Read the Latest in the Fight to Save Our Skateworld!

For those of you who know that I skate with San Diego Roller Derby at Skateworld, you know that I am also involved with the fight to save the city's last remaining roller rink. I have been working with the Friends of Skateworld, a non-profit group dedicated to saving this historic building and the roller rink it houses. Today the U-T reported that MRW, the development firm that was working with Bayside to take over the property and redevelop it into a "mixed-use" venue, has backed out of the project. Though it is uncertain whether Skateworld will be allowed to remain and serve the community as it has since 1975, this news brings some hope that we will see that happen. Skating has had a huge resurgence in the past several years. Why take away the last rink in the City of San Diego?

Read the story in its entirety here -
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/26/developer-pulls-out-skateworld-redevelopment-proje/

What Are You Doing This Sunday? - Going to the North Park Festival of Arts, Of Course!!

This year's event will be happening on Sunday, May 15th from 10 am to 6 pm along University Ave. between 30th and 32nd Streets. The San Diego North Park Craft Mafia will have our own section of vendors called the "Spring Line Up"! All SLU vendors are artists and crafters who take pride in the things they create. Each year we try to bring together a variety of vendors with an assortment of creative products. This year we have added something new - a "Craft Lounge"! Stop by, relax, and get some crafting time in at the lounge. Bring a project to work on and meet other crafty folks! The first 100 visitors to the Craft Lounge will receive a free swag bag full of crafty items like stickers, beads, coupons, and more!

The NP Festival of Arts is always a lot of fun with something for everyone. Entertainment will include live music, dance performances, kids art block, a "quick-draw" event, and a beer and food tasting block! Admission to the event is FREE (you will need to purchase a ticket for the beer/food tasting) and parking is available in the 30th St. parking structure. You can even get free valet parking for your bicycle! This is a great event for the whole family!

Here's a list of all the vendors you will find in the Spring Line Up section. We hope to see you there!-

Andrea Zuill - www.badbird.etsy.com
Artista Muerta (Craft Mafia Member) – www.artistamuerta.com
Attic 802 - www.attic802.etsy.com
Be Bop Baby Clothing - www.bebopbabyclothing.com
Bella Cute - www.bellacute.etsy.com
Belle Pepper Couture (Craft Mafia Member) – www.bellepeppercouture.com
BottleHood - www.bottlehood.com
i wish i had a penguin friend - www.momoma.etsy.com
Jewels of Friendship
Jonestein Thought Factory - www.etsy.com/shop/jonestein
Little Partridge - www.littlepartridge.com
Little Pink Plum - www.littlepinkplum.etsy.com
Meagan Rae Designs (Craft Mafia Member) – www.meaganraedesigns.com

Mi Bazaar Latino - www.bazaarlatino.etsy.com

Naughty Blonde Redux - www.naughtyblonderedux.com
PenguinBot - www.penguinbot.com
R Priest Ellgy Co - www.rpriestellgyco.etsy.com
Sasswatch - www.sasswatch.com
Vee. Y Design - www.veeydesign.com




Velvet Klaw (Craft Mafia Member) – www.velvetklaw.com








Zedena Designs - www.zedenadesigns.com

Visit - www.northparkfestivalofarts.com for all the latest info!

Join Us For a Night of Fashion at "Friday Night Liberty" - May 6th!

You're invited to the NTC Promenade Arts & Cultural District for a FREE evening of happenings. On May 6th, Arts Meets Fashion, collaboration between local fashion designers & artists offers an outdoor dance performance at Legacy Plaza. Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater presents a preview of New Voices with 2 sections from "Hunters Trilogy" and a cast of 10 dancers. Followed by a Fashion Show & Open Catwalk in the Rose Garden. See featured designer's fashions and then join in the action yourself! Show up wearing fashions from local designers, fill out a note card for the MC to read, and strut your stuff!

Be sure to stop by the Velvet Klaw Studios for a hands-on screen printing and t-shirt reconstruction demo! Bring a light colored t-shirt and print your own shirt to cut up, restyle and take home! Screen printing is a fun way to create your own fashions!

There will also be several crafty vendors who will be set up around the venue selling their wares. Look for them outside the Barracks 19 & Visions Art Museum building! It's the perfect time to get some Mother's Day shopping done with lots of unique items available for purchase. Check 'em out - Attic 802, Hey Hot Stems, Little Pink Plum, Tabou Treasures, Tora Jewelry, Vee Y. Design, Wink Artisans, Zabana Essentials, & Zedena Designs.

Download the event flyer!

Friday, May 6th
5 pm - 8 pm
2640 Historic Decatur Road, SD, 92106
For more information call (619) 573-9260 or visit www.NTCPromenad...

** Photo from the Mannequin Project. Courtesy of Debbie Solan.

Crafty Conspiracy of Stitching

The San Diego NP Craft Mafia hosts a monthly crafting event called Crafty Conspiracy. It's a casual evening of crafting fun that happens at the Velvet Klaw studio the fourth Tuesday each month. People work on everything from knitting & crochet to computer arts. Basically, any project that's portable is fine to bring. It's great fun, so now we are adding a second event dedicated to those who like to stitch it up on their sewing machines! Since we don't have room for machines at our regular craft night, we're adding this special night where machines are welcome. Bring your own machine and meet other "Stitchies" who share a love for creating! We'll supply an iron and ironing board, cutting table, and other incidentals, you bring everything else you need to create! Space is very limited, so please email us if you are interested in attending - info@velvetklaw.com - or have any questions. We hope you will join us!


Crafty Conspiracy of Stitching
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
7 pm - 9pm at the Velvet Klaw Studios
Suite 203 (upstairs)
2690 Historic Decatur Rd., 92106

The Spring Line Up is Coming! Vendors Should Apply NOW!!

Spring is on its way and the Craft Mafia crew is getting ready for our 4th Annual "Spring Line Up" event! What's the Spring Line Up (SLU)? It's our annual show which takes place within the North Park Festival of the Arts in North Park. This year's event will be happening on Sunday, May 15th from 10 am to 6 pm along University Ave. between 30th and 32nd Streets. The SLU is the Craft Mafia's own section of vendors who will be selling some fantastic crafty items. All SLU vendors are artists and crafters who take pride in the things they create. Each year we try to bring together a variety of vendors with an assortment of creative products. The NP Festival of the Arts is always a lot of fun with something for everyone. Entertainment will include live music, dance performances, a food court, kids zone, hand-on art booths, and a beer and food tasting court! Admission to the event is FREE (you will need to purchase a ticket for the beer/food tasting) and parking is available in the 30th St. parking structure. This is a great event for the whole family and a great opportunity for crafty vendors to show their wares!

Interested in applying for a vendor booth in the Spring Line Up section? The vendor application has been posted! Simply download the app., read all the info, and send in your completed application and payment. Space is limited, so don't delay! In addition to the standard 10'x10 size space, the SLU is the ONLY vendor section at this event to offer 5'x10' spaces for those artists who don't need quite so large a space. Applications postmarked by February 28th are eligible for an early bird discount! That's $50 in savings off a 10'x10' and $25 off a 5'x10'! We hope you will join us!

Download the vendor application here! (PDF)

Support the Arts in San Diego - Don't Let The City Council Make Cuts to Art Programs!

Join us and let the city council know that you support the arts in San Diego. Please attend this meeting and tell Councilmember DeMaio not to make these cuts to art programs. Let him know that San Diegans support the arts and artists!

Councilmember DeMaio Schedules December 14 Budget Town Hall at NTC Promenade Arts & Cultural District: Proposes Cuts to Arts Funding

Dear San Diego Arts and Culture Colleagues:

You may have heard about the proposal from San Diego City Councilmember Carl DeMaio to significantly cut arts and culture funding in his “Roadmap to Recovery.”
You can read about the cuts at Voice of San Diego (The proposed cuts to arts and culture come on page 37 of the Roadmap PDF.)

Councilmember DeMaio is holding a series of public Budget Town Halls to brief San Diegans on the Road to Recovery plan, answer questions and listen to their ideas.

A Town Hall is scheduled for Tuesday, December 14 from 6pm to 8pm at the NTC Command Center, 2640 Historic Decatur Road. The Command Center is in the heart of the city’s planned 26-building Civic, Arts and Cultural District at the former Naval Training Center.

Already 7 buildings are renovated and are home to over 40 Civic, Arts and Cultural organizations and artists - many of which will be impacted by the Councilmember’s proposed cuts.

Representatives from arts and cultural organizations are encouraged to attend the Forum and can RSVP at Roadmap to Recovery Facebook Page and click the "I'm Attending" button in the upper right corner.

In advance of the Town Hall, on Thursday, December 9 at 10 AM, These Days on KPBS will air a segment about this discussion. Dalouge Smith, CEO of San Diego Youth Symphony and outgoing Chair of San Diego Regional Arts & Culture Coalition, and Seema Sueko, Artistic Director of Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company, will be on air.

Please tune in (89.5 FM or www.kpbs.org ), and feel free to call in to join the conversation.

Alan Ziter, Executive Director
NTC Foundation
2801 Rosecrans
San Diego, CA 92106
619 573-9315 - phone
619 764-4995 - fax
aziter@ntcfoundation.org
www.NTCPromenade.com for the NTC Promenade Arts & Cultural District

Another Holiday Hit List is History - We'll See You Next Year!

Yes, it's sad, but the 4th Annual Holiday Hit List has come and gone. I hope that everyone had a great time that day. I really enjoy talking with all the vendors and checking out everyone's wares. If you missed this year's event, you can read about it online and shop online from most of our vendors. Check out the two articles and visit our vendor line up page!

The San Diego UT covered our 4th Annual Holiday Hit List with two articles!

"Crafty Holiday Treats"
"Christmas Gifts With an Edge Found at North Park Crafts Fair"

Shop from the vendors who participated at this year's Holiday Hit List! Visit the Craft Mafia blog!