PLANNING AHEAD

AUTHOR

Wendy Shalit will sign her book, “A Return to Modesty,” at 7 tonight at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 S. Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

OPERA

Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman,” 7:30 tonight, Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa. $28-$131. (800) 340-7372.

MUSIC

Native American flutist and storyteller Elk Whistle plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 12860 Euclid St., Garden Grove. Free. (714) 894-2850.

THEATER

Readers Repertory Theatre reads Anton Chekhov, 7 p.m. Wednesday, 30341 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel. Free. (949) 499-3665.

HISTORY

A four-part series on the Gold Rush starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. To register, call (949) 717-3808.