U.S., Italy face off in Fed Cup Final at sports arena SPORTS ARENA — This weekend, the premier team competition in women’s tennis will crown a champion at the newly renamed Valley View Casino Center. The United States will host Italy in the 2010 Fed Cup Final on Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7. The U.S. will contend for the Fed Cup on home turf for the first time since 2000. The final is a rematch of last year’s final, which the U.S. lost 4-0 to Italy on the clay in Reggio Calabria, Italy. The Fed Cup is a best-of-five series, with one point awarded per match victory. Two three-set singles matches begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Valley View Casino Center, with one doubles match scheduled after singles on Sunday. The core group of Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Liezel Huber has played for the U.S. team in each of the previous two rounds of the 2010 Fed Cup World Group. The U.S. advanced to the final by defeating France 4-1 in the first round and Russia 3-2 in the semifinals. Both teams arrived in San Diego earlier in the week, with the draw ceremony scheduled for noon on Friday, Nov. 5 at SeaWorld. The U.S. team held a kids clinic at Barnes Tennis Center on Wednesday. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com and range from $40 to $185 for one-day admission and $80 to $350 for a two-day pass. Both days of the final will be broadcast live on Tennis Channel. For more information, visit www.fedcup.com. — Anthony Gentile St. Paul’s fall carnival promises family fun PACIFIC BEACH — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School will hold its annual fall carnival on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is open to the public and will include a rock climbing wall, food from Gloria’s Bar-B-Q, video games, a live rock band and spray-on tattoos designed by a clown. The event takes place at the church, located at 1376 Felspar St. The United Studios of Self Defense is one of the sponsors of the carnival and will be teaching self-defense moves throughout the day. The carnival would not, however, be complete without a dunk tank. Schoolchildren and neighbors will be able to purchase tickets to dunk Principal Fred Friedrichs into the chilly waters of the tank. All proceeds from the event go back into the school. Admission to the carnival is free, but games and food will have “family-friendly” prices. For more information, visit www.stpaulspb.com. — Debbie Hatch Celebration honoring Kate Sessions legacy set for Nov. 6 BALBOA PARK — The legacy of Kate Sessions’ efforts in helping develop Balboa Park’s beauty is the reason three floral organizations will conduct a birthday salute this month to the horticulturist who began her planting in 1892. Sessions struck a deal with the city of San Diego to lease 30 acres of land in Balboa Park — then called City Park — for her growing fields. In return, she agreed to plant 100 trees a year in the mostly barren park, as well as 300 trees a year in other parts of San Diego. The San Diego Floral Association, Save Our Heritage Organisation and Friends of Balboa Park, organizations each with strong ties to Sessions and the park, are in charge of this month’s gathering to honor Sessions and her work. Activities include a park tour and a visit to Sessions’ statue One of the featured speakers will be Nancy Carol Carter of the Floral Association, who points out that Sessions was a charter member of that group when it was formed in 1907 The celebration honoring Sessions will begin at 11 a.m., Nov. 6 at Marston House in Balboa Park. — Johnny McDonald Thrill seekers will rappel 33 stories down the side of the Manchester Grand Hyatt DOWNTOWN — Rappellers will descend approximately 357 feet from the top of the Manchester Grand Hyatt on Nov. 6 beginning at 8 a.m. in an effort to raise money for Kids Included Together (KIT) at the second annual Over the Edge for KIT event. KIT is a nonprofit organization that supports recreational development, child youth development programs for children both with and without disabilities. It trains groups and organizations, such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls clubs, on how to better serve and incorporate youth with disabilities into activities. When KIT staffers were brainstorming ideas for its annual fundraiser last year, the team realized they needed to get creative. KIT’s CEO, Jan Giacinti, decided that rappelling was the way to go. The premise being that hopeful rappellers will raise $1,000 and then be awarded with the rare opportunity to rappel from the Manchester Grand Hyatt’s Seaport Tower. KIT utilized the services of Over the Edge, a Canadian company that assists nonprofits with not only the fundraising portion of the event, but is also responsible for training and sending thrill seekers “over the edge.” Last year’s event generated more than $50,000 for San Diego KIT programs. To participate in the event, donate money or find out more information visit www.overtheedgeforkit.com. No experience is necessary and spectators are welcome at the event, which will run until 5 p.m. There will be entertainment and food, in addition to viewing many daring individuals rappel down a recognizable city structure. — Debbie Hatch Point Loma Clean Wave Club to host fundraiser Saturday OCEAN BEACH – The Point Loma Clean Wave Club will host a barbecue and fundraiser at Tower 2 in Ocean Beach on Saturday, Nov. 6. The fundraiser will run from 1 to 5 p.m. The event includes live music, a raffle and Hodad’s burgers. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to sponsor a few students to attend an Environmental Youth Conference and put towards the club’s general activities. — Anthony Gentile THIS WEEKEND’S EVENTS
FRIDAY, NOV. 5
Centro • City Ballet’s first-time-ever performance of “Sonatine” and “Walpurgisnacht Ballet,” alongside “Valse-Fantaisie” and “Rubies,” 8 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6; 2 p.m. Nov. 7, Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway St., $29 to 75, www.cityballet.org Pacific Beach/Mission Beach
• Toulouse-Lautrec: The Theatre of Life, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Pacific Beach/Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St., art lecture and slide show presented by the San Diego Museum of Art, adults, free, (858) 581-9934 La Jolla
• Legends Fine Art presents “Secrets of the Deep” by William W. Dreyer, curator for The Art of Dr. Seuss, 7:30 p.m., Legends Gallery, 1205 Prospect St. Suite 100B, (858) 456-9900 • Art opening, Kim MacConnel, “Abracadabra: New Abstract Enamels,” 6 p.m., Quint Contemporary Art, 7739 Drury Ln., free, (858) 454-3409 Point Loma/Ocean Beach
• “Holiday Boutique,” 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., American Cancer Society Point Loma Discovery Shop, 3609 Midway Drive, the store will offer a large variety of Christmas items at bargain prices for more information, call (619) 224-4336 • Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Vanguard Youth Theatre performs William Shakespeare’s classic “Romeo and Juliet,” 8 p.m., 3598 Talbot St., performances will also be 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7, free-will offering, call (619) 224-6263 for reservations SATURDAY, NOV. 6
Centro • Fourth Annual Glen Allison Memorial Sit-A-Thon, noon to 3 p.m., Balboa Organ Pavilion, 1549 El Prado, raise money for the Developmental Services Continuum, $25, to register call (619) 460-7333 or visit www.sit-a-thon.org Pacific Beach/Mission Beach
• Clean PB Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean Boulevard at Grand Avenue, www.cleanpb.com • Wagging Tales, 10:30 to 11 a.m., Pacific Beach/Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St., children practice literacy skills while reading to therapy dogs, free, (858) 581-9934 La Jolla • The Foundation of La Jolla non-profit presents, “Vikings, Vines & Vintners” wine tasting event, 5:30 p.m., location TBA, $75, for details call (858) 551-1250 • “The Jill & Julia Show” presents a night of comedy and music with Jill Sobule and Julia Sweeny, 9 p.m., The Loft @ UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, general $35, students $15, UCSD Alumni 15 percent off, (858) 534-TIXS • Art exhibit, “Appellations: Gail Roberts and Sondra Sherman,” 10 a.m., The Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St., free, (858) 454-5872 • Mount Soledad Veteran’s Day ceremony, noon, Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial at Soledad Memorial Park, 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive, free (619) 226-7788 Point Loma/Ocean Beach • “Holiday Boutique,” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., American Cancer Society Point Loma Discovery Shop, 3609 Midway Drive, the store will offer a large variety of Christmas items at bargain prices for more information, call (619) 224-4336 SUNDAY, NOV. 7
Centro • Candlelight Vigil, 3:15 to 4 p.m., walk begins at the San Diego Rescue Mission, 120 Elm St. and ends at the San Diego County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, the interfaith candlelit walk will recognize homeless people who have died this year. (619) 687-3720 Pacific Beach/Mission Beach • T.O.D.D.L.E.R.S. (Together Opportunities to Discover and Develop Literacy, Enrichment and Recreation Skills), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pacific Beach Recreation Center, 1405 Diamond St., parent and toddler fun. Free; for information, call Bill (619) 920-1032 La Jolla • UCSD visitor tour, 2 p.m., 9500 Gilman Drive, (858) 534-4414, free, www.ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/tours • “Russian Romantic: The music of Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Glinka, and Brahms” gala concert, 4 p.m., The Neurosciences Institute Auditorium, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, (858) 626-2000, free • CD release party and performance from the band Young The Giant, 8:30 p.m., The Loft @ UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, regular $10, students $8, members $4, (858) 534-TIXS Point Loma/Ocean Beach • Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Vanguard Youth Theatre performs William Shakespeare’s classic “Romeo and Juliet,” 4 p.m., 3598 Talbot St., performances will also be, free-will offering, call (619) 224-6263 for reservations MUSIC VENUES • Western Metal Concert Series: Jewel with special guest Colbie Callait and opening act Tori, 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, Petco Park, tickets $45 to $95, www.padres.com/concerts • Western Metal Concert Series: John Legend with special guest Macy Gray and opening act Bedford Grove, 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, Petco Park, $59.50 to $95, www.padres.com/concerts • Joker Face: 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave. Cover TBD. 21 and up. www.myspace.com/-jokerfacemusic • Pigeon John: 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Access Music, 1537 Garnet Ave. Free. All ages. www.myspace.com/pigeonjohn