Music, fashion, and art, oh my! The free Urban Arts Fest is returning to UCI Wednesday through Friday with a new collaboration with students, the Hip Hop Congress and Graffiti Beach. The Urban Arts Festival 2010 will feature up and coming fashions, a dance showcase, live entertainment, and a hip-hop concert from Zion-I and Aloe Blacc.
Highlights include a fashion show Thursday at 6:30 p.m. from Graffiti Beach featuring clothes from rka, Denim of Virtue (pictured above), Rock Revival, Tank Theory, Vlado Footwear, Shag, Ha-67, and handmade clothing and art from Steppie. You can shop from brands that include Angel Sunglasses, Anarchy Sunglasses, Nimo, Andrew Sebastian, Sunflower Swimwear, Three Digits, Heums Clothing, B Fly Clothing, Verve, Rad is Rad, Sick Star, Upful Skateboards, Sweet Evie, Kid Dangerous, Handmade Hearts and many more.
There will also be a live graffiti art from Brad Parker, Rick Ramos and Matt Lee Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food provided by Honest Tea and p.o.p Candy.
It all happens at UCI Campus at Ring Road and Aldrich Park. For a schedule of events check here.
Laguna Beach-based Sonatasia musicians and performers and Haitian American pianist Jonathan Cambry will be performing music of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, and others as well as contemporary music at a series of concerts Thursday through Sunday to benefit the relief effort in Haiti. All performers will be donating their time and talents so that all funds go directly to the relief effort. $25 suggested donation; any amount accepted. Thursday at 7 p.m. Keyboard Concepts in Tustin; Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Geneva Presbyterian Church, Laguna Hills; Sunday at 3 p.m. at Laguna Presbyterian Church, Laguna Beach. More info, click here.
OC is home to the best swap meet ever; the Orange County Market Place offers 20 acres of great values and quality merchandise. If you haven’t been in a while, you will be pleasantly surprised by the more than 1,000 vendors you can shop from every Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Owner Jeff Teller, one of the nicest men we’ve ever met, says he sees the OC Market Place as a way to give life to entrepreneurial businesses. And we love that. The OC Market Place is really a smorgasbord of cool stuff that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Here are a few tips. First of all, come hungry. You can find some of the world’s best homemade churros and taquitos at Carlo’s Cantina, as well as homemade tortilla chips (who does that?). Not to just focus on food, but OC Market Place also offers Sinfully Sweet Apple Company gourmet candy apples like you’ve never eaten before, our favorite Chip-N-Dough Cookie Co. cookie dough; addicting Rusty’s handmade potato chips; hummus and pita bread from Baba Foods; dips, olives, tapenade, cheese spreads from GreekMama.com, Bob’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream; organic produce and much more.
We could go on and on about the merchandise available, here’s a synopsis: You can buy furniture, bicycles, overstock deals on top name brand merchandise, Costco returns at 50% off retail value, luxury used cars, 1,000-thread count sheets, salon-grade shampoos, beautiful succulents and cacti at incredible prices, and custom engraved pet ID tags. You can even order a state-of-the-art home theater, get a haircut, or buy a prefab home.
There’s also an artisans’ and crafters’ corner, and fun activities for the kids. Admission is all of $2, children below age 12 and free. Open Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Orange County Market Place, at the O.C. Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. 949.723.6616.
Here’s a fun and OC glamorous way to watch Sunday’s Oscars—at Kimera Restaurant’s second annual Oscar Viewing Party, a red carpet style party with a special silent auction benefiting the American Red Cross. Guests will receive the complete movie star treatment, including a red carpet entrance, and a panel of fashion experts will present to award prizes in various categories such as the best-dressed guest.
As a special for Greer’s OC subscribers, when you call for reservations just mention Greer’s OC and pay $69 per person, all inclusive! (That’s a savings of $20 per person.) The event begins at 5 p.m. with admittance for ages 21 and over only. Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner, dessert, a champagne split and a special gift bag. Kimera Restaurant is next to the Google building at 19530 Jamboree Road in Irvine. 949.261.1222.
It’s jean week at elle H. boutique in Laguna Beach! As elle H. is preparing to close March 31, it’s offering special weekly deals. Buy one pair of jeans at 50% off and get a second pair free. Sale ends Friday. The offer valid in-store only. (Everything in the store is 50% off!) All sales final. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. elle H boutique at 1833 S. Coast Hwy. in Laguna Beach. 949.715.1345.
Wunderful Art: This must-see art show just so happens to coincide with Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” film, and we love it! If you’re planning a weekend away to the desert, don’t miss OC-based artist Zoey Stevens’ art exhibit Alice in Wunderland (Out of the Shadows) opening Friday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at m modern gallery in Palm Springs. Zoey’s latest show features images (acrylic on canvas and board) inspired by Salvador Dali’s renderings inspired by Lewis Carol’s, Alice in Wonderland. 2500 N. Palm Canyon Dr., # B5. Palm Springs. 760.416-3611.
Quite an Adventure: Adventure Day is officially back at Caspers Wilderness Park Saturday from 10 a.m. 3 p.m.! Free event, free parking, for all ages! The family fun-filled day includes musical entertainment, natural history tours, arts and crafts, wildlife exhibits, games and refreshments. Caspers Wilderness Park at 33401 Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. 949.923.2210.
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