Events
La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest
July 29-Aug. 26. The return of this spectacular event is music to our ears. La Jolla Music Society is back with its biggest and longest SummerFest yet: “Under the Influence” at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. Now in its 36th year, the festival (music director Inon Barnatan is pictured) presents 17 concerts across four weeks. More than 95 artists from across the globe will perform the works of 60 different composers; plus musical collaborations with Lincoln Center in New York City, two world premieres and 65-plus free educational events. See website for full schedule and tickets. 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. ljms.org
Jamie Kennedy at Mic Drop Comedy
July 30. San Diego’s newest entertainment venue hosts actor/comedian Jamie Kennedy (The Jamie Kennedy Experiment) for an evening of live standup comedy. Mic Drop Comedy showcases a rotating lineup of talented comedians—from household names to up-and-comers—performing in 90-minute shows in the Main Showroom and in the intimate, 50-seat Gold Room. Added bonuses: no drink minimum, free parking, a full dinner menu and an extensive cocktail list. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $25. 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Kearny Mesa, 858.225.2100. micdropcomedy-com
Lane Field Park Market
July 30-31. This popular weekend market by the waterfront across from Broadway Pier features live music, lawn games, gourmet street food, artwork and pop-up installations, handmade jewelry, crafts and more. Sample cuisine from a dozen vendors, including waffles, crepes, empanadas, burgers, Vietnamese bao, fresh sushi, wood-fired pizza, Thai burgers, hot mini doughnuts, Mexican fare, vegan dishes and smoothies. Bring your own blanket (and sunscreen) for a picnic on the grass. Lawn umbrellas are provided for shade. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (live music 12:30-3 p.m.) Admission is free. 1009 N. Harbor Drive, downtown. More Info
Food + Drink
The Hen House
Opens July 30. Crown Point’s new playground for all things brunch and boozy opens this weekend. The casual “brunch bar” offers a fun menu of seafood starters, Benedicts, chicken ‘n’ waffles, chilaquiles, wagyu steak ‘n’ eggs, and loco moco. Or indulge in the decadent 24K Omelet with lobster, American wagyu, gruyere and caviar; or the pork belly entree with a poached egg, charro beans and chicharron. To drink, choose from mimosas, bloody marys, punch bowls and specialty cocktails like the Cappelletti Creamsicle. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 3801 Ingraham St., Pacific Beach, 858.400.4511. thehenhousesd.com
KNVS Bar in Oceanside
Opens July 30. Art and cuisine collide at KNVS (pronounced “canvas”)—an ambitious concept by Kevin Shin. It’s one part art gallery and one part restaurant/bar—where guests can dine on beautifully plated, chef-driven cuisine reflective of the artsy space around them. Oceanside local Margaret Alexis Chiaro is the premiere KNVS featured artist, debuting her collection: The Floral Guild. The menu complements her work with dishes such as the vegan Ratatouille Bouquet and berry-cured salmon; and cocktails like the Love Bush, whose ingredients include Jamaica rum, chartreuse and agave. F-Tu 4 p.m.-midnight. 127 S. Coast Hwy., Oceanside. More Info
Sandpiper Wood-Fired Grill & Oysters
Now Open. The former Galaxy Taco space in La Jolla Shores has been transformed into Sandpiper—a casual-cool oyster bar with benefits. This means a shareable menu of oysters (of course) and other seafood delights such as yellowtail crudo, steamed mussels and grilled octopus. It also means wood-fire-grilled proteins like the double-cut pork chop, prime rib and California squab; small plates that include grilled bone marrow and summer corn; mains such as the house-ground burger and potato gnocchi; and banana pudding for dessert. W-Su 4-9 p.m. 2259 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, 858.228.5655. sandpipersd.com
Arts + Culture
Gail Roberts Exhibit at OMA
Opens July 30. Experience some artsy flower power at Gail Roberts: Color Field, a new exhibition at the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA). Referencing the visible color range in nature, the exhibit comprises more than 130 vibrant paintings of individual flowers that Roberts completed over five years—each sized at 20 inches long, 24 inches wide—ordered by hue and presented as a continuous spectrum. Six continents are represented in this “garden” of blooms, including plants, vegetables, fruit trees and more. See website for hours and admission info. 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, 760.435.3720. oma-online.org
Picasso Exhibit at San Diego Museum of Art
Opens July 30. Remembered as the cofounder of Cubism and most famous for his abstract paintings, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was also an accomplished sculptor, ceramicist, drawer and printmaker. Get to know another side of the celebrated Spanish artist in Picasso: Drawings and Prints, on view through next January at San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA). The exhibit comprises 17 works on paper and a ceramic piece by Picasso (pictured: a Picasso etching, “The Frugal Repast,” 1904); as well as an ink drawing by Henri Matisse. 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.7931. sdmart.org
Houseplant Exhibit at S.D. Botanic Garden
Through Sept. 5. If you’re like 66% of other U.S. households, you likely own at least one houseplant. But how green is your thumb? San Diego Botanic Garden’s new exhibit, World of Houseplants, is both educational and surprisingly cool. Explore hundreds of houseplants, from everyday ferns to rare species, inside the garden’s state-of-the-art glass conservatory. Vendors will be on hand (select days), selling plants and potting materials; with plant-care classes and hands-on workshops available. W-M 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $12-$18 (nonmembers); includes entry to entire property. 300 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, 760.436.3036. sdbg.org
The Shop at MCASD
Open. Have you visited the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), La Jolla since it reopened in April 2022? In addition to its stellar exhibits, The Shop at MCASD is a must-visit. The 800-square-foot space greets visitors as they enter Browar Lobby—housing unique retail items reflective of the museum’s exhibits and permanent collection; and its prime coastal location and surrounding SoCal Lifestyle. Think: handmade earrings, hand-painted scarves, custom-painted vintage skateboard decks, artist-inspired beach towels, special-edition surfboards and gifts. Th-Su 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 700 Prospect St., La Jolla, 858.454.3541. mcasd.org
Photo credits: SummerFest / Inon Barnatan by Marco Borggreve. Picasso / SDMA: © 2022 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. The Shop at MCASD by Dante Rowley. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
