June is the start of full slate of summer fun in Balboa Park – from food trucks to extended hours at many of the most popular museums to a plethora of 21-and-up parties. Here are some of this month’s highlights.
Trucking Tasty
Friday Night Alive! Food Trucks and Extended Museum Hours
When: Starts June 1
Where: El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
Balboa Park gets festive on Friday nights. Every Friday from June 1 through Sept. 28, a fleet of food trucks will roll into the park at 5:00 PM to provide a wide range of gastronomic options from appetizers to desserts to everything in between. The event also features DJs and musicians playing in the Plaza de Panama. It is also a perfect way to have a low-stress picnic. Just grab something to eat at one of the many trucks in tow and grab a table in the Plaza de Panama or head over to the West or East lawns right outside of the Botanical Building to soak up the scene. Of course, after filling your belly, it’ll be time to feed your mind by visiting the many museums with extended summer hours, which runs through Aug. 31. Also, you won’t want to miss the June 1 kickoff event, which will feature a concert by the San Diego Youth Symphony in front of the San Diego Museum of Art.
Beer and Far
Beer, Bir, Bjór: An International Beer Tasting
When: June 7, 2018
Where: Museum of Man – 1350 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Get a taste of the world while exploring the science of brewing at the Museum of Man’s International Beer Tasting after-hours 21-and-up event. Fill up on beer flights inspired by nations from around the globe and snack sausages and salads. The fun begins at 6 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for members and $30 for e-members.
By the Book
Bookin’ Good – A Beginner’s Book-binding Workshop
When: June 9, 2018
Where: Mingei International Museum – 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
You might not be able to write the great American novel, but you can create your own book with the help of the Mingei International Museum. This introductory class will teach the basics of book binding with participants learning about the art of paper marbling as well as how to create their own handmade book. Tickets for members are $35 and $45 for non-members. The class runs from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Potters of Gold
San Diego Potter’s Guild Spring Show & Sale
When: June 9-10, 2018
Where: Spanish Village Art Center – 1770 Village Pl, San Diego, CA 92101
Are you crazy for cool and creative ceramics? Then you won’t want to miss the San Diego Potter’s Guild Spring Show and Sale. The Spanish Village Art Center’s courtyard will be filled with everything from teapots to trays to bowls to vases – all available for purchase. Members of the Guild will be on hand to talk about their work and answer any questions. Grab a drink at Daniel’s Coffee in the courtyard so you can sip and stroll throughout the spring sale, which goes from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
When: June 14, 2018
Where: San Diego Zoo – 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Get to party with real animals – real zoo animals that is – at this 21-and-up event at the San Diego Zoo. For $40, you get admission to the Zoo after dark (starting at 6:00 PM), a complimentary drink (beer, soda or water) and the opportunity to meet some animal ambassadors as well as the chance to query keeper. There will be music and additional food and beverages for purchase, too.
Happy Campers
Secret Society of Adultologists: Summer Camp
When: June 16, 2018
Where: The San Diego Natural History Museum
Experience the simple joys of summer camp – only cooler – at The San Diego Natural History Museum’s Secret Society of Adultologist’s June event. Make a merit badge, whip up a friendship bracelet, take aim with some Nerf archery and learn about spiders and rattlesnakes all in the safe confines of The Nat – and do it all with an adult beverage in hand. This 21-and-up event will also provide access to the museum’s new rooftop bar. There will be camp songs, a photo booth, tents and scavenger hunts – and there’s no danger of being homesick. The event starts at 7:00 PM and runs until 10:00 PM. Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for non-members.
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day
When: June 17 – July 22, 2018
Where: The Old Globe – 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
What could be better than taking in a timeless tale by the bard? How about doing it under the stars on a San Diego summer night? That’s exactly what The Old Globe offers each summer with its Shakespeare Festival. In fact, there is really nothing quite like seeing some of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays – Much Ado About Nothing, King Richard II and Hamlet to name a few – featuring seasoned Shakespearian actors in the 615-seat Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, which is framed by towering Eucalyptus trees. This summer’s production of The Tempest is a definite must-see as it features noted Shakespearean actress Kate Burton – who played Vice President Sally Langston on the TV series Scandal and who is also daughter of Richard Burton – playing Prospero, which is a traditionally male role. The festival also gives attendees plenty of chances to get up close and personal with material as well as the cast and crew with free seminars and question-and-answer sessions on select nights.
Cocktail Party That Breaks the Mold
When: June 21, 2018
Where: San Diego Museum of Art – 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
A night of music, drinks and sculpture – all by design. This event is part of the San Diego Museum of Art’s quarterly Culture & Cocktails but is renamed Sculpture & Cocktails as it will take place in the May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden – funny how that works. A DJ will be on hand and this 21-and-up event will embrace the theme of Museum of Art’s Epic Tails of Ancient India, which features more than 90 works from the museum’s world-renowned collection of Indian paintings. The festivities, which include Henna art, beaded bangles and Bollywood dance performances, starts at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $10 for members and $35 for non-member.