Cynthia Sinclair

Beer Can Summer Series

Thursday | 31

LATE TEENAGE YEARS OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

Boom for Real documents the artist’s pre-fame, and how New York City, the people, and the surrounding movements formed him. Interviews with other artists who emerged from that scene — Nan Goldin, Jim Jarmusch, James Nares, Fab Five Freddy, Lee Quinones, Luc Sante — tell the story of Jean-Michel’s downtown NYC: before AIDS, President Reagan, and the real estate and art boom.

PHILOSOPHICAL LYRICS

Indie rockers Lord Huron open a two-night stand at House of Blues with a taste of their third full-length, Vide Noir, released last month and so far supported with singles for “Ancient Names” parts one and two. The new album continues the band’s penchant for philosophical lyrics sung with straight-faced sincerity by frontman Benjamin Schneider, who named the group after a lake in his home state of Michigan. It’s an unearthly sounding record that doesn’t wander far from their initial hit single, “The Night We Met,” which went platinum thanks to its high profile in multiple episodes of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, and CW Network TV shows like The Originals and The Flash.

Friday | 1

LES MISERABLES

In 1829, French novelist Victor Hugo heard about a man who stole a loaf of bread and went to jail. Intrigued, Hugo interviewed several witnesses about the man, named Vidocq. After he was pardoned, Vidocq rescued a worker at a paper factory by lifting up a heavy object. Hugo thought the man’s life would make a good novel. Hugo named him “Jean Trejean,” and later changed it to Jean Valjean. The novel: Les Miserables. This is the musical adaptation of that famous work.

Saturday | 2

RETURN OF CHE CAFE

The embattled UCSD venue will reopen with a day-long bill featuring local bands favored by the Che over the years.

Wednesday | 6

EARLY MORNING BEER CAN RACE

More than 100 sailboats will take over San Diego Bay each Wednesday (excluding the 4th of July) in the annual Beer Can Summer Series, presented by the Cortez Racing Association. Sailors compete in ten different classes. Harbor Island is best spot for spectators, though most bay-side areas offer a view. Spectators free, entry fees start at $10 per race.