ARTICLES + INTERVIEWS

The Mini-Mart With Heart

Hearting Costa Mesa is hungry, thirsty work. (You know the feeling, right?) You’re out shining smiles up and down 17th Street – just beaming bliss all over paradise, per usual – when suddenly, hanger strikes. The smile turns snarly as your heart-shaped glasses slowly slide off your face. You’re so depleted you can barely even cartwheel with Costa Mesa pride (let alone double-pike-triple-layout-tuck.) It’s a sad state of affairs, indeed. Well, fear not, faithful Costa Mesan. You haven’t lost your love of city; you just need to get your snack on.

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The Face Of Flawless

If you scroll through the Flawless Faces social media feeds, two elements of their work immediately grab you: perfect skin and THOSE EYES. “Every artist has their thing,” said Lindgren. “For me, it’s eyes.

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SoBeCa Brewmeisters

Costa Mesa is a study in contrast. Artistic, yet unpretentious. Independent, yet connected. Cozy, yet cosmopolitan. And just when you think you’ve got us pegged as the family-friendly city with that small-town feel – we open up a big ol’ can of Culture and all bets are off. Because while we may be home to some of the cutest, little, ocean-kissed neighborhoods ever to grace a mesa, we’re also rockin’ world-class theater, live music, award-winning restaurants, action-sports industry, SCP, OC Fair and soon the OCMA – to literally name just a few. We’re so packed with culture, our city limits are fit to burst. But until recently, there was one missing ingredient in our cultural cocktail, a key point of omission often used to separate the cultural wheat from the chaff: Costa Mesa’s distinct lack of a brewery.

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PODCAST EPISODES

Listen: “Working Wonders”

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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Pots and Pans with Jack and Annie

On this week’s podcast, we’ve got dynamic radio duo – Chef Annie Morgan and Horticulturalist Jack Carlisle – of the ‘Pots and Pans with Jack and Annie’ show, which airs Sundays from 9:30-10:30am on local station KOCI 101.5 FM. Jack and Annie are an integral part of our local community… and no topic is off the table. We laugh! We cry. We discuss the value of partnership and debate the benefits of chatting up random strangers at the mall. It’s a fun episode you won’t want to miss. Check it out, Costa Mesa!

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Fall in Love with the Westside

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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Matthew Parsons: Shaka Sauce

On this episode of The I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we spice things up with Matthew Parsons – and his tight-lipped, bottle-wielding sidekick, Leo – to learn all about their local line of hot sauces. You can find Shaka Sauce in restaurants and independent markets all over Costa Mesa. Check out the episode, then give Shaka Sauce a try!

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Listen: “The Daily Pilot Reporter”

On this episode, we interview Bradley Zint, Reporter for The Daily Pilot newspaper, about his eight years spent covering Costa Mesa and its surrounding communities. We also talk about his perspectives on the City of Costa Mesa, how he’s seen it change since he first started at the paper in 2010 – and, of course, we ask him the rapid-fire, Fast Final Fives! And with Brad just today announcing he is leaving the newspaper, this is one special edition of the podcast you don’t want to miss…

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2019: Going “All In” On Costa Mesa

We’re back for Season 3 of the I Heart Costa Mesa show! On this kick-off episode to our latest season, Erin and Brandy talk about the decision to start #costamesa365, a new challenge where Erin is trying to only shop in Costa Mesa for an entire year.
Plus, will we ever get Bob Hurley or Wing Lam on the podcast? This, and so much more on this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa show…

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Listen: “Rip The Ripper”

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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Jeffrey Smith: Wickid Candle

On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa podcast, we’ve got local chandler (that’s ‘candle-maker’ to some) Jeffrey Smith, founder of Wickid Candle. Wickid Candle is a Costa Mesa-based purveyor of organic handmade candles in masculine scents, like tobacco, musk, ozone, teakwood, tonka and more. Listen in to learn more about candle-making than you ever thought possible, then go check out Smith’s full line of organic candles…

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WATCH VIDEOS

Watch: Taco Mesa

Ride along with Mister Mesa as he meets up with famed, local chef – and owner of Taco Mesa...

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Watch: Kiss Kiss Bangs Bangs

Ride along with Mister Mesa as he joins the cosplaying chicas behind Kiss Kiss Bangs Bangs, fine purveyors of Pub Trivia Nights at venues all over Costa Mesa…

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Watch: Boathouse Collective

Ride along with Mister Mesa to visit KOCI’s Boatco Radio Show at Boathouse Collective – on Costa Mesa’s Westside. They’re working hard to Keep Mesa Cool with live music, great eats, tasty libations and creative collaboration…

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Listen: Clayton Peterson

Mister Mesa interview with Clayton Peterson, founder and owner of the Boathouse Collective on Costa Mesa’s Westside. Music track by local musician, MC and recording artist, Eduardo Iniestra (DJ Kaboom)…

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Watch: Canyon Park

We had so much fun creating our first-ever *video* neighborhood feature! Village Green Real Estate...

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Watch: Day of Detox

Today we’re throwing Mister Mesa into not one – but EIGHT – alternative therapies. Ride along as he tries everything from acupuncture to enemas, right here in Costa Mesa. As our human guinea pig, Mister Mesa experiences, on camera, all the things you’re curious about, but too chicken to have tried yourself.

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Watch: American Gym, Part 1

What’s it like to take a punch? In order to find out, we set up Mister Mesa with a full-contact sparring session at The American Gym in Westside Costa Mesa. But first he needs to get whipped into shape with a week of classes and private training in Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Kickboxing. Will he survive? Watch to find out!

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Watch: American Gym, Part 2

Part 2 of 2! (Watch Part 1 here.) Mister Mesa trained for a week at The American Gym in Westside Costa Mesa to try and survive six minutes in the ring with former professional MMA fighter, Jason Drexel. Will he survive? Watch the sparring match and find out!

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