San Diego CityBeat • May 7, 2014

Why we want C arol K im & S arah B oot on the

City Council all our other + election picks

p.3

The

Endorsements Issue

2 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

Our June 3 election endorsements The 2014 gubernatorial primary is June 3. Mail-in ballots became available this past Monday. Let’s get right to our endorsements:

about four years. Kim’s been a teacher in inner-city Los Angeles and done AIDS-outreach work among high-risk populations in New York, and she currently works for an education-focused nonprofit.

San Diego City Council Thanks to the spectacular implosion of Bob FilThe four even-numbered seats are up for election ner, San Diego ended up with a mayor in Faulconer on the City Council. Two of them are competitive; who’s always been a reliable voice and vote for San two are not.

Diego’s conservative business elite: Lay out the red In District 8, incumbent David Alvarez is running carpet for industry lobbyists, oppose every tax or fee, against one challenger, frequent also-ran candidate shrink government (and union influence) by threatand retired contractor Lincoln Pickard. ening privatization. City Council PresiIt would be weird for us to endorse Aldent Todd Gloria provides a good countervarez for mayor of the whole city but not weight, and not counting the temporary reelection in his own district. So, we’ll go District 2 Councilmember Ed Harris, he ahead and endorse him—happily. has four solid votes on the council to back In District 4, incumbent Myrtle Cole the sort of progressive agenda he laid out faces three folks whom she beat in last in his State of the City speech in January year’s special election to replace Tony (rebuild infrastructure, create affordable Young: Blanca Lopez Brown, Tony Villaand supportive housing, strengthen the franca and Bruce Williams. In the primamiddle class with better jobs and higher ry, we endorsed Brown, but we won’t do wages, combat climate change, etc.).

Sarah Boot that again, because she’s the person who The election of Boot or Kim would give submitted a ballot measure that would ostensibly Gloria a veto-proof majority. The election of both raise the minimum wage in San Diego. It’s really a would be better. We endorse Sarah Boot, Carol Kim Trojan horse that would exempt most local busiand David Alvarez for San Diego City Council. nesses and is meant to torpedo a genuine attempt to raise the minimum wage.

County Supervisor It doesn’t matter, though. Cole will win easily, This is the last time you’ll see Bill Horn’s name on a because: incumbent! Yet that doesn’t mean we’re ballot. In 2018, term limits will finally pry him loose endorsing her. We’re not. We’re still seething over from the District 5 supervisorial seat he’s held for her despicable campaign against Dwayne more than two decades. But, we wouldn’t Crenshaw in the runoff election last year. mind seeing him gone sooner. His badWe’ll sit this one out. behavior list is long, from throwing a fit The two races that matter are in Disover not getting a sizable pay raise to tricts 2 and 6. District 2 used to belong to fudging campaign-expenditure reports Kevin Faulconer, but he’s the mayor now, to numerous attempts to funnel taxpayer and there are four candidates fighting to dollars to pro-life religious groups. replace him. One of them is Lorie Zapf, Horn’s being challenged by Oceanside who currently represents District 6. When Mayor Jim Wood, a Republican. While the new district boundaries were drawn we’d like to see more of a shakeup on the after the 2010 census, Zapf’s home ended all-white board (in 2012, Democrat Dave Carol Kim up in District 2. Her main competition is Roberts cracked its multi-decade-all-Reattorney Sarah Boot. Five candidates are running to publican streak), we appreciate Wood’s support for replace Zapf in District 6, three of whom are serious a smart-growth plan for North County that doesn’t contenders: Chris Cate, Carol Kim and Mitz Lee. rely on freeway expansion—a stance that got him Our cover spoiled the surprise: We’re endorsing ousted from his SANDAG seat by a pro-developBoot and Kim. We’ve sat down with both of them ment Oceanside City Council majority. and found them to be energetic, motivated, smart— In District 4, Supervisor Ron Roberts is runand sufficiently progressive in their policy agendas. ning unopposed for his final term. We’ve appreciBoot, until recently a lawyer in the U.S. Attorney’s ated his support of initiatives to end homelessness office, has been training for this run in what could be called San Diego’s progressive farm system for CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 This issue of CityBeat has cleared its browser history in preparation for Mother’s Day.

Volume 12 • Issue 39 Editor David Rolland Associate Editor Kelly Davis Music Editor Jeff Terich Arts Editor Kinsee Morlan Staff Writer Joshua Emerson Smith Web Editor Ryan Bradford Art director Lindsey Voltoline Columnists Aaryn Belfer, Edwin Decker, John R. Lamb, Alex Zaragoza

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May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

“supremely overqualified ‘tax geek’” who become “a better judge out of that very Props. B & C agreed with us that the cost of obtaining bad choice” and has since spoken publicly Last year, after years of work with the resirecords from the county was too high and about the dangers of driving drunk. Sure, dents and businesses of Barrio Logan, the could be made cheaper—and more effi- everyone makes mistakes, but judicial ad- San Diego City Council made significant cient—by putting documents online. The monishments are pretty rare. changes to the Barrio Logan Community District Attorney There’s a lot to like about Plan, which serves as a blueprint for how conservative Republican also In her reelection campaign, District At- promised us that if Prop. 8 were Keehn. An Army vet, she was a the neighborhood can and can’t evolve in torney Bonnie Dumanis has repeatedly overturned, his office would deputy public defender for part the future. It was a good and proper upboasted that crime is down dramatically honor that ruling. Well, Prop. 8 of her career—most judges are date, and it represented a compromise in San Diego. What she declines to say is was overturned, and Dronenformer prosecutors—and cur- among various factions. that crime is down everywhere. For several burg went and filed a petition rently coordinates the federal A group called the Port of San Diego years, California has seen historic lows in with the state Supreme Court diversion program that gives Ship Repair Association (SRA) didn’t like criminal activity across the board. nonviolent drug offenders the it, because it placed restrictions on new challenging the ruling.

Whomever San Diego picks to be the next option of treatment instead of or dramatically expanding existing indusThere are three people vying district attorney isn’t going to have a huge for Dronenburg’s seat—George jail. We like the perspective and trial businesses in a small buffer zone beimpact on how many people break the law Mantor, Susan Guinn and Jonaopen-mindedness we hope that tween the waterfront shipyards and areas Susan Guinn in the next four years. What’s clear, however, than Gordon. We couldn’t find experience will bring. where people live. And by “restrictions,” is that Dumanis plays politics in the worst any information about Gordon; he didn’t For Office No. 44, incumbent Jacqueline we mean they’d have to go through a speway, whether it’s her poorly focused run for even file a candidate statement. Mantor Stern is facing attorney Joseph Adelizzi. cial permit process. mayor in 2012—for which she received ille- is far too activist-y—his campaign is solely Last August, Stern overturned a jury verdict The SRA demanded that the City Council gal campaign contributions from a Mexican about how banks (or “bankstas,” as he calls that awarded $1.5 million to a woman who’d go back to the drawing board, and the counbillionaire—or, as recently reported by U-T them) avoid paying land-transfer fees. been sexually harassed by an Oceanside cil refused, so the SRA launched a petition San Diego, her improper use of seized drug Guinn, a consumer attorney, is the easy police officer. She found the award “exorbi- campaign to put an initiative on the ballot money to pay for an office lease for the Cali- choice here. She’s gotten the thumbs-up tant,” but instead of lowering it, she nixed it that would allow voters to trash the commufornia District Attorneys Association. Trans- from LGBT groups and has promised to entirely, saying that she found the plaintiff to nity plan. The petition drive was marked by parency is also a huge issue here. Dumanis’ modernize the office and make it easier to be “not credible” though the officer admit- numerous deceitful claims that were handed office has repeatedly undermined or ignored access records. We dig all that. Fill in the ted to—and was fired for—his behavior. Stern down in talking points by the SRA to paid requests for public documents, from send- blank for Susan Guinn. overturned another jury ruling in 2009, an signature gatherers; people were essentialing CityBeat a mock invoice detailing the action that was ultimately reversed by an ap- ly given the idea that the community plan cost of staff hours to fulfill a basic request Judges peals court. Though it doesn’t happen often, would replace shipyards with condos, elimito recently refusing to turn over emails to Right-wing “birther” attorney Gary Kreep’s judges have the right to amend or overturn a nate 46,000 jobs and force the Navy to leave KPBS concerning the apparently politically 2012 victory was a reminder of how little jury verdict. But to base that decision partly town. None of that is true. motivated prosecution of a Chula Vista City attention voters pay to judicial races. And on a witness’ credibility, especially when it’s The new buffer zone simply gives the Council member. that’s usually because folks a victim of sexual harassment, residents and their advocates the For the first time since she rarely challenge sitting judg- troubles us. Because of this, we’re chance to oppose new or expandwas elected in 2002, Dumanis es—this year, of the 47 judicial supporting Adelizzi. ed industrial businesses that they has two challengers: Bob Brewer As for the open seat, Office seats on the ballot, there’s one fear might worsen the air quality and Teri Wyatt. Wyatt, a former open seat and only four judges No. 25, two of the three people in Barrio Logan, which has the deputy DA, is smart and likable, who’ve drawn challengers. We vying to fill it—Ken Gosselin highest rate of childhood asthma but not quite ready. Brewer, a heartily endorse two of those and Michele Hagan—have been in the city. private-practice attorney, is deffour: Judges Ronald Prager in deemed “lacking qualifications” If you vote “yes” on Props. B initely a law-and-order guy. We Office No. 9 and Michael Pop- by the San Diego County Bar and C, you’ll be voting in favor of wish he were more progressive Association. That makes this an kins in Office No. 19. the updated plan and helping the on ways to relieve prison overeasy endorsement: Deputy AtIncumbent Lisa Schall in Bob Brewer Michael Popkins folks of Barrio Logan gain a little crowding, for instance. But, he’s Office No. 20 is being chal- torney General Brad Weinreb. more control over what happens pledged to run a transparent office and stay lenged by assistant U.S. attorney Carla For judge, we like Ronald Prager in their community. If you vote “no,” you’ll be out of the political mud. We also appreci- Keehn. Schall, who’s been on the bench (9), Michael Popkins (19), Carla Keehn siding with industry over residents, and you’ll ate his support of clear guidelines for med- for nearly three decades, has been ad- (20), Brad Weinreb (25) and Joseph be undermining the painstaking communityical-marijuana dispensaries. For those monished three times (yikes) by the state Adelizzi (44). planning process. Maybe your community reasons, we’re picking Bob Brewer for Commission on Judicial Performance: in will be next—unless it’s affluent, of course. district attorney.

1995 (a private admonishment involving San Diego School Board We strongly urge you to vote “yes” on a juvenile-dependency case), in 1999 for Find our endorsement at sdcitybeat.com.

Props. B and C. Assessor / Recorder / Clerk improperly finding a woman in contempt Four years ago, we endorsed Ernie Dronen- of court and in 2008 for drunken driving. Proposition A Congress burg in this race. We described him as a Schall told Voice of San Diego that she’s Find our endorsement at sdcitybeat.com.

San Diego County is represented by five and get more public art in county buildings and parks, so we’re OK with him sticking around. Vote for Ron Roberts, but retire Bill Horn and pick Jim Wood.

4 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

people in Congress. All five—Republicans quester spikes in revenue from the capDarrell Issa and Duncan Hunter, and Dem- ital-gains tax in order to build up a robust ocrats Juan Vargas, Scott Peters and Susan rainy-day fund—satisfying Republicans and Davis—are running for reelection, and only irritating liberals in the process—is a good Peters is in danger of losing his seat. microcosm of his second stint in the GoverWe could go on and on about nor’s office: He’s been a steady, how the Republicans are in moderate, fiscally conservative charge of the worst Congress in Democrat, delivering a gutU.S. history, and we could write punch to his former reputation endlessly about Issa, in particas a flighty liberal. As such, he’s ular—about how, as chair of the matched up pretty well with the House Oversight and Governmood of the state’s electorate. ment Reform Committee, he’s beBarring something unforeseen, come a sort of incompetent polithe’ll be reelected easily in Noical assassin with a single target: vember, and he deserves to be.

President Obama. But that would That’s especially true in light Scott Peters be a waste of time. We’ll just say of his competition. No sane Reyou shouldn’t vote for Issa or Hunter. publican filed to run against him, but Tim We’ve never liked Vargas, so we can’t Donnelly did. abide a vote for him, either. Davis is unspecDonnelly, a state Assembly member tacular, but next to the three we’ve men- representing an area that includes Barstow, tioned, she looks like Abraham Lincoln.

Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, is a total The race to focus on here is Peters vs. Tea Party / Minutemen whackadoo who’s challenger Carl DeMaio. We’re not always best summed up by his own quote, delivthrilled with Peters’ votes, just as we weren’t ered at a Tea Party Express rally in Barstow always happy with him as a San Diego City in 2010 and found in a recent Los Angeles Council member. But at least his views and Times story: “I’m going there to reach votes match up well with the moderate, po- across the aisles to the enemies of freedom litically split 52nd District—Peters is largely and annihilate them and pound them into about protecting the environment and serv- the ground and take back our power.” ing the interests of the district’s high-tech We’d like Brown to shore up slashed soindustry and military bases. cial services better than he’s been willing DeMaio, on the other hand, is just the to, but aside from that, this is a no-brainer. most hideous kind of political opportunist. Vote for Jerry Brown.

Sure, most politicians do it to an extent, but DeMaio is opportunism and crazed ambi- Lieutenant Governor tion on steroid-boosted steroids. It’s been Hey, look! Ron Nehring—former chair of quite a show to watch him transform his both the San Diego County Republican Parnarrative right before our eyes to this “new ty and the California Republican Party and generation” Republican who’s so gosh- mentor to current local GOP chair and firstdarn proud of his homosexuality. Believe class goober Tony Krvaric—is running for us, were he running in a more conservative lieutenant governor. Ba ha ha ha ha! district, he wouldn’t be singing that tune.

Pretty please, reelect pretty boy There’s a reason LGBT groups don’t sup- Gavin Newsom. port him—because he’s only pro-LGBT when it serves his needs.

Secretary of State Part of us wouldn’t mind seeing him go to A very important decision, folks. Among Washington, D.C., and get buried among 435 other things, the secretary of state is in members, but knowing him, he’d be running charge of elections. The Sacramento Bee the place within a year. And that’s not good likes former Republican political insider for anyone. We beg you on our hands and and current independent Dan Schnur, knees to vote for Scott Peters in the 52nd. as well as Democratic state Sen. Alex Padilla. The San Francisco Chronicle makes a strong case against Padilla and picks Governor Gov. Jerry Brown’s recent proposal to se- Schnur over former Common Cause of-

ficial Derek Cressman, a Democrat, and Dot Public Schools, one of the nation’s most Pete Peterson, a Republican who heads a prominent charter-school networks. civic-involvement institute at Pepperdine Tuck hopes to unseat incumbent Tom University and leads in the polls.

Torlakson, a Democrat who has the supFrankly—and this isn’t meant to be flip- port of the powerful California Teachers pant—considering Republicans’ Association and the Democratefforts to suppress voting around ic Party. Increasingly, liberals the country, we don’t want a Resupport an education-reform publican anywhere near this ofagenda, but during his time in fice. So, sorry, Pete, civic-involveoffice, Torlakson has been lackment institute or not, you repreluster, unwilling to stand up to sent the wrong party. union intransigence. Citizens We like Cressman over now have to choose between Schnur largely on the strength a status-quo candidate and of his longtime commitment to someone who could push for good government and criticism Derek Cressman troubling changes. of money’s corrosive effect on Part of improving education, policymaking. Vote for Derek Cressman.

Tuck argues, is weakening labor protections for educators, such as seniority-based Controller layoffs, making teachers wait longer than We like to endorse at least one token Re- two years to get tenure and tying teacher publican each election, so we’re picking evaluations to student test scores. Not evFresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin for erything Tuck proposes is bad, but as a state controller, if only because we’re hav- former Wall Street investment banker with ing too much fun imagining her running funding from groups that would love to see the office like Al Swearengen ran business the privatization of public schools, it’s unin HBO’s Deadwood: clear how far he would go to dismantle the “Here’s my counter-offer to your coun- current system. ter-offer: Go fuck yourself.”

While the superintendent’s office interNow, if you’re not in the mood for this prets the education code, it has less power sort of frivolity, or you’re worried that in terms of setting policy. So some feel Swearengin might be as corrupt as Swearen- Tuck could bring fresh perspective withgen—“I’m declaring myself conductor of this out being able to do too much damage. meeting as I have the bribe sheet”—go ahead However, Tuck is too dangerous of a and vote for boring ol’ Betty Yee, but we’re choice for us. We reluctantly endorse sticking with Swearengin.

Tom Torlakson for superintendent.

Treasurer Find our endorsement at sdcitybeat.com.

Insurance Commissioner Find our endorsement at sdcitybeat.com.

Attorney General Find our endorsement at sdcitybeat.com.

Board of Equalization Wait, Board of what now? Let’s face it: No one cares about the state Board of Equalization, which essentially ensures that various tax and fee programs are administered fairly. But politicians termed-out of other offices often seek a seat on this board, perhaps because the pay’s decent—nearly $124,000 a year—and they preside over huge areas with lots of district offices, so, power.

The person currently representing the district that serves San Diego County—you know her, you love her: Michelle Steel—is

Superintendent of Public Instruction Marshall Tuck says he has the fix for California’s ailing education system, and he has many people convinced. Recently, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa endorsed him, touting the 40-year-old entrepreneur as a reformer. The two worked together on the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, a nonprofit credited with improving education in low-income neighborhoods.

Tuck is also the past president of Green

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

termed out, and there are six candidates vying for her gig. The choices include three people who’ve been termed out of the state Assembly (see!): Diane Harkey, Shirley Horton and Van Tran. The other three are John F. Kelly, a Tustin cigar-store owner; Lewis Da Silva, a Rancho Mirage accountant and Realtor; and Nader Shahatit, a Highland government auditor.

Harkey will probably win, but we urge you to send a message that the BOE shouldn’t be a soft landing spot for politicians with nowhere else to go. Kelly seems to be running based on a beef about how cigars are taxed. So, we dually endorse Lewis Da Silva, a Republican, and Nader Shahatit, a Democrat. From those two, you can pick based on party preference or whose name you like better.

State Senate Joel Anderson, who’s currently representing the 36th state Senate District but is running this time in the 38th because of redistricting, has been an unwavering same-sex-marriage opponent and seems dead-set on making it easier for the state to execute people, last year introducing legislation that would have allowed death-bysuffocation. That’s twisted.

His challenger is a guy named Fotios “Frank” Tsimboukakis, a Democrat who’s running a populist campaign that includes a plan to make California State University and University of California schools tuition-free and solar panels more affordable for property owners.

In the wide-open 36th District, there’s only one person running, Orange County Supervisor and former state Assemblymember Pat

6 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

Bates. The district includes parts of the OC, but it also includes Encinitas, Carlsbad, Vista and Oceanside. We repeat: It’s an open seat.

What’s up, North County? Couldn’t even muster a wacky gadfly? Bates in the past has been obsessed with sex offenders and has seemed to regard In Home Supportive Services workers as probable criminals. We can’t endorse her.

Ben Hueso was elected to the 40th District seat last year in a special election, and he’s running again, against South Bay community organizer Rafael Estrada. We’ve never been a fan of Hueso, but judging from his website, Estrada seems to be a one-issue guy—getting employers to stop classifying employees as independent contractors. So, we’ll endorse Hueso. Whatever.

For Senate, we endorse Fotios “Frank” Tsimboukakis (38) and Ben Hueso (40).

ten a book about a “neurotic computer” that “gains consciousness, and starts communicating with evil incompetent aliens from afar.”

In the 75th, there’s no one challenging illegalimmigrant-obsessed, spelling-challenged Marie Waldron (according to her website, she’s an “ardent supporter of creating a state boarder [sic] police and completing the unfinished boarder [sic] fence”), and that’s a bummer. Accordingly, we have no endorsement in that race.

We endorsed Brian Maienschein for the 77th in the 2012 primary because we appreciated the work he did as the United Way of San Diego County’s commissioner of the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Before we wrote the endorsement for that year’s general election, we phoned him up for a quick interview. No response.

Nada. So we rescinded our endorsement, and he’s refused to talk to us since. Maienschein’s again beState Assembly Toni Atkins ing challenged by Democrat Ruben Three state Assembly members are Hernandez, who’s still got our 2012 running unopposed: Republican Rocky Chavez endorsement on his website. Ruben: Keep it in the 76th District and Democrats Shirley We- there! Brian: You have our number. ber (79th) and Lorena Gonzalez (80th). We For Assembly, thumbs up to Tony Teora endorsed all three (Chavez and Weber in 2012 (71), Rocky Chavez (76), Ruben Hernandez and Gonzalez, who won a special election, last (77), Toni Atkins (78), Shirley Weber (79) year) and have no problem with them staying and Lorena Gonzalez (80). put. Democrat Toni Atkins, who was recently elected Assembly Speaker, has two challengers Proposition 41 in the 78th District, but they pose no threat.

Find our endorsement at sdcitybeat.com.

In the 71st District, sci-fi author Tony Teora is challenging incumbent Brian Jones. Proposition 42 Both are Republicans, but only one has writ- Find our endorsement at sdcitybeat.com.

Regarding your April 2 Food Issue: Again you’ve ignored or underestimated the number of vegan, vegetarian and meat-reducing readers. It would’ve been great to see “News on the veg scene,” such as the opening of Moncai Vegan in North Park and Veggie Grill in UTC and Carlsbad. More people every day are choosing to leave the dead animal off their plates all or part of the time. Please keep this in mind.

and consists of a re-creation of a California literaryarts series presented by Dr. George Wharton James at the 1915 Expo, which was in keeping with the hope of Expo founder David Collier, who said the Expo would illustrate the progress and possibility of the then-“young” state of California for the world.

I really think we can capture the original spirit of the 1915 Panama-California Expo and provide an imaginative springboard for 2015 celebrants to seek a brighter future in the next century!

Teagen McClain, North Park

Eric Vollmer, Los Angeles

We’re not all carnivores

Ideas on the cheap

No cars on the bridge!

Your April 2 editorial about the Balboa Park Celebration Inc. implosion and picking up the pieces read really well. Just think, you were not being paid $15,000 a month to jot down those good ideas.

It appears there are many players in this tragedy besides the BPCI board and officers, although these folks, starting with Nikki and Ben Clay, is where the ultimate responsibility lies.

Regarding your April 2 editorial: I’m an 80-year-old senior living Downtown. I walk to Balboa Park an average of once a week. What a pleasure to cross over the bridge while the roadway repair is happening. No cars! The original purpose of the bridge, I believe, was for pedestrian walkers. December Nights is a wonderful example of how the park becomes a people’s park without automobiles. Maybe these few months of bridge work will show us its original intent.

All that aside, with the delays of centennial planning to date, let’s focus on what’s doable and celebrate with special events throughout 2015 and 2016.

I like all your ideas put forth in your editorial. Walking the park, I see a great need for cosmetic cleanup and repairs. Why not put out a call to community members to participate in these needed tasks? I’m ready to help.

Lou Cumming, La Jolla

Honor the 1915 expo I appreciated your April 2 editorial about the Balboa Park Centennial, particularly your idea about a fall series honoring the point of the 1915 Expo!

I’m a UCSD alumnus with fond memories of San Diego, and I’ve drawn up a 2015 program. Our performing-arts project is called Pan Pacific Promises

Edward Moore, Downtown

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

The healthcare act is working, he says, but due to the massive misinformation campaign against it, the public thinks it’s a boondoggle. For example, his campaign held an event at a coffee shop in Ramona. A man approached Kimber, “got right in my face and said, ‘I’m a Republican.’

I said, ‘Great, well, I really need your vote. What’s your issue?’ He said healthcare. I thought, This is like a setup! This is great!”

The man, it turned out, was a married small-business owner with a family but didn’t have insurance because he couldn’t afford the premium. Kimber punched the man’s information into the Covered California website on an iPad he carries with him to campaign events.

“He took a look at the results, and said, ‘You’re kidding me!’” Kimber recalls. “Then he got upset because he couldn’t sign up right then and there,” because it was prior to Oct. 1, 2013.

Kimber laments what he calls an undue focus on the controversial medical-device tax, the repeal of which has garnered support from Senate Democrats and House Democrats including Scott Peters, who represents the 52th District in San Diego County. The 2.3-percent tax on medical devices won’t break the bank, Kimber says. “Every [sales] rep I’ve talked to, I’ve asked if it will hurt their business.

They just roll their eyes and say no.”

With increased access to healthcare, sales will go up, mitigating any additional costs from the tax, he argues.

Kimber began his Navy career in 1982 as a hospital corpsman, going on to independent duty school to become an independent duty corpsman, which, loosely translated, is the Navy’s version of a physician assistant. After graduation, he was put in charge of his own frigate.

While stationed at National City’s 32nd Street Naval James Kimber hopes to unseat Duncan Hunter but knows it won’t be easy.

Base and commuting to Camp Pendleton to teach, Kimber was approaching the end of his 20 years. He’d submitted his retirement papers and was preparing to go to physician-assistant school at Stanford University. But then the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, came, and a subsequent dereelected the Republican incumbent, Duncan Hunter, with ployment, putting those retirement and education plans in Democrat James Kimber wants to 63 percent and 67 percent of the vote in the last two elec- jeopardy. After one post 9/11 tour, though, he was allowed represent East County in Congress tions, respectively. to retire on schedule in November 2002.

But that doesn’t deter Kimber. To his way of thinking, “I retired on Friday and was in school [at Stanford] that the Democrats just haven’t run the right candidate. next Monday,” he says.

by Andy Cohen In a year when Republicans on the national stage Since completing school and rotations at Balboa Naval Meet James Kimber, a 20-year Navy veteran, physician seem determined to once again make healthcare a sig- Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital, he’s been a part assistant, small-business owner and now a Democratic nature issue—with their continued efforts to undermine of the Southern California Institute of Neurological Surcandidate for Congress in California’s 50th District. The the Affordable Care Act—the Democrats, it would seem, gery. He’s also currently working to start a new physiciandistrict is a huge area that stretches from Temecula, Es- have the perfect candidate this time around. As a career assistant school at California State University, San Marcos. condido and El Cajon at its western edge to nearly the Sal- healthcare professional, it’s an issue that Kimber is qualiKimber is running as a pro-business, pro-choice, proton Sea in its northeastern corner and the Anza-Borrego fied to address. healthcare-reform, pro-immigration-reform (it’s good for Desert in the east, picking up Palomar Mountain and towns “I can’t say that the Affordable Care Act is the perfect businesses, he says) and pro-marriage-equality candidate. like Valley Center, Alpine, Ramona and Descanso along the plan or the right plan,” he says, but he invites anyone who Since making the decision to run for Congress, he’s imway. Kimber has seen the numbers, and he knows the odds believes that the ACA is a net negative to come to his clin- mersed himself in the economic issues of the 50th District are stacked against him. The district’s registered Republi- ic to meet patients who didn’t have healthcare until now. and has taken up the cause of the 50 San Diego County cans outnumber Democrats by 61,000, and Democrats out- “We’ve had more patients in the last month than probably wineries—with 40 more in Temecula—some of which could number independents by a mere 9,000. It’s a district that six months of last year,” he says. face up to $250,000 in permit fees if they’re considering

Long shot in the 50th

8 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

expanding their business to include food service.

Robotics would be a prime beneficiary, and Kimber Kimber recently arranged a meeting with coun- says the company is looking to expand its facilities. ty Supervisor Dianne Jacob, leading a delegation “I look at 3D Robotics and think that they could of winery owners to discuss ways to mitigate the be San Diego’s next Qualcomm,” he says. “The procounty fee. jection for jobs in the UAV industry is huge, and I’d “I’m nobody. I’m not an elected official, but I rather see those jobs stay here in San Diego County managed to pull this meeting together,” he says. “I than go elsewhere. found the winery owners. I learned what their issue “I would rather see those jobs stay here,” he adds, is. And the people who came, I think the vast ma- “and let San Diego be one of the major hubs for that jority of them are Republicans. I got a meeting with manufacturing base.”

Dianne, and we just agreed. It wasn’t about, well, I’m Kimber has been a man on a mission, relying a Democrat who was proposing this. Agriculture is a heavily on old-style retail politics to spread the large part of that district.” word about his candidacy, Kimber’s also a big propogetting in front of as many nent of the unmanned aerial people as he can and intro“The projection for jobs in vehicle (UAV) industry, parducing himself to potential the UAV industry is huge, ticularly as it pertains to voters. He knows that the and I’d rather see those jobs San Diego. A significant por50th District isn’t exactly tion of UAVs are sold to agstay here in San Diego County friendly territory for him, ricultural interests, he says, but he’s convinced that once than go elsewhere.” particularly wine interests. people meet him and hear They’re used to survey crops, what he has to say, they’ll be —James Kimber to detect damaged or disreceptive to his message. eased plants. Drones can also And that, he says, has be used for a variety of other things besides military been the experience so far. For example, he cites a applications, such as search-and-rescue efforts and man who scoffed at the mere thought of voting for a surveying wind turbines and rail lines. Greenpeace, Democrat but later came back to listen to the candihe says, owns three of them, and National Geograph- date after finding out he was a veteran. And the leadic owns several. er of a band at another campaign event in Temecula According to a report commissioned by North who identified as a Tea Party libertarian but was so County Chamber of Commerce, UAV contracts sup- impressed with Kimber that he offered to record a ported 7,135 jobs in San Diego County, mostly con- song for the campaign. centrated in the Poway and Rancho Bernardo areas.

“Half the people we meet are Republicans, and UAV production reached $1.3 billion in San Diego they’re donating to us,” he says.

County alone in 2011 and is projected to double by the end of the decade. Companies like San Diego’s 3D Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

aaryn

backwards & in high heels

belfer Nobody puts Baby in a corner “So here is the quick way of working out if you’re a feminist. Put your hand in your pants. a) Do you have a vagina? and b) Do you want to be in charge of it?

If you said ‘yes’ to both, then congratulations!

You’re a feminist.”

— Caitlin Moran, author of How to Be a Woman

always-long, Breck Girl hair spills over shoulders and onto barely covered breasts. Oh, how the patriarchy churns.

Does one fella get to be the decider about me?

There are so many other reasons that my detractor might claim I’m not a feminist, if only he cared to know me better.

Obviously, I wear high heels—though less fre“Oh, we all know that guy,” my friend Heather said quently as I’m getting older. I wear lingerie from to me on the phone. “He’s the dude who took a time to time. I get my nails done, wear makeup, colwomen’s-studies course in college and knew it all. or my hair and have shared my personal evolution He wore a ‘Free Tibet’ T-shirt and monopolized evwith regard to bikini waxing. ery conversation.”

I don’t run in a tutu, which has been a whole Heather and I were talking about a non-vaginabig controversy of late. But I do run while wearing having, self-important troll named Randy Dotinga Lady Danger lipstick and—horrors!—listening to who told me via Twitter that I’m no feminist. This early-’90s hip-hop. It turns out that running to Bonbloviating nitwit, who likes to police me when I nie Raitt’s “Nick of Time” is mileage-friendly only if criticize other women, apparently suffered apoyou’re running straight into a lake with small boulplectic seizures after reading part of one sentence ders in your pockets. Jay-Z’s provocative “Bounce,” in my last column. The offending 13 words referencon the other hand, will burn the tread off your new ing a pair of local meteorologists and their paintedpurple-and-pink shoes and any dust off your pussy. on clothing had him stomping his feet. It was pretty Can a feminist say such a thing? Can she wear purdarned cute. ple and pink? Indeed she can.

“A feminist who depicts women Oh, my playlist—filled as it is with as bimbos is no feminist,” he fired off, Tupac, Snoop, Dre, Biggie, Public EnTo be clearer, with the back-patting superiority of emy and Jurassic 5, Missy Elliott, MC a third-grade know-it-all.

Lyte, Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim—it being a feminist Of course, I didn’t depict any would give my critic the vapors. But does not mean women as bimbos or even use such I digress. language. Nor did I “dehumanize I do let my daughter listen to cerwomen aren’t women on tv” as he put it, which is tain strains of hip-hop and discuss allowed to be impossible since that’s totally rewith her the problems inherent in it. dundant. Kudos, though, to him for I also let her play with dolls to which critical of taking up the banner on behalf of women in the media seem to be beareach other. the poor, demeaned television ladies ing an ever-more-frightening resemamong us. I wonder if he’s actively blance. And we discuss the problems fighting for them to get pay equal to inherent in that, too. that of men doing the same jobs. You know, since Feminism, as I see it, is all about choices and we women still earn less than our male counterrange. Write the unpopular opinion. Run that maraparts, and women of color make even less than thon in a skirt made of tulle. Chisel your nose or get a set of new boobs. Be darling in front of a green white women. But there I go again, bringing race screen filled with low-pressure arrows. Be a pilot, into an otherwise pleasant conversation. You can a stripper, a driver in a monster-truck exhibition, a just go ahead and discount me now. stay-at-home mother, a lone voice or part of a choTo be clear, what I did do was point out what rus. Do you have a vagina and want to be in control anyone without an Inspector Javert complex can of it? Then you are a feminist, and no insecure dipplainly see is the on-trend über-sexualization of wad dude can define you. women in media, Rhodes Scholar Rachel Maddow I think it’s just peachy when (particularly being the refreshing exception. white) men act, through the entitlement granted To be clearer, being a feminist does not mean by nothing more than the penis between their women aren’t allowed to be critical of each other. And legs—no matter how small it might be—to frame as an equalist, I have a long history of blasting men. conversations and define terms and boundaries for Combine that with the fact that I’ve had sex with women. It’s so precious when they try to shout us women and I should be guaranteed a lifetime memdown, talk in circles, make rhetorical arguments, bership in the Man Hating Lesbo Feminists Club—or, assume expertise, tsk-tsk us and attempt to shame at the very least, one year of free dry cleaning so I can us into silence. have all the collars on my button-down shirts permaTo my Twitter troll and all guys like him who nently starched into an upright position. should’ve shut the fuck up during women’s studies, It doesn’t seem right to have my feminist card I respectfully say: Get over yourselves. revoked by a dough-faced dude who fancies himself a hero to local women celebrities simply because I Write to aaryn@sdcitybeat.com correctly point out the prancing, and hip swiveland editor@sdcitybeat.com. ing, and coy smiling, and gentle head tilting so the

10 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

by michael a. gardiner Michael A. Gardiner

Cali Special “Dac Biet” at Cali Baguette Express (5125 El Cajon Blvd. in City Heights, calibaguetteexpress.com). The combination of the baguette, pickled and julienned daikon and carrot, fresh cilantro and old-world charcuterie is equal parts traditional and exotic, grounded yet exciting. The words “bánh mì” translate to English as “bread.” The term, though, has come to refer to Vietnam’s signature sandwich. The dish consists of a baguette, somewhat fluffier than the French original (at Cali Baguette the bread is baked on premises, which is a plus), stuffed with a protein and generally includes pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro and either mayonnaise or butter.

One of Cali Baguette’s best offerings is the No. 6 BBQ pork. The meat filling was excellent, with a savory depth, a hint of sweetness and the nearly Day-Glo red color of Chinese char siu. These flavors The No. 1 Cali Special play off the acid and sweetness of the pickles, the richness of the butter and the jalapeño’s heat. Less exceptional was the rotisserie chicken. While the meat was tasty enough, the whole was no more than the sum of its parts.

Among the better non-sandwich offerings is the bún bò huế, a version of beef noodle soup hailing from Vietnam’s central region, featuring Best Sandwich on the Planet, Part 1 different cuts of beef with rice-vermicelli noodles and an ever-so-slightly spicy broth. While According to legend, the sandwich was invented Cali Baguette’s version is not the most intense, its in 1762 when the Fourth Earl of Sandwich in lightness is a positive feature rather than a detriEngland demanded his valet bring him meat bement. Cali Baguette’s combination porridge, cháo tween two slices of bread so that he could dine thập cẩm, however, seems caught between being without pausing his cribbage game or soiling the a bowl of rice and the Chinese version of rice porcards. Others, the story goes, began ordering “the ridge, congee. While experiencing rice grains insame as Sandwich.” While no one knows who redividually can be a good thing, it’s far less pleasally was the first to put meat inside bread or pasant in a porridge. try, we’ve been doing it since ancient times, and But you don’t go to Cali Baguette for the porridge. You go there for the bánh mì and, in parcertainly long before the First Earl of Sandwich ticular, the No. 1 Cali Special (available every was a twinkle in his parents’ eyes. day). The sweetness and acid of the pickle, on the The winds that took the vessels of European one hand, and the richness and earthiness of the colonialists to the Far East brought with them charcuterie, on the other, elevates this sandwich the Earl’s “sandwich.” Perhaps its best incarnabeyond the ordinary. tion is found in Vietnam, where the French left It’s the leader at the first post in the Best Sandtheir baguettes, along with with the idea of stuffwich on the Planet race. ing them with meat. Thus was born the bánh mì, my first nomination for the coveted title of “CityWrite to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com Beat World Fare Best Sandwich on the Planet.” and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

More specifically, my nominee is the No. 1

the world

fare

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

By Jen Van Tieghem

bottle

Rocket WTF is up with these wines?

Most times, if you say “WTF” about a wine, it’s not a good thing. But the cheeky acronym behind Heather Hudson’s brand stands for Wine That’s Fun—and it lives up to its name.

Hudson, based in San Diego, works with a hired winemaker in Napa to get the results she wants for her brand (winethatsfun.com). Her endeavor is unique in that her wines are available exclusively through in-home tasting parties where guests place orders or join the wine club. Three bottles for the party come for $19.99 plus tax and shipping, and the format works well for groups of about 10.

As host I received a guide ahead of time with party suggestions, including ideas for snacks to serve.

Lazy as I am, I opted to buy cheese and salumi trays from Venissimo—a knockout success, from presentation to flavor.

My guests and I got to work dismantling them as Hudson, who arrived with everything from a display table to stemware, gave us an intro-

12 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

duction to her product.

After some back-story and a couple of party games, it was time for the best part—the tasting.

Along with a small pour of wine, we were each given tasting notes and an information sheet about the process. For newbies, it offered a chance to learn about wine, and for us winos, it was a reminder that, sometimes, sipping is as good as gulping. When we were through looking, sniffing and tasting, we got to finish the bottles.

Hudson explained that with each wine, Jen Van Tieghem she’s hoping to appeal to a wide range of wine-drinkers—easily accessible, with nothing too bold.

Take, for example, the 2011 Chardonnay, which I found appealing for its light body and citrus notes. Of the wines sampled, I chose to buy the lightly fruity Zinfandel, which is easily paired with food. I have since enjoyed it with pizza—a good option when cheese trays are scarce.

The wine party was a neat introduction to the WTF brand and a great excuse to gather friends, and there was no high-pressure sales pitch. Of course, after a little liquid lubrication, most guests chose to place an order anyway.

Write to jenv@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

by jenny montgomery Jenny montgomery

gro—tender chicken and a scoop of rice covered in a rich, black sauce. If you’re still one of those people weirded out by chocolate in a savory dish, it’s time to move past that hang-up. This isn’t Hershey’s syrup mixed into some chili sauce. It’s important to remember that unsweetened cocoa is bitter and earthy and gives a complexity to savory dishes that’s so very unique, and a reminder as to why chocolate is a truly magical food. El Tejate’s black El Tejate’s torta Oaxaqueña mole was luscious and comforting. This isn’t a spicy dish, but I felt my taste buds opening with the warmth of the chiles and the smoky boldness of the chocolate.

Don’t miss the torta Oaxaqueña, better than the typical torta you’re used to at an average Mexican eatery. This sandwich comes with beef, Smoky, zippy, and awkward pork and a layer of chorizo that packs the best punch of zippy flavor to an already packed and Have you ever been to a business where you walk meaty sandwich. Add to that a swipe of creamy in, and it’s empty, and you suddenly feel like black beans, some gooey cheese and chunks of you’re interrupting their day? My first reaction is velvety avocado and you’ve got a torta that’s pretto feel apologetic. I want to say, “Sorry to bother ty tough to beat. I had to keep putting down forkyou, but—I’m hungry, for lunch. Would you mind, fuls of mole so I could steal bites of my husband’s terribly?” Then I snap out of it and remember sandwich. that I’m a paying customer and I’m there to give We also ordered an appetizer, the molotes, them money in exchange for a meal. but they arrived at the end of our meal. That’s When we walked into El Tejate in Escondido, cool; they were still a highlight, no matter what I caught that vibe, although not in an unwelcomlayer they made up in my belly. Chorizo, cheese ing sort of way. It felt more like we accidentally and creamy potatoes are encapsulated in a crispy caught them with their hair still in curlers. (Note shell of corn dough. This isn’t the sweet corn to self: Find a more contemporary metaphor.) It masa from a tamale; this hot, crunchy outer coattook a few minutes before anyone made eye coning tasted like freshly popped popcorn, filled tact with us and got us a table and menus, but with way-better delights than butter and salt. once we were settled, the service and atmosphere El Tejate and I may have gotten off to an awkwere warm and friendly. ward start, but by the end of our meal, I was ready El Tejate (205 W Mission Ave., eltejaterestau to jet off to Oaxaca for a tour of mole and more. rant.com) specializes in Oaxacan cuisine, a region Until then, I’ll be an armchair traveler—and eatmost famous for moles, those delectable sauces er—in this little Escondido outpost. with varied colors and spices, and, yes, even a bit Write to jennym@sdcitybeat.com of chocolate on occasion. and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

I tucked into a deep, warm dish of mole ne-

north

fork

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

[T echnology ] no life

offline

by dave maass

The four ways I deal with TV spoilers on the Internet Spoiler alert: Do not read this if you haven’t watched every television series since the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Lately, I’ve noticed little eddies of debate swirling in various parts of the Internet about when something is a spoiler.

It’s not a new question, but it’s one that may have different answers from year to year. Here’s mine: “When?” is not the right question. A spoiler is a spoiler when the first-watch experience is spoiled by the viewer’s foreknowledge. Maybe you accidentally read the secret of The Maltese Falcon on Wikipedia. Maybe you overhear last week’s Person of Interest twist in the elevator. Maybe some livetweeter reveals the latest rape-assassination as it’s happening. Doesn’t matter— they’re all spoilers. A spoiler spoils.

The question that people mean to ask is: Who is culpable for the spoiler? I have an answer for that, too, or at least a rule of thumb on the Internet. Once the show starts promoting the next episode publicly, using teaser clips or a trailer, the onus is on the viewer to catch up or filter it out. That said, if you’re the one speaking the spoiler, it’s polite to give fair warning if the series is still ongoing or is one of those Netflix series-at-once dumps that may take a few weeks to finish. I like it when bloggers tell me exactly what episodes I should have seen before scrolling down the page.

But then, I realize, I have pretty inconsistent positions on spoilers, depending on the show.

When I hate spoilers: My fiancée and I recently burned through the first season of Orphan Black just in time to start Season 2 of the sci-fi show (it’s about cloning and stars an incredible multiple-role-playing actress). The episodes often end with fantastic cliffhangers, but then they roll out “next week on” previews that totally undermine the suspense. I refuse to watch them and have often incurred (probably fair) accusations of patriarchal hegemonic dickishness for unilaterally shutting down the Amazon stream as soon as the credits flash. Here’s my reasoning: We’re just going to click to the next episode anyway— there’s no room for the buildup of anticipation that would make the slight spoil worthwhile.

When I’ll read the spoilers intentionally: I love The Walking Dead, but I’m always a day behind because I tend to watch it streaming the next afternoon at the gym in the privacy of my elliptical-machine bubble. In the meantime, I find myself reading Rob Bricken’s instant critiques and recaps at io9.com. Perhaps it’s because the show’s so scary, the emotions so intense and the plot developments so controversial that I enjoy going into the show with a guide to interpreting it. Of course, sometimes, I just read the first few lines to spoil it just enough—like a little bit of blue on a chunk of cheese—to be extra hungry for the next chapter of the zombie apocalypse.

14 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

Lindsey Voltoline

I’ll also often read through the plots of shows, with the plan that I’ll watch them a few years later, certain that I’ll forget most of it (right now, that’s how I am with Breaking Bad and The Sopranos). Or, in the case of Lost, which I consumed only last year, knowing that the last season was its own kind of disaster helped ease the letdown.

Then there’s House of Cards. I stuck with it for a few episodes, then spoiled the rest of the season for myself by reading the recaps (which seemed disturbingly disrespectful to the female characters), then hate-watched the rest of the season.

When I only read the spoilers: I don’t go for Game of Thrones. I don’t watch Downton Abbey (anymore). Yet, I’m pretty caught up with (and have pretty strong but mixed opinions about) the shows’ controversies, as well as the plot developments of less rape-happy shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I don’t really have the time, but I still want to engage intellectually with the discussions surrounding them—so I’ll just read the recaps and research the characters on Wikia. Sometimes reading about the plot is just easier on the mind than watching an emotionally draining show or one where the writing is just superhumanly awful, but I need to watch it to keep up with the other elements in the comic-book universe.

When I just shut down: There are times when I’ve stopped logging onto Twitter for fear of spoilers. I realize this is not smart, so I’m going to try out alternatives, such as filtering words through Twitter itself or using the Chrome extension “Silencer.” Netflix also has offered “Spoiler Foilers” for shows such as Breaking Bad and House of Cards and hopefully will for others, too.

About that spoiler alert: The only thing worse than a spoiler might be a teaser that doesn’t actually deliver. The Maltese Falcon was fake.

Write to davem@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

the

SHORTlist COURTESY: SCIENCE GALLERY AT TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN

Jonty Hurwitz’s “The Hurwitz Singularity” is among the installations in Illusion.

MIND GAPS

COORDINATED BY KINSEE MORLAN

College in Dublin last year and will debut for a U.S. audience Saturday, May 10, at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. “Carl Sagan says we’re hard-wired to identify faces in objects…. And it can be traced back to our caveman days.”

Illusion exploits these innate tendencies with 21 installations and interactive exhibits that will distort your senses, make you leave logic behind and, ultimately, blow your mind. The work blends visual art, science and magic tricks or optical and auditory illusions. For example, there’s a simple installation that looks like a stack of oil cans. One of the cans has a hole in it and liquid is visibly dripping out. Or is it? Upon closer examination, you’ll see that it appears as if the liquid is slowly dripping back up

into the can.

There’s also a piece that uses infrared technology Those folks who claim to see Jesus’ face to make it look like little animated bugs are crawling in burnt toast—there’s a name for that. across a screen. When someone touches the screen, It’s called pareidoila, and it’s a psycho- though, the little bugs start crawling up their arm. logical phenomenon essentially involving people’s “People actually feel the bug,” Gleeson says. “Peotendency to apply significance and meaning where ple react quite visually. Just the illusion of bugs was there is none. Seeing animal shapes in clouds or enough to convince them.” hearing secret messages in audio recordings are Illusion will be on view through Jan. 11. Admisgood examples of it. sion is $13. rhfleet.org/exhibitions/illusion “It’s our mind trying to make sense of insignificant patterns,” explains Paul Gleeson, a self-described “deception artist” who helped research and San Diego has lots of annual festivals, but curate Illusion: Nothing is as it Seems, an exhibifew, if any, enjoy a better setting than Gation that launched at the Science Gallery at Trinity tor by the Bay, which goes down every year at Spanish Landing Park, just inland from Harbor Island on North Harbor Drive. Gator is a celebraWhy do we feed our kids Hollywood tion of everything Louisiana—zydeco, jazz and the fairytales? The sugar-coated escapism blues, jambalaya, gumbo and crawfish—and the 13th doesn’t prepare them for raw and often iteration happens from Thursday, May 8, through bitter adulthood. Maybe we crave the existential Sunday, May 11. More than 85 musical acts will fill drama of realizing challenges don’t end with a wed- six stages, starting with Delta blues singer and guiCAMILLE QUARTZ ding but often just begin. tarist Tab Benoit at 8 p.m. Thursday night. The good Writer and performer times start again on Friday afternoon—highlighted Ann Marie Houghtailby blues and soul singer Janiva Magness at 8 p.m.— ing seeks to explode the and Saturday and Sunday are daylong affairs. Various ticket levels are available; get details and the full fairy-tale formula with schedule at gatorbythebay.com her one-woman play, Renegade Princess.

Houghtailing shares her most emotionally wrenching and comic experiences of marriage and post-divorce motherhood in this 75-minute show, which completed an off-Broadway run in Ann Marie Houghtailing New York. The show comes to the 10th Avenue Arts Center (930 10th Ave. in East Village) at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10. Those with reserved tickets are encouraged to meet Houghtailing Todd Day Wait’s Pigpen will play Friday through Sunday. backstage starting at 6 p.m. renegadeprincess.com

1

3

2

16 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

BRUTAL HONESTY

WHERE Y’AT?

ART HLynn G. Fayman: A Colorful Life at Museum of Photographic Arts, Balboa Park. Enjoy a hosted reception followed by a discussion Modern San Diego’s Dave Hampton about Fayman’s unique style of photography. From 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 8. $10. 619-238-8777, mopa.org Drawn Into Film: Louis Hock at UCSD SME Building, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The “Drawn Into Film” Series continues with a screening and discussion hosted by Visual Arts Professor Louis Hock. At 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8. facebook.com/ ExperimentalDrawingStudio Surfrider Foundation Annual Art Gala at Paradise Point Resort, 1404 Vacation Road, Mission Beach. This fundraiser will feature an interactive art project and live

art installations from Wade Koniakowsky, Sean Dietrich and Rodney Rodrigo Mccoubrey. Enjoy food, drinks and live music from Tristan Prettyman and Paul Cannon. From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 9. $60. 858-622-9661, surfridersd.org Regarding the Disregarded/SDSU Art Council Scholarship Exhibition at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. See new work by Jan Staller and art by SDSU Art Council Scholarship winners. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 9. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org Ray at Night on and around Ray Street, North Park. The monthly art walk features vendors, art and musical performances.

Highlights include Eric Wixon’s abstract portraiture at Ray Street Custom Framing and Anna O’Cain’s “wacky mix” of written

documents and photographs that serve as a tribute to her mother at Art Produce (3139 University Ave., artproduce.org/nighttime).

From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10.

HStudio Show/Open House at Glass Ranch, 20307 Beech Lane, Escondido.

Garry Cohen’s glass art is recognized for its colors and sculptural quality. This open house includes glass blowing demos. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11. garrycohenstudio.com HNyctophilia: New Works by Buffalo One at Thumbprint Gallery, 920 Kline St., #104, La Jolla. The local street artist showcases new work with an aim of displaying the beauty and wonders he finds in the night. Opening from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10. ThumbprintGallerySD.com HKicked to the Curb at La Bodega Stu-

dios and Gallery, 2196 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. See the art of skateboarding captured by Ed Dominick, Miki Vuckovich, Bert Custodio, Mikey Ratt and over a dozen more. Opening from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10. facebook.com/Bodega619 HThe Artist as Vision Scientist at A Ship in the Woods, 2690 Via de la Valle, #D150, Del Mar. Patrick Cavanagh from the Université Paris Descartes explores how to do “science by looking,” unlocking the discoveries in art every time you give it a second look. From 6 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, May 10. $5 suggested donation. shipinthewoods.com HSometime People at Canvas Gallery, 1150 7th Ave., Downtown. New work by Dan Allen, Shay Davis, Miguel Angel Godoy, Ricardo Islas and more. From 6 to 11

p.m. Saturday, May 10. facebook.com/ pages/Canvas-Gallery-San-Diego A Look Back... at Gallery 262-B, 262 East Grand Ave., Escondido. An exhibition of photographs of the everyday life of the people of Vietnam in 1969 taken by then First Lieutenant Jeffrey W. McClain.

Opening from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10. escondidoarts.org HLuchuk at Visual Shop, 3776 30th St., North Park. The Tijuana-born artist and illustrator will showcase new work and features fanzines, stickers, plush toy designs and illustrations of mutant creatures.

Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10. 619-501-5585, visualshopsd.com HBeyond Reality Lies Reason at Dis-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

tinction Gallery and Artist Studios, 317 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. A solo exhibition featuring new paintings from Linda Herzog, whose unique style combines intense realism with the fantastical qualities of surrealism. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10. 760-781-5779, distinctionart.com Grayscale: a Black & White Art Show at Basic, 410 10th Ave., Downtown. New black-and-white works from dozens of local artists. There’ll also be fashion by Medicali, live art and music by Garvinski. From 7 to midnight. Tuesday, May 13. thumbprintgallerysd.com

BOOKS

HHalina Duraj at D.G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author and USD professor will read from her new collection, The Family Cannon. At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10. dgwillsbooks.com David Putnam at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author of The Disposables stops by to discuss and sign the crime thriller. At noon Sunday, May 11. 858-454-0347, warwicks. indiebound.com Sam Halpern at Astor Judaica Library, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Halpern will sign and discuss, A Far Piece to Canaan. At 7 p.m. Sunday, May 11. $10.

858-457-3030, sdcjc.org

HJohn Englander at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The oceanographer stops by to discuss and sign High Tide on Main Street: Rising Sea Level and the Coming Coastal Crisis. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. $5. 858534-FISH, aquarium.ucsd.edu

HGary Shteyngart at Mandeville Auditorium, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The author and humorist shares the stage with UCSD Dean of Arts & Humanities Seth Lerer for a conversation about Shteyngart’s work including his new book, Little Failure: A Memoir. At 7 p.m. Monday, May 12. 858534-3448, artsandhumanities.ucsd.edu

HIngrid Croce at Convivio Center, 2157 India Street, Little Italy. The famous local and owner of Croce’s Park West in Bankers Hill will be discussing and signing her book with Jimmy Rock, I Got a Name: The Jim Croce Story. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. 619-573-4140 convivio.yapsody.com

HZohreh Ghahremani at New Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. The 2012 “One Book, One San Diego” author of Sky of Red Poppies will discuss her second novel, The Moon Daughter. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. 619-2365800, sandiegolibrary.org

Dick Murphy at San Diego History Center, Balboa Park. The former judge and San Diego mayor will sign San Diego’s Judge Mayor: How Murphy’s Law Blindsided Leadership with 2020 Vision. From 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. $10$35. 619-232-6203, sandiegohistory.org Mar Jennings at Upstart Crow, 835 West Harbor Drive, Seaport Village. The TV host and lifestyle expert will be signing and discussing his new book, Creating Casual Luxury. At 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. 619232-4855, upstartcrowtrading.com HAmy Hatvany at Mission Hills Books & Collectibles, 4054 Goldfinch St., Mission Hills. Enjoy a glass of wine, appetizers, a book discussion, Q&A, signing and an opportunity to meet the author of Safe With Me. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8. $15.

619-550-7749, adventuresbythebook.com HMothers, On and Off the Page at Barnes & Noble Mira Mesa, 10775 Westview Pkwy., Mira Mesa. Jennifer Coburn, Laurel Corona, and Zoe Ghahremani will read passages from their new books. At 7 p.m. Friday, May 9. 858-684-3166, storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2733 Mysterious Galaxy 21st Birthday Bash at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont.

The bookstore celebrates more than 20 years in business featuring spotlight authors, special bargains and, of course, cake. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 10. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com

COMEDY HJon Dore at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. The man behind The Jon Dore Television Show on IFC recently made Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch” list. On Friday and Saturday, he performs with Bill Burr, the host of The Monday Morning Podcast. At 8 p.m.

Thursday, May 8, and Sunday, May 11, and 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9-10. $22-$34. 619-7953858, americancomedyco.com HShawn Pelofsky at Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St., La Jolla. Her TV and film credits include Chelsea Lately and Last Comic Standing, and she’s developed a huge following in the LGBT community. At 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9-10. $20. lajolla.thecomedystore.com Jeff Richards at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. The former Saturday Night Live and Mad TV, cast member performs. At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9-10. $20-$30. madhousecomedyclub.com Tobe Hixx at Comedy Palace, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The native San Diegan was once voted San Diego’s Funniest Man, but now appears on shows like 1000 Ways to Die. At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9-10. $20. thecomedypalace.com

18 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

THEATER Musical tells grim story of Leopold and Loeb Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, the notorious A historical footnote, one that is addressed at “thrill killers” of 1924, got their thrills not only the end of the play: Leopold and Loeb eventually from a series of crimes that culminated with the got life plus 99 years for the boy’s murder. Leopold murder of a 13-year-old boy, but also from each was paroled in 1958. Loeb was killed by a fellow other’s bodies. This point, while downplayed in prisoner and never again tasted freedom. past Leopold and Loeb dramatizations (includThrill Me runs through May 25 at Diversionary DAREN SCOTT Theatre in University Heights. ing Alfred Hitchcock’s 1948 film Rope), is made abundantly clear $25-$39. diversionary.org. in Stephen Dolginoff’s one-act —David L. Coddon musical Thrill Me: The Leopold Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com & Loeb Story, now on stage at and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Diversionary Theatre in University Heights.

The physicality of their relaOPENING tionship fueled the physicality 9 to 5: the Musical: An adaptation of the of Leopold and Loeb’s kidnap1980 film, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, about three women who scheme ping and murder of young Bobby to get even with their boorish boss.

Franks. As portrayed in Thrill Me, Opens May 9 at OnStage Playhouse in the two privileged University of Chula Vista. onstageplayhouse.com Chicago law students hungered 100 Hours of Stories: The folks at for each other and hungered to Lamb’s Players Theatre plan to break commit the perfect crime. a record by reading plays and singing songs from musicals for five days withThrill Me is a fast-moving, out stopping. Runs from 6 p.m. on May artfully staged character portrait 8 through 10 p.m. on May 12. Drop in at Michael Parrot (top) of the two thrill killers. The lean, any time and give a donation at the door. and Scott Nickley Get the full schedule at lambsplayers.org. glowering Loeb (Scott Nickley) appears to be the mastermind and chief manipu- Annie Get Your Gun: Sharpshooters Annie Oakley and lator, but as the story unfolds, we learn that be- Frank Butler romance each other amid an attempted merger spectacled Leopold (Michael Parrot) is not the between Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Pawnee Bill’s Far East neurotic dupe he seems to be. Under the direction shows. Presented by San Diego Musical Theatre, it opens May 9 at the North Park Theatre. sdmt.org of Bret Young, Nickley and Parrot inhabit a stage the Song: A young, female songwriter hits the malethat’s mostly free of props with a brooding, des- Chasing dominated American pop-music scene in the early 1960s just perate energy. Neither is a particularly impressive as the British Invasion is starting to change everything. Opens singer, but the show’s score really doesn’t call for May 13 at La Jolla Playhouse. lajollaplayhouse.org any vocal virtuosity, and the solo-piano accom- The Clean House: The story of a woman, her maid who paniment makes the proceedings almost a dark doesn’t like cleaning houses and her husband who falls in love cabaret. As grim as the subject matter is, Thrill Me with another woman who’s dying of cancer. Opens May 9 at comes with its share of one-liners, and laughter PowPAC in Poway. powpac.org often rang from the audience on opening night. The Enchantment of Beauty and the Beast: A musical adaptation of the French fairy tale. Presented by Looking Glass We sometimes laugh at what scares us, and these Theatre, it runs May 9 through 17 at the First Unitarian Univerwere two seriously scary dudes. salist Church in Hillcrest. lookingglasssd.blogspot.com As for Dolginoff’s score, the title song and the Three Sisters: In this acclaimed play by Anton Chekhov, four sinister “Superior” are standouts, but you don’t siblings from Moscow live unsatisfying lives in a small Russian expect a showstopper in Thrill Me and you don’t town after the death of their military-officer father. Presented by the UCSD Theatre and Dance department, it runs May 9 get one. through 17 at the Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre on camNotable in this production is the choreography pus. theatre.ucsd.edu of Michael Mizerany, who moves the actors across and around the small stage with the restless pasFor full listings, sion that must have resided in the dark souls of please visit “T heater ” Leopold and Loeb. at sdcit ybeat.com

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

Michaels By-The-Sea Episcopal Church, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad. This musical project explores cross-cultural exchanges between Chinese and Latin American plucking instruments. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13. 760-809-5501, carlsbadmusicfestival.org/wuman #HackingImprov: A Generative Song Cycle at Space 4 Art, 325 15th St., East Village. Composer/performer Blair Robert Nelson explores over a century of audio technology through his generative song cycle with help from violinist Kristopher Apple. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. $10. 619-269-7230, sdspace4art.org

“Wall Dolls” by Matthew Land is on view in Sometime People, a group show opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Canvas Gallery (1150 Seventh Ave., Downtown).

The Chicken, Rice, and Beans Tour at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. The tour name is a cheeky poke at the multicultural lineup, which includes JD Redwater, Darius Campbell, Miguel Rojas and Ray Chung. At 7 p.m.

Monday, May 12. $15. 619-702-6666, madhousecomedyclub.com Jodi Miller at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. Fresh off The Tonight Show, the comic is regularly a guest on CNN’s Showbiz Tonight. At 8 p.m.

Wednesday, May 14. $15. 619-702-6666, madhousecomedyclub.com

DANCE HSwan Lake Act II and Mozart’s Requiem at Spreckels Theater, 121 Broadway, Downtown. City Ballet’s season concludes with Act II of Swan Lake. The program also includes the premiere of Elizabeth Wistrich’s Requiem, interpreting the Mozart score complete with full orchestra and chorus. At 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11. $29-$69. 858-272-8663, cityballet.org Traces of Casualty at Wagner Theatre @ UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla.

Katie Duck’s solo dance improvisation show embodies isolation, disorientation and homelessness. At 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10, and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 11. $10-$15. 858-534-3791, theatre.ucsd. edu/season/DanceSeries/DS052014.html HThe Rambling Royal Burlesque Revue at Queen Bee’s, 3925 Ohio St., North Park. Scarlett Deville, Martini Bombshell and Greta Grenade perform “Twice Upon a Tassel,” a fairy tale and fantasy themed show with characters ranging from Wonder Woman and Cleopatra to Cinderella and She-Ra. At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10. $20$40. 619-255-5147, queenbeessd.com

FOOD & DRINK Taste of Cardiff at Downtown Cardiff-bythe-Sea. Sample food from over 20 eateries including Bull Taco, The Chart House and Zenbu. There will also be live music from Bucket Ruckus, The Red Fox Tails and more. From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 8. $25-$35. tasteofcardiff.com Rubio’s CoastFest at Oceanside Amphitheatre, Mission Ave. West, Oceanside. An annual beach cleanup followed by a beachside fest full of freebies and activities. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10. rubios.com/coastfest HEat.Drink.Read. at McMillin Event Center, 2875 Dewey Road, Point Loma. The San Diego Council on Literacy’s annual fundraiser features local chefs creating dishes based on a favorite book. You can also sample beers from several local breweries. From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. $60. eatdrinkread.com

20 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

MUSIC HSheena Easton Sings James Bond at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. Easton will sing some of the best title songs from the famous movies with help from the San Diego Symphony.

At 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9-10. $20-$85. sandiegosymphony.org Kallisti Chamber Opera at Conrad Prebys Music Center, UCSD campus, La Jolla. Kallisti presents “Sino Alla Morte,” an hour-long, fully staged production that juxtaposes music by two Italian composers: Barbara Strozzi and Salvatore Sciarrino. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10. $10.50-$15.50. facebook.com/events/401864426622978 Barry Douglas at Sherwood Auditorium, 700 Prospect St, La Jolla. La Jolla Music Society closes this season’s Frieman Family Piano Series with this Irish pianist. At 8 p.m. Friday, May 9. $30-$80. ljms.org HCalder Quartet at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. The string quartet performs as part of the “Intimate Classics” chambermusic series. At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10. $20-$40. 800-988-4253, artcenter.org Noche Cubana! at World Beat Cultural Center, Balboa Park. Live music and dance show with authentic Cuban cuisine, salsa dance lessons and performances from Saoco Son, In-Flow and Feliciano Arango. At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10. $15. 6192301190, worldbeatculturalcenter.memberlodge.com Bill Evans at the Museum of Making Music, The internationally known banjo player and author of Banjo for Dummies performs in conjunction with the museum’s exhibit, The Banjo: A New Day for an Old Instrument. At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10. $22-$28. museumofmakingmusic.org.

HAnn Hampton Callaway at Sherwood Auditorium, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. La Jolla Music Society closes the “Cabaret Series” with Callaway celebrating the music of Barbra Streisand. At 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10. $27-$87. 858-454-3541, ljms.org HMozart & the Mind at The Auditorium at TSRI, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, La Jolla. Dr. Laurel Trainor discusses “How Rhythm Shapes Social Behavior in Children” followed by a wine reception, scientific and artistic installations and a concert.

At 5 p.m. Saturday, May 10. $15-$35.

858-784-2666, mainlymozart.org HI Love Mother Nature at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. The program will include “Flight of the Bumblebee”

by Rimsky-Korsakov, the “Thunder and Lightning Polka” by Johann Strauss II and “Morning” from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11. $15-$25. 619235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org HWu Man and Son de San Diego at St.

OUTDOORS Mission Hills Garden Walk at Mission Hills Nursery, 1525 Fort Stockton, Mission Hills. The 16th annual event, themed “Beyond the Gate,” is a 2.5-mile walking tour starting at Mission Hills Nursery and visiting 10 gardens. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 10. $25-$30. 619-2952808, missionhillsgardenclub.org HSan Diego River Days at Qualcomm Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, Mission Valley. Join I Love A Clean San Diego and the San Diego River Park Foundation to remove litter and debris from the edge of the riverbed and surrounding area. From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 10. 619704-2778, cleansd.org Int’l Migratory Bird Day at Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach. Discover the many benefits of birds to humans and nature at the estuary’s annual celebration. This year’s event will feature walks, talks, activities and crafts. From 8:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10. 619-575-3613, trnerr.org

PERFORMANCE HRenegade Princess Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 10th Ave., Downtown Ann Marie Houghtailing’s quick-paced, one-woman show about marriage, living in Japan, motherhood and the demands of post-divorce life. At 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9-10. $25. 10thavenuetheatre.com

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Long Story Short: Blind Leading the Blind at Broke Girls’ Coffee Bar, 3562 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Join So Say We All’s improv storytelling show for stories about experiences with ignorance. Anyone can tell a story, without notes, for five minutes or less. From 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 11. $5 suggested donation. 619-546-8302, sosayweallonline.com HCharles Glaubitz and Giancarlo Ruiz at UCSD SME Performance Space Room, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Part of UCSD’s “New Writing Series,” Tijuana illustrator and City College professor Charles Glaubitz and filmmaker and actor Giancarlo Ruiz. From 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 14. 858-534-2230, literature.ucsd.edu

POLITICS & COMMUNITY HHappy to be Progressive Hour at The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Celebrate the contributions of local progressive leaders at this fundraiser supporting future fellows of the San Diego Leadership Alliance institute. Food trucks on site and drink specials galore.

From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. $20. sdleadership.org

SPECIAL EVENTS HBooked for the Evening at New Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village.

Tour the new Intersecting Lines exhibition and then stay to eat, drink, engage in artthemed activities and shop from a curated selection of products from the Library Shop at fundraiser with proceeds going to support the San Diego Public Library.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 9. $25.

619-236-5801, libraryshopsd.org HGator by the Bay at Spanish Landing Park, North Harbor Drive, Downtown. The largest, Louisiana-themed festival west of the Mississippi features live music, arades, dancing, and more than 10,000 pounds of crawfish straight from Louisiana. From 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 4 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11. $25-$75. 619-2348612, gatorbythebay.com

proceeds benefiting the animals and programs. From 7 a.m. to noon. Saturday, May 10. 619-573-9260, sdhumane.org HBike the Boulevard at The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Start the day at The Hideout for sandwiches and then at 2 p.m. bike to Tiger! Tiger! for $4 beers and fries. Then hit Bluxom Salon at 3 p.m. for an art show and end it at the Lafayette Hotel for a pool party.

From noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10. theboulevard.org Hunt & Gather Anniversary Party at Hunt & Gather, 2871 University Ave., North Park. Celebrate five years of one of the city’s best indie boutiques with snacks, booze, DJs and fashion. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10. 619-2973040, huntandgathershop.com

SPORTS HF U II Wrestling Returns! at SkyBox Sports Grill, 4809 Clairemont Dr., Clairemont. Pro wrestling on a smaller scale, but with all the drama and action of the pros.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 9. $15.

619-202-1599, fansunitedwrestling.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS HJacquelyne Silver: Hooray for Hollywood! at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Part piano concert, part lecture series, pianist Silver presents this four-part series on Hollywood; the music, the moguls, the movie stars. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8. $19-$70. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org

American Daughters: Reflections on Being Muslim in America at New Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. A panel of Muslim women share stories of their own Muslim American experiences.

At 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 12. 619-2365800, sandiegolibrary.org HBeer Science With White Labs Inc. at Callahan’s Pub & Brewery, 8111 Mira Mesa Blvd., Mira Mesa. Part of the R.H. Fleet’s “Suds & Science” series, join Chris White of White Labs Inc., who’ll discuss brewing microbiology, fermentation fundamentals, distilling and the importance of yeast in creating beer flavors. From 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 12. rhfleet.org Chasing the Song: The Drive to Make Music at La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. Composer and Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan will discuss

his musical influences and the crossover from rock ’n’ roll to musical theatre. At 7 p.m. Monday, May 12. $15. 858-5501010, lajollaplayhouse.org Mary Meg McCarthy at Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace, 5998 Alcala Park, USD, Linda Vista. The executive director of Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center will discuss “A Human Rights Perspective on U.S. Immigration Policy.” From 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13. 619-2604166. peace.sandiego.edu

For full listings,

please visit “E vents” at sdcit yb eat.com

ROC Race San Diego at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. A game-show-inspired 5K run featuring 12 larger-than-life obstacles including the Wrecking Ball and the World’s Largest Inflatable Water Slide. Bring some old or new shoes to donate. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10. $55-$80. 858273-7223, rocrace.com/sd HIllusion: Nothing is as it Seems at Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Balboa Park. The mind-bending new exhibition playfully combines techniques used by magicians and explored by neuroscientists to uncover the many ways our minds are fooled by sensory deception. Opens Saturday, May 10. 619-955-5285, rhfleet.org Hot Rods 4 Heroes Classic Car Show at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, Little Italy. Check out pre-1972, all makes and models, cars, trucks and motorcycles including with proceeds benefitting Wounded Warrior Homes. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10. 760-4833553, stayclassy.org Asian Cultural Festival on Convoy Street, between Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Raytheon Road in Kearny Mesa.

The fifth annual festival includes cultural performances, art, food, educational activities and more. From noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10. asianculturalfestivalsd.com Bike Fiesta at New Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. Celebrate National Bike Month. Learn about biking, bike maintenance, watch a special film screening and more. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10. sandiegolibrary.org HWaterfront Park Grand Opening at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, Little Italy. Celebrate the opening of the region’s largest waterfront park. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10. sdparks.org HMy Fair (Trade) Lady at Bazaar del Mundo, 4133 Taylor St., Old Town. Bazaar del Mundo’s first fair-trade event featuresa large selection of unique and colorful jewelry, accessories and textiles, Haitian tin wall art, woven baskets from Africa, Indian picture frames, jewelry boxes and more.

From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10. 619-296-3161, bazaardelmundo.com Ocean Beach Kiwanis Kite Festival and Craft Fair at Dusty Rhodes Park, Sunset Cliffs Blvd. at Nimitz, Ocean Beach. Now in its 66th year, the fair includes live music, carnival rides, kite demonstrations, kite making and kite flying. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10. oceanbeachkiwanis.org Walk for Animals at NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma.

Join fellow animal lovers for the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA’s 20th annual walk. Enjoy a pancake breakfast, vendor village and doggie activities with

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

for

San Diego

Opera

Chorister Anishka Lee-Skorepa hopes to carve out a career with her powerful voice

by Kinsee Morlan

T

he sound of an opera soprano spills out into the warm Santa Ana winds whipping through South Park.

Christmas lights brighten a walkway leading up to a Craftsman home, adding to the ambiance as Anishka Lee-Skorepa rehearses near an old, wooden piano just inside the open front door. She’s prepping for an upcoming performance—a night of operatic arias and art songs with piano accompaniment, an event she organized, funded and promoted herself.

Lee-Skorepa is one of 28 core San Diego Opera choristers, having performed with the embattled local opera for the past seven years. Though the work is only seasonal, the position is a dream job for the 33-year-old, who’s struggling to stitch together a serious singing career in a city without many options.

“This piano’s been here my whole life,” she says, welcoming me into her mother’s charming, colorful home where she was raised. “My mom always listened to music. I remember hearing Carmen at a very young age and being fascinated just instantly—like, What is this? I need to know.”

From the moment Lee-Skorepa started singing, first on her own and later with the San Diego Children’s Choir, she sounded like an opera singer—popular music was never in her future, thanks to her distinct, classical sound. She took singing seriously right from the start. As a kid, she was told she had the voice of a young dramatic soprano, which meant she’d have to be patient and persistent in her career, because her type of powerful, rich voice is generally considered

22 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

not fully mature until a singer’s early 30s.

The San Diego Opera was an early and important influence on Lee-Skorepa. A student at San Diego High School, she had a teacher who took advantage of the opera’s outreach programs, inviting his kids to see live dress rehearsals and asking docents to speak to his classes.

“I remember San Diego Opera did Madame Butterfly, a production I later got to be in,” Lee-Skorepa recalls. “I remember it so vividly. One of the docents came in to talk about it, and she had us tearing little pieces of paper, because, for the scene where [Madame Butterfly] kills herself, if the opera crew cut the paper, it didn’t fall quite right. It had to be hand-torn. So, all the docents would take the paper to the schools and have the kids tear up the paper while they were talking. It was so cool to go and see the production and see the pieces of paper that we tore falling. Just to experience how tragic and beautiful that scene is. I remember crying and being completely hooked, like, OK, I need to be a part of this.”

She eventually earned her bachelor’s degree, and then her master’s, in voice performance at schools outside of San Diego.

She returned to her hometown in 2006 and eventually mustered the confidence to audition for the San Diego Opera chorus.

She made the cut and fell in love with the job immediately, calling it an “incubator” that allowed her to grow as an artist as she waited for her voice to mature.

On March 19, under the guidance of Ian Campbell, the San Diego Opera’s general

and artistic director, the opera’s board of directors unexpectedly voted to close the 49-year-old institution. Lee-Skorepa was working at her day job as the head of catering at Whole Foods in Hillcrest when the news broke. Just weeks before, she’d given notice at her job—a big and important step in her quest to make singing her fulltime gig. Sitting in her car, desperately trying to piece together text messages from friends and fellow choristers, she eventually registered the gravity of the situation and broke down in tears.

“I was a mess,” she says. “It just seemed to come out of nowhere. We had been told a year before that everything was fine, that the opera wouldn’t be expanding anytime soon, but it wouldn’t be going away, certainly. I had always worked under the [impression] that the opera was in the black.”

The abrupt announcement prompted strong, emotional responses, not only among opera employees like Lee-Skorepa, but also from the community at large. Criticism and questions about Campbell and his ex-wife, Ann Campbell, deputy general director at the opera, and their high salaries, generous compensation packages and unwillingness to innovate or make budget cuts continue to swirl. The Campbells have since been placed on paid administrative leave, and several board members have quit over the controversy.

Meanwhile, employees and board members fighting to save the opera have managed to delay the closure date and have launched a $1-million crowdsourcing campaign (sdopera.com). Advisors have recommended the

opera raise $3 million for its 2015 season by May 19. Carol Lazier, the new board president, has pledged $1 million; the opera plans to raise another $1 million through major donors and the last million will hopefully come from the crowdsourcing campaign, which was at $764,918 as of press time. Last Wednesday, the city of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture also recommended giving the opera $160,000 for its next season; the opera had asked for $380,000, so while the grant wouldn’t be huge, it would signal city support.

Lee-Skorepa and the rest of the choristers are doing what they can, too, by pledging 10 percent of their annual earnings to the company. Lee-Skorepa hopes the full funding will materialize and a leaner but just-as-interesting 2015 season will be staged.

“Opera can be done in so many ways,” she says. “I got to sing excerpts of the role of Aida in Tijuana last year with the Opera de Tijuana for their Opera de la Calle festival. It was the most incredible experience, because there’s opera, this grand art form, right on the streets in Tijuana.

“I feel like, if I can pull off something like this,” she continues, pointing to a poster promoting one of her alternative-opera performances, which have attracted robust audiences. “If I can help people have this opera experience with just me on stage, then I feel like this art form is valid in whatever package you put it in.”

Write to kinseem@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Kinsee Morlan

Singing out

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

24 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

Seen Local Changes in Little Italy Larry Baza and Tom Noel opened NoelBaza Fine Art on India Street in Little Italy more than six years ago. Since staging their first exhibition, they’ve turned the space into one of the most notable galleries in San Diego.

Baza recently told CityBeat that the building housing the small gallery has been sold, and rather than working with the new owners, the H.G. Fenton Company, the gallerist says they’ll soon close their brickand-mortar location.

“We had a sweetheart of a deal,” Baza explained. “We were very fortunate to Tom Noel (left), Marianela de la Hoz and Larry Baza have a great landlady, but change is good. at the opening of Noel-Baza Fine Art We’re going to reinvent ourselves. We’re going to do some pop-ups, art fairs, things like that. Kettner Nights was happening since it took place We have a loyal following of customers, so we’ll see every other month. They made the event monthly, what happens.” but then not all of the businesses wanted to parWhile Noel-Baza Fine Art carried the work of ticipate. They eventually decided a fresh start was some big hitters in the art world, the gallery also needed, in part because Little Italy is growing and sought out some of San Diego’s most interesting participating businesses are no longer focused on emerging artists, like Bhavna Mehta, Robert Nel- Kettner Boulevard. son and Marianela de la Hoz, who was recently NoLI Nights is planned to be bigger than Kettner named a recipient of the 2014 San Diego Art Prize. Nights. It’ll also be held quarterly and moved from Noel-Baza Fine Art believed so much in de la Hoz Friday to Thursday. The Little Italy Association has that they opened the gallery with an exhibition of enlisted the help of a public-relations firm to get the her work. word out.

“Since then, my relationship with Tom and Larry Meyer said that while he’s saddened to hear about grew,” de la Hoz wrote in an email. “We became good Noel-Baza Fine Art’s closure and laments the loss of friends. I will miss the space, but I know that we will other galleries and artists who’ve left the neighborstill be working together in different ways…. I am hood lately, he’s excited to see Little Italy change. very grateful; with them, I have become a better art“Art and design are still here,” he said. “We can reist and a better person.” bound and reestablish that, but NoLI has to be more The closure comes amid a sea change for Little than just art and design. It has to be restaurants and Italy’s arts-and-design community. During the last all of that—that’s how we’ll make it work.” few months, the Little Italy Association and its Baza said that he and Noel sat in on all the NoLI member businesses have been working on rebrand- meetings and were onboard with most of the changing and ultimately replacing Kettner Nights, the es, but he said the rebrand on its own isn’t enough to Friday-night event that featured local businesses and help art-focused businesses like his. galleries staying open late with special offerings.

“For us, it’s obviously a little late,” he said. “But “There’s no more Kettner Nights,” said Perry it won’t do anyone any good unless all the busiMeyer of Meyer Fine Art, a mainstay gallery lo- nesses and galleries participate and people actually cated inside the arts building at 2400 Kettner Blvd. come out.”

“Now it’s NoLI Nights—short for North Little Ita—Kinsee Morlan ly—and it kicks off May 15…. Kettner Nights suffered.

Write to kinseem@sdcitybeat.com It was just time to move on.”

Meyer said that people never remembered when and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

Hot and bothered Our 2014 summer movie preview

by Glenn Heath Jr. Summer movies are a lot like ice-cream cones left out in the sweltering sun: One second they’re there, and the next they’ve melted from memory. When it comes to Hollywood product released between May and August, substance isn’t a strong suit. But it’s difficult to get too angry with the business-minded executives for unleashing one forgettable (and profitable) summer movie after another. People keep buying tickets, and writers keep penning previews like this one.

So, we get the summer movies we deserve. The recent onslaught of comic-book mania and Marvel fandemonium has made the multiplex look like a man-child’s fantasy playground. Fittingly, the 2014 season begins with a barrage of sequels and spinoffs, starting last week with The Amazing Spiderman 2, yet another action slog that looks more like a protracted video game than cinema.

Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla screams into theaters on May 16. Early trailers suggest a beautifully crafted disaster epic, so maybe one big-budget film will have lasting value. That same weekend, San Diego audiences get Gia Coppola’s angst-riddled debut Palo Alto, about disaffected teens (are there any other kind?) living in the Bay Area, and Richard Ayoade’s The Double, a mind-bending comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg.

Rounding out the month will be X-Men: Days of Future Past (May 23), reeling from its director Bryan Singer’s sex-abuse scandal; Francois Ozon’s prostitution drama Young and Beautiful (May 23); Maleficent (May 30), starring a vampy Angelina Jolie as the famous fairy-tale baddie; and Jim Mickle’s Texas noir Cold in July (May 30).

June is beset with more genre heavyweights. Tom Cruise stars in Edge of Tomorrow (June 6), which looks like Groundhog Day by way of M. Night Shyamalan. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill return with sarcastic force in 22 Jump Street (June 13), by comedy darlings Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Michael Bay unleashes another mega robot film with his Transformers: Age of Extinction (June 27), having replaced the whiny Shia LaBeouf with the incessantly cool and capable Mark Wahlberg.

The Clint Eastwood enthusiast in me is eager to see what the master director does with his Jersey Boys (June 20) adaptation, while smaller international fare like Lukas Moodysson’s punk parable We are the Best! (June 13) and David Michod’s dirty post-apocalyptic western The Rover (June 20), starring Guy Pierce and Robert Pattinson, provide some much needed counter programming.

Curiously, the summer’s major holiday weekend will sport very little machismo onscreen: We’ll get a

The big lizard is back. healthy dose of Melissa McCarthy in Tammy (July 2) and Keira Knightly in John Carney’s Begin Again (July 4), his first film released stateside since 2006’s Once. The following week holds more promise with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (July 11), Matt Reeves’ impressive-looking sequel to 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Thankfully, July also sees the release of multiple independent films buoyed by great word-of-mouth.

Richard Linklater’s decade-in-the making Boyhood (July 18) is my most anticipated. Anton Corbijn’s thriller A Most Wanted Man (July 25) stars Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his last roles. Finally, Aaron Katz and Martha Stephens’ Iceland-set comedy Land Ho! (July 25) provides Paul Eenhoorn with another starring role after his sensational turn in last year’s This is Martin Bonner.

That brings us to August, the most dependably terrible of summer months. Marvel attempts to launch a new franchise with Guardians of the Galaxy (Aug. 1). If you’re into guns, guts and grizzled old actions stars, Expendables 3 (Aug. 15) is your game.

Finally, Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller unleash another growling CGI neo-noir with Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (Aug. 22).

There is hope, though: John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary (Aug. 1) gives us another fine Brendan Gleeson performance to admire while we wait for Oscar season to commence. Proceed accordingly.

Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Greeked out

Neighbors

26 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

In the middle of Neighbors, a smart revenge comedy about the frustrations of becoming an adult, Rose Byrne’s beleaguered Kelly sings her baby a vulgar nursery rhyme as a way to vent about the rowdy fraternity that’s just moved in next door. Whispering expletives while her adorable baby coos and smiles, the scene is both hi-

larious and disturbing for its tonal contradiction. That Kelly’s frustration is woven into what’s normally a calming and expressive act speaks to Byrne’s skill as a performer and the film’s intelligent approach to familiar material.

Director Nicolas Stoller (The Five Year Engagement) isn’t above slapstick gags and drunken buffoonery; the prolonged community war being waged between

Kelly’s husband Mac (Seth Rogen) and chief beefcake Teddy (Zac Efron) has its fair share of inventive pranks that violently escalate as the film reaches critical mass.

But the undercurrent of panic that defines many of the funniest scenes proves that Neighbors is much more clever than its tagline (“Frat vs. Family”) suggests.

Hollywood produces a lot of raunchy laugh-fests, but rarely do we get one this enraged. As young parents who are economically and emotionally invested in a newly purchased home, Mac and Kelly represent survivors of a dwindling American middle class. When Teddy and his clan

of binge-drinking ruffians arrive, they destroy the mythical calm that their older neighbors have been trying to secure for years.

Sharp-tongued and swift, Neighbors—which opens Friday, May 9—is a good reminder that comedies can be just as dynamic as action films. The brilliant montage showing three historically significant frat parties is a fine example of the film’s spry editing and timing. Even more impressive is the level of sympathy Stoller bestows on his mosaic of irate characters battling for some false sense of suburban supremacy.

Opening

Neighbors: A newly relocated couple can’t enjoy their beautiful new residence after a rowdy fraternity moves in next door.

Every homeowner’s worst nightmare comes true. See our review on Page 26.

Cesar’s Last Fast: In 1988, activist Cesar Chavez participated in his last hunger strike in protest of farmers’ use of pesticides that harmed immigrant workers in the fields. Richard Rey Perez’s documentary uses remarkable found footage to tell this final act in Chavez’s amazing life.

Screens through May 14 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

The German Doctor: A family traveling through Patagonia, Argentina, happens upon a mysterious German doctor hellbent on continuing his radical experiments left over from World War II. For No Good Reason: Ralph Steadman is one of the pivotal artists who worked alongside Hunter S. Thompson to advance the gonzo movement. In this documentary by Charlie Paul, Johnny Depp visits Steadman to talk history, hallucinogens and aesthetics. Screens through May 15 at Hillcrest Cinemas.

Legend of Oz: Dorothy Returns: Hollywood goes back to the well with this animated sequel to the classic Wizard of Oz, finding Dorothy whisked back to the magical land in order to save her friends from a new villain.

Locke: Set entirely in a car, this thriller follows Ivan Locke’s (Tom Hardy) downward spiral after he receives a phone call that sets in motion a series of events that will change his life forever.

Moms’ Night Out: Sure to be advancement for modern feminism, this comedy follows a series of mothers who leave their clumsy husbands and rowdy children behind for a night out on the town.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

No Good, No Master: In Washington, D.C., circa 1919, politicians begin receiving package bombs at their doorsteps, prompting a federal agent (David Strathairn) to begin an investigation that leads him down a dark and seedy path.

Screens through May 14 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

One Time Only The Short List: A specially curated program of short films from around the world, including entries from Argentina, France, Germany, the U.S. and Uzbekistan.

Screens at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at the Lemon Grove Library.

Nacho Libre: Jack Black plays a clumsy altar boy south of the border who decides to become a luchador to prove his worth to his church. Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

Benvenuto Presidente: This satire considers a wacky political situation in which a small-town librarian and fisherman is elected president of Italy. Presented by San Diego Italian Film Festival, it screens at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas.

urday, May 10, at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills.

The Karaoke Brothers: Two brothers set out to become karaoke champions in this film by San Diegans Raul Bogue, Brad Elsey, Joe Richardson, Derek Steagall and Beastie Ulery. Screens at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, at the Balboa Park Golf Course Clubhouse.

Bad Milo: A guy poops out a demon and then watches it start killing all the people in his life. Talk about symbolism. Screens at 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

The Room: So bad. Screens at midnight on Saturday, May 10, at the Ken Cinema.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: Ben Stiller stars as the eponymous Life magazine archivist who decides to ditch his stagnant existence and go on an adventure. Screens at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Point Loma / Hervey Branch Library.

Godzilla: The original Japanese horror film about a gigantic lizard terrorizing Tokyo, just in time for the most recent Hollywood remake. Screens at 7:30 p.m.

Monday, May 12, at Arclight La Jolla.

American Free Thought, Part 2: Rod Bradford’s documentary centers on women’s rights and the separation of church and state. A discussion with the filmmaker will follow the screening. Screens at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 12, at the San Diego Public Library in East Village.

City Island: A boisterous Long Island family drives each other crazy, telling secrets and lies that could destroy their relationship. Screens at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the Point Loma Public Library.

Blancanieves: Hypnotic retelling of the Snow White story, complete with gothic sets and striking black-and-white cinematography. Screens at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the Hall of Nations in Balboa Park.

Heathers: Being cool could get you killed in this iconic dark comedy about a high-school outsider (Winona Ryder) who takes revenge on the bullying “in” crowd.

Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

Now Playing Amazing Caves: From the Grand Canyon to the coastal waters off the Caribbean, spelunk into the world’s deepest and darkest caves in this mesmerizing IMAX

journey that spans the globe. Screens at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

The Amazing Spiderman 2: Andrew Garfield returns as the high-flying web slinger to battle an assortment of new villains (Dane DeHaan and Jamie Foxx) while trying to save New York City and his beloved Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) from imminent destruction.

Blue Ruin: A bearded drifter goes on a precipitous journey of revenge when his parents’ murderer is released from prison after 10 years. Screens at Reading Gaslamp Cinemas.

Fading Gigolo: A failed bookstore owner (Woody Allen) convinces his blue-collar friend (John Turturro) to start sleeping with wealthy women for money. Nothing could go wrong with this idea, right?

The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden: Documentary about a real-life murder mystery that occurred in the 1930s on the uninhabited Floreana Island, where settlers found themselves at odds in an undiscovered habitat.

Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America: This loving musical portrait of one of Latin America’s most iconic singers mixes archival interviews and concert footage. Ends May 8 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Walk of Shame: Elizabeth Banks stars as a rising-star news anchor who gets the job interview of a lifetime, only to find herself stranded in downtown Los Angeles without a phone, car or shoes after spending the night with a strange man.

Water & Power: Two brothers working on different sides of the law in Los Angeles find themselves battling for control of the streets. This is the debut film from Richard Montoya of Culture Clash.

Brick Mansions: In the not-so-distant future, an impoverished Detroit neighborhood is sectioned off from the world by a massive containment wall. A volatile detective (Paul Walker) goes undercover to destroy a drug kingpin who holds court over the isolated ghetto.

For a complete listing of movies, please see “F ilm S creenings” at sdcit yb eat.com under the “E vents” tab.

To Catch a Thief: Cary Grant plays a reformed jewel thief who’s framed for a robbery and must smoke out the real burglar in order to prove his innocence. It costars the ravishing Grace Kelly. Screens at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 8, through Sat-

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

Deep cuts Survival Knife pursue a progressive punk agenda

by Jeff Terich

From left: Justin Trosper, Meg Cunningham, Kris Cunningham and Brandt Sandeno

F

or 10 years, Justin Trosper didn’t play a single live show. He didn’t release any albums, either. And he barely even picked up his guitar during a hefty chunk of the ’00s. At 30 years old, the musician from Olympia, Washington, went into a state of semi-retirement.

This is significant, given how prolific Trosper was in his 20s. From 1991 to 2002, he fronted Unwound—an influential posthardcore trio that released seven albums and toured frequently. Then, after a tour in support of their most highly acclaimed— and best—album, Leaves Turn Inside You, Unwound split up and Trosper hung up his axe. He didn’t step away from music entirely, having recorded a handful of albums for other bands here and there. But most of

28 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

the decade that unfolded was spent on personal matters, including finishing college.

Twelve years later, he’s returned to the stage with a new band—Survival Knife— and as he explains in an interview from his home in Olympia, he needed to spend some time away from music before he was ready to plug into his Marshall stack again.

“I stopped playing shows in 2002 and didn’t play another one for 10 years,” he says. “I did a little recording here and there for other people. I didn’t do any bands or anything. I kind of decided I wanted to try to do things beside music. I was so musicfocused for basically my whole 20s, so I just focused on other stuff in my life.”

Survival Knife, which formed in 2012, is a considerably different band than

Unwound. While it features two of that band’s original members—Trosper and second guitarist Brandt Sandeno (plus bassist Meg Cunningham and drummer Kris Cunningham)—the new band only occasionally deals in abstract, muscular post-hardcore. Survival Knife’s 2013 debut 7-inch single, “Name That Tune,” is plenty abrasive, but it compresses their punkrock energy into a more accessible package, reminiscent of Hot Snakes and The Wipers. The second single, “Divine Mob,” which opens their debut album, Loose Power, is the closest the band comes to classic new-wave punk.

They’ve expanded their sound dramatically since the release of their first couple of singles, but when they began playing together, there was only one definite idea on the table: Don’t repeat the past.

“A lot of the time when you start a band, you have some ideas. And I think, to some degree, I wasn’t really too concerned or could predict really what we were doing,” Trosper says. “In the back of my mind, I was probably thinking, I don’t want to start a band that’s just Unwound Part 2. And so I think we’ve approached songwriting a little bit differently. We’re older, and we have different skills, and our brains are a little bit different.

“There’s… a melodic sort of interplay that is, I think, pretty drastically different,” he adds.

Survival Knife—who’ll play at Soda Bar on Saturday, May 10—released Loose Power on April 29. The album builds on the momentum of the two singles and stretches out the band’s boundaries a bit, bolstering their punk-rock edge with the ambitious progressive-rock influence of groups like King Crimson, which materializes in eightminute-plus epics like “Cut the Quick” and “Heaven Has No Eyes.” But prog-rock isn’t the only kind of progressive agenda that’s

emerged in the band’s music; the latter song features some of the most explicit sociopolitical lyrics Trosper’s ever written. The track features a repeated chant of “Too big to fail,” and the title comes from a Chinese idiom: “[It] sort of means… people that profit from other people’s suffering.

Because if that can happen, then Heaven is looking the other way,” Trosper says.

“I was just trying to describe institutions—these big institutions, whether it’s the church or the government or banks that are set up so, even when they fail, they’re not allowed to fail,” he continues.

“It’s not just the banking thing. I think, like, colleges can be too big to fail. They’re broken models that aren’t allowed to revolutionize.”

The four members of Survival Knife have decades of experience playing music between them, but, as a band, they’re more about pursuing new ideas than rehashing what’s familiar. And while they just released a new album and will tour the country in support of it, Trosper explains that there’s another radical idea he’s come to embrace in the decade since Unwound called it quits: There’s more to life than being in a band.

“I was younger, and that was very much the center of my existence,” he says. “Everything I did with all of my effort as if it was the most important thing in the world.

Now it’s a little more compartmentalized.

I do music with a lot of effort and put a lot of time and energy into it. But it’s not the whole focus of my life, nor can it be. It has a lot to do with where you are in your life at 25 versus when you’re 40.

“The center of the world kind of shifts.”

Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

notes from the smoking patio Locals Only

“All these people just love Daniel and wanted to play some music A new fundraising campaign has and tell some stories,” says D.A. been launched to benefit jazz Kolodenko, a friend of Jackson’s musician Daniel Jackson, who’s and organizer of the benefit show been diagnosed with lung cancer. and the GoFundMe campaign (and Friends and family of the 77-year- a longtime CityBeat columnist). old have set up a GoFundMe site “When you go into it with no exto help pay medical bills. pectations, and you raise $5,000 in The campaign has a goal of one week, you feel good about it.” $50,000 and has Those who doraised $1,000 so nate $25 to the cause far. Unlike a Kickwill receive a live starter campaign, DVD of Jackson perGoFundMe doesn’t forming at Dizzy’s, have to reach a miniand those who domum in order for the nate $50 will get the funds to be used.

DVD and a signed The campaign art print of Jackson (visit gofundme.com

by Sean McMullen. /8hvne0) comes af“As soon as people ter a recent benefit found out about how concert at Dizzy’s he had cancer and featuring Joshua can’t play his horn, it White and Charles Daniel Jackson was like… ‘We need McPherson that to do something for raised more than $5,000 to help him,’” Kolodenko says. “His music Jackson, who’s performed with made a lot of people happy.” musicians like Ray Charles and Buddy Rich.

—Jeff Terich

Music review Okapi Sun Techno Prisoners (Phaedra) It’s not uncommon for a guitarslinging singer / songwriter to succumb to the lure of slickly produced, top-40 pop sheen. In fact, with artists who’ve established themselves in the San Diego music scene, in particular, it’s a pattern that’s been repeated time and again. After a handful of bestselling albums of folk-pop (assisted by Steve Poltz) Jewel fully embraced dance-pop on 2003’s 0304. And ever since becoming a favorite at Java Joe’s in the early ’00s, Jason Mraz has become the poster boy for goofy Californiawhite-dude pop.

Until early last year, Maren Parusel focused on earnest, guitardriven indie rock, but that seems to have gone by the wayside—at least temporarily—thanks to the birth of her new band, Okapi Sun. A duo comprising Parusel and

something charming about that: Embracing the flash and hedonism of big-budget pop music more often than not yields some highly enjoyable and catchy results. “Cold Outside” is one of the subtler tracks on the record, and by allowing in some space, the duo highlights how strong their melodies can be. Similarly, the wonderful “Turn the Lights Off” brings to mind singles by groups like Cut Copy, with its blend of ethereal synthesizers and atmospheric guitar riffs.

The problem is that these moments don’t occur nearly enough on Techno Prisoners. Far too often, the straight-up 4/4 beat pattern makes these songs indistinguishable from one another, and the Auto-Tune effects wear out their welcome pretty quickly. (Also, why on Earth is there a fake voice-mail message vignette on this album?)

In small doses, Okapi Sun’s highenergy pop can be infectious, and there’s no doubt that the duo shows a lot of promise on Techno Prisoners. But they’ve still got a long way to go before they fully live up to it.

classically trained violinist Gabriela Sanchez, Okapi Sun sound absolutely nothing like what either musician’s background might suggest. Not that that’s a bad thing; change can be a positive force of creativity for some artists, and for two musicians who’d previously pursued much more “serious” musical outlets, it’s refreshing to hear something more danceable and carefree on Okapi Sun’s debut album, Techno Prisoners.

Here’s the thing: Okapi Sun are an exceptionally silly act. They wear colorful outfits, open their shows with a repetitive chant, unapologetically employ heavy use of —Jeff Terich Auto-Tune and make fun a much higher priority than any lofty Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com artistic ambitions. And there’s and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

if i were u

each time, they’ve been well worth seeing.

They just released a new album, but their catalog as a whole is pretty solid. Plus, if they play “Time Bomb,” that’s all the reason you need to go. PLAN B: Tom Jones, Lee Coulter @ House of Blues. Since the midBY Jeff Terich 1960s, Welsh icon Tom Jones has been popchart gold. The man’s a certified hitmaker Wednesday, May 7 and, even at 73, still a likely underpants PLAN A: Riff Raff, Grandtheft @ House magnet. And at a venue the size of House of of Blues. Part of me thinks that suggesting Blues, there’s no way he won’t put on a great Riff Raff as a Plan A is a terrible idea, simply show. BACKUP PLAN: The Midnight for how high a douche quotient the show is Pine, Trevor Beld Jimenez, Todd Day likely to have. Then again, the gold-toofed Wait’s Pigpen @ Tin Can Ale House. rapper—who inspired James Franco’s character in Spring Breakers—is just too overthe-top not to lend my endorsement. He’s Friday, May 9 kind of a caricature, which is exactly why PLAN A: The Pains of Being Pure at this might just be amazing. PLAN B: Jacco Heart, Fear of Men, Ablebody @ The Gardner, Barbarian, Maston @ Soda Bar. Casbah. I’ve long since gotten over the Dutch singer / songwriter Jacco Gardner fact that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s plays a gorgeous style of psychedelic pop name is twee as fuck. Their songs, however, that falls somewhere between Syd Barrett have some of the best alt-rock hooks I’ve and Phil Spector’s ’60s pop productions. heard in years. PLAN B: One Way System, Listen to his album Cabinet of Curiosi- Mass Terror, Embalmers @ Soda Bar. ties from 2013, and be ready to fall in love One Way System are veterans of the ’80s with all of its sonic treats. BACKUP PLAN: U.K. punk scene, with a blistering hardSister Speak, Hollow Wood, Gayle Skid- core sound that’s comparable to the likes of G.B.H. or The Exploited. Witness punk hismore @ The Casbah. tory and get yer ass kicked in the pit.

Thursday, May 8

PLAN A: Old 97’s, Nikki Lane @ Belly Up Saturday, May 10 Tavern. Texas alt-country heroes Old 97’s PLAN A: Survival Knife, Beehive and the have played many a time in San Diego, and Barracudas, Hungry Ghost, DJ Mario Or-

30 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

duno @ Soda Bar. See Page 28 for my feature on Olympia’s Survival Knife. The band includes former members of Unwound and blends post-hardcore intensity with prog rock’s ambition. PLAN B: Ghetto Blaster, Prize Hog, Diving For Earth @ Tin Can Ale House. Ghetto Blaster comprises exmembers of San Diego bands like Fishwife, Hostile Combover and Irradio, and their shows tend to get a bit chaotic—in the most kickass way, of course. Things might get a little out of hand when their noise-rock mayhem hits its peak, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun.

Sunday, May 11 PLAN A: Thundercat, Illuminauts @ The Irenic.

Thundercat is, first and foremost, a bass wizard: He’s got superhuman skills on the fretboard that boggle the mind. And he’s an incredible R&B songwriter. If it’s a combination of technical dazzle and wallto-wall jams you’re looking for, don’t miss this show. PLAN B: Wild Wild Wets, Rose Windows, Jeffertitti’s Nile @ Soda Bar. Seattle outfit Rose Windows do psychedelic rock with an atmospheric, meditative vibe. They’re more about spacing out than hitting the audience with a bad trip, so they should provide a nice complement to lo-

cal favorites Wild Wild Wets, whose trippy garage-rock sound goes bigger on hooks and noise. BACKUP PLAN: Prayers, High Functioning Flesh, DJ Mario Orduno @ The Casbah.

Monday, May 12 PLAN A: Little Bear, Crisis Arm, Foster Body, Witch Prayer @ The Che Café.

Little Bear’s Facebook bio describes them as “San Diego ambient doom punx,” which immediately sells me on them. And a video of one of their performances more or less establishes that as exactly the right description.

It’s heavy and melodic, and it should be awesome.

Tuesday, May 13 PLAN A: People Under the Stairs, Joint Response, DJ Thundercat Gar Gar, NN$ @ The Casbah. People Under the Stairs are veterans of underground hip-hop, blending hypnotic and crackly beats with chill rhymes.

They’ve been around for more than 15 years, but with a new album due this month, they don’t show any signs of slowing down. Also, I have no idea who DJ Gar Gar is, but I dig the name. BACKUP PLAN: NYPC, We Are Sirens, Midnight Faces @ Soda Bar.

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 31

HOT! NEW! FRESH! Dr. Know (Soda Bar, 6/21), Toni Braxton (Del Mar Fairgrounds, 6/21), March Violets (Soda Bar, 6/28), Asher Roth (Irenic, 7/1), Dwarves (Soda Bar, 7/1819), The Neighbourhood (Open Air Theatre, 7/22), Tori Amos (Humphreys, 7/24), OK Go (BUT, 7/24), Goo Goo Dolls (Harrah’s Resort, 7/25), Donavon Frankenreiter (Harrah’s Resort, 7/26), Kidz Bop Kids (HOB, 7/30), The Budos Band (Casbah, 8/2), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Humphreys, 8/7), Sara Bareilles (Open Air Theatre, 8/9), Hawthorne Heights (Open Air Theatre, 8/17), Strand of Oaks (Casbah, 9/4), Pixies (Humphreys, 9/27), Little Barrie (Soda Bar, 10/5), The Horrors (BUT, 10/13).

GET YER TICKETS M.I.A. (SOMA, 5/30), Kelis (HOB, 6/3), Little Hurricane (HOB, 6/7), Guided by Voices (BUT, 6/14), Failure (HOB, 6/15), The Both (BUT, 6/15), Nightmares on Wax (HOB, 6/23), EMA (Casbah, 6/29), Devo (BUT, 6/30), Deafheaven (Casbah, 7/1), Peter Murphy (BUT, 7/2), Kenny Loggins (BUT, 7/8), Wye Oak (BUT, 7/9), Cloud Nothings (Soda Bar, 7/11), The Reverend Horton Heat (BUT, 7/11), La Roux (HOB, 7/12), Chris Isaak (Humphreys, 7/16), The Antlers (BUT, 7/16), Wolves in the Throne Room (Che Café, 7/19), Doug Benson (HOB, 7/23), Boris (Casbah, 7/24), The Hold Steady (BUT, 7/31), Arcade Fire (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 8/5), Arctic Monkeys (Open Air Theatre, 8/6), The Head and the Heart (North Park The-

32 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

atre, 8/11), The Sonics (Irenic, 8/16), Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 8/21), BB King (Humphreys, 8/27), Andrew Bird (Humphreys, 9/19).

May Wednesday, May 7 Riff Raff at House of Blues. Visage at The Casbah. Jacco Gardner at Soda Bar.

Thursday, May 8 Yoni Wolf at Che Café. Tom Jones at House of Blues. Old 97s at Belly Up.

Friday, May 9 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at The Casbah. ‘Channel 933 Summer Kickoff’ w/ Fall Out Boy, Tiesto, Paramore at Sleep Train Amphitheatre.

Saturday, May 10 Survival Knife at Soda Bar. Roach Gigz at Porter’s Pub.

Sunday, May 11 Thundercat at The Irenic. Earth, Wind and Fire at Harrah’s SoCal.

Tuesday, May 13 NYPC at Soda Bar. People Under the Stairs at The Casbah.

Wednesday, May 14 Stephen Marley at Belly Up Tavern.

Thursday, May 15 Journey, Steve Miller Band at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. Early Man at Til-

Two Club.

Friday, May 16 Gary Wilson at Til-Two Club. Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger at The Casbah.

Saturday, May 17 Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs at The Casbah. Tim McGraw at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. Iggy Azalea at House of Blues.

Sunday, May 18 Anti-Nowhere League at House of Blues. ‘Songs of Protest, Songs of Peace’ w/ Indigo Girls at Balboa Theatre. Red Fang at Porter’s Pub.

Monday, May 19 Damien Jurado at The Casbah. Lower at Soda Bar. Band of Skulls at House of Blues.

rCLUBSr Tuesday, May 20

Katchafire at Belly Up Tavern. Howlin’ Rain at The Casbah.

Wednesday, May 21 Wayne “The Train” Hancock at The Casbah. Katchafire at Belly Up Tavern.

Shai Hulud at The Che Café.

Thursday, May 22 Papercuts at Soda Bar.

Friday, May 23 Chris Robinson Brotherhood at Belly Up Tavern. Against Me! at House of Blues. Gang Green at Til-Two Club. Negura Bunget at The Merrow.

Saturday, May 24 Hellogoodbye at The Irenic. YG at House of Blues. Matt Pond PA at Soda Bar. Baths at The Casbah.

Sunday, May 25 Suzanne Vega at Belly Up Tavern. Protomartyr at The Hideout. Angelic Upstarts at Soda Bar. The Bloody Beetroots at Bassmnt.

Monday, May 26 Blood Red Shoes at The Casbah. Jeremy Jay at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, May 27 Crystal Fighters at The Irenic. Nothing at Soda Bar. In the Valley Below at The Casbah.

Wednesday, May 28 Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne at Viejas Arena. Eagulls at The Casbah.

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach. 710bc.com. Wed: Open mic, open jam. Thu: Live band karaoke. Fri: Chelsea Chavez (5 p.m.); Able the Allies, Arson Academy, Mad Z and the Boones, Monkeys in Space, Tyler Beach (8:30 p.m.). Sat: Dazed and Confused. Sun: Karaoke.

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. 98bottlessd.com. Fri: Tokeli.

Sat: Robert Dove Quintet.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St, Normal Heights. airconditionedbar.com.

Wed: ‘Breezy Bliss’ w/ DJs Brian Millar, DJ Phon, Just Sven Volz, JoshthebeaR, Gianna, Viking. Thu: ‘DIVE’ w/ DJs ALA, Mikeytown. Fri: DJ Junior the DiscoPunk.

Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech. Sun: ‘Undercurrent’.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave, Downtown. americancomedyco. com. Thu, Sun: Jon Dore. Fri-Sat: Bill Burr and Jon Dore. Tue: Open mic.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St, Downtown. facebook.com/BangBangSanDiego. Fri: Le Youth, Kevin Brown. Sat: Pete Tong, Lee K. Bar Pink, 3829 30th St, North Park. barpink.com. Wed: DJ Grand Masta Rats.

Thu: Javier Escovedo, El Monte Slim. Fri: Euphoria Brass Band. Sat: The Milkcrates DJs. Sun: Lisa Doll and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Romance, City Mouse, Western Settings.

Mon: DJs Nate Bohy, Queen Aida, The @ Largester.

Bassmnt, 919 Fourth Ave, Downtown. bassmntsd.com. Thu: Borgeous. Fri: Gent and Jawns. Sat: Aly and Fila.

Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla. brocktonvilla.com/beaumonts.html.

Wed: Kayla Hope. Thu: Simeon Flick.

Fri: Fish and the Seaweeds. Sat: Slower.

Sun: Spanky.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. bellyup.com. Wed: Big Mountain, Arise Roots. Thu: Old 97s, Nikki Lane. Fri: Johnny Clegg Band, Jesse Clegg. Sat: Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers, The Paragraphs. Sun: Steel Pulse, DJ Carlos Culture (sold out).

Tue: The Barnwell Shift, Lee Koch, The Blue Moonies.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave, Carlsbad. boarcrossn.net. Thu: Mysidia. Fri: ‘Club Musae’. Sat: Whiskey Avengers, Ottley Mercer.

Bourbon Street, 4612 Park Blvd, University Heights. bourbonstreetsd.com. Wed: VJ K Swift. Thu: ‘Wet’. Sun: ‘Soiree’. Tue: Karaoke.

Brass Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave, Hillcrest. thebrassrailsd.com. Thu: DJ Simon Taylor.

Fri: ‘Wired’. Sat: ‘Sabado En Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA. Sun: Daisy Salinas, DJ Sebastian La Madrid. Mon: DJs Junior the Disco Punk, XP. Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave, Downtown. cafesevilla.com. Wed: Aro Di Santi. Thu: Malamana. Fri: Joeff and Co. Sat-Sun: Oscar Aragon.

Comedy Palace, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Clairemont. thecomedypalace.com.

Wed: Gallagher. Fri-Sat: Tobe Hixx.

Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St, La Jolla. lajolla.thecomedystore.com.

Fri-Sat: Shawn Pelofsky.

Croce’s Park West, 2760 Fifth Ave., #100, Bankers Hill. crocesparkwest.com.

Wed: Austin Gatus Quartet. Thu: Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright. Fri: Steph Johnson. Sat: Ruby Blue. Sun: Irving Flores Trio.

El Dorado Bar, 1030 Broadway, Downtown. eldoradobar.com. Wed: ‘The Tighten Up’. Thu: ‘Smiths Night’. Fri: ‘Posse on Broadway’. Sat: ‘Bump and Hustle’.

Epicentre, 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd, Mira Mesa. epicentreconcerts.org. Fri: Kill Paradise, Soul Juice, Fourth and Coast, In Viridian, Waking in Sonata, As We Were,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 33

Zombie Barbie. Sat: Seconds Ago, Head of the Hydra, Shattered Eyes, Downward Spiral.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown, Downtown. f6ixsd.com. Fri: DJ Decon. Sat: DJ Rell.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave, Downtown. fluxxsd.com. Thu: ‘IDGAF’ w/ Jack Beats, AC Slater. Fri: Brody Jenner. Sat: DJ Brett Bodley.

Gallagher’s, 5040 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach. 619-222-5303. Wed: High Noon.

Thu: Project Out of Bounds. Fri: Neighbors to the North, DJ Chelu. Sat: Ass Pocket, Whiskey Fellas, DJ R2.

Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave, Downtown. hardrockhotelsd.com. Thu: Amigo, Pleasure Fix. Fri: DJs Fingaz, Aaron Taylor, Kurch. Sat: DJs Diamond, Chris Kennedy.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave, Downtown. henryspub.com. Wed: Johnny Tarr, DJ Christopher London. Thu: Mark Fisher, DJ Yodah. Fri: ‘Good Times’. Sat: DJs E, Yodah. Mon: ‘Kinetic Soul’. Tue: Big City Dawgs.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave, Downtown. houseofblues.com/sandiego. Wed: Riff Raff. Thu: Tom Jones, Lee Coulter.

Fri: Bonfire, Fan Halen.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. kavalounge.com. Wed: ‘Future Wednesday’. Thu: ‘SHAFT’. Fri: ‘The Road to Sonic Bloom’. Sat: ‘Dragon Lounge’. Sun: ‘For the Love of Hip Hop’.

Tue: ‘High Tech Tuesday’.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave, Kensington. 619-284-2848. Sat: Grizzly Business, Mittens, Super Buffet.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave, Coronado. mcpspub.com. Wed: Jackson and Jesus. Thu: Tone Cookin’. Fri:

Midlife Crisis. Tue: Glen Smith.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd, Hillcrest. numberssd.com. Thu: ‘Varsity’. Fri: ‘Viernes Calientes’. Sat: ‘Club Sabbat’.

Sun: ‘Joe’s GameNite’.

Onyx Room / Thin, 852 Fifth Ave, Downtown. onyxroom.com. Fri: ‘Rumba Lounge’. Sat: ‘Play’. Tue: ‘Neo Soul’.

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St, Downtown. patricksii.com. Wed: The Hit List. Thu & Sun: Mystique Element of Soul. Fri: Myron and the Kyniptionz. Sat: The Bill Magee Blues Band. Mon: The Groove Squad.

Tue: Walter’s Chicken Jam. Porter’s Pub, 9500 Gilman Dr., UCSD campus, La Jolla. porterspub.net. Sat: Roach Gigz.

Queen Bee’s, 3925 Ohio St, North Park. queenbeessd.com. Sat: The Rambling Royal Burlesque Revue. Tue: Open mic.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave, Hillcrest. richssandiego.com. Wed: DJ John Joseph. Thu: DJ Kiki. Fri: DJs Dirty Kurty, Will Z. Sat: DJ Taj. Sun: DJs Casey Alva, Qoolee Kid. Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave, La Mesa. rivierasupperclub.com.

Wed: Westside Inflection. Thu: Bloody Mary Bastards. Fri: Sure Fire Soul Ensemble. Sat: Lady Star. Tue: Karaoke.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave, North Park. sevengrandbars.com/sd. Thu: Joe Guevara and the Wheelers. Fri: The Routine. Sat: Stevie and the Hi-Staxx.

Shakedown Bar, 3048 Midway Drive, Point Loma. theshakedownsd.com. Fri: DFMK, Homeless Sexuals, White Murder, Shark Blood. Sat: Chica Diabla, Masteria, Cedar Fire, Fucklordz. Tue: ‘Soul Shakedown’.

Side Bar, 536 Market St, Downtown. sidebarsd.com. Wed: ‘Clash of the Nightlife Titans’. Thu: ‘Divino Thursday’. Fri: Richard Beynon.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. sodabarmusic.com. Wed: Jacco Gardner, Barbarian, Maston. Thu: Black Prairie, Tiburones. Fri: One Way System, Mass Terror, Embalmers. Sat: Survival Knife, Beehive and the Barracudas, Hungry Ghost, DJ Mario Orduno. Sun: Rose Windows, Wild Wild Wets, Jeffertitti’s Nile. Tue: NYPC, We Are Sirens, Midnight Faces.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, Midway. somasandiego.com. Fri: Christoph, SMAS, JVDAS, Digital Jammer, ALLVSION, Jefferson, Steelflex. Sat: Cut Your Losses, Always the Understudy, Echoes, Heavyweight, the Whig Whams, The Best Defense.

Stage Bar & Grill, 762 Fifth Ave, Downtown. stagesaloon.com. Wed: Mark Fisher and Gaslamp Guitars. Thu: Van Roth. Fri: Disco Pimps, Brothers Herd.

Sat: Hott Mess, DJ Miss Dust. Sun: ‘Funhouse/Seismic’.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., San Diego, Normal Heights. sycamoreden. com. Thu: Sleeping Ghost. Sun: Erika Davies and Her Wolf.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Rd, Spring Valley. 619-469-2337. Wed: Throne, Jara, Let’s Break Up. Fri: Generation Delcine, Diatribe, Expired Logic, Nerve Control, At Fault. Sat: Tartar Control, Clepto, The Mice, Sculpins, Nuclear Tomorrow. Sun: Sound Lupus, Gringo Moco, Quad IX, Foreign Suns. Tue: Ars Phoenix, Dancing Strangers, Comet Calendar.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. casbahmusic.com. Wed: Sister Speak, Hollow Wood, Gayle Skidmore.

Thu: Saint Shameless, The Night Owl Massacre, Bankers Hill. Fri: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Fear of Men, Ablebody. Sat: We Are Scientists, PAWS. Sun: Prayers, High Functioning Flesh, DJ Mario Orduno. Mon: The Steinbacks, Sleeping Ghost, International Dipshit. Tue: People Under The Stairs, Joint Response, DJ Gar Gar, NN$.

The Che Cafe, UCSD campus, La Jolla. thechecafe.blogspot.com. Wed: Japanese Game Show, Young Wants, VJJ. Thu: Yoni Wolf, Serengeti. Fri: New Gods, Downward Spiral, Haruka, Whip Hand, Drug Control. Sat: Nimzo Indians, Wolvves, Bad Kids, Kitty Coup. Mon: Little Bear, Crisis Arm, Foster Body, Witch Prayer.

The Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. theloft.ucsd.edu. Fri: Soda Pants.

Sat: Trails and Ways, Dirty Gold.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave, Hillcrest. rubyroomsd.com. Thu: Serovox,

34 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

Bakkuda, Direct Divide. Sat: Y.Y.Zed, Generator, Township Rebellion.

The Office, 3936 30th St, North Park. officebarinc.com. Wed: ‘Dub Dynamite’ w/ DJs Rashi, Eddie Turbo. Thu: DJ Myson King. Fri: ‘After Hours’ w/ DJs Kid Wonder, Saul Q. Sat: DJs Kanye Asada, Gabe Vega. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ w/ Tribe of Kings. Tue: DJ Ramsey.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. tiltwoclub.com. Fri: Ottly Mercer, 2000 Tons of TNT. Sat: Empire Pleasure, XO, Sundrop Electric.

Tin Can Ale House, 1863 Fifth Ave, Bankers Hill. thetincan1.wordpress.com.

Wed: Inspired and the Sleep, Reqiuem for the Rockets, Paper Days. Thu: Midnight Pine, Trevor Beld Jimenez, Todd Day Wait’s Pigpen. Fri: Amigo, Chiefs, Caveman Voice Box. Sat: Ghetto Blaster, Prize Hog, Diving For Earth. Mon: ‘Tin Can Country Club’ w/ Todd Day Wait.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St, Bay Park. tioleos.com. Wed: Christopher Dale. Thu: Nathan James and the Rhythm Scratchers. Fri: Detroit Underground. Sat: Cheapest Trick, Dangerous Types. Tue: DJ Jim Hance Zydeco.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave, City Heights. thetowerbar.com. Wed: Crooked Rulers, Lilith Velkor, Se Vende. Fri: Shake Before Us, Schitzophonics, Badabing, Gloomsday. Mon: The Natives, Slipping Into Darkness,. Tue: Royal Red Brigade.

Turquoise, 873 Turquoise St, Pacific Beach. theturquoise.com/wordpress.

Wed: Tomcat Courtney (7 p.m.). Thu: The Jade Visions Jazz Trio (7 p.m.). Fri: Tomcat Courtney (7 p.m.); Afro Jazziacs (9 p.m.). Sat: Zak Lipton Trio (4 p.m.); Tomcat Courtney (6:30 p.m.); Son Pa Ti (9 p.m.). Sun: Sounds Like Four (4 p.m.); Blue44 (7 p.m.). Mon: Stefanie Schmitz (7 p.m.). Tue: Grupo Globo (7 p.m.).

Ux31, 3112 University Ave, North Park. u31bar.com. Wed: Nightmare Air, Roman Remains, Chrome Wilderness. Thu: Lane 8, Jon Dadon, Third Twin. Fri: Lee Churchill.

West Coast Tavern, 2895 University Ave, North Park. westcoatstavern.com.

Wed: DJ Qenoe. Thu: DJ Decon. Fri: Beefam, DJ Twist. Sat: Wil Hernandez.

Tue: DJ Clean Cut. Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. whistlestopbar.com. Fri: The Bedbreakers. Sat: ‘Booty Bassment’.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St, Ocean Beach. winstonsob.com. Wed: Raiz Muzik, Kingzland, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: ‘Subdvsn’.

Fri: Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!, Total Distortion, Nuns n Moses. Sat: Todo Mundo, Saritah. Sun: Destructo Bunny. Mon: Electric Waste Band.

Proud sponsor: Pacific Nature Tours

Ink Well Xwords by Ben Tausig

Across 1. Legendary NYC punk club 5. Place for some prehistoric paintings 9. Dirigible from Akron 14. Vibe 15. French flag color 16. Driverless racer, casually 17. Trampled 18. *Disreputable period in baseball history 20. Match 22. Beginning point of a story that ends in riches 23. Get a sunburn, so to speak 24. *Dangerous phenomenon at the shore 27. Type 28. Soap maker’s need 29. Frequent collaborator with David Byrne 30. On the hook, legally 32. Rush around the country, say?

33. Real racket 34. Marx who wrote “All that is solid melts into air” 35. Studies, say 36. *Nihilistically titled Metallica debut album 39. Jewish holiday featuring readings from the Book of Esther 42. Drawn-out episode 43. Defunct boy band with “Summer Girls” 46. Most fit to be drafted 47. Sonny who died six months after his last fight 49. Response to a gut punch 50. Not as it should be 51. “Kapow!”

52. *Use Google narcissistically 54. Hack 55. Girl’s title

Last week’s answers

57. Sip 58. *Hostile response at a stadium 62. ___ Ono Lennon 63. Be on the same page 64. Basis for Tolkien’s orcs 65. Detained 66. Patty’s brother-in-law 67. Infield protector 68. March time?

Down 1. Like most wedding receptions 2. Portmanteau at the beach for some Muslim women 3. “Deal of the day” website 4. Having no knack for 5. “How I Met Your Mother” channel 6. Key sometimes called “option” 7. Drift 8. Company that sells continental train tickets 9. Nippy 10. ___ Soundsystem 11. Refuge for penguins 12. Get hitched to leave class?

13. Appeals to a higher authority 19. Make way more than eye contact with 21. NYC rapper once associated with The Notorious B.I.G. 25. Anachronistic (but still common) phone verb 26. ___ Sweatshirt (Odd Future member) 31. Make kosher, say 32. MTV video show, until 2008 35. Put in the calendar 36. Soul company 37. Partner 38. Wowed 39. VIP 40. Experience 41. Critter used in composting 43. New York rock icon who died in 2013 44. On the block 45. Wounds, in a way 47. Not of the cloth 48. Words of emergency from one on the front lines 51. Bicycle racer with pegs 53. Japanese rolls 56. Company for which Capcom made games 59. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, ___ Middleton 60. Leave the righteous path 61. Squat unit, say

A pair of tickets for a 4.5- or eight-hour Pacific Nature Tour will be awarded weekly. Email a picture of your answers to crossword@sdcitybeat.com or fax it to 619-325-1393. Limit one win per person per 30 days.

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 35

36 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 37

38 · San Diego CityBeat · May 7, 2014

May 7, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 39