With everywhere you look in October (along with a delightful row of T-shirts spotted at Parkway Plaza exclaiming variations on “Save the Ta-Tas”), it is hard to ignore its official designation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. However, the aforementioned ta-tas do not have a monopoly on October—did you know it is also National Pork Month, Clergy Appreciation Month, Polish American Heritage Month, Healthy Lung Month and Fair Trade Month?
There’s a whole long list of random things to celebrate, appreciate and be aware of this month (and every month, for that matter), but undoubtedly there’s no East County Appreciation Month on the books. Why? Because even though temperatures can pass 100 degrees in mid-autumn (you might just want to go ahead and ignore last week’s column intro altogether), East Countians find ways to appreciate their home turf every day, not just one month out of the year (although I’m pretty sure every resident sort of hates East County in late August). Just take a moment to peruse all the awesome things happening this weekend, and you’ll know why.
THURSDAY
Where/when: Friendly Grounds Coffeehouse, 9225 Carlton Hills Blvd., Santee, 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Why Go: Recipe for mending a broken heart, step 1: Tag all your ex’s photos on Facebook with “Succubus” or “D-Bag” (depending on gender). Step 2: Write lyrics full of seething fury, describing how it feels to have your soul devoured and regurgitated before your very eyes. Step 3: Sing the lyrics accompanied by guitar, piano, conga drums, whatever, at an open mic night, have a friend record, then upload to YouTube, ensuring that your ex and all his/her friends get a link.
Price: Free
Where/when: Shooter’s, 10761 Jamacha Blvd., Spring Valley, 9 p.m. Thursday.
Why Go: Why pay $20 or more to hear a DJ spin tunes at a downtown club full of what appear to be reality show rejects? Shooter’s in Spring Valley has all the beats for much less (make that free) every Thursday night.
Price: Free.
FRIDAY
Where/when: Sophie’s Gallery, 109 Rea Ave., El Cajon, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday.
Why Go: How fitting that an art festival located in El Cajon is named after a mangy, yet clever animal that lives on wits and Taco Bell scraps? Seriously though, the “Urban Tales” art exhibit is only one of the Alley Cat Art Festival’s many features, which also include music by singer-songwriter David Scott Gordon, food, beverages and a wine tasting—it will up your classy level by at least five points.
Price: Free admission. Wine tasting: $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
Where/when: Cosmos Coffee Café, 8278 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.
Why Go: Who is Kev? A single-monikered mystery on par with McG or Cher? Or just a much cooler version of your average, everyday Kevin? Find out for yourself at Kev’s performance during Cosmos Café’s weekly local music night, featuring acoustic sets of original music by local musicians.
Price: Free.
Where/when: The Greek Sombrero Restaurant, 12891 Campo Rd., Spring Valley, 8 p.m. Friday.
Why Go: “Greek,” “Sombrero,” and “Posse Band” evoke a wonderful cornucopia of senses: steamy slices of gyro meat with a side of jalapenos, enjoyed amidst the sounds of country/western blues performed by a gang of outlaws. That vision might differ a bit from reality, but there’s only one way to know for sure: check out the Pine Creek Posse Band for yourself this Friday.
Price: Free.
Where/when: Lacey J’s Roadhouse Saloon & Grille, 8861 Magnolia Ave., Santee, 9 p.m. Friday.
Why Go: If the delightful band name doesn’t draw you in, perhaps the promise of “hard Irish rock” will seal the deal (and just in case you’re wondering: no, The Galway Hooker Band is not composed of foreign-born “ladies of the night”).
Price: Free.
SATURDAY
Where/when: Parkway Bar, 9188 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, 6 p.m. Saturday.
Why Go: Because performing music is not for just the young, healthy and able-bodied, the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund aims to help elderly, ill and disabled musicians through a network of benefit concerts taking place all over the country on one night. Parkway Bar’s contribution will feature Deborah Blake & Zero Gravity.
Price: $1 donation suggested.
Where/when: Dirk’s Niteclub, 7662 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 9 p.m. Saturday.
Why Go: What do the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and Sublime all have in common? Pretty much nothing, unless you consider their inclusion on a cover band’s set list something that viably brings different corners of the music world together. Ramshackle performs a variety of danceable songs from those bands and others from the last three decades—kind of like a human jukebox (Do those even exist anymore? No? Okay, MP3 playlist then).
Price: Free.
SUNDAY
Where/when: Visitor Center Theater, Mission Trails Regional Park, 3 p.m. Sunday.
Why Go: Very soon, 3 p.m. will be close enough to twilight to be considered nightlife, so we may as well start including late afternoon events now. Enjoy the sun slowly setting in the sky along with the music of SilverWood, an eclectic quartet playing Latino, Celtic and various American styles of music. A reception will follow the concert.
Price: Free.
