San Diego Weekend Guide – Jan. 3-5 – New Year, New You

by Editor

Thousands of gray whales continue with their annual 10,000- mile migration along the Pacific Coast.

This San Diego weekend, why not try something new? We’re not talking about that word that rhymes with ablutions – you know most people don’t make it past the first two weeks of the New Year with those things, right?

We here at Weekend Guide embrace a gentler New Year, New You approach. Try it, and if it’s meh, move on. But if you like it, keep it! Let us help …

For the young (literally or at heart) among us, here’s two opposites on the spectrum:

Mini Mingei – Take your youngest to the Mingei International Museum at Balboa Park at 10 a.m. Friday for a lesson in reading and folk art. This week it’s pattern-making for 2-5 year olds, who will create stamps and use them to decorate bags. General admission, $7.
Monster Jam – Watch 12,000-pound monster trucks in racing, skills and freestyle challenges in the the dirt at Snapdragon Stadium. See the event at 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, or wait ’til next weekend for two more days of action. Single admission starts at $43 with discounts for multi-ticket packs.

Curious to sample some of the art and music and nature that San Diego has on offer? Learn some science, see the outdoors, support a jazz dream … and there’s always beer:

Wonders of Creation, an exhibit focused on art and innovation from North Africa, across the Middle East to parts of Asia, closes Sunday at the San Diego Museum of Art. It features works from as far as Kuwait and Malayasia, while also shining a light on California artists. General admission is $20.
We’re firmly in whale watching season for gray whales, which are very large indeed, at around 50 feet. They can actually be seen from shore – try the Birch Aquarium, Cabrillo National Monument or Torrey Pines State Reserve. But book a trip on San Diego Whale Watch or City Cruises for an up-close experience. Tickets start at $57.
Well-known local performer Leonard Patton opened the intimate Jazz Lounge in Rolando, where one fan says “dedicated musicians have the opportunity to play for equally dedicated listeners.” Patton performs Friday and Saturday, along with Matt Falker and Melonie Grinnell. Tickets start at $40 or can be upgraded to include dinner.
Some of the best known local craft brewers are behind Beer-ology, a Museum of Us exhibit that explores thousands (really!) of years of sudsy history. Check it out and head to one of those breweries for a post-museum sip. General admission is $20.

Dipped into a local farmer’s market yet? There’s a huge network of markets throughout the region and many of them fall on the weekend, including some very popular options that sprawl over several blocks and offer far more than flowers and fruit.