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Have you ever wanted to explore Sephardic heritage, learn the unique language of the Spanish Jews, or simply try something new and enriching? Join our Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) Course for Beginners! What to Expect: - Learn to speak, read, and understand basic Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) - Read Ladino in both Latin and (a little) Rashi script - Discover Sephardic culture through proverbs, songs, and traditions - Study at a comfortable pace – no prior knowledge required! Whether you’re a student, a language lover, or looking to reconnect with your family roots – this course is for you. When: Mondays, October 20 – November 24, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Costs: Early bird (if registered before October 6): 6 classes for $250 Regular Registration: 6 classes for $300 Teacher: Agnieszka August-Zarębska She is an assistant professor in the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at the University of Wrocław, Poland. She has a degree in Spanish Studies and her current research interests include contemporary Ladino poetry, contemporary literary translations into Ladino and Sephardic children’s literature. She also worked on critical editions of the early 20th century Judeo-Spanish literature. Yiddishland California on Facebook

A free 20 minute breakfast lecture series for our creative community. Join us for coffee, donuts, and inspiration every last Friday of the month. Claire Johnson is CEO of San Diego Magazine and SDM Studios, and co-founder of Del Mar Wine and Food Festival. She and her husband, Troy, acquired the media company in 2021–it has now been in business for 76 years. Originally from New York, she graduated from Loyola University with a journalism degree. Claire started her media career at NBCUniversal, where she worked in advertising and helped develop its Peacock platform before acquiring San Diego Magazine. Also a published photographer in publications like Vogue (and, of course, San Diego Magazine), Claire and her family live in Ocean Beach, San Diego. CreativeMornings San Diego on Facebook / Instagram

Have you completed a beginner Ladino course and want to go further? Or perhaps you have a basic knowledge of Spanish? Join our next-level Ladino course and keep exploring the rich language and culture of Sephardic Jews! What to Expect: - Expand your vocabulary and improve your speaking skills - Read longer texts in Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) – in both Latin and (a little) Rashi script - Discover Sephardic proverbs, stories, and traditional songs - Learn basic grammar structures and everyday expressions This course is designed for learners who have completed a beginner-level Ladino course or have basic knowledge of Ladino or Spanish. When: Mondays, February 9 – March 23, 2026 (no class on March 2) 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Costs: Early bird (if registered before January 26): 6 classes for $250 Regular Registration: 6 classes for $300 Teacher: Agnieszka August-Zarębska She is an assistant professor in the Taube Department of Jewish Studies at the University of Wrocław, Poland. She has a degree in Spanish Studies and her current research interests include contemporary Ladino poetry, contemporary literary translations into Ladino and Sephardic children’s literature. She also worked on critical editions of the early 20th century Judeo-Spanish literature. Yiddishland California on Facebook

Step into a rich, resonant world of jazz when the Rob Thorsen Trio brings their signature blend of swing, soul, and sophistication to the Coronado Public Library’s Winn Room on Friday, August 22, at 1 p.m. Led by acclaimed bassist Rob Thorsen—a mainstay of the Southern California jazz scene and a passionate jazz educator—the trio features the expressive, rhythm-savvy drumming of Richard Sellers and the eloquent, genre-spanning pianism of Melonie Grinnell. Admission is free, and seating is open— come early, settle in, and let the music carry you away. Whether jazz is your passion or a new discovery, this concert offers a welcoming space to unwind and experience something truly special. Bassist Rob Thorsen maintains a diverse and busy schedule in Southern California as a performer, educator, clinician and composer. After playing classical guitar, flute, saxophones, tuba and electric bass as a youth, he found his true voice in the upright bass. He performs regularly as a leader, and with artists including the Gilbert Castellanos Quintet, Mike Wofford/ Holly Hofmann Quartet, Charles McPherson, Steph Johnson, Voices of Our City Choir and others. He has released six recordings as a leader, the most recent "Bass is the Space - Solos and Duos" featured an array of jazz talents including Gilbert Castellanos, Marshall Hawkins, Joshua White in duo settings as well as solo performances of originals and more. Rob is also involved in several educational programs including the "World of Jazz" and is also an educator at the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory in addition to teaching privately. Pianist Melonie Grinnell is active as an educator and performer, she began studying piano at an early age and has since been recognized not only for her versatile skills as a pianist, but also for her abilities as a vocalist, music educator, and musical director. Melonie received her Bachelors of Music degree in Music Education with jazz emphasis from the University of Miami and a Masters of Music performance degree in Jazz Studies from SDSU. Melonie has been a music educator at the collegiate level for 24 years and is an Assistant Professor at Grossmont College where she serves as director of piano studies and the vocal jazz ensemble. Additionally, she is on the faculty for the Francis Parker/KSDS 88.3 Summer Jazz Workshop where she teaches jazz piano and co-directs middle school to high school student ensembles. Richard Sellers has been playing drums professionally for over thirty years. In that time, he has performed with countless groups and ensembles in a variety of styles, including straightahead jazz, avant-garde jazz, Brazilian, Latin, funk and hip-hop. Richard recorded with the Internationally acclaimed Mike Wofford/ Holly Hofmann quintet for their 2014 release "Turn Signal" which featured trumpeter Terrell Stafford. Richard has become one of the premier drummers in Southern California, and finds himself sharing the stage with world class artists such as Hubert Laws, Terrell Stafford, Kenny Rankin, Kamau Kenyatta, Mike Wofford, Bob Magnusson, Marshall Hawkins, Clare Fischer, Andy Simpkins, and Jackie and Roy. Coronado Public Library on Facebook / Instagram

Don’t miss the final weekend of "Hiding in Plain Site," the debut solo exhibition from award-winning multidisciplinary emerging artist and designer Joseph A. Henseler. Join us for a live Artist Q&A as Joseph leads a timely, thought-provoking conversation on today’s most pressing creative topics: AI and the future of art, art as resistance and connection, why collecting art matters, and how we can stay human in an image-saturated world. Joseph, who graduated Ball State University with a degree in architecture, apprenticed in the studio of artist James Hubbell and has taught at NewSchool of Architecture, has transformed Union Hall into a space for curiosity, healing, and raw creative energy. With over 30 years of experience blending art, architecture, and activism, his Q&A promises an honest dialogue about what art can do, and why it still matters. The event is free and open to all. Come for the art. Stay for the conversation. Joseph A. Henseler on Facebook / Instagram

From 400-year-old globes to cosmic funeral shrouds, how the Osher Map Library in Maine shows people that maps aren't just for navigation — but windows into history, culture, and how we see the world.

Local octogenarian, Navy veteran, and dyslexic playwright, Daisy I. Dumas-Featherstone has proven it is never too late to fulfill a dream. While battling cancer and dealing with losses of family members and friends, she has completed her MFA degree in Creative Writing in May of this year, at the age of 85! Unable to have a public reading of her thesis play, "MAST/MASK" before graduation, she is having one now.

Stream now with KPBS Passport / Watch Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV. In Latin American cultures, the transition from girlhood to womanhood is celebrated on a girl's 15th birthday with an event known as the quinceañera. This event brings families together for a party filled with meaningful symbols that signify the farewell to childhood and the beginning of her new role as a woman in society.

The image of gun ownership in America has been white, rural and Republican, but that's been changing as more liberals and minorities have been buying guns, especially after the 2024 election.

Join us for the next installment of our Signature Event Series featuring distinguished alumni authors Sarina Dahlan ’98 and S.B. Divya MEng ’00. Drawing from their latest works, “Freeset” and “Loka,” the authors will explore how speculative fiction can address timely societal issues, including identity, memory and technology. The conversation will be moderated and will take place on Wednesday, May 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Seuss Room at Geisel Library. Admission is free and open to the public with required registration. Books will be available for purchase from the UC San Diego Bookstore during the reception, including the following titles: Sarina Dahlan ’98 “Freeset” “Preset” “Reset” S.B. Divya MEng ’00 “Machinehood” “Runtime” “Meru” (limited quantity) “Loka” (limited quantity) This event is part of the Library’s Signature Event Series, established in 2020 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Geisel Library and made possible through the generous support of sponsors and Library Associates. About the Authors Sarina Dahlan ’98 is the author of the bestselling Four Cities trilogy — “Reset,” “Preset” and “Freeset” — as well as “Shadow Play: Ten Tales from the In-between.” Born into an Indonesian family in Thailand and immigrating to the United States at age 12, Dahlan brings a global perspective to her work, influenced by folklore, mythology and Japanese manga. A UC San Diego alumna with degrees in psychology and visual arts, her writing explores memory, identity and the cost of utopia. S.B. Divya, MEng ’00 is a Hugo- and Nebula-nominated author whose work bridges hard science and imaginative storytelling. Her novels include “Machinehood,” “Meru” and “Loka,” which examine themes such as automation, cultural identity and artificial intelligence. A former electrical engineer with degrees in computational neuroscience and signal processing from UC San Diego, Divya’s fiction often reflects her technical background and challenges conventional genre boundaries. Partners: UC San Diego School of Arts & Humanities & Jacobs School of Engineering