Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, May 25-Wednesday, May 31, 2023: Lizzo | Bob Log III | Rodrigo y Gabriela | North Park Music Fest | Mr Tube & Flying Objects | Memorial Day | Matchbox Twenty | Bayonne | Toad The Wet Sprocket |

It's gonna be a May Gray weekend in San Diego but the North Park Music Fest is happening so it should be a fun one regardless. I'll fill you in on all my happenings when the time is right but for now, peruse the listings and I hope everyone has a great weekend. This is the weekend that the San Diego Zoo hours expand to 9pm, so they've got entertainment and the return of the Jambo end of the night celebration. I will definitely be spending some summer nights at the Zoo, but for now, I just need some sleep and have a million things to get done before the week is through. I honestly won't have the time to update these listings, but KPBS, Pacific SD, and San Diego Magazine all publish their weekend rundowns on Thursday in case I missed anything. Catch you on the flip. And OMG, don't forget to watch that Vanderpump Rules Reunion! Riveting trash television at it's finest. 

Stay safe out there. Full listings after the jump. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, May 18-Wednesday, May 24, 2023: Thrice | Emo Nite | Fiesta Del Sol | The Cure & The Twilight Sad | Sweet & Tender Hooligans | Les Claypool & Fishbone |

I did them again. To be honest, this week was even crazier than the week of my dad's services. My uncle has been here and I love him, but he lives on a whim and he needs me to be available when he needs me to be available. We have made and remade plans about 36 times in the past four days. So when my mom and my uncle gave me a rundown of his last day in town, I knew Tuesday was my night for cocktails (post-pandemie lockdowns, I try to designate one night per week instead of constant inebriation in our former speakeasy) and to get these listings done. Again. There is no way these will be complete by the time they post. But this is the basic stuff and I'm likely not updating again until next week, which are the services for my Sister-In-Law in New Mexico, which is going to be a whole other situation. I love you all. Thanks for all the goodness. I've needed it, but I assure you I'm good. 

Old News: See The Wildflowers Before They're Gone | COVID Emergency Over | San Diego To Sue Sea World For Delinquent Rent | SCOTUS Upholds CA Farm Animal Welfare Law | SDZWA Announces Amur Cubs Are Female |

Amur Leopard Cub Sisters (Taken 5.1.23)

It's been a minute since I've posted besides listings and stuff about my dad, so since I'm still like your grandma who clips newspaper articles of interest, these may be a little bit dated, but I can't move forward without publishing all these little posts that I start. Things are good, but I'll save stuff about me for a diary post. In the meantime, I'll say that I've been keeping the zoo in my mental health routine and on Friday, at 13 weeks old (Born 2.17.23), the San Diego Zoo finally announced that the cubs are both female. They're actually having a public vote between three selected names for each. I've been calling them Smiley (for the distinct smiley face made by the spots on her forehead) and Blur for the lighter colored one who seems to zip through all of my shots. You can see the Zoo's post here and vote on the names here. I'm going with Ulybka & Zorinka, for the record. 

In real news, politics is still stupid, the debt ceiling is still hanging over us, crazy shootings are happening everyday, Fletcher is gone and that dumb bitch COVID denier is running for his spot, and apparently we're getting an MLS team after all. Also, I think El Cajon Boulevard or Orange Avenue was being used for a sideshow tonight which I find absolutely infuriating. So yeah, while I haven't been paying as close attention to the news as I usually do, I'm not really missing much. After the past few weeks, I've got an emotional hangover and am completely spent, so I think I'll check out for a little while longer. 

I love you all. Stay safe out there.    

Things To Do in San Diego: Thursday, May 11-Wednesday, May 17, 2023: Gator By The Bay | Hurray For the Riff Raff | Skating Polly | Creepy Creeps | Leon Larregui | Album Leaf | Jordan Krimston | TWRP | Tanukichan |

Alright, you guys. I'm so glad my insomnia kicked in on Tuesday because by Wednesday my Uncle and my cousins arrived from Indiana and LA and we had a big family dinner at Cafe Coyote in Old Town and then hung out watching the end of the Warriors v Lakers game at their Air BNB (but not without a lecture about the destruction of neighborhoods by whole house rentals - HAHAHA!) So consider this post an official signing off for the week. You may hear from me, but most likely not. Anything not already in these listings probably won't be added, but I'm sure you can find KPBS, Pacific SD, and San Diego Magazine's weekend picks on your own. My Thursday will be a lot of running around doing touristy stuff with the family, hopefully picking up my van which was having a transmission problem, and mostly just making sure we have everything ready to go for my dad's services on Friday. I know the whole thing is going to be really hard, but to be honest, nothing made my dad happier than family and friends all being together, so we're already feeling him shining on us. Once that all wraps, I'm still trying to scam comps for Gator By The Bay because this would be the first year my mom can go for Mother's Day after about 7 years of caretaking my dad and not being able to leave him for any length of time. We used to go every year before then. I'm sorry I didn't appropriately post about the San Diego Music Awards, but I wasn't there this year and don't even think I got my Academy vote this year, so I wasn't super invested with everything going on in my personal life. Winners can be found here (for now, hopefully to be archived later.)

Anyway, I love you all and hope everyone has a beautiful Mother's Day weekend. The Creepy Creeps, Album Leaf, and Tanukichan shows are almost all sold out. Also gotta recommend Jordan Krimston's Album Release show on Sunday if you can make it.  

Stay safe out there. 

Edward J Bystrak: Services and Some Words About Dad

Hi Everyone. 

Thanks for all the continued well wishes regarding the loss of my Dad. Public services are going to be held this Friday, May 12. There will be a mass at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 11am, followed by Interment at Miramar National Cemetary at 1pm. After 3pm, we'll be having an open house/reception at the family home in Chula Vista. Please reach out if address is needed, I can be messaged on socials or text me if you have my number. 

It is so hard to write about my Dad in any kind of way that really gives the picture of his full life and character, but I finally overcame the anxiety of such a task. You can read after the jump if so inclined. 

This week we'll be welcoming tons of family and friends from out of town and I'll do my best to still do listings...maybe it will actually be a good distraction... but please know that I'm still seeing all the messages and appreciate all of the love and they are being warmly received by my entire family. 

xoxo

COVID: Reporting Pretty Much Over | San Diego County District 4 Will Get A Special Election To Replace Fletcher | OPEC: Manipulating Oil Markets To Interfere with US Politics }

One of the ~11 Week Old Amur Leopard Cubs at San Diego Zoo (Taken 5.4.23)

It's a Friday night at home and I'm trying to catch up with work and email and everything and I'd been collecting articles per usual...you can see dating back all the way to April, so I'm just going to post this because it's going to keep bugging me if I don't. I really had a lot to say about everything...I'm grateful the County Board of Supervisors decided to have a special election instead of appointing a replacement for Nathan Fletcher. Honestly, finding out that bitch from the anti-vax group is running makes me want to run against her, but hopefully someone more qualified steps up. COVID isn't gone but information about it is pretty much wrapped up and tucked away and we'll hear not much about it again except as a political football, so you're on your own. And if you're planning on travelling to any state or national parks, check their status because the rain, snow, and now melting of the snow is causing floods and closures. 

Back to Friday night. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, May 4- Wednesday, May 10, 2023: Y La Bamba | Beth Hart | Cinco De Mayo | Schizophonics | Cursive | Mariachi El Bronx | Westerman | The Bobby Lee's | Violent Femmes |

I know, I know. I'm late. This month is gonna be a lot, my dad's services are next week, then my sister in laws two weeks after that. So I've got a lot going on. And I'm late for my hour at the zoo today. I'll clean these up later and get you the links from KPBS, Pacific, and San Diego Magazine, too. For now, the listings.