Pacific Symphony Opens New Era with Joshua Bell, Celebrates Shelley’s First Season

Alexander Shelley steps into his first season as Pacific Symphony's artistic and music director this fall, and he's bringing violinist Joshua Bell along for the ride. The two share the stage Saturday, September 24, at 8 p.m. at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for a season-opening concert built around America's musical legacy.

The timing isn't accidental. This season overlaps with the nation's 250th birthday and the approaching anniversaries of Segerstrom Center for the Arts and its concert hall, and Shelley has shaped his opening program around that convergence, pulling together works that trace where American orchestral music has been and where it's headed.

The centerpiece is Édouard Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole, with Bell on violin. Four decades into a career that's made him one of classical music's most recognizable names, Bell still brings the same technical precision and feel for the piece's Spanish rhythms that have made it a staple. It's his first time back with Pacific Symphony in some time, and the pairing with Shelley sets an ambitious tone for what's to come this season.

Beyond the Lalo, the concert doubles as the kickoff for the Symphony's America 250 programming. Leonard Bernstein's Overture to Candide brings his trademark wit to the hall, George Gershwin's Overture to Girl Crazy leans into jazz and Broadway energy, and Erich Korngold's Kings Row Suite honors Hollywood's Golden Age and the immigrant composers who helped build it.

Living composers get a spot too. Jessie Montgomery's Banner reworks familiar patriotic themes, and Kevin Puts' "Earth," part of his five-movement concerto The Elements, brings Bell back onstage. Bell commissioned the piece himself in 2023.

Joan Tower's Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman and Florence Price's Andante Moderato round out the program's tribute to female composers, and Béla Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances closes things out, a reminder of how much of America's musical identity comes from elsewhere.

"In this opening night performance and the broader 2026-27 Classical Season, you'll hear fantastic music by composers who were born in or chose to live in the U.S. and witness how they have shaped and defined our American orchestral tradition," Shelley said.

Tickets for "Violin Virtuoso Joshua Bell & Alexander Shelley" are available by calling (714) 755-5799 or visiting pacificsymphony.org.

VOX Kitchen Brings Modern Chifa Flavor to Aliso Viejo

Kei Concepts is opening a third VOX Kitchen location in Aliso Viejo on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The new restaurant brings the brand's Modern Chifa cuisine to South Orange County for the first time.

VOX Kitchen opened in Fountain Valley in 2017 as one of Kei Concepts' first restaurants. It has since grown into one of the group's best-known names, with locations in Fountain Valley and South Coast Plaza. The concept is built on Chifa, the culinary tradition blending Chinese and Peruvian influences, with a menu known for bold flavor and multicultural roots.

The 3,298-square-foot Aliso Viejo location will seat close to 80 guests, with an interior inspired by VOX Kitchen & Bar at South Coast Plaza. The new restaurant carries forward the same lively, welcoming dining experience that has defined VOX for nearly 10 years.

The menu will include the dishes VOX is known for: Filet Mignon Lomo Saltado, served over thick-cut fries wok-tossed with red onion and tomato alongside rice and aji sauce; Filet Garlic Noodles finished with Parmesan and scallions; and the VOX Pear Salad, layered with arugula, burrata, candied nuts and fig balsamic. Crispy Garlic Chicken Wings and Chifa-style fried rice round out the menu.

The Aliso Viejo opening follows several recent debuts for Kei Concepts, including QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine, Kei Coffee House, ROL Hand Roll Bar in Irvine and La Habra, and VOX Kitchen & Bar at South Coast Plaza. Founder Viet Nguyen was also named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: California this year, and he and co-CEO Ivy Ha have received several honors for their leadership.

VOX Kitchen Aliso Viejo, located at 26511 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, will open with soft-opening hours Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Starting Sept. 7, hours expand to Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit Kei Concepts online.

Founded by Viet Nguyen, Kei Concepts is an Orange County-based hospitality group behind chef-driven restaurant concepts rooted in culture, craftsmanship and innovation. With nearly 1,000 employees across its portfolio, the company is one of the largest Vietnamese-founded restaurant groups in the country. Its restaurants include VOX Kitchen, VOX Kitchen & Bar, NEP Cafe, SUP Noodle Bar, INI Ristorante, Kei Coffee House, KIN Craft Ramen & Izakaya, QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine and ROL Hand Roll Bar.

Zov’s Mediterranean Restaurant Set to Open on 17th Street in Costa Mesa

Zov's is coming to Costa Mesa. The Mediterranean restaurant will open at 428 E. 17th St., in the former Playa Mesa space, in late 2026. The move follows the brand's debut in San Clemente earlier this year.

17th Street's dining choices are getting better and better, with Ospi, Oak & Coal, Tabu Shabu, Salt & Lime and many more. Zov's joins a strip already known for independent, chef-driven spots. The Costa Mesa location will carry the same family hospitality that has defined the brand since it opened nearly 40 years ago.

Zov Karamardian opened the first Zov's in 1987 with her husband, Gary, drawing on family recipes and her own background in Mediterranean cooking. The business remains family run. Son Armen is CEO, daughter Taleene oversees creative and operational work, and granddaughter Morgan handles branding and marketing across the company's locations in Tustin, Irvine, Newport Coast and San Clemente.

The menu is expected to include grilled lamb chops, house-made mezze with hummus and baba ghanoush, locally sourced seafood, flatbreads and house-made pastas, along with seasonal salads. The bar program will offer cocktails made with fresh herbs and citrus, a wine list covering California and Mediterranean producers, and craft beer and non-alcoholic options.

Zov's will be at 428 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa.