* 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 mike.swanson@latimes.com; 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 https://www.dailypilot.com.

TODAY

Shakespeare fans are invited to join performing artist Dorene

Ludwig for “Shakespeare’s Ladies” at 7 p.m. at the Newport Beach

Central Library. Co-sponsored with the California Center for the

Book, the free program will include dramatic readings featuring the

dialogue of witches, wenches, virgins and queens in Shakespeare’s

plays. The library is at 1000 Avocado Ave. Information: (949)

717-3816.

Community Conservancy International will hold a public planning

workshop on restoring Big Canyon from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Andrew’s

Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach. Information: (310) 475-0797.

FRIDAY

The YMCA in Newport Beach, 2300 University Drive, will start

offering sessions of Hatha yoga and meditation Fridays from 9:30 to

11 a.m. and Saturdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The cost is $60 for eight

sessions. Discounted rates will be offered to full-facility YMCA

members. Information: (949) 413-9642.

SATURDAY

Macy’s South Coast Plaza, Seventeen magazine and actors from the

soap opera “Passions” will team up to help girls achieve the perfect

look for the new school year at 2 p.m. in the Macy’s Women’s store.

Customers can also pick up a special gift with any purchase of $75 or

more, plus a free gift bag compliments of Seventeen magazine.

Reservations: (714) 556-0611, ext. 4231.

TUESDAY

A free seminar, “Solutions for Sciatica,” will be held from 6:30

to 7:30 p.m. at Mother’s Market, 225 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. For

reservations, call (800) 595-MOMS.

WEDNESDAY

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast buffet

at the Daily Grill in Fashion Island from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. as its

Newport Networking event for September. The cost is $17 for Chamber

members with a reservation and $21 at the door for members and

potential members. Information: (949) 729-4400.

Speak Up Newport will hold its monthly general membership meeting

at the Newport Beach Tennis Club, 2601 Eastbluff Drive. Snacks will

be served starting at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 6 p.m.

This month’s topic is: “The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce -- The

City’s Greatest Ally.” Information: (949) 729-4400.

SEPT. 11

Four of California’s pre-eminent sports authors will make up a

panel that will discuss “Sports Literature: Bringing the Game to

Life” at 7 p.m. at Borders South Coast Plaza. Los Angeles Times

columnist Bill Plaschke, Orange County Register columnist Steve

Bisheff, and authors David Ferrell and Don Wallace will make up the

panel. Information: (714) 279-8933.

A free seminar, “Holistic Organic Skin Care,” will be held from

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mother’s Market, 225 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa.

Reservations: (800) 595-MOMS.

SEPT. 12

The Costa Mesa Senior Center, in celebration of Costa Mesa’s 50th

anniversary, presents the CostAmazing Senior Hoedown, featuring live

western music by the Travis Parker Band, dancing and barbecue, from 4

to 7 p.m. The Costa Mesa Senior Center is at 695 W. 19th St. The cost

is $5 for members, $11 for nonmembers, $5 for kids. Tickets go on

sale Aug. 15 at the center’s front desk and at Costa Mesa City Hall,

on the third floor in the Recreation department. Information: (949)

645-2356.

Inventors Forum, the Orange County-based nonprofit inventors’

support group, presents a seminar on “Putting it all Together” by Len

Stober, faculty member of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design.

Registration and networking begin at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. seminar

at Orange Coast College’s science lecture hall. The cost is $5 for

members and $15 for nonmembers. Information: (714) 540-2491.

SEPT. 13

The sixth annual Financial Strategies Conference for Women will

run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hilton in Costa Mesa, 3050

Bristol St. The conference will address personal finance, budget

planning, investing, retirement, preparing for college expenses,

taxes, insurance and more. The cost is $79 if you register by Aug. 28

and $99 by Sept. 5. Information: (949) 588-2429.

William F. Schulz, executive director of Amnesty International

USA, will be the featured speaker at Orange Coast Unitarian

Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria St. in Costa Mesa, at 5 p.m.

Reserved tickets to the lecture and reception are $20 for preferred

seating and $15 otherwise. A few tickets will be sold at the door.

Information: (949) 646-4652.

Ballet Pacifica will host auditions for beginning and intermediate

dancers for its annual holiday production of “The Nutcracker.” About

120 dancers will be selected for the production’s two casts,

comprised of Ballet Pacifica’s 15-member company and dance students

from throughout the Southland. A $15 audition fee will be required of

all participants. Auditions and rehearsals will be at 1824 Kaiser

Ave. in Irvine, and will begin at 3 p.m. Information: (949) 851-9930.

SEPT. 15

The Corona del Mar Residents Assn. will hold its general meeting

at 6:30 p.m. at the Oasis Center, 800 Marguerite Ave. Announcements

about the festivities and events for Corona del Mar’s 100th year 2004

celebration in 2004 and updates about crosswalk and median

improvements affecting residents will be made. Information: (949)

644-3244.