The to-do list

Art

Poster boys: Perry L. Meyer Fine Art (2400 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy) will get into the spirit of Italian Heritage Month with its new show, Original Vintage Italian Posters. Before mass-marketed television and print ads that look like they were thrown together on a computer, companies would seek out artists for much of their promotional material. You’ll likely recognize many of these posters, which include everything from the Chianti gnome to Annisetta Evangelisti’s “Drunken Monkey” poster from 1925 that, had it been produced nowadays, would likely get PETA all hot and bothered. You can see the original prints at an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. www.plmeyerfineart.com.

Pinup party: Art lovers who tend toward more puritan work—if indeed such art lovers even exist—will want to steer clear of Distinction Gallery and Artist Studios when its next show hits the walls. But those who think skin, garters and fishnets add up to nothing but good clean fun simply must head to 317 E. Grand Ave. in Escondido, where the gallery will open Striptease with a reception from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, featuring live music and burlesque models serving chocolates and champagne. Oh, right, we shouldn’t forget the art—interpretations on a burlesque / pinup theme by Susan Heidi, Brain Viveros, Scott Rohlfs, Angelique Houtkamp, N.C. Winters, Molly Crabapple and (one of our favorites) Saratoga Sake. Arrive dressed to titillate, and you might win a prize. www.distinctionart.com.

Lovely La Mesa: Quite a few people have put bets on La Mesa to be the county’s next “it” neighborhood. It has the newish grill-it-yourself Riviera Supper Club, lots of cool mid-century architecture and dive bars whose leather booths have yet to make contact with a pair of skinny jeans. And, now, there’s Bella Mesa art gallery (8395 La Mesa Blvd.), owned by Gabe Giordano, the guy behind La Mesa’s Gio restaurant and wine bar (just across the street from the gallery). We’re pretty wowed by Bella Mesa’s roster of artists, which includes Sean Diediker, Trevor Southey, Brian Kershisnik, Cassandra Barney and Justin Taylor. The gallery opened last week, so cruise by this weekend to see what it’s all about. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. bellamesainc.blogspot.com.

 
Fashion

Love, American-style: We’re pretty crazy about local designer Sarah Sanaee’s LoveStreetVintage clothing line and, apparently, so is Bluefoot Bar & Lounge. The North Park watering hole (3404 30th St.) will let her show off some of her wares at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 (with a fashion show at 9 p.m.). Sanaee buys ’60s- and ‘70s-style clothes and mends and alters them for a more contemporary look. She’ll have these on display and available to purchase. There’ll also be drink specials from Three Olives vodka and music from The Clean Cuts. You can see some of Sanaee’s frocks at www.lovestreetvintage.etsy.com.

Music

Eclectic fest: Music festivals are fairly common in San Diego County, but how many of them donate funds for young artists at local high schools? Not many. With six concerts spread over more than two weeks, the eighth annual Oceanside Music Festival includes shows featuring everything from a “Rhythm & Jazz” night, with appearances by Blues Pharoahs and Will Sumner, to an “American Country” show, with local singer / songwriter Sara Petite and other Americana artists. The fest kicks off at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Oceanside Museum of Art (704 Pier View Way), with “Broadway Tonight!,” featuring renditions of tunes from popular Broadway musicals performed by local high-school students, plus a champagne reception, silent auction and more. $30. Shows continue sporadically through Sunday, Oct. 25. See www.ocaf.info for the schedule.

Special Events

Where the brat meets the surf: We’re holding out hope that we’ll see dudes surfing in lederhosen, but even if we don’t, we know we’ll still leave Ocean Beach satisfied after O.B. Oktoberfest, the annual beer fest that happens from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the beach end of Newport Avenue. In addition to lots of bier and wieners, there’ll be two stages of music, a Brat Trot (sign up at 9 a.m.) and stein-holding and bratwurst-eating competitions—and what Oktoberfest celebration is complete without a sausage toss? Coming from Pacific Beach? Take the shuttle from 710 Beach Club. www.oboktoberfest.com.

That’s amore!: Celebrate Italian Heritage Month correctly with an overabundance of food in Little Italy. The 15th year of the Little Italy FESTA, which takes place along India Street, is the largest single-day Italian-American festival west of the Mississippi. It’s expected that more than 120,000 people will flock to Little Italy on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., for music, art and, of course, bocce ball. All restaurants in the neighborhood will be open and overflowing, and a beer-and-wine garden will help you wash it all down. Ciao, baby. www.littleitalysd.com.

Community

Rest for the weary: As you may have heard, the city of San Diego’s having none-too-easy a time finding a place for its annual winter homeless shelter amid the usual not-in-my-’hood politics. Perhaps the city should look to the Interfaith Shelter Network for some tips. For more than two decades, the nonprofit has worked with churches and synagogues throughout the county to provide “rotating” shelters for homeless individuals and families in addition to case-management services and a transitional housing program for victims of domestic violence. From 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, for a mere $40, you can sample various local wines, chow on hors d’oeuvres, enjoy musical entertainment and help the shelter network keep doing what they do at the Sips for Shelter fundraiser happening at the Marriot Arterra Lounge, 11966 El Camino Real in Del Mar. Tickets are available at www.interfaithshelter.org or 619-702-5399.