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RJB Restaurant Group Expands Parlor and Olea Footprints

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By Greer Wylder
June 14, 2025

Orange County restaurateur Russ Bendel continues to grow his collection of popular dining destinations, recently expanding two of his standout restaurants: Parlor Woodfire Kitchen & Cocktails in San Clemente and Olea, Cellar. Craft. Cook in Newport Beach. Each gained more than 1,200 square feet of new space, the result of creative thinking and impeccable timing.Parlor’s Lower LevelWhen Parlor opened in San Clemente last July, the building’s underused lower level served only as storage. But as the restaurant quickly gained a loyal following—and increasing demand for more bar and private dining space—Bendel and his team saw an opportunity to transform the…

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Jan’s Health Bar Expands to San Diego, Introduces New Smoothies and Summer Menu Favorites

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By Greer Wylder
June 14, 2025

Jan’s Health Bar, the iconic fast-casual concept with more than 50 years of history in Southern California, is celebrating a milestone year of growth and innovation.Owner Poppy Holguin—who first started working at Jan’s as a teenager and purchased the flagship location in 2010—has spent the past 15 years thoughtfully expanding the brand while staying true to its founding mission from 1972: making healthy food both enjoyable and approachable.Today, Jan’s operates seven locations across Southern California, including a recently opened store in Long Beach. This week, the brand enters the San Diego market for the first time with its newest location…

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Taste of Japan Brings Food, Culture and Entertainment to Anaheim GardenWalk

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By Greer Wylder
June 11, 2025

Taste of Japan returns to STC Anaheim GardenWalk from Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 15, offering a weekend of Japanese food, culture and entertainment. Now in its sixth year, the free, family-friendly festival draws more than 100,000 attendees annually.More than 100 top Japanese vendors from Southern California will fill the GardenWalk with authentic street food, traditional meals, and curated merchandise. Festival-goers can explore Oishii Yokocho, a popular street food alley featuring eateries such as Kagura, Takoyaki Tanota, Midoh and more.The main stage will feature daily live entertainment, including traditional Japanese drumming, martial arts, anime showcases and pop culture performances.…

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Topside Roof Deck Launches Sunday Brunch Club

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By Greer Wylder
June 09, 2025

Topside Roof Deck in Newport Beach just launched a new way to brunch. The Topside Brunch Club brings rooftop dining and DJ sets together every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The series kicks off in partnership with LYLO Sauvignon Blanc, a crisp New Zealand wine that sets the tone for a fun and carefree brunch.Chef-partner Riley Huddleston created a new brunch menu blending coastal California flavors with playful twists. Think cage-free eggs baked inside avocado halves with Sichuan salsa macha, a brioche Breakfast Sandwich with chile morita aioli, and a decadent Churro Waffle with piloncillo syrup and hibiscus-strawberry…

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Ninth Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival to Celebrate Stories of the Sea

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By Greer Wylder
June 09, 2025

The ninth annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival will set sail June 13-14 with a theme that celebrates Stories of the Sea: Wooden Boats in Film & Fiction.Presented by Whittier Trust and hosted by the Balboa Yacht Club, the festival brings the romance and adventure of classic sea tales to life with a lineup of iconic wooden boats, many featured in films, fiction, or owned by Hollywood legends.This year’s featured vessel is the fully restored Western Flyer, the historic sardine trawler that John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts famously chartered to the Sea of Cortez, later chronicled in The Log from…

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