Briefly in Datebook

Alta Coffee house is holding a pre-Valentine’s day love poetry contest in

an effort to convert amorous thoughts into sublime lyrics.

The contest, which starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, is an open-mic event, with

romantic or erotic poetry encouraged. (Organizers specify that they hope

the more erotic offerings will be in “good taste,” however.)

Bil and Carole Luther, Orange County poetry publishers and frequent

participants in local poetry events, will judge the contest. Live music

will be provided by the band Liquid Muse.

The fee to compete is $3, and the contest is limited to the first 15

sign-ups.

Alta Coffee is at 506-31st St., Newport Beach. Sign-ups begin at 7 p.m.

For more information, call (949) 675-0233.

Noted authors to speak at Round Table West

Round Table West, a monthly literary luncheon, will bring authors Amanda

Parsons, Ray Stricklyn and Dennis Overstreet to speak at the Balboa Bay

Club at noon Feb. 17.

Parsons, the author of “High Exposure, Hollywood Lives,” is an

anthropologist, photojournalist and developer of projects for National

Geographic. She put together more than 200 celebrity photographs from the

archives of the Los Angeles Times, including images of Marilyn Monroe,

Mary Pickford and Errol Flynn. Many of the photographs, which span the

‘20s through the ‘60s, are previously unpublished.

Stage actor Ray Stricklyn’s “Angels & Demons” describes the Texas-born

thespian’s rise to fame on Broadway, in TV and film, as well as his

struggles with the Hollywood bigotry and his transition to a career as a

publicist. Stricklyn will share with the crowd some of his experiences

with actors like Bette Davis, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Katherine

Hepburn.

On a lighter note, Dennis Overstreet will discuss his new wine guide. The

creator of the Beverly Hills shop “The Wine Merchant” and “Overstreet’s,”

a wine bar. Overstreet will share a few anecdotes about champagne, wine

production, and other delicious subjects.

Round Table West is the enterprise of Margaret Burk and Marylin Hudson,

who opens each luncheon with “You Were Born Under a Funny Sign,” a comic

monologue on the personalities of the zodiac.

Tickets to the event are $40 per person. The Balboa Bay Club is at 1221

West Coast Highway, Newport Beach. For more information, call (323)

256-7977.

Symphony hosts ‘Music on the Move’

The Pacific Symphony Orchestra League’s Monday luncheon will feature a

presentation about “Music on the Move,” a program to bring music

listening experiences to the lives of Alzheimer’s patients.

Dr. Cordula Dick-Muehlke, director of Adult Day Services of Orange

County, will speak about the importance of music for patients. Also

appearing will be screen and television actress Mary Myan and vocalist

Dorcas Preston.

“Music on the Move” seeks to entertain and inform its audiences using

classical, jazz, opera and other music genres. The volunteer performers

typically mingle with the crowd to generate enthusiasm and help answer

questions.

The luncheon is $25 and is open to the general public. It will be held at

The Center Club, 650 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For reservations and

more information, call (714) 755-5788, ext. 264.