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Good morning and Happy St. Patrick's Day, Orange County! You're reading Thrive OC, where chasing rainbows is easy—it's the parking spots near the beach that require real luck. Here's what's buzzing this week in OC:

• Authentic eats in San Juan

• Parade vibes incoming

• Disney Food & Wine magic

• Last-minute St. Paddy’s plans

• SoFi gets grass for FIFA

• Newport Bay stays clean

• Mission Hospital Upgrade

Let’s dive in.

— Dave Berry

🍽️ Restaurant of the Week: Ysidora

Craving authentic California comfort food with a Spanish flair? Look no further than Ysidora. Named after Mission matriarch Ysidora Forster, this spot blends classic Spanish dishes with a fresh, modern twist. Think savory small bites paired perfectly with craft cocktails or a traditional Spanish gin & tonic by the fireplace.

Pro Tip: Visit around 3 PM when the Mission bells ring and Ysidora's specials kick off—it's a delightful OC experience you won’t want to miss.

📍Find it: 26907 Old Mission Rd, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

🏄 Local News You Should Know

⚽ SoFi Stadium’s World Cup Test Run

Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium just unveiled its new FIFA-approved grass field as it gears up for the 2026 World Cup. Grown in Washington and rolled out specifically for upcoming matches, this new pitch will host CONCACAF Nations League matches and the US Women’s National Team game next month.

This grass field, temporarily covering the stadium’s usual artificial turf, is a dress rehearsal for even bigger transformations ahead—including removing seats to meet FIFA's field width requirements.

With the Super Bowl and Olympic swimming events also planned for the future, SoFi Stadium is quickly becoming SoCal's global sports hub.

🌊 Newport Bay’s Trash Interceptor

Ever wondered how Newport Bay keeps its waters clean? Meet the Newport Bay Trash Interceptor, an innovative system stopping around 80% of floating debris from San Diego Creek before it hits beaches and harbors.

This clever device prevents hundreds of tons of trash annually, helping keep OC’s beaches pristine.

💖 Historic Gift Boosts Mission Hospital Expansion

Providence Mission Hospital just received its largest-ever donation—$50 million—from the descendants of Rancho Mission Viejo. This historic gift jumpstarts the $712 million campus expansion project, including the new Rancho Mission Viejo Family Tower.

The expansion adds 100 private rooms, advanced cardiac care facilities, state-of-the-art surgery suites, and a revamped emergency department.

The new tower, expected to open by 2030, promises to revolutionize patient care across South OC.

🐋 Dana Point’s Festival of Whales Was a Hit!

The 2025 Festival of Whales last weekend brought incredible ocean views, marine adventures, and seaside celebrations to Dana Point. Did you go? If you missed it, mark your calendars for next year!

📅 Upcoming Events 🎉

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival (Daily through April 23, 2025)

Experience California’s culinary best at Disneyland Resort. Indulge in incredible food, wine, drinks, entertainment, and special festival merchandise.

65th Annual Swallows Day Parade (March 22, 2025)

San Juan Capistrano’s beloved parade returns with horse-drawn carriages, bands, community floats, and—new this year—the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales. Festivities continue all day at Mercado Street Fair with live music until 11 PM.

Spring Bark Bash in Costa Mesa (March 22, 2025)

Looking for your next furry best friend? Head to TeWinkle Park (970 Arlington Dr., Costa Mesa) on Saturday, March 22, from 11 AM - 2 PM, for the Spring Bark Bash pet adoption event hosted by Costa Mesa’s Animal Services Unit. It's a great opportunity to soak up OC sunshine, enjoy good music and food, and maybe even bring home a new family member.

Looking for Last Minute St. Paddy’s Day Plans? Here You Go.

Irish Fest at Old World Huntington Beach: Live Irish music, authentic cuisine, and plenty of good cheer.

Newport Beach Bar Crawl: Start your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations early at Baja Sharkeez on March 17, and hop between Newport’s best bars throughout the afternoon!

🌟 OC Trivia: Did You Know?

Huntington Beach, known as "Surf City," is being considered as a venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.​

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

🎉 VIP Shoutouts!

A big welcome to our newest Thrive OC VIPs—Charles and Suzanne! Thanks for being part of the community—we’ve got some exclusive perks coming your way! 🚀✨

🎶 Live Music This Weekend

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

Friday, March 21:

• BeachFire Bar & Grill (San Clemente) – Mark Alan Wilson Band, 8:00 PM

• Bellante Family Winery (Mission Viejo) – Shannon Kennedy, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

• Cook's Corner (Trabuco Canyon) – Lucky Jack, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• Dana Point Yacht Club (Dana Point) – Mike O'Bryan, 5:00 PM

• The Cliff Restaurant (Laguna Beach) – Pilot Touhill, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• The Station (San Juan Capistrano) – Blues Cartel, 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM

• The Drake (Laguna Beach) – Memphis Kings Quartet, 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM

• Biergarten (Huntington Beach) – Funk Station & The Ashes (Free Show), 7:00 PM - 11:30 PM

• Constellation Room (Santa Ana) – Grace Enger, 7:00 PM

• Downtown Disney (Anaheim) – Darden the Band, 6:30 PM

• Kobe Steakhouse & Lounge (Seal Beach) – The Blue Machine, 8:00 PM

• Muldoon's Irish Pub (Newport Beach) – Ashe Brothers, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Time Nightclub (Costa Mesa) – Biscits, 9:30 PM

• Pelican Hill Resort (Newport Beach) – Rick Vanderklein, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• House of Blues Anaheim - Foundation Room (Anaheim) – Wish You Were Here, 7:00 PM

🌦️ 7-Day Weather Forecast

🌅 Sunrise & Sunset in OC

🙌 Rep OC & Support Local

Thrive OC is more than just your source for local happenings—we're also curating the best in beauty, wellness, and unique OC-inspired essentials. From premium skincare products to locally inspired merch, we’ve got everything you need to look great, feel amazing, and celebrate Orange County in style. Plus, every purchase supports this newsletter, so you can shop and support local at the same time. 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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