Thursday, March 1
“¢ In conjunction with Morris Louis Now: An American Master Revealed, Thursday Night Thing (TNT) gets kitschy with a showcase of all things postwar American chic. Museumgoers are encouraged to dress up in vintage attire, while Orange Kiss DJs Gage and Sergio will provide a ’60s soundtrack with mod go-go dancers and retro visuals. Paint-by-number activities will be on hand, along with live jazz music by Todd Davidson’s Club 33, tap dancing by Groove on Tap and psychedelic electro breaks by Frik & Frak. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), 1100 and 1001 Kettner Blvd. Free for MCASD members, $3 suggested donation for non-members. (858) 454-3541 or www.mcasd.org.
Friday, March 2
“¢ ElderHelp of San Diego’s 10th anniversary Wine and Dine, Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina 1380 Harbor Island Dr. Auctions available for bid include coffee with Mayor Jerry Sanders, a full day of fishing on a private boat, a San Francisco trip for two, golf clubs and more. $75 advance, $85 at the door. www.elderhelpofsandiego.org or (619) 284-9281.
Saturday, March 3
“¢ 18th annual Women’s Resource Fair for homeless and battered women in Golden Hall, adjacent to the Civic Administration Building, 202 C St. in downtown San Diego. A variety of free resources and services will be provided between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., including medical care, veterans services, shelter referrals, education and employment. (619) 338-6620.
“¢ “Beauty and The Beast… the ballet” starring Jennifer Curry and guest artist Vadim Solomakha. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave. 8 p.m. Also March 4, 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. www.californiaballet.org.
“¢ The Ohara School of Ikebana, San Diego chapter, presents its 34th annual flower show and bazaar. 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Casa del Prado, 1650 El Prado, room 101. More than 60 floral arrangements will be on display, with demonstrations of the Ohara style of flower arranging by teachers from the group. Demonstrations will take place at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sushi and tea will be available for purchase as well as baked goods and small flower arrangements made for the occasion. Through March 4. (619) 683-2432.
Sunday, March 4
“¢ Ethnographic Metalsmiths “” Anonymous Jewelers by Robert Liu and Contemporary Jewelry as Great Art and the Jewelers that Make It by Carolyn Benesh, lectures by the co-publishers of Ornament magazine, 4 p.m. Running in conjunction with “Symbols of Identity “” Jewelry of Five Continents.” $10 members, $15 nonmembers. Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado. www.mingei.org.
Monday, March 5
“¢ Bella Sorella, opera duets presented by Athenaeum San Diego’s 34th annual mini-concerts. Noon to 1 p.m. Free. Parking validation available. (858) 454-5872 or www.ljathenaeum.org.
Wednesday, March 7
“¢ Planetarium show and Star Party at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. “The Sky Tonight” is designed for backyard astronomers looking to find their way around the universe. 7 p.m. $8.50 adults, $7 juniors and seniors. www.rhfleet.org.
“¢ Bulgarika Balkan Band, featuring three virtuosic Bulgarian musicians, at the World Beat Center, 2100 Park Blvd. 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. $15. www.worldbeatcenter.com.
Sunday, March 11
“¢ Gregorian Chant Mass. Schola and congregational singing. Hymnals/missals provided with Latin-English pages. 4 p.m. Our Lady of the Rosary Church. State and Date Streets.
Monday, March 12
“¢ Beyond Killer Bees at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Explore the natural history of our region’s native and nonnative bees. This class covers all facets of bee biology, behavior and conservation. 1788 El Prado. (619) 232-3821, www.sdnhm.org.
Tuesday, March 13
“¢ Jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos and the Latin Trumpet Summit perform at Saville Theatre, 1313 Park Blvd., on the San Diego City College Campus as part of KSDS Jazz 88.3’s monthly Jazz Live series. The concert is free to Jazz 88 members and reservations are higly recommended. Tickets for nonmembers are $10 at the door. www.jazz88online.org.
Wednesday, March 14
“¢ Professional Artist Lecture Series: Technical Illusion “” The Art and Science of Autostereoscopic Photography. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. $5 members, $10 non-members. San Diego Art Institute: Museum of the Living Artist, 1439 El Prado. (619) 236-0011, www.sandiego-art.org.
Thursday, March 15
“¢ The 32nd annual Senior Talent Show. Seniors 50 years and older may apply as professional or amateur contestants in different talent categories such as instrumental, vocal, dance, variety or group performance. Awards will be presented to the top finalists. Free. Lunch served at noon. $3 for lunch ticket if purchased by March 12, $5 day of event. War Memorial Building, 3325 Zoo Dr. 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (619) 236-6905.
“¢ House of Italy sponsors a screening of Academy Award-winning “La Vita é Bella” (“Life is Beautiful”). UCSD professor Pasquale Verdicchio will introduce the film and lead a discussion following the screening. The film is Italian with English subtitles. House of Italy, across from Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. 7 p.m. Free. (858) 831-1717
“¢ “Ole Madrid,” the 11th annual dinner and auction to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, dedicated to finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Harbor House Restaurant, Seaport Village, 831 West Harbor Drive. 1-800-227-6737 ext. 113 or www.stjude.org.
Saturday, March 17
“¢ The Irish Congress of Southern California’s 27th annual San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Family Festival, sponsored by Guinness. Entertainment stages, music, dancing, Celtic Village, Kids Zone and beer garden will be located between Laurel and Upas streets along Sixth Avenue. A second beer garden can be found at Sixth and Quince streets. www.stpatsparade.org or (858) 268-9111.
Monday, March 19
“¢ Erin Breene and Ines Irwati, presented by Athenaeum San Diego’s 34th annual mini-concerts. Noon to 1 p.m. Free. Parking validation available. (858) 454-5872 or www.ljathenaeum.org.
Thursday, March 22
“¢ Castello Banfi Wine Dinner, 6:30 p.m. at Le Fontainebleau, Westgate Hotel, 1055 Second Ave. Featuring wines from Castello Banfi winery, a family-owned vineyard estate and winery in Tuscany. www.westgatehotel.com, (619) 557-3619.
“¢ Tower After Hours: Norway at the San Diego Museum of Man, celebrating Norway’s culture with music, dance, food and drink. Ages 21 and up. 1350 El Prado. (619) 239-2001, www.museumofman .org.
“¢ Artful Readings: Cosmopolitanism. Join fellow avid readers for an evening of thought, discussion and coffee at the San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado. 6 p.m. (619) 232-7931, www.sdmart .org.
Friday, March 23
“¢ Banff Mountain Film Festival, award-winning feature films from the annual event explore virtually every corner of the globe. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Through March 25. 1788 El Prado. (619) 232-3821, www.sdnhm.org.
“¢ Flower show and Centennial Tea marking the 100th anniversary of the San Diego Floral Association. A free floral exhibition runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 24. Tickets to the tea are $55. U.S. Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway. For more information, call (619) 232-5762.
Saturday, March 24
“¢ Taka Sumi-e Society’s annual art exhibition. Sumi-e, the art of Japanese brush painting, will be demonstrated, original works by the members of the society will be displayed and a fashion show will feature wearable art. Additionally, the society will host a demonstration of a tea ceremony and hold performances by Japanese dancers and musicians. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Casa del Prado, 1650 El Prado, Room 101. Through March 25. (619) 255-2501.
Sunday, March 25
“¢ Lecture on Kazakhstan with photographer Wayne Eastep, in conjunction with “Of Gold and Grass “” Nomads of Kazakhstan.” 4 p.m. Mingei International Museum, $10 members, $15 non-members. 1439 El Prado. www.mingei .org.
“¢ The sixth concert in the San Diego Public Library winter/spring concert series, featuring Richard Thompson on piano, part of the library’s lecture/film “Looking at Jazz.” Third-floor auditorium of the Central Library, 820 E St. The concert is free and open to the public. Free parking is available at the lot adjacent to the library on Broadway and Eighth, courtesy of Five Star Parking. Additionally, parking meters are not enforced on Sundays. (619) 236-5810.