
Restaurant openings, goat yoga, and family day at OCMAExpands…. Here are the top Orange County weekend events for May 16-19.
Edited by Whitney Lauren Han.
EVENTS
May 16. Explore seven Newport Beach homes with ocean views and architectural and interior styles by local designers. Begin with a morning reception at Jenni Kayne Apparel and Home with breakfast bites by Malibu Farm; a luncheon takes place at Newport Theatre Arts Center. The tour ends with an afternoon reception at famed interior designer Barclay Butera’s Newport Beach showroom; Barclay himself will be on hand to welcome guests with wine, hors d’oeuvres and an up-close look at the Barclay Butera Lifestyle Collection. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $85. Starting at Malibu Farm, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.646.1556. newportharborhometour.com
May 17-19. Find your new best friend at Petsmart’s adoption event, which supports local animal welfare organizations. If you can’t adopt a pet in need at the event, inspire others by posting a picture of adoptable pets using #PicMe to increase the pets’ chance of getting adopted. All Petsmart locations, 800.423.7387. petsmartcharities.org
May 17-19. Head to Surf City USA for this inaugural celebration of comics and cartoon art hosted by the National Cartoonists Society. Hundreds of the world’s most celebrated creators participate in seminars, exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions and signing sessions, the vast majority of which are free to the public. See website for weekend schedule. Free; ticketed events range from $15-$50. Downtown Huntington Beach. ncsfest.com
May 18-19. Jam to rock, R&B and blues performers on three stages while enjoying food and craft-beer tastings. The lineup includes Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Jonny Lang, the Taj Mahal Quartet, the Marcus King Band and Vintage Trouble. See website for set times. $80-$475. Sea Terrace Park, Pacific Coast Highway at Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.360.7800. dohenybluesfestival.com
May 18. Things are getting wild at Centennial Farm with the return of goat yoga with baby pygmy goats. For those not ready to hit the mat with animal friends, there’s also free playtime and photos with the goats and tours of the farm. Space is limited for the three yoga sessions; children who participate must be at least 9 years old and accompanied by an adult. Participants should bring a yoga mat, towel and water. Sessions: 8-9:15 a.m., 9:30-10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $45. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.436.0576. ocfair.com
FOOD + DRINK
Now Open. Calling all brunchers! San Diego’s fastest-growing, non-franchise breakfast concept adds an eighth location in Irvine within walking distance of the UC Irvine campus. The eatery brings Insta-worthy menu items, photogenic brunch-inspired decor, egg-shaped waiting-room chairs and whisk-shaped light fixtures. Revamped morning classics include churro pancakes, banana split French toast and breakfast bacon mac ’n’ cheese. Open daily 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 4213 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949.379.7177. breakfastrepublic.com
Now Open. Housed in a greenhouse, the new fresh fast-casual eatery focuses on the importance of mindful eating by offering dishes made only with picked-with-a-purpose ingredients. Come to the grand opening party, May 17 from 4 to 6 p.m., for a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and social hour with the restaurant’s California-based partners and farmers. M-Th 5-9 p.m., F 5-10 p.m., Sa 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Su 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Farmers Park, 350 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim. cultivationkitchen.com
Now Available. Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Irvine debuts a new daily happy hour in the bar and lounge. The menu features $9 bar bites representing both the restaurant’s classic grill offerings and more elegant Northern Italian fare. Highlights include Davio’s American Kobe beef meatball sliders, tuna crudo and oysters Rockefeller as well as beer, wine and cocktail offerings. M-F 4-7 p.m., Sa-Su 5-7 p.m. Irvine Towers, 18420 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.477.4810. davios.com
Now Available. The neighborhood gem has just added several seasonal dishes and cocktails to its menu. New items include tuna crudo; housemade ravioli with artichoke, burrata, lemons, basil and vodka cream sauce; and roast chicken breast with grilled asparagus, soft polenta and marsala jus. New cocktails include La Rosa, with Tanqueray gin, blood-orange Campari and Ramazzotti Amaro, and a Paloma all’ Italiano with Cazadores tequila, grapefruit, Amaro Nonino, lime juice and salt. 210 W. Birch St., Brea, 714.257.1000. brunositaliankitchen.com
May 16. Indulge in samples from Southern California restaurants and bakeries plus drinks, music and fun at the 24th annual event. Participating eateries include Pizza Press, Grasslands Meat Market BBQ & Churrasco, Zov’s, Tortilla Jo’s, Naples Ristorante, Catal Restaurant and Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles. 5:30-10:30 p.m. $40 pre-sale, $45 day-of, free for ages 5 and under. Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 W. Disney Way, Anaheim. tasteofanaheim.com
ARTS + CULTURE
May 18. Bring the family for a fun-filled day of creativity and tour of the exhibitions. Participate in art-making workshops designed by exhibiting artists Hiromi Takizawa, Victoria Fu and Matt Rich, and be part of UuDam Tran Nguyen’s TIME BOOMERANG project by breaking plaster maps. Local O.C. record label Burger Records deejays, and there’s a Lost Bean pop-up coffee shop. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. South Coast Plaza Village, 1661 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, 714.780.2130. ocmaexpand.org
Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour photo courtesy Newport Harbor Home Tour. National Adoption Weekend photo by Petsmart. NCSFest photo courtesy NCSFest. Goat Yoga photo courtesy OC Fair & Events Center. Breakfast Republic photo courtesy Alt Strategies. Cultivation Kitchen, Happy Hour at Davio’s, and Seasonal Dishes at Brunos Italian Kitchen photos courtesy Ajenda PR. Taste of Anaheim photo by YuRockstar. Family Day at OCMAExpands photo courtesy EJS Media.