BUILD Brings the Heavy Lifting to Newport Beach

BUILD, the strength-focused concept from the team behind BURN, has opened its second location inside BURN Newport Beach. The studio, which launched in August as BURN’s first location outside Los Angeles, now offers BUILD’s dedicated strength classes alongside its existing BURN programming.

BUILD pairs progressive heavy lifting with low infrared heat and medical-grade red and near-infrared LED light, all in a format designed for hypertrophy, or muscle building. The 50-minute classes follow a push/pull/legs split, giving members a structured path to getting stronger over time. With just 12 benches per class, BUILD blends personalized coaching with the energy of a group workout. The first BUILD opened in Studio City in May, and more Southern California locations and new markets are planned.

BURN founder Maria Chase has built a devoted following across five Southern California studios, where sold-out classes and waitlists reflect demand for the brand’s signature method. BURN combines high-intensity weighted workouts and low-impact, Pilates-based sculpting with infrared heat and medical-grade LED/NIR red and blue light. Chase said adding BUILD gives Orange County members another way to train with the team and meets a growing appetite for strength training in a supportive setting.

“We created BUILD to bring a structured, progressive approach to strength training into a group setting,” said Shaya Charvet. “With 12 benches, we can work closely with each person and help them understand when they’re ready to lift heavier. Seeing that progress, and having the encouragement of the people training beside you, is what keeps members coming back.”

BUILD’s approach also helped partner David Charvet prepare for “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.” He trained with his son Shaya to develop the strength the show demands.

“Preparing for Special Forces gave me a very specific reason to get stronger, and Shaya and the BUILD team pushed me to a level I hadn’t reached before,” said David Charvet. “Training at BUILD helped me build the physical strength and also the mental confidence to take on the Special Forces challenges. I’m excited to bring the culture and community that BUILD creates to Newport Beach and help more people feel seen and discover what they’re capable of.”

To book a class at BUILD Newport Beach, download the BURN app or visit BUILD-LA.com

BURN Newport Beach at 2280 Newport Blvd Ste 101, Newport Beach.

Photo credit: Chris Polk / Shutterstock

Sushi Ii Enters a New Chapter as Sushi Suhama in Newport Beach

Sushi Ii, the intimate Japanese restaurant on Newport Beach’s Mariner’s Mile, has entered a new chapter as Sushi Suhama.

The new name nods to both the restaurant’s Japanese roots and the coastline it calls home. Suhama is an ancient Japanese term for a beautiful or picturesque shoreline, a fitting echo of the Newport Beach waterfront. Renowned Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto was commissioned to help shape this next chapter and chose the name himself. One of his celebrated seascapes will hang in the dining room.

While the name is new, the restaurant is not starting over. The same intimate setting and culinary team remain at the heart of Sushi Suhama, along with its commitment to seasonality, craftsmanship and traditional Japanese technique. The Michelin Guide has recognized the restaurant six times since it opened, a distinction it carries forward.

Alongside the new identity, the restaurant has refined its omakase offerings into three distinct experiences:

• Sai Kaiseki Course: The most expansive journey through the traditions of Japanese multi-course dining.
• Ran Signature Course: Composed seasonal dishes with a greater emphasis on sushi.
• Mio Sushi Course: The most sushi-forward of the three, with nigiri at the center.

Menus in each course continue to change with the seasons and the availability of ingredients at their peak.

Chefs Norio Izawa and Koji Takahashi continue to lead the kitchen, alongside Director Natsuko Travioli. Izawa oversees the kaiseki program, drawing on his training in respected kitchens in Tokyo and Kanazawa and his experience at Nobu in New York and Bluefin in Newport Beach. Takahashi, who has been with the restaurant since it opened and brings nearly four decades of experience to his craft, leads the sushi program. Chef Tatsushi Wakabayashi, who joined about a year ago from Nobu, Ikko and Oshima, works alongside him.

That attention to detail extends beyond the menu, from the ceramics chosen for each presentation to the intimate counter and the unhurried pace of service. Sushi Suhama remains rooted in the Japanese belief that hospitality is expressed through the smallest of details. 

Sushi Suhama is located at 100 West Coast Highway in Newport Beach.

FARM Rio Brings Brazilian Style to Fashion Island

FARM Rio, the Brazilian fashion and lifestyle brand, recently opened its first Orange County boutique at Southern California’s premier open-air destination, designed as an indoor tropical garden with handcrafted artistry from Miami and Mexico City.

The brand, known for its vibrant prints and “Dress in Happiness” spirit, just opened the shop at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. It joins neighbors including Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Anthropologie. For local fans, the colorful dresses, prints and accessories that have built a devoted following are now available close to home, with no trip to Los Angeles or New York required.

Shoppers can expect FARM Rio’s signature clothing, along with shoes, bags and accessories, all rooted in the brand’s celebration of Brazilian color and nature. The 1,075-square-foot boutique gives fans a place to browse the full spirit of the label in person.

A few handcrafted details set the space apart. The storefront features a mosaic sign with the FARM Rio logo, and inside, a glass mosaic mirror by Italian artist Pamela Canestrini of Miami-based Violita adds an artisan touch. The entrance door handle was designed with Mexico City studio Lørdag & Søndag.

FARM Rio began in Rio de Janeiro in 1997, when founders Kátia Barros and Marcello Bastos opened a small stall at an independent designers’ market. The brand opened its first U.S. flagship in SoHo, New York, in 2019 and has since expanded to Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. It now operates more than 130 stores in Brazil.

Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. 

 FARM Rio Fashion Island is at 401 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach. 

 Photo Credit: Gabriella Noelle Photography