“Save KLSD” film showings April 28 and May 19

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2012 (San Diego) – How does media consolidation impact American democracy?   The producers of the new documentary film Save KLSD: Media Consolidation and Local Radio present a case study suggesting that politics, not ratings, forced the San Diego region’s only progressive talk radio station off the air.

Two screenings of the film will be followed by question and answer sessions with producers John Monday and Jennifer C. Douglas, as well as radio host/narrator Jon Elliott and Shaun Spaulding of New Media Rights. 

April 20, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s original fine art festival, Mission Federal ArtWalk is back for its 28th year. Featuring artists who live in the East County area as well as San Diego, the event will be held on Saturday and Sunday , April 28 and 29, when 17 blocks of Little Italy will be transformed for this free festival. ArtWalk offers a unique opportunity for members of the public to engage directly with over 350 artists who will be there to display their original works for exhibit and sale. The art on display will include a wide range of paintings, sculpture, mosaics, glasswork and photography.

April 19, 2012 (El Cajon) -- Downtown El Cajon and Arts Alley Gallery Walk 2012 kicks off this Friday, with live music, food and beverages, and giveaways for the public.  Gallery Walk events are set to be held from 5-8 p.m. on April 20, June 15, October 26, Novembr 16, and December 7.

April 16, 2012 (La Mesa) -- On the fourth Thursday of each month, the Space Bar Internet Café at 7454 University in La Mesa presents open mike night at 7:30 p.m.  The featured performer on April 26 will be Liz Huerta, a writer, who composes verse of truth and beauty interspersing moments of existential angst with human realizations.  Liz has lived in Barcelona, Mexico City and San Diego.

April 12, 2012 (El Cajon) –What role can the arts play in bettering El Cajon and its diverse population? 

San Diego Arts leaders including artists, journalists, writers, university professors, critics, and business people will discuss this question in a  panel mediated by Justin Hudnall, creator and leading operative of The Far East Movement. The event will take place Friday, April 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 at Studio C Contemporary, 140 East Main Street in El Cajon.

RSVP on Facebook.

April 7, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Valhalla Theatre Arts department will be performing the musical “Xanadu” beginning April 18 at 1725 Hillsdale Rd., El Cajon. It’s an 80’s musical fantasy complete with roller skates and disco balls about a time when life was easy and Olivia Newton-John and E.L.O. ruled the world.

April 7, 2012 (El Cajon) – “Bye Bye Birdie” will be performed by Christian High School’s award winning Drama Department on April 18, 19 and 21 at 389 N. Magnolia, El Cajon. The musical will take its audience on an entertaining trip back to the days of “Rock n Roll”.  The story centers on superstar Conrad Birdie prior to being drafted into the Army. Humorous complications ensue when his agent stages a good-bye kiss to the lucky Kim MacAfee on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Kim’s steady, Hugo Peabody and her overbearing, but lovable father complicate the tale. Musical scores abound with “How Lovely To Be a Woman,” “The Telephone Hour,” “Put On A Happy Face,” “A Lot of Livin’ To Do,” “One Last Kiss,” and “Kids!”

April 6, 2012 (El Cajon) – A bipartisan group seeking to save the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) held its first meeting late last month.  Others concerned with joining the effort are invited to attend a larger meeting set for Monday, April 9 at 5 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the East County Chamber of Commerce office at 201 South Magnolia Street in El Cajon.

Individuals who have sometimes locked horn in the past on Council issues have joined together for the common good of saving the theater after Council voted to give a developer an exclusive 180-day-period to submit a proposal for tearing down the theater and putting a hotel in its place.

March 30, 2012 (La Mesa) – The 13th Annual Spring Harp Fest will be held at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa on April 7 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Featured performers include Jon Gindick, Harmonica John with the Bayou Brothers and many more. 

The event is free to all and benefits the San Diego Blues in the Schools program.  The money raised will be used to provide harmonicas to the students involved in the BITS program.  For more information visit www.springharpfest.org.

March 25, 2012 (Ramona) – The Ramona Music Fest is Saturday, March 31 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Dos Picos County Park, 17953 Dos Picos Park Road in Ramona.  A variety of exceptional music artists will light up two stages.

The headliners this year are Rockola and Cactus Twan Whyte Grano & Nash.Rockola has earned no fewer than eight San Diego Music awards in their three decades together. Cactus Twang Whyte Grano & Nash offer spot-on performances of beloved classics made famous by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

March 17, 2012 (San Diego) – The Booth Brothers, a gospel trio, will perform at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue, San Diego at 5:00 p.m. on March 24. 

The Booth Brothers have been sharing their music since 1998. Their musical influences are from a wide range of performers-from the Eagles to the Gatlin Brothers to legendary gospel greats such as Bill Gaither and Mosie Lister.  They have received numerous awards including a Grammy nomination.

By Miriam Raftery; Bill Crotty also contributed to this report

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with that theater. It could be cleaned up and opened tomorrow.” – Paul Russell, former manager of the theater and founder of Christian Youth Theater

March 15, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Leaders of East County arts groups reacted with shock and condemnation to news that the El Cajon Council, by a 4-0 vote, agreed to enter into an exclusive negotiation with developer E. Neal Arthur for plans to tear down the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) and build a Marriott hotel in its place.

Under Arthur’s plan, the hotel would have a “portable stage to accommodate limited performing arts.” 

But arts experts say that’s woefully inadequate –and leveled sharp criticism at the council. Some also contend that the Council failed to provide adequate notice the community before taking action.

UPDATE: "Squawk!" initially scheduled to be performed by the SDSU Theater Department in the Visitor Center Outdoor Amphitheater on Saturday, March 17, and Saturday, March 31 has been postponed because of the impending rain on March 17, and the SDSU Spring Break on March 31.  "Squawk!" will now be performed on Friday, April 20, at 3:00 p.m.

March 11, 2012 (San Diego)--SQUAWK! will be performed by the San Diego State University Theater Arts Department on Saturday, March 17, at 3 p.m. in the amphitheater at Mission Trails Regional Park. 

The theme of this 90-minute play touches on human conflict and competition in a metaphorical story about the birds of the world - engaged in a bitter but comical struggle - in their search for a way to choose a winner of a peace song competition. The props are an umbrella and stick held by the performers using bird like movements and sounds. The performance is free and will be performed in the Visitor Center Amphitheater.