Greer's OC | The latest in Orange County fashion, dining, and trends.

Balboa Bay Resort Unveils Multimillion-Dollar Renovation

By Greer Wylder

November 04, 2026

Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach’s only waterfront resort and a Forbes Four-Star and AAA Diamond destination, has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of its guestrooms and public spaces. The project covers 159 guestrooms and suites, the grand lobby and arrival area, and a reimagined lobby bar now called Bar nineteen48, a nod to the year Balboa Bay Club was founded.The club opened in 1948 as a private haven for boaters and Newport Beach’s social set. The resort welcomed the public in 2004 and has since hosted Hollywood stars, dignitaries and generations of members. International design studio DesignAgency led the new look,…

Pendry Newport Beach Serves Up Thanksgiving Events

By Greer Wylder

November 03, 2026

Pendry Newport Beach is rolling out a full lineup of Thanksgiving dining and events, from a chef-driven benefit for a local food bank to Friendsgiving festivities and Thanksgiving Day meals at its signature restaurants and bar.ChefsgivingNov. 13 | 6 to 9:30 p.m.Orange County chefs come together for a one-night Thanksgiving celebration benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. Guests can sample signature Thanksgiving dishes at chef-attended action stations, along with wine and live entertainment. Elwood VIP access runs from 6 to 6:30 p.m., followed by general admission from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person, and 100%…

Marriott Irvine Spectrum Offers Shuttle Pass for Daisy Chain Fields Festival

By Greer Wylder

August 23, 2026

If you're headed to the Daisy Chain Fields Festival at Great Park on Saturday, Aug. 29, here's a way to skip the parking headache.Marriott Irvine Spectrum is selling a Festival Shuttle Pass through Eventbrite that lets guests park at the hotel and ride a shuttle straight to the festival grounds, no navigating event lots required.The pass includes:Round-trip shuttle service between the hotel and Great ParkHotel valet parking for the day (no overnight parking)Shuttle service running until about 90 minutes after the festival wrapsOne drink ticket to use at the hotelA welcome goody bag with festival-day surprisesThe festival runs from 10…

Jonathan Alcala Named Executive Chef at Temecula Creek Inn

By Greer Wylder

August 14, 2026

Temecula Creek Inn has named Chef Jonathan Alcala as its new Executive Chef, bringing a lifelong love of California cuisine, hyper-seasonal ingredients and community-driven dining to the beloved Southern California retreat. In his new role, Alcala oversees all culinary operations across the property, including Corkfire, Temecula Creek Inn's signature garden-and-flame restaurant, as well as special events and immersive culinary programming.Alcala arrives at Temecula Creek Inn after most recently serving as Executive Chef at Carter Hospitality Group, where he led culinary operations for more than two years. Before that, he was Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director at Mount Palomar…

Alisal Ranch Marks 80 Years with a Summer of Celebration

By Greer Wylder

August 06, 2026

Alisal Ranch, the 10,500-acre working ranch and resort in the Santa Ynez Valley, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this summer. The property first welcomed guests on July 16, 1946, and has spent eight decades building a reputation for Western hospitality and family tradition. I've never stayed there myself, but I have friends who have, and they can't stop raving about it. It's firmly on my bucket list.To mark the milestone, the ranch is rolling out a summer's worth of experiences and keepsakes. The centerpiece is the 1946 Legacy Package, a two-night stay for six adults priced at a symbolic $19,460.…