The pending rain shouldn't damper a weekend jam-packed with options. Here are my picks...
Film: Line Shot
Tonight the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is hosting the West Coast premiere of contemporary artist Matthew Ritchie's first feature-length film, "Line Shot." Ritchie describes "Line Shot" as “'Fantasia' for physicists.” It's an animated feature that follows the imaginary path of a single particle "shot" from the smallest sub-atomic scale to the final heat death. Screening is at 7pm.
Gingerbread Houses
Modern. Sleek. Cutting edge interiors. Exactly what I think of when I think...gingerbread houses! Apparently so do the designers and architects participating in The Gingerbread Collective at the Arclinea retail space on 5th and Laurel. Check out this mid-century modern gingerbread house by local sculptor Matt Devine. Too clever. Viewing and voting Thursday and Friday and gala event on Saturday. All proceeds go to support Second Chance.
Music: Fitz & The Tantrums
Also, on Friday, you can go see neo-soul band Fitz & The Tantrums at the Casbah. Check 'em out here.
Music: Handel's "Messiah"
You can always find a performance of Handel's "Messiah" this time of year but Orchestra Nova and Bach Collegium San Diego have partnered to bring you a special take on this classic. It's an early music performance, meaning the chorus and musicians will recreate the 18th century sound (Handel wrote "Messiah" in 1742). San Diego Museum of Art curated a presentation of classic religious art choreographed to the performance. Three performances at three different churches.
Gallery: Matt Stallings
Subtext gallery opens a show featuring the work of local pop surrealist Matt Stallings. The show is called "After the Bomb Popped" and the opening reception with live music is Friday from 7-11pm. Visit Stallings' world where candy and popsicles morph with pop culture. It's trippy stuff.
Open House: Conrad Prebys Theater Center
Theater lovers should take the opportunity to tour The Old Globe's new Conrad Prebys Theater Center on Saturday during the open house from 10am to 1pm. It's totally state-of-the-art, with a new fly loft and a fully trapped stage that can disappear. I just did the tour and you learn a lot about what it takes to make a production happen.
Outdoor: Biking
How about a leisurely bike ride through the city in your tweedy finery? It's the first annual San Diego Tweed Ride beginning at 3:30pm on Saturday at Velo Cult Bike Shop in South Park.
Beach: Tidepools
I've always wanted to do this but just haven't made the time - shame on me! The Birch Aquarium at Scripps is hosting tidepooling excursions with aquarium naturalists. Winter is an excellent time to explore tide pools because lower tides reveal wider beaches and pools teeming with native marine life, like little hermit crabs, sea hares and sea anemones. There are a number of tours scheduled, including one this Sunday.
Museum: Art & Music
This Saturday you can visit the Lux Art Institute for free from 11am-3pm. Bring the whole family and enjoy free tours of Susan Hauptman's exhibition, refreshments, a hands-on art project, and music from local bluesman Nathan James. Lux also has an interesting new retail space called Specimen, curated by Mark Quint and Adam Belt.
Music: Grant-Lee Phillips
Singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips plays Lestat's (in Normal Heights) on Sunday night - a warm, intimate space to spend your Sunday evening hearing great songwriting, storytelling and dry humor.
Theater: Red Rider Nails the Cleveland Street Kid
On Monday night, the folks from Write Out Loud will team up again with sound artist extraordinaire Scott Paulson to bring you "Red Rider Nails the Cleveland Street Kid." Based on the holiday favorite "The Christmas Story," the performance will be done in the style of old time radio. Performance is at 7pm at the Old Town Theater.
