The Vintage & Handmade Market 
ART
Opening up
Robert Romano, the general manager of California Cuisine and CC Lounge (1027 University Ave. in Hillcrest) is bravely going where few restaurant managers go these days—he’s inviting artists and DJs to his place for something he’s calling a neo-happening, “because I want it to convey the idea that art comes in all forms and will grow only when doors are opened and walls broken,” he says. Well, OK. The first of the events will be held from 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, and will feature art by Ben Darby and Christopher Oleata, music by DJ KC3PO and DJ Fingers, plus hosted wine and hors d’oeuvres. www.californiacuisine.cc or 619-543-0790.
POLITICS & COMMUNITY
Her history
For this year’s celebration of Women’s Equality Day, the Women’s History Museum will hold a parade and ball with a “roaring ’20s” theme. Starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Kate Sessions statue on Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street in Balboa Park, the Suffrage Parade will travel across the Balboa Park bridge and end with a reception with food, drinks and a screening of a documentary about minority voters. Then, from 6 to 9 p.m., The Suffrage Ball will take participants back to 1920, the first year women in the U.S. were allowed to vote in federal elections. Historic reenactments of the early voting booths and impersonations of ladies like Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, boogie woogie music by Sue Palmer and Model T cars of the time will help set the mood. Participation in the parade is free; tickets to the ball are $30. www.whmec.org or 619-233-7963.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Changing cityscape
Do you even recognize San Diego’s Downtown anymore? New bars, restaurants, boutiques and shops seem to be opening every month. Check out the changing urban core from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, during Evenings in the East Village: A Social Art Stroll. The community event will be an open-house affair with boutiques, restaurants, salons and other East Village haunts opening their doors to anyone who’s willing to walk a few blocks. Participating businesses include BareBack Grill, Scott James East Village, Gary Wise Photography, The Recording Arts Center and plenty more. For a map, visit www.sdeastvillage.com.
DANCE
The big one
This weekend, just about every single one of San Diego’s dance organizations and collectives and even solo artists will come together for the Celebrate Dance Festival at the Casa Del Prado Theatre and outdoor Fountain Stage in Balboa Park. The annual community event features performances and workshops in all forms, including modern, contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, Butoh dance and more. The free fest starts from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, and continues from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. Visit www.eveoke.org for the schedule of events.
WORKSHOPS
Get pinned
According to Go Go Amy and Bettina May, inside even the frumpiest prude, there’s a fiery hot bombshell just waiting to bust out. Hence Bettina May and Go Go Amy’s Pin-up Workshop, a how-to class that teaches gals how to do vintage-style hair and makeup, walk and talk like Betty Grable and pose like Bettie Page. Culminating in a real-life photo shoot, the workshop will leave you ready to start your own burlesque troupe or put together a DIY pin-up calendar. The class will be held at Beauty Bar, 4746 El Cajon Blvd. in City Heights, from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. The $200 cost includes the makeover, a book and a CD filled with dozens of professionally done pin-up photos. www.gogoamy.com/pinupclasses.html.
BOOKS
For the ladies
San Diego author C.J. Koa dedicated his new book, Story of an American Escort: A Fictional Guide to Success, to “all you enterprising young ladies who, for reasons only known to yourselves, have decided to play the people game, and never bothered to worry about what anyone else thought.” Koa gives a shout-out to “enterprising ladies” because he largely borrowed from their lives to create the main character of his book—a 24-year-old woman who leaves home at a young age and does what it takes to make it on her own. After a near-death experience, the precocious protagonist of Koa’s book moves to Del Mar, where, instead of getting sucked into the undertow at the city’s beautiful beaches, she gets sucked into the seedy underbelly of exotic dancing. Hundreds of dollars and several expensive gifts later, the young lady still isn’t satisfied, so she enters the more profitable world of female escorts. Koa will tell what happens next at a reading and signing event at 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at Guava Beach, 3714 Mission Blvd. in Mission Beach. www.anamericanescort.com or 858-488-6688.
MUSIC
$5 magic
The Southern Comfort Music Experience is shaping up to be one of the raddest music festivals of the summer. Common, The Black Keys and Kinky would be an adequate lineup, especially when you consider the price of the ticket, which is just $5, but organizers have thrown in locals like Grand Ole Party, The Silent Comedy, Buddy Akai and Lady Dottie and the Diamonds. Have you heard The Silent Comedy or Lady Dottie? Sometimes living in San Diego ain’t so bad. The SoCo Music Experience is from 2 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Petco Park, Downtown. 21 and up. www.southerncomfort.com.
