Archtoberfest: A month-long fete of local architecture, design

This week’s Orchids & Onions annual celebration of good and bad architecture was just the start of the second annual Archtoberfest that will see dozens of tours, talks, exhibits and exhibitions related to what those in the know refer to as the “built environment.”

“Archtoberfest 2015 activities will offer jumping-off points for dialogue, understanding and possible action,” says the welcoming message in the program’s catalog.

The hope is that the public will “find themselves more optimistic about our community’s ability to protect what we value most while preparing to meet the obstacles we can see ahead.”

The local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, San Diego Architectural Foundation, San Diego Design Film Festival and about 20 other organizations are the presenters and organizers. More information is available at archtoberfest.org.

Highlights include:

Exhibitions

“Frank Lloyd Wright’s Legacy in San Diego: The Taliesin Apprentices,” La Jolla Historical Society, 780 Prospect St., La Jolla, through Jan. 17; free.

“Green & Weedman,” works by Jonathan Green and and Richard Weedman, presented by the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art, SDSU Downtown Gallery, 725 W. Broadway, through Oct. 19; free.

SDSU furniture alumni works: noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 9-30 (excluding weekends), University Gallery, SDSU School of Art + Design; free.

“Rethink Downtown,” Bosa Development exhibition of downtown’s history and future plans, 700 First Ave., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through early-November; free.

“Discover Architects,” sponsored by American Institute of Architects’ Palomar chapter, Oct. 20-Nov. 8, McClellan-Palomar Airport, 2198 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad; opening reception, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28.

Lectures and panels

“Creating Great Cities,” Gil Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogata, Colombia; 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, Central Library, 330 Park Blvd.; $10; reservations required.

“The BIG Lecture,” by Kai-Uwe Bergmann of the Bjarke Ingels Group on the new Google campus in New York City, 6 p.m. Oct. 13, Scripps Research Institute Auditorium, 10550 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla; $20; tickets available at sdarchitecture.org.

“The Next 100 Years of San Diego Architecture and Design in San Diego,” 7:30 a.m., Oct. 22, Prado restaurant, Balboa Park; sponsored by Citizens Coordinate for Century 3; $60.

“San Diego Women in the Architectural Professions: Breaking the Glass Ceiling,” 9:30 a.m. Oct. 17, NewSchool of Architecture & Design, 1249 F Street, downtown San Diego; $5.

“Alley Rounds,” debates between NewSchool of Architecture & Design faculty and industry professionals, 6 p.m. Oct. 8, Space 4 Art, 325 15th St. in downtown San Diego; free.

Tours

“Sundays with Save Our Heritage Organisation,” at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each Sunday in October, Balboa Park and other locations; see sohosandiego.org for details.

Modern San Diego home tours, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 10; self-guided tours of six homes, $40; tickets at modernhometours.com.

“Oh! San Diego” open house tours of 41 sites, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17; free. See details at sdarchitecture.org.

American Society of Interior Designers Kitchen and Bath tour, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 24; $25; tickets available from asidsandiego.org.