Community Briefs

UCSD launches concert series

The UCSD Department of Music launches its new Wednesdays @ 7 concert series on Oct. 7, offering 14 concerts for the 2009-10 season. The concerts will be held at the Conrad Prebys Music Center, 9500 Gilman Drive, with parking at the Gilman structure, across Russell Lane.

The opening performance features UCSD’s renowned percussion ensemble, red fish blue fish, under the direction of Steven Schick. The group will play works by Bartok, Lang and Barraque, with soprano Susan Naruki and pianists Aleck Karis, Brendan Nguyen and William Fried.

What follows is faculty artists in recital, two “Art of Improvisation” concerts, contemporary music ensembles, and two modern operas: Anthony Davis’ “Lilith” and Pascal Dusapin’s chamber opera “To Be Sung.” For the performance schedule, visit https://music.ucsd.edu.

Tickets are $25, with student and faculty discounts available, through the UCSD box office at (858) 534-TIXS.

Authors sought for new event

Authors and volunteers are needed for the premiere of a daylong celebration of San Diego’s literary talent, the first “Read Local,” set for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at Horton Plaza.

Organizers are looking for authors to give readings and presentations and staff book tables. They also need local musicians to entertain.

The day will end with a reception, toasting this new organization with wine, beer and refreshments.

Authors with published works to sell are urged to sign up before all slots are filled. Volunteers are needed to help organize, advertise, set up, tear down and more for this kickoff event.

For more information or to register, call Karla Olson at (760) 753-2279, visit https://sandiego.readlocal.org or e-mail Olson at karla@sandiego.readlocal.org.

Social networks lecture planned

The UCSD Social Sciences Supper Club Series will present political science professor James H. Fowler, Ph.D., discussing the impact of social networks on virtually every aspect of our lives. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the UCSD Faculty Club.

Fowler’s work on genopolitics has been featured recently in Wired Magazine, NPR Science Friday, the New York Times Magazine and USA Today’s Life section.

The lecture, $65, includes a wine reception, dinner and Faculty Club parking. Reservations can be made by contacting Marcie Marsh at (858) 246-0372 or mmarsh@ucsd.edu.

Kids’ theater classes open

Space is available in San Diego Junior Theatre workshops for preschoolers through middle school students at the La Jolla YMCA Firehouse. Led by experienced artists, classes last eight to 10 weeks, are age-specific and have small teacher-student ratios.

Workshops available include:

“Hullabaloo at the Zoo” - Children ages 4-5 are introduced to theater with a pretend zoo where they are the animals from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays.

“Medieval Madness” - Children ages 5-7 get history lessons while taking on the roles of characters from days gone by, complete with costumes and props, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

“Page to Stage: Harry Potter” - Children ages 9-12 get acting lessons from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursdays.

“Happy Feet” - For ages 3-5, from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays. Sessions are ideal for physically active youngsters as they explore movement through rhythm and dance with simple choreography and props.

For more details, call (619) 239-1311 or visit juniortheatre.com.

Camera Lucida starts season

The Camera Lucida chamber music series, which brings together musicians from UCSD’s music faculty with principals from the San Diego Symphony, will open its second season at 8 p.m. Oct. 5 in the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive. The program will feature works by Schubert, Mendelssohn and Brahms.

This year, the Sam B. Ersan Chamber Music Fund will help support Camera Lucida and other music programs. Concerts are Monday nights and broadcast as live recordings on KPBS radio on the Saturday following each performance.

Tickets are $25 or $130 for the seven-concert series (plus a bonus concert) through the UCSD box office at (858) 534-TIXS. For more information, visit https://musicweb.ucsd.edu/cameralucida.

Bridal Bazaar returns to fairgrounds

The Bridal Bazaar, an annual wedding planning event, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. More than 200 vendors will staff booths to showcase their products and services. Bridal fashion shows will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 2:45 p.m. Tickets at the door are $10. Discount coupons can be printed out at www.bridalbazaar.com. For more information, call (760) 334-5500.

Art, wine and food at Del Mar event, Saturday

The Del Mar Village Association will present its annual Taste and Art Stroll from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 3. Guests with tickets, $40 per person, can sample an array of food and drink from the top restaurants and wineries in the area. There will also be a free art walk from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a pet stroll from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring treats along the way, and live music throughout the afternoon. The event also will offer an art area for children from noon to 4 p.m. at the library. Complimentary public parking and shuttle transportation will be available at Winston School, 215 Ninth St. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.delmarmainstreet.com.