July is ending, but not the heat. Here are some hot events you can hit up around town.
FRIDAY –
The PADRES take on the Giants, still trying hard to win those few games to get them the Wild Card berth into the playoffs, at Petco Park, all weekend long.
For country music fans, ZACH BRYAN and MJ LENDERMAN play Snapdragon Stadium. There’s another show on Saturday night.
EASY WIND is at the Belly Up Tavern in SOLANA BEACH.
LIQUID BLUE is at the Community Park in POINT LOMA.
ELECTRIC FEELS is at the Observatory in NORTH PARK.
There’s a Billie Holiday tribute in University Heights, Queen in Temecula, and a David Bowie tribute in San Marcos.
SATURDAY –
Anne Clark is in town! You might know her by her stagename, ST. VINCENT. She’ll be with the SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY to combine their musical talents at the Rady Shell DOWNTOWN.
You can have some good times…with music genius NILE RODGERS and CHIC, at Pechanga in TEMECULA.
JORDIN SPARKS is at Sea World. Go for the show, stay for the dolphins.
BOSCO plays the Observatory in NORTH PARK.
PARIS JACKSON, Michael Jackson’s only daughter is in a smaller venue, at the Soda Bar in SAN DIEGO.
One of my favorite local bands, THE TIGHTEN-UPS, has a great horn section and an incredible singer. They’re playing Humphrey’s in SHELTER ISLAND.
For tribute acts: George Harrison in San Marcos, his group The Beatles with the Rolling Stones in Ramona, and Cream in La Jolla.
SUNDAY –
SARAH McLACHLAN, who always made you cry during those dog commercials, will be in town with ALLISON RUSSELL, at the Rady Shell DOWNTOWN.
Another song that was popular on TV, from the Ally McBeal show…that singer VONDA SHEPARD is at the Belly Up Tavern in SOLANA BEACH.
And a local singer/guitarist, who could’ve played Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days (long story, but she turned down the audition) – RONI LEE plays Humphrey’s in SHELTER ISLAND.
ON STREAMING ….
Season 3 of the CIA action thriller LIONESS, starring Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman, returns on Paramount+.
Missing soccer with the World Cup over? TED LASSO (Jason Sudeikis) is back coaching women’s soccer in his fourth and final (?) season on AppleTV on Wednesday.
AT THE MOVIES –
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY
I’ve met the director, Destin Daniel Cretton, a few times. He went to college in Point Loma and at SDSU, getting a degree in film (and going on to make some very successful movies, including the fun superhero flick Shang-Chi). On the subject of folks from the movie, it’s funny how this movie is going to be huge, as was The Odyssey – and both movies starred Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jon Bernthal. I have gotten burned out on the superhero stuff, and this one at two and a half hours long, was just a bit overstuffed trying to combine a mystery, a buddy picture, and relationship story – none of which completely worked for me (although I’ll admit to getting teary-eyed a few times). I brought a buddy who loves all comic books and he thought the movie was amazing; but then, it did a lot of fan service, and scenarios that the fanboys will look forward to in future installments. Now, Bernthal was great as the Punisher. And actress Sadie Sink was great as an evil character. Even Holland and Zendaya had good chemistry (they should) and great acting…but I just found myself getting bored by the Scorpion/Spider-man fights; and it feels like we’ve seen this whole “I’m losing my powers” with superheroes way too many times (although it makes a bit more sense with this story, as the spider DNA is taking over more of his body).The CGI also wasn’t convincing. Fans of Spidey will be happy. The movie is getting great early reviews. I just thought it all got tangled up in its crazy web of storytelling, that made it just a so-so experience for me. I don’t want to go into the story of what happens, as that would contain too many spoiler alerts. 2 ½ stars out of 5, a star for each hour of the film.