Summer is here, and we welcome the visitors who come to enjoy the many pleasures of our town, including our beautiful beaches and parks, the three famed art festivals, and the iconic Pageant of the Masters.
Pictured on our cover is local skimboard pro-rider Johnny Salta as he puts it, “Connecting off a rare side wash at Oak St.” Johnny manages the operations at Victoria Skimboards. Read about the World Championship of Skimboarding, aka The VIC, on page 8.
Our LagunaNOW.com pages, feature nightlife, live music, and events throughout the Summer. One thing for sure is, every business you encounter in this guide is a Laguna Beach Favorite.
Our featured Local Spotlight interview is with legendary IMAX filmmaker, environmentalist, philanthropist, and author, Greg MacGillivray sharing highlights from his life, career, and some of his own Laguna Beach Favorites.
Follow us on Instagram
@LagunaBeachVibe and use the hashtag #LagunaBeachFavorites when posting your Favorite Laguna Beach photos so we can feature them in future guides. Have fun exploring, be safe, and please help us keep Laguna beautiful by leaving no trace behind. Lagunans, thank you, and so do the wildlife, sea creatures, and natural habitat surrounding us.
Lisa Farber, Publisher
Laguna’s live music scene and the venues advertised here are favorites for music and dance lovers. For a complete list of daily live music, go to LagunaNow.com.
SKYLOFT
Jazz night, Jam band, Top notch DJ’s, Live bands, Sunday Blues night. Cover charge may apply.
422 S. Coast Hwy. skyloftoc.com
THE SANDPIPER LOUNGE
Live music from some of Laguna’s favorite bands, 9:30pm nightly.
1183 South Coast Hwy. sandpiperlounge.com
THE CLIFF RESTAURANT & BAR
Great lineup of musical talent, food, and drinks with an amazing ocean front setting.
577 South Coast Hwy. TheCliffRestaurant.com
THE DRAKE
LAGUNA BEACH
Live music nightly. Dining menu by Executive Chef and Partner Paul Gstrein.
2894 South Coast Hwy. TheDrakeLaguna.com
MOZAMBIQUE
Live music in Durban Room, Shebeen Lounge, Sunday Jazz Brunch, Reggae. Cover charge may apply. 1740 S. Coast Hwy. mozambiqueoc.com
LAGUNANOW.COM
CLUB 222 & SUEÑOS
A great after-hours destination to dance the night away every Friday and Saturday, 9pm-late 222 Ocean Ave., @Club222Productions
LAGUNA’S COMPLETE LIST OF THINGS TO DO
The art season in Laguna Beach flourishes yearround with First Thursdays Art Walk featuring 40+ galleries celebrating the diverse cultural art scene of Laguna Beach and is free to the public. July 6, August 3, September 7, citywide hosted receptions 6-9pm. firstthursdaysartwalk.org
Historic theater with an impressive lineup of headliners this Summer. Get tickets and more info at LagunaPlayhouse.com
Radio, unlike ANY other radio station on the planet. EVERY. SONG. EVER. Every genre...EVERY SONG. Relevant daily conversations and interjections of The Mornings With Ed Show
Listen for an hour and get hooked. Listen online at VoiceOfLaguna.com
Get ready for an interlude of laughter and music as two men, or “4 hands,” take us on a journey about their would-be careers as concert pianists. The talented duo trade stories about piano lessons, pushy parents and eccentric teachers while playing everything from Bach to Billy Joel. July 5-23 at the Laguna Playhouse.
Jay Johnson is considered to be one of the top practitioners in the art of ventriloquism. He won a Tony Award® for “Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.” Limited engagement August 12 & 13 at the Laguna Playhouse.
Welcome to the undersea city of Bikini Bottom, with happy-go-lucky and ever-optimistic SpongeBob SquarePants and his equally quirky circle of friends and neighbors. Experience SpongeBob as only a Broadway Musical can perform … to save the day when everybody else has given up all hope. No Square Theatre July 28-August 6. Tickets: NoSquare.org
Return to the glory of 1960’s Vegas when a trio of friends, Frank Sinatra (Sebastian Anzaldo), Dean Martin (Andy DiMino) and Sammy Davis (Lambus Dean) bring the pack back to life August 2427 at the Laguna Playhouse.
Handcrafted art by Laguna Beach artists, 3 stages of live music, complimentary art classes, glassblowing, art demonstrations and a variety of outdoor dining and saloon offerings- set in a unique artist village in the heart of Laguna Beach.
June 30 - September 3. SawdustArtFestival.org
Celebrate Art with a full spectrum of original creations, affordable reproductions, art demonstrations, workshops, live music, and excellent cuisine. Be sure to ask about joining the free professional swing/salsa dance lessons!
June 30 – September 3. Art-A-Fair.com
FESTIVAL OF ARTS/ PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS
in Laguna Beach is an awe-inspiring spectacle, where art comes to life.
Talented actors flawlessly blend into iconic paintings, recreating every detail with meticulous precision. The result is a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience that transports you into the world of art like never before. “Art Colony: In the Company of Artists” performs July 7 – Sept 1 nightly at 8:30pm. Tickets on sale: foapom.com
For event details visit LagunaBeachPride.org.
MUSIC IN THE PARK is a free concert series held Sunday evenings 5-7 pm, July 9-Aug 20 at Bluebird Park. Low-back seating chairs and picnics are encouraged.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF SKIMBOARDING 2023
Presented by Victoria Skimboards, you’ll be upclose and personal with the greatest professional skimboarders on the planet as they show off their skills in the birthplace of skimboarding, Laguna Beach. August 26 & 27. Aliso State Beach. thevic. victoriaskimboards.com
Getting Around Laguna Beach is better by Trolley. For routes, trolley tracker, parking, and more, visit LagunaBeachCity.net/Trolley
SUNSET SERENADES
The public is invited to attend the free Sunset Serenades concert series at Heisler Park Amphitheater on Fridays in September. Concerts take place from 5:30pm to sunset. Lowback chairs and picnics are encouraged.
PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
Witness the rehabilitation of seals and seal lions frolicking in the yard pool, feasting on herring, and basking in the sun. 10am-4pm daily. The center is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd. pacificmmc.org
LAGUNA BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Built in 1923, the building houses a museum filled with relics and antiques and artifacts of Laguna’s storied past! Open Fri. Sat. Sun. 1pm-4pm at 278 Ocean Ave. lagunabeachhistory.org
Please look around and collect three pieces of trash to throw away when you visit the beach or any waterway.
GREAT WEATHER & WAVES
There’s a reason Lifeguards exist and it’s always a good idea to say “hi” and ask for tips before you need them! Stay informed with the Daily Marine Safety Weather & Surf Report. (949) 494-6573
BEACH WHEELCHAIRS
Free to use on a first-come, first-served basis, and are available at the Main Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. There is a manual version and a powered version.
Marine Protected Areas
For important information about our protected coastal areas, please visit LagunaOceanFoundation.org
Enjoy your day!
GREG MACGILLIVRAY IS A LAGUNA BEACH NATIVE AND LEGENDARY IMAX FILM DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER. HE JOINS JEFF CONWAY FOR OUR FIRST LAGUNA BEACH FAVORITES SPOTLIGHT CONVERSATION AND PODCAST.
Our inaugural guest is renowned local filmmaker, Greg MacGillivray, whose visionary work continues to have a profound effect on the global appreciation for the ocean environment through his pioneering IMAX films. Through his lens, mankind has been enriched by the largerthan-life experiences of the remarkable stories his team delivers to countless millions of eager adventurers around the world.
If you have been fortunate to have seen a majestic Humpback whale in its full glory in IMAX, as she gracefully glides with her newborn calf, gently guiding it to the surface for its first breath... Greg and his team at MacGillivray Freeman are the ones to thank.
Where did this insight, technical talent, and pure, emotionally uplifting vision come from? This is where we begin our conversation with Greg, talking about his earliest days in Laguna Beach.
LBFavorites: So, Laguna Beach Favorites is all about everything local and, really, it doesn't get much more local than growing up in Laguna Beach. Walk us through what it was like, what's the
landscape, paint a picture for us of those days.
Greg: You know, Laguna Beach was an isolated community like it is today, but the hillsides went forever. I was just hiking a couple minutes ago, up at Moulton Meadows and you know, now there are buildings out there. Back then there weren't. It was just the ranches of Mission Viejo Ranch and the Aliso area was just endless fields and cows. The Irvine Ranch on the north side of Broadway (Laguna Canyon Road) was all ranching for the Irvine Company.
We, my best buddy Rocky Ray and I, used to hike those Hills almost every day and I learned to hike looking down because the one treacherous things that would happen is you'd step on a rattlesnake and you’d
hours.” and my Mom would say, “Don’t get bit by a rattlesnake!”, “Okay!” and Rocky and I carried a rattlesnake kit. We learned how to suck the venom out of our leg. We never had to use it thankfully.
These beautiful hillsides, that possibly this year will have the biggest wildflower bloom that we've ever had. And this is going back sixty-five years of hiking those hills.
Today in Laguna Beach, I think that we've got the best of all worlds. I think we've got culture and sophistication at our fingertips, plenty of jobs nearby, out the canyon and various places. We've got the beauty of nature here still around us, and not blocked by high-rise buildings and not sold off to the highest bidder for development. It's a really cool time to be alive, in my mind.
LBFavorites: Put us in the eyes of 13-year-old Greg, who's down at the beach with a board under your arm.
Greg: Well, you know I did start surfing around the age of twelve. I'd surf down in Corona Del Mar, I'd surf sometimes along the Irvine Coast. There were a couple places there, you know Scotchmans Cove, and El Morro. But the good spots I loved Thalia Reef, and I loved Doheny, and I love Trestles, so I'd try to go there as often as possible. And Dana Pt. before the harbor went in. My dad and my sister both surfed. So, on the weekends my dad would take us to the beach. When I was about fourteen, I started hitchhiking to the surf, back when hitchhiking was pretty common actually, and safe.
Down in Laguna, the beaches were less crowded. The trash was actually worse then, than it is today at the beach. The litter, there was no consciousness about the litter. Locals and tourists would litter all over the place.
Thankfully, that's another great thing in Laguna. We've got the cleanest beaches in the world for a couple of reasons. Number one, this wonderful campaign where a friend basically assigned beaches and streets to different citizens where it was your duty to pick up the
area and Barbara and I, my wife, we live down off Cleo Street, we had the two-block stretch of the beach going south from Cleo all the way to Brooks Street. Today the beaches are almost flawless, and unless it rains, and we get bottles and other things swept down the river to the ocean and then they come back in on waves, but people are conscious. There's a thousand times more trash cans today, thankfully the City's been a great source of keeping our city clean through just putting convenient trash cans around.
Back then there were fewer surfers, and the hot surfers in Laguna were pretty amazing. You know we had the first surfing contest on the West Coast at Brooks Street. That was always fun, and I started taking stills and then movies, back when I was thirteen, of surfers and got some great shots in the shore break because I didn't have a telephoto lens, I had to get really close in the shore break standing there with a still camera so anyone who came close I got a great shot of them. I got some wonderful shots that I then sold to Surfer Magazine. The first photograph I actually sold was of Dana Point, “Killer Dana” they called it, on about an eightfoot summer swell probably
taken in 1961, or 1960, maybe even ‘59, and sure enough 10 or 15 years later that beach, that beautiful surf area was wiped out by the harbor that was built. Today that would not happen. Today with the Surf Rider Foundation and the Coastal Commission, and
finish the film with good surf up there. Basically, we showed along the West Coast. The furthest we would go inland was maybe Pasadena because there were quite a few Surfers there.
the fact that there are more Surfers in California than there are boat owners, we have representation. We would be able to say, “Okay, build a harbor there but build the jetty so it comes in and saves the point break that comes off of Dana Point. They would have figured out a way to still make a boat harbor, maybe they would have had 30 fewer slips. The indicator at Doheny still gets good on a south swell, the harbor wiped out a north swell break there, but you end up now being able to negotiate out of strength. You look back at Laguna and it was sleepier, less traffic, fewer cute girls though. You know, I gotta say that the guys and girls who come to Laguna are the best looking in the world, and it's probably a more fun town now than it was. We have many more night places for dancing and music and entertainment...but you end up with plenty of things to do in Laguna. It's just been a great, great place to raise a family, great place to live my life.
LBFavorites: Tell us about your first surf films.
Greg: My first surf film Let There Be Surf (1963) which came out the freshman year of my college career. I went to Santa Barbara so I could
I was a kid...you end up thinking about those simple times and you go okay I was trying to do this one singular thing because I love doing it, not necessarily because I wanted to make money or create a career, but I just loved doing it. It's the art, it's the comedy that goes into these films, it's the cleverness of the storyline and the kind of characterizations you give the people that you're featuring. By the time that I had my first sellout which was here in Laguna at the Elks Club, which history Buffs will love this, BPOE the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks was where the Red Dragon Restaurant is now opening and right down there on Coast Highway across from the Pacific Edge. We had about 400 people in the second story and it was a complete nightmare if the fire department showed up because... I didn't know what the capacity was. They were sitting on the floor, up on the stage with me, it was a hot night in the summertime. What fun to see kind of your hobby turn into perhaps a career.
Barbara was selling tickets, and my dad was there running the projector, my mom was there watching the exits, you know surfers are notorious for not wanting to pay even though the ticket was only a dollar and a quarter. We're very clever, we surfers, and we'll figure out a way to sneak into anything. Oh, my little sister, who was about seven at the time, her job was bringing me water because I'd get parched halfway through the narration.
(That film) was called a Cool Wave of Color, and
you'll notice there's not the word surfing in there. You'll notice that it is kind of an esoteric. It was the weirdest surfing film ever made but it got a huge reaction with the public because they were ready for something different. I've been to a lot of traditional kind of actionpacked surfing films, this one was more esoteric and beautiful. A lot of slowmotion photography, it's all California surf, so no big wave wipeouts in Hawaii, and that was the charm of it. It had great jazz music as a score, lots of wonderful Henry Mancini, thank you Henry, and it started out with the instrumental sound from Peter Gunn. I mean he was a brilliant composer and you know he did Pink Panther and all kinds of other wonderful Blake Edwards films.
LBFavorites: So now take us to when you met your friend Jim Freeman.
Greg: He grew up in Santa Ana and started making films, mostly comedies when he was fifteen, sixteen, and then made a surfing film. I didn't see his first film, but I saw his second film. It was a 3D film that he showed up in Santa Barbara when I was at school there and it had a few sequences which were brilliant, and so we became friends.
He was in college, I was in college, and we'd call each other with questions once a month, how do you do this, how do you do that, and there wasn't really any way back then to learn how to make movies unless you went to film school and there only three film schools back then NYU, UCLA, and USC. I didn't want to go to any of them,
I had to finish my movie, so Santa Barbara was like the perfect place. So, Jim and I became friends, and tried to share our wisdom with each other.
And then after I made two movies, and he made three movies, we decided to team up and make a film together, and it turned out the film we made together was called Free and Easy. Probably 10 times better than anything that we'd done individually even though we'd done nice things. This was magic, because we would push each other in a gentle way. We'd supply ideas, and it was like one and one equaling three, it was just this great friendship and a great relationship that we both benefited from. We thought
we don't really need money that badly, as long as we pay off the film. We were still living with our parents, both of us, and my mom and dad were so generous. You know, my mom, I'd be in editing 10 hours a day and she'd come in with a sandwich and go,”I just made this, I didn't know if you wanted it or not.” Well, that worked out so well, we decided to drop out of college and form a formal relationship. First a partnership, then a corporation. We started taking on other challenges, other kinds of film assignments. We made another two surfing films, The Sunshine Sea and then Five Summer Stories. After that we were getting involved with other kinds of movies, films, skiing films, films about nature, films shot in the dunes
up in Pismo Beach, and then when 1970 hit and there was a consciousness of the environment, we started getting into not only Hollywood films but also films about conservation.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull was one that we were hired to do, where Jim and our crew filmed about forty percent of that movie. All of the aerial flying scenes in that film were done by us and you end up getting a closeness to what the value of nature is to everyone on the planet.
In 1970, the first Earth Day was held and it's interesting to know that ten percent of the population of America showed up for perhaps 10,000 different Earth Day events on one afternoon. Ten percent of the population is huge, that's incredible, it's like probably 200 million people in America then, so 20 million people showed up at events and the politicians took notice finally.
It wasn't just a bunch of hippies like us, it was everyone. Adults, and people inland, and people who were in cities, all consciously saying, "Hey! We don't want our rivers and streams to be caught on fire. We don't want the air to be polluted like Los Angeles was at that point. We want clean air, clean water, clean streams, clean lakes, clean oceans.
We're all so fortunate to be here in this country, here in Southern California with the best climate in the world, and frankly, in Laguna Beach with the cleanest urban water of any coastal city in the world, because we regenerate our street runoff, it doesn't go straight into the ocean unless you have a gigantic rainstorm, and you can't trap it. But all through the year, other than these big rain seasons, all that polluted water is sent to our sewer treatment plant, then treated and recycled out to the ocean...it's a model for communities.
LBFavorites: Let's have a quick look back at the (Hollywood) films that you were involved with like Towering Inferno and The Shining, those must have been extraordinary.
Greg: You know, it was, and it's particularly because Jim and I were so young. Jim featured heavily in the work on Towering Inferno, and we formed a really strong relationship with Irwin Allen who was the producer, who even after Jim was killed (in the accident), we continued our relationship. I did a number of film projects with them later, but then with Stanley Kubrick and The Shining (pictured below), and John Milius with Big Wednesday, those two Warner Brother films backto-back.
Here I am working with two of the best creative Spirits in Hollywood history, John Milius and then Stanley Kubrick. Now, Kubrick's films were my model. Every film that he did was kind of a classic and done in a way that was so different than anything that had come before it. I learned why when I worked with him because we became pretty close because he had to call me all the time. I went over to London where he was shooting and spent a good deal of time there with two trips as they were filming on sets at L Street Studio. I learned that you don't walk away from a scene until it's absolutely perfect. Maybe you shoot it the first time and you'd do 20 takes of a dialogue scene and it seems okay. Then you look at it and you go well I give that a B minus, and you think about it, then you go, I now have a better idea for that scene. You go back and then redo
it, you go back and shoot it all again and you explain why you're doing that to your crew and cast but you end up getting something better, something that's more imaginative and will hold the audience's attention more.
With The Shining, I saw that repeatedly with Kubrick. Jim and I had already learned to do that because we were each other's best critics. We would do a shot over and over until it was perfect. Then we'd come back and do it again the next day with different lighting. That's what made our films so interesting to look at. With Kubrick, that's why he was such a legendary producer, director, writer; he just never walked away from a scene that he didn't think he had an A plus.
Right then, IMAX was starting and Jim and I had already done To Fly! and so I had opportunities to do other IMAX films because that film became such a big hit. I was more interested, really, in pursuing educational documentaries through the IMAX exceedingly engaging format, rather than doing Hollywood features. It takes it from reaction to enaction, like you are enacting an audience to understand the giant scene that they're seeing, as well as an emotive side of it where they can actually take action in their own lives. I mean there's an extraordinary, as you said, educational facet to IMAX, that giant experience, it's very believable. You know that it's not special effects and the audience appreciates that more than almost anything. And the fact that the prime theaters for us have always been Museum theaters. Museums are the most trusted source
of information. We're supplying the Smithsonian with their products so it's a big responsibility, but we have my wife who really gets involved, she's a great student and a great researcher. And our staff, when we have to know a question, like should we say it this way or say it that way, we'll spend days figuring out how to say it. It's a really fun process.
LBFavorites: When we watch your productions, these wonderful stories, the music draws you in to such a deeper experience.
Greg: Well, you're right and partly because I was able to use the very best music with our first films, I learned how powerful music really enhances the experience of a movie. You’re more engaged, and so we always, Jim and I, looked for ways to improve our musical presentation and the impact on the audience. We'd spend a year, the final year of editing, getting the music right.
With Five Summer Stories, we were blessed because as soon as we announced the film project and that it was our final surfing film, The Beach Boys called us up and said we will give you all of our library of musical hits if you want them, for no money, we just want to be part of this project, and I just went oh my gosh. So I started editing with their music and then I needed a group to do all of the other elements that The Beach Boys music didn't fit, so I hired this band in Laguna called Honk. The band is still led by Richard Stekol and Steve Wood and they were musical geniuses. I found them playing in a little French restaurant where
Nick's Restaurant is today. The things that you're saying, which are so nice about the music in our films, are really a tribute to Steve Wood and his genius and his ability to say okay we're gonna do a score for a film about Everest, let's find someone who is spiritual because that mountain is a religious sanctuary for the people of Nepal and and Tibet, and we landed on George Harrison and contacted him, and he wanted to be involved. Steve worked with Harrison's music and his entire library and created a score which was brilliant. You end up with those examples as you go through time with partnerships with top-name composers and artists like Sting, Dave Matthews Band, Paul McCartney, and others. You end up with soundtracks that really go beyond your normal movie soundtrack that Hollywood put out.
If you head into Academy Award territory, we did get two Academy Award nominations for two of our films. Some of our earlier films were nominated too, but those were films that we just contributed to like Jonathan was nominated and Towering Inferno, and so forth, but with Dolphins and The Living Sea, those were two films that our company helped produce and finance. We just poured our heart and soul on them. It was a Kubrick kind of thing where we just didn't stop until we had it perfectly. I can tell you from experience, and my eyes are welling up a little bit right now because those
two films changed my life, no kidding, they really did. It shifted people's perspective of the value of the ocean and what it can do for us, what it means to us on land. Today, thankfully we live in Laguna where we do respect it and we are caring for it, and our city does a great job of doing that.
LBFavorites: Could we talk about your new book, your memoirs?
Greg: The book started because of five friends on the North Shore of Kauai and Hanalei. Bill Hamilton is one of them, he's the dad of Laird Hamilton and Lyon Hamilton and a dear friend, and in fact, Bill grew up in Laguna Beach and then moved to Hawaii when he was seventeen and became a famous surfer. Every year we tell stories and I tell stories of Kubrick and other things, and they tell stories of, you know, surfing at Jaws and various other places, and you end up every year they'd say well you've got to write these down because they're pretty funny stories.
I finally decided, okay, I'm gonna do this. I got Jeff Gerard who is a brilliant art director, he basically started Surfers Journal and was the art director there for about thirty years. I got his last project before he retired, oh wow, which was really fun and he loved doing it! The reviews are good, and it sort of shows where our film company has come from, what our morals are, and what we feel is important with each film.
With Shaun and Meghan, my son and daughter, now running the company, basically they adhere to the same philosophies of high-quality perfection with the projects and getting it right. Every one of the films that we do, we try to do it better than we thought we could. That's always been the key to our success.
LBFavorites: From the favorite aspects of your professional career to your favorite aspects of life in Laguna Beach...what are some of your Favorite breakfast spots?
Greg: Okay, I love so many of them, but I'll pick two. One is Zinc, which Barbara and I are at almost every morning, the other is at The Ranch and it's called The Harvest Restaurant.
LBFavorites: Favorite lunch spots?
Greg: Well, you know The Taco Stand just went in and that's an awesome place, and our neighborhood group put that mural on the side which is dedicated to my good friend Michael Hallinan, a wonderful Plein Air artist who passed away four years ago. Sapphire I love, but there's so many great restaurants in town, there's thirty good ones.
LBFavorites: Your go-to snacks for hiking or biking?
Greg: My wife does peanuts and M&M's together with raisins, kind of a trail mix but every once in a while, you come across chocolate and it's just the most delicious thing ever.
LBFavorites: Favorite local musicians or spots to hear live music?
Greg: I love to go to the Lumberyard and listen, and
I love little concerts. Steve Wood is trying to start kind of smaller concerts. Michael Hamilton, I love his artistry. There's so many good musicians in town I'd hate to leave anyone out!
LBFavorites: Your Favorite outdoor activities?
Greg: Besides surfing, swimming, and snorkeling... hiking the hills is just a delight, and this possibly could be the best year in the history of Laguna. Get out there and hike!
LBFavorites: Your final bonus question is Favorite advice for young people and those young at heart?
Greg: Never give up on your dream. Be positive about those dreams and know that if you keep trying they're probably going to come true. If they're reasonable, they're going to come about and you're going to live a life, that is...you're fulfilled, you know you're gonna get joy out of life.
LBFavorites: We just wanted to thank you on behalf of Laguna Beach Favorites for your time and for bringing beauty to life from the heart of Laguna Beach.
To view the entire interview online, please visit youtube.com/@lagunabeachfavorites
FIVE hundred SUMMER STORIES a Life in IMAX. tells the story of
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TAMARA NELSON ART GALLERY | FINE ART COLLECTION & GIFTS
Celebrated artist Tamara Nelson will personally work with you to find the perfect art piece for your home or private collection. Many of her renowned creations are also available as Canvas Prints and Art Gifts so that everyone can experience connecting with the joy of the Laguna Beach art scene.
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Explore OC’s premium winery and public Rock n’ Roll tasting room at Laguna Canyon Winery. Grapes are sourced from select vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Valleys. During the harvest season, grapes are hand-picked in the morning and for processing. Join the Members Choice Wine Club members and relive your favorite times.
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ALISO BEACH ANIMAL CLINIC - DR HAYTER
Locally owned for 31 years and located across from The Montage Resort in the Gelson’s /CVS Shopping Center, they see urgent care and same-day appointments. In addition to cats and dogs, they also see exotic animals, including pigs, chickens, spiders, fish, reptiles, avian, and rodents.
30816 Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, (949)499-4190
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Check out Victoria Skimboards Factory Outlet and Ancient History Museum. Read about and see the progression of designs, and many crazy old boards to check out.
VISIT LAGUNA BEACH OFFICIAL VISITORS CENTER
Enjoy complimentary information and services to enhance your visit. Offering concierge services including hotel and restaurant reservations, shopping, and other fun activities. Stop by the Official Visitors Center today to say hello to their friendly and helpful local experts!
381 Forest Avenue
800-877-1115
949-497-9229
Open daly,10:00am-5:00pm
VisitLagunaBeach.com
THE NIX NATURE CENTER, nestled in Laguna Beach, is a haven for nature enthusiasts. With its diverse ecosystem and scenic trails, it offers educational programs, guided hikes, and interactive exhibits that showcase the rich biodiversity and environmental significance of the region. Explore, learn, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature at Nix Nature Center. Open daily 9:00am4:00pm. Free admission, $3 for parking.
18751 Laguna Canyon Road, north of the 73 ocparks.com/lagunacoast
C’EST LA VIE RESTAURANT AND BAKERY is a favorite place to find California French Cuisine and scrumptious baked goods with an ocean view in the heart of Laguna Beach.
C’est La Vie Restaurant and Bakery
370 South Coast Hwy (949) 947-5100
CestLaVieRestaurant.com
For over 45 years, Gina’s Pizza has been serving award winning, high quality, great tasting Italian food to our beloved Laguna Beach neighbors. A true Laguna Beach Favorite!
1100 South Coast Hwy (949) 494-4342
GinasPizza.com
Whether you’re looking for your next dream home or a trusted professional to help you sell a property, you start by contacting Jennifer Halbert, Realtor®. Home Evaluations, Listing Alerts, Learning About the Area, and Market Updates, you are just a click or call away. 30812 South Coast Hwy (949) 899-2113
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DRE#: 01992762
LAGUNA AUTO SERVICE CENTER
Your top choice for Auto Repair, and Engine Repair, plus much more. Give us a call today or schedule an appointment online to find out why motorists in Laguna Beach prefer to do business with us!
1790 S. Coast Hwy, (949) 494-2117
LagunaAutoService.com
SURFSIDE SMOKE & GIFTS
The One-Stop-Shop for Smoke, Vape, Glass Art, Accessories, CBD, Hemp, Edibles, Tinctures, Balms, Tea, and Pet’s CBD. Please, 21 and over. Open 10 am-8 pm daily.
1705 S. Coast Hwy (949) 376-7000, www.instagram.com/ surfsidesmoke
VERMILLION SKY BY EREN ALPTEKIN
Maximizing the use of texture and bold imagery, awardwinning artist Eren Alptekin’s original techniques are the driving force behind her balanced and engaging art. Bring the natural splendor of her inspiring work into your life.
Eren Alptekin Fine Art, ErenAptekin.com
THE ROOFTOP & COMEDOR
You don’t have to be a hotel guest of La Casa del Camino to enjoy the ocean view rooftop bar or elevated Spanish/California cuisine. Reservations recommended. La Casa del Camino dining at The Rooftop & Comedor, 1289 S. Coast Hwy, (855) 634-5736, LaCasaDelCamino.com
T-SHIRT COMPANY | LAGUNA BEACH
Located in the heart of Laguna Village, our family-owned T-shirt Company offers carefully curated T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other unique items that create memories to last a lifetime. “The t-shirt shop with a conscience”
387 South Coast Hwy, (949) 494-3217 @tshirtcolaguna, lagunabeachtshirtco.com
Internationally renowned marine life artist Wyland has dedicated his life to bringing attention to environmental issues and marine life preservation. Find out about your next opportunity to join him for special events here in Laguna Beach at his studio at 509 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, (949) 376-8000, wyland.com
NEVER SAY NEVER
COFFEE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR
Select from their range of coffee, sourced from a variety of countries, all roasted to perfection. Stop by for a freshly brewed treat or simply order your favorite roast online.
Laguna Coffee Co., 1050
S. Coast Hwy, St B, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-6901,
Award winning recycled surfboard artist Carolyn Johnson has an amazing variety of tones to match your home or office. Find your favorite.
Carolyn Johnson Gallery, Coastal & Recycled Surfboard Art, CarolynJohnsonGallery.com
TACO TUESDAYS AT PAPA’S
A favorite, get any of their famous Tacos for only $2.99 on the patio or take-out!
Papa’s Tacos, 31622 Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, (949) 499-9822
PapasTacosInc.com
Pacific Marine Mammal Center One of Laguna’s Favorite Artists, Casey Parlette, designed and built the Founders statue, a work in bronze and steel depicting a sea lion swimming in kelp to reach his dinner of silverfish. When installed, this statue will stand nearly 18 ft. tall and greet every Pacific Marine Mammal Center guest. Visit and experience their mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release marine mammals.
20612 Laguna Canyon Rd
(949) 494-3050
PizzaBar Laguna Beach
Become a VIP
Be the first to receive updates on exclusive events, secret menus, special offers/ discounts, loyalty rewards & more! Pizza by the Slice & Famous Lemon Ice – the perfect Summer treat, right at the beach!
397 South Coast Hwy
(949) 497-2277
PizzaBarOC.com
LOCAL FAVORITE: SUPPORTING LAGUNA BEACH
John Campbell is a prominent community member and dedicated Rotarian. He takes pride in supporting philanthropic initiatives like the Laguna Food Pantry and Grapes for Grads. His involvement in these organizations showcases his commitment to making a positive impact in the community.
During the 1950s, Laguna Beach underwent significant changes that shaped its identity as a coastal paradise. The city’s artistic community continued to flourish, with artists such as Rex Brandt and Roger Kuntz gaining prominence. The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters, established in the 1930s, became popular attractions, drawing art enthusiasts from near and far.
The beaches of Laguna Beach also experienced a surge in popularity during this era. The city became a hub for surf culture, attracting surfers who rode the waves along the picturesque coastline. The iconic Laguna Beach High School Surf Team was established in 1951, further cementing the city’s association with the sport. In addition to its artistic and beach culture, the 1950s marked a period of growth. The city expanded its infrastructure, to accommodate the increasing tourist influx. The 1950s were a transformative decade for Laguna Beach, solidifying its reputation as an artistic haven, a surf mecca, and a flourishing coastal community.
Spend an unforgettable summer surfing in Laguna Beach, where the waves beckon enthusiasts of all skill levels. With its renowned breaks and picturesque coastline, Laguna Beach is a surfer’s paradise. From beginner-friendly swells to challenging waves for the seasoned pros, there’s something for everyone. Soak up the sun, ride the waves, and embrace the laid-back beach culture. Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or just starting out, Laguna Beach offers an idyllic summer surfing experience. Surfing Laguna Beach, one of our favorites. Got beach selfies? #LagunaBeachFavorites
The Laguna Beach Lifeguard Tower at Main Beach holds a significant place in the history and culture of Laguna Beach, California. Serving as a vital landmark and a symbol of safety, it has become an iconic structure along the Southern California coastline.
The history of the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Tower dates back to the early 20th century. The original tower was constructed in the 1920s and was a simple wooden structure. Over the years, it underwent several renovations and upgrades to accommodate the growing needs of the beachgoers and lifeguards.
In the 1930s, the tower was rebuilt in a distinctive Art Deco style, featuring stucco walls and a tiled roof. This design became a hallmark of the Main Beach lifeguard towers in Laguna Beach. Throughout the years, the tower has undergone various color schemes, including its iconic blue and white color combination.
The lifeguard tower has played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of beach visitors, as Laguna Beach boasts popular and often challenging ocean conditions. Lifeguards stationed at the tower have provided assistance to swimmers, surfers, and other water enthusiasts, responding to emergencies and providing first aid when necessary.
Beyond its functional purpose, this Laguna Beach Lifeguard Tower has become an emblem of the city’s identity. It has been featured in numerous photographs, postcards, and paintings, serving as a recognizable symbol of the city’s coastal beauty. Visitors and locals alike are drawn to the tower’s scenic location and its panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Main Beach.
The lifeguard tower at Main Beach in Laguna Beach stands as a testament to the city’s commitment to beach safety and its appreciation for its stunning coastal landscape. It continues to be an enduring symbol of the rich history and unique character of Laguna Beach. Truly a Laguna Beach Favorite of locals and visitors. Tower selfies? #lagunabeachfavorites.
Postal Box 1385
Laguna Beach, 92652
Lisa Farber, Publisher
Jeff Conway, Associate Publisher & Design
Bill Cummings, Senior Consultant Hayden Wright, Operations
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2023 LAGUNA BEACH FAVORITES GUIDE
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