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Around Town: Fashion Island to host menorah lighting Sunday

Holocaust survivor Jacob Eisenbach, left, and Rabbi Reuven Mintz of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life light the menorah at Fashion Island in Newport Beach in 2017. This year’s lighting is Sunday, the first evening of Hanukkah.
(File Photo)
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Fashion Island and the Chabad Center for Jewish Life will begin the traditional eight-day celebration of Hanukkah with a menorah lighting ceremony Sunday starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Newport Beach shopping center’s Atrium Court.

The celebration will include musical performances, gifts, Hanukkah crafts, face painting and balloon animals. Participants are encouraged to bring a gift for a toy drive.

For the record:

10:59 a.m. Dec. 20, 2019This article originally reported incorrectly that the Marina Park family night is Saturday. It actually is Friday.

Buffalo Wild Wings grand opening Friday in Costa Mesa

A new Buffalo Wild Wings in downtown Costa Mesa is having its grand opening at 7 p.m. Friday.

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The restaurant in the Costa Mesa Courtyards at 1835 Newport Blvd. replaces a Mimi’s Cafe that closed in 2016 after 31 years.

Friday’s grand opening will include an appearance by UFC fighter Dominick Reyes and an eating competition.

Huntington Beach’s Pacific City is hosting a Cookie Crawl in which participating merchants will offer holiday cookies from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.

A movie will play at 6 p.m. at the second-level Surf Theater. Guests are asked to bring beach chairs and blankets for the movie.

‘Nutcracker’ production playing at Golden West College

The Ballet Repertory Theatre is having performances of “The Nutcracker” through Tuesday at the Golden West College theater, 15751 Gothard St., Huntington Beach.

Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Tickets start at $16. For more information, call (714) 895-8150 or visit gwctheater.com.

Chapel singers to perform at Bella Terra

Singers from Refuge Calvary Chapel in Huntington Beach will perform Christmas music Friday at Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach.

The concert begins at 6 p.m.

Marina Park hosts family night for Newport boat parade

Santa and his reindeer cruise along the route of the 2019 Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade on Wednesday evening. The parade continues nightly through Sunday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

A family-night viewing of the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is set for Marina Park from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, with parade viewing at 6:30 p.m.

The event includes Santa Claus, children’s crafts and other activities.

Admission is $25 for adults and $15 for children. Marina Park is at 1600 W. Balboa Blvd.

For more information, call (949) 270-8150.

County supervisor sponsors holiday concert at Mile Square

Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do is sponsoring a free concert at 5 p.m. Saturday at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley.

The event will include Santa Claus, a face-painting booth, reindeer antlers and free treats.

The concert is at the park’s Freedom Hall, 16801 Euclid St. The entrance is at Edinger Avenue and Ward Street. For more information, call (714) 834-3110.

Lido Village store to host exercise event

Sweaty Betty, a women’s clothing store in Newport Beach’s Lido Marina Village, is having an exercise benefit called “Sweat for a Claus” from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday.

Proceeds will benefit St. Jude hospital. To register, visit lidomarinavillage.com/events.

Volunteers sought to help restore Talbert Regional Park

Volunteers interested in habitat restoration can meet at Talbert Regional Park in Costa Mesa at 9 a.m. Saturday. Activities may include non-native plant removal, trail maintenance and watering. No experience is necessary.

The park is at 1298 Victoria St. The group will meet at the vehicle gate on Balboa Boulevard.

Short hike Saturday for shortest day of the year

A winter solstice hike is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, starting at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach.

The free 2- to 3-mile walk will be on developed trails and some hills.

For more information, call (949) 923-2290.

‘Impractical Jokers’ stars to perform at Pacific Amphitheatre

Tickets are on sale for a Costa Mesa stop of a national comedy tour featuring the stars of the TruTV series “Impractical Jokers.

“The Scoopski Potatoes Tour,” starring the Tenderloins (James “Murr” Murray, Brian “Q” Quinn, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano) is headed to the Pacific Amphitheatre at the OC Fair & Event Center on July 26 during the 2020 Orange County Fair.

For more information, visit impracticaljokers.com. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster and include admission to the fair.

Santas to surf in Newport Beach

A surfer dressed as a Christmas tree prepares to hit the waves at Blackies beach in Newport Beach in 2018.
A surfer dressed as a Christmas tree prepares to hit the waves at Blackies beach in Newport Beach in 2018.
(File Photo / AFP/Getty Images)

Surfers dressed as Santa Claus will paddle out at Blackies beach in Newport Beach on Sunday.

Surfers and spectators are welcome from 8 to 11 a.m. Free breakfast treats will be available while supplies last.

Blackies is between the 28th Street jetty and the Newport Pier.

‘Sinatra’s Tailor’ author coming to H.B. Barnes & Noble

Mark Thompson, author of “Sinatra’s Tailor,” will have a book-singing event at 4 p.m. Sunday at Barnes & Noble in the Bella Terra mall, 7881 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach.

The book is about Umberto Autore, an immigrant who became a tailor to Frank Sinatra and other celebrities.

Pacific Chorale looking for spirited singers

The Pacific Chorale’s Holiday Sing-Along is set for 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The concert will be at the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

For more information, call (714) 556-2121 or visit SCFTA.org.

Mrs. Claus will present a story time and cookie decorating event at Bella Terra in Huntington Beach from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday.

To RSVP, visit eventbrite.com/e/story-time-with-mrs-claus-tickets-80420402589.

Bella Terra is at 7777 Edinger Ave.

Forever 21 set to close Fashion Island store

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Los Angeles-based fashion retailer Forever 21 will soon lead to the closure of 21 California stores, including the Fashion Island location at 1101 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach.

Forever 21 reported in September that it had filed for bankruptcy protection and would be closing up to 178 stores. That total was later cut to 111 stores, and a Nov. 14 notice sent to the state Employment Development Department listed 21 California store closures, including 12 in Southern California, the Orange County Register reported.

The California closures will begin Jan. 5 or within two weeks after that, the company said.

— City News Service

Surfing pooch helps raise money for French bulldog rescue

Cherie, a French bulldog from Newport Beach, won the World Dog Surfing Championships in August.
(File Photo)

Cherie the surfing French bulldog of Newport Beach has been chosen for a 2019 Holiday Wishes honorable mention by the Petco Foundation, putting her in position to raise thousands of dollars for the French Bulldog Rescue Network.

A vote for Cherie for the People’s Choice Award can put the Virginia-based national rescue group, which arranged Cherie’s adoption to her current owners in 2012, in line to win $5,000 to $25,000. To vote for her, visit wshe.es/VSzW2dG5.

Cherie won the overall title at the World Dog Surfing Championships in August in Pacifica.

Newport commission awards cultural grants

The Newport Beach Arts Commission, with City Council approval, recently gave nine local organizations grants ranging from $500 to $5,000.

This year’s recipients are the Balboa Island Improvement Assn., Baroque Music Festival, Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, Kontrapunktus Neo-Baroque Orchestra, Laguna Playhouse, Newport Elementary School Foundation, Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and South Coast Repertory.

Trail run scheduled at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

The Laguna Canyon Foundation will present a trail run Dec. 26 starting at 8 a.m. It will be a 5½-mile run with an elevation gain of 600 feet through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Participation is free. Parking is $3. For more information, call (949) 923-2235 or visit lagunacanyon.org/trailrunning.

Participants are asked to carry their own water and snacks.

Nonprofit’s clients get free hairstyling from Paul Mitchell school

More than a dozen Orange County adults with developmental disabilities were treated to free salon treatments and hairstyling this month, courtesy of Paul Mitchell the School in Costa Mesa.

The services for the visitors, who are clients of the nonprofit Project Independence of Costa Mesa and participate in its Access 2 Adventure Program, were provided Dec. 8 by students at the school under the supervision of professionals.

Veterans given poinsettias, thanks to Orange Coast College

Veterans at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System are enjoying poinsettias grown in the hospital’s patient garden after being donated by Orange Coast College, according to a news release.

For two years, the Costa Mesa campus has donated poinsettia clippings to the patient garden. Two hundred to 300 clippings were set aside this year for the Long Beach hospital.

Laguna High students chosen for Patriots Day Parade

Laila Cruz and Nathan Soloman, seniors at Laguna Beach High School, were chosen as the 2020 Junior Citizens for the annual Patriots Day Parade.

Next year’s parade is scheduled for March 7.

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