Arts & Culture

LATEST IN ARTS & CULTURE

San Diego weekend arts events: Mall art, Marvel tunes and drag

Julia Dixon Evans

This weekend in the arts in San Diego: Art Through the Glass at the Chula Vista Center Mall; the San Diego Symphony performs iconic Marvel music; Particle FM and Intervals bring sound art to Quint Gallery; "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" at North Coast Rep; San Diego International Mariachi Summit; drag performances at The Old Globe's AXIS: Pride; plus live music picks and more.

People walking the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter at 5:20pm, as Comic-Con closes its doors, Sunday, July 23, 2023. The international convention might be over, but the spirit of the event has not left the streets, animating each corner with cosplay displays and other activations still in place.

Charlotte Radulovich

Arts & Culture

No badge? No problem: Best offsite Comic-Con 2025 events happening in San Diego

Leslie Gonzalez

Writer-director Ron Najor also stars in his feature directorial debut, "Adjunct." (2025)

Dekanalog

Arts & Culture

San Diego filmmaker Ron Najor explores the misunderstood world of adjunct professors in new indie film

Beth Accomando

MUSIC

Arts & Culture

Emily Brontë, Kate Bush and a classic novel celebrated in The Most 'Wuthering Heights' Day Ever

Maya Trabulsi

The San Diego Public Library will celebrate "Wuthering Heights" with dance this Saturday.
The best new albums out July 18

Stephen Thompson

Chelsea O

Alex G jumps to a major. Paramore's Zac Farro goes retro. Jim Legxacy levels up. See our long list of albums out today and listen to the New Music Friday podcast.

PODCASTS

KPBS Midday Edition

What losing health care and mental health services means for LGBTQ+ youth

Julianna Domingo

Jade Hindmon

We look at the impact anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation is having on youth and their families — and how some young people are using art to navigate the current moment.
KPBS Midday Edition

How to help your kids build literacy skills this summer

Jade Hindmon

Ashley Rusch

Keyla Parra Gamiño

Summer vacation can bring with it a loss of learning gains. Two local education programs discuss the issue of literacy gaps and how to combat learning loss.

POP CULTURE

Science & Technology

This San Diego tech startup is bringing science fiction to life at Comic-Con — again

Brenden Tuccinardi

Last year, we talked to the CEO and founder of San Diego-based PSYONIC about their Ability Hand — a bionic prosthetic limb. PSYONIC is back at Comic-Con this year, hosting a panel with Ability Hand users.
A COVID-era Western, a slasher sequel and a 50-year-old classic to watch this week

Bob Mondello

Stephen Thompson

Mandalit del Barco

Filmmaker Ari Aster, who wrote and directed Midsommar and Hereditary, returns to theaters this weekend with a conspiracy-laden story set in the spring of 2020.

VISUAL ARTS

Arts & Culture

San Diego weekend arts events: Indigenous artists, karaoke-inspired theater and more

Julia Dixon Evans

This weekend in the arts in San Diego: "Infinite Rivers" in San Ysidro; Jean Lowe and Rancholo at Best Practice; Scandinavian artists at Madison Gallery; "Access" in Bonita; "Beethoven by the Bay"; a Rachmaninoff festival; plus film, dance and live music picks.
Arts & Culture

The softness and 'grandma hobbies' of San Diego textile artist Denja Harris

Julia Dixon Evans

Denja Harris opened her first solo museum exhibition this week at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Her soft sculptures explore perceptions of being a Black woman and invite viewers to embrace the unknown.

MORE ARTS & CULTURE

Where to start? This week's new releases are an all-you-can-read buffet

Colin Dwyer

This week, new horror from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a funny college do-over from Jeneva Rose, and autofiction from Hannah Pittard. Plus, stories about the American South, and a deep dive into the Earth.
National

Wrongly convicted, he became 'The Jailhouse Lawyer' — and helped free himself

Terry Gross

While serving a life sentence for a murder he was eventually exonerated of committing, Calvin Duncan studied law and helped many wrongfully convicted prisoners. His memoir is The Jailhouse Lawyer.
Through comics, 'Essex County' creator shows us the struggles, triumphs of his career

Tahneer Oksman

Jeff Lemire explores his career arc, the road to successfully delivering Essex County and other comics to the public, in a new graphic memoir.

Latest Arts Events

Pride Parade Brunch at Cellar Hand

Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 9 AM

Cellar Hand Resturant

Free

Hands on Kombucha Workshop

Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 12 PM

San Diego Craft Collective

$90

San Diego Pride Parade

Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 10 AM to 3 PM

The San Diego Pride Parade

Free

Flash Fiction The Brevity of Wit

Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 10 AM to 1 PM

Virtual

$54-$63

March With Lambda Archives at San Diego Pride

Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 10 AM to 3 PM

Hillcrest Pride Flag

5th Annual Filipino American Friendship Festival

Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 11 AM to 6 PM

Liberty Station NTC Park

Free

Books Thru Bars Packaging Event

Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 11 AM to 2 PM

Groundwork Bookstore

Free

Elsa Orozco-Toops Art Exhibit Reception

Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 12 PM to 2 PM

San Carlos Public Library

Free

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San Diego's creative scene is thriving in unexpected ways. Musicians are crowdfunding their careers. Tea culture is evolving. A painter's lost dreams spark a bold new vision. The city's last alt-weekly falls, but its rebellious spirit fights on. And in a rare conversation, the city's outgoing and incoming poets laureate dig into the power of words. The Finest brings you the artists, advocates and disruptors redefining culture in San Diego.

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