Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, February 26-Wednesday, March 4, 2026: Night Blooms | Violent Femmes | Makeout Reef | Matt Pryor | Band Argument | A Wilhelm Scream | Yellow Days | Cochemea | Allie Paige | Sturdivant | Indigo De Souza |

I'm beat. I just got home from a quick camping trip in the desert. I was not planning on 90+ degrees in February, but Darren was going for work, so I met up with his group for camping, then went my own way on Wednesday to hit The Living Desert, which sadly got rid of their reciprocal membership pricing, meaning it might be a long time before I go back even though it's a lovely place. So yeah, I'm wiped out. Van camping in the desert ain't for everyone, though I was impressed by the seemingly random campsite where we stayed which had clean bathrooms and showers and was free to stay. 

So while I go get some sleep, note that the San Diego Music Award nominees have been announced. The awards take place on May 6th at Humphrey's and you can get tickets here. Showcases are also being announced, but weren't yet posted when I put these listings together earlier this week.  

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, February 19-Wednesday, February 25, 2026: Benefit for Soda Bar Dave | Sudan Archives | Cold Cave | rum.gold | Rebirth Brass Band | Steve Poltz | Tim Lowman Celebration of Life | SDMA Nominee Announcement Show | Noeline Hoffman |

There's so much to pack in this week and weekend, no matter what the weather may bring, but I thought I'd highlight the benefit for Dave Castaneda at Soda Bar on Thursday night. Times of San Diego did a nice little article about it, but Dave's been a good friend for a long time, and though I'll be working at Music Box, if you can make it out to support this benefit, I know he'll be super appreciative. He is fine, by the way, but his apartment with all of his things in it, flooded and was condemned, leaving all of his possessions inaccessible. 

This weekend is also the public Celebration of Life for Tim Lowman on Sunday at the Bali Hai. If you plan on attending, please RSVP first so they can have some estimate of how many guests to expect. Please also mind the schedule: Doors will open at 3:00 PM, allowing time for guests to arrive, connect, and spend time together. Formal programming—including remarks, tributes, and special moments of remembrance—will begin at 4:30 PM. 

Additionally, there's a bunch of Lunar New Year events, it's Hazpaca Open Ranch, and there is probably gonna be some snow in the local and near mountains. 

I've got lots of stuff on the agenda, but still hope to take in some more Winter Olympics at home with MY NEW COUCH! which finally arrived after waiting for it all day Wednesday. I love it, I'm so happy with my purchase, it's changed my whole work vibe on the couch. 

Stay safe out there...flu is on the rise so get your vax if you haven't already!! Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: San Diego Chases Bad Ideas With Worse | Paid Parking Installed Along ECB, Adams, More | Will Our Police Protect Us From ICE? | Rady's Gender Clinic Must Continue Care |

I mentioned that I had a pretty great week last week. After seeing Dan Mangan and Israel Nebeker (Blind Pilot) at Soda Bar on Sunday, I couldn't get their songs out of my head, which gave me the perfect excuse to go to LA. When it was raining on Wednesday morning, I thought it a great sign to drive up to spend the day at the LA Zoo, figuring the rain would drive down crowds. I was correct in my assessment and had an amazing day with the orangutans and chimps, and a little bit of time with the gorillas, too, but they spend most of their time along the rear wall of their habitat, so I didn't stay long. After the zoo closed, I freshened up and changed and made my way to Moroccan Lounge for the show, which was extra magical and my first time at that venue. You can read all the rest, after the jump. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, February 12-Wednesday, February 18, 2026: Blackwater Holylight | ALO | Los Yesterdays | The Loons | Squirrel Nut Zippers | DENM | Heartbreaker's Ball | Valentine's Day | Mardi Gras | Cat Power |

Another edition of Rosey gets a wild hair. I spent the rainy morning of Wednesday driving to LA to spend the day at the zoo, and now find myself writing this from The Moroccan Lounge to see Dan Mangan and Israel Nebeker again. Their show on Sunday at Soda Bar was incredible and I knew there was a good chance I could just grab a ticket at the door. I don't exactly have a plan after... drive home, grab a hotel, sleep in the van and maybe return to the Zoo on Thursday... all up in the air. 

It was a good week... Darren and I made a rare appearance out for Shame at the Casbah (thanks to sddi reader Bill for the drinks!) I got to spend plenty of time between Seaworld and San Diego Zoo... in fact we watched the Bad Bunny Bowl at High Tide Brewery at Seaworld among an international representation of  Bad Bunny fans, which was pretty incredible. Then like I said, I went to Soda Bar to round out the weekend.  Not gonna lie, my body wanted to quit on me until I refreshed with more sleep in a day than I usually clock in a whole week. And so here we are. I hope everyone has a really great week... lots of fun shows to catch along with Mardi Gras and Lunar New Year events. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

I'll reformat in the morning. (As I reformat, I'll tell you I opted for sleeping in my van and then hitting Griffith Observatory as soon as the road and bathrooms opened at 5am in the morning. Super cool. I can't believe I've never been up here before. But now I'm gonna get a little more sleep before the sun makes that impossible in my van. It's kind of insane how fast people drive on the road to get up here!)

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, February 5-Wednesday, February 11, 2026: shame | Cayucas | Stephen Brodsky | Fat, Evil Children | Say She She | Emo Night Karoake | Styletones | Rural Alberta Advantage | Dan Mangan & Israel Nebeker |

New Lionfish at Seaworld in the Bay Aquarium

The passage of time these days seems to be marked by whatever fucked up crazy thing this administration will do next or finding out another friend has passed. While we lost constant contact, there was a time when Nick BK and I spoke on the phone every day. He seemed to be doing well and I don't know the circumstances of his passing, but my condolences to his friends, of which he had many. 

I have been so busy this week, which I seem to only make worse for myself with my horrible sleep patterns and my inability to focus on one goal or task at a time, so I think of 800 things I need to do and brilliant ideas between the hours of 11pm and 5am, and by the time I could actually do or execute anything, I'm trying to listen to some rando sleep hypnosis video on YouTube. So, we'll see where I land, but I'm hoping to go to the shame show on Thursday, I'll be working for Rural Alberta Advantage on Saturday, and then probably watching the game on Sunday since Darren has made us a Bad Bunny loving household, and then Soda Bar has an amazing show that night with Dan Mangan and Israel Nebeker which I hope to catch. 

So yeah, the wheels keep on turning, TFG isn't dead yet, and everything is awesome and sucks all at the same time. Touch grass, go see the sea lion colony in La Jolla, watch the whales migrating, marvel at the new Lionfish at Seaworld, or sit with orangutans and gorillas at the Zoo. Our time is limited. Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.