Orange County's hottest arrivals in shopping, nightlife, dining, entertainment, attractions, museums, theater, culture, sports and recreation. MAPS of Orange County

DANCE
Dance Triptych
The Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa presents a trio of stellar dance companies from around the globe. The always-astonishing Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Center March 3–7 with an array of Ailey classics and new works by today’s most inventive choreographers. Shen Wei Dance Arts, which appeared in the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, is also back, April 16–18, with Shen Wei’s acclaimed triptych Re- (Parts I, II, and III), inspired by the artist’s travels through Tibet, Ankgor Wat and the new Silk Road. Acclaimed choreographer Nacho Duato’s Compañía Nacional de Danza is one of Europe’s most exciting dance troupes; May 4–8, the innovative Spanish company offers three works: Arenal, Castrati and Gnawa.

ATTRACTIONS
Air Museum Takes Off
The Lyon Air Museum has opened on the perimeter of John Wayne Airport, the result of a longtime passionate effort of William Lyon, retired USAF major general and CEO of William Lyon Homes. On exhibit are some of the world’s rarest operational aircraft and vehicles, many of which helped define the 20th century, among them the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy and DC-3 Flagship Orange County. Automobiles and motorcycles are also displayed, notably a 1939 Mercedes-Benz Model G4 Offener Touring Wagon used by Adolf Hitler and a fairly bizarre military hybrid, the 1943 German Tracked Motorcycle.

DINING
An Family Affair
Top L.A. restaurateurs continue their quest for a tasty slice of the O.C. The An family, which owns popular chichi French colonial Vietnamese restaurant Crustacean in Beverly Hills, has opened AnQi, a bistro serving such fusion fare as guajillo chile-soy braised Wagyu short rib and a pan-roasted half Maine lobster. Heralded Crustacean dish Famous An’s Garlic Noodles is also available in the noodle bar. For dessert, consider tofu cheesecake with banana caramel, pistachio dust and crispy banana. The signature stream runs through the restaurant here, too, this time below a glass catwalk that transforms into a communal table. Think Bev-Nam cuisine with WeHo (West Hollywood) lounge ambience. It’s a scene-stealer.

SHOPPING
Devilishly Delicious
South Coast Plaza’s long history of high-profile openings continues. Recent examples have included Henri Bendel; those brown and white striped shopping bags seen around the center of late are likely filled with baubles, offered at its iconic Manhattan location since 1895. Miu Miu, branchild of Prada designer Miucchia Prada, offers must-haves including ready-to-wear, bags, accessories, eyewear and footwear at its new boutique; highlights of the Miu Miu spring collection include high-waisted Lolita dresses with animal prints and pantsuits. Now comes Prada itself, slated for an April opening. Prada is known for retaining renowned architects for its boutiques, but it’s still better known for its forward fashions. The Prada spring collection is less intellectual than usual: super-chic, super-wearable and all-around optimistic. Not just the devil wears Prada this season.

HIKING
GO WILD!
The brilliance of wildflower season depends on winter rainfall and sometimes the aftermath of fire. This season’s showing in the county’s wilderness areas should be spectacular. The wildflowers begin to bud and bloom in early March and maintain a dramatic performance as late as early May. Caspers Wilderness Park has the largest and most dramatic wildflower population: Find fields full of California poppies, pristine chocolate lilies and towering lupine stems on the Loskorn and West Ridge trails. At Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, the Borrego Trail to Red Rock Canyon provides a mid-level hike with outstanding wildflower viewings. At Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, visitors can view tidytips, sweet baby blue eyes and the brilliant violet Johnny jump-ups. Mariposa lilies bloom on the ridge of the park’s James Dilley Preserve in May. Children can see an array of wildflowers from “Painter’s Pier” at the Nix Nature Center. Carbon Canyon Regional Park, O’Neill Regional Park and Riley Wilderness Park offer fuchsia flowering gooseberry, delicate bush monkey, wild lilac, angelic bindweed and Bermuda buttercup. 866.OCPARKS; ocparks.com

POP
THE EAGLES
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit perform hits from their chart-topping 2007 album Long Road Out of Eden and classics from their songbook April 25 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. It’s been five years since the band last performed a full set in Southern California. The Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums, garnering five No. 1 U.S. singles and six Grammy Awards. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is among the bestselling albums of all time.

MUSEUMS
Silk Road Enigma
Strikingly well-preserved mummies, tall in stature and fair in complexion, have lain in the parched Tarim Basin of western China for 3,800 years. Who these extraordinary people—wearing Western-influenced textiles and possessing surprising technologies and customs—were is a mystery! Secrets of the Silk Road, opening March 27 at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, features 150 objects that reveal surprising details about the people who lived along the ancient Silk Road trade route. Among them are three of the more than 100 Caucasian mummies discovered in western China’s desert sands, seen for the first time in the United States. The exhibit also features a vast array of well-preserved clothing, textiles, wood and bone implements, coins, documents, and jewel-encrusted gold objects including vessels, masks and jewelry.

MUSICALS
Proud Pop, Pride Rock
Direct from the Apollo Theater in New York City, a new production of Dreamgirls comes to the Orange County Performing Arts Center April 20–May 2. Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, it’s the rags-to-riches story of a 1960s Motown girl group and its triumphs and tribulations. Disney’s Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation The Lion King, featuring the Oscar-winning songs of Elton John and Tim Rice and sensational costumes and puppetry, begins its return engagement at the center May 26.

SPORTS
A NEW TEAM
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, American League West champions a whopping five out of the last six years, begins its season, among other changes, without Vladimir Guerrero, a fan fave for those same six seasons; Guerrero, only the second Angels MVP winner, signed with the Texas Rangers. Year before last, the Angels were the only major league team to win 100 games. In 2009, they notched the most double plays in the majors (174). We’ll see what 2010 brings. “I feel like we’re a different club,” says general manager Tony Reagins. “I think we’re a very good club. I think it will remain to be seen if we’re a better club.” Season highlights include games April 23–25 at Angel Stadium against the New York Yankees, the team that kept the Angels out of the World Series last season.