‘Air’ Impressively Takes Flight The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

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FRIDAY | 14

FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Enjoy the farmers market in town every Friday. Check out the produce, breads, cheeses, artisan craft vendors, and more. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT SWALLOW’S

9 p.m.-1 a.m. Put on your cowboy hat and boots and get ready to enjoy all the Western-style fun at one of San Juan Capistrano’s best-known dive bars and country music spots. Cecil Allen Moore Band will perform. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. swallowsinn.com.

SATURDAY | 15

E-WASTE AND SHREDDING EVENT

8-11 a.m. The City of San Juan Capistrano is hosting a free event for people to get rid of their e-waste and shred documents. Participants are asked to place items in their car trunks, drive up to the event, remain in their cars, and pop their trunk so event staff can unload items. Check online for what specific items are allowed. San Juan Capistrano Sports Park, Alipaz Street and Via Positiva, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

STRAWBERRY U-PICK

9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Ecology Center is providing a chance to pick fresh berries. While baskets will be provided, participants are also welcome to bring their

SATURDAY | 22 EARTH DAY BEAUTIFICATION own. After you finish collecting a harvest, head over to the Farm Stand to pay for what you picked. Cost to attend is $9. The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223. theecologycenter.org.

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Join Great Opportunities and the San Juan Capistrano Youth Advisory Board for a cleanup day. Gloves, bags, and trash wands will be provided. Los Rios Park, 31791 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. greatopps.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S

3 p.m. Bruddah Adrian will perform. Enjoy the entertainment on the outdoor patio while you chow down on food and sip drinks. Trevor’s at the Tracks, 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

SUNDAY | 16

LIVE THEATER AT CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE

2 p.m. Watch a live performance of the hospital-set comedy It Runs in the Family at San Juan Capistrano’s local theater. Renditions will be held through April 16. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. caminorealplayhouse.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT PADDY’S

6-9 p.m. Come listen to some live music and dance, perhaps after enjoying fish and chips and a pint. The band 24K Country will perform. Paddy’s Station, 26701 Verdugo Street, Suite B, San Juan Capistrano. 949.661.3400. paddysstation.com.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

7 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Herman’s

Hermits, known for “I’m Into Something Good” and other hit songs, will perform. Tickets are $55. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

MONDAY | 17

BRIDGE GAME

12:30 p.m. The South Orange County Bridge Club hosts bridge games, Monday through Saturday. 31461 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 205, San Juan Capistrano. galesenter@cox.net.

THURSDAY | 20

HORSEMAN’S HAPPY HOUR

6-8 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition is hosting its first Horseman’s Happy Hour of 2023. Come meet and spend time with fellow horse enthusiasts. The SJCEC will unveil their new logo and name of their new mascot. El Adobe de Capistrano, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. sjcec.org.

SATURDAY | 22

LIVE MUSIC AT THE BREWHOUSE

6-8 p.m. Local Steely Dan cover band Kids of Charlemagne will perform. Come listen to some classic tunes, dance, and enjoy fresh brews. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.315.1960. kidsofcharlemagne.com.

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

What Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire (1996) does for football and Bennett Miller’s Moneyball (2011) does for baseball, Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort, Air, does for basketball.

Like Jerry Maguire, it’s about a guy once successful in the athletics industry trying to convince an athlete with a lot of potential to sign with him before the former is out of a gig. And like Moneyball, Affleck’s new movie is about the ins and outs of how the sports community works beyond the games.

As someone who has never cared about sports, it takes a lot for me to enjoy and recommend a movie in this genre. But if the storytelling and execution are done well, like Jerry Maguire and Moneyball were, then a movie about athletes can occasionally grab my attention. Fortunately for Affleck and team, Air is now one of those pictures.

Set in 1984 Oregon, Air begins by showing us that the sneaker world is on its last thread. Adidas, Converse and Nike are all below 50% in revenue, with Nike dead-last at 17%. The shoe corporations are desperately trying to grab the attention of up-and-coming basketball stars, and none of them are sticking.

Nike guru Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) is losing his mojo and can’t seem to come up with a strategy to recruit Nike’s next spokesperson. Until, suddenly, he has an epiphany. Michael Jordan is predicted to be the future of basketball, and Sonny thinks if this is true, and Nike puts all its priorities on Jordan, then the future of their sneakers is saved.

Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker and Affleck himself co-star as Sonny’s Nike co-workers; Chris Messina plays Jordan’s agent; and Viola Davis is Jordan’s mother.

Right away, Air presents us with a stellar montage of 1980s pop culture set to Dire Straits’ classic “Money for Nothing.” It perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the dialogue-heavy historical dramedy.

The stakes are low, and the plot is simple. We know Nike and MJ are going to take over basketball. Even so, the cast and Affleck’s direction are entertaining enough for a Friday or Saturday night at the theater.

Air is the most recent, best example of an adult-oriented film being fun and enjoyable with just good chemistry from everyone involved. CD