ComedyMargaret Cho knows how fine the line...

Comedy

Margaret Cho knows how fine the line is between tragedy and comedy. On the strength of her reading of the Ophelia soliloquy from “Hamlet,” the San Francisco native was admitted to the High School of Performing Arts there, but her star never fully rose. “I was always the Danny Aiello type,” she says. Later, wearying of the limited roles for Asian actresses, Cho veered into stand-up, which eventually led to her short-lived ABC sitcom “All-American Girl” and an American Comedy Award as best female stand-up. “I can’t wait to get to the point where I can fire everyone in the morning and rehire them all after lunch,” she jokes.

* Who: Margaret Cho.

* When: Tonight at 8:30, Friday at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., Saturday at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Sunday at 8 p.m.

* Where: The Improv, 4255 Campus Drive, Irvine.

* Whereabouts: Exit the San Diego (405) Freeway at Jamboree Road; go south. Turn left onto Campus Drive. The club is in the Irvine Marketplace.

* Wherewithal: $12-$15.

* Where to call: (714) 854-5455.

Pop

It’s premature to regard John Hammond and Duke Robillard as a latter-day Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee or Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, much-loved blues tandems in which one name suggests the other. Hammond and Robillard, after all, have ongoing individual careers dating back to the 1960s--Hammond as an unsurpassed second-generation inheritor of the acoustic blues tradition and Robillard as a paragon of all-around excellence on the guitar.

What’s certain is that the pairing is potent, as a memorable Orange County show last year proved. Hammond’s new album, “Found True Love,” capitalizes on the synergy, with Robillard and his rhythm section providing much of the backup.

* Who: John Hammond and Duke Robillard.

* When: Sunday at 8 p.m.

* Where: Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

* Whereabouts: Exit Interstate 5 at Camino Capistrano, turning left onto Camino Capistrano. The Coach House is in the Esplanade Plaza, on the right.

* Wherewithal: $13.50-$15.50.

* Where to call: (714) 496-8930.

Art

What happens to Sawdust Festival artists and artisans between summers? Most shake off the sawdust and head right back to their Laguna Beach studios. Participants at an Art Walk on Saturday can choose from one of three tours visiting those studios.

The first is a self-guided tour, supported by a constantly looping guided tram, including 30 canyon studios and performance art at the Coolsville coffee house. Two tours are docent-guided and take in seven studios each. Admission includes transportation and a Chinese lunch served on the festival grounds.

* What: Sawdust Festival Art Walk.

* When: Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

* Where: Sawdust Festival grounds, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

* Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (405) or Santa Ana (5) Freeway to the Laguna (133) Freeway and head south. The Laguna Freeway becomes Laguna Canyon Road.

* Wherewithal: $60. Seniors, $50; students, $40.

* Where to call: (714) 494-3030.

Festivals

A free Hanamatsuri Bazaar this weekend at Orange County Buddhist Church in Anaheim will celebrate Gautama Buddha’s birth more than 2,500 years ago with exhibits on flower arranging, the tea ceremony, Japanese dolls and bonsai, as well as karate and aikido demonstrations and performances by the Daion Taiko drummers.

Among food items for sale will be sushi, udon noodles, dumplings and barbecued squid, as well as fresh farm produce and homemade baked goods. The sanctuary’s decorated Hanamido, or flower altar, and baby Buddha statue will be available for viewing.

* What: Hanamatsuri Bazaar.

* When: Saturday, 2-9 p.m., and Sunday, 2-8:30 p.m.

* Where: Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S. Dale St., Anaheim.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at Ball Road; go west. Turn right onto Dale Street.

* Wherewithal: Free.

* Where to call: (714) 827-9590.