Experience Portugal in an after-hours celebration This month, San Diego Museum of Man’s (SDMoM) Tower After Hours series will feature the rich cultural heritage of Portugal from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28. This May marked the 100th anniversary of Festa do Espirito Santo, the oldest Portuguese ethnic religious celebration in San Diego. Tower After Hours will help continue the festivities by transforming the museum’s Grand Rotunda into a center stage for Portuguese cuisine, music, refreshments and performing arts in Balboa Park after the museum closes. Savor Mediterranean-style cuisine flown directly from the Azores region of Portugal, dance to the Portuguese folk music of fado, or simply relax and enjoy traditional Portuguese costumes and festive atmosphere in the after-hours celebration. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for students and military, and $20 for non-members and include entrance into SDMoM, two drink tickets, food tasting and cultural entertainment. SD Ballet sets anniversary gala The San Diego Ballet will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Friday, Oct. 22 with a special performance gala at Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The performance will showcase the finest pieces from the dance company’s decades-old repertoire. Founding director Robin Sherertz-Morgan, a former New York City Ballet dancer and award-winning director and choreographer, provided the artistic direction for the performance. Current performers in the ballet company include local dancers from the San Diego School of Ballet and featured dancers from the U.S., Russia and Japan. Alumni dancers from the company’s past will also take part in the performance and celebration. The celebration party will include food from Urban Kitchens and desserts created by Michele Coulon, desertier. Tickets for the event are $100 and are available by calling (619) 294-7378 or e-mailing [email protected]. SDG&E gives away energy-saving kits SDG&E is helping San Diego County residents save money on their energy and water bills by giving away free Home Energy and Water Savings Kits. The kit includes a low-flow showerhead and three faucet aerators, which will save families more than 6,000 gallons of water per year. The items are easy to install and maintain a strong pressure flow, while reducing water usage by up to 11 percent. Less water usage also reduces the amount of energy used to heat the water, resulting in lower water and energy bills. The energy-saving kits will be available at the Balboa Park Visitors Center until Nov. 21. Organizers ask that residents bring in proof of San Diego County residency, but do not bring in old showerheads or aerators. The Balboa Park Visitors Center is located in the House of Hospitality Building at 1549 El Prado and is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Poets compete for prizes The Museum of the Living Artist will host the 3 for $300 Poetry and Art Slam as part of its Poetry and Art series at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13. This poetry/prose/visual art combination slam is open to all writers, artists and performers in San Diego. Performers can choose an artwork in the museum’s current exhibit or, for extra points, they can bring in their own visual art that is connected in some way to their poetry. Audience members will judge the performances based on the poet’s performance and content of the poetry. Winners of the competition will take home $150 for first place, $100 for second place or $50 for third place. San Diego poet, host and DJ Gill S.O.T.U. will host the poetry slam and provide R&B, funk and soul music throughout the show. Wine and snacks will be provided. Tickets are $5 for non-members and signups begin at 6:30 p.m. Balboa Park celebrates Czech founding day To help celebrate the founding of Czechoslovakia in October 1918, the House of Czech and Slovak Republics in Balboa Park will host its annual Lawn Program on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. The Lawn Program will feature Czech and Slovak folk dance performances and music by local singers ElNora Rusnak and Martamary Connolly and keyboardist Maura Kiczek. The performances will take place on the stage in front of the International Cottages in Balboa Park. Before the Lawn Program performances commence, ethnic Czech and Slovak pastries, sausage and sauerkraut will be available for purchase from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside of the Czech and Slovak Cottage, and artifacts from the Czech and Slovak Republics will be on display all day. The House of Czech and Slovak Republics is located in the International Cottages near President’s Way in Balboa Park. For more information, contact Daniele Laman at (619) 287-9071. Nonprofit aims to raise $150,000 at celebration The Seany Foundation will host its “Everything is Possible Celebration” on Sunday, Oct. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the San Diego Hall of Champions, located at 2131 Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park. The goal of the evening celebration is to fill the venue with more than 200 attendees and raise $150,000 for pediatric cancer research and patient care projects, including Sean L. Robins Pediatric Oncology Fellowships and Clinical Trials at Rady Children’s Hospital, Seany’s Sponsor-a-Kid Program, and Sean L. Robins Endowed Research Fund for Pediatric Sarcoma at Moores UCSD Cancer Center. The dinner will be catered by award-winning chef and owner Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grille, and entertainment will be provided by acoustic music duo Ruby Summer. An opportunity drawing and silent live auction will also take place to help reach the $150,000 goal. Tickets to the dinner celebration are $125 per person and $1,250 per table of 10. To RSVP, visit www.theseanyfoundation.org or call (800) 794-8282. Storyteller tells spooky tales for Halloween Professional storyteller Harlynne Geisler will tell “Not Too Spooky Stories” to children 5 and up at the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park. For the past 30 years, Geisler has entertained people with her animated stories in festivals, conferences, schools, libraries, churches, community centers and museums across the nation. To set the mood for a fun Halloween, Geisler will bring characters to life in slightly scary interactive tales that are sure to entertain children and adults alike. Geisler’s Halloween stories will be inspired by masterpieces in the museum, where the storytelling will take place. Family storytelling at the museum is a fun, free way to educate visitors about the artwork while also preparing children for Halloween. Story time will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, and admission into the museum will be free. Halloween events slated all month in Old Town Old Town is celebrating Halloween all month long with spooky events throughout Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and Fiesta de Reyes. Old Town is known to be one of the most haunted places in San Diego because of paranormally-active locations such as the Whaley House and its grounds. Fun, frightening Halloween events such as “Séance at the Seeley Stable” and walking tours through the Whaley House, an old cemetery, and a haunted brothel will take place throughout the month. Old Town Theatre will also present two mysterious shows: “Quoth the Raven” on Oct. 16 at 12:30 p.m. and Oct.18 at 7 p.m.; and “War of the Worlds” on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Other events include a free movie night and costume contest in the Fiesta de Reyes courtyard on Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m.; and a costume ball at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 to 11 p.m. To learn more about Old Town Halloween events and ticket prices, visit www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com.