Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: COVID Is In The Air: Cases Rising (again) | Pandas To Make Public Debut | Reviving Epicentre | Waterfront Park Expands Activities | All In For Kamala |

Ekuba, the legend (Taken 7.30.24)

Pride has passed. Comic-Con is behind us. Now we're just left with hot Brat Summer and Kamala Fever. I've been trying not to freak out about all the things, I'm not particularly looking forward to construction on my apartment starting next week and living out of a suitcase until it's done, but I'll get through it, I'm sure. Besides that, I haven't posted in a minute because besides the aforementioned biggie things in San Diego, I also got a new phone and two weeks in, I still feel like I'm still setting things up and configuring things how I want them...which is a complete pain in the ass, by the way...but I'm just trying to move forward and not sweat the small stuff. I'm trying to get listings done early this week, but after how this day went, I'm gonna guess that's just not in the cards. Ah well. You'll get them Thursday, one way or another. 

Stay safe out there.

Photos: Shelbi Bennett, Grampa Drew, C. Gibbs Review @ Casbah

Photos by Tim Fears

 It's wonderful to know that we can still celebrate local songwriters and musicians that play original music the old fashioned way, and on a Sunday evening to boot. We had the lovely Shelbi Bennett known for her presence in The Midnight Pine as well as The Havnauts, playing new original tunes. Grampa Drew of Flim Flam Fame (say it 10x fast) and C. Gibbs of Modern English opening the show.

Photos: Comic-Con Preview Night 2024

 

Wednesday night was preview night of Comic-Con 2024. Admittedly, I've skipped out the past couple years because of COVID and whatnot, but I was ready to jump back into the action this year, at least to check things out. I haven't done a big photo post like this in ages and forgot that they reload newest to oldest, so give me a little grace because it took three attempts to get photos up at all without crashing my apps. 

I arrived right around 6, which was the perfect time to cruise up to the Sails Pavilion and grab my pass before doors were open and lines were moving into the main floor area. From everything I read, strollers were not allowed, but that proved not to be the case, and navigating the floor is complicated as there's no natural flow to how the crowds move, where lines occur for giveaways or booths with limited edition items. Being a little removed from all things pop-culture, it's interesting to see what creates a buzz and what doesn't, how much people will pay and how long they'll wait for beanie babies Collectibles. I kinda like to see the elaborate displays and the huge building wraps, as well as walking along Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade along the trolley line to see all the pop-ups and activations. I will note my friend Ted Washington is again at a Small Press table for his art and publishing, Puna Press, so make sure to say hi. It was also a treat to see and hear SpongeBob SquarePants voice actors Tom Kenny (Spongebob, Gary) and Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star) as they gave interviews, while their costumed character counterparts danced around in the background. I don't know how much time I'll spend downtown the rest of the week, but I'll try to get my shit together when posting. I will be working at the Mosh Eisley event on Friday at Music Box, so if you're there, say hello at the merch booth. 

Stay safe out there, my little nerds!! 

Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, July 24-Tuesday, July 31, 2024: Comic-Con | Spritual Cramp | Michael Franti | Devotional | Lake Street Dive | Dwight Yoakam | Zack Oakley | Pallbearer | Willie Nelson | Dad Bod | X |

Okay. So. I did all my listings for the week last night so that I could merge them and also update my Comic-Con Page (which you can find if you click the little "Move To" triangle at the top of the page on Mobile). I have not, however, updated all the free stuff and activations. I'm going to go down to preview night, shoot some photos, and check things out before I decide what is worth listings and what is a bust. So, enjoy and share the listings and I'll get back to updating tonight. And I promise I'll find a better pic, too. 

Listings are after the jump. I updated activations and multi-day events, which can be found on my Comic-Con Page, as I linked before. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, July 18-Wednesday, July 24, 2024: The Decemberists | Pedro the Lion | Ragana+Agriculture| SD Pride | Drug Hunt | Metalachi | Shelbi Bennett | Sun Kil Moon | Comic-Con |

I feel like I'm in the hellish part of my summer that should be the best part, so I'm trying to take a step back, take a breath, and give myself a little wiggle room to feel my feelings and have anxiety and then hopefully get my head together and come out on the other side. 

As you well know, this week is San Diego Pride. Technically, it started last week, but it all culminates in big parties, the parade, and of course, the Pride Festival in Balboa Park. Toby will be playing in the Pride Band in the parade, but shout out to San Diego Youth Services + OSP, HYC, and Ringer's Roller Rink/Derby United, who I believe will all be represented in the parade as well. It is not an overstatement to say that these services, programs, and support systems literally SAVE LIVES. For parents, PFLAG, HRC, and others have also been a lifeline, and we're so grateful. As far as listings go, I put some of the Pride things, but I'm certain Rich's, The Rail, Uptown, Mo's and all the others have their own things going on and will be slammed all weekend. If any of those have specific events that jump out, I'll add them in. 

Then just as soon as it all ends, Comic-Con is coming. The volume of my email has tripled in the last couple weeks, that's the price you pay for getting a media pass, so I'm really trying to work through all those emails and see what are just hyping specific panels or collectibles and book releases and author signings with the stuff we're concerned with on this site --- the parties and activations. So, that said, I know I included Wednesday night listings here, per usual, however, I have not yet integrated anything Con related that is outside of the usual venues included here. I hope to pepper them in throughout the week and eventually update my Con guide, but like I said, things are a little crazy right now. I'm temporarily without a vehicle, wasted half a day going to pick up said vehicle and dropping $1700 only to find out the problem I took it in for in the first place wasn't even looked at. So, another day without a car and no real idea if the issue can be fixed within the umbrella of repairs and service that I've already paid for. Nightmare. 

Anyway, stay safe out there. Like, really stay safe out there. COVID is still a thing coming back strong this summer as our boosters are all really not doing much anymore, MPOX is hitting back strong, and after last weekend's events, lunatics are brazen and even more empowered by all the vitriol and call to arms they've heard spewed at this week's RNC.  

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: SDPD To Add Surveillance to Pride | Sea Lions Continue to be Harassed | SD Is $$$$$ | Pandas Are Here (But You Can't See Them)| SCOTUS Is The Worst |

Winston, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park's Silverback, Passed Away (Taken 3.13.24)

I had been working on this post and then a bunch of work things and life things came up and I never got around to finishing it and then Saturday happened and I don't want to have anything to do with news at all and am trying to live off-line as much as possible. So if you notice this post is outdated to before the weekend, you are correct, and I'm not even going to post or talk about or link to anything having to do with what happened Saturday because for me, it CHANGES NOTHING. In fact, it verifies even more that Biden is my candidate and I cannot wait for every person with a hot take to move on to the next thing. You want 2A and no rules and open carry and bump stocks and an AR-15 style gun for everyone and all this bullshit? Congratulations. This is the world you get. Fuck you that you never thought it would be used against you while predicting (ordering?) a future "bloodbath" when TFG loses. 

Stay safe out there. Pride is this weekend and EVERYONE needs to be vigilant in looking out for any lunatics that might be out to make a point. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, July 11-Wednesday, July 17, 2024: In The Valley Below | The Church | Niis | Marty Stuart | Alejandro Escovedo | Toad The Wet Sprocket |

I'm going to keep it super short because my to-do list is far too long and I just got home from seeing Ducks Ltd. and they were AMAZING. It was a great reminder why you should listen to NEW music and forget about most of the nonsense that charts or whatever you are telling you are the thing to listen to. There's a lot of rad stuff this week, so check the listings, and I'll try to update if I get any new info or realize that I missed a whole bunch of stuff. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To In San Diego: Friday, July 5-Wednesday, July 10, 2024: Red Fang | The White Buffalo | Harry Connick, Jr. | Avalon Anniversary | Ducks Ltd. |

I'm not gonna lie, not only did I not leave my house on the 4th of July, I'm not sure I even went outside except to maybe grab my cats off the patio when the neighborhood fireworks started popping off. And it was glorious. I needed a day at home without any responsibilities...until I realized I hadn't done listings or a Casbah newsletter. Sigh. So here are this week's listings. The Belly Up is kicking off their 50th Anniversary celebration, but it felt a little redundant to put that label on all of their shows. Otherwise, it's kind of a light week for shows but still plenty going on in San Diego that maybe a summer slow down is just what we need. The County Fair wraps on Sunday, San Diego Pride events will start to pick up, and before we know it, Comic-Con will be here. Enjoy the slower pace before San Diego gets bonkers. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 27-Thursday July 4, 2024: Cosmo's Midnight | DIIV | Chicano Batman | Mistress 77 | Blink-182 | Iron & Wine | Mountain Grass Unit | Redd Kross |

Being that Independence Day is just a week away, I decided to run these listings through Thursday. I'm looking forward to seeing The Color Purple at New Village Arts on Thursday night, and I always love working for Mistress 77, which I'll be doing on Saturday night. In between, you know I'll be at the zoo and also planned a Sea World trip before my pass expires. Beyond that, I'm so exhausted, I would really, really enjoy some sleep. Catch ya on the flip. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: Animal Shelters Need Your Help | Panda Fever | Rescued Baby Dolphin At Sea World | Coastal Commission NIMBYs? | Where Did Your Stolen Bike Go?

The Fools & Fables Crew at Casbah (6.20.24)

I don't have a ton of links this week because the news has been a lot of the same as usual stuff as always...campaign bullshit and NIMBY nonsense and a whole lot of bloviating by old white guys in Washington who get nothing done but slowly suck away our rights, so I'm just going to go ahead and publish what I do have so we have a clean slate going into the next week. 

I will say it was a pretty good week, albeit with full on summer heat. Besides my daily zoo trips, my sister and a couple friends and I went to the Fools & Fables show at the Casbah on Thursday night and afterwards I caught up with my pal, Tim Fears. Keep an eye out, because he's gonna be shooting a lot of shows and sharing his photos right here on sddialedin.com. On Saturday, Toby's rock camp played a concert at Music Box in the daytime. You can watch Toby's band's performance here. That night I worked for Dead Man's Party, also at Music Box, so it was a fun double-header. 

The C is going back around with new variants, so stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 20-Wednesday, June 26, 2023: Fools & Fables | Melt Banana | Kate Yeager | Hot Water Music | Heavy Hawaii | Third Eye Blind | REIK | OB Street Fair | The Dollyrots | Sparta |

This has been a rough week. For many years, I've been a stay-up-late/sleep-in girl and that has been just fine for me. I'm used to sitting on my laptop and working until 4am and then sleeping until whenever I slept enough to do it all over again. But with Darren's new job, this week I was designated driver to get Toby to Rock n Roll Camp For (Teens) every day by 9am. That means up at 7am. That is EARLY for an insomniac like me. But he has been so stoked all week long and immediately formed a band and will be one of ten groups playing on Saturday morning at Music Box. While it is called Camp For Girls, there are a lot of LGBTQIA+ kids, so he has really found teens he can connect with. 

These early mornings mean I've been at the zoo extra early, but honestly today, I feel like my eyes are sunburned. It's only going to get hotter as we bust into summer, so I may have to adjust my days and activities accordingly. I'm hoping to make it to Fools & Fables tonight, but we'll see if I can make it work. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a really great weekend and gets out to some live music because I don't know if you've heard, but all that post-pandemic revenge concert attendance and advanced ticket buying has plummeted. Of course, it depends on the shows and venue and cost, but oversaturation and everything being so damn expensive means you really have to think about where you're spending your money. Try supporting local when you can. 

Stay safe out there. Happy Summer 2024. 

Photos: The Raveonettes @ Music Box (Casbah Presents)

 

Photos by Tim Fears

Seeing the Raveonettes live was a long-time coming as I've never crossed paths with them but have always wanted to see live. My good friend Daanon from AZ had seen them at a festival the week prior in northern NV and said it's time for me to see them... sold! It was much better than I ever expected, and bonus points for having killer but incredibly simple lighting; it goes a long way for making great photos!

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 13-Wednesday, June 19, 2024: Tyler Halverson | W.I.T.C.H. | French Cassettes | Dent May | The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band | Daryl Hall & Elvis Costello | Chest Fever | Cowboy Junkies | Noah Kahan | KALEO |

It's Father's Day Weekend and the weather seems to be doing somersaults as it tries to figure out where exactly it will all land, but it sounds like it could be a hot one this weekend, so find your way to a beach or a pool by day and then find yourself some entertainment at night. I've got some family things this week but I'm also very much looking forward to working for Celeste Barber on Sunday night. I gotta say, too, that I worked for W.I.T.C.H. the last time they were in town, so if you're looking for my overall pick for the week, it would be that show on Friday night, though obviously there are ton of great things rolling through town. The San Diego County Fair also kicked off on Wednesday, and since there are so many side stages and musical acts every day, besides the big Grandstand or Paddock shows, I included a link to "Daily Music" where you can just look up the date and it should show you all the things. The fair always has so much going on, I've always found their site impossible to navigate, but that link should at least make the music part a little easier. 

Have a great week. Stay safe out there. Happy Father's Day for all the dads out there. 

Rosey's Diary and Newsy Things: Pride Month Resources | Transpo Projects | Baby Sea Lions | Panda Plans | Budget Revised to Cover Fatal 15 | Bird Flu News |

Baby Baird's Tapir Born 6.2.24 (Taken 6.11.24)

I guess it's been a minute since I've posted a diary. So let's see, we went to the North Park Music Fest on the first and then last week Darren started his new job. On Tuesday we went to La Jolla Cove to see the Sea Lion rookery before going to La Jolla Playhouse to see The Ballad of Johnny and June, on Saturday we did a kayak cleanup of the National City tidelands, and on Sunday I went to the Celebration of Life for my friend Mike Down, and then Monday we saw Vampire Weekend at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre. In between I've been working my butt off, going to the zoo, and I had to run the kid around to some appointments before he finished school on Thursday and kicked off summer break. I've been fully engrossed in watching the Karen Read trial via Emily D Baker on YouTube so I've been missing out on all my usual trash TV, which I can say is just fine by me. I've really been enjoying my zoo days and evenings, though I know it will get a whole lot busier and hotter and I might have to incorporate other places to work that aren't so bananas, but I'll get there when I get there. I hope pre-summer is treating everyone well thus far. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 6-Wednesday, June 12, 2024: The Coronas | Janet Jackson | JJUUJJUU | Xana | Chris Thile | The Raveonettes | Kacy Hill | Vampire Weekend | Frank Turner |

Let's see...since last post, we had North Park Music Fest, which Darren and I went to on Saturday night for a couple hours. Make sure to see Tim Fears' photos in the last post. It was super fun, and for a long time we stopped taking advantage of living in walking distance from the heart of North Park, so we definitely need to get out more. He started a new job this week, so he'll have weekends off, mostly, so I'm pretty excited about that. There's a ton of stuff this next week, and I'm feeling like I saved some events online but can't seem to find them, so if I find things I missed here, I will definitely update. 

Nothing really else major to report at the moment, but stay safe out there and enjoy all the good stuff happening in this rad city. 

Photos: North Park Music Fest - Louis XIV, Transfer, Ten Bulls

 

Photos by Tim Fears

This years' North Park Music Festival was a huge success by most indices: talent, turnout, and a great time. While getting over a cold prevented me from being there all day, shooting 3 bands and hanging with some of my favorite SD music fam, it was a stellar time.

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, May 30-Wednesday, June 5, 2024: Blackwater Holylight | Yard Act | The Chameleons | North Park Music Fest | Adopt-A-Pet Day | Rock N Roll Marathon | Sarah McLachlan |

Can we be honest for a minute here? Does ANYONE like Rock N Roll Marathon weekend? I'm just going to assume you're saying "no" and we can move on. Our car was towed a couple years ago because for some reason the idiots who have to distribute warnings, only do it on the exact streets that are used for the marathon, and not on the adjoining streets in neighborhoods like North Park and Normal Heights, where we regularly park around the corner or down a couple blocks because of impacted parking. And while the running routes are easy to understand, there is no clarity on if there are any roads that vehicles can cross or exactly what times they open once runners pass. The bus information is even worse because it is so damn murky. So it looks like if I want to go to the Zoo on Sunday morning, I'm gonna have to walk or bike there. But even that's not clear if I can use the closed off streets for such purposes if I'm not a badged runner. I fucking hate it. But this weekend is also the North Park Music Fest, which I have not had a hand in for several years, since before the Mini-Park and when it was still NPFoA. So much evolution has happened since then, but what really matters is that Transfer is playing, so I'm (fingers crossed) at least gonna catch that, but Tim will be out there shooting the whole thing for San Diego: Dialed In. Beyond all that, and this has nothing to do with music, but the San Diego Humane Society is having a super event on Saturday for free adoptions, licensing, tags and more, so check the link below for details on that. 

I know, I know, we've got it so rough up in these streets of this incredible city. Try not to be too bummed out you live in such a glorious place. 

Stay safe out there.  

Rosey's Diary and Newsy Things: ReWilding Mission Bay | Pellet Shootings In Hillcrest | Free Movies In The Park | Bots Stole COVID Relief Money |

I cannot even begin to talk about what a rollercoaster weekend it was, so I'll just say we enjoyed URBN on Friday and Kristian's wedding on Saturday, I didn't spend nearly as much time at the zoo this weekend as I expected to and it was bonkers when I actually did, and on a whim, Toby, Darren and I drove up to Laguna to hike a few different short trails and loops to get out of town and try to start the week with clear heads. I don't have much in the way of links this week because I tried to not be online as much as possible, but I've got plans this week so I'm trying to get listings done early so I don't have to worry about them later this week. I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend however you chose to spend it and I will be head down, nose to the grindstone, and just trying to move on from some of the nonsense that grated me but isn't worth talking about. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, May 23-Wednesday, May 29, 2024: Fruition | Cloud Nothings | Maggie Rogers | Wine Lips | Natalie Merchant | World Goth Day | girl in red | Guitar Wolf | Jon Foreman |

I am so looking forward to Memorial Day weekend if it just means fewer emails for one extra day. There are so many fun things to do, even if we're gonna be in full-on May Gray mode. I'll be working at the Fruition show on Thursday, and then doing a bar crawl for my friend's pre-wedding celebration on Friday, and then I think there's some sort of party or reception for the wedding that I'll try to get to on Saturday. That means I'm missing out on some prime zoo time, of course, and on Friday night is member preview night for the summer hours and then the zoo will be open from 9am-9pm for the majority of the summer, minus a few special events when they close early. Safari Park hours extend from 9am-7pm as well, and both parks have music and entertainment and such. SeaWorld Summer Spectacular also kicks off this weekend, so whether you care or not, at least know that fireworks will be back on the weekends, so plan accordingly for your pets.  We'll also be going to girl in red next week, so I'm definitely looking forward to that. 

I hope everyone has a super duper weekend. It is Memorial Day, so honor that how you will. For me, it's a year since my sister-in-law's interment, so my thoughts will be with my brother and the rest of my family. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San DIego: Thursday, May 16- Wednesday, May 22, 2024: Wednesday | The Toxhards | RJD2 | Twin Ritual | Pond | Fiesta Del Sol | Baby Bushka | Moorea Masa | Bully | Pete Yorn |

The Quartyard is undergoing some changes, but will be SOLD OUT Thursday night for WEDNESDAY

I'm really looking forward to Thursday night at Quartyard. As I write this, there are about a dozen tickets left, but I suspect they'll be gone by the time this actually publishes. This week there are so many things going on that it feels a little overwhelming. I'd personally recommend seeing RJD2 at Music Box, who always blows minds with his skills but there are definitely a lot of great choices, including Fiesta Del Sol, some great indie shows, and a million ways to spend time outdoors, including the rest of San Diego River Days. Find your fun. 

Stay safe out there.