Be My Baby

Fifty lucky people (out of a crowd of 3,700) got the chance to play “Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner” shower contest last night before the Center’s showing of Dirty Dancing at free Movie Mondays. Contestants played traditional baby shower games such as pass the pacifier with a straw relay, draw a picture of baby on a paper plate placed on your head, drink juice the fastest from a baby bottle, blow up a balloon and stick it under your shirt the fastest and scoop up as many cotton balls into a bowl while blindfolded.

Winners of each game won prizes from Corner Bakery, the OC Fair and Gelson’s. The baby shower contest was based on the main character played by Jennifer Grey and a line said by leading man Patrick Swayze in the film. Guests also got a special treat before the screening – In the Heights cast member Rayanne Gonzales performed a number from the musical which opens tonight and runs through August 15. Click here to see the performance. And Banana Republic gave away a $500 gift certificate to celebrate the opening of the remodeled women’s store at South Coast Plaza. Thanks to the OC Fair and the retailers for providing all the great giveaways!

Free Movie Mondays concludes this summer with the showing of Mad Hot Ballroom on August 9.

From Dorothy to the Witches and Even Toto Too

A record-breaking 3,000 people followed the Yellow Brick Road to the Center last night for the screening of The Wizard of Oz which kicked off this summer's free Movie Mondays series on the community plaza. The evening started with a fun themed costume contest. Guests were invited to dress as their favorite character from the film for a chance to win prizes such as tickets to the Orange County Fair and goodies from Broadway shows scheduled to appear at the Center. Chosen by audience applause, the winner for best costume was Scarecrow Chase Castillo from Orange (pictured below with his sister Chanelle; pictured above: Kailyn, Olivia and Jackie Cortez from Placentia). Movie Mondays continues next week with Some Like it Hot on July 19 with a movie trivia contest.

(Above: Brenna and Bronwyn Tosh from Newport Beach)

(Above: Grace Messerschmidt with Merielle Billyou Palmer)