business
focus
OC METRO
GREAT OC WEBSITES
There are lots of ways to define great when it comes to websites.
Sites can be great looking, with mind-blowing flash acrobatics,
or interactive as hell with lots of fun things to do, or simply
filled with useful information. The sites profiled here have all
have great utility for Orange County residents. They are stylish
and effective online resources packed with interactive information
about everything from high culture to fine dining to the inner workings
of the county government.
Arts and Culture
www.ocartsource.org
An invaluable resource for anyone interested in dance, theater,
music or visual arts. A simple, hierarchical site with a useful
search function and in-depth departments that are clear and uncluttered,
ocartsource.org puts you in touch with specific arts events you
may be searching for and allows you to browse by date and category.
The “What’s Hot This Month” section is a wide-ranging list of arts
events in OC, including many the average culture vulture would never
know about if they didn’t use this site. The “OC Arts Organizations”
button serves as a portal to more than 40 arts websites, many of
which are whole worlds in themselves.
If you are ever bored as Friday night approaches, go to this dot.org
to find something fun and fascinating to do.
Really Cool Retail
www.southcoastplaza.com
A godsend for busy shoppers. From a listing of concierge services
(yes, this is Orange County), to a comprehensive, map-linked, expandable
directory, to a robust listing of mall events, southcoastplaza.com
is a simple, elegant, in-depth site set up to make your shopping trip
to this “retail resort” pleasurable and stress-free.
There is even an “Around South Coast Plaza” button that widens the
view and shows locations of surrounding stores, restaurants and entertainment
venues, with maps and links.
Go here before you pull into the parking lot, and you won’t have to
search for what you want. Like South Coast Plaza itself, this is retail
done right.
Golf Bargains
www.click4teetimes.com
The golf industry has jumped on the Internet like few sports-related
businesses, with manufacturers, courses and golf-oriented businesses
using the Web to tout their products, properties or services. But
www. click4teetimes.com the brainchild of Orange County resident
Mike Carran in partnership with Southland Golf magazine stands out
because rather than trying to separate golfers from their money, it
actually saves them money.
Launched in 2002, click4teetimes.com allows golfers to reserve next-day
tee times at discounted rates at approximately 70 courses throughout
Southern California. Another feature, similar to priceline.com, allows
golfers to make bids on tee times. Golf outings also are held on a
monthly basis. The service is free to join, and more members and courses
are signing up all the time.
Savvy golfers who have a little bit of flexibility are realizing that
the best time to hit the website is between 4 and 6 p.m. That’s when
golf courses, seeing empty slots in their tee sheets, e-mail the website
with what times are available and at what discounted rates to post
them.
The service does more than help golfers save a few bucks: it actively
encourages the growth of the game. The more people who play golf,
the better for the industry as a whole. And what click4teetimes.com
does for both golfers and golf courses is a two-fold success story.
Getting Government
www.oc.ca.gov
Think a county government site sounds boring? Well, think again. This
is your direct pipeline into the inner workings of OC’s city hall.
From a complete history of the county to direct contact information
for county supervisors and department heads such as the sheriff and
tax assessor, this site puts you in touch. Categories are clear with
multiple subheads in plain sight to make it easier to get where you
want to go quickly.
You can also conduct a wide range of business on the site to save
yourself a trip to Santa Ana. Apply for a county job, pay traffic
tickets or register to vote right here. Need a copy of your birth
certificate or a building permit? This is the place.
The site isn’t flashy, and it shouldn’t be. It is plain, attractive
and very well organized. A place to find out what you need to know
and to get things done. Whether you want to fight city hall or find
a friend in the halls of government, oc.ca.gov is the tool you need.
Cameras and Photography
www.ritzcamera.com
A flagship website within the Irvine-based Ritz Interactive e-commerce
network, RitzCamera.com is the Internet’s leading photo-specialty
online shopping destination.
The award-winning site combines “Best of Breed” technology and proprietary
supply chain integration to put a huge selection of photographic products
and accessories including a wide selection of state-of-the-art digital
cameras at the fingertips of cyber-shoppers. Along with competitive
prices, incredible selection, unparalleled convenience and world-class
customer service, RitzCamera.com customers receive the additional
benefits of no sales tax and free shipping for qualifying orders over
$100.
The site is not only a one-stop photography shopping source for Web
users, it also offers a wealth of photo-related information and resources
absolutely free of charge. RitzCamera.com has been named “Best of
the Web” by Forbes Magazine and was recently selected to Internet
Retailer’s “Top 50” list, recognizing the Internet’s best retail websites.
Boats and Boating
www.boatersworld.com
This is a true one-stop shop for everything relating to boats and
the deep blue sea. From used boats to boat electronics, fishing gear,
hardware and machinery, boat covers and trailers to just about anything
else you can think of.
There are links to marine articles and reviews, new boat brokers,
boat loans and message boards, kayaks, canoes and gift certificates.
There is a navigation store and a section devoted to extreme watersports.
If you love boats, don’t go to BoatersWorld.com unless you have some
time to spare. You may end up spending a substantial part of the day
here.
Pampering Your Pets
www.dogsoc.com
If you’re a dog lover, this is your new home page. Virtually every
OC canine resource imaginable, from vets and groomers to restaurants
that welcome Fido, is listed on this page.
Want to know when Breakfast with the Bassetts takes place? Click on
the dog event calendar. For those rare times you venture out without
your pal and you need to find a pet sitter you’re just a click away.
Thinking of adopting a puppy? You’ll find out how on this website
dedicated to man’s best friend.
Entertainment and Dining
www.aolcityguide.com/orangecounty
“Eat, drink and be savvy.” This new slogan for AOL CityGuide is but
a tiny glimpse into this powerhouse of an online entertainment guide.
Powered by AOL and written by well-rounded editors, AOL CityGuide
Orange County brings pithy, modern, intelligent and user-friendly
descriptions to local annual events, concerts, national tours, restaurants,
clubs and even a smattering of the arts. Local freelance writers give
events and venues color and can describe the local “scene” or recommend
a new “hot spot.”
The front page changes early each morning, pointing readers toward
interesting and quirky upcoming events, festivals and live music.
The “This Week” and “Plan Ahead” sections are especially helpful for
keeping up with what’s going on in The OC. Another not-to-miss feature
is the guide’s “Top Clicks” page, which is updated hourly to reflect
what readers are clicking on in events, dining, bars and music.
Each year in November and December, the guide asks readers to vote
for the “City’s Best” in dozens of categories ranging from “best margarita”
to “best outdoor dining.” The “2005 City’s Best” can be perused year-round
and gives readers some good insight and tips into the region’s favorite
hangouts. AOL CityGuide claims that it is the Web’s No. 1 local entertainment
guide for “things to do, places to eat and scenes” in 317 metropolitan
areas across the country including The OC.
Enjoying the Great Outdoors
www.ocwild.com
A must-have bookmark for outdoor enthusiasts, Orange County Wild (www.ocwild.com)
offers information on 30 wildlands in the county, from Whiting Ranch
Wilderness Park in Lake Forest to Upper Newport Beach. Click on one
of the four “Quick Links” Harbors & Beaches, Historical Parks, Regional
Parks or Wildness Parks to help narrow your choices. Or, go directly
to your desired spot.
Activities, a history of the area, location and hours, park amenities
and events and programs are among the information you’ll find, as
well as a detailed description of the area. The website also offers
a calendar of upcoming events, a wild area map and volunteer opportunities.
The site is rather plain but very informative and easy to navigate.
Orange County Wild is a coalition of Orange County wilderness land
managers and stewards. Its mission is to help preserve, protect and
enhance the area’s wildland forest, park and reserve resources, from
the mountains to the Pacific. OCM |
