Up Front | Around Town

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HOBIEmemorial_MG_6344A Legend Memorialized

It was a solemn day March 29 for not only locals but also surfers around the world, as news of the passing of Hobie Alter, the man known for revolutionizing the surf and sailing industry with his inventions, made its way around the globe. As a local icon, beloved by so many people, it was only befitting to hold two memorial events in his honor. The first of two events took place April 10 on the golf course of The Ranch at Laguna Beach (formerly Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course), where more than 500 people gathered, including Hobie’s relatives, to listen to stories told by those who were closest to him. One week later, on April 18, the second memorial event—a Hobie-style Hawaiian paddle-out—took place at Doheny State Beach. It was a memorable sight to see: hundreds of colorful surfboards, paddleboards and sailboats joining on the water. There, surfers gathered on their boards and boats and recited a Hawaiian song prayer, splashing water to the sky and holding up paddles with the Hobie insignia. While Hobie may not be with us today, his spirit lives on in those who venture out into the ocean blue. —A.T.

 

Fifty Years of Film

This year, the 15th anniversary of the Newport Beach Film Festival saw an even bigger milestone marked, as Laguna Beach-based MacGillivray Freeman Shaun MacGillivray and famFilms celebrated 50 years of filmmaking during the highly anticipated annual film fest. Commemorated by two wonderful events—an April 29 screening of the surf cult classic, “Five Summer Stories,” and an April 30 retrospective and Q-and-A with company co-founder Greg MacGillivray—fans of the company’s work were able to toast to the brand’s future as well as take a nostalgic look back at all that they already have achieved. “At our screening, the audience started hootin’ and hollerin’, just like they did in the ’70s,” says Shaun MacGillivray, producer and managing director. “And we probably had some surfers and ocean lovers there who had seen the film when it first came out in 1972. … It was both fun and humbling to see how many people were interested in coming out to pay tribute to our work.” (949-494-1055; macgillivrayfreemanfilms.com) —B.B.

 

Retail Therapy

Local shoppers can make a difference in the lives of kids with autism by purchasing high-end clothing, toys and antiques at a new thrift and consignment store, Miles4Autism, located at 31678 S. Coast Hwy. The nonprofit, started by Linda Hogan-Estrada of San Clemente, is named after her 14-year-old son, Miles, who has autism. Linda aims to open five stores, with proceeds going toward establishing a center that offers free therapy for autistic children. Linda says many families struggle to provide their autistic children with expensive therapies that insurance often doesn’t cover. “That just broke my heart,” Linda says. Already, the Laguna community has been very generous, she says. Local real estate agents have even offered to donate part of their commission for home sales stemming from referrals through the store. (714-943-6882; miles4autism.org) —S.S.

 

View More: http://photos.pass.us/mollyandprestonSummer Soiree Tips
As summer begins, so does the yearly barrage of seasonal weddings. Luckily for aspiring hosts, Shannon O’Neil, a Laguna Beach native and owner of event styling company Cargo Creative, is nearby to offer her top three tips for throwing a fabulous
summertime shindig.

Keep your guests comfortable: Nothing is worse than sweating buckets while attending a friend’s nuptials. Being mindful of your guests’ comfort will ensure that they enjoy your big day as much as you do. “Make sure there’s shade,” Shannon emphasizes. “Have cool drinks like water and lemonade …[and] umbrellas [or] fans.”

Don’t sweat the small stuff: “If you forget something, your guests aren’t going to know you forgot it,” Shannon shares. “So, don’t stress about it.” For those who tend to panic about last-minute details, that’s where Shannon’s services come in especially handy. “It’s my role—for events, weddings, parties—to make sure those things aren’t forgotten,” she says.

Budget for the unexpected: Shannon, who just held her own wedding in Laguna, mentions that many people forget about additional fees (like the cake cutting). “It’s important to kind of see what you think each thing is going to cost and then try to spend less than that, because there are all of these other hidden costs that people forget about,” she shares. (949-373-6379; cargo-creative.com) —B.B.

 

Surfwear With Style

Laguna Beach’s Thalia Surf Shop has partnered with San Clemente-based swimwear designer Amanda Chinchelli of Seea to unveil a limited collection of custom Vans shoes and flip-flops using original prints from Seea swimwear. “Thalia was aSeea natural fit for the Seea for Vans party,” Amanda says of the collaboration party held at Thalia Surf Shop on April 3. “… We share the same love for surf crafts and locally made products.

“For this Vans collaboration, I chose feminine pastels with added flairs like metallics and bright accents, all with the same type of surfer girl in mind,” Amanda continues. Keeping with a California mindset, Seea’s products are sustainably designed and locally crafted. Amanda also carefully considers even the smallest of details—the hangtags, for instance, are printed by letterpress. (949-497-3292; thaliasurf.com) —A.T.

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