San Diego CityBeat • Dec 19, 2018

2 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

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DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR

The coming storm: Part 2

L

ast week, I used this space to discuss some of the more high-profile battles that were likely to be waged between the mayor and the newly sworn-in city council in the coming year. And while the convention center expansion plan, as well as homelessness and short-term vacation rentals, are likely to be three of the more notable issues facing the mayor and the veto-proof Democrats on the city council in 2019, there are other issues that are just as important, even if they don’t garner as many headlines.

The city budget With a more progressive council and many of the newcomers (Councilmembers Monica Montgomery, Jennifer Campbell and Vivian Moreno) already pledging to prioritize underserved communities, this year’s budget battle, which will kick off in April, looks to be one of the more heated battles in city history. The powers that be over at the Union-Tribune “ideas” section seem to think the council’s new members need to remain pragmatic and rethink their respective challenges of the entrenched status quo. And yet it’s hard to see councilmembers such as Moreno and Montgomery—who collectively represent some of most underserved and impoverished neighborhoods in San Diego—backing down from a budget battle with a lame-duck mayor

whose budget vetoes can be overridden by a 6-3 vote in the council.

Prediction: Expect the mayor to make significant cuts to things like the arts and culture budget, while budgets for police retention/recruitment and the new homeless navigation center will likely go up. It’s easy to see Coulcilmembers Chris Ward, Barbara Bry and Georgette Gomez pushing back just as they’ve done in years past. With Council President Gomez already on record as questioning the mayor’s approach to the homeless crisis and Bry eyeballing a mayoral run in 2020, expect both to be outspoken and leading the charge on progressive changes to the budget. It’s going to get ugly.

Affordable housing The general outlook is changing when it comes to the housing crisis. In the past, NIMBYism (NIMBY is an acronym for “not in my backyard”) has often won out, but the San Diego Planning Commission’s recent opening of a new affordable housing apartment complex in Pacific Highlands Ranch, as well as the approval of an affordable housing unit in Clairemont—despite naysaying from some community residents—are a step in the right direction. Organizations such as Uptown Planners and YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County are leading this progressive counter-movement and now have some political muscle behind their causes. And

4 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

with Councilmember Chris Cate (who represents Clairemont and Kearny Mesa) serving his last term, he may be open to more housing projects in his district.

Prediction: This is an issue that the entire city council agrees it’s time to address and, for once, Mayor Faulconer is on the same page. He has already reiterated that he’s looking to update the city’s decadesold zoning ordinances. This should help when it comes to getting more housing projects green-lit faster, but there needs to still be room for environmental impacts and neighborhood concerns. In the end, I hope the mayor considers this issue, at the least, his opportunity to leave a lasting legacy to

be proud of. This would mean that everyone should have a seat at the table, including members of the city council, the County Board of Supervisors, the San Diego Housing Commission, SANDAG and even smaller neighborhood groups. With a recession looming, the mayor should consider this a top priority, and I expect it to be something he spends a lot of time on at his State of the City address in January.

Next week: Mass transit, infrastructure, climate action goals and recap of 2018.

—Seth Combs

Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com

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DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

UP FRONT | LETTERS Edit note: We have written a number of scathing editorials in the past dealing in everything from homelessness to the Mexico border. But the comments we received on social media and our website in response to “It’s OK to root for the Chargers” [Dec. 5] were about as passionate as they come. And while I could spend an inordinate amount of time questioning the priorities of these readers, it only proves one of the main points of the article: that sports are something worth getting passionate about.

Oh, and props to the Union-Tribune editorial team for basically just repurposing the theme and headline of our editorial. What can we say? We’re flattered.

CHARGERS SUCK! CITYBEAT SUCKS! The handle says SDCityBeat but the article screams betrayal Lucas Oliveira (@LucasTheCapo), via Twitter In which Seth Combs of @SDCityBeat explains that he has no self-respect, and you shouldn’t either… This isn’t like White Sox or the Bears threatening to move to Schaumburg or Addison. They left the whole market for another one that doesn’t want them.

I will watch Rams games. Been to a couple. But wine [sic] support chargers one bit.

Lying snakes that organization is. @SDStyle, via Twitter

STILL FANS Being born and raised in San Diego, and going to their games (and Padres games) at the Murph/The Q/SDCCU Stadium since I was a boy, I knew since then that we are a city of fair weather fans (just like 49er fans).

I remember watching the stadium filled with Chargers fans when they were doing good, but they were nowhere to be found when they had losing season. Then fast forward to years later, the same kept happening and then San Diegans kept on electing politicians that lacked vision and progress, and never rebuilt a new stadium for NFL football, and a much needed sports arena for NBA and NHL games to be played there.

Then the elected politicians went back and forth with the NFL for years on getting a new stadium built, and then when it came time to vote to get the Chargers a new stadium from a hotel tax, the voters voted them out of town! So, I blame my fellow San Diegans, because they voted those clowns in in the first place, AND they voted them out of town by voting “no” on Prop C.

Jason Lindquist (@0xEnder), via Twitter

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

I agree completely. Aside from the fact that they’re closest, the majority of the team has SD connections. Name one other NFL QB who lives FULL TIME in San Diego?

People can still cheer for Rivers if all they care about is a city name.

Lloyd, via sdcitybeat.com

MJ, via sdcitybeat.com

Excellent read and mirrors my sentiments exactly. Too many San Diegans were “fine” with not having an NFL team. It’s over now. Support them or don’t, but the NFL in San Diego is done.

Brian (@PR4Prez19), via Twitter

WE WANT FEEDBACK Email letters to editor Seth Combs at seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com, or mail to 3047 University Ave., Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92104. For letters to be considered for publication you must include your first and last name and the part of town where you reside. Note: All comments left on stories at sdcitybeat.com will also be considered for publication.

TABLE OF CONTENTS UP FRONT

From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Spin Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Backwards & In High Heels. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Well, That Was Awkward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

FOOD & DRINK

World Fare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Final Draught. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

THINGS TO DO

The Short List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

ARTS & CULTURE

Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Feature: New Year’s Eve Guide. . . . . . . 15-21 Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-24

MUSIC

Feature: Lumerians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Notes From The Smoking Patio . . . . . . . . 26 About Last Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 If I Were U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Concerts & Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-30

IN THE BACK

Astrologically Unsound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 CannaBitch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 COVER PHOTO BY ARLENE IBARRA

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JOHN R. LAMB

UP FRONT | OPINION

SPIN

CYCLE

JOHN R. LAMB

Contrarian carols for testy times On Christmas day you can’t get sore Your fellow man you must adore There’s time to cheat him all the more The other three hundred and sixtyfour

—Tom Lehrer

So, your stocks took it in the shorts and you’re not-so-hot on the cranky orange guy tweeting from the White House. Cheer up, holidaysters! It’s time to torque some tunes and kick 2018 to the curb…

“Duncan, the Pardon Seeker” (sung to, “Rudolph, the RedNosed Reindeer”)

Duncan the pardon seeker Had a very shitty year Aside from his re-election Which deserves one big Bronx cheer

All of his pal House members Speculate on girlfriend names They even stripped poor Duncan Of any committee games Then one foggy post-binge night Donald came to say, “Hunter with your present plight Won’t you hawk my Wall tonight?”

Oh how the Trump would love him As he whispered one last plea, “Duncan the pardon seeker Would like to get off ‘scot-free’?!”

“Tony the Chairman”

(sung to, “Frosty the Snowman”) Tony the Chairman Had one foot outside the door “This is it for me, or I’ll soon be Sleeping solo on the floor.”

Tony the Chairman Then proposed another play “Pay $300 grand, screw the

wedding band, For two years I just might stay.”

Instead of cheers and high-fives Ol’ Krvaric quickly found Growing masses began to shout And his scheme got kicked around.

“Tony the Chairman, Don’t you boast you volunteer?

With that salary, what you did for free Could be done by drunk reindeer!”

Tony the Chairman Knew his plan was melting fast Texts came at a clip, “Quick, abandon ship!”

But Krvaric chose to blast.

Trumpety trump trump Trumpety trump trump Look at Tony tweet Trumpety trump trump Trumpety trump trump To historic defeat Tony the Chairman Kicked his payday down the road He will stick around, GOP still clowned By a Trumped-up blowhard toad.

“It Came Upon a Sidewalk Tear” (sung to, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”)

It came upon a sidewalk tear

Look who crashed the holiday office party. Cold Duck, anyone?

That silent two-wheeler of zoom From tandem riders in the dark To drunks who make strollers fume: “Watch out, you careless youthful oaf, You nearly ran over my ass!”

A quick glance back and a thumbflick bell, That’s anything but first class.

But lo! These scooters will be the salve That frees us from short trips in cars.

A noble theory from advocates Unless drunk-scooting from bars.

Still through the U-Hauls and cars they come, Recharged for another wild day Of sidewalk slaloms and on-road scares Say prayers for no melee!

“Myrtle Got Run Over by a Badass”

(sung to, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”) Myrtle got run over by a badass Seeking re-election in D-4 You can’t say Cole didn’t have the edge there Dems and downtown honchos wanted more.

She’d been drinking too much Kool-Aid From the mayor’s ginned-up still But she forgot intoxication Leaves you bumbling like an echochamber shill.

Then came Monica Montgomery From day one on the attack, “Myrtle only pays lip service Vote for me and your voice will come roaring back!”

Myrtle got run over by 15 points Disappeared from public with her tweets Lump of Coal prizewinner by a landslide For that coal, Myrtle Cole, no one competes!

“The Chargers Song”

(sung to, “The Christmas Song”) Chargers coasting to the playoff wire U-T opines awkward prose: Y’all just blank out being stung by their flyer

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To a pitch west of Cerritos.

Everybody greet the Bolts under the mistletoe Pucker up despite the slight.

Jilted fans still reeling from the blow?

Just date your ex, you starved luddite.

The U-T knows that local nerves can easily fray Just Google “Matt Hall” and “clickbait” on any day But every divorcee will question why A team in L.A. would twinkle in our eye.

And so Spin offers up this simple phrase To fans who say that they are through, “Rivers and Gates, Hall of Fame sure awaits, But Dean Spanos, elf you!”

“Little Lame-Duck Kev”

(sung to, “Little Drummer Boy”) Quit, they told him In 2019 Special election, Kev Would be really keen.

Your lame-duck future’s bleak See 2018 To break your losing streak Resign crisp and clean By that we mean A cool smokescreen So a hotel tax Can take center stage You’ll be the rage!

Lame-duck Kevin He smelled a big rat “Quit isn’t what I do, There’s Filner for that!”

His handlers jerked around No sign of that gnat Just then there came a sound A big ol’ loud splat Plans all fell flat Bang the high hat So lame-duck Kevin Won’t be stepping down Hoteliers frown.

Spin Cycle appears every other week.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

UP FRONT | OPINION

AARYN BELFER

BACKWARDS & IN

HIGH HEELS

Shelter from the storm

I

t was 10:30 at night and the rain was coming down hard with extended moments of deluge. We had the heat blasting and our seat warmers on high.

The rain blurred the colors of holiday lights shimmering in the glow of windows and adorning the balconies of the high-rise buildings that have become so ubiquitous here in paradise. The moment was visually beautiful and held romantic potential in that way December tends to.

But this wasn’t a beautiful or romantic night at all: We exited at Cesar E. Chavez Parkway and rolled through the darkened streets of the eastern end of the East Village, slowly driving through places where the joy of the season refuses to extend.

We were headed toward the Alpha Project Bridge Shelter to rescue two friends (I’ll call them N and K), a young couple who had been evacuated when the shelter was rendered uninhabitable a few hours earlier due to flooding from the rain.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune the following day, Alpha Project CEO Bob McElroy “praised Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s office for quickly pulling together city crews, including lifeguards, police and firefighters, to aid in what he said was a smooth evacuation.”

McElroy was also quoted as saying, “It’s really cool to see everyone working together.”

With all due respect, this is a far rosier outlook than the truth. After what I was told by residents and later witnessed that night, I can say that the evacuation was anything but smooth. Nor was there was anything cool about it.

Unless 324 homeless people wading through contaminated floodwaters and waiting in the pouring rain for more than an hour for city officials to problem solve is the definition of “smooth” and “cool.”

But bigger than the rosy spin, or even the flood itself, is the issue of homelessness itself. It is arguably the biggest problem we San Diegans don’t want to see, and without massive outcry from citizens, our elected officials will continue to do the bare minimum to find a solution to homelessness and then scramble when there’s a PR crisis. It’s shameful.

I admit right here and now that until N and K came into my life this year, I did not understand homelessness. Not a bit. And it has been through the experience of having an intimate relationship with unhoused folks, that I am now coming to grasp the complexities—the tentacles—of this critical issue, as well as my own long-held stereotypes.

Put more plainly, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

I’m guessing there are many thousands of otherwise good people who, just like me, have no idea what it means to be homeless.

Over the last two months, my husband and I have worked to support N and K as they struggle. With the

support, love and empathy of friends in this community—who know far more than we do about the needs of the homeless—N and K spent just one night on our couch before securing spots at the bridge shelter. And thanks to many generous people (some who we know personally and others who we do not), we collected clothing and money to support N and K as they navigate their tenuous situation.

And here is another realization that’s come to me hard: I naively thought that by giving N and K moral support, shelter resources and finances to pay for things such as MTS passes, monthly phone bills and some food, that this would be enough to launch them on the road to success. How Pollyanna of me to think that I could somehow fix what the system can’t. But this isn’t how it works. There is ever another crisis to be managed and the fundamental one is housing.

A bridge shelter doesn’t cut it.

The necessary wraparound services provided there are either overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people who need them or they aren’t adequately funded or both. A rationing of unhealthy breakfast options (residents can choose one pop tart, a granola bar or a bag of chips) means people are going hungry all day until dinner. According to N and K, some shelter staff can be abusive and theft inside the tent is rampant. The rules—bed check at 8 p.m., showers on certain days and only at certain times—hinder the ability of residents to find and keep jobs (“It feels like I’m in a prison,” N told me the day after the flood). And many jobs do not pay enough for most people to even afford rent in this town.

Along the way, there are setbacks: Something minor to me, like having a wallet stolen, has huge consequences. After all, people can’t get a job without an ID. And something major, like a flood that destroys all your worldly possessions including the shelter itself, as unideal as it may be, is absolutely devastating.

Meanwhile, magical lights glimmer year-round from the luxury penthouses in Downtown, East Village and beyond.

When we arrived to collect N and K on the night of the flood, the police had barricaded the streets, so I jumped out of the car and walked quickly down a block lined with city buses. Each was filled with evacuees, some barefoot, some in wheelchairs, some with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Some were crying. I found my friends, hugged them and ushered them to the car where Sam was waiting with dry clothes and food. He spun the car around and drove beneath all the sparkling lights toward shelter. We had solved the crisis of the night, knowing there’d be more to come.

Our elected officials will continue to do the bare minimum to find a solution to homelessness and then scramble when there’s a PR crisis. It’s shameful.

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

Backwards & In High Heels appears every other week.

Write to aarynb@sdcitybeat.com.

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UP FRONT | VOICES

RYAN BRADFORD

WELL THAT WAS I got got!

S

AWKWARD

hame is a powerful emotion. I want to think that I’m someone who reacts to situations with intelligence and grace, but there’s nothing that unlocks the lizard brain like embarrassment. Shit gets dark when it happens: vision becomes blurry, teeth clench and as Homer Simpson once said, “urge to kill rises.” So, when I was recently scammed out of $30 from an internet con artist named “Amanda Cesario,” I wanted blood.

It begins on Facebook. There’s an event that I want to attend—a film screening where local filmmakers adapt horror stories into movies. A couple of my stories have been chosen, so I already have my hubris working against me.

Trouble is, money’s tight, and the tickets are a tad [rubs fingers together to indicate “pricy”].

And this is when Amanda Cesario strikes.

She posts in the Facebook event page that, due to unforeseen circumstances, she can’t make the screening, but she has tickets to sell at a discounted price. She looks friendly in her profile pic: a selfie in her car, with her child visible in the backseat. Sure, we have zero mutual friends, and maybe her grammar is a little strange, but really, whose isn’t in this workaday world? I send her a direct message on Facebook and when she doesn’t respond immediately, I text the number listed in her post.

“I am willing to sell ,how many you do you want ?” she replies.

I ignore the awkward spacing, thinking patronizing thoughts like, must be doing important mom stuff.

Of course she’s not focused on typing correctly.

I tell her I want two tickets, and she says that’s something she can do. She offers a pair to me for $30, which saves me $20 total. It seems like we’ve reached a mutual understanding. It gives me faith in human kindness. We’re all just people looking out for people who want to see our horror stories luminously displayed 15 feet high.

Amanda doesn’t have Venmo and her Paypal is broken or something. Finally, after some deviously orchestrated hemming and hawing, she recommends that I send her an Amazon gift card for the amount.

I do it.

She texts back a little later, saying the email I sent it to is not connected with an Amazon account, but that she’s already called Amazon to refund my money.

If I could please resend the gift card to her correct account, that would be great.

At this point, I’m getting annoyed. I’m all for saving money, but this is, like, a lot of effort. I tell her that I’m going to wait for the refund to show up in my

bank account before I send another card, and then she sends this: “I understand you ,But why I am saying you should quickly send 30$ now so I can make use of it since I have verify my email is that me and my daughter are going out soon ,So I wanna give you the tickets before i go out with my daughter” With that kind of grammar, and phrasing, Amanda might as well be a deposed Nigerian prince. Red clouds my vision, and I feel hatred welling up within me. I call Amazon to confirm and, yep, someone with the name of Parker has already spent the gift card.

I explain the situation to the Amazon rep.

“I got got, huh?” I ask the rep.

“I’m sorry,” she replies.

I spend the immediate next few minutes swirling down the spiral of self-hate, embarrassment and shame. I text the number back, asking if Parker is proud of what he’s doing with his life—if he thinks his mom is proud. I even inquire as to what he’s spent the money on.

“Some nerd shit?” I type. I realize all this is the digital equivalent of yelling “No you’re crying” through a veil of tears.

In the long run, it’s only $30.

I’ve thrown more money away on slot machines and novelty contact lenses. So why does this scam make me so murderous? It’s not the money. It’s because the scam exposes my want for something easy, or—to be a little melodramatic—exploits a desire for life to finally go my way. It highlights my deep-seated desperation—a quality that doesn’t look good on anyone in any capacity. And that’s why these scams work: because nobody wants to admit they’re desperate for anything.

A couple hours later, “Amanda Cesario” responds to my Facebook message, obviously unaware that I’m the same person who she scammed via text. She says she has tickets for the movie still available. Just for fun, I tell her that I’m a man of wealth, and want to send her more money than she’s asking for. I offer to send her $300 for the tickets. She replies enthusiastically, “Yes!” I tell her that because it’s such a small amount from my massive account, that my bank is going to charge me a withdrawal fee, and if she could send me an Amazon card for that amount, it’s the least she could do for my generous support.

At that point, Amanda Cesario’s account disappears. It makes me feel a little better.

In the long run, it’s only $30.

I’ve thrown more money away on slot machines and novelty contact lenses.

So why does this scam make me so murderous?

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Well, That Was Awkward appears every other week.

Write to ryanb@sdcitybeat.com

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

FARE

Top sushi perfectly timed

H

idden Fish (4764 Convoy St., hiddenfishsushi.com) describes itself as “San Diego’s first omakase-only sushi restaurant.” That description misses the mark. What Hidden Fish is, however, is good. And there are more than a few hints that it’ll get better still.

Traditionally, omakase diners place themselves in the hands of a sushi chef who creates a menu based on the most pristine ingredients available. Omakases can be epic, spectacular experiences just as they are spectacularly expensive. Recently, a crop of “timed omakase” places have popped up in New York offering a set number of dishes per time-frame.

This system allows for lower prices, hence Hidden Fish’s 50-minute/12 pieces/$50.00 or 90-minute/18-piece/$90.00 options.

The business concept is trendy, but the sushi better be good. John Hong (aka “Chef Kappa”) (ex-Sushi Ota, exBang Bang) has the chops, the imagination and, it seems, the connections to make it so. He sources product from a number of locations including Tokyo’s recently relocated Tsukiji Fish Market.

At the core of the sushi tradition lies the curing of the fish for both flavor and preservation. Hong starts the omakase with an example of this: kombucured Japanese sea bream with white ponzu, sea salt and green onions. The cure is subtle but crucial, giving the lightly flavored fish depth and umami. The 24-hour cure on the golden eye snapper is more pronounced. But the classic mackerel with pickled kelp is where the cure really shines. It’s also one of Hong’s most beautiful dishes, with a nearly transparent pickled kelp shrouding the fish.

Hong favors strongly-flavored garnishes. The Korean halibut itself is good, but the yuzukoshō garnish—a fermented paste of chilies, yuzu peel and salt—is what made the dish. It did the same on another night with New Zealand salmon. Similarly, the delicious fattiness of hamachi belly was

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

perfectly complemented by the acidity, salinity and umami of Hong’s soy chimichurri.

There’s nothing like luxury ingredients to give a meal the perception of being valuable, and Hidden Fish goes that route. One may get that sense when served a soy-marinated bluefin tuna with a slice of black truffle added to it. However, it’s the tuna that played the starring role, while the the truffle is a showy accent. The story was different with the uni and ikura (salmon roe), maki and the toro tartare with green onions: the headliners showed front and center. Then there was the nigiri of toro with uni, caviar and black truffle. It was almost silly in its extravagance, but I didn’t decline the dish.

MICHAEL A. GARDINER

Toro with uni, caviar and black truffle Frankly, though, the most impressive bite at Hidden Fish was very different: seared black cod with sea salt. It’s a fish rarely used in local sushi establishments. Hong initially declined a vendor’s repeated entreaties to try the fish before embracing the challenge. A quick sear tamed its over-the-top natural fattiness and a few grains of sea salt made it pop.

The result was every bit as luscious as those luxury headliners and even more exciting (and satisfying) because it was a built on a less showy ingredient.

The “timed omakase” or “omakase-only” labels miss the point of what Hong is really doing. It’s not so much the business concept, but the sushi itself that makes Hidden Fish good. And that black cod suggests just how much further Hong could go in the future.

The World Fare appears weekly.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

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UP FRONT | FOOD & DRINK

ANATOMY OF A

BY IAN WARD

FINAL

COCKTAIL SCENE #47: Big, bold displays at Rendevous

S

o, before I descend down whichever road I choose to follow regarding this column, please take a moment and look at the picture of this drink. It’s stunning and easily one of the more beautiful cocktails that I’ve held in my hand.

Sure, I could chalk it up to my love of theatrics. Big, bold displays make me happy. Then again, big bold displays make most people happy. It’s not just the large red feather garnish or the tri-colored ice or the cerebral name, Le Coq. As for the name, it makes sense especially since Rendezvous (326 Broadway, rendezvoussd.com)—nestled inside the historic U.S. Grant Hotel—is a French-inspired cocktail lounge. Actually, it’s more

LE COQ as prepared at Rendezvous 3/4 oz. Bigallet Thym liqueur

1/2 oz. Domaine Santé All-Sass

1/4 oz. Massenez Garden Party Rosemary liqueur

1/4 oz. La Vielle Ferme French cremant

Do a glass rinse of absinthe (Rendezvous uses La Fee Absinthe Parisenne). Stir all ingredients except the cremant. Before pouring into a highball with a stamped spear ice (Rendezvous stamps there red, white and blue ice, which they make in their own Clinebell machine with a rooster), add the cremant into a mixing glass and give another quick and easy stir.

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mirrored after a Parisian bistro than, say, a Relais & Châteaux resort. Since I know the creators of the cocktail, I’m fully aware that all these elements were carefully tweaked and intended to sing in unison.

Of the cocktail, its creator Jeff Josenhans says it was “inIAN WARD spired by countryside, rustic French, which is really where a lot of French patriotism comes from anyway…

We are seasoning this cocktail with French style herbs, and topping it off with the working man’s champagne.”

Anyway, before I had to point out the photo, I wasn’t quite sure whether to focus on the techniques employed within the cocktail (the iceLe Coq making for example), or the technique of absinthe rinsing cocktails and what that adds. Or do I want to focus on the herbal liqueurs? Either way, it was pleasant tasting and had all of the qualities of a wonderfully curated, herbal-based tea but with strong effervescence and undertones of anise and honeysuckle. Seriously, this cocktail was delicious.

Then there’s the incorporation of Domaine Santé. There are handfuls of local products available for cocktail making, from bitters and spirits to mixers and ginger beers. But Domaine Santé, an Alsatianinspired blend of Riesling and Gewürztraminer, is something truly unique. It is not only sustainable and organic, but also is one of the healthier sweeteners on the market and is made from California grapes. By saying that, I probably came off a little grandstand-ish, but it is important to recognize when people are doing things right.

Anatomy of a Cocktail Scene appears every other week. Write to ianw@sdcitybeat.com.

BY BETH DEMMON

DRAUGHT Thinking outside the hops

BETH DEMMON

“Celebrate beer, yes. But make sure that what’s happening around it is inclusive, responsible, and respectful. If it’s not, speak up.”

—John Holl, Drink Beer, Think Beer

A

s the senior editor of Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine and the former editor of All About Beer Magazine, John Holl covers much more than diversity in the craft beer scene in his latest book Drink Beer, Think Beer: Getting to the Bottom of Every Pint. Its pages include everything from the history of cask ales to his opinion on the word “craft” itself. (For the most part, he doesn’t use it in reference to beer and claims its original meaning has been bastardized as a marketing tool.)

But for readers expecting another technical manual geared toward the nerdiest of beer nerds, Drink Beer, Think Beer is a surprisingly digestible commentary on the state of the industry and how it got here. It’s equally approachable by beer novices and professionals alike.

It’s an easy and pleasant read, and one I thoroughly enjoyed chatting about with Holl over pints at the Coronado Brewing Company Tasting Room in Bay Park (1205 Knoxville St., coronadobrewing.com).

It’s no accident Holl included San Diego on his book promotional tour.

“San Diego is still one of the incubators of what’s happened with beer nationwide,” says Holl. “I think San Diego, for the foreseeable future, is a place that the rest of the country can come and look at with respect and awe and hope, because we want you guys to innovate, to create, to be consistent, to make wonderful beer. And we’re going to come here and drink it.”

But who’s drinking craft beer nowadays? Still overwhelmingly white men, according to the Brewers Association. As a white man himself, Holl is acutely aware

John Holl of his position in the industry, but remains determined to use his privilege to act as an advocate for others.

“I’m a middle-aged white guy—I get it.

I walk into places and middle-aged white guys get served different in breweries around the country and world,” explains Holl. “But it shows the infancy of the industry as it is right now… it’s an uncomfortable conversation for me, as a privileged white male, to be having. But I’m not going to be silent because of it. Just because of what I was born into and what I am in life doesn’t mean that I’m not going to speak up against this kind of stuff I see.”

“Speaking up” includes refusing to promote any beer or brewery with sexist, racist or homophobic imagery (following in the footsteps of the Brewers Association). In the chapter “Shadows in Beer,” Holl describes his surprise at the blowback he received from the “don’t take it so seriously” crowd after penning an editorial slamming the age-old practice of objectifying women on beer labels.

On top of addressing these important issues, there’s also plenty of cheeky anecdotes, colorful commentary and honest observations throughout Drink Beer, Think Beer (as well as some nice #sdbeer mentions).

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

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 11

EVENTS

SHORTlist

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

SAN DIEGO

LAST MINUTE HOLIDAYS Sure, a lot of San Diegans originally hail from colder, less weather-friendly environs, and are reluctantly headed home for the holidays.

For those who stay, the sun, blue sky and lack of cold can certainly give the impression that it’s just another day in paradise.

Luckily, there’s a few more events left that are in the spirit of the season, whether readers are looking for a festively themed performance or a place to purchase last-minute gifts.

First, for those who didn’t snag tickets to one of the many performances of The Nutcracker, the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet will be in Balboa Park (the Casa del Prado Theatre, to be exact) for four more performances. Starting Friday, Dec. 21 and showing through Sunday, Dec. 23, the ballet features some lovely performances from up-andcoming dancers, plus it’s decidedly more affordable than the average Nutcracker (tickets start at $12).

Times vary and more info at sdcyb.org.

For those looking for something a little less, well... Christmasy, there’s Winter Schminter: A Hanukkah & Winter Solstice Celebration, a night of fun and festive folk music from local Klezmer band Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi. These guys always put on a spirited and funny performance so even goys will have a good time. It happens on Friday at 8 p.m. at the Lyceum Theatre (79 Horton Plaza) in the

LOGAN HEIGHTS

SWEET DREAMS This time of year, we’re all looking for a way to make a difference, but often aren’t sure where to look. And, well, if we can have a good time while also doing good, that’s even better.

The Posada! Community Festival is one such opportunity. Hosted by the San Diego Border Dreamers, a local nonprofit dedicated to advocacy for all immigrants, the inaugural event will have ballet folclórico and Aztec dancing performances, as well as food (tamales and pozole, to be more specific), drinks, music, raffles, an art auction and a holiday market. For the kids, the first 40 through the door will also get a free bag of candy. The event happens on Friday, Dec. 21 at Bread & Salt (1955 Julian Ave.) from 6 to 11 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. sandiegoborderdreamers.com

COURTESY OF SAN DIEGO CIVIC YOUTH BALLET

HMelissa Walter at Sepehri Gallery, 4410 Park Blvd., University Heights. A collection of stippled, hand embossed and cut paper works from the local artist. Reception includes beer tastings from Wavelength Brewing Company. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20. Free. 619-4070704, facebook.com/sepehrigallery HDowntown at Sundown at MCASD Downtown, 1001 Kettner Blvd., Downtown.

MCASD’s after-hours event offers free admission and guided tours of exhibitions at MCASD and the SDSU Downtown Gallery, as well as specials at local businesses and live music. From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20. Free. 858-454-3541, mcasd.org HAnnex at Barrio Logan Arts District, 1878 Main St., Barrio Logan. Collaboration with resident artist James Smith to showcase recent work by 22 local artists. Artists include Irina Negulescu, Andrew Jones, Tess Armstrong and more. From 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. Free. thumbprintgallery.com

The Nutcracker Gaslamp. Tickets are $18 at sdrep.org.

Finally, for those looking for last minute gift ideas, skip the mall (and the masochistic parking situation) and try one of these Saturday events instead. First, there’s the Del Barrio Market: Noche Buena at the Barrio Logan Flea Market (2146 Logan Ave., facebook.com/barriologanfleamarket) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which will feature a ton of vendors specializing in vintage clothes, jewelry and handmade goods. There’s also the Mingle Jingle at Bluefoot Bar & Lounge (3404 30th St.) from 2 to 8 p.m. In addition to drink specials, vintage wares and tons of other items, there will also be tastings from Plated with Purpose, the weekly meal service.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS

GOOD ON PAPER The latter part of December can often be pretty barren when it comes to good art shows, but there’s one more we’re looking forward to before 2019 arrives. Regular readers know we’re pretty crazy about the work of Melissa Walter. The multi-media artist is probably best known for her otherworldly paper and installation pieces, which have been displayed at Bread & Salt and 1805 Gallery. Inspired by astronomy and her work with NASA, a collection of her stippled, handembossed and cut paper works will be on display at the intimate Sepehri Gallery space (4410 Park Blvd.) beginning with an opening reception on Thursday, Dec. 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. There will also be beer tastings from Wavelength Brewing Company. Admission if free, but RSVP is recommended at facebook.com/sepehrigallery.

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

Southern California Inspirations, Past and Present at Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Special exhibition of selected paintings from National Watercolor Society current and past artists. Artists include Millard Sheets, Rex Brandt and June Rubin. Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23. Free. 760-4353720, nationalwatercolorsociety.org

DANCE HThe Nutcracker at Casa Del Prado Theatre, 1800 El Prado, Balboa Park. Take a journey to the Land of the Sweets with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince at the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet’s annual production. At 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23. $12-$18. sdcyb.org HThe Nutcracker at Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, Downtown. City Ballet of San Diego’s annual production of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic that includes a full orchestra and regional dancers. Various times through Sunday, Dec. 23. $25-$89. cityballet.org

HOLIDAY EVENTS HGarden of Lights at San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. The San Diego Botanic Garden will be a winter wonderland with snow, carolers and over 100,000 sparkling lights illuminating the Garden. From 5 to 9 p.m.

Through Sunday, Dec. 30. $5-$20. 760436-3036, sdbgarden.org HSkating by the Sea at Hotel Del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado. Now in its 13th year, the outdoor ice rink on the Windsor Lawn features views of Coronado beach. Skating sessions will be offered daily and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Price includes skate rental. From 3:30 to 10 p.m.

Through Tuesday, Jan. 1. Prices vary.

800-468-3533, hoteldel.com

MUSIC Evening of Readings & Carols at The Village Presbyterian Church, 6225 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe. San Diego Pro Arte Voices present their annual concert, which pairs musical selections with poetry, stories and other lessons about the holiday season. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Free$30. 609-937-6619, sdproartevoices.org Noel Noel at Copley Symphony Hall, 950 B St., Downtown. Associate Conductor Sameer Patel leads the San Diego Symphony through a program of traditional

Posada! Community Festival 12 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

“Star Cluster (detail)” by Melissa Walter

Christmas music including sing-alongs for the audience. At 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21 and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. $24$80. sandiegosymphony.org Evening of Readings & Carols at St. Andrew’s by the Sea Episcopal, 1050 Thomas Ave., Pacific Beach. San Diego Pro Arte Voices present their annual concert, which pairs musical selections with poetry, stories and other lessons about the holiday season. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. Free$30. 609-937-6619, sdproartevoices.org

PERFORMANCE HWinter Schminter: A Hanukkah & Winter Solstice Celebration at Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza., Gaslamp.

Klezmer music performed by Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi featuring new music from Yale Strom’s Broken Consort: Shimmering Lights. From 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. $18. 619-544-1000, sdrep.org

POETRY AND SPOKEN WORD Story Party: True Dating Stories at Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Hear stories about ghosting, unwanted pictures, splitting the bill, cat-fishing, heart-break, and more from professional storytellers.

From 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20. $20. 619-238-2389, henryspub.com HNon-Standard Lit: Mattraw + Deutsch at Verbatim Books, 3793 30th St., North Park. The fifth and final reading for NonStandard Lit season features poets Alexandra Mattraw (small siren) and local Adam Deutsch, who has contributed to Poetry International, Thrush, Spinning Jenny and more. At 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21.

Free. 619-501-7466, verbatim-books.com

SPECIAL EVENTS HPosada Navideña Community Festival at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave., Logan Heights. Community fiesta and family event with drinks, music, raffles, food and piñata in benefit of San Diego Border Dreamers. From 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Free. facebook.com/SDBDreamers Makers Market & Clothing Swap at The Brown Building, 4133 Poplar St., City Heights. This monthly event includes clothes, crafts, snacks, coloring books, music, and positive community feels. All left over clothes will be donated. From 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Free. 858609-0983, thebrownbuilding.org HDel Barrio Market: Noche Buena at Barrio Logan Flea Market, 2146 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. Family-friendly market featuring unique vintage, jewelry, art and handmade goods. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 22. Free. facebook.com/ barriologanfleamarket HMingle Jingle at Bluefoot Bar & Lounge, 3404 30th St., North Park. Enjoy drink specials and bites from Plated with Purpose while perusing vintage wares, new jewelry and homemade cards. From 2 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 22. facebook.com/BluefootSD HSoCal Etsy Guild Market at Horton Plaza Park, 900 Fourth Ave., Downtown. The semi-regular marketplace showcases local designers, live art, handmade vendors and more. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. Free. socaletsyguild.com Ugly Sweater Cocktail Cruise at Hornblower Cruises & Events, 970 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown. This floating happy hour includes a boarding cocktail, light hors-d’oeuvres, signature cocktails for purchase, guest DJs, and an ugly sweater contest to win a dinner cruise for two.

From 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. $52$85. 888-467-6256, hornblower.com

H = CityBeat picks @SDCITYBEAT

THEATER AARON RUMLEY

Now and always

at the Old Town Theatre. $40-$58; cygnettheatre.com

T

he sweetest satisfaction of the tribute show, Always… Patsy Cline, is hearing echoes of one of the most distinctive singing voices in the history of American music. It is a contralto that is supple, trilling and rich with emotion. No one can truly duplicate the voice of “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy” or “Walking After Midnight,” but the North Coast Repertory Theatre’s presentation of Always… Patsy Cline has Katie Karel, and she does Cline’s memory and legacy proud.

Karel’s co-star in the two-woman show created by Ted Swindley, is Cathy Barnett, who portrays Louise Seger, a fan who becomes Cline’s confidante for a night during a tour stop in Houston. The two later become pen pals up until the time of Cline’s death (at only 30 years old) in a plane crash.

Always... Patsy Cline was last seen in these parts three years ago when it was produced by OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista.

The North Coast Rep production, like that one, is packed with more than two dozen performances of songs made famous by or associated with Cline. Barnett’s cowgirlfangirl bit becomes repetitive as the show goes on, but Always… Patsy Cline would just be a tribute concert without it. The friendship that the two women discover, like the infectious music, holds this show tightly and warmly together.

Always… Patsy Cline continues through

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—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

NOW PLAYING: A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play: The holiday classic about Ebenezer Scrooge and three Christmas ghosts gets the staged radio treatment. Presented by Oceanside Theatre Company, it runs through Dec. 23 at the Brooks Theatre in Oceanside. oceansidetheatre.org

Always... Patsy Cline Dec. 30 at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. $45; northcoastrep.org ••• eneath the sentiment of his A Christmas Carol was Charles Dickens’ commentary about the responsibility of taking care of each other, including the poor and destitute. This doesn’t mean his tale can’t be enjoyed on a more superficial level. Either way, Cygnet Theatre’s annual production of A Christmas Carol in Old Town, directed by Sean Murray, is reliable and redemptive.

From the pre-show caroling by the ac-

B

tors and the delightful period costumes, to the fun-loving performances from that cast (Tom Stephenson as Scrooge and, in multiple roles, David McBean, Melissa Fernandes, Melinda Gilb, Patrick McBride, Charles Evans, Jr. and new this year, Megan Carmichael), Cygnet’s Carol is still worth singing about. With two new songs and the cast singing through more of the script, this year’s production has more music than ever. Not all of it adds something substantial, but why quibble with one of San Diego’s holiday classics?

A Christmas Carol runs through Dec. 24

Miss Bennett: The San Diego premiere of this sequel to Pride and Prejudice is set during Christmas and sees bookish middle sister Mary serving as the protagonist. Written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, it runs through Dec. 23 at the New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. newvillagearts.org Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Now in its 21st year, this holiday classic tells the musical tale of a green grump who plans to ruin the holidays for the town of Whoville. Directed by James Vásquez, it runs through Dec. 29 at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. theoldglobe.org Clint Black’s Looking for Christmas: The holidaythemed world premiere musical about an Afghanistan veteran who returns home during the holidays. Featuring music from country singer Clint Black, it runs through Dec. 31 at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. theoldglobe.org

For complete theater listings, visit sdcitybeat.com

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 13

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

@SDCITYBEAT

BY

TO R R E Y BAI LE Y, S ETH CO M B S , M I C HAE L GAR D I N E R , SAR A HAR M ATZ

AND

AN D R E A LO P E Z-VI LL AFAÑA

Back in 2016, we wrote, “2017 surely has to be better, right?” Then, in our 2017 New Year’s Eve Guide, we wrote, “2018 surely has to be better, right? Right? ” Eh, OK, well, 2019… yeah, OK, whatever… bring it on.

But, as always, at least we can get the year started in grand fashion. From blowout parties with cool light shows and live concerts from kick-ass local bands, to super fancy dinners and kid-friendly pajama parties, we like to think our annual New Year’s Eve Guide has something for everyone.

JEFF CORRIGAN / THE DEEP END

LED Presents OMFG! NYE is one of the most over-the-top parties held in the city.

Taking place over three days, it’s an 18-plus, EDM-centric event at Valley View Casino Center (3500 Sports Arena Blvd.). Kaskade is the inarguable headliner on Saturday, Dec. 29, while Illenium plays top slot on Sunday, Dec. 30 and Porter Robinson rounds out the lineup on Monday, Dec. 31. Tickets are available separately for each day, and range in price from $67.50 to $77.50 per ticket. omfgnye.com Hard Rock Hotel San Diego (207 Fifth Ave.) keeps with tradition in hosting its three-story, five-room, 25-bar event on Monday, Dec. 31. This year, New Year’s Eve at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego features headliner DJ Pauly D from MTV’s infamous Jersey Shore, in addition to 15 other DJs spread out across the venue. Tickets run

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from $60 for general admission, $110 for fast-pass entry and endless champagnes, and up to $175 for a meet-and-greet with DJ Pauly D himself. #GTL hardrockhotelsd.com.

Pacific and Mission Beach are already known for raucous parties and that won’t change heading into 2019. The NYE Beach Party hosted by the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa (3999 Mission Blvd.) is the allinclusive event that includes drinks and appetizers inside the Catamaran’s four ballrooms where DJs Dijital, Who, Paolo da Rosa and more will be spinning. General admission starts at $129 and can be upgraded to include a VIP boat party on the bay for $159. nyebeachparty.com Another bayside event is Le Chic N Freak, which takes place at the upscale Harbor Island restaurant, Coasterra (880

Le Chic N Freak Harbor Island Drive). Le Chic N Freak is a production hosted by local house and techno collectives The Deep End, Music Is 4 Lovers and Staybad. There will be two stages with sets from Matthew Dear

and Francesca Lombardo, in addition to a silent disco, virtual reality stations and a GIF photo booth. Tickets can be found on Eventbrite and range from $49 to $79 for general admission.

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 15

COURTESY OF THE SCHIZOPHONICS

Hotel parties for New Year’s are always a good move. Not only does it save money on a Lyft (on arguably the busiest, most expensive night of the year), but we can just walk to our room and pass out face down next to the bottles of Korbel.

We’ve certainly enjoyed the Lafayette Hotel’s NYE parties in the past, and they always seem to be committed to cool themes and even cooler bands. This year, the North Park hotel (2223 El Cajon Blvd.) is going psychedelic ’60s with its Euphoric Haze party. The lineup of music acts includes ANASTASYA KOROL

Strawberry Moons

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

bands such as Lady Dottie & the Diamonds, Mrs. Henry, Strawberry Moons and more, all of whom will be spread out over three themed rooms (an Andy Warhol factory room, a “groovy,” R&B-themed room and a “Lave Underground” room that’s a bit more on the psychedelic side). The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $45. There are also dinner and room packages available at lafayettehotelsd.com.

The bands playing at the NYE Soiree on the Bay at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort (4000 Coronado Bay Road) are among the best in the city and all are part of the Redwoods Music collective. The lineup includes Dani Bell & the Tarantist, The Midnight Pine, Cardinal Moon, Birdy Bardot and more. In addition to the bands, there will be a compliementary nibbles, a sweets bar and a champagne toast at midnight. It all kicks off at 7 p.m. and tickets are $50 at casbahmusic.com. Oh, and last we checked, there were still rooms available at the resort.

Speaking of The Casbah, spending New Year’s Eve at our city’s most legendary dive club is never a bad move. And this year’s lineup of bands is a raucous bunch that’s perfect for dancing and sweating with like-minded heathens. The Schizophonics play a spirited blend of garage rock, while the masked nutters in The Creepy Creeps are a bit more on the surf-rock side. The night begins at 8:30 p.m. with The Widows and Scary Pierre opening. Tickets are $25 at casbahmusic.com.

Finally, for those looking for something a bit more on the

The Schizophonics affordable side, and with decidedly less pomp and circumstance, the Soda Bar (3615 El Cajon Blvd.) in Normal Heights has a band lineup of locals that includes folksters Weatherbox, Pistolita and positioner. Tickets are $15 at sodabarmusic.com. A little further down the road, City Heights dive The Tower Bar (4757 University Ave.) will have a night of killer punk and indie rock bands from the La Escalera Records family including Civil War Rust, Mercy Music, Squarecrow and more. Pre-sale tickets are $10 (or $18 for two) at laescaleradistro.com. And if your New Year’s resolution is start out on a more mellow band, there’s always the Grateful Dead tribute act Electric Waste Band at Winston’s OB (1921 Bacon St.). Tickets are $20 at winstonsob.com.

@SDCITYBEAT

MICHAEL A. GARDINER

New Year’s Eve dining doesn’t have to be anything less than excellent, and one of the more exciting offerings is at The Cork & Craft (16990 Via Tazon) in Rancho Bernardo.

Chef Scott Cannon’s seven-course tasting menu starts with the first course: an oyster taco with potato, caviar and seaweed. Other highlights of the menu include a truffle risotto with lobster, potato and parmesan, and a surf-n-turf play featuring NY strip steak, braised octopus and a squid ink demi-glace. At $89 (with optional beer and wine pairings) DELILA ERCOLANI

Maestoso’s Semolina Polenta with Lentils

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per guest, it’s a steal. Call 858-618–2463, or book online with SeatMe. Maestoso (1040 University Ave.) in Hillcrest is offering two prix fixe dinner options: a $55 three-course dinner served to guests arriving between 5 and 8:30 p.m. with an optional $25 wine pairing, or an $85 five-course dinner served beginning at 8:30 p.m. through midnight (last seating at 9:30 p.m.) with an optional $35 wine pairing. At the center of them is lemon polenta with lentils (an Italian NYE tradition) and vegetarian cotechino (traditionally a slowcooked Italian pork sausage). The dish features semolina polenta spiced with lemon powder from the Amalfi coast, a bay leaf-smoked vegetarian sausage and some tomato stewed lentils. Reserve by calling 619-642-0777 or e-mailing hello@maestoso.com.

Continuing the international theme, Monkey King (467 Fifth Ave.), a Gaslamp Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant, will be celebrating the New Year with live music, a fourcourse prix fixe menu and a midnight celebration with a balloon drop and complimentary champagne toast. The highlight of the $129 per couple menu could be the Monkey King Roll: spicy tuna, crab, avocado, cream cheese, spicy mayo and eel sauce flash-fried in light tempura batter. Reserve by calling 619-359-8897 or online at monkeykingsd.com.

And there may be no better place in town to experience the more luxurious side of the holiday than at San Diego’s

Monkey King Roll newest “sophisticated steakhouse,” Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse (901 Bayfront Court, Ste. 105) on the downtown waterfront. Executive Chef Brian Christman’s super-premium four-course menu ($195 per person) will feature 45-day dry-aged prime strip, bone-in ribeye and more, all with optional wine pairings. New Year’s Eve dinner service begins at 5 p.m. and runs all evening. To reserve, visit delfriscos.com or call 619-272-5060.

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

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COURTESY OF LIVING COAST DISCOVERY CENTER

For those who enjoy something more intimate or have little ones to entertain on New Year’s Eve, there are plenty of events to choose from in San Diego. The Hornblower Cruise and Events’ New Year’s Eve Sunset Buffet Dinner Cruise (1800 N. Harbor Drive) is ideal for people who simply want to enjoy a calm celebration with a view of the San Diego Bay. Although this one is on the pricier side (tickets are $112.95 per person), it includes food, reserved seating and entertainment from 3 to 6 p.m. hornblower.com COURTESY OF HORNBLOWER CRUISE AND EVENTS

New Year’s Eve Sunset Buffet Dinner

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While the Dinner Detective at the Courtyard by Marriott (530 Broadway St., Downtown) ends before midnight, it’s a great alternative to other New Year’s Eve shows. The murder mystery dinner show invites guests to become part of the performance by allowing them to engage with actors in order to help solve a murder. Tickets for their New Year’s Eve show go for $69.95 and includes a four-course dinner.

The show goes from 7 to 10 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at thedinnerdetective.com.

The New Children’s Museum (200 W. Island Ave.) will be hosting their Pajama Jam again this year for those with kids in tow. The NCM will offer art activities, games, dinner and a countdown balloon drop. Parents also receive a free drink ticket. This one runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29 and tickets go for $25 and up at thinkplaycreate.org. Another option is the Living Coast Discovery Center (1000 Gunpowder Point Drive) in Chula Vista, which is hosting its New Year’s Eve Family Party. Guests are encouraged to dress in warm clothing since the event will include wild animal encounters and a night hike. The celebration goes from 7 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 31. The event will have family games, music, crafts and cookie decorating activities. Adults 21-and-over will receive two drink tickets and there will be a hot chocolate bar for the kids so they can get chocolate-wasted. Tickets go for $30 (children 2-andunder are free) at thelivingcoast.org.

New Year’s Eve Family Party Of course a little partying never hurt anybody and for that there’s the Black and Gold New Year’s Eve Party aboard the steam ferryboat Berkeley at the Maritime Museum of San Diego (1492 N. Harbor Drive). The boat’s deck will be transformed into a lounge that will be open from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for dancing, drinking and eating. There will be complimentary champagne at midnight with a balloon drop to ring in the new year. Tickets are $60; private booths can be purchased for $500 at sdmaritime.org. Black and gold cocktail attire is a must.

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 19

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Shakespeare Pub New Year’s Eve Celebration at Shakespeare Pub, 3701 India St., Mission Hills. Celebrate New Year’s Eve on British time. Begin partying in the morning and join the countdown happening across the pond at 4 p.m., which is when the clock strikes midnight in the United Kingdom. From 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31. Free. 619-2990230, shakespearepub.com Starlite NYE Dinner Party at Starlite, 3175 India St., Mission Hills. The restaurant and bar combo offers a three-course prix fixe dinner. Includes entry to an afterparty that features DJs and drinks. Afterparty admission is also available with the option to buy drink tokens. At 8 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 31. $55-$65. 619-3589766, starlitesandiego.com New Year’s Eve Island Ball at Four Points Sheraton, 8110 Aero Drive, Kearny Mesa. A dinner and after-party inspired

by Tahitian culture. Includes cocktails, photo ops, local DJs, a dessert bar and more. From 6:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $30-$150. 858-863-7008, eventbrite.com Big Night San Diego New Year’s Eve Gala at Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd, Downtown. Arguably the biggest party in town, this event is all-inclusive and features an open bar, food, a champagne toast and entertainment throughout the eight dance floors. VIP options available.

From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $99-$2,500. bignightsandiego.com New Year’s Eve Bachata Bash at Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center, 3925 Ohio St., North Park. Jazz 88.3 FM’s DJ Chris hosts the night, which includes music by DJ Malakaii and resident DJ Ulkeim. $75 includes access to the open bar. From 8:00 p.m.

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to 1:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $25-$75.

619-255-5147, eventbrite.com New Year’s Eve Bash at Estancia La Jolla, 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla.

This event is all-inclusive, with live entertainment and a Moët & Chandon Champagne bar, bubbly-inspired cocktails, an oyster bar, risotto bar, sushi and more.

From 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $165. meritagecollection.com Bottoms Up: Party from the Street to the Sky at ALTITUDE Sky Lounge, Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, 660 K. St., Downtown. Start on the street with a DJ in the lobby featuring an array of California culinary creations, a chocolate fountain and more. Take it up to the sky for unlimited drinks, champagne and gourmet food.

From 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $189. sandiegogaslamphotel.com New Year’s Eve in Spain at Cafe Sevilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar, 353 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp. There will be a four-course prix fixe menu, and Flamenco dinner show performances. From 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $79. 619-233-5979, cafesevilla.com Albert’s Mildly Wild New Year’s Eve Dinner at Albert’s Restaurant, San Diego International Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park. A gourmet dinner prepared by Executive Chef Carissa Giacalone and Albert’s Chef Grant Toraason. Wine pairing is available for an additional $15. Seating from 5 to 8:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $65. Admission required for nonmembers. zoo. sandiegozoo.org New Year’s Eve Gala at the Hotel Del Coronado, Celebrate the New Year with a five-course meal, open bar and dancing to the sounds of the Mighty Untouchables. There will also be a kids and teens

party including dinner, ice skating, games, s’mores and a midnight toast with sparkling cider. From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $125-$425. hoteldel.com

slice, drink with refill, hats horns and glow sticks. From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

858-560-9349, skateworldsandiego.com

The Grand New Year’s Eve Party at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5300 Grand Del Mar Ct., Del Mar. Dance the night away with music by a guest DJ as the Lobby Lounge and Bar is transformed. Admission includes one glass of sparkling wine. Table and bottle service from $250. From 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $85.

858-314-2000, fairmont.com/san-diego

Craft Beer New Year at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station, 2816 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma.

Admission includes three drink tickets, light bites, a celebratory toast pour at midnight with souvenir glass, two dance floors and more. From 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $99. Special group pricing available. 619-269-2100, stonebrewing.com

New Year’s Eve at Vistal, 901 Bayfront Ct. Ste. 1, Downtown. A champagne welcome followed by a five- or seven-course dinner by chefs Amy DiBiase and Paul McCabe.

Performances from the Gregory Page Quartet complete with a sparkler countdown. From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $89-$125. eventbrite.com

NYE with Roy Wood Jr. at The American Comedy Club, 818 Sixth Ave., Downtown.

The Comedy Central star rings in the New Year with two special shows including party favors and a champagne toast. At 7 and 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $25-$30.

619-795-3858, americancomedyco.com

New Year’s Eve Vintage Vegas Celebration at The Abbey on Fifth Avenue, 2825 Fifth Ave, Downtown. A high-end cocktail party including casino tables, themed music, entertainment and classic cocktails. Vintage dress code suggested, but not required. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 31. $79-$144. 619-6868700, hornblower.com Latin New Year’s Eve at The Westgate Hotel, 1055 2nd Ave., Downtown. This Latin-inspired party features pre-dinner cocktails and a Latin-influenced buffet dinner with a live performance from Julio De La Huerta. Dress code is cocktail attire.

From 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $125-$164. 619-238-1818, westgatehotel.com New Years Eve Skate at Skateworld San Diego, 6907 Linda Vista Road, Linda Vista.

Admission includes skates, large pizza

The Second City Improv Stars at the California Center for the Arts Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. After a performance from the improv comedy troupe, a Premium Fan Reception Pass will be available, which includes a bar and autographs and photos with the talent in the lobby. At 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $37.50$48.50. 760-839-4138, artcenter.org Boombox at Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy. The electronic group—known for mixing house, blues, funk, rock, and soul—will perform along with Omega Squad and Ryan Bauer. $45. From 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $45.

619-836-1847, musicboxsd.com ATASC- San Diego Annual New Year’s Eve Ball at Crown Plaza Hotel Circle, 2270 Hotel Circle N., Mission Valley. A full night of entertainment hosted by Besim Kazado and live musical performances, as well as full course gourmet meals and drinks. Child-

care available. From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $10-$130. .eventbrite.com A Vintage New Years Eve at The Pearl Hotel, 1410 Rosecrans St., Point Loma.

A three-course prix fixe menu including a no-cover party with party favors, complimentary champagne toast at midnight and entertainment by DJ Jon Wesley. From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $70-$86.

619-226-6100, thepearlsd.com New Year’s Eve Rooftop Party at Andaz Hotel Rooftop, 600 F. St., Downtown. This party includes an open bar, Top 40 mashups selected by the live DJ complete, and complimentary champagne and party favors. VIP options available. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $29-$4,000. eventbrite.com New Year’s Eve Dance Party at Manhattan Bar, 400 Broadway, Chula Vista. DJs Isreael and Disorder will spin new wave, old skool and freestyle while bartenders sling craft beer. From 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Free. Monday, Dec. 31. facebook. com/events/263775891160297 Detroit Underground at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Point Loma. Patrons can choose to see the show for $80 or purchase the Dance the Night Away package which includes two tickets to the show, breakfast buffet for two, party favors and a champagne toast.

Rates for the package start at $349. At 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31. halfmooninn.com New Year’s Eve Greatest Hits at The Shout! House, 655 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp.

Enjoy a prime rib buffet while listening to dueling pianos belt out the hits. Champagne included. At 6 and 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31. $50-$160. 619-231-6700 x 313, theshouthouse.com

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

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CULTURE | FILM

Absolute power

Vice

Christian Bale transforms into Dick Cheney for new satirical biopic

by Glenn Heath Jr.

A

dam McKay is responsible for some of the most ultimatum: shape up or they’re through. This might be ingenious American comedies of the 21st cen- the only time a threat worked on Cheney. But even she tury. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy couldn’t have imagined that, decades later, he would be and Step Brothers, in particular, thrive most when coroneted as the most ruthless man in Washington.

McKay tries to clarify the falling dominos that enchallenging the genre’s tonal and narrative preconceptions. Many of the best gags are born from McKay abled Cheney to get there. More broadly, he tries to and star Will Ferrell’s ability to brazenly subvert the show how right wing conservatism was born alongiconography associated with entitled masculinity. The side his ascent. His alliance with then Rep. Donald result is the stripping of arrogant characters down to Rumsfeld (played with maniacal conviction by Steve Carell) in the early 1970s enabled him to ride the their pouty core.

McKay departed the land of absurdist debauch- wave of post-Watergate departures and become Gerery with The Big Short, a dramatic deep dive into the ald Ford’s Chief of Staff.

Vice quickly points out that Cheney was always housing crisis that sent America into 2008’s Great Recession. This career transition might initially seem more comfortable as a cloak and dagger strategist strange. But he’s long been fascinated with symbols than charismatic politico. Only Lynne’s last second of unchecked capitalism and ego, and those were not campaigning saved her husband’s ill-fated Wyoming congressional campaign in 1978, a hard to come by during the presiseat he would hold until 1989. dential tenure of George W. Bush.

As McKay segues into more reDonald Rumsfeld’s snickering VICE cent historical events of the Bush slickness and Karl Rove’s sinister Directed by Adam McKay presidency (W. is played by Sam scowling remain two of the most Starring Christian Bale, Rockwell)—9/11, and the Iraq/Afcallous visages from a time when ghanistan wars, for example—the GOP policymaking secretly moved Amy Adams, Steve Carell film ditches its ham-fisted satirithe goalposts of democracy. and Sam Rockwell cal tone. Taking on the traditionBut neither one of those men Rated R ally invisible role of Vice President, had anything on Dick Cheney, the Cheney uses the cover to steal away quietly conniving political operapower from an ignorant president tive turned corporate executive who manipulated his way into becoming one of the while fortifying the absolute authority of the executive branch. most influential Vice Presidents in history.

The film’s momentum stalls during the later seWith Vice, McKay thoroughly deconstructs biopic storytelling techniques to examine Cheney’s per- quences. Vice fails to elicit the same energy during sonal life and ideological awakening. Watching as he Cheney’s descent as it did with his decades long rise, takes advantage of multiple vacuums in leadership ending with the equivalent of a scolding that impliand responsibility, the film moves at the brisk pace of cates the audience as co-conspirators. This feels like a slapstick. Tropes such as voiceover narration, direct far too convenient way of indicting the fear mongeraddress and non-linear editing are energized by the ing and hatefulness of post-9/11 culture.

Exhausted by its scope and rampaging pace, Vice director’s livened sense of timing.

While McKay’s nimble stylistics are consistently (opening Tuesday, Dec. 25 in limited release) ultientertaining, Vice is, first and foremost, a movie about mately limps to the finish line. For long stretches, it’s performance. Gaining nearly 50 pounds for the role, a striking example of brutal American self-reflection method man Christian Bale literally becomes a physi- from a time when very little of that existed. But McKcal manifestation of Cheney. More importantly, the ay’s love for absurdity and irony only takes these hisnotoriously prickly actor nails his subject’s tempered, torical traumas so far; the gravity and consequences of Cheney’s heinous maneuvering end up paling in scheming hunger for power.

The devilish satire begins when a young Cheney is comparison to the man himself. in the midst of a drunken bender, a few steps removed from blue-collar burnout. Fed up with his self-destruc- Film reviews run weekly. tive antics, future wife Lynne (Amy Adams) gives him an Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com

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DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 23

CULTURE | FILM

Shoplifters

Family is relative

T

he surrogate family at the center of Hirokazu Koreeda’s Shoplifters live in a constant state of financial insecurity. They make ends meet by committing petty larceny and working grueling shifts at blue-collar jobs, and yet they seem mostly happy.

Some are related by blood, while others are castoffs who found a home in the most unsuspecting of domestic situations.

Yuri (Miyu Sasaki) falls into the latter category. After swiping groceries from one of the local supermarkets, Osamu (Lily Franky) and his tween protégé Shota (Jyo Kairi) discover the disheveled, young Yuri playing in an alleyway nook right outside her broken home. Instead of passing by, they invite her back to their small home for dinner.

In Kore-eda’s morally complicated world, a seemingly kind act such as this also carries with it serious consequences. Yuri eventually moves in with the makeshift collective of criminals led by Osamu and his partner Nobuyo (Sakura Andô), and positive relationships flourish. Small tensions emerge between the children but those pass with the wind.

But when Yuri’s derelict parents eventually inform the authorities, a seemingly innocuous disappearance eventually becomes a national sensation. This is where Koreeda’s mastery of characterization comes into play, specifically with Osamu. The patriarch appears jovial and kind on the surface, and yet his shady past and undercurrent of selfishness make him a far more complex persona.

The tragedy of Shoplifters (opening Friday, Dec. 21 at AMC Fashion Valley Cinemas) revolves around the emotional disappointment found in this duality. It is a deeply sad mosaic of good people who are ultimately defined by the bad they’ve done, whether fairly or not. Society only sees their actions as clear binary, missing all of the beauty and heartache in between.

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

It remains up to filmmakers like Kore-eda to remind us that people are never this simple.

—Glenn Heath Jr.

OPENING Aquaman: In this big budget DC comic book movie, Jason Momoa plays the slippery superhero that must choose between mankind and his underwater society on the verge of revolt. Opens Friday, Dec. 21, in wide release.

Ben is Back: On Christmas Eve, a woman’s estranged teenage son returns home and reveals new truths about his drug addiction. Opens Friday, Dec. 21, at Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas and Angelika Carmel Mountain Cinemas.

Bumblebee: The Transformers spinoff about the fast-talking yellow VW bug that you’ve all been waiting for! Wait, that’s not true. You didn’t want this movie at all.

Opens Friday, Dec. 21, in wide release.

Mary Poppins Returns: The mysterious singing nanny returns to London to reinspire the now grown children she once mentored. Emily Blunt takes on the role made famous by Julie Andrews. Opens Wednesday, Dec. 19, in wide release.

Second Act: Jennifer Lopez plays a hardworking retail associate who can’t seem to get promoted. When her friend’s son doctors her resume, she suddenly finds opportunity knocking. Opens Friday, Dec. 21, in wide release.

Shoplifters: Hirokazu Kore-eda’s wise drama follows a collective of criminals who live happily off the grid until their temporary harmony is threatened by society’s contradictory rules. Opens Friday, Dec. 21, at AMC Fashion Valley Cinemas.

Welcome to Marwen: The survivor (Steve Carell) of a brutal attack has all of his memories wiped clean and creates a miniature town where he can be heroic in order to cope. Opens Friday, Dec. 21, in wide release.

Vice: Adam McKay’s biopic on former Vice President Dick Cheney explores the motivation and means behind a political operative who craved power like no other.

Opens Tuesday, Dec. 25, in wide release.

For complete movie listings, visit Film at sdcitybeat.com.

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KRISTIN COFER

MUSIC

n Call of the Void, the third fulllength album from Lumerians, the band doesn’t completely distance themselves from who they were. They continue to channel sounds that precede the post-punk, cadenced melancholia of Joy Division or Bauhaus. They also keep drawing from Krautrock, and are still soaked in the ‘60s psychedelia that was a mark of their previous records.

Still, Call of the Void is a huge step forward for the Bay Area-based quartet. The band’s inspirations have somehow grown thicker, and consequently, so has their sound. There is also a newly acquired rhythmicality, resulting in the beats lingering a little longer.

While listening to the eight tracks of the album, minds and ears may start wandering toward Tuxedomoon’s emotional and pulsing cries, slowly steering away from the dryness of German prototypes such as Can and Neu! The switch in tone may have been inevitable. After all, life has dramatically changed for Jason Miller (keys, synth, guitar, vocals),

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Tyler Green (guitar, keys, synth), Marc Melzer (bass, vocals) and Chris Musgrave (drums) in the years since their last musical effort.

“Our last album was written in 2014, and that was one of the Transmission records,” says Miller, referring to the last installment of the group’s instrumental Transmissions from Telos albums. “In 2015, we played some festivals. and started working preliminarily on the next record around then. And then…”

Miller takes a long pause before picking up his words again.

“2016 hit, and we got sort of scattered.

One of our good friends and a lot of our other friends died in the Ghost Ship Fire [in Oakland] that year, and that was sort of a personal state of disarray. We finished the record after that, and that re-contextualized a lot of stuff we had done, and [it] formed some of the stuff afterward.”

In that four-year stretch, Miller explains, the band decided to propose new songs to unaware crowds at live shows. The result, he says, was a “slightly different approach to record making,” and that, in the end, it

took Lumerians longer than they had anticipated to complete the album. In fact, 2016 split Lumerians between what was and what would have been. The friend they lost in the Ghost Ship fire was Barrett Clark, their longtime sound engineer. Two more years went by before Call of the Void saw the light of the day.

“A lot of the songs we had written before that [the fire] happened, but a lot of lyrics we wrote after that happened,” Miller says. “Our friends had been a family. A couple of them we had known since high school. But really, a big part of Lumerians was Barrett Clark, and so we dedicated the record to him. We wanted it to be a monument [to him] in some ways.”

Miller emphasizes how lyrics are not meant to “lay on top” of the music. They are simply another instrument, serving the purpose of completing the sound and never overshadow it.

“When we add vocals to a song, we don’t want that to be something that completely changes the composition,” he says. “Vocals can really ruin a song. Sometimes, you listen to a song, and you’re grooving to it, but then the vocals come on, and you’re like, ‘oh god, that’s terrible.’ So, we’re very peculiar about vocals. We don’t want lyrics to detract from the songs or pull them in a direction we don’t want them to go.”

What’s more, Lumerians have always wished for their music to hit multiple senses, Miller says. The band’s live sets are notorious for playing on visual, as well as auditory stimulation, including the band themselves often dressing up in druid-like costumes.

Still, the addition of vocals to some of the tracks in Call of the Void seem to make more of a difference on the new record than in previous ones. The psychedelic, seven-minute long “Fuck All Y’All” is a slow but necessary introduction to what will come next. By the time incessant drums and gloomy synthesizers set the tone for “Silver Trash,” the track’s muffled vocals radically better the mood of the album.“Watch the sparks flying high/Shining skin in the moonlight/Silver trash and looks of fright/Flying through the trees at night,” Miller sings, echoing the hermeneutical imagery of 1800s French poets Baudelaire and Verlaine.

“Masters Call” depicts the same type of esoteric picture: “Down in the hollows you’ll follow the crick/The sound of the water, you’ll totter and fall/The smell on the vapor of sulfur and breath/Sacred formations take order and shift.”

With each composing segment minutely nestled into the other, Miller says Call of the Void is an escape from chaos and a rejection of self-destruction. In a way, it’s the awaited solution to one long riddle.

“Our process [of recording] was slow and interrupted, because that’s who we are. How we go at things,” Miller says. “Every now and then, a song comes out really quick and naturally. You get an idea and you start to build around that. But most of the time, we re-write most of our music from improvisations. We record while playing. We get on something that we like. Then, we’ll listen back to it, decide which parts are intriguing and evocative for us and which parts we don’t really care about. It’s like a curation process.”

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 25

MUSIC

AFTER HOURS: ABOUT LAST NIGHT

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO

COURTESY OF LOVELIFE

CONCERT RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR

A

t a recent performance at The Observatory, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke stopped playing a piano ballad mid-song to address the crowd. According to one concertgoer, Yorke was annoyed that so many people were talking over the song, telling them to “fuck off” and go outside if they wanted to chat.

This isn’t an isolated incident by any means. San Diego audiences are notorious for being chatty and, well, downright rude at concerts and club shows. And while it’s not the only factor, there are actual bands and artists who often don’t stop in San Diego because of previously bad experiences.

But we’re here to help. Below is a list of resolutions for local concertgoers. Please note that the list is merely suggestive. However, if it touches a nerve, it might be because it’s hitting too close to home.

When it comes to your phone, sometimes enough is enough. We get it. You want to record and snap the entire concert so you can relive it later. But why not live in the moment now and reserve the phone recording for, let’s see, only your favorite songs? At the recent Billie Eilish show at Soma, nearly the entire audience had their phones out the whole show. But here’s the thing, other people’s videos are going to be up on Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, etc. later so why not just dance, enjoy the show and rest assured that there will still be plenty of vids to check out later.

Stop flashing the band! No, not like that, but yeah, don’t ever do that either. We mean with your camera flash.

Turn it off if you’re going to take pictures. Not only does the band hate it, but it’s distracting to the rest of us as well.

If you’re tall, maybe don’t stand right in front of the stage. Not trying to be, eh, a heightist(?), but it should be at least an unspoken rule that anyone over, say… 6 foot, 3 inches should not be right in front of the stage at a club. No one standing behind you can see anything and you can still see the band from literally anywhere in the club. The middle of the crowd is fine, but please leave the front of the stage for the shorter people who actually show up early because they legitimately can’t see the band from anywhere else.

Speaking of which…

Stop elbowing people! If you show up late to the general admission show, you will have to watch the show from wherever you can. You don’t get to elbow and push your way up to the front while claiming “sorry, I’m meeting my friend” or some other such bullshit excuse. Too bad. This is adult Red Rover and you ain’t getting over. Also, if the show is crowded…

DO NOT be a sexual assaulting pervert. For the men

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

ISTOCKPHOTO

Lovelife Boat Party

Night and day

N

out there, we get that personal space can be hard to come by at crowded shows, but if you grope and inappropriately crowd women, guess what? You’re a sexual assaulter! Maybe think to yourself, “If I did this outside of this concert, would someone call the cops on me?” If the answer is “yes,” then don’t fucking do it! In fact, if you even have to ask yourself that question, just kill yourself.

Stop singing along so loudly. Sometimes, sing-alongs are encouraged and some shows are so loud that no one is going to notice you belting out all the words. But if you’re at a more intimate performance, please know the rest of us want to hear the singer and not your Carpool Karaoke performance. Just mouth the words. In fact…

Just shut up. We’ll tolerate your obnoxious make-out sessions and obnoxious wooing between songs, but this is not the forum to talk about your day. We don’t care about your personal lives. We came to this show to forget about our own shitty lives so we sure as shit don’t want to hear about yours.

Wear deodorant. Really, just this once, be diplomatic and consider that hundreds of others who haven’t read or don’t believe the same conspiracy theories about aluminium chlorohydrate-based antiperspirants that you do.

Go to more shows in general. Locals might be surprised to learn just how many touring acts skip San Diego precisely because not enough people show up to shows. Go out, support the local economy and discover some great new music. But really though, just shut up and enjoy it.

—Seth Combs

ew Year’s Eve is the worst holiday for nightlife.

It’s overpriced, overhyped, overdressed and underwhelming. With the exorbitant money drop and unfilled expectations, the appeal dwindles each year.

New Year’s Day, however, is a considerable upgrade.

The day can still be spent with friends, doing the same thing (re: drinking) except in sweats and with smeared makeup. On New Year’s Day, nobody gives a shit and the world feels lawless, yet optimistic.

Wake up (potentially) hangover-free for Day 001 at The Lamplighter (817 W. Washington St.), a 6 a.m. daybreak party hosted by local crews Staybad, Flatline and Soul Work. There will be a proper DJ set by Jay Tripwire, an artist known for combining Detroit techno roots with rhythm. There will also be sets from local resident DJs H2H and Dubeats, Eric Medina and Andrew Wilkinson, and more. The party includes an outside area dedicated to relaxation. Day 001 runs from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a cover of $10 that includes light breakfast snacks.

The Gaslamp Quarter’s Fluxx (500 Fourth Ave., fluxxsd.com) will also be throwing a daybreak party, Dawn Of The New Year. Starting at 5 a.m., the club will open for those looking to continue on from the night before or to start anew with the year. This party will be centered on hip hop, pop and Latin genres, as is headlined by DJ Drama, a Philadelphia native who gained popularity by being the official DJ for the rapper T.I. He’ll receive deck support from San Francisco’s DJ Amen and San Diego’s DJ Dynamiq. Running until 10 a.m., Dawn of The New Year is free for industry and $10 for the general public.

Finally, there’s Lovelife’s New Year of Love Boat Party. Taking place on the Adventure Hornblower cruise ship, the New Year of Love Boat Party tours the San Diego Bay and features two open-air dance floors hosted by Music is 4 Lovers and The Deep End. FunktionOne sound, London’s Skream and Denver’s option4 will headline the party, with support from locals Chris Herrera, Jnav and more. This party goes from 3 to 7 p.m. and tickets range from $29 to $75.

—Torrey Bailey

@SDCITYBEAT

MUSIC

IF I WERE U

BY CITYBEAT STAFF

Our picks for the week’s top shows

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19

PLAN A: Fishbone, Vokab Kompany @ Music Box. Meh, it’s kind of a slow night and, to be honest, the inclusion of local rappers Vokab Kompany is enough to disqualify almost any show from this section. But funk-punkers Fishbone are legends so we’ll happily still show up to this party (at ground zero), albeit fashionably late. BACKUP PLAN: Aviator Stash, Ariel Levine, The Frets, Headphone @ The Casbah.

god. Still, this show should be a fun way to spend a Saturday night. PLAN B: Missing Persons @ Viejas Casino. Hopefully you caught our Spotlight section endorsement of this show last week. What can we say?

If you can’t get hammered at a casino and groove out to “Destination Unknown,” then you might want to rethink your year-end priorities. BACKUP PLAN: The Cured @ House of Blues.

ANDREW MCKEAG

THURSDAY, DEC. 20

PLAN A: Lumerians, JJUUJJUU, Cat Scan @ SPACE. Check out this week’s feature on psych-rock weirdos Lumerians, but definitely show up early for JJUUJJUU, the spacey project from Phil Pirrone. He also happens to be the founder of the Desert Daze music festival so this dude knows a thing or two about trippy jams, as evidenced on the recently released LP, Zionic Mud. PLAN B: Ziggy Shuffledust and the Spiders from Mars, Electric Warrior, DJ Camilla Robina @ The Casbah.

If you’ve lived in San Diego over the past 10 years or so, we’d hope that you’ve seen this David Bowie tribute band at least once. Led by frontman Gary Shuffler (complete in full Ziggy getup and makeup), the group really does the Thin White Duke justice. BACKUP PLAN: JARA, Retra, Pocket Hole @ Soda Bar.

FRIDAY, DEC. 21

PLAN A: ‘Black Friday’ w/ Post Tropic, Mannequin, DJ Vaughn Avakian, DJ Rob Moran, DJ Mario Orduno @ The Casbah.

Dress in your favorite all-black Christmas sweater and dance like Daria at this semiregular goth and dark-wave night. Fontanabased band Post Tropic and locals Mannequin both specialize in brooding synth jams that any introvert will appreciate. PLAN B: ‘HEMLOCK’ w/ Bell Tower Bats, DJ Javi Nunez @ Bar Pink. Wow, another goth night? Well, technically HEMLOCK is a death rock night, but it’s like a kissing cousin. This special edition of the event will feature a farewell performance from Anaheim band Bell Tower Bats, who play a dark brand of glam-rock complete with makeup and tons of leather. BACKUP PLAN: Bane’s World @ The Observatory North Park.

SATURDAY, DEC. 22

PLAN A: Dirty Sweet, Band of Gringos, Alvino & The Dwells @ The Casbah.

We’re not going to lie to you: Local vets Dirty Sweet play some pretty derivative classic rock complete with epic riffs, affected guitar solos and a singer who wails like a golden

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Dirty Sweet

SUNDAY, DEC. 23

PLAN A: ‘Merry Mexmas’ w/ El Vez, The Exbats, Pony Death Ride @ The Casbah. A holiday tradition, Robert Lopez has been performing as the “Mexican Elvis” for nearly 30 years and his annual Casbah show is a lively and heartwarming tribute to the “king,” but with a punk rock spirit. PLAN B: Thundercat, Zack Fox @ Music Box. Arguably one of the best bass players of his generation, Stephen Bruner (aka Thundercat) mixes funk, soul, R&B and, yes, even yacht rock for a sound that appeals to fans of Kendrick Lamar and Michael McDonald alike. BACKUP PLAN: Cash’d Out, Graceband @ Belly Up Tavern.

MONDAY, DEC. 24

PLAN A: ‘Exile on Kettner Blvd’ @ The Casbah. Another Casbah tradition, this Rolling Stones tribute night on Christmas Eve was started more than 20 years ago for all the local rockers who didn’t go home for the holidays. Expect to hear Stones hits by local vets and newcomers alike. BACKUP PLAN: ‘Electric Relaxation’ @ Whistle Stop.

TUESDAY, DEC. 25

PLAN A: Eat food. PLAN B: Be merry.

BACKUP PLAN: Find an open bar and drink your sorrows away (our “Deathmas” playlist on Spotify is a nice accompaniment to this).

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

Quali (Soda Bar, 1/6), Exasperation (Soda Bar, 1/12), Charlie Rae (Music Box, 1/13), Beehive & the Barracudas (Casbah, 1/14), The Posies (Soda Bar, 1/21) Richard Thompson Electric Trio (BUT, 1/28), Cuco (Observatory, 2/13), Houses (Soda Bar, 2/21), Junior Brown (Casbah, 3/1), Single Mothers (Soda Bar, 3/3), Common Kings with Natalli Rize (Observatory, 3/9), Makana Shawn and Lehua (BUT, 3/10), Black Uhuru (BUT, 3/12), Droeloe (Observatory, 3/15), Shing02 & The Chee-Hoos (Music Box, 3/17), Cold Cave (BUT, 3/19) Bailo (Music Box, 3/21), Vince Staples (Observatory, 4/2), T-Pain (Observatory, 4/9) Jenny Lewis (HOB, 5/26).

2/7), Panic! At the Disco (Valley View Casino Center, 2/16), Sharon Van Etten (Observatory, 2/28), Saves the Day (Observatory, 3/2), CRSSD Festival (Waterfront Park, 3/2-3), Band of Horses (Observatory, 3/6), Hatebreed (HOB, 3/7), Boy Harsher (Casbah, 3/20), Mike Doughty (Soda Bar, 3/23), Queensrÿche (Casbah, 3/27).

DECEMBER WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19 Fishbone at Music Box. Aviator Stash at The Casbah.

THURSDAY, DEC. 20 Hippie Sabotage at Observatory North Park. Lumerians, JJUUJJUU at The Casbah. Dick Dale at Belly Up Tavern.

FRIDAY, DEC. 21

GET YER TICKETS

Banes World at Observatory North Park.

Thundercat (Music Box, 12/23), No Knife (Casbah, 1/27), Donavon Frankenreiter (BUT, 12/28-29), Sublime with Rome (HOB, 12/29-30), Weatherbox (Soda Bar, 12/31), Hot Snakes (Casbah, 1/4), T.S.O.L., Forest Grove, Blood Ponies (Casbah, 1/6), Jefferson Starship (BUT, 1/9-10), Adolescents (Casbah, 1/19), Pinback (Casbah, 1/23-24), Corrosion of Conformity (Brick By Brick, 1/26), Parquet Courts, Snail Mail (Casbah, 1/21), Via Satellite (Casbah, 1/22), Bananarama (Observatory, 1/27), Cursive, Mineral (Casbah, 2/1), Gang of Four (Casbah, 2/5), MØ (Observatory, 2/5), KISS (Viejas Arena,

Missing Persons at Viejas Casino. Pulley at Soda Bar. Slushii at Parq.

SATURDAY, DEC. 22

SUNDAY, DEC. 23 Thundercat at Music Box. El Vez at Casbah.

MONDAY, DEC. 24 The Claypool Lennon Delirium at Observatory North Park.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26 Easy Wind at Belly Up Tavern. The Havnauts at Soda Bar.

28 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

THURSDAY, DEC. 27 Poolside at Music Box.

FRIDAY, DEC. 28 Hideout at Soda Bar. Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern.

SATURDAY, DEC. 29 Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern. Mannheim Steamroller at San Diego Civic Theatre. X, Los Lobos at Observatory North Park. Sublime with Rome at House of Blues. Grupo Corrupta at Music Box.

SUNDAY, DEC. 30 X, Los Lobos at Observatory North Park.

Sublime with Rome at House of Blues.

La Beat Cantina at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, DEC. 31 Weatherbox at Soda Bar. Ekali at Bang Bang. BoomBox at Music Box. Michael Frenti & Spearhead at Belly Up Tavern.

TUESDAY, JAN. 1 Keith Sweaty at Bar Pink.

THURSDAY, JAN. 3 Aviator Stash Belly Up Tavern. DJ Claire at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JAN. 4 Hot Snakes at The Casbah. The Dan Band at Belly Up Tavern.

SATURDAY, JAN. 5 The Farmers at Belly Up Tavern. Illu-

minati Hotties at House of Blues. The Winehouse Experience at Music Box.

SUNDAY, JAN. 6 T.S.O.L., Forest Grove, Blood Ponies at The Casbah. Leo Kottke at Belly Up Tavern.

MONDAY, JAN. 7 Man Man at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JAN. 8 Gary Wilson at Che Café.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 Eric Burdon & the Animals at Belly Up Tavern.

THURSDAY, JAN. 10 Eric Burdon & the Animals at Belly Up Tavern.

FRIDAY, JAN. 11 The Dragons, Drip Tank at The Casbah.

Dirtwire at Music Box.

SATURDAY, JAN. 12 Kaleena Zanders and FriendZ at Music Box. Amen Dunes at Belly Up Tavern.

SUNDAY, JAN. 13

TUESDAY, JAN. 15 Tamaryn, Cold Showers at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16 Bayside at The Irenic. Howlin Rain at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JAN. 18 Rob Garza at Music Box.

SATURDAY, JAN. 19 Mae at Soda Bar. NAO at Observatory.

Sumac at Brick By Brick. As It Is at SOMA. Adolescents Casbah.

SUNDAY, JAN. 20 88 Fingers Louie at Soda Bar. Mustard Plug at The Casbah. Reagan Youth at Brick By Brick.

MONDAY, JAN. 21 Parquet Courts, Snail Mail at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22 Via Satellite at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 Trombone Shorty at Belly Up Tavern.

Mozes and the Firstborn at Soda Bar. Pinback at The Casbah.

Young Dolph at House of Blues. A.J. Croce at California Center for the Arts.

MONDAY, JAN. 14 Mother Mother at Soda Bar.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

@SDCITYBEAT

BY CHRISTIN BAILEY

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

City Heights. Sat: Pinkeye & The Downs Family.

rCLUBSr

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., Mission Hills. Wed: ‘Dance Klassique’. Thu: ‘Chocolate’. Fri: ‘We Are Your Friends’.

Sat: ‘San Diego’s Original Emo Night’.

Sun: ‘Chvrch’.

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Wed: Open Mic. Thu: Karaoke.

Fri: JB & The Movers, Cherry Road. Sat: SD Jam Session. Sun: Karaoke.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Hip Hop House SD’. Thu: ‘Funky Lil Beat’. Fri: ‘House Music Friday’. Sat: ‘Honeypot2Night’.

Sun: DJ Marko Darko. Mon: ‘Organized Grime’.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. Wed: Paul Elia. Thu: Bobby Lee. Fri: Bobby Lee. Sat: Bobby Lee. The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Wed: Karaoke. Thu: Novac, The Macks. Fri: DAB, Nuerotic Mirage, MIND/DIVIDED. Sat: Masteria.

Sun: Subspices. Tue: Karaoke.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., Downtown.

Fri: Sacha Robotti. Sat: Neon Indian DJ set.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., North Park.

Wed: Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! Ramones tribute. Thu: Dan Dimonte Trio. Fri: ‘Club Hemlock’. Sat: Martin and the Big Nativity Scene. Sun: Rat Sabbath.

Beaumont’s, 5665 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Thu: Dave Gleason. Fri: The Pollinators. Sat: Part Time Model.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Thu: Dick Dale. Fri: Eric Rachmany (sold out). Sat: Beatles vs. Stones Christmas Show. Sun: Cash’d Out. Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Ave.,

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Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. Fri: Adelitas, Approaching Fiction, Thread the Lariat. Sat: Buddie Roots, Blameless, The Nobel Fogels, Fuzz Huzzi, Axis Evil.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Wed: Aviator Stash, Ariel Levine, The Frets, Headphone. Thu: Ziggy Shuffledust and the Spiders From Mars, Electric Warrior, DJ Camilla Robina. Fri: ‘Black Friday’. Sat: Dirty Sweet, Band of Gringos, Alvino & The Dwells. Sun: El Vez, The Exbats, Pony Death Ride. Mon: ‘Exile on Kettner Blvd.’

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown. Thu: ‘Takeover Thursday’. Fri: DJ Isaac. Sat: ‘ShowOut Saturday’. Sun: ‘Reggae Sunday’.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Fri: DJ ERA. Sat: Dynamiq.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Wed: Michael Head. Thu: Robert Allen Shepherd Band. Fri. ‘Holiday Hangover Night 1’. Sat: ‘Holiday Hangover Night 2’. Sun: Chad & Rosie.

Humphreys Backstage, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. Wed: Captain Hook. Thu: Luv A Lot. Fri: Rising Star. Sat: Viva Santana. Sun: John Phillips Christmas Party.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. Thu: Office Twins, Terri Lee, Residents. Sun: ‘Freaky Sunday’.

MUSIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

ASTROLOGICALLY UNSOUND Weekly forecasts from the so-called universe ARIES (March 21 - April 19): This week, your electric charm just might allow you to break the heretofore unchallenged rule that says it’s never appropriate to gnaw on a rawhide dog bone during a business meeting.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): There are just some things you can never comprehend. Like why people say you have to have lows to appreciate the highs (just highs would be fine!) or how colonel is pronounced the way that is.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your attempts to ignore the barely perceptible buzzing sound coming from somewhere in the room now will only exacerbate your need to locate the origin of the noise later.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): You already have everything you need.

For example, the gravity that’s holding you onto the planet and allowing you to walk around without being sucked into the vacuum of space.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Your words are imperfect vehicles for communicating the complex thoughts and emotions you’re experiencing this week. So just put on Coneheads and let it do the talking.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your past attempts at kindness—however wellintentioned—will come into sharp focus when you realize that gently taking a house spider outside is sentencing it to a cold death.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): Introducing small changes into your normal routine will have immediate and enormous results just like “introducing” a brick into your clothes dryer.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): If it feels all wrong and you can’t see where to go from here, take a deep breath and remember: it’s only a different location.

They have the same stuff as your regular supermarket.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 December 21): I once read that successful trees have to have roots as deep as their branches. But I read a lot of things. Once I read that Batboy was seen in a jacuzzi with Hillary Clinton.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19): It is important to let your dough rest overnight. If you are not baking anything this week then just… think of it as a metaphor.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): You should never make promises that you don’t intend to keep. That is, unless you’ve already developed a reputation for never keeping your promises, then what’s the harm?

PISCES (February 19 - March 20): Last week was all about petting koalas at illegal zoos and this week is all about feeling guilty for participating in the black market trafficking of animals as commodities.

Astrologically Unsound appears every week. Follow Christin Bailey on Twitter at @hexprax.

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 29

MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: ‘Scinillating Stories Live!’. Thu: Open Mic. Sat: Black Hesher, J. Andrews, Tara Nichole. Mon: Open Mic.

Pants. Sat: Mochilero Allstars. Sun: ‘Funk Jam’.

Parq, 615 Broadway, Downtown. Fri: DJ Direct. Sat: Slushii.

Pour House, 1903 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. Wed: Open Mic. Fri: DJ Lou Niles, Martin & the Big Nativity Scene.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave., Coronado. Wed: Harmony Road. Thu: Jackson & Billy. Fri: Stilettos. Sat: Ron’s Garage. Sun: Stilettos.

Proud Mary’s, 5550 Kearny Mesa Road, Kearny Mesa. Wed: Christine Gilardi.

Thu: Tomcat Courtney. Fri: Bayou Brothers. Sat: Sue Palmer.

Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. Wed: ‘A Not So Silent Night’. Thu: ‘David Burnham’s Broadway Holiday’.

The Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. Sat: ‘Sábados En Fuego!’

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., Hillcrest. Wed: ‘Diamond Dogs Boylesque’.

Thu: ‘Trick: Sleigh 4 Pay’. Sat: Up The Irons, Motorbabe, Anesthesia.

Mr. Peabody’s, 136 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. Thu: Steelhorse Country.

Fri: Bonneville 7. Sat: The Boatrockers.

Sun: Anthony Ortega Jazz Quartet. Mon: Open Mic. Music Box, 1337 India St., Little Italy.

Wed: Fishbone. Thu: ‘A Berkley Hart Christmas’, Suzanne Harper, Pony Death Ride. Fri: ‘Betamaxx’s ‘80s Christmas and Ugly Sweater Party’. Sat: Nicky Genesis, CAZZTEK, HOTFIRE, Whiplash.

Sun: Thundercat, Zack Fox. The Office, 3936 30th St., North Park.

Wed: ‘Deathcab for Karaoke’. Thu: ‘No Limits’. Fri: ‘After Hours’. Sat: ‘Strictly Business’. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’.

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park.

Wed: Young Lions, ‘The Wednesday Jam Session’. Thu: Shuffle & Band. Fri: Good

30 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · DECEMBER 19, 2018

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Wed: ‘Mischief’. Thu: ‘#LEZ’. Fri: ‘Dirty POP!’. Sat: ‘Voltage’. Sun: ‘Stripper Circus’.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’. Thu: George & Nichols Acoustic Music Duo. Fri: Black Market 111. Sat: Blue Largo.

Rosie O’Gradys, 3402 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Wed: Karaoke. Thu: DJ Dunekat. Fri: Puente. Sat: Rosa’s Cantina. Mon: ‘Jazz Jam’.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Wed: Build A Vista, The Rogue Pilots, Vinyl Beach. Thu: JARA, Retra, Pocket Hole. Fri: Dead Feather Moon, Bad Vibes, Belladon. Sat: PULLEY, Versus The World, The Lucky Eejits, Fallen Monuments. Sun: New Speak, Suburban Park, Flower Animals, Little Heroine.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway. Wed: Thu: Fri: Spendtime Palace, The Brazen Youth, The Grinns, The Bash Dogs. Sat: Atomic 99, The Model Youth, Creature Culture, Chris Cote and Friends, Mainman, Rain on Fridays, Ten Till Dawn.

Thundercat plays Music Box on Sunday, Dec. 23 SPACE, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Thu: Lumerians, JJUUJJUU, Cat Scan. Fri: Marilyn Manson tribute night.

Sat: ‘Rollin’ Wit Tha Funk Vo.2 No.5’.

Tue: ‘Christmas in SPACE’.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St., Midtown. Sat: ‘Xmas Hearts’.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Sun: ‘Lex and Jewel Xmas Night’.

Hugo Suarez’. Thu: Mercedes Moore.

Fri: ‘Funk’s Most Wanted’. Sat: Joey Harris and the Mentals, The Havnauts.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., City Heights. Wed: Neko-Neko, Good Time Girl, Kids & Propane. Fri: Doug and the Slugs, Rat City Riot, Midnight Track. Sat: ‘Holiday Lingerie Ball’.

U-31, 3112 University Ave., North Park.

Thu: ‘Boombox Thursday’.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. Fri: Death Boys, Dark Alley Dogs, Se Vende. Sat: Call Me James.

Sun: ‘Pants Karaoke’.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park.

Fri: ‘Pants: A Bad Cover Version of Pulp’.

Sat: ‘Booty Bassment’. Sun: ‘Death By Dancing’.

Tin Roof, 401 G St., Downtown. Wed: Evan Diamond Goldberg. Thu: Keep Your Soul. Fri: Keep Your Soul. Sat: Keep Your Soul.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach.

Wed: ‘Club Kingston’ w/ Psydecar & DJ Carlos Culture. Thu: ‘OB HIP HOP SOCIAL’ w/ Leagure of Immortals, Lit-One, Herbavore, CMO. Fri: The B-Side Players.

Sat: The B-Side Players. Sun: Karaoke.

Mon: ‘Christmas Eve Karaoke Party’.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., Bay Park. Wed: ‘Jazz with Leonard Patton, Ian Buss and

@SDCITYBEAT

BY JACKIE BRYANT

IN THE BACK

CANNABITCH For her pleasure

T

he sun peeked through the blinds as my partner rolled me over and touched me in a way that clearly indicated sex was on the horizon. Feeling excited, I muttered the 11 words everyone wants to hear right before getting down: “You know I’m going to have to write about this, right?”

I had been waiting for the right time to try Foria Pleasure (foriapleasure.com), a THC-infused lube that can be found at Apothekary, Urbn Leaf and Torrey Holistics. I received samples of the coconut, medium-chain triglyceride lube back in September, but decided to hang tight and save it for the right dude rather than use it on a solo mission.

When I started to have sex with a man who turned out to be just as much of a cannabis enthusiast as I am, I knew he’d be down to try the lube and stashed the sample in my purse.

Unfortunately for everyone else who came into contact with me that day, that’s where my careful consideration began and ended. In the heat of the moment, I had just one thing on my mind: feeling as good as possible.

I should have realized that THC lube would make me stoned as fuck. After all, vaginal tissue is highly absorptive and I’m sensitive to edibles, but for some reason, it didn’t cross my mind at the time.

What’s more, the spray is intended mainly for female enhancement and, as it turns out, dick tissue just doesn’t absorb the way vaginas do. Users are instructed to use about four sprays, making sure to get it in everywhere: the

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clitoris, labia and inside. It is noted that the lube will take about 15 minutes to kick in, so either dial up the foreplay (the spray is also edible!) or be calculating and meticulous.

For the uninitiated, I’d like to point out that weed and sex make glorious bedfellows, no pun intended. When adCOURTESY OF FORIA WELLNESS

Foria THC-infused lube

ministered directly to the nether regions, it’s particularly explosive, producing lots of tingling, heightened response to touch and a nice layer of calm. Some Foria users, according to online testimonials and a few people I’ve talked to, say it helps them achieve vaginal orgasm easier. I find orgasming that way to be particularly elusive, but I think it made my clitoral orgasm much deeper and sustained.

There might have been screams.

After our morning romp, my partner and I relaxed in bed and shared a joint, of which I had only about one or two hits.

After all, I had plans to go have brunch in North County with a friend and her baby. I am not proud of this, but it occurred to me somewhere near the Genesee Avenue exit on Interstate 5 that I was way too stoned for my own good. I only smoked a little bit hours before that. What gives? I thought.

Then I remembered my THC-loaded vagina.

The rest of the day was kind of a blur. My friend and I ordered Crack Shack and I devoured it. We took naps on her couch and, eventually, I ended up at a chili cook-off later in the day. Then I took another long nap.

The verdict? The Foria Pleasure lube works and is especially good for those with pain or dryness during sex.

But be careful when you use it, especially if plans include hanging out with a baby. Or getting anything done at all for that matter.

CannaBitch appears every other week.

Follow Jackie Bryant on Twitter at @jacqbryant.

DECEMBER 19, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 31