Thursday | 16

World Baseball Classic

Every four years, the biggest stars in baseball from around the globe battle to be called the world’s greatest. San Diego hosts second-round action at Petco with All-Star-heavy teams from Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Runs through Sunday.

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Latino Film Festival

Media Arts Center San Diego presents the 24th annual San Diego Latino Film Festival. The festival will occupy five screens for 11 days and will present over 160 films from Latin America, the United States, and Spain as well as opening-night and closing-night parties, the second annual Sonido Latino Beer & Wine Festival, Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, and free student-outreach screenings. Audiences will have the opportunity to meet filmmakers and actors from all over the world. Runs through March 26.

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Teenage Fanclub

She won’t be forced against her will/ Says she don’t do drugs but she does the pill/ Oh yeah...Oh yeah. That lyric from “The Concept” helped propel the fuzz-tone earworm and its 1991 album, Bandwagonesque, to worldwide cult status. The Scottish alt-rock quartet responsible for the catchy college-radio hit plays Belly Up on Thursday night. The Reader’s Dryw Keltz has a chat with Teenage Fanclub singer/guitarist Raymond McGinley about the band’s latest record, last year’s Here.

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Friday | 17

Irish Poetry and Prose Reading

It’s the 38th annual St. Patrick’s Day open reading of Irish poetry and prose. Members of the public are invited to read from their favorite selections of James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, Edmund Burke, Seán O’Casey, and others, from 7 p.m. until it ends. Messrs. Guinness and Harp will officiate the proceedings.

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Shamrock

Over 20,000 attendees from across the U.S. flock to the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village each year to partake in the celebration. Over 50,000 square feet of Astroturf will be rolled out for a block party with three stages, nonstop music, and plenty of green Bud Light beer and Jameson Irish Whiskey libations. Whether you are looking for Irish rock or bass-heavy beats, the lineup offers nationally recognized Irish rock and Celtic bands and DJs on three stages. Top it off with roaming plaid-clad go-go dancers and traditional Irish steppers. Produced by the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, focused on the development and preservation of downtown San Diego.

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Saturday | 18

San Diego Cake Show

Master pastry chefs, local bakers, amateur decorators, and anyone who enjoys “sugar art” (that’s what they call it!) will enjoy the 34th annual cake show presented by the San Diego Cake Club. The event features a cake design competition that anyone can compete in, decorating classes for all skill levels, demonstrations, and vendor booths featuring a wide range of decorating tools, tips, and supplies. A percentage of proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. Also on Sunday.

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Ikebana Flower Exhibition

Exhibits and demonstrations of ikebana, the Japanese fine art of flower arrangement, both traditional and modern. Ikebana has been practiced for more than 600 years. It developed from the Buddhist ritual of offering flowers to the spirits of dead. Demonstrations will be presented by local master teachers of the Ichiyo, Ikenobo, Ohara, and Sogetsu schools of Ikebana. This is the 49th annual exhibition hosted by the local chapter of Ikebana International. Also on Sunday.

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Sunday | 19

Puppy Love 5K

Bring the kids and pups and enjoy the expansive bay view. Timed runners will complete the race as fast as they can, or you can register to stroll the bay. Along the way, wow the audience with your favorite St. Patrick’s or other themed costume. Once you cross the finish line, head over to the BARKetplace for the Lucky Dog or Dog & Owner Pairs contests, dog agility and trick training events, food, giveaways, and kids’ activities. All proceeds go directly to the Helen Woodward Animal Center. $40; children 12 and under $18.

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Marine Science Day

This Sunday is a once-a-year opportunity where San Diego State University’s Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory opens its doors to show what goes on in a working marine research laboratory. Throughout the day there will be interactive family-friendly activities, research talks given by SDSU students and faculty, a marine-life touch tank, SCUBA gear demonstrations, and games and raffles.

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Wednesday | 22

Modern English

The British new wave band, best known for their 1982 hit “I Melt with You,” is back with a new album, Take Me to the Trees. Reader contributor Andrew Hamlin got singer Robbie Grey on the phone to discuss the record and reunion after 25 years.