Scene 6.10
Despite a last-minute change of location, the inaugural Adams Avenue Farmers Market opened to large crowds on May 12 in the parking lot of the RITE AID pharmacy at 3650 Adams Ave.
The farmers market was initially scheduled to be held at 40th Street at Adams Avenue, but the new location was chosen when Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, imposed additional requirements on the sponsoring Adams Avenue Business Association that could not be addressed in time for the grand opening. Instead, the association obtained approval from the RITE AID pharmacy to hold the market on its lot.
***
Residents can learn about sustainability and how to power their homes with the sun at workshops and on a walking tour during the Kensington Clean Energy Festival June 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The free public event is sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy, Kensington’s 100th Anniversary Committee and Walk San Diego. The location is the Kensington-Normal Heights Library at 4121 Adams Ave.
The event will feature information on energy efficiency, solar photovoltaic systems, solar water heating, water-saving technologies and solar financing and rebate programs. For more information, call (858) 244-1177.
***
There is a sliver of hope on the horizon during catastrophic times. That, at least, is the premise of an art show by Ray Street Custom Framing & Gallery featuring the works of Susan E. Roden. The show, titled “Frayed,” will run June 10 to Aug. 11 and there will be a June 12 reception for the artist from 6 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, 3807 Ray St. Roden’s body of work encompasses dramatic sunsets created in heavenly layered pastels. For additional information, call the gallery at (619) 255-2022. The reception for the artist is in conjunction with Ray at Night.
***
The Station tavern in South Park will go to the dogs — literally — on June 14. That’s when the place will be opened for dogs and their owners between 5 and 9 p.m. The event, called “K9s and Cocktails,” was organized by Shirley Fenile, owner of Walk’n the Dog on Juniper Street. Some of the evening’s proceeds will go to a nonprofit agency for dogs. Vendors will be on hand to provide free samples of doggie treats and other pet products. For more information, call Fenile at (619) 281-9874.
***
Small businesses are being urged to get on the social media bandwagon — Facebook, Twitter, My Space, YouTube — to grow their customer base, and a June 2 seminar will help them do it. “Social Media for Small Businesses” will be presented from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on that date at the Normal Heights Community Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd., in Normal Heights. It will be hosted by SCORE San Diego, the Adams Avenue Business Association, North Park Main Street and the City Heights Business Association.
The seminar will address several questions: “Why social media?” “Why now?” “How can social media help small businesses?” “What are the best platforms for small businesses?” “What are the do’s and don’ts?”
Reservations are required. To reserve a space, contact the Adams Avenue Business Association at (619) 282-7329 or e-mail jim@
***
Patrick Edwards
Patrick Edwards, owner of Antique Refinishers, has gone from one nonprofit presidency to another. Edwards recently stepped down as president of North Park Main Street and in March was elected president of the San Diego BID Council, the entity that oversees the city’s 17 local Business Improvement District programs. Edwards has been in business in North Park for more than 40 years. He founded the North Park BID in 1985.
***
More than 75 businesses along Adams Avenue will be converted into art galleries or performance arenas for the seventh annual “Art Around Adams 2010: Back to the Streets” music and art walk on June 5. Put on by Exodus Studios, an events production company, “Art Around Adams” will last from 3 to 5 p.m. and will stretch from 30th Street to Vista Street in Kensington — about 1.6 miles. A trolley will shuttle attendees along Adams Avenue for free.
“The significant contributions of the exhibitors, artists, attendees and business owners of Art Around Adams have all been an integral part to supporting the local San Diego arts scene,” said Adam Rosen, founder of Exodus Studios. “My goal is to ensure this event continues to flourish and that spirit of unity within the community remains for years to come,” Rosen said. “Art Around Adams,” which was launched in 2004, has generated up to 10,000 attendees each year.
“Arts and music are essential to thriving neighborhoods,” said Councilman Todd Gloria. “Art Around Adams celebrates those unique aspects of Normal Heights and Kensington.”
For more information, visit artaroundadams.com or send an e-mail to: adam@exodus-studios.com.
***
The San Diego Rescue Mission has become the new owner of the North Park Thrift Store. A grand re-opening ceremony of the remodeled store at 3055 University Ave. was held on May 21. The Rescue Mission, a former tenant of the building, sees the store as a hybrid of retail, client training, community gathering place and a resource center on homeless services. “We’re excited about becoming an active part of community improvements in North Park,” said Herb Johnson, SDRM president and CEO. “There is a great value to our community to present a renovated facility. In addition, our clients’ involvement with the thrift store gives them valuable job training that helps them get back their life while also giving back to the community.”
***
North Park’s growing reputation as a thriving arts, culture, music and dining destination will be enhanced again in August when the third annual North Park Music Thing comes to the neighborhood. It will bring music industry professionals and performers together for a weekend of panel discussions, demo review sessions and live performances.
The annual music and media conference will be held at the Lafayette Hotel at 2223 El Cajon Blvd. on Aug. 13-14. A showcase of bands and individual musicians from across the Southwest will take place on Friday and Saturday nights at 14 San Diego venues. The live music showcases will follow daytime panel discussions on Friday afternoon and Saturday. “We’re excited to see North Park Music Thing build on the success of last year’s event,” said Kevin Hellman, president of the San Diego Music Foundation. “This year’s event will feature two nights of live music showcases following daytime panels led by music industry professionals from across the U.S. ”
The 2010 keynote speaker is music producer and songwriter Kim Fowley, who began his career in the music industry in the 1960s and has worked with the Byrds, Cat Stevens, Helen Reddy, The Plastic Ono Band, Alice Cooper, Kiss and Guns ‘n’ Roses. He also managed the all-girl band, The Runaways, in the 1970s.
Workshop discussions on Friday and Saturday will be led by panelists with experience in various areas of the music industry including engaging social media in promotions, breaking into the music business, music publishing, touring, hiring a manager, songwriting techniques, and more.
Proceeds from North Park Music Thing will be donated to the San Diego Music Foundation, which organizes the annual San Diego Music Awards show, recognizing the achievements of the local music community, and also encourages the next generation of musicians through its Taylor Guitars for Schools program, which has donated over 1,500 guitars to 61 elementary schools in San Diego County, which include guitar in their current music curriculum.
More information is available at northparkmusicthing.com.
***
The San Diego Women’s History Museum’s third annual Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Festival will be staged June 4 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in Spanish Village in Balboa Park. Prudential Californa Realty will be providing 500 commemorative wine glasses to be given away to the first 500 attendees.
Dozens of well-known chocolatiers, wine and cheese vendors will participate by offering samples of their wares for tasting. Entertainment will be provided by San Diego’s Queen of Boogie Woogie, Sue Palmer.
Participants also will receive a variety of free items such as $195 vouchers
for skin care and over $300 in discount cards for local restaurants
Tickets for the festival can be purchased online at womensmuseumsd.org. Advance tickets are $25 and $30 after May 30. Comerica Bank is one of the festival sponsors.
***
Scott Harring, owner of STUFF Furniture Consignment Shop in North Park, which won the 2010 Readers Poll sponsored by the Gay & Lestian Times.
