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Mainly Mozart – the San Diego nonprofit behind the acclaimed Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival – today announced the return of its Wine Pairing Series, following the enthusiastic response to its 2024 debut. Presented by Jean-Charles Boisett Wineries, this year’s series features four concertmasters across four weekends of performances, an expansion from last year’s three, and adds Saturday concerts alongside Sundays. The series will again be hosted at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. The 2025/2026 series showcases four of America’s leading concertmasters: Jun Iwasaki of the Kansas City Symphony (Nov. 15–16, 2025), Nurit Bar-Josef of the National Symphony (Jan. 10–11, 2026), Nathan Cole of the Boston Symphony (Feb. 21–22, 2026), and Frank Huang of the New York Philharmonic (April 11–12, 2026). The Mainly Mozart Wine Pairing Series events begin with an open hors d'oeuvres reception before audiences are seated for an intimate concert and tasting experience. Each piece on the program is paired with curated wines, chosen to mirror the style and emotion of the music. Wines are poured and selection commentary is provided before each musical work, setting the stage for a multi-sensory experience. Tickets are available at www.mainlymozart.org/wine-series. Seating is limited and early purchase is recommended. 2025/2026 Wine Pairing Series Lineup - Kansas City Symphony November 15 and 16, 2025 - Jun Iwasaki, Concertmaster - Sean Chen, Piano - National Symphony January 10 and 11, 2026 - Nurit Bar-Josef, Concertmaster - Loewi Lin, Cello - Erich Heckscher, Bassoon - Boston Symphony February 21 and 22, 2026 - Nathan Cole, Concertmaster - Steve Ansell, Principal Viola - Blaise Dejardin, Principal Cello - New York Philharmonic April 11 and 12, 2026 - Frank Huang, Concertmaster - Cynthia Phelps, Principal Viola Concert Times Saturdays: 5 p.m. Wine Reception | 6 p.m. Wine Pairing Event Begins Sundays: 4 p.m. Wine Reception | 5 p.m. Wine Pairing Event Begins Mainly Mozart® on Facebook / Instagram

Mainly Mozart – the San Diego nonprofit behind the highly acclaimed Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival – is honored to announce Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., MBA, Professor, President and CEO of La Jolla Institute for Immunology, is the 2025 San Diego Genius Award honoree. Dr. Sapphire will be recognized Oct. 18 at the Genius Awards Dinner at the Westgate Hotel. Tickets are available now at mainlymozart.org/genius. Since 2015, the Genius Award has celebrated extraordinary individuals whose contributions span science, technology, and the arts, enrich the community, and embody “Genius in the Spirit of Mozart.” Saphire joins past recipients Dr. Irwin Jacobs (2015), Dr. Andrew Viterbi (2016), Dr. Walter Munk (2017), Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn (2018), Chancellor Pradeep Khosla (2019), Susan Tousi (2022), Dr. David Brenner (2023), and Dr. Al Pisano (2024). This year’s Genius Award Selection Committee members included Martha Dennis (chair), Steve Hart (chair), Irwin Jacobs, Joel Buxbaum, and David Brenner. Dr. Saphire’s pioneering research at La Jolla Institute for Immunology has unraveled the molecular mechanisms by which viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, and SARS-CoV-2 infect human cells and evade immune defenses. Under her leadership, teams have solved the high-resolution structures of multiple viral glycoproteins, guided global vaccine design efforts, and spearheaded the collaborative consortia—including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation–supported CoVIC initiative and the NIAID Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium—that united scientists across five continents in life-saving immunotherapeutic research, closing the critical gap between scientific breakthroughs and real-world medical interventions. Recognizing another crucial research gap, Dr. Saphire recently launched a groundbreaking institute-wide initiative focused on uncovering sex-based differences in the immune system. Dr. Saphire’s work has been recognized at the White House with the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, with young investigator awards from the International Congress of Antiviral Research, the American Society for Microbiology, the MRC Centre for Virus Research in the United Kingdom, and the California Life Sciences Pantheon Award for Academia and Marion Spencer Fay Award. She has been awarded a Fulbright Global Scholar fellowship from the United States Department of State and a Mercator Fellowship from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, to develop international collaborations using cryoelectron microscopy to further global health. Tickets for the gala support Mainly Mozart’s artistic and educational programs, including the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra, the All-Star Orchestra Festival and Mainly Mozart’s music education initiatives and community outreach programs, including its long-term partnership with Art of Autism. Mainly Mozart® on Facebook / Instagram

Join us for an evening of creativity and relaxation! We’ll begin with a grounding sound bath session to melt away stress and open your senses, followed by a hands-on floral arrangement workshop where you’ll design your own take-home bouquet. All materials and light refreshments are provided. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow, or anything that helps you feel cozy and supported. Savvy Staci on TikTok / Instagram

"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920; NR; Horror/Mystery) The Hausmann Quartet will perform Stephen Prutsman’s original, live music with a screening of this classic silent film! San Diego Public Library on Instagram

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Craft Camp for Preschoolers! In this half-day Craft Camp, preschoolers will explore craft making and corn! First Nations Peoples of North America have been masters of art and craft for thousands of years. One very humble but beautiful craft is their functional arts using corn and corn husks. After corn is ripened and harvested it needs to be fully dried. To do this the husks were carefully braided to form a long strong strand. The braided strands were then hung in their dwellings for safe keeping. A side benefit is the braids are beautiful works of art that doubles as a highly nutritious food for later use. Another creative use for some of the leftover corn husks is corn husk figures. These could vary from female dolls with colorful dresses to stout men figures with traditional simple clothing. These figures could be for children’s play toys or ceremonial gatherings. In this class children will be corn shelling and creating corn husk figures. Children will take corn husk figures and a bag of shelled corn that can be used to make corn bread or planted next spring. • Military, first responders and sibling discounts. • Scholarships available. • If this class is full, join the Interest List to be notified. San Diego Craft Collective on Facebook / Instagram

Join us for some good old fashioned -- and kind-of messy-- FUN during our annual Halloween-themed Pumpkin Chunkin’ celebration at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. You can wear your favorite costume as you construct a catapult to launch candy pumpkins. Try to land your pumpkin safely or use our 3D pens to make creepy sculptures. You can even drive our new robot ghouls! Pumpkin Chunkin’ takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of and inside the Museum. In one of our favorite annual traditions, we will be doing our famous pumpkin drop – some WITH parachutes, and some WITHOUT – from the roof of the Museum during our “scientific exploration.” When: Saturday Oct 11, 10 a.m. to 1p.m. Where: San Diego Air and Space Museum - 3D Printing Spider Webs - Decorate a Sphero Ghost and Maneuver it around - Launch your own Pumpkin from a Catapult - Safely land your cargo by building a Parachute - Watch as we launch Pumpkins from the Roof of the Museum Pumpkin Chunkin’ is included with admission to the Museum. As a reminder, October is our Kid’s Free Month, so up to two kids under the age of 12 get in free with one adult admission. San Diego Air & Space Museum on Facebook / Instagram

The Department of Visual Arts at UC San Diego welcomes iris yirei hu as the 2025 Longenecker-Roth Artist in Residence. iris is a multidisciplinary journey-based artist from Los Angeles who works across paintings, installations, intercultural collaborations, writing, and public art. She roots her art practice in processes of material and spiritual transformation, as evidenced in labor intensive pieces and installations that explore the subterranean realms of grief and loss, cycles of life and death, the earthly and the otherworldly, and the infinitely evolving self. Central to her practice is working across territories and peoples, through which she investigates how geography, kinship, and the sacred are reflected in cultural technologies and ecological practices. A lifelong learner, she has undertaken rigorous study of ceramics, weaving, and papermaking by being in community with culture bearers and experts, and proposes that the preservation of craft is integral to bridging cultural, geographic, and generational divides. In 2022, LA Metro commissioned iris to design a large-scale mosaic artwork for the future UCLA/Westwood Purple Line Metro Station slated to open for the 2028 Summer Olympics. She has exhibited at the Armory Center for the Arts (Pasadena, CA); Center for Arts, Research, and Alliances (New York, NY); Museum of Contemporary Art (Tucson, AZ); Plug In Institute for Contemporary Art (Winnipeg, MB, Canada); John Michael Kohler Arts Center (Sheboygan, WI); Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery; among many other venues. Notable awards and residencies include: John Michael Kohler Arts Center Arts/Industry Artist-in-Residence in Pottery (2025), Meztli Projects Cultural Worker Fellowship (2024), California Community Foundation Fellowship for Visual Artists (2022), Headlands Center for the Arts Artist-in-Residence (2022), California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship (2021), and Foundation for Contemporary Arts (2020 & 2018). UC San Diego Visual Arts on Facebook / Instagram

Select dates in December! Get ready to embark on a magical journey as Coastal Christmas returns to the enchanting Del Mar Fairgrounds from Thursday, December 12 - 26! This year, families, friends, and couples looking for a festive night out are invited to experience a reimagined seaside celebration that shimmers with Millions of lights, melodies, and holiday joy. Immerse yourself in the wonder of the expanded Holiday Light Trail, glide on our sparkling Glice® skating rink, and discover treasures at our thriving Holiday Market. Sip and savor your way through the Holiday Wine Walk, capture unforgettable moments with Santa and his merry friends, and let the little ones bask in the joy of Frosty’s Fun Zone, all just moments away from the beautiful Pacific Ocean! Delightful seasonal food and beverages will be available throughout the venue to keep your spirits bright. Tickets are on sale now at coastalchristmasdelmar.com, starting at $26.98 for adults and $20.61 for kids on select nights. Returning by popular demand, the Holiday Wine Walk has been expanded to be a nightly delight for the 21+ crowd! Stroll through the twinkling lights with a souvenir tasting cup, sampling exquisite pours at various stops throughout the venue. Families will find endless opportunities for fun and togetherness. Santa and his merry friends will arrive nightly at 5 p.m. (on December 26, Santa returns to the North Pole, but his cheerful helpers will still be on hand), offering complimentary smartphone photo opportunities for families and friends. The little ones will love bouncing and playing in Frosty’s Fun Zone, while teens and adults can glide on the Glice® rink and indulge in seasonal snacks and sips before exploring the wonder of the light trail and market. For those seeking a cozy and private experience, reserve your own Igloo or Fire Pit Table, complete with personal drink service. Don’t miss out on the ultimate holiday tradition, join us at Coastal Christmas for a magical experience that will create cherished memories for years to come!

The Most "Instagramable" Pumpkin Patch in San Diego! Family Friendly Maze! Fall fun for the whole family! Looking for family activities this fall or wondering about the best things to do in San Diego this fall season? You’ve found the right place! Step into our Pumpkin Patch Maze, where laughter echoes through hay bale corridors and smiles are guaranteed at every turn. This event is designed as the ultimate pumpkin patch for kids and families, blending classic fall fun with creative twists that your little ones will talk about for weeks. Hay Bale Maze Adventure Navigate through our towering maze made from real straw bales! With twists, turns, and surprise discoveries around every corner, this kid-friendly challenge is perfect for adventurers of all ages. Pumpkin Hay Bowling Strike up some fun with our unique twist on bowling! Roll real pumpkins toward giant wooden pins in this hilarious game that combines autumn harvest with classic arcade fun. Harvest Game Station Test your aim at our ring toss and cornhole stations, beautifully decorated with fall harvest themes. These classic games get a seasonal makeover that's perfect for friendly family competition. Bounce House Bonanza Let the kids bounce away their energy in our festive inflatable bounce house! Decorated with fall colors and autumn motifs, it's the perfect place for endless giggles and active play. Nese Kids Care on Facebook / Instagram

Audy McAfee is an arts and culture reporter at KPBS and a 2025 California Local News fellow. She covers topics ranging from the history of drag to incarcerated peoples rights.