Gene Farris @ Bar Dynamite
Gene Farris has been called “The Sinister Minister” of house music. One of the breakthrough artists from Chicago’s legendary early 90s loft scene, which spawned some of the most influential and transcendental house DJs and producers in the world – Mark Farina, Derrick Carter and Gene Farris came to define house music from the city that spawned its creation. His early influence came from watching legendary DJs such as Ron Carrol and Ron Hardy basically change the face of dance music forever, by nurturing the embryonic house sound at the mythical AKA Club. But his signing to Green Velvet’s Relief Records and releasing “The Farris Wheel EP” in 1994 was the catalyst for the explosion of globe-trotting Chicago DJs and producers in the mid to late nineties, such as DJ Sneak, Paul Johnson, DC, DJ Rush, Ron Trent, Boo Williams and Glen Underground. The "Farris Wheel" EP was the beginning of a prolific production career. His discography highlights works released on dance music’s most respected labels such as Defected/Fluential, Soma Records, Siesta Music, Force Inc., Formaldehyde, 83 West/ Camouflage, Communique, Defmix, Static, and more. Farris has continued to be one of the most significant house producers and DJs on the planet, with residencies around the world, and by starting his own Farris Wheel record label in 1998, as well as releasing a compilation from the Farris Wheel catalog this year. San Diego is extremely lucky to host a night of sultry vocals and tuff beats from the Sinister Minister himself, in the intimate Bar Dynamite
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Something Corporate & Rx Bandits @ Soma
Does anyone else see the irony in a band who unapologetically puts out polished, emo-flavored pop-punk, calling themselves Something Corporate? If not, you can at least figure out why this band got signed to a major almost immediately after high school – their brand of emotional, grungy pseudo-punk was perfect for the suits to slap an “emo” label on. It’s a toss-up – on the one hand, they used to be on Cali indy punk label Drive-Thru Records – but, they also opened for Good Charlotte, poster boys for watered-down MTV sellout pop-punk. The Rx Bandits are an Orange County ska-punk band with slightly more credibility – maybe that’s why they also decided to remove themselves from this tour, immediately after the San Diego date. The Format and Days Away open.

tickets $13 online

Blackalicious @ L5
Like A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, the Pharcyde and Jurassic 5, the experimental hip-hop group Blackalicious keeps their lyrics and message on the positive tip – focusing on the spiritual and the positive instead of violence, misogynism, or the bling. Thug Life has become tired as a focus for the genre; now the future of hip-hop lies in groups that let their creative juices flow outside the realm of negativity. Just like Q-Tip said: “Get in the zone of positivity, not negativity, cause we’ve got to strive for longevity.” Like a lot of experimental alternative rappers, Blackalicious can be quirky and eccentric; nonetheless, spirituality is a big part of the group's message. In April 2002, MCA released Blackalicious' full-length album “Blazing Arrow,” which boasts guest appearances by artists who range from Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine to the Roots' ?uestlove to veteran soul singer Gil Scott-Heron. One thing’s for sure – Blackalicious has been blazing a trail through hip-hop, and positivity will be the road hip-hop needs to take to survive.

tickets $15 online through tickets.cultivatelife

Ozomatli & Quetzal @ Belly Up Friday & Saturday
Brewing a vital concoction of Latin salsa, urban hip-hop, jazz and funk, Ozomatli formed in Los Angeles in the mid-'90s and released their self-titled debut in June. Quetzal’s second release on Vanguard Records, “Worksongs,” marks the 10th anniversary of this six-piece outfit bent on redefining the artistic world of Chicanos in America. “Founded by guitarist/jarana/bajo sexto player Quetzal Flores, the band’s grassroots approach to fusing the folk styles of Mexico and Cuba in son and bolero, alongside tasteful elements of rock and blues, carves an inspiring path in the tiresome music industry.”

tickets $20 online Friday | Saturday

Pinback @ The Casbah
Hometown heroes Pinback formed in the wake of the break ups of 3 Mile Pilot and Thingy. Their self-titled debut and follow-up (“Blue Screen Life”) were completely recorded, mixed and mastered on their home computer. Their sound combines ethereal pop harmonies with tranquil rhythms and beautifully hypnotic vocals. Marrying the stylistic expertise of their previous bands, Pinback's music is extremely touching and dreamy. “As with previous Pinback releases, the duo's propensity for thoughtful instrumentation and dense layering of melodies is remarkably unique and nothing short of beautiful. Every song on “Blue Screen Life” holds muted harmonies, hypnotic rhythms and lush orchestration that subtly resonate long after one listen. The multi-instrumentalist duo trade vocals with comfort, poise and precision. Yet, despite all of the underlying complexities in Pinback's music their songs somehow always seem sincere, honest and simply dreamy.”

tickets $15 online or on sale at The Casbah 12-2pm Tues-Thurs

Liam Howe aka AntiPop @ Canes
Liam Howe is the keyboardist for the electronic hybrid group the Sneaker Pimps, a name coined by the Beastie Boys, to describe one of the guys on their payroll whose sole job was to search for hard to find sneakers. “Using guitar squall and trip-hop beats as their springboard, the Sneaker Pimps have discovered a shadowy realm somewhere between indie, alternative, dance, sci-fi and voodoo.” Filled with unearthly grooves and provocative lyrical twists, the Pimps full-length debut “Becoming X” was a critical success when it was released in the UK in August 1996 and in the United States in early 1997. This night will feature a DJ set from Howe, which will undoubtedly be a creative, provocative electronic journey. Signed to Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto Records, Howe has also released music for the Ministry of Sound label under the moniker AntiPop.

tickets $8 @ Canes box office

The Funk Brothers w/ Darius Rucker and Joan Osbourne @ Belly Up
“The Funk Brothers were the brilliant but anonymous studio band responsible for the instrumental backing on countless Motown records from 1959 up to the company's move to Los Angeles in 1972. Woefully under appreciated as architects of the fabled "Motown sound," the individual musicians were rarely credited on the records that relied upon their performances, which downplayed their importance to the label. Motown's sophisticated, urbane brand of R&B certainly would have been difficult to achieve without the extensive jazz training that many of the Funk Brothers brought to the table. In order to keep that sound a distinctive brand name, Motown signed most of the group to exclusive, highly restrictive contracts during their tenure, although a few peripheral members were able to moonlight on sessions for other companies from time to time. In more recent years, the Funk Brothers' legacy has begun to receive proper attention, most notably in Allen Slutsky's 1989 book “Standing in the Shadows of Motown,” and the 2002 documentary film of the same name.” Various popular musicians have been honored to stand in and play with the surviving members of the Funk Brothers – this tour features former Hootie and the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker, as well as singer/songwriter Joan Osbourne.

tickets $42 online

Reverend Horton Heat @ Belly Up
Undeniably, the Reverend Horton Heat is a legend in his own time. Signed to Seattle’s fabled SubPop Records, the former home of Soundgarden and Mudhoney, the Reverend’s sound is a supercharged stew of rockabilly, punk, surf guitar, blues and swing, and his live shows are a booze-filled raucous party of blazing guitar work, slap bass and razor sharp punkabilly. Like the Reverend himself says: "If you listen to the band's catalog, you might say there are a few reoccurring themes found in our songs: beer, gin and tonic, whiskey, cocaine, tequila, martinis, marijuana, cigarettes, cars, more beer, pretty women, sermons, cats and dogs, the devil, Texas, and Jimbo. Not to mention steak and dildos. All the good things in life." Amen, Reverend.

tickets $20 online or call the box office at 858.481.8140

Hollywood Ball @ La Jolla Hilton Torrey Pines
8PM-4AM – 8 areas of entertainment, 5 dance floors, 3 outdoor areas, live performances by Bad Boy Bill, Dave Aude, Jon Bishop, Matty A, Kingsley, One Nation, Funk Inc, DJ K, Smally Biggs, and Hektik. Dress code – sport coat required.

Tickets $60, $100 VIP: tickets.cultivatelife.org or www.polkadotpresents.com

Soma NYE @ San Diego Sports Arena
7th annual NYE party – 15 bands, 3 stages - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Taking Back Sunday, Jett, Yellowcard, Sugarcult, Strung Out, Rise Against, Rufio, Avenged Sevenfold, Offset, Underminded.

Tickets $24: online

Big Night San Diego @ Qualcomm Stadium
R-Dub and Pauli P present a NYE party with 8 separate areas – Cracker, Gin Blossoms, Jeremy Kay, hip-hop room, house room, retro ballroom. Shuttles and trolley service available all night long.

Tickets $109, VIP $169: online here or here

Clique & Luis NYE@ Abbey Church?
We've heard rumors about Luis and RJ throwing another great event at the historic Abbey. However, they seem to be fashionable late in their announcement. Contact them directly if you want more info.

NYE Ball @ the Sky Room, Bristol Hotel
Presented by DJHere.com, the Convivium & Dtown Productions – featuring 100 hotel rooms, 10 DJs including Scooter and LaVelle and the LSDJs - 8 hours of music, 7 large bars, 5 dance areas, and 3 VIP lounges.
VIP Hotel Room / Entrance Packages Available.

Tickets $40: www.djhere.com

NYE @ the Prado, Balboa Park
Presented by DJHere.com, the Convivium & Dtown Productions - hosts: Mike Lindstrom, Andy Farnsworth, Lev, Jonathan Landau, Susan Hickman, Brando Camalich & Alli Beall – 6 DJ's including Jon Sautter & Chris Cutz on 4 turntables, Steven Williams Jazz Funk Band – The Prado features 7 full bars, 30 foot hand-stenciled ceilings, full theatrical stage, sky lights, outdoor garden/bar, breathtaking Spanish architecture, beautiful outdoor patio garden with full bar, large VIP room w/ private bar, DJ & VIP Couch Sections Free parking + valet available

Tickets $40: www.djhere.com
Dinner Reservations: 619-557-9441

94/9 NYE @ 4th & B
1st Annual – featuring Guided by Voices, Year of the Rabbit and Tomorrow’s Sun -
Tickets: $19.49: 4th and B Box Office

Merge NYE @ Ventanas
8PM-4AM – Presented by Merge Events – featuring The funky Soul-Salsa Sounds of Agua Dulce, with DJ sets from Hugh Hererra, Sean Perry, Jason Overell, and Be-Irie - A carnival of the senses, with warm soulful music, costumed dancers, performance art and multi-media mystic.

Tickets: $20: 619-338-0526 or tickets.cultivatelife.org

Canes NYE
B-Side Players/Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine – Dinner packages available – limited reserved seating.

Tickets $30: Canes Box Office

Belly Up NYE
Steve Poltz @ the Rugburns

Tickets $35: 858-492-1116

Amazing, Extravagant, Spectacular NYE at Del Mar Racetrack
Featuring POD, DJ Mea, Common Sense, Kingsley, and over 30 other live acts. Includes 6 rooms of entertainment, three outdoor terraces, fireworks, champagne, party favors, laser lighting, special effects, balloons, confetti, giant video screens and over 500 TV monitors and plasma screens. There will also be plush VIP areas designated for sponsors only. See you on New Years Eve!

Tickets ($59): online
(For a $10 discount enter promo code MJS1)

In America @ Landmark Theaters (drama)
Johnny (Paddy Considine) and Sarah (Samantha Morton of Morvern Callar and Minority Report) emigrate from Ireland to New York City with their two young daughters in tow, in pursuit of a dream. The family uses ingenuity and sheer strength of will to make the most of their new life. Ultimately it is their kindness to a stranger and that stranger's response in return that helps create their new home. Directed and co-written by Jim Sheridan (In The Name of the Father, My Left Foot), In America is the filmmaker's semi-autobiographical story, updated to contemporary times.

Nominated for six 2004 IFP Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature, Best Director and Best Female Lead (Morton).

+view trailers

The Revolution Will not be Televised @ Landmark Theaters (documentary)
On April 12, 2002, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez—new icon of the left and a thorn in the side of the U.S. Administration—was removed from office and replaced by a new interim government. What had in fact taken place was the first Latin American coup of the 21st century. Irish filmmakers Kim Bartley & Donnacha O’Briain chart the last seven months of the charismatic leader’s administration up to the coup, capturing extraordinary footage inside the Presidential Palace both during the coup and the 48 hours of the short-lived interim government. A remarkable documentary of media manipulation and distortion, and a must-see film for fans of the hit Bowling for Columbine

Winner of Best Documentary at the 2003 Chicago International Film Festival, Winner of First Person Singular Documentary Award and Golden Space Needle Award at the Seattle International Film Festival


Paycheck @ Comming 12.25.03 (sci-fi thiller)
Based on the short story by Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner, Minority Report), "Paycheck" is about world famous genius Michael Jennings, who does specialized projects for high-tech corporations. Once a job is complete, his memory is erased so as not to divulge any company secrets. Highly paid for his work, Jennings expects to earn $4.4 billion for his latest 5-year project, but upon completion of the job, instead of a big paycheck, he is given an envelope full of random objects and told that he has agreed to forget all payment. With his memory erased per usual, Jennings has no defense, until he discovers that the objects are clues to his past. Now, with the help of Rachel (Uma Thurman), the woman he has worked with and loved for the last three years, Jennings is in a race against time to put the pieces of his past together before the people he once worked for have him killed.

+view trailer

Classic Surf Stories@ La Paloma Theatre Thursday, 12.18, 7 and 9 p.m
The series continues with Scott Dittrich's Fluid Drive, capturing action of early '70s. "Barry Kanaiaupuni drawing heavy lines at Sunset, Rory Russell at Pipe, Aussies Ian Cairns and Peter Townsend, 25-foot Waimea wipeouts, as well as plenty of remote island travel."

Butter @ Martini Ranch – Mondays – (Mixed)
This eclectic night is well versed in all types of good music. The music is based on quality and not Clear Channel's playlist, and is never pre-programmed. DJ Mada buying records for Access Music & Beatnick buying records for Siesta Music shows their musical knowlege in each respective genre. Recent requests have included Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jamiroquai, James Brown, Mary J. Blige, Atmosphere & De La Soul. The crates run deep so don't hesitate to ask for what you want to hear. No cover and the DJ's don't bite…unless you want them to.

Wheel Up @ Thruster’s Lounge – Wednesdays - (Reggae)
Dasheye and Unite of Tribe of Kings moved their now-defunct Lion’s Share night over to PB, to cater more to the weeknight crowd that’s out near the beach. The vibe is nice and cozy, and the beats are second-to-none. Rastas even come through to drop live ragamuffin rhymes over the roots and dancehall riddims. Oh yeah, did we mention no cover?

Livin’ w/ Miles Maeda @ Shaker Room - Thursdays (House)
DC. Farina. SuperJane. Miles. SmartBar. H_F. Either you know it, or you don’t. You don’t have to be from Chicago to know what all these have in common. But you do have to have a passion for the one thing that brings them all together. HOUSE. Where did it start? Was it at the Warehouse with Frankie Knuckles? Was it at Paradise Garage with Larry Levan? House music quietly did it’s thang for more than 15 years before club culture left the gay communities and infiltrated the consciousness of America. It splintered off into a million sub-genres – tribal, techno, hard, deep – the trance explosion came and went – but through it all, house music never left, and never lost it’s soul. It doesn’t ride the waves of what’s hot or not – it simply keeps steady, just like its beat. Four to the floor, forever more. It’s the heartbeat of club culture – and no one keeps that pulse as steady as the legendary Miles Maeda. From NYC to Chicago and all the way out West, house is here to stay, and Miles is always here for us, like a warm blanket on a cold winter night.

Electroluxe presents VICE/VERSA @ Recognize [Every 2nd & 4th Friday]
Every second and fourth Friday of the month. With DJs Barry Weaver and Dr. Indulgent Spinning Electro, Electro-house, punk-funk, Italo Disco, No Wave, Acid House, along with some of your Electroluxe faves.

$3 cover info: 619.521.4747

Dragon Lounge 6 year Anniversary @ Brick by Brick – January 2nd and 3rd – (Drum & Bass / Breaks)
It's the time of year for giving and no one does it better than Dragon Lounge on their Birthday. 2 nights packed with performances from the area's best NuSkool Breaks and DrumNBass Jungle Beats. Friday features a full breakbeat lineup including B-Side (who rocked the house after Crystal Method's bland performance last Friday) and the up and coming Levi 5. Saturday is host to a night full on crew of Drum N Bass and Jungelists.

FREE EVENT

Sunday Night Shakedown @ Red C Lounge – Sundays – (Hip-Hop)
Jersan, Beatnick & Solo have a Sunday night session that’s known for quality underground and proper hip hop, downtempo & all things soul. On any given Sunday you could hear Jazzanova, A Tribe Called Quest, Jeru The Damaja, Gangstarr, Roy Ayers, EPMD & Barrington Levy plus more coming out of the speakers. Many have graced the decks at this weekly including L.A.'s Presto, J. Logic, Cocoe & many of S.D.'s own talent. In little over a year this has become a staple in S.D.'s nightlife. This month’s remaining guests include Dec. 28th: Danny Massure returning to SD now residing in Seattle. No cover with all this talent makes it a sin not to go.

Downtown Top Rankin’ w/ Tribe of Kings @ Shaker Room – Sundays – (Reggae)
The Tribe of Kings have a lock on local dancehall and reggae in San Diego. The crew – Unite, Jay Dred, Dasheye, Kofi, and Rashy – are all integral in making that rastaman vibration happen around San Diego. They use the energy created at Downtown Top Rankin’ to pursue their own nights around the city - Jay Dred spins neo-soul and dancehall at Red Circle Café on Thursdays, Dasheye and Unite have their Wheel-Up roots and dancehall night at Thruster’s Lounge on Wednesdays, and the whole crew gets in the mix at Shaker Room on Sunday nights. Two rooms of reggae, dancehall, roots, new riddim, and dub style – bringing people of all colors and styles together. They’ve got the hookup on all the hottest wax, courtesy of EBReggae.com – watching rastas spin 45s that come straight from the islands, you can be rest assured you’re hearing all the best mashups and remixes that are probably being rocked at the dancehalls in Kingston. Bless up and take advantage of having the best in island riddims several times a week, courtesy of the Tribe of Kings.

Hotels/Motels @ The Travelodge hotel Saturday 12.20, 2pm - midnight
Check-into Hotels/Motels 2003, a multimedia event in which a number of visual and performing artists transform the Travelodge hotel, in downtown San Diego. Each of the 30 rooms will be engaged by artists in an unusual way, creating a series of portals into strange, thought provoking environments. The art will include multimedia installations, painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. Some rooms will be converted into alternative performance spaces for spoken word, performance, and music ranging from acoustic, punk, hip-hop, to the more experimental. Two rooms will be (in addition to the already reserved performances) open venues to poets, bands, solo and acoustic musicians, activists and other creative individuals providing a PA and an open microphone to anyone who will be heard. In addition, the audience is encouraged, but not required to bring actual artwork, portfolios, writings of any kind, photoalbums, project works on the side of the building, perform works in progress/site-specific, bring drums and other instruments, share monologues, songs, dance, and anything else you do that is in the works. Join us, and dare to be a voyeur in this interactive, urban playground of the imagination.

Participating Artists (more TBA): Andrew West, Bill Pierce, Carol Martori, Carolyn Hsu, Chris Vannoy, Danny Mccenna, Diana Duval, Dimitri Yin, Emily Smith, Elle Gamboa, Edward Pauper, Eric Wong, Ernest Silva, Feature "San Diego's Urban Guide", Gerardo Yepiz, Ginger Che, "The Grove"(books & music) "Knit-in", Heather Middleton, Jason Coe, Ji Baek, John Rigg (boy blue), Jose Romo, Julie Cardona, Justin Rowley, Katie Herzog, Kent Bates, Larry Caveney, Leah Younker, Lex Wolfcraft, Lora Wolfe, Marianne Goyette, Mayling Martinez, Melissa Inez Walker, Michelle Yu, Neil Kerns, Nichole Deline, Nigel Brookes, Noah Castillo, Phil Goodrich, Raul Guerrero, Robert Matheny "Freelance Art Critics almostmaybe.com w/ Raymond Beaver and Morris Skungle", San Diego Poetry Guild, Sarah Swanson, Steve Ocallahan, Skip Middleton, Susan Kim, Tim Maze, Toby Flores, Vi Nguyen, Wesley Bellanca, William C. Wilson (of The Mental Eclectic), Wolfgang Hastert, and Yogi Proctor.

Music Will include (more TBA):
The Displaced (10pm-11pm), The Walking (11:30pm), dj jon baker (brokenbeat.com) at 9pm, Hirsch the Machine, Preteen Porn Star, Kevin Nashes Spring Break, Randy Chiurazzi (circular breath/digeree doo), Jeff Bloom "new style", and Mitch Budd.

Admission: 5.00 (all ages) -followed by an after party which is open to the public

Ableminded Poets: A Beautiful Production - Friday 12.19, 8pm
Listen up and Open your Minds. The Able Minded Poets a politically and socially conscious poetry troupe will perform at Voz Alta. Voz Alta Project is a Chicana/o nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting community empowerment and social change through cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary art forms. Voz Alta is an all ages venue, seating is limited so please arrive early. If you have any special needs during an event please contact Voz Alta at 619/230-1869.

$5/$3 Students


Art Institute Graduate Portfolio Show @ Marriott Mission Valley
Wednesday, December 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
Creative talents from class of 2003 at Art Institute of California -- San Diego showcased in advertising, multimedia, design industries.

Free. 866-275-2422.


America's Largest Balloon Parade?
Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade, Tuesday, December 30. Floats, marching bands, and enormous balloons. Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Harbor Drive (along the Embarcadero), proceeds to Seaport Village.

Free. 619-283-5808.


Ever Hiked to the Kumeyaay Solstice Observatory on Cowles Mountain? Monday, 12. 22, 6 to 7:30 a.m
The Kumeyaay used this site and similar sites to mark winter solstice. The Canyoneers lead a solstice hike up Cowles (pronounced "coals" by those in the know). Strenuous hike starts at northeast corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. Dress warmly. 619-232-3821 x203.


Venus and Mars are clearly visible in the evening sky this month. Brilliant Venus is gradually assuming a more dominant position in the sky, while Mars continues to fade following its spectacular close approach last August. As darkness is falling, look for silvery Venus low in the west and reddish Mars high in the southern sky.


Liquidamber Trees, or sweet gums, the deciduous trees gracing front yards, parks, and campuses throughout the San Diego area, have been putting on an exceptionally colorful show. The leaves of some varieties turn to purple or red; the leaves of other varieties fade to golden yellow. Other varieties hold on to their green leaves until sometime in December. Most liquidambers in our area regain their light green foliage by late February.

Rainbow Season arrives with the first rains of late fall. Scattered showers are best for rainbow watching: sunlight refracting and reflecting through the raindrops causes two bows to appear -- an intense circular arc at 42°, and a bigger but weaker arc at 51° from the antisolar point (the point in the sky diametrically opposed to the sun's position). From November through mid-February, the sun never gets higher than 42° above the horizon as seen from San Diego, so (rain and sunlight permitting) the brighter of the two arcs may appear above the horizon at any time of day. In spring and summer, rainbows are never seen in the sky around midday because the sun is too high -- and the antisolar point is too low.

Del Mar Fairgrounds
Holiday of Lights
"The largest...display of seasonal festive lights in San Diego," with holiday-themed displays Thursday, November 27, through Sunday, January 4, 2004.

Hours are 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission: $11 per vehicle (up to five people), $16 per vehicle with six or more people. Tickets available through Ticketmaster (619-220-TIXS). Information: 858-793-5555.

Museum of Contemporary Art
Heal the World with Duct Tape
Hey, don’t laugh—a series of moderately successful books have been dedicated to the sticky, monochromatic, magic tape and its myriad uses. OK, so maybe world peace is as yet beyond duct tape’s powers, but we can still celebrate the reasons for the season in its spirit. At the monthly art-hipster convention, MoCA’s Thursday Night Thing, the newest subject of the museum’s Cerca Series opens with Wendell Gladstone, a Los Angeles artist who creates paintings and sculptures using masking tape as templates for his designs. His creations, explicated by a Q&A with the artist facilitated by assistant curator Rachel Teagle, should inspire you with their use of tape (masking, electrical, blue—but alas, no duct) as the gift-wrapping season ramps up. Also, check out local electronica blipsters Champagne Kiss upstairs and rockers Reeve Oliver outside. Suggested donation is $3, as usual. (www.mocasd.org)


San Diego Museum of Art
Partners of the Soul: African Art of the Baule
45 objects from the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History and private collectors. The Show explores complex ways in which art functioned in Baule culture and society (Ivory Coast of West Africa) through a display of spirit spouse figures, portrait masks, miniature amulet figures, mouse oracles, wooden strikers. Through Sunday, January 4, 2004.

The Later Mughals: Theaters of Power presents more than 20 seldom-seen images telling the story of the waning of India's greatest dynasty. Through Sunday, January 25, 2004.

For further information, call 619-232-7931

Museum of Photographic Arts
The Discerning Eye: Southern California Collects
Celebrates 20 photography collectors to commemorate the museum's 20th anniversary; show closes Saturday, January 3, 2004.

Find the museum in the Casa de Balboa building, at 1649 El Prado; 619-238-7559.

Mingei International Museum of Folk Art
Origami Masterworks
Innovative Forms of the Art of Paper Folding," on view through Sunday, February 8, 2004, includes more than 150 pieces by 42 artists from across the globe. Most of the objects were created by folding single sheets of paper to make geometrical forms, flowers, trees, people, masks, and a menagerie of animals.

Mingei of Japan -- The Legacy of Its Founders -- Soetsu Yanagi, Shoji Hamada, and Kanjiro Kawai
A an exhibition of objects from the museum's collection by known and unknown craftsmen from throughout Japan continues until January 25, 2004. Included: tansu (Japanese chests), pottery, calligraphy, woodblock prints, stencil work, kimono and other textiles, baskets, toys.

The Mingei is located on the square with the San Diego Museum of Art and the Timken Museum of Art. 619-239-0003. (Balboa Park)

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
Manny Farber: About Face
Celebrates the life and work of one of San Diego's most important visual artists, with work from the early 1960s to present. Farber has contributed to American cultural discourse for more than 50 years as both film and art critic and painter. Closes Sunday, January 4, 2004.

Find the museum at 700 Prospect Street. 858-454-3541. (La Jolla)