Dear Readers,

Our thoughts are with the people in LA who are experiencing a horrific time with the fires. Here’s a link to an article with lots of options for helping out victims and the people fighting the fires: How to help those affected by fires raging across Los Angeles County

Welcome to the latest edition of the San Diego Participant Observer newsletter! This month, we bring you an extravagantly delectable recipe for Greek Salantourmasi (Stuffed Onions). Our Book of the Month selection for January is the novel If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga. And our International Music of the Month is Alefa Madagasgar, featuring songs from many talented artists from that island nation.

A special shout out to the Music and Stories from Ukraine concert happening next Friday, featuring Julian Kytasty at the La Jolla Community Center. Kytasty will perform on the bandura, a lute-zither with more than 50 strings! The Center for World Music is offering our readers a 10% discount on tickets. Just use the code WVP10 when you purchase yours! Here's the link to buy tickets. Hope to see you there!

On to the events!

Lots happening in the next 2 weeks including:

Festivals, celebrations, and community events: 2764 Karen New Year Celebration • Indian Festival of Kites • Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, and Festival • 36th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration • Lunar New Year Festival • Lion Dance: Lunar New Year Celebration • Lunar New Year Lion Dance Performance • Lunar New Year Lion Dance • Lunar New Year AXIS Event.

Music and/or dance performances: 17th Annual soundON Festival • Persian Dance Recital Fundraiser • Fred Benedetti • Los Años Dorados Project • Sabrosas Latin Orchestra • Grisha Goryachev • Valgur • Elsa y Elmar • DFMK, Ratas En Zelo & Spaghetti Cumbia • San Diego Salsa & Bachata Festival • Music and Stories from Ukraine featuring Julian Kytasty • Kuchipudi Dance Performance • Holo Holo Music Festival • Django Reinhardt Birthday Show • Flor de Toloache & Jacqie Rivera • Latin Mafia • Fire Shut Up in My Bones • ZueZue • Bob Marley Tribute Festival • Mariachi Garibaldi • Jóvenes Flamencos Tablao Series • EYM Trio.

Interesting talks around town: New Perspectives Into Ancient Greek Culture • Joe Wong Chinese Talk Show.

Film festivals and special movie screenings:  Franky Five Star • A Real Job / Un Métier Sérieux • Borrego Springs Film Festival • San Diego Underground Film Festival • Our Man in Havana.

Books and literature lovers are sure to enjoy: Holocaust Survivors Share Their Stories • John Sayles - To Save the Man • Getting Ahead in Today’s China: From Optimism to Pessimism • Jewish Poets - Jewish Voices.

Food and Drink events: Italian Chocolate Dessert & Limoncello Workshop • Asian Culinary Journey • Lunar New Year Dumpling Party.

Local theatrical productions:  Churlish Chiding of Winter Winds: A Shakespeariment • Macbeth.

Visual Arts events: Opening Art Reception: Ana María Herrera • Chinese Zodiac Art • Persian Art Exhibition by 5 Women Artists Opening.

Comedy performances:  Jimmy O. Yang Big & Tall Tour.

Sports events: Peking Acrobats.

Everyone here at the San Diego Participant Observer and the Worldview Project wish you fulfilling, illuminating, and culturally-rich experiences in the days ahead. See you next week!

Friday, January 10
7:00 PM	Stage: Churlish Chiding of Winter Winds: A Shakespeariment Balboa Park
"	Film: Franky Five Star Digital Gym Cinema
"	Film: A Real Job / Un Métier Sérieux French American School
7:30 PM	17th Annual soundON Festival Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
Saturday, January 11
10:00 AM	2764 Karen New Year Celebration Colina Del Sol Recreation Center
2:30 PM	Indian Festival of Kites 8820 Judicial Dr
5:00 PM	Opening Art Reception: Ana María Herrera Athenaeum Art Center
6:00 PM	Persian Dance Recital Fundraiser Iranian American Center
7:00 PM	Music: Fred Benedetti Point Loma Assembly
"	Comedy: Jimmy O. Yang Big & Tall Tour San Diego Civic Theatre
Sunday, January 12
NOON	Los Años Dorados Project UCSD
2:00 PM	Holocaust Survivors Share Their Stories La Jolla Library
3:00 PM	Film: Franky Five Star Digital Gym Cinema
6:30 PM	Music: Sabrosas Latin Orchestra Music Box
7:30 PM	Music: Grisha Goryachev Salvation Army Kroc Center
Monday, January 13
7:30 PM	New Perspectives Into Ancient Greek Culture Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room
Wednesday, January 15
9:45 AM	Borrego Springs Film Festival Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center
4:00 PM	Chinese Zodiac Art San Ysidro Library
7:00 PM	Author Talk: John Sayles - To Save the Man Coronado Public Library
Thursday, January 16
5:00 PM	Talk: Getting Ahead in Today’s China: From Optimism to Pessimism UCSD
"	Music: Valgur Border Casa Familar
7:30 PM	Music: Elsa y Elmar House of Blues
8:00 PM	Music: DFMK, Ratas En Zelo & Spaghetti Cumbia The Tower Bar
Friday, January 17
1:00 PM	San Diego Salsa & Bachata Festival Marriott Mission Valley
7:00 PM	Stage: Macbeth Westminster Presbyterian Church
7:30 PM	Music and Stories from Ukraine featuring Julian Kytasty La Jolla Community Center
"	Peking Acrobats Poway Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, January 18
10:30 AM	Kuchipudi Dance Performance Mission Valley Branch Library
2:00 PM	Italian Chocolate Dessert & Limoncello Workshop St. Joseph Cathedral
6:00 PM	Holo Holo Music Festival Frontwave Arena
7:00 PM	Django Reinhardt Birthday Show Sunshine Brooks Theater
7:30 PM	Music: Flor de Toloache & Jacqie Rivera California Center for the Arts
"	Music: Latin Mafia House of Blues
Sunday, January 19
9:00 AM	Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, and Festival Harbor Dr
2:00 PM	Asian Culinary Journey TBA
"	San Diego Underground Film Festival Digital Gym Cinema
3:00 PM	Joe Wong Chinese Talk Show Price Center Theater
7:00 PM	Music: Fire Shut Up in My Bones Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Monday, January 20
NOON	36th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration WorldBeat Center
Tuesday, January 21
7:00 PM	Jewish Poets - Jewish Voices Lawrence Family JCC
Thursday, January 23
7:30 PM	New Perspectives Into Ancient Greek Culture Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room
Friday, January 24
10:00 AM	Music: ZueZue Parq Restaurant & Nightclub
11:00 AM	Lunar New Year Festival Henwood Memorial Park
4:00 PM	Film: Our Man in Havana Carlsbad City Library
5:00 PM	Bob Marley Tribute Festival The Holding Company
Saturday, January 25
10:30 AM	Lion Dance: Lunar New Year Celebration Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library
1:00 PM	Lunar New Year Lion Dance Performance Balboa Library
1:30 PM	Lunar New Year Dumpling Party Taiwanese American Community Center
4:00 PM	Lunar New Year Lion Dance Linda Vista Library
"	Music: Mariachi Garibaldi First United Methodist Church
5:00 PM	Jóvenes Flamencos Tablao Series The Turquoise
5:30 PM	Lunar New Year AXIS Event Old Globe Theatre
7:00 PM	Persian Art Exhibition by 5 Women Artists Opening Persian Cultural Center
"	Music: EYM Trio Museum of Making Music
Sunday, January 26
NOON	Film: Get Carter Digital Gym
2:00 PM	Film: Nezouh Poway Library
3:00 PM	Talk: Shakespeare's Peers Mission Valley Library

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Tidings Archive

This month’s recipe is Fijian Kokoda (pronounced "ko-konda"), a simple yet flavorful dish made with fresh fish, crisp vegetables, lime juice, and creamy coconut milk. As the weather here turns a bit colder and wetter, we can take a bite of Kokoda, close our eyes, and daydream about relaxing on a sun-soaked beach in tropical Fiji! Kokoda can be eaten as a snack, appetizer, or main course. Kokoda is a popular dish for celebratory events and special occasions.