Orange County Brand LYNKS Brings Style and Comfort Together

Orange County-based brand LYNKS began with a simple solution from a mother trying to help her daughter. Founder Lyn immigrated from Vietnam with big dreams and quickly faced the realities of long commutes, tight budgets, and shoes that never seemed to stay on her feet. Her mother came up with a practical fix using a simple elastic band, and that small idea eventually became the inspiration for LYNKS.

Today, LYNKS transforms that original concept into a stylish handmade accessory designed to help shoes fit more securely while adding a fashionable detail to your look. The patented “8 LOOP” design gently wraps around the foot for a more comfortable fit and works with everything from heels and flats to sandals and sneakers.

Available in prints, glitter, solids, and playful patterns, LYNKS lets you change the look of your shoes while making them easier to wear throughout the day. Each piece blends comfort, function, and style in a way that feels thoughtful and personal.

It is a smart idea with a meaningful story behind it, created by a local founder who turned a real-life challenge into something both practical and fashionable.

Learn more and shop styles at lynksco.com.

Casa Romantica Showcases Festival of Arts Legacy in New Summer Exhibition

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is partnering with the Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach for a new summer exhibition celebrating the artists who helped shape Laguna Beach’s creative legacy.

“Through the Decades: Artists That Shaped the Festival of Arts” will be on view at Casa Romantica from June 12 through Sept. 6, 2026. The exhibition features select works from the Festival of Arts Permanent Art Collection and traces more than a century of Southern California art history through paintings, ceramics and sculptures from some of the region’s most influential artists.

Drawn from an archive of more than 1,000 works, the exhibition highlights both historic and contemporary pieces that reflect the evolution of Laguna Beach’s art community and its lasting impact on California’s cultural landscape.

Among the featured works is “Flower Stalls” by Virginia Woolley, one of the Festival of Arts’ founding artists and a key figure in Laguna Beach’s early arts scene. The painting was the first artwork sold at the inaugural Festival of Arts in 1932 and reflects Woolley’s legacy as a California Impressionist and arts advocate.

Additional works include “The Bathers, Laguna Beach” by Festival founder John H. Hinchman, whose vision for a community art festival during the Great Depression helped establish what would become one of the nation’s most recognized arts organizations. Also featured is “Composite Sketch/Pageant Bethlehem” by Roy Ropp, remembered as the “Father of the Pageant” for helping transform the early living picture presentations into the iconic Pageant of the Masters.

The exhibition also includes works by celebrated California artists Roger Kuntz, Joane Cromwell, Edgar Payne, Elsie Palmer Payne and Frank Cuprien, along with contemporary Festival exhibitors including Fred Stodder, Mike Tauber, Pat Sparkuhl and Monica Dunham.

Founded in 1932, the Festival of Arts began as a grassroots effort by local artists seeking to support the community during the Great Depression while welcoming visitors traveling to Southern California for the Los Angeles Olympics. What started as a small outdoor exhibition evolved into a nationally recognized nonprofit arts institution and the internationally known Pageant of the Masters.

Casa Romantica will host a Members Only Preview Night on Thursday, June 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. A free public opening reception follows on Friday, June 12, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Located on the historic Ole Hanson estate overlooking the Pacific in San Clemente, Casa Romantica continues its mission of connecting the community through art, history and culture with this special exhibition honoring Laguna Beach’s artistic heritage.

Admission information, hours, and additional details can be found at Casa Romantica.

Uncle Fluffy Brings Viral Japanese Cheesecake to Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square

Family-owned dessert café Uncle Fluffy is opening its second Orange County location at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa on Saturday, May 23.  Known for its airy and jiggly Japanese-style cheesecake, the popular dessert shop has built a following for its freshly baked sweet treats and specialty drinks. Uncle Fluffy also has an Orange County location in Huntington Beach.

To celebrate the grand opening, Uncle Fluffy will offer samples of its signature cheesecakes, tarts, lemonade and blended coffee drinks from 1 to 7 p.m.

The café’s fluffy cheesecake will be available in original, mocha, pistachio and lemon flavors. The original cheesecake comes in three sizes starting at $10.99, while specialty flavors are offered in the smallest size only.

Guests will also find a variety of freshly baked tarts including cheese, chocolate, matcha, mango and pistachio, along with macarons and mochi. Everything is baked fresh on-site daily.

In addition to desserts, the menu features hot and iced espresso drinks, matcha, blended coffees, fruit smoothies and other non-coffee beverages.

Uncle Fluffy is located at 1870 Harbor Blvd. at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa, facing Newport Boulevard. The shop will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call (949) 220-7579.

Uncle Fluffy is also located at 120 5th Street Suite C120 Huntington Beach.