San Diego CityBeat • Oct 5, 2016

2 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

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October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

De-escalation, now

D

E-ESCALATION. It’s the word connected to the most sensible path forward from the ugly place that police shootings of black citizens have brought us to in this country.

Last week it hit home, hard. The list of locales where unnecessary killings have made national headlines has expanded to include our backyard, with El Cajon joining Ferguson, Tulsa, Charlotte and too many others cities where lives have been abruptly and questionably ended by men and women in uniform.

We can study the past, live in the moment and plan for the future. But in moving forward, the plan to get out of this mess has to begin with a top-tobottom call for institutional de-escalation of these powder keg scenarios.

That means training police officers to defuse situations rather than escalate them.

“It’s the direction law enforcement needs to go,” former San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “We need to spend more time on when to shoot as opposed to just how to shoot.”

Bullseye.

Last week, Alfred Olango’s sister called the police seeking aid for her brother, who was demonstrating bizarre behavior in the streets of El Cajon.

The Ugandan refugee, who has not been reported to have committed any crime, was observed acting erratically, walking in and out of traffic. Olango’s mother has said her son was despondent over the recent death of his best friend.

In a more perfect world the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team would not have been busy that day. But the PERT team was on another call, so two officers arrived on the scene. One cop, Richard Gonsalves, could be seen on surveillance video approaching Olango with his gun drawn. Olango appeared to attempt to evade the officer and wasn’t responding to Gonsalves’ orders. From close proximity to Gonsalves, Olango pulled an object from his pocket that turned out to be a vape device. Law enforcement officials said Olango assumed a “shooter’s stance,” and Gonsalves instantaneously fired four bullets at him.

Kudos that the whole surveillance video of the incident was released to the public on Friday. Soon, an investigation will commence, fingers will be pointed, sides will be taken and—if matters stand to

form—San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will find no criminal liability in this officer-involved shooting, as has been the case in more than 150 similar investigations by the DA since 2005.

Meanwhile, race relations continue to steam up inside the cultural pressure cooker. By and large, black and minority communities feel unduly targeted by law enforcement. You can agree or disagree on whether that notion is a reality—but you can’t dispute that the perception exists, and that at the very least it calls for all-around introspection and programatic change.

“Responding officers should not have had their weapons drawn as Mr. Olango was not presenting a danger to others,” said Dr. Frank Placone-Willey, a faith leader from Santee with the San Diego Organizing Project, which is afFERCHIL RAMOS filated with the national nonprofit People Improving Communties through Organizing (PICO).

“The officers should have taken steps to de-escalate the situation,” he added at a recent local rally. “Its doubtful police would have taken such an aggressive stance if the victim was white...Headlines of African American victims of police killings are too innumerous to name. As angels of consolation, faith leaders are Police in El Cajon united in our calls for an end of police violence.”

Detractors scoff at the idea of asking police officers to step back and consider de-escalating encounters, and deny that implicit bias exists. Trolls frown on the notion of what they call “hug-a-thug” and say it only leads to the police officers getting shot or injured.

Sigh. Some people are firmly in a state of disbelief about race relations. It’s partly a generational thing but it’s re-emerged in public as a national issue, and it’s thouroughly disheartening to see San Diego County take its turn on CNN. Don’t forget that every time an unarmed black man is killed by police in a different U.S. city that death feeds the fires of unrest on several levels. The street protests are local pain; the anguish brought on by the collective parade of incidents is universal in building dismay and anger. Left unattended and unabated, a tipping point will occur.

—Ron Donoho Write to rond@sdcitybeat.com

This issue of CityBeat thinks Trump should claim he was robbed of $916 million at gunpoint in a Paris hotel.

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4 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

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October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

UP FRONT | LETTERS

ON THE

KAEPERNICK ONE

Stephen Keyes seems to be clueless as to what Kaepernick’s actions are for [Letters, Sept. 21]. Black people are not asking for a perfect society; just respect of life would be sufficient! As far as disrespecting the ideal of our society, that has been done incessantly since this country was founded. The Native Americans felt the disrespect; the Asians, coming to this country for a better life felt it; and since the 1500s Africans and African-Americans have felt it.

People are giving Kaepernick death threats. Maybe the same people who are strutting around with white privilege dripping from their jaws!

Jazz Cook, San Diego

KAEPERNICK TWO Stephen Keyes, which ivory tower do you inhabit [Letters Sept. 21]? You really don’t get this, do you?

Kaepernick’s symbolic gesture has nothing to do with “perfection.” Enlightened, concerned citizens naturally experience the need to communicate their opinions on matters of social injustice.

In normal societies this behavior is welcomed and encouraged, because it highlights key issues, stimulates debate and offers the opportunity for positive change. (Especially when initiated by one in a high-profile position).

Mr Keyes, would you prefer that we stick our heads in the sand or sit around, aimlessly reciting platitudes?

Fortunately, Kaepernick doesn’t count himself among the 80 percent of willing/ignorant victims in our society. His action and consequent inspiration place him in the top 10 percent—The Intelligentsia. (We all know who the remaining 10 percent represents).

6 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

One would think that we live in a police state with some of the current nonsense surrounding a flag and an anthem. Ultimately, Kaepernick’s stand for justice worked. After all, we’re still talking about it, aren’t we?

Anna Bowen-Davies,

University Heights

COVER

I talked quite a while ago with [staff writer Torrey Bailey] when you started doing the CityBeat neighborhood features. I just wanted to give you some kudos on what’s become my fave part of CityBeat. I like the characters feature, the details, the history, etc.

Even a longtime San Diego kid like me learns something new from the offbeat facts.

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

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

4 6 7 8 9

FOOD & DRINK

The World Fare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Bottle Rocket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Beerdist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

THINGS TO DO Short List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . 12-14

Sam Chammas, South Park

WE WANT FEEDBACK

UP FRONT From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Sordid Tales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

There She Goz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GOOD HOODS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Mark Arapostathis (pictured on the cover) is the mayor or La Mesa, as well as director of theater arts at the La Mesa Arts Academy. This multi-tasker now teaches in a classroom where he was once a student. Like other La Mesans interviewed by staff writer Torrey Bailey for this month’s Neighborhood Watch feature, “Dr. A” has a suburban pride mixed with an openness to progressive opportunities. The story begins on page 16.

ARTS & CULTURE Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 FEATURE: La Mesa. . . . . . . . 16-22 Seen Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Films . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-25

MUSIC FEATURE: Ryley Walker. . . . . . 26 Notes From the Smoking Patio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 If I Were U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Concerts & Clubs . . . . . . . . 30-32

LAST WORDS Advice Goddess . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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UP FRONT | OPINION

SPIN

CYCLE

JOHN R. LAMB

Taking one for the team True friends stab you in the front.

A

—Oscar Wilde

t Monday’s jam-packed No on Measure C press conference, barely a harsh word was uttered about the elephant not in the room.

In the dark of night slightly more than 12 hours prior, a strange embargo had been lifted from the friendly shoulders of The San Diego Union-Tribune, which proceeded to announce that Mayor Kevin Faulconer had finally returned from the mountaintop with a caveat-riddled endorsement of the Chargers’ struggling ballot measure to get a new stadium built in downtown San Diego.

For months, the mayor held city leaders, football fans and residents in suspense as he fended off queries about his stance on Measure C, which if approved by

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voters in November would raise the city’s hotel tax to 16.5 percent from 12.5 percent to help pay for an estimated $1.8 billion, mammoth multi-use facility in the heart of East Village that would house the Chargers and a convention center annex.

When team Chairman Dean Spanos let loose a few of the details of the negotiated agreement with the mayor to gain his endorsement late last week, the mayor could stay silent no longer—particularly since measure opponents were having a field day kicking the concessions to the curb.

Which made Monday’s presser all the more intriguing, considering that ballot-measure proponents packed the small Central Library conference room rented for the occasion. Just before the press conference began, dozens

of orange-shirted members of Laborers Local 89 hopped off a white shuttle bus to attend the event.

“I had a little over 24 hours to organize,” said Gretchen Newsom, political director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569. “This was an easy effort due to the amount of enthusiasm our members have for the Chargers and the opportunity to build a world-class facility and stadium.”

Save for a singular “Boo!” and a few taunts, measure backers were generally respectful of their outnumbered opponents, a loosely knit coalition of political insiders, urban planners, tax-hike combatants and gentrification skeptics who sense nothing but doom for the future of East Village and the neighboring underserved communities of Barrio Logan and Sherman Heights, should Measure C pass.

Opponents immediately pounced on the eight concessions the mayor boasted about gaining from the Chargers, including a cap on project costs, guaranteeing full funding of tourism marketing as well as no dipping into city general fund money, a commitment to stay in San Diego until the initial debt is paid, replacing Padres parking that would be lost to construction at Tailgate

JOHN R. LAMB

Park and addressing “quality of life” issues in the neighborhood.

April Boling, a Measure C opposition organizer and Faulconer’s longtime campaign treasurer, said those concessions are not enforceable but rather “an acknowledgement of the flaws in the measure.”

“I think that that list is a good starting place when the Chargers come Dean Spanos to Mayor “Concession Extractor” back to the table Faulconer: “OK, we’ll try to win a few to negotiate after games, too!”

Measure C fails,” another Faulconer loyalist, said she said. “If you read it carefully, even with the concessions, “there you’ll also see that the language is are still too many risks that this pretty vague in a lot of them.”

San Diego City Council mem- measure poses to the city. This is ber Scott Sherman, a loyal ally of still a $1 billion tax increase that the mayor but a staunch Measure hurts our taxpayers and tourC antagonist, declined to criti- ism jobs. There are still too many cize Faulconer for his decision. missing details that are in the ac“I think he’s trying to position tual legal language.”

Faulconer has reportedly achimself for what happens after knowledged that the language [the November vote],” he said afterwards. “I think it’s more if of the ballot measure cannot be the Chargers do come back to changed but that future decisions the table, he’s trying to position by the City Council on design plans and the sale of bonds will himself.”

Sherman, who meets with the influence the final project.

Architect Rob Quigley, who mayor regularly, said his next getdesigned the Central Library, said together should be interesting, San Diego “will be the butt of a lot “especially since we’re put—for the very first time, actually—on of jokes” if it decides to place a noisy stadium adjacent to its main the opposite sides of each other.”

He saved his harshest words library, which he said would be a for the Chargers, who he said first in the country.

None of the concessions, Quig“have proven over and over they ley noted, force the Chargers to can’t be trusted at their word.” build something amenable to East Sherman pointed to the team’s Village.

Unlike baseball parks, flirting with Los Angeles, its indifference then opposition to re- which he said have a “proven hismaining in Mission Valley, and tory” of reinvigorating urban setthen when rebuked in Los Angeles tings, “football stadiums by definiproposing its own initiative “with tion have to be inwardly pointed. zero input from the city, its lead- They have to be closed. They have ers, the mayor or the community.” to be, in essence, anti-social when “At the end of the day, the only they’re not being used. That’s thing you have is your handshake why everybody else puts them in and your word,” Sherman said. big parking lots.”

To highlight the diversity of “And we’ve seen from the Charthe opposition, Barrio Logan artgers organization many, many ist Mario Torero noted that Petco times that their word doesn’t rePark “destroyed a dream” for a ally mean much.” burgeoning arts district that is Councilmember-elect Chris now firmly entrenched in Barrio Ward, whose district includes Logan. But with the added stadidowntown, blasted the negotiated um, “for sure artists will leave San agreement because it “summarDiego,” he predicted. ily disregards community work “This is a permanent urban which took years of effort in the design mistake,” Quigley conmaking,” a reference to proposals curred. “It cannot be corrected to focus development in the area with money.” on high-tech jobs and the ameni ties younger workers and families Spin Cycle appears every week. are seeking.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

Councilmember Chris Cate,

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

UP FRONT | OPINION

SORDID

EDWIN DECKER

TALES

I would never say Donald Trump is an apophasizer…

D

id you hear Donald Trump repeatedly sniffling his nose during the last Presidential debate? If I were a lesser man, I would say dude was pretty coked up.

Of course, it would be wrong to make such a comment without proof, which is why I would never say that Donald J. Trump—the Republican candidate for President of the United States—was high as a helicopter during the debates and has possibly been an uncontrollable tweaker throughout most of his adult life and, that, my friends, is a rhetorical device known as an apophasis.

An apophasis is when a person states or reveals something by saying that he or she will not state or reveal it. Next to flinging his own feces against a wall and insisting its art, the apophasis is one of Trump’s favorite tactics. Such as immediately after the debate when he told CNN, “I’m very happy that I was able to hold back on the indiscretions with respect to Bill Clinton because I have a lot of respect for Chelsea Clinton and I just didn’t want to say what I was going to say.”

But you just said it ya twerp!

Right there, just now—you said it!

You see a lot of examples of the apophasis in politics, when one party seeks to damage the other person’s reputation with tawdry gossip while at the same time appearing to be above tawdry gossip. Such as during the 1988 race for the presidency, after it was leaked that Michael Dukakis had received psychiatric treatment, Reagan told reporters, “Look, I’m not going to pick on an invalid.”

And who can forget when Cranky McAngryson, the incumbent city clerk of Weeki Wachi, Florida famously declared, “I refuse to go negative against my opponent, Juan Liddle Dingus, who we all know has a wiener the size of his grandmother’s tea-pinky.”

The evil genius behind Trump’s unmentionable mention of Bill Clinton’s adultery is that Hillary Clinton didn’t get to respond. Because you know she was prepared to respond. Hillary was nothing if not prepared for whatever “art” Trump was going to fling during that debate. She would have eaten him alive with regard to his record on monogamy. Or possibly just responded, “You know what fuckweasel? My husband’s marital indiscretions have as much to do with my ability to govern as your father’s Nazi indiscretions have to do with yours—but we won’t go there.”

However, with an after-the-fact apophasis, he has people associating her with her husband’s dirty deeds, while at the same time disavowing himself from the appearance of mudslinging then wrapping it all up with a pretty, little bow called, “Respect for Chelsea”—because, you know, he’s always so considerate about women’s feelings.

Not that this is anything new. Politicians have

been using the apophasis since Pontius Pilate told a jury of Christ’s peers, “I’m not even going to mention this water-to-wine lunacy.” But Trump uses it ad nauseam. During his 2015 primary run, Trump said, “I promised I would not say that [Carly Fiorina] ran Hewlett-Packard into the ground...I said I will not say it, so I will not say it.”

He apophasized Jeb Bush in January when he said, “I was going to say ‘dummy’ Bush; I won’t say it. I won’t say it.”

About Jon Stewart, Trump tweeted, “...I never attacked dopey Jon Stewart for his phony last name.

Would never do that!”

Earlier this year he tweeted, “I refuse to call Megyn Kelly a bimbo, because that would not be politically correct.”

Trump also likes to employ a relative of the apophasis known as phony reluctance, which is how he was able to call Ted Cruz a pussy without actually calling him a pussy. It was at a rally in New Hampshire, while riffing on Cruz’s reluctance to come out in favor of waterboarding. A woman in the audience blurted, “Pussy!” which was inaudible to most of the crowd so Trump called attention to it.

“She just said a terrible thing,” he announced, pointing to the woman. Then he told her to, “Shout it out, because I don’t want to say it.”

The woman blurted it again and he told her, “Okay, you’re not allowed to say that, and I never expect to hear that from you again,” (there’s your phony reluctance) then addressing the crowd he said, “She called [Cruz] a pussy.”

Look, the way you don’t mention something that you don’t want to mention is by not mentioning it. I know it’s hard sometimes, I mean even as I write this conclusion I struggle with a desire to say that Donald Trump is a compulsive liar (I’m so proud that I haven’t). It is taking every bit of emotional strength to keep from calling him a sexist, racist, racketeering conman, who may have committed child rape (so far, that’s just an accusation so I’m biting my tongue). I don’t want to call him vapid (which he clearly is), nor insidious (word on the street says “yes”). I certainly will not say that he has predilection toward incest (the things he has said about his daughter are too creepy to repeat here like, “If Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her”), and I will never make reference to the cage fights he hosts between undocumented Mexicans and Syrian refugees in the dungeons of Trump Tower. Nope, not me. I’m just too professional and dignified to stoop to such depths. But that’s just me. I’m awesome. All hail me.

I rule.

The way you don’t mention something that you don’t want to mention is by not mentioning it.

8 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

Sordid Tales appears every other week.

Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com.

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UP FRONT | VOICES

THERE SHE

ALEX ZARAGOZA

GOZ

Fears and fascinations at the Catacombs of Paris

K

eep calm and remember everyone will die.

That’s what the world’s most nihilistic coffee mug read—a quirky souvenir at the Paris Catacombs gift shop. Everyone will die. Remember.

Everyone. Will. Die. If you’re anything like me, you don’t need a coffee mug to remind you that everyone will die, including your own insignificant ass. Fear of death has always been a major driver in my life. It’s like in one of my all-time favorite movies, Moonstruck, starring Cher and Nicolas Cage. Olympia Dukakis, who plays Cher’s mom in the movie and is a goddamn queen, asks, “Why do men chase women?” and when met with some bullshit answer from an older, skirt-chasing professor (played by John Mahoney, the dad from Frasier), she answers, “I think it’s because they fear death.”

Death, as the movie explains, is the reason people (the movie pinpoints men, but I think this goes for all people regardless of gender) relentlessly pursue love and sex. But really, doesn’t that reasoning apply to anything? Why jump out of a plane?

Why eat this whole pizza? Why go on a years-long cross-country trip? Why slip your number to that cutie at the grocery store? Why quit your corporate job to follow your dream of being a performance artist that smears shit on your face? Because I’m going to die someday so I must push myself to the limits of extreme experience so I don’t feel like I missed out on anything when the bell tolls for me.

From the moment we are born, we start experiencing death all around us. Some more so than others, many in horrifically tragic and brutal ways. I watched my dad draw his very last breath and the life leave his eyes in a hospital emergency room. It’s not an image that leaves me, and only exacerbated my fear/fascination with death.

That fascination and fear is what led me to the Catacombs of Paris on a recent vacation to the City of Light. In case you aren’t a weirdo that enjoys delving into Internet wormholes on the world’s creepiest places, the Catacombs of Paris are a 200-mile network of tunnels located 65 feet underground.

For reference, that’s roughly the size of a five-story building. The Catacombs serve as ossuaries, or resting places for the dead, for more than six million people. No caskets. Just stacks of remains piled high and deep, arranged in intricately designed collections that serve as walls within the tunnels.

I waited in line for two-and-a-half hours to get into the Catacombs. The woman standing in line complained to her husband, “I have never waited for anything for this long in my life.” I’ve been well trained in the art of waiting patiently for an uncertain amount of time thanks to the Tijuana border. I

came prepared with a full belly, a coke and a book.

Amateurs.

Once I got to the front and bought my ticket, I began descending the stairs to the Catacombs. I had forgotten about my intense claustrophobia and anxiety. With each step I felt my heart race and my eyes well up in tears. My chest felt heavy.

I stopped after the first set of stairs and stepped to the side to allow myself room to freak out. People walk past me and I gave them a wave. “Don’t mind me. Just having a panic attack. Totally cool.” One couple offered to let me join them so I wouldn’t be alone, which was very sweet. Being alone didn’t scare me and neither did the dead bodies I was about to see. But the idea of being so far underground with limited escape freaked me out to what felt like no end. Death.

Eventually I reasoned with my anxiety, telling it that taking the metro was also underground. This is not that much different. Yes, it is! This is totally different. I know, but not really? Shh, just go with it.

I made my way far, far down into the depths of Paris. For most of the journey down and through the tunnels leading to the ossuaries, I was completely alone. I couldn’t even hear far off voices. It was me, a dank, cold wet smell and nothing else. Then I saw a sign showing a skull and hand with the red Ghostbusters symbol over it (which Google tells me is called the “no symbol,” but “Ghostbusters symbol” describes it in terms I understand). The dead were approaching.

I stepped passed a stone passageway and there they were—rows and rows of human skulls and bones. They were piled high above my head, staring down at me from their empty eye sockets. Standing on my tippy toes, I could see the piles of bones stretch at least 20 feet deep in some areas. The empty skulls stared straight on. These were living, breathing people once. And now they were just another skull in a stack. I took out my phone for a selfie.

I walked down hundreds of yards of hallways made of remains and eventually came up some stone plaques with French inscriptions. One of them surrounded by the leg bones of hundreds of people stood out.

Omne crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum. Croyez que chaque jour est pour cous le dernier.

Google tells me this translates to: Believe every day which dawns on you is the last: the hour you do not wish to see will be a great and unexpected pleasure.

Noted.

From the moment we are born, we start experiencing death all around us.

#SDCityBeat

There She Goz appears every third week.

Write to alexz@sdcitybeat.com.

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

FARE

A slice of Neapolitan heaven

W

hen TripAdvisor named San Diego the country’s best pizza city, many scoffed at the notion a place with no signature pizza style of its own (and one best known for fish tacos) could come out on top. What they missed is the fact we have great examples of just about every kind of pizza: New York, Chicago and more. Perhaps the Neapolitan-style pizza at Buona Forchetta (3001 Beech St.) in South Park is the best proof of that.

While the crust of Neapolitan pizza is thin, it isn’t the crisp-edged, foldable New York-style. Rather, its crust will generally be thin but bubbling up at the edge into a chewy, savory and deliciously bready crust zone. No morning-afterthe-frat-party unwanted “pizza bones” here. This crust is the good stuff.

Neapolitan pizza was farm-to-table before there was farm-to-table: San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and the finest flours. Indeed, the official certifying agency requires the dough be made from only 0 or 00 flour, fresh brewer’s yeast, water and salt. It must be kneaded by hand or a low-speed mixer and formed by hand and cooked in a wood-fired oven at a minimum 800-degrees Fahrenheit.

There are only two basic Neapolitan pies: marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano and extra virgin olive oil) and Margherita (tomato, sliced mozzarella, basil and extra virgin olive oil).

It is with the latter that Buona Forchetta really shines. Its Margherita is pure, simple and perfect. The crust is the star: savory, a hint of salinity with just a suggestion of sweetness. The 800-to-900-degree oven crisps the crust, leaving it tantalizingly pliable under the blistered edges.

The toppings are more seasonings than features, the tomato’s acid balancing things out, cheese providing richness and basil just a bit of herbaceous pop. They also do an alternate version with buffalo mozzarella and a small shower of grated

10 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

parmigiano reggiano cheese on top with grape tomatoes adding some sweetness. It may well be the best pie in town.

There are 30 more pizza varieties (plus, on request, gluten-free versions of them all) ranging from classic to semi-classic, plus daily specials on the menu. My favorite was the Sergio, featuring mozzarella di bufala, prosciutto di parma, arugula and parmigiano. What it lacked in simplicity it made up for in the over-the-top barrage of prosciutto and arugula. And once you get through those toppings you’re left with that crust, that wonderful, delicious crust. It’s good stuff after you’ve gotten through the good stuff.

MICHAEL A. GARDINER

Regina Margherita Buona Forchetta also offers non-pizza options but they’re less consistent. A ravioli carbonara was either too creative by half or deeply flawed; you decide which. Better yet, don’t. Gnocchi Amatriciana, on the other hand, was perfectly executed. The gnocchi themselves were tender, ethereal, yet each one was distinct in and of itself.

The sauce was rich from the guanciale but with a perfect acid balance.

Ultimately, though, it’s the pizza that Buona Forchetta is about. Beautiful Neapolitan pizza that helps you see why pizza became a thing in the first place. That should help you realize why TripAdvisor may not have been totally crazy to call San Diego the best pizza town in the country.

The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

#SDCityBeat

UP FRONT | DRINK

BOTTLE

BY JEN VAN TIEGHEM

ROCKET Wineries working together

L

#SDCityBeat

JEN VAN TIEGHEM

a Mesa might not spring to mind as a hip neighborhood for small-production beverages, but it should. An industrial part of the city has quietly transformed itself into a sanctuary for sipping, with two breweries, a full-blown winemaking operation and now a cooperative wine tasting room called La Mesa Wine Works (8167 Center St.).

The tasting room features the wines of two San Diego County wineries: San Pasqual, which crafts wine just down the block, and Wyatt Oaks, which makes its wines in Escondido.

La Mesa Wine Works features more than a dozen wines by the glass ($7 to $9) and by the bottle ($18 to $30). Or, you can opt for a $10 flight of three wines to get familiar before committing; the only drawback is you have to choose three pours from a single winery.

As I’m very familiar with San Pasqual’s wines (shout out to the Seabreeze white blend) I went with a flight from Wyatt Oaks and chose its Zinfandel Rosé, Agrifolia—a red blend— and Primitivo. But my wine-drinking cohorts

shared their flights and I got to taste everything on Wyatt Oaks’ list.

The wines were all pleasant, with the Zinfandel Rosé and the rich Cabernet Sauvignon topping my list. Perhaps it’s the warm weather but I simply can’t get enough Rosé these days and went home with a bottle. It is a beautiful cranberry color, a bit darker than most. The nose is light and fruity while the flavor is tart and full of apple notes.

The location and ambiance of Wine Works is an added bonus to the tasty wines.

Tables inside filled quickly with small groups when I visited on a Saturday evening, as a band was preparing to play. The patio is also inviting, with hanging lights and a wall covered in flowering vines blocking out the setting sun’s heat. Plus, the tasting room is located between the area’s breweries if you want to experience more of La Mesa’s beverage boom.

La Mesa Wine Works will hold a weekend-long grand opening celebration Oct. 14 to 16, starting with a ticketed winemakers’ reception on Friday. Saturday will feature vendors who make and/ or sell wine-related crafts as well as live music and a food truck. There will also be games such as bocce ball and a beanbag toss set up on the patio. The details for Sunday’s festivities are still in the works. Get more info at LaMesaWineWorks.com.

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

UP FRONT | DRINK

THE

BY ANDREW DYER

BEERDIST Pints and Pols

I

f alcohol and politics don’t mix, why do so many of us have a hard time not getting political when the booze kicks in? The first presidential debate drew higher ratings than Monday Night Football and inspired a slew of watch parties and drinking games. One local group invited craft beer enthusiasts and amateur politicos to Waypoint Public (3794 30th St.) Monday to drink, laugh and ruminate on the size of Donald Trump’s hands.

Pints and Pols is a loose coalition of San Diego Twitter users who take turns hosting infrequent get-togethers during election season. Omar Passons, a local attorney-turned-civic activist, agreed to host the latest event.

“I thought it would be fun,” he said in an email. “The lack of structure can be a bit odd for some, but it keeps things loose.”

The back room at Waypoint Public was crammed with some three dozen people by Trump’s first sniffle.

The crowd undeniably leaned left and cheered and jeered the candidates like it was a football game.

A collective groan went up the first time Trump dropped the phrase “law and order,” with more eye-rolls when he began to expound on the virtues of stop-and-frisk. Many cheered when moderator Lester Holt corrected Trump on his assertion stop-and-frisk had not been ruled unconstitutional (it has). Most applauded when Clinton, responding to Trump mocking her preparedness, said she had also prepared to be president.

Fascist tendencies aside, Trump was entertaining. By the second round of beers, he had hit his stride. The biggest laughs came when he bragged about his temperament, calling it his “strongest asset, by far.”

Attendee Mike Langley said he came in as a Clinton supporter and that the debate was entertaining.

However, Trump’s arguments failed to sway him.

“There is only one real candidate running,” he said.

12 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

Jocelyn Maggard said she needed a place to watch because she does not have cable.

“I had a great dinner and local beer,” she said, “and it’s more fun to watch.”

“It was actually a very good debate,” said attendee Ben Katz as people began to shuffle out.

“We saw the candidates for who they are.”

One benefit of hosting a public debate viewing party was how it brought beer enthusiasts and politically minded people together.

ANDREW DYER

Pints and Pols presidential debate viewing party “It was cool that so few people knew each other at the start,” Passons said. “I met a neighbor, some old friends and made new ones.”

Langley said things were friendly and comfortable, and a way to bring politics into somewhere it might not always be welcome.

“It brings the community together,” he said.

“This should be what San Diego beer is about,” Katz said. “Beer people are good people.”

Passons said, as of now, there is no plan for the second debate. “They are generally a byproduct of San Diego Twitter (#SDTwitter), so anyone can host,” he said.

There are still two debates to come, and they are easier to stomach surrounded by friends.

Trump is not much easier to swallow after a couple pints, but anything helps.

The Beerdist appears every other week.

Write to andrewd@sdcitybeat.com

#SDCityBeat

SHORTlist

EVENTS

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

SAN DIEGO

1

IF THEY BUILD IT

The month-long Archtoberfest kicked the decidedly fun Orchids & Onions award show, off this past weekend with a cool party the latter of which honors the best and worst in and a tour of the North Park business district. But local design and architecture (it happens 8 p.m. for many people, the idea of an entire month of Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Spreckels Theatre), but architecture and design-focused programming there’s also art shows, neighborhood walking tours, could seem, well, a little SOCIETY FOR DESIGN ADMINISTRATION and guest lectures on an array of topics including overwhelming.

How community engagement does one choose what and housing affordto attend? And does San ability. There’s even the Diego even have the San Diego Design Film cultural cachet to host Festival, which begins such an event?

Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6 “San Diego is the p.m. at the Thompson country’s biggest small Building Materials Detown, and of course sign Showroom (6618 we’re not New York or Federal Blvd., Lemon Chicago, but we’re still Grove). a pretty big place,” says “We’re trying to tie Bastiaan Bouma, executhe past with the futive director and CEO Landmark Aviation ture in terms of raising of American Institute of Architects San Diego, and helped create Arch- awareness of what we’ve got and engaging people toberfest three years ago. “I do think we have the in thoughtful conversation about how we address potential to really be a leader in the space between the challenges we face in the future,” Bouma says. the biggest players and the smallest players. We “Everything from sustainable design and transcan try new things that those bigger cities couldn’t portation, to employment and preservation while still pursuing new development.” consider.”

There’s literally dozens of cool events to choose Trying new things and innovation while respecting the historical foundations of local archi- from, and while there are a few that might set you tecture is what’s really at the heart of Archtober- back $20, most are free and open to the public. fest. Sure, there’s the elbow-rubbing parties and Check out archtoberfest.com for full schedule.

LA JOLLA

LA JOLLA

2 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE 3 EVERYBODY LOVES RAE It’s easy to fall for the notion that Russia is a cold, bleak place. Granted, there isn’t much evidence to prove otherwise: Putin’s tyrannical policies, a maligned Winter Olympics and waging a devastating war against Syria are only some recent examples. I Was Never Alone— described as “a documentary play”—usurps these notions by presenting seven monologues (or “portraits”) composed entirely of quotes transcribed from interviews with Russians living with mobility impairments. Yes, the topic that binds these monologues—segregation from Russian society—doesn’t exactly inspire the warm fuzzies, but the underlying themes of love, connection and family are reCASSANDRA HARTBLAY minders that humanity can exist in the cold. Performances will be held at Shank Theatre on Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m., and costs $10 at the door. Check calendar.ucsd.edu for more info.

Poetry slams and spoken word events aren’t uncommon, but to see a Rae Armantrout reading is an event that even someone with a passing interest in poetry shouldn’t miss. For those unfamiliar, the longtime local Language poet has published 10 books and has been featured in numerous anthologies.

Her 2009 book, Versed, won the National Book Critics Circle Award, and later, the freakin’ Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. While off the metaphorical clock, Armantrout teaches writing at UC San Diego, but on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m., she’ll head down the street to D.G. Wills Books (7461 Girard Ave.) to read from her newest poetry compilation, Partly: New and Selected Poems, 2001-2015. The new book combines old favorites and 25 new poems, with Armantrout’s keen observations and innovative imagery on full display. This event is free. dgwillsbooks.com

I Was Never Alone

Rae Armantrout

#SDCityBeat

KEVIN WALSH, 2010

HImprint: Recent Acquisitions and Highlights from USD’s Print Collection at Founders Hall, 5998 Alcala Park, Linda Vista. An exhibition featuring more than 60 works highlighting significant recent gifts to the University of San Diego’s growing Print Collection. Opening includes a tour with Curator Erin Sullivan Maynes at 6 p.m.

Opening from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. Free. sandiego.edu/galleries HAppropriated Touch at SDAI Project Space, 141 Horton Plaza, Gaslamp. A solo project by local artist Daniel Barron Corrales that explores color, textures and interaction through a series of textile environments and sculptures. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7. Free. 619-2360011, sandiego-art.org HExtensions of Photography: A Visual Arts Faculty, Emeritus Faculty, and Alumna Exhibition at UCSD Univeristy Art Gallery, Mandeville Center, La Jolla. The new exhibition highlights artistic practices by former and current UC San Diego-affiliated artists and alumni who redefined the photographic medium and contributed significantly to the cultural life.

Opening from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7. Free. uag.ucsd.edu MK Envision Galleries Grand Opening at MK Envision Galleries, Liberty Station, 2710 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 101, Point Loma. The new nature-based photography gallery opens its doors with new works from John Scanlan, Ivan Farca and Nicole Boramanand. Opening from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7. Free. mkenvision.com H7 Year Anniversary Show at Thumbprint Gallery, 920 Kline St., #104, La Jolla.

The Thumbprint crew celebrates their seventh anniversary with a group show featuring Melissa Walter, Somaramos, Ethos One and over a dozen more. Opening from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Free. thumbprintgallerysd.com HBrad Maxey: Recent Paintings at Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave., North Park. The local artist’s first solo show will showcase his penchant for Southern California urban and suburban portraits. Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Free. 619-584-4448, noelbazafineart.com HBUA: Sites & Sounds at Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios, 317 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. A solo featuring renowned artist Justin BUA who is known for his best-selling collection of fine art posters featuring scenes of music and urban life. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 8. Free. 760-781-5779, distinctionart.com HOpen Studios San Diego at The Studio Door, 3750 30th St., North Park. A self-guided artist tour of greater San Diego where attendees will become familiar with local studio artists and see the variety of work available. From 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Free. openstudiossandiego.com HReliquary at Kent Karras Chiropractic, 3800 Ray St., North Park. A night of dark and spooky “fine arts and oddities” from local artists Carrie Anne Hudson and Ivonne Carley. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Free. 619-294-9205, facebook.com/events/1685413628450352 HRide to the Warehouse at La Bodega Studios and Gallery, 2196 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. An art and photography show celebrating female motorcycle riders with with proceeds going to Moto Fam. Opening from 6 to midnight.

Saturday, Oct. 8. Free. facebook.com/ events/543818995828142 HSalvador R. Torres: Abstractions Within the Movement at City Gallery, 1313 Park Blvd., Downtown. The iconic

H = CityBeat picks

Chicano Park muralist will showcase abstract paintings and drawings from the past 60 years. Opening from 4 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 8. Free. 619-388-3400, sdcity.edu HSpeaking in Tongues at Negulescu Fine Art Gallery, 1878 Main St., Little Italy. Elaborate new works from local Mark Jesinoski that takes a hard look at contemporary America through what he refers to as “Robot Existentialism.” Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Free.

619-278-8410, negulescu.com HThink Outside the Box and EAT at CM Curatorial and BASILE I.E., 2070 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. Dual exhibitions featuring work from Pablo Llana who makes pieces from repurposed junk food packaging, as well as new works from the employees of Basile Studio. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Free.

858-361-9052, basile-ie.com HTijuana Street Art Trek at Turista Libre Meeting Spot, 727 E. San Ysidro Blvd, Tijuana. Tijuana artist Panca leads a tour of her murals around the city and alongside the border wall in Colonia Federal. Tickets include roundtrip border transport, lunch at a taqueria and libations. From 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. $65. 858-7549406, turistalibre.com Continuum at Basic, 410 10th Ave., Downtown. Viz Cult presents new works

by L.A.-based artist Brenda Salamone and local painter Carl Raymond Schmidt. Music by FeelIt Records’ Markalan. Opening from 7 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11. Free.

619-531-8869, facebook.com/viz.cult

BOOKS Michael Dante DiMartino at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The co-creator of the action cartoons Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra will be promoting his novel, Rebel Genius, a middle grade fantasy. At 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 6. Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Charlaine Harris at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The bestselling author will sign and discuss All the Little Liars, the first new Aurora Teagarden mystery in more than a decade. At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.

Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com HMr. Maxx Moses at The Studio Door, 3750 30th St., North Park. Local muralist Daniel Hopkins aka Mr. Maxx Moses will hold a book launch for his latest release, Say Word, Art & Affirmations. From 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Free. thestudiodoor.com Ellen Byron, Gigi Pandian and Diane Vallere at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont.

The three mystery authors will be promoting their respective new novels, Michelangelo’s Ghost (Pandian), Masking for Trouble (Vallere) and Body on the Bayou (Byron). At 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. 858268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Jaime Metzl at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author of Genesis Code and The Depths of the Sea will discuss and sign his new book Eternal Sonata, a thriller set at the combustive intersection of technology and geopolitics.

At 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10. Free. 858454-0347, warwicks.com HBrit Bennett at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The writer of the lightning-rod essay, “I Don’t Know What to Do With Good White People” will be discussing and signing her debut novel, The Mothers. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12. Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

BOOKS: THE FLOATING LIBRARY The Community Baby

G

into the world get very, very complicated and provide Every Kind of Wanting with enough drama, heartbreak and suspense to fill a mini-series.

The story is told through clusters of chapters with alternating points of view. Frangello starts with three but leaves one behind to introduce another that opens up the narrative in fascinating new ways. One character doesn’t get her voice until midway through the book. Another weighs in at the end. It’s intimate without being overwhelming and allows the reader to see what makes these men and women tick.

Desire functions as a Trojan horse in Every Kind of Wanting: when the characters submit to their desire, they unwittingly invite entanglements, unexpected consequences and outright catastrophes into their lives. Here’s the surrogate reflecting on her decision to carry someone else’s baby: “[She] chose unwisely. She chose with her pussy; she chose with her thrashing desire to not be her mother.”

Sometimes an author introduces action, drama or suspense in a way that feels manufactured.

That’s never the case here. Every Kind of Wanting is a powderkeg disguised as a domestic drama that detonates every one of out expectations of what it means to be a family.

ina Frangello’s new novel, Every Kind of Wanting, published last month by Counterpoint, is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

It is a novel that explores the idea of what makes a family a family through the lens of gestational surrogacy. While all families are strange, I guarantee you haven’t met one like this.

Chad and Miguel are a samesex couple who want to have a baby. Chad comes from a supremely wealthy Chicago family. Miguel was born in the slums of Caracas, Venezuela, and moved to the United States under mysterious circumstances.

Chad’s sister Gretchen donates an egg. Miguel provides the sperm.

All they need is someone who will carry the baby to term.

Enter Miguel’s sister Lina. Chad and Miguel go to see an edgy play that Lina is performing in. At the play Miguel runs into Emily, an old high school friend who used to have a huge crush on Miguel. Emily is happily married to Nick, the director of the play, who is secretly in love with Lina. Emily volunteers to carry Chad and Miguel’s baby. Problem solved?

As the great philosopher of our time would say: “Au contraire, mon frère.”

The efforts to bring this “community baby” Write to jimr@sdcitybeat.com.

—Jim Ruland

EVENTS EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

FILM HSan Diego Italian Film Festival at various locations. Over a week of contemporary Italian films along with postscreening Q&A sessions. Takes place Wednesday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 16 at the La Paloma Theatre and the Museum of Photographic Arts. Various times. Wednesday, Oct. 5. $8-$10. sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com HSan Diego Design Film Festival at Hold It Contemporary Home, 1570 Camino de la Reina, Mission Valley. A two-day festival featuring films touching upon architecture, design and planning themes.

See website for full list of films and schedule. Various times. Thursday, Oct. 6. $15. 619-295-6660, sddesignff.com

FOOD & DRINK A Taste of Mesa at San Diego Mesa College, 7250 Mesa College Drive, Sample international appetizers, listen to light jazz, watch a cook-off between Mesa alumni chefs and students, and make bids on “food-themed” silent auction items. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. $25$150. 6194561878, bit.ly/tasteofmesa BIER. An Oktoberfest for San Diego Breweries at Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Festival featuring all German-style beers from AleSmith Brewing Company, Bagby Beer Company, ChuckAlek Independent Brewers plus many more. From noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. $15-$55. BierSD.com HMama’s Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving Bake Sale at various locations., The 12th annual bake sale features pumpkin, traditional apple, pecan and Dutch apple pies for $25 each. Proceeds benefits Mama’s Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides nutritional support to San Diego’s hungry. See website for list of participants.

Monday, Oct. 10 through Wednesday, Nov. 23.

MUSIC HAleck Karis at Conrad Prebys Music Center, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The pianist begins the Wednesdays@7 concert series with an evening of solo piano pieces by Claude Debussy, Victor Ibarra, Lei Liang and Harrison Birtwistle. At 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 5. Free-$15.50 858534-3448, musicweb.ucsd.edu HThe Voice Machine at Conrad Prebys Music Center, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The result of a two-year collaboration between composers and performers at UCSD and Stanford University, this fourpart performance seeks to address the questions of what opera is and what is required for its creation. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 8. Free.

858-534-3448, musicweb.ucsd.edu HJazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The nine-time Grammy winning trumpeter leads the worldrenowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

At 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. $30-$100. 619570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org/ HAspects Of Physics at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. The local instrumental experimental band will perform along with an art and sound installation consisting of large wood sculpture synced to sine tones that visually represent audio frequency oscillations.

From 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. facebook.com/events/523739324486192 HSan Diego Symphony Orchestra at Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., Downtown. The symphony launches the 2016-

14 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

“The DJ” by Justin BUA will be on view at BUA: Sites & Sounds, a solo exhibition opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios (317 E. Grand Ave.) in Escondido.

17 season with five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein, best known for his roles on 30 Rock, Glee and Thoroughly Modern Millie, who will perform with Patti Austin as Thomas Wilkins conducts. From 8 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. $20-$85. 619 235 0804, sandiegosymphony.com Lorraine Castellanos Sextet at Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., Downtown. The Library’s jazz concert series continues Jazz Month with vocalist Lorraine Castellanos, who will present a swinging, sassy set with fun arrangements and local jazz musicians. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. FREE 619-236-5800, sandiego.gov/public-library HKris Davis and Craig Taborn at Conrad Prebys Music Center, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. UC San Diego’s Jazz Initiative presents the piano duo Kris Davis and Craig Taborn performing original compositions and improvisations. At 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10. Free-$15.50. 858534-3448, musicweb.ucsd.edu HWednesdays@7: Mivos Quartet at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Contemporary string ensemble performs works of varied aesthetics via international collaborations with modern composers. Program will include music from Felipe Lara, Lei Liang, Natacha Diels and G. F. Haas. At 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 12. Free-$15.50. musicweb.ucsd.edu

PERFORMANCE HThe Trump Card at La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. This critically-acclaimed solo piece from monologist Mike Daisey takes on Donald Trump and explores the millionaire’s early days and self-invented mythology. Various times through Monday, Oct. 9. $25$45. 858-550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org Todas Las Rosas at California Center for the Arts Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd, After two sold-out performances in April, dance troupe Flamenco Arana returns for a special performance featuring flamenco singer Juan de Dios. From 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. $15-$25. artcenter.org

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HPower/Full: A VAMP Storytelling Showcase at The Industry, 871 Harold

#SDCityBeat

THEATER

I

PHOTO COURTESY OF ION THEATRE

Jill Drexler and Connor Sullivan in 4000 Miles

Listen to your grandmother!

Y

ou don’t come across a lot of relationship dramas centered on a grandson and his grandmother. But Amy Herzog’s 4000 Miles, onstage at ion theatre in Hillcrest, is just that. Self-absorbed and self-suffering Leo (Connor Sullivan) is not going to get it together unless cranky but sage Grandma Vera (Jill Drexler) teaches him a few hardscrabble life lessons. Leo is kind of a tool, whining (or exploding) so much that you almost don’t feel sorry for him because his best friend was killed while the two were bicycling across America, or because his nervous girlfriend Bec (Michelle Marie Trester) has dumped him. But when he crashes at his kin’s NYC flat, her no-B.S. grandparenting begins to humanize him.

For a 90-minute one-act play, the narrative is over-packed (Vera was a “Commie!” Leo kissed his sister!), but 4000 Miles, directed at ion by Claudio Raygoza, is absorbing and, except for one scene that’s played out in the dark with Leo sobbing to Grandma, not soapy. Drexler is excellent, rising above her Sofia Petrillo (from Golden Girls) wig and a hearing aid that wouldn’t stay in, Yumi Roussin is a crackup as a party girl in platforms whom Leo wants to bed, and the cozy apartment set is as meticulous as you’ll ever see at ion.

4000 Miles runs through Oct. 15 at ion theatre’s BLKBOX in Hillcrest. $14-$32. iontheatre.com

EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 Pl, Ste 112, Storytelling showcase featuring stories of power (and powerlessness) from High Tech High students in Chula Vista. From 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7. $5. sosayweallonline.com HRae Armantrout at D.G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and 2008 Guggenheim Fellow reads from her new book, Partly: New and Selected Poems, 20012015. At 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Free.

858-456-1800, dgwillsbooks.com

SPECIAL EVENTS HOcean Beach Oktoberfest at Ocean Beach, Newport Ave. & Abbott St., Ocean Beach. The two-day festival at Newport Ave. and Abbott St. kicks off Friday afternoon with live music in the 21+ beer garden. Saturday will also include a beachside all-ages stage, food vendor area and bratwurst-eating and stein-holding competitions. From 4:20 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.

Friday, Oct. 7. Free. oboktoberfest.com Battle of the Bras Poker Tournament at Harrah’s Resort SoCal Events Center, 777 Valley Center Rd., Valley Center. This annu-

#SDCityBeat

t’s nigh on impossible for The Producers not to be funny, even 49 years after Mel Brooks’ comic romp about Bialystock, Bloom and “Springtime for Hitler” first hit the big screen. The stage musical, which opened on Broadway in 2001, was—and is—true to the wacky, un-P.C. genius of the movie.

Though the show isn’t new to San Diego audiences, it’s always a welcome return. San Diego Musical Theatre’s production, running through this weekend, is directed by Jamie Torcellini, with John Massey as the lecherous Max and Bryan Banville as timid Leo. They and the rest of the game cast give it their all. The results are boffo, if you don’t factor in the acoustic dead spots that are either technical or, more likely, Spreckels-related.

Even if you’ve seen the musical or the film many times before, The Producers remains delightfully shocking in its irreverence and bawdiness.

The Producers runs through Oct. 9 at Spreckels Theatre, downtown. $20-$70. sdmt.org

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING: Blood Wedding: With a plot straight out of a telenovela, this play centers on a bride who leaves the groom at the altar to be with Leonardo, the man who also just happened to kill her father. Written by Frederica Garcia Lorca, it opens Oct. 6 at the Grossmont College Theatre in El Cajon.

The Mousetrap: Set in Monkswell Manor, this long-running Agatha Christie murder mystery is known for its shocking twist at the end. Presented by the Theatre School @ North Coast Repertory, it opens Oct. 6 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. northcoastrep.org I Was Never Alone: A “documentary play” adapted from interviews with Russians living with disabilities and how they’re often segregated from society. Written by Cassandra Hartblay, it opens for two performances on Oct. 7 at the Shank Theatre at UCSD San Diego in La Jolla. calendar. ucsd.edu

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

al event is part of the Harrahs’ month-long initiative for support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Players will have the opportunity to play against several celebrity guests.

From 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. $65.

760- 751-3100, harrahssocal.com HRed Dress Party San Diego at San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park. A night of music, dancing and charity requiring all attendees to wear a red dress, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, in support of those affected by HIV/AIDS. From 8 to 11:55 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. $55-$125.

619-232-3821, reddresspartysd.com HSleepless San Diego at Liberty Station of Point Loma, Farragut Road, Point Loma. Event will raise awareness of homelessness. Evening activities include live music, entertainment and a sleep-out under the stars that will inspire others to make a difference in our city. From noon to 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. $25-$35. 323549-0500 x 765, sleeplesssandiego.org HSouth Park Fall Walkabout at South Park. A seasonal, fun-filled evening festival to introduce you to South Park’s unique and independent boutiques, cafes and taverns. See website for list of events and specials. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.

Free. southparksd.com/walkabout.html

HLittle Italy FESTA! at Little Italy. This self-proclaimed “largest Italian festival in the nation” features food, al fresco dining, authentic Italian music, a Sicilian flag procession, street stickball and bocce ball tournaments, and more. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. Free. littleitalysd. com/events/little-italy-festa HWalk a Mile in Her Shoes at Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, Harbor Drive, Downtown. Join others at 4th Avenue and K Street for this ninth annual walk to help raise awareness and funds for the YWCA and its Becky’s House domestic violence program by literally walking a mile in a woman’s pair of shoes. From 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11. $30-$75. ywcasandiego.org

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS HSex Ghost Lecture at San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. Macabre art historian Dr. Paul Koudounaris will discuss the cultural boundaries that separate the living from the dead, with a special emphasis on the way that border is broached via sexualized ghost stories.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. $5. sandiego-art.org

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

TORREY BAILEY

ome believe that in the East County city of La Mesa farmers wipe their brows in the inland heat, cows graze in the sprawling fields and the hills decline into Arizona. Not exactly. In reality, La Mesa is located a few exits past San Diego State University on Interstate 8. While the city may have a reputation for being a retirement home for hicks, that’s a perspective locals reject. No, celebrity chef Brian Malarkey’s western-themed Gingham restaurant didn’t catch on, but the city is undergoing change.

Boutique coffee shops such as community-centric Public Square or Sheldon’s Service Station (which was inspired by the gas station that once inhabited the space), are moving in. New restaurants such as BO-Beau Kitchen and BLVD Noodles are popping up, too, and breweries such as Helix and Bolt aren’t to be overlooked, either. They’re joining family-friendly, long-time eateries in and around La Mesa’s downtown strip, called The Village. The streets don’t have a scarcity of mothball-scented antique shops or consignment stores. La Mesans cherish the small-town feel, even though the population’s nearly 60,000. They keep it in check with hyper-local spots like the secret stairs around Mt. Nebo and Windsor Hills, the Walk of Fame that honors city activists and a bronze Helix snail sculpture, which inspired Mount Helix’s name. La Mesa’s nine square miles are rooted in suburban pride for now, but locals are opening their doors to progressive perspectives and opportunities.

16 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

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PHOTOS BY TORREY BAILEY

Owner, Peter’s Gentlemen’s Resale Clothiers Seventy-three-year-old Peter Carzis sits outside his self-titled store, Peter’s Gentlemen’s Resale Clothiers (8239 La Mesa Blvd.), outfitted in a sleek suit and multitonal Oxfords. Palm frond-covered pots, which he makes in his spare time, frame the storefront and once decorated 12 Chase Banks. “I ride my bike every morning for 20 to 30 minutes, and these things were evPeter Carzis erywhere in the streets,” he says. “My girlfriend had a real nice plant in an ugly pot, and that’s how all of this started.” His girlfriend is the reason he moved to La Mesa in the first place, after they rekindled a high school romance. “She called me up on my 70th birthday to wish me a happy birthday. She found me on the Internet. I had no clue who I was talking to, but she kept asking me all these questions about high school, like whether I ran track, or played football. And I was like, ‘Who is this?’” On finding out, he hopped on a train down from Ventura County and moved into La Mesa shortly thereafter, where he says the people are friendlier. However, San Diego’s t-shirts-and-sandals dress code doesn’t fly with Carzis. “When guys come in and out, I have to dress them from start to finish...They’re so out of touch.”

—Torrey Bailey

Mayor of La Mesa; Director of Theatre Arts at La Mesa Arts Academy When mayors are congratulated on being elected, it’s not typically by their elementary school students, who are really wondering if they still have a vocabulary quiz coming. But that’s the case for La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis, or Dr. A, as everybody calls him. Growing up in the city that he now runs has resulted in some ironic cirMark Arapostathis cumstances. Dr. A teaches in a classroom where he used to be a student, and a resident once told him that Dr. A won his mayoral vote back when he was a punctual paperboy. “Who knew that when I was twelve I was gathering votes,” he says. As if two jobs weren’t enough, Dr. A also directs a pair of afterschool theater programs. In the time he does have off, he rides around the city in his golf cart. “You really have a different perspective when you’re lower, it’s open, there aren’t any windows, and you don’t have the radio blaring,” he says. “I can see what’s happening, what roads need to be repaired and what neighborhoods have different things going on.”

He even knocks on doors to check up on public works complaints. (Hear that, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer?) “People think that if you’re a mayor, you do this, and if you’re a teacher, you do that. But, I sort of cross boundaries.”

—Torrey Bailey

Creator, San Diego Backyard Food Alliance Knikki Royster moved to La Mesa in 2001 because her family was getting too big for its two-bedroom Hillcrest apartment.

“I cried because I thought we were leaving this diverse community for the white middle class,” she says, laughing. Royster quickly discovered that La Mesa was more diverse than she expected, with a community of artists, aging punk rockers and Knikki Royster professionals whose desire for space didn’t mean closing their minds. Royster found a home and also a calling, literally, in her own backyard. She started growing lemons, guavas and other vegetables for herself as well as raising chickens and making her own kombucha. The bounty was appealing, but the variety wasn’t, so Royster created the San Diego Backyard Food Alliance, a Facebook group with nearly 2,300 members that meets to swap homegrown and homemade items. Currently, the backyard exchangers hold monthly swaps at Lake Murray, Kit Carson Park in Escondido and De Anza Cove near Mission Bay. More locations are planned in the future. “All the products are organic and grown locally, including bread, cheeses and fruits,” Royster says. “And it’s a bargain. At the last swap, I was able to trade my kombucha for food that we figured out later would have sold for $229 at a supermarket.”

—James Vernette

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October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

18 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

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October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

PHOTOS BY TORREY BAILEY

I’m inclined to believe that La Mesa is the thrift store capital of San Diego County, especially around the La Mesa Boulevard strip.

After a long absence, I recently returned to score some treasures.

La Mesa’s sunshiny suburbia rep hides a startling secret: A few oddball bits of music history happened here.

Act II (8321 La Mesa Blvd.): An all-female resale store, but I was still awed by the costume jewelry selection and the sheer gaudiness of a glitter-soaked sweatshirt that simply read “AWESOME.” Treasure scored: A poop emoji coin purse for the GF. Because romance.

In 1954, musical revolutionary Frank Zappa visited Alan’s Music Center (8315 La Mesa Blvd.) and purchased The Complete Works of Edgard Varese Volume 1, an album of avant-garde electronic music that he considered one of his biggest inspirations. Considering how many musicians he inspired, it can be argued this is the record purchase that changed rock.

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Park Estate Company Antiques (8371 La Mesa Blvd.): A nicer store with tons of kitschy knick-knacks, including an entire case of “Precious Moments” figurines. Treasure scored: So much temptation, but settled on an antique Mexican donkey salt-andpepper shaker set.

H Chico Club (7366 El Cajon Blvd.) is a classic dive bar, but in the 1950s and ’60s, it was the Cinnamon Cinder, a popular nightclub owned by Newlywed Game host Bob Eubanks. Acts such as The Drifters and Shirelles used to perform here back in the day.

La Mesa Thrift Shop (8340 Lemon Ave.): A cash-only shop with piles of junk and lackluster selection, but super-cheap prices. Treasure scored: Nothing, but the Donald Teague knockoff Western painting will haunt my dreams.

La Mesa Antique Mall (4710 Palm Ave.): In the market for an antique harmonica or pitchfork? No? OK, well, there’s still 6,000 square feet of other American Pickers-worthy odds-and-ends.

Treasure scored: A rather retro-looking “invisible vase” that made the cashier go, “Oooooh… This is nice. I want this.” Too late, Sally! It’s MINE! Goodwill (8250 La Mesa Blvd.): A pretty standard Goodwill store. Meh. Treasure scored: A VHS copy of The Sound of Music and a Miami Vice-looking sports coat complete with shoulder pads. The tag is all in Chinese so you know it’s a quality item.

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—Seth Combs

Magnolia Science Academy (6365 Lake Atlin Ave.), right on the border of La Mesa and San Carlos, was known as Cleveland Elementary in the ’70s. In January 1979, 16-year-old Brenda Spencer fired shots at the school, killing two people and injuring eight. Her rationale for the shooting, “I Don’t Like Mondays,” inspired Bob Geldof to write a song with that name that became a worldwide.

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La Mesa Antique Mall

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DAVID HARRISON

The Loons Rock luminaries who briefly lived in La Mesa include Megadeth singer Dave Mustaine, who reportedly spent his early years in the town.

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Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder lived in La Mesa at one point, and returned last year to sit in with a band at the Riviera Steakhouse.

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At least three members of the seminal Americana band The Beat Farmers lived in La Mesa, including Buddy Blue and Joey Harris. Country Dick Montana was even student body president at Grossmont High.

The band got its start at the Spring Valley

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Inn, just outside the La Mesa city limits.

H The most bizarre La Mesa rock landmark

is a birthing room at Grossmont Hospital where Michael Jackson’s third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (aka “Blanket”), was born in February 2002.

The La Mesa music scene is undergoing a renaissance. Bands with local ties include Splavender, Spooky Cigarette, Lucid Season and The Loons, an internationally respected psychedelic pop band led by Mike Stax, who publishes the popular zine Ugly Things.

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—James Vernette

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

TORREY BAILEY

La Mesa Boulevard is a picturesque microcosm of small-town living so quaint that I wouldn’t be surprised if businesses were still referred to as “shoppes.” Spend too much time there, however, and it’s easy to feel the Lynchian unease of perpetual quaintness. To escape that creeping dread, I turned to my tried-and-true method of coping: getting loaded.

Centifonti (8365 La Mesa Blvd.) is part candy shop(pe), part restaurant, and part bar—all wrapped together with some vaguely European theme.

It doesn’t make a ton of sense, but you just have to roll with it, especially since it offers “Das Boot,” its iteration of beer served in a boot-shaped glass (a German tradition).

Centifonti’s boot comes in two sizes: Drinking Das Boot requires a little 64-ounces ($25) and 128-ounces ($35).

I went for 64-ounces of a 5.5 percent finesse—a quality that turns out is Märzen, despite a group of regulars hard to remember when you’re chugsitting at the bar hassling me for go- ging beer out of a novelty glass. Tip ing for the smaller size. “More like Das it the wrong way, and you’re in for a Slipper,” they said. “You’ll grow into it.” messy face-shot of beer from the airI’ve never felt so shamed for drinking bubble trapped in the toe.

With the help of CityBeat staff writthe equivalent of only five beers.

22 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

Bradford vs. Das Boot er Torrey Bailey and account executive Jenny Tormey, we took down that boot in puff-puff-pass fashion. Only Jenny experienced the wrath of the airbubble, but luckily for us, none of the regulars saw.

—Ryan Bradford

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CULTURE | ART

SEEN LOCAL

part of the process is also taking these ideas the city has for the piece and keep working it until you find that you’ve brought people’s thoughts and goals to a visual format.”

The first project happened more than a decade ago at the Parsonage Museum of Lemon Grove on a giant wall diorama. Shortly after, they were contacted by the city of La Mesa to be one of eight muralists on the Walkway of the Stars, a pedestrian he work of local public artists Janne LaValle thoroughfare that was turned into an urban park in and Kathleen “Katy” Styzelecki is seem- 2003. The idea behind the walkway was to pay tribingly ubiquitous. The duo is responsible for at ute to volunteers in the community and the murals least four murals in East County, including the five- were meant to encompass the same themes, with panel, eight-years-in-the-making “History of Lem- tributes to Little League coaches and volunteer seon Grove” mural on the SETH COMBS curity patrols. side of the city’s historic In both of Styzelecki general store building. and LaValle’s murals, And while the Lemon LaValle says they really Grove piece might be wanted to capture the LaValle and Styzelecki’s “iconic personas” of both most acclaimed work (it the dog park and the anwas, after all, awarded nual Flag Day parade. the Governor’s Historic Both pieces took two Preservation Award in weeks to complete. For 2014), their “Dog Park” LaValle, who now lives and “Flag Day” murals in Oregon and still does at La Mesa’s Walkway the occasional mural, the of the Stars (located beLa Mesa projects were a tween Allison Avenue “learning experience” for and La Mesa Bouleher as much as they were The “Dog Park” mural on the Walkway of the Stars vard) could be seen as a tribute to locals. the pair’s first foray into “I look back on it and say to myself, ‘Gee, I did the sometimes overly systematic process of commis- that? Wow, cool,” says LaValle. “It’s all about the sioned work. process for me. Slinging the paint and giving a gift “In these types of public history representa- to a community that hopefully the kids will see and tions, they’re specific about what they want to see learn from. That’s the exciting part for me.” in the mural, but they often don’t know how to vi —Seth Combs sualize it,” LaValle says. “We have to paint it, but

MURAL WATCH: WALKWAY OF THE STARS

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ENVISIONS OF NATURE

dal’s discerning eyes when it comes to the pictures.

“We’ve just found that photography is kind of elsey Nordal and Michelle Ballantyne al- universally appealing, so it just appeals to so many ways envisioned themselves being surround- different people and that’s why we wanted our galed by nature. The two BFs, who first met as lery to feel accessible and comfortable and not cold,” business students at the University of San Diego, im- says Ballantyne, adding that the duo’s business acumediately bonded over a mutual love of the natural men will help them land new clients and artists. world and, more pressingly, a love of trying to capThe gallery’s grand opening show on Friday, Oct. ture the majesty of the great outdoors.

7, from 5 to 9 p.m. will feature the COURTESY OF MK ENVISION GALLERIES “Both of us have always loved work of three photographers. photography and dabbled,” says Midwesterner John Scanlan Nordal. “We consider ourselves focuses on the European counamateur landscape photogratryside, but the other two artphers. So we always had that, but ists are both homegrown talents. we never considered it as part Originally from Mexico City, of our business picture, cause Ivan Farca specializes in nature I don’t think either one of us and cityscapes that capture evwould ever jump into trying to erything from lightning storms make it as a photographer.” to the understated majesty of a And yet here they are, inside beach pier. Fellow local Nicole their new Point Loma gallery Boramanand blurs the lines bewithin the ever-expanding Libtween fine art and photography erty Station Arts District, surwith a nuanced, sometimes imrounded by nature photography pressionistic approach to beach from both established shutterphotography. bugs and promising locals. In Nordal says MK Envision will fact, their MK Envision Galalways focus on nurturing the leries (mkenvision.com) will local photography scene. “Mifocus exclusively on nature and MK Envision Galleries chelle and I are very, very paslandscape photography. This sionate about local. We like supfact seems limiting on the surface. It’s hard enough porting local businesses, we like the mom and pops, breaking into the fine art business, much less mak- and what better way to show our support of local ing money at it, when the business only sells one than to represent local talent, too?” type or genre of art. Ballantyne, however, says she’s confident that people will appreciate her and Nor- —Seth Combs

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October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

CULTURE | FILM

Exclamation points

Birth of a Nation

Nate Parker turns Nat Turner’s life and rebellion into a pummeling history lesson

by Glenn Heath Jr.

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uch has been made of The Birth of a Nation’s on the side of the road is supposed to shock us, but stratospheric rise to Oscar-frontrunner sta- all it does is solidify the director’s penchant for obvitus at this year’s Sundance Film Festival ous bombast. where it received standing ovations and was sold for Blunt force trauma can be effective when used a record $17.5 million to Fox Searchlight Pictures. Re- correctly, but Parker’s lack of experience (this is his cently, even more has been written (and deservedly debut film) and defiantly combative style decries the so) about the damning 1999 rape allegations against nuance needed to humanize Turner and deepen the writer/director/star Nate Parker and his friend and social meaning of his efforts. Throughout The Birth of co-writer Jean Celestin, both of whom ultimately a Nation, he is depicted in absolutes, first as a tool for escaped criminal punishment. More than a decade religious control by his white master Samuel (Armie after the incident, their victim committed suicide.

Hammer), and later as a daring martyr for the reSeparating art from the artist is difficult, especially pressed and disaffected. The husband/son/man that in this case where Parker has situated himself as the exists in between these extremes remains a mystery. great auteur of a socially relevant allegory about the Strangely, Parker’s aesthetic approach most relong history of American racism. But this bruising sembles the cinema of Mel Gibson. It’s all gushing biopic depicts those years leading up to Nat Turner’s wounds, bloody stiches, knife trusts, decapitations bloody 1831 slave rebellion as and strategically placed hanga thin version of Cliff’s Notes ing bodies. Such images may be where history has a clearly destriking but they are also gratuTHE BIRTH fined beginning, middle and itous, portraying the pre-Civil OF A NATION end. Analyzing this problematic War American South as tour approach should be a separate of depravity that never ends.

Directed by Nate Parker discussion from the real-world There’s nothing inherently Starring Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, controversy waging in the press. honorable or complex about Aunjanue Ellis and Colman Domingo Opening with a Thomas presenting these visuals simply Rated R Jefferson quote about injusto punish the viewer. Where’s tice, the film then segues to a the substance, or the layers of ritualistic coronation of young human conflict? The Birth of a Turner that foreshadows his righteous calling. He Nation only has time for loud symbolism posing as will “hold the holy words of our ancestors,” says one social justice. spiritual leader to the boy’s mother in a surreal and While Parker shows a coherent understanding of primal sermon in the woods. Here lie the ideologi- the evolution behind Turner’s path toward violence, cal beginnings of what will eventually turn into a the rebellion itself is a staggeringly inept climax physical insurrection against the brazen horrors of that adopts many of the worst standard Hollywood plantation life. Like so many climactic moments in tropes. Nothing compares to the unforgivable last the film, Parker overcuts the scene, stripping it of all five minutes, which copies Braveheart’s torturous mystery by refusing to hold on a single take for long. ending almost verbatim. Turner’s dying face fills the Style is a means to a manipulative end in The Birth screen caught in a suffocating tight shot, exclamation of a Nation. Turner’s pivotal life experiences—his re- points of sacrifice radiating from his tortured eyes. lationship with the bible, the loss of his father or the The Birth of a Nation, which opens Friday, Oct. intimate murder that begins his rebellion—are aug- 7, then reincarnates man into legend with a simple mented by maximum aesthetic impact. Music cues plume of musket smoke. If only myth making were crescendo as atrocities are thrust to the forefront of that simple. At this point, we might as well be watchthe frame. Aerial shots soar over cotton fields and ing an episode of Drunk History without the cutting tree lines with the force of IMAX spectacle. Mon- satire. tages bleed into each other and are Parker’s obvious safety net. The image of a headshot black man lying Film reviews run weekly.

Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com.

24 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

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CULTURE | FILM

Newsflash

I

n lieu of a second review this week (the pickings were slim folks), I thought it might be good to note some worthy filmrelated news items happening around San Diego this week. Who knows, this could become a regular thing when enough content merits attention.

La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego has a fascinating series titled “The Uses of Photography: Art, Politics, and the Medium of Reinvention” that began on Sept. 23 with a panel discussion about different local artists in the 1970s.

This was followed by a Sept. 24 screening of The Sky on Location, a rare film by Babette Mangolte, UCSD professor and former cin-

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friends and colleagues via email last week, expressing a genuine excitement about the new opportunities that await him.

While this change isn’t surprising considering the current state of newspapers and their dwindling arts coverage, it’s an unfortunate and sad revelation nonetheless. San Diego residents will be deprived of a key local voice on the subject of film, and Hollywood studios are less likely There? Where? to grace our market with travelling press tours and screenings. ematographer for the great direc- Only time will tell. tor Chantal Akerman.

Screenings continue on Oct. 6 —Glenn Heath Jr. with two Mangolte shorts (1979’s There? Where? and 1991’s Visible Cities). On Nov. 10 Jean-Pierre OPENING Gorin’s Poto and Cabengo from 1980 will screen, and the series Command and Control: Director Robert ends with the director’s 1986 fea- Kenner (Food Inc.) documents the nightture Routine Pleasures on Dec. 8. mare scenario that played out in September 1980 at the Titan II missile complex in To buy tickets visit mcasd.org.

Arkansas when a worker accidently puncSecondly, as of Oct. 1 The San tures the hull of a warhead with a socket Diego Union-Tribune will no lon- wrench. Opens Friday, Oct. 7, at Landger be publishing reviews by mark’s Ken Cinema. film critic Anders Wright. It is Dancer: Virtuoso Russian ballet dancer choosing instead to syndicate Sergei Polunin is the subject of this documentary about an artist who walks away reviews from other tronc, Inc. from everything to explore his personal (formerly the Tribune Company) and professional identity. Screens through papers like the Los Angeles Times. Thursday, Oct. 13, at Digital Gym Cinema Wright spent seven years at City- in North Park.

Beat before moving to the U-T in Denial: Rachel Weisz plays acclaimed 2013. He announced the news to writer and historian Deborah E. Lipstadt,

who must defend historical truth when faced with a lawsuit brought upon a bigoted Holocaust denier.

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life: A band of rebellious students decide to hatch a plan that will send their middle school into chaos.

My Blind Brother: Comedian Nick Kroll plays a slacker who must finally come to grips with his blind older brother’s continued achievements and success in life.

Screens through Thursday, Oct. 13, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Phantasm: Ravager: The final chapter in director Don Coscarelli’s horror franchise is a multi-dimensional battle across timelines that involves alien planets and altered realities. Screens through Thursday, Oct. 13, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

San Diego Italian Film Festival: Celebrate the latest and greatest Italian cinema at this 12-day festival that showcases narrative, documentary and short films.

Screenings will take place beginning Wednesday, Oct. 5, to Sunday, Oct. 16 at Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park and La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas.

The Birth of a Nation: Nate Parker’s period piece biopic traces the life of Nat Turner from his time as a plantation preacher to the moment he decides to lead the infamous slave rebellion in 1830s American South.

The Girl on the Train: In this thriller from director Tate Taylor (The Help) Emily Blunt’s divorcee witness an incident while on a passing train and becomes entangled in a missing persons incident.

For a complete listing of movies, visit “F ilm” on sdcitybeat.com.

October 5, 2016 • San Diego CityBeat · 25

MUSIC

TOM SHEEHAN

Ryley Walker HEN CHICAGO SINGER/SONGWRITER Ryley Walker picks up the phone during a drive between stops on his North American tour, it’s disorienting and a little bit hard to hear him. From the back of the tour van, where he’s sitting, his phone picks up a substantial hum coming from the road, and there’s some jazz playing on the CD player—something with a lot of piano and saxophone.

When Walker speaks, it’s often in short, punchy, halfserious sentences. He’s laid-back and sardonic, his personality at times mirroring that of The Dude, Jeff Bridges’ zen stoner protagonist from The Big Lebowski. In fact, the similarity is almost too perfect when Walker says that his goal was to make his new album Golden Sings That Have Been Sung, “kinda stoned sounding.”

“I don’t get stoned,” he clarifies. “But that’s the kind of sound I had in mind.”

He’s not totally far off. Golden Sings, released in August via Dead Oceans, isn’t a stoner album by the more stereotypical measure. There’s little in the way of extended jam-band noodling, the easy-going vibes of roots reggae or languorous plod of stoner rock. It is, however, an album of

26 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

beautifully composed, slow-moving indie rock that nods to the post-rock legacy of his home city, namely bands such as Tortoise and Gastr del Sol. The intricate guitar work of opening track “The Halfwit in Me,” for instance, heavily recalls the latter, its graceful yet climactic composition at once mellifluous and complex in its dynamics.

Much of the album works in a similar fashion as that song, maintaining a balance of gentle immediacy and challenging instrumental thrills. On “A Choir Apart,” Walker and his band go back and forth between soft, breezy verses and stormy choruses, whereas “Funny Thing She Said” has more of a jazzy, late-night torch song vibe and “Sullen Mind” juxtaposes a swirling psychedelic aesthetic with the influence of British folk-rock bands such as Pentangle or Fairport Convention. Each song feels like a mixture of careful composition and live intensity, and Walker confirms that each track is more the result of hashing it out live with other musicians than any solitary form of songwriting.

“We just play it live for like a year straight,” he says of each of his songs. “There’s no time where it’s me sitting in my room that overlooks the bay or shit like that. We’re so busy touring that we work a lot on the road. That’s how it all comes about.

“I guess a song’s never really done,” he adds. “Every song’s just a seedling that keeps branching off and branching off. Even when we’re done recording we keep adding to it live. The song is just a living, breathing thing. We always try to bring it new life. The moment it’s done on record is the moment we’re sick of doing it because we got the best possible version we could within our budget and time constraints.”

Walker and his band have certainly had many opportunities to play the songs on Golden Sings before the album officially hit record store shelves. In 2015, Walker played 200 shows on what was more or less a non-stop period of touring throughout the world. That kind of relentless work ethic is the kind of thing that has historically broken up bands prematurely or caused the kind of physical exhaustion that could keep them from playing again for long periods of time. But Walker was eager to get back into the van. For him, performing in front of audiences is what makes it worth being a professional musician.

“The live show is great. It’s the best part of it all,” he says. “It’s a chance to hang out with good friends and keep going. People mix cement for over 200 days a year—that sounds exhausting. I get to travel and hang out with my friends and play music. I love it.”

Walker’s travels throughout the world likewise influenced the title of the record, Golden Sings That Have Been Sung. Its awkward phrasing is a sort of tribute to his treks around the globe, an indirect reference to various confusing conversations he’s had with people in the dozens of countries where he’s toured, including Morocco, which he alternately says is his favorite place to visit and the country where he feels most like an outsider.

“I wanted to do something with improper syntax that sounds wrong, because I’m traveling so much,” he says. “I guess the anxiety of language barriers have been an important theme in the last couple years of my life. It kind of played an influence on the title.”

With his new album just crossing its one-month anniversary, Walker is back to the place he feels most comfortable: Anywhere his touring takes him. He’s as much a vagabond as an entertainer, the lure of the open road as compelling as playing music itself. And he’s not done exploring yet.

“There’s places, like, in eastern Asia: Korea, Vietnam,” he says of his checklist of cities and countries to visit, before pausing, briefly. “Nah, just joking, I want to go to Indianapolis, Indiana.”

Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com and follow him on Twitter at @1000TimesJeff

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October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO LOCALS ONLY

B

elching Beaver Brewery has teamed up with The Deftones on a new collaborative beer. The brewery just released Phantom Bride IPA, now on tap at its North Park, Oceanside and Vista tap rooms, and also available in bottles. The collaboration came about because the band’s vocalist, Chino Moreno, is a big fan of beer, and through some mutual contacts the band and brewery ended up talking about working together.

“Chino loves beer. He loves IPAs,” says Marc Truex, director of sales at Belching Beaver. “So they thought it would be cool to partner with a brewery to release a collaborative beer.”

Phantom Bride is a hoppy West Coast-style IPA that Truex describes as having a “tropical” flavor profile. The recipe has been a work in progress, with continual refinement of it taking place after a few test batches.

Truex says that it’s been in the works for a while, so it’s exciting to let the cat out of the bag.

“We finally came up with a recipe that everyone was happy with.

We just kind of kept changing and kept adding to it. We had it labeled as Project X,” he says. “It’s good to finally be able to tell someone about it.”

In addition to being available in San Diego county, Belching Beaver Phantom Bride IPA will be available throughout the West Coast, in addition to Hawaii and Nevada. It’s a limited release for now, but the brewery is trying to allow as many people to try it as possible.

“Right now it’s a limited release,” Truex says. “We cast a pretty wide net for distribution. Chino lives in the Pacific Northwest, and we think people all over will want to try it.”

—Jeff Terich

Belching Beaver Phantom Bride IPA

ALBUM REVIEW Monochromacy Live Isolated (New Body)

O

ne of the best shows I saw in 2015 was one of the most under the radar. During Make Music Day at Balboa Park, Esteban Flores, better known as Monochromacy, performed a set of abstract ambient guitar drones inside a small chapel adjacent to the Museum of Man. And though I’m not a religious person, the experience nonetheless felt spiritual in a kind of intangible way. It was an intimate performance, the room small enough that it held only a couple dozen people, yet it was also overwhelming. Flores creates some truly intense sounds from little more than a guitar and pedalboard, and inside this small, sacred space, he treated us to something intense and beautiful—the kind of experience that rarely happens inside your average rock club.

Flores’ new cassette release Live Isolated, recorded in a single take in a room filled with microphones (or so the Bandcamp description states), doesn’t allow the listener to repeat that in-person, physical, multi-sensory experience. Yet the music itself is nonetheless breathtaking. Compared to Flores’ Cement Cathedrals EP from 2013, Live Isolated covers a broader set of extremes. The sevenminute opening track “Slave Wisdom,” for instance, is more power electronics than drone, comprising a lengthy sequence of chaotic noise and static that sets

28 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

the listener up for a much more abrasive set. Over time, however, it transforms into a heavier, ominous piece that leans a little less on noise and more on low-end drone. It’s terrifying. It’s also amazing.

Live Isolated grows stronger as it continues, reaching an early peak with the 12-minute “With a Squalid Heart.” It’s far more sedate and restrained, but carries a heavy dose of eerie terror in its gloomy atmosphere, not unlike Stars of the Lid’s great 1997 album The Ballasted Orchestra. The music moves slowly, almost suspended in place, but it’s graceful and beautiful, if in an unconventional manner. “A Man of Progress” makes a return to some less immediately harmonious territory, with vocal loops that sound a bit like Gregorian chants or Himalayan throat singing, but it gradually evolves into a more menacing set of vocal sounds. And “Who I Was/Shouting in the Dark” sounds legitimately haunted.

Everything on Live Isolated will likely take a little getting used to for those not already familiar with drone, noise or ambient music, but it’s also some of the best music in any of those styles I’ve heard this year. Better yet, it’s a fresh 45 minutes of darkness, just in time for Halloween.

—Jeff Terich #SDCityBeat

MUSIC JULIA BROKAW

JEFF TERICH SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

IF I WERE U A music insider’s weekly agenda WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

PLAN A: S U R V I V E, Majeure @ Soda Bar. The Austin-based synthwave band S U R V I V E counts among its ranks the composers of the Stranger Things score, so hopefully that got your attention. Their music is dense, expansive and eerie, with lots of exquisite synthesizer melodies.

BACKUP PLAN: The Devils of Loudon, DAEMOS, Silence the Prince @ The Merrow.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6

PLAN A: Failure @ Music Box. I realize that back in the summer I wrote an article about how I’m not a big fan of bands touring behind classic albums. There are always exceptions, though, particularly alt-rock heroes Failure, who are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their epic sci-fi and drugs concept album Fantastic Planet.

PLAN B: Nina Coyote eta Chica Tornado, Le Ra, Boychick @ Blonde. Nina Coyote eta Chica Tornado are a hard rock-

#SDCityBeat

ing duo from Spain’s Basque region that make impressive use of their limited set up.

They’ve got riffs for days, like a two-person Queens of the Stone Age. BACKUP PLAN: TOPS, Weyes Blood, Garden Echo @ Soda Bar.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

PLAN A: Kamasi Washington @ Humphrey’s by the Bay. Kamasi Washington’s performance at Soda Bar last year was one of my favorite shows of 2015. With an even bigger bayside venue, there’s no way his spiritual jazz excursions won’t be transcendent. PLAN B: Grim Reaper, Alchemy, Sentinel, Seraphic Disgust @ Brick

by Brick. Grim Reaper’s been making awesome heavy metal music since the early 1980s, as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. And they’re still going, showing youngsters how to do big riffs and soaring choruses right. BACKUP PLAN: Avi Buffalo, Buddy Banter, Big Bad Buffalo, Dawayne Neptune @ Soda Bar.

PLAN A: La Sera, Springtime Carnivore @ The Hideout. La Sera’s been going long enough that their track record is longer than Katy Goodman’s previous band, Vivian Girls. And for that matter, they’re more versatile, with a repertoire of catchy, fuzzy, jangly indie pop songs that always feel good whenever you hear them. PLAN B: Fred and Toody of Dead Moon, The Widows @ Soda Bar. Fred and Toody are veteran garage rockers from lo-fi favorites Dead Moon, who recorded a lot of great underground gems in their day. If you like your garage sounds to be a little spooky, soulful and without a lot of polish, come hear how it’s done. BACKUP PLAN: Mystic Braves, The Dream Ride, Los Sweepers @ The Casbah.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

PLAN A: The Felice Brothers, Aaron Lee Tasjan @ The Casbah. I’m pretty picky about my Americana, mostly because some suspender-snapping newcomers kind of ruined it. But The Felice Brothers have some earthy, sweet sounds that still soothe the savage beast. A fine way to end Sunday night.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10

PLAN A: Skeletonwitch, Iron Reagan, Oathbreaker, Gatecreeper @ Brick by

La Sera Brick. Skeletonwitch is one of the more fun metal bands you’ll see live, with hard-rocking thrash anthems that hit hard and often feature some triumphant hooks. Make sure to get there early for Oathbreaker, a Belgian band that combines the ethereal with the guttural in impressive ways. BACKUP PLAN: Dirty Pennies, The Phantoms, Mittens @ The Casbah.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11

PLAN A: Bosswitch, LiquidLight, Nebula Drag @ The Merrow. Bosswitch features Justin Cota of Gloomsday and Deep Sea Thunder Beast, so right off the bat you know there’s bound to be some kickass guitar riffs. And there are! Bosswitch are a mix of metal and pop, much like Torche, and I’m definitely in the target audience for this kind of rock music.

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Soulection (Observatory, 10/29), ‘Halloween Spooktacular’ (Soda Bar, 10/31), Young Thug (Observatory, 11/28), CRX (Casbah, 12/7), Cold War Kids (Observatory, 1/21), Jake Shimabukuro (Music Box, 2/15), Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (Balboa Theatre, 2/16), English Beat (BUT, 2/1718), Wood Brothers (Observatory, 3/2), POS (Casbah, 3/10), Celtic Woman (Civic Theatre, 5/25).

GET YER TICKETS Danny Brown (Observatory, 10/14), The 1975 (Open Air Theatre, 10/15), Prophets of Rage (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 10/16), The Julie Ruin (Music Box, 10/16), Jethro Tull (Balboa Theatre, 10/17), Quantic (Music Box, 10/18), The Faint, Gang of Four (Observatory, 10/18), Alessia Cara (Copley Symphony Hall, 10/18), Wild Nothing (Music Box, 10/21), Tricky (BUT, 10/21), Violent Femmes (Observatory North Park, 10/23), Jackson Browne (Balboa Theatre, 10/24), Ziggy Marley (BUT, 10/24-25), Preoccupations (Irenic, 10/26), Kongos, Joy Formidable (Music Box, 10/26), Damien Jurado (Irenic, 10/27), Dillinger Escape Plan (Brick

by Brick, 10/28), Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Death from Above 1979 (HOB, 10/28), M83 (SOMA, 10/29), Suicide Machines (Irenic, 10/29), Psyche-

30 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

delic Furs (BUT, 10/30), Rocket from the Crypt (Lafayette, 10/31), Buzzoven (Brick by Brick, 10/31), Andra Day (Humphreys, 11/2), Tory Lanez (Observatory, 11/3), Tony Bennett (Harrahs, 11/4), Diamond Head (Brick by Brick, 11/5), Bush (Observatory, 11/8), Protomartyr (Soda Bar, 11/9), Death Grips (Observatory North Park, 11/9), Diarrhea Planet (Soda Bar, 11/11), Sleigh Bells (Observatory, 11/11), HEALTH (Music Box, 11/11), Slightly Stoopid (Observatory North Park, 11/12), SubRosa (Soda Bar, 11/12), Car Seat Headrest (Irenic, 11/12), Lupe Fiasco (HOB, 11/14), Rae Sremmurd (Observatory, 11/16), Trash Talk, Antwon (Soda Bar, 11/18), Gogol Bordello (Observatory North Park, 11/19), Neko Case (Poway OnStage, 11/19), Warpaint (Observatory, 11/22), Red Fang (Casbah, 11/22), Hirie (Music Box, 11/25), Kool Keith (HOB, 11/27), Porter Robinson, Madeon (Valley View Casino Center, 11/29), Peter Murphy (Observatory, 11/29), Seu Jorge (Balboa Theatre, 11/30), Lee Fields (BUT, 11/30), Daughter (Observatory, 12/1), Helmet (Casbah, 12/2), Two Door Cinema Club (Harrah’s Resort, 12/3), Amy Schumer (Valley View Casino Center, 12/3), The Album Leaf (Irenic, 12/9), Pylon Reenactment Society (Hideout, 12/10), Mr. Carmack (Observatory, 12/10), Pere Ubu (Casbah, 12/10), Henry Rollins (Observatory, 12/27), Mannheim Steamroller (Civic Theatre, 12/28), Donovon Frankenreiter (BUT, 12/28-29), Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven (Music Box, 12/29), Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot (BUT, 12/30), Brian Setzer Orchestra (BUT, 12/31), The Devil Makes Three (Observatory, 1/4-5), Blind Boys of Alabama (BUT,

1/29), Adam Ant (Observatory, 2/18), Steve Poltz (BUT, 2/24-25), Reverend Horton Heat (BUT, 4/20).

OCTOBER WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5 Sia at Viejas Arena. SURVIVE at Soda Bar. Todo Mundo at California Center for the Arts. Cute is What We Aim For at The Casbah.

THURSDAY, OCT. 6 Failure at Music Box. Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone at Humphreys by the Bay. Wynton Marsalis at Balboa Theatre (sold out). Mumford & Sons at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. Gone Baby Gone at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, OCT. 7 Kamasi Washington at Humphreys by the Bay. Omara Portuondo at Balboa Theatre. Grim Reaper at Brick by Brick. Jesse James Decker at House of Blues. BFSB at The Casbah.

SATURDAY, OCT. 8 La Sera at The Hideout. Bogan Via at House of Blues. Giraffage at Observatory North Park. Mystic Braves at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, OCT. 9 Kula Shaker at Belly Up Tavern. Felice Brothers at The Casbah. Tears for Fears at Humphreys by the Bay (sold out). Clint Black at Poway OnStage.

Florida Georgia Line at Sleep Train Amphitheatre.

MONDAY, OCT. 10 Skeletonwitch at Brick by Brick. Donella Drive at Soda Bar.

TUESDAY, OCT. 11 Steve Vai at House of Blues.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12 Colbie Caillat at Humphreys by the Bay. Halestorm at House of Blues. Lowlands at Soda Bar. The Hand of Gavrilo at The Casbah.

THURSDAY, OCT. 13 Legendary Pink Dots at Soda Bar. RJD2 at Observatory North Park. MOTHXR at House of Blues Voodoo Room.

Killswitch Engage at House of Blues.

FRIDAY, OCT. 14 Beartooth at House of Blues. Danny Brown at Observatory North Park. Foreigner at Harrahs Resort (sold out). The Helio Sequence at The Hideout. Ryley Walker at Soda Bar. Goblin Cock at The Casbah.

SATURDAY, OCT. 15 Schoolboy Q at Observatory North Park (sold out). The 1975 at Open Air Theatre.

Stryper at House of Blues. Tobacco at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, OCT. 16 Prophets of Rage at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. Yellowcard at House of Blues.

The Julie Ruin at Music Box. Flock of Dimes at Soda Bar. The Temper Trap at Observatory North Park. Poncho Sanchez at Belly Up Tavern.

#SDCityBeat

MUSIC MONDAY, OCT. 17 Jethro Tull at Balboa Theatre (sold out). Yawpers at Soda Bar. Hocus at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, OCT. 18 The Faint, Gang of Four at Observatory North Park. Quantic at Music Box. Screaming Females at Soda Bar. Alessia Cara at Copley Symphony Hall. Brujeria at Brick by Brick. Young the Giant at House of Blues (sold out). Demilich at The Merrow. TV Icon at The Casbah.

Jimmy Buffett at Humphreys by the Bay (sold out).

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19 Young the Giant at House of Blues (sold out). Holy White Hounds at The Casbah. Willie Nelson at Humphreys by the Bay (sold out).

THURSDAY, OCT. 20 Tracy Morgan at Humphreys by the Bay. Vapors of Morphine at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, OCT. 21 Majid Jordan at Observatory North Park. Kero Kero Bonito at House of Blues. The Dear Hunter at The Irenic.

Felipe Esparza at Humphreys by the Bay. Gorguts at Brick by Brick. Wild Nothing at Music Box.

SATURDAY, OCT. 22 Saint Vitus at Brick by Brick. Niykee Heaton at Observatory North Park.

Capitol Steps at Poway OnStage. Wild Child at Belly Up Tavern. Lemaitre at Music Box.

#SDCityBeat

SUNDAY, OCT. 23 D.R.I. at Soda Bar. Violent Femmes at Observatory North Park.

MONDAY, OCT. 24 Yuna at Music Box. Ziggy Marley at Belly Up Tavern. Jackson Browne at Balboa Theatre.

TUESDAY, OCT. 25 Ziggy Marley at Belly Up Tavern. Parkway Drive at House of Blues.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26 Bon Iver at Copley Symphony Hall (sold out). Preoccupations at The Irenic.

Kongos, Joy Formidable at Music Box. Maceo Parker at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, OCT. 27 Balance and Composure at Observatory North Park. Damien Jurado at The Irenic.

FRIDAY, OCT. 28 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Death from Above 1979 at House of Blues.

Ingrid Michaelson at Humphreys by the Bay. Alice Cooper at Harrah’s Resort. Dillinger Escape Plan at Brick

by Brick.

SATURDAY, OCT. 29 Blind Pilot at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Martin Lawrence at Harrah’s Resort. Sweater Beats at Soda Bar. Suicide Machines at The Irenic. Jo Koy at Humphreys by the Bay. M83 at SOMA.

SUNDAY, OCT. 30 Run River North at House of Blues.

Psychedelic Furs at Belly Up Tavern.

MONDAY, OCT. 31 Buzzov-en at Brick by Brick. BoomBox at Observatory North Park. Rocket from the Crypt at Lafayette Hotel.

NOVEMBER TUESDAY, NOV. 1 Ms. Lauryn Hill at Copley Symphony Hall (sold out). Mexrissey at California Center for the Arts. The Adicts at Observatory North Park.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2 Elephant Stone at The Hideout. Andra Day at Humphreys by the Bay. G Burns Jug Band at California Center for the Arts.

THURSDAY, NOV. 3 Tory Lanez at Observatory North Park.

Three Dog Night at Belly Up Tavern.

Bob Moses at Music Box.

FRIDAY, NOV. 4 Pansy Division at Soda Bar. Tony Bennett at Harrahs Resort.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., San Diego. Pacific Beach. Thu: Live band karaoke. Fri: Chugboat, Blue Jean Simmons, John Caruso. Sat: Fluid Foundation with Pato Banton. Tue: My Cuzzins Funk Band.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Thu: Aparna Nancherla. Fri: Aparna Nancherla.

Sat: Aparna Nancherla. Sun: The Miracle Joke Elixir with Blake Wexler.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Rd., Spring Valley. Thu: ‘Darkwave Garden’. Fri: Electric Enzymes, The Crash Recovery, Sempra Sol, Jovias. Sat: Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicides, GentrOside, The Mandoshanks.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., San Diego.

Downtown. Sat: Vintage Culture.

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

North Park. Wed: DJ Grand Masta Rats.

Fri: ‘First Friday’ w/ DJ Artistic. Sat: The Milkcrates DJs. Tue: The Fink Bombs.

Basic, 410 10th Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Tue: Continnum.

Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Thu: The Rhythm Authority. Fri: Blaise Guld Trio. Sat: Slower. Sun: Kenny Eng. Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Solana Beach. Wed: Tal Wilkenfeld, Steve Taylor. Fri: Marc Broussard, Jenn Grinels, Peter Aristone. Sat: Trevor Hall, Shea Freedom (sold out).

Sun: Kula Shaker, The Loons.

Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Ave., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: ‘Black Cat Wax’. Sat: Anomaly, Fivepaw.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington Street, San Diego. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’ w/ Kevin Glover. Thu: Nina Coyote ETA Chica Tornado, Le Ra, Boychick. Fri: ‘Body Heat’ w/ Miso Champ and Heminguey. Sat: Adult Books, Psychomagic. Sun: ‘Headtrip’ w/ Real J Wallace, Brother Burns, DJ Ty Def. Tue: Triptides, The Kabbs, DJ Matt Bahamas.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 31

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave., Carlsbad. Fri: ‘Club Musae’.

Brass Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Sat: ‘Sabado en Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA, K-Swift. Mon: ‘Manic Monday’ w/ DJ Junior the Disco Punk.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., San Diego. Bay Park. Fri: Grim Reaper, Alchemy, Sentinel, Seraphic Disgust. Sat: Cage, Time Machine, DiVad. Sun: MDC, Wartorn, Sculpins, The Yucks, Systematic Abuse. Mon: Skeletonwitch, Iron Reagan, Oathbreaker, Gatecreeper.

Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Downtown. Sat: Flamenco Dinner Show.

Sun: Buena Vista Sundays.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Wed: Cute Is What We Aim For, The Johnsons. Thu: Gone Baby Gone, Los Shadows, The Oxen. Fri: BFSB, Cardinal Moon, Mrs. Henry, Pall Jenkins. Sat: Mystic Braves, The Dream Ride, Los Sweepers. Sun: The Felice Brothers, Aaron Lee Tasjan. Mon: Dirty Pennies, The Phantoms, Mittens. Tue: Lucky Chops, Taurus Authority.

The Che Cafe, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla.

Thu: Dirt Friends, Electric Circus, Axis Evil. Fri: Turn It Around, Frontside, Life Moves On, Born Guilty. Sat: Geach Both.

Chico Club, 7366 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa. Wed: DJ Harvest Karaoke. Thu: DJ Harvest Karaoke. Fri: DJ Harvest Karaoke. Sat: Vinyl Pirates.

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lem-

on Grove. Lemon Grove. Fri: FX5. Sat: DJ Hurricane Andrew.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. Mission Bay. Sat: Arnessa Rickett.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown., San Diego.

Downtown. Fri: DJ Kaos. Sat: Craig Smoove.

The Field, 544 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: Kenny & Deez. Thu: General Mojo’s. Fri: Clint Westwood Band. Sat: Get Down Party. Mon: Julie Albright. Tue: Chris Priore.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., San Diego.

Downtown. Fri: Madeintyo. Sat: Chachi.

Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Sat: BIER. An Oktoberfest for San Diego Breweries.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Wed: Ride the Mule.

Thu: Night Skool. Fri: ‘Good Times’.

Sat: ‘Rock Star Saturday’. Tue: ‘50s/60s Dance Party.

The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: ‘Hide and Go Freak’ w/ JR Jarris. Sat: La Sera. Sun: Pants Karaoke.

The Holding Company, 5040 Newport Ave., San Diego. Ocean Beach. Wed: Jonathan Lee Band, Bryan Michael. Thu: The Ataris, Skyler Lutes Band, BJ Jezbera. Fri: ‘Oktoberfest Throwdown’ w/ DJs Pete Fox, Grom Zucks, Trip V, Nick Gray. Sat: QUEL BORDEL, DJ Artform, Bobby Detroit Band, DJ Nicholas Crates.

5550 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego. Kearny Mesa. Thu: Tomcat Courtney. Fri: Billy and Junior Watson. Sat: Bill Magee.

Lestat’s West, 3341 Adams Ave., Normal Heights , San Diego. Normal Heights.

Wed: Brian Dolzani, Anna Rose. Fri: Titus Haug, Madison Cunningham, Haley Montgomery. Sun: Midnite Divide.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Wed: DJ Kiki. Thu: DJs Myxzlplix, John Vilotti. Fri: DJs John Joseph, Will Z. Sat: DJs Taj, K-Swift.

The Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. Wed: Tatsuya Nakatani. Fri: Nothing Special, Kid Wilderness. Sat: Iranian Music Forum. Tue: Welcome Back Cypher.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Coronado. Wed: Steve Brewer. Thu: Jackson & Jesus. Fri: Ron’s Garage. Sat: Trunk Monkey. Tue: 3 Guys Will Move U. The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., San Diego. Hillcrest. Wed: The Devils of Loudon, DAEMOS, Silence the Prince.

Thu: Minor Gems, Gravvyard, Vakoum.

Fri: Mittens, Crunk Witch, Undead Garden, Imagery Machine. Sat: Marujah, The Tommy Mitchell Show, The Lowland Drifters, Los Adictos Violentes. Tue: Bosswitch, LiquidLight, Nebula Drag.

Mother’s Saloon, 2228 Bacon Street, San Diego. Thu: DJ Dub B. Fri: Courtney Preis, DJ Product. Sat: Justin Werner, DJ Product. Mon: Kayla Hope.

Mr. Peabody’s Encinitas, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Thu: Smith and Western.

Fri: Motorwest. Sat: High Minded, Coyote Blues Redemption.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Wed: ‘Verve’. Fri: Jessie James Decker. Sat: Chief Keef. Mon: Machine Gun Kelly. Tue: Steve Vai.

Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego.

Little Italy. Thu: Failure. Fri: Sound the Groove. Sat: Heartbreaka, Boon League, CS & Tee Cambo, Yung Jae.

Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. Point Loma. Wed: Rosy Dawn Band. Thu: Walter Gentry. Fri: Detroit Underground. Sat: Rising Star, The Reflectors. Sun: Scott Wilkie, Mercedes Moore. Mon: Mercedes Moore. Tue: Missy Andersen.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Thu: ‘Wet’. Fri: ‘Uncut’. Sat: ‘Club Sabbat’. Sun: R&B Divas.

Java Joe’s Normal Heights, 3536 Adams Ave., San Diego. Normal Heights.

Wed: Veronica May. Thu: Gregory Page’s open mic. Fri: Jeff Berkley, Lisa Sanders.

Sat: Evan Bethany, Brett Emerson Wagner. Sun: Peter Sprague, Leonard Patton, Gregory Page, Nina Francis.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Wed: ‘Family Matters’.

Thu: SD Producers Social. Fri: ‘Progress’. Sat: ‘Dusty Poon Saloon Pre-Party’.

Tue: ‘High Tech Tuesday’.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., San Diego. Kensington. Fri: Pasaje Rodriguez pop-up.

The Kraken, 2531 S. Coast Highway 101, Cardiff. Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Wed: Flipside Burners. Thu: A-Mac DZ. Fri:

32 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

Serious Guise. Sat: Sully and the BlueEyed Soul Band. Sun: JX3. Tue: Dead McMahon.

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

North Park. Wed: ‘New Wave Monthly’.

Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King. Fri: ‘Nite Moves’ w/ DJs Beatnick, DJ Este.

Sat: ‘Strictly Business’ w/ DJs Kanye Asada, Gabe Vega. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ w/ Tribe of Kings. Mon: ‘Metal Monday’.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 6th Ave, San Diego. Thu: BRKLYN. Fri: Laidback Luke.

Sat: Savi.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Fri: Tiffany Jane and the Kicks. Sat: Ypsitucky. Sun: Uptown Rhythm Makers.

Parq, 615 Broadway, San Diego. Fri: DJ Direct. Sat: DJ Ikon.

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: The Upshots. Thu: Len Rainey’s Midnight Players. Fri: Mystique Element of Soul. Sat: R-Kive.

Proud Mary’s @ The Ramada Hotel,

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Swing Thing. Fri: The Darling Brothers. Sat: Blue Largo.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave., San Diego. North Park. Wed: Robin Henkel with Ron Bocian.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Wed: S U R V I V E, Majeure. Thu: TOPS, Weyes Blood, Garden Echo. Fri: Avi Buffalo, Buddy Banter, Big Bad Buffalo, Dawayne Neptune.

Sat: Fred and Toody of Dead Moon, The Widows. Sun: Tsunami Bomb, Oceanside Sound System, The Lexicons, DJ Dr. Bones. Mon: Donella Drive, Atris, From Wild Fire. Tue: Hopeless Jack, G Burns Jug Band, Jake Loban and the Friendly Fire.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Thu: Crooked. Sun: The Big Decisions.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Wed: Deathhammer, Impure Consecration, Infernal Conjuration. Sat: Fuzz Junkies, Batlords, Dum Cumpsters.

The Tin Roof, 401 G Street, San Diego.

Gaslamp. Wed: Keep Your Soul. Thu: ‘Spin Roof’. Fri: Cassie B Project. Sat: Keep Your Soul. Tue: J Liberio.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., San Diego.

Bay Park. Thu: Blue Largo. Fri: Third Project. Sat: Native Alien. Sun: Colour.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: ‘Hip Hop vs.

Punk Rock’. Sat: Remain in Vain, Ad Seg, Thoughtcrime, Se Vende.

Ux31, 3112 University Ave., San Diego.

North Park. Wed: ‘Tropical Wednesday’ w/ DJ Mo Lyon. Fri: DJ Ayla Simone. Sat: DJ Junior the Disco Punk. Sun: ‘Reggae SD’.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, San Diego.

South Park. Wed: The Schizophonics, Death Eyes, DJ E-Rawk. Thu: ‘Kiss and Make Up’ w/ Silver Shadows, DJs Jon Blaj, Kyle Badour. Fri: The Amandas. Sat: ‘Booty Bassment’ w/ DJs Dimitri, Rob. Sun: ‘Fantasy’. Tue: ‘Videodrome’.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., San Diego.

Ocean Beach. Wed: Inna Vision, Dubbest, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: DJ Williams and Shots Fired. Fri: Lance Lewell and the Vibe Tribe. Sat: Banditos, Homesick Hitchers, Modern Day Moonshine. Sun: OB-oke. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: The Devil’s Due.

#SDCityBeat

#SDCityBeat

October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 33

LAST WORDS | ADVICE

AMY ALKON

theory—borne out in research on humans, animals and insects—is that the sex that has the highest cost from sexual activity (the female, in almost all species) will be choosier about whom they mate with than the sex that invests less (which is almost always the male).

In humans, of course, women are the ones who get pregnant and stuck with the kids, and men can, as anthropologists quip, just “inseminate and run.” So—over thousands of generations—women being choosier and men being, uh, chase-ier got wired into human psychology. We can’t just shrug off the emotional mechanisms that drive this behavior even today—even if Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe deems it “heteronormative” hooey that women damage their desirability by chasing men.

A trip to the Panamanian wetlands would show her she’s wrong—that what drives which sex does the chasing and which does the choosing really is about who gets stuck with the child care. Yes, in most species, that’s the female. But check out the role reversal in the wattled jacana, a long-legged South American wading bird.

Zoologist Stephen Emlen and his team

ADVICE

GODDESS A Mile In Somebody Else’s Choose I’m a woman who’s on the feminist dating app Bumble, where women have to make the first move. Men can only write back to women who message them. I thought this would be empowering, but even pursuing a guy in this small way feels unsexy and overly aggressive. Do I just need to get over my retrograde thinking?

—Uncomfortable

The gazelle doesn’t wake up one day, decide it’s time for a change, and give the sleeping cougar a kick with its hoof: “Run for your life, you big ugly feline!” The cougar turns around, confused: “What are you doing, man? Haven’t you ever seen National Geographic?”

Who does the chasing in dating also isn’t some arbitrary thing. It comes down to what evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers, in 1972, called “parental investment.” His

34 · San Diego CityBeat · October 5, 2016

found that it’s the male jacana, not the female, that sits incubating the eggs in the nest and cares for the chickies after they hatch. And right in line with Trivers’ parental investment theory, female jacanas are the ones who do the chasing, competing for the males, and some even have “harems” of up to five boy birds. And it gets worse. The Emlen team found that as male jacanas sit tending their egg brood, they’re sometimes forced to watch while their girlfriend bird gets it on right in front of them with the other boy birds in her harem.

Getting back to Bumble, where the app goes wrong is in removing the filtering that comes from a man needing to lay his ego on the line and expend effort to pursue a woman. The notion that it’s “empowering” for women to do the chasing ignores that it’s in men’s genetic interest to not turn down a mating opportunity—even with a woman they aren’t that interested in. Also, because men evolved to expect choosier women, even subtle forms of chasing like your contacting a man first may send a message that you’re not all that. If you’re really looking to put him off, why not turn the tables all the way and send a panorama shot of your erect penis? You: “Yoo-hoo?

Where’d you go?!”

When Push Comes To Love I’ve been dating a 55-year-old guy for a year. I have two teenage boys; he has no kids. He initially mentioned marriage

but now doesn’t want to “rush” moving in with me and my boys. As a first step, he’s moving closer. He just signed a lease on an apartment near me. I love him, but I’m overwhelmed handling two teenagers alone. Should I tell him he needs to speed up the pace?

—Questioning His Commitment

If a relationship leads to an outpouring of feelings, a man tends to prefer “You’re the love of my life!” to “Screw you! You’re not my real dad!”

Perhaps because you’re seeing this through “I need a break!”-colored glasses, you confuse being careful with not caring.

But zoologist Amotz Zahavi has some good news for you. His research finds that when a message involves some expense to the sender, it’s more likely to be for real. For example, anyone can claim they’re committed, but as the saying goes, talk is cheap.

Moving, however, is not. It’s costly. Stressful. Horrible. Especially if you are older than 21 and own more than a sleeping bag, a Nintendo and a couple of bongs.

Your boyfriend may ultimately decide that the package here isn’t for him, but pressuring him is unlikely to help. In fact, it’s likely to pressure him right out of your life. There’s a reason he doesn’t have kids, and it probably isn’t that he was too put off by the possibility of life imprisonment to kidnap a few at the mall.

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October 5, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 35