Stuff 2 Do ... In and Around San Diego

by Darin Bunch

Triple Shot of Funny

It’s too easy to say that Triple Espresso — a “highly-caffeinated” mix of song, dance, drama, audience participation and general clownery — is three times funnier than any show you’ll find in Southern California. Of course, it has all the elements of classic theater: three guys, a coffee house, hand-shadow puppets, a gorilla in a music contest and an utter lack of common sense. Triple Espresso is the story of Hugh Butternut, Buzz Maxwell and Bobby Bean, whose bid for fame ended in spectacular failure on national television. Now, years later, through the magic of comedy, audiences get to witness — and participate in — the unraveling aftermath of these big-dream showbizzers. And unlike our other favorite funny show, Avenue Q, which recently ended its run at Wynn Las Vegas, Triple Espresso is friendly for the entire family, a refreshingly rare treat on today’s laughter landscape. Triple Espresso runs Wednesday through Sunday each week at the Horton Grand Theatre in downtown San Diego, with tickets starting at $34.50. www.tripleespresso.com

More than a Picnic

San Diego’s Balboa Park is much more than the grass, trees and merry-go-rounds you find at your neighborhood center. In fact, it’s the nation’s largest urban cultural park, featuring 15 museums, lush gardens and the world-renown San Diego Zoo. We prefer the museums, from Air & Space to Photographic to Automotive. And the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center features San Diego’s only IMAX Dome Theater. Each of the attractions carries a price, but admittance to the park grounds is free, so there’s no excuse not to have a look around. www.balboapark.org