Search results for

The series concludes on June 21 with the return of the Melissa Aldana Quartet, with Aldana on tenor sax, Fabian Almazan on piano, Pablo Menares on bass, and Kush Abadey on drums. Aldana’s last Athenaeum performance was in March 2020, when she played music from her album "Visions" for Frida Kahlo, which earned her a first-ever GRAMMY nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. Her program this June will feature music from her 2024 release on Blue Note Records, Echoes of the Inner Prophet. A native of Chile, Aldana moved to the United States to attend Berklee College of Music. In 2013, at age 24, she became the first female instrumentalist and the first South American musician to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Her latest album explores a fascinating paradox. As Aldana explains, it reflects her “personal journey, with an especially introspective point of view. The inner prophet is my own self, now older, who has the knowledge and the intuition and the truth about what my path should be. So, it’s this idea of connecting with that inner prophet,” she continues, “which reveals things about myself, including those things I don’t like.” At the same time, this deeply intimate, searching project is a celebration of collaboration and community. It documents the evolution of her quartet, capturing the collective insight they’ve garnered after extensive touring and travel, and arguing for their place among the most incisive working groups in jazz today. Visit: https://www.ljathenaeum.org/events/jazz-25-0621 Melissa Aldana on Instagram and Facebook

On Thursday, August 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., join Hasta Mañana Cantina for a Paint and Vino Night! This guided painting will feature two palm trees over a moonlit beach. No experience necessary, Artist Erin Schroeder will guide you through painting as you sip and snack on your favorite Hasta Mañana Cantina drinks and dishes. Tickets are $45 each and include all supplies needed to craft your next masterpiece! Happy hour is available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., so stop in early for $7 draft beers, $8 wine by the glass, and $8 margaritas alongside $5 street tacos and ceviche tostadas and $10 ½ orders of nachos. Painting and Vino on Facebook / Instagram

Come celebrate community, culture & connection at “Together We Dance!“ – a free dance showcase brought to you by L5 Productions Join us on Saturday, May 18 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the City Heights Performance Annex for an inspiring afternoon of rhythm, movement, and unity. Dancers of all backgrounds come together to share the joy of dance and the power of solidarity through art. Experience performances showcasing Middle Eastern dance, Fusion and more including a special live Middle Eastern music segment! Admission is free (suggested donation: $10 — but no one is turned away). All are welcome! Bring your friends, your family, and your love for dance. City Heights Performance Annex 3795 Fairmount Ave, San Diego, CA 92105 May 18 | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. (Doors 1:30 p.m.) Together we dance. Together we rise. Cast: - Arabina Dance Company - Ale Faryat - Claudia Peña - Desert Mirage Dancers (Linda Medea Marshall) - Glitter Dance Company (Zahra Bryant) - Hypzotiq - Matisse - Natasha Lee - Rachel Rene George - w/Master Oudist Fouad Sawa - Salimpour Collective San Diego - San Diego Ballet - San Diego Belly Dance Ensemble - Troupe Royale; Bellydance San Diego, CA. - Vilia Bouilly Visit: https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/salimpourarabina-dance-performance-431519

The 37th Annual Balboa Park Pow Wow returns on May 10 and May 11 in Balboa Park (the corner of Park Blvd. and President’s Way). This free, family-friendly event is open for all to experience a weekend full of tradition, vibrant performances, and cultural pride. The community is invited to experience the richness of Native American heritage through music, dance, art, and community connection. Native singers, drummers, and dancers from throughout the Southwest will gather to practice their traditions in their beautiful regalia. Pow Wows are a spiritual experience for American Indians and an opportunity to preserve and pass on the customs and traditions which keep Native heritage alive. Each day, the Pow Wow will showcase traditional activities such as Kumeyaay Bird Singing, Gourd Dancing, Inter-Tribal Dancing, and Honoring of community leaders. There will also be dozens of local vendors and food booths serving delicious fry bread and other Native American dishes. Native artists will have beautiful hand-crafted items for purchase, such as jewelry, clothes, blankets, art, and more. Saturday’s honoring will be dedicated to the United States Military for their service, and Sunday’s honoring will be dedicated to all the mothers and grandmothers in celebration of Mother's Day. Congressman Scott Peters will be speaking at the event on Saturday to speak on SDAIHC’s impactful service to the community. The Pow Wow is hosted by San Diego American Indian Health Center (SDAIHC). As a community clinic, SDAIHC serves all San Diegans regardless of ethnicity, age, or background. The center promotes excellence in healthcare and welcomes new patients to join its diverse community. SDAIHC aims to reduce the significant health disparities in San Diego’s under-served populations, and brings hope, resilience, and healing to the thousands that are served yearly. To learn more about volunteering, vendor information, donations, or other general information, visit www.sdaihc.org/powwow/ or contact Paula Brim at paula.brim@sdaihc.org San Diego American Indian Health Center on Facebook / Instagram

Art Produce Gallery in North Park will host a special artist talk featuring the four San Diego-based African American visual artists currently showcased in the exhibition "Lineage + Inheritance." Curated by Kamaal Martin of Art, Power, Equity in partnership with UCSD’s Black Studies Project and Art Produce, "Lineage + Inheritance" presents a trans-generational dialogue between established artists Andrea Rushing and Jean Cornwell alongside emerging talents Mensah Bey and Domonique King. The exhibition, which opened March 13 and runs through April 19, 2025, features new works that frame particular generational perspectives on contemporary issues and the life and liberation of Black people. The artists work across diverse media: Rushing primarily with oil on canvas, Cornwell presenting hand-embellished acrylic prints on paper, Bey creating acrylic paintings oncanvas, and King exploring wood, metal, yarn and textiles. "This exhibition reflects a Black aesthetic grounded in community participation, artistic innovation, and liberation," says curator Kamaal Martin. "These concepts have been explored by artists, scholars, and activists throughout the long history of Black art practices in the Americas." The artist talk offers a rare opportunity to hear these four distinctive creative voices in live conversation, discussing their artistic processes, influences, and the themes that connect their work across generations. Visit: https://www.artproduce.org/lineage-and-inheritance.html Art Produce on Facebook / Instagram

Bazaar del Mundo’s Latin American Market features handmade textiles, pottery and jewelry for sale. Artists also demonstrate their woodcarving, painting and weaving skills.

This poetry workshop explores how writing can serve as a powerful tool for self-reflection, growth, expression, and comfort. Through examples of original work, participants will see how poetry can help navigate challenges, capture emotions, gain clarity, and express joy. The first 45 minutes will focus on understanding the impact of poetry and its connection to personal experiences. Participants will then have 45 minutes to write, using prompts designed to inspire creativity and self-expression. The session will conclude with an opportunity to share work, offer constructive feedback, and engage in a collaborative critique to support growth as poets and individuals. Join us for a chance to explore, create, and connect through the art of poetry! Visit: https://writeyourstorynow.org/classes-workshops/2025-05-03-exploring-themes-in-our-lives-through-poetry/ SD Writers Ink on Instagram and Facebook

Stream now with KPBS Passport / Watch Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at 1 p.m. on KPBS TV. In San Diego, celebrate the tapestry of Asian communities that call this seaside city home. Chefs Phillip Esteban, David Sim and Holly Haines introduce host Alex Thomopoulos to the bounty the ocean and local farms have to offer, creating dishes with their own colorful spin on Asian cuisine. At the Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center, the table is set for a bright and bold Asian-inspired feast.

Premieres Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / KPBS+. The documentary explores the groundbreaking legacy of Cincinnati's King Records. Founded in 1943 by Syd Nathan, King Records played a central role in shaping American popular music - from rock 'n' roll to soul and funk - while operating as one of the few fully integrated businesses in a segregated America.

Alysia Abbott's memoir about growing up in 1970s San Francisco with her gay, single father, has been adapted into a film directed by Andrew Durham and produced by Sofia Coppola.