* 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

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.

The second Festival of Children’s opening ceremony will start at

11 a.m. at South Coast Plaza. Free events will take place every

weekend in September. Information: (714) 546-0110.

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.

THURSDAY

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.

FRIDAY

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. 14

Ballet Pacifica will hold auditions for advanced 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. Auditions and rehearsals will be at 1824 Kaiser Ave. in

Irvine, and will begin at 10 a.m. Information: (949) 851-9930.

“An Israeli Skin Care and Spa

Day” will be offered by the National Council of Jewish Women,

Orange County Advocacy Branch and Hillel of Orange County from 1 to 4

p.m. at the Orange County Jewish Federation, 250 E. Baker St. in

Costa Mesa. Admission is free. Information: (949) 497-2562.

The 42nd annual Sandcastle

Contest will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Corona del Mar State

Beach. The contest is limited to the first 45 teams of eight people

and is open to participants of all ages and skill levels. The

entrance fee per team is $60 for architecture firms, $40 for all

other businesses and $30 for other organizations and families.

Information: (949) 729-4400.

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 celebration in 2004 and

updates about crosswalk and median improvements affecting residents

will be made. Information: (949) 644-3244.