Award-winning book hits the stage
San Diego Junior Theatre is presenting “The Bridge to Terabithia,” a stage adaptation of the Newberry Award-winning book by author Katherine Paterson, with Stephanie S. Tolan.
Recently a major motion picture, Paterson’s story focuses on a friendship, which opens a world of imagination, discovery and understanding.
“Bridge to Terabithia” opened at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park on Friday, Jan. 4, with weekend performances through Sunday, Jan. 20. Performances are Fridays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. The show is recommended for ages 8 and up. For ticket information call (619) 239-8355 or visit Juniortheatre.com.
Museum of Man special exhibit comes to a close
The Museum of Man’s “Journey to the Copper Age: Archeology in the Holy Land” is in its final three weeks, closing on Monday, Feb. 4.
The once-in-a-lifetime exhibit brings artifacts, many of which have never been seen outside of Israel, to San Diego. The exhibit features 6,000-year-old objects from the Israel Museum and stunning photography by Kenneth Garrett, one of the National Geographic Society’s most prominent photographers. The Museum of Man developed and brought together the partnership, making it possible for San Diego to be able to showcase this prestigious exhibition. Tickets may be purchased online at www.museumofman.org.
Admission is $14 for adults, $8 for children ages 6 to 17 and $10 for seniors and military and students with valid ID. Ticket admission includes the “Journey to the Copper Age” exhibition as well as general admission to all temporary and permanent exhibits at the San Diego Museum of Man.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For further information call (619) 239-2001 or visit the museum’s Web site.
Nonprofits receive salute to excellence awards
Mainly Mozart received the 2007 Salute to Excellence Award for Accountable Board Governance from the Kearny Mesa-based Nonprofit Management Solutions (NMS) at a November luncheon at the Bahia Resort Hotel.
Since 1984, NMS has provided management assistance to non-profit organizations throughout Southern California, training over 90,000 individuals to run groups and institutions. NMS annually presents four Excellence Awards “” Accountable Board Governance, Executive Leadership, Organizational Innovations and Technology Solutions. Each awards includes a trophy and $3,000.
Accountable Board Governance is given to a board that embraces and demonstrates best-practice applications to move a mission forward. In deciding the recipient of the Accountable Board Governance award, judges also consider board policy setting; organizational compliance with sound risk-management practices; accountabilities and fiscal responsibilities; representation of community interests served in accordance with a mission statement; and organization vision and values.
Other 2007 NMS Salute to Excellence Award recipients are: Paul Palmer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County “” Executive Excellence; City Heights Community Development Corporation “” Organizational Innovation; and YMCA of San Diego County “” Technology Solutions.
Winter Fancy Food Show
The 2008 Winter Fancy Food show is coming to the San Diego Convention Center Jan. 13-15.
The 33rd annual event, sponsored by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), is considered one of the most important trade shows for the North American specialty food sector. An anticipated 16,000 trade professionals and 1,100 exhibitors offering and sampling more than 140,000 foods will be featured over three days, along with several seminars and workshops. International vendors are expected from 40 countries.
One of the largest international delegations will be from Italy. According to representatives of the Italian Trade Commission, about 105 booths will be set up in the Italian Pavilion, showcasing several products from regions throughout the country.
According to their Web site, the NASFT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. The NASFT was established in 1952 and has more than 2,500 member companies worldwide.
For more information on the Fancy Food Show and registration visit www.fancyfoodshows.com.
Battle of the Bloom
The San Diego Floral Association celebrates its 100th anniversary on Sunday, Jan. 13 at the San Diego Museum of Art’s Copley Auditorium in Balboa Park, with its Battle of the Bloom.
The celebration, billed as the “Iron Chef of Floral Design,” will consist of a series of diverse and creative floral design competitions. Designer’s showpiece arrangements, created around the theme “Victory at Sea,” will be on display as guests arrive at 3 p.m. Judges will score these arrangements, plus the surprise package designs, to determine the overall winner. Guests will vote for the People’s Choice award.
The floral creations will be part of a drawing at the conclusion of the event, with proceeds going to Homefront San Diego, a nonprofit organization that supports local military families in need.
All left-over flowers will be made into bouquets by the Flower Arrangers Guild and taken to wounded soldiers at naval medical facilities in San Diego.
Tickets to the event are $50 for preferred forward seating and $35 for general admission rear seating.
Tickets are available at the San Diego Floral office in Casa del Prado in Balboa Park, room 105, Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copley Auditorium is located at 1450 El Prado.
For more information visit www.sdfloral.org or call (619) 232-5762.
Balboa Theatre offers free previews
Centre City Development Corporation invites the community to help celebrate the reopening of the historic 1924 Balboa Theatre in Downtown.
CCDC is hosting five free preview performances featuring local performing arts groups in mini-concerts scheduled for Friday, Jan. 11 through Sunday, Jan. 13.
Free tickets are available for pickup at the CCDC Downtown Information Center at 225 Broadway on Horton Square, through Civic Theatre ticketing at the box office located at Third Avenue and B Street, or online at www.sdbalboa.org. A small service fee will apply for online ticket access.
Mini-concerts are: Montgomery High School Mariachi Performers on Friday, Jan. 11 at noon; Bolgazohdoomah “” Ghana West Africa Music & Dance on Saturday, Jan. 12 at noon; Bayou Brothers “” Cajun & Zydeco Music & Dance on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m.; Moonlight Chinese Dancers and Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts on Sunday, Jan. 13 at noon; and Westwind Brass on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m.
All performances are subject to change. For more information visit the Balboa Theatre Web site or call (619) 235-2222.
MCASD new hours for downtown location
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego announces new hours at its Downtown Jacobs Building, 1100 Kettner and 1001 Kettner Blvd. locations. The new hours are: Fridays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The museum will be closed on Tuesdays.
The La Jolla location, 700 Prospect St., will remain closed on Wednesdays, and hours of operation will remain the same: Fridays through Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission is valid for seven days at all MCASD locations so that visitors have the opportunity to visit all exhibitions on view in Downtown and La Jolla. MCASD members enter for free; people ages 25 and under enter for free.
General admission is $10, $5 for seniors over age 65 and military with valid ID. Free admission for people 25 and under is sponsored by Qualcomm.
For more information visit www.mcasd.org or call (858) 454-3541.