The to-do list

Art

Sister act

You ever think Lola Picasso got jealous of her brother? Well, for local artists Chanel and Christine Penley, there’s no such animosity—the sisters are equally talented. Their one-night-only show, Tales of Two, at the Main Tap Tavern (518 E. Main St. in El Cajon) will showcase the Penleys’ paintings, including Chanel’s mix of Warhol and Walt Disney and Christine’s dark, fashion-inspired characters. The artists’ work reflects their past involvement in comic book and video games in comical and macabre ways. An artists’ reception, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 3, will feature live music and drink specials. www.maintaptavern.com.

Fair trade: In a volatile world where nations struggle to comprehend each other, it’s a welcome change to see two countries coming together, especially through art. The traveling exhibition Trade Show, which stresses the value of cross-cultural awareness and understanding, will feature about 100 works from California artists and another 100 from Turkish artists that address the questions “What do I value?” and “What would I trade?” As an added twist, the artists will swap their works with one another. The exhibition will be on display at the Garage Gallery (4141 Alabama St. in North Park) beginning Wednesday, July 1, and will run through July 30. It will feature small, 6-by-6-inch works in mediums ranging from paint to collage. An opening reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 3.

Cuckoo for Calder: The San Diego Visual Arts Network’s Little and Large exhibition is kind of like a treasure hunt. Before we explain what that means, a little background: Opening July 25 at the San Diego Museum of Art is a retrospective of American sculptor Andrew Calder’s work. Calder, who died in 1976, was known as much for his large sculptures as for the bold pieces of jewelry he created for attention-seeking socialites. In conjunction with the Calder show, the Visual Arts Network asked more than 90 local artists to create a piece of jewelry (the “Little” part of the show) and a piece of sculpture (“Large”), and, during the next few months, those works will be on display in 41 venues countywide—from art galleries to cafés to indie video stores and bike shops. It kicks off at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the Se Hotel’s poolside bar, Siren (1047 Fifth Ave., Downtown), where there’ll be runway shows and other fun stuff for guests. The first few Little and Large-related shows open Friday, July 3, in La Jolla (part of the First Friday art walk) and the following Friday, July 10, at Little Italy’s Kettner Nights. For a rundown of where and when all the shows are happening, go to www.sdvisualarts.net.

Music

Name that tune

If you scoff at the Summer Organ Festival (every Monday evening in Balboa Park), then you’ve obviously never experienced the counterintuitive coolness that is the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at night: the subtle-yet-trippy multi-colored-light show, the sight of Lindbergh Field-bound planes in the distance and, on Monday, July 6, a John Williams extravaganza. Oh yes, movie fans, guest organist David Wickham has put together a medley of tunes by the godfather of cinematic soundtracks. In addition to Williams, Wickham will perform tunes by Joplin (Scott, not Janis), a little Rodgers and Hammerstein, a tribute to Cole Porter and some tunes befitting the July 4 holiday. It all starts at 7:30 p.m., and it’s free (though donations are always appreciated). www.sosorgan.com.

Brass, banjos and bassoons: The San Diego Symphony’s annual Summer Pops series of concerts doesn’t exactly scream excitement, unless you’re a Burt Bacharach or Dionne Warwick fan (and, by the way, if you’re not, you should be). But when we heard that the 7th Day Buskers, one of San Diego’s best Americana-roots bands, was scheduled to perform with the symphony and guest conductor Marvin Hamlisch, a night at the symphony suddenly didn’t sound like such a snore. The “Star Spangled Pops” show will include the Buskers performing Americana hits with the symphony, but also some marches, Broadway tunes and, naturally, fireworks galore. It happens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, at Embarcadero Marina Park South (111 W. Harbor Drive, Downtown). $15-75. 619-235-0804, www.sandiegosymphony.org.

Food & Drink

Breakfast of champions

We’re not sure the fun-lovin’ folks at FM-94/9 and Stone Brewery have your best interests at heart. They want you to tempt fate in this down economy by blowing off work on Friday, July 3, and heading up to Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens (1999 Citracado Parkway in Escondido) for nearly a full day of beer, food and music. If you’re the type that likes drinking beer early in the morning, you might want to chance it. FM 94/9 will broadcast live from the bistro from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Stone Foxes will hit the stage at 8 a.m. for a set of blues music, and local brewers will pro-
vide tasters of their products every hour starting at 9:20 a.m. for 94 cents apiece. www.fm949sd.com, www.stonebrew.com.

Politics

The doctor is in

Yeah, Howard Dean’s appearance at Warwick’s (7812 Girard Ave. in La Jolla) on Thursday, July 2, is a book-signing only, but after seeing the 2004 presidential candidate and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee on The Colbert Report, we’re super-stoked to read his book, Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer. That’s a hell of a title, but what he lacks in brevity he makes up in medical know-how. A practicing physician before and during his six terms as Vermont’s governor, Dean combines his experience in medicine and politics to help explain Obama’s plan for healthcare reform while offering his own solutions to the crisis. Dean will sign copies from 4:30 to 6 p.m. 858-454-0347, www.warwicks.indiebound.com. 

Film

A powerful protest

Fernando Suarez del Solar immigrated to Escondido from Tijuana in 1997, and although his son, Jesus, was not a U.S. citizen, he was recruited by the U.S. Marine Corps and sent to Iraq in 2003, where he was among the first servicemembers killed in action. This affected Suarez so deeply that he became devoted to speaking out against the war and the military’s pursuit of other low-income Latinos. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, the Central Library (820 E St., Downtown) will screen the documentary A Senseless Death, which examines the stories of Jesus and other “green card soldiers.” The free showing will be followed by a discussion with Suarez about the military’s recruitment of non-citizens. www.sandiegolibrary.org.

Books

The doctor is in

Yeah, Howard Dean’s appearance at Warwick’s (7812 Girard Ave. in La Jolla) on Thursday, July 2, is a book-signing only, but after seeing the 2004 presidential candidate and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee on The Colbert Report, we’re super-stoked to read his book, Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer. That’s a hell of a title, but what he lacks in brevity he makes up in medical know-how. A practicing physician before and during his six terms as Vermont’s governor, Dean combines his experience in medicine and politics to help explain Obama’s plan for healthcare reform while offering his own solutions to the crisis. Dean will sign copies from 4:30 to 6 p.m. 858-454-0347, www.warwicks.indiebound.com.