San Diego CityBeat • Oct 28, 2015

2 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

#SDCityBeat

#SDCityBeat

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

Men, women, cancer

M

Y YOUNG, VIVACIOUS FRIEND Hannah Martine was diagnosed with breast cancer in August. She’s just 29.

She’s geared up for the fight of her life, though, armed with an amazing attitude, chemotherapy, surgery next spring, radiation, and drug hormone therapy for the rest of her life. Martine excitedly messaged me that she was going to the WWE Monday Night Raw ’rassling matches at Valley View Casino Center. She went into the ring with WWE stars to be recognized as one of San Diego’s tough cookies who can’t be beaten.

Cool cat Steve West is a veteran DJ at FM 94.9. He got the news in July 2004 that he had aggressive, stage-3 prostate cancer. After surgery, radiation and two clinical trials he’s still monitoring the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in his blood.

West has a tradition of doing a 50-hour, on-air marathon broadcast during which he auctions off items to raise money for Movember.

That’s the 12-year-old charity fundraising effort where guys grow mustaches during the month of November to draw awareness to prostate cancer and men’s mental and physical health issues.

The last few days of October are an interesting nexus for cancer awareness. It’s near the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is the launching pad for Movember. Are the pink ribbons for women and the hairy, upper-lip ribbons for men so much wrapping on an empty box? The NFL gets flak for its style-over-substance effort to have players accessorize in pink cleats and gloves on the field, without anything backing it up, such as a directed campaign about early detection. ESPN has reported that only 8 percent of money spent on pink NFL merchandise actually goes toward cancer research.

You can argue that the NFL does keep awareness at the forefront. But shift ribbons for a moment and consider the effort my friend Chad Little puts into prostate cancer awareness. In 2006 his

dad, Harry, was diagnosed with the disease. Today, Harry Little is 70, had his prostate removed and has gone through extensive radiation and hormone treatments. He’s stage 4, and the cancer has spread and metastasized.

Chad Little is one of San Diego’s leading volunteer salespersons waving the flag about prostate cancer. He tirelessly mans an informational booth at events for the group Pints for Prostates, which shrewdly uses beer to grab guys’ attention. And, he’s written to, cajoled and convinced nearly every city council in San Diego County to create one of those whereas-y proclamations declaring support of the fight against prostate cancer. (Notice I wrote “nearly” every city council. Wud up, Carlsbad?)

Kudos to El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells. He granted that city’s proclamation at Little’s behest and also pledged to grow a moustache—his first-ever—this November in support of the Movember cause.

Every ’stache creates awareness. One in seven U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and 233,000 men got that diagnosis in 2014, according to the Movember Foundation.

About 25,000 males will die each year from a disease that does not have to be fatal.

In 2015 there will be more than Chad Little 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women in the U.S., according to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

More than 40,000 women in this country will die of breast cancer this year.

My friends West and Martine are both familiar with the statistics. Both say the same thing when talking about the benefit of organized, mass-awareness campaigns: They can promote early detection.

Because it’s never too early to check in with a doctor. And it doesn’t matter what restroom you use.

Or what month it is.

—Ron Donoho

Write to rond@sdcitybeat.com

This issue of CityBeat is dedicated to newsie Joshua Emerson Smith.

Enjoy the gift basket of processed meats. We’ll miss you, and your Bernie Man 2016 t-shirt.

Volume 14 • Issue 11 EDITOR Raah! GonnaHowl MUSIC EDITOR Death Scare Witch ARTS EDITOR Death Catacombs ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jack-o-oshua Evil-son Shadow-mith WEB EDITOR Re-animated Headford ART DIRECTOR Scare-lyn Redrum-os COLUMNISTS Aaryn Belfer, Edwin Decker, John R. Lamb, Alex Zaragoza

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

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jason Noble ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Beau Odom, Kimberly Wallace, Isaac Aycox ACCOUNTING Kacie Cobian, Sharon Huie, Linda Lam

EDITORIAL INTERNS Torrey Bailey, Nancy Kirk

HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea Baker

PRODUCTION MANAGER Tristan Whitehouse

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE Michael Nagami

PRODUCTION ARTIST Rees Withrow

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS David Comden

MULTIMEDIA ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paulina Porter-Tapia

PUBLISHER Kevin Hellman

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Interested in advertising?

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EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICE 3047 University Ave., Suite 202 San Diego, CA 92104 Phone: 619-281-7526 Fax: 619-281-5273 www.sdcitybeat.com

San Diego CityBeat is published and distributed every Wednesday by Southland Publishing Inc., free of charge but limited to one per reader. Reproduction of any material in this or any other issue is prohibited without written permission from the publisher and the author. Contents copyright 2015.

4 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

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UP FRONT | LETTERS

CHECK ‘EM Thank you for your excellent article in San Diego CityBeat regarding background checks [“Gun background checks, please,” Oct. 21].

We definitely need to hear more of this point of view! We can make America safer, and that starts with background checks on all sales. Forty percent of sales are done with no background check in this country and that needs to stop.

We should all be contacting our representatives in Congress to urge them to support HR 3411.

It only takes a minute to do so and they really need to hear from their constituents.

Kelli McCarthy, Co-president, Brady Campaign San Diego Del Cerro

DON’T CHECK ‘EM Parents who are foolish enough to bring children into this irrational world should not expect a Utopian reality. To be born in any era of human history is to be subject to many vulnerabilities.

But to be born into today’s world is madness.

World War I should have taught humanity the truth about the human race—our capacity to rationalize and cause evil. But people keep on having babies, which means over-population and tax to ecological systems for economic materialism (and more likely conflict and war).

Moreover “if ” governments were generally trustworthy then giving governments (and special interest groups that exercise power

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within them) the right to decide who and who should not own a weapon would be a simple matter. But if you happen to live in a society and world that is inordinately corrupt, having history of supporting death squads, torture, engaging in numerous wars (including covert wars) in which collateral damage means little, etc., and also engaging in high levels of propaganda as deceit, then the contemplation of the Second Amendment makes sense (to be able to protect self from corrupt governments and police states).

It’s not a big step to classify someone who is viewed wayward in political idea as crazy, dangerous or extremist (depending on who is doing the classifying). Soon we will have DNA fingerprints searching for all kinds of “potential” violence and rebellion? Study history, people, and not just official versions from the power elite.

Where is mainstream focus on the high correlation of antidepressant prescriptions with mass killers via the pharmacy industry? Where is there any realization on how episodes of feeling humiliated leads to violence—read Thomas J. Scheff’s books (then contemplate U.S. and Israeli policies in the Middle East).

Some progressives think answers are so obvious—they are not. There never were any guarantees. We need to deal with the deeper and broader issues.

Brian Becker, San Diego

ON THE

COVER Art director Carolyn Ramos (Scary Talented!) designed this week’s Halloween cover image. It’s an homage to old horror comic books, particularly Tales From the Crypt. For the triumvirate of Walking Dead images of three of our columnists on the left (Ryan Bradford, Jeff Terich and Aaryn Belfer) Ramos used the app Zombify.

“Ultimately I enjoyed creating this cover,” she says. “But this one I was definitely up and down on how it was going to turn out.” Ramos also took a turn as a writer this issue, contributing one of our Halloween-themed “Head Crammers” (page 16). She claims to not like being scared, yet, she chose to write about a smartphone app, Indigo Lake, that’s set in a haunted camp.

Her write-up did the trick and all her contributions are a treat.

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

Up Front | News

joshua emerson smith

Under tightening contract, city fines ambulance service $230,000

by Joshua Emerson Smith

O

ver recent months, San Diego Fire Department officials have increasingly become uncomfortable with ambulance service in the city. On at least two occasions, firefighters, who act as first responders on 911 emergency calls, took it upon themselves to transport patients to a hospital using department fire engines after ambulances failed to show up on time.

Concerns city ambulance provider Rural/Metro hasn’t provided proper service to residents facing life-threatening emergencies proved warranted last week after the city released its latest quarterly response-time report card for the Scottsdale, Arizona-based company.

Between July and September, Rural/ Metro failed to meet response-time standards under its contract with the city, triggering a $230,000 fine. Drawing the toughest penalty allowed under the agreement, the private company failed compliance in each of the city’s four ambulance zones, as well as citywide.

“It is a big deal,” said Fire Chief Javier Mainar. “It’s an essential safety service. We want to make sure we’re getting the level of service that the taxpayers are paying for and that we feel is necessary to protect their safety.”

In an email, Michael Simonsen, Rural/ Metro’s regional market development director, blamed the company’s noncompliance on an uptick in calls and staffing issues. Simonsen declined multiple requests

by CityBeat for a phone interview.

“[W]e, along with other EMS providers in the county, have faced a decline in readily available paramedics to hire and put through the city’s field training process,” he wrote. “Although, we continue to hire as many available paramedics as possible, it still requires us to put them through a 45to 60-day process to be cleared to work in the system.”

This year, the ambulance provider experienced a call-volume increase of about 7 percent, compared to an average annual increase of roughly 2 percent, Simonsen said. As part of a contract extension last year, Rural/Metro pledged to add 300 ambulance unit hours a week and hire more personnel to meet demand. So far, the company has added 130 unit hours.

“The fire-rescue department is holding weekly meetings with Rural/Metro to ensure compliance,” said Craig Gustafson, spokesperson for Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

“The company has informed the city that additional ambulance unit hours are being added to meet the increased demand and correct the under-performance.”

In its 18-year history with the city, Rural/Metro has never had a fine until now.

Under the contract, the city requires the ambulance company to arrive at life threatening 911 emergency calls within 12 minutes 90 percent of the time.

For many years, Rural/Metro benefited from a contract loophole, known as “system busy.” The contract provision exempted from response-time standards any ambulance dispatched after 12 were

6 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

already on the road. During peak hours, the company can operate more than 40 ambulances at once.

After CityBeat exposed the system-busy loophole in 2013, the city nixed the provision from the contract last year. For years before that, the city’s compliance reports proudly showed Rural/ Metro met the responsetime standards around 97 percent of the time.

Last year, from October to December, the ambulance company’s percentages slipped down to 93 percent and below, flirting with noncompliance in several zones.

Then things went black. For the first two quarterly reports this year, fire department officials said a technical glitch resulted in inaccuracies in tracking response times, causing them to toss six months of compliance data.

Once the system came back online, Rural/Metro found itself badly out of compliance.

For several years, Ryan Jurgensmeier worked for Rural/Metro as an emergency medical technician and a scheduling administrator before leaving in January. He Write to joshua@sdcitybeat.com or follow recently told CityBeat that the company has him on Twitter at @jemersmith

“

All I can say is ‘fix it’

because lives

are on the line in the city of

“

Rural/Metro crashes out of compliance

provided the city with questionable service for longer than many realize.

“Now that the get-out-of-jail-free card, the loophole in the contract is cut off, the real times are showing up,” he said. “I think that’s always been a problem. It’s just never been reported because of that loophole.”

Simonsen has routinely denied that the contract loophole affected Rural/Metro’s level of performance or its staffing decisions. However, since the tightening of the contract, the company has not only seen its number decline, but it has steadily added ambulances to areas long speculated to be underserved, such as at the border.

The issue now, Jurgensmeier said, has been getting employees to fill those additional shifts. As a scheduling administrator, he said he saw firsthand how the company’s thin staffing model has over-worked employees and “hurt morale.”

“It’s like, do I really want to go to work and be run into the ground all day long because there’s going to be 20 other people calling out sick,” he said. “So they say, ‘No, I don’t want to pick up those extra shifts.’

“The employees know when there’s going to be a mass call-off where people are so tired,” he added. “If people get run into the ground in the beginning of the week, nobody’s going to be showing up on Friday.”

These labor issues have also grabbed the attention of City Councilmember Marti Emerald, whose Public Safety Committee will hear the issue on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

“We’ve been hearing anecdotally that they’re having some labor problems, and all I can say is ‘fix it’ because lives are on the line in the city of San Diego,” she said.

Emerald said she is concerned about “another loophole” that allows Rural/ Metro to sidestep the city’s living-wage ordinance. The law, which applies to about 2,300 workers, currently requires city contractors to pay their workers a little more than $14 an hour. Starting paramedics and emergency medical technicians at Rural/ Metro make $13 and $11 an hour respectively.

“We’re working on amending the living wage ordinance to include medical workers, so that going forward in any new contract with Rural/Metro, or anyone else, their employees would instantly get a raise,” Emerald said.

Going forward, Rural/Metro will now face an even tougher challenge. Under a fiveyear contract extension approved in June, the city tightened its rules further. Starting in October, the ambulance provider has had to meet response-time standards for eight zones instead of four or face fines of to a $50,000 for each area.

Outlier penalties will also be issued for calls that take longer than double the 12minute response time.

San Diego.

#SDCityBeat

Up Front | opinion

spin

cycle

john r. lamb

City politics just got interesting Marge, the reason we have Spin Cycle (which this issue gleefully returns to the weekly elected officials is so we don’t rotation!) will have more later on have to think!

—Homer Simpson the ramifications of mayoral candidate/Ocean Beach Town Counarly last week, Mayor Kevin cil President Gretchen Newsom’s Faulconer was probably glee- surprise announcement this past fully gazing out his 11th-floor weekend. For now, let’s just say the window, envisioning an easy glide Republican incumbent’s imagined into a second term come next June smooth re-election coronation is and—by golly, why not!—a shot at about to hit some turbulence. the governorship in 2018.

Exhibit A from her self-named But by week’s end, Captain website: “Our community groups Smooth Sailing was buffeted by are laboratories for finding sotwo barnacle-loosening broad- lutions to improve our neighsides to his keel. One was a feisty borhoods, but they aren’t being Democrat from his own council heard by our current mayor. For district who announced she would example, instead of celebrating mount a mayoral challenge. The street benches built by communiother was thorn-in-the-side activ- ty members, the mayor is ripping ist attorney Corey Briggs, flanked them out.” Ouch! by an exuberant former councilBut speaking of ripping them woman Donna Frye, unveiling a out, Faulconer’s hair follicles much-anticipated proposed bal- probably got tugged fiercely last lot measure for June that would week when Briggs—the attorney boost San Diego’s hotel-tax and City Hall loves to hate—tossed the set the stage to tackle some of the biggest wrench into the mayor’s city’s most nettlesome issues. planned political cakewalk to

E

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term two. It was a proposed bal- dustry, the most devoted Briggs Francisco (16.25 percent) or Los lot initiative for June that would haters—huddled around the “no Angeles (15.5 percent). reform the city’s tourism-tax sys- comment” mantra after the initiaHotel owners a few years back tem while injecting an estimated tive’s launch. Rumors persisted voted among themselves to tack on $90 million a year into the city’s that City Attorney Jan Goldsmith an additional 2 percent surcharge general fund. This would create a sought a private audience with to customer bills that would pay path that could lead to downtown NFL officials, who are holding a for tourism promotion, but Briggs solutions for both the Chargers public hearing in town this week, has that vote in his crosshairs. A and convention center trial on that matter is john r. lamb expansion—even new set to begin Nov. 6. Hoparkland and educationtel power brokers seem al opportunities in Misintent to wage that war, sion Valley, should its for whatever reason— NFL future fade. ego, negotiating posiAt 28 pages, the sotion, whatever. called “Pay Their Own Under Briggs’ proWay” initiative is a dense posal, the 10.5 percent read, but its intent is TOT would rise to 15.5 clearly defined in its first percent and the 2 percent paragraph: “The petition surcharge would go away. seeks to require tourists But as Frye noted, the iniand the businesses bentiative “will generate apefiting from tourism to proximately $72 million pay their fair share of the annually for the hoteliers costs to develop, mainthrough self-assessments. tain and enhance existIt will help them do maring and new facilities keting. It will also allow and infrastructure in an them to help build infraeconomically sustainable structure to support the and environmentally retourism industry.” sponsible manner…”

Briggs said he spent Gretchen Newsom and Cory Briggs may doom the last nine months talkIn other words, issues Mayor Faulconer’s June re-election swoon ing to stakeholders and the leadership in this town has been dithercrafting the initiative, ing over in a costly, time-wasting to put his spin on the measure. which should be hitting the streets way over many years might finally Words like “scrambling” and in a couple weeks for an all-out, be decided by voters. Honest-to- “chaos” peppered conversations signature-gathering barrage that goodness voters. Imagine! about City Hall maneuverings. must be completed by mid-January Leaders this week—including “This city, for reasons that to qualify for the June ballot. He magnates of the local hotel in- lots of people should be blamed said as much as $500,000 might be for, doesn’t have its shit togeth- spent to gather the desired 75,000 er,” Briggs said following a press signatures. As a general tax, the conference in the parking lot of measure would require only a mahis Morena Boulevard law office, jority vote, Briggs added. where last he stood with Frye to The San Diego Stadium Coalidenounce the creepy behavior of tion, with dreams of a future home former mayor Bob Filner. for the Chargers downtown, has “This is a much better day pledged $50,000 toward the cause than it was the last time we all and has created a GoFundMe acmet here,” Frye noted in her com- count to help. ments. “This is something so good “To me, it’s a no-brainer,” said for a change that we can resolve all Jason Riggs, chairman of the cothese issues that have been driv- alition. “We immediately signed ing us all nuts. We’ve just sort of on. It’s the solution we’ve been been stopped by the inertia of not looking for for seven years.” being able to make a decision…EvCritics have already pounced, erybody’s sort of stuck. Well, this questioning the measure’s comunsticks us, gets us out of the mud plexity but lack of specifics. On and moving forward.”

Friday, the Tourism Marketing Added Frye about the initia- District issued a common-themed tive: “It benefits the public…the statement: “As Mayor Faulconer hoteliers…educational facilities… stated this week, he is reserving the Chargers. In other words, it judgment on the ballot initiative benefits everybody, and that’s a until he has time to analyze and good thing.” seek counsel. The TMD board will As Spin Cycle has noted in pre- also engage counsel to review and vious columns, San Diego’s 10.5 advise the board on how this could percent visitor tax—known here benefit or harm tourism and its as the ever-bureaucratic “tran- marketing efforts. This is a comsient occupancy tax” (TOT)— plex initiative with many proposed ranks an abysmal 101st among issues woven into 28 pages.” cities in the nation, on par with Translation: June 2016 just got Little Rock and Orlando and well interesting! below those levied in towns considered San Diego’s tourism rivals, Spin Cycle appears every week. such as Anaheim (17 percent), San Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

Up Front | Opinion

Aaryn Belfer

Backwards & in

high heels

It’s scary out there

I

t’s that time of the month again for me. I’m not talking about Aunt Flo, either, because I don’t have a whole lot of visits from her at this particular life juncture, if you know what I’m saying.

This might be too much information for the faint of heart. But just wait until I write an 18-chapter column all about The Change. For now, I’ll tease you with two little words my therapist uttered last month that sent me into heaving sobs and then led me to fire her: vaginal atrophy.

Wow, that was a neck-jolting detour right there.

Condolences to my editor (and all male readers, especially Justin).

The time of the month to which I’m referring is Halloween. I love Halloween. Or, at least, I used to.

But the more I journey through my own personal summers (and winters and springs and falls), the more aware I am of the problems inherent with it. Can we struggle in this together?

It shouldn’t be that hard for any of us, really. Don’t put on a native headdress. Same goes for you, hipsters at Coachella. And you, College Area porch-sitters with the Kegerator on the corner of Montezuma and 63rd. Don’t don a sombrero and mustache. Don’t wrap yourself in a kimono and tie it with an obi. And never, ever, evah go in blackface. We white folks can go as Crazy Eyes if we want to, we just gotta settle for a paler version.

I’d like to say I haven’t had issues in this area. But! Like you, I am on a lifelong journey of unlearning my own ignorance and racism. Though I’ve never gone in blackface and understand the historical reasons why this is unacceptable, I deviated from a long history of Halloween costumes based on fictional, non-appropriated characters and went in white face. As a Geisha. In kimono and obi. (I’m shaking my head as I type.) That was 14 years and a lot of learning ago, but I did it nevertheless, and I’m pretty well embarrassed by it.

I also once dressed my toddler in a purchasedonline Pocahontas costume. Her desire to be Pocahontas was driven by her love of the Disney movie that has all sorts of nothing to do with historical accuracy. I was driven by lack of knowledge-slashnot wanting to say no to the big begging eyes.

My affinity for Halloween is longstanding and is directly tied to my childhood experiences of it that are, thankfully, not filled with culturally inappropriate costumes even as I have had missteps in adulthood.

Growing up, my mother and her mainly-artist friends used to have a giant annual party in which all the costumes—generally planned out and constructed throughout the year by her many artist friends—were epic creations. My own costumes were on a smaller scale, but with the same committed effort. I went as a mime, a bumblebee, Raggedy Andy, and as a silver crescent moon. My costume that year was taller and wider than I was, and it was the talk of the school. It was outstanding. That is until I had to sit down, walk through a doorway or run from the bully who was stealing candy from innocent trick-or-treaters.

Around sixth grade, I fell in love with all things ’20s and began an eight-year run as a flapper. I wore a rotation of several fringed and beaded dresses that had for years lived in a basement closet next to the equipment room of my grandparent’s house. I always felt like I’d stepped out of history, a nod to Coco Chanel even as I smelled more like mothballs than I did No. 5.

All of this served as my model for once a year inhabiting the likeness of someone or something else. I was Gene Simmons a few years back (my lingual frenulum hurt for three days after that one), and Jane Fonda to my husband’s Richard Simmons. My stint as the California Mountain Snake, Elle Driver, taught me that an eye patch makes life dizzying, and my Mommy Dearest version of Joan Crawford, though spot on, was lost on the millennials at the party I went to; they had no context and just thought I was a gargantuan bitch.

It’s really not as fun when people don’t know who you are.

I still enjoy Halloween, but I approach it with increasing trepidation. Is it okay if my child wants to be Mulan? Can I dress up as Left Eye in red satin pajamas?

Can I wear a t-shirt with a stencil of La Catrina?

If there is even so much as an inkling of doubt, I’m gonna skip it and go as gap-toothed Madonna, the “Borderline” years.

I wish all the Halloween revelers among us would skip the Sexy Squaw and the Tiki Warrior, the sumo wrestler and the suicide bomber. If you want to be offensive, there are plenty of options that exclude cultural appropriations.

“

Like you,

I am on a lifelong

journey of

unlearning my own

ignorance

“

and racism.

8 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

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

#SDCityBeat

Up Front | Food

by michael a. gardiner

the world

fare

The return of General Tso

T

here are people who think New York delivery Chinese is the very definition of “authentic” Chinese food. They can be found mostly on Chowhound and Yelp, though they appear elsewhere, too. And in a sense, they’re not all wrong. New York-style Chinese delivery is, as they say, “a thing.”

Despite the fact it’s not exactly an urban, latenight delivery joint, China 1968 (500 Broadway) in El Cajon also offers its own brand of “authenticity.” Part of it’s the menu, part the nostalgia and part the unique mix of comfort and exotic flavors.

Take, for example, General Tso’s chicken. If you’ve ever been to an American Chinese restaurant you probably know the dish. The name—the only thing the Qing Dynasty general loaned this dish, which is utterly unknown in its “homeland”— seems to scream history. In fact, the flavors go no further back then the middle of the last century at Shun Lee Palace restaurant in New York, where it gained popularity.

That’s what China 1968 offers: deep fried chunks of chicken in a thick and sweet sauce (soy, rice wine vinegar, sugar and morethan-a-tad of cornstarch) along with whole dried red chili peppers, vegetables and broccoli florets that are only slightly less luridly colored than the classic version. It’s a flavor profile perfectly calibrated for the American palette. It may not be very Chinese, but it’s a really tasty guilty pleasure.

Innovation is not what most of China 1968’s menu is about. Indeed, it is quite the opposite.

The classic Chinese food joint is selling speed, consistency and comfort every bit as much as the corner McDonalds. And so, in addition to the general’s chicken, China 1968’s menu includes

#SDCityBeat

hot and sour soup, kung pao chicken, egg foo young, lo mein, mu shu pork and the like.

The hot and sour soup was exactly as you would expect, hot (from white pepper), sour (from vinegar), with vegetable goodies hiding inside a murky, dark, meaty broth thickened with a truckload of cornstarch. The kung pao chicken disappointed, lacking real heat (or the tingle of Sichuan peppercorns), with its flavors dulled by a characterless brown sauce.

The marvelously retro egg foo young offered a different brown sauce that worked better. This Chinese fried omelette came piled high with vegetables and smothered in a gravy-like sauce. The mixed lo mein with beef, pork and shrimp was a well-executed stir-fried noodle dish, perhaps one of the American Chinese Top 40 most similar to its mainland analog.

Michael A. Gardiner

General Tso’s chicken However, the best dish at China 1968 was the somewhat unconventional Szechuan braised string beans. Fried to perfection then stir-fried with dried chili peppers, onions and pork, this dish hit savory, umami and spicy notes. It was not a dish I expected from China 1968 or would expect from a New York late-night Chinese delivery joint. But the place has more than enough of those to keep those Yelpers and Chowhounders happy.

The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

Up Front | Food

by jenny montgomery jenny montgomery

north

fork Everything is awesome

I

love the Eurovision song contest. If you’ve never seen this annual cavalcade of bonkers, it’s a live singing contest where each European nation sends its “best” entry to perform a song and dance, along with a ridiculous explosion of fashion choices. It’s an outlandish treasure and it pains me that Bravo hasn’t figured out a way to bring it to us complete with Andy Cohen commentary.

Now, Quei Bravi Ragazzi (QBR) Francesca Italian Kitchen (90 North Coast Highway 101) in Encinitas has that offbeat European charm that I love so much. There is an enthusiastic and completely un-ironic embrace of certain parts of American culture that would be super-dorky under other circumstances. “Rebel Without A Cause!” is spray painted on one of its walls. “Everything Is Awesome!” from The Lego Movie is enthusiastically blaring out of its speakers. And nobody is chuckling about it. Because it is awesome, you guys. jenny montgomery

The Francesca QBR is a deceptively spacious little bar and Italian market tucked into the condo complex perched just above Moonlight Beach and the Coast Highway. The restaurant’s name refers to the Italian translation of “Goodfellas,” which I suppose explains its love of rebellious movie references.

The entrance hosts a bar with sports playing

10 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

Crudo pizza on multiple flat-screens, and a small but impressive selection of Italian delicacies for sale. Italian cookies, prosciutto di Parma, and various pastas and cheeses are immediately tempting. But I’d recommend sitting down and letting them cook for you.

It’s hard to choose between the pastas, sandwiches and pizzas, but you can’t go wrong with the simple crudo pizza. The crust is thin and chewy with crunchy, blackened bits on the bottom of each bite. Topping the crust is the sweetest, most basic of tomato sauces. There’s not much more than a thin swipe of sauce. Any more than that and the delicacy of the pie would be lost.

Next come tissue-thin sheets of prosciutto. Once the pizza slides into that hot oven, the ham crisps up a bit, becoming easier to nibble. It also releases its salty goodness into the top of the dough. It’s an elegant and perfect snack for watching sports.

Dive into the sandwich offerings if you’re looking to nibble on something more substantial. I loved the Francesca, a hearty collection of flavors squished between two thick, soft slices of focaccia. Clearly I need more cured ham in my life, because this sammie has a healthy pile of prosciutto, along with thin slices of provolone, crisp asparagus spears, and a perfectly over-easy fried egg. This sandwich is messy and salty and demands a lot of napkins, but I loved it.

It would be too easy for me to just say that everything is awesome at QBR, but I will. Because I’m a rebel. With sort of a cause. I guess. Just go eat there, OK? North Fork appears every other week.

Write to jennym@sdcitybeat.com

#SDCityBeat

Up Front | Drink

final

by beth demmon

draught A Costa Rican origin story

courtesy of Pure brewing

T

hree things help Pure Project Brewing (9030 Kenamar Drive, Suite #308) stand out from the wildly saturated San Diego craft beer scene: its Costa Rican origin story, promises for an unyielding commitment to the local community and being one of the first two Brewery Igniter tenants (the other is future neighbor Amplified Ale Works).

The plan is to source uncommon ingredients from around the world to create unique brews.

That remains to be seen, though, since it hasn’t opened its doors yet. Early 2016 is the best guess.

Californians-turned-Costa-Ricans and back again, Jesse Pine and his wife, Agi, gave “pura vida (pure life)” craft brewing a go a few years ago with the help of partner Matt Robar. But they found the rural Central American infrastructure prohibitive to their goal of making sustainable, environmentally friendly beer.

Fast forward to now. Shift back to San Diego.

Add a brewmaster (Winslow Sawyer, formerly of Boulder Creek Brewery in Santa Cruz) and Pure Project is born. All it needed was the space provided by Brewery Igniter, a turnkey brewing facility.

Brewery Igniter aims to help small craft breweries get their footing before opening their doors and without sinking millions of dollars into equipment, permits, rent, ingredients and everything else required to launch in the San Diego beer scene.

Working with Brewery Igniter to launch the Costa Rican concept in San Diego was a “no brainer,” says Pine. “The timing just worked out in our favor and everything fell into place.” As far as their plans for the beer itself, Sawyer promises that they’ll “really be focusing on using seasonal ingredients. We’ll of course have a San Diegostyle IPA, plus farmhouse stuff with wild yeast, a barrel-aging program, etc.” The initial output from their Miramar location is anticipated to be between 1,200 to 2,000 barrels, depending on which styles they choose to start with.

“One of the things we wanted to create is a little bit more of an ‘adventure’ brand and keep a

#SDCityBeat

Local ingredients and a Costa Rican view bit of that travel element,” says Robar. “We want to be able to source unique, global ingredients and bring them back to make really unique styles.

We’re always going to be looking for different ideas to really try to stand out and establish ourselves,” says Robar.

That’s a tall order in a city with more than 100 active craft breweries, but with seasoned neighbors like Amplified guiding them and investor backing driving development, it’s not out of reach.

“Our biggest goal in the first year is to move as much product as possible, but also to integrate with the community as much as possible,” says Robar. “Giving back is going to be a big piece of it.”

As a supporting member of 1% For The Planet, as well as the Surfrider Foundation, Pure Project has a goal of making sure the community and environment are maintained, along with just making damn good beer.

It has caught my attention, but we’ll have to wait and see if the new kid on the block delivers.

Write to bethd@sdcitybeat.com or follow her on Instagram at @thedelightedbite.

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

Up Front | books

The floating

by jim ruland

library Something Sinister this way comes…

I

f there were a drug that brought you back to the time when you were happiest but had devastating consequences in the present, would you take it?

That’s the central question of Bucky Sinister’s hilarious novel about hardcore drugs and time travel.

Black Hole is set in a near-future San Francisco where massive gentrification has ruined the city Chuck loves. Chuck, a hard-partying old punk, lives in a rented room and works for a startup that sells genetically modified miniwhales to the super rich. But his real passion is drugs.

“I don’t remember the last day I wasn’t on something, coming off something, or recovering from something; usually it’s a mix of all three in varying degrees, like three colors of light that sometimes, occasionally, when I get the mix right, burns a perfect pure white.”

Chuck seeks out the latest, greatest, and notyet-illegal designer drugs. There’s pump: a thermogenic hallucinogen that’s a cross between ecstasy and Viagra and also burns calories so you lose weight while you party. Or, to make the good times last longer, there’s remote, which slows down time so you can savor every second. It’s great when you’re having sex but a real drag when you’re in pain. Whatever the drug, Chuck is a connoisseur: “The first time you get high on anything, it’s full of promise, potential, probable bliss. Maybe it’s going to be your favorite. Maybe it’s the best yet. Maybe it’s the drug that finally fixes you. But whatever it is, that first time is special. It’s the one that feels the best. It’s the time you use to judge all following usages of that drug.”

While partying with his boss one night, Chuck is introduced to black hole—a strange new substance that delivers a high like nothing else he’s ever experienced: “The world is a good place. It’s full of love and I am a vessel for its energy. Energy and matter. That’s all we are and we think we’re special and unique but from the point of view of the universe, we’re all just slow energy that fucks and eats and kills.”

However, after repeated uses, black hole starts to affect his sense of continuity in the time stream. He keeps blacking out and waking up in the past. For Chuck, his happy place is the Mission District in the early ’90s when rent was cheap, drugs were plentiful and everyone was authentically cool. In other words, the opposite of the way things are now. This discrepancy allows for some of Sinister’s most scathing criticism of modern day gentrifiers.

“How many purebred dogs will you go through in one lifetime? How many hybrid cars will you purchase? I hope you had a nice time with your life. I did stuff. I may end up with nothing, but we’ll both be dead and it won’t matter.”

Sinister rails on everything from Starbucks

12 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

(“I’m against these marketing fuckers branding something that didn’t need it.”) to brunch (“Brunch is the disco of this decade.”) However, his travels into the past take him to some dark places that prompt him to re-evaluate the past.

Were the good old days really that good?

It’s a question one senses that Sinister, who is roughly the same age and background as Chuck, has wrestled with. Although Black Hole is Sinister’s first novel, he’s an experienced storyteller. He uses his experiences as a punk and a drug addict in his poetry, recovery writing and stand-up routines.

While Black Hole is too raw to call polished, it rips along at a breakneck pace and is written with the authority of someone who “did stuff”: “Two junkies are fighting over a glove. Each one has a glove and claims the other stole the other glove. This is the kind of thing that matters down here. This is what you get stabbed over, what you get a brick in the back of the head over, what gets you pushed in front of the 27 Bryant.”

While the Internet is full of stories bemoaning the changes taking place in major American cities, none are as wild and raucous as the twisted world Bucky Sinister reports on and imagines in Black Hole. He also has some wise words about addiction, drug use and never wanting the good times to end: “Sure there’re drugs and sex and loud music but they only frame the hole; they don’t fill it.”

Write to jimr@sdcitybeat.com.

#SDCityBeat

EVENTS

SHORTlist

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

SAN DIEGO

1 MONSTER MASHES

Halloween was once a kid-centric holiday centered on dressing up, collecting candy and maybe smashing some jack-o-lanterns.

Somewhere along the way adults co-opted the holiday so they could dress up like sexy nurses and drink way too many pumpkin-flavored beers.

The fact that Halloween is on a Saturday this year should certainly make for some interesting people-watching.

For those who desire to dress up but don’t want to deal with a bunch of drunk troglodytes the Daytime Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 31 at NTC at Liberty Station’s Arts District (2765 Truxtun Road) is a nice alternative. The inaugural, family-friendly fest (sdcomicartgallery.com) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. is a nice opportunity to check out some cultural offerings of the district, including artist studios and the San Diego Comic Art Gallery. The comic book store, Comickaze, will be celebrating its grand opening with free comics and candy, and there will also be crafts, food trucks and a Hollywood car show with CARMEL VALLEY

SETH COMBS

the transports from Scooby Doo, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters and more.

Later that day, adults can head to Hoppy Halloween (hoppyhalloweensd.com) from 3 to 7 p.m. at SILO at Maker’s Quarter (753 15th St.) in East Village. The inaugural beer fest will feature a “Geisterbiergarten” (Haunted Beer Garden) that includes dozens of craft beers, as well as spooky cocktail concoctions. There’s also a pumpkin patch, food trucks STEVE LORDIGYAN and live music, plus a portion of proceeds benefit conservation group, NSEFU Wildlife. The $65 cover includes 15 drink tastings and a meal ticket.

Finally, we don’t want to ignore Dia de los Muertos events. Old Town’s weekend-long Day of the Dead on SatDay Time Halloween Party urday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. will feature more than 50 intricate altars, as well as traditional food, performances and craft activities throughout the neighborhood. Day activities will culminate in a candle-lit procession at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2 along San Diego Ave. dayofthedeadsd.com

LA JOLLA

2 WOMEN WATCHING

October is overflowing with film festivals that cover all sorts of cultural topics, so it’s only fair to round out the season with a festival dedicated to women. On Sunday, Nov. 1, the DLH Foundation is hosting Lunafest, a traveling film festival screening eight short movies about, by and for women, offering a snapshot into their daily struggles and achievements. Highlights include Miss Todd, an animated short set in 1910 about a young woman attempting to understand the fundamentals of flight, as well as Flor de Toloache, a mini doc about an all-female mariachi band. Tickets are $20, part of which will be donated to the Breast Cancer Fund and Deana’s Wish Memorial Scholarship fund. The festival starts at 3 p.m. at AMN Healthcare (12400 Highbluff Drive). lunafest.org KRISTINA YEE/NATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION SCHOOL

Miss Todd

#SDCityBeat

COORDINATED BY

3 MODERN MARVEL

After the runaway success of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and its adaptation into an Oscar-winning Martin Scorsese film, the book’s author and illustrator, Brian Selznick, appears to have done it again. Selznick will discuss and sign his newest novel The Marvels on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at MCASD’s Sherwood Auditorium (700 Prospect St.) in La Jolla. Much like Hugo, The Marvels combines pictorial and prose, with each of the halves telling a distinct story that eventually intertwine. The drawn portion introduces readers to Billy Marvel, an 18th century lone shipwreck survivor who falls in with a theater troupe, COURTESY OF SCHOLASTIC PRESS while the text follows a schoolboy runaway who lives in his uncle’s mysterious house during the 1990s.

One admission for Selznick’s appearance is $35.63 and includes a copy of the book.

Additional admissions are $5 each. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. warwicks.com The Marvels

ART

FOOD & DRINK

HCarnival of Astounding Art After Dark at Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. OMA’s semiregular art event features a carnival theme and includes performances, dancing, food and beverage sampling. From 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. $5-$8. 760-4353720, oma-online.org

Chef Showdown at Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 North Harbor Dr., Downtown. This 11th annual culinary event includes cocktails and food tastings and features celebrity chefs and food critics. Proceeds benefit the Center for Community Solutions, which provides support of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. From 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. $250. ccssd.org

Teen Art Café: The Art of Music at San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Teen artists gather to celebrate and learn about the exhibition The Art of Music. Activities include art projects inspired by the sculptures and paintings on view, as well as a musical performance.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Free. 619-232-7931, sdmart.org

BOOKS Julie Checkoway at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The author and documentary filmmaker will sign and discuss her new book, The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui’s Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks. com Elizabeth George at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The bestselling author will present the newest installment of her Inspector Lynley novels, A Banquet of Consequences. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Free. 858-454-0347, warwicks.com Gena Showalter and Amy Lukavics at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont. The two young adult authors stop by to sign their new books, A Mad Zombie Party (Showalter) and Daughters Unto Devils (Lukavics).

At 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Free. 858-2684747, mystgalaxy.com Ted Koppel at Shiley Theatre, 5998 Alcala Park, Camino Hall, USD campus, Linda Vista. The reporter and television personality will sign and discuss his new book, Lights Out, about how a major cyberattack on America’s power grid is not only possible but likely. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. $28.08. 619-260-4600, warwicks.com Caitlin Rother at Barnes & Noble-Hazard Center, 7610 Hazard Center Drive #315, Mission Valley. The New York Times bestselling author will launch her tenth book, Then No One Can Have Her, a story about a love gone wrong. At 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Free. caitlinrother.com/events HBrian Selznick at Sherwood Auditorium, 700 Prospect St, La Jolla. The author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret will discuss and sign his newest novel, The Marvels, which combines pictorial and prose, with each of the halves telling a distinct story that eventually intertwine. At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. $35.63 858454-3541, warwicks.com HGarth Risk Hallberg at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla.

The contributor to the online literary magazine, The Millions, will sign and discuss his debut novel, City on Fire, which is set in 1970s New York. At 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 4. Free. 858-4540347, warwicks.com

FASHION Day of the Doll Fashion Show at The Headquarters at Seaport District, 789 West Harbor Dr., Downtown. This fashion event features looks from Madison and Lolo and includes face and body painting, hair styling and a Halloween costume contest. From 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

Free. dayofthedoll.eventbrite.com

H = CityBeat picks

Bing + Bubbles + Brunch at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Chef Brian Malarkey prepares a weekly menu in the Turf Club at Del Mar. Admission includes choice of appetizer, entree, dessert and bottomless mimosas or champagne. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. $100. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com

HALLOWEEN HDisney in Concert: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown.

One of Tim Burton’s most celebrated films will be projected onto the big screen accompanied by a live performance of Danny Elfman’s spooky score. At 8 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 30 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $20-$80. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.com Phantom of the Opera at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park.

The screening of the Lon Chaney film will be accompanied by music played by professional organist Christian Elliott. From 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Free. 619702-8138, spreckelsorgan.org Carnies, Clowns, and Merry Go Rounds at WaveHouse, 3125 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach. This Halloweenthemed event includes fog machines, carnival games, a hosted SKYY happy hour, and live performance from Beach Party, as well as a DJ set by Ayla Simone. From 8 p.m. to midnight. Friday, Oct. 30. $25$30. 858-228-9283, belmontpark.com Halloween Super Show at Boys and Girls Club, 847 Encina Ave., Imperial Beach. This professional wrestling and lucha libre show stars wrestlers from WWE and Lucha Underground as well as up-and-coming wrestlers. From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. $20. 619422-2266, finestcitywrestling.com Haunted Harrah’s at Harrah’s Resort Southern California, 777 Harrah’s Resort Southern California Way, Valley Center.

A Halloween-themed music fest that includes performances from Nelly, Ashley Wallbridge, Bassjackers and more. From 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30. $60-$75.

760-751-3100, hauntedharrahs.com Political Halloween Party at WorldBeat Center, 2100 Park Blvd., Balboa Park. Radio station KNSJ hosts this political costume party, which includes live music, a silent auction, food and drinks, and prizes for most original costume. Donald Trump piñata included. From 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Friday, Oct. 30. $14.95-$19. 619230-1190, knsj.org Trick-or-Treat on India Street at Little Italy. Little Italy businesses open their doors to make Halloween a safe and special night for neighborhood children. Be sure to start at Piazza Basilone on India and W. Fir St. for a list of the participating businesses. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Free. littleitalysd.com Zombie PubCrawl at Taste & Thirst, 715 4th Ave., Gaslamp. This zombie-themed pub crawl promises drink specials like $3 beers and $4 shots. No brains unfortunately. From 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30 and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $10. 619-955-5995, sdhalloween.com

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

Cygnet delivers double dose of Coward

C

THEATER Gold as cranky housekeeper Clara) is onstage together, sparks and quips fly, with the double-takes as funny as the lines.

This is a hay fever worth catching.

The Vortex, on the other hand, is a darker affair. This rarely produced play, directed here by Sean Murray, is less witty than classic Coward, and its underlying melodrama comes off more like dressed-up soap opera.

The “wild” party scenes (in this adaptation updated from the ’20s to the swingin’ ’60s) with the cast dancing as if in some disco may induce shudders. Antihero Nicky Lancaster’s (Evans) drug-induced tantrums don’t elicit much sympathy. Reynolds is nevertheless gorgeous and charismatic as Nicky’s vainglorious mother, Florence, and Van Velzer provides solid, and restrained, support as Flo’s best friend, Helen.

The sets for both shows, designed by Sean Fanning, and Peter Herman’s wigs and makeup contributions add to the festive atmosphere and charming trips back in time.

Hay Fever and The Vortex run through Nov. 8 at the Old Town Theatre. $34-$49. cygnettheatre.com

ygnet Theatre in Old Town has wrapped its annual two-showsin-repertory project around Noël Coward, and that’s a security blanket.

Ninety years after they were written, Coward’s Hay Fever and The Vortex remain quick-witted drawing-room theater.

An appealing ensemble of nine performs in both productions.

Hay Fever is by far the more engaging and cohesive of the two. Rob Lutfy directs Coward’s blissfully wry comedy about the Bliss household and the bemused guests who join them for a weekend of eating, drinking, smoking, parlor games, flirtation and theater. That’s right, theater. Doyenne Judith Bliss (Rosina Reynolds) is an over-emotive stage actress on supposed hiatus, and it’s not surprising when every situation under the roof, with the guests or with her husband (Paul Eggington), son (Charles Evans, Jr.) and daughter (Rachel VanWormer), becomes another opportunity for Judith to chew the scenery. The

—David L. Coddon statuesque Reynolds is a sheer delight in so Theater reviews run weekly. doing.

The first act, which serves to intro- Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com. duce all the characters and their quirks, takes its own good time, but once the full OPENING: ensemble (also including Jill Van Velzer, AJ Jones, James Saba and Lauren King Bright Half Life: The West Coast premiere of Thompson as the houseguests, and Rhona the dramedy about a lesbian couple told in snapBlack Pearl: The Haunted Mansion on the Water at Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 North Harbor Dr., Downtown.

This party takes place on a $15 million yacht and provides an open bar and appetizers. Pirate costumes preferred.

Takes place on the California Spirit Yacht.

From 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $85-$119. californianightlife.com HDaytime Comic Halloween Party at San Diego Comic Art Gallery, 2765 Truxtun Rd. Barracks 3, Point Loma. The inaugural, family-friendly fest will feature open artist studios, crafts, food trucks and a Hollywood car show. The comic book store, Comickaze, will also be celebrating its grand opening with free comics and candy. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Free. 858-2701315, facebook.com/sdcagallery EVOL at the Prado II: Zombie Prom at The Prado, 1549 El Prado, A zombiethemed prom party featuring multiple rooms and music from Jimbo James, Roar Groove, Crosstown Rebels and more.

From 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $25-$75. 619-557-9441, lovelifeparty.com Hard Rock Horror Story at Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave., Downtown. This costume party features more than 20 DJs across five Hard Rock venues on three different floors. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $40. rmdhalloween.com Haunted W at W Hotel, 421 West B St., Downtown. This fourth annual event features 10 house music and open format DJs, a projection wall, glow toys, and of course, lots of costumes. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $40-$55. 619398-3100, thewsandiegohotel.com Heaven & Hell at Town & Country Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle N., Mission Valley.

A Halloween music fest featuring music from Porter Robinson, Passion Pit, Hotel Garuda, and more. From 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31. $30-$99. 619-2917131, heavenandhellsandiego.com

HHouse of Blues Halloween Block Party at House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Three parties under one roof with over 30,000 square feet of hauntings, costume contests and three stages of music. From 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $30. 619299-BLUE, hobblockparty.com HMonster Bash at Gaslamp Quarter, Downtown. The Gaslamp and East Village converts into a huge block party with three massive clubs built into the eight-block festival area with DJs, costume contests, haunted areas and more. From 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 31. $30-$80. 619233-5227, sandiegomonsterbash.com Monster Mash at The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. A circusthemed burlesque halloween party featuring performances from the ladies of Pink BoomBox. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31. $7-$10. 619-2997372, pbbmonstermash.bpt.me HNightmare on Normal Street at Hillcrest. Hillcrest’s Halloween street party and dance party celebration includes live entertainment, a costume competition, food trucks and two bars.

Takes place at the intersection of University Ave. and Normal St. From 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $15-$45. fabuloushillcrest.com Safe Trick-or-Treat at Downtown Encinitas. Encinitas businesses stay open to welcome trick-or-treaters up and down “Pumpkin Lane,” aka South Coast Hwy 101 from Encinitas Blvd. to K St. From 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31. Free. encinitas101.com Scare Away Hunger at Feeding America San Diego, 9455 Waples St., Suite 135, Sorrento Valley. Take part in a special volunteer event to sort, bag and box food for those in need in our community. There will be a costume contest, and donations of healthy, non-perishable food are encouraged. From 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. 858-452-3663, feedingamericasd.org.

14 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

DAREN SCOTT

Left to right: Rachel Vanwormer, Rosina Reynolds and James Saba in Hay Fever shot scenes spanning 40 years. Written by Tanya Barfield, it opens Oct. 29 at the Diversionary Theatre in Hillcrest. diversionary.org Sea of Souls: A world premiere musical about a ’60s folk singer who returns home to West Virginia only to discover strange facts about her parent’s death. Presented by ion Theatre, it opens for six performances on Oct. 30 at the BLKBOX Theatre in Hillcrest. iontheatre.com End of the Rainbow: The Tony-nominated drama about the final days of Judy Garland that features some of her more beloved songs. Presented by Intrepid Theatre Company, it opens Nov. 1 at the Lyceum Space Theatre in the Gaslamp. intrepidtheatre.org

The Massaquerade Ball at Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park.

The Halloween-themed party includes five areas of music, full service bars, vampires and VIP pool area with free wine tastings. From 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $75. 619-296-2101, sandiegomassaqueradeball.com Titanic Masquerade at Hornblower’s Inspiration Yacht, 1800 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown. The fourth annual masquerade and costume party resembles a haunted Titanic with four live DJs performing on two decks. Costume required.

From 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $25. californianightlife.com Thriller Flash Mob at Balboa Park, Balboa Park. Join San Diego Civic Dance Association at 9 a.m. in the Balboa Park Club to learn the steps of Michael Jackson’s iconic music video and then join in on two flash mobs around Balboa Park.

At noon at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

Free. civicdancearts.org HSouth Bay Howl-O-Ween at Savoie, 2015 Birch Rd., Ste. 720, Chula Vista.

The Halloween party for pooches and their people includes dog costume contests, prizes, food and complimentary pet sketches. Benefits the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility. From 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 28. Free. 619-5915757, savoieeatery.com HHoppy Halloween at SILO in Makers Quarter, 753 15th St., East Village. The first-ever beer fest will feature live music, food trucks and a “Geisterbiergarten” (Haunted Beer Garden) that includes dozens of craft beers and cocktail concoctions. Benefits NSEFU Wildlife. From 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $65. 619702-5655, hoppyhalloweensd.com

MUSIC HNotes and Tones from the Under-

Historias Tenebrosas: Readings of folklore and scary tales performed on multiple stages in celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Presented by Amigos del Rep, it happens on Nov. 2 at the Lyceum Space Theatre in the Gaslamp. sdrep.org Annie: A redheaded orphan sings and dances her way to a better life. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin, it opens Nov. 3 at the Civic Theatre in the Gaslamp. broadwaysd.com

For full listings,

please visit “T heater ”

ground at Low Gallery, 1878 Main St., Barrio Logan. A special concert in the gallery featuring performances from Les Temps Barbares, T.J. Borden + Alan Jones, Scott Nielsen & Michael Zimmerman and more.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. $5.

619-348-5517, lowgallerysd.com San Diego Youth Symphony at San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Members of the San Diego Youth Symphony’s Community Opus Project, an after-school instrumental orchestra and band program, presents a series of special performances in conjunction with the exhibition, The Art of Music. From 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Free$12. 619-232-7931, sdmart.org HVicky Chow at Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay. Part of the Fresh Sounds series, the piano virtuoso will perform a program that includes Steve Reich’s “Piano Counterpoint” and Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” arranged for solo piano. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. $10$15. 858-270-7467, freshsoundmusic.com Kris Kristofferson and John Prine at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., Downtown. Two of America’s greatest folk troubadours come together on stage for a one-night-only concert At 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. $32.50-$92.50. sandiegotheatres.org La Jolla Symphony & Chorus at Mandeville Auditorium, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The LJSC’s 61st season opens with a program of Varése, Brahms and John Luther Adams’ “Become Ocean,” which won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Music. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 and 2 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 1. $15-$29. 858-534-TIXS, lajollasymphony.com HMariachi Champaña Nevin Dia de Muertos at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. A tribute concert to legendary mariachi performers like Joan Sebastian and Miguel Marti-

at sdcitybeat.com

nez with performances from Mariachi Champaña Nevin, Mónica Ábrego, Rafael Palomar and more. At 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. $25-$75. 619-570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org HArt of Élan at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. The first concert collaboration between Art of Élan and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, with a focus on NYC composers Judd Greenstein, Anna Clyne and Missy Mazzoli. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. $30. 619235-0804, artofelan.org Celebrating the 90th Year of Pierre Boulez at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. A performance of Boulez’s mid-century masterpiece, “Le Marteau sans Maître,” performed by the musicians of San Diego New Music and guest conductor Simone Mancuso. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4. $10-$25.

858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org/

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HVAMP: 4AM at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. So Say We All’s monthly live storytelling show will feature local writers sharing tales about the things that happen way after the sun goes down and just before it’s about to come up. At 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. $5. 619-2846784, sosayweallonline.com/ HUCSD New Writing Series: Meliza Bañales at UCSD Visual Arts Facility Performance Space, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla. The poet also known as Missy Fuego was the first Chicana to win a poetry slam championship in 2002 and was a fixture in the underground spoken-word and slam communities in San Francisco from 1996 to 2010. From 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 4. Free. 858-5342230, literature.ucsd.edu/

#SDCityBeat

EVENTS HONEY PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALYSS

noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Free.

619-475-7770, lavistamemorialpark.com HDia De Los Muertos at Market Creek Plaza Amphitheater, 310 Euclid Ave., Lincoln Park. The second annual holiday celebration includes performances from Grammy Award-winning Latin band Quetzal, as well as comedy, dance troupes and a low rider car show. From noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Free. 619-5276161, jacobspresents.com

“Iyari – GRATEFUL” by Isaias Crow is on display at Re-membering Our Ancestors: Discovering Ourselves, an exhibition at the California Center for the Arts (340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido) through Nov. 22.

SPECIAL EVENTS Monsters! at San Diego Museum of Man, 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park. The Museum of Man’s newest interactive exhibit is a study of creatures from across the span of human history and culture. Exhibit runs through Dec. 31, 2016. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. $6-$12.50.

619-239-2001, museumofman.org AIA San Diego Design Awards Reception at The Prado, 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park. The American Institute of Architects San Diego chapter invites the public to view award-winning projects. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. $65. 619-5579441, aiasandiego.org Escondido Renaissance Faire at Felicita Park, 742 Clarence Lane, Escondido.

The 16th annual festival will offer three stages of entertainment, period music, battle pageants, 50 different renaissance arts and crafts, vendors, children’s games and an assortment of themed food and drink. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday,

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Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1. $8-$30.

760-745-4379, goldcoastfestivals.com HChula Vista Dia De Los Muertos at Memorial Park, 351 Park Way, Chula Vista. The annual, family-friendly event includes face paining, sugar skulls, food, art, altars, and a live performance from Maiz featuring members of B-Side Players. From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Free. cvdayofthedead.org HLunafest Movie Festival at AMN Healthcare, 12400 High Bluff Drive, Torrey Pines. A traveling film festival that has nine award-winning short films about, by and for women. A portion of the funds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Fund. At 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. $20. lunafest.org Dia de los Muertos at La Vista Memorial Park, 3191 Orange St., National City. The seventh annual event is held in a cemetery and celebrates the traditional Latin American holiday through a program of music, theatre, art and folk dancing, along with food and gift vendors. From

HDia de los Muertos Festival at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. The 20th annual fest will feature live entertainment and traditional Mexican fare. Guests can decorate their own sugar skull and explore the Center’s museum exhibition, Re-membering Our Ancestors: Discovering Ourselves. From 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Free. 760-839-4190, artcenter.org HOld Town Dia de los Muertos at Old Town San Diego, 2474 San Diego Ave, 4S Ranch. A tour of more than 30 altars, a candlelight procession and live music.

This two-day annual activity will also feature workshops, performances, lectures and more. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. Free. dayofthedeadsd.com Race for the Cure at Balboa Park, Balboa Park. The 5K run supports Susan G. Komen San Diego, an organization that provides free breast cancer treatment and services. Starts between 6th and Olive St. From 8 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. $15-45. komensandiego.org/ National Bike Tourism Conference at Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 W. Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay. Hundreds of bicycle event professionals, advocates, bike tourism leaders and cycling enthusiasts gather for lectures, interactive sessions,

group discussions and more. From 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7. $125-$300. 858-4880551, bicycletournetwork.org

SPORTS HBing Crosby Season Opening Day at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The Del Mar fall season begins with a Vintage Hollywood Fashion Contest and, of course, tons of horse racing. At 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. $6$25. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Wayne Thiebaud / By Hand: Works on Paper from 1965 - 2015 at USD Visual Arts Center, 5998 Alcala Park, Linda Vista.

Bill Kelly, professor of printmaking at USD and founder of San Diego’s Brighton Press, will lead a gallery tour through the exhibition to discuss Thiebaud’s prints, drawings, and unique proofs. From 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Free. 619-2602280, sandiego.edu/galleries

WORKSHOPS Making Plot in Character-Driven Fiction at Inspirations Gallery, 2730 Historic Decatur Rd. Suite 202, Point Loma. This intensive class gives memoirists, playwrights and fiction writers at all-levels practice in structuring narrative to create tension and keep readers hooked. Preregistration required. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. $45-$54. 619-2559483, sandiegowriters.org

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

Culture

BOOKS

Courtesy of Penguin Classics

RADIO

The sale of independent radio station KPRI (102.1 FM) was more depressing than scary. The aural results of the sale, however, are downright creepy. The new owner of the station is Educational Media Foundation, which specializes in adult contemporary Christian rock. The new K-Love Courtesy of format is what you’d probably Universal Music Group be forced to listen to if you were being indoctrinated into a Southern California cult. To each their own when it comes to musical taste, but I’m with comedian Mike Birbiglia, who says: “I’ll listen to Christian music—but by mistake. It starts out like a Bon Jovi ballad. It’ll be like, ‘I woke up in the morning/And I got myself some oatmeal/And I put some raisins in it/Christ is God. Christ is Mandisa God. God, God, God…’” Stryper, Newsboys, Mandisa? Sorry, but no. I’ll risk being smitten by saying that when it comes to the commercial radio dial, Led Zeppelin is God.

—Ron Donoho

FILM

Arguably the Internet’s greatest viral video and subsequent —Joshua Emerson Smith meme, Technoviking isn’t scary per se, although he is undoubtedly a formidable force. No one knows this better than Matthias Fritsch, the struggling German video artist who shot the footage of Technoviking at a Berlin parade I hate being scared. Hate. But there’s something about in 2000. He uploaded it onto his website, only to watch it the Halloween season that gives me a backbone for terror. blow up on social media and YouTube in 2007. Fritsche When the smartphone game Indigo Lake opens, you’re has made some Courtesy of Matthias Fritsch drifting in a rowboat toward the haunted Camp Andrews— money over the an island of wood cabins where you collect clues and solve years from the puzzles to find your ghost-hunting friend Dr. James Ever- vid, but The ett. To my delight (and eventual horror) this game is in first- Rise of Techperson and mist clings to your screen, the way it would if noviking isn’t you had rain dropCopyright 3 Cubes Research Limited a clever way to cash in further. lets caught in your Rather, it’s a lashes. Then shit well-produced jumps out at you, 50-minute film and you lose it. You The Rise of Technoviking that, as one of also get to drive a the doc’s interview subjects puts it, “asks a lot of impor4x4 truck to get tant questions for the Facebook generation and the digital around the island.

I’ve jumped into Indigo Lake world in general.” Fritsch interviewed dozens of experts, philosophers and artists, but not Technoviking himself as it with a case of the hand-sweats just to feel less vulnerable. I’ll say with- he is suing Fritsch in German court. What’s more, The Rise out shame that I played the game at work to write this. I also eloquently addresses issues of privacy in public spachaven’t found James Everett yet and should the iOS de- es. As artist Alessandro Ludovico eloquently puts it in the mons attempt to snatch my soul, my office mates could doc, “we are kind of voluntary agents of surveillance.” Now fight off the supernatural forces, right? It’d be a shame to that’s scary. Stream it for free at vimeo.com/subrealic. die with a 5S though.

—Seth Combs

—Carolyn Ramos

MUSIC

Metal music and Halloween are natural complements. Or, more accurately, metal is the perfect soundtrack for the annual celebration of drunken mischief and petty vandalism of Devil’s Night, which happens on October 30. But most metal isn’t actually scary. It’s mostly good, mischievous fun.

Theatrical metal act ÆvanCourtesy of 20 Buck Spin gelist provides the kind of harrowing, deeply unsettling listen that few other metal bands can pull off.

Their new album Enthrall to the Void of Bliss, released October 9 via 20 Buck Spin, is what a descent into madness would sound like accompanied by death metal growls. There are atonal screeches of guitar, a horror-soundtrack ambiance, disembodied voices, eerie metallic clangs and all other manner of avant-garde strangeness happening. It’s loud and intense, but it’s what’s happening in the background that’s the most unsettling. The most terrifying things are often those we don’t have explanations for, and I sure as hell can’t explain most of what’s going on here. Those brave enough can listen to the entire thing at listen.20buckspin.com.

WEB

Scary websites are a dime a dozen these days, but The Lineup (the-line-up.com) shows real promise. The recently launched site offers well-curated listicles, such as “5 Freaky New Horror Movies” or “15 Spookiest Ghost Tours Across the Country.” What differentiates The Lineup from similar sites, however, is the quality of the suggestions. For example, I’m genuinely excited to check out a number of recommendations in “10 Forgotten Mystery Masterpieces,” which provides helpful links for finding the books online.

The article “5 Insane Asylums and the Horrors that Happened There” provides creepy snippets The Lineup and links for more information on each story. While the operation’s tagline is “Where murder and mayhem is delivered daily,” the authors of the website tend to steer away from gore and focus on mystery. One of the best examples of the site’s eerie style is The Lineup podcast, which features real stories told by real people. There are just six episodes so far, but they have been steadily released every month, suggesting —Ryan Bradford there’s more to come—and thankfully so.

It’s difficult to find a person who’s seen the first season of True Detective and isn’t a fan (especially after the rather obtuse second season). Part of the first season’s charm can be traced to Matthew McConaughey’s revelatory turn as the cosmic, nihilistic, philosophy-spouting detective, Rust Cohle. However, it didn’t take long for fans of genre fiction to recognize some distinct similarities behind Cohle’s monologues and the work of cult horror writer and noted recluse, Thomas Ligotti (namely, Ligotti’s book The Conspiracy Against the Human Race). After much Internet hand-wringing, True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto did admit that, yes, he was inspired by Ligotti’s work. Whether or not Pizzolatto outright plagiarized Ligotti is a moot discussion that can easily lead to a “what is art?” downward spiral. At at least the attention prompted Penguin publishing to re-release Ligotti’s first two story collections, Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe. The stories within are dense and cosmic, but once you get the hang of it, they’re more frightening than Poe, Lovecraft and King.

—Jeff Terich

16 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

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October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

Culture | Art michael james armstrong

Seen Local

thread bare

T

he masterfulness of Michael James Armstrong’s aptly titled “Three Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Threads” comes in waves. First comes the sheer majesty. It’s an ominous, site-specific installation with just less than 3,500 black and white threads hung from ceiling to floor and configured into precise, blockish columns. Once the initial immensity is taken in the illusory effects start to come out. First, if you’re seeing the piece around noon, at what Armstrong calls the “golden” hour, the skylight inside the Ice Gallery in Barrio Logan (icegallerysd. com) makes “Threads” appear as if it is glowing. Or, more accurately, the white column combined with the sun hitting the skylight at just the correct angle makes that column appear to be raining light—like a glorious soft drizzle.

Finally, as viewers circle around the piece or if they tilt their heads to and fro there will be flicker in the eye, the result of the individual threads overlapping and causing a moiré pattern. Armstrong says this was accidental, but also says he should have anticipated that the overlapping threads, each spaced one-sixteenth of an inch apart, would cause this effect. The fact that the black threads are twice as wide as the white ones only adds to the delusory nature of the piece.

Armstrong’s piece, however, should not be viewed as some kind of artistic parlor trick. Yes, it’s amazing to look at for these reasons, but “Threads” is the culmination of years of work from one of San Diego’s most talented and underrated artists. Ten years ago, he was working in Subway graffiti-inspired paintings, and, inspired by artists like Robert Irwin, he has steadily moved into site-specific installations.

“Three Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Threads” To see this new work in the perfect time of day is truly awe-inspiring, but just make an appointment to see it before it’s gone on Nov. 21, no matter the time of day.

“It’s different,” Armstrong says matter-of-factly, when asked what it’s like to see “Threads” early in the morning or even late at night. “That’s ultimately something that I hope to achieve with pieces like this. I love installations that, when you come upon them, they’re fully formed. All your information is right there. There’s no question of, ‘What am I looking at? What is this?’ It’s all there, but the more time you spend with it, the more you can see.” michaeljamesarmstrong.com

“It’s so creepy,” exclaims a little girl barely out of toddlerhood as she walks by the recently opened Teros Gallery (instagram.com/terosgallery). Gallery owner Alejandra Frank laughs heartily upon hearing such an unfiltered assessment of something that, for her, has been a lifelong dream.

“Yeah, it’s creepy,” she agrees.

To be fair, it’s not that creepy. The little girl’s “creepy” observation may have come more from her belief that the giant mural on the side of the building and the art inside are somehow related to Halloween. But the quaint little spot right near the border of North Park and City Heights (5888 Swift Ave.) is actually quite charming. There’s an 8-track tape deck playing tunes from The Supremes and Grand Funk Railroad while Frank shows off the pen-and-ink sketches on the wall from Mexico City-based artist Esteban Aldrete. There are also boutique items, such as t-shirts, patches and a rack filled with Frank’s bi-yearly, zine-style Teros magazine (siouxmagazine.com). She admits that the gallery stands out in the otherwise drab neighborhood.

“I do worry about foot traffic, but I also like the idea of being separated. I feel like this has a particular aesthetic that doesn’t appeal to most,” says Frank,

18 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

—Seth Combs

when asked about the gallery’s off-the-beaten path location. “It’s nice because people who really want to come here will come.”

Frank says the gallery will keep regular hours even though she also works two part-time jobs. She’s planning on holding monthly art shows that include her neighbors organizing bands to play in the front yard.

She’d also like to see the space evolve into a workshop-style place where she and other artists would do their own silkscreening and printing, as well as a place where kids could come to participate in art workshops. Per the latter, she seth combs was inspired by working at the Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco.

“I realized the importance of a space for young people to have an outlet,” she says. “A place to go and create something.”

The gallery’s next show in November features vintage, psychedelic art from the ’70s by none other than Frank’s mom, Susana Echevarría Frank. Still, the artist is quick to rebuff any Alejandra Frank notions of nepotism.

“She’s embarrassed by it, but they’re so cool,” says Frank about her mom’s paintings and collages. “I’m doing it to piss her off a little bit.

Well, maybe not to piss her off but just to show her that people will like it.”

—Seth Combs #SDCityBeat

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October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

Culture | Voices

ryan bradford

well that was

awkward

Being a basic witch at the Pagan Pride Festival

T

here’s nothing goth about the Comic Sans font.

I stare at the San Diego Pagan Pride Day’s website, not really knowing what I expected.

Something eviler, no doubt. There’s no mysticism, no enchantment—just that goofy, most-hated font staring back at me. If anthropomorphized it would have the voice of a nasally puppet stuck between toddlerhood and adulthood.

And it would yell: “SAN DIEGO PAGAN PRIDE DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS!” There’s a part of me that’s excited about the Pagan Pride Fest. For one, I know very little about the belief, only that, out of all the religions, it’s the gothiest. If anyone knows anything about me, it’s my unabashed love of darkness, horror and dread, and spending a day learning about the rituals of witches and heretics feels totally goth.

So, I want to give the Pagans the benefit of the doubt, but their site isn’t making it easy. Not that I expect a full on “bubble, bubble, toil and trouble” kind of presentation, but c’mon, the Franklin Gothic font is right there.

I ask my friend, Nathan, to come along with me. Nathan’s great because he never thinks anything is a stupid idea, and he has daily rules like “talk to a stranger,” which constantly force him out of his comfort zone. Also, he’s the only one of my friends who can wake up early enough for the 9 a.m. scheduled “morning ritual.”

I have no idea what to wear, so I throw on a shirt my wife bought in a metal bar in Istanbul called Rasputin. It’s by far my most goth shirt. It’s also my blackest and heaviest shirt. The morning temperature is already in the high 80s.

I pick up Nathan. “Like my shirt?” I ask, already sweating like a goddamn madman. We haven’t even made it to the festival and I’m already melting. I’m melting! What a world! (Because witches).

The Pagan Pride Festival is located in a far corner of Liberty Station. I ultimately decide the choice in location is pretty goth due to Point Loma residents’ perceived aversion to counter-cultural weirdness (i.e. they’re rich).

Nathan and I arrive on time. We’re the only spectators. Many artists and vendors are still setting up.

It’s then that I realize how conspicuous we are: me with my Rasputin shirt (which now feels a little too obvious) and Nathan with his flannel. A woman sees us and beelines our way.

She introduces herself. Her name is Crystal. Of course it is. Crystal is the daughter of the organizer.

She’s warm, friendly and also really stoked about the snow cone truck that’s scheduled to arrive later.

“We wanted to get the pierogi truck, but…” she trails off, briefly. “Maybe next year.”

We make our way to a woman selling mystic goods: figurines made of twigs, phallic staffs with

crystals affixed to the end, etc. She picks up a stick figure with two wooden discs meant to be breasts and presents it to us in a teasing manner. “Don’t molest the fairy,” she says, like wink, wink, I know how all the boys love stick figurines.

Nathan asks the woman about Paganism. This catches the attention of another man who, for all intents and purposes, is the physical embodiment of Peter Griffin.

“Paganism is the spiritual connection to nature rather than a single god,” the woman says. “We believe in the cycles of the earth.”

“Oh, like wolves,” Peter Griffin says. A confused look crosses the woman’s face. We leave. “Oh, like wolves,” becomes a punch line for the rest of the day.

The morning ritual starts. Three men—one in a red-and-white tunic, another in a Luke Skywalkerstyle robe, another in a black cape—and a woman lead the procession. We stand in a circle around them. They light a fire in a pot.

The man in the red tunic moves around the circle, spritzing us with water from an evergreen branch. This is our supposed purification, but with the sun beating down, my armpits and butt crack feel anything but pure. There are few things more discomforting than goth sweat.

They make offerings to sky father. They honor earth mother.

We sing songs. I sing them poorly. The man next to me in the circle knows all the songs by heart, except one, which he announces by telling me, “this is the only one I don’t know.” Seems a little arrogant. “Now, for the fun part,” red tunic says. “The sacrificial prayer!” They pour water out of a fancy chalice. “Fun,” in the context, turns out to be relative. Photographers from other media snap pictures from outside our circle. Goddamnit, I think, imagining how those photos will come back to haunt me later in life.

The ritual ends. Red tunic, who’s been foiling all my attempts to sneak creepshots, introduces himself as John. He’s totally nice. It turns out we’re both from Utah.

Nathan and I find some shade to decompress. “I don’t know if you saw,” he says, “at one point during the ritual, a group of runners in tutus ran past. It reminded me of that [SELF Magazine] article, shaming runners who wore tutus, which ended up being symbols of solidarity with cancer patients.” He pauses. “You know, this kind of stuff is really easy to make fun of, but everyone is just doing their thing.”

I let Nathan’s words sink in. Is unironic acceptance of other people’s beliefs the most goth?

Before I can come to a conclusion, Nathan taps me on the shoulder: “Snow cone truck is here.”

“

There are few things more discomforting than goth sweat.

“

20 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

Well That Was Awkward appears every other week.

Write to ryanb@sdcitybeat.com.

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October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

Culture | Film

Nasty Baby

Rotten apples

Sebastián Silva’s new dramedy has a dark undercurrent

by Glenn Heath Jr.

I

t may take a village to raise a child, but it also really understands the consequences of what that takes one to clean up a particularly heinous mess. means. Polly is especially panicked about possibly Sebastián Silva’s Nasty Baby oscillates between having missed her window to procreate. these two ideas with a strange mix of hipster angst, Silva’s oeuvre is stock full of selfish characters, melodrama and dark comedy. Initially, the film ap- and his whiny, tantrum-loving Freddy mirrors Mipears to be a compassionate and subdued examina- chael Cera’s obnoxious lead character in the equally tion of modern family rituals and disappointments. oddball road movie The Crystal Fairy. Except FredBut like its lead characters’ communication style, dy’s first-world privilege stems from an assumption that’s all bullshit. of comfort, an expectation of success that has been Emerging artist Freddy (Silva) lives with his car- bred into him over the years. Whether that can be penter boyfriend Mo (Tunde Adebimpe) in a com- attributed to his upbringing or artistic prowess (or a fortable New York City brownstone populated with combination of the two) we never can tell. countless ferns and plants. The Polly’s travails and The Bishtraditional medium of painting no op’s tirades teach us that Freddy’s longer interests him, so it’s on to sequestered world view can be nasty baby visual arts. His first video installashattered in an instant. Mo has tion will feature adults posing and made himself culpable in this deDirected by Sebastián Silva cooing like babies, presumably to lusion by enabling his partner’s Starring Sebastián Silva, say something about the lasting judgmental attitude and pretenKristen Wiig, nature of innocence. Keeping with tious view of the “other.” Short Tunde Adebimpe, the newborn theme, Freddy has bursts of anger and frustration and Reg. E Cathey been donating his sperm to best eventually erupt in an act of vioRated R friend Polly (Kristen Wiig) who lence that seems both surprising hopes to get pregnant. and preordained. What follows Like most of Silva’s films, the gives Nasty Baby a whole new spin setup is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and things turn in- on its title. Some may be taken aback by the narracreasingly acidic. Freddy’s sperm count is low, which tive shift, but considering how frequently Freddy, prompts Polly to ask for Mo’s participation, causing Mo and Polly deny the truth it makes perfect sense. distress in the relationship. Heated conversations There’s one motif in Silva’s work that’s worth turn even more stressful when a mentally unsound mentioning over the others: Anger and resentment homophobic neighbor named The Bishop (Reg E. are natural elements of human nature that some of Cathey) begins to harass the couple on the street. us learn how to manage in productive ways while Internally, a pervasive sense of unease grows in others wait and wait until our lids blow off. each character as nothing goes according to plan.

Nasty Baby, which opens Friday, Oct. 30, at the When Freddy and Polly join Mo and his family for Digital Gym Cinema in North Park, stands out as a dinner, the welcome wagon is painted blood red. particularly cynical view of learned behavior. CountLater, Freddy gets into an argument with a gallery less shots of cute tykes are juxtaposed with adults owner over his amateurish project. This disagree- who’ve done everything possible to hide the venom ment leads directly into the film’s insane final act. lingering inside. It prompts the question, how can Nasty Baby believes that each of us hide behind we start so innocently and end up so rotten? People façades in order to avoid a well of secrets. Setting find a way. it apart from other suburban morality tales is its strange and unnerving tone. Freddy, Mo, and Polly Film reviews run weekly. are on the precipice of parenthood, but none of them Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com.

22 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

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Culture | Film

The Keeping Room

Life during wartime

R

esolved to the necessity of violence in order to achieve peace, The Keeping Room begins with a horrifically pragmatic quote from General William Sherman: “War is cruelty…the crueler it is the sooner it will be over.”

As the American Civil War comes to a bloody conclusion, Union scouts ravage the countryside in advance of the larger invasion to come. Two of these men, Moses (Sam Worthington) and Henry (Kyle Stoller), have taken it upon themselves to kill anyone in their path.

Meanwhile, three women try to survive by themselves at a massive manor house. Augusta (Brit Marling) can handle a rifle as good

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as any man, but her sister Louise (Hailee Steinfeld) is much more demure. Their house slave, Mad (Muna Otaru), stays mostly silent despite the growing realization that her life of servitude is set to drastically change at any moment.

These two groups eventually clash in what becomes a straightforward home invasion film, with the growling Northern occupiers laying siege to the resilient women of the South itching to reclaim some sense of victory in the face of total defeat.

Director Daniel Barber expresses a similarly cold view of human nature in his revenge drama Harry Brown, which found Michael Caine’s badass geezer doing battle with a bunch of English street thugs. You’ll find

an infatuation with wounds and arterial spray in both films.

Certain images in The Keeping Room, which opens Friday, Oct. 30 at the Ken Cinema, are rightfully post-apocalyptic. There’s the shot of a panicked horse pulling a burning stagecoach and later one of a once beautiful Southern belle’s decomposing body.

But Barber’s taut Western eventually degenerates into a pedestrian horror film despite the feminist trappings and bracing subject matter. By shrouding convention in a veil of shock and awe, the film’s nihilistic perspective feels far less daring as a result.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

Opening A Ballerina’s Tale: This incredible documentary tells the behind-the-scenes story of dancer Misty Copeland’s journey to become the first African-American performer for the American Ballet Theater. Screens through Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Burnt: Bradley Cooper stars as a very Anthony Bourdain-like chef who destroys his career with drugs only to get a second chance at redemption and spearhead a new restaurant in London.

Cut Snake: This Australian thriller follows two ex-cons who hatch a scheme to burn down a nightclub. Opens Friday, Oct. 30, at the Angelika Carmel Mountain Film Center.

Love (3D): Gaspar Noé’s provocative melodrama follows an American living in Paris who enters a highly unstable and electric relationship with a mysterious woman. Opens Friday, Oct. 30, at the Angelika Carmel Mountain Film Center.

Nasty Baby: Sebastian Silva’s dramedy is about a gay couple that tries to help their single friend get pregnant, which leads to myriad conflicts that threaten their relationships. Screens through Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Our Brand is Crisis: An American campaign strategist (played by Sandra Bullock) heads down to a volatile South American country to help a struggling politician get elected.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse: The Boy Scouts of America have been waiting a long time for this one.

The Keeping Room: Three women trying to survive in the war-torn South at the tail end of The Civil War come under attack by marauding Northern troops.

Truth: Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford star in this based-on-true-events drama depicting the 2004 CBS 60 Minutes report

by Dan Rather investigating then-President George W. Bush’s military service record.

For a complete listing of movies, please see “F ilm Screenings” at sdcitybeat.com under the “E vents” tab.

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

jordan vance

Music

From left: Ryan Wolfe, Dorthia Cottrell, Asechiah Bogdan, Parker Chandler and Garrett Morris

24 ¡ San Diego CityBeat ¡ October 28, 2015

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October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

Music

notes from the smoking patio locals only

T

here’s a new all-ages venue in town. Starting next month, Lamppost Warehouse in Linda Vista (5444 Napa St.) will begin hosting live music.

The first show is on Nov. 14, and will feature Modern Baseball, Pup, Jeff Rosenstock and Tiny Moving Parts.

Soda Bar talent buyer Cory Stier, who also books all-ages shows at The Irenic in North Park, says that a lot more shows are in the works, and the owners of the venue have been interested in a partnership for a long time.

“They reached out to us initially and said ‘check out this place,’” he says. “It’s been in motion for some time. It took some time for it to come together.”

Lamppost Warehouse is part of the Resolved Church and will operate similar to how The Irenic does. Both venues have catering licenses that would allow them to serve beer and wine. Most all-ages venues legally can’t. However, Lamppost is bigger than The Irenic. Its capacity is around 600 people compared to The Irenic’s 400. There’s also more flexibility in what kind of shows it can host.

“It’s much like the Irenic in that it’s church-affiliated, but they keep it separate,” Stier says. “It’ll be a diverse lineup. The Irenic doesn’t like to do hard-

Lamppost Warehouse edged shows, so with Lamppost, we can do that kind of stuff.”

Most of all, Stier is enthusiastic about the possibility of being able to draw more touring acts to San Diego that might otherwise skip the city because of the lack of midsize all-ages options for live music.

“With the size of it—the Belly Up is right about that size—we’ll end up doing a lot of the bigger allages tours,” he says. “Hopefully that’ll fill that void.”

—Jeff Terich

A live music guide to halloween

H

alloween is one of the biggest nights of the year for live music in San Diego. I’d guess that’s true for most cities, but I’ve gone out to see live music every Halloween night since at least 2008, and I don’t recall any that didn’t sell out.

Rocket from the Crypt’s show at Bar Pink is already sold out. No Knife is just a ticket or two away from selling out The Casbah. So, if you’re the type that has a costume, but no place to go, here are some of your options.

Soda Bar is holding its annual Halloween Spooktacular, featuring Roxy Jones playing a set of Nine Inch Nails songs, Hills Like Elephants doing Talking Heads and Wild Wild Wets taking on Shocking Blue. Last year’s was awesome, and I don’t doubt this one will also be great. Just down the street at The Hideout, there’s another local covers show going on, with bands doing sets of Nirvana, Pixies and Cure songs. (Nepotism alert: I’m participating!) If it’s an all-’80s set list you’re looking for, ’80s Heat is headlining a Halloween dance party at Belly Up Tavern.

Then again maybe you’d prefer to play up the inherent darkness of the holiday instead of the clever meme costumes or O.D.-ing on candy. Brick by Brick is hosting a special event called Night of the Shred, which brings together a who’s who of heavy bands, including Virginia doom metal MVPs Windhand (see Ben Salmon’s feature on page 24), The Shrine and Danava. Similarly, many of the creatures of the night might want to flock to Numbers in Hillcrest

26 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

Passion Pit for a special Halloween edition of its regular goth/ darkwave night, Club Sabbat.

There’s always the option of just going to where the most outrageous party is, however, and this year that’s going to be Heaven and Hell at the Town and Country Event Center in Mission Valley. There will be a DJ set by Porter Robinson, a live set by Passion Pit and hedonism galore. Similarly, House of Blues will be hosting the Halloween Block Party 2015, featuring three stages of live entertainment, with DJs, dance crews and more. Whatever your flavor, there’ll be plenty to do on All Hallow’s Eve this year.

—Jeff Terich

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October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

28 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

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Music

Jeff Terich

If I were u A music insider’s weekly agenda about me: It’s about a punk rock Halloween good time. BACKUP PLAN: ‘Halloween PLAN A: Matt Pond PA, Laura Steven- Spooktacular’ w/ Roxy Jones, Wild Wild son, Completions @ The Casbah. Since Wets, Hills Like Elephants, Sleeping the early ’00s, and maybe a little before that, Ghost @ Soda Bar. Matt Pond PA has been turning out achingly beautiful chamber pop records with solid melodies. I’m a fan of The Nature of Maps, Sunday, November 1 PLAN A: Sergio Mendes and Brasil 2015 but it’s hard to go wrong with any of them. @ Belly Up Tavern. Maybe it’s just a soft spot for camp and kitsch, but I can’t help but dig Sergio Mendes. His records with Thursday, October 29 Brasil 66 were stylish, swinging Latin-pop PLAN A: Failure, And You Will Know Us fun, and I expect the latest incarnation of by the Trail of Dead, Local H @ Music his band to be no different.

Box. Failure reunited last year after being broken up for 17 years, and I couldn’t be happier. Their 1996 album Fantastic Planet is an underrated alternative rock classic, Monday, November 2 and their latest, The Heart is a Monster, PLAN A: Ghost, Purson @ Observatory isn’t too shabby either. PLAN B: Vicky North Park. Despite their corpse-painted Chow @ Dizzy’s. Not every show has to be appearance and spooky vibe, Sweden’s a big rock show, and the latest in the Fresh Ghost is really just a great rock ‘n’ roll band Sound series of concerts features pianist that puts on a hell of a show. I saw them last Vicky Chow, whose program will include year, and the entertainment value far out“Piano Counterpoint” by minimalist com- weighed most other shows I saw. Halloween doesn’t have to end so early. PLAN B: He poser Steve Reich.

Whose Ox is Gored, Deep Sea Thunder Beast, Beira @ The Merrow. I just discovered He Whose Ox Is Gored this year, and Friday, October 30 PLAN A: The King Khan and BBQ Show, their innovative mix of atmospheric, elecMilk Lines, Teenage Burritos, DJ Mikey tronic sounds and murky, meaty riffs won Ratt @ Soda Bar. It’s always a party when me over instantly. They’re playing with loKing Khan is in town. The King Khan and cal bruisers Deep Sea Thunder Beast, who BBQ Show is more raw and stripped down are always worth checking out. BACKUP than his other band, The Shrines, but no PLAN: Until the Ribbon Breaks, Nicky matter what, you’re getting a rock show Venus, Bakkuda @ Soda Bar.

Wednesday, October 28

with mischief, mayhem and too much fun.

PLAN B: Dani Bell and the Tarantist, Boaz Roberts, Dillon Casey @ The Balboa. I’ve lost count of the number of bands that Al Howard is in, but Dani Bell and the Tarantist, his latest, has a great, soulful classic pop sound worth soaking in.

Saturday, October 31 PLAN A: “Night of the Shred” w/ Windhand, The Shrine, BANG, Elder, Danava, Wo Fat, Monolord, Black Bombaim @ Brick by Brick. Read Ben Salmon’s feature on Windhand this week. Their new album, Grief ’s Infernal Flower, is a thing of doom metal beauty. And you can’t have Halloween without metal, right? Didn’t think so.

PLAN B: Local bands cover The Pixies, Cock Sparrer, Nirvana, The Cure @ The Hideout. OK, I wasn’t going to do this, but a lot of Halloween night shows have already sold out. So here’s the deal: Four groups of local musicians are covering songs by classic punk and alternative bands for Halloween, and yeah, I’m in one of them. I won’t tell you which one, though. But it’s not

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Girlpool

Tuesday, November 3 PLAN A: Girlpool, Bobby T. and the Slackers, Holling @ Che Cafe. There aren’t a whole lot of bands that sound like Girlpool, and for one specific reason.

They don’t have a drummer. The duo plays dreamy indie rock with great harmonies and lots of emotion, and their unconventional setup just makes it all the more unforgettable.

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

Music

Concerts HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Viet Cong (Irenic, 11/12), Common Sense (BUT, 12/12), Flotsam and Jetsam (Brick by Brick, 12/17), The Maine (Irenic, 12/12), Strung Out (Brick by Brick, 12/19), Europe (Music Box, 1/24), Mike Gordon (Observatory, 1/30), At the Gates (HOB, 2/19), Dr. Dog (Observatory, 2/20), Anti-Flag (Observatory, 2/25), Mutemath (HOB, 3/2), Junior Boys (Casbah, 3/18), Super Diamond (BUT, 3/18-19), Twentyonepilots (Viejas Arena, 7/24).

CANCELED Girl Band (Soda Bar, 11/28).

GET YER TICKETS King Diamond (Observatory, 11/4), Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs (Observatory, 11/8), HEALTH (Casbah, 11/10), The Menzingers, meWithoutYou (Observatory, 11/10), The Fall of Troy, Kylesa (Irenic, 11/10), Yo La Tengo (Observatory, 11/12), Soulside (Casbah, 11/12), Mayhem, Watain (Observatory, 11/13), Born Ruffians (Soda Bar, 11/13), Youth Lagoon (BUT, 11/14), Ty Dolla$ign (HOB, 11/14), The Cult, Primal Scream (HOB, 11/19), YOB (Brick

by Brick, 11/19), Skinny Puppy (Observatory, 11/20), Lucero (BUT, 11/22), Sturgill Simpson (Observatory, 11/22), Chance the Rapper (SOMA, 11/23), X,

Mike Watt (Casbah, 11/27-28), Maruta, Vattnet Viskar (Til-Two Club, 11/27), Venom Inc. (Brick by Brick, 11/28), Girl Band (Soda Bar, 11/28), Grouch & Eli, Chali 2na (Observatory, 12/1), Nikki Lane (The Irenic, 12/1), The Bad Plus (Music Box, 12/8), The White Buffalo (HOB, 12/10), Three Mile Pilot (Casbah, 12/10), Agnostic Front (Til-Two Club, 12/12), Reverend Horton Heat (Observatory, 12/13), Ghostface Killah (Observatory, 12/17), Macy Gray (BUT, 12/17), Rick Springfield (HOB, 12/18), Bone Thugs N Harmony (Observatory, 12/18), Vince Staples (Observatory, 12/19), Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven (BUT, 12/27), Ozomatli (BUT, 12/28), Chet Faker (Observatory, 12/29), Donavon Frankenreiter (BUT, 12/29-30), The Academy Is… (Observatory, 12/30), Los Lobos (BUT, 12/31), Jerry Seinfeld (Civic Theatre, 1/15), Josh Ritter (Observatory, 1/18), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (BUT, 1/19), Killing Joke, The Soft Moon (BUT, 1/26), Richard Cheese (HOB, 1/29), The English Beat (BUT, 2/5-6), Aaron Neville (Balboa Theatre, 2/11), Ani DiFranco (BUT, 2/25), Joe Satriani (Balboa Theatre, 3/1), Galactic (BUT, 3/3), Keb’ Mo’ (Balboa Theatre, 3/4), Gary Clark Jr. (HOB, 3/11), 5 Seconds of Summer (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 9/9).

October Wednesday, Oct. 28 Matt Pond PA at The Casbah. Shakey Graves at Observatory North Park (sold out). Tobias Jesso Jr. at Belly Up Tavern. Potty Mouth at Soda Bar.

Thursday, Oct. 29 Prayers at The Irenic. Fear Factory at

30 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

Brick by Brick. Failure, …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead at Music Box. Coheed and Cambria at Observatory North Park. Gehenna at Che Café.

Madonna at Valley View Casino Center.

Parkway Drive at House of Blues.

Friday, Oct. 30 Knuckle Puck at Moniker Warehouse.

The King Khan and BBQ Show at Soda Bar. Catharsis, Thou + The Body at 5335 Market.

Saturday, Oct. 31 ‘Night of the Shred’ w/ Windhand, Elder, Danava at Brick by Brick. Kris Kristofferson, John Prine at Civic Theatre. No Knife at The Casbah. Warren G at Music Box.

November Sunday, Nov. 1 Trey Anastasio at House of Blues. Sergio Mendes at Belly Up Tavern. B Side Players at Music Box.

Monday, Nov. 2 Ghost at Observatory North Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 3 Jonny Lang at Belly Up Tavern. Girlpool at Che Café. Antemasque at Observatory North Park. Spirit Caravan at Brick

by Brick. Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts at Music Box.

Wednesday, Nov. 4 King Diamond at Observatory North Park. Spencer Moody at The Casbah.

Thursday, Nov. 5 The Internet at The Loft at UCSD. Of Montreal at The Irenic.

Friday, Nov. 6 Leon Bridges at Observatory North Park.

Drinks at Soda Bar. Bob Schneider at Belly Up Tavern.

Saturday, Nov. 7 Fortunate Youth at Belly Up Tavern.

Beat Connection at The Loft at UCSD.

Sunday, Nov. 8 Tim Flannery at Music Box. Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs at Observatory North Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 10 The Menzingers, meWithoutYou at Observatory. The Fall of Troy, Kylesa at The Irenic. HEALTH at The Casbah.

Moon Taxi at Belly Up Tavern.

Wednesday, Nov. 11 Raheem Devaughn and Leela James at Music Box. Tops at The Hideout. Desaparecidos at Belly Up Tavern. Collective Soul at House of Blues. The Underachievers at Observatory North Park.

Thursday, Nov. 12 Dave and Phil Alvin at Belly Up Tavern.

Godsmack at Open Air Theatre. Yo La Tengo at Observatory North Park. Soulside at The Casbah. Viet Cong at The Irenic.

Friday, Nov. 13

Leaf at The Casbah. Mayhem, Watain at Observatory North Park. Circa Survive at House of Blues.

Saturday, Nov. 14 Ty Dolla$ign at House of Blues. Dead Feather Moon at Music Box. In the Valley Below at The Casbah. Modern Baseball, Pup, Jeff Rosenstock at Lamppost Warehouse. Youth Lagoon at Belly Up Tavern.

Sunday, Nov. 15 The Front Bottoms at The Irenic. Puro Instinct at Soda Bar. Squeeze at House of Blues.

Monday, Nov. 16 City and Colour at House of Blues. Atmosphere at Observatory North Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 Keep Shelly In Athens at The Casbah.

Psychedelic Furs at Belly Up Tavern.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 Mac Miller at House of Blues.

Thursday, Nov. 19 Big K.R.I.T. at Observatory North Park.

Weatherbox at Soda Bar. YOB at Brick

by Brick. The Cult, Primal Scream at House of Blues. Ryan Bingham at Belly Up Tavern.

Friday, Nov. 20 Ryan Bingham at Belly Up Tavern.

Havok at Soda Bar. Skinny Puppy at Observatory North Park.

Born Ruffians at Soda Bar. The Album

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Music Saturday, Nov. 21 Everclear at Music Box. Minus the Bear at Observatory North Park. Author and Punisher at The Hideout.

Sunday, Nov. 22 Rise Against at Soma. Lucero at Belly Up Tavern. Allison Weiss at The Casbah. New Found Glory, Yellowcard at House of Blues. Sturgill Simpson at Observatory North Park. Kate Boy at Soda Bar.

Monday, Nov. 23 Chance the Rapper at SOMA. TesseracT at House of Blues.

Tuesday, Nov. 24 Jackie Greene at Observatory North Park. Borns at Belly Up Tavern.

Friday, Nov. 27 Darwin Deez at House of Blues. Robert Delong at Music Box. Maruta, Vattnet Viskar at Til-Two Club. Nashville Pussy at The Hideout. X, Mike Watt at The Casbah.

Saturday, Nov. 28 X, Mike Watt at The Casbah. Venom Inc. at Brick by Brick.

Sunday, Nov. 29 Silverstein, Senses Fail at Observatory North Park.

Monday, Nov. 30 Intronaut at Soda Bar. John Waters at Observatory North Park.

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rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., San Diego. Pacific Beach. Wed: Joe Cardillo.

Thu: Karaoke. Fri: The Moves, Charlie Rae. Sat: Dazed & Confused. Sun: Karaoke.

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, San Diego. Little Italy. Fri: ‘Freakshow Carnival’. Sun: The Matt Smith Neu Jazz Trio.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Wed: Open mic. Thu: Nikki Glaser. Fri: Nikki Glaser.

Sat: Nikki Glaser. Sun: Mike Winfield.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., San Diego.

Downtown. Fri: San Holo. Sat: Tâches.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., San Diego. North Park. Wed: ‘The Midweek Boogie’ w/ DJ L. Thu: The Atom Age, Soaks, Loose Nerves. Fri: DJ L. Sat: Rocket from the Crypt (sold out).

Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. La Jolla. Thu: Adam Block Duo. Fri: Aquile. Sat: Decembers Children. Sun: Daryl Johnson.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Wed: Tobias Jesso Jr., Wet. Thu: Tolan Shaw, KI, Johnny Tarr. Fri: The Pettybreakers, Creedence Relived. Sat: ‘Halloween Heat’ w/ 80s Heat, Nancarrow. Sun: Sergio Mendes and Brasil 2015.

Mon: Jeff Daniels, The Ben Daniels Band.

Tue: Jonny Lang, Runaway Saints.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave., Carlsbad. Fri: ‘Club Musae’.

Brass Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Wed: Karaoke. Fri: ‘Hip Hop Fridayz’. Sat: ‘Sabado en Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA. Mon: ‘Manic Monday’ w/ DJs Junior the Disco Punk, XP.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., San Diego. Bay Park. Thu: Fear Factory, Once Human, Godhammered, The No Name Gang, Chemical Burn, Abscission. Sat: ‘Night of the Shred’ w/ Windhand, BANG, Elder, Danava, Wo Fat, Monolord, Black Bombaim. Sun: Soilwork, Shattered Sun, Earthside, 1001, Theosis. Mon: ‘Metal Monday’. Tue: Spirit Caravan, MOS Generator, LOOM, Ocelot.

Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

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

Cat Eye Club, 370 7th Ave, SAN DIEGO. 4S Ranch. Sat: Ghost of Black’s Beach Halloween Party.

Croce’s Park West, 2760 Fifth Ave., #100, San Diego. Bankers Hill. Wed: Louis Valenzuela Duo. Thu: Stacy Antonel. Fri: Allison Adams Tucker. Sat: Sue Palmer. Sun: Louis Valenzuela Duo. Mon: Hank Easton. Tue: Liz Grace Duo. Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. Fri: Santana Soul. Sat: FX5.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. Mission Bay. Thu: Vicky Chow. Fri: Sarah Elizabeth Charles.

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

Thu: ‘Nightmare on F Street’. Fri: Aleks Exact. Sat: ‘Dead Legends’. Sun: DJ Scooter.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Fri: DJ Direct. Sat: Too $hort. Sun: ‘Morning of the Dead’.

Gallagher’s, 5040 Newport Ave., San Diego. Ocean Beach. Thu: Piracy Conspiracy, TRC Soundsystem, DJ Reefah.

Fri: Sunny Rude. Sat: DJ Chelu.

Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Sat: Hard Rock Horror Story.

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

Downtown. Wed: AOK Musik. Thu: DJ Junior the DiscoPunk. Fri: ‘Good Times’.

Mon: DJ Antonio Aguilera. Tue: Big City Dawgs.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Wed: Amy Winehouse Tribute, Ground Up, The Neighbourhood, The Neighbourhood, Bad Suns, Hunny. Thu: Parkway Drive Ire Tour, Parkway Drive, Miss May I, Thy Art Is Murder, Outlands. Sat: ‘Halloween Block Party’. Sun: Trey Anastasio, Trey Anastasio.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Thu: ‘Fear the Reaper’.

Fri: ‘SUBDVSN’. Sat: ‘Alien Vampire Holloween’. Sun: ‘Fully Patched’.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., San Diego. Kensington. Sat: Gone Baby Gone, The End, Fictious Dishes, The Dirty Pennies.

Kilowatt Brewing, 7576 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., SAN DIEGO. Kearny Mesa.

Thu: Fall Dessert and Beer Pairing Night.

Sat: Candy Inspired Beer Releases.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: Jackson & Jesus. Thu: The Sophisticats. Fri: Flipside Burners.

Sat: Ron’s Garage.

Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego.

Little Italy. Wed: Rusted Root, Euphoria Brass Band, Jesus Gonzales. Thu: Failure, Local H. Fri: Pulsar FM Party. Sat: Warren G. Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Thu: ‘Wet’. Sat: ‘Club Sabbat’.

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: The Upshots. Fri: Mystique Element of Soul. Sat: RedWave.

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

Hillcrest. Wed: DJ John Joseph. Thu: ‘LEZ’. Fri: DJs dirty KURTY, Will Z. Sat: DJs K-Swift, Nikno. Sun: ‘Stripper Circus’.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Six to Midnight. Sat: Rip Carson.

Side Bar, 536 Market St., San Diego.

Downtown. Wed: ‘Bitten’. Thu: Vince Delano. Sat: ‘Bitten’.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Wed: Potty Mouth, Garden Echo, Soft Lions. Thu: Cheatahs, Vulkano, Scuffs. Fri: The King Khan and BBQ Show, Milk Lines, Teenage Burritos, DJ Mikey Ratt. Sat: Roxy Jones, Wild Wild Wets, Hills Like Elephants, Sleeping Ghost. Sun: Sean Nicholas Savage, Promise Keeper, Longclaws. Mon: Until the Ribbon Breaks, Nicky Venus, Bakkuda. Tue: Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers, Saba.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. Midway. Fri: Lucia, Heavyweight, Funerals, Lords and Wolves, Ascensions, Awake Me Daylight. Sat: For Today, Fit For A King, Gideon, Silent Planet, Phinehas.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., San Diego. Normal Heights. Thu: Stephen El Rey. Tango Del Rey, 3567 Del Rey St., San Diego. Mission Bay. Sun: Halloween Hep Spot - Who’s Afraid Of The Dark?.

The Balboa, 1863 Fifth Ave., San Diego.

Bankers Hill. Fri: Dani Bell and the Tarantist, Boaz Roberts, Dillon Casey. Sat: The Major Minus, Nite Lapse, The Wild Fires.

The

Bancroft,

9143

Campo

Rd.,

music CONTINUED ON page 32

October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 31

Music music CONTINUED from PAGE 31 Spring Valley. Spring Valley. Wed: Karaoke. Thu: Abrams, Fantasy Arcade, Dhatura, Pissed Regardless. Fri: Face Tat, AntiQuark. Sat: Misfiends. Tue: No Brainer.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Wed: Matt Pond PA, Laura Stevenson, Completions. Thu: Halloweezer, Stallion, Los Bastardos, Duo De Los Muertos. Fri: Matt Nathanson (sold out).

Sat: No Knife, The Dabbers, Ghetto Blaster. Sun: XL Middleton, Moniquea, Throwback Zack, Cookie Crew DJs, PWC. Mon: Gavin James, Marc Scibilia. Tue: The Rocket Summer, Paradise Fears, Plane Without a Pilot.

The Che Cafe, UCSD campus, San Diego. La Jolla. Thu: The Infamous Gehenna, Theories, Crime Desire. Tue: Girlpool, Bobby T. and the Slackers, Holling.

The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Thu: Lushes, Tina, DJ Jon Blaj. Sat: Local bands perform Cock Sparrer, The Pixies, Nirvana, The Cure.

The Irenic, 3090 Polk Ave., San Diego.

North Park. Thu: Prayers.

The Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. La Jolla. Thu: Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals. Tue: SAFIA, Safia.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., San Diego. Hillcrest. Thu: Family Thief, TAC XII, KD, Paige Koehler. Fri: Cowgirls From Hell, Gravespell, Imbalanced, Fadrait. Sun: Eyes Eat Suns, Take The Fall, Almost Awake. Mon: Deep Sea Thunder Beast, He Whose Ox is Gored.

Tue: The Hand of Gavrilo, Condor, Future Age.

32 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

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

North Park. Wed: ‘Misfits Under Cover’.

Thu: ‘No Limits’ w/ DJ Myson King. Fri: ‘Cool Party Bro’ w/ DJs Heminguey, Ikah Love. Sat: ‘Strictly Halloween’ w/ DJs EdRoc, Kanye Asada. Mon: Sun Chased, Beat Panther, DJs Mike Delgado, Jeremiah BZ. The T Lounge, 1475 University Ave., SAN DIEGO. Hillcrest. Thu: Stanza.

The Tin Roof, 401 G Street, San Diego.

Gaslamp. Wed: Pat Hilton & Mann. Thu: Coriander. Fri: Cassie B Project. Sat: Quel Bordel. Sun: Pat Dowling. Mon: The Visitours, Lucky Devils. Tue: From the Cold.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: Take Offense.

Sat: The Signal, The Mochilero All-Stars.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., San Diego. Bay Park. Wed: Gino & The Lone Gunmen.

Thu: Billy Watson. Fri: Give Me Back My Wig. Sat: Hollywood Stones.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: Jason Lee & The R.I.P. Tides, The Tiki Creeps. Sat: The Burdens, Wang Dang Daddies.

Sun: Gaytheist, Christ Killer, Dum Cumsters.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, San Diego.

South Park. Wed: ‘Luscious Noise’.

Thu: ‘Vamp’. Fri: Old Order, Ash Williams. Sat: ‘Booty Bassment’ w/ DJs Dimitri, Rob. Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., San Diego.

Ocean Beach. Wed: Skank Roots Project, Aloha Radio, Wakane Janelle Phillips, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: ALOWE, Kaus, Marlon D, Tall Can. Fri: Cubensis. Sat: ‘Ocean Boogie’. Sun: Karaoke. Mon: Electric Waste Band.

SPOTLIGHT Madonna’s identity can be described many different ways—artist, hitmaker, trend setter, style icon, provocateur, frequent and peculiar Muse to Sonic Youth in the ’80s—but most of all she’s the name and the voice behind some of the biggest pop songs of all time. Everyone has their favorite. I’m partial to “Into the Groove,” despite its connection to cinematic fiasco Desperately Seeking Susan. But “Burnin’ Up,” “Music,” “Like a Prayer,” there’s a lot of greats in there. Madonna performs at Valley View Casino Center —Jeff Terich on Thursday, Oct. 29.

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October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 33

last words

in the

weeds

Burning questions

by CityBeat staff

I

s San Diego ready to regulate the sprawling business of selling bud? With the state’s newly minted rules for permitting the medical-cannabis industry, local officials have some sticky decisions to make.

Starting in 2018, the state plans to start issuing business licenses for a wide range of activities. Much like rules for alcohol, devised to prevent monopoly control, the licensing structure for cannabis will create a supply chain that separates permitting for everything from growing to distribution to sales to manufacturing of edibles and concentrates.

In all, the state will offer 17 different cannabis business licenses. For each activity, local municipalities will need to either establish a parallel regulatory system, an outright ban or default to state control.

Officials will need to quickly come up to speed on what this means, said Cynara Velazquez, political director of the Association of Cannabis Professionals, a trade group located in San Diego.

“What the state wants municipalities to do is fairly straightforward,” she said. “What they’re going to do if the municipalities don’t do anything is somewhat of a question mark.”

In San Diego these decisions will build on a long-debated ordinance, which allows roughly 14 dispensaries to operate citywide. However, murky rules for cultivation of cannabis will likely need to be updated over coming months, or the city could risk significant state intervention.

“When it comes to cultivation, the state does have control,” Velazquez said. “They were very explicit about that. If municipalities do not put in place rules, the state then takes over.”

At the same time, cities have a wide range of discretion when it comes to working with the still-forming Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation. Officials could decide to allow certain parts of the industry while prohibiting others, for example, allowing cannabis-testing facilities while banning manufacturing of edibles. Officials could be fine with large distribution centers but significantly limit outdoor grows.

City-permitted dispensaries operating before 2016 will be grandfathered in under previously establish local regulation. In response, San Diego has about a dozen dispensary owners hustling to get city permission to open before the end of the year.

The new rules would also require delivery services to operate out of permitted storefronts. This will be a dramatic shift for the city of San Diego, which for years has turned a blind eye to dozens of home delivery services.

34 · San Diego CityBeat · October 28, 2015

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October 28, 2015 · San Diego CityBeat · 35