Visitors flock to opening day of the 135th Orange County Fair to find their happy
What just a few weeks before was a sleepy Costa Mesa fairgrounds, on Friday transformed into a wondrous scene of sights and sounds, as the 135th annual Orange County Fair welcomed guests to an exuberant opening day.
A beloved local tradition that for generations has beckoned families from both near and far, this year's fair entices guests to 'Find Your Happy.' And, by the looks of it, legions of faithful fairgoers heeded the call, lining up outside the main Blue Gate hours in advance.
At the head of the line, checking his watch for an 11 a.m. start, was Martin Guzman. The 55-year-old Garden Grove resident flew solo this year, only because his fiancee Jena, who's attended the fair with him for the last three years, needed to take care of her mother.
'Every year, we do this as a family thing whenever we can. It's a special time, and I'm waiting to get in because I want to call her as soon as I'm there,' he said.
Built a bit like a bouncer in a club, Guzman made sure to arrive two hours early so he could get a fresh crack at the festivities — and the food.
'I like to eat, can't you see how big I am?' he quipped. 'I like the turkey legs, or anything I can shove down, especially since the lady's not here.'
Three spots behind him in line was Costa Mesa resident Jordan Stanton, 35. He came to opening day with a group of friends so he could make the most use of his Every Day Passport, which allows entry even on days when the cap of 50,000 guests has been exceeded.
'I used to work here; I worked at the Blue Gate last year, then the previous year I worked at Viv's [employee cafe],' said Stanton, who lives nearby and is able to walk to the fair. 'I just like to walk around and talk to people; mostly everybody knows me here.'
Nearby, Chris and Elyse Alford of Tustin were awash in opening day excitement as they awaited entry with daughters Avery, 15, and 12-year-old Reese.
More than mere spectators, the girls are participating in this year's festivities. Avery was heading for the Hangar, to perform a routine with Tustin dance troupe HBP Dance Extreme, while Reese plans to present two cows she raised, Tucker and Oakley, in the livestock auction later this week.
In no time at all, the gates opened to the sound of cheers from the crowd. Inside, waiting to welcome guests was James Canfield, hired last month to helm the Orange County Fair & Event Center, the organizing body of the fair. His first day on the job was July 1.
'Since I arrived, I've seen this go from a parking lot to a fair — it's just incredible,' said Canfield, who got to the fairgrounds at 4 a.m. for opening day TV press coverage with demonstrations galore.
'I love doing events, kind of riding the wave of an event from the opening throughout and all the minute adjustments you make through the course of it and the challenges and opportunities you face over time and the learning curve. So, I'm very excited.'
Equally excited was 5th District Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, who lives nearby and who treated her contingent of hard-working staffers and interns to lunch and a day at the fair. A group of about 15, they were heading to a noon flag ceremony at the Hangar with city and county officials.
'This is the annual opening of the fair day. Everybody works in the morning, then we come here and do the flag raising and have lunch at Baja Blue,' said Foley, herself an Every Day Passport holder. 'Tonight, our whole neighborhood is taking our golf carts over here.'
In nearby Centennial Farm the Murphy family, of Ladera Ranch, huddled around the agricultural exhibits, enthusing over teeny pumpkins with twig vines curly-queuing upward and fluffy rabbits in hutches.
Kevin and Alyssa Murphy came with their three daughters — 8-year-old Harper, Brynn, 5, and 3-year-old Reese — and Alyssa's mom, Cindy Woodroof, of San Clemente. Kevin said each year, the family's first order of business is to crowd into a photo booth for an annual family fair photo.
While Harper and Reese figured out which rides they wanted to go on, Woodroof, 71, recalled coming to the fair as a young woman with her parents, then her own husband and children.
'We'd be here with the kids and eat corn — my husband, he would love to come here for the corn,' she said, a tear forming in her eye. 'For me, it's about family. I grew up in Costa Mesa, the kids have all grown up here.'
'There's a nostalgia for the fair,' Alyssa said.
'And keeping the tradition,' her mom added.
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Geek Girl Authority
2 days ago
- Geek Girl Authority
Two Takes Trek: Don't Use the Z-Word
Welcome to Two Takes Trek, a weekly discussion on the newest Star Trek episodes. This week, we take a look at Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 3, 'Shuttle to Kenfori,' in which, according to Paramount+, 'In order to cure Batel, Pike and M'Benga travel to Klingon space, where M'Benga's past resurfaces on a dangerous planet.' Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, 'Shuttle to Kenfori' Hi, I'm Avery, and I hope to be in Bozeman, Montana, on April 5, 2063. And I'm Diana, and I believe in #JusticeForZora. RELATED: Read our Star Trek: Strange New Worlds recaps Disclaimer: The following discussion contains spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 3, 'Shuttle to Kenfori.' If you haven't watched it yet, you may want to stop reading here. Photo Credit: Marni Grossman/Paramount+ Big Hits Diana Keng: I love parallel plotlines almost as much as I love a good bookend. The Pike/M'Benga dynamic, playing out alongside the Una/Ortegas one, is an elegant narrative construct, and my Big Hit of the episode. We already knew that Pike (Anson Mount) and M'Benga's (Babs Olusanmokun) friendship goes back a long time. Here, it's reestablished and embellished by their reminiscing at the beginning of the mission. (Three ex-wives and an annulled marriage, M'Benga? Really?) Ultimately, their friendship holds despite hard truths coming to light during their time on Kenfori. The last thing Pike says to M'Benga sums it up: 'You're not a monster, Joseph, just a man. And my friend.' RELATED: 4 Star Trek Romances Conversely, Una (Rebecca Romijn) must respond to Ortegas's (Melissa Navia) very public insubordination and actions, which endangered the ship and its crew. Professionally, both women recognize that mistakes were made. In contrast to Pike and M'Benga, in their final exchange, Una asserts that this can't ever happen again, with Ortegas acknowledging and apologizing. Side by side, these plotlines are a masterclass in Starfleet crew dynamics. Avery Kaplan: I thought this episode had some very good continuity. I like seeing the trauma Ortegas experienced at the hands (claws?) of the Gorn continue to be explored. It was neat to see the little cameo from the R'Ongovian in 'Wedding Bell Blues' pay off. And I'm curious to see where this whole Batel-Gorn thing leads. I do still think it's a little odd that, after the Gorn had such a profound effect on the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, they are essentially not recognized a few years later in Star Trek: The Original Series' 'Arena.' Also, do they start wearing pretty dresses later on? Or wait … is Pretty Dress Gorn a descendant of Gorn-Chimera-Flower-Hybrid Batel (Melanie Scrofano)? Big Whiffs DK: To give in to my superficial side for a moment, what the heck is going on with Una's hair in this episode? Photo Credit: Marni Grossman/Paramount+ But seriously, my Big Whiff here is the eternal irrationality of the Klingon code of honor – no reference to the TNG episode implied – and its utter disregard for timing and context. If I have it straight, Bytha (Christine Horn) must restore family honor by killing her father, Rah (Robert Wisdom). He brought dishonor by defecting to the Federation. But M'Benga beat her to it. Now, she must kill M'Benga to avenge her father – the same one she was going to kill – and regain honorable standing. And the best time to do this is while a horde of ravenous plant-hybrid former humans and Klingons surrounds them? Talk about taking me out of the moment. And when their fight damaged the field generator? #FacePalm RELATED: When Franchises Collide: Star Trek and the Marvel Cinematic Universe AK: As a huge fan of George A. Romero's six Dead movies, I had high hopes for this episode. In Romero's zombie movies, the undead aren't just a horror movie threat; they're a vehicle for exploring social issues (often in an extremely unsubtle manner (complimentary)). Given the strong social commentary in Strange New Worlds Season 1 and Season 2, I had hoped that the tradition of undead thematic exploration would have been included in 'Shuttle to Kenfori.' But while the episode does pick up on M'Benga's plotline from Season 2's 'Under the Cloak of War,' I cannot for the life of me suss out any social commentary in connection with the zombies, which are — unfortunately — essentially reduced to 'just a horror movie threat.' In my opinion, it's definitely the Big Whiff of the episode. Photo Credit: Marni Grossman/Paramount+ Episode VIP DK: Sometimes, it's just one scene that steals the show for a character. Here, my VIP vote goes to Marie Batel for her honesty in the episode's closing moments with Pike. When she tells him that he's the reason she didn't share the plan with him, 'because I don't have the space to worry about how my dying affects your feelings,' it's not callousness, it's truth. Her life is hers, and so are her choices. To be fair, when Pike admits he wanted to be in on the decision so that he could support her making it, he's being honest, too. But stupid honest. All feeling, no thought. It's a selfish sentiment, and she calls him on that – 'It wasn't about you!' Batel's said before that she knows she's living on borrowed time. When Spock mindmelds with her to help control the pain, we see the level of horror she's been living with, something harrowing enough that it breaks a Vulcan's control. The fact that she chooses to live despite everything she knows she's risking is inspiring. RELATED: TV Review: Wynonna Earp: Vengeance AK: I have to give Episode VIP to M'Benga. I loved his line deliveries throughout the episode, from his assertion that he never gets caught to his stating, 'I like to think of myself as a work of progress.' Same, M'Benga, same. Photo Credit: Marni Grossman/Paramount+ Best Easter Eggs/Inside Jokes DK: Full disclosure: I've never watched any of Romero's Dead films. So, if I hadn't been checking Trek canon for a previous mention of the planet Kenfori, I would never have realized that Ken Foree starred in 1978's Dawn of the Dead. Well played, writers. And kudos to the many visual references to iconic scenes from Dawn, especially that last shot of Bytha's outstretched hand as the horde chows down on her. AK: Ken Foree as Peter in Dawn of the Dead is one of the best characters in a zombie movie ever, so I'm glad the title paid him homage. On a similar note, I assume the title 'Shuttle to Kenfori' is a play on the title of the 2016 zombie movie Train to Busan. While Romero's Dead movies are (and almost always shall be) my favorite zombie stories, I appreciate the reference to another influential flick of the undead. And yes, I am inclined to assume 'the z-word' is a reference to 2004's Shaun of the Dead. When there's no more room in hell, the dead will be referenced on Star Trek. Elements That Will LLAP DK: M'Benga and Ortegas both have trauma and personal demons to contend with. I hope their healing processes are given the time and space needed. Clearly, the Federation needs some notes on Kenfori before the next ship decides to disregard the Klingon 'Turn Back Or Die' beacon. (As an aside, I'd love to know when Klingons got remote-controlled ornithopter shuttles like the one Bytha summoned to the landing pad.) It'll be tricky for Pike to explain how he knows what happened to the Kenfori scientists without a mission on the books. Finally, if the chimera blossom works to help Batel survive her Gorn parasite, there's probably going to be a discussion about the status and security clearance of human-Gorn hybrids. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Erica Ortegas AK: I'm definitely looking forward to the continuation of both M'Benga and Ortegas' plot lines as well. I especially like the way M'Benga has not been defined by a single subplot over all three seasons, but instead has had multiple storylines explored. I want Ortegas to continue to play a bigger role throughout this season and through to the end of the series … but of course, her absence from The Original Series makes me nervous about her possible fate. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds drops new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+. Hit It: Best Quotes From the STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 3 Premiere Diana lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she invests her time and energy in teaching, writing, parenting, and indulging her love of all Trek and a myriad of other fandoms. She is a lifelong fan of smart sci-fi and fantasy media, an upstanding citizen of the United Federation of Planets, and a supporter of AFC Richmond 'til she dies. Her guilty pleasures include female-led procedurals, old-school sitcoms, and Bluey. She teaches, knits, and dreams big. You can also find her writing at The Televixen, Women at Warp, TV Fanatic, and TV Goodness.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Movie memories take hold as film art awareness is raised in ‘Rewind' at O.C. Fair
There are so many ways to watch digital content now that it has become an exercise in memory to recall what it was like to anticipate a release date. Stars of the screen have long been cemented in popular culture, some forever tied to iconic roles. Can you see Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly checking his watch in 'Back to the Future?' How about Mark Hamill leading a band of rebels against an evil empire as Luke Skywalker in the original 'Star Wars' trilogy? Well, there's more remembrances where that came from when one walks back through time in 'Rewind: A VHS Revival.' It's a debut exhibit at the Orange County Fair largely dedicated to the people and processes behind the artwork of the movie poster. After a couple of years of shows that focused on the music industry, including larger-than-life likenesses of the performing artists and then reproductions of well-known album covers, this new theme has emerged from the Art of Music Collection. 'I think a lot of people don't realize that somebody puts in that time and energy and refines a process through working with certain materials to create an image that becomes etched in people's memory,' said Joy Feuer, co-founder and curator of the exhibit. 'It evokes going to the movies with family or friends, a date night. … On the music stuff that we did, listening to an album or remembering a concert and being there with somebody. 'It's such a touchstone, and I think it's so important to note that it's not just the record companies or the movie companies that bring that to you, but it's these human beings who create an image. They're often not credited, and I have a huge soft spot in my heart and in my mind to bring those people into the spotlight and give them their due.' The career of the late John Alvin is explored in 'Creating the Promise of a Great Experience,' a standalone section that illustrates the steps taken to produce lasting images, such as the touching fingertips in 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.' Several examples of his concept art are included, among them 'Aladdin,' 'Batman Forever,' 'Blade Runner' and the aforementioned 'Star Wars.' Alvin's widow, Andrea, said they met in art school at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. In working with the film industry, the designer's projects were often subject to conditions. 'Oftentimes, the most creative work comes out of the most restrictions because you're forced to come up with something … that meets all of these requirements,' Andrea Alvin said. 'In essence, that's what illustration is. It's not just illustration, but you have to be creative within the confines of what you are trying to say in the painting. 'I wrote a book about John called 'The Art of John Alvin,' … and my idea with it was to show the process, so I had everything from very rough sketches and some of our little notes and things on legal pads, all the way to finished art,' she continued. 'That was what Joy really connected with, and that was what she tried to show in the exhibit.' In some cases, studios did not want to have the designer sign their work. In 'Rewind,' Leslie Combemale, who represented Alvin's work, sees a means of bringing recognition to the artists who contributed to the success of movies. 'This is iconic and important work artistically but also a part of the making of a film,' said Combemale, owner of ArtInsights Gallery of Film and Contemporary Art. 'We want people to be more aware of that, and in general, more aware of below-the-line artists who have such an impact on the finished product of a film and how integral they are to a film's success.' Dawn Baillie, known for her work with 'Dirty Dancing,' 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Little Miss Sunshine,' also grabs the designer spotlight in an exhibit called 'Anatomy of a Poster.' Also displayed are works produced by J.C. Backings, a scenic backdrop company founded by John Harold Coakley and his son, John Gary Coakley, in 1962. Backdrops utilized in the filming of 'The Sound of Music' and 'Logan's Run' are included in the show. 'It's a family-run business,' Feuer said. 'The great-grandfather was the one who had the vision. He saw this need, that Hollywood needed these really large-scale, hand-painted backdrops to create that cityscape, or mountain range, or whatever the scene was. They were an artistic family, so they started painting and doing it. 'They have in their possession a really vast archive, and so we rented two of their backdrops for the show, and those are the original ones. … They're not replicas. These are exactly what the film shot certain scenes from.' When fairgoers walk into the Huntington Beach building through the entrance on the east side, they are hit with a rush of nostalgia due to a display of videotapes on the racks. Blossom Marshall, visiting the fair from Riverside, said the video store setup reminded her of the 'Blockbuster days.' A whole section was dedicated to classic Disney animated movies. Film fanatics also took advantage of opportunities to grab photos with cutouts of the crew from 'The Wizard of Oz,' as well as a chance to strike a pose on the dance floor under a shimmering disco ball like John Travolta's Tony Manero in a 'Saturday Night Fever' set. Those who wanted to get off their feet were able to collapse into chairs that appeared to have come straight from the cinema, some of which provided a front-row seat to live painting reproductions of famous movie posters. Angel Acordagoitia spent the opening week of the fair, which runs through Aug. 17, working on 'Bride of Frankenstein.' It's his third time in the show in as many years, he remarked, reminiscing about painting album covers of Queens of the Stone Age and the Offspring the past couple of summers. Interacting with the public comes with the territory. Acordagoitia was open to comments and questions, adding that he is always with people as a DJ, a muralist and a tattoo artist. 'Since I was a kid, I always wanted to draw and paint,' said Acordagoitia, a Whittier resident who has branded himself as the Night Artist. 'Luckily, my parents have always encouraged me. … I know it's hard, but if you have the drive [and] make connections, that's what you need.' Scotty Roller, Jeff Lee and TerriLee Holm are also participating as painters of movie posters during the fair. A stone's throw from them is yet another interactive exhibit. Visitors to the 'Magic of Matte Painting' need a partner to fully enjoy it. One can walk through a set — their movement captured on camera against a city street backdrop — while their companion takes in the full picture on another screen. Betty Carlos of Upland, one of the vendors at the fair, called the movie-focused showcase a 'nice surprise' and a refresh for returning audiences. 'It's always lovely because they did such an amazing job, but having something new, we have a lot of season passholders who are looking for something new every time,' said Carlos, who counted a bar themed after 'Moulin Rouge' among the unexpected sightings. 'Therefore, having this new experience was definitely a refresher and an exciting new exhibit.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Sophie Cunningham fined $500 for TikTok video criticizing officiating
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's pockets are a little lighter after a social media video resulted in a fine. On Wednesday, Cunningham revealed she was fined $500 by the WNBA over a TikTok video that seemingly criticized officiating, which has become a hot button issue in the league in recent weeks. In the video addressed to "some refs," Cunningham lip-synced Sabrina Carpenter's new single "Manchild." She sang, "Stupid. Or is it... slow? Maybe it's ... useless?" in the video, which has amassed more than 1.3 million views on TikTok as of Thursday. Cunningham, 28, appeared to laugh off the fine, writing, "Idk why this is funny to me… like ok you got it bud! Cause there's not more important things to be worried about with our league right now." USA TODAY Sports reached out to the WNBA, which declined to comment. Cunningham is not the only WNBA player or coach to voice frustration this season over inconsistent calls and the physicality of the game. Following the Fever's 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on May 24, head coach Stephanie White sounded off against "disappointing" calls that didn't "go both ways." White confirmed she was fined days later when asked about officiating again: "Do you want me to get fined again? Because I did just get fined." Similarly, Angel Reese said officiating "has to be fixed" following the Chicago Sky's 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on July 6, adding, "I don't give a damn if I get fined." Reese continued her criticism on social media, resharing a photo of her being held in the paint and urging the WNBA to "DO BETTER." Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon said "officiating was awful" after the Aces' 70-68 loss to the Washington Mystics on July 10. Following the press conference, Hammon said, "Tell me how much my fine is." On July 14, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said she's "begging for consistency' after her team lost to the Phoenix Mercury by one point after a foul was called in the final seconds of a tie game. It's not clear if Reese, Hammon and Nakase were fined for their comments. Unlike the NBA, the WNBA does not announce all fines levied against players or the amount docked for infractions. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed officiating concerns ahead of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and assured that the league will "definitely look at and evaluate" officiating. "We hear the concerns. We take that input. Every play is reviewed. Spend hours and hours and hours," she said. "Consistency is important, I think. I think some people observe our game versus other basketball formats, there aren't a ton of fouls called. I realize consistency is the name of the game. ... There's an independent evaluation of our officials. There are ramifications. So, it's something we need to continue to work on." The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fever's Sophie Cunningham fined $500 over TikTok criticizing refs
