Around Town: Carousels at South Coast Plaza reopen to public Friday, June 25

Visitors to South Coast Plaza beginning Friday, June 25, will once again be able to ride the shopping center’s two carousels, the large one featured in Carousel Court and the other in the Crate and Barrel wing, when they reopen to the public after 15 months of pandemic-caused closures.

The larger of the two rides was first enjoyed by guests in 1967, when the center, designed by Victor Gruen Associates, opened. It is the only carousel of its kind that undergoes a transformation twice a year: bunnies replace horses in the spring and reindeer arrive to celebrate winter.

Carrying a theme based on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the carousel in the Crate and Barrel wing was commissioned by the Segerstrom family and completed by the Chestnuts Carousel Co., Ltd., in 1991.

Stapleton new skipper of the Commodores Club of Newport Beach

The Commodores Club of Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce recently named Joseph Stapleton its newest skipper, according to an announcement by the organization on June 11.

Stapleton was also named the Newport Beach citizen of the year by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce last August.

The club works to encourage business investment and involvement in the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and to provide leadership and support for special events. It regularly organizes the annual Christmas Boat Parade.

Laguna Beach Pride Weekend nears

Laguna Beach Pride 365 will be kicking off Pride Weekend with a party at Harley, 370 Glenneyre St., on Friday, June 25.

The event will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Appetizers will be offered, and an assortment of “Pride Drink Specials” will be available for purchase.

The weekend continues with the Summer of Pride and Pride at the Promenade on Saturday, June 26, from noon to 10 p.m.

On Sunday, June 27, the third annual Royal Hawaiian drag bingo brunch will take place at Royal Hawaiian Fire Griff, 331 N. Coast Highway. Reservations are required for the event and can be made by calling (949) 715-1470. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The numbers will be called out by Endora, a personality that drag bingo fans in Laguna Beach know well.

Laguna Beach Live! awards scholarships to high school students

Laguna Beach Live! board members were so impressed by the field of applicants for its music scholarships this year that more money was donated into the scholarship fund, officials said.

As a result, four Laguna Beach High School students shared a grand total of $4,500, which was a departure from the organization’s tradition of giving two $1,000 scholarships to students interested in continuing their musical pursuits.

Samuel Eidt II, James Davison, Nicholas Reardon and Claire Tigner were announced as the winners. The applicants had to submit essays detailing their passion for and direction going forward in the field.

On another note, Laguna Beach Live! will be wrapping up its weekly summer jazz series Wednesday, June 23, with a virtual concert featuring Brian Clancy Quintet. The concert will be streamed on the Laguna Beach Live! Facebook page and YouTube channel at 6 p.m.

Laguna College of Art and Design raises $160,000 at Collector’s Choice Gala

The Laguna College of Art and Design announced this week that it raised $160,000 at its annual Collector’s Choice Gala and live auction on June 5.

“This has been our principal fundraising event for 31 years and supports award-winning programs, world-class faculty recruitment,” Dominic J. Mumolo, the school’s vice president of college advancement, said. “This event contributes to the $2.5 million in merit scholarships we offer to students in need.”

Mumolo added in the news release that 85% of students at the college currently require financial aid to continue their education.

Items that were auctioned off included paintings and sculptures contributed by a long list of artists and collectors, which included Lisa Dallendorfer, Jorg Dubin, Jennifer Griffiths, Deborah Harold, Mark Jacobucci, Kayla Janes, Tim Lemen, Hilary McCarthy, Elizabeth McGhee, Siân Poeschl, Bradford J. Salamon, Anthony Salvo, Jeff Sewell, Marc Whitney and Scott Yeskel.

“How artists describe the world is something we’re all excited about and what we witness tonight and when we walk the hallways or visit the studios here at LCAD,” LCAD Provost and Interim President Dr. Hélène Garrison said.

Huntington Beach ‘Pop and Rock’ Summer Camp to run July 19 through 30

The Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts will put on a pop and rock summer camp for students between the ages of 9 to 16 from July 19 through 30 at Huntington Beach High School.

Camp will be in session Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the two-week period. Academy pop music faculty members Nicole Kubis and Kamber Fishbein will lead kids through an experience that promises to introduce them to pop and rock instruments like guitar, bass and drums, as well as teach them about songwriting and personal branding skills, and offer opportunities to perform.

Students will also create music together and share music that they have produced.

The cost for the camp is $229 for those who complete registration by June 30. Registration is available at https://hbapa.online/pop-music-camp.

Ocean View School District offering free summer meals

Ocean View School District is providing free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals to all children ages 18 and under, beginning on Tuesday.

The meal service program runs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at College View Elementary and Oak View Elementary in Huntington Beach, as well as Westmont Elementary in Westminster.

The program runs through Sept. 3. It will only be closed on July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

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