BEST PICK FOR A TANNING BEACH “I...

BEST PICK FOR

A TANNING BEACH

“I enjoy the beach in Corona del Mar that’s right off the Pacific

Coast Highway. We can keep an eye on our kids and it’s a wide-open

area.”

Dan Monahan, branch director of Westside Boys & Girls Club in

Costa Mesta

“Crystal Cove is the only natural beach around where there aren’t

a lot of concessions and roads. You can see the dolphins and the

seals and the whales. It’s the only pristine beach around. You get

the feeling you are away from civilization.”

Jean Watt, president of Friends of Harbors, Beaches & Parks and

Former Newport Beach council member

“My favorite spot is the beach right below El Morro. I fish and

run there on weekend mornings. It’s not as crowded as most beaches

and it’s scenic. This time of year you can spot the animals very

well.”

Milford Dahl, attorney at Rutan & Tucker in Costa Mesa

BEST PICK FOR A PEOPLE-WATCHING BEACH

“Blackies at the Newport Pier. There are some pretty odd people

out there and a lot of tourists. It’s a good mix of people. If you go

to the street, you usually only see the locals.”

Mike Burns, online manager at Surfside Sports on Balboa Peninsula

“I enjoy the beach that stretches along the Balboa Peninsula. We

have so many children in the family, and it’s a good place to take

kids. We used to go two to three times a week and we fished off the

pier.”

Janice Davidson, Citizens for the Improvement of Costa Mesa

“The beach by the Newport Pier is my choice. During the summertime

it’s a major attraction. You get all sorts of people.”

Akira Fukuda, manager of Jack’s Surfboards in Newport Beach

BEST PICK FOR

A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE

“Costa Mesa [Golf & Country Club’s] Los Lagos course. It’s really

improved in the last few years. Golf is a challenge in the afternoon

when the wind kicks up. The greens have improved tremendously.”

Larry Weichman, Costa Mesa resident, owner of real estate

brokerage firm Weichman Associates-Realtors

“Los Lagos. It borders on being as hard as any [course] around.

It’s long for one thing [6,542 yards from the championship tees] and

the greens are tricky.”

Ray Hitzel, 85, Newport Beach resident who took up golf at age 8

and has a 12.5 handicap

BEST PICK FOR

A DRIVING RANGE

“Pelican Hill [Golf Club in Newport Coast] because of the size.

There are enough hitting areas, so you don’t have to worry about

hitting it out.”

Chris Veitch, four-time men’s club champion, including three

straight, at Santa Ana Country Club; has a 0 handicap

“None of the other clubs have what Pelican Hill has. It’s bigger,

more conditioned with more practice areas.”

Danny Bibb, winner of a Newport-Mesa record 11 men’s club

championships and the reigning senior titleholder at Big Canyon

Country Club

BEST PICK FOR COFFEE

“Java to Go at 19th Street and Newport Boulevard. They have a

drive-through and I have children, so that makes it convenient. Great

coffee too.” Her drink of choice? “It’s called a Red-Eye. It’s coffee

with a shot of espresso in it.”

Shannon Santos, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen manager

“I’m going to stick with Starbucks [at 17th Street and Newport

Boulevard]. I just get their house coffee. I do go there quite a lot.

We like to go walk up there and get some coffee.”

The Rev. Deborah Barrett, Zen Center of Orange County

“I don’t drink coffee, but I do get hot chocolate. I’m going to

say Diedrich’s on 17th. I’d probably scare my students if I was any

more awake in the morning.”

Dan Glenn, Newport Harbor

volleyball coach

BEST PICK FOR A SPA

The Spa at South Coast Plaza, where she gets the sports massage.

“The ambience is just really relaxing and they have good people. The

workout room is really nice. It’s so clean, and they have really good

service.”

Valerie Torelli, Costa Mesa real estate agent

“I always enjoy going to Spa Gregories. What I love about it is

their quiet room. It’s so peaceful and tranquil, and it’s just the

perfect mini escape from the craziness of motherhood without having

to travel too far.”

Lisa Chavos, a stay-at-home mom in Newport Coast

The Spa at South Coast Plaza. “They have incredible technicians

and incredible service, and the environment is so welcoming and warm

and luxurious.”

Debra Gunn Downing, executive director of marketing at South Coast

Plaza

BEST PICK FOR SUSHI

“Tsuru Japanese Restaurant. I like the hamachi (yellowtail tuna)

and toro (tuna) and uni (sea urchin). My favorite is anago (sea

eel).” Why does he like it there? “Because they provide fresh fish

and the taste is real Japanese food.”

Satoshi Kurihara, co-owner of Arth in Costa Mesa

“Kitayama’s the best sushi.” How long has he been going there? “At

least 10 years. It’s very traditional and very fresh. It doesn’t have

the fusion influence. A lot of the sushi bars just have a mix of what

Americans like and what they’ll pay a lot for.”

Robin Hobson, of Franklin Financial, Corona del Mar

“Sushi Wave in Costa Mesa. Somebody from here goes at least once a

week. It’s not super overpriced and the sushi is pretty good. The

chefs are very friendly.” Her favorites? “The lobster hand rolls and

the spicy crunchy rolls.”

Amy Osajima, Newport Beach Film Festival general manager