Best Activities To Do This Weekend In Orange County - February 26
So here is the very real dilemma for a lot of people this weekend. The Academy Awards will be on, but most of the movies up for nominations just haven't hit your Netflix cue yet. It's tough to have a favorite if you haven't seen the goods yet, right? It might be best to get away from the TV this weekend and let everyone on Snapchat fill you in on who won. Besides, there is a wealth of cool things to do in Orange County. From silent films to cruising the hippest mall imaginable, here is a rundown of where you ought to spend your weekend.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Dad's Donut & Bakery Shop
318 Marine Ave
Newport Beach, CA 92662
(949) 673-8686
While Arrested Development and Bluth's Frozen Banana have become a pop culture footnote, Balboa really does lay claim to the California treat that takes a frozen fruit and gets particularly inventive. Dad's actually claims to have first created the treat though Sugar N Spice would have something to say about that. In any event, there is no debate in how delicious the confection is. The humble donut shop has become a generational staple and a destination for Southern California's looking for a one-of-a-kind dessert. The costal stretch also assures you a dessert sesh with a view.
Window Shopping In Downtown Brea
Downtown Brea
Corner of Brea Blvd. and Birch St.
(714) 674-0801
www.BreaDowntown.com
It is a tall task to find the balance of modernity and still keep some small town charm. One OC destination that manages to find the right mix is Brea. Within the cities confines, you'll find the chain store haven that is the Brea Mall and the sprawling Carbon Canyon Regional Park. Another example of the city's smart approach to being contemporary rests in the Downtown portion. All within walking distance visitors can catch a movie at one of two Edwards' Cinemas or maybe catch a live comedy show at the Brea Improv before strolling over to Bruxie for a waffle sandwich or maybe a proper sit down dinner at Bruno's Trattoria. Frequented by locals but still inviting to those not from the area, Downtown Brea makes for a day or night well spent.
Improv: Enjoy Insomnia With Dave Attell
Irvine Improv
527 Spectrum Center Dr.
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 854-5455
irvine.improv.com
Though most famous for taking America through a late night trek across the country with this Insomniac TV series, Dave Attell is certainly regarded as a comic's comedian. A crafty combination of quick wit and the ability to be self-deprecating and crack a joke at his own expense, Attell is as irreverent as he is sharp. His brand of comedy doesn't need the theatrics of being overly animated, Dave is the everyman that happens to see and explain things better than most. Continuing to dot the country and take to the comedy clubs, Attell is in his element with the microphone in his hand. Irvine is in for a great weekend at the Improv.
Sunday Strolling At The LAB Antimall
The LAB Antimall
2930 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 966-6661
www.thelab.com
While most people focus on the tagline of the LAB being the "anti mall," the acronym for the compound better explains the ethos of the collective. Literally meaning "Little American Business," the carefully curated roster of retailers housed within the complex all fall in line with the ideology of making their stores a great hang as well as having a solid inventory. From furniture places, Heirlooms and Hardware, to Tangerine Records that stocks an old trailer with gently used vinyl, the ingenuity adds to the ambiance of the grounds. If you are hungry, Habana Cuban Bistro or Seabirds Kitchen churn out food that is both visually enticing and passionately put together. Ironically, you could hit the Lab and not set foot into one store and still enjoy the hang.
Experience Life In Black & White
Los Alamitos Museum
11062 Los Alamitos Blvd.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
(562) 431-8836
www.losalamitosmuseum.org
In the spirit of Oscar Sunday, the Los Alamitos Museum is charging each member who enters just $2 to catch a screening of three classic silent movies, including "The Danger Girl," "Teddy at the Throttle" and "A Hash House Fraud." The OC tie in is where the museum volunteers shine as staff that will unveil some actual locations in Orange County where the films were shot. Catching a silent film showcase in a building that was once home to a volunteer fire department in the 1920's is a random as it is cool. Soak up some history and culture.
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