* 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.

FRIDAY

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.

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.

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

directed by Academy for the Performing Arts drama teacher Robert

Rotenberry, will be performed at the Huntington Beach Playhouse at

7111 Talbert Ave. The 3 p.m. show is this the last scheduled

performance. Ticket prices will range from $9 to $13. Real time

captioning and radio devices will be provided for the hearing

impaired. Information: (714) 375-0696.

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.

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 Winter Volkswagen Bus Show 2004 will feature more than 250

original and restored VW buses from the early 1950s to late 1960s.

Specialty VWs on display will include fire trucks, ambulances and

vintage buses. The show will be held at Huntington Beach High School,

1905 Main St. The scheduled time for the show is 8 a.m. to noon.

Admission will be free. Information: (714) 891-4079.

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.

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.

WEDNESDAY

Singer Soraya Shaw and the Mark Massey Trio will perform in a jazz

concert to be held at Kikuya, 8052 Adams Ave. The show will begin at

7:30 p.m. There will be a $10 cover charge. Information: (714)

536-6665.

The Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi/Fantasy Reading Group will discuss

“Darwin’s Radio” by Greg Bear. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

Admission will be free. The store is at 7777 Edinger Ave.

Information: (714) 897-8781.

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.

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. 9

Children’s author Barney Saltzberg will be present at a story time

reading and signing of his book, “Peekaboo Kisses.” The free event

will be held at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at 7 p.m. The store is

at 7777 Edinger Ave. Information: (714) 897-8781.

FEB. 10

Best-selling author Laurell K. Hamilton will discuss and sign her

newest Meredith Gentry novel, “Seduced by Moonlight” at Barnes and

Noble Booksellers. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Admission will be

free. The store is at 7777 Edinger Ave. Information: (714) 897-8781.

FEB. 11

The Simple Abundance Group will discuss “Simple Abundance: A

Daybook of Comfort and Joy” by Sarah Ban Breathnach and other books

as sources for self-discovery. The meeting will be held at Barnes and

Noble Booksellers and will begin at 7 p.m. Admission will be free.

The store is at 7777 Edinger Ave. Information: (714) 897-8781.

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 12

The Magic Tree House Young Readers Club will discuss the 12th book

in the series, “Polar Bears Past Bedtime.” The group will meet at 5

p.m. at the Barnes and Noble Booksellers at 7777 Edinger Ave.

Admission will be free. Information: (714) 897-8781.

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.

Star Wars author Timothy Zahn will discuss and sign his newest

Star Wars book, “Star Wars: Survivor’s Quest,” at Barnes and Noble

Booksellers, at 7777 Edinger Ave. The event will begin at 7 p.m.

Admission will be free. Information: (714) 897-8781.

FEB. 14

Kids will be invited to meet Little Nut Brown Hare, who will share

some of his favorite stories and give hugs to all the children. The

free event will be held at the Barnes and Noble Booksellers at 7777

Edinger Ave. The event will begin at 11 a.m. Information: (714)

897-8781.

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. 16

The Barnes and Noble Fiction Reading Group will discuss “Forever”

by Pete Hamill. The free event will begin at 7 p.m. The store is at

7777 Edinger Ave. Information: (714) 897-8781.

FEB. 17

The Barnes and Noble Craft Workshop will demonstrate origami using

the book, “The Art of Origami” by Rick Beech. The free event will

begin at 7 p.m. The store is at 7777 Edinger Ave. Information: (714)

897-8781.

FEB. 18

The Mystery Reading Group will discuss “The First Law,” by John

Lescroart and “The Long Goodbye,” by Raymond Chandler. The free

meeting will be held at the Barnes and Noble Booksellers at 7777

Edinger Ave. The discussion will begin at 7 p.m. Information: (714)

897-8781.

FEB. 19

Children’s author Marie Torres Cimarusti will be present at a

story-time reading and signing of her book, “Peek-a-Zoo!” The free

event will be held at the Barnes and Noble Booksellers at 7777

Edinger Ave. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Information: (714)

897-8781.

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 24

Author Shannon Peck will discuss and sign her book “Love Heals” at

the Barnes and Noble Booksellers at 7777 Edinger Ave. The free event

will begin at 7 p.m. Information: (714) 897-8781.