Culture Lust Weekend: Smooth Crooners, Fashion Shows, and a Horror Fest

MUSIC

Perhaps you remember a bewitching, beguiling voice you heard a week or two or go on These Days - Miss Erica Davies is casting her nouveau jazz lounge spell tonight at the San Diego Museum of Art, and, better yet, will be joined by Martian Horses and their classically-inflected sound. They're on at 7pm, but if you come a little early - that is, at 6pm - you'll catch a reading by Pulitzer Prize winning poet Rae Armantrout.

Brag that you caught them before they made it big: hot North County band Lesands (formerly Arrows) is playing the Casbah Saturday night. Their "mix of glo-fi and that white-boy African-influenced bastardization sound" is sure to get your toes tapping.

The 94.9 Independence Jam offers a smorgasboard of local goodness this weekend: from the post-punk Americana of The Silent Comedy to the frenetic stage show of Burning of Rome, its sure to get rowdy. Also on tap: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Delta Spirit, the Nervous Wreckords, and White Apple Tree. It all goes down Sunday at the Oceanside Pier.

Free Brazilian Jazz, y'all - head up to Carlsbad's Schulman auditorium on Sunday afternoon to hear guitarist Peter Sprague and others. Also on tap? “Portraits from the Golden Age of Jazz: Photographs by William P. Gottlieb (1917-2006)."

If you miss that, or just can't get enough jazz, the Jazz in North Park series continues Wednesday. Come to the Birch theater in North Park to see local flutist Holly Hoffman alongside the national group Four Women Only, whose name does indeed match their composition.

FILM

The Maya Indie Film Series showcases Latino and Latin American filmmakers, starting this Saturday at the Gaslamp All Stadium 15. From the story of a frustrated forty-something ("In Therapy") to a detective thriller ("Backyard") set in the tumultuous streets of Juarez, you're sure to find something up your alley.

Travel back in time to cinema's early days at the "Not So Silent Movie Night" at New Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad. An early version of the Wizard of Oz will be just one of many films shown and scored live by UCSD's chief carillonneur Scott Paulson and his Teeny Tiny Pit Orchestra.

EXHIBITS

We're bombarded by images all day long, sometimes you just want to reflect and take in an image. We have two suggestions: first, Joseph Bellows Gallery is hosting (until September 30th) an exhibit of Charles Grogg's hypnotic, literally stitched together prints of flora and fauna. Second, The Art of Photography at the Lyceum theater opens Saturday evening, showcasing "the very best photography from around the world."

If you're more object than image inclined this weekend, catch icons, handpainted eggs, ceramics and vegetable dyed rugs at the Mingei's exhibit on Romanian folk art.

Looking for something a little more cutting edge? Project X Gallery's "Strange Visions" opens this weekend, featuring art from Deron Cohen and local Matt Forderer, whose surreal dreamscapes will keep your gaze locked.

THEATER

Mozu, a "western style Kabuki" musical about the life of the titular snow monkey (???), is running at the Diversionary Thursday through Monday. Director Steven Oberman was inspired by a nature documentary he watched chronicling the story of a disabled macaque. Cast members wear painted faces and perform the play quite "straight" as the drama of a family that just happens to be of monkeys.

EVENTS

Was Opening Day at Del Mar not enough to satisfy your people watching and horse racing urges? Get out your hats yet again, because Saturday at 4pm, the Pacific Classic stakes unfold at Del Mar.

If you'd rather watch people prancing about, head to the 14th annual Celebrate Dance Festival which takes place at Casa Del Prado Friday evening, highlighting over 70 local artists for absolutely free.

Paging Anna Wintour: on Saturday, the Timken Museum is hosting a fabulous event for (oft neglected) local fashionistas. The Third Annual Art of Fashion event, featuring designs based on pieces from the Timken's collection, happens on Saturday. Brace yourselves and dress up real nice: Zandra Rhodes will make an appearance.

Did Comic-Con's departure leave you pining for gore, horror, and darkness? Come to the Birch North Park Theater evening of art, film, and theater for the annual Blacklist Arts and Film Festivall.