* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa

Mesa, CA 92627; by e-mail to [email protected]; by fax to

(949) 646-4170; or by calling (949) 574-4298. Include the time, date

and location of the event, as well as a contact phone number. A

complete listing is available at www.dailypilot.com.

TODAY

The Friends of the Newport Beach Library will host a complimentary

brunch and annual meeting for members at 10:30 a.m. in the Friends

Meeting Room at the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. Local Nancy

Robison, author of more than 70 books, will be the speaker.

Reservations are required and must be made by May 28. Call (714)

596-5276.

The Newport Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce will present “How to

Get the Best Out of Yourself,” a presentation on how to reach one’s

goals, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Coco’s Fashion Island. The cost is $10 for

nonmembers, free to members. For more information, call Anna Lisa

Biason at (949) 645-9897.

Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, is the subject of a

class at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar at 9 a.m.

Designs are based on concepts that have evolved over centuries of

Japanese history from Chinese and Korean origins. Registration is

$45. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call (949)

673-2261.

THURSDAY

Edgar finalist Denise Hamilton will return to the Newport Beach

Central Library at 7 p.m. to present “The Crime Novel as Cultural

Study.” The best-selling author will discuss “Sugar Skull,” her new

novel, and how her journalism background led to writing fiction. Call

(949) 717-3816 for more information.

Learn about the plant communities of California while enjoying the

beauty of the Environmental Nature Center. A free, one hour adult

oriented tour of the center will be given at noon by founder Robert

House. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy a casual picnic after the tour. No

reservations are necessary. Closed toed, low heeled shoes are

advised. The center is at 1601 East 16th St. in Newport Beach. For

more information, call (949) 645-8489.

Parent Help USA will hold an open house and members mixer from 4

to 7 p.m. to show the public its new facility at 330 W. Bay St.,

Suite 120, Costa Mesa. The open house will feature music performed by

Diana D’Itri and Rick Sherman. The public can make donations at the

door and participate in an auction with several drawings for prizes

from local businesses. Call (949) 650-3461 for more information.

FRIDAY

UC Irvine ArtsBridge presents World Dance Day, featuring Orange

County elementary school students performing folk dances from

Mexican, Vietnamese, European and Native American cultures. The noon

event at Aldrich Park on the UCI campus is free. For information,

call (949) 824-8942.

SATURDAY

The 22nd annual Corona del Mar Scenic 5K Race & 2-Mile Fun Walk

will begin at 7:55 a.m. That’s when the men’s 5K race will begin. The

women’s 5K will start at 8:20 a.m. The fun walk will follow at 8:45

a.m. The 1K Kid’s Dolphin Dash starts at 9 a.m. Registration fees on

race day are $30 for the run/walk and $12 for the Dolphin Dash.

Registration will be held at OASIS Senior Center on Wednesday,

Thursday and Friday prior to the race. Separate races for men and

women are limited to 1,500 runners. Call (949) 644-3151 to register.

Macy’s South Coast Plaza and Teen People magazine will host a

Summer Surf and Swim Fashion Show featuring the latest looks from

Roxy, Hurley, O’Neill, Billabong and more at 2 p.m. in Macy’s South

Coast Plaza’s women’s store. For more information, call (714)

556-0611, ext. 4231.

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen will celebrate its 17th anniversary in

memory of Cpl. Jose Angel Garibay from 6 to 9 p.m. at 720 West 19th

St. in Costa Mesa. The Flag Day dinner/auction will feature Chef Leon

Mathews. Tickets cost $45. All proceeds will support the Someone

Cares Soup Kitchen Hunger Relief and Tutoring Programs. Make

reservations by May 27. Call (949) 548-8861. For underwriting

opportunities, call (714) 801-2354.

The Adams School Country Fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at

2850 Country Club Drive. The fair will have a silent auction, a

50-foot inflatable obstacle course, a 30-foot inflatable slide, a

dunk tank, numerous games, prizes, food, drinks, a bake sale, a DJ, a

guest band and more. Call (714) 424-7935 for more information.