San Diego Blogger: Jen Guerin

Saturday night in a little part of town called North Park, one tiny little street explodes with live music, warm bodies and art galore. On the second Saturday of the month Ray Street (nestled betwixt 30th and North Park Way) opens up their art galleries, studios and small local businesses to participate in the event that has been dubbed Ray at Night. Check out the female owned tattoo shop The Red Crow, the delightful array of unusual trinkets at The Rubber Rose and when you are done pop over to 30th to check out one of my favorite stores, Pigment. They will be hosting a jewelry and trunk show of wood and silver bracelets and necklaces. After you are through perusing the local artists color trot on down to my favorite bar U-31 on University Ave for a cold beer and a game of billiards. Say hi to Steve for me.

Saturday December 11th, 2010

Time: 6pm to 9pm

Where: Ray Street between 30th and North Park Way

The day after Thanksgiving is full of shoppers frantically running around like chickens with their heads cut off at full throttle from 5am until 9pm attempting to attain the lowest prices and the best deals as gifts for others or let's just say it outloud, for that 55 inch screen TV for your own living room. I don't know about you but I'm a fan of avoiding all that malarkey and mosh pitting action but I still enjoy saving a buck or two (ok truth gun, my closest friends would tell you I'm downright frugal but that's here nor there). There may not be any fancy LED TV's for sale but there is plenty more without having to fight for a parking spot and utilizing your elbows as weapons. Forget Black Friday, THREAD SHOW has the answer and it's called Black Sunday. From 11am to 6pm you can shop away, sip on a cold Stella, watch as models twirl and turn and cash in on big savings on clothing, jewelry and home goods. And say hi to my buddy Jason Feather at the Art Kills Artists "Ugly Sweater" booth where you can choose the most hideous sweater and have your mug taken with your friends. Afterwards cut the rug and enjoy a fancy imbibe at Ave 5.

Where: Horton Plaze

When: Sunday November 28th, 2010

Time: 11am to 6pm

Price: $10 at the door or $5 if you RSVP via http://threadshow.com/shows.php?city_id=56

OR FREE IF YOU COMMENT ON MY BLOG with your full name! I have 10 free tickets but you need to comment by Saturday by 10am.

After party for 2 for 1 drinks: Ave 5 (downtown) *Just show your Thread wristband to get the deals all night long

Tired of the boring, quiet tombs of dead artists and stuffy air at the the San Diego's typical museum? San Diego Museum of Art has gotten the jist that it is gonna take more than a name like Toulouse-Lautrec to get the warm bodies to flock to its doors.

Every few months SDMA throws a soiree called Culture and Cocktails. Docent tours con cocktails began at 5:30 and the live entertainment is by the lovely ladies of Keyhole Cabaret, a can can singing and leg swinging troupe can be seen later in the evening. Music is usually a thumping while you worm your way through the newest exhibit and the eye candy is not limited to the walls. It is one of those events where folks dress up a little and the crowd even with its hipster art following seems to be a little old fashion with their fashion. It's pretty cool.

The clincher? Well if you are a member (there are definitely benefits of being a member whether its Costco, The Hair Club or MCASD) entry is free and you can sleep at night knowing you are supporting the arts. Otherwise my little party goers you must pay the entry fee of $15.00, small price to pay for a good time, some fancy snacks, a little culture and a whole lot of visual stimulation. Ladies you can create your own feather hair piece while your date makes his own manly moostache in the activity center. Don't feel like reliving the days of eating marshmellow glue in kindergarten art hour? Take a photo of your fabulous mugs in the ePod talking booth and then take yourselves to the after party.

Thursday September 30th 6pm to 9pm at San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park

Pre-tour and Cocktail | 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.

$10 after event admission

Official C&C After Party! | 9:00-11:00 p.m.

Keep the party in the park! The Sculpture Court Cafe will be transformed into a lavish French nightclub where you can enjoy cocktails and live music. Sponsored by Guiseppe Restaurants and Fine Catering.

This week I'm gonna take my bossy self and not only direct you where to spend your Sunday afternoon but I'm going to follow it up and show you how much fun I had and what you missed.

This event is for you ladies and gents that aren't Charger fans and aren't interested in chugging two dollar drafts in a dark bar at kickoff or for you others who couldn't care less about lathering your white skin with sunscreen attempting to enjoy the only summer San Diego has been bestowed upon this year. I will be doing all of the above but I can pack 10 clowns into a Smart car and still have room. Does that even make sense?

THREAD is a semi-yearly event that in years before has been held at the Wonderbread factory here in San Diego. It can now be experienced fully in the 15,000 sq feet at Horton Plaza Sunday September 26th from 11am to 6pm. It's the perfect place for any man or woman to shop, chew on some delicious dishes from the trendiest restaurants, throw back a beer and watch as the models strut across the runway or to pick up your next hot date. Just check your teeth before you ask her out over at the Nosh station.

Alas, there is an entry fee but if you go online to the Thread website (see above link) it will be only $5.00 instead of the regular $10.00. So technically you are saving yourself $5! Broke? Well swap something old for something new and bring a bag of clothes you're ready to part with and exchange them for a bag of someone else's in the THREAD Swap Lounge. Not convinced? Complimentary hair and make-up lounge for girls and boys. Art. House items. Loud music. Chics wearing boots with shorts. (I'm confused with this fashion statement. I mean, what season are we trying to represent here people?)

I say check it out at the very least stop by the Sezio booth and make yourself a t-shirt with their very fancy silkscreens. Or while you are snacking on gourmet rice balls and sipping your ice cold Stella know those models would give their right _____ (fill in the blank yourself) to be able to eat anything but air and bubblegum. So grin and enjoy every last bite.

Friday evening the best place to find yourself is lost on Kettner avenue in the northern side of Little Italy between the hours of 6pm and 9pm. Why you may ask? Every three months or so Kettner Nights takes place in the galleries, studios and businesses of this lesser know charming block of Little Italy. One can peruse the contemporary merchandise of Mixture who will be hosting five photographers works and a surplus of modern design for the home. Farther down the block you can enter the Artist's Building at 2400 Kettner which hosts two floors of artist studios that usually offer complimentary two buck chuck, ritz crackers and cheese to nosh on while you offering you that rare opportunity to see into the secret spaces of photographers, oil painters and art collectors galore. Subtext, now if you read my other blogs you already have your ear to the ground on this place, has there new solo show Damages by NC Winters.

I may be the queen of where to find free beer, art and appetizers (hey, does the term starving artist sound familiar to anyone?) but this event is ready to rock some fresh artistians sweat and... spray paint? Bedford Built, a fine furniture designer is taking this event seriously. At 7 p.m. swing by his wood shop and amist the monster size mechanical saws and miters you will find, a rock band. The Academy of Light will be singing among the horse saws and wood dust. Just outside of Joe's to die for four seater airplane seats he stores in the shop a New Mexico born street artist, Charles Page of Page Studios will be leaving his mark on the Bedford Built van. Montana spray cans will be whistling their song as Page permenantly tags Joe's van with his signature style and wheatpaste images.

If you are feeling really wild and crazy saunter over to Harley Davidson to find a completely leather clad crowd. Me? Where will I be? When all the artists have thrown the last empty wine bottle into the recycling bin and locked their doors you can find me at infamous El Camino shaking hands and signing babies celebrating another Friday night well done.