Unlocking Huntington Beach

HB Sharks, Sewer Easements & Mendocino Farms (Ep. 22)

HB's summer forecast just got complicated: shark detections are earlier than usual, Mendocino Farms is finally landing at Pacific City, and dozens of local homeowners are losing backyards — and in some cases, parts of their homes — to a sewer easement they didn't see coming. Lane covers five Surf City stories in this one, from a 100-year milestone at Huntington Beach High School to pump tracks returning to Edison Park. What you'll learn: - Why researchers are calling 2025 a "sharky summer" along the HB coast — and what the science actually says about risk level - The decades-old OC Sanitation District easement now claiming 30 feet into homeowners' backyards, destroying pools and portions of homes - Why every HB homeowner should pull their title report and read every easement — today - Mendocino Farms is taking over the Lemonade space at Pacific City (opened May 7th) — what to expect - Pump tracks are back at Edison Park for spring/summer — and they're rotating through multiple parks 🏪 Mendocino Farms Pacific City | 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 | mendocinofarms.com If you live in Huntington Beach, just moved here, or are thinking about making it home, this podcast keeps you in the loop on what’s happening locally every week. New episodes drop weekly. Do Good. HB deserves it. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockinghb YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockinghb Sackin-Stone Team: https://sackinstoneteam.com LANE STONE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laneinoc

HB Gets a Surf-Themed Escape Room From a Local Pro (Ep. 21)

A Huntington Beach local who played pro beach volleyball — and completed 233 escape rooms — just opened Surf City Escapes inside Pacific City. Ben Vaught built rooms around the HB vibe on purpose: the surf theme fits here in a way it wouldn't in an Irvine industrial park. Lane's team tried them out, and spoiler: they escaped with 27 seconds to spare. What you'll learn: - Why Ben chose Pacific City over Irvine, and the zoning hurdle he had to navigate to make it happen - The four rooms at Surf City Escapes — including a surf escape, a California winery heist, a ghost-hunting room with a family and a spooky version, and a Sherlock mystery coming soon - Why Ben designed everything for first-timers: no red herrings, clear puzzles, and zero shame in asking for hints (he asks 70% of the time) - What it actually takes to build and test an escape room — six weeks of installation, 40 test runs before opening - How the escape room industry works more like a community than a competition (and why bad experiences are the only real enemy) 🏪 Surf City Escapes Escape Rooms | 21058 Pacific Coast Highway #M210, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 | (714) 334-6373 | surfcityescapes.com 📱 Instagram / TikTok / Facebook: @surfcityescapes If you live in Huntington Beach, just moved here, or are thinking about making it home, this podcast keeps you in the loop on what’s happening locally every week. New episodes drop weekly. Do Good. HB deserves it. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockinghb YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockinghb Sackin-Stone Team: https://sackinstoneteam.com LANE STONE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laneinoc

HB's Best New Restaurants, Coffee Shops & Lost Classics (Ep. 20)

Episode 20 is a full Huntington Beach food and drink audit — where we've been, where we're headed, and what we should never have lost. Lane Stone covers four top-five lists: the HB spots he misses most (Ruby's on the Pier, Ruby Palace, Bravo Burger on Beach Blvd, the downtown movie theater), five places coming soon to Surf City — including Champagne's Kitchen taking over the old IHOP on Main and Olive, The Lighthouse jazz venue headed to Pacific City, and Huntington's On The Pier arriving fall 2026 — plus five newly opened spots and the five coffee shops locals actually rely on. What you'll learn: - Which Newport breakfast staple is expanding to HB and what to expect from their menu - How a legendary Hermosa Beach jazz venue is bringing live music back to Pacific City - Why Rise Poke Shack and Atelier Sushi are already generating lines and social buzz in HB - What Focaccia House on Main Street has to do with Zero Zero Pizza - The five OC coffee roasters Lane would send any visitor to first — including the one supplying Champagne's Kitchen If you live in Huntington Beach, just moved here, or are thinking about making it home, this podcast keeps you in the loop on what’s happening locally every week. New episodes drop weekly. Do Good. HB deserves it. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockinghb YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockinghb Sackin-Stone Team: https://sackinstoneteam.com LANE STONE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laneinoc

HB Foodie Awards, Rattlesnakes & Air Show Returns (Ep. 19)

The Surf City USA Foodie Awards just dropped — and Lane's got receipts on where the list got it right, where it missed, and which local spots deserved a spot they didn't get. Plus: rattlesnakes are showing up in force at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, the Great Pacific Air Show is back for its 10th anniversary, and HB's new MyMeter utility tool could save homeowners real money. What you'll learn: - Which Surf City Foodie Award winners Lane agrees with — and which ones he'd swap out (his picks for best burger, sushi, tacos, and views) - Why rattlesnake activity is spiking at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve right now, and how to stay safe on the trails - Great Pacific Air Show 2026 dates, the new $10 kids' ticket, and the best free viewing spots around the city - How the new MyMeter utility platform can help HB homeowners catch leaks, track usage, and avoid surprise bills - How to grab an HBPD autism awareness patch for $10 and why it matters this April If you live in Huntington Beach, just moved here, or are thinking about making it home, this podcast keeps you in the loop on what’s happening locally every week. New episodes drop weekly. Do Good. HB deserves it. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockinghb YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockinghb Sackin-Stone Team: https://sackinstoneteam.com LANE STONE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laneinoc

HB's Bean-to-Bar Chocolatier: Bella Sophia's Story (Ep. 18)

Stephanie Schaefer spent 40 years doing sports therapy for Olympic athletes before pivoting to something sweeter — and Bella Sophia Chocolates is now one of Huntington Beach's most beloved artisan brands. This one has a live unboxing, a 20% discount code, and a free chocolate shoe giveaway. Don't say we didn't warn you. What you'll learn: - The difference between a chocolate maker and a chocolatier (and why Bella Sophia does both from bean to bar) - How a pandemic Instagram post about wine pairings — and 14 boxes delivered across HB — launched a full-time business - Why Stephanie sources cream from Temecula farms, blueberries from Maine, and cacao from South America — and waits when a shipment doesn't show - How a cacao shortage before the holidays accidentally created their brittle line, which ships all summer when chocolate can't - The story behind the hand-painted chocolate Louboutin heels, Birkin bags, and custom wedding towers — and why Stephanie says you should smash yours with ice cream 🏪 Bella Sophia Chocolates | Huntington Beach, CA 📦 Order online | Uber Direct local delivery | Curbside pickup available 🎁 Use code LAINSTONE20 for 20% off — first 5 to use it get a free chocolate shoe https://www.bellasophiachocolates.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bellasophiachocolates/ https://share.google/YCYSrnBA0m2khGYyk If you live in Huntington Beach, just moved here, or are thinking about making it home, this podcast keeps you in the loop on what’s happening locally every week. New episodes drop weekly. Do Good. HB deserves it. FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockinghb YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockinghb Sackin-Stone Team: https://sackinstoneteam.com LANE STONE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laneinoc