* 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 o7lindsay.sandhamf7o7

@latimes.comf7; by fax to (714) 966-4667; or by calling (714)

966-4625. Include the time, date and location of the event, as well

as a phone number.

UNTIL SEPT. 23

Registration for 2005 Youth Flag Football, for boys and girls ages

8 to 13. Register in person Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at

the Balearic Community Center, 1975 Balearic Drive, Costa Mesa.

Information: (714) 754-5158.

THROUGH OCT. 22

Project Playhouse, a six-week event with elaborate kid-size

playhouses on display and sold at public auction, will be held at

Fashion Island Center in Newport Beach.

All the playhouses will be on display, with village tours on the

weekend and an open house Sept. 17. The auction is scheduled for Oct.

22.

Information: (949) 553-9510 or o7www.projectplayhouse.org. f7

TODAY

The Orange County Substance Abuse Prevention Network is holding

its annual showcase of community resources from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30

p.m. at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center. The showcase

features more than 50 agencies that provide a variety of prevention,

intervention and treatment services to Orange County families and

youth. Cost is $5 for advance tickets, and $15 at the door.

Information: (949) 757-1096, ext. 288, or o7www.ocprevention.orgf7.

The American Cetacean Society will host environmental journalist

and author Dick Russell, discussing his latest book “Eye Of The

Whale,” at 7:30 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center,

1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa. A book signing will follow. Information:

(714) 375-1192.

Jason Dodge is scheduled to discuss his new sculptural

installations at 6:30 p.m. at the Orange County Museum of Art, 850

San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach. Admission is free. Information:

(949) 759-1122 or o7www.ocma.netf7.

Author Quang Pham is scheduled to appear from 7 to 9 p.m. at the

Newport Beach Central Library in the Friends Meeting Room, 1000

Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. Pham will discuss his book, “A Sense of

Duty.”

Admission is free. Information: (949) 644-3296 or

o7www.nbplfoundation.orgf7.

SEPT. 23

A dinner and silent auction fundraiser for the Brandon Cody Wiener

Scholarship Fund, which provides children who have lost a loved one

the chance to go to camp, is scheduled from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Mesa

Verde Country Club, 3000 Clubhouse Road, Costa Mesa.

Cost is $50 per person or $350 for a table. Information: (818)

621-0332.

The Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club is holding the one of the

largest lawn bowling tournaments held in the United States in 45

years.

Teams from the United States, Canada, Israel, Ireland and England

will compete at 1 p.m. at 1550 Crown Drive, Corona del Mar. The event

is free and open to the public. Information: (949) 735-3460.

SEPT. 24

The 37th Annual United States National Speedway Championships is

scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Grandstand Arena at the Orange County

Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Admission is $17 for adults

and $8 for children. Information: (949) 492-9933 or

o7www.cmspeedway.comf7.

The Crystal Cove Alliance’s third Annual Tropical Beach Gala and

“Coastal Splendor” Plein-Air Invitational Art Show and Sale --

featuring cuisine, a martini bar and live music -- is scheduled from

5 to 10 p.m. in the Crystal Cove Historic District beach area. All

proceeds to benefit education and restoration programs at the Crystal

Cove Historic District. Tickets are $200 per person and are available

by calling the Crystal Cove Alliance at (949) 640-5220. Information:

o7www.crystalcovealliance.org.

f7A meet-your-match” tennis mixer, a chance to find love at a

speed-dating-style event sponsored by The Tennis Channel, will

feature fun competition, great prizes and a variety of eligible

bachelors and bachelorettes. The event is scheduled from 3 to 5:30

p.m. at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center, 888 Junipero Drive, Costa Mesa.

Information: (212) 725-4500, ext. 311 or o7www.thetennis

channel.com.

f7

SEPT. 25

The 14th annual Komen Orange County Race for the Cure -- Women’s

and Coed 5K Run and Walks, One-Mile Fun Walk -- is scheduled to be

held at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. The annual event supports

local education, research, screening and treatment programs of the

Orange County Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer

Foundation and raises funds for the Komen Foundation Award and

Research Grant Program. Good for serious runners, casual walkers,

survivors and enthusiastic supporters of all ages. Entry fee ranges

from $20 to $35. Information: (714) 957-9165 or o7www.ockomen.com.

f7

SEPT. 27

Little Naturalists -- Down by the Pond, a parent and child

playtime with a pond theme, is scheduled from 10 to 11 a.m. at the

Environmental Nature Center, 1601 16th St., Newport Beach. For

children ages 3 to 5. Cost is $5. Information: (949) 645-8489.

An artist’s reception for Adele Crawford, whose work is on display

at the Newport Beach Central Library through Oct. 31, is scheduled to

begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Friends Meeting Room at the Central

Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. Crawford’s collection

includes colorful landscapes and beach scenes. Information: (949)

717-3870.

A free seminar on whole body detoxification, featuring Albert

Trujillo, is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mother’s Market, 225

East 17th St., Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 631-4741.

SEPT. 29

A free seminar on back to school health tools, featuring Clinical

Nutritionist Steve Holmes, is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at

Mother’s Market, 225 East 17th St., Costa Mesa. Information: (949)

631-4741.

A 40th Anniversary Concert in the Park -- as part of UC Irvine’s

40th anniversary celebration, the university along with the City of

Irvine will host a concert in the park with the Fabulous

Thunderbirds. The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. on the

Commencement Lawn at Aldrich Park, UC Irvine campus. Admission and

parking after 4 p.m. are free. Bring blankets and beach chairs.

Information: (949) 824-5252.

SEPT. 29 TO OCT. 1

The Sugar Plum Arts and Crafts Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m.

to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in

building #10 at the Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa

Mesa. Information: (562) 598-0857 or o7www.sugarplumcrafts.comf7.

OCT. 1

The 3rd Annual Habitat for Humanity “Building on a Dream” Gala is

scheduled from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Palm Garden Ballroom at the

Four Seasons Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. The gala

will raise funds to build more affordable ownership homes for

hardworking, low-income families. Information: (714) 434-6200, ext. 0

or o7www.habitatoc.orgf7.

Eileen Fisher is hosting a special day of shopping from 12 to 5

p.m. -- 10% of proceeds benefit the Orange County affiliate of the

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Light refreshments will be

served. Enjoy $25 off and a gift with purchase, while supplies last.

Enter a raffle to win special prizes, including a $200 gift

certificate to the store. Eieen Fisher is located in South Coast

Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 437-3111.