Though it seems a rain-filled Christmas is in the cards, there are plenty of ways to still enjoy the week ahead. Cinephiles can watch screenings of the nostalgic classic A Christmas Story at the Brooks Theater or the thrilling ski flick Downhill Racer at Digital Gym Cinema. Not in the mood for cooking? Check out Christmas Eve dinner specials at the Manchester Grand Hyatt or brunch the following morning at the Catamaran Resort Hotel. Also fans of the Rolling Stones and Jimmy Buffett are invited to a pair of local holiday traditions: Exile on Kettner Blvd. and the Annual Buffett Birthday Bash.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Piper’s Festive Pairings at Piper
December 23 & 27
Savor a selection of wine, cheese and fresh pastries during Piper’s Festive Pairings this Tuesday and Saturday at 3 p.m. at The Seabird Resort. This tasting experience at Piper will feature seasonal tarts, artisanal cheeses and wines such as Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, Sea Sun California Pinot Noir and Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé for guests to pair at their pleasure. Reservations are $44 per person plus tax and service charge. An additional Piper’s Festive Pairings will take place on Dec. 30.
101 Mission Avenue, Oceanside
Christmas Dinner at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
December 24
Dine out for Christmas Eve at one of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego’s onsite eateries. From Dec. 24–Jan. 24, Sally’s Waterfront Dining will offer a prime rib with jumbo garlic prawns, a gruyere and truffle potato puree, peppercorn-chive horseradish cream and more for $72. Plus, from Dec. 24–29, the hotel’s lobby bar, The Landing, will have a pair of entree specials: a ribeye steak with Boursin whipped potatoes, green beans and wild mushrooms ($58) and a buttery Chilean sea bass with smashed fingerling potatoes and charter broccolini spears ($56). Reservations for Sally’s can be made here and The Landing doesn’t take advance reservations.
1 Market Place, Embarcadero
Christmas Day Brunch at Catamaran Resort Hotel
December 25
Bring the whole family to the Catamaran Resort Hotel ballroom for Christmas Day Brunch this Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the final seating at 2 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment, a complimentary glass of sparkling wine (for 21+ attendees), and stations for carving, desserts, omelets, seafood and more. Offered dishes include strawberry-stuffed French toast, grilled lemon and herb chicken, and bone-in ham with pineapple brown sugar glaze. Reservations are $151 for adults, $68 for kids ages 5–12 and free for children ages 4 and below.
3999 Mission Boulevard, Mission Bay
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Exile on Kettner Blvd. at The Casbah
December 24
As the age-old saying goes, three things in life are certain: death, taxes and Exile on Kettner Blvd. happening every Christmas Eve at The Casbah. The holidays are a unifying time, and it’s been proven year after year in SD that few things get the people going quite like the Rolling Stones. Hear live renditions from throughout the band’s 60+ year career starting Wednesday at 9 p.m. Admission is free, so fans should get there extra early to ensure a good spot in the roughly 200-person venue.
2501 Kettner Boulevard, Middletown
Jimmy’s Buffett w/ Lolo Paniolo at Belly Up
December 26
Speaking of local music traditions, the nine-piece Jimmy’s Buffett band will perform their yearly tribute to the “Margaritaville” maestro this night Friday (9 p.m.) at Belly Up. Whether you’re a casual fan or a full-blown Parrothead, Jimmy Buffett’s music is a testament to easy living, one cheeseburger in paradise at a time. The lineup for the Annual Buffett Birthday Bash will be rounded out by tropical country western trio Lolo Paniolo. Tickets are $30 (with fees) online and $25 the day of; proceeds from this concert will go towards funding for Merkel cell carcinoma research.
143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
Wild Horses Festival at Petco Park
December 27
Enjoy a country-style Christmas this Saturday (4–11 p.m.) at the Petco Park as the Wild Horses Festival rides back in town for year five. This year’s showcase of musical Americana is headlined by folk stars Mumford & Sons, the banjo-playing Brits known for earworms like “I Will Wait” and “Little Lion Man.” Joining them on the bill is alternative western band Lord Huron, bluegrass singer Sierra Ferrell and folk pop artist Lily Meola. General admission starts at $65, with $400 VIP tickets, which come with exclusive bars, bathrooms and pit access, also available.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
LeRoy Robbins: New Deal Photographs at Joseph Bellows Gallery
Through January 24
The New Deal gave rise to several transformative ideas, with few as notable as the Federal Art Project. This program employed a plethora of talented photographers, giving them both a dependable paycheck and the chance to capture the heartbreaking scale of the Great Depression. LeRoy Robbins: New Deal Photographs, on display in the atrium of Joseph Bellows Gallery, features a collection of stark black-and-white photos taken in 1930s California, images which help define a bleak moment in world history. New Deal Photographs will be on display through Jan. 24; the gallery’s normal hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
7661 Girard Avenue, La Jolla
City Ballet of San Diego: The Nutcracker at California Center for the Arts, Escondido
December 23
If you are nuts about The Nutcracker,Tuesday is the last chance to see City Ballet of San Diego’s full-length version of the holiday ballet staple. This local production features a live score by the City Ballet Orchestra and conductor John Nettles, dazzling choreography by Elizabeth Wistrich, and live carolers in the lobby prior to each show. Tickets range from $39-$119 for both performances this Tuesday (2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.) inside the Concert Hall at the CCAE.
340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido
A Magical Cirque Christmas at Balboa Theatre
December 28
Broadway San Diego’s final production of the year will be a total circus, in the best way possible. A Magical Cirque Christmas is a festive variety show, with an ensemble of comedy, magic and circus performers combining their talents for a wintry spectacle. Audiences can expect acrobatics, illusions and eye-catching sequences, all set to a soundtrack of holiday favorites. Tickets start at $51, with performances Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Balboa Theatre.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend
A Christmas Story at Brooks Theater
December 23
To close out its Winter Wonders Holiday Film Fest, the Brooks Theater will host two nostalgic screenings of A Christmas Story this Tuesday at noon and 7 p.m. Most kids want toys for Christmas, others, like Ralphie Parker for instance, want a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Though A Christmas Story is centered on Ralphie’s unshakeable desire for a Red Ryder BB gun, the film is truly about having a holiday season for the ages, one filled with leg lamps, triple dog dares and an impromptu Christmas feast. General admission is $10 for each screening; those who attend in a holiday sweater will receive a free gourmet hot chocolate.
217 North Coast Highway, Oceanside
Downhill Racer at Digital Gym Cinema
December 23
For the next installment in Digital Gym Cinema’s weekly DGC Video series, moviegoers can watch the 1969 cult classic Downhill Racer this Tuesday at 7 p.m. In this sports drama, set on the dangerously fast slopes of Europe’s mountain ranges, ambitious skier David Chappellet (played by Robert Redford) sets his sights on Olympic glory. An underrated Redford film, released the same year as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, this film dives into the passionate, but oftentimes selfish, mindset of an elite athlete. Tickets range from $10-$14 for this screening.
1100 Market Street, East Village
Kwanzaa Celebration at WorldBeat Cultural Center
December 26–29
WorldBeat Cultural Center is opening its doors Friday-Sunday from 6-9 p.m. for its 45th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration, commemorating the first four days and principles of the week-long Kwanzaa observation (Dec. 26–Jan. 1). The educational and empowering festivities will include keynote speakers, ceremonial candle lighting, live musical performances, poetry readings and a community feast. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black, author Shugri Said Salh, harpist Mariea Antoinette, and drummer Dramane Koné will be among the featured participants. RSVP for the Kwanzaa Celebration here.
2100 Park Boulevard, Balboa Park
PARTNER CONTENT
San Diego Clippers vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce at Frontwave Arena
December 27 & 28
The San Diego Clippers will host the Sioux Falls Skyforce for a pair of games at Frontwave Arena, tipping off Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (6 p.m.). After recent losses to Raptors 905 and the Greensboro Swarm, the Clippers are still looking for their first win of the G League regular season. Saturday will be Kids Night, with the first 500 kids in attendance to receive a mascot shoulder pet, and Sunday will be Country Night, featuring themed music, in-game entertainment and Clippers cowboy hats for the first 1,000 fans. Tickets start at $15 for Saturday and Sunday.
3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside
