Greer's OC

Orange County’s coffee culture just took a giant leap forward with the arrival of Portola Coffee Lab at OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa. It seems like just yesterday that artisan coffee roasters were elevating our coffee experience. Then came Jeff Dugan, founder of Portola Coffee Lab, a self-admitted “coffee geek” who took the time to research what really makes the perfect cup.

“Brewing is just as important as roasting,” Dugan says. “If it’s not fresh or brewed properly, we’re cutting the process short. Our approach is that we represent quality from seed to liquid that ends up in your cup.”

Before he and his wife Christa opened Portola Coffee Lab, Dugan took a tour of the country’s best coffee houses and found that San Francisco is on the cutting edge—even more than Seattle.

“The city’s brew method technology and inventiveness is far advanced,” Dugan says.

At Portola he’s drawn elements from several shops to bring Orange County’s first coffee lab that offers three different brewing styles for coffee: one for espresso, and two methods for iced coffee.
 
Stop by from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and check out this new coffee experience in Orange County. Plus, if you’re hungry Wicked Wiches offers fresh, local and sustainable sandwiches.

Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 3313 Hyland Avenue at OC Mart in Costa Mesa.

Passport to Luxury

Fashions, fun, and shopping to benefit the CHOC Foundation are rolled into one Friday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Fashion Island, thanks to Riviera Orange County’s 3rd Annual Passport to Luxury.

The complimentary event features special offers, tastes and drinks, entertainment and more.

Check in at the Gazebo in the Neiman Marcus-Bloomingdale’s Courtyard to pick up a complimentary passport, then collect at least six stamps by visiting participating stores and return to the Gazebo by 9:30 p.m. to enter to win luxury prizes, including a $1,000 Fashion Island gift card.

Take advantage of special offers and events at participating stores, including Bloomingdale's, Carrol Boyes, Elie Tahari, Ever, Neiman Marcus, the Newport Colony Company, Nordstrom, Room Service, Splendid, Trina Turk and Vince.

And enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks from Brasserie Pascal, Canaletto Ristorante Veneto, El Torito Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Nordstrom Cafe Bistro, Roy ’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine and True Food Kitchen.

The festive evening will include four DJ’s and a photo booth, as well as a face painter and balloon artist. For more information on Passport to Luxury, call 949.721.2000.