Dave Matthews @ Cox Arena
Dave Matthews is probably one of the most commercially successful artists of the last decade. His concerts are packed to the gills with frat boys and stoned undergrads holding hands and wearing brand-new Birkenstocks. He played for about 80,000 people in Central Park. Would his solo tour really constitute Cultivate material? Well, he’s dropped the 80-piece band, and hit the road with guitar wiz Tim Reynolds and Trey from Phish. And hey – Emmylou Harris is opening. We’ll give him a pass, based on his friends. Emmylou and Spyboy open.

tickets: $52.50 online

Jordan Knight @ Belly Up
I guess Jordan Knight mounting a comeback amidst the influx of macroed, mindless pop music is kind of like Kraftwerk reuniting now that EDM is big, or the Sugar Hill Gang getting back in the hip-hop game at the height of its commercial success. Kind of like that, except, Jordan Knight blows ginormous hippopotamus ballsack. Does it bother anyone else that an aging, mid-30s former teen idol is again putting out music for middle school girls? I’m reminded of the line in “Dazed on Confused” from the legendary Wooderson: “That’s the thing I love about these freshman girls – I get older, they stay the same age.” It bothered me enough to have to endure the NKOTB craze when I was in 7th grade – to have to see the inflated faces of those assbags on the shirt of every girl in my school, was nightmare enough. Now I have to relive the horror? Isn’t once enough? I guess, Jordan feels like he’s Justified to return and cash in on the pop craze, since he has a lengthy resume of putting out wretched, soulless pop garbage for the better half of twenty years? Isn’t that kind of like some narcissistic, talentless rich socialite thinking she deserves her own reality TV show, due to her extensive experience being narcissistic, talentless and rich, whose premise would be based on her being narcissistic, talentless, and rich? And the saddest part of all – that unless I specify, you’re not even sure *which* reality show I’m talking about, because there’s currently more than one in prime time that fits that description? So now sucking is apparently a legitimate career path to take, as long as you use your broad, vast background at sucking as work experience? But I digress...if any of you do actually go to this show, please tally the number of Au Coton shirts and French rolled black stretch pants you see in the audience, before you take your time machine back to the present – then remind me to slap the shit out of you.

tickets: $15 (please...no!!!)

Urge Overkill @ The Casbah
Urge Overkill was once part of the family of Chicago indy rock that gave Seattle a run for their money during the mid-nineties grunge phenomenon – Urge, the Pumpkins, and Liz Phair mixed melody with their angst, which separated their sound from Seattle’s, while still being held under the same “alternative” umbrella. But, we know all know how the story goes: Kurt blew his brains out, Soundgarden broke up, Billy’s ego ended the Pumpkins, Pearl Jam tried to become the Who, Layne ODed, and the commercial media vampires found a new genre to suck the life and integrity out of. (Man, we’ve been through punk, nu-metal, and emo since then – my how time flies when you’re extracting the soul from an underground genre for your own commercial benefit!) Urge tried to cash in on the grunge phenomenon – they covered a Neil Diamond song for “Pulp Fiction,” left Touch and Go Records to sign with a major, but alienated their core fan base before they could blow up. Which allowed Nato and Co. to graciously fade away, to go back to touring the grungy (shitty pun intended) clubs they once frequented, long before they sold flannels at Abercrombie for eighty bucks. The Low Flying Owls open.

tickets $10 online or on sale at The Casbah 12-2pm Tues-Thurs

Slick Rick @ L5
In the modern rap world, Slick Rick’s legend precedes him like no others. Originally known as Doug E. Fresh’s vocal partner in the Get Fresh Crew, MC Ricky D’s (as he was then known) unforgettable performances with “The Show”b/w “La Di Da Di,”brought a new kind of hip hop hero to light. Suave, debonair and capable of both great poignancy and bawdy humor, Rick’s charisma wouldn’t actually flourish fully until the commencement of his own solo career. Highlighted by classics from The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick found the U.K. Expatriate/Bronx resident displaying a remarkable talent for wit-filled narratives like some lyrical crossbreed of Bob Dylan and Richard Pryor.

tickets $5 tickets.cultivatelife.org

Dieselboy @ Canes
Dieselboy is without question the most successful drum ‘n’ bass DJ in America and the foundation behind the solid and surging d‘n’b market in the States. Some of his biggest conquests include teaming up with Nigel Richards on 611 Records, starting his legendary “Platinum” weekly at Fluid in Philly, which most consider the best drum’n’bass night in the US, and forming the “Planet of the Drums” collective with AK1200, MC J Messinian, and DJ Dara, which has circled the country and made waves from the massives all the way through the clubs. Few, if any, DJs can achieve success at such a wide variety of events – from massive alternative rock festivals in DC, to hardcore desert parties in Cali, to any and all drum ‘n’ bass club nights around the country – Dieselboy plays anywhere and everywhere, and always rocks to a packed house of passionate junglists. 45psi has been the lifeblood behind most of the quality D’n’B events in SD as of late – with LTJ Bukem, AK1200, and now Dieselboy gracing the decks in town in the last few months, it seems like the junglists have staked their claim beyond the back rooms of raves and are gaining steam in the clubs and beyond.

tickets $10 @ Canes Box Office

Ima Robot @ The Casbah
Ima Robot is an LA band that has the artsy LaLaLand underground buzzing like there’s a new Jane’s Addiction in town. Their bassist and drummer were part of Beck’s touring and recording band, back when he was just a dime-a-dozen art scene musician. They’ve also toured and recorded with the likes of Air, Ladytron, the Vines and Mars Volta. Together, they play a meth-laced symphony of glam and punk that brings back shades of synthed-out New Wave right to center stage. Between lead singer Alex Ebert and the Darkness’ Justin Hawkins, the shrill screams of 80s new wave and glam metal have found their way back into the underground consciousness. Apparently electroclash was just the beginning of the 80s revival. I repeat – the 80s are coming back. Can any good come of this? Apparently, rocking the checkered Chucks right now puts you right on the pulse of what’s retro – so if you bust out the flannel, does that make you one step ahead, or one step behind? The Stereotypes and AM Vibe open.

tickets $8 online or on sale at The Casbah 12-2pm Tues-Thurs

Nickodemus & Mariano @ The Onyx Room
Created by New York natives Nickodemus and Mariano, the Turnables on the Hudson parties are world-reknown for their unique atmosphere of DJ's & percussion, visuals and party people. With each year, the parties further define artistic musical vision and spirit of good fun, solidifying its stance as a precious staple to New York's music and dance scene. Expect sultry jazz rhythms, Eastern melodies and Afro grooves to heat up and re-write the old 4-by-4 house formula.

tickets $10 @ tickets.cultivatelife.org

The sound that emerged in the late 80s from the belly of the Midwest drew heavily from the musicians of the South that influenced them – country, when it was actually country. Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams. The cookie-cutter crap that Nashville chooses to churn out today through it’s narrow view of what sells has more in common with Britney than it does with Willie. It seemed as if the raw, powerful emotion that traditional country used to exude had been lost, through slick production work and overly-rigid Nashville radio. Then, two 18-year-old kids from Belleville, Illinois – Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy - decided to form a group called Uncle Tupelo. They used two guitars, some harmony, and some of the most profoundly honest lyrics since the Man in Black himself. They talked about things that were a part of everyday life in the rural Midwest – poverty, dead end jobs, whiskey, death, God. They brought country back to it’s roots, stripped all the bells and whistles out of it, fused it with a minimal punk aesthetic, and brought it back to its inherent nature – natural music, honest music, American music, music that spoke of pain and life in a way that was simple yet complex at the same time. The influence of their forefathers proudly resonated through their sound; yet they did not want to be associated with country, for what it had become. "Country was always around when we were growing up," Jay once said. "But the definition of country we're talking about is definitely not the contemporary Nashville sound. What we used to hear sounded more like Hank Williams - late '50s and early 60s country. The stuff going on now doesn't have much to do with that anymore. There's something wrong when Garth Brooks lists one of his main inspirations as Journey." Their debut album, “No Depression,” became the tag that the music world used to describe the growing underground community of alternative country; if you asked them, they’d just say “I think we were just trying to combine all those elements we liked about music. We’re just carrying on a fine tradition that was started way back yonder with Woody Guthrie, and continued through the likes of Johnny Cash. We're contributing to a long line of great music.” If anything, they would be proud that they wanted to distance themselves from Nashville just as much as Cash did.

Uncle Tupelo’s life was short-lived; they released four albums and broke up at the height of their creative success. But their legacy and influence on the Midwest-rooted genre of non-Nashville country-rock, commonly called No Depression, is boundless. Eventually they broke up and formed two bands – Jeff Tweedy took most of then group with him to form Wilco, and Farrar reunited with original Tupelo drummer Mike Heidorn, and formed Son Volt. Both bands saw a great amount of success in the mid-nineties – together with bands such as the Jayhawks, the Bottle Rockets, the Old 97s and Whiskeytown, they began a movement of rootsy, raw, stripped-down country that bridged the gap between their forefathers like Cash and Haggard and brought honesty, guitar prowess and profound lyricism back into country music, things that have long been lost in today’s diluted Nashville scene. Son Volt eventually broke up, and Wilco’s sound has evolved into more experimental rock. But Jay Farrar has continued doing what he does best – writing lamenting, scorched-earth poetry surrounded by the soul of the rural Midwest. Without question, Farrar is one of the most prominent songwriters to emerge in the last decade. Musicians from the same scene, such as Tweedy and Ryan Adams, have gradually evolved into popular artists that strayed from the rootsie, No-Depression sound. Bands such as Bright Eyes are now getting commercial exposure, while being heavily influenced by the path that Uncle Tupelo treaded before them. Yet Jay Farrar stays the course – writing reflective, painful lyrics accompanied by beautiful, flowing acoustic guitar. In his live shows, Jay draws from his Uncle Tupelo catalog, as well as his work with Son Volt, and of course, his new solo material. Farrar is touring behind his third solo release, "Terroir Blues." Canyon opens and then backs Jay.

tickets $17 online

Handsome Family/Richard Buckner @ The Casbah
Chicago’s Handsome Family has topped everyone’s Best-Of list in recent years, from the Village Voice to Rolling Stone. From having their third release “Through the Trees” named #1 Americana CD by Mojo, to being listed by the Chicago Tribune as one of the top ten most influential albums to ever come out of Chicago, the husband and wife duo of Brett and Rennie Sparks use instruments like autoharp, mandolin, and melodica to create an airy, honest No-Depression sound. Their fourth release, “In the Air,” “creates a world of gypsy moths, circling crows, and seeds in the wind. Fireflies in the summer night, rocks rolling uphill, clothes thrown in the snow, whispering waves, and milky moonlight all find themselves circling this night sky music.” Richard Buckner has floated seamlessly between the folk and Americana scenes – for a while it seemed like you couldn’t see Son Volt or Lucinda Williams play without Richard being close by. His relentless touring and comparisons to "countrified soul men like Neil Young" make him a constant presence in the No Depression community.

tickets $10 online or on sale at The Casbah 12-2pm Tues-Thurs

Hank Williams III @ The Casbah
If a rebel outlaw from the country could ever be Cultivated, the seeds would definitely be sowed by the legendary Williams family. In the same way that Johnny Cash and Hank Williams rebelled against the Nashville establishment, these days punk rock ideals are the catalyst for rejecting the cookie-cutter mold of the stagnant, plastic Nashville mainstream. Uncle Tupelo started the No Depression movement with their fusion of punk and traditional country; Hank Williams III takes this hybrid a step further, and wears his schizophrenic music background on his sleeve. "I listened to my grandfather's music when I was four years old, but at the same time, by the time I got to ten, I was listening to KISS, Black Sabbath, AC/DC and Ted Nugent, too." Williams started his musical career playing in an assortment of hardcore bands and letting his punk roots drive his music; recently he released “Risin’ Outlaw,” which is a retreat back into the country roots that have been in his family for three generations. His shows sometimes feel like a complete dichotomy between country and punk – sometimes covering Williams family classics like “Your Cheatin’ Heart” while wearing a Black Flag t-shirt. Other times, he fuses the two genres effortlessly into a manic punkabilly that is reminiscent of the Reverend Horton Heat. Williams is also part of the hardcore group Superjoint Ritual, which also includes Phil Anselmo of Pantera. But “Risin’ Outlaw” is a reflection of what Williams does best: classic country delivered with a fiery punk attitude.

tickets $15 online or on sale at The Casbah 12-2pm Tues-Thurs

Nortec’s first major US offering is “Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1,” released on NYC’s Palm label. The Nortec Collective was officially born in 1999, when Fussible's Pepe Mogt started doing sample experiments on old banda sinaloense and norteño records and then tweaking the sounds on his hard-drive and synthesizer. This sort of tech-Mex cut and paste is at work on The Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1, which also includes recordings culled from norteño street musicians who play in the red-light district bars of downtown Tijuana. Mogt explains it this way: "The rawer the sounds we got from these musicians, the better sounding they were to us. We forged them through filters and vocoders to create something that did not sound anything like its original form."
Since that time, the Nortec Collective musicians have packed rave parties throughout Mexico, Japan, and Germany, transformed LA rock clubs, and ruled the stage of New York's Irving Plaza at the first annual Latin Alternative Music Conference (held in August 2003). Many of the original musicians from the group have since forged solo careers beyond the sounds of the original formation. One of those musicians is DJ Murcof, who brought his glitchy micro-house sound to the SD techno monthly mental last fall. The Collective is without question one of the most innovative groups making music in Southern California, and around the world.

tickets $12 online

The Wailers @ Belly Up
What does your band do after your legendary, globally-worshipped, charismatic lead singer dies? Particularly when he was the principle songwriter, the foundation, the very life force of the band? It almost seems sacrilegious to try and continue on, with some unknown replacement trying fruitlessly to match the timbre and inflections that legions of fans know by heart. It’s almost unavoidable to come off as a glorified cover band…and by the way, hiring the lead singer of a long-forgotten hair metal band to replace a legend, and slapping a “…of the 21st Century” on your name certainly isn’t a viable solution. (Are you listening Ray Manzarek? Shame on you. We both know the Lizard King would not approve.) At least the remaining members of Joy Division had the sense to break up and form New Order after Ian Curtis died, instead of trying to rekindle their legacy. Same for The Long Beach Dub All-Stars and now Dubcat, after Brad Nowell ODed. But just because a singer dies, doesn’t mean his catalog of work should necessarily die with him. If anything, his legacy and inspiration should live on, through his music. Every performance can be like a celebration of sorts, a living memorial to an artist that so deeply touched so many. Nowhere is there a better example of this than in the remaining Wailers. Technically, Marley was only a member of a band that has defined and shaped reggae music for over three decades. The remaining members are some of Jamaica’s most heralded musicians, and carry on Bob’s legacy with honor. With Aston "Familyman" Barrett on bass, Al Anderson on guitar, Earl "Wya" Lindo on organ, Earl Fitzsimmons on keyboard, Gary "Nesta' Pine on lead vocals, Drummie Zeb on drums, and the new I-Threes, the Wailers bring the magical, positive vibrations Marley’s music creates back to the ears of those who loved him most. Gary Pine takes few liberties with the original songs; most sound just as they were originally recorded, which is equally relieving and enthralling. If you close your eyes, as the Familyman evokes lush, rolling reggae chops from his bass, as the new I-Threes sing beautiful harmonies, and as “Nesta” Pine sings “Positive Vibration,” you can almost feel Bob’s spirit with you in the room. Bob Marley has been called the most influential artist of the second half of the 20th century – his music is timeless, and always invokes love, peace and unity – the exact emotions he dreamed to share with the world when his magnificent spirit graced this Earth. The world is a much sadder place without Robert Nesta Marley – but as his music lives on, we are reminded that we were blessed to have him to touch our lives when he did, and as he still does.

tickets $25 online

H_Foundation Part Ways
Legendary house DJs and producers Hipp-E and Halo of H_Foundation announced that effective January 1st, the group would be amicably ending their creative relationship. Their last show as a duo was on Christmas Eve at Bar Dynamite in San Diego. Hipp-E aka Eric Galaviz is going to continue on as H_Foundation, and record the final H_F record for Soma, with the Australian group 20 for 7. 20 for 7 are the improvisational jazz musicians that provided the intricate instrumental accompaniment on Halo and Hipp-E’s 2003 “Environments” album. Hipp-E and 20 for 7 will also be launching a small West Coast tour, starting January 29th in Vancouver, and coming through San Diego on February 4th. The performance will include a DJ set from Hipp-E that leads into a live performance from the band. Hipp-E will also continue to spin dates at Fabric in London, the famed UK club where they have held a residency and released their Fabric Live 07 disk. Obviously the EDM world is disappointed at the dissolving of one of the most talented and sought-after duos in house music, but creatively, the group does not seem to be missing a beat. Look for an interview with Hipp-E about his future plans and collaborations in an upcoming Cultivate.

Radiohead, Pixies to Headline Coachella
An article written in the December 2003 issue of URB magazine confirms that Radiohead and the reunited Pixies will be playing the first night of the 2004 Coachella festival. Radiohead was rumored to make a surprise appearance at last year’s festival, which never materialized. In an act of complete deference and respect rarely seen from a band the magnitude of Radiohead, Thom Yorke has refused to play following the Pixies. “No! That’s just not right! The Pixies opening for us is like the Beatles opening for us. There’s no way we can follow the Pixies! The Pixies, the Smiths, R.E.M. – if it wasn’t for these bands, we wouldn’t be here right now.” Much props to Radiohead for acting with such humility and reverence towards one of their biggest influences.

Mental and Livin' on Hiatus
The San Diego techno monthly mental celebrated it’s six-month anniversary by announcing it was going to take a break to find a new venue and start bringing in national techno producers and DJs in 2004. The minimal live PA duo nominal, who are the mental residents, are taking some time off to record the new material generated from the past six month’s Friday sessions. They also plan on bringing in techno DJs and producers from Chicago, New York and Detroit in the near future. Mental has set the groundwork for the embryonic techno scene in San Diego – collaborations with LA techno promoters like Droid Behavior and Cued-Up and support from minimal producers such as the Nortec Collective’s Murcof have started quite the underground family of techno headz in Southern California. Expect big things from mental, nominal, and OceanLiner Records in 2004.

We checked in with Luis of Livin' and found that they are taking a break from the weekly events. But don't worry, there should be some of the cliqueandluis special events showing up in the near future - keep your eyes open for Boat Cruises or perhaps something more creative.

Destino @ Landmark Theaters (animated)
Walt Disney and Salvador Dali seem the most unlikely of artistic collaborators - one the embodiment of prim and proper Midwestern values, the other the quintessential outrageous showman who once vowed to spit on his mother's portrait. And yet collaborate they did, in 1947, on an animation short called Destino that was abandoned while still in development. Following the theft of about 150 storyboards and other assorted bits of artwork that later turned up on the New York art market, it was assumed to have been lost for ever. Now, 57 years later, a team of Disney animators has finished what Dalí started. The six-minute film, spearheaded by Walt's nephew Roy E. Disney and producer Baker Bloodworth (Dinosaur), premiered at the Annecy Animation Festival in June and is currently touring festivals worldwide.

Recent stops include the Telluride, Montreal and Venice festivals, along with the Melbourne International Film Festival, where it won the grand prize for best short film.

+more

Big Fish @ La Jolla Village Cinemas
Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) has always been a teller of tall-tales about his life as a young man (Ewan McGregor). His mythic exploits weave epic stories of giants, blizzards, a witch and conjoined-twin lounge singers. With his larger-than-life tales, Bloom charms almost everyone he encounters except for his estranged son Will (Billy Crudup). When his mother Sandra (Jessica Lange) tries to reunite them, Will must learn how to separate fact from fiction as he comes to terms with his father’s great feats and great failings. Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace / directed by Tim Burton.

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Original Score - Motion Picture

+view trailer

The Triplets of Belleville @ Landmark Theaters (animated)
Writer/director Sylvain Chomet uses animation to tell the fanciful tale of Champion, a lonely little boy who is never happier than on a bicycle. His grandmother, Madame Souza, puts him through a rigorous training process and soon the boy enters the world-famous Tour de France. When two mysterious men kidnap Champion during the tour, Madame Souza and her dog Bruno set out to rescue him. Their long journey leads to the renowned "Triplets of Belleville," three eccentric female music-hall stars from the '30s who agree to help recover the boy.

Winner of Best Foreign Film at the Independent Spirit Awards, Winner of Best Animated Film at the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, many more

+view trailer

Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation @ Ken Cinemas (animated)
Highlights of this year's festival include Snowman by Lane Nakamura, How To Cope With Death by Ignacio Ferreras and Big Abandoned Refrigerator Adventure by Keith Allen, Courtney Branch and Seth Gordon. Also featured: new films from past Sick and Twisted animators Shane Acker (Mr. Grenade), Bill Plympton (Petting in the Park), and one of the funniest films ever shown in the festival, Here Comes Dr. Tran by Breehn Burns and Jason Johnson. Admission includes a free pair of souvenir 3-D glasses for use in a segment of Dr. Tran.

Butter @ Martini Ranch – Mondays – (Mixed)
This eclectic night is well versed in all types of good music. The music is based on quality and not Clear Channel's playlist, and is never pre-programmed. DJ Mada buying records for Access Music & Beatnick buying records for Siesta Music shows their musical knowlege in each respective genre. Recent requests have included Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jamiroquai, James Brown, Mary J. Blige, Atmosphere & De La Soul. The crates run deep so don't hesitate to ask for what you want to hear. No cover and the DJ's don't bite…unless you want them to.

Wheel Up @ Thruster’s Lounge – Wednesdays - (Reggae)
Dasheye and Unite of Tribe of Kings moved their now-defunct Lion’s Share night over to PB, to cater more to the weeknight crowd that’s out near the beach. The vibe is nice and cozy, and the beats are second-to-none. Rastas even come through to drop live ragamuffin rhymes over the roots and dancehall riddims. Oh yeah, did we mention no cover?

Hi Grade @ Galoka Bar & Lounge – Thursdays – (Reggae)
Dash Eye and Selecta from the Tribe of Kings have set off yet another weekly of quality reggae, dancehall and dub in San Diego – come enjoy a night of island beats courtesy of San Diego’s hardest working crew.

$5 cover

Timeless @ Blue Agave Nightclub – Fridays – (Reggae)
Revelation International has teamed up with the Tribe of Kings crew to start a new weekly, featuring hottest in dancehall, roots & hip-hop reggae. This week features guest selector DJ JFX from the Rootz Revolution Radio show – come bear witness to “a ting called Timeless.”

Electroluxe presents VICE/VERSA @ Recognize [Every 2nd & 4th Friday]
Every second and fourth Friday of the month. With DJs Barry Weaver and Dr. Indulgent Spinning Electro, Electro-house, punk-funk, Italo Disco, No Wave, Acid House, along with some of your Electroluxe faves. They've got lots of Crystal Method CDs and sampler DVDs to give away courtesy of FILTER MAGAZINE.

$5 cover info: 619.521.4747

Nuestra Cosa @ Ventanas – Friday - (Latin)
Merge Events and Latin Flavor bring you Nuestra Cosa – “Our Thing” - a night of classic salsa & other hard latin rhythms. January 16th features the driving acoustic duo of Bobby Matos & Rogelio Mitchell. These two acclaimed musicians join forces to create new music, anchored in the Afro-Carribbean tradition, with echoes of Salsa, Calypso, Rumba, Son, and Soca. Matos & Mitchell will join our own PA'LANTE to close the evening with a hot latin jam session. Giveaways from the SD Latino Film Fest 2004

$10 cover

Sunday Night Shakedown @ Red C Lounge – Sundays – (Hip-Hop)
Jersan, Beatnick & Solo have a Sunday night session that’s known for quality underground and proper hip hop, downtempo & all things soul. On any given Sunday you could hear Jazzanova, A Tribe Called Quest, Jeru The Damaja, Gangstarr, Roy Ayers, EPMD & Barrington Levy plus more coming out of the speakers. Many have graced the decks at this weekly including L.A.'s Presto, J. Logic, Cocoe & many of S.D.'s own talent. In little over a year this has become a staple in S.D.'s nightlife. This month’s remaining guests include Dec. 28th: Danny Massure returning to SD now residing in Seattle. No cover with all this talent makes it a sin not to go.

Downtown Top Rankin’ w/ Tribe of Kings @ Shaker Room – Sundays – (Reggae)
The Tribe of Kings have a lock on local dancehall and reggae in San Diego. The crew – Unite, Jay Dred, Dasheye, Kofi, Selecta and Rashy – are all integral in making that rastaman vibration happen around San Diego. They use the energy created at Downtown Top Rankin’ to pursue their own nights around the city - Jay Dred spins neo-soul and dancehall at Red Circle Café on Thursdays, Dasheye and Unite have their Wheel-Up roots and dancehall night at Thruster’s Lounge on Wednesdays, as well as their new high-grade Thursdays at Galoka, and now Timeless at Blue Agave, and the whole crew gets in the mix at Shaker Room on Sunday nights. Two rooms of reggae, dancehall, roots, new riddim, and dub style – bringing people of all colors and styles together. They’ve got the hookup on all the hottest wax, courtesy of EBReggae.com – watching rastas spin 45s that come straight from the islands, you can be rest assured you’re hearing all the best mashups and remixes that are probably being rocked at the dancehalls in Kingston. Bless up and take advantage of having the best in island riddims several times a week, courtesy of the Tribe of Kings.

Japanese Friendship Garden
Japanese Tea Ceremony
Tuesday 01.13, 11:30pm & 12:30pm
Experience a traditional tea ceremony at Balboa Park's Japanese Friendship Garden by Urasenke instructor, Sohya Ayako Stott, assisted by Ms. Miyuki Arai, Ms. Junko Kawa, and Ms. Yoko Honma. 619-232-2721. Fee included with the Garden Admission.
Origami Class
Saturday 01.24, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn how to make a Cherry Blossom and a Butterfly Origami.

Meet the Masters lecture/concerts @ San Diego Museum of Art
Tuesday, 01.13 @ 11am and 6pm
"Four Hands Fantastique," piano duetists Barbara and Gerhardt Suhrstedt perform music by composers Bizet, Debussy, Fauré, and Ravel along with slides of paintings by Degas, Gauguin, Monet, and Renoir in performances.
Reservations: 619-696-1966.

$20 for nonmembers, $38 with lunch

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade
Saturday 01.17, 10:00am
The parade, an annual city-wide event, is supported by several civic and public agencies such as the Metropolitan Transit Board, the U.S. Customs Service, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego Fire Department, and various other agencies who donate their time, personnel, and materials for the gala event. The parade route winds down scenic Harbor Drive from the County Administration Building along the Embarcadero to Seaport Village. Over two hundred civic and cultural groups participate in the event. Last year, the police confirmed over thirty thousand San Diegans were on hand in the crisp sunny San Diego morning to watch the annual fete.

Downtown Multicultural Festival
Saturday 01.17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m
Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, Harbor Drive, downtown www.ccdc.com
Centre City Development hosts this fifth annual event, which honors the diversity of the San Diego population. International food, music and arts highlight the family event, which is preceded by the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.

Over 10,000 people attended last year’s festival and this year’s festival promises to grow in activities and popularity. This year’s festival highlights will include two entertainment stages featuring 16 multicultural performers including, but not limited to: Native American Dancers, Bayou Brothers, the Kinhal Sisters, Areito Borincano, Eveoke Dancers, Lucky Lion Dancers, Gato Papacitos and Montgomery High School’s Mariachi Azteca.

The San Diego Children's Museum will offer hands-on activities and the Rad Hatter will offer additional entertainment in the children's area. More than 80 food and merchandise vendors and local community organizations will be participating in the festival. Additionally, several artisans (painters, sculptors, etc.) will be on hand actively working on current projects and discussing their specific art medium. For information on getting involved, or for general information, call (619) 533-7148 or e-mail specialevents@ccdc.com. , 619-533-7146.

Free Family Portraits for Fire Victims:
January 17, 9 am to 4 pm @ The Museum of Photographic Arts
The Museum of Photographic Arts wants to help San Diego fire victims rebuild, one family portrait at a time. Professional photographers will use Balboa Park's landscapes as the backdrops for family portraits, which will be donated and mailed directly to participating families. Reservations required by January 9. 1649 El Prado, 619-238-7559, extension 224.

The San Diego Marathon
Sunday 01.18, 5:30am @ 2525 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
The second-largest marathon on the West Coast kicks off bright and early from the Plaza Camino Real Shopping Center in Carlsbad, winding its 26-mile way along the coast. A noncompetitive walk and early-start marathon are also scheduled. Call 888-792-2900 for more info.

2004 Chinese New Year Faire
Saturday and Sunday 01.24-25 @ Asian Historic Thematic District
It's the Year of the Monkey, so go bananas at this cultural celebration, hosted by the San Diego Chinese Center. The 22nd annual extravaganza features food, entertainment, arts and crafts and educational activities for families. Located at Third Avenue at J Street 619-234-7844.

Chinese Historical Society and Museum
V iew artifacts from San Diego's Chinese and Chinese-American history, culture, and art. Current museum artifacts include a 1920s warlord's bed, exhibits on Chinese footbinding and Chinese-American veterans. The museum is in a building originally built in 1927 for the Chinese Mission. Adjacent to the building is an Asian garden with koi pond and waterfall. Find the museum at 404 Third Avenue (at J Street); 619-338-9888.

Sail on the Pacific Queen
Orientation: Thursday, January 15, 6:30 pm.; expedition: Saturday, January 17, 8 am
Board the 88-Foot Pacific Queen and journey to Coronado Islands to see whales during outing hosted by San Diego Natural History Museum. to 5 p.m. Fee: $78 for nonmembers. Registration: 619-255-0203.

Hawk Watch
Saturday, 9 am to noon, through February 28
Wildlife Research Institute leads raptor-spotting hikes every Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, through February 28. Walks are led by biologist, along with a trained falconer. The Ramona grasslands are prime raptor territory; 19 species of raptors have been recorded at the spot. Wear hiking or walking boots. Bring binoculars or spotting scopes if you have them. Only heavy rain cancels trips. Wildlife Research Institute headquarters, 18030 Highland Valley Road (near Rangeland). Free. 760-789-3992.

What a Clown
every Tuesday and Thursday, January 13 through April 1
Annual beginning clown classes covering all facets of clowning offered by San Diego All-Star Clown Club at Congregation Beth El (8660 Gilman Drive). $85. 858-450-1533.

Venus and Mars are clearly visible in the evening sky this month. Brilliant Venus is gradually assuming a more dominant position in the sky, while Mars continues to fade following its spectacular close approach last August. As darkness is falling, look for silvery Venus low in the west and reddish Mars high in the southern sky.


Liquidamber Trees, or sweet gums, the deciduous trees gracing front yards, parks, and campuses throughout the San Diego area, have been putting on an exceptionally colorful show. The leaves of some varieties turn to purple or red; the leaves of other varieties fade to golden yellow. Other varieties hold on to their green leaves until sometime in December. Most liquidambers in our area regain their light green foliage by late February.

Rainbow Season arrives with the first rains of late fall. Scattered showers are best for rainbow watching: sunlight refracting and reflecting through the raindrops causes two bows to appear -- an intense circular arc at 42°, and a bigger but weaker arc at 51° from the antisolar point (the point in the sky diametrically opposed to the sun's position). From November through mid-February, the sun never gets higher than 42° above the horizon as seen from San Diego, so (rain and sunlight permitting) the brighter of the two arcs may appear above the horizon at any time of day. In spring and summer, rainbows are never seen in the sky around midday because the sun is too high -- and the antisolar point is too low.

San Diego Museum of Art
Sculpture in Silk: Costumes from Japan's Noh Theater
Offers opportunity to examine elegant designs and exquisite workmanship of layered costumes. Display includes more than 40 robes and accessories created during Edo period (1601-1868), as well as 100 modern examples of Noh costumes created using Edo-period designs and techniques. Continues through Sunday, January 25.

The Later Mughals: Theaters of Power presents more than 20 seldom-seen images telling the story of the waning of India's greatest dynasty. Through Sunday, January 25, 2004.

For further information, call 619-232-7931

San Diego Museum of Man
The Turquoise Path/El Camino Turquesa: The Story of Turquoise in the Native American Southwest
O on display through April 2004, focuses on historical, social, cultural, and economic implications of the age-old stone. Turquoise jewelry-making techniques documented, and pieces from the museum's extensive collections exhibited.

Inuit: People of the Midnight Sun
Continuing through April 2004, brings to life the iliqqusiq or "ways and habits" of the Inuit (previously known as Eskimo). Artifacts include tools for hunting and sewing, handmade games, clothing, masks, and kayaks, offering an in-depth look at aspects of modern and ancient Inuit culture.

Efe: Archers of the Congo
Examines one of the most enigmatic and little-known groups on the planet. The Efe are one of about 12 pygmy tribes living in African rainforest. The more than 200 items include bows, arrows, quivers, wrist guards, hunting nets, musical instruments, utensils, and bark cloth paintings. Through summer.

Ongoing exhibits: Inquisition: Torture and Intolerance
Focusing on reality of torture in world today, including an interactive video and stories of modern-day torture survivors. Collection features dozens of macabre devices gathered from throughout Europe, some extremely rare, primarily used from 1400s up to early 1800s. Pieces on display are originals, including an iron maiden, a guillotine, chain flails, a knee splitter, and more.

Permanent anthropology exhibit Footsteps through Time: Four Million Years of Human Evolution
F eatures "more than a hundred touchable replicas of early humans, primates, and futuristic cyborgs (part human, part machine)." 619-239-2001.

Mingei International Museum of Folk Art
Origami Masterworks
Innovative Forms of the Art of Paper Folding," on view through Sunday, February 8, 2004, includes more than 150 pieces by 42 artists from across the globe. Most of the objects were created by folding single sheets of paper to make geometrical forms, flowers, trees, people, masks, and a menagerie of animals.

Mingei of Japan -- The Legacy of Its Founders -- Soetsu Yanagi, Shoji Hamada, and Kanjiro Kawai
A an exhibition of objects from the museum's collection by known and unknown craftsmen from throughout Japan continues until January 25, 2004. Included: tansu (Japanese chests), pottery, calligraphy, woodblock prints, stencil work, kimono and other textiles, baskets, toys.

The Mingei is located on the square with the San Diego Museum of Art and the Timken Museum of Art. 619-239-0003. (Balboa Park)