Best Of OC - Week Of September 28
This week in Orange County, residents and visitors will have the opportunity to explore a variety of fun, entertaining, educational, and delicious activities. New restaurants are popping up across the OC, while others are celebrating anniversaries with fabulous festivals, events, and community welfare programs. Get in the spirit of Halloween early as OC theme parks put on their best spooky fun.
Dine Out & Give Back
True Seasons Organic Kitchen
5675 E. La Palma Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92807
www.trueseasonskitchen.com
True Seasons Organic Kitchen, the organic hot pot concept in Anaheim, is celebrating its one year anniversary and to celebrate, Chef Saifon Plewtong and the team are donating a portion of the proceeds of every check to local OC-based nonprofit, The Pantry, which is committed to providing the homeless and less fortunate with groceries and other assistance. The locally sourced, "seed to plate" organic offerings include hot pot, organic wraps, salad and rice bowls, handmade fruit popsicles, and organic, fresh-pressed juice.
Celebrate National Coffee Day
Various Locations
www.theatricum.com
Celebrate national coffee day across Orange County at a variety of coffee shops serving up your favorite brew. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be celebrating with ½ off Iced Coffee, Flavored Iced Coffee, and Iced Americanos (all sizes), at all participating locations. At Dunkin' Donuts, you can score a free medium hot or iced dark roast coffee all day. Check out our list of the best coffee spots in Orange County to get an amazing cup of Joe on this special, caffeinated day.
Restaurant Opening: Creamistry Bristol
3033 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(949) 200-6106
www.creamistry.com
Keep summer alive by enjoying ice cream at Orange County's newest ice cream shop. Creamistry, the popular liquid nitrogen ice cream concept, opened this week in Costa Mesa; 15 Southern California locations are slated to open within the year. Using premium ingredients, including Straus cream, with organic and non-GMO soy options, Creamistry's creations are only limited by the customer's imagination, made with a blast of liquid nitrogen for a flash freeze. More than 35 signature flavors are available if you don't want to create your own including birthday cake, chocolate hazelnut, cookie butter, pistachio, and an array of Asian-inspired flavors such as Thai tea, black sesame and Matcha green tea. This Saturday, Creamistry will give away free ice cream from 4pm-8pm to kick off their opening.
"Forbidden Broadway"
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-2787
www.SCFTA.org
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts' 2015 – 2016 Spotlight Series opens this weekend with four performances of "Forbidden Broadway," an adaptation of "Forbidden Broadway Alive and Kicking!" The cast includes members of the Tony Award®-winning New York company, including Forbidden Broadway stalwarts Gina Kreiezmar, Marcus Stevens, Kevin B. McGlynn and Trisha Rapier (who hails from Orange County!). In its 33rd year, the production covers hits including "The Book of Mormon," "Jersey Boys," "Once," "Wicked" and "Chicago."
Mickey's Halloween Party
Disneyland
1313 Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 781-4636
www.disneyland.com
Get your whole family dressed in their best costumes and head to Disneyland Park for Mickey's Halloween Party, a special ticketed event taking place tonight and specific evenings now throughout the month of October. Tickets to the event allow guests to enter Disneyland up to 3 hours before the event time, and include a variety of Halloween-themed fun opportunities, including the chance to trick or treat through the park at various candy and healthy goodie stations. Halloween Screams, the "boo-tiful" fireworks spectacular is presented to event guests each evening, and you'll also get the chance to enjoy "Paint the Night," the dazzling nighttime light parade that opened this spring to celebrate the park's 60th anniversary. A live music family dance party, nearly all regular park attractions, and rare photo opportunities with the Disney villains round out this can't-miss Halloween experience for the whole family.
Festival of Discovery
UC Irvine
Aldrich Park
Irvine, CA 92697
(949) 824-5011
festivalofdiscovery.uci.edu
Join UC Irvine in their Festival of Discovery, taking place this weekend at the campus' Aldrich Park in celebration of the university's 50th anniversary. The festival, which focuses on health, wellness, ingenuity, innovation, local and global impact, and arts and culture, will feature a variety of free activities, including an Anteater 5K and Family Fun Run/Walk, athletic clinics and activities, food trucks, and live performances. TEDxUCIrvine will be featuring TEDx Talks throughout the day.
Knott's Scary Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
(714) 220-5200
www.knotts.com
For a Halloween adventure for the brave and adventuresome, consider visiting Knott's Scary Farm, a specially ticketed event occurring 4-5 nights a week throughout the month of October. The famed and largest, most haunting Halloween experience in Southern California, the 2015 Knott's Scary Farm will feature new menacing mazes, sinister shows, and spectacular interactive experiences. More than 1,000 monsters lurk in the park's grounds, making a frightful experience for everyone. For a frightful, early-arrival dinner, don't miss the Boo-Fet, where you can dine on a delicious buffet meal while being scared by frightening monsters (and score early admission!).
