In this weekly column, our staff hand picks a selection of events from
our curated calendar to fill your weekend and beyond, helping you decide what to do when the options are too plentiful to pick just one. Perhaps we’ll bump into you somewhere along the way.
This weekend is especially delightful, with an eclectic mix of awesome stuff to keep you occupied. Urbanist’s Nate Benedetto spoke with KPBS about some of the best stuff lined up for this weekend; listen here or read on!
I AM NOT A HIPSTER; Dum Dum Girls; Your Mom; Delta Spirit; San Diego Surf Film FestivalALL WEEKEND LONG
Friday 5/11/2012 – Sunday 5/13/2012, Morena
International filmmakers, surfers, artists and ocean buffs alike will gather in San Diego May 11-13, 2012 for the first ever San Diego Surf Film Festival (SDSFF). The inaugural event — which is slated to screen 12 feature-length films and 18 short films centered around surfing — will be held at Bird’s Surf Shed in San Diego, a world famous restored quonset hut filled with an impressive collection of historically significant surfboards and artifacts. The names of the films to be shown will be announced April 14. The three-day event, which will kick off with a VIP party on May 10, will also feature surf-related art and photography by local artists. Since San Diego is synonymous with surfing, the City of San Diego will present the San Diego Surf Film Festival with a proclamation on the opening night, Friday, May 11.
GA tickets $10 per film / All Access Pass for $100; All ages
FRIDAY
Friday 5/11/2012 @ 6:00 PM or 9:00 PM, Balboa Park
The Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA), in partnership with the San Diego Film Festival (SDFF) and SEZIO, invites you to the San Diego premier of I AM NOT A HIPSTER on Friday, May 11. The evening includes two screenings, at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., with a reception featuring live performance of songs from the film by CANINES from 7:45-8:45 p.m. I AM NOT A HIPSTER was an official selection in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Based in San Diego’s indie music and art scene, I AM NOT A HIPSTER features original song performances and explores what it means to be creative in the face of tragedy. The film was written and directed by San Diego filmmaker, Destin Daniel Cretton, with original songs and score composed by Joel P West.
$8 MOPA, SDFF & SEZIO Members / $10 Non-members; All ages
Friday 5/11/2012 @ 8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Gaslamp
So Say We All presents Last Night On Earth: A work in progress, adapted into a live, staged radio play for your enjoyment. A talk back with the authors and editors will follow and the audience is invited to participate with feedback at the end.
$5 suggested donation; All ages
Friday 5/11/2012 @ 6:00 PM-11:00 PM, Gaslamp
Art Fist Collective proudly presents “Your Mom,” a group art show with a Freudian twist. Opening reception: Friday, May 11th 6-11:00PM Featuring mom-inspired works by: Mark Adams, Dan Allen, Amy Baca López, Bret Barrett, Zac Buddenberg, Sean Brannan, Randy Conner, German Corrales, Angella d’Avignon, Danger Pig, Bd Dombrowsky, Carly Ealey, Mari Flores, Jason Gould, Jeff Graves, Abel Guzman, JFeather, Pamela Jaeger, King Al, Jorge Macfarland, Keren Mack, Paola Mandujano, Terri Beth Mitchell, Monty Montgomery, Heather Rae Morton, Neko, Victor Ochoa, Kira Palmer, Erika Paniagua, Mark Richmond, Brandon Roth, Lizeth Santos, Katherine Sweetman, Jona Téllez-Girón, Perry Vasquez, Eren Verdiguel, Dave Warshaw & Wind Spirit. Live performance by Granny Pearl | Free corsages to the fist 50 guests | Bring yer mom!
FREE; All ages
SATURDAY
Saturday 5/12/2012 @ 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Kick off summer and the arrival of SummerSalt, Saltbox’s pool experience, with the SummerSalt Showdown, Saturday May 12th from 1-4pm. Featuring a key seasonal ingredient, Chef Simon and Mixologist Erin will compete against other top local chefs and mixologist teams for the best bite and cocktail. All the ticket proceeds from this festive competition will benefit Olivewood Gardens – a local charity. Participating restaurants (tentative): JSix Restaurant, Craft and Commerce, Gabardine, Gaijin Noodle + Sake House, Quality Social, The Grant Grill, Saltbox Dining and Drinking. Held at the SummerSalt Rooftop Pool Bar & Lounge, 4th Floor of the Hotel Palomar San Diego.
$22.09; 21+
Saturday 5/12/2012 @ 8:30 PM, North Park
MEN is a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective that focuses on the energy of live performance and the radical potential of dance music. Fronted by Le Tigre member JD Samson, MEN speaks to issues such as trans awareness, wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding liberties through lyrical content and an exciting stage show. With DJ Mikey Face.
$5; 21+
SUNDAY
Sunday 5/13/2012 @ 8:00 PM, Solana Beach
This southern California five-piece indie rock band might just be one of the most important new bands of the decade. Opening sold-out tours for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cold War Kids, and Dr. Dog, the band developed a riveting live show and gained a loyal following amongst tastemaker music fans, earning them invites to national festivals like Austin City Limits, Noise Pop and Sasquatch. So it would not be an understatement to call Ode to Sunshine one of the year’s most highly-anticipated debuts. But don’t take our word for it; in the words of Delta Spirit: “If you’re feeling what I’m feeling come on, all you soul searching people come on.” Doors at 8pm, Show at 9pm.
$18 advance / $20 at door; 21+
Sunday 5/13/2012 @ 8:30 PM, Normal Heights
Gauntlet Hair is a relatively unknown pair of dudes who are named Andy and Craig, from the small-ish (23,000 population) Colorado town of Lafayette. The pair garnered a fair amount of attention after being part of the Rhinoceropolis-curated block of Denver-based bands that played at the post-SXSW Mexican extravaganza MtyMx. The band’s track “I Was Thinking…” is a pretty insatiable guitar stomp that throws some R&B and soul into the lo-fi revival pot, mixing heavily-reverbed guitars with a simple, but undeniably booty-shaking beat. Add in some Animal Collective-style vocal melodies and you’ve got something pretty fantastic.
$8 Advance / $10 at door; 21+
INTO NEXT WEEK
Wednesday 5/16/2012 @ 8:00 PM, Solana Beach
Casbah presents Dum Dum Girls at Belly Up, with Young Prisms, Sisu, and DJ Mario Orduno. The Dum Dum Girls are a noise pop/dream pop band from San Pedro.
$16 advance / $18 day of show; 21+
