Around Town: Jazz concert series opens Wednesday in Laguna Beach

Jazz Wednesdays concerts will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. every other Wednesday starting Jan. 30 and running through March 27 at Seven-degrees, 891 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

Here’s the lineup:

Wednesday: Drummer Peter Erskine’s trio

Feb. 13: Saxophonist Rickey Woodard’s quartet

Feb. 27: Guitarist Will Brahm and the World Music All-Stars

March 13: Bassist/vocalist Kristin Korb’s trio

March 27: Tribute to Chet Baker and Peggy Lee, featuring trumpeter Bijon Watson and the Laguna Beach Live All-Stars

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Season tickets are $125.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2FNSa9U.

Costa Mesa event to feature talk on Richard Nixon’s life

The Costa Mesa Historical Society will present a talk on the life of former President Richard Nixon at 6 p.m. Friday at Newport Rib Co., 2196 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa.

The featured speaker will be Jim Kubalik, a docent of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda.

There also will be a dinner for $26.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2Hwlaoy.

Newport boat parade winners to be celebrated at dinner

The winners of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and the Ring of Lights decorating contest will be honored at an awards dinner and auction at 6 p.m. Friday at the Fashion Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

The live and silent auctions, which will raise money for next year’s parade, will feature jewelry and travel and dining packages.

Tickets are $125 per person.

For more information, visit newportbeach.com.

Laguna writer presents cat-themed writing contest

Laguna Beach literary laureate Suzanne Redfearn is holding a cat-themed writing contest for Orange County residents 16 and older.

Winners of the contest will have their stories published. Stories can be submitted by Feb. 1 to kitlitcontest@gmail.com.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2Ta2yMk.

Guitar show this weekend at OC Fair & Event Center

Musicians can sell or trade their gear at the California World Guitar Show this weekend in Costa Mesa.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive.

Top foreign and domestic music companies will be onsite to buy new or old gear.

Guitarist Joe Bonamassa’s collection will be on display Saturday.

Tickets are $20.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2w6q16Q.

OC Yoga Festival set in Newport Beach

The Orange County Yoga Festival will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach.

The event will feature hour-long yoga and meditation classes, various workshops, live music, vendors and more.

Admission is $40 to $108; children 12 and younger get in free.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2Ugq6zq.

Tennis highlights Chinese New Year event

A Festival of Lights to celebrate the Chinese New Year will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Tennis Club at Newport Beach, 11 Clubhouse Drive.

The event will include a professional tennis exhibition, a ping pong tournament, Chinese food and drinks and more.

Tickets are $35 per person or $100 per family.

For more information, call (949) 759-0711 or visit thetennisclubnb.com.

Public safety workers to compete in oyster eating

Visitors to Ways & Means Oyster House in Huntington Beach on Saturday can cheer on first responders as they try to eat as many oysters as they can in one minute.

The fourth annual Shuck It Challenge will begin at 10 a.m. at the Pacific City shopping center, 21022 Pacific Coast Hwy.

If the Huntington Beach Police Department wins, the seafood restaurant will donate $3 for every oyster eaten in the competition and a portion of its brunch proceeds to the police foundation.

Beach cleanup to benefit unpaid Coast Guard members

Orange County Coastkeeper and Bob Hope USO will hold a beach cleanup Saturday at Huntington State Beach while collecting donations to support active-duty Coast Guard members who are working without pay during the partial federal government shutdown.

The USO suggests bringing toiletries, diapers, baby formula, wipes and gift cards for grocery stores and gas stations to donate at the beach’s lifeguard Tower 2 at 22355 Pacific Coast Hwy. before the cleanup starts at 9 a.m.

The Coast Guard has a base on Terminal Island between Los Angeles and Long Beach and an office in Newport Beach.

Laguna man to give $100 to 6 furloughed federal workers

Denny Freidenrich of Laguna Beach plans to give six federal workers affected by the partial government shutdown $100 each on Saturday at the Burger Spot in Cypress.

“I recognize the $100 I plan to give away isn’t all that much by today’s standards, but it could help pay for groceries, gas or a utility bill,” Freidenrich said.

Freidenrich set up a GoFundMe campaign to help provide financial help to furloughed workers.

Burger Spot has a similar campaign.

Sidewalk sale to feature clothing, furniture and jewelry

A sidewalk sale with home goods, furniture, clothing and jewelry will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the National Charity League’s Ticktocker Thrift Shop at 540 W. 19th St. in Costa Mesa.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2DvtWyT.

Art college offers gamers a chance to pitch ideas

The Laguna College of Art + Design is inviting artists, programmers, audio and sound engineers, writers and game developers to a pitch and pizza event Sunday at the college in Laguna Beach.

LCAD graduate students are teaming with GamePipe students of the USC School of Engineering to pitch their game designs with intent to form teams to work on gaming projects until a projected end date in spring 2020.

“It really is about the passion of creating a game,” said Sandy Appleoff of LCAD’s game design master’s of fine arts program.

Sunday’s event will be from 3 to 6 p.m. at 2825 Laguna Canyon Road.

Messy Church event Sunday in Laguna Beach

A Messy Church game day for people of all ages is set for Sunday afternoon at Laguna Beach United Methodist Church.

Messy Church, an organization founded in the United Kingdom, offers activities and faith exploration in a nontraditional church setting.

“We especially welcome those who don’t feel comfortable in a conventional church setting yet would enjoy being part of a spiritual community,” said Barbara Crowley, who is leading the program in Laguna Beach.

Sunday’s event will be from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Healton Fellowship Hall of Laguna Beach United Methodist, 21632 Wesley Drive.

Author Megan Griswold to discuss new book

Megan Griswold, author of “The Book of Help: A Memoir in Remedies,” will discuss the new book at 5 p.m. Sunday at Laguna Beach Books, 1200 S. Coast Hwy.

The book is about a woman’s search for meaning as she travels the world.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2TbRgan.

Mountain biking documentary to be screened in Laguna

A documentary about free-ride mountain biking will be screened at 5 p.m. Sunday at Laguna Beach Beer Co., 859 Laguna Canyon Road.

Tickets to “The Moment” cost $17.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2RajmB6.

Newport author Kathi Koll to talk about new book

Newport Beach author Kathi Koll will discuss her new book, “Kick-Ass Kinda Girl: A Memoir of Life, Love and Caregiving,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Newport Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.

The book is inspired by Koll’s experiences helping her husband, Donald Koll, after he suffered a stroke.For more information, visit bit.ly/2RgBQjC.

Dwyer Middle School to receive World Fit trophy

Dwyer Middle School in Huntington Beach will receive the World Fit Trophy for large schools for its title in World Fit 2018.

Students committed to six weeks of walking, jogging, running, swimming and other activities, logging 279,680 miles.

The bronze trophy, created by artist Wyland, will be passed along Tuesday by Sowers Middle School of Huntington Beach, which won World Fit 2017.