San Diego

Weekend roundup

April 27-30

Events

Adams Avenue Unplugged

April 29. Catch more than 60 acoustic live music performances across 20 stages (both indoor and outdoor), as a 2-mile stretch of Adams Avenue—from University Heights through Normal Heights to Kensington—transforms into a musical walkabout. The unique event format features boutique concerts showcasing blues, folk, jazz, country and world music; plus a bevy of local artists. The performances are staged throughout each neighborhood, from cafes to bars to galleries—each with their own distinctive vibe and food and drink offerings. (Be sure to wear comfy shoes!) Noon-10 p.m. Free general admission. More Info

Encinitas Spring Street Fair

April 29-30. Encinitas’ annual spring celebration returns—complete with 450 food and crafts vendors, live entertainment, children’s rides and more. Highlights include a craft beer garden (kids and dogs are welcome), featuring Jiant, Duck Foot Brewing, Sierra Nevada, Boochcraft and Local Roots Kombucha; two dozen bands and DJs performing on the Beer Garden Stage, Hansen’s Community Stage and The Lumberyard Courtyard Stage; and bike valet stations sponsored by Electra. See website for parking tips. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free entry. South Coast Highway 101, downtown Encinitas. More Info

“Party for the Planet” at Birch Aquarium

April 29-30. Extending its Earth Day festivities through this weekend, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is offering interactive family activities (free with admission) centered on the ocean’s biodiversity. Learn more about how seadragons reproduce, how plastics affect ocean ecosystems, and the technology behind the world’s first biodegradable shoes developed by UC San Diego scientists; plus community art projects, live music and “bike-powered” music, and a shaved ice truck. See website for hours and admission info. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, 858.534.3474. aquarium.ucsd.edu

“San Diego Pet Day on the Bay”

April 29. Grab your canine bestie for a day on the bay! City Cruises’ pup-friendly pop-up comprises four, one-hour cruises around San Diego Bay for dogs and their humans, who will get to meet pups available for adoption from Helen Woodward Animal Center. The fun includes a canine costume contest (dress up your pooch!), doggie treats from Kahoots, fun photo ops and more. Guests are encouraged to bring a donation of dry or canned dog food that will benefit the center’s AniMeals Program. Cruises depart at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. $35 per adult. 1800 N. Harbor Drive, Embarcadero. More Info

Food + Drink

SoCal Taco Fest

April 29. “San Diego has too many taco festivals,” said no one ever. SoCal Taco Fest is one of our favorite celebrations of the loaded tortilla, featuring bay views, live music and DJs, lucha libre wrestling and even a chihuahua beauty pageant. The festival showcases nearly 30 of the region’s top tacos and eateries—including Sandbar, Birria Kings, Sabor Mexican Grill and Tita’s Taco Shop; plus desserts from eateries like Señor Mangos, Churro Addict and more. And be sure to stop by the Margarita Cantina tent. Noon-10 p.m. General admission is $60 (21+). Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Hwy., downtown. socaltacofest.com

Casa Campus Point

Now Open. Campus Point by Alexandria welcomes a new lunch spot. Casa Campus Point is a casual, indoor/outdoor Mexican restaurant serving locally sourced tacos, tortas, salads and tequilas. Menu highlights: the chili-braised brisket taco, green-chile pork taco, shredded-beef-and-ham torta, and roasted beet and spinach salad; with sides like creamed elote, smoked chili-braised beans, and fresh-fried tortilla chips with your choice of five house-made salsas—from roasted tomatillo-jalapeño to cilantro-lime to creamy chipotle. M-F 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 4242 Campus Point Court, Torrey Pines, 858.230.7001. casacampuspoint.com

Fish Guts San Diego

Now Open. Chef Pablo Becker knows and loves seafood—so much so that he opened a trendy taco shack with a cheeky name devoted to it. Choose from seven seafood tacos served with handmade corn tortillas—such as the Taco Estilo Baja with Negra Modelo beer-battered local white fish; Taco Al Pastor with achiote-chile-guajillo-marinated salmon; and the Taco de Hongos with oysters, cremini and shiitake mushrooms, roasted tomatillo and Manchego cheese. Save room for the coconut pudding dessert, and chase it all with a craft margarita. See website for hours. 2222 Logan Ave., Barrio Logan. fishgutssandiego.com

Arts + Culture

La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW Festival

April 27-30. La Jolla Playhouse has outdone itself with this year’s WOW (Without Walls) Festival, taking place at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. It’s live theater at its most intimate and creative—comprising boutique productions that span short plays, dance, music, puppetry and family-friendly programming. Highlights: the world premiere of La Lucha, an interactive, immersive experience by Optika Moderna; and Choreo & Fly by Disco Riot (pictured), where audience members can engage with performers in a unique mix of dance and kite-flying. See website for full details. Free. 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. lajollaplayhouse.org

Opera Neo’s The Barber of Seville

April 28-30. “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!” Opera Neo—San Diego’s boutique performing arts outfit dedicated to making opera broadly accessible—presents Gioachino Rossini’s comedy, The Barber of Seville, at the Spanish Village Art Center. In it we follow the scheming escapades of a barber named Figaro—as he assists Count Almaviva in prising the lovely Rosina away from her guardian, Don Bartolo, so she can be with her one true love. The two-act opera is sung in Italian with English subtitles. Peter Kozma (pictured) directs and conducts. 7:30 p.m. $10-$75. 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park. operaneo.com

Mission Fed ArtWalk

April 29-30. What began as a modest art fair in 1984 has flourished into SoCal’s largest fine art festival. More than 300 artists will showcase paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, glass, metal, woodwork, drawings and more. Festivities also include interactive art installations, street art, live music, food vendors and kids’ activities. Find live entertainment at the Piazza della Famiglia and across three other stages in the ‘hood. The event benefits ArtReach, a local arts education nonprofit serving students countywideSa 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free entry. India Street, Little Italy. artwalksandiego.org

Photo credits: WOW Festival / Choreo & Fly by Sam Zauscher. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.

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