FEATURED EVENTS

12 Beers of Christmas

Through Tuesday, Dec. 23

Each day during this event at Waypoint Public (3794 30th St., North Park), a special holiday beer will be paired with a bite created by Executive Chef Amanda Baumgarten. Order the beer and get the paired small bite for free! Examples of pairs to be seen include duck and gouda stuffed pretzels paired with Port Brewing’s Santa’s Little Helper — a bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout; and a date and blue cheese tart paired with The Bruery’s 7 Swans-A-Swimming — a Belgian-style Quadrupel Ale. If your mouth is watering, stop in for today’s pairing or visit waypointpublic.com.

Food For Live Grooves

Friday – Sunday, Dec. 19 – 21 

From 5 – 9 p.m. each night this weekend, The Hideout (3519 El Cajon Blvd., Normal Heights) will collect nonperishable food items for Mama’s Kitchen. In exchange for donations, attendees will receive tickets for $1 off drinks to be used all night. Friday’s lineup includes Hip Hop Roots (cover: $5), Saturday will feature Erik Canzona and The Narrows, Gloomsday and Second Cousins (cover: $5) and Sunday will be a literary event followed by karaoke (no cover). Visit thehideousd.com for more information on the venue and lineups and soundsinsandiego.com for more on the food drive.

A Belgian Christmas

Saturday, Dec. 20

Brabant Bar and Café (2310 30th St., South Park) is bringing the festive cheer of Belgium closer to home. The spot has been decorated from top to bottom and they’ll be serving up drinks and eats to match the cheery atmosphere. Belgian Christmas brews to be served include St. Bernardus Christmas, Scaldis Noel and Temecula’s very own Monkish Magnificat, plus several others. If you happen to order the Gouden Carolus Noel on draft you will also get a pair of Mere Noel glasses to take home. To pair with the libations, Brabant will serve up holiday-inspired dishes as well: goose with lingonberry sauce, winter bratwurst, Cognou — aka Belgian Baby Jesus Bread, and Christmas cookies. And if all that holiday spirit isn’t enough to get the Grinch out of you, there will be caroling each hour with lyric sheets passed around so all can participate. The party starts at 5 p.m. with no cover and all ages are welcome and encouraged to dress in festive attire. Visit brabantcafe.com for more information.

The Soundrange presents The Shop ‘n’ Roll Christmas Round Up

Sunday, Dec. 21

This event gives attendees the chance to get some holiday shopping done in a very cool way with unique products for sale and an early evening lineup of music.  From 3 – 8 p.m. vendors will be on hand at The Casbah (2501 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy) with everything from artwork to vinyl to handcrafted jewelry and pottery to health and beauty products and more. Plus there will be special giveaways by Sector 9 Skateboards. DJ sets will be followed by live performances by Neighbors to the North, Shake Before Us and Subsurfer. A BBQ station will be set up with items for purchase if you come hungry. Entry is $6. Visit casbahmusic.com for more information.

Winter Solstice Celebration

Sunday, Dec. 21

The festivity for the shortest day and longest night of the year (for us in the Western Hemisphere) will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. at Eye of Buddha (4247 Park Blvd., University Heights). The free meetup invites attendees to “share in the gift of light with song, reflection and grace.” Refreshments will be served during social time following the celebration. Visit eyeofbuddha.com or find the event on meetup.com to RSVP.

Let’s Spend the Night Together

Wednesday, Dec. 24

After 20 years of “Exile on Kettner,” The Casbah (2501 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy) has something different to present this year for Christmas Eve orphans (or those trying to escape the family). The free show features Pony Death Ride in the Atari Lounge, The Little Richards and Schitzophonics doing a Stone Soul Christmas Revue. But the main event will be Lauren Scheff’s All-Star Rolling Stones Tribute. Scheff’s super group brings together a veritable who’s who of San Diego music, including Jeremiah Zimmerman (The Silent Comedy), Timothy Joseph (Palace Ballroom), Stevie Harris, Jake Najor, Rebecca Jade, Danielle LoPresti and many more. If you can make it down for this inaugural bash you won’t be disappointed. Did we mention it’s free? Visit casbahmusic.com for more information.

RECURRING EVENTS

Mondays: 

Singing Storytime: 1:30 p.m., learn what’s going on inside your baby’s mind, strengthen your bond and sing songs together at Mission Hills Library, 925 Washington St., Mission Hills, free. Library92103.org.

Open Mic Night: 7:30 p.m., the mic is open to you at Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave., Normal Heights, free. Lestats.com.

Tuesdays:

Curbside Bites: 5 – 8:30 p.m., gathering of gourmet food trucks at 3030 Grape St., South Park. Curbsidebites.com.

“Grab a Mic”: 6 p.m., an open mic night hosted by singer/actor Sasha Weiss. Sign ups at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. Martinisabovefourth.com.

Tasty Truck Tuesdays: 6 – 9 p.m., Smitty’s Service Station hosts several food trucks under their well-lit shade structure, 3442 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Sdfoodtrucks.com.

Open Mic Charlie’s: 7 – 10 p.m. (except the third Tuesday), open mic night at Rebecca’s Coffee House, 3015 Juniper St., South Park, free. Rebeccascoffeehouse.com.

Wednesdays: 

Trivia: 7 p.m., free trivia competition for prizes, tournament for $1,000. Drink specials during trivia range $3 – $6. Wang’s North Park, 3029 University Ave., North Park. Wangsnorthpark.com.

Wednesday Night Experience: 7 – 8 p.m., uplifting and spiritually inspiring experiences for all, weekly at Universal Spirit Center, 3858 Front St., Hillcrest, love offering requested. Universalspiritcenter.org.

Young Lions Music Series: 7 p.m., each week features a new “young rising star” chosen by Gilbert Castellanos. Castellanos will also join in during the first set, the Expatriate Room, Croce’s Park West, 2760 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill, $5 cover. Crocesparkwest.com.

Storytelling: 7 – 8:45 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month featuring members of Storytellers of San Diego at Rebecca’s Coffee House, 3015 Juniper St., South Park, donations welcome. Ages 12 and up. Storytellersofsandiego.org.

Wednesday Jazz Jam Session: 7:30 p.m., Gilbert Castellanos hosts the Jazz Jam Session with special guest musicians at Seven Grand, 3054 University Ave., North Park, free. Sevengrandbars.com.

Thursdays: 

Gentle Yoga for seniors: 2:45 – 3:45 p.m., presented by The Center and Silver Age Yoga Community Outreach (SAYCO) at The San Diego LGBT Center, 3909 Centre St., Hillcrest, free. Thecentersd.org.

North Park Farmers Market: 3 – 7 p.m., in the parking lot behind CVS at 32nd St. and University Ave., North Park, free. Northparkfarmersmarket.com.

Kornflower’s Open Mic: Signups at 6:30 p.m., open mic (no poetry or comedy) 7 – 10 p.m. Family friendly event at Rebecca’s Coffee House, 3015 Juniper St., South Park, free. Rebeccascoffeehouse.com.

Kirtan Musical Meditation: 8:15 p.m., chant and sing contemporary mantras celebrating love and life at Pilgrimage of the Heart Yoga, 3287 Adams Ave., Normal Heights, donation requested. Pilgrimageyoga.com.

Fridays:

Preschool Storytime: 10:30 a.m., at Mission Hills Library, 925 Washington St., Mission Hills, free. Library92103.org.

Fridays on Fifth: 4 – 9 p.m., various restaurants and bars offer discounts and specials for a social hour on Fifth Avenue between Washington Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Hillcrest. Fridaysonfifth.com.

Cinema Under the Stars: 8:30 p.m., Classic movie screenings at 4040 Goldfinch St., Mission Hills. Tickets start at $15. Topspresents.com.

Saturdays 

Old Town Saturday Market: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., on Harney Street and San Diego Avenue, Old Town, free. Oldtownsaturdaymarket.com.

Golden Hill Farmers Market: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., on B Street between 27th and 28th streets, Golden Hill, free. Sdmarketmanager.com.

Children’s Craft Time: 10:30 a.m., at Mission Hills Library, 925 Washington St., Mission Hills, free. Library92103.org.

Melodies in Balboa Park: 1 – 5 p.m., the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory ensembles fill Casa del Prado with classical music, 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park, free. Sdys.org.

Comedy Heights: 8 – 10 p.m., local comedians take the stage next to Twiggs Coffeehouse at 4590 Park Blvd., University Heights, free. Comedyheights.com.

Sundays

Hillcrest Farmers Market: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., under the Hillcrest Pride Flag, Harvey Milk and Normal streets, free. Hillcrestfarmersmarket.com.

—Email calendar items to [email protected].