Orange County Blog

Is Tony Blair a Freemason? The video above seems to think so. Oddly, some evidence behind the claim is provided by Martin Short, although it is unclear if he was doing so as himself, Jiminy Glick, Ed Grimley, Katharine Hepburn or Jackie Rogers Jr. What is as clear as London fog is the freewheelin', possibly Freemasonin' former prime minister arrives in Beverly Hills Tuesday evening for a private gala kicking off BritWeek, which is more like "BritMonth" considering the range of events and activities taking over Southern California like advancing Red Coats through the third week of May.

Among the Orange County events . . . -Thursday, April 23: "St. George's Day" beer specials all day at the Olde Ship, 1120 W. 17th St., Santa Ana.

-Thursday, April 23, through Thursday, April 30: Screenings of these UK films at the Newport Beach Film Festival: St. Trinians; Stone of Destiny; Easy Virtue; A Deal Is a Deal; and The Disappeared. Also, these from Ireland: Waveriders; A Film with Me in It; and Satellites & Meteorites. There are several short films from the UK as well.

-Saturday: Electronic rock band Ladytron at the Grove of Anaheim.

-April 29-30: Rain, at tribute to the Beatles, at the Grove.

-May 3: "BritWeek Garden Party" at the Montage Resort.

-May 4: British American Business Council (BABC)'s "OC Young Executives Night" at the Olde Ship, Santa Ana.

-May 7: 19th annual BABC Golf Tournament at Tustin Ranch Golf Club.

-May 9: English Beat with Dave Wakeling at the Galaxy

-May 10: "Queen Mother for a Day" at the Costa Mesa Hilton Hotel.

-May 10: Keane at the Grove.

-May 11: Drink specials all week at the Olde Ship, Santa Ana.

-May 13: "Curry Night" at the Olde Ship in Santa Ana.

-May 14: Jon & Gene, classic rock, at the Olde Ship in Santa Ana.

-May 14: "Champagne BritWalk OC" at South Coast Plaza followed by "Classical Mystery Tour," the Pacific Symphony Orchestra's performance of music by the Beatles, at Orange County Performing Arts Center.

-May 15: "Classical Mystery Tour," the Pacific Symphony Orchestra's performance of music by the Beatles, at Orange County Performing Arts Center.

-May 15: Ray Bush and the BBC Jazz Band at the Olde Ship in Santa Ana.

-May 16: Rubber Soul, a Beatles tribute band, at the Olde Ship in Santa Ana.

-May 17: Annual Car Show at the Olde Ship in Santa Ana.

-May 21: BritWeek Business After Hours & British Quiz Night at the Olde Ship, Santa Ana.