San Diego CityBeat • Nov 26, 2014

Fiction

101 P. 16

2 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

Not part of the plan The California Master Plan for Higher Education of cumulating greater debt. Napolitano herself earns 1960 is an amazing thing—a monumental thing that $570,000 annually, plus more than $128,000 a year for we doubt would ever get accomplished these days. housing and transportation. How much is enough?

It organized the state’s system of public universiHowever, if Napolitano is to be believed, cutties and colleges into a coherent, tiered system that ting her pay and the pay of all the UC chancelwould serve all types of students without duplicalors (UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla makes tion of efforts: $411,000, plus free housing, a car allowance and Community colleges would take anyone who $102,771 for “relocation”) wouldn’t close the UC’s wanted a post-secondary education, offer two-year big budget shortfall. If the state won’t pay up, she associate’s degrees and provide a path—a second has no choice but to get the money from the stuchance of sorts—to a university; the California State dents. The only other choice would be to reduce University (then known as “College”) would offer educational quality, which would also violate the four-year bachelor’s and master’s degrees; and the spirit of the master plan, not to mention damage University of California would offer the most presthe state’s economic future. tigious education to the state’s top students and To be sure, this is on the state, too. The state cut serve as the state’s major research institution. funding to the UC system during the recent recesAnd the truly incredible thing was that the state sion, and even with some restoration in funding, would make this system of higher the system is $460 million short of education accessible and affordwhere it was in 2007-08. Gov. Jerry able to anyone who was willing Brown has proposed a 4-percent to do the work and could benincrease in funding for each of efit from it. That was brilliant. the next two years—another $120 It meant that the state wouldn’t million annually—if UC doesn’t let socioeconomic status be the raise tuition and agrees to some reason that society didn’t benefit cost-cutting ideas. Meanwhile, down the road from someone’s Napolitano says tuition will go up brain and drive to succeed. No one even if the UC gets the 4-percent would fall through the cracks. increase. She wants an additional But that concept is falling 9 percent—$270 million—to scrap apart. In recent years, it’s gotthe tuition hike. Proposed soluten harder and harder to get into tions from state Assembly Speaker a university and more and more Toni Atkins and Senate President expensive for those who do. Last Pro Tem Kevin de León fell on week, for example, the University Janet Napolitano deaf ears at UC headquarters. of California’s Board of Regents As Brown and the Legislature approved a plan devised by UC President Janet head toward next year’s budget process—Brown Napolitano to raise tuition by 5 percent in each of will propose a spending plan in January—they, the next five years, amounting roughly to a cumulaalong with Napolitano and the UC Board of Regents, tive 27-percent increase by 2019. In raw numbers, should take a look at the Master Plan for Higher tuition for California residents would rise from Education and remind themselves of its philosoph$12,192, to $15,564 in that time. Of course, that’s not ical underpinnings. We’re veering away from the the whole cost—add thousands of dollars more for spirit of the plan and toward a system in which only books, fees, room and board, etc. State and federal children of families with financial means can afford grants pay for low-income students; it’s the middle to pursue their academic and career goals. That, class that’s getting squeezed. in turn, will lead us to permanent socioeconomic Students protesting up and down the state rightly stratification and a bleak economic future. direct their anger at Napolitano and the regents. The California must make its most prestigious UC has increased pay dramatically for some top adpublic universities accessible to anyone with a ministrators while raising the cost for students and desire to work hard and dream big. That should seems indifferent to the plight of students who are be a no-brainer. working harder to survive while they’re in school, paying more for fewer educational offerings and acWhat do you think? Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Read this issue of CityBeat backwards, upside down and while high, and you’ll find a recipe for a light, flaky pie crust.

Volume 13 • Issue 16

Cover illustration by Scrojo

Arts Editor Kinsee Morlan

Contributors Ian Cheesman, David L. Coddon, Seth Combs, Michael A. Gardiner, Glenn Heath Jr., Peter Holslin, Dave Maass, Scott McDonald, Jenny Montgomery, Susan Myrland, Mina Riazi, Jim Ruland, Ben Salmon, Jen Van Tieghem

Staff Writer Joshua Emerson Smith

Production Manager Tristan Whitehouse

Web Editor Ryan Bradford

Production artist Rees Withrow

Art director Lindsey Voltoline

Intern Narine Petrosyan

Columnists Aaryn Belfer, Edwin Decker, John R. Lamb, Alex Zaragoza

Vice President of Operations David Comden

MultiMedia Advertising Director Paulina Porter-Tapia

Publisher Kevin Hellman

Editor David Rolland Associate Editor Kelly Davis Music Editor Jeff Terich

Senior account executive Jason Noble Account Executives Beau Odom, Kimberly Wallace Circulation manager Beau Odom Accounting Alysia Chavez, Linda Lam, Monica MacCree Human Resources Andrea Baker

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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 2014.

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

Slimy San Diego Thank you for your Oct. 22 editorial about Carl DeMaio. I have found him to be very unreliable in the interviews and other things I have read and watched. Neither of the candidates were good, but Peters was the lesser evil of the two, in my opinion. Sad to say. San Diego politics are slimier by the minute.

And what in heaven’s name is the mayor up to? Trying to con us into voting for a new stadium? He’s cozy with the old mayor and big business, but what is he actually doing for the average citizen of San Diego?

Dianne Obeso, University Heights

It’s time to legaliZe it Regarding Aaryn Belfer’s Oct. 29 “Backwards & in High Heels” column about Prop.

F in Encinitas and marijuana dispensaries: It’s been 18 years since California voters approved medical marijuana. That California legislators are only now getting around to regulating medical marijuana is absurd. They missed the boat.

Restricting access at this point is a gift to Mexican drug cartels. It’s time to catch up with Colorado and fully legalize it. If the goal of marijuana prohibition is to subsidize violent drug cartels, prohibition is a grand success. The drug war distorts supply-anddemand dynamics so that big money grows on little trees.

4 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

If the goal is to deter use, marijuana prohibition is a catastrophic failure. The United States has almost double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legal.

The criminalization of Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis has no basis in science. The war on marijuana consumers is a failed cultural inquisition, not an evidencebased public-health campaign. It’s time to stop the pointless arrests and instead tax legal marijuana.

Robert Sharpe, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C.

Racism’s ‘alive and well’ Regarding Randy Zawis letter to the editor in your Oct. 29 issue: Mr. Zawis is blinded by both a lack of historical knowledge and white racism. As a recently retired history teacher of 42 years and an African-American woman who’s lived in three distinct areas of the country, I can assure Mr. Zawis that racism is alive and well, especially in many major city police departments.

The reason the NAACP came into existence was to prevent lynching—an estimated 50,000 black Americans were murdered between the end of the Civil War and the early 1990s. Many of these lynchings were committed by sheriffs and police in the KKK or who watched and did nothing as these atrocities were committed.

Not all police hate blacks, Hispanics or gays, but Mr. Zawis needs to read accounts of statistics from municipal and state governments and the Department of Justice and FBI on the number of people of color beaten or shot to death or simply hassled, harassed and intimidated by those sworn to serve and protect us. Unfortunately, many of these people only protect Caucasian Americans.

That one puny example of the young man in Utah shot by a policeman of color pales (no pun intended) in comparison to the number of people of color who have been murdered by police and the incidents were ruled justifiable homicide.

God save us if Darren Wilson is set free for the killing of Michael Brown, who was guilty only of walking down a street in Missouri while black.

Peggy M. Spates-Johnson, Southcrest

‘Cool’ ZaragoZa I just wanted to say that I love columnist Alex Zaragoza’s writing [“There She Goz”]. I grew up in San Ysidro and North Park and always wanted to tell her that it’s really cool to read about her anecdotes and journey from the South Bay to CityBeat. I hope Alex can find the time to mentor or role-model other cool aspiring girls like her.

Hugo Rivera, San Ysidro

family photo

repeatedly asking to see a counselor, but her requests often went ignored; or, instead, she’d be sent to a nurse, or a probation officer would come talk to her. A number of times, records show, Rosemary told staff that she felt compelled to harm herself.

She’d talk about wanting to strangle herself and would sometimes carve things into her skin with a pencil. After her death, the medical examiner noted the preponderance of small scars and carvings on her legs.

Six weeks before her suicide, Rosemary was placed in a single cell; officers reported that they could hear the teen talking to herself, Powell says. Also around this time, she was put on Abilify, an antipsychotic medication, despite warnings by the Food and Drug Administration and the drug’s own manufacturer that it can cause suicidal thoughts in children, teens and young adults.

Several months ago, CityBeat requested from the county all training materials and guidelines for juvenile-detention staff regarding psychotropic medication. A document titled “Common Drugs and Psych Rosemary Summers, 16, took her own life at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility in 2013. Meds” fails to mention Abilify’s most serious side effect.

Despite her bouts with depression, during her stays at juvenile hall, Rosemary sought to be appointed to the leadership month by Rosemary parents, Cheyenne rest and marijuana possession. She’d spend position of dorm counsel.

Chanterelle and Arthur Summers, argues the next year-and-a-half in and out of the “She wrote letters, she… was actively that juvenile hall staff knew the teen was facility, sometimes turning to prostitution making changes so that she would get the at risk for suicide: She’d been a victim of when she needed money. position,” Powell says. “It meant a lot to It’s tough to write Rosemary off simply her; she took it seriously.” sexual exploitation and rape and had a history of depression, suicidal thoughts and as a delinquent teen. Slim and pretty, with Records aren’t clear on when Rosemary self-mutilation. The lawsuit suggests she an engaging smile, she filled the notebooks was appointed to dorm counsel, but on was overmedicated, having been prescribed she kept in her cell with poems, drawings Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, she was removed a psychoactive drug that staff should’ve and song lyrics. She had a knack for lead- from the position. Earlier that day, she’d known had the potential to intensify suicid- ership, her mom says, and a deep sense of had a falling-out with her girlfriend. al thoughts. And, the complaint notes, the justice. Her last stay in juvenile hall was beState guidelines say juvenile detainees facility was understaffed the night of Rose- cause she’d attended a July 18, 2013, rally for are to be visually observed every 15 minmary’s death and that staff, aware she was Trayvon Martin and didn’t notify her proba- utes to ensure their safety. On Sept. 27, staff upset about two troubling events earlier tion officer. Diagnosed with depression and told a medical-examiner investigator that that day, sent her to her room alone, with all suffering from frequent panic attacks, she’d Rosemary was last seen at 7:43 p.m. and write in her notebooks about how juvenile found hanging in her cell 10 minutes later, the tools she needed to take her own life.

The credibility of San Diego’s juvenile- hall could better serve teens like her. meaning that within that span of time, she’d “Things that need to change,” she wrote covered her cell window, used one sheet to detention system has come under fire this year amid a complaint that the Youth Law at the top of one page after being denied a secure her door and a second to hang herCenter submitted to the U.S. Department request to see a counselor and instead had self. By the time she was found, she wasn’t of Justice in July regarding the use of harsh an officer come to her breathing and had no disciplinary measures on at-risk youth. In cell. “Officers not lipulse. Records from “It hadn’t been documented cases, staff used pepper spray censed counselors.”

Sharp Memorial HosStephanie Powell, on suicidal teenagers who refused to compital indicate that GRF expressed to me by ply with strip searches. In many instances, a paralegal with the staff told paramedics any of the staff that suicidal teens were placed in solitary con- Singleton Law Firm, she’d not been seen for she’d ever been who filed the lawsuit finement for days. roughly an hour.

In the months after Rosemary’s death, on behalf of Rosemary’s Records also show really suicidal.”

Probation Department officials told over- parents, has used these the facility was under—Cheyenne Chanterelle with sight bodies that they’d reviewed and journals—along staffed that night and amended the suicide-watch policies at medical and psychiwhen two female ofGRF. Meanwhile, suicide attempts at the atric records and staff ficers found Rosemary, larger Kearny Mesa complex increased notes—to piece together the last 18 months they weren’t strong enough to support her of Rosemary’s life. Powell talks about Rose- weight or loosen the sheet from around from 10 in 2012 to 24 in 2013.

In July, CityBeat requested the new mary as if she’d known her. her neck. An incident report shows that “She understood what was going on and they called for a pair of scissors but were suicide-watch policies so we could have them reviewed by experts. Claiming it was what needed to be fixed, but didn’t under- still unable to cut her down, Powell says. not in the public interest to release the stand how to take care of herself and her “So, she’s still hanging with her body documents, county officials rejected the own emotions,” Powell says. “It was lonely weight while all of this is going on. Firequest—the administrative equivalent to for her, I think, very lonely.” nally, a male officer comes in, and he’s tall There are at least four documented enough and strong enough that he’s able to putting paper over a cell window. cases of Rosemary being placed on suicide cut her down.” osemary Summers wasn’t quite 15 the watch—twice in 2012 and twice in 2013, the Paramedics got Rosemary’s heart beating first time she was booked into juvenile last time just a month before she killed herhall, after being charged with resisting ar- self. Powell says records show Rosemary suicide CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Paper over the window Suicide attempts soar at juvenile hall—Rosemary Summers succeeded

by Dave Maass and Kelly Davis The Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) is a small, dedicated wing for young women within San Diego County’s main juvenile hall in Kearny Mesa. Run by the county Probation Department, GRF can hold up to 50 detainees, but for most of 2013, it averaged about 34. The unit is designed much like the rest of juvenile hall, except that cell doors don’t lock and common areas are sparsely decorated to seem homier.

At 7:53 p.m. on a Monday night in September 2013, staff noticed that one cell’s small, square window was covered over with paper. When they tried the door, they discovered that the detainee inside had secured it with a bed sheet between the knob and her bunk. They forced their way in and found a girl hanging from an air vent with another bed sheet. Although they were able to revive her pulse, Rosemary Summers was pronounced dead four days later at age 16.

Rosemary’s suicide raises two serious questions for the Probation Department: Did staff do everything they could to prevent her death? And, what are authorities doing to prevent additional deaths as suicide attempts spike at the Kearny Mesa facilities?

To accept the official version of events, you must believe that Rosemary orchestrated and executed a complex suicide plan, timed perfectly between 15-minute safety checks.

To exculpate county staff, you must also believe they had no reason to place Rosemary on suicide watch, requiring even more frequent checks and the removal from her cell of anything she might use to harm herself.

A lawsuit filed against the county this

R

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

SPIN CYCLE

JOHN R.

LAMB Francine Busby preps for a fight “Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.”

—Tom Landry And you thought campaign season was over. Ha! During the last few weeks, rumblings of dissension have begun bubbling to the surface in the churning cauldron that is the San Diego County Democratic Party. Traditionally an amalgam of diverse opinions and agendas, party apparatchiks and leaders in the labor movement are hinting that a change at the top is needed as San Diego heads for the big political showdown come 2016, a presidential-election year when Democratic voters typically come out of hibernation and play.

Mickey Kasparian, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 135 and

head of the executive committee of the influential San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, launched one of the few public salvos at the helm of party Chair Francine Busby in late October when he tweeted that local Democrats “are releasing delegates [sic] personal information under @FrancineBusbySD’s watch. #incompetent #embarrasing [sic] #timetogo.”

Kasparian has made no bones about his displeasure with party darling Olga Diaz, whose recent loss in the Escondido’s mayor race highlighted the schism between party leaders and labor, which decried her support for a 99-cent store and the controversial golf-course-development initiative, Proposition H, which went down to defeat.

That opposition drew the ire of some Latino activists, includ-

6 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

ing CSU San Marcos communications lecturer Fredi Avalos, who, in an open letter published in La Prensa San Diego, chastised Kasparian with the refrain, “What side are you on?”

“Your decision to spend hundreds of dollars in mailers attacking Olga Diaz who was running for mayor of Escondido was much more than just an ill-advised attack on a fellow Democrat and union supporter,” Avalos wrote.

“It was also a crushing blow to a city and a region riven by racial tension. Diaz was the first Latina mayoral candidate in Escondido in over 150 years.”

Kasparian did not respond to several attempts to reach him for this column, but Richard Barrera, the Labor Council’s top executive, said he’s working to bridge the divide. “It’s been unfortunate some of the things that have been written about Mickey and the actions that UFCW took in that race,” Barrera told Spin.

“We’ve had some very productive conversations with leaders in Escondido who want to figure out how we don’t end up in this situation again.

“We can’t allow one election to polarize people in an ongoing way, and I’m certainly working hard to try to build some bridges there, and I think we will.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: JOHN R. LAMB

Will Francine Busby face a party challenge?

Steve Rivera says “it’s a real thing.”

Barrera said he, too, has heard talk about replacing Busby as chair, but he took a more diplomatic approach. “The relationship between the Labor Council and Democratic Party is an important relationship,” he said.

“But there’s always going to be some tension in the relationship.

We do politics because we’re trying to achieve better public policy for working families.

“We certainly don’t want situations where we feel like the party is moving in a direction that we don’t believe is best for our workers,” he continued. “We are looking for partners that are committed to our agenda, and we recognize that, at times, that will mean there will be difficult issues that we’ve got to confront.”

For her part, Busby is taking no chances. At a recent Central Committee meeting, audience members found in their chairs a flyer extolling her accomplishments and urging members to give her another two-year term when the election occurs on Jan. 20.

Privately, some members found the self-promotion during a party meeting a bit over-thetop, but Busby said she offered a similar written rundown of her talents to members when she ran two years ago at the urging of outgoing party Chair Jess Durfee.

“There was nothing unique about that flyer,” Busby said. “I’m asking people to vote for me and giving them the reasons why I think I am qualified to do the job.”

Busby, a former Cardiff-by-theSea school-board member who’s run unsuccessfully four times for Congress, said she’s confident that her decade-long efforts on behalf of the party will earn her a second term as chair. Plus, she noted, no one has officially come forward to challenge her.

“I know that people’s names are floating, but nobody has told me or anybody that I know that they’ve definitely decided to run,” she said. “So, I still think it’s a lot

of talk.”

Indeed, many names have been floated—from San Diego City Council-race losers Carol Kim and Sarah Boot to party icon Christine Kehoe—but Spin could find only one who would admit interest in challenging Busby for the volunteer job.

“It’s a real thing,” longtime Democratic political operative Steve Rivera told Spin. San Diego’s regional director for the California Democratic Party, Rivera said Democrats have a “tremendous opportunity to take advantage of the ramp-up for 2016. This is a party run mostly by volunteers, which always creates a sense of volatility. Unlike local Republicans, we don’t have a Lincoln Club to rely on. Instead, we must rely on our critical mass.”

Rivera said the young volunteers who participated in the recent election, particularly in the congressional campaign of Scott Peters, need to be folded into the party “in some capacity.” His message seems clear: The party needs to do a better job of outreach.

The undercurrent here seems to be: How does a party that has boosted its presence in typically Republican turf like North County also attract youthful enthusiasm south of Interstate 8? Busby argues that outreach will continue to expand.

But as one Busby supporter even noted privately, the party media strategy needs work.

“They’re incoherent when it comes to communicating with the masses over social media,” the backer said. “She’s got what was coming to her by not engaging on that medium.”

Busby seemed to concur: “I’ve met fundraising and campaigntraining goals and managed to get our website in Spanish. But, yes, you can expect me to improve my social-media presence.”

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

Suicide CONTINUED from PAGE 5 again, but she’d been without oxygen for too long and was pronounced dead on Sept. 27.

I

n 2011, the Probation Department recorded only five attempted suicides at the Kearny Mesa facility, including GRF. Attempts doubled to 10 in 2012, then jumped to 24 in 2013. No conclusive explanation was provided to the two main county bodies that oversee juvenile halls—the San Diego County Grand Jury and the Juvenile Justice Commission—although staff suggested it was “due in part to some of the youth in

the facilities attempting multiple times.”

Both oversight bodies note Rosemary’s suicide in their 2013 annual reports, referencing a “detailed review of policies and procedures” and a “newly developed Suicide Watch Protocol.” In July, when CityBeat asked to inspect these documents under the California Public Records Act, the county rejected the request—and ignored a second request made on Nov. 20—claiming exemptions usually reserved for drafts of documents. “[D]isclosure would expose an agency’s decision-making process in such a way as to discourage candid discussion within the agency….” county spokesperson Michele Clock wrote. “Therefore, the public’s interest in nondisclosure clearly outweighs the

public interest in disclosure.”

The county did not respond to questions by press time; neither did the head of the Juvenile Justice Commission. Another board tasked with investigating deaths in detention, the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board, has not yet issued its findings.

T

he night Rosemary was found in her cell, it wasn’t county staff that notified her mom; it was Rosemary’s girlfriend. Chanterelle can only assume that staff called the most recent number in her daughter’s call log and not her emergencycontact list. Chanterelle had to track down where her daughter had been taken.

Chanterelle says she’d been told by staff

that Rosemary’s suicide threats weren’t serious—that she was just trying to get moved out of GRF and into the larger juvenile-detention facility.

“It hadn’t been expressed to me by any of the staff that she’d ever been really suicidal,” she says.

It wasn’t until after Rosemary’s death that Chanterelle saw the extent to which her daughter was suffering.

“They could have called and let me know there was something going on, reached out to me that she needed somebody,” she says.

“Nobody reached out to me.”

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

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

aaryn

backwards & in high heels

belfer Self-medicating through trashy art “So it’s gonna be forever / Or it’s gonna go down in flames / You can tell me when it’s over / If the high was worth the pain / Got a long list of ex-lovers / They’ll tell you I’m insane / Cause you know I love the players / And you. Love. The. Game.”

—Taylor Swift

ately escorted out of the building by security after the finales of Six Feet Under and The Wire. I took it as a personal affront to all things decent when Deadwood was canceled after three incredible seasons. I went ahead and canceled cable television, and the world is in a perfect place.

And yet, all of that being said, I’m willing to let Here’s the stone-cold truth: I’m into some superfimy kid eat ice cream for dinner and have her own cial entertainment right now. Various news items binge-fest of My Little Pony so that I can watch engulf me like an avalanche: President Obama just one more episode of Alicia Florrick being the finding his immigration balls a month too late; frat perpetual courtroom hero in beautifully tailored boys across the country getting away with rape, ho pantsuits. The Good Wife is terribly cheesy and hum; a famous icon getting away with rapes, plumore formulaic than Fifty Shades of This is What ral, ho diddly hum; and le piece de résistance, the America is Reading? But I’m completely hooked. state of emergency in Missouri (i.e. declaration of Maybe it’s a middle-age thing, I don’t know. I wonwar) in advance of a predictable verdict in the Mider sometimes when I see the bags under my eyes chael Brown murder. I feel like I’m in a perpetual from the previous night’s marathon: Is this my state of bracing for a cellular-level, no-antidote, Columbo? How much time do I have left before I’m helpless type of pain. It all makes me a bit afraid ordering cottage cheese, canned peaches and a cup for the future. of lukewarm coffee for lunch at D.Z. Akins? Can I And so! As I type this, I am admiring my newly be that far from just saying screw it, and instead of manicured fingers move like red glittery lighting avoiding dimly lit restaurants, I up and buy seven over my keyboard and enjoying Taylor Swift’s new pairs of readers but never again purchase another album, 1989. ticket to a live concert because But don’t worry: I’m only there’s no place to sit down? listening until near the end Sort of makes me afraid for How much time do I when she starts talking about my future. have left before I’m how she writes her own lyrBut not really: That the ics, at which point I have to three main women characters ordering cottage cheese, shut it off, because a) I don’t in The Good Wife are of a cercanned peaches and care about her process in the tain age is nothing to sniff at. a cup of lukewarm coffee same way you probably don’t And I’m pretty sure Alicia Flocare about mine and b) her rrick is going to evolve (and for lunch at D.Z. Akins? talking voice is, like, so, like, probably get reading glasses), annoying? Anyway, good for meaning there is hope for me. her for not hiring songwritAnd I’m definitely—definiteers like most of her contemporaries. I mean—and ly—a better mother than she is. I love to watch her here comes the understatement to end all undersuck at parenting. statements—the girl is no Gil Scott Heron. But My husband and I editorialize our way through while the revolution won’t be televised, Swift’s each episode in a manner that, to throw all humility out the window, would make Mystery Scihit song “Shake it Off ” is a big, giant “Fuck You!” ence Theater 3000 want to offer us a six-figure to the assholes of the world, and I can’t help but contract. Meanwhile, all the glamour of being a cheer for that. lawyer makes me want to submit my application My indulgence in guilty pleasures makes me to Thomas Jefferson School of Law. It turns out, feel good when I’m feeling low and is my current lawyering is jam-packed with intrigue, smarts and mechanism of self-preservation. It’s like exercise, angst-filled glances through offices with walls only without all the exercise. It’s flat-lining withmade of glass. There’s sexual tension in every out dying. It’s a healthy alternative to guzzling damned corner. There’s lots of paper shuffling, file wine from the bottle or eating the entire weedfolding and sport-coat-jacket buttoning. There’s infused Tootsie Roll thing in one sitting. Not that fast-paced conversation while walking to the elI eat weed-infused Tootsie Roll things. I don’t like evator, to the car, to the conference room. And weed-infused Tootsie Roll things. Much. did you know? Lawyers are just like us! They get Anyway, I have some anxiety these days (don’t phone calls about emergency filings, and have to even get me started on the disaster that is the pubpack an overnight bag since they’ll be spending lic-school system), and alleviating it has culminatthe weekend at work. ed in very late night after very late night followed Bottom line: The Good Wife, like Taylor Swift’s by more of the same, with my ass sculpting a wide bubble-gum pop, is escapism. And I’m with the groove into the couch as my husband and I bingemasses in enjoying both. watch The Good Wife.

Now, I’m a little bit of a television snob and am Write to aaryn@sdcitybeat.com pretty picky about what I watch. I once maintained and editor@sdcitybeat.com. that television should have been fired and immedi-

8 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

by michael a. gardiner Michael A. Gardiner

and masago. The quality of the seafood on two trips was very good, though on another it was distinctly less than excellent (but certainly not unhealthful).

Each step along the Sushi Freak assembly line—from wrapper to protein to toppings (but not fillings or sauces)—adds to the cost. By the end, a roll is roughly the same price one might expect at a standard sushi restaurant. The main differences are the quality of the rolling itself (which varied widely from perfect to falling apart) and the girth of the rolls (from large to massive). If you get a well-rolled, One critic’s rolls particularly big one, you certainly get bang for your buck. But why?

It’s a question that clearly should be asked about the “Sushi Burritos”—essentially sushi rolls on steroids. These are massive, engorged missiles of rice with proteins and fillings inside in ratios that make notions of flavor-balance aspirational at best. One of Sushi Freaks’ normal rolls Create-it-yourself sushi is a meal, and two is over the top, but the Sushi Burrito will likely spoil tomorrow’s supper.

A supposedly knowledgeable source informs me You can also order from a more standard roll that my headstone will someday read: “Everymenu. The further you stray from the core conone’s a critic. Here lies another one.” cept, however, the more the place’s limitations The sentiment behind that, in this age of Yelp, come in to play. My Rainbow Roll was a bad might explain Sushi Freak, the new Downtown choice. Cutting fish to fill a roll is simpler than create-your-own-sushi-roll spot. It is, after all, hard cutting for toppings. The latter was plainly beto criticize the chef’s artistry in putting together yond the skillset of Sushi Freaks’ “chefs.” sushi rolls when you made the choices yourself.

And then there’s Sushi Freak’s other inherent The create-your-own-roll process is not undanger: the wide variety of options. Green chile, like the protocol at Subway: Pick your wrapmango and coconut shrimp topped with unagi, per (seaweed or soy sheet) and protein (choices anyone? Teriyaki chicken with cream cheese and range from raw fish such as tuna, yellowtail and jalapeño and spicy tuna? Perhaps add a free sauce salmon to cooked proteins such as shrimp, krab like wasabi mayo? mix, freshwater eel and fried calamari) and There’s more to making sushi rolls than pickadd fillings (such as avocado, cucumber, daikon ing one from Column A, one from Column B and sprouts, green onion, mandarin oranges, mango, two from Column C. There’s artistry. There’s etc.), “toppings” (avocado, flying fish roe, temcraft. There’s sourcing quality ingredients. pura crunch, etc.) and sauces. The assembly line There’s technique (knife and mat). ends at the cash register.

Just because everyone’s a critic doesn’t mean The program at Sushi Freak (1071 Sixth Ave. everyone’s a sushi chef. At Sushi Freak, you’ll with another location in Linda Vista, sushifreak. pretty much have only yourself—and a fast-food concept—to blame for the result. me) can result in excellent rolls. My salmon roll in nori with avocado and green onion and a spicyWrite to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com tuna topping was superb. So was my yellowtail and editor@sdcitybeat.com. roll in nori with cucumber and daikon sprouts

the world

fare

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

BY KELLY DAVIS

cocktail

tales

Return of the Smashing Pumpkin Since 2010, when San Diego food writer Troy Johnson featured Grant Grill’s (grantgrill.com) Smashing Pumpkin on the Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate, I’ve had “try that” on my bucket list. Yet every year, something foils my plans and the Smashing Pumpkin (pumpkin-infused Mount Gay Black Barrel rum, Cointreau Noir, Massenez Creme de Ginger Liqueur, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, Scrappy’s Cardamom Bitters, saffron and Meyer lemon) eludes me. I will try it this year. I will.

After I finally try the Smashing Pumpkin, I’ll head over to Polite Provisions (politeprovisions.com) for Erick Castro’s Pumpkin Pie cocktail. Or, since I’ve got pumpkin butter in the fridge and Cognac in the liquor cabinet, perhaps I’ll make it at home (though, I predict it’ll fall short of Polite Provisions’ version): 2 ounces Cognac 3/4 ounce lemon juice 1/2 ounce simple syrup

10 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

1 egg white 1 teaspoon pumpkin butter 3 dashes old-fashioned bitters Strain into a soda glass without ice, top with a splash of soda and fresh-grated nutmeg.

If pumpkin’s not your thing, Polite Provisions’ holiday menu also has a classic Hot Buttered Rum (aged rum, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, melted butter, hot water), the Peppermint Butler (Fernet Mentha, Crème de Cacao and cream) kelly davis and the Dark Harvest, a spiced take on an Old Fashioned with bourbon, lemon, Becherovka and cinnamon gomme.

Sycamore Den (sycamoreden.com) has also rolled out a few new cocktails that incorporate seasonal flavors. The Holiday Highball, with apple brandy, lime, ginger-cinnamon syrup, soda and whiskey-barrel-aged bitters, will have you forgetting how much you hate the holidays. The Autumn Java taps into local coffee-roasting talent with its blend of scotch, aged rum, Curacao, Dark Horse coffee and mole bitters. And Don’t Eat the Snow in Hawaii (five rums, a housemade secret syrup, grapefruit and pineapple juice) will set you back $15—and you have to hand over your ID so you don’t make off with the mug (pictured)—but you can caress Tom Selleck’s mustache with every swig.

by jenny montgomery Jenny montgomery

er, especially one that’s done as brilliantly as this North County star does them.

First up, the fresh-baked bread is soft and chewy and tastes like actual bread, not chemicals. No industrial fans waft the scent out the door in some creepy attempt to lure you inside. The joint is always jumping, because North County peeps found out a while ago that the food at this boisterous little shop is delicious.

All you happy traditionalists can ignore my grousing and go for the sliced turkey, roast beef, ham or salami offerings, but I’d encourage you to dive into the steak subs. Tender, well-marbled steak is grilled, chopped up into juicy, bite-sized chunks, then piled on your choice of a pillowy sub roll or slices of bread cut as thick as a dictionary. Classic accompaniments like melted cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms and bell peppers hit the spot and make for a perfect lunch.

A few twists on the steak sandwich Hungry Bear’s Greek chicken sandwich are worth exploring, like the teriyaki and fajita versions. If you prefer your beef ground up, Hungry Bear has you covered with its unique burger subs.

If you’re cutting back on cow, check out one of the chicken offerings. Rarely do I find a restaurant that can pull off a grilled-chicken sandwich that Grinders with a growl isn’t rubbery and bland. Hungry Bear breaks that pattern with moist bits of bird and nary a piece of Subway is the bane of my existence. Remember weird tendon. The Greek chicken is a highlight, when we collectively shat ourselves upon discovwith warm, oregano-speckled pieces of chicken ering that the sandwich chain’s bread is made out overflowing from the roll, moist with tzatziki and of ground-up yoga mats or something like that? zesty with feta cheese and cucumbers.

(I’m pretty sure that’s what the news reported, If you’re feeling a little burned out on breakfast but let’s not quibble with facts.) burritos, take a gander at the quirky omelet subs on Long before Jared tried to bamboozle me into Hungry Bear’s menu. Sure, it’s just a way to add a thinking Subway’s bland-wiches (trademark!) ton of carbs to your morning serving of eggs, but if were healthy, I’d suffered through far too many you don’t eat anything for the rest of the day, I think conferences and meetings where a dry platter of you can still feel pretty good about yourself. Even cheap Subway fare was my nourishment. I canthe pickiest of eaters will find something to chow not muster any enthusiasm for a sammie of sliced on, from an extra-gooey grilled cheese to peanut lunchmeat, but when that sandwich is actively butter and jelly to a simple, creamy egg salad. terrible-tasting, I’m filled with a burning indigAlthough Escondido might be a trek for some, nation that I should probably try redirecting tohunting down Hungry Bear is worth the extra ward things like poverty and water overuse. few miles. Go ahead and use your yoga mat for its Then along comes the plentiful menu at Esconintended purpose. dido’s Hungry Bear Sub Shop (302 W. El Norte Write to jennym@sdcitybeat.com Pkwy., hungrybearsubshop.com) to smack me upand editor@sdcitybeat.com. side the head and tell me that I do love a good grind-

north

fork

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

the

SHORTlist

ART

COORDINATED BY KINSEE MORLAN

beautiful thing about shopping locally is you’re going to find a unique gift, whether it’s arts, furniture or jewelry. That’s the great thing about shopping in a neighborhood.”

On Saturday, Nov. 29, during NoLI Nights Buon Natale (North Little Italy Nights Merry Christmas), folks can stroll down the sidewalk and check out art performances and a number of live musical acts at local businesses. The area’s colorful boutiques, art galleries and eateries will stay open late, offering discounts.

“We’ll start getting ready for the holiday season,” Gomez said.

“You’ll start to see the transition of our neighborhood.”

Participating businesses include modern-furniture and home-accessory store Mixture, which is going out of business and will be offering up to 90 percent off certain items. Visitors to pet spa Hairy and Merry can get a pet portrait by local artists. And those who grab a bite at Juniper and Ivy can throw back one of their So, it’s not Buy Nothing Day, the unofficial holiday signature holiday cocktails. that’s replaced Black Friday for many people who “We’re showcasing the whole neighborhood with are critical of capitalism’s death-grip on our collec- an emphasis on art and design,” Gomez said. “It’s an tive unconscious. However, if you’re going to do some emphasis on the entire community.” holiday shopping during the Thanksgiving weekend, The quarterly event replaced the monthly Fricheck out Little Italy’s neighborhood-wide event pro- day event Kettner Nights earlier this year. Now once moting locally owned small businesses. every three months, the event is bigger and usually “Anybody can go to a mall and buy a gift from a held on Thursday. Find details at littleitalysd.com. big chain store,” said Little Italy Association district manager and event organizer Chris Gomez. “The

1

2

BUY-A-LITTLESOMETHING DAY

ART FOR ENVIRONMENT

There’s a new La Jolla gallery with some loftier-than-normal goals. Not only do the folks behind Dolphin and Hawk Fine Art Gallery (7742 Herschel Ave.) want to contribute to the vibrancy of the local art scene by showing contemporary, abstract work created by living artists; they also want to help improve the environment by supporting research while they’re at it. Dolphin and Hawk’s upcoming exhibition, La Jolla PostModern Art Exhibit, which opens with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29, features the works of J.Hinos and Chobolits. Hinos is a local artist who uses recycled objects in his abstract work, and Chobolits’ paintings dance delicately between landscape and ab“The Renaissance” by J.Hinos stract expressionism. Half the show’s profits will be donated to local environmental organizations. dolphinandhawk.com

12 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

3

YOU’RE IN CIDER TOWN

Enjoying a locally brewed beer is a perennial activity in San Diego, but there’s something uniquely autumnal about sipping on cider. But why choose when both will be poured in plentiful supply at the Craft Beer & Cider Fest in Del Mar, starting at noon on Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Del Mar Racetrack (2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.). Patrons can sample a number of local and international beers and ciders while munching on food-truck offerings and listening to jams spun

by DJs. And at 4 p.m., alt-rockers Cake will perform live. Admission is $18 and includes five 7-ounce samples. dmtc.com

Black Friday: A Reflection of American Consumerism at 98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. Black Fridaythemed artwork by Julia Gomez, Scott Genglebach, Melissa Graham and more.

Includes performance art, acoustic music and poetry readings. Proceeds benefit The Buy Art Campaign. Opening from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Nov. 28. $5-$10. 619255-7885, bettinatime.com/blackfriday California Coastal Commission Youth Art & Poetry Exhibit at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. See winning selections from the 2014 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest. The poetry of three San Diego students will be among the art of 28 California students. Opens Friday, Nov. 28, on view through on Jan. 19. $12-$17.

858-534-FISH, aquarium.ucsd.edu HJ.Hinos and Chobolits at Dolphin and Hawk Fine Art Gallery, 7742 Herschel Ave., La Jolla. The two local postmodern artists with different yet esoteric styles find common ground. Opening from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. 760-814-7832, dolphinandhawk.com The Artists of War at Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa, 2000 Second St., Coronado. The Lone Survivor Foundation presents the artwork of veterans affected

by PTSD. Cash’d Out performs and there’ll be food, drinks, a silent auction, vendors and keynote speakers. From 6 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29. $75. 800-228-9290, lonesurvivorfoundation.org/aowart HGlass Ranch Thanksgiving Sale and Demonstration at Glass Ranch, 20307 Beech Lane, Escondido. Artist Gary Cohen opens his studio for a twoday annual event with glassblowing going on throughout the day and Lyn Feudner showing her fused glass jewelry and sculptural creations. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 2930. glassranchstudio.com Nature’s Artistry at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas. New oil paintings from Hooshan Yashar themed on the beauty of nature, specifically in California. The work includes seascapes, coastal scenes and landscapes. Opening from 1 to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30. encinitaslibfriends.org Family Drop-In Day: Exploring Pop Art at San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park. Explore the exhibition Gauguin to Warhol: 20th Century Icons and then assemble collages from images found in popular magazines to recreate artworks inspired by the Museum’s permanent collection. From 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Free-$12. 6192327931, sdmart.org Minimal at Madison Gallery, 1020 Prospect St., La Jolla. Venice Beach artist Lori Cozen-Geller will showcase new sculptural works made of wood or fiberglass and overlaid with automotive paint. Opens Monday, Dec. 1. madisongalleries.com

BOOKS Small Business Saturday & Indies First Day at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. Authors Nancy Holder, Jonathan Maberry, Chris Marie Green, Nick Cole, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom and others will be on hand. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com HVivian Yang at San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, 404 Third Ave., Downtown. The author of Shanghai Girl and Memoirs of a Eurasian will give a lecture and sign books. Her fiction explores the 20th Century Chinese and Russian diasporas. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. $4.

619-338-9888, sdchm.org

HAtta Arghandiwal at Khyber Pass, 523 University Ave., Hillcrest. Join the awardwinning Afghan-born author to taste some traditional Afghani food while discussing Lost Decency, Arghandiwal’s memoir that explores his conflicting love and pride for his country of origin. At noon Monday, Dec. 1. $35. adventuresbythebook.com

COMEDY Doug Benson at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Benson is host of the popular weekly podcast (Doug Loves Movies). At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26. $18. americancomedyco.com Rell Battle at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. The L.A.based comic has been seen on Adam Devine’s House Party, the Showtime special Chocolate Sundaes and on Spike TV’s To Catch a Crook. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26. $15. madhousecomedyclub.com Barry Rothbart at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown.

You’ve seen him on The Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien and MTV’s Punk’d. At 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29. $20-$30. 619-702-6666, madhousecomedyclub.com HShawn Pelofsky at Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St., La Jolla. Her TV credits include Community, Chelsea Lately, The Tonight Show, Last Comic Standing, and she’s developed a huge following in the LGBT community. At 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29. $20. 858454-9176, lajolla.thecomedystore.com Sean Patton at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. The New York-based actor and comedian’s performed at established comedy clubs such as Comix, Gotham and the Comedy Cellar. At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29, and 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. $18. americancomedyco.com HDS Action Comedy Ball at Mad House Comedy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. This annual charity event and auction raises money for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. Performers include Mark Christopher Lawrence, Erik Knowles, Lauren O’Brien and more. From 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. $40-$100.

619-702-6666, dsaction.comcomedyball5 HBrandt Tobler at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Tobler is an up-and-coming comic best known for founding the legendary Backyard Comedy Show. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. $12.

619-795-3858, americancomedyco.com

FOOD & DRINK Pints for Prostates Movember Nights at Barrel Republic, 1261 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Come show off your MOgress of your moustache and enjoy beer specials while supporting men’s health information for prostate cancer awareness.

From 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Nov. 28. 858-270-9922 HFall Beer & Cider Fest at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Sample from more than 100 craft brews, seasonal beers and a variety of ciders. Receive five, 7-ounce tastings for $18. Food trucks and music will be provided throughout the day. From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. $6. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com HThanksgivegan at Pioneer Park, 1521 Washington Place, Mission Hills. A first in that hopes to be an annual potluck-style feast open to vegans, non-vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike. BYO-everything. From 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29.

HOLIDAY EVENTS Del Mar Mile Family Fun Run at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Kickoff Thanksgiving with a one-mile run on the racetrack with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Helen Woodward Animal Center and their equestrian therapy program. At 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27. $8-$25. 858-755-1141 dmtc.com Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K Run & Walk at San Diego Museum of Man, Balboa Park. The 13th annual 5K is the biggest Thanksgiving Run/ Walk in San Diego, with proceeds going to help your homeless neighbors in need.

At 7:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27. $32-$45.

619-239-2001, thanksgivingrun.org Art of the Holiday at Fallbrook Art Center, 103 South Main, Fallbrook. Skip the mall madness and pick up a unique and artful gift at this annual, holiday-themed craft and art sale in the Janice Griffiths Gallery. Open daily through Dec. 24. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28. 760-7281414, fallbrookartcenter.org HSanta’s Coming! Arts ‘n Craft Fair at Bates Nuts Farm, 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center. Over 100 local artisans will display their wares for purchase which includes jewelry, art, pottery, toys, holiday items and more. Barbecue and live music included. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday through Sunday, Nov. 28-30.

760-749-3333, batesnutfarm.biz HSmall Biz Saturday Trunk Show at Sew Loka Handmade Artisan Collective, 1821 Fifth Ave., Downtown. A group of local artisans present their new creations

Honky brims with uneasy laughter

THEATER

Greg Kalleres’ Honky is a biting satiric come- into turmoil the lives of the African-Ameridy of what-ifs. What if people, black or white, can shoe designer (Gerard Joseph), the white spoke with absolutely no filters about race? ad man who created the commercial (Francis What if there was a “race pill”—let’s call it Gercke) and the very white owner of the shoe Driscotol after its inventor, Dr. Driscoll— company (James Newcomb). Complicating that, when taken, removed all prejudice matters—and fueling the show’s overdone based on skin color. Farfetched as these fantasy side—are cameos by Abraham Linwhat-ifs may be, they add up to 100 minutes coln and Frederick Douglass.

DAREN SCOTT of guilty laughter at the LyIt all unfolds in quick, ceum Theatre, where the high-pitched scenes in the San Diego Repertory TheLyceum Space, with screen atre company is presenting projections of New York the West Coast premiere of City interchanging behind Kalleres’ one-act play. them. Honky makes so It’s guilty laughter bemany points about race, cause you can’t believe tolerance and intolerance, you’re chortling over charand they come so fast and acters spouting with such furiously, that your head is cavalier lack of restraint apt to be spinning even as the most racist things you the nervous laughter bubcan imagine. Archie Bunbles inside you.

Jaque Wilke and Gerard Joseph ker would be out of his Director Sam Woodleague among this group. house’s cast of eight has no shortage of enBut, of course, the mission of Honky is ergy. Funniest is Jaque Wilke as Andie, a to stir thoughtful, post-curtain conversa- charmingly artless woman who’ll say whattion about race and racism in America. The ever’s on her mind, damn the consequences. premise of the play, in fact, is a serious one: Joseph, as the shoe designer Thomas, has the A sneaker company’s ad campaign for a shoe most serious role and the inevitable moment aimed at “urban” young men has led to a mur- of clarity at the end. That Andie and Thomas der on the streets over said shoe. This throws hook up is Honky’s delicious irony.

If you’re the hypersensitive type, this play is not for you. If your funny bone and conscience can operate at the same time, then it sure is.

Honky runs through Dec. 7 at the Lyceum Theatre at Horton Plaza, Downtown. $31$75. sdrep.org

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

OPENING A Christmas Carol: This is Cygnet Theatre’s own unique, family-friendly, musical adaptation of the holiday classic about the transformation of one Ebenezer Scrooge. Opens in previews on Nov. 28 at the Old Town Theatre. cygnettheatre.com Bell, Book & Candle: A witch living in 1950s Greenwich Village casts a spell on her neighbor and, in the process, risks losing her magical powers. Opens Nov. 28 at OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista. onstageplay house.org The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue: The Second City sketch-comedy troupe returns to San Diego with a holiday-focused show. Opens Nov. 28 at La Jolla Playhouse. lajollaplayhouse.org

For full listings,

please visit “T heater ” at sdcit ybeat.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

to the public. Peruse handbags, jewelry, candles, clothing and art while possibly picking up the perfect holiday gift. From 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. facebook. com/SewLoka Lighting of the Giving Tree at The Headquarters at Seaport District, 789 West Harbor Drive, Downtown. The Headquarters will light its 25-foot holiday tree.

Benefits USO San Diego and features complimentary hot cocoa, cookies, photos with Santa and a performance by The All American Boys Chorus. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. 949-2343318, theheadquarters.com HHoliday Shopping Soiree at Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park. Shop the museum’s eclectic gift shop while enjoying cocktails and appetizers. From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. mingei.org

jazz trumpet leader Bill Caballero and his band play a free show as part of the Concerts in the Barrio concert series. At 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. mercadosd.com

raoke starting at 9 p.m. Ten percent of the night’s proceeds will benefit prostate cancer awareness. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26. 619-230-8606, tinroofbars.com

HGregory Page at Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon. The acclaimed singer-songwriter, fresh from his European tour, appears in a free concert as part of the library’s First Tuesday series. At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. 619-660-5370, sdcl.org

Run for the Hungry Race at Horton Plaza, 324 Horton Plaza, Downtown. All proceeds from the annual 10K and 5K race benefits the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and hunger-relief programs. At 7:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27. $57-$30.

619-239-8180, sdrunforthehungry.org

Cedros Avenue Holiday Open House at Cedros Avenue Design District, Solana Beach. Dozens of shops and businesses along Cedros will have specials and festivities. See website for full list of participants. From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. shopcedros.com

HAurelio at Price Center Ballroom, UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The guitarist and singer has become the new voice of Parranda music, a breezy, percussive mix of Caribbean, Central American, and West African elements. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. $12-$30. artpwrcom

HNoLI Natale in Little italy. A special Small Business Saturday edition of the walkable quarterly event in North Little Italy (NoLi).

Participating businesses include Ballast Point, Architectural Salvage, jdc Fine Art, Noel-Baza Fine Art and more. From 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. littleitalysd.com

Zapatista Products Holiday Sale at Wild Willow Farm & Education Center, 2550 Sunset Ave., Imperial Beach. Buy fair-trade coffee, embroidery, clothing, cacao, artwork, jewelry, and more created by people from Chiapas, Mexico. From 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29. sandiegoroots.org

Bill Magee Blues Band at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Part of the Center’s WOW First Wednesdays concert series, guitarist Bill Magee delivers authentic Mississippi blues and has performed alongside greats like Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and more. At 4 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. 800-988-4253, artcenter.org

Movember Gala Party at Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. The annual moustache-themed costume party takes place during the races and features contests in a variety of categories (Best Team, Best Couple and even Lamest Mo). From 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. $6. 858-755-1141, dmtc.com

H2014 Surfin’ Santa Arrival at Seaport Village, West Harbor Drive, Downtown.

Children, teens and adults are welcome to meet and pose with Surfin’ Santa on his surfboard and giant 6-foot wave.

There will also be a festive parade, holiday crafts, street performers and live music throughout the day. From 1 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29. seaportvillage.com

HSeason of Luminaria Community Tree Lighting at Grape Street Square, Grape & Fern Streets, South Park. South Park kicks off Luminaria, a month-long season of holiday lights, with a tree dedication and lighting ceremony. The tree is a unique sculpture by San Diego artist Todd Williams. From 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. SouthParkSD.com In The Spirit Holiday Artists Market at New Village Arts, The Foundry, 2787 State St., Carlsbad. A group show featuring art inspired by the holidays along with live music and an all-age interactive community art project. Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. 760-433-3245, carlsbad-village.com

MUSIC HTrans-Siberian Orchestra at Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, College Area. The rock band have become somewhat of a holiday tradition for prog-rock fans. The band is touring their all new live rock opera, “The Christmas Attic.” At 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28. $57.35-$89.40.

619-594-0429, ticketmaster.com Sima Bina at MCASD La Jolla, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The singer, scholar and diva returns to San Diego with her ensemble featuring Davood Khan on sarod.

They will be playing music from Iran and Afghanistan. At 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. $40-$65. 619-688-0688, persiantix.com Chamber Choir at MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. A special concert showcasing solo student artists from the Applied Classical Music program, as well as a performance by the MiraCosta College Chamber Choir. From 3 to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30. $8-$10. miracosta.edu HQuinteto Caballero at Mercado del Barrio, National Avenue at Cesar E Chavez Parkway, Barrio Logan. The Latin

14 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

“Liquid Love II” by Irina Negulescu will be on view with works

by Xiaoye Sun at a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Negulescu Fine Art (2360 India St., Little Italy).

HThe New Trio at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Since its inception in 2006, the trio of violin, piano and cello has emerged as one of the preeminent chamber music ensembles in recent memory. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. $40-$45. ljathenaeum.org

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Dead Turkey Appreciation Poetry Reading at Golden Hill Park, 2596 Golden Hill Drive, Golden Hill. Poets Without Words invite fellow poets to gather at the entrance to the Poet’s Fountain to read original poems on the themes of gratitude and regret. From 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. 858-349-6429 Open Shakespeare Reading at Upstart Crow, 835 West Harbor Drive, Seaport Village. San Diego Shakespeare Society’s open reading where anyone can join in or just listen. Bring your own text if possible.

On this night: The Bard’s best comic scenes. From 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. sandiegoshakespearesociety.org HStories of the Season at Rebecca’s Coffee House, 3015 Juniper St., South Park. Join members of Storytellers of San Diego for stories evoking nostalgia, hope and matters of life and death. Donations welcome. From 7 to 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. storytellersofsandiego.org

SPECIAL EVENTS Movember at Tin Roof at Tin Roof, 401 G St., Gaslamp. Celebrate Movember and that ’stache you’ve been working all month long with a Beer Pong Tournament. There’ll be prizes and full band ka-

HVoltaire Garden Walk in Ocean Beach. Businesses on Voltaire Street between Bacon and Ebers will have snacks, special deals and raffles. Participants include Little Fish Comic Book Studio, The Green Store, Holistic Science Company and more. From 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. cultivateob.com HBikes & Beers North County at Belching Beaver Brewery, 980 Park Center Drive, Vista. A 22-mile bicycle ride through North County with stops at breweries like Lost Abbey and Mother Earth Brew Co. for tastings and snacks. Raises money for the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. $50. 760-5995832, bikesandbeers.org

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS HPoetry Abstraction and the Comeback of the Body at UCSD Faculty Club, 9500 Gilman Drive, #0121, La Jolla. The UCSD Literature Department holds their James K. Binder Lecture featuring writer and media-activist Franco Berardi Bifo, who’ll discuss why poetry and art are part of social uprisings. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. literature.ucsd.edu World War I and the “American Century” at Great Hall La Jolla, 4275 Campus Point Court, La Jolla. Part of the “World War I and the Birth of the Modern World” lecture series, Rebecca Plant, UCSD professor of history, will discuss the legacy of the “war to end all wars.” At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. caesar.ucsd.edu

For full listings,

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

Josh Pavlick

Seen Local Small objects, big ideas More is not always better. Anyone who’s spent an evening flipping through thousands of cable TV channels looking for a single decent show can tell you that sometimes more is just more. Fortunately, the 86 small works that comprise the exhibition Object Object!! at Helmuth Projects (helmuth-projects.com) are consistently compelling.

Curating artists John Oliver Lewis and Jessica McCambly, under the moniker “good good things,” were invited to work within two constraints: Objects had to be no larger than 10 inches in any direction and had to be priced under $300. Constraint often breeds ingenuity, and the work on display is proof.

One favorite was Matthew Hebert’s “Prayers for Rain (for Wilhelm Reich),” in which a hacked Radio Shack WeatheRadio plays songs about weather as if from scratched LPs on a faraway radio station.

The piece anchors a series of whimsical 3D objects re-imagining the familiar. Kelly Eginton’s “Endless Sunset” consists of a Bakelite slide case filled with slides of sun-bleached sugar paper that create a polychromatic series of tiny abstract sunsets.

Allison Wiese’s “Intercom” is defiantly nonfunctional, made of woodblock, found objects and a blinking red light like a high-concept toy. Jessica Halonen’s “Flutter (spreadsheet 3)” is a perfectly constructed paper airplane made of aluminum, enamel and ink; it inspires visions of a classroom floor littered with airplanes after a particularly rowdy study hall.

Meanwhile, Farrah Emami’s “Living Room (Fireplace I)” is an object that operates differently. Made of white clay, it appears to be a crumbling cast of a fireplace’s interior corner, but the viewer instinctively fills in the missing dimensions; though working within the constraints of the exhibition, it implies a Kinsee Morlan

Gary Cohen

Hot-shop history

much larger spatial presence. Tom Driscoll’s “Casing,” made of cast cement, and Joshua West Smith’s “thinness 2,” made of plywood, dirt and enamel, are wall-mounted but protrude into the space, aestheticizing construction and giving the viewer pause.

Bhavna Mehta’s “Seed studies—Garbanzo beans” and Wendell M. Kling’s “Images from the Moon World” offer equally intricate but tantalizingly different approaches to cut paper as a medium.

May-Ling Martinez’s “Revelation” draws the viewer into a finely detailed microcosm that conveys the emotional power of ecstatic religious experience, while the variable shades of white-on-white in scott b. davis’ “in ko pah mountains” and T. Matthew L. Dunn’s “Molloy” invite meditations on how we hold memories, how they fade and what remains.

Object Object!!, which closes with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, succeeds in the tension between the scope of its ambition and the scale of the work by reaffirming the potential for small objects to convey big ideas; the show in aggregate rewards the viewer’s close observation and offers a welcome antidote to the prevailing culture of commercial galleries and corporate art fairs, where big hype yields small returns.

—Andy Horwitz ment, Cohen says, can be cost-prohibitive, and keeping up a production level that makes money is difficult. Only the most dedicated artists have made it work, he says. Cohen himself has found a creative way to keep money flowing. Rather than going the commercial-gallery or boutique route, he opens up the Glass Ranch to the public for two big annual tours during Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving weekends. Cohen’s upcoming Thanksgiving sale and glass demonstration is happening at the ranch (20307 Beech Lane, garrycohenstudio.com) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 30.

“This is all the glass that has to go out,” Cohen says as he walks into his shop, filled with hundreds of handmade items, including his popular, colorful tumbler sets and wave sculptures with delicate drizzled glass that emulates sea foam.

Outside the shop sits an 11-foot-tall sculpture he calls “Hydra.” The quirky piece, which was inspired by the lush garden in James Cameron’s Avatar, is indicative of where Cohen ultimately wants his career to go.

“I’d eventually like to get away from the gift market and work more on these one-of-a-kind sculptures,” he says. “I have lots of big ideas.”

Gary Cohen’s been blowing glass for almost 30 years.

He’s seen the popularity of the craft ebb and flow during the decades he’s been making both sculptural and functional glasswork.

“In San Diego County up into the mid ’80s and early ’90s, there were 21 hot shops,” he says, walking up the terraced hill of what he calls the Glass Ranch, his almost-one-acre swath of land in rural Escondido where he has his own glass-blowing studio and home. “A lot of people did it. A lot of people wanted —Kinsee Morlan to do it. And now there might be just four or five in San Diego County.”

Write to kinseem@sdcitybeat.com Running a hot shop with all of the required equip- and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

Fiction 101 Illustrations by Scrojo

sually, the most fantastiU cal stories tend to delight our Fiction 101 judges. But this

year, our first-place winner, Christopher Cordry, wrote a story that’s all too real—about two people just getting to know each other and one of them wondering what he’s gotten himself into. Feels like we’ve all been there. And Cordry puts us right at the table.

Congratulations to him, as well as second- and third-place winners Eber Lambert and Alex Bosworth, and all of the writers whose stories are published here. Particular kudos to Bosworth, OB Laureate Lloyd, Jillian Bourdon, James A. Densmore and Stephen Silke, who all got both of their entries published. Considering how many entries we received, that’s pretty amazing.

Best of the rest

My Brother's Keeper First P lace

Ketchup Glurp, announced the ketchup bottle as it dumped its bright-red contents onto her pineapple fried rice.

“Sorry,” she winced, “I put ketchup on everything. It doesn’t gross you out, does it?”

It did. “No, of course not,” I said, flashing a weak smile.

Her eyes were focused on the bottle, whose butt she was patting to shake out the last drops of tomato paste.

My mind zoomed into the future.

Would she spank me like that when we made love? Would she burp our first child like she burped that ketchup bottle?

I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.

Christopher Cordry, University Heights

The mob wants my older brother dead. So we devise the perfect disappearance plan: a fake funeral. In the hearse, he lies quiet in the coffin, breathing through a concealed air vent while I eye the trailing motorcade.

I remember years ago how he used to torture me until I said “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” and other unpronounceable tongue twisters. The brutality was endless.

Honorable mention Plans change. Instead of unlatching the casket cover to release him, I duct-tape the ies and tuff vent.

At the gravesite, I give the eulogy for real.

I bake pies. I bake ’em and freeze ’em, and when the freezer’s full, throw ’em away. I’m Our family was never big on forgiveness. also a bakery manager and bake pies all day Bil Fuhrer, Bay Park at work.

Funny thing is, the more pies I bake, the more I raise prices.

It’s all figured out: Just bake all day and up of oe raise prices all the time, and then throw Joe decided to become mute because he away anything extra. Then you can keep the hated small talk and also because silence prices as high as you want. was no longer awkward when it lasted forThat’s the secret to pies and stuff, really. ever. Joe loathed awkward moments. He Never let ’em know you’re throwing most of also despised burnt coffee, an opinion he ’em away—and also, keep your prices higher realized while sipping from the office pot than you really should. a brew laced with hints of charred inflat-

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able pool toy and a base note of cremation.

Wordlessly, Joe wondered if a non-awkward forever was something that could be Honorable mention comprehended and controlled with a wellexecuted plan of avoidance. He then vomitince ou eft ed in his mouth a little upon taking another Since you left, there have been bears in the sip and, about to cuss, remembered his new yard. I hear them out there in the pitch-black plan and stayed silent. night, lumbering through the grass, leaning Jillian Bourdon, North Park against the wooden fence and snorting at the garden. I’m trapped in here, surrounded now by a space emptier than I could have imagined. I’m not sure how the bears got he xception there and if the neighbors are aware of their In this universe, God has made one exceppresence. But they nudge at the windows tion to death: my Mother. while I sleep. And they sigh as I lie stiff in Her refrain: “99 years old and nothing my bed, staring at the ceiling, hoping to pass hurts.” as insignificant. I think I’m succeeding.

My sister and I force smiles. A sizeable Stephen Silke, El Cerrito

Honorable mention

Sweet Sorrow Violet started Crown Point late in the year.

She was in third; Max was in kindergarten with the babies. She missed her friends at her old school, and she missed her dad. But, she loved living at the beach. She loved the waves and the birds and the yogurt shop they walked to after dinner. She loved carob chips, something she’d never heard of until they moved here. Some people don’t eat chocolate. She couldn’t remember if it’s because it’s meat or made of chemicals. She just knew that carob meant healthy and healthy meant not living with her dad anymore.

Sarah Newstead, North Park

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16 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

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Shannon Bates, University Heights

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inheritance awaits.

Fast-forward a trillion years.

God says, “Gabriel? What ever happened to Gloria Brooks?”

“Dunno, Boss.”

Gabriel scours his iPad. “‘Death date: 2015.’”

“Confirmed?”

“Strange. The ‘Confirmed’ box is empty.”

“Check it out,” God commands.

Angel departs to a sofa floating in space, where she sits.

“Finally somebody visits me!” she exclaims. “Imagine. Abandoned by my children. Let me tell you, it’s not too late to change my will.”

Alex Burke, La Jolla

Not Interested It wasn’t the first time Frank had seen a dead body laying awkwardly on his livingroom floor, vacant eyes fixed on the ceiling, blood dripping rhythmically from a head wound that would never heal. In fact, it was the third time this month he’d come home to the same mess.

Frank knew why it happened. He understood the urge, the justification. Maybe the world is a better place, he mused. There was, though, an awful lot of blood.

He turned to his wife and asked, “Can’t you just say, ‘Not interested’ to these politicians coming by for your vote?”

Steve Ross, Nestor

Twenty Seconds Nicki Minaj’s song “Anaconda” is stuck in my head. It’s drowning out the sound of my neighbor, Kathy, who is pleading with me to open my door.

Five years, Kathy and the rest of my

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

F iction 101 neighbors were nice to me only when they wanted something.

I warned them, “Scrub your hands for 20 seconds, wear a mask when you go out and stock up on food and water.”

Experts said the virus was unlikely to mutate. They forgot that radiation creates mutation. They ignored the threat from the Fukushima meltdown.

Finally, Kathy is quiet. I never liked that bitch, anyway.

Literary Seduction Richard taught literature at adult school.

When he lectured on Hemingway, he’d watch the pretty women. If they gazed at him and squirmed in their seats, he’d ask them out for coffee. He kept a steady stream of sexual liaisons for years that way.

But the women eventually became postmodern feminists or Patricia Lockwood fans and rejected him. Finally recognizing the need to modernize, he updated his social-media skills and now composes seductive odes in 140 characters and has dozens of women admirers but has to settle for twitter sex.

himself, surveying the chaotic scene.

An old wet nose nudged his leg.

Sean P. Cadden, Liberty Station

The Last Burrito

The morning tasted like salt and death.

“That’s it,” Pete said. “I’ve had it. That’s the last late-night burrito.”

“We’ll see,” said Jasmine, her mouth full Deborah Diane Kuykendall, La Mesa of carne and sarcasm.

The next Friday night, they stared at the yellow menu through bright fluorescents.

The register girl eyed them with disdain. he tarbucks “The usual?” she said.

OB Laureate Lloyd, Ocean Beach Jasmine gave Pete a look. Then, in his ddiction bleary, bloodshot eyes, she saw a flash.

“The line here is barely moving,” said the “No,” he said, choosing words carefully. “A tall man. “Let’s leave this doughnut place fish burrito, please.” and go down to Starbucks.” ilk eeth They paid and left. “The last burrito, “Starbucks?” replied the shorter one.

He took her along for the ride, though her huh?” Jasmine said.

“Man, I used to be addicted to their coffee.” years sticking her nose out the crack of the “I didn’t say which kind,” Pete said, and “Coffee?” window and barking were long over. She took a huge bite.

“Well, it wasn’t really the coffee; it was snoozed, curled in a ball.

Matt Lewis, Cortez Hill the muffins. But when you have muffins, you The new puppy was manic, milk teeth have to have some coffee to go with them.” ripping at the old dog’s ears. But being “Muffins, huh?” blind and deaf, she tolerated the irritation. eep ink “Well, it wasn’t really muffins; it was the He carried the puppy to the car for the This was unsettling. pot. When I used to smoke pot, I never felt drive home.

“Why did you make me just to kill me?” like doing much of anything except going to The puppy settled, the pink belly rising RX145916 demanded to know.

Starbucks and having some muffins.” and falling. He watched, mesmerized, and Using the deep-link interface, Gemma “I know the feeling.” missed the red light.

“Let’s go now.”

Crawling out the sunroof, he gathered “Alright.”

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Kent Reedy, Downtown

Virgil Two years of drought made s e c o ned the Great Depression worse Plac before an August thunderstorm roared on the farmhouse roof.

Shit! That’s hail! Virgil grabbed the tarps to save the garden. Halfway there, he realized it wasn’t hail, but human teeth falling like rain. He shielded his face from the onslaught with his arms until the sky returned to a strontium90 gray, the color those mushroom clouds turned it 12 years ago.

He scooped up a handful, plucked out one gold filling before tossing the rest.

Maybe that bastard on the radio is right—2037 might be a good year after all.

Eber Lambert, South Park

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had brought thousands of clones to sentience, but not one had ever discerned its purpose. This was an unprecedented level of consciousness and could represent an entirely new mode of life.

Gemma momentarily considered the implications. But 18 years of slogging through the creation of sub-human fodder had withered her soul to a wisp. Besides, she convinced herself, what good would a self-aware soldier be? She flagged it as defective, routed it to recycling and processed RX145917.

James A. Densmore, Ramona

Irony or Not John is struggling to get a can of Tab from a vending machine when the machine suddenly tips over and crushes him. Jane is eating a hotdog when she remembers a joke her younger brother had told the night before—something about a spider doing pushups—and chokes, dying. Eric is sitting under a tree in the sand reading Fifty Shades of Grey when a coconut falls on his head, splattering the pages with twentynine shades of red. All while Eloise, nude, menstruating, her fingers covered with paper cuts, backstrokes in the ocean, thinking about what’s for dinner.

Jillian Bourdon, North Park

Family He lit the candle at the altar. Beside him, a wrinkly woman did the same. She looked over and gave him a sad smile. It was Sunday night, the unspoken time to mourn the dead in this town.

“My son,” the woman explained, hand hovering over the flame. “Eleven years ago.

No parent should outlive their children,” she continued, voice quivering. “Who did you lose?”

Heath cleared his throat guiltily. “My goldfish, Larry.”

She gasped, clearly offended. “Is that some kind of sick joke?”

Now it was Heath’s turn for a sad smile.

“He was the closest family I had.”

Emma Sheean, Hillcrest

The Avenger The doctor told Larry, a non-smoker, he had lung cancer. Why? Second-hand smoke, the doctor speculated. Damn smokers are killing us, Larry fumed.

A busty blonde moved in next door to Larry. He smiled until she lit up. She asked him to take her picture at Sunset Cliffs. She stood on the edge, cigarette dangling from her lips, and Larry pushed her off. The next year, he dated four more smokers.

Larry died at the hospice, happy he had saved lives.

OB Laureate Lloyd, Ocean Beach

18 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

G host in the Machine

Conversation Piece

Wake Up Call

our familiarity breed indifference?

“I can’t stay.” I haphazardly threw some “How could you do this, Simone?!” Danny A man who believed that everyone was My best friend of 23 years and wife for 12 clothes and toiletries into an overnight bag. tried the auto-locked latch repeatedly. talking about him behind his back bugged was sitting across from me on our Ikea The haggard night man at the roadside The car parked itself in front of the po- the phones of everyone he knew. For couch, back stiff, eyes averted, informing motel asked me if I needed a wake-up call. I lice station. “It’s Simon,” the now-male- months, he recorded all their conversa- me she couldn’t live this way anymore and shook my head. “Not anymore.” gendered voice dry and prerecorded. tions. After listening to every call, he that she wanted a divorce. I exhaled in fear.

“Hello, Mr. Robinet. Care to make a learned that he’d been wrong. In fact, in How had we become these people? Was it James A. Densmore, Ramona statement?” The cop assessed his demean- all those hundreds of hours he’d recorded, my inattention? My selfishness? Had I let or from across the table. his name never came up, not even once. So, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” the man shot himself. Now, Oscar Wilde eriously “Three bodies in the trunk of your car would probably say the moral here is that and you know nothing?”

I texted her to explain that in the following the only thing worse than being talked “It’s Simone, she hates me,” Danny’s about is not being talked about. But I say format, all people should indicate }irony{. pulse triple digits.

She responded, “fine” and to }call her the moral is that sometimes paranoia is “You mean Simon.” The cop looked at just wishful thinking. sometime{. his tablet.

I assumed she meant not to, so I’m here Alex Bosworth, “Don’t you see, my Google car is crazy!” drinking. But what I’m trying to figure out Spring Valley “Sure. Sure. Now about those bodies.” is, did she mean, call right away?

Directness like that is rare over the Ted Washington, ted@punapress.com phone.

But if I did call, then I would know right away, and she would deny that’s agrant what she meant, which is probably what The robot problem is getting worse. Newer will happen. technology has made them obsolete, and T h ir d You know, it’s really just impossible to e now they’re all looking for work.

There’s one c Pla believe in anything these days. out on the corner directing traffic even though Seriously. there hasn’t been a car on the road in years.

They keep asking to mow our lawn, as if they Stephen Silke, El Cerrito don’t know Synth-o-Grass cuts itself. I think they’re getting depressed. One of them threw itself off the Central Bank building yesterday. Of course, a dozen others rushed over and put it back together. They’re becoming a real nuisance. I tried calling Robot Conricycle trol Services, but all I got was a machine.

My tricycle rusts in Mexico.

Alex Bosworth, Spring Valley Rafael Barón, Normal Heights

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November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

Woman of the west Tommy Lee Jones gives Hilary Swank the reins to a complex narrative

by Glenn Heath Jr. Tommy Lee Jones’ The Homesman stands out as a strange and eccentric western that merits viewing on the biggest screen possible. Defiantly progressive in theme and beautifully classical in style, the film functions as a striking portrait of female fortitude constantly being pressured and limited by male inHilary Swank is “as good as any man.” decisiveness. Set in a harsh prairie landscape littered with obstacles, it’s a darkly comic and But her vision of George is a product of feeling poignant road film that traverses through the muck “uncommonly alone” in life. The Homesman never and mire of the Old West. sentimentalizes Mary Bee’s role as a strong woman Hilary Swank stars as Mary Bee Cuddy, a single trying to survive in a society that frowns upon such woman of means living alone in the Nebraska Ter- dynamism by conforming. Instead, we are privy to ritories of 1817. She plows the dirt fields, tends to the many of her humiliations, both social and sexual, horses and manages the household, all while trying and the ripple effect they have on the narrative as to retain her femininity. a whole. George’s denial of his own culpability in “You’re as good a man as any man hereabouts,” a Mary’s psychological descent defines the film’s outgrimy wagon master tells her early on. But the respect lier of a final act, which borders on tragic in its theof men doesn’t equate to their affection or attraction; matic implications. doing the work of both genders has made Mary Bee Not just a film of substantial subtext, The Homessocially inadequate in the eyes of the townsfolk. man harks back to a measured and lush vision of the When three different women living in the ter- West no longer in favor by Hollywood. Rodrigo Priritory all go insane for varieto’s haunting cinematography ous reasons (incessant rape, compels one to slow the eye diphtheria outbreak, extreme and contemplate every angle of The Homesman drought), Mary Bee volunteers the frame, as if sitting on a front Directed by Tommy Lee Jones to transport them east across porch enjoying the colors of a Starring Hilary Swank, Tommy the Missouri River into Iowa, never-ending horizon. Marco Lee Jones, John Lithgow where each will receive psyBeltrami’s simple but intoxiand Meryl Streep chological treatment. After no cating score manages to give Rated R men in the community offer to the human drama onscreen a

be her second, she enlists the help of a louse named George Briggs (Jones) who’s seconds away from a hangman’s noose. Together, the two set off through the dangerous region, battling both each other and the human vultures nipping at their heels.

Different graves and headstones mark their trajectory, standing as physical and thematic reminders of people’s failure to survive such a harsh world. The reality and poetry of death stand as direct opposites, with Jones favoring the former during The Homesman’s most relevant scenes. Mary Bee struggles to reconcile the finality of it all, working tirelessly to see the greater good in her own efforts and life path.

George, on the other hand, is an isolationist, a man who only looks out for his best interests. Despite having polar-opposite personalities, the two characters make “a good team,” as Mary Bee puts it.

deep layer of melancholy.

Residing at the center of it all is Swank’s Cuddy, a vulnerable yet steadfast woman who can’t always hide from her internal strife.

Nevertheless, the impact she has on George in the film’s final moments is a testament to her success as a human being. It’s not her fault that men seem to forget life’s greatest lessons the second that situations change. The Homesman—which opens Friday, Nov. 28, at La Jolla Village Cinemas—grapples with this level of disappointment and how it inspires some people to stick their heads in the sand and forces others to disappear from this world for good. For this and many other reasons, it’s one of the year’s most daring genre films.

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

Revolutionary man

Point and Shoot

20 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

Marshall Curry’s Point and Shoot tells the complex and serpentine story of Matthew VanDyke, an American filmmakerturned-revolutionary who spent more than five months in a Libyan jail after being captured by forces loyal to dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Much of the film unfolds with footage shot by VanDyke

during a tour of Africa and the Middle East. During this time, the Baltimore native set out on a crash course in manhood, and the end result explores the way adrenaline defines masculinity, both on screen and in real life.

Posing for the camera in the film’s opening moments, VanDyke shows off the arsenal of knives he keeps on his person and the flack jacket he chooses

to wear. Inspired by Hollywood action cinema and the low-budget films of Australian daredevil Alby Mangels, VanDyke attempts to mold his own adventure saga by filming nearly every moment of his motorcycle trek across multiple continents. During these travels, he meets a Libyan named Nouri, and the two become friends. When the Arab Spring breaks out in 2011, VanDyke sneaks into Libya to fight alongside the rebels attempting to overthrow Gaddafi’s regime.

What’s most interesting about VanDyke’s dangerous and reckless journey is how he completely disavows life at home. Both his girlfriend’s and mother’s feelings are considered, but only from surface level. Instead, Curry is much more fascinated with his subject’s desire to “use the camera to write my own life,” as if he were using the power of filmmaking to fill a void left by a lack of machismo.

In the end, VanDyke’s ego supersedes his humanity, leaving the viewer morally conflicted about his motivations and actions. Point and Shoot, which opens Friday, Nov. 28, at the Ken Cinema, relishes this ambiguity.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

Opening Food Chains: Through their Fair Food program, Florida farm workers battle a powerful collective of supermarket chains.

Director Sanjay Rawal (Nov. 28) and food activist Ellen Gustafson (Nov. 30) will be on hand for post-screening discussions.

Screens through Dec. 4 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park. Get details at digital gym.org.

The Homesman: A lonely farmer (Hilary Swank) living in the old west agrees to transport three women who’ve gone insane across state lines with the help of an ornery old louse (Tommy Lee Jones). See our review on Page 20.

Horrible Bosses 2: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day get another chance to turn the tables on their selfserving bosses and exact revenge.

Penguins of Madagascar: A trio of goofy penguins must join forces with a secret underground organization to defeat a villain trying to destroy the world.

Point and Shoot: Filmmaker Matthew VanDyke sets out on a journey to find his own masculinity and instead gets involved as a revolutionary in the Libyan civil war. Screens through Dec. 4 at the Ken Cinema.

One Time Only Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: John Hughes’ rambunctious comedy about two men trying to make it home for Christmas is warning enough to stay home for the holidays. Screens at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 26, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

The Princess Bride: Rob Reiner’s comedic spin on the classic fairy-tale story is a rip-roaring and lasting film about love

and chivalry run amok. Screens at 8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 27, through Saturday, Nov. 29, at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills.

Little Hope Was Arson: Ten churches are burnt to the ground in 2010, sparking the largest arson investigation in East Texas history. Screens at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Elf: Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a man who was raised as an elf and is forced to journey from the North Pole to New York City to find his real family. Screens at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at Arclight La Jolla.

Daughter From Danang: A first-generation Vietnamese woman raised in America is reunited with her birth mother after 22 years. Screens at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at the San Diego Public Library in East Village.

Hindi practices to the west in the 1920s.

security in post-9/11 America.

Big Hero 6: An inflatable robot develops a bond with a prodigy named Hiro, and the two band together and become hightech heroes.

Nightcrawler: This scathing and unsettling portrait of modern news television stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a vulture scouring the Los Angeles streets for gory events.

Force Majeure: While on vacation in the French Alps, a Swedish family experiences a traumatic event that reveals the deepseated emotions and frustrations that have long simmered under the surface.

Interstellar: Christopher Nolan’s new science-fiction epic follows a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to find a new home for humanity.

Citizenfour: Laura Poitras’ documentary about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden explores the abuses of national

The Tale of Princess Kaguya: Master Studio Ghibli animator Isao Takahata adapts the famous Japanese folk tale about a young sprite who’s born in a stalk of bamboo and grows up to confront the power dynamics of the emperor.

Mystery of the Nile: Traverse the glorious history and legacy of the ancient Egyptians in this IMAX adventure that takes you beyond the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Screens at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

Birdman: A burnt-out superhero actor (Michael Keaton) tries to mount a play on Broadway in order to prove his worth. It co-stars Naomi Watts, Emma Stone and Andrea Riseborough.

John Wick: After his dog is killed during a random break-in, a former hit man (Keanu Reeves) goes on the warpath looking for vengeance.

Ouija: Board game meet cinema.

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

Grand Piano: A fragile concert pianist (Elijah Wood) gets a rude awakening moments before going on stage for his comeback performance. Screens at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Point Loma / Hervey Branch Library.

Murder by Death: In this offbeat black comedy, five famous literary characters and their sidekicks are invited to a mansion in order to solve a mystery. Presented

by FilmOut, it screens at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Hillcrest Cinemas.

Bad Santa: Billy Bob Thornton’s vulgar Santa impersonator doesn’t want you to sit on his lap, unless you’re a lady.

Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

Now Playing The Better Angels: Shot in stark blackand-white photography, this poetic film tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s childhood, set against wood cabins and dense forests. Ends Nov. 27 at the Ken Cinema.

Foxcatcher: Bennett Miller’s dark sports film tells the tragic true story of the Schultz brothers (Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum), wrestlers who became forever entwined with the wealthy heir to the du Pont fortune (Steve Carell).

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay— Part 1: Having just destroyed the Hunger Games infrastructure, Katnis returns home to lead the rebellion against the corrupt forces of the capital.

To Kill a Man: An indictment of governmental bureaucracy and fear, this revenge thriller from Chile looks at the lengths one man will go to protect his family. Ends Nov. 27 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Beyond the Lights: On the brink of superstardom, a talented young musician struggles with the pressure of the public limelight.

Dumb and Dumber To: In this sequel to the 1994 hit comedy, walking morons Lloyd (Jim Carrey) and Harry (Jeff Daniels) return to the big screen to grace us with their idiocy.

Rosewater: Gael Garcia Bernal stars as a journalist who becomes imprisoned after filming the aftermath of the 2009 elections in Iran. It’s directed by Jon Stewart of The Daily Show.

The Theory of Everything: Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) is diagnosed with motor-neuron disease just as he’s graduating with a doctorate degree in physics from Cambridge and starting a new life with his wife (Felicity Jones).

Awake: The Life of Yogananda: This documentary covers the life and influence of the famous spiritualist who brought

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

Diana Lee Zadlo

Through the ashes

From left: Brett Campbell, Mark Lierly, Joseph Rowland and Devin Holt

Pallbearer’s doom metal soars and transcends by

P eter H olslin

You’ve got to hand it to a band that can make doom feel invigorating.

Pallbearer, a metal quartet from Little Rock, Arkansas, have sadness and loss encoded in their name. Their new album, Foundations of Burden, was recorded by legendary producer Billy Anderson in Portland, a city whose gray and misty weather offered the ideal backdrop to Pallbearer’s grave, multilayered sagas. Yet amid their crushing riffs and funereal grooves, they’ve managed to fill their sound with sunlight: bright guitar melodies, uplifting vocal harmonies and a general sense that all is not totally lost.

In a genre that often centers on darkness and negativity—from the dejected revenge tale of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” to the blackened cosmic landscapes of Electric Wizard’s “Funeralopolis”—this approach makes Pallbearer unique. Then again, one could argue that they don’t sound like doom metal so much as majestic metal, often stretching their songs out past the 10-minute mark with Byzantine chord sequences fit as much for an ancient coronation as a burial rite.

Pallbearer bassist Joseph D. Rowland—who plays in the group with vocalist / guitarist Brett Campbell, guitarist Devin Holt and drummer Mark Lierly—says he doesn’t even follow doom metal closely anymore. Lately he’s been listening to classic rock and “kosmische musik” (a style of German electronic music from the ’70s). His favorite band is German avant-garde outfit Popol Vuh,

22 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

known for their hauntingly mystical score to Werner Herzog’s 1972 film, Aguirre, Wrath of God. “I feel like the doom-metal scene is more popular than it’s ever been now, but at the same time, I feel like it’s kind of oversaturated with a lot of bands that are just sort of doing the same thing,” Rowland says. “Not every band that claims to be doom metal is doing anything other than just kind of rehashing the same riffs over and over. I feel kind of cynical about a lot of that stuff nowadays.”

Still, he doesn’t want to be too harsh on all the Sabbath wannabes out there today, especially considering the circumstances of what it’s like being human today—from the rise of the Islamic State militant group in Iraq and Syria to the downing of the Malaysia Airlines passenger plane over rebel-held Ukraine to the suicide of Robin Williams, this past summer alone offered plenty of reasons to feel like doomsday was nigh.

“I think the state of the world right now is pretty dire,” Rowland says. “It makes sense that doom metal would be pretty present in a lot of peoples’ minds.”

Pallbearer formed in 2008 and caught the attention of the underground-metal world a couple years later with a beautifully dire three-song demo they’d posted on Bandcamp. They got even more critical praise for their debut album, 2012’s Sorrow and Extinction, whose carefully plotted ruminations on death split the difference between melodic flair and raw honesty, winning them crossover appeal while soothing broken souls across the land.

Foundations of Burden, which came out on Profound Lore Records in August, finds them polishing their crunch.

Guitars are stacked in multitracked layers. Campbell, Holt and Rowland all contribute vocal parts to make clean leads and harmonies. In opener “Worlds Apart,” what sounds

like a chorus of Campbells soars from Hades to the heavens as he reflects on the yin-yang relationship between darkness and light.

“A lot of the harmonies on the record are actually just Brett harmonizing with himself,” Rowland says. This is the first time the band has experimented with multiple vocal parts; they were inspired by classic big-stage rockers like Rainbow and Kansas. “[With] so many bands in the ’70s, virtually every person in the band did backup vocals, and did it really well. To me, it adds that much more to the music.”

Rowland, who wrote the lyrics for half of the songs on Foundations of Burden, does lead vocals on one track and harmonizes with Campbell in other moments. So, what’s his secret to epic metal singing?

“If you want the honest truth, it’s mostly going and doing karaoke,” he says.

Indeed, in Pallbearer’s early days, when he, Holt and Campbell were students at the University of Central Arkansas, they often hit up a neighborhood bar with friends for karaoke night, where Rowland would belt out power jams by the likes of Thin Lizzy and Deep Purple.

“There was one time that I was having a particularly good night,” he says. “I was pretty smashed, and I got up and did ‘Red Rain’ by Peter Gabriel. That was a fun one.”

Rowland hopes to explore multipart vocals even further on their next record. But for now, they’re focusing on supporting Foundations of Burden.

Of that album, “Ashes,” at just a little longer than three minutes, is its shortest (not just on the album, but in their entire discography), which demonstrates the complex relationship they’ve built with doom over the years. The song is quiet and lonely, with keyboards billowing like smoke and lyrics about moving onto the next world. But by the end, it’s not a feeling of agony or dread you’re left with. Instead, it’s a sense of calm release: “Then souls set free amidst the gray / Lifted through the ashes.”

Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

notes from the smoking patio future installments will feature heavy-metal trivia and possibly metal cover bands or metal karaoke.

Since reopening earlier this year, the Morena venue For Sgrosso, who grew up with metal, part of the Brick by Brick has consistently been booking a lot motivation is to bring some life back into San Diof high-profile hard-rock and metal bands, but ego’s metal scene. on Dec. 1, it’ll launch a weekly event specifi“When I was growing up, the metal cally for metalheads: Metal Mondays. scene had a strong presence,” he says.

Co-owner Phil Sgrosso—who’s also a “It’s still there, but it seems like there member of metal band Wovenwar with aren’t as many local bands doing fellow co-owners Nick Hipa and Jorshows together now. It’s not really dan Mancino—says the event is instructured.” tended to be a casual get-together for Sgrosso says that while this people in the local metal community. night is specifically for one type “Me and the other guys have been of crowd, he and his partners still to so many metal bars in the country, want to make the venue a diverse and we’ve had so much fun with the and versatile place to experimusic and the atmosphere with ence music. For one night a other metalheads,” he says. week, however, Brick “We were thinking of ways

by Brick will turn into on how to fill some of your local neighborthe slower nights and hood metal bar. thought maybe we “We want to could do something bring in different like this—kind of help fan bases for difbuild up the metal ferent genres— community in San Disome more so ego.” than others,” he Each Metal Monsays. “With this, days event will feawe can just kind ture DJs spinning of have metalheavy-metal tracks, heads unite for as well as drink spea night.” cials and giveaways.

—Jeff Terich Sgrosso also says that Phil Sgrosso

Locals Only

A San Diego-covers playlist This week is a time to give thanks, and right now I’m feeling particularly thankful for all the great cover songs our city has produced. Here’s a seven-track playlist of some of the best ones: some old, some new, but all fantastic: “Going to Georgia” by The Mountain Goats (covered by Sledding with Tigers): Sledding with Tigers have covered The Mountain Goats at least thrice, but this is the best studio recording of the three, complete with violin and group vocals in the chorus. They also do a mean live cover of “The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton,” which is a hoot.

Sledding with Tigers do a mean Mountain Goats cover.

“Exit Music (for a Film) by Radiohead (covered by The Midnight Pine): The Midnight Pine by The Burning of Rome): We all love a Misfits do a stunning, gothic-folk rendition of this Radiohead cover, right? Of course we do. And this acoustic verOK Computer standout (performing it at the recent San sion by The Burning of Rome is extra-fun.

“Empire State Human” by The Human League Diego Music Awards), which can go toe-to-toe with (covered by Optiganally Yours): Toy-synth duo the original. It’s a starker, darker take on the track.

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” by The Velvet Under- Optiganally Yours have a lot of covers in their catground (covered by Emerald Rats): Mike Turi’s alog, but this may be the best—a crackly and fuzzy droning, psychedelic take on this 1967 Velvets track take on this synth-pop gem, complete with Atari lends a combination of density and weightlessness, video game sound effects.

“Communist China” by Japan (covered by No essentially transforming it into a new song.

“Fascination Street” by The Cure (covered by Knife): This one is a little hard to find. Released as Retox): I’m jumping the gun on this a little because a B-side to their “Jack Boots” 7-inch, “Communist the studio version of this song isn’t out yet, but Retox China” is more blistering and intense in No Knife’s have been playing an intense version of The Cure’s hands than the glam-tinged, art-rock original. If you 1989 goth-rock single live for a while. Hear it on can track down a copy, it’s worth the search. vinyl when it comes out on Dec. 2 (or a 30-second —Jeff Terich Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com iTunes sample now).

“Hybrid Moments” by The Misfits (covered or editor@sdcitybeat.com.

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

if i were u Wednesday, Nov. 26 PLAN A: Nas, DJ Brett Bodley @ Fluxx.

Before you load up on cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes, dance off a few extra calories to one of the greatest MCs to ever rock a mic. Nas is making another lap on his 2014 tour, which brings him to San Diego again, and it’s likely that many (or all) of his Illmatic classics will be on the set list. After all, a legendary album only turns 20 once.

Thursday, Nov. 27 PLAN A: Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie, A Nice Long Nap @ Your House. Rocking out on Thanksgiving isn’t entirely unheard of, but it’s a day better spent feasting with family and friends. Certainly a few bars will be open that night, but just this once, I’ll encourage you to don your pajama pants and lounge on the couch while you wait out the inevitable food coma.

Friday, Nov. 28

BY Jeff Terich like I’m not going to recommend you go see them. Hearing “Mirror in the Bathroom” live is incentive enough. BACKUP PLAN: The Donkeys, Soft Lions, Oh Spirit @ Soda Bar.

Sunday, Nov. 30 PLAN A: OFF!, Nasa Space Universe, Gay Kiss @ Epicentre. A lot of bands play old-school-style punk, but much of the time it’s because they only know five chords. The Southern California veterans in OFF! have great songs, know how to play and have more punk credibility than any crusty dude with a Subhumans patch. PLAN B: Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Hell or Highwater @ Soda Bar. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster play hard rock with a touch of Southern boogie and a radio-friendly sheen that should appeal to metalheads and more mainstream audiences alike. Is that freedom rock? Well, turn it up, man!

BACKUP PLAN: OBN IIIs, Pampers, Shady Francos @ The Hideout.

PLAN A: Alice Cooper @ Harrah’s Resort.

Alice Cooper has added golfer and restaurateur to his résumé since his ’70s heyday, but Monday, Dec. 1 he’s still the greatest villain in rock ’n’ roll. PLAN A: Into It. Over It., Lemuria, SledHe basically invented the corpse-paint look, ding with Tigers @ Soda Bar. Every arfreaked out parents before Marilyn Manson ticle about Into It. Over It. mentions the so-called “emo revival,” and did and understood rock thehere’s another one, I guess. ater better than anyone else, Whatever you call them, except for David Bowie. And their tuneful and energetic with songs like “No More Mr. rock—reminiscent of Jimmy Nice Guy” or “Billion Dollar Eat World and Death Cab for Babies,” you’re pretty much Cutie’s Transatlanticism—is guaranteed a great show. definitely worth getting emoPLAN B: Captured by Rotional over. Show up early bots, Satanic Puppeteer Orfor Sledding with Tigers, chestra, Roxy Jones @ Soda who have yet to make good Bar. Captured by Robots is on an album about Space what might happen if the robotic band at Chuck E. Cheese Alice Cooper Jam. BACKUP PLAN: Glass Spells, PRGRM, Dancing turned evil. Basically, it’s one dude and his band of robotic weirdos, and Strangers @ The Casbah. another robot band—Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra—is opening the show. The machines are taking over, and it’ll be a blast. BACKUP Tuesday, Dec. 2 PLAN: Teen Daze, DJ Camron, Wizard PLAN A: Jonathan Richman @ The Casbah. Jonathan Richman is a legend—he was Woes @ The Hideout. the unlikely frontman of proto-punk outfit The Modern Lovers, as well as a singer / Saturday, Nov. 29 songwriter with a penchant for classic pop PLAN A: Meat Puppets, Cass McCombs, sounds, storytelling and melodies galore.

Kat Myers @ The Casbah. It’s a good week Just this year, he released No Me Quejo de for underground icons in San Diego. The Mi Estrella as a gift to his fans in Spain, so Meat Puppets have been rocking for more you might even hear him sing en español. than 30 years, from their early days playing ¡Muy interesante! PLAN B: Second Couscountry-influence punk to their more radio- ins, Cardboard Pioneers, Cloud Mamfriendly alt-rock from the ’90s. You might moth @ Soda Bar. I’ve been known to badbe surprised by how many of their songs mouth contemporary Americana, but when you know the words to. PLAN B: English someone does it right, I’ll go out of my way Beat, SoCal Vibes @ Belly Up Tavern. to give them their due. Second Cousins do English Beat play the Belly Up about one it right, with gorgeously rich arrangements weekend for every season in San Diego, so and wonderfully written melodies. This is this seems about on schedule. But it’s not how contemporary folk should be done.

24 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

HOT! NEW! FRESH! Molotov (Porter’s Pub, 12/8), Powerman 5000 (Brick by Brick, 1/17), Helms Alee (The Hideout, 1/24), The Coup (Casbah, 1/25), Generationals (Casbah, 2/6), Hundred Waters (Casbah, 2/11), The Dodos (Casbah, 2/14), Swami John Reis and the Blind Shake (Casbah, 2/15), The Church (Casbah, 2/28), Six Organs of Admittance (Soda Bar, 2/28), Tweak Bird (Soda Bar, 3/5), Viet Cong (Soda Bar, 3/7), A Place to Bury Strangers (Casbah, 3/11), Bayside (HOB, 3/11), Gang of Four (BUT, 3/25), Idina Menzel (Open Air Theatre, 8/8).

GET YER TICKETS Pallbearer (Soda Bar, 12/6), Too Short (Til-Two Club, 12/11), X (Casbah, 12/11), ‘Wrex The Halls’ w/ Cage The Elephant, alt-J, Interpol, Spoon, Billy Idol, Banks (Valley View Casino Center, 12/12), Dick Dale (BUT, 12/21), The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (HOB, 12/21), Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven (BUT, 12/30), Donavon Frankenreiter (BUT, 12/31), Pato Banton (BUT, 1/2), Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (BUT, 1/6), Little Hurricane (North Park Theatre, 1/17),Tower of Power (BUT, 1/17), G. Love and Special Sauce (HOB, 1/18), Guster (HOB, 1/21), Big Head Todd and the Monsters (1/23-24), The Wailers (BUT, 1/27), Wale (North Park Theatre, 1/31), Patti Smith (Balboa Theatre, 1/31), Kenny Wayne Shepherd (BUT, 2/5), Juan Gabriel (Viejas Arena, 2/6), Motion City Soundtrack (HOB, 2/11), Meghan Trainor (HOB, 2/18), Alan Jackson (Valley View

Casino Center, 2/20), Cursive (Casbah, 2/22), Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (Viejas Arena, 2/25), Cold War Kids (North Park Theatre, 2/25), Taking Back Sunday (HOB, 2/26), Swervedriver (Casbah, 3/4), Walk the Moon (HOB, 3/10), Twin Shadow (BUT, 3/13), Buddy Guy (Balboa Theatre, 4/11), Bruce Hornsby (Balboa Theatre, 4/16), OK Go (HOB, 5/1), Nickelback (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 6/27), One Direction (Qualcomm Stadium, 7/9).

November Wednesday, Nov. 26 Chris Robinson Brotherhood at Belly Up Tavern. Cash’d Out at The Casbah.

Peter Hook and the Light at House of Blues.

Friday, Nov. 28 Captured by Robots at Soda Bar. Alice Cooper at Harrah’s Resort. Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Viejas Arena. Circa Survive at House of Blues. Teen Daze at The Hideout.

Saturday, Nov. 29 Chrissie Hynde at Balboa Theater.

Sunday, Nov. 30 Cake at Belly Up Tavern. OFF! at Epicentre.

December Monday, Dec. 1 Chet Faker at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

Into It. Over It. at Soda Bar. John Waters at North Park Theatre.

Tuesday, Dec. 2 Alex Clare at House of Blues. Jonathan Richman at The Casbah. Fleetwood Mac at Viejas Arena.

Thursday, Dec. 4 The Robert Cray Band at Belly Up Tavern.

Friday, Dec. 5 Supersuckers at The Casbah. Mike Birbiglia at Balboa Theatre.

Saturday, Dec. 6 Moving Units at Brick by Brick. O.A.R., Matt Nathanson at California Center for the Arts. Horse Feathers at The Casbah.

Pallbearer at Soda Bar.

Sunday, Dec. 7 Cannabis Corpse at Soda Bar. The Ataris at The Casbah. Grouch and Eligh at Porter’s Pub. 2 Chainz at Fluxx.

Monday, Dec. 8 Molotov at Porter’s Pub.

Tuesday, Dec. 9 Bebel Gilberto at Belly Up Tavern.

Wednesday, Dec. 10 Celtic Woman at Civic Theatre. Black Cobra at Brick by Brick.

Thursday, Dec. 11 X at The Casbah. The Soft White Sixties at The Loft. Frankie Ballard at House of Blues. Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas at Soda Bar. Too Short

at Til-Two Club.

Friday, Dec. 12 ‘Wrex The Halls’ w/ Cage The Elephant, alt-J, Interpol, Spoon, Billy Idol, Banks at Valley View Casino Center. The Icarus Line at Soda Bar. Pepper at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

Saturday, Dec. 13 Strung Out at Brick by Brick. My Brightest Diamond at The Casbah. Fenix TX at Soda Bar. H2O at Brick by Brick.

Sunday, Dec. 14 College at The Casbah. Sean and Sara Watkins at Belly Up Tavern. Yung Lean at Porter’s Pub.

Monday, Dec. 15 Ryan Adams at Copley Symphony Hall.

Tuesday, Dec. 16 Mystic Braves at The Casbah. Brian Setzer Orchestra at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

Thursday, Dec. 18 Corrections House at Soda Bar. Johnny Marr at Belly Up Tavern. H.I.M. at House of Blues.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach. 710bc.com. Wed: Kid Wilderness. Fri: Adam Block. Sat: 3 By Design, Two Day Job. Sun: Karaoke. Tue: ‘EDM

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

Tuesday’.

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. 98bottlessd.com. Fri: Black Friday: A Reflection of American Consumerism. Sat: Irving Flores. Sun: The Matt Smith Neu Jazz Trio.

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

Wed: ‘May Star’s Cosmic Gold’ w/ DJs Chuy Fresno, Volz. Fri: DJ Junior the DiscoPunk. Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech.

Sun: ‘Church’ w/ DJs John Reynolds, Karma, Tripsy.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave, Downtown. americancomedyco.com. FriSun: Sean Patton. Tue: Open mic.

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

Sat: Thomas Jack, Klatch.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St, North Park. barpink.com. Wed: DJ L. Fri: ‘80s Heart 90s’. Sat: The Husky Boy All-Stars. Sun: Rat Sabbath. Mon: ‘Monday Night Mass’ w/ The Husky Boy All Stars. Tue: ‘Tiki Tuesday’ w/ Adrian Demain’s ExoticaTronica.

Bassmnt, 919 Fourth Ave, Downtown. bassmntsd.com. Wed: Morgan Page.

Fri: G-Eazy. Sat: EC Twins.

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

Wed & Fri: Adam Block Duo. Sat: Jewel City Rhythm Authority. Sun: Sando.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. bellyup.com. Wed: Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Fri: The English Beat, Good Intentions. Sat: The English Beat, SoCal Vibes. Sun: Cake, Cindy Lee Berryhill (sold out). Mon: Chet Faker, Rochelle Jordan (sold out). Tue: Andy McKee, Bushwalla.

26 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

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

Bourbon Street, 4612 Park Blvd, University Heights. bourbonstreetsd.com.

Wed: ‘TRW’ w/ VJ K Swift. Sun: ‘Soiree’.

Tue: Karaoke.

Brass Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave, Hillcrest. thebrassrailsd.com. Fri: ‘Hip Hop Fridayz’.

Sat: ‘Sabado En Fuego’ w/ DJs XP, KA. Sun: ‘Noche Romantica’ w/ Daisy Salinas. Mon: ‘Manic Monday’ w/ DJs Junior the DiscoPunk, XP. Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave, Bay Park. brickbybrick.com. Fri: Black Dog, Arena, Journeymen. Sun: Solus Deus, Spades and Blades, On Descent, Gravespell. Mon: ‘Metal Monday’.

Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St, La Jolla. lajolla.thecomedystore.com. Wed-Thu: Best of San Diego Comedy. Fri: Shawn Pelofsky.

Croce’s Park West, 2760 Fifth Ave., #100, Bankers Hill. crocesparkwest. com. Wed: Massimo Paparello. Fri: Todo Mundo. Sat: Zzymzzy Quartet. Sun: Besos De Coco. Mon: Nina Francis. Tue: Steph Johnson and Rob Thorsen.

zle. Sun: ‘Magnum Sunday’.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave, Downtown. fluxxsd.com. Wed: Nas. Fri: Craig Smoove.

Sat: Sid Vicious.

Gallagher’s, 5040 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach. 619-222-5303. Thu: SM Familia, DJ Reefah, TRC Soundsystem. Fri: KL Noise Makers, DJ Sammi B. Sat: Funk’s Most Wanted, DJ Chelu.

Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave, Downtown. hardrockhotelsd.com. Wed: Far East Movement, Waka Flocka Flame. Fri: ‘Flash Fridays’. Sat: Roonie G, Frankie M. Sun: DJ Kurch.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave, Downtown. henryspub.com. Wed: Johnny Tarr, DJ Christopher London. Fri: ‘Good Times’.

Sat: DJs E, Yodah. Mon: ‘Acoustic Monday’. Tue: Big City Dawgs.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave, Downtown. houseofblues.com/sandiego.

Wed: Peter Hook and the Light. Fri: Circa Survive, Title Fight, Pianos Become the Teeth. Sat: Lydia, Cheers Elephant.

Sun: Breathe Carolina, Candyland. Tue: Alex Clare, Taylor Berrett.

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. dirksniteclub.com. Fri: FX5.

Sat: DJ Dizzy D.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. kavalounge.com. Fri: ‘Thank Jah It’s Friday’. Mon: Chakita. Tue: ‘High Tech Tuesday’.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay. dizzyssandiego.com. Sat: Gerard Nolan.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave, Kensington. 619-284-2848. Sat: Sailing Stones, The Natives, The Burdens.

Epicentre, 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd, Mira Mesa. epicentreconcerts.org. Fri: Yung Simmie, Pouya and Fat Nick, Don Krez, DZB, StarLifeEnt, Cashy. Sat: J AND, Christina Galang, Sque. Sun: OFF!, Nasa Space, Gay Kiss.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave, Coronado. mcpspub.com. Wed: JG Duo. Fri: Ron’s Garage. Sat: The Brokers Band.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown, Downtown. f6ixsd.com. Fri: E-40. Sat: DJ Bamboo-

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd, Hillcrest. numberssd.com. Fri: ‘Uncut’. Sun: ‘Joe’s Gamenite’. Tue: Karaoke Latino.

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

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St, Downtown. patricksii.com. Wed: The Rayford Brothers. Fri: Mystique Element of Soul.

Sun: Johnny Vernazza.

Queen Bee’s, 3925 Ohio St, North Park. queenbeessd.com. Fri: Nossas e Bossas, Rodrigo Panassolo, Gisele De Santi. Tue: Open mic.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave, Hillcrest. richssandiego.com. Wed: DJs Taj, QooLee Kid. Fri: DJs dirty KURTY, Will Z. Sat: DJs Taj, K-Swift, Nikno. Sun: DJ Cros.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave, North Park. sevengrandbars.com/sd.

Wed: Gilbert Castellanos jazz jam. Fri: Soul Organization. Sat: Jimmy Ruelas.

Side Bar, 536 Market St, Downtown. sidebarsd.com. Sat: DJ Kyle Flesch.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. sodabarmusic.com.

Wed: Neighbors to the North, Danny and the Tramp, Bloodflowers. Fri: Captured by Robots, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, Roxy Jones. Sat: The Donkeys, Soft Lions, Oh Spirit. Sun: Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Hell or Highwater.

Mon: Into It. Over It., Lemuria, Sledding With Tigers. Tue: Second Cousins, Cardboard Pioneers, Cloud Mammoth.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, Midway. somasandiego.com. Fri: G-EAZY, E-40, Jay Ant. Sat: Attila, Crown the Empire, Like Moths to Flames, Sworn In. Somewhere Loud, 3489 Noell St, Midtown. somewhereloud.com. Fri: DJ Caffeine.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St, Midtown. spinnightclub.com. Sat: Junior Sanchez.

Stage Bar & Grill, 762 Fifth Ave, Downtown. stagesaloon.com. Thu: Superbad.

Fri: Disco Pimps, DJ Slynkee. Sat: Hott Mess, DJ Miss Dust.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., San Diego, Normal Heights. sycamoreden. com. Fri: Sleeping Ghost. Sun: Gayle Skidmore.

The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Rd, Spring Valley. 619-469-2337. Wed: Karaoke. Fri: Archetype. Sat: Mauru, Derde Verde, Just Felines.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. casbahmusic.com. Wed: Cash’d Out, The Bedbreakers, Stephen Rey. Fri: The Paladins, James Intveld, The Sleepwalkers. Sat: Meat Puppets, Cass McCombs, Kat Myers. Mon: Glass Spells, PRGRM, Dancing Strangers. Tue: Jonathan Richman.

The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. thehideoutsd.com. Fri: Teen Daze, DJ Camron, Wizard Woes. Sun: OBN IIIs, Pampers, Shady Francos.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave, Hillcrest. theMerrow.com. Wed: Opus of Era, The One and Onlys, Daniel Isle Sky. Fri: Bearracuda. Sat: Domination, Squirrelly Arts, Groove of Death. Mon: Denitia And Sene, Swim Team. Tue: Caught A Ghost, Dinasaur Ghost, Lightworks.

The Office, 3936 30th St, North Park. officebarinc.com. Fri: ‘After Hours’ w/ DJs Adam Salter, Kid Wonder. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ w/ Tribe of Kings. Tue: ‘Trapped in the Office’ w/ DJ Ramsey.

The Tin Roof, 401 G Street, Gaslamp. tinroofbars.com/Home/SanDiego. Wed: Pat Hilton. Fri: New Jam City, Christian

Taylor. Sat: Random Radio, Blaise Guld.

Sun: ‘G Street Sessions’. Mon: The Kracker Jax. Tue: Zig Zag Jones.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. tiltwoclub.com. Fri: ‘Sleepwalking’. Sat: DJs Spanky Kingston, Duke Duel, El Mochilero.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St, Bay Park. tioleos.com. Tue: Zydeco Mud Bugs.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave, City Heights. thetowerbar.com. Wed: DJs Mikey Ratt, Tiki Thomas. Fri: Crumb, The Bloodflowers.

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

Wed: Vera Cruz Blues (5 p.m.); Tomcat Courtney (7 p.m.). Fri: Gabriela Aparicio (5 p.m.); Goma (9 p.m.). Sat: Vera Cruz Blues (5 p.m.); Tomcat Courtney (7 p.m.); Son Pa Ti (9 p.m.). Sun: Sounds Like Four (5 p.m.); Miss Ida Blue (7 p.m.).

Tue: The Trio (5 p.m.); Grupo Global (7 p.m.).

Ux31, 3112 University Ave, North Park. u31bar.com. Wed: Von Kiss. Fri: DJ Man Cat. Sat: DJ Saul Q. Sun: Jah Army Soundsystem.

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

Wed: Lee Churchill. Thu: DJ Chris G. Fri: Billy the Kid. Sat: DJ Decon.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. whistlestopbar.com. Sat: Happy Hour w/ DJ Claire (5 p.m.), ‘Booty Bassment’ w/ DJs Dimitry, Rob. Winstons, 1921 Bacon St, Ocean Beach. winstonsob.com. Wed: Piracy Conspiracy. Fri: EOTO, Lasers. Sat: The Earful. Sun: Karaoke. Mon: Electric Waste Band.

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

Brendan Emmett Quigley

Across

Give ’em the bird

1. Apply without care, as paint 5. Ella, in El Salvador 8. Beautify 13. Italian vino district 14. They’re counted carefully during a potential no-hitter 16. Medical prefix with logical 17. Things broken by people who’ve never been to an alley before?

20. Make a paper crane, say 21. Club component, perhaps 22. “Listen up, you old bugger” 23. Real pig 26. TV actor Ventimiglia 28. As modest as ever?

32. Some installations 35. InDesign measurement 36. Bird stuffed in 28-Across 37. Toss here and there 39. Many moons 40. “Where’s the Kleenex?”

43. Overflowing (with) 44. Believer that somebody is always watching him?

46. Pro-wind turbine prefix 47. Turkey setting 48. Bird stuffed in 49-Across 49. Place where Dante does his writing?

53. Thanksgiving ___ 54. Christmas lights holder 55. Feel a dull pain 58. “Yes, cap’n!”

60. Take notice of 63. Launched an ICBM? 68. Tree with banana-looking fruit 69. Commuting option Last week’s answers

28 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

70. Stewpot 71. “Just ducky” 72. Soccer mom’s vehicle 73. Blunt object?

Down 1.

2.

3.

4.

Small bit of gel From this moment on “Songs of Innocence” band Fashion designer who said “when in doubt, wear red” 5. 67-Down’s boy 6. Warm embrace 7. Impress, as in memory 8. 4 letters?

9. Car racer Franchitti 10. Singer Redding 11. Bird stuffed in 63-Across 12. Prying 15. Star of an underwater viewing attraction at SeaWorld 18. One with a fan club 19. Mideast biggie 24. Poetic tributes 25. Big name in drum heads 27. Guitar maker Paul 28. One in a black suit?

29. Frosted Flakes mascot 30. Strand, as during a polar vortex 31. ____ D’Orsay (Paris attraction) 32. Come up in conversation 33. Mortgage lowerers 34. Make small adjustments 38. Location where new product lines debut 41. Home listing measurement 42. Cadiz courtesy title 45. Game that no one wins 50. Raita bread 51. Reminder for a show, e.g.

52. Go ___ (exceed) 53. Mastodon’s genre 55. Snakes in some decorative armbands 56. Plug in the mouth 57. 2008 political slogan 59. Biblical twin 61. Brazilian futebol legend 62. Alma mater of noted plagiarist Fareed Zakaria 64. Bird stuffed in 17-Across 65. Zingers and such 66. It has a head and hops 67. Old man

November 26, 2014 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

30 · San Diego CityBeat · November 26, 2014

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