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.  

Personal: R.I.P., Daddy: Big Ed Bystrak

 

After years of close calls and over a year under home palliative care, on Sunday, April 9th, 2023 my dad took his final breath. Just last week, my parents celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary, and while my dad was bedbound, the rest of us celebrated with a feast from a local taco shop and one of those chocolate mousse tuxedo cakes from Costco. A week later, he's no longer with us. 

More, after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 7-Wednesday, April 12, 2023: Screaming Females | Two Another | X | Pinback | Colin Hay | G. Love | Jupiter Flight | City Of The Sun | Muse | Tyson Motsenbocker | Etran de L’Aïr |

Here's the deal. I usually at least try to separate the listings posts from my diary-esque posts, but after returning from New Mexico, I haven't gotten back on a great schedule. My dad is not doing well, my brother is likely coming out this weekend with the kids and they're obviously not doing well, and all I can do is go shoot a bazillion photos a day at the zoo and hang out with a gorilla who demands no explanations of how I'm feeling about any of it. So listings are done, possibly not ordered as much as I'd like, and I bookmarked a bunch of things to tell you but now I can't remember any of them except that if you wanna buy tickets to the North Park Music Festival, they extended the early bird pricing for maybe another week? I'll check that when I have time but by the time I do, it may have passed, so go search it if you want it. At the Casbah, we've been announcing so many shows my head is spinning, but I'm especially excited about Slothrust at Soda Bar and The New Pornographers at Music Box, which ideally I get to work and get paid to be at while also getting a chance to shoot them and just be in attendance. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I already know I forgot some stuff in these listings, like a parade and celebration for SDSU on Saturday. I'll try to update, but I've got so much family stuff going on right now, who knows? I'll try to add the weekend roundups because those seem to be helpful between Pacific SD (which is the Union-Tribune without subscription), KPBS, and San Diego Magazine. Until then, be safe, healthy, and let's be grateful Davey is out of the hospital because I'm not ready for another amazing human in my life to die, even when he was close to it. If I find a GFM to help him, I'll add the link.

Stay safe out there. I love you all.  

Things To Do In San Diego: Saturday, April 1-Wednesday, April 5, 2023: North Park Festival of Beers | Husbands | xiu xiu | Bobby and The Pins | Band Argument | Lucero | Sunny Day Real Estate |

It has been a bit of a crazy week, and since I would actually like to have a normal Saturday life (and not sleep all day), I'm just gonna say I mostly got the listings done. I'm sure there are things I forgot, but sleep is calling my weary and exhausted body. 

Thank you for all the kind words and Venmos to me @sddialedin, which will help me get back to New Mexico when we have the actual memorial, and also to the Go Fund Me for my brother and his kids, which will help them as they try to navigate their new life. 

Also, with Darren's work schedule, it was kinda easier doing listings during the weekend, so it's possible I may stop doing Thursday-Wednesday and maybe switch it up back to Monday to Saturday or something like that. Just don't count on me for consistency is all I'm saying. I'll have listings, just maybe not in the capacity anyone else wants. 

I love you all.
Be safe out there. 
Listings through Wednesday are after the jump.

 

CoViD-19: Ending The Emergency, Research Still Trickling | Fletcher Resigns | California Passes Windfall Profit Law |

Amur Leopard Cup (4.5.23)

I've had a hell of a month, so this post is just to clean my slate of drafts. I've got a lot to talk about when I'm able. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, March 31: Unknown Mortal Orchestra | Michigander | Soulfly | Thumpasaurus | Super Diamond | Art Alive Bloom Bash |

 Is tonight a Revenge Friday? It looks like it with so many sold out shows! 

I got home super late last night and had to make sure you all got your Casbah newsletters, so I didn't stay up to do listings, so once again I'm just doing tonight's stuff and hopefully sometime between tonight and tomorrow I'll finish the whole week. But, I am working tomorrow at Balboa Theatre and you know I need to go get my zoo time in, so we'll see how it all goes. Maybe I'll even convince Darren to pop down the street to check out Fresh Veggies Micro Brass for a minute, since I've not seen him more than 20 minutes this week.

Also, a ton of shows went on sale today. I've been notified by Jeff that we're attending Ryan Adams & The Cardinals in October, so I guess it's time for me to believe in DRA's sobriety and amends and start to appreciate his music again, which I haven't really been able to listen to for a few years. Casbah also announced a ton and let me tell you something. You know how a band plays here and then later they play another tour in bigger venues and skip San Diego? It's because when they're on these smaller tours we're too slow! The agents get ticket counts, sometimes daily, to compare how quickly tickets are purchased in every market of a tour. Of course their goal is for every show to sell out, but how fast it sells out matters, too. So while September or October may seem far away, buying your tickets now not only secures your entry to shows, but it also means that maybe those artists won't leave us behind as they get bigger and plan future tours. That's your little Pay No Attention To The Man Behind the Curtain moment for the weekend.  

Be safe. 
Love you all. 
Friday listings are after the jump.  

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, March 30, 2023: Lead Pony | Colony House | Theo Kandel | Mason Jennings | Padres Home Opener |

I know I said I wasn't going to do listings this week, but after a long day yesterday, I crashed out super early, and thus woke up around 4am. I mostly just checked email, but I already finished packing and it sounds like everyone here is still asleep and we're not planning on hitting the road until around 9am, so I'm trying to take advantage of the quiet and the strong wi-fi before our drive. So I was able to crank out listings just for today, and if I can get to the rest of the week, I'll try on Friday, though I might have to do them from the zoo because a friend of mine has kept me posted and Denny has been moved in with his half-brother Maka! Eventually, that means he'll move in with all three boys, but geez...I visit him nearly every day for a year and go away and this happens?!? And don't even get me started on the Fletcher scandal. Ugh.  

As for my family, thanks for all the kind comments and responses. We're doing well, considering the circumstances. My brother and his kids have a long road of transition to this new reality. I'll write more about that at another time, but there's a GFM if you'd like to contribute. Some have asked if they can help with this unexpected trip which isn't necessary, but my Venmo is @sddialedin if you're so inclined. A memorial hasn't been confirmed yet, but it might be a little later down the road, like Memorial Day Weekend, in which case we'll likely all be driving back and doing this all over again.  

Stay safe out there. I love you all. 

Personal: RIP Melissa Hayes Bystrak

Help Melissa’s Family - Gone too soon - GFM

I'm sitting in a restaurant in New Mexico with my brother, his kids, my sister, and her kids. This was a rushed trip. My sister in law, Melissa Hayes Bystrak, died on Saturday, March 25, just before 3am. 

Taken 10.2.22

Here's my post about it all: 

We got the news this week that my sister-in-law wasn't doing well; that after a long fight with breast cancer and the pain of numerous reconstructive surgeries, that the cancer was back and had spread to her spine and other areas of her body. While it was many months and years of pain for her, the diagnosis of the spread was new to us on Thursday and by Friday she was hospitalized and heavily sedated. My sister flew out to New Mexico as did Melissa's dad and twin sister; her mom had been with her for some time already. They all arrived in time to be with her say goodbye and just before 3am our time, we got the news that she had passed. 

Melissa was only 44 years old and leaves behind my brother, her husband of more than 2 decades, and three amazing kids, Gabe, Gia, and Evan. At this point, my plan is to drive my nieces to New Mexico to support their cousins in this time of immeasurable grief. Their whole world is rocked. Our whole world is rocked. Melissa was a brave warrior in her battle but in the end it was too much for a body to take. We love you so much, Liss. Sleep in peace, Sister.

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, March 23-Wednesday, March 29, 2023: Andy Frasco | Adi Oasis | Delta Rae | David Cross | Copeland | Mustache Bash | Beabadoobee | Daniel Rodriguez | Vanessa Carlton |

It's a big week with a ton of sold out and almost sold out shows, so my recommendation to you is to get used to buying your tickets in advance because our small venues are on fire right now. Casbah has continued to announce a bunch of new shows, including Bully, Manic Hispanic, and The Amalgamated but probably the biggest news this week is that The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, announced a San Diego show on December 2nd at Pechanga Arena, with tickets on sale Friday. I'll be working at the Delta Rae show on Saturday, going to beabadoobee on Monday, and might check out Vanessa Carlton on Wednesday since I haven't seen her since Sunset Sessions a million years ago. And Darren wants to go to Andy Frasco, but seeing as I'm finishing these listings at 5:45am, I'm going to try to get some real sleep. 

CoViD-19: COVID-somnia Is A Thing | Crazy California Storms | Uvalde Interviews Released | Zoo Photos: Andean Bear Cubs

Andean Bear Cubs, Born December 10th, 2022 (Taken 3.21.23)

When I was young I always envisioned myself having some great outdoorsy lifestyle, but the reality is I think I like the idea more than the actual lifestyle. Like when I was a kid, I had a tackle box and was always organizing it and adding lures and bait, but in reality, I just liked the colors and collecting things. The only fishing I ever did was at a local campsite in a stocked lake (more like a pond) and never ever got a bite. I certainly wouldn't have known what to do if I'd caught anything. 

In my 20s, I was freshly single after my college boyfriend and I broke us, and had the great idea that I'd get a big dog. We'd go hiking and camping and to the beach and I had my car and I could live an active and outdoorsy life on a whim. Problem was I ended up adopting the neediest, most skittish dog ever (RIP Pascha) who certainly wasn't going on any hikes or anywhere other people existed, and I worked in the most corporate of corporate jobs, a nine-to-five that afforded me one week off a year but definitely not enough money to ever save to use the time off. So that whole plan was a big fail. 

Nowadays, I have the time and the resources to kinda do what I want and go where I want, but Darren and Nova do not have that flexibility, so going to the Zoo is my great compromise...I'm outside, I'm among beautiful plants and amazing animals and I have developed a relationship with so many of the animals - engaging with the gorillas and orangs, certain birds that communicate with me, even the mountain lions respond in their own way when they see me. This week I finally got to see the Andean bear cubs, and with the zoo open later, it's just been a pleasure to see the animals adapt as the seasons change. 

All that being said, this week has been low-key for me and I'm perfectly okay with that. I mentioned last week that my dad is back at home so I've gone to help out my parents a few times, I worked a couple merch gigs - MoonTricks at Music Box and Protomartyr at Casbah, I got a raise at my day job, and spent a ton of time at the zoo while Nova has been off living her teenage independence and Darren working all the time. This week was also the 8 year anniversary of Ficus' Adoption Gotcha Day, which maybe makes her 10 or 11, we can't really be sure.  

I've been stoked on the rain though haven't seen it that intense in a very long time, and I was glad to have the van all stocked up with my rain gear and I've been getting good use of my rain boots. When Darren did finally have a day off, we went to Balboa Park free Tuesdays which was the Mingei and Museum of Art this week, which turned out to be a great way to get dry before spending the rest of that afternoon at the zoo. Now I'm working on listings and I guess I've procrastinated enough, so hopefully you'll have your listings by morning. 

Stay safe out there.