Strange weather we have been having! We hope that it lets up enough so that you can sally forth and enjoy all the cross-cultural events our wonderful city has to offer.

Friday (today) at Balboa Park, the Unbreakable Spirit of Ukrainians Concert will commemorate one year of Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion. Tito Puente Jr. will perform at the Sycuan Resort. The House of Scotland will host a concert by Jim, Susie, and Beth Malcolm at the International Cottages.

Saturday at MiraCosta College, the Black Nerds Expo will celebrate Black comics, books, art, video games, pop culture, and more. Jane Muschenetz, the author of All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents, will have a book signing at the Central Library. The San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art will honor its 2023 Keepers of the Culture recipients at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. At College-Rolando Branch Library, a Crafting Culture: the Traditions of Purim workshop will take place. At Centro Cultural de la Raza (also in Balboa Park), the Hearts of Indigenous Resilience fundraiser/exhibition will raise awareness and funds to support efforts for MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) and their families.

Sunday at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, Cenicienta - A Bilingual Cinderella Story will be performed. The Schools of Flamenco Series dance concert will take place at the Normal Heights Community Dev. At the Oceanside Museum of Art, there will be a panel discussion about the Herstory of Black Women in the American West. At SDSU, Gospel Fest 2023 will take place at Montezuma Hall. One Drop Redemption at the Music Box will play tribute to the late-great Reggae legend Bob Marley. Our favorite Persian group Donob will be playing at Donut Panic.

Tuesday at the Central Library, Professor Natalye Pass Harpin of Grossmont College will talk about Afro-Descendants in Nazi Germany. The path-breaking animated film Perfect Blue will screen at the Digital Gym.

Wednesday, K.S. Resmi will sing classical Carnatic songs at Mesa College. Mexican American singer-songwriter Cuco will perform at the Observatory in North Park. The astonishing Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be at the Belly Up.

Next Thursday, the documentary Pancho Gonzalez: Warrior of the Court will screen at the Sherman Heights Community Center.

Next Friday, the 5-day (across 2 weekends) San Diego Arab Film Festival will launch at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. Next Friday and Saturday, The Banshees of Inisherin will be shown at the fun Cinema Under the Stars. The play Lucky Stiff will open at the Sunshine Brooks Theatre in Oceanside. Also, next Friday will be a virtual symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Anthropogeny hosted by the UC San Diego/Salk Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny.

Next Saturday, the San Diego Museum of art will offer an Art & Religion docent-led tour focusing on how religious figures and people of God are depicted in art. Kim Phillips-Pea will lead a tour of the Murals of Southeast San Diego. The 6th Annual Taste the World event will raise funds for Peace Corps projects. The Suraj Israni Center for Cinematic Arts will host a screening of Transborder Film Fellowship. At the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, the Guitar Prasanna Experience will meld Indian classical music and electric guitar. Kevin Ortiz and Banda 619 will perform at La Sinaloense Bar & Grill. No doubt to celebrate Mardi Gras, there will be a Brazilian Carnaval Party at Break Point in PB. And there will also be a Mardi Gras Salsa & Bachata Party at Tango del Rey.

Next Sunday, Holi Fest '23 will take place at Carmel Mountain Ranch Recreation Center. Holi is otherwise known as the Indian "Festival of Color" where people throw handfuls of colored powder at each other. The House of India will hold their annual Lawn Program at the International Cottages in Balboa Park. Mexican singer-songwriter Kevin Kaarl will perform at Balboa Theatre.

Local theatrical offerings (not mentioned above) include The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci at the Old Globe, The Ferryman at New Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad, The High Table at Diversionary, and Under a Baseball Sky at the Old Globe. Lucky Stiff opens at the Sunshine Brooks on March 3.

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.

And if you are an avid and adventuresome reader, visit our www.multiculturalbooks.org site to browse our compendious collection.

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Japanese Agedashi Tofu

The Participant Observer Recipe of the Month is for Japanese Agedashi Tofu, an easy-to-make, nutritious snack which can also be enjoyed as a side-dish or even a main course. It is light and delicious!