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Sharon Stello
Writer
Contributing Writer
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Join date: Jul 31, 2025
About
Sharon Stello is an award-winning journalist, recently starting to explore the freelance writing and editing world after more than a decade working for newspapers and then switching to magazines. Most recently, she served as editor of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach magazines at Firebrand Media—where she worked for over 11 years—penning all types of articles on topics from food to travel, home design, fitness, the arts and community news. Her favorites are stories about people overcoming challenges and articles that educate the reader in some way. She received first place for Best Feature story in 2025 and Best Long Form Feature or Series in 2022, both from the Orange County Press Club. In her spare time, she plays clarinet in a community band and has her hands full with a newly adopted puppy.
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Contact
sharonstello@gmail.com
Posts (14)
Apr 13, 2026 ∙ 11 min
San Clemente’s Miramar Food Hall Promises Diverse Dishes
Locals and visitors alike are invited to dig into a wide range of new eats in the culinary hot spot’s communal setting. Miramar Food Hall will open in May or early June with 15 eateries and two bars in San Clemente. Photo by Sharon Stello, Culture OC Food halls, a continuing trend in Orange County and beyond, are a practical answer to the age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” Couples, families and groups of friends can easily gather around the same table and each find a dish they crave,...
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Apr 3, 2026 ∙ 10 min
A New Orchestra is Set to Bring Symphonic Sounds to Orange County
A local conductor has established the South Orange County Orchestra, which plans its inaugural concert April 11. South Orange County Orchestra founder and artistic director Ryan Koo speaks to the group of musicians during rehearsal. Photo courtesy of SOCO It’s not every day that a new orchestra is formed – not to mention one with a roster of 150 musicians plus a youth chorus and plans for a youth orchestra. So the South Orange County Orchestra has quickly gained attention after launching in...
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Mar 25, 2026 ∙ 16 min
Makerspaces Carve Out a Place for Creativity
DIY centers are growing in Orange County, offering 3D printers, laser engravers, sewing machines, wood and metal shops, and more. Ornaments made at the Makerspace in Anaheim Public Library's Haskett branch. Photo courtesy of Link Labs Imagine having a garage filled with a wood shop, metal shop, laser cutters/engravers, 3D printers, sewing and embroidery machines and other tools to make gifts or embark on a creative endeavor whenever you feel like it. Of course, most people don’t have a garage...
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Mar 2, 2026 ∙ 8 min
Orange County Restaurant Week Returns With Fresh Flavors
The culinary celebration features over 200 eateries offering special menus, cocktails and more at varying price points. OC Restaurant Week menu items at Brü Grill & Market in Lake Forest. Photo courtesy of Orange County Restaurant Week From hole-in-the-wall eateries to Michelin-recognized fine dining establishments and everything in between, the local culinary landscape offers a smorgasbord of options. And, with Orange County Restaurant Week running March 8-14, diners can find great deals to...
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Jan 28, 2026 ∙ 10 min
After Nearly 30 Years, Shakespeare by the Sea Fights to Keep Free Performances Alive
Theater group Shakespeare by the Sea – which presents free performances – must raise $200,000 by Jan. 31 or risk folding. Shakespeare by the Sea's 2023 production of "Twelfth Night" on the Soka University campus in Aliso Viejo. Photo courtesy of Shakespeare by the Sea To be or not to be: That, unfortunately, is the question that nonprofit theater group Shakespeare by the Sea is facing due to lack of funding. After ending its third consecutive summer season in a deficit, the nearly 30-year-old...
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Jan 14, 2026 ∙ 10 min
Newport Beach Restaurant Week Makes a Comeback
Local culinary celebration returns with discounts and special menus after a four-year hiatus. Wine and dishes inspired by the season at Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens, which is taking part in Newport Beach Restaurant Week. Photo courtesy of Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens Enticing diners with post-holiday deals, Newport Beach Restaurant Week is back this month after a four-year hiatus. Running from Jan. 15-25, the culinary celebration features prix fixe menus, discounts and other special offerings...
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Dec 22, 2025 ∙ 11 min
Stephen Davy Finds Harmony With Old World Craft
Laguna Beach resident keeps a traditional trade alive with his business repairing and restoring stringed instruments. Laguna Beach luthier Stephen Davy adjusts the sound post inside of a violin. Photo courtesy of Stephen Davy. From the street, passersby would never guess what goes on inside the nondescript building at the top of a stone staircase on South Coast Highway. But within these walls, in a workshop filled with special tools, a bespectacled man continues an Old World craft that only a...
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Dec 12, 2025 ∙ 13 min
Keeping It Local: Holiday Shopping With an Orange County Focus
Co-op stores, pop-up markets and independent boutiques make it easy to support local makers and businesses this season. Goods from local stores in Orange County. From left, goods at the Bluebird Mercantile; children's clothing designed by Allison Reynolds, owner of Rose + Ev ; We Olive inside The OC Mix; handcrafted soap by PinkBlossom Soap Company ; turquoise cuffs by Great White Buffalo Company; a book, " La Vida Después del Cruce," by local author Maria Luisa Arredondo at The Untold...
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Dec 8, 2025 ∙ 8 min
Calming Chords Help Soothe Local Cats and Canines
Wild Tunes nonprofit encourages musicians to play for homeless pets at animal shelters including one in Mission Viejo. Harpist Nicole Steiman plays music for a cat named Dutton as part of the Wild Tunes program at Mission Viejo Animal Services Center. Photo by Sharon Stello, Culture OC As a string quartet plays the soothing sounds of classical music by Handel and Mozart – and even some Disney pieces – the dogs at Mission Viejo animal shelter seem to calm down. Briefly, at least, the barking...
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Dec 3, 2025 ∙ 13 min
A Season Aglow: Orange County’s Dazzling Christmas Lights, Boat Parades and Light Festivals
Whether on the water or on foot, Orange County offers countless ways to bask in the glow of holiday lights. Lighting of the Bay in Newport Beach. Photo courtesy of Newport Dunes Resort & Marina Walking or driving through neighborhoods to see all the homes decked out in Christmas lights is a treasured tradition at the holidays. But there are many other options to explore for reveling in bright decorations that illuminate Orange County’s cold winter nights. From boat parades, harbor cruises...
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Nov 24, 2025 ∙ 12 min
Community Bands Keep the Sound of Music Alive in OC
At least half a dozen groups provide an outlet for local musicians while also presenting free or low-cost community concerts at the holidays and throughout the year. Laguna Community Concert Band performs in downtown Laguna Beach during Hospitality Night last winter. Photo courtesy of Steven Wu Community bands abound in Orange County, performing holiday programs, music in the park and other concerts for the public to enjoy. These volunteer groups play for the love of sharing music with...
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Oct 24, 2025 ∙ 8 min
OC Center Takes Locals Behind the Lens
The California Center for Digital Arts offers photography classes and photo-based trips around the world. Kids in a photography camp offered by the California Center for Digital Arts. Photo courtesy of David LaNeve Photographer David LaNeve remembers the awe-inspiring moment he first witnessed the aurora borealis in Iceland. “You could hear them,” he said. “They make a sound. It’s like static electricity …. It was so cool to not only see it, but to hear it. And I remember having goose bumps...
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