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Experience the magic of Front Row Saturday, a free live performance series held in the cozy and intimate 215-seat Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium. This series celebrates the vibrant talent of emerging and established artists from San Diego and North County, offering an exciting mix of music, theater, dance and more. Enjoy an up-close and personal performance that brings creativity to life in a welcoming setting designed for connection and inspiration. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Talented multi-instrumentalist Dean Ratzman plays a variety of genres including swing, jazz, rock and soul from the 1940s through the 1980s.

Need a last-minute holiday gift? Paint a portrait of your furry friend and deck it out with pom poms, collage paper, foam stickers, and festive flair! All proceeds directly support ArtReach Studio Programs, bringing free and low-cost art opportunities to kids across San Diego. Make art, celebrate your furry friends, and help spark creativity in our community! $75 (drinks included) 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Doors open 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.: Workshop Visit: https://www.hisawyer.com/artreach/schedules/activity-set/1693156?day=2025-12-19&view=cal&source=activity-schedule ArtReach San Diego on Instagram and Facebook

Discover how sensory details can elevate your writing from ordinary to extraordinary in this lecture and workshop. Through immersive exercises focusing on each of the five senses, followed by practical editing techniques, you’ll learn to craft vivid, evocative descriptions and master the art of selective prose. Sensory details can transform a story from something mundane into something truly beautiful, but they can also be easily overwritten. In this lecture, we practice writing about each of our senses in turn, then discuss how to edit so that only the most compelling descriptions remain in our final draft. San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

San Diego artists reflect on the 2025 songs that moved, inspired and stayed with them.

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is more than simply putting flowers in a container. It is a disciplined art form that breathes life into each composition, harmonizing the elements of nature and humanity. Learn to create these stunning pieces of art that intertwine Japanese culture and the changing of the seasons. By end of the semester, you will have learned to design beautiful and professional looking arrangements for both everyday and special occasions. This class is free and open to the public. Contact Prof. Takeya at mtakeya@sdccd.edu for more information and to register. Audience: Adults, Seniors Location: Community Room Visit: https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/ikebana-floral-design-468767

Up-Cycling + Sustainable Fashion // Ideal for ages 8-12 Over the course of 6 weeks, young creators dive into the world of sustainable fashion and learn how to design with the planet in mind! This course introduces kids to the basics of eco-friendly fashion, showing them how to transform old or outgrown clothing into fresh, original pieces through up-cycling and thoughtful design. Each week brings a new theme—such as sketching and planning, simple stitching skills, creative mending, embellishment techniques, and building a final wearable project. Students will practice customizing a tote bag, refreshing denim, creating patches from scrap fabrics, and reimagining garments through their own personal style. Along the way, kids learn why sustainability matters in fashion, gaining awareness of waste, reuse, and conscious creativity. The class encourages problem-solving, confidence, and self-expression while giving students real design experience in a fun, supportive environment. By the end of the six weeks, every young designer will have a mini portfolio, several up-cycled creations, and a final wearable piece they’ve re-imagined and made themselves. No previous sewing or design experience required—just curiosity, creativity, and clothes ready for a second life! Parents are welcome to drop off their child for class or stay in our space during the class while students create. Feel free to choose what works best for you! Sample Class Format Week 1: Intro to Sustainable Fashion & Design Basics Week 2: Fabric Exploration & Simple Sewing Skills Week 3: T-Shirt Transformation Project Week 4: Denim Revival: Reinventing Jeans & Jackets Week 5: Final Project Design & Creation Week 6: Finishing Touches & Fashion Showcase! ArtReach San Diego on Facebook / Instagram

The San Diego Asian Film Festival showcases 150 films from 30 countries over the next 10 days.

Join us for Winter MKT, a daytime vendor market in partnership with Part Time Lover, In Sheep's Clothing, and We Share Records. The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is thrilled to announce the return of Winter MKT, a vibrant fusion of music and merchandise taking place on Sunday, December 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This curated selection of vendors from Southern California and the bi-national region will showcase the best in gifting for the winter season. All attendees will also receive free admission to the museum as it takes place on their Free Second Sunday. In addition to Japanese-themed records, food, drinks and goods, the event will feature a book signing with local artist Perry Vasquez from 2-3 p.m. According to Vasquez, “'25 Palm Trees in Paradise,' is a book that is not a book about a tree that is not a tree.” Its pages offer the viewer a survey of Vásquez’s “burning palm tree” paintings, created over the last ten years, that explore the palm’s many moods and manifestations. The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego on Facebook / Instagram

Join us on Saturday night, December 13, from 6–10 p.m. at Distinction Gallery in Escondido, California, for the opening reception of “Besties and Beasties,” a solo exhibit of new works by celebrated sculptor Valency Genis. Genis’ whimsical sculptures of creatures continue to delight art lovers, her strange and endearing works are sought by collectors all over the world. For more than 20 years, Distinction Gallery has been a beacon of the Southern California art scene, specializing in representational painting—ranging from surrealism and realism to figurative works. Guests aged 21 and over can also enjoy drinks available for purchase from Last Spot Bar during the event. Last Spot Bar has a curated selection of wine, beer, sake, cider and non-alcoholic options. The rest of the gallery will be open for view during the reception and guests are welcome to explore exhibits. Distinction Gallery, 317 E Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025 Valency Genis on Facebook / Instagram Distinction Gallery on Facebook

This weekend in the arts in San Diego: Digitally inspired art in Escondido, exploring "joy futurism," festive ska, a San Diego Scrooge, boat parades, Hanukkah and more.