Greer's OC

The official world celebration for the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday and Global Compassion Summit will be a once in a lifetime three-day event presented by Friends of the Dalai Lama in partnership with UC Irvine and Center for Living Peace starting on Sunday, July 5 at the Honda Center and continuing at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center on Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled to attend events on all three days, with world leaders, Nobel laureates, celebrity guests and artists who will join to offer their best wishes for the monumental occassion. The Global Compassion Summit also serves to initiate dialogues on the role of compassion for the environment, the arts and leadership for the youth.

Tickets are on sale now for all events. On Sunday, July 5 from noon to 3:30 p.m. the Dalai Lama’s birthday celebration will include performances by Tibetan children and world-renowned musicians, as well as a talk by the Dalai Lama on Awakening Compassion: The Transformative Power of Creativity and Art.

Two sessions will continue on Monday, July 6 and one session on Tuesday, July 7 at the Bren Events Center at UC Irvine. The events will feature conversations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and world leaders discussing climate change and education, as well as forum for the Dalai Lama and other Nobel Laureates. The entire schedule of events can be found at HHDL80.org.

Tickets at the Honda Center event on Sunday, July 5 are $10 for students, and range from $35, $75 and $180 for all others. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com or at the Honda Center Box Office at 2695 East Katella in Anaheim.

Tickets at the Bren Events Center, UC Irvine on Monday, July 6 are available for a morning session from 9:30 at 11:30 a.m. and afternoon session from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday, July 7, a morning session from 9:30 to 11 a.m. are available at $30, $60 and $90; and $10 for UCI students with valid student ID.

Tickets can be purchased at ucirvinetickets.com, or at 949.824.5000, or Bren Center Ticket Office at 100 Mesa Road.

Spring Cooking Classes at SOCO

Home cooks of all levels will love the new hands on cooking classes followed by delicious eating at Surfas Culinary District on May 20 and Pirch on May 24 both at SOCO in Costa Mesa.

At Celebrate Spring Sweetly! Baking Class at Surfas Culinary District you can join their Gourmet Spring Cupcakes baking class on Wednesday May 20, from 5:30 – 8:30 pm. and learn how to create individual sweet treats with a gourmet twist – perfect for a spring get-together! Surfas’ chef instructor will share tips for baking fluffy and moist cakes every time.  You will also learn how to make Italian Meringue Buttercream, Swiss Meringue Buttercream, and twist on American Buttercream.

The dessert make and taste menu will also feature Limoncello Meringue Cupcakes, Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cupcakes, and Lavender and Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Honey Frosting.

The hands-on baking class and tasting is $65 and participants can sign up on the “events” page at surfasonline.com or by visiting the store.

Surfas Culinary District is at 3309 Hyland Avenue in Costa Mesa.

You can also attend PIRCH’s Cooking by the Book event Sunday, May 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join PIRCH’s chefs as a work of literary art is transformed into its culinary counterpart. Inspired by a cookbook from the Live Joyfully Boutique,  they’ll gather fresh ingredients to create something so delicious, it will be difficult to put it into words.

Space is limited. RSVP at 949.429-0800.

PIRCH is at 3303 Hyland Ave. in Costa Mesa.