Q&A With the CEO of The Escape Bus, Tyler Russell
Laguna Beach’s Tyler Russell, CEO of The Escape Bus, tells about his mobile escape room in a renovated yellow school bus.
A Graffiti Covered Tunnel in Irvine You Probably Don’t Know About
Chances are, you’ve passed over this hidden tunnel many times without realizing it was below.
I’ve Been Looking For…Walt Disney Arcana
Of course, there’s Disneyland. But there’s a little bit of Walt’s California beginnings up the road in Garden Grove. That’s where you’ll find the modest garage he used as his first workspace when he and brother Roy moved from Kansas City in 1923.
Inconspicuous Art: Feathered Currency Roll
By: Artist unknown, late-19th to mid-20th century
Commemorations: Unbuilt Tower
This tongue-in-cheek 1970 marker honors a never-built, Frank Lloyd Wright Jr.-designed tower. Wright Jr., award-winning architect of the Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes and son of the more legendary architect, proposed a stylized 94-foot oil derrick tower at the shopping center and gas station he designed. Locals didn’t like it, however, and developer Stanley Fann put a tombstone on the site proclaiming “its defeat is symbolic of the democratic process.” In the bushes behind the Arco station at Springdale Street and Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach
Architecture: Arden, Helena Modjeska House & Gardens
Designed by Stanford White in 1888 for the renowned Shakespearean actress. One of two National Historic Landmarks in the county, tucked into Modjeska Canyon, natch.
Another Hidden Hike: Mentally Sensitive Trail
Start out on this moderately difficult 4-mile hike walking northwest on a paved ridgeline fire road (Aswut Trail), which has some of the county’s best vistas. Undeveloped Aliso Canyon lies on one side and on the other you’ll have expansive views down into Laguna Beach and the ocean. Then dip into the park via its least-known entrance.
I’ve Been Looking for…Sheet Music
The Cypress Branch Library is home to Orange County Public Libraries’ music collection, and it’s the largest public repository of historical sheet music in the county. It features more than 5,000 books and 4,000 individual scores, encompassing more than 50,000 song titles.
Architecture: Notable Buildings You May Not Know
This 1995 Frank Gehry-designed, Anaheim hockey arena is the Ducks’ practice facility and is used for public skating. The ceiling’s curving woodwork is emblematic of Gehry.
Shopping: OC Style Report
Co-founded by sisters Rachael and Natalie Dickens, this comprehensive fashion and beauty website is a zine tailored for Orange County women. It features weekly layouts of the latest trends, a daily “Look of the Day,” and how-to’s on makeup, hair, and skin care. Its “Ultimate OC Style-List” is a roundup of their picks for best-of-the-best boutiques and beauty professionals to help you define your personal style. ocstylereport.com
