This Weekend in SD: Puppets, Weddings and The Beatles

San Diego’s thirst for knowledge comes through this weekend with many events available for those who want to learn more, whether it’s about the ocean, the art of puppet making or a rock band.

San Diego Art Exhibits

Thursday through Friday, take a magical visual history tour of The Beatles’ career in the exhibit “The Beatles: I Saw the Photograph” at the Oceanside Museum of Art. The collection features vintage and modern photographs by iconic photographers and a sampling of works from the VPV Photographs Collection. Spanning the years 1958-1980, the collection tells the story of The Beatles from John Lennon’s first group The Quarrymen, to the fateful day at the Dakota apartments in New York in 1980. Intended to coincide with “Come Together at OMA: Art After Dark Beatles Tribute” on June 17, this exhibit provides visitors a deeper look at the life of the Fab Four.

And those with an inner child are in for a treat! The new exhibit “Made4Adults” is a puppet art exhibit displaying puppet works by adults, for adults. This display at Space4Art has works by several local artists and shows the diversity of puppetry arts. The exhibit, sponsored by the San Diego Guild of Puppetry, is available to view by appointment only. To schedule a time, email sandiegopuppetry@gmail.com or call 619-886-2594. Admission is free.

Theater

This weekend, head to the Cygnet Theatre Company for a performance of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder. According to the website, “the story follows the courtship and marriage of George and Emily, and in following the two, reveals the hidden mystery behind the everyday. Wilder’s portrait of life, love and death is set in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire – a fictional New England town at the start of the 20th century. With a penetrating wisdom about living in community, this play is an enduring American treasure and one of the greatest plays of world theatre.” Tickets are $24-$49 and performances are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. And Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

For those who prefer to dine while enjoying theater can enjoy “Once Upon A Wedding” on Thursday, a new hit interactive musical comedy. The performance takes place on a sterwheeler ship cruising around Mission Bay, and is complete with a three-course dinner, drinks, dancing and live entertainment. The setting takes place at the Dudley/Do-Wright wedding, where everything is perfect until the wedding coordinator goes missing along with half of the wedding party and the bride’s parents seem on the verge of divorce. Boarding begins at 6:40 p.m. and tickets are $55 for adults and $35 for children.

Local Events

On Thursday, walk along the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier, normally closed to the public, on an exclusive moonlit tour during the Full Moon Pier Walk. Participants will learn about the history of Scripps Oceanography and current research projects, while collecting plankton, performing experiments and exploring the nocturnal habits of marine life. The event is 7-9:30 p.m.Those ages 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are $25 for the public and $22 for members of the aquarium. To RSVP, call 858-534-7336 or visit the website.

Also on Thursday is the Mistral Bar & Restaurant‘s quarterly signature event celebrating the partnership between the kitchen and wine cellar of Chef Gabriel Morales and Chef Patrick Ponsaty. According to the website, “The evening includes a lovely reception followed by a three-course dinner in Mistral with paired wines from Chef Gabriel’s personal 3,000-bottle Wine Cellar.” The event is from 7-9 p.m. and costs $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Space is limited and reservations are required.  Please call Manager Paul Goldstine at (619)424-4476 or email pgoldstine@loewshotels.com.

Movies released this weekend:

Green Lantern
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
The Art of Getting By (Limited release)
Buck (Limited release)
Jig (Limited release)
Kidnapped (Limited release)