Find the best Orange County things to do for the weekend of March 16-19

Edited by Laura Okey

EVENTS
St. Patrick’s Day at Malarky’s Irish Pub
March 17. Head to Newport Beach’s iconic Irish pub for the longest continuing St. Patrick’s Day party in the city. Beyond all the beer and Irish whiskey you can drink, expect professional bag pipers and Irish tunes, complimentary corned beef hash sandwiches and other Irish fare. Doors open at 6:30 a.m. 3011 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.675.2340. malarkyspub.com

 

 

PLAID: Painter Irish Step Dancers
March 17. See Painter Irish Step Dancers from the Painter Larson Academy of Irish Dance take over the Mezzanine Stage at Anaheim Packing House this St. Patrick’s Day. Satisfy your semi-Celtic cravings with IPA Irish nachos from the Iron Press, fish ‘n’ chips from the Chippy and hearty stew from Mix It Up. Sip on Irish whiskey, stout and cider from one of the many Packing House bars. Don’t forget to wear green! 7-9 p.m. Free. Anahiem Packing House, The Mezzanie Stage, 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.533.7225. anaheimpackingdistrict.com

 

See more Orange County St. Patrick’s Day events >>>

 

Musink Tattoo Convention & Music Festival
March 17-19. MUSINK returns to Orange County for a 10th year to celebrate music and tattoos with more than 300 of the world’s finest tattoo artists and killer entertainment. See performances by NOFX, The Vandals, The Used, Hell or Highwater, Bad Religion, Pennywise and many more. See website for weekend schedule. $45-$120, VIP $299. Children ages seven and younger free. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. musink.org

 

 

 

Corks & Canvas on the Walk
March 16. Enjoy an evening of painting, wine and fun. A local artist will lead you in a two-hour class where you will paint your own masterpiece while sipping wine and indulging on delicious appetizers. After completing your work of art, post it to social media with the hashtag #CorksandCanvas for an opportunity to win a $50 gift card. Admission includes two glasses of wine and appetizers. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $40. Anaheim GardenWalk, McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon, Suite 212, Main Level, 400 Disney Way, Anaheim, 714.635.7400. anaheimgardenwalk.com

 

 

Cherry Blossom Festival
March 19. Celebrate cherry blossom season with a festival featuring Japanese food, cultural exhibits, arts, crafts, games and live performances from traditional Japanese dancers. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Huntington Beach Central Park Bandstand, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach. hbjapanesefestival.com

 

 

 

 

Glitterfest
March 19. Browse a collection of work from artists using mixed media art. From handmade jewelry and sculpture to primitive dolls, home decor and paper whimsy, find a large variety of unique masterpieces. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $7. Spring Field Banquet & Conference Center, 501 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton. glitterfest.com

 

 

 

 

Floral and Succulent Arranging Workshop
March 18. Welcome spring with a fresh floral and succulent arrangement to brighten up your home. Head to Studio La Fleur at Lido Marina Village, where you will be guided in making your one-of-a-kind arrangement, followed by bubbles and sweets at Baily44. Tickets include all supplies and 20 percent off same day purchases at Bailey44. RSVP required. 2 p.m. $50. 3434 Via Lido, Newport Beach, 949.612.7833. lidomarinavillage.com

 

 

 

Anniversary Pawty at Top Dog Barkery
March 19. Brings your pups for a pawty filled with tasty barkery treats! Top Dog Barkery is celebrating its anniversary with free samples of some of its favorites food and treat companies, raffle prizes every half hour and more. Register today to get a free treat bag for your pup. Noon-3 p.m. Free. Pacific City, Top Dog Barkery, 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite A-160, Huntington Beach, 714.960.3647. topdogbarkery.net

 

 

 

The Master Collaboration Makeup Class
March 19. Learn how to create Hollywood-worthy makeup looks while getting insider tips and tricks on how to promote yourself uniquely in a crowded industry. You will be joined with special guest celebrity makeup artists for a Q&A where they will offer insight on how to achieve success. Once you’ve completed the class you will get a certification from Velvet 59 and a goodie bag worth over $500. All ages and skill levels welcome. 6-9:30 p.m. $249. Impressions Vanity, 1402 Morgan Circle, Tustin. velvet59.com

 

 

VeggiePalooza 2016
March 18-19. Taste the homegrown difference with over 200 varieties of tomatoes, peppers, companion flowers, veggies and more available for purchase. All plants sold are Fullerton-grown at the Arboretum. Additionally, guests can participate in gardening classes, watch cooking demos and join a Q&A session with the UCEE Master Gardeners. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Fullerton Arboretum at CSUF, 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, 657.278.4010. fullertonarboretum.org

 

FOOD + DRINK
Puesto
Through March 31. Puesto and Foodbeast have combined forces to create the new Panela En Verde taco, available through the end of the month. The limited edition taco is made with crispy plancha-fried panela cheese, red frill mustard greens, kumquats and salsa verde. One dollar of each sale will be donated to Golden Rule Charity. 8577 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. eatpuesto.com

 

 

 

Chapter One
March 17-19. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Chapter One’s sixth anniversary with food and drink specials all weekend long. From Chapter One’s famous in-house infused spirits to seasonal fare, the weekend is sure to be filled with indulgence. 227 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.352.2225. chapteronetml.com

 

 

 

Rooftop Lounge
March 17. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day from the iconic rooftop that overlooks Laguna Beach. Indulge on cocktails like the Kitty O’Shea with vodka, peach tree schnapps, agave, lemon and mint; and the Shamrock Island with coconut rum, Midori and pineapple juice. For someone looking to stick to the classics, Rooftop Lounge will also be offering the Luck of The Irish which features a pint of stout served with a shot of Irish whiskey. 1289 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 855.990.0282. rooftoplagunabeach.com

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day at Ritz Prime Seafood
March 17. Find your inner Irishman in the Gun Runner cocktail at Ritz Prime Seafood. The flavorful citrus drink is made with Bombay Sapphire Gin, green chartreuse, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white and fresh mint. Sip the cocktail while enjoying beautiful views of the harbor. 5-10 p.m. 2801 West Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.720.1800. ritzprimeseafood.com

 

 

 

ARTS + CULTURE
The Local Band Hangout
March 16. 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 lineup this month features an acoustic set from Elan Atias of legendary reggae band The Wailers; and folk/jazz duo Queen Califia, the collaborative project of Long Beach based Kelsey Landazuri and Loryn Ruiz-Mendoza. Arrive early for Happy Hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. See website for changing lineup. Happy hour 5-7 p.m. Show begins 8 p.m. $10. Parking $8 with validation. Queen Mary, Observation Bar, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 877.342.0738. queenmary.com

 

 

311
March 18. Rock with 311 on the new House of Blues Anaheim stage. The American rock band combines rock, rap, reggae and funk into their own unique sound. The band just debuted the first single, “Too Much to Think,” from their latest studio album, Mosaic, set to be released this summer. 7:30 p.m. $49.50. 400 West Disney Way, Suite 337, Anaheim, 714.778.2583. houseofblues.com

 

 

 

American Ballet Theatre’s Whipped Cream
March 15-19. See the world premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s new production of Whipped Cream. The performance is based on Schlagobers, a two-act ballet with lebretto and score by Richard Strauss. First performed at Vienna State Opera in 1924, the ballet tells the story of a young boy who overindulges at a Viennese pastry shop and falls into a delirium. To help him escape from his attending physician, the boy dreams of his rescue by princess praline and her court, replete with princess tea flower, prince coffee and marching marzipan. (Photo by Ruven Afanador.) See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $29. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org

 

Hershey Felder as Tchaikovsky
Through March 26. Pianist and storyteller Hershey Felder presents the life and music of Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $66. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787. lagunaplayhouse.com

 

 

 

Orange
Through March 26. Leela, a teenager from India, finds her place in the world when she ditches a boring family wedding to rebelliously careen through Orange County. See website for showtimes. Tickets start at $20. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555. scr.org

 

 

 

 

Lord of the Strings
March 19. See Australian guitar virtuoso Joe Robinson as part of the Lord of the Strings concert series. Robinson has won multiple awards and talent competitions including Australia’s Got Talent. The concert also features 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

 

UPCOMING EVENTS
Big Sean: I Decided Tour
March 21. American rapper Big Sean’s fourth stop on his I Decided Tour lands him at the new House of Blues Anaheim. Performing songs from his latest album I Decided (which ranked number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart), you’ll recognize lead single “Bounce Back.” 7 p.m. 400 West Disney Way, Suite 337, Anaheim, 714.778.2583. houseofblues.com