San Diego Weekend Guide: Jan. 31-Feb. 2 – Minis & Movies

One big local promotion, with discounts throughout February, opens this San Diego weekend, while another winds down. Try both, with music, crafts, movies and culture in between.

Celebrate the second anniversary of Songwriter Sanctuary, billed as an intimate monthly concert series, at 7 p.m. Friday. Set to perform: San Diego Music Hall of Famer Jeff Berkley, who also plays host at Normal Heights United Church, 4650 Mansfield St. Will Stucky and Shelbi Bennett with the Midnight Pine join in. Admission is a suggested donation of $10.

The 35th annual San Diego International Jewish Film Festival continues all weekend with screenings of ADA: My Mother, My Architect, UnBroken, The Glory of Life, Janis Ian: Breaking Silence and Sabbath Queen. The festival runs through Feb. 8 at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre, part of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. Screening tickets cost $20.

The Vietnamese American Youth Alliance’s annual San Diego Tet Festival marks its 20th year by moving to a new location – NTC Park at Liberty Station. The three-day festival features lion dances, a cultural village, the Miss Vietnam Pageant, Vietnamese food, music and more. The fest opens at 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free, but tickets are required for rides and games.

Need some Latin spice to warm you up mid-winter? Try these shows on Friday:

•    6 p.m. – Quartyard hosts Latin Friday featuring PuroPari and Officetwin. Eats provided by El Comal. Happy hour opens at 5 p.m. Tickets free, but RSVP online.
•    7 p.m. – “Azucar! A Tribute to the Queen of Salsa,” at the the Magnolia in El Cajon, salutes Cuban icon Celia Cruz. Tickets start at $19.

Prefer your family drama onstage, not at, ahem, home? Head to the Old Globe Theatre for the first weekend of the San Diego premiere of Appropriate. Estranged siblings gather to settle their late father’s Arkansas estate, but a discovery rocks their worlds. The show, with Tony Kazee, a Tony winner for Once, continues through Feb. 23. Tickets start at $42.

San Diego Museum Month – is it possible to hit one venue a day in February? You can try beginning Saturday at more than 70 local museums, gardens, parks, aquariums and zoos in both greater San Diego and Tijuana. With half-off admission for up to four guests all month long, there’s a good incentive to try. Get the discount by picking up a pass at libraries throughout San Diego County or, beginning Saturday, downloading one to your phone.

Like things small. We mean, really small? Try the San Diego Miniatures Show and Sale at the University of San Diego Hahn University Center Saturday and Sunday. See exhibits or learn about tiny crafting at workshops, including some for kids. Admission is $10.

And a reminder – San Diego Restaurant Week is about to wrap up. Enjoy special multi-course menus, and those focused on cocktails and brunch, through Sunday at dozens of participating sites.