Catch a movie

In Garden Grove, there are two excellent move complexes. The Regal Cinema 16 at Brookhurst Street and Chapman Avenue, featuring stadium-style seating. Movie listings and times published each week in the Journal (see “About the Journal” to download a copy of the paper) Also, the Four Star Cinema on Valley View Street south of Chapman Avenue.

Let’s get something good to eat

Garden Grove and Stanton are blessed with a wide variety of restaurants covering almost any kind of food and drink you could possibly want, with prices ranging from the very modest to the finest cuisine. Here’s some of the favorites of locals.

AMERICAN

Doug’s Downtown Grill. Wide variety of steak, seafood, chicken, pasta dishes. On historic Main Street in Garden Grove. Locally owned.

Red Robin. A popular gourmet hamburger restaurant at Chapman and Harbor in Garden Grove.

Main Street Cafe. The classic hometown cafe for burgers, breakfast and more. Main Street, GG.

Waterfront Cafe. Big menu of items, large, airy eatery.

Brookhurst north of Garden Grove Boulevard.

Outback Steakhouse. It’s not really Australian, but it’s really popular. Chapman and Harbor in Garden Grove.

MEXICAN

Azteca. A local legend, this is famous for its Elvis motif, J.J. and garlic tacos. On Main Street in GG.

Los Sanchez. Not fancy, but outstanding Sonora-style food. Garden Grove Blvd., west of Harbor in Garden Grove.

Acapulco. Great variety of south-of-the-border fare. Beach Boulevard south of Lampson in Stanton.

Casa de Soto. This long-time Mexican eatery on Garden Grove Blvd. (west of Magnolia) has many fans.

SEAFOOD

Joe’s Crab Shack. A rollicking time with lots of

fresh fish and more. Chapman and Harbor.

Seven Seas is now open on Main Street in Garden Grove.

ETHNIC

Garden Grove has a variety of Korean and Vietnamese restaurants. “Koreatown” in on Garden Grove Blvd. between Beach and Brookhurst; “Little Saigon” is mostly along Brookhurst  south of Garden Grove Blvd, and along Westminster Ave.. For Chinese, try Panda House on Garden Grove Boulevard.

ITALIAN

Buca de Beppo. Southern Italian immigrant cooking; huge portions. Chapman and Harbor in Garden Grove.

Main Street Pizza. A popular gathering place for sports teams and sports fans on Main Street GG.

Perry’s Pizza. Pizza by the slice or the pie. Fun atmosphere. Chapman and Knott Street in GG.

Augustino’s. A favorite on the west side of town for decades. Valley View south of Lampson Ave,

Oggi’s: New pizza and brewery at Chapman and Harbor. 42 big TV screens for enjoying sports. Good food, too.

Garden Grove and Stanton are family-oriented communities, but

that doesn’t mean that we roll up the sidewalks at sundown.

Some of the popular nightclubs, bars and dance venues include ...

Crooner’s Lounge: Attached to the the Azteca Mexican Restaurant on Main Street GG, this place is a dazzling tribute to Elvis, Sinatra, et al. Karaoke and more all week.

Garden Grove has two publicly-owned live theaters. The Gem Theater, operated by One More Productions, hosts musicals and other shows in this historic restored 172-seat former vaudeville and film house.

The Festival Amphitheater is home to Shakespeare Orange County, a professional company performing classical theater in this outdoor facility July and August. 550 seats under the stars, next to the Gem.

NOW PLAYING:

Through Oct. 25: “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the Gem Theatre on Main Street in Garden Grove.

Or a play ...

Nightlife in the Big Strawberry area

Chapman & Harbor: Nine major hotels in this area, most of which have their own restaurants and bars. The biggest is probably at the Hyatt Orange County.

Other popular night spots include Jak’s Bistro (Valley View), Park Ave. (Beach Boulevard in Stanton),

Louie’s on Main (Main Street GG), Henry’s (Stanford at Nelson, GG), Loffler’s (Katella near Magnolia, Stanton).