Retail Therapy: Back to school at the Spectrum

Back to style: The Irvine Spectrum Center is kicking off the back-to-school shopping season with a Teen Vogue Back-to-School event Saturday. Shoppers will be able to peruse pop-up “style closets” from Nordstrom’s TOPSHOP collaboration at 1 p.m. outside the Edwards Cinema and Carousel Court areas. A fashion show featuring looks from many of the center’s stores begins at 3 p.m. in the Giant Wheel Court. Enjoy in-store parties from 3:30 to 6 p.m., like a Nordstrom party with deejay, photo booth and 20%-off discount. Bring receipts totaling $250 or more from qualifying stores to the guest services booth and receive a $50 gift card. Information: https://www.shopirvinespectrumcenter.com.

Fair freebie: Bring your OC Fair ticket stub to the Chick-fil-A locations at 3181 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, or 3601 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, through Aug. 11 and receive a free original or spicy chicken sandwich. Information: https://www.facebook.com/CostaMesaCFA.

Recycling angels: The first three cars to bring three bags of gently used clothing, working or nonworking electronics or documents to be securely shredded to Angel Stadium from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday will receive two tickets to a 2013 Angels baseball game. All vehicles also will receive a receipt from Goodwill and a free children’s admission ticket to the Discovery Science Center. Information: j.mp/13IxSAL.

Waffling in Irvine: Orange County cult favorite restaurant Bruxie has opened its first Irvine location, at 14376 Culver Drive, near the Ralphs grocery store. The restaurant is known for its sweet and savory waffle sandwiches, as well as old-fashioned cane-sugar sodas and desserts featuring real Wisconsin frozen custard. The first Bruxie opened in 2010 in Old Towne in Orange. Other locations include the Strand in Huntington Beach, downtown Brea, Rancho Santa Margarita and Chino Hills. Information: bruxie.com.

Family fun: Pop by the Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, for the Free Second Sundays celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy free admission, food truck and hands-on art projects, performances and family tours. This month’s event is inspired by the museum’s current exhibition, the 2013 California-Pacific Triennial. Information: https://www.ocma.net.

Hot dog: Top Dog Barkery, 924 Avocado Ave., Corona del Mar, is celebrating from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday with a Summer Bark-BQ party for canines and their humans. The event features wagging wading pools, bobbing for hot dogs and an hourly best trick contest with prizes. Bristol Farms will feed humans hot dogs and potato salad; dogs will enjoy fresh bakery treats and “frozen dogurt.” RSVP at https://www.topdogbarkery.net to receive a free entry for a raffle basket. Information: (949) 759-3647.

Finally here: Lemonade, the wildly popular modern cafeteria-style restaurant chain in Los Angeles that features California casual cuisine, will open its first Orange County outlet in mid-August. It will be located at Fashion Island near the Island Cinema. The restaurant features hot and cold buffet-style dishes, including about 20 salads, soups, sandwiches, desserts and plenty of lemonade options. Information: lemonadela.com.

Waste not: E-Waste Systems Inc. will debut its eWaste Carbon Credit technology with a public launch and demonstration from 8 to 10 a.m. Aug. 15 at the Microsoft Store at South Coast Plaza. The software technology identifies ways to reduce energy consumption while facilitating carbon trading. Information: https://www.ewastesystems.com.

S’more luxury: The Resort at Pelican Hill will honor National S’mores Day from Friday through Sunday with a dessert special in the Pelican Grill restaurant. S’mores will feature a house-made caramelized vanilla marshmallow and soft salted caramel, served atop a house-made graham cracker, with creamy chocolate, dark chocolate and chocolate-coated graham cracker cereal garnishes. Information: pelicanhill.com.

Sparkling shop: Jewelry designer Stacey Peterson Studios has opened a new store, the Studio, in a retro Airstream-style trailer at The Camp in Costa Mesa. Pieces are created using silver, silk, leather and one-of-a-kind lampwork glass beads that Peterson creates in her home studio. Components also are available for mix-and-match custom pieces. The shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Information: https://www.staceypetersonstudios.com.

Seed of an idea: Also at The Camp, Seed People’s Market is holding a back-to-school sale featuring weekly specials through Aug. 25. Enjoy 20% off all footwear through Thursday, 20% off denim and fleece from Aug. 9 to 15, 20% off backpacks and laptop/tablet sleeves from Aug. 16 to 22, and 30% off all footwear, denim, fleece and backpacks from Aug. 23 to 25. Information: https://www.seedpeoplesmarket.com.

Contemporary curries: Clay Oven, 15435 Jeffrey Road, Irvine, is launching a new rotating lunch menu with most items selling for under $12.95. The “fresh and healthy” options will include tandoori chicken, tilapia curry, lamb kofta vindaloo and chicken masala. The modernized dishes will include fresh naan, rice and vegetables. Information: (949) 552-2851 or https://www.clayovenirvine.com.

Have a hot sale tip, or know about a new local business that you think deserves a little attention? Contact Candice Baker at candicebaker@gmail.com.