Events
Kevin Nealon
May 14. Have a laugh with Emmy and SAG-nominated actor, comedian and author Kevin Nealon on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza. Best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Nealon makes his Segerstrom Center debut with two stand-up acts where attendees can watch in their assigned viewing area (or “pod”). Masks are required upon check-in. Each pod will be separated by at least 6 feet from neighboring viewing areas. Showtimes: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Pods start at $60. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
Roller Skating Class with Atomic Skate Exchange
May 15. Roll on over to Atomic Skate Exchange in Irvine to learn (for free!) how to master the art of skating with instructor Leo Ra James. There are four different sessions available for all skill levels. No registration needed. Mask are required. Schedule: Beginning Basics at 2 p.m., Skate Line Boogie at 2:45 p.m., Crazy Legs at 3:30 p.m., Open Skate at 4:15 p.m. Free. 17961 Sky Park Circle, Suite H, Irvine, 949.325.8646. atomicskates.com | More Info
SOCO Farmers Market
Every Saturday. Support small businesses and local artisans at SOCO and the OC Mix’s weekly farmers market. Peruse through the outdoor market featuring food artisans and hot-food vendors, serving up specialized pantry items and an open-air brunch or lunch. Shoppers can also find local artists with handmade jewelry, crafts, body-care and gift items. A knife sharpening service is also available during the market with free kids events and entertainment offered on special occasions. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 3315 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.760.9150. socoandtheocmix.com
Food + Drink
Prix-Fixe Tasting Dinner at Knife Pleat
May 15. Experience chef Tony Esnault’s weekly six-course tasting menu at elegant French restaurant, Knife Pleat. This week’s menu features dishes such as chef Tony’s terrine with strawberry and rhubarb chutney, port reduction, and toasted brioche; Parmentier soup; blue prawn risotto; lamb with broccolini, spring onion, favas pistachio, mint infused jus; and more. Reserve seats for the dining room or open-air patio. 6:30 p.m. $175 per person, additional $105 for wine pairings. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Suite 3001, Costa Mesa, 714.266.3388. knifepleat.com
Clay Oven at Home: Anari Tandoori Chicken
May 16. Save yourself the hassle of cooking with a family meal delivered by Clay Oven. This week’s main dish will be a whole Jidori chicken mesquite grilled in the tandoor using Clay Oven’s own pomegranates as a marinade and glaze. Additional menu highlights include Chino Farm summer squash in a light tomato sauce, curried black eyed peas, spiced potato yogurt raita, roasted red pepper hummus and naan topped with onion seeds. See website for list of cities Clay Oven delivers to. Orders must be placed by 9 a.m. on May 15; deliveries will be made on May 16 between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $60 for two, $120 for four. clayovenirvine.com
Joe’s Italian Restaurant & Bar
Now Open. The highly anticipated Joe’s Italian Restaurant & Bar is finally open at Mercantile West in Ladera Ranch. Operated by restaurateur Joe Moscatiello (known for founding Peppino’s Italian Restaurants) and his fiancé Denise Terranova-Silva, Joe’s offers a wide array of Italian favorites and signature items, including sauteed calamari; New Zealand or Black East Coast mussels; meat and vegetarian lasagna; eggplant Parmigiana; chicken or veal marsala; ribeye florentine; and more. Su-Th 2-9 p.m., F-Sa 2-10 p.m. 25672 Crown Valley Parkway, Ladera Ranch, 949.218.8860. joesitalianrestaurantandbar.com
New Cocktails at Bayside
Now Available. Cheers to the weekend with new cocktails from Bayside restaurant in Newport Beach. The three new featured cocktails are The High Manhattan made with High West bourbon, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters and a cherry garnish; The Real Mai Tai (pictured) made with Real Mccoy rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, Orange Curaçao, a dark rum floater and amaretto; and the Chambord Spritz made with Chambord liqueur, Stoli Citrus, lemon-lime sparkling soda and fresh mint. M-W 4:30-9 p.m.; Th 4:30-9:30 p.m.; F-Sa 4-10:30 p.m.; Su 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m. 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.1222. baysiderestaurant.com
Arts + Culture
Opera Through The Seasons
May 13. Experience the four seasons like never before at Casa Romantica’s original concept opera set against the backdrop of the historic property and performed promenade-style. There will be four custom stages, decorated with live blooms from local floral designers, that represent each of the four seasons. Performing at the event will be leading soloists from LA Opera, including soprano Liv Redpath and soprano Andrea Zomorodian, who will perform an aria representing the season. 7 p.m. $35 Casa members, $40 general. casaromantica.org
Heartbeat of Mexico: Mariachi Fest
May 15. Don’t miss Musco Center for the Arts’ virtual Heartbeat of Mexico festival that’s bringing the celebration right to your home. This virtual mariachi event will feature well-known local mariachi ensembles—such as Las Colibrí, Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea and Mariachi Espectacular—who will share the virtual stage with local school-based mariachi programs from Chapman University, Santa Ana High School and Garey High School. There will also be a live Q&A with ensemble leaders, story time, arts and crafts demos, and more. 1-5 p.m. Free with RSVP. muscocenter.org
Uniting in Movement
Through May 26. Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Ballet Theatre’s new artistic collaboration Uniting in Movement is now available for on-demand viewing through May 26. This program features works by two contemporary choreographers Lauren Lovette and Darrell Grand Moultrie that are very personal and offer a unique vision for the future of ballet. Uniting in Movement also includes two classical pas de deux, Grand Pas Classique and Swan Lake‘s Act II Pas de Deux. $25 per household. scfta.org
Photo credits: Musco Center for the Arts by Daniel Reyes. American Ballet Theatre courtesy of Segerstrom Center for the Arts/photo by Todd Rosenberg Photography. All other images are courtesy of the businesses and venues.
