Culture Lust Weekend: Mavis Staples, Graveyard Tours And San Diego Beer Week

EVENTS

It’s San Diego Beer Week and Stone Brewery is taking their job very seriously. Between the 15 different tasters, 45 rare beers, jazz trio and open buffet, Stone knows both how to make, and celebrate, all things BEER. Take a leaf out of the good brew’s book and hop over to the brewery this weekend - Friday for their Rare Beer Breakfast or - Sunday for Ultimate Beer and Chocolate.

For an atypical tour of Tijuana, look no further than Turista Libre. From yelling with old ladies at lucha libre matches to cheering on a Xoloitzcuintles game (Tijuana’s pro soccer team) this is not your typical fanny-pack-wearing day tour. This Saturday, Turista Libre is celebrating the passing of Dia de los Muertos with a visit to Puerta Blanca, Tijuana’s oldest cemetary. In keeping with their routine, the tour will feature a food and bar stop that relevant to the day’s theme.

Taste de Mixology, this weekends “Food & Cocktail Shakedown,” is pitting dinner and drink against each other atop the Hard Rock Hotel. Chef and Bartender teams will be battling it out in “10 Minutes to Ironhood” this Sunday, so bring your appetite and a discerning pallet and watch as the different delectables duke it out.

With Christmas decorations already out, we're entering into the gift-giving season. While this time of year usually means spoiling our friends and family, indulge yourself a little (without deflating your wallet) this Sunday at the W Hotel Clothing Swap and Party. Bring your clothing (gently worn trendy/vintage wear), grab a ticket and enjoy a full new wardrobe for a small price.

ART

Dr. Steampunk’s Art Extravaganza is just as titillating as it sounds. Industrial inventions mingle with Victorian art at the OMA this Friday at Art After Dark. Listen to local San Diego band Manganista while perusing the innovative art in the exhibition STEAMPUMK: VINTAGE FUTURISM, or make your own Steampunk sculpture while enjoying some of Lost Abbey’s handcrafted beer. If that’s not enough to have you hovercraft up to Oceanside in your best corset, Enigma Fashions is presenting a Steampunk Fashion Show and David Joseph Gough will be painting live. See Culture Lust's steampunk primer here.

We thought our coloring book days were over, but thanks to the new trend of interactive art, we were wrong. Tonight, the Athenaeum is letting the observers become the artists as they move out to the studio and hand us the paintbrushes. The A List: Paint by Numbers starts at 7:30 and will feature DJ MAHJESTIK and Starlite’s finger fare.

This Saturday, the San Diego Museum of Art is presenting Dreams and Diversions: 250 Years of Japanese Woodblock Prints. Travel, by way of woodblock, through the landscapes of Katsushika Hokusai and Ukiyo-e of Moronobu Hishikawa back to a younger Japan. Over 400 works will be detailing everything from Tokaido Road to Edo (today’s Tokyo) and will be on display until June.

Collectors and photographers alike will “shutter” at the opportunity to hear Carol McCusker speak at the Lyceum. The photographer, UCSD professor and former curator for the MoPA will speak tonight on contemporary photography practice. Through a unique pairing of photography and music, McCusker will focus on how to develop a vision and a creative output all through “knowing thyself.”

SDMA is featuring Raul Anguiano tonight during ArtStop. Best known for his paintings of women, murals and artistic depictions of the inter-workings of his country, Anguianos impressive paintings of the many generations of Mexico, will be brought to life during 15-minute staff-lead tours by some of the museum curators.

Tonight and tomorrow, listen to art historian and author John Walsh discuss The Stuart Collection: Campus as Sculpture Park. Tonight he will be at MCASD La Jolla and tomorrow he will be at UCSD as part of their “Art, Architecture and Urbanism in the Campus Context” series.

MUSIC

Coming off a lauded set at August’s Lollapalozza, Mavis Staples is making her way south west to show off her newest “anti-album,” You Are Not Alone. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (who you'll remember from The Staples Singers and Bob Dylan's “Gotta Change The Way I’m Thinking” and more) is bringing her spirited gospel-soul music to Belly Up tonight alongside bluesman, Charlie Musselwhite.

Tonight Massive attack is teaming up with Thievery Corporation at UCSD’s Rimac Arena. Head bob yourself into musical oblivion as the two duos collaborate for your pleasure.

Thirteen years ago, Julian Lage was deemed a “guitar prodigy.” Even though he was only 8 years old at the time, Lage’s bluesy, jazz style of guitar propelled him into the musical limelight and gained him a following that included the likes of Herbie Hancock. Tonight the Grammy nominee (Best Contemporary Jazz Album 2010) is playing at The Loft!

Our very own retired Padre, Tim Flannery, is back in action this Saturday. The third base coach who helped take The Padres to the World Series is also a singer/songwriter and will be performing at New Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad.

THEATER

SNL’s Julia Sweeny (you might remember her more fondly as “Pat”) is performing alongside singer/songwriter Jill Sobule this Saturday at The Loft. Between Souble’s love songs and Sweeny’s humorous candor, the two have an irresistible chemistry that warranted a road show. Aptly named, The Jill and Julia Show, see them Saturday night.

Continuing their tradition of bringing fresh new productions to San Diego’s theater scene, New Village Arts is hosting three world premieres this month during their November New Play Festival. I am The Machine Gunner and Picturing My Sister will be performed during the second and third weekends of this month and a new adaptation of an old favorite, A Christmas Carol, will help NVA usher in December over the weekend of the 26th.

FILM

Innovative programmers Spike & Mike are ushering in “A New Generation” of short films at the San Diego Festival of Animation held at The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla. For more on the festival, check out our Cinema Junkie blog for coverage.