SPOTLIGHT

NEWPORT HARBOR CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE

For seven nights, Newport Harbor will light up with the sparkle that

only bobbing boats covered in Christmas finery can create. The 93rd

annual Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade will take to the water

Monday, bringing what the New York Times called “One of the top ten

events in the nation” to life once again.

For the first time ever, the parade has been given a theme -- “Let

Freedom Ring.” Expect to see lots of red, white and blue as the boats,

from yachts to dinghies, float by.

And it won’t be just the nautical that will light the way. Homes on

the waterfront also go all out on the decorations during the parade.

Animatronic Santa Claus and deer may abound along the Ring of Lights --

especially on Balboa Island, which always seems to have a number of decor

winners.

This will be the last year parts of Lido Isle get to see the parade

from their porches, as the route and number of parade days are in the

works to be changed in 2002.

A number of restaurants and charter boats are offering specials during

parade week. Might be a good time to take your sweetie out for dinner.

FYI

Where: Along the harbor. The route stretches from Pirate’s Cove to

near Bistro 201 on West Coast Highway.

When: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Dec. 23

Cost: Free

Contact: (949) 729-4400

Meeting to give community a say about joint use library

COMMUNITY MEETING

The community is invited to attend and provide input on a new Mariners

Joint Use Library at Mariners Elementary School in Newport Beach that is

being planned to replace the current Mariners Branch Library at a

Thursday meeting. The new library will serve as both a community and

school library.

FYI

Where: Mariners Branch Library, 2005 Dover Drive, Newport Beach

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Cost: Free

Contact: (949) 949-3801

Planning Ahead

KWANZAA

The weeklong African American celebration of Kwanzaa, rooted in the

tradition of celebrating the first harvest, will begin.

Wednesday, December 26

‘BLAST’

The drum-corps driven, Tony Award-winning “Blast!” will take over the

Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Thursday, December 27

Numerically Speaking

68: The number of buildings in Costa Mesa resident Marilyn Tyler’s

miniature Harry Potter village.