Normal Heights gallery ArtLab celebrates the sweet leaf

Willie Nelson once said: “Federal and state laws (should) be changed to no longer make it a crime to possess marijuana for private use.” Just kidding. That was Richard Nixon. Seriously. The 37th president of the United States of America, …

The second bi-annual veggie fest at Margarita's Village offered clever Baja Med cuisine

If the words “Tijuana vegetarian food festival” evoke images in your mind of, at worst, rows of bean and cheese burrito vendors or, at best, Pokez-style potato flautas, you aren’t alone. In fact, just about everyone I mentioned the event …

Also, the Locust reunite to join Yeah Yeah Yeahs at I'll Be Your Mirror in London

Remember when the Che Café was the wildest venue in town? When weird hardcore bands would dangle from the rafters and people dressed up funny and everyone lost themselves in a sweaty whirlpool of faces bobbling spastically to the honks …

Ocean Beach comic studio releases borderland superhero story at Villainous Lair Comics - Normal Heights

Little Fish Comic Book Studio is celebrating the release of their debut publication - a San Diego/Tijuana-based comic called American BOOOM! - on Friday, March 22 (7 to 10 p.m.) at Villainous Lair Comics - 3371 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights. …

North Park hotel hosts artist of the month, surf-rock, acoustic folk, and a dance party in the Top Gun room.

On Thursday, March 21 (7 to 10 p.m.), Lafayette Hotel & Swim Club in North Park will host an opening for their featured Artist of the Month, local woodworkers Natural Log Skateboards. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/18/42114/ Eirik Nordgaard and Thomas Brierton craft custom …

Denizens opens on Saturday, April 13 at MainSpace/GLASHAUS artist collective in Barrio Logan

Artist and Detroit native Grace Ann Piano started her career in automotive engineering and business development. Following what she calls a “turn of life event,” she found her passion for painting and “recreated herself” as a visual storyteller. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/15/41995/ Today, …

A team of Eastlake High School alumni curate music for fundraisers benefiting muscular dystrophy, autism, and a Tijuana orphanage.

Every now and then, when cosmic bodies align just so and Santa Anas cloak the breeze with their curious desert magic, a person finds their calling in that charmed place where talent, passion, opportunity, and goodwill meet. Such was the …

Mediterranean restaurant focuses on newer beer garden & eatery in Pacific Beach

California Kebab announced yesterday that they have closed their location next to San Diego State University in order to focus on California Kebab & Beer Garden in Pacific Beach (1450 Mission Blvd. #208). California Kebab opened next to the SDSU …

Pomona-based Moon Block Party collective throws 4/20 party in Mecca before taking off to Austin Psych Fest

Desert Daze Music and Art Festival recently released the full lineup for their second annual party, to be held on Saturday, April 20 at Sunset Ranch, “a beautiful desert oasis set against a backdrop of purple mountains and miles of …

Indian spiritual leader will speak at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion with Mayor Bob Filner

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (not to be confused with the late sitarist Ravi Shankar) is a leading voice in the pursuit of non-violence and, in 2010, was designated the fifth most influential person in India by Forbes Magazine. Despite whoa-bro-ical …

Burning Man sound camp drops the beat at BeHe bar.

Basshenge started last year as a series of parties to raise funds for a Burning Man installation of the same name. The result was a life-size (150 feet in diameter) Stonehenge replica powered by 100,000 watts of sound, over 120 …

Another chance to get stuff thrown at you while you jog for charity.

Who knew rainbow-hued corn starch races were a thing? When I posted about the Run or Dye 5K a few days ago, I thought it was a quirky, one-of-a-kind endeavor. But I was so, so wrong. Judging by their website, …

Dumb dance fascinates millions. Hijinks ensue.

Watching the potentially utopian vehicle of cyber-memes get twisted into unabashed marketing ploys may leave you a little cynical (like when you discovered that just about anything is liable to contain horse meat or that Ann Wilson got fat), but …

Colorful 5K comes to Qualcomm Stadium

Q: What do you get when you combine Indian Holi rituals with a spirited walk/jog/dance party around Mission Valley? A: The Run or Dye 5K. In what their website likens it to a “pillow fight with color instead of feathers,” …

Featuring strange sounds from Scott Nielsen, Bart Stull, Clint Davis, Demetrius Antuna, Rafter, and an interactive installation at Space 4 Art by Wages.

Now approaching its fourth annual installment, the San Diego Experimental Guitar show is expanding into a two-day affair with the addition of a sound art show the night before the big event. “Each year I experiment with new ideas that …

Art space off La Sexta offers $10 tats by Tijuana and Los Angeles artists.

It may well be the premise of The Hangover III, but on Saturday, March 16 you are invited to round up your buddies and head south of the border for ten dollar tattoos in Tijuana. Temporary art space Otras Obras …

Pacific Beach brewery at California Kebab and Beer Garden pairs farm-to-table meal with flight of beer.

Since opening shop in November at California Kebab and Beer Garden (4150 Mission Boulevard #208 - Pacific Beach), Amplified Ale Works managing partners JC Hill and Alex Pierson have been dialing in their beer & bacon brunch and, last week, …

A benefit for musician Nathan "Bonk" Joyner, who is recovering from life-threatening injuries after being struck by car in Hillcrest.

Walking home from work last September, multi-instrumentalist Nathan “Bonk” Joyner (All Leather, Some Girls, Hot Nerds, Ese' & Zain) was hit by a car while crossing Washington Street at Cleveland in Hillcrest. His girlfriend and bandmate Alia Jyawook (Hot Nerds, …

Bujwah learned art, music, clothes, and skateboards from the streets.

Bujwah’s story sounds more like what you’d expect from an anarchist punk band than a clothing line. Old friends from the desert agricultural town of El Centro, the Bujwah crew staved off boredom by going on renegade wheatpaste missions, causing …

Thrash/punk outfit featuring members of Festival of Dead Deer and The Locust to drop new LP May 7.

Having recently returned from a West Coast tour with Tomahawk, pissed-off thrash punk quartet Retox announced the release of their new album, YPLL, via Epitaph Records on May 7 (preorder). Vice plugged the release with a video for "Congratulations, You …