Dear Readers,

San Diego's cross-cultural scene is thriving! From festivals and celebrations to captivating music and dance performances, thought-provoking theatrical productions, engaging talks, book signings, films, and art exhibitions, there's a wealth of opportunities to explore the rich diversity our city embraces and expand your cultural horizons!

However, as we've noted in recent newsletters, many organizations dedicated to cross-cultural arts and services are facing significant financial challenges due to continuing federal funding cuts. These organizations play a vital role in enriching our communities and providing essential services to those most in need. We urge you to consider supporting them in any way you can, ensuring they can continue this important work. We also encourage you to contact your elected officials and express your support for restoring this critical funding.

Here is a list of local cross-cultural organizations impacted, or likely to be impacted, by these funding reductions. Your support, in whatever form it takes, can make a real difference. This list is a work in progress, so please let us know if you'd like to suggest an organization for inclusion.

On to the events!

Everyone here at the San Diego Participant Observer and the Worldview Project wish you fulfilling, illuminating, and culturally-rich experiences in the days ahead. See you next week!

Friday, February 21
11:00 AM	Film and Discussion: Hidden Figures La Jolla/Riford Library
4:00 PM	Film: King - In the Wilderness Carlsbad Dove Library
"	Al Qaryah: Art & Coffee Night 4129 30th Street
5:00 PM	Oceanside International Film Festival Sunshine Brooks Theatre, Oceanside
6:00 PM	A Nigerian Cooking Class The Artisan
7:00 PM	Author Talk: Geraldine Brooks USD
"	Stage: The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet Trinity Theatre Company
7:30 PM	Stage: White Scripps Ranch Theatre
"	Stage: 3 Summers of Lincoln Mandell Weiss Theatre, UCSD
"	Musical: Once Lambs's Players Theatre
"	Music: Banda MS Viejas Arena
"	Stage: The Half-Life Of Marie Curie New Village Arts Theatre
"	Music: The Art of the Ney - Contemporary Sounds of Iran La Jolla Community Center
8:00 PM	Stage: James Weldon Johnson: God's Trombones Community Actors Theatre
"	Stage: Empty Ride The Old Globe
"	Stage: We Are Continuous Diversionary Theatre
"	Music: 44th Annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends Worldbeat Center
Saturday, February 22
9:00 AM	3rd Annual SoCal Sumo Open Lincoln High School
10:30 AM	Talk: Syria’s Crossroads - Revolution, Governance, and the Future of Leadership Hall of Nations
11:00 AM	African American Heritage Celebration International Cottages
"	City Heights Multi-Cultural Festival of Love Henwood Memorial Park
3:00 PM	Music: 44th Annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends Worldbeat Center
4:30 PM	Stage: Ila Dance and Music Academy Recital Encore Event Center
5:00 PM	Keepers of the Culture Celebration San Diego History Center
6:00 PM	Music: O. S. Arun’s Madhura Gaanam
"	La Onda Arte Latino Exhibition Reception Studio Door
7:00 PM	Music: Gregory Page All Things Music
"	16th Annual Brasil Jazz Festa Dizzy's
7:30 PM	Ballet: The Hunchback of Notre Dame Jacobs Music Center
"	Music: Marjan Farsad Westview High School
"	R.E.S.P.E.C.T. - A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin Balboa Theatre
Sunday, February 23
11:30 AM	National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest Digital Gym Cinema
2:00 PM	Stage: A Perfect Ganesh Lamplighters Community Theatre
"	Musical: Once Lambs's Players Theatre
3:00 PM	Brazilian Music Masterclass with Claudia Villela Athenaeum Art Center
4:00 PM	Cabrillo Chamber Orchestra: A Scandinavian Voyage Incarnation Lutheran Church
7:00 PM	Vietnamese Comedy Showcase Heritage Event Center
Tuesday, February 25
11:00 AM	Jewish Food Cooking Classes Lawrence Family JCC
6:00 PM	Community Circle: Honoring Black History & Holding Space for Healing Worldbeat Center
6:30 PM	Music and Dance: Tablao Series Málaga
7:00 PM	Author Talk: Megan Giddings University of San Diego
7:30 PM	Music: Cesária Évora Orchestra UCSD
"	Music: Tango Intimo UCSD Park and Market
Wednesday, February 26
7:00 PM	Author Talk: Jesmyn Ward Point Loma Nazarene University
Thursday, February 27
NOON	Sweet Talk: Black Joy in the Midst Chaos USD
5:00 PM	Author Talk: Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo UCSD
6:30 PM	National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest Digital Gym Cinema
"	Talk: On James Baldwin - Racial Progress without Redemption Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
7:00 PM	Stage: The Book of Will Canyon Crest Academy
"	Author Talk: Sandra Cisneros Point Loma Nazarene University
Friday, February 28
4:00 PM	Film: The Last Black Man in San Francisco Carlsbad Dove Library
6:00 PM	Author Talk: Amy Tan USD
"	Gaslamp Mardi Gras Gaslamp Quarter
"	African Cuisine Workshop Worldbeat Center
7:00 PM	Author Talk: Mitch Albom Point Loma Nazarene University
7:30 PM	Stage: Tiger at the Gates University of San Diego
Saturday, March 1
10:00 AM	Author Talk: Julia Kelly Online Streaming Event
11:00 AM	Music: Máirtín de Cógáin
2:00 PM	Art: Border Craft Opening Celebration UCSD
5:00 PM	Music: Noche de Cumbia 7 Quartyard
6:00 PM	Gaslamp Mardi Gras Gaslamp Quarter
7:30 PM	Music: Ana Bárbara The Magnolia Performing Arts Center
"	Music & Dance: The Art of Tango The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
8:00 PM	Music: Little Joe y La Familia with Ruben Ramo Harrah's Resort Southern California
Sunday, March 2
2:00 PM	Musical: Once Lambs's Players Theatre
4:00 PM	Music: Nathalie Joachim Museum of Making Music
4:30 PM	French Classical Music Concert The La Jolla Woman’s Club
Monday, March 3
7:00 PM	Film: Dieci Minuti (Ten Minutes) La Paloma Theatre
Tuesday, March 4
4:00 PM	Author Talk: Nanda Reddy Online Streaming Event
6:00 PM	Gaslamp Mardi Gras Gaslamp Quarter
6:30 PM	Music: Alcest The Observatory
Wednesday, March 5
4:00 PM	Author Talk: Allison Epstein Online Streaming Event
7:30 PM	Author Talk: Georgia Hunter Warwick's
8:00 PM	Music: AJ Lee & Blue Summit The Loft, UCSD
Thursday, March 6
7:30 PM	Author Talk: Nancy Goldstone Warwick's
"	Music: Ladysmith Black Mambazo Belly Up
Friday, March 7
4:00 PM	Talk: Celebrating the Soundscape of Music & Calligraphy in Chinese Culture UCSD
7:00 PM	Musical: Alice by Heart Howard Brubeck Theatre
7:30 PM	Musical: Motown: The Groove That Changed America California Center for the Arts
Saturday, March 8
1:00 PM	Calienté Latin Music, Food and Spirits Fest Ruocco Park
7:30 PM	Musical: Motown: The Groove That Changed America California Center for the Arts
"	Music: Third Coast Percussion & Salar Nader The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
8:00 PM	Music: Shamrock & Strings The Bornemann Theatre
10:00 PM	Bollywood Neon Holi Party Music Box
Sunday, March 9
2:00 PM	Musical: Once Lambs's Players Theatre
"	Holi Celebration North University Community Library
3:00 PM	11th Annual Mariachi Festival California Center for the Arts
4:00 PM	ISSD Nowruz Celebration Lewis Middle School

Your Window to the World

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Sicilian Arancini

This month's recipe is for Sicilian Arancini, those iconic fried rice balls that are a staple of the island's street food scene. These golden spheres of saffron-infused risotto, encased in a crisp breading, conceal a variety of savory fillings. The name, derived from the Italian arancia (orange), alludes to their characteristic shape and color.