Things to Do in Orange County This Weekend
Wednesday, 14 January 2009 00:00
Another Night Out, Another Weekend... We Think its time to Mix It Up
It's Friday afternoon at 5:00pm, you've spent all day watching the clock tick ever so slowly until finally, the end of the work week has arrived. What's on tap for the weekend? Plans of productivity and selflessness? A sports watching and club hopping weekend? Or perhaps a mellow movie and dinner night? You have done the same thing every Friday and Saturday night for the past 6 months... don't you think it's time to mix it up? We broke down some typical weekend routines with the hope that it will give you guys some ideas or the push you need to break away from the same old plans and try something new for a change. Like we say, we’re here to help you ‘mix up your standard’.
- The Club/Bar Hop
Okay, the most popular routine when the weekend hits is the "Bar Hop". As soon as you step out your office door you hit up the local bar/restaurant with the best happy hour right next to your place of work. After a few half-off appetizers and martini specials with some friends you head home to shower, change, and hit the bars on Main Street Huntington Beach or the Newport Peninsula.You have almost exhausted all of your energydancing and writing down your phone number when your stomach reminds you that food is essential attwo in the morning.You desperately search for the nearest 24 hour food stop to refuel and then grab a taxi back toyour house.If this sounds like your type of weekend then you're in luck. We’ve compiled all the venues for you so you can find a few new spots to check out. Start by visiting the Happy Hour page with all the best specials in OC. A few of our personal and peer favorites right now are RA in Tustin or Huntington Beach ($5 sake bombs can never be wrong on Fridays) or Dave and Buster’s in Irvine where they’re bringing ½ price cocktails and 60 minutes of game play for $10 from 4:30-7pm!!
Then, figure out the next milestone of the evening. We’ve got you covered with the best events under our Special Events and Weekly Events sections. $5 concerts, DJ’s and Dancing, or a special club night? It’s all there… just keep checking back for new events and updates.
Finally, check out the "Best Drunken Food in Orange County"to find out where you can recharge your battery (at 2:00AM of course) so you're notspending your Saturday in misery with the worst hangover imaginable. - The Dinner and a Movie Night
Maybe you overdid it the weekend before or feel like dodging the bar lines this weekend. Making a nice dinner for yourself or a group of people and then heading to the movies sounds like a more appealing night. Start off the night calling up a few friends and picking a great menu for the night. We’re always into the recipes at “Cooking Light” an online recipe source that focuses on healthy cuisine that doesn’t taste like cardboard and is quick to fix. Here are a few to get you started:
Maple Grilled Salmon
Best Grilled Ribs
Not up for cooking? Check out our Articles section for some of our favorite pit stops for food like Narano Sushi and Mama D’s. Stay tuned, we'll keep bringing you more of our favorites so long as you’re looking! Lastly, we’ve got you covered with the latest flicks. We’re posting a Movie Review section soon so you can get the scoop from your friends here at R2E…not some dodgy critic who seems to think The Adventure of Pluto Nash was the most acclaimed film to date. Let's face it, your body can only take so much punishment from the bars- taking a mellow approach to the weekend with movie and dinner night is sometimes the best recovery to get you ready for another successful week! - The Catch-Up Weekend
The to-do list sitting on your dresser or kitchen counter is not getting any smaller. In fact, the more you add to it, the less likely you are to actually stop and get anything done. Take a weekend to hammer out all those chores and to-do items that you have been putting off for the past two months. Wash your car (but check the weather first), clean your room, do your laundry, and pay your bills. Take breaks by going for a run, bike ride, or hitting the gym for an hour. This type of weekend is guaranteed to leave you mentally satisfied and physically drained!
For more information on recreational parks in your area check out: http://www.localhikes.com/Search.asp
Check out the following link for great deals on kayaking Newport Harbor and Back Bay: http://www.paddlepowerkayaks.com
For more information on Irvine Lake (fishing, camping, boating):
http://www.irvinelake.net - The Give Back Weekend
By nature we're used to giving ourselves a break on the weekend... but what if you gave back to others who are not as fortunate? While most of us are off spending money at the mall, bars, and restaurants, there are others out there who wish they could be in a position to experiencemerely half of those luxuries. Orange County offers plenty of opportunities for you to get involved and give back to your community and the less fortunate. Spend one day out of your weekend going through your closet and setting aside the wardrobe that either doesn't fit anymore or that you haven't worn since Easter 2002. Acknowledge that even though you may not appreciate those clothes anymore there is somebody out there who will. Call up the Goodwill and have them swing by and pick them up. Use your Sunday to take a young boy/girl out to a baseball game or bowling through Big Brother and Big Sisters Orange County. Volunteer one day a week at the local YMCA or American Family Housing. Remember what Albert Einstein said; “it is every person's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what they take out of it”. Does this strike home with a little guilt? Well, it's never too late to start. Stay tuned for R2E's Give Back Section that highlights various opportunities in Orange County to give back to the community and the less fortunate. Until then, check out some opportunities to volunteer at some of our favorite organizations:
For more information on the YMCA of Orange County visit: http://www.ymcaoc.org/about_us/volunteer.php
For more information on American Family Housing visit: http://www.shelterforthehomeless.org/volunteer.htm
For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters Orange County:
http://www.bigbrooc.org/
For more information on Habitat for Humanity in Orange County:
http://www.habitatoc.org/volunteers/
For more information about Dog Rescue and Adoption Organizations in Orange County: http://www.dogsoc.com/directory/rescue.htm - The Ideal Weekend
What if you took all four of the options above and mixed and matched? Friday night hit up a happy hour after work, go home change/get ready, and then head out to a nice dinner at Mama D's and see that new thriller that everyone is raving about. Saturday during the day get all those chores done that you've been putting off for the last three weeks (i.e. carwash, laundry, paint the house). Afterwards, go for a runor workout to clear your head andstick to yourNew Years Resolution.Then, reward your hard work by heading out to a couple bars/clubs on Saturday night (but make sure to follow it up with some late night food). On Sunday,plan to give back a little to the community. Contact Big Brothers and Sisters of Orange County and be a role model for a young boy or girl looking for a mentor. Take them out to a sporting event, bowling alley, laser tag, batting cages. Remember a small positive gesture such as a "fun day" can go a long way in a child's life. We see you during the week working to have it all…so we’re helping you get there with our ideal Weekend lineup on your days off.
The weekend... there you have it. If we prevented just ONE person from saying, "There's nothing going on this weekend" then, our mission is accomplished.
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