The Vintage & Handmade Market 
"Alex Perelson Indy Air" by Brian Fick
Art
The weird ones: When we talked to Brian Goeltzenleuchter in January about the shows he’s curating for Sushi Performance and Visual Art’s 2010 series, Family Matters was one he was particularly excited about. The multifaceted exhibit, which opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 5, comprises artists who blend pop-culture with avant-garde influences. Andrew Kaufman uses glassware to explore representations of “the kiss,” Lisa Hutton manipulates mass-media imagery to explore social myths, Oscar Prinsen creates playground sculptures for (dysfunctional) adults and Donna Stack hand-stitches profane, yet beautiful, welcome mats. Whew. If that ain’t enough, check out the Canadian duo Cedar Tavern Singers at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 6, when they’ll be singing catchy pop songs about esoteric stuff. While viewing the art is free, the Cedar Tavern Singers’ show costs $20. www.sushiart.org
Face the nation: Here’s how Israeli magazine illustrator Hanoch Piven creates a portrait of President Barack Obama: two Statue of Liberty right arms for eyebrows, horizontally flipped flag lapel pins for eyes, a genie’s magic lamp for a nose and, if we’re not mistaken, shiny white squares of nicotine gum for teeth. And you know what? It looks just like him. UCSD’s ArtPower! is “extremely excited” that Piven will be at the Monday, March 8, opening of his show, Piven World, at The Loft at UCSD (second floor of Price Center East). The free event starts at 4 p.m. and is sponsored by the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles. www.artpwr.com.
Books
Blown up: Young men from well-to-do backgrounds have always been susceptible to extremist ideologies, from Osama bin Ladin himself to “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh. So, those who say we should’ve seen Nigerian rich-kid Umar Farouk “Underwear Bomber” Abdulmutallab coming should know that author Masha Hamilton, in fact, did. In her acclaimed 2009 novel, 31 Hours, Hamilton—a veteran correspondent for The Associated Press and The Los Angeles Times—takes the reader through the last hours before a domestic suicide attack by a homegrown zealot. Hamilton will read from the novel at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, at The Book Works, 2670 Via De La Valle in Del Mar. The event is free and open to the public. www.stylesubstancesoul.com/masha
Food & Drink
Mmmm… coffee beer: San Diego really has a leg up on other cities when it comes to beer. We’ve got Stone, Alesmith, Karl Strauss and Ballast Point, to name just a few. Lucky for us, with all these local breweries, we’ve become test rats of sorts. The latest experiment is a collaboration between Ballast Point Brewery and Caffe Calabria, North Park’s premier coffee roasters. They’ve combined beer and coffee to make Victory at Sea, a Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter. Stop by the café (3933 30th St.) from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 5, to sample three varieties of the new brew, plus Ballast Point’s trusty Yellowtail Pale Ale. There’ll also be food from North Park restaurants, music from FM 94/9 and Calabria’s tasty coffee and espresso drinks. Another perk? All proceeds from the event go to Doctors Without Borders to help the people of Haiti. For tickets, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/99895. $25 advance, $30 door.
Music
Rising soprano star: Not to be crass, but most people, when they think about opera singers, often conjure up images of girthy, Italian belters with too much makeup or fitted tuxedos. Little do most know that one of the most promising young sopranos in the country calls Del Mar home. Priti Gandhi has already impressed audiences in roles with the San Diego Opera and the Theatre du Chetelet in Paris and has been lauded by The New York Times for her “creamy sound and agile coloratura technique.” Creamy, huh? Now, she comes home for her first local solo recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Birch North Park Theatre, accompanied by pianist and San Diego Opera alum Nicolas Reveles. $40. www.lyricoperasandiego.org.
Photography
Skater boy: San Diego photographer Brian Fick has been able to capture some sweet skateboarding action images. Maybe that’s because he’s a longtime skater himself. He does some really nice things with a fish-eye lens and has also been able to illustrate skate culture in non-action photos. His work will be on view at Sea Rocket Bistro (3382 30th St. in North Park), beginning with an opening party from 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday, March 7. Sea Rocket will make available, among other dishes, sloppy joe’s made with pastured pork and fish tacos with local, wild-caught fish, plus drink specials throughout the evening. The folks at Sea Rocket say it’ll likely get crowded, so they urge anyone wanting a relaxed dinner to get there early. www.fickoff.com, www.searocketbistro.com
Film
So bad it’s good: If you’re a cult-movie buff, you’ve no doubt heard of The Room. If you haven’t, all you need to know is that it’s been called one of the worst movies ever made and it’s become a classic midnight-movie experience akin to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with raucous audiences throwing stuff at the screen and interacting with characters as the unintentional hilarity unfolds. The 2003 film—produced and directed by and starring Tommy Wiseau—has been a colossal hit in Los Angeles for the past six years, and it finally lands in San Diego at midnight on Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6, at (where else?) the Ken Cinema. www.landmarktheatres.com, www.theroommovie.com.
Fashion
Time travel: Ah, the ’60s and ’70s. Fashion-wise, the style was so distinct back then—not like now, when our distinct style is, well, we’re not even quite sure what it is. In the ’60s, it was all shift dresses and thick, black-rimmed glasses. And then came the ’70s with its bell-bottoms and flowy dresses. If you’re at all nostalgic for those days, and we’re sure some of you are, make sure you stop by Soda Bar (3615 El Cajon Blvd.) at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, for the Throwback trunk show, where local Etsy shop owners and North Park locals Sarah Sanaee and Jenea Zeek will have trunks full of vintage clothes for you to choose from. To make the night a true time warp, there’ll be psychedelic projections by Operation Mindblow, and rock ’n’ rollers The Kabbs and Chango Rey will play sets. To preview what’ll be there, check out www.lovestreetvintage.etsy.com and www.dollyrockervintage.etsy.com.
