Top 5 Best Bets for the Week of April 16-23, 2004

1. The Darkness - April 16

They're making waves in the music scene and bringing back fun and flamboyance to rock - spandex, long hair, high falsetto vocals and lots of attitude. Experience The Darkness at SOMA.

2. Rosarito to Ensenada Bike Ride - April 17

The 18th annual 50-mile fun bike ride is one of the premier cycling events of the year.

3. Taste of the Arts by the Bay - April 18

Celebrate the visual and performing arts! This free festival is shaping up to be the City's signature event with a phenomenal lineup of new artists including the San Diego Symphony, Martin Luther King Jr. Gospel Choir and the San Diego Dance Theater, returning favorite performers and plenty of activities for whole family. Free.

4. Lakeside Rodeo - April 23-25

A genuine, honest to goodness rodeo, with real cowboys, broncos and bulls, dusty rodeo ring and rodeo queens. Right here, appropriately, in Lakeside. And it's actually a lot of fun. Starts April 23.

5. Cirque du Soleil final performances - April 18

Cirque du Soleil's awesome "Varekai" ends its spectacular run in San Diego with its final performances this weekend.