Simply Styling Book Launch and Signing Party
Nov. 1. In collaboration with Sterling Publishing, Room & Board SOCO invites you to celebrate the launch of Simply Styling, the debut design book from stylist and blogger Kristen Grove. Simply Styling gives readers practical ideas on how to create a beautifully styled home by layering new products with inherited and collected pieces. During the exclusive Room & Board book tour event, Kristen will read excerpts and sign copies of her book, which will be available for purchase, and guests can enjoy light bites and beverages. 6-8 p.m. Free. 3009 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.549.5995. roomandboard.com
Canvas and Wine
Nov. 1. Express your creativity while sipping and indulging at The Anaheim White House. Canvases, brushes and paints will be provided along with four wine tastings and heavy hors d’ouevres. The event will benefit Caterina’s Club, a nonprofit that helps “motel kids” and their families who are forced to live in cramped, crime-ridden motels. 6-8:30 p.m. $55. 887 South Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.772.1381. anaheimwhitehouse.com
StyleCon – Where Beauty Meets Fashion Expo
Nov. 5. Calling all fashionistas, trend-setters and style-seekers for a one-day beauty and fashion multi-platform experience for millennial social influencers, media and fans. Engage with leading brands and attend style panels, fashion presentations and meet and greets with favorite Instagrammers, bloggers and YouTubers. Revel in the fabulous Topshop personal shopping suite, complete with the season’s hottest holiday looks and exclusive offers. Dozens of professionals at Sleekhair’s huge beauty emporium will offer one-on-one tutorials and testing of trending hair, skin, and nail products, as well as amazing discounts on today’s most coveted beauty brands. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets start at $39. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 949.500.4818. stylecon.com
Balboa Craft Beer Festival
Nov. 5. Enjoy brews, music and food under the sun for the second annual Balboa Craft Beer Festival. The seaside location will host 15 breweries with 30 craft beers and unlimited food from favorite restaurants on the Newport Beach peninsula. Breweries include Left Coast Brewery, Barley Forge, Kona Brewing Company and more. The Trough Sandwich Kitchen, Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill and Newport Landing Restaurant & Oyster Bar are a few of the participating restaurants. Dance to live music and play outdoor yard games. 21 and over. 1-5 p.m. $65/pp, designated drivers $45/pp. Balboa Village, 600 E. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach. balboabeerfest.com
ComplexCon
Nov. 5-6. Watch, listen, experience, taste and learn at this year’s ComplexCon. Featuring artists, musicians, chefs and other cutting-edge tastemakers, ComplexCon is a two-day celebration of the creative and collaborative spirits of our culture. Expect live performances by Skrillex, Kid Cudi, Pharrell Williams, Travis Scott, Virgil Abloh, Snoop Dog, Lil Yachty, 2 Chainz and many more! Experience over 100 popup shops and some of So Cal’s best food trucks. See website for weekend schedule. Tickets start at $45. Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 888.267.3793. complexcon.com
The Buddy Group Invitational
Nov. 7. Slip on your wacky argyle socks and head to the golf course for a special ’80s-themed party hosted by Project Hope Alliance. Enjoy live entertainment, live and silent auctions as well as food and beverages. Orange County’s local rock band Flock of 80’s will perform at sunset. For an additional cost, arrive early and participate in the most unconventional golf game you’ve ever played. The format for the invitational is a four-player best-ball with unique activities and challenges peppered across the 18-hole course. The event will benefit Project Hope Alliance and its efforts to end the cycle of homelessness for children and families in Orange County. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. See website for schedule. Non-golfers, general admission $60. Golfing packages start at $1000. Aliso Viejo Country Club, 33 Santa Barbara Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949.598.9200. invitational.thebuddygroup.com
Home Alone
Nov. 11. Revisit the hilarious and heart-warming holiday comedy Home Alone. The classic features John Williams’ charming and captivating score performed live by Pacific Symphony to a screening of the film. When 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left behind after his family takes off on Christmas vacation, he needs to defend his home against two bungling burglars. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
Outlets at San Clemente Toast & Taste Birthday Bash
Nov. 11. Join the Outlets at San Clemente for its one-year anniversary. The Spanish Colonial-inspired storefronts are ready to celebrate with exciting live entertainment, wine, cocktails, craft beer and food trucks. Family-friendly activities will include a photo booth, face painting, balloon animals and complimentary birthday cake. Future Outlets at San Clemente eateries Slapfish and Rockwell’s Bakery & Café will also offer guests complementary food. Birthday celebrations will continue all weekend long. F 5-8 p.m. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, Suite 190, San Clemente. Outletsatsanclemente.com
Harry Potter Film Concert Series
Nov. 11-13. Relive one of your childhood favorites—Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—but this time with a live symphony. The Harry Potter film concert series will feature the live symphony orchestra performing, to picture, every note from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Experience the magic of the film in high-definition on a 40-foot screen while hearing the orchestra perform John Williams’ unforgettable score. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $49. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
The Boxcar Children
Nov. 11-20. Based on the popular children’s book, see the story of four orphaned siblings as they evade authorities and a mysterious stranger. On their journey, they discover the rewards and perils of a life of independence while hiding out in an abandoned boxcar they find in the forest. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $15. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787. lagunaplayhouse.com
True Sioux Hope Foundation Gala
Nov. 12. Sip cocktails, indulge on dinner and enjoy an evening of dancing and entertainment—including art and live and silent auctions—all for a good cause. In honor of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the second largest Native American Reservation in the United States and the poorest place in the entire country, proceeds will benefit the Ture Sioux Hope Foundation. 5 p.m. $400. Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, truesiouxhopegala.org
Champagne & Oyster “Sip & Shuck”
Nov. 13. Taste a variety of oysters and sparkling wines from around the world while enjoying panoramic ocean views. Sister restaurants The Deck on Laguna Beach and Driftwood Kitchen come together at The Bungalows at Pacific Edge Hotel to bring the fourth annual “Sip & Shuck.” Executive Chef Rainer Schwarz and his team will also prepare delicious tastes from both The Deck and Driftwood Kitchen. 21 and over. 2-6 p.m. $95-$120. 627 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach. sipnshuck.com
Destiny of Desire
Through Nov. 13. Based in Bellarica, Mexico, see the story of two baby girls born—one to poverty, one to privilege—and then secretly switched by a scheming former beauty queen. Eighteen years later the girls meet, brought together by misfortune. In this fast-paced comedy inspired by popular telenovelas, forbidden love, revenge, infidelity and burning passion abound. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $64. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555. scr.org
Odysseo
Nov. 16-Jan. 8. This spectacle of free-running horses that marries equestrian arts with live music and dance, acrobatics and high-tech theatrical effects, arrives under a 10-story-tall white big top in Irvine. The dream-like production, created by one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil, involves 65 horses and 48 performers, including riders, aerialists, acrobats, dancers and musicians. Other highlights include the 17,500 square-foot stage that features a state-of-the-art video screen three times the size of the world’s largest cinema screens, as well as a three-story mountain for dazzling perspectives and a real lake—the last of which magically appears for a splashing finale. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $29.50. The White Big Top, 16576 Laguna Canyon Road, Irvine, 1.866.999.8111. cavalia.net
Mikhailovsky Ballet: Le Corsaire
Nov. 18-20. Bustling bazaars, the roaring seas, dashing pirates and exotic harem dancers make for an enchanted experience as the Mikhailovsky Ballet (from St. Petersburg, Russia) tells the story of the love between a pirate and a slave. The action takes place against the backdrop of the open sea, in remote grottoes, amid the hustle and bustle of an eastern bazaar and the languid luxury of a sultan’s harem. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Nov. 18-19. Welcome the holidays and experience the highly anticipated Fashion Island’s annual holiday tree lighting ceremony. KOST 103.5 FM’s Mark Wallengren, along with Mrs. Claus, will host the night in the Neiman Marcus-Bloomingdale’s Courtyard with exclusive performances, holiday greetings and “snowfall.” Be sure to arrive early to stake out your seats; guests are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs to reserve their spots. 6-6:30 p.m. Free. Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.2000. shopfashionisland.com
The Color Run Tropicolor World Tour
Nov. 19. Trek your way through a 5k course, whether you prefer strolling, jogging or sprinting, with all the fun leisure of an island-style vacation. Prepare to be bathed in a tropical array of colors and island scents as you pass through the shade of palm trees, inflatable arches and island-style music. With every kilometer, you’ll enter a different color zone until reaching the end of the course, where you’ll find rainbow beach—an interactive island featuring music, dancing, unique photo opportunities and massive color throws. 8 a.m. $49.99-$69.99. Huntington State Beach, 21601 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach. thecolorrun.com
The Ritz-Carlton Surfing Santa Competition
Nov. 19. See men, women and children dress like Santa and other holiday-inspired characters for a Salt Creek Beach Surf Competition. The winner of the “best dressed” award will receive a $500 prize! After the competition, further your surf experience by checking out one-of-a-kind surfboards made by acclaimed artists, master surfboard shapers and world-renowned surfers. The unique surfboards will be up for auction at the Ritz Carlton through Dec. 31. Proceeds benefit Surfers Healing. See website for schedule. Free. $50 entry fee. Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point, 949.240.5088. surfingsantacontest.org
Winter Fantasy
Weekends beginning Nov. 19. The Sawdust Festival grounds are transformed into a winter wonderland. See 175 artists display and sell their creations as holiday gifts. Enjoy food, live holiday entertainment, art classes, a petting zoo and of course—Santa Claus. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $7. 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.494.3030. sawdustartfestival.org
Mamma Mia!
Nov. 22-27. Have the time of your life at this smash-hit musical that combines ABBA’s greatest hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “Super Trouper,” “Take A Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes It All,” with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $29. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
Queen Mary’s Chill
Nov. 23-Jan. 8. Experience frozen magic as The Queen Mary is overtaken by a deep freeze for the fifth annual Chill. In addition to ice skating, ice tubing, sleigh rides and visits with Santa, jump in on a new interactive and immersive experience—Alice in Winterland. The re-imagination of the classic Lewis Carroll story features stunning, larger than life lanterns as you follow Alice and her adventure into the Hall of Doors, the White Rabbit’s kitchen, Mad Hatter’s work shop, the proverbial tea party and much more. See website for select dates and times. $39.99, Children ages 4-11 $29.99. Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 877.342.0752. queenmary.com
Turkey Trot
Nov. 24. Burn some calories before you feast with the annual Thanksgiving Day run, which takes you through the beautiful beaches, cliffs and coves of Dana Point. Bring the kids to participate in a mini-trot of their own. 6-11 a.m. $35-$50; Kids’ Gobble Wobble 1-mile race, $15-$25. Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.1555. turkeytrot.com
Plymouth Rock ‘N’ Run
Nov. 24. Earn your Thanksgiving calories by starting the day with a 5k- or 10k-course around the perimeter of the Yorba Regional Park and the Santa Ana River bike trail. There will be live music throughout the run as well as prizes, food, a finish line festival and a 1k kids fun run for ages 12 and under. Race start times: 10K (timed) 7 a.m.; 5K (timed & untimed) 8 a.m.; kids 1K fun run (untimed) 9 a.m.; tot trot 9 a.m.. $15-$50. Yorba Regional Park, 7600 E. La Palma Ave, Anaheim, 714.779.7833. plymouthrocknrun.com
Newport Dunes Lighting of The Bay
Nov. 25-27. Jump right into the holidays and enjoy the lighting of the bay. Entertainment includes live performances by OC Children’s Song Group and Corona del Mar High School Choir. Don’t miss Santa—he will arrive on Friday night for the lighting of the bay at 5:30 p.m. See website for full weekend schedule. Free. 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 800.765.7661. newportdunes.com
Harland Williams
Nov. 25-27. See hilarious comedian and actor Harland Williams perform stand-up comedy at Irvine Improv. Known for his hilarious movie roles and outlandish stand up and sketch comedy routines, you’ll recognize him from Dumb and Dumber, Something about Mary, Half Baked, Sorority Boys and so many more. 21 and over. F 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m., Sa 7 p.m., 9 p.m., Su 7 p.m. $22. Irvine Improv, 527 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, 949.854.5455. irvine.improv.com
Small Business Saturday at SOCO and The OC Mix
Nov. 26. Forget Black Friday—shop ’til you drop on Small Business Saturday at SOCO and The OC Mix. In honor of supporting small businesses in our community, arrive early and receive a complimentary gift bag (only 250 available). RSVP in advance to receive discounts from select SOCO shops and restaurants all day long. During the day, you are invited to spend $50, and receive a raffle ticket to win up to $500 in SOCO and The OC Mix gift cards. Enjoy live music in the courtyard and free gift wrapping with any purchase. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. 3303 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.760.9150. eventbrite.com/soco
Wooden Legacy Championship Sunday
Nov. 27. Catch the eight-school, bracketed in-season tournament featuring perennial collegiate basketball powers. Four games, including the Wooden Legacy Championship, will be played at Honda Center—the field features CSUN, Dayton, Nebraska, New Mexico, Portland, Texas A&M, UCLA and Virginia Tech as participants. 11 a.m. Tickets start at $25. Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. hondacenter.com
Bayside 17th Anniversary
Through Nov. Help Bayside celebrate its 17th anniversary with a special three-course menu that comes with a $20 bounce back card. The prix-fixe dinner starts with a choice of lobster salad or tuna tartar, either Chilean sea bass or filet Mignon as the entrée and a special dessert. Each guest ordering this menu during November, the anniversary month, will receive the bounce back card that may be redeemed in January 2017. Call for reservations. Prix-fixe menu $66. Bayside, 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.1222. baysiderestaurant.com
OC Chill Ice Rink
Through Jan. 16. Welcome the holiday season with an evening of ice skating in Irvine Spectrum’s outdoor ice skating rink. Visit the Giant Wheel Court for the glimpse of winter in Orange County. See website for hours. $16-$20. Giant Wheel Court, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.748.8280. skatespectrum.com