It’s the last day of February, the first night to start the weekend. Tonight’s entertainment:
The Pretenders tribute band PRETENDING CHRISSIE is in CARLSBAD at the Landing in Bay Park.
Another female-led tribute act, the cleverly titled BLACK SABBITCH at BRICK BY BRICK.
The Sublime tribute BADFISH will be at the MUSIC BOX downtown.
The SAN DIEGO GULLS have a game against the Firebirds, and it’s “Emo Night” for the young folks to party. The following night their game against the Condors will be a MARDI GRAS celebration for the adults to party.
If you want some apple pie with your entertainment, or are planning a weekend getaway in JULIAN, it’s BLUEGRASS NIGHT with a free concert by the Lonesome Ace Stringband at the Julian Town Hall on Main Street.
For live theater, you WICKED is still on stage at the SAN DIEGO CIVIC THEATRE all weekend.
Stop in and say “hi” to the cast of HELLO DOLLY at the San Diego Musical Theatre.
A wonderful musical you have to see at least once in your life – ONCE – at the Lamb’s Player Theatre in CORONADO.
The play WHITE is at the Scripps Ranch Theatre.
3 SUMMERS OF LINCOLN at the LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE.
Or you can drive over to see EMPTY RIDE at the OLD GLOBE. These shows will be going on all weekend.
Comedian and actor HARLAND WILLIAMS, who was so bizarre as the hitchhiker in “There’s Something About Mary” – is at the American Comedy Company DOWNTOWN.
On SATURDAY, the first day of March….Lots of Mardi Gras celebrations:
The biggie in San Diego is the GASLAMP MARDI GRAS, at Fifth Avenue, between Broadway and Harbor Drive, with over 25 different spots within walking distance where you can party.
At SEA WORLD….a family-friend New Orleans event. They’ll have a vibrant carnival, with colorful costumes, live music, and lots of Cajun and Creole dishes…and of course, dancing in the streets.
There’s a MARDI GRAS JAMBALAYA DANCE PARTY with a live band playing a lot of oldies at the Pit Stop Diner in OCEANSIDE.
For sports, the San Diego Gulls will do their Mardi Gras celebration. No throwing beads on the ice at PECHANGA ARENA.
The San Diego Mojo will play the Columbus Fury in volleyball at VIEJAS ARENA.
And the San Diego Clippers, G League hoops team, has a home game in OCEANSIDE.
On SUNDAY, when you’re trying to recover from any Mardi Gras celebrating you did…there’s no better way to mellow out than to have a “Cold Beverage” while checking out G LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE at the Belly Up Tavern in SOLANA BEACH.
The MAGIC CITY HIPPIES are at the Observatory in NORTH PARK. A band called “Mustard Service” opens the show, for any of those hippies getting the munchies.
You can shake things up with the MICHIGAN RATTLERS doing their indie/folk stuff at the Casbah DOWNTOWN.
And if you like pop-punk, THE QUEERS have been at it since 1981. They’re playing at the House of Blues DOWNTOWN. The JACK TRIPPERS open, who I’m sure your “company” will enjoy.
I’m excited about this weekend because it’s the ACADEMY AWARDS. The Oscars are like the Super Bowl for us movie critics.
It’s great that the always hysterical Conan O’Brien is hosting. If you want to win your Oscar pools, here are my picks for sure bets: Best Picture – CONCLAVE. Best Actress – DEMI MOORE (she’s great in The Substance, but the movie was disappointing). Best Supporting Actor – KIERAN CULKIN, who was in one of the best movies of the year – A Real Pain. It will also win for Best Original Screenplay. Best Director will probably go to SEAN BAKER for Anora, so they can throw a bone to that film. The rest of the categories could go in any direction.
The big movie opening this weekend is LAST BREATH. It’s a true story about three saturation divers, a job which is considered the most dangerous around. They live in pressurized chambers underwater for long periods of time, fixing pipelines. It stars Woody Harrelson (because what movie doesn’t have him?), as the crusty old guy who has been told he has to retire after 20 years on the job. Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) plays the cocky guy, who’s the best diver around. Finn Cole is the newbie, and the movie starts with his fiance worried about him leaving. One of the few missteps the film has is their lack of chemistry. Problems arise and a dangerous rescue in a storm ensues. Any guesses whether the diver will survive? Well, whatever you think will happen, what actually does happen is the most amazing thing you’ve ever heard. The film wasn’t quite as exciting as Ron Howard’s divers rescuing a Thai boys soccer team in “Thirteen Lives” but it was still good. 3 stars out of 5.