Greer’s Best Buys:

The second annual Orange County Restaurant Week will kick off Sunday, giving you an opportunity to dine at top restaurants for six days at a great price.

At most restaurants, you’ll be able to enjoy a three-course prix-fixe lunch for $10, $15 and $20 per person, and dinner costs $20 to $40.

More than 100 restaurants in Orange County will participate in this highly anticipated culinary event. A partial list of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa restaurants includes 118 Degrees, 21 Oceanfront, Bayside, Bluewater Grill, Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge, Old Vine Cafe, Pinot Provence, Sam and Harry’s and Scott’s Seafood. Each restaurant also offers a special separate menu. Taxes, beverages, to-go orders and gratuity are not included.

Reservations may be made at www.OrangeCountyRestaurantWeek. com or by calling participating restaurants directly.

And you can search for a restaurant at the Orange County Restaurant Week website by cuisine, location and price point.

Night for charity

Attend the second annual An Evening for Autism at 6 p.m. Saturday at the home of real estate entrepreneur Barry Saywitz, whose 5-year-old son was diagnosed with autism, in Newport Beach.

The tropical-themed, catered event will include six live bands, a golf putting green, pool tables, eight bars including a martini bar, rum bar, mojito bar, wine bar, beer bar and coffee bar as well as a silent and live auction featuring numerous gifts and trips. Proceeds will benefit Easter Seals Southern California, Talk About Curing Autism, Autism Society of America and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s autism programs.

Tickets are $150 per person. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.aneveningforautism.org.

Wine-tasting fundraiser

The Second Annual Afternoon Wine Tasting happens from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at the award-winning Newport Beach Vineyards and Winery. It’s a special fundraising event for Newport Harbor High School’s Educational Fund.

Guests can sample wines from last year’s favorites: Thompkins Cellars and Newport Beach Winery as well as best-valued wines from France, Italy and Europe provided by Kenny Smith from the Wine Warehouse.

There will be great food from the Orange County Wine and Food Center and entertainment by Rob and Dave Tones. The event costs $75 per guest. Reservations are held at the door. To purchase tickets, contact Emily Evans at (949) 646-1556, ext. 2 or eevans@nmusd.us. Newport Beach Vineyards and Winery is at 2128 Mesa Drive in Newport Beach.

Free activities for families

Find free fun for your family at the eighth annual Festival of Children, a monthlong celebration of childhood at South Coast Plaza. Each weekend through Sept. 27, there will be more than 100 activities, workshops and performances for children and families, all free.

The event showcases more than 75 children’s charities for support, services and volunteer opportunities. For more information, call (714) 438-3286 or visit www.festivalofchildren.org.

Guest chefs, unique dishes

Sur La Table at South Coast Plaza has already lined up some incredible culinary talent to demonstrate cooking secrets for you. Each week for a limited time, a new guest chef will prepare one-of-a-kind recipes. And you can sample their dishes — no appointment necessary, just show up and join the fun. At 2 p.m. Sunday, local food writer and chef Cathy Thomas will demonstrate how to make the prefect crisp cucumber salad.

At 2 p.m. Sept 20 BlackMarket Bakery’s Rachel Klemek will be on hand to show off baking tips. At 2 p.m. Sept. 27, Cindy Mushet and Bella of Baking Kids Love will be showing you and your kids the easiest way to decorate sugar cookies. Bring your decorating skills, as this is an interactive demonstration.

Arun K Puri of Royal Khyber will lead a demonstration at 2 p.m. Oct. 4, followed by Don Schoenurg of Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge at the Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at 2 p.m. Oct. 11.

Sur La Table is on Level 1 of the Crate and Barrel Wing at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. For more information, call (714) 241-0118 or visit www.surlatable.com.

GREER WYLDER writes Best Buys, which runs Fridays. She’s the founder and president of www.greersoc.com , a free daily e-mail service that provides the latest in Orange County fashion, dining and trends.