Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, March 10 to Friday, March 14.
Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to do this weekend.
Monday
Aztecs, Horticultural Knowledge & Rituals: Master Gardener Julio Estrada will lead a discussion on details of Aztecs history and horticultural developments, particularly in the Valley of Mexico. The event includes a book club discussion of “Fifth Sun.” 6 p.m. Monday. Skyline Hills Library, 7900 Paradise Valley Road, San Diego. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/aztecs-horticultural-knowledge-rituals-443582
Swing Dance Under the Dome: Under the rooftop dome at the Central Library, locals can take an introductory lesson for swing dancing. 6 p.m. Monday. Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/swing-dance-under-dome-407078
Loretta Ellsworth: The author of “The French Winemaker’s Daughter” will be on hand to talk about the book. The book is about two women during World War II. 6:30 p.m. Monday. Point Loma/Hervey Library, 3701 Voltaire St., San Diego. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/friends-library-author-talk-loretta-ellsworth-437328
Tuesday
Anberlin: The alternative rock band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its album “Never Take Friendship Personal” with a concert at House of Blues. The group started in Florida, gained popularity in the early 2000s and has released 18 albums, including “Vega” in 2024. 6 p.m. Tuesday. House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. $35-$75. houseofblues.com/sandiego
Family Lotería Night: Families can head to the library for Lotería, including prizes, on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. 5 p.m. Tuesday. 700 Eucalyptus Ave.,Vista. Free. sdcl.bibliocommons.com/events/6747a4f559163a2f0032f5ff
Wednesday
Saint Motel: Alternative pop band Saint Motel dropped its newest album, “Saint Motel & the Symphony in the Sky,” on Valentine’s Day and is now touring the new songs. The band’s San Diego tour stop will be at The Sound at Del Mar Fairgrounds. A Saint Motel shows include intense costumes, videos and lighting shows, according to The Sound. Singer and songwriter A.J. Jackson, guitarist Aaron Sharp, bassist Dak Lerdamornpong and drummer Greg Erwin make up the band. 8 p.m. Wednesday. The Sound, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $41-$244.85. thesoundsd.com
Dinner education: The Kitchen @ MCASD is hosting a dinner event, focused on the study of shellfish. Guests will be served a five-course prix-fixe menu showcasing seafood and crustaceans from the Pacific Ocean. The dinner is curated by chefs Tim Kolanko and Wesley Johnson. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. $40-$120. thekitchenatmcasd.com
“What the Constitution Means to Me”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of Heidi Schreck’s play about how the wording of the U.S. Constitution impacts the lives of four generations of women. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays. Through March 30. North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $52-$74. 858-481-1055, northcoastrep.org
Audubon offers Birding Basics Class: The nonprofit Palomar Audubon Society offers a Birding Basics Class beginning March 12. The course will introduce the fundamentals of birding over three consecutive Wednesdays: March 12, March 19 and March 26. Classes will be held from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. at the Remington Club 2, 16916 Hierba Drive. The class will cover topics including field markings and how to identify local birds. Attendees can participate in guided birding field trips for class members. The field trips will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. in various locations across San Diego County. The total cost for all three sessions, which includes the optional field trips, is $60 per person. For registration and more information, visit palomaraudubon.org/2025-spring-birding-classes-classes-start-march-12-sign-up-today.
“Once”: Lamb’s Players Theatre is presenting a revival of its award-winning 2018 production of “Once,” the Broadway musical based on the 2007 film about a lonely busker in Belfast, Ireland, who finds musical and romantic harmony with an immigrant woman from the Czech Republic. 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through April 13. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $48-$118. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org
Thursday
Cherry Blossom Festival: Visitors to Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden can enjoy cultural performances and food and shop from local vendors at the this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival. Every March, the Japanese Friendship Garden hosts its annual event when its cherry blossoms are typically in bloom. Guests can see them as they walk the garden, and each day of the festival, there will be activities and entertainment, including various performances from Japanese singers and dancers. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. 2215 Pan American Road, San Diego. $14-$25. 619-232-2721, niwa.org/cbw
The Rocket Summer: Texas singer and songwriter Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer is paying tribute to his 20-year-old album “Hello, Good Friend” at the Music Box. He is scheduled to perform songs from the full-length album, along with songs from each of his other albums, according the Music Box. 8 p.m. Thursday. Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego. $38.30-$162. musicboxsd.com
‘The Dark Heart of Dooley Stevens’: Backyard Renaissance Theatre presents Francis Gercke’s world premiere play about a couple strugging to stay together while supernatural forces affect the world around them. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Through March 15. Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 Tenth Ave., downtown. $15-$50. 760-975-7189, backyardrenaissance.com
Desert walks and retreats: The Anza-Borrego Foundation is holding a number of talks, walks, retreats and campouts for the community. The events include “Electric Avenues: Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Development on Energy Ecosystems” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 13; “Plant Walk with Botany Society” from 9 a.m. to noon March 14-15; and “Macrophotography: Photographing Our Smallest Organisms” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 15. Register at theabf.org.
“Alice by Heart”: Palomar College Performing Arts presents this musical by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik about two London teens comforting themselves with a children’s storybook while hiding from German bombers during the Blitz in World War II. Opens today and runs through March 16. 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Howard Brubeck Theatre, Palomar College, 1140 Mission Road, San Marcos. 760-744-1150, ext. 3997, palomarperforms.com
Friday
Moroccan Night: Alliance Française San Diego is holding a special event in honor of Francophonie Month. The evening will celebrate the spirit of Morocco with culinary offerings, art, books and a film screening. The event will also feature local vendors showcasing Moroccan products, Moroccan-born author Kitty Morse hosting a meet and greet and book signing and a dinner prepared by chef and founder of the business A la Moroccan Table. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday. San Diego French American School Auditorium, 6550 Soledad Mountain Road, La Jolla. $35-$45. afsandiego.org
Pickleball tournament: The Better Buzz San Diego Pickleball Open is taking place at the Barnes Tennis Center. The three-day event features over 1,500 pickleball players, along with vendors, a live DJ, raffles, branded photo opportunities and influencer meet-ups. It costs $15 per player and spectators can watch for free. Event organizers say proceeds from the event will go to the nonprofit Youth Tennis San Diego. 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Barnes Tennis Center, 4490 W. Point Loma Blvd., San Diego, 619-221-9000, barnestenniscenter.com
Pi Day: Pop Pie Co. is releasing three limited-edition collaboration pies from Southern California eateries on March 14, a date better known to some as Pi Day. The three pies will be available for one day only. The Smoked Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese Pie was created with Heritage BBQ. The Banh Mi Pie is the result of a plant-based partnership with Grains Cafe, and it brings together tofu, jackfruit, vegan cheese, serrano peppers, cilantro and a vegan butter crust. The Dirty Flattop Cheeseburger is a team effort with The Friendly SD and contains grilled burger meat, American cheese, butter-braised onions, garlic aioli and banana peppers. Pop Pie will also have giveaways for the first 20 people in line on Pi Day. Pot Pie has locations in University Heights, Point Loma, Pacific Beach and Carlsbad. 8 a.m. Friday. poppieco.com
Dylan Mulvaney author event: Actress, comedian and content creator Dylan Mulvaney will give an author talk in conversation with actor Chris Colfer. Each ticket comes with a signed book. 7 p.m. Friday. Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common. $28. meetcutebookshop.com/events/1708420250314
Ninth anniversary celebration: Liberty Public Market is celebrating its ninth anniversary with three days of music, food tastings and activities. The Market After Dark will occur on Friday and Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m., live music will be performed all day on Saturday and Sunday, a vinyl records market will be hosted on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a dog adoption event will take place on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Plus, there will be tasting events with Bottlecraft and Mess Hall Bar all weekend long. Friday through Sunday. libertystation.com/do/liberty-public-market-9th-anniversary
St. Patrick’s weekend deal: Duck Dive in Pacific Beach is serving St. Patrick’s Day deals for four days. The featured drink specials will be $8 Guinness and green beers, $8 green tea shots, $8 Irish coffees and $13 Jameson & Mario’s Hard Espresso cold brew martinis. Specialty food items include a corned beef egg hash with potatoes, cheddar cheese, salsa verde and two eggs over easy available for breakfast and a traditional corn beef hash plate with cabbage and potatoes for lunch and dinner. 10 a.m. to midnight Friday; 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday. 4650 Mission Blvd., San Diego. 858-273-3825, theduckdive.com
The Goldberg Variations”: Harpsichordist Jean Rondeau performs with his ensemble Nevermind in a unique transcription of Bach’s 1741 keyboard composition. 7:30 p.m. tFriday. St. James by-the-Sea, 743 Prospect St, La Jolla. $30-$60. sdems.org/concerts
“Ashland”: Riot Productions will present a staged reading of this screenplay by Laura Preble about two resilient women who band together form a found family to support one another and find resources for their two autistic sons. 6:30 p.m. Friday; 4:30 p.m. Saturday. City Heights Performance Annex, 3795 Fairmount Ave., San Diego. Free but tickets are required. Register at tickettailor.com/events/riotproductionsinc/1583651?
“Alice by Heart”: Palomar College Performing Arts presents this musical by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik about two London teens comforting themselves with a children’s storybook while hiding from German bombers during the Blitz in World War II. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Howard Brubeck Theatre, Palomar College, 1140 Mission Road, San Marcos. 760-744-1150, ext. 3997, palomarperforms.com
“The Dark Heart of Dooley Stevens”: Backyard Renaissance Theatre presents Francis Gercke’s world premiere play about a couple struggling to stay together while supernatural forces affect the world around them. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 Tenth Ave., downtown. $15-$50. 760-975-7189, backyardrenaissance.com
“A Perfect Ganesh”: Lamplighters Theatre presents Terrence McNally’s play about two middle-ages women touring India while hiding deep secrets, one about her health and other about how she mistreated her son who died of AIDS. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. Through March 23. 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $24-$27. 619-303-5092, lamplighterslamesa.com
