Jamie Reidling is “OG Westside” – a musician, surfer, skater, dad, community organizer and hardcore Costa Mesa local – and he’s on a mission to bring a skatepark to Westside Costa Mesa! On this episode of the podcast we talk about what it was like coming up in Westside Costa Mesa “back in the day,” what he’s up to now, and why he thinks it’s totally ridiculous that Westside youth don’t have a skatepark of their own…
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This week, we interview mechanical engineer, furniture designer, kite surfer and modernism practitioner – Michael Towey – owner of The California Workshop! Towey and his team design and build lighting and furniture out of his studio in Westside Costa Mesa. He’s one deep and interesting guy with a very philosophical “form follows function” take on the world…
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Debora Wondercheck is out to change the world – adding “the arts” back into the lives (and schools) of local kids. Her non-profit organization, The Arts & Learning Conservatory, is busily restoring confidence by honing creativity and character. With the work-ethic of a classically-trained cellist – and the CEO skills of a smart, strategic leader – Wondercheck’s bringing professional-level theater and music here to Costa Mesa…
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On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa podcast, contributing writer, Samantha Chagollan, turns the tables on co-hosts Erin Huffstutter and Brandy Young – asking them the questions she wonders about the project, the purpose (and the people behind it.) So if you’re curious to learn more about the I Heart Costa Mesa team, check it out…
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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…
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If you’ve noticed the fresh, beautiful modernization of local establishments like Eastside Mini Mart, Jan’s Health Bar or Memphis Cafe – or marveled at Pacific City’s Lot 579 food court, or the swanky, remodeled Lido Marina Village – you’ve unwittingly been touched by the design prowess of local Architectural and Interior Designer, Amanda Malson, of Common Standard Design…
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At 777 West 16th Street – here in Costa Mesa – Marta Tena and Pepe Tena are carrying forward their father’s vision: to turn a repurposed and restored, mid-century warehouse into a welcoming event space for all. Space 777 is brand new and a total “blank slate” – it’s just itching for the next art show or industry party. We talk with these creative and connected Costa Mesans about future plans for Space 777 and what they love best about our fabulous city…
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Fall in Love with the Westside 2018 is coming on Saturday, October 20th from 9am – 3pm at Estancia High School in Westside Costa Mesa. Part maker market, part community festival and part school fundraiser – this fun (and new) little tradition is just another example of what makes Costa Mesa such a great city…
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On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa podcast, we tackle the tricky topic of local homelessness with Muriel Ullman of the Network for Homeless Solutions. What is the state of our homeless situation in Costa Mesa in 2018? What is being done? What’s working and what isn’t? Listen in to find out…
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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.
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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…
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When we think “Parks and Rec” we think of Leslie Knope and her color-coded binders. But here in Costa Mesa, our local parks and recreation department is so much more than that! Our guests, Justin Martin and Ashley Thomas, are two from a team of hardworking people who make so much fun happen in our city. Things like: The Snoopy House, Mobile Recreation Van, Scarecrow Festival, The Bark Park, Concerts In The Park – and coming really soon, ARTventure – just to name a few!
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Phil Marsh is the President of the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club – the wonderful people behind this year’s 71st Annual Fish Fry at Fairview Park! From Friday, September 21st through Sunday, September 23rd, you can eat some famous fried fish, enjoy carnival rides, listen to live music and check out classic cars. Not many community gatherings last 71 years. Hear the history behind this local, can’t-miss tradition…
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Karen Barloon never meant to spearhead a yearly 5K / 10K race – heck, she doesn’t even run. But she cares deeply enough about kids and local schools to bring it all together (beautifully, we might add) anyway! Get the story on the 11-year running tradition that is the Costa Mesa Community Run…
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Julie Leffler grew up in Costa Mesa and now she’s growing a business here, too! From Estancia High School to a Semester at Sea, from Hollywood to Hurley – and now with her own marking firm, Big Hype Marketing – it’s been one exciting ride for Leffler….
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Episode 1 of Season 2 is finally here! We’re super starstruck to have Shaheen Sadeghi in studio. Sadeghi is celebrating the 25-year anniversary of his flagship project – The LAB (Little American Businesses) anti-mall right here in Costa Mesa. He’s also the creative visionary behind The Camp in Costa Mesa’s SoBeCA District, as well as the Anaheim’s Packing District, and others too.
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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.
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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.
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On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa podcast, co-hosts Brandy Young and Erin Huffstutter share the things they’ve learned from locals interviewed on the podcast. We have enjoyed so much wisdom, humor, insight – and have gained such great information – from our Costa Mesa guests. If you want to share what you’ve learned from our previous podcasts, be sure to let us know in the comments!
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On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we’ve got Rip “The Ripper” Morgan in studio. Morgan’s a local musician, founder of Third Garden Studios, plus Sound Engineer and Radio Host (of the Local Motion show) over at KOCI 101.5 FM, Costa Mesa / Newport Beach. In this interview, he talks “radio life” and brings in some of his favorite local bands for us to hear…
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On this week’s episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa podcast, we have Lea Lowe from the Costa Mesa Foundation. She’s got the band lineup – and behind-the-scenes details – for this year’s Costa Mesa Summer Concerts In The Park Series. We hope you’re getting geared up for these free concerts happening all throughout the month of July at Fairview Park, because this year’s series will be awesome!
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On this week’s episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we talk about our first jobs, hiring and firing, local teens, the interview process, mentorship, employment in Costa Mesa, the power of a paycheck and giving back – with Executive Director of Youth Employment Service, Wendy Weeks. Youth Employment Service (YES) is a local non-profit that helps build up our city’s teens and young adults with the skills and training they need to land their first jobs…
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In this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we have the warm and wonderful Samantha Chagollan in studio. Chagollan is a children’s book author, blogger, freelance writer, artist and newly-minted yoga instructor. We discuss the freelance lifestyle, branding, overcoming fear, our favorite books, and all the things she loves best about living in Costa Mesa…
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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…
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