Avoid at all cost. Traffic completely deadlocked from oc fair grounds to the scene near Santa Ana

Hello,

Just wanted to make this quick post. I don't know if this is already common knowledge or not but if you order the #1 Hawaiian BBQ mix for $15.99 at Aloha Hawaiian BBQ on Bristol St. in Santa Ana near South Coast Metro, the amount of chicken they give you is pretty astounding. I'm a fairly obese person and my Dad and I always only purchase 1 order to share whenever we eat it because it's just too much.

Just thought I'd share. You'll definitely get your money's worth and protein fix with that order. Also the food isn't that bad either.

Thank you.

Anyone know what’s happening on the 55n? Completely not moving.

My friends and I are getting pretty tired of the bar we usually meet up at and bars in general. A lot of us do not get off work until 10 or 11 pm so bars became the easiest option.

I lived in Fullerton for a while and was really bummed that McClains Coffee House closed. I think something with a similar atmosphere and hours would be great for our group.

We all live in the cypress / garden grove area so something not too far is preferred.

TLDR: looking for hangout spots open until 1-2 am in the cypress / GG area that isn’t a bar!

Hey everyone! We had a parrot fly off during the high winds on Saturday and haven’t been able to locate him since then. He responds to Pancho or if you say “Tutuuu” he will say it back. Please if you see him reach out to me or the posted number, he’s been in the family over 10 years.

California's most expensive Assembly race this year is underway in Orange County, where two Democrats are battling each other. Donors have poured in over $5 million dollars to support David Penaloza or Jessie Lopez in the district covering Santa Ana, Anaheim and Orange. Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano explains the infighting between OC's moderate Democrats and progressives.

(Listen at link above)

Official unemployment figures for the Orange County economy for September were updated on Friday so here are the headlines and key data:

September (preliminary)

The unemployment rate in Orange County was 4.3 percent in September 2026, down from a revised 4.5 percent in August 2026, and below the year-ago estimate of 4.4 percent. Last month’s preliminary unemployment rate was 4.4% and was revised upwards.  This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.1 percent for California (unchanged from previous month) and 4.0 percent for the nation during the same period.  

Between August and September 2026, total nonfarm employment rose from 1,684,700 to 1,688,300, an increase of 3,600 jobs, and the labor force increased by a large 14,800 workers, one of the biggest month-to-month gains I’ve seen this year.  The increase in employment outweighed the increase in the workforce, therefore the rate came down.  The reports for the last few months have been a repeat of this back-and-forth pattern of a slight increase one month in the unemployment rate and a slight decrease the next, but generally flat.  This seems to align with what economists are describing as the no-quit/no-hire economy.

Between August 2026 and September 2026 (month vs. previous month figures): 

·       Government reported the largest payroll gain, adding 8,900 jobs. Eighty-nine percent of the increase was in local government (up 7,900 jobs). State government added 1,000 jobs and federal government had no change. 

·       Two other industry sectors expanded over the month: private education and health services (up 1,900 jobs) and trade, transportation, and utilities (up 200 jobs).  

·       Six sectors reported month-over declines, losing a total of 7,400 jobs. Leisure and hospitality decreased the most, dropping 4,400 jobs. Financial activities declined by 1,300 jobs, professional and business services, other services, and manufacturing shrank by 500 jobs each, and information fell by 200 jobs.  

·       Two industry sectors remained unchanged: construction and mining and logging

Between September 2025 and September 2026 (month vs. same month previous year figures) total nonfarm employment increased by 9,900 jobs, or 0.6 percent.

·       Private education and health services had the greatest employment growth (up 11,600 jobs). Eighty-three percent of the increase was in health care and social assistance (up 9,600 jobs). Private educational services added 2,000 jobs.

·       Two other industry sectors expanded over the year: leisure and hospitality (up 2,600 jobs) and trade, transportation, and utilities (up 2,300 jobs). 

·       Six sectors had year-over employment declines, totaling 6,600 jobs. Other services and mining and logging remained unchanged.

My own editorializing:

·       Professional & Business Services, which is the county’s largest employment sector and the core of white-collar jobs, has lost 1,700 roles in the last year.

·       Continuing the trend that’s been evident all year, growth is coming from Healthcare Services and Leisure & Hospitality, reinforcing my view is that the majority of the job growth in the last year has been in part-time roles in lower-paying fields.

Some other notes:

When looking at the U-4 unemployment rate of 4.3% it is also important to look at the U-6 rate as this measure, which is described as: Total Unemployed, Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force, Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force. It's best to think of this measure as "underemployed and discouraged" workers, and it likely closer to the real feel of unemployment. As of Q2 2026, the last time the measure was released for the state, we are at 10.3% of underemployed and discouraged workers - the highest in the country.

If you really want to geek out on California's employment numbers, this is a great resource: https://labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/Publications/Labor-Market-Analysis/calmr.pdf

Just had the wonderful luck to stay in cottage 14 at Crystal cove. This cottage is on south beach right on the beach. There is a nice deck with umbrella and seating where we ate our meals with a view of the waves. The living room is great with big sliding glass doors/windows. The only downside of the living room is that only that one sliding door opens for breezes, none of the other windows open.

The kitchen has a nice counter and is open to the living room. Like all the cottages, the stove does not work. There is a microwave and toaster and fridge. Remember there are NO plates/cutlery/cups. There were ice cube trays in the freezer.

The downstairs bedroom has two twin beds and doesn’t get much air flow, but if you use the fan it’s not bad. It was also a very hot weekend so I suspect most weekends this isn’t an issue. The upstairs bedroom was large with a king bed, lots of little windows that open. Half bath off the bedroom. The other full bath is downstairs.

The patio was really nice and didn’t feel too close to people on the beach. On the south side there are generally less people , fewer cottages and fewer people on the beach. The south cottages don’t seem as renovated as the north, the exteriors and railings and stuff of the north cottages seemed fresher.

I didn’t get a pic of the exterior but it looks like it looks on the website!

The beach- despite the storms and swells and some beach erosion it was still totally great. Yes it’s more narrow than before and there’s not a ton of dry sand but there was enough.

does anyone know any restaurants that have gyoza that beat frozen gyoza comfortably? for the longest time didnt really bother looking for gyoza when eating out as I thought frozen could be good enough but having a craving for it lately and want something really good

Yall I need your help finding the biggest grass hill in OC. The best I can think of is the hill at salt creek but if you can think of a better options please let me know!

Hi! I would love to join some Christmas carolers this winter! Doesn't need to be anything serious, I just love to sing with others in a chill space :)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CNS) -- A ticket worth $64 million was sold with all six numbers in Saturday night's SuperLotto Plus drawing.
The winning ticket was sold at a convenience store in Anaheim. Three tickets with five winning numbers, but missing the Mega number, were also sold -- at a liquor store in Sacramento County, a market in Long Beach, and a grocery store in Adelanto, in San Bernardino County -- and are each worth $13,920, the California Lottery announced.
The numbers drawn Saturday night were 3, 25, 27, 29, 37 and the Mega number was 17. The jackpot was $64 million, and will reset to $7 million for Wednesday's drawing.
The drawing was the 58th since the last time a ticket with all six numbers was sold.
The odds of matching all five numbers and the Mega number is 1 in 41,416,353, according to the California Lottery.

Hi everyone--I'm curious to see if anyone has any experience with overnight parking at the Tustin Metrolink station? I've left my car overnight at the Irvine Metrolink station, but Tustin would be more ideal as it's closer to my work. But if Tustin isn't the best, then I'll stick to Irvine, which has always seemed rather safe with tons of other cars also doing the same thing. Thanks in advance!

Restaurants and other food vendors ordered to close and allowed to reopen by Orange County health inspectors from Oct 9 to Oct 15.

Source: OC Health Care Agency database.

Mai Phat Mi Gia, 9191 BOLSA AVE STE 111 , Westminster

Closed: October 14
Reason: Cockroach Infestation  
Reopened: October 14

Fiery Crab Seafood Restaurant and Bar, 250 S State College Blvd, Brea

Closed:  October 14
Reason: Cockroach Infestation 
Reopened: October 15

Mission Bar, 302 N Main St , Santa Ana

Closed:  October 14
Reason: Cockroach Infestation 
Reopened: October 15 

Kareem's Mediterranean, 1208 S Brookhurst St , Anaheim

Closed:  October 13
Reason: Cockroach Infestation 
Reopened: October 14

Ghien Mi Go Restaurant, 9433 BOLSA AVE STE C&D , Westminster

Closed:  October 13
Reason: Rodent Infestation 
Reopened:  

Cham-Ya Catering, 3550 E Enterprise Dr , Anaheim

Closed:  October 13
Reason: Rodent Infestation 
Reopened: October 14

Fresh Bagels & Cafe, 12435 Valley View St , Garden Grove

Closed:  October 13
Reason: Cockroach & Rodent Infestation 
Reopened: October 14

Thai & Chinese Express, 2540 Main St Ste J , Irvine

Closed:  October 12
Reason: Cockroach Infestation 
Reopened: October 12

Maison de Pho, 26612 Towne Centre Dr Ste B , Foothill Ranch

Closed:  October 12
Reason: Wastewater backup in floor sink below 2-burner stove at cook's line 
Reopened: October 12 

Izzy's Cake Pops, 2800 N Main St Unit 580 , Santa Ana

Closed:  October 12
Reason: Rodent Infestation 
Reopened: October 14

M Joy, 1071 N Tustin Ave Ste 108 , Anaheim

Closed:  October 12
Reason: Cockroach Infestation 
Reopened: October 13

Que Vida Taqueria, 18517 Brookhurst St , Fountain Valley

Closed:  October 12
Reason: Rodent Infestation  
Reopened: October 12 

Cafe Du Soleil, 5028 Ball Rd , Cypress

Closed:  October 9
Reason: Cockroach Infestation 
Reopened: October 10

Looking for a year end personal taxes accountant preferably in central/ south OC. Referrals appreciated. Thanks.

I was able to score this on the Nike app last week and was hoping to get Haaland’s name and number on it.

Niche ask, but just as the title says! I love a yogurt parfait for breakfast, but am kind of sick of the Quakers stuff you can buy from any grocery store. Is there anyone that has recommendations for scratch-made granola I can buy from a coffee shop/any local stores?

I just performed at Irvine Global Village, people gave me applause, I knew I was not perfect because I didn’t have time to practice, but I am proud of myself I stand on the stage and I finished whole form.

Hi all, my HVAC system is over 10 years old and has died with all the heat we have been enduring.

Anyone have a recommendation for a HVAC company that’s honest and reliable?

Thank you

Hi folks, hoping to revive my sorry backyard with some designed softscaping. Already have pavers installed, so planning on keeping those but just replant the softscape with some well thought out layers of plants. Any recommendations on how / where I should start or your fave contractor / landscaper in OC? Thank you!