A DOSE OF FUN
RISING INVERSION
Christopher Cichocki and “ Rising Inversion .”
A DOSE OF FUN
There ’ s something about a retro-inspired café with pink chandeliers and a green and white checked floor that bills itself as The Anti-Bitch Club that makes the Rx lattes , creative cocktails , cheeky branding and vegan / keto-friendly menu items seem almost secondary . Coffee Dose ’ s flagship in Costa Mesa ( there are other iterations of the shop in Costa Mesa , Irvine , Laguna Hills and Stanton ) is for sure not your grandma ’ s coffee shop , with bad yelp reviews turned onto art pieces , naughty merch and cups , and its own house roast called the Anti Bitch Blend . From “ Puppy Crack ” and a Mini Addict menu for kids to therapeutic lattes to an all-day endless brunch menu that includes a “ bone broth waffle ” ( a gluten-free waffle made with umami bone broth , topped with grass-fed butter and rosemary-infused maple syrup ) and a “ housewife combo meal ” ( breakfast wine with avocado toast ), this place is endless entertainment , especially if you opt to rent the whole place out for a Dose After Dark event . ( coffeedose . cafe )
RISING INVERSION
The Art & Nature festival , a campaign that takes place each November in Laguna Beach celebrating outdoor artwork , creativity and the environment , incorporates different artworks , a world-renowned keynote speaker and multiple events to complete the weekend . This year ’ s commissioned piece was an outdoor installation from multidisciplinary artist Cristopher Cichocki , “ Rising Inversion ,” which transformed from an arc of sand and barnacles into a glowing orb rising over the coastline , with both oceanic and planetary elements joining together to create a dialogue about Laguna ’ s landscape . The orb was illuminated throughout the night in early November using residual energy from the sunlight . Cichocki is renowned for “ exploring the cyclical patterns of decay and rejuvenation within the intricate tapestry of human-nature interactions . His trajectory of work spans the realms of painting , land art , sound art and natural science – encompassing eras from ancient oceans to present-day deserts .” ( lagunaartmuseum . org / art-nature )
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COURTESY OF @ STELLAJEANSICECREAM
Gluten-free , vegan-friendly ice cream is hard to come by , especially in flavors like Mango Sticky Rice and Pumpkin Spice Latte on plant-based , gluten-friendly waffle cones . But Stella Jean ’ s Ice Cream , a small batch ice cream parlor on 17th st in Costa Mesa , offers creamy concoctions that change with the seasons , all made with locally sourced , real ingredients . There are “ always flavors ” like Ube + Pandesal Toffee and Double Chocolate ( gf ) plus “ for now flavors ” like Salted Maple Banana Pudding and Hojicha + Salted Cream ( gf ). And then the on-again , off-again menu item , S ’ mores , a smokey torched marshmallow and coconut ash ice cream with dark chocolate covered graham crackers and mini marshmallow accents that was part of the opening menu in 2018 . Stella Jean ’ s has five other scoop shops in SoCal , all based on the idea of creating “ a community space that offers chef-made , innovative handcrafted ice cream and neighborhood interaction .” Grab a pie from sister company , Pop Pie Co ., and have a sweet , sweet day . Pick up and delivery available . ( stellajeans . com )
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