* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa

Mesa, CA 92627; by e-mail to jeff.benson@latimes.com; by fax to (949)

646-4170; or by calling (949) 574-4298. Include the time, date and

location of the event, as well as a contact phone number.

THURSDAY

The third annual Festival of Children is held from 6 to 9 p.m. in

the Nordstrom Parking Lot at South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St.,

Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 546-0110.

SATURDAY

The Orange County Cruisin’ Assn.’s “Great Labor Day Car Cruise”

runs from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and Sunday at the Orange County

Fair and Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Admission is

$10 for adults and free for children under 12. Information: (714)

826-1948.

Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden will sign his new book,

“Inches and Miles,” from 2 to 4 p.m. at Borders South Coast Plaza,

3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 432-7854.

SUNDAY

The Zen Center of Orange County is offering an “Introduction to

Zen” workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. at 120 E. 18th St., Costa Mesa. The

workshop combines experience in Zen meditation with small group

instruction. The cost is $60. Information: (949) 722-7818.

SEPT. 8

A Manuscripts book discussion group will meet at 9:15 a.m. in the

Friends Meeting Room of the Newport Beach Public Library, 1000

Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. The free discussion will focus on Edward

P. Jones’ “The Known World.” Information: (949) 717-3800 or

https://www.newport beachlibrary.org.

SEPT. 10

Professional inventor George Margolin will present “Tips for the

Independent Inventor” and “How Our Endangered Patent System Leads to

an Endangered Economy” at 7:30 p.m. at Orange Coast College’s Science

Lecture Hall 101, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Information: (714)

540-2491.