Hey neighbor — welcome to the first-ever OSO, your 5-minute read on RSM, Mission Viejo and Ladera Ranch. This week's easy: it's the Fourth. Here's where to be. 🎆
📅 This weekend — the fireworks
Mission Viejo — Street Faire & Fireworks (Sat 7/4): The big one. Booths, food trucks, rides and live music on Olympiad, noon–9pm, fireworks at 9. Free. Parking fills fast — take the free shuttle (runs 12–8, so plan your ride out before the show).
Ladera Ranch — Founders Park (Sat 7/4): Most kid-friendly. Games, slides, zip line and face painting 4–8, a 90s cover band 6–9, fireworks at dark (~9). Free in; wristbands only for the kids' activities. Parking's tight — walk or carpool.
Rancho Santa Margarita — Lago Santa Margarita (Sat 7/4): SAMLARC's lakeside show — bike parade 10am, food trucks 4–9, fireworks at 9 over the lake. It's a members' event (Beach Club needs a wristband), but non-members can catch the show from around the lakeshore.
Heads up on Irvine: Great Park's July 4 fireworks aren't free this year — they come with the ticketed Pacific Symphony show. Grab seats before you drive over.
🎪 Next weekend — Fiesta de Solano (RSM)
Fiesta de Solano at San Francisco Solano on Antonio Pkwy, July 10–12 (Fri/Sat 5–10, Sun 11:30–8). Rides, food, live music — free to walk in and open to everyone. Ride wristbands $40 in advance.
🍴 New around town
ocho Coffee & Patisserie (Marguerite, MV) — from-scratch pastries + espresso. Our pick this week. ☕
Cali Curry House (Marguerite, MV) — Indian-meets-California; kebabs, tandoori, biryani. Closed Mondays. 🍛
MOMOT Tea House (Santa Margarita Pkwy, MV) — new boba spot, open till 9. 🧋
💎 One good thing
Go to ocho. Husband-and-wife team, real in-house pastries, and the kind of sit-and-stay coffee shop this area's been missing — perfect before the Saturday farmers market a few doors down on Marguerite (normally 9–1, but since it's the Fourth, check their IG @missionviejo_farmersmarket first).
Now the fun part: reply and tell us your favorite hidden spot in town. We're building a neighbor's guide to these three towns, and the best stuff comes from people who actually live here.
Happy Fourth. See you Friday. 🐻
— OSO
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