Laguna’s Hive buzzes with change as live music and additional artist suite get OK

Changes are coming to the Hive commercial and cultural center in Laguna Beach after Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting, where Laguna Beach Beer Co. was granted approval to host daily live music, despite concerns that it would interrupt the Pageant of the Masters about a quarter-mile away.

Laguna Beach Beer Co. , which had its grand opening in June, received permission to provide live entertainment from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Company co-owner Brent Reynard said he hopes to present local musicians for acoustic performances at the brewpub at 859 Laguna Canyon Road.

“One thing we’ve always wanted to do is to have live music,” Reynard said during the meeting. “Live music being a singer/songwriter, acoustic guitar, [something] similar to what you might see at Tommy Bahama’s on a Sunday afternoon.”

Commissioners were concerned about whether the music would interfere with some of the annual summer performances of the Pageant of the Masters, which begin at 8:30 p.m. on the Festival of Arts grounds at 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

However, officials determined Laguna Beach Beer Co.’s location is too far from the pageant to cause a disturbance.

LCAD students get additional artist suite at the Hive

The number of artist suites at the Hive for Laguna College of Art + Design students will rise from four to five after the Planning Commission approved one for 821-B Laguna Canyon Road. Currently, LCAD student artist studios are in Suites 805, 807-A, 807-B and 815.

The added suite will be divided into five studios, four for LCAD graduate students specializing in painting and one for undergrads studying photography.

LCAD studio hours were amended during the meeting, with the closing changed from 10 p.m. to midnight.

The studios are meant to provide LCAD students with a place to work on projects and homework assignments outside their class schedules.

The commission also approved an amendment of a conditional use permit for artist Suite 815, which previously was reserved for students specializing in drawing and painting. The amendment will allow up to four senior animation students to use the space for school projects.