You feel as though you’ve stumbled across the last bohemian spot left over from the 60’s and 70’s. Sprinkled with art, words, treasures, fashions, and photography, the Art Hub is an Orange County anomaly. A place that is as comfortable as it is inviting and as creative as it is inspiring. An artist community housed in the basement of a historic Old Towne Orange Building; you would have never guessed to look down stairs. Started by a group of friends and two sisters who provided business, finance, and web consulting, the Art Hub began as a reaction to a consultation with designer Sanni. Sanni, complete with a European sense of art, would bring artists from all over the world into her house for an orgasm of pure creativity. This was fine and all, but Radha Jaini and the rest of her friends wanted to involve non-artists as well. The idea was born. Many of the founders attended Chapman University at the heart of Old Towne Orange. Just walking distance is the Orange “Circle” Plaza, a quaint old-time antique mass. The location was ideal and the space they found had the perfect vibe with its low-slung ceilings and columns. By hosting films, music, and open mic nights they’ve managed to create an artists community. Most importantly they’ve created a community in the heart of Orange. for more info: www.arthub.org

It’s definitely not the tranquil Fullerton you know in the middle of the day, but try telling that to both members of Victory Season, playing to a crowd of interlaced, loyal followers on a flawless weekend night. These aren’t the typical fans of old, my friend, these new, yet-to-be e-mail list subscribers and MySpace commentators have just been recently recruited approximately 10 minutes ago when VS stopped tuning up and started pouring out their set. Plush Cafe is swarming with open ears, and you can’t deny the sounds of passersby, but some melodic lure is engaged leaving no one able to stretch their neck to take a curious peek at the periodic flocks of college onlookers. There is an art to this, and whether Victory Season knows it or not, they are contributing to it by performing in a fantastic now-or-never mentality. One look at Stephanie Esparza and Brian Mashburn will urge you to take another, and once they’re done calling out, you immediately want to know a million things about them. But if you have not had a chance to catch onto their vibe, let me give you a notion, a visualization if you will. If, in some crazy universe (but could possibly be ours in 20 years), you crossbred Leigh Nash, of Sixpence None the Richer, and Nina Persson, of The Cardigans, then had your crazy aunt, Deborah Harry, give her vocal lessons (not to mention wicked style), your weird science project would develop into lead singer, Stephanie Esparza, with a sound all her own. Stephanie’s voice is accompanied by that of Brian Mashburn, who’s ability to harmonize leads you back to the nostalgic days of The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, and if the name Brian Mashburn rings a bell, then you were possibly a fan of his former, successful band, Save Ferris. Though this project is completely different from the latter, one thing remains true: very catchy, smart melodies. Brian exudes cool, yet is so easy to talk to that I felt that I had liberty to ask anything. So, I did in their very first interview.