Hello San Diego!

Welcome to the August issue of the San Diego Participant Observer Newsletter. Our Book of the Month is The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise by the incomparable travel writer and essayist, Pico Iyer. Our Music of the Month showcases the latest CD from Béla Fleck, As We Speak. For this project, the banjo player extraordinaire, Fleck, collaborates with Indian classical master musicians Zakir Hussain (on tabla), Rakesh Chaurasia (on bansuri flute), and Western classical double bassist Edgar Meyer to conjure musical magic that defies classification. Our Recipe of the Month is a re-publication of our Vietnamese Bánh Mì Gà Nướng recipe. Bánh Mì elevates the humble sandwich to a new level of exquisite deliciousness.

On to the events . . .

Friday and Saturday, a Japanese Toro Nagashi, or "floating lantern festival," will take place in Balboa Park's Japanese Friendship Garden. Comedian Martin Amini will perform two shows on Friday and another two on Saturday at Mic Drop Comedy.

Friday, at Koi Zen Cellars Craft Winery, there will be a Fundraiser to support child education in Kenya. The Zzymzzy Quartet will perform at the Golden Island restaurant. Three big bands, Conjunto Primavera, La Arrolladora Banda Limon, and Industria Del Amor will perform at The Sound at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. There will be a Bocce Ball Tournament in Amici Park.

Saturday, Jing Niu, who worked as an assistant editor and post-production supervisor for Everything Everywhere All at Once, will hold a Filmmaking Master Class at the Digital Gym. Filipino American punk and hardcore Aklasan Fest will be held at the Che Cafe. Sunset 360 Brazilian Celebration will take place at Quartyard. There will be a Salsa & Bachata Social at Infinity Dance Sport Center. Psychedelic instrumental funk jazz trio from Tijuana Adeumazel will perform at Duck Foot Brewery. There will be an Indian Jewelry Exhibition at Royal India. Mexican-rising star Angel Quezada, otherwise known as Santa Fe Klan, will perform at Pechanga Arena.

Sunday, the Belly Dance SAMEDA Faire will take place at Bankers Hill Club. The House of Panama will hold their annual Lawn Program at the International Cottages. The heart-warming film Coco will screen at the Hyatt. Argentine reggae band Los Cafres will play at the House of Blues. Irish-American rock band The Young Dubliners will perform at the Belly Up. The Grammy-winning Gipsy Kings will be at the Rady Shell. Bloom Nightclub will host a Bollywood Party featuring Jacqueline Fernandez. Vilma Diaz and La Sonora will perform at Music Box.

Monday and Tuesday, there will be special encore performances of An Iliad at the North Coast Rep.

Tuesday, the marvelous multilingual jazz vocalist Allison Adams Tucker will present her Between The Notes Jazz Feast at the Senses Human Bistro. There will be a Kokedama Workshop at the Japanese Friendship Garden. The Digital Gym will screen the South Korean film Lady Vengeance.

Wednesday and Thursday, the Angelika Film Center will continue with their series of Hayao Miyazaki films with screenings of Castle in the Sky.

Wednesday, at the Coronado Library, the 1981 South Korean film Mandala directed by Im Kwon-taek will be shown. Havana 1920 will host an evening of Cuban music and food at their Havana Nights event. Comedian Mike Eshaq will perform at The Comedy Store.

Next Friday, Scotland-based DJs Illyus & Barrientos will be spinning tunes at Bloom.

Next Saturday, the House of Chamorros will hold their annual Lawn Program at the International Cottages in Balboa Park. Brazilian rock band Os Mutantes will perform at Music Box. The Indonesian, hijab-wearing, female metal trio Voice Of Baceprot will perform at UCSD's new Epstein Family Amphitheater.

Next Sunday, there will be a Marcus Garvey Day Celebration at Worldbeat. The House of Hungary will hold their annual Lawn Program. At Rancho La Laguna, there will be Banda Fest pt 2. The Vietnamese Federation of San Diego will hold a Taste of Vietnam where you can enjoy regional food from all over Vietnam. Comedian James Camacho will perform at Mic Drop Comedy. Buena Vista Social Club founding member Eliades Ochoa will perform at UCSD's Epstein Family Amphitheater. One Drop Redemption will perform at Music Box.

Local theatrical productions include Cabaret: the Musical at the Ocean Beach Playhouse, Crime & Punishment, a Comedy at the Old Globe, and Evita is at the Cygnet Theatre.

Please note that after two weeks in the main calendar section, ongoing events (such as exhibitions and plays) can be found in Ongoing and Extended Events.