Anyone in/around Costa Mesa, Cali?

buckunteer · 03-16-2017, 02:13 PM

Hey everybody,

So I live in Ohio but I have a hugely important job interview in Costa Mesa next week to be a professor and head tennis coach at Orange Coast College. I am stoked!

However, I know literally nothing about the area other than it's painfully expensive as compared to basically everywhere else I've ever lived, Ohio State's campus area excluded haha.

I fly in Wednesday morning, interview Thursday morning and fly out Friday afternoon so I'll have a little time to kill. Where should I go? Where should I stay? Any local restaurant recommendations would also be greatly appreciated as I love finding non-chain places to eat when I travel. What else should I do? I'm considering driving down to San Diego to check out the world famous zoo, but probably will hold off on that since I'm fortunate enough to have one of the few zoos that rival it in the country less than an hours' drive from me in Columbus, OH.

So yeah, essentially any recommendations in the Costa Mesa area would be greatly appreciated! (and if you're insane enough to offer a complete stranger a guest bedroom for two nights, I'd gladly accept too

)

NickM · 03-16-2017, 03:12 PM

There are several amusement parks nearby, but that's not much fun alone. Marine parks might be more interesting than zoos to you - Sea World in San Diego is the big one, but the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is good if you only have part of a day.

Hitting the beach works - almost any beach area in Orange County will be good for people-watching and getting a tan. Huntington Beach and Newport Beach are the two most popular.

Local museums - Bowers Museum in Santa Ana.
Traveling further away - Museum of Man or USS Midway Museum in San Diego, or several choices in L.A. (Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Getty Villa, Getty Museum, California Science Center, Petersen Automotive Museum, Norton Simon Museum).

People-watching - Fashion Island in Newport Beach (not a real island, just an upscale shopping and eating area)

Adrenaline rush - the Skyslide at OUE Skyspace LA (in the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown L.A.)

If you're a NASCAR fan - the Hauler Parade is on Thursday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana (under an hour drive from Costa Mesa).

Collecting cards (or other stuff) - Frank and Sons Collectible Show in Walnut (L.A. County) is on Wednesday afternoon/evening.

If you enjoy bars, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have lots near the piers. My recommendation is Goat Hill Tavern, in Costa Mesa. It's a great dive bar.

Food - inexpensive and non-chain around L.A./OC normally means ethnic food. if you're adventurous, the Little Saigon area of Westminster is the center of Vietnamese food in the U.S. Lots of very good Mexican restaurants in and around Santa Ana. If you're OK with very spicy, Anita's at Fairview and Warner (not sure if it's Costa Mesa or Santa Ana) serves great New Mexican food at reasonable prices.
I haven't tried any of them, but there is a new food truck area at the Met in Costa Mesa (535 Anton Blvd.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day. L.A. and OC are known for lots of high-quality food trucks - check out review sites online to get a sense of what, when, and where.
If you're in L.A. for the evening, Chinatown is full of good restaurants that are cheap and open late.
Or, on Thursday evening, just go to Hooters (the games will be on big screens) - there are several in the area.

buckunteer · 03-20-2017, 10:13 PM

Love all the info man thanks

Anybody else in the area feel free to chime in!

cdahlk2001 · 03-20-2017, 10:28 PM

The LA zoo is better in my opinion. WBC is playing at dodger stadium. Get tickets to that. Catch a Ducks hockey game if in town. Mexican food is the bomb out here.

quackhead · 03-22-2017, 12:36 AM

Yeah, if you can get a ticket, go check out WBC game.

Get yourself a double-double at a nearby In N Out and/or search on Yelp for a local hole in the wall taco shop and get a carne asada burrito. No, Chipotle doesn't count.

And if you like craft beer, there are tons of brew pubs to choose from.

jmscoggin · 03-22-2017, 07:28 AM

Round Table Pizza, King Arthur Supreme, you are welcome.

ctau00 · 03-22-2017, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickM

My recommendation is Goat Hill Tavern, in Costa Mesa. It's a great dive bar..

Damn, the Goat's Nut is still there? Stationed at Tustin in the mid-80s and all the day crew guys from my shop tended bar there in the evenings.

What ever became of Captain Creme's in what used to be El Toro prior to it becoming Lake Forest? It was a semi-nudie hot oil wrestling dive, a guy from another shop was part owner and would sponsor a chauffeured limo every Friday for Marines wearing Charlies... man does that bring back memories, not all of them fit for prime time.

LincecumPC · 03-22-2017, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmscoggin

Round Table Pizza, King Arthur Supreme, you are welcome.

This guy speaks the truth.

jmscoggin · 03-22-2017, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctau00

Damn, the Goat's Nut is still there? Stationed at Tustin in the mid-80s and all the day crew guys from my shop tended bar there in the evenings.

What ever became of Captain Creme's in what used to be El Toro prior to it becoming Lake Forest? It was a semi-nudie hot oil wrestling dive, a guy from another shop was part owner and would sponsor a chauffeured limo every Friday for Marines wearing Charlies... man does that bring back memories, not all of them fit for prime time.

I was stationed at Tustin from 93-96. I never went to Captain Creme's but I've heard a story or ten. I haven't been back to the area in a very long time but I've still got some damned good memories.

LincecumPC · 03-22-2017, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmscoggin

Round Table Pizza, King Arthur Supreme, you are welcome.

jmscoggin · 03-22-2017, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LincecumPC

.............

Lol, I still hate you.

ctau00 · 03-23-2017, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmscoggin

I was stationed at Tustin from 93-96. I never went to Captain Creme's but I've heard a story or ten. I haven't been back to the area in a very long time but I've still got some damned good memories.

PCSed in '88, took a drive through there around 2000 and it was a depressing ghost town. Made another road trip 5-6 years later and it's even sadder, the hangars are the things still recognizable. Funny story about the hangars, when I was at NCO school the El Toro, between us and the SNCO academy practice time on the grinder was minimal. My squad advisor was from HMH-465 so he'd have us troop & stomp in the hangar, the place was huge!!! Come drill finals, you're limited to only one to-the-rear and damn near everyone in my squad fails for running the platoon off parade deck.

Oh how I miss that place. NCO club used to have live strippers on Tuesday nights, Wednesday morning at the El Toro 1-hours photo there'd be tons of nudies flowing hot off the press for everyone to see. Damned Tailhook, the straw that broke the camel's back!!!

gregsta · 03-23-2017, 05:05 PM

Goat Hill Tavern is a great dive bar as mentioned. Reasonable prices and specials throughout the week. Great people watching

Down Town Santa Ana is "up and coming" and has a lot of great food off 4th street. "4th street market" is a place where vendors will rent out a small shop and then they have open eating.

If you want one of the best meals in the area, check out The Playground. Great, always changing menu and I haven't been disappointed by a single thing.

A few breweries by Angel stadium in Anaheim: Noble, and Golden Road.

If you're a sushi person, there are multiple great places around the Costa Mesa and near by cities.

I would recommend using Yelp as there are many great places in the area and are easy to get to with uber/lyft.

Good luck on the Interview.

03-16-2017, 02:13 PM	#1
buckunteer Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 5,575 scuba_34 buckunteer	Anyone in/around Costa Mesa, Cali? Hey everybody, So I live in Ohio but I have a hugely important job interview in Costa Mesa next week to be a professor and head tennis coach at Orange Coast College. I am stoked! However, I know literally nothing about the area other than it's painfully expensive as compared to basically everywhere else I've ever lived, Ohio State's campus area excluded haha. I fly in Wednesday morning, interview Thursday morning and fly out Friday afternoon so I'll have a little time to kill. Where should I go? Where should I stay? Any local restaurant recommendations would also be greatly appreciated as I love finding non-chain places to eat when I travel. What else should I do? I'm considering driving down to San Diego to check out the world famous zoo, but probably will hold off on that since I'm fortunate enough to have one of the few zoos that rival it in the country less than an hours' drive from me in Columbus, OH. So yeah, essentially any recommendations in the Costa Mesa area would be greatly appreciated! (and if you're insane enough to offer a complete stranger a guest bedroom for two nights, I'd gladly accept too ) __________________ I collect Michael Jordan, Mitch Richmond, and Ohio State football and basketball cards in their OSU uniforms! I strongly prefer 90s era cards and use newer cards primarily as trade bait.

03-16-2017, 03:12 PM	#2
NickM Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 12,353	There are several amusement parks nearby, but that's not much fun alone. Marine parks might be more interesting than zoos to you - Sea World in San Diego is the big one, but the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is good if you only have part of a day. Hitting the beach works - almost any beach area in Orange County will be good for people-watching and getting a tan. Huntington Beach and Newport Beach are the two most popular. Local museums - Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. Traveling further away - Museum of Man or USS Midway Museum in San Diego, or several choices in L.A. (Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Getty Villa, Getty Museum, California Science Center, Petersen Automotive Museum, Norton Simon Museum). People-watching - Fashion Island in Newport Beach (not a real island, just an upscale shopping and eating area) Adrenaline rush - the Skyslide at OUE Skyspace LA (in the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown L.A.) If you're a NASCAR fan - the Hauler Parade is on Thursday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana (under an hour drive from Costa Mesa). Collecting cards (or other stuff) - Frank and Sons Collectible Show in Walnut (L.A. County) is on Wednesday afternoon/evening. If you enjoy bars, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have lots near the piers. My recommendation is Goat Hill Tavern, in Costa Mesa. It's a great dive bar. Food - inexpensive and non-chain around L.A./OC normally means ethnic food. if you're adventurous, the Little Saigon area of Westminster is the center of Vietnamese food in the U.S. Lots of very good Mexican restaurants in and around Santa Ana. If you're OK with very spicy, Anita's at Fairview and Warner (not sure if it's Costa Mesa or Santa Ana) serves great New Mexican food at reasonable prices. I haven't tried any of them, but there is a new food truck area at the Met in Costa Mesa (535 Anton Blvd.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day. L.A. and OC are known for lots of high-quality food trucks - check out review sites online to get a sense of what, when, and where. If you're in L.A. for the evening, Chinatown is full of good restaurants that are cheap and open late. Or, on Thursday evening, just go to Hooters (the games will be on big screens) - there are several in the area. __________________ 1st superfractor hit by RK Collectibles. 2014 Bowman Chrome Mini BB Chris Kohler. "What do we want?" "Time travel." "And when do we want it?" "It's irrelevant." Last edited by NickM; 03-16-2017 at 03:12 PM. Reason: typo

03-20-2017, 10:13 PM	#3
buckunteer Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 5,575 scuba_34 buckunteer	Love all the info man thanks Anybody else in the area feel free to chime in! __________________ I collect Michael Jordan, Mitch Richmond, and Ohio State football and basketball cards in their OSU uniforms! I strongly prefer 90s era cards and use newer cards primarily as trade bait.

03-22-2017, 07:28 AM	#6
jmscoggin Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: TX Posts: 21,446 jmscoggin jmscoggin	Round Table Pizza, King Arthur Supreme, you are welcome. __________________ https://www.hofautographcollector.com/

03-20-2017, 10:28 PM	#4
cdahlk2001 Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,016	The LA zoo is better in my opinion. WBC is playing at dodger stadium. Get tickets to that. Catch a Ducks hockey game if in town. Mexican food is the bomb out here.

03-22-2017, 12:36 AM	#5
quackhead Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: CA Posts: 4,950	Yeah, if you can get a ticket, go check out WBC game. Get yourself a double-double at a nearby In N Out and/or search on Yelp for a local hole in the wall taco shop and get a carne asada burrito. No, Chipotle doesn't count. And if you like craft beer, there are tons of brew pubs to choose from.

03-23-2017, 05:05 PM	#13
gregsta Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: the OC Posts: 529 gregwingrove	Goat Hill Tavern is a great dive bar as mentioned. Reasonable prices and specials throughout the week. Great people watching Down Town Santa Ana is "up and coming" and has a lot of great food off 4th street. "4th street market" is a place where vendors will rent out a small shop and then they have open eating. If you want one of the best meals in the area, check out The Playground. Great, always changing menu and I haven't been disappointed by a single thing. A few breweries by Angel stadium in Anaheim: Noble, and Golden Road. If you're a sushi person, there are multiple great places around the Costa Mesa and near by cities. I would recommend using Yelp as there are many great places in the area and are easy to get to with uber/lyft. Good luck on the Interview.