mommyluvsliz

L and I have decided what to do for Earth Day. We opted for Laguna's Blue Water Festival for many reasons (world's largest hug at Main Beach, an environmental fair, live music, a silent auction, beach cleanups and more) but I lobbied for this destination primarily because Taco Loco is here and I absolutely adore their potato tacos! YUM

What's a Taco Loco, you ask? Simply the best cheap, fresh, hippie-influenced Mexican food you could ever hope to find. Any dish with the homemade blackening spice is tasty, especially the mushroom- or hemp-tofu burgers(so yummy) and of course my fave the potato tacos. The combo seviche is full of fresh, whole shrimp and fish, with chilies and lime juice. Spicy lobster tacos are a bit more expensive, but worth it: Chunks of fresh blackened lobster spills out of corn tortillas. That's about all that I've ever tried...most of the rest is made with meat or chicken but I have it on very good authority that those items are positively delicious as well.

Laguna Beach is just down the coast from us but with traffic on PCH it's a good half hour drive to forty five minutes particularly on the weekend when everyone wants a bit of a drive along the coast. Usually we take the freeway up and the coast back...it's nicer that way even if the sun is in our eyes the sunset is always spectacular.

Absolutely looking forward to it, can't wait! Below is a picture of Taco Loco. It's actually one restaurant split between two store fronts.

The following is an excerpt of an interview with the founder of the Laguna Blue Water Festival, Rick Conkey:

"I thought there should be more attention brought to Earth Day and there should be activities where people can demonstrate their love for the planet," said Conkey, founder of HelpBlueWater.com. "If we can demonstrate that we care, learn about the environment, and increase participation, then we're onto something."

Q:What do you hope for this year's festival?

A. A thousand people showed up last year. It sparked interest. We hope to at least double the size of it. We want to get people motivated and stay in contact with them to keep them informed.


Q:How have you involved artists and musicians?

A. It's an opportunity to show the public the difference artists can make as a resource. Musicians are among those who have the most history and accolades. We're trying to start a movement that rewards the artists for attracting attention to this. The artists are going to lead the way.

Q:What inspired your passion for helping the planet?

A. My earliest memories are on the island of Guam, and we lived in Orange County when I was very young. My parents always scuba dived off the coast in Laguna Beach. I see the ocean as the final frontier. Over the last few years, more and more signs have emerged indicating the earth isn't happy…There's no more time to waste.


For information, call 949-281-6850 or visit www.helpbluewater.com.

HelpBlueWater events:

Environmental Cleanup and Fair: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, April 21 at Main Beach; Cleanup check-ins: Main Beach, Aliso Beach, Sawdust Festival or Alta Laguna Park

Blue Water Music Festival: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, April 21 at the Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach

World's Largest Hug: Noon, Sunday, April 22 at the Main Beach lifeguard tower

After Party:8 to 11 p.m., Sunday at Club M, 680 South Coast Highway