Dana West Youth Sailing Camp Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching Daniel Hyatt Danielle Kuhn Danman’s Music School Del Taco Denny’s DermFx Dana Point Design Nails Spa Diane Bellinger, Coast Medical Aesthetics Dip Nail Bar Dippity Donuts Doheny Builders Supply Doheny State Beach Doheny State Junior Lifeguards Doheny Surf Doho Café at Doheny State Beach Dollar Tree Domino’s Pizza Doris Walker Overlook DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Doheny Beach Dustin’s Barbershop Dwight Donaldson, Brio Tuscany Grille Dying Breed Tattoo Shop

E

E. Johnson Law Firm, PC Eco Elegance Salon Eco Organic Nail Boutique

Eden Vegan Restaurant El Pollo Loco El Torito Mexican Restaurant Elaine LaVine—State Farm Insurance Agent Elite Cleaners English Rose Beauty Studio Eric Myran Erin Copeland, The Point Restaurant & Bar Estrella Veterinary Hospital

F

Feed Barn Fit4mom South Orange County Fitness Together Flippin’ Pizza Fourth of July Fireworks Frank Orlando, Craft House Freddy Carbajal, StillWater Spirits & Sounds Frisby Cellars

G

Ganahl Lumber Dr. Garrett Rubio, DDS Gelson’s Markets Gemmell’s Restaurant Gen Kai Sushi Get My Point Giana Bakery & Provisions Girl in the Curl Surf Camp Girl in the Curl Surf Shop Glasspar Golden Galleon Boutique Good Choice Sushi by the Sea Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Dana Point GritCycle Monarch Beach

H

Harbor Boat Rentals Harbor House Café Harpoon Henry’s Seafood Restaurant Haute Legs Headlands Conservation Trail System Hennessey’s Tavern Heritage Park Hobie Surf Shop Hogan’s Bait & Tackle Howell Plumbing Hyde Goods

I

Ichibiri Japanese Restaurant iHeartYoga iHeartYoga SUP Yoga iHeartYoga Yacht Yoga Infinity Surfboards Irving Nunez It’s All About the Cake

J

Jack’s Restaurant & Bar Page 45

Jack’s Surfboards Dr. James La Jevic, DDS Javier Romero, StillWater Spirits & Sounds Jayro Martinez, Outer Reef Jazzercise Dana Point JC Beans Coffee House Jean-Jacques Mamie Fine Jewelry Jean Pierre Dubray Jeddy’s Upholstery & Interior Dr. Jeff Kindseth, DDS Dr. Jeffrey Briney, DDS Jenny Wright Jeremy Madix, Station Craft Brewery + Kitchen Jersey Mike’s Subs Jessica Eddy, Glasspar Dr. Jill Granite Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Dr. Joanne Gabot-Heyman, DDS Joey Cinderman John Tesar Jon’s Fish Market Jose Lopez Joshua Benson Justin Haupt Justonian Builders

K

Kamea Poke Kate Clemmons, Craft House Katie Clyne Kawamata Seafood Keen Vasquez Dr. Kelly McDonough, DDS Kenny’s Music Store Kevin Degraves KG Beach Camps Kids’ Summer Fishing Camp, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching Killer Beauty Killer Dana Surf Shop Knights Shawarma Kortney Jones Kyle Nelson Construction

L

La Barra by Lupes La Cresta Life Sciences Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa Lantern Bay Park Lantern District Lantern Village Association Lantern Village Community Park Dr. Larry Snyder, MD Las Golondrinas Mexican Food Lashed Up, LLC Laurens Dapper Dog S’paw Law Office of Hydee J. Riggs Law Office of Jan A. Meyer Lighthouse Thrift Store Dr. Lilian Cifarelli, DDS Lingerie Paradis

Lost Winds Dive Shop Luciana’s Ristorante Luna Grill Lupe’s Mexican Eatery Luxe Restaurant and World Famous Martini Bar

M

Magical Shears Hair Salon Maison Café + Market Maki Yaki Japanese Restaurant Mariners 936 Sea Scouts Maritime Festival Maritime Festival Plein Air Art Mary Treadway, Brio Tuscany Grille Matt Barrett McDonald’s Meals on Wheels Meesh Boutique MemorialCare Medical Group Merideth Miller Mermade Market Michael Mina Michael Murphy, District Salon Mike Grant Mike Warrick Mike Whit Dr. Michael Wiekamp Millie/Coastal Accents Minuteman Press Monarch Bay Beach Club Monarch Bay Cleaners Monarch Beach Golf Links Monarch Beach Golf Links Golf Camp Monarch Beach Golf Links Golf & Lifestyle Monarch Bay Optometry Monarch Beach Market Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club Mon Belle Lashes by Dakota Moulin Movies in the Park

N

Nails Lounge by the Sea Nate Murguia, Craft House Nature Interpretive Center Nauti Boat Services New Mandarin Garden Nexus Family Chiropractic Niamh Woods, Cali Costa Restaurant & Cantina Nikki’s Café

O

OC Beads OC Grooming & Pet Spa, Dana Point OC Happy Tails Dog Grooming Dana Point OC Junior Lifeguards OC SkinFixer Ocean Blown Salon

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

2022

NOMINEES

Ocean Canvas Co. Ocean Institute Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Ocean Institute/Laurena G. Chambers Gallery Book & Gift Store Ocean Institute Summer Camp Ocean Ranch Chiropractic Ocean Ranch Dental Oceans Enabled Ohana Festival Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant Orange Engine Auto & Marine Parts Orangetheory Fitness Dana Point Organic Nails Lounge Organic Tree Juice Bar Out of Africa Outbound Yacht Service OverVue Lounge and Deck, Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa

P

Pacific Acupuncture Center Pacific Ashtanga Yoga Shala Pacific Edge Marine Pacific Thyme Catering & Events Pacific Western Bank Panda Express Paradis Ice Cream Paradise Nails PCH Chiropractic Peaceful Warrior Wellness Pedego Electric Bikes Peking Dragon Restaurant Pepi’s Sports Bar & Grill

Performance Haus Volkswagen Pet Project Foundation Piazza Wellness Center Pick Up Stix Pines Park Planet Beauty Posh Nails Prado West Primi Donuts Pro Nail Project Social Proud Mary’s Pure Watersports

R

Ralphs Raya at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Raymar Cleaners REDO Vintage & Maker’s Market Reptiles Reptropolis Revital Exotic Jewelry & Apparel Rick Eckstein, Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Rip Curl Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Rite Aid Riviera Laser Studio RJ’s Café Rob Wilson, Glasspar Rococo Rosen Law Offices Rosetta Coffee Brewing Company Round Table Pizza Royal Cleaners Royal Thai Massage and Healing Center

15th Annual Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards

Ryan Krause, Edward Jones Ryan Perez, Chefe Productions

S

Salon Connection Salon Dawnielle Salon Revelation Salon Serenity Salt Creek Beach Salt Creek Grille Scarcelli Real Estate Group Luxury Coastal Homes Scoop Deck at The Coffee Importers Sea Terrace Park Shane Lokket Shannon Greathouse, Glasspar Dr. Shilpa Gaikwad, MD Shine Salon Shipwreck Park Skin Diva Skin Therapy by Madalina Soleil Massage Spa South Coast Sailing Team South Coast Spine Center Sports Barber St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church Stacks Pancake House Stand Up to Trash Starbucks Station Craft Brewery + Kitchen Stella’s Serious Italian StillWater Spirits & Sounds Strand Beach Strand Vista Park Studio A Pilates & Yoga

Stuft Pizza Subway Sugared + Bronzed Summer Palma Sundara Salon Sunny Fresh Dry Cleaners Sunsets Bar Sunset Park Supercuts Surf Cycle Laundromat Swiss Connection Synaptic Cycles

T

Taco Bell Taste of Lantern Village Thai Body Works Thai Dara Thai This The Arches of Dana Point The Bagel Shack The Blend The Black Lantern The Brig Restaurant The CaliCamp Surf Camp The Captain’s Chair The Chocolate Soldier The Coffee Importers The Den Barber Shop & Shave Parlor The District Salon The Dragon Institute The Gift Chateau The Habit Burger Grill The Harbor Grill* The Hydration Room The Kings Club Barbershop

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The Lash Spa The Laundry Depot The LifeTrends Group The Little Kitchen Asian Café The Mailroom The Point Restaurant & Bar The Rib Joint The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Spa The Sculpted Brow The Shwack Beach Grill The Spa at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa The UPS Store The Wee Loft Thunderbird Park Tic Tac Nails Timeless Teak Top Brass Top Nails & Hair Tracy L. Newman True at Heart Studios True Pilates OC Turk’s Dana Warf Tutor & Spunky’s Deli

U

Union Bank Unique Accents United Studios of Self Defense US Bank

V

Valvoline Instant Oil Change Vibe Organic Kitchen & Juice

W

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, 33 North Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, Club 19 Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, Part & Parcel Waterman’s Harbor* West Marine Westwind Sailing Westwind Sailing Camp Westwind Sailing Classes Westwind Sailing SUP What a Dish Café & Catering White Lotus Day Spa Whitestone Restaurant & Bar Wild’s Animal Supplies Wildflower Florist William D. Nguyen Orthodontics Wind & Sea Restaurant Woody Hut Work Laugh Sweat

X

Xu’s Chinese Healing

Y

YogaSix Dana Point Yogurtland Your CBD Store Your Remedy Massage Yvon Getz

Z

Zen Sushi

danapointtimes.com

Thank you Dana Point and friends for supporting small businesses and our dreams.