Greer’s OC: Surfing goes to the dogs
The third annual Surf City Surf Dog competition weekend will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday with a Doggie Couture Fashion Show at the pet-friendly Shorebreak Hotel, 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach.
From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, stop by the Hot Diggity Dog Expo and check out the PAWabunga Canine Costume and Owner Look-a-Like contests at the Strand.
And, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, the Surf City Surf Dog contest will take place at the Huntington Dog Beach. The entry fee for the surf competition is $45 ($10 will go to the charity picked by the contestant from among these nonprofits: Southern California Bulldog Rescue, Surf Dog Ricochet, the Orange County Humane Society, Westie Rescue of Orange County & Beyond, and Huntington Dog Beach).
Attendees can also bring a donation of canned or bagged dog food and/or old used blankets or towels for rescue pets.
The activities are taking place at Huntington Dog Beach and downtown Huntington Beach, at Pacific Coast Highway and Goldenwest Street. For more information, call (760) 420-2021 or visit https://www.surfcitysurfdog.com.
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Wine and beer for weeks
Foodies and wine and beer enthusiasts, get ready for two weeks of back-to-back events featuring premium beer and wine pairings available for all budgets and tastes at some of Orange County’s top restaurants.
We’re thrilled about the debut of OC Wine Week — starting Sunday and going through Oct. 1), and OC Beer Week, running from Oct. 2 through Oct. 8. Think of it as OC Restaurant Week: prix-fixe menus that you savor, but coupled with fantastic wine and beer pairings
that can’t be beat. The culinary celebration will be replacing fall’s OC Restaurant Week.
Some outstanding choices to get excited about, include the Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar’s Wine Week lunch menu for just $20. Start with white gazpacho with bitter chocolate, pimenton, grilled spot prawns, paired with Zaca Mesa, Z cuvee, Red Blend. The entrée is a poached salmon with citrus, crispy skin, caramelized grapefruit, white bean, and sage, paired with Penfolds, Bin 311, Chardonnay, 2010.
And for dessert, a pear tart with Frangipane and vanilla bean ice cream paired with Noval Port. Silver Trumpet is at 3350 Avenue of the Arts in Costa Mesa. For more information, call (714)751-5100.
One of our favorite upscale Vietnamese restaurants, Phans55 in Irvine, is offering a $40-Wine Week dinner starting with a roll sampler plate with a small glass of Pinot Grigio, Barone Fini, Italy; and then a bowl of PHO with top round or chicken with a small glass of Rose, Simi Winery, Sonoma.
The entrée choices include prawn garlic noodle with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Nobile Icon, Marlborough, N.Z.; a shaken beef filet with a glass of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Ore., ‘06; or braised short rib with a glass of Cabernet, Dollarhide Ranch St Supery, Napa, ’02. Finish with a macaroon and small glass of Hogue, Late Harvest Riesling, Washington.
Phans55 Irvine is at 6000 Scholarship Drive. For more information, call (949) 724-1236.
In Laguna Beach, Splashes at the Surf & Sand Resort is serving a $50-Beer Week dinner from Oct. 2 through Oct. 8. Choose from one starter, an heirloom tomato and Gorgonzola with Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Oskar Blues Brewery; or a BBQ octopus with white beans, plums paired with Levitation Ale, Stone Brewery; or a Cajun shrimp with sweet corn paired with Hefe-Weizen, Paulaner Munchen.
The entrée choices include Parmesan chicken with pole beans paired with Red Seal Ale, North Coast Brewing Co.; or seared ahi tuna with shiitake mushrooms paired with Ellies Brown Ale, Avery Brewing Co.; or grilled hanger steak with crispy onions, paired with IPA, Stone Brewing Co.
Finish with dessert with raspberries and cream paired with St. Louis Framboise, Castle Brewery; or a beer float; or chocolate cappuccino with Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, North Coast Brewery. Splashes is at 1555 S. Coast Hwy. For more information, call (949) 376-2779.
For an entire list of menus and participating restaurants go to https://www.ocwineandbeerweek.com.
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BENEFIT LUNCHEON
You can do your part for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease by attending the fifth annual Visionary Women’s luncheon, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa.
The event will feature special guest and five-time Emmy Award winner Doris Roberts, an actress and star of “Everybody Loves Raymond.” The luncheon is a celebration of caregivers in a range of categories.
Shop at an exclusive, luxury boutique at the luncheon, and a percentage of all purchases will benefit the Alzheimer’s Assn. Tickets cost $100 per person. The Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa is at 900 Newport Center Drive.
RSVP to (949) 757-3712 or online at https://www.alz.org/oc. For more information, contact (800) 272-3900.
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LAGUNA ARTS SCENE
Need more reasons to get excited about the art scene in Laguna Beach?
Art Cube, 266 Forest Ave., is featuring a group show of works by Alexandra Eldridge, Cody Hooper and Laurie Hassold, along with new works from its roster of artists.
And Art Cube is expanding. A new 2,500-square-foot gallery will open in October near the Sue Green Fine Art on North Coast Highway. The new space will be called S Cube Gallery. For more information, call (949) 376-8800.
It’s time to celebrate the beloved Laguna Art Museum and what it means to the community, at its annual open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. In years past, the event has been an exclusive members-only gathering, but is now opening its doors for everyone to enjoy a free night at the museum.
The evening will include announcements from board President Robert Hayden III, a video presentation and plans for 2012, and recognition of outstanding volunteers. After the presentation, enjoy drinks, small bites courtesy of 24 Carrots Catering, and see the museum’s current exhibitions.
The museum is at 307 Cliff Drive. RSVP to membership manager Dawn Minegar, at dminegar@lagunaartmuseum.org, or (949) 494.8971 ext. 203. For more information, visit lagunaartmuseum.org.
GREER WYLDER writes Greer’s OC for the Huntington Beach Independent each Thursday and the Daily Pilot and Coastline Pilot each Friday. She’s the founder and president of greersoc.com, a free daily email service that provides the latest in Orange County fashion, dining, music, events and trends. Her blog can be viewed at https://www.greersoc.com and she can be contacted at greer@greersoc.com.