shermannewresto

Sherman Library & Gardens Introduces Hazeltine’s and New Afternoon Tea Experience

June 19, 2026

Sherman Library & Gardens is preparing to welcome Hazeltine’s, a new restaurant overlooking the gardens and Pacific Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. The restaurant will be operated by Damian Orozco, owner of the historic Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano, and will focus on seasonal purveyor-to-table cuisine, thoughtful hospitality, and an expanded dining experience for Sherman guests.

Named after Moses Hazeltine Sherman and his daughter, Hazeltine’s will feature brunch, lunch, dinner, a full-service bar, and catering for Sherman events. The new two-story restaurant space also returns dining to the garden’s original roots, when light lunches were once served from the Tea Garden to visitors decades ago.

Before the restaurant officially opens, Sherman is offering a preview through the new Hazeltine’s Afternoon Tea Experience, held select Sundays throughout the summer and fall during seasonal garden exhibitions and installations.

The curated tea service includes loose leaf organic tea, seasonal scones with preserves and clotted cream, tea sandwiches, petit fours, strawberries and cream, and optional Champagne service. Vegetarian and gluten-free accommodations are available with advance notice.

Upcoming tea dates include July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 13 and Oct. 18 at Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar. Reservations and advance payment are required here, and space is limited.

Sherman Library & Gardens is located at 2647 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar.

festivalofartsss

Pageant of the Masters Returns to Laguna Beach With ‘The Greatest of All Time’

June 19, 2026

Laguna Beach's Festival of Arts is bringing back one of the most unique theatrical experiences in the world this summer with the 2026 Pageant of the Masters production, "The Greatest of All Time."

The show runs nightly from July 9 through Sept. 4, transforming famous works of art into living pictures, real people posed on stage to recreate masterpieces with remarkable precision. This year's theme digs into some of the most influential artists, artworks and creative achievements in history, and gives audiences a chance to think about the stories and innovation behind some of the world's greatest artistic accomplishments.

The lineup includes Rome's Trevi Fountain, designed by architect Nicola Salvi, and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., home to Daniel Chester French's sculpture of Abraham Lincoln. The production also recreates work from artists including Claude Monet, Johannes Vermeer, Norman Rockwell, Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso. Beyond the art history lesson, "The Greatest of All Time" invites the audience to weigh in on their own picks for the G.O.A.T.s of the art world as these influential pieces come to life on stage.

A ticket to the Pageant of the Masters also gets you into the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show, which USA Today recently named one of the top 10 art festivals in the country. Arrive early and spend the day browsing work from more than 100 award winning Orange County artists, catch some live music, watch demonstrations, take a class or pick up an original piece directly from the artist who made it.

The Pageant of the Masters only runs for eight weeks each summer, and that's part of what makes it special. Once the curtain closes on Sept. 4, this particular production is gone for good.

The Festival of Arts is sponsored in part by Volvo Cars, City of Hope Orange County, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, and KOST Radio 103.5. A separate ticket is required to attend the Pageant of the Masters and may be purchased at PageantTickets.com

sushiiiiii

Sushi Ii Pairs Up with Brooklyn Kura for a Sake-Focused Omakase Night

June 18, 2026

Sushi Ii, a Michelin Guide-recognized Japanese restaurant in Newport Beach, is teaming up with Brooklyn Kura, New York's pioneering sake brewery, for a special evening on Tuesday, June 23, that puts sake front and center. Guests who book the restaurant's Bizen Omakase that night will receive a complimentary five-course sake pairing built to match the seasonal menu.

The Bizen Omakase runs $325 per person and takes diners through a full Japanese culinary journey: a starter, an appetizer plate, seasonal broth, sashimi, a grilled dish, a fried dish, five pieces of nigiri, soup and dessert. Each course gets its own Brooklyn Kura sake, chosen to bring out the best in both the food and the pour.

The night opens with Occidental, a bright, dry-hopped sake with citrus and tropical notes, served with the starter. Next up is the seasonal appetizer platter, paired with Fourteen, an aromatic sake named for the yeast strain used in fermentation. The sashimi course gets Catskills, a Junmai Daiginjo known for its silky texture and clean finish. Then comes Blue Door, a richer, more savory pour with real umami depth, served alongside the grilled course. The tasting wraps with Grand Prairie, paired with the fried dish, its crisp acidity cutting right through the richness.

It's a rare chance to see how modern, American-made sake plays off traditional Japanese cooking, all while spotlighting the seasonality and craft that define Sushi Ii's omakase. 

Reservations are limited and can be made online.

Sushi Ii is located at 100 West Coast Hwy Ste 202, Newport Beach. Call (949) 287-6268 for more information.

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Greer's OC
Blogger | Journalist

Since 1993, Greer has been writing about fashion, dining and trends in Orange County, as a popular columnist for the Los Angeles Time Community Newspapers (Daily Pilot, Coastline Pilot and HB Independent) and now as founder of Greer’s OC.

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