Best Musical Arts Organization:
San Diego Symphony
(Runner-Up: San Diego Opera)
The San Diego Symphony maintains a very high standard of musical excellence, which undoubtedly accounts for its repeat selection by Ranch & Coast readers. Not exclusive, but inclusive, plenty of musical variety is provided. The Jacobs’ Masterworks Series showcases performances of a wide array of classical music, from Bach to Stravinsky, Hindemith, and Ravel. A Tony series entitled Symphony Exposed provides the inside scoop on some well-known pieces and composers, followed by illustrative performance. It’s focused and fun, beginning at 7:30pm and closing at 9pm sharp. Winter Pops and Summer Pops are great favorites, of course. A Family Festival Series brings multi-generations to Symphony Hall for Sunday afternoon one-hour concerts. Youngsters love these outings almost as much as parents and grandparents. (619/235-0804, www.sandiegosymphony.com) — Darlene G. Davies

Best Theatre Company:
The Old Globe
(Runner-Up: La Jolla Playhouse)
Situated in beautiful Balboa Park, The Old Globe theatre complex enchants visitors with its magical setting. With 15 first-rate productions, featuring professional casts in three theatres all year round, The Old Globe has achieved a global reputation.. All periods and styles of plays are produced, from Shakespeare to Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The Globe takes great pride in its emphasis upon development of new work, and it has sent a stellar stream of plays to Broadway, notably The Full Monty and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. In fact, more than 20 productions originating at The Old Globe have gone on to Broadway or off-Broadway. The current Dancing in the Dark, a new musical based on the 1950s MGM film The Band Wagon, opens March 4 and runs through April 13. Don’t be surprised if it has an afterlife in New York. Audiences seek excellence at these theatres, and that’s what they get. After all, the Globe may be 73 years old, but it’s just getting started. (619/231-1941, www.oldglobe.org) — Darlene G. Davies

Best Local Musician/Band:
A.J. Croce
(Runner-Up:_Pinback)
A.J. may share the bill with his famous father’s name, but he’s got talent all his own. He has been called one of our greatest young songwriters and been aptly referred to as a one-man music festival, probably due in part to his knack for successfully straddling jazz and funk with blues and Americana. "My musical inspirations have always been eclectic," says Croce, "though if I had to point to one particular thing that drives me, it would be the quest to write the perfect song." His latest release, Cantos, is available now. (www.ajcroce.com) — Rebecca Chappell

Best Live Music Venue:
The Belly Up
(Runner-Up: Anthology)
Located in Solana Beach, just a few blocks from the ocean, The Belly Up walks that fine line between local hangout and big league rock venue. Patrons can grab a beer at the bar or have a burger at the Wild Note Café. A good sized stage is only mere feet from the dance floor, maintaining a sense of intimacy between the audience and the musicians. Aspiring bands in the region consider having made it if they can get on The Belly Up’s roster. Larger acts range from Robyn Hitchcock to George Clinton to Common Sense and everything in between. The club also hosts many special engagements, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Artist series and various ’80s dance parties. (858/481-8140, www.bellyup.com) — Ryan Thomas

Best Gallery:
Gallery Savarese
(Runner-Up: Susan Street Fine Art Gallery)
Gallery Savarese is located in the charming seaside town of Leucadia. Under the direction of owner Pat Savarese, the gallery showcases fine art and gifts. April Showers Bring May Flowers kicks off a spring Mother’s Day celebration on May 2. In June, Savarese presents It Doesn’t Take A Wizard, The Illustrator of the Harry Potter Books. This exhibition will feature the art of James Salvati, and will include limited edition giclee and prints, as well as original paintings. Salvati has been the official illustrator for Walt Disney and the Harry Potter books, so there’s bound to be a lot of interest. The artist’s life offers quite a story in itself, since he has been designing and painting for the entertainment and advertising businesses for over two decades. (760/505-0063, http://gallerysavarese.com) — Darlene G. Davies

Best Museum:
San Diego Natural History Museum
(Runner-Up: San Diego Museum of Art)
The family friendly San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM) is sited at the east end of The Prado in Balboa Park. Visitors can’t miss the imposing edifice of William Templeton Johnson, which faces the south, and the recent modern addition that faces north. This architecture makes a statement about the past as well as the future, and the engaging exhibitions reflect that large view. SDNHM offers myriad events and activities, including films, lectures, and wonderfully interactive field trips. The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition in 2007 brought more than 375,000 visitors to the museum, and the current A Day in Pompeii fascinates with authentic artifacts that were buried in 79 CE by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The permanently mounted Dinosaurs wows both kids and grownups. (619/232-3821, www.sdnhm.org)
— Darlene G. Davies

Culture Calendar

March

Thru 3/16: In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits
The William D. Cannon Art Gallery in Carlsbad presents 51 color and black-and-white photographs that highlight the work of National Geographic’s best photographers. (760/602-2021, www.carlsbadca.gov/arts)

Thru 3/16: Hello, Dolly!
Lamb’s Players Theatre presents the irrepressible Dolly Levi, set on opening hearts and wallets in her quest to nurture Yonkers, NY with love and money. (619/437-6050, www.lambsplayers.org)

Thru 3/16: The Seven
Greek tragedy meets hip-hop in Will Power’s modern adaptation of Aeschylus’ story of a cursed family and a society at war. (Contains adult language.) La Jolla Playhouse’s Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. (858/550-1010, www.lajollaplayhouse.org)

Thru 3/23: California Fibers: Natural Forces
Visions Art Quilt Gallery, NTC Promenade presents an exhibition by members of the prestigious juried group of artists working in a variety of fiber art at Quilt San Diego/Quilt Visions. (619/546-4872, www.quiltvisions.org)

Thru 3/30: The American Plan
Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg’s latest offering takes a funny and intriguing look at a German-Jewish refugee mother, her eccentric daughter, and the young, mysterious man who enters their lives. The Old Globe. (619/23-GLOBE, www.theoldglobe.org)

Thru 4/20: The Photographer’s Eye: A Way Of Seeing
Drawn from MoPA’s permanent collection, this exhibition interprets the groundbreaking book, The Photographer’s Eye (1966) by John Szarkowski, now in reprint and available at MoPA’s bookstore. (619/238-7559, www.mopa.org)

Thru 4/20: Measured Time: MoPA At 25
This exhibition will be viewed as a literal timeline oriented with photographs from MoPA’s permanent collection that illustrate important exhibitions and significant artists whose first museum solo exhibitions were held at MoPA. (619/238-7559, www.mopa.org)

Thru 5/4: Matrix II
Austrian-born artist Erwin Redl’s room-size installation, Matrix II, is on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s La Jolla location. The work uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to create a complete sensory experience. (858/454-3541, www.mcasd.org)

Thru 5/5: Photography At The Poles
Intriguing images of the Arctic and Antarctic by leading National Geographic photographers at The Ordover Gallery at the San Diego Natural History Museum. (858/720-1121, www.ordovergallery.com)

Thru 5/18: Rhythms Of India: The Art Of Nandalal Bose (1882-1966)
The San Diego Museum of Art has organized the first comprehensive traveling exhibition to survey the expansive repertoire of Nandalal Bose, the father of modern art in India. (619/232-7931, www.sdmart.org)

Thru 5/31: The Beauty Of Use -Mingei International Museum At 30
In commemoration of the museum’s 30th anniversary, the exhibition features objects from many cultures shown in relationships that highlight similarities and differences . (619/239-0003, www.mingei.org)

Thru 5/31: Dressing A City: Selected Styles From Marston’s Department Store, 1878-1961
San Diego Historical Society’s Museum of San Diego History will honor Marston’s by showcasing numerous costume pieces from its costume and textile collection. (619/232-6203, www.sandiegohistory.org)

Thru 6/15: A Day In Pompeii
The San Diego Natural History Museum transports visitors back 2,000 years in time to experience life and death in the ancient Roman Empire. 619/232-3821, www.sdnhm.org)

3/1: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
This ensemble of dancers displays unparalleled versatility and virtuosity and has been described as high-voltage, visceral, gravity-defying, humorous, innovative, eclectic, and inspirational. California Center for the Arts, Escondido. (800/988-4253, www.artcenter.org)

3/2-6/8: Kara Walker: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love
UCLA’s Hammer Museum offers the first presentation on the West Coast of this remarkable African American artist’s career. (310/443-7000, www.hammer.ucla.edu)

3/3: Foo Fighters With Serj Tankian And Against Me
Cox Arena. (619/220-TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com)

3/3-4/13: Dancing In The Dark
This Old Globe musical evolves a Hollywood star with a career on the wane, and a Shakespearean actor-manager with a taste for high art. Together they team up with a diverse assortment of theatrical personalities, including the ballerina Gabrielle Gerard. (619/23-GLOBE, www.theoldglobe.org)

3/4: Rufus Wainwright
The Belly Up Tavern. (858/481-8140, www.bellyup.com)

3/7: Bad Religion
House of Blues San Diego. (619/220-TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com)

3/7-8: Grace Slick Exhibition
Rock and roll Hall of Fame member and Jeffrson Airplane lead signer Grace Slick will bring her latest art exhibit to Wentworth Gallery in La Jolla both evenings from 6-9pm. (858/551-7071, www.wentworthgallery.com)

3/8: Escalera And Stripes & Lines
Dual album release party at the Belly Up. (858/481-8140, www.bellyup.com)

3/8: CSNY Tribute
Anthology supper club in Little Italy. (619/595-0300, www.anthologysd.com)

3/8: Soraida, Woman Of Palestine
In honor of Women’s History Month, Eveoke Dance Theatre and The Cultural Worker join forces to screen a series of films about women’s human rights. (619/238-1153, www.eveoke.org)

3/10, 11, 14: Surprise! Surprise!
San Diego Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of artistic director and conductor Jung-Ho Pak, performs on March 10 at Sherwood Auditorium, March 11 at Del Mar Country Club, and March 14 at St. Paul’s Cathedral downtown. (858/350-0290, ext. 5, www.sdco.org)

3/13: Angels & Airwaves With Meg & Dia, The Color Fred, And Ace Enders
Soma. (619/220-TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com)

3/14-16: Flora Purim, Airto Moreira & Band
Anthology supper club in Little Italy. (619/595-0300, www.anthologysd.com)

3/14-22: The Glory Of Easter
Called one of the most spectacular and moving passion plays of its kind, The Glory of Easter has been seen by thousands at the Crystal Cathedral, and millions via a televised broadcast. (714/54-GLORY, www.crystalcathedral.org)

3/15-31: Universe of Dreams with Kazandjian
Madison Gallery presents master painter Jean Kazandjian, who will be in attendance at the opening of this premiere exhibition on March 15 to give insight on his exclusive new collection. (858/459-0836, www.madisongalleries.com)

3/16: State Symphony of Mexico
The State Symphony of Mexico is one of the world’s first-class orchestras touring the United States and Europe, receiving well-deserved accolades along the way. California Center for the Arts, Escondido. (800/988-4253, www.artcenter.org)

3/19-5/16: Jewish Women: A Lifetime Of Art
This exhibition presents four mavens of the Jewish community, all accomplished artists and community leaders, who have enhanced our community with their extensive collections of work and lifetime of experience in the world of art. The Gotthelf Art Gallery, part of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. (www.sdcjc.lfjcc.org)

3/21-22: Herb Alpert
Anthology supper club in Little Italy. (619/595-0300, www.anthologysd.com)

3/21-22: N*W*C*
This second piece in the California Center for the Arts, Escondido new Alternative Stage series tells the powerful real-life stories of three young men from different ethnic backgrounds. (800/988-4253, www.artcenter.org)

3/27-3/28: Trois
Lakshmi Basile and her Luna Flamenca dance company return to San Diego for a premiere engagement at San Diego Lyceum Theatre in a new work that showcases the virtuosity of flamenco luminaries. (619/544-1000)

3/29: Graffiti Painting Contest
At 2pm, Gallery Savarese will present the second Graffiti Painting Contest. This year’s judge is the owner of Rhino Arts, Jack Quick. All entered artwork will be auctioned after the award presentation and the image will be included in a new T Shirt line, TaggerArt.US. (760/505-0063, http://gallerysavarese.com)

3/29: Susan Egan — The Belle of Broadway
This is a Wine & Song performance. Patrons are invited to enjoy a complimentary wine tasting prior to the performance. California Center for the Arts, Escondido. (800/988-4253, www.artcenter.org)