Buskers hit the streets Seaport Village will host the fifth annual Spring Busker Festival on April 16 and 17. The festival will bring in street performers such as jugglers, sword swallowers, contortionists and comedic stuntmen to provide amusement and display their talents on the street. From noon to 5 p.m., acts performed will be family-friendly, while on Saturday, April 16 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Buskers After Dark will be adult-themed, and will feature a DJ, food and drink specials, and busker acts suited for those over 18. Parking in the Seaport Village lot will be free for two hours with any purchase from a Seaport Village shop or restaurant and will be $3 per hour thereafter. A complimentary shuttle will also be available from the County Administration Building, 1600 Pacific Highway, running every 15 minutes from noon to 6 p.m. Parking at the County Administration building is $10 for the day. Calling all amateur filmmakers The third annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast will take place on May 20, and this year, high school students will have the chance to take part in a video essay contest. Open to all San Diego County high school students ages 14-18, the contest asks participants to create a 90- to 150-second video describing the attitudes, atmosphere and activities contestants would like to see created at their school in order to help reduce school bullying. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on April 29 and the winner will receive a $750 prize and will be featured at the breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Contest application and instructions are at www.thecentersd.org/pdf/hmdb_essay_appfinalpdf.pdf. A gain for taxis, partyers The city of San Diego is adding several new taxi stands to the Gaslamp Quarter as part of an effort to improve public transportation accommodation in the downtown neighborhood. City Councilwoman Marti Emerald praised the move by Gaslamp Quarter Association Executive Director Jimmy Parker and city Senior Traffic Engineer Steve Celniker. “This is very positive news for all San Diegans,” she said. “With more taxi stands, people who may have been drinking will have more opportunities to take a taxi rather than get behind the wheel and endanger lives.” The city will add six new full-time taxi stands and 16 part-time, late-night stands to the area. A big kickback for wildlife Local businessman Conrad Prebys made the largest single financial commitment in the history of the San Diego Zoo when he donated $15 million to support the park’s new habitats and exhibit renovations for the Australian and African mammals, reptiles and birds. The donation brings Prebys’ total giving to the zoo to more than $25 million. His most recent donation was earmarked for upgrading animal habitats. Zoo officials hope the new environments will be ready to debut for the zoo’s centennial birthday in 2016. Summer concerts coming soon Coronado Ferry Landing has announced the dates and performances for its Summer Concert Series. Starting Memorial Day weekend, visitors to 1201 First Street in Coronado will be treated to free live music every Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. The Teagan Taylor Trio will kick off the series on May 28 followed by Cool Fever on May 29. For more information, visit www.coronadoferrylandingshops.com. Healthcare groups get big boost Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) released the names of 17 organizations that will be the recipients of nearly $1million in Mission Support Grants. Committed to serving vulnerable populations in the San Diego area, AHF chose agencies that are operationally stable and have strong leadership, as well as a demonstrated commitment to increasing the capacity of the healthcare delivery system for poor and at-risk populations in the region. A complete list of the recipients can be found at www.aliancehf.org. Early bird gets the worm Participating Balboa Park museums are bringing back the popular “Early Bird” admissions program in April. The Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego History Center, San Diego Museum of Man and Mingei International Museum will all offer half-price admission tickets from 10 a.m. until noon each weekend of the month. For more information, call (619) 239-0512 or visit www.balboapark.org.