Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 24-Wednesday, April 30, 2025: Owl Be Damned | The Pharcyde | Kevin Atwater | Artwalk | Adams Avenue Unplugged | SD Book Crawl | Black Heart Procession | Papooz | SD Music Awards |

We've officially hit that one crazy weekend in San Diego where it feels like all the good things happen at once: Art Walk, Adams Avenue Unplugged, San Diego Book Crawl, and Art Alive among many other great things happening, like I Love A Clean San Diego's Creek To Bay Cleanup. I've been a bit of a recluse lately if I'm being honest, we have so much stuff coming up that I'm trying to take it easy when running around isn't required of me, but I will be working for The Pharcyde on Thursday, Stan Walker on Friday, and The Bloody Beetroots on Sunday. We're also trying to sneak in a night of camping on Saturday, but only if I'm not too run down by the time it comes around. I still have yet to meet the new orangutan at the zoo, so that is definitely on my agenda, too. In the meantime, the retrial of Karen Read has started, so I'm spending most of my time with headphones on to listen in on the trial and the recaps. So fascinating. 

Anyway, lots of really good stuff this week. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: SDCCU & CCCU Intend To Merge | Gloria's Budget Pisses Everyone Off - Except Cops | State Of The County | New Orangutan At SD Zoo Makes Debut | SCOTUS Standoff with TFG | Pope Francis Dies |

Marcella The Sun Bear at San Diego Zoo (4.17.25)

This post will just go on forever if I don't wrap it up and start a new one, and there was certainly a lot of news this past week. I won't bother with a recap, because it's Easter Sunday and I had a nice day and I'm just trying to get it off my brain so I can get a more peaceful sleep, but shit is bonkers and I just can't with it all. So, head in the sand, and hopefully I'll be spending my Monday stalking a new red-headed boy called Pumpkin. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. (Also, no Handmaid spoilers. I haven't started the new season yet.)

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 17-Wednesday, April 23, 2025: Clikitat Ikatowi | Jeff Bridges | Emo Nite | EarthFest | Black Mountain | Em Beihold | Naked Giants |

Wow. Things have been absolutely bananas around here. I usually like to have a diary post between listings posts, but the news is just insane right now, so maybe I'll finish it up when I'm working for Clikitat Ikatowi at the Casbah on Thursday. Toby's senior year is drawing to a close, so there have been a ton of things we have to show up for, plus tax day and family stuff and I swear I still have this lingering cold that goes away for a bit and then seems to come right back, so whatever. I've been listening to a ton of podcasts, audio books, and courtcasting on YouTube, doing my zoo thing, and just trying not to wear myself ragged when every day the news just gets worse and worse and seemingly unchecked. I haven't started the new season of The Handmaid's Tale because it's a little too raw at the moment, but I look forward to catching up with all of the things at some point. For now, that means sleep. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 10-Wednesday, April 16, 2025: Youth Lagoon | Twin Ritual | Swami | Ducks Ltd. | Laura Jane Grace | SDMA Showcase | Joshua Ray Walker | Vision Video | BBES | DJO

I was really looking forward to seeing Stereophonics again for the first time in over a decade, but unfortunately the show was postponed to September 27 due to illness of one of the band members. It all worked out because I had some personal stuff I needed to handle and it was the anniversary of losing my Dad, though Blonde Redhead or Hinds both would've been pretty fun shows. There are plenty of rad shows coming this week to fill the gap of losing that one. 

I hope everyone has a great week and enjoys the turn in weather and that the allergies don't kick your ass too bad. Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: Fiesta Island Dog Park Gets Mowed | TFG Ruins Everything | County Board Primary | Egg Price Gouging | Chula Vista Opens New Park | Zoo Petition For Living Wages |

 

Hamadryas Baboon Lisa Marie and her day-old baby (Taken 4.4.25)

What a weird-ass week, no? If anyone doesn't think that there was some crazy intentional stock-tanking and insider trading happening over the weekend after TFG tanked the whole global economy and then came back on Wednesday saying 'just kidding', then I don't know what to tell you. This motherfucker is the worst of the worst. And I never thought I'd have anything to agree with fElon about, but Peter Never-Won-A-Single-Race-In-San-Diego Navarro is, indeed, a fucking idiot. I didn't make it out to the march but there was a beautiful showing here in San Diego in multiple locations. 

For me, I went to a mass in honor of my dad and my sister in law, who passed nine days apart two years ago. It was also my parents' wedding anniversary, so just surrounding my mom with love has been the priority. We have a baby shower this weekend for my God-sister and her partner who are expecting twins in May, and I'll be working at the Casbah on Sunday. This weekend is the Open Ranch at Hazpaca, but I don't know that I'll make it with my other obligations. This week is also Tax Day, my other sister's birthday, I've got some momming to do and such, so it will be a busy week going into Easter.  Everything is a little crazy around here as we get ready for some big transitions, but we're doing our best to keep our heads on straight and not let TFG steal any more joy from our lives. I hope you're doing the same. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 3-Wednesday, April 9, 2025: The Smithereens | Hovvdy | Willis | Geographer | Festival of Beers NP | Annie DiRusso | Rubblebucket | Deep Sea Diver | Stereophonics | Hinds | Blonde Redhead |

Bob Mould at Music Box (4.1.25)

On Wednesday afternoon, I got a call from Halloran out of the blue. He was trying to find my "updates" because he needed to "steal" my listings for the 91X concert calendar because Hilary is on vacation and he's filling in. I guess it was a lucky thing that after the Bob Mould and Craig Finn show I just powered through all night to get the bulk of them done, though I didn't stop working until 9am, which can really screw up any day plans one might've had. It was all fine though, I got in some zoo time before therapy and was able to spend Wednesday night polishing these up and adding a couple extra things that aren't typical venues, so I hope you find something you're into. And next time you hear one of those little things to do blurbs on 91X, know they got that info from ya girl over here. 

I just posted a diary, so I don't need to rehash my week, but lots of great shows are happening this week besides it being Spring Break and Easter weekend. See you at the rally. 

Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. Stay safe out there. 

 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: Fiesta Island Getting Mowed | So Much Political Fuckery | Celebrate The Wisconsin Win | SDZWA Employees Reject Contract Proposal | so much news.

 

Sea Lions at La Jolla Cove/Point La Jolla (March 30, 2025)

One of the many things happening right now is that the administration of TFG and fElon is moving so fast, that nobody can even react to one thing before another thing and another and another happens, but let's be clear: their path of destruction knows no end, greed and power is what drives them, and the cruelty is the point. Whenever I read articles talking about what the consequences of an action could be, they're like "important science won't happen" or "people will lose jobs" or "{discriminated/underserved/poor} will lose XYZ access and benefit." And all of that is EXACTLY THE POINT. You are a number. You don't matter. Your life is an inconvenience to the Uber wealthy after the extent that they can work you to your literal death and steal any prosperity you earned or to which you are entitled. FUCK ALL OF THEM. Tuesday was the first day I've felt political joy in years, as Wisconsin turned out and turned up. And it will be incredible to see and share all of the rallies happening on Saturday. If for ANY reason you're not able to actively attend a rally, you can amplify and share and spread the word of all the great and peaceful actions you witness. Every drop matters. 

Besides all of that, I've been super busy. Toby had a school jazz performance on Thursday, perhaps his last of his senior year, I did Sawyer Hill on Friday, CG5 on Saturday, and the Swing Kids/Angonista show on Sunday. Then it was Trans Day of Visibility on Monday, I did Bob Mould & Craig Finn on Tuesday, and two hours of family therapy on Wednesday, getting us all ready for some very big things in Toby's affirmation journey. Thursday I'll be at the Smithereens show and then no set in stone plans besides trying to get my ass to the rally on Saturday and shooting Stereophonics next Wednesday. Exciting and scary and anxiety inducing and gotta-find-the-joy times we are living in.  

Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. Stay safe out there. Look out for each other, because the government has officially quit on all of us. 

Things To Do in San Diego: Thursday, March 27-Wednesday, April 2, 2025: zzzahara | Orgōne | K. Flay | Sawyer Hill | Laser Disc Drum Orgy | Billy Raffoul | CG5 | Poncho Sanchez | Allah-Las | Folk Implosion | Bob Mould

I don't know why my internet was soooo S-L-O-W while I was trying to do these listings, but I'm glad to have restarted and now I can type as fast as I want and it seems to be catching up. This week is kind of a funny one; it's spring break for some (San Diego Unified has next week off and goes back on April 7th), but for those of us not in school, Monday is a California holiday but not a federal one, so some people get it off and most people don't. This week will be busy; I'll be at Toby's jazz concert at Hoover on Thursday, doing the Quartyard show with Sawyer Hill on Friday, and at CG5 on Saturday. I've been asked to help out at Casbah on Sunday for the Swing Kids show, then I'll be working for Bob Mould (again) on Tuesday and The Smithereens on Thursday. I'm exhausted just thinking about it all. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: SDZWA CEO "Resigns" | Developer Wolves Guarding Housing Henhouse in San Diego | TFG and fElon Destroy At Will | States Sue Feds | Citizens Getting Renditioned |

 

Sloth Bear Brother and Sister Cubs (Taken by S24 3.26.25)

If you're coming here for lighthearted reading, skip this post. 

After the November election, I knew things would be dreadful, but doesn't every day feel like another year? The news is seriously so depressing that sometimes I just have to hit publish without even getting close to hitting the points. Like I don't really need to talk about or link to stories about Whiskey-Pete and the war by Signal, right? But things also feel pretty fucked up locally; for a time it felt like progressives were taking the reins and San Diego and California at large were safe, but with our housing turned into slot machines for greedy investors and Gavin trying to reach across the aisle with his shitty ass podcasts, it's hard to feel like anyone is looking out for any of us anymore. It's so hard to try and live "normal" when nothing feels normal. The pandemic was easy. This shit is something else entirely. 

It's spring break for many, so the zoo has been super crowded on most days, but then everyone leaves by like 4pm and it's mostly empty. I try to get my daily trips, but now even those feel a little bananas since there is so.much.drama with the news that the SDZWA CEO resigned...the day of this big employee-wide pep rally, which was canceled the day of...and three days before the union employees within SDZWA get their votes counted on whether to accept the pathetic negotiated offer or to strike. 

And I'm really trying to find joy. But we're still not really okay after losing Ficus, and this time of year for me personally is just full of sad anniversaries; my sister-in-law died from breast cancer two years ago this past Tuesday, and my dad died nine days later, just after my parents' 53rd wedding anniversary. We're preparing for some big life stuff, and Toby has been accepted to some choice schools, but everything just feels so insecure and unsure. So, one foot in front of the other, I guess, I'll keep bingeing shows and court cases to avoid the news as best I can, but pay attention when it counts, and just try to have some faith that this pendulum will swing back before life as we know it is changed irreparably. 

Stay safe out there | Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, March 20-Wednesday, March 26, 2025: The Wellermen | Oneida | Jon Foreman | This Is Lorelei | Squirrel Nut Zippers | Rachel Platten | Pallbearer | Josh Kmak Farewell |

This week has been non-stop and I'm so exhausted and I crawled into bed late Wednesday night, or Thursday morning, depending on how you measure a day, and then popped right out, realizing I didn't finish these listings. So here I am, finishing the listings. I'm too drained to say much else. I want to look on the bright side, but shit coming out of TFG every day is really, really fucked up on the daily so brace yourself and find your joy. As for me, I've got family in town, and I'll be slinging merch at Music Box on Friday and Saturday. There are some super great shows this week, so try and get out to see some, and I'll do my best to take my own advice. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.   

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: Seaworld Opens Jewels Of The Sea: Jellyfish Experience | San Diego Initiates Paid Parking Plan For Parks (AGAIN) | tfg & fElon Are Destroying America |

 

The Klipspringer duo didn't seem to mind my presence in the rain (3.15.25)

I've been thinking a lot about the oughts. I was a single girl, struggling with my employment, barely making rent each month, partying too much, but I think I was relatively happy? But I remember San Diego was bumming me out with Mayor Sanders at the helm, and I felt like I couldn't even participate in politics because it felt like everything that was happening was the exact opposite of what I would do if I was in charge. Still, I started this blog, Obama became president, and things felt pretty okay for a hot minute. 

And now, here we are in 2025 and what the fuck is even happening? TFG and fElon are running roughshod over our entire way of life, our senators couldn't stand up to an insane budget that gives the sociopaths free rein to keep on doing it. And now San Diego is just going bonkers. 

I know so many people who were against bike lanes and are against the housing being built at a rapid clip in this city. I'm generally not one of them. I supported, nay, fought for bike infrastructure that has finally begun to be implemented over the past few years, only now it's scarier than ever to actually get on a bike because there are zero consequences for drivers on roadways as it is, let alone if they have a collision with a cyclist. As for housing...I, too, am sick of "luxury" apartments being built, but let's go back all the way to when Petco Park was built and took out thousands of SROs and housing, then JMI made gazillions of dollars selling gifted land back to developers and we've never caught back up. Add that most disgusting deal in 2021, DURING THE PANDEMIC, of the Conrad Prebys foundation selling 6,800 affordable units to Blackstone, "the world's largest alternative asset manager" and it's no wonder the most basic houses on desirable lots are selling for over a million dollars on the regular and people who should be able to afford rent are out on their asses as their rents got jacked after fake renovations. 

And now the City wants to charge for parking at Balboa Park and Mission Bay. FUCK YOU. This will be a fucking fight. They are taking a parking study done in July of 2024, THE BUSIEST BALBOA PARK HAS EVER BEEN because of "revenge tourism" after the pandemic, an actual prosperous time in America under Biden, and a 4th of July that fell on a Thursday, meaning most working Americans could take 3 or 4 days off from work, and end up with 9 full days for vacationing in this most desirable City of San Diego. I have tried to support San Diego and keep it positive over here, but I am FUCKING RAGING. When things are FALLING APART from the administration and repugs in power, our city should be BOOSTING what is left of parks, the arts, and community accommodations. And you picked the busiest month of the year for your $200,000 study. What about when it is NOT busy? You think Balboa Park or the Zoo will even be a choice if people have to pay to park, even when the lots are empty? Fuck right off. If you're trying to make up for a deficit, make cops do their fucking jobs and ticket people speeding 45 miles on my 25 mile street. 

On top of all that, the council succumbed to the threat of a lawsuit by another megachurch that stomped its feet and demanded they get to build a monstrosity in an area zoned for housing in Del Cerro. I have an idea...why don't you take THE OTHER FUCKING MEGACHURCH that was built in Mission Valley against the protests of pretty much THE WHOLE FUCKING CITY. 

It's so fucking gross. I love San Diego, but right now I'm really. fucking. disappointed. And it is hard not to be depressed AF about it all. But, I will carry on and fight the fight in the ways I know how. Including sharing all of this bullshit with you. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.