- Thrive OC
- Posts
- Oktober Vibes, Tall Ships, and a Waterfront Date Night Pick
Oktober Vibes, Tall Ships, and a Waterfront Date Night Pick
PLUS: Newport’s 2050 Plan, Parking Feedback Wanted, and a County Timeshare Auction
Thrive OC
September 08, 2025
In partnership with
Good morning, Orange County. You’re reading Thrive OC, your quick, clean briefing on what to do, what’s new, and what matters locally. Here’s what’s on deck:
Huntington Beach Dining Gem
Oktoberfest & Can’t-Miss Local Events
Upcoming Live Music
Newport’s 2050 Draft Plan
San Clemente Parking Survey
Timeshares Hit the Auction
Let’s dive in.
— Dave Berry
🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Watertable (Huntington Beach)
Refined coastal comfort with a rustic-chic twist inside the Hyatt Regency HB. Think seasonal SoCal flavors, a deep wine list, and polished service. Perfect for a date night or celebratory dinner steps from the sand.
Where: 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Phone: (714) 845-4776
📅 Upcoming Events 🎉
Oktoberfest, Old World Huntington Beach (Now–Nov 9)
Orange County’s longest-running Oktoberfest returns with German bands, classic eats (award-winning bratwurst), imported beers, contests, and more. Tickets at the door or online; Wednesdays–Sundays.
When: Through Nov 9 (Wed–Sat 11 AM–9 PM, Sun–Tue 11 AM–8 PM)
Where: Old World Huntington Beach
Del Mar Wine & Food Fest (Sept 10–14)
Celeb chefs, creators, curated wineries, and big-energy events by Alex Morgan, Drew Brees, and Rob Machado. Open-air tastings, demos, and serious foodie flex.
When: Sept 10–14, times vary (see event info)
Where: Del Mar, locations vary (see event info)
Farmers Market OC, Costa Mesa (Sept 11)
Weekly market with local produce and goods at OC Fair & Event Center.
When: Thu, Sept 11 (9 AM–1 PM)
Where: 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa
Fiesta Market at GardenWalk, Anaheim (Sept 12–14)
Two festive weekends for Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month: live music, local vendors, kids piñatas (Sat), free crafts (Sun), and good eats.
When: Sept 12–14 (5–10 PM)
Where: 400 W Disney Way, Anaheim
Dana Point Maritime Festival (Sept 12–14)
The Ocean Institute’s beloved tall-ships celebration turns 41: vendors, food trucks, beer gardens, kids’ activities, reenactors, and maritime history—100% of proceeds support education.
When: Sept 12–14, times vary (see event info)
Where: Ocean Institute & Dana Point Harbor
Redo Market, Costa Mesa (Sept 12–13)
A curated vintage/handmade market uniting collectors and local makers. Kids 12 & under free; parking $12.
When: Fri, Sept 12 (4–9 PM) & Sat, Sept 13 (9 AM–4 PM)
Where: OC Fairgrounds
Santa Ana Fiestas Patrias (Sept 13–14)
Free, family-friendly celebration of Mexican independence & Latin American culture with a parade, street fair, live music, rides, and more.
When: Sat, Sept 13 (12–11 PM) & Sun, Sept 14 (12–10 PM)
Where: Downtown Santa Ana
Ladera Ranch Cars & Coffee (Sept 14)
Second-Sunday community meetup for car lovers—reserve a display spot (Side 1 is pedestrian-only; no ins/outs until 11 AM).
When: Sun, Sept 14 (9–11 AM)
Where: Mercantile West, Crown Valley & Antonio
Surf City 10, Huntington Beach (Sept 14)
One of California’s most scenic running events returns, with 10-mile, 10K, and 5K races starting and finishing at Huntington Beach’s Pier Plaza. Run along PCH with ocean views, palm trees, and that Surf City energy—then celebrate post-race in true HB style.
When: Sun, Sept 14 (times vary, see event info)
Where: Pier Plaza, Huntington Beach
Brunch with the Beatles (Sept 14)
Beachside Beatles tribute with brunch favorites.
When: Sun, Sept 14 (10 AM)
Where: SeaLegs at the Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach, HB
🏄 Local News You Should Know
🚗 San Clemente: Parking & Transportation Survey (Due Oct 6)
The city is running a Parking & Transportation Demand Management study to improve accessibility, support local business, and encourage sustainability. Have thoughts on parking? Take the survey by October 6.
🌊 Newport Beach: 2050 General Plan — Draft Chapters Open for Comment
Three draft elements—Recreation, Natural Resources, and Harbor, Bay & Beaches—are ready for community feedback. Review and comment by Monday, Nov 17 at newportbeachca.gov/gpupdate.
🏝️ County Auction: 114 Coastal Timeshares Up for Grabs
The Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector will auction 114 timeshare intervals across four coastal resorts—including 20 at Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas—starting Tue, Sept 17 at 8 AM. Registration closes Fri, Sept 12 at 1 PM ($35 fee + $100 refundable deposit). ⚠️ Buyer beware: winning bidders assume annual HOA/maintenance obligations, so be sure to do your homework!
🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?
Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas, featured in this month’s timeshare auction, opened in 2000 and has since grown into one of the largest vacation ownership resorts in Orange County—spanning roughly 70 to 75 acres of coastal property overlooking Crystal Cove.
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, September 12:
Alza Italian Kitchen (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Vintage Vinyl, 6:00 pm
Barnoa Wine Company (San Clemente) – Mike Silvestri, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Bigshots Billiards Bar & Grill (Lake Forest) – New Party Rock All Stars, 8:30 pm
Five Vines Wine Bar (San Juan Capistrano) – Leslie Lowe, 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
StillWater Spirits & Sounds (Dana Point) – Skateway ($10 Cover), 9:00 pm
The Drake (Laguna Beach) – Alpha Rhythm Kings, 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Bayside Restaurant (Newport Beach) – Ron Kobayashi Band, 6:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Garden Amp (Garden Grove) – Van Halen Tribute Atomic Punks + more, 5:00 pm
Pacific Amphitheatre (Costa Mesa) – Young The Giant + Wilderado, 7:30 pm
Spaghettini (Seal Beach) – Erin Stevenson & Althea Rene, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The Observatory (Santa Ana) – Noah Cyrus: I Want My Loved Ones To Go With Me, 7:00 pm
The Wayfarer (Costa Mesa) – Sega Genecide, 10:00 pm
🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast
As of Sunday 09-07-2025 | (Source: Google Weather)
🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC
Sunrise | 6:29 am, 82° East |
|---|---|
Sunset | 7:07 pm, 277° West |
Total Daylight | 12 hours, 39 minutes |
Big News for OC Locals: Your New Go-To Guide is Here 📘
We’ve been hard at work and are proud to announce that The Ultimate OC Guide is finally here! This e-book is packed with 150+ pages of curated OC gold—hidden gems, date spots, dog-friendly favorites, annual events, and more.
Normally $40+, we’re giving it away for just $10 for a limited time!
Thrive OC VIPs? It’s yours for FREE. Check your inbox 👀
💛 Want to support but not ready to grab the guide? You can still help keep Thrive OC running strong — Donate here.
Or, take your OC experience to the next level—join Thrive OC VIP for exclusive discounts, VIP event access, and insider perks while supporting local businesses!
Your support means the world—thank you for being part of the Thrive OC community! 🙌
The Key to a $1.3 Trillion Opportunity
A new real estate trend called co-ownership is revolutionizing a $1.3T market. Leading it? Pacaso. Created by the founder behind a $120M prior exit, they already have $110M+ in gross profits to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. And you can invest until September 18.
Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.
Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.
Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.
📢 Want to Advertise?
Do you have a business, product, service, brand, or event that you want to promote or feature? Contact us!
And if you loved this newsletter, forward it to a friend 👇
Thanks!
Thanks for reading Thrive OC today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who you think could Thrive in OC.
P.S. We value your thoughts, feedback, and questions - feel free to respond directly to this email!
… and if you enjoyed this email, be sure to thank the person who forwarded it to you and subscribe to get your own copy!
What did you think about today's email? |