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Good morning, Orange County. This is Thrive OC, where the only thing more unpredictable than our real estate market is deciding between flip-flops or Uggs in March. ☀️❄️

Here’s what’s on deck:

• Restaurant of the Week: Award-winning wine and food in San Clemente

• Home prices take a dip—except in OC

• OC March Event Lineup: From whales to parades to Restaurant Week

• OC live music lineup

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Rancho Capistrano Winery – San Clemente

Craving great wine, food, and coastal charm? Look no further than Rancho Capistrano Winery, the largest winery in Orange County and Southern California’s Best Winery—not to mention San Juan Capistrano’s 2024 Business of the Year.

Why you’ll love it:

📍 Prime Location: In the heart of San Clemente, perfect for a relaxing wine escape.
🍷 Unparalleled Tastings: Explore handcrafted varietals with expert guidance.
🐾 Dog-Friendly Patio: Sip, savor, and bring your pup along!

👀 What to order: 

• Grass-Fed Filet Mignon – tender and juicy, paired with blue cheese mashed potatoes.

• Pan-Seared Salmon – glazed Scottish salmon with grilled vegetables and cilantro rice.

• Flourless Chocolate Cake – rich, decadent, and gluten-free.

🍇 Want more? Join their Wine Club for exclusive discounts, events, and curated wine shipments.

📍 Where: 124 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA

📞 Reservations: (949) 276-2197

🏄 Local News You Should Know

Home Prices Drop—But Not in OC

Southern California home prices weakened in early 2025, with three local markets landing in the bottom 10 nationwide for price growth. The exception? Orange County—which still posted a 4.4% gain.

📉 The big picture:

• LA County: Down 1.9%, marking its biggest drop in 22 months

• San Diego County: Down 0.9%

• Inland Empire: Flat—no growth over the past year

• Orange County: Prices rose, but at the slowest rate in 18 months

🏡 Bottom line: If you’re house hunting in OC, expect competition. Elsewhere? Prices might be on your side.

Santa Monica Seafood Says Goodbye to Costa Mesa

After nearly 30 years, the beloved seafood market and café has closed its Costa Mesa location. Fans are heartbroken, but you can still get their fresh seafood delivered via their overnight shipping service.

📍 Want to visit in person? Their Santa Monica location is still open—if you don’t mind the drive.

📅 Upcoming Events 🎉

🐳 Festival of Whales

Whale watching, live music, and a brand-new carnival? Count us in.

A beloved coastal tradition returns as the 54th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales takes over Dana Point from March 7-9, celebrating the magnificent gray whale migration with a weekend full of festivities:

• Festival Kickoff (March 7 @ 5 PM): A sacred ceremony and paddle-out at the Ocean Institute to welcome the whales back.

• Festival of Whales Carnival (March 7-9 @ Lantern Bay Park): Rides, games, food, and family fun all weekend long! 🎡

• Beer Garden + Live Music: Hosted by Pet Project Foundation, featuring a live DJ each night. 🍻🎶

• Whale-Watching Excursions: Get up close with migrating gray whales on a boat tour.

Bonus: A FREE shuttle runs between Dana Hills High School and Lantern Bay Park all weekend.

🎖️ Patriots Day Parade

A true small-town OC tradition, the Patriots Day Parade returns March 8 to Laguna Beach! Since 1967, this annual event has brought together floats, school bands, and vintage cars, along with military and civic groups marching in celebration.

📍 Route: Starts at Park Ave & Legion St. and ends past City Hall
🚧 Heads up: Downtown street closures will be in effect

🍽️ OC Restaurant Week

Foodies, get ready—OC Restaurant Week returns March 2-8, bringing exclusive prix-fixe menus, wine pairings, and cocktail specials to top restaurants across Orange County.

Whether you're looking for an upscale dining experience, the perfect date night spot, or a family-friendly meal, there's something for everyone.

No tickets or passes are required—just show up, explore the menus, and enjoy some of the best flavors OC has to offer 🙂 

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

"The OC" nickname wasn’t always a thing. Before the early 2000s, locals just said "Orange County"—but after The O.C. TV show premiered in 2003, the nickname became mainstream.

Think you know OC? Reply with your best trivia, and we might feature it next!

🎶 Live Music This Weekend

Looking for live tunes? Here’s what’s happening:

Friday, March 7:

• Barnoa Wine Company (San Clemente) – Hannah Hart, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

• Bigshots Billiards Bar & Grill (Lake Forest) – Ragdoll, 8:30 PM

• Brio Tuscany Grille (Dana Point) – Diane Suder, 7:00 PM

• Carlos Mexican Restaurant (Dana Point) – Randall Winvick Quartet, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• Drift Distillery (San Clemente) – Darden, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Knolls Restaurant (Laguna Niguel) – Sideways, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Mozambique - Ivan'z Room (Laguna Beach) – The Brightsiders, 8:30 PM

• San Juan Hills Golf Course (San Juan Capistrano) – Crossroads Band, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

• The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano) – Coco Montoya & Ronnie Baker Brooks, 9:00 PM

• The Drake (Laguna Beach) – Derek Bourdeaux, 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM

• Campus JAX (Newport Beach) – Bee Gees Gold, 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM

• Garden Amp (Garden Grove) – ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd Tributes, & Katfish, 5:00 PM

• House of Blues Anaheim - Foundation Room (Anaheim) – Friday Vibez, 9:00 PM

• La Santa (Santa Ana) – Tributo A Selena, 9:00 PM

• The Observatory (Santa Ana) – Insomniac Presents - Devault (18+), 7:00 PM

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🙌 Rep OC & Support Local

We’re growing! Thrive OC is more than just local news—we're bringing you must-have beauty and wellness essentials, along with our signature OC-inspired merch. From anti-aging skincare to ergonomic sleep support, we’re curating products to help you look, feel, and live your best. Plus, every purchase supports this newsletter, keeping Thrive OC running strong. FREE shipping on all orders—always! 🎉

💛 Want to support but don’t see anything you like? You can still help keep Thrive OC going! Donate here.

Or, take your OC experience to the next level—join Thrive OC VIP for exclusive discounts, VIP event access, and insider perks while supporting local businesses!

Your support means the world—thank you for being part of the Thrive OC community! 🙌

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