Good morning, Orange County, and Happy New Year! You’re reading Thrive OC, your weekly shortcut to the best places to eat, things to do, and local updates worth your time as we kick off 2026. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Steakhouse with Views

• Markets & Pop-ups

• Live Jazz & Happy Hour

• Animal Rescue Funding

• Energy Project Update

• High-Speed Internet Upgrade

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Legends Seafood & Steakhouse (Laguna Niguel)

If you’re in the mood for a classic “date night but not too formal” spot with seafood, steaks, pasta, and cocktails, Legends Seafood & Steakhouse checks a lot of boxes, especially if you can grab a seat with a view. There’s a bar area, patio, and outdoor seating, so it works whether you’re going full dinner mode or just doing drinks and appetizers.

Where: 31371 Niguel Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 | Phone: (949) 312-2079

📅 Upcoming Events 🎉

Surf City Nights – Huntington Beach (Jan 6)

Downtown HB transforms into a weekly street fair with farmers market finds, live music, and sidewalk sales. A true locals’ hangout. 5–9 PM | Main Street, Huntington Beach | Event Info

Wine Down Wednesday, Anaheim (Jan 7)

Midweek wine, bites, and live tunes at California Vintage Wine Bistro (30% off all bottles, dine-in). 5:00–9:00 PM | 1925 S State College Blvd, Anaheim | Event Info

Wildlife Wednesday – Huntington Beach (Jan 7)

Tour the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center and meet animals in rehab. Suggested donation: $20. Tours hourly from 10:30am–1:30pm | 21900 PCH, HB

OC Farmers Market, Costa Mesa (Jan 8)

Certified market with produce, flowers, fresh fish, and hot lunch options (tamales, tacos, more). Free admission & parking. 9:00 AM–1:00 PM | OC Fair & Event Center – Lot D, Costa Mesa | Event Info

Jazz Night at Brightwaters, Huntington Beach (Jan 8)

Weekly live jazz night — easy, classy, and perfect for a low-effort midweek outing. 6:30–9:00 PM | Brightwaters Wine Bar & Restaurant, 180 5th Street, Huntington Beach | Event Info

Happy Hour at A+O Restaurant | Bar, Newport Beach (Jan 8)

Waterfront happy hour with curated cocktails and elevated bites — solid option if you want “nice” without making it a whole thing. 3:00–6:00 PM (Mon–Thu) | 1221 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach | Event Info

San Juan Capistrano Farmers Market (Jan 9)

Shop fresh produce, artisanal goods, and baked treats every Friday at Farmakis Farms. 9 AM–1 PM | Farmakis Farms, SJC | Event Info

Modern Makers Mart, Irvine (Jan 10–11)

A weekend makers market featuring handmade goods, art, jewelry, pottery, and locally sourced finds — with food and live music vibes. 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Woodbury Town Center, Irvine | Event Info

Patriot Point Ribbon Cutting, Huntington Beach (Jan 10)

Grand opening for Patriot Point, a permanent memorial honoring veterans, service members, and their families — rooted in a community tradition that started back in 2010. 10:00 AM | Patriot Point (PCH & Goldenwest Street), Huntington Beach | Event Info

Oak & Ember Holiday Speakeasy, Huntington Beach (Now–Jan 15)

A holiday pop-up speakeasy on the Treehouse rooftop bar at Paséa: themed cocktails, cozy cabin vibes, lounge seating, and little surprises. Speakeasy tip: use code “WHISPER” at the door. Evenings; check venue schedule | Treehouse on PCH, 21080 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach | Event Info

Learn To Be 5K Walk/Run (Jan 11)

A family- and pet-friendly 5K supporting Learn To Be’s mission to provide free 1-on-1 tutoring for students in need. Enjoy coffee, a food truck, games, and raffle prizes at the finish. Early bird pricing ends Friday. Check in between 8-8:45 am and race starts at 9 am | Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim, CA | Event Info

🏄 Local News You Should Know

OC now has a dedicated large-animal rescue team for emergencies

Orange County just approved $75,000 in funding to launch OCART (Orange County Animal Rescue Team), a trained volunteer group that will help evacuate large animals during emergencies, especially wildfires. The funding covers practical needs like insurance, training supplies, a rescue trailer, and volunteer equipment.

Why it matters: In late 2023, the San Juan Capistrano Large Animal Rescue Team stopped providing countywide resources, leaving a gap. OCART is designed to bring that coverage back in a coordinated, county-supported way, giving horse owners (and other large-animal owners) a real plan when evacuation orders hit.

Compass Battery Storage project paused in San Juan Capistrano

The proposed Compass Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in San Juan Capistrano has been paused. ENGIE North America told the city it’s due to changing commercial and market conditions affecting financial viability. The company says it will use the pause to reassess siting options and see whether alternative locations or changed conditions could make the project feasible later. For now: the application is on hold, but ENGIE says it still supports California’s long-term clean energy and battery storage goals.

Huntington Beach to host subsea cable landings for Catalina connectivity

Huntington Beach will host two subsea fiber-optic cable landing stations as part of a major effort to deliver high-speed internet to Catalina Island and improve connectivity for underserved residents in Huntington Beach. The project has secured a $37.5 million CPUC grant to support installation of two high-capacity undersea cables across the San Pedro Channel. In short: this is one of those infrastructure upgrades that quietly changes quality of life in a big way over time.

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

Laguna Niguel is one of Orange County’s newer cities. It was officially incorporated in 1989 (much later than most OC communities) yet the land itself has been inhabited for thousands of years, originally home to the Acjachemen (Juaneño) people long before modern development.

Think you know OC? Reply with your best trivia, and we might feature it next!

🎶 Live Music This Weekend

Looking for live tunes? Here’s what’s happening:

Friday, Jan 9:

1. Alza Italian Kitchen (Rancho Santa Margarita) – George Fryer Band, 6:00 pm

2. BeachFire Bar & Grill (San Clemente) – Phil Vandermost, 4:00 pm

3. Bigshots Billiards Bar & Grill (Lake Forest) – Ragdoll – Rock/Pop Fridays, 10:30 pm

4. Bricco Cucina & Wine Bar (Laguna Niguel) – Yvette Palmer Trio, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

5. Brio Tuscany Grille (Dana Point) – Tori Green, 7:00 pm

6. Carlos Mexican Restaurant (Dana Point) – Randall Winvick Quartet, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

7. Beale’s Texas BBQ (Santa Ana) – Funk Freaks, 8:00 pm – 2:00 am

8. Biergarten (Huntington Beach) – Tributes to Kiss, Def Leppard & Dio, 7:00 pm – 11:30 pm

9. Bistango (Irvine) – The Pearls, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

10. Bogart’s Coffee House (Seal Beach) – Nick Justice, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

11. Cafe Sevilla (Costa Mesa) – Colombian Latin Soul, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

12. Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – Tijuana Dogs, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC

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