Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary

January 23 and 24. Orange County Performing Arts Center Samueli Theater. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.  To mark the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records, the premier label in jazz, an all-star band featuring some of today’s finest musicians is visiting the OC.  Led by Blue Note Records artist and pianist Bill Charlap, the group will explore classic tunes by Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, and many others.  714-556-2122. www.ocpac.org.

Wheelchair Accessible.

California Missions

Through January 8. Roger’s Gardens. 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona Del Mar.  Stop by Roger’s Gardens Fine Art Gallery, exhibiting paintings of California Missions this winter.  Roger’s Gardens’ featured artists Daniel Aldana, David Damm, Robin Hall, Glenna Hartmann, and W. Jason Situ will be on display along with very special guest artists.  949-640-5800. 800-647-2356. www.rogersgardens.com.

Wheelchair Accessible.

Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour

January 2 – 4. Long Beach Arena. 300 Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.  The hottest phenomenon is now on ice.  Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour is a live celebration of songs, dancing, and fun inspired by the smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical.  213-480-3232. 714-740-2000. www.ticketmaster.com.

Wheelchair Accessible.

Gray Whale Watching

Daily. Newport Landing. 309 Palm, Balboa.  For over 20 years, Newport Landing Whale Watching has provided SoCal with awesome whale watching and dolphin cruises.  During winter

months, you’ll get up-close-and-personal with migrating gray whales.  Each cruise is a unique experience – you never know what you might encounter.  949-675-0551. www.newportwhales.com.

Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats

Through January 4. Taco Bell Discovery Science Center. 2500 N. Main Street, Santa Ana.  Finally, the mystery surrounding bats comes out of the dark.  This exhibit will dispel popular misconceptions, highlighting their ecological importance, while giving you an appreciation of the true wonders of the bat world.  Featuring special effects, multi-sensory interactive displays, a Gothic castle, and environmentally lifelike settings.  714-542-CUBE. www.disocverycube.org.

Wheelchair Accessible.

Passages

Through August 16 (closed Mondays). 10am – 4pm. Bowers Museum. 2002 N. Main Street, Santa Ana.  Check out Passages: Photographs of Africa by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher.  Presented in large format, these images of African ritual practices are vivid, rich, intimate, and intense.  Three-dimensional objects from the Bowers Museum’s permanent collection of African objects will also be on display.  714-567-3600. www.bowers.org.

Wheelchair Accessible.

All information subject to change.  Please contact each individual event for up-to-date schedules, prices and more information.