Take Note

By Allison Hata

Movers and Makers

Once a small parking lot craft fair in Santa Ana with just 25 vendors, the Patchwork Show has grown into a multi-city festival that brings together hundreds of creatives in each community. Dubbed the Modern Makers Festival, events take place up and down the California coast and feature a juried selection of vendors selling apparel, accessories, art, home goods, apothecary items and more. Its fall season kicks off Nov. 6 and 7 with a new location in Old Town Tustin, where visitors can peruse different offerings and activities each day. The second SoCal date will take place the following weekend at Marine Stadium in Long Beach. It’s Patchwork’s largest show, featuring more than 250 makers, live music, food trucks, DIY crafting and even a bike valet. Furry friends are welcome at the waterfront venue, so bring the whole family to shop small and support local. dearhandmadelife.com | IG: @thepatchworkshow

What to Order

If you need a break from holiday entertaining, we’ve got the dish. Two-in-one restaurant concept Shuck Oyster Bar and Paragon Café at SoCo offer up decadent dishes that are the definition of treating yourself. Located inside The OC Mix food hall, Shuck is a local fave with its namesake delicacy served super fresh — just one day out of the water. Those not into oysters will enjoy one of chef Dean Isom’s top picks like the colorful grilled Spanish octopus with blistered heirloom tomato, pickled fresno and roasted beet aioli. Crab cakes are another tried and true staple, but for a heartier bite opt for the popular butter-poached Maine lobster linguini. Early risers can pop by for breakfast at Paragon Café, which opens at 7 a.m. inside of Shuck. The sweet and savory menu takes brunch classics like chicken and waffles and steak and eggs to the next level. The former is served with a cinnamon maple compound butter and sweet potato puree, while the latter features a 6-ounce filet mignon on a bed of cheesy potato cake topped with chimichurri and a fried egg. And no brunch is complete without some day drinking options: Try the boozy coffee with Irish cream and chocolate bitters or a passion fruit margarita. Cheers! shuckoysterbar.com and paragoncafeoc.com | IG: @shuckoysterbar and @paragoncafeoc

Coming in Clutch

Jessica Riester and Eve Donovan are bringing back the Bermuda bag in a big way with their brand-new company jae, launched in July with a trunk show at Laguna Supply. Their new take on the classic bag is a retro revival that gives us major ’80s vibes. Both styles, the jae bag and the clutch, start with an oak or walnut handle, brass hardware and a sunny yellow and white polka dot liner. Make it your own with a slipcover inspired by textiles and vintage designs, offered in an array of colors and patterns ranging from preppy stripes to artsy florals. You can change out the fabric covers on a whim by buttoning them to the handle, perfect for when limited edition and seasonal collections hit the shop. jae’s modern approach also introduces a great utilitarian update: crossbody and shoulder straps that allow for practical hands-free wear. Bases start at $215 for a clutch and $250 for a bag. jae-is.com | IG: @jae.is_

Seasonal Succulents

As a former social worker, Andrea Galbreath keeps people and experiences at the heart of her succulent business, Just Succ It. With each gift box or arrangement, joy is her guiding principle. And she’s delivering that in spades this season with new designs that bring some festive flair into her customers’ homes. Succulent holiday trees are available in 16-inch ($145) or 20-inch ($225) sizes to spruce up any tabletop. Each one features between 50 to 100 specialty succulents, accented by vibrant holly berries and topped with shining red star. Once the holidays are over, the tree can be dismantled so all of the individual succulents can be re-planted — it’s a gift that keeps on giving! justsuccit.com | IG: @justsuccit

Fancy a Chocolate?

Long Beach Exchange is about to get a whole lot sweeter. This November, Romeo Chocolates is celebrating the grand opening of its new location at the retail and dining destination. It joins a handful of other artisanal food vendors with storefronts inside The Hangar. Recognized by the International Chocolate Salon with a four-star award, founder Romeo Garcia excels in his creation of luxury European-inspired treats using ethically sourced chocolates from around the world. His hand-painted truffles and chocolate bars not only pass our taste test with flying colors, but showcase world-class craftsmanship and artistry in their elegant presentation. Grab a box (or three) during opening hours, planned for Thursday through Sunday, and keep on-hand for last-minute holiday gifting. Trust us — your loved ones will thank you. romeochocolates.com | IG: @romeochocolates

Choose Your Own Adventure

An escape room with no escape? Here’s a quirky twist on your typical lock-and-key, race against the clock format. Players at EscapeX Rooms are invited to step into the recently opened Odditorium Emporium for a 60-minute frenzied shopping spree. Sift through antiques and knick-knacks galore in the curio shop, then venture into a cobwebbed warehouse to discover “forbidden” objects and currency that unlocks prizes and complex challenges. With more puzzles than can be played as the clock counts down, choose carefully to rack up your points and win — this is a game of strategy and choice. Adding to the mischief is a sarcastic shopkeeper named Hubert, a Venus flytrap puppet giving off major Rocky Horror vibes. Manned by a live actor, it makes for an immersive improv experience. This is the second location for EscapeX Rooms owners Kat Le and Curtus Fetters, whose incredible set design helps players suspend reality the minute they step through the unassuming shop door. escapexrooms.com | IG: @escapexrooms

The Latest Dish

Opened eight years ago, The Blind Pig’s moniker is a nod to illicit establishments that sold alcohol on the sly during Prohibition. But it’s definitely no secret the speakeasy-style restaurant and bar is a favorite among modern-day OC diners. With locations in Yorba Linda and Rancho Santa Margarita, The Blind Pig is known for its sleek gastropub vibe and handcrafted cocktails, natch. But it’s also gained accolades for a chefdriven New American menu created by Karl Pfleider. Dishes change out seasonally, with the latest fall flavors debuting just last month. Try the new roasted cauliflower "elote," which offers an Asian-fusion twist on the Mexican favorite with kewpie yuzu kosho mayo and mushroom togarashi. To drink, a musttry is the Tristes Tigres, which combines the earthy tartness of black currant tequila (fittingly, a once-forbidden fruit) with the citrus notes of orange cordial and bergamot. Booked for dinner? No prob — the Yorba Linda location is serving up new boysenberry pancakes and spam loco moco for Sunday brunch, with bottomless mimosas to boot. theblindpigoc.com | IG: @theblindpigoc and @theblindpigyorbalinda

A Baked Bouquet

A new cottage business in Costa Mesa, Frosting and Batter Bakery, specializes in floral cupcakes that are so realistic you’ll do a double take. Owner Heather Watters pipes each cupcake with incredible detail using vanilla bean buttercream to create edible works of art. With a deft hand, she can replicate stunning bouquets using only a photo as inspiration. From sunflowers and plumerias to delicate tea roses and camellias, the home baker is up for every challenge and will gladly create a custom order. Choose from lemon, chocolate or vanilla cake in sizes ranging from three cupcakes for $15 to 30 for $110. Your selection is styled as a floral bouquet, with colored tissue wrap and ribbon, and delivered to your door in OC. Don’t show up at your next holiday soiree empty-handed — these bouquets make for a creative (and delicious!) hostess gift. | IG: @frostingandbatterbakery

Sole Mates

He’s a former All-American running back turned fashion designer. She’s a collegiate soccer player and journalist. Meet Martaveous Holliday and Savannah Dingman, the dynamic couple behind Open Air Vintage. This summer, they brought their style game to Long Beach Exchange with the opening of their first store selling curated clothing, shoes, plants and accessories. With an eye for design, Martaveous and Savannah created an Instagrammable retail area to showcase hard-to-find vintage tees and high-end streetwear brands like Supreme and Anti Social Social Club. But the focal point of the store is no doubt the honeycomb shoe wall, which will attract sneaker collectors from all over SoCal. Nike Dunks, Jordans, J Balvin collabs and Yeezy sneakers are among the secondhand and neverbeen-worn pairs you might find on display at any given time. But act fast — there’s a limited selection of sizes, and stock moves quickly. openairvintage.com | IG: @openair.vintage