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🎟️ Your ticket to holiday fun

Live plays and performances in San Diego for the 2023 holiday season
Larry Raben as Grandpa Who, Bets Malone as Grandma Who, Katie Sapper as Mama Who, and Kevin Hafso Koppman as Papa Who in Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas, 2019. Photo by Jim Cox.
Larry Raben, Bets Malone, Katie Sapper, and Kevin Hafso Koppman in “Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas” in 2019. | Photo by Jim Cox
The weather is getting colder and days are shorter, but who wants a silent night? ‘Tis the season of festive, local events, so we’re gifting you a nice list of live holiday shows to get you into the seasonal spirit.

For the playgoer

“Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” | Through Sunday, Dec. 31 | Times vary | The Old Globe | $26+ | He’s mean, green, and bringing this Christmas tale to the Balboa Park theater for the 26th year.

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T-F-U-L-L-Y Christmas” | Saturday, Nov. 25-Sunday, Dec. 24 | Lamb’s Players Theatre | $28+ | Cast members from “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” and “Million Dollar Quartet” join forces in this world premiere show packed with music.

“1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas” | Thursday, Nov. 30-Sunday, Dec. 24 | New Village Arts | $33 | This story of a Black family from Carlsbad celebrates culture and family — with a dash of Christmas drama.

Irish step dancers performing "An Irish Christmas."

Make Irish stepdance part of your holiday season.

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Image via San Diego Theatres + Kerry Irish Productions

For fans of dance

An Irish Christmas | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Balboa Theatre | $31.50+ | Kerry Irish Productions step dances into the holiday season.

”The Nutcracker” | Thursday, Dec. 21-Saturday, Dec. 23 | Times vary | California Center for the Arts, Escondido | $39+ | The City Ballet of San Diego performs, with choreography by Elizabeth Wistrich.

SD Noel Noel The Rady Shell

The San Diego Symphony’s “Noel Noel” show returns to The Rady Shell Friday, Dec. 15-Sunday, Dec. 17.

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Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

For the music lover

“Noel Noel” | Friday, Dec.15-Sunday, Dec. 17 | Times vary | The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park | $22+ | Conductor Christopher Dragon leads the San Diego Symphony’s holiday concert about the search for Santa and holiday magic, with vocals by Devin DeSantis.

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2023 | Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Balboa Theatre | $58.50+ | The long-running, jazz-based show features renditions of Christmas classics and a Hanukkah medley.

Abbey Road Christmas Show | Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 8 p.m. | Belly Up Tavern | $20+ | This holly, jolly show also pays tribute to The Beatles.
More festive shows
Asked

What are your favorite types of holiday events to attend?
A. Plays
B. Concerts + music
C. Tree or menorah lightings
D. Light festivals
E. Other
Gift us with an answer
Events
Thursday, Nov. 16
  • The 12 Days of Christmas | Thursday, Nov. 16-Sunday, Nov. 19 | Times vary | The Barn Redefined, 14051 Midland Rd., Poway | Free | It’s Christmas at the Barn’s final weekend with decorating ideas and visits from Santa.
  • A Taste of France | Thursday, Nov. 16 | 6-9 p.m. | Tower Beach Club, 1010 Santa Clara Place, San Diego | $45-$70 | The San Diego French American Chamber of Commerce leads this celebration of the local French community with lots of fromage et vin.
  • Steve Hackett: “Genesis Revisited” | Thursday, Nov. 16 | 8 p.m. | Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego | $46-$150 | The Genesis guitarist strums into downtown SD with this “Foxtrot at 50" and “Hackett Hits” show.
Friday, Nov. 17
  • Movie in the Cemetery: “The Princess Bride” | Friday, Nov. 17 | 6-9 p.m. | El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego | Free | Enjoy the final outdoor screening of the season; bring chairs, blankets, picnics, and maybe an umbrella.
  • San Diego Gulls vs. Charlotte Checkers | Friday, Nov. 17 | 7 p.m. | Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego | $22-$52 | There’s nothing cooler than catching the AHL home team on the ice.
Saturday, Nov. 18
  • San Diego Anime Convention | Saturday, Nov. 18 + Sunday, Nov. 19 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Handlery Hotel San Diego, 950 Hotel Circle N., San Diego | $17-$34 | Celebrate your love of anime at this inaugural convention featuring vendors, local artists, cosplay, panels, interactive sessions, and entertainment.
  • Billy Nation + Fleetwood Max | Saturday, Nov. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | The Grand Ritz Theatre, 301 E. Grand Ave., Escondido | $25-$45 | Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks are currently touring together, but these tribute acts also rock.
  • This Is Important Live! | Saturday, Nov. 18 | 8 p.m. | Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego | $40-$70 | Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, and Kyle Newacheck — the co-creators and stars of “Workaholics” — take a comedic dive into important issues impacting today’s society.
Sunday, Nov. 19
  • Friends-Giving Comedy Brunch | Sunday, Nov. 19 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Mic Drop Comedy, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego | $10 | Celebrate the holiday with stand-up comedy, trivia, and lip sync battles inspired by “Friends.”
  • Family Sunday: Suminagasht | Sunday, Nov. 19 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Mingei International, 1439 El Prado, San Diego | Free | Sage Serrano leads a class on the centuries-old Japanese marbling technique of “floating ink” and helps participants create a piece to take home.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Civic
  • City Council has approved San Diego’s police surveillance network that will include 500 cameras — or “Smart Streetlights” — with license plate-reading technology. The initiative will cost $12 million over the next five years, and installations could begin in January. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Sports
  • Blake Snell has been awarded the 2023 National League Cy Young Award — an annual distinction of pitching excellence. The left-handed Padres star is the seventh person to win the award in both the National and American leagues; he also won it in 2018 while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. (MLB.com)
Zoo
  • For the first time in 26 years, a baby De Brazza’s monkey was born at the San Diego Zoo. The baby, whose name and sex haven’t been revealed, is so cute it’s bananas. It’s expected to stay close to its mother for about a year; see it at the Lost Forest habitat.
Tech
  • San Diego Gas & Electric has partnered with Toyota to research vehicles with bidirectional battery power — meaning they can be charged and discharge power to an electric grid. Research will be conducted on SDG&E’s San Diego campus, with the goal of making more power available at peak usage times.
Number
  • 100 out of 100. That’s San Diego’s score for the Human Rights Campaign’s 2023 Municipal Equality Index which dives into municipal laws and how inclusive they are of LGBTQ+ people. In case you missed it, that’s the same as last year’s score.
Open
  • Something new is cooking in La Mesa. Papalo, a Sonoran-style barbecue restaurant, has opened at 8323 La Mesa Blvd. The eatery is owned by “pitmaster” Chef Andrew Brent, who formerly worked at the Michelin-recognized Lola 55, and is open Thursday-Tuesday, hours vary.
Real Estate
  • Thinking of renting a single-family home? The San Diego metro area’s median rent is $4,500, making it the nation’s second-most expensive single-family rental market. If a family earns SD’s median household income, this would consume 48.5% of their earnings. (CoreLogic)
Listen
  • Radio hosts Rob and Joss Taylor are signing off from KyXy 96.5, ending their “Mornings with Rob and Joss” broadcast. The married couple began their show in 2019, and expressed gratitude for their time on air and the community that supported them. (RadioInsight.com)
Legacy
  • Players and fans continue to mourn the death of beloved Padres owner and chairman Peter Seidler at his Petco Park memorial. In downtown San Diego, artists Paul Jimenez and Signe Ditona — aka Ground Floor Murals — have dedicated a mural to Seidler at 1202 Kettner Blvd.
 
Development

🛝 Children’s Park debuts its new look

The Children’s Park reopens in downtown San Diego
Mayor Todd Gloria leads a reopening ceremony of The Children's Park, with "Petrichor" and a play structure in the background.
Mayor Todd Gloria leads a reopening ceremony, with “Petrichor” and a play structure in the background. | Image via City of San Diego
Game, on: It’s playtime at Children’s Park. The city has officially completed its revitalization of the downtown San Diego park at 326 W. Harbor Dr. in the Marina District.

The $9 million effort to transform the 1.4-acre space has been in the works since before the pandemic, which has resulted in delays. The redesigned park includes:
  • A children’s play area and exercise equipment for adults
  • An off-leash dog area
  • Lawn games and picnicking equipment
  • A public walkway through the Civic Pond
  • A public restroom that will be staffed by an attendant
  • “Petrichor” — a public art sculpture commissioned by the city, created by Miki Iwasaki
According to Mayor Todd Gloria, a food and drinks vendor will be coming soon to the park, too. This project is part of an ongoing effort to increase and redevelop outdoor, public spaces, especially in urban parts of San Diego.
The Buy
 
Know someone who loves candles and cosmos? Add this candle to your cart this holiday season.
 
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The Wrap
 
Michael Beausoleil

Today’s edition by:
Michael
From the editor
Good morning, San Diego. Yesterday, I was definitely happy I had my umbrella handy, and I won’t be putting it away. More rain is expected tomorrow and Saturday evenings.

I’m not superstitious, but I have read that rain can be a sign of good luck, especially when it comes to rebirth and renewal. So, if you’re going through a change right now, perhaps these rainy days are your lucky days.
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