In an effort to draw younger audiences, the Orange County Performing Artscenter launched its first indie-rock music series, “Off Center,” on Thursday night, with Peter Bjorn and John and Sea Wolf performing at the still somewhat-hidden gem of a new venue, Samueli Theater.

Hooking up with Indie 103 FM as a promotional partner for this series of monthly events, is, I think, a brilliant move by the Artscenter. Consider the stellar, must-see lineup of upcoming “Off Center” concerts: Delta Spirit (Feb. 28, $20-$40), Cold War Kids (March 27, $25-$40) and Matt Costa (April 24, $20-$40).

And the classy Samueli is a perfect venue for this series, providing an intimate, warm, almost-lounge feel balanced with plenty of space to walk around - a nice change from the cold, sometimes-grungy industrial spaces that typically host “indie” acts.

Orange County Register pop critic Ben Wener dug the venue and the show, too. Check out his complete review here.

 Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa is a great place to check out new and local music and occasionally they bring in some big acts.  Ima Robot, an alternative pop/rock group from Los Angeles, pay a visit to the venue on Friday, Feb. 1 with opening support from Long Beach’s grunge/rock act Thinking Aloud.

The Raveonettes  stop by Detroit Bar on Sunday, March 2. The Danish duo of Sune Rose Wanger and Sharin Foo have a vintage, noir look and sound and play music that’s often foggy, dream-like, yet charming.

Tickets for both shows are available now, $12 for IMA Robot, $13 for The Ravonettes. Tickets can be purchased at the venue or by calling 1-800-594-TIXX (8499) or online at detroitbar.com.

In the meantime…check out Detroit Bar’s Monday Night Resident bands, going on every Monday night at 9 p.m. with no cover. January’s Resident band is Sparrow Love Crew, a hip-hop group outta Long Beach and February brings We Barbarians, an indie rock band from Long Beach.

- KELLI SKYE

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Ruby’s Diner and to celebrate, Ruby’s is rolling back to the original 1982 menu prices for one day only, Friday, Dec. 7 at the original Ruby’s location at the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.

Shakes will only be $1.60 (all flavors available); an original Ruby Burger will only be $2.15.

The celebration will also include live music by the Stompy Jones Band and a swing dancing demonstration from 4-7 p.m. The first 100 people to stop by the diner on Dec. 7 will receive a Ruby’s Diner 25th Anniversary commemorative pin.

The specially priced menu will be served from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and take out will be available from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

- KELLI SKYE

So the local economy is supposedly tanking, companies are downsizing … and yet, life is GOOD when you can spend an afternoon sipping wine and tasting great cheeses of all shapes, textures, flavors and colors.

On Sunday, I checked out the final day of the first annual American Cheesemaker Awards gathering, a literal nirvana for foodies at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach.

Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 15-18, the epicurean event brought together top local and national chefs, taste experts and purveyors, and 25 cheesemakers from California, Idaho, Indiana, New York, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin showing off their excellent artisanal cheeses.

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On today’s Kevin & Bean morning show on KROQ they announced night two of the KROQ “Almost Acoustic Christmas.”  Night two is a bit more mellow, featuring acts: Muse, Jimmy Eat World, Feist, Modest Mouse, Silversun Pickups, Spoon and The Shins.

Night one is more rockin’ with: Linkin Park, Angels & Airwaves, Avenged Sevefold, Bad Religion, Serj Tankian, Rise Against and Paramore.

The KROQ “Almost Acoustic Christmas” is on Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

More ticket info to come…

Yes, guys and gals, it is that time of year again. KROQ 106.7 FM’s DJs Kevin & Bean announced night one of the annual rock concert: Linkin Park, Bad Religion, Rise Against, Serj Tankian, Angels & Airwaves, Avenged Sevenfold and Paramore.

The show will be held at the Gibson Amphitheater on Saturday, December 8.

Night two, along with ticket sale information, will be announced soon.

For more information, visit the KROQ website.

This year’s Music for a Cure benefit event brought together good music, a good cause, good hearts, plus beautiful people, places and things.

“The Heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll” party Friday night, Nov. 2, featured a concert by Sugar Ray and Smashmouth; artfully tasteful food and cocktails; a silent and a live auction, all at the gorgeous, intimate Samueli Theatre at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. All the event proceeds go to Music for a Cure, the heart-warming charity started by Sugar Ray bassist Murphy Karges and his wife, Julie, to bring music into the lives of sick and financially needy children.

The Kargeses have done everything from bringing performers to hospitalized kids to providing instruments and music lessons to underprivileged children. And on Friday night, the Kargeses presented a $1 million check to Children’s Hospital of Orange County to endow a music therapy program there.

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We get a lot of strange emails with some off the wall pitches, today SqueezeOC.com editor Iris Yokoi found a press release for Tigarah, the “critically acclaimed Japanese Rap Queen.”

The press release is really overly hyped, to the point where one can’t help but laugh out loud.

The highlight of the release are the supposed critic comments such as the one from the Los Angeles Times that comments that Tigarah sounds like “Gwen Stefani, Anglo-Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A., Hellos Kitty and crunk stalwart Lil’ Jon…”

Tigarah will be performing at the Avalon Hollywood (1735 N. Vine Street, Los Angeles) this Sunday, Nov. 4 at 10 p.m. with Peaches and Ton Loc as part of URB Magazine’s 150th Issue Celebration.

Here’s just a little taste of the rappin’ Japanese diva with her video “Japanese Queen.”

Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Flash video.

- KELLI SKYE

What would Halloween be without giant bowls and bags of candy?! Whether you’re a costume wearin’ kid hitting the streets to Trick-or-Treat or a parent, anxiously waiting for your child to return home with that giant haul of treats - there’s definitely candy that scores on the “yummy” side and ones that tend to fall into the “gross” category.

We’re letting YOU decide this year’s Best and Worst Halloween candy.

Vote within the categories below or add your own to the list.

The results will appear in the Life, Etc. section of the Orange County Register on Monday, Oct. 29 and online at www.squeezeoc.com.

Want a piece of the Osbourne’s? For the right price Ozzy’s Ben Franklin-style spectacles could be all yours. The family is selling off a TON of household items including lamps, beds, mirrors, chairs and paintings.

Sharon is even auctioning off some designer dresses, jewelry and miscellaneous dinnerware. Following a nasty ATV accident - it’s no wonder that they are giving up a slew of motor sport items including dirt bikes, and four-wheelers. They’re even offering up a BATHTUB - if you can’t be a bat-head biting rockstar, you might as bathe like one!

A public exhibition will be held on Monday, Nov. 26-Thursday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The live and online auction will take place on Friday, Nov. 30 in two sessions, one at 10 a.m. and another at 2 p.m. at The Gibson Guitar Showroom, 9350 Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills.

Interactive bidding will be available on juliensauctions.com.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation which provides at-home help, childcare, transportation, access to support groups and patient care services offered within Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

- KELLI SKYE