Find the best Orange County things to do for the weekend of Jan. 19-22
Edited by Laura Okey
EVENTS
2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross
Jan. 21. Don’t miss the highly anticipated 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross. The world’s premier off-road motorcycle championship series will feature a 17-race battle to crown a champion. Arrive early for the Monster Energy Pit Party for an opportunity to get an autograph and see the riders, the teams and their bikes. Gates open at noon; pit party noon-6 p.m.; racing 7 p.m. Tickets start at $20. Pit passes $10. Angel Stadium of Anaheim, 2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, 800.745.3000. supercrosslive.com
Norm Macdonald
Jan. 20-21. Best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, appearances on The Drew Carey Show and star of The Norm Show, Norm Macdonald will hit the stage at The Irvine Improv this weekend. Two item minimum purchase required. F 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m., Sa 7 p.m., 9 p.m. $25. Irvine Improv, 527 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, 949.854.5455. irvine.improv.com
Arsenio Hall
Jan. 22. Laugh with American comedian, actor and talk show host Arsenio Hall, best known as host of The Arsenio Hall Show. Other television shows and films Hall has appeared in are Martial Law, Star Search (host), Coming to America (1988), and Harlem Nights (1989). Two item minimum purchase required. 7 p.m. $25. Irvine Improv, 527 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, 949.854.5455. irvine.improv.com
Segerstrom Center’s Off Center Festival 2017
Jan. 12-28. See an all-new lineup of creative, contemporary and sometimes controversial artists and shows. The festival will present Keith A. Wallace’s The Bitter Game, Mariachi Flor de Tolache, Marga Gomez’s Latin Standards and much more. The Off Center Lounge in Leatherby’s Café Rouge will be open with a special low-cost post-performance menu and the opportunity to mix and mingle with festival artists. See website for schedule and showtimes. $25. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2121. scfta.org
An Evening in Paris Gala
Jan. 21. Immerse yourself in Parisian culture with an extravagant evening of live music, mimes and magic. The event offers an open bar with exotic cocktails, a catered dinner and a live and silent auction. This year, silent auction items will include a 1960s American classic car rental in Palm Springs, a Porsche watch and a barbecue dinner for 20. Live auction items include a Kate Spade shopping experience, a nine-course dinner at Wilcox manner for 12, a cooking class for 10 with Chef Debbie Maro of Wood Grill and a completely customizable trip to Paris complete with business class seating.The glamorous gala is a premier fundraising event for the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County. Paris attire encouraged. 6 p.m. $300. 16500 Scientific Way, Irvine, 949.809.8760. ocasf.org
FOOD + DRINK
Newport Beach Restaurant Week
Jan. 16-29. Prepare your inner-foodie for the longest running restaurant week in Orange County. The annual event features special prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner at more than 50 premier eateries in Newport Beach, such as The Ritz Prime Seafood, Five Crowns, Sessions West Coast Deli and Lighthouse Bayview Cafe, among others. Feed your curiosity and try new places or revisit your favorites. Find a culinary road map of participating locations online. No passes or coupons required, just visit your favorite participating restaurants during business hours. Lunch $10-$25/pp, Dinner $20-$50/pp. dinenb.com
Asombroso Tequila Pairing Dinner at Sol Cocina
Jan. 19. Sip your way through a four-course Asombroso tequila pairing dinner, complete with a night cap. Owner and master distiller of Asombroso Tequila Ricardo Gamarra, and head chef of Sol Cocina Newport beach Andres Miramontes, will walk you through each pairing. For the first course, enjoy a scallop ceviche made with pico, avocado and fresh lime juice, paired with Asombroso blanco tequila. The main course, a duo of filet and fish, includes a petite filet Mignon with peppercorn sauce, sautéed ono and chipotle-Asombroso blanco crema, served with jalapeno-menonito potatoes and broccolini, paired with Asombroso reposado tequila. As a night cap, sip on a Sol Cocina exclusive, Asombroso 11-year ultra-premium anejo (a single bottle valued at $1800). 6 p.m. $95. 251 Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.675.9800. solasombrosadinner.com
Vince Ferragamo’s Wine Dinner
Jan. 19. Mingle with former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jim Collins, while enjoying a five-course wine pairing dinner. Newport Dunes’ Back Bay Bistro has teamed up with former Rams quarterback-turned-winemaker Vince Ferragamo for a wine dinner meet-and-greet in a continued celebration of the Ram’s return to SoCal. Menu highlights include grouper with shrimp almond on a bed of truffle risotto, polenta cake with smoked salmon and sturgeon caviar and more. 6-9 p.m. $67. Back Bay Bistro, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport beach, 949.729.1144. newportdunes.com
Dandelion Conscious Cafe & Catering
Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails has launched a new casual eatery, Dandelion Conscious Cafe & Catering. With a focus similar to Andrei’s, menu items are prepared with the finest ingredients, utilizing seasonal fresh produce to provide unparalleled flavor and balanced nutrition. Find pre-packaged gourmet snacks, craft bottled beverages and unique coffee and tea options. Menu items include Kim’s rice and eggs, French toast sticks, banana chocolate chip muffins, pure aloha grilled cheese, tuna Nicoise salad and more, including vegan, gluten free and vegetarian options. Every lunch entree will be accompanied by a cinnamon wish cookie, baked fresh daily. This little extra is for good luck and following the theme of the cafe which is to “scatter kindness”. M-F 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 2603 Main St., Irvine, 949.471.0808.
National Cheese Lover’s Day at Islands Restaurant
Jan. 20. Islands Restaurants will celebrate National Cheese Lover’s Day with a heaping platter of fresh-cut potatoes fried to a perfect golden brown, topped with gooey, melted cheddar and sliced scallions, then dusted with a special seasoning and topped with even more cheese. The cheddar fries are available at all 12 Orange County locations. See website for hours. $8.65. Islands Restaurant, 27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo, 949.627.4800. islandsrestaurants.com
Adele-Inspired Chef’s Table Dinner at Mesa
Jan. 24, 31. Join Mesa on Tuesdays through January for a musician-inspired four-course meal. This month, chef Niki Starr will draw her inspiration from popular singer Adele. Course one, inspired by Adele’s hit song “Hello,” features hamachi sliced thin, avocado-tomatillo puree, tortilla strips, tangerine segments, tangerine tequila fluid gel and micro cilantro. The third course, “Turning Tables,” features grilled New York loin with a green peppercorn sauce sitting atop pomme puree, roasted bone marrow with a raisin and red onion marmalade and fresh parsley served with grilled bread. See website for full menu. Reservations required. 5-9 p.m. $60. 725 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.6700. 100eats.com
ARTS + CULTURE
The Local Band Hangout
Jan. 19. Listen to top local artists and up-and-coming bands while experiencing the wonders of the majestic Queen Mary every third Thursday of each month. The new concert series kicks-off this week with indie songwriter Halle Johnson and singer/songwriter duo Black Noise performing live in the historic Observation Bar. Arrive early for Happy Hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Happy hour 5-7 p.m. Show begins 8 p.m. $10. Parking $8 with validation. queenmary.com
Lord of the Strings
Jan. 22. Enjoy the Lord of the Strings concert series featuring legendary acoustic guitarist Peppino D’Agnostino and master harpist/violinist Carlos Reyes. During the concert, enjoy wine selections curated by LCA Wine at SOCO—but first—grab some light bites from one of SOCO’s culinary partners to bring in and savor. 3 p.m. $30. Food not included in ticket price. LCA Wine, 3303 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, lordofthestringsconcerts.com
Lil Yachty
Jan. 22. See hip-hop artist Little Yachty hit the stage at The Observatory. He is best known for his Grammy-nominated collaboration with D.R.A.M. in hit song, “Broccoli.” 8 p.m. $30. The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, 714.957.0600. observatoryoc.com
Matilda The Musical
Jan. 17-29. The Tony Award-winning Matilda The Musical, based on the novel by Roald Dahl, is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $29. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org
Moby Dick
Jan. 20-Feb. 19. Witness firsthand the power—and the poetry—of Melville’s classic novel, Moby Dick, as it is transformed into a masterwork for the stage. Driven on by a self-destructive madman, larger-than-life characters search for the white whale, pitting themselves against the Seven Seas with a fiery passion in this production by Chicago’s renowned Lookingglass Theatre Company. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $20. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555. scr.org
The Roommate
Through Jan. 22. Sharon, a sensible, curious and very, very talkative woman, at age 54 takes in a roommate to make ends meet. Robyn, a new arrival from the Bronx, is hiding a lifetime of secrets. Watch as the story unfolds and Sharon finds the shocking truth. Tickets start at $48. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555. scr.org
