Our picks of this week's events
Gospel music, a chili cook-off, the one and only David Sedaris and the rest of the best of this week's happenings
ART
Go big
When Venice Beach artist William Attaway makes art, he makes it on a scale few others bother to attempt—everything from huge public-art works to large-scale canvases and pieces in ceramics. But more than just the size of his projects is the scope of his intentions. With programs like The Venice Clay Works, a nonprofit job-training program that teaches ceramic and mosaic skills, and his work in the restoration of the Historic Venice Ocean Front Walk, Attaway views art as a public project more than a personal pursuit. See a rare gallery show of Attaway’s recent works at the new Swiv Tackle Circus Gallery, 530 S. Coast Hwy. in Oceanside, when the show opens from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 28. www.swivtacklcircus.com.
If you build it: The Brokers Building made it through the gentrification of Downtown and is currently one of the only buildings in the area showing art and housing the artists who make it. Support the idea that art shouldn’t be left out of the redevelopment process and check out the Brokers Building’s latest endeavor, One Hundred Rabbits, an exhibition featuring drawings and works on paper by Liesje Keziah, video works by Xho60 and a short documentary detailing past exhibitions at the Brokers Building. The show includes wine and refreshments and will open from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 27. The Brokers Building is located at 402 Market St. 619-239-1639.
COMEDY
Funny, but true?
Whether or not you believe that author and satirist David Sedaris is writing about actual things that have happened in his life or you think he takes facts and twists and turns them into the insightful, hilarious scenarios he’s become famous for in his books and public-radio performances, one truth remains undeniable—the dude is pretty freakin’ funny. See Sedaris turn even the stiffest literary purist into a giggling good-timer when he performs at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown, at 8 p.m. Monday, June 30. You should probably buy your tickets now since, when we checked a few days ago, there were just a few left. www.ticketmaster.com. $40.
BOOKS
Come together
Writing can be a lonely venture. That’s why San Diego’s Writers, Ink came into existence and has been holding readings, workshops and open mics in their sweet Downtown loft, The Ink Spot (710 13th St.), and other venues around town. At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 29, writers are invited to come out from behind their computers and join the Writers, Ink at The Ink Spot for a reading by Laurel Corona, who will talk about her book Until Our Last Breath: A Holocaust Story of Love and Partisan Resistance. Then, from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, June 30, San Diego’s writers are invited to join the next Writers’ Salon at The Ink Spot, where this month’s host, Seema Sueko of the Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, will quite literally take you through the playwriting concepts of action, conflict, climax and closure—comfy shoes are recommended. The group also has a monthly open-mic night at Rebecca’s Coffeehouse in South Park every third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. www.sandiegowriters.org or 619-284-1343.
NIGHTLIFE
So much soul
DJ Claire is small, sweet, soft-spoken and as white as these recent summer days have been hot. But don’t let the Clairemeister’s appearance fool you. The woman has enough sultry soul and dirty funk inside her to fill a presidential suite at the Hard Rock Hotel. Seriously, this girl would have been the recurring long-shot on Soul Train had she been old enough to shake her groove thang on the show. And she doesn’t even have anything resembling a sweet fro or a polyester jumpsuit—her moves on the turntable are just that good. From 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 29, see DJ Claire do her thing while she celebrates five years of Happy Hour with DJ Claire at the Whistle Stop Bar, 2236 Fern St. in South Park. 619-284-6784.
MUSIC
Deserved praise
The fourth annual Gospel Festival at the San Diego County Fair typically gets overshadowed by the beer festivals, pop-music concerts and even the fried food, but those in the know are hip to the fact that the Gospel Festival is really one of the most powerful day-long performances you’ll see at the fair. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28, Amar Khalil (former lead singer of Toni! Tony! Toné!), Discurosde Antiokia (a gospel rock band that plays in both Spanish and English), Tye Tribett & G.A., Byron Cage and loads more will take to the stage for a day of soulful worship and praise. Be sure to carpool so you can cut the cost of parking. Admission to the fair is $12 for adults, $6 for children. www.sdfair.com/fair.
SPECIAL EVENTS
What more?
The highlights of this year’s annual Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-off are a mix of the old (quirky little vendor booths, even quirkier fairgoers with their unofficial parade of quirky little dogs, plenty of fried food and bouncy things for kids to jump on) and the new (24 hours of free music at Portugalia and something organizers are calling the cartoon amateur wrestling competition). The festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 28, on and around Newport Avenue and runs until 8 p.m. And as far as the five stages of live entertainment go, be sure not to miss Anthony Smith’s Trunk Full of Fun at 12:45 p.m. and Jefferson Jay on the acoustic stage at 4:30 p.m. www.obstreetfair.com. Free.
Published: 06/24/2008
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