Hot Weekend Picks, More Like Hot Week-Long Picks

Earth Day has pretty much turned into Earth Month, with events strewn throughout April in much of the county.

But it really hits this weekend, with Earth Day-themed festivals and beach and habitat clean-ups planned from Balboa Park to UC San Diego and all the way up to Palomar Mountain. UCSD, in fact, can be your base of operations for the weekend if you'd like, as the schedule there is packed with music and theater to be enjoyed.

Those are just a couple of your choices for fun, entertaining and outdoorsy things to do in La Jolla and beyond, from April 14-20.

Click the links for more details.

CLOSE TO HOME

• Where/when: , 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla, through Wednesday.

• Why Go: Busy month at Warwick's. Local author Zohreh Ghahremani will be at Warwick's at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, then on Tuesday and Wednesday former Naval flier Dave Bananek and former journalist Emily Holland come to town.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., San Diego, Thursday through Saturday.

• Why Go: Graduate students in fine arts offer the fruits of their labors at the Baldwin New Play Festival, which continues through April 23. Today UCSD, tomorrow the La Jolla Playhouse or the Old Globe? We'll see.

• Price: $5-$20.

• Where/when: The Loft, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, through Wednesday.

• Why Go: Four bands, Here We Go Magic, Dirty Gold, the Lonely Forest and Lost in Trees, headline on different nights at the venue beginning Friday, along with one film, the Greenhorns, about young people who have taken up farming.

• Price: $5-$30.

• Where/when: Torrey Pines State Reserve, Del Mar Scenic Pkwy and Carmel Valley Rd., Del Mar, Saturday.

• Why Go: Hundreds of volunteers will fan out to area state parks as part of the California State Parks Foundation's mass Earth Day clean-up. This is one of five sites in the county slated for some tender loving care.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: , 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, 10 a.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: Look at your green options for your vehicle, home and garden at the university's Green Open House, which includes entertainment and a kids' zone. Free parking will be available and free shuttles as well, if your space is too far away.

• Price: Free.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

CHARITY WALKS O' THE WEEK

• Where/when: Liberty Station, Roosevelt Rd and Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, Saturday; Balboa Park, Quince St. and Sixth Ave, San Diego, Saturday, and No. Mission Bay Dr. and De Anza Rd., San Diego, Sunday.

• Why Go: Walkers, runners and bikers can raise money this weekend to support those with  (at Liberty Station),  problems (at Balboa Park) and  (at De Anza Cove). 

• Price: Entry fees vary.

• Where/when: Seaport Village, No. Harbor Drive and Pacific Hwy., San Diego, noon Saturday and Sunday.

• Why Go: Sure, you like your Gagas and your Biebers, but then there's those authentic souls who love their art so much they are willing to hit the streets and sing, play or juggle to get the crowd's attention – and hopefully some change. Show them some love at the Spring Busker Festival, and stay late Saturday if you want to see some more night-time oriented acts.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Lou's Records, 434 N. Coast Hwy 101., Encinitas, and Spin Records, 370 Grand Ave., Carlsbad, Saturday.

• Why Go: High Fidelity depicted the lives of some hardcore music lovers who plied their trade in a little record shop. Big music sellers are mostly long-gone because of the changes in the industry, but many small shops soldier on. Record Store Day celebrates them, and the stores participate by hosting DJ's and live performances.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Balboa Park, 1500 El Prado, San Diego, 10 a.m. Sunday.

• Why Go: Earth Fair takes over the center of the park, with vendors, music stages, a children's parade and scads of exhibitors. Organizers strongly advise arriving early or taking alternative modes of transportation as 60,000 people are expected.

• Price: Free.

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