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Good morning, Orange County. This is Thrive OC, where your inbox gets the upgrade your weekend plans deserve. If you’ve ever tried to decide between brunch on the bay or tacos in a parking lot band scene… welcome, you’re one of us. Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

• Restaurant of the Week: Southern soul in a Costa Mesa hideaway

• Brand-new pump track opens in San Clemente (finally!)

• SharkNinja recall alert: check your pressure cooker

• Beach closures in Huntington and Newport

• Upcoming events: Last-minute Cinco plans, Mother's Day, and Newport’s wine festival.

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Memphis Cafe (Costa Mesa)

Tucked into an unassuming corner of Costa Mesa, Memphis Cafe serves up comfort food with a Southern soul and midcentury cool.

Why go? The cocktails are strong, the vibe is laid back, and the shrimp and grits are reason enough to become a regular.

📍 2920 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA
✅ Happy Hour | Great Cocktails | Wi-Fi for the laptop crowd

🏄 Local News You Should Know

🚲 San Clemente’s New Pump Track Opens to Cheers (and Rain)

After years of community buzz, the San Clemente Pump Track officially opened at Richard T. Steed Memorial Park on April 26. Despite the rainy morning, riders lined up for a chance to try Orange County’s first-ever public asphalt pump track.

This 18,000-square-foot space is already being hailed as a new gem in San Clemente’s outdoor scene. Bonus: there’s a beginner track for little ones and first-timers.

📍 247 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente

⚠️ Recall Alert: 1.8 Million Pressure Cookers

Own a Ninja Foodi pressure cooker? You’ll want to check your model number. Over 1.8 million units were just recalled due to a serious burn risk (more than 100 injuries have already been reported). Full details and how to claim a replacement lid: Consumer Product Safety Recall Info

🌊 Beach Closures After Sewage Spill

Until further notice, swimming, surfing, and diving are off-limits from Huntington State Beach to Grant Street in Newport Beach due to a sewage spill. If in doubt, check: OC Beach Water Quality Info

🛍️ Redo Market Recap: Vintage Vibes in Dana Point

The Redo Vintage and Makers Market was a hit last weekend! Shoppers, creators, and collectors came together for an unforgettable day of vintage finds and local goods in Dana Point.

Were you there? If not, no worries, we’ll keep you in the loop for the next one!

📅 Other Upcoming Events 🎉

🌮 Cinco de Mayo – Descanso Restaurant, Costa Mesa (May 5)

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with margarita pitchers, sampler platters, and live music at Descanso’s festive Cinco bash.

📍 1555 Adams Ave, Costa Mesa
🗓 May 5 | Live music | Happy Hour all day on May 5

💐 Mother's Day in OC (May 10–May 11)

Looking to impress Mom this year? Here are some top picks:

• Anaheim: Free flowers + live music at Anaheim Marketplace (May 10, 12pm-5pm)

• Dana Point: Scenic cruise to Laguna Beach with MOMosas 🍾 (May 11, 10am)

• Santa Ana: Open Garden Day – garden tours + vintage cars (May 10, 9:30am-3:30pm)

• Irvine: Partea at Pretend City – Paint & Sip meets playtime (May 10, 11am-12pm)

• San Juan Capistrano: Sunday Brunch at L’Hirondelle – French-Belgian cuisine, patio dining, and Mission views (May 11, brunch hours)

🍷 Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival (May 23–25)

Balboa Bay Resort kicks off summer with a luxe wine weekend:

• May 23: Winemaker Dinner w/ Jean-Charles Boisset

• May 24: Grand Tasting – wine, spirits, bites & live music

• May 25: Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brunch

🎟 View Schedule and Tickets | 21+ only

📍 Balboa Bay Resort: 1221 West Coast Hwy Newport Beach, CA 92663

OC Greek Festival (May 16–18)

Savor authentic Greek cuisine—from juicy souvlaki to irresistible baklava—in Anaheim’s annual celebration of Greek culture. Opa!

📍 405 North Dale Ave, Anaheim

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

The original Surf City USA legal battle wasn’t between surfers—it was between cities. In the early 2000s, Huntington Beach and Santa Cruz both claimed the title. After some gnarly trademark drama, Huntington Beach officially won the rights in 2006. Since then, it's been proudly branding itself as Surf City USA—though Santa Cruz locals still beg to differ.

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

🎉 VIP Shoutouts!

A big welcome to our newest Thrive OC VIPs—Caleb R.! Thanks for being part of the community—we’ve got some exclusive perks coming your way! 🚀✨

🎶 Live Music This Weekend

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

Friday, May 9:

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

2. Barnoa Wine Company (San Clemente) – Wilfax, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

3. Bricco Cucina & Wine Bar (Laguna Niguel) – Dave Alcantar, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

4. San Juan Hills Golf Course (San Juan Capistrano) – Family Style, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

5. The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – Robert Cray, 9:00 PM

6. The Ranch at Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach) – Zach Churchill, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

7. Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – Always, Adele – Adele Tribute, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

8. Bayside Restaurant (Newport Beach) – Ron Kobayashi Band, 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM

9. Old Crow Smokehouse (Huntington Beach) – Redneck Rodeo, 9:30 PM

10. Garden Amp (Garden Grove) – R&B, Soul, Funk Night – B.I.G. and DW3, 5:00 PM

11. The Observatory (Santa Ana) – Sleigh Bells North American Tour 2025, 7:00 PM

12. The Ranch Saloon (Anaheim) – Southern Spirit, 8:00 PM

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC

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! 🙌

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