Mobility focus of

forum on Feb. 25

“Hillcrest 2.0,” a public forum to explore transportation and mobility issues, will be Feb. 25 from 5-7 p.m. at Baja Betty’s, 1421 University Ave. Dr. Sherry Ryan, a professor at San Diego State University, will lead the discussion about improving accessibility, making the area pedestrian-friendly and considering alternative forms of transportation. Cocktails and appetizers will be served. RSVP to [email protected].

Scott to cook at

market chef event

Deborah Scott, executive chef at Kemo Sabe in Hillcrest, Indigo Grill in Little Italy and Island Prime on Harbor Island, will be featured in the Hillcrest Farmers’ Market chef series, Feb. 28 at noon. Scott will prepare her baked Brie bruschetta, offering free samples to shoppers.

Arts fest brings

music, massage

Sight & Sound, a monthly music and arts festival, will be Saturday, Feb. 20, from 7 p.m. – midnight at Queen Bee’s, 3925 Ohio St., in North Park.

Musical performances will include electro-rock band Buddy Akai; Mission: Valley, a new project from Pinback’s Rob Crow; and San Diego-based singer-songwriter Gregory Page.

The event will also feature a short production from Mo’olelo’s upcoming play, “Self (The Remix)”; art from Billy Martinez, Todd Sanders and Francis Camacho; and massage, sculpture display, and video projections. Rob Deez, a local hip-hop comedian, will emcee.

Attendees must be 21 or older. Admission is free before 7:30 p.m. or $10 after, which includes one beverage. For more information, visit www.walkthewalkpresents.com.

Haircut marathon

benefits House

Salon Kensington, 4104 Adams Ave., in Kensington, will participate in the second annual “Cut-a-Thon,” a haircut marathon to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, on Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Suggested donation is $12.

For more information, go to rmhcsd.org.

Government’s role

debated, Feb. 22

A debate between Democratic Socialists and Voluntaryist/Capitalists will be Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at Café Libertalia, 3834 Fifth Ave. with the topic “Is government necessary?” Joey Hill and Joe Corbett will argue for the Democratic Socialists while Herb Shore and Gregg Robinson will debate for the Voluntaryist/Capitalists. Donna Orlando will moderate. The event is free and open to the public.

Hillcrest’s BIA

plants new trees

The Hillcrest Business Improvement Association oversaw the planting of 22 trees last week on Fourth and Fifth avenues, University Avenue and Park Boulevard. Funding for the trees came from a city grant through the Business Improvement District Council. The Hillcrest BIA will care for the trees through maintenance assessment district fees.

Nominees needed

for Pride awards

San Diego LGBT Pride is accepting nominations for its annual Spirit of Stonewall awards, which honor individuals and organizations that have made significant, positive impacts on San Diego’s LGBT community. The recipients are celebrated in the annual Pride parade, scheduled this year for July 17.

Nomination forms are available at SanDiegoPride.org and at the Pride office, 3620 30th St., Ste. C, North Park. The deadline is March 11.

Park exercises

fund charities

A free weekly workout session is raising participants’ heartbeats and money for local non-profits.

“Charity Workouts,” led by Brian Bischof, are Sundays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Balboa Park. Donations are voluntary, with all money going to organizations that assist at-risk youth. More than 300 people participated in 2009, donating $4,000.

The group meets at Café Bassam, 3088 5th Ave., at 9:20 for sign-in before moving across the street to exercise. For more information, go to charityworkouts.org.

Olympics food

focus of menu

Just in time for Olympics viewing parties, personal chef Betsy G will offer a free demonstration and tasting of her Olympics-themed dishes on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 1-4 p.m. at 1Mission, 845 Ft. Stockton Dr., Mission Hills. The menu will include: “Bacon Bobsleds” with blue cheese crumbles, “Ski Jump Sate with Gold Medal Peanut Sauce,” “Curling Coconut Shrimp in the Snow,” “Snow-Capped Polenta Pucks,” “Olympic Onion Rings” and “Victoria Salmon and Lemongrass Sliders.” For more information, go to ChefBetsyG.com.

Steiner to speak

at YWCA event

“In the Company of Women,” the largest annual fundraiser for YWCA of San Diego County, is Thursday, March 11, from noon – 1:30 p.m. at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Dr., downtown.

Keynote speaker for the 12th annual event is Leslie Morgan Steiner, author of “Crazy Love,” a memoir about domestic violence, and “Mommy Wars,” an anthology that explores the polarization between at-home and career moms.

Tickets are $120 per person. A table of ten is $1,200. All contributions support the YWCA’s programs and services for San Diego women and children who are survivors of domestic violence and homelessness, including Becky’s House.

For more information, go to ywcasandiego.org or call (619) 239-0355.

Asian biz group

hosts Rice lunch

The San Diego Asian Business Association will host a Rice Club Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from noon – 1:30 p.m. at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park with featured speaker John Chiang, California state controller. Tickets are $25. For more information, go to gsdba.org.

Seeds, tickets

at Amici Park

A Little Italy event will offer free fruit and vegetable seeds to the community and free Disneyland tickets to child volunteers.

“Give a Day – Get a Disney Day” is Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Amici Park, corner of State and Date streets. Sponsored by WITKids, a local organization that helps kids learn how to make a difference in their communities, and The Dinner Garden, a national hunger-fighting non-profit, “Give a Day” awards Disneyland tickets to children who help sort and bag seeds for distribution to individual gardeners, community gardeners and school gardens.

Children must be pre-registered to participate. For more information, go to witkids.org.

Women’s Fair

offers services

The 21st Annual Women’s Resource Fair will be Saturday, March 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Golden Hall, 202 C St., downtown.

More than 50 organizations will offer medical, legal and social services to low-income, homeless, recovering and abused women and their children. Resources offered at the fair will include assistance in applying for public benefits, medical and dental services, confidential legal assistance, employment counseling, mental health and spiritual counseling, and shelter referrals.

The free event is sponsored by Lawyers Club of San Diego, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, San Diego County Bar Association and San Diego County Bar Foundation. To participate or volunteer, go to wrfsandiego.org or call (619) 338-6620.

Gallery features

six female artists

“6 Women Artists,” a group of female painters and photographers, will display their work at 402 Market Street Upstairs Gallery, 402 Market St., downtown. The exhibition will begin with an opening reception March 5 from 5 – 9 p.m. and continue until March 12.

The painters participating in the show are Susan Darnall, Theresa Vandenberg Donche, Diane Hall and Chris Schwimmer, while the photographers are Alo Munizza and G. Pasha Turley. To see samples of the artists’ work or for more information, go to 6womenartists.com.