The Dose

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Russ Bendel and Partners Open Creekside in Rancho Mission Viejo

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By Greer Wylder
October 14, 2026

Russ Bendel, the Orange County restaurateur who has launched one beloved concept after another, has opened his eighth restaurant. Creekside Restaurant & Bar in Rancho Mission Viejo is a relaxed neighborhood spot serving thoughtfully prepared American fare. The dinner-only restaurant opened Monday, Oct. 12.Located in Sendero Marketplace, the 3,000-square-foot space seats 120 between the dining room, bar and patio. The covered patio holds up to 60 for private events.Bendel and his partners drew up a long list of possible names, but none felt right. “We started observing the nature reserve that surrounds the center, which generated new ideas,” Bendel said.…

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Tony Gilroy’s ‘Behemoth!’ to Close Newport Beach Film Festival

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By Greer Wylder
October 12, 2026

Mark your calendars, film lovers. The Newport Beach Film Festival announced Thursday that Oscar-nominated director and writer Tony Gilroy's "Behemoth!," starring Pedro Pascal, will close the 27th annual festival on Thursday, Oct. 22. The festival runs Oct. 15-22.In "Behemoth!," Pascal plays Alex Serian, a gifted cellist who returns home to Los Angeles after 20 years on the road. Music, the constant, all-consuming river that has carried Alex his entire life, pulls him into an adventure that will change him forever. Featuring an unprecedented nine composers, the film is a love letter to movie scoring and to the dizzying power music…

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Wild Strawberry Cafe’s Monster Cookies for National Cookie Month

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By Greer Wylder
October 10, 2026

Soft, delicious and popular at every location, the Monster Cookies at Wild Strawberry Cafe have earned local recognition, are trending on TikTok and sell out daily. Flavors include chocolate chip, strawberry matcha and gluten-free peanut butter. They are available at all three Newport Beach locations and the Laguna Beach location.National Cookie Month is a great time to treat yourself, and the cafe is offering an easy way to save. Buy one Monster Cookie and get the second 50% off.Wild Strawberry Cafe is a family-owned business built on love, hard work and community. The team is dedicated to serving clean, high-quality…

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Newport Beach Film Festival Opens With ‘Frampton’

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By Greer Wylder
October 06, 2026

The 27th Newport Beach Film Festival opens Thursday, Oct. 15, with "Frampton," an intimate documentary portrait of rock icon Peter Frampton. The screening begins at 7 p.m. at Big Newport, Screen 1. Frampton and director Rob Arthur will take part in a live Q&A afterward.The film follows Frampton from the stadium-sized success of "Frampton Comes Alive!" in the 1970s through the long road of rebuilding his career and the personal cost of fame. It also looks at his diagnosis with Inclusion Body Myositis, a degenerative muscle condition that threatens his ability to play guitar. Rare archival footage, candid interviews and…

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Honda Center Serves Up New Eats and Big Shows

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By Greer Wylder
October 04, 2026

Whether you're a Ducks fan, a concertgoer or just there for the food, Honda Center has plenty to try this season. The arena is in the middle of its $1 billion Encore transformation, and it's staying open for games and events while the work continues through 2027.New spaces and upgradesThe Splitero Club on the Columbia Bank Club Level is the arena's newest premium space, with private booths, loge seats, a full-service bar and direct access from the new River Garage. It's the first club in Honda Center history to offer concert views. Guests will also notice renovated restrooms, and the…

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