Two Upcoming Workshops at the Environmental Nature Center

The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach is offering two engaging workshops this month designed to connect the community with food, nature and the local landscape.

Outdoor Cooking with Chef Corso

March 24 | 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Chef Corso, a classically trained chef and host of the Outdoor Eats TV series, will lead a lively cooking workshop focused on preparing great meals outdoors using simple gear and fresh ingredients.

During the demonstration, Corso will cover camp stove basics, smart meal planning and grocery strategies that make outdoor cooking easier and more enjoyable. Guests will watch several trail-tested recipes come together and enjoy tastings along the way.

The workshop is ideal for day hikers, backpackers, RV travelers and car campers looking to improve their outdoor cooking skills.

Corso is the creator of Outdoor Eats, where he teaches people how to prepare memorable meals outside using straightforward techniques and fresh ingredients. Through his television series, cookbooks and workshops across the country, he has helped thousands of outdoor enthusiasts upgrade their trail meals.

Cost is $22.50 for ENC members and $25 for nonmembers. Reservations and more information, here.

Belonging to Place: Why Native Plants Matter with Mike Evans

March 29 | 1 to 2 p.m.

Renowned California native plant horticulturist Mike Evans will open the Environmental Nature Center’s 2026 Native Plant Workshop Series with a thoughtful look at the role native plants play in Southern California landscapes.

Evans, founder of Tree of Life Nursery, will explore how gardening with native plants connects people more deeply to the places where they live. Drawing on more than four decades of horticultural experience, he will discuss how local landscapes function and why working with nature rather than against it leads to healthier and more resilient gardens.

The class also looks at the broader idea of belonging, asking what it means for both plants and people to be rooted in a place shaped by climate, soil and time.

The workshop is presented in partnership with the California Native Horticulture Foundation and reflects a shared commitment to expanding place based ecological education in Orange County.

Reservations and more information, here. 

Environmental Nature Center is at 1601 E. 16th Street, Newport Beach. 949.645.8489 

Palmetto Superfoods and Rylee + Cru Headed to River Street Marketplace

River Street Marketplace, the 60,000-square-foot community destination in the heart of San Juan Capistrano’s historic Los Rios district, is welcoming two new tenants: Palmetto Superfoods and Rylee + Cru. The additions expand the marketplace’s growing mix of dining, shopping, and family-friendly experiences.

Palmetto Superfoods, a California-born superfood café, will open its first Orange County location at River Street Marketplace inside the River Street Rodeo dining hall. Founded in San Francisco, the café has built a strong following across the Bay Area for its customizable açaí bowls, functional smoothies, and thoughtfully sourced ingredients inspired by Brazilian roots and California wellness culture.

The new location will offer Palmetto’s full menu of build-your-own açaí bowls and functional smoothies, along with cold-pressed essential juices and a specialized matcha menu. The space will blend the brand’s modern tropical style with River Street Marketplace’s elevated Western design aesthetic.

Also joining the marketplace’s retail lineup is Rylee + Cru, which will open its third brick-and-mortar boutique this summer. The children’s clothing brand, founded in Southern California, is known for nostalgic prints, earthy tones, and cohesive seasonal collections designed with heirloom-quality craftsmanship. The brand’s other stores are located at The Forum Carlsbad and in New York City.

Rylee + Cru focuses on sustainable materials and ethical production and creates timeless pieces designed to be worn, loved, and passed down. The new boutique will occupy a portion of the former Meat Cellar space.

River Street Marketplace has also recently completed the installation of more than 13,000 square feet of turf throughout the center, expanding its open-air gathering areas and creating more space for children to play.

The updates reflect River Street Marketplace’s continued growth as a destination in South Orange County for shopping, dining, and spending time with family and friends.

31856 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano

A Big Year Ahead for Costa Mesa’s SoBECA District

More than 20 new small businesses are set to join the LAB’s portfolio in 2026, marking the largest single year of openings in the history of Costa Mesa’s SoBECA District.

The expansion will bring more than 20 new businesses across 50,000 square feet, making it the LAB’s biggest growth to date.

Located just down Bristol Street from South Coast Plaza, the South on Bristol Entertainment, Culture and Arts District, known as SoBECA, is home to some of Costa Mesa’s most recognizable destinations, including The LAB Anti-Mall, The CAMP, CAMPOUT, The SOLO Building and PLANT. The new mix of retail, dining, wellness and experiential concepts will continue to strengthen the district’s long-standing reputation as one of Southern California’s most creative neighborhoods and a hub for independent businesses in Orange County.

The 2026 expansion also reflects a renewed investment in the district’s founding vision, supporting local entrepreneurs while transforming underused spaces through thoughtful, design-focused redevelopment.

For more information regarding new developments, please contact both jenna@cmcoc.net and
amanda@thelab.com.
For more information regarding leasing opportunities, please contact dominic@thelab.com.