{then and now} COTTAGE 45: Soda Shack Number 45 Crystal Cove cottage was built in the early 1930s and was the original store located on the beach where the studio is now. Nancy and John Killen With origins dating back to 1935, Cottage 45 also known as the Soda Shack once served up snacks and sips to Crystal Cove visitors right on the beach. The cottage was so close to the beach, in fact, that it was constantly in danger of being washed out to sea during big storms. Local legend has it that Crystal Cove residents retrieved the cottage after it was washed away and used a neighbor s tractor and chain to drag the building up the road to its current location next to the garages. It was moved to its present location in the 1940s and was used as a garage until the early 1950s, when it became a cottage, wrote former residents Nancy and John Killen. The building had always been owned by the [Crystal] Cove manager until we purchased it in 1970. As part of Crystal Cove and California State Parks Phase II Restoration, where additional cottages and grounds were preserved and restored for public enjoyment, Cottage 45 was restored to its former glory and now provides a nostalgic space for vacationing families and couples to rest their heads while making new memories at the Cove.
{making a difference} STUDENTS TAKE TO THE SEA An all-new hands-on learning experience in Crystal Cove s Underwater Park gives middle and high school students an exciting opportunity to contribute to important scientific research. To inspire the next generation of scientists and environmental stewards, the education team at Crystal Cove Alliance puts the future of our oceans directly in the hands of students. The recently launched Marine Protected Area Citizen Science Cruises, run by Crystal Cove Alliance (in partnership with Newport Landing Sportfishing), will immerse more than 1,000 students in the recently designated Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area where they ll take on the role of a practicing marine researcher. The program allows students to use digital fishing rods to study fish populations in the kelp forests, tow a plankton net to look for microscopic fish eggs, and deploy a Van Dorn water collection bottle to evaluate water chemistry. The student-collected data will be sent to a researcher at UC Irvine, where it will play an important role in his study on the effectiveness of marine protected areas and how to better protect local habitats and species. Even more important than the impact the program has on environmental research, however, is the power it has in igniting the next generation s interest in the marine sciences and conservation. Learning from a textbook and from class is one thing, but going outside and experiencing it for yourself is another, says Aurnov Chattopadhyay, a student who participated in a past cruise. It was a lot of fun to go hands-on with water quality samples and plankton and digital fishing.
{eat and drink} CREATIVE CUISINE AT THE COVE The new Beachcomber Cafe chef adds dynamic dishes to the familiar menu. Behind the scenes at The Beachcomber Cafe, the restaurant s new executive chef, Carlos Olivera, is whipping up dish after dish of healthy and delicious menu items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Paying homage to Crystal Cove s location along California s sandy shores, chef Carlos offers patrons a taste of true coastal cuisine using fresh seafood and all-natural ingredients in plates such as the blue crabcake Benedict and roasted diver Scallops served with French green beans and a chanterelle mushroom sauce. Carlos brings with him a wealth of talent and experience having worked as a kitchen manager at Gulfstream in Century City, which specializes in preparing fresh-caught fish. With Carlos at the helm of The Beachcomber Cafe s kitchens, look forward to inventive dishes like the Maine lobster roll sandwich or albacore tuna melt with a cup of freshly made roasted tomato bleu cheese soup while taking a break from exploring the pristine sandy beaches.
{community} UPCOMING EVENTS AT CRYSTAL COVE
For as little as $50, you can become an official member of the Crystal Cove Alliance. Enjoy benefits such as discounts at The Park Interpretive Store, invitations to special events, the CCA monthly newsletter and more. BECOME A MEMBER!