When I woke up one morning last week, I found that I had 4 text messages and 16 Facebook notifications all stating basically the same thing. “Oh my God, Shepard Fairey is in San Diego and he is plastering his art all over town!” The only other time I have been bombarded like that was when Morrissey tickets went on sale. For those of you who are not familiar with the name Shepard Fairey I guarantee you have seen his work plenty of times. He is the man responsible for such works as Andre The Giant Has A Posse, OBEY Giant, HOPE, Rock The Vote...etc. Last week he and his OBEY Crew came to San Diego and participated in a massive group exhibition of today’s street art elite.

The exhibit is called “Viva La Revolucion: A Dialogue With The Urban Landscape.” The show opened July 18th and will run until January 2nd, 2011 at MCASD Downtown at the Jacobs Building.

The multifaceted project exhibits works both in the Museum’s galleries as well as at public sites throughout downtown San Diego. It includes a diverse range of 20 artists from 8 countries that are linked together by urban issues. Akay (Sweden), Banksy (U.K.), Blu (Italy), Mark Bradford (U.S.), William Cordova (U.S.), Date Farmers (U.S.), Stephan Doitschinoff [CALMA] (Brazil), Dr. Lakra (Mexico), Dzine (U.S.), David Ellis (U.S.), FAILE (U.S.), Shepard Fairey (U.S.), Invader (France), JR (France), Barry McGee (U.S.), Ryan McGinness (U.S.), Moris (Mexico), Os Gemeos (Brazil), Swoon (U.S.), and Vhils (Portugal).

Finally, I can look out my window and see CULTURE! Something tangible! San Diego may have beautiful weather, but it’s architecture is CRAP! So boring, so obviously cheaply constructed. Covering the bland walls with cultural urban art is revitalizing. Having these artists here in San Diego can really make you feel like you are a part of something real. It shows that we really care about our city. It makes us feel important, alive. Maybe we are taking our first baby steps back from Coach bags and flip-flops. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but a girl can dream, can’t she? Thank you Shepard and all the other artists involved in making San Diego’s walls sing.

{Vegan- involves zero animal’s products or bi-products.}

Of course you do not have to take my advice or agree with anything I say or do, but I want to give you the option. I would like to point out some of my favorite places to eat. So if you like vegan food get out a pen and paper.

Sometimes it is really difficult to find good vegan food when you go out to eat. You have to spend a lot of time taking out some ingredients and subbing others. Your friends get annoyed with you because it takes so long for you to order and then you get stuck eating a shitty restaurant garden salad. But I have been here in San Diego for several years now and I have picked out some dishes that the local vegan can enjoy.

If you are going to have a sit down breakfast with friends I recommend The Big Kitchen and the sautéed tofu and vegetable dish. Or The Mission’s Zen’s Breakfast minus the egg whites substitute that for black beans with no cheese.

On the go… Big City Bagel’s in Hillcrest is the only place I know of that has Tofutti cream cheese (vegan). I love being able to go in, grab a bagel, and get something other than jelly.

Lunch… Hillcrest Sandwich Shop has a sandwich called the Avonut which includes the BEST AVOCADOS IN TOWN , walnuts, tomatoes, sprouts on the softest wheat bread. Just hold the mayo and SHABLAMY! Vegan! Btw, they also can make a sandwich in under a minute, I swear. Thai Grill in Hillcrest is also one of my favorite places to eat. They offer tofu, mock duck and mock chicken in whatever dish you choose. They too, have very fast service.

Dinner… Sipz located in Clairemont, EVERYTHING CAN BE VEGANIZED! Also there is a relatively new vegan restaurant off of El Cajon Blvd. called The Loving Hut. I have not eaten there yet, but I hear amazing things about it. I think I will eat there tonight and I will let you know.

On August 3rd, Fruit Bats will rock The Casbah.

August 7th, Northern Towns and LDR will finally play a show together at the Ken Club.

Favorite YOUTUBE right now... Double Rainbow and also The Double Rainbow Song.! Check it!

NEKO CASE- Middle Cyclone

I bought this album last year and I swear I have listened to it every day since. This is one of the smartest records of the last ten years. You can never get sick of it. Every track is unbelievable including the last track which consists of 29:31 seconds of just crickets chirping. I love this woman. Rarrar!

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ it to ya. xo.v