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Good morning, Orange County. You know you live in SoCal when your weekend plans include street fairs, whale sightings, and checking ShakeAlert more than the weather. Let’s get into this week’s best:

• Beachfront dining in Newport Coast

• Safer restraints developed in OC

• 5.2 earthquake hits SoCal

• Whale washes ashore

• Upcoming festivals, fairs, and markets

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove

Steps from the sand. Housed in a historic cottage, The Beachcomber delivers old-school beach charm with a coastal California menu that doesn’t miss. Great for brunch, a sunset dinner, or catching happy hour on the patio.

📍 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, CA

🏄 Local News You Should Know

🥋 Safe Nonviolent Restraints Using Jiu-Jitsu

Born in Orange County, SafeWrap is a nonviolent restraint technique developed by Ryron and Rener Gracie at the request of UC Irvine Medical Center—and now LAPD is taking notes. It avoids strikes, chokes, or joint locks, offering a hands-on but calm approach to de-escalation. If approved, it could become part of LAPD’s official training.

🫨 5.2 Earthquake Shakes SoCal

On Monday, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Julian, rattling much of SoCal—including OC. No major damage reported locally, but it caused rockslides, evacuations, and a rare sight: elephants at the San Diego Zoo forming a protective “alert circle” around a baby elephant. Experts say it was likely the mainshock—so consider this your reminder to check your emergency kit.

🐋 A Whale Washes Ashore in Huntington Beach

A 45-foot gray whale washed up near Tower 7. The cause of death is still unknown, though early tests suggest it was in good health. The city buried the whale Sunday morning, following NOAA guidelines.

🍻 Boots & Brews Irvine 2025 Was One for the Books

Good beer, great music, and even better company. Boots & Brews Irvine 2025 brought the country spirit to the city—and it did not disappoint! 🎶

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

📅 Other Upcoming Events 🎉

🛍️ Redo Market – Dana Point (April 27)

Dana Point shuts down Del Prado Ave for Redo Market: 200+ vendors, live music, food, drinks, and good vibes. Free and open to the public!

📍 Del Prado Ave, Dana Point

🍇 Knott’s Boysenberry Festival (Now - April 27)

Last chance to catch Knott’s signature spring fest featuring boysenberry-inspired food, craft drinks, and entertainment.

📍 Knott’s Berry Farm: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620

🌮 San Diego Taco & Tequila Festival (April 26)

Enjoy an afternoon sipping margaritas and savoring delicious tacos, all accompanied by a lively lineup of live music! Get your tickets here.

📍 Del Mar Fairgrounds, Saturday, 1pm-9pm.

🎨 Encinitas Spring Street Fair (April 26–27)

Two-day celebration on the 101 with 450+ vendors, live music, art, food, and fun for all ages.

📍 Coast Highway 101, Encinitas

🤠 Western Movie Night – San Juan Capistrano (May 2)

Vintage western movies, live music by Eric Roebuck and Katie Miller, dinner by Nomada, craft cocktails, tattoos, and a western-themed photo booth. Get tickets here.

📍 Swanner House, 29943 Camino Capistrano

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

Crystal Cove’s beach cottages—like the one housing The Beachcomber—date back to the 1920s and were originally built as part of a seaside squatters' community. Today, they’re a preserved slice of OC’s coastal history.

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—Sara! 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, April 25:

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

2. Mozambique - Ivan'z Room (Laguna Beach) – Past Action Heroes, 9:00 PM

3. The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – Tom Green – Comedy Tour, 9:00 PM

4. ROM Beer Co. (San Clemente) – Summertime Johnny, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

5. The Cliff Restaurant (Laguna Beach) – Phil Gough, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

6. StillWater Spirits & Sounds (Dana Point) – Family Style, 9:00 PM

7. Garden Amp (Garden Grove) – DJ Quik, 5:00 PM

8. Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – The PettyBreakers, 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM

9. Spaghettini (Seal Beach) – DW3: A Tribute to The Legends of Music, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

10. La Santa (Santa Ana) – Club Devience, 9:00 PM

11. The Observatory (Santa Ana) – Nurko (18+), 7:00 PM

12. Time Nightclub (Costa Mesa) – Boombox Cartel, 9:30 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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