Via Lido Plaza Unveils New Mural by Ellen Gladis

A beautiful new work of public art is taking shape at Via Lido Plaza in Newport Beach. Newport Beach muralist Ellen Gladis is putting the finishing touches on "The Sabot Regatta," an 8-foot-by-17-foot coastal-inspired mural located near the back of Via Lido Drugs at Balboa Boulevard and Finley Avenue.

The artwork is based on Gladis' original mural, "The Sabot Regatta," which she was commissioned to paint for the interior of Pavilions, formerly located at Via Lido Plaza. When the grocery store was remodeled in 1995, property owner Fritz Duda, who also served on the Vons Cos. board of directors, persuaded the chain to move away from its standard color palette and instead commission Gladis to create murals celebrating Newport Beach history and landmarks. She painted 12 canvas murals measuring 8 feet by 15 feet that remained on display until Pavilions closed in 2011.

"Over the years, I've created thousands of prints, custom murals, and commissioned works for both commercial and residential projects," said Gladis, who has lived in Newport Beach for more than 40 years. "My favorite paintings depict the beach, sunsets, life on Newport Harbor, and other picturesque coastal scenes."

To create "The Sabot Regatta" mural at Via Lido Plaza, Gladis used 50 colors of acrylic paint, along with white and three shades of blue exterior paint designed to withstand the coastal environment.

Gladis is also known for the murals inside the historic Lido Theater, where underwater scenes appear to glow in the dark when the house lights dim. Her work can also be seen at zpizza and at Cappy's Cafe.

“We’re excited about this addition to the center and to see locals and visitors already taking photos with the mural as a background,” said Fritz Duda, owner of Via Lido Plaza. “Summer regattas and Newport children sailing sabots are a time-honored tradition in Newport Beach.”

“The Sabot Regatta” can be custom ordered as a giclée print or a gallery wrapped canvas. For more information, contact Gladis through her website, ellenkgladis.com.

Celebrate International Sushi Day at Sushi Roku at Fashion Island

Just in time for International Sushi Day on Thursday, June 18, Sushi Roku at Fashion Island is making it easy to celebrate with their limited-edition International Sushi Day Box, $45, available June 15-18.

The box is perfect for sushi lovers and includes a curated selection of nigiri -- toro, hirame, hamachi, sake and shiro maguro -- plus a spicy tuna cut roll and Sushi Roku's beloved baked crab hand roll. Order it for dine-in, takeout, or delivery through third-party apps.

If you haven't been to Sushi Roku lately, this is a great excuse to go. The Newport Beach staple has long been credited as a pioneer of contemporary sushi, blending traditional Japanese technique with California's seasonal bounty and vibrant global flavors. The fish is sourced from around the world and prepared with the kind of precision that only comes from a truly seasoned sushi chef.

The beverage program is equally impressive. Certified sake sommeliers and mixologists have built a menu that spans the full range, from classic Junmai, Ginjo and Daiginjo to flavored sakes, Nigori and sparkling varieties. The wine list leans into crisp whites, premium French Champagnes and full-bodied reds that pair beautifully with Japanese cuisine.

The International Sushi Day Box is available through June 18.

Sushi Roku Fashion Island is located at 327 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach. More information, including menus, reservations, online ordering and delivery can be found online at sushiroku.com.

The Curated Life Brings French Charm to Laguna Beach

Three years in the making, The Curated Life Shoppe opened in Laguna Beach this past April, and it was worth every moment of the wait.

Owner Michelle Trotter spent years traveling to France, handpicking products on each trip and putting them into storage until she found the right space to present them. She was specific about what that space needed to be. "I just knew that the base of the interior had to be white to highlight the beauty of each product," she says.

The result is a boutique destination filled with one-of-a-kind home goods, tabletop pieces, textiles and lifestyle products sourced directly from France and across Europe. Think French turbans, scarves and velvet pillows, hand-painted pillows, beach towels with matching duffle bags, Turkish towels and robes, wine glasses, 24-karat gold-rimmed cups and saucers, and soaps that might just replace your entire skincare routine.

The products have stories behind them, and Trotter sought them out intentionally. As she traveled and sourced, she listened for the makers who lit up when they talked about their craft. It was almost always women. "It wasn't just trial and error," she says. "It was apprenticeship and intention in crafting."

Two items have her particular attention. Her favorite beach bag and weekender, available in shades she calls mango and mojito, comes from a small-shop artisan in Toulouse who has scaled to meet growing demand without sacrificing quality. Then there are the soaps from Marseilles, which she stocks because they transformed her own skincare routine. "Allow such an indulgence without the flight to France," she says.

Trotter's love affair with French culture started in her teenage years, flipping through fashion magazines and gravitating toward the avant-garde color and design of the 1980s. Decades later, she traded holiday gifts one year for a family trip to Europe and never looked back. The experience became the foundation for her future travels, friendships built across the Atlantic, and eventually the inspiration for one of her children to settle in Paris permanently.

What she brings back from France is harder to bottle than any product. "When in France, I am always at peace, moving quietly, absorbing the ease of the people around me," she says. She describes sitting in a friend's brasserie, watching regulars place a coin on the counter each morning without a word, just a nod. That kind of easy exchange is the spirit she's after at The Curated Life.

Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. 

The Curated Life is at 1540 S Coast Hwy in #104 Laguna Beach. 949.818.5433