From M-Theory's Sidewalk Sale to the Kensington Park Exchange

Kate Hatmaker and DeMarre McGill of Art of Elan
- Photo by Darin Fong

White head: During the last few months, CityBeat has encountered a lot of angry extremists who claim that white culture is dying. We call bullshit. If it was doomed, how could Christian Lander have launched a career on snidely enumerating white culture on his blog StuffWhitePeople-Like.com? White culture is so thrive-alicious, the Canadian hipster has just published his second book on the topic in two years, A Whiter Shade of Pale, which includes explorations into regional whiteness, such as the pales of San Diego. (Of course, his upper-middle-class white people are more into gourmet coffee and Conan O’Brien than Confederate flags, but still.) Lander’s book tour swings through La Jolla on Wednesday, Dec. 1, with a reading at 7:30 p.m. at Warwick’s (7812 Girard Ave). Free. warwicks.com

More to life: Maybe you’ve seem ’em around town, all guerilla-like on bus shelters—black (or brightred) signs advertising the Kensington Park Neighborhood Exchange II, happening from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, at Kensington Park, 4121 Adams Ave. As part of international “Buy Nothing Day”—an almost-decade-old annual celebration of anti-consumerism that happens the day after Thanksgiving—the event celebrates the simple pleasure of communal bartering. Show up to the park and bring something to trade: clothes, books, records, food, art, your life story. Or just show up and enjoy a day in the park. (But if you really gotta hit the stores, buy local, for goodness sake!) For details, see the event’s Facebook page or themotivatedyouth.com.

Sound and vision: Art of Élan is a small outfit of musicians who’re trying to introduce classical music to new audiences. For the past three years, the group’s been performing concerts in the intimate Hibben Gallery of the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park that take inspiration from visual art. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, Art of Élan will play an hour-long concert called Laughter, Tears and Blues, based on UCSD professor emeritus Faith Ringgold’s painted story quilt “Seven Passages to a Flight” and Langston Hughes’ collection of stories, Laughing to Keep from Crying. The performance features music by African-American composers. Afterward, you can mingle with the musicians over cocktails at The Prado restaurant, just a short walk from the museum. Tickets are $25, $10 for students. artofelan.org, sdmart.org

Hit the sidewalk: There’s something about finding a great record for 50 cents that’s so exhilarating that it’s kind of addictive. For all those vinyl junkies out there, Friday, Nov. 26, is your chance to score the record of your dreams at M-Theory Music’s Sidewalk Sale. The shop (915 W. Washington St. in Mission Hills) promises it’ll have exclusive vinyl releases from the likes of Jack White, MGMT, Iron & Wine, Bob Dylan, The Black Keys and more, starting at half a dollar. The sale starts at 10 a.m. and goes until 8 p.m., but the good stuff is bound to go fast, so get there as early as possible. There will also be $1 CDs and free pizza from M-Theory’s neighbor, Lefty’s Pizzeria. mtheorymusic.com

Keepin' on: In the seven years it’s been around, the home-grown Thread “fashion and lifestyle show” has expanded to bigger spaces and other cities, like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, welcome Lara Matthews and her stylish crew back to San Diego, to the Horton Event Space in Horton Plaza, Downtown. As always, the day will feature wares from independent clothing and accessory designers, runway shows and extras like a custom-photo booth designed by Art Kills Artists, complimentary style consultations in the Thread Style Lounge and a clothing swap, where you can exchange your gently worn items for something new-to-you (see threadshow.com for rules). Admission is $10, $5 if you RSVP online by noon Nov. 27.