San Diego CityBeat - February 2020

THE BAR ISSUE

SD’s hottest watering holes

Chad Smith: The art of being creative

FEBRUARY 2020 SDCITYBEAT.COM FREE

2 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

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ART DIRECTOR Tonya Mildenberg WRITERS Mary Pat Abruzzo Karen Barnett Jackie Bryant Michael Gardiner Sara Harmatz Jordan Houston Anna Johnson Laura Latzko Vince Meehan Randy Montgomery Taylor O’Connor Haley Smilow Michelle Stansbury STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Luis Chavez PHOTOGRAPHERS Matthew Berinato Jenn Devereaux Darren Goldstein Alexa King Neil Krug San Diego Loyal Bruce Smith

FEATURE

EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

chad smith

UPFRONT

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cheers to san diego

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Mad Hatter’s Ball

NEIGHBORHOODS Gaslamp �������������������������������������������� 26 North Park ������������������������������������������ 28

ARTS

SPORTS

Little Italy____________________________________________ 30 Balboa Park ��������������������������������������� 32-36

DINING | BEER

Arts_____________________________________________ 38-42

San Diego CityBeat is published and distributed every month by Times Media Group, 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 2020.

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zz ward

Dining | Beer ������������������������������������� 44-53

CANNABIS

MUSIC

Sports ______________________________54-57 Music _______________________58-68

ON THE COVER:

CannaBeat ______________________70

Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. (Photo courtesy Relevant Communications)

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 3

TOP25 OUR PICKS FOR COOL THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH

Taylor O’Connor >> San Diego CityBeat

1 Brick Fest Live, a Lego Fan Experience FEBRUARY 15 TO FEBRUARY 16

Lego lovers of all ages can join Brick Fest, a fan experience with handson attractions and activities meant to educate and entertain. By purchasing a ticket, participants will have two build challenges: a microbuild and a blindfold challenge. Guests will receive all the Lego bricks needed to complete each challenge along with an activity booklet and stickers.

Other stations include life-size models, a video game arena, create-your-own mosaics and a shopping center.

Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, 858.755.1161, delmarfairgrounds.com, 9 a.m., tickets start at $19.99.

2 “Bachelor” Mondays MONDAYS

Gals (and guys) can participate in “Bachelor” “drafts” while cheering on “Pilot Pete” at Nason’s Beer Hall at Pendry San Diego. Nason’s will also offer specialty “Bachelor”-themed cocktails like Windmill Sangria mixed with Tito’s, rose, blackberry, rosemary, honey and orange bitters; or Jump the Fence with Partida Blanco tequila, jalapeno-infused casamigos mezcal and agave. Local contestants from “The Bachelor” will even make appearances.

Nason’s Beer Hall, 570 J Street, Gaslamp, 619.738.7060, pendry.com, 8 to 10 p.m., free admission.

and clubs, a map with suggested routes, over eight hosted welcome shots at eight select venues, a New Orleans-inspired menu, and access to exclusive opening and after parties.

American Junkie, 628 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.232.3101, sandiego.org, 6 p.m., $28.

4 Black Comix Day: Heroes Rise III FEBRUARY 22 TO FEBRUARY 23

Black Comix Day is a two-day event that celebrates African American and African comic book creators. This third annual showcase is an opportunity for anyone wishing to experience black culture through comic books. All are welcome to attend. This event is a part of WorldBeat Center’s Black Future Month.

WorldBeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Boulevard, Balboa Park, 619.230.1190, worldbeatcenter.org, 10 a.m., free.

5 Commedia Italian Style FEBRUARY 22

The San Diego Italian Film Festival and Italian Cultural Center present a lecture about Pietro Germi, his comedies and Italy in the 1960s. The talk will be led by Antonio Lannotta, the SDIFF’s artistic director and USD Italian professor.

Lanotta has published articles and book chapters on film, TV series and theory of media. Marco Blasi will provide Carnevale sweets, frappe and castagnole.

Lower Hall, Our Lady of the Rosary, 1654 State Street, Little Italy, 619.234.4820, olrsd.org, 2 p.m., $30.

6 Shrimp Heads One-Year Anniversary FEBRUARY 22

3 Gaslamp Mardi Gras FEBRUARY 21

Celebrate Mardi Gras right by joining the San Diego Tourism Authority and the Gaslamp Quarter for a night of partying.

Tickets include free entry to more than 20 of San Diego’s top restaurants, bars

Calling all seafood lovers: Shrimp Heads in North Park is celebrating its one-year anniversary by serving custom seafood dishes. Guests will choose their protein, which include lobster tail, oysters and shrimp, followed by the seasoning of their choice. As if that isn’t enough, the first 50 guests will receive a half pound of shrimp and fries with a purchase of a pound of seafood and raffle entries. Raffle prizes include a 55-inch television and a $100 Shrimp Heads gift card.

Shrimp Heads, 2832 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park, 619.738.8184, shrimpheadssd.com, 11:30 a.m., free.

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7 Daybreaker Yoga and Dance Party FEBRUARY 23

Continue New Year’s resolutions of working out in a peaceful and fun way.

At the Quartyard, start your day with morning yoga and then from noon to 2 p.m. it’s time for a dance party. There will be free kombucha, breakfast, Daytrip sparkling water and Brooklyn Brewery’s new nonalcoholic beers. Guests are asked to bring their own yoga mats and be prepared for live performances and special surprises.

Quartyard, 1301 Market Street, East Village, 619.432.5303, daybreaker.com, 11 a.m., $20.

8 Mardi Gras Crawl on El Cajon Boulevard FEBRUARY 23

This strolling party will be led by a festive New Orleans-style brass band, taking revelers down the lively North Park corridor, with stops to enjoy local food, drinks, live music and shops. Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez will serve as this year’s grand marshals.

Festivities start at The Beer Igniter, 3052 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park, theboulevard.org, noon, visit website for pricing.

9 Pie vs. Cake FEBRUARY 23

What’s better, pie or cake? Join the jury and cast your own vote for a fundraiser created by Friendly Feast. Pie vs. Cake puts two teams of three chefs against each other in a competition to determine pastry supremacy. Guests will receive an individual portion of pie or cake from participating chefs—three pie and three cake—and a ballot to cast their vote for their favorites. Tickets also include a Kairoa Brewing Company craft brew.

Kairoa Brewing Company, 4601 Park Boulevard, University Heights, 619.295.1355, kairoa.com, 11 a.m., $45.

10 Free Barre3 Class FEBRUARY 25

Barre3 is a challenging full-body, mindful workout inspired by dance. During this free class, guests will be guided through sustained holds, muscle-burning micromovements and cardio bursts. The approach is designed to leave people feeling balanced in body and refreshed.

Attendees are asked to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to set up, and also bring their own water bottles and a yoga mat.

The class is an hour and all are welcome.

A Time to Dance Performing, 3982 30th Street, North Park, 503.206.8396, barre3.com, 10 a.m., free.

11 Circus Vargas FEBRUARY 27 TO MARCH 9

Circus Vargas brings its 2020 production

“Mr. V’s Big Top Dream,” which features more sparkle and sequins and feats of daring and artistry. The show is a semibiographical circus spectacular honoring legendary circus impresario Clifford E. Vargas, a flamboyant, largerthan-life, over-the-top maker of circus magic.

Circus Vargas, Westfield Mission Valley, 1640 Camino del Rio North, San Diego, circusvargas.com, various times, tickets start at $17.

12 ZZ Ward FEBRUARY 28

Born Zsuzsanna Eva Ward, ZZ Ward will hit the stage to promote her new single, “Sex and Stardust.” Ward arrived in 2012 with her debut album, “Til the Casket Drops,” reaching the Top 10 on the AAA radio chart. Her sound has a blues influence, with a twist of alternative rock.

Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, 858.481.8140, bellyup.com, 8:30 p.m., $35.

13 Kids Night Out FEBRUARY 29

Parents: If you need a break or a date night, bring the kiddos to the Fleet Science Center, where they can explore the center’s newest exhibits.

For four hours, the kids will explore the Mindbender Mansion and The Brain, take part in a scavenger hunt and watch an IMAX film on the Giant Dome Screen.

Kids will have a pizza dinner. This is an educational opportunity for them as well as a night off for any stressed parent.

Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.238.1233, rhfleet.org, 6:30 p.m., $20.

14 TinyFest California FEBRUARY 29 TO MARCH 1

Celebrate tiny living in a big way. Tour tiny houses, van conversions, skoolies, backyard cottages, a shipping container home and adventure rigs. Meet the builders and people who are living and traveling tiny every day. TinyFest features a full line-up of speakers and workshops, plus vendors who will guide guests through minimizing their clutter, debt and carbon footprint.

Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, 858.755.1161, tinyfest.events, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, tickets start at $15 in advance.

15 Shane Mauss MARCH 1

Shane Mauss brings his Stand-Up Science show back to the American Comedy Club in Gaslamp on March 1, mixing stand-up comedy and science talks. Get a laugh—and learn a little.

American Comedy Club, 818 Sixth Avenue, Gaslamp, americancomedyco. com, 4 p.m., $18 in advance, $25 day of show.

See

TOP 25 on page 5

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TOP 25

from page 4

16 Mujeres Brew Club

MARCH 1

21 International Mariachi Festival MARCH 8

The Mujeres Brew Club’s mission is to educate and empower those who love craft beer. Each meeting during the sixmonth series will have a specific topic with guest speakers from the beer industry.

A percentage of proceeds will go to a nonprofit that empowers women, which will be selected by the club. The RSVP includes a reserved seat and Custom MBC merch.

Border X Brewing, 2181 Logan Avenue, Barrio Logan, 619.501.0503, borderxbrewing.com, 6:30 p.m., $15.

The International Mariachi Festival highlights San Diego’s Mexican heritage through mariachi music and traditional ballet folkloric dancing. The day will bring arts, culture and culinary delights. Prior to the festival, mariachi practitioners are invited to participate in a two-day music conference to educate 300 students.

Bayside Park, 999 Bayside Parkway, Chula Vista, 619.477.9339, mariachifest. com, 11 a.m., $5.

17 Nghtmre

MARCH 9

MARCH 5

Tyler Marenyl, better known by his stage name Nghtmre, is an American DJ and electronic dance music producer. Raised in North Carolina, Marenyl planned to get a degree in finance but moved to L.A. to pursue music at Icon Collective Music Production School. His production and pulsating beats have solidified him as a festival headliner and a well-known name in the dance-music scene.

Soma, 3350 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, 619.226.7662, somasandiego. com, 9 p.m., $38.50.

18 The Growlers MARCH 6

Led by lead singer Brooks Nielson and guitarist Matt Taylor, L.A.-based The Growlers debuted in 2006. They created “Beach Goth,” released six studio records and toe the line between garage psych ballads and edgy radio pop. The internationally recognized band is pushing “Natural Affair,” which was released in October.

Soma, 3350 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway 619.226.7662, somasandiego. com, 8 p.m., $38.50.

19 San Diego Camp Fair MARCH 7

Looking for a camp, school or program for the kids this summer? Attend the San Diego Camp Fair at Balboa Park to learn about more than 50 day, overnight and specialty summer camp opportunities.

Kids can come, too, as there will be a variety of games and activities for them.

Casa Del Prado, Balboa Park 1650 El Prado, Room 101, Balboa Park, 619.235.1169, lasummercamps.com, noon, free.

20 Mexico in a Bottle MARCH 8

Celebrate the third annual Mexico in a Bottle, an event dedicated to showing the craft beverage scene of our southern neighbors. This event isn’t just about alcohol, but rather the flavor of Mexican culture. These elixirs are a connection to the history, tradition, food and art of Mexico.

Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Avenue, Logan Heights, 619.851.4083, mexinabottle.com, 4 p.m., $5. @SDCITYBEAT

22 Tame Impala Australian psychedelic rock project Tame Impala, led by Kevin Parker, released its fourth studio album, “The Slow Rush,” on February 14. Parker mixed, produced and wrote the 12 tracks. The last year has been busy for the group, with appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Primavera, Splendor in the Grass and ACL, and on “Saturday Night Live.”

Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, 619.224.4171, 8 p.m., sold out.

23 Six String Society, Mardi Gras Cruise MARCH 14

Join Six String Society as it hosts a Mardi Gras-themed riverboat party with eight live musical performances. Guests are invited to dress in costumes and enjoy a night of dancing on this four-hour cruise. This beautiful boat features over 5,000 pieces of stained glass above its 150-person dance floor. Come out and celebrate like you’re in New Orleans!

Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 W. Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay, 760.822.2185, thesixstringsociety.com, 5 p.m. $30.

24 ShamRock Block Party MARCH 14

This 21-and-older event sees the Gaslamp streets turn into an Irish wonderland with music on The Pint Stage, The Pub Stage and The Clover Stage by the likes of The Young Dubliners and James Kennedy from “Vanderpump Rules.”

Gaslamp, sandiegoshamrock.com, 2 p.m. to midnight, tickets start at $45.

25 St. Patrick’s Day Beer and Whiskey Festival MARCH 15

All are welcome to celebrate—Irish and non-Irish—to the St. Patrick’s Beer and Whiskey Festival. Indulge in unlimited tastes of more than 100 craft beers, ciders and whiskey. Learn how to party like the Irish with live music from the Band of Fair Play Mates and DJ Dublin Danny. Take part in plenty of drinking games and eat Irish food. Green clothing is required.

Ingram Plaza, 2751, Dewey Road, Liberty Station, 619.573.9306, libertystation.com, 7 p.m., $35.

FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 5

UPFRONT | COVER STORY

Road Trippin’ with His Art Chad Smith can’t stop being creative Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

R

ed Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith sees life as an avenue for constantly being creative.

He began playing the drums at age 7. He honed his skills through the legendary Detroit band Toby Redd and, since 1988, he’s been behind the kit for the Chili Peppers.

In between Chili Peppers album cycles, Smith has pursued a different kind of art—painting—since 2015. “The Art of Chad Smith” opens at EC Gallery in Solana Beach on Thursday, February 27, and runs through Sunday, March 1.

The six-time Grammy winner will make two meet-the-artist appearances at the gallery: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, February 29, and noon to 3 p.m.

Sunday, March 1. All artwork will be on exhibition and available for acquisition.

The exhibition as well as the Smith appearances are complimentary and open to the public. Reservations are required by calling 1.800.599.7111 or emailing pr@ecgallery.com. A minimum purchase is required to spend individual time with Smith.

“This is my second collection of this kind of thing,” Smith says. “What attracted me to do this is the musical connection to it. What happens is

I’m in a dark room—a pitch-black room—playing the drums with these fluorescent, light-up drumsticks. I’m improvising on the drums, playing different rhythms, and they photograph me with different shutter speeds and different angles.

“That’s how it starts. You get the fluidity and the flow and obviously the colors from the drumming part of it from the sticks. Afterward, with technology, they manipulate it in so many ways. To try to have it translate to a flat canvas, that’s the challenge I find fun and interesting.”

Smith and the folks from SceneFour come up with images they like, and the drummer embellishes it with paint and other objects.

“I wanted the power of how I play the drums—certainly rock music—to come across very explosively and with a lot of energy and bright colors,” he says. “That was the direction I was going for.

“As any artist, you want to grow and challenge yourself and change and take risks. That’s what I’m trying to do with this. It’s another creative outlet for me to express myself.”

PROLIFIC ARTIST

Smith certainly isn’t without outlets, as he’s also performed with the likes of Glenn Hughes, Chickenfoot, Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats, Joe Satriani, Ozzy Osbourne, Second Self, Wayne Kramer, John

Fogerty and Fishbone.

Smith has been doing this since he was a child in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Self-taught, Smith was inspired by Rush, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Kiss.

Upon graduating from Bloomfield Hills’ Lahser High School, he skipped college and went straight to clubs like the Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan, and St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit.

“I was so lucky right out of high school.

I was so fortunate to have that

experience,” says Smith, whose mom still lives in his childhood home.

“I loved it. I was 18 years old, playing six nights a week. That’s really where I put my 10,000 hours, so to speak. I thought I just wanted to be a professional musician. I didn’t want to go to college. I wanted to start playing music right away.”

Smith moved to California in late 1988 after auditioning nearly last for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Within a few months of being hired, he started recording his first album with them, “Mother’s Milk.” The quartet musically hit it off See

6 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

SMITH on page 8

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 7

UPFRONT | COVER STORY

SMITH

from page 6

immediately.

The RHCP found mainstream success two years after “Mother’s Milk” with the album “Blood Sugar Sex Magik,” which spawned the hits “Give It Away,” “Under the Bridge,” “Breaking the Girl” and “Suck My Kiss.” “Give It Away”

won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal.

Smith is proud of his work in Detroit with Toby Redd and beyond.

“I’m glad that was in Detroit,” he says. “I love Detroit. It’s such a great music town. When I moved to California after eight years of doing that, I joined the Chili Peppers.

It was opportunity and luck. I was prepared.

“I’ve been so fortunate to have played music since I was 7 years old. I love it and I’m more passionate about it today than I ever have been. I’m trying to come up with interesting and new ways to be an artist. This is one of them.”

Smith isn’t sure why he feels this way about music.

“I don’t know,” he says with a laugh.

“I’m a student of music. I want to learn.

I don’t think you can ever stop learning if you want to grow and change and get

8 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

better at anything.

“Being a musician or a friend or a bandmate or husband, you just have to keep trying to evolve. I’m not always successful at that, but that’s life. We’re human beings and we learn and grow from that. Being in one band for a long time, it’s really important to keep moving and doing new things and challenging yourself. That’s the arc of living and life, I think—being conscious and open to stuff and other people’s ideas, the world around you, from kids to politics.”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ dynamic recently changed when Josh Klinghoffer

was replaced by former guitarist John Frusciante, who recorded five studio albums with the band.

“We have a special thing, the four of us,” says Smith, whose band is writing a new album. “I think people were more surprised than anything when they heard the news. I was (surprised) at first that he wanted to come back and rejoin the band.

“People love this lineup—the ‘classic’ lineup of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

People are excited, as we are. We do have a thing, the four of us. We were put on this universe to make this music. It’ll be another chapter. It’s exciting. It’s a chance to grow and make something new.”

“The Art of Chad Smith”

Thursday, February 27, to Sunday, March 1 EC Gallery, 212 S. Cedros Avenue, Suite 104, Solana Beach 1.800.599.7111, pr@ecgallery.com, ecgallery.com

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 9

10 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

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UPFRONT

Cheers to San Diego

The ‘Craft Beer Capital’ boasts some of the best bars Sara Harmatz >> San Diego CityBeat

S

an Diego has been called “The Craft Beer Capital of America”— but the scene goes beyond that.

Sure, there are more than 150 breweries, but there are cocktail lounges, nightclubs and rooftops at the ready for partiers. Let’s raise a glass to San Diego’s bar scene.

Balboa Park PURE PROJECT 2865 Fifth Avenue, Balboa Park, 619.323.2000, purebrewing.org

Pure Project’s Balboa Park location is an upscale tap room featuring 20 taps.

It’s open daily, and the outdoor patio is a great place to sip and relax. Pure Project also has a brewery and tap room in Miramar, with a new location in Carlsbad opening in the spring.

PANAMA 66 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.696.1966, panama66.com

Located at the San Diego Museum of Art, Panama 66 is a counter service restaurant and bar that serves local, indie draft beer as well as cocktails and wine. There is a live jam session every Wednesday night.

Barrio Logan IRON FIST 1985 National Avenue, Suite 1131, Barrio Logan, 619.255.5815, ironfistbrewing.com

This family-owned taproom frequently displays local art in support of the

community and has 30 different beers to fall in love with. Kids and pets are welcome, and it’s great for a chill Sunday afternoon.

Thursdays (half-off bottle of sake and $5 sake bombs); Vino Sundays (half-off bottles of wine all evening) and happy hour daily from 5 to 7 p.m.

BORDER X BREWING

MEZÉ GREEK FUSION

2181 Logan Avenue, Barrio Logan, 619.501.0503, borderxbrewing.com

345 Sixth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.550.1600, gaslampmeze.com

Mezé is a popping, Downtown restaurant and bar that specializes in homemade cocktails. It has five different bottomless champagne cocktails, which is perfect for Saturday brunch.

Specializing in Mexicaninspired brews including a Horchata Golden Stout with flavors of vanilla bean and cinnamon, Border X Brewing has a yummy Tuesday night taco and craft beer pairing.

CAFE SEVILLA 353 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.233.5979, cafesevilla.com

MADISON

This Spanish-style tapas bar and nightclub features live music and dancing seven days a week.

The Cava Sangria is a must for a refreshing, traditional taste of Spain.

4622 Park Boulevard, University Heights, 619.269.6599, madisononpark.com

Madison on Park is a sophisticated, modern bar that specializes in beautiful, hand-crafted cocktails including a delicious vegan milk punch. It has a unique build-your-own old fashioned with a choice of spirit, sweetener and bitters.

City Heights CHINATOWN BAR AND GRILL 4727 University Avenue, City Heights, 619.795.4478, chinatownbarandgrill. com

Owned by former Aero Club owner Bill Lutzius, Chinatown Bar and Grill is City Heights’ best tavern. The two-story

HARD ROCK HOTEL 207 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.702.3000, hardrockhotelsd. com

tavern boasts a rooftop patio, a massive bar, 10 taps and a full pub menu.

Downtown/Gaslamp HOUSE OF BLUES 1055 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.299.2583, houseofblues.com

House of Blues is a well-known rock and blues chain featuring live music and great drinks in the heart of Downtown.

PENDRY, OXFORD SOCIAL CLUB 435 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.738.7040, theoxfordsd.com

The Oxford Social Club is a sophisticated hotel nightclub with carefully curated cocktails and music program. The guest list ensures free entrance before 11 p.m., and it’s a perfect place to cut loose on the dance floor.

East Village EAST VILLAGE East Village is San Diego’s largest downtown neighborhood and encompasses 130 blocks between Seventh Avenue and 17th Street. More than 700 businesses are located in this thriving urban enclave, including restaurants, hotels, art galleries and Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres.

Hillcrest

PENDRY, LIONFISH

THE LAMPLIGHTER

435 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.738.7200, lionfishsd.com

817 W. Washington Street, Hillcrest, 619.298.3624, facebook.com/ lamplighterSD

Lionfish is the host of some of Downtown San Diego’s most soughtafter events, such as Sake To Me @SDCITYBEAT

The Hard Rock is home to a few bars including the 207 and Float. 207 is a hip lounge offering a wide variety of wine, beer and liquor with an outdoor terrace. Float is the hotel’s stylish, rooftop bar featuring lively music every night.

The Lamplighter is a chill, neighborhood See

BARS on page 13

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UPFRONT

BARS

from page 11

dive bar by day with karaoke every night.

It’s open every day and only accepts cash.

RICH’S 1051 University Avenue, Hillcrest, 619.578.9349, richssandiego.com

San Diego’s largest and most popular gay nightclub specializes in theme nights Wednesday through Sunday. The cover varies depending on the night.

URBAN MO’S 308 University Avenue, Hillcrest, 619.491.0400, urbanmos.com

Urban MO’s is a friendly hangout spot with a spacious dance floor and festive theme nights.

Kearny Mesa O’BRIEN’S 4646 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa, 858.715.1745, obrienspub.net

O’Brien’s is a great spot to watch live soccer games and sip on a vast selection of microbrews.

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Little Italy

PROUD MARY’S SOUTHERN BAR AND GRILL

BARBUSA

1917 India Street, Little Italy, 619.238.1917, barbusa.com

5550 Kearny Mesa Road, 858.278.0800, proudmaryssd.com

This modern Sicilian restaurant has happy hour daily from 3 to 6 p.m. with beer flights, wine and signature cocktails.

Proud Mary’s is a unique hotel bar with an Southern ambiance. It has live blues music Wednesday through Saturday and an awardwinning bourbon slushy.

KETTNER EXCHANGE

La Jolla

2001 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy, 619.255.2001, kettnerexchange.com

BEAUMONT’S 5662 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla, 858.459.0747, beaumontseatery.com

Situated in the neighborhood of Bird Rock, Beaumont’s has local live music every Thursday through Saturday night in a laid back yet contemporary atmosphere with classic cocktails, beer and wine.

WE OLIVE AND WINE BAR 1158 Prospect Street, La Jolla, 858.551.8250, weolive.com

This oceanview wine bar specializes in olive oil and wine tastings above the

beautiful La Jolla Cove, with half-off glasses every wine Wednesday and discounted glasses and bottles of rosé all day Thursdays.

RAISED BY WOLVES 4301 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 2030, University City, 619.629.0243, raisedxwolves.com

Raised by Wolves is a dazzling, hidden bar behind a fireplace wall with a mile-long cocktail list. It’s a fabulous experience with the best selection of scotch and bourbon.

Kettner Exchange’s rooftop cabanas offer a variety of drink options including classic cocktails including the refreshing “you had me at aloe” and private, selfserve beer taps. It’s great for a birthday or celebration.

STARLITE 3175 India Street, Mission Hills, 619.358.9766, starlitesandiego.com

Starlite is a relaxed, stylish bar that specializes in Instagram-worthy craft See

BARS on page 14

FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 13

UPFRONT

BARS

from page 13

cocktails. The outside patio is a perfect seating option for a sunny San Diego day.

Normal Heights ROSIE O’GRADY’S 3402 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights, 619.284.7666, rosieogradyspub.com

Rosie O’Grady’s is a Chicago-style bar with trivia, karaoke, live music and sports on 12 HDTVs. It has over 70 beers to choose from, and it’s great for a Saturday-night hang.

North Park KENSINGTON CLUB 4079 Adams Avenue, Kensington, 619.284.2848

The Ken Club is an absolute classic, as it is one of San Diego’s oldest bars to feature local live music. It has a unique, metal yoga night followed by great beer.

POLITE PROVISIONS 4696 30th Street, North Park, 619.269.4701, politeprovisions.com

Polite Provisions is a stylish speakeasy lounge that specializes in craft cocktails for the soul, including cocktail and spirit classes.

COIN-OP 3926 30th Street, North Park, 619.255.8524, coinopsd.com

Coin-Op is the first arcade bar in San Diego featuring classic arcade games with chill vibes. It has great happy hour weekdays from 4 to 7 p.m. and free play all day on the last Sunday of the month.

SEVEN GRAND 3054 University Avenue, North Park, 619.269.8820, sevengrandbars.com

Seven Grand is an intimate whiskey bar with selected products from North America to Asia. It has live music and hosts private whiskey tastings for all group sizes.

Tony’s Martini Bar 5034 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach, 619.223.0558, tonyob.com

Tony’s, one of the oldest bars in the region, offers a relaxed 1940s-style cocktail lounge with comfy booths, outdoor patio and award-winning drinks.

SUNSHINE COMPANY SALOON 5028 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach, 619.222.0722, sunshineob.com

The Sunshine Company Saloon, an OB institution since 1974, features an outside patio, an upstairs ocean view deck, all UFC, pool tables, big screens and more than 100 beers.

THE ARIZONA CAFE 1925 Bacon Street, Ocean Beach, 619.223.7381, theazcafeob.com

The Arizona Café is the place to enjoy award-winning food (served until 1 a.m.), watch sports, play pool, and enjoy happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

THE HOLDING COMPANY 5046 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach, 619.341.5898, theholdingcompanyob. com

The Holding Company is a three-story music venue, bar and restaurant located on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach. It features seasonal craft cocktails, awardwinning recipes and brunch on the weekends, all served up with the best ocean views in OB.

Old Town

LIPS

TEQUILA FACTORY

3036 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park, 619.295.7900, lipssd.com

2467 Juan Street, Old Town, 619.260.8124, oldtowntequilafactory. com

Lips is a club run by drag queens specializing in nightly shows and a variety of cleverly named cocktails and martinis. It’s known for hosting fabulous bachelorette and birthday celebrations.

14 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

OCEAN BEACH

The Tequila Factory offers special edition tequila with rooftop views of historic Old Town.

See

BARS on page 16

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 15

UPFRONT

BARS

from page 14

Pacific Beach

wooden dance floor, perfect for line dancing.

EL PREZ

BAJA BEACH CAFE

4190 Mission Boulevard, Pacific Beach, 858.750.2512, elprezpb.com

701 Thomas Avenue, Pacific Beach, 858.230.6315, bajabeachcafe.com

El Prez is a trendy beachside bar with food and drink specials Monday through Saturday including tequila Thursdays.

The rooftop bar is the best place to watch the waves and enjoy the sunshine.

Baja Beach Cafe has mega, shareable margaritas with an awesome two-for-one happy hour.

THE DUCK DIVE

MONIKER COCKTAIL CO.

4650 Mission Boulevard, Pacific Beach, 858-273-3825, theduckdive.com

2860 Sims Road, Suite 104, Liberty Station, 619.255.8772, monikercocktailco.com

The Duck Dive is a beachy, neighborhood bar that always feels like summer, with surf-inspired art and a handcrafted surf ceiling. It’s a great spot on Wednesdays after the chefs visit the local farmer’s market to gather fresh ingredients for the $5 farmers cocktail.

MOONSHINE BEACH 1165 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach, 858.999.0158, moonshinebeachsd.com

Moonshine Beach is the place to be for country music and 32-ounce buckets of White Claw slushies. It has a massive

Point Loma

Moniker Cocktail Company is located inside a trendy general store complete with cocktails and coffee. It’s the perfect place to co-work or simply hang out.

STONE BREWING

pairing and movie nights, it’s an ideal spot for a date night.

2816 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 116, Liberty Station, 619.269.2100, stonebrewing.com

South Park/Golden Hill

Known for its famous IPA, Stone features indoor and outdoor bars complete with a bocce ball court and an outdoor cinema.

With special events including beer

1503 30th Street, South Park, 619.546.9653, barkindred.com

KINDRED Kindred is a mesmerizing vegan bar featuring death-metal tunes that specializes in aesthetically pleasing and delectable cocktails.

WHISTLE STOP 2236 Fern Street, South Park, 619.284.6784, whistlestopbar.com

Whistle Stop is the ultimate live music venue and bar, with $5 pints and wells every day until 8 p.m.

BLONDE BAR 1808 W. Washington Street, Mission Hills, blondebarsd.com

Blonde is a neighborhood dive bar with awesome deejays and theme nights.

It has many drink options including alcoholic kombucha and signature cocktails.

University Heights PARK & REC 4612 Park Boulevard, University Heights, 619.795.9700, parkandrecsd. com

Park & Rec has craft cocktails, live music, multiple bars, private events, games, awesome hospitality, neighborhood bar and an adult playground.

SMALL BAR 4826 Park Boulevard University Heights, 619.795.7998, smallbarsd.com

This cozy watering hole has a chill vibe with craft beer and bar food, including fried pickles. Check out the strawberry letter 23—strawberry-infused white rum, rich strawberry syrup and fresh lime.

North County ALESMITH 9990 AleSmith Court, Miramar, 858.549.9888, alesmith.com

This San Diego-based, artisanal microbrewery has year-round as well as specialty and seasonal brews to choose See

16 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

BARS on page 18

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 17

BARS

from page 16

from. AleSmith also offers tours of its brewing facility Friday through Sunday.

BOARD AND BREW 201 Oak Avenue, Carlsbad, 760.434.4466, boardandbrew.com

Board and Brew is a local chain known for its specialty sandwiches and craft beer. Its surf-themed space is a nice spot to refuel before hitting the waves.

BREWSKI’S 8670 Miramar Road, Miramar, 858.586.0540, brewskissd.com

Brewski’s is an arcade bar with free pool and select arcade games. It has late-night happy hour Sunday through Thursday, with over 20 draft beers to choose from.

East County THE LANDING 1185 E. Main Street, El Cajon, 619.966.9905, thelandingelcajon.com

The Landing is a friendly, neighborhood dive bar with dollar-off specials every day of the week including bottomless mimosas and bloody Mary’s all day Sunday.

CREATIVE CREATURE BREWING 110 Magnolia Avenue, El Cajon,

18 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

619.201.8180, creativecreaturebrewing.com

Right in the heart of El Cajon, this smallbatch craft beer brewery specializes in 100% all-grain beer with no extracts or concentrates. It’s open every day, and also serves nonalcoholic beverages.

South Bay CHULA VISTA BREWERY 294 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista, 619.616.8806, chulavistabrewery.com

Chula Vista Brewery is an inviting, neighborhood brewery with a variety of tasty and cleverly named brews. It has interactive events including weekly millennial loteria every Tuesday.

BAR SIN NOMBRE 253 Third Avenue, Suite 100, Chula Vista, 855.237.8392, facebook.com/ barsinnombreCV

Known for its award-winning micheladas, Bar Sin Nombre is a hip, local spot with vintage video games and an extensive rare beer list.

SHAKE AND MUDDLE 303 H Street, Suite 109, Chula Vista, 619.816.5429, shakeandmuddle.com

Shake and Muddle is a new, modern bar with a vast cocktail menu that specializes in fusion mixology and handmade bitters.

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 19

20 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

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‘The Rock ‘n’ Roll Preacher’

UPFRONT

The Struts’ lead singer Luke Spiller steals the show Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

costume designer Ray Brown, Spiller says.

“It’s always fun to come over and see him and whatnot,” Spiller says. “He does stuff for Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys and Lady Gaga. He’s a real character and it’s great. I love calling him up and hearing his response when I ask, ‘What are we doing?’

“Honestly, it’s very collaborative. I’ll go through the internet and look for things that spark my interest and then, from that, I’ll tell him what I want the fit to be like. After a few conversations, we get on the same page. Maybe a month later or so, he’s cut something up that’s rough and I try it on. We both bring the vision.”

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he flamboyant Luke Spiller has been compared to Queen’s Freddie Mercury, the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Tim Curry.

The Struts’ lead singer has no shame about it.

“Nothing’s really changed since I was 14 or 15,” says Spiller, who grew up in Bristol, England.

“I’m still doing the same thing—fantasizing and imitating my heroes—and now I get paid.”

And getting paid he is. Only founded in 2012, The Struts have opened for the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, The Who and Guns N’ Roses. Spiller is inspired by many of these bands.

“I still look and take inspiration from the same people—and finding new ones as well, newfound heroes,” Spiller says.

“Quite recently I discovered Bruce Springsteen, which I think my tour manager is solely responsible for. I always knew of the music, but a few years ago I really started to dive into the back catalog and immerse myself in the catalog.”

He’s been listening to “Thunder Road,” “The River” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” Recently, he’s looked up to Scott Walker as well.

“I went through this unhealthy obsession with him for a solid six months,” he says of the late Walker. “At the end of 2019, Spotify was telling me my top plays and streams. It was quite funny to see the musical journey I’ve been on: 2018 Scott Walker, 2019 Bruce Springsteen—by a country mile.”

YOUNG AND DANGEROUS Spiller knows how to win an audience.

Whether it’s on the phone or on stage, he just wants everyone to have fun.

Calling from Nashville, where he’s “busy making it big,” Spiller says it’s much too cold for his reptilian body and he needs to return to California or Arizona.

The Struts are playing SOMA on Friday, February 28. The show may mark the debut of “a couple of cheeky new tracks,” which could appear on the follow up to 2018’s appropriately dubbed “Young and Dangerous.”

“Fans can also definitely expect the usual acrobatics and everything that is @SDCITYBEAT

The Struts w/Starcrawler

(Photo by Bryson Roatch)

very typical of the show—a lot of energy and crowd participation,” he adds.

Spiller wouldn’t say too much about the new songs but he says his voice ties it together—as well as rock ‘n’ roll moments.

“We’re touching on a few areas we haven’t gone before,” he says slyly. “I can tell you they’re really unique and really fun and definitely quality, from what I can gather. I’m super excited for everyone to hear what we’ve been up to.”

“Everyone” is a loaded assumption, but Spiller doesn’t really care if anyone likes it or not. Fans from ages 8 to 80 have so far grasped The Struts’ anthemic choruses, Spiller’s flamboyant costumes and the band’s tight sound.

“I feel extremely lucky to get out on the stage and look into the audience and see a beautiful variety of cultures and ages and backgrounds,” Spiller says. “I wasn’t fully aware of (the mix of fans) until we started touring relentlessly. We’re touching a lot of different people. It’s great. I love that we can be very inclusive.”

The shows have the feel of a revival, an ode to his preacher father and devoted Christian mother. He splits the audience in half and gets in the middle to encourage crowd participation.

“It was very evangelistic-esque,” he says. “If I could give you a visual example, it would kind of be like James Brown’s character in ‘The Blues Brothers’ preacher (the Rev. Cleophus James). I’ve been called ‘the rock ‘n’ roll preacher.’ I guess it made its way more into the live show than the recording. There’s still time. I

can see a Hillsong album from The Struts and stealing the Christian album chart.”

The Struts’ live show is enhanced by

8 p.m. Friday, February 28 SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, $29.50 619.226.7662, somasandiego.com

FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 21

UPFRONT

‘Odd Squad’

Chula Vista’s Valentina Herrera lands role in PBS Kids show Jordan Houston >> San Diego CityBeat

E

leven-year-old Valentina Herrera can do it all—from karate to acting to singing and dancing. Now, she’s bringing her talents to your living room.

The Chula Vista resident is appearing in the upcoming season of “Odd Squad,” an educational adventure series that airs on PBS Kids.

The multi-Emmy-winning live-action show follows four intrepid agents who investigate strange happenings, and is designed to help kids ages 5 to 8 build math, problem-solving and collaboration skills.

Herrera plays the role of Agent Opal, an ambitious new character who specializes in math and science to find solutions.

“Opal is very competitive when it comes to solving missions and cases,” Herrera says. “Sometimes she gets a little carried away and her teammates have to help put her back on track.

“She also likes to think of herself as the leader of the group.”

“Odd Squad” adopts the look and feel of a trademark spy show, while its characters work to avoid a group of scheming villains who want to thwart their plans.

Because the program is fun and engaging, viewers won’t even realize they’re learning at the same time, she says.

“It’s such a cool show,” she says. “Sometimes I forget that it’s a math show because the way they do it is so funny and really heartwarming.”

Featuring 20 new halfhour episodes, the third season of the critically acclaimed show will take its audience on adventures across the globe, explains the preteen.

The “Odd Squad” will hit the road in a mobile unit for the first time, Herrera says.

As the group travels from New York City to Pittsburgh, to Australia 22 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

and Zambia, and beyond, the agents encounter a range of mysterious characters, including the villainous Sand Queen, played by Academy Award-nominated actress Toni Collette.

Herrera says the show gave her the opportunity to travel to places she wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

“I loved Canada. I loved the snow and it was really fun because I had never seen snow before. I was so excited,” Herrera says.

“I had to buy all this gear and there were a lot of snowstorms.”

The aspiring young actress was born in Chandler, Arizona, she says, and lived there until she was about 8 years old.

Since she can remember, Herrera has always been drawn to acting, she explains.

“I would always record myself on my parents’ phones and I would do little plays and stuff,” Herrera says.

“I would make up these roles and these characters and do them in front of my parents.”

One of her first acting experiences involved playing a poodle in a school play.

Herrera eventually persuaded her parents to take her to an acting class at the Young Actor’s House in Texas, she says, where she was discovered by an agent.

Two years later, her professional career was born.

“The school was so fun, and that’s where it all started,” Herrera says. “I’m so grateful to have gone there.”

Although the Arizona native recently

landed a small role in “All the World is Sleeping,” a feature film that was shot last year in New Mexico, she says “Odd Squad” was her first “big” job.

In a humble tone, she says she couldn’t believe she snagged the part.

“I was so happy. I had just woken up,” Herrera says. “I think I slept with my mom that night and everyone came to the room because it was the morning and my manager was on the phone.

“I started jumping, yelling and crying.”

Working on “Odd Squad” has not only allowed Herrera to fine-tune her skill set, she expresses, but also to grow as a person in real life.

“Ever since I booked it, a lot has changed,” Herrera says. “I’ve grown on the show. I think I booked it when I was 10 years old and then on the show I turned 11. I met a lot of friends and new people and I practiced more.

“That really helped me as an actress and as a person.”

Herrera says she hopes to one day work alongside her favorite actor, Adam Sandler. She grew up watching his movies, she explains, with “Grown Ups” her favorite Sandler movie.

“I know it sounds wild, but I really want to do a movie with Adam Sandler because I think he is an amazing actor and I look up to him so much,” she says.

For now, Valentina says she plans to continue to pursue acting in any capacity, including commercials, shows, movies and voiceovers.

Her sights are set on securing work with Disney Channel in the near future, she says.

“Odd Squad” premieres on Monday, February 17, on PBS Kids.

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 23

UPFRONT

‘Gemini Brain’ The nomadic lifestyle appeals to singer ZZ Ward Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

Z

Z Ward has a “Gemini brain.”

Ward needs to tour. She needs the energy, and the nomadic lifestyle of living on a tour bus and finding new restaurants and cul-

tures.

“I need a lot of variety in my life,” she says.

Ward and her powerhouse vocals are getting that on her Stardust Tour, which hits Belly Up on Friday, February 28.

“I’m going to play some new songs that I haven’t played out before,” she says. “I love to perform. It’s a really great way to connect with people and my fans who are familiar with my music.”

The tour follows the release of her latest singles “Break Her Heart” and “Sex &

Stardust.”

“It’s about being so deep under someone’s spell you do things you didn’t think you were capable of,” Ward says of “Sex & Stardust.”

“It’s about a time in my life when I was feeling that way. It’s a very descriptive song. It’s about being totally mesmerized by somebody. We did a music video for that that’s very inspired by Quentin Tarantino. Feeling that way has its pros and cons for sure.”

“Break Her Heart” is a 360, telling an honest story of a broken-hearted woman who wishes ill will on her boyfriend who cheated on her.

“The music video for that one is really exciting for me,” Ward says. “The songs are very emotional and important to me.

They represent different chapters of my life.”

Her emotional songs have touched her fans as well, and she enjoys hearing the stories they share.

“I love hearing how my songs affected them and their lives,” Ward says. “I love when they say this is when they met their partner, or this is the first concert they went to with a friend. With the deeper stuff, they say the songs helped them get through something. I love that. That’s not necessarily why I set out to write these songs. I write them for myself as therapy.”

And it works.

“It always has, honestly, since I was a kid,” she says. “I was writing songs when I was like 13 and I thought, ‘This feels really good.’ That was the moment I discovered I could create something. Everybody’s a different type of person. I love creating art. That’s my jam. I don’t work very well settling into something that’s uniform. I like the challenge of creating something out of nothing.”

Videos are important to Ward, even though few outlets remain for them.

“I remember six years ago, when I first started putting out music professionally,” she says.

24 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

“I wondered if they would be on MTV or VH1. That’s not really a thing now, but I can show these videos on social media platforms and streaming services. It’s a great way to dive into the music and create a visual for who’s producing it.”

She recalls the golden age of video with family friend Mark Goodman, a former MTV VJ who now DJs on SiriusXM. “He used to be friends with my parents when they were kids,” Ward says with a laugh. “He’s fabulous at interviewing. I was watching those ’80s specials on CNN that you’ve probably seen. Mark was interviewing David Bowie and I thought, ‘Look at Mark. He’s so young in this video.’ When I go to New York, Mark interviews me. He’s had an incredible career. He’s a legend.”

ZZ Ward w/Patrick Droney 9 p.m. Friday, February 28 Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach Tickets start at $35 bellyup.com

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 25

NEIGHBORHOODS | GASLAMP

Let Them Eat Cake The Sparks Gallery celebrates its fifth birthday with a tasty party Mary Pat Abruzzo >> San Diego CityBeat

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he Sparks Gallery will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a tasty twist on traditional still life art.

Inspired by its Contemporary Still Life exhibit, four Sparks Gallery artists—ManRabbit, Duke Windsor, Alexander Arshansky and Optimus Volts—will hand embellish a cake that will be served from 6 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, February 29, during “Contemporary Cake Walk.”

The cakes will be decorated by each artist in their signature style with edible decorations. Dinner, dessert and three alcoholic drinks will be provided in the ticket cost.

The exhibit will be open as well. A

full dinner and silent auction are set for the evening as well.

“It is a longstanding tradition to create a still life of something not in motion,” says Sonya Sparks, owner and chief curator.

“Traditionally, it is a scene in front of the artist that is at rest.”

The nearly 20 artists put their contemporary and personal spins on the overarching theme to depict a still scene.

This exhibition, through April 19, showcases contemporary takes on still moments, from a piece of crumpled paper to a geometric street scene. Standing as a group show, the exhibition creates a diverse body of work, displaying different textures, objects and materials.

Windsor’s work is featured at the

26 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

Sparks Gallery in the solo show “Radiance” through March 1. The collection features scenes of San Diego neighborhood streets gilded with gold leaf backgrounds.

His contribution to the Contemporary Still Life exhibit further demonstrates this unique style. “Where’s the Beef,” a still life of a hamburger, uses gold leaf to bring life and radiance into the background of his work.

“Each still life is done in the artist’s contemporary vision,” Sparks explains.

“They all have their individual look and

feel, as they each submitted a piece that exemplifies their style.”

Contemporary Cake Walk/ Sparks Gallery Five-Year Anniversary

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, February 29 Sparks Gallery, 530 Sixth Avenue, Gaslamp $90, bit.ly/cakewalk2020

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27

NEIGHBORHOODS | NORTH PARK

A Crazy, Mad, Wonderful Return North Park’s Mad Hatter’s Ball is a whimsical variety show Michelle Stansbury >> San Diego CityBeat

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he Mad Hatter’s Ball returns for its second year on February 22 with a darker twist on Wonderland, bringing together circus acts, costumes, art installations and curiosities with a formal hat party at The Observatory in North Park. The whimsical variety show and immersive “Alice in Wonderland” atmosphere offers a chance to fall down the rabbit hole and begin to believe in the impossible.

According to event planner Sarina Moretti, the Mad Hatter’s Ball was inspired by “a coming of age story as Alice explores the duality of her true nature.

Alice is seduced by the otherworldly wonderland characters as she realizes her adventure is more than just a childish fantasy. This journey reveals her darker side—a shadow self that she eventually embraces, which allows her to be free, courageous and empowered. It turns out her dream self may not be so different from her waking self.”

The evening’s host — the Mad Hatter, of course—will introduce a variety of entertainment, including circus acts like contortion and aerial arts, as well as burlesque dancers and DJs. Art installations include Debi Cable’s 3D Blacklight Art, which comes straight from Burning Man. Moretti describes this installation as “transporting you to the other side of the looking glass as you enter a glowing Wonderland that seems to jump off the page and invite you to stay a while.”

Guests can experience improvisational poetry that will be tailored to their whim at the pen of the inspired Typewriter Troubadour. Also

28 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

within Wonderland, Moretti hints, “you may stumble upon a curious card game that may at first seem like nonsense. But a little nonsense never stopped the Mad Hatter. Sit down and try a card game that may have you feeling like you took a bite of the wrong tea cookie.”

Guests can opt to start the evening’s adventure by reserving a three-course prixfixe dinner in West Coast Tavern prior to the show. This dinner and show package is available at 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. seatings for $72. The custom menu from Chef Marcos Navarro includes a shared appetizer, one entrée, choice of a Ketel One Botanicals cocktail or glass of Moet Champagne, parking validation and direct entry into event.

Inside the event, VIP bottle service tables will offer premium seating at a tea party-themed, four-person table for $45 plus a minimum of one bottle starting at $250 on the evening of the event. The

add-on includes preferred entry, parking validation, and table service for the duration of the event.

Moretti encourages guests to “dress to impress our distinguished host, the Mad Hatter, by dusting off their finest hat to pair with eveningwear. Gowns, suits, Wonderland-inspired attire, Victorian and steampunk costuming, and elaborate hats are welcomed.”

The best hatter contest will award prizes to the top three costume-clad guests, encouraging guests to liven up their formal attire.

The Mad Hatter’s Ball

7 p.m. general admission or seated VIP; 7:15 p.m. for dinner and show The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Avenue, North Park Tickets start at $20 northparkcarnival.com

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 29

NEIGHBORHOODS | LITTLE ITALY

Keeping Things Fresh Herb & Wood brings new (wood-burning) heat Michelle Stansbury >> San Diego CityBeat

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ome restaurants build their menu around what customers think they want; others unleash the creativity of accomplished chefs to create a menu that defies expectations.

The culinary team at Herb & Wood knows its regulars are going to grumble when the menu changes over in February, removing many of the core dishes that built the acclaimed restaurant’s dedicated following. But, they are resolved to create the next generation of crowd favorites.

The team is headed by chef/partner Brian Malarkey, culinary operations manager Michael Ground, and new sous chefs Sebastian Becerra and Sergei Simonov.

The heart of truly great restaurants is a culinary team that is passionate about the food it’s making and is inspired to take on new challenges. Keeping chefs energized day after day means giving them opportunities to ignite their imagination with new dishes. This creative freedom was what attracted Herb & Wood’s Becerra, previously of New York’s Eleven Madison Park, and Simonov, formerly of The Lark Santa Barbara.

Malarkey compliments The Lark.

“We really identify with the food they are doing up there,” he says.

“I ate there last summer, and it was the best meal of my year. We brought Sergei down here to take us into the next three years at Herb & Wood.”

Simonov feels right at home, offering, “Herb & Wood is a spectacle; the dining room is always full and crowded and buzzing. I really like the style of cooking over wood, giving it that additional flavor and robustness.”

Becerra is a San Diego native who returned home with a new perspective on the culinary scene.

“In New York, we would look at a tomato and say, ‘How can we make it taste more like a tomato?’ In California the produce is already so flavorful that we just let the ingredients shine.”

While guests can expect new dishes and techniques, the signature Herb & Wood style will remain. The white oak wood-burning oven will still impart a smoky char to meats and veggies, usually balanced by the bright acidity of citrus.

Mediterranean flavors remain bold, ac-

30 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

cented with Middle Eastern touches.

The carrots, branzino and gnocchi are not leaving, but Malarkey shares that around half of the menu will be different.

He hints at the notable changes.

“The potatoes are going away, and the cauliflower. The venison and all of the steak dishes are changing. All of the pastas are being reimagined. But the scallops are coming back, which everyone is really excited about,” Malarkey says.

The departing dish most likely to cause a blowback? It will definitely be the crispy potatoes, a dish that has a cult following in San Diego. In addition to lemon vinaigrette, black pepper and Parmesan, the secret ingredient is horseradish, which gives a liveliness to the decadent dish. It’s addictive, with its gooey cheese, Parmesan baked crispy at the edges, enveloping the smashed potatoes. In its final days on the menu, pay your respects by pairing the dish with an Iberico & Bourbon cocktail. The bar repurposes fat from the kitchen’s Jamón Ibérico to wash the bourbon, combining it with amaro and bitters for a smooth spirit-forward cocktail with delicate notes of spice.

The team at Herb & Wood is not being cavalier in changing out its signature dishes, instead replacing them with soonto-be favorites. A sneak peek into a few of the new menu items includes a gemelli pasta, prepared in a lighter take on a carbonara with octopus, pancetta, Napa cabbage, Parmesan and egg yolk. A tender duck breast will be served with turnip, peas, pomegranate and Meyer lemon. My personal favorite upcoming dish is the lamb loin, full of flavor and accompanied by dill yogurt, cucumber, mint, sundried tomato and onion, served with homemade roti.

“We’re pushing the menu; we’re taking it to a new level. The kitchen is run by committee instead of saying, ‘This is my way. This is how it is.’ We’re determined to keep the restaurant on the forefront.”

Herb & Wood

2210 Kettner Blvd, Little Italy 619.955.8495, herbandwood.com @SDCITYBEAT

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 31

NEIGHBORHOODS | BALBOA PARK

Celebrating Diversity San Diego Museum Month gives patrons a discount on fun Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

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an Diego is celebrating its diversity with its 31st annual San Diego Museum Month, which pairs the San Diego Museum Council with Hilton, Macy’s and local libraries to offer half-priced admission to more than 40 museums and attractions.

Patrons can pick up a museum month pass at the three entities to receive halfpriced tickets for up to four people through Saturday, February 29.

“It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the museums and drive traffic during an otherwise slow month,” says Rebecca Handelsman, San Diego Museum Council board president.

“A lot of museums are busy during the summer and spring break. This is an opportunity to get people to visit during February.”

For the third year, Hilton is supporting the San Diego Museum Council by offering Museum Month visitors their best deals at 40 participating Hilton properties across San Diego County, with locations in close proximity to all participating museums, from Downtown San Diego (and nearby cultural hub Balboa Park), to popular coastal communities, to North County. Hilton guests interested in making the most of their time in America’s Finest City exploring a wide range of unique museums, aquariums, gardens and historical sites can pick up their pass when they check in to any of the participating hotels.

“San Diego is an incredible arts and culture destination that deserves the spotlight,” says Beth Caulfield, senior director, Destination Marketing at Hilton.

“We are thrilled to be able to share these unique museum experiences with our guests.

Whether they are art aficionados, history buffs, nature lovers or simply curious for new adventures in San Diego, there is a cultural gem waiting to ‘wow’ them during Museum Month.”

Local residents can pick up Museum Month passes at more than 75 public libraries throughout San Diego County, including branches managed by San Diego County, San Diego Public, Carlsbad City, Chula Vista Public, Coronado Public, Escondido Public, National City Public and Oceanside Public libraries.

In its second year, this library partnership ensures the Museum Month pass is accessible to all San Diego County residents. The program is made possible with additional support from the Serra Cooperative Library System.

The Museum Month discount pass can also be picked up at participating Macy’s stores in San Diego and Imperial County.

In 2019, more than 25,000 visitors used the pass to explore San Diego museums.

“San Diego is about more than beaches and bigname tourist attractions,” says San Diego Museum Council Executive

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Director Nicole Miller-Coleman.

“We believe everyone deserves rich and diverse museum experiences. Thanks to the partners who support this unparalleled community access program, including Hilton Hotels and regional public libraries, those experiences are more tangible than ever.

Whether you’re a local or just visiting, San Diego Museum Month is the perfect time to discover 42 more reasons to love San Diego.”

Handelsman, who also serves as the San Diego Natural History Museum’s senior director of communications, has a number of recommendations.

“They just opened a new conservatory,” she says. “It’s a beautiful new building.

This is an opportunity for people to see something there that’s brand new.

“At the Nat, we have two films opening on February 17 that are included with admission—‘Dinosaurs of Antarctica 3D’ and ‘Museum Alive 3D.’ The San Diego Art Institute has a new exhibit called ‘Illumination’ that is really neat. The Birch Aquarium has a whale festival. The USA Midway Museum is always super popular. There’s so much to see throughout the entire month.”

A San Diego vacation planning guide and interactive map of participating Hilton locations is available at travel.hilton.com/ sandiego.

San Diego Museum Month sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/ specials/museum-month

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NEIGHBORHOODS | BALBOA PARK

OH! San Diego

The city’s architectural foundation hosts open house Vince Meehan >> San Diego CityBeat

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he San Diego Architectural Foundation will hold its annual OH! San Diego (Open House San Diego) event Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8, and the event is free for all visitors.

The festival will offer tours of San Diego’s most iconic buildings and residences including normally exclusive locales such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Salk Institute.

The event will consist of nine separate hubs in neighborhoods such as Downtown, Bankers Hill, Barrio Logan, Balboa Park, Point Loma and La Jolla. These hubs will serve as a jumping-off point to tour the neighborhood, and visitors are free to choose whichever neighborhood they would like to tour.

Carol Chin is the program director for OH! San Diego and is excited about the upcoming event.

“Open House San Diego 2020 is almost here, and it will be the fifth open house event that the San Diego Architectural foundation has hosted,” Chin says.

“We’re excited to have over 100 sites and tours for the event this year, in nine neighborhoods, the newest of which is Coronado. What people can expect is an opportunity to visit sites of architectural interest, historic interest, cultural interest and just the chance to talk to the people who work there. Also, to learn something new about San Diego, and discuss these things with the fellow San Diegans and even visitors from around the world.”

Attendees will be able to go inside buildings that are not usually open to the public, and some of them are residences. Some are new and have not been seen before, while others are historic landmarks with a long history in San Diego. Some of the locales include the Villa Montezuma Museum in Barrio Logan, The Balboa Theatre Downtown, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts @SDCITYBEAT

Center in La Jolla and the Hawthorne Inn in Bankers Hill.

Maps and souvenir programs will be available at the neighborhood hubs as well as event T-shirts featuring the Hotel Del Coronado in tribute to the addition of Coronado to the tours. The tour is part of an international network of tours, which started in London, England, 27 years ago. Chin noted that visi-

tors from around the world come to San Diego for the tour, and have also participated in the other festivals. She says they even show up with shirts and bags from the events.

“San Diego is part of a broad, worldwide family of cities who put on the shows, and it’s a way to do cultural tourism to these cities while they host their events,” she says.

“It’s a great way to learn about other cities and other countries and it fosters understanding. We have events in England, Mexico, Spain and Italy, but in the United States, only four cities host these open houses. This includes New York, Chicago, Atlanta and San Diego; so we’re in very good company.”

San Diego Architectural Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote architecture and educate the public about planning and urban design. It is also well known for its annual Orchids & Onions awards, where it honors the best as well as the worst of San Diego’s new designs. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to tour the sites and enjoy San Diego’s rich heritage and even participate in photography and drawing contests.

The event relies heavily on volunteers, so San Diegans are encouraged to go to the website and sign up to volunteer.

Chin herself was originally a visitor who later volunteered before being named the program director.

“I think what’s really neat is that visitors become volunteers, and they repeat year after year because they believe in the program itself. We do rely on volunteers since we have 100 sites, so we need an army of, say, 350 to 400 volunteers, and that’s a great way that you can get involved, make new friends and just be an ambassador to San Diego. And here in San Diego, everybody is impacted by our architecture, whether they know it or not, and that’s the beauty of open house San Diego.”

San Diego Architectural Foundation’s OH! San Diego (Open House San Diego) Various times Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8 sdarchitecture.org/openhouse

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NEIGHBORHOODS | BALBOA PARK

Erin Go Rock

Local Irish music headlines the St. Patrick’s Festival Vince Meehan >> San Diego CityBeat

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his year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Irish Congress of Southern California’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival. San Diego’s best Irish bands will converge on the Saturday, March 14, event, which features twin stages inside the huge Guinness-sponsored beer garden at Balboa Park.

Tony Munde is an event veteran and is in charge of the entertainment on the twin stages, which has become the festival’s epicenter.

“We’ll have two stages so when one band finishes their set we’ll go right into the next group of musicians, which means continuous music,” Munde says.

“The music will be traditional Irish as well as a newer, rock-format Irish. We’ve got some great artists such as Tony Cummins, The Shamrockers and The Fooks, so it will be good show for everybody.”

The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Fifth Avenue and Laurel Street and winds its way through Bankers Hill before ending at Sixth and Laurel in Balboa Park. This is where the Irish festival is located, and the party lasts till 6 p.m. The music kicks off at 12:45 p.m. with a nontraditional bagpipe set from the San Diego Firefighters and Emerald Society Pipes and Drums playing a raucous set of pop music on the grass in the beer garden. Then the Irish

music begins at 1 p.m.

The festival will also feature Irish food and crafts as well as booths representing many of San Diego’s unique firms. The event is rain or shine and is accessible via a free trolley shuttle, which will transport revelers from free parking zones at the Air & Space Museum as well as the Veterans Museum. The theme for this year’s event is “Irish Building America,” which is a nod to the many Irish-owned businesses located in San Diego. The event enjoys huge support from Irish firms as well as the Irish government itself. This is in the form of sponsorships and grants.

Munde credits Guinness as having a key role in making the event a success every year.

“Guinness is our presenting sponsor and they’ve been with us for many years,” Munde says.

“They help us with the purchase of the beer-garden beverages we serve here.

And it’s great to be linked to somebody like that. We also have sponsorships from companies like Green Leaf and we work closely with the Irish government; we get a grant from them each year. It’s the emigrants support program, which ties us into the Irish government and helps us focus on things that they would like to see in their Diaspora around the world.

And it’s been a real rewarding experience meeting with those people and also getting some guidance as to how they’d like their funds to be used here in Southern California.”

The music festival will also feature a unique viewing area for nondrinkers or those younger than 21 so they can enjoy the Irish music as well. And if volunteering is your thing, there are plenty of opportunities.

“We are looking for volunteer servers, so if you feel like you want to come down and volunteer for a couple of hours, we’ll train you on how to properly serve under Alcohol and Beverage Control laws,”

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Munde says.

“You can come serve your friends and neighbors some great Guinness and Harp beer, so come on down and do that.”

The beer garden is definitely where the party is, and you can expect to see a sea of revelers in green attire singing and dancing to the music. Munde is familiar with these shenanigans and is used to seeing the Irish come out in guests.

“You’ll be surprised at the number of people without training that suddenly become Irish dancers in front of our stage on parade day,” Munde says with a laugh.

“I’ve run into coworkers, friends, bosses, a wide range of people enjoying the music and just breaking out into Irish dancing. And like we always like to say: On St. Patrick’s Day, we’re all a little bit Irish, and we’re all Americans.”

St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival Balboa Park, 2500 Sixth Avenue 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 14 Free admission stpatsparade.org

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 37

ARTS

Art Events Calendar Randy Montgomery >> San Diego CityBeat “MURDER FOR TWO: A HILARIOUS WHODUNIT” TO MARCH 1 One fateful night, shots ring out at the surprise birthday party of a great American novelist and the writer is killed. With the nearest detective an hour away, a small-town policeman with dreams of making it to detective jumps at the chance to prove his sleuthing skills, with the help of his silent partner. The officer only has a short amount of time to find the killer and make his name before the real detective arrives.

New Village Arts, 2787 B State Street, Carlsbad, 760.433.3245, newvillagearts. org, times vary, $28-$50.

“SHE LOVES ME: A MUSICAL ROM-COM” TO MARCH 8 This warm romantic comedy has an endearing innocence, with a touch of oldworld elegance. Set in a 1930s European perfumery, we meet two shop clerks, who, more often than not, don’t see eye to eye.

After both respond to a “lonely hearts advertisement” in the newspaper, they now live for the love letters that they exchange, but the identity of their admirers remains unknown. Join the duo as they discover their true loves. Presented by San Diego Musical Theatre.

Horton Grand Theatre, 444 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp, 858.560.5740, sdmt.org, times vary, $35-$70.

“A CHORUS LINE” TO MARCH 22 Explore the inner lives and poignant ambitions of professional Broadway gypsies during this musical that captures the spirit and tension of a chorus audition. The show features one memorable powerhouse number after another. “A Chorus Line” is widely regarded for its brilliantly complex fusion of song, dance and compellingly authentic drama. A preshow meal is available.

Welk Resort Theatre, 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido, 888.802.7469, sandiegotickets.welkresorts.com, times vary, $59.

“FEAR NO ART: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, HISTORIES, CURRENCIES” TO MAY 17 Explore the narratives created when im-

mersed in dialogue with local contemporary artists at San Diego’s Civic Art Collection. “Fear No Art” shares variety of themes and approaches that bring viewers to concepts of institutional critique, art’s ability to speak to the masses, the specificity of the collection and the notion of a collection.

San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Boulevard, 619.236.5800, sandiego. gov/public-library/visualarts.

“THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE” FEBRUARY 22 TO MARCH 1 An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming ding of the bell that signals a spelling mistake.

Presented by Theatre for Young Professionals.

Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Boulevard, Rolando Village, typsandiego.org, 608.577.7001, times vary, $20-$25.

THE ILLUSIONISTS: “LIVE FROM BROADWAY” FEBRUARY 28 TO MARCH 1 Direct from Broadway, the world’s bestselling magic show is coming to San Diego to showcase the jaw-dropping talents. Audiences of all ages will be dazzled by the powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen.

San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Avenue, Downtown, 619.570.1100, broadwaysd.com, times vary, tickets start at $27.50.

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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S “OVO” MARCH 5 TO MARCH 8 Cirque du Soleil’s production is teeming with life. Insects work, play, fight and look for love in a nonstop riot of energy in motion. Their home is filled with biodiversity, beauty, action and moments of quiet emotion. The awestruck insects are intensely curious when a mysterious egg appears, representing the enigma and cycles of their lives.

Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, San Diego State University, College West, 619.594.0234, cirquedusoleil. com/ovo, times vary, tickets start at $45.

HIGH TEA DINNER THEATER: “CLUE ON STAGE” MARCH 5 TO MARCH 22 It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons and the host is dead. Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the popular board game. This is an immersive dining experience, with a fully themed high tea.

The 413 Project, The Grand Tea Room, 145 W. Grand Avenue, Escondido, 760.233.9500, 413rep.org, $69-$102.

BEL CANTO TRIO MARCH 4 In 1947, Columbia Artist Management created The Bel Canto Trio. From 1947 to 1948 the trio performed 86 concerts throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. To celebrate the tour’s 70th anniversary, a new Bel Canto Trio was created

starring tenor Joshua Guerrero, soprano Julie Adams and bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee. The new trio will perform the original program and will be joined by Christopher Allen on piano. Presented by San Diego Opera.

The Conrad, 7600 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, 619.533.7000, sdopera.org, 7:30 p.m., $43-$135.

“BALANCHINE AND MORE” MARCH 6 TO MARCH 8 City Ballet continues its commitment of presenting works choreographed by George Balanchine. Ballet lovers will also be treated to additional works by additional renown choreographers in this production. The company will be accompanied by The City Ballet Orchestra, with John Nettles conducting.

Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, Downtown Theater District, 858.272.8375, cityballet.org, times vary, $27-$92.

“THE VAIN PRINCESS AND THE NORTH WIND” MARCH 6 TO MARCH 22 After the Princess offends a magical bird, a kind and humble beggar sets out on a quest to break the curse and save the kingdom. Hans must travel to meet the North Wind and persuade him to give him back what was stolen. As a gift, the North Wind gives Hans a series of magical items, each of which the innkeeper and his wife steal from the boy while he sleeps. Both of the presented stories offer a valuable lesson to its protagonist.

Patio Playhouse, 116 Kalmia Street, Escondido, 760.746.6669, patioplayhouse. com, times vary, $10-$28. @SDCITYBEAT

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ARTS

The Queen of Harps Versatile musician Chiara Capobianco plays for any occasion Vince Meehan >> San Diego CityBeat

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a Jolla resident Chiara Capobianco is a world-class musician and she knows it. Being Italian, she exudes a fair share of bravado, which can be mistaken for cockiness if it weren’t for her effervescent personality.

In true Italian fashion, she takes in everything with fun and laughter, and her zest for life is contagious. The harp is her weapon of choice in her quest to enchant unsuspecting patrons wherever she plays, but she is also classically trained on the piano and the flute. This musical education has served as the foundation and catalyst of her life. And she is one of the most prolific harpists in San Diego.

Capobianco was born and studied music in Milan, Italy. Her status has been earned by performing all over the world in five-star resorts and cruise liners such as the Cunard Line QE2.

She refers to herself as “Chiara Capobianco: everyone’s favorite harpist,” with a laugh and a toss of her hair.

“I’ve lived all over the world with music—with the harp—thanks to the harp, actually, and I’ve come from Italy to America via Thailand,” Capobianco says.

“I was living in Thailand playing in a five-star resort and I met an Irishman and we soon began dating. Of course, he was impressed when he saw me because— playing the harp—an Italian girl who’s playing the Irish instrument,” Capobianco adds with tongue firmly planted in cheek. “Later he was offered a job in the United States and he asked me to come with him, so I did.”

As is common with harpists, she plays the classical and Irish versions of the instrument. The Irish version is smaller and has typically around 30 strings, while the classical version is much larger and features 47 strings. The classical harp was developed from the Irish version to accommodate the symphonic and orchestral pieces that the classic composers produced.

They ended up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she performed for the Irish Chamber of Commerce. Eventually they split up and she moved to San Diego after being coaxed by a friend of hers @SDCITYBEAT

that she knew from her time on the cruise ships.

But before that, she spent six years performing on the cruise ships and two years living in India. “I lived in India for two years playing for the big Indian weddings,” the harpist says. “That was through an agency, I was paid to be there so they could showcase what they had to offer—the different artists in their catalog. So they had me, had this European harp player, performing the Bollywood Indian love songs on the harp, and that was very appealing so I did a lot of weddings through them.”

Capobianco’s relationship with the harp started at an early age, but it was not her first choice.

“I started the harp when I was 9 1/2, and what made me gravitate toward the harp was the flute.”

Her older sister played the flute, and she was inspired by everything she was doing.

Capobianco shadowed her sister in ballet classes, too, which pleased her parents

because they were occupied in something worthwhile.

“I learned to read music quite fast and the music teacher—the maestro—suggested to my parents to enroll me in a proper music school—the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music of Milan—in the city, not like the community neighborhood music, so it was like a step up in the game. My parents were like, ‘Sure!

OK!’ and they embraced the suggestion.”

Because she already learned to play the flute, she applied as a flutist. But the school encouraged the students to choose additional instruments, so she also chose the piano. Eventually, after some prodding from one of the administrators, she chose the harp as well. “You can choose three instruments to apply for because they limit the amount of students who are accepted to keep the student-to-teacherratio down,” Capobianco notes.

“And also for everybody to have enough learning time to keep that standard level of musicianship for which the school is famous for. So, of course, I ap-

plied for the flute.

I also chose the piano, and the school strongly recommend that I include a third instrument because it’s all about getting into the school. Once you’re in, after the first year, you can switch instruments. So we included the third instrument and then I said, “Oh I love the harp!’

So, the rest is history.”

Now, the harpist calls San Diego her home, where she performs at many events including the La Jolla Wine & Art Festival and the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival in Balboa Park. She also teaches harp and piano at locations such as La Jolla Music, and Villa Musica in Sorrento Valley. This keeps her busy and makes her quite the happy harpist.

“I play and I teach. I’m a gigging harpist. I play for weddings, for high-end events, parties, you name it. The harp is beautiful because it fits. It fits in any circumstance. I play funerals, memorial services, and I usually play solo. And I also play Sunday brunch here in La Jolla at Piazza 1909, which is on Fay Avenue. It’s run by an Italian couple from Milan, and I perform from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Sunday afternoon. It’s brunch hour with relaxing harp music.”

Capobianco is grateful for the journey her harps have taken her on, and relishes the opportunity to have performed around the world. She certainly is grateful to her family for encouraging her to learn the music that has made her journey possible. “Thanks to my sister, and thanks to my parent’s open mind, and thanks to the random choice of harp, I am where I am today. I guess it was destiny.”

St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival

Balboa Park, 2500 Sixth Avenue 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 14 (Chiara Capobianco performs on the North Stage at 2:30 p.m.)

Free admission stpatsparade.org

FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 41

ARTS

Bringing the Party

Chula Vista celebrates Mexico and Mariachi at annual festival Anna Johnson >> San Diego CityBeat

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he eighth annual Mariachi Festival & Competition at Bayside Park is about more than celebrating Mexican music and culture.

Organizers are working to introduce youngsters to the genre.

“The purpose of the festival is youth development of arts and culture, with a focus on Mexican art and culture,” says Jacqueline Reynoso of the National City Chamber of Commerce.

“Attendees of the festival can expect, too, to experience the sights, flavors and sounds of Mexico.”

This “taste of Mexico” will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 8, and features a full day of entertainment, competition, food and drink.

Headlining the main stage is the world-renowned act Mariachi Angeles de Pepe Martinez Jr. “Mariachi Angeles de Pepe Martinez Jr. is a fairly new group on the mariachi scene,” says Martinez, who was a 25-year member of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán.

“The sound of the mariachi is deeply rooted in tradition and the style that made mariachi music popular all over the world,” he says.

Martinez is best known for his charisma and impressive musicianship and vocals. His show will cover songs by the genre’s most-revered composers, including Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Juan Gabriel and Ruben Fuentes, as well as “mariachi

music’s most beloved and legendary Don Pepe Martinez”—his father.

The lineup also features Marina Saenz, who dazzled many last year, and student competitors in this year’s mariachi competition. They’ll compete in middle school, high school and university categories and perform for Martinez. The winning student groups will receive cash stipends and sponsorships.

The second stage will feature a variety of showcase performers throughout the day.

While the event’s focus is mariachi, food takes center stage. Twelve vendors

will sell refreshments, and those 21 and older can sip on local brews. More than 100 vendors and exhibitors will display their wares.

In the family pavilion, children can partake in face painting, caricatures, arts and crafts and organized games. An inflatable rock-climbing wall and a petting zoo will be open during the festival in the pavilion.

The expanded Green Zone will provide opportunities to learn about environmental sustainability as the festival is becoming increasingly eco-friendly. This year, it’s completely Styrofoam-free and organizers are offering a bike valet service to encourage attendees to take clean transportation to and from the event.

Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets, as seating is limited.

Mariachi Festival & Competition

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 8 Bayside Park, 999 Bayside Parkway, Chula Vista Tickets start at $10; military and veterans with ID are admitted free mariachifest.com

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DINING

Dining Calendar Randy Montgomery >> San Diego CityBeat

CHUAO CHOCOLATIER FACTORY TOUR THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS Book a guided tour of Chuao Chocolatier’s Joy Factory and learn about the chocolate master who started it all. Taste the company’s most-admired chocolate bars and bonbons. See where the chocolates are crafted and ready to be shared and cherished with the world.

Chuao Chocolatier Joy Factory & HQ, 2350 Camino Vida Roble, Suite 101, Carlsbad, chuaochocolatier.com, times vary, $15.

LA JOLLA WORLD TEA ENTHUSIASTS SUNDAYS Every Sunday in the Riford Library’s patio, sample high-quality teas from around the world. The Jolla World Tea Enthusiasts is a club run by people who love high-quality teas, rare teas, exotic teas and teas from around the world. Experience the tea and the history behind each.

La Jolla Riford Library, 7555 Draper Avenue, La Jolla, 858.552.1657, sandiego.librarymarket.com, 2 to 5 p.m., free.

TIKI BRUNCH SUNDAYS On Sundays, get your tiki on with a brunch that offers the likes of shishito peppers with crispy garlic, bonito flake, and ponzu for starters, as an appetizer selection. For your main course, try the grass skirt breakfast sandwich or a tender belly pork belly rice bowl with housemade kimchi. Spirit selections include Good Morning Vietnam, made with Trinidad rum, coconut rum, coffee liqueur, French roast and condensed milk.

The Grass Skirt, 910 Grand Avenue, Pacific Beach, 858.412.5237, thegrassksirt.com, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., prices vary.

OCEANA CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH SUNDAYS A weekly tradition, this Sunday Champagne Brunch blends panoramic Mission Bay views with a carefully selected menu. Along with champagne and mimosas, guests are treated to a madeto-order entrée of their choice, as well as an all-you-can-eat display of fresh sushi, shrimp, crab, fruit, salads and antipasto selections. Presented by Executive Chef Steven Riemer.

Oceana Coastal Kitchen, 3999 Mission Boulevard, Mission Bay, 858.5398635, catamaranresort.com, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $30-$65.

TICKLE MY TACO TUESDAY! TUESDAYS The New Gossip Grill has been Southern California’s full-time women’s bar since 2009. The Nicky Award Winner also features a kitchen, and on Tuesdays offers $2.50 tacos and $5 totchos and margaritas. The kitchen closes at 10 p.m., and when the sun sets, the bar transforms into a dance nightclub for the ladies.

Don’t worry; they also play nice with the boys and everyone in between.

The New Gossip Grill, 1220 University Avenue, Hillcrest, 619.260.8023, gossipgrill.com, noon to 10 p.m., prices vary.

DINNER WITH A VIEW: A UNIQUE POP-UP DINING EXPERIENCE TO MARCH 8 Attendees will be seated in intimate, clear, frameless geodesic domes transformed into terrariums, each highlighting terrains found across the world. This premium pop-up features a three-course blind menu featuring meat, fish and vegan options prepared by an acclaimed chef. Each dome can accommodate four to six guests. Beverages not included.

Liberty Station Central Promenade, 2875 Dewey Road, Point Loma, dinnerwithaview.ca, times vary, $199.99 plus dome rental.

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WINTER WATERS: A SUSTAINABLE SERIES

BY JOJO AND FRIENDS, FEATURING CHEF DIEGO GALICIA FEBRUARY 24 Chef JoJo will be joined by Mixtli coowner and chef Diego Galicia, with a portion of the evening’s proceeds benefiting the Berry Good Foundation.

The San Antonio-based Mixtli specializes in progressive Mexican fine cuisine, with a menu that travels, offering a tour in Mexican gastronomy. The restaurant sits 12 guests per night, serving more than 10 courses, and rotates every 45 days. Winter Waters is San Diego’s only sustainability-focused dinner series.

Serēa, 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, 619.435.6611, sereasandiego.com/ winter-waters, 6 to 9 p.m., $120.

TRUFFLE DINNER MARCH 5 Black truffles are featured in four original courses, like beef tartare and pasta.

Giardino, 8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 619.825.7112, giardinosd.com, info@giardinosd.com, 6:30 p.m., $99.

A TASTE OF TWO LEGENDS MARCH 7 An evening full of Morton’s cuisine paired perfectly with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars wine. Passed appetizers include caviar blini and duck rillettes on crostini.

The salad course includes a burrata, pear and prosciutto salad. Entrée is porcinirubbed filet mignon.

Morton’s The Steakhouse, 285 J Street, Gaslamp, 619.696.3369, mortons.com, 6:30 p.m., $135.

MEXICO IN A BOTTLE MARCH 8 What began as an event to tell and celebrate the story of mezcal has evolved to showcase the growing craft beverage scene in Mexico. No longer just an agave-driven movement, rum, whiskey, botanicals, liqueurs, bitters, wine and beer are making their way into the market. The story of mezcal and these other elixirs isn’t just about alcohol; each contains a piece and flavor of Mexican culture and a link to history, tradition, food, art and music.

Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Avenue, Sherman Heights, mexinabottle.com, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., $60-$75.

NOTORIOUS B.R.U.N.C.H. MARCH 14 Music and food come together on the second Saturday of the month. Get off your seat and brunch around with the sickest throwback hip-hop beats. This Gaslamp favorite features a brunch menu and themed cocktails like Gin and Juice, Bust a Lime and What a ManMosa.

Searsucker, 611 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.233.7327, searsucker. com, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., prices vary.

TIJUANA HOLD THE MEAT VEGAN EATS MARCH 14 Nothing compares to the almighty taco.

Turista Libre offers a special vegan tour that takes visitors to the edges of Tijuana in search of the city’s Mexico’s culinary superstar. Tickets include roundtrip border transportation, courses at three vegan eateries, and dessert at an artisan ice cream parlor. The group meets on the U.S. side of the Pedwest border crossing, with an estimated return at 5 p.m.

Virginia Avenue Transit Center, San Ysidro, U.S. Side of Border, touristalibre.com, 10 a.m., $70.

ABNORMAL BEER DINNER WITH GRAVITY HEIGHTS MARCH 16 The Abnormal Dinner Series is back with the first quarterly beer dinner of the year. Abnormal Beer Co. and The Cork and Craft will host an elevated dinner in collaboration with Gravity Heights.

The multicourse meal is presented by The Cork and Craft Executive Chef Scott Cannon and Gravity Heights’ Culinary Director Ryan Johnston. Each of the chef ’s courses will be paired with beers from Abnormal and Gravity Heights.

The Cork and Craft, 16990 Via Tazon, Rancho Bernardo, 858.618.2463, thecorkandcraft.com, 6 to 9 p.m., $69.

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DINING

Good things come in small, triangular packages Sambusas and an excellent buffet at Flavors of East Africa Michael A. Gardiner >> San Diego CityBeat

F

ried pastries stuffed with savory fillings are a common dish in many corners of the world.

From India (where they’re called “samosas”) to Israel (where they’re “sambusaq”) and Turkey (“sambussak”), and from the Horn of Africa to Portuguese (“chamuças”) and Englishspeaking (“samosa,” “samboosac” or “samoosa”) lands, they’re amazingly versatile.

With different fillings they can play a role in breakfast, lunch, dinner and be a snack or even a dessert. At Flavors of East Africa (2322 El Cajon Boulevard) in North Park, what they are is this: extraordinary.

The triangular-shaped “sambusas” at Flavors of East Africa are offered with six different fillings: spicy beef, chicken, spicy lentil, potato, spinach and cream cheese with coconut and shrimp. The deepfried pastry surrounding the fillings is surprisingly delicate and light, but it’s the fillings that nonetheless star.

The best of these is the spicy lentil. In this case the “spices” are not so much hot as they are exotic, warming and even intriguing. The chicken sambusas run a close second. The sambusas are served with two dipping sauces: coriander and tamarind chutneys. As good as those sauces are, they’re almost surplus to requirements given the complexity of the sambusas themselves.

Flavors of East Africa bills itself as of-

fering “Kenyan-inspired cuisine.” That influence is definitely there; nowhere more clearly than in sukuma wiki (a classic East African dish of collard greens and cabbage) and wali (a Kenyan take on coconut rice). Another standout is biriganya, hunks of eggplant stewed in an

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East African-spiced tomato sauce. The depth of flavor of the sauce is intense but it’s the silky, pillowy soft eggplant that somehow manages not to fall apart that is the real magic of the dish.

But the culinary influences at Flavors of East Africa go far beyond Kenya

and, for that matter, Africa.

What the non-Kenyan dishes share in common is a British colonial heritage. One of the best of these is the decidedly non-Kenyan spicy jerk chicken. The spice level varies somewhat from visit to visit but never veers to the nuclear.

The sweet version of the jerk chicken is, frankly, disappointing: go with the spicy.

Another disappointment was the chicken curry. It seemed to be all cream, little curry and no spice whatsoever. On two separate trips the dish was a long draught of richness with little contrast and less reward.

One good way to experience the variety of offerings at Flavors of East Africa is the lunch buffets. A variety of the restaurants most popular (though generally less expensive) dishes are arrayed around the northwest corner of the restaurant as an inexpensive, all-youcan-eat setup. On one trip the star of the buffet was a goat soup that isn’t even on the regular menu. The broth was intensely flavored with a hint of spice, but it was the rich, ever-so-slightly flunky flavor of the goat that really made the dish shine.

As good as the lunch buffet is, though, be sure to order some sambusas.

It will cost extra but it will be worth it.

Flavors of East Africa 2322 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park flavorsofeastafrica.com

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 47

BEER AND WINE

Beer and Wine Calendar Randy Montgomery >> San Diego CityBeat TAROT WEDNESDAYS Have a drink and find out your past, present and future. Start with happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m., where $7 wells, drafts, sangrias and house wines are featured. Then, at 7 p.m., free tarot card readings will be offered by a reader with an extensive background in astrology and numerology.

Vin de Syrah, 901 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.234.4166, syrahwineparlor.com, 5 to 7 p.m., prices vary.

CURBSIDE BITES FOOD TRUCK MARKETS - DOWNTOWN LUNCH FEBRUARY 19 AND FEBRUARY 26 Work Downtown? Simply looking for new and exciting dining trends? Sick of the same old fast food? Head to the Curbside Bites Food Truck Market on B Street. Once a week, during lunch-time hours, a rotating collection of the area’s best food-truck operators converge for a dining experience that is constantly evolving.

B Street between India and Columbia streets, Downtown, curbsidebites.com, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., prices vary.

BBQ, BREWS & BLUES THURSDAYS Inspired by the olive trees, gardens and villas that dot the Mediterranean coastline, this Rancho Bernardo Inn restaurant melds the classic and the unexpected. Fresh and modern, the seasonal menus feature Mediterranean cuisine with a Southern California twist.

On Thursdays, enjoy the sounds of blues music while enjoying a $24 barbecue plate and $4 draft beer.

Veranda Fireside Lounge and Restaurant, 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo, 844.338.9275, ranchobernardoinn.com, 5 to 9 p.m., prices vary.

WINE TASTINGS FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS Vin de Syrah offers wine tastings every Friday and Saturday at the establishment’s 12-foot candlelit tasting table. The experience includes three full glasses of wine and three hand-selected food pairings. Be prepared for a fun and edgy evening with one of two in-house sommeliers. The tactless and outrageous tastings will have guests talking about Syrah

for weeks. Book in advance.

Vin de Syrah, 901 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.234.4166, syrahwineparlor.com, 8 p.m., $45.

GASLAMP QUARTER MARDI GRAS FEBRUARY 22 Get into the Mardi Gras spirit and enjoy New Orleans-inspired bites and carnivalinspired cocktails throughout Gaslamp Quarter, with beads at every stop. After the libations, head to the carnival afterparty, as Brazilian Productions brings an epic night of music, dancing and entertainment. Ticket includes 20 sips, 20 bites, and the secret afterparty.

Various locations, Gaslamp, 619.233.5008, sdmardigras.com, 1 to 5 p.m., $30-$50.

TRIVIA NIGHT FEBRUARY 26 South Park Brewing Company is the award-winning sister brewpub to the iconic beer haven Hamilton’s Tavern.

The small-batch brewery offers a large and diverse selection of award-winning beers and features food from South Park Kitchen. On trivia night, showcase the team’s brilliance, win prizes and claim the title of an all-around boss.

South Park Brewing, 1517 30th Street, South Park, 619.610.9038, southparkbrewing.com, trivia begins 6 p.m., prices vary.

NEW ZEALAND WINE DINNER MARCH 1 Join The Cork and Craft for its first wine dinner of the year. Guests can enjoy an intimate dining experience featuring a four-course menu full of regional cuisine and wines from New Zealand.

The Cork and Craft, 16990 Via Tazon, Rancho Bernardo, 858.618.2463, thecorkandcraft.com, time TBA, $75.

will take care of the rest. All of the games are easy to learn, fun to play and team oriented.

Green Flash Brewing Co., 6550 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Mira Mesa, 858.622.0085, greenflashbrew.com, 6 to 9 p.m., prices vary.

FESTA DELLA DONNA MARCH 8 Giardino owner Karina Kravalis invites guests in to toast to International Women’s Day, which is known as Festa Della Donna in Italy. As a special treat, women who dine at the restaurant that day will receive a complimentary dessert from the chef with their meal, plus $5 glasses of sparkling rose all day.

Giardino, 8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 619.825.7112, giardinosd.com, all day, various prices.

SHAMROCK 2020 MARCH 14 Celebrating 25 years of Irish revelry, San Diego shamROCK is back to with the city’s largest St. Patrick’s Day block party.

Over 15,000 attendees will enjoy everflowing pints of green Bud Light beer and Tullamore Dew whiskey libations.

Three stages of nonstop performances by nationally recognized Irish rock and Celtic bands and top DJs will keep the crowd pumped.

Gaslamp, 619.233.5008, sandiegosharmock.com, 2 p.m. to midnight, $59-$129.

ABNORMAL BEER CO. FIFTH ANNIVERSARY PARTY MARCH 14 Abnormal Beer Co. is turning 5 and to celebrate it is partnering with Bottlecraft in Sorrento Valley. Guests can head to the popular bottle shop on March 14, where Abnormal will have music, local artists, a tap list, guest breweries,

merchandise and food trucks. Abnormal Beer Co. will also release its Pi Beer cans at the party, as well as a trio of pie-inspired Berliner Weisse—lemon méringue, key lime and blackberry pies—and a pecan pie imperial stout. It’s all for Pi Day. Bottlecraft, 11055 Roselle Street, Suite 1204, Sorrento Valley, bottlecraft.com, 4 to 9 p.m., various pricing.

ABNORMAL BEER DINNER WITH GRAVITY HEIGHTS MARCH 16 The Abnormal Dinner Series is back with the first quarterly beer dinner of the year. Abnormal Beer Co. and The Cork and Craft will host an elevated dinner in collaboration with Gravity Heights.

The multicourse meal is presented by The Cork and Craft Executive Chef Scott Cannon and Gravity Heights’ Culinary Director Ryan Johnston. Each of the chef ’s courses will be paired with beers from Abnormal and Gravity Heights.

The Cork and Craft, 16990 Via Tazon, Rancho Bernardo, 858.618.2463, thecorkandcraft.com, 6 to 9 p.m., $69.

MISSION BREWERY TOUR ONGOING Mission Brewery was established in 1913 and, like most breweries of the time, went out of business during the first year of Prohibition. In 2007, it was re-established and eventually relocated to the Historic Wonder Bread Building. Tours are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at various times, and include five tasters. Beer ambassadors will guide you on a behind-the-scenes look at the facility, taking you on a journey from grain to glass.

Mission Brewery, 1441 L Street, East Village, 619.544.0555, missionbrewery. com, times vary, $12.

GAME NIGHT MARCH 3 Interested in having fun and meeting people? Get your game on! This hosted tournament-style game night will challenge all your party game skills: drawing, guessing and acting. Come as a team, bring a friend or just show up. The hosts

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Rebranded and Refreshed

BEER AND WINE

Native American brewery reinvents, launches four new beers Michelle Stansbury >> San Diego CityBeat

T

he Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians has unveiled Rincon Reservation Road Brewery (3R Brewery), a rebranded and refreshed brewery and tasting room adjacent to Harrah’s Resort Southern California.

The former beer concept, called SR76 Beerworks, was the first Native Americanowned and -operated brewery on tribal land in Southern California. The new iteration, Rincon Reservation Road Brewery, tells the rich history of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, paying homage to the indigenous trail that runs through several modern-day Indian reservations including Rincon, Pechanga, Soboba, Pala, Pauma and La Jolla.

Ruth-Ann Thorn, chairwoman for the Rincon Economic Development Corporation (REDCO), explains the inspiration behind the rebrand.

“SR76 referred to the path that the Luiseño tribes traveled along the San Luis Rey River,” Thorn says. “It was later turned into State Route 76. Although the story was there, we did not feel the name captured the story of our heritage and ancestors. We rebranded to Rincon Reservation Road Brewery to bring our culture forward in a way that tells our story in a recognizable way. As it did in the olden times, Rincon Reservation Road still connects our people.”

According to the tribe, its ancestors traveled this trail along the San Luis Rey River from its headwaters located in the Warner Hot Springs area of Palomar Mountain, to its mouth at modern-day Oceanside. The Luiseño people used this trail to hunt as well as gather acorns with which they made

OASIS BLONDE ALE 4.2% ABV

The Oasis is a sanctuary of hidden beauty on Rincon Reservation. This light in color blonde ale celebrates that beauty with its low hoppy bitterness that balances well with slight fruit flavors. Dry, medium-bodied, with a malty sweetness.

REZ DOG HEFEWEIZEN 5% ABV

In honor of the many reservation dogs, the Hefeweizen is a crisp, refreshing brew, taking the road less traveled. Made of 55% wheat malt, 45% two-row malt and German Hefeweizen yeast, Rez Dog has a medium mouthfeel with large amounts of fruity banana aroma and flavor with a hint of clove.

wewish, a traditional staple of their diet.

They also took this trail to the coast, where they would fish in the shallow rocks. Along the trail, they would often stop to visit with friends and relatives in tribal villages.

The new Rincon Reservation Road Brewery logo also incorporates the heritage of the tribe.

“Our logo is an important symbol,” Thorn says. “It represents an appreciation of nature. The diamondback rattlesnake holds significance to our tribe, and the pattern is inspired by the fine art of Luiseño basketry.”

The motivation to create the brewery

CHIEF IPA 6% ABV

The Chief IPA is brewed with two-row, wheat and oats to give it a dry, crisp, clean, low-malt flavor. It is made with Zappa, CTZ and Chinook hops to create a medium hop bitterness of spice and citrus with loads of tropical flavors and pine aromas.

was natural.

“San Diego is the Craft Beer Capital of America, and we felt as a native tribe from San Diego that we should share our heritage with the craft beer industry,” she says.

Its four core beers are made with water from within the reservation and include a

RED RATTLER AMBER ALE 5% ABV

The Red Rattler Amber Ale symbolizes the balance and respect needed to pay homage to San Diego’s largest snake species. Beautiful and powerful, this amber ale uses caramel malts that lend a toasted toffee and caramel flavor, with a pine hop bitterness to balance the sweetness.

blonde ale, a Hefeweizen, an amber ale and an IPA. Upcoming plans include gathering stories from tribal elders on the reservation to inspire the next generation of beer releases and launching a new food menu inspired by their culture and native plants.

Rincon Reservation Road Brewery 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center 3rbrewery.com

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 51

BEER AND WINE

WORT MENTIONING

My Yard (a)Live and Well Halfway through its first year, the brewpub is booming Karen Barnett >> San Diego CityBeat

L

ast July, San Marcos welcomed new brewpub My Yard Live. I had heard that the concept was supposed to mimic a house party. Band playing in the yard, beer on tap and fun for all. I’m probably going to stop listening to those people because this was not the vibe I felt at all.

Walking into MYL, the first thing you notice is how big the space is. There are so many different places to sit, you kind of don’t know which direction to go. Because I was meeting my brother on a Sunday night during football season, there was sports ball on all the TVs and groups had gathered to watch throughout the more than 15,000 square feet of property.

I found myself confused with how to navigate the space. There were employees

rushing all around but in different directions. There was no host or greeting to guide or seat me, which is definitely not a requirement—I know my way around a bar—but with so many places to be seated and multiple lines forming in different areas, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to be.

Kids screamed as they played arcade and other table/skill games in an area to my left. Lines were forming at a counter in front of the kitchen, but a line also formed across from that at the bar, though nobody was really sitting at the bar. Long grouped, picnic-style tables in one area were claimed by a large birthday party.

Couches in an adjacent area had another birthday party corralled to watch a Chargers game. A band was setting up outside.

Great! Pretty much all live music is good music (save an elementary woodwind recital), so I was looking forward to enjoying that over the football everyone else

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was concerned with.

It was too chilly to sit outside so I opted for a seat at the bar, because, duh, I love bars. Plus, it usually puts you in the catbird seat for surveillance of the room and directly in front of the taps. After all, I’m here for the beer, and people watching just might be my favorite sport. If you are not sitting at the bar, I learned that you have to wait in the two lines for alcohol or food; while a seat at the bar means you can order both directly from the bartender. As I watched a mom with three children younger than 5 first try to navigate the food line, then the self-serve drink fountain, and finally get them all back to their table with only a minor tantrum that Tyler could not go play the claw machine, I decided I had chosen my seat wisely.

What Filter?, a collaboration zwickelbier with Artifex Brewing Company (San Clemente), was my first choice off

the taps. Mainly because zwickels are fairly uncommon but also because I enjoy Artifex beer, this felt like a safe start.

At a time when people are acutely aware of fresh, hazy beer, it surprises me that zwickelbiers haven’t gained popularity.

Their unfiltered, classic German-style lager is refreshing and sessionable at 5.2% abv (alcohol by volume). My only concern would be that this style is best consumed as fresh as possible, and I wonder how big of a batch they made for this collab or how many times they’ve brewed it since, if it is still on tap months later. I did not ask this question while I was there, but it’s definitely worth an ask to any brewery.

My Yard Lite, an American light lager, was up next. At 3.5% abv, well, it tasted like that. A little too light for me. If you think hops are too spicy, then this is the beer for you. A step up from that, with a little more See

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flavor, is their pilsner, Pool Noodle. I get it.

You’re supposed to drink this one on a hot day, in the pool. I like jokes.

Noise Complaint was more my speed.

An American IPA at 7.2%, it’s clean and hoppy. This beer wants to be a West Coast IPA really bad, but it falls just a little short in brightness and carries more of a malt base than my ideal IPA. It’s still a decent enough beer, though. And coincidentally, I found myself wanting to file a noise complaint once the band started. It still surprises me that Sublime is relevant, I guess.

The only other house, single IPA they had on tap while I was there was a collaboration with Chula Vista Brewing called SD Steel Toes. Another middle-of-theroad beer for me. I find my palate enjoys a brighter, more crisp IPA, though there was nothing technically imperfect with their recipe.

Sandwiched in between all the beer sampling and ’90s ska-punk cheesing up my ear holes, I should mention that I had a few bites of food. I munched on some kettle chips while I waited for my brother to arrive. They were inconsistent in crunch and almost made me think they were fried twice, but they weren’t hot or warm so maybe they were just stale. It hap-

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pens. When my brother arrived, we had the Buffalo chicken salad and the grilled chicken sandwich. The heat in the salad paired nicely with the beer, but I found myself pushing the generously topped bleu cheese aside. The chicken sandwich was unfortunately undercooked and had to be sent back. Again, things happen. In retrospect, maybe we should have just ordered the hot dog on a busy night. Their menu is huge, with almost 50 different items ranging from jambalaya to smoked ribs and brisket, clam chowder, chili and a large variety of burgers, sandwiches and salads. I certainly would have a hard time with ticket times if I was on the line in that kitchen. The staff was apologetic and happy to make the sandwich right, and did so fairly quickly. Bonus points there.

All in all, this spot seems appropriate for North County residents. It caters to large groups and families but definitely has more of an adult Chuck E. Cheese or mini Dave & Buster’s feel than I would personally prefer. I wish them luck as they round out their first year of business.

My Yard Live

288 Rancheros Drive, San Marcos 760.798.0779, myyardlive.com

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SPORTS

Meeting His Match Warren Smith is looking forward to the Loyal’s first season Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

W

arren Smith is looking forward to introducing the city to the San Diego Loyal Soccer Club, the newest member of USL Championship.

The inaugural match is Saturday, March 7, against the Las Vegas Lights FC, and the schedule features the Loyal taking on Rio Grande Valley FC on March 14 and Liga MX’s Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente (Xolos) on March 28.

“I’m thrilled in a whole bunch of ways,” says Smith, the co-founder and president.

“The staff we have is very talented.

They’re experienced in pro sports. I’m excited about the opportunity, but also I see it as a big responsibility. The community’s been through a lot as it relates to sports.

We have a really unique opportunity to bring the community together and celebrate this great region.”

Launched on June 19, 2019, San Diego Loyal will be headed by coach Landon Donovan, football royalty, who is considered one of U.S. men’s soccer’s greatest players. Donovan also serves as executive vice president of soccer operations.

“I’m looking forward to Landon’s team,” he says.

The club is led by Chairman Andrew Vassiliadis, who is the youngest principal owner in USL Championship.

San Diego Loyal is built on four core pillars—independent, authentic, inclusive and optimistic.

Smith’s commitment is strong, as he

signed a three-year letter of commitment to play at Torero Stadium.

“I see it as one of the best sporting opportunities in the country and maybe even the world. I fell in love with the sport a while ago. I played one game of soccer in my life and broke my leg in the first minute,” Smith says.

“There are a lot of people who play the sport. There are more than 100,000 in the U.S. Soccer Federation—that’s not to mention all the leagues who don’t register with the USF. We think it’s about 125,000 people who play the sport. We have one of the biggest populations of soccer playing in the country.”

Smith is open to listening to fans as well.

“I want to get input from the fans on what they want to see out of us—what type of team, what they want us to do in the community, etc.,” he says. “We made a commitment. People ask, ‘Why the name the Loyal?’

The name ‘Loyal’ came from our fans in the listening sessions. They’re loyal to something and the team is loyal to them. We’re very excited.”

A cofounder of Sacramento Republic FC, Smith

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helped ink a multiyear partnership with Adidas. In addition to being the official supplier for the gameday uniform, Adidas will outfit the players and coaching staff for training and travel.

“We’re thrilled to wear the three stripes and to connect with the global leader in soccer,” Smith says. “It’s a true honor to have Adidas represent our look and feel in our merchandise and kits, and we look forward to a strong and long partnership.”

The Loyal revealed a three-game package for the 2020 season for $75. The program includes a ticket to March 7, March 14 and March 28 matches. Single-game

tickets start at $20.

“We’re excited to offer the SD Loyal three pack so fans can be a part of the high-level competition on the field and the experience in the stands during our first games in San Diego,” says Casey Patterson, vice president of ticket sales. “We are also thrilled to welcome the Xolos, as we know they are beloved throughout the region, and we look forward to a long partnership with the club.”

San Diego Loyal

sdloyal.com, 858.465.GOAL

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SPORTS

Sports Calendar Haley Smilow >> San Diego CityBeat SAN DIEGO GULLS VS. SAN JOSE BARRACUDA FEBRUARY 22 After a rocky season, the Gulls will look to pick up a few more points when they face off against San Jose Barracuda. With about 10 points separating the two teams, it should be an easy win for the Gulls. The last time they played one another, on February 5, the Gulls won 4-2. It’s Country Night, so come early at 5 p.m. for the Bud Light pregame tailgate and the cowboy hat giveaway.

Pachenga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, 619.224.4171, sandiegogulls. com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $26.

MEN’S BASKETBALL SAN DIEGO AZTECS VS. COLORADO STATE FEBRUARY 25 The final home game of the San Diego Aztec’s historic season finds them playing Colorado State. It will be the second time the Aztecs take on the Rams this season. The last result was a dominant showing by the Aztecs as they outscored the rams by 22 points. This match should be no different, as SDSU is sitting comfortably at the top of the Mountain West standings. The Aztecs will look to pick up yet another win on their dominant journey to the Mountain West Championships.

Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, College West, 619.594.0234, goaztecs.com, 8 p.m., tickets start at $55.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SAN DIEGO AZTECS VS. NEVADA FEBRUARY 27 The women’s basketball team finishes its season at home against Nevada. The last time the two teams faced off the game came down to the wire, as the Aztecs lost by a shot that was taken with 3 seconds left. It will be up to Taylor Kalmer, the team’s lead scorer, to turn the tides on February 27. The game is also Senior Night.

Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, College West, 619.494.0234, goaztecs.com, 5:30 p.m., tickets start at $6.

SAN DIEGO SEALS VS. ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS MARCH 7 With about a quarter of the season left, the Seals face off against the Rochester Nights.

Both teams are sitting near the bottom of their respective tables, and the game could be a chance to show they are not the worst team in the NLL. The game looks to favor the Seals, as they have scored more goals than Rochester and on average do a bit better on winning face-offs.

Pachenga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, 619.224.4171, sealslax.com, 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $20.

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SAN DIEGO LEGION VS. RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK MARCH 8 With the Major League Rugby season in full swing, San Diego Legion prepares to play Rugby United New York. The Legion sits at the top of the table in close contention with the Seattle Seawolves, Toronto Arrows and Rugby United. For the Legion, it would be a chance to separate themselves from the Seawolves, and for Rugby United it would be chance to take over at the top of the table. The match will be a tale of two sides with Cathal Marsh of Rugby United and Joe Pietersen of San Diego Legion competing for dominance. It should be a close one as the two top teams face off.

Torero Stadium, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, 619.260.7550, sdlegion.com, 4 p.m., tickets start at $18.

SAN DIEGO SOCKERS VS. TACOMA STARS MARCH 8 With the 2020 season drawing toward the end and an even 20 games already played in the season, the Sockers are looking to push into the Major Arena Soccer League playoffs. One of their must-win matches comes against the Stars on March 8. The last time the two teams competed, the Sockers took the game by a score of 8-6. Slavisa Ubiparipovic was a big part of the win on December 22 as he netted three goals for the Sockers. The stars are going to have to look out for Ubiparipovic because he will be looking to do repeat on March 8.

Tonight is Military Appreciation Night. All fans will be given a souvenir cup.

Pachenga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, 619.224.4171, sdsockers.com, 5:05 p.m., tickets start at $15.

SAN DIEGO STRIKE FORCE VS. CEDAR RAPIDS RIVER KINGS MARCH 8 With the “real” football season over, indoor football begins. The now-1-year-old San Diego Strike Force prepares for yet another season at Pachenga Arena. In the second game of its second season, San Diego Strike Force takes on the Cedar Rapids River Kings. Last season, the Strike Force beat Cedar Rapids both times.

Pachenga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway, 619.340.1300, sdstrikeforce. com, 6:05 p.m., tickets start at $15.

SAN DIEGO AZTECS BASEBALL VS. NEW MEXICO STATE MARCH 13 TO MARCH 15 About a quarter of the way into the season, the San Diego Aztecs take on New Mexico State in a three-game series. The last time the two teams faced off they split the series.

Tony Gwynn Stadium, Plaza Deportes, 619.283.7378, goaztecs.com/sports/baseball, 6 p.m. March 13 and March 14, 1 p.m.

March 15, tickets start at $6.

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MUSIC

Sunshine of His Love

Kofi Baker is ‘steppin’ out’ in support of his dad Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

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or Kofi Baker, playing the music of Cream is bittersweet.

His father, Ginger Baker, was the backbeat of Cream before dying October 6.

“When he passed away, I was in England with The Music of Cream,” he says.

“It’s a different thing for me now. I feel like it’s my responsibility to keep this music going.”

Formed in London in 1966, Cream featured bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker. It’s considered one of the world’s first supergroups.

The Music of Cream began in 2017 with a handful of concerts celebrating the 50th anniversary of Cream in Australia and New Zealand. For 2020 and beyond, The Music of Cream will hit the road with a new show and lineup. Honoring the

original band’s landmark 1967 recording of “Disraeli Gears,” often considered Cream’s crowning achievement, concerts will feature the album performed in its entirety, followed by “Clapton Classics” including hits like “Cocaine,” “Layla” “Crossroads” and “Wonderful Tonight” along with other Cream hits and rarities.

The Music of Cream is Kofi Baker on drums and Will Johns (Clapton’s nephew and son of Led Zeppelin/Rolling Stones engineer Andy Johns) on guitar and vocals. They’re paired with musicians Sean McNabb and Chris Shutters.

Baker’s mission is to expose younger fans to Cream’s music. He argues that today’s music “really sucks.”

“That period (of Cream) was the best,” he says. “The musicians really knew how to play. I want to bring this musicianship and good songs back to the music business.

“The thing is today, when you go see your band, there’s a big show with all of

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these dancers and the music is just crap. You didn’t have to have all the stimulation. It’s all the same, too.”

Baker says the Cream song “Blue Condition” is the most challenging on the tour.

“I have to sing the melody and play it,” he says. “The most challenging part is making the jams musical—the improv parts really musical—and (making) them go somewhere.

“Everything else is really comfortable. I’ve been a drummer most of my life.”

Baker grew up playing original jazz and fusion music. He served as Steve Marriott’s drummer in Humble Pie, and fronted his own band, Kofi Baker’s Psychedelic Trip. Playing Cream’s music, however, is comfortable.

“My dad pretty much played it the way he felt it,” he says. “It’s like playing my family’s music. It feels very nice, especially because my dad’s dead now. It feels great keeping my legacy going. It’s a good feeling all around for me.”

What isn’t a good feeling is the drama Baker has endured since his father died.

“He never really talked to me once he married his fourth wife,” he says of Kudzai Machokoto. “She kept my dad away from us all. She was a very bad influence. She told my dad we all hated them. When I went to him in hospital before he died, I found out it was his wife. He was nice to me.”

He bequeathed his drums to his son, but Machokoto, he says, has refused to hand them over.

“She won’t give me the drums,” he says.

“I want to send them to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They don’t pay you for it.

I want to get his drums there. She even said to me in hospital, ‘Dad wants you to

have the kit.’ Now she’s saying the opposite. It’s really sad that these people come into these people’s lives at the end and take over. That’s a hardship to deal with.”

Ginger was known for his fiery temper.

When Kofi spoke to his dad in the hospital, he was surprised at his temperament.

“I was blown away that my dad wasn’t the person I thought he was the last 10 years,” he says.

“When my dad’s fourth wife did all that stuff, she wanted to have everything. She emailed my sister and said, ‘You’re out of the will.’ She’s not very smart to put it in writing. She’s not a very smart person. My sister really wants to fight it, but it’s not about the money. She’s so nasty.”

“The Music of Cream: Performing ‘Disraeli Gears’ and ‘Clapton Classics’” 7 p.m. Sunday, March 8 Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Avenue Tickets start at $43 sandiegotheatres.org

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 59

MUSIC

a bowie celebration

CONCERTS Sara Harmatz >> San Diego CityBeat FEBRUARY 15 Art Laboe Pechanga Arena, 7:30 p.m., $33-$120 Ross the Boss Brick by Brick, 7:30 p.m., $20-$25 The California Honeydrops Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $25-$44 Metalachi Music Box, 8 p.m., $20-$52 Three Bad Jacks Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $12 Electric Feels: Indie Rock Dance Party Observatory North Park, 8:30 p.m., $10 Jason Mraz Spreckels Theatre, 7 p.m., sold out FEBRUARY 16 Alexandra Savior Soda Bar, 8:30 p.m., $12 ALO Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $22-$39 Noah Reid House of Blues, 8 p.m., $25 FEBRUARY 17 Ingested Brick by Brick, 7:30 p.m., $15 Electric Hot Tuna Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $39-$69 Devon Baldwin Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $10 FEBRUARY 18 Eric Hutchinson Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $25-$44 Year of the Cobra Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $10 In Search of Solace Brick by Brick, 7:30 p.m., $8-$12 Sarah McLachlan San Diego Civic Theatre, 8 p.m., $83-$369 FEBRUARY 19 Little People The Casbah, 9 p.m., $18 Maoli Music Box, 8 p.m., $17-$37 Missing Persons Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $20-$35 Los Retros House of Blues, 8 p.m., $15 FEBRUARY 20 Vale of Pnath Brick by Brick, 8 p.m., $12-$16 Illiterate Light The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $12 Joshua Radin Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $35-$62 Bay Faction Ché Café Collective, 7:30 p.m., $13 Luna Luna House of Blues - Voodoo Room, 8 p.m., $12 FEBRUARY 21 Soil Brick by Brick, 7 p.m., $15-$20 Miranda Lambert Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, 7 p.m.,

$49.75-$104 The Frogs Soda Bar, 9:30 p.m., $25 Minnesota Music Box, 9:30 p.m., $20 Drakulas Kensington Club, 9:30 p.m., $10 Magic City Hippies Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $20-$35 Vincent House of Blues, 8 p.m., $15 The Blasters The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $22-$25 Fabulously Funny Comedy Festival Pechanga Arena, 8 p.m. $64-$130 FEBRUARY 22 William DuVall (of Alice in Chains) Soda Bar, 8:30 p.m., $20 Amber Liu Music Box, 8 p.m., $35-$149 Anarchy-X Brick by Brick, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12 Mad Hatter’s Ball Observatory North Park, 8 p.m., $30-$75 Transviolet, Armors House of Blues, 8 p.m., $13 The Jackets The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $10-$12 FEBRUARY 23 Al Jardine’s Endless Summer Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $35-$62 Yola Music Box, 8 p.m., $22-$54 FEBRUARY 25 Leo Kottke Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $38-$62 Thrice Observatory North Park, 6:30 p.m., $37-$375 Flor de Toloache The Casbah, 9 p.m., $16-$18 Habibi Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $12 Electric Guest Music Box, 8 p.m., $20 FEBRUARY 26 Ezra Furman The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $15-$17 Tinsley Ellis Belly Up Tavern, 7:30 p.m., $20-$35 Lower Dens Soda Bar, 9:30 p.m., $15 Have Mercy House of Blues, 7:30 p.m., $20 FEBRUARY 27 JD Souther Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $35-$62 Hippie Sabotage Observatory North Park, 8 p.m., $35 Drama Music Box, 9 p.m., $20 The Red Pears House of Blues - Voodoo Room, 8 p.m., $13-$15 James Supercave The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $12-$14 FEBRUARY 28 The Purple Ones Music Box, 9 p.m., $20-$52

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Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3, and Saturday, March 7, $55-$199.

Celebrate the life of one of rock music’s most acclaimed and chameleonic figures, David Bowie, who passed away just four years ago. A band led by pianist Mike Garson, who worked with Bowie on numerous albums over the years, from 1970s projects like “Aladdin Sane” and “Young Americans” to 1997’s drum-and-bassinfluenced “Earthling,” will perform “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” and “Diamond Dogs” in full. These shows are ages 21 and older.

Dr. Dog Observatory North Park, 8 p.m., $32.50 The Struts SOMA, 8 p.m., $29.50 Dave Hause Soda Bar, 9:30 p.m., $14 ZZ Ward Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $35-$62 Riot Ten House of Blues, 9 p.m., $30-$65 FEBRUARY 29 Colin Hay The Magnolia, 7 p.m., $45-$140 The Delta Bombers Soda Bar, 9:30 p.m., $15 Sudan Archives The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $14-$16 Olivia O’Brien Observatory North Park, 8 p.m., $25 Steve Poltz Birthday Bash Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $38-$67 Los Pericos Music Box, 9 p.m., $39.50 Overkill House of Blues, 7 p.m., $25-$65 SOB x RBE SOMA, 8 p.m., $25-$100 MARCH 1 Walter Trout Belly Up Tavern, 7:30 p.m., $22-$39 Summer Cannibals Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $12 Christian French The Casbah, 9 p.m., $12-$45 Badfish House of Blues, 8 p.m., $20-$45 MARCH 2 iLe Music Box, 8 p.m., $22-$42 Michael McDermott Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $12 MARCH 3 A Bowie Celebration Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $55-$199 Christopher Paul Stelling Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $12 MARCH 4 Dave Booda and Michael Tiernan

Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $15-$27 The Wonder Years Observatory North Park, 8 p.m., $25 R.LUM.R The Casbah, 9 p.m., $13-$63 Papooz Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $15 MARCH 5 Twiddle Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $19-$119 Robyn Hitchcock The Casbah, 8:30 p.m., $20-$25 Beach Bunny Ché Café Collective, 7:30 p.m., $15-$17 Royal Jelly Jive Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $12.50 Liquid Stranger House of Blues, 9 p.m., $25-$65 Cirque du Soleil: OVO Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, 7 p.m., $59-$145 NGHTMRE SOMA, 9 p.m., $30-$35 MARCH 6 The Stone Foxes Soda Bar, 9:30 p.m., $15 Yacht Rock Revue Observatory North Park, 8 p.m., $17-$42 The Growlers SOMA, 8 p.m., $38.50 Jamestown Revival Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $22-$39 Blake Shelton Pechanga Arena, 7 p.m. $44-$808 White Reaper The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $15-$18 MARCH 7 Wacken Metal Battle Round 1 Brick by Brick, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15 Jordan Davis House of Blues, 8 p.m., $25-$55 Dillinger Four Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $30-$35 Moe. Observatory North Park, 7:30 p.m., $30 Seratones The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $13-$15 A Bowie Celebration Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $55-$199 MARCH 8 Cones Soda Bar, 8:30 p.m., $10 MARCH 9 Tame Impala Pechanga Arena, 8 p.m.,

$49.50-$79.50 Good Morning Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $15 MARCH 10 Buddy Guy Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $95-$167 Tony MacAlpine Brick by Brick, 7:30 p.m., $18-$22 Blackwater Holylight Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $12 MARCH 11 Cult of Luna Brick by Brick, 8 p.m., $25-$30 G Love and Special Sauce Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $35-$99 Dan Deacon Music Box, 9 p.m., $22-$42 Alisan Porter Soda Bar, 8:30 p.m., $15 VÉRITÉ House of Blues, 8 p.m., $13 MARCH 12 Hot Snakes Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $27-$48 Work Drugs Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $12 Umphrey’s McGee Observatory North Park, 7 p.m., $35 MARCH 13 Soul Asylum Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $27-$99 Yachtley Crew Music Box, 9 p.m., $22-$42 Creature Canyon Soda Bar, 8:30 p.m., $13 Lauren Ruth Ward The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $12-$14 MARCH 14 Wacken Metal Battle Round 2 Brick by Brick, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15 Delta Spirit Belly Up Tavern, 9 p.m., $20-$35 Rebel Souljahz Music Box, 9 p.m., $20-$40 Great Grandpa House of Blues - Voodoo Room, 8 p.m., $13 Patrick Sweany Soda Bar, 9 p.m., $15 Frances Quinlan The Casbah, 9:30 p.m., $13-$15 MARCH 15 Lords of Acid Brick by Brick, 7:30 p.m., $30-$35 Amanda Shires Belly Up Tavern, 8 p.m., $25-$75 @SDCITYBEAT

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 61

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MUSIC

Man Outside the Box Alice in Chains frontman William DuVall goes acoustic on new tour Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

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s the lead singer of Alice in Chains, William DuVall is used to singing for a raucous crowd.

This winter, he’s touring behind his solo album, “One Alone,” and really hopes fans take a listen. He comes to Soda Bar on Saturday, February 22.

“It’s a really cool and intimate kind of show,” DuVall says. “It lends itself to listening. I’ve been playing a lot of listening rooms.

“This show is designed for the audience to come and really listen, particularly if they’re familiar with the album already. People are coming in predisposed to introspection.”

Many times, fans are willing to share their emotions with DuVall.

“They’re coming with a lot of pent-up emotions that, perhaps, the album has helped them deal with,” DuVall shares.

“They come to deal with those emotions even further with the show. I’ve had a lot of people sharing the stories about what’s happening in their lives.”

The shows aren’t all weepy, though. At DuVall’s Indianapolis show, a fan proposed to his girlfriend on stage.

“Each night it’s different,” he says.

He occasionally slides in an Alice in Chains song (“Never Fade”) or a cover.

Past shows have included songs by David Bowie and Aerosmith as well as Dionne Farris’ 1995 hit “I know,” which was written by DuVall and Milton Davis.

“This show focuses on the ‘One Alone’ album and it’s solo acoustic,” DuVall says.

“I did a snippet of a tune I wrote many years ago for Dionne Farris that was a major pop hit in 1995. We were just passing the 25th anniversary of that release of that album, ‘Wild Seed – Wild Flower.’

It’s just a really cool and intimate kind of show.”

“One Alone” is DuVall’s debut solo release and marks a new chapter in his career. The critically acclaimed 11-track album shows DuVall’s powerful voice with nothing but an acoustic guitar to back it.

The lead single, “‘Til the Light Guides Me Home,” yielded more than 166,000 views.

This leg of the tour will take DuVall through the United States, Europe and Russia. Last month, he released a live video of the song “Smoke and Mirrors,” which was recorded at Holly Lane Studios.

Now was the perfect time for “One Alone,” he explains.

“I’ve done a whole lot of work of a certain type over the last couple decades or so,” DuVall says. “It’s most been this electric music that comes at you in a certain way. It’s fairly dynamic and pretty aggressive. It’s all that certain kind of electric rock music.

“I felt it was time for something completely different. It also felt like it was time to finally start releasing music under my own name. The music on ‘One Alone’ lends itself to being a solo show. I felt like this was the time to conquer all of those hurdles.”

William DuVall

8:30 p.m. Saturday, February 22 Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park $20, sodabarmusic.com @SDCITYBEAT

FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 63

MUSIC

Country Road Dogs Lanco promises to raise hell before Miranda Lambert hits the stage Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

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pening for Miranda Lambert has been a dream come true for country road dogs Lanco.

“Miranda has been a favorite of ours,” drummer Tripp Howell

says.

“To be able to go on tour with her and watch her do her thing every night is really cool. We’ve been out with her for three days and already we’ve learned it’s OK to be unapologetically 100% yourself.

“She does that so well. If there’s something in her music or lyrics she wants to say, she says it. People love her for that.

It’s a cool takeaway that’s encouraged us as a band.”

Lanco—which comes to Viejas Arena with Lambert and Cody Johnson on Friday, February 21—doesn’t need much encouragement. The five-man band’s No. 1-selling debut, “Hallelujah Nights,”

made Lanco the first country group to debut atop the Billboard country charts in 10 years.

The band is working on its second album in between dates with Lambert and its own headlining shows.

“The writing and the sound are just everything we loved about ‘Hallelujah Nights’ but refined,” Howell reveals about the new album. “We’re still recording it.

We have a little ways to go. But for what

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we have so far, it’s who we are right now. It’s a prime example of who we are and musically how we’ve evolved in the last four or five years. I think it’s a more refined Lanco sound.”

Lanco’s musicians are taking their time.

“It’s like a wave,” Howell says about their success. “You hop on a surfboard and let it take you where it takes you.

Honestly, we have a really good management team that gives us time to rest when we need to.”

There’s no rest on tour, though—especially with the Lambert tour.

“We’re high energy,” Howell says. “We love putting on a good show. When we were starting out, we were playing in bars

that served food. So people were eating mozzarella sticks and watching cat videos on their phones while we were playing.

We thought, ‘How do you make people pay attention to us? We do some crazy stuff.’ Pretty soon they put their mozzarella sticks down and it eventually worked.

“On this Miranda tour, we have 30 minutes only. So we’re giving them hell for 30 minutes. To be on a tour on this big of a scale, 30 minutes is perfect. We play six or seven songs and we’re cranking through them.”

Miranda Lambert w/Cody Johnson and Lanco 7 p.m. Friday, February 21 Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, College West Tickets start at $25 as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 65

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MUSIC

Feeling Unguarded

Dave Pirner gets emotional on Soul Asylum’s new record Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

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ave Pirner is frustrated. He has very little time to prepare for Soul Asylum’s tour with Local H but he has much to do.

“It’s difficult to psyche myself up about it, I suppose,” Pirner says. “It’s a long tour and I have a lot of crap I’m trying to take care of, like going to the dentist.”

Once that’s out of his system, he lightens up and becomes excited about the jaunt—even joking around about Soul Asylum’s set.

“It’s a 90-minute show and quality entertainment at least,” he says with a laugh. “We are playing some new stuff and some different old stuff. We’re going to come out guns ablazing.”

Soul Asylum, which comes to Belly Up on Friday, March 13, is touring in support of its new single, “Dead Letter” (Blue Elan Records). The single will appear on its forthcoming album, “Hurry Up and Wait,” due out April 17.

“It’s a little on the acoustic side,” Pirner says about “Hurry Up and Wait.” “It’s very straightforward. It’s pretty raw. I didn’t really try to overthink it. It’s just very unguarded. It’s a little more emotional and less angry.”

“Dead Letter” marks the first new music from the Minneapolis-based act since the release of 2016’s “Change of Fortune.” “‘Dead Letter’ is contemplative and certainly not a party anthem, but there are other sentiments in life that frequently go unspoken for,” he says. “It’s the message of the unheard people, whose voices often fall on deaf ears.”

Spanning three decades, Soul Asylum’s indie success led to the band entering the major-label mainstream with 1988’s “Hang Time” and its 1990 follow-up, “And the Horse They Rode In On,” before achieving a platinum-level commercial breakthrough with 1992’s “Grave Dancers Union” and 1995’s “Let Your Dim Light Shine.”

“Grave Dancers Union” featured Grammy-winning “Runaway Train” and “Black Gold.” “Let Your Dim Light Shine” spawned the hit “Misery.” After 1998’s “Candy from a Stranger,” Soul Asylum returned to action in 2006 with “The Silver Lining,” “Delayed Reaction” six years later, and most recently with @SDCITYBEAT

2016’s “Change of Fortune.”

For “Hurry Up and Wait,” Pirner— who’s joined in the band by drummer Michael Bland, lead guitarist Ryan Smith and bassist Wynston Roye—says his musician friends helped him focus on the task at hand.

“That made it a pretty good experience,” he says. “It came together in a way that was effortless at this point in my life.

I tried not to worry so much.”

Soul Asylum worked with producer John Fields, who has collaborated with the Jonas Brothers, Switchfoot, P!nk, Har Mar Superstar, Miley Cyrus, Drake Bell, Andrew W.K., Busted and Demi Lovato.

“John Fields is very fluid,” he says.

“There’s not a lot of dicking around. He likes to move fast, and that helps with the flow and the spontaneity. We keep with each other pretty good.”

“Hurry Up and Wait” kicks off with the song “The Beginning,” which Pirner says is his favorite right now.

“We were going to put it at the end of the album because that’s how stupid our sense of humor is,” he adds. “It has a different vibe to it. It’s electric and up-

tempo. It doesn’t remind me of anything I’ve ever written.”

Pirner is also gearing up to unveil his new book entitled “Loud, Fast, Words,” an annotated collection of lyrics with an essay about each of his albums set to release this February via MNHS Publishing (Minnesota Historical Society).

Thinking about his lyrics and the stories they tell often gets Pirner choked up.

“I get into the head of a song so much that it starts to make me feel too much like I did when I wrote it,” he says. “I fall into some sort of weird time vortex.”

Soul Asylum w/Local H

9 p.m. Friday, March 13 Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach Tickets start at $27 bellyup.com FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 67

MUSIC

Riding Like the Wind ASK HOW TO GET THE AMAZING

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Yacht rockers bring choreography and singalongs to Music Box Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> San Diego CityBeat

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rummer Rob Jones of Yächtley Crëw—who docks at Music Box in San Diego on Friday, March 13—hears one thing about his shows: they’re fun.

Donning sailor garb, the Los Angeles-based band plays soft rock and top-shelf hits of the late ’70s to the early ’80s.

Think Christopher Cross, Hall & Oates and Toto.

“Whether we’re doing small corporate events or a theater or an amphitheater or festivals or smaller clubs, everyone says it’s fun,” Jones says.

“We didn’t set out here to try to win a Grammy. We just want to entertain and have fun. The songs are referred to as ‘soft rock,’ but we bring a little more energy to them, especially live.

We’re not a ‘party band,’ but it’s a fun, festive show with choreography, wardrobe changes and audience participation, which I think is really important.”

It’s “soft rock,” but there’s nothing simplistic about the music, Jones says. Bands like Toto are virtuosic musicians.

“A lot of these songs are very challenging,” Jones adds.

“When we were coming up with songs, I said, ‘Let’s do Toto. That sounds like fun.’ Jesus, these songs are a little more challenging than I thought. Songs by Toto and Kenny Loggins, they are pretty challenging. The guitar player says even some of the chords are jazz structured.”

Before it was selling out clubs and theaters, Yächtley Crëw had problems booking gigs. Nobody was playing its type of music, which many find to be guilty pleasures.

“It’s the mixtape you’d never put in your car if you were going on the hottest date in your life,” Jones says with a laugh. “What hot date wants to hear ‘Maneater’ or ‘Ride Like the Wind’?

“When we started the band, it was

68 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

really for fun. We were just musicians and it was just a side band, if you will, that just dominated everything we do, including our day jobs.”

Jones explains that Yächtley Crëw isn’t a parody.

“That’s not it at all,” he says. “We just try to take it to a different level of showmanship. We want there to be value in the show. We’re entertaining. We’re not trying to rewrite ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’

“We’re playing feel-good music for people who enjoy that. They aren’t looking for $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons. We have a good demographic who enjoys having a good time. If you can get 500 or 5,000 people singing ‘Africa,’ that’s awesome.

It’s not our song, but we’re doing our

best to rep that and do it justice.”

Yächtley Crëw provides the light moments for the divided nation, Jones says. When fans hear nostalgic songs, it automatically brings a smile.

“When we’re performing and everyone is singing along, no one cares about politics or any issues going on because they’re having so much fun,” he says.

“We provide that escape for a couple hours.”

Yächtley Crëw

9 p.m. Friday, March 13 Music Box, 1337 India Street, Little Italy, $22 musicboxsd.com

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FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 69

CannaBeat

CANNABIS

Cannabis and Sex

Make this Valentine’s Day the highest yet Jackie Bryant >> San Diego CityBeat

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annabis and sex make excellent bedfellows. For starters, weed makes the body and mind feel good. It follows, then, that it will also enhance sex.

Second, even though sex is supposed to be fun, the fact is that it can be a very fraught experience for a variety of reasons.

Haven’t had partnered sex in a while?

Hello, anxiety. For women, in particular, sex presents a host of other issues. It can be difficult for certain women to reach orgasm, or even get aroused in general.

Maybe health issues are causing dryness or pain. Cannabis, particularly THC, can help increase circulation, lessen anxiety and dull pain.

California’s various cannabis companies are coming out with great products to enhance sex. Most are geared toward women because vaginas are mucous membranes

and penises are not. Because the efficacy of these products relies on cannabinoid absorption, they will mostly only affect women.

San Francisco-based Quim makes a variety of CBD- and THC-infused oils geared toward sexual enhancement, tissue recovery and general maintenance. For sex, Quim’s hands-down best option is its Night Moves oil, which is made of MCT oil, cannabis oil, damiana and tea tree oil.

When eight to 10 squirts (the entire bottle contains 350 milligrams of THC) are applied to various parts of the user’s orifice of choice 20 minutes before getting down, it produces explosive sensory results, if you get my drift.

Part of this is due to the tingling feeling produced by tea tree and damiana oils, but the THC helps relax muscles and provides greater natural lubrication and sensation. The oil also acts as a standard lube, apart from natural stimulation. It’s

70 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

possible using it will get the user high, but that doesn’t happen with everyone. Just know this particular oil isn’t latex safe, but Quim’s Oh Yes! Serum, which produces similar effects with a more complicated formula, is.

For those needing heavy-duty pain reduction, the best bet on the market right now are Foria’s suppositories. They are made from cocoa butter and are small— about the size of foam earplugs—so one needn’t worry about any discomfort or awkwardness sticking it up anywhere (tampons are much larger). The suppository topically and locally delivers 60 milligrams THC and 10mg CBD, the combination of which produces a cloudlike sensation throughout the pelvis. It also works beautifully for menstrual cramps but is an excellent bet for reducing pain during sex.

Apart from lubes and suppositories, using edibles, concentrates, topicals and/or flower is an easy way to kick any romp in the hay up a few notches. Personally, I like to dab or smoke a joint before having sex. Dabbing produces a body high much more intense than any other ingestion method, so it also magnifies any touch sensation by a great multiple. Smoking a joint before doing the deed also usually sets the right tone. I prefer Kush strains, owing to the strong body high and sense of overall deep relaxation produced. Sometimes, though, when I’m looking to be mentally and physically energized, I’ll spring for something more buzzy, like Sour Diesel.

Like most things in the cannabis world, there’s a little something for most kinds of people. So, it is with sex. Let this Valentine’s Day be the steamiest and highest yet!

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Enjoy a spectacular cruise & tour between Seattle and Alaska including 7 nights aboard Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam and 4 nights on land. You’ll cruise the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage—a breathtaking sea lane teeming with marine wildlife, where you’ll pass glaciers, towering mountains, and lush forests, with stops in Ketchikan, historic Skagway, and magnificent Glacier Bay. On land, you’ll go deep into Denali National Park, tour Anchorage, and see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

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Prepare to be amazed as you experience the stunningly red rocks of 6 iconic southwestern national parks. Formed by the elements over countless centuries, these natural treasures are still grand enough to make our jaws drop. Experience several of the most popular national parks in the United States, traveling through dramatic deserts, lush forests, deep valleys, soaring mountains, and to the very edge of the South Rim of the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, one of the most famous natural wonders of the world.

See Italy’s iconic sights! Start in Rome, where you’ll see The Vatican City, gaze in awe at the Sistine Chapel, walk through St. Peter’s Square, and stop at the Trevi Fountain. Ride a funicular in ancient Orvieto and stroll through the spa town of Montecatini Terme. Visit Pisa’s leaning tower, historic Florence, the canals of Venice, and the Romeo and Juliet balcony in fair Verona, before your final stop in magnificent Milan. Enjoy exquisite food, stunning sights, fascinating history, and the company of brand-new friends.

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*Prices are per person based on double occupancy plus up to $299 in taxes & fees. Cruise pricing based on lowest cabin category after Instant Rebate; upgrades available. Single supplement and seasonal surcharges may apply. Add-on airfare available. Onboard Credit requires purchase of Ocean View or Balcony Cabin. For full Set Sail terms and conditions see www.ymtvacations.com/setsailoffers. Offers apply to new bookings only, made by 3/31/20. Other terms & conditions may apply. Ask your Travel Consultant for details. @SDCITYBEAT

FEBRUARY 2020 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 71

72 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · FEBRUARY 2020

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