The San Diego Traveler

Free in San Diego This Weekend (part 2)

by Carole A. Lane on January 27th, 2007

Political Actions

 There’s a demonstration to Bring the Troops Home, scheduled for Saturday, at 2pm at Horton Plaza.  This demonstration is in coordination with demonstrations in Washington DC, San Francisco, and elsewhere across the US.

If you’d like to remember our war veterans, a memorial service will be held on Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Balboa Park, at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center.

Another Postcards for Peace Project will be completed when Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meets at 11 a.m., in the community room at La Jolla Village Square.

Concerts

In the mood for a little music?  There’s a free public organ concert every Sunday from 2 - 3 p.m. in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.

The Casbah will also give a free concert on Sunday, along with free food.  Performers include The Local 94/9 & Tim Pyles Presents: Action Andy & His Haunted Honky-Tonkers, Jezebel, Lanterns and Trentalange in the Atari Lounge.

Museums

 You could spend several weekends just exploring the San Diego museums that offer free admission.  These include the California Surf Museum in Oceanside, Carlsbad Historical Society Museum, San Diego Women’s History Museum, Encinitas Historical Society, the San Diego Archaeological Center in Escondido, Valley Center History Museum, and the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad.

On Saturday at 10 a.m., the renowned Czech glass artist Radek Stehlik, Chief Curator of the annual exhibition Karlovy Vary Art in Glass will display the unique molten artistry of the region, which is famed for its crystal, china and art glass.  Karlovy Vary City Architect Vaclav Kouba and artist Radek Stehlik will provide a personal tour in Schulman Auditorium at Carlsbad City Library.

If the weather’s sunny, you might want to try an outdoor museum like The Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and Aviation Museum or Queen Califia’s Magical Circle, an outdoor mosaic sculpture garden by the late artist Niki Saint Phalle. It can be found in Kit Carson Park in Escondido.

Classes & Lectures

What’s better than learning something new?  Learning it for free.

Michaels gives free Demos in their stores on weekends.  Simply click on their Store Events Calendar to find out what they’re teaching and show up at the appointed time.  This weekend their Demos include:

• Gift Bag by Design Runner
• Patchwork Photo Mat with Textile Tool
• Valentine Gift Bag by DecoArt
• Football Card with Fastenater
• Heart Card with Tag Maker

Saturday

At 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, go to the Escondido Community Garden for instruction and demonstrations in building and maintenance of backyard compost piles and worm bins.

“Opera Previews,” in Schulman Auditorium at Carlsbad City Library, explore the San Diego Opera’s 2007 Season repertoire in depth, with musicologist Dr. Ron Shaheen.  Saturday’s session at 10 a.m. explores Mossorgsky’s Boris Gudunov.  Free tickets are distributed at 9:15 a.m, and it’s best to get there early, as last year’s series attracted 200 people to each session.

“The Invisible Mexicans of Deer Canyon,” a documentary examining migrants living in Del Mar/I-5 area, screens Sunday at 11:30 a.m., at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad. Director Carlos Frey will speak.

Birding Basics, a 90-minute class, will be offered at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Visitors Center of Mission Trails Regional Park.

At 4 p.m., Author Mike Byron will discuss his new book, Infinity’s Rainbow: The Politics of Energy, Climate, and Globalization, followed by question and answer and book signing, at Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Vista. The documentary Iraq for Sale will also be screened. Social hour with pizza will begin at 3 p.m.

Lowes holds free How-To Clinics at most of its stores, teaching you how to do everything from organizing your drawers to laying a hardwood floor.  If you select the store nearest you on their website, you can find out what they’re teaching and the time of the class.  Similarly, Home Depot offers In-store Clinics, Do-It-Herself Workshops and Kids’ Workshops throughout the week.

Sunday

Reverend Patricia Paris was recently selected as one of “The 15 People to Watch for 2007″ by The Californian newspaper. Her lecture “From Chaos to Order” will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday at Pacific Church.

CPA and author Wayne A. Label will speak about his new book Accounting for Non-Accountants, and discuss fraud and ethics, and answer questions on Sunday at noon, at Del Mar Library .

Former White House Staffer and author Karna Small Bodman will  discuss her book  Checkmate, along with her experiences as using insider information at 2 p.m. at Mysterious Galaxy Books.  This will be followed at 4 p.m. by author Dan Simmons, discussing and signing his book “The Terror.”