Joseph Phelps Wine Dinner
Sept. 2. Stop by Fashion Island’s elegant Red O Restaurant for a special wine dinner with Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Special guest speaker Jim Phelps will be there to present a five-course meal with wine pairings. Reservations required. 6:30 p.m. $160. Fashion Island, Red O Restaurant, 143 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.718.0300. redorestaurant.com
Sip & Savor Whiskey Tasting
Sept. 2. Raise a glass to fall nights at Pirch’s Sip & Savor Whiskey tasting. Hosted by whiskey educator, collector and connoisseur of fine single malt whiskies, Ray Pearson, guests will enjoy gourmet appetizers and savory bites to compliment each whiskey. 6-8 p.m. $100. Pirch, 3303 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.429.0800. eventbrite.com
Laguna Dance Festival
Sept. 3-13. Enjoy a robust schedule of ticketed and free performances and master classes. In it’s 11th season, Laguna Dance Festival will bring performances from world-renowned dance companies, Malpaso Dance Company from Havana Cuba and San Francisco’s Alonzo King LINES Ballet. There will be three free public dance presentations by Southern California choreographers and three master classes. See website for full schedule and times. Ticket prices vary based on performance, see website for details. lagunadancefestival.org
SaltFineArt
Sept. 3-Oct. 31. Join SaltFineArt (Latin contemporary art) for an artists reception Thursday, Sept. 3. Meet Cuban artist William Perez and Salvadorian artist Luis Cornejo and view their works of art to be featured through October. An exclusive performance will also take place by choreographer and dancer Will Johnston of the Celeste Lanuza Dance Theatre organized by the Laguna Dance Festival. Artist reception 6-9 p.m.; Dance performance 7:30 p.m. Free. Saltfineart, 1492 South Coast Hwy., Suite #3, Laguna Beach, 949.715.5554. saltfineart.com
Habana
Sept. 7. Celebrate Labor Day with Habana. The Cuban and Latin inspired restaurant located at the LAB, is celebrating two decades with a day of festivities. The party will feature complimentary Ropa Vieja sandwiches, live music, a whole pig roast, paella and more. Taste some of Habana’s signature drinks like the Cuba Libre, the mojito and house sangria. Capture images to make the memories last at the photo booth on site. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Habana, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.556.0176. habanacostamesa.com
Vintner Dinner
Sept. 10. Join Colony Wine Merchant in welcoming Jennifer Lamb of Herb Lamb Vineyard in Napa Valley. Exceptional wines will be showcased and paired with a thoughtfully-crafted menu from The Custom Butcher. Arrive early for a sparkling wine reception and enjoy pairings like HL Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 with California superior farm braised rosemary leg of lamb. 7 p.m. $90. Colony Wine Merchant, 280 S. Lemon St., Anaheim, 657.208.1860. colonywinemerchant.com
Brian Regan at Segerstrom Center
Sept. 12. Prepare for a night of extreme laughter. One of the most respected comedians in the country, Brian Regan, will stop at Segerstrom Center for the Arts during his 10-year, Non-Stop Theater Tour. Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock both claim Brian Regan as one of their favorite comedians of all time. Tickets start at $49. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
Style Week OC
Sept. 10-19. Enjoy fashion shows, in-store parties and trend presentations to celebrate the best in O.C. style at the 8th annual Style Week OC showcases. Neiman Marcus kicks off the week-long series at Fashion Island featuring fall’s hottest trends. Other locations include the Irvine Spectrum Center and The Market Place. See website for full schedule, dates and corresponding locations. Free admission, limited seating. first come, first serve. Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.2000. Irvine Spectrum, 670 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, 949.753.5180. The Market Place, 2961 El Camino Real, Tustin, 714.730.4124. orangecountyzest.com
Toshiba Tall Ships Festival
Sept. 12-13. Grab your eye patch and enjoy music, pirate encampment and tall-ship tours. Ride aboard tall ships during sunset parade; mock cannon battle; and tall-ship-escort cruise. $5-$65. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point; park at Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.2274. tallshipsfestival.com
Oktoberfest
Sept. 13-Nov. 1. Celebrate Oktoberfest early at Old World. Enjoy German food, music and activities including yodeling and dachshund races. Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.895.8020, oldworld.ws
21 Oceanfront
Sept. 15. Join 21 Oceanfront for an amazing 6-course wine dinner, including dessert, featuring Etude wines. Savor items like Asian-style petite filet of salmon paired with 2012 Etude Estate Pinot Noir Fiddlestix. Guest speaker Margaux Kugelman. 6:30 p.m. $99. 21 Oceanfront, 2100 West Oceanfront, Newport Beach, 949.673.2100. 21oceanfront.com
THE WHO
Sept. 16. The Who is celebrating a 50-year legacy with their tour “The Who hits 50!” They will be stopping at the Honda Center to perform a wide range of their musical collection –everything from classics to some of the newer hits. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $58. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2400. hondacenter.com
Kevin Hart “What Now?”
Sept. 17. Get ready for some serious laughs with Kevin Hart, one of the foremost comedians and entertainers in the industry today. Best known for his roles in movies Soldiers, Scary Movie 3 and Along Came Polly, he’s bringing his What Now? comedy tour to Honda Center on September 17. 7 p.m. Tickets start at $87. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2400. hondacenter.com
Chris Brown with Kid Ink and Omarion
Sept. 18. Come see the One Hell of a Nite Tour featuring Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum selling artist Chris Brown along with guest performances by Kid Ink, Omarion, Fetty Wap and Teyana Taylor. 7 p.m. Tickets start at $85. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2400. hondacenter.com
Local Brews, Local Grooves
Sept. 19. Experience some of Southern California’s finest breweries, hottest bands and tastiest foods at the ultimate craft beer, food and music festival. House of Blues Anaheim will be featuring 18 breweries such as Left Coast and Barley Forge and more than 17 bands like Big Monsta and Get Down Boys, complete with three different stages. Enjoy tasty eats such as Cuban waffle sliders and craft root beer floats. Check out the full list of breweries and performers online. VIP 4:30 p.m.; General Admission 5 p.m. General Admission $12-$27. VIP (includes admission for 2) $60. 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.778.2583. houseofblues.com
OC Fest of Ales
Sept. 19. All guests are VIP with unlimited beer tasting and unlimited food tastes from OC Restaurants at Anaheim’s third annual Fest of Ales. Enjoy brews, food and music with some friendly competitions on Center Street Promenade. Breweries include Ballast Point, Beach City, Karl Straus and Noble Ale Works among others. Also featured during the event will be the announcement of the winners of the home brew challenge. The Brew My Brew Challenge brings together those who don’t just drink craft beer, but make it, too. The Best of Show winner will have their amateur creation brewed by Bottle Logic Brewery and recognized by the Mayor of Anaheim. 12-4 p.m. $70. Designated Driver (doesn’t include beer tasting) $40. 201 Center St. Promenade, Anaheim, 714.956.3586. festofales.com
Long Beach Folk Revival Festival
Sept. 19. Bring your blankets and (low backed) chairs for the 3rd annual Long Beach Folk Revival Festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park. Enjoy live folk, roots, Americana and Bluegrass music and bottled spirits along with fun events such as a beard and mustache contest and a banjo contest. 21 and over. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. $20 in advance, $30 at the door. See website for tickets and full line up. Across from Shoreline Village and the Marina, Downtown Long Beach, folkrevivalfestival.com
Knott’s Scary Farm
Sept. 24-Oct. 31. It’s almost Halloween! Snoopy’s favorite theme park turns sinister on select nights during the Halloween season. This year, its 43rd, includes new lives shows, mazes and 1,000 monsters lurking throughout the park. Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.220.5200, knotts.com
Unleashed by Petco Surf City Surf Dog
Sept. 25-27. Dog owners and lovers from near and far are invited to Huntington Beach dog beach for a weekend full of puppy-lovin’ fun. The 7th annual Surf City Surf Dog Competition features a multi-heat dog surfing competition at Huntington Beach dog beach, “yappy hour” red carpet event at Shorebreak Hotel, PAWabunga costume contest, dog surfing history exhibit and the International Surf Dog Walk of Fame at the International Surf Museum. The main surfing competition will be held on Sunday. See website for each event’s ticket prices and pre-registration. F 6-8 p.m.; Sat 6-8:30 p.m.; Sun 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Registration fees $10-$25; surfing competition $60. Varying locations, see website for details. Downtown Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach, surfcitysurfdog.com
Fascination of Orchids
Sept. 26-27. If you love orchids, there is no better placed to be. See the Fascination of Orchids exhibition featuring a huge assortment of orchids. Experts speak on how to grow and display the flowers. 10 am-5 pm. Free. South Coast Plaza Village, 1631 W. Sunflower, Santa Ana, 949.735.2930, fascinationoforchids.com
Tamarind of London
Ongoing. Enjoy Tamarind of London’s new happy hour menu available Sunday through Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Savor small bite specials like the lamb seekh kebab and half off all signature craft cocktails. Relax on the outdoor patio complete with fire pits, water features and a sommelier who pairs every entree with a hand-selected wine! Sun-Th 5-7 p.m. Tamarind of London, 7862 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.715.8338. tamarindcollection.com
Â