I HEART COSTA MESA

From Surf To Suits: The Grotto Menswear

by The Mesa Maven | Feb 28, 2020

Growing up, Matt Scord’s favorite suit was a wetsuit. At every opportunity, he and his best friend, Nick Meade, would break away from life at Irvine High School to hit the waves in Newport Beach. “Before we got our driver’s license, we’d take the bus,” said Scord. “But once we could drive, we spent every free moment down in Newport.” As they’d surf, they’d cook up all sorts of dreams. One was the idea of someday starting a business, together. Eventually, high school ended. Then came college, careers, marriage. But there was something from those early, saltwater days that Meade and Scord couldn’t quite shake: co-founding a brand of their own…

Just Desserts: Arenas Dream Cakes

by The Mesa Maven | Feb 25, 2020

It started as a side hustle. 13-year-old Joana made a batch of cupcakes from a boxed cake mix – and sold them, unfrosted, throughout the neighborhood for 50 cents a piece. She sold out. She made more, and sold out again. The entrepreneurial seeds were sown. Today, Joana Arenas is grown, married – and still selling cupcakes. Her confections have grown up, too. (Cupcakes are now scratch-made in a variety of flavors, fully frosted, with toppings worthy of winning any Food Network bake-off.) This is the story behind Arenas Dream Cakes, a Westside bakery…

Fine Art, In Stride: ArtSteps Costa Mesa

by Samantha Chagollan | Feb 10, 2020

Hilary Key has always seen the world through an artistic lens. “My whole life, I drew. I got to take a few art lessons here and there,” she explains. “I remember in junior high, I suffered from some really low self-esteem. I hung onto that thought, knowing, ‘I can draw.’” Hilary believes lots of kids need to draw. “It fills something that won’t be filled any other way,” she says. “So I deeply understand what they are connecting to, when they sketch.” Hilary is the director and owner of ArtSteps, an art studio here in Costa Mesa…

AmeriEstate: Take On Trust

by The Mesa Maven | Jan 29, 2020

We are all about celebrating life here in Costa Mesa. But tending to our end-of-life affairs? Um, raincheck! It’s hard enough to wrap our heads around the inevitable, much less our wallets. Making financial decisions now – in preparation for old age and beyond – is an issue we’d rather avoid completely, thank you very much. That’s a common, and very human, response to the topic of wealth after death, says Greg Reese, President & CEO of Costa Mesa-based AmeriEstate Legal Plan…

Karen Ellis: Costa Mesa’s Pilates Nerd

by Samantha Chagollan | Jan 17, 2020

Karen Ellis knows a lot about Pilates, but she pushes to keep learning more. In fact, she loves it so much you could call her a Pilates nerd. Karen has owned Prana Pilates on East 17th Street for almost 18 years. But her infatuation with Pilates started long before, when she was a dancer captivated by the strength and stability the practice brought her. “The first time I did Pilates, I really fell in love with it,” Karen says. “It was like, ‘where have you been all my life?’” Karen has a musical laugh, and a warm smile that instantly puts you at ease…

Magic Touch: Skin Transformation by Vanessa

by Samantha Chagollan | Dec 28, 2019

Which is maybe how Vanessa came to open her own business in Costa Mesa. Living on the Westside, she was inspired by all the innovation happening around her. So, about a year ago, she decided it was time to jump into the ring. Vanessa studied cosmetic chemistry at UCLA, and has more than 15 years of experience as an aesthetician. Having worked previously as certified master educator for a skin product line, she has taught, and worked, her way through five-star spas around the world…

No Place Like Om: Home Yoga

by The Mesa Maven | Dec 19, 2019

Westside Costa Mesa has always been a dynamic part of town – but these days, it’s changing by the day. A new coffee shop, MoonGoat Coffee, recently opened. Semi Tropics Wines is in the works. Genuine Property Management just renovated a 5,000-square-foot warehouse off Placentia Ave. The hum of activity, and quickening pace of investment, runs like a soundtrack for the ‘West of Harbor’ set. Home Yoga OC – emphasis on ‘om’ – is part of this new life and livelihood infusing Westside Costa Mesa..

Take The Heat: Perspire Sauna Studio

by Samantha Chagollan | Dec 12, 2019

Surely you’ve heard that saying, “don’t sweat the small stuff.” But what if…you did sweat out the big stuff? Like toxins and stress, for example. As a fan of hot yoga, I’m no stranger to sweat. And I had heard of the benefits of infrared saunas before. But it sounded like something extra fancy that I’d have to go to Beverly Hills to try. Turns out you can turn up the infrared heat right here in town, at Perspire Sauna Studio. While they have grown to offer locations throughout the country, Perspire’s flagship location is right on the corner of 17th and Irvine in Eastside Costa Mesa…

SOCO Speakeasy: The Guild Club

by Bradley Zint | Nov 30, 2019

There’s a small corner in northeastern Costa Mesa called The Guild Club, where immersive vintage rules the day, and stepping through the door is akin to exiting a time machine. You might think it’s some speakeasy inspired by 1920s Prohibition, but it’s actually earlier than that. Strolling into the Guild Club takes one into a theatrical glimpse of the late 19th century… fine living, as if you were Winston Churchill.

Urbanism: Fully Furnished

by Samantha Chagollan | Nov 27, 2019

Hands up if you’ve been by the Quonset huts off of 17th, behind Trader Joe’s? While there, you may have caught a glimpse of Urbanism Furniture: a giant warehouse, neighboring the huts, and full of unique, beautiful furniture. The motto at Urbanism is “short hours, sweet prices” and it’s worked well for them – going on 25 years, now…

in stitches: sarahjane goods

by Samantha Chagollan | Nov 21, 2019

Sarah Jane Goodman loves to learn. So much so, in fact, she taught herself to chain stitch on a 90-year-old sewing machine. Her passion for this lost art began way back when… at the Happiest Place On Earth. Sarah remembers going to Disneyland’s The Mad Hatter hat shop as a kid, watching them embroider her name on a pair of customized, Mickey Mouse ears. She thought it was just about the best thing she’d ever seen…

Westside Puppy Paradise: Hydrant Pet Hotel

by The Mesa Maven | Oct 30, 2019

With the dog days of summer squarely behind us – and the busy holiday season soon to come – thoughts turn to travel, visits back home, vacations… and oh, what to do with the fur babies when we go? If your pet-care standards are as high as today’s featured Costa Mesans, we see a Hydrant in your future…

Just Shy Of A Century: Von Hemert Interiors

by Bradley Zint | Oct 17, 2019

One of Costa Mesa’s classiest corners is calling it quits after — *gasp* — 99 years in business. Von Hemert Interiors has been a mainstay at 1595 Newport Blvd., on the southern edge of Westside en route to Newport Beach, since the late 1970s. However, the business itself dates to 1920 and founder Anna Martin von Hemert, an immigrant who came to America from Europe…

Wall Flowers: Aaron Glasson’s Costa Mesa Bloom

by The Mesa Maven | Sep 25, 2019

Next time you’re driving through the part of town where Harbor Blvd. kisses 19th Street, you might notice that a heretofore nondescript bench alcove, alongside Triangle Square, has received a fresh (and refreshingly floral) coat of paint. The piece – titled ‘Costa Mesa Bloom’ – is the latest in a recent flurry of new murals to hit the City of the Arts. It’s is a beautiful, abstract, showstopper-of-a-mural – designed and painted by acclaimed artist Aaron Glasson…

Outside Is In: Molly Wood Garden Design

by Samantha Chagollan | Sep 19, 2019

Molly Wood wants you to step outside. “The fresh air, the breeze — this moment is all we have!” she says, with a twinkle in her eye that reflects a true love for the greenery surrounding her. I’ve poked my head into Molly Wood Garden Design before. It’s hard to resist the cute, little, garden shop, just off Orange Avenue, that’s home to its namesake landscape designer and shopkeeper. Everywhere I look there’s something beautiful or interesting…

Up To Scratch: Ciao! Deli and Pizzeria

by Samantha Chagollan | Aug 24, 2019

Ciao! Deli and Pizzeria feels like a neighborhood joint. Because it is! And as I came to find out, we’re really lucky it’s in our neighborhood. Owners Carmina and Ray Casso want you to feel right at home, and from the minute you walk in the door, you feel welcomed. Today, Ray is manning the front counter and he greets me with a cheerful hello. He introduces himself, and invites me to check out the menu. There’s some groovy blues playing, and I notice the tap behind the counter with cold IPA just waiting to be poured…

Rockreation: Costa Mesa’s Social Climbers

by The Mesa Maven | Aug 22, 2019

Some people choose a career path, and spend their life pursuing it. But for others, the career chooses you. Take the case of 46-year-old Blaine Eastcott, owner of Rockreation Climbing Gym, off Logan Avenue in Costa Mesa. “For me, Rockreation was the summer job that never ended,” laughed Eastcott…

Toggle The Mind: Behind The Lids Collective

by Samantha Chagollan | Aug 16, 2019

“Have you ever tried breathing?” asks Frankie Salazar, co-founder of Behind The Lids, a new meditation studio and healing collective in the heart of Costa Mesa. Sounds like a silly question, right? Breathing is something we do without having to think about it. Every day, all the time, even when we’re sleeping. But what Frankie is talking about is something different. When you’re stressed, when you’re feeling anxious, when you’re overwhelmed—have you ever tried breathing to help you get through it?

Argyros Plaza: Cultural Free-For-All

by The Mesa Maven | Aug 12, 2019

Historically, performing arts had a reputation for out-pricing the cost-conscious. But here in the City of the Arts, a new cultural hub is inviting everyone from ‘hoity toity’ to ‘hoi polloi’ in on the act. Thanks to a generous donation from the family for whom the hub in named, Costa Mesa’s Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts exists to wed free events with locals (like you!) At the forefront of this plaza-performance push is SCFTA’s VP of Community Engagement, Jason Holland – an affable and intelligent overseer with clear aspirations of “art for all.”

Clean Plate Club: Nourish Ayurveda Cafe

by Samantha Chagollan | Jul 27, 2019

Simple, wholesome, nourishing food is all that’s on the menu here at Nourish. The menu changes every day, depending on what produce looks good and fresh to the chef, Prakash Jagadappa. They try to choose local, organic and biodynamic ingredients whenever possible, and every dish is made with thought and intention. That’s the Ayurvedic way…

SCFTA: Staging ‘The City of the Arts’

by The Mesa Maven | Jul 17, 2019

Every community has its share of seminal moments. Here in Costa Mesa, 1986 was a biggie. That was the year the Segerstrom Center for the Arts – a sprawling, performing-arts campus located at Bristol and Town Center Drive – first opened its doors to theatergoers, dance groups, theater troupes and more. The debut was pivotal, encouraging our city to slowly dogleg away from its ‘goat hill’ moniker, and grow more fully into a “City of the Arts” future…

New ArtWalk On The Block

by Samantha Chagollan | Jul 15, 2019

The City of the Arts has a new monthly gig that lives up to its name. The Costa Mesa ArtWalk is now a free monthly event, held on the lawn in front of the library. If you thought we already had a free art walk, you would be right—it’s a self-guided tour through the city featuring the most notable sculptures in town. This ArtWalk, however, is different…

Neck of the Woods: Cottonwood Music Emporium

by Bradley Zint | Jul 1, 2019

A “coffee shop vibe with a guitar factor.” It’s a concise way the marketing director of Cottonwood Music Emporium, a new electric guitar, amp, pedals and effects store in Costa Mesa’s Sobeca District, describes the place. Cottonwood, a name inspired by trees in Colorado, is the brainchild of Jim Deitzel and his marketer/partner, Mary Harden. Their dog, Bowie, also wanders the store, located at 2967 Randolph Ave., Suite C, across from Barley Forge Brewing Company…

A (Gluten Free) Walk Down Lavender Lane

by The Mesa Maven | Jun 26, 2019

It’s 2019, and the “food as medicine” movement is fast becoming mainstream. We all know someone eating – or avoiding – certain foods in pursuit of better health. For many, the rise, and rising awareness, of food allergies and sensitivities has upgraded the issue of food choice from ‘optional’ to ‘critical.’ With so much focus on what to give up, it can be hard to know where to safely turn for a treat. One that can satisfy that sweet tooth without derailing diet directives. Luckily, at the crossroads of healthy and indulgent, lies a new, local sweet spot: Lavender Lane Baking Co.

Prism Boutique: Free-Spirit Fashion

by Samantha Chagollan | Jun 23, 2019

Have you been shopping at The LAB lately? I stopped by recently to see what’s new at the iconic Anti-Mall, and found a sweet surprise: Prism Boutique. Just like its namesake, Prism Boutique at The LAB captures all of the light and separates it into a gorgeous array of colorful goodness. Each display shows off a carefully curated story of unique and delightful items—from chic clothing and funky shoes to quirky stationery and jars of delectable bath and body products. It feels more like you’re in your cool, free-spirited and fashionable best friend’s closet. And that’s by design.

A Brush With Beer

by Samantha Chagollan | Jun 9, 2019

Chris Kent is a unique kind of a guy—he can tell you all about the perspective and symmetry of a piece of art while also educating you on the “hoppiness” and mouthfeel of your favorite craft beer. All with said beer in hand. (Now that’s talent.) Chris is the “Head Dude” at Craft & Arts, an arty, hop-filled experience that he likes to describe as, “not your average paint night.”

The Top Chef Tackle

by The Mesa Maven | May 31, 2019

Costa Mesa is a foodie mecca. There are so many good restaurants around town. We could easily ‘dine out’ for every breakfast, lunch, dinner – plus happy hours, Taco Tuesdays, brunches, suppers and tea times – and still not make a dent in all the eateries our mouthwatering Mesa has to offer. (Although, forks up! We’re sure gonna try.) So when we heard that Season 11 Top Chef Alumnus, Brian Huskey, was serving top-shelf burgers, sandwiches, salads and seafood – in a casual, pub-like, ‘grub shack’ environment – we knew we had to tackle that, stat…

Volcom: Not So Fast, Fashion.

by Samantha Chagollan | May 28, 2019

Do you know how your clothes are made? Or where? And here’s a better question… why should you care? I keep hearing about “fast fashion” – and maybe you have, too. In a nutshell, it’s kind of like fast food – quick, cheap, and makes your mouth water – but choosing it has lasting implications that leave you a bit queasy…

Molly’s Music: Born To Sing

by Samantha Chagollan | May 20, 2019

The last time I sang vocal scales, it was the mid-90s and I was likely wearing Doc Martens and a plaid flannel. It’s not the quite the same as scream-singing Alanis Morissette in your Nissan Pulsar as you cruise down Harbor Boulevard. Vocal scales are straight-up scary. But I’m surprisingly non-terrified as I find myself standing in a vocal studio on a breezy spring afternoon, dutifully sliding up and down scales, across the piano from local music maven, Molly Webb.

Plug & Play: E-Lux Electric Bikes

by The Mesa Maven | Apr 29, 2019

Spring has sprung! The sun is out! Flowers bloom, as thoughts turn toward long, lazy, California beach days. Here in Costa Mesa, we enjoy the coastal life. We can bicycle to sandy vistas and crashing waves from anywhere in the city. But sometimes – especially after a full day of bodysurfing and sunbathing – the bike ride home can feel like the punishing slog of a chain-gang, slowly grinding back up the Mesa. It’s moments like this an exuberant, electric cyclist will inevitably zoom past. That zippy, motorized bike that seemed so much like “cheating” on the ride downhill, now feels positively essential…

Westside Slice: Trenta Pizza and Cucina

by Bradley Zint | Apr 28, 2019

Giorgio Buzzanga, Marco Palazzo and Cristiano Leoni had no prior restaurant experience, but they were intrigued by the trendy quirks of Costa Mesa’s Westside. Buzzanga had been riding his Vespa — because that’s what Italians do, right? — by the eclectic Midway Market at 1661 Superior Ave. when he noticed a vacancy sign at Suite D. The corner spot had been occupied by Waffleholic but was ready to receive new life. So Buzzanga gathered his two friends and they met the people in charge. When they were done, they had the seeds of a restaurant that achieves both an industrial and homey feel. It’s called Trenta, the Italian word for the number 30…

Furry Photography: Dogma Pet Portraits

by The Mesa Maven | Apr 22, 2019

The I Heart Costa Mesa team will never stop “hearting” the utter delight of unearthing local finds. Just when we think we know it all, have seen it all, have covered all Costa Mesa has to offer – then something as simple as a trip down Superior Ave. yanks us right back into the arms of wonder and discovery. We were recently flung into amazement’s embrace by a larger-than-life, window-cling portrait of a Shepherd-Chihuahua mix; the sweet, sincere face of a beautiful dog, known to her family as ‘Roxy.’

Clay + Community: Costa Mesa Ceramics

by Samantha Chagollan | Apr 17, 2019

Can working with clay lighten your load? Yes, says a recent study profiled in Psychology Today. Researchers found that people who worked with clay were less depressed, and they discovered an improvement in their overall sense of well-being. They also have marked improvements in motivation, mood, and decision-making. Where can you get some of this mood-boosting clay time, locally? Right over on the Westside, at Costa Mesa Ceramics…

Spacing Out: Costa Mesa’s New Planetarium

by The Mesa Maven | Mar 30, 2019

Space, the final frontier. Who among us hasn’t, at one time or another, pondered the incomprehensible vastness of the universe, the placement of planets, the geometry of constellations. It’s human to look to the stars – and what might lie beyond – but it’s not always easy, here in Orange County. Ambient light makes faraway suns hard to see, and the local focus has historically been much more about surf culture than space travel. But as of last week, tides may be tipping a bit more in favor of stargazers…

Melissa Brown: Big Picture

by Samantha Chagollan | Mar 26, 2019

It’s a gorgeous Saturday afternoon to be taking pictures. And that’s exactly what Melissa Brown is doing. She’s shooting product shots for her friend and client, Andrea of Luna Reece Ceramics. We’re in Andrea’s Eastside backyard, with a backdrop pinned up against the fence and a collection of colorful ceramic pots around us. I wasn’t planning to participate in this photo shoot, I just wanted to see Melissa in action…

Avanti: Best Feet Forward

by The Mesa Maven | Mar 18, 2019

There are few things in life more magical than people who have discovered their personal gift, and make expressing it their life’s purpose. It takes courage, conviction and a willingness to stand out from the crowd. Our city of Costa Mesa is a hotbed for this kind of magic, and the story of local studio, Avanti Dance Company, is the consummate “born talented, fully expressed” situation. This local gem doesn’t just shimmer, it shines.

Globe Deli: Sweet and Sauerkraut

by The Mesa Maven | Feb 28, 2019

Costa Mesa is a city with rich, Orange County history woven throughout its community fabric. Even as our city becomes more modernized – new buildings, businesses and neighborhoods replacing the old at an increasing clip – there are still those Costa Mesans working to preserve important pieces of our past. One iconic business that has meant a lot to locals, for a very long time, is The Globe European Delicatessen (Globe Deli, for short) at 1928 Harbor Boulevard, just north of where it transects 19th Street…

Winsome Wire: Laurane Elisabeth Designs

by Samantha Chagollan | Feb 18, 2019

…you can’t blame me if I’ve garnered a new(ish) obsession: gorgeous earrings. I’ve refined my taste over time, and while I love some big, bold designs, I can also appreciate a simple hoop. Recently, I discovered Laurane Elisabeth earrings, and I’m obsessed all over again! Clean, simple lines, high-quality, and made-by-hand right here in Costa Mesa. I think I’m in love…

Anthill And Chill

by The Mesa Maven | Feb 9, 2019

Ahhh, February. Le mois de l’amour. One of our most favorite months of the year. And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the city is dripping with hearts! Here, at I Heart Costa Mesa, we’re feeling right at home. After all, love is our jam. But as we move into the fullness of February, the clock is ticking on procuring that special something for our own Valentine…

Banding Together: Mariachi Juvenil Herencia Michoacana

by Samantha Chagollan | Dec 27, 2018

As I pull into the parking lot, I can already hear the music. A cacophony of trumpets, violins and guitars greet me as I walk up to the small strip mall space on the Westside of Costa Mesa. Araceli Ceja, the founder of Mariachi Juvenil Herencia Michoacana, greets me with a huge smile. “Welcome, thank you for coming!” she says, and ushers me into a little room just outside where the kids are already playing…

Costa Mesa: To The Limit

by Bradley Zint | Dec 19, 2018

Photo courtesy of the Costa Mesa Historical Society. The story of how the Costa Mesa city limits...

Coming Home To Brew

by Samantha Chagollan | Nov 27, 2018

The first time I walked into Windsor Homebrew Supply Co., I didn’t know the difference between a hop and a hopper. I mean, I love a tasty craft beer as much as the next Costa Mesan, but I had no idea how it was made. My husband, however, had recently taken an interest in brewing at home. He had been talking about it forever, and I wanted to give him a gift that showed I’d been listening. A friend told me about the greatest little homebrew shop right here in Costa Mesa, just off Randolph Street. “The owner is so friendly,” she said. Sure enough, I stepped into Windsor and my lack of hoppy knowledge was all but forgotten…

Sunday Funday: Westside Market

by Samantha Chagollan | Nov 10, 2018

Sunday is for all kinds of things. Some of us like to relax and chill, either on the couch with Netflix or football or by heading outside to the beach or the park. Some of us like to get stuff done on a Sunday: check tasks off the to-do list and get a head start on the week ahead. But did you know there’s a place right here in Costa Mesa, where on the second Sunday of every month, you can relax and chill AND do something productive too? It’s just around the corner, on the Westside…

Seizing The Oppurrtunity

by Bradley Zint | Oct 29, 2018

Cats are getting a new lease on life from a tiny corner of Costa Mesa. Most know the PetSmart on West 17th Street as being near Trader Joe’s and as a place for all one’s pet needs. But did you know a family-run, nondescript Costa Mesa hometown nonprofit is run out of there too? And it has a clever name: Oppurrtunities. As the moniker implies, they’re all about giving opportunities to cats, hundreds of them.

Second To Naan: The India Cafe

by The Mesa Maven | Oct 28, 2018

It’s no secret that we here at I Heart Costa Mesa are huge fans of small, local businesses. We just think what they do is really brave and a big boon for our city. The hours, the effort, the courage, the commitment – ‘small business’ is an act of love, no matter how you slice it. So when we discovered The India Cafe – a little restaurant with a large menu of delicious, house-made dishes, located at 528 West 19th Street – we knew we wanted to meet the hardworking people behind the paneer…

Natural Beauty: Eclectic Ox Designs

by Samantha Chagollan | Oct 16, 2018

In theory, I love all my neighbors. Don’t you? But that doesn’t mean I know them very well. I always wave and smile, but we don’t have in-depth conversations or spend a lot of time together. But there’s one exception in my neighborhood. And I met her about 100 miles away from here, even though she lives just down the street. That’s Molly Croteau: maker, designer, naturalist, wife and mom, and… my neighbor.

Sowing the SEED of Love

by Samantha Chagollan | Oct 8, 2018

The party is tonight. And you STILL don’t have a cool gift. Or even a card. You’ve got nothing. What do you do? Don’t panic. I know just the place. SEED Peoples Market. No question, every time, I can find something for anyone on my list. And probably discover a couple of things I can’t live without, too…

Violent Gentlemen: Game, Gear, Gravitas

by Bradley Zint | Oct 3, 2018

Some years ago, designer Brian Talbert was flipping through a magazine described as ‘a European version of GQ’ when he came upon a pair of words he really liked. It was in an article about how ‘high fashion’ took cues from the ‘low fashion’ of soccer hooligans. Apparently, those soccer fanatics wore scarves and layered in a way that piqued the attention of the runway crowd. Tucked within the article was a photo-caption quote from the designer describing how “the violent gentleman” wears his clothes. Violent? Gentleman? Good combo, Talbert thought. He wrote it down for later…

Metal Fab & Etch A Sketch

by The Mesa Maven | Oct 1, 2018

Despite our city’s size (112,000 residents or so) – a fair number of the neighbors we interview cite ‘that small-town feel’ as one of their favorite things about Costa Mesa. So what gives our town such a homey vibe? And why – no matter how robust the population becomes – does it still feel so much like ‘Costa Mayberry?’ Well, one of our theories is that it’s because so many people who grow up in Costa Mesa, stay in Costa Mesa. The city has a vigorous representation of multi-generation families, all living, working and supporting each other within these 16-square miles.

Pin Drop: Tiny Riot Designs

by The Mesa Maven | Sep 29, 2018

One day, not long ago, we began noticing a steady stream of small, wooden disks – etched with love, life and laughter – marching their way through our Instagram feed. Upon further investigation, the disks proved to be little, delicate, laser-cut pins emblazoned with big, cheeky, audacious messages. ‘What wonderfulness is this?’ we asked ourselves, and were pleased to uncover…

Shoot For The MoonGoat

by Bradley Zint | Sep 24, 2018

There may be no one more more excited to launch a business than the three guys behind MoonGoat Coffee. On a recent afternoon, I Heart Costa Mesa caught up with the founding trio — David Yardley, Martin Stern and Mark Evans — in a Santa Ana warehouse. The digs are acting as the temporary base of operations until MoonGoat’s Weststside Costa Mesa HQ is ready. These guys? Beyond ecstatic. Quick to laugh, new ideas popping up seemingly on the fly, eager to explain their coffee-making process — they had it all. In short, MoonGoat Coffee is going to be a Costa Mesa hometown coffee roaster and coffeehouse along Placentia Avenue. Supplementing the brews are food and live entertainment. And, given that area’s dearth of such places, this spot appears poised to have a big effect on the Westside corridor…

Clay For Keeps

by Samantha Chagollan | Sep 10, 2018

Walking up to the Eastside garage studio, I feel a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. It’s been awhile since I was around this much clay, and the fine gray dust that sits daintily on top of everything reminds me how much I love ceramics. I’m also fangirling a bit over meeting Andrea Luna Reece, the artist behind Luna Reece ceramics. I first saw her work at the Patchwork Show in Santa Ana, and I’ve been an avid follower of her Instagram feed ever since. She welcomes me warmly, dusts off a stool and invites me in for a chat…

The Full Spectra

by Samantha Chagollan | Aug 24, 2018

When you walk through the doors of Costa Mesa’s Spectra Yoga, there’s a little bit of palpable magic. And that’s the intention of studio owner Aileen Pham. “We are kind of a one-stop shop for your mind, body and soul,” Aileen says with a jovial wink and a smile.

Where The Streets Have Yo’ Name

by Bradley Zint | Aug 14, 2018

We here at I Heart Costa Mesa love our mesa. We want to see it all and know it all. But what’s in a name? Have you ever driven down Paularino and wondered, “Who or what is a paularino?” Or cruised down Harbor Boulevard thinking, “Where’s the harbor?” (Answer: There never was one, but a harbor is fairly close.) Well, we did some digging to answer these roadworthy questions and find out what’s behind some of Costa Mesa’s street names.

Coloring Outside The Wines

by The Mesa Maven | Aug 10, 2018

A creativity explosion is happening in Costa Mesa and (lucky us!) we all get to be a part of it. The ‘artification’ here just keeps leveling up! Every day now, it seems, new examples of artists, makers, builders, thinkers, tinkerers and creators are sprouting all over our city. While some are focused on creating their own artistic outcomes, others – like today’s featured Costa Mesan – are driven to extend those creative opportunities into the hands of others. Meet Karen Nguyen. Founder and owner of InspiRED Art Wine, she is all about getting people AFK so they can engage creatively IRL.

The Family Vans

by The Mesa Maven | Aug 2, 2018

It’s Open season at Vans. This past weekend kicked off the Vans US Open of Surfing in nearby Huntington Beach. With it, Vans is not just celebrating their sixth year of title-sponsoring this major surf competition and action-sports festival, but it also marks their first full year since moving Vans HQ to our beloved Costa Mesa. I Heart Costa Mesa sat down with Kristy Van Doren, Vans Senior Director of North America Brand Marketing – and granddaughter of Founder, Paul Van Doren – to talk US Open, the company’s ‘checkered’ past, and why the move to Costa Mesa made all the sense in her world for this iconic, Southern California brand.

Jumping Sheep

by Bradley Zint | Jul 12, 2018

A few months ago, on a sunny Costa Mesa afternoon, CMPD Officer Trevor Jones returned to the site which, a few weeks earlier, made him a minor Internet sensation. The spot was Sheep Hills, and when Jones arrived, he did the unexpected. He hopped on his patrol bike, dipping and jumping on a few of Sheep Hills’ world-famous dirt ramps. Onlookers, surprised to see a cop handle himself on the trails, hooted and hollered. “Oh my God!” one exclaimed.

Go For The Green

by Bradley Zint | Jun 6, 2018

Of all the ATMs in Costa Mesa, the undisputedly best one is on Fairview Road, in a strip mall called Villa La Costa. It’s not that this ATM doesn’t levy a fee. It does. What makes it the best is if you present at the nearby cash register your withdrawal receipt, you’ll get a free drink. Because why not? Everybody’s happy. This is the spirit of Lil’ Pickle, a sub sandwich shop that, popular food aside, may have Costa Mesa’s very best sandwich-shop name. But don’t ask owner Peter Bower how Lil’ Pickle got its moniker. He doesn’t know…

Vintage And Vogue

by The Mesa Maven | May 28, 2018

Riddle us this: If you were on your way to an interview – say, a perfectly respectable meeting with the Realtors at Village Green – and you discovered their next-door neighbor was a dog in a spacesuit called ‘Sputnik,’ well, what would you do? We hope you now know us well enough, dear reader, that you’d expect we’d get to the bottom of this Costa Mesa mystery – and so we have. The dog, the spacesuit – and all the timeless treasures tucked away behind the frosted glass door at 2121 Placentia Avenue, Unit C – belong to the owner and operator of Sputnik’s Vintage Costumes and Curiosities, one Taylor Hamby. If her names sounds familiar, it should. She’s the Web Editor over at the OC Weekly…

Filling The Need For Feed

by Bradley Zint | May 1, 2018

Costa Mesa’s Eastside may best be known for its eclectic mix of charming Americana homes replete with white picket fences, manicured lawns and cool breezes sweeping upward from Newport Harbor. There is, of course, the occasional Spanish abode mixed in among the grids of tony neighborhoods laid out on a flat mesa, whose streets bear names like Orange Avenue, Robin Hood Lane and Woodland Place. Yet unbeknownst to most, save for the enthusiastic raiser of family-sized farm animals and household pets, is the knowledge that the Eastside is home to Costa Mesa’s unofficial “Chicken HQ.”

Category: Articles