San Diego CityBeat • Dec 25, 2013

Petitioners P.5 Satanists P.8 Enablers P.16 Wolves P.19

2 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

Council Dems rock on Barrio Logan Last week, the San Diego City Council was forced “If we don’t approve putting this on the ballot— to make a choice between two bad options: rescind unfortunately, that’s where we are,” she said, “we its approval of a landmark update to the Barrio Loare sending a very strong, chilling message to comgan Community Plan or place on an upcoming elecmunities throughout San Diego that we’re not willtion ballot a referendum that would allow voters to ing to stand up for our communities and the work trash the plan. We urged the council to stand firm they do on their community plans.” against pressure to rescind its approval.

Gloria spoke the longest. He pointed out that The decision was forced by a successful yet dethe 35-year-old community plan took five years and ceptive petition campaign spearheaded by San Dihas cost $4 million so far, and the result of that was ego’s shipbuilding interests, which worry that the 90-percent agreement between the community and plan update could harm their industry in the long the maritime industry. “In my line of work,” he said, run. There were numerous documented incidents “90-percent agreement is a win, and it’s one you in which paid signature gatherers flat-out lied to should take.” voters about the plan’s impacts, falsely claiming The City Council, Gloria said, has stood with the outcomes such as the Navy leaving town and new shipping industry. He noted that he rehired the city’s condos replacing waterfront shipyards. Even Kevlobbyists in Washington, D.C., so that the city could in Faulconer, a candidate for mayor, said the plan help fight against defense-budget cuts, and the counwould eliminate 46,000 maritime jobs but later cil passed resolutions against military-base closure backpedaled because the claim had no basis in fact. and sequestration and funded a military-economicThe only controversial part of the plan update, impact study to help make the case for a strong local which was partly aimed at protecting David Rolland military presence.

Barrio Logan residents from industrial “This council’s credibility on this ispollution, is a nine-block area where sue cannot be challenged,” he said. “I’ve some prospective new and expanded insaid it before, and I’ll say it again: Nine dustrial businesses would be required to blocks in Barrio Logan will not break the gain special approval from the city. maritime industry.”

Well, the five Democrats on the counThen he turned to democratic equalcil came through last week in spectacuity. “I want people to ponder the queslar fashion, several of them—particularly tion, what would have happened if the Sherri Lightner shoe was on the other foot? If the people Council President and interim Mayor Todd Gloria—eloquent and pointed in their convicof Barrio Logan—if we had not adopted the comtion to protect the interests of neighborhoods and munity plan, would the people of Barrio Logan representative Democracy in San Diego, which are have had the opportunity before this council today under attack by well-financed political forces diswith a referendum petition. The answer, ladies and guised as direct, grassroots democracy. Here’s some gentlemen, is that they [w]ould not,” he said. “It of what they had to say: concerns me very much that individuals with finanCouncilmember David Alvarez, who’s running cial resources can seek different outcomes after the against Faulconer for mayor, took aim at the referelected representatives who were democratically endum proponents. chosen by the voters have weighed in….”

“I think that the… misinformation that was spread Gloria then admonished City Attorney Jan Goldis quite shameful, especially when it comes from smith: “I would like to direct the city attorney to join reputable sources—or those who consider themthe Environmental Health Coalition in opposing in selves reputable,” he said. “I think it’s unfortunate court the efforts to roll back the council’s action. A that people were told… that the Navy was going to majority of this council has stood up for this plan, and leave San Diego… that people were going to lose jobs, I think that this city should be on record as supportthat homes were going to be built on shipyards.” ing the plan. I recognize that hasn’t necessarily been Alvarez continued: “... [A]t the end of the day, the case to date, but it ought to be going forward.” you have to live with yourself, understanding that So, kudos to you, City Council Democrats. Next those were the lies that were being spread to collect order of business: Stand firm on the affordablehousing fee! those signatures.”

Councilmember Sherri Lightner made one of What do you think? Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com. the most crucial points.

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4 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

AB 980, which strips away any section of the California Building Standards Code that holds abortion clinics to different rules than primary-care clinics. Supporters also have until Jan. 7 to gather signatures for this measure to wipe Pan’s law off the books.

Lindsey Voltoline

Marijuana

Know your petitions A rundown of proposed ballot measures you might be harangued about in 2014

quest letter with the text for a proposed initiative to the state Attorney General’s office.

Officials name the proposal and give supporters 180 days to gather enough signatures to qualify it for the ballot. For constitutional amendments, petitioners must gather signatures equal to 8 percent of the total votes

by Joshua Emerson Smith cast in the last gubernatorial election, which To qualify dozens of statewide ballot ini- is 807,615. For a referendum, it’s 5 percent, or tiatives for November’s election, signature 504,760. Here’s our rundown: gatherers have already started hitting the streets, requesting autographs in shopping malls and chatting up registered voters in There are several anti-abortion petitions front of groceries stores.

It’s not always easy to understand those swirling around, two of which are referpetitions, especially when juggling several endums to rollback recently enacted laws shopping bags and a cranky baby or run- that increase access to abortion services. ning to another appointment. San Diegans The pro-choice legislation came in stark recently witnessed a well-financed and suc- contrast to a recent flurry of anti-abortion cessful signature drive characterized by al- laws in other states. At least a few residents legations of hyperbole and deceit. In light think California needs to join the herd, and of this, we’ve put together a primer on some one of them is San Diego Reader editor and of the most significant petition drives voters publisher Jim Holman. During the past demight come across going into the new year. cade, Holman has sponsored multiple failed Remember, signature gatherers aren’t initiatives to require parental notification allowed to lie to voters, but they are al- for minors seeking abortions.

Parental Notification and Waiting lowed to express their opinions. If they believe that legalizing cannabis will cause Period for Females Under 18: Supporters Jesus to blast lightning bolts down from the have until April 14 to gather signatures for sky, they can say as much. It’s voters’ job to a ballot initiative that would prohibit abortions for unemancipated minors until two understand what they’re signing.

The ground rules are fairly simple: With days after a parent or legal guardian is notia check for $200, any person can submit a re- fied in writing. The initiative provides ex-

Abortion

ceptions for medical emergencies, parental waivers and documented parental abuse. It would also require medical professionals to report specific abortion information to the state. This one appears to involve Holman again; the phone number listed for its treasurer, Fred Clark, is the Reader’s main office number.

Constitutional Definition of a Person.

Fertilized Human Eggs: Supporters have until April 21 to gather signatures for this initiative that would redefine “person” to include all fertilized human eggs, extending constitutional protections of due process and equal protection to zygotes, embryos and fetuses.

Referendum to Overturn Law Allowing Specified Licensed Medical Professionals to Perform Early Abortion Procedures: Assemblymember Toni Atkins, a San Diego Democrat, successfully carried AB 154, which added nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and physician assistants with special training to the list of medical professionals allowed to perform abortions by aspiration. The procedure entails suctioning the contents of a uterus and is the most common form of first-trimester abortion. Supporters have until Jan. 7 to gather signatures for a measure that would repeal Atkins’ law.

Referendum to Reimpose Different Standards on Clinics Providing Abortion Services than on Other Primary Care Clinics: Assemblymember Richard Pan, a Sacramento Democrat, successfully carried

It’s been almost four years since California came close to legalizing marijuana. Since then, Washington and Colorado made history, approving ballot measures that allow recreational use of weed. A pioneer in medical-marijuana law, California’s been schizophrenic when it comes to legalization. A well-entrenched community of growers and dispensary owners continues to see recreational weed as a threat to their profits. However, that’s not stopping the legalize-it crowd, who argue that the injustice of incarceration on marijuana charges outweighs all other concerns. There’s already one such ballot initiative cleared for signature gathering and another expected to be approved on Dec. 24.

Marijuana Legalization: Supporters have until Feb. 24 to gather signatures to qualify an initiative that would decriminalize cannabis cultivation, use and distribution. The proposal would require individual case reviews for people currently charged or convicted with nonviolent cannabisrelated offenses, including sentence modification, amnesty and immediate release from lockup.

The proposal would also require the Legislature to adopt laws to license and tax commercial cannabis sales. Doctors could approve or recommend marijuana for patients, regardless of age. It would also set limits on testing for cannabis use for employment or insurance purposes and bar state or local law enforcement from helping to enforce federal marijuana laws.

The Legislative Analyst’s office and Finance Department estimated the initiative would save the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually in law-enforcement costs. They also identified potential tax revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually related to the production and sale of cannabis and industrial hemp.

Hospitals

Health professionals will likely be at the center of some of the biggest and most expensive ballot battles next year. At the top of the list will be a fight over medicalmalpractice awards, pitting lawyers against doctors. The Consumer Attorneys of California and others would like to increase the amount of money victims of medical malpractice can sue for. The same ballot proposal would require that physicians take random drug tests.

A group of doctors and hospitals are preparing to mount a defense, but that’s not all they have to worry about. The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West filed and is

Petitions CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

spin cycle

john r.

lamb Spinnin’ carols “Let’s be naughty and save Santa the trip.”

—Gary Allan “Filner is Done” (sung to “Carol of the Bells”) Filner is done, far from a nun, more like a creep, hubris so deep.

Now that we’re here, it’s only fair, to figure out, how Bob got clout.

Ding, dong, ding, dong, sounded so wrong, said Donna Frye, “Bob, he’s the guy!” That ended it, Dems they done bit, “Bob everywhere!”

They would declare.

Carl he did pound, stood on the mound, “People prevail!” But Bob was frail. Minus his meds, Bob made his beds, soon we would hear, court day is here. Bury, bury,

bury, bury Filner. Scary, scary, scary, scary Filner.

Those on the right, gushed in delight, “We can atone! Hand me a phone!” Confab is set, Carl makes a bet, House says no way, Kev wins the day. Why but of course, a Trojan horse, ready to sing, that broken thing!

Blah, blah, blah, blah, that is their song, “I care for you!” But really who? Rich or the poor? Who’s shown the door? “Neighborhoods, yay!” Ain’t much to say.

Faulconer can hope, straddling the rope, gets him the win, by whiskered chin. But he leaves out, good ol’ self-doubt, which spelled the end, to labor’s friend.

Very, very, very, wary Kevin. Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, carry Kevin. Ding, dong, ding, dong.

“It Came Upon a Fletcher Clear” (sung to “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”) It came upon a Fletcher clear, a light above neatly coiffed head, “My party switchin’ days are kaput, the White House dream is dead.”

Rainbows turned gray, gold coins to lead, McRibs just tasted so-so.

The world in solemn stillness lay, how could ol’ Nate simply go?

“I’ve had enough of the bump and grind,” said Fletch from his coastal view. “I’d rather swallow a surfboard tip, than churn in the media stew!” He said farewell to a public life, “My wife and kids now are king.” And then he jetpacked away from there, leaving a kick-ass smoke ring.

“O GOP” (sung to “O Christmas Tree”) O GOP, O GOP, how messed up are your branches! Your Tea’s so green, in careers climb, as Boehner’s shown, in recent time. O GOP, O GOP, how screwed up are your branches!

O GOP, O GOP, what pratfalls still await thee? What issue’s next,

on which you’ll lose?

And can you keep, that Teddy Cruz? O GOP, O GOP, how fucked up are your chances!

“Jerry Drummer Boy” (sung to “Little Drummer Boy”) Come they told me, to shill for big biz. A Chamber made for me, to shill for big biz. A fat paycheck yahoo! To shill for big biz. Read shit and drink some brews, to shill for big biz, shill for big biz, shill for big biz. So to honor them, to shill for big biz. I was, like, Yes! Slimmer Jerry, to shill for big biz. Fattened with pension glee, to shill for big biz. “I’m here to smile and schmooze,” to shill for big biz. “Now where the hell’s the booze?!” to shill for big biz, shill for big biz, shill for big biz.

“If you’re feeling luck,” to shill for big biz, “I won’t say ‘Fuck!’”

Chamberati, to shill for big biz.

Made Sanders figurehead, to shill for big biz. A one-year lobby ban, to shill for big biz. And now a perfect tan, to shill for big biz, shill for big biz, shill for big biz. “I feel so status quo,” to shill for big biz.

“Just so you know.” “iMayor as I Wander” (sung to “I Wonder As I Wander”) iMayor as I wander out under the sky, Filner gets booted and— shazam!—I’m the guy! Imagine my shock and the echoes of shrieks. My letterhead had been sitting for quite a few weeks!

When Filner departed, I took little glee, but yes it took minutes from the 10th floor to flee.

“This town endured nine months of literal hell. To rise from such depths, I’m sure to look swell!” iMayor as I wander with glinting new sheen, what will these accolades for my future mean? It’s not like the next three years will be lean, but where am I, Todd Gloria, in 2016?

“The News Punk Song” (sung to “The Chipmunk Song”) Alright, you news punk! Ready to sing your song?

[Doug Manchester] I’ll say we are! [John Lynch] What he said.

6 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

John R. Lamb

Ebenezer Filner OK, Roger? Roger? Roger! [Roger Hedgecock] OK!!!

Christmas, Christmas time is near. Time for jabs and time to jeer. We’ve sucked eggs but had a blast. Hurry Christmas, hurry fast.

Our opinions loop the loop. And our TV show is poop. But you’re stuck with us so smile. Now enjoy some Hedgecock bile!

Quack quack blabber, split the state. Obama’s worse than eating bait. Think this empire gets me dates? Please please Christmas, don’t be late.

[Lynch] Dates? Goddamnit Papa, you’re off the market, remember? We’re here to seize the freakin’ world! Freakin’ blue pills.

Thought Filner would’ve taught you a lesson….

[Manchester] Aw, lay off, Lynch.

[Roger] Let’s sing it again! [Lynch] Shut up, Roger.

Boys!

“We Three Kings of Shipbuilders Are” (sung to “We Three Kings of Orient Are”) We three kings of shipbuilders are, really good at moving the bar. Barrio Logan, fixed with a slogan. Sign this or we’ll just move. Oooooo crock of wonder, crock of spite.

Crock of crap that’s worth the fight.

Neighbors ailing, but prevailing.

Watch us wield our monied might!

Those petitions, what’s the big deal? So we fib while making our spiel. It’s those lobs, that’ll save jobs. Plus we’re not big on rules.

Ooooo crock of blunders, crock of blight, just blow off the residents’ plight. With Sir Kevin, goes to Eleven. Watch us wield our true White Knight!

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

Petitions CONTINUED from PAGE 5 awaiting approval on two initiatives aimed at the industry. One would limit what hospitals could charge patients, while the other would cap executive pay at nonprofit medical facilities.

Drug and Alcohol Testing of Doctors. Medical Negligence Lawsuits: Supporters have until March 24 to gather signatures for a ballot proposal to require drug and alcohol testing for doctors, as well as reporting of positive tests to the California Medical Board.

The proposal would compel the board to suspend a doctor’s license during an investigation and discipline any practitioner found to have worked while impaired. Doctors would be legally obligated to report suspected drug or alcohol use by coworkers while on duty.

The proposal would also increase the cap on pain-andsuffering damages in a medical-negligence lawsuit to account for inflation. The limit is currently set at $250,000. The Legislative Analyst’s office and Finance Department estimate that this could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually in higher medical-malpractice costs.

The Fair Healthcare Pricing Act (official title not yet assigned): Expected to be cleared for signature gathering Jan. 2, this initiative would prohibit hospitals from marking up healthcare costs more than 25 percent of the actual price of providing care.

Charitable Hospital Executive Compensation Act (official title not yet assigned): Also expected to be cleared for signature gathering on Jan. 2, this initiative would prohibit nonprofit hos-

pital executives from receiving more than $450,000 in annual compensation.

Pension reform

These days, the idea that bureaucrat retirement packages are bankrupting the state is regular dinnertable-conversation fodder. During the last year, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and four other mayors crafted a ballot proposal that would allow top officials to cut public-employee benefits. Government labor unions attacked the effort, saying voters have little appetite for such cuts— something recent polling suggests may be accurate.

A huge part of the equation is market losses to pension funds during the recent recession. Some argue that without immediate reductions to employee benefits, municipalities will soon be forced to significantly cut social programs. However, others argue the economy is rebounding and so are the investment funds that pay for government pensions.

The Pension Reform Act of 2014 (official title not yet assigned): Expected to be cleared for signature gathering Jan. 3, this initiative would allow cities, counties and other government agencies to negotiate changes to an employee’s pension or retirement healthcare benefits. As retirement benefits are accrued incrementally over time, the measure would protect any benefits a government employee has already earned.

So far, there are 19 ballot initiatives cleared for signature gathering, with more than two-dozen additional proposals waiting for titles. Not all of them will make it onto the ballot.

Write to joshuas@sdcitybeay.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

edwin

sordid tales

decker Oh, Satanism, how you disappoint me Imagine my delight when I came across a Dec. 9 ficial Church of Satan page (churchofsatan.com), AP story headlined, “Satanists seek spot next to and what I saw was so terrifying, so revolting, it Ten Commandments monument on steps of Oklaknocked the scabs off my liver. homa’s Statehouse.”

Turns out, Satanists are a bunch of peacenik The article was about how, in 2009, the Oklahoma pussy nerds! Take this excerpt from their “Theories state Legislature approved a privately funded statue and Practices” page: “Satanism has nothing to do of the Ten Dumbandments to be placed on the statewith killing, kidnapping, drug abuse, child moleshouse grounds and how that’s opened the door for tation [or] animal or child sacrifice…. Satanism is a other religious groups wanting to pay to have their life-loving, rational philosophy….” monument on the same location, including—oh, What the Beelzeblubber is going on here? No sweet early Christmas for me—the Satanic Temple. murder? No rape or sacrifices? No drugs!?

For years, I—and pretty much anyone who “The Church of Satan does not condone illegal doesn’t think the Establishment Clause is a jolly, activities. If the use of certain drugs is illegal in your fat guy who climbs down your chimney to make country of residence, they are just that: illegal.” sure it’s up to code—have been saying that if we alDid you follow that? According to the seethlow the establishment of one religion in the public ing minions of The Slayer of Souls, it doesn’t matsquare, then we must allow all of them, so it’s best ter whether something is good or bad; it matters to just keep religion out entirely. whether it’s legal, and following the law is the diBut still, these overzealous, Christian-right, Jerective of the Church of—unbelievably—Satan. sus-was-a-white-guy types kept forcing their creepy Just look at the first two commandments of religious symbols onto taxpayer property, which their sacred tome, Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth, is why I am ever so delighted that the group that’s which is their equivalent to the Ten Commandfinally using their tactics against them happens to ments: 1. “Do not give opinions or advice unless you worship the Dark Lord of the Nether World. are asked” and 2. “Do not tell your troubles to othAnd, oh, are the fundamental Okies all twisted ers unless they want to hear them.” into knots knowing that their hallowed Ten ComOpinions? Complaining? These are the first mandments statue might two concerns of the all-imend up sitting right next to portant hendacalogue? How a Satanic shrine—where the about commandment No. 4?: I thought that if a Satanist evil juice of Lucifer (a pulpy, “When in another’s lair, show ever got you into his “lair,” puke-green substance known him respect….” he would slit your pelvis as “juicifer”) will seep into First of all, not even your the surrounding soil and onto chubbiest, pimpliest, greasand feed your innards to the Christian statue (a proiest-hair-having Dungeons the hellhounds. cess known as “Ozzymosis”). and Dragons goober would “We believe that [our] refer to his own home as a “lair.” Secondly, what’s this monuments should be in about showing respect to your guests? I thought good taste and consistent with community stanthat if a Satanist ever got you into his “lair,” he dards,” explained Satanic Temple spokesperson would slit your pelvis and feed your innards to the Lucien Greaves. hellhounds. That’s why they’re called “lairs”!

Wait. What? “Good taste”? “Consistent with I have to admit, I was baffled—until I found a community standards”? You did say this was going passage on the FAQ page that explained it all. Turns to be a monument to Satanism, right? It gets worse. out, the people that do all the killing and sacrificing Greaves said that one of the potential themes for the are Devil worshippers. Satanists don’t worship the monument is an “interactive display for children.”

Devil. In fact, they don’t believe in gods of any sort.

Well, now I’m really befuddled. A children’s ex“We are not Devil worshippers, we are Satan worhibit for Old Clootie? The deity who brought us ritshippers…. Satan to us is a symbol of pride, liberty ual sacrifice, orgy snuff films and the series finale of and individualism, and it serves as an external metaThe Sopranos wants to have an exhibit for kids? Will phorical projection of our highest personal potential. they call it “It’s a Small Nether World After All” and We do not believe in Satan as a being or person.” ferry the kids around the Stygian river while the Um, I hate to break it to you, dweeb, but saying damned of every race and culture sing, “It’s a world you worship Satan and not the Devil is like sending of laughter, a world of tears / It’s a world of eternally your Cuba Libra back to the bartender because you burning pits of flesh-scalding hellfire and a world of wanted rum and Coke with lime. Seriously, though, fears / There’s so much smoke in the air that you can’t you need to get your act together, because the way breathe there / It’s a small Nether World after all”? things are now, there’s not enough juicifer in your I was so confused by this kinder, gentler repshit to Ozzymosify a grasshopper, let alone a solid resentation of Satanism that I visited the Satanic granite God monument.

Temple website (thesatanictemple.com), which says its mission is to “encourage benevolence and Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com empathy” and “undertake noble pursuits.” I figured and editor@sdcitybeat.com. these guys were obvious hacks and went to the of-

8 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

by michael a. gardiner Michael A. Gardiner

One of the best places to try al pastor in San Diego County is at Tacos El Gordo (689 H St. in Chula Vista). This local branch of a Tijuana taco shop occupies a converted Pizza Hut just east of the H Street exit off Interstate 5. Ordering at El Gordo can be a bit confusing; there are multiple queues corresponding to multiple stations, each with different fillings.

The best bet is the line on the right: tacos de adobada, El Gordo’s version of al pastor. As the pineapple-topped trompo spins, the server slices meat, dropping it into a paper sheet as a brief stopover on the way to a corn tortilla that was freshly made by a woman at a neighboring staShaving the al pastor tion. The meat’s served in those still-warm tortillas with bits of fresh white onion, flecks of cilantro and a pale green sauce that sits halfway between crema and the familiar guacamole. The adobada meat has a deep, full flavor with hints of spice (the chile marinade), sweetness (the pineapple), crispy texture and caramelized flavors Tacos through a Lebanese lens (the trompo) and a pinkish hue (the achiote). It plays like a cross between shawarma and Chinese It’s an iconic image: a man with a large knife shavchar siu. It’s habit-forming. ing thin strips of meat off a rotating vertical spit.

There are other forays into the world of TiOnly, this is not about shawarma, and the photo juana street tacos worth making at El Gordo. The wasn’t shot in Beirut. Nor is it döner kebab in Isnopales (cactus) tacos are fresh, toothsome and tanbul or gyros in Athens. No, this is tacos al pasentirely unlike the limp stuff that comes out of tor, a Mexican specialty consisting of spit-grilled cans in the “Mexican” aisle at the supermarket. pork marinated in a combination of dried chiles, The carne asada—both tacos and tostadas—is achiote, spices and pineapple cooked slowly over tasty but not exceptional. One of the best options a gas flame on a vertical-rotisserie setup called a for the adventurous is the tacos de buche: porktrompo (a “spinning top”). stomach tacos. Richer and both more tender and This may sound a bit like shawarma, and it flavorful than beef tripe, the buche have the unis. The blood lines of al pastor run directly back mistakable mineral-like flavor of organ meat but to Lebanese immigrants who brought the dish are sweeter and meatier than most offal. with them to the Yucatan. While the Mexico City For sure, though, the draw at El Gordo is the chain El Tizoncito claims to have invented al pasal pastor. That rotating top-shaped mass of meat, tor about 30 years ago, its origins trace back to the drama of the dude shaving strips off of it, the multiple waves of Lebanese immigration to Mexresulting taco featuring earthy, savory, spicy and ico as long ago as the late 19th century. As shasweet flavors: These are the reasons to head to Chula Vista. warma morphed into al pastor—which translates as “shepherd’s tacos”—the lamb was replaced by Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com pork and indigenous Mexican flavors took over and editor@sdcitybeat.com. from the Middle Eastern originals.

the world

fare

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

By Jen Van Tieghem

bottle

Rocket Good and cheap

A craft-beer-loving buddy recently pointed me in the direction of Bine and Vine Bottle Shop.

When I visited the place, smack in the heart of Normal Heights (3334 Adams Ave., bineandvine.com) and a stone’s throw from my apartment, I was pleasantly surprised to learn how important the “Vine” part of the name is.

Rows of wood bins lined with wine bottles take up the majority of the shop. Imported wines are organized by locale while domestics are matched by varietal. Each bottle is labeled with an informational tag that includes tasting and cellaring notes. There was much to explore.

I expected inflated prices common to smaller wine shops. Luckily, there are plenty of worthy options in the $10-to-$20 range, and even higher-end bottles are reasonably priced.

Plus, if you buy six bottles, you get 10 percent off. Guess how many I usually leave with.

Wine buyer and professional sommelier

10 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

Stephen Ansley takes a lot of pride in what goes into those bins. Chatting with him revealed his careful practices for proper wine storage and lessons learned working at BevMo for several years. He also explained that he tries almost every wine offered in the shop, constantly looking for good deals so he can pass on savings to customers and stay competitive with major retailers.

After multiple visits, I can attest to the qualityfor-the-price factor. I picked up one of my favorJen Van Tieghem ite affordable wines, Peachy Canyon Incredible Red, for a few dollars less than I’ve seen at other shops. I also discovered the NxNW Horse Heaven Hills Riesling. This dry, crisp white has the right amount of citrus flavors and none of the sweetness found in most Rieslings. I’ve been back for it twice already.

While most of the customers I saw did come for beer, it’s only a matter of time before wine shoppers catch on. This is the kind of shop that carries recognizable standbys alongside interesting finds, so, like me, you’ll likely find reasons to come back and avoid the herds in grocery-store wine aisles.

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

by jenny montgomery Jenny montgomery

the expected fixings. And though they may not make anyone’s “best of” list, I’d rather give my money to a tiny business that serves me with a smile than dudes with ’tudes who are put out by my patronage (looking at you, Rocky’s). This is a place that serves its community by flipping burgers and frying onion rings.

Not feeling bloated enough after a holiday season filled with buttery cookies and brown-liquor-spiked nog? Then by all means, order the Hockey Burger, aka “Obesity Crisis on a Bun.” It’s a burger with cheese, and chili, and then a bunch of Yeah, the Hockey Burger is kinda gross-looking. halved, grilled hotdogs. It’s ridiculous—and truly unappetizing to look at. But my husband and I joyfully devoured it, denying the self-loathing that would come later as we numbed our holiday stress with meat and more meat.

The chili that tops things is that brown, pasty stuff that’s never come out of any crock pot yet Good enough hits the spot seems to exist as its own thing, much like a Jack in the Box taco is foul by any taco rubric yet Sometimes “good enough” is exactly what hits naughtily addictive in its own, bizarre way. I like the spot. When it comes to food, I’m not a fan of chili paste on my greasy hole-in-the-wall burgextolling the mediocre. But I’ll readily admit that ers. I didn’t come here for sophistication. there are those times when you’re not worried And though my thoughts on the burgers about eating the latest and greatest, but just need might be a bit qualified, I unabashedly loved the something tasty and served with a smile. This is onion rings. These bad boys were a tangled mess the time of the year I don’t need more stress and of glorious calories. The batter was very light complication. Really, I just want a hamburger. and crispy, and the onions cut on the thinner Chili Coast Burgers is in a rundown block side. I hate biting into an onion ring and coming of businesses in east Vista (1330 E. Vista Way), away with the whole onion in my teeth, leaving a a hole-in-the-wall next to a battered Jazzercise crumbling shell of batter to fall apart in your finbuilding, which is fitting because you’ll need to gers. The crunchy coating and onion were fried strap on your French-cut leotard and leg warmtogether in delicious, salty symbiosis. ers after a meal at Chili Coast—this is a greasy Chili Coast Burgers is a dependable neighborburger joint for those times when nothing but hood joint. Keep it in your back pocket for those Freedom Fries and burgers will do. times you’re wandering up north looking for a The Chili Coast staff has that we-sponsor-Litfriendly place to chow down. tle-League friendliness typical of tiny neighborThanks for reading North Fork this year. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good bite! hood joints. These burgers are solid workhorses; they aren’t going to inspire breathless raves or unWrite to jennym@sdcitybeat.com seat flashier (and tastier) San Diego burger faves. and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

They’re hot, well-seasoned and topped with all

north

fork

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

urban

by Nina Sachdev Hoffmann

scout Where can I find…

Good, inexpensive craft champagne?

Jonathan Robershaw

With New Year’s Eve fast approaching, it’s a good time to talk about champagne and sparkling wine. (Note: Just so you know, you can’t call it champagne if it didn’t come from that region in France.) Bubbly is my personal drink of choice for any occasion (I’m fancy like that)—and it’s also the reason I dread New Year’s Eve. Someone Village Vino inevitably ends up popping a bottle of Cook’s or Andre (shudder) or J Roget, and the it really means to like and drink champagne. night goes south from there. If you routinely Jayne’s Gastropub: One of the biggest comconsume those $4.99-ish brands without conseplaints among champagne lovers is that it’s hard quence, I salute your wallet and your stomach— to find a good glass or bottle when you go out to but not your palate. dinner. It’s just not the focus of most restaurants’ Not all bubbles are overly sweet and headwine lists. The same can’t be said for Jayne’s Gasache-inducing—and they’re also not as expentropub (4677 30th St. in Normal Heights, jaynessive as you might think. Sure, you can put Dom gastropub.com). It’d be so easy to overlook since Perignon in your flute, and it’ll be good. It’ll also its name suggests, well, a pub. Open since 2007, be the most unnecessary expense you’ll make in it has what’s obviously a carefully curated bub2013. So, please, be a good host / party planner bly list, which features these grower-producers and check out these places before ringing in the you’ve just learned so much about. new year. Our hangovers thank you.

Co-owner Jon Erickson loves wine, and he Village Vino: Craft champagne. Take a minute pours what he loves. Thankfully, that includes J. and let that phrase sink in. I didn’t know it existed Lassalle (do not confuse this with J Roget, please), until I met Rita Pirkl, owner of Village Vino (4095 helmed by a mother-daughter-granddaughter Adams Ave. in Kensington, villagevino.com). I team that produces what’s easily one of the most thought Veuve was as good as it got. I had no idea complex but drinkable champagnes on the planet.

I could get bubbles from small, family-owned There is no mass-produced champagne out there grower-producers (meaning, the people who prothat tastes like this. Tip: Jon says Jayne’s will be duce the champagnes are also growing their own packed on New Year’s Eve, so make your resergrapes. The same can’t be said for the Moets and vations now. Check jaynesgastropub.com for deMumms of the world—not that there’s anything tails on the prix-fixe menu. You won’t want to wrong with them). I. Was. Wrong. miss him sabering (as in, with a saber, aka large Open since summer of 2012, Rita and Vilknife) a bottle of fancy bubbly outside on the lage Vino have been slowly educating chamsidewalk—a New Year’s Eve tradition. pagne lovers on these brands, some of which The Wine Bank: Need a last-minute make only 10,000 cases—total. These are bottle or five? Don’t have time to really inrare, special champagnes. (When the menu vestigate what’s out there and need a triedtells you to “Celebrate Every Day With Sexy and-true brand? OK, then. When you get to Bubbles,” you know you’re in for something the Wine Bank (363 Fifth Ave., Downtown, good.) But Rita is committed to making them sdwinebank.com), walk downstairs, take a accessible to you, without the pretense and right, then another right. Stop. Behold a glowithout wreaking havoc on your wallet. rious, floor-to-ceiling display of champagne, Nicholas sparkling wine, cava and prosecco.

If you have a particular liking for sparFeuillate kling rosé (I do), a bottle of German-made Need a quick recommendation or a more Brut in-depth overview of what’s what? No Over the Moon—the producer of which is being kept a secret, sorry—goes for $23. If you problem—the staff knows its alcohol. (Fun fact: buy it to-go, subtract $10 (same goes for any Lanson is the official champagne of the British bottle you take out the door). So, for $13, you royal family. They tell me it’s good.) I’m a dry to can drink some of the best sparkling rosé in the extra-dry kinda gal, so I opted for the Nicholas world. How about some of the best prosecco in Feuillatte Brut. For $39.99, it’s not as bone dry as the world, from Villa Sandi? Yeah, also $13 to-go.

Veuve (nor as expensive)—and the taste should please everyone at the party.

Kinda makes Veuve unnecessary, right?

If you can make it out of the house on New Write to ninah@sdcitybeat.com Year’s Day, stop by for a bubbles brunch. You’ll and editor@sdcitybeat.com. leave with a completely different opinion of what

12 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

the

SHORTlist

1

COORDINATED BY KINSEE MORLAN

COURTESY: FRANKIE LEAL PHOTOGRAPHY

COMICO SIN CARNE

About halfway into a jokepacked interview with CityBeat that otherwise had us giggling, comedian Felipe Esparza dropped an unfunny bombshell: He’s vegan.

“That’s rare for a Mexican, right?” he says. ¿En serio, dude? No carnitas? No queso?

He describes a soy-and-seaweed vegan fish taco he had for dinner the other night.

“If you’ve forgotten what fish taco tastes like—it tastes like fish taco,” he laughs. He’s been vegan for three years.

“I used to weigh 310 pounds. Now I weigh 300.” (He’s actually lost about 50 pounds.)

Like a lot of comics of Mexican descent, Esparza—who’ll be at the American Comedy Club (818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown) at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 27 and 28, and at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29—pulls no punches when it comes to his race.

“I live at home for one reason,” he quips.

“So someone can answer the phone in English.”

Why do Latino comics tend to be so self-deprecating? “Because our parents do it,” Esparza says.

“It’s a mom thing. She can’t congratulate you without hating on you first.”

On the other hand, the title for his one-hour comedy special, They’re Not Going to Laugh at You, which aired on Showtime last year, was inspired by

Felipe Esparza his mom’s attempt at sincere support: “Miho, don’t worry about it,” she once told him before a performance, “nobody there is going to laugh at you.”

Esparza, who grew up in Boyle Heights and went on to win Season 7 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, says he’ll pull material from They’re Not Going to Laugh at You, but the bulk of the show will be all-new jokes.

To help promote the show, Esparza planned to hand out flyers at the Dec. 22 Chargers-Raiders game. Which team’s uniform did he say he’d wear?

“Raiders, man.”

Walking through Liberty Station’s Dance A Raiders fan passing out flyers to get San DiePlace San Diego (2650 Truxton Road in gans to his show? Now, that’s funny. Tickets are $18.

Point Loma) is a whirlwind tour of dif- americancomedyco.com ferent styles of dance. Peeking through windows into classrooms, you can see everything from contemporary to classical. There’s even dance-related artwork After Christmas, Yule or whatever you hanging in the hallways, giving the space an extra want to call it runs its course, the anlayer of dance education and appreciation. From 8 nual seven-day Kwanzaa celebration a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, the three companies housed inside Dance Place—Jean Isaacs San Diego begins. The weeklong holiday festival celebrates Dance Theater, San Diego Ballet and Malashock— African-American culture, and for five of those COURTESY: will host their seventh annual Free Day of Dance. days, the World Beat AMIT FINE ART & PHOTOGRAPHY It’s a chance for San Diegans to learn more about Center in Balboa Park dance and its varied flavors by taking free classes (2100 Park Blvd.) will in creative dance, yoga, ballet, tango, modern dance host events honoring the holiday’s central and more. Get details at sandiegodancetheater.org. themes, like unity, selfMANUEL ROTENBERG determination and purpose. Among the highlights of the festival are African drum and dance by Malika Dance Troop, a performance by Omo Ache Afro-Cuban Dance and Music Co. and a staging of the musical Sarafina! by Diva Dance Works Company, plus traditional African food and drink. The 33rd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration takes place from Thursday, Dec. 26, to Monday, Dec. 30. All events San Diego Ballet are free. worldbeatculturalcenter.com

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DANCE TIMES THREE

3

AFRO-BEAT

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

ART Art Speaks: Artist Salons at TPG2, 1475 University Ave., Hillcrest. Join an discussion featuring local artists in the current exhibition, Power Animals IV. Eric Wixon, Hill Young, Victor Villa and others will participate. From 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27. 619-203-6030, facebook.com/events/221176128061925 HPersonal Narratives at SDSU Downtown Gallery, 725 West Broadway, Downtown. See the second in a series of two exhibitions featuring work by the faculty of the School of Art and Design at SDSU. Works by Richard Burkett, Maryann Luera, Susan Merritt, Kate Palese and others are featured. Opens Saturday, Dec. 28.

On view through April 28. art.sdsu. edu/news_and_events/events_calendar/event/3507/

HJohn Oliver at Spreckels Theater, 121 Broadway, Downtown. The British comic is best known as a correspondent on The Daily Show (as well as his stint as host) and the co-host of the podcast, The Bugle: Audio Newspaper for a Visual World. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27. $37.50-$40.

619-235-9500, iamjohnoliver.com/ Extreme Rahim at Community Actors Theatre, 2957 54th St., College Area. A new monthly Show at the Community Actors Theatre featuring the comedian, actor and ventriloquist known for his family-friendly shows.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28. $16. sdartstix.com HPaula Poundstone at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown.

The legendary comic and regular panelist on NPR’s popular weekly news quiz show, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me performs a special New Year’s Eve show. At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. $25-$42.50. 619-570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org

HSpaghetti Social at a private home.

Artists are invited to celebrate life, love, art and the holidays with the sixth an“Pandora” by Terry Ribera is on view at nual Spaghetti Social. Bring food or Remington Tattoo Gallery (3436 30th beverage donations as well as canned St. in North Park) through Jan. 31. food and blankets to benefit Veterans Beyond Borders. Entertainment includes Danny Green on piano, vocals Daditude. At 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday HAnnual Free Day of Dance at Dance

by Blaise Guld, a visual experiment from and Saturday, Dec. 27-28, and 10 p.m.

Place San Diego, 2650 Truxtun Road, Point Rich Walker and other performances.

Tuesday, Dec. 31. $20. 619-702-6666, Loma. Dance lovers of all ages and abiliFrom 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29. Email madhousecomedyclub.com ties are invited to tour San Diego’s state-ofdesignertastes@gmail.com for details.

HFelipe Esparza at American Comedy the-art dance facility, meet the instructors Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown. The coand to take sample dance classes. See median and actor was a winner of NBC’s website for class schedule. From 8:30 a.m.

Last Comic Standing and is known for his to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26. 619 225 HCraig Shoemaker at Mad House Comematerial on the struggles of everyday life 1803, sandiegodancetheater.org dy Club, 502 Horton Plaza, Downtown. The and growing on the streets of East Los HPink BoomBox Burlesk at The Brass comic known for his character “The LoveAngeles. At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday Rail, 3796 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. A night master” was the winner of Best Male Comic and Saturday, Dec. 27-28, and 8 p.m. of in-your-face burlesque dancing, eson ABC’s American Comedy Awards, and Sunday. Dec. 29. $18. 619-795-3858, cape art, fire acts and thrilling circus percurrently has a special on Showtime called americancomedyco.com formances. At 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec.

DANCE

COMEDY

14 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

THEATER

The man of many voices sounds off

For Tim Russell, it all began in Dubuque, Iowa. No cause I can do a voice if I can hear it in my head, and wonder he’s been such a perfect fit for the theater- I’d always done that since I was a child watching of-the-mind world of Garrison Keillor, poet laure- black-and-white TV, cartoons, whatever. I learned a ate of America’s Heartland. lot of celebrity voices from the ’30s COURTESY: BROADWAY SAN DIEGO You probably wouldn’t recognize and ’40s watching Mel Blanc carRussell in a crowd, but if you’re a toons.” Blanc was the voice of Bugs devotee of the long-running A PraiBunny, Porky Pig and many more. rie Home Companion radio show, Today, Russell’s influence is you’ll recognize the pipes. Russell, Garrison Keillor. “Nobody writes who’s in his 60s, is the man of many better dialogue between two charvoices on Keillor’s program, from acters,” he says of Keillor, who is Dusty the Cowboy to celebs like Lefty to Russell’s Dusty in the popPresident Obama and Julia Child. ular “Lives of the Cowboys” segBut back to Dubuque: “I did ment. “There are instances where voices when I was a kid, but I we fill in the blanks, but when it never thought I would have nerve comes to actual dialogue back and Tim Russell enough to go into the business,” forth, it’s miraculous.” says Russell, who’ll be in San Diego on Jan. 4 when A Prairie Home Companion Radio Romance Keillor brings his A Prairie Home Companion Tour will be staged at the Civic Theatre, DownRadio Romance Tour to San Diego. “But when town. $38-$88. broadwaysd.com I got into law school and found it so numbing, I —David L. Coddon thought, I’ve got to get out of here. What am I going Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com to do now? That’s how I got into radio.”

The St. Paul native’s first radio gig was in and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Dubuque, where, while producing commercials, he For full listings, please visit cultivated a variety of voices. He attributes his con“T heater ” at sdcit ybeat.com siderable talent to “listening. It’s an odd thing be28. $5. 619-298-2233, facebook.com/ events/420848288044053

HOLIDAY EVENTS (For New Year’s Eve events, visit sdciybeat.com and click on “New Year’s Eve Guide 2014”) H33rd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration at World Beat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd., Balboa Park. Five days of films, theater, music, dance, poetry and more in celebration of the “first fruits” harvest ceremonies in Africa. There will be special tributes to Nelson Mandela. See website for a schedule of events. The event kicks off from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, and runs through Monday, Dec. 30. 619-230-1190, worldbeatculturalcenter.memberlodge.com Garden of Lights at San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. The San Diego Botanic Garden transforms into a dazzling winter wonderland with over 100,000 sparkling lights. From 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, through Monday, Dec. 30. $6-$14. 760-4363036, SDBGarden.org

MUSIC Ilichfest 2013 at The Kraken, 2531 S. Coast Highway 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Ilichfest (pronounced eeh-leech-fest) is an annual party and music festival thrown by a guy whose birthday is the day after Christmas. Started as a house party, the it’s now in its 15th year and will feature bands like Cage, Detonated, Raise the Guns and more playing on the beach. At 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26. 760-436-6483, facebook.com/events/225895750921824 Holiday Soul & Blues Party at Queen Bee’s, 3925 Ohio St., North Park. An annual blues and soul concert featuring music from Missy Andersen, Meeshi Ravi and Ed Griffith, plus dance lessons from 7 to 8 p.m. From 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Dec. 27. $10-$15. facebook.com/

events/579085205501856 Free Organ Concert at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. Civic organist Carol Williams performs with the House of Scotland Pipe Band. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29. sosorgan.org

OUTDOORS HBalboa Park History Stroll in Balboa Park. Walk off some of those holiday calories and learn trivia tidbits and more on this one-hour walking tour. At 11 a.m.

Thursday, Dec. 26. $10. sandiegohistory.org/calendar/detail/57767 Whale Watching Adventures at Harbor Excursion, 1050 N. Harbor Drive, Downtown. ‘Tis the season for whale watching.

Join Scripps naturalists and San Diego Harbor Excursion for its 13th season of whale watching. At 9:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26. $18.50-$42.

619-234-4111, aquarium.ucsd.edu

PERFORMANCE HRe-VAMP’d: Best of 2013, Part 2 at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., South Park. If you missed any of So Say We All’s VAMP (Video Art, Music, Performance) showcases or you want to relive the glory? Check out performances of 2013 show-stoppers with Eber Lambert, Adam Gimbel, Laura Condi and more. From 8:30 to 11 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 26. $5 suggested donation. 619-284-6784, sosayweallonline.com

SPECIAL EVENTS Avo Concert at AVO Playhouse, 303 Main St., Vista. A benefit concert, theater performance and local art show to benefit Youth Employment Program’s internship and empowerment programs. Performers include The Devastators and Jamon. At 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27. $10-$15. 760-6432888, yepinterns.com

Elephant & Castle Pub, 1355 North Harbor Drive, Downtown. Nine dachshunds will compete for the distinction of being the “Fastest Wiener in the West” at the 18th Annual race. At 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 30. 619-234-9977, wwnraces.com HBig Bay Balloon Parade in Downtown San Diego. In conjunction with the Holiday Bowl, “America’s Largest Balloon Parade” is presented annually in the bayside streets of Downtown San Diego. The parade features marching bands, floats, drill teams with style and balloons. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30. $20. holidaybowl.com HBumble Bee 5K Run at Harbor Drive and Ash Street, Downtown. Athletes will run past 100,000 spectators just before the Big Bay Balloon Parade. There’s also post-race party near Tuna Harbor Park with live music and munchies including muffins, bagels, juice, fresh fruit and much more. At 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 30. $30-$35. holidaybowl.com

SPORTS San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, Mission Valley. The Utah State Aggies will play the Northern Illinois Huskies in the ninth annual bowl game. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26. $52-$90. poinsettiabowl.com National University Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium, 9449 Friars Road, Mission Valley. The Arizona State Sun Devils take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the 36th annual college football bowl game. At 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30. $65$85. holidaybowl.com

For full listings,

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

Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals at

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

Enabling a r ti stic a b i l i t y

Tim Conaway takes imaginary trips across the world when he creates his art.

A new partnership for Sophie’s Gallery means artists with disabilities can keep up the good work Story and photos by Kinsee Morlan Colored pencils in hand, Tim Conaway sits hunched over a drawing of an exotic-looking landscape. He turns the sketch sideways as he colors the green leaves of a Siberian Cyprus tree. Next to his drawing is an address scrawled on a small piece of scratch paper of a remote location about 100 miles northwest of Nukus, Uzbekistan. As Conaway draws, he repeatedly glances at the paper propped up in front of him. The address, he explains, is his artistic inspiration.

“I just imagine what these places look like,” he says. “I pick out a place from the World Book atlas.”

Conaway scoops up the atlas next to him and turns to Page 148. He picks up a magnifying glass and holds it over the upper-right corner of the page, focusing in on

a body of water near the Sea of Aral.

“See the little tiny lake on the southwest corridor?” he asks. “That is the lake I’ve been drawing.”

Conaway is developmentally disabled, which qualifies him for the art-making services offered at Sophie’s Gallery & Gift Shop in El Cajon, an off-campus program of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) that houses large artist studios and a small gallery space. SMSC is a nonprofit organization that provides services for adults with disabilities through various programs that promote independence and community integration.

For Conaway, who’s been with SMSC for the last four-and-a-half years, making his art has become a way to earn extra money—

16 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

possibly as soon as February. SMSC’s been leasing space from the NTC Foundation that was formerly part of the New Americans Museum, a nonprofit arts organization with a focus on immigrants. The New Americans Museum, on hiatus since 2009, is working to finalize an agreement to possibly return and reopen in its former space.

No contracts have yet been signed, but Debra Emerson, SMSC’s chief executive officer, says her organization will partner with the Autism Research Institute and help revamp and activate the Kensington Gallery (formerly Edgeware Gallery) at 4186 Adams Ave. She says the two organizations will collaborate on shows in the beginning; further down the road, they’ll possibly expand and the new space could eventually include artist studios, as well.

Emerson says the new partnership is a natural fit. Mark Rimland, son of Autism Research Institute founder Bernard Rimland (who died in 2006), has autism. Rimland makes and sells his artwork through Sophie’s Gallery and even designed the gallery logo. He’s also the resident artist at Kensington Gallery.

“We’re still in talks,” Emerson says. “But I think we will be collaborating and hanging our shingle over there soon.”

Kelly Boland works as an assistant and cashier at both Sophie’s Gallery locations.

She smiles as she rings up a big order from a customer taking advantage of the 25-percent-off sale that’s helping clear the NTC location of inventory in preparation for the move. Boland battles a seizure disorder related to autism and says she thought holding down a job was impossible until SMSC

he gets 40 percent of proceeds when a piece sells at either the storefront gallery in El Cajon or the satellite gallery, Sophie’s Gallery & Gift Shop NTC, in Point Loma’s Liberty Station. Making the artwork, he says, has also given him something meaningful to do with his time—plus, it makes him feel as if he can visit faraway places without leaving home.

“It’s kind of interesting to surmise what those places look like throughout the whole world and so forth,” says Conaway, whose work has been shown in the Museum of Modern Art of Ukraine.

“It’s kind of like travelling through the imagination.”

SMSC will close the Sophie’s Gallery satellite shop in Liberty Station at the end of the month but will Circle of Life holiday wreaths made by students will be on reopen in a new location, view at both Sophie’s Gallery locations through Dec. 31.

Sophie’s Center Gallery & Gift Shop NTC will close at the end of the month. placed her in the gallery.

“It’s less chaotic here,” Boland says, motioning toward the quiet gallery space.

“I’m not really good with high-stress environments, because it’s a trigger of the seizures…. I don’t really feel comfortable going out in a working environment with the so-called ‘normal people,’ as I like to call them—you know, the biased people— because I feel like a lot of them discriminate against the disabled…. So, I feel like I’m finally in the right spot.”

Back at Sophie’s Gallery studios in El Cajon, artist Tina Frantas shows off a highchair she painted for the Sitting Pretty

exhibition that was held in October. The show featured hand-decorated chairs based on famous works of art.

“This is my chair right here,” says Frantas, who later insists on being called T-Bone. “It’s Norman Rockwell—he’s my favorite painter.”

Frantas, who has Down syndrome, is a productive artist who’s completed entire series on some of her favorite forms of entertainment, such as The Flintstones, NASCAR and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (the president of WWE even sent her a care package after he caught wind of her in-depth series based on his famed wrestlers). Draw-

Tina “T-Bone” Frantas gets her Christmas-tree mosaic ready for the kiln. ing is Frantas’ first love, but Sophie’s recently introduced her to the loom and weaving, and she says she’s starting to really enjoy it.

Wendy Morris, a Sophie’s Gallery administrator who’s been with the organization for 20 years, digs out several of Frantas’ drawings to show off. She’s proud of the work and is passionate about getting it out in front of the public.

“I love the artwork, and I love how the artwork helps our students to find a voice for themselves,” says Morris, who was an avid collector of folk and outsider art when she first stumbled onto work made by Sophie’s Gallery students in a small shop in

Ocean Beach. Morris started out as a volunteer at SMSC and has since watched as the art program has grown from one day a week with students packed into a small back room on the main campus to five days a week with a large studio space and two galleries. She says her favorite part of the job is helping artists talk about their work and interact with the community.

“The work gives them something to talk about that’s not about disability—it’s about ability,” Morris says.

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

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

Seen Local

Courtesy: David Delgado Photography

Second home for the holidays East Coaster Cynthia Kosciuczyk found San Diego a hard city to crack when it came to finding an arts community to take her in. She says it took almost seven years before she finally felt at home. That personal struggle is the main inspiration for Spaghetti Socials, an ongoing informal networking event for artists looking to make new connections.

“It’s also a showcase for artists and musicians—a place for people to be discovered,” says Kosciuczyk, who ran Designer Tastes Gallery, a small art gallery in Normal Heights, for a few years before closing in 2006.

The art-fueled dinner parties started in Kosciuczyk’s one-bedroom apartment in Kensington with 30 artist friends. By the next event, the former chef says, she had 60 people show up for food, art and entertainment.

“The next thing you know, it became a tradition,” she says. “Even the illustrious Bob Filner has been to a couple of the events.”

Spaghetti Socials (search Facebook for “Spaghetti Socialites”) have been happening around San Diego for the last six years. From artist studios in North Park to the Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park, the events are held in both private and public venues, and attendees are asked to either bring food to share or donate at the door, which is then handed over to charities.

Kosciuczyk will hold a holiday-themed Spaghetti Social from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, at a private home in San Diego. She invites local artists, musicians and performers who either can’t make it home

Artists of all kinds are invited to celebrate the holidays at Spaghetti Socials. for the holidays or have no place to go (email her at designertastes@gmail.com for details).

On the agenda for the night is artist Rich Walker, who’ll transform a slideshow of his abstract art into a live-feed, video-manipulation performance. Jazz pianist Danny Green will take over the home’s grand piano with accompaniment by vocalist Blaise Guld, and experimental-art-meets-electronic-music group MANTIS (which includes arts promoters Johnny Tran and Adam Rosen) will perform.

Spaghetti Socials has helped Kosciuczyk build a new, much weirder and more exciting family. She says she’d like to expand her tribe to include all of the city’s most interesting and active artists.

“I like bringing diverse people together to create community, you know,” she says, her Boston accent as strong as ever. “My premise about the San Diego art scene is that there are such scattered groups, and if we all just work together, we can put San Diego on the map.”

—Kinsee Morlan Roland Lizarando

Meet our cover artist CityBeat’s long been a fan of Saratoga Sake. We first ran his work on our cover back in September of 2008. His was the second art-showcase cover we did, which shows how high up on our list he sits.

Sake is a longtime, well-respected graffiti artist who cut his teeth on San Diego’s streets. He’s all grown up now—with kids and a wife (the lovely Stacey Poon-Kinney of Food Network Star and Restaurant Impossible! fame)—so he’s done with the illegal stuff, but he still makes appearances at events like the recent Style-A-Thon at Writerz Blok to show kids how good graffiti is done.

It’s hard to find traces of Sake’s graffiti background in his studio work, which is impeccably polished, technically astounding and stylistically more pop-surrealistic than street. Sake starts every painting with a careful line drawing. The technique allows him to get more detailed and refined than painters who start with just a rough sketch or no sketch at all.

“Santa Deer,” the piece on this week’s cover, is based on the vintage deer figurines his grandma used to pull out every holiday season. He’s fascinated with relics and styles from the days of yore. The vintage feel is well captured by Sake, who also tends to add a melancholic tone to his work. “Santa Deer,” in other words, is about as jolly as he gets. In fact, one of the

18 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

Saratoga Sake recurring themes in a series he’s working on is skulls, so don’t let the cute deer fool you into thinking his work is light and fluffy.

Sake’s been on daddy duty for the last few years, but he still manages to find studio time every now and then, and he says he’ll be ramping up his artistic output in 2014. His work will be in the Jan. 18 grand-opening exhibition of La Bodega Studios & Gallery (2196 Logan Ave.), a new collaborative space in Barrio Logan.

“I’m just preparing for the future right now,” Sake says. “I’m trying to paint my ass off as much as I can.”

—Kinsee Morlan Write to kinseem@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

The wild bunch Scorsese and DiCaprio get down and dirty

by Glenn Heath Jr. A great alternate title for Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street would have been “Despicable Me.” The low-down, dirty story of Jordan Belfort (brilliantly played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a real-life stock trader who rose to infamy in the 1990s for his fast Leonardo DiCaprio does sleazy well. lifestyle and immoral business tactics, centers on the destructive American urge to embrace ugly behavior. the purest form of debasement and monetary lust.

That it does so with such relentless and raunchy glee There’s no better example of this than Belfort’s cenmakes it all the more unsettling, exposing the slimy tral relationship with his partner, Donnie Azoff (Jonah allure of corporate malfeasance through the height- Hill). The two inspire the worst in each other, both as ened perspective of a master hedonist. people and professionals. But their friendship is allFor nearly three hours, Scorsese unveils an ex- encompassing, one of the purest you’ll find in a Scorstended montage of sleaze and corruption, images ese film. The Wolf of Wall Street’s greatest sequence that speed up and slow down depending on if Bel- involves the two men, potent relaxants and a slippery fort is indulging in cocaine or Quaaludes. This roll- piece of sliced ham. Here, their relationship is tested by er-coaster ride has no official track. Freeze frames the absurdity of potentially dire circumstances. abound, as does the director’s patented use of voiceIn this sense, the film plays like a mirror image to over narration that turns into a subjective soapbox Scorsese’s Casino, the 1995 Las Vegas gangster film for one charismatic criminal. that brutally (and often hilariously) skewers the arThe viewer becomes so immersed in the shady rogant tactics of brutish men who hide behind a wall actions that it eventually becomes clear how Bel- of commercial formality. But Scorsese’s latest opus fort’s compromised ideologies and warped profes- is a feeding frenzy of capitalism gone wild. Gone are sional codes function as a form of homegrown ter- the calculating old-school goodfellas with guns, rerorism. His job title might be CEO, but he’s actually placed by chauvinistic, entitled hucksters with pens. a fundamentalist preaching the I’m not sure which one is more scripture of extreme capitalism. dangerous.

The Wolf of Beginning on the eve of Black While The Wolf of Wall Wall Street Monday, The Wolf of Wall Street Street—which opens on Christintroduces Belfort as a young Directed by Martin Scorsese mas Day—is often a sprawling man primed to make a fortune, mess of a film, its vignettes add Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, obsessed with the bottom line up to something thorny and proJonah Hill, Margot Robbie and but unaware of the power his found. Sequences as diverse as Matthew McConaughey profession can wield. In a crazy the kinetic introduction (which Rated R early scene, Belfort’s harmless finds Belfort’s narration changselfishness is swayed in a far ing the color of his Lamborghini more dangerous direction. At lunch with his high- mid-drive) and a far quieter interplay between him powered mentor (Matthew McConaughey), the two and a female employee during a pivotal speech prove partake in a bizarre conversation about corruption that the film is interested in complicating this wily that proves to be Belfort’s own personal declaration character’s seemingly fated downfall. of independence.

Still, I can’t help but feel this is one of Scorsese’s After the infamous crash of Oct. 19, 1987, Bel- most horrific works, a film about financial and emofort begins a successful company trading in “penny tional terrorism projected through the sunny and stocks,” which opens up a Pandora’s box of illegal glossy lens of the self-made prophet (or is it profit?). activity that produces an environment of massive Whatever shades of humanity Belfort exhibits, it’s all debauchery. Here, the outlandish becomes normal, in service to the warped ideology that money makes financial manipulation the law of the jungle. you a better person. Wu-Tang Clan read his mind: During sales-staff meetings, Belfort paces before a “Cash Rules Everything Around Me.” herd of rabid followers like the prideful lion in his business’ television advertisement. They’ll follow him into Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com the most dangerous battles, but this loyalty is spun from and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Dream weaver

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

No matter how pure the intentions or sweet the end result, Ben Stiller’s post-modern re-imagining of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is the ultimate midlifecrisis movie. As the daydreaming Life magazine photo archivist who challenges the boundaries between reality and fantasy (first portrayed by Danny Kaye in the

1947 film), Stiller embodies the character with a wide-eyed yet taciturn naïveté that feels entirely programmed. There’s never any doubt that his corporatized fairy tale will end in emotional epiphany, witnessed by the audience like some biblical awakening in glorious widescreen.

Stiller, director of subversive

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

comedic gems like Tropic Thunder and The Cable Guy, relies on a much softer tone in Walter Mitty. While conflict flies in from every conceivable angle, whether it’s the impending closure of the character’s longtime print employer or his romantic pursuit of a fellow coworker (Kristin Wiig), it’s all conveyed in a very demure way. The threatening reality of transition pushes Walter from feeble workman to fearless man of action, globetrotting to Iceland in pursuit of a nomadic journalist (played by a grungy Sean Penn) who holds the key to a mystery involving Life’s final cover photo.

Erupting volcanoes, man-eating sharks and mountainous treks all form the foundation of life experience for a man who has for so

long retreated into the recesses of his own imagination. Except the journey is shrouded in artificial drapery that’s marked by emblems of capitalism and commerce.

In turn, the organic whimsy and discovery of Walter’s lifeaffirming moments are rendered false, or, at the very least, commodified. By juxtaposing such joyful images with this kind of perversely pristine view of bigbusiness America, Stiller’s film— which opens on Christmas Day— undermines his character’s true potential for transcendence. Walter’s secret life ends up being just one big glossy advertisement for the next big product.

Opening

scenes documentary about the young pop star who can’t help but find trouble wherever his pompadour lands.

47 Ronin: After their master is killed by a ruthless shogun, a band of samurai set out for revenge. Why they asked Keanu Reeves for help is still a mystery.

Grudge Match: Two aged boxers (Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro) are coaxed back into the ring in order to capitalize on their longtime rivalry. Call us crazy, but we don’t think this film will live up to Rocky or Raging Bull.

Justin Bieber’s Believe: Yep, you read that correctly. Yet another behind-the-

20 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

—Glenn Heath Jr.

Khumba: An animated film about a zebra marked as an outcast after he’s born with only half his stripes. His herd blames him for the current drought, forcing Khumba to embark on a journey to find a magical watering hole. Screens through Jan. 2 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Maidentrip: Laura Decker, a daring 14year-old girl, embarks on a two-year voyage, hoping to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone.

Screens through Jan. 2 at Digital Gym

Cinema in North Park.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: Ben Stiller revamps the 1947 Danny Kaye classic with a bigger budget and a bigger emphasis on the healing power of corporate products. See our review on Page 19.

The Wolf of Wall Street: Martin Scorsese’s sprawling comedic look at the rise and fall of Wall Street huckster Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), who became an infamous figure in New York City in the 1990s. See our review on Page 19.

One Time Only Black Pond: British comedy with sharp dialogue about a family torn apart when a dinner guest dies at the table. Screens at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, at the San Diego Public Library in East Village.

The Ref: Dennis Leary plays a cat burglar who gets caught up in the squabbles of a hateful married couple (Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis) after he’s forced to take them hostage during a botched robbery.

Screens at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, at The W Hotel’s rooftop bar.

Now Playing American Hustle: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star in David O’Russell’s retelling of the infamous Abscam sting established by the FBI in order to capture corrupt politicians and gangsters in the late 1970s.

Anchorman: The Legend Continues: Infamous San Diego newscaster and lothario Ron Burgundy (Will Farrell) brings

his motley crew of wacky colleagues to New York City in hopes of making it big on a national television channel.

Desert Runners: Ultra-marathoners and their experiences traversing some of the world’s most dangerous landscapes are the focus of this intense and personal documentary by Jennifer Steinman.

Through Dec. 26 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Inside Llewyn Davis: Joel and Ethan Coen’s latest odyssey is set in 1961 Greenwich Village, where a struggling folk singer (Oscar Isaac) comes to grips with his failure as an artist and a human being.

Nosotros Los Nobles: A business mogul forces his spoiled children to work for a living if they want to have a chance at inheriting the family fortune. This comedy from Mexico was a box-office sensation in its home country. Through Dec. 26 at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Saving Mr. Banks: Marry Poppins scribe P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) travels to Los Angeles to discuss a potential film adaptation by Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) in this whimsical biopic about two artists struggling to compromise.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Bilbo (Martin Freeman), please meet Smaug, fire-breathing dragon and protector of all things gold. Have a nice three hours together.

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

Califone’s search for Chicago band soldiers on with

by Ben Salmon For a decade, Califone—the long-running experimental folk-blues band founded in Chicago—had a solid, static lineup: founder and principal songwriter Tim Rutili and multi-instrumentalists Joe Adamik, Jim Becker and Ben Massarella.

But in the past couple of years, with Adamik and Becker busy playing in Iron & Wine, Rutili had to make a choice: put Cali-

Out of Rutili’s pain came the latest chapter of Califone’s unique, unnerving beauty.

Stitches is the band’s sixth full-length studio album, and like those before it, it’s a disarmingly intimate collision of earthy aural aesthetic, creaky recording ethos and electro-organic embellishments.

Unlike those before it, however, Stitches offers a clarity to Rutili’s voice and words that brightens Califone’s odd little headphone world. That clarity, too, grew out of the shift in the lineup.

“It definitely forced some necessary changes into the music and the sound palette that was used, and the approach,” Rutili says. “And it helped me to keep this one solitary [and] to open up the lyrics and a new lineup and a new home more the vocals in ways that I really needed to.”

Stitches, he adds, “is really personal for me. But I had to be honest about how I felt about things, and I never really looked at fone on hold or move on without them.

He chose the latter. When asked about songwriting in that way before. It was always about [creating] things that would the decision, he laughs uncomfortably.

“It was painful,” he says by telephone evoke pictures in a listener and in myself, from his home in Los Angeles. “But by the and this time it became more about expresstime I got into making Stitches, it was, like, ing feelings: dealing with disappointment ‘OK, this is what we’re doing. This is how and dealing with heartbreak and dealing we’re doing it.’ And once we got started, it with survival and trying to find ways to… find hope without lying to myself. was kind of amazing to make the record.”

Dusdin Condren “I needed to sort of hunker down and really focus on telling the truth… and not hiding behind noise,” Rutili says.

This new, more personal songwriting style coincided with a recording process that was very different from the collaborative works created over many years at Califone’s now-shuttered Clava Studios in Chicago. For Stitches, Rutili worked alone at times, brought in musicians to contribute as needed and added his own field recordings to the sonic soup. He also wrote and recorded the album in California, Arizona and Texas—his first record with no Chicago connection.

The freedom of the process allowed Rutili to “treat each song as its own planet,” and if you believe a bunch of Stitches reviews, those planets stretch across the American Southwest and bear all the distinctive cultural and geographCalifone’s Tim Rutili ic attributes of the region. The

truth is, it sounds like a Califone record, as dusty and twangy and open-road-worthy as the others.

“It’s like propaganda, isn’t it?” Rutili asks mischievously, noting the “spaghetti Western deserts and Southwestern horizons” described in the official Stitches press materials. “I know how to make a record and make some songs, but I don’t know how to use propaganda for my benefit just yet. But I know that if we write something on a one-sheet, people will regurgitate it.”

Still, Rutili acknowledges that place does inform art.

“I think wherever you are seeps into the music… you’re making. So there’s a little bit of it in there,” he says. “But I don’t think it’s like some turquoise-colored piece of jewelry that we made with Navajo stick figures on it.”

If anything, Stitches is Rutili’s L.A. record, an exploration of the sprawling city he’s called home for the past seven years and the isolation—artistic and otherwise— he feels there.

“There’s not a lot of people doing things that I like or people that I love to work with or people that I love the music that they’re doing,” he says. “I haven’t found that, but, then again… when I was in Chicago, I was in my 20s and 30s and I was out all the time. And now I’m in my 40s and it’s, like, ‘Uh, I’m not going to that.’

“There are probably great things happening here,” he continues, “but I haven’t really… found any.”

That, in a way, is fitting for an artist who, despite his role in Chicago’s fertile ’90s rock scene, has always seemed to exist on his own plane and make the music he wants to make in exactly the way he wants to make it.

He says he’s “just pushing to try to keep doing things that feel vital. People say, ‘It’s just another Califone record.’ And if they hear that, that’s fine, but to me all these records are very, very different and [they] are progressions and evolutions, and there’s not a lot of repetition.

“I still enjoy doing this and feel the need to do this,” he says. “And when I don’t have anything else to say, I will totally stop.”

Califone will play Soda Bar on Sunday, Jan. 5, with Little White Teeth.

Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

notes from the smoking patio Locals Only The Silent Comedy are suddenly the subject of a heated controversy.

On Dec. 16, they released their video for the song “Always Two,” directed by Krista Liney. It focuses on a young girl who wakes up in an apartment, gets dressed, goes out to a bar, gets drunk and makes a scene. By the end of the video, she ends up back in the same apartment where she began, with a man who hits her and forces her onto the bed as she gives in and directs her gaze toward the camera, with the implicit suggestion that she’s being raped.

Fans of the band expressed divided opinions on social media, some saying it was “amazing” or “intense” and others demanding its removal for being distasteful or misogynistic or, worse, that it suggests the female protagonist in the video is being punished for her actions.

Chris Maroulakos condemned the video on the blog Owl and Bear, arguing that “positioning the rape as the climax of the video makes it feel like the natural consequence for the girl’s behavior. Are you an attractive female who wants to sleep around, drink, or do drugs? … Fine, but prepare to be sexually violated.”

In an email to CityBeat, Silent Comedy bassist / vocalist Josh Zimmerman defends the clip, noting that “all artistic works are open to interpretation” and that “when you release a creative work into the world, it will undoubtedly be misinterpreted.

“The intention of the piece was to observe a moment in the life of someone caught in a physically abusive relationship, and the difficult choices they face,” he explains. “When we address these types of

The Silent Comedy issues, our intention is always to inspire a constructive conversation.”

Justine Marzoni, who describes herself as an “active supporter of the local music scene,” posted an open letter to the band on The Radical Notion blog, expressing her disappointment in what she describes as the video’s “misogynistic nature” and asking for the video to be removed.

“Perhaps the shocking content of the video was intended to be socially conscious, to raise awareness, to not sweep things under the rug,” Marzoni writes. “But to be a socially conscious artist, one must be willing to take responsibility for the ramifications of one’s art.”

Yet while Zimmerman says he welcomes an open discussion about the video and sexual abuse, he says that the band “would urge people to channel their passion about this issue into positive action.

“Making a donation to organizations like the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence,” he says, “is a great way to start doing that.”

—Jeff Terich

5 albums for 2014 Now that the year’s winding down, it’s time to look March 1. It’s still in the mastering phase, but based on recently released tracks like the synthahead to some of the San Diego music to heavy “Non Fictionalism” and “Fall get excited about in the new year. Here Through,” expect something dreamy, are five albums I’m watching for in 2014: dense and a little bit sexy.

Dum Dum Girls: While they’re The Midnight Pine: After wintechnically not in San Diego anymore, ning a San Diego Music Award for they’re locals at heart. Dum Dum Girls Best Local Recording, Midnight have a new album dropping on Jan. 28 Pine singer Shelbi Bennett spent a called Too True, and the first single, month in Europe, giving the band a “Lost Boys and Girls Club,” is gothishort break. But just beforehand, the cally delicious. group was working on some new maThe artists formerly known as terial, including a track that Al HowCuckoo Chaos: So, Cuckoo Chaos ard told me is maybe his favorite thing is ending in just a few days, but he’s ever written. come Jan. 1, they’ll be reborn as a Barbarian: Shoegazing post-punk new band with a new name, and group Barbarian just had a vision quest in soon enough, a new album. For the desert to record a new full-length, and a hint of where they’re going, given how great a job they did with the listen to their 2012 single City of Women EP, this one’s bound to “Super Skeleton.” be a winner.

Hills Like Elephants: This soulful indie-pop —Jeff Terich outfit is wrapping up a Write to jefft@sdcitybeat.com brand-new full-length or editor@sdcitybeat.com. that’s set for release on Dee Dee Penny of Dum Dum Girls

22 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

if i were u

BY Jeff Terich

Wednesday, Dec. 25 PLAN A: Plump Christmas Goose, Wassail, Die Hard @ Your House. It’s not like the weather in San Diego’s going to prevent anyone from getting anywhere, but Christmas typically isn’t optimal, nightlife-wise. Stay home, sip from the punchbowl, put on your ugliest sweater and watch the holiday film of your choice. Yippee-ki-yay, Mister Falcon.

Thursday, Dec. 26 PLAN A: The Growlers, The Abigails, Mystic Braves @ Belly Up Tavern. If cheeky, sexually suggestive lyrics, psychedelic melodies and hooks that won’t quit are your idea of a good time, then The Growlers are for you. The Dana Point band’s been freaking out the squares for eight years and new album Hung at Heart is their best yet.

Friday, Dec. 27

PLAN: Sound Lupus, Isleside, Quad IX, Six String Samurai @ The Griffin.

Sunday, Dec. 29 PLAN A: Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven @ Belly Up Tavern. Camper Van Beethoven’s “Take the Skinheads Bowling” is a classic slice of smart-assed indie rock. Everyone knows this. But the rest of the band’s catalog is solid, as well, particularly 1989’s underrated Key Lime Pie. And if one David Lowery band isn’t enough for you, Camper and Cracker are dual-headlining this special all-Lowery evening. PLAN B: Plastic City Pariah, Northamericas, Moonshine, A New Ending @ Soda Bar. Local folk-punks Plastic City Pariah have a song called “Disco with the Schizo” and tag their demo on Bandcamp as “skumz.” I don’t know about you, but I’m sold!

PLAN A: Mrs. Magician, Census, The Monday, Dec. 30 Rosalyns, Sevens @ Soda Bar. It’s a ma- PLAN A: Bowiephonics, Shake Before jor bummer that Mrs. Magician (and their Us, The Little Richards, Creepxotica, DJ alter-egos, Mrs. Physician) will call it quits Claire @ The Casbah. More than a few bands in San Diego after this show. So, have alter-egos, and put this high on your two of them are perpriority list to close forming in the same out 2013. I’ve seen s h o w c a s e —T h e them three times Schitzophonics as in the last year, and David Bowie cover they’re consistently band Bowiephonone of the best live ics and The Creepy bands in San Diego.

Creeps as loungeSee them prove it surf act Creepxotione last time. PLAN ca. That’s just twoB: The Donkeys, Camper Van Beethoven fifths of what promRafter, Teenage Burritos @ The Casbah. Maybe you just ises to be a dynamite party. Not bad for a want to mellow out with some sunny guitar Monday. PLAN B: Plane without a Pilot, jangle, though, and The Donkeys definitely The New Addiction, 16 Sparrows @ Soda have you covered on that front. Add in Raf- Bar. There’s a lot of talk going around about ter and Teenage Burritos and, baby, you got an “emo revival” (search #emorevival on Twitter). And I don’t know if this applies a (kickass local-music) stew goin’! to Plane without a Pilot, but their heart-onsleeve indie-rock tunes definitely give me Saturday, Dec. 28 that vibe. And that’s (mostly) a good thing.

PLAN A: Cuckoo Chaos, Snuffalufagus, The Most Hi @ Soda Bar. Sigh. Here’s another band that’s closing out its legacy with Tuesday, Dec. 31 one last hurrah. But fret not! Cuckoo Chaos PLAN A: Scarlet Symphony, Zodiac Death are merely morphing into an entirely new Valley, Hills Like Elephants @ Soda Bar. band with a new sound and some exciting Scarlet Symphony have broken up a few developments to be revealed shortly. The times, but that doesn’t make this reunion next phase of the band’s career will launch show any less special—and on New Year’s soon, so if you want to hear any of the old Eve at that! If you’re feeling nostalgic, or just hits, this might be your only chance. PLAN prefer your NYE blowout a little bit farther B: Get Back Loretta, The Heavy Guilt, The away from Downtown, this is the place to be.

Palace Ballroom, Chess Wars, Swambi @ PLAN B: Wild Wild Wets, Barbarian, DJ The Casbah. From time to time, you’ll see a Barry Thomas @ Seven Grand. Another lineup of local bands so stacked with talent great way to finish off the year is with two of that it’s hard to resist. Now, this is a rare eve- the best bands in San Diego right now, bringning in late December with some steep com- ing their heady psychedelic atmosphere to petition, but if you don’t make it to Soda Bar, Seven Grand. I hear Clocksy might hit up this you’d better be at The Casbah. BACKUP one (there will be Wild Turkey specials).

24 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

HOT! NEW! FRESH! Switchfoot (Casbah, 1/15), Weedeater (Soda Bar, 1/20), The Ataris (HOB, 3/7), Wakey! Wakey! (Casbah, 3/19), Weekend (Casbah, 3/20), Bayside (HOB, 3/20), San Diego Experimental Guitar Show 2014 (Soda Bar, 3/29), The Mavericks (BUT, 4/1), VNV Nation (BUT, 4/2), Mobb Deep (Casbah, 4/15).

GET YER TICKETS No Knife (Casbah, 1/8), Janelle Monae (HOB, 1/13), X (Casbah, 1/16), The Penetrators (Casbah, 1/17), Skinny Puppy (HOB, 1/25), OFF! (Casbah, 1/29), Mayer Hawthorne (HOB, 1/30), The Menzingers (Che Café, 1/30), Oneohtrix Point Never (The Irenic, 2/8), Young The Giant (SOMA, 2/9), Brandon Boyd and Sons of the Sea (HOB, 2/11), New Politics (HOB, 2/17), Marissa Nadler (Soda Bar, 2/23), The Wailers (BUT, 3/2), Gary Numan (BUT, 3/5), St. Vincent (HOB, 3/19), G. Love and Special Sauce (HOB, 3/21), Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings (HOB, 3/22), Xiu Xiu (Soda Bar, 3/25), Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks (Casbah, 3/29), Cut Copy (HOB, 4/2), Tiger Army (HOB, 4/16), Lady Gaga (Viejas Arena, 6/2).

December Thursday, Dec. 26 The Growlers at Belly Up Tavern.

Friday, Dec. 27 John Oliver at Spreckels Theatre. Cash’d Out at Belly Up Tavern.

Saturday, Dec. 28 Get Back Loretta at The Casbah. Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern.

Sunday, Dec. 29 Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven at Belly Up Tavern.

Monday, Dec. 30 Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern.

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Candye Kane at Belly Up Tavern. Scarlet Symphony at Soda Bar. Transfer at Lafayette Hotel.

January Thursday, Jan. 2 Matthew Sweet at Belly Up Tavern.

Friday, Jan. 3 Pato Banton at Belly Up Tavern. Poison Idea at Brick By Brick. The Paladins at The Casbah

Saturday, Jan. 4 Tower of Power at Belly Up Tavern. The Dragons at The Casbah.

Sunday, Jan. 5 Califone at Soda Bar.

Monday, Jan. 6 Corrections House at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, Jan. 7 Three Mile Pilot at The Casbah.

Wednesday, Jan. 8 No Knife at The Casbah.

Thursday, Jan. 9 No Knife at The Casbah. Sea Wolf at Luce Loft.

Friday, Jan. 10 Jonny Lang at Belly Up Tavern. The Rugburns at The Casbah. Mobb Deep at House of Blues.

Saturday, Jan. 11 The Dickies at Soda Bar. Beat Farmers at Belly Up Tavern. Sweet and Tender Hooligans at The Casbah. Nipsey Hussle at Porter’s Pub.

Sunday, Jan. 12 Tennis at Soda Bar. David Lindley at Belly Up Tavern.

Monday, Jan. 13 Janelle Monae at House of Blues. Pinback at The Casbah.

Tuesday, Jan. 14 Pinback at The Casbah.

Wednesday, Jan. 15 Martha Davis and The Motels at Belly Up Tavern. Switchfoot at The Casbah.

Thursday, Jan. 16 X at The Casbah. Crooks on Tape at Soda Bar.

Friday, Jan. 17 Johnette Napolitano at The Griffin. Gun-

gor at House of Blues. The Penetrators at The Casbah.

Saturday, Jan. 18 Parquet Courts at Che Café. Buck O Nine at The Casbah.

Sunday, Jan. 19 Volcano Choir at House of Blues

Monday, Jan. 20

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave, Downtown. americancomedyco.com. FriSun: Felipe Esparza. Tue: Jim Norton.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St, Downtown. facebook.com/BangBangSanDiego. Fri: Crowdkillers, Contemporary Menswear.

Sat: Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds. Tue: Brazzabelle, Yusef.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St, North Park. barpink.com. Fri: ‘Bonkers!’. Sat: Sad Robot, Diatribes. Tue: ‘Neon Beat’.

Bassmnt, 919 Fourth Ave, Downtown. bassmntsd.com. Fri: Manufactured Superstars. Sat: Rebecca and Fiona. Tue: Congorock.

Weedeater at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 3 Doors Down at House of Blues

Wednesday, Jan. 22 Mint Condition at Jacobs Center. Dent May at Soda Bar. Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects at The Casbah.

Thursday, Jan. 23 The White Buffalo at Belly Up Tavern.

Kisses at Soda Bar. Sound Tribe Sector 9 at House of Blues.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach. 710bc.com. Wed: Open mic, open jam. Thu: The Clamjammers. Fri: Wilson/ Renette, Full Strength Funk Band, Loose Nuts. Sat: Thrive, Veragroove, Aloha Radio. Tue: The Devastators.

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. 98bottlessd.com. Thu: ‘A Night In the Ukraine’ w/ BS Productions. Fri: ‘Another Night of Bawdy Blues’ w/ Whitney Shay and Robin Henkel.

Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla. brocktonvilla.com/beaumonts.html. Thu & Sun: Doug Benson. Fri: Stratos. Sat: Fish and the Seaweeds. Tue: Slower.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. bellyup.com. Thu: The Growlers, The Abigails, Mystic Braves.

Fri: Cash’d Out, Sean Wheeler, Zander Schloss. Sat: Donavon Frankenreiter, Trouble In the Wind. Sun: Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven. Mon: Donavon Frankenreiter, The Mattson 2, Luke Williams.

Tue: Candye Kane (5:30 p.m.); The Expendables, Seedless (10 p.m.).

Bluefoot Bar & Lounge, 3404 30th St, North Park. bluefootsd.com. Thu: DJ Mike Face. Fri: Julz, J-Time, Akrite, Kev Mighty.

Sat: ‘Unknown Pleasures’ w/ C Wizard.

Sun: DJs Grassy Noll, Iggy. Tue: ‘NYE Jam’ w/ Peso.

Boar Cross’n, 390 Grand Ave, Carlsbad. boarcrossn.net. Thu: Taken By Canadians. Fri: ‘Club Musae’. Tue: ‘NYE Party’.

Bourbon Street, 4612 Park Blvd, Universi-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

ty Heights. bourbonstreetsd.com. Fri: ‘GoGo Fridays’ w/ VJ K-Swift. Sun: ‘Soiree’.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave, Bay Park. brickbybrick.com. Fri: Daytona and The BlueSide Rockers, Dendai Uno, Birds Of Paradise, A.D., Cory Way, Nando. Sat: Nox and The Jerk Offs, Serenity Sicosis.

Sun: Wrong Beach, BeatMistress, Stalins of Sound, Fockewolves.

Cafe Sevilla, 353 Fifth Ave, Downtown. cafesevilla.com. Thu & Sat: Malamana.

Fri: Joeff and Co. Sun & Tue: Aragon y Royal. Mon: Sounds of Brazil.

Croce’s, 802 Fifth Ave, Downtown. croces.com. Thu: Sue Palmer. Fri: Gio Trio 1. Sat: Daniel Jackson (11:30 a.m.); Eve Selis (8:30 p.m.). Sun: Irving Flores (11:30 a.m.); Mark Fisher Trio (7:30 p.m.). Mon: Dave Scott and Monsoon Jazz. Tue: Gilbert Castellanos and The New Latin Jazz Quintet.

Dirk’s Nightclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove. dirksniteclub.com. Fri-Sat: Serious Guise. Tue: FX5.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay. dizzyssandiego.com. Fri: Chase Morin and His Quintet. Sat: Jazz Avenue.

Sun: Brian Levy.

El Dorado Bar, 1030 Broadway, Downtown. eldoradobar.com. Wed: ‘Mariah Carey Xmas’. Fri: ‘Soul Flexin’. Tue: ‘NYE Stardust’ w/ DJs Saul Q, Adam Salter, Don’t Go Jason Waterfalls, Mike Delgado.

F6ix, 526 F St., Downtown, Downtown. f6ixsd.com. Fri: DJ Fingaz. Sat: DJ XP. Sun: ‘RBS’. Tue: ‘F6ix New Year’s Eve’.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave, Downtown. fluxxsd. com. Fri: DJs Brett Bodley, Ricky Rocks.

Sat: Sid Vicious. Tue: ‘NYE Big Top Extravaganza’.

Gallagher’s, 5040 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach. 619-222-5303. Thu: Maka Roots, I Sight Band, TRC Soundsystem, DJ Reefah. Fri: Temple of the Dad, DJ Arox. Sat: Sandollar, DJ Chelu. Tue: Deadly Birds, Saint Diego.

Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave, Downtown. hardrockhotelsd.com. Fri: Angle.

Sat: Chris Cutz. Sun: ‘Sunday School’ w/ DJs Sid Vicious, Kurch. Tue: ‘New Year’s Eve Party’.

Henry’s Pub, 618 Fifth Ave, Downtown. henryspub.com. Thu: Mark Fisher, DJ Yodah. Fri: DJs Rev, Yodah. Sat: DJs E, Yodah. Mon: DJs Yodah, Joey Jimenez.

Tue: NYE w/ DJ E, Jimmy Boykin House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave, Downtown. houseofblues.com/sandiego. FriSat: The Green, J Boog. Tue: ‘The Great Gatsby NYE 2014’.

Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. kavalounge.com. Thu: Gaslamp Killer, Mateo, KC3PO, Sleeve, 10shun.

Fri: ‘Tribalove Episode 2’. Tue: Omega Squad, Austin Speed, Arkon, Sarah Cranberry and Gage b2b, Joey Animals.

Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave, Kensington. 619-284-2848. Mon: ‘Lights Out’. Tue: Maiz, Cumbia Machin, Old English, DJ Selektah Reefah.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave, Normal Heights. lestats.com. Thu: Anna Troy, Brendan Bourgeois, Donna Larsen. Fri: The Gregory Page Show.

Sat: Josh Damigo. Sun: Last Call Home, The Rebound, Warmer Winters. Mon: Open mic. Tue: Comedy night.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave, Coronado. mcpspub.com. Thu: Goodal Boys. Fri: Manic Bros. Sat & Tue: Trunk Monkey.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd, Hillcrest. numberssd.com. Thu: ‘Varsity’. Fri: ‘Viernes Calientes’. Sat: ‘Club Sabbat’.

Sun: ‘Joe’s Gamenite’. Tue: DJ Sebastian Madrid, DJ Niomisoulfly.

Onyx Room / Thin, 852 Fifth Ave, Downtown. onyxroom.com. Fri: ‘Rumba Lounge’. Sat: ‘Pre New Year’s Eve Party’.

Tue: ‘Onyx NYE 2014’.

Patricks Gaslamp, 428 F St, Downtown. patricksii.com. Wed: Mystique Element of Soul. Thu: Johnny Vernazza. Fri: Bill Magee Blues Band. Sat-Sun, Tue: Trey Tosh and the TNT Band. Mon: WG and the G-Men. Quality Social, 789 Sixth Ave, Downtown. qualitysocial.com. Thu: DJ Saul Q. Tue: ‘Happy Dew Year’ w/ Tullamore Dew. Queen Bee’s, 3925 Ohio St, North Park. queenbeessd.com. Fri: Holiday Soul & Blues Party.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave, Hillcrest. richssandiego.com. Wed: DJ John Joseph. Thu: DJ Heabnasty. Fri: DJs Dirty Kurty, Will Z. Sat: Nikno. Sun: DJs Kiki, Cros. Tue: DJs Dirty Kurty, Nikno.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave, La Mesa. rivierasupperclub.com.

Tue: Three Chord Justice.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave, North Park. sevengrandbars.com/sd. Wed: ‘Super Karaoke’. Fri: John Reynolds Band.

Sat: Small Disaster. Tue: Wild Wild Wets, Barbarian.

Shakedown Bar, 3048 Midway Drive, Point Loma. theshakedownsd.com. Fri: SickString Outlaws, Locked Out of Eden, Jason Charles Miller. Sat: Beast, DEA, Hogboss, Negative Stress, Pissed Regardless.

Side Bar, 536 Market St, Downtown.

sidebarsd.com. Fri: DJ Kurch. Sat: Epic Twelve. Tue: New Year’s Eve party.

Claire. Tue: Terraplane Sun, Jackson Price, The Paragraphs, Yes Team.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. sodabarmusic.com. Fri: Mrs. Magician, Census, The Rosalyns, Sevens. Sat: Cuckoo Chaos, Snuffaluffagus, The Most Hi. Sun: Plastic City Pariah, Northamericas, Moonshine, A New Ending. Mon: Plane Without a Pilot, The New Addiction, 16 Sparrows. Tue: Scarlet Symphony, Zodiac Death Valley, Hills Like Elephants.

The Che Cafe, UCSD campus, La Jolla. thechecafe.blogspot.com. Thu: ‘Blinkfest VII: Christmas Is Dead’. Fri: Take Offense, Sleep Walk, Pathetic Society, Exile.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, Midway. somasandiego.com. Fri: Silent Vice, Convent, The Shallow End, Axis of Vendettas, Glass Dimensions, School. Sat: Innovade, T-Walk, Digital Jammer, DJ Snowl, JVDAS, DJ Atar. Sun: Secrets, Milestone, Redeem Revive, Quorra, Shawshank Redeemed.

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

Fri: Ash Fenner (7 p.m.); Vinyl Exam (8 p.m.); Disco Pimps (10:30 p.m.). Sat: Number Nines (7:30 p.m.); Hott Mess (9:30 p.m.); DJ Miss Dust (10:30 p.m.).

Sun: ‘Funhouse/Seismic’. Mon: Isleside (7:30 p.m.); ‘Fettish Monday’ (10 p.m.).

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

Sat: Pink BoomBox Burlesk. Sun: ‘Noche Romantica’ w/ Daisy Salinas. Mon: ‘Manic Monday’.

The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. casbahmusic.com. Thu: Saint Diego, Radios Silent, Grizzly Business, Action Andy and the Hi-Tones. Fri: The Donkeys, Rafter, Teenage Burritos. Sat: Get Back Loretta, The Heavy Guilt, The Palace Ballroom, Chess Wars, Swambi.

Sun: Gene Taylor Blues Band feat. Dave Alvin. Mon: Bowiephonics, Shake Before Us, The Little Richards, Creepxotica, DJ

The Griffin, 1310 Morena Blvd, Bay Park. thegriffinsd.com. Sat: Sound Lupus, Isleside, Quad IX, Six String Samurai. Mon: St. Cloud Sleepers, Grizzly Business, AsOfLate, Sundrop Electric.

The Kraken, 2531 S. Coast Highway 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea. 760-436-6483.

Thu: Ilichfest 2013.

The Merrow, 1271 University Ave, Hillcrest. rubyroomsd.com. Fri: Freaky Flow.

Tue: ‘Mermaid Masquerade’.

The Office, 3936 30th St, North Park. officebarinc.com. Sat: DJs EdRoc, Kanye Asada. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ w/ Tribe of Kings. Mon: ‘Dub Dynamite’ w/ Rashi, Eddie Turbo.

The Void, 3519 El Cajon Blvd, North Park. thevoidsd.com. Mon: Emily Reo, Yohuna, Isolde Touch. Tue: NYE Party w/ Raw Nerves, Age of Collapse, Piglife, Griever.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. tiltwoclub.com. Thu: ‘Fall Heads Spin’ w/ DJs Dan Sant, Richie Lauridsen, Kevin Highland, Brain Carver, Gabe Spatuzzi. Fri: Radio Moscow, Brian Ellis Group. Sat: ‘Sleepwalking’ w/ DJs Jeff Graves, LA Green Eyes, Lil Smiley Spin.

Tue: San Pedro El Cortez, Go Go Lords, Sailing Stones, The Pheasants, DJ Richard Thompson.

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

Thu: Indoor Cities, Kenseth and Brandon and Jason and Andrew, Matt Caskitt. Sat: Ramp Locals, Trashquatch. Tue: Raw Nerves, Age of Collapse, Sleep Walk, Piglife.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St, Bay Park. tioleos.com. Thu: Charles Burton Band. Fri: Joey Harris. Sat: Salsa Extravaganza.

Tue: Serious Guise.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave, City Heights. thetowerbar.com. Thu: Rock n Roll Preservation Society DJs. Fri: ‘Pyrate Punx Xmas Party’. Sat: The Lumps, The Pheasants, DJ Mikey Ratt. Tue: From Scars, Pageripper, Caskitt, Se Vende.

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

Thu: Talia (4 p.m.); The Jade Visions Jazz Trio (7 p.m.). Fri: Tomcat Courtney (5 p.m.); Afro Jazziacs (9 p.m.). Sat: Tomcat Courtney (5 p.m.); Santana Pa Ti (9 p.m.). Sun: Sounds Like Four (4 p.m.); Soul Ablaze (9 p.m.). Mon: Thee Antagonist (4 p.m.); Stefanie Schmitz and Amanda Portela (7 p.m.). Tue: ‘The Turquoise Speakeasy’.

U-31, 3112 University Ave, North Park. u31bar.com. Thu: Keith S. Fri: ‘Faded Fridays X/Beatknockers’. Sat: DJs Kid Wonder, Junior the DiscoPunk. Mon: DJ Qenoe. Tue: DJ Bacon Bits.

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

Wed: DJ Qenoe. Thu: DJ Clean Cut. Fri: Mr. DeeJay. Sat: DJ Billy The Kid. Tue: DJ Slowhand.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. whistlestopbar.com. Fri: Boz Boorer (DJ set), Saul Q. Sat: ‘Booty Basement’ w/ DJs Dmitri, Rob. Sat: Nautical or Nice: Yacht Rock Holiday Party. Tue: ‘Booty Bassment’ w/ DJs Dimitri, Rob. Winstons, 1921 Bacon St, Ocean Beach. winstonsob.com. Thu: King Schascha, Irulsalem. Fri: Hot Buttered Rum. Sat: Hot Buttered Rum. Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Brothers Gow.

26 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

Proud sponsor: Pacific Nature Tours

Ink Well Xwords by Ben Tausig

Across 1. Times out?

5. A giant one is rarely seen 10. Adobe image files 14. [I can’t hear you] 15. Oregon Trail state 16. Teenager’s first car, often 17. Shopper’s take 18. Off ___ (deploying) 19. Its flow is dangerous 20. Channel that shows noirs 21. Deep black 22. Like some tips and some glass 24. Lion food, in many a nature film 26. Healthcare.gov statute, briefly 29. Kick out 30. Mount ___ (second-highest continental U.S. peak) 32. Medical public intellectual Gawande 34. Rapper in the 2013 film “Black Nativity” 35. North Carolina liberal arts school 36. Hungary neighbor from which lots of spam comes 39. Type of gear on which the letters in this puzzle’s theme squares are arrayed 42. Sit unused 43. Air ___ 46. Gross, say: Abbr.

49. Spanish 101 verb 50. They mature after one to ten years 52. River near lots of lovely castles, to the Germans 54. Sketch show that hasn’t had a black female regular since 2007 56. Turned all the way up, perhaps 57. Pause marks 59. Need to give, as an apology

Last week’s answers

61. It might be roused 62. Rock bands?

63. Pop star who *almost* collaborated with the Flaming Lips 66. Pulitzer Prize winner William for the play “Picnic” 67. All there 68. White supremacist’s imaginary “race” 69. It’s healthier than whole 70. Sign of leaving?

71. Very edge 72. Big birds in the bush, once

Down 1. Dice-rolling game 2. Slim battery 3. Construction device for figuring out if a fixture is level 4. Danny Aiello character nearly killed by Radio Raheem 5. Spot online 6. Mexican chain owned by Jack in the Box 7. Walter Reuther’s union 8. James formerly of the Smashing Pumpkins 9. Tim Conway character 10. Jacob’s-ladder, e.g.

11. Give cards to 12. São Paulo slum 13. They might help get you into more underground stuff 21. Preserves home 23. Outdated person, as it were 25. Kidney-related 27. Fast time in Morocco 28. In the least 31. Growths in a grove 33. Still up on the apartment rental agency’s page, say 37. Collections of a few passing words?

38. Home run leader among Hall of Famers 40. New York liberal arts school 41. Japanese gambling game 44. Ray Charles dedicatee 45. Regards 46. Scannable square 47. Bug section 48. Like some Arab Spring protesters 51. San Francisco’s ___ Valley 53. “Don’t need seconds, thanks” 55. Lindsay of meltdowns 58. One who refuses to observe a called strike?

60. Masturbate 64. Do wrong 65. “This might be of interest” 66. The end of creation?

A pair of tickets for a 4.5 or 8 hour Pacific Nature Tour will be awarded weekly. Email a picture of your answers to crossword@sdcitybeat.com or fax it to 619-325-1393. Limit one win per person per 30 days.

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

28 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

30 · San Diego CityBeat · December 24, 2013

December 24, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 31