Four-month planner

May

Indian Fair and Market at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park. From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, hang out in the museum’s California Plaza and check out Native American arts and crafts—from beadwork to textiles to pottery and jewelry. $5 for adults and $1 for kids. www.museumofman.org.

DON'T MISS!
Mix: Nine San Diego Architects & Designers at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s La Jolla location, 700 Prospect St. For this exhibition, nine folks who’ve helped redefine San Diego’s landscape, literally, were asked to create site-specific presentations that convey their design philosophies. Participating architects include a few whose work’s been featured in CityBeat: Teddy Cruz, Jennifer Luce, Sebastian Mariscal, James Gates and James Brown from Public, Catherine Herbst and Todd Rinehart from Rinehart Herbst, Lloyd Russell and Jonathan Segal. The exhibition opens Friday, May 22, and runs through Sept. 6. There’ll be a bunch of related events throughout the summer, too: Two roundtable discussions happening at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, and Thursday, Sept. 3, and architecture tours on two consecutive Saturdays: July 11 and July 18. www.mcasd.org.

DON’T MISS!
Ansel Adams Retrospective at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. MoPA has put together a collection of more than 80 of the world-famous photographer’s images—both iconic and lesser-known. Opens Saturday, May 23, and runs through Oct. 4. www.mopa.org.

Taste of Little Italy. Pasta, gelato, pasta, espresso, pasta, cannoli. Mangia bene! From 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, May 27, chow down on the best Little Italy has to offer. $35 in advance, $40 day of. www.tasteoflittleitalysd.com.

Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival at the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park. From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 29, support the Women’s History Museum while sipping wine and nibbling on its two best accompaniments: cheese and chocolate. The Sue Palmer Trio provides entertainment. $30. www.whmec.org.

Get Gone at Swiv Tackle Circus, 530 South Coast Hwy. in Oceanside. From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 30, check out skate photography by Rhino, surf photography by Chris Burkard and Cole Barash’s shots of all things snow-sports. DJ Horsepussy provides the tunes, PBR the refreshment. swivtacklecircus.blogspot.com.

International Dance & Music Festival: Day of the Drum at Seaport Village. Starting at noon on Saturday, May 31, the World Beat Center takes to the bay to tell the history of the drum through dance and music. Performers from around the globe will participate while vendors sell exotic cuisine and crafts. www.worldbeatcenter.org.

June

DON’T MISS!
Origins: New Works by Kyung Soon Park, Francis Vallejo, & Austin McCormick at Subtext, 2479 Kettner Blvd. in Little Italy. For this show, opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 5, each artist conveys through their work how a hero / heroine, a mythical character or an inspirational individual got their start. Perfect warm-up for Comic-Con. On display through July 19. subtextstore.com.

DON’T MISS!
Art Around Adams at both the Adams Avenue Rec Center (3491 Adams Ave.) and along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. The hip factor at this event, happening from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 6, is high—and we mean that in a good way. Of course, the focus is on art, with almost a dozen galleries and businesses participating, but there’s also the music (acts include The Album Leaf, Scarlet Symphony, MC Flow and The Burning of Rome), film (a screening of H.P Lovecraft’s The Festival), a fashion event, comedy acts and more. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of. www.artaroundadams.org.

DON’T MISS!
Luis Alberto Urrea at The Book Works, 2670 Via de la Valle in Del Mar. You have until 7 p.m. Monday, June 8, to read the Pulitzer Prize finalist’s new book, Into the Beautiful North, about a young Mexican who dreams of making a better life for herself in the U.S. This event doubles as a fundraiser for KPBS to help the station fund its border-reporter position. The fundraising part of the evening (silent auction) kicks off at 5 p.m., followed by a short talk at 6:30 p.m. by talented KPBS border reporter Amy Isackson. www.book-works.com.

DON’T MISS!
Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power at San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park. Opening Tuesday, June 9, a display of 200 of the photographer’s works, stretching over more than five decades. Runs through Sept. 6. www.sdmart.org.

DON’T MISS!
The San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds still has all the usual suspects (games, rides, aging rock stars and fried food galore), but this year has a “Music Mania” theme that will include exhibits, a battle of the bands, trivia contests and, of course, concerts (Bret Michaels on June 17? We’re so there). Opens Friday, June 12, and runs through July 5. $13 for adults, $7 for kids. www.sdfair.com.

Greek Festival at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, 3655 Park Blvd. in Hillcrest. How can you not love an event that’s a month away but has already posted its food menu online? Spanakopita, gyros, baklava and about two-dozen other items, plus the usual traditional dancing and music are part of this annual event that happens Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14. But, really, you’re going for the food, ain’t ya? (Psst… free admission from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday.) www.sdgreekfestival.com.

Art Alive at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park. From Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14, check out floral arrangements put together by professional designers to pair with works in the museum’s Spanish and Italian art collections. $15 for adults, $5 for kids. From 6 to 9 p.m. on opening night (June 12), the museum hosts a special edition of its “Culture and Cocktails” series dubbed “Flowers After Hours.” www.sdmart.org.

The Journal Entries of Changing Tides at Distinction Gallery and Artists Studios, 317 East Grand Ave. in Escondido. From 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 13, the gallery we wish were a leetle bit closer to San Diego proper celebrates its fifth year in business with an exhibition of work by Andy Haynes, whose paintings explore “the dark as well as beautiful sides of youth” in modern America. Haynes’ work will be up through July 11. www.distinctionart.com.

Taste of the Gaslamp in the Gaslamp Quarter, Downtown. This one happens over two days: Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14. It sold out last year, so grab your tickets early and sample offerings from more than 20 restaurants. $25. www.gaslamp.org.

Derrick Guild at Lux Art Institute, 1550 S. El Camino Real in Encinitas. The Scottish artist is Lux’s artist-in-residence from May 28 through Aug. 1. His work addresses contemporary issues in a style inspired by 15th- to 19th-century still-life paintings. Meet Guild, check out his work and enjoy refreshments and live music from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Lux@Night. www.luxartinstitute.org.

La Jolla Festival of the Arts in galleries throughout La Jolla. The 23rd annual event, happening Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, includes a live street-chalk-art exhibition and nearly 200 artists in all mediums—from photography and painting to textiles and jewelry—exhibiting their work. A map and list of artists is at www.lajollaartfestival.org.

Measured Resistance at Luis de Jesus Seminal Projects, 2040 India St. in Little Italy. San Diego artist May-ling Martinez opens a solo show on Saturday, June 27 (runs through Aug. 1). So far, we know only the title, but judging by Martinez’s past work, we know this will be one you’ll want to check out. www.seminalprojects.com.

Air Sex World Championships at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. in Middletown. Yes, it’s exactly what you think it is, and it happens at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25. www.airsexworldchampionships.com.

DON’T MISS!
Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook Off along Newport Ave. in Ocean Beach. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 27, check out the local skate jam, take in five stages of live music and join in on a community mural. There’ll be carnival rides for the kiddies, beer gardens for the adults and, of course, an enormous amount of homemade chili that will have everyone especially enjoying the cool ocean breeze. www.obstreetfair.com.

Nighttime Zoo at the San Diego Zoo. Starting Saturday, June 27, and running through Sept. 7, the zoo’s open until 8 p.m. It’s your best chance to spot the elusive fishing cats. www.sandiegozoo.org.

Best of Nature Photography Show at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. Amateurs and professionals are sending in their best work to be judged. Come see who and what got first and leave with a little more appreciation for Mother Earth. The show opens Saturday, June 27, with a reception from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.sdnhm.org.

Taste of Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 28, eat your way up and down Adams Avenue, where more than 20 restaurants and pubs will offer their best eats and drinks. $25 advance, $30 day of. www.adamsaveonline.com.

July

Over the Line Championship at Fiesta Island, Mission Bay. Does anything sound more appealing than a bunch of shirtless, middle-aged dudes with beer guts spending two consecutive weekends getting wasted, ogling scantily clad women and playing softball on the beach? Sure, unless you’re a middle-aged dude with a beer gut. The competition takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13, and wraps up Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19. www.ombac.org.

DON’T MISS!
San Diego LGBT Pride Festival in Balboa Park. Some 50,000 revelers are expected to celebrate LGBT pride from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at Marston Point (corner of Laurel Street and Sixth Avenue). The fest features multiple stages for music, dance and comedy, plus vendors, art, cultural presentations, food and drink and more. As always, a parade will make its way through Hillcrest starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18, and, of course, there are lots more parties and events. Early-bird tickets for the festival (through July 1): $15 one day, $25 both days (check website for discounts). www.sandiegopride.org.

DON’T MISS!
Imperial Beach Sandcastle Competition alongside Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach. The annual competition is nearly 30 years old and isn’t just great for the amazing water-and-sand sculptures churned out on the beach. Yes, “sand carvers” from across the U.S. show up to participate on Sunday, July 19, but there’s also a street fest on Saturday, July 18, that includes more than 140 vendors. Free. www.usopensandcastle.com.

Stone Sour Fest at Stone Brewery in Escondido. If Budweiser is your thing, the Sour Fest probably isn’t the way to go. However, if your palate is adventurous, partaking in this collection of tart ales at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 19, may begin a new obsession with obscure beers. $30 includes 10 tasters and a commemorative glass. www.stonebrew.com.

Del Mar Racing Season at the Del Mar Race Track, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. It’s all about watching beautiful horses compete in one of the world’s most beloved and ancient sports. Yeah, right! If you add drunken bros, cosmetic surgery, big hats, degenerate gambling, cool concerts and enough shouts of “Go, baby, go” to last a lifetime, then you’re getting closer what it’s all about. Opens Wednesday, July 22, and runs through Sept. 9. Admission is $6. www.dmtc.com.

Comic-Con at San Diego Convention Center, Downtown. If you’re unaware of San Diego’s biggest annual pop-culture extravaganza, then you’ve been living under a rock for the past 15 years. It’s where nerds of all disciplines gather to get overly excited about forthcoming J.J. Abrams projects and graphic novel adaptations. Also, it’s usually a blast, and this year’s four-day fest is from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, July 26. www.comic-con.org.

Joel McHale at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. The smartass host of E!’s reliably funny The Soup brings his one-man stand-up show to town at 7 p.m. Friday, July 24. It’ll be strange to see him without the ridiculous video clips, but judging by his reputation, it’s safe to assume McHale will be on the ball. www.humphreysconcerts.com. $49.

DON’T MISS!
Meanwhile… at the Hall of Justice: A Collection of Superhero Mishaps at Subtext, 2479 Kettner Blvd. in Little Italy. From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 24, Subtext celebrates Comic-Con weekend with a group exhibition featuring works depicting superheroes at their lowest (like the Wonder Twins’ little, uh, “costume malfunction”). The show runs through July 26. www.subtextstore.com.

DON’T MISS!
Demetri Martin at Spreckels Theater, Downtown. The comedian, cartoonist, musician and host of Comedy Central’s Important Things with Demetri Martin is like a hipster version of deadpan legend Steven Wright. Martin’s routines are some of the most intelligent out there, light years ahead of one-note copyists like Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia. It goes down at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25. www.spreckels.net.

DON’T MISS!
Lebowski Fest “Speed of Sound” Tour at House of Blues, Downtown (Sunday, July 26) and Kearny Mesa Bowl (Monday, July 27). What better way to honor the Coen Brothers’ modern classic than by drinking oat sodas, throwing some rocks (bowling balls, to the layman), dressing up like your favorite Lebowski character and watching a screening of the film with hundreds of other fanatics? There isn’t one. Both days require separate tickets. www.lebowskifest.com.

August

Picturing the Process: The Photograph as Witness at the Museum of Photographic Arts, Balboa Park. MoPA’s education department reaches into its extensive collection to pull out period pieces capturing the different uses of cameras at different times. Follow the evolution of photography and its use as a witness to history. Opens Saturday, Aug. 1, and runs through Feb. 6, 2010. www.mopa.org. $6.

DON’T MISS!
North Park Music Thing. Last year’s inaugural “North by North Park” was forced to change its name, but this year’s version of the three-day event (Friday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 9) still consists of the same quality panels and live music it had in its previous incarnation. www.northparkmusicthing.com.

Fiesta del Sol, along Logan Avenue (just south of Chicano Park) in Barrio Logan. The two-day street festival drew more than 60,000 people last year with its emphasis on community development and civic engagement—as well as food, fun and lots of live music. This year it’s happening from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8, and 9. www.fiestadelsolsandiego.org.

Hillcrest CityFest along Fifth Avenue. This year’s CityFest, which typically consists of blocks and blocks and blocks of vendors, food, beer gardens, entertainments stages and the like, is planned for 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. No details yet on this summer’s model. www.hillcrestbusinessassociation.com

Julian Starfest II at Menghini Winery, 1150 Julian Orchards Drive. This second annual event is for both experienced stargazers and regular folks who want to know more about what’s up in the sky. Scheduled for Aug. 20 through 23, stargazing newbies are welcome to come by on Saturday evening to take a peek through telescopes and learn more about astronomy from the pros. www.julianstarfest.com.

DON’T MISS!
Stone Brewing 13th Anniversary at Cal State University, San Marcos. As usual, the Escondido craft brewery’s yearly celebration is an absolute must for beer connoisseurs. With two sessions on Saturday, Aug. 22 (11 a.m. and 3 p.m.), admission includes 10 tastings from several of the country’s best small breweries, a commemorative tasting glass and gourmet food. Proceeds benefit charities like the Palomar Family YMCA and Surfrider Foundation, so you’ll be getting your buzz for a good cause. Can’t beat that. $35. www.stonebrew.com.

September

Cajon Classic Cruise “British Invasion” along Main Street at Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon. The annual cruise runs from mid-May through Sept. 30 with a different theme each week. On Wednesday, Sept. 2, it’s all things Brit. We’re imagining Minis, MG and Astin Martins. Groovy, baby, yeah! www.downtownelcajon.com.

Julian Grape Stomp at Menghini Winery, 1150 Julian Orchards Drive. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, celebrate the grape harvest with an old-world-style stompin’. The day includes bocce ball competitions, food and wine tasting (natch). Despite the booze, it’s a kid-friendly event that includes a kids-only stomping barrel. www.julianca.com.