72 HOURS

1. GET YOUR PALATES READY:

The 11th annual Taste of Newport kicks off today at Fashion Island,

Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. This three-day festival of food,

drink and entertainment will run through Sunday. Over 35 of the areas

best restaurants will be serving up samples of their best items. Men at

Work and Missing Persons will be performing live today. Tickets are $10.

Children 12 and under are free! For more information, call (949)

729-4400.

2. A COLLECTOR’S DREAM

“The Ultimate Toy & Collectibles Expo” will be held Saturday and Sunday

at the Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. There’ll be

more than 100 vendors and door prizes every 15 minutes. It will be a

Beanie Baby collectors heaven. Special events will include Pokemon Card

Game Lessons and tournament, Crazy Bones Games, Ebay Auction instructions

and more! Early bird admission will be from 9 to 10 a.m., $7; general

admission will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5; and children 5 and under

are free. Parking will be free. More than 20,000 people expected to

attend. For more information, call (714) 545-6270 or (714) 568-2952.

3. A HOUSE TO PLAY IN

Saturday is your first chance to see this year’s Project Playhouse homes.

There’ll be 13 playhouses, all designed by professional builders, at

Fashion Island in Newport Beach. You can put your name in the hat for an

opportunity to win one of the playhouses, or decide which one you might

want to buy. The display will run through Oct. 16.