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Best Of OC - Week Of November 16

season of the force12
(Credit: Katie Bodell)

'Tis the season for family fun. Orange County residents welcome a host of activities and adventures this week for the whole family, including the highly anticipated debut of "Season of the Force" at Disneyland Park. Families can also get creative at the opening of a new, hands-on story making store, or watch as Frog and Toad's antics are displayed on stage. There's plenty of fun for the grown ups too, including a must-taste beer and food festival in honor of Movember, live theater and comedy, and a cooking class to help you get prepared for the holiday season.

Monday, November 16
season of the force
(Credit: Katie Bodell)

Season of the Force
Disneyland
1313 Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 781-4636
www.disneyland.com

Disneyland's "Season of the Force" kicks off today to the delight of Star Wars fans in the SoCal area. This celebration of all things Star Wars has taken over Tomorrowland with an update to Star Tours –The Adventure Continues (adding in a visit to planet from the forthcoming film), and Space Mountain, now dubbed Hyperspace Mountain (where your launch through space is now a simulated X-Wing/TIE Fighter battle for the good of the empire!). Fans of the film won't want to miss the Star Wars Launch Bay. In addition to a museum's worth allotment of film artifacts, replicas, and memorabilia, fans can visit with Chewy and Darth Vader for a one-of-a-kind character interaction inside Disney Parks. Read our guide to the Season of the Force for more tips and information.

Tuesday, November 17
IMG_2648
(Credit: Storymaker)

Storymakery
825 Spectrum Center Dr.
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 396-1840
www.storymakery.com

Designed to encourage a child's creativity, cognitive and artistic expression, Storymakery, opening this week at the Irvine Spectrum Center, will offer a unique retail experience to help record and preserve a child's imagination for a lifetime. Sessions range from 20-minutes to one-hour; kids can use Storymakery's kid-friendly technology to design a storybook character, work one-on-one with staff to create a story at the Writing Studio, design a poster, or even publish a book to take home. The grand opening celebration, this Saturday, will feature freebies and giveaways for the whole family.

Wednesday, November 18
cucina enoteca
(credit Zack Benson)

Celebrate Movember
CUCINA enoteca
951 Newport Center Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 706-1416
www.cucinaenoteca.com

CUCINA Enoteca Newport Beach is celebrating 'Movember' with a five-course beer pairing dinner with LA-based Golden Road Brewing tonight at 6:30pm. The special dinner includes a mouthwatering menu by Chef Brent Omeste, including ahi ceviche, seafood sausage, duck confit, IPA braised pork cheek, and more to complement Golden Road's favorite selection of IPA and seasonal brews. Guests can sip for a cause all night knowing a portion of the event proceeds benefit the Movember Foundation's commitment to men's health and funding programs for prostate and testicular cancer. $65/person; reservations are required.

Thursday, November 19
42nd street
(Credit: Chris Bennion)

"42nd Street"
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-2787
www.scfta.org

The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic "42nd Street" wraps its limited, two-week engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts this week. The sparkling new production is directed by co-author Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner, the team who staged the 2001 Tony Award® winning Best Revival. 42nd STREET is the song and dance fable of Broadway, with an American Dream story and some of the greatest songs ever written, including "We're In The Money," "Lullaby of Broadway," "Shuffle Off To Buffalo," "Dames," "I Only Have Eyes For You" and of course, "42nd Street."

Friday, November 20
david steinberg
(Credit: Laguna Playhouse)

An Evening with David Steinberg
The Laguna Playhouse
606 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 497-ARTS
www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Legendary comedian David Steinberg will perform his acclaimed one-man show for two nights only in "An Evening With David Steinberg" at the Laguna Playhouse this weekend. David Steinberg, who the New York Times called "a comic institution all by himself," looks back and forward at his life in comedy. As a son of a Rabbi in Canada to creating comedy so controversial, David is credited with getting the Smothers Brothers thrown off the air, as well as finding himself on Nixon's "enemies list." Steinberg is funny on both sides of the camera and went on to direct iconic shows such as "Golden Girls," "Seinfeld," "Mad About You" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." In addition, David has the second most guest appearances on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." Tickets from $45.

Saturday, November 21
perch
(Credit: PIRCH)

Cooking Classes at PIRCH
PIRCH
3303 Hyland Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(949) 429-0800
www.pirch.com

Wrapping their three-week cooking class series, PIRCH at SOCO in Costa Mesa completes its free holiday-themed cooking class today. Today's complimentary class, RSVP required, showcases Thanksgiving for the Modernista (and Traditional-ista), a class that helps modern day cooks discover new ways to prepare holiday meals including steam ovens, wall ovens, and on ranges too. The hour-and-a-half class includes tips, recipes, and plenty of culinary delights that will help make your holiday meal the best its ever been.

Sunday, November 22
Erika Schindele, Louis Pardo, Justin Michael Duval, Alex Miller
(Credit: Ben Horak/SCR)

A Year with Frog and Toad
South Coast Repertory
655 Town Center Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92628
(714) 708-5555
www.scr.org

The ground-breaking Tony Award-nominated musical, "A Year with Frog and Toad," with book and lyrics by Willie Reale and music by Robert Reale, closes this weekend as part of South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences series, playing on the Julianne Argyros Stage. The musical, which brought professional children's theatre to Broadway, returns to the South Coast Repertory for a revival directed by Nick DeGruccio and follows the antics of Frog and Toad, the mismatched pair of friends who wander through a variety of hilarious adventures. Tickets start at $21 for children and $26 for adults.

Katie Bodell is the Blog Editor for Trekaroo, the largest family travel website in the U.S. She is also a freelance writer, a happy wife to her best friend, and a mom to three sweet California girls. See more on: Trekaroo | CheapOair | Google+ | Twitter.
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