New tastes, tomes and retail launches are lighting up the summer season in Orange County.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
Down the Rabbit Hole A brand-new Roller Rabbit boutique is now open at Newport Beach’s Lido Marina Village. Champions of artisanal craftsmen who span the globe— from India and Italy to Portugal and Peru—Roller Rabbit is beloved for its sleepwear that has spawned the brand’s expansion into ready-to-wear apparel, accessories and bedding. Punch up your wardrobe with its bold patterns and prints—hand-drawn and unique to the Roller Rabbit collection—which include playful blue monkeys, charming pink hearts, the Amanda paisley motif and more. Little ones can also get in on the action with darling Mommy & Me sets, ensuring the whole family is dressed to impress—even at bedtime. rollerrabbit.com; lidomarinavillage.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
Wine About It It’s the freaking Catalina Wine Mixer! The real-life vino- filled weekend—made popular by 2008’s Step Brothers starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly—returns June 3 and 4 to Catalina Island’s Descanso Beach Club. A screening of the comedy favorite at Avalon Theatre kicks off the festivities Friday night before oenophiles take to the sand at Descanso Beach Club for a party under the stars led by DJ Michael Basic. Varietals from more than 18 wineries—plus beer, kombucha and seltzer—will be showcased, with sips available all weekend long. Saturday’s fun includes tastings on the lawn at Descanso plus myriad live performances from acts like Adam Lasher, Pilot Touhill and The Side Deal. Opt for VIP tickets to score access to a welcome reception at Island Spa Catalina plus entry to your own private party lounge at Catherine’s Terrace. Let the pour decisions begin. catalinawinemixer.com
Z Supply In The Groove dress PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
Flex Appeal SoCal fashionistas adore Z Supply for its chic apparel, and now the Costa Mesa-based company is ready to help its devotees take on all types of activities. Enter Z Supply’s debut luxury eyewear collection, available now, and the July launch of its inaugural activewear collection. First, protect your eyes with 100% polarized sunnies in cat-eye, aviator and oversize silhouettes—among others—in fun patterns like tortoiseshell and an array of neutral hues. Then, elevate your gym attire with coordinating sports bra and leggings sets, in shades ranging from light blue to rich bordeaux. Moisture-wicking dresses with built-in support in classic cream and black also get the athleisure treatment to take you from the tennis court to brunch and beyond. Ready, sweat, go! zsupplyclothing.com
PHOTO: BY MARK HANAUER
Conversation Piece In an effort to continue to share her passion and dedication to the arts, Orange County Museum of Art CEO and Director Heidi Zuckerman has released the third installment of her Conversations with Artists book series. Compiled largely during the course of the pandemic, the 232-page tome highlights interviews with 18 prominent creators, including Doug Aitken, Glenn Kaino, Christina Quarles, Guerilla Girls, Mary Weatherford and Hank Willis Thomas, among others, and gives readers insight on the processes by which each artist creates their inspiring works. Zuckerman also invites art enthusiasts to keep the conversation going with her accompanying podcast, Conversations About Artists. Now, that’s living art. ocma.art
Barely seared Saint Jacques sea scallop in sauce américaine, finished with sea urchin, fennel leek compote and pickled confit kumquat jam PHOTO: BY RON DE ANGELIS
Heart of the Ocean An homage to the treasures of the sea, Marché Moderne’s new fivecourse Autour De L’eau tasting menu—meaning “around the water”—invites diners to explore a medley of spectacular dishes at its Crystal Cove restaurant. Curated by chef-owners Amelia and Florent Marneau, the feast makes a splash with artful plates brimming with tuna sashimi, veal New York carpaccio, Dungeness crab, Saint Jacques sea scallop, prime ribeye, lobster and more. To finish, Tahitian vanilla rice pudding with cremeux macadamia nut praline and milk jam siphon ends the meal on a sweet note. Add on optional wine pairings and a cheese tasting for the ultimate date-night indulgence. marchemoderne.net
PHOTO: COURTESY OF XPERIENCE RESTAURANT GROUP
Taco the Town SOL Mexican Cocina—known for its waterfront location in Newport Beach—is now bringing the heat to Irvine with the opening of its second SoCal restaurant at the newly built Centerview property on Main Street. As Xperience Restaurant Group’s largest SOL location, the new space offers a sprawling dining room, an indoor-outdoor bar, space for up to 100 guests on its 2,861-square-foot patio, plus three additional rooms for events. Wet your whistle with more than 100 types of mezcal and tequila before tickling your taste buds with the award-winning Taco Vampiro, a double tortilla stacked with cotija cheese, serrano chiles, carne asada, guacamole, pico de gallo and chipotle sauce. No matter the order, a fiesta of flavor—and fun—awaits. solcocina.com
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