* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower Ave.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by e-mail to lindsay.sandham @latimes.com; by

fax to (714) 966-4679; or by calling (714) 966-4617. Include the

time, date and location of the event, as well as a contact phone

number.

TODAY

Author and New York Times columnist Frank Rich will give a

presentation on “Art, Culture and Politics.” Rich served as the chief

drama critic for New York Times from 1980 -- 1993. He is currently an

associate editor, and his weekly essay appears on the front page of

the Arts and Leisure section. The lecture will begin at 8 p.m. at the

Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine. Tickets cost $35,

$10 with a student ID. Information: (949) 854-4646.

FRIDAY

The Newport Beach City Arts Commission will host a reception for

the artists whose works have been selected for display in the Spring

2005 Orange County Artist Juried Exhibition at the Newport Beach City

Hall Gallery. This annual event is organized to promote Orange County

artists and to expose the community to a variety of art forms. More

than 200 Orange County works were submitted for the juried

exhibition, with 39 being accepted. Awards for first, second, third

and honorable mention will be presented by the arts commissioners and

Newport Beach Mayor Steven Bromberg. Accepted works will be on

exhibit from April 1 through July 1. The reception will be held from

at 5:30 to 7 p.m. at City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 717-3870.

In Shower of Fashions, the Costa Mesa Women’s Club presents a

fashion show and luncheon, featuring fashions by Drapers and Damons.

The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. at 610 West 18th St., Costa

Mesa. A $15 donation is suggested. Information: (714) 540-7778 or

(949) 548-5826.

SATURDAY

A pet adoption fair is being held at the Old Newport Village

Merchants plaza, featuring refreshments and BBQ, plus drawings for

prizes. Kittens will be available, along with pictures of cats and

dogs that are available for adoption. 10% of all sales from the six

participating stores will go toward animalnetwork.org, an

organization that rescues local death row shelter and abandoned

animals. The adoption will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the

corner of Old Newport Boulevard and Hospital Road, Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 230-5399.

Enjoy plein aire painting and a wonderful morning painting the

Back Bay with family and friends. Jean Marie will demonstrate and

present traditional Plein Aire techniques and you’ll return home with

your completed original oil painting. If it rains, we’ll move

indoors. All materials are provided. Dress in comfortable, layered,

painting appropriate clothing with sun hat. Bring drinking water.

Begins at 9 a.m. at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301

University Dr., Newport Beach. Cost is $15 per child, ages 8-18, and

$20 per adult. Information: (949) 923-2275 to register,

pre-registration is required.

Native Plant Exploration. Join a Park Ranger for a native plant

walk and talk. Come learn about native plants of the Upper Newport

Bay Nature Preserve. Explore native plant communities, plant

adaptations, plant identification, invasive plants that pose a threat

to native plant communities and more. This program is geared toward

ages 12 and older, but participants of all ages are welcome. RAIN

CANCELS. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $5 per person. Maps

and instructions will be provided with registration information. Call

(949) 923-2275 to register, pre-registration is required.

White Haute Nights. The Junior League of Orange County’s Spring

fundraiser will feature a silent auction with items such as a

mountain getaway to Mammoth; a David Yurman sterling silver bracelet

set with pearls and diamonds; and a two-night stay in a Balboa Bay

Club suite. Funds raised by the event will benefit various community

programs and services. The party begins at 6 p.m. at the Balboa Bay

Club, 1221 Coast Hwy., Newport Beach. Tickets cost $100, $130 for

VIP. Information: (949) 261-0823, ext. 34 or https://www.jlocc.org.

April in Vienna. The seventh annual Black-tie Gala fundraiser for

the Orange County chapter of Alzheimer’s Assn., will feature

entertainment by the Promenade Dancers and dancing accompanied by

Inside Out, along with a live and silent auction. Live auction items

include Z4 and 325I automobiles from Crevier BMW, a trip for two to

Vienna, Austria, a Memory in the Making original painting, a 5,000

diamond necklace, and a week of accommodations in Lake Arrowhead. The

event is being held at 6 p.m. at the Sutton Place Hotel, 4545

MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. The cost is $250 per person.

Information: (949) 757-3704.