SC GETTING OUT San Clemente
YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER
The List
At the Movies: ‘Dark Waters’ Might Be Dark Horse This Season
What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF
HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to San Clemente Times by going to sanclementetimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.
Thursday | 12 HOLIDAY SWEAT, SIP AND SHOP This is a free event at the San Clemente Gym that’s open to the community. It includes an all-day workout pass, holiday party and pop-up shop featuring the gym’s Wellness Center, a local artist and jewelry designer. There will also be a raffle for giveaways, mini-massages and more. 123 South El Camino Real, San Clemente. Contact Jules Jones at San Clemente Gym at 949.361.1007. @thesanclementegym. sanclementegym.com. DESIGNS BY NATURE 7-9:30 p.m. Designs by Nature is ushering in its 27th year in San Clemente by holding an artist reception and trunk show at its gallery. It will have two artists that evening. The first will be Marjorie Woodbridge, a resident of San Clemente and a member of the South Orange County Gem & Mineral Society, who has been creating her malas for some time. The second is stone art photographer Kirk Kegel, a longtime resident of San Clemente and member of SOCGEMS. 400 South El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.498.8358. designsbynature.com/blog. SAN CLEMENTE HIGH DRAMA PRESENTS: ‘12 ANGRY JURORS’ 7 p.m. 12 Angry Jurors is the gripping examination of 12 jurors as they deliberate after hearing the arguments in a seemingly open-and-shut case. As prejudices are tested and evidence weighed, the entire jury is forced to look past the show of the courtroom to unearth the shocking truth. Faced with playing the hangmen, these dozen jurors must first face themselves. SCHS students bring this suspenseful drama based on the hit movie 12 Angry Men to life. The show runs from Dec. 12-14 in the Little Theater. Get tickets at schsdrama.com. San Clemente High, 700 Avenida Pico, San Clemente. 949.492.4165.
Friday | 13 SANTA’S PHOTO EXPRESS Noon-6 p.m. Bring the kids and your camera San Clemente Times December 12-18, 2019
EDITOR’S PICK Photo: File
Photo: Mary Cybulsk / Focus Features
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15: PRE-HANUKKAH MENORAH LIGHTING 4 p.m. Join the Chabad of San Clemente as it kindles its 10-foot menorah on the Historic San Clemente Pier. Local dignitaries as well as the fire and police chiefs will be in attendance for the event, which will also include hot latkes, sufganiyah doughnuts, music, Starbucks coffee and an opportunity to build a LEGO dreidel. No admission required. San Clemente Pier. 949.489.0723. tzippy@jewishsc.com. jewishsc.com.
BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
for a complimentary photo with Santa Claus in Center Court at Outlets at San Clemente. Capture the magic of the season on select weekends in December, before the big night! Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.535.2323. outletsatsanclemente.com.
Saturday | 14 CASA KIDS: GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING 10-11 a.m. Bring your children to Casa Romantica for the traditional holiday craft of building gingerbread houses. With available space limited, reservations are required. This event is appropriate for children ages 6 and up. A parent or guardian must be present for the duration of the class. Please register only your participating child. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.
Sunday | 15 SANTA PAWS 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Pet Project Foundation invites the community to bring their furry friends for a photo with Santa Paws at the Outlets at San Clemente—home of the World’s Tallest Tree by the Sea. A $15 donation for printed photos. Proceeds will benefit the Pet Project Foundation and the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West
Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.595.8899. petprojectfoundation.org.
Monday | 16 CASA CINEMA: ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ 6-7:30 p.m. An angel is sent from heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. Enjoy this classic holiday film at Casa Romantica’s historical venue. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.
Wednesday | 18 LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S 7 p.m. Join Iva Lee’s for live music every Wednesday through Sunday. For the ultimate live music experience, be sure to reserve a lounge table on Fridays and Saturdays. Check their website for the latest scheduled performances. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. ivalees.com. OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 9-11:30 p.m. Performers of all skill levels are welcome. If you are a musician, do stand-up comedy or spoken word, this is the place to be on Wednesday nights. So come down, grab a drink and go for it. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.
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F
ilm director Todd Haynes’ Dark Waters is one of those movies you go in expecting to upset you, though hoping it has a satisfying outcome in the end. Unfortunately, this isn’t entirely the case. Based on the shockingly real allegations from the past 60 years, the film centers on Ohio attorney Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) after he gets an unexpected visit at work from local West Virginia farmer Wilbur Tennant (Bill Camp) in 1998. Wilbur strongly believes, and has possible proof, that the country’s biggest chemical company, DuPont, is willfully dumping a fatal, manmade chemical into the public water, one that is also used in coating cookware and appliances. Bilott then makes it his mission for the next 20 years to fight and stop DuPont, seeking justice for the 3,500 West Virginia plaintiffs who have contracted cancer or birth defects as a result of the Teflon® chemical called PFOA. Unlike a lot of “true story” movies that have a definite conclusion, the story of Bilott vs. DuPont is actually still ongoing. Putting this depressing element aside for a moment, Dark Waters as a film is rather good. Ruffalo’s casting and performance are fitting and carry the film all the way through. Anne Hathaway appears as basically the “concerned wife” cliché, but she does it very well—and enough for me to think she could deserve some awardsnomination hype. Haynes effectively sets a dramatic tone and atmosphere, but it doesn’t come across as preachy or over-the-top in their narrative. There are a couple of moments of comic relief that don’t particularly land, but beyond that, Dark Waters might be the dark horse of this movie season. SC sanclementetimes.com