A new gallery and TNT

James Stacy (wearing the tie) with protestors

CHRONIC-CON?

Most people charged with federal drug crimes cop a plea. James Stacy organizes a convention. The feds busted the martial-arts instructor after he organized a medical-marijuana collective next to his dojo in Vista. His trial starts at the end of the month; in the meantime, Stacy is coordinating the Rx Cannabis Raid Relief Concert and Expo. The Saturday, Aug. 14, event will feature more than 50 exhibitors from collectives, law firms, activist groups, doctor’s offices and hydroponics stores, plus a Jamaican restaurant. There will be speakers, bands (including Roswell that Ends Well and Shame and Skandal) and a Guinness-record contender for the world’s smallest cat. The free expo runs from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Balboa Park Club, in Balboa Park. rxcannabisraidrelief.blogspot.com

IT’S ALL HAPPENING

Ah, TNT, you coy little event you. Once monthly, you now come around just when we’re jonesin’ for an evening out that features art, tunes and booze, all in one spot. From 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, the vanguard cultural gathering returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s Downtown location (1100 Kettner Blvd.). Haven’t yet seen the Viva la Revolucion exhibit? Get there early (hint: start with the Banksy room before it gets too crowded), because artist Dzine will be doing a Q&A about his work. Then, catch a set by Wavves, whose new record, King of the Beach, is driving the kids wild. Mike Maxwell will lead interactive art-making activities and, if you get hungry, Miho Gastrotruck will be parked along Kettner Boulevard, serving up tasty grub. $10. mcasd.org

HEY, BABY

Look up the history of “roots rock” and undoubtedly you’ll see Dave Alvin’s name. The co-founder of The Blasters, who did a stint with X and penned the quintessential Americana ballad “4th of July,” will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, with Cindy Cashdollar (yep, her real name) at the Schulman Auditorium in the Dove Library (1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad). It’s a match made in singer / songwriter heaven: Cashdollar’s got mad skills on the Dobro and steel guitars—not to mention a sweet bluegrass voice—that pair well with Alvin’s working-class folk-rock. At only $10 a ticket, this one’s sure to sell out. The show’s presented by the Museum of Making Music, so head over to museumofmakingmusic.org for the details.

Givin’ you the business: When you’re done with this page, turn to Page 25, where Peter Holslin tells you all you need to know about the bands not to miss during this year’s North Park Music Thing. But since the event is subtitled “San Diego Music and Media Conference,” you’d do well not to forget about the “conference” part. All day starting at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 13 and 14, at the Lafayette Hotel (2223 El Cajon Blvd.), experts will show aspiring musicians how to navigate their way into the business (publishing, legal issues, marketing, licensing, touring, etc.). And the keynote speaker is Kim Fowley, the songwriter, record producer and cult music figure known best for forming The Runaways in the mid 1970s. After all that learning, you’ll need a drink—good thing a happy hour caps each day from 6 to 8 p.m., getting you good and lubed for the performances around town. Tickets are $20 for one day, $35 for both. Get the full schedule at northparkmusicthing.com.

BETTER THAN THX

You into guilty pleasures? How about guilty ecstasy? How about bucketloads of shameful glee that can only be experienced while enjoying famous movie theme songs performed by a live rock band? Yes, Hollywood songs (e.g. “Ghostbusters” and “Footloose”) are the new show tunes, and that’s what you’ll get with the family-friendly feast of the senses that is Popcorn: A Live Movie Soundtrack Experience at Anthology (1337 India St. in Little Italy) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12. The producers even pump the sweet smell of buttered kernels through the auditorium as they project clips from Caddyshack (yes, the dancing gopher), Top Gun and other recognizable film classics on the wall. General admission “value tickets” are $7, with dining-area tickets starting at $15. anthologysd.com

GALLERY FEVER

Despite the crappy economy, art galleries continue to open in San Diego. The newest one to pop up in East Village is The Machine Shop Gallery (540 15th St.), a joint venture between Chris Clements and Dustin Liedl of Coronado, who call their collaboration Community / SPACE. Clements, a painter and ceramic artist, will use the gallery to show his work, as well as work by other local artists. Liedl will take up residence in the space adjacent to the gallery, in the Dustin Liedl Pure Concrete Studio, where he’ll show off his one-of-a-kind concrete pieces. See the space from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 13. Local band Joy will perform a set, and DJ Slowhand will provide the beats. community spacesd.com

Wine and skateboards: Art can end up anywhere—on buildings, on T-shirts and on skateboards. This weekend, when ASR (the gigantic convention where surf and skate brands roll out their fall collections) comes to town, the folks behind We Love Creativity have curated a skate-themed art show called Eighth Ply. More than 40 artists, including locals Eric Wixon, Tocayo and Mike Maxwell, adorned skateboard decks with their art. Proceeds from sales of the decks will go to Now That You Know, a nonprofit that helps girls in Meru, Kenya, stay in school. The reception happens from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, at Vin de Syrah Wine Parlor (901 Fifth Ave., Downtown). Hosted bar from 8 to 9 p.m. for those on the guest list. Get on the list at welovecreativity.com/asr.

THE MAGIC OF TECATE

In Guacamole Dip, author Daniel Reveles writes about the plaza in the heart of Tecate. If you’ve never taken the time to sit in the Mexican border town’s plaza, you may think Reveles idealizes things. Do old men really sit and play chess while young children chase pigeons in the gazebo? Can you really smell the beer wafting from the nearby Tecate brewery? Do musicians really put on free concerts in the plaza? The town sounds magical, and that’s before Reveles gets into his signature magical-realism style of writing. Reveles, who often enjoys the Tecate plaza from the comfort of his bar stool at Diana Bar, will talk about his work at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, at Borders, 159 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. danielreveles.com