San Diego CityBeat • Jan 6, 2016

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January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 1

2 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

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Up Front | From the editor

Cold and wet can be life threatening

A

Father Joe’s Villages web page seeking emergency shelter can sign in at Father Joe’s warns about the dangers of inclement after it’s announced (usually by 2 p.m.) that the shelweather. It reads: “Imagine if the roof over ter is opening. After 6 p.m. on these days—Tuesday your head disappeared and the blanket on was the second night the shelter was opened this your bed was soaking wet. For San Diego’s homeless winter—the tables in the dining hall are cleared and neighbors, shelter and warmth are far from guaranreplaced with cots and mats. The bedding must be cleared out by 5 a.m. the next morning so the dining teed. Cold, wet weather means more than just a night of discomfort. It also means days of wet blankets and tables can be put back for a 6 a.m. breakfast service. clothes and the inability to warm up, even during the Last November, Mayor Kevin Faulconer touted the city’s contribution to ending homelessness in a day. For many it can be life threatening.”

Last year, for a variety of reasons, at least 91 people press release that announced: “…Improved Results died homeless on the streets of San Diego, according with Permanent 350-Bed Facility, Plans to Shelter to numbers used by the San Diego Rescue Mission.

250 Homeless San Diegans During Extreme Cold One way to combat people dying in the streets is Weather.” to make use of emergency It would appear the ron donoho plan to “Shelter 250 weather shelters. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Homeless San Diegans” is has dramatically seized on an unfunded, re-wrapped this concept. In a contropackage of Father Joe’s versial move, he is calling longstanding practice of for all homeless individuals opening its dining halls.

It costs more than in that state to be housed $5,000 per night (or $21 in shelters when the temper person) to open the perature dips below 32 deinclement weather shelter grees—even against their for 250 people, said Varwill in some cases.

“Our state…should not Street tents in East Village gas. He said Father Joe’s leave anyone outside in Villages was negotiating freezing temperatures. That’s called basic humanwith the city on funding the inclement weather ity,” Cuomo told news channel NY1. shelter program.

But as San Diego braces for what is being billed “Father Joe’s Villages is paying for the inclement as an unusually wet El Nino winter our city now weather nights and is currently raising money to actually has fewer inclement weather shelter spots pay for those nights,” mayoral spokesperson Craig Gustafson confirmed in an email. “You should conavailable for homeless individuals than it did dursider asking your readers to make a donation.” ing the winter of 2014-15.

This subject is being tiptoed around politically. *** Let’s look closely at the city’s contribution to But the discussion is even more imperative now putting roofs over the heads of local homeless inthat the weather thresholds for opening emergency dividuals. Is City Hall getting onboard the national winter shelter have been reached. “housing-first” movement to transition people into Father Joe’s Villages opens its inclement weathstable, long-term housing situations? Yes. San Diego er shelter when the temperature dips below 50 dedoes have the fourth largest homeless population grees and there is at least a 40 percent chance of in the country and trails other cities in eradicating rain. The inclement weather shelter consists of the veteran homelessness. Downtown homelessness dining halls at Paul Mirabile Center and a roofed spiked 26 percent last year. But San Diego’s shifting area inside the Neil Good Day Center in East Vilof funding from two annual temporary winter tents lage. Few seem to know this has been an ongoing, to spending nearly $2 million to provide year-round standard practice but Deacon Jim Vargas of Father interim housing at the Paul Mirabile Center is in Joe’s Villages confirmed that, “We’ve always done line with best practices around the country. this in the past.” Except that the weather thresholds However, right now as the 2015-16 winter of El in past years have not been as clearly defined.

Niño seems to be gearing up there are fewer toThere is space in the dining halls and the day center for roughly 250 cots and floor mats. Anyone

homeless CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

This issue of CityBeat is dedicated to moving to Oregon and starting a country band called Vanilla ISIS.

Volume 14 • Issue 22 Editor Ron Donoho Music Editor Jeff Terich Arts Editor Seth Combs Web Editor Ryan Bradford Art director Carolyn Ramos editorial assistant Torrey Bailey Columnists Aaryn Belfer, Edwin Decker John R. Lamb, Alex Zaragoza

Contributors David L. Coddon, Beth Demmon, Andrew Dyer, Tiffany Fox, Michael A. Gardiner, Glenn Heath Jr., Peter Holslin, Jessica Johnson, Scott McDonald, Jenny Montgomery, Susan Myrland, Chad Peace, Jim Ruland, Ben Salmon, Tom Siebert, Jen Van Tieghem, Amy Wallen

Senior account executive Jason Noble Account Executives Beau Odom, Kimberly Wallace, Isaac Aycox Accounting Kacie Cobian, Sharon Huie, Linda Lam Human Resources Andrea Baker

editorial Intern Nancy Kirk

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January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

Up Front | From the editor homeless CONTINUED from PAGE 3 tal inclement weather shelter beds available in the downtown pipeline on any cold and wet night.

In the winter of 2014-15 there were 350 beds available in the Paul Mirabile Center, which at the time was designated as transitional housing and was federally funded. Last winter there was the inclement weather shelter in the dining halls and the Neil Good Day Center (250 cots and mats) and the 350 beds in the temporary tents erected in Midway and Barrio Logan.

This winter there are those same 350 beds in the Paul Mirabile Center, now designated as interim housing and funded by the city. For winter shelter this season there are the 250 inclement weather spots in the dining halls and the day center. But there are no winter tents. Long a political hot-button issue, last year the City Council voted to discontinue them.

That means there are 350 fewer beds available during this winter than last, according to Amy Gonyeau, COO of Alpha Project, which oversaw the temporary tents last year. “It’s unfortunate,” she says.

I’ve been debating the math on this with the mayor’s office for several weeks. Gustafson points to the increase in the year-round number of bed nights now being funded by the city at Paul Mirabile compared to the number of bed nights the city funded that were available in the temporary tents—an annual increase of 73,850 bed nights.

True. And it can also be said that, with the new set-up at Paul Mirabile, homeless people are more effectively and efficiently being placed in rapid rehousing situations.

But revisit the reason why Father Joe’s Villages opens inclement weather shelter when it gets cold

4 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

and rainy. “For many, it can be life-threatening.” Yes, there are now more bed nights being provided yearround but fewer actual beds available during a critical, cold-and-wet season for a vulnerable portion of the city’s population.

Veterans Village of San Diego president and CEO Phil Landis definitely counts fewer winter shelter beds this year. “If you do the math that’s the conclusion you come to,” he says. “Couldn’t the city do the year-round shelter and the tents? I think we have a social responsibility to do that which we can. And I think we can do more.”

—Ron Donoho

Write to rond@sdcitybeat.com

On the

Cover

The cover photo of the iconic North Park water tower comes courtesy of photographer Noel Cepeda. Born in the Philippines, the now North Park-based Cepeda says he sought out the water tower because he was tired of seeing the same old photos on Instagram. “Whenever I see posts of North Park, I always see the same subjects—the neighborhood murals or the North Park sign,” says Cepeda, a third-generation photographer. “I wanted to showcase something different.” See more of his work at instagram.com/ graveyardzombie.

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Up Front | opinion

spin

cycle

john r. lamb

Ex-GOP “smear master” mellows as Log Cabin president All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

I

’ve been told, ‘Don’t talk to anyone at CityBeat.’”

Derrick Roach smiles when he says this, giving his glass of Diet Coke a quick jiggle. “But if you talk,” he continued, “at least you develop a relationship, and you might have something to talk about.”

These days, Roach seems uninterested in taking orders from anyone. Once branded by this publication as the local Republican Party’s resident “smear master,” sidekick to slithery party Chairman Tony Krvaric, and the county GOP’s go-to private investigator, Roach now appears focused on expanding the Republican tent from his newly adopted community of Hillcrest, where

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he says “people are much more comfortable admitting they’re gay than they are admitting they’re Republican.”

This year, Roach takes over the helm as president of the local chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, the conservative LGBTrights organization founded in 1977 in California that only last year gained official recognition by the California Republican Party.

Susan Jester, the club’s outgoing president and a longtime LGBT activist, called the past county-party secretary “a perfect fit” for the job, given his relationship with party leaders while also serving as a “key player” in a successful statewide effort last September “in removing the anti-gay language in the party platform.”

Added Jester about Roach: “His personal journey in becoming an open member of the LGBT community is one that I have

been privileged to be a part of as his friend and mentor, and he has shown great courage in taking a leadership role in the fight for equality and inclusion in the GOP.” Wait, what now? We are talking about the same guy who was vilified in 2011 as a “stalker” for investigating the residency of the only openly gay member of the San Diego Redistricting Commission, right?

Yes indeed, same guy.

Roach’s social media pages bear no reference to his newfound role. Even his Facebook page, under “Relationship,” states opaquely, “It’s been complicated since 2013.”

Ask Roach if he’s gay, and you’re likely to get lengthy testimonials about the meaning of friendship, a rocky divorce, his Mormon faith or his mom’s recent effort to buy him more loose-fitting clothes.

“I tell people who ask me ‘Are you gay?’ that if I say yes, I don’t think I’m being honest, but if I say no, I don’t think I’m being honest either,” Roach told Spin Cycle over lunch last week in Hillcrest.

“Before I got married, I’d gone out with guys and girls. And I was totally open—my wife knew all about my past. But since she’s left, I can’t deal with women right now.”

Spin Cycle will spare you the details, but suffice it to say that

John R. Lamb

Derrick Roach has big plans for local Log Cabin Republicans. social media is not the best battleground for marital wars. The divorce fracas, however, recently resurfaced, Roach said, in the form of an anonymous letter mailed to numerous political organizations that questioned his fitness for the Log Cabin presidency.

“Right now, there is someone actively running a campaign against me. I’m 99.9 percent sure who it is,” Roach said without publicly naming the person. “It’s all stuff related to my divorce, that my finances are in shambles, that my life is out of control, that I’m a political hack that causes problems and can’t get anything done. Then it questions my lifestyle choices. It’s crap.”

He said he doesn’t suspect his old chum Krvaric, who has frequently voiced his opposition to marriage equality. “I could call up Tony right now and ask for a meeting to talk about something, and he’d be, ‘Yeah sure, let’s meet,’” Roach said.

Besides, Roach noted, the U.S. Supreme Court has already decided that issue—to Krvaric’s “traditional” consternation—which leads to his main pitch about Log Cabin.

“I want to build the [Republican] base on the Log Cabin,” he said, “and I want people to understand it’s not a single-issue organization, that there’s room for everyone. We need to up our game in San Diego. I want to turn it into a first-class organization.”

Unicorn dreams, perhaps?

Bold proclamations, you say? Not with event ideas that he’s hatching, Roach grins.

Why, for example, just a Log Cabin booth at the annual Pride Festival? Why not one every week at the Hillcrest Farmers Market helping people register to vote?

How about better outreach to LGBT military veterans? Or boost club membership with a condomfilled car giveaway at the next year’s Pride. “Guess how many are in the car,” he said, “win the car.”

And Spin’s favorite: “I’ve already reached out to someone from

Dems for Equality,” Roach hinted, a reference to his club’s Democratic counterpart. “I’m thinking something like a softball game, Democrats vs. Republicans. Bring in whatever elected officials, but make it fun. Show that we’re not always about fighting each other.”

John Musella, chairman of the California Log Cabin chapter, praised Roach as a “great guy” who “will be a fantastic leader of our San Diego chapter.”

The local chapter, which has no office space, meets instead in the conference rooms at San Diego LGBT Pride’s North Park headquarters. Stephen Whitburn, Pride’s executive director, said while he hasn’t spoken at length to Roach, he welcomed a “constructive” relationship with Log Cabin Republicans.

“They’ve historically been rebuffed by some Republicans because they’re LGBT while simultaneously getting the cold shoulder from some in the LGBT community because they’re Republicans,” Whitburn wrote in an email. “My perception is that in San Diego, they’ve expanded relationships in both arenas, and I think that’s good.

“Generally speaking, the less we shun other people because of one component of their identity, the better.”

C’mon, Roach. Teed it up for you. Big swing now! Like Krvaric says, it’s all about sticking to your principles, right? “People really do get tired of the partisan bickering. When it comes down to it, you have to be able to work together to govern,” Roach lamented. “It’s probably an old-fashioned idea of how politics should be, but to me politics is the art of negotiation.”

OK, who is this guy? Someone’s kidnapped the real Derrick Roach and replaced him with a mellow, slimmed-down double!

Anyone know a good private eye?

Spin Cycle appears every week.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

Up Front | Opinion

Aaryn Belfer

Backwards & in

high heels

Goodbye To All That in 2016

I

t’s a bitter pill getting back into real life after a gluttonous holiday bender, isn’t it? I spent the last part of the year in Seattle, where the separation of trash from recyclables is more tedious than in Berkeley. Meanwhile, water is served with abandon at restaurants. I was nearly apoplectic every time a server topped off my glass of water. Don’t those people realize there is a drought going on somewhere?

Sheesh. Get a conscience. Seattle has its problems (the homelessness and the mindboggling tunnel project come to mind), but water ain’t one of ’em.

After witnessing the vacuous soul of America at the airport on the way to the Pacific Northwest, and once there ingesting all of the food and most of the whisky to try to forget what I’d seen, I pondered the survival of our species. I decided that, were I king, I would relegate quite a number of things to the 2015 trash bin in an effort to make this a better place for the remaining time we have here together.

What follows—in no particular order and nowhere close to the literary value of a Post-It note authored by Joan Didion—is my Goodbye To All That list.

1. Police brutality against, and state sanctioned murders and assaults of, black people.

Done. No more. Good-bye. This is Number One on my list, no surprise there. And frankly, variations on the theme could occupy every single inch of space in the 2015 dumpster. In fact…

2. Let’s stop with The Grand Jury Show like California did. Sure, banning secret grand juries is an imperfect solution and doesn’t get at the matter of problematic prosecutors with conflicts of interest and political agendas. But it is something more than nothing. May we have no more Tamir Rice incidents in California or anywhere else in 2016. Rest in peace, baby boy.

3. Into the incinerator goes the ubiquitous mass shooting. Toss in assault weapons, too. Throw in the pundits who continue to ask “Why?” in their circlejerk commentary peppered with other pundits arguing about the so-called good guys with guns.

Anyone else with mass shooting fatigue? Oh, another shooting. Only three dead? That’s lucky! Could you please pass the Latkes? I don’t have control over our elected officials, but 2016 offers all of us a chance to throw out the do-nothings. Let’s do it.

4. No more newsy panels of ball-shriveled white dudes pontificating about women. Not about the way we vote or the way we plan our families or the way we behave in the boardroom or the bedroom or any of that. If we aren’t participating in the convo, then don’t talk about us.

5. The San Diego Chargers: Into the trash compactor you go!

6. Narcissistic fashion bloggers pretending their curated feeds aren’t endless advertisements for

unoriginal and frequently trashy clothes. Those terrible off-white lace shorts look good on precisely nobody.

7. Speaking of looking good on nobody, the man bun has got to go. It probably evolved from humble utilitarian beginnings necessitated by a hot yoga class somewhere in Santa Cruz. Once a tousled, afterthought-ish mess, the man bun was tolerable because yoga is non-judgey. But I’m not in yoga class today, friend. Greasy and haphazard, or sculpted and knotted with careful intention, the man bun is evidence that end times are upon us. Next to the legal execution of a 12-year-old boy in Cleveland, the man bun is the vilest trend of 2015.

8. The co-ed bun is also mandated to remain in the 2015 vortex. Yes, young college women, those squats are paying dividends; we see your tight, tight, tighty-tight hangdown from the hem of your bikini bottoms. Er…wait. Those aren’t bikini bottoms. They’re denim shorts. Daisy Duke just rolled over in her future grave, she’s so aghast. Ladies, put some clothes on your perfect little butts. Trust me. They will look even more perfect with pants covering them. You will never go wrong with a classic Levis 501 jean. Less is more, is what I’m saying, as in less under-butt, more beautiful. Trust me in 2016 on that one.

9. That being said, co-eds can wear whatever the hell they want, damn skippy. Even if whatever the hell they want includes off-white lace booty shorts.

Doublebad and tripletrue. Ass-bearing attire doesn’t mean, however, the wearer is asking to be raped, okay college dudes? Per me, campus rape and sexual assault are going to be a thing of the past. Boom! Eradicated, like the lynching of black citizens, in 2016.

10. Internet timesucks a la The Dress. Is it blue and black? Is it white and gold? Did someone with iPhoto adjust the levels? How did that Christmas tree get into that abandoned building anyway? Did you ever find the panda in the sea of snowmen? For the sake of all things living, this type of viral decoy to The Important Things In Life needs to be in the rearview mirror.

11. Craft beer. Please. No more craft beer.

12. Craft beer snobs. Please no more craft beer snobs.

13. Loud goddamned restaurants. What is the reason for this phenomenon? What? I can’t hear you...

Happy New Year, Readers. I am grateful to you for all you gave me in 2015 and would never dream of leaving you behind.

“

May we have no more Tamir Rice incidents in California or anywhere else in 2016.

“

6 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

Backwards & In High Heels appears every other week. Write to aaryn@sdcitybeat.com.

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Up Front | Food

by michael a. gardiner

the world

Michael A. Gardiner

fare

Still rolling after all these years

I

’m not sure what about dim sum I fell in love with first—the food or the rolling carts? Sure, I loved the little stewed dishes and fried delicacies and especially the seemingly infinite variety of dumplings. But there was something about Shrimp sui mai the fact that you didn’t order them from menus taneously savory and sweet. A quick dip in some but picked them off an endless stream of rolling chili oil-spiked soy sauce and your palate does carts. It was good clean fun. But now with Emnot know which way to go…in a good way. erald Seafood having discontinued cart service, My favorite dish at Jasmine, however, is the Jasmine Seafood Restaurant (4609 Convoy St.) chicken feet. Big puffy feet of chickens (the claws in Kearny Mesa is the last traditional dim sum clipped off ) are fried, palace in town with the Michael A. Gardiner steamed, then marinated carts still rolling. and finally stewed in a Carts or no carts, the sauce of fermented black food at Jasmine is now the beans, oyster sauce, soy best dim sum San Diego sauce, chile peppers and has to offer. That fictional rice wine. It is not, pertrophy passes back and haps, a dish often chosen forth between Jasmine

by Caucasians, who don’t and Emerald as chefs are tend to like spitting little poached, remodels happen bones out of their mouths. and the rumor mill grinds They miss the joy of the (some, unaccountably in meat on those feet meltmy view, add China Max ing off the bones in their to that list). But it is curmouths. rently in Jasmine’s hands.

San Diego foodies Start with the classic seem to get a kick out of steamed dim sum. JasYou want some dim sum? comparing our dim sum mine’s har gow (shrimp scene unfavorably to San dumplings) have a classic Francisco, New York or even that metropolis just seashell form and are perfectly pleated. The wrapnorth of us. It is not an entirely unfair assessper is translucent—almost crystalline—with a ment, particularly when it comes to variety. But slight crunch and savory flavor highlighted by the while Jasmine may not be at the level of the best inherent sweetness of shellfish, and none of the of those Chinatowns it is easily far better at the gumminess that creeps into poorly made har gow. basics than most found there.

The fill and form on the pork and shrimp sui Unfamiliar sounds, exotic smells and lazily mai was somewhat inconsistent but the flavor waiting for just the right dish to come rolling was not. Rich and meaty, the pork comes to the around is not a bad way to do a Sunday brunch. It front, shrimp providing a subtle backdrop. Yuba may be going away from San Diego but at least at skin rolls also tasted better than they looked, Jasmine those carts still roll, and what’s on them stew-like sauce underlining the pork flavor of doesn’t disappoint. the filling. Jasmine does a great job with char siu bao—doughy, yeasty buns filled with bits of Chinese “barbecued” pork that manages to be simul-

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The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

Up Front | Food

by ron donoho

urban

eats Sing a song of ramen

I

drive east through downtown to get to work weekday mornings. When the sign went up at 531 Broadway for Ramen Yamadaya, my interest was piqued. At the very least I liked saying the name out loud: RA-men YA-MA-DAY-A! Some days I’d sing it for a few blocks…then an MTS bus would fart in front of me, and I’d go back to concentrating on the road.

Subsequently, my girlfriend and I were strolling up Fifth Avenue when I remembered my sing-songy restaurant. We walked by and looked in. It seemed cozy but maybe a little cramped. We weren’t super hungry or really in the mood for Japanese.

Then it started to rain. Suddenly we were turning Japanese.

We ordered rice bowls. I ordered the Chashu (pork) and Jules, my cute vegetarian, got the spicy tuna. Both were tasty and filling. After a small bottle of unfiltered sake and a Kirin Light we felt like old guard. I like the kitschy Japanese restaurant tradition of the kitchen staff stopping work and chanting a loud goodbye when patrons exit. I was sold.

We went back a week later with three teens in tow. Our mission was to explore the ramen.

The Tonkotsu Ramen here is cooked with pork bone. Such broth usually needs eight hours to cook but Ramen Yamadaya spends 20 hours boiling it to increase flavor. Once the pork bone broth is ready, it’s filtered and served.

First things first, though. We showed up at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday evening and there was a wait list to be seated. At a new restaurant on Broadway between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Yes, outside the Gaslamp Quarter confines and on an off night.

8 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

To be accurate, Ramen Yamadaya is not a new concept. It’s a chain now 10 strong up and down California; the first was in Los Angeles and there’s another San Diego location in Clairemont.

We had several Tonkotsu bowls brought to the table. (Regrettable note: Three arrived at one time and two more orders came 10 minutes later.) All come with melt-in-your mouth pork, half a hard-boiled egg and bamboo shoots. The Spicy version comes with a choice of three levels of heat; Kotteri is served with black garlic oil; the Shoyu bowl is topped with soy sauce. The pork is the main attraction, but we found out you can also special order chicken on the side. The chicken was good, but not wispy like the pork. ron donoho

Chashu bowl The Vegan Ramen bowl is popular. On our first visit for dinner, we’d been told it sold out that day during lunch. It was available for this second dinner—but they ran out of miso broth and successfully substituted soy milk. Ingredients include spinach noodles, bamboo shoots, green onion and mushrooms.

The bowls are huge, but we were advised that a still-hungry patron with broth left over is able to re-order extra ramen toppings a la carte.

The next time I go back I’m going for it and ordering the Specialty Ramen, which comes with all the previously mentioned good stuff and a side of pork belly. That should leave me singing a happy tune.

Urban Eats appears every other week.

Write to rond@sdcitybeat.com.

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Up Front | Drink

final

by beth demmon

draught The buzz on coffee beers

finishing with just the perfect amount of roasted bitterness. Reminiscent of Swell’s earlier attempts at dry-hopped coffee, this serves as the flip side f there’s anyone more insufferable than a beer to the “beer with coffee” phenomenon to give the snob, it’s a coffee snob. There are, though, plentwo delicious vices equal time to shine. ty of masochistic brewers in town who aim to First Anniversary Coffee IPA by Mission please both crowds by combining coffee with beer Brewery + Bean Bar in caffeine-laced alcoholic creations. For the most 2015 saw downtown San Diego become a true part, the masochists are succeeding. coffee destination with multiple craft coffee outSuccess is no surprise with world-class coffee fits opening within months of each other. Arguably roasters such as Bird Rock one of the best is the East Beth Demmon Coffee Roasters, Caffé CaVillage’s Bean Bar, which labria, James Coffee Co. rang in its one-year anniverand others within San Disary by collaborating with ego County limits. It stands neighbor Mission Brewery to reason that craft-centric for a coffee IPA, made with alliances would be formed its own single-origin Kewith the slightly newer but nya espresso roasted beans. arguably more powerful beer Best paired with something scene. Craft beer and coffee sweet! lovers are probably already Guatemala Coffee Stout by familiar with local names Culture Brewing Company such as Bacon & Eggs Impe+ Revolution Roasters rial Coffee Porter (Pizza Port Classic chocolate accents Brewing Company), Xoare mild, yet omnipresent in coveza Mocha Stout (Stone this luxurious midnight cofBrewing/Cerveceria InsurModern Times’ Black House and Iced fee stout by Culture Brewing gente) and Hawaiian SpeedCoffee at the Lomaland Fermentorium Company and Encinitasway Stout (AleSmith Brewbased Revolution Roasters. ing Company/Swell Coffee The fair-trade organic beans Co.). Those are just some of the most prominently used in the brew are recommended to enjoy with available local coffee beers, and here are a few pastries and breads, making it the perfect selecmore that deserve a chance to shine: tion for this java-heavy beverage.

Mostra Mocha Imperial Stout by Abnormal Coffee Subscription by Modern Times Beer Beer Company + Mostra Coffee Technically, Modern Times’ monthly coffee The staff at this Rancho Bernardo-based brew- subscription is closer to “coffee with a beer backery knows as much about food as it does beer. By ground” than coffee beer. But when it commits combining its 5.1 percent ABV imperial oatmeal to a new creation, Modern Times tends to see it milk stout with chocolate from San Francisco and through with irritatingly predictable excellence. cold-steeped espresso from Mostra, we end up Its coffee-roasting program remains outstandingly with a delightful pint perfect for breakfast, lunch innovative, with some beans barrel aging the same or dessert. way that master brewers age beers. In some cases, Coffee Pale Ale by Bay City Brewing Company they even use barrel-aged beans in beer that ends + Swell Coffee Co. up barrel aging. Now that’s meta (and not to be A defiant brew that disproves the perception missed). “all coffee beers are dark,” Bay City Brewing’s Coffee Pale Ale emits a crisp aroma with tinges of Write to bethd@sdcitybeat.com or follow her fruit and earth roasted into a clean 6 percent ABV, on Instagram at @thedelightedbite.

I

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January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

UP FRONT | PLACES

HIDDEN

BY JESSICA JOHNSON

SAN DIEGO Top 5 adventures of 2015

I

t was a year filled with night excursions, tunnels, had multiple levels, which I completely wussed out mines, caves and mountains. From the scores of on, but we did find old scrawlings from the miners adventures documented by Hidden San Diego in on the first level that seem to date back 100 years.

2015 here are five highlights: Smugglers Cave Jamul Kiln What makes a perfect trip to me is an unknown, Five of us headed into the wilds of Jamul with little mysterious location that I have never been to, direction. Our goal was to find the remains of a kiln paired with great company. That’s what this trip that dates back to the 1880s. We started off on the was. Just the drive to the cave in Campo was an adwrong trail and went up and over a mountain (at venture. Our guide, Coyote, owner of Coyote’s UFO this point no longer with a trail). Heading down the Repair Shop, made everything special and entertainmountain wasn’t easy and required walking through ing. The caves were first used by border bandits back bushes, but with the kiln finally in sight at least we in 1875. After being raided, a store owner created a could see we were walking in the right direction. stone fortress to protect himself. In the early 1900s, The kiln was amazing, and we had the bril- Chinese immigrants were smuggled across the Mexliant idea of taking night shots of it during a new ican border and hid in the caves. moon. Leaving at night meant we had to find our way JESSICA JOHNSON back home in the dark. Since there was a new moon there was no light in the sky. The area is rumored to be haunted, and has a history of bloody battles between Native Americans and Western pioneers. After dealing with a pack of coyotes that were celebrating a kill nearby (which was freaky enough for me) soon a deep, rhythmic drumming began. It sounded like native drumming and felt as if it was all around us, including beneath us. We were out in the middle of nowhere, miles away from civilization, and this truly creeped us out. It was our cue to go home.

Still with no correct path out, we made our way back up the mountain. This time we couldn’t see what was right in front of us. It was pretty darn scary and horrendously annoying. Navigating through shrub and trees we often had to go well out of the way. I’m surprised we found our way back and still had our wits about us. One friend mentioned he was never coming out with us again. And he hasn’t.

Half Moon Tunnel I can hear one friend laughing about this trip making it into my Top 5. He does tunnel trips regularly. I, on the other hand, had never gone all the way through a tunnel or anywhere even near going all the way through. This trip didn’t start off with intentions of going tunneling. We were planning on hiking in a nearby canyon but there it was (near 5988 Mission Center Road), beckoning us to come in. We were only going to go in a little ways but I guess exploring with someone who had already gone through it before and was experienced put me at ease.

I had no clue that these tunnels open up into comGopher Mine plete underworlds, just like out of a video game, with multiple levels. I knew there were super-cool tun- Rattlesnake Mountain nels in San Diego, but I didn’t realize that so many What made this trip unique was that 95 percent of it was done at night. And this mountain in Santee start off looking basic and then turn into this. lived up to its name. While exploring that night we encountered five rattlesnakes! This hike very quickGopher Mine & Migrant Camp I am not a huge fan of mines because, well, they ly became like a survivalist movie, but we still had can collapse at any time. I end up in them several a blast. We found an old exploratory mine, a cistern times a year, and when I do go in one it’s kind of a and a stone dam, and we had to cross over a 10-footbig deal. Gopher Mine in Julian was my favorite this deep ravine connected by tree branches to finish the year because of the beautiful hike and all the cool hike. abandoned-looking homes nearby. People do live in those homes—despite the state they’re in—so if you To get more details about these and other out-of-thehead out here, please come with respect. This mine way spots in San Diego, go to hiddensandiego.net.

10 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

#SDCityBeat

EVENTS

SHORTlist

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

SAN DIEGO

1 PLAY IT AGAIN, SAN DIEGO

It seems like every week our hearts are warmed by some viral video of an unlikely musical hero who sits down at a piano and proceeds to blow the minds of everyone within earshot. If these videos teach us a simple truth, it’s this: Give people access to the ebony and ivory keys and magic can happen.

That logic aptly applies to Play Me: Pianos in Public Spaces, which kicks off Upright & Grand, the San Diego Symphony’s month-long piano festival.

Symphony CEO Martha Gilmer says that the inaugural fest, which begins on Friday, Jan. 8, will feature more than just classical music performances.

“People will see the piano in all of its roles. Solo piano, collaborative piano, jazz piano, piano as accompaniment to dance. We want to show it in all of its roles,” says Gilmer, who organized similar festival programming when she worked with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. “It’s going to be fun to be here every night.”

For the Play Me portion of the festivities, a dozen donated pianos were tuned, spruced up by local artists and will be placed at various public locations across the county.

“We want to connect people with the physicality of the sound and we want to be in the fabric of the community,” says Gilmer, who adds that once the fest concludes, the pianos will find permanent

LA JOLLA

2 FLOWER POWER

In the age of Instagram, pictures of pretty flowers are a dime a dozen. Still, photography buffs would be hard pressed to find images as striking as the ones on display in Dr. Dain L. Tasker: Floral Studies, which opens Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Joseph Bellows Gallery (7661 Girard Ave.) in La Jolla. Dr. Tasker was an amaCOURTESY OF JOSEPH BELLOWS GALLERY teur photographer and a radiologist at the Wilshire Hospital in Los Angeles in the 1930s when he used X-ray equipment to capture the intricate structures of flowers. The “Tulip, 1931” resulting imby Dr. Dain L. Tasker ages beautifully marry science and art, and viewers of Floral Studies should be prepared to never look at stems and petals the same way again. A reception for the exhibition happens from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 9 and the pictures will be on display through Feb. 19. josephbellows.com

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COURTESY OF SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY

Live Artist Demos: Wandering in the Dream Field at Sparks Gallery, 530 6th Ave., Gaslamp. Six of the artists from this group show—which explores subconscious thoughts, dreamlike scenes and surreal visions—will perform live demonstrations of their techniques and styles. From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Free. 619-696-1416, facebook.com/ events/496392337188779/ Luis Alderete at Casa Valencia Galeria Baja, Barracks 16, Ste. 101, 2730 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma. New pieces from the Tijuana artist who uses untraditional materials sand techniques to create delicate but highly political works. Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Free.

619-223-1533, valenciagallery.com Margaret Noble: Incorporeal Things to Control at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The mixedmedia artist will debut new works that reside at the intersection of sound, sculpture, installation, and performance. Opening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8.

Free. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org

A “Play Me” piano by artist Sheena Rae Dowling homes at local philanthropic organizations such as Combat Arts and PATH Connections Housing.

There will also be a dozen concerts, performances and workshops at venues across the county. Highlights include Marc-André Hamelin’s performance of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” on Jan. 8 at the Jacobs Music Center, a tribute to jazz greats like Thelonious Monk on Jan. 23, and poprocker Ben Folds debuting a new concerto piece on Feb. 5 and 6. The Play Me activities are free to the public and prices for the Upright & Grand performances range from $20 to $96. For a full list of performances, activities and venues, check out sandiegosymphony.org.

BALBOA PARK

3 COMMON GROUND

With Donald Trump leading the GOP polls, it’s easy to feel out of whack with our fellow Americans. However, Art of Élan will be focusing on the things we all have in common when it debuts Concentric Circles on Tuesday, Jan. 12. The local chamber music group will be teaming up with the inventive choral group SACRA/PROFANA for a program that highlights people’s commonalities, despite varying lifestyles. SACRA’s artistic director Krishan Oberoi will lead 20 singers through pieces composed by Aaron Jay Kernis and Nico Muhly, wrapping up with Arvo Pärt’s minimalist piece on the innate need to self-reflect. It happens at the Hibben Gallery at the San Diego Museum of Art (1450 El Prado). The concert starts at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $40 to $50. artofelan.org JEREMY YORK

Splitting Images: The Old and The New at Watercolor Society, NTC Promenade, 2825 Dewey Road, Ste. 105, Point Loma. The San Diego Watercolor Society presents an “experimental surfaces” watermedia show featuring various local artists and juried by award-winning artist Ellen Hoag. Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Free. 619-876-4550, sdws.org Under the Baroque Angel’s Wing: In Memory of My Mother at Brokers Building, 402 Market St., Downtown.

New abstract paintings from San Diego artist Hans Chobolits. Includes live music from the Franklin Au String Quartet and Mr. Mitchell of Didjetellus. Opening from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Free. chobolits.com HWood: A Furniture Show VII at Escondido Municipal Gallery, 262 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. This annual exhibition features over a dozen of SoCal’s best furniture makers, wood turning and marquetry artisans showcasing everything from furniture to outdoor accessories. Opening from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Free.

760-480-4101, escondidoarts.org After the Fall: New Works by Victor Villa at Thumbprint Gallery, 920 Kline St., #104, La Jolla. The “contemporary urban abstract artist” will debut new works which are heavily influenced by early sci-fi books and movies. Opening from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. Free. thumbprintgallerysd.com HDr. Dain L. Tasker: Floral Studies at Joseph Bellows Gallery, 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. A collection of photographic works taken by the late amateur photographer and radiologist, who used primitive X-ray equipment in the 1930s to capture the intricate structures of flowers. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9.

Free. 858-456-5620, josephbellows.com Ray at Night Art Walk at North Park along 30th St., Between 3700 and 3900 block, North Park. North Park’s monthly art walk features open art galleries, food trucks and live music performances by local bands. Takes place in the heart of North Park along 30th St., University Ave., Ray St., and more. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. Free. rayatnight.com HThe Expanding Gallery at Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave., North Park.

A portable exhibition of SDSU furniture design and woodworking featuring the work of Sophie Glenn, Nathaniel Hall, Aleya Lanteigne and more. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. Free. 619584-4448, artproduce.org

Art of Élan and SACRA/PROFANA

H = CityBeat picks

H7.) Tanya Brodsky, Sofia Londoño, Ellen Schafer at Mission Beach Park, Mission Blvd., Mission Beach. Art organization SPF15’s seventh show features site-specific works from the three contemporary artists, all of whom specialize in sculptural works. Takes place at Mission Beach at 3106 Mission Blvd. Opening from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10. Free. facebook.com/spf15exhibitions Hostel Takeover at Hostelling International, 521 Market St., Downtown.

The art event returns after a two year hiatus and features over 30 local artists, live music, complimentary food and more. Opening from 6 to 11 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 10. Free. facebook.com/ events/1028857163804479/ Greetings: A Custom Postcard Art Show at Basic, 410 10th Ave., Downtown.

A custom art show featuring art on 4x6inch postcards and priced no higher than $25. Dozens of artists will be participating including Andrew McNamara, Rachel Kim, Jacki Geary and more. Opening from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tuesday, Jan. 12. Free.

619-531-8869, thumbprintgallerysd.com On the Radar at Hess Brewing North Park, 3812 Grim Ave., North Park. New works from local and national up-andcomers including Blake Byers, Brittni Cute, Selina Calvo and dozens more.

Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13. Free. artbykami.com

BOOKS Roddy Carter at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The local doctor and life-coach will discuss his first book, BodyWHealth: Journey to Abundance, which purports to help others achieve health, happiness and prosperity.

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6. Free.

858-454-0347, warwicks.com Kristen Kittscher at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author of The Wig in the Window will present her newest young adult novel, Tiara on the Terrace, about tween sleuths Sophie Young and Grace Yang. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7. Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com Elizabeth Heiter at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The writer stops by to promote her latest thriller in the Profiler series, Hunted, about FBI criminal profiler Evelyn Baine. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com HSelena Jones at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The local author will sign and discuss Doomsday Strikes Again, the sequel to her debut speculative fiction novel, Every Day is Like Doomsday, which introduced readers to Elliot Vane and the attendees of the Villains Academy. At 2 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 10. Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Chris Bohjalian at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The New York Times bestselling author will talk about and sign his newest novel, The Guest Room, about a suburban party gone horribly wrong At 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11.

Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com HRyan Britt at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The geek culture writer will sign and discuss his new book, Luke Skywalker Can’t Read: And Other Geeky Truths, a collection of essays on all things nerdy. At 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11. Free. 858268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Lisa Nichols at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The motivational speaker and bestselling personal transformation guru will present her newest

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

THEATER KEN JACQUES

St. Louis still full of the holiday spirit

Y

ou won’t find a more wholesome show in the entire county than the Welk Resort Theatre’s Meet Me in St. Louis. An appealing cast that looks as if everyone—man, woman and child—was thoroughly scrubbed with Ivory Soap, sings, dances and smiles (a lot) in this theatrical adaptation of the 1944 musical film that starred Judy Garland. Meet Me in St. Louis is an unfailingly cheerful affair whose chief conflicts—“Will Esther and John get together?” and “Will mean ol’ Mr. Smith really move his family to mean ol’ New York City?”—are light and predictably resolved.

As with the ’44 film, the show enjoys some undeniably fine tunes, none finer than “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which became one of Garland’s signature film and live performances. Nostalgia buffs will tap their toes to “The Trolley Song” (“Clang, clang, clang goes the trolley…”), arguably the second most famous number in the score. Quaint doesn’t begin to describe the presence of “Skip to My Lou” (yep, that one), sung during a square dance, and the musical’s title tune, the lyrics of which include “We will dance the HoochieKoochie, I will be your tootsie wootsie.”

We’re talking folksy, folks.

Everyone in the sprawling cast is

EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 book, Abundance Now: Amplify Your Life & Achieve Prosperity Today. At 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12. Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com

COMEDY Kevin Smith at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. The writer, director of Clerks and Mallrats (not to mention Jeff Terich’s favorite comedian) will tell funny stories from his geeky life.

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7. $30. 619795-3858, americancomedyco.com Happily Ever Laughter with Yakov Smirnoff at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido.

Join the famous Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff for the taping of his first public television special where he’ll showcase

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING: The Nerd: Larry Shue’s comedy about a geeky architect whose life gets a little more exciting when an old comrade shows up at his door. Directed by Robert Smyth, it opens Jan. 8 at the Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado. lambsplayers.org

Chelsea Emma Franko and Luke Monday in Meet Me in St. Louis beautifully clad in turn of the (20th) century attire, and there’s some athletic dancing to the choreography of Karl Warden. As romance-hungry sisters Esther and Rose Smith, Chelsea Emma Franko and Sarah Errington are embraceable (Errington’s quite funny, too), and their obvious chemistry makes their sister act all the more delightful. The

laughter’s effects on relationships. At 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. $23. 760839-4190, artcenter.org The Colleen and Josh Show at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The two internet sensations bring their individual comedy acts to the live stage. Joshua David Evans is known for his quirky online persona and vocal chops while Colleen Ballinger is best known for her YouTube character, Miranda Sings. At 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. $35-$75. 619-570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org

DANCE In the Va Va Voom Room at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights. From the provocateur behind Hot Guys Dancing, Michael Mizerany directs and choreographs this evening of contemporary burlesque. At 7 p.m.

12 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

World’s Fair? If you’re going through withdrawal because the holiday season is over, Meet Me in St. Louis could be just the anecdote you’re looking for. There’s a shiny Christmas tree on the stage and merriment to spare.

Meet Me in St. Louis runs through Jan. 31 at the Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido. $48-$67. welkresorts.com

showiest of the male roles, that of the girls’ stern father, belongs to Eric Hellmers, whose sharp mustache almost has a life of its own. No surprise, he’s not really the grump that he appears to be.

Who could be grumpy, for Pete’s sake, in a show that depicts American family life the way it was idealized to have been in 1903, the year before the ’04 St. Louis

Thursday, Jan. 7, 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, 6 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10. $15-$30. 619220-0097, diversionary.org

FILM HIt’s Gonna Blow!!!: San Diego’s Music Underground 1986-1996 at Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. San Diego-based filmmaker Bill Perrine’s doc chronicling the local music scene’s progression from DIY to “next Seattle” industry hype. Screening is followed by a Q&A with Perrine. At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11.

Free. 619-236-5800, sandiegolibrary.org

FOOD & DRINK Say Cheese!: Ale to the Cheese! Craft Beer, Fine Cheese and Smart Science at Green Flash Cellar 3, 12260 Crosth-

Sylvia: A couple of empty nesters are forced to confront underlying issues in their relationship after adopting a dog in A.R. Gurney’s comedic romp.

It opens Jan. 7 at the New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. newvillagearts.org

For full theater listings, please visit

waite Circle, Poway. A night of cheese and beer pairings to take a look at the science behind both crafts with experts from Venissimo Cheese Shop, Green Flash and a microbiologist from UCSD. Price includes beer and cheese samples. From 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. $55. 858622-0085, rhfleet.org

MUSIC Besos de Coco at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. The all-female chamber trio plays romantic music of the old-world Mediterranean, Latin American, and jazz.

At 4 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6.

Free. 760-839-4190, artcenter.org HsoundOn Festival of Modern Music at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. An international roster of composers and performers present a four-

“T heater ”at sdcitybeat.com

day exploration of contemporary chamber music. Now in its 10th year, the 2016 performances and workshops center on the theme of classic Jewish and Christian apocalypses. At various times Thursday, Jan. 7 through Sunday, Jan. 10. $10$70. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org The Art of Music: San Diego Symphony at San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. SDMA presents the final performance in this yearlong concert series with a tribute to the musical performances that were a central component of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7. $15-$20.

619-232-7931, sdmart.org/calendar/artmusic-concert-series-10 HAll About the Piano: Rhapsody in Blue at Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St, downtown. The San Diego Symphony kicks off its inaugural Upright & Grand Piano Festival with acclaimed Canadian

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EVENTS p.m. Friday, Jan. 8 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10. $20-$96. 619 235 0804, sandiegosymphony.org HPlay Me: Pianos in Public Spaces at Various locations. This county-wide event kicks off Upright & Grand, the San Diego Symphony’s month-long piano festival and features a dozen donated pianos placed at various locations that anyone can play. See website for full list and details. Friday, Jan. 8. Free. sandiegosymphony.org Mussorgsky’s “Pictures from an Exhibition” at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. Karina Canellakis leads the San Diego Symphony through a multimedia concert presentation of Modest Mussorgsky’s seminal work, which was inspired by the death of watercolorist Victor Hartmann. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. $20-$96. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

“Semi Ellipse Glo-Pod”

by Gisela Colón is on view at Atmospherics Abstraction, a group show at Quint Gallery (7547 Girard Ave.) in La Jolla.

pianist Marc-André Hamelin performing George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”

There will also be performed pieces from Ravel, Debussy and Rachmaninoff. At 8

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lective of New York composers and performers who fuse electronic and acoustic chamber music with new opera, improv, theatre, text and installation art. At 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 13. $5. 619-348-5517, facebook.com/lowgallerysd HDorkbot at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. An internationally touring event featuring artists, musicians, experimentalists, educators, students and inventors presenting their work.

For this inaugural S.D. show, Tom Erbe (SoundHack, UCSD) and Elle Mehrmand (LA, Electronic Disturbance Theatre 2.0) will be presenting their work.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13. Free. 619-284-6784, facebook.com/ events/855124134608698/

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD

Michelle Cann at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Piano phenom Michelle Cann has participated in competitive programs such as the Taos Chamber Music Festival, and will perform interpretations of Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, and more. At 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10. $25$30. 760-839-4190, artcenter.org/event/ michelle-cann/

Storytellers of San Diego at Rebecca’s Coffee House, 3015 Juniper St, South Park. Join members of Storytellers of San Diego who will regale listeners with tales from personal troves, as well as folkloric and literary sources.

From 7 to 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6. Suggested donation. 619-284-3663, storytellersofsandiego.org

HConcentric Circles at San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Chamber music org Art of Élan teams up with choral group SACRA/PROFANA for a musical performance that emphasizes our shared humanity. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. $40-$50. 619-232-7931, artofelan.org

SPECIAL EVENTS

HJeff Young and Paul Pinto at Low Gallery, 1878 Main St., Barrio Logan. The two performers are part of thingNY, a col-

Poway Community Park Winter Festival at Poway Community Park, 13094 Civic Center Dr, Poway. The annual event turns Poway into a snowy mountain town and includes snowman building, sledding, marshmallow roasting and a synthetic skate rink. From 5 to 9 p.m. Friday,

Jan. 8 and 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. Free. 858-668-4671, ca-poway. civicplus.com San Diego Resolution Run 5K and 15K at Tecolote Shores Park, 1300 E. Mission Bay Dr., Mission Bay. Join others and shed some holiday pounds at this annual run which benefits San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project, a local, eco-friendly organization supporting a healthier San Diego food system.

At 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. $20-$55.

619-235-1169, sandyfeetevents.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Crowdsourcing Science, Parkinson’s, and Stem Cells at Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park. Jeanne Loring, a founding director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Scripps Research Institute, will talk about the ethical issues surrounding Parkinson’s disease, science, and stem cell research. At 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 6. Free. 619-2381233, ethicscenter.net HRights of Publicity Workshop at San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. The California Lawyers for the Arts will outline the law’s position on the capturing and dissemination of images in our highly mediated, digital age.

Hosted by C.L.A. lawyer Maria Gomez Rodriguez. From 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7. $10-$15. calawyersforthearts. org The Golden Rule Peaceship at Ocean Beach Green Store/Center, 4843 B Voltaire Street, Captain Ron Kohl and Allen McAfee will share their experience sailing on the Golden Rule Peaceship, a

30-foot wooden sailboat that set out in 1958 with the purpose of stopping the testing of atomic bombs. From 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13. Free. 619225-1083

WORKSHOPS How to Prepare a Crowdfunding Campaign for Your Book at Filippi’s Pizza Restaurant and Bar, 5353 Kearny Villa Rd., Kearny Mesa. Over dinner, former KPBS Fundraising Producer Andy Trimlett will discuss how to begin preparing your campaign, proven fundraising tactics, and how to get the word out. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7. $35. 858279-7240, adventuresbythebook.com Vineyard Installation Seminar at Curds and Wine, 7194 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. Local vineyard owner Keith Wasser leads a class with the basic information you need to plant and maintain your own grape vines. From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. $45. 858-3846566, curdsandwine.com Blogging 101 at Ink Spot, 710 13th St., Downtown. This four-week intro workshop will help walk you through the steps of launching a blog and keeping it for the long haul. Social media and promotion will also be touched upon. From 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. $120-$144. sandiegowriters.org How to Write a Short Story at The Ink Spot @ Art Center Lofts, 710 13th St., Ste. 210, Downtown. Cornelia Feye will help students develop a complete short story through writing prompts, points of view, character development, plot structure, and reading critiques. From 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13. $180$216. sandiegowriters.org

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

(The first in a series of features on San Diego’s most interesting neighborhoods)

NORTH PARK

by Torrey Bailey

@nsubordinate

North Park leans on Balboa Park’s right-hand shoulder, catty-corner from downtown, and for a time donned a black sheep rep compared to San Diego’s beachy counterparts. Once dotted with cheap studios for artists and lowly dive bars, North Park began phasing into its hip renewal around the start of the century. Now, the hood boasts a refined urban attitude of street art, low-lit whiskey bars and minigalleries. Mom-and-Pop shops specializing in trendy obscurities squeeze in between the craft breweries working the corners, each spot attracting hipsters faster than the locals can count. San Diegans know to flock to North Park when in search of an aperitif with atmosphere or a farm-to-table feast. The hood’s humble beginnings sprouted from a failed lemon grove in 1893 that was called Hartley’s North Park after the aspiring citrus farmer. And, well, the name sort of stuck.

@nsubordinate

The corner of 30th St. and University Ave.

Unusual Facts

1

Although it’s been nicknamed the North Park Water Tower, it’s technically recognized as the University Heights Water Tank, hinting at the inconsistency in neighborhood boundaries since the 127-foottall tower was erected in 1924.

Torrey Bailey

North Park Water Tower

2

Ever seen the patterned-shingle bungalows with elephantine columns and open porches on the 3400 and 3500 blocks of Pershing and 28th St.? They make up a historic district named after architect David Owen Dryden and were mostly built before WWI.

3

In the early 1900s, North Park hit its bougie peak when streetcars decked in cherry wood interior, gold leaf ceilings and mother-of-pearl push buttons scooted through the streets. They were nicknamed “hobble skirt cars” when a remodeling lowered the entry steps to keep tube dress-wearing women from tripping or (gasp) baring their calves.

4

David Owen Dryden Historic district

14 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

During World War II, Morley Field served as an army camp and Mexican border patrol post.

Tents hid away in the eucalyptus trees where the tennis courts now stand.

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N O R T H PA R K //

// N O R T H PA R K

Colorful Characters

Torrey Bailey

Saul Q

Tootie

Matt Gordon

DJ & Promoter

Owner and performer at Lips

Saul Q is the guy making people move on the dance floor Saturday night and saying hi to them on the streets Tuesday afternoon.

He’s been DJing in North Park since the mid-’90s, becoming familiar with many faces in the crowd since then. “I always say hi to people,” he says. “I remember people. I remember people’s faces, and if you’re cool with me, I’m cool with you.” Spinning anything from British Pop to House to ’80s vs. ’90s, he frequents Whistle Stop, U-31 and Kettner Exchange, but he says The Office’s cool vibes always keep him coming back.

Fifteen years ago, Tootie opened up Lips Restaurant (3036 El Cajon Blvd.), specializing in dinner and a drag show. She’s part of North Park’s grassroots entrepreneurial spirit that she talks so highly about, aiming to turn her zone of El Cajon Blvd. into The Magnificent Mile.

“As far as Lips, we’re just getting shinier, bigger, brighter and more fabulous,” she says. Aside from building up the neighborhood, she’s also breaking down social barriers. “The bulk of my business, I would say 90 percent, are straight and are women,” she says.

“So, to bridge from our community to those people in the straight community has been awesome.”

Owner of Urban Solace and President of North Park Main St.

#SDCityBeat

When you’re looking for a lease for a new business, seeing a police helicopter circle overhead in search of a loose gunman isn’t ideal. But, Matt Gordon took a chance on North Park anyway. Since he first opened Urban Solace in 2006, he says the neighborhood has given him a lot, and now, as president of the nonprofit North Park Main Street, it’s his turn to reciprocate.

“I wanted to give back for the help I received, pass it forward a little bit to accomplish what we accomplished.” He’s hoping to attract more offices to North Park, encouraging an increase in weekday foot traffic.

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

N O R T H PA R K //

// N O R T H PA R K torrey bailey

Craft & Draught Considering North Park would be nothing without its craft beer these days, the hood’s chefs are churning out an array of palatable dishes to accompany them. Here are just a few:

URBN

(3085 University Ave.)

Find a mash-up of Italian and American comfort foods in the Mashed Potato Pizza, a New Haven style crust made in-house topped with white sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, bacon and, of course, mashed potatoes.

Meanwhile, sip a North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner or choose another from the draught selection that rotates on the daily.

Waypoint Public (3794 30th St.)

This joint prides itself on a revolving menu of experimental plates that are optimal for pairing. Right now, the chefs suggest the LBBC (linguine, beer, bacon and claims) with the earthy Belgian-style taste of a Modern Times Lomaland, complementing the dish’s nautical notes with a subtle hoppiness.

Streetcar Merchants (4002 30th St.)

Per Ballast Point special request, a Habanero Sculpin IPA is served up with a Nashvillain Po’ Boy, featur-

16 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

The Southerner ing hot popcorn chicken and green peppercorn aioli at this specialty shop. And for those wimping out on spice, pair up an Iced Tea Sculpin with the Southerner, which sandwiches fried chicken, fried egg, bacon and jalapeño between a split cinnamon sugar donut. Yeah, that just happened.

Young Hickory (4096 30th St.)

Taking the beer with breakfast movement up a notch, here they suggest ordering the shot-and-beer combo for a morning jolt. Don’t worry, it’s a double shot of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters espresso playing sidekick to a can of Uinta Baba Black Lager. Pair with the ever-reliable Breakfast Sandwich to top off the breakfast of champions.

#SDCityBeat

N O R T H PA R K //

// N O R T H PA R K torrey bailey

1

TORONADO 2

THE

OFFICE 3

When Nature Calls Bird Park

(North of Balboa Park at 28th St. & Upas St.)

Put away the #artsy latté close-up. After a stop at Bird Park, a snapshot of the #timeless sun setting behind the downtown skyline will be vying for a spot on Insta (because heaven forbid double posting). Valencia or Lo-Fi? The fickle nature of it all is almost unbearable. To up the envy ante, be sure to pop a bottle of Apothic Red and slice some Brie atop an #authentic Mexican picnic blanket with bae. Cue heart-eye emoji.

#SDCityBeat

On a Scale of One to Drunk Where to drink on a scale from relaxed (1) to raucous (8).

SEVEN GRAND 4

COIN-OP 5

LIVEWIRE 6

BA R PIN K 7

BLUE FO OT 8

U -3 1

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

N O R T H PA R K //

// N O R T H PA R K torrey bailey

The Corner 30th & University Ave. Be it expletive-filled ramblings by the city’s growing homeless population, the morning slew of bus-goers or drunkards stumbling after one too many rounds, 30th and University is the hood’s epicenter, playing witness to everything that has gone down. It was dubbed the “Busy Corner” when a trolley stop was installed there back in 1911.

jennifer green

I.V. Society

I have the best district.

People often don’t quarrel with me about it because they know. Look no further than North Park to see why.

Todd Gloria District 3 Councilmember port of san diego / flickr

New Kids on the Block Encontro (3001 University Ave.)

A fast and fresh craft food restaurant fitted in Paul Basile decor is set to hit the southeast corner of University and 30th in early January. Expect homemade sausages, craft beer and specialty soda at this self-proclaimed “classy casual” hangout.

I.V. Society (3859 30th St.)

In August 2015, the most invasive of hangover cures made its San Diego debut at 3859 30th St. Through an intravenous hydration therapy practice, this business offers relief from the spins as well as flu symptoms and other dehydration-related pains.

North Park Mini Park Ten years later, the city has finally been granted full funding for this American Planning Association award-winning outline that will construct a community park just behind the North Park Theatre. noel cepeda / @graveyardzombie

Notable Events 2016 May 21 SDCC Festival of Art in North Park northparkfestivalofarts.com

October 8 Taste of North Park tastenorthpark.com

18 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

#SDCityBeat

Culture | Art camera to take pictures of accomplished photographers posing with their most iconic picture. Steve McCurry with his iconic National Geographic portrait of a young Afghani girl. Neil Leifer with his snap of Muhammad Ali standing over a knocked-out Sonny Liston. Mantoani shot 153 portraits over a sixyear span. He also had the photographers write a developing stories story about their most famous shot at the bottom of im Mantoani’s studio in a rather industrial area the resulting 20-by-24-inch Polaroid print. of Linda Vista is covered with proof of his im“It was convenient because it’s a peel-apart propressive resume. Over his decades-long career, cess. You would shoot the image, peel it apart and he has shot images for Sports Illustrated and News90 seconds later you had this courtesy of tim mantoani week, as well as for companies gigantic print,” Mantoani says. such as Coors and Oakley. But in “I love the fact there are mis2006, he found himself lamentspellings in the writings, and ing the demise of film-based in a way the writings provide photography. He was shooting elements of their personalialmost exclusively using the ties.” digital format and wanted a filmMore than 30 of these phobased project that he says would tographs can be seen for one “mean something” to him. more week at Tim Mantoani: “I’ve always used the analBehind Photographs, an exhibiogy that when you shoot with tion on display the La Jolla lofilm, you embrace the mistakes, cation of the Museum of Conbut when you shoot with digitemporary Art. It marks the tal, all you see is the mistakes,” first time the original Polaroids says Mantoani (mantoani.com). have been displayed. Mantoani “I was starting to notice the will be on hand on Friday, Jan. disappearance of Polaroid and 8, at 11 a.m. for a closing lecture Kodak, but I was also starting and walkthrough. He says he to see these photographers that will be content if the “Behind had made their living shooting Photographs” portraits turn out with film, they were passing to be his most iconic photos. away. Richard Avedon had just Tim Mantoani “The idea is that future gendied; Joe Rosenthal who did erations would be able to hopethe famous Iwo Jima photo. It made me think.” fully walk into a museum one day,” he says, “stare This realization was the inspiration for Man- this photographer in the face and go, ‘Oh, that’s what toani’s “Behind Photographs” series, where he com- that guy looks like.’” missioned a vintage, five-foot-tall, bulky Polaroid

—Seth Combs

Seen LocaL

T

cut above

p.m. The show features 10 works that McGranahan aptly describes or a collage artist, Andrew as “surrealist scenes” that mix McGranahan has a surprissurvivalist-type pictures of people ingly tidy North Park apartin nature with science photos of ment. There are no bits of paper on freakishly large sea creatures. the floor or glue stains on the desk.

“Once I started going with the The only giveaways that an artist series, I really liked it and it kind of lives here is an extensive collecforced me to try to find more stuff,” tion of vintage National Geographic says McGranahan, who admits to and OMNI magazines on a shelf being particularly inspired by the and some tidily organized drawers collage works of famous German filled with things McGranahan has surrealist Max Ernst. “Next thing ripped out of magazines.

I knew, I was coming up with a “Occasionally I have an idea in strange sci-fi backstory for it.” mind for a piece, but rarely does That backstory takes place in it work out to how I initially picthe year 2788 where survivors of tured it in my mind,” says McGrathe now extinct planet Earth have nahan. “I’ll start pulling stuff out, Prospectors of the Primeval VIII resettled on a similar planet, but but then I’ll see something else in find conditions to be, well, less a magazine and something else than desirable thanks to the abwill spark. It’s very freeform. I’ll normally large creatures knockjust find pieces here and there.” ing about. The pictures he chose McGranahan’s work (instafor the collages are similar in gram.com/andrew_mcgranahan) color and tone and when looking has been popping up a lot around at the finished print, it appears as town. His whimsical collage pieces if the collage is, indeed, a picture, that he designs using carefully disalbeit a picture of a futuristic Andrew McGranahan Darwinian nightmare taken with sected bits of magazines are most noticeable on concert posters for a vintage camera. bands like Wild Wild Wets and Other Bodies. After “A very simple juxtaposition can cause a lot to be participating in some group shows in L.A. and the Bay going on in the image,” says McGranahan. “Obviously Area, McGranahan is set to debut his first solo show, you have to work with what you have so it’s a learning Prospectors of the Primeval, which opens Thursday, process as well as a creative process.”

Jan. 14, at Teros Gallery in City Heights from 5 to 9

—Seth Combs

F

#SDCityBeat

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

CULTURE | VOICES

RYAN BRADFORD

WELL THAT WAS

AWKWARD

How to suck less in the New Year

M

an, 2015. Another year down the drain.

Another year that everyone famous will be younger than me. Kids getting their driver’s licenses this year will have not even been born to experience the terror of Y2K. 2016 will be the 20th anniversary of Tupac’s death.

All of this will happen while we get older, more disheveled and crushed by the banality of life.

So here’s my slightly pedantic list of resolutions to keep 2016 from sucking. They’re mostly for me, but they’re also for you.

Stop invoking FOMO: I’m fairly certain that social media is just a game where the winner can prove that he or she has a much better life than you. On the whole, my life is pretty rad, but you don’t need to know that. You don’t need to know that Ryan Bradford was at a concert and you weren’t; you don’t need to know that Ryan is just so cray cray that he’ll post a pseudo-artsy photo from the window seat on an airplane. You don’t need to know that Ryan’s life is just so fucking insane that he’ll get day-drunk at an all-youcan-drink mimosa brunch.

Take more selfies: I used to be a selfie hater. I thought they were the product of the overly vain. Then, I read an article called “Selfie: The revolutionary potential of your face in seven chapters” by Rachel Syme. I was struck by this quote: “Nothing destabilizes power more than an individual that knows his or her own worth, and the campaign against selfies is ultimately a crusade against widespread self-esteem.”

When everything in our culture is designed to bring me down, make me feel like shit, prove that my opinion is wrong or scare me, I’m no longer going to hesitate to snap a picture of my cute mug.

Not get any fatter: If we’re being real, losing weight would be a better goal, but I know me and I know my disposition toward exercise and diet. In the four years since being married—a period of your life when you’re supposed to let yourself go and uglify, secure in the knowledge that someone is legally obligated to love you—I’ve only gained about 20 pounds (okay, maybe 25 pounds [you’re welcome, wife]). I’ll exercise to maintain this lumpy figure, and if I happen to lose weight: Swish.

Wait at least 48 hours after a tragedy to read a thinkpiece: After terrorists killed 12 employees of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in early 2015, there were distinct undercurrents of fear running through the CityBeat offices, as I’m sure were at every publication that prints controversial or countercultural opinions. However, it didn’t take long before my social media feed filled with vaguely condemning articles about Charlie Hebdo and its anti-progressive humor. Intellectualist friends seemed to have forgotten that people had lost its lives, opting to discuss the political and historical ramifications of free speech instead. There was even a vague feeling of animosity toward any-

one who expressed condolences. In 2016, I want to let my feelings take their course and not be shamed for having an opinion without taking into account the entire historical, cultural and societal context.

Stop eating Hot Pockets: Actually, I made this resolution about six years ago, so this is just more of a positive affirmation. Keep steady, Ryan. One day at a time.

Disengage from the national political circus: One of my friends and I want to create a podcast called “Popular Opinion, Bro,” where episodes would be called “CGI is Ruining Movies,” “Millennials Are Crazy,” and “Aren’t You Annoyed by the Kardashians?”

“Oh, so you think that if Trump is elected, he will ruin the country? Popular Opinion, Bro!™” I get it. Trump’s a monster. But efforts focused on local government issues probably have more of a direct impact on our lives. Just remember that this year, in the shadow of the hysterical presidential election, we’ll also vote for San Diego mayor—an opportunity to unseat an innocuous, business-minded mayor who wasted $3 million in city and county money trying to keep a loser football team in San Diego.

Not pay more than $6 for a beer at a bar: Shit’s getting ridiculous.

High-priced craft beers are gentrifying bars.

Cut superhero culture out of my life: I wasn’t always a superhero hater.

I saw 2002’s Spider-Man seven times in the theater.

I still consider The Dark Knight one of the best movies of the 2000s. But then I saw Dark Knight Rises a day after James Holmes killed 12 people at a screening and thought, “Man, people died for this?” An illogical thought, yes, but I can’t help but see superhero movies as a continuing disregard for humanity: Zack Snyder has already shitified Superman by having him kill people, now he’ll give Batman a gun this summer; Bryan Singer, director of this year’s X-Men: Apocalypse has been accused multiple times of sexual misconduct with underage boys; and Marvel Studios won’t rest until every goddamn character is in their movies. Plus, you can’t even express a dissenting opinion without a thousand Internet fanboys fighting to tell you how wrong you are. Sorry boys, I’m out.

Unfollow the Internet shamers: I unfollowed a lot of people who use Twitter and Facebook to shame companies that provided less-than-adequate customer service, and it greatly improved my outlook on life. These are tools that can provoke social change, yet people use them to hold corporations hostage by demanding roomier airline seats and shorter lines. Exceptions: NRA shaming is always welcome, as well as any Congressperson who votes to defund Planned Parenthood.

“

I’m no longer going to hesitate to snap a picture of my cute mug.

“

20 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

Well That Was Awkward appears every other week.

Write to ryanb@sdcitybeat.com.

#SDCityBeat

Culture | Film

Land of the lost

The Revenant

Leonardo DiCaprio suffers mightily in The Revenant

by Glenn Heath Jr.

M

idway through Alejandro González Iñár- gritty and bloody, but his plight is an extension of ritu’s torturous Western The Revenant, in- something spiritual, something primal. jured fur trader Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiExcept Iñárritu’s sense of the divine is nothing Caprio) watches a pack of wolves take down a lone like that of Terrence Malick’s, another Lubezki colbuffalo on the frozen tundra. Having just been left laborator. The difference here is that The Revenant for dead by his own compatriots a few scenes be- glamorizes pain through repetition and calculated fore, this image carries a certain ironic weight for escalation. Glass’ experiences grow increasingly abthe hobbled loner attempting to make his way back surd as his journey meanders through the nasty Misto civilization. Subtlety doesn’t exist in a place this souri terrain. Melancholic flashbacks to his family rigorous. life pre-trauma only add to the manipulative feel.

The American frontier in the 1820s was a place of The Revenant salvages some of its meaningfulness daily torment for anyone trying to make a living by by staying dedicated to a clear moral code, as most way of the land. The Revenant Westerns do. Those who are attempts to show this experinot morally rooted are destined ence in horrific detail. Oppresto wander the Earth unfulfilled the revenant sive weather, insurgent attacks and haunted. Fitzgerald fits from Native American tribes, this mold, as does the maraudDirected by and taxing terrain all make an ing group of French Canadian Alejandro González Iñárritu appearance in this highlight mercenaries who have little reStarring Leonardo DiCaprio, reel of suffering, filmed with gard for human life.

Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, pristine clarity and attention to At the point where Glass and Forrest Goodluck texture. and his horse go tumbling over Rated R Known for making gruela cliff after being chased by ing films, Iñárritu infuses every more rampaging Pawnee warmoment of The Revenant with riors, one begins to ask how a lived-in sense of pain and physical toll. After be- many times can one man die? It’s a valid question for ing hunted by an enraged tribe of Pawnee during a film that puts its protagonist through the ringer so the opening moments, a ground level battle scene many times, and one Iñárritu flirts with throughout that could have been taken right from Saving Private as Glass cauterizes his own neck or tumbles down Ryan, Glass gets ravaged by an angry grizzly bear raging rapids. while hunting for game. The attack leaves his body Losses are acceptable, but compromising with perforated with wounds and his mixed-race son rid- cowards is not. Following this mindset with near dled with worry. fundamental resolve, Glass transitions from fronA greedy colleague named Fitzgerald (Tom Har- tiersman to ghostly cipher, leaving little of his chardy) with obvious racist tendencies buries Glass in acter left for interpretation. Too bad DiCaprio wasn’t a shallow grave and ends up killing the boy in the given more leeway to complicate his character’s moprocess. Suddenly awakened by a newfound sense of tivations. hatred, Glass overcomes his myriad calamities and With all of its technical virtuosity, The Revenant, crawls through the dirt and snow back to carry out which opens on Friday, Jan. 8, nevertheless has little his revenge. We get to see, hear and feel every step soul. DiCaprio’s performance is a tortured master he takes. class in method re-acting, but all of the prolonged The great cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki suffering turns gratuitous. His American horror stogives the film a lyrical sensibility, favoring low angle ry is a citadel to sorrow that stands ominously close shots that reach to the heavens. Tree trunks sway in to parody. the wind, a musket barrel extends the length of the frame, and trails of campfire smoke ascend upward Film reviews run weekly. into the night sky. Glass’ journey may be earthbound, Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com.

#SDCityBeat

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

Culture | Film

Hail, Cesar

2016 Spring Movie Preview

S

ince absolutely nothing worthwhile is opening this Friday, I decided to get a head start on previewing the most noteworthy upcoming releases of Spring 2016. While next week brings a pair of powerhouses—Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s Anomalisa and László Nemes’ Son of Saul, which will be covered in detail, what lies beyond is a little murkier.

22 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

The much delayed Jane Got a Gun (Jan. 29) was originally intended for director Lynne Ramsay, but after much on-set hullabaloo it ended up in the hands of Gavin O’Connor (Warrior). The revisionist (and feminist?) Western stars Natalie Portman who takes up arms to save her rotten husband from imminent death.

Thankfully, Joel and Ethan Coen grace us with another starladen screwball comedy titled Hail, Cesar (Feb. 5), which follows a 1950s Hollywood fixer

(Josh Brolin) on his quest to rescue a kidnapped movie star (George Clooney). Swoon.

Andrew Haigh’s devastating two-hander 45 Years (Feb. 5) starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay as a struggling married couple is a must-see. For a much needed dose of absurdity, check out Zoolander 2 (Feb. 12) the following week.

Generating buzz and acclaim since its spine-tingling premiere at Sundance last year, Robert Eggers’ The Witch (Feb. 26) finally arrives, as does John Hillcoat’s super violent Triple 9 (Feb. 26) about a crew of corrupt cops trying to pull off the perfect bank robbery.

A week later, we’ll get Terrence Malick’s enigmatic Knight of Cups (March 4), easily the event of the spring. This melancholic and poetic treatise on tinsel town arrogance and vapidity stars Christian Bale and Natalie Portman. You’ll either love it or hate it.

Finally, other notable releases include Jeff Nichols’ Midnight Special (March 18), a fantasy drama about a father (Michael Shannon) whose young son discovers he has supernatural powers, and Jeremy Saulnier’s Green

Room (April 1), about a punk rock band that comes under attack from neo-Nazis. Fun times.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

Opening The Forest: A young woman experiences a horrific experience while visiting a Japanese forest.

The Revenant: Leonardo DiCaprio plays a wounded fur trader who traverses the harshest countryside to enact revenge on the man who killed his son.

Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art: This documentary unearths the history of land art that began in the 1960s. Screens through Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

One Time Only Dangerous Men: This 2005 cult film follows a traumatized young woman who becomes a vigilante in the name of protecting women from violent men. Screens at 11:55 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Ken Cinema.

For a complete listing of movies, please see “Film Screenings” at sdcitybeat.com under “E vents.”

#SDCityBeat

laura wilson

Music

Wolf like me

SingersongwriteR Josh Ritter leaves the beast in his past

By Ben Salmon

J

osh Ritter spends a couple minutes and a few hundred words trying to describe how his new album, Sermon On the Rocks, differs from its predecessor, 2013’s The Beast In Its Tracks, and how the man who made the latter is not quite the same man who made the former.

As is Ritter’s style, his explanation is funny and poignant, with the kind of effortless twists and turns you’d expect from a guy who published a novel in 2011 (one recommended by Stephen King and Oprah Winfrey, no less).

And then he pauses. There’s a simpler, more vivid way to say this.

“I don’t feel like a wolf anymore,” Ritter says in a phone interview from a hotel in Detroit. “I feel like I can make my own choices.”

The Beast In Its Tracks was the sixth full-length album from the 39-year-old Ritter, long considered among the best songwriters of his generation. It was also, unmistakably, a “divorce record,” a slate of songs that explored the emotional intricacies of Ritter’s split from fellow musician Dawn Landes. Those explorations offered a peek at a different side of the famously friendly Idaho native, “placing venom and malice alongside cheery faith and fresh optimism,” according to a review in American Songwriter.

Beast is a venomous record for Ritter, but rest assured, it’s not exactly slanderous. “I know I’ve been in love before/Oh I feel it so much more than the last time,” he sings in “A Certain Light,” the album’s third song. “And she only looks like you in a certain kind of light, when she holds her head just right.”

Sonically, Sermon On the Rocks, which was released in October via Pytheas Records, recalls Ritter’s 2007 masterpiece The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, which found its namesake harnessing the power of a full band after a handful of sparse folk albums. Sermon is similarly stocked

#SDCityBeat

Josh Ritter “There wasn’t that, ‘Oh, she has enriched my work. My with rollicking folk-rock, roots-pop and generous helpings of gospel, soul and R&B. Opening track “Birds of the love for her infuses my verse.’ Or whatever,” he says with a Meadow” even finds Ritter offering up a slinky slab of sin- laugh. “I just feel like the actual act of adapting to life with an infant is that your hands are full. All the time. So for me, ister heartland funk.

Ritter recorded the album in two weeks in the cradle I found that a lot of times, I couldn’t write on paper or on of American music, New Orleans. He chose the location the computer. I just had to hold verses in my head. While I in hopes of soaking up more of the town’s “homemade was doing something else, I’d drift off and work that way.”

The result? Song ideas became more refined, but also freakiness” than is possible during a 12-hour stop in the “weirder” by the time Ritter finally got a chance middle of a tour.

“Every night and every morning, we would to write them down at the end of the day. walk through the Garden District to get to That sounds contradictory, but it makes the studio, past all those big houses and all more sense when he explains it: “The editing process wasn’t there,” Ritter these great little coffee places,” he says.

“It totally infused the record with good says. “I wasn’t editing. I was just maktimes. New Orleans has always had this ing up stuff to amuse myself. You can January 18 special place in my heart, and to make it get pretty bored living off in the woods happen there, I felt, was one of the big huddled around a wood stove.”

Observatory victories of the record.”

Boredom. That’s another reason North Park Sermon feels like a full swing of the Ritter and his team put in long hours joshritter.com pendulum from Beast. No matter his perover those two weeks, leaving “no stone sonal circumstances, Ritter keeps an eye out unturned to try to make (these songs) really swing hard,” he says. It worked. Sermon On the for boredom, and if he feels it coming on, he Rocks crackles with energy, from the biblical bounce moves in the other direction.

“Every time you do a new record, you work in reaction of “Young Moses” to the timeless piano-driven pop-rock of “Where the Night Goes” to “Getting Ready to Get Down,” a to the last thing,” he says. “For me, I get bored with stuff. talking-blues tune so packed with winking and flirting, Rit- And if I feel like I’m getting bored, then I also get afraid. ter can barely keep up with its pace. Even slower songs like Because if I’m getting bored with it then other people are, the cavernous “Henrietta, Indiana” simmer with intensity too, and that pushes me to find new ways to express myas Ritter spins stories of sin and deliverance. self.”

Recording in New Orleans may have influenced Sermon Again, Ritter finds a simple and vivid way to make the On the Rocks, but the biggest change in Ritter’s life, and his point.

“I think a record is a lot like a party. You don’t want to retreat from wolf-hood, has been something more common: He fell in love and became a father for the first time. stay too long. And if you’re gonna leave, leave ‘em laughHis daughter, age three, has affected Ritter’s songwriting, ing,” he says. “My fear is being the most boring guy in the in more practical ways than creative ones. room.”

Josh Ritter

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

Music

Jeff Terich

If I were u

good metal band names, but that’s OK. Here’s the skinny on Gravehill: They play old school thrash metal with lots of great riffs and blazing solos. Count me in. BACKUP PLAN: The Downs Family, Screamin’ Yeehaws, The Bum Deals @ Soda Bar.

But the tunes are a lot of fun, as are opening bands Kids in Heat and, in particular, Stalins of Sound. Don your leather jacket and rock out.

Monday, January 11

PLAN A: The Gloomies, Jimmy Ruelas, The Fresh Brunettes @ Soda Bar. It’s PLAN A: Rebecca Jade and the Cold week two of The Gloomies’ Soda Bar resiA music insider’s weekly agenda Fact, Birdy Bardot, The Midnight Pine, dency, giving you a second chance (out of Dani Bell and the Tarantist @ The Cas- four) to hear the local trio’s psychedelic hear some more electronically inclined lo- bah. I suppose I don’t have to explain in pop gems. And did I mention it was free?

Wednesday, January 6 cal acts, such as Nicely or Tijuana’s Dani depth why this is Plan A. I’m a fan of ev- Nothing to lose but a quiet night at home.

PLAN A: Omega Three, Sundrop Elec- Shivers. And that’s a fine option. Soak in erything happening over at The Redwoods tric, Velvet Club @ The Casbah. Omega the synthesizer grooves.

Music, and Birdy Bardot’s debut album was Three isn’t a trio, they’re a quintet, much my San Diego Album of the Year. So hear Tuesday, January 12 in the same way Ben Folds Five is a trio. her along with some of the best musicians PLAN A: Langhorne Slim and the Law, Friday, January 8 But their mix of psych-rock, prog and postPLAN A: Egyptian Lover, Brian Ellis’ in town, all in one room. PLAN B: Run Johnny Fritz @ Belly Up Tavern. Langhardcore is a pretty cool sound I haven’t Reflection @ Til-Two Club. Long before Forever, Looming, Justus Proffitt @ Che horne Slim has a great troubadour name, heard explored much since the early ’00s.

808s and Heartbreak, there was Egyptian Cafe. I haven’t actually seen the phrase and for that matter, the man sure can wear If they’re bringing it back, I’m ready to welLover. The L.A. producer combined hip- “emo revival” connected to Run Forever, a hat. None of which would matter all that come that sound with open arms (and ears). hop, electro, sexiness and sadness way back but that doesn’t mean the Pennsylvania in- much if he didn’t also write a great folk-rock BACKUP PLAN: Blue Sky Flu, Fusebox, in the early ’80s. The dude’s a pioneer, and die rockers don’t rock out with their hearts tune, of which there are many throughout Dirty Birdy @ Soda Bar. you should bring on their sleeves. Get in the pit, feel some- his catalog. PLAN B: Nite Lapse, Dome your backside thing. BACKUP PLAN: Ignite, Death by Dwellers, Mariel @ The Merrow. By the here to move to Stereo, True Rivals, Since We Were Kids sound of their name, Nite Lapse could have Thursday, January 7 either been a chillwave band or something his vintage jams. @ Brick by Brick.

PLAN A: Dark Measure, Ruines ov Abada little darker. They’re somewhere between PLAN B: Gravedon, Planet Flesh, Gortuary @ Brick by dreamy post-punk and contemporary synthhill, ThanatolBrick. Start your year off right, with a lineSunday, January 10 pop, so I suppose that means they’re both— ogy, Army of up of extra gnarly metal bands from here in PLAN A: Nobunny, Stalins of Sound, which is fine. Their dark and sultry grooves Darkness, MorSan Diego. We may not have the reputation bid Eclipse @ Kids in Heat @ Soda Bar. Nobunny is, at hit the spot. BACKUP PLAN: Voice Actor, of the Bay Area or New Orleans but we can Brick by Brick. least visually, a little disturbing. A guy in a Electric Healing Sound, Comet Calendar still get raw with the best of ’em. PLAN B: We’re definitely fucked-up bunny mask and tighty-whiteys @ Soda Bar. Nicely, Dani Shivers, Eraserhead, Stage leads this sassy, bizarre rock ‘n’ roll outfit.

Kids @ Soda Bar. Or maybe you’d rather Egyptian Lover running out of

Saturday, January 9

notes from the smoking patio T

he Whistle Stop is launching a new event this month called Dorkbot.

It’s an unusual event for the South Park bar in that it brings figures from the academic and avant garde arts worlds to a small club setting. Dorkbot is planned to be a recurring monthly event with a different lineup each time. The first installment will be curated on Jan. 13 by guitarist Bobby Bray, formerly of The Locust. He says the idea is to make conceptual art more accessible to a broader audience.

“The idea is that it’s an open collective of world renowned people,” he says in a phone interview. “But it’s meant to be open to everyone—not so stuffy and academic.”

The first Dorkbot in San Diego will feature performances by Tom Erbe, a UC San Diego music professor and electronics artist who invented a sound plugin used in The Matrix, and Elle Mehrmand, a performance artist who uses various media in her music and art, including electricity. By placing them in a local bar, Bray says it offers a chance for non-academics to discover the type of art they make.

“There’s always been a disconnect between the bubble on the hill,” he says, referring to UCSD, “and stuff going on in San Diego. The purpose of Dorkbot is to bridge these groups, and to burst all these bubbles.”

Dorkbot San Diego is just one of many Dorkbot chapters, and Bray adds that with likeminded events like Open Oscillator happening, he thinks now is the time to introduce it here.

“There are over 100 chapters around the world. Each one has a different flavor,” he says. “The bridging of these worlds is already happening in San Diego. The iron is hot.” *** Ben Johnson of The Long and Short of It and Grammatical B has just released his second novel, Blood Silver. He’ll be doing a book signing event on January 21 at Station Tavern in South Park, where he’ll also be selling copies of his first book, A Shadow Cast in Dust.

24 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

Frosty Audiograff EP (Armada Vision)

S

his own as a performer. Separated from a group dynamic, Frosty more than holds his own. The EP balances a classic ‘90s aesthetic with a contemporary sensibility, still thematically and sonically tied to his work with Icons. In fact, Frosty more than a few times nods to being part of San Diego hip-hop history, put best in one great line from the EP’s title track: “For nearly a decade we created a monopoly, and for that/ You know what?/ No apology.”

Frosty doesn’t necessarily distance himself from his work with Icons, but he makes a strong effort in establishing himself as a solo performer. Teamed up with producer Steve Vicious, he makes a journey through six concise but rich jams told from his unique perspective. And that perspective is ultimately an earnest one.

Frosty’s lyrics are mostly autobiographical, occasionally dabbling in braggadocio between lines that touch upon his life, family, and the blood and sweat he pours into his passion: Hip-hop. In other words, this is rap music from the perspective of a grown man who lives and breathes his craft.

All earnestness aside, though, Audiograff is a lot of fun to listen to. Frosty’s deep raspy voice and fluid delivery is well matched by Vicious’ soulful, hypnotic production. It’s almost dreamy in its densest moments, but it’s hard not to be captivated

by Frosty’s wordplay when he’s at his best.

As he says on EP highlight “Get It,” “I kill it onstage every time that I spit it.” The man’s not lying.

an Diego has a long way to go before it’s recognized as one of the country’s great hip-hop scenes, but that doesn’t mean the talent isn’t here. In fact, it’s been incubating since the mid-’90s with openmic showcase The Improv and the prolific output of influential performers such as Orko Eloheim or The Icons. The Icons have been one of the region’s longest running hip-hop groups, having risen up in local the hip-hop scene back in the ’90s and even winning a San Diego Music Award in 2001.

The Icons took a five-year hiatus in the mid-’00s and subsequently got back to beats and rhymes, but Audiograff finds —Jeff Terich the group’s emcee Frosty stepping out on

—Jeff Terich #SDCityBeat

#SDCityBeat

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

Music

Concerts HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Tony Lucca (Soda Bar, 1/27), Jess Glynne (HOB, 2/10), Big Business (Casbah, 2/21), Reagan Youth (Brick by Brick, 2/24), Bongzilla (Brick by Brick, 3/11), The String Cheese Incident (Observatory, 3/15-16), Daughter (BUT, 3/24), Alex Calder (The Hideout, 3/26), Quantic (Music Box, 3/30), Kris Allen (Music Box, 5/14), Tech N9ne (Observatory, 5/17), King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Soda Bar, 5/18), Anti-Nowhere League (Soda Bar, 5/26).

GET YER TICKETS Ty Segall (But, 1/13), Earthless (Casbah, 1/14-15), Christian Death (Soda Bar, 1/17), Devotchka (BUT, 1/17), Josh Ritter (Observatory, 1/18), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (BUT, 1/19), Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek (Observatory North Park, 1/22), Shigeto (Soda Bar, 1/23), Killing Joke, The Soft Moon (BUT, 1/26), David Cross (Observatory, 1/26), Julia Holter (The Irenic, 1/28), Wanda Jackson (Casbah, 1/28), Richard Cheese (HOB, 1/29), The Hood Internet (Casbah, 1/29), Childbirth (Soda Bar, 2/1), Steel Pulse (BUT, 2/2), The English Beat (BUT, 2/5-6), Supersuckers (Casbah, 2/10), Aaron Neville (Balboa Theatre, 2/11), Tiger Army (Observatory, 2/11), STRFKR (Observatory North Park, 2/12), Thee Oh Sees (BUT, 2/12), Meat Wave (Soda Bar,

2/13), Logic (SOMA, 2/14), The Growlers, Jonathan Richman (Observatory, 2/16-17), At the Gates (HOB, 2/19), Dr. Dog (Observatory, 2/20), Steve Poltz (BUT, 2/20), Lee Ann Womack (BUT, 2/22), Anti-Flag (Observatory, 2/25), Metric (HOB, 2/25), Rihanna (Viejas Arena, 2/26), Julien Baker (The Irenic, 2/27), Joe Satriani (Balboa Theatre, 3/1), Protomartyr (Soda Bar, 3/2), Lewis Black (Balboa Theatre, 3/3), Galactic (BUT, 3/3), Wavves, Best Coast (Observatory, 3/4), John Hiatt (BUT, 3/7-8), Eleanor Friedberger (Hideout, 3/11), Wolf Eyes (Casbah, 3/12), Junior Boys (Casbah, 3/18), Dwarves, Queers (Soda Bar, 3/20), Glassjaw (Observatory, 3/24), Abbath, High on Fire, Skeletonwitch, Tribulation (Observatory, 3/26), Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place (Casbah, 3/27), Alex G (Che Café, 4/1), Steve Miller Band (Humphreys, 4/14), Prong (Brick by Brick, 4/22), Thao & the Get Down Stay Down (BUT, 4/28), Modern English (The Hideout, 5/17), The Cure (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 5/30), Leon Russell (BUT, 5/31), Twentyonepilots (Viejas Arena, 7/24), Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 8/14), Journey, The Doobie Brothers (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 8/30), 5 Seconds of Summer (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 9/9).

January Thursday, Jan. 7 Tim Heidecker at The Casbah.

Saturday, Jan. 9 Tommy Castro and the Painkillers at Belly Up Tavern. Tool, Primus at Viejas Arena (sold out).

26 · San Diego CityBeat January 6, 2016

Sunday, Jan. 10 Tool, Primus at Viejas Arena (sold out).

The Game at Observatory North Park.

Nobunny at Soda Bar.

Wednesday, Jan. 13 Ty Segall at Belly Up Tavern. Dave Mason at Music Box.

Thursday, Jan. 14 Paula Cole at Belly Up Tavern. Earthless at The Casbah.

Friday, Jan. 15 Jerry Seinfeld at Civic Theatre (sold out). Earthless at The Casbah.

Saturday, Jan. 16 Tower of Power at Belly Up Tavern.

Andy Rourke (DJ set) at The Hideout.

Sunday, Jan. 17 Devotchka at Belly Up Tavern. Christian Death at Soda Bar.

Monday, Jan. 18 Josh Ritter at Observatory North Park.

Tuesday, Jan. 19 Martin Courtney at The Casbah. Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Belly Up Tavern.

Thursday, Jan. 21 Big Head Todd and the Monsters at Belly Up Tavern.

Friday, Jan. 22 Never Shout Never at House of Blues.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters at Belly Up Tavern. Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek at Observatory North Park. Kottonmouth Kings at SOMA.

Saturday, Jan. 23 Shigeto at Soda Bar. All Them Witches at The Casbah. JD McPherson at Belly Up Tavern. Steel Panther at House of Blues.

Sunday, Jan. 24 Europe at Music Box.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 Killing Joke, The Soft Moon at Belly Up Tavern. David Cross at Observatory North Park.

Wednesday, Jan. 27 Tony Lucca at Soda Bar.

Thursday, Jan. 28 Wanda Jackson at The Casbah. Julia Holter at The Irenic. PWR BTTM at The Hideout.

Friday, Jan. 29 Richard Cheese at House of Blues. G. Love and Special Sauce at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). The Hood Internet at The Casbah.

Saturday, Jan. 30 Pato Banton at Belly Up Tavern. The Silent Comedy at The Casbah. Mike Gordon at Observatory North Park.

February Monday, Feb. 1 Childbirth at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, Feb. 2 Steel Pulse at Belly Up Tavern. Bullet for My Valentine at House of Blues.

Thursday, Feb. 4 Enforcer, Warbringer at Brick by Brick.

Friday, Feb. 5 The English Beat at Belly Up Tavern.

Saturday, Feb. 6 The English Beat at Belly Up Tavern.

Wednesday, Feb. 10 Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra at Belly Up Tavern. Supersuckers at The Casbah. Jess Glynne at House of Blues.

Thursday, Feb. 11 Tiger Army at Observatory North Park.

The Donkeys at Soda Bar. Aaron Neville at Balboa Theatre.

Friday, Feb. 12 STRFKR at Observatory North Park.

Thee Oh Sees at Belly Up Tavern.

Saturday, Feb. 13 Meat Wave at Soda Bar.

Sunday, Feb. 14 Beats Antique at Observatory North Park. Built to Spill at The Casbah.

Monday, Feb. 15 Built to Spill at The Casbah.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 The Growlers, Jonathan Richman at Observatory North Park.

#SDCityBeat

Music Wednesday, Feb. 17 The Growlers, Jonathan Richman at Observatory North Park.

rCLUBSr

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, San Diego. Little Italy. Fri: The Will Pierce Quartet. Sat: 145th Street.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Thu: Kevin Smith. Fri: Kevin Smith. Sat: T.J. Miller.

Sun: T.J. Miller.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., San Diego.

Downtown. Fri: Drezo. Sat: Jonas Rathsman.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., San Diego.

North Park. Wed: DJ Grandmasta Rats.

Fri: Hills Like Elephants, John Meeks.

Sun: ‘Rat Sabbath’. Mon: ‘Wreckord Mania’ w/ DJ @Large. Tue: The Fink Bombs

Diego. Bay Park. Thu: Dark Measure, Ruines Ov Abaddon, Planet Flesh, Gortuary. Fri: Gravehill, Thanatology, Army Of Darkness, Morbid Eclipse. Sat: Ignite, Death By Stereo, True Rivals, Since We Were Kids.

Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: Aro Di Santi. Thu: Malamana. Fri: Joef & Co. Sat: Malamana.

Sun: Aire. Mon: Malamana.

Croce’s Park West, 2760 Fifth Ave., #100, San Diego. Bankers Hill. Wed: Liz Grace Duo. Thu: Ke’ahi. Fri: Robert Dove Quartet. Sat: Blue Largo. Sun: John Reno. Mon: Clay Colton Duo. Tue: The Grease Monkeys.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. Mission Bay. Fri: Chase Morrin. Sat: Lori Bell. Sun: Bert Turetzky.

F6ix, 526 F St., San Diego. Downtown. Fri: DJ Rags. Sat: DJ Vision. Sun: DJ Kaos.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Fri: Deejay Al. Sat: DJ Brett Bodley.

Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Thu: Adam Block Duo. Fri: Fish & The Seaweeds. Sat: Jewel City. Sun: Mike Myrdal.

Gallagher’s, 5040 Newport Ave., San Diego. Ocean Beach. Thu: Maka Roots. Fri: The Upshots. Sat: Temple of the Dads.

Mon: Sloat Dixon, Locness, Overtime.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Fri: The California Honeydrops, Euphoria Brass Band. Sat: Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Backwater Blues Band. Mon: Simpkin Project, Trevor Green, Project Out of Bounds. Tue: Langhorne Slim & the Law, Jonny Fritz.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: AOK Music. Fri: Jimmy Boy, DJ Antonio Aguilera. Sat: DJs E, Antonio Aguilera. Mon: DJ Antonio Aguilera.

Tue: Big City Dawgs.

Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Ave., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: Nice World. Sat: Johnny Deadly Trio, Cat Chasers.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave., Carlsbad. Thu: Will Locken and the Euphonics. Fri: ‘Club Musae’.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., San

#SDCityBeat

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Sun: Bethany Joy Lenz.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., San Diego. Kensington. Sat: Christ Killer, Santa Claus, Fantasy Arcade, Bastardsect.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Coronado. Wed: The Goodall Boys. Thu: 4-Way Street. Fri: Flipside

Burners. Sat: 4-Way Street. Sun: Flipside Burners. Tue: Steve Brewer.

Fresh Brunettes. Tue: Voice Actor, Electric Healing Sound, Comet Calendar.

Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego.

Little Italy. Thu: Full Strength Funk Band.

Fri: Schizophonics Soul Revue, Stephen Rey Sextet, Bullfighters. Sat: Queen Nation, The Band That Fell to Earth, DJ Man Cat. Tue: Jessica Lerner, Radios Silent, Raelee Nikole.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. Midway. Fri: The Savage Young, Milo, ArtMonk, Flakes, Lady Zephyr, Sad Muffin. Sat: JARA, Caroline Corn, Sights And Sages, The Casualists, The Feds Coyote.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Thu: ‘Wet’. Fri: ‘Harness’. Sat: ‘Club Sabbat’. Tue: Karaoke Latino.

Onyx Room / Thin, 852 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Thu: ‘Tea Party Thursday’. Fri: ‘Rumba Lounge’. Sat: ‘Onyx Saturday’. Tue: ‘Neo Soul’.

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: The Upshots. Thu: The Bill Magee Blues Band. Fri: Myrons Last Call. Sat: WG and the G-Men. Sun: Rosy Dawn. Tue: Paddy’s Chicken Jam. Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Wed: ‘Mischief with Bianca’. Fri: DJs dirty KURTY, Will Z. Sat: DJs Pornstar, K-Swift. Sun: DJ Hektik.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Fri: Jimbo Trout. Sat: Glen Thomas. Tue: Karaoke.

Side Bar, 536 Market St., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: DJ Dynamiq. Thu: Vince Delano. Fri: Groove International.

Sat: Kyle Flesch.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Wed: Blue Sky Flu, Fusebox, Dirty Birdy. Thu: Nicely, Dani Shivers, Eraserhead, Stage Kids. Fri: The Downs Family, The Screamin’ Yeehaws, The Bum Deals. Sat: Black Sabbitch, GayC/DC, Gunner Gunner. Sun: Nobunny, The Stalins of Sound, Kids in Heat.

Mon: The Gloomies, Jimmy Ruelas, The

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., San Diego. Normal Heights. Thu: Levi Dean, Heidi Hughes. Sun: The Big Decisions.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Rd., Spring Valley. Thu: ‘Darkwave Garden’. Sat: Anarcho Speakers, Apathy Cycle.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Wed: Omega Three, Sundrop Electric, Velvet Club. Thu: Tim Heidecker, The Yellow River Boys, JP Inc..

Fri: The Paladins, Blue Largo, Bedbreakers. Sat: Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact, Birdy Bardot, The Midnight Pine, Dani Bell and the Tarantist. Sun: DJ Artistic’s Hip Hop Battle Bot. Mon: Super Buffet, Pumphouse, Captain Viejo. Tue: Oh Wonder.

The Che Cafe, UCSD campus, San Diego. La Jolla. Sat: Run Forever, Looming, Justus Profit. Sun: Alaska, Mouthful of Snow, The Bridge, Traffic Bear. Tue: Dogs on Acid, Winter Break.

The Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. Thu: Sister Speak, Craig Marker, On Fifth. Fri: Mal’akh Ensemble. Tue: thingNY. The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., San Diego. Hillcrest. Wed: The Touchies, Kitty Plague, Starcrossed, DJ Heather HARDCORE. Thu: Lee Gallagher and The Hallelujah, Jimmy Ruelas, Mario Esteban and the Blessed Hellhounds. Fri: Jesse Nova, Roger!, Emily Davis. Sat: Cold Threat, Giant Surprise, Showcash. Tue: Nite Lapse, Dome Dwellers, Mariel.

The Office, 3936 30th St., San Diego.

North Park. Wed: ‘Sundazed’ w/ Sleeping Ghost. Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King. Fri: DJ Eddie Turbo. Mon: ‘Decades’ w/ DJs Saul Q, Man Chest, Her. The T Lounge, 1475 University Ave., San Diego. Hillcrest. Thu: Stanza.

The Tin Roof, 401 G Street, San Diego.

Gaslamp. Wed: Pat Hilton and the Mann.

Thu: Wyatt Love. Sat: Cassie B Project, Chad Lada Duo. Sun: ‘G Street Sessions’. Mon: Rosewood and Rye, Keith Anderson, Zach Hinson.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: Egyptian Lover, Brian Ellis’ Reflection.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., San Diego.

Bay Park. Wed: Rip Carson. Thu: Cadillac Wreckers. Fri: The Distractions. Sat: Detroit Underground.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: Jason Lee and the RIP Tides, Surfer Joe, Sand Devils. Sat: The Mandoshanks, The Scatter Bombs, The Yucks.

Ux31, 3112 University Ave., San Diego.

North Park. Wed: DJ Mo Lyon. Thu: ‘Throwback Thursday’. Fri: DJ Bodyrawk.

Sat: DJ R-You. Sun: Jah Driver, 77 Jefferson acoustic, DJ Daddy. Tue: Karaoke.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, San Diego.

South Park. Thu: ‘Kiss and Make Up’ w/ DJ Jon Blaj.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., San Diego.

Ocean Beach. Wed: Upful Rising, KNG MKR, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: Zolopht, Soul Ablaze. Fri: The Routine, The Verigolds, Kid Wilderness. Sat: ‘Ocean Boogie’. Sun: Karaoke. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Mike Dillon Band.

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

Last Words

Brendan Emmett Quigley

Mais oui Across 1. Christmas leftover?

4. Repeated passage, in music 8. Heckler, often times 14. Have to return 15. Obstacles for some supergroups 16. Short play 17. “In the Heart of the Sea” director Howard 18. Something served in the court covered with rainwater?

20. Hit below the belt 22. Guest’s bed 23. GI fare 24. “Spielberg, meet this Wookiee”?

28. Dramatic song sung in Italian, maybe 29. GM tracking system 33. Planks targets 36. Turn on the waterworks 38. Rock with a sparkling middle 39. Paul Reubens after being punched in the face?

44. Reprobate 45. “Why ___ you still here?”

46. Show that’s already had Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as guests 47. Squirrel’s stash 49. He kills Cassio 52. Transitional parts of the Thin White Duke’s songs?

58. There are 27 in a perfect game 61. Clothier Taylor 62. Tar bed 63. One who has seen a New Zealand bird?

67. Phrase said when the lights come on 68. Enter, as data Last week’s answers

28 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

69. “Render ___ Caesar...”

70. Nuke in the microwave 71. Make a rating of 72. “Allow me” 73. Storm’s dir.

Down 1. Parts of a table setting 2. “Make me!”

3. Montagne of NPR 4. “Jeremy” singer 5. “Avengers: ___ of Ultron” 6. Cut (down) 7. Freudian subject, briefly 8. *sigh* “Oh, guys...”

9. 1/3rd of a banana?

10. “Hmmm...”

11. Dragon’s home 12. ___ homo 13. Lines on an Uber app 19. Sports announcer Buck 21. Actress Mendes 25. “Sweet” 26. Elwes of “The Princess Bride” 27. “Picnic” dramatist 30. AAA rides 31. Yemen’s gulf 32. Fisherman’s device 33. Start of a spell?

34. Voting group 35. Palm-tree variety 37. Passing word?

40. Place to leave your recycling 41. Reno game 42. Small quantity 43. Brandied fruit 48. Rustic lovers 50. Big name in electric guitars 51. “___ To a Grasshopper” 53. Pick-six: Abbr.

54. Blah feeling 55. Barely touch one’s food 56. Tom’s “Mission: Impossible” role 57. Mold or fashion 58. Deep-fried southern veggie 59. Quick turnarounds?

60. “Used to be,” back in the day 64. Green Bay’s st.

65. SAE, e.g.

66. Place to get off, briefly

#SDCityBeat

#SDCityBeat

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

30 · San Diego CityBeat · January 6, 2016

#SDCityBeat

#SDCityBeat

January 6, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 31