* Send DATEBOOK items to the Huntington...

* Send DATEBOOK items to the Huntington Beach Independent, 18682

Beach Blvd., Suite 160, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; fax to (714)

965-7174; call (714) 965-7176 or e-mail hbindy@latimes.com.

Submissions must be received two weeks before publication.

TODAY

The Amigos de Bolsa Chica 17th annual Photography Contest will be

for amateurs only. You need not be a member of the Amigos to enter

the contest, but you must be an amateur photographer. Pictures must

have been taken from areas open to the general public, public tours

or areas open on volunteer cleanup days at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.

Divisions are: large prints, small prints and color slides. The five

subject categories that judging will be based on include

egrets/herons, terns, birds/animal life, plants/landscapes and

people. Contestants may enter five photos per division for a maximum

of 15 entries. The entry fee is $5 per division. Cash prizes will be

awarded. The contest closes on Jan. 31. Information: (714) 840-1575.

“Stars in Your Eyes,” an old-fashioned American romantic musical,

directed by Academy for the Performing Arts drama teacher Robert

Rotenberry, will premiere at the Huntington Beach Playhouse at 7111

Talbert Ave. The show is scheduled to run through Jan. 31. Curtain

time is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tickets are $23. Show times and

admission prices vary on other days. Information: (714) 375-0696.

FRIDAY

The Pier Plaza Art A-Faire, held at the outdoor Pier Plaza next to

the Huntington Beach Pier, will feature more than 50 vendors selling

unique, handmade gifts and crafts. The Art A-Faire will be open from

10 a.m. to sunset. Admission is free. Information: (714) 536-2213 or

(714) 846-5509.

SATURDAY

Centered on the Center will feature more than 200 regional artists

in a group exhibition. About 325 works will be on display. Opening

reception is scheduled to run from 6 to 9 p.m., and the event is

slated to run through Feb. 29. The exhibition will be at the

Huntington Beach Art Center, 538 Main St. Admission is free.

Information: (714) 374-1658.

The Golden West College Swap Meet will feature new and used

items. Fresh produce, records and music memorabilia, antiques and

collectibles are some of the treasures you may discover on your next

visit to the parking lot event that offers free parking and

admission. The address for Golden West College is 15744 Goldenwest St. The swap meet will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and

Sunday. Information: (714) 898-7927.

The Pier Plaza Art A-Faire, held at the outdoor Pier Plaza next to

the Huntington Beach Pier, will feature more than 50 vendors selling

unique, handmade gifts and crafts. The Art A-Faire will be open from

10 a.m. to sunset. Admission is free. Information: (714) 536-2213 or

(714) 846-5509.

SUNDAY

The Golden West College Swap Meet features new and used items.

Fresh produce, records and music memorabilia, antiques and

collectibles are some of the treasures you may discover on your next

visit to this parking lot event with free parking and admission. The

address for Golden West College is 15744 Goldenwest St. The swap meet

will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information: (714) 898-7927.

The Pier Plaza Art A-Faire, held at the outdoor Pier Plaza next to

the Huntington Beach Pier, will feature more than 50 vendors selling

unique, handmade gifts and crafts. The Art A-Faire will be open from

10 a.m. to sunset. Admission is free. Information: (714) 536-2213 or

(714) 846-5509.

TUESDAY

The 16th annual Authors Festival will be held at the Huntington

Beach Central Library. The annual Author’s Continental Breakfast will

be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in rooms C and D. A gala reception for

children’s authors and illustrators is scheduled for 2:30 a.m.

Several writers are expected to attend. The library is located at

7111 Talbert Ave. Information: (714) 842-4481.

Huntington Beach Senior Services will offer dancing lessons from

2 to 3 p.m. at the Michael E. Rodgers Seniors’ Center. The lessons

are structured in five-week sessions at a cost of $65 per dancer.

Couples and singles are welcome for lessons, registration forms are

available at the Seniors’ Center, which is at 1706 Orange Ave.

Information: (714) 536-9387.

THURSDAY

“Broadway Dreams,” a musical, will feature a cast from all over

Orange County and Hollywood in a benefit performance for the

Huntington Beach Playhouse. The curtain will rise at 8 p.m. and

additional shows are scheduled for Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 1 at 2

p.m. The cost of admission will be a $27 donation. The Huntington

Beach Playhouse is at 7111 Talbert Ave. Information (714) 375-0696.

The Surf City Soiree, hosted by the Huntington Beach Chamber of

Commerce, will be held at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, 2110

Pacific Coast Highway. Cocktails will begin at 6:30 p.m., dinner is

scheduled for 7:30 p.m. There will be a silent auction and a

presentations for Member of the Year Lana Johnson of the Huntington

Beach Independent, as well as for Ambassador of the Year. Tickets are

$65 per person or $600 for a table of 10. Information: (714)

536-8888.

JAN. 30

Tebot Bach is sponsoring a poetry reading featuring David Daniel,

poetry editor of “Ploughshares” and “Thea Iberall,” in Community Room

102 at Golden West College, 15744 Goldenwest St. The reading will

begin at 8 p.m. Information: (714) 968-0905.

JAN. 31

A poetry workshop led by David Daniel, poetry editor of

Ploughshares, will be held at Community Room 102 at Golden West

College, 15744 Goldenwest St. A reception for David Daniel will begin

at 7:30 p.m. . Information: (714) 968-0905.

FEB. 1

The Centerfield Sports Bar & Grill, at 17296 Beach Blvd. in

Huntington Beach, will host its annual Super Bowl party. Fans will be

able to watch this year’s contest with a choice of more than 32

television screens including three big screens, while dining on food

and drink specials. Items in a free raffle include an authentic

jersey of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, DVD

Players, TVs, gift certificates and sports memorabilia. Information:

(714) 848-0113.

Pacific Shoreline Marathon, the eighth annual Super Bowl Sunday

26.2 mile marathon, travels along a beautiful oceanfront course,

starting and finishing on Pacific Coast Highway at the Hyatt Regency

Resort and Spa bridge. Categories include: 26.2 mile marathon,

half-marathon and 5K run/walk. The cost will be determined at a later

date. Entry forms and more information: (949) 581-0105.

FEB. 6

Huntington Beach Kite Festival will feature top kite designers

from around the world flying new styles from Revolution and Prism in

this three-day event sponsored by Kite Connection. The event will run

from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Feb. 8 north of the Huntington Beach

Pier. Attendance is free. Information: (714) 536-3630.

FEB. 7

Huntington Beach Christian Singles will hold “A Rendezvous with

Destiny,” a pre-Valentine’s Day dinner dance. The evening event will

take place at the Meadowlark Golf Club, 16782 Graham St. Dinner will

cost $34, an hour-long dance class will cost $5 and dancing will cost

$12. Guests will also be able to pay $49 for the entire evening.

Dinner will start at 5 p.m., dancing is scheduled from 8 p.m. to

midnight. Formal attire is suggested. Information: (714) 625-3508.

Take a tour of the Shipley Nature Center grounds and hear

descriptions of the Center’s planned restoration to its historical

native plant habitat with the addition of water conservation gardens.

Meet at the front gate to the Shipley Nature Center at the Central

Park Drive parking lot off Edwards Street between Talbert and Slater

avenues. Follow the painted line along the sidewalk to the Center.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. Admission will be free. Information:

(714) 842-4772.

The Huntington Beach Smooth Jazz Series will present Kim Waters.

This concert series brings contemporary jazz to Huntington Beach.

Sponsored by BB Jazz Productions, proceeds will benefit children with

autism. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., and will be at the

Central Library Cultural Center Theater, 7111 Talbert Ave. Admission

ranges from $35 to $55. Information: (714) 377-7574.

FEB. 11

The Wizard of Oz will be performed by Ballet Etudes. The show will

be at the Central Library Cultural Center Theater, 7111 Talbert Ave.

Shows are scheduled for 4 and 7 p.m. Admission will cost $5 for

adults and $3 for children. Information: (714) 375-5107.

FEB. 13

The Sweet Charity Ball will be an evening of dining, music and

silent auction bidding to benefit programs sponsored by the

Huntington Beach Rotary Club. The ball will be held at the Hilton

Waterfront Beach Resort, 21100 Pacific Coast Highway. Registration

will begin at 6 p.m. The cost will be $60 per person. Information:

(714) 309-2433.

FEB. 14

The Miss Huntington Beach Scholarship Pageant will feature Yankee

Doodle Darlings. Watch the city’s best and brightest young ladies

compete for scholarships and the title of Miss Huntington Beach 2004.

The pageant will be held at the Huntington Beach High School

Auditorium, 1905 Main St. The event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets will

cost $15 per person. Information: (714) 536-4357 or (714) 536-2054.

FEB. 20

“Proposals,” a comedy written by Neil Simon and directed by James

Gruessing, will be performed by the Huntington Beach Playhouse at

Central Library Theater through Mar. 7. The Playhouse is at 7111

Talbert Ave. Tickets cost $6 to $20. Information: (714) 375-0696.

Mardi Gras Brazilian Carnival, a musical stage show with

Christiane Calli and the Girls from Ipanema, will offer dancing and a

barbecue kitchen. The carnival will run from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at

Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave. The event will also be held on

Feb. 21. The cost is to be announced. Information: (714) 647-7107.

The Fusion 2004 Dance Concert, Academy for Performing Arts dance

faculty, guest choreographers and the Ensemble Dancers will present

an evening of traditional and original works in ballet, jazz, tap and

modern dance. The show will be held at Huntington Beach High School,

1905 Main St., at 7:30 p.m. General admission will cost $10, tickets

for students and seniors will cost $8. Information: (714) 536-2514,

ext. 4025.

FEB. 26

At the Brazilian Mardi Gras Luncheon & Show, choreographer Leila

Flores of Tropidanza has assembled a diverse team of beautiful and

talented dancers who entertain with energy and passion. The meal will

include chicken and Brazilian-style meatballs with sweet sauce,

mashed potatoes, black beans, vegetables, salad, cake and coffee. The

event will be held at the Old World Festival Hall, 7561 Center Ave.,

in room 49. The show will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost will be

$25 per person, including tax and tip. Information: (714) 895-8020.

FEB. 27

Mardi Gras Brazilian Carnival, a musical stage show with

Christiane Calli and the Girls from Ipanema, will offer dancing and a

barbecue kitchen. The carnival will run from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at

Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave. The event will also be held on

Feb. 28. The cost is to be announced. Information: (714) 647-7107.

FEB. 28

Jazz at the Center will present Gospel Music through the Ages, a

concert featuring special musical performers to be announced later.

The concert will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at 538 Main St. General

admission will cost $20. Information: (714) 374-1650.

MARCH 1

Surfin’ Sundays Concert Series will showcase free concerts from

authentic surf bands. The concerts will be held through Oct. 30 at

the International Surfing Museum, 411 Olive St. The concerts are

scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. Admission will be free. Dates have yet to

be determined. Information: (714) 969-9575.

MARCH 5

Mardi Gras Brazilian Carnival, a musical stage show with

Christiane Calli and the Girls from Ipanema, will offer dancing and a

barbecue kitchen. The carnival will run from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at

Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave. The event will also be held on

March 6. The cost is to be announced. Information: (714) 647-7107.

ONGOING

CHILDREN/LIBRARY

The Main Street Library Branch will accept book donations for the

Friends of Library book sales during normal library hours, 10 a.m. to

7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, at 525

Main St. (714) 375-5071.

Huntington Beach Central Library will host Books Art Storytime

every Saturday from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Children 5 through 9 are invited

to enjoy stories and related crafts at the library, at 7111 Talbert

Ave. Information: (714) 375-5107.

Saturday Sunrise Car

Cruisers, billed as the best free car show in the world, is a

15-year tradition that brings classic and hot rod car collectors,

known as the Donut Derelicts, to the parking lot near 9025 Adams

Ave., every Saturday from 6 to 9 a.m. Admission is free. Information:

Rodding Around at (714) 963-2928. https://www. river-road.net/oldcars.

The Clara Barton Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters

of the American Revolution meets at 9:30 a.m. every third Sunday at

Community United Methodist Church, 6652 Heil Ave. Membership in

Daughters of the American Revolution is open to any woman who is at

least 18 years of age and can prove lineal descent from an ancestor

who aided in achieving American independence. Information: (714)

848-4297

The Huntington Beach Library’s popular Sandcastle story time

series is shown at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays on Time Warner Cable Channel

6. (714) 375-5107.

The Huntington Beach Children’s Library presents Folktale Story

Time, for kindergartners through fourth-graders, starting at 3 p.m.

Thursdays at 7111 Talbert Ave. Information: (714) 375-5107.

Enjoy stories, activities

and fun at a story time held from 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the

children’s section of Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 7777 Edinger Ave.

Pajamarama is held from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and at 11 a.m.

Saturdays. (714) 897-8781.

The Huntington Beach

Library presents Laptime Storytime at 10 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays and

at 10 a.m. Saturdays at 7111 Talbert Ave. for children 18 months to 3

years old. The library’s Preschool Storytime for children 3 to 5 are

held at 10 and 11 a.m. Fridays. (714) 842-4481.

The Main Street Library presents a story time at 3 p.m. Fridays at

525 Main St. The library’s Preschool Storytime will be 10 and 11 a.m.

Wednesdays. (714) 375-5071.

DANCE

Pacific Dance Center, 9596 Hamilton Ave., holds swing dance

classes at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 7 p.m. Saturdays. (714) 964-3354

or sign up at https://dance. netfirms.com.

FARMERS MARKETS/SWAP MEETS

The Craft Fair and Farmers Market are held from 1 p.m. to dusk

Fridays at Pier Plaza. Information: Craft Fair (714) 846-5509 and Farmers Market (714) 573-0374.

FITNESS

The Vibe Tribe offers free yoga sessions to new students at 12:15

p.m. Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m. Thursdays, and 5:15 p.m. Fridays at 301

Main St., Suite 109. Information: (714) 536-4988.

The Sierra Club’s Orange County Sierra Singles holds a

moderate-paced four-mile walk around Mile Square Park at 6 p.m. on

Wednesdays. The group meets in the parking lot at Brookhurst Street

and Heil Avenue behind the basketball courts. Information: (714)

963-6345.

The Comprehensive Martial Arts and Wellness Center offers free

introductory tai chi chuan classes at 9 a.m. Saturdays at 17308 Beach

Blvd. (714) 841-7129.

HOBBIES/RECREATION

Huntington Beach Disc

Golf Tournaments are held the first Saturday of each month in

beautiful Central Park. Enjoy one of the nation’s first 18-hole

(basket) disc courses for two-round tournaments held the at Golden

West Street entrance of the park across the street from the

Huntington Beach Public Library and Cultural Center. Information:

(714) 425-9931.