San Diego Magazine / July 2007 / Best Bets

 Email  Print  Feed

Best Bets

Womanly Wiles

Carmen has her way at La Jolla Playhouse through July 22 with the new musical version, while The Deception plays with disguise, courtesy of Theatre de le Jeune Lune, July 17–August 19. After the Quake, July 24–August 26, depicts the aftermath of the Kobe, Japan, earthquake. 858-550-1010; lajollaplayhouse.org.

Pride on Parade

San Diego’s biggest——and perhaps most spirited——civic event, the 33rd Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration, “United for Equality,” takes place July 21 and 22. The Pride Parade starts at 11 a.m. on July 21 and stretches for a mile along University Avenue starting at Normal Street in Hillcrest, then down Sixth Avenue to Balboa Park. Some 40,000 attendees are expected for the festival, staged at Sixth and Laurel and featuring live entertainment, 250 vendor booths, art exhibit, vintage auto show and cultural presentations, Saturday noon-10, Sunday 11-8. 619-297-7683; sandiegopride.org.

Creep Show

Ever been hissed at by a roach? Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas lets you hiss back to ever-ornery Madagascar hissing cockroaches during its annual Insect Festival, July 14 and 15 from 10 to 4. For the extra-adventurous, there’s the mealworm larva tastings (choose between mesquite, barbeque and teriyaki flavors). Gulp. 760-436-3036, ext. 206; qbgardens.org.

The Four B’s

Find out how the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club earned its reputation for “beer, babes and bats on the beach” at its 54th annual Over-The-Line Tournament, July 14-15 and 21-22 (7:30 a.m. to dusk) on Fiesta Island. Up to 1,200 three-person teams compete, playing a form of softball. Swing and swig with 52,000 others at this local summer classic. 619-688-0817; ombac.org.

A Good Impression

On display July 21 through September 30 at the San Diego Museum of Art, “Impressionist Giverny: A Colony of Artists, 1885-1915” includes works by Claude Monet, Theodore Robinson, John Leslie Breck and other impressionist giants who created works in or near the rural French village of Giverny. SDMA is the only U.S. venue to house the traveling exhibition, drawn from public and private collections. 619-232-7931; sdmart.org.

OK Corral

Starlight Theatre ropes in Oklahoma! for a surrey-with-the-fringe-on-top spell, July 12-22, Thursday through Sunday at 8 in the amphitheater in Balboa Park, 619-544-7827; starlighttheatre.org.

Bard in the Park by Dark

A toothsome threesome, the Old Globe Theatre’s Shakespeare Festival continues in Balboa Park with Hamlet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Measure for Measure, running in repertory on the outdoor Lowell Davies Stage thru September 30. 619-234-5623; theoldglobe.org.

Snap, Crackle, Pops

The San Diego Symphony’s Summer Pops Concert Series launches its outdoor season at Embarcadero Marina Park South June 29 through July 1 with a salute to America, “Star-Spangled Pops.” July 6 and 7, “ABBAmania” celebrates the Swedish band. July 12, Portuguese diva Mariza performs. July 13 and 14, “¡Viva Espana!” features San Diego’s Romero family and Al Sur Flamenco Quartet. July 20 and 21, “Cirque du Symphonie” takes audiences to the circus, French-style. July 26, “The Symphony Strikes Back!” July 27 and 28, “Marvin at the Movies” features new pops director Marvin Hamlisch’s movie tunes. All shows at 7:30. 619-235-0804; sandiegosymphony.com.

Con Artists

Comic-Con International delivers the ultimate fix for comic-book fanatics July 26-29 at the San Diego Convention Center. Scheduled appearances by leading figures in the world of comics, science fiction and fantasy include Ray Bradbury and George A. Romero. Other highlights include book signings, art shows and the latest anime and comic-book designs. 619-491-2475 or 619-525-5000; comic-con.org/cci.