Events

“Casino di Piazza” in Little Italy

Sept. 16. The Little Italy Association presents its inaugural “Casino di Piazza,” an Italian garden casino experience under the stars at the Piazza della Famiglia. Guests are encouraged to dress up in cocktail or black-tie attire as they’re transported to the elegant gardens of Milan—complete with Italian statues; walls lined with lush greenery; gaming tables hosting blackjack, craps and roulette; and craft cocktails and bites from Little Italy Food Hall. Proceeds benefit the ongoing maintenance and beautification of the piazza. 7-11 p.m. $65 general admission; $125 VIP. 523 W. Date St., Little Italy. littleitalysd.com

Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro

Sept. 16-18. Cheer on the world’s top-ranked surfers in this 16th annual surfing competition—including five-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Carissa Moore, Bethany Hamilton, Caroline Marks, Lakey Peterson, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Sage Erickson and many more. The event also includes the free Nissan Concert Series, featuring the Spin Doctors, Smash Mouth, Hoobastank and other notable acts among its 15 performing artists; the Festival Village, offering autographs, a female DJ contest, a celebrity leadership panel, food vendors and a beer/wine garden; and much more. Oceanside Pier. supergirlsurfpro.com

San Diego Bayfair

Sept. 16-18. Mission Bay turns into a high-octane outdoor playground during this annual weekend of family-friendly fun. The extreme Hydro-Games at Crown Point are back; along with the popular hydroplane-powerboat races, the Airstream Club, BBQ on the Bay, A Taste of East County, local craft beer stations, a beach party, car show and motorcycle show. See website for full daily schedule, vendor and RV info, and ticket pricing. (We suggest the three-day Super Pass, which includes powerboat pit access: $45 in advance; $50 at gate.) 1404 Vacation Road, Mission Bay. sandiegobayfair.org

Weekend Concerts at The Shell

Sept. 16-18. Broadway conductor Rob Fisher leads a nostalgic evening on Friday—celebrating the Great White Way with “Broadway Sings … And Swings,” featuring star vocalists performing Broadway hits. Praised by The New Yorker as “one of the best jazz orchestras in existence,” the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra takes over The Shell stage on Saturday—led by Grammy Award-winning composer and pianist Arturo O’Farrill. On Sunday, Ceelo Green (pictured) is in town, with special guest Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. 7:30 p.m. each night. See website for ticket pricing. 222 Marina Park Way, downtown, 619.235.0804. theshell.org

“Amps & Ales” in Chula Vista

Sept. 17. The Third Avenue Village Association brings us “Amps & Ales,” presented by Grasshopper. Oenophiles can try wines from local vintners and Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe; while craft beer lovers can sample 30-plus brews from San Diego, Tijuana and Ensenada—including Alesmith, Chula Vista Brewery and Cerveza Xteca. Guests can also enjoy food vendors and live music by the headlining B-Side Players; plus Euphoria Brass Band, The Routine, Marauak, The Gravities and Cumbia Machin. 1-4 p.m. $45 general admission; $60 VIP (includes early admission at noon). Third Avenue, downtown Chula Vista. Tickets

Food + Drink

Taste of One Paseo

Sept. 15. This second annual event is an ode to all things delicious at One Paseo. Take a self-guided culinary stroll through the center—stopping for bites at outposts such as Mizuki Yuma Sushi, Nick’s Del Mar, Parakeet Cafe, Sweetfin, Tocaya, Shake Shack, URBN, Le Macaron, Salt & Straw and Susie Cakes. Wash it all down with sips from Harland Brewing Company. 6-8 p.m. $20 per person (includes your “Taste Passport” for participating business and one hosted drink from Harland). 3725 Paseo Place (check in near the lawn next to Harland), Del Mar. onepaseo.com

Taste of Gaslamp

Sept. 17. After a two-year hiatus, the city’s longest-running tasting tour returns for its 26th annual installment. Get to know the Gaslamp Quarter via its diverse restaurants and bars. The tour spans 16 blocks and includes 20-plus stops—including Butcher’s Cut, Cafe Sevilla, Greystone Steakhouse, Lumi, Panevino, Saltwater, Royal India, Rustic Root, STK San Diego, The Field Irish Pub and more. Participants can also partake in three complimentary tastings at the Taste of Gaslamp Beer Garden (21+) at the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation’s Davis-Horton House Park. 1-4 p.m. $45-$55. Gaslamp Quarter, 619.233.5008. gaslamp.org

Arts + Culture

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank at The Old Globe

Through Oct. 23. Riffing off the title of a short story by Raymond Carver, this world premiere was written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Nathan Englander (pictured). The play centers on two women—best friends in high school who now live on opposite sides of the globe—experiencing very different cultures, religion and family life. Reunited for a visit, they find their friendship tested by the distance that has grown between them and also by their husbands, who don’t get along. Barry Edelstein directs. 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234.5263. theoldglobe.org

Colorful Culture Exhibit at Mingei

Through Nov. 13. Mingei International Museum’s Colorful Culture: African Beads exhibit spotlights beads and bead objects from across the continent of Africa. Beads are found all over Africa, and many African communities use them as part of a multilayered communication system. More than anywhere else in the world, beaded objects and adornment reflect the many contrasting lifestyles and cultural heritage of African societies. And make time to stroll through the rest of the remodeled museum, which now offers more gallery space, a cafe and an outdoor patio. See website for hours. 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.239.0003. mingei.org

Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord

Upcoming | Sept. 20-Oct. 16. A one-woman tour de force, Kristina Wong returns to La Jolla Playhouse to perform Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord—a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist which she wrote. The solo production harks back to the early days of the pandemic, when Wong led the “Auntie Sewing Squad,” making masks from old bra straps and bedsheets. She takes audiences inside her work-from-home sweatshop, built in isolation—threading in her signature blend of edgy and thought-provoking comedy. Chay Yew directs. See website for tickets. 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, 858.550.1010. lajollaplayhouse.org

Photo credits: Taste of Gaslamp by Scott Jones. All other images are courtesy of the venues, businesses and artists featured.