Culture Lust Weekend: December Nights, 'Plaid Tidings' & Handmade Holiday Shopping

EVENTS

It’s that time of year. For the third consecutive year, Balboa Park is hosting December Nights! Estimated to attract over 300,000 visitors of all ages, this annual two night event (Friday and Saturday) boasts parades, food, shopping and FREE museum entrance!

Unearth Southern California’s secret past alongside Bobby Flash. Native San Diegan and local professor Jim Miller will be reading from his new book FLASH at San Diego City College this Saturday.

Known for her stylish stage presence, young poet/writer/designer Kate Durbin will be reading at Agitprop this Saturday. The evening will include an art opening and some gurlesque, so leave the little ones at home.

THEATER

‘Tis the season where hipsters aren’t the only one’s wearing plaid, so don your own festive wear and get to the Old Globe for Plaid Tidings - A Special Edition of Forever Plaid. The crooning quartet will be singing songs from the 50’s and 60’s with their usual plaid pizazz until December 26th.

This Christmas, a young boy asks for a doll, gets a truck, think’s he’s been bad and writes a letter of complaint to Santa, prompting Mr. Clause to recall his own doll-wishing days. Santa Clause is Coming OUT this weekend at Diversionary Theatre!

Kibitz with Marc Silver and Doug Dickerman over some kosher hash this weekend at “How do you spell Chanukah?” Attempting to solve long standing Jewish mysteries (but committed to noshing and storytelling along the way) Silver and Dickerman are set to make this Stage Show part dinner party, party comedy routine.

Adapted to film, and then to theater from the 1983 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Color Purple has been heralded across all three mediums. This “musical about love” is playing at the The Civic theater tomorrow through Sunday.

MUSIC

UCSD has started a new project to bring the arts to local San Diego students. The first concert of this program is tonight at UCSD’s Conrad Prebys and features Lincoln High School students, directed by Charles Curtis, performing everything from rap to dance to instrumental pieces. It’s free so be sure to go out and support young local talent.

Their jazz music infused with pan-african rhythms and hints of Indian classical music make the Raga Bop Trio a unique threesome in today’s instrumental scene. They’re performing their “refreshingly listenable” music tomorrow at The Loft.

Dizzy’s is reminding us this Sunday that “even in these times, romance survives.” Passionate and evocative tangos from Buenos Aires to Paris can heat up even the coldest of San Diego Decembers and that’s why we’re thrilled that Camarada just released a new CD Tango Nuevo. The band will be celebrating their new release with a performance alongside the Alma dance company.

Between Handel’s Messiah, Hanukkah music and traditional Christmas carols, the Holiday program at the Neuroscience institute is celebrating the season with the perfect blend of old favorites and new surprises. This Monday, help Westwind Brass bring in the season and bask in the holiday music.

ART

Handmade Holiday is hosting their first ever pop-up shop at Space 4 Art this Saturday! Eat snacks, drink cider, peruse the art and get your holiday shopping done early.

Lux’s white walls are getting a makeover by artist-in-residence David Humphrey, who you’ll remember from Culture Lust a few weeks back! It’s a big weekend for the Encinitas' art space because it’s FREE Saturday and Lux students are presenting their own artwork inspired by Humphrey, to the tune of free tours, music and food!