Each week, Arts Orange County and Culture OC deliver you this look at the stories and events happening in our arts and cultural community.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Anaheim's Chance Theater stages the Tony-winning stage adaptation of Mark Haddon's beloved novel, in which a shy, neurodivergent teenager is determined to solve a local murder and unexpectedly exposes buried secrets MORE

Bruno Serato has served his 9 millionth meal at Caterina's Club

Most restaurateurs with upscale dining rooms have a reputation for serving well-heeled gourmands. But Sir Bruno Serato has built an even bigger legacy for feeding underprivileged children. Caterina’s Club, named for his late mother who came up with the idea in 2005, has brought pasta meals to millions of children in need.

He's been recognized by the Italian government with a knighthood and has earned a spot on CNN’s “Top 10 Everyday Heroes.” In July he hit a landmark with 9 million meals served and what better timing? This achievement comes shortly before his annual Caterina’s Club gala, which will take place on Oct. 15 at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda.

“I'll be honest with you, I don't count,” he said. “My office gave me the number and I was like, that is crazy because we started 18 years ago with one city, one location and probably one kid. Now we’ve arrived at this milestone and it is overwhelming.”

Finding Dog-friendly Hangouts in O.C.

"Pet owners looking for a place to hang out with their furry children do have plenty of options in Orange County. But it’s important to find the right place for your dog’s needs and comfort level. 

“Orange County definitely loves its pets, but the pet-loving culture does not always support the pets' needs. Dogs are often brought to places they can't handle and people often force their dogs to greet others when they truly don't want to,” said certified professional dog trainer Kate Uruchurtu, who owns Calmer Canines in Santa Ana.

Uruchurtu said it’s important to socialize puppies carefully from the very beginning under a trainer and veterinarian's guidance in order to prepare them for the kinds of places you want to bring them as an adult. It’s also key to recognize when your dog's personality may not be suitable for certain locations — even if they are considered dog-friendly."

SCR's Smaller 60th Season Showcases Classic Stories

Lineup includes a new ‘Quixote,’ ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ and a musical version of ‘Prelude to a Kiss’ – but the pandemic still exerts the same unwanted forces on the regional giant as elsewhere.

Each week, we recommend a variety of events and experiences from the listings at SparkOC.com, our free website for Orange County's arts and cultural community.

20th Viet Film Fest

The largest film festival celebrating the work of Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American cinema and the artists who make it will hold two days' worth of in-person screenings at Santa Ana's Frida Cinema in addition to a streaming library MORE

23rd Annual Elvis Festival

Downtown Garden Grove's homegrown tribute to the King of Rock-and-Roll returns with live music, contests, and collectibles for sale MORE

Halloween Family Art Day

Painting and pumpkin decorating are just a few of the hands-on activities available for kids and adults alike in this day of workshops at Costa Mesa's SOCO + The OC Mix MORE

The Gathering | A Celebration of Laguna's Hippie History

On Thursday, an art show and concert from James Clay Garrison will mark the closing night of this multi-media tribute to the counter-culture vibes of Laguna Beach MORE