LEARN HOW TO PREPARE FOR A NATURAL DISASTER

September is National Preparedness Month and with the recent wildfires along the West Coast and the hurricanes in the South, it more important than ever to be prepared.

Sharp HealthCare is providing San Diegans an easy way to learn how to prepare their households for an emergency such as an earthquake, wildfire or power outage. Their sixth annual Disaster Preparedness Expo will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, in Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Road.

This free, interactive community event will include:

• Quake Cottage, a magnitude-8.0 earthquake simulator.
• Fire safety best practices from the San Diego Fire Department.
• How to care for pets in a disaster by San Diego Humane Society.
• San Diego Blood Bank’s Bloodmobile for lifesaving donations.
• First-aid kits available for purchase from Ready America.
• CPR demonstrations and vendors showcasing the latest emergency supplies.
• Family-fun activities, games, shopping and food.

TASTE OF NORTH PARK TICKETS ON SALE

Home to culinary innovation and cutting-edge brewmasters, North Park is a go-to San Diego destination for everything food and drink. On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the Taste of North Park invites culinary enthusiasts to enjoy over 50 food tastes from San Diego’s best restaurants.

This event isn’t just for foodies. For those looking to enjoy some hops while they walk, they can sip on the region’s best craft beer as 15 craft brewers will offer 4-ounce samples of their best releases.

New this year is an array of distinctively created nonalcoholic beverages to hit the market.

Included in the ticket price are the street musicians and artists you will enjoy as you casually stroll along the vibrant and colorful neighborhood as you sample and sip. From piping hot pizza from Tribute Pizza and top Californian cuisine from Urban Solace to ale from Mike Hess Brewing, Taste of North Park is sure to awaken all senses.

Participating restaurants and breweries include an exciting lineup of neighborhood veterans and newbies alike. Tastes from City Tacos, Dunedin’s New Zealand-inspired food, and Tamarindo Latin Kitchen & Bar will offer you flavors from around the world without having to leave the hip and urban feel of North Park.

Save room for dessert! Top off the day with a sweet treat from Nomad Donuts or a build-your-own frozen yogurt from Yog-art. Along with restaurants, local breweries stationed inside North Park’s favorite businesses will allow participants to tour trendy spaces while getting a strong sip from brew-masters like Ballast Point Brewing and The Lost Abbey.

Visita bit.ly/2f62lHx for ticket options: $35 for food only; $15 for beer only; and $45 for food and beer.

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO HONOR FIVE CELEBS

The San Diego International Film Festival, running Oct. 4-8, will honor Sir Patrick Stewart, Heather Graham, Kumail Nanjiani, Blake Jenner and Taran Killam. The awards will be presented Oct. 5 at the Variety Night of the Stars Tribute at the Pendry San Diego in Downtown.

Sir Patrick Stewart will receive the Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in Cinema. Stewart is one of the most acclaimed and beloved performers working today, with numerous and varied roles on both stage and screen, earning Golden Globe, SAG, Emmy and Tony Award nominations. This year, Stewart starred as Professor Charles Xavier in the latest X-Men epic “Logan,” reprising a role he originated in the first installment of the franchise in 2000 and earning some of the best reviews of his career. Though he is perhaps best known from his years on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Stewart’s impressive list of credits spans more than 40 years and countless memorable roles, including recent acclaimed performances in “Green Room,” “Match” and the Starz comedy “Blunt Talk.”

Graham will receive the Virtuoso Award, which is given to an actor who has “enriched our culture through exceptional accomplishments in the film industry,” according to the fest. Graham broke into Hollywood starring in Gus van Sant’s “Drugstore Cowboy” and has appeared in “Boogie Nights,” “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” and “The Hangover.” She will next star in NBC’s “Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.”

Nanjiani will receive the Auteur Award, given to an actor whose artistic influence “results in a significant impact on a film.” He is co-writer, executive producer and star of the Lionsgate-Amazon release “The Big Sick.” He also stars on HBO’s series “Silicon Valley.”

Jenner wrote and starred in the film “Juvenile” and appeared in “Everybody Wants Some” and “The Edge of Seventeen.” Jenner will be presented with the Rising Star Award.

Killam will be honored with the Visionary Filmmaker tribute. He makes his big-screen directing debut with “Killing Gunther.” Killam appeared on “Saturday Night Live” for six seasons and has also appeared on Broadway.

Visita sdfilmfest.com for more information and tickets.

DEMOCRATIC CLUB TO LOOK AT DISTRICT 50 RACE

An El Cajon billboard reads: “DID YOU KNOW? Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA-50) Is UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.”

The billboard was made possible with crowdfunding efforts by resistance groups, and the Uptown Democratic Club will hear from Linda Nickerson and Sharon Cox of the East County Democratic Club at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Joyce Beers Community Center in Hillcrest.

Nickerson and Cox will fill club members in on the latest about Duncan’s alleged “dirty deeds” and the ongoing criminal investigation into his campaign finances.

The five Democratic candidates who are vying for the District 50 congressional seat have been invited to speak at the meeting.

Club president John Hartley, who is chairman of Neighborhood Fair Elections, will briefly speak about fair election finances.

The social starts at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7. Visit their blog at uptowndemocrats.wordpress.com.

‘MEET THE ARTISTS’ AT CREATIVE CROSSROADS

Hillcrest’s unique marketplace, filled with the creative artwork of more than 50 artists of all styles and mediums, invites you to celebrate at its second anniversary party.

“Meet the Artist’s Night” will take place Sept. 22 from 6–10 p.m. Meet with dozens of artists who have their wares for sale and on display.

Complimentary drinks will be served and a raffle for the chance to win $100 gift card will be held. Creative Crossroads is located at 502 University Ave., at the corner of Fifth Avenue, near the Hillcrest sign.

TRADE CLOTHING AT SWAP MEET

Trendy Trade Clothing Swap Events place a focus on sustainable practices that are not only good for people but also for the planet.

The swap meet combines fun, fashion, and support for local charities and businesses. Because items are traded and reused, they are kept out of landfills and a surplus is generated to then give back to homeless women working to rebuild their lives in our area.

The next clothing swap will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, at The Sidebar at The Rose Wine Bar, 2219 30th St. in South Park. Register at 2:30 p.m.

So how does it work? It’s a trendy trade. “It’s like going through the closet of your closest girlfriends and taking whatever you want home with you,” founder Jamie Yates said.

For a fee, participants can walk away with “new-to-you” clothing and accessories; you may even find some pieces still with shopping tags. Admission is $15 in advance at TrendyTradeEvents.com or $20 at the door.

A minimum of five pieces is required to trade. Bring pants, tops, jackets, sweaters, coats, dresses, skirts, purses, shoes, belts, hats and other trendy accessories. Only dry-cleaned or laundered clothing with no stains or signs of wear will be accepted.

CHECK OUT IMPOSSIBLE SCIENCE FESTIVAL

The third annual Impossible Science Festival, presented by ViaSat, will be presented at the Fleet Science Center on Sept. 23-24, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The festival is a hands-on, interactive event that explores the science behind the seemingly impossible. Visitors can turn objects invisible, explore levitation, play with the science of mind control, discover impossible figures and even try walking on water. This event will examine the question “what is possible?” and use visual and interactive experiences to show how the seemingly impossible can become possible through curiosity and knowledge.

“The goal of the Impossible Science Festival is to promote education through curiosity,” said Jason Latimer, host and designer of the Impossible Science Festival. “By exploring subjects that seem impossible but showing how they can be made possible through science, visitors will have a memorable, hands-on learning experience that will blow their minds!”

Admission to the Fleet on Sept. 23 and 24 includes access to all of the Impossible Science Festival activities, as well as the Fleet’s interactive exhibits, and one IMAX film for $22.95 adults, $20.95 seniors and $19.95 children 3-12. Children ages 2 and younger receive free admission. Visit rhfleet.org.

JOIN 40 NORTH DANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Art Produce, located at 3139 University Ave. in North Park, will host the 40 NORTH Dance Film Festival for a third year.

This year’s event Sept. 27-30 will expand to encompass the whole building from the Gallery to the Community Room to the Garden. Events include:

• Pre-festival VIP dinner in the Gallery on Sept. 27, from 7-9 p.m.
• “In Other Words, Other Worlds: Summer Dunsmore – Immersive Installation Experience,” Gallery, Sept. 28-30, 6-10 p.m.
• “the loneliest part of here is now,” Zaquia Mahler Salinas – Immersive Dance Film Experience, Community Room, Sept. 28-30, 6-10 p.m.
• “Creating New Space: Women Effecting Change through Media and Performance Arts” panel, Gallery, Sept. 29, 6:30-8 p.m.
• 40 NORTH Dance Film Festival – Shorts Program III, ChuckAlek Biergarten, Sept. 30, 7:45 p.m. Garden opens at 6:30 p.m.

More info at artproduce.org.

NEW OPERA SEASON KICKS OFF IN OCTOBER

San Diego Opera’s 2017-18 season opens with the company’s first performances of American operetta with Gilbert & Sullivan’s comedic masterpiece “The Pirates Penzance.”

Considered Gilbert & Sullivan’s most successful comic work, “The Pirates of Penzance” opens on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at San Diego Civic Theatre with additional performances on Oct. 17, 20 and 22.

Bass-baritone Greer Grimsley will portray The Pirate King. He made his company debut as Telramund in “Lohengrin” in 2000, and returned for Pizarro in “Fidelio” (2003), The High Priest of Dagon in “Samson and Delilah” (2007), Scarpia in “Tosca” (2009 and 2016), Méphistophélès in “Faust” (2010) and Jochanaan in “Salome” (2012).

Grimsley will be joined by his real-life wife, the mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee as Ruth in her company debut.

American soprano Maureen McKay, who was seen last season as Nanetta in “Falstaff,” returns to sing Mabel. American bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi, last heard as Henry Kissinger in 2015’s “Nixon in China,” will sing Major-General Stanley. American tenor Mackenzie Whitney will debut with the company as the apprenticed pirate Frederic.

Rounding out the cast are baritone Michael Sokol as the Sergeant of Police, bass-baritone Ted Pickell as Samuel, soprano Tasha Koontz as Edith, mezzo-soprano Sarah-Nicole Carter as Kate, and Patricia McAfee as Isabel.

Evan Rogister will conduct and Seán Curran will direct.