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Laguna Beach resident Craig Strong launched his culinary career when he was 15, but got serious about it when he enrolled in culinary school at age 18 and learned the basics of classic French cooking. He spent time in Spain soaking up the culture, and the cuisine, then worked for...

Newport Beach voters have several decisions to make next week at the ballot booth. A notable race is for the hotly contested 48th Congressional District, which includes Newport Beach and spans Seal Beach to Laguna Niguel. During the primaries, it was a narrow roller coaster race...

The Newport Beach Film Festival and the Laguna Art Museum are hosting a free screening of the documentary film “Leaning Into the Wind — Andy Goldsworthy” on Saturday as part of the museum’s Art and Nature Festival that runs through Sunday. The 2017 film follows the British...

Two things you can always count on for summer: Pageant of the Masters and a Laguna Playhouse musical. Fellow NB Indy scribe Shelly Zavala and I had the opportunity to attend both productions, and managed to squeeze in dinner before the shows. French Cuisine and American Art Held...

As California’s statewide primary election unfolded Tuesday night, the nation’s eyes were on the 48th Congressional District. Would one of the leading Democratic candidates advance in California’s top-two primary? Or would another Republican in the predominantly red-leaning...

By Andrea Adelson | LB Indy A question about identifying foreign security threats to the United States elicited both half jests and dead serious replies at a candidate forum in Irvine Tuesday. The five Democrats featured on the panel are bidding to challenge the Republican...

Between Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Playhouse, myriad arts festivals and Laguna Art Museum, there’s plenty to see and do this month. We’ve already experienced Pageant of the Masters, which we agreed is one of the best we’ve seen (and we go every year). “I loved how this year’s...

Newport’s noted Italian restaurant Il Barone, opened in 2009 by longtime Antonello chef Franco Barone and his wife, Donatella, is on the move. Not only are Franco and Donatella moving their much-lauded bistro (Chef of the Year and Restaurateur of the Year from the Southern...

Pianist and actor Hershey Felder has been keeping busy—very busy. He’s played over 4,500 performances of his self-created solo productions around the world, breaking box office records and drawing critical acclaim for his one-man shows that revolve around noted composers. Up to...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy     We’re always looking for good spots to dine before seeing a play at Laguna Playhouse, especially some place we can get in and out of quickly, since we’re often on a tight schedule. We finally found the perfect spot:...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy Skyloft in Laguna Beach made a splash when it opened last November on Coast Highway in downtown Laguna Beach. Christopher went several times and loved the rooftop dining. The menu was recently retooled thanks to new chef...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy  Pageant of the Masters is an experience that nearly defies description: People dressed and posed as tableaux vivants (“living pictures”) that recreate larger-than-life versions of classic and contemporary works of art....

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Sawdust Art & Craft Festival — a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting art created in Laguna Beach — is using as its theme this year “Celebrating the Soul of Art for 50 Years!”...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy  One theater plus two actors equals “Act 3,” the comedy-drama that kicks off the New Year at The Laguna Playhouse through January 31. The play stars comedienne Rita Rudner, who has performed her stand-up act at the...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy We’re lucky to have so many noteworthy restaurants in Newport Beach, but occasionally we do cross the border into Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach and other nearby towns in our constant quest for excellent and interesting dining...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy Pre-theater dining is almost mandatory for us before we go see a play, concert or ballet because it adds to the experience. In Laguna Beach, dining options abound due to how many restaurants are within a short walk of...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale “And the winner is…” The Golden Foodie Awards were held last Sunday evening at the Fairmont Newport Beach hotel. More than 400 people packed a ballroom to applaud the county’s best restaurants, chefs, bartenders, cuisine and...

By Christopher Trela & Catherine Del Casale | NB Indy Seven lunch items for $5 each—at The Bungalow? Sounded too good to be true, so Christopher went to The Bungalow in Corona del Mar for lunch last week to check it out. He discovered that it was indeed too good—and t...

“Biophony” describes the myriad sounds made by animals, from roaring lions to humming bees, to a sea anemone munching or a river otter pining for its lost mate. Introduced by musician, composer, ecologist and author Bernie Krause, he also coined “anthrophony,” defined as human...

The concept of a shuttle or trolley system for Balboa Peninsula rolled forward last week after the presentation of a Balboa Peninsula Shuttle/Trolley Feasibility Study by Dan Boyle of Dan Boyle & Associates Inc. at the Balboa Village Advisory Committee meeting held July 8 at...