Inigo's San Diego Blog

With the recent major earthquake in central China that has killed more than 10,000 people, it gives us pause to remember that living in idyllic San Diego means living in earthquake country. And even though we aren't living along California's major faultline, the San Andreas, we are just as vulnerable to not if, but when, a major earthquake hits our region. So, even a disaster on the other side of the world reminds us that we need to be prepared for the possibility of a disaster hitting close to home. Here are some tips to staying prepared in the event of an earthquake, or other natural disaster.

San Diego's most popular outdoor venue kicks off its 2008 concert series this week. Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay opened its season on Friday with everyone's favorite irreverent C-List star, comedian Kathy Griffin. On Sunday (5/11), Joe Jackson (right) brings his considerable talents (and ego) to the Shelter Island intimate setting. Will he get all serious and go jazzy? Or will he show his New Wave credentials and sing, "I'm the Man?" You never know with Joe. Also this week is Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook (5/15).

Other concert highlights this week at other San Diego venues include: Eisley (5/15) and the Kooks (5/18) at the House of Blues; Rilo Kiley (5/15) and Robert Cray and Buddy Guy (5/18) at Viejas Casino; Offspring and Pennywise (5/16) at Concerts on the Green at Qualcomm; and Bonnie Raitt (5/18) at Valley View Casino.

For more concerts, check out my San Diego Concert Listings here.

Believe it or not, San Diego has a namesake river. Really, there is a San Diego River and it doesn't just surface when it rains a couple of inches and floods Fashion Valley Road. In fact, hundreds of years ago, the river was the lifeblood of the region for the native Indian tribes as well as the Spanish and American settlers. Even only 40 years ago, Mission Valley was still a largely an undeveloped swath of farm and dairy land. But today you would never know, with all the shopping malls, office buildings and condos now populating the valley.

But the San Diego River isn't just Mission Valley. It's also the headwaters and canyons of East County and the estuary at Mission Bay, much of it still wilderness and open space that the river runs through. And the San Diego River Park Foundation is holding four days over two weekends to bring awareness about preserving the river to the community.

San Diego River Days will be held May 10, 11, 17 and 18. 36 different activities are planned to celebrate our region’s namesake river and nearly 10,000 people are anticipated to participate over the two weekends of the event. River Days will kick-off at 8:30 a.m. on May 10 along the river in a Town and Country Resort parking lot across the street from the Fashion Valley Trolley Station. The entrance to the lot is off of Fashion Valley Road. Free River Days T-shirts will be provided to the first 50 attendees. Coffee and snacks will be provided. At 9 a.m., Councilmember Donna Frye will lead a walk along the River and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition will lead a bike ride.

The 36 events range from hikes in the mountains to a cleanup at Dog Beach. More than 20 different organizations and public agencies are participating. Events include kayaking at Lake Murray, a 5k walk/run in Lakeside, Explore Mission Trails Day and an open house of the 516 acre Eagle Peak Preserve near Julian. For details about all the San Diego River Days activities, check out the San Diego River Days website.

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.