San Diego - Art & Entertainment

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Although San Diego may be better known for sun, sand and surf, the city actually boasts a vibrant and flourishing arts and entertainment scene. From world-class theaters and magnificent museums to cool cafes and hole-in-the-wall nightclubs, there is something here for every entertainment taste.

Art

If you should tire of admiring San Diego's magnificent natural scenery, the city has a number of art museums that offer eye-candy of a different kind. Balboa Park offers many of these treasures, including the San Diego Museum of Art, which offers an impressive collection of Renaissance, Dutch, Spanish Baroque, Impressionist, Southeast Asian and Contemporary Californian works. Also located at Balboa Park, the Timken Museum of Art showcases an extensive collection of Russian icons and 14th Century religious paintings, while the Mingei International Museum has a delightful collection of pottery, textiles, ceremonial and daily-use objects from around the globe. The work of some of the world's best photographers is displayed at the Museum of Photographic Arts. Meanwhile, Spanish Village Art Center offers visitors a chance to watch painters, glassblowers, sculptors and woodcarvers at work.

Those with more modern sensibilities may prefer the Museum of Contemporary Art, headquartered in La Jolla with a smaller branch downtown.

Theatre

San Diego boasts a remarkably healthy theater scene with not one, but two Tony-award-winning theaters. The consistently excellent La Jolla Playhouse often originates innovative and provocative dramas and musicals. Meanwhile, the oldest professional theater in California, Old Globe Theatre, performs classic, Shakespearean and contemporary works on three stages in Balboa Park. In addition, several smaller companies, such as the San Diego Repertory Theatre and the Lamb's Players Theatre, stage year-round performances of contemporary works.

A number of long running shows, including Forever Plaid and Triple Espresso, attest to San Diegans' abiding interest in the theater. In fact, Forever Plaid can be found at the Backstage at Aubergine, where dinner shows are performed throughout the week.

Film

With giant multiplexes like the Gaslamp Stadium 15 Pacific Theatres and AMC Mission Valley 20, San Diego's cinemas offer plenty of mass, if not exactly highbrow, fare. Meanwhile, independent, art-house and foreign films are shown at the Hillcrest Cinema or the Ken Cinema, the latter specializing in revivals and cutting edge independent film. In La Jolla, the Cove Theater features lesser-known films that are often ignored by the mainstream community.

Museums

First-time visitors to San Diego are often surprised by the variety of museums found here. The Museum of Man is an anthropological museum focusing on Native American, Southwestern, Mexican and South American cultures. In addition, the Junipero Serra Museum houses Native American and Spanish artifacts from the early days of the missionaries. Those not easily spooked should brave the Thomas Whaley Museum in Old Town, known for being haunted, a fact authenticated by no less than the United States Department of Commerce. Caveat Emptor, of course.

With a nod to San Diego's once prominent status as a commercial seaport, the delightful San Diego Maritime Museum offers visitors a chance to tour three historic vessels. Furthermore, the Birch Aquarium boasts the largest oceanographic exhibit in the country.

Nature lovers can indulge themselves at the San Diego Natural History Museum, which highlights the desert ecology of Southern California and Mexico. Meanwhile, science and technology buffs will enjoy the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and Space Theater, which showcases a 3D tour of the ocean depths, rain forests and even outer space, all courtesy of IMAX.

Music

Options for classical music fanatics range from large concerts by the San Diego Symphony at Copley Symphony Hall to more intimate recitals by the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. The San Diego Opera season runs from January-May and consists of five operas performed at the Civic Theatre.

For those with slightly less rarefied musical tastes, San Diego offers an array of choices in rock, pop, jazz, folk, country, blues, hip-hop and alternative music. Serious rockers head to the ultra-sleek Coors Amphitheatre, which seats up to 20,000 and has become a "must-play" venue for top musicians. The 14,000-seat San Diego Sports Arena also hosts big-name concerts. Smaller venues for upbeat tunes include Humphrey's By The Bay or Juke Joint Cafe.

Nightclubs

San Diego abounds with lively nighttime entertainment venues. Bars and nightclubs such as The Bitter End and The Blue Tattoo cater to a hip urban crowd while dance clubs such as the groovy Ole Madrid Cafe or the salsa-hot Sevilla Restaurant & Tapas Bar dare you to come in and strut your stuff.

Sports

Since winning baseball's National League Western Division title in 1998, the San Diego Padres have been the pride of the city. Though the Padres play at Qualcomm Stadium between April and October, plans are underway for a new ballpark slated for completion in 2002. Playing in the National Football League AFC Western Conference, the San Diego Chargers have had a checkered record of late, but still manage to draw fans to Qualcomm Stadium between August and December.

Other prime spectator sports include horse racing and golf. From late June to early September, San Diegans place bets on their favorite thoroughbreds at the Del Mar Racetrack. This event attracts some of the best jockeys and horses in the country. Meanwhile, the world's top golfers also visit San Diego several times each year at the Mercedes Championship at the La Costa Resort and Spa in January, and the Buick Invitational at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in February.

Whether your preference is for trendy nightclubs or traditional theater performances, San Diego has entertainment venues to please all tastes. Add sunny skies and ocean views to these top-notch attractions and it is no wonder why San Diego draws countless tourists each year.







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San Diego Natural History Museum


Natural wonders
 1788 El Prado
Park Avenue & Village Place, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 232 3821
http://www.sdnhm.org/
San Diego Natural History Museum
Coors Amphitheatre


South Bay magnet
 2050 Entertainment Circle
San Diego, CA 91911
+1 619 671 3600
http://www.hob.com/venues/concerts/coors/
Coors Amphitheatre
Humphrey's by the Bay


Legendary and cool!
 2241 Shelter Island Drive
Humphrey's Half Moon Inn & Suites
San Diego, CA 92106
+1 619 224 3577
http://www.humphreysbythebay.com/
Humphrey's by the Bay
San Diego Symphony


Music to your ears
 1245 Seventh Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 235 0804
http://www.sandiegosymphony.com
San Diego Symphony
San Diego Chamber Orchestra


San Diego Chamber Orchestra
 11772 Sorrento Valley Road
Suite 212
San Diego, CA 92121
+1 848 350 0290
http://www.sdco.org/
San Diego Chamber Orchestra
San Diego Maritime Museum


Historical museum on water
 1492 N Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 234 9153
http://www.sdmaritime.com
San Diego Maritime Museum
Reuben H Fleet Science Center & Space Theater


Hands-on museum and theater
 1875 El Prado
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 238 1233 x802
http://www.rhfleet.org/
Reuben H Fleet Science Center & Space Theater
Old Globe Theatre


Modern and classic plays
 1363 Old Globe Way
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 234 5623
http://www.oldglobe.org
Old Globe Theatre
San Diego Museum of Man


Anthropology Museum, Architectural Marvel
 1350 El Prado
(Balboa Park)
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 239 2001
http://www.museumofman.org/
San Diego Museum of Man
Hillcrest Cinemas


The artist's theater
 3965 5th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
+1 619 819 0236
http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/SanDiego/HillcrestCinemas.htm
Hillcrest Cinemas
Sevilla Restaurant & Tapas Bar


Spanish Passion
 555 Fourth Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 233 5979
http://www.cafesevilla.com/
Sevilla Restaurant & Tapas Bar
Ole Madrid


Ole!
 751 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 557 0146
http://www.olemadrid.com
Ole Madrid
Museum of Photographic Arts


Photographic Masterpieces
 1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 238 7559
http://www.mopa.org
Museum of Photographic Arts
Balboa Park


1200-acre cultural center
 Invalidenstraße 3
San Diego, CA 10115
+1 619 239 0512
http://www.balboapark.org
Balboa Park
San Diego Museum of Art


Finely presented fine art
 1450 El Prado
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 232 7931
http://www.sdmart.org/
San Diego Museum of Art
Birch Aquarium


Twenty-thousand leagues of fun
 2300 Expedition Way
San Diego, CA 92037
+1 858 534 3474
http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu
Birch Aquarium
Torrey Pines Golf Course


Challenging and picturesque course
 11480 N Torrey Pines Rd
San Diego, CA 92037
+1 800 985 4653
http://www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com/
Torrey Pines Golf Course
Presidio/Junipero Serra Museum


Once a Spanish fort
 2727 Presidio Dr
San Diego, CA 92103
+1 619 297 3258
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/mainpages/locate4.htm
Presidio/Junipero Serra Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art


Tape recorded tours
 700 Prospect St
San Diego, CA 92037
+1 858 454 3541
http://www.mcasd.org
Museum of Contemporary Art
Timken Museum of Art


See the old masters
 1500 El Prado
(Balboa Park)
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 239 5548
http://www.timkenmuseum.org
Timken Museum of Art
Mingei International Museum


Ideas of the people
 1439 El Prado
(Balboa Park)
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 239 0003
http://www.mingei.org/
Mingei International Museum
The Whaley House


San Diego Specter
 2476 San Diego Avenue
San Diego, CA 92110
+1 619 297 9327 / +1 619 297 7511
http://www.whaleyhouse.org
The Whaley House
ipayOne Center


Indoor sport shows and concerts
 3500 Sports Arena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92110
+1 619 224 4171
http://www.sandiegoarena.com
ipayOne Center
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (Racetrack)


Where the Surf meets the Turf!
 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard
PO Box 700
San Diego, CA 92014
+1 858 792 4230 / +1 858 755 1141
http://www.dmtc.com/
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (Racetrack)
Spanish Village Art Center


Artists at work
 1770 Village Place, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 233 9050
http://www.spanishvillageart.com/
Spanish Village Art Center
Lamb's Players Theatre


Renowned regional theater
 1142 Orange Avenue
San Diego, CA 92118
+1 619 437 0600 / +1 619 437 6050
http://www.lambsplayers.org
Lamb's Players Theatre
San Diego Repertory Theatre


Respected theater presents provocative plays
 79 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 544 1000
http://www.sandiegorep.com
San Diego Repertory Theatre
AMC Mission Valley 20


State of the art
 1640 Camino Del Rio North
Mission Valley Shopping Center
San Diego, CA 92108
+1 858 558 2262
http://www.amctheatres.com/
AMC Mission Valley 20
Gaslamp 15 Pacific Theatres


Modern screens and movies
 701 5th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 232 0400
http://www.pacifictheatres.com/area-sd.htm
Gaslamp 15 Pacific Theatres
San Diego Opera


O solo mio
 1200 Third Avenue
18th Floor, Civic Center Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101-4112
+1 619 232 7636
http://www.sdopera.com
San Diego Opera
San Diego Padres


Take me to the ballgame
 100 Park Boulevard
Petco Park
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 795 5000 / +1 877 374 2784 (Tickets)
http://www.padres.com
San Diego Padres
San Diego Chargers


The Bolts are back
 4020 Murphy Canyon Road
San Diego, CA 92123
+1 858 874 4500 / +1 877 242 7437 / +1 619 641 3171
http://www.chargers.com/
San Diego Chargers
Bitter End


The oldest building in the Gaslamp
 770 Fifth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
+1 619 338 9300
http://www.thebitterend.com
Bitter End
Qualcomm Stadium


Home of the pros
 9449 Friars Road
San Diego, CA 92108
+1 619 641 3100
http://www.sandiego.gov/qualcomm
Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego
San Diego - Historical Background
San Diego - Where to Stay
San Diego - Neighborhood Guide
San Diego - Dining & Drinking
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