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Get ready for an experience like no other! Grioneers, Inc. proudly presents the 9th Annual Afrofuturism Lounge—where Black creativity, comics, culture, and innovation collide! Join us on July 23, 2026, during San Diego Comic-Con for an unforgettable evening of storytelling, visionary art, engaging conversations, and immersive experiences. Meet groundbreaking creators, celebrate Black speculative fiction, and help imagine the future we can build together. Every attendee will receive a FREE "DEFIANT" movie poster (a $15 value), while supplies last! Upgrade Your Experience – Only $40 Take your Afrofuturism Lounge experience to the next level with the Upgraded Afrofuturism Lounge Ticket, which includes: - General Admission - "DEFIANT" movie poster - "DEFIANT: The Story of Robert Smalls" softcover graphic novel That's more than $64 in combined value for just $40. Named to NPR's Books We Love 2025 and nominated for an NAACP Image Award, "DEFIANT" tells the extraordinary true story of Robert Smalls—a man who seized his freedom, rescued his family, and went on to serve five terms in Congress. A feature film is currently in development. Best of all, after the 8:30 p.m. fireside chat, upgraded ticket holders can have their graphic novel signed by Rob Edwards and Sebastian A. Jones at the Legion M booth. Limited upgraded bundles are available—reserve yours before they're gone Afrofuturism Lounge isn't just an event—it's a movement. Secure your tickets today and be part of the future. Visit AfrofuturismLounge.com for details. Don't miss it! Dr. LaWana Firyali Freedom Richmond on Instagram

Curated by Dinah Poellnitz Space 4 Art is pleased to present "PHOSPHENE," a group exhibition curated by Dinah Poellnitz and featuring the work of Bryttney-Mischele Salvant, Mark Chamness, Pastelle, and Akiko Surai. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. and remains on view through August 15, 2026, at Art Produce Gallery. Named for the phenomenon of seeing light without an external source, "PHOSPHENE" (phos·phene (noun)/ˈfäsˌfēn/) refers to the colors, patterns, and luminous sensations perceived behind closed eyes. The exhibition uses this phenomenon as a metaphor for artistic intuition, exploring the inner vision that emerges before conscious thought and the creative instincts that guide artistic practice. Developed through Poellnitz's curatorial residency with Space 4 Art, the exhibition began with a studio visit to S4A resident artist Bryttney-Mischele Salvant and expanded into a conversation among four artists whose practices embrace intuition, material exploration, and personal transformation. Though their approaches differ— from painting and fiber to illustration, embroidery, and found materials —they share a commitment to trusting the creative process before certainty. “There is a moment every artist knows and rarely names. It arrives somewhere between the first mark and the last, when the mind finally stops negotiating with the hand,” Poellnitz commented. “These artists did not plan their way to that moment. They surrendered to it. And in that surrender, something was made that could not have been made any other way.” Salvant's expressive paintings privilege emotional truth over technical perfection, while Mark Chamness transforms discarded plastic bags into richly textured fiber works that investigate color, place, and environmental memory. Pastelle's vibrant illustrations celebrate confidence, identity, and unapologetic self-expression through radiant color and fantastical imagery. Akiko Surai's embroidered and beaded sculptures draw from Black revolutionary thought and craft traditions across the African diaspora, creating works that speak to resilience, inheritance, and collective imagination. Together, these artists invite viewers to consider the moment when instinct overtakes intention—when making becomes less about knowing and more about trusting. "PHOSPHENE" celebrates the quiet inner light that artists follow and asks audiences to reflect on the creative spark that exists within us all. Exhibition Details Title: "PHOSPHENE" Curated by: Dinah Poellnitz Presented by: Space 4 Art Venue: Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave., San Diego Opening Reception: July 18 | 4-7 p.m. Closing Reception and Artist Talk: August 15 | 12-3 p.m. Exhibition Dates: July 18 - August 15 Gallery Hours: Fridays 1-7 p.m.; Saturdays 12-6 p.m.; and by appointment All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Space 4 Art's website (www.sdspace4art.org) or follow @space4artsd on social media. About the Curator: Dinah Poellnitz is an interdisciplinary curator and writer whose practice centers artists who work at the intersection of material experimentation, intuition, and cultural memory. Developed through her curatorial residency with Space 4 Art, PHOSPHENE reflects her ongoing interest in how artists transform personal vision into shared experience. About Space 4 Art: Space 4 Art is a San Diego-based nonprofit arts organization dedicated to supporting artists and strengthening the region’s cultural ecosystem by providing access to affordable creative spaces, artist opportunities, exhibitions, public programming, and community engagement.

In this practical and engaging workshop, Author Success Coach Jessica Barna shares the five keys that help authors stop spinning their wheels, make meaningful progress on their biggest goals, and build momentum that lasts. Attendees will identify where they’re getting stuck, uncover the hidden obstacles slowing them down, and leave with greater clarity, confidence, and a plan for moving forward. San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

Space 4 Art Presents "PHOSPHENE" Curated by Dinah Poellnitz Space 4 Art is pleased to present "PHOSPHENE," a group exhibition curated by Dinah Poellnitz and featuring the work of Bryttney-Mischele Salvant, Mark Chamness, Pastelle, and Akiko Surai. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. and remains on view through August 15, 2026, at Art Produce Gallery. Named for the phenomenon of seeing light without an external source, PHOSPHENE (phos·phene (noun)/ˈfäsˌfēn/) refers to the colors, patterns, and luminous sensations perceived behind closed eyes. The exhibition uses this phenomenon as a metaphor for artistic intuition, exploring the inner vision that emerges before conscious thought and the creative instincts that guide artistic practice. Developed through Poellnitz's curatorial residency with Space 4 Art, the exhibition began with a studio visit to S4A resident artist Bryttney-Mischele Salvant and expanded into a conversation among four artists whose practices embrace intuition, material exploration, and personal transformation. Though their approaches differ— from painting and fiber to illustration, embroidery, and found materials —they share a commitment to trusting the creative process before certainty. “There is a moment every artist knows and rarely names. It arrives somewhere between the first mark and the last, when the mind finally stops negotiating with the hand,” Poellnitz commented. “These artists did not plan their way to that moment. They surrendered to it. And in that surrender, something was made that could not have been made any other way.” Salvant's expressive paintings privilege emotional truth over technical perfection, while Mark Chamness transforms discarded plastic bags into richly textured fiber works that investigate color, place, and environmental memory. Pastelle's vibrant illustrations celebrate confidence, identity, and unapologetic self-expression through radiant color and fantastical imagery. Akiko Surai's embroidered and beaded sculptures draw from Black revolutionary thought and craft traditions across the African diaspora, creating works that speak to resilience, inheritance, and collective imagination. Together, these artists invite viewers to consider the moment when instinct overtakes intention—when making becomes less about knowing and more about trusting. "PHOSPHENE" celebrates the quiet inner light that artists follow and asks audiences to reflect on the creative spark that exists within us all. Exhibition Details: Title: "PHOSPHENE" Curated by: Dinah Poellnitz Presented by: Space 4 Art Venue: Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave., San Diego Opening Reception: July 18 | 4-7 p.m. Closing Reception and Artist Talk: August 15 | 12-3 p.m. Exhibition Dates: July 18 - August 15 Gallery Hours: Fridays 1-7 p.m.; Saturdays 12-6 p.m.; and by appointment All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Space 4 Art's website (www.sdspace4art.org) or follow @space4artsd on social media. About the Curator: Dinah Poellnitz is an interdisciplinary curator and writer whose practice centers artists who work at the intersection of material experimentation, intuition, and cultural memory. Developed through her curatorial residency with Space 4 Art, "PHOSPHENE" reflects her ongoing interest in how artists transform personal vision into shared experience. About Space 4 Art: Space 4 Art is a San Diego-based nonprofit arts organization dedicated to supporting artists and strengthening the region’s cultural ecosystem by providing access to affordable creative spaces, artist opportunities, exhibitions, public programming, and community engagement.

Four men. One bachelorette. The twist? The men can't speak. Instead, we'll call their moms and search their phones. As seen on NBC's California Live, The Tamron Hall Show, in LA Magazine, Time Out, and more. Apply to be a contestant, nominate friends, or just grab tickets to watch the chaos unfold: loveisntblind.com. Allison Goldberg on Instagram

A Charming Celebration of Stories, Community, and Impact Get ready for an unforgettable evening of connection, culture, and celebration. Now in its seventh year, #LatinaGeeks Day honors the history and impact of Latinas in tech and entrepreneurship, and this year’s signature event is a Charming Celebration where you’ll leave with a handcrafted keepsake to remember the night. We’re bringing community together to celebrate the creativity and impact that make #LatinaGeeks what it is, honoring everything we’ve built and everywhere we’re going. Join us for a high-energy night featuring a curated taco and beverage experience, music to keep the vibes going, and meaningful networking with professionals across industries. This is where culture meets community and connections turn into opportunity. Open to #LatinaGeeks members, allies, and supporters. Space is limited, so register soon.

For decades, the Tijuana River watershed has served as a vital ecological and community resource connecting communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Today, however, the region faces a growing environmental and public health crisis as untreated sewage, industrial pollutants, and contaminated stormwater flow through the watershed and into coastal communities. The impacts are far-reaching. Beach closures, public health concerns, environmental degradation, economic losses, and strained cross-border relationships have affected residents, businesses, and ecosystems throughout the San Diego-Tijuana region. While the challenges are significant, they also underscore the need for innovative solutions, regional cooperation, and sustained binational engagement. Join the San Diego World Affairs Council for a timely discussion exploring one of the most pressing transboundary issues facing our region today. Poisoned Waters: The Tijuana River Crisis and the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation will bring together leaders and experts from both sides of the border to examine the crisis from environmental, public health, community, economic, and binational perspectives. Together, panelists will explore the root causes of the crisis, the impacts on affected communities, current efforts to address the problem, and opportunities for greater collaboration among government agencies, community organizations, researchers, and residents. The conversation will also consider what the future of cross-border cooperation can and should look like as the region works toward long-term solutions. As San Diego and Tijuana continue to grow as an interconnected binational region, the health of the Tijuana River watershed serves as a powerful reminder that many of our greatest challenges—and opportunities—do not stop at the border. San Diego World Affairs Council on Facebook / Instagram

Artificial intelligence programs have been described in many ways, but perhaps the best way to understand how we can benefit as writers from the use of Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and others is to think of them as our sidekicks. Eager and helpful assistants that can do things faster and better than us as long as we give them the right instructions. This course is about which AI programs are the best for which tasks, what is possible with AI, and how to use it without crossing any ethical lines. You’ll learn how to benefit from AI when it comes to research and writing and how to design and produce amazing covers, websites, and marketing materials. AI can do things for a fraction of the cost and in the blink of an eye, including creating audio books, apps, and other complimentary (and lucrative) ancillary items. As promising as this sounds, we’ll also look at the ways in which we can lose authenticity and credibility if we take it too far. This is a hands-on, interactive, and solution-oriented program presented as a discussion and brainstorming session so we learn how to make the most of these powerful new tools to take our ideas, bring them to life, and get them out to the masses. Come with your questions and suggestions, and leave with a whole new way of working that opens up possibilities that weren’t available just a couple of years ago. San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

Place influences how we and our characters speak, what we eat, our influences and awareness; it shapes our beliefs, our values, and our moral choices. We cannot separate who we are from where we are or where we have been. History and memory are rooted in place and the map of our psyche and that of our characters is found in the geography of our past and in the present. Everything happens somewhere and readers want to know where that somewhere is, and how it influences the story. In this generative writing workshop, we’ll explore place through writing exercises and prompts. For writers of fiction, memoir, and personal narrative. San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

Most fiction authors think they’re struggling because they need more time, better marketing, more discipline, or a bigger audience. Usually, that’s not the real problem. The real problem is that every author who wants to make money from their books is actually trying to perform four very different jobs at the same time—and most authors are unknowingly neglecting at least one of them. In this highly interactive workshop, attendees will discover the four roles that exist inside every successful author business: The Storyteller, The Visionary, The Worker Bee, and The Manager. Through self-assessment, discussion, and real-world examples, authors will identify exactly where they’re strongest, where they’re struggling, and why they may feel stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated despite working hard. Then comes the fun part. Participants will choose their own adventure, diving into the role that needs the most attention and leaving with practical action steps tailored to their specific situation. This isn’t another marketing class. It’s a fresh way to understand your entire author career. Attendees leave with greater clarity, renewed motivation, and a personalized roadmap for becoming the CEO of their author business instead of feeling buried by it. San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram