Best Of OC - Week Of January 18
This week, Orange County residents can begin the demise of many New Year's Resolutions as Newport Beach's dine Newport Beach Restaurant Week returns promising an assortment of delicious delicacies to enjoy for the next two weeks. In between all this dining, don't miss live theater and music experiences and concerts, as well as a can't-miss art exhibit that focuses on the plight of Syrian children and refugees. Let's get this week started, Orange County.
Newport Beach Restaurant Week
Various locations
www.dinenb.com
Don't miss dine Newport Beach Restaurant Week, running today through January 31, giving OC residents the chance to sample their favorite chef's cutting-edge creations, over-the-top marvels, and greatest culinary hits while saving a penny (menus start at just $10 for lunch and max out at $50 for dinner). A few of our recommended favorites: FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach's four-course prix fixe menus ($25 lunch/$40 dinner); Sustainable Steelhead Salmon at True Food Kitchen; hand churned shakes at Hopdoddy Burger Bar; and much more. Passes/tickets are not required for the event.
Off Center Festival: Manual Cinema's ADA/AVA
Samueli Theater
600 Town Center Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-2787
www.scfta.org
Segerstrom Center's 5th Annual Off Center Festival returns this week, presenting a brand-new lineup of creative, contemporary, and sometimes controversial artists and shows that represent the current trend in live theater, art, and entertainment. Join them tonight to explore Manual Cinema's ADA/AVA at the Samueli Theater. Watch as an immersive story comes to life on both stage and screen with vintage overhead projectors, multiple screens, puppets, actors, live feed cameras, multi-channel sound design and a live music ensemble, as Manual Cinema explores universal themes of mourning, melancholy and life. The presentation is recommended for ages 12 and older.
"ACT 3"
Laguna Playhouse
606 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Laguna Beach, CA
(949) 497-ARTS
www.lagunaplayhouse.com
The U.S. Premiere of David Ambrose and Claudia Nellens' "ACT 3" is on the stage at the Laguna Playhouse through the end of this month. Award-winning television personality, screenwriter, playwright, dancer, comedian, and actress Rita Rudner pairs with writer, editor, and actor Charles Shaughnessy ("The Nanny") in this dramedy, directed by Martin Bergman, that follows a long-time couple as long-hidden secrets are disclosed and dealt with from husband and wife. Performances run Wednesdays-Sundays.
Seen for Syria
Orange County Center for Contemporary Art
117 N. Sycamore
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 667-1517
www.occca.org
Don't miss "Seen For Syria," a traveling exhibition featuring the works of Soulaf Abas and Muzaffar Salman on view at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art through January 30th. The works address the artist's experiences with their homeland and refugees by creating a visual memoir of their beloved country and by depicting the struggles of the Syrian community as well as their personal and internal passions, love, and sadness through photographs, paintings and sundry printmaking methods. The entirety of "Seen For Syria" is comprised of three segments: a traveling art exhibition to raise awareness about the ongoing conflicts in Syria, an art education program that utilizes art therapy with Syrian children to express their traumas, and an art exchange between disadvantaged US children, who were able to escape rough neighborhoods, drugs or abusive homes, and displaced, disabled Syrian children.
Teatro Martini Cabaret & Variety Show
7600 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
(844) 249-7865
www.teatromartini.com
Skip the drive to Las Vegas and enjoy one of California's only cabaret style dinner and variety shows, conveniently located in Buena Park. Teatro Martini boasts a variety of comedians, burlesque dancers, acrobats, and magicians, paired up with fine dining and exceptional drinks. The grown-up experience is a perfect for a Friday night date; advance reservations are highly recommended and early arrival ensures the perfect up-close seat. You'll also want to dress to impress, there is a good chance you might join the show on stage as well!
Parties on the Plaza: Milo Greene
600 Town Center Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-2787
www.scfta.org
Cinematic pop act Milo Greene takes over with a set from the group's self-titled album, which reached number one on the US Billboard Heatseekers Album chart. The band, which has played at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, SXSW, and Outside Lands Festivals, performs as part of the Segerstrom Center's 2016 Off Center Festival's completely free Parties on the Plaza. In addition, don't miss singer-songwriter Toshi and her all-star band BIGLovely performing at the Samueli Theater in a separate ticketed event.
Dwight Yoakam
City National Grove of Anaheim
2200 E. Katella Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92806
www.dwightyoakam.com
With a career in country music spanning over 30 years, and with more than 25 million sales worldwide, Dwight Yoakam still stands out as one of country music's most esteemed and prolific artists. His one-night show tonight at The City National Grove of Anaheim offers fans the opportunity to enjoy Second Hand Heart, his most recent, self-produced album, as well as long-beloved fan favorites including "Honkie Tonk Man," "The Back of Your Hand," "Guitars, Cadillacs," "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere," "Things Change," and "The Streets of Bakersfield." Tonight's performance will feature special guest Jonathan McEuen.
