* Send AROUND TOWN items to...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by calling (949)

574-4298. Include the time, date and location of the event, as well

as a contact phone number. A complete listing is available at

www.dailypilot.com.

SATURDAY

One of the cast members from the show “Seussical the Musical” will

be at Borders Books Music and Cafe in South Coast Plaza at 11 a.m. to

read Seussical-related stories. During this special story time, there

will be a drawing for a family four-pack of tickets to the

performance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Borders is

at 3333 Bear St. (714) 279-8933.

SUNDAY

The Costa Mesa Senior Center will hold a holiday performance by

Wanda’s Dance Studio from noon to 1 p.m. at center. The center is at

695 W. 19th St. For lunch reservations, call (949) 645-2356.

TUESDAY

The Oasis Senior Center will host a Monte Carlo Casino Night from

6 to 10 p.m. at the center to ring in the new year. A light meal and

wine will be provided. The center is at 800 Marguerite Ave. Tickets

are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For more information, call (949)

644-3244.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center will hold a New Year’s Eve party from

6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the center. The party will include dinner,

dancing and a champaign toast. The center is at 695 W. 19th St. $25

per person. For more information, call (949) 645-2356.

WEDNESDAY

Newport Beach Recreation Services will host a 2003 Tournament of

Roses Parade Excursion from 6 a.m. to about 1 p.m. The excursion will

include transportation via deluxe coach, grandstand seating on

Colorado Boulevard, a continental breakfast before departure and

lunch on the ride home. The buses will leave from the Mariners Park

parking lot at Dover Drive and Irvine Boulevard. Tickets are $90 for

Newport Beach residents, $100 for nonresidents. For more information,

call (949) 644-3151.

JAN. 3

A Feng Shui seminar will be held at 7 p.m. at Visions & Dreams in

Costa Mesa. The seminar will explain how elemental remedies can be

implemented to improve health, relationships and prosperity.

Reservations are required. Visions & Dreams is at 2482 Newport Blvd.

For more information, call (626) 288-1669 or visit

www.fengshuiadvantage.com.

JAN. 7

The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will hold their monthly

board of directors meeting at 7:15 a.m. in the chamber office. The

office is at 2855 E. Coast Highway. Suite 101. For more information,

call (949) 673-4050.

JAN. 8

Newport Beach Community Services will host a new drawing and

painting workshop series on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

today through Feb. 26. The workshop will include individual

instruction for beginner through advanced students in mixed media.

The workshop will be held in the Vince Jorgensen Center adjacent to

Mariners Library at 2005 Dover Drive. $66 for residents, $71 for

nonresidents. For more information, call (949) 644-3151.

JAN. 9

Mary and Darwin Boblet will present a slide lecture about their

three-year sailing adventure with their two young sons at 7 p.m. at

the Newport Beach Central Library. The presentation is part of the

library’s armchair travelers series. The Boblet family left from the

San Francisico Bay and traveled to Mexico, Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji and

New Zealand. The library is at 1000 Avocado Ave. Free. For more

information, call (949) 717-3801.

JAN. 11

Auditions for the School of American Ballet’s 2003 Summer Course

will be held at the DeFore Dance Center in Costa Mesa. Auditions are

open to intermediate and advanced students only and will be held from

1 to 2:30 p.m. for 13-year-olds, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. for 15-year-olds

and from 4 to 5 p.m. for 16- to 18-year-olds. Students must register

one hour in advance. For more information, call (212) 769-6600 or

(714) 241-9908.

JAN. 17

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce will host the Newport Harbor

Christmas Boat Parade Awards Dinner and Auction from 6 to 11 p.m. at

the Four Seasons Hotel. The event will feature parade winners and

have entertainment, a live and silent auction, dinner and much more.

The hotel is at 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. Tickets are

$75 per person, $900 for a table of 12. For more information, call

(949) 729-4400.

JAN. 21

The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly

networking luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Five Crowns Restaurant.

Reservations required. The restaurant is at 3801 E. Coast Highway.

For more information, call (949) 673-4050.

ONGOING

The Newport Beach Newcomers Club holds a general meeting on the

third Wednesday of every month. The organization is open to all

Newport Beach residents who have lived in the area fewer than five

years. For more information, call (949) 645-9922, or visit

newcomers-newportbeach.org.

Interfaith couples with one Jewish partner are invited to

participate in a discussion group at the Jewish Family Service of

Orange County office. The group is geared toward dealing with issues

between interfaith couples, such as raising children, observing

holidays, symbols in the home and relationships with extended

families. The cost for three sessions is $45 per couple.

Preregistration is required. Call to schedule date and time. The

office is at 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. (714) 445-4950.

Women 50 and older can join a discussion group coordinated by

Jewish Family Services to address issues such as anxiety, depression,

relationships, loneliness and family. The group meets from 10 to

11:30 a.m. Mondays at the agency offices, 250 E. Baker St., Suite G,

Costa Mesa. Preregistration required. (714) 445-4950.

Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library Used Book Store are

asking for patrons to donate books to replenish the dwindling stock.

Books may be left at any of the three branch libraries -- Balboa,

Mariners, or Corona del Mar -- or in the book closet next to the

Friends Book Store, at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. All

hardcover and paperback donations, with the exception of magazines

and law books, will be accepted and are tax deductible. (949)

759-9667.

The Braille Institute offers free computer classes to people with

fading vision who have difficulty seeing the computer screen. The

Oasis Center at 800 Marguerite Ave., Corona del Mar, offers six

sessions. Call to sign up for classes. (714) 821-5000.

A spiritual care class meets at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays at 3400

Irvine Ave., Suite 114, Newport Beach. Call to reserve a seat. (949)

263-1462.

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosts networking luncheon

meetings Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Costa Mesa

Country Club. The cost is $13. The club is at 1701 Golf Course Drive,

Costa Mesa. (714) 885-9090.

A brain tumor support group meets the first and third Thursdays of

each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hoag Cancer Center at Hoag

Hospital, 1 Hoag Drive, Newport Beach. Free. Registration not

required. The group is designed to help patients and their families

understand and cope with the illness. (949) 574-6232.

The Jewish Family Service of Orange County has a weekly parenting

support group. Parents learn strategies for successful parenting and

for dealing with the feelings and behavior of their children. The

group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays at the Jewish Family

Service office at 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. The group

will cover managing anger, anxiety and peer pressure children

experience. Preregistration required. (714) 445-4950.