San Diego CityBeat • Jan 17, 2018

2 · San Diego CityBeat · January 17, 2018

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january 17, 2018 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

A policy of punishment ulation, these are not options in our city anymore. We must reduce homelessness, not enable it. We must reduce suffering, not condone it. We must punish crime,

—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1967 not ignore it. America’s Finest City will no longer tolerate the use of a sidewalk, a riverbed or a tarp as a oward the end of his life, Martin Luther King, home.” in his capacity to be infinitely prophetic and While the mayor may have meant to be compasahead of his time, began speaking about sionate, his choice of words and tone suggested a dousomething called “guaranteed annual income.” With bling down on his law-and-order sweeps of homeless President Johnson’s “unconditional” War on Poverty encampments. in full swing by this time, King took the idea a step And not even a week went by before a dozen peofurther than the expansions to Social Security benple were arrested on Sunday for passing out food to efits and food stamps implemented by the Johnson homeless citizens in a park in El Cajon. The people administration. arrested (to be fair, they were told Yes, King was indeed calling for they had been arrested, but were a guaranteed income for those most given citations and were not ofin need and rallied the Black comficially detained) were part of a munity to “organize people all over group called Break the Ban, who our country.” handout food in defiance of the Don’t get it twisted. Yes, Martin city’s recent passage of a supposLuther King was a socialist. edly temporary ordinance that bans The national narrative was food sharing in public. The El Cajon changing in the late ‘60s. Without City Council unanimously passed getting too hyperbolic, the civil the ordinance with the support of rights movement had helped usher Mayor Bill Wells and have mainin a new logic that poverty should tained that the ban was a matter of not be treated as a crime. King was public safety and a response to the preaching a very basic truth: People county’s hepatitis A crisis. But with should not be punished for being that crisis dissipating, isn’t it at poor or despondent. They should least time for Mayor Wells to stand be helped and we should all do our Mayor Kevin Faulconer by what he told CityBeat after the part to help them. ordinance was passed?

I thought about this a lot when “People are saying ‘Oh if you give a sandwich to a Mayor Faulconer gave his State of the City address homeless person then we’ll arrest you’ which couldn’t this past week. It’s been a rough year for the mayor, be further from the truth,” Wells said. no doubt, and I give him credit for speaking with deciMake no mistake: Homeless laws like the one in siveness and authority on issues like affordable housEl Cajon and the policies of San Diego are meant to ing and addressing our city’s poverty and inequality. punish the homeless under the guise of public safety.

“We are in a housing crisis. We cannot ignore it,” Somewhere along the line, it became an acceptable said the mayor. narrative that those who most need our help should When it came to homelessness, the mayor’s plans be forced to accept it. While I applaud the mayor for were much more substantial than last year, and I apdrifting toward sensible policies, the message most plaud his further commitment to leaning more toward people seem to understand, but that politicians never housing-first policies, as well as storage facilities for seem to grasp, is still as simple as ever: Just as the homeless people to store their belongings, a “houspeople who are trying to help do not deserve to be ing navigation” center and working with the Board of punished, those who need that help also do not deSupervisors to expand psychiatric care. But just as I serve to be punished. was about to throw up my hands and cry “finally!”, the mayor had this to say:

—Seth Combs “For individuals who refuse shelter and services and for criminals who hide among our homeless pop- Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com “It is a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he oughta lift himself by his own bootstraps.”

T

This issue of CityBeat‘s Google art selfie looks like Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.”

Volume 16 • Issue 22 EDITOR Seth Combs MUSIC EDITOR Jeff Terich WEB EDITOR Ryan Bradford ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Ramos ASSOCIATE EDITOR Torrey Bailey COLUMNISTS Aaryn Belfer Edwin Decker Minda Honey John R. Lamb Alex Zaragoza

CONTRIBUTORS Christin Bailey, David L. Coddon, Beth Demmon, Andrew Dyer, Rachel Michelle Fernandes, Tiffany Fox, Michael A. Gardiner, Glenn Heath Jr., Lizz Huerta, Lara McCaffrey, Scott McDonald, Kinsee Morlan, Jim Ruland, Ben Salmon, Jen Van Tieghem, Amy Wallen, Ian Ward

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4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

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UP FRONT | LETTERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRUMP, WEINSTEIN, AND THE REST 1. Top-notch publication. Thanks.

2. I used to teach seventh grade. I established an atmosphere of respect in our classroom. Anything less was peacefully but firmly addressed. Anything less was not tolerated, and certainly not rewarded. The kids were great. The consistent rules worked and we had a great time each year. I cringe at the mixed messages kids are hearing and seeing now. “Be respectful!

But if you aren’t, you can be President! AND you can stay President despite overwhelming evidence that you are scum.”

3. I encourage parents whose kids hear the news to use the recent harassment reports as a jumping off point to engage them in discussions about our society, hypocrisy and what citizens can do about it.

Mark North Park

CHICKEN HEAD In your Nov. 1 “Newsy Bits,” you mentioned a North Park-based business that developed a drink mix (“Uqora”) designed to prevent UTIs. A better, preventative solution might be if people stopped eating chickens treated with antibiotics.

In journalist Maryn McKenna’s book, Big Chicken, she shows how antibiotic-resistant bacteria in chickens are leading to urinary tract infections to in women.

Seth Marcus Vista

UP FRONT

WE WANT FEEDBACK Did you read a story in San Diego CityBeat that made your blood boil, or caused you to laugh so hard you pulled a stomach muscle? If something inspires you to send us your two cents we welcome all letters that respond to news stories, opinion pieces or reviews that have run in these pages. We don’t accept unsolicited op-ed letters.

Email letters to editor Seth Combs at seth.combs@sdcitybeat. com, or mail to 3047 University Ave., Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92104. For letters to be considered for publication you must include your first and last name and the part of town where you reside.

Note: All comments left on stories at sdcitybeat.com will also be considered for publication.

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

News / CityWeek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spin Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Backwards & In High Heels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Well, That Was Awkward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 5 6 7 8 9

FOOD & DRINK World Fare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Final Draught . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

THINGS TO DO The Short List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13

ARTS & CULTURE

Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 FEATURE: Staycation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-20 Film. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

MUSIC FEATURE: Charly Bliss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Notes from the Smoking Patio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 About Last Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 If I Were U. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Concerts & Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-30

LAST WORDS Advice Goddess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

COVER PHOTO BY TORREY BAILEY

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JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

NEWS | OPINION

By Torrey Bailey and Seth Combs

IN THE WEEDS

THE ISSUE: On Jan. 10, nine-term House Rep. Darrell Issa announced he would not seek reelection in California’s 49th District. News outlets were quick to announce the congressman was retiring, but he did not mention the word retirement in a prepared press release and said he would “continue advocating on behalf of the causes that are most important to me.”

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: “Darrell Issa barely won his CA district last time, and the larger part of it went blue, tipping the entire district into Clinton’s column. He knew he wasn’t getting re-elected. I guess it’s back to selling Viper security systems.”

Going Green

I

t’s 2018 and marijuana sales are finally legal statewide. But, of course, it’s much more complicated than just lighting up. While the state of California allows the sale of recreational marijuana, implementation is left to each city’s discretion. Fortunately, the city of San Diego, unlike larger cities who are still working out the kinks, created a working system to license recreational marijuana dispensaries.

There are 17 licenses granted thus far, all of which can be found on a map on the city’s website. About 12 of the licensed dispensaries are open already – There’s THCSD (3703 Camino Del Rio South, Mission Valley), Urbn Leaf (1028 Buenos Ave., Linda Vista), CannaLand (10630 Willie Baker Way, Spring Valley) and Apothekare (3455 Camino Del Rio South, Mission Valley), to name a few. However, the issued licenses are temporary, lasting only until May when the California Bureau of Cannabis Control will determine whether to grant them annual licenses. These 17 licensed retailers are also the only legal delivery services as well, says local can-

nabis lawyer Michael Cindrich. While the city can issue more licenses in the future, each City Council district is capped at four dispensaries.

From a buyer’s perspective, that means there are much fewer dispensaries to legally shop at now. And for those looking to consume, there are some rules to follow too. Only people over the age of 21 can purchase, use and grow up to six plants of marijuana. And, smoking in public remains a no-no, as well as driving under the influence of marijuana. Employers also have the right to lay off employees that test positive for marijuana use, and landlords aren’t legally required to allow smoking or growing on their properties. Each of these influence locals, but also keeps San Diego from becoming a destination where people come to take advantage of the new law.

“If you’re a tourist that comes into town, you can’t smoke in your hotel, you can’t smoke on the street, you can’t smoke in the dispensaries,” Cindrich says. “There are places in San Diego where you can purchase, but not a lot of places where you can actually consume.”

—Joy Reid, political writer and MSNBC correspondent, via twitter “Issa saw tremendous success during his tenure, including numerous bills he introduced [that became] law. Darrell Issa is a champion of limited government and government accountability. His shoes will be tough to fill but we look forward to getting to know who will take on that task.”

—Drew Olbrantz, College Republicans at UC San Diego, in a statement to The Triton.

“What does democracy look like? It looks like hundreds of fierce, passionate, committed, grassroots constituents working every single day to push out their greedy MoC & elect a true representative #DarrellIssa #BoyBye #Indivisible #BlueWave” —Indivisible San Diego, via Twitter.

OUR TAKE: Yes, barely a week after our own editor said he feared that the House’s richest Rep. would likely win reelection, we now find ourselves with one less local politician to criticize in 2019. But… we also don’t think we’ve heard the last of the Issa.

Not by a long shot. There’s the rumors Issa may try to run in Rep. “Smoking” Duncan Hunter’s (R-50th) place should the latter step down for ethics violations. The 50th District is decidedly redder than the purplish 49th, but the time is ripe for the Dems to solidly steal the momentum heading into November. However, with four major Democratic candidates all vying for endorsements and funds, we think the Republicans will be swift to get behind one centrist candidate to replace Issa, which could very well steal the momentum back. Assemblymember Rocky Chávez and Board of Equalization Representative Diane Harkey have already announced their candidacy and County Supervisors Kristin Gaspar and Bill Horn are also being courted. So, sure, we’re happy to see Issa go, but it’s time to stop celebrating and get back to work. This will likely still be a close, nasty race.

NEWSY BITS All the seriousness, silliness and stupidity of the past week 1/10 BEST DAY EVER!

1/11

1/12

Rep. Darrel Issa (R-49) announces he will not seek reelection.

1/13

UCSD student and DACA recipient Orr Yakobi released after five days in ICE custody.

1/14

1/15

inewsource analysis of ZIP codes with at least 10,000 residents indicate least (Cardiff) and most (Encanto) diverse neighborhoods.

Union-Tribune analysis of hotel room occupancy and revenues provided by hotel analytics firm STR reveals that Chargers exit had no discernible economic impact to local tourism economy.

Mayor Faulconer delivers his State of the City address.

Reception mixed.

Rumors immediately swirl that Issa might be planning a run in the 50th Congressional district to replace embattled Rep. Duncan Hunter.

Man arrested at Sharp Grossmont Hospital for impersonating a Harvardtrained anesthesiologist.

FML

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

Citing zero major championships and decades of disappointment, Associated Press columnist Paul Newberry declares San Diego the “worst sports city in America.”

Records indicate San Diego County Sheriff’s Department incurred $900,000 of additional costs related to proving security for the border wall prototypes.

PETA protests the annual Blessing of the Animals in Old Town.

At least a dozen people arrested and ticketed for feeding homeless in El Cajon.

UT Watchdog story reveals military contractors warned leaders about problems with Camp Pendleton’s water system, which included rat infestation.

1/16

Citing things like quality of life and talent pool, Forbes article suggests Amazon should choose San Diego as location of their second headquarters (HQ2).

Gallup poll reveals increase of 3 million people in number of Americans without health insurance.

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UP FRONT | OPINION

SPIN

JOHN R. LAMB

CYCLE Mayor culpa

The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides.

P

—Henri-Frédéric Amiel

oliticians know they’re in trouble when even their attempts at frankness draw little more than shrugs.

Unfortunately for Kevin Faulconer, San Diego’s mayor of molasses motion, his lofty, jaunty words now sound as if they were uttered in a vacuum. Meanwhile, life on the devolving streets continues.

In his third State of the City address last Thursday at the historic Balboa Theatre downtown, Mayor Faulconer told a relatively somber audience that this speech would be different from his previous platitudinous oratorical efforts.

“I want to have a candid conversation that focuses on the biggest challenges facing our city and what we’re doing differently to fix them,” he said, listing homelessness, housing and quality of life as the whoppers.

“Last year, I learned firsthand the old ways of tackling these issues don’t work anymore,” he continued. “So we are embracing new ideas and taking new approaches.”

The first visible new approach Thursday was the mayor’s decision to stand alone on stage. Traditionally, San Diego City Council members and other city officials have

struction, but then seemed disappointed that more been seated behind the mayor’s lectern. This details weren’t forthcoming. The mayor, he wrote, year, they were front-row audience members, “moved on from housing too quickly to talk about relegated to brief introductory duty reading safety with biggest line being chief is retiring. On to the names of attending dignitaries. next topic.”

Councilmember Scott Sherman—a loyal FaulFaulconer did everything short of shooting off a coner ally who was snubbed recently in the sweepflare gun in praise of his San Diego Yacht Club stakes for council committee chairman posts— pal, Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, who was observed departing the festivities after is retiring in March. Rumors are rampant his name-reading assignment, before the that Zimmerman may be a future City mayor even spoke. (Sherman’s office Council or even mayoral candidate, did not respond to an inquiry about and Faulconer’s gushing over his reports of his quick exit.) chosen chief would make any poDespite the absence, the maylitical consultant drool. or would report that “the state But the mayor had little of our city is strong, stronto say about finding her ger than any challenge we MB replacement, a process face, and strongest when we LA R. N steeped in mystery. stand united.”

H JO “Our next police chief A mayoral spokesman will work to keep our city one told the San Diego Union-Triof the safest in the nation,” is all bune that the decision to have FaulFaulconer would say about that. Did he coner appear solo on stage was approved candidly assure residents of all stripes that by councilmembers, although apparently the process to replace Zimmerman will be not all were polled. open and fair? More like candidn’t.

“It has always seemed odd to have the Another word never uttered during the councilmembers looking at the mayor’s In last week’s State of back, rather than facing him while listening the City address, Mayor speech: Trump. Here we have a rare big-city Kevin Faulconer tried Republican mayor who cannot mention the to the speech,” the spokesman told the UT. flexing his muscles. leader of his own party. Stunning. Oh sure, the The new seating arrangement did give at Reaction was mixed. mayor made a passing reference to the current least one City Council member, David Alvapolitical climate, noting, “we are navigating rez, the opportunity to live tweet during the speech. He opened with praise for the mayor’s call for more through one of the most politically divisive times in our najobs in San Diego’s underserved communities, the new City tion’s history.”

“We need San Diego’s traditional culture of collaboraHeights fire station and the need to protect Dreamers.

Alvarez tweeted “YES!” to the mayor’s embrace of re- tion now more than ever,” he said, and you could almost duced parking requirements to spurn more housing con- hear the cracking of the eggshells he was standing on. “We cannot let partisan dysfunction derail our progress. We have too much to do. There is too much at stake to let petty political posturing overshadow the public good.”

Toward the end of his 30-plus-minute speech, Faulconer vowed that he will be “demanding more of myself.” This is probably a good position to take, given the obstacles that the mayor neglected to mention, such as budget cuts, the battle of visions over the future of the Mission Valley stadium site, and how to reach Climate Action Plan goals when you’re a mayor who appears to only have a cursory interest in the region’s transit challenges.

Maybe all of these topics wound up on the cutting-room floor for the sake of keeping the speech brief—he ad-libbed that his wife and children reminded him that “people really love short speeches.”

Alvarez also noted that Faulconer “avoided talk of last year, w/ good reason since it was a disaster” before adding, “Do look forward to housing and clean city ideas.”

In the end, did the speech reach the “candid conversation” level? Not really, but this is not a mayor known for that. Longtime Union-Tribune political observer Michael Smolens recently wondered aloud whether Faulconer is “tough enough” for the task at hand, given his public-relations background.

“In that line of work,” Smolens wrote, “you promote a business, sell a product, put a positive spin on things, try to make people feel good. Those are useful talents for a politician. So is a willingness to butt heads, raise an elbow or anger people when necessary. That’s not part of Faulconer’s professional background or personality, at least publicly.”

It’s one thing to get tough with the least fortunate in society. It’s a whole other matter to get tough with your political benefactors, especially those who’d argue that San Diego’s greatest woe is that the downtown convention center is too small.

In this world, we’ve seen it’s easy to strike a pose. But to get things done? That will take much more than flexing one’s underused muscles.

Spin Cycle appears every other week.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

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JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

UP FRONT | OPINION

AARYN BELFER

BACKWARDS & IN

HIGH HEELS

The end of prohibition

S

ix days into the New Year was already feeling like a decade when my husband and I decided to go couch shopping before exchanging a Christmas gift at the mall.

I hate the mall.

Our quick browse turned into a full Goldilocks expedition as we sat on nearly every single floor model at Urban Fusion. We nixed the “Hollywood,” which we’d eyed online; and the “Nixon,” which was sleek but also like sitting on a couch from the town of Bedrock. When we’d narrowed our favorites down to the “Venice” and “Olivia” sectionals, we proceeded to road test them. We sat, curled up, laid out long and snuggled. We swapped pillows and cushions and stretched our feet on coffee tables. And then we left with fabric samples two hours after we’d arrived.

And now we were supposed to go to the mall?

I think not. The only appropriate response to Urban Fusion was to go to Urban Leaf. But before I dive in to my first post-prohibition weed buying experience, I have to digress with two non-related shoutouts.

One: Dianne Feinstein. Damnit, woman! Releasing the Fusion GPS transcripts on the sly while politely pressing Chief Babyfingers on DACA during a televised meeting? That is straight gangster ninja magic right there. Harness that more often, please. And two: Indivisible San Diego. I mentioned it in a previous column, but those dedicated folks gathered outside Darrell Issa’s Vista office every week for more than a year. Ev. Ree. Week.

I mean, I can barely get my child to her piano lesson each Wednesday.

Following Issa’s announcement that he would not run for reelection in November, a lawn party erupted where the protests had been. If you ever wondered what a bunch of old white people look like dancing to Kool & the Gang, you need only check Twitter for videos of the celebration.

Now, it is this sort of jubilation that I expected at the dispensary when we arrived on Jan. 6. I expected some “Can you believe this?”s and a little commiseration. But the vibe amongst the 100-or-so line-standers at Urban Leaf was way more DMV than Dennis Brown.

I tried to make small talk with the guy in front of me about how long he’d been there. We chatted about Oakland where he told me he’d lived for a time “before it was cool” like it is now “since people with tech money moved in.” The reason the convo went there, I can’t remember, but this made me feel some big feelings. It didn’t take long for our dialogue to make him uncomfortable. Perhaps it’s because I mentioned our privilege to be standing in line to buy dope while so many black and brown people sit in California’s prisons for possession and/or sale of weed...

So, he and I were stuck there together in a line that

was unmoving. But soon after I’d poisoned the atmosphere with a comment along the lines of, “California needs to get busy reducing felonies, and expunging records,” a staffer walked the line asking for anyone with a medical card. Which I have.

It turns out that what the FastPass is to Disneyland, the medical card is to over-crowded dispensaries. Sam and I ducked under the rope line and, with the eyes of every patron burning our skin, we cut straight to the front. The security guard even held the doors open for us. We walked through and were awestruck.

Since getting my card last winter, I’ve only ordered my edibles to be delivered to my house, so I’ve never had a dispensary experience. I suppose I had it in my head that a dispensary would look like a beachside head shop with lots of lava lamps and incense and over-merchandised glass pipes and tie-dye shirts and barefoot white twenty-somethings with bad locs (white person with bad locs is redundant, I know).

This space was pristine and glowing; the product presentation beautiful. This was no head shop; this was the Apple Store of Mary Jane. Clearly, a lot of thought and planning and money had gone into it. The money. So much money! I imagined a white dude rolling in cash in the back room at the end of the night, and of prisoners sitting in 4-foot-by-10-foot cells in San Quentin.

A young guy met Sam and me at the front of the line, introduced himself, and walked us over to his counter space. He listened to what it was I was looking for, and then started offering me my many, many choices. There were candies and gummies and chocolates and oils and salves and joints and buds.

He explained a lot of stuff that overwhelmed me and also made me think: I feel like I’m at the Genius Bar only I’m not being made to feel like I’m an asshole.

Still. I felt self-conscious, like I was doing something bad and illicit. Like I needed to be whispering and winking and pretending. I wanted to take photos but didn’t know if that was legal. I felt a sense of shame and responsibility and luck. I experienced this progressive milestone that is the end of prohibition, wholly aware that our archaic justice system remains.

We handed over our greenbacks—it’s a cash only business at this point—got a childproof bag and made our way home. I had nothing left in me for a mall excursion and no money left to buy a couch just yet. But when we do get it, I look forward to sinking into it with a good movie and a quart of Cherry Garcia.

This was no head shop; this was the Apple Store of Mary Jane.

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

Backwards & In High Heels appears every other week.

Write to aarynb@sdcitybeat.com.

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UP FRONT | VOICES

RYAN BRADFORD

WELL THAT WAS

AWKWARD

Danzig is not a douchebag millennial, according to Danzig

A

couple days before 2017 ends, I jump on a plane headed for Las Vegas to see the original lineup of the Misfits. I never used to be the gosomewhere-to-see-a-band-type of guy, but given the despair in the world right right now, I’ve acquired a carpe diem-like enthusiasm for even banal activities.

Plus, punk rock has always been one of my favorite escapes, and I’ve been mainlining the nostalgia I feel for bands I listened to in high school as if I was a junkie.

For instance, I witnessed Jawbreaker blow a fucking hole in the earth when they reunited to play Riot Fest in Chicago. It was a dream come true.

But unlike Jawbreaker, the Misfits aren’t necessarily a life-affirming band. In fact, they may be the opposite of life-affirming. Their legacy makes it easy to forget how truly horrific their songs are. Is there a more popular band that has built a catalog of songs around the subjects of monsters, killing and raping?

The MGM Grand—the venue where the Misfits are scheduled to play—couldn’t be any less punk. A giant, regal lion sits in the lobby, still adorned with Christmas decorations. The man at the reception desk doesn’t even know who the Misfits are, or that they’re playing at his hotel. However, he does give us a key to a room that’s already occupied, so I guess that’s pretty punk.

My wife tries to open the door, but it catches on the chain lock.

“Yeah?” asks a man from inside, and I swear it’s the breathy tone of someone enjoying some old fashioned coitus.

“Oh, sorry!” we say.

The hotel clerk upgrades our room, and tells us that they’re going to “investigate the situation,” which— based on the casual coldness of his tone—gives me the impression that the mystery occupant is going to get his legs broken. Whoa! I think. Has anybody ever written anything about how crazy things happen in Vegas?

We meet up with friends Zack and Shelby and develop a short-lived gambling problem. While feeding bills into a slot machine, I notice some aging punks wearing t-shirts adorning the Misfits’ Crimson Ghost mascot, which have begun to take over the casino. Not that the Misfits are a political band, but seeing so many counterculture figures in a bastion of rigged, corporate capitalism is simultaneously exciting and unnerving.

We carry glasses full of Jim Beam on our way to the venue and eventually converge with a horde of denimclad punks (whoever’s running the denim vest factory these days must be making a killing off Misfits fans).

We get to the security line and they don’t take away our glasses, but instead give us plastic cups in which to pour our whiskey. Vegas, baby!

They also provide us each a little fabric pouch that locks shut. This is a cell phone-free show per

“the band’s request,” but we all know that this likely is Danzig’s doing.

It’s impossible to talk about the Misfits without talking about Glenn Danzig, the band’s singer. For better or worse (more often worse), he’s the lifeblood of the band, but it’s hard to think of a more cantankerous, finicky musician. It’s possible Morrissey is worse, but Danzig has been known to miss his set time if he thinks it’s unfavorable in any way. He once cancelled a show because the ceiling was too low. So this phone restriction is exactly the type of behavior Danzig is known for.

The Misfits take the stage. This is the part where everyone usually pulls out their phones, but instead, the crowd explodes. We pump our fists and sing along to every “whoa-oh!” The band rips through 30 classics with nary enough time for Danzig to catch his breath (and they literally slay with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo behind the kit). Apart from three or four assholes who snuck phones in, the stadium is dark, and we’re all just thrashing in the evil. I gotta say, it’s nice.

And just when I think Danzig’s not such a bad guy, he opens his mouth.

“Hey douchebag,” Danzig says.

“Quit following me around with that spotlight.” And then, a little later: “Get that spotlight off me, motherfucker.” It’s unclear why Danzig is so upset with the guy performing a basic duty of stage tech, but we’re all glad not to be the spotlight guy.

“You may notice we play our fucking instruments,” Danzig says, not holding any instrument. “Not like those douchebag millennials with backing tracks.”

OK. “This is a question for all the gentlemen,” Danzig says. A roar of deep whoos fills the stadium. “Have you ever felt like killing your girlfriend?” Whoooa—uh, what? “That’s what this song’s about,” he says before ripping into “Die, Die My Darling.”

The drunk girl in front of us turns to her equallydrunk partner and yells, “YOU ALWAYS WANT TO KILL ME!” Ah, young love. The band then closes the set with “Attitude,” a song that does nothing to dissuade us from the notion that Danzig’s, like, really into domestic violence.

When the lights come on, everyone races out to unlock their phones. It’s been a good two hours of being present in the moment, but enough already. And when we scroll through the news on social media and remember that the real world will always be worse than whatever Danzig could dream up.

’This is a question for all the gentlemen,’ Danzig says.

A roar of deep whoos fill the stadium.

‘Have you ever felt like killing your girlfriend?’

Whoooa— uh, what?

@SDCITYBEAT

Well, That Was Awkward appears every other week.

Write to ryanb@sdcitybeat.com

JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER MICHAEL A. GARDINER

Also, it’s essentially built backwards. The dressing is made first, with each ingredient whisked together seriatim with wooden spoons in a massive wooden bowl.

Only then are the romaine boats tossed in that dressing (not the other way around), placed on the plate and garnished with a single garlicky crouton.

The show—the entire dish being prepared tableside with attention and care on a gorgeous, elaborate service cart—is an essential part of the experience. At the end of the day, it’s the salad itself that is its own payoff. The best Caesar ever: rich, but balanced from the lime’s acid (no, not lemon), and with depth from the anchovy.

Tableside Caesar service It was during another dark period in Tijuana—the endless, sequential devaluations of the peso in the ‘70s—that Caesar got a little brother: the Victor’s salad. Imported olive oil and parmesan cheese prices were prohibitive, but Mexican inventiveness prevailed: olive oil gave way to garlic-infused corn oil and cotija replaced parmesan. The Victor’s now stands alongTime traveling on a boat of romaine side the Caesar and receives the same elaborate treatment. Frankly, it’s neither better nor worse. The hen the successful restaurant group dressings are mainly indistinguishable and while the Grupo Plascencia bought Caesar’s Res- cotija may lack some of the parmesan’s umami, it oftaurante Bar (Av. Revolución at 5th, fers a slight bite that the parmesan lacks.

Tijuana), it certainly wasn’t predatory business Caesar’s is a tribute to the time of its founding. opportunism. It was a bet on Tijuana’s future, on It’s the 1920s under glass. Lift and enter for a hit themselves and on a salad. This was in 2008, at the of what it might have been like: Beef Wellington, height of Tijuana’s dark period. A drug war raged a classic Milanesa or Duck a L’Orange or, perhaps, and the traffic flow of gringos that was the life- a whitefish Florentine. Each are highly competent blood of places like Caesar’s had grinded to a halt. takes on the original. Everything says old-school: But there was still that salad. Of course, success the food, the wood paneling, the music and the old can sometimes destroy itself. Ubiquitous chain res- photos on the wall. taurant versions of that salad drowning in mayonCaesar’s is about that blast from the past and it’s naise-based dressings stand as mute testimony to about that salad. Cardini’s first Caesar came out of that fact. They are, however, empty simulacrums of the kitchen in 1924 and has become not one legend, the real thing with only the name and romaine to but many. Its creation is variously attributed to Carsuggest the original. dini, his brother Alex and Paul Maggiora (an origiThat glorious salad that Cesare Cardini served nal partner). Livio Santini, a cook there, claimed to 1920s Hollywood celebrities (who’d chased his mother invented it back in Austria. But there’s booze across the border) is still there at Caesar’s one point that’s not in dispute: if diners want to try with plenty to surprise and delight anyone primar- what it tasted like back then, go to Caesar’s. ily familiar with the dumbed-down derivative.

First, the lettuce isn’t chopped or even torn: it’s a The World Fare appears weekly. whole leaf that’s meant to be eaten with the hands. Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

THE WORLD

FARE W

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

@SDCITYBEAT

UP FRONT | DRINK

ANATOMY OF A COCKTAIL SCENE #23: Coffee comforts at Small Bar

ties when they arise, and last Monday was such an occasion.

With the wind and the rain at my back, I stopped in to Small Bar (4628 Park Blvd.) here is an old Irish proverb that seeking an Irish Coffee and respite, which states, “May the sun shine warm are often the same thing. It’s fabled that upon your face, and rains fall soft the Irish Coffee, as we now know it, was first upon your fields,” but goddamn, the rain served by a chef by the name of Joe Sheridan was not falling soft last week. I have not of County Limerick, to a bunch of tired and seen it rain that hard in Southern Califorweary American tourists. Sheridan handed nia since Obama was in office. Ah, those the travelers hot coffee with Irish whisky, to were the good ol’ days. which the travelers asked if the coffee was I’m a bit of a sentimental fellow, and Brazilian, and Sheridan replied, “it’s Irish when rain like that starts to come down, Coffee,” and thus gave birth to the name. my soul calls out for a few simple pleaBut in all honesty, one IAN WARD sures. Tomato bisque with can’t talk about Irish Cofgrilled cheese, for example. fee without bringing up Something classic, butthe Buena Vista Café in tery, hot and easy. There is San Francisco. It is where something in that, which I, among many, many, milspeaks to my Northeastern lions of others, have had sensibilities. their first transportive Irish The same could be said Coffee experience. It is for a good Irish Coffee. where I first bore witness There are very few joys to an entire bar, both of that can equate to coming patrons and employees, all in from the cold, taking a sharing in the simple love warm, comfortable seat at of one cocktail. the local pub, and sipping Irish coffee It is at the Buena Vista on a piping hot and strong and Small Bar, where the attention to miIrish coffee. It’s about as soul satisfynor details in making Irish Coffee are on full ing as anything else I can think of. And display. That process starts with combining fortunately—or unfortunately, dependIrish whiskey with either lump or sugar ing on your worldview—those opportune cube, and heating them together while addmoments to truly enjoy an Irish Coffee is ing coffee. Top with fresh cream that has something that does not come around too been hand-whipped or charged through a often in San Diego. So, I do cherish taksiphon. The cream is added to the top afing advantages of the small opportuniter the whisky, coffee and sugar have all married, and the cocktail is sipped through the cream. Slightly sweet, IRISH COFFEE slightly bitter, velvety soft and yet as prepared at Small Bar bold as all hell. A perfect Irish coffee is at all times simple, while being Place sugar cubes at the 2 sugar cubes tough and thoughtful, and, above all bottom of preferred heat(demerara or white, else, strangely nourishing. insulated glassware. Add

T

depending on preference) 2 oz. Dane coffee 2 oz. Jameson Whipped cream

@SDCITYBEAT

two ounces of whisky and two ounces of Dane coffee.

Stir until dissolved and add whipped cream.

BY BETH DEMMON

BY IAN WARD

Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene appears every other week.

Write to ianw@sdcitybeat.com

FINAL DRAUGHT Down with the brown ales

Company offers two limited quantity brown ales on draft. The 3.7 percent ecently, the New York Times’ drinks ABV collaboration Buffalo Paw Wet Hop writer declared brown ales to be Brown Ale was brewed as an Americanan “unfashionable” but “timeless” inspired take on a British classic, while style. This led to immediate backlash in their 5 percent ABV Highland Brown Ale beer circles against his dated commentary is available exclusively on nitro and has a (as well as his flippant attitude in general Scottish flair with a smooth finish.

Barrio Logan’s Alta Brewing recently towards beer). But I have to admit that his added their English/American hybrid description is pretty spot-on.

Brown ales aren’t catchy, but there’s an brown ale dubbed El Camino to their draft underappreciated beauty to them. Falling list and Oceanside’s Legacy Brewing somewhere between delicate pale ales and has their award-winning Founding robust stouts and porters, I like to think Father’s Nut Brown Ale (5.8 percent of them as the roasted COURTESY OF ALESMITH ABV) currently available.

Longship Brewery in Mira chicken of beer—the dish Mesa touts their 6 percent that Julia Child described ABV Valknut-meg Brown as the “real test of a good Ale with nutmeg as a sweet chef.” Achieving elegance and spicy version. through simplicity is much Finally, despite brown harder than throwing a ales’ classic definition as a truckload of hops in a beer middle of the road option, for the biggest, brashest there are always going to brew in town. be breweries who can’t A classic brown ale help gussying it up for a generally clocks in around bolder beer. The current 5 percent ABV. With the winter seasonal at Vista’s rising popularity of low Mother Earth Brew ABV session ales coupled AleSmith nut brown ale Company is a bourbon with a continued demand barrel-aged Imperial brown for balanced beers, brown ales are poised to make a comeback. ale, but at 12 percent ABV, it can barely San Diego’s already at the forefront of be considered a brown ale (it warms the this trend with plenty of local options belly nonetheless). Culture Brewing Company’s multiple locations generally currently available.

AleSmith Brewing Company’s Nut have fairly tame but tasty brown ales on Brown is right on the nose for the style at draft, but beer drinkers who seek a hotter 5 percent ABV. Even better: it’s available take should opt for their bourbon barrelyear-round, as is Benchmark Brewing aged brown ale in cans. At 5.8 percent Company’s extremely quaffable 4.5 ABV, it’s oddly low for bourbon-aged percent ABV Brown Ale. New English beers, but still packs a boozy punch.

With San Diego breweries large and Brewing Company may be better known for their hearty Zumbar Imperial Stout, small already dipping their toes in the but their Brewers Special Brown Ale is a brown ale pool, I hope it’s only a matter more moderate take on malts, clocking in of time before even more are down. at 6.6 percent ABV. Some slightly lesser known variations Write to bethd@sdcitybeat.com, check her on the style also abound across the out on Instagram at @thedelightedbite, or county. For instance, Julian’s Nickel Beer via Twitter at @delightedbite.

R

JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

EVENTS

SHORTlist

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

DOWNTOWN

MARCH ON!

There were some concerns and questions after the inaugural Women’s March San Diego last year, none more pressing than whether women (and men, to be fair) would be able to carry that feeling of empowerment and solidarity into 2018 and beyond.

Well, one year later and after some monumental progressive victories in elections in Alabama and Virginia, it seems like we had no reason to worry.

“People who showed up that day, a lot of them had never done so before, they had never felt compelled to do activism. But since that day, they haven’t stopped showing up,” says Sarah Dolgen Shaftel, one of the main organizers of last year’s Women’s March. “If anything, I felt these people rose to the occasion and said, ‘It’s on us now.’ You see groups like Indivisible and Flip the 49th, they never stopped showing up. All these things came out of the Women’s March.”

And with the midterm elections quickly approaching, this year’s march theme of “Hear Our Vote” is all the more resonant.

“We’re working hard to champion causes that are vital to women nationwide,” says Dolgen Shaftel, who will be walking this year with Allies for Women, the organization she founded after last year’s march. “Our focus right now is on voting, because that’s the only place we can really affect change in our country. We’re very focused on the primaries and getting out young women to vote.”

POINT LOMA

TORREY BAILEY

On Jan. 21, 2017, the largest singleday demonstration in U.S. history took place: The Women’s March (see above). And while this historic demonstration highlighted gender equality, a woman’s right to her body and more, it certainly wasn’t the first of its kind. In a redone exhibit called March To Empowerment, the Women’s Museum of California (2730 Historic Decatur Road #103) examines the suffragist protests that came before. The exhibit focuses on the women who injectCOURTESY OF WOMEN’S ed their voices into the MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA national conversation and how it affected law, paying special attention to the right to vote.

The expanded exhibition also spotlights the impact that communities of color had on the movement toward equal rights. March To Empowerment reopens Friday, Jan. 19. from noon to 4 p.m. and runs through 2019. Admission ranges from free to $5. womensmuseumca.

A piece from March org

to Empowerment

12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

HStories That We Tell: Art and Identity at UCSD University Art Gallery, 9500 Gillman Drive, La Jolla. A new exhibition celebrating seven UC San Diego artists who paved the way for greater inclusion by inventing new means to address issues of race and gender. Artists include Eleanor Antin, Barbara Kruger, Faith Ringgold and more. Opening from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 18. Free. facebook.com/ UCSDVisArts Downtown at Sundown at MCASD— Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd., Downtown. MCASD’s after-hours event offers free admission and guided tours of exhibitions at MCASD and the SDSU Downtown Gallery, as well as specials at local businesses and live music. From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Free. 858-4543541, mcasd.org

Women’s March San Diego This year’s Women’s March San Diego takes place on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waterfront Park (1600 Pacific Hwy.). Speakers at the march include State Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Councilmember Georgette Gomez and many more. There will also be performances from the San Diego Women’s Chorus and the Women’s Drum Circle. As always, the event is free, but participants are encouraged to register for the march and to vote at womensmarchsd.org.

MISSION VALLEY

SUFFRAGETTE CITY

HIt’s Gonna Be Okay at 1805 Gallery, 1805 Columbia St., Little Italy. New artistin-residence Samantha Louise Marett invites attendees to share their personal stories, which she will respond to with experimental painting techniques. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Free.

1805gallery.com

KICKING IT Back in October, we all shared in a collective eyeroll when the U.S. men’s soccer team failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup. One team that never has that problem? The U.S. women’s national team, who will be in San Diego on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m. to play an international friendly against Denmark at SDCCU Stadium (9449 Friars Road). Names like Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd recently led the team to a 3-1 victory against Canada, and although the Denmark game is an exhibition, the Danes are still ranked in the top 15 best teams in the world so expect them to have a chip on their shoulder.

Now, if we could only pay these women the same amount as those feckless men. Hmmmmm…

Tickets for U.S.A. vs. Denmark range from $25 to $250 at ticketmaster.com

SHUTTERSTOCK

HMarch To Empowerment at Women’s Museum of California, 2730 Historic Decatur Road #103, Point Loma. WMC updates its exhibition about women’s rights to spotlight the impact that communities of color had on the movement toward equal rights.

Opening from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19. Free-$5. womensmuseumca.org HMissing Content at Helmuth Projects, 1827 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill. A solo exhibition from multimedia artist ELEVATORTEETH, which includes graphite illustrations, prints, paintings and more.

Includes musical performances from Alex Miranda and Peggy 183. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Free. facebook.com/helmuth.projects HThe Language of Things at San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Bi-national artist Roberto Romero-Molina explores the mystery of everyday sounds and images via multichannel sensors, which draw from numerous samples of audio and visual material to create a sensory world. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Free-$5. sandiego-art.org Business Strategies For Artists at The Dojo Cafe, 4350 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. This event features a wide array of guest speakers and organizations teaching their strategies to help artists, musicians and creative individuals grow their businesses. From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. $10. 619-540-0310, facebook.com/events/1748897095122368

BOOKS HKimberly Ann Johnson at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The local Emmy Award-winning television producer and decorator will sign and discuss her new book, Decorate This, Not That!.

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17. Free.

858-454-0347, warwicks.com Kelly Corrigan at Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. The bestselling author of The Middle Place, Lift, and Glitter and Glue will be promoting her new book, Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I’m Learning to Say. Price includes signed copy of the book. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. $40-$50. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com Kay Kenyon at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The writer will sign and discuss her new novel, At the Table of Wolves, a histori-

U.S. Women’s national team

H = CityBeat picks

cal paranormal spy novel set in 1936 England. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19. Free.

858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Allison Engel and Reise Moore at Carlsbad City Library, 1775 Dove Ln., Carlsbad. The co-authors will discuss their book, ThriftStyle. At 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Free. 619-300-2532, adventuresbythebook.com Jerry Holl and Patricia Bossano at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. As part of Warwick’s Weekend with Locals program, the two authors will be signing and discussing their latest books, Downhills Don’t Come Free (Holl) and Nahia (Bossano). At noon and 2 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 21. Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com

COMEDY Jo Koy at Jacobs Music Center at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. A family-friendly performance by the famous Las Vegas comedian as part of his “Break The Mold” tour. From 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. $35. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

DANCE HCompagnie Hervé Koubi at Mandeville Auditorium, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The European choreographer’s contemporary dance piece, “What the Day Owes to the Night,” features 12 French Algerian and African male dancers and pulls inspiration from Eastern paintings and Islamic architecture. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17. $9-$46. 858-534-8497, artpower. ucsd.edu HJanus II and Other Dances of Beginnings, Transitions, and Endings at Saville Theatre, San Diego City College, C St. and 14th St., East Village. San Diego Dance Theatre’s Jean Isaacs presents her critically acclaimed “Rite of Spring.”

Includes five more dances inspired by photos entitled “Songs from the Family Album.” At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. $15-$40. 619-225-1803, sandiegodancetheater.org Paul Taylor Dance Company at Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, Downtown. A fusion of bravura dancing and emotional insight with music by Arcangelo Corelli, Henry Cowell and Malloy Miller. At 8 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 20. $17.25-$72.25. 619235-0804, ljms.org

FILM Nothing Is Truer Than Truth at San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., Downtown. A documentary about Seventeenth Earl of Oxford Edward de Vere, who traveled the sites featured in Shakespeare’s works. Followed by a discussion with filmmaker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan and Shakespeare scholar Bryan Wildenthal. From 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22. Free.

619-236-5800, sandiego.librarymarket.com Mark Cantor’s Giants of Jazz on Film at David & Dorothea Garfield Theater, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. The first in a three-part series of screenings where music maven Mark Cantor will show off his archival collection of jazz and blues performances. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24. $20-$57. 858-362-1348, sdcjc. org

FOOD & DRINK Cans & Jams at Searsucker, 611 Fifth Ave., Downtown. An event partnering

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 @SDCITYBEAT

EVENTS with local brewery Modern Times and features a live musical performance by Le Chateau. A dollar from every can sold will be donated to AjA Project, a group providing photography classes to underserved youth. From 2 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 20. Free. 619-2337327, searsucker.com HSan Diego Restaurant Week at various locations. More than 180 local restaurants will be offering three-course, prix-fixe dinner and two-course, prix-fixe lunch menus. See website for full list of restaurants and offerings. Various times. Sunday, Jan. 21 through Sunday, Jan. 28. $10-$50. sandiegorestaurantweek.com

MUSIC Taste of Opera at Tango Del Rey, 3567 Del Rey St., Middletown. The Bonita Trio performs sounds that infuse Argentine tango and the gritty style of Piazzolla’s opera, Maria de Buenos Aires. Plus tango demonstrations, drinks and light hors d’oeuvres. From 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17. $40. sdopera.org HPercussion Lovefest at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Sherman Heights. As part of the San Diego Symphony’s “It’s About Time” Festival, this event highlights the different percussive styles from around the world with live musical performances and local acts. At 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 18. $10-$20. 619-9876214, freshsoundmusic.com HAeolus Quartet at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla.

A performance by the highly acclaimed quartet, composed of cellist Alan Richardson and violinists Nicholas Tavani,

@SDCITYBEAT

Rachel Shapiro and Gregory Luce. At 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19. $9-$59. 858-5348497, artpower.ucsd.edu Tommy Emmanuel at Balboa Theatre, 868 4th Ave., Downtown. The Australian guitarist is best known for his complex fingerstyle and energetic, percussive techniques. Also performing in the show will be JD Simo, American guitarist and singer-songwriter. From 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19. $39.50-$66. 619570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org HBuilding Bridges of Collaboration: Re-Covering the Music of Carole King at White Box Live Arts Theater, 2590 Truxton Road #205, Point Loma. SACRA/ PROFANA pays tribute to the songs of Carole King with collaborations between the musicians and singers. At 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 19. $10-$35. 619-566-6584, sacraprofana.org The Charles Mingus Legacy at San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., Downtown. A discussion lead by Steven Schick, the curator of the “It’s About Time” Festival about the life and accomplishments of famous jazz composer Charles Mingus. From 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Free. 619-236-5800, facebook.com/events/157343964880254 HPlaces In Time at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. Part of the “It’s About Time” festival, this concert features works of Giuseppe Martucci, Ottorino Respighi and Gioacchino Rossini, led by the Italian conductor Jader Bignamini.

Opens at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. $20$98. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony. org G3: Joe Satriani, John Petrucci and Phil Collen at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The three gui-

tarists will play some epic jams, as well as a selection of rock and blues standards. From 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. $55. 619-570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org HBuilding Bridges of Collaboration: Re-Covering the Music of Carole King at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, 4190 Front St., Hillcrest SACRA/PROFANA pays tribute to the songs of Carole King with collaborations between the musicians and singers.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. $10$35. 619-566-6584, sacraprofana.org Rolston String Quartet at The Auditorium at TSRI, 10620 John J Hopkins Drive, La Jolla. The award-winning quartet bring a program of works by Beethoven, Schumann and contemporary Canadain composer, Sophia di Castri. At 3 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 21. $30. 619-235-0804, ljms.org HMingus Dynasty: Tijuana Moods at The Auditorium at TSRI, 10620 John J Hopkins Drive, La Jolla. A band composed of seven members of the Mingus Big Band, all leading jazz artists from New York City, who will be performing a rare revival of Charles Mingus’s 1957 album Tijuana Moods. At 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22. $30. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org

PERFORMANCE HSuper Awesome Showdown: Unlimited at Tango del Rey, 3567 Del Rey St., Pacific Beach. Professional wrestling troupe Super Awesome Showdown presents a night of matches. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. $5-$20. superawesomeshowdown.com

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HSunny’s Throw Aways at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park. Poet Sunny Rey’s book release birthday bash and fundraiser for Urban Street Angels.

It highlights several artists, poets, musicians and vendors such as Brooklyn Benedix, Chrissy Croft, Natasha Hooper and more. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17. Free. facebook.com/ events/1359169824191843 HVermin on the Mount at La Bodega Gallery, 2196 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan.

The local writing showcase features irreverent readings from Ryan Bradford, Suzanne Hoyem, Siel Ju, Paul Lopez, host Jim Ruland and more. From 7 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 20. Free. 619-255-3609, verminonthemount.com Long Story Short: Just Lust at San Diego Writers Ink, 2730 Historic Decatur Rd., Suite 202, Point Loma. A monthly improv storytelling night featuring five minute stories where anyone can take the stage and tell a tale of lust. From 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. $5 suggested donation.

619-696-0363, sosayweallonline.com

POLITICS & COMMUNITY HSan Diego Women’s March at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Hwy., Downtown. An event to encourage voters to participate in the 2018 midterm elections and support women’s rights, human rights and social and environmental justice. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Free. womensmarchsd.org

SPORTS HU.S.A. vs. Denmark at SDCCU Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, Mission Valley.

The U.S. women’s national soccer team will play an international friendly against Denmark. At 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. $25-$250. ticketmaster.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS HSips & Civility: A Community Discussion about Sexual Assault at San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., Downtown. A discussion on the topic of sexual assault with guest speaker Dr. Doreen Mattingly, a professor and the Chair of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University. Includes complimentary drinks and snacks. From 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23. Free. 619-236-5800, facebook. com/events/1564934913575905

WORKSHOPS The Whole Alphabet at Babycakes, 3766 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. A brand new LGBTQ writing and storytelling salon and workshop where writers will present and develop stories for an upcoming showcase. From 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Free. sosayweallonline.com

For more events, visit sdcitybeat.com

JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 13

THEATER JOAN MARCUS

Hamilton is indeed revolutionary

F

rom the night it debuted nearly three years ago Off Broadway at The Public Theater, Hamilton, the Musical has been rightly acclaimed for its innovative, propulsive approach to the American musical. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s nearly completely sung-through (much of it rapped) bio of Alexander Hamilton is a stirring, immersive experience that reinvents the art of lyrical storytelling.

Yet as Broadway San Diego’s presentation of Hamilton’s national tour underlines, Miranda’s Pulitzer Prize-winning creation is also a trenchant evocation of American history from the time of the Revolution (the focus of Act 1) through the turbulent formation and development of a new nation (the crux of Act 2, along with Hamilton’s personal-life travails). Hamilton takes liberties with its broad characterizations of Jefferson (Jordan ������������������������ Donica) and Madison (Mathenee Treco), both depicted as antagonists, as well as a prissy, buffoonish King George (Rory O’Malley) who emerges throughout for comic relief. But while focusing on the immigrant Hamilton’s (Austin Scott) tireless determination and keen mind, Miranda does not gloss over the man’s frailties. This humanizing of character connects Hamilton the man, and the show, with the here and now.

OPENING: Plays by Young Writers: Winners of the California Young Playwrights Contest will present their works at this annual showcase. Presented by the Playwrights Project, it happens over four days starting Jan. 18 at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. playwrightsproject.org Tuesdays with Morrie: Based on the bestselling book, this play centers on a journalist who makes weekly visits to his former college professor who is suffering from ALS. Directed by Randall Hickman, it opens Jan. 18 at the Broadway Theatre in Vista. broadwayvista.biz The Addams Family: A musical comedy based on the creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, but otherwise beloved family. Directed by Rayme Sciaroni, it opens Jan. 19 at the Coronado Playhouse. coronadoplayhouse.com

“Hamilton” continues through Jan. 28 at the Civic Theatre, downtown Scott is dashing and undaunted in this production’s title role, stepping into the shoes Miranda filled for so long on Broadway. The self-empowering “My Shot” is his fitting anthem. Isaiah Johnson, who played George Washington in the recently ended Los Angeles run of Hamilton, reprises his portrayal at the Civic Theatre (the sound there, happily, is crisp). Johnson is appropriately charismatic and his “One Last Time” is a dramatic high point of the second act. Ryan Vasquez exudes more smugness than heat as Hamilton’s rival Aaron Burr, and that’s likely intentional, as the character is not a sympathetic foe. He’s just the winner of a duel where Hamilton nobly lost his life.

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

While the rapped numbers of the score are electrifying, the breaths Hamilton takes for balladry, however central to the story, pale by comparison. This is an extraordinary theater experience and while tickets are hard to come by, it’s worthy of the plaudits that it has received.

Hamilton, the Musical runs through Jan. 28 at the Civic Theatre, downtown. Thirtyfive orchestra tickets ($10 each) will be sold via digital lottery for every performance; see broadwaysd.com.

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

Outside Mullingar: Two introverts connect in rural Ireland in John Patrick Shanley’s romantic comedy. Presented by Scripps Ranch Theatre, it opens Jan. 19 at the Legler Benbough Theatre in Scripps Ranch. scrippsranchtheatre.org The Year of Magical Thinking: Linda Purl stars as Joan Didion in this one-woman show based on the writer’s bestselling memoir. It happens Jan. 22 and 23 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. northcoastrep.org

For full listings, visit “Theater” under Culture at sdcitybeat.com

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TORREY BAILEY

CULTURE

FROM LAKESIDE BIRDWATCHING TO FOREST TRAILS, IT’S ALL RIGHT HERE We San Diegans know we’re spoiled. So when it comes time to take a vacation, it’s not entirely inconceivable that we might just stay in town, soak up some sun and do all those things we’ve been meaning to cross off our local bucket lists.

That’s exactly what the five writers on these pages had in mind when we first conceived an annual “staycation” issue.

Yes, the zoo and the beaches are great, but what about the under-the-radar adventures we’d always wondered about?

Of course, there’s inevitably things we had to leave out, but the five stories below should be proof that our county is invariably diverse when it comes to local activities. If anything, we hope that they inspire readers to get out there, get out of their comfort zone and plan a local adventure of their own.

RED IS WHAT SHE SAID

Temecula wineries offer humility, hangovers and a chance to learn about wine without breaking the bank

By Torrey Bailey As anyone within earshot knows, I lived in provincial Southern France for a year. I was in a rosé mecca and, yes, my inner basic bitch was delighted. But I was also broke, opting for the plastic gallon-sized jugs that sold for two euros a pop. My one professional wine tasting experience included aerating the wine in my mouth by making awkward swishing noises, pretending to pick up on the mouthfeel and spitting out the wine.

With that in mind, I approached the Temecula wineries with a thirst to learn, but a vocabulary as amateur as “fruitforward” and “dry”.

Temecula’s vineyards only started taking off about ten years ago, making them relatively new to the game as well.

The first tastings were held in mobile homes set up by the pioneering vineyards. That’s a wildly humble approach compared to the more than 40 European-inspired villas that now dot the valley. Big timers such as Callaway Vineyard & Winery and Mount Palomar sit on Rancho California Road,

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Doffo Winery the main wine trail. But then there’s the De Portola Trail, to take home. The owner’s stories were the first thing to which consists of boutique, family-owned wineries and is leave each guide’s mouth, from Fazeli and Doffo to my other stops at Masia de la Vinya and Robert Renzoni. The Temthe equivalent to Napa’s Silverado Trail.

As I approached my first stop on the De Portola Trail, ecula valley wine operation is hyperlocal to the point that Fazeli Cellars (fazelicellars.com), I decided to own that ig- many wineries’ products are bottled in a semi-trailer truck owned by Robert Renzoni, and can only be norance, which surprisingly was not met TORREY BAILEY bought on-site. with snobbery. My tour guide, Barb, had the I stumbled away from the wineries apair of my best friend’s mom, and she jokpreciating that small-scale vibe and the ingly referred to the award-winning labels close proximity of my bed at the Temecula as her boyfriends. She excitedly walked us Creek Inn (temeculacreekinn.com). Wakthrough the production facility as cordialing up to a mountainous view helped with ly as if I were actor Mario Lopez, who had my hangover, which was further nursed smoked gold-wrapped cigars on the propby the breakfast potatoes at the adjoining erty only weeks ago.

Cook Fire Kitchen. From the comfort of As for the wine, the region’s Meditermy booth, I silently applauded the golfers ranean-like climate allows for French, already out on the property’s course, knowItalian and Spanish varietals such as Saning I’ll always prioritize the snooze button giovese, Syrah and Montepulciano, which over sports. fully pleased (and surpassed) my two-buck One day isn’t enough if seeing the quaint Chuck palate. But Fazeli’s 2014 Shiraz, with Old Town Temecula (visittemeculavalley. its full-bodied notes of black currant and com) is part of the plan, and it should be. It’s blackberry, has made an unwavering imone of those unsettling places where strangpression even on the Napa Valley diehards.

Doffo Winery ers are amicable. Someone said hi to me in What’s more, Temecula wineries have kept their humbleness. There’s a strong sense of familial the hotel parking lot with genuine happiness even though values and boutique sensibilities. Fazeli Cellars owner BJ the sun was barely up. Highway patrol officers were parked Fazeli names his wines after his children, as well as Persian in plain sight along the freeway, practically waving me on as poets. At the Doffo Winery (doffowines.com), daughter Sa- I pushed 90 miles per hour. The area is named Rainbow Valmantha Doffo, was the one driving us on the golf cart around ley, for God’s sake. It’s like the whole town has a slight buzz the property and hopping out to pick lemons and kumquats going on, which may not be far from the truth.

JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 15

THE STAYCATION ISSUE

THE LAKE LIFE

Kayaking, s’mores and birds in Lake San Marcos

By Jeff Terich Growing up in North County, it’s easy to overlook the possibility of your backyard being a vacation destination.

Until I was 18, I lived in Fallbrook, one of the larger suburbs of San Diego, but one that nonetheless felt like a small town.

And let’s be clear about something here—nobody in their right mind would ever want to vacation where they went to high school.

In hindsight—after moving to San Diego proper and not having visited in a while—it occurs to me that North County has a lot of appealing qualities one would want in a vacation: a coastline, trees, sunshine, parks and a close proximity to a major city. In particular, Lake San Marcos is an idyllic spot for taking a break from what’s, admittedly, a fairly chill city. A manmade lake that was formed in 1946 after San Marcos Creek was dammed, Lake San Marcos is mostly surrounded by residences. Right on the water, however, is the Lakehouse Hotel & Resort (lakehousehotelandresort.com), opened in 2013 after the ‘60s-era property was renovated and upgraded.

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The Lakehouse is a comfortable, yet aesthetically stylish property, each room spacious and playfully accented with painted fish and, on the balcony or patio, lifeguard chairs. Almost every room faces the lake, and as such gives visitors a spectacular view. Yet the added bonus of being away from an urban center is that, when it’s time to catch some sleep, there’s not an abundance of light coming through the window (though you should probably still close the curtain).

Vacationing on a lake has the funny consequence of CANDICE ELEY feeling a little bit like summer camp for grown-ups.

Seeing as how my wife and I went in January, it’d technically be winter camp, but winter in San Diego County often feels like most other places’ summers. There are a variety of different water activities, including water bikes and paddleboards.

Initially we considered going fishing, until we realized that visitors are required to have a license to fish (we’re novices at being outdoorsy).

Instead we opted for a tanLake San Marcos dem kayak, which was a serene way to make our way across the lake while getting a little exercise. It also offered a closer view of the many birds that convene lakeside: coots, cormorants, geese, ducks and—perhaps a sign they knew some goths were coming—black swans.

Decoy, the restaurant at the Lakehouse, is a far more epicurean experience than the standard camp mess hall. Its

CANDICE ELEY

Decoy menu features some impressive small plates, in particular the wood-fired Spanish octopus. And any restaurant that serves a succulent octopus is one that knows the way to my heart. As far as more substantial entrees, Decoy grills a mean steak; the New York cut with red wine demi sauce is highly recommended for carnivorous eaters. On weekends, there’s a lightshow on the lake visible from the dining room, a little more Fantasmic than Laser Floyd, but it’s a fun distraction all the same.

There is, of course, dessert, but something a little more fun—particularly given the scenic surroundings—is making s’mores fireside. All guests are provided graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate, and with three firepits on the property, including one directly in front of the lake, it’s an irresistible (if a little messy) way to end the day.

It’s funny—initially I had doubts that I could be enchanted by a place I thought I already knew. Now I’m already thinking about when I can go back.

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THE STAYCATION ISSUE

STREETS ARE HOT Al pastor, fish tacos and the best street cart on the rock are all the reasons we need to visit Ensenada

By Michael A. Gardiner My idea of a vacation involves heavy doses of street food, and my staycations are no different. Baja is the usual destination with Ensenada the focus even more often than Tijuana. After all, we’re talking about the beach town that is the supposed origin place of fish tacos and there’s a mariscos stand that Anthony Bourdain called “the best street cart in the world.”

MICHAEL A. GARDINER

Al Pastor at El Flamoza

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Yes, indeed, Ensenada offers some of the best street food anywhere.

If there’s one street-foodie must-stop in Ensenada it is the Mariscos La Guerrerense (1st and Alvarado, Zona Centro, laguerrerense.com) street cart or the brick and mortar version, Sabina Restaurante (facebook.com/SabinaRestauranteMx). The tostadas Sabina Bandera puts out are nothing short of Michelin-star quality seafood with street cart ambiance. Get the tostada de erizo con almeja or the caracol con lajas de caracol. Both are replete with the types of contrasts— both in texture and flavor—that make high-end dishes pop.

Another street food spot that tickles the top end is Taqueria Criollo (2nd between Floresta and Espinoza, facebook.com/CriolloTaqueria), where foodies will find a cheflike mentality crossed with street food sensibility. This results in food that satisfies at multiple levels. Take Criollo’s shrimp aguachile torta. It sounds, for most of us, like it couldn’t possibly work: a quasi-raw seafood sandwich?

Really? And yet it works swimmingly. Or play it safer with a culinary comfort blanket: the portobello and mole taco.

Or go to the place the fish taco purportedly, allegedly began: Tacos Mi Ranchito El Fénix (6th and Espinoza). Or better yet, go to Tacos Nemo (6th and Gastelum, facebook. com/pages/Tacos-Nemo/568787859962035) for the best ones in Ensenada. Nemo’s no-nonsense, no razzle-dazzle mako shark tacos come freshly fried with aggressively seasoned crispy batter. That batter perfectly frames the moist fish and brings out its inherent sweetness.

For a more carnivorous take on street food, hit El Ferrocarril (11th and Rio Seco, facebook.com/pg/Taqueria-ElFerrocarril-673302556161901/) for slow-braised lamb tacos: corn tortillas with marvelously moist, shredded lamb meat flecked with bits of guajillo chile. On the way into or out of town, stop in El Sauzal—still part of Ensenada (municipalities in Mexico are more like American counties than cities)—

MICHAEL A. GARDINER

Mariscos La Guerrerense where two taco stands stare at each other from either side of a cross-street off the main highway. Try the carne asada tacos at Taqueria El Trailero (Carretera Transpeninsular Ensenada-Tijuana No. 353, facebook.com/taqueriaeltrailero) or, if diners are feeling adventurous, ask the taquero to mix in some crispy, savory tripe. Get just one and then go across the street to Taqueria el Flamazo (facebook.com/Taqueriael-Flamazo-Oficial-756728314404926) for the tacos al pastor (pressed pork cooked on a massive, rotating vertical spit).

They are among the best I’ve had anywhere.

Ensenada sports no shortage of lodging choices at various price points. At the higher end try the Hotel Coral & Marina (hotelcoral.com), which sports ocean view balconies with every room. There’s also the even more spectacular (and more expensive) Punta Morro Resort (hotelpuntamorro.com). A much more budget friendly option is the Bahia Hotel (hotelbahia.com.mx) located in the heart of Ensenada’s tourist zone.

If enjoying one’s home region as a tourist is the essence of “staycation.” Ensenada is an essential San Diego culinary staycation. The quality, variety and extent of the street food options are mandatory exploration for any self-respecting San Diego foodie. And it’s been there all along just across a little line on a map.

JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

THE STAYCATION ISSUE

THE SUITE HEREAFTER

Ghost-hunting and fine dining at Hotel del Coronado

By Ryan Bradford “You have stolen my heart!”

So sings Dashboard Confessional’s frontman Chris Carrabba in their annoyingly earnest hit, “Stolen.” Well, “sings” may not be the word. Yearns? Pines? At any rate, they’re the lyrics of someone so resolutely smitten that it borders on obsession.

I bring up this song because 1.) the music video for “Stolen” was filmed at the iconic Hotel del Coronado (hoteldel.

JESSICA BRADFORD

Hotel Del Coronado

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

com) and; 2.) it pretty much sums up my own feelings for the Hotel Del. I’ve always had a slight obsession with the famous hotel.

Sure, Coronado comes across as boujee as hell, but the hotel (which is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year with a variety of activites and events) is one the city’s most awe-inspiring landmarks, and I’ve spent my entire time in San Diego wondering what it’s like to stay in such a historic landmark.

Oh, and let’s not forget the ghosts that supposedly haunt the place. It’s no secret that I’m attracted to all things spooky, but I also believe that supernatural lore—real or not—reveals more about a place than a textbook. Murders, suicides and ectoplasm provide the best history lessons.

My wife and I check into the hotel on a windy Friday night, and it is my mission to find Kate Morgan—the Hotel Del’s most famous ghost. My chances look good: The holiday tourists are gone, replaced with a quietness that I’ve never witnessed in the usually-bustling lobby. The eeriness is delightful. I may be the only person on earth who’s charmed by the slight Shining vibes.

The friendly front desk attendants—Colby and his manager Joey—set us up with a suite in the west end. From my research, I know that’s where Kate’s room is, and my excitement g-g-g-grows.

The room is gorgeous. Tall ceilings and antique door knobs are elegantly Victorian, but the midcentury furniture gives it a distinctly modern feel. We have a sitting area. The windows actually open. There’s a Keurig in our room! Oh, and our balcony opens up a view of the ocean, but... the Keurig! If I was a ghost, I would definitely be stoked to haunt this room.

After settling in, we grab dinner at Sheerwater, the hotel’s more-casual restaurant (I don’t know if schlubs like me are even allowed in the upscale 1500 Ocean). But Sheerwater offers clearly-marked vegan options for my wife, which is

RYAN BRADFORD

Lamb chops at Sheerwater great because trying to negotiate food substitutions and alterations at a nice restaurant is never fun. Manolo, our server, is effortlessly smooth, and sells me on the lamb chops (I’m not vegan, by the way); my wife gets the cauliflower steak. The lamb arrives on a bed of mashed potatoes and it’s so good that I die deadder than Kate Morgan.

After a couple beers, I ask Manolo if he’s ever seen her. He says no, but in his 33 years working at the hotel, he’s heard stories from coworkers about seeing faces in the mirrors and hearing disembodied laughter of children. I know it’s cliché, but I feel a shiver run up my spine.

For nightly rates that start at $300, it may be difficult for a local to justify a stay at the Hotel del Coronado, but for a history (or ghost) aficionado, the adventure is indelible. I never end up finding Kate Morgan, but the Hotel del Coronado takes my heart. It gets into my bones. My stay will never leave me, and isn’t that how a real haunting is supposed to work?

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THE STAYCATION ISSUE

TRAILBLAZING WITHOUT A SCREEN

Hiking the Corte Madera with a little help from an iconic book

By Julia Dixon Evans

The idea of a posthumous, “co-author” edition of Jerry Schad’s Afoot and Afield in San Diego trail guide makes me think: nope. And anyway, who even needs local nature trails books when we have phones?

But it was the pre-smartphone era when I first hiked Corte Madera, a remote, bouldery 4,657-foot peak in the Pine Creek Wilderness. I was working with a hiking education program throughout San Diego County and I fell in love with our wild places, thirsty to discover every inch.

Afoot and Afield, originally published in 1986, proves the wildlands of our own backyard are just as majestic and worthy of exploration than any faraway, landmark mountains.

Schad’s book feels invaluable to that pursuit, and it often feels as if he’s a personal friend and honorary trail-mate.

What would Jerry do? I say, often. Or if we get lost, we say, Fucking Jerry. Because sometimes the book is insufferable and weirdly dependent on identifying stuff like “boulderstudded” intersections in order to find the right way.

Phones make me—nay, all of us—lazy navigators. Apps now tell me how far and high I go. And by no coincidence, I’ve also gradually stopped bringing Afoot and Afield with

20 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

me. When lost, I’ll open Google Maps on my phone and track my blue dot on the satellite image. Sometimes I think: if my phone dies, what would I do? What would Jerry do?

I want to take my love for our wilderness back to its bones, so I ask two friends to do a screen-free hike with me, just using Schad’s book and paper topographical maps. No phones. No screens.

On the hour-ish drive to Corte Madera, we pore over maps and I read aloud each version of Afoot and Afield’s coverage of this “navigation-required” hike to check for changes. In the reissued 2017 edition’s acknowledgements page, the new guy, Scott Turner, profusely thanks Jerry “for opening the door to a lifelong love affair with San Diego County’s natural splendor.” His devotion to Schad’s work is enough to reduce me to fangirl tears.

My botanist friend Margie then proclaims, “I brought a plant press, in case we find something fun!” These are my people. And I realize I don’t just mean my friends, but Schad and Turner as well.

We bump along five miles of unpaved Corral Canyon Road to the trailhead, display our National Forest Service Adventure Pass ($5 at fs.usda.gov), and set off along the mixture of rough fire roads and overgrown single track. It’s a gorgeous day, warm for January, and we hardly see anyone else. Much of the seven-mile roundtrip climb follows the “user-created” Corte Madera Trail, and I’m grateful for the souls who walked here before me. It feels dry, the drought noticeable despite the vivid greens of the manzanita, chemise and Coulter pines covering much of the landscape.

It’s not a strenuous hike, but some sections are tricky, without switchbacks to smooth things out. Pokey chaparral yucca scratch my legs and Margie mentions that you can pierce someone’s lung with a stalk of it. Death by hesperoyucca wipplei. I spend too long unpacking that scenario.

We use the maps and the book. We need not just Schad,

JULIA DIXON EVANS

Corte Madera

but Turner as well, who updated the guide to account for new makeshift trail signs, like horror-esque knife-scratchings signs that read “CORTE MADERA” with a crass arrow. I never once think about checking Google Maps.

The summit is broad and rocky. We stand at the edge of what’s known as “The Half Dome of San Diego,” and a turkey vulture soars below us, making me dizzy. We use an actual compass to try to identify all the mountains in the unfathomably-expansive 360 degree views, and we talk excitedly about bagging them all, knowing full well it’d be nearly impossible: San Diego has hundreds of peaks.

But it’s nice to know that if we want to try, there’s a book for that.

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CULTURE | FILM

Garment business

Phantom Thread

Paul Thomas Anderson spins a couture marvel about warped love

by Glenn Heath Jr.

V

isually precise and gracefully paced, Phantom and fabric. Without speaking a word, vindictive stateThread has all the makings of a gentle melo- ments are communicated through everyday acts. drama with perfect posture. But don’t let its Fashion shows are argument cappers. Kind gestures elegance fool you. Paul Thomas Anderson’s dense construe weakness. Cooking becomes an opportunity portrait of warped love likes to spit venom. It depicts to experiment with morbid erotica.

If Anderson’s previous feature, Inherent Vice, cap1950s London as a façade of post-war strength where class and prestige are the only important outward tured the woozy paranoia of 1970s counterculture Calmarkers of success. Internally, its characters are far ifornia, Phantom Thread is far more tightly wound, as knottier beasts of burden, ripe with contradictory im- if any false move would burst one of the delicate seams on one of Woodcock’s dress. Much of this tension depulses and desires that cannot be easily classified.

Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a fussy rives from the astounding dance of wills performed man who happens to be a genius. As a master dress- by Day-Lewis and Krieps. Whereas most women remaker to European royalty and high society, Woodcock treat from Reynolds’ stubbornness, Alma embraces is a craftsman first and a person second. He doesn’t the challenge of breaking him down because doing so suffer fools, unless they are wealthy enough to be cli- means reclaiming her persona from a man who speents. Women are essential to both his business and cializes in fabricating female grace.

Phantom Thread (opening Jan. 19) rarely rushes private life, serving the same function in both sectors: as physical models for measure and study. When they this process. It is a slow burn of comeuppance, evenbecome too infatuated with his talent, Reynolds asks tually reaching the diabolical equivalent of emotional harmony. Like his enigmatic older sister/consigliore, Cyril lead character, Anderson’s (Lesley Manville), to send an uncompromising artthem packing.

PHANTOM THREAD ist whose vision takes time Alma (Vicky Krieps) Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and reflection to fully grasp. doesn’t fit the mold of the Alma’s retaliatory tactics are Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, typical Reynolds castaway. not easily reconcilable, nor When the two meet cute at a Vicky Krieps and Lesley Manville is Reynolds’ disdain for incountryside restaurant where Rated R timacy. Watching these two she’s waitressing, their imcharacters collide forces an mediate chemistry infuses assessment of our own clanhis breakfast order with electricity. Knowing glances are exchanged and laughter destine, inescapable resentments toward loved ones.

That’s not to say anything of the dead. One ghost shared. Before long, Reynolds has spent most of the night fawning over Alma. What comes next is typi- in particular influences the way Reynolds sees the cal of the film’s devilish sensibility—heavy flirtation world, weighing heavily on his remembrance of the leads not to sex but an impromptu dress fitting. Reyn- past and how he foresees the future. Alma’s presence olds has Alma’s curves on the mind, but not in the way beautifully subverts the maternal stranglehold from beyond the grave, disturbing all of the safe mental she was expecting.

Phantom Thread deepens and darkens from there. places he retreats to when life’s artistic process beThe couple begins a complicated romantic relation- comes too difficult.

For two decades, Anderson’s films have defied catship defined by momentum swings. One day he’ll have the upper hand, admonishing her with reckless aban- egorization, from the free-flowing porn odyssey Boogie don over something small. In the next, she will seem Nights to the visceral capitalistic rage of There Will Be to crack his strident routine and finicky demeanor. It’s Blood. Phantom Thread might feel more quaint by coma power struggle based on disruption, and Anderson’s parison, but it is every bit the titanic equal to those lovebirds are obsessed with clipping each other’s wings. aforementioned films, and an endlessly superstitious Jonny Greenwood’s hauntingly minimalist score and fickle two-hander about love gone sideways. The propels the narrative forward even as Reynolds and devil, as Reynolds might say, is in the stitching.

Alma reach multiple emotional stalemates. Their frustrations brim beneath the surface, obscured by Film reviews run weekly. an obsession with surfaces, textures, secret linings Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com

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JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

CULTURE | FILM

Hostiles

Grim territory

T

o paraphrase the D.H. Lawrence quote that begins Hostiles, something deep within the American soul enables us to kill effortlessly without pause. Having spent decades eradicating Cheyenne peoples in the territory of New Mexico, U.S. Army Captain Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale) stands as the embodiment of this observation. Having committed countless acts of atrocity in the name of god and country, he’s become callused to the human consequences of murder.

Scott Cooper’s very serious Western is a reckoning of sorts for Blocker’s ilk. The year is 1892, and the times they are a-changin’. Liberal politicians want to resettle the Native Americans on tribal lands and reservations making way for railroads and industry to bring the land stability. Roughneck commanders are being phased out, and unceremoniously so in Blocker’s case; he’s forced into escorting sickly old nemesis Chief Yellow Hawk (Wes Studi) back to Montana so that he can die in peace.

Along the trail, Blocker’s convoy happens upon a traumatized woman (Rosamund Pike) whose family had been slaughtered by rogue Comanche. This is just one of multiple deviations from the original plot trajectory, revealing Hostiles to be more an elliptical exploration of savagery rather than your traditional character study.

Cooper has dabbled in western aesthetics with uneven contemporary genre films like Crazy Heart and Out of the Furnace, but the historical setting in Hostiles (opening Friday, Jan. 19) gives him more leeway to thoroughly examine male repression.

Bale’s anti-hero sucks up all the air in each scene, leaving little room for bit characters played by Timothée Chalamet, Jesse Plemons and Ben Foster. Only the two harrowing monologues by Rory Cochrane’s conflicted soldier resonate with emotional force. Of-

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

ten a formidable exercise in Western angst, Hostiles also dwells in the misery of a one-man reckoning, spending way too much time burying bodies without really getting at the heart of why they were killed in the first place.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING 12 Strong: In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the first wave of U.S. Special Forces confront the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

Den of Thieves: An elite and brutal tactical unit in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department must track down a new crew of bank robbers with nothing to lose. Stars Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. Félicité: A singer in a bar in the Congo capital of Kinshasa has her life thrown into turmoil when her 14-year-old son gets into a terrible car accident. Opens Friday, Jan. 19, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool: Screen icon Gloria Grahame lives out her final days having an affair with a younger man in this biopic from director Paul McGuigan. Opens Friday, Jan. 19, at Landmark Hillcrest at Angelika Film Center—Carmel Mountain.

Hostiles: Christian Bale stars as a brutal Army captain based in New Mexico tasked with escorting a Cheyenne chief back to his native Montana in Scott Cooper’s classical Western.

Phantom Thread: In Paul Thomas Anderson’s ravaging twohanders, Daniel Day-Lewis plays a renowned London dressmaker who begins a complicated relationship with an equally stubborn waitress (Vicky Krieps).

For complete movie listings, visit Film at sdcitybeat.com.

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january 17, 2018 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

SHERVIN LAINEZ

MUSIC

here’s no discussion of Charly Bliss’ music that doesn’t ultimately come back around to how fun it is. The Brooklyn-based band’s aesthetic is steeped in ‘90s power-pop hooks that could have very well been borrowed from the Clueless soundtrack. They’ve covered Len’s 1999 pop hit “Steal My Sunshine” and played a Halloween set as Josie and the Pussycats. And the many music videos released from their debut album Guppy feature the band doing everything from camping to forming a crime-fighting super team.

Yet, early on in the band’s career, they had trouble capturing that giddy, infectious spirit on a studio recording. In fact, the band recorded an entirely different version of their debut album before they realized something important was missing: fun.

“I think our biggest ‘aha!’ moment was when we tried to record Guppy the first time and realized we had to scrap it,” says singer/guitarist Eva Hendricks. “It was almost easier to figure out what was wrong than what was right. When we heard the first version, we realized it was missing all of the fun and poppiness, and that’s such a huge part of what we do. So that was helpful, but we had to get it wrong first.”

Whatever process of trial and error Charly Bliss had to go through, they inevitably arrived at an irresistibly catchy pop sound on the second version of Guppy. Released via Barsuk Records in spring of 2017, Guppy features 10 tracks of alternative rock and power pop that nods to the likes of Weezer and Sugar, a sound they’ve dubbed “bubblegrunge.”

Hendricks, guitarist Spencer Fox, bassist Kevin Copeland and drummer Sam Hendricks (Eva’s brother) don’t shy away from big melodies and radio-friendly hooks—or, at the very least, college radio friendly.

All but one of the tracks on Guppy top out at a little over three minutes apiece, and prominently feature big, fuzzy guitar riffs and mellifluous vocal harmonies. Sometimes there’s a touch of synth, and on songs like “Westermarck,” guitar solos that mimic the vocal melody. Pop is at the core of what Charly Bliss does, and when they’re attempting to write the catchiest song, it even contributes to competition among band members.

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

Charly Bliss “My group of friends in high school was only interested in super poppy pop music. So if we were driving around and I was listening to something that was ambient and weird, they’d be like ‘this is so boring, put on something fun!’”

Hendricks says. “We’re always trying to out-write ourselves.

And something about super-hooky melodies is the best arena for that. ‘Can I write a catchier song than that?’ I love hooks all the way.”

On a lyrical level, Charly Bliss’ music is rife with wordplay and playful exaggerations. At the heart of most of their songs are anecdotes about ex-boyfriends or people’s outside perceptions, but they’re often handled in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

On “Glitter,” Hendricks performs an autopsy on a breakup with someone too similar to herself, singing, “I’ll have my cake and eat it too/ I wish I could be good to you/ Am I the best? Or just the first person to say yes?” Meanwhile, “Julia” details an experience in which Hendricks became jealous of a boyfriend’s ex. She even takes that jealousy to an absurd degree in “DQ,” showing cruel envy toward someone’s pet.

Not everything that shows up on the lyric sheet of Guppy is literally true, though Hendricks says that they all reflect her own experiences in some way. And in turn, they gave her the opportunity to cathartically poke fun at her own foibles.

“Some of the things on ‘DQ’ are crazy sounding—even if they’re not things that literally happened—that song is

about how I need constant attention in a relationship, so I’m kind of making fun of that side of myself that I’m ashamed of,” she says. “Songwriting is therapeutic and that’s why it’s the best. I’m not sure if I could make fun of myself for certain things that I’m embarrassed by in conversation with people, or if people call me out for things it can be really hurtful. But I find it really fun to make fun of myself in songs.

“I love the feeling of listening to something and being like ‘I know that feeling but I couldn’t have put it into words in that way’,” she adds. “I love that feeling. It’s important for me to at least write everything as true as possible.”

Though Charly Bliss had to do something wrong before figuring out what kind of band they ultimately were, their debut album is a well-defined set of songs from a band that sounds confident with who they are. And, yes, it’s an absolute blast—a record that was made to provoke group sing-alongs. In fact, that was not-so-secretly Eva Hendricks’ wish for the album all along.

“I always think about the feeling I get when I’m in my car and I’m listening to a record I love and can scream along, whether it’s because of overwhelming joy or I need to cry,” she says. “I just love the idea of our record being that for somebody.”

Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com. Follow him on Twitter @1000TimesJeff

@SDCITYBEAT

@SDCityBeat

january 17, 2018 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

AFTER HOURS: ABOUT LAST NIGHT

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO LOCALS ONLY

a short-term special event license that was limited to a specific number of events. Without that revenue stream he Irenic is returning to hosting live shows. The and with personnel costs rising—all while there wasn’t a all-ages venue, located at Mission Gathering lead pastor to guide the ship—things had to change.

“When The Irenic started eight to 10 years ago, it was Church in North Park (3090 Polk Ave.), temporarily meant to be a supplement to help us do halted live music as it dealt with some COURTESY OF THE IRENIC homeless outreach,” Robertson says. restructuring and operational changes.

“But a year and a half ago, the church The major reason behind the hiatus was was without a pastor, and there wasn’t the loss of revenues every month, which anyone to oversee operations. It didn’t put the venue in a precarious financial really work out well.” situation. Brandan Robertson was hired The Irenic will resume live shows in last year as lead pastor and executive February, and from that point won’t be director, and he saw a need to change staffed by Irenic employees. It’ll exclusome of the venue’s practices. sively be a venue for rental by outside “When I came on as executive direcThe Irenic bookers, such as The Casbah and Soda tor and pastor of Mission Gathering, I took a look at the numbers and the budget,” he says. “It Bar, whose owner Cory Stier confirmed to CityBeat that became clear that things weren’t running at a sustainable they have renewed the partnership with The Irenic.

“The big change is that The Irenic, now, is just a venue capacity.”

The Irenic held all of its committed bookings through that’s rented out,” Robertson says. “We’re not staffing it.

December 2017, with the last show held there being Ju- We’re leaving that up to the promoters.”

The Irenic’s next live show is Enter Shikari on Feb. 25. lien Baker in December. Prior to that, however, the venue had lost its ability to sell alcohol, as it was operating on

T

ALBUM REVIEW Flatsound Hummingbird (Self-released)

T

he name Mitch Welling may or may not ring a bell, but the San Diego singer/songwriter has quietly built up an unusually large online following over the past seven years. As Flatsound, Welling compiled a catalog of Bandcamp releases—some of them available as free downloads—that have been widely circulated via Tumblr and Reddit (he even has a subreddit: reddit.com/r/flatsound). His social media following is in the tens of thousands, and he’s even been immortalized on Urban Dictionary.

Those still scratching their heads as to how Flatsound became a share-worthy Internet sensation shouldn’t necessarily feel out of touch. Welling doesn’t really tour or even play live much at all, and his music isn’t the type to expand beyond a (fairly large) cult following. It’s hushed, ambient pop balladry that sounds like it was recorded late at night and at a volume that wouldn’t disturb the neighbors.

The seven tracks on Hummingbird scarcely rise above a

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

—Jeff Terich

whisper, and Welling’s wavering vocals recall Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart or Perfume Genius’ Mike Hadreas on his early records. It’s at times almost uncomfortably intimate, with Welling’s voice seemingly on the verge of confessing something awkwardly personal. But I’d also be remiss not to mention how pretty the music here is. Musically, Flatsound shares a lot in common with some of The Album Leaf’s earlier records, complete with hypnotic keyboards, gentle plucks of acoustic guitar and a sense of serene ambience.

I can certainly see something appealing in the mystique of Flatsound’s music, as it’s very pretty, but it’s also barely there. His lo-fi, ambient bedroom pop feels almost ghostly in its presentation, from the minimalist instrumental introduction of the title track to the stripped-down emo sound of “Even the Stars Can Be Hollow,” which isn’t too far removed from the emotional balladry of Julien Baker. That being said, I might be even more impressed by how this seemingly anonymous low-key artist built up such a following on the strength of such gentle sounds. Whether or not a big label and a bigger budget will ever be in Mitch Welling’s future, he’s at least figured out how to capture a compelling intimacy on Hummingbird.

—Jeff Terich

Back in step

“

I

f you’re a non-kizomba dancer looking on YouTube, the first 30 pages will probably not be real kizomba,” says Javier Avitia, a teacher at A Time To Dance.

A type of dance from the Southern African country of Angola, kizomba was originally created to be shared between family members. In Europe, its popularity has surpassed that of salsa or bachata, but in doing that, Avitia says it has strayed further from its roots.

“The U.S. is known to take something of other people’s culture and make it more sexual to help sell it,” he says. “It takes apart all the goodness of the dance. The music gets changed, the steps get changed, but they still use the name ‘kizomba’ because the name is already established.”

Whereas a band originally played kizomba music, the new, urban take features synthesizers and electronically produced sounds. The puRODNEY PHOTOGRAPHY. rity of the dance’s foundation has been altered to the point that BBC posed the question of whether it’s the sexiest dance ever. Even though Avitia educates his classes on both interpretations of kizomba, he’s devoted to preserving the dance’s au100% Kizomba Night thenticity.

“The more you read about the history, the struggles that are in Angola, you see how special this dance is to them,” he says, referring to the Portuguese government’s oppressive nature before Angola achieved independence in the ‘70s. “Their whole dance and their music was what got them through rough times with the war.”

Such cultural significance will be the focus behind two local kizomba nights Avitia is starting. Beginning Jan. 23, a kizomba social will take place at The Air Conditioned Lounge (4673 30th St.) on every fourth Tuesday of the month. And on Saturday, Jan. 20, Roots Kava Bar (1731 University Ave.) will host 100% Kizomba Night, which Avitia also predicts will become a monthly event. At both venues there will be a free, one-hour dance class beginning at 9 p.m., then dancing and drinking until closure.

In the five years Avitia has been teaching kizomba, he says the dance is addictive to all demographics but that people like engineers are particularly attracted to it.

“It gives people what they miss in their daily lives, especially now with all the technology,” Avitia says. “It’s that human connection.”

—Torrey Bailey

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MUSIC

JEFF TERICH

IF I WERE U A music insider’s weekly agenda WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17

PLAN A: The Flesh Eaters, Sean Wheeler and the Reluctant Messengers @ The Casbah. Los Angeles punk legends The Flesh Eaters feature members of fellow punk icons X, as well as The Blasters’ Dave Alvin. They’re badass, and have a touch of bluesy swagger, which should make everyone’s week a little weirder and rowdier.

PLAN B: Travesura, Grim Jim, Kids in Heat @ Soda Bar. Travesura is a bluesy Americana band fronted by pro-skater Leo Romero. They’ve only released a handful of EPs, but their sound is definitely one worth checking out.

THURSDAY, JAN. 18

PLAN A: Big Boi, Cool Kids @ Observatory North Park. Big Boi is famous for being half of Outkast, which would really be enough to make him a Plan A at any time.

However, thanks to solo records like Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, the Atlanta rap legend has more than held his own since parting ways with Andre 3000.

PLAN B: Cold Showers, Second Still, The Victoriana, DJ Jon Blaj @ SPACE. Perhaps one day I’ll grow weary of dark, moody

tive, Monarch, Dethsurf @ Soda Bar. Local metal band Eukaryst have been one of my favorites for a while, and anyone who hasn’t seen them yet should fix that ASAP. This band kicks ass. BACKUP PLAN: The Magnificent, Thee Allyrgic Reaction, Bad Kids, DJ GirlGroupGirl @ The Casbah.

SATURDAY, JAN. 20

PLAN A: Shiro Schwarz, Funk Freaks, DJ Boogieman @ SPACE. Shiro Schwarz is ‘80s style synth-funk with lots of old-school touches. It’s like something you’d hear late at night on Magic 92.5, which means it’s kind of amazing, actually. PLAN B: Electric Healing Sound, Polux @ Kensington Club. Electric Healing Sound have been playing a pretty badass garage rock sound with psychedelic flourishes for a few years now, and anyone who digs the sound of guitars will probably be won over pretty easily. BACKUP PLAN: Get Back Loretta, Buckfast Superbee, Nite Lapse, Los Shadows @ The Casbah.

SUNDAY, JAN. 21

PLAN A: Body/Head, Steve Gunn/John Trucsinski Duo @ The Casbah. Body/Head is an experimental duo fronted by Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon. It’s actuANNABEL MEHRAN AND ANDREW KESIN ally not too far off from Sonic Youth’s weirdest moments, so those who skipped past that band’s singles to get to the trippy drones should definitely seek this out. PLAN B: Glaare, Fearing, Hexa, DJ Brandy Bell @ Blonde. Glaare split the difference between dream-pop and dark wave, their music swathed in sheets of guitar effects and disorienting, woozy sounds. It’s melancholy and beautiful.

MONDAY, JAN. 22

PLAN A: Willy Tea Taylor, Tommy Alexander, Taylor Kingman @ Soda Bar. Monday night is a good time to hear some more low-key music that doesn’t require industrial-strength earplugs. California singer/songwriter Willy Tea Taylor is just that kind of performer, with haunting acoustic ballads and country tunes that soothe the soul.

Body/Head bands that heavily employ synthesizers and sinewy basslines. But not yet—Cold Showers is one of those bands, and they’re quite good at capturing a sexy goth sound.

BACKUP PLAN: Surfer Blood, Terry Malts @ The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JAN. 19

PLAN A: Sunwatchers, Sumatraban, Gun Outfit @ Teros Gallery. I never made it an explicit New Year’s resolution to listen to more music with saxophones, but that’s definitely the direction this year is going.

Sunwatchers are a nutso psychedelic rock band that prominently features the sax, and it’s amazing. PLAN B: Eukaryst, Boos-

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TUESDAY, JAN. 23

PLAN A: Wolf Parade, Charly Bliss @ Observatory North Park. Read my feature this week on Charly Bliss, whose super-catchy power-pop is reminiscent of most ‘90s teen movie soundtracks (hard endorse). They’re opening for indie rock heavyweights Wolf Parade, so there’s every reason to stick around for the whole show.

JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

The Psychedelic Furs (BUT, 3/6), Protomartyr (SPACE, 3/8), Norma Jean (Soda Bar, 3/11), Gaby Moreno (Music Box, 3/14), Pale Waves (SOMA, 3/24), Brett Dennen (BUT, 3/25), Rhett Miller (Soda Bar, 3/25), Chrome Sparks, Machinedrum (HOB, 4/6), Courtney Marie Andrews (Soda Bar, 4/7), Matt and Kim (Observatory, 4/9), Frankie Cosmos (Quartyard, 4/10), Los Kung Fu Monkeys (Soda Bar, 5/6), King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Observatory, 6/1), The Eagles (Petco Park, 9/22),

CANCELED K.Flay (Observatory, 5/8), Pond (Casbah, 5/20).

GET YER TICKETS Ty Segall (BUT, 1/24), DVSN (Observatory, 1/29), Passion Pit (Observatory, 2/1), Fetty Wap (HOB, 2/3), Phoebe Bridgers (Soda Bar, 2/5), Allah-Las (BUT, 2/8), Dua Lipa (HOB, 2/10), Miranda Lambert (Viejas Arena, 2/15), Mary Timony plays Helium (Casbah, 2/15), Dan Auerbach (Observatory, 2/19), Superchunk (Casbah, 2/21), Missing Persons (Casbah, 2/23), Demi Lovato, DJ Khaled (Viejas Arena, 2/26), Margo Price (BUT, 3/2), Gogol Bordello (Observatory, 3/3), 311 (HOB, 3/5), Antibalas (BUT, 3/8), American Nightmare (Brick by Brick, 3/9),

Talib Kweli (Music Box, 3/9), Wolves in the Throne Room (Brick by Brick, 3/11), Flogging Molly (Observatory, 3/14), Lucy Dacus (Casbah, 3/21), George Clinton (HOB, 3/28), Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (HOB, 3/31), Titus Andronicus (Soda Bar, 4/2), Ty Dolla$ign (HOB, 4/5), The Soft Moon (Casbah, 4/14), Dashboard Confessional (HOB 4/18), Big K.R.I.T. (Music Box, 4/20), Los Lonely Boys (BUT, 4/22), ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ (Observatory, 4/25), Art Garfunkel (Balboa Theatre, 4/27), Bunbury (HOB, 4/29), Baths (BUT, 5/3), Keb’ Mo’ (BUT, 5/6-7), Weird Al Yankovic (Humphreys, 5/12), Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness (Humphreys, 5/13), Franz Ferdinand (Observatory, 5/13), Nada Surf (BUT, 5/14), Earth, Wind and Fire (Harrah’s SoCal, 5/18), Madeleine Peyroux (BUT, 5/28), Kesha, Macklemore (Mattress Firm, 6/12), Weezer, The Pixies (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 8/11), Charlie Puth (Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, 8/20).

JANUARY WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17 Yung Lean at SOMA. The Flesh Eaters at The Casbah. Burt Bacharach at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, JAN. 18 Big Boi at Observatory North Park. Surfer Blood at The Casbah. Cold Showers at SPACE. Al Stewart at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Slow Hollows at House of Blues.

FRIDAY, JAN. 19 The White Buffalo at Observatory North Park. The Magnificent at The Casbah.

28 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · JANUARY 17, 2018

Monte Pittman at Brick by Brick. Eukaryst at Soda Bar.

SATURDAY, JAN. 20 Pulley at Soda Bar. Beat Farmers Hootenanny at Belly Up Tavern. G3: Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Phil Collen at Balboa Theatre. Ill Nicky at Music Box. Esham at Brick by Brick. Gods of Thunder at House of Blues. Get Back Loretta at The Casbah. Shiro Schwarz at SPACE.

SUNDAY, JAN. 21 Judas Priestess at Soda Bar. Body/ Head at The Casbah. Jo Koy at Copley Symphony Hall. Glaare at Blonde.

MONDAY, JAN. 22 Willy Tea Taylor at Soda Bar. Quel Bordel at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JAN. 23 Wolf Parade, Charly Bliss at Observatory North Park. The Toasters at Soda Bar. John Hiatt and the Goners at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24 Ty Segall at Belly Up Tavern. Jessica Lea Mayfield at The Casbah. August Burns Red at House of Blues. Spirit Award at Soda Bar.

THURSDAY, JAN. 25 Grace Mitchell at Soda Bar. The Deep Dark Woods at The Casbah. Skinlab at Brick by Brick. Part Time at Blonde. Hippo Campus at House of Blues.

FRIDAY, JAN. 26 Hammerfall at Brick by Brick. Demetri

Martin at Balboa Theatre. Rob Bell at Observatory North Park. Taken by Canadians at The Casbah. Zeros at Soda Bar.

SATURDAY, JAN. 27 Eric Johnson at House of Blues. Converge at Brick by Brick (sold out). St. Vincent at Observatory North Park (sold out).

Dariush at Balboa Theatre. Twin Ritual at Soda Bar. Sights and Sages at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, JAN. 28 Reverend Horton Heat at Observatory North Park. Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry at Music Box. Flamingosis at The Casbah. Piebald at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, JAN. 29 John Maus at Belly Up Tavern. DVSN at Observatory North Park. Pinback at The Casbah. The Lillingtons at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, JAN. 30 Anti-Flag at SOMA. Pinback at The Casbah. The Killers at Valley View Casino Center.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31 Tower of Power at Belly Up Tavern. Gilberto Santa Rosa at Music Box. Pinback at The Casbah. Prawn at Soda Bar.

FEBRUARY THURSDAY, FEB. 1 Steven Wright at Balboa Theatre. Passion Pit at Observatory North Park. Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Belly Up Tavern. The Stone Foxes at The Casbah. Bad History Month at Soda Bar. Banditos at SPACE.

FRIDAY, FEB. 2 STRFKR at Observatory North Park. Wild Child at Belly Up Tavern. Exmag at The Casbah. Birdy Bardot at Soda Bar. Kristin Chenoweth at Music Box. Core 10 at Brick by Brick.

SATURDAY, FEB. 3 Fetty Wap at House of Blues. Lewis Black at Balboa Theatre. ALO at Belly Up Tavern. Belle Game at Soda Bar. Joe Lynn at Brick by Brick.

MONDAY, FEB. 5 Howard Jones at Belly Up Tavern. Phoebe Bridgers at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, FEB. 6 Majid Jordan at Observatory North Park.

Kathryn Cloward at Belly Up Tavern.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7 Lights at Observatory North Park. The Wind and the Wave at The Casbah.

Joey Cape at Soda Bar. Daring Greatly & Friends at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, FEB. 8 tobyMAC at Viejas Arena. Walk the Moon at House of Blues. Allah-Las at Belly Up Tavern. The Eiffels at Soda Bar. Zebra at Brick by Brick.

FRIDAY, FEB. 9 Ja Rule and Ashanti at Observatory North Park (sold out).

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

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MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 SATURDAY, FEB. 10 Dua Lipa at House of Blues. Fu Manchu at The Casbah. Stelouse at Soda Bar. Typhoon at Music Box. Tim Ripper Owens at Brick by Brick. The Green at Observatory North Park.

SUNDAY, FEB. 11 Caifanes at Observatory (sold out). David Dondero at Soda Bar. Andres Lopez at House of Blues. The Phenomenauts at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, FEB. 13 Killswitch Engage, Anthrax at House of Blues. Valley Queen at Soda Bar.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14 Lettuce at Observatory North Park.

Chuck Ragan at The Casbah. Pearl Charles at Soda Bar.

THURSDAY, FEB. 15 Lana Del Rey at Valley View Casino Center. Miranda Lambert at Viejas Arena.

Mary Timony plays Helium at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, FEB. 16 ‘Awesome Fest 11’ at various venues.

Ghostemane at House of Blues. Gameface at The Casbah. Sweet and Tender Hooligans at Observatory North Park.

The English Beat at Belly Up Tavern.

SATURDAY, FEB. 17 ‘You Are Going to Hate This Fest’ w/

@SDCITYBEAT

The Frights, Jeff Rosenstock, Diet Cig at SOMA. Gramatik at Observatory North Park. G Perico at House of Blues. Dorothy at Music Box. Ha Ha Tonka at The Casbah. Trauma at Brick by Brick. ‘Awesome Fest 11’ at various venues. The English Beat at Belly Up Tavern.

SUNDAY, FEB. 18 Beth Hart at Balboa Theatre. The Delta Bombers at The Casbah. ‘Awesome Fest 11’ at various venues.

MONDAY, FEB. 19 Bully at The Casbah. Grails at Soda Bar. Dan Auerbach at Observatory North Park.

TUESDAY, FEB. 20 Theory of a Deadman at House of Blues.

Tune-Yards at Observatory North Park.

Palehound, Weaves at Soda Bar. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21 Motionless in White at House of Blues.

Superchunk at The Casbah. Alex Cameron at Soda Bar. Icon for Hire at House of Blues Voodoo Room.

THURSDAY, FEB. 22 Keys N Krates at House of Blues.

1000Mods at SPACE. Willie Watson at The Casbah. Adan Jodorowsky at Soda Bar. Sevdaliza at Observatory North Park.

FRIDAY, FEB. 23 X Ambassadors at SOMA. Missing Persons at The Casbah. All Pigs Must Die at Soda Bar. The Spits at SPACE.

SATURDAY, FEB. 24 The Spits, Beehive and the Barracudas at SPACE. Bruno Major at The Casbah. Steve Poltz Birthday Bash at Belly Up Tavern.

SUNDAY, FEB. 25 Crooked Colours at Soda Bar. Enter Shikari at The Irenic. Busty and the Bass at The Casbah. Herb Alpert & Lani Hall at Belly Up Tavern.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Wed: Open mic. Thu: Kingsborough. Fri: Chugboat, Brewhahas. Sat: Latex Grenade, Approaching Fiction, Almost Young. Sun: Karaoke. Tue: Potato Wave.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Hip Hop House SD’ w/ MC Kahlee, Guests MCs. Fri: ‘House Music Fridays’. Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech. Sun: ‘Chvrch’ w/ DJs Karma, Alice. Mon: ‘Organized Grime’. Tue: ‘Kizomba Night’ w/ DJ Javi.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Thu: Harland Williams.

Fri: Harland Williams. Sat: Harland Williams.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Wed: Karaoke. Sun: ‘Blues Jam’ w/ Bob and friends. Tue: Karaoke.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., North Park. Wed: Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! Ramones tribute. Thu: DJ Chris Freeman. Fri: ‘Rock Lotto’ w/ Powerballs, Marsharks, SÄÑDPÖÜÑDËR. Sat: ‘Neon Beat’. Sun: Alvino and the Dwells, The Phantoms. Mon: DJ Girl Group.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown.

Fri: Kraak and Smaak. Sat: Drezo.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Wed: ‘Benefit for San Luis Rey Training Camp’ w/ Burt Bacharach and Friends (sold out). Thu: Al Stewart, The Empty Pockets. Fri: Mykal Rose, Blaine Mazzetti and The Originators, DJ Carlos Culture. Sat: Beat Farmers Hootenanny.

Mon: Life After Electricity, Super Nacho.

Tue: John Hiatt & The Goners,Sonny Landreth (sold out).

Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Ave., City Heights. Fri: Folk Hogan, Clint Westwood.

Sat: Year of the Dead Bird, Honeypot Heirgloom.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’. Thu: ‘Chocolate’. Fri: ‘Dance Punk Party’. Sat: ‘Bump!’. Sun: Glaare, Fearing, Hexa, DJ Brandy Bell. Mon: ‘Blue Monday’. Tue: ‘T is 4 Techno’.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Fri: Monte Pittman, Alien Satan, Meltdown. Sat: Esham, Van Brando, J.andrew, Watusi, D SOL, Drastic.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Wed: The Flesh Eaters. Thu: Surfer Blood, Terry Malts. Fri: Thee Allyrgic Reaction, Bad Kids, DJ GirlGroupGirl. Sat: Get Back Loretta, Buckfast Superbee, Nite Lapse, Los Shadows. Sun: Body/ Head, Steve Gunn/John Truscinski Duo. Mon: Quel Bordel, BJ Jezbera, Folk Hogan, Forkroot.

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. Wed: Karaoke. Fri: Cover Conspiracy.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

· JANUARY 17, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 29

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: JG Trio. Thu: Fish & JG. Tue: Steve Brewer.

Thu: Tomcat Courtney. Fri: Nathan James and the Rhythm Scratchers. Sat: Robin Henkel & Whitney Shay.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Bay Park. Fri: Hugo Suarez. Sat: Ian Buss.

Sun: ‘Django Fest’.

Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. Wed: Andy & Nathan. Thu: Rayon Owen. Fri: Janice & Nathan. Sat: Tori Roze & The Hot Mess. Sun: Ria Carey and Don L.

The Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. Fri: ‘Hip-Hop Fridayz’. Sat: ‘Sabados en Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA, K-Swift. Mon: ‘Manic Monday’ w/ DJ Junior the Disco Punk.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Fri: Eric Bellinger. Sat: Shabazz.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave., Downtown.

Thu: DJ Yodah.

Hooley’s, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa. Fri: Tony Cummins. Sat: Ron’s Garage.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Wed: DJ Mike White. Thu: Slow Hollows, Raener, Bad Kids. Fri: Ken Block, Drew Copeland. Sat: Gods of Thunder, A Cheaper Trick. Tue: Joyner Lucas, Dizzy Wright.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Thu: Kim Jackson. Sat: Wildside, Blue Largo. Sun: Missy Andersen, Psydecar. Mon: Sue Palmer. Tue: Michele Lundeen.

Java Joe’s, 2611 Congress St., Old Town.

Fri: Berkley Hart. Sat: Billy Galewood.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Thu: ‘Acid Varsity’. Fri: Brian Scannell. Sat: ‘Tech Support’ w/ Susio, Sam Wild, Donald Thump, Mr.Smith.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., Kensington. Sat: Electric Healing Sound, Polux.

The Kraken, 2531 S. Coast Highway 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Wed: Jeff Moore. Fri: Rezonators. Sat: Miss Demeanor. Sun: The Reflectors. Tue: Circa Sonic.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: Lee Coulter, Michael Tiernan. Sat: DePue De Hoyos.

Mon: Open mic.

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The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Thu: Color Til Monday, Justin Linn, Drew Smith. Fri: The Fighting Able, The Dirty Pennies, The Peripherals, Sam Hell.

Sat: Ben Annand, Nando Decima, Ramin, Austin Speed. Mon: Karaoke. Tue: Mess of Fun, The Shifty-Eyed Dogs, Retra, Shane Hall Trio.

Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Thu: The California Rangers. Fri: Custard Pie. Sat: Sonic Tonic, Adrienne Nims and Spirit Wind. Mon: Open mic.

Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy. Fri: ‘Jet Set’ w/ DJ Mikey Beats. Sat: iLL Nicky, Riston Diggs, Alien Fam, Mikey Caesar.

The Office, 3936 30th St., North Park.

Wed: ‘1,2,3’ w/ DJ EdROC. Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ w/ Tribe of Kings. Tue: ‘Trapped’.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 Sixth Ave., Downtown. Fri: Party Favor. Sat: Steve Angello.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Wed: Gilbert Castellanos. Sat: Danny Green. Sun: Sue Palmer.

Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Fri: Hollywood. Sat: Joe Maz. Plaza Bar at Westgate Hotel, 1055 2nd Ave., Downtown. Fri: Gilbert Castellanos.

Sat: Allison Adams Tucker. Mon: Julio de la Huerta.

Proud Mary’s, 5550 Kearny Mesa Road, Kearny Mesa. Wed: Stoney B Blues Band.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Wed: DJs John Joseph, Kinky Loops.

Thu: DJs Moody Rudy, XXXL. Fri: DJs DrewG, Will Z. Sat: DJs Hektik, Luke Allen.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Casey Hensley. Fri: True Stories. Sat: Creepxotica.

Rosie O’Gradys, 3402 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Fri: League of Liars. Sat: ‘Acoustic Revolt’.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave., North Park. Wed: Crew D’Etat Brass Band. Thu: Jimmy Ruelas. Fri: Kendrick Dial & Lyrical Groove. Sat: The Addictions. Mon: ‘Makossa Monday’ w/ DJ Tah Rei. Tue: The Waylon Hicks Project.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Travesura, Grim Jim, Kids In Heat. Thu: Fossil Youth, Born Without Bones, Dream Haze, Aquarium. Fri: Eukaryst, Boostive, Monarch, Dethsurf. Sat: Pulley, Versus The World, GOMO, Skipjack. Sun: Judas Priestess, Tzimani. Mon: Willy Tea Taylor, Tommy Alexander, Taylor Kingman. Tue: The Toasters, Half Past Two, Lexicons.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway. Wed: Yung Lean, Sad Boys, Thaiboy Digital. Fri: Beach Goons, Junkie, The Crudes, Espresso, Kut U Up, Effe Emme.

Sat: Jay $tez, Tyjeesus, J Spooks, JAYISNOTONLINE, Young Boat Party, Louie The Rapper, DJ Trillmatic.

SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights.

Thu: Cold Showers, Second Still, The Victoriana, DJ Jon Blaj. Sat: Shiro Schwarz, Funk Freaks, DJ Boogieman.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Dreams’ w/ DJ Gabe Vega. Sun: ‘Too Sad to Be Mad’ w/ DJ Jason Stanley.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Thu: DJs Heather Hardcore, Diana Death. Sat: Burn Infinite, Nowhere Safe, Stand, Icebag Injury. Sun: Pants Karaoke.

Tin Roof, 401 G St., Downtown. Thu: Keep Your Soul. Fri: Coriander, Keep Your Soul. Sat: Coriander, Keep Your Soul.

Sun: Keep Your Soul. Mon: Kenny and Deez. Tue: Tay Watts.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Bay Park. Thu: Madame Mercedes. Fri: Funk’s Most Wanted. Sat: Detroit Underground.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Thu: Mean Jeans, Dirty Fences, Batlords. Fri: The Dodges, The Gutz, Plane Without A Pilot, The Rough. Sat: The Sloths, The Resonars. Tue: Knocked Down.

U-31, 3112 University Ave., North Park.

Thu: ‘Boom Boxx Thursday’. Fri: DJ Kid Wonder. Sat: DJ Freeman. Mon: ‘All That’.

Tue: ’31 Flavors’.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park.

Thu: Active Minds, Phane, Karbonite, Ani Psycotix. Fri: ‘F-ing in the Bushes’ w/ DJ Daniel Sant. Sat: ‘80s vs 90s’. Tue: ‘Videodrome’.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach.

Thu: Zolopht and the Higgs. Fri: Wise Monkey Orchestra, Go By Ocean. Sat: Band of Gringos, DJ Green, Kasey Coe and the Cohorts. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Cherry Road, Lost Monarchs, Dulaney and Company.

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LAST WORDS | ADVICE

AMY ALKON

ADVICE

GODDESS Guess Pains I got dumped four months ago, and I’m still not sure what happened. All of my boyfriend’s explanations seemed vague, and the breakup really came out of nowhere. I don’t want to contact him. How do I sort this out so I can move on?

—Desperately Seeking Closure

Science has yet to figure out a number of life’s mysteries—questions like: “What came before the big bang?” “Why is there more matter than antimatter?” and “If we’re such an advanced civilization, what’s with shortsleeved leather jackets?”

Freak breakups—unexpected, inexplicable endings to relationships—are really tough because our mind doesn’t do well with unfinished business. It ends up bugging us to get “closure”—and by “bugging,” I mean like some maniacal game show host in hell, shouting at us for all eternity, “Answer the question! Answer the question!”

This psychological spin cycle we go into is called “the Zeigarnik effect,” after Russian psychologist and psychiatrist Bluma Zeigarnik. In the 1920s, Zeigarnik observed that waiters at a busy Vienna restaurant were pretty remarkable at remembering food orders they had taken but had yet to deliver. However, once they’d brought the food to the patrons, they had little memory of what the orders were.

Zeigarnik’s research (and subsequent modern research) suggests that the mind remains in a “state of tension” until we complete whatever we’ve left incomplete—finishing the task we’ve started or finally answering some nagging question.

This might seem like bad news for you, considering the mystery you’ve got on your hands. However, you can make use of psychologist Daniel Kahneman’s research. He explains that our brains are “expensive” to run; basically, it takes a ton of energy to keep the lights on up there. So our mind is programmed to take mental shortcuts whenever it can—believing stuff that has even a veneer of plausibility.

As for how this plays out, essentially, your mind assumes that you’re smart—that you don’t believe things for no reason. The upshot of this for you is that you can probably just decide on a story—your best guess for why your now-ex-boyfriend bolted—and write yourself an ending that gets you off the mental hamster wheel.

Should any of those old intrusive thoughts drop by for a visit, review the ending you’ve written, and then distract yourself until they go away—like by reciting the ABCs backward or by pondering the

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mysteries of human existence, such as vajazzling (gluing Swarovski crystals to one’s labia and thereabouts). No, ladies, your vagina will not be more fun if it’s wearing earrings.

Mommy Dreariest I’m a woman in my early 40s, married for 12 years. I gave up my career as a dancer to be a mom. I can afford not to work, as my husband makes great money. However, my kids are now 12 and 13 and don’t need me like they did when they were little. I feel as if I don’t have any purpose in my life, and it’s getting me down. I can’t go back to dancing now. What do I do?

—At Loose Ends

Sure, your kids still need you, but mainly to drive them places. In fact, in these modern times, it can feel like much of your job as a mother could be done by a stern-voiced Uber driver. This is a problem. As social psychologist Todd Kashdan explains, “Years of research on the psychology of well-being have demonstrated that often human beings are happiest when they are engaged in” activities that bring meaning to their lives.

As I explain in my book Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say Fuck, living meaningfully means being bigger than just yourself. It means making a difference— making the world a better place because you were here. You do that by, for example, easing people’s suffering—and you don’t have to be a hospice nurse to do that.

You can do as my wonderfully cranky Venice neighbor @MrsAbbotKinney does as an adult literacy volunteer—teach people how to read. I always get a little misty-eyed when I see her tweets about taking one of the people she’s tutored to apply for their first library card.

Because doing kind acts for others appears to boost general life satisfaction, doing volunteer work should lead you to feel more fulfilled. This is especially important in a world where daily hardships involve things like struggling to remember your new PIN to get milk delivered from the online supermarket—as opposed to trekking through a snowstorm to the freezing-cold barn so you can get friendly with the down-there on a bitchy cow. (c)2018, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com. @amyalkon on Twitter.

Weekly radio show: blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon

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