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Public Art
Now in its fifth year, the Port of San Diego’s Urban Trees program is a simple and successful plan for displaying temporary (after a year, the works are sold) and often- intriguing sculptures. Thirty original “urban tree” sculptures were recently chosen to be displayed along the North Embarcadero between the Cruise Ship Terminal and Hawthorn Street. The Port plans to unveil the Urban Trees 5 exhibit in a dedication ceremony on August 2 (portof sandiego.org).

Foreign Film Selection
With one of the best selections of foreign films in town, along with a hip staff to answer your questions, South Park’s Citizen Video (2207 Fern Street, San Diego, 619-281-3456; citizen-video.com) is a cinephile’s paradise. DVDs are arranged by director. Occasional in-store screenings are offered.

Cutting-Edge Art Space
Quint Contemporary Art (7739 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, 858-454- 3409) is more of an experience than a gallery, with its colorful drawings by Manny Farber and exhibitions by artists such as Lincoln Schatz, who created portraits in his CUBE, a 10-by-10-foot translucent box fitted with 24 cameras that stream digital video to 24 computers.

Salsa Dance Class
No partner necessary at this Encinitas Friday-night salsa class (Performing Arts Workshop, 1105 Second Street, 760-632-5340; rincondance.org) where the atmosphere is fun and inclusive with a focus on learning. It’s only $12 for both a beginning and intermediate class. Just show up at 8 p.m. in comfortable shoes.

Russian Ballet Teachers
Born in Russia, Bolshoi dancer Maxim Tchernychev married critically acclaimed San Diego ballerina Sylvia Poolos in 2000. A year later, they founded the San Diego Academy of Ballet (858-496- 0800; ), a nonprofit school that implements the Vaganova method, a dance curriculum that teaches an approach to specific steps. Maxim taught Kiril Kulish, a 12-year-old who won the Youth America Grand Prix last year.