Good Together House: Laguna Beach’s Home for the Extraordinary and Unexpected

Laguna Beach has quietly upped its game when it comes to indie retail, and Good Together House is a big reason why. On Ocean Avenue, the shop has spent the last five years becoming the kind of place people build a Saturday around. Part home goods store, part apothecary, part vintage jewelry counter, it's the sort of shop where a candle, a ceramic vase and a vintage silk scarf can all feel like they belong in the same bag.

I will admit it, this is one of my favorite stores in Laguna Beach. The vibe alone is worth the drive, warm and curated without ever feeling precious about it. It is also my go-to when I need a gift that feels thoughtful instead of last-minute. There is always something on the shelves I did not know I needed until I saw it.

Owner Kristin Winter opened Good Together House in June 2021, but her roots at that Ocean Avenue address go back further. She was a partner at Brass Tack, a retail store that once occupied the same space, and it's where she first worked alongside Jenn, her current business partner. Dana Marron was also instrumental in building the business, working alongside Kristin for five years.

The name is intentional. "Good Together House" is meant to signal that the shop exists for its community as much as its customers, Kristin said. That philosophy shows up in three simple goals: make everything inside the walls extraordinary and unexpected, help customers discover the passion behind the products and the people who make them, and send every visitor home having had a genuinely good experience.

"We want Good Together House to be a worthwhile place for you to spend time," Kristin said.

That focus on craftsmanship is central to what sets the store apart. Kristin has cultivated relationships with artists and artisans whose work is hard to find anywhere else in Laguna Beach, or locally at all. Among her favorites on the shelves are ceramics from Isa Carr, MH Ceramics, Il Buco, Aaron Murray, Rachel Pally, Greg Garrett, Mt. Washington and LA Clay.

The store's connection to Laguna Beach runs deep on a personal level too. Eight of the shop's 10 employees live in Laguna Beach, and the other two live nearby.

For Kristin, the best part of running Good Together House isn't the merchandise, it's the people who walk through the door.

"The people we meet every day in the store give us such faith in our community and world," she said.

Good Together House is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, at 311 Ocean Ave. in Laguna Beach. For more information, call (949) 466-4428.

‘Gala of the Stars’ Returns to Segerstrom for 17th Year

Looking for plans this Thursday? Festival Ballet Theatre's beloved Gala of the Stars returns to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on Aug. 6 for one unforgettable evening of world-class ballet

Now in its 17th year, the gala pairs international ballet stars with a select group of young protégés for an evening that's equal parts mentorship and masterclass. This year's headliner is Maria Khoreva, first soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre, who joins guest artists from American Ballet Theatre, Dutch National Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, New York City Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Tulsa Ballet and Vienna State Opera. (Guest artists are subject to change.)

The evening unfolds in two parts. At 6 p.m., the program opens with an optional one act performance from the young protégés, dancers chosen for their exceptional promise who've just wrapped two weeks of intensive training under top artistic directors from the Royal Ballet School, Youth America Grand Prix and San Francisco Ballet Training Program. Then at 7 p.m., the main event takes the stage: a one act performance featuring the world renowned guest artists themselves.

It's a rare chance to watch seasoned stars and rising talent share one stage, all in celebration of the same craft.

This year's gala also marks a bigger milestone: the 38th anniversary of Festival Ballet Theatre, Orange County's premier resident ballet company. The young protégés taking part will be coached by Royal Ballet School Artistic Director Iain Mackay, along with YAGP founders Larissa Saveliev and Gennadi Saveliev, and a roster of esteemed guest faculty.

Tickets are available now at scfta.org.

600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa.

Kei Concepts Expands ROL Hand Roll Bar with New La Habra Location

Kei Concepts is bringing its popular ROL Hand Roll Bar to La Habra on Tuesday, Aug. 4, marking the hospitality group's third location for the brand and its latest step in a steady expansion across Orange County.

The new restaurant will join existing ROL locations in Fountain Valley and Irvine.

At about 2,450 square feet, the La Habra spot will seat 32 guests around ROL's signature hand roll counter, giving diners a front-row view as chefs prepare each order just before it's served. The layout draws from the Fountain Valley location's modern, intimate design, keeping guests close to the action and highlighting the craftsmanship and immediacy central to Japanese dining.

Since opening its first location, ROL Hand Roll Bar has built a devoted following with a straightforward approach: exceptional ingredients served at their peak. Every hand roll is made to order with warm seasoned rice, crisp nori, and premium seafood, then served right away to keep that signature contrast of texture and flavor intact.

La Habra diners can expect many of ROL's most popular hand rolls, including Uni & Toro, Toro Taku, Scallop, and Truffle Mushroom, along with shareable dishes like Crispy Rice Tartare, Furikake Fries, Chili Garlic Edamame, and donburi bowls.

On the drink side, the menu will include craft cocktails, beer, and sake, plus non-alcoholic sips like the Dragonfruit Lychee Lemonade and Yuzu Guava refresher, all designed to complement the restaurant's fresh, ingredient-forward menu.

Founder Viet Nguyen has racked up plenty of industry recognition along the way, from being named Chef of the Year and winning the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, both from the Orange County Business Journal, to landing as a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific Southwest Award and a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: California. It's the kind of recognition that speaks to how far Kei Concepts has come, and why it's earned a reputation as one of Orange County's most influential culinary groups.

The timing couldn't be better for either brand. This milestone year has already brought the openings of QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine, Kei Coffee House, and a second ROL Hand Roll Bar in Irvine, as Kei Concepts continues building out its footprint across Southern California with intention.

ROL Hand Roll Bar La Habra will be located at 1202 S. Idaho St., Suites E-F, La Habra, CA 90631.