Best Bets Orange County HERE AND NEAR

TODAY

noon

Art

Two years ago, five young contemporary artists from Cuba spent the winter as artists-in-residence at five visual arts centers around the United States. The idea, conceived by the Bronx Council on the Arts, was to foster cultural exchange. One result is “1990s Art From Cuba,” a traveling multimedia exhibit of work expressing social and political themes spawned amid volatile relations between the two countries.

* “1990s Art From Cuba,” UC Irvine Art Gallery, School of the Arts village, near West Peltason Drive. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Ends April 24. Free. (949) 824-6610.

TODAY

8pm

For the Family

Like close-up magic, the intimate Cirque Eloize (pronounced EL-wahz) almost puts the audience into the action in its current production, “Excentricus II.” This group, born six years ago in the Magdalen Islands off the coast of Quebec, is inspired by the European, animal-free style of circus. Cirque Eloize, back at the Irvine Barclay Theatre by popular demand, is small and comfortable, its programs charming and visually refreshing. This show is built around a Chaplinesque tale of a boy (this year played by American slack-wire artist Jamie Adkins) who meets a touring group of eccentric performers. But the story is only a frame for the technical wizardry of its 11 acts, from bicycle turns to trapeze artistry to founding member Daniel Cyr’s spectacular ladder gymnastics. These five performances are sold out, but a phone call might turn up cancellations.

* Cirque Eloize, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive. Through Saturday, 8 p.m.; 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Sold out. (949) 854-4646.

TODAY

noon

Music

Written to divert a patron suffering from a painful nerve disease during long, sleepless nights, Bach’s “Goldberg” Variations are the greatest example of the form in Western art music. Only Beethoven’s “Diabelli” Variations can compare to them. Bach begins with a simple, beautiful, asymmetrical aria, then works 30 astonishing variations on it before returning to it at the end. Composed for a single harpsichord, the piece will be presented by Saddleback College faculty members Nakyong Chai and Pennie Foster in a two-piano version arranged by turn-of-the-century German composer Max Reger.

* Bach’s “Goldberg” Variations, Saddleback College, Fine Arts 101, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. Noon. Free. (949) 582-4747.

TODAY

8pm

Jazz

Pianist Milcho Leviev was born in Bulgaria and wrote for the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra before coming to the United States and working with Don Ellis, Willie Bobo, Billy Cobham, Art Pepper, Charlie Haden and others. The keyboardist, who co-led the groundbreaking jazz-classical fusion band Free Flight, teams with bassist Pat Senatore and drummer Kevin Tullius.

* Milcho Leviev Trio, Steamers Cafe, 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. 8 p.m. No cover, two-drink minimum. (714) 871-8800.

FRIDAY

all day

Art

Do you see what they see? The “All Orange County Juried Photography Show” features variations on interpretations of Orange County as seen through the lenses of local photographers. Newport Beach-gallery owner Susan Spiritus is the judge.

* “All Orange County Juried Photography Show,” Newport Beach City Hall gallery, 3300 Newport Blvd. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Continues Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Ends May 5. Free. (949) 717-3870.

FRIDAY

8pm

Theater

The Parisian “boulevard comedy” is a racy highlight of French theater, and Marc Camoletti’s uproarious “Don’t Dress for Dinner” is a prime example. This English version, adapted by Robin Hawdon from Camoletti’s original “Pyjamas pour Six,” opens on the Mainstage at the Long Beach Playhouse. The manic face concerns Bernard’s attempt to entertain his chic Parisian mistress, Suzy, at his fashionably converted French farmhouse. Of course, he has to get rid of his wife first, and bring his best friend along as an alibi, but it’s a perfect plan. Or is it? Not in French farce. Camoletti tries to outdo Feydeau with his fast action and riotous humor, under the direction of Playhouse veteran Gregory Cohen.

* “Don’t Dress for Dinner,” Long Beach Playhouse Mainstage, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Also April 11, 18 & May 2, 2 p.m. Ends May 15. $12 to $15. (562) 494-1616.

FRIDAY

9pm

Pop Music

From James Brown at the Apollo to Janis Joplin at Monterey, rock and roll has produced a small handful of classic live albums. We don’t know if the same will hold true for the Ziggens, but if you want to experience history in the making, stop by the Foothill Club to hear this local “cowpunksurfabilly” outfit record part of their first in-concert release.

* With Loving Kindness and the Pivot Foots. The Foothill Club, 1922 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill. $8. (562) 984-8349. (Recording continues on May 3 at the Blue Cafe in Long Beach.)

FRIDAY

all day

Movies

In “The Out-of-Towners,” Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn play a middle-class couple from Ohio whose short visit to New York becomes a comedy of errors, taking the duo from Times Square to Greenwich Village to the Fulton Fish Market and everywhere in between. Sam Weisman (“George of the Jungle” and TV’s “Moonlighting”) directs this second film adaptation of the Neil Simon play. Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis starred in the 1970 version for director Arthur Hiller.

* The latest “The Out-of-Towners” (PG-13) opens Friday in general release. The 1970 version, which is rated G, is available in video stores.

SATURDAY

9am

Holiday

Two Anaheim parks will host an all-day Easter celebration, featuring arts, crafts, storytelling and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Best of all, kids 12 and under can bring their baskets and join in an elaborate egg-hunting competition.

* Modjeska Park, 1331 S. Nutwood St. and Peralta Park, 115 N. Pinney Drive, Anaheim. Free, $2 to enter egg hunt. (714) 765-5267.

SATURDAY

11am

Holiday

With few exceptions, Easter eggs come from chickens. But if we ever run out of chickens, what will the substitute be? Stop by the Santa Ana Zoo for the sixth annual Spring SpEGGtacular, in which eggs laid by all sorts of different animals are on display. And of course, when the learning is over, there are also crafts, seed planting and a visit from the Easter Bunny for the younger set.

* Spring SpEGGtacular, Santa Ana Zoo, Prentice Park, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana. $2 to $4. (714) 953-8555.

SATURDAY

8pm

Jazz

A concert from keyboardist Keiko Matsui includes impressionistic, New Age-influenced jazz as well as hard-rockin’ blues. Her ensemble features husband Kazu Matsui, whose skills with the Japanese shakuhachi flute gives Keiko’s sound additional exotic appeal.

* Keiko Matsui, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive. 8 p.m. $27 to $42. (800) 300-4345.

Saturday

8pm

Pop Music

The Grateful Dead is history, but the music lives on courtesy of Jazz Is Dead. Released last year, the improvisational band’s debut, “Blue Light Rain,” features Dead songs that were rarely played live by the legendary jam band. The jazz-rockers--guitarist Jimmy Herring, bassist Alfonso Johnson, keyboardist T Lavitz and drummer Jeff Sipe (replacing the recently departed Billy Cobham)--go one step further for this local stopover: The quartet’s second set will include, from start to finish, the Grateful Dead’s influential 1973 release, “Wake of the Flood.” A Deadhead’s delight.

* Jazz Is Dead, Wheels of Autumn and Solomon Grundy. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 8 p.m. $17.50 to $19.50. (949) 496-8930.

SATURDAY

6:30&8:30pm

Theater

This is the last night to catch the 16th annual “Glory of Easter,” the stage spectacular that tells the biblical Easter story. The production features special effects, a cast of hundreds, flying angels and a menagerie of live animals, including a Bengal tiger.

* “Glory of Easter,” Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. $20 to $30. (714) 54-GLORY.

Saturday

8pm

Pop Music

Orange County’s own Cadillac Tramps are ready to rumble again. Led by charismatic singer Mike “Gabby” Gaborno, the explosive quintet made a name--if little money--for itself in the early-90’s with a sweaty, swampy mix of punk, blues and roots-rock. The group, which also features core members Brian Coakley, Warren Renfrow and Spanky Barrios, has reformed after a four-year split and is negotiating a new record deal with its former label, Dr. Dream Records. Heck, if X can reunite with some gusto, why not the Tramps?

* The Cadillac Tramps, Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor, Santa Ana. 8 p.m. $13.50 to $15.50. (714) 957-0600.