01.08.2024

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Today’s Forecast

🖼️ Drawing us in

Cool art exhibitions to explore in San Diego in 2024

SD You Can Do Almost Anything Andy Arkley WNDR Museum San Diego

“You Can Do Almost Anything” — a colorful, interactive installation by Andy Arkley — is coming to the WNDR Museum in San Diego in 2024. | Photo via WNDR Museum

San Diego’s arts and culture scene is strong — and in 2024, many creative works will be on display across our city. We’ve curated 11 local exhibitions we can’t wait to explore.

“Tales of Thomas” | San Diego Model Railroad Museum

This exhibition about everyone’s favorite toy train — Thomas the Tank Engine — rolls into the museum Tuesday, Jan. 9. It follows Wilbert Awdry’s creation of the beloved TV series and how characters were inspired by real-life trains.

“La Frontera” | Mingei International Museum

This exhibition opens Saturday, Jan. 27, and uses jewelry as a medium to explore the complexity of San Diego’s own backyard — the US-Mexico border “as a physical location, politicized space, and personal experience.” Expect 85+ works from artists, including 24 who were born, raised, live, or work in the region.

“Hold Fast” | Birch Aquarium

Debuting Thursday, Feb. 8, this immersive experience will explore the impact of climate change on San Diego’s kelp forests through the works of three local artists and scientists — Oriana Poindexter, Dwight Hwang, and Mohammad Sedarat.

“You Can Do Almost Anything” | WNDR San Diego

This interactive sound and light installation by Andy Arkley — set to be installed at the SD museum soon — features 33 wooden sculptures mounted with colored light bulbs, each piece cut with a jigsaw and hand-painted. The display is controlled by 16 buttons that trigger synchronized music and light sequences, and visitors are asked to create their own songs.

SD PostSecret San Diego Secrets Museum of Us — The “PostSecret” exhibition at the Museum of Us now has a “San Diego Secrets” section — tell everyone.
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Photo via Museum of Us and “PostSecret”

“PostSecret” | Museum of Us

We can’t keep this one a secret. Frank Warren’s longtime community project — which collects postcards from around the world of strangers sharing their deepest, darkest secrets — inspired this exhibit that’s been on display at the Museum of Us for a while. But now, it has a very local twist: “San Diego Secrets,” an entire section of thoughts submitted by visitors. We’re feeling all the feelings.

6 more exhibitions

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Events

Monday, Jan. 8

Blues & Rock Jam | Monday, Jan. 8 | 6-10 p.m. | Aztec Brewing Company, 2330 La Mirada Dr., #300, Vista | Free | Swing along to the rhythm and blues.
SD TapRoom Trivia | Monday, Jan. 8 | 7 p.m. | SD TapRoom, 1269 Garnet Ave., San Diego | Free | Assemble your team and test your knowledge — it’s also “Burger Mondays.”

Tuesday, Jan. 9

JRDN’s SoCal Supper Club | Tuesday, Jan. 9 | 5-8 p.m. | JRDN at Tower23 Hotel, 723 Felspar St., San Diego | $50 | The beachfront eatery’s weekly special returns with a three-course, prix fixe menu and three hours of live music.
“The Wiz” | Tuesday, Jan. 9-Sunday, Jan. 14 | Times vary | San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego | $39+ | There’s no place like home — it’s opening night for this Tony Award-winning musical adapted from L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz,” recognized for changing the face of Broadway with its iconic score.

Wednesday, Jan. 10

SD101 Pear Pearson: Building San Diego’s Historic Neighborhoods | Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | San Diego History Center, 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park | $25-$35 | Discover the legacy of master designer and builder Pear Pearson, whose structures helped create neighborhoods like North Park, Burlingame, Kensington, Talmadge, and more.
OB Farmers Market | Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 4-8 p.m. | 4900 block of Newport Avenue, Between Bacon + Cable streets, San Diego | Free | This eclectic, beachside market has been running for 30 years and is a prime spot to grab produce, honey, kombucha, flowers, and more.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Weather

Brrr. The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory tomorrow, 1-9 a.m., for San Diego County’s valleys including Santee, El Cajon, La Mesa, Poway, San Marcos, and Escondido. Low temps between 30° and 35° will produce frost, so cover your sensitive outdoor plants. (National Weather Service)

Civic

A new fire truck has been added to Fire Station No. 4 in downtown’s East Village — one of San Diego’s oldest and busiest stations, which fields ~25 calls daily. Engine 80 will operate during peak hours, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., aiming to alleviate the facility’s stretched emergency resources. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Coming Soon

After months of renovations, the Berg Family Library at the San Dego Automotive Museum is set to reopen Tuesday, Jan. 16. The resource is home to an array of auto research materials including 3,393 books, 2,559 unique car repair manuals, and 36,000+ magazines.

Seasonal

Ready to recycle your Christmas tree? City of San Diego residents can drop off their trees at 16 locations through Tuesday, Jan. 23 — just be sure to remove all decorations and lights. You can also place your chopped up tree in your green organic waste bin for pickup.

Edu

Teachers, take note. SeaWorld San Diego is offering free annual admission to all certified K-12 SoCal school teachers via its 2024 Teacher Fun Card. Log in with your teacher ID and visit the theme park by May 31 to activate the pass. Oh, and peep the Preschool Fun Card deal, too.

Ranked

It’s soup season and according to Yelp, Thanh Tinh Chay — a Vietnamese vegan restaurant at 4561 El Cajon Blvd. — has the best soup in California. Word has it a bowl of the Roasted Duck Wonton Soup will really hit the spot. (Yelp)

Sports

Surf’s up, O’side. The WSL World Junior Championships — an international showcase of the best young surfers — is happening at Oceanside Pier tomorrow through Sunday, Jan. 14. Watch the free competition and while you’re there, explore more Oceanside fun.

Try This

Broadway’s “The Wiz” comes to the San Diego Civic Theatre this week and Louisiana Purchase in North Park has created themed menu items in collaboration with the show. Check out the Cowardly Lion chicken dish and a purple, tequila-based cocktail dubbed The Wicked Witch of the West.

Announced

World Ballet Series will bring its touring “Swan Lake” production to San Diego this year. The show will glide into California Center for the Arts, Escondido on May 16 and then hop over to downtown SD’s Civic Theatre for performances on May 17 and May 18. Get tickets.

Trending

Looking for your new favorite water bottle? The Owala Travel Tumbler combines the best of Stanley’s viral tumbler with Owala’s smart design. We’re liking color “Bunny Hop.”*

Outdoors

🌿 Bloom where you are planted

Winter gardening tips for San Diego, CA

This local nursery is truly rooted in the SD community. | Photo via @missionhillsnursery

Be-leaf it or not, January is a good time to get gardening. Now is when plant lovers tend to shop seeds, do routine maintenance, and even sow certain plants.

🪴 Spring for seeds

Peruse seed catalogs and grab those springtime favorites that are so popular they tend to sell out come the thaw. We’re talking seeds like snap peas, radishes, specialty lettuces, and heirloom tomatoes. You can also get your wishlist going for the spring planting of fall bulbs like hostas, gladiolas, and dahlias.

Check out these local spots to nab your favorites:

North Park Nursery, 2335 University Ave.
Mission Hills Nursery, 1525 Fort Stockton Dr.
Walter Andersen Nursery, 3642 Enterprise St.

🌱 Get growing

While you’re at the nursery, grab some seeds that you can plant right now (or very soon). Use this tool to calculate when to sow some of these early-season crops:

Beans
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Lettuce

Routine maintenance tips

The Buy

Sustainably sourced coffee. Or maybe some organic matcha. Or a low-caffeine chai blend, or a hot toddy spice mix — whatever your favorite warm beverage, it’s waiting for you in Six & Main’s locally-sourced coffee and tea collection.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Monica

From the editor

We love a happy start to the week, so let’s call today Mural Monday. Next time you’re at Liberty Station, head over to the Arts District and check out the colorful “Home” mural by local artist Scarlett Baily.

The 2,535-sqft piece is located on the archways between Barracks 14 + 15 (you can’t miss it) and pays tribute to life in San Diego — from our landscapes to our culture. And, truly, there’s no place like home.

SD Home Mural Liberty Station San Diego — “Home” by local artist Scarlett Baily can be found between Barracks 14 and 15 at Arts District Liberty Station.
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Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

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