Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 29-Wednesday July 5, 2023: 4th Of July Weekend: Little Hurrcane | Cracker | Seth Meyers | The Color Forty Nine | Lyle Lovett | Boogie Wonderland |

Gahhhh! See! This is what happens when I go out. I started the listings yesterday and Nova and I were supposed to go to Sea World for the afternoon, but then she canceled on me so I took my van in to our mechanic in La Mesa and did my zoo thing after. Then I had to catch the bus home and since I was close, decided to go to Soda Bar for Fools & Fables (which was amazing, y'all!!) and then stumbled into Space after and then got home super late and passed out and then I had to finish these dumb listings and now I have to race off to La Mesa via bus all over again because my van is ready. (take a breath). 

So, I think these are complete listings for the week ahead but I may add stuff if things come up and I'm not entirely sure they're in the best order, but I gotta go. 

ohhhh. If you plan on going to the County Fair at all, parking has been reaching capacity by like 1 or 2 in the afternoon, so you'll have to park off site and take a shuttle in. Plan accordingly. 

Have a great week. Stay safe out there. 

Newsy Things: New Vaccines Formulas Move Forward For Fall Boosters | Long COVID Link To Mental Health | County Budget Approved | Live Music Saves The Economy! (J/K) |

Bat Eared Fox Winter and 2 of her 3 kits, as taken through a fence and a plant (6.27.23)

We're about to move into 4th of July weekend so I'm gonna unleash the stuff I've been reading over the past couple weeks. Nothing super exciting but I need to work on listings and get these drafts out of my queue or I get anxiety and can't do anything. Indecision paralysis, I think it's called. 

Anyway, it's been a pretty good couple of weeks. I'm still waiting for my new transmission but my van seems to be holding up in the meantime. I know I'm always back and forth on whether or not to renew my Sea World pass but right now is their best offer of the year for Silver and Gold passes, even if they took away the up-front parking, so if it's something you're thinking about, I would go for it. I think there are probably better times to buy the Fun Pass, like "Blue Friday" (their version of Black Friday) because you get the rest of the current year and the full next year, but I might have to bite the bullet and get it for Nova anyway because a few of her friends have passes and we're always to keep her occupied for summer while keeping on a budget. 

Besides all that, I hung out with my mom at the Safari Park on Tuesday and am happy to report she's doing as well as can be expected after losing my dad, who was in her 24 hour around the clock care for a very long time. She's doing stuff, making friends in her neighborhood, hanging out with us kids and her grandkids, has become a doggy day care for my sisters' dogs, is gardening and doing things she'd never been able to do because she could never leave my dad for any amount of time, even just to hang out in the backyard. So I'm proud of her and will keep on bugging her to hang out. 

I hope everyone has a super great week. Off to start my listings. Ugh. But at least I have a couple Law Nerd broadcasts that will occupy the space to get me through them. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 22- Wednesday, June 28, 2023: Delicate Steve | FACS | Semisonic | OB Street Fair | Glass Spells | Louise Post (Veruca Salt) | Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam | Pedro The Lion | SCOTS | Fools & Fables |

This happens to me at least once a year...I start doing listings and then while I'm working on them, hit the wrong key or something and delete all my work. Thankfully I only did part on Tuesday before deleting it all on Wednesday morning, which was enough for me to put the laptop away and go enjoy the Summer Solstice and all the crepuscular animals at the zoo. Then I came home and everyone went to bed early so I was able to focus and get them done while watching old 48 Hours murder shows. I'm sorry for last week, apparently I missed a whole bunch of stuff because I failed to check my calendar, where I make note of events that aren't in the usual listings, like the Bro-Am. Whoopsie. Looks like turnout wasn't lacking because I failed to post, but I double and triple-checked this time and hopefully got everything. 

We're officially in summer 2023 and all you who were wishing away May Gray and June Gloom are gonna get your wish and we haven't had a chance to fix our air conditioner yet, so that will be fun to navigate. My plan is to just not be home as much as possible and leave the air on in the bedroom for the pets. Hopefully it's not too bad too soon, but I guess I won't be making a trip back to The Living Desert any time soon. 

I hope everyone is doing well. I haven't done my usual diary posts because Nova's out for the summer and you know where I'm at pretty much all the time, so maybe no news is good news? After my shitty spring of loss and travel and funerals and memorials -- though lots of good family time was had in the midst of all that -- I'm just happy to be low key and doing my thing. It was nice to get some merch gigs, and even though one of them was pretty much the worst I've ever worked, it still got me back in the groove and I'll hopefully get back out into the music world at some point, but I'm loving Nighttime Zoo and late night Sea World hours and I've realized my tolerance for long shows has been hindered dramatically. Like 20 minute sets are just fine in my book. Watch, shoot, leave, sleep. 

Like I said, I'll get back into it eventually. Especially with so many great shows coming up. 

All the listings after the jump.     

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 15-Wednesday, June 21, 2023: Joshua Ray Walker | Samantha Bee | Erykah Badu | Trevor Hall | John Legend | Slothrust | Surfer Blood | Blink-182 | Earth, Wind, And Fire | Parker Milsap |

I'm certainly glad that I woke up early on Wednesday and started these listings because after spending the day at the zoo, I got called to work for Julian Markey at the Music Box. Of course, a day at the zoo meant I had my laptop on me for any work anyway, but I didn't wanna do these there on top of my usual work. On Thursday I'll be working for Samantha Bee and I'm pretty excited about that because she is one of my faves and I'm still sorting out a possible gig on Friday, too. So that will pretty much be my "going out" for the week. I'm certain we'll do a family thing to honor our first Father's Day without my Daddy, and then Juneteenth is on Monday so don't forget lots of stuff will be closed and the things that aren't will be more crowded than usual, especially since most schools are wrapping up their school years this week. I'll try and update with the SD Mag, Pacific, and kpbs lists in case I missed anything but those don't usually publish until later in the day. 

If you're at a show, please don't ask the merch person if they have a thing that isn't on display. I assure you we don't hide a secret stash of hats and tank tops and baby sizes and onesies and coffee mugs and visors that we're just not showing you. 

Stay safe out there. 

Newsy Things: SD Mag Guide To Pride | TFG Indicted | Inflation Cools | California Is "Most Fun State" | More Avian Flu In Mammals | The Year In Hate |

Fruit Bats at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Taken 6.13.23)

It's been a minute since I've shared a newsy post. I have a lot of started-but-not-published posts at the moment, in fact, but what happened was that I went to work with Darren on Tuesday and by the time we got home, I was so wiped out that I passed out for nearly seven hours, which I guess stops being a nap somewhere beyond two hours and just becomes, well, sleep. But then I woke up at 1:30 and realized that I should probably get out of bed and catch up on work and email and start listings because when else will I find the quiet time? Nova finishes 10th grade on Wednesday and since I turned my Samsung Health back on my phone, I've been trying to make myself hit the goals more often, which takes a lot of intention when you mostly work from home and can sometimes get by entire days without leaving the house, as I did over the weekend. So I'll focus when I can and write when I can and walk when I can. My brother and the kids came back to town, so we did a big family dinner at Miguel's again on Monday, and besides that have nothing super excited to share. I'm just doing my zoo thing and sleep thing and work has been a little crazy but I'm doing my best to keep on top of that, too. 

Obviously there's been a lot of news lately and I'm waiting for someone smarter and more well informed than I to draw the connections between OPEC continually screwing us with the PGA and LIV golf merger, with TFG mishandling classified documents, and the billions that the SIL got from that disgusting criminal kingdom, but until I find something worth sharing, I'll just stew about how gross it all is. 

San Diego, for it's part, City and County, have been working on annual budgets and homelessness and why they keep allowing new housing units that then rent for $3000 a unit without forcing the return of SRO's, the actual control of STROs, and building *ACTUAL* affordable housing makes me just kinda bury my head and ignore it all. It's too much and like everyone, I'm so sick of it all. Plus we've got a special election coming up after Fletch couldn't keep it in his pants and it's all just very frustrating. So yeah, I'll just keep zoning out as I spend my days with the animals. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 8-Wednesday, June 14, 2023: San Diego Freak Out | Vincent Neil Emerson | Garbage | Fortune Feimster | Elf Power | Ours | Janet Jackson | Diana Ross | Shawn Colvin | Night Swims |

Okay, I finished. I went to the Zoo and was trying to walk as much as possible because once I stop I'm so exhausted, I have hope that I'll actually sleep when I get home instead of stirring all night long. But I promised that I would finish this week's listings, so here ya go. I don't have anything exciting going on at the moment which is just fine by me. Have a great weekend and I'm sure you'll be hearing from me soon. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do in San DIego: Thursday, June 8: Tanner Usrey | Cherubs | EELS | Saint Luna |

On Wednesday, I was minding my business, doing the big lap of the San Diego Zoo, when I got called to work at the Casbah. Fortunately I was dressed appropriately and not in my zoo-mama uniform of leggings, but since I went straight to the Casbah and I hadn't been there all day, I didn't have my laptop so I didn't get to do listings, and then I didn't get home until almost midnight and I was pretty beat, so still put them off. Now I've started them, but am running out of time for my afternoon zoo walk, so I decided to just post Thursday and then I'll finish the rest of the week later tonight. It's a whole thing...if I don't go get some sunshine, I'll be depressed and anxious, and if I'm depressed and anxious I just will go into a spiral of doing nothing, including the rest of these listings. So here's tonight. I'll do the rest later. 

Stay safe out there. 

| COVID Misinfo Continues | SPLC Impact Report | Paxlovid Gets Full FDA Approval | Bastards of Blackstone | Greedflation | Debt Limit Agreement |

 

Amur Leopard Cubs have names!! Ulybka (L) and Zorinka (R). Taken 6.1.23

The female cub with the darker fur and smiley face marking on her forehead is Ulybka, pronounced (Oooh - lyb - kah), which means “smile” in Russian. The other female cub with the lighter fur and blurred markings is Zorinka which means “little star” in Russian. - @sandiegozoo (I hate the fence in the background of this photo, but it was the clearest shot I've had of their two faces together in awhile)

I have too many drafts started at the moment, but I kinda feel this impulse to write and then get too lost in the weeds so I just kinda stop. So for now I'll just say that I'm glad to be home and all my relatives have all gone home, too, and I can get back to some semblance of normal, albeit without my dad. We returned from New Mexico on Monday morning but my sleep is still all messed up and I gave myself road trip trauma, I guess, because all my dreams lately are me endlessly driving in the night. I couldn't be happier that San Diego Zoo hours are in effect and the park is open until 9pm, though I actually felt bad leaving today because it was so empty and they were still a half hour away from doing the Jambo Dunia performance. It definitely won't be like that as we get into summer, so I didn't mind having the Amur leopard cubs mostly to myself for the greater part of an hour. 

Anyhow, per usual, I clip newsy things and haven't posted in awhile, so these are the things that caught my attention (besides, of course, the first two parts of the Vanderpump Rules Reunion and the many YouTubers who talk about it.) 

Stay safe out there.  

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 1-Wednesday, June 7, 2023: Cub Sport | GBH | ReSET: BoyGenius + Clairo; LCD Soundsystem + Idles; Steve Lacy + James Blake | Rock N Roll Marathon | Night Moves | lovelytheband |

I haven't quite recovered from my trip and the physical and emotional exhaustion of the last several weeks, so I'm staying under the radar for a bit. There is a lot going on this weekend, including the Re:SET Series which I think will be the first time I'll be missing a show that Phoebe, Lucy, or Julian have played either together or alone, ever. So that's a bummer. But so it goes. 

Don't forget this weekend is also the Rock N Roll Marathon which usually doesn't mean much to someone with my sleeping habits except that our van was towed once and we were FURIOUS because the little "No Parking" signs get put up like a week before the event, but then so many are vandalized, removed, or kicked over, that you're really fucked if you park in the wrong place. That was a $300 lesson for us. 

I hope everyone has a nice weekend, sorry these are posting later than usual, I just haven't adjusted to sleep and what normal life looks like these days. 

6/3 Update: I sat in a parking lot to listen to BoyGenius, and while I don't recommend it because security was cool but I don't think they'd let it fly a second night, The Loft at UCSD posted a promo code of UNIVERSITY to get single day tickets for half price ($50 instead of $94.50) This is the link for SATURDAY tickets and this is for SUNDAY tickets. Not sure how long that will work or if tickets are still available, but it's worth a shot if you're interested. I'll be working at My LIfe With The Thrill Kill Cult at Music Box on Saturday and going to see Jacqueline Novak at the Casbah on Sunday, so my Re:SET adventure was one and done. 

Stay safe out there. 

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. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 27-Wednesday, May 3, 2023: Dawes | Nude Party | Backseat Lovers | Adams Avenue Unplugged | Art Walk | Taco Fest | San Diego Book Crawl | Cheese Expo | Encinitas Spring Street Fair |

Over the past several weeks the pandemic couldn't feel further away. But nothing really screamed "It's Over!", it just sorta fizzled. The government declared the end of the emergency. There's no data. We rarely hear of someone we know testing positive. And to be honest, when I drove to New Mexico through Arizona, it was clear those places hadn't been using any protective protocols for months. But doing the listings today? WOW. I am not saying COVID-19 is gone or over, but it is very clear we have completely moved on. There's SO MUCH going on this weekend - San Diego Book Crawl, Taco Fest, Adams Avenue Unplugged, Cheese Expo, Lilac Festival, ArtWalk, Encinitas Street Fair...even the Rodeo! And that doesn't even touch all the concerts and regular stuff. I'm gonna try and spend the weekend catching up on life, try and beat this run-down feeling, and start going through the things we were supposed to do when my dad died by my mom didn't know how to open and forward her email...obituaries and uploading photos and creating a leaflet for his funeral and all those really unfun and hard things that we've all been avoiding. But I'm hoping to hit some street fairs and such, too. Because I'll need to get some air even if Darren is working all weekend. Sorry these are late, I didn't have it in me to pull an all-nighter.  

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 20-Wednesday, April 26, 2023: The Breeders | Crocodiles | Gipsy Kings | No Vacation | Earth Day | Tei Shi | San Diego Music Awards | Baby Bushka | Melissa Etheridge |

If it isn't one thing, it's another. The other day I had to transfer a bunch of data off of my phone to my computer, and then my computer started acting funny. When whatever was going on seemed to resolve, I noticed it was no longer charging. Ugh. So I need to take it in to be looked at and get a new charger or figure out what is going on. In the meantime, I bought myself a Chromebook a while ago and so all of this week's listings were done using that, but being a more compact keyboard and whatnot, it took me about twice as long to get listings done. Hopefully this is all resolved by the time I do another post, but that's pretty optimistic. I'm still trying to spend time with family and offline as much as possible but thanks again for all the comments, calls, texts, and more for me and my family. We appreciate all the love. 

Stay safe out there. Listings after the jump. 

Rosey's Diary: A Post About Dying: Grief, Relief, and The Complicated Feelings Of Loss.

Me, Mom, and Dad, Christmas 2021

It has been a long time since I've taken the time to write. I have this crazy long zoo post that I started over a year ago that I've yet to post. In it, I talk about how several of the animal daddies (hippo, orangutan, siamang, lion, mandrill) were dying, and it it was helping me come to grips with the reality that soon, I would lose my own. And now I have and I needed to write. So maybe I'll post that zoo one on another day, but for now, a diary post about losing my dad. (TW: death, dying)

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 13-Wednesday, April 19, 2023: They Might Be Giants | The Silent Comedy | Los Bitchos | Tenci | HEALTH | Bratty | Murder City Devils | SDMA Showcases | Christine and The Queens | Night Beats |

With everything this week, I've been trying to not do anything and also stay busy, so after a very much needed day-trip to Palm Desert with Darren, I decided it was better to get the listings done than wonder if and when I should do them and feel self-induced pressure. So they're a little different this week...I did concerts mostly at the top, with open mics and weekly events filtered down, with theatre productions and such at the bottom, since so many of those are recurring and yet also, so out of my budget, I assume they're not things people looking for something spontaneous to fill a night are looking for. I'll try to update if I hear of stuff I missed, but mostly I'm using this as my permission slip to be mostly offline and out of touch for the next several days. Thanks again for the many messages; they mean so much.  

Stay safe out there.