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While Trump pushes to get his name on the Kennedy Center and other public sites, history shows that sitting presidents have almost always avoided putting their brands on government assets.

Get a little closer to the wild world with birds, plants, and creekside fun, all while supporting local conservation and education! Birds, Botany, and the Creek brings us together to explore wildlife, native plants, and creekside discoveries in support of two local conservation organizations: the Avian Behavior Conservancy and the Escondido Creek Conservancy. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve, the morning will feature special avian presentations, nature walks, interactive exhibits, arts and crafts, educational talks, and more. Guests can also participate in a silent auction for a chance to take home wonderful packages and prizes. Whether you are a longtime nature lover or simply curious to learn more, come join the fun and immerse in the wonders of our world! Sponsorship opportunities are available! Contact ariel@escondidocreek.org or hillary@avian-behavior.org. Get Tickets Here Escondido Creek Conservancy on Facebook / Instagram

A phone call sends Taylor Guitars founder Bob Taylor to Cameroon, where he encounters a problem that changes how he thinks about the instruments he builds. His search for answers takes him deep into the forests and into an unexpected connection with elephants.

Join South African author Leon Lazarus for the launch of his new book, "Barking at Dogs," a collection of oh-so-South African stories highlighting the absurdities of life in apartheid South Africa. It is funny, thought-provoking, and will explain a great deal about the South Africans in your life. The free community event features a reading, a book signing, and samples of South African desserts, offering attendees a taste of San Diego's vibrant literary and cultural scene. Copies of the book will be available at the event.

Art Scene West presents The Sound Parlor: Session II, featuring Bobby Kaehms. Bobby plays warm, jazz-and-soul-leaning guitar and vocals, built live with a loop pedal. It's smooth and groove-based. Nothing is pre-recorded, and no two songs come out the same, since every loop gets built fresh in the room out of just guitar, voice and vibes. The Sound Parlor is an intimate musical performance series dedicated to offering a new and genuine experience to its audience. Art Scene West becomes a place where creative culture, visual arts, live music, and social experiences come to meet. This performance will be recorded and uploaded to our Social Media platforms including YouTube. Art Scene West on Facebook / Instagram

PAUMA VALLEY, Calif. — Where can you enjoy a freshly prepared farm-to-table dinner, wine tasting, extraordinary animals, and three hours of live Americana music and dancing under the stars—all while helping keep young girls safe and in school? Heartsteps Foundation invites the community to experience Under the Stars at Otter Valley, Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 5–9:30 p.m. at the beautiful Otter Valley Nature Inspiration Center in Pauma Valley. The evening begins with a chef-prepared Nepali and Indochine-inspired farm-to-table dinner, prepared on site and featuring locally grown organic produce from J.R. Organics. Guests will also enjoy a “Capy Hour” wine tasting with capybaras from the center’s “Ottertorium,” with specialty desserts available from Valley Center baker Gracie’s Cakes and More. One of the evening’s highlights is the opportunity to experience the remarkable animals and surroundings of this unique property. Guests will encounter Asian small-clawed otters, capybaras, sloths and other fascinating animals while exploring the lush grounds of Otter Valley Nature Inspiration Center. Live Music With Jesse Ray Smith Band As evening falls, the Jesse Ray Smith Band will take the stage for three hours of live music under the stars. Smith, a 2026 San Diego Music Awards nominee for Best Americana Artist, and his band will bring their distinctive Americana sound to Pauma Valley. And there’s plenty of room to move—the evening features a large dance floor, giving guests the chance to dance the night away in this extraordinary outdoor setting. A Night Out With a Purpose Proceeds from the dinner will support Heartsteps Foundation’s construction of a safe girls’ residence for 14 students in Patle, Okhaldhunga, Nepal, in the Himalayan region. The residence will provide young women attending Grades 11 and 12 with a secure place to live near their school, eliminating the need for lengthy and potentially dangerous daily journeys from their remote villages. “We wanted to create a night that people would genuinely love to attend—wonderful food prepared on site, wine, incredible animals, exceptional music and dancing under the stars,” said Kathleen McCabe, President and Founder of Heartsteps Foundation, Inc. “But what makes the evening especially meaningful is knowing that while we’re having a wonderful time here in our own community, we’re also helping young women in Nepal stay safe, stay in school, and continue their education.” Heartsteps Foundation gratefully recognizes the Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians. Edward Jones Valley Center office, and Faith Much, along with J.R. Organics, and La Mesa Floral Artistry for their support of the event. EVENT DETAILS Under the Stars at Otter Valley Saturday, September 12, 2026 5–9:30 p.m. Otter Valley Nature Inspiration Center Nurtured by Nature • Pauma Valley, California All-Inclusive Ticket: $75 Farm-to-table dinner, wine tasting, animal viewing, and live concert Concert-Only Ticket: $45 Live concert and animal viewing Free parking on site. Tickets: https://www.heartstepsfoundation.org/nepal-fundraiser Heartsteps Foundation on Facebook

Metal & Myth: A One Book 20th Anniversary Celebration Join the San Diego Public Library and our community partners for a special 20th anniversary celebration of One Book, One San Diego—a beloved regional tradition that has brought San Diegans together through books, ideas, conversation, and community for two decades. Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 2–3:30 p.m. Central Library - Neil Morgan Auditorium and Courtyard The celebration will feature reflections on 20 years of One Book, One San Diego, a Land Acknowledgement and Blessing by Blue Eagle Vigil, and a special live performance by Warpath, an all-Native American metal band hailing from the Santa Ysabel and Barona Indian Reservations in San Diego County. Come celebrate the people, stories, and conversations that have made One Book, One San Diego a unique part of our region’s cultural life—and enjoy an unforgettable afternoon of live music. The first 20 attendees will receive a copy of the 2026 Adult One Book title - Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones. Participants will also receive a special limited edition enamel pin featuring Odi the Coyote, our library mascot! The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome! We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate 20 years of reading together, thinking together, and building community together.

Li won a Pulitzer for her memoir about the suicides of her two sons. In her new novel, Music Against the Night, she writes about two young prodigies in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Tropical Storm Isaias is now the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 — and it's spinning toward the southeastern U.S.

Come together with the community to celebrate creativity, inspiration, and joy in Oceanside/North County San Diego. Join in the fun during the 13th season of the First Friday Art Walk Oceanside from 5 to 8 pm in the heart of the Oceanside Cultural Arts District. This free, family-friendly event features over 60 local artists, makers, and creatives showcasing unique, handmade work in Artist Alley and the Civic Center Library Plaza, along with live music throughout the evening. Continuing into its second year, the After Art Party occurs from 8 to 9 pm with a live musical performance on the Civic Center Library Courtyard stage. In conjunction with the Art Walk, the Oceanside Museum of Art will offer free admission from 5 to 8 PM, including a docent-led tour at 6 PM and a cash bar with beer and wine. The First Friday Art Walk Oceanside is supported by the Oceanside Cultural Arts District, via funding by the California Arts Council, which is overseen by the Oceanside Public Library and Cultural Arts Department and takes place on the first Friday of each month from May through September, with a special holiday event each December. Huge Thank You to our promotional partners including Visit Oceanside and MainStreet Oceanside and our 2026 poster artist, Kathleen Ossiander. And thank you to all the artists and local organizations that have participated so far - we are grateful that you are part of our community!