Padres Announcer hopefuls
Approximately 1,500 people turned out at Petco Park on Sunday, Jan. 26 hoping for a chance to audition to replace the late, great Jerry Coleman’s position of stadium announcer for the San Diego Padres. Only the first 460 people in line actually made it into the stadium for the live try-outs. Three of those lucky participants (shown at left) included (l to r) Jaime Trevizu, Samantha Wynn-Greenstone and Shawn Maher. The winner will be announced in late March. (Photo by Vince Meehan)
Cupid’s to clean up San Diego
Local residents are encouraged to show their appreciation for the environment and socializing by participating in the annual Cupid’s Clean-up event and mixer presented by I Love a Clean San Diego (ILACSD) on Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Instead of their traditional beach clean up, ILACSD is asking volunteers to meet-up at Thorn Street Brewery at 3176 Thorn St., in North Park and participate in a neighborhood clean up for approximately two hours. Immediately following, everyone is invited to a Valentine’s Day-themed mixer hosted by the Brewery, where complimentary beer tasters will be made available to thank participants for their hard work. Volunteers are asked to wear close-toed shoes, bring their own reusable water bottle and to sign a waiver. ILACSD will provide all necessary supplies, including snacks, water and community service forms. To sign up, contact Lexi at [email protected] or call 619-704-2778.
Local film festival to host Oscar party
The Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF) is offering local residents the opportunity to “walk the red carpet” for their first-annual party to celebrate the broadcast of the 86th annual Academy Awards ceremony on March 2. The “Red Carpet Oscar Party” will be at Nicky Rottens Restaurant, located at 100 Orange Ave., Coronado with red carpet arrivals beginning at 4 p.m. Ellen DeGeneres will be hosting the awards ceremony this year, which will be broadcast live on three giant LCD screens and various smaller screens throughout the restaurant. Tickets are $50 and will include the red carpet festivities, access to the restaurant, a raffle, silent auction and a champagne toast. Lots of prizes and auction items will be available and all proceeds will go to CIFF toward their upcoming four-day film festival, expected to launch in fall of 2015. Attendees are encouraged to “dress to the nines” and even come dressed as your favorite film celebrity. Prizes will also go to celebrity look-a-likes and for those who pick correct Oscar winners. For tickets, visit coronadofilmfest.com or buy them in person at Bliss Salon, 930 Orange Ave.
Sweet Adelines to offer singing valentines
The San Diego Chorus — a local chapter of the 25,000-strong Sweet Adelines International — is offering a chance to give your loved one a message of love they will never forget. The 75-member award-winning women’s chorus will deliver “singing Valentines” either in person or over the phone all day Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15. Songs will be performed in a four-part a cappella, barbershop style. Fees for the non-traditional Valentines gift are $40 for a personal performance or $10 to sing a valentine over the phone to anywhere your loved one may be in the world. “This is a great way to express your feelings besides giving traditional gifts like flowers or a box of chocolates,” said Kim Vaughn, San Diego Chorus artistic director. To learn more about this chorus and its performances for community and civic events throughout the year or to schedule a singing valentine, call 619-796-5162 or visit sdchorus.org.
San Diego Jewish Film Festival to feature 60 films
Sponsored by the Leichtag Foundation, the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture announces the 24th annual Jewish Film Festival will take place from Feb. 6 – 16 at five different locations around the county. This year’s festival will host 60 films, 20 filmmakers and other special guests during the ten-day event. The five venues chosen include: Readings Town Square 14 in Clairemont, ArcLight Cinemas in La Jolla, Carlsbad Village Theatre, San Marcos Stadium 18, and Garfield Theatre in La Jolla. For a full list of schedules, events and ticket prices, visit sdjff.com or call 858-362-1348.
Local ‘Living Wage’ strongest in the state
On Jan. 28 the City Council approved the latest updates to San Diego’s Living Wage Ordinance, making it the strongest in the state of California, according to the City’s Independent Budget Analyst. “The changes approved today are reasonable and necessary in order to take our Living Wage program forward and continue to show that the City of San Diego is a responsible employer that does not perpetuate the creation of the working poor,” said Interim Mayor Todd Gloria when announcing the action. The “Living Wage Ordinance” impacts San Diego Municipal Code Division 42, which states it “advances the interests of the City as a whole by creating jobs that keep workers and their families out of poverty …” The ordinance is intended to enhance the quality of life for prime contractor workers doing jobs for the City. The latest changes ensure that prime contractor employers are held to the highest of standards and allow the City Manager to take action if they violate the ordinance. For more information about the Living Wage program, visit sandiego.gov and look for programs.
First annual improv festival
Featuring improvisational talent from as far away as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York City, and Chicago and including the best improv troupes in San Diego, the first annual San Diego Improv Festival will be held at the historic Lafayette Hotel, located at 4250 Louisiana St., in North Park Feb. 14–16. Hosted by Finest City Improv, the three-night festival will include performances from nearly 100 performers, and also feature workshops, beginning and classes beginning each evening at 7 p.m. “This festival finally puts San Diego on the map of great cities for improv comedy,” said Amy Lisweski, founder and artistic director of Finest City Improv, which calls the Lafayette Hotel its base. For more information and tickets, visit sdimprovfestival.com or call 619-306-6047.
Acro-cats come to Victory Theatre
The “Amazing Acro-Cats” — a nationally known domestic cat acrobatic troupe, and one of only four currently performing in the U.S. — are coming to San Diego for nine days of performances, starting Feb. 6 through 16. Many of the Acro-Cats were adopted from shelters and others are available for adoption. They have been featured on television, Animal Planet on cable tv, online and in books and magazines. Master Trainer Samantha Martin teaches the cats to perform tricks, and even act in a band, called “The Rock Cats.” They perform feats such as walking tight ropes, riding skateboards, jumping through hoops, and other tests of agility. All ages are encouraged to come. Acro-Cats will perform at the Victory Theatre, located at 2558 Imperial Ave. Tickets are $20 and are available online at circuscats.com.
City officials launch largest-ever tourism marketing effort
On Jan. 22, San Diego’s Tourism Authority unveiled a $12 million national marketing campaign to promote San Diego’s merits as a travel destination. The campaign began the following weekend during the Farmer’s Insurance Open golf tournament at the Torrey Pines Golf Course with the airing of a national television ad. The six-month campaign will also consist of print and online advertising. The push was announced by Interim Mayor Todd Gloria and San Diego Tourism Authority President Joe Terzi. “More tourism money means more money flowing into our local economy, more tax revenues flowing into our city coffers to help pay for neighborhood improvements we all want,” Gloria said. “We all want more freshly paved roads, we want to hire more police officers, we want more library hours. Tourism is one of the ways we can accomplish that. The funds for the marketing effort were put on hold last year by former mayor Bob Filner, who asked for a reworked deal that provided more money for the City and better wages for hotel workers, the U-T San Diego reported in early 2013. Gloria released the frozen funds after Filner’s resignation.
CA lawmakers propose plastic bag ban
California legislators have proposed a bill that, if passed, would ban single-use carry-out plastic bags at supermarkets, liquor stores and pharmacies by 2016, reports KPBS News. The City Council is currently working on a proposal that would ban plastic-bag use throughout much of the city. Los Angeles and nearly 100 other cities and counties throughout the state have enacted bans on single-use plastic bags. In August 2013, a report to the City Council’s Rules and Economic Development Committee reported that approximately 500 million single-use plastic bags are distributed each year by retail outlets, and that less than three percent of those are recycled. Critics of the proposed bill claim that the ban would put an unfair burden on small businesses and San Diego’s poor. “Sadly, the state’s proposal is just as bad as the one being pushed by Councilmember [Sherri] Lightner,” stated Bishop George McKinney, pastor of St. Stephens Cathedral, Church of God in San Diego. “Both impose a hefty tax on working families and seniors who are barely getting by, and both allow the big grocery chains to pocket the tens of millions of dollars that will come from this tax. At the very least, instead of going to big grocers, this money should be spent for local programs in San Diego, like community cleanups. It’s just not fair.” The bill would require supermarkets to stop distributing plastic bags by July 2015, extending to smaller stores the following year.
