The Dose

OC Weekend: Fourth of July Fun

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By Greer Wylder
June 30, 2011

If you're looking to escape from OC this weekend, look no further than up the mountain we love for its snow. For the holiday weekend, Big Bear Mountain Resorts has all the activities necessary for the outdoors - hiking, biking, golfing, BBQ and rides in the Scenic Sky Chair. Now open at Snow Summit, the Scenic Sky Chair can transport you from the base of the mountain in 15 minutes to enjoy the day outside in the SoCal sun. After a day of gorgeous scenery - or a day of relaxing on the mountaintop - a fireworks spectacular rounds out…

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Laguna*s Shooting Star

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By Greer Wylder
June 29, 2011

Laguna Beach is the culinary hot-spot of summer, now that that Starfish, Nancy Wilhelm’s newest culinary concept is open, and we hear that (unofficially) Katsuya, the highly anticipated Philippe Stark designed restaurant will open Friday, July 8 in the former hush restaurant location. Starfish, across from the Montage Resort in South Laguna Beach, is Wilhelm’s latest foray into "AmerAsian" cuisine with influences from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Korea, and India. The menu features summer rolls, pho, udon and soba noodles, Bhutanese rice, wok sauté, ribs, and other classic Asian dishes with an American twist. Favorites include the the Kobe sliders, wild…

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Bundle Up at Lucca!

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By Greer Wylder
June 28, 2011

It’s no secret that Lucca Café in Irvine is one of our favorite restaurants in Orange County. Chef and co-owner Cathy Pavlos and husband/sommelier Elliott Pavlos bring us an unexpected Euro bistro and wine bar serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunch that’s focused on the season’s best ingredients (free-range, hormone-free meats and locally grown organic produce). Whether you are stopping in for an artisan cheese plate, handmade charcuterie an antipasto feast, or a tasty summer salad with yellow beets, heirloom tomatoes, burrata, fresh basil, basil pesto and Champagne vinaigrette (pictured above), you will be treated to a culinary experience featuring…

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The Summer of Mud!

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By Greer Wylder
June 27, 2011

Mud and water plus running makes for the perfect recipe for good clean fun. And you are in luck. There’s still time to register for the Irvine Lake Mud Run Sunday, July 17 at Irvine Lake. The race begins at 8 a.m., but morning waves are sold out. You can still register for individual or team afternoon waves before they sell out too. The 3.8-mile off road course covers trails and hills, as well as obstacles including jump walls, ramps, crawl tubes, and mud pits. This year’s course features new improvements like a mud luge and water-drenching opportunities to help…

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Coastal Chic Interiors!

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By Greer Wylder
June 24, 2011

Great interior design news for Orange County! Pal + Smith opened its first home store and design lab at the new South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. Open to both retail and the trade, the eclectic 4,000-square-foot space houses Pal + Smith’s signature furniture collections, vintage lighting and select pieces of antique furniture; a design library and reference desk; and an interior design studio. Pal + Smith’s displays mid- to high-end treasures, custom proprietary pieces, and lines normally reserved to the trade including Osborne & Little, Designers Guild and Cassaro fabrics and wall coverings; Rosemary Hallgarten pillows and throws; Chameleon…

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