Champagne

Alicia Robinson For those who want to usher in 2004 with gastronomic fanfare, many area restaurants are offering New Year's Eve champagne toasts with hors d'oeuvres, dinners and, in some cases, music and dancing. Several restaurant employees said they're planning for huge crowds on the last night of the year, which can be one of the busiest nights because seemingly everyone goes out. Roy's in Newport Beach expects to serve more than 500 dinners, mostly to people who come in before heading to a club or hotel for dancing, Roy's General Manager Barry Pierce said.

Fashion Island's "Music on the Island" series returns from noon to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Shoppers can enjoy music in "the Commons" in Bloomingdale's Courtyard. Musicians scheduled to entertain include Emilio Castillo, Dirk K, Ron Benise, Lao Tizer and L.A. Incas. HAVE A BRUNCH The popular Sunday brunch offered at Accents Restaurant in the Sutton Place Hotel has an international seafood station, roasts carved to order, salads, a variety of hot entrees, breakfast favorites, including eggs Benedict, waffles, omelets, imported and domestic cheeses, and an incredible dessert display.

TILL JAN. 2 'Peter Pan' J.M. Barrie's classic tale "Peter Pan" flies into the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, offering viewers a unique 360-degree experience. Tickets start at $40. For showtimes and more information, visit http://www.ocpac.org. TUESDAY Indie Tuesdays The Danvilles, featuring Mike Hindert of The Bravery, The Gromble and Adam Bones perform at La Cave, 1695 Irvine Ave., Costa Mesa. The free show is 21 and older only. For more information, call (949)

If you can think of no other gift for your mom on Mother's Day, there's always an easy fallback: Treat her to a meal after all the ones she has cooked for you. Here are some local restaurants offering holiday packages this weekend: * SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Tamarind of London offers a three-course "India meets California" menu created by Michelin Star-honored Chef Alfred Prasad at Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 7862 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach....

Deepa Bharath Not many would imagine the words "Botox" and "bash" would go together. After all, Botox is the brand name of botulinum toxin, a substance that is injected into facial muscles as an age-defying treatment. It is the most popular method performed to remove wrinkles -- be it laugh lines, frown folds on the forehead or those unsightly bags under the eyes. But Botox parties are gaining popularity among bustling socialites in affluent communities.

FLO MARTIN Steve Bolton's Aug. 15 cartoon of an elderly woman sipping her morning coffee while scanning the headlines inspired a loud guffaw in our household. My first thought was: "Lady, wake up and smell your coffee! Maybe in your day, accepted behavior for 19-year old boys included staying away from alcohol, drugs and teen girls. Nowadays, only in your dreams." As a parent of teenage kids 20 years ago, I had the same delusions. Not my kids, no way. They don't do drugs.

A roasted turkey deli sandwich for under four bucks? As Homer Simpson might say, “Mmm, turkey.” Back in 1989 Champagnes Deli & Grill in Newport Beach sold ‘em for that much and to celebrate the restaurant’s 20th anniversary you can order it for that price again. This week we check in with Champagnes’ owner Rand McDevitt and his business partner Tina Voso (who’s also the general manager).   So how did you get into the restaurant business?

It is the Oscar celebration for the culinary world. Known as the Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner, an annual tribute to the culinary arts named for the late famous American chef was presented May 1 in Costa Mesa at the incomparable AnQi by Crustacean. Some 170 guests came together under the auspices of Master Chef Helene An and her daughter, the indefatigable Elizabeth An , to experience a once-in-a-lifetime six-course menu created by international culinary star and guest chef for the evening Daniel Rose . For those in the know, Rose, an American-born son of the great city of Chicago, is today considered the toast of Paris as owner of the wildly popular Spring Restaurant.

Costa Mesa chic met New York City glamour last week as Tiffany & Co. hosted the celebrity-studded Blue Book Ball. A return to the 1920s "Jazz Age" social milieu was the central theme, embracing the glittering April week of events in the Big Apple created around showcasing the 2013 Blue Book Collection of Tiffany & Co.'s most fabulous jewels. Some 400 VIP guests converged in New York City from around the nation and beyond, mingling with celebs including Gwyneth Paltrow , Kate Hudson , Jessica Biel , Sarah Jessica Parker and Carey Mulligan , star of the soon-to-be-released film remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby.

Once reserved for special occasions and New Year's Eve celebrations, champagne is now making a comeback as a popular pairing at fine dining institutions. Tonight and Friday, a South Coast Plaza restaurant is hosting a special champagne tasting event with the bubbly beverage and lessons about its rich history. "I first got the idea after doing an event at Saks Fifth Avenue," Quattro Cafe owner Dennis Silva said. "People didn't know what they were drinking. They thought they were drinking white zinfandel."