A very big table indeed is being set in Orange County later this month, when the Lake Forest-based Pacifica Institute, partnering organizations and sponsors host the second annual OC Around the Table potluck event in Fountain Valley’s Mile Square Park.
Readers may remember last year’s potluck, when it was hoped 4,000 people would turn out to break not only bread, but the world’s record for such a gathering. Although they didn’t quite hit that mark, a nonetheless impressive 2,166 guests packed their favorite dishes and engaged with people they might not have met before.
It was all about community-building and dropping real or perceived barriers between strangers.
“Everybody was able to find what they needed to find,” Mustafa Ulukaya, Pacifica Institute’s executive director told my colleague Matt Szabo. “They came with really different expectations. Since it’s [called] Around the Table, some of them were thinking it was a round table discussion, something like that. When people came, people are dancing, people are listening to music, enjoying the food and coming together.”
“To gather together without an agenda with very diverse people from the community … there’s a thirst about that. Especially after COVID, there’s a big need in the community. I didn’t plan for that, but I have seen this,” he said.
So, Ulukaya and others leading the effort are inviting everyone to the table again, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27. This year the picnic’s site has been moved to the section of the park where Shelter 1 is located, near Euclid Street and Warner Avenue. Once again, one of the goals is to break the world record currently held by the largest potluck of 3,264 people that was set in India in 2016.
This event is free, but the organizers ask that you register here in advance for either a full table, which seats six, or individual seats. Table hosts are asked to bring food and invite guests.
“What we believe is that when we gather together, we see that we have way more commonalities than our differences,” Ulukaya said of Pacifica Institute’s philosophy. “But without getting together, we cannot comprehend it. We cannot feel it.”
A list of all of the participating organizations and sponsors can be found in Szabo’s write-up on this year’s potluck.
They’ll all be there, in Mile Square: food, fellowship and maybe as many as 4,000 people making new friends.
MORE NEWS 
A high-speed crash Sunday in Irvine killed two people, including a person affiliated with a well-known Orange County car show that hosts thousands of vehicles in San Clemente each week, according to police and social media.
(Irvine Police Department)
Orange County car influencer and model killed in McLaren crash
James Wehr, 27, one of the founders of the popular Instagram page “South OC Cars and Coffee,” and model Alexis Kramer were the occupants of a 2019 McLaren who died following a high-speed crash into a tree in Irvine at 12:18 a.m. Sunday.
Truck plunges into wetlands off Pacific Coast Highway
A black GMC Sierra landed in the wetlands adjacent to PCH south of Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach Saturday morning. The driver climbed out of the vehicle unharmed.
O.C. e-bike buyback draws big crowds, controversy
“Massive lines” and some controversy was generated Sunday when the O.C. district attorney’s office held an e-bike buyback event, where people could trade an e-bike for a gift card ranging from $200 to $1,000 depending on the type of e-bike surrendered, The Times reported. Nearly 1,000 of the vehicles were surrendered.
Bitter feud and liquor license ‘issue’ kills Taste of Laguna
Taste of Laguna, a popular fundraising event held each fall at the Festival of Arts property, was abruptly canceled this year with little explanation. The Daily Pilot’s Sara Cardine did some digging and found out the real reasons behind the cancellation.
Broadcom buys its Irvine office building
Broadcom, the computer chip and software developer, paid its former landlord, PRP Real Assets, $325 million for its campus on Irvine’s Alton Parkway. It was a reacquisition, The Times reports, as Broadcom had developed the property before selling it for roughly $443 million in 2017. Three years later, PRP acquired the campus for $355 million.
Taco Bell will move to larger Irvine HQ
Taco Bell and its sister company Habit Burger & Grill, which currently share a space in Irvine Spectrum Center, are expected to move in 2028 to larger accommodations at Alton HQ, also in Irvine.
Hoag poised to open $1.2B Sun Family Campus expansion in Irvine
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $1.2 -billion Sun Family Campus expansion is planned for 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Following that, Hoag is hosting a free “World of Wonder” immersive experience event on Sept. 19 and 20.
Kia, Hyundai face $1 billion in lawsuits after 9th Circuit ruling
Orange County-based automakers Kia and Hyundai, facing more than $1B in claims from insurance companies alleging they dropped a key ignition safeguard that led to vehicles that are easy to steal being sold in the U.S., learned Monday that a federal appeals court affirmed the right to sue them.
Huntington Beach police union gives max campaign $$$ to 2 councilmembers
The campaigns of Andrew Gruel, who is seeking reelection to the H.B. City Council, and his council colleague Gracey Van Der Mark, a candidate for state Assembly, received maximum contributions from the local police union this summer. On Sept. 1, Gruel and Van Der Mark were among the council majority that approved a three-year, $9.8M police contract over the objections of the mayor, who called it “unsustainable.”
Laguna officials declare emergency due to coastal erosion
Six oceanfront homes along Lagunita Drive and Ocean Way in Laguna Beach were yellow-tagged Thursday, allowing for only limited access, due to seawalls that were weakened by waves generated by Hurricane Maria.
Newport schedules mail-in ballot election after judge insists
A legal saga over some citizen-led ballot initiatives that has consumed political watchers in Newport Beach still might not be over, but as of last Friday morning, the City Council, on the orders of an O.C. Superior Court judge, begrudgingly set a mail-in election that will cost the city $1M or more. But the city attorney said he’s asking the state Supreme Court to intervene.
Sports roundup 
Servite baseball players Shane Wendler (left) and John Sullivan are committed to USC and UCLA, respectively.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
One player is committed to USC, the other to UCLA
In his Prep talk column Tuesday, The Times’ Eric Sondheimer muses on the prospect that, come November, Servite High School friends and baseball players Shane Wendler and John Sullivan will sign with USC and UCLA, respectively. “Let the smack talk begin,” Sondheimer writes.
Laguna Beach boys’ water polo runner-up in Santa Barbara
A 17-16 overtime loss to host Goleta Dos Pueblos in the title match of a tournament Saturday did not discourage the Laguna Beach boys’ water polo team coach Camron Hauer, who told the Daily Pilot this year’s Breakers “is the best leadership team I’ve ever had.”
Newport Beach honored as USTA SoCal ‘Tennis Town’
Newport Beach, named a United States Tennis Assn. Southern California “Tennis Town,” was recognized for the title in a ceremony held last Thursday evening at Palisades Tennis Club.
4 Things to do in OC
🍔 Visit one of the participating restaurants offering special menu items during O.C. Burger Week, which runs from Sept. 20-26. For more details, visit burgerweek.com.
📚 Gather up the family and attend the O.C. Children’s Book Festival taking place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Sunday at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. Admission is free.
🎢 Take a ride on the newly-reimagined Montezooma’s Revenge at Knott’s Berry Farm.
🪦 Check out the macabre yet fascinating “Final Rites: Death, Mourning, & Beyond” exhibition at Fullerton Museum Center. For hours and tickets, visit fullertonmuseum.com.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter! Please feel free to reach out with comments or questions at carol.cormaci@latimes.com.
