John Wayne and daughter, Marisa
Montage Pool
the then private beach. John Wayne’s
widow, Pilar, recalls spending 22 years
there. “I miss it a lot”, she told me
and daughters, Aissa and Marisa, told
me of exploring the many beach coves,
reached by walking over glistening
tide pools and under volcanic arches.
Still beckoning.
Renowned for over 70 years as an
artist’s haven, two of the most extraordinary presentations of art in
the world occur in Laguna Beach.
The Festival of Arts, highlighting
the beauty of plein air art, a French
expression, “in the open air”, or painting outdoors in the fleeting light.
Paintings capturing the very essence
of California. Pageant of the Masters,
where real people magically transform
works of art into life-size re-creations,
accompanied in a starlit amphitheater
by a narrator and full orchestra. The
theme for 2010 is Eat, Drink and
Be Merry.
Walking into town offers dining
from opulent to barefoot. A few suggestions, along with the recommendation of shoes: Tabu Grill, 230 Forest
for the most decadent chocolate croissant bread pudding ever, 5 Feet for
fusion cuisine in a funky atmosphere,
Hush, and Café Zinc for a delicious
breakfast in the European manner.
I love the quirky, one-of-a-kind
boutiques along Forest and Ocean
