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Retail Therapy: Spend Saturday in style

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Live the look: Glamour, GQ and the Shops at Mission Viejo will partner for LOOKBOOK Live from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, featuring stage shows, style closets, beauty stations, style challenges, a photo booth and more. New retailers at the mall include Windsor Fashions, Brow Arc Dry Bar and LUSH Handmade Cosmetics. Information: simon.com.

RVCA sale: The next RVCA warehouse sale is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday at 16700 Red Hill Ave., Irvine. Get discounts of up to 80% on urban surf, skate and streetwear for men, women and kids. Information: rvca.com.

Family fun: The Beall Center at UCI will host a free family day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with hands-on art and science activities for all ages. Information: (949) 824-6206 or beallcenter.uci.edu.

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Balboa dreaming: The fifth annual Balboa Village Fest and Taste of Balboa will help kick off the Newport to Ensenada yacht race with live music, food tastings, chalk muralists and family activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Balboa Village area of the Balboa Peninsula. Tribute band Hollywood U2 will perform. Entry is free; tastes range from $1 to $10. Information: (949) 644-1023 or balboavillage.com.

Rejoice, fashionistas: A new Nordstrom Rack has just opened at 27991 Greenfield Drive, Laguna Niguel, and has un-picked-through designer goodies. Information: (949) 334-6250.

Pass the cheese, please: Provisions Market and OC Baking Company will join forces in honor of National Grilled Cheese Month to host the Big Cheese, the county’s own grilled cheese festival and competition. A grilled cheese competition will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Provisions, 143 N. Glassell St., Orange. Samplers will be able to vote on their favorite. Tickets are $45 and include a craft beer tasting; purchase in advance at universe.com/thebigcheese. Remaining tickets may be available at the door.

Holy mole: SOL Cocina, 251 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, will present a festival of mole dishes from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly from April 22 through 30, including entree, dessert and beverage options like mole poblano with tequila chicken, mole verde with grilled shrimp, deep-fried ice cream over a sweet almond mole sauce, and even a mezcal-based “Molerita.” The Moles & Mezcal festival also celebrates the release of Executive Chef Deb Schneider’s new book, “Salsas and Moles.” Information: solcocina.com.

SOCO cool: HD Buttercup at SOCO Collection, 3315 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, will host its first Family Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 23 in its outdoor area; enjoy face painting, story time and goodies for the first 100 people, like a free Greenleaf kids meal with adult purchase, a card for a complimentary SusieCakes cupcake, and a $5 gift card to Granola Babies. Environment Furniture at SOCO Collection also celebrates its annual Earth Day Sale through April 26; take 20% off its gorgeous sustainable collection of furnishings. Information: environmentfurniture.com.

Pizza my heart: Five new pizza places debut this spring and summer in the area, capitalizing on the fast-and-customized trend that has already seen a swarm of new Italian eateries. Sapori Ristorante will open a new pizzeria this month, next door to its current location at Bayside Center, 1080 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach. It will include a wood-burning oven from Italy that will prepare Neapolitan-style pizzas in 90 seconds. Information: pizzeriasapori.com.

Over in Irvine, Alton Square, located at Alton Parkway and Jeffrey Road, will welcome Pizza:90 this month; it’s another 90-second pizza establishment that also features craft beer. Information: pizza90.com.

On the other side of Jeffrey Road, Square One Pizza Café will open at Oak Creek Shopping Center next month. The chef is a former chef-de-cuisine at the famed Hobbit restaurant in Orange. Try the South Bay’s Ugly Pie Co. new location at Orchard Hills Shopping Center, Portola Parkway and Culver Drive, when it opens this summer; you’ll be able to build an endless variety of pies, including favorites like the Cheese Burger pizza. Information: uglypieco.com.

Meanwhile, you can already experience Johnny’s Real New York Pizza’s third location at Quail Hill Shopping Center, on Quail Hill Parkway. The New York-style pizza is made to be folded in half — that’s what we’re talking about. Information: johnnysrealnypizza.com.

Have a hot sale tip, or know about a new local business that you think deserves a little attention? Contact CANDICE BAKER at candicebaker@gmail.com.

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