Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, January 9-Wednesday, January 15, 2025: David Cross | Cruelties | Louis XIV | Lenny Zen | SATH | B-Side Players | Swingin' Utters | Sam Blasucci | The Wild Feathers |

This week I got a little ahead of my listings for once, and I'm so glad I did because the regular workload of show announcements and emails is picking up as the week goes along and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. The holidays sure were nice and relatively quiet for work, but it was all really just a pause and all the things stack up, still waiting when the vacation is all over and flooding the inbox this week. blech. 

Meanwhile, I'm watching those LA wildfires and it is pretty insane and I'm so heartbroken by the images we've seen on TV. A friend's dad lost his house that he's lived in for decades, along with everything in it, and I can't even imagine what that's like, especially when you're not out in the country or living in the wilderness, but right in urban developments that have stood for decades. 

Listings are up for this week, but keep an eye on shows and know that some tours may be affected by LA routing, so double-check your shows before you go.

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, January 3-Wednesday, January 8, 2025: Tell-Tale Hearts Tribute | Big Sandy | John McCain | Swive | Wars Away | Auz Fontaine | Bowie Birthday Bash |

I have been trying to be online as minimally as possible this week, so I'm just gonna present the listings through Wednesday and we'll be back on track with Thursday morning publishing. I hope everyone had a great Christmas, Hannukah, New Year's, etc., and dodged this stupid cold that is going around. 

Stay Safe out there.  

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, December 27, 2024-Thursday, January 2, 2025: The Cure Dance Party | Karl Denson | Schizophonics | Social D | Twin Ritual | Starcrawler | X |

I had a really great Christmas with my family but I'm still not quite feeling 100%, so I went back to urgent care, they said I'm more or less fine, gave me a 48-72 hour steroid to reduce inflammation. Apparently the stuff made me superhuman for a day, because I went to the zoo until about 7, did some shopping, then went to SeaWorld to take advantage of their late hours, then came home and did listings until 5am, just in time to post at 6am. So this is what you get. I'm not listing every bougie venue that is having a NYE thing, but obviously there are a lot, so I will find the more traditional events that should make the cut in these listings and get them added...but...the kid is in the Holiday Bowl Parade in a few hours and I'm not sure if we're expected to attend, watch the stream on TV (it's on TV, right?) or it doesn't matter either way and I still just need to get some sleep. 

I love you all. 2024 has been a real shitshow with too many deaths of friends we love, but some pretty beautiful memories and moments all mixed in. Then we had the fucked up election, so maybe we should really be living up these final days of the Biden Administration because I thought TFG was the worst of the worst, but apparently he finds the ones even worse than him to highlight just how fucked up he is and how fucked we will all be with this coming administration. But we'll have music. We'll have beauty. We have to find joy. 

Stay safe out there. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: Merry Christmas. The headlines are mostly depressing, so maybe save them for another day.

Me & Darren Took A Hike at Silverwood Bird Preserve

Judging by the dates on this post, I've been holding onto it all month, so what better time than Christmas to post, while everyone in the house is asleep and I binge watch a new series on Peacock. I really wish that I could've gone to Exile on Kettner tonight, but even with the offer of a safe and sober ride, I've been feeling like crap since Thanksgiving, so while I'm out doing hikes and the Zoo and Seaworld and shopping and living life by day, when I've opted for cocktails or a night out, it just feels like the cold/bronchitis/pneumonia whatever I have relapses all over again and I'm sick of feeling like shit. i don't know how my sinuses can be all clear all day long and the second I get home just completely stuff up and my lungs get back to wheezy. So I feel like I made the responsible and wise decision to stay home even though I know I would've had a blast and seen so many friends. 

But it is Christmas and part of the feeling-like-shit-since-Thanksgiving means this holiday season just blew past me. While I do get all in the spirit when I'm at the Zoo or Seaworld or cruising neighborhood decorations, this year we skipped all the things. We didn't get a tree. I didn't even put out my tinsel and snowmen. I didn't do any Christmas shopping. My mom and my sister are getting small gifts from me, but only because they happened to be a product that I loved from Costco and thought I'd pick up for them because they were on sale. Darren, Toby, my nieces, my Godsister's incubating twins -- gifts just aren't my love language. But I do look forward to Christmas. I'm not sure if we're doing Christmas pajamas or Ugly Sweaters, but spending time with everyone while we pig out on snacks and charcuterie and desserts and skip the traditional dinner seems like a pretty perfect day to me. 

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. And happy all the other holidays that are celebrated this time of year, too.  
Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, December 20-Thursday, December 26, 2024: Ziggy Shuffledust | Samantha Fish | El Vez | The Vandals | Social D | Crasher | Sara Petite| Marujah | Exile on Kettner Blvd |

 

Sorry about the delay for listings, but I needed some time to process, to sleep, to grieve, to understand that sometimes a thing can be a trigger to a whole bunch of other things and I kinda needed to let all that stuff work out without working. On Thursday, a friend and I went to SeaWorld and had the best time enjoying the lights and walking around and just how empty it was. We saw Chance, the baby dolphin rescue and one of his care specialists talked to us for awhile about him, so it was like an extra behind-the-scenes, plus we saw one of the sloths active, watched the Orca Encounter with 59-year-old Orca Corky featured, and then spent a bunch of time with the belugas and walruses, who were especially playful. So consider it animal therapy. 

Anyway, I decided to do the listings through Thursday because the NYE listings always take an extra long amount of time, so those will come next week. There's a ton of great stuff going on leading up to Christmas, however I would still double check your favorite karaoke/trivia/DJ nights because some of those maybe weren't updated on calendars and still appeared even if they may or may not be happening around the holidays. Also, at the time I'm finishing these listings, there are SEVEN tickets left for Ziggy Shuffledust, so get them or the night will be sold out. El Vez has a little more, but after the Casbah newsletter goes out, those could be gone, too. And lastly, it has been super foggy at night around here. You should definitely get out on the town and party, but if you're drinking, don't be driving. 
Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, December 19, 2024: Digable Planets & The Pharcyde | Faetooth | Dumbo Gets Mad | Too $hort | Gilbert Castellanos |

I should've done listings earlier this week, but I didn't and then a super fun Tuesday night happened at the Casbah, which made for a rough Wednesday. And then in the afternoon I got some horrible news that one of my favorite monkeys at the zoo died suddenly and I just haven't been able to get my shit together over it. So that said, I'm just gonna post Thursday listings and hopefully I can get the rest through Christmas done when I've had a minute to process it. I will say that the Friday Ziggy Shuffledust and Saturday El Vez shows at the Casbah are almost sold out, so if you're hoping to go to either, get your tickets in advance while you still can. 

Thursday, December 19, 2024:

• Digable Planets • The Pharcyde @ The Sound
• Faetooth, Home View, Blossom @ Casbah
• Dumbo Gets Mad, Spacehall Sound Machine @ Soda Bar
• sullvn and Friends, Sydney Quiseng | CAF Holiday Fundraiser @ Belly Up
• Too $hort, DJ Symphony, Soul Spittaz @ Music Box
• Gilbert Castellanos & The New Latin Jazz Sextet @ Lou Lou's Jungle Room, Lafayette Hotel (Supperclub Event | 21+| Doors 6pm )
• F+, Pinkeye, Luke Cottrell, Waldo Oswaldo @ Ken Club
• Spar Customs & Pour House present Thursday Scene: A Holiday Show Food Drive with Adam Lopez Band, TK & the Deadliest @ Pour House 
• Beach Bums, Sweatcult, Loverboyrando @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Kat Shoemaker Presents: A Tribute to Vince Guaraldi & Christmas Classics @ The Jazz Lounge
• Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2024 feat. Jonathan Butler, Vincent Ingala, Adam Hawley, Rebecca Jade @ Balboa Theatre
• Hot and Nasty Dance Party @ Whistle Sop
• Open Decks @ EQ 
• Sanford Street @ Winston's 
• Stellita w/ Special Guests @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Travesura, Axxident, Kenny Hill @ Tower Bar
• North County Players presents Hope Springs, Eternal @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Slappin’ Hands with Ric Scales @ Til-Two Club
• Shedrock @ Aquarius Bar & Grille Acoustic Sunsets @ Cannonball, Belmont Park
• Gino And The Lone Gun Men @ Tio Leo's
• City Lights: An Immersive Journey Through Light & Sound @ Quartyard
• Jingle Terrace Live 2024: SoCal Holiday Splash @ The Moonlight Amphitheatre (Free | All Ages | 5:30-8:30pm)
• The Nutcracker: Golden State Ballet @ Civic Theatre
• Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! @ The Old Globe 
• A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story Told by Jefferson Mays @ The Old Globe 
• A Christmas Carol @ Cygnet Theatre
• The Golden Gays @ Diversionary Theatre
• R.E.S.P.E.C.T.F.U.L.L.Y. Christmas @ Lambs Players at Coronado Resident Theatre
• Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play @ New Village Arts 
• Voctave – It Feels Like Christmas @ Jacobs Music Center/Symphony Hall
• Holiday Market at Petco Park @ Gallagher Park, Petco Park
• Frosty Facts: Holiday Trivia @ WNDR Museum
• Park & Rexmas @ Park & Rec
• Victoria Robertson @ Le Fontainebleau Room, Westgate Hotel
• Aztec Open Mic @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Open Jam with Jeff Ousley @ Navajo Live
• Karaoke @ Luau Bar
• Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club
• Customer Appreciation Ugly Sweater Holiday Party @ Moonshine Beach
• 4EverFrat: Holiday Edition @ Spin

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, December 12-Wednesday, December 18, 2024: Tall Heights | The Bronx | Mariachi El Bronx | A Foolish Casbah Christmas | Ride |

Listings are done and I'm trying to go to a show and since I'm finally healthy again, why not mess it all up by putting poison into my body?? I've got a couple posts in the works and a couple things to add to these listings, but for now, you get what you get. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, December 5-Wednesday, December 11, 2024: The New DIvision | December Nights | OB Holiday Parade | SoNo Fest | Thunderpussy | John Waters | Dawes | Crosses | Echosmith | Sports Team | Chuck Ragan |

Where were we? Oh yeah. So I have been feeling sick, found out it is bronchitis, got some hella strong meds that must've had some steroid properties because then I was up ALL NIGHT on Tuesday when I did these listings, and didn't finally fall asleep until 11:30. A.M.!! Ugh. So Wednesday was kinda shit, I slept a few hours, did some afternoon work, then went to Sea World around 4 until closing because I knew if I didn't get some physical activity in, that I would just cycle into another restless all-nighter for no reason. 

This weekend is gonna be bananas, with lots of holiday stuff, parades, tree lightings, shows, and of course, December Nights at Balboa Park, which will snarl traffic in every direction, so make your plans accordingly. I've got my plans all drawn up in my head, we'll just see how well I can execute while also not over-doing it and making myself feel terrible all over again. I'm like 80% now, would like to feel 100% by the weekend. I'm also working at Music Box for Crystal Method and Boombox, so I have to plan for the funny way my body feels for hours after bass heavy shows. 

I also wanted to point out one show this week. There's a band called Sports Team playing at the House of Blues Voodoo Room on Monday. While they were in Northern California grabbing snacks at a convenience store, they were robbed at gunpoint and a bunch of their personal effects were stolen, particularly electronics, laptops, and the like. It's super fucked up. If you can make it to their show and buy some merch or just show some love, I'm sure they'd appreciate it. 

Stay safe (and sane) out there. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: SD Zoo Welcomes New Bonobo In Swap | Developer Trying To Force Sale Of Liberty Station | Holiday Dog Safety | Done With The News |

New Girl, Bertie, the bonobo who recently joined the family. (Taken 12.2.24)

It has been awhile since I've posted a diary post. Since October 28th if we wanna be specific. I was gutted by the election results--though let's be honest--not shocked and I don't really want to talk about the catastrophe coming for us in 2025. Self-preservation will be the theme, self-care and survival will be top priority. I've also pretty much been sick since just after the election and after making excuses or thinking it was just a cold and no big deal, I finally went to urgent care and was told I have bronchitis. It was such a relief in a way, to know that I wasn't just imagining feeling like shit and also that with some strong antibiotics, I should be able to kick it relatively quickly.  

I'm gonna try and knock out as much of the listings I can tonight so they'll be ready to go on Thursday, but just a heads up that I'm going to do my best to get all the holiday stuff in, too, but there's a lot and I haven't updated my holiday page since before the pandemic, so I'm certain to miss some stuff. Just know that Friday and Saturday is December Nights in Balboa Park, so know that whether you attend or not, traffic will be affected all over from the 94 to the 8, from the 5 to the 15, and everything in between, and maybe even beyond. Make a plan or don't, but the complaining is so exhausting. 200,000 people all want to do the same thing on two days of the year. Plan accordingly. I'll be working on Thursday and Friday night, but hopefully I can revise my 2023 plan and make it work in 2024 and will avoid all associated headaches. 

Stay safe (and healthy) out there. I'm off to get started on listings. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, November 29-Wednesday, December 4, 2024: The Avengers | Shallou | Scary Pierre| Thee Sacred Souls| Better Than Ezra| Dinosaur Jr. |

I wasn't gonna publish until Friday, but ended up staying up all night working on them anyway, so here are your listings. If you need a show tonight, Bancroft is your option. Have a nice Thanksgiving and stay safe out there. The zoo has extended hours until 7pm this weekend and Seaworld is open until 8 all weekend, in case you need to know where I'll be when I'm not doing family time or working.