SPOTLIGHT

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, FASHION ISLAND

It just sneaks up on you every year. One minute you’re fretting over

whether or not you have enough chocolate-y treats to pass among

ghoulishly-dressed children while still saving some for yourself, and the

next -- it’s Christmas!!!

OK, maybe not quite yet. But Fashion Island is doing its best

rendition of “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” on Friday with

its annual tree lighting ceremony. The Newport Beach shopping center’s

115-foot white fir tree has already arrived.

This year’s ceremony, “An American Christmas Celebration,” will

feature students from the Orange County High School of the Arts.

Santa Claus will be available for photos and visits right after the

ceremony, with a portion of the proceeds going to HomeAid Orange County,

a nonprofit group that builds shelters for the temporarily homeless.

FYI

Where: Fashion Island, Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Cost: Free

Contact: (949) 721-2000

Dancing their way through the week

“New Slate,” performances of new works choreographed by UC Irvine’s

graduate students, will close out the campus’ ArtsWeek celebration on

Saturday. Dance styles in the concert will include ballet, modern and

ethnic dance. ArtsWeek highlights UCI’s Claire Trevor School of the

Arts, which is currently in the middle of a major renovation.

FYI

Where: Winfred Smith Hall, UC Irvine, near the corner of West Peltason

and Mesa Road, Irvine

When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $7-$9

Contact: (949) 824-2787

PLANNING AHEAD

THANKSGIVING

Have you bought that turkey or tofurkey yet? Thanksgiving Day and the

Macy’s parade are just around the corner.

Thursday, November 22

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

Balboa Island’s fifth annual Holiday Home Tour, sponsored by the

Balboa Island Improvement Association, will take people through some

beautiful bayfront homes.

Sunday, Dec. 9

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING

260: The number of musicians involved in Wednesday and

Thursday’s performances of Richard Danielpour’s “An American Requiem,”

part of “America Sings,” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.