Cream Pan

Cream Pan bakery on El Camino Real is a real gem. I passed it a few times on my way to work and failed to think much of it until one day I needed a coffee. A STRONG coffee. What I needed was a red-eye, so I stopped into Cream Pan since it's on my way to work. I was pleased to find so many pastry treats, sandwiches, and fresh breads available in addition to coffee and espresso drinks. There is a cute little seating area inside to kill time if you've got it. I dig the curry buns and yaki-soba sandwiches. Nice spot. So glad I stopped in.

Cream Pan

602 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780

~$5-7 for coffee and a pastry or sandwich

Less than 1 mile away

Zumba at Enerji Fitness

Although I really dig my yoga classes at Sanctuary Yoga, I have been in need of something more. A workout that gets my heart beating. I have become soft (literally and figuratively) with my routine of yoga and walking. Walking and yoga. So I looked up on Yelp if there were any cheap (or free) Zumba classes in my area. For those unfamiliar, Zumba is a latin dance workout that incorporates a lot of booty shaking, fancy foodwork, clapping, arm waving, and other fun combos of waving/shaking/stomping/wiggling/jiggling. I used to take Zumba classes at the Hollywood YMCA with my pal Teresa and holy moly, was that a work out. By no means am I a graceful Zumba "dancer", but I like to think that what I lack in grace, I make up in exuberance.

My search lead me to Enerji Fitness at the corner of Irvine and Newport. Tucked in between a greek restaurant and a bridal shop, Enerji Fitness is a studio with kickboxing, yoga, barre, and zumba classes.

It was everything I hoped for! Heart pumping, legs stomping, booty wiggling...everything I missed about my workout at the old Y. Highly recommend checking this place out. The first class is free!

Enerji Fitness

13011 Newport Avenue
Suite 109
Tustin, CA

Free (first class only)

Approximately 1 mile away

Woodbridge Community Park

It's been unseasonably cold in So Cal for a few weeks, which is not saying much in comparison to the rest of the world. Help, it's 55 degrees!! Get the parkas and gloves!! HOW WILL WE SURVIVE!?!

Braving the "cold" I took a stroll around North Lake in Irvine last week after a particularly long day in the office. The sky was bright and blue and North Lake was very bucolic. Except for all the bird shit. Seriously, it was like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock movie. Birds. Everywhere.

North Lake is part of Irvine's Woodbridge Community, aka the epitome of suburban planned communities. It took me about an hour to do a leisurely walk around the man-made lake. Unless you're a resident, you don't get access to the little sandy beaches, or the tennis courts, or the playgrounds, or the kayaks, or the...well, you get the idea. It is Irvine after all.

Here are some photos!

A little beach you are not invited to sit on.

A tree lined street I suppose it's ok for you to walk down (if you must)

The walking path you best not dilly-dally on

North Lake, which you are allowed to look at, but not swim in

Birds that you best not bother

Ma'am, by taking my picture, YOU are dilly-dallying.

Another beach you are not invited to sit on. And my thumb. 

I suppose you can have one more look at the lake

More birds who are wondering when you'll be on your way

All joking aside, I should mention that one result of my Tustin Adventuring is that I am finally coming to peace with the idea that suburban communities, while not my bag, *are* the bag for some people. I should not judge people who want to live in a place like Woodbridge just because planned communities to not suit my tastes. Not everyone wants to live in LA. Not everyone wants to live in Woodbridge. That doesn't necessarily make one better than the other, just that  both options are suited to different types of people. I can respect that as it takes all kinds to make the world. If everyone is happy and comfortable in the end, it doesn't matter where you call home.

Woodbridge Community Park

20 Lake Road
Irvine, CA 92604

Free

~ 8 miles away

Naan & Kabob

Chalk this one up to a Yelp recommendation. Thanks, Yelp!

This place is right by my work, but I likely would never have gone inside if not for a yelp search of lunch specials in my area. I ordered the falafel lunch special and was delighted with my take-out meal. Falafel, hummus, rice, and naan bread for ~$9. Quick service too. Bonus that it is literally next door to Godfather's Lounge, which I have yet to round up my courage and visit. It's on the list for future adventures!

Naan & Kabob

416 E 1st St
Tustin, CA 92780

Less than 1 mile away

~$9 and change for falafel lunch special 

Columbus Tustin Park

CT Park is pretty much my go-to after work jogging spot. A few times a week I enjoy an evening walk or jog on the well maintained track. The park itself has a dirt track, tennis courts, basket ball courts, several baseball fields, and plenty of space for soccer practice. There are also indoor facilities (basketball court, restrooms) and a big playground for the little ones. Typically during the weeknights there are loads of people here, which is nice for the sake of safety. 

I admit that I never thought much about CT park growing up in Tustin, but I'm glad I can enjoy the amenities this charming community park has to offer.

Columbus Tustin Park

14712 Prospect Ave
Tustin, CA 92780

Less than 1 mile away

Free  

The Swinging Door

Ladies, ladies, ladies!

Every year my work hosts a holiday lunch at Quinns Old Town Grill. We pre-game with drinks at The Swinging Door. The Swinging Door is a dive bar with very scantily clad bartendresses. Not going to lie, every time I've visited, I'm reminded that I am heinously out of place.

I do recommend that you try the cheeseburger. Seriously. It's delicious.

The Swinging Door

355 El Camino Real
Tustin, California 92780

Free! (drinks  on El Jefe)

Less than 1 mile away

Newport Boat Parade

This was so fun! I had never even heard of the Newport Boat Parade, but lo and behold. In searching for my next adventure I came upon their website and decided I would catch the parade. I put on my cozy layers to stay warm and packed up my bicycle, figuring the best way to see the parade was to ride around the parade "route". This proved to be way awesome for several reasons: (1) I wasn't locked into viewing the boats from one vantage point (2) I parked hella far away and rode in, avoiding the stressful hunt for parking and (3) I got to cruise around the adorably decorated neighborhoods and take in all the pretty Christmas lights!

The parade was too cute. Some of my photos aren't that great (darkness + moving masses of light = photo difficulty). Although I dig what's going on with the lights reflecting off the water. The people watching was stellar too. After I had my fill of brightly lit yachts, I enjoyed a beer at The Village Inn on Balboa and finished my night with a ride in the exhilarating chill of So. Cal December back to my car. This whole experience was super fun. Yay! I love a parade!!

Newport Boat Parade

Starting at Newport Yacht Club
720 West Bay Avenue
Newport Beach, CA 92661 

Approximately 13 miles away

Free parking, but $6 for a beer at The Village Inn

SANTA!!

Cruising around the harbor