This Week in SD: Murder Mystery, Beer and Nuns

San Diego is home to some of the most unique and enjoyable events in Southern California. This week, check out some things privy to America’s Finest City, including Beer Weekend, a murder mystery dinner and a funny nun.

Dining

This weekend will host San Diego’s 2nd annual Beer Weekend, which celebrates the city’s thriving craft beer culture and serves as a preview event for November’s highly anticipated, 3rd annual 10-day Beer Week. Sponsored by the San Diego Brewers Guild, the capstone event titled “Beer Hall” will kick off Beer Weekend’s three days of events happening throughout San Diego County. “San Diego Beer Weekend is designed to showcase our local breweries and get beer enthusiasts excited about and looking forward to Beer Week 2011, happening November 4-13,” Adam Carbonell, president of San Diego Brewer’s Guild, said. “We invite everyone to join us for Beer Weekend for this special sneak-preview weekend and help support for our local breweries.” Beer Hall will be this Friday from 7-9 p.m. at the Lodge at Torrey Pines. Tickets are $65.

If beer isn’t your thing, then check out The Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show. The event is a four-course sit-down dinner in which each guest is allowed to choose their own entrée, including a vegetarian option. Between each course of the meal, the room becomes an interactive and improvised comedic murder mystery taking place in the present day. And because the performers are dressed like everyone else, diners don’t know who is a part of the show and who isn’t. America’s largest murder mystery comedy dinner show promises that murders and mayhem will occur, hidden clues will come forth and the detectives will help everyone try to solve the crime. There is even a prize package for the person who comes closest to finding the murderer.

Theater

Now through June 17, catch the original international comedy hit “Late Night Catechism.”

Described as “Hilarity at its best,” the one-woman play takes place in a class with the nun Sister Maripat Donovan, who is guaranteed to cause the audience to erupt in laughter in no time.  “Late Night Catechism” will be performing at The Welk Resort Theatre in San Diego. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children.

On Saturday or Sunday, waddle down to Pacific Beach Middle school to see the Christian Youth Theater’s performance of “Honk!” Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Ducking,” “Honk!” tells the story of an odd-looking baby duck named Ugly and his quest to find his mother. According to CYT’s website, “This all out musical is a free-range frolic with flocks of duck, geese and swans. This big-honking hit will leave you feeling absolutely EGG-cellent! Come see what happens when Ugly’s feather-flying adventures take off in all directions.” Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children. Performances will be at 7 p.m.  and 2 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Film

On Thursday at 6 p.m., head to the Museum of Photographic Arts to catch the Coming of Age Film Festival, featuring the beloved Pixar film “Up.” The animated film explores intergenerational relationships and will be introduced by the director of aging and independence services, Pam Smith. The festival is free but a small donation is suggested. “Up” follows the story of Carl Fredrickson, whose house flies away just as he is being forced to move to a retirement home. What he doesn’t realize is that he has a young stowaway on board. Together, they embark on an adventure, where they encounter talking dogs, an evil villain and a rare bird named Kevin.

Then on Saturday, the Museum of Photographic Arts will host a second event called Family Film Day. At 1 p.m., families are encouraged to come together to watch the 2008 hit “Horton Hears a Who.” In this Dr. Seuss classic, Horton the Elephant struggles to protect a microscopic community from his neighbors who refuse to believe it exists. The film will be followed by a fun-filled activity for families to enjoy. This event is free, but a $5 donation is suggested.

Movies released this weekend:

Super 8

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

Bride Flight (Limited release)

Viva Riva (Limited release)

Troll Hunter (Limited release)

The Trip (Limited release)

Photos from Hari Hamartia and Jinho.Jung via Flickr.