10.16.2023

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Today’s Forecast

Creating the Black Arts + Culture District

City seeks public art services for San Diego Black Arts + Culture District in Encanto

SD San Diego Black Arts and Culture District

The San Diego Black Arts + Culture District spans nine blocks along Imperial Avenue. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

The Commission for Arts and Culture is seeking applications from qualified artists to provide public art for the Encanto neighborhood around the new San Diego Black Arts + Culture District (SDBAC).

Let’s learn about the opportunity — plus the SDBAC’s history and vision to empower and unify the Black experience in San Diego.

🎨 Artists wanted

The city’s “Here comes the neighborhood: Encanto” project is open to any artist or artist team legally residing in California or Baja California to help design permanent, site-specific works around the SDBAC. Three ~$40,000 contracts will be awarded.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2; register via PlanetBids to apply, and download the Request for Qualifications.

🛣️ About the SDBAC

Located in District 4, the SDBAC spans nine banner-lined blocks along Imperial Avenue between 61st and 69th streets, including Marie Widman Memorial Park and the Encanto/62nd Street Trolley Station.

Although officially designated in June 2022, the southeastern neighborhood has long been part of revitalization efforts detailed in the city’s Imperial Avenue Corridor Master Plan and Encanto’s updated Community Plan.

The San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art oversees the district, working with District 4, the SDBAC District Advisory Committee, and the city to coordinate funding, programming, and goals.

The SDBAC is currently home to Black arts, culture, and business organizations including Black San Diego, San Diego Urban Warrior, and Black Contractors Association. Imperial Avenue’s median strip features 24 art panels created by late local artist Eddie Edwards in 1993.

As the district grows, leaders hope to add more organizations and murals, improve storefronts, beautify landscaping, and install freeway signage to help define the neighborhood.

🤝 Get involved

The SDBAC District Advisory Committee — a group of local residents, artists, musicians, educators, nonprofits, and business owners — holds monthly public meetings every third Tuesday, 6 p.m., at 6145 Imperial Ave. Join their next meeting tomorrow, or apply to serve on the committee.

Events

Monday, Oct. 16

Curator Conversation: Derrick Cartwright in Conversation with Alexis Miller and Bianca Garcia | Monday, Oct. 16 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Timken Museum, 1500 El Prado, San Diego | $15 | Join the museum’s experts as they discuss the conservation of François Boucher’s “Lovers in a Park.”
Faiva O Samoa: An Evening with FAIVA | Monday, Oct. 16 | 6-8 p.m. | California State University San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd. | $5 | Enjoy an evening of traditional Samoan music played with acoustic guitars, upright bass, ukulele, and percussion instruments.
Boyish | Monday, Oct. 16 | 8 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $15 | The indie rock duo takes the stage in downtown San Diego.
Eddie Izzard | Monday, Oct. 16 | 8 p.m. | San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave. | $50+ | The comic, actor, and activist brings “The Remix: The First 35 Years” tour to SD.

Tuesday, Oct. 17

Book Day at SDMA | Tuesday, Oct. 17 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | The San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, San Diego | Free | Gather at the museum steps to enjoy family-friendly art-making activities, children’s book readings, and a used book sale hosted by docents.

Wednesday, Oct. 18

ZZ Top | Wednesday, Oct. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Humphreys Concerts by the bay, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego | $135+ | This show is for fans who are crazy ‘bout a “Sharp Dressed Man.”

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

The San Diego County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice (OSEJ) welcomed Eden Brukman as its newest Chief Sustainability Officer. Brukman has 20+ years of sustainability leadership experience and will focus on improving San Diego’s environment while lowering the city’s carbon footprint through OSEJ’s “Getting to Zero” campaign.

Biz

As part of its ongoing plan to cut costs, Qualcomm is cutting 1,000+ jobs in San Diego. The locally-based, globally-known tech giant said the layoffs will happen around mid-December across 20 local facilities — including its headquarters — with engineering positions most heavily impacted, plus roles like accounting, IT, and human resources. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Health

County Public Health Services and 211 San Diego have launched the Getting to Zero app to help San Diegans find HIV resources. The free mobile tool is available in multiple languages and includes information on testing locations, treatment providers, transportation, and other support services.

Transit

Starting today, the city’s Beach Bug — the electric shuttle service that launched in Pacific Beach over the summer — will begin charging $2.50 per rider, with fares capped at $5 per groups of two or more. Trips will remain free to or from the Balboa Avenue Transit Station.

Zoo

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has partnered with biodiversity leaders to create the new Center for Species Survival: Biodiversity Banking, employing a strategic vision to help more species survive. Through biobanking, the center will be able to indefinitely preserve living and nonliving cells, tissues, and other vital biomaterials.

Arts

Artist applications are now open through 12 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, for the San Diego International Fringe Festival, the annual celebration of dance, music, and theater around Balboa Park and other parts of SD. The fest will run May 16-May 26, 2024, with a goal to showcase ~500 quirky performances.

Seasonal

Tickets are on sale starting at $6 for the San Diego Made Holiday Market, coming to Julep Venue in Little Italy on Saturday, Nov. 18 + Sunday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The seasonal shopping experience will boast 120+ local makers, plus interactive art, a creative workshop, and live music.

Plan Ahead

Urban winery Carruth Cellars is offering behind-the-scenes tours of its main production facility in Oceanside, HANGAR76, where guests can see the “crush” process of grapes and stages of creating wine. Email the winery to book your tour and enjoy more of its Harvest Month events.

Try This

What would you do with $1 million? Retire early? Buy a vacation home? All of the above? ICYMI, here’s your chance: The Two Million Dollar Puzzle awards each buyer with a cash reward — and two people will snag that lucky $1 million. Use code 6AMCITY for an extra 10% off.*

Community

🍻 A crafty collab

San Diego Brewers Guild members collaborate on 2023 Capital of Craft West Coast IPA

SD San Diego Brewers Guild Capital of Craft West Coast IPA 2023

Teams from seven local brewers came together to create the specialty beer at the Capital of Craft Brew Day on Oct. 13, 2023. | Photo via San Diego Brewers Guild

Collaboration is ingrained in San Diego’s craft beer culture. Each year, the San Diego Brewers Guild (SDBG) taps into that teamwork by creating the Capital of Craft IPA, a special beer made to ring in San Diego Beer Week.

The SDBG held its Capital of Craft Brew Day on Oct. 13 at Modern Times Point Loma and gave SDtoday a first look at this very hoppy pic of those involved.

Seven local breweries united to craft the specialty suds: 3 Punk Ales Brewing Co., Dog Leg Brewing Co., GOAL. Brewing, Kilowatt Brewing, Modern Times Beer, Northern Pine Brewing, and Seek Beer Co.

The West Coast IPA features HS Grove, Nelson, and Centennial hops. It’ll be released on the first day of Beer Week — Friday, Nov. 3 — and served on tap throughout San Diego County for a limited time.

Beer Week, with fun events aplenty, runs through Sunday, Nov. 12.

Answered

We asked you to vote for your favorite local bathroom. Naturally, you answered the call:

SD Morning Glory best bathrooms — The mirror-filled bathroom at Morning Glory.
|
Photo via @jolene_akajo

🪞 From this lineup of lovely local loos, the mirror-filled masterpiece at Little Italy’s trendy brunch spot, Morning Glory, shined with SDtoday readers and took the throne.

🛸 The famed Ryan Gosling-themed bathroom at Bang Bang tied for No. 2 with the spacey, out-of-this-world stall at Mothership.

🍓 The cheeky JFK and Marilyn Monroe restroom at Miss B’s Coconut Club followed, and The Invigatorium’s quirky strawberries and cockroaches-themed bathroom rounded out the fun.

Freshen up: SD's creative commodes

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Monica

From the editor

We love local landmarks around here. For me, the California Tower at the Museum of Us is high on my list of favorites; I love its architecture and the way it soars above Balboa Park, as if to say, “Welcome, everyone.”

Did you know? The museum offers daily guided tours of the California Tower for $10 with the purchase of museum admission. You’ll learn lots of local history as you climb the steps and will be rewarded with spectacular views of the skyline once you reach the viewing deck.

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