The to-do list

Art by Matte Stephens is part of Subtext Gallery's Three, happening on Saturday, Nov. 7.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Dynamite return: It was a sad day when the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego put its popular Thursday Night Thing on hiatus-but it's not like arts organizations are rolling in dough these days. Hopefully, the absence has made your heart grow fonder for the evening art-and-music event, because from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, it's the Return of TNT. This time, though, it'll cost you: $10 general admission, $7 for students. In exchange, you can check out Tara Donovan's fab new exhibit and catch music by Birds and Batteries and a DJ set by Money Mark. Local artist David Adey will lead an interactive art activity, and have-to-see-it-to-believe-it "balloon bassist" Addi Somekh will perform. It all happens at MCASD's Downtown location, 1100 and 1001 Kettner Blvd. www.mcasd.org.

Crisis management: UCSD and several other organizations really want to make you aware of the challenges facing our supply of water and food. To help get their point across, they're going to screen the film Flow, which documents the global water crisis. The event begins with appetizers (featuring local organic produce) and a mini environmental fair at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, followed by the film screening at 6:30 p.m. and a panel discussion at 8 p.m. that's sure to fill your brain with information about things we've too long taken for granted. Part of UCSD's Water Awareness Month, it goes down in the Price Center's East Ballroom on campus. www.sscucsd.com.

LECTURES

Death becomes her: There are approximately 3,300 prisoners on death row in the United States, but there is only one Sister Helen Prejean. The author of Dead Man Walking (who looks nothing like Susan Sarandon) exemplifies the flipside of the Catholic Church's pro-life stance as one of the strongest, most charismatic and most convincing voices in the anti-death-penalty movement. In her disarming bayou accent, Prejean will deliver the keynote address at the National Endowment for the Arts' "The Big Read" campaign kickoff in San Diego. Hosted by the University of San Diego and the Black Storytellers of San Diego, the event is free and begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at USD's Shiley Theater, 5998 Alcalá Park. www.sandiego.edu/cas/news_events.

DANCE

Bachelor party: Like most bachelor-night tales, the classical ballet Giselle follows a dude’s foolish attempt at one last casual bop. While The Hangover involved self-tooth-extraction, kidnapping a gay Chinese mafioso and screwing with Mike Tyson’s tiger, Giselle only involves Prince Albrecht getting caught by his fiancé’s father’s hunting party, a peasant girl dying of shock and evil nymphs nearly dancing him to death. Inspired by a Heinrich Heine poem, the sleaziness seems so much classier when it’s set to a full orchestra. The City Ballet’s 17th season opens with the ballet at Spreckels Theater (121 Broadway, Downtown) at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. Tickets are $29 to $59, with discounts for students, seniors and military. www.cityballet.org.

BOOKS

Hubby-and-wife wordsmiths: The folks at The Book Works tell us that some 300 people showed up last year when novelist Joyce Carol Oates came to town. If you weren’t among them, you’ll get another chance this weekend—and this time, she’ll have her husband, neuroscientist Charles Gross, in tow. At 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, Gross will talk about and sign copies of his book A Hole in the Head: More Tales in the History of Neuroscience, a series of essays documenting past discoveries in the study of the brain. Then, at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Oates steals the spotlight to discuss and sign copies of her latest novel, A Bird in Heaven, about what happens when eroticism meets violence in Buffalo, N.Y. Both events are free and happen at the store, in the Flower Hill Mall, 2670 Via de la Valle in Del Mar. Oates will sign only books purchased at The Book Works, so hang on to your receipt. www.book-works.com.

ART

Three’s a crowd: Subtext Gallery (2479 Kettner Blvd. in Little Italy) has had some great sci-fi- and fantasy-themed shows lately, but Three might be the best one yet. Featuring the works of a trio of national talent, this could be the perfect show for both geeks and kids when it opens with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. Matte Stephens, a self-described Portland “brainiac,” will show off his mid-century-inspired cast of characters while Israel Sanchez displays assorted paintings that helped him land animation gigs at Cartoon Network. Finally, Sandra Equihua, who just won an Emmy for her work on the Nickelodeon show El Tigre, will showcase her cartoon-inspired works. Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera would be proud. www.subtextgallery.com.

Starting off small: Too often, the sort of art galleries you find in popular tourist spots are, well, a little on the generic side or specialize in mass-produced art. EC Gallery (yeah, EC stands for “Exclusive Collection”—big deal) breaks the mold with its lovely new space in Seaport Village and its inaugural exhibit, Miniature Show. From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, check out more than 100 paintings, all no bigger than 8-by-10 inches, created by 13 artists, including Daniel Merriam, Gloria Lee and Michael Summers. And, if you’ve got the art-collecting bug, prices start at a relatively affordable $400. www.ecgallery.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sweet dreams (and pictures): Dave Stewart, the dude behind Annie Lennox in the Eurythmics whom Bob Dylan once called a “fearless innovator,” has been busy during the past few decades. Taking a break from co-writing all of your favorite songs with fellow rock icons, the artist, producer, photographer and songwriter will be at Morrison Hotel Gallery’s Del Mar location (2670 Via de la Valle) from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, for the opening of the exhibition featuring photographs from his coffee-table book, The Dave Stewart Songbook Vol. 1. His personal photographs of his favorite collaborations, including songwriting sessions with Bob Dylan, Bono, Mick Jagger, Tom Petty, Jon Bon Jovi, Bob Geldof, Bryan Ferry, Gwen Stefani and pretty much anyone else you can think of, will be displayed and for sale until Nov. 29. Stewart will also perform a small concert. The reception is free. www.morrisonhotelgallery.com.