CITYWEEK

Art

On the map

For all y'all who complain about the local art scene, why don't you quit yapping and start doing something about it. The three couples behind District 117 did, and now they have a beautiful new uptown gallery and a future filled with finding and featuring the best of emerging and established local and regional artists. You see, the proud new owners of District 117 would rather be part of the solution than part of the problem. They love and support their city so much that they've actually given it a little shout-out in the name of the gallery itself-San Diego's longitudinal coordinate is 117 degrees west. So be a part of our sunny city's up-and-coming urban-art scene and check out the new gallery when it opens with a show of original paintings by Isabel Fueyo and Jose Fuentes at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19. The gallery is located at 1425 University Ave., Suite B, in Hillcrest. www.district117gallery.com.

Up in O'side: Speaking of overlooked art scenes, our neighbor to the north is holding its annual Oceanside Days of Art festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Oceanside Civic Center on Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22. More than 140 visual artists will be showing off their work alongside nearly 200 performance and music artists who'll be dancing, singing and more. Free. 760-433-3632 or www.Oceanside-days-of-art.org.

Special Events

Back to roots

A few decades ago, when the country was fighting a different but similarly unpopular war overseas, musicians at home tried to stop the violence with song. Nowadays, it seems too many musicians just keep on singing inane crap about their "lovely lady lumps." Since it's possible to be nostalgic for the bygone days of "One Tin Soldier" and "Blowin' in the Wind" even if you weren't actually around for them, you might want to treat yourself to a little trip back in time to the 34th Annual Adams Avenue Roots & Folk Festival. With performances by Mike Seeger, Carolyn Hester, Ross Altman and a horde of local artists, the musical lovin' flows from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 21, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 22, along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. 619-282-7329, www.adamsaveonline.com. Free.

Music

Warm up

There's something timeless and fantastic about a guy-or girl-and a guitar. Given that things have been a little gloomy at Gelato Vero Caffe since the recent death of owner Henry Rabinowitz, it seems fitting for singer/songwriter Paul Hermosa's auditory sunshine to warm up the café at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at 3753 India St. in Mission Hills. 619-295-9269 or www.gelatovero.net.

Theater

Putting to the test

University-level theater may tout different goals than the community and pro stuff, but that only means it has its own vitality. A major case in point is UCSD's Baldwin New Plays Festival, produced every spring by the university's Theatre and Dance Department and showcasing the work of students in the school's master of fine arts playwriting program. This year's installment features five entries to be mounted over the next 10 days, with the second weekend featuring seminars and public discussions headed by theater professionals from across the country. There's a decidedly contemporary flair to the fare this time-the plays revolve around such items as a feminist Arab, five young secessionist Americans, ritualistic sexual awakening and a coffin-carrying Mexican (the latter is featured in Freedom, NY, by playwright Jennifer Barclay). The festival opens Wednesday, April 18, and continues through April 28 at three theaters on the La Jolla campus. $8-$15. 858-534-4574. www-theatre.ucsd.edu.

Speakers

Bar stories

No matter how many chicks-behind-bars movies you've seen, you probably know very little about what life is really like for women in prison. Gloria Killian knows, because she spent 16 years in a state prison for a crime she didn't commit. Since it seems likely that Hollywood will soon come a-callin', hear Killian tell her own tale at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the First United Methodist Church of San Diego, 2111 Camino del Rio South in Mission Valley. CSU San Marcos Professors Richelle Swan and Jodie Lawston will also speak about restorative justice and the demographic profile of women in prison. 619-297-4366. Free.

Film

Beginning to end

San Diego's LGBT film festival, FilmOut San Diego, takes over the Ken Cinema for four days starting Thursday, April 19. The opener is Boy Culture, followed by a bash at Top of the Park, and the whole thing shuts down with the big Canadian award winner C.R.A.Z.Y. In between, there's the longtime companion tale Bob and Jack's 52-Year Adventure, the melodramatic zombie flick Creatures From the Pink Lagoon and more than 40 additional films. Check www.filmoutsandiego.com for showtimes and ticket info.

After party: Following FilmOut, the Ken Cinema puts on four epic films, each for one night only. Monday, April 23, kicks things off with Lawrence of Arabia, followed Tuesday by Once Upon a Time in the West, 2001: A Space Odyssey on Wednesday and Nashville on Thursday. Check www.landmark theatres.com for showtimes.

Design

Designing women

Women are still fighting to gain footing in certain fields. Architecture, for example, is still dominated by men. So, do your part in the ongoing feminist movement and join the Women in Architecture's inaugural event, Retro Tea with Eva Z. Take a guided tour of sculptor Eva Zeisel's work, then chat over tea, snacks and wine. It's all happening from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. $20. 619-239-0003 or www.wiasandiego.org.

Family

Attention-challenged

Starting Sunday, April 22, and continuing Sunday, April 29, and Saturday, May 5,the San Diego International Children's Film Festival is in residence at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. Featuring more than 90 films for the short-attention-span set, the fest has morning shows for the wee ones, afternoon films for big kids and surly teenagers and filmmaking and animation workshops for children of all ages. Kids under 3 are free-everyone else pays $5. www.sdchildrensfilm.org.