You may not be familiar with the term "busker," but undoubtedly, you've stopped to watch and be entertained by one (or in the case of mimes, been thoroughly annoyed). Don't know what a busker is? Sure you do - they are street entertainers that perform for tips. They can be musicians, clowns, jugglers, magicians, dancers, monkeys, and, yes, mimes - pretty much anyone that keeps the crowds in popular public places entertained and amused with their talent, or lack thereof.

The term busking was first noted in the English language around the middle 1860s. The word busk comes from the Spanish root word buscar, meaning "to seek" – buskers are literally seeking fame and fortune. Famous entertainers have been known to busk, either pre- or post- fame: Paul McCartney, Sting, Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Jewel, Joni Mitchell...

Downtown’s Seaport Village will come alive with the extraordinary and bizarre when one-of-a-kind performers take to the cobblestone streets for a weekend of outdoor family amusement at the Spring Busker Festival—a celebration of street performers—Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The second annual festival will showcase a variety of street performers rivaling last year’s Didjeridoo player, jugglers, stilt walker, magician and others. The performer earning the most votes cast by the public will be offered a three-month contract to perform at Seaport Village this summer.

Oh, yeah, and while the Spring Busker Festival is free of charge, all buskers, of course, will be accepting tips. For more details about the Spring Busker Festival, visit the Seaport Village website.

OK - you've got your card and your flowers. So, what else can you do for your Mother (or your spouse) on Mother's Day? Besides the tried and true brunch or dinner, San Diego has a number of unique places and activities to make Mother's Day in San Diego a special one. Here are a few suggestions.

Hotel Del Coronado
The San Diego Zoo
Fashion Valley Mall
Point Loma Tide Pools
Julian
Carlsbad Flower Fields
Visit a Farmer's Market
Take her to a concert

Check out my suggestion on where to take mother on Mother's Day here.

Roots music will be filling the air around Normal Heights this weekend when the 35thAdams Avenue Roots Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday May 3 and 4. This popular - and free - street fest is a great way to hear lots of rootsy flavored music, along with crafts, food, and more. The genres highlighted include the rich traditions of music styles such as Folk, Old Time String Bands, Cowboy, Cajun, Rockabilly, Roots-blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Roots Rock, Honky-tonk, etc. Here's more info, including performers, about the 35th Annual, Adams Avenue Roots Festival 2008.

OK. First, let's clear things up: Cinco de Mayo is not the celebration of Mexican Independence Day. In fact, it is in celebration of the relatively minor Battle of Puebla, when in 1862, Mexican forces defeated the French Army - like that's any big accomplishment. Anyway, somehow, the day turned into an American celebration, and in turn, co-opted by the alcohol companies into a drinking holiday like St. Patrick's Day and Halloween.

Cynicism aside, San Diego does have Mexican roots (unlike, say, Iowa), and we are the birthplace of California. So, we can justify any sort of Cinco de Mayo festivities, OK? Read my suggestions on celebrating Cinco de Mayo in San Diego in my article here.

Think, play, create is the theme of the New Children's Museum. And after a couple of years with no real home, the museum for children is ready to re-open its doors to the community in a fabulous, innovative, green-friendly new facility in downtown. It's an all-day block party, free to everyone. Enjoy entertainment, activities and giveaways, and live performances featuring Eveoke Dance Theatre, Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater and San Diego Youth Symphony. Tour the innovative new green building and opening exhibition, childsplay. Watch the Grand Opening Kids Parade at 1pm.

The New Children's Museum Opening Block Party
Sunday May 4, 2008
12pm–4pm
Free
200 West Island Avenue
Downtown San Diego
Corner of Front Street and West Island Avenue

Last year over 50,000 people turned out to watch the Red Bull Air Races in San Diego. So, the precision air competition returns to San Diego next weekend for the second stop of the 10-race World Series. The races, which take place over San Diego Bay, are unique in that they take place in propeller airplanes flying through a slalom course, marked by giant pylons, or "air gates." The Reb Bull Air Race World Series takes place in locations all over the world, with the 2008 season opening in Abu Dhabi. Read my background info on the Red Bull Air Races right here.

A shark attacked and killed a man swimming in the waters off Solana Beach in San Diego County on Friday morning. The man, believed to be between 55-60 years old, was apparently training with others for a triathlon and was attacked around 7 a.m. The victim was pulled out of the water but was pronounced dead at the scene. The attack occurred 150 yards offshore around the Tide Beach/Fletcher Cove area of Solana Beach. Authorities ordered a 17-mile stretch of the San Diego County coastline closed to swimmers and a Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to try and locate the shark.

According to reports to the Union-Tribune website, witnesses told lifeguards that a “big gray shark” attacked the man, biting both his legs, said Craig Miller, a Solana Beach lifeguard. “I can't remember a shark ever being in this area before,” Miller said.

The other swimmers said the man yelled and they came to his aid and saw he was being attacked by the shark, Miller said. The group swam to shore and alerted lifeguards.

Read more about today's shark attack on the San Diego Union-Tribune website.

In the end, even Jesus Christ Superstar couldn't save San Diego's favorite Irish lass, Carly Smithson, from moving on to the next round of "American Idol." Smithson, who this week belted out "Jesus Christ Superstar" during Andrew Lloyd Weber (huh?) week, shared the bottom two spots with Syesha Mercado, but in the end, Syesha stayed and Carly is left to wonder what happened?

The most powerful singer of the female competitors, Smithson - who had an earlier foray in the music biz, releasing an album produced and backed by some industry heavyweights - was hoping for a second life in this unforgiving profession. But, I think, in the end, she never really connected with "Idol's" core audience: the young teen females and mothers, who tend to gravitate towards the unthreatening - and often, less talented - competitors (see Jason Castro, who made it through to next week). On top of that, the lady from Dublin cast a bit darker personality and style than sunshiney Brooke White - and she's a little older in age as well.

But the bottom line, for me, was that she often missed the mark in her song choices, and didn't let that big voice click with her personality. There must have been a lot of heartbroken supporters at The Field in the Gaslamp last night - but none more heartbroken than Carly. Hopefully, she'll find a renewed musical career thanks to "American Idol." Read my profile of Carly Smithson right here.

Late April in San Diego means the concert season is heating up, especially the outdoor concert season. This week, there are several interesting musical highlights, including the return of the warring Robinson brothers, Chris and Rich, and their bluesy rock band, the Black Crowes, at Harrah's Rincon Casino on April 26. Known for fighting among themselves, as well as their reverential influences of the Rolling Stones and the Faces in their music, the Crowes' back-to-basics rock n' roll is no frills, expertly played, and delivered with soulful grit by frontman Chris.

Speaking of frontmen, one of the best around for years has been Joe Elliott of pop metal rockers Def Leppard. A mainstay of MTV during their '80s heyday (remember "Photograph?" "Pour Some Sugar on Me?"), Def Leppard was one of the most melodic and savvy of the hair metal bands, creating some of the most perfect and enduring hard rock music around. Their heyday may be well behind them, but if you close your eyes while at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre on April 26 you'll relive those days of Union Jack T-shirts, curly permed hair and spandex. Rock on.

Avril Lavigne burst on the music scene in 2002 with her hit album Let Go and the monster hit, "Complicated." A poppy, skater girl, guitar slinging rocker, Lavigne was the anti-Britney and the public ate her up. She continues on tour with her latest album, The Best Damn Thing, and though she's a lot more polished than her skater girl days, she still commands an audience. Lavigne hits Cox Arena on April 30.

For a full schedule of this week's San Diego concerts, check out my concert listings right here.

If you think that gas prices around San Diego have suddenly skyrocketed after a recent lull, well you're right. A Union-Tribune article pointed out that there have been more than two weeks of daily gas-price records in Southern California – AAA estimated Friday's average for regular unleaded gas in San Diego County at $3.83, 7.8 cents higher than last week and 49 cents higher than last year – and still no sign of a slowdown, according to gas-industry experts and consumer watchdog groups.

Last Friday, local gas was $3.86 a gallon, up from $3.76 from the previous week and $3.35 a year ago, according to UCAN estimates. Diesel reached an unprecedented $4.42 a gallon, up from $3.14 a gallon a year ago. UCAN predicts that fuel prices will peak sometime in May, hold steady, and then drop before the fall election.

So, what's a consumer to do? I guess we just suck it up and try to drive less - or cut back in other areas. I filled my tank last week - I paid almost $100. Ouch.

Find out what the gas prices are at virtually every San Diego County gas station right here.