San Diego CityBeat • Dec 28, 2016

2 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

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December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

UP FRONT | FROM THE EDITOR DUNCAN MOORE

The shame of 2016

L

et’s just start calling it what it is: San Diego’s skid row.

It’s a rather ugly and outdated name for an impoverished area of town where, more often than not, a city’s most impoverished population lives. However crass and whatever images the phrase evokes, there’s no getting around that parts of the East Village—with its growing homeless encampments and makeshift tents—are now easy to consider San Diego’s version of skid row.

In January of 2016, Mayor Faulconer stood in front of a packed audience at the Balboa Theatre and spoke eloquently and believably about the Housing Our Heroes initiative and his commitment to a “housing first” approach to homelessness. CityBeat wondered then whether he was turning a corner on the issue, but given the city’s already swelling lack of affordable housing and the fact that the overall downtown homeless population is up 70 percent, it may be time for the mayor to turn another corner.

As Scott Lewis put it on Voice of San Diego’s podcast this past week, the tents in the East Village “have started a conversation” and Voice rightly declared the downtown homeless population as their “Voice of the Year.” However, the mayor has been touting the success of his Housing Our Heroes initiative, claiming that 700 of the over 1000 homeless military veterans had now received housing vouchers. Problem is, only a little over 400 of those vets actually found a home. At the pace at which the initiative is moving, it seems unlikely that the city will be able to deliver on the promise of ending veteran homelessness by the end of 2017.

Honestly, I’m not sure what else is needed for a wake-up call. One would think that the series of brutal homeless killings earlier this year would have been enough. That when someone kills three innocent people by driving railroad spikes into their heads and then sets fire to two more, that perhaps that would be enough to have the issue jump to the top of the agenda.

But it wasn’t. The mayor responded by hiring a PR person, Stacie Spector, to advise him on housing solutions with an emphasis on addressing homelessness. However, the mayor’s office was quick to point out that Spector was not a “homeless czar,” but rather just an advisor. Since her hiring in Oc-

4 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

tober, it’s not exactly clear what advice the mayor has received or if and when that advise will be formulated into a cohesive plan.

Given Spector’s political background (that is, she’s a Democrat), I had confidence at the time that she would really turn the mayor around on this issue. That, instead of photo ops shoveling potholes and planting trees, I’d see the mayor touring East Village’s skid row to meet the men, women and children who are now making their home there. Instead, we ended the year with images of city workers throwing a homeless person’s tent into a garbage truck (thanks to a video taken by homeless advocate and CityBeat columnist Michael McConnell), as well as news of closures at emergency shelters during the cold and wet holiday season. This resulted in more pictures of rain-soaked encampments under the very same underpass that the city installed jagged rocks to deter the homeless from camping there. That project cost the city $60,000 and was part of an effort to clean up the area before the MLB All-Star Game in July.

These days, the homeless just camp on the adjacent sidewalk.

There may have been an initial reluctance on Faulconer’s part for such a skid row tour given his endorsement, however belated, of Measure C (aka the Chargers stadium measure), but that ship has sunk. The prospect of a stadium in the East Village is all but dead and the Chargers, in all likelihood, are moving. The time to move on to more pressing matters has never been more needed.

CityBeat was one of the first publications to call for the hiring of a city employee directly responsible for addressing the swelling homeless population. Call that person a czar, call them whatever you want, but there needs to be someone in a position of power to work directly with the community, neighboring businesses and the homeless themselves in order to find tangible solutions to the issue.

I, for one, look forward to what Faulconer will say about the issue at the State of the City address this January. I just hope that another tragic incident doesn’t happen between now and then, as if the overall situation wasn’t tragic enough.

—Seth Combs

Write to seth.combs@sdcitybeat.com

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UP FRONT | LETTERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS UP FRONT From the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Spin Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sordid Tales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 There She Goz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8f

FOOD & DRINK The World Fare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Dishing It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Beerdist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Bottle Rocket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

THINGS TO DO The Short List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14

ARTS & CULTURE FEATURE: The year in art. . . . . . . . . . 16 Theater: Looking back at 2016 . . . . . 15 Film: Best films of 2016. . . . . . . . . 17-18

MUSIC FEATURE: Top 10 albums of 2016 . . 19 Notes from the Smoking Patio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 If I Were U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Concerts & Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-25

IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE Thank you for printing this [“Half Baked, Dec. 14]. In recent years, we have noticed the many new hydroponic suppliers in the San Diego area. Allison Justice is on the ball as far as plant nutrients go! There is no reason to spend $60 to $90 or even some at $900+ per gallon (I found one listed at $119.99 for a pint—largest they sell). This is totally crazy, as are the labels.

Like she said, the same fertilizer we use on tomatoes would be just fine. I know each manufacturer has their own special formula for tomatoes, but most are fairly comparable with the end result. If you plant the right variety and give it proper care, you should get a nice crop of tomatoes. It is actually pretty simple.

Some soil mixes are different. MiracleGro is probably one of the most recognized in the industry, but we have run tests and proven it not to necessarily be the best.

In our opinion (from tests we have done), MiracleGro does not produce the same result as other potting soils we have tested.

We have also had complaints from customers who have had poor results with MiracleGro soil mixes (we don’t sell it for that reason). Heavy advertising boosts its sales.

Many other products are better, in our opinion. Yes, the plants will grow, but in other mixes, they tend to grow better. Not all MiracleGro or Black Magic comes out of the same mixing/packaging plants. So it can vary, depending the area of the country it is sold. Just some information the average grower may not know. Fancy labels do not encourage plant growth. It is what is inside the container that matters.

Walter Andersen

Walter Andersen Nursery San Diego and Poway stores, since 1928

LAST WORDS Advice Goddess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 This issue of CityBeat wants to give a big “fuck you” to cancer. Really though, fuck you cancer! Go away already!

Volume 15 • Issue 22 EDITOR Seth Combs MUSIC EDITOR Jeff Terich WEB EDITOR Ryan Bradford ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Ramos ASSOCIATE EDITOR Torrey Bailey COLUMNISTS Aaryn Belfer Edwin Decker Minda Honey John R. Lamb Alex Zaragoza CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Baldwin, David L. Coddon, Beth Demmon, Andrew Dyer, Tiffany Fox, Michael A. Gardiner, Glenn Heath Jr., Peter Holslin

CONTRIBUTORS (CONT’D) Lara McCaffrey, Scott McDonald, Sebastian Montes, Jenny Montgomery Jim Ruland, Ben Salmon, Jen Van Tieghem, Amy Wallen EDITORIAL INTERNS Sofia Mejias-Pascoe Jordan Packer PRODUCTION MANAGER Tristan Whitehouse MULTIMEDIA ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paulina Porter-Tapia SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jason Noble ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Beau Odom Mark Schreiber Jenny Tormey ACCOUNTING Kacie Cobian, Sharon Huie Linda Lam

HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea Baker VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE Kacie Sturek VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS David Comden PUBLISHER Kevin Hellman

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Interested in advertising?

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San Diego CityBeat is published and distributed every Wednesday by Southland Publishing Inc., free of charge but limited to one per reader. Reproduction of any material in this or any other issue is prohibited without written permission from the publisher and the author. Contents copyright 2016.

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December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

JOHN R. LAMB

UP FRONT | OPINION

SPIN

CYCLE

JOHN R. LAMB

The year of living tepidly Those who cannot work with their convention center expansion imhearts achieve but a hollow, halfpasse as well. hearted success that breeds bitterWhiff and major whiff. ness all around.

Meanwhile, growing housing

—Abdul Kalam unaffordability dovetailed conveniently with a rising homeless or all the words uttered in population. And this year, the 2016 by San Diego’s illustri- Brennan Center for Justice at ous, self-centric, tippy-toe- New York University School of ing political posse, there sure was Law noted in a report that while little tangible action that was vis- overall crime rates were dropping ible without the assistance of an in San Diego, the murder rate here electron microscope. is up for the year.

We, San Diego, can sure pick Sidewalks in many parts of talkers when it comes to our civic the city look as shitty as ever, if authority figures. not worse. Construction cranes Our very own Talker in Chief, pierce the sky in some communiMayor Kevin Faulconer, kicked off ties such as downtown and Bank2016 with an eye-rolling, seizure- ers Hill, but it all feels like one inducing State of the City address big greed fest with little considerlast January in which he not only ation how this growth will weave promised a ballot measure for compatibly into the current landJune that would check off that scape. pesky Chargers stadium conunAgain, there’s a whole lotta drum once and for all, but assured talk emanating from our leaders— San Diegans that he’d tackle the mostly with an “I’ve got this” kind

F

6 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

of vibe that somehow never truly sounds authentic or believable.

But hey, we San Diegans are a busy group with busy lives and busy yoga schedules! We don’t have time to muddle through what our leaders say they’re going to do and what they actually do!

Well, don’t worry. Our leaders know this about us—that we’re easily distracted by, well, practically anything. That we don’t stay focused too long on a particular issue. That…ooooh, look at that sunset! #magnificent.

Wait, where were we? Oh yes, our over-promising, under-performing civic leaders. It should be noted that there were some positive signs in the pushback department as the year dwindled down. Voters in November gave a rousing raspberry to Measure C, the Chargers’ ballot initiative that would have raised the city’s hotel tax and sucked all of those millions into a downtown complex that apparently would have been great for boat shows when not featuring our last-place NFL franchise.

Duncan Hunter Jr. was exposed as a ranting, idea-void, vape-crazy Trump humper who thinks he can take down the media for reporting on his personal campaign-moolah spending sprees.

The county Board of Supervi-

After his contortions in 2016, what’s Mayor Kevin Faulconer planning for 2017? sors were called out by even the mainstream media (the same media that had endorsed these yahoos) for extreme pig-troughing by awarding themselves hefty salary increases that will also help pad their undeserved pensions. Chairman Ron Roberts, who terms out in 2018, called the $19,000 bump “fair and justified.”

Roberts also serves as chairman of the San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG as it is more commonly known.

Some even call it SANDRAG for its molasses-like movement in resolving the region’s transportation issues. This group of snails recently admitted that its calculations for sales tax receipts to pay for various improvements was, in a word, rosy. Small wonder its Measure A didn’t pass the voter smell test in November.

Fortunately, Mayor Faulconer made a rare appearance at a SANDAG meeting—despite being a board member—to rail against Measure A, but as far as what proposal he would prefer, we’ll add that to the ever-growing mayoral file titled, “Who The Hell Knows?”

As Sara Libby adroitly noted last week for Voice of San Diego, “… time after time, Faulconer has tried to reap the benefits of taking a side on an issue while avoiding questions about his decision.”

We know he’s all in with the concrete-heavy makeover of Balboa Park, which presumably has put him back in good stead with the billionaires in town (looking at you, Irwin Jacobs!). Last week, the Save Our Heritage Organization filed suit to stop the project from moving forward, claiming city approval of the project last month violated the California Environmental Quality Act. That should be a fun one to watch in 2017 with newly installed City Attorney Mara Elliot.

The good news is Mayor Faulconer has another opportunity to distract San Diego with glowing words in just a few short weeks,

when he’s scheduled to deliver his third State of the City speech.

Oh, he’ll make it sound like San Diego is just humming along, brimming with biotech braggadocio, flying toward future fame and fortune, poised on the precipice of potential, on the way to his One (1) San Diego goals, yadda, yadda, yadda.

All well and good, but nothing less should be expected of a politician with ambition, particularly in a state like California where Republicans should appear on milk cartons to enhance their notoriety.

He set the plate in 2016—negotiating generous contracts with city employees who coincidentally endorsed him for re-election, honing his photo-op tree-planting skills one week while quietly releasing a much-anticipated study on racial profiling by police the next, and admitting to looming budget cuts as pension payouts swell. He even underestimated those, according to the city’s independent budget analyst.

Perhaps 2017 will be the year that politicians treat us like adults.

That we’re OK with bad news as long as you have a game plan that is logical and understandable.

Certainly that’s unlikely to come from Washington, D.C., where a certain golden-haired orange guy will keep everyone guessing on just how nutzoid he is.

Nope, this is a time for local solutions to local problems. For hearts being in the right places, heads removed from dark confines, eyes lasered in on results.

This will take true leadership.

And if this mayor isn’t up to the task—particularly in the economic realm for San Diegans who truly need help—it is incumbent on the new leaders of this city to forge new paths.

Frankly, it’ll stink for everyone if we just repeat 2016. Good riddance, waning year of yakking.

Spin Cycle appears every week.

Write to johnl@sdcitybeat.com.

#SDCityBeat

UP FRONT | OPINION

EDWIN DECKER

SORDID

TALES

Happy Christmas (War is Over) thanks to Donald Trump

D

ECEMBER 7, 2017: I retrieve the newspaper from the front stoop and can’t believe my eyes. The headline says, “WAR IS OVER!” Can it be true? I wonder. Has the decade’s long conflict come to rest? I read the article and am delighted to learn that the War on Christmas is, in fact, kaput.

And it’s all thanks to President Donald J. Trump.

“You can say, ‘Merry Christmas’” said Trump campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, on Fox News last night. “You can say it again because Donald Trump is now the President.”

Cautiously elated, I walk toward Main Street.

People are honking horns and hooting. A patriotic blizzard of red, white and blue confetti cascades over the promenade. A woman rushes into the arms of a sailor who sweetly dips her into a kiss. And a man strums the chords to John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” with revised lyrics to commemorate this historic event.

“And so this is Christmas / War has been won / Merry Christmas ban, over / War on Ramadan begun.

“So say ‘merry Christmas’ / To whomever you please / Don’t matter a bit, son / What it is they believe.”

It is such a blissful, Dickensian scene, I’m not even sure it’s real. Then a young boy with a candy cane rushes toward me from across the street.

“Hey mister,” he calls out.

“Merry Christmas!”

Still consumed by paranoia, I shout, “Get behind me!” and raise karate hands to defend the child against any roving atheist gangs within earshot. But nobody comes.

“Whatsa matter, mister? Don’t you know, it’s safe to say Christmas again?”

And like a flood it all comes rushing back—the terror and despair from a decade-long carpet-bombing of the birth of my messiah. I lower my karate hands and kneel before the boy.

“You’re right, lad,” I say, sniffling. “It’s just, well— it’s just been so very long since anyone said ‘Merry Christmas’ to me...” as I break down into a fit of bittersweet sobs.

Oh yes, I remember when The War on Christmas began. It started gradually. Mostly in the form of sassy glances or comments from Happy Holidays activists. Iranian convenience store clerks began making “terrorist-face” at anyone who said “Christmas” in their stores. People were slamming doors in carolers’ faces. One time I said, “Merry Christmas” to a Hasidic Jew who held my door. He glared at me with those “40 years-in-the-desert” eyes.

From there it got worse. According to credible news outlets like Facebook, anti-Christmas violence was surging across the country. They reported that roving atheist gangs were assaulting people who dared say the words “Merry” and “Christmas” in the

same sentence. Twitter’s news division published a story about a department store Santa who was bushwhacked by members of the SGLF (Season’s Greetings Liberation Front). It was horrible. They pushed him to the ground and shouted, “Season’s Greetings” repeatedly.

“No, please!” the Santa actor begged. “Please stop!”

“Happy Hanukkah then?” taunted their ringleader. “Kickass Kwanza? Or, how about, have a wonderful winter solstice?” and so on, until the poor fellow was near dead, curled in the fetal position and groaning.

“Let’s go guys!” the ringleader barked, and they dispersed, cackling and chest-thumping—and shouting, “Santa Claus is a pagan construct!”—as they disappeared into the night.

DECEMBER 21, 2017: It’s been two weeks since President Trump de-criminalized “Christmas” and though things are great, there are still some people pushing back. Like the Buddhist who got all butt-hurt when I chortled, “Merry Christmas, Buddy-sattva.”

“In your next life you will return as a genital crab,” he spat and walked on. It was that sort of nonsense that caused Trump to take action—again.

In an infamous press conference, Trump demanded the leader—of what we now call the Cold War on Christmas, surrender unconditionally. ”Mister Dawkins,” he blared. “Tear down this wall... of separation between church and state!”

MARCH 24, 2018: Even though it’s March and Christmas has long passed, everyone is still excited about our returned religious freedoms.

I walk into the Quik-e-Mart for some snacks.

“Merry Christmarch” says the cashier. “Merry Christmarch to you too!” I say with a big, fat goofy smile. I mean, it’s only been two months since Trump was sworn in and he’s already done so much: ObamaCare is dismantled, ground has been broken on the border wall project, and we are finally on good terms with Russia—largely because Trump gave Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas to Putin for Christmas. Putin was ecstatic. He gave Trump a nice cheese log and quietly re-gifted Texas.

Yes, friends, the War on Christmas had finally come to an end. And there was much rejoicing.

“So say, ‘Merry Christmas’/ Not “Happy Holidays” / Say it quite loudly / get right in their face.

Say it to Muslims / Say it to Jews / Say it to Buddhists / Sikhs, Shintos, Hindus.”

CHORUS: “Have a very merry Christmas / Not Feliz Navidad / Just learn to speak English / And believe in our God.”

‘Mister Dawkins,’ he blared. ‘Tear down this wall... of separation between church and state!’

#SDCityBeat

Sordid Tales appears every other week.

Write to edwin@sdcitybeat.com.

December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

UP FRONT | VOICES

THERE SHE

ALEX ZARAGOZA

GOZ

Check your facts and your privilege

T

here are many problems with the feminist movement in America. As a feminist writer, cultural critic and woman of color, I know this.

I live it, and so do the many women, particularly women of marginalized communities, fighting for equal rights. While we’re out there smashing the patriarchy and whatnot, we encounter many enemies. And sometimes that enemy is draped in feminist’s clothing.

Recently, the San Diego Union-Tribune published an opinion piece that originally ran in The Washington Post titled “How to make feminism great again.”

The piece is by feminist author Christina Hoff Summers, who calls herself “The Factual Feminist” and uses the tagline “check your facts, not your privilege.” She is here to bring the facts, guys, even if she can’t bring a creative headline.

In her piece, Hoff Summers argues, based on “facts” that she never backs up, that feminism is out of touch with reality. She says there is no patriarchy and that claims of online assault, sexual assault and wage disparities are so “hugely distorted” that they are not actually accurate. She says we need to stop “crying wolf” and that we need to “reckon with the fact that men struggle just as much as women” because they hold more laborious jobs. The problem with feminism, according to Hoff Summers, is that feminists are not “calm and judicious” when we use our voice to discuss our struggles. We are too “hyperbolic and harping.”

I would take a moment here to guffaw but my mouth is slowly filling up with vomit, which is probably not very calm or judicious of me. Whoops.

Apparently we’ve been fighting wrong. We’ve been too loud, too shrill. We are hairy-pitted harpies screeching about cutting off the penises that oppress us. It’s our fault no one will take us seriously.

Firstly, let me point out the painfully obvious. It doesn’t matter how we feminists use our voices because people like Hoff Summers, Donald Trump, Paul Ryan, etc. will only invalidate it. We can sit calmly and respond rationally, but still have our rights attacked by proven and apparently unchecked non-facts. Take Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, as an example. During her 2015 hearing with the House Oversight Committee, she had to defend her organization from accusations that they receive federal funding for abortions. Whatever decibel our voice reaches, people want to silence it.

Secondly, Hoff Summers uses blanket excuses to dismiss the work of feminists when the feminist movement is not one-size-fits-all. A patriarchal society affects all women, but especially women from marginalized communities. She argues that women actually do hold power in the U.S. so why pretend that the patriarchy exists. Ahem, let me light it up with some actual facts.

In 2015, a Weber Shandwick study showed that only 5 percent of the U.S.’s Fortune 1000 companies have female CEOs. That same year, the Center for

American Progress reported that although women make up 49 percent of the college-educated workforce, they are woefully underrepresented in leadership roles in corporate America. A measly 4.6 percent can put CEO on their business card.

Catalyst, a nonprofit focusing on female progress in the workplace, reported that Black, Latina and Asian women only make up 16.5 percent of workers in S&P 500 corporations. No numbers were reported at all for women of other races and ethnicities, like Native American, unfortunately, but I’ll venture to guess it’s dismal. A staggering 0.40 percent of CEOs are either Asian or Black. Latina women make up zero percent of CEOs. Zero, as in the amount of fucks corporate America gives about promoting Latinas to leadership positions.

Unsurprisingly, every example Hoff Summers gives of supposedly shrill women speaking out too loudly (Lena Dunham, Katy Perry, Tina Brown) is as white as a Pottery Barn. Perhaps if Hoff Summers thought to check, she’d find examples of women from marginalized communities that do suit her standards for feminism. Her entire calm and judicious polemic against feminists is not only bullshit, it’s dangerous to the movement. What’s more, it’s steeped in internalized sexism and just bad journalism.

We are dealing with an Exxon oil spill of misinformation, arguably more so than ever in the history of journalism.

It is dangerous for this writer to mask obvious internalized sexism as fact. It is dangerous to say that the very real concerns of women are not real. They are very real; there are facts to prove it and they have real effects on our lives.

And what’s even more dangerous is that a prominent publication would publish a piece claiming facts when, if you check the receipts, not a damn fact is present.

You’d expect this from U.S Uncut or some other sensationalist publication, but WaPo and the U-T? This isn’t journalism that serves to inform the people.

This is clickbait that will only further fuel anti-woman sentiment and attacks on our rights. We can have our opinions. I certainly have mine. But don’t start talking facts if you don’t have them.

Hoff Summers doesn’t want to make feminism great again; she just wants to make it white again.

She wants it to be quiet and polite. She thinks we can’t acknowledge the experience of men because we’re too busy harping.

Lady, you’re a dinosaur. Your brand of feminism is dead. Check your facts and your privilege.

You’re right on one thing though. We don’t want your advice. We got this. On Jan. 21, I along with thousands of other women will be marching at the San Diego Women’s March, and I plan on harping the entire time. And people will listen because unlike Hoff Summers, they want to.

We are hairypitted harpies screeching about cutting off the penises that oppress us.

8 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

There She Goz appears every third week.

Write to alexz@sdcitybeat.com.

@SDCityBeat

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY MICHAEL A. GARDINER

THE WORLD

soup dumpling that is nothing short of luxurious.

Their jet-black look—resulting from the addition of squid ink to the wrappers—highlights their exotic appeal.

As good as the black truffle xiao long bao are, save some superlatives for Facing East’s foie gras The benefits of Facing East version. As the rich, fatty, savory flavor of the foie washes over your tongue you wonder why it took here may be no words that strike fear into fusion to bring such flavors to soup dumplings. the hearts of food writers of a particular There’s nothing forced or discordant about it. The vintage quite like “Asian Fusion.” Ming Tsai fusion of western-style ingredients and eastern rocks and Jean-George Vongerichten is rightly a form feels natural. legend, but the crimes of a couple thousand copiMany of the dishes at Facing East are not of ers just cannot be forgotten. So when I heard that the East-West fusion variety. Rather, the place Facing East Noodle & Bar (4647 Convoy St.) was seems to take more of an omnivorous, pan-Asian doing black truffle and foie gras versions of xiao approach. If the xiao long bao are distinctly long bao, I was excited and dubious in equal parts. Chinese, the chicken karaage are basically high And I’m being generous. I needn’t have been. quality, Japanese chicken McNuggets with bits of soy-marinated chicken coated MICHAEL A. GARDINER in potato starch and fried until just crisp. The interior is moist, savory, umami and utterly delicious. The exterior is crisped without being exactly hard.

Where grilled chicken hearts are often charred to the point of being burnt and tougher than my mother-in-law, Facing East’s are tender and perfectly caramelized.

Facing East’s duck bao—pillowy, yeasty, stuffed folded buns—are little, Peking Duck-like, delightful bites. Facing East’s menu is a tour of Asia in a sitting.

One of the best dishes at Facing East was the braised beef noodle soup. It features tender, longBlack truffle xiao long bao simmered beef, baby bok choy, slurpable noodles and a Chinese Xiao long bao are steamed Chinese soup dump- five-spice spiked broth with a hint of tomato. This lings. They are magic things in and of themselves, version is Taiwanese-style rather than the more even in their most common form, because as the familiar Vietnamese pho-style. It is, however, just dumpling’s skin is pierced a hot and delicious as comforting and addictive. soup emerges. How did that soup get in there Ultimately, though, Facing East will rise or fall in the first place? The answer: the dumpling is on the strength of those remarkable xiao long bao. made with gelatinized broth inside that melts as Few things in life manage to surprise even as they it cooks. feel like they’ve always been there and you just But what’s magic in the first place is brought discovered them. If all Asian fusion were so good to a new level at Facing East. Riffing off a dish I would never have had a moment’s pause. from the Taiwanese-based Din Tai Fung chain, Facing East adds black truffles to the classic pork The World Fare appears weekly. xiao long bao resulting in a rich, earthy and lavish Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com.

FARE T

@SDCityBeat

December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

UP FRONT | FOOD

BY JAMES VERNETTE

DISHING IT

For my entree, I tried the grilled ribeye, served with butternut squash, swiss chard, potato pearls and a roasted shallot Madeira sauce. Rather than a big fatty cut, The Cork & Craft serves the steak in strips. This makes the steak part of an ensemble rather than the star. It works well in this case Beers and beef in Bernardo since the vegetables are first-rate and the sauce has a nice tang. ow that local breweries are realizing that Honestly, I still prefer wine with steak so I those Double IPAs that feel like a hairball swapped out for a glass of Tempranillo. It wasn’t going down the throat aren’t exactly food- made by the winery, but I have no regrets. My friendly, I’m somewhat optimistic about a new, driver got the scallops, which were served with more drinkable era for San Diego beer. It’s not fun sweet potato mushrooms, fried peppers, charred wincing while you drink, so it’s nice to see brew- citrus and a brown butter emulsion. The scallops eries focusing less on hops for hops’ sake in favor were fresh and, thank God, not rubbery. At the of well-balanced beers that enhance the food. point when my driver and I might have switched Case in point: Abnormal Brewing in Rancho plates, we were more like boxers at the end of a Bernardo, a combination brewery and winery round, each going back to our separate corners. He that is also home to a great restaurant, The Cork to his scallops, me to my steak. & Craft (16990 Via Tazon, thecorkandcraft.

For dessert, we split the NICOLE LAZAR com). Yeah, RB is a bit of a coal-roasted pear and the haul for a hop-head living in gingerbread cheesecake. The O.B. or North Park, but The pear was served on spiced Cork & Craft is a step up sponge, oat crumble, cabernet from standard bar food, and reduction and mochi. It was Abnormal Brewing has great OK. I wished the pear flavor beer (I didn’t try its wine). had popped out more and I I started out with a Cherry would have like more crunch Weiss beer and the seared or crispness as a contrast.

Foie Gras, which is served Much better was the with apple-crusted French cheesecake, which looked toast, nasturtium (an edible like a red velvet cake, with a flower), a balsamic reduction white stripe in the middle. It and topped with a fried quail was served with caramel corn, egg on top. The fois gras was cranberry, orange and creme juicy and flavorful with a nice anglaise. Ordinarily I’m not touch of sweetness from a fan of gingerbread, but this Grilled ribeye at The Cork & Craft both the reduction and was a nice seasonal dessert the French toast. It paired that I would definitely try well with the Cherry Weiss beer, which was light, again—especially with the Oatmeal Stout I drank fizzy and refreshing—almost like a sophisticated with it. Stouts aren’t my first choice of beer, but this soda. I wish I had purchased a growler. one was extremely complementary with desserts.

My designated driver got the steak tartare, In all cases, the items I ate were stylish and which was flavored with pear, pickled simple, designed to match well with beers, not mushrooms, soy yuzu and crispy wonton. compete with them. That’s what you want from Typically, steak tartare is raw steak mixed with your vittles when you’re tasting beer or wine. So, onions and other seasonings and topped with beer drinkers should enjoy The Cork & Craft for a a raw egg. The Cork & Craft takes a different splurge night, but, to be honest, the portions may approach. It’s Asian-inspired with a sweet and seem a little small for the prices. Be prepared to sour tinge reminiscent of Thai cuisine. I don’t order lots of small plates. That’s what you should know if it’s some paleo thing but after this dish, I do anyway so you can match as many of the brews felt a sudden burst of energy. (or wine) as possible.

OUT N

10 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

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UP FRONT | DRINK

THE

BY ANDREW DYER

BEERDIST benefits just one portion of craft beer drinkers— the well-to-do—and alienates those working class and service industry people unable to take hours off during the workday to chase beer. I understand his was not that great a year for craft beer, taprooms and breweries cannot accommodate evalthough the numbers say otherwise. The eryone but this system is especially unfair.

Barrel-aged everything: Some barrel-aged Brewers Association reports more than 5,000 breweries now operating in the U.S. and beers are fantastic and worth the premium price more than 700 in California. West Coaster lists 131 they demand, but the proliferation has resulted in some pretty bad ones. A barrel-aged beer should of those as being in San Diego County.

However, some challenges have arisen along not be able to strip paint, and if I wanted to drink with this proliferation. Pioneering operations grew something that tastes just like bourbon, I’d just too large too fast and have struggled to maintain the drink bourbon. A beer must be robust enough to constant growth our economic systems demand. handle its time in the barrel or the resulting concoction will be more fit Stone announced dozANDREW DYER for lighting charcoal ens of layoffs in October than for drinking. after co-founder Greg The anti-hipster Koch stepped down beer hipster: They as CEO. Lagunitas and don’t care which brewFirestone Walker have ery sold out to whom as joined forces with big long as the beer doesn’t international conglomchange. Their mantra erates in order to reach is “drink what you like.” ever more far-flung marHowever, it doesn’t take kets. And the decline of a hipster to recognize sentimental favorite Balthe damage consolidalast Point into a candytion has on the ability flavored IPA machine of independent brewers has left many former to compete, and people die-hards with bitter, if Alesmith Beertender Joel Stewart mans the taps not overly sweet tastes at Anvil & Stave, which opened this year. who care about the industry outside of what’s in their mouths.

More mergers and sell-outs are undoubtedly in their glass aren’t worthy of derision.

Despite this salty screed things might get better. ahead in 2017, and with them will come more fauxcraft crap crowding supermarket shelves. So as the The return of true micro-breweries has brought ball drops on this disastrous trip around the sun, back the innovation and excitement that got many here are some beer trends I’m ready to see go out into beer in the first place. As more breweries learn to nimbly react to the market, perhaps the hits will in the new year.

Fruited IPAs: Few do them well and the trend again outnumber the misses. Although the induswas already wearing thin a year ago. I don’t want try has long abandoned its status as just another an IPA that tastes like Robitussin any more than I “trend,” it is not immune to the type of market pressures that have stifled innovation elsewhere. want it tasting like a Jolly Rancher.

Rare beer releases in the middle of week- A consumer conscientiously voting with their doldays: For some reason, most tappings of rare- lars is one trend I can get definitely get behind in beers, online and in-person, go down on Monday 2017 and beyond. or Tuesday afternoons. Doubtful the unemployed are buying up all these expensive beers. It isn’t The Beerdist appears every other week. blue-collar workers, either. This system mostly Write to andrewd@sdcitybeat.com

2016 craft beer trends I’m totally over

T

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December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

UP FRONT | DRINK

BOTTLE

BY JEN VAN TIEGHEM

ROCKET Sparkling substitutes

T

12 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

JEN VAN TIEGHEM

is the season for resolutions and sparkling wine; and while I’m avoiding that first one, I’m all but surviving on the second as this vexing year comes to a close.

Unfortunately, I also live by the cliché of “Champagne taste on a beer budget,” or in my case, sparkling wine budget.

Though the coveted product of the Champagne region of France sets the standard for sparkling wine, there are numerous alternatives worthy of filling up the NYE flute. I recently picked up some distinctly different but shining examples that prove readers can keep it fancy without wasting their Christmas bonus (do people still get those?).

When venturing outside the Champagne realm, one doesn’t have to look far for good sparklers. The Charles Armand Brut Blancs de Blancs is made in a similar method with white grapes from France. I picked up a bottle at Vom Fass in Hillcrest and pleased to report this golden wine has a creamy texture with subtle peach notes and dry finish. The classic flavors and aromas make it an ideal stand-in

if readers find themselves serving any Champagne snobs on New Year’s Eve. Another popular option is one of Italy’s sparkling contributions to the world—Prosecco. While it can be found sugary sweet, it’s much better on the dry side, as is the Rugerri & C. Extra Dry Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Gold Label NonVintage purchased at La Mesa’s Palm Springs Liquor. Though it carries an intimidatingly long name, the wine itself is pleasantly approachable with tart green apple flavors and a smooth finish that’s ideal for a party with winos and novices alike.

My final piece of research came in the form of the 2014 Naveran Brut Vintage Rosé—a Spanish Cava procured at Bine and Vine in Normal Heights. This wine is aged for 18 months on its lees (dead yeast cells, which is more appetizing than it sounds).

Made with Pinot Noir and Parellada, the flavor ranges from light strawberries to bread-like. With a floral aroma and pretty pale peach color, I’d recommend this for a quiet night at home—with or without a drinking partner.

In addition to showcasing a range of flavors and styles, these wines all come at a price between $12 to $18; which will hopefully encourage readers to explore sparkling substitutions long in to the new year.

Write to jenv@sdcitybeat.com

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SHORTlist

EVENTS

ART

the

THREE YOU HAVE TO SEE

COORDINATED BY

SETH COMBS

LA JOLLA

1

MODERN WORLD

For ten years, the SoundON Festival of Modern Music has been a go-to event for music lovers looking for something a little more experimental and edgy. What’s more the four-day fest, which takes place for the most part at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (1008 Wall St.), also includes meticulously curated workshops, lectures and accompanying art exhibitions.

But for this year’s festival curator Morris Palter, who plays percussion in SoundON’s ensemble-in-residence NOISE, this year’s theme of “Soundstreams and Rising Currents” is all about extremeness. That’s not to imply that patrons will hear something as discordant as, say, death metal, but Palter says that the theme has more to do with the extremes of nature and how those extremes can often inspire musicians.

“It’s much more than an ecological aspect,” says Palter. “I was looking for musical pieces that derived their strength and even their identity from dynamic internal forces that connect them intimately to their immediate surroundings.”

Whoa. That does sound pretty heavy, but Pal-

ter goes on to say that it’s more about how the surroundings often influence what goes into the musician’s compositions. For example, one of Palter’s pieces is based on huge rock formations in New Mexico and the harsh environment that surrounds it. Another piece by Benjamin Sabey, titled “Winter Shore,” is DEBORAH PALTER inspired both by the tranquility and violent temperament of the ocean.

“I like that tension of being in something that you ultimately don’t know how it will turn out,” says Palter, who cites his own experiences biking the iconic Iditarod Trail in Alaska. “I look for those same experiences in music.

I look for that element of danger with the pieces. I’m looking for repertoire that Morris Palter really pushes our skills.

Something that challenges the audiences as well as ourselves.”

The SoundON Festival of Modern Music takes place from Thursday, Jan. 5 through Sunday, Jan. 8. Tickets range from $70 for a four-day pass and between $5 and $25 for a individual performance. Check out the full lineup and schedule at sandiegonewmusic.com.

MISSION HILLS

2

DOWNTOWN

ROCK ON!

While most are heading to warm homes for the holidays, thousands of protesters will continue their sit-in at Standing Rock Reservation well past Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. News of an oil leak just north of the DAPL-designated site has only stoked the fight’s fire and its need for additional resources.

If you want to do your part without heading to North Dakota, there’s the Concert for Standing Rock at Blonde (1808 W Washington St.) Friday, Dec. 30 from noon to 2:00 a.m. More than 30 bands and DJs, including Mystery Cave, Astral Touch, Le Chateau and Nite Lapse, will perform at the fundraiser, which is a big upgrade from the bar’s last supportive event. Tickets are $20 with proceeds going to the Standing Rock legal fund. facebook.com/events/1374467212624314/ DARREN BRADLEY

3

JAMMY JAM

When it comes to New Year’s Eve celebrations, kids often get the short end of the stick. Not fair. That’s why this why this year the New Children’s Museum (200 W Island Ave.) is hosting the Pajama Jam as part of its Honda Family Night Out event series. Parents and kids are invited to suit up in their most festive footies and the museum will provide dinner and drinks for families, as well as entertainment, prizes and a balloon drop to commence the New Year. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and lasts until 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, leaving plenty of time for parents to take part in more adult festivities. Tickets go for $25 for children and $15 for adults and the money raised at the event funds future programs for the museum. thinkplaycreate.org COURTESY OF NEW CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

HAntiviral at Teros Gallery, 3888 Swift Ave., City Heights. The closing reception for a painted installation by local illustrator YENTA, whose work is influenced by her time spent in Asia and touches on the vulnerabilities of the body. From 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29. Free. facebook. com/Teros-Magazine-163020453812436 Art After Hours at San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. Visit SDMA in the evening at this monthly event.

Includes special holiday activities. From 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. 619-232-7931, sdmart.org Expose Art at Mike Hess Brewing Company, 3812 Grim Ave., North Park. A group exhibition inspired by the act uncovering and exposing the truth about a wrongdoing. Features work by Anna Strahan, Ghoul Glamour, Moira Lumpkin and more. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 4. Free. facebook.com/ events/1842501779294836/

BOOKS HKeith Morris at Fall Brewing Company, 4542 30th St., North Park. The iconic L.A. punk-rock frontman (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, OFF!) will be signing and discussing his new memoir, My Damage: The Story of a Punk Rock Survivor, along with co-author Jim Ruland. At 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 28. Free. 619-5010903, fallbrewing.com HJonathan Maberry and Kami Garcia at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 5943 Balboa Ave., Ste. 100, Clairemont.

The two novelists will discuss and sign their new X-Files: Origins books, Devil’s Advocate and Agent of Chaos. At 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 3. Free. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com

COMEDY Big Jay Oakerson at American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave., Downtown.

The NYC-based comic is best known for his many TV cameos and for co-hosting the popular podcast, “The Most Offensive Podcast on Earth.” At 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29 and 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 31. $16-$30.

619-795-3858, americancomedyco.com Chris D’Elia at Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave., North Park. The comedian and actor is probably best known for his funny turns on sitcoms such as Whitney and Undateable. At 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 30. $20-60. 619-239-8836, observatorynp.com

FILM Sea Monsters 3D at San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park. The premiere of the National Geographic film about scary prehistoric marine animals. Various times. Tuesday, Jan. 3 through Monday, Sept. 4. $12-$19. 619232-3821, sdnhm.org

FOOD & DRINK Holiday Food Truck Festival at Plaza de Panama, Balboa Park. Over a dozen trucks will be parked in the plaza offering up fresh fare. Participants include Yo Yo Bento, Table BBQ, Marcel Belgian Waffle and more.

There will also be live music. From 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28 through Friday, Dec. 30. balboapark.org Holiday Jazz Supper Club with Gilbert Castellanos at Cusp Dining & Drinks, 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla. Enjoy the sounds of the Gilbert Castellanos Trio as they perform holiday classics, while sipping on a variety of seasonal drinks that pair with dinner. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday,

Le Chateau

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Pajama Jam

H = CityBeat picks

Dec. 29. Free. 858-551-3620, cusprestaurant.com

MUSIC Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., Downtown. Known for mixing classical and rock music with timeless holiday music, the group is celebrating over 30 years since the release of their first Christmas record. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28. $30-$105. sandiegotheatres.org HConcert for Standing Rock at Blonde, 1808 W Washington St., Mission Hills. An all-day concert with proceeds going to the Standing Rock legal fund. Includes art and performances from more than 30 bands and DJs, including Mystery Cave, Astral Touch and Nite Lapse. From noon to 2:00 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30. $20. facebook.com/ events/1374467212624314 Jim Brickman at Balboa Theatre, 868 4th Ave., Gaslamp. The popular pianist will play a concert of holiday classics and modern favorites such as “The Gift,” “Sending You A Little Christmas,” “Peace,” and more. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. $30-$75. 619570-1100, sandiegotheatres.org Spreckels Organ New Year’s Day Concert at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park. The Spreckels Organ Society presents a fun hour-long concert to celebrate the new year. From 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Free. 619-702-8138, spreckelsorgan.org Salute to Vienna at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. The San Diego Symphony’s 17th annual New Year’s concert features the Strauss Symphony of America performing traditional Viennese waltzes and more. At 2:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 2. $29-$87. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org

NEW YEAR’S HPajama Jam at New Children’s Museum, 200 W Island Ave., Downtown. A kidfriendly NYE event that includes dinner and drinks for families, as well as entertainment, prizes and a balloon drop. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. $10$25. 619-233-8792, thinkplaycreate.org HBig Night San Diego at Hilton Bayfront, One Park Blvd., Downtown. This all-inclusive New Year’s Eve party provides various-themed areas, dance floors and unlimited eats and booze. Includes live performances from Lady Dottie & The Diamonds and DJ sets from Caroline D’Amore, Sam Blacky, DJ EQ and more. From 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. $119-$299. bignightsandiego.com The Bed Club: New Year’s Eve at Sleep Bedder, 2855 El Cajon Blvd., Ste. #4, North Park. A night of music and healing with live performances from Peter Dubios and The Moves Collective, as well as live art and organic bites. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 31. $10-$15. 619-8927412, sleepbeddernorthpark.com 5 Cities, One Night at Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Party on three floors and across five venues, each with a different city theme. Performers include Ty Dolla $ign and Dirty South. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. $90-$120. 619764-6924, hardrockhotelsd.com HGatsby New Year’s Eve Cruise at Hornblower Cruises, 1800 N Harbor Drive, Downtown. A ‘20s themed party that includes a four-hour cruise around San Diego Bay, themed cocktails and music from local jazz talents like Sue Palmer and the Bee’s Knees. Tickets include unlimited Champagne, a reserved table, and a four-course dinner. From 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 31. $209. 619-686-8715, hornblower.com

EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

December 28 , 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

BOOKS: THE FLOATING LIBRARY The nervous light of Monday night

I

“ANTIVIRAL” by YENTA is on view at Antiviral, a solo exhibition which will have its closing reception from 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, December, 29, at Teros Gallery (3888 Swift Ave.) in City Heights.

EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 HStone Brewing Co.’s New Year’s Eve at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens-Point Loma, 2816 Historic Decatur Road #116, Point Loma. The evening sports dance floors, live music and food stations with a wide variety of high-end bar grub. There will also be a midnight toast with a special, limited-release Stone beer at midnight. From 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 31. $79-$125. 619-2692100, stonebrewing.com HOB New Years Eve 2015 Block Party at House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Partiers can choose from up to three celebrations including Hickies and Dry Humps on the Past Stage, Clinton Sparks on the Present Stage, or Hide & Go Freak on the Future Stage. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. $31$46. 619-299-BLUE, hobblockparty.com

n 1968 Frederick Exley published A Fan’s Notes, a “fictional memoir” about a young man who becomes obsessed with Frank Gifford, the late great halfback for the New York Giants. Of course, it’s about more than that. The Wikipedia entry for the book calls it “a sardonic account of mental illness, alcoholism, insulin shock therapy and electroconvulsive therapy, and the black hole of sports fandom.”

Earlier this year, Chris Bachelder published a novel to great acclaim that hinges on the New York Giants.

The Throwback Special, which was nominated for the National Book Award, is about a group of men who assemble each winter at a budget hotel to recreate a play that occurred in an NFL game between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins in which Lawrence Taylor broke Joe Theismann’s leg, ending his career.

It’s a watershed moment not just in sports but in sports broadcasting because Taylor didn’t just break Theismann’s leg, he shattered it, and the pieces of the bone broke through the skin—all on Monday Night Football. Frank Gifford was part of the broadcast team that night. “If your stomach is

weak,” he said, “just don’t watch.”

Like A Fan’s Notes, Bachelder’s book isn’t just Write to jimr@sdcitybeat.com.

Ring in the New Year at 98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. A night of live music at the popular wine bar.

Includes free champagne at midnight and party favors for all. From 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. $25-$40. 619255-7885, 98bottlessd.com

Holidays in Spain at Sevilla Restaurant & Tapas Bar, 353 5th Ave., Gaslamp. Enjoy a four-course flamenco dinner show at the iconic Spanish bar and eatery. Call for reservations and pricing. At 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 31. 619-233-5979, cafesevilla.com

HPsychedelic Masquerade at Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park. A ‘60s psychedelic-themed NYE party featuring performances from The Midnight Pine, Birdy Bardot, Wild Wild Wets and more. From 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 31. $80-$225. 619-2962101, lafayettehotelsd.com

Black & Gold at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 North Harbor Drive, Downtown. The historic 1898 Steam Ferry Berkeley transforms into a classy lounge that will include appetizers and music from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. $60.

619-234-9153, sdmaritime.org

HNYE Black & White Night at McGregor’s Ale House, 10475 San Diego Mission Road, Mission Valley. Dress in your best black or white outfit and enjoy live music, contests and a Champagne toast at midnight. From 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 31. $20. 619-282-9797, mcgregorssandiego.com

Glory Days at Park & Rec, 4612 Park Blvd., University Heights. A “sneaker formal” party with live music all night from Lady Dottie & the Diamonds. From 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. $10 after 10 p.m. 619-795-9700, parkandrecsd.com

14 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28 , 2016

about football, it’s an exploration of the complicated rituals of middle-aged men who don’t know each other that well. There are endless variations but they all adhere to an unspoken rule to repress the bulk of their feelings. It is enough that they do what they have set out to do. “They had created sub-tradition, sub-community.”

The bulk of the book is dedicated to the lore of the play that the men have come to recreate and the ritual of their re-enactment of it, which is complex and thoroughly examined.

There is no plot in The Throwback Special, nor does the narrative provide a single protagonist with which the reader identifies. Instead, perspective shifts from player to player like a roving eyeball, fixating on their individual concerns, which are petty, mundane, and occasionally hilarious.

On the surface, The Throwback Special is a sad book. Life has not been kind to these men. They have all been blitzed by the vagaries of life—bad marriages, children they don’t understand, jobs that suck—and like Joe Theismann they have to somehow put the pieces back together and go on.

What makes the endeavor so engaging is not the purpose for which they have gathered, the successful execution of the simulation, but the camaraderie that comes from simply doing one’s part.

New Year’s Eve! at Waypoint Pub-

lic, 3794 30th St., North Park, Enjoy a four-course prix fixe menu from Chef Rich Sweeney followed by live music and NYE festivities. Call for prices.

Saturday, Dec. 31. 619-255-8778, waypointpublic.com HInfinity NYE at Town and Country Event Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, Mission Valley. A two-day EDM fest with more than 40 DJs performing including G-Eazy, Illenium, Dada Life, Dillon Francis and more. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30 and 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. $43-$169. infinitynye.com OMFG! NYE at the Valley View Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Point Loma. LED’s three-day festival features EDM and trap-centric artists such as DJ Snake, Adventure Club. and Jauz. From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, Friday, Dec. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 31. $195. omfgnye.com

—Jim Ruland

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HVAMP: To Grandmother’s House We Go at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. So Say We All’s monthly storytelling night features stories about the holidays and all the madness that comes with them.

From 8:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29. $5 suggested donation. 619-284-6784, sosayweallonline.com

SPECIAL EVENTS San Diego International Auto Show at San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Drive, Downtown. The annual showcase of all things automobile features a variety of new vehicles under one roof, including over 400 vehicles from 40 global manufacturers, as well as expanded exotics salon and much more. Various times. Thursday, Dec. 29 through Monday, Jan. 2. $8-$12.

619-525-5000, sdautoshow.com

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THEATER

DAREN SCOTT

Deborah Gilmour-Smyth and Robert Smyth (center) in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Theater: Looking back on 2016

T

he past year brought both fresh revivals of classics and bold new works to San Diego stages. Here is the best in local theater in 2016: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Intrepid Theatre Company: We lost one of America’s great playwrights, Edward Albee, just a couple of months ago when he passed away at 88. How fitting, then, that a production of Albee’s premier work tops this list. Under the keen direction of Christy Yael-Cox, Robert Smyth and Deborah Gilmour Smyth delivered un-self-conscious and unforgettable performances as boozing, battling marrieds George and Martha.

Way Downriver, North Coast Repertory Theatre: With sensitivity and complexity, Richard Baird completely inhabited the role of convict Willard Akins in a remarkable play by Edward Morgan, adapted from a William Faulkner short story. North Coast Rep’s production, atmospheric and rich with texture and thoughtful metaphor, is one of the finest ever staged in the Solana Beach space.

Our Lady of Kibeho, Moxie Theatre: Three college girls’ claim to have been visited by the Virgin Mary in the Rwandan town of Kibeho in 1981-82—a true story—was the premise for this stirring production. Moxie’s Jennifer Eve Thorn directed a lively ensemble that included Cashae Monya, Tyrah Hunter and Mallory Johnson as the three girls, Yolanda Franklin as a disbelieving nun and Vimel Sephus as a kind but conflicted priest.

Seminar, InnerMission Productions: No oneact play this year was more entertaining than InnerMission’s staging of Theresa Rebeck’s indictment of ego and hyper-intellectualism. The titular seminar found four aspiring novelists at the mercy of a verbally treacherous teacher (Jonathan Sachs), with results that were consistently and admirably surprising. Seminar may well have scared off any MFA program applicants in its audiences.

The Boy Who Danced on Air, Diversionary Theatre: World-premiere musicals in these parts were rare in 2016, but The Boy Who Danced on Air was one of them, and it was a rare production indeed. The brutality of the Afghani tradition of Bacha Bazi, in which young boys are essentially sold into sexual slavery, was the backdrop for a mesmerizing tale that defied the ugliness with supple music and choreography.

Junk: The Golden Age of Debt, La Jolla Playhouse: The first of two plays by the gifted Ayad Akhtar on this list, Junk: The Golden Age

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of Debt (clunky title) unfolded at whip-cracking speed on a multi-tiered set occupied by characters possessed of more greed than conscience. In retrospect, you have to wonder if the rapacious powerbrokers of the ‘80s invoked here so memorably might be reincarnated in the Trump era that awaits us.

October Sky, Old Globe Theatre: If there’s a candidate for a trip to Broadway down the road it was October Sky, which had its West Coast premiere at the Old Globe. Game as the sweeping cast was, this musical’s stars were every bit as much set designer Kevin Depinet and the technical team that produced the gasp-inducing amateur-rocket launches. October Sky’s surfeit of sentiment did not detract from what was a big-time theater experience.

Disgraced, San Diego Repertory Theatre: Anyone who caught the volatile drama by Ayad Akhtar this fall can tell you why it won the Pulitzer Prize three years ago. The probing question of cultural assimilation and politics at their most proprietary combined to ignite the damnedest dinner party on local stages all year. Thanks to a stellar cast at the Rep (and director Michael Arabian) the emotion of Akhtar’s play was never swallowed up in polemics.

Gypsy: A Musical Fable, Cygnet Theatre: Some Broadway staples—Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Gypsy—never get old. Cygnet’s summertime production was a reminder of how rousing this classic can be. Linda Libby’s indefatigable Mama Rose was equaled by Allison Spratt-Pearce’s Louise-turned-Gypsy Rose Lee, whose transformation benefited from the sexiest costuming and choreography this side of Minsky’s Burlesque.

The Normal Heart, ion theatre: This revival of Larry Kramer’s 1985 play about the panic and paranoia that accompanied the emergence of AIDS in America was part history lesson, part taut human tragedy. In the central role of gay activist Ned Weeks, Claudio Raygoza channeled not only the anguish of one man, but that of many. In ion theatre’s little blackbox space, The Normal Heart beat loudly as a reminder of what was and is.

Honorable Mention: La Jolla Playhouse’s The Bitter Game, Lamb’s Players Theatre’s The Miracle Worker, ion theatre’s Lydia, Scripps Ranch Theatre’s Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike; SDSU’s The Drowsy Chaperone.

—David L. Coddon

Theater reviews run weekly.

Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.

December 28 , 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

CULTURE | ART

hen reflecting on the best art shows and exhibitions I’d seen this year, I found that it wasn’t so much individual art shows that moved me (although there were many), but rather the forces and feelings behind those shows. They say that some of the best art is created in times of upheaval. If this otherwise dismal year proved anything, it’s that this sentiment just might be true.

of discarded junk food. Equally impressive was up-and-coming illustrator and sculptor Toni Larios’ Espejos, a solo show at the Tijuana art space Out Here. Larios’ depictions of Tijuana life were equal parts moving and disturbing, and I’m excited to see his work evolve from here.

DUNCAN MOORE

that deserves much more attention than it gets. Unfortunately, it received some unwanted attention this year in the form of anti-immigration graffiti that said things like, “Too much immigration! Go back to your country.” Rather than dwell on the hate crime, the NAM staff used the incident to open up a dialogue with the community and patrons. Watching a crowd gather in support of the museum during a Friday Night Liberty opening was truly heartwarming and proof that love always wins.

SETH COMBS

COURTESY OF NEW AMERICANS MUSEUM

I’ve written at length about some of the stellar programming that’s happening at the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park, but it was the Sweet Gongs Rising group exhibition in March that stood out the most. Curator Amanda Cachia has made a name for herself by focusing on, as she puts it, the “intersection of disability, phenomenology and contemporary art” and this show brilliantly touched on this intersection by showcasing artists where the visual aspect of visual art took a backseat to sound, smell and touch.

COURTESY OF WILDWOOD PRESS, ST. LOUIS

Collective Magpie at UCSD Art Gallery

Sketch Party

I admit to rolling my eyes when I hear about the popularity of adult coloring books, but it was truly impressive to see just how many people came out to Sketch Party, a weekly Tuesday night gathering where anyone and everyone could come down and just draw, well, anything they wanted. Sure, it was kind of hokey, but it gave me hope when I saw artists meeting other artists in a city that doesn’t always go out of its way to support them.

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

“All Hands on Deck #3” by Damon Davis

This year saw some Museum of Contemporary Art exhibitions that were both politically topical and culturally relevant. DeLIMITations: A Survey of the 1821 United States-Mexico Border saw local Marcos Ramírez ERRE and David Taylor crisscrossing the country to place metal markers on the original border. Still, it was Damon Davis’ All Hands on Deck—a photographic collection of the outstretched hands of citizens of Ferguson, Missouri— that left me feeling both inspired and sad at the state of race relations.

Tijuana artist Pablo Llana appeared on CityBeat’s cover back and his first solo exhibition in the U.S. this year couldn’t have better executed. That show, EAT, opened at CM Curatorial back in October and showcased Llana’s impressive, semi-sculptural work that’s made from the wrappers

“The Razor’s Edge” by Stefani Byrd

This will likely be the umpteenth time I mention the name Stefani Byrd in these pages, and I imagine I’ll mention her again in the new year. Her installation work— which incorporates video, new media and interactive technologies—seemed to be everywhere this year from pieces at SDAI and MCASD to being chosen as the LaunchPad artist at this year’s Art San Diego fair. The Atlanta native is finishing up her MFA at UCSD, and I truly hope she sticks around. stefanibyrd.com

Along with the Women’s Museum of California, the New Americans Museum in the arts district at Liberty Station is a gem

16 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

Vandalism at New Americans Museum

Michael James Armstrong further cemented his place as my favorite local artist with his unbelievable “4:2” installation piece at the new Quint Projects space in Bay Ho. The work was his second siteconditioned piece that used thread to create an illusory, geometric sculpture that seems to change depending on how much natural light exists within the room. Armstrong isn’t sure if he’ll do a third piece. I hope he does.

If I had simply done a list of my favorite art shows of the year, the name Dave Hampton would be all over it. The local curator and writer was responsible for three(!) expertly selected and installed exhibitions: The Erik Gronborg Experience at the Mingei International Museum (up through March 12), and the Portraits of Pomeroy and Print Culture exhibitions at the Central Library Print Culture Gallery (the latter is up through Feb. 26). It’s not often that curators get some love, but Hampton has proven himself to be both a prolific and professional force in the local scene.

When Collective Magpie (the artist duo of Tae Hwang and MR Barnadas) learned in May about UC San Diego’s plan to shutter the 50-year-old campus art gallery and repurpose it as classrooms, they could have easily thrown up their hands and said, “oh, well.” Instead the duo, with help from other artists and faculty, staged a multi-day occupation of the gallery that included them constructing an elaborate installation piece made out of scrap paper. And it worked. The dean’s office changed their mind and the gallery is safe. For now.

TEDDEADY / FLICKR

Chicano Park

Even with controversial redevelopment, a horrible tragedy at Chicano Park and the death of Chunky Sanchez, Barrio Logan remained a bright beacon of culture in 2016.

Voice of San Diego’s Kinsee Morlan brought some much-needed attention to these issues in her excellent CultureCast podcast and while the spectre of gentrification still looms, it thankfully won’t be due to a Chargers stadium. While a Chicano Park museum now seems imminent, the recent crackdown on three art spaces by the San Diego fire marshal is certainly discouraging. Still, I have no doubt that the community will come together, just as they always have, and continue to fight the power.

@SDCityBeat

CULTURE | FILM

A most stressful year

Everybody Wants Some

The best films of 2016 provided hope and empathy in a time of extreme uncertainty

by Glenn Heath Jr.

O

ne could close out 2016 the same way Charles bruising Disorder are each immersive psychological Dickens opens A Tale of Two Cities: “It was thrillers about the elemental nature of stress. the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

Jim Jarmusch’s serene Paterson and Anna Rose Though, it has mostly been the worst of times: Alep- Holmer’s spirited The Fits show the enigmatic artpo, ISIS, Russian hacking, Pulse nightclub massacre, istry of daily life. Words are weapons in Corneliu the Bastille Day attack, Bowie/Prince/Kiarostami Porumboiu’s scathing The Treasure and Whit StillRIP, Jo Cox and Brexit. Oh, and The President- man’s acidic Love & Friendship. Rhythmic cycles of elect is a hateful and ignorant opportunist who has emotion and politics define Jia Zhang-ke’s Mounconned millions of people into thinking he knows tains May Depart, Rémi Chayé’s Long Way North what’s best for our future. and André Téchiné’s Being 17. Finally, Barry Jenkins’ With so many terabytes of negative energy Moonlight and Andrew Ahn’s Spa Night exemplify a streaming through our social media feeds and tele- beautiful openness toward complicated and shifting vision channels it would be easy to dwell on all the notions of identity. bad that has defined 2016. But we must not forget And now, the best films of 2016: about the good that has trans10. Things To Come: Who needs pired across the globe. Think of sex or marriage when you’ve got Michelle Obama’s inspiring and Certified Copy? That’s the type badass oration or the heroic work of head-scratcher Isabelle Hupdone by the White Helmets in pert’s recently divorced philosowar-torn Syria. phy teacher contemplates in Mia Also, think of the year’s best Hansen-Løve’s intellectually stimfilms. They remind us of our capaculating charmer that comes of age, ity for curiosity, critical thinking, again and again. diversity, wonder, empathy, and 9. Everybody Wants Some!!: The compassion. On the small screen, Beyonce’s luminescent full-length OJ: Made In America past is never past, especially for director Richard Linklater. His visual album Lemonade (HBO) fits that bill and then some. It explodes with the kind of wonderful semi-sequel to 1993’s Dazed and Confused defiance, resilience and determination we’ll all need is melancholy and woozy, in love with the drunken in the years to come. Ava DuVernay’s stirring docu- present but deeply aware of sobering adulthood mentary 13th (Netflix) traces the evolution of black looming on the horizon. disenfranchisement in America with intelligence, wit 8. Aquarius: Director Kleber Mendonça Filho reand necessary fortitude. And then there’s the pure ki- cruits Sônia Braga to take the path of most resisnetics of Jonathan Demme’s concert film Justin Tim- tance in this hypnotic character study about a music berlake + The Tennessee Kids (Netflix), the true musi- critic caught in a war of attrition with corrupt land cal of the year (eat it, La La Land). developers. Termite art at its finest.

Plenty of essential films also made their debuts theatrically, and the following is an attempt to sub- 7. Elle: Paul Verhoeven and Isabelle Huppert’s briljectively justify my naming them the “best,” whatever liantly fucked up anti-thriller eviscerates all sense of that means. Before we get to the list proper, though, a convention and patriarchal dominance. Revenge is a dish best served often and scalding hot. few words on some worthy honorable mentions.

Clint Eastwood’s stoic Sully, Martin Scorsese’s 6. Certain Women: Three stories, four women, beguiling Silence and Kenneth Lonergan’s Manches- and a mountain range of unspoken heartache. Kelly ter by the Sea could form a timeless crisis-of-faith Reichardt’s latest drama tenderly adheres to life’s trilogy. Johnnie To’s magnetic Three, Jaume Collet- pronounced rhythms that continue whether we like Serra’s dazzling The Shallows and Alice Winocour’s it not. Anchored by Lily Gladstone’s quietly assured

@SDCityBeat

December 28, 2016 • San Diego CityBeat · 17

CULTURE | FILM film split in two? Either way, Hong Sang-soo’s biting, experimental and daring comedy emphasizes the importance of details—in narrative structure, language, miscommunication and romance.

Jung Jae-young’s brazenly funny performance hints at the ache of a man who’s become quite friendly with regret.

Cemetery of Splendour performance, the film poignantly taps into the familiar space between panic and relaxation where most of us reside.

5. OJ: Made in America: Originally released by ESPN for television, this sprawling 8-hour documentary was given a theatrical release in the United States, making it eligible for this list.

Ezra Edelman’s meticulous and expansive journalistic endeavor reveals the DNA strands of race and celebrity running perpetually antiparallel in America, and how the rise and fall of football legend O.J. Simpson intersects with them both. No historical stone

18 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

goes unturned, no story ignored, no voice is silenced.

4. Toni Erdmann: Maren Ade’s unclassifiable film clocks in at 162 minutes, but it’s a seamless breeze of a movie, skewering corporate value systems by stripping them of their power through comedy. Peter Simonischek’s well-meaning buffoon employs elaborate jokes and costumes to save his workaholic daughter (Sandra Hüller) from a life of unhappiness. When you’re handcuffed to madness it’s hard not to smile.

3. Right Now, Wrong Then: Two great films in one? Or one great

2. Knight of Cups: Many have decried Terrence Malick’s So-Cal odyssey as self-indulgent, but to do so misses the point entirely. Through the eyes of a winsome screenwriter (Christian Bale) tremors of memory and heartbreak reverberate outward into the natural world, causing earthquakes both literal and stylistic. Confessions linger on the tongues of dispossessed souls yearning for something beyond the artifice of their surroundings. Amazingly, the final crescendo proves transcendence to be entirely attainable. That kind of optimism is invaluable.

1. Cemetery of Splendour: In a year defined by chaos and despair, Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s meditative masterpiece quiets life down to a blissful lull. The radical act of listening and remembering opens up corridors of time and space.

Sleeping soldiers lie under neon green lights, playful goddesses walk the earth, and voyages through time are a common occurrence. Nothing may be what it seems, but everything is in perfect harmony.

And that’s it folks.

Film reviews run weekly.

Write to glennh@sdcitybeat.com.

OPENING Certain Women: Kelly Reichardt’s drama with Kristen Stewart and Michelle Williams features three different stories about women facing transition in modern Montana. Opens Friday, Dec. 30, and screens through Thursday, Jan. 5, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

Mother (Ema): Estonia’s official selection for the 89th Academy Awards is a darkly comic crime mystery about a mother tending to her comatose son after he is suspiciously shot. As his acquaintances stop by to visit, each reveals aspects of that threaten to complicate the investigation. Opens Friday, Dec. 30, and screens through Thursday, Jan. 5, at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

For a complete listing of movies, visit “F ilm” on sdcitybeat.com.

@SDCityBeat

MUSIC

@SDCityBeat

December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

MUSIC

NOTES FROM THE SMOKING PATIO THE BEST LOCAL RECORDINGS OF 2016

F

or the last week of the year, I like to take the time to revisit some of the local releases that impressed me or left an impact on me in some way. I listened to a lot of music, and for a minute I contemplated including Baja California bands in addition to those in San Diego, but for the sake of making a list of the best San Diego albums of 2016, I’m sticking to the boundaries of our city (or at least county) for the time being. As with last year, I picked seven favorites, though that was tricky this time around, particularly since our Great Demo Review alone yielded some nuggets of gold. Here are my picks, unranked and in alphabetical order, for the best San Diego albums of the year.

The Dabbers | I Am Alien Now The Dabbers are an easy band to like, or maybe I should say an easy band for me to like. They combine a lot of great elements—catchy vocal melodies, driving rhythms, pop songwriting and noisy basslines—into one deceptively simple package. I Am Alien Now showcases how much depth there is to their fairly straightforward bass, drums and vocals approach. Leadoff track “Coo Coo” is a harddriving post-punk number with A-plus hooks, and “I Am Alien Now” is maybe the sludgiest new wave song I’ve ever heard. This is outstanding, noisy, mutant pop—just how I like it.

STRANGERS IN A FIRE

string-and-horn-laden “Vice” and the increasingly distorted and dense “Barricade.” The Midnight Pine have lost none of their songwriting prowess; they’ve just added a lot of other great elements.

The Dabbers Monochromacy | Live Isolated Esteban Flores can do some pretty impressive stuff with his guitar and effects pedals. On his latest cassette, Live Isolated, this means intense and deafening walls of noise, or it can mean gently floating ambient soundscapes. Everything here takes its time to truly reveal itself, but the haunting, atmospheric journey is well worth taking. And though music this abstract and abrasive is admittedly not for every listener, it’s an investment that pays off well for those who dare brave its intense sounds.

Natural Sounds Trio | s/t The first letter of each word in Natural Sounds Trio’s name corresponds to one of the members in the band—Najor, Schinelli and Todd—and their debut EP is all about the chemistry between those three musicians. It’s not a long or complicated release, comprising four tracks of deeply grooving funk and soul-jazz, and each one of those tracks is a winner.

It’s effortlessly funky.

Hexa Hexa | Bata Motel A lot of impressive bands have been born in the aftermath of Ilya’s break-up, but one of my personal favorites is Carrie Gillespie Feller’s formerly onewoman project Hexa, which has since expanded into a trio featuring Erika Marie and Acacia Collins.

Hexa’s debut EP is a dark and ominous set of gothrock songs that evoke Chelsea Wolfe and PJ Harvey, starting off with a bang via the dramatic pulse of standout “Campo.” Sometimes Bata Motel is ethereal and sometimes it’s heavy and shoegazey, but it’s never anything less than captivating.

The Midnight Pine | s/t The Midnight Pine topped my list a couple years ago with their excellent album Buried, and unsurprisingly they’ve returned to my favorites list. Their self-titled album is an expansion of their rustic and soulful sound, with cinematic arrangements like the

20 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

Tall Can and Generik | Fungi.Psyche.Boots Producer and emcee Generik has been delivering excellent hip-hop releases locally both with Left in Company and as a solo artist, but his partnership with Tall Can resulted in something truly inspired and truly weird. Tall Can’s lyrics weave in and out of real life and surrealism as Generik provides an expansive, psychedelic backdrop. This is real acid rap… er, make that ‘shroom rap.

Various Artists | Hardcore Matinee Generally speaking, compilations featuring various artists tend not to factor into my year-end lists because either a.) not all the songs are new; or b.) they’re not always so cohesive. Neither is the case with this Swami-released 22-track LP of short songs by great local punk bands. It’s an impressive array of talent, from Hot Snakes to The Soaks, and each track is a loud, fast and snotty reminder of why we loved punk in the first place.

—Jeff Terich @SDCityBeat

@SDCityBeat

December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

MUSIC

JEFF TERICH

IF I WERE U A music insider’s weekly agenda WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28

PLAN A: OFF!, Foreign Bodies @ The Casbah. Punk supergroup OFF! puts on a super fun show, which should come as no surprise from a team of hardcore oldschoolers. Their songs are loud, short, snotty, but not necessarily young. That’s just fine; you’re never too old to be punk.

PLAN B: Warsaw, Soft Lions @ Seven Grand. Warsaw, comprising members of KATA and Ilya, play catchy and edgy gothrock that’ll put some darkness back into your holiday season. It’s danceable, yet moody stuff, so start practicing your goth moves. BACKUP PLAN: Dreams Made Flesh, L1ght Ra1l, The Elegant Lust, Crooked Rulers @ Soda Bar.

THURSDAY, DEC. 29

PLAN A: Kaytranada @ Observatory North Park. Kaytranada won this year’s Polaris Prize, which honors the best album by a Canadian artist. And he definitely earned it with his eclectic, psychedelic

array of beats and soundscapes. Be ready for a huge, trippy dance party. PLAN B: Melvins, Redd Kross @ The Casbah.

The Melvins have been turning out sludgy, grungy rock and metal for more than 30 years, and haven’t lost any of their power or sense of fun. If you’re looking to close out your year with some huge guitar riffs, here’s the show for you. BACKUP PLAN: The Downs Family, Santa Ana Knights, Johnny Deadly Trio, Super Buffet @ Soda Bar.

FRIDAY, DEC. 30

PLAN A: Cherry Glazerr, Slow Hollows @ The Irenic. Cherry Glazerr definitely has a great name, which is taken from a KCRW on-air personality, but their music has well surpassed the novelty of their moniker. The band mixes dreamy pop with ‘90s-era alt-rock guitar riffs, and their upcoming album Apocalipstick is shaping up to be one of my most anticipated of 2017.

PLAN B: Mrs. Magician, The Creepy

22 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

Creeps @ Soda Bar. Mrs. Magician have had a pretty big year, what with the release of their new album Bermuda, and a handful of tours in the U.S. They’re always a good time and well worth making your last solid rock show before the year’s over.

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

PLAN A: ‘Psychedelic Masquerade’ w/ The Midnight Pine, Birdy Bardot, Wild Wild Wets @ Lafayette Hotel. This was one of our top picks in our New Year’s Eve guide last week, but it’s worth repeating. A long list of some of San Diego’s best bands, under a ’60s psychedelic banner, carrying us into 2017 with some trippy, rockin’ live sets. PLAN B: The Donkeys, Extra Classic, DJ Sandy Trash @ Soda Bar. The Donkeys are one of this city’s favorite bands for a reason: They write tuneful, easyto-love alt-country tunes with plenty of earth and twang. This may not necessarily be the rowdiest New Year’s Eve party, but it’ll be a darn good time. BACKUP PLAN: Cash’d Out, Sleepwalkers @ The Casbah.

SUNDAY, JAN. 1 PLAN A: Water,

Advil, Couch

Kaytranada

Cushions @ Your House. New Year’s Day isn’t for going out. I’m sure you can find a bar that’s open, with a band playing, but do you really want to make the throbbing continue after a night of epic debauchery?

Didn’t think so. Take it easy. Watch a parade. PLAN B: The White Buffalo, The Dales @ Belly Up Tavern. Alternately, you could chill on New Year’s Eve and hold out for some earnest outlaw country from The White Buffalo. It’s actually a solid plan if the year-end blowouts aren’t your scene.

MONDAY, JAN. 2

PLAN A: Heebie Jeebies @ Tower Bar. Arizona’s Heebie Jeebies have a beefy, sleazy rock ‘n’ roll sound that evokes the sludginess of Pissed Jeans as much as it does the proto-punk of The Stooges. It’ll get your year started with a proper dose of volume and misanthropy.

TUESDAY, JAN. 3

PLAN A: SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Promontory, Nuance @ Che Cafe.

SeeYouSpaceCowboy are a so-called “sassgrind” band, which essentially means they sound like late ’90s-era screamo, but faster and more menacing. Count me in.

@SDCityBeat

MUSIC

CONCERTS HOT! NEW! FRESH!

The Raveonettes (Music Box, 1/21), The Chain Gang of 1974 (Hideout, 2/11), Weyes Blood (Soda Bar, 2/16), Cut Chemist (Music Box, 2/17), Penn and Teller (Harrah’s, 2/17), The Coathangers (Casbah, 2/18), Surfer Blood (Soda Bar, 2/18), Dead Boys (Hideout, 2/19), Alejandro Escovedo (BUT, 2/20), Louie Anderson (BUT, 2/27), Temples (BUT, 3/5), Mykki Blanco (Soda Bar, 3/7), Dweezil Zappa (BUT, 5/4).

GET YER TICKETS The Devil Makes Three (Observatory, 1/4-5), Warren G (Music Box, 1/6), Pepe Aguilar (Civic Theatre, 1/6), Beat Farmers Hootenanny (BUT, 1/7), MxPx (Observatory, 1/13), Ozomatli (Music Box, 1/13), Sublime With Rome (HOB, 1/13-14), Tig Notaro (Observatory, 1/14), Marching Church (The Hideout, 1/20), Pepper, Less Than Jake (Observatory, 1/25), Rick Astley (HOB, 1/26), Lemuria (Hideout, 1/26), Lydia Loveless (Soda Bar, 1/27), Cold War Kids (Observatory, 1/27), Devendra Banhart (Observatory, 1/28), Ali Wong (Balboa Theatre, 1/28), Blind Boys of Alabama (BUT, 1/29), Mike Doughty (BUT, 2/1), Lilys (Soda Bar, 2/6), Alcest (Brick by Brick, 2/8), Austra, The Range (Casbah, 2/8), Juicy J (HOB, 2/8), D.R.A.M.

@SDCityBeat

(Music Box, 2/9), You Blew It! (Che Cafe, 2/9), David Duchovny (Music Box, 2/12), ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ (Observatory, 2/13), Billy Crystal (Copley Symphony Hall, 2/16), Reel Big Fish, Anti Flag (HOB, 2/17), Slim Cessna’s Auto Club (Soda Bar, 2/17), ‘You Are Going to Hate This Fest’ w/ The Frights, The Garden, Antwon (SOMA, 2/18), Adam Ant (Observatory, 2/18), Circa Survive (HOB, 2/21-2/22), Priests (Che Café, 2/22), Tennis (The Irenic, 2/22), Pinback (BUT, 2/23), Vince Staples (Observatory, 2/24), Moon Duo (Casbah, 2/25), Steve Poltz (BUT, 2/24-25), Pinback (Irenic, 2/25), Stevie Nicks (Viejas Arena, 3/2), Senses Fail (Observatory, 3/3), Isaiah Rashad (Observatory, 3/5), Bon Jovi (Viejas Arena, 3/5), Immolation (Brick

by Brick, 3/5), Shiner (Casbah, 3/5), Red Hot Chili Peppers (Valley View Casino Center, 3/5), Sinkane (Soda Bar, 3/5), Mykki Blanco, Cakes da Killa (Soda Bar, 3/7), Six Organs of Admittance (Soda Bar, 3/8), Lady Lamb (Soda Bar, 3/9), Bash & Pop (Casbah, 3/9), Whitechapel (HOB, 3/9), Japandroids (Music Box, 3/11), Darkest Hour (Brick by Brick, 3/11), G. Love and Special Sauce (BUT, 3/1112), Menzingers (Irenic, 3/12), Julieta Venegas (HOB, 3/17), James Chance and the Contortions (Hideout, 3/18), Common (Observatory, 3/24), Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Casbah, 3/25), Why? (Irenic, 3/30), Electric Six (Casbah, 3/30), Nashville Pussy (Brick by Brick, 3/31), The Old 97s (BUT, 3/31), Passenger (HOB, 4/2), Tiffany (BUT, 4/3), The Damned (HOB, 4/7), Green Day (Valley View Casino Center, 4/8), Aaron Neville Duo (BUT, 4/9), Subhumans (Observatory, 4/11),

Reverend Horton Heat (BUT, 4/20), The Wedding Present (Casbah, 4/30), Lionel Richie (Viejas Arena, 5/8), Testament (HOB, 5/16), Robin Trower (HOB, 5/19), Rodriguez (Humphreys, 5/23), Brian Wilson (Civic Theatre, 5/24), NKOTB, Paula Abdul, Boyz II Men (Viejas Arena, 6/1), The Primitives (Hideout, 6/6), Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Civic Theatre, 6/26), Coldplay (Qualcomm Stadium, 10/8).

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28 Citizen Cope at Observatory North Park. Mannheim Steamroller at Civic Theatre. Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern. OFF! at The Casbah.

Dreams Made Flesh at Soda Bar.

THURSDAY, DEC. 29 Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven at Music Box. Kaytranada at Observatory North Park. Donavon Frankenreiter at Belly Up Tavern. The Downs Family at Soda Bar. Tribal Theory at House of Blues. Melvins, Redd Kross at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, DEC. 30 Jim Brickman at Balboa Theatre. Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys at The Casbah. Cherry Glazerr at The Irenic. Mrs. Magician at Soda Bar. Tribal Theory at House of Blues.

SATURDAY, DEC. 31 Out

at

JANUARY SUNDAY, JAN. 1 The White Buffalo at Belly Up Tavern.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 4

Casbah.

The

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

FRIDAY, JAN. 13 MxPx at Observatory North Park.

Ozomatli at Music Box. Sublime With Rome at House of Blues. The Little Richards, Alice Bag Band at The Casbah. Le Chateau at Soda Bar.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

THURSDAY, JAN. 5 The Devil Makes Three at Observatory North Park. The Number 12 Looks Like You at Soda Bar. Buck-O-Nine, Voodoo Glow Skulls at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JAN. 6 Pepe Aguilar at Civic Theatre. TV Girl at Soda Bar. Warren G at Music Box. Damage Inc. at House of Blues.

Sublime With Rome at House of Blues.

Tommy Castro and the Painkillers at Belly Up Tavern. Midge Ure Band at The Casbah. Tig Notaro at Observatory North Park.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15 Lucinda Williams at Belly Up Tavern (sold out). Born Rivals at Soda Bar.

MONDAY, JAN. 16

SATURDAY, JAN. 7 Beat Farmers Hootenanny at Belly Up Tavern. 6ONE9 at House of Blues.

Grizzly Business at Soda Bar. Fu Manchu at The Casbah.

SUNDAY, JAN. 8 Hannah Yuen at Soda Bowiephonics at The Casbah.

Bar.

Entombed A.D. at Brick by Brick.

Lucinda Williams at Belly Up Tavern.

Captain Auzmo at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17 DNCE at House of Blues. David Lindley at Belly Up Tavern. Jovi and the Issues at The Casbah.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18

TUESDAY, JAN. 10 Dawes at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

The

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11 Kane Brown at House of Blues.

J Boog at Observatory North Park. The Schizophonics at Belly Up Tavern.

Protoje at Music Box.

Kathryn Cloward at Belly Up Tavern.

Caught a Ghost at Soda Bar. The Devil Makes Three at Observatory North Park.

Behind the Wagon at The Casbah.

DECEMBER

Cash’d

Donkeys at Soda Bar. Rebelution at Observatory North Park. Brian Setzer Orchestra at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

Justin Martin at Music Box.

Consider the Source at The Casbah.

CLUBS CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

MUSIC CLUBS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 THURSDAY, JAN. 19 Daniela Andrade at The Irenic. Zakk Sabbath at Brick by Brick. Tropical Popsicle at The Casbah.

FRIDAY, JAN. 20 Marching Church at The Hideout.

Erotic City at Music Box. Homesafe at Che Café. The Schizophonics at The Casbah.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21 Chevelle at House of Blues (sold out). Cold War Kids at Observatory North Park. Mattson 2 at The Casbah.

Fabulous Thunderbirds at Poway OnStage. The Generators at Soda Bar. Silver Snakes at Brick by Brick. The Raveonettes at Music Box.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22 The Toasters at The Casbah. Robby Krieger of The Doors at Music Box. Raffi at Balboa Theatre.

MONDAY, JAN. 23 Jeff Bridges and the Abiders at Belly Up Tavern. Jesse Malin at The Casbah.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24 Timothy Schmit at Belly Up Tavern.

Leah Dou at Soda Bar.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25 Stephen Steinbrink at Soda Bar. Pepper, Less Than Jake at Observatory North Park.

THURSDAY, JAN. 26 Powerman 5000, Orgy at Brick by Brick.

Rick Astley at House of Blues. Lemuria at The Hideout.

FRIDAY, JAN. 27 Pato Banton at Belly Up Tavern. Lydia Loveless at Soda Bar. Cold War Kids at Observatory North Park.

SATURDAY, JAN. 28 Hamilton Leithauser at The Casbah (sold out). Ali Wong at Balboa Theatre.

July Talk at Soda Bar. Devendra Banhart at Observatory North Park.

SUNDAY, JAN. 29 Blind Boys of Alabama at Belly Up Tavern. The Winehouse Experience at Music Box.

MONDAY, JAN. 30 The Bluebonnets at The Casbah. Run the Jewels at Observatory North Park (sold out).

TUESDAY, JAN. 31 Kenny Wayne Shepherd at Belly Up Tavern (sold out).

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710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., San Diego, Pacific Beach. Fri: Funk Shui Planet, Do Right Louie, Exit 6. Sat: Synrgy, IAbide, TRC Sounds.

98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, San Diego. Little Italy. Sat: ‘New Year’s Eve Party’

24 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

SPOTLIGHT Connor Schatzel, the sole member of LUMBERJVCK, states on his Facebook bio that he’s a “musical perfectionist having mastered the guitar, piano and drums.” Given that kind of pedigree, you might be thinking: Surely, he creates mind-blowing, innovative, perfect music. Nope. It’s dubstep. But hey, this show goes down on the last night of 2016, and if there’s a more apt way to end a ridiculous, loud and annoying year, then we don’t know about it. LUMBERJVCK performs Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Town & Country Hotel.

—Ryan Bradford

@SDCityBeat

MUSIC JASON THRASHER

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego, Downtown. Thu: Tribal Theory. Fri: Tribal Theory. Sat: ‘New Year’s Eve Block Party’. Tue: Robin Henkel Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Sat: ‘Ekstre Records Three-Year Anniversary’.

Lestat’s West, 3341 Adams Ave., San Diego. Normal Heights. Thu: Home. Fri: Josh Damigo birthday bash.

Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., San Diego. Hillcrest. Sat: Rayvon Owen.

Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego.

Little Italy. Thu: Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven. Fri: The Steely Damned II. Sat: Justin Martin, Ardalan.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd., San Diego.

Hillcrest. Fri: ‘Uncut’. Sat: ‘Gran Fiesta Del Ano’. Sun: ‘R&B Divas’.

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

North Park. Sun: ‘Uptown Top Ranking’.

Tue: ‘Trapped’.

Camper Van Beethoven at the Music Box Dec. 29 The Bancroft, 9143 Campo Rd., Spring Valley. Sat: Joe Himmelberg Tribute: Fusebox, The Dropsies, Vishnu, The Motel Blackouts, The Calvins, The Eruption, Crade. Sun: Gimme Gimme Gimme.

Solana Beach. Wed: Donavon Frankenreiter, Adam Topol. Thu: Donavon Frankenreiter, Adam Topol. Fri: Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot! (sold out). Sat: Brian Setzer Orchestra (sold out). Sun: The White Buffalo, The Dales.

Bang Bang, 526 Market St., San Diego.

Downtown. Fri: Drezo. Sat: Mija.

Blonde, 1808 W. Washington St., San Diego. Mission Hills. Thu: The Wheal, Acharis. Fri: ‘Concert for Standing Rock’ w/ The Bassics, New Kinetics, Le Chateau, Mystery Cave. Sat: Moving Units, The Lulls, Fake Tides.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., San Diego.

North Park. Sat: DJs Junior the Disco Punk, Vaughn Avakian.

Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Thu: Simeon Flick Duo. Fri: Modern Day Moonshine. Sat: Slower.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave.,

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The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Midtown. Wed: OFF!, Foreign Bodies, Records with Roger. Thu: Melvins, Redd Kross. Fri: Big Sandy and His

Flyrite Boys, Fanny and the AttaBoys, The Bedbreakers. Sat: Cash’d Out, The Sleepwalkers.

The Che Café, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Tue: SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Promontory, Nuance.

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. Mission Bay. Fri: Chase Morrin.

The Hideout, 3519 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Thu: Audios. Sat: ‘Boogie Down New Year’s Eve Party’.

The Irenic, 3090 Polk Ave., San Diego.

North Park. Fri: Cherry Glazerr, Slow Hollows.

OMNIA Nightclub, 454 6th Ave., San Diego. Downtown. Fri: Dash Berlin. Sat: Eric Dlux. Sun: Porter Robinson (DJ set).

Panama 66, 1450 El Prado, San Diego.

Balboa Park. Wed: Gilbert Castellanos.

Thu: Sahara Grim Quartet. Steph Johnson.

Parq, 615 Broadway, San Diego. Downtown. Fri: Slushii. Sat: DJ Karma. Sun: Lumberjvck.

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

Hillcrest. Thu: DJ Moniq. Fri: DJs Dirty Kurty, Will Z. Sat: DJs K-Swift, Moody Rudy, Nikno. Sun: DJ Cros.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave., La Mesa. Wed: ‘Boss Jazz’ w/ Jason Hanna. Thu: Israel Maldonado. Fri: Flower Child. Sat: Three Chord Justice.

Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave., San Diego. North Park. Wed: Warsaw, Soft Lions. Fri: Sol Orchid. Sat: Jimmy Ruelas.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego.

City Heights. Wed: Dreams Made Flesh, L1ght Ra1l, The Elegant Lust, Crooked Rulers. Thu: The Downs Family. Fri: Mrs. Magician, Creepy Creeps. Sat: The Donkeys, Extra Classic, DJ Sandy Trash.

Sycamore Den, 3391 Adams Ave., San Diego. Normal Heights. Thu: Burlesque Boogie Nights.

The Tin Roof, 401 G St., San Diego.

Downtown. Thu: Allegra Duchaine. Fri: ‘Groove International’ Sun: Shane Hall Trio. Tue: Lauren Leigh and Sam. Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. City Heights. Fri: ‘80s Night’ w/ Latin Lovers, DJ Viejo Lowbo. Sat: ‘San Diego City Soul Club’ Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St., San Diego.

Linda Vista. Thu: Charles Burton Band.

Fri: Tumblin’ Dice & Blue Largo. Sat: The Reflectors. Tue: Sue Palmer.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., San Diego. City Heights. Sat: Caskitt, Western Settings, Gentlemen Prefer Blood, Ninja Night Race, New Way On. Mon: Heebie Jeebies.

Ux31, 3112 University Ave., San Diego.

North Park. Fri: Kid Wonder. Sat: ‘NYE’ w/ DJ Bacon Bits.

Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St., San Diego.

South Park. Fri: ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ w/ DJ Lazer Lizeth. Sat: ‘Booty Bassment New Year’s Eve’.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., San Diego.

Ocean Beach. Wed: ‘Club Kingston’.

Thu: The Palmer Squares, boostive, Shlick Smit, DJ Product, Micah. Sat: Brothers Gow. Mon: Electric Waste Band.

December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

LAST WORDS | ADVICE

AMY ALKON

ADVICE

GODDESS Sleeping Booty I’m a 32-year-old guy, and I want a real relationship. I am good-looking and charming and can get girls into bed pretty early on, but I’m beginning to wonder whether that’s hurting me. I think I end up starting relationships based on sex instead of common interests, personality, etc. Does it pay to hold off on sex, and if so, how long?

—Wanting It Real There are some wonderful committed relationships that started off with “I want to spend the rest of my boner with you!”

In reality, those lovebirds probably got lucky (in getting it on with someone they happened to be compatible with). When you have sex right away, you’re prone to getting into a hormone haze—a sort of sex fog—that ends up blurring just about everything but the bed (and maybe the kitchen table, three or four times).

Though people are increasingly getting

into relationships through hookups (“sex first/date later”), relationship researcher Dean Busby and his colleagues find that waiting to have sex seems to keep “feels so right!” from killing your ability to see whether it actually is. In their research, dating for at least a month before having sex was associated with higher relationship stability and satisfaction, better sex and better communication.

Again, this isn’t to say that people who have sex on—or even before—the first date won’t have satisfying relationships. But as the researchers put it, “the rewards of sexual involvement early on may undermine other aspects of relationship development and evaluation”—for example, keeping partners from putting as much energy into “crucial couple processes” like hammering out communication. It can also prolong relationships that ultimately don’t work when both people are dressed and standing up.

You don’t have to set your sex clock according to the research: “Oh, look at the

26 · San Diego CityBeat · December 28, 2016

time—week four and a half; better get it on!”

The point is to wait until you see whether you really like a person and click with them in all the essential ways. Six months into a relationship, if you grab your partner and kiss them as if the world were ending, it should be because you love them that deeply, not because it’s the best way to get them to shut up that doesn’t involve jail time.

You Had Meh At Hello I’m a man in my 50s. I recently started seeing this fantastic lady. She’s my ideal woman except for one small thing: There is no sexual chemistry. However, I don’t plan on having more kids. Also, my body’s slowing down, and sex just isn’t at the top of my list anymore. I’m looking for my true best friend and partner. Still, without any real chemistry, is this relationship doomed?

—Seeking

Unlike checkers or “Words with Friends,” sex isn’t just an activity. It’s an activity that causes biochemical reactions—like a surge of the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin.

Though the research on these is in its infancy in humans, they seem to act as a form of emotional glue in some mammals that have been studied—in the wake of sex, causing little rodent-y things called prairie voles to velcro themselves to that special someone.

As for this woman you’ve been seeing, think about how it must feel—right from the start—to have you about as sexually interested in her as you are in one of her end tables. Also consider that being in what sociologist Denise Donnelly calls an “involuntarily celibate relationship”—wanting to have “shared erotic pleasure” (of some kind) but having a partner who refuses— is extremely corrosive. Beyond leading to affairs in 26 percent of those surveyed, it led (predictably!) to sexual frustration (79 percent), feelings of rejection (23 percent), and depression (34 percent). But, whatever, right? I mean, BFFs forever!

The thing is (assuming she isn’t madly in love with you), if you two admit that the spark simply isn’t there, you can still spend your lives together—just not in the same bed. Better to celebrate your best-friendiversary than mourn on your anniversary—that you still want your partner just as much as you used to, which is to say not in the slightest.

Okay, so you feel sex isn’t all that important to you now. Good to know…but not quite the same as donating a treasured artifact to the natural history museum—with a plaque: “Harpoon for display purposes only.”

Your best friend whom you aren’t attracted to and don’t have sex with is—wait for it—your best friend. Sure, a relationship is a best friendship, but it’s more. The sexual part of it—sharing your body—makes for a deeper level of intimacy than, say, “Want a bite of my Reuben?” (c)2016, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.

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December 28, 2016 · San Diego CityBeat · 27