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Join UC San Diego Library for their 25th Annual Toy Piano Festival at noon Sunday, Sept 30 in the Seuss Room of Geisel Library. Performers include Jim Chute, Kenneth Herman, Christian Hertzog, Scott Paulson, Barbara Scheidker and special guest Sue Palmer, known as “The Queen of Boogie-Woogie.” This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Fun Toy Piano Facts: The first composer to write a “serious” work for toy piano was John Cage, who visited the UC San Diego campus several times, including a two-week stay as a Regents lecturer in the 1980s. Alumnus Scott Paulson, who was on campus for Cage’s lectures, cites Cage’s influence as a major impetus for this festival, of which Paulson is the director. In 1999, a missing service bell at a Geisel Library help desk spawned a long streak of toy piano activity at UC San Diego. The bell was replaced by a playful, tiny keyboard and a sign: “Please play on toy piano for service.” And play they did! The resultant flurry of toy piano activity led to the establishment of The Toy Piano Collection at Geisel Library. The collection consists of actual instruments, commissioned scores, and existing literature and recordings. Most of the commissioned scores in the collection have been composed by UC San Diego alumni. In May 2001, the Library of Congress issued a subject heading and call number for toy piano scores because of the commissioning activities at Geisel Library. The collection can be viewed under the call number M 175 T69. Visit: https://calendar.ucsd.edu/event/25th-annual-toy-piano-festival UC San Diego Library on Instagram and Facebook

Join us for a celebration of CWSL Professor Shawn Fields’ latest book, "The New Public Safety: Police Reform and the Lurking Threat to Civil Liberties." Featuring: A welcome reception followed by guest speakers and book signing Books will be available for purchase at the event, or you may order ahead at: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/the-new-public-safety/paper Use promo code UCPSAVE30 at checkout for 30% off. Featured Speakers: Professor Jamelia Morgan, Northwestern University School of Law Professor Nadia Banteka, Florida State University College of Law California Western School of Law on Facebook / Instagram

Each week, the focus will be on some technical aspect of novel writing—from premise to point of view, plot & structure to methods of characterization. In addition to the weekly lesson, there will be curated readings and assignments which you may post for instructor feedback. Additionally, in the last two weeks, you will be allowed to post up to 2000 words of your work-in-progress for critique. This is a flexible course, which you can “do” at your own pace, though ideally you will follow along week by week. There are no live sessions and no Zoom, so if you have to miss a week or two, the lesson will still be there waiting for you when you come back! Visit: https://writeyourstorynow.org/classes-workshops/2025-10-03-write-that-novel-with-t-greenwood/ SD Writers Ink on Instagram and Facebook

Michelin-trained pastry chef and Netflix and Food Network star Christophe Rull will open his first namesake bakery, Christophe Rull Patisserie, at North City in San Marcos, CA on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Located at 251 North City Drive, Suite 121, the patisserie will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can expect Chef Christophe’s signature French pastries and breakfast items, blending refined French technique with his creative, approachable style. Pull-apart cinnamon rolls, buttery croissants, quiches, and handcrafted macarons will headline the menu, served in an inviting café designed by Sangita Wahi of We Design. The grand opening festivities will begin at 9 a.m. and include: -Ribbon Cutting Ceremony -Live DJ entertainment -Raffle giveaways featuring pastries, coffees, pastry classes, tasting experiences, gift cards, and more With a career spanning over 20 years, Chef Christophe has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens in France and held top roles at luxury hotels including Park Hyatt Aviara, where he grew to love San Diego and built a local following, and most recently, Hotel Bel-Air, where he led the pastry program that was ranked number 5 on The World’s 50 Best World Class Patisseries list in 2025. His work blends classical French training layered with a Southern California point of view. He has won several Food Network competitions, including Halloween Wars and Holiday Wars, and was featured in the reality television baking series Bake Squad on Netflix. Earlier this summer, he appeared on Food Network’s new series Super Mega Cakes, hosted by Duff Goldman. North City is a vibrant community that offers a curated collection of housing, shopping, dining, offices, public art, family entertainment, community events, and everything in between. Come visit and enjoy a diverse retail mix, including A Lo Fresco, Buona Forchetta, Copa Vida, Draft Republic, J Brix Wines, Maya’s Cookies, Mesa Rim, Milonga Empanadas, Umami Japanese, Union CoWork, Wynston’s Ice Cream, the weekly San Marcos Farmers Market, and more coming soon. Visit: https://www.instagram.com/christopherullpatisserie/?hl=en Christophe Rull on Instagram and Facebook

Join San Diego based author Calvin Naraghi for a special meet and greet and book signing. Calvin will be signing copies of his gothic horror thriller "The House Rules," a recent bestseller in suspense and science fiction. Praised for its slow-burn suspense with the pace of a thriller, Naraghi's debut invites readers to enter Blythorne manor, where secrets hide behind every corner and horrors below every floorboard. Come chat with the author, grab a personalized copy, and learn about the upcoming sequel, "The Family Rites", set to release this fall. Visit: https://www.instagram.com/calvinnaraghi_writer/ Calvin Naraghi on Instagram and Facebook

Imagine a place where the thrill and joy of dance is truly accessible to all — this is the heart of Dynamic Inclusive Dance (DID, an expansion of WDO Wheelchair Dancers Organization). Every year, DID/WDO hosts an annual showcase fundraiser to share their talented dancers with the greater San Diego dance/arts community while raising critical funds to support their mission-driven work. This year’s SHINE + SOAR Showcase features choreographic themes of joy and hope! Join us in fundraising to celebrate 17 YEARS of artistic empowerment through the transformative power of inclusive dance! - Who: Dynamic Inclusive Dance (Wheelchair Dancers Organization) performers - What: SHINE + SOAR 2025 Showcase Fundraiser - When: Sunday October 05, 2025 (12 p.m - 3 p.m., 11 a.m. doors open) - Where: Champion Ballroom Academy (4255 Ruffin Rd #200, San Diego, CA 92123) - Tickets: $15 at the door – but visit our website for discount ticket deals! - Website: https://www.DynamicInclusiveDance.org DID/WDO notable performances include the San Diego County Fair and Jason Mraz Foundation’s Kaleidoscope. DID/WDO offers classes (in-person and online) in styles such as Ballroom, Latin, Bollywood, Hip Hop, Afro-Caribbean Fusion, Ballet, and more – and DID/WDO continues to provide reduced-cost access to our inclusive classes through scholarships and tuition waivers! Visit our website for our class schedule: www.DynamicInclusiveDance.org DID/WDO has been offering inclusive, physically integrated movement opportunities to all ages, abilities, and mobilities since 2008. Our story began with Beverly Weurding, who was 55 when she was diagnosed with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. In order to continue pursuing her lifelong passion for dance, Beverly founded Wheelchair Dancers Organization to create and share inclusive classes and performance opportunities with the greater disabled community. DID/WDO’s artistic empowerment continues to impact hundreds of lives today. Wheelchair Dancers Organization is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Wheelchair Dancers Organization on Facebook Dynamic Inclusive Dance on Instagram

A Night of Flamenco Music and Dance with Caminos Flamencos Featuring Master Guitarist Jason McGuire and Emmy Winning Dancer/ Choreographer Yaelisa with Special Guest Vocalists & Dancers Reyes Barrios and Stephanie Pedraza An evening of traditional flamenco with internationally recognized masters in the art of flamenco. Caminos Flamencos led by Jason and Yaelisa have produced some of the most creatively innovative productions in flamenco dance and music on the West Coast, influencing the development of flamenco across the U.S. and bringing some of Spain’s greatest artists to stages in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and throughout the Coast. Yaelisa curated the very first international flamenco festival in California, the New World Flamenco Festival, from 2001-2015 which set the stage for other festivals that followed in her footsteps. This power duo continues to delve deeply into the art as they have done for 30 years, with Jason now a masterful luthier building custom flamenco guitars, and one he will play this evening. Their time in the Bay Area was incredibly prolific, in both training and creating new artists to this genre, and in the level and depth of their many performances. They are thrilled to bring with them a San Diego-based artist, singer/dancer Reyes Barrios, originally from Sevilla, and Stephanie Pedraza, a Canadian flamenco artist travelling on the Coast. Post-performance there will be a Q&A with the artists taking questions and discuss the art and all things flamenco! Caminos Flamencos on Facebook

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Emmy-nominated journalist, public media host, and filmmaker Elsa E. Sevilla is spotlighting her debut book, "Camera Ready: From Hardship to the Spotlight." Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online, the book traces her journey from an uprooted childhood to becoming a pathfinder in university, journalism, business, and documentary filmmaking. Sevilla’s story began in Mexico, where at just five years old her father’s near-fatal accident in San Diego forced the family to relocate. While he fought for his life in the ICU, Sevilla and four of her siblings were placed in a shelter—an experience that marked her life until this day. Starting over in a new country, Sevilla faced the challenges of being a first-generation student with no mentors outside her home. Through instinct, determination, volunteerism, and a passion for storytelling, she turned pain into power. After 18 years as a broadcast journalist, she founded Sevilla Productions, LLC, and launched the Emmy-nominated KPBS/PBS series HISTORIC PLACES WITH ELSA SEVILLA, producing more than 80 documentaries that highlight San Diego’s history and overlooked stories of women and people of color. Today, she is a keynote speaker and author. “My passion for storytelling and history became my compass,” Sevilla said. “When we moved to the U.S., I lost my sense of identity. As I got older, I reconnected with my heritage and found my purpose. 'Camera Ready' is about turning pain into power and showing how our stories root us in where we come from while guiding us to our future.” Sevilla believes history is vital to who we are. Research shows that when students see themselves in culturally relevant curriculum, their engagement can rise by more than 30%. Yet Latinas/os make up just 8% of U.S. authors and Latina filmmakers less than 1%. Through books and film, Sevilla works to preserve culture, strengthen identity, and inspire the next generation to lead and create. *UPCOMING SCREENING & BOOK SIGNING - SPECIAL EVENT AT THE HOTEL DEL CORONADO Join Elsa Sevilla on Sept. 25, 2025, for a special screening and book signing at the historic Hotel del Coronado. Guests will enjoy an exclusive showing of her latest Historic Places episode documenting the resort’s six-year restoration and revitalization, followed by a Q&A and book signing where Sevilla shares behind-the-scenes stories of this landmark project. View the event on Facebook Instagram / TikTok

This is a 6-week course from September 16 - October 21, 2025. Students will learn the essentials of hand sewing while gaining confidence in their technical abilities. Throughout the six weeks, they’ll practice foundational skills, from safety and stitching basics to idea development, as they create functional and decorative pieces. The class wraps up with a final sewing project that highlights their growth and creativity. Visit: https://www.hisawyer.com/artreach/schedules/activity-set/1605041?day=2025-09-16&view=cal&source=activity-schedule ArtReach San Diego on Instagram and Facebook

In December 1846, the largest battle of the US-Mexico War in California occurred about 30 miles north of Old Town, in the San Pasqual Valley near today’s San Diego Zoo Safari Park. American and Mexican forces struggled for control of Alta California and the battle paved the way to the eventual Mexican surrender near Los Angeles, a month later. As part of the broader war from 1846 to 1848, the action near San Diego secured control of Upper California for the United States and ensured its inclusion as part of the land ceded to the United States by Mexico in 1848 under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. 175 years ago, in 1850, California became the 31st state. David Miller received his PhD from the University of California, San Diego in 2007. His research focus is the social and cultural history of the nineteenth-century United States. David has been with USD since 2005, offering a range of upper and lower-division courses including The Civil War and Reconstruction, The Civil War and Reconstruction in Popular Culture, US Immigration History, California History, A History of Race and San Diego, US History to 1877, and Race and Ethnicity in the American Experience. Miller received the 2017 Faculty Award for Exceptional Teaching, the 2019 Center for Educational Excellence "Best Attendance" award, and in 2020 the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture travel grant to explore the history of immigration in San Francisco and New York City from a Catholic perspective. He is the History Department's internship program coordinator. David also serves as the co-editor of The Journal of San Diego History, a joint venture with the San Diego History Center, and can be found on any given day out and about exploring our city. Visit: https://coronado.librarycalendar.com/event/sv-hold-38399