Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: Driverless Waymo To Bring Chaos To SD Streets | Street Junk Vendors Return in Full Force | SD Closes Beach Bathrooms | SD to Emerald Hills: Whoopsie!

SeaWorld Beluga Up-Close Interaction (Taken 8.25.25)

The longer I make this post, the longer we're still being told that Mitch McConnell is still alive. What a fucking farce. I'm not much of a history buff and don't know a whole lot of world history and dynamics, so maybe this is hyperbolic, but it just feels like never in the history of the world has an entire country (and thereby the world) been gaslit so hard by our own government. In the day and age where EVERYTHING is on camera/video, SHOW US THE MAN or shut the fuck up. 

We also got to enjoy soccer, yet hate-watch FIFA and the corrupt ass-kissing organization, which literally has an office in T Tower in NYC, over the past few weeks. There is some sweet justice in Spain winning the Cup, since they have very publicly butted heads with TFG over the Israel-Palestine situation. 

So yeah, it's been a couple too-hot weeks in San Diego and I've had to buy camisoles for pajamas, but I guess it's par for the course, as I think of Comic-Cons past and remember several times when it was excessively hot, with the local news racing downtown to interview Stormtroopers and other Cos-players to ask about the weather and surviving the week. As I mentioned before, I did not renew my standing as Press for Comic-Con, which means I might have some slight FOMO this week, but my inbox is grateful not to have the additional dozens of emails every day for the past several weeks. I might try to go down and shoot all the pop-ups and such as I did last year, as I found it really enjoyable to do in the middle of the night. We'll see how I do with actual work and listings before I commit. 

In the meantime, stay cool and safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. May Mitch and Lindsey be toasting smores over their eternal hellfire that they deserve. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, July 16-Wednesday, July 22, 2026: San Diego PRIDE | Evanescence | Friendship | Mohama Saz | Low Cut Connie | Starcrawler | Alex Lahey | DakhaBrakha | Wic Whitney | San Diego Comic-Con |

Denny manspreading while trying to keep cool (Taken 7.15.26)

I really should've done these listings sooner, because it has been a week. I'm ready for a mid-summer rainstorm if I'm being honest. And not that little weak rain we got on Saturday (while Darren and I were birding in South Bay)-- I mean like sky-clearing, jacket-requiring cold rain. You would think I would just find a public Cool Zone and go work from there, but I'm stubborn and you should've seen my laptop, backpack, shade umbrella and supplies that I carried around on Tuesday to watch World Cup with the Orcas at Seaworld. It was comedic, if I'm being honest, but definitely a unique way to watch a soccer game and I'm glad I did it. 

As for this weekend, I tried to track down Pride stuff for the weekend, but obviously a lot of events spring up at bars and venues that don't otherwise host events year round, so I only checked a couple obvious spots. The same thing is gonna happen next week for Comic-Con. This is the first year I didn't request a press pass after more than a decade of going, so I'm not on all the lists and whatnot for events, parties, and activations, so I'll just have to dig around. I will say that other local guides do a pretty good job of making lists, but you can sometimes tell they have to reach a certain word count, so I'll extract the info into the easiest morsels that I can. 

And lastly, if you still subscribe to DoSD, good for you. I haven't been a part of the org for a very long time, and the people running the local part seem to do a good job, but Faye, yours is not the first live music event DoSD is hosting, Young Lady. Back in my day...

well, let's just say Marjy and I busted our asses to launch that site for a whole lot of people who weren't us to make bank. So yeah. Good luck with that. 

Stay safe this weekend. The MAGA fucks will certainly be out to harass and oppress the LGBTQIA+ communities this weekend, so be a good ally and if you see something, say something. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, July 9-Wednesday, July 15, 2026: Kurt Vile | 5SOS | Fresh Veggies Micro Brass | Chris Stapleton | Jim Rao Fan Club | The Farmers & Friends | Wynonna Judd & Melissa Etheridge | Dylan Leblanc | Afroman | Jack Botts | The Spits | Babe Rainbow |

6 year old Ama always loves to mug for the camera (7.6.26)

I was thinking this would be a chill week...I did most of my listings overnight on Monday thinking it would give me the free time to get more zoo time in since I didn't get much in the week leading up to Independence Day. But no. Not a chance. On Tuesday I had a whole situation where I found a dog in the alley and it became a whole episode, and then Wednesday I was up early for plumbers who have now found a gas leak and ended up working three hours longer than I expected. So. Here are listings. I probably missed a couple things, but I am jonesing for some zoo time and might actually still have time to see my gorilla boys. Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, July 2-Wednesday, July 8, 2026: Squid Pisser | The McCharmleys | Gothic Summer Dance Party | Band Argument | Dance Dance To The Radio | Independence Day!! |

The Belugas were so happy to show off their new barrel toy (Taken 6.29.26)

I had gotten pretty good about starting my listings on Monday nights, so then I wouldn't have it bearing on my mind all week, but with it being Independence Day and also the beginning of a new month, I'm pretty checked out for the week. Like, I know I still have to work, but running ads this week is just a waste of money and effort because everyone else seems pretty checked out, too, and honestly, it's just too nice in San Diego right now to sit on a laptop for hours on end. Plus, it's just such a weird time in general right now...like 250 years is kind of amazing, and then it's black-clouded by the POS in office. I can't even buy a renewal for my Parks Pass without his ugly bloated face on it. So gross. So yeah. Enjoy World Cup wins, laugh at Country Fair fails, and enjoy your 4th of July, however you choose to spend it. And ffs, lock your pets in your house because losing them is a heartbreak that never really goes away. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. RIP, KD. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: Baby Fever - New Dolphin At SeaWorld/New Baboon At San Diego Zoo | Children's Reinstates Gender Care | Get A Free CA Parks Pass | TFG Continues US Destruction |

  

Mother Baboon Anakin and her 1 1/2 Day Old Baby (Taken 6.27.26)

Things are super busy. If it's not work stuff, it's trying to plan or organize something with the fam, running around trying to maximize my summer outings, cleaning up around the house when we get an invasion of ants or just trying to manage space as the kid has moved back home for summer, or trying to manage digital space, as my phone fills up with videos and photos that get moved to my laptop, which in turn, is also running out of space. Some of the busy is fun. Some of it is super tedious. But the world keeps spinning and time ticks on. Never enough of it, that is for sure. 

So while I intended to get this post up last week, it was nice to work through my email and make sure I got all the links in that I wanted from the past couple weeks, but wanted to publish by Monday morning because SeaWorld is offering $25 tickets if you wear Padres gear to the ticket counter, but it's only good on Monday and Tuesday. Sorry I missed the weekend, but it was so crowded, I assure you it would've been unfun for a one-time visit anyway. I've been spending a lot of time at SeaWorld, because on Thursday night I got to talk to a trainer who answered all my questions about the new baby dolphin born last Sunday. She is super cute, but dolphins don't stop swimming once they're born...it's a learned behavior which takes several days to perfect, so they suspended the Dolphin Adventures show and had a baby presentation. So that's how I spent my Friday morning...you can see a full video here. And while it was super special to see a 4 day old dolphin, San Diego Zoo said, "hold my $17 beer!" and on Thursday night, a baby baboon was born. So that's how I spent my Saturday morning...trying to take photos of this little nugget. Failed horribly and someday I'll stop being so cheap and just buy a better lens, but this will have to do for now. 

So yeah, that's life now. I try to pack in my days full of activity so that when I actually put my head on my pillow, no matter what time that actually happens, I maybe actually get sleep. Which I shall do now. Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 25-Wednesday, July 1, 2026: Tim Kasher | Dawes | Tulengua | Maren Morris | OB Street Fair | Three Bad Jacks | Missing Persons | Kid Cudi | Anna Ballew |

Karen & Kaja Sharing A Bounty of French's Mustard (Taken 6.24.26)

I just haven't been feeling right this week. I guess this is life when you're born the year of our country's bicentennial, but ICK. Do not like. 0/10, do not recommend. So I I missed an Open Alpaca Ranch day over the weekend and haven't had a whole lot of Zoo and SeaWorld time this week, and , but the little time I've had still manages to fill my soul with the good good. I also had a couple merch gigs this week, with Skillibeng on Sunday and Aaron Hibell on Wednesday. I didn't get my act together this year, so I missed out on a few opportunities to hit the San Diego County Fair, but it's still going until the 6th if you're trying to make a day of it. The Casbah had a few announces this week and the Brian Fallon (from Gaslight Anthem) show nearly sold out in just a few days, so keep eyes out for an announcement on that front. The 4th of July holiday coming up usually messes everyone up and things get out of rhythm, and with it being on a Saturday this year, I don't expect any less, but maybe I'll sneak off to the mountains or something to get away from the noise. 

Also wanted to mention if you haven't heard, Tara and Dean Reis bought the bar on El Cajon Blvd formerly known as Cricket Pub. They've been cleaning it up and making it nice, but I just read that they're doing a Bar Pink takeover because Lorenxo & Barb will be in town. So if you wanna come hang out at the super fun new bar, literally across the street from my house, check it out on Monday. Like Bar Pink, it's cash only, so come prepared and then leave a 5 star review on the platforms. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 18-Wednesday, June 24, 2026: Neil Hamburger | Metric | Emo Nite | Deceits + Past Self | The Lemon Twigs | Bob Dylan | Heavenly |

Amahle & Guadalupe Pool Party Playing (Taken 6.18.26)

Darren was sick all weekend, so I took the opportunity while I was already going to Murietta to see the twinsie babies in their new home, that I would make it a whole thing. I was gonna camp, but didn't really like the camp facilities, and at that very time, my friends messaged that they were going to LA Zoo on Monday. I reached out to my cousin who gave me her house to crash and so it was. Only thing is I have felt behind all week because of it. So I'm happy to say it's only 2am and I'm done with listings, which means staying up til 6am yesterday was worth it and I don't have to do it again.
I'm hearing from many people that San Diego Zoo will be phasing out Nighttime Zoo, and in 2027 and beyond will only stay open until 7pm (instead of 8pm as it is this year, or 9pm as it had been in the past). Let me tell you that this will be a super bummer because the animals really come alive in that 4-8pm window. Similarly, I heard there was some sort of Grand Jury audit of LA Zoo and they want to shift from being the last City-run zoo in the country to a "public-private partnership". FUCK. I HATE "public-private partnerships". Somehow the Private entity always ends up being the winner and the Public part gets fucked. 

Anyhow, that's neither here nor there for now. What is up is that Friday is Juneteenth, and while I completely expect TFG to do something completely stupid, complain about too many Federal holidays, or some other racist nonsense, I intend to enjoy the shit out of a three day weekend. There's even a Juneteenth Birders walk that seems quite appealing. Whatever the case, there's a shit ton to do this week in San Diego. I saw some Friday event on IG but forgot to save it, so if anyone knows what I'm talking about, feel free to send it over. 

Stay safe out there (the respiratory illnesses are knocking people out right now, and summer World Cup travel is only going to exacerbate the problems.) Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: City of San Diego Passes Budget | Persistent Public Parking Problems | FIDO Battles Bayfair And Wins | Judge To DOJ: Leave The Kids Alone |

Bat-Eared Fox Kits at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Taken 5.19.26)

The funniest thing happened when I was selling merch for Rostam. This man came to the merch table and couldn't decide if he wanted to buy a sweatshirt...he has two from past tours that he said he wears all the time. While he kept talking, I couldn't help but ask if I knew him...his voice was so familiar...maybe he was a friend of my friend Kristian (who seems to know everyone), I asked? No, he said, but I insisted he was so familiar. He said he used to work for County Health. YOU GUYS! Remember how I literally watched every single City and County update during C-19??? It was Dr. McDonald from all those many, many daily briefings.
Anyhow, that was May 15. We're now a month later and I finally got around to finishing up a link-heavy diary post. Leading up to the election, my inbox was just out of control, and I felt like I was just trying to keep my head above water day by day...I have a few tour agents really on my tail at the moment...but hopefully spending a Saturday night getting things under control was a smart move, even though it probably means I won't be making 8:30am yoga at Seaworld. I've mentioned how Toby was moving back home after finishing his freshman year at UCSD and living on campus, and I'm so grateful that Darren handled it, even though he's super sick right now. I'm kinda worried though he's negative for the C-19, because he did that whole deep cleaning of our studio last week and I was temporarily convinced he had the hanta-v. He says he's fine and will be okay, but we'll keep an eye on him. At this point, this post is more to document the shit that has been happening in the City and State. The national craziness is just so beyond that I'll leave it to greater minds to document; mandatory reading: Letters from an American, Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance, and Popular Information. 
Stay safe (and healthy) out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 11-Wednesday, June 17, 2026: Monolord | Fruit Bats | Alain Whyte | Ásgeir | Switchfoot Bro-Am | Surf Trash | Searows | Taylor Hunnicutt | Fai Laci | The Dimes |

Half Brothers Tsundzu & Nipho Enjoying A Warm Spring Night (6.10.26)

I'm keeping it short this week. There is a ton going on right now...World Cup is kicking off with lots of spots broadcasting games for the entire run. I'd say avoid the masses and commit to Blind Lady Ale House...which normally doesn't do sports, but futbol is the exception and they have the games listed out on their calendar. It's also Fair season, so I included the big shows but obviously they've got lots of stuff happening all day, every day. We had a whole situation in my studio that had long been ignored, so Darren took the lead and handled it, but yuck...unoccupied spaces are a magnet for unwanted visitors...especially when used primarily for food storage. I've been pretty happy spending late hours at the San Diego Zoo and the animals have been...shall we say, "feisty" doing "it like they do on the Discovery Channel," if you catch my drift. This weekend Seaworld launches into their extended hours for summer and are debuting nighttime dolphin and orca presentations. So yeah, I'm keeping occupied surrounding myself with all the animals I love. I hope we've all recovered from the election and thank goodness that it appears LA dodged that Pratt bullet. What a fuckface piece of shit. 

Anyway, stay safe out there, especially as summer travel picks up and places get us more packed with people and all their summer snot. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, June 4-Wednesday, June 10, 2026: Quintron & Miss Pussycat | Racing Mount Pleasant | The Lagoons | Otis Kane | North Park Music Fest | Daniel Ezra Band | Messthetics | Paul Simon | David J | Monolord | Sir Woman |

Little Bear (Taken 4.18.26)

I've been so proud that for the past several weeks I was able to get my listings done by Monday night so that the rest of the week I can focus on actual work and getting out and about. That didn't happen this week and everything has just felt a little off all week, though it's hard to know if that's because I didn't do the work or I couldn't do the work because this week was gonna be a pit of suck. Besides the shitty election (voted for Becerra, but NOT looking forward to the next 5 months of campaigns and ads), we have an appraiser coming to our apartment on Thursday which is NEVER a good sign and has given me pure anxiety all week. Darren is a calming presence and talked me down, but I guess we'll deal with whatever that may bring when it comes. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to this weekend...I've been invited to shearing day at Hazpaca and I am hoping I can make it. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.