Truly, an amazing top-tier experience from the amazing location, gorgeous views of Laguna Beach,…read morewell trained, professional and friendly staff. It's an absolute must to visit.

I've always expected a certain level of professionalism and hospitality from a property like…read moreMontage, which is why my experience at the Lobby Lounge was especially disappointing. The manager, Mark Austria, was extremely rude and unprofessional. His attitude and manner of dealing with guests were completely inconsistent with the level of service you would expect from a luxury property. Rather than making the experience welcoming, his behavior made the interaction uncomfortable and unnecessarily unpleasant. Management should understand that the way guests are treated matters just as much as the food, drinks, and beautiful surroundings. Unfortunately, this experience fell far short of the standards I would expect from Montage. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and addresses the professionalism and customer-service issues with the Lobby Lounge team.

First time visiting this venue and my initial impression was... WOW!…read moreLocated on the grounds of Soka University in Aliso Viejo, the campus is gorgeous. I drove about 1 hour to attend a concert by world renowned jazz artist, David Benoit. The music hall was ideal for an intimate experience. The 1,000 seat theater is acoustically perfect so there isn't a bad seat in the house. My seats were comfortable and roomy and afforded me a bird's eye view of the artist, and the symphony orchestra that accompanied him. The restrooms were easily accessible, as were the concessions stands. Parking was free and simple. I got in and out as if I were parking in my own private garage. Ample handicap spots were available, thankfully. Shuttle service from the parking lot to the entry gate was abundant and a thoughtful convenience for less mobile patrons. The staff was helpful when needed. Ok, now if you're interested... a music review. David Benoit & Cecilia Tsan: Resonance & Renewal - World Premiere ... was amazing! I laughed! I cried! I whistled & applauded through countless standing ovations! I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and I was not alone. Interestingly, I also learned about a life saving program available right here in Southern California that coincidentally, helped save the life of Mr. Benoit, himself. As he shared during the concert, Benoit suffered from kidney failure and desperately needed a transplant. Unfortunately, his wife Kei was not a match. However, a ground breaking program at UCLA allowed participants to donate healthy organs to those in need. It's kind of like a "trade-in" program for vital organs. So, in turn, if someone else donates an organ that matches your needs.. viola! We have a match made in heaven, on earth!! So, Kei donated her kidney to save a life, and someone else eventually donated a kidney match that saved her husband David's life! Team work makes the dream work!! If you, or someone you know, needs an organ transplant, check out the program at UCLA! Ok, now back to the music, I promise!! The first half of the show was Benoit and a 40-piece symphony orchestra performing his Resonance and Renewal original composition, which was inspired by his life journey. From the hectic days of his early musical career, to the challenges of his health struggles, to the gift of new life following his kidney transplant. Knowing just a few of the personal details he shared with his audience allowed everyone to enjoy Resonance and Renewal all the more. Of course, the most memorable highlights of the evening followed in the second half of the program where he sat alone at his grand piano, accompanied by just his drummer and bass player, as he riffed through several jazz classics! Standing ovations followed. But there's more. When you have a symphony orchestra at your disposal, you use it to the max. Especially when the orchestra is made up from your own former students!! So, when the orchestra re-joined Benoit on stage, magic ensued. He opened with a tribute to his wife with a piece entitled, Kei. It took but a handful of musical notes, ushered in by several amazing violinists, to bring tears from my eyes and down over my cheeks! It touched my soul so deeply I could not contain my emotions. It was the best cry I've had in years. Thank you, David Benoit. And thank you, Kei Benoit, as well.

We attended a terrific charity concert at the Soka Performing Arts Center. Cancer Teamwork…read moreResponse hosted an event headlined by Mike Garson (former piano player for David Bowie). Joe Sumner (Sting's son) and Veronica Swift were both featured signers. They performed a number of David Bowie songs, and they all sounded great. The event raised money for the charity and the audience truly enjoyed the evening. The staff at the Center were all friendly. I would not hesitate going to another event at the Center.

I had such a good time last year, I had to return. As soon as I got off the train I headed to the…read morelifeguard pancake breakfast. Its a great deal and its good to support the lifeguards. I watched the surfing contests for a bit and checked out some of the activities on the beach. For a snack I had a BBQ corn. This is a fun event, and I'm looking forward for next year.

Came for the Sunday event. Really liked that you can park at the San Clemente High School and they…read morehave free buses to transport you to the beach. The event isn't big, but they have activities throughout the day to keep you entertained. They have police patrolling the area to keep everyone safe. It got pretty crowded in the afternoon. Liked the surf and sand castle competition. It was nice to walk on the pier and look at all the vintage cars.

It's no Jonathan Club (Santa Monica) but for a private beach front one-story structure with ample…read morepatio seating, tennis courts, basketball courts, large BBQ grills, kitchen, restrooms, shuffle board, foosball, two swings and a little playground structure, plus reserved parking, the Shorecliffs Beach Club does the job for its homeowner members in the area. *There is no parking anywhere nearby due to the high traffic. This place is located where Coast Hwy turns into El Camino Real. I was lucky to have been a guest here twice, once for a private party (rental for a fee) and most recently for 4th of July. It was packed but it seemed like everyone was staying out of everyone else's way. Members had to wear special wristbands and guests had different wristbands. Although the facilities for a beach club are sufficient, there are some insufficiencies to note. I couldn't tell if any staff was actually enforcing / ensuring that the general public wasn't wandering in (there was nothing stopping anyone from just coming in from the beach side and the main gate that supposedly required an electronic fob was wide open), but for sure no one was regularly checking the restrooms because the toilet paper for all 3 stalls were out of toilet paper. Not the beach club's fault but the sand at this beach is now very rocky. I was also told that 4th of July used to be a huge event but this year it was mostly a host-your-own type of deal with some scheduled events Lastly, to get to the property, you have to go under a bridge next to this disgusting body of water that may be runoff from waste treatment that sometimes flood over. There is no on-site parking - it's a nondescript lot next to the gas station across Coast Hwy/El Camino Real, but it is reserved - simply have your sticker displayed in your car. Basically, posh this place is not, but it works if you are a member and need beach club facilities or need a place to host a private event.

Over the past few years, Shorecliffs Beach Club has evolved into a beautiful resort-style getaway!…read more The clubhouse area has been remodeled with new flooring and furniture. The playground, beach recreation areas, paddle tennis courts and picnic tables are stellar. The grounds have even been landscaped with exotic plants and a swag hemp fence. The clubhouse and bathrooms are clean, sanitized and always stocked. The private parking lot has ample room with more than 100 parking spots for Shorecliffs Beach Club members and their guests. Parking stickers or paper guest parking passes must be displayed on the inside front window of each vehicle. The staff members over the past few years have been incredible as well. They are hardworking, helpful and enforce the rules set by the board of directors. Membership wristbands are checked and members must sign in any guests. The staff never allows non-residents onto the premises unless they are accompanied by a Shorecliffs member. You must check out the updated website to see just how amazing the club has become. Be sure to click on the photos tab to see the events and upgrades.

Way more crowded than I was expecting, but the energy was infectious! Seating was limited, so be…read moreprepared to share a picnic table with others; find a an open spot at the bleachers (and camp out there); or do what we did and plop down on top of semi-dead grass! Some people didn't buy tickets and instead, camped out on the beach (behind the fenced boundary) where you can hear the music, but won't be able to see the stage. VIP definitely had the perks - its own bleachers, separate entrance (closer to the parking areas, so you walk less), and air-conditioned bathrooms. The stage had big screens which made it easy to see the bands perform from almost any viewpoint (except the back where the food vendors were located). By the way, there are plenty of food and drink options! Free hydration stations were available too (bring your own non-glass bottle to fill up). We arrived around 6 PM and lucked out with parking at the structure near Dana Point Harbor (the Ohana Fest website offered prepaid parking here, but indicated it was sold out). And... we didn't actually park in the structure, but on the outer side of it, which ended up being perfect since we avoided the long exit lines within the parking structure after the event ended. Parking was $60. Other options include parking further away and taking the free trolley, or taking an Uber and being dropped off at the venue entrance. Green Day headlined day 3 of the festival and absolutely crushed it. It was amazing to see one of my favorite childhood bands perform live! THE VERDICT. A bit chaotic but totally worth it for the experience, the music, and the memories. If we ever decide to come back, VIP is the route we're going. Our old asses need a seat closer to the stage and semi-decent restrooms.

Went on Friday with VIP tix. Entirely too crowded and very disappointed with VIP accommodations…read more You cannot see Tiki stage and only poor side view of Ohana stage from VIP section. Perhaps, the worst VIP viewing of any musical festival I have attended.

I'm sure a lot of people attend this event every year and enjoy it however I'm officially one and…read moredone. I love the concept but did not enjoy the delivery. One curator delivering the dialogue while the audience enjoys the visual, attempting to "catch" one of the actors moving !! I enjoy the theatre but this one ... eh ... it was ok.

A lot of impressive and pricey artwork. We appreciated the amount of original artwork around and…read morewere particularly tickled by a couple of creative artists. Admission is free if you have tickets to the Pageant of the Masters. We came at 7pm prior to our 830pm show and this was plenty of time to see all the art. There was an area to create your own art print that we missed but looked fun to do as well.

If you feel like spending a Saturday afternoon browsing through all kinds of decorations, clothes,…read moregadgets and everything in between at a relaxing pace, while eating some great food in a serene environment - then you're in luck! At least one day a year you are - the SOKA Festival happens on the first Saturday of May and it's a great chance to sit by the Peace Lake and enjoy some great hand-made Momos or some other great food you prefer, and it's for a good cause, they are offered for a non-profit donation. A lot of free stuff, raffles and prizes and it's great for kids also, they have a large play area with attractions for them. There is a main stage where different performances happen, from dances and kids singing to Michael Jackson impersonators (which brings everyone closer to see if they will do the lean on Smooth Criminal, I'm not going to spoil it for you). And there are 2 other stages with different performances that you can just stroll by or grab a seat and enjoy some boba milk tea from the vendor next door. Be patient while parking, it takes a while, they charge $10/car cash (so try to carpool) but the entrance to the Festival is free.

My first time at Soka University's International Festival was cool. The parking fee is $10 on the…read morecampus but if you park on the street, where it is allowed, it is free. The event is free but be prepared to pay cash for the food and handmade items. There are demonstrations like cultural dancing on stage with some audience participation. If you get here towards the end, then the food might be out or heavily discounted. I heard from a friend that there weren't as many food booths this year as in the past. The campus is gorgeous. Take a walk around to find lily pad ponds, an art gallery, and an orange tree garden surrounding a very impressive statue of Gandhi.

The street fiesta is always fun. There's good music, games, vendors. The street is closed to…read morevehicle traffic. I always take Metrolink when I come.

San Clemente's Fiesta Music Festival is a great festival with live music and a number of vendor…read morebooths offering food and various products and crafts and games for the kids. It's great to make a day of it with lunch and a walk along the beach walk down by the pier. Local musicians provide a lively atmosphere with live music on three stages offering different music genres so you will be sure to find the music you love.