Christian alternative-rock band Jars of Clay acting...

Christian alternative-rock band Jars of Clay acting out spiritual crises and newly minted rock ‘n’ roll bad boy Pat Boone sporting leather and chains and crooning from his new album of spoof-minded heavy-metal nuggets will be among the otherwise country and mellow-rock dominated acts at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa. The 17-night schedule is as follows, with all performers playing two shows nightly at 7 and 9 in the fairgrounds’ Arlington Theater.

Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers (country), July 11; Grass Roots (rock oldies), July 12; Pat Boone (heavy metal with a smile), July 13; MC Lyte (rap), July 14; Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts Band (blues), July 15; Chaka Khan (R&B;), July 16; Ben Vereen (Broadway song-and-dance), July 17; Emilio (country and Tex-Mex), July 18; John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (heartland rock), July 19; Diamond Rio (country), July 20; Jars of Clay (alternative rock), July 21; Jose Feliciano (folk-pop), July 22; The Gap Band (funk), July 23; Chris LeDoux (country), July 24; America (folk-rock), July 25; Smokin’ Armadillos (country), July 26; Paul Rodriguez (comedy), July 27.

Seating is free with regular fair admission of $6 (with discounts for seniors and children). Information: (714) 708-3247.

Cal State Fullerton begins a three-day “Asia in America and America in Asia” film series today with four movies, including Roland Joffe’s “The Killing Fields” and Oliver Stone’s “Heaven and Earth.”

The series comprises 19 films and continues Wednesday with “The Wedding Banquet,” “My Brown Eyes” and “The Bandit Queen,” among others. It closes Thursday with films including “A Great Wall,” “Banana Split” and “A Clear Strong Vision.”

There will be speakers each day, including filmmaker Michael Cho on Wednesday and filmmaker and performance artist Kip Fulbeck on Thursday.

All the movies are free and will be shown at the Titan Gymnasium, 800 N. State College Blvd, Fullerton. Show times or other information: (714) 773-2414.

The Urban Design Committee of the Orange County chapter of the American Institute of Architects has given 16 awards for noteworthy neighborhood places in Orange County. “Excellence awards,” determined by a 10-member juror panel, went to:

* Santa Ana’s Wilshire Square residential neighborhood (cited for front porches, tree-lined sidewalks and special events fostering local pride);

* Garden Park in University Hills, Irvine (a contemplative zone created entirely by residents);

* Downtown plaza district, Orange (preservation of historic small-town character with a strong visual identity and pedestrian-friendly streets);

* Lago Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita (a lake with open space for recreation, shopping and dining in a planned community);

* The village of Woodbridge, Irvine (a “model” master-planned community joined by parks, green belts, walking paths and lakes);

* Leisure World, Laguna Hills (a clubhouse, walkway and park and wildlife center promote social interaction, exercise and contact with nature).

Seven other neighborhood spots in Laguna Niguel, Corona del Mar, Rossmoor, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach won second-ranking awards of merit. The criteria for selection were “neighborhood value,” character, function, and use and accessibility.

Compiled by Ken Williams