The San Diego Black Arts + Culture District (SDBAC) spans nine blocks along Imperial Avenue — from 61st to 69th streets — including Marie Widman Memorial Park and the Encanto/62nd Street Trolley Station. The city officially designated it as a hub for Black arts and culture in June 2022.
In January 2015, Marshall College at UC San Diego unveiled a powerful, 6-ft statue of abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth. Centrally located on Ridge Walk, the campus art piece was created by local artist and UC San Diego alumna Manuelita Brown. The statue includes a plaque with a quote from Truth: “I feel safe in the midst of my enemies, for the truth is powerful and will prevail.”
Just outside the Lillian Place Apartments at 14th and J streets, there’s a yellow wall featuring works by late local activist and artist Jihmye Collins.
The public art piece includes four watercolors made into enamels detailing Black history in San Diego, including a tribute to Skippy Smith, a stunt pilot, skydiver, and entrepreneur who owned the Pacific Parachute Company on Eighth Avenue. In 1943, it was named the top Black-owned business in the US.
📩 Know of another local place to see Black history? Share the detailswith us.
Corinne Bailey Rae | Wednesday, Feb. 7 | 8 p.m. | The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave., San Diego | $90+ | No need to “Put Your Records On” — the “Black Rainbows Tour” will be performed live.
Black Cat Jazz Jam | Wednesday, Feb. 7 | 9-11:30 p.m. | Black Cat Bar, 4246 University Ave., San Diego | Free | Listen to local musicians take the mic and sip on specially priced cocktails.
San Diego International Jewish Film Festival | Through Sunday, Feb. 11 | Times vary | David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre, 4126 Executive Dr., La Jolla | $15-$18 | This showcase of contemporary Jewish cinema highlights 34 feature films and 28 short screenings.
Thursday, Feb. 8
“Hold Fast: A New Way to Experience Kelp” | Thursday, Feb. 8 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla | Included with admission | It’s the debut of the aquarium’s immersive art installation that explores our local kelp forests and climate change through the works of local artists and scientists.
Weave Together | Thursday, Feb. 8 | 5-7 p.m. | Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, San Diego | $10 | The museum’s monthly in-gallery workshop explores weaving techniques and aims to create, learn, share, and cultivate community.
“The Age of Innocence” | Through Sunday, March 10 | Times vary | The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego | $29+ | It’s opening night of this Globe-commissioned world premiere play — set in 1870s New York City — which follows a tale where love and high society clash.
Friday, Feb. 9
“Bluey’s Big Play” | Friday, Feb. 9-Sunday, Feb. 11 | Times vary | Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego | $29+ | Hurray! The Heeler Family — Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chilli — lead this fun show for little fans, with laughs aplenty.
Gaslamp Mardi Gras | Friday, Feb. 9 | 6 p.m.-2 a.m. | American Junkie, 628 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $35+ | Celebrate Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras while enjoying downtown’s nightlife.
The Guess Who | Friday, Feb. 9 | 6:30 p.m. | The Magnolia, 210 E. Main St., El Cajon | $55+ | “These Eyes” should see this: The longtime Canadian rockers known for hits like “American Woman” and “No Time” headline the East County venue.
JP Saxe | Friday, Feb. 9 | 8 p.m. | The Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego | $30+ | “If the World Was Ending” — well, you’d want to catch this performance from the Canadian musician and singer.
Rain is likely to continue today across San Diego County, with the possibility of morning thunderstorms. According to the National Weather Service, another wet but weaker weather system is likely to roll through SD tomorrow and Friday, Feb. 9. Meanwhile, local mountains will see 8-12 inches of snow. (National Weather Service)
Civic
Chula Vista’s Otay Ranch Library is relocating to a larger facility within Otay Ranch Town Center, opening Monday, March 4. The new location — 2015 Birch Rd., Ste. 1103 — will offer more study space, seating, and integrated passport services. The library’s former site is now closed.
Coming Soon
Zion Market — a beloved Korean market — is moving to a new development at 8330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. in Kearny Mesa this summer. The 50,000-sqft project will include approximately 10 restaurants (the roster is still being worked out), outdoor seating areas, a rooftop food hall, and a cocktail bar. (Eater San Diego)
Community
SD’s Commission for Arts and Culture said emergency resources are available for local arts and cultural institutions impacted by flooding. Organizations can call the National Heritage Responders (NHR) hotline — 1 (202) 661-8068 — for guidance on salvaging valuable pieces. The public can email NHR about saving family heirlooms, too.
Plan Ahead
The inaugural Daygo Eatz celebration is happening Sunday, Feb. 18, 12-4:45 p.m., in Encanto — aka San Diego’s Black Arts & Culture District. The event is organized by The Mental Bar and will celebrate the community’s heritage, small businesses, and artists with local vendors, an art walk, and live entertainment.
Try This
So, here’s the tee: Gaslamp Quarter’s interactive golf bar, Johnny Wahoo!, has rebranded to Swing Social. Inside, patrons will still find the bar’s bells and whistles: three golf simulators, interactive game play for 13 other sports, a bar, and food by Rustic Root.
Festival
Feeling lucky? The annual ShamROCK St. Paddy’s Day Music + Beer Festival is set to return to the Gaslamp Quarter on Saturday, March 16, 2-11 p.m. The fest will boast three stages featuring Irish and Celtic rock bands and dancers, plus food vendors and, of course, green beer. Get tickets.
Wellness
The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce will host its first-ever Health & Wellness Expo this Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Encinitas Community & Senior Center. The free event will include 45+ exhibitors offering information on nutrition, mental health, fitness, alternative medicine, spas, travel, and more.
Kids
The Old Globe is accepting applications through July 1 for its 2024 Camp Studio, a performing arts (acting, dancing, and singing) and creative storytelling summer camp program for students in grades 2-8. The elementary school session is July 15-July 19, and the middle school session is July 22-Aug. 2.
Finance
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A countywide Flood Watch is set to expire this morning.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Flood Warning yesterday for the San Diego River at Fashion Valley. The river was expected to rise up to 10.3 ft yesterday — above the “flood stage” of 10 ft — and fall below 10 ft by late this morning.
Did you get a Tornado Warning on your device on Feb. 6 at 11:44 a.m.? Us too. The NWS briefly issued that rare alert for about an hour due to “a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado” over Paradise Hills and near Chula Vista “moving northeast at 35 mph.”
Hi, friends. I hope you’re all doing OK as we get through this wild weather. Frankly, we’re over here wishing for spring to come early.
I was among the San Diegans to receive that short-lived Tornado Warning — yes, a Tornado Warning — during yesterday’s storm. I won’t lie, I panicked a little but Michael was a pal and quickly calmed me down. I also remembered we have lots of emergency resources available locally, and that helped my nerves a bit. Here’s to hopefully never, ever seeing that warning again.
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