FOOD + DRINK
Great American Grill-Off
June 8. Bistango hosts its inaugural grilling contest featuring five local grill masters and their unique recipes. Dine al fresco and enjoy live music, new summer cocktails and complimentary appetizers on the lush patio from 5-6:30 pm as the finalists show off their culinary skills and compete for the grill master title. The event also features a fashion show of the latest swimsuit styles sponsored by SwimSpot. Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.752.5222. bistango.com
OC BBQ & Music Festival
June 9-10. The 5th Annual Orange County BBQ and Music Festival packs in all of the sights, sounds and tastes of summer into one amazing two-day extravaganza. Bring your appetite along for a feast of BBQ favorites such as brisket, ribs, pulled pork and all the fixings from more than 70 award-winning barbecue teams competing for a State Championship. Local breweries and wineries offer samples and tastings to complement the flavorful fare. Children can have fun in the Kid Zone while adults enjoy a car show and musical entertainment throughout the festival including a performance by Sugar Ray on Saturday evening. Proceeds benefit Kristie’s Foundation, an organization that provides assistance, support and cherished moments to critically ill children and their families. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.408.9781. cabbqfestival.com
Bloody Mary Bar at Zimzala
June 10. Temperatures are heating up and Zimzala at Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach is offering a fun new Bloody Mary Bar every Sunday to celebrate. Guests can enjoy a classic Bloody Mary or can get adventurous with Bloody Basil made with Square One basil vodka and fresh basil leaves or a Cuban Mary made with Bacardi Oakheart spiced rum and red peppers. Enjoy these tasty concoctions over brunch on the patio. Brunch selections include favorites such as huevos rancheros, omelettes and Belgian waffles with fresh berries. 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.960.5050. restaurantzimzala.com
FESTIVALS
Sugar Plum Arts and Crafts Festival
June 7-9. Celebrating over three decades of arts and crafts festivals, Sugar Plum strives to bring its customers the very best in handmade goods for each holiday season. This weekend, Sugar Plum celebrates our nation’s birthday with lots of Fourth of July and summer themed decorations, jewelry, clothing, antiques, collectibles and personalized gifts. Vendor artisans also offer homemade dips, jams, candies, breads and baked goods. The festival features P.R.O.U.D. artisans who are recognized for making their own products. OC Fair & Events Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 562.598.0857. sugarplumcrafts.com
Fountain Valley Summerfest
June 8. Join the City of Fountain Valley for the 4th Annual Fountain Valley Summerfest, a weekend of carnival rides, game booths, food and beverage booths, beer and wine gardens and live entertainment. This year’s festival features a classic car show, dog agility contests, battle of the bands and a live sports tent. Fountain Valley Sports Park, 16400 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, 814.839.8611. fvsummerfest.com
MUSIC
The Maine
June 7. Known for their breakthrough album Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, The Maine quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting young rock acts around. After touring with artists such as Augustana and Taking Back Sunday, the Phoenix, Arizona-based band is back with its third full-length studio album, Pioneer. Free form the chains of major label influence, Pioneer is written, produced and funded entirely by The Maine. Special guests, Lydia, Arkells support. 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.712.2700. citynationalgroveofanaheim.com
Peter Cetera
June 7-9. As lead singer of Chicago, Peter Cetera enjoyed a string of top-10 hits, including “25 or 6 to 4” and “You’re the Inspiration.” After launching his solo career, Cetera’s success continued with “Glory of Love,” “The Next Time I Fall” and “Restless Heart.” Cetera joins the Pacific Symphony, conducted by Richard Kaufman, for an evening of summer sounds including a medley of Beach Boys songs. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. pacificsymphony.org
COMEDY
Jon Lovitz
June 8-9. Saturday Night Live alum Jon Lovitz returns to Irvine to perform his one-of-a-kind stand up comedy. Lovitz is no stranger to Irvine having earned a B.A. in drama at the University of California, Irvine before launching his comedy career with The Goundlings. Lovitz has appeared in more than 30 movies including A League of Their Own, The Wedding Singer and Rat Race as well as such popular television shows as Friends, Seinfeld and Two and a Half Men. 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.854.5455. irvine.improv.com
THEATER
Jitney
Through June 10. Enjoy a night out at the theater with Jitney now on stage at Costa Mesa’s South Coast Repertory. A follow-up to the successful 2010 SCR production, Fences, August Wilson’s newest show takes audiences back to the 1970s as urban renewal threatens a storefront station where the drivers of gypsy cabs, known as jitneys, share their funny stories about the day’s fares and meddle in each other’s lives. Cronies drop in, fights break out, a son faces his father after 20 years in prison, lovers make up and just as we get to know this cast of colorful characters, Wilson asks us to look again. 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555. scr.org
Anton’s Uncles
June 8-10. Los Angeles-based Theater Movement Bazaar presents a fresh, funny and physical look at Checkhov’s classic play Uncle Vanya at South Coast Repertory as part of the Studio SCR series. Winner of an Outstanding Theatre Award at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Anton’s Uncles merges the original text with new writing, movement, dancing and singing to emphasize the unspoken, unseen and unexpressed desires of men who are pressed to examine a life unlived. The original work is. The Studio SCR series aims to showcase eclectic, contemporary theatre and performing arts groups from around Southern California. 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 scr.org
ART
Second Saturday Art Fair.
June 9. Peruse artwork from 70 talented artists and craftspeople from throughout Southern California along the streets and parks of downtown San Juan Capistrano. Jazz, bluegrass and other musicians perform throughout the fair as well. Camino Capistrano, Yorba, Verdugo & Los Rios Streets in Historic Downtown San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.4700. sjcartfair.org
New Exhibits at Laguna Art Museum
June 10. Laguna Art Museum introduces three new exhibits this weekend: Clarence Hinkle, Modern Spirit and the Group of Eight and Ex·Pose: Peter Bo Rappmund. The Hinkle exhibit offers a retrospective look at the artist’s stunning body of work, known for its spirit of modernism. Modern Spirit provides a fresh perspective on the art and culture of the 1920s in Los Angeles through the work of eight influential artists of the time. Mainly featuring film, video, photography and sound, Ex·Pose examines natural and rhythmic changes in landscape using creative time-lapse sequences. 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949.494.8971. lagunaartmuseum.org