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Good morning, Orange County. You’re reading Thrive OC, your guide to what to do, where to eat, and what to know across OC this week. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Wine tastings and candlelight concerts

• Car shows, marathons, and more

• A craft food hub worth visiting

• Whale sightings along the coast

• Roads to avoid this week

• Pickleball courts coming soon

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: SteelCraft (Garden Grove)

If you’re the kind of person who can’t agree on burgers or tacos or fried chicken, SteelCraft Garden Grove solves that problem in one stop. Built from repurposed shipping containers, SteelCraft brings together multiple local food and drink vendors in an open-air, communal setting. It’s casual, social, and designed for everything from a quick bite to a long hang with friends. Expect craft beer, comfort food, desserts, and rotating events that make it feel more like a neighborhood hub than a food court.

Where: 12900 S Euclid St, Garden Grove | Phone: (714) 482-6298

📅 Upcoming Events 🎉

Wine Down Wednesday, Anaheim (Jan 28)

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

Ever After Cinderella Retelling, Santa Ana (Jan 28)

A rarely screened 1998 Cinderella retelling lands at The Frida Cinema with themed drinks, a pre-show, and dress-up encouraged. 8:15 PM | The Frida Cinema, 305 E 4th St #100, Santa Ana, CA 92701 | Event Info

Wildlife Wednesday, Huntington Beach (Jan 28)

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

Wine & Wander at Casa Romantica, San Clemente (Feb 1)

An evening stroll through Casa Romantica pairing art, history, and curated wine tastings. Guests explore the estate with a guided map, stopping at key exhibits and historic spaces for story-driven pours from Caleb & Rose. 6:00–8:00 PM (last entry at 7:00 PM) | Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens, San Clemente | Event Info

Candlelight Concert, Dana Point (Jan 29)

An immersive candlelit concert celebrating the music of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, performed live by a string quartet. Expect iconic themes from The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King in a dramatic, atmospheric setting overlooking the coast. Costumes are welcome but not required. Select times (choose in ticket selector) | The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel | Event Info

OC Farmers Market, Costa Mesa (Jan 29)

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

Surf City Artisan Fair, Huntington Beach (Jan 30)

A big pier-side artisan event with handcrafted goods and a community vibe built around gathering, giving, creativity, and learning. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Huntington Beach Pier Plaza, Huntington Beach | Event Info

Historic Main Street Friday Night Cruise, Garden Grove (Jan 30)

A weekly Main Street car night with classic cars, bikes, and plenty of small-town OC energy. Walk the lineup, grab a bite nearby, and stick around for raffles and awards. 5:00–8:00 PM | Historic Main Street, 12905 Main St, Garden Grove, CA | Event Info

Lotería Night, Santa Ana (Jan 31)

An afternoon of games, DJs, food, drinks, and a curated lineup of local makers in DTSA. Free to attend. 1:00–6:00 PM | 201 E 4th St, Santa Ana | Event Info

Monster Jam, Anaheim (Jan 31)

High-energy monster truck action rolls into Angel Stadium for an afternoon show. 4:30 PM | Angel Stadium, Anaheim | Event Info

Laguna BioBlitz, Laguna Beach (Jan 31)

A full-day, guided community science event documenting local species across dives, hikes, birding, tidepools, and algae walks. Programs run throughout the day | Multiple Laguna Beach locations | Event Info 

Surf City Marathon, Huntington Beach (Feb 1)

A scenic, Boston-qualifying race along PCH featuring a marathon, half, 5K, and beach mile. Morning start times | Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach | Event Info

Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, Anaheim (Jan 29–Feb 1)

A full runDisney race weekend tied to Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, with multiple races (5K, 10K, half marathon), kids events, and a big expo vibe around the resort. Even if you’re not running, expect early-morning road closures near Disneyland and heavier traffic in the area. Jan 29–Feb 1 (event times vary by race) | Disneyland Resort area, Anaheim | Event Info

🏄 Local News You Should Know

Gray Whale Season Has Arrived in SoCal

It’s officially gray whale season along the Southern California coast. Every winter, these whales pass right by OC as part of one of the longest migrations of any mammal on Earth, traveling thousands of miles between Arctic feeding grounds and the warm lagoons of Baja California. This migration is especially important right now as the population continues to recover following recent years of higher-than-normal mortality. If you spot a whale blow from shore, those sightings actually matter: local researchers track them to better understand migration timing and habitat use. If you’re interested in contributing, the “WatchSpotter” app lets everyday beachgoers submit sightings that support marine research.

Road & Lane Closures to Know (Late January–Early February)

Several road, lane, and freeway closures are underway or coming soon across Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Anaheim through late January and early February:

• In Irvine, expect weekday daytime lane closures on Jamboree Road, Main Street, and Walnut Avenue, plus overnight impacts on I-405 and a temporary closure of the SR-55 southbound Dyer Road off-ramp.

• Huntington Beach drivers should plan for intermittent daytime lane and bike lane closures on Magnolia Street near Hamilton Avenue, along with significant road closures on Pacific Coast Highway and nearby streets during the Surf City Marathon on Sunday, Feb 1.

• In Anaheim, major early-morning closures will affect streets including Harbor Boulevard, Katella Avenue, Disney Way, and Ball Road during Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend on Jan 31 and Feb 1.

Allow extra time, use alternate routes when possible, and double-check details before heading out, as schedules may change.

New Pickleball Courts Coming to Irvine

Pickleball fans, mark this one. Eight new lighted courts are set to open next month at Mike Ward Community Park in Woodbridge, weather permitting. The courts will support drop-in play, reservations, and organized programs, all bookable through the City of Irvine once they open.

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

Long before Garden Grove became a fully developed city, it was part of Orange County’s agricultural past. Farms once covered much of the area, producing crops like strawberries and other produce.

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

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🎶 Live Music This Weekend

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

Friday, Jan 30:

1. Alza Italian Kitchen (Rancho Santa Margarita) – Hardcore Troubadours, 6:00 pm

2. BeachFire Bar & Grill (San Clemente) – The Reset, 8:00 pm

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

4. Bricco Cucina & Wine Bar (Laguna Niguel) – Sara Loera, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

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

6. The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – Taj Farrant, 9:00 pm

7. Bayside (Newport Beach) – Ron Kobayashi & Friends, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

8. Biergarten (Huntington Beach) – Linking Park Experience / Everything Zen / The Off White Stripes, 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm

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

10. Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – The Reflexx, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

11. Garden Amp (Garden Grove) – Foreigner / Eagles / Linda Ronstadt Tributes, 5:00 pm

12. The Observatory (Santa Ana) – Black Flag, 7:00 pm

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC

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