Asian Culinary Forum
Oct. 10-12
First annual symposium in the U.S. dedicated to the Asian food culture. Explore changes in Asian cuisines around the globe and share in the importance of tradition and history, yet understand the need to look with clear eyes toward the future. Speakers include distinguished artists and academicians, chefs and farmers, producers and distributors, writers and entrepreneurs. Large public event on Friday, classes on Saturday and a full-day symposium on Sunday.
Sunday symposium costs $185 and registration is required. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. San Francisco Ferry Building, San Francisco. Registration: www.asianculinaryforum.org

Fundraising Gala
Oct. 11
CEO (Creating Economic Opportunities) Women is a beneficiary of this fundraiser of the Society for Asian Women Leaders. Second annual awards banquet and charity auction. 6-10 p.m. Hilton San Francisco Financial District, 750 Kearny St., San Francisco. Information: http://sawlbanquet08-invitefriends.eventbrite.com

Infant and Child CPR
Oct. 11
For expectant parents and parents and grandparents of children 5 and younger. Teaches basic skills for emergencies such as choking, breathing difficulties and unconsciousness. Taught in Vietnamese. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Ngu?i Vi?t Community Room, 14771 Moran St., West-minster, Calif. Information and registration: Ailene Ly at (714) 352-3426.

OCTA Open House
Oct. 13
Orange County Transportation Authority is looking for public input considering a possible fare increase. The meeting will allow OCTA to make customers aware of the proposed changes. 5 p.m. Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, Calif. For additional information, (800) 636-RIDE, customers@octa.net or www.octa.net/fareproposal.

Humanitarian Exhibit
Oct. 15-19
The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Meùdecins Sans Frontieøre (MSF) will tour California this fall with A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City, an 8,000-square-foot interactive outdoor exhibit. This exhibit asks visitors to imagine they are among the estimated 42 million people worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge from war or conflict in places such as Sudan, Colombia and Iraq. Experienced aid workers guide visitors through structures used by MSF in its work around the world, including a cholera treatment center, a health clinic, emergency refugee housing, and nutrition and vaccination tents. Visitors learn how refugees confront the challenges that threaten their survival, including those of building shelter, finding food and clean water and enduring disease. Free.9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Little Marina Green Park, Marina Boulevard and Yacht Harbor Road, San Francisco. Also coming to: Griffith Park in Los Angeles (Oct. 22-27), Santa Monica Pier (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) and Balboa Park in San Diego, Nov. 6-9. Information: (800) 490-0773 or www.doctorswithoutborders.org/refugeecamp

Campaign Fundraiser
Oct. 15
Miniature golf outing to raise money for the campaign of Sergio Contreras, candidate for the Westminster school board. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sponsorship levels: $39 to $1,000. Boomers, 16800 Magnolia St., Fountain Valley, Calif. Information and RSVP: (714) 305-9714.

Hallow-teen
Fright Night
Oct. 17
Teens ages 13 to 17 are invited to a house of horrors for a special fright night movie, raffle prizes and more. Snacks available for sale. 7-9:30 p.m. Tickets: $5, on sale beginning Oct. 13 at the Recreation Counter at Garden Grove City Hall, at 11222 Acacia Parkway. Gem Theater, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove, Calif. Information: (714) 741-5200.

DJ Competition
Oct. 18
Battle of the Champions 2008 is the Northern Cali-fornia’s largest disc jockey competition. 8 p.m.-midnight. Tickets: $20-$25. Broadway Studios, 435 Broadway, San Francisco. For information: www.battleofthechampions.biz

Gardening Seminar
Oct. 18
Seminar to improve the gardening practices of Orange County residents who grow edible and ornamental plants. Practical information for home gardeners; it is not intended to provide training for people employed in the horticulture industry. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. $37, or $45 with lunch. Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, Calif. Registration: www.uccemg.com/seminar/index.htm

Comedy Event
Oct. 18
An evening of comedy as Sheng Wang, Ali Wong and Joe Nguy?n perform at the Friends of Hu?’s Second Annual Comic Care Event. Benefits the Friends of Hu? Foundation, which maintains a children’s shelter and vocational center in Hu? City and provides basic medical care to rural communities in central Vi?t Nam. 7:30 p.m. $50 VIP, $25 general seating. Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, Calif. Information: www.friendsofhue.org/comiccare2.html or (408) 826-1681.

25th Anniversary
Dinner
Oct. 21
Organized by Asian Pacific American Legal Center, one of the premier Asian American groups in California. Also will recognize more than 50 individuals, corporations, law firms and foundations that have supported the center through the years. Reception and silent auction at 5:30 p.m., program and dinner at 7 p.m. The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, 404 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Information: Clayton Yeung at (213) 977-7500, Ext. 201. Tickets: http://www.apalc.org/events/RSVPForm.pdf.

Entrepreneur
Conference
Oct. 24
Bay Area Capital Connections (BACC), the premier conference in the Bay Area focusing on providing fast-growing minority companies with information on how to access equity capital, is back with a call to action to all minority entrepreneurs, and with particular emphasis on Asian entrepreneurs in 2008. 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Registration: $150 or $175 at the door. Computer History Museum, 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, Calif. For additional information: (415) 990-1862.

Jack-O-Lantern
Jamboree
Oct. 24
Join the annual holiday '"spook"'-tacular family-friendly event, limited to the first 300 participants. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets: $6; free for 2 and under. The family-friendly event is limited to the first 300 participants. Tickets are $6 per person. Children 2 and under are free. Atlantis Play Center, 13630 Atlantis Way, Garden Grove, Calif. Tickets: Presale begins Oct. 20. (714) 741-5200.

Chancellor’s Ball
Oct. 24
A celebration of diverse Asian cultures will flavor '"By the Light of Lanterns,"' the 11th annual Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Chancellor’s Ball. This year’s event features silent and live auctions, along with special student performances and the music of SOTO. The evening’s mistress of ceremonies is Suzie Suh, a member of the CBS2/KCAL9 news team. Partners in Education Award winners are: the California Land Surveyors Association; Jane Russo, superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District; and Wells Fargo. 6 p.m. for reception and silent auction; 7:30 p.m. dinner. Tickets: $200. Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom, 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, Calif.

For additional information: www.chancellorsball.org or (714) 480-7450.

Founder’s Day
Festival & Parade
Oct. 24-26
Celebrate the founding of Westminster, Calif., with a carnival, entertainment and food court. Oct. 24 features the Battle of the Bands, when a variety of talented musicians will take the stage to complete for recognition, prizes and the opportunity to be a featured band in the city’s summer concert series Festival hours: Oct 24, 5-11 p.m.; Oct. 25 and 26, noon-11 p.m. Parade is Oct. 25 at 9:30 a.m. It’s the first parade in more than 30 years. Westminster Civic Center, 8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, Calif. Information: (714) 895-2860.

National Treasures:
Showcasing the Jewels
Through Oct. 25
Features the works of Quang-Tu?n Luong, who has traveled throughout the U.S. for 15 years, documenting all 58 U.S. national parks with his 5x7 large-format camera. Doing so, he has kayaked through iceberg-laden waters, canoed down wild rivers, scuba-dived tropical seas, climbed to the summit of Mt. McKinley and trekked the trail-less terrain of the backcountry while lugging his 75-pound backpack of photo gear and camping equipment. Gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Terra Galleria Artworks at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., T-1B, Santa Monica, Calif. For more information: (310) 453-5104 or www.tgartworks.com

Halloween at the Mall
Oct. 31
Ghosts and goblins can trick or treat at various shops, then head over to the games area where the real fun begins with games and goodies for everyone. 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Westminster Mall, Golden-west Street and Bolsa Avenue, Westminster, Calif. Information: (714) 895-2860.