Good morning, Orange County. You’re reading Thrive OC, your trusted guide to everything worth knowing, doing, and eating across the OC, without the fluff. (Unless we’re talking funnel cake at the fair.) Here’s what’s on deck:

• Free concerts & movies all week

• Irvine Night Market returns

• Historic Anaheim fine dining

• Lifelike Walt Disney debuts

• UCI’s $21M brain health boost

• 11 rescued off Dana Point

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Anaheim White House

Fine dining in a historic mansion. Anaheim White House blends high-end Italian cuisine with old-world elegance inside a stunning 1909 landmark home.

It’s a place where linen tablecloths meet melt-in-your-mouth food and handcrafted cocktails. Perfect for a celebration, or just treating yourself to a night of glam.

📍 887 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim

⏰ Opens daily at 5 PM

📅 Upcoming Events 🎉

🎸 Costa Mesa Concerts: Tijuana Dogs (July 22)

Free outdoor show, food trucks, beer garden, and fun for the whole family.

🕔 5 PM | 📍 Fairview Park, Costa Mesa

Event Info

🎤 Irvine Concert in the Park: The Pistol Blonde (July 24)

Live music under the stars at Craig Regional Park.

🕔 5 PM | 📍 Irvine

Event Info

🎶 San Clemente Summer Concert: Wigs & Ties (July 24)

Beachside rock show in a beautiful coastal setting.

🕕 6 PM | 📍 Linda Lane Park, San Clemente

Event Info

🌃 Irvine Night Markets Neon Street Feast (July 24)

Live bands, local eats, unique vendors, and summer vibes every Thursday night.

🕔 5–9 PM | 📍 Great Park Live, Irvine

Event Info

🎥 OC Movies in the Park: Miss Congeniality (July 25)

Outdoor movie night fun for the whole family.

🕕 6 PM | 📍 Yorba Regional Park

Event Info

🔥 BBQ Music Fest (July 25–27)

Three-day BBQ showdown with award-winning pitmasters, live music, carnival rides, beer & cocktail cantinas, dancing, karaoke, and a reptile zone. Sunday features an amateur grilling battle with 25+ backyard chefs.

🕔 Fri 5–10 PM | Sat 12–10 PM | Sun 12–8 PM

📍 Oso Viejo Community Park, Mission Viejo

Event Info

👨‍🍳 Festival of Chefs (July 27)

Top OC chefs, wine, cocktails, and live music from Tijuana Dogs, all benefitting KidWorks.

🕔 5–10 PM | 📍 Newport Beach Country Club

Event Info

🎡 OC Fair: “Find Your Happy” (July 18–Aug 17)

Carnival rides, exhibits, games, and classic fair food.

🕚 11 AM–Midnight (Fri & Sat) | 📍 OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa

🎟️ $13–$15 (Tickets)

🎨 Sawdust Art Festival (Now through Aug 31)

185+ artists, live demos, music, food, drinks, and free art classes daily.

🕚 Opens 11 AM | 📍 Sawdust Festival Grounds, Laguna Beach

Event Info

🏄 Local News You Should Know

🌊 Dana Point Harbor’s Makeover Begins

🧠 UCI Secures $21M to Lead the Nation in Alzheimer’s Research

Big news for brain health. UC Irvine just received a massive $21 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to expand its Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

This five-year renewal solidifies UCI’s leadership in studying memory loss, launching clinical trials, training the next generation of dementia researchers, and directly engaging the OC community.

UCI MIND is pioneering research using stem cells and genetic tools, and more than 6,000 OC locals have already joined their volunteer research registry.

🎢 Walt Disney (Almost) Comes Back to Life

In celebration of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, a new attraction called “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” debuted July 17 inside the Main Street Opera House. But what’s really making headlines is the eerily lifelike audio-animatronic Walt Disney himself.

He talks. He gestures. He even steps forward. Imagineers obsessively studied old footage to replicate Walt’s unique quirks, right down to the subtle glint in his eye.

Expect this to be a new must-do for Disney fans and curious visitors alike.

🚨 Coast Guard Rescue in Dana Point

Last Saturday evening (July 12), a 50-foot catamaran carrying 11 passengers began flooding 7 miles off Dana Point. Thanks to quick coordination by the Coast Guard, Sheriff’s Department, and another charter vessel, all passengers were safely transferred. No injuries were reported, and the boat made it back to port under its own power.

A scary moment, but an expert response.

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

Anaheim White House wasn’t always a fine-dining spot. Originally built in 1909 as a private residence, it became a restaurant in the 1980s, and today it’s one of the few restaurants in the U.S. with a nonprofit foundation (Caterina’s Club) helping feed thousands of children each week.

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, July 25:

1. Barnoa Wine Company (San Clemente) – Rachel Perry, 6:30 PM

2. Bricco Cucina & Wine Bar (Laguna Niguel) – Jacobi Brown, 6:00 PM

3. Cali Costa Restaurant & Cantina (Dana Point) – Live Music, 6:00 PM

4. Knolls Restaurant (Laguna Niguel) – Crossroads, 6:30 PM

5. The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – The Walter Michaels Band, 8:00 PM

6. The Drake (Laguna Beach) – Joshua Brown, 6:30 PM

7. Bayside Restaurant (Newport Beach) – Ron Kobayashi Band, 6:30 PM

8. Biergarten (Huntington Beach) – Flashpants Fridays, 8:00 PM

9. Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – The Wilburys Super Group, 8:30 PM

10. Keno's Restaurant (Anaheim Hills) – Chris Anderson, 6:00 PM

11. The Harp Inn (Costa Mesa) – Oasus, 9:00 PM

12. The Ranch Saloon (Anaheim) – Brad Johnson & The Killin' Time Band, 8:00 PM

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC

🙌 Shop Local & Rep OC in Style

Thrive OC is more than your go-to newsletter for events and local news—we're your source for uniquely curated OC-inspired essentials, apparel, and more. Check out our latest arrivals, designed to keep you stylish and comfortable all season long:

🌴 Don’t LA My OC – Vintage SoCal Retro Orange County T-Shirt (FREE SHIPPING)

Show your OC pride with this fun retro tee, made for locals who live for beach town vibes, golden hour sunsets, and keeping Orange County authentic.

A playful nod to preserving the laid-back spirit of the OC. (No offense, LA.)

✔️ Lightweight & classic fit
✔️ Double-needle sleeve & bottom hem
✔️ Available for men, women, boys & girls
✔️ Prime eligible with FREE shipping on Amazon

Every purchase directly supports Thrive OC, helping us spotlight the best of Orange County every week.

💛 Want to support but not shopping today? 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! 🙌

📢 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!