Winter Solstice & Total Lunar Eclipse Coincide For First Time In 372 Years, But OC Won't See It

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Going, going, gone.
​There's an extremely rare, celestial happening tonight. It's the 
only time the winter solstice and a lunar eclipse will happen on the same night in our lifetime--so rare, in fact, that it didn't even happen between now and our great-great-great grandparents lifetime--and we almost certainly don't have a chance of seeing it.

Thanks, Mother Nature, you backstabbing biotch! How many other years did California sit in drought-mode, with barely a sprinkle from you and then the one time when some super rare sighting is possible, you cover us with eight days of cloud cover and downpour? Not cool, not at all.

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Donald Rumsfeld: Pay Top Dollar To Eat With Him Tonight, Then Buy His Book And Follow Him On Twitter

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"You should buy my book and follow me on Twitter!"
Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is bringing his comedy tour to the Richard Nixon Library tonight. Or maybe he's being honored for something. Or maybe it's part of his book tour. 

Whatever it may be that is bringing him to O.C., we're hoping he'll grace the audience with a few of his better known Rumsfeldisms--for instance, "I believe what I said yesterday, I don't know what I said, but I know what I think, and, well, I assume it's what I said."

It's the least he could do, considering the cost of attendance is a minimum of $500. And that's just to have dinner. If you want to have the chance to meet him, the price is doubled. No one is expected to be forced to stand for the duration of the event.

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December Surf Events: Signings, Films, Art Shows, Sales, Grand Openings And Socializing

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Getting out of the house begins tonight!
​Need somewhere to go, something to do? Is that recent paycheck burning a hole in your pocket? Have an interest in surfing, beach culture or anything that takes you away from your re-runs? Here are a few surfing/beach-type events going on in the OC area in the coming weeks, beginning with tonight.

Tonight, Dec. 2

WHO: Vans by Thalia Street Surf Shop 
WHERE: 915 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach
WHEN: Tonight, 8 - 10 p.m.
WHY (Should You Go?): Food, music, drinks, trendy surfer types, photography by SURFER Magazine's Todd Glaser and Nolan Hall. You may even see Alex Knost and Joel Tudor. Wooooaah! And it's free.

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Starcraft II Drops Tonight; Geek Out Collectively In Fountain Valley

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Blizzard
Twelve years ago, Irvine-based gaming firm Blizzard Entertainment dropped Starcraft, a sci-fi strategy game featuring heavily armored humans turning insect-like aliens into blood fountains via machine gun. It's sold nearly 10 million copies. At midnight tonight, the company will finally release its sequel to the revolutionary game--and Starcraft geeks lucky enough to live in Orange County will get a chance to hear from some of the people who made it.More >>

Orly Taitz Featured in MSNBC Documentary Premiering Tonight

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John Gilhooley / OC Weekly
One of the sharpest birther-watchers around, David Weigel of the Washington Post, recently swore off any further coverage for Laguna Niguel's Orly Taitz

"As far as I'm concerned, the Taitz trainwreck ended on Tuesday when she rode a wave of publicity to 26% in California's GOP primary for Secretary of State," Weigel wrote. "When she made the move from freaky celebrity to politics she got rock-solid proof of her irrelevance."
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Will Trains or Lanes Connect Santa Ana to LA County?

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Choo choo
Orange County residents who love public transit--yes, some of these people do exist--talk fondly of Southern California's train-taking heritage. There was a time when the Pacific Electric "Red Car" rail system connected OC to LA to the Inland Empire and beyond; getting around without a horseless buggy back then was relatively cheap and easy.More >>

More on OC's Reinvigorated Gay-Rights Movement

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Jennie Warren / OC Weekly
A few ideas I couldn't quite fit into this week's cover story on gay-rights activism in Orange County:

- LGBT-rights doesn't necessarily mean LGBT: Most of the LGBT activists working in Orange County told me that one of the most remarkable thing about the network that has developed because of Prop. 8 is that it includes a ton of "straight allies." Alex Gorman--the guy in the story wearing the nun costume--is one. So is Felicity Figueroa, the Orange County Equality Coalition's membership chair, as are a number of other board members. Groups that don't have marriage equality as their stated mission, like Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have also played a big role in activism here.

- OCEC is full of newbies. There's an old guard in Orange County gay activism. People like Jeff Letourneau, Harvey Liss, Misha Houser, Zoe Nicholson and even Weekly contributor Dave Barton--as well as groups groups like the Elections Committee of the County of Orange and institutions like The Center OC--paved the way in the 1980s and 1990s with their work on AIDS awareness, gay visibility and the opposition of maniacs like Bill Dannemeyer. They all remain involved in some way, but one of the noteworthy things about gay activism since Prop. 8 has been the emergence of completely new leaders--most of whom show up in this week's cover story.

- You can see it all in action this weekend. Read on...

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To Do This Weekend 7/3-7/5

Categories: To Do Tonight
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Reefer Madness - The Musical, various times until Aug. 2

It's a musical theater masterpiece about California's favorite cash crop, marijuana. For a full review of the production by our critic Joel Beers, click here.

Maverick Theater, 110 E. Walnut, Anaheim, CA; 714-526-7070


Hootenanny: Reverend Horton Heat; Los Lobos; Horrorpops and more, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Join the annual Rockabilly car show and music fest this 4th of July. Musical acts include the Reverend Horton Heat, Los Lobos, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Nekromantix, Supersuckers, Lee Rocker and many, many more.

Oak Canyon Ranch, past Irvine Lake, Santiago Canyon Rd., Orange, CA


Americana Family Festival, Sunday, 12 p.m.

Celebrate with Huge Blues and Brett Caplinger, vintage swing and jazz by Riff Raff, and folk music sing-a-longs and dances by The Bon Family and California All Star Cloggers. Admission: Free.

Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA; 714-567-3600



To Do Orange County: July 4th

Categories: To Do Tonight
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Looking for a way to celebrate Independence Day?  Take a look at the options below to
ensure that you're not home alone when the fireworks are going off.



"I'M ON A BOAT!" 4th of July Queen Mary Spectacular

The pool opens at 11am and you can lounge, drink, and dance. Walk around the ship and check out the karaoke bar, comedy club, beer pong tournament and more. Then, watch the West Cost's Biggest Fireworks show happen RIGHT ABOVE YOU. Following that, the ship will turn into SoCal's top outdoor nightclub, with DJs spinning over the water!
The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 562-435-3511, $25


Newport Dunes 4th of July Celebration

One of the most highly anticipated annual events in Southern California is the 4th of July celebration sponsored by Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort in Newport Beach. Once again, the resort will join forces with the City of Newport Beach in hosting a spectacular fireworks extravaganza beginning at 9 p.m. orchestrated by Pyro Spectacular. The entire day, however, will include a number of family activities that are covered in the cost of parking including bounce houses, water slides, surf simulators, carnival rides and a fun fair. (The $50 per car parking fee includes 5 wristbands covering a number of all-day activities.) In keeping with recent tradition and to maintain a family atmosphere, alcohol consumption will be prohibited at the patriotic celebration. Full beverage service will be available at the newly opened Back Bay Bistro only.
1131 Back Bay Dr, Newport Beach, 949-729-3863, $5


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To Do Tonight - 7/2

Categories: To Do Tonight
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Film Screening: Rear Window, 7 p.m.

View this Alfred Hitchcock classic starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, as it was intended to be seen: on the big screen.

UC Irvine, Winifred Smith Hall, W. Peltason and Campus Dr., Irvine, CA; 949-637-0749


Salsa Group Class and Dance, 9 p.m.

Bust out your best spicy Latino dance moves to these funky fresh grooves.

Avant Garde Ballroom, 4220 Scott Drive, Newport Beach, CA; 949-442-9600


Jamie Foxx, 8 p.m.

He's an actor, a musician, and soon he'll also be a magician. Or will he? The only thing we know for certain is that the man is a true talent.

The Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA; 714-712-2750


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