San Diego CityBeat • Nov 13, 2013

sevenheaded The

serpent monster

Vote P.4 Vatican P.9 Blue P.23 Chvrches P.25

2 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

Smelly election Pee-yew! Something stinks. Oh, right, it’s the camvoting system, under which voters list candidates paigns for mayor of San Diego, each generating a in order of preference and the computer instantly unique, foul aroma, all swirling together to create a holds several rounds of runoffs through a process massive, putrid cloud of stench that’s engulfed the of elimination (the candidate with the least number city. It’ll be giving us the dry heaves until late winof votes is eliminated first, and his votes are redister when someone, mercifully, is elected. tributed based on voters’ second choices, and so on, The odor of negativity is mostly coming from until there’s just one candidate left). There would so-called super PACS, the ostensibly independent be no need for a costly second election between the groups that favor certain candidates, raise unlimtop two vote getters. If that were our system, our ited amounts of money and spend it on things like ballot would look like this: Alvarez, Fletcher, Agumailers. They are the thugs of election time, doing irre, Faulconer. If Alvarez were eliminated, our vote the dirty work that the candidates themselves want would automatically go to Fletcher. to steer clear of, lest their nice suits get soiled with Alas, San Diego’s not that evolved. For now, if the ugly taint. But we blame the candidates because you agree with our choice of Alvarez, make sure they don’t do enough to discourage the thuggery. everyone in your circles of likeminded friends, acThe worst offender, by far, is Republican City quaintances and family vote on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Councilmember Kevin Faulconer and his henchThere’s nothing else on this ballot, so the turnout men, the Lincoln Club of San Diego will be relatively low, and the successJoshua Emerson Smith County. The archconservative busiful candidates will be those who comness group has carpet-bombed San pel the most supporters to get to the Diego with non-issue hit-piece mailers polls and vote. Do it. Get active. against former state AssemblymemKinsee Morlan, back again ber Nathan Fletcher and cynically atKinsee Morlan just can’t stay away. Our tempted to prop up Democratic City former arts editor has agreed to rejoin Councilmember David Alvarez bethe CityBeat staff—for her third stint! cause it would rather have Faulconer We believe Kinsee is second to none in face Alvarez than Fletcher in a runSan Diego when it comes to reporting off. But Faulconer himself has also on visual arts, so we’re stoked that she been the most negative candidate, his said yes when we asked her to fill an spokesperson constantly jabbering David Alvarez open slot. We think she keeps coming about Fletcher’s lack of transparency— back because, every time she leaves, we tell you presumably because Faulconer can’t find a ton of all how awesome she is and how sorry we are to daylight between him and Fletcher on the issues, see her leave. Well, no more! Next time she bails: and assuredly because Faulconer’s terrified of gocrickets! Kinsee starts as our new arts editor— ing one-on-one against Fletcher. again—next week.

The American Federation of Teachers, on behalf Unfortunately, the reason there’s an open posiof Alvarez, has also been highly negative against tion is that Alex Zaragoza, one of our all-time faFletcher, but at least the union has stuck a bit closer vorite CityBeatniks, has decided to step away from to the candidate’s record on issues. Meanwhile, the her job as staff writer. Happily, she vows to continue Fletcher camp stayed mostly positive until recently, her monthly column, “There She Goz,” and write when the pro-Fletcher Neighborhood Market Asfeature stories on a freelance basis. Alex has been a sociation hit Alvarez, obviously fretting that Alvastaff writer since January 2013 and our events editor rez may have a shot at reaching a runoff. Faulconer before that, beginning in July 2011. She started freehas gotten a free ride because it’s assumed that, as lance writing for CityBeat in January of that year. the only Republican in a race with three Democrats Alex, who’s become an excellent arts-and-culture (Alvarez, Fletcher and former City Attorney Mike reporter in her own right, has been a constant posiAguirre), he’ll reach the runoff no matter what. tive force in our office, always funny, vibrant and full Several weeks ago, we announced our enof creativity. We’ll miss her a ton-and-a-half. dorsement of Alvarez because his progressivism will benefit the greatest number of San Diegans.

What do you think? Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

We wish San Diego would use the instant-runoffThis issue of CityBeat never reads CityBeat. It just looks at the nudie ads.

Volume 12 • Issue 14 Editor David Rolland Associate Editor Kelly Davis Music Editor Jeff Terich Staff Writers Alex Zaragoza, Joshua Emerson Smith Web Editor Ryan Bradford Art director Lindsey Voltoline Columnists Aaryn Belfer, Edwin Decker, John R. Lamb

Contributors Ian Cheesman, David L. Coddon, Seth Combs, Jeff “Turbo” Corrigan, Michael A. Gardiner, Glenn Heath Jr., Nina Sachdev Hoffmann, Peter Holslin, Dave Maass, Jenny Montgomery, Kinsee Morlan, Susan Myrland, Mina Riazi, Jim Ruland, Jen Van Tieghem, Quan Vu Intern Connie Thai Production Manager Tristan Whitehouse Production artist Rees Withrow MultiMedia Advertising Director Paulina Porter-Tapia Senior account executives Jason Noble, Nick Nappi

Cover design by Lindsey Voltoline Advertising Account Executive Beau Odom Circulation / Office Assistant Giovanna Tricoli Vice President of Finance Michael Nagami Human Resources Andrea Baker Accounting Alysia Chavez, Linda Lam, Monica MacCree

Advertising inquiries Interested in advertising?

Call 619-281-7526 or e-mail advertising@sdcitybeat.com. The advertising deadline is 5 p.m. every Friday for the following week’s issue.

Editorial and Advertising Office 3047 University Ave., Suite 202 San Diego, CA 92104 Phone: 619-281-7526 Fax: 619-281-5273 www.sdcitybeat.com

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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 2013.

4 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

Outrageous design The problem with the poorly designed new central library [“Editorial,” Oct. 2] is not that it lacks any cohesion, or that the materials and finishes are drab, or that it has now permanently scarred modern architecture in San Diego—the problem is that it anesthetizes the public into accepting mediocrity as triumph.

Rob Quigley and Tucker Sadler have managed to completely squander a project that was gifted to them and dump a nine-story adobe bomb shelter into the middle of the East Village. Anyone who advocated or fought for this library to be built should be outraged.

Jimmy Sullivan, Hillcrest

Zimmerman’s surreal rant It is deeply disappointing to read Frances O’Neill Zimmerman’s bizarrely misguided rant [“Letters,” Oct. 9] against the campaign of Donna Frye and others to expose the malignant misbehavior of former Mayor Bob Filner. Like Zimmerman, I was a strong Filner supporter and share her frustration with the damage he inflicted on progressive politics in San Diego. But get a grip! Frye & Co. did not “unseat a duly-elected mayor.” Filner destroyed himself.

It is surreal for Zimmerman to cite Frye for “hubris” or a “distorted sense of extra-legal personal power” to inflict “human wreckage.” Filner is the poster child for those traits! But it is worse, and stunningly callous toward Filner’s numerous female victims, for Zimmerman to falsely accuse Frye of “extra-legal” maneuvering. Frye exercised her constitutional rights to free speech and to invoke

6 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

the lawful machinery of our justice system, which will now adjudicate Filner’s conduct as it should.

Without Frye’s courageous efforts (at considerable cost and no conceivable gain for her), Filner’s victims might never have gotten their day in court.

Would Zimmerman prefer it that way?

Bryan H. Wildenthal, Point Loma

More information, please John R. Lamb had a good point in his “The transparency game” column of Nov. 6 [“Spin Cycle”]. He mentioned that Nathan Fletcher refused to release his college transcripts. He also mentioned that Kevin Faulconer’s past job experience is a bit of a mystery.

I just recently viewed the city of San Diego employment website. It seems that most jobs require people to submit their college degree(s) and transcripts. Everyone submits their work history when applying for jobs. They also submit job-related references. The same requirements are true for the county of San Diego.

How about making it a requirement for political candidates in the city and county of San Diego to provide at least as much information and history as job candidates? This should be done in writing when they submit their applications for candidacy, and it can be published for their prospective employers (the residents of San Diego) to review.

Lastly, how about also including a drug test?

Ronald Harris, Scripps Ranch

Kelly Davis

asking ‘When can you get out here and start helping us?’”

If Civic San Diego appears to be rushing, that’s because it is. The city-owned nonprofit will likely have to lay off members of its 30-person staff in about 18 months if it can’t find a new funding stream.

Until Gov. Jerry Brown dissolved redevelopment in 2011, the economic-development program helped revitalize blighted communities by allowing them to keep a greater portion of property-tax revenue and reinvest it to spur more development. When the state ended it, the city reassigned redevelopment staff, creating Civic San Diego to wind down its local agency and clean up its outstanding debt.

When that job is done, Civic San Diego will cease to exist. Or maybe not.

Earlier this year, Civic San Diego was awarded $35 million in new market tax credits, a federal program that gives private industry financial incentive to invest in low-income neighborhoods.

The credits, which can be lucrative for banks and other entities, drew the attention of Wells Fargo and Lowe Enterprises, a real-estate investment firm. Along with using the credits to fund transit villages, Civic San Diego staff proposed forming a separate $50-million investment pool with the two private companies.

With $5 million in unidentified equity, $35 million from Civic San Diego President Jeff Graham explains his proposal to spur development in working-class neighborhoods. Wells Fargo, and $10 million in its own tax credits, Civic San Diego could acquire income-producing commercial real estate, such as shopping centers. About $2.5 million or 25 percent of Civic San Diego’s tax credits would go to fund “community facilities.”

As the property owners, Civic San Diego could service support for the plan, which will go to the City Council the debt and pull in up to an additional $3 million in annual Civic San Diego at odds internally for approval. revenue from rent—money that could potentially sustain over community-investment plans “In a post-redevelopment world, we need to be as cre- current operating levels, Graham said.

“These are specifically cash-flow-generating assets ative and innovative as possible about making sure all our city’s neighborhoods reach their full potential,” he said. that are critical, community type of infrastructure that go

by Joshua Emerson Smith “I would also note that Civic San Diego has broad, if not to help support the mission of Civic,” said Albert Lemus, Civic San Diego, the agency created to wind down the city’s unanimous, support on the City Council.” senior vice president at Lowe Enterprises, which would redevelopment business, has a plan to stick around for a The plan would also give Civic San Diego, in consulta- structure the financial transactions. long time. It involves working-class neighborhoods, large tion with neighborhood planning groups, the authority to However, again board members were skeptical, expressbanks, developers and millions of dollars in tax credits. require site-specific community benefits, such as afford- ing concern that this idea also hadn’t been property fleshed Over the next few years, the plan could dramatically able housing or open space. out or explained to them. impact the neighborhoods of Encanto and City Heights “Why are we doing this?” asked Director Michael Jen“We’d work with the community to find out where by giving Civic San Diego wide discretion in those areas to would they like offices to go, where would they like res- kins at the board’s most recent meeting on Oct. 23. “Are plan development projects called “transit villages.” taurants and maybe an entertainment area to go,” he said. we just doing it for generating some cash flow, which we While the idea is not widely known, supporters say it “Where could a public park go with a plaza and public greatly need, or because we’re providing a benefit to the could help improve communities struggling with blight, parking underneath?” communities we’re intending to serve?” boost local nonprofits and create more pedestrian-friendAt the same meeting, Baxamusa proposed, unsuccessHowever, members of Civic San Diego’s board of direcly neighborhoods. tors recently raised concerns about taking over permitting fully, that the agency establish an official policy outlining “The challenge in these two neighborhoods is that the and planning authority from the city. the agency’s community goals. market fundamentals do not allow market-rate develop“I’m thinking about good jobs, affordable housing and “I just don’t feel that we took the time to vet the idea,” ment to work,” said Civic San Diego President Jeff Graham. Director Howard Blackson said community amenities,” he said.

“The rents and the sales prices are too low and the demand during a Sept. 25 board meet“We must be able to tie these in is too low to get private development to occur naturally on ing. “I really wish that I could to any funding stream that we “I don’t want to set a policy where its own without significant subsidy.” are proposing so that there is a hear from [city Planning Direcit appears like we’re asking for a To help lure developers and private investment to low- tor] Bill Fulton and the Planguaranteed performance with blank check from the city without income neighborhoods, Graham wants the city to allow ning Department’s direction. respect to community needs.”

Civic San Diego to plan and permit transit villages along El I don’t think he’s prepared for If the plan rolls out as Graactually talking or having them as Cajon Boulevard and Imperial Avenue. ham suggested, Civic San Dithis dialogue yet, either.” part of this conversation.”

As opposed to the traditional city permitting process, ego could turn out to be a huge At the same meeting, Direcwhich adheres to community plans—documents that go tor Murtaza Baxamusa asked boon for underserved commu—Murtaza Baxamusa through rigorous civic vetting before they’re approved—this that members of city staff atnities looking to combat blight proposal could ease certain requirements on developers. and increase community intend future meetings to help in“The plan provides exceptions-to-the-rule that aren’t form the board’s decision. “We would be better educated if vestment. If granted the permitting and planning authoroffered anywhere else in the city to encourage investment we had the city actually tell us what their position was,” he ity, the agency could streamline the development process, to come to that neighborhood and offer a greater level of said, “and we have not had that benefit. cutting through layers of bureaucratic red tape. predictability to the developer and the investor than what Or, as feared by some board members, without a clear “I don’t want to set a policy where it appears like we’re exists under a community plan,” Graham said. asking for a blank check from the city without actually talk- mission statement and the threat of financial collapse, CivFor these two neighborhoods, a public-private invest- ing or having them as part of this conversation,” he added. ic San Diego could waste that opportunity in favor of quick ment fund of up to $100 million would be generated from That request drew protest from Graham. “Do I need to and lucrative development deals that pay little attention to banks, developers, pension funds, insurance companies, get the entire City Council in here to tell the board what community needs. tax credits and grants. Graham said the city would not be their direction is? I have briefed every council member on responsible for any debt incurred by the project. this, and I have not received any opposition. I have briefed Write to joshuas@sdcitybeat.com Interim Mayor Todd Gloria expressed enthusiastic many, many communities groups on this, and they are all and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Redevelopment 2.0

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

spin cycle

john r.

lamb Running on fumes “All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.”

—James Thurber When next we meet on the pages of this fine publication in a town fast losing its independent journalistic voices to the shopaholic black hole that is Doug Manchester & Co., San Diego voters will know who’s made it into Round 2 of the mayor’s race, otherwise known as the Bob Filner Replace-a-thon.

If it’s Republican / shipyard darling Kevin Faulconer vs. friend-to-all-mirrors Nathan Fletcher, prepare for a cockfight between two eight-legged roosters. If it’s Faulconer vs. City Councilmember David Alvarez—aka “Who You Callin’ Baby

Face?”—anticipate cordial public encounters but a wicked, sharpknifed brawl behind the curtain for San Diego’s political destiny.

If it’s anybody against former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, hell hath indeed frozen over, so plan for a long winter’s night of riffs, yucks and homework assignments.

Don’t get Spin wrong. Aguirre is good copy for columnists who like a nimble turn of phrase—his evisceration of the Pete Wilsonbestowed “America’s Finest City” slogan at a forum Monday was pure blissful theater. But the dude’s barely polling a pulse, and his campaign of go-read-this-gowatch-this-video-check-out-my2005-interim-reports hints at a once-powerful elected official simply seeking renewed relevance.

So, seeing that this is the last Spin before the Nov. 19 special election, it seems like an appro-

8 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

priate time to get a few things off the proverbial chest about this abbreviated race.

First, for those now numbed into unconsciousness by the seeming continuous loop that election season has become, just try to tell Spin that this shortened version hasn’t given voters all the information they need to make an informed decision come Election Day. Why should these contests drone on for months and years? Who loses out except those professional electioneers whose bread is buttered by such timewasting endeavors?

To hell with you campaign consultants and pollsters and even those of us in the media bubble. Give voters a fourmonth sprint anytime, and Spin is almost certain that all the news that’s relevant about a candidate—if they live by their repeated claims of openness—will come to light.

Speaking of this openness kick, candidates should have an adequate handle on their own pasts to qualify for making claims of transparency.

As Aguirre noted in a recent forum, he didn’t think it was a big deal when Fletcher first flinched when asked to produce his school

John R. Lamb

transcripts from California Baptist University. While the other three top candidates released theirs amid some giggles about classes taken and, in some cases, failed, Fletcher stood firm in his recalcitrance, suggesting that the next request would be for his dental records.

Spin has seen Fletcher’s teeth in person—they seem remarkably healthy, free of any embarrassing revelations. But Aguirre noted that on the ballot, Fletcher, the former state Assembly member, chose to list “educator / businessman” as his occupation. Does that not open the door, Aguirre wondered in retrospect, to the public’s right to see Fletcher’s educational underpinnings, warts and all?

Camp Kevin’s constant drumbeat on Fletcher’s refusal to release his transcripts is clearly a political maneuver—no one believes Faulconer wants to compare academic chops from years ago with his most heated rival. But it does speak to one’s own comfort level in one’s own skin, and, in this case, it gives the appearance that Fletcher is thin-skinned, not a confidencebuilding trait for the leader of the eighth largest city in the nation.

Faulconer, meanwhile, seems to have trouble with memory, particularly when it involves his public-relations work prior to joining the San Diego City Council in 2006. Yes, he has spent the last seven years tending to a whole new constituency, but it’s troubling that details of his previous job efforts seem so elusive.

Thanks to the marvelous document hunters in the City Clerk’s office, Spin this week unearthed an old résumé from 2000, when Faulconer applied and was appointed to the city’s influential Park & Recreation Board.

In recent weeks, the Faul-

coner campaign has defended a PR client list it’s released as “complete with major clients he recalls,” as U-T San Diego’s dogged former Filner chaser, Trent Seibert, reported Friday. That list mentions five clients and a project: Sharp HealthCare, Associated Students of San Diego State University, the Convention Center expansion (no client mentioned but believed to be a consortium of business interests led by the local Chamber of Commerce), Francis W. Parker School, SeaWorld and the Port of San Diego.

But the 2000 document submitted by Faulconer also mentions PR work to “develop and implement communications strategies” for a company known then as Nextlink, a broadband-network company that has since been absorbed by Virginiabased XO Communications.

The résumé also notes that while working at Nelson Communications Group (eventually sold to national firm Porter Novelli), Faulconer provided “strategic oversight and management for firm ballot measure campaigns.” The document doesn’t specify which campaigns.

Spin provided a copy of the 2000 résumé to the Faulconer campaign for comment Tuesday but did not receive a response by press time.

Faulconer insists on the campaign trail that transparency will be a cornerstone of his administration, but having a faulty memory of his previous clients and the work he performed for them raises concerns.

When his campaign originally released his client list, it noted that “any additional documentation would belong to and be in the possession of Porter Novelli and/ or the clients. Kevin would encourage the company to release any client-related information upon request.”

The release included a local phone number for Porter Novelli.

When Spin called, a return call came the following day—from corporate headquarters in New York.

A spokesperson said she could only confirm that Faulconer had once been an employee but declined to provide any other details.

Faulconer said it best to KUSI: “If you can’t pass some of these very simple tests, how are voters going to trust you to do the right thing?”

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

edwin

sordid tales

decker The wonderfully absurd reasons chicks can’t be priests “This is just nonsense…. It is simply not a realistic a historically gynophobic institution than a virgin possibility,” said Vatican spokesperson Father Fedwho makes magic babies and has no administraerico Lombardi in response to reports that the Pope tive authority? might ordain two Irish women as cardinals.

And there you have it. Justo Nonsensicalis: an Just nonsense? Jeez. I can’t imagine what else apostolic letter that does an awful lot of wrighas to happen for Catholic women to recognize gling and reaching to justify the oldest bigotry in their institutionally inferior status—other than for the world—vagina-terror. I mean, seriously, half of the Vatican to come right out and say, “Now, look! these reasons are the same reason: “We do it beChicks are too moody to be in a position of aucause we always did it”—which is known as the arthority, so let it go already!” And if I were a good, gumentum ad antiquitatem fallacy and is only put church-going woman and heard some crotchety, forth by nincompoops. white-haired, hunched-over preacher refer to the As for their primary argument—that women concept of a female priest as “just nonsense,” I’d flip can’t be ordained because Jesus didn’t have any fehim the ba fungu and dunk my furry vagina in the males apostles—wow! That’s, like, 10 philosophical holy water on the way out the door. fallacies rolled into one. You’ve got argumentum ad To have or not to have female priests is a denauseam, argumentum e silentio, deus vult, petition bate that arises periodically within the Vatican, principia, onus probandi and, perhaps the most apbut the door was apparently shut on the possibilplicable fallacy, ignorantiam assumptiani de sexisto ity by Pope John Paul II in his 1994 apostolic letassholum papum. ter, Ordinatio Sacerdotalis—or, as I like to call it: OK, sure, Jesus didn’t have any female apostles.

Justo Nonsensicalis.

Jesus didn’t have any bald apostles, either. He Quoting from the scriptures (and other aposdidn’t have any black apostles. He didn’t have gay tolic letters), the pontiff provided a list of reasons apostles (there were some who doubted Thomas, but he was just effeminate). for the ban on women priests.

And he certainly didn’t have These are: any crotchety, white-haired, 1. “Priestly ordination has, It’d be one thing if the hunched-over halitosis-sufin the Catholic Church, always scriptures mentioned a fering apostles. Jesus’ peeps been reserved to men alone.” sign on the front door of were all young men, so maybe Translation: We can’t ordain old farts should be banned from women now because we never the Last Supper that the priesthood, as well? did it before. said, “No Gurls!”

The fact that Jesus only had 2. “[It has been] the consismale apostles is not proof that he tent practice of the Church….” wasn’t open to the idea any more Translation: We can’t ordain than the fact that I didn’t use the word “xylophone” women because we always ordain men. in this column means I have it out for xylophones.

3. “The example recorded in the Sacred ScripIt’s not like there’s any passages in the Bible suptures of Christ choosing his Apostles only from porting this theory. It’d be one thing if the scriptures among men….” mentioned a sign on the front door of the Last SupTranslation: We can’t ordain women because per that said, “No Gurls!” Or if the Bible had a pasChrist didn’t pick any chick apostles. sage like, “And Jesus passed the bread to his disciples 4. “The Apostles [chose only males to] succeed and said, ‘This is my body. Don’t share it with your them in their ministry.” bitches, yo. Bitches be whack!” And if that were JeTranslation: We must enforce a sexist ban on sus’ position, well, then screw Jesus. Guess he wasn’t women priests because the apostles had a sexist the altruistic warrior for the underdog everyone ban on women priests. thought he was. Not that I believe that.

5. “[T]he exclusion of women from the priesthood The fact that Jesus had only male apostles is is in accordance with God’s plan for his Church.” more likely because of women’s inferior status at Translation: Only males can be priests and only that time than an undercurrent of misogyny on his priests can be messengers of God, and we male part. Most of the women of his day were cooking priests say God’s message for the Church is that it be and cleaning for their husbands masters and too run by priests, who can only be males—so suck it. busy to apply for any apostle positions, which is 6. (My favorite) “Furthermore, the fact that the why following that argument with “And it’s always Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of been that way” is beyond fucked. the Church, [never received] the ministerial priestYeah, sure, it has always been that way. The hood clearly shows that the non-admission of womworld has always been misogynistic, sexist and bigen to priestly ordination… cannot be construed as a oted. That’s what we’re trying to change. discrimination against them.”

Translation: The fact that women cannot be Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com ordained is not a reason for them to feel discrimiand editor@sdcitybeat.com. nated against because the most revered woman in Listen to “Sordid Tales: The Podcast” the Church—the Virgin Mary—was never ordained. at sdcitybeat.com.

I guess it makes sense. What better symbol for

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

by michael a. gardiner Michael A. Gardiner

the saddle, the mark of good barbecue is the smoke ring on the meat. This pink outer layer results from a chemical reaction between the smoke and the meat during the long, slow, low-temperature cooking. Although there are cheats for smoke rings—meat tenderizers on the surface, for example—the presence of that rosy ring on tender and flavorful brisket is a sign it was done the right way: the old way.

Perhaps the best dish at Coop’s is the pork rib tips—a short, meaty part of the ribs attached to the lower end. It’s detached from the rest during the course of butchering and fabricating St. Louis-style ribs.

Where back or spare ribs have Rib tips with coleslaw and mac ’n’ cheese bones, the structure of rib tips is cartilage. They emerge from Coop’s pit juicy, tender and far meatier than ordinary pork ribs. They are sneaky good and positively addictive.

All of the barbecued meats at Coop’s come without an ounce of sauce. While Coop’s offers three sauces on the side—a sweet, a tangy and a spicy— Low and slow they are, rightly, surplus to requirements. This barbecue is about the meat, not the sauce; the magic of The black metal doors of the barbecue pit at spice rub, smoke, low heat and time provide plenty Coop’s West Texas Barbeque have the sort of of flavor. It seems vaguely immoral to mask that flapatina that suggests they have stories to tell. One vor with sauce. If you must use sauce, choose the imagines these stories are about men, like Brad spicy one, which is tangy with a hint of bite.

Cooper, who do things the old way, the right way, Of the sides, the best is the collard greens the only way they know how, men not entirely unbraised in a meaty, cabbage-infused broth, a nice like the cowboys who remain the iconic image of counterpoint to the meat. The slaw is not as good, the West Texas plains from whence Cooper hails. coming off as a shredded cabbage salad with The place to start at Coop’s (2625 Lemon Grove dressing on top rather than a true coleslaw. As for Ave. in Lemon Grove, coopsbbq.com) is beef bristhe baked beans: Pineapple? Really? ket, the West Texas barbecue classic. Only long, But Coop’s is not about the sides and not about slow cooking breaks down the tough connective the desserts (which are tasty if you have room). tissue that, in the absence of collarbones, is what In fact, Coop’s is not even about what comes out supports most of the bodyweight of cattle. In West of those big metal doors on the pit. Coop’s, at Texas, brisket is smoked over mesquite, either the end of the day, is about what goes into those alone or in combination with other hardwoods. doors. It is about time: cooking time, generations At Coop’s, it emerges from the pit breathtakingly of time, a different place and a different time and the ways handed down through that time. tender with a beautiful pink outer ring, offering both a deep smokiness and profound meatiness, Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com neither overpowering the other. and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

If the mark of a cowboy is how tall he sits in

the world

fare

10 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

Jen Van Tieghem

bottle

vors, I inquired about a blend from Sonoma. Our bartender told us the 2011 Stack House, made mostly with Merlot, would be a great choice.

We paired the bottle with a nicely crafted cheese plate and we were on our way. The wine had subtle berry qualities and a smooth finish.

Beyond the red door It went well with the mild cheeses, persimmon jam and toasted bread.

Most wine bars serve up a trendy atmosphere and Not an overly complex wine, the Stack House Jen Van Tieghem carefully crafted food alongside red seemed a good fit for much of their selections from the vines; The the menu at The Red Door, which Red Door Restaurant and Wine contains some elaborate-looking Bar (741 W. Washington St. in Misdishes. The wine list matches sion Hills, thereddoorsd.com) does that theme with lesser-known so in spades. From the vibrant entry, varietals from around the world. guests are welcomed as if arriving I have my eye on an Australian at a friend’s home—if your friend Syrah for next time. had fabulous taste and shopped at For dessert, I chose to pair a vintage boutiques. Intimate seating, Meyer lemon goat-cheese cheesewarm lighting and exposed brick cake with a Bouchaine late-harvest walls make the spot equal parts doChardonnay. My dessert was wellmicile and decorator’s dream. balanced, as was the drinkable My drinking pal and I picked counterpart. The wine offered a seats at the bar and were instantly smooth sweetness without being greeted by the friendly staff and overly syrupy, and the tang of the a Monday special on half-priced cheesecake matched it beautifully. bottles. We challenged ourselves With so much more to try, my to agree on just one wine—with friend and I already put a return The Chardonnay and trip on our calendar. about 50 options on the list, this the cheesecake was no easy task. It was a bit chilly Write to jenv@sdcitybeat.com out, so we narrowed our options to reds, and and editor@sdcitybeat.com. knowing my friend’s taste for less-hearty fla-

Rocket

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

by jenny montgomery Jenny montgomery

north

fork Food as connection

Exploring the dining scene in my hometown is quite fun. But it’s a job that takes some juggling.

Sometimes my plans for exploring new and exciting dining spots go awry; instead of sharing the experience with friends (paying their own way, of course) or even blissfully dining alone with a good book, more often than not my dining companion is my post-flu-shot, mid-tantrum toddler. So much for being Ruth Reichl in elaborate disguises.

Although my almost-2-year-old is a perfect child who never misbehaves or picks up food from restaurant floors and puts it in her mouth before I notice, you may be surprised to learn she’s not entirely an optimal dining companion.

With rare exceptions, my husband and friends don’t generally shout things like “Poop!” in crowded restaurants.

But this sometimes-frazzled method of eatery investigation occasionally allows for unexpected and special moments, reminding me that food is about connection, memory and sharing time with others. I had one of those experiences eating Thai food at Rim Talay in Oceanside.

I rolled into Rim Talay (508 Mission Ave,

12 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

rim-talay.com) laden with bags: my purse, the diaper bag, my bulky camera that I try to keep hidden (I review anonymously, after all). I was happy to see the dining room was sparsely populated this particular afternoon, enough so that the inevitable noise and mess made by my clumsy companion wouldn’t ruin too many lunches.

This is a tiny little place that I’ve passed dozens of times. We were warmly welcomed, and despite the initial wary glance one generally gets when bringing in a toddler, the staff quickly began to charm and delight Someone’s hiding. little Miss Stranger Danger as I checked out the food.

There are no surprises on the menu; this is tasty, accessible Thai food. The green papaya salad is a crunchy, spicy way to start a meal. I could do without the mushy, out-of-season tomatoes, but the rest of the salad was a refreshing balance of sweet and sour.

Keeping with the green theme, I dived into a bowl of green curry. The stew was creamy and layered, with just enough heat to warm my fingertips on a cloudy day near the ocean.

I have a thing for phad see-ew. I can’t get enough of the starchy, borderline-gummy flat noodles. I’ll shovel them into my mouth even when I’m an old lady with no teeth. Rim Talay’s version is familiar and comforting—piping hot, with tender bits of chicken (or another protein of your choice) and bright, blanched vegetables.

My hungry, little child surprised me that day. I watched her shovel bits of crunchy broccoli into her mouth, her aversion to anything green suddenly gone. She was unfazed by the spice in the papaya salad, and she quickly learned to say “Papaya!” to the delight of Rim Talay’s staff.

I expected to feel impatient. I expected a lot of Cheerios on the floor and a bad attitude from everyone by the time the meal was over. Instead, I learned my little one just might be a foodie in the making. And, at the very least, we shared a happy and delicious meal.

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

no life

offline

by dave maass

The tangled web of campaign tracking For this week’s column, I had a grand plan to give snarky reviews of all the major San Diego mayoral candidates’ campaign websites. I was going to crack jokes about how Nathan Fletcher’s site isn’t as impressive the second time around, how Mike Aguirre’s site looks like it was designed in 2005 and how Kevin Faulconer won’t win the youth vote with his condescending video contest for “San Diego’s millennials.”

But after about five minutes of surfing, I realized there was a much more serious issue to address. None of the major candidates—Faulconer, Fletcher, Aguirre and David Alvarez—have privacy policies on their websites. Each candidate desperately wants your information. They want you to give them your name, home address, email address, cell phone number and, most importantly, your money—and therefore your credit-card numbers. Yet, they won’t disclose to what extent they will share that information with third parties.

Contact lists are profitable commodities, particularly for political marketing firms such as Response Unlimited and eTargetMedia. Allied campaigns will also often share lists with each other to create detailed profiles of voters and donors.

The more data they have, the more precisely they can carpet bomb you with direct mail, email spam and robocalls.

Under California’s Online Privacy Protection Act, a commercial website that collects identifiable personal data from California residents must publish a privacy policy addressing the types of information it collects from consumers and the third parties with whom it may share the information. Even though campaign websites engage in monetary transactions, they do not seem to be subject to the act. It’s a loophole in the law—the

sites may not be commercial in themselves, but your data is still ending up in the hands of commercial third parties.

Recently, Mozilla introduced Lightbeam, a tool for Firefox browsers that allows you to analyze and visualize how you’re being tracked across the Internet. It’s not unlike those black lights CSIs use to scan a hotel room, but instead of revealing semen stains or blood spatter, Lightbeam reveals all the third-party services you’re unwittingly connecting to as you surf.

I turned it on and started browsing the official campaign sites; within minutes, I had connected to almost two-dozen third-party sites. Kevin Faulconer.com and MikeforMayor.net each connected me to six third parties, while NathanFletcher.com connected me to four—mostly the ubiquitous social-media services it’s near impossible to avoid on the Internet, such as Facebook, Google and Twitter. However, Fletcher’s site did link to a webtracker called Focal Beam, while Faulconer’s site linked me to Capitol Tech Solutions.

Then I visited AlvarezforMayor.com, and suddenly the visualization became an ugly, tangled yarn ball of web tracking. Alvarez’s website connected me to as many as 16 different third-party sites, including several dubious web-analytics services.

Hovering next to Alvarez like a shadowy second moon was a site called NationBuilder.com, which Alvarez connected me to directly when I clicked his “Donate” button. NationBuilder in turn connected to at least 11 third-party sites.

NationBuilder’s list of services include building extremely detailed “dynamic profiles” of anyone who engages with the website, matching email addresses to social-media accounts, and then using whatever data they amass—including voter records and geographical information—to customize how potential supporters should be Dave Maass targeted. NationBuilder does have a privacy policy, but it’s geared toward the campaign that uses the service, not the supporters whose data is being collected. NationBuilder claims it won’t rent or sell identifiable personal information, but it leaves open the possibility that they may unload the data as a “business asset” at some point.

That’s exactly the sort of information Alvarez needs to explain to his supporters. Maybe it’s worth amending the law to require campaign websites to post privacy policies, but, in the meantime, responsible candidates should voluntarily disclose this information, just as they have disclosed their calendars and school transcripts.

In fact, all the mayoral candidates are championing transparency in government, but none are exhibiting transparency with how they use your data.

And that’s a problem worth tracking.

Write to davem@sdcitybeat.com The election, as visualized by Lightbeam and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

the

SHORTlist

ART

COORDINATED BY ALEX ZARAGOZA

DENNIS ANDERSEN

long ago. At one point, Flack blurted out that Berkley Hart should re-create The Last Waltz, The Band’s farewell concert, filmed by Martin Scorsese. The concert, coupled with the subsequent 1978 documentary that came from it, is considered an iconic piece of rock ’n’ roll history.

Berkeley Hart ran with the idea, calling it a “no-brainer,” and will perform The Last Waltz—Live! at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Poway Center for the Performing Arts (15498 Espola Road).

“Since I’ve been a kid, it’s been one of my favorite records and movies of all time,” Berkley says. “For everyone in the show, this goes back to when we were kids in our bedrooms playing guitar or drums or singing by ourselves, or learning about songwriting. This is what we used to picture ourselves doing, playing these songs. This is what the show’s been about, us getting to be Jeff Berkley (left) and Calman Hart our idols for a night.”

Berkley Hart will be joined on stage by classic-rock tribute band Back to the Garden, along with a huge lineup of special guests, includSome great ideas come from a night of ing Marc Ford (The Black Crowes), Sue Palmer, drunkenness with friends. The challenge Stevie Harris (The Styletones) and many others. is to take one of those ideas and make it a Together, they’ll play the definitive songs from The reality—unless it involves kidnapping a llama from a Last Waltz, including “The Weight,” “The Night circus. We’re looking at you, drunken French dudes. They Drove Old Dixie Down” and Berkley’s perMusicians Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart, mem- sonal favorite, “Up on Cripple Creek.” bers of the folk duo Berkley Hart, were drinking whis“We have a lot of folks in San Diego that have key with their friend, songwriter Tim Flack, not too been really loyal to us,” Berkley says. “We feel like we want to give them a good show or something new and fun.”

Tickets are $22-$42 and can be purchased at Ping pong, booze, live music and art. The powayarts.org.

Thursday Night Thing brings a night of high culture, San Diego-style, to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s DownMost of y’all are probably too young town location (1001 Kettner Blvd.). From 7 to 10 to remember the Egyptian Theatre on p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, the event will feature Mike Park Boulevard in Hillcrest. Opened in Berg’s large, woven kilims rugs. Living in Turkey, Berg works with artisans to create textiles with ab- 1926 as one of San Distract design. Brazil- ego’s first “luxury” ian conceptual artist movie houses, the Nelson Leirner will theater’s Egyptian show work that uses -influenced art-depop-culture objects co architecture inand found kitsch to spired other buildcreate sculpture and ings on the block. In collage that critique a nod to that history, art and politics. As the area’s recently part of Leirner’s been dubbed the work, guests can Egyptian Quarter. To sign up for a ping celebrate, on Thurspong tournament, as day, Nov. 14, head to Elizabeth Taylor well as feast on food Park, between Unifrom MIHO Gas- versity and Robinson avenues, for Egyptian Batrotruck, sip vodka zaar & Movie Night. The bazaar, featuring vintage cocktails and listen clothing, retro furniture and accessories and live to live music, in- art, kicks off at 5 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., catch a showcluding locals Fam- ing of Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor, which ily Wagon. Admis- will be screened in the parking lot (bring your own sion is $10, $8 for chair or blanket) between Numbers and Heat Bar & Kitchen. facebook.com/EgyptianQuarter ”Kilim 3” by Mike Berg students.mcasd.org

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TAKE A LOAD OFF, FANNY

THE THING

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14 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

FIT FOR A PHARAOH

HThursday Night Thing at MCASD Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd. TNT returns for the premiere of the exhibition In the Seance Room: Acquisition Highlights from 2003-2013 and celebrate new work from Mike Berg and an installation by Nelson Leirner. Evening includes live music from Family Wagon, cocktails beer and activities inspired by the art including a ping-pong tournament. From 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. $8-$10. 858-454-3541, mcasd.org Lisa Glauer at Experimental Drawing Studio, Rm. 202, SME Building, UCSD campus, La Jolla. Glauer uses human milk as her drawing material for her “(In)visibilities at the Edges: Contaminated Milk as Invisible Ink” series. At this reception and discussion, she’ll use human milk purchased online in San Diego and technological imagery from the border area to create new “invisible” drawings. From 5 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 14. visarts.ucsd.edu HMike Berg at MCASD Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd. Berg works with master artisans in Istanbul to create large textiles infused with the spirit of both abstract expressionist oil paintings and traditional central Asian textile art. On view through Feb. 23. Opens Thursday, Nov. 14. $5$10. 858-454-3541, mcasd.org HIn the Seance Room: Acquisition Highlights from 2003-2013 at MCASD Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd. Select MCASD acquisitions made between 2003 and 2013. Artists include Jeremy Blake, Anne Collier, Nan Goldin, Felix GonzalesTorres, Matt Mullican, Catherine Opie, Joel Otterson, Steve Roden, Taryn Simon, and Andrea Zittel. On display thru Feb 23.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. $5-$10. 858-454-3541, mcasd.org HTPG2 Grand Opening at TPG2, 1475 University Ave., Hillcrest. Grand opening reception for Thumbprint Gallery’s new second space. The debut will feature pieces by more than 50 artists. From 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. 619-203-6030, thumbprintgallerysd.com HPost Pop at Low Gallery, 3778 30th St., North Park. New exhibit featuring the work of abstract painter Sean Brannan, whose paintings depict concentric circles in sharply contrasting chroma, and Jonathan Entler, who’ll showcase sculptural light fixtures. From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. 619-348-5517, lowgallerysd.com HGuts Behind the Glamour at Women’s Museum of California, 2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16, Point Loma. This exhibit includes hundreds of compacts, clothing, furs, hats, and gloves from the golden age of glamour, as well as original drawings from iconic costumer Edith Head. On view through Feb. 2. Opening reception at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. $3$5. 619-233-7963, womensmuseumca.org Remnants of the Future / Plans for the Past at UCSD Art Gallery, Mandeville Center, La Jolla. Breakfast reception and the premiere of Uriel Orlow’s new exhibition of modular, multimedia installations that focus on locations and micro-histories. Part of UCSD’s ongoing Timing is Everything series. At 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15. uag.ucsd.edu HI Eat People at Space 4 Art, 325 15th St., East Village. Monstrous creature art from kids ages 3-13. All mediums will be represented, as long as it sticks to the theme of interpreting what that child thinks a monster represents. From 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. 619-269-7230, sdspace4art.org HObject Object!: A Selection of Smaller Works at Helmuth Projects, 1827 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Works by 71 artists. All exhibited works will not exceed 10 inches in any direction and will be

priced between $100-$300. From 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. Free. 619-2656842, helmuth-projects.com HAllison Wiese at Space 4 Art, 325 15th St., East Village. Opening reception for Wiese’s new Road Movie exhibition, based in sculpture and video and documenting the final leg of a passage across the U.S. From 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. 619-269-7230, sdspace4art.org Hoover High School’s Humble Happening at ArtLab Studios, 3536 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. A group art show featuring artwork created by Hoover High students exploring methods in reusing “humble” materials, such as cardboard, rocks and twigs, that could easily be labeled as garbage. From 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. 619-283-1199, ext.115, artlabca.com Double Exposure at Canvas Gallery, 1150 Seventh Ave., Downtown. New photographic works by Leo Docuyanan and Mike Sumoto, both of whom offer several perspectives of the urban landscape. From 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. 619-519-7084, facebook.com/ events/489753977799568 The All American Art Show at 57 Degrees Wine Bar, 1735 Hancock St., Middletown, Midtown. A multimedia art show representing all of the Americas (North, South and Central) and featuring work from Rich Walker, Juan Cuyutupa, Bebe Brookman and more. From 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. 619-234-5757, facebook. com/events/562993750446970 HContemporary Landscape Photography: An International Perspective at Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Opening reception for the exhibition that offers museum visitors a global/international perspective on the landscape. On view through Feb. 9. From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. $5-$10.

760-435-3720, oma-online.org HUrban Entropy: James Enos at Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. An exhibition of Enos’ sculptures, drawings and socially programmable architectural structures exploring the invisible side of our landscape.

On view through Feb. 2. From 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 16. $10. 760-435-3720, oma-online.org The Artist’s Mentor at Hyde Art Gallery, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon.

Reception for the drawing and printing exhibition by art professors Manny Farber and Patricia Patterson and three of their former students from the late 1970s to early 1980s. From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19. Free. 619-644-7299, grossmont.edu/artgallery Exhibition Walk and Talk with Doug Simay at Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. The former gallery owner and avid art collector will take attendees through the current exhibition Outside: Selections from the Doug Simay Collection. From 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 19. $10. oma-online.org

BOOKS Scott Lynch at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. Lynch will sign and discuss his new addition to the Locke Lamora and the Gentleman Bastard Sequence, The Republic of Thieves. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13.

858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Len Martini at Upstart Crow, 835 West Harbor Drive, Seaport Village. The local author will sign and discuss Ice X-86: Freezing the Cold War, which details the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

real life events that took place on this top-secret mission in the Arctic. At 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 14. Free. 619-232-4855, upstartcrowtrading.com F. Paul Wilson at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. Wilson will sign the newest edition of his Young Repairman Jack series, Dark City. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Jenny Feldon at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The popular blogger responsible for Karma (continued...) will discuss and sign her memoir Karma Gone Bad: How I Learned to Love Mangos, Bollywood and Water Buffalo. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. 858-4540347, warwicks.indiebound.com CJ Lyons at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The bestselling thriller author signs her first work for young adults, Broken. At 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. 858-2684747, mystgalaxy.com Anita Shaw at Unicorn Books and Gifts, 738 Main St., Ramona. Book signing and art show for Shaw’s new coffee-table

book, Always Flowers. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. 760-788-3700, unicornbooksandgifts.com Robert Lacosta at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. A meet-andgreet from the author of Gamaliel’s Advice: Taking Down God, an atheism vs. faith drama based on true events surrounding the Mt. Soledad War Memorial.

At noon Saturday, Nov. 16. 858-4540347, warwicks.com Richard Lederer at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. Lederer will discuss his foray into crossword puzzles, The Big Book of Word Play Crosswords: 100 Unique & Challenging Puzzles for Word Play Lovers.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. 858-2684747, mystgalaxy.com Joanna Brooks at New Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. The professor and chairperson of the English Department at SDSU will discuss her new book Why We Left: Untold Songs and Stories of America’s First Immigrants. At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18. 619-236-5800, sandiegolibrary.org

Newt and Callista Gingrich at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Former Speaker of the House and his third wife will be signing copies of their respective books (Breakout by Newt and the children’s book, Yankee Doodle Dandy, from Callista). At 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Purchase of one or both books required.

858-454-0347, warwicks.indiebound.com Jolee Pink at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Meet, greet and signing with the author of Living Coastal: Inspirations for Entertaining, Decorating and Cooking California Style, Chefs Bernard Guillas of The Marine Room and Tim Johnson of Zenbu provide bites and drinks from Venom Vodka. At 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 20. 619-276-8411, facebook.com/WabisabiGreen/events

COMEDY Bobby Lee at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. A native of San Diego, Lee performed stand-up on The Tonight Show on his way to becoming a regular on MADtv. At 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, and 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. on

THEATER Moxie’s Skinless melds past and present COURTESY: MOXIE THEATRE

Picture a human being completely devoid of skin— a walking, breathing mass of viscera and bone, something like those anatomical figures you see in science textbooks or on the otherwise sterile walls of doctors’ offices. Zinnia Wells, the haunted heroine of Skinless—Johnna Adams’ new play now on stage at Moxie Theatre under the direction of Delicia Turner Sonnenberg—writes about these frightening creatures in her novel-in-progress, and she sees them, as alive as the moonless night, in the forest beyond her dysfunctional home.

This is half the premise of Skinless. The other, dialectical half is a philosophical contretemps between Emmi, a graduate student in women’s studies, and dissertation director Sylvia Diaz. At stake is the definition and, to their way of thinking, the future of feminism. The connective thread is Emmi’s fascination with the late, under-regarded writer Wells, around whose life she pines to do her academic research. No dice, says Sylvia, dismissing Wells as a forgettable crafter of horror whose immortalizing in a university library would do nothing to further the feminist fight.

Playwright Adams is an intelligent, prodigious wordsmith, and it’s that talent that compensates for the deficiency in theatricality in Skinless, which finds Zinnia (an otherworldly Jo Anne Glover) reading aloud from her book much of the time. In addition, the office showdowns between Emmi (Anna Rebek) and Sylvia (Rhona Gold) are longer on polemics than on drama, but the questions they raise—about women, about power, about identity—are worthy ones.

The set is literally divided in two: the bookish university office of the present on the left, the front porch of the house of Zinnia, her sisters and her unseen bedridden mother on the right. Lurking in the darkness of the siblings’ collective imagination are the skinless people. There’s no definitive answer as to who they are. One possibility, we learn as a horrific family secret is revealed, is a shocking one.

Skinless should rely more on atmosphere and timely silences, each in their way more eloquent than the pages of a novel or the platitudes of

16 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

Jo Anne Glover (left) and Lisel Gorell-Getz academia.

The play runs through Dec. 8 at Moxie Theatre in Rolando. $27. moxietheatre.com

—David L. Coddon Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: This’ll be the 16th year that the green one will slink onto the stage at The Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park. “Fah Who Doraze,” indeed.

Opens Nov. 16. oldglobe.org Evita: The life and times of Eva Perón, who rose to power as the first lady of Argentina, set to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Presented by Broadway San Diego, it runs Nov. 12 through 17 at the Civic Theatre, Downtown. broadwaysd.com The Laramie Project: The theatrical reaction to the 1998 hate-motivated murder of gay teen Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyo. Opens Nov. 15 in the Don Powell Theatre at SDSU. theatre.sdsu.edu Little Shop of Horrors: A meek flower-shop employee nurtures a mysterious plant that becomes a human-devouring monster. Music! Death! Fun! Presented by Pickwick Players, it opens Nov. 15 at Off Broadway Live in Santee. pickwickplayers.net The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window: A struggling writer and his struggling-actor wife deal with their problematic marriage amid politics and personal anguish in Greenwich Village.

Opens Nov. 15 at the Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre at UCSD. theatre.ucsd.edu

For full listings, please visit “T heater ” at sdcit yb eat.com

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16. $26.

619-795-3858, americancomedyco.com Paul Ogata at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. Winner of the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition. At 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16. $20. 619-702-6666, madhousecomedyclub.com Jason Collings at Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St., La Jolla. The Jay Leno and Comic View vet brings his observational and highly conversational trademark comedy to La Jolla. At 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16. $20. 858-4549176, lajolla.thecomedystore.com Whitney Cummings at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Stand-up performance from the co-writer and cocreator of 2 Broke Girls. At 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. $32.50-$42.60. 619-5701100, sandiegotheatres.org

DANCE HMalashock/RAW4 at Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, Downtown. The return of the dynamic series featuring all new choreography by John Malashock and guest choreographers Michael Mizerany and Andy Noble. At 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday Nov. 14-15. $25-$45.

619-544-1000, lyceumevents.org Carnival of the Animals at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown. San Diego Zoo Global joins the Classics Philharmonic and Malashock Dance for a fresh look at Saint-Seans’ famous Carnival of the Animals. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. $12$20. 619-570-1100, classics4kids.com

FOOD & DRINK A Night in Baja at Ortega’s Mexican Restaurant, 141 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Join Ortega’s and other local sponsors in supporting the efforts of the Corazon de Vida Foundation to end the cycle of child homelessness in Baja. Enjoy live music, silent auctions and Ortega’s Baja-inspired buffet, drinks and desserts. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. $40-$50.

949-476-1144, bajanov14.eventbrite.com San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival at San Diego Bay, Downtown. The sevenday epicurean experience celebrates San Diego’s fresh and flavorful food and drink scene with over 20 citywide events, celebrity chefs, wine and cooking classes, chef dinners, a 5K/10K race, and multiple tasting events throughout the week. See website for full list of events and venues. See website for schedule. Monday through Sunday, Nov. 18-24. $45-$550.

6196998222, sandiegowineclassic.com

HOLIDAY EVENTS Old Globe Christmas Tree Lighting at Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park. The eighth annual lighting kicks off the holiday season and is in conjunction with the opening of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Free, but RSVP required at 619-234-5623 or Tickets@TheOldGlobe.org. At 6 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 17. TheOldGlobe.org

MUSIC Clandestina Diana Aversa at Ducky Waddle’s Emporium, 414 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas. A rare solo appearance from the musician, who plays San Jarocho, the regional folk music style of Veracruz plus traditional folk songs from Chile

and Portugal performed on the Jarana, a guitar shaped fretted instrument similar to the ukulele. At 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. $5 suggested donation. 760-632-0488, duckywaddles.com SDSU Opera - Grand Night! at Smith Recital Hall, 5500 Campanile Drive, College Area. SDSU School of Music and Dance presents a celebration of grand opera and the golden age of musical theater. At 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. $12-$18.

619-594-6031, music.sdsu.edu Meccorre Quartet at Conrad Prebys Music Center, UCSD campus, La Jolla. A young, outstanding chamber ensemble with some of Europe’s most celebrated string players, the quartet incorporates elements of jazz and literature into its programs. At 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. $36$54. 858-534-8497, artpwr.com George Winston at La Paloma Theater, 471 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Escondido. One of the most recognized solo pianists in the world, the legendary musician performs old favorites as well as selections from 2012’s Gulf Coast Blues & Impressions 2. At 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16. $35. 760-436-7469, lapalomatheatre.com HMark Boyce, Joanie Mendenhall, and Trent Hancock at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla.

The fall “Acoustic Evenings” series concludes with local performers Boyce (funk, soul and cool jazz), Mendenhall (acoustic singer-songwriter), and Hancock (Beatles-inspired pop) performing together and solo. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. $12-$17. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org HThe Last Waltz at Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway. Berkley Hart and Back to the Garden recreate the legendary concert from The Band live on stage, aided by some of San Diego’s finest folk, rock and blues musicians. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. $13$42. 858-748-0505, powayarts.org Taikopalooza at World Beat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd., Balboa Park. The Taiko Japanese drumming groups from San Diego County get together under one roof for a concert. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. $10-$15.

619-230-1190, worldbeatcenter.org Siegel/Torok at MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. MiraCosta College music faculty members Dan Siegel and Steve Torok present an exciting evening of high energy jazz. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. $8-$10.

760-435-3065, miracosta.edu/events.html San Diego Youth Symphony Faculty Concert at Casa Del Prado, Balboa Park. San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory’s first faculty concert of the year featuring selections from Beethoven, Bach, Piazzolla, Bruch and Steve Reich.

At 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. Free. 2333232, sdys.org Anishka and Maria at Sunset Temple, 3911 Kansas St., North Park. The talented voice/piano duo will present a unique program of arias and art song in a unique cabaret-like setting complete with libations, small plates and selections from Wagner, Verdi and more. At 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. $10-$15. 619-795-3630, facebook.com/events/597939663594069 HBach Collegium San Diego at New Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. The local ensemble will present instrumental and vocal music composed

by Bach. At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17.

Free. 619-236-5800, bachcollegiumsd.org

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

HArt of Elan at Lux Art Institute, 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. The chamber music ensemble returns to Lux for two colorful performances that coincide with the residency of artist Melora Kuhn. Features music by Villa-Lobos, Corigliano and Prokofiev, as well as an assortment of Armenian folk songs. Mingle with the musicians and the artist at a pre-concert reception.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20. $30-$40. 760-436-6611, luxartinstitute.org HThe Boston Pops at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. The legendary Boston Pops with conductor Keith Lockhart perform a diverse selection of music including Dvorak’s “Largo from the New World Symphony,” Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” and Williams Hedwig’s “Theme from Harry Potter”. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20. $27-$97.

619-235-0804, ljms.org

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Ofelia Zepeda at SDSU Library, 5500 Campanile Drive, College Area, College Area. The editor of Sun Tracks, a book series containing works by Native American artists and writers, will read new works. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. Free. 619594-4991, library.sdsu.edu HHidden Gems Showcase at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. So Say We All’s showcase of new and emerging writers that they discovered through programs with libraries, community colleges, veterans groups, homeless shelters, and more. From 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. $10-$15, sosayweallonline.com Tellabration at Chalice Universalist Unitarian, 2324 Miller Ave., Escondido.

A gathering of celebrated storytellers including Aunt Li-Anne, Charles Johnson, Marilyn McPhie, Mary Holma, Cynthia Griffin and more. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 16. $15. 760-737-0393, storytellersofsandiego.org

POLITICS & COMMUNITY Dr. William B. Quandt at SDSU Physical Sciences, 5500 Campanile Drive, College Area. The former member of Nixon’s and Carter’s National Security Council and author of multiple books on diplomacy will discuss “The Prospects for Peace in the Holy Land.” In room 130. From 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19. Free. hostler.iwa. sdsu.edu/events.html

SPECIAL EVENTS HLux@Night Designer Showcase at Lux Art Institute, 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. Enjoy beer, wine, light nibbles and shopping with jewelry designer Sophia & Chloe. And, of course, check out art from artist-in-residence Melora Kuhn.

From 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. $5. 760-436-6611, luxartinstitute.org HEgyptian Bazaar & Movie Night at The Lot at 3811 Park Blvd., Hillcrest. A movie night and sidewalk pop-up sale in the recently established Egyptian Quarter. Shop for unique items in the bazaar, munch on snacks from Heat Bar & Kitchen, and stick around for a screening of Cleopatra at 6:30. At 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. facebook.com/EgyptianQuarter Masquerade for Mankind at Mission Beach Women’s Club, 840 Santa Clara Place, Mission Beach. A masqueradethemed charity party to help raise money for Charity World, a San Diego based nonprofit with the mission to improve the qual-

18 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

“Orange Response Curve” by Sean Brannan will be on view in Post Pop, opening with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Low Gallery (3778 30th St. in North Park). ity of life for poor, distressed and underprivileged people around the world. From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. $45. 858488-2628, charityworld.eventbrite.com Del Mar Antique Show at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Antiques, vintage collectibles and decorator items as well as all types of glass, pottery, paper ephemera, crystal, jewelry, art, silver, Americana, primitives, American & European furniture and more from over 250 dealers. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. $8. 800-943-7501, calendarshows.com Healing Hearts Fundraiser at Rose Gallery, 6501 Linda Vista Road, Linda Vista. Enjoy a silent auction, food, youth arts and crafts activities, live music and more to help raise money for ARTS | A Reason To Survive, a local non-profit organization that provides arts programs for youth facing adversity. From 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. areasontosurvive.org Superstars of Rupaul’s Drag Race at Hotel Palomar, 1047 Fifth Ave., Downtown.

Top drag superstars like Lady Bunny, BeBeZahara Benet and Raja will perform at this charity event for Mama’s Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides support for people living with cancer and AIDS. Alexander Salazar Fine Art will be displaying a popup art gallery and cocktails by Belvedere Red vodka will be available for guests.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. $40$50. 619-515-3000, mamaskitchen.org HObjects USA Garage Sale at Ronis Fine Arts, 1946 Broadway, Golden Hill. Objects USA, an online gallery and resource for midcentury art and design, presents a $99-and-under sale of curios, vintage trinkets and midcentury bric-a-brac. At 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 15, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 16. objectsusa.com Autism Speaks Walk at Liberty Station, Roosevelt & Cushing, Point Loma. Fundraiser for autism research. At 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. 909-706-8525, walknowforautismspeaks.org/sandiego Alleycat Benefit at Pioneer Park, 1521 Washington Place, Mission Hills. Awarewolfs celebrate the third anniversary of their full moon bike rides with a 15 mile, daytime charity ride culminating at the Blind Lady Ale House for an after party to support the Cancer Angels. At 2 p.m. Sun-

day, Nov. 17. $5. theawarewolfs.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Founders Symposium at Price Center Ballroom, UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Wonder how research happening at UCSD translates into real-world benefits?

Check out short, interactive presentations by faculty and grad students who are taking creative approaches to solving some of society’s most pressing challenges. From 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. Free. 858246-0809, founders.ucsd.edu/symposium Dr. John Marciari at James S. Copley Auditorium, San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park. Marciari returns to discuss recent discoveries and recoveries made while conserving work from SDMA’s permanent collection. At 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15. $8-$16. 619-232-7931, sdmart.org Jim and Drew Hubbell at NewSchool of Architecture & Design, 1249 F St., Downtown. The father and son, artist and architect duo will discuss Art in the Service of Peace: The Pacific Rim Parks, 1992-2013.

From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. Free. sdarchitecture.org Cookbooks and the Women Who Wrote Them at New Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., East Village. A talk by Arlyn Hackett, award-winning chef, teacher, cookbook author and “foodstorian.” At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. Free. 619544-9896, chssandiego.com

WORKSHOPS Chairs, Chairs, Chairs! at Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park. In celebration of Mingei’s Please Be Seated exhibition, enjoy a family friendly artist demo by Gustaf Rooth from Planet Rooth Design Haus. Attendees can create their own chair using natural and recycled materials and enjoy the music Camarada. From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. $5. 619-2390003, mingei.org

For full listings,

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

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

The seven-headed

serpent monster

San Diego’s alternative art spaces rise, fall and rise again • by Susan Myrland here’s no sign of a gallery from the sidewalk on Seventh Avenue, Downtown, as a crowd walks past a yoga studio and down an unmarked flight of stairs. Well below street level, more people are gathered for an art opening. Even though the room is large, low ceilings and poor ventilation make it slightly claustrophobic, but no one seems to notice.

A shattered mirror, flanked by bathroom cabinets, dominates one wall. Empty prescription-medicine bottles line one of the white cabinets, while bottles marked with the names of marijuana strains sit on the other. The crowd stares, apparently fascinated by water flowing through plastic tubes that lead from the wall to a series of jugs holding plants.

It’s called “Your Better Self,” and it’s an art installation built by brother-and-sister team Alexander and Savannah Jarman. An installation, Savannah explains, is a sculpture that people can walk into, “creating an experience and emotions rather than a work for people to stand back and look at.”

The setting is Canvas Gallery, which changed hands earlier this year after launching in 2011 as Zepf Alt Gallery. The space is one of only a handful of locations around the city where artists can show their work without the pressures of a commercial gallery.

However, these spaces often have a limited lifecycle. The last 12 months saw the closure of Double Break, Garage 4141, Habitat House, Periscope Project and Sala de Espera. The influential Agitprop closed its

T

Carlos Rivas

Exterior of Helmuth Projects during the opening reception for Phantom Gardens Fortified Cities (monuments) by Robert Andrade and Timothy Earl Neill

20 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

North Park location and is revising its mission. And experimental project Art Boxed did not return for a second year.

“All the greatest galleries that I’ve ever loved have lasted less than five years,” said Dan Allen, the new owner of Canvas Gallery. “I’ve seen so many places come and go in San Diego, and I really didn’t want to lose this place.

“There’s a lot of forward-thinking people that can do interesting work if they’re given the space to do it,” Allen added.

Call them “alternative,” “experimental” or “nontraditional,” these spaces are an essential part of an art ecosystem. They are the testing ground where young artists gain traction and established artists try out new concepts.

The fluctuating nature of alternative art spaces is “regretful but understandable,” says Alexander Jarman, who is also public programs manager at the San Diego Museum of Art. He compares nontraditional art spaces to the Hydra of Greek mythology.

“They’re like a seven-headed serpent monster. You can cut one head off and the next one will grow right back in its place.”

Barrio Logan’s Bread & Salt is one of the newcomers. James Brown is two years into his renovation of a century-old, 43,000square-foot building that once housed a commercial bakery. Brown and his investors have bold plans for artists’ studios, housing, a café, community garden and multiple galleries.

Art Pulse moved in this fall, opening its gallery on Nov. 7. The San Diego Museum of Art operates an “Open Spaces” program with artist-in-residence Roberto Salas, Bob Matheny is curating the tiny Not an Exit Gallery, Jason Lane has set up shop with JXL Studio and Bonnie Wright’s “Fresh Sound” music series is scheduled through 2014.

Brown says that the long-awaited reopening of Ice Gallery inside Bread & Salt will happen before the end of the year.

That’s also his target to have the building fully functional. The public will be able to see the space at the first open house, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. A shared gallery, Pan y Sol, will display David Harrison’s photographs of the vintage baking equipment found onsite.

One of the quirkier spaces, South Park’s Disclosed UnLocation, expanded from quarterly openings to a more frequent schedule of “anything thought-provoking, creative, community-building, progressive, inspir-

ing, necessary,” according to a new mission statement. If that’s not broad enough, a little note adds that proposals representing “even the opposite” are welcome.

UnLocation, as the participants call it, was founded by Jfre Coad to focus on “upand-comers, esoterics, unknowns and the ultra wily.” Two years and 10 exhibitions later, Coad recruited four partners to help share the workload. One of them, Cristina Trecha, sees a connection between her background as a scientist and the role of experimental art spaces.

“You’re thinking of questions and introducing variables,” she explains. “When we say ‘experimental,’ it really is, ‘What would happen if we did this?’ and then ‘What would happen if we did this? It’s important to ask those questions and not just expect that ‘experimental’ means ‘newest and best.’ That is not an assumption, I think, that we should make.”

Alternative spaces push boundaries, spark discussion and introduce us to “the kind of art that makes me feel funny inside,” says Josh Pavlick, who’s run Helmuth Projects for two years.

Pavlick peers into a large hole cut into the floor of the storefront he rents in a Bankers Hill strip mall, which doubles as his living space and the latest home of Helmuth. The hole reveals a cavernous area underneath the old building. Jagged wood beams look like they’ve been torn, and close examination shows some blackened by a long-ago fire. Cool air drifts up from the darkness, carrying a musty smell of damp and dirt.

The hole is part of an art installation titled “Fontaine (monument)” created by Robert Andrade and Timothy Earl Neill for the exhibition Phantom Gardens Fortified Cities (monuments). On the wall, four mirrored gold brackets surround an area that appears to be blank except for a faint yellowish stain, the remnants of a bottle of Chanel No. 5. It’s called “Logo (monument).” They are fundamentally unsalable pieces in an exhibition that deals with wealth and the merchandising of public space.

That makes Helmuth’s next experiment all the more striking: The gallery will sell artwork. Object Object!, opening Saturday, Nov. 16, is co-curated by John Lewis and Jessica McCambly. It features small works by 71 highly respected local, national and international artists, all priced under $300.

It’s a big transition for a place that Pavlick has strived to keep “simple and seamless.”

Dan Allen “If there was a mission statement, it’s, like, ‘You can come and do something that you can’t do somewhere else,’ because there’s nothing about having to pay for it,” he says. “That’s the business model. All I’m sacrificing is a living room.”

For his part, Pavlick is adamant that he doesn’t want to become a “gallerist,” shaking his head at the thought of keeping regular hours or judging work on commercial potential. “It’s liberating to not have that lens anywhere near me when I’m looking at what I want to do.”

Lynn Susholtz’s North Park space Art Produce is one of the few alternative galleries with longevity. Susholtz purchased the building in 1999, renovated it and reopened it as an art gallery in 2001. She added a community garden in 2010, used for film screenings, workshops, art installations and events. A third renovation in 2012 expanded the gallery and made room for a café, creating a synergistic relationship between the tenants, restaurant and art.

She chuckles when talking about her

Alexander Jarman

Lynn Susholtz

“atypical business model,” devoting the most lucrative space to the gallery: “It’s a non-profit-making enterprise, but not a nonprofit.”

“I wasn’t going to show typical commercial work,” she says. “It’s very hard for anyone to survive on selling paintings and sculpture.”

Giving into what she calls her “citizen artist alter-ego,” she elaborates on what alternative spaces mean for an urban area: The gallery “gives folks a chance to have public culture in their own neighborhood and a sense of what it’s like to be in a creative space. A lot of people who live around here, [they’ve] never been to a gallery. They’re not going to pay $12 to take their family to a museum. It should be free and it should be in their neighborhoods. Everyone should have an opportunity to be engaged.”

Susholtz works to build dialogue between her gallery and the public but sees San Diego as lacking in opportunities for citywide discussion—a thought echoed by many of the others interviewed.

“There’s a tripod of art production, art pa-

James Brown

tronage and art criticism, theory, discourse,” she says. “We don’t have many options for cultural discourse. Once you’re out of school, it’s done. We can’t be a growing, changing community if we don’t have places for discourse and public culture. There seem to be a lot of people in the art-production piece of the tripod, fewer people in the patronage, and even fewer in the cultural dialogue.

“There’s the building of public space, creating infrastructure. Everyone’s talking about that because that’s where the dollars are,” she adds. “But who’s actually creating the culture? Who are the artists, who are the theorists, the thinkers, the doers and the makers who need to be part of the discussion? Where’s the leadership?”

Susholtz hopes that the city’s Commission for Arts and Culture will soon find “a dynamic, visionary force” and that the next mayor will support the nascent Civic Innovation Lab that former Mayor Bob Filner created. It remains to be seen, though, if art—particularly experimental visual art— will be at the table. San Diego is a theater-

Josh Pavlick and-music town first.

Then there’s what Alexander Jarman called “the audience factor.” Most experimental venues are self-funded, which doesn’t leave much of a budget for promotion, other than Facebook. San Diego’s alternative spaces could show the same caliber work as Los Angeles yet bring in much smaller crowds.

Some find that disheartening. It contributes to an atmosphere that Larry Caveney of Garage 4141 calls “a touch-and-go city” and part of the reason why Dan Allen says that “everyone seems to have this one-way ticket in their back pocket. It’s a tourist town, and you’re on your way somewhere else.”

Jarman takes a pragmatic view of turnover. “We’ve had a lot of great stuff come and go. That’s our norm, that’s our rhythm,” he says. “There’s always something weird and exciting just on the horizon. There are interesting people who—whether or not they stay here—are here for some amount of time and do these types of things.”

Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

Seen Local Ship up or shape out A Ship in the Woods—the mid-century Del Mar home that’s served as an art space since 2010, hosting exhibitions, artists-inresidence, film screenings, live music and the occasional party (shipinthewoods. com)—is in danger of being demolished.

But that’s not a surprise to co-founders R.J. Brooks, Kiersten Puusemp and Dan Sauchier. In fact, they knew when signing the lease that the homeowners intended to tear the place down in three years’ time, Brooks says.

“It was one of the reasons we wanted to move there,” he says. “We could do whatever we wanted to the house.”

But like a foster family that agreed to temporarily care for an adorable puppy, Brooks and friends got attached. Now they’re trying to decide their next move.

“We’re not sure how to handle that,” he says. “We can start a campaign to save the house or just start looking for a different space altogether. We’re not sure how we’re going to do that. We’re just waiting to see what the owners are actually going to do. We can make them an offer at any point, but we’ll need to follow up that offer. We don’t have the money to do that now.”

Brooks believes the homeowners will want double the amount that A Ship in the Woods can currently offer, especially since the house has a rich history in the entertainment industry. It was originally built as a summer home for George Brent, a 1930s and ’40s movie star, and later served as lodging for actors per-

Thumbprint times two

The dining area of A Ship in the Woods forming at the North Coast Repertory Theater.

CityBeat was unable to reach the homeowners by press time.

While regular visitors have expressed a willingness to help out financially, Brooks is unsure which course to take and has yet to “put it out there” to the general public. If they do move, he hopes to stay in North County, but they’re willing to relocate to Downtown or Barrio Logan.

“We love this place,” Brooks says. “It has this old, mid-century, beatnik type of feel. There’s not a lot of those homes left in the area. That’s kind of the draw. It’s a relaxed environment. People find that more welcoming.”

The lease is up in March 2014. Until then, the space will host the Helm series, featuring two solo exhibitions a month curated by art historian Laura Bullock. The next in the series is Endless Stare, opening with a reception at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15.

It features pieces inspired by the act of staring by Los Angeles-based artist and designer John Parot ( johnparot.com), and will be on view through Nov. 22 by appointment only.

Gould and Brian Dombrowsky. The exhibition runs through Dec. 14.

When Thumbprint Gallery moved from North Park For Tran, TPG2 completes a full circle. He and to La Jolla in 2011, some folks were pretty bummed. Ecdao started Thumbprint Gallery in 2009 as a popNorth Park was losing a beloved art space, and most up inside Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center in of its patrons were faced with having to hit the free- North Park, later moving to their own location. With way to access the cool urban art TPG2, they’re repeating history that Thumbprint regularly exhibwith hopes of reaching the same its. Uptown art lovers can breathe level of success. a sigh of relief for their gas tank “I think Hillcrest, in itself, is now that Thumbprint has opened an untapped market as far as art a second gallery in Hillcrest. is concerned,” Tran says. “NoLadies and gents, welcome body is doing an art gallery there, TPG2 (tpg2.net), located inside except maybe Planet Rooth, but Bamboo Lounge (1475 Univerthat’s more on the border of Hillsity Ave.) crest. That was part of the draw of Johnny Tran, co-owner [opening in Hillcrest], as well.” of Thumbprint, says that the At TPG2, which is significantowners of Bamboo Lounge aply larger than the La Jolla locaproached him and his partner, tion, Tran and Ecdao will curate Paul Ecdao, about leasing the mostly group exhibits featuring middle room of the restaurant lowbrow, graffiti and street art and bar. He and Ecdao had no from emerging and established plans to expand, but the parties San Diego artists. struck a deal, and the space was “We’re excited to have more transformed into a gallery. space so we can show more art TPG2 will be unveiled from and have more opportunities to 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, for This piece by Matthew Land try different things,” Tran says. a grand opening and reception will be in TPG2’s opening show.

—Alex Zaragoza for a group exhibition featuring more than 50 San Diego artists, including Surge, Write to alexz@sdcitybeat.com Bradford Lynn, Eric Wixon, Somaramos, Jason and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

22 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

Infinite tenderness French melodrama is epic in feeling

by Glenn Heath Jr. Despite most recent reports, Blue is the Warmest Color is actually a superb French film and not simply a destructive wave of controversy waiting to engulf your news feed. Abdellatif Kechiche’s threehour lesbian melodrama has been plagued by incessant public bickAdèle Exarchopoulos (left) and Léa Seydoux ering among its makers ever since it won the Palme d’or at Cannes in May. The film de- film’s identifying mark for those journalists itching serves better. for salacious headlines.

An epic of emotion and heartache, Blue is the While feminists have charged Kechiche with filmWarmest Color tells the sublime story of Adèle (Adèle ing these long, sometimes unbroken shots of Adèle Exarchopoulos), a senior in high school who falls in and Emma making love for his own pleasure, they love with a university art student named Emma (Léa seem to be disregarding the fact that the entire film is Seydoux). The trajectory of their relationship is less about confronting the heightened tenderness of imimportant than the culmination of moments they ages, no matter how sexual or lonely they may be. share together, what these experiences add up to for If Blue is the Warmest Color initially suggests that each participant and how they evolve. attraction is organic, it explores the decomposition In the film’s telling opening scene, Adèle sits in a of this idea heading into the final hour. The afterglow classroom while her fellow students take turns read- of romance eventually fades into a lengthy sequence ing aloud from Pierre de Marivaux’s novel The Life of of pragmatism, where real-world factors begin to Marianne. “I am a woman. I tell my story,” one of them naturally test Adèle’s misguided idea of commitment. recites. The crux of their discussion rests on the is- Emma becomes more of a secondary character, and Kesue of regret and fate, but these chiche’s camera begins haunting quotes also suggest a powerhis young protagonist as she realBlue is the ful assertion that sharing one’s izes that her love has now been Warmest Color replaced with insecurity. story—and private self—is an act of courage inherently linked to The final sequence of Blue Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche gender and identity. is the Warmest Color—which Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Blue is the Warmest Color is opens Friday, Nov. 15, at HillSeydoux and Salim Kechiouche not just about the rush of inticrest Cinemas—is all about the Rated NC-17 macy one feels after meeting a long and difficult road of realnew love; it deals honestly with izing your own romantic failure. the changes that ultimately challenge each relation- Adèle’s drastic last grasp at securing Emma’s affection ship to go against the grain of societal expectations. some years after their breakup shows how long this The film’s most horrific scene is an example of this trauma can linger. Watching this scene, I thought of shift. After ignoring her clique to hang out with Emma Vampire Weekend’s yearning lyrics from “Everlasting for the first time, Adèle returns to school the next day Arms,” which perfectly sum up the contradictory feeland gets verbally ambushed by her supposed friends. ings of Adèle’s transition: “I was born to live without Their viciousness comes out of nowhere, showing you / but I’m never going to understand.” how fragile the balance of group dynamics can be in a If there is one comfort in Adele’s seemingly sheltered ecosystem such as high school. endless heartache, it’s that if you’re open to the But this animosity does not define Adèle and world’s rhythms, the cycles of emotion will begin Emma’s burgeoning relationship, which kicks into again with someone new. It’s a welcome thought gear during a quiet conversation about Sartre on a that Blue is the Warmest Color sincerely cherishes park bench surrounded by autumn leaves. Does it get and understands. any more French than that? Ideological stimulation eventually leads to the physical kind, represented by Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com the extended sex sequences that have become the and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

A pathological cheat

The Armstrong Lie

Alex Gibney has become one of America’s most prolific documentary filmmakers; in the last few years alone, he’s completed films on controversial figures such as Eliot Spitzer and topical subjects like WikiLeaks and the economic crisis.

With The Armstrong Lie, Gibney attempts to grapple with

the Lance Armstrong doping scandal by looking at his own past history with the once godlike cyclist who’s become an international pariah. In 2009, Gibney and his camera crew followed Armstrong during his comeback campaign to win the Tour de France. This footage becomes the film’s skeleton, a ref-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

erence point for Gibney to return tic liar who remains obtuse even as he chronicles his subject from as the credits roll. angry young man to champion.

—Glenn Heath Jr. As one interviewee says of Armstrong, “the urge to domiOpening nate” factored into every one of his decisions in a sport fueled by Arab Film Festival San Diego: In its secdoping on an epic scale. This ap- ond year, this three-day showcase of Arab plies to Gibney’s relationship with cinema will screen a diverse and dynamic group of features and shorts from MorocArmstrong, as well, as the cyclist co, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Saudi Araattempted to control the focus of bia and Palestine. It runs Friday, Nov. 15, the filmmaker’s footage through through Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. deception and manipulation.

It’s a complex web that inextri- Blue is the Warmest Color: A highcably links director and subject, a school student discovering her burgeoning sexuality falls in love with a blue-haired situation that buries the film’s great- art student in this French epic that won the er themes (corruption, greed, insti- Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festutional failure) under a mountain tival. See our review on Page 23. of conflicting interests. Spending The Armstrong Lie: Filmmaker Alex Gibtime with Armstrong doesn’t make ney traces the downfall of cyclist Lance us any more (or less) sympathetic Armstrong, who had his seven Tour de France titles stripped after it was revealed to his situation; nor does it stress that he’d been using illegal substances the importance of his failures as a to boost performance. See our review on public figure. All it does is deflect Page 23. the viewer from understanding the The Best Man Holiday: A collection of college friends reunite for the holidays afnuances of his deceit.

15 years, revealing a host of grudges The Armstrong Lie might have ter and romantic intentions that have been begun as a personal attempt by simmering under the surface for years.

Gibney to remedy his own tainted Évacateur: The Morton Downy Jr. memories of a subject that pulled Movie: An honest and evocative look at the wool over countless nonprofits the controversial talk-show host who held and corporations, an entire sport the entire nation’s attention in his grasp before the reality-television revoluand the public. But the result is a long tion. Screens Nov. 16 through 20 at Digital meandering, stretched and some- Gym Cinema in North Park. times troubling portrait of a cryp- How I Live Now: While on vacation in the

come distance and ideological conflict to forge a lasting relationship. Screens at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Scripps Ranch Library.

Kill Bill: Vol. 2: The second installment to Quentin Tarantino’s magnum opus about one pissed-off assassin (Uma Thurman) bent on revenge is a gripping spaghetti western that ends in sublime fashion.

Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Arclight La Jolla.

Now Playing Operación E English countryside, a defiant city girl (Saoirse Ronan) begins to see the world anew.

But her coming-of-age is suddenly interrupted when a new world war breaks out.

Screens through Nov. 21 the Ken Cinema.

seeks revenge against the brutal hit squad that killed her family and left her for dead in Quentin Tarantino’s masterful action film.

Screens at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at Arclight La Jolla.

Operación E: This Colombian thriller tells the story of a young boy caught up in the guerilla war between government forces and revolutionaries, providing an unusually human view of the conflict. Screens through Nov. 21 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Haunter: Presented by the Film Geeks, this spooky New Zealand ghost story is about a teenager (Abigail Breslin) who has a supernatural experience, only to find herself in the middle of a murder plot.

Screens at 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

One Time Only

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: No matter how many times they screen this thing, it’s always a hit. Screens at midnight Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Ken Cinema.

Casablanca: Romance doesn’t get much more tragic than it does in this ill-fated love story between an American expatriate in Morocco (Humphrey Bogart) and an old flame (Ingrid Bergman) fleeing the Nazis. Screens at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, through Saturday, Nov. 16, at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: The Bride (Uma Thurman)

Jesus Henry Christ: A young boy conceived in a Petri dish sets out to find his biological father despite the reservations of his feminist mother (Toni Collette). Screens at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at the San Diego Public Library in East Village.

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea: A young Israeli and a young Palestinian attempt to over-

Dallas Buyers Club: In 1985, a drunken rodeo clown Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughy) learns he has HIV. Seeing an opportunity to stave off his own death and make some money, he begins smuggling unapproved drugs in from Mexico.

The Motel Life: Two brothers living on the fringe of Reno, Nev., experience a shift in their relationship after they are involved in a fatal accident. Screens through Nov. 14 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Mysteries of the Unseen World: This amazing documentary uses high-speed and time-lapse photography to focus on things that are either too fast or two slow for the eye to see. Screens at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

San Diego Asian Film Festival: The 14th annual event will screen more than 140 films at different venues around San Diego and feature galas, panel discussions and filmmaker Q&As. Ends Nov. 16.

Spinning Plates: Foodies will undoubtedly fall for this documentary about three very different restaurants and their unique owners. Screens through Nov. 14 at the Ken Cinema.

Thor: The Dark of the World: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) once again brings the hammer down on Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in order to save the human race and sustain the fragile balance of his own kingdom.

12 Years a Slave: Abducted and forced to work on a Southern plantation, free man Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejifor) experiences the horrors of slavery in Steve McQueen’s stirring period-piece drama.

About Time: In Richard Curtis’ (Love Actually) charming modern fable co-starring Rachel McAdams, a young man discovers he can travel through time and seeks to use his power to find his soul mate.

Ender’s Game: Orson Scott Card’s classic sci-fi novel about a young pilot fending off an alien threat finally gets adapted for the big screen, surely angering fans everywhere. Harrison Ford co-stars as a growling general.

Free Birds: This animated film follows two combative turkeys (voiced by Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson) as they try to get the gobbler off the holiday menu by traveling back in time.

Last Vegas: A foursome of aging Oscarwinning actors (Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline and Robert De Niro) play seniors who head to Las Vegas for one final hurrah of debauchery and camaraderie.

All is Lost: A nameless Man (Robert Redford) battles extreme weather and technology failure to keep his small sailboat afloat in this thrilling tale of survival from director J.C. Chandor (Margin Call).

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

24 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

Scotland’s Chvrches throw out the indie-rock rulebook

by Jeff Terich

From left: Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty

When The Velvet Underground formed in the 1960s, the band imposed a strict rule about not playing blues licks, in order to stand out from other, more traditional rock bands. Similarly, U.K. punk legends Wire drew up their own set of regulations when recording their debut album, Pink Flag, which included “no solos,” “no decoration” and “when the words run out, it stops.” And San Pedro’s Minutemen followed a philosophy they dubbed “jamming econo,” which reflected a simple, cost-effective and frivolity-free approach to playing and touring.

But when Glasgow’s Chvrches formed in 2011, their first order was to throw out the rulebook entirely.

Before working together, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty established themselves in the Glasgow indie-rock scene—Cook as a guitarist for postrock group Aereogramme and Doherty as touring keyboardist for post-punk band The Twilight Sad. Over time, though, Cook began taking more of an interest in synth-based music and, in 2011, started recording demos with Doherty that heavily featured analog-synthesizer sounds. Yet, as he explains in a phone interview from a tour stop in Amsterdam, there were no regulations or limitations for what the project was intended to be.

“We always planned to do something fresh,” Cook says. “No specific rules. With certain types of indie music, it feels like there are all these rules— like no fucking guitar solos. So many unspoken rules. And we were keen to just get rid of those.”

Chvrches (pronounced “churches”) finally took shape when Cook and Doherty invited Blue Sky Archives vocalist and keyboardist Lauren Mayberry to add backing vocals to their recordings. Impressed with her performance, the two musicians subsequently asked her to join the group as lead vocalist.

In the year that followed, the trio began recording the tracks that would eventually become their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe, which was released in September via Glassnote Records.

A mixture of analog new-wave sounds from the ’80s and modern indie-pop aesthetics, The Bones of What You Believe is 12 songs overflowing with powerful melodies and unshakable hooks. Single “Recover” first caught the attention of critics and listeners earlier this year with its cool, dystopian video and hypnotic synth arpeggios. A few months later, the urgent single “Gun” followed, with an equally massive chorus and a high-energy, dance-floor-ready tempo. And though both tracks had already built up a fair amount of mileage during the past year, Cook says, they were crucial to the album.

“There was talk of leaving off ‘Gun’ or ‘Recover,’ but we decided to keep them,” he says. “I feel like

it’s important to have them there, as they’re representative of our first year as a band.”

It took Chvrches months to wrap up writing and recording some of their earliest tracks. Cook cites “The Mother We Share” as one example, which started with a draft that became molded and altered until finally circling back to something resembling how it began. Over time, however, working together has become more natural for the trio, and Cook says songwriting has turned into a much shorter process.

“It’s just about getting to know and trust people, and it feels like a good writing unit,” he says.

The work that Chvrches have put into their music is paying off. The Bones of What You Believe debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard album chart, with 15,000 copies sold in its first week, and “The Mother We Share” has been making inroads on alternative radio—including San Diego’s 91X. Still, growing popularity and a rapidly expanding fan base has come with its share of complications. In September, shortly after the release of The Bones of What You Believe, Mayberry wrote a column for U.K. newspaper The Guardian that both drew attention to and condemned the inappropriate sexual messages that some of the band’s Facebook fans have sent her. “Is the casual objectification of women so commonplace that we should all just suck it up, roll over and accept defeat?” she wrote. “I hope not.”

Cook explains that since then, they’ve imposed some safeguards in an effort to keep contact between fans and the band as civil as possible.

“It affects us quite a lot to try to deal with that stuff,” Cook says. “We turned off direct messages on Facebook, but people can still post on our wall, so it tends to be more public. It’s just symptomatic of an Internet culture, where people can be anonymous and their behavior doesn’t affect the way the rest of the world perceives them.”

In spite of these few isolated incidents of unwanted attention, Chvrches—who’ll play House of Blues on Tuesday, Nov. 19—have otherwise had what looks like a pretty good year for band only in its second year. And while critical acclaim and commercial success are nice, for Cook, the greatest reward is seeing first-hand the kind of response and connection that audiences have to their music.

“It’s the best feeling in the world to come to a city or country you’ve never been to and play before thousands of people who want to hear your music and know all the words,” Cook says.

“It’s really touching.”

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

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

Notes from the Smoking Patio Locals Only Thirsty Moon Records will shut its doors in about two weeks. The Hillcrest store, which opened in 2005, announced via a Facebook post that its final day of business will be Sunday, Dec. 1.

“It is with heavy hearts that we are letting you know that we will be closing down Thirsty Moon Records,” the post reads. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our friends, families and customers who have supported and helped us over the past 8+ years.”

Co-owner Mike Eginton tells CityBeat that the motivation to close was primarily a financial one.

“It’s just not sustaining monetarily,” Eginton says.

“We’ve been pretty slow for the last couple years, and we’ve thought about closing.”

In addition to the financial burden of keeping the store open, Eginton and co-owner Mario Rubalcaba both perform in psychedelic-rock band Earthless, which makes it even harder to devote their time to the store. Still, Eginton admits that the decision wasn’t an easy one to reach.

“It’s hard to give it up,” he says. “But we’ve come to a point now where Jeff [McDaniel, co-owner] and I have families, and between that and touring in Earthless, having the store is just too much.”

Eginton, McDaniel and Rubalcaba opened the store—which specializes in hard-to-find punk, garage, psychedelic rock, jazz, soul and metal records—

With Friends like these Between San Diego Music Thing, San Diego Indie Fest, Golden Hill Street Fair and Adams Avenue Street Fair, there’s no shortage of music festivals in San Diego. But just across the border in Tijuana, there’s another one happening that’s offering a compelling alternative to U.S. music events: the All My Friends festival. On Saturday, Nov. 16, a long list of bands and DJs will perform at Casa de la Cultura (Av París y Lisboa 5, Col. Altamira), beginning at noon and keeping the party going well into the night. Go to amfmf.com for the full lineup. Here are my recommendations: Maria Minerva: Estonianborn producer Minerva specializes in minimal, synth-driven pop tunes that are dreamy and a little bit surreal. They’re also highly danceable, so her set will surely get hips swiveling and heads nodding.

Sixties Guns: A relatively young band that’s been together a little more than a year, Sixties Guns know their way around a good groove.

The band—made up of San Diegans and Tijuanenses—has a cool, dark sound that blends

26 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

Thirsty Moon Records in 2005. And before the shop finally closes its doors for good, there will be a sale to clear out inventory and possibly some sort of final celebration.

Though Thirsty Moon’s closing is bittersweet, Eginton has only positive things to say of the experience.

“It’s been rad,” he says. “I have no complaints and no regrets.

“It’s just the right time to end.”

•••

Jesus A.D. have changed their name to Trips. The group had been performing under the name Jesus A.D. since 2012, but guitarist / singer Jakob McWhinney tells CityBeat that it was just a temporary name they chose before they played their first show.

“We’ve evolved into a different band than we started out as,” he says.

The band is at work on some new demos and will play at Tin Can Ale House on Saturday, Nov. 16.

elements of new wave, trip-hop and rock, and it comes together beautifully in their synth-driven, post-punk anthems.

Ibi Ego: Tijuana’s Ibi Ego have been performing together for 10 years, and in that time, they’ve built a glorious synth-pop sound that nods to both classic 4AD bands like Cocteau Twins and more cluboriented ’80s groups like New Order. Some of their Marko Krunic material borders on chillwave, but the songs are good enough for that not to matter.

Letters from Readers: This is is just one guy—Mexicali’s Gerardo Montoya. And that one guy creates powerful post-rock soundscapes that make his music sound like the work of six people. His electronic creations have elements of dance music, but often aim for the hypnotic or hallucinatory.

Teenage Kicks: A festival isn’t complete without a great punk band, and this Tijuana outfit is just that. Raw, old-school and loud, Teenage Kicks—despite the name—are a lot more Black Flag than The Undertones.

—Jeff Terich Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com Maria Minerva or editor@sdcitybeat.com.

if i were u

BY Jeff Terich

Wednesday, Nov. 13 PLAN A: Big Freedia, Okapi Sun, DJ Claire @ The Casbah. If Miley Cyrus’ newfound interest in twerking doesn’t do it for you, let the queen of New Orleans bounce show you how it’s done. Big Freedia’s ass-shaking antics both entranced and bewildered watchers when he opened for The Postal Service earlier this year, but you don’t get the full effect until you see it up close. PLAN B: Defeater, Alcoa, Silver Snakes @ The Che Café. Melodic hardcore group Defeater tends to be pretty high-concept, releasing albums with detailed backstories and recurring themes.

More importantly, they write catchy tunes that rock hard. Need I say more? BACKUP PLAN: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Army Navy, Leopold and His Fiction @ Soda Bar.

Thursday, Nov. 14 PLAN A: Melt-Banana, Retox, Rats Eyes @ The Casbah. Japan’s Melt-Banana have made a two-decade career of intense, spastic noisecore, but with new album Fetch, the group’s attention to melody is stronger than ever—not that they’ve gotten any less manic since the good ol’ days. And with local hardcore destroyers Retox on the bill, this show is certain to be awesome. PLAN B: Minor Alps, Dan Wilson @ Soda Bar. The name Minor Alps might not ring any bells, but the duo behind the name—Juliana Hatfield and Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws— definitely should. The power-pop veterans have a new, electronics-tinged project that shows off their great vocal harmonies. And if that’s not enough, Semisonic frontman Dan Wilson opens the show. BACKUP PLAN: Tera Melos, Zorch, Sister Crayon, Creepers @ The Che Café.

Friday, Nov. 15 PLAN A: Nik Turner’s Hawkwind, Astra, Joy, Operation Mindblow Lightshow @ The Casbah. While we’ll probably never see a proper Hawkwind reunion, founding member Nik Turner has assembled a super-team of musicians to create an entirely new space-rock extravaganza.

If you missed the space ritual or—like me— weren’t even close to born when it happened, then here’s your chance to make up for it. PLAN B: KIDS, Shiva Trash, Underpass, Lube @ The Che Café. KIDS’ Bandcamp page labels them as “punk” and “garage,” but that doesn’t really do them justice. Their hard-charging, anthemic

tunes are certainly raw, but with a rich sound and big sing-along choruses.

Saturday, Nov. 16 PLAN A: Caspian, 65DaysofStatic, The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die @ Soda Bar. Soda Bar is a relatively small club, but when Caspian open up their barrage of epic postrock, it’ll feel like the center of something colossal. A sound this big can make your living room feel like a coliseum. PLAN B: Autolux, Illuminauts @ The Casbah. Autolux aren’t terribly prolific, but their two full-length albums contain a plentiful selection of ’90s-leaning alt-rock / shoegaze tunes with some slight electronic traces. If you could compress two decades of MTV’s 120 Minutes into a band, this would be it.

Sunday, Nov. 17 PLAN A: The Besnard Lakes, Elephant Stone, Darrows @ The Casbah. Montreal’s The Besnard Lakes aren’t quite prog, not exactly shoegaze and just on the fringe of psych-rock. However, all of those elements play a part in their dense, powerful. melodic sound. BACKUP PLAN: Yacht Rock Revue, Geezer, DJ Claire Melt-Banana @ House of Blues.

Monday, Nov. 18 PLAN A: IJI, James Rabbit, Plastic City Pariah @ The Che Café. IJI is essentially Zach Burba, a Seattle performer who writes dreamy jangle-pop tunes with a slight jazz influence. It’s laid-back, fun and a safe distance from most popular records you’ll hear this year.

Tuesday, Nov. 19 PLAN A: Chvrches, Basecamp @ House of Blues. See Page 25 for more on Chvrches, whose new album, The Bones of What You Believe, is one of the year’s best synth-pop records. If you don’t have at least half of its songs stuck in your head yet, you will after this show. PLAN B: Riververb, Ogd_s(11) Translation Has Failed, Tenshun @ Tin Can Ale House. For a more abstract, yet still beat-heavy experience, check this album-release show for Nathan Hubbard’s Ogd_s(11) Translation Has Failed. Jazz, hip-hop, noise, ambient and other sounds will come together in a strange, wonderful collision. BACKUP PLAN: Roxy Jones, Bruin, Emerald Rats, Grassy Noll @ The Casbah.

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

HOT! NEW! FRESH! Moving Units (Hard Rock Hotel, 11/21), Sasha (Bassmnt, 12/1), Fitz and the Tantrums, Chvrches, The Airborne Toxic Event (Valley View Casino Center, 12/6), Nipsey Hussle (Porter’s Pub, 1/11), MXPX (The Irenic, 1/31), Futurebirds (Griffin, 2/1), Japanther (Soda Bar, 2/2), Into It. Over It. (Che Café, 2/3), White Denim (The Casbah, 2/9), Umphrey’s McGee (HOB, 3/14), Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings (HOB, 3/22), Il Divo (Copley Symphony Hall, 4/2).

GET YER TICKETS The Locust (Porter’s Pub, 11/23), Deltron 3030 (HOB, 11/26), Sinead O’Connor (BUT, 11/26), Redd Kross (Casbah, 11/30), JAY Z (Valley View Casino Center, 12/7), ‘91X Wrex The Halls’ w/ Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys, Cage the Elephant, Alt-J (Valley View Casino Center, 12/8), The Mowgli’s (Griffin, 12/12), Slightly Stoopid (SOMA, 12/13), IconaPop (HOB, 12/15), NOFX (HOB, 12/19), Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (HOB, 12/22), Matthew Sweet (BUT, 1/2), Tower of Power (BUT, 1/4), Three Mile Pilot (Casbah, 1/7), No Knife (Casbah, 1/9), The Rugburns (Casbah, 1/10), Pinback (Casbah, 1/13), The Penetrators (Casbah, 1/17), Buck O Nine (Casbah, 1/18), Skinny Puppy (HOB, 1/25), OFF! (Casbah, 1/29), Yuck (The Casbah, 2/2), New Politics (HOB, 2/17).

November Wednesday, Nov. 13 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

28 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

at Soda Bar. Big Freedia at The Casbah.

Lupe Fiasco at House of Blues.

Thursday, Nov. 14 Melt Banana, Retox at The Casbah. Minor Alps at Soda Bar. Tera Melos at Che Café. Oliver Trolley at Belly Up Tavern.

Beats Antique at House of Blues.

Friday, Nov. 15 Nik Turner’s Hawkwind at The Casbah.

Saturday, Nov. 16 Rusko at House of Blues. Ben Harper at Copley Symphony Hall. Delorean at The Casbah. Caspian at Soda Bar. Common Sense at Belly Up Tavern. Autolux at The Casbah.

Sunday, Nov. 17 The Besnard Lakes at The Casbah.

Josh Berwanger at Soda Bar. The Heavy Guilt at Belly Up Tavern.

Monday, Nov. 18 Dropjoy at The Casbah.

Tuesday, Nov. 19 Chvrches at House of Blues. A$AP Ferg at Epicentre. Barrington Levy at Belly Up Tavern. Night Terrors of 1927 at Soda Bar. Roxy Jones at The Casbah.

Wednesday, Nov. 20 Kate Nash at Porter’s Pub. John Vanderslice at Soda Bar.

Thursday, Nov. 21 Steve Poltz at Belly Up Tavern. Pearl Jam at Viejas Arena. Moving Units at

Hard Rock Hotel.

Friday, Nov. 22 Obits at The Casbah. B-Side Players at House of Blues. English Beat at Belly Up Tavern.

Saturday, Nov. 23 English Beat at Belly Up Tavern. U.S. Girls at The Void. Screaming Females at Soda Bar. The Locust at Porter’s Pub. Cayucas at The Loft.

Sunday, Nov. 24 Drake at Viejas Arena. Night Beats at The Casbah. Church of Misery at Soda Bar.

Monday, Nov. 25 Sir Sly at The Casbah.

Tuesday, Nov. 26 Sinead O’Connor at Belly Up Tavern.

Deltron 3030 at House of Blues. Hard Fall Hearts at The Casbah.

Wednesday, Nov. 27 Ryan Cabrera at The Griffin. Chris Isaak at Belly Up Tavern. Nightlands at Soda Bar.

Friday, Nov. 29 The Devil Wears Prada at SOMA. Polar Bear Club at The Irenic. Fever The Ghost at Soda Bar. Crystal Bowersox at The Griffin.

Saturday, Nov. 30 Julianna Barwick at Luce Loft. Redd Kross at The Casbah. Modern Life Is

War at Che Café.

December Sunday, Dec. 1 Less Than Jake, Anti-Flag at House of Blues. Sasha at Bassmnt. Rufus Wainwright at Belly Up Tavern.

Monday, Dec. 2 Nightmares on Wax at Belly Up Tavern.

Tuesday, Dec. 3 Kaki King at The Casbah.

Wednesday, Dec. 4 Tedeschi Trucks Band at Balboa Theatre. Gavin Turek at The Casbah. Howie Day at The Griffin.

Thursday, Dec. 5 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis at Valley View Casino Center. Margaret Cho at Balboa Theatre. Black Uhuru at Belly Up Tavern.

rCLUBSr 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach. 710bc.com. Thu: The Room Downstairs. Fri: Joe Kaplow (5 p.m.); Deadly Birds, Counterpoint Culture, Tommy Dubs (9:30 p.m.). Sat: Fortunate Youth, Ease Up, The Veragroove.

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. 98bottlessd.com. Thu: Nexus.

Fri: Sunday Hustle. Sat: Besos De Coco.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave, Downtown. americancomedyco.com.

Wed: ‘Laugh Attack’. Thu-Sat: Bobby

Lee. Sun: Gene Pompa. Tue: Open mic.

AMSDconcerts, 4650 Mansfield St, Normal Heights. amsdconcerts.com. Sat: Slaid Cleaves.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St, Downtown. facebook.com/BangBangSanDiego.

Thu: Dirty South. Fri: Curses, Bones.

Sat: Sander Kleinenberg.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St, North Park. barpink.com. Wed: DJ Grandmasta Rats.

Fri: The Styletones. Sat: ‘Neon Beat’.

Mon: The Husky Boy All-Stars.

Bassmnt, 919 Fourth Ave, Downtown. bassmntsd.com. Wed: Excision. Thu: Bassjackers. Fri: Sick Individuals. Sat: Shogun.

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

Wed: Sando. Thu: Idle Wilde. Fri: Cougar Canyon Band. Sat: Jewel City Rock Club. Sun: Doug Benson.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. bellyup.com. Wed: Mason Jennings, Haroula Rose (sold out). Thu: Oliver Trolley, Swimm, Stained Glass Window. Fri: Brett Dennen, Grizfolk. Sat: Common Sense, Project Out of Bounds.

Sun: Vanessa Carlton, Birdcloud. Mon: The Heavy Guilt, The Earful, Candye Kane. Tue: Barrington Levy, The Devastators, DJ Carlos Culture.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave, Carlsbad. boarcrossn.net. Thu: Shane Hall. Fri: ‘Club Musae’. Sat: Safety Orange.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave, Bay Park. brickbybrick.com. Wed: Trapdoor Social, Dialog Project, Calibrate Me. Thu: The Fail Safe Project, Madlife, Year of the Dragon. Fri: Los Gatos Locos, The Strikers, Screamin’ Yeehaws/Insomniaxe/The Gore Horseman, Rail Them To Death,

Goon’s Army, Creeps AD. Sat: Sight Unscene, Hot Mustard.

Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave, Downtown. cafesevilla.com. Wed: Aro Di Santi. Thu & Sat: Malamana. Fri: Joeff and Co. Sun: Aragon y Royal. Mon: Sounds of Brazil.

Croce’s, 802 Fifth Ave, Downtown. croces.com. Wed: Fuzzy. Thu: Gilbert Castellanos and The New Latin Jazz Quintet.

Fri: Lady Dottie and The Diamonds. Sat: Daniel Jackson (11:30 a.m.); Agua Dulce (8:30 p.m.). Sun: Irving Flores (11:30 a.m.); The Archtones (7:30 p.m.).

El Dorado Bar, 1030 Broadway, Downtown. eldoradobar.com. Wed: ‘The Tighten Up’. Thu: ‘New Order vs. The Smiths’.

Fri: ‘Hickeys and Dryhumps’. Sat: Mike Delgado, Adam Salter, Kimbo.

Epicentre, 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd, Mira Mesa. epicentreconcerts.org. Sat: Flo Dizzla, Dat Young Ninjas, Glass Gang Sync, HGR. Tue: A$AP Ferg, Joey Fatts, Aston Matthews, OverDoz, 100s.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown, Downtown. f6ixsd.com. Fri: DJ Fingaz. Sat: DJ Seize.

Sun: ‘RBS’ w/ DJ Epic Twelve.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave, Downtown. fluxxsd.com. Thu: DJ Mustard. Fri: ‘Le Freak’ w/ DJs Melo D, Ricky Rocks. Sat: ‘Le Freak’ w/ DJ Ikon.

Gallagher’s, 5040 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach. 619-222-5303. Wed: Low Volts, Two Wolves. Thu: King Scha Scha and Irusalem, TRC Soundsystem, DJ Reefah.

Fri: The Fooks, DJ Chelu. Sat: Sandollar, DJ Lya. Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave, Downtown. henryspub.com. Wed: Johnny Tarr, DJ Chris London. Thu: Mark Fisher, DJ Yo-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

dah. Fri: ‘Good Times’. Sat: DJs E, Yodah. Mon: DJs Yodah, Joey Jimenez.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave, Downtown. houseofblues.com/sandiego. Wed: Lupe Fiasco, Stalley. Thu: Beats Antique, Ill Esha, Sorne. Fri: Mayday Parade, Man Overboard, Cartel. Sat: Rusko, Roni Size, Tonn Piper, Dynamite. Sun: Yacht Rock Revue, Geezer, DJ Claire. Tue: Chvrches, Basecamp.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. kavalounge.com. Wed: ‘Future Wednesdays’. Thu: ‘Grown and Sexy’.

Fri: Quest and Reflex, Sixfootunda, BMinus, Punisha, Urban Dialex. Sat: Headphone Jones. Sun: Phuture Primative.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave, Kensington. 619-284-2848. Fri: Homeless Sexuals, Supermodel Razorblades, Pink Mexico.

Sat: Las Cafeteras, Cumbia Machin.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave, Normal Heights. lestats.com. Wed: Christine Parker, Cleopatra Degher, Folkstar,. Thu: Death Valley High, Stereo Love. Fri: Bad Penny and the Pistols, Raquel Frischmann, The Copoetics. Sat: Allison Lonsdale, John Hull, Trent Hancock. Sun: Sierra West, Julie Newmark.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave, Coronado. mcpspub.com. Wed: Ron’s Trio. Thu: Jackson and Jesus. Fri: 4-Way Street. Sat: Blue Frog Band.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd, Hillcrest. numberssd.com/. Thu: ‘Varsity’. Fri: DJs Sebastian La Madrid, Rubin. Sat: ‘Factory’. Sun: ‘Joe’s GameNite’. Tue: Karaoke Latino.

Onyx Room / Thin, 852 Fifth Ave, Downtown. onyxroom.com. Fri: ‘Rumba Lounge’ w/ DJs Martin Kache, Seize, Jay Valdez, La Mafia. Tue: Jason Brown.

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St, Down-

town. patricksii.com. Thu: Myron and The Kyniptionz. Fri: Len Rainey’s Midnight Players. Sat: Bill Magee’s Blues Band. Sun: Trey Tosh and the TnT Band.

Mon: WG and The G-Men. Tue: Walter’s Chicken Jam. Porter’s Pub, 9500 Gilman Dr., UCSD campus, La Jolla. porterspub.net. Fri: ‘Nerds Gone Wild’ w/ DJ Cassanuova.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave, Hillcrest. richssandiego.com. Wed: DJ Taj. Fri: DJs Drew G, Will Z. Sat: DJ Blaine Soileau.

Sun: DJs Marcel, Hektik.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave, La Mesa. rivierasupperclub.com. Wed: Kice Simko. Thu: Bob Wade. Fri: Little Kings.

Sat: Bedbreakers. Tue: Karaoke.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave, North Park. sevengrandbars.com/sd. Thu: The G Burns Jug Band. Fri: Soul Ablaze. Sat: Burnett’s Bliss. Mon: ‘Motown Mondays’ w/ DJ Artistic.

Shakedown Bar, 3048 Midway Drive, Point Loma. theshakedownsd.com. Wed: ‘Retro Revival’. Thu: Caskitt, Rogue Stereo, Front Removal. Fri: Roman Watchdogs, Loose Nuts. Mon: ‘Souped Up Can Drive’ w/ Castoff, Punchcard, The ABortz, Hogboss, Western Settings. Tue: Open mic.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. sodabarmusic.com. Wed: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Army Navy, Leopold and His Fiction. Thu: Minor Alps, Dan Wilson. Fri: Wild Child, LAKE, Mariel.

Sat: Caspian, 65DaysofStatic, The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die. Sun: Josh Berwanger, The Palace Ballroom, Goodnight Ravenswood.

Mon: Nightmare Air, The Foreign Resort, Bulletins. Tue: Night Terrors of 1927, Western Scene, Nicky Venus.

30 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, Midway. somasandiego.com. Thu: Bingo Players, BassJackers, MakJ. Sat: The Hallowed, Within Ourselves, Glass Dimensions, Nothing Haunts Me, Mysidia.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St, Midtown. spinnightclub.com. Fri: DJs D-Rock, Mr. Hek. Sat: ‘Overdrive’. Sun: Reggae.

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

Fri: Ash Fenner (7 p.m.); Brothers Herd (8 p.m.); Disco Pimps (10:30 p.m.). Sat: Torn Shoes (7:30 p.m.); Hott Mess (9:30 p.m.); DJ Miss Dust (10:30 p.m.). Sun: ‘Funhouse/Seismic’. Mon: Isleside (7:30 p.m.); Fetish Monday (10 p.m.).

The Brass Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave, Hillcrest. thebrassrailsd.com. Thu: ‘Boy’z Club’.

Fri: ‘DJ Dirty Kurty. Sat: ‘Sabados en Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA. Mon: DJs XP, Junior the DiscoPunk.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. casbahmusic.com. Wed: Big Freedia, Okapi Sun, DJ Claire. Thu: Melt Banana, Retox, Rats Eyes. Fri: Nik Turner’s Hawkwind, Astra, Joy, Operation Mindblow Lightshow. Sat: Autolux, Illuminauts. Sun: The Besnard Lakes, Elephant Stone, Darrows. Mon: Dropjoy, Michael Montano, Old Man Wizard. Tue: Roxy Jones, Bruin, Emerald Rats, Grassy Noll.

The Che Cafe, UCSD campus, La Jolla. thechecafe.blogspot.com. Wed: Defeater, Alcoa, Silver Snakes. Thu: Tera Melos, Zorch, Sister Crayon, Creepers. Fri: KIDS, Shiva Trash, Underpass, Lube. Mon: IJI, James Rabbit, Plastic City Pariah.

The Griffin, 1310 Morena Blvd, Bay Park. thegriffinsd.com. Thu: FMLYBND, Kiev, AJ Davila y Terror Amor. Fri: Pacific Dub, Wait For Green. Sat: Nothing Haunts Me,

The Great Electric Quest, Eken Is Dead, Media Solution, I Will Destroyer. Sun: Basic Vacation, The Tragic Thrills. Tue: Mattson 2, Tolan Shaw, Uncle Jesse.

The Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. theloft.ucsd.edu. Wed: Hunter Hunted, Soda Pants, We Are Twin.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave, Hillcrest. rubyroomsd.com. Fri: Steel Cranes, East of Sweden. Sat: ‘SD Union’.

The Office, 3936 30th St, North Park. officebarinc.com. Wed: Prayers, DJs Mike Delgado, Eddie Flynn. Thu: DJs Ikah Love, Adam Salter. Mon: ‘Dub Dynamite’ w/ DJs Rashi, Eddie Turbo.

The Void, 3519 El Cajon Blvd, North Park. thevoidsd.com. Thu: Skabilly Rebels, Lowlife Soundsystem, Rat City Riot.

Fri: Lord Dog Bird, 3 Moons. Mon: ‘Now That’s What I Call Poetry’. Tue: Joe Buck Yourself, Viva Le Vox, The Desolators.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. tiltwoclub.com. Wed: ‘San Diego City Soul Club’ w/ DJs Erny Earthquake, King Dutty. Thu: Tim Schweiger and The Middle Men, Cadaver Dogs, Little Dove, Beach Patrol. Fri: Jittery Jack and Miss Amy, The Rip ‘Em Ups, Roy Sludge. Tue: Stand-Up Comedy.

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

Thu: Oh Spirit, Recordable Colors, Tide Pools. Fri: Awakeners, Slig, Angry Dragon. Sat: Trips, Posole, Requiem For the Rockets Mon: ‘Tin Can Country Club’ w/ David Francis. Tue: Riververb, Osg_s(11) Translation Has Failed, Tenshun.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St, Bay Park. tioleos.com. Wed: The Mud Bugs. Thu: The Little Kings. Fri: Bobby Guajardo and Latin Breed. Sat: Red Elvises. Tue: Lenny Fest.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave, City Heights. thetowerbar.com. Wed: Skeletor, Sentinel, Ultimate. Thu: Rock ‘n’ Roll Preservation Society DJs, Heather Hardcore, Diana Death. Fri: Rvivr, Eskera, Pop Bottle Bombers, Sledding With Tigers.

Sat: Trashaxis, Platypus Egg, Beekeeper, Butthurt.

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

Wed: Tomcat Courtney (6 p.m.). Thu: The Jade Visions Jazz Trio (7 p.m.). Fri: Tomcat Courtney (5 p.m.); Afro Jazziacs (9 p.m.). Sat: Tomcat Courtney (5 p.m.); Latin Magic (9 p.m.). Sun: Sounds Like Four (4 p.m.); Big Boss Bubale (7 p.m.). Mon: Stefanie Schmitz (7 p.m.). Tue: Stefanie Schmitz (5 p.m.); Grupo Globo (7 p.m.).

Voyeur, 755 Fifth Ave, Downtown. voyeursd.com. Sat: Mossberg Pump. Sun: Crizzly x Figure.

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

Wed: DJ Qenoe. Thu: DJ Clean Cut. Fri: DJ Slowhand. Sat: DJ Billy The Kid. Tue: DJ Mike Delgado.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. whistlestopbar.com. Wed: ‘Wu-Tang Wednesday’ w/ DJ Cros One. Fri: ‘F#ing In the Bushes’ w/ DJs Daniel Sant, Rob Moran. Sat: ‘80s vs. 90s’ w/ DJs Gabe Vega, Saul.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St, Ocean Beach. winstonsob.com. Wed: Roots Covenant, DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: Distructo Bunny, Atlantis Rizing, Sighphur One, ALOWE. Fri: GrooveSession, Brothers Gow. Sat: The Wick Hauser Band (5 p.m.); Stylust Beats, OG Status, Krueger, Synthphonic Underground (9 p.m.). Sun: The Anton Collective, Underwater Demolition Team.

Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Meeting of the Meyends.

Proud sponsor: San Diego Whale Watch

Ink Well Xwords by Ben Tausig

Across 1. Cookbook conversion chart abbr.

4. Guy de Maupassant novel published in English as “The History of a Scoundrel” 10. Adam’s family member 14. Court 15. Mick’s first wife 16. Science fiction achievement award name 17. Two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback 19. One who can do no wrong, perhaps 20. Support for the arts?

21. WHO concern since the early 2000s 23. Site of tension between the Koreas 24. Hiccup 27. “You ___!” (“Natch!”)

29. Respectful Japanese title 30. Highest place where trees grow, on a mountain 33. Cheddar 35. Wet spot of sorts 36. Feature shared by “iPhones” and “ObamaCare,” and what can found in 17-, 30-, 43-, and 59-Across 41. Sam who did not direct the 2013 reboot of “Evil Dead” 42. “The Divine ___” (Bette Midler debut) 43. Modern gaming machines 46. “I Can ___ Cheezburger?”

49. O.J.’s “Naked Gun” co-star 50. One in an open, say 53. Reuters rival, for short 54. Humorist Bombeck 56. Top 57. Celebrate a championship by destroying your city, say 59. Gawk

Last week’s answers

62. Spiny African plant 63. Releases gas, perhaps, as a volcano 64. The French way?

65. Chastity device 66. Luisiana, e.g.

67. Thing spread in bed: Abbr.

Down 1. Twitter friends, casually 2. Toyota mid-sized coupe 3. “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” monsterballadeers 4. Hoops 5. “Ich bin ___ Berliner” 6. Limited group of computer connections, briefly 7. Spanish liqueur 8. QB Donovan dissed by Rush Limbaugh a year before taking his team to the Super Bowl 9. “With you there” 10. What yellowfin tuna may be sold as 11. Nirvana fan?

12. Swelling head issue 13. Interweb amusement, as it were 18. 2009 NYC Marathon winner Keflezighi 22. Lengths of leather for shaving 25. Fancy-pants British prep school for boys 26. Kunis who is reportedly Ashton’s girlfriend 28. Thing submitted to an insurance company 31. Swedish city across the water from Copenhagen 32. Certification for aliens: Abbr.

33. Rickrolling, “I Like Turtles,” etc.

34. Baseball bird 36. Hip-hop impresario Gotti 37. Grinding tool 38. Where one might see sea stars 39. Put in a footnote 40. Part of AMA, ALA, or ADA 44. “Yes ____, Bob!” 45. Extremely cute tree-hoppers 46. They’re gonna do what they do so just turn your head away and hold your palm out 47. Directorial phrase 48. So psyched 51. Human trunk 52. “The monster is coming this way!”

53. Modern airport profilee (*sigh*) 55. Stand next to 58. Electronic musician Four ___ 60. Compound banned from some plastics, for short 61. Crew’s best guess: Abbr.

A pair of tickets for a three-hour San Diego Whale Watch tour will be awarded weekly. Email a picture of your answers to crossword@sdcitybeat.com or fax it to 619-325-1393. Limit one win per person per 30 days.

November 13, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 31

32 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

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34 · San Diego CityBeat · November 13, 2013

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