Photo via Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

Make an appointment

• In-person or virtual tutoring for adults
• Accessibility services for anyone in need of assistance who is unable to visit the library
• Digital service assistance with a tech helper over the phone or in-person
• Get help with your homework at the Union Bank Homework Center
• Exploring your genealogy with an expert or scroll through its digital genealogy resources

Digital treats

• Get instant reading material through the eLibrary’s e-books and audiobooks
• Brush up on new languages with Mango Languages
• Stream a movie or TV series with Kanopy
• Take free virtual courses in 11+ categories through Gale Courses

Photo via Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

Take it home

• A free State Parks pass to explore California’s great outdoors
• Check in for Chess Club and learn the game from local experts
• Tie-brary — offering rentable professional clothing accessories — is open for check out at the Central Library

Getting down to business

• Free internet access through SD Access 4 All.
• Reservable meeting or study rooms
• Access to market research analytics for entrepreneurs
• Resume feedback and career development events

No card needed

• Any of the library’s scheduled events or Local Author Showcase talks
• Free, on-site WiFi + desks

• A Christmas Carol | Through Saturday, Dec. 24 | 2 p.m. | Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado | $22-$86 | Kerry Meads’ adaptation of the Charles Dickens story returns.
• Santa Paws Yappy Hour | Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 5-7 p.m. | Town and Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir. North, San Diego | Free | Bring your fur baby to this festive event featuring a costume contest for pets, live music, treats, and cocktails.
• City Ballet’s: The Nutcracker | Through Friday, Dec. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido | $29-$99 | City Ballet brings the classic Victorian-era story alive with every step set to Tchaikovsky’s famous score.
• It’s A Wonderful Vida | Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 8 p.m. | OnStage Playhouse, 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista | $25 | The final night to see playwright Herbert Siguenza give the classic holiday story a Chula Vista spin this year.

• Jamie Kennedy | Thursday, Dec. 22 | 7 p.m. | Humphreys Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego | $15-$30 | The comic and actor headlines this intimate 21+ show at the bayside venue.
• Menorah Lighting Ceremony | Thursday, Dec. 22 | 6-8 p.m. | One Paseo, 3725 Paseo Pl., San Diego | Free | The Chabad Jewish Center of Rancho Santa Fe + Rabbi Levi Raskin lead the celebration that also includes live music and kosher bites.

• Nerd Comedy Night | Friday, Dec. 23, Friday, Dec. 30 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St., Carlsbad | $15 | Clever comedy and a smart audience make this weekly Carlsbad tradition one-of-a-kind.

• Holiday Brunch and Nutcracker Ballet | Saturday, Dec. 24 | 9:30 a.m. | Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5300 Grand Del Mar Ct., San Diego | $100-$205 | A brunch buffet followed by a performance of the traditional holiday ballet via dancers from Scripps Performing Arts Academy.

• 67º | Sunny | 4% chance of rain

• Rise: 6:47 a.m.
• Set: 4:46 p.m.

• Low: 12:38 a.m. + 2:15 p.m.
• High: 7:02 a.m. + 8;39 p.m.
• Water Temperature: 58º

• Joe’s Crab Shack will be leaving its San Diego Bay location after being in service for over two decades. The Port of San Diego hired a brokerage firm to find a new tenant, hoping to capitalize on traffic from the Rady Shell. The seafood restaurant’s last day in operation is not yet known. 🦀 (San Diego Union-Tribune)

• Welcome to Slam Diego, Matt Carpenter. The third baseman and 12-year MLB veteran signed a one-year contract with the Padres as a free agent. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals for 11 seasons, but joined the New York Yankees last year where he hit 15 home runs in 47 games. ⚾️ (ESPN)

• According to a recent study from Upgraded Points, you should arrive at San Diego International Airport 1 hour and 51 minutes before a domestic flight. The travel rewards site analyzed criteria including the number of gates and terminals, average TSA wait time + airport size to determine this metric. Pro tip: Read our guide to navigating SAN for parking tips and terminal eats. ✈️ (Upgraded Points)

• Something sweet is baking at Westfield UTC in La Jolla. Cookie shop Batch & Box announced it will be opening in the mall at the end of January. The local chain already has a store in Del Mar Highlands Town Center and a stand at Snapdragon Stadium. 🍪

• Pilates, orioles birds, gyro meat, and rap music. According to Google, these topics were trending in San Diego in 2022. When it came to local searches, the most popular topics were “earthquakes near me” followed by “gas prices near me.” 📊 (Google)

• Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is asking locals to help monitor changes along the coastal area. Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography are using crowdsourcing app CoastSnap to collect data using QR codes on trails. If you see one, scan it to upload a photo that will be added to the timeline. 🤳 (NBC 7)

• History buffs, dig into this. Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience will be coming to the Wyland Center at the Del Mar Fairgrounds from Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. The exhibition commemorates the life of the child pharaoh through cinematic storytelling and artifacts. ⚰️ (There San Diego)

• Lots of people were raving about Formoosa this year — so much that it became Yelp’s No. 2 most-reviewed restaurant in 2022. The modern Taiwanese eatery in Kearny Mesa holds a rating of 4.5 stars, and received praise for its flavorful dishes and welcoming environment. 🍛 (Yelp)

• Don’t stress over finding last-minute gifts. Make gifting easy by selecting a gift card to our SDtoday shop, Six & Main. From candles to clothes, there’s something for everyone. Purchase a gift card today. 🎁

• We’re hiring a Sales Executive to lead our advertising relationships across all 25 of our cities. This exec would lead prospecting initiatives, maintain a full and active client pipeline, and prepare and deliver sales presentations — all while earning a competitive salary with unlimited PTO. Learn more + apply.

• 550,000+. The number of women who love The GIST, the sports newsletter with a much needed female perspective and equal coverage of women’s and men’s sports. Buh-bye, male-dominated sports media.*

• ICYMI, Allure released its 2022 Best of Beauty Awards. Some of our favorite products made the cut, including Caudalie’s Premier Cru The Cream, R+Co’s revolutionary dry shampoo, and this cruelty free eyebrow conditioner with 2,500+ five-star reviews. We’re also adding this brightening under-eye cream to our cart.*

• Yule (begins Dec. 21, today), an ancient Germanic solstice festival. Celebrants mark the shortest day of the year and balance between light and dark.
• Hanukkah (ongoing), the Jewish Festival of Lights which began the evening of Sunday, Dec. 18 and ends on Monday, Dec. 26.
• Christmas (Dec. 25), a cultural and religious festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ – which, if you’ve put off gift shopping until now, there’s still time.
• Kwanzaa (Dec. 26), a week of African American and pan-African celebration culminating in Karamu on Saturday, Dec. 31.
• Lunar Bodhi Day (Dec. 30), celebrating the Buddha’s enlightenment through acts of kindness. “Secular” Bodhi Day was celebrated on Dec. 8.