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Laguna Creative Ventures Launches New Holiday Tradition
The public is invited to a holiday celebration and tree-lighting ceremony at the Hive, 805 Laguna Canyon Road, beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30. The event features holiday movie screenings and music by KX 93.5 FM, special offerings from Laguna Beach Beer Company and Kitchen in the Canyon, plus a visit from Santa himself. Hot cocoa, cider and cookie decorating workshops from 3-7 p.m. will be offered as well. The tree will be lit at 6 p.m. and Kitchen in the Canyon will serve dinner until 8 p.m. Read more.
Summer of Color Makes Big Splash In Arts Minded Beach Town
The village of Laguna Beach, with over 100 art galleries and studios and world renowned arts festivals, has drawn art lovers from all over the world to its picturesque seven mile coastline. Now art lovers have one more reason to come to Laguna: To view its newest art exhibit labeled “Summer of Color.”
This eye-catching, vibrantly hued collection of murals painted on the facade of a cluster of buildings along Laguna Canyon Road’s Arts District, is the dream project of Mark Orgill, a designer and long-time resident of Laguna Beach who, along with his wife, Dora Wexell, developed and built [seven-degrees], a venue for unique, upscale corporate and private events.
Orgill and Wexell, are a couple deeply devoted and involved in the Laguna Beach art scene. Mark is president of Visit Laguna and Dora, president of First Thursdays Art Walk. You get the picture. When it comes to creating a vision for art, they care, do and share.
The buildings between 775 - 859 Laguna Canyon Road are, and will for the next five years be, canvasses for murals conceived and created by internationally recognized artists. The project was funded by local businessman Mo Honarkar, who bought [seven-degrees] last year and owns many neighboring properties, including the Art-A-Fair building. READ MORE.
Orange County’s Tiki Bars of the Past and Present Help You to Forget About Your Boring Life
…Only two legit tiki bars remain in OC: Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar outside the Disneyland Hotel and the reopened Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach. The closing of Don the Beachcomber in Sunset Beach had tiki fans dropping tears into their mai tais in April. It shuttered thanks to redevelopment plans just days after celebrating its 10th anniversary with two back-to-back sold-out shows; owner Delia Wu Snyder is still looking for a new location…
OC’s next legendary tiki establishment was dreamed up: the Royal Hawaiian. Francis Cabang and a fellow co-worker at the inn established the Royal Hawaiian across the street in 1947. Inspired by his years of canning pineapples in Hawaii, Cabang, a Filipino immigrant, decorated the island-themed restaurant with tikis made by well-known carvers Milan Guanko and Andres Bumatay.
The Lapu Lapu (a potent potion of light and dark rums and passionfruit and orange juices) was the star of the cocktail menu.
“There’s a story that there’s a ghost here,” says Hasty Honarkar, who now co-owns the Royal Hawaiian. The owners and staff like to believe one of the original bartenders loved the place so much that he decided to stick around. “He must have really been passionate about the Lapu Lapus!” Honarkar adds… READ MORE.
Hasty Honarkar, vice president of 4G Ventures, a real estate, hospitality and development company, moved to Laguna Beach when she was in eighth grade. She had grown up visiting the town regularly—while living in Laguna Niguel, her father owned a wireless store in Laguna Beach, so there was always a reason to take a ride through the winding canyon toward the beach. As a visitor, Hasty says, she appreciated this city for its distinct beauty. And, once she became a resident, she immersed herself in the community. “Laguna Beach was so intriguing to me,” Hasty says. “Coming through the canyon was a grand entrance into town, always filled with anticipation. When we moved here, I was immediately drawn to the art community, and how much it was appreciated and supported.” Mohammad “Mo” Honarkar, Hasty’s father and the founder, president and CEO of 4G Ventures, also gained appreciation for all that is Laguna Beach at an early age, after moving from Iran to the United States. While a student at University of California, Irvine, Mo and his friends frequented the beach town as a weekend hot spot. After college, his first entrepreneurial endeavor was opening a chain of high-end clothing shops for men, Chez Lui. He later went on to found 4G Wireless Inc., which owned and operated Verizon Wireless-branded stores under an exclusive agreement; his portfolio grew to include approximately 160 wireless stores in five states—including the one in Laguna Beach, a town that he was eventually able to call home. “My kids always wanted to come to Laguna, and we were able to move here in 2002,” Mo says. “I [have] loved this town since my early 20s.” READ MORE...
The beginnings of Laguna Beach’s biggest festival: Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters
In the summer of 1932, Los Angeles was hosting the Olympic Games for the first time, also known as Games of the X Olympiad. By the time the Games were held, nations struggled to afford the cost of sending athletes to the seemingly far away state of California for the international event. Only 1,503 athletes from 37 nations showed up; so few that some events, like soccer, had to be canceled. In an effort to offer athletes and Olympic Games attendees another entertaining opportunity in Southern California, Laguna Beach artist John H. Hinchman helped organize the first Festival of Arts. The first Festival was held on El Paseo near Hotel Laguna, although over the next seven years, the Festival would travel to various venues in Laguna Beach before finding its permanent home on Laguna Canyon Drive. That August, while around two-dozen artists hung their paintings on fences, trees, and buildings along Laguna’s main street, hoping to lure tourists to the first Festival of Arts . . . READ MORE.
The Creative Ecosystem: What it means to Laguna Beach
“One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things…” – Henry Miller
Our current culture is no longer defined by industry and production, but instead, by creativity and technological innovation. The desired population to contribute to our society and help keep it moving forward is that of creatives and creative-supporters – often collectively termed a creative ecosystem.
This ecosystem helps to cultivate innovative thought and people, and incubate distinctively original places and experiences. Its existence encourages similarly-minded people to visit and participate in those destinations and the activities offered at those locations.
For any creative destination, it is essential to acknowledge and care for all components in the creative ecosystem, in order for such an atmosphere to grow and thrive...
In this specific day and age, to stay healthy, economies must be aware of how creativity, innovation and culture are important factors for the competitiveness of not only companies, but also for nations, cities and regions, particularly as we move from goods and service economies to “experience” economies... READ MORE
Creative Tourism in Laguna Beach
"For years, destinations like Laguna Beach have been a paradise for tourists looking for a beachfront getaway, a place to dine out, retreat, relax, and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Ocean in a charming creative community that is like no other. Laguna has flourished under these premises for more than forty years. However, in the last ten years, the tourists are changing, and the activities, services and businesses they need and want are changing too. These changes are quick and quiet, and without paying proper attention to the evolving needs of contemporary tourism for areas like this, Laguna Beach businesses struggle, close, and diminish the overall popularity of Laguna Beach as a destination.
Demand is slowly gearing toward the desire for unique experiences based on originality, design, authenticity, and cultural connections. Consequently, the definition of luxury has evolved, as it is no longer solely about opulence and wealth, as the traditional understanding of luxury suggests, but is instead about experiencing a diverse and innovative environment, enhanced by a sense of belonging and style...
The creative tourism concept, of course, may be a recent term, but the idea is not new. Creatives, artists, musicians, actors and beach lovers have been flocking to Laguna Beach since the 1880s. In 1903, a small group of artists began to settle here, eventually forming the Laguna Beach Art Association. Since then, Laguna has consistently welcomed visitors to the area, striving to offer unique and interesting experiences and attractions to its guests. In 1913, Laguna started offering campsites to its many admirers and visitors for 30 cents a night. In 1915, the Laguna Beach Gate, inviting visitors to enjoy the city, was hung and remains today at Forest and Coast Highway stating, “This gate hangs well and hinders none, refresh and rest, then travel on.'" ... READ MORE
"Terra Laguna Beach welcomes Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters ticket holders and Laguna Beach Passport to the Arts holders throughout the festival season for drinks, lunch, and/or dinner.
Officially opening July 7, guests at the Festival or Pageant may also stop by Terra Laguna Beach for a variety of California fresh cuisine and refreshments or they can visit Terra’s Neptune Lounge for custom drinks and tapas.
Executive Chef Jenny Messing has prepared an elegant and delectable menu for Terra diners, and has included a few favorites from the previous on-site restaurant, Tivoli Terrace.
Chef Messing’s menu includes tantalizing dishes like the Maple Brined Pork Chop topped with a chunky summer peach-pancetta bourbon sauce served with sautéed kale and cauliflower mashed potatoes, the Char-Grilled Flank Steak sprinkled with a savory chutney of fig, smoked bleu cheese, toasted walnuts and fresh thyme served over a bed of cauliflower mashed potatoes, and the Pan Seared Chicken Breast with a fresh fennel and tart green apple slaw and earthy roasted beets served over a bed of herbed basmati rice.
There are also vegetarian options available including a beautiful Tuscan Primavera Pasta slow cooked with fresh summer vegetables, herbs and freshly cooked pappardelle pasta, fresh parmesan cheese and basil.
For dessert, the Rosemary-Lemon Olive Oil Cake Berry Trifle is innovative and refreshing, and the Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel Tart with a hazelnut crust and fresh blackberries will make your mouth water for more. With delicious cuisine and artfully crafted cocktails, Terra’s serene and luxurious atmosphere only heightens the sumptuous experience under the historic canopy from 1957 at Terra..."
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Kitchen in the Canyon gets new ownership
Kitchen in the Canyon is now owned by The Laguna Beach Company, led by the Honarkars and the Orgills, according to a press release issued on Thursday.
“With new ownership by The Laguna Beach Company, Kitchen in the Canyon on Laguna Canyon Road will maintain and expand its reputation for being a culinary destination and community staple in Laguna Beach. Kitchen in the Canyon is a central gathering point within the Arts District in Laguna Beach and has become a hot spot for brunch and lunch,” the release states. The Laguna Beach Company, LLC (TLBC) owns the property where Kitchen in the Canyon is located, and now owns the business, Kitchen in the Canyon, as well, with Dora Wexell Orgill as the VP/General Manager and Jenny Messing as Executive Chef. READ MORE...
Murals Remake a Hidden Streetscape
An often overlooked commercial strip in Laguna Beach’s art festival district in Laguna Canyon is getting a makeover, with swaths of color beginning to dapple the sides of buildings to kick off what organizers are calling the Summer of Color. The blooming murals represent a new chapter for the 805-856 Laguna Canyon Road property, formerly known as the Festival Center but recently rebranded as The Hive. The 20,000-square-foot property, previously owned by resident and recently acquired by resident Mo Honarkar, was originally constructed in the late 1960s and was developed by Gary Sauter about 20 years ago.
Mark Orgill said Honarkar appreciated his vision for a vibrant contribution to the arts district and offered to partner with him to make it a reality. “Originally what was envisioned was pretty vague; it was supposed to just be a platform to accommodate all things creative,” Orgill said. “But now it’s just going to kind of morph and grow organically.” Currently, the commercial center is home to eight local businesses, with room for 12. Tenants include Kitchen in the Canyon, a satellite location for Laguna College of Art and Design’s virtual reality department, and Laguna Beach Beer Company, which anticipates opening late this month... READ MORE
New restaurant Terra Laguna Beach will open in time for Festival season
The new on-property restaurant for Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters (FOA/POM), Terra Laguna Beach, introduces its new Executive Chef, Jenny Messing, and its premiere menu just in time for the Laguna Beach festival season.
Officially opening July 6, in line with the beginning of the FOA/POM, Chef Messing’s menu for Terra will be a distinct and vibrant collection of sophisticated and fresh dishes with a focus on California cuisine infused with international inspiration and world-class taste.
“Fine cuisine is in and of itself an art form,” said Festival of Arts president David Perry. “We look forward to welcoming the culinary creativity of Terra Laguna Beach to the Festival grounds.”
Arts Commission unanimously approves expansive mural project in Laguna’s Arts District
By SUZIE HARRISON
Some of the longtime dreams and creative vision for Laguna’s Civic Arts District are closer to becoming a reality with the approval of an exciting mural project along Laguna Canyon Road. On Monday, March 26, the City’s Arts Commission unanimously approved temporary murals for up to five years for the Laguna Creative Ventures properties, located between 891 and 777 Laguna Canyon Road. Owned by prominent local businessman Mo Honarkar, CEO and President 4G Ventures, his plans have always been to revitalize the Arts District.
Laguna Creative Ventures is proud to present the artistic beginnings of the Summer of Color, a celebration of art, music, food and vibrant culture in the Laguna Arts District.
Privately funded by the Honarkars, with partnerships with [seven-degrees] and Montana Colors, the organizers of this unique and exquisite mural project have been working diligently to bring world-renowned muralists to the artistic epicenter of Orange County – Laguna Beach.
The goal is to invigorate the creative spirit and provide additional brilliant temporary pieces of art for visitors and residents to see and appreciate during the summer months. READ MORE...
The 2018 Pageant of the Masters, “Under the Sun,” delivers an endless summer of Laguna-style fun
By SUZIE HARRISON
Photos by Mary Hurlbut
Everything “Under the Sun” in Laguna has been considered for this year’s Pageant, with the theme a tribute to our town’s creative heritage as an artists’ colony as well as a recognition of its contributions to the surf culture – and the show features the quintessential origins of the Missions in addition to some of the most iconic works throughout time ...
Not only was the sun shining on the Irvine Bowl, the evening also threw a spotlight on the new Terra restaurant, which is phenomenal.
“I saw this hidden treasure and I fell in love with it and I said I have to do something to show this magnificent piece of art in the City. [We looked around for historic items only] to find we had this beautiful, magnificent artwork just sitting and hidden [right here]. And I am so happy to bring it out and show it,” said Mo Honarkar. “And that’s my gift to the city.” READ MORE...
New name, new life? Laguna center’s new operators have high hopes for the Hive
By BRADLEY ZINT
MAY 10, 2018 | 1:45 PM
A commercial center tucked between the Sawdust and Art-A-Fair properties in Laguna Beach is in the midst of a revitalization effort.
A group is working to rebrand the Festival Center at 805-859 Laguna Canyon Road into a bustling creative hub.
The endeavor is starting with a new name: the Hive.
When complete and full of tenants, the Hive could become a new cultural and creative area for a section of Laguna officially known as the Civic Art District, boosters say.
Laguna Beach businessman Mohammad "Mo" Honarkar acquired the site and the adjacent Art-A-Fair/Tivoli Too property in November.
The Hive is now managed by the Laguna Beach Co., whose communications arm, Laguna Creative Ventures, is handling the area's development future. READ MORE...
The Hive comes alive: Newly named district in the Canyon buzzes with artistic activity
With the renaming of the Laguna Arts District at 805-856 Laguna Canyon Road to “The Hive” this summer, Laguna Creative Ventures and the Honarkars are ushering in a new era, starting with the Summer of Color, featuring temporary murals by well-known artists.
Privately funded by the Honarkars, with partnerships with [seven-degrees] and Montana Colors, this unique and exquisite mural project is coming together beautifully at the location. READ MORE...