I wanted to share something that has been on my mind and I think you might recognize yourself in it…
The mental load.
The mental load is real and it is relentless. Most of us are carrying a running list in the back of our minds at all times. What needs to happen, what we forgot, what is coming up, what we should have said differently. It doesn’t stop when the day ends and it doesn’t stop when the weekend starts. It just keeps going quietly underneath everything. What I have noticed is that the only thing that actually interrupts it is being forced into the present by something physical. A workout that demands your full attention. A walk where you leave the earbuds at home and are fully present. Cooking something that requires you to actually focus. Your body being somewhere that your brain has no choice but to follow. It is not a cure. But it is a reset. And sometimes a reset is all you need to get through the week feeling like yourself again. This week I want you to get out of your head.
Now let’s get into the good stuff…
Date Night
Jane
Tucked on Avenida Del Mar in downtown San Clemente, Jane is a neighborhood cocktail bar but that undersells it. The interior is art deco inspired with pieces gathered from around the world, moody and intimate in a way that feels genuinely transportive. It’s best described as classy, romantic, and surprising. It feels more like something you would find in San Diego or LA. It shares a kitchen with The Cellar next door, so the food goes well beyond bar snacks. The petite filet, shishito peppers, and small plates round out an evening anchored by handcrafted cocktails that are the real draw here. For me, this is what the perfect date night is all about. A handcrafted cocktail (something I couldn’t easily make at home), and a bunch of delicious small bites to share.
Open Wednesday and Thursday 5 to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday 5 to 11:30 PM, Sunday 3 to 9 PM, closed Monday and Tuesday. Located at 158 Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente. Walk ins are welcome but reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.
Girls Day Out
California Wine Festival
The California Wine Festival is voted one of the Top 10 Festivals in the U.S. and Dana Point is its first stop of the 2026 season, which means the energy is high and the lineup is strong. It spans two days with two completely different experiences so you can do one or both depending on how you want the weekend to feel.
Friday April 24 is the Sunset Rare and Reserve Tasting at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa. This is the elevated evening experience, dress coastal chic, start with a sparkling wine welcome reception on the Del Mar Lawn overlooking the Pacific, then move into a curated lineup of hard-to-find trophy wines from wineries including Alma Rosa, Cakebread Cellars, and Goldschmidt among others. The ocean views at sunset here are genuinely special and the crowd is polished but relaxed. Runs from 6:30 to 9 PM at 25135 Park Lantern in Dana Point.
Saturday April 25 is the Beachside Wine Festival at Sea Terrace Park right on PCH, and this is the one that feels like a full afternoon out. Think white-topped tents on a grassy palm-lined park next to the ocean, hundreds of California wines from both well-known and emerging wineries, gourmet appetizers from local chefs and food purveyors including Bluewater Grill and Glasspar Oyster Bar, and live music throughout. VIP entry starts at noon, general admission at 1 PM, wraps at 4 PM. Located at PCH and Niguel Road in Dana Point.
Both days include all wine and food tastings plus an 18-ounce keepsake wine glass with your ticket. This is a 21 and over event. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and a sellout is expected so do not wait. Save $10 to $20 per ticket by buying in advance. Get tickets at californiawinefestival.com.
Friday Fun
Arbor Day Tree Planting
In honor of Earth Week, the City of San Clemente is hosting a free Arbor Day tree planting event on Saturday April 25 from 9 AM to noon at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course. Community members are invited to help plant jacaranda and native oak trees right alongside city staff, with tools, gloves, and water all provided so you can show up with nothing but a good attitude. A couple of hours, no planning required, and your family actually did something that will still be standing years from now. Watching a kid push a small tree into the ground and know it is theirs does not need any more explanation than that. Free to attend, no registration required. Located at 150 Avenida Magdalena in San Clemente.
Coffee & Conversations
Bluestone Lane
Bluestone Lane is my of my faves. The brand started in Australia and has been bringing its particular brand of hospitality to the U.S. since 2013, and the San Clemente location is their first outpost in the area. The interior features local California art and ceramics and the whole space has a warm, coastal-meets-Melbourne feel that makes you want to sip your coffee and stay a while.
The coffee is where they earned their reputation. The flat white is the go-to and it consistently gets called out as one of the best in San Clemente. Cold brew, lattes, matcha, pour overs and an espresso program that takes itself seriously without taking itself too seriously. The food goes well beyond pastries. The Brekkie Board is a crowd favorite, the Sunshine Burrito with scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado, dill mayo, and feta has a dedicated following, and the avocado smash with sheep's milk feta and heirloom tomatoes on multigrain is so good, if you love avocado toast like I do. The staff comes up by name in review after review which tells you everything you need to know about the kind of place it is. Open daily 7 AM to 3 PM weekdays, until 4 PM on weekends. Located at 223 Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente.
This weekend do something that has nothing to do with productivity. Plant a tree with your kids. Walk somewhere without your phone in your hand. Sit at a coffee shop until the coffee is gone and you actually feel like yourself again. The mental load will still be there Monday morning, right where you left it, but so will you and you will be better for having stepped away from it. Nothing on your list requires you to be depleted to get done. The work does not get better when you are running on empty. You do. Rest is not a reward you earn after finishing everything. It never works that way. Rest is what makes the rest of it possible.
See you next Thursday!
